The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-02-28 00:00:00

THE OLD VIEWS OF SOCIETY REVIVED.

Desirous of laying before our Readers all observations,
toe tendency or purport of which is intended to exhibit
soy plan for the relief or amelioration of the poor
I . (society, we give insertion to the following ex•
tract Irons a pamphlet, just published, and entitled The
Wt Piers of Society Strived :
Strong and incontrovertible facts clearly demonstrate,
that although severe burdens have unavoidably fallen
upon all classes, yet they have fallen with peculiar
weight upon the labouring poor; on wh , a decrease
of wages, or of the demand for labour, iunsiediately
trine positive sant.
Though many errors exist in our present system of
relieving the poor, which strongly tend to debase their
feelings, and to increase and perpetuate pauperism, it
must not be concealed, that the decrease in the value of
manna] labour, in proportion to the cost of the necessa-
ries of life, is the main cause which Irli:dits the hopes of
the labouring classes, and puts it out of their power pro-
btahly to employ the talent committed to their care—
the blessings of ealth and strength.
It is most true, that as agriculture is the great source
of manual labour, the surest way of increasing the de-
mand and price is to enable the cultivators of our own
soil to pay fur it; and as they are the principal bearers
of the burden of the poor, one of the greatest boons
is bieb ran be extended to them is, to rut off the stream
which now feeds :be torrent that is rapidly bearing them
to ruin.

Asa nation, we have acquired great political power;
created so enormous capital ; stocked the market of the
world with the prmluctions of our factories; cstended
our commercial influence to every part of the globe;
and at home exhibit innumerable instances of great
wealth possessed by individuals and companies. Never-
theless, from rbe decreased value of manual labour, un-
vralleled distress has fallen upon the labouring classes,
and the poor are poor indeed.
Hence it is, that et the present (lay, full one-seventh
part of our population is reduced to an abject state of
i
•pauperism ; and hence it s, that a sum is levied upon
the industry of others for their support, equal to one-
sixth part of all the taxes levied to pay the interest of
the national debt, and the current expeoces of the
Ovation.
?rhos are we placed in the midst of difficulties.
must add of perils also; for while our population is in-
creasing with a rapidity beyond all former times, Sands
with regard to the labouring classes, our lands
see rapidly deteriorating; and while the demand for
food and employment is daily augmenting, the supple is
daily decreasing, under the pressure of the burdens (aid
upon the plongh.
Can we then wonder that the ranks of pauperism
should swell, or that tl:e children of the poor should be-
come dependent upon their parishes fur support, and
their future destinies in life.
Highly meritorious are the exertions of parishes knil
individuals to extend the blessings of education to the
children of the poor; but the value of this gift to the
rising generation of paupers may reasonably be ques-
tioned. unless we also provide the means whereby they
may earn their own living, and employ their abilities
and strength for the benefit of themselves and the
public.
Long and steady attention to these important subjects,
induce me to affirm my belief, that there are no means
of accomplishing these desirable objects, and of uniting
the welfare of the poor and the rich, so efficacious as
training the children of the poor committed to our rare
in mutual habits of instruction, industry, and self-
dependence; and that the most certain mode of increas-
ing employment and food, is by the direction of capital
and industry to works of internal improvement, and
more particularly to the culture of our forests and un-
profitable lands.
I am not ignorant of the tpeditoents to success in
she cultivation of the Forest Durtaxtoe, and other

THE ST

adjoining commons anti downs, by the common PV.tem
of farming. Experient•e and practice have clearly proved,
that, by a judicious t.ystent of husbandry, anti by
per direction of manual labour, the variety of tarallier, '
(wing to elevation, !nay he rendered the 1111.41.1 S of pro-
muting fertility ; that although wheat and barley
ought not to be cultit .ited, art other branches of Lem-
ing will 4aweerd, u hit h at prrseist bear a tar higher pre-
moon than the grow th of corn ; nor do I think it int-
moiAlile, that, in A sl-ort spare of time, tie mac see the
I.l.nrlon market% supplied with potatoes of the fineat
quality, still excellent (mini's, (tor which the moor is
nutril,p produced at lhartunior our twit burdensome
pauper children.
Nor do I think it at all improhalile, that the first fami-
lies in the metropolis sissy I c supplied with excellent
corms, herf and pork, hieil and fell at Dartmoor, by the
battiest and independent runners, raised from the present
degraded ranks of pauperism, by the taluable direction
of their charity.

Ilail any thing been wanting to convince me of the
capahilitv of the soil and stils-soil of the vallies and
plains ofilariiimor, to make profitable returns for capital
and labour judiciously directed, the facts established
by Sir bon as Tyrwliitt, at Tor Royal, within half a
mile of the proposed school of industry, bear ample evi-
dence of the correctness of the opinion I formed on a
survey of that part of the moor.
Sir Thomas List year harvested a crop of valuable
bay, yielding It least two tons to the acre. He also
grew aliiindant crops of potatoes, onions, carrots; cab-
bage*, and rape, with iwveral acres of Swedish turnips,
worth at least 10/. per acre, in that situation, for stall.
feeding cattle. Ile also grew a very superior crop of
oats ; and, instead of wheat, nine acres of excellent flax ;
for which crop, while standing, a gross sum was offered
by nianisfacturers, exceeding sixtecn pounds per acre.
These crops were all produced by spade culture, and the
application of Plymouth lime; and afford ample encou-
ragement to pursue the sj stem t clearly proving the
value of manuel labour thus applied.
The Bath and West of F.ngland Agricultural Society
have awarded their medal to Sir 1 homas Tyrwhitt, for
samples of his HAY seed, and strut ; and have also voted
him a letter of thanks for his valuable communications
relative to the culture of the moor.

The fart is, that, with the exception of the rich bogs
and alluvial :boils in the centre of the rallies of Dart-
moor, this extensive breadth of land presents the same
impediment to successful coloration by the plough, in
the first instance, a' I bare found on Bagshid Heath and
other places ; that is, a slight vein. or metallic incrusta-
tion, running between the surface and sub-soils, which
ruts off all communication, and moat be removed by
trench-digging; the second spit offering a drailabre
contrast to mix %lilt the peaty sitriare of the moor.
In
this plan had been adopted, success followed. I was
particularly stru••k with a view of a thriving plantation
of larch and Scotch firs upon the estate of the late
Judge Buller, near Prince 'town; and on conversing
with the man under whose direction the planting was
perfo►med, he informed me, that his success was en-
tirely on lug to his hating the ground trench-dug and
the art-fest taken out.
In oontemplating the coltivation of the vallies and
plain% of Dartmoor, we must not conceal impedimenta;
hut !ddly look them in the fare, and endeavour to orb-,
elate them. The real cause of this extensive forest re-
maining tincultivated so long, has been the difficulty of
communication with population and the sea at
mouth, en acrount of the hills. This grand impediment
will be obviated by that useful mid well-designed under-'
taking, the Plymouth and Dartmoor Rail-road, now
executing, to extend from the proposed School of In
dustry to Plymouth harbour. Tins work, which will
probably be completed sliding the present year, will af-
ford every facility for procuring lime, and all articles of
consumption on the moor; at the same time, that it will
enable settlers, or cultivators of small farms, to send
their produce to market without keeping horses for that
purpose; which, it is well known, is the great bar to
profit on small occupations.
On a calm review of the impediments to cultiva-
tion, and the capabilities of the moor and exten-
sive downs and commons through which that rid!.
road passes, between Prince Town and Plymouth, I
feel called upon to hail this extent of country, exceed-
ing two hundred acres, as one about to open its hidden
treasures to the public ; nor do I hesitate to say, that,
ender the gracious patronage of his Majesty, supported
by the useful direction of funds arising from the parish
rates, and the charity of the public, thousands of orphan
and pauper children may there be well trained, and ren-
deml valuable member% of society ; and thousands of
pauper families may he settled off, and rescued from the
destructive grasp of pauperism ; who, grateful to Pro-
vidence for strength to labour, and to their King and
country for the means of profitably employing the ta-
lent r •tted to their care, will train up their children,
anti their children's children, in habits of industry and
self-olepentlence ; and who can are the extent of this
blessing
Having long contemplated the general entablishment
of sehoola of induslry upon the trams of uncultivated
land, relying firmly upon the bleasinga attarbo4l by pro.
violence to the primitive source of l'lllphlylllll.lll for man,
and the direction of individual labour for individual ad-
vantage, I look upon the numerous and extensive
!breadths of uncultivated land, in various parts of the
United Kingdom, which invite culture and population,
as mines of wealth to the na • ; which mac, for many
generations, he gradually employed in calling into ac-
tion the valuable 'Amur% of the poor. expanding our po-
pulation, anti nurturing our strength, by the constant
Increase of a bold and hardy peasantry.
That impediments to the profitably cultivation of
many of these wastes, and now unprofitable land% do
(mist, is most true; but they are inspeilitnents imposed
by man, and by man may they he removed.

FURTHER PARTICU !ARS of the CATO-STREET'
ASSASSIN &

John Firth, the owner of the premises in Cato-street,
who had been dim-barged, was again apprehended on
Saturday, at his residence, in Hryanstone-street.wheve lie
carries on the business of a cow-keeper. When he was
examine.' on Thursday before the Committee of the
Priv) Conn, 11. his statement was believed that he did
not know for what purpose lie hail let the stable and
loft, except for Jeremiah Harrison to keep a cart and
horse in it, whereas, it has since been proved that he
was connected with the gang, and had been frequently
seen in the company of Davidson. Upon this discovery,
a warrant was issued, and he was apprehended on a
charge of high treason ; after undergoing a short exa-
mination, he was committed to Tothil-flelds Dridewell.
In addition to his being thus charged. he is included in
the verdict of the Coroners' Jury of Wilful Murder.
He acknowledges bring in the loft, and near Thistle-
wood, at the time of the murder of Smitbers. He is an
elderly man, of florid complexion, and decent exterior.
He appeared depressed and embarrassed.
Abel Hall, a tailor of Seward-street, Cloiswell-street,
has also been apprehended. When the officer entered
the house lie was just quitting the shop-hoard. He ma-
nifested no sort of surprise, when they informed hint of
the nature of their visit; but instantly and cheerfully
prepared to accompany them. He is a young man, ap-
parently not more than twenty.
It is a remarkable circumstance that Thist.lewood was