Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1821-08-17
FOREIGN.
From BeNs Weekty Messenger, June cal

|
| From Bells Weekty Messenger, June cal
THE CoRoNATIoN.-As this royal and ma
tional festival is fixed for the nineteenth of
July, next Thursday three weeks, it NAV not
be altogether without interest to consider n
question now much agitated. Whether there
IS any such national object and possible utility
III tins expensive festival, as may indemnify
the public for It's enormous expense; whether,
IN short, 1t is really national object or little
better then frivolity, i'm no degree suited to
the actual difficulties of the times, and to the
spirit of an age now becoming manly and
sober? In all questions of the comparative
good or Ill of any proposed measure, the natur-
al process is to consider the cost and the worth,
| apart and distinct from each other, and then,
by the collation. of the two results together, to
determine which should prevail with the iudg-
ment; or, in other words, whether the thing
is worth Its cost, and the good preponderates
over the i'll.
| Now, as regards the Coronation, the obiec-
tons to 1t are these. That the country, and
particularly the agricultural interest, are in
circumstances OF great difficulty and distress,
and cannot very well afford such an aligmenta-
ton OF the annual expenditure, for the current
year, as will result from this expensive show.
That the agriculturists have collected all their
possible strength to procure the abolition of
the Agricultural Horse Tax, the weight of
which upon this interest did not exceed five
! hundred thousand pounds, though ministers
Will lose nearly seven by its removal. But that
| this show,-this Mayday holiday, will of itself
| exceed five hundred thousand pounds i'm cost,
that is to say, will render this victory of the
landed interest nugatory, and will at once add
as much as the abolition of the tax removed
And Ut is demanded) for what useful purpose /?
q tII.At, la xf..l Al l.-slI. n
| churches, the churches remain, and the capital
is embellshed and dgnifed 10 future times
But the flrs and the lace-the drums and the
trumpets-the ribbons and the strewed flowers
| the cups and the basins--the cwcrs and the
napklns-the towels, and all the paraphcrnalia
ut this show, will expire with the day. 1t is
not TO be denied, the objectors add, that even
a show for day is worth something. But is
it worth five hundred thousand pounds? Aad
what do the public get by this expense beyond
the passing show They get the oath OF the
king to observe the laws. But do they not
possess that already, and do the people require
| this security for the Constitution ? Are we
not protected by something with respect be
it spoken) perfectly as satisfactory ia the ne
cessary English feeling,-by the good faith
and royal honour of British King and lei
us add, on our own parts, IN our own resolute
will and strength to defend our own rights
under the Law aud Constitution Is not this,
to speak candldly, mere artificial argument,
and totally without any worth or even serious
meaning in those who Use it? viii any one
venture to assert, that there truly can be any
public good or purpose in this expensive
festival, and that the constitution will derive
any additional strength and security from any
thing which will pass on that day. But if there
be nothing to oppose to its cost, will it be
commended that this x tn
half 4 million of money upon show, which.
like a fire work, blaZes and bursts i'm the same
moment-and after the day which il occupies.
leaves nothing behind but the regret of the
money expended. This we believe, is the
sum of the objection. Let us now see the an
| swcr.
| 1t is perfectly true, the ministers reply that
the festival, or as you call it the Show, is but
the holiday OF day, and that it is attended
with an expense which the country, under its
present circumstances, can i'll afford. 1t is
perfectly true, that the money might be more
wisely and better spent; and that IFS result.
In adding to our constitutional security, is not
very manifest, nor very substantial. But,
though it may be accompanied, and actually
Is so, with large public expense, is il not
equally accompanied with large private
| expenditure amongst the noble and the rich,
and therein with the circulation of large
amount OF money in aid ofthe manufactures
OF the country? How many fur manuractu-
rers, muff makers, robe tailors, men and wo-
men milliners, habcrdashers aud lace makers
Ito say nothing of Astlcy's, the circus, the
theatre, the plumasiers, and the confcctioners
will be assisted by the expenditure upon this
occasion? And is not this a public benefit ?
| We say nothing of the money which is to he
paid TO Messrs. Rumble and Bridge for the
| IOnfl nf fha iaxyaIc tx-I,icI, 10 l..
the imperial crown we say nothing of the
satisfaction of SO many young nobility and
| gentry, who are assembling from all parts of
the country to see this fine festival. And is
it possible, Lord Londonderry adds, in this
part of the argument, for a noble, a generous,
maSnanlmous people, like the people of
England, Scotland, and the well disposed part
OF Ireland, To consider, without u oya sym-
patty, how much satisfaction their Sovereign
| VIII feel upon thisoccasiOn, when a loyal and
| grateful people, habtcd in all the manufactures
of the united empire, and raising them from
| the condition into which they were sunk by
| the sudden transition from war TO peace shall
hail him as the worthy successor OF the House
of Brunswick? Is it nothing that his Majesty
and his people will become better acquainted
with each other, and that each shall see the
other with all that advantage which general
festival and splendid array confer? Under
| the laws Of the country, it is his Maiesty's
unqucsiionablc right TO be thus crowned his
| Majesty desires it; and I'VE Must cOncede it,
AS far as we understand the question, this is
the fair statement of it on both sides. and we
shall leave il in this condition. We have
certainlyno objection, there can be n0nen any
quarter, to Il more liberal circulation of the
money Of the rich in aid ofmanufactures and
internal trade and If IN can be made TO apucai