The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-01-09 00:00:00

Tt1~:

it-RWRIPIgnnUriagiIUININJEAVSOCIETT:.
. 'Ol Metail . on extra nieetitig of the Rea-
frewplllie A Igo Society was held within the
Reefrowisbik yotimAttno, for the.pprpose of consider-
ing,•arkat. relief ehouittle petitiosed for by the occu-
piers of Isnsi, in thi event of a eounty tneetieg being
owned to afasisess the two Howse* of'Pariinnsent, on
the subject of Agticultneal Distress. John Maxwell
Eaq. Bt. P. was onaulasionsly called to thercbair.
Mr. Peacock said it would be proper in the first plate
to explain how the present extra meeting of the Society
had originated. At a late ordinary, meeting of the So-
Oct), it was observed that it would he highly proper to
have a meeting of tbe country gentlemen en the subject
of the Agricultural distress. After some conversation,
the Secretary of the Society was instructed to write to
Mr. Maxwell on the subject. A correspondence had
accordingly taken place. A deputation had waited on
Mr. Maxwell, and Mr. Peacock read the answer of the
Hon. Member to the Secretary's letter. Mr. Maxwell,
in his wiswer, in substance approved of the meeting. and
at the same time suggested that. as the Agriculturists
had last year been handsomely used by the manufac-
turers on the corn laws, it would be proper to write a
deputation of the body to attend the meeting of the So-
ciety.. This suggestion could not be followed, as the de-
putation were not aware of any standing committee of
that body, but, as the Society has for members people of
all classes, all have been invited to attend, and the mind
of the Society to embrace, in, some degree, that of the
community.
Mr. Blair stated that the present meeting was not
called to promote the views of any political party, but
merely to call attention to the agricultural distress, and
respectfully inquire how their 'offerings could possibly•
be alleviated. The agricultural produce, at present.
will not nearly pay the expense of the cultivation • but
what then ? I. the plough to be laid aside ? "ko,"
continued Mr. Blair, " we must persevere, and look for
assistance and support from those from whose intelli-
gence, power, and influence, we have a right to expect
it. Let us, as Mr. Maxwell suggests, juin cordially with
the manufacturers, and see what the wboleean do for the
whole. We will not presume to dictate particularly
how or in what manner we may be believed—we leave
that to those noblemen and gentlemen of the constr.
who are more conversant in the rules and interests of tfig
Government. In the mean time we might ask, could Ai
duty on barley, either in its raw or usanufectured state,
be taken off? Or could the duty on skins either in
their raw pr manufactured state, he takes of e? Or could
any regulation be made to make those bear an adequate
share of the pnblic burdens who have pensions from
government, and spend them and their incomes in a to
reign country ? S I other subjects. of a more toms
nature, ,bight be named, whirls may ultimately come to
bediscussed between landlord and tenant." Mr. Blair
concluded with stating that the best thing the meeting
could do, would be to petition Mr. Maxwell to get a
meeting of the county to take these important matters
UM consideration.
Me. 51axwxu, said be would give the meeting his
"Find on the subject in a few words. No farther protec-
tion from the foreign grower, said the lion. Member,
ought to be asked for, because the duty of ten shillings
a boll is equal to the taxes on farming property; and
undue protection gives the wealth of the community an
unprofitable direction.
The price of farm produce being regulated by the price
of labour cannot rise but with a rise of wages; and a
rise of wages cannot be effected, but by a rise in *e
price of the property of those who employ laimarers.
The price of this property depends very much on the
price of bank paper, which has recently been increased
about 25 Per cent., as the issue of Banli eLEog.ta
mates strffidenly proves; a °it er-tiorde, it costs 23%pet
cent. more of gold and commodities to purchase ban
paper than it did during the war; and consequently the!
labour and stock which brought twenty shillings. now
only brings fifteen shillings. It is for this meeting I.
consider whether money ought to he increased, or the
charges on cultivation reduced. If it wishes the money
augmented. they must ask that the ounce of gold which
Is the standard measure of hank paper, should be worth
11. 17s. MI, instead of 31. 17s. 1011, which is its present'
price, and 25 per cent, or one fourth more money, will
be immediately pat into circulation. If it desires the
charges of cultivation to be lowered, it must request that
all debts, public or private, all rents, all contracts, all
annuities, be reduced 25 per cent.
This latter course will be more favourable to our com-
mercial operations, but it will leave us to struggle with
tradesmen who will not readily lower their charges—as
a manufacturing county probably we shoot,' demand a
reduction of the charges on cultivation, equal to the re-
daction of the bank paper, by which they were estimated
when I were made.
In drawing up a petition, it would be peeper to require
that some of those burdens which press most heavily on
the, produce of the farm, such as the Excise on British
spirits, and beee, should be transferred to die British
subject', not commercial or diplomatic, residicg in other
countries. The poor list would be less appalling, the
practice:of smuggling less extensive—while an increased
demand for labour would result from the tax being
evaded by thee* who chose to return to the country from
which other taxes might have expatriated them.
I cannot sit down without earnestly recommendieg to
your notice, and to the notice of every person in this
county, in this kingdom, the speech of Mr. Matthias
Attwood on Sir. Western's motion. The persons wbote
&triunes are sunk in business of any description, at who
have incurred debts particularly, and the public at large,
are under the deepest obligations to this gentleman.
I have only to add, that I am ready to aid yolk in
seeking relief from any 'porter, and I hope your setae's
will be greater than that of the manufacturers and land

owners.
41

rraii tb,

fullowinl

resoluta*

Mr. MAXWELL then . ie ag
1. That the produce of land has fallen nearly one half
since 1817. •
2. That the fall has not proceeded from any increased
chltivation, nor from any extraordinary abundance aris-
ing from very favourable seasons; still less in any defect
in the quality of the produce.
3. That the portion of the expense of agriculture
which originated in taxation, has hitherto undergone
scarcely any reduction.
4. That the cotnniunications with market towns by
means of canals, roads, rail-ways, and bridges, continue
to be burdened with heavy tolls, fines, and pootage, to
meet the interest of debts contracted at their forma-
tion.
h. That the rents of land have not fallen in proportion
with the produce of the farmer.
6. That the price of agricultural labour must follow
the price of agricultural production, and that a farther
diminution of wages will occasion the greatest priva-1
Lions to the labourer, and ultimately to the other
classes of workmen, to whose occupations he must be-
take himself.
7. That British subjects residing abroad be induced to
return home, by farther participation, in the burdens
new borne, by those who share the fortunes of the mon-
try, and are unable to give adequate etoployinetit to the
industry_of the country people.
Mr. Wilson of Hurlett rose fur the purpose of second-
ing the Resolutions. He read them serittleat, making
ob tions as be went along. The first resolutiva
carried that agricultural produce bad fallen one half
since 1817. Of this he said there could be no doubt,
and when the court holds for fixing the bare, it will be
seen that the prices will he lower than they have been
on any preceding year. This was easily to be foresees