Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1807-08-12

act, but one fact has more weight than vo-
Tunes OF their sophistry-they wrote for
those, who knew little more than them
selves.
We have long been of opinion, that ifthe
non-lmportation act had not heen suspend
ed at any time, it would have been much
better-the British ministry have been wal
ting tor events, expecting to take advantage
OF favorable occurrence on the continent to
make us feel their recruitment they wished
to put off the evil day when our act should
go into force, and therefore they agreed to
treaty but the moment they found we
had voluntarily suspended the non-impor-.
tation act, and that affairs went on as usu-
al in England; they added clause to the
treaty, they rendered it null in fact. We
have so constantly heretofore been alter
nately tortured and cajoled by this govern
ment, that it was time for n crisis like the
present to have arrived, to rescue lis from
shame and enslavement. -.durora.
EXTRACT:
"Our laboring poor are not much better
than in the days of old, when they got oniv
halt OF the wages they get now. Most work
Is now done by the piece and not by the day :.
OF course man does great deal more than
he did formerly, and all hands are con-
stantly employed. Did the laboring poor
do as little work as they did in the days
OF old, they would starve now 1t indeed
surprizes me that wages of all sorts are
not higher, when tits considered how ma
ny hundred thousands are now employed in
expeditions as militia, volunteers, soldiers.
sailors, and making of wariike instruments,
oall, powder, &c. &c. and yet more goods
are made than ever were made before in
britain. his proceeds entirely from cur
immense quantity OF labor saving machines
IN almost every branch of manufactures.
1t is said the labor saving r,achinerv of
Britain and Ireland, does the 7vork OF. la
Dor Of a6oOe Ten millions Of heohLe. The
expenses OF erecting these machines are
great. Our numerous banks, the shutting
the bank OF England and making its paper
| by act OF parliament, a tender equal to gold
and Stver--have greatly enriched the ma
ton the banks now keep a few bank of
| England notes by them, and when gold is
demanded they present them; hence no
person going abroad can get specie, and is
Obliged to buy some manufactured goods
and sell them to the best advantage he can
where he is going to.
| " AT the same time cur manufactures are
protected by very high duties upon foreign
| goods or the same sort. Agricultural socie.
ties have got up inevery county, and larger
ones, such as the Highland Society, which
extends over all Scotland, and the board
OF agriculture, (supported by government)
VINO are over all Britain, and give about
or 1000 pounds yearly in premiums
here are also i'll Scotland, the trustees
Tor hsheries and manufactures, who often
give premiumsfor agricultural articles; Cor
instance this year (1SO7) they have p;ven
premiums for sowing fiaxseed and nroduc-
ing flax, to the amount of 1900 pounds sterI-
ing, for we wish to have the raw produce of
every manufacture; although it is an absurd
! attempt IN my opinion, for were we to grow
ali the max we make use of from Holland
and Russia, we would need to import more
provisions. The society at London also for
encouraging arts and manufactures. gave
lately their gold medal (honorary) value So
guineas, to several noblemen ard gentle
men, for planting great numbers of trees
on their estates. They also give premiums
10 introduce the manufacture Of raw silk
1t has been found that the extension Of
our manufactures, and the immense profit.
maze by them to the nation, produce a
rGfsd enforcement Of Our lands. Two
pounds ht tne American cotton, that will
( Cost the British about tzvo thirds of n JotN
! lar, are manufactured and returned to vo,
IN piece OF fine lowered and sewed mus
I'm, worth thirty dollars, and haif of the
labor done by machinery.
81 am happy to see your worthy presi
dent has by the powers lodged in him, again
! suspended the non-importation act til De-
cember before which time matters will.
hope, be finally settled. You can scarce
ly think what panic it struck into our ma =
nutacturers the end Of last year, when thew
thought your non-importation law was 10
be put into execution; and before the Sc
cretary OF state, on the last day of Decein-
Der, sent notice to the lord mayor of Lon
don that the treaty was signed It had 50
| much alarmed the manufacturers, that il
had lowered the price of sheep, wool. fax.
! and hemp---as well as the wages of the la
boring poor employed in the manufactures
| you had prohibited---but on the above no.
tice being sent, things and wages immedi-
ately got up again.
al hope your prohibiting act, will neve =,
take place"
, a vessel has arrived at this port in g
| days from the Island Of St Croix. which ~
J lef' on the DIST July. The captain repor,s
that previous to his departure PritisIS
packet had arrived there, bringing Euro
pean advices to the 24th June, the mos, I'M
portant of which was, that France VIC
bout TO conclude peace on the contino,.
but refused to treat with England ON an
other basis than the treaty of AmienS I,
IS possible that such vessel NAV have a.
rived IN such passage, but not probable
There is no doubt, but France will neve.
4 H