The Statesman.
London, England, 1815-03-04 00:00:00

THE STATES:WA?.

. .
•
,i T a M EETlNG'convesed.bv order of the MA. I
.t iL elliTit 4 TES of the IND ABITANTS of the TOWN
n.l 1.1 RERTY of TROWBRIDGE. in the County of Wilts,
:,ii,l held at the (;.urge lon, on THURSDAY, the Id day of
i.::irci) Instant, the following Reeolutious were unanimously
adopted:-
1. 'chat we hare seen with regret that a Rill is to be brought
into Parliament, purporting to be for " the better regulatlou of
the Corn Laws."
Y. 'That we have with much patience borne the heavy burdens
which have been laid upon as during the continuance of the
late unprecedented war, which is now so happily and suCcess-
folly tervoitated. And we cherished the hope that after the glo-
rious event of a Peace, the price of the various articles of the
brat maressity to human existence (of which Bread Corn forms
so material a part), would experience such a redu 'an that the
ot
indlistrio::* mechanic and the labouring poor. hom this
Town contains so large a proportion, would raja benefits
revolting therefrom.
3. That tile Peace which we now enjoy is of so recent a date,
that any alteration of the Corn Laws at the present moment
would be premature ; and that if the Bill which es to be brought
into Main neat, should peas into a Law, the price of hread
would be ).eidanced, that the laborious part of the commu-
nity will be abridged of many of those comforts which they so
coatidently -and justly expected.
4. That as the price at which the labourer, mechanic, and
manufacturer can procure his feed is the bails which the
wages for his labour depends, every attempt to raise the price
of whet he consumes must be felt in the article he nsansfactsrests
and by materially raising the price of exportable articles, tend
to lessen our ability to competition is the continental markets,
to the great injury of a country so highly mercantile as Great
Britain, and of which Trowbridge, as a manufacturing town,
forms hi) inconsiderable part.
3. That Petitioni, founded spawn the foregoisg Resolutions,. be
presented to both Houses of Parliament, praying them to reject
any measure that may be proposed for altering the present Laws
relative to the importation of Corn.
6. That the Lembers of this county be requested to present
the Petition to the Howse of Commons, and the Marquis of
Lamdown to the House of Lords, and to support the prayer of
them. ..
1. That these Resolations be signed by the Chairman, and
published in the Statesman Newspaper, and Salisbuiy and Win-
chester Journal.
SoTbat the Thanks of this Meeting he given to Cs alum By-
Tessa°, Empire, for bin able and Impartial
,conduct in the
chair.
• (Signed) CHARLES BYTMESED,
. Chairman.

lin.

Mails. • 1/ne
- --
0
1
0 Bambara%
..... ante:alas* 2
1

leatcx or wromus 'tot%
vast'
3 per Cent. Reit,
S per Cent. G0a5..6311
4 per Cents.
5 per Cent. Navy 930 i

DAT AT Oirit O'CLOCK
Loci. Asa. 1613 16
India Beads 6 8 p
limirquer Rills 2 5 p
Oinnown 2' d
Consols for Ace. 611

TOE. STATESMAN.

LONDON:
SATURDAY) MARCH 4, 1815.

The accounts we have now from the Continent
become daily more conclusive and agreed. Dutch,
German, and French Papers to the Rd instant, are
arrived. The subjects are still very mixed (sujets
mixies), but something like order is rising out of the
chaos, however long it may contiuue. The chief
articles furnished are, statistical accounts of the
kingdom of Prussia as it is now composed, and of the
no less, to us, importaut " kingdom of Hanover."
Ens. Friesland and Hanover are now incorporated.
This 6 one of the new unions which we think is a
wise one ; for by this incorporation the Hanoverian
kingdom obtains an approximation to Hollend,which
must be considered as highly important, not only in
repect of commerce, but also as it regards political
strength and connection, and the future federal Con-
stitution of Germany. The basis of the cessions to
Hanover was, we are told, settled during tne abode
of the foreign Sovereigns in this country. In order,
it is said, to satisfy a claim of about 60 millions of
dollars which England and Hanover had upon
Prussia, the latter engaged to cede to Hanover, Hil-
desheim and some other enclaves, surrouuded by
Bano‘er, or bordering on it, to the amount of a
population of 300,000 souls.
We have not room to go into a repetition of the
indemnities and arrangements agreed upon in favour
of Prussia —they have already been specified in an
official article copied by us from the Berlin Papers.
It is sufficient to say, that by the accession of the
Rhine provinces and the part of Saxony which
Pi nss:a obtains, the extent of her possessions, which
now lie cloic together, forms anu sof German
powcs in ttelkwest such as +llbeNse rer there Wars.
u
The Saxons, however, feel this division of their coun-
try as the greatest misfortune that could befal them,and
France is very ill satiafied at this and the other parti-
tions. A long and formal Protest is said to have been
entered on the Records of the Congress at Vienna, by
the French Minister, in which France abjures for
herself all increase orterritory, and protests against
the aggrandisement of any other Power, as an un-
just infraction of the avowed Compact of the Allied
Sovereigns. This Protest will be an ostensible justi-
fication for future hostilities.

It is affirmed that Denmark, by the acquisition of
territory which it is to obtain, will become a member
of the German Confederation.

In respect, say the accouutithe stipulations
•••
in the affairs of-Poland to be settled ie n common be-
tween Austria, Russia, and Prussia, opinions are much
&Tided : the negociations are still on foot. Austria
requires the free navigation of the Vistula, which
there is a disposition to grant, as soon as the arrange-
ments concerning the mixed subjects are made in con-
formity to the wishes of Russia.
It is affirmed for certain, that Prince BEAUHAR•
!MIS if to have a principality In Germany, for which
Bavaria uses all its interest; and that the Arch-
duchess MARIA LOUISA is to be crowned Queen of
Italy, and reside at Saltzburgh. The Vienna letters
addi that the misunderstandings between the Poem
and King JOACHIM continue, and excite considerable
attention there ; since it seems that they will have
very extensive and important consequences, particu-
larly for King JOA.CHIM, who it not )et recognized
by several great Powers.

The lonian Islands contiuss la a slate of ferment
and insurrection. The Eng!hit Commissary has been
driven from Zante, from which he effected his retreat
with the troops. All the lonians, who entered into
the English regiments, have deserted and returned
home. Two regiments have been sent from Malta to
strengthen the garrison of Corfu. The Montenegrins
'have also risen in open rebellion in Albania, and
likewise threaten Ragusa.

Great preparations are making at Vienna for pro-
claiming and celebrating the peace, which was es-
pected to be done between the 16th and 20th, if the
health of his Imperial Majesty would admit.

The Corn Bill was read a second time in the
House of Commons last night. After a discussion I,
of considerable length and warmth, Mr. Lassavork
moved, " That the Bill be read this day six mouths ;"
which was odgatived on a division—for the amend-
ment, 56—against it, 21V. While strangers were
excluded, we understand Mr. VANSITTAAT moved
the committal of the Bill for Monday nest.—On this
an amendment was moved in, Mr. BARING, to post-
pone the committal to Monday se'nnight. The
House having divided, there appeared for the amend-
ment, 44 ; against it, 215. The Bill will conse-
queritly be committed on Monday next.
The anxiety of the public to learn the fate of the
Bill was very great. The crowd wishing to obtain
admission to the House was so numerous, that the
assistance of Constables becnme necessary to keep
them at a distance from the lobbies, and the avenues
were filled till a late hour. The Members who were
known to disapprove of the Bill, and who were seen
carrying in Petitions, were cheered as they passed.
Previous to the discussion, a number of Petitions
werevresented against the measure. Several were
also laid on the table of the Roils. of Lords, where,
it will be observed from the Report, Lord Gallo-
max protested, in very emphatic 'assuage, against
Parliament placing itself in the very undignified &howl

ation of running s race with the people.
Notwithstanding the 13111 has been pushed so faro,
after what has been shown to be the sentiments of a
great majority of the nation in regard to its tendency,
and the mode of conducting it (the Minister says,
things ought to go by majorities), it is to be hoped
that the Legislative supporters of this obnosions

measure will pause in their dete►mination to get at
nought the judgments of nine-tenths of the nation,
and that they will endeavour to devise some other
more palatable and practicable method of enabling the
people to enjoy the good efccts o( the late just and
necessary war, than by raising the price of bread.—
We trust they will at least consent so to modify their
present rash, ill digested, and overstretching plan,
that while it averts the impending ruin from the agri-
culturist, it may bring no hardship upon the con.
sumer. Difficult as the accomplishment of this may
appear, it is not impossible. Moderation of proceeding
and an ear open to instruction would go a great way to
effect it. After the heavy burthens which the late long
protracted contest, and, it will be admitted, not the
most economical expenditure of the public money,
have entailed upon the country—when every luxury,
and almost every refreshing comfort is banished from
the table of the hundreds of thousands of industrious
persons who, instead of 12, are now obliged to la-
bour 18 hours out of the 24 to obtain the means of
subsistence, it would but ill accord with the temper
of a humane and enlightened Government to pat bread
also be) ond their reach.
We have before said that a legislative view of agri-
culture as well as any other great branch of the na-
tional industry and wealth must necessarily rest upon
its result towards the community at large. Why
should it be necessary for any man to add, that those
who wish to make sound deductions will not judge of
a whole by a part ? No one who possesses common
sense will deny that the commercial interests of this
trading kingdom ought to be consulted and weighed
in connection with the agricultural, and this cannot
be done justly without reference being made
to the altered order of things, if altered they
are to be, as well in this country as in every
nation with which we possess or contemplate a con-
nection. It is clear, however, that the real state of
our continental rivals, the advantages or disadvan-
tages which they possess when put in comparison
with oursel►es, cannot yet be correctly estimated,
as the new foreign tariffs are not yet agreed upon..—
Yet, by these and other nations must our affairs stilt
be regulated, nay, much more in a time of peace
than even in war. If Government could convince
the trading interests that after the imposition of all
the taxes and restraints to which it is intendedstill
to subject them, their commodities would Mill com-
mond the markets of the world, then taxes and re•
straints would not merely be jOstifiable, but would
be the sources of so much more national wealth ; but
every thing that is yet known and felt proves that
the direct contrary is the case, and that there is the
greatest probability that our commerce, even under
the present burthens, will be unable to support a
competition with that of the other less taxed nations.,
Therefore, to precipitate a measure so imPortant is
a national point of view, as that upon which oar
present ind future prosperity is to depeod, mast be
unwise in the extreme. The days of feudal power
were not those of national wealth, and rain Mast be
every effort now to bring them back. The soteesatkt
restraints which now exist upon commerce generally,
are the lingering and ungenerous effects of ill-ex•
erted power, of harm,' avarice, infamy, and the
conflict and competition of rsiltionp, far more fatal

than the competition of commodities. But distorted
as is the act's' state of commerce in general, in con-1
sequence oflapolitic laws, domestic and'foreign, it j
is never too Jatetfor any State to attempt a gradual
and prudent epturn to common sense. Because the
Congreis that was to make such wonderful and
beneficent reforms and regulations, have not thought
it proper to lay down any new code of commer-
cial and maritime law, or system for untex*lg
the people, and notwithstanding Lord Came-
arum's great endeavours, have not given us the very
best assurances that could be wished of eternal friend-
ship and a liberalized view of things,—because that
magnificent tree of justice, virtue, and protection,
l beneath 'whose ample shade the nations of Europe
I were to be gathered and repose in amity and peace,
has not, in short, produced one fruit to redeem the
gorgeous promises made in its progress to strength,—
, it mount too much of the misanthrope to think of
turning shepherds or hermits, and of shutting up
shop before our names are hi the Gazette.
Bat why is it that the British farmer, who has
imore capital and more industry, and who is more
scientific in his operations, cannot produce grain
as cheap as his neighbours? An exposition, if fairly
;
made, of the cause of this so much-to-be-regretted
Iphenomenon, will show the root and progress of the
; present distressing evil. On a topic which concerns
j the interests of all, and which has been mach in-
-1 volved in abstract theories, and perverted by er-
roneous or subtile reasoning, we could wish to speak
in a way that might render the matter intelligible to
the meanest capacities ; and for the sake of per-
ilspicnity and variety, we shall here give a plain and
simple picture of the question which is now puzzling
the wits of many a grave politician. We, do Slot
mean to try the patience of the Reader, by show-
ing him how much historical detail we have
collected for the purpose of exhibiting what may
have been the effects of these much-talked-of, little
nderstood, and less beneficial laws, since the luck-
less day iu which they were devised. We shall have more
mercy on the attentive peruser, whether the law has
aer not ; and shall merely suppose a case, as the
roundest lawyera'sometimes do, in which we pre.
imam he may take some interest. In this sophisti-
cated age it may net be without advantage, or on-
accordant with the unsophistical wish of restoring
feudal times, to retrograde a little, for the sake of
" first principles," and original views of things, into
primitive simplicity.
We have before supposed the extraordinary
anomaly of twelve out of one hundred persons,
placed in an insulated position, laying down a law
kto comet the other eighty.eight to purchase their
subsistence of them alone, and at their prices ;--let us
now figure to ourselves a community of if, persons,
consisting of a Bricklayer, Carpenter, Shoemaker,
Clothier, Tailor, Smith, Baker, Cutler, Weaver,
Waggoner, Surgeon, Attorney, Victualler, Farmer,
and a Land-owner.

This community subsists by each in their own line
furnishing to the wants of the others. The Land-
owner lets land to the Farmer at a certain rent ; the
Farmer sells his produce to the Victualler and
Baker, who again sell it among all the rest; and all
the others furnish one another with their respective
articles, at prices which will be determined by the
wants and supplies, having always a reference to the
price of the quartern loaf—say 6d.

The Land-owner and Attorney manage the gene-
ral concerns, which managements costs 51. per
annum. Two-fifths, or 21., of this 51. is laid ou the
Land-owner, because be can afford to live on his
income, without being engaged in productive indus-
try; the remaining three-fifths, or 31. is laid upon
the other 14, who, to reimburse themselves for their
proportion of it, individually lay an additional price
on their furnishings : but the Cutler and Cabinet-
maker make a great deal more of their articles than
their neighbours have occasion for; this surplus they
sell to the adjacent communities, who, on account of
their excellence and being cheaper than they can
make themselves, are glad to get them, and give such
a price for them, either in money or other goods in
exchange, as not only enables the sellers to maintain
themselves, and itay their proportion of the public
expenditure, but to realise something considerable as
a stock.

For safety in case of invasion, or for other objects,
the Laud-owner and Attorney prevail on the com-
munity to build a wall around them, which costs
3001. ; this is borrowed from the Cutler and Cabinet-
maker, upon the community's security, and an oblige-'
Lion to pay to them aumially the interest of 151.
Two-fifths of this, or 61. is, as formerly, laid on
the Land-owner, and that he may have the eclat of ,
paying the largest proportion, it is made as an assess-
ment on his carriage, or his servant, or on his hot-
house; and the other three-fifths, or 91. is laid, by a
per centage, on the other fourteen, on what they use
or consume, which being an addition to their former
expence, each endeavours to reimburse himself for
it, by laying it on his disposable commodities. The
Landlord, acting upon the same principle, proposes
talay his additional 61. on the Farmer, by charging 71.
in addition to his former .rent ; to this the Farmer
says no—l cannot give this additional rent, for if I
do i must raise the price of the corn, which will
appalr so evidently to be assisting you to shift the
61. from off your own -shoulders, and dividing it
'ram the whole cornmenity, by increasing the prioe
of their bread, that, they will go and get their
cola front oar neighbeene—because they won't give
met-high price, if they can get whet tier want at

• .
the former low price. To this the Land-osraer re.
.plies—The Attorney and f will get a law Passed to
shut the gate against any grain that shall come
cheaper than yours; with my additional rent added
to it. The Farmer, with some reluctance, agrees_,
the loaf rises from ad. to 9d. and is this manner the
Land owner's al. which was laid on his carriage, or
servant, or hot-house, is actually divided among the
whole, and he himself pays no more of it, except
upon the proportion of corn which he himself uses.
By this debt of 3001. and the artful mode of dis.
tributing duo payment of the interest, every Jodi.
'ideal is put to an additional expence—and the
productively industrious, to more in Pr"P"tinntsteha;
irti
the unproductive; the consequence is, each must lay
it again upon his articles; and fie, who cannot lay
it on Isis goods, or has it hot in stock, must work it
out by more labour—if he can get employment.
Labour, therefore, and every commodity else
this communtity, costs more than it did before, at
least in the proportion of the interest of the debt of
3001., viz.: 151. per annum.
After a time, some internal quarrels break °min
a neighbouring community, which the Laud.owner
' and Attorney think augur ilk to theirs, and well-rego.
lated communities ih general ; 'aid, therefore, tint
persuade their society do go to war with the disorderly
State. The conflict continues from year to year with
unabated fury, during which time, from •the difficulty
of getting grain from their neighbours, the former
had such a demand for his produce, that the guar.
tern loaf was raised from 9d. to lBd., in conseqeenct
of which the landlord raised his rents to almost
double what they were before. And althoUgh he
was frequently told that while their enemy was every
I year throwing off a heavy load of debl with which'
they were burthened, his community, on Ike contra%
were adding greatly to their former debt ; he disre.
gards this, and says to himself, this is of no'conse.
quence to me, for my rent being almost. doubled will
do a great deal more than corer any proportion of
the interest of any debt, boweve? enormous, that
may be contracted in consequence of the war, NA
I may fall upon me.
The contending counannitiee, after fighting, ter-
hausting, and destroying one another till they are
unable to continue the contest any logger, agree to
be friends ; upon which the Land-owner and Attor-
ney come into their community, rejoicing sod boast.
ing of their achievements, and on the honotarble
I termination of the war.

tit
But the ebulitions of their joy ere uck .
sided, than they find that the dobt eontrOldtbf
is not less than 6001. double whet they barrelled';
~_).
and scarcely have they mole Si* AptillVfe4s,il9l
Farmer comes to the Lanif-e wiNtritill:looo*
neighbouring communities are pow */ in grain upon
us at the rate of Gd. per quartern loaf, which, if can.
tinued, will ruin me, and disable me from ming'
you high rent, in consequence of which your land
will lay uncultivated.

The Landowner perceiving that this would be ru.
inous to him, consults the Attorney, who says this
must be prevented, not only because it wilt destroy
your rental—but because it will depreciate the value
of every thing beside and thereby diminish the per-
centage, by which we collect the interest to pay the
debt, and reduce us to the ungracious task of im-
posing a new assessment.

They therefore agree to get another law passed, pro-
hibiting the importation of corn at any price, which
should make the quartern loaf under 18d.
Ascend the scale to the amount of Great Britain's
National Debt, and the cause of her lissancial diffi-
culties will be no longer a mystery.

Last night, a respectable Meeting of some of the
Inhabitants of the Parish of St. Martin's, took place
at Mr. BROOKS'S, in the Strand, for the purpose of
signing a requisition to ARTHUR MORRIS, Esq. High
Bailiff of the City of-Westminster, calling upon him
to convene an early Meeting of the Electors of West-
minster, in order to consider the necessity of peti-
tioning both Houses of Parliament, on the subject of
the proposed alteration in the Corn Laws. Major
CARTWRIGHT was desirous, that the Petition should
contain something relative to the Reform of Tasa-
ation. Mr. STURCH coincided with the Major, as
far as regarded the necessity of Reform in that
particular; but thought, that, iu the present state
of affairs, the Petition should be exclusively framed
upon the subject of the Corn Laws. It was
resolved that its consideration be referred to Major
CARTWRIGHT and Mr. STURCH, to frame such Re-
solutions as they thought fit, and lay them before a
General Meeting, to be convened on Monday, at
the Crown and Anchor, for that purpose. The Re-
quisition was signed and sent to Mr. Mounts, to call
a Meeting in Palace-yard on Tuesday next.
• A numerous meeting was held on Monday last, at
the British Coffee-house, in Cockspur-street, of the
' principal merchant and tradesmen of the city and ti.
betty of Westminster, to taking into concii-erstion
the abuses, injurious consequences, and extensive
I frauds, that have occurred subsequent to the passing
of the late Insolvent Debtors Act, when it was (1111.
nimously agreed to Petition both ilouv of Fuld-
talent for its repeal.
The public have lost one of their 7'heirtrical fa-
vourites, Miss Mer.coN having been, )esterday, con-
verted into Mrs. COUTTS, the Lady of the npulcut
Banker of that name. The charitable d:Tosititi:
of the Lady entitles her to the good wishes of
She is now (he mother-in-law of the Dowager Cee!l-
- less of Gumneottn, the Dowager Marchione.- o:
BUTE, and of Lady.BURDETT. Mr. Coo is ep-
wards of 80 years of age.

I ONDON : Printed and Published by D. LovneL. a'

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ST iT 1011411 Orrlcs, $7. Inest-oreei