The Statesman.
London, England, 1820-05-17 00:00:00

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combination and conspirsce. He asked if the meet- I
it; of the Ilith of Auras: vrottki hare taken place if
Manchester had not been a mat of iranafactores; but
the agriculturists were wintered over the country, anti
LA not the. same opportunity to meet in large nem-
btrs, which seldom Sl:retied but at a lonelier or a fair.
9lhe; incettrchirpi. • of the mant.facturing..sits:on
thin" iliousands of art7rans might be deprived of
eriploy*et by.. trifling change in the article of f.J.
Abu/a— -itanityr trade also nr.,:ht belimt e t,r hut
tip Ay nar..ce own:tips), regulations, against which we
iii past.the -tight of remonstrance. As to the.origin
of She •Ittaesit.. distress. it did not trommenee•with the
peace, nor sr.!, aitog.ther eau: dby thet event. Ily
ratfmence to the Journals of Abe Other Hoes", it would
Ce focri.l, t.^.lt. some year before the ten:nil:it/on of
the war, there had teen. petitions (Nail isncheue-,
coniplaining of the depression of trade. But the war
}tad given Wade a false stimulus; it had nitiltipliel
Wild and visionery speenintion, commencing in de' .-
410% and carding le disappointment. lhoutls in the
public documents the balance of exports seemed in
favour of the country, /et from part beinc captured,
and part never sold, and others never 'raid (or, the
balance of payment You really against the country.
The Noble Lard thee.made some obserration• enn the
c7ntinental system, showing how precarious was the
svarre of wealth, which a nation derived from stir-
plying others with articles of manufacture, as wis
Clown b the consequences of Napoleon's bi-ekede
Be then proceeded to eulogise the character and habits
of a population essentially agricultural. Such a po-
pulation was the real ?basis of the prosperity and power
of a nation. They were also distinguished by their
attachment to the laws, their moral feelie;te and
Jai-laity—and they were, the-efor4., peculiarly deserving
cl justice and protect-on. He declared the Corn Laws
, to•be just and nettess try ; but lie denied that they were
Aslant merely as a protection fur agriculturi ti, as was
talsely and malignantly stated in a baok which he had
read with disgust, and which said that the Corn Bill
was a tax on the first necessaries of life, laid on by
lend-owners in order to raise their rents. This was
false, becans.; the riches of proprietors (lid not rise from
a high rent, butitoni rent, compared with the value
of money, the stale of taxation, and other dream-
Stances. The Corn Bill was so framed that it protected
the country from all danger of absolute fini:ne in an
unfavourable season; and even allowed of such a
supply, when corn became dear, as would prevent it
losingat any time excessive. Unless there was a ;to-
toe ing duty, no corn would be sown, and then it could
to: be procured by goods, which other nations would
cot take, nor by the precious metals, which we had
he:.. The Noble Lord then remarked upon the frier-
tore of the poor rates, the amount of which was, at
present, half as much again as the whole expense of
.the Civil Establishment in 1792. If no effectual
Mindy was devised against their further increase, the
restiequence would be, that the.produce of lands would
loe Proportieued out of the poor, in conformity with
es doctrines of the Spenceans. It was a great and
growing evil, and demanded a remedy. He then pro-
leaded to animadvert upeu the conduct of Osivenitumn,
Assarha6, in a sessoisof peace and eucessive
gibe three millions to the burdens of the country,
',high was groaning under a load of debt. After a
PO more observation& relative to the state of the
cutrenCy, as affecting prices, he proceeded to say,
t.t.at his plan for the employment of the poor did not
contemplate any thing merely temporary. It was to
afford permanent relief—not like the employment on
pilolie roads and public works; it was to furnish them
With the' means of settled subsistence, and render
Wein independent of parochial relief. •He was aware
that amoral plans had been proposed for the perms-
lent employment of the poor, none of which were
saftsfaetery. This was not exactly the same as any
_el !ham.. 1t Mr. Thornton had an institution for the
'aolsoufgetere by the poor of certain articles, which
ettimit be possibly applied to the improvement of work-
keeps. He then observed upon the design of calti-
*in the waste lands at Dartmoor, and said, that
~.• • 't of a plea of this kind depended upon the
,of its general priaeiples. It might be
succeeded at Dartmoor, would succeed
,di.% 'bet that argument wail,• in his apprehen-
"Weer. He approved of cultivation by
• sere tpirie, etidie thought a spot of ground would not
te the worse cultivated because the produce was not to
aria to a market, but to be coasemed by him who col-
tasted it. There was another circumstance which he
wr'ld mentioa, namely, that the imprudent marriages
of Vito poor were the .result of their present distressed
umeilitioa. If the poor man were placed in a com-
fortable situation, there would be a moral restraint to
seek an engagement ; but whea the poor man saw no
elfarpeospect but misery, that restraint was removed,
aolLie kilt that his condition in life,•though it might
is altered, could not be injured by marriage ; • but, in
titter eiteations, among the middle and higher classes
eiCkatietjr, men felt that they had happinees to lose,
loaf were therefore not wiliest" gas to retard it. The
Jliebie Lord made some allasions to the employment of
dot peer in the fisheries, but in so low a tone of voice
'that we could not collect his observations. The last
psi* upon which he should say a few words was the
faqemlbstlan of machinery, which had tended so coil-
aiaershly to Aggravate the public distress, by driving
maid employment se many Individuals, and which
east be. stated by the papers on their Lordships' table
twins at the causes of public distress. He mold not
*OW espial■ what he assent than by a reference to
wk. the situation et the cavalry was 40 years ago;
thpt.part sof is. et least, with which he was acquainted,
• sliktrimehire. Wage, were them six shillitigs a-week,
poi it the•preseht time they were increased to seven.
Afillittltse.erllfing an, increase of wages, and the immense
Amiteho-01 monafitoture, was it to be supposed that the
=Mid enjoy nay Shin like eomfort? If mane-
. *aware to be eneouraged, they should net
Jloo. eptieueigeol• at the expense a agticelture. He
that they might be food serviceable
ty *somstermaaufaetertes, but he questioned such
Jarsitirewasal Milky. Ms was aware that the 'Object
sera 411416.114. bat I. felt that it was too important to
age" st &liar. it embruted thtir best intermits, and
appeal~ he was sum, with confidieee, to the
ft if that avast 4asseahly. To-their to-
Aspiej, tea % soot **Nag. be tweltded his preposition,
datt it would meat with due co-
.lle4hgeld thps(ete elev.) for the