The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-03-23 00:00:00

PRuT&V7'
AGAINST THE THlltli NBOINGMAN CH. OF THE CONN.
BILL, ON VAN Arm OF

1. Because we are adverse in principle to ill inks
restraints on commerce. We think it certain ..that
public prosperity is best promoted, by leaving on-
controuled the free .cukrent or national industry ;1
and we wish rather, b 7 welireousidornd ,steps, to.
bring beck our commeictsl legislation to the straight
and simple line of wisdom, than to increase the de-
viation, by subjecting additional and astride*
branches of, the public interest to fresh systematise-
Octal and injurious restriction. • •'• I: 4
t Because we think that the great practical fully
of leaving all commerce unfettered, applies more pe-
culiarly, and an still stronger grounds of justice as
well es of policy, to the Cora Trade than to any
other. Irresistible indeed , most be that 'necessity
which could, in our judgment, authorise tlteSegii-
letat'U to tamper with the sustenance of the people,
and to impede the frea purchase and vale of that at-
Odle, on which depends the existence of so large a
portion of the community.
3. Because we think that the expectations of old-
mate benefit from this measure are founded on a de-
Insive theory. NVe cannot persuade ourselves that
this law will ever contribute to produce plenty,
cheapness, or steadiness of price. So long as it ope-
rates at all, its effects must be the opposite of these.
Monopoly is the parent of scarcity, of dearness, and
of uncertainty. To cut off any of the sources of
supply can only tend to lessen its abundance; tb
close against ourselves the cheapest market for any
commodity, must enhance the price at which we pur-
chase it ' • and to confine the consumer of Corn to the
produce of his own country, is to refuse to ourselves
the benefit of that provision which Providence itself
has made for equalizing to man the variations of sea-
son and of climate.

4. llot wt.atever may be the future consequences
of this law, at some distant and uncertain period,
we see, with pain, that these hopes must be pur-
chased at the ~xpence of a great and present evil.—
To compel the consumer to purchase Corn dearer at
home than it might be imported from abroad, is the
imnied:ate practical effect of this law. In this way
al.ne can it operate. Its present protection, its
promised extension of agriculture must result (if at
all) from the profits which it creates by keeping up
the price of Corn to an artificial level. These future
benefits are the consequences expected, hot as we
confidently believe erroueou►ly expected, from giving
a bounty to the grower of Corn, by a tax levied on
its consumer.

5. Because we think that the adoption of any per.
manent law, for such a purpose, required the fullest
and most laborious investigation. Nor would it
have been sufficient for our satisfaction could we
have been convinced of the general policy of so.,ita.
zardous an experiment. A still further, enquiry
would have been necessary to persuade us that the
present moment was St for. its adoption. In such an
enquiry we must have had the means of satisfying
ourselves what its immediate operation -will be as
connected with the radon' and pressing circumstances
of public difficulty and distress with which the coun-
try is now surrounded ; with the state of oar circu.
lotion and currency; of our agriculture and manu-
factures • of our internal and external commerce;
and, above all, with the condition and reward of the
industrious and !showing classes of our community.
On all these particulars, as they respect this ques-
tion, we think that Parliament ia.almost wholly un-
informed; on all we see reason for the utmost anxiety
and alarm from the operation of this law.
Lastly, Because if we could approve of the prin-
ciple and purpose of this law, we thiuk no sufficient
foundation has been laid for its details. The evi-
dence before us, unsatisfactory and imperfect as it is,
seems to us rather to disprove than to support the
propriety of the high price adopted as the standard
of importation, and the fallacious mode by which
that price is to be ascertained.
And on all these groends we are anxious to record
our dissent from a, measure so precipitate iu its
course, and, as we fear, so injurious in its conse-
quencel.

(Signed) A UGUSTUS FREDERICK (D.of Souex),
WILLIAM FREDERICK (D. of Gloocebter),
GRLNVI' LE,
NV 1.:1A.1.31.FX,
VSSEX,
TO It R I N GTON,
DU'I-VON ( Mae qui& •f Douglas),
•CH A NOOB RUCKINGHAbI,
MON FFORT,
KING,
CARLISLE.

LONG AND SHORT TAILs.—A person asked
farmer what he must give him to take• his horses to
gra,' ?-64 Why," said the farmer, "for long-tailed-I
horses four shillings, and for bobtails silk, per vow..
The person wondered pt t difference of tjiaclpir_rti
which the farmer: at Via . ,TM,
reason is this--" In the ha slather the long.teila
are so busy in switching the flies, that they have ant
time to eat so much as On *then ; bat the bob-tails
bare nothing else to do ! • • • •

Michael Mountain am indicted for ftwcibly carry.
ing away Ants Norm, egaistst •ber tensest,. sue
with intent to deOle her. Tim Prisoner ..the Prow
Secutrii had settled the Matta tlecday below in iw
friendly manacr—by marriage--se .tots. .eke , WAS
neither able nor willing to.prostcatae—Acquideti.4..o
iVaierford Assizes. r
ATTEMPTED SULCIDIL—On Tuesday MOnsiag ti
decent dressed man went into the shop *VI beimg
dresser iu WisiAcomb-strart, hob* mimed, undid his
request a razor was banded him. WWI thWkalr.
dresser turned his beck, the stranger out biz throat,
lie was conveyed to Middlesex lioipital) sad-bores
are entertained at his recovery. , . A

A coosiderable bustle prevailed yesterday in the
various departments of .GOVertnetat, connected. with
the administration of the army. : r e
MatillNK CATALANI was represented by the lilt
Paris letters, to be preparing for bee return to
land. •
We are Sorry to lea Tat that here was a CODA ,
ble riot, at Leicester, on Monday night. The xis.
dows of the Mo-rox's house were, broken, mod
.4890411'
other damage dose. The Cons Bill was the praline'
for the tumult, which was not quelled, till the osiY-;
tary were called out, whose steadiness seat dispersed.
the rioters. —( Herald.)