The Statesman.
London, England, 1821-09-26 00:00:00

POLIIYCAL PREJUDICES.

Those who are 'led into error, and plundered and
abused in consequence, are frequently much more dis-
posed to quarrel with such as tell them the truth, than
with those who deceive them to gratify the grossest
self-interest. In the important concerns of politics
and religion, bow perpetually have the people been
duped, that they might be the .more easily betrayrd
and the more safely plundered! Happily the great
mass of the people in this country, after sore suffering I
and woful experience, are becoming too well-informed;
and begin to habituate themselves to the exercise
of commonsense too much to be thus easily cheated
into bscoming the instruments of their own undoing.
Yet are there still many, and that, too, in the middle
ranks of society, (where good sense and discretion are
supposed to predominate) who are offended with you
if you tell them their pockets are picked by any one
but a needy thief in the street, or a robber on the road,
whom prohably, distress has driven to despair; even
though they feel perpetually the effects of having half
their property or income taken from them to carry on
wars, in which they e.tsr have no real interest, or to
fill the poclots of strangers is the characters of Place-
men, Pensioners, and Sinecurists ! Thais, excepting
those who live on or by the taxes, it is evidently the
real interest of every one that taxation should be
light : we all know and feel that taxation is ittor2i-
nately heavy in this country; but the Journalist who
advocates the reduction of this taxation, by the simple
and honourable expedient of reducing all official sala-
ries excepting the small ones, and all public pay, ex-
cepting half-pay, in proportion to the increase in the
value of money in which they are now paid, compared
with that in which they were heretofore discharged,—
is called disaffected, is persecuted either openly or
privately, and, if possible, silenced.
If seeing that the farmer in 1799, when the public
burdens did not press upon hitn with more than one-
fifth their present weight, then prospered and lived
comparatively at his ease, a public Journalist recom-
mends as a remedy for his present distress, such a re-
duction of taxation as would enable him again to pros-
per and be at ease, does he deserve to be slashed by
the yeoman's sabre ? Or, advocating low prices of
the necessaries of life, so that the manufacturer may
sell and the merchant export cheap, does lie merit the
thanks or the frown of the manufacturer and mer-
chant ? Or if he wishes that his countrymen were
comparatively as untaxed and untithed as people
of other countrjes, with whom, as farmers, as manufac-
turers, and as merchants, they must come into compe-
6:ion, is such a one to he hailed as the friend, .or to
be branded as the enemy of his country ?
" Poor England! thou art a devoted dear -
" Beset with every Wm! or.riesn."
" Thy rack'd inhabitants repine, complain,
" Tax'd till the brow of labour sweats in vain ;
" WAR lays a burthen on the reeling. State,
" And PEACE does nothing to relieve the weight."

Co%reit.

THE. KING'S PROGRESS TO HIS PLACE OF
E.IIII.IRKA77ON.

His Majesty arrived at Rochester about four airlock
on Monday afternoon, having previously changed
horses at Dartford, where the I6th Dragoons attended.
He was met on the road by the West Kent and
the 566, the Sappers and Miners, and the Royal Ma
riots, were in the city, attended by their bands, and
formed a guard of honour. The King's carriage drew
up at the Crown Inn, where the horses were changed.
Flags were hung out at different stations, the bells
were rung, and the Corporation were in attendance,
but no address was presented. The people cheered as
his Majesty passed, and his Majesty made his obei-
sance. On leaving Rochester, the West Kent Yeo-
' manry fell into the rear of the carriage, and thus ac-
companied the King. While stopping opposite the
Inn, his Majesty conversed with Sir A. Christie, but
passed through the streets with the glasses of his car-
riage closed, so that most of those who had anxiously
waited during the day, obtained a very imperfect view
of his person.
_ _

The horses of his Majesty's carriage were again
changed at Sittingbourne ; and at the Rose Inn, where
it stopt for that purpose, there was a •large flag hung
across the road. In the front of the Inn there was
drawn up a small party of Lancers, who constituted
the guard of honour.
At Canterbury, extensive preparations were made
to give effect to the reception of his Majesty, on his
entrance. By 12 o'clock the doorways and windows
of almost every house in the long main street. were
nearly literally' covered witiv.fresk an& lair oak
boughs. The street was covered with new gravel.
There were several colours suspended from different
windows, as well as various banners, and on some of
the latter were sundry inscriptions; and, by the same ,
hour, the East Kent Yeomanry (another division of
the corps) under the command of Sir Edward Knatch-
bull, Bart., M.P., were in attendance, fully equipped.
They soon afterwards proceeded along the road, to
take up their stations, and thence marched to meet his
Majesty on his approach. Tbey were accompanied by ,
various private gentlemen on horseback. The Cor-
poration were in attendance, soon after noon, but it was
intimated to them that time would prevent his Ma.
jesty from .receiving here, as well as elsewhere, the
dutiful addresses of his loyal subjects.
At Kamsgate, so early as seven o'clock in the morn-
ing, preparations were commenced for receiving the
King in the most loyal manner. The whole of High-
•treet was gravelled over, and every house had boughs
of laurel suspended from its windows. Triumphal-
arches, too, were erected, (but with reference to what,
no one could tell,) through High-street and Queen-
street, and one also at St. Laereoce, a mile and a half
from tows, by which his Majesty had to pass. Flags.
also were waving in every, direction. About ten o'clock
four companies of the 86th Regiment, under the com-
mand of Col. Johnstone, arrived from C hathSna, and a few

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