The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-04-18 00:00:00

. .
TO Till EDIZ'OR OF THE SI'AITESMAN.
LINTTIEIt VI!.

Sta—The mind, in -eontempluting so vast a
ctsange, is naturally ptone to inquire how the lower
eLi.;:es of society hove been enabled to procure the
at.soliste reqisites to existence—rand, lodging, and
ri.:ment Far he it from me to deny they have
suffered mann. vmniany privations; but, as the
.t acridity or artisani have seldom earned more
tt:..ita sufficed to subsist themselves and families, the
urgency of their necise7.lies has produced something
lire a corresponding relief, and a proportionate ad-
;ace of was has ever attended their increased

es:.euces. In consequence we find the labourer in
heabandry, who live and twenty veers ago earned
• but "even shillings a week, now receiving from
titteen to eighteen ; smiths' and shoemakers' wages
' e:ore,than doubled ; and tailors, whose allowance
..s then regulated by eu Act rf Parliament at
shillings a week, now earning, under
tae same authority, 111 AND THIRTY.
Tradesmen of all description have also had some
evilef iu these emergencies. If every new impost
has not added TOW to the stock they had on
t;:tuti, at least thry have been euabled to charge
ell additional cants ae .the amount of the buyer.
Without dread Of contradiction 1 will venture to
essert, that in the whole circle of trade there does
hot exist another instance, where the limited gains
of those days are compelled to bear the expenses of
the present. If this remark need* confirmation, I
would refer to the speech which an enlightened
Statesman made in Pariiament on the subject of
t'.e Civil List.—" Had a fixed income," said hu
' Leen assigned to uuy individual fifty years ago,
o man could have livfil upon it now ; and the
r sse WAS the same with the Crown. The King
t.-id then accepted a revenue neither improvable
r augmentable; but he was not to be tied down
to the arraile,:ements made so far back, and it would
Le absurd to expect it."
I will admit, if their profit had then been immo-
derate, something might be objected to this mode
of reasoning; but the Parliamentary debates of
that period yrill show it was not the fashion of the
tittles to foster Pawnbrokers. I mean not to quo-
Von the decisions of the State, but to maintain.
that even• tl.ing relating to them was subjected to
a verb elaborate investigation. The Committee
was composed of the most intelligent merchants,
t.-rakers, sad lawyers ; the Bill, !ranted by them,
e dement long and repeated discussions ; and
t lien it passed, the prevalent opinion of all un-
I ;eitit:iced persons was, that it would scarcely be
cssible to carry on the trade, under restrictions so
mercies, and with a profit so reduced. Subse-
t rent Acts have, nevertheless, still abridged their
tins ; and so detrimental were they felt, that on
easing of the last, many houses immediately closed!
it I am asked how it liapperled that mitre did not,
rpd why so many still continue open I I must an-1
SDI'S' —lt is DO easy matter for a Pawnbroi.er to
re nvert his stock into money, or to turn his indus-
try to any other useful account; after hating been
ail his life accustomed only to the business of his
reenter. Rarely out of his house, he knows the
1. ••iits of other trades only by hearsay ; and having
:imed his sons to his profession, he is desironsof,
it %tiering. both them arid himself contented with it.
r this purpose he is daily pointing to their no-
t re. how many fail who love risk and hazard;
r.:.d of Incelcating as a maxim, that sure, though
in 141 gains, is the safe method to accumulate
iiches. Accustomed from infancy to this mode of
tHilLing, they consider every thing dangerous that
say way speculative ; and while they labour, .
Pam day to day, unceasingly iii their vocation, they
son scarcely conceive what the impulse is which
prorni ts others to undertake severe and perilous ,
employ ments, protided it promises but *short con-
enuence. and. have rio idea corresponding with ,
the sentiments of those whose schemes are always
*sat, and who put no medium between being
great and being rained.
That these men are, nevertheless, of much set-
y:ce to the community, I think I have demonstrated.
A •el it discredit has attached to the trade through
Cie mai-practices of some of its members, sorry
Dm I to say,•the contempt with which they have
t treated, and the insufficiency of their legal
Kai's, hate too often occasioned it. It is next to
17:.eolzsible for any one to preserve a fair charac-
e•r whose faults are blazoned, and whose best
d.e:.ls are either passed by unnoticed, or attributed
t interested motives. And though it has been
w II observed, " There it always something great
in that wan against whom the world exclaims, at
v;iin every one throws a stone, and on whose!
cl:aracter all attempts to fie a thousand crimes, i
without' being able to prove one;" yet it is too!
much to expect a whole profession should console
e.self with this reflection; and that mete who are
eepposed so keen in their dealings. should be the
only persona who have-not dist:overt-re that
is 1101 always conYeelent in business, nor the rigid
exorcise of siRTGE propitious to svordly success.
I am not endeavour* to palliate guilt, but to
account for it. The foregoing remark may teed to
prJre, that contempt has rendered some of them
careless. Allow me now to consider what is the
effect of insufficient gains. In most other busi-
resses, if a man embarks three thousand pounds,!
it is generally found a sufficient capital. He will ,
safely ironic on this to four times its amount;
established credit, his knowledge of trade, good
name, and punctuality, standing him instead of
the remainder. But punctuality, knowledge of
business, and good name, have no stick influence in
limit of a Pawnbroker. He is incapable of trod.*
1W one farthing Leveed the money he possesses;
avid three thousand pounds engaged in this con-
cern cannot, with the utmost frugality, defray a
man's unavoidable e%pences. If, then, a wife and
family look to hint for subsistence—if he cannot
get out of this businesi without sacrificing a large
pelt of his property—if his ignorance of any other
destroys the rational hope of better success—and
if,,notwitlistanding these, he duds himself com-
pelled to lend money on snore moderate terms
Wail one friend can borrow of another on his note