The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-06-30 00:00:00

THE STATESMAN.

peuple.—The Petition was received, as was the Petition
of b. W ills, the It.n. Secretary. by wl 44444► it was signed.

COTTON lit.ti*Eßs.

Mr. Matsu ELL, in rising to make his motion for a
Select Committee to inquire into the possibility of
affording relief to the distressed Cotton-weavers. apo-
logized for the partial nature of 1i s proposition. hut
he bad felt it necessary to emleavour to alleviate, if
teat to cure, the distress of a part of the co ttttt amity.
Parliament had received statements, net from the
wurking people alone, but from the ,Ilagistrates and
Lord Lieutenants of the manufacturing distri..t.:. as-
suring them that the irritation and sedition in those
lows of the courory were caused by distress. It was
tint too convincing an argument of the necessity of
Reform, when Parliament did not show its alvtiet.y to
inquire iuto the case of that surering. It WAS nut too
much for him to ask them to inquire into the distress
or oue (lase of the labouring inhabitants of the coun-
try. Whilst the wealthy master-manufacturers were
rol!iug in every species or luxury, the operative
weevers acre reduced to the extremes! suffering. The
cotton manufacture was gradually lessened in quantity
and valve, yet we were told by stone that things would
tied their level, which meant. if any thing, that the
n retched beings must drag on in wreclierinees till
they perished. The Hun. Member then alluded to the
unequal pressure of taxation, which, by affecting arti-
r lea of consumption, pressed on the working weaver
with his simple loom, while the power loom was
exempt from taxivion. It was a fair question,whether
this inequality should nut be remedied ? There was j
an imperative call for an alteration in the Combination!
Laws, which allowed the masters to combine to arty I
extern, and prevented the unfortunate operatives from
attempting it. It was also a proper subject of eon.
silleration, whether any good could be done by trans-
ferring the nianufactrtrers who could not get their
Fling in their present calling+ to some other work. He
thought it a hard and ungenerous recompense to the
1!,C4 who had generously devoted themselves to the
u•!stderatiore of this subject, and to the improvement
of their fellow-countrymen, that they were not only
opposed, but laughed at. He referred to the names
of °were Ilowcioft. and Wiles. A change of occu-
pation fur the poor scented to him the wore necessary,
because our efforts to undersell the foreign manufac-:
tures only t v,nwirelineti the country with tears' rates.
'1 relict.- the i rby enahliue manufacturers to give
them employment, a grant of Fechequer Bills should,
I.e observed, be made to such as could afford security'
fur their repayment. and. iit i.is view, it would be much
better to mike such a grant, than to afford aid f •
the public purse. as bad been done for the construction
of canals, which had no commerce to carry on, or
for the improvemeat of ports in which nn accession of
shipping could he expected. The employment of the
puur would not only relieve suffering humanity, but it
would lessen the pressure of the pours'-rates, and enable
those who were a bur; hen upon those rates to contri-
brat, to the revenue by the additional consumption of:
excisable articles. He did not think proper to go
farther at present into a detail of his views, which
w. re certainly not the result of Cursory consideration,
as he felt that it would be better to reserve himself for
the Committee, where the whole subject might be
lit /re deliberately discussed. From such a Committee,
if appointed, a Report would he laid before the House
as to the course of measures niost expedient to pur-
sue with respect to the object in view. That object
was to allay those discontents which were so empitsti-
rally adverted to in two ur three of the last speeches
from the Throne. and which that House, in its Ad-
es-rises in reply to these speeches, so solemnly pledged
itself to promote. But yet he was sorry to sar, that
iti:!ead of taking measures to allay those discontents,
by relieving the iliet.ess from which they proceeded,
recourse was had to a military force in order to con-
tout or prevent those expressions, and he really be-
lieved that very material relief might have been afforded
by the sum expended in supporting the military force ;
such additional expence within the last year having
beets, as he uurlerstoud, above 400,000/. In consider-
iuo this rase, he would ask any good or rational man
whether it would nut be better to present than to cure
any disease ?—and why then did nut Government ra-
ther endeavour to mitigate the discontent of the people
than to increase the expence of the army? But he
hoped that Parliament would even now be induced to
take the subject of public distress into its serious con-
sideration. If it were observed that the evil was of
su:h a nature as rendered it extremely difficult to de-
vise any remedy, lie would say, that even if it were
impossible to find an adequate remedy, still the inquiry
would do much good, as It would satisfy the minds of
the mitering people of the disposition of the House to
render them any service in its power. But he would
contend that it was quite practicable to relieve the ma-
nufacturing poor, if the same liberal spirit were felt
towards them that had been manifested towards others
—towards Wrench emigrants, American loyalists, Rue-
slap and German sufferers, &c. earls of whom had been
favoured with pecuniary aid front the British treasury.
Would It not be ninth more considerate, also, to
vote the public money for the relief of the ma-
nufacturers, than for the 'ready decoration (for he
could not say the actual improvement) of the ex-
terior of Henry the Seventh's Chapel, or for extending
the port of Dublin, while its trade was declining, or for
other purposes, which he need not name, but to which
he could nut help thinking it extremely wrong to apply
the public money at such a period as the present ? He
thought also that a tax should he imposed upon
French lacqueys and Swiss porters, with various
other foreigners, a number of whom were at present
employed in this country, thus occupying situations,
which would otherwise be filled by some of our own
people, and thus contributing to augment the poor, and
to aggravate their distress. Those pensioners and
half-pay officers, find-holders and land-owners also,
who were become absentees from this country, should
also be subjected to some additional taxation, in con-
sequence of their absence, and the produce of such
taxes should form a fund for the relief of the poor. In
what he was on this occasion urging, he was only
echoing the sentiments and feelings of the people, fur
whom he deemed it his duty to become an advocate.
These people freely and forcibly expressed their opi-
nion, that Parliament and Government ought to attend
to their calls for relief; and he was sorry to who's,
any indifference to such calls, especially on the part
of Uovernmint. He did sot mean to speak offeasavely

_ ,

0

of Ministers, fur severcl of whom he entertained great
personal esteem, but he could not forbear from ob-
jecting to thi•ii system, as he should ever continue to
do so lung as L•e thol,ght it exceptionable, whatever
might be his rerson.l attachments or private con-
nexions. It appeorell to him that this system was
radically tennis::: for surely it was not in harmony with
the system of the universe, that some should be ex-
tremely rich, while multitudes were exceedingly poor.
Those who believed in the existence of a Supreme
Being, ,•r in the benev,•lence d his attributes, could
nut think that state of society correct, in which a few
were very high, while the mans• were very wretched,
in which those who were idle could revel in every
luxury, while those whim lab 'tired could not obtain the
means of common subsistence. It might be said, that
he spoke rather too strong language, but believing
all men equal arcuriling to the laws of nature, he
could not think the egregious inequality of condition
which existed in this country by any means just ; and
lie must urge ni on the consideration of the House. that
if it desired to maintain the institutions of the coun-
try, it was essentially necessary that it should reduce
the public expenditure, and relieve the distress of the
labouring classes. '1 he peculiar habit of the people
of this country, as well as the• of other European na-
tions, to look of late years especially to the wise insti-
tutions and cheap Government of America, with some-
thing like a feeling of sympathy and admiration, could
nut be unknown to any observant person, and there-
fore it behoved Government, fer its own safety, to ame li
-
liorate the condition of time people. If he, rho was of
a different class from those whose cause he pleaded,
were thought to speak too strongly upon this occasion,
how, lie would ask, were those likely to feel who were
setualiy suffering distress ? They felt, he could as-
sure the House, most keenly, because they were in di-
rect want. They were ready to emigrate to any quar-
ter of the world in search of bread, and yet be had
not been able to procure a conveyance for any of his
distressed constituents, either to the Cape of Good
Hope or to North America, although others, by no
means so much in want were furnished with such
means. But this was, perhaps, owing to his want of
ability. or of slue influence on the Ministerial side of
that Houso. The lion. Member concluded with mov-
ing. for time appointment of a Coniniittee to consider of
the means of relieving the cotton manufacturers with-
out injury to the community.

Mr. F. P.11.311ta secoutlett the moti.m.

Mr. Rim NV'S ohs Teed, that it was tolerably well
knuwo i.e was no advocer for Parliamentary Reform,
and hr was the less so, becanu; he was unwilling to
convert the House into a elllegi• of disputauts. But
his lion. Friend seemed disposed, from the variety of
subjects to which he adverted, to render the Commit-
tee be proposed quite an arena for disputation, and
the very first point which he would have this Cui . nit-
tee discuss was an abstract. 1 hat Committee might
be useful and essential its collecting and arranging
facts anti int...rotation, he was ready tu.aduait, but this
was, he believed, the first time it was proposed to re-
fer to a Committee the discussiou of an abstract idea.
The Hun. Member's professed object was to benefit the
cotton manufacturers, but how !bat was to be done by
such taxes as lie proposed upon foreign Servants and
absentees, he (Mr. It.) wrs at a los:, to imagine. With
respect to the absentees, many, he believed the great
' majority of them were obliged to resort to other
countries for cheap living, in consequence of the
depression of their circumstance; and would the
Honourable Member seriously press fur an aggrava-
tion of those circumstances by the imposition of an
additional tax : Would Parliament consent to such in-
justice, or, hr would say, to such inhumanity and imp-
!icy ? The lion. Member deprecated luxury, fur which
he (Mr. R.) was certainly nu advocate, as a moral
good; but lie apprehended it niight easily be shown
in various ways, such as the cumber of servants, ur
the general amount of expense siting the rich, that
the abandonment of luxury would tend rather to ag-
gravate than to relieve the distress of the labouring
classes. In what the Hon. Member bad advanced on
the means of relieving the distress of the manufacturer
he professed to echo the language of his constituents,
and this furnished an additional argument against the
proposed Committee, the appointment of which would
only serve to propagate delusion, without leading to
any practical good, or even to any temporary palli-
ative for the evils complained of. At all events, from
the variety of matter which the lion.3lember proposed
to submit to the Committee, in conjunction with his
abstract ideas, he could hardly suppose it would be
thought possible, at this period of the Session, to make
any progress in such a complicated investigation. 1)n
those grounds, then, be felt it his duty to move the
previous question.
Mr. RICARDO observed, that the Hon. Mover of the
original motion appeared to be quite mistaken in his'
conception of the Inactions of Iluvernment. i"or it
was not the duty of tieveraineut to provide sabsisktice ,
fur the peupie, but to protect their industry, by re-
moving all obstacles to its exertion—by setting aside
every restriction upon commerce and manufacture.
Where Hovernment, indeed, interfered fur any ether
purpose than the performance of this duty, it gene-
rally did a great injury.
Mr. LOCKHART opposed the original motion, con-
ceiving that its adoption would only serve to hold out
false hopes, which might probably induce the agricul-
turists and other cl a of the people whose distress
was quite equal to that of those fur wheel the Hon.
Mover was an advocate, to make similar applications
to that House. He particularly deprecated the Hoe.
Member's proposition to tax absentees, for such a tax
would most probably urge those to take away their
capitals from this country, who at present only spent
their incomes in other nations; and the capital, once
take% away, was by no means likely to return.

Mr. MAXWV.L, after a short reply, consented to
withiraw his motion until the next Session. The Emo-
tion Was accordingly withdrawn.
The other Orders of the Day were disposed of, and
the House adjourned.

The venerable oak on Fairlup Common, Epping
Forest, ender whose branches so many happy parties
have so often rusticated, ha; it seem; been sold, and
its timbers are to be converted into smut-boats, and
other light fancy article;

z' ,

EXPEDIENCY OF OPENING 4 FREE TRAPF
WITH THE VARIOUS STATES OF EUROPE.

It is, however, to the state of our intercourse with
France, says a writer in the last EdinGargh &Heir,
that the public attention ought to be chiefly directed.
At this distance of time, continues he, it is of no im-
portance to inquire which of the two countries was
the first to fetter and restrict the trade with its must
civilly d and opulent neighbour. Both parties, we
believe, were in this respect equally blameable; and
whichever may have been the first to commence this
fe o de se crusade on the comforts and enjoyments of
its own subjects, its measures have been but too well
seconded by the other. Ihe wretched effects of such
blind and infatuated policy have at length become
manifest. Instead of being, .what they have been
most absurdly and wickedly designated, natural ene-
mies, Britain and France, from their near vicinity,
and the extreme variety. as well in their raw as in
tii it manufactured products, are especially fitted to
maintain an extensive and mutually advantageous in-
tercourse. it is to France marls more Ikea to either
South or North America or the East Indies, that zee
should look fur nem rhannels of comsat ref. We ought
to show that we have emancipated ourselves front the
disgraceful prejudices 1. which our ancestors were
actuated, when they decaed the trade with France
a unisginet (Prohibition Act, Ist William and Mary);
and that the experience of a century has satisfied us,
that a rich, populous, and highly cultivated country,
must afford a in,:cli better market for our products,
than one that is comparatively poor and miserable.
We do nut, however, contend, that any preference
ought to be given to the trade with France over that
with Portugal, or any other country. Laissez noes
fui e, is our maxim. Certainly, however, if any par-
tiality were to be shown, we should have very little
hesitation indeed in preferring THIRTY millions of rich
customers to THMEI millions ofpoor ones. But, although
we do not reap a single advantage from our trade with
Portugal, which might not be reaped in ate:m/01d greater
proportion from a liberal intercourse with France, we
desire no obstacles to be thrown in the way of our in-
tercourse with this • dear and near ally." So far
from this, we should be extremely well pleased were
those now existing entirely done away, and the duties
on port wine reduced to one-half thEir present amount.
All that we want is. that the same favour should
be shown to the trade with France, and that our
manufacturers and merchants should no longer be .
excluded from the must extensive market in the
world, merely because a Mr. Methuen, who nego-
tiated a treaty with Portugal in 1703, seems to have
been of opinion, that this was the best method by
Which commerce could be promoted! Why should a
consumer of claret be obliged to pay 143/. 16s. per
ton of duty, when a consumer of port is enabled to
purchase the same quantity on payment of a duty of
95/. 1 ls.? And why should as large a duty be levied
from the vine ordinuires, as from those of the first qua-
lity All this appears to us to be pitifully absurd and ,
ridiculous. Uovernment might surely find enough to
do without interfusing to regulate the drinks of its
subjects. The same moderate ad valorem duties ought
to be imposed on all wines without distinction ; and
the consumers left to determine for themselves whether
port and sherry be really preferable to claret and
champaigne. •
In a former article on this subject (No. 63, Art;
Ill.), we supposed that, were the trade to France
thrown open, and silks, wines, cambric., ke. ad-
mitted, on payment of reasonable duties, the British
silk manufacture would not be able to stand the com-
petition, and that the capital invested iu it would
have to be gradually transferred to some more lucre-
tire employment. We are now, however, inclined
to think, that even this trilling inconvenience would
not be experienced. The greater part of the silk
manufactured in France is of foreign growth; but ,1
while the French manufacturer only pays an equal
duty of about 2s. Gd. per pound on both raw and 4
thrown silk, the English manufacturer has to pay
ss. 6d. per pound of duty on the former, and 13s. •
on the latter! Nu wonder, when such an immense
advantage is given to the French, that they should be
able to beat us out of the foreign market, and even to
smuggle a considerable quantity into this country.l
But Mr. Ellice, Member for Coventry, one of the
principal seats of the silk manufacture, distinctly and
explicitly stated, in his speech on Mr. Bennet's mo-
tion fur an Inquiry into the state of the Manufacturing
Districts, that if Ministers would take off the tax on ,
the raw material, he would consent, on the part of
11 his constituents, to open the ports for a free trade
with Trusser in tartlet(' of silk snannjaetaire. 's Ido
nut," said the Honourable Headman, " speak mud-
visedly ; and I am certain, that, in that case, this
country would at least furnish as much as she would
receive."

• For the information of ear readers, we subjoin a state-
mat alba ilailm payable, per tee. ow Ma dilfersat spades
of foreign wises imported tem this amity.
Daly ow French wines imported le a British per ten.
vessel - - - - Z 143 18 U
Ditto on Presets wines imported in a foreign
vessel - - - 118 4 -0
Duty on Portugal and Spanish whiles imported
he a British vessel - - 93 II 0
Ditto on Portugal and Spanish wises Imported
IN a foreign vessel - - 98 18 0
Duty on Madeira wine in a British vessel 911 13 0
Ditto on Madeira wine in a foreign vessel UV 16 8
Dety on wine imported from
the Cape of Good Hope is es-(Foreign vessel 31 18 9
wily one-third of the dotty onßritish vessel 31 17 II
Portugal and Spanish vim.,
Duty es Germany and Hungary wines lea Bri-
tish 11011514 • - - 111 3 11
in a foreign vessel - - ' In 1U 0

The wnrks in Westminster-ball and the Abbey con-
dors without interruption; but the other preparations
for the Coronation are said to be suspended.
The Journal of Voyefee and Thief Is proceeds with
unabated interest, and has become an estAblished work
of extensive circulation. The last Number contains
" Travels in Spain, by an Officer in the British Army;"
the former one gave " Prince Maximilian's Travels
in the Brazils;" and the previous one, "
Travels I. Africa." Every Number gives for 3s. 6d.
the matter of a two or three guinea volume; and the
embellishments challenge competition With say work,
for their execution and variety. The next Parts will
give " Pertusier's Constantinople," and "Castellan's
Italy."

" Brave, brave, by reatens—she desertcs a C•nr-".
" Al( that had been Intended towards her Majed,
Ammar, randorr, feding. and bencrolexce."—mr:(o.
SUNG'S 'CR. Jaw 7, 19.20.
" Let them, as a body, be henceforth designated, daft.,
lebrit% Is not confined to illustrious deeds, by theft:
style, and title, of the Green Bag Administration,"

T.rrren IX.
TO THE EDITOR OF TIII STATESMAN.

Sta•—•l he odious Oreen Bag Is now at lean
opened ; and there is no receding. The dreaded is.
quiry is begun, which the House of Commons deglorido
" whieherer ray it might 1. mingle, new Ire 4i,op
pointing to Me hopes of Parliament, derogateru is fht
di troity of the Co own, sad injurious to the 6tst Wave;
of the NOtlaa :" and this measure, which, aceordiii
to themselves, may be followed by such terrible eat
sequences, is adopted for no other possible rea,„,,
than that Ministers choose rather to be the &gentle
a proceeding, which they disapprove, deprecate, lid
affect to dread, than to resign their places. I ow.
this is the sole reason. For their resignation *oil
have infallibly put an end to the inquiry, time
man, either in the Opposition, or out of doors, ea*
be found, who would degrade himself by 'emptier
of bffice upon the condition of prosecuting it. fh
then, for whatever calamities may arise out g
this inquiry, Ministers have rendered theasselta
answerable, if responsibility were, indeed, any thieg
more than an empty name. Let them, howrter, be.
ware. When the possibility of punishing great elb
prits, by the regular forms of law, : when they
can transgress with impunity, fllnbeelr.;
above the law ; and from thence th ransitioa to sir
state of nature, in which those who are aggrieved,
without remedy, may be tempted in their turn to tail
tie law into their own hands, is not very ilicant. W 0
it be any excuse for Ministers, when those rvibt arise
which they themselves have predicted, if even is?
lesser degree, to say that they were not hound, in order
to prevent them, to make a sacrifice of their official
situations for even a month, or a day : for, nothine
more would have been necessary? But, if evils to the
utmost extent of those predictions should happen, what
will they say for the•uselves, or what ran be said fur
them? Without any reference, however, to what may
be the consequences of the inquiry itself, Dow entered
upon, or the manlier in which it may be condom&
the misconduct of Ministers, in the whole of the re.
vions proceedings, has been must flagrant and mt.
rageous.

THE Qt'EEN.

My first letters were employed hi show!ag the
gality of
Liturgy
placed

bability,
tumid not
she coal%

been completel,
. ..

1
'a
a

i
1
e

trierablv

jug, fur

•

rums proceeutngs, nu neen most nagrant and ust-
rageous. 1
My first letters were employed hi showing the
gality of the omission of her Majesty's name is the
Liturgy ; the necessity under which her Majesty was
placed of immediately returning to Ragland; the pro.
bability, that, if she had not returned promptly, she
could not have returned at all ; the certainty that, if
she could not have returned at all, she witeld hare
been completely at the mercy of Ministers, i.
' trierably ruined; the baseness of Ministers in attempt-
jug, for so many years, to prejudge the case of her 1
Majesty, without granting her the fair and pal is
trial which she claimed, whilst theylmpedestly rsW
against what they called the prejudgment of the pi*
in the else of the perpetrators of the Manchester sic 1
sacre, whom they screened from that trial or inquiry,
which the public loudly demanded ; with others at •
i those acts of criminality, insolence, and indecorum, by
which they have distinguished themselves upon this
occasion.
The arguments which I then used, and which hen
' al4o been used more ably by other disinterested person
ow, of tfoors,ll conclude must have been found courier
ing, since they nose begin to he partially employed is
both Houses of Parliament. Sonic Members of tbsn
august bodies, or CAembere, as our great foreip
gociator would say, begin at least to doubt duke/kg e
of this proceeding respecting the Liturgy; asdthisk
already a step towards the perception of what is, b
all other Chenatoere, " as clear as noun day," its isol
illegality. Asterism. 1
CITY OF DUBLI.V ELECTION.
(FROM via DVELIX EVININO POST OF JONI rig 1
This important contest commenced on !Mt
At an early hour the friends of Mr. Ellis, who were
milted by a private door, filled the Court, and nerd
Mr. Orattan's friends were able to Baia adasissies wig
the doers were lung open at twelve o'clock. Mr. h
' got in the back way at about tee o'clock. Mr.
' arrived in an epee carriage at twelre, attended hf
veral of the meet respectable characters is the cite,
after considerable delay, he was at Ipsgth ea
in to the hustings.
The Proclamation was read by the Crier, Itallinalls
with the words, si God save ale King 0' • ••
(beet." said a voice in the crowd. 'The ether Preeir y.
mations, the writ, Ice. having been read,
The Lime MATO. rose and said—m Mr. walla iit
Gentlemen, I beg your attention for a memeat. la•
deed, 1 am not very well —(• Peet ante AM a
is the crowd}—hat I propose l'keimas INK Ng •11
fit and proper person to revelment this alb 'll
meet.—{hisses,groans, and cries el 'l:erridt•
draw,'-1 will only say, that if I did net hies.
nds
in my conscience, to be a faithful and as hellea_.,
man, upon my honour I would not propose him.”--(•6"
laughter, hisses, and groans)
Mr. LELAND Mittutir seconded Mr. Ellis's iseasi*
tion, in a voice hardly audible to the Sheriff—(t O -nre
need hisses, and cries of withdraw !)
The Right lion. W. C. Pi.un acre dinars.% maid a
loud cheering, waving of hats, &c., and, is a 'Plead •
and affecting speech, proposed Henry Wane.
tl
a fit and proper person to represent tige city
SI
in Parliament.
Mr. Anxisua Gutxxssa very ably weeded
nation.—(He was enthusiastically cheered.) •
Neither of the Candidates addressed the sinters.
The Sesame then called fora show of
Mr. Ellis. Three hands were raised, amidst an aralf •
of groans and hisses, The:Sheriff !battened ler a.def
of hands for Mr. Grattan. Instantly hands, hat •M
lc
kerchiefs innumerable, waved in the sir, sad the maw
mations were almost deafuing. The Sherif kh b
the show of home to be in favour of Mr.Orattaa.--(11! 6
acclamations were redoubled.)—Alderman
mended a poll, and the Sheriff's Assessorr
snake the set...wiry arraagements--severing la da'4/P.ti
puttee. Ise. The polling colosseaced, and
until six o'clock. Celalat
Mr. Grattan, Mr. James Grattan, Mr. They,
ci
Mares. Captain Fotterel, then severally add .sn
the Electors.
•