The Statesman.
London, England, 1822-10-28 00:00:00

INCES DI AIIISM.

HALTSWORTR, SUFFOLK, OCT. I lamest to
state that I have to inform you of the resumption of
those menages of tiring farming stock, which last win.
tar and spring so frequently disgraced this county in
particular. Last night, about nine o'clock, an alarafing
fire was discovered in the stack-yard of Mr. lieorge Ra-
binson, of Chediston, which is about two miles front
this elice ; and, as con may easily imagine, it spread
slur n in the country round, as the occupiers have had
so lousy reaanns to dread the scandalous proceedings of
idle and mischievous portions of the agricultural la-
bourers. That this fire, which threatened destruction
to valuable premises, as well as to large farming stock,
was the act of ineendiaties, there are Malty reasons to
believe, some of which may bit useful in leading to the
detection of the miserably misled offenders. Mr R. is
not what is called a popular man, amongst the labour-
ers, chiefly, I believe, because he was one of the Agri-
cultural Associations,' a Committee of whom used to
meet at Ileoderson's in Westminster—Associations,
however, that heretofore were so highly applauded by
the farming classes. Besides this circumstance, I may
mention that the fire broke out in that part of the stack-
varii which was the least likely to be affected by acci-
dent, from Mr. It.'s family or men. There had been
all day a smart breeze from the South West ; but in the
evening it providentially abated, and by night had set
in; it was followed by what sailors would call a dead
calm; otherwise nothing could have saved the other
stacks from similar destruction, together with the whole
of the fartn-liaililings, the dwelling-house, &c. the con-
flagration of the whole of which Wag evidently intend- •
e.l. This is the second fire produced by incendiaries,
that has happened in Chediston.
That place is situated in the incorporated hundred
of Itlyilling, where the Poor Rates have always been
moderate, and where the labourers, for the most part,
have been tolerably well employed. The principal part
of the property in the parish belongs to too Ian:I-own-
er,. who rank amongst the first in the county as good
landlords; one of them having made scarcely any ad-
vance in his tenants' rents during the late wa•, and this
other having reduced his rents very Wirtilly since, its
well as at the close of that war. Its parochial cone-ens,
however, have been injared •by that system of misrule
against which the laws have hitherto io ruin endeavour-
ed to protect the poor. The Thrashing Machines
which, till very tarty were. in general, 1 might say uni-
versal use, and the encouragement thus given to them,
was scarcely awe injurious to the agricultural lathier-
eee than is the practice that has been pursued for years,
and is still pursued here, of appointing a shopkeeper to
be Overseer. This is in the,very teeth of the :Loth tieoree
111. which was-evidently iateniled to prevent those who
received parochial aid front receiving that assistance in
peovieions instead of money. The principal
iubahi-
taats have for the I ist ten or twelve years, nominated
such an Overseer, and the Magistrates have sanctioned
!dee appointment : thetse firings, and this improper m
nagement of that aid raised for the poor, has tali, n
place within the Magisterial district ot S. Liourb,
Esq. ore of our County Members, and who was the
Cheirin in of the Commons' Agricultural Committee.—
The appointment of a shopkeeper to he Overseer mate-
daily diminishes the assistance given to the pauper
one fourth, I hear, in many instances; an I how Ker. re
a deduction is that where the weekly silos awe for a
man, wife, awl children, may he tire or six shillincs!
The Comm.:me Com 'lime were informed o s trh far a ;
I wrote a detailed account of them to Mr. S'i.r_es
Bourne, ; others di 1 the Fame ; and yet ta •It port
on the Poor Rates' Returr, takes no noticeof sueli ratu•
outs system, hut is occupied chiefly in ilizcassing the
forms of parish and Overseers' Books! 1 hope you
will let these things be known ; they 'Aida to be made
public.