The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-02-27 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

sant free nation as the Corn Bill, nnil an immense
standing army are likely to supply-- whett the nations
on the Continent may laugh at us when we talk of
,our liberty, and tell us we could not import a ship
load of• corn though we were starving, it is time to
look at home, and see what sort of freedom of action
we ourselves have. We need not talk of times of
peace, for peace.returns only with public happiness,
with the return of a just order of things; and tran-
quillity is not the effect of that policy which strikes
at the root of national prosperity and content.
The deep dissatisfaction which is exciting by the
legislative measure to keep up the price of corn, or
rents, is neither partial nor disguised. Every man
thinks he has a right to speak out when his food is
touched, and ull have no difficulty in forming opinions
on this sulljeoseaf he general voice is the general law,
which oujit to be heard and obeyed. We feel it our
duty, although it were from no other reason than
what we apprehend must be the consequences to the
public peace from a contrary conduct, to impress atten-
tion to thegeneral wishes, as now expressed in regard to
the proposed restrictions on the importation of grain.
' The country has had and heard enough of the
i Luddite system of reduction. The necessity which is
• imposed again upon the great body of the population'
of this country to meet and petition the Legislature
against the intended Corn Bill, cannot but be ex-
pected to have serious effects on the public tran-
quillity. Meetings we perceive are calling in many
, populous places, and the entire of the manufacturing
and commercial towns in the empire will, doubtless,
lose no time in petitioning.
1 ARequisition was signed on Saturday by a number of
the Merchants of the Corporation of this City, to re-
! quest the LORD M A. yOR to calla Meeting on the Ro)al
• Exchange of the Merchants, Bankers, and Traders,
to take into consideration the propriety of Petition-
, ing the PRINCE REGENT against the propose,' ahem-
i tion of the Corn Laws ; and a Meeting takes place
at Manchester to-day, and et I..eerla on Therulay,
for the purpose of addressing Parliam la on
1 the same subject. We have all proper coofidenCe
.in the good sense of our countrymen, but trentu-
loos nerves may fear for the effect of debating
a topic of such an irritating cast in what have been
I termed the disturbed districts. Yet what concerns the
vital interests of the public must, and ought to under-
, go public discussion ; and we should but ill per form
i our office if we did not continue to recommend the
Isubject to general attention, and advise general and
immediate petitions, not merely against the high price
Ito be imposed upon the chief article of subsistence,
I but against the continued existence of all the other
causes of the nation's burthens, wasteful and unne-
cessary expenditure of the public money, standing
larmies in a time of peace, and even a change of Mi-
I sisters, or of their system of policy altogether.

Ministers seem either blind or indifferent to the si-
tbation of the country—the present crisis is an awful
one, and every thing we see and hear still more
convinces us, that nothing but an immediate change
of measures can prevent a convulsion that cannot be
contemplated without alarm. The 44 syste:m offinance,"
as it is called, which Mr. VANSITTART has just submit-
ted to Parliament, is the weakest and most objection.
able plan that any •Minister ever yet proposed—it is de-
ficient in every necessary of sound policy and epplica-
bility, and promises nothing but a most abundant
product of trouble and national mischief. Very dif-
ferent, indeed, are the measures which our present
necessities demand—a very short and plain statement
of our real silaution will convince the most sceptical
of the dangers that await us.
The close of a twenty years' war has left the coun-
try with a debt of upwards of 800 millions, the in-
terest of which amounts to upwards of 28 millions.
For this sum the property of the whole nation,
real and personal, is pledged. The amount of this
property has been calculated by the best writers on
statistics and political economy, at about 1900 mil-
lions.—Thus the mortgage, if we include the
floating and unfunded debt, amounts to above half
the actual property mortgard !—but, if •we add
the sums paid in parochialtaxes, local, poor, and
church rates, it Will be found that the expendi-
ture actually amounts to more than the receipt
To prove that this is the case, nothing more is neces-
sary than the recollection, that zee hare been obliged
to begin on the principal: this was done when the
Land Tax was sold. Let us examine, for the sake
Of Peripiculty, how this would operate in priiate life. i
—A man mortgages his estate to the full amount of
its value, of course, therefore, his whole income is
consumed in the discharge of the interest of his debt.
lle must, however, live; he therefore begins by
selling a field. But as by going on in this way ruin
Would become inevitable, the mortgagee would of
course foreclose and pay himself. A man in pri-
vate life would therefore be obliged to economize,
and by reducing his establishment, contrive to ex-
ist; but if he was a prudent man he would lay by
small sum annually, and by creating a sinking fund
his difficulties would gradually disappear. But a
very different system has been adopted by Ministers
to avoid their feeling the direct burden of the debt—
they multiplied their negociable securities by an in-.
undatton of paper eorrency. By this operation
Bank notes have increased from'five millions, which
was about the quantity in circulation at the com-
mencement of the war, to thirty-two millions,
which are at present in circulation, independent
of country bank tante, to nearly as great aft
amouut; and thus by an Act of Parliament

taking the precious metals out of circulation, a false
credit was obtained, and an appeiratice of solvency
created, while, if our affairs had been investigated
in the same manner as would apply to private life,
bankruptcy would have been unavoidable ! At last
(as every thing must have an end) the war ceases, and
peace is restored to us. The unnatural value of
every thing forced and bolstered up by the peculiar
nature of the war, as it had been for so long a pe-
riod, returns to its regular level. 'Corn, that great
regulator of the price of every other commodity,
falls to a price which the grower cannot sell it at, if
he is to continue to be burdened with the enormous
load of taxation which, daring the war, he had la-
boured under. Ministers, in this dilemma, have but
one resource, that of giving a forced price to corn,
which naturally raises with it the price of every thing
else. But this cannot last. It may prevent the
evil front breaking in upon them, for a short time,
but it still goes on—what is the remedy therefore?
Th.! short and simple one of suiting the expenditure
to the income! curtailing whatever espence cannot
be a Worded, and thus meeting the emergency at the
right end : that they must ultimately come to this,
there can be no doubt. If the prodigious naval and
military establishments we now support, are not
limited, it may not be altogether absurd to suppose,
they will be shortly unpaid, the natural cense-
querices of which .are obvious. Jobs of all sorts,
now existing, should be abolished, and all future
ones discountenanced ; a plan of the most rigid
economy should be -immediately adopted in every
department of the State; all sinecure places done
away with, and the whole plan of retrenchment car-
ried into effect without a single exception.—This
alone, to all present appearance, can save tut from
approaching ruin.
While we are on this subject, we cannot but al-
lude to the plan in contemplation for a new Post-
Office. It is said, the removal of it from its pre-
sent situation to St. Martin's-le-Grand, will cost
upwards of 800,0001.: nothing but the most absolute
necessity- can surely justify the expenditure of such
a sum. We have heard that a plan has been sub-
mitted to Government which appears to us to be utterly
unexceptionable—the removal of the Excise-Office
to the spot where the old Custom-House formerly
stood, and the converting of the present Excise-
Office into a Post-Office. It is said that this
could be done not only at no expcnce, because the
sale of the present Post-Office would more than
defray it, but that both establishments would
be materially benefited by the change.
The scite of the present Excise-Office holds out
every possible advantage as. a Post-Office.. The
Mail-coaches could conveniently draw up in the in-
closed area, where they cotdd be shut in while load-
, ing, by which the danger, delay, and trouble, of
twice loading the Mails would be avoided (to say
nothing of the disturbance which is created by the
nightly assembly of thieves and disorderly persons,
to the impediment of all passengers in Piccadilly,
Oxford-street, &c.). The building affords abundant
room for offices, which could be speedily, and with.
out difficulty, constructed, amply sufficient for the
well conducting the whole of the internal business.—
In addition to this the removal of the Excise-Office to
the immediate neighbourhood of the Custom-House,
would be a measure highly advantageous to that de-
partment, and is most desirable in every way.
But we have heard, what we are unwilling to be-
lieve, that the sum of 100,0001. is also to be voted
by the City of London towards the erection of the
proposed Post-Office in St. Martin's-le-Grand, from
the Orphan's Fund ; for which sum, so to be con.
tributed, the City intend to petition Parliament,
praying that an additional Port Duty of one shilling
in the cheldron may be laid on all Coats brought into
the Port of London ! This surely never can be con.
sewed to. A Corn Bill and a Coal Bill at the same
time would be too much ; and we cannot see on what
possible pretence the Cities of Westminster, the 80.
rough of Southwark, and all the Immense population
of the metropolis, and the environs out of the City,
should be taxed for an object solely advantageous to
the City, or a part only of the City.
These are considerations of importance ;—we trust
they will be duly weighed, and that measures of eco.
nomy and retrenchment, in every possible way, may
be adopted, before it is too late. The most fright.
ful calamities are menacing the country; we only ful-
fil our duty in raising our feeble but earnest voice to
avert their dire effects.

A Requisition to the Sheriff of Wilts has been
signed by nearly 500 names, to obtain a County
Meeting to consider of petitioning Parliament on
the subject of the Corn Laws, and for the abolition
of all the War Taxes. The Meeting to be held in
Salisbury on the Bth of March.

Yesterday, at two o'clock, a Cabinet Council was
held at the Foreign Office, which sat till a few mi-
nutes after four.

Lord Cul ais expected to return to &gland with
Lord CASTLEREAGH from Vienna.

•
We are desired by a Correspondent to enquire of
the CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, whether he
means by doubling the tax upon Bachelors to extend
it to men who live separate from their wives ?—they
are to all intents and purposes single men.
A meeting of the shoemakers of Stafford has been
held, on the subject of preclodinglrom the exercise
of that harle, all those who hate not served a regular
apprenticeship. Some of the iltieinjf4turers base
refused in countenance the meeting, while others
have encouraged it.

TORBAY, Fcn. 24.—Sailed Ms Majestfis ship
Cordelia, on a cruise.

NAIL,Th INTELLIGENCE.

DEAL, Fen. 26.—Canrie down from the River
John and Thomas, for Madeira; the James,
Baurdeaux ; the Zelia, for St. Michael's ; and
Eliza and the Hope, for Bermuda, &c. ard

in the Downs with the outward-hound hest

fleet and a large fleet of merchantmen.—Sailed
Griper goo-brig, for Sheerness.

l'onTsmotrii, Frn. 26.—Arrived the Vern, A'
kinson, (rem Sunderland ; and the Nancy, çio:n
sey.—Theit assembled are his Majesty's shski,irri
or, °feorn T°3
Madeira Majesty's and the West Indies ; 31,,
Lague, for Bermuda and the Bahama Islandi :
bar, for the East Indies, Cape, &c. ; Desiree,
the Brazils and South Seas ; Leven, for Nevrfouild,
land, Quebec, &c. ; and Phoenix, fOi• Spain, P
tugal, and the Mediterranean.

FALMOUTH, FEB. 24.—Arrived the Salted, St.v,
berg, from Cork.--Sailed yesterday his Majesty.,
ship Bittern, for Liverpool ; Gotrtfinch, on a crui—
and several vessels coastways.--Sailed to-day his lb'
jesty's ships Glasgow and Nymphet!, on a crair
Put back yesterday the Plymouth, Kidd, lihstp,
with loss of foretop:rnut.—The follussing pack,
are now in the. roads, detained by Contrary Kinds;
Princess Elizabeth, Lady Arabella, and Dige
Kent, for Lisbon ; Express, for Gibraltar and
Mary, for the West ludies; Windsor Castle, for
Wax ; Fox, for Surinam ; and the Queen Cluirl,tie
for the Brazils.

LIVERPOOL, FER. 25.—The Susannah., Bichax;
son, from Whilehu wen, for I.;verpOo:, with oatr
flour, and bale goods, went to pieces on the eveffl
of uie 22d inst. near the pile of Foudry : crew al
passengers, 25 in number, saved in the boat.—Pot
back the Royal Edward, bound to Bermuda, haw
been on shore nears Wexford, and received
damage.

Accounts from New -South %Vales to the
of October state, that the cattle in the .
have multiplied so considerably that beef was at ,
the pound. Wheat was likely to be very deficient.
It seems that the last year it was sold as low as -Is. to
ss. per bushel, and the farmers, in consequence of
this discouragement, did not find it their interest to
continue the cultivation. The trod., the cnlnny
was improving, and wool was cnnsid-red ttie priaci•
pal article of merch The imitii4einein in
the general accommodation at this remit. es'ahlish.
meta was not inconsiderable, and a road, 'lb miles
in length, over the mountains, which had Wyk. heeo
traversed and explored, was
_among the f.mciii ..s
afforded by recent exertions to cultivation and soh-
si stence.
A•Special Commission is appointed to be held at
the Old Bailey, to try an extraordinary case of MU.
der, to-morrow.
A reward of 1001. is offered In Saturdiy's anctic
for the discovery of the murderer of MARY Batt,
wife of HENRY HALL, a labourer, at bum!, is
Buckinghamshire, with a free pardon to any accom-
plice making such discovery. The murder was per.
petrated between 9 anti •10 o'clock, P. M. oa the
7th inst.
Lady MILDMAY, it is reported, has retired to
private lodgings, in Southampton, and now Heel in
the most economical manner. with a view of devotiog
the greater part of her income to the liquidation of
the damages given against her son.

There is every reason to think, that the propocql
tax on Newspapers will l e abanduned. The Curs.
ccuon of the EXCHEQUER having made the engoirie,►
and consulted the authorities to which he should ha►e
referred in the first instance► finds that it would sot
answer.

KING'S Titc.ta'ne.—The very beautiful genet of
Les Troubadours, Wig performed for the second time
on Saturday night. The theatre was most brilliant,
and the Ballet was received with bursts of acclama-
tion. It is a most finished performance; and
Saturday it received new charms by its compression.
The march of the story was more rapid; the Diver-
tisemeuts were properly shortened, and the et:fries of
some of the performers were not doubled. The de-
corations of this Ballet are also very fine. The scei e
in the second act is one of the most beautiful land-
scapes we ever saw on the stage, and the architectu-
ral scene in the third act is also magnificent.
DRURY-LANg THEATRE --lASt Saturday night a
new Frace was produced, called Poor Relalions. It
was frequently interrelated, and fierily condemned.
After the curtain fell, there was a cry of " Manager."
Mr. MUNDEN came forward, and stared," that the
France not having met the public approbation, shook'
be withdrawn."—The author, we understand, is the
same who wrote the Bee Hive.

On the authority of the Inspector of the watch of
Clerkenwell Parish, we have to contradict the para•
graph that has appeared in the public Papers, stating
that GRIMALDI, the celebrated Clown of Coy&
Garden Theatre, had been :attacked and robb-41 is
Spa.fields, by a man who afterwards tome-A out to is
a watchman. The whole story being a fabrication
highly injurious to the character of the watch, ntt4
the peace of the neighbourhood, we think'the parish
officers ought to have given an official contradiction
to it before now.

Miss FITZIIENRY, who performs on Nfonasy nett,
for Lady PERBOTT'S Benefit, is, we understand, the'
young Lady, who, two years ngo, paid one hundred
pounds for the performance of the celebrated Amateur
of Fashion. •

On Monday morning the 13th inst. bet vein o
and .three o'clock, two female servants of Mr. Jn'•
Ullett, miller, of Wilsthorpe, near: Stamford, in
consequence of having been chided by their mistress
for being found up at that unseasonable hour, re•
gating themselves with tea, Bcc. left the house, and
some time afterwards one 'of theta was found drowned
in a small rivulet otter the premises; the other was
standing beside her, dropping with wet, and weeping
bitterly. They had both, it seems, gone out with the
intention-of drowning themselves, but the latter, for-
tunately, had failed in her resolution ofio4oing.
Green-room report speaks highly of Mr. Prit.Ev,
who is shortly to make his debut at Drury-lene, as
Nor-cal, in•tiid Tragedy. of Douglas. This rung
actor has just been imported from the English then.
tre at Brussels.

River cis
James, for
; and the
remais
East Wiz
Sailed tIL
Hero, AL,
.sty's
ies ;
;
Paine, for
S-PWrOllnt!.
pain, pm
'eat, St",
Majp,t).,
11 a mi.—
ay his
L cruise.—
bllster,
ig parkel
ry wihdt;
Age
Ind
le. for lia:
(,hare tic,
t Richard.
th oatmeal,
he evening
crew Bed
)oat.--Put
Ida, holing
ived muck
the 13th
settlemeLtt
was at
r deficient.
II 241. 1.