The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-12-20 00:00:00

THE STATESNIk,

[FROM TIM ALFRED.]
Again the Chairman of the Agricultural Associa.
tion.tias put his factory in motion : again are our
walls placarded with copies of numerous petitions to
the Legislatnre, all in effect, though not in the same
words, praying for an increase of price. No one who
jnstly appreciates the importance of that interest--no
use who duly estimates its value, can doubt that it is
entitled to relief. But the simpleton who directs its
movements says, increase the price, and all will be
'well.. This threadbare conjuror forgets to tell us how
the people will be able to raise the means to meet the
increase. The necessity of adding to the power of the
purchaser, to give effectual and continued aid, never
entered into the dark chambers of his brain. Increase
of price is his panacea ; and, like Solomon, with his
Balm of Gilead, and Brodum. with his Nervous Cor-
dial, be undertakes, with his catholicon, to remove dis-
ease, and cure all ills. The Charlatanism of these
Quacks is not half so disgusting as the brutal ignorance
'of Mr. Hall. Totally unacquainted with the first prin-
ciples of political economy, and maintaining maxims
that politicians have long since consigned to the vault
of thecipulets, he sits in the chair of the. Association
'with his cap and bells on, and yet affects to be wise,
like the owl.
An important meeting of the Sussex Farmers has
recently taken place at Lewes. Lord Egremont was
iu the Chair. His Lordship candidly admitted that he
could not ventore to decide on the best mode of reliev-
ing the agriculturist, now passing through an ordeal
which requires no ordinary firmness to bear with pa-
tience. Mr. Ingram attributed the evil to taxation—
Lord Egremont confessed himself at a loss to say what
was the real cause of the distress.—Mr. Ekren, jun.
imputed the greater part of the pressure to im-
portation.--Mr. Hutchins was of opinion that the
primary sense was to be found in the resumption of
cash paymentse.—Mr. Blackman saw the danger rising
from an unsettled currency. They all agreed in the
existence of the disease, but all differed as to its
cause and the care. if the Noble Chairman had stop-
ped on admitting his Incapacity to disentangle the in-
tricacy, and his inability to provide a remedy, he would
at least hare merited respect for his madam. Bat
what are we to think of his Lordship's sagacity, when
be dealers* that the national debt is sot a great evil ;
that it lane loss to the nation, as it is bat the transfer of
prepetty from one class of the community to the other—
(robbery is bat thetraasfer of money from one parse to
esether rem) ; that, is bis opinion, the debt Was a mho

of wealth, and much evil would result from its ram-
lion ? Cursed with such absurdities as these, it might
•
fairly be presumed, that hie Lordship could net" psalms
clearly either the nature of the cause of the distress of
the farmer, or of the remedy to heal his wounds sad
soothe his griefs. It is probable that his Lordship's
mind bas•been misled by the monstrous positions of Mr,
Malthus, who loves to deal in parade/sea, and terrify
statesmen with ideal dengees, and fictions wrongs. if the
national, debt were paid off to-morrow, the capitals of
the creditors would become soirees of employment;
the tax-gatherer would no longer extort from society
the enormous sums which be demands; prices weeld
fall, or, in other words, commodities would be ebeefer I
cheapness would increase consumption ; increases of
consumption would increase demand for labour; de-
mand for labour would produce increase of means to
the working class ; increase of means to the Wooster*
would. diminish the rxpence of the farmer ; and the
present prices. Low as they ,ffre falsely called, would,
as peace prices, be high indeed. la what sense his
Lordship conceives this fund without wealth, to be a
mine of wealth, wonld puzzle himself to explain :
bow the transfer of productive capital to unproductive
consumers makes no difference to the nation, bemire
it is only a transfer. What evils would resoh : t,figs
reduction of the debt his Lordship should
trayed ; however terrific they might appear to Sim
they would be but as shadows of a shade to the WINN-,
pber. If the agriculturist believe that cheap predic-
tions and great demand are evils, and can iaduee the
Legislature to art,upon his folly, he will teethe day oe
which he listened to Lord Egremont, or to that man of
far inferior mind, the weakest of the weak, Mr. HAIL:
—There is not a political tenth more jest than that
national wealth is increased by cheapness of national
productions. One suggestion ought to be marked by
the country. Mr. Hall insinuates, that the (lovers-
wont intends to impose a dwty on the importation of
forei,,n grain, which duty, my Lord Egremont wisely
considered, would be paid by foreigners. and this mon-
strous absurdity was received with *shout of applaise
Of all the silly projectors past and present ;of all the
simplest Charlatans of olden or modern times ;of all
the quacks that ever disgraced science, and disgusted
philosophy, we verily believe that Mr. Webb Millis
snpreme ! Unrivalled in shallowness, and without a
peer in presumption. Read his trash—examine it—sift
it—and after all the rubbish is removed, we at length
discover the panacea in 40s. a quarter to be imposed on
foreign wheat imported into this country, to cere all
our ills. It would remove the hectic blush from the
face of agriculture, and invigorate the heart's blood of
commerce; it would calm the ferment of discontent, and
breathe the breath of life into the dying system of poli-
tical economy ; i t would heal our country's wrongs, and
stifle our country's sighs—so thinks the sagacious Mr.
Hall. Does he know, or does he Rota that, for the
last 20 years,.th is country has not produced core eatougA
for its consumption ? Does he believe that out recent
harvests are become more productive ? Does be think
that price has decreased on account of extraordinary'
abundance ? Does he suppose that the people have
decreased, and therefore demand has diminished ?
Does be complain of price as Low ? If low. without
relation, or comparatively ? If comparatively, with
times of peace or war ? I f with times of peace. can
he give credence to such a position ? if with times of
war, bow can peace prices be fairly compared with
war prices ? If duties be imposed on the introduction
of foreign corn into Great Britain, what will the mas-
ters of the Vistula, of the Elbe, of the Weser, ssy to
the attempt? Will they not endeavour to counteract
the check by a check in the shape of a new duty on
British manufactures which reach theirshores ? And
a tax on these commodities will operate, in despite of
all legislative enactments, to depreciate the price of
corn. To presume that the nation eau pays war price
fur corn, in tune of peace, is just as absurd as to talk
of 16 Polish prices not paying English Debts." As-
sume that the Newfoundland merchant petitioned Par-
liament to give a bounty of 10s. a quintal on fish,
(bounties have often been offered for the encourage-
ment of this fishery ;) that he should show that he
cannot afford to send his cargoes to market for the
121. or 13s. the present price. the utmost extent of
the expenditure would be trivial ; and ?et, in these
times, would be fairly regarded as an improper tax on
one part of the society for the benefit of the other.—
Suppose that the long ell manufacturers should cont-'
plain, and demand a bounty on their productions,
which are now unproductive of interest on the Capital
employed, would not the agriculturist complain of
tfie impositions on them to support the interests of the
merchants and the manufacturer ? We might ask an
hundred of such questions. The imposition of 40s.
a quarter on foreign wheat imported, would operate,
if it produced the anticipated consequences, as a tax
more oppressive than the interest of the national debt.
Is this a time, when the empire grottos beneath an
intolerable burthen, to render it more intotemble ?
The farmer is entitled to relief j. 10 rellet,iieeited
from public economy lad decrease of taxatios-4rom
reduction of the interest 9f the national debt—
from the diminution of his berthens by all possible
means. Not by heaping heavier ills epos his suf-
fering brethren, under the absurd belief of relieving
himself !

if EXI CO.

fily.his Majesty's ship Raleigh, letters were re
eeived yesterday from Havaonah, dated the 12th ult.,
containing ads ices from Mexico to the 13th of Octo-
ber, and from Vera Crux to the 29th. Their contents
are extremely important, since they leave no doubt
that the independence of Mexico is fully established,
and in the form prescribed by the treaty •of Cor-
dova. The liberating army of the Three Oaarantees,
ander the command of Senor Don Augustin de liar-
Mde, made their entry into the capital of New Spain
se the 27th of September. On the same day, under
the Presidency of iturbide-, with the title of Generalis-
simo by sea and land of the empire of Mexico, a re-
gency, composed of five members, was' appointed.—
A Supreme Junta was also crested, of which the Bi-
shop of Puebla was declared Nat West. The eats• I
blishment of the Government w Billowed by the no-
mination of the differest Minletere and Authorities :
the oath they were required to' hike shnply pledged
thee to adieu to the stipulations of the treaty of
Cordova.
The only spot that still adhered to the nether
country, was the Castle of St. Jam de WU% shish

consmandsetie city of Vera Crnzgrhate which
by a garrisrpervf 300 men only, whir were e
surrender wises called upon to do; io by ti
meat established at Mexico.
General O'Donejo,' wholatui mascot Coy _
figure in the tonsactions which have preceded the
settlement of affairs in New Spain, Ceti in the city of
Mexico on the Bth• October. Tie difficulty, there-
fore, of obtaining a chie to his late conduct is much
increased. It appears that be was present at, and
shared, the public entry of Iturbide into Mexico, en
the 27th September, sod wag treated with nearly the
same marks of distinctioa. Vatic*, reports of the
causes of Ms death were ia circulatPut at Hsvannah,
some directly ascribing it to poison, and others to in-
disposition brought on by chagrin. .
A commission had been formed in Mexico on the
affairs of commerce, who were employed in arranging
the terms of commnnicatiou with foreign countries.—
But few restrictions were meant to be imposed, the
design being to come as near as possible to free, com-
merce with certain clauses more favourable to Spain
than to other countries. By the details that appear
in the Mexican papers, the enthasiam of the people is
extremely animating.

pfucg :OF STOCKS 'run
Ralik Stock ll3i 1
$ per Cent. Red ..... mit
3 per Cent. Coe.— .... .
per Cent 4iii
4 per Cents
5 per Cents. Navy....... • • • •
3 per Cent.
Long Ann
Imp. $ per Cent
Irish S ear Cent

DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.
India Stock. ..........
Ditto ponds ..s 715 s. pm.
I South Sea Stoek.... • • ... • • •
South Sea OW Ann.
I Ex. Bill ed. 1000 L par 2s. pm.
AOOl. par. Is. 2s. pm.
--Smell es. Is. pm.

India for ditto...
Con. fur Acct.....7Sk Sit
Lott./Ticket5.......01. Os.

MGR WATER AT LONDON-RRIDGE TOMORROW.
Morning 36 as. after I I.—Evening 12 o'clock.