The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-12-26 00:00:00

linsjority, we Wenn* tn, think, is not favourable to
such a petition. Mr. Cone liken ' authority of great
weight in such a matter, and he has been told two
refs ago, in the Address of the Norfolk Agricelte-
ral Safety, delivered by WM. JARY, Esq. at Balk-
ham Sheep Shearing, that the GENERAL PRINCIPLE
tioLtts 15, THAY IT WOULD DI FOR THE
/ARMEN, FOR THIS COUNTRY, AND FOR ALL NATIONS,
THERE SHOULD MC NO CORN LAWS AT ALL.—
ph. COKE adulated this to be true by his reception
of the Address, and indeed his conduct in Parliament
lit the time of wain the last Bill, was such as to
Warrant the amnion in the Address of the Society,
which we have no doubt was drawn by one
thoroughly aequainted with Mr. Coz.E's sentiments.
Bet there is one fact so strong against the Peti-
tioners, that we cannot dwell too much upon it.--le
the course of the last twelve Months mons Tani Ong
(MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND QUARTERS OF
cons, the produce of foreign countries", have bees
brought into the port of London alone. Such en
importation has been added to oar own growth dor.
ing a plentiful year, without producing any very •se..
sloes or sudden effect upon the market. Nearly
100,000 quarters have been introduced week after
week without creating any depreciation of price. In
the mean time the supply of English growth, during
a year of plenty be it observed, has not esceeded, if
it have equalled, the amount brought into Mark-lane
during the year of comparative scarcity. These com-
bined facto prous...lat, the inadequacy of the home
supply-2d, the power which the farmers as a body
poesess, either in their own or au acquired strength
of purse, to withhold such supply at their pleasure-
-and idly, that not even the enormous infirm of the
present year has been yet sufficient to reduce the
price scarcely below the rate at which the ports are
opened. The inference to be drawn from these facts
is clear; if the foreign supply. be further impeded
by any restriction, the pace would immediately rise
to the sterna snap restriction ninnies'', as the mail-
Mum ; but further, it is probable art extreme glade.
stion would eventually be occasioned, inasmuch as a
high price here would afford such a chance of 'nor-
moos profit to the foreign grower or the importing
merchant, that whenever the ports were open (and
that they must be open at some time the importation
proves) the influx would be prodigious and immediate.
These arguments arise out of the simple considera-
tions of supply and demand. But other and very
important truths are to be drawu from the way in
which the manufacturing interests are affected by the
price of subsistence. An esportatiou of manufacture
to nothing short of the value of
,eight millions sterling
(probably considerably more) has been added to the
employment of the manufacturing districts this year,
' • by tit, intp.trtation of grain and Soar. Combine the
szcisiou of all the branches of commerce connected
with these purawev of our goods (and it if now idle
to talk of barter in any other shape than that of
labour tot labour), and what would be the imme-
diate effect.; upon l'oor's Rate and tevenne? But add
to tt4 evil of short employment the nest most grim
oat of all distresses—a high price of subsistence, and
who will compute the tersislirsilon of national suffer-
lug and rational complaint
The total amount of the manufactures (official
value) exported in the year 1816, was co more than
36,714,5341. The total of @sports, including foreign
arid commercial merchandise, 51,260,4671. Thus al-
most one-sixth of the whole foreign trade of this
country must be employed in the payment for foreign

grain.
The manufacturing population was, during the
war, at least equal to the agricultural. !ince the
Peace it has greatly increased, and it must continue
to increase in an augmented ratio, provided a high
price of subsistence does not shot us out of the Con-
tinental and American markets. The Court and the
Country must alike feel the benefit of this increase,
because an enlarged production from laboJr will
facilitate the collection and deorease the burden,
(though not the amount) of tales, by dividing them
over a larger field of industry. It becomes therefore
■ paramount consideration with the State to take cars
that a provision of subsistence be surely made for the
additional citizens rising into life and activity, and
this can be done so as to meet the occasion only
through the vehicle of a foreign supply. In comma.
don with this means we have advocated the endeavoor
to segment domestic production by new settlements of
the unemployed or redundant poor upon the waste
soil, and it is an espedient highly desirable. But lot
It never be forgotten that in the situation England
stands with respect to capital and coals, to scientific
power, to navigation and commercial knowledge, it
is impossible to confine or restrain her growing mane-
factures to this island. She must, from all the cir-
cumstances conneclad with her natural and acquired
advantages es well as her natural and acquired wants,
she Magi enjoy a vast intercourse with the e=ternal
world or she must sink entirely. It appears to be a
matter of imperious necessity that an importation at
least equivalent to the growing demands of a growing
manufacturing population should be met by external
produce, and this necessity must always tend to re.
golata the English by the foreign price. Esciude
foreign corn, and such etc! usion will infallibly be
fdlowed by the emigration of commercial and menu-
!seta/lug capital, knowledge, and indostry. There
are few persons at all acquainted v.;th the subject
who will not allow that England owes her individual
wraith. and her power as a its (et to the cultivation
of these 'EU.