The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-04-14 00:00:00

J

. -
The resoluuons and petition of both gentlemen were
again read.
H. &my, Esq. now said, that he gave his hearty con-
anent. to Mr. Williams's resolutions, as be thought
silty would be more effective if acted upon in relieving
the distress which prevailed. To enter upon any discus-
inn es to the nature of that distress was now mimes-
ivy, as it was well known and severely felt by all who
beard Lim; but ho might be allowed to say a word or
two as tote mode by which it might be remedied. He
oas one who would sincerely reprobate any plan of re-
ef which went to support the agriculturists at the ex-
po,* otany other class of the community. If any plan
pf that kind, as any which involved even the slightest
violation of the national faith, were proposed; he would
be among the first to oppose it. If, however, it eouldbe
Shown that the agriculturists bore a greater portion of
ihetiOrbs or the country than any other class—tbat thiy
only were pressed down by county rates and poor rates
and a landholder of moderate income had to pay a large
portion of these,w bile another, having tens of thousands/ n
he funds, was exempt from them, lie thought there was
ain't ground of complaint, and that the petition, to put
all property upon the same footing in this respect, could
not be deemed unreasonable. ' The fundholder had the
same protection from the eiVil and military iostitutioos
of the country, and he ought in fairness to contribute his
equal proportion. It might be said that they. had taken
their estates subject to such burdens. He denied the jus-
tice of the argument. If they went back to 1792, it would
be found that the increase of the burdens of poor rates,
County rates, and otber taxes on land, bad been mita
nious, and OM of all proportion great as compared wilt
the burdens of the other classes oi the community. Ho
therefore repeated. that it was by no means unreasonable.l
to ask that all the taxes should be equalized. He held iu
his hand a document which had been moved for in Par-
Dement by Mr. Chetwynde—a statement of the expenses
of the county of Brecon for seven years; and it there
app-ared that the county rates of last year were 3,1411..
making a large proportion, somewhere, he thought, about
one:seventeenth of the rental of the county. Was it, he
would ask, fair that this should be borne exclusively
by one art of men ? He was aware there was a great pre-
judice against such meetings as the present ; but surely
nothing could be more natural than that they who felt
tlemuselves aggrieved should complain and seek for re-
dress. Among other objections to agricultural meetings,
it was !it'd that their object was to raise the price
of agikultural produce. He had no such wish;
but he did wish to lower the cost of production ; togive
to the f ,rmer a fair remunerating sale for his produce by
lessening the burdens under which he laboured. If these
burdens were spread equally among all classes, it could
make no difference in the ministerial budget, as the re.,
turns would be the game. If this took place, and Heine
tain taxes applicable to the landed interest tier. remised;
there could be no alteration in our financial system, es.
rcpt, perhaps, that the sinking fund might be reduced
from five millions to three--a circumstance from which
no disadvantage could accrue to public, credit. If he
thought it would, he would not support it ; for he would
give his sanction to nomeasure which would in any way
infringe upon the national credit.—(.:beers.)
After a few words in explanation, between Mr.
LIAM and Mr. 6WTNNE, the latter consented to withdraw

his resolntione and petition.
Major Pa ice said, he wont ,1 repeat here what he had said
elsewhere, that they who called the county together OR this
occasion aught to be prepared with some practicableplan of
relief. Ile saw none in any of the resolutions before the
meeting. if the object wu to say that distress existed
among tha agriculturists of Breconshire, they were borne
out by the experience of every land holder in the county.—
However, as it might be of some advantage to let the Hone.
of Commons know the partieelers of dist distress, he woeld
support the resolutions of Me. Williams. He, however,
would not consent to any measure which would press on the
fends only. If there were to ►any alteration, let the pres-
sure on all classes be equal.
Mr. Ho•rcnsis suggested that as bountieshad been given
by the Levislature to different branches of trade, to emu-
rage enterprise In those concerned, the granting a bounty to
the exporters of home-grown corn would bee great relief to
the agriculturists fend at the same time such exportation,
confined to British shipping, manned with British seamen,
wee a ou.sery for that valuable class of men.
The Bev. CHARLtS GRIIMTHS opposes! this, as going
against the spirit of the resolutions already before the
meeting, which condemned the taxing of one part of the
country at the expense of the other.—(Near, hear.)
The Ikon SHIM'Sr observed, that as the addition
which the gentleman proposed was not seconded, it must
fall to the ground.
The HIGH SHIM?r then put the resolutions of Mr.
William seriatim:, and they were all unanimously adopt-
ed; as was also the petition bonded on them.
It was then moved and carried, that the Lord Liente-
mast of the ronnty (the Duke of Beaufort) be requested
to present the petition to the Lords, and to support its
prayer; also, that Colonel Wood, the member for the
county, be directed to prevent the petition to the Com-
mon., and to support its prayer.
It was then moseil, that Arthur Wilkins, Esq. M.P. for
Radnorshire, and William Alexander Maducks, Esq.
M.P. for Chi ppenhasn, be requested to support the peti-
tion by their vote and interest.
On the motion of the Rev. THOS. WILLIAMS, thunks
were voted to John Owynne and Henry Williams, Ergrs.
for their exertions in bringing about this meeting. and
also for the zeal they had shown in their endcavou.fs to
procure some relief to their suffering brother free-
holders.
Mr. J. GWYNNa moved that the thanks of the meeting
be given to the High Sheriff, for his impartial conduct
in the chair, and for his readiness in convening the free-
holders on the present occasion—an example worthy of
imitation by all persons filling similar high official situ-
ations. This was put and carried by acclimation. The
High Sneriff brieNy returned thanks, after which the
meeting equaled.

LATE NEOOCIATION BETWEEN PRANCE 4iND
SPAIN.

A private letter from Bladrhl, dated March 25, states
the following particulars relative to the late negocia-
bon:—
" When the Spanish Government requested the MI dia.
lion of England, I have already observed, they sent a
formal despatch to that effect to Sir W. A'Court, which
they desired he would transmit to thii Government. He
did so: and when the British Government received this
communication they transmitted it to the Government
of France. This was immediately after the resolutions
of the Congress of Verona were made known to the Spa-
nish Government through the medium of the fao ions
Notes. The date of the despatch above-mentioned, was
the 31st of January. In answer to the communication
transmitted by England to France, the latter rep lied
that his Majesty's Government was disposed to receive
through England aoy proposition which Spain might
'deem it expedient to make, and several conferences
took place between our Minister at Paris, and M. Ville'',
the result of which was that the terms to which the
French Government was willing to accede were put
down in writing and sent to Sir W. A'Court. These
terms sere—that the Cortes should, in the first place de-
cree—the definitive .execution of the 92d Article of
the Constitution should pass a more effectual law with
respect m the regulation of the press—that the Cionn-
cil of State should have a deliberative voice—be in-
creased to the number of eighty, and chosen either us at
present by nomination of the King on the postulation
of the Cortes, or modelled after the plan of the Senate
of the. United States, and finally that the King should
Lave an absolute veto, The 93d article above referred