The Statesman.
London, England, 1814-05-25 00:00:00

v,...,,

\ THE .STATESMAR

FINAEMOF THE UNITED NETHEELAHM_

always ready to defend it. Let us apply these prin-
ciples.
The Revolution in France had broken 'this in-
AIM-balance, and the samefigitatiOn which inward-
`distu rhed us, induced us tis carry our arms amongst
other people. If this fermentation at first exalted
our strength, our success after Wards increased that
exaltation. We fought with people wiser than our-
selves, and whose love of repose deprived them of a
part of their means of defence.
It is thus we arrived at a gigantic height of power.
We should, fray; we ought to regret that grandeur,
if it had any thing real or solid in it; but our reason
would have sufficed to inform us how artificial and
chimerical it was. When the balance which held in
suspense forces opposed to each other was broken by
an extraordinary effort, which could be only
.mo-
mentary, it was in the nature of things that the van-
quished forces should react until they hare been re-
established. This is what we have experienced in
two ways. All the nations of Europe have aban-
doned in their turn the care of their repose ; they
have thought, only of recovering their independence.
On our side, our internal fermentation having ceased,
we have judged bettet of our true interests and glory ;
and from that moment, even in the midst of war,
there has no longer been either success or reverse ;
there has only been that succession of events which
puts things in their place bgain, and restores to the
laws of nature their force. These principles should
lead us to judge justly of the nature of peace.' Very
good citizens will think the conditions of it very dis-
advantageous;if they continue to regard as a true
and just conquest the grandeur which we have so
dearly bought. Others, on the contrary, will re-
mark with more truth, that we lose nothing real by
renouncing acquisitions which it was impossible to
preserve, and which were not less disproportioned to
our force than inconsistent with our repose. The
happiness of the people doe& not consist in allusions
and imaginary good.—(Jusornal des Debuts.)

The Dutch Minister of Finance, in a speech lately
delivered to the States General, gave the following
account of the expenditure and incente of the Val*
'Provinces:— -
" For the current year, 1814, the ordinary and
.extraordinary expences of the State may be reckoned
'at 63,500,000 guilders. The revenue to meet this
expenditure could not be estimated at more than
38,480,000 florins, "thus leaving ir(eficit of
25,020,000 florins.
" This picture might at first sight seem very dis-
heartening, but when more closely looked into
would appear less alarming; for this deficit was
caused by circumstances of such an extraordinary na-
ture, as, by the blessing of Providence, were not
again likely to occur.
" The expenditure of 63,500,00010rins might'be
distributed under the following heeds:
" 1. For the income assigned by the Constitution
to the Sovereign Prince and the Hereditary Prince,
1,600,000 f.
" 2. For the Department of the General Secretary
of State, including the expennes of the meeting of
the States-General, and of HID Council of State,
339,581 1.
" S. For the Home Department, including thg ex-
petices Ofdykea, Stc. (waterbtaat), 7,189,230 f.
" 4. For the Department of Finance, including
the interest of the national debts 22,500,000 f.
4‘ 5. For the Foreign Department, 891,000 f.,
".6. For the Naval Department, 3,300,000 f.
44 7. For the War Department, 23,658,054 f.
" 8. For the Departments of Commerce and Co-
•
lonies, 3,000X0 f.
rt "9. For extraordinary and unforeseen expences,
1,022,132 1."
The Finance Minister proceeds to assign the rea.
I sons why these charges are likely to be greater than
I,may he expected in future:—
" The public chests were carried off by the enemy
I as effectually as they could ; the operation of all the
taxes stood still for a while, and the loss upon in.
direct imposts could not he recovered ; the war for
la considerable time raged in our Interior ; the for-
tresses occupied by the French, with their environs,
I produced nothing to the Treasury ; it required some
months to re-organise the system of indirect taxa.
flan ; and the produce of convoy duties and licences
only now becomes considerable from the revival of
our commerce."

AMERICAN PAPERS.

NORFOLK, MARCH 18.—,The enemy have lately
placed a buoy on the. Middle Ground, another on
the Horse-shoe, and a third on 'Willoughby's Point.
It is believed they intend shortly to come into Hamp-
ton-roads. Orders are said to have been received
from 'England, directing that no more American
prisoners are to be sent on shore, without an equal
number of British prisoners being sent off in ex
change.
Nov LONDON, MARCH 9.l.—The enemy's block-
ading squadron are reinforced by the addition of two
frigates, one of which arrived off the harbour last
Friday, the other this morning. More are expected,
as it-is reported there has a number been seen off
Block Island within a few days.
The 4 Papers also contain the correspondence
which took place between Commodore DECATUR,
Of fliellnited Stales American frigate, and Admiral
$t THOMAS IIAUDY. Challenges, as cur readers
an already informed, were regulEr4c given by Cap-
tan lion, of. the British frigate Endymion, to Cap-
. fain Jon,es, of the illgaqvisual late a British, but
so w . American triate ; Captain STACK-
Poi; of;the Slatira British frigate, to the American
Commodore's ship theUnited.States. No meeting,
however,, tank place, for Criromodor DECATUR re-
considered the abbject, and discovered an imaginary
superiority in the English ships.

• After observing that the two first branches of ex-
penditure would remain the same in future, he pro-
!reeds to state, that 64 the expenCes of the mainte.
nance and 'restoration of dykes, &c. would probably
be much diminished in future. The extreme neglect
in which the late French Government had suffered
these most essential establishments to remain, in
order to save money for other objects, necessarily
occasioned extraordinary wants this year ; but the
dykes, when oncerestored, will not cost more that
usual for their maintenance.
" For the department of finance less would also
be required in the ensuittg year. 0111 this point it
would be sufficient to state, that the payment of the
interest of the public debt was 'so much in arrest.,
that in this year it was necessary to 'provide fossil's,
and one-half year's interest. In future, however,
the interest will be paid half-yearly, and each year
will be charged with it, own hurthen."
The Secretary then proceeds to state, that under.•
the head of the foreign department less would be re:
quisite in future, as the present year reqoired an
extraordinary expenditure in the establishment of
foreign embassies.
" The expences of the naval department, fixed
at the moderate sum of 3,300,000 florins, are llis._;
ceptible of little reduction ; but it is by no means, to
be supposed that the very large sum of t 3 millions
for the war department will in future years remain a
burthen on the finances of the country. The extra.
ordinary circumstances in which the country was
placed, have in fact occasioned this expenditure.—
When his Royal Highness entered on the Govern-
ment, there was no army in the Netherlands ; the
magazines were emptied of all their stores, and it
became necessary to supply by new purchases the
numerous wants thus created.
" In the first place the army, which, besides the
land militia, cannot be reckoned at less than 30,000
men and 4,000 horses, was to be wholly raised, and
required an expenditure to effectuate its first levy,
which will not be called for in future years. A
second source of expenditure, to the amount of
about four millions, consisted in the supplying of
subsistence and other necessaries to the numerous
corps of allied troops which passed through, or were
stationed for months in our territory. This, how-
-1 ever, is an expenditure not likely to recur in future
years."

FRENCH PIPERS.

The Readers of the STATESMAN are respectfully
informed, that since the, intercourse took place
between France and England, the French Pop'eirs
are regularly received at the STATESMAN OFFICE,
and the important part of their contents published
daily, in addition to what appears in the Morning
• Papers, which arrive the preceding night.
The Dutch, German, Spanish, and other Foreign
Papers, are also received as usual. The advan-
tages of an Evening Paper are therefore obvious
for country circulation.

A rr. IMaih. •1 hie
O
O

PRICE ON STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK.

• ----
Bank 2506 lodia Stock
3 per Cent. Red, 66116 India Bonds 7 8 9 p
3 per Cent. Cons. Mil Exchequer Hills 2 5 p
t per Cents. 821 2 Osmium 21
3 per Cent. Nowt 971 Pay ditto
Long. Ann. 1611 3 16 Consols for Acc. 653

THE StATESMAN.

• LONDON:
WEDNESDAT, WAY 26, 1114.

- ,
PARIS, MAY 19.—The Peace! The Peace !,.Will
it be good or bad? It would riot be .dillicolt to
—o.
judge; but we have had for these twenty years many • .
erroneous ideas upon the interests of France. llard-i - The-non-arrival of French Papers, since Sunday
ly emerged from the whirlwind of expectations end , last, occasion sk, variety of conjectures, which,
projects, in which we mistake the love of glory' for I were_not-the deaf work of Peace rapidly advancing,
patriotism, there now remains a pongee', agitiaten T. might cause an apprehension that something very
which stands in need of being aimed % andweetskebt i
ominous had unexpectedly happened to cast a gloom
quite-in that situation of mind which see thlige in
upon the opening prospect so cheering to the friends
their proper light. We did not want koowledge or ,
national energy in 1789, yet we found our territory '; of humanity and a suffering world. • It is therefore
large enough ; it sufficed for our prosperity, and all to be hoped, that whatever may have happened to in-
our wishes would have been fulfilled, if the promise terrupt the communication, is only of a temporary
which we made at that time not to make Conquests . natures and that it will. be speedily resumed. Re.
i had been the basis of a general peace in Europe, and .
if that peace had been maintained. How happens it
1
that an es%lightened nation should entertain, with re- ports are abroad unfavourable to the harmony of the
Allies and the King of FRANCA, respecting some of
spect to itself and its laws, two judements entirely the territorial arrangements to he made; and the
opposite, at two periods little remote from each pretensions of the Emperor of AUSTRIA to Al-
other ? It is that it is mistaken in one or the oiher. sace and Lorraine, which formerly belonged to
I
lls the error of yesterday or to-day ? Let every one his House, are assigned as the cause. Private letters
I ask the question, and examine it with impartiality.
There is no organised body whose life and duration are even said to haye been received, stating, that the
do not depend upon an exact proportion in the na. departure of the Russians and Prussians from France
tural forces which make it exist. It is the same with is countermanded. However, it is again asserted,
a nation ; her prosperity cannot be established, she that all differences have been adjusted, and that we
I cannot preserve it but by a just balance between may speedily expect a definitive treaty of peace. It
the tendency to repose and the tendency to motion ; wiU be seen by- our Paper of yesterday, that the ar-
by the first she devotes herself to agricultere,:the
arts and commerce, and enjoys all the blessings of rival of NAPOLEON, at Elba, was announced to the
civilization ; by the other she avoids becoming etre. inhabitants on the 4th of May, by DALESMN, Gene.
minate, her independence is dear to her, and she is rat of Brigade, who says befars theirirew Monarch

entered their, interior,
words General, I have sacrificed my •
r.g.i,S to
the interests of my country, and hdve reserved to
myself the sovereignty and property of the island of
Elba, which has been assented tdby all the Powers. Be
so good to inform the inhabitants of this new state
of things ; and of the selection which I have made
of their isle for my residence, in consideration of
the mildness of their manners, .and of theit.:ll:mtatte,.4:
:Tell them they shall be the constant objects of my
most lively interests."---There is likewise an Arilrflq
to the inhabitants, to the same purport, f
biani , the Vice:Prefect ; Sand Give to the Priest:
• hood, from ARRIGUI, Vicar-General ; which are
t well worthy of attention. Thus the island of Eibai
whose territory is so small, and iris historyi
hitherto comparatively so obscure, is about to
be' illustrated by becoming thi residence of
the conqueror of more than half the Earn. •
. peen Continent, ind ith Acknowledged genitts of
the first order. If he foie like a meteor, end
In his astonishing. career dazzled and terrific the
world with the' awful grandeur of his powert.
land the corruscatioha of his ambition, fit* appeitil to
; settle like an Italian sun in a happy climate., and
promises to be the father of the mild and amiable
Elbese. But, surely, NAPOLEON'S character . 4
tyrant cannot have been properly appreciated4'ee
why should his fate have been so different from that
of the tyrants of antiquity, or of mnre modern
;times ? NEBUCHADNEZZAR became a wild beast, and
lest grass ; PHARAOH brought upon his country
and himself all the catalogue of human pl:tgops;
ATTILA perished, as suspected, in the embraces
of female perfidy ; Dronistus was banished,
and taught school at Syracuse ; CESAR was
stabbed by his friend ; but NAPOLEON takes
possession, with his fortune and honours, .of the
beautiful *little island of Elba! If lie is a man of.,
general knowledge, as it has been often asserted, and
that he means to devote his time to the pursuit.ot the
arts and sciences, he has a fine opportunity in a
country famed for its plants and minerals; but if, as
it is said, though 'not superstitious as to. other
faiths, he has a faith peculiar to himself, in which he
still firmly belieies, viz. Fortune, who has in her
caprices to try his fidelity, deserted him for the mo-
ment, he may still consider himself as at her dis.
posal, and destined for more astonishing' perrlsea
than the world has.yet xitnessedr. .

\ The Report on the Corn Importation Bill was
bat night brought:up in the Nouse of Com•nons, on
which.a very interesting debate took, place, and the:
further', discussion of it was postponed till the 6th
of June. • It is to be hoped this interval will afford
the different Members of Parliament en opportauity
of consulting three reiniiiiteentil'before they decide
upon a measure•of so much importanee to the country
at large, as a more interesting subject never Occe-
pied their attention, nor one in which the Laid..
owners, as well as the Manufacturers, ire so Mach
interested. The ObservatiOns of Mi. Lascems,
who is much interested in the high-rents of land, no
doubt, had a very powerful effect upon the House last
night. The disinterested conduct of seck•Meebers will
`go far to allay the irritation of the public feeling, it
any legislative provisions ahajl eventually be found
necessary.' It must be admitted that the great in-
equality of wealth in this country, as caused
by a number of fortuitous circemstances, impose
upon its possessors the task of becoming the dis-
pensers of nature's bounty, and the benefactors,
instead of the oppressors, of their species. It must
he obvious, that policy, as well as humanity, should
direct. the attention of our Legislators to the condi-
tion,of the lower orders, as in case of a decay of
trade, the bulk of them would evidently be thrown ,
upon the landed interest for support. The following
judicious reflections are take►► from a cotemporary
writer on this subject, which are much to the pur-
pose :—We have a vulgar proverb, Give a man
an inch, and he will take an ell. Now for the
exemplification. In 1806, we allowed the Irish
cultivator a free intercourse, as it was called,
with this country. Being thus let into competition
with the English farmer, he feels his own advantage.
He has no land-tax, no property-tax, no poor's-rate,
and his labouiers' wages are low, because population
is abundant, and the lower orders live on potatoes.
As tong as the war lasts, thp field is all his own, his
agriculture rapidly inseeitses, and he soon sends into
the British market a supply to the value of nese .
`three millions sterling. But the peace is likely to
create competition, and he persuades the Euglish
Agriculturist to join him in barring out the F'o-
I Now, as an intelligent Correspondent has
I observed to us, " so far as the interests of agricul-
ture in England are concerned, it is perfectly Itn-
!, material whether importation tikes- place from
• Ireland, or from any other coeutry." The MI
question to the English farmer is, whether .he
shall continue to cultivate 'the inferi4 and recently
inclosed lands ; and it is quite manifest, that if he
I cannot do this against a regulated foreign compe-
,
' tition, still less can he do it against an Irish compe-
tition, which is wholly without restraint. The pro-
posed measures are recommended upon this abstract
truism, that under an importing system, Corn must
be dearer than under an exporting one ; hscause we
I cannot import unless our prices are higher than
they are abroad, nor export unless they are lower.
But observe, how this theoretical axiom becomes a
, practical absurdity. Oor prices in fact are higher
than those of other countries, and we are desired to

L

•
agiiiiimummightiftzmair
he' arkiresied to Alim these
have sacrificed my lig iif t.