(quarters or more than one half) to defray them. In other words, the increased burden of the poor rate, and the increased burden of taxation since 1812, amounts to nearly 18 millions sterling,-which, with the increased local expenditure, amounts to 20 millions, being the direct burden which this country has to bear, over and above the burden of 1812. When we remember how much of this must fall upon the agricultural classes, can we wonder at the great depreciation of that most noble but declining interest? One example of the present state of things has met our eye while penning these remarks. An intelligent writer mentions that "The poor rate for the county of Norfolk for 1832, was £352,132., which is more than half the sum paid by England and Wales 84 years since, and Norfolk now contains but 390,000 souls, and is but the 27th part of England aud Wales!! The city of Norwich contains but 60,000 people, and £60,000. sterling are annually disbursed to the poor within its walls!!"-While such things are, well may the poor laws be complained of. But to our illustration:-In 1812, there were 6,675 commitments for crime there were twenty thousand in 1832! -The results, then of these facts are-that while population (from 1749 to 1832) has been barely doubled, pauperism has had a twelvefold increase,-that the burden of pauperism has trebled within the last twenty years, that taxation has been nominally reduced, but virtually increased, to the amount of 4,456,254 quarters of wheat in value, at the present low prices, to £12,031,835. sterling, that the increased burden of pauperism, valued in wheat, is 3,132,236 quarters, or in coin £5,757,037. sterling-and that within the short space of twenty years, crime has had more than a threefold in crease. EFFECT OF TAXATION IN ENHANCING THE PRICE OF FOOD. LONDON YEARLY AVERAGE PRICES OF GRAIN IN 1792, 1797, 1811, 1830, Hand-loom Weavers.-In our next we expect to be able to give some of the EviPetitions of the Hand-loom Weavers for dence of the Committee which sat upon the local boards of trade. At present it is not entirely printed. We purport from time to time to extract such parts of the Evidence as are best worthy of attention. It is understood to be throughout remarkable for In Scotland there are 13,000,000 acres its clearness and intelligence, and no part of land-uncultivated. England-waste Ireland-ditto more so, than that given by the operative 10,000,000 weavers. 3,500,000 Reports of Committees.- Pains will be 13,500,000 taken in ensuing Numbers, to furnish ample extracts from the Evidence before Committees of the two Houses of Parliamentwhich are of the most general interest to the public. Among the most important of £8,733,400 late, perhaps are those which sat on the 1,458,427 distress of Agriculture and Trade in the Session of 1833; on the petitions of the £10,191,827 hand-loom weavers in 1834, and on banking in 1832. Banker's Notes-and Joint Stock Bank's Notes in Circulation, from December 1833 to March 1834. Silk and Glove Trades.-Our attention will be specially directed to these important branches of domestic industry, and we invite communications on the subject from those more immediately interested therein. An article on Shipping in our next. PRINTED BY W. NICOL, 51, PALL MALL. AN ASSOCIATION has been formed, seen. But it is a prevailing opinion having purely for its object, Relief that it is too late to go back. from that long continued Distress which has affected (with scarcely any exception) every species of labour, and of capital vested in real property. In a great commercial country, temporary alternations of prosperity and adversity are to be expected; but an alternation of twenty years adversity is such an anomaly in the history of commerce, that it is worth while not only to ascertain, but to proclaim, to all whom it may concern, the causes of it. Without a knowledge of the causes, it is vain to think of removing the effects. It is too late to go the whole way back; but it is not too late to go a part of the way back; and now, perhaps, a quarter of the way, or less, might do. If, however, we should go this quarter of the way back ;-although we shall relieve about 20,000,000 of the population, -we shall offend some grand principle of political economy. And the country, some appear to think, ought to be the second consideration only in a case like this. Others, without any disrespect to the principles of political economy when they are prudently adapted to Nothing could have proved the existing circumstances, venture to futility of such an attempt, more differ from this opinion; and to than the reduction after reduction think, when the principles of poliof taxation since the peace, appa- tical economy, and the interests of rently without avail. The industry the people clash-that the people of this country is in a worse condi- should have the preference; and that, tion than in 1814, when we were in such a case, such principles are nominally paying £40,000,000 more much more profitable in the breach taxation than at present. It is be- than in the observance. The procause the taxation of the war was prietors of the Agricultural Magaonly nominal in its amount, while zine are of the latter opinion. now it is real. One bushel of wheat, one yard of cloth, and one day's labour would have paid somewhere about double the taxation, debts and engagements, that they will pay now. The one was a paper taxa. tion, the other is a gold one. The one was a high amount out of high means, the other is a high amount out of low means. But it is not the altered currency alone of which there is cause to complain. The following, among other causes, will be found to have aggravated the distress: the reciprocity system, so called; unequal taxation; withholding the necessary protection from vested capital, and labour; incautious and unseasonable regulations in commercial matters. These subjects, therefore, will likewise command and receive must anxious consideration. This state of things has been brought about, mainly, by the changes in the currency. Scarcely any one denies the evils that have It was said by a witness before been occasioned by these changes; the Agricultural Committee of 1833, for no one denies that the prices of alluding to the ruin which was going things depend on the quantity of on: that "half the forest had been currency circulating in the country: felled, and that we must patiently and it is agreed that these violent await the felling of the other half." changes would not have been made Let those who are content with this, if their consequences had been fore- submit to it. Let others who are not content to see half the farmers, its operations, the public has not and landlords, and productive classes had before it sufficient data to form of the United Kingdom, tamely sink right conclusions. It is proposed into ruin, because the other half to supply the information wanted, have been so sacrificed-struggle in plain language and in a cheap and to prevent it. And if there be any concentrated shape. And it is hoped other effectual and practicable mode that the Work, now offered to the of relief than partially retracing public, may be the means of imour steps, let it be adopted. But pressing on But pressing on the country, truths low prices are difficult to cure in that may dispose it to take such any other way than by raising them; steps as will surely, though in a and they can be raised, under a sound peaceful and legal way, protect the and convertible currency, to that li- remnant of its just property; and so mited extent which would give relief prevent results which are frightful without any breach of public faith. to contemplate. Should this happy Unless that shall be falsely construed expectation not be disappointed, into breach of faith, which seeks to no greater reward can attend the restore the fair and long-accustomed labours of this publication. proportions between every class of private property; having reference, at the same time, to the absolute taxation pressing upon each. Of course, in a work of this kind, all the Members of the Society cannot be responsible for every word The home trade is particularly contained in it: even the Committee affected by the present system. can only answer for an adherence, The shopkeepers of every provincial in the main, to the general principles, town can bear witness to this. The in which the society is agreed. distress in agriculture extends itself Local Committees will be immethrough every other branch of labour diately formed. and production connected with the The Agricultural Associations. home trade. It is surely better that which have sprung up so numerously all these branches should make an in consequence of distress, are espeeffort together, than that agriculture cially requested to take active steps should resist single-handed. Let to introduce the circulation of the then the common interests of real pro- Magazine in every Market Town perty and of labour, vested in the agri- and District. Agriculture being culture, manufactures, shipping and admitted on all hands to be the founcommerce of the United Kingdom, be dation of the great home trade, which cemented. Let these powerful in- is so miserably depressed. terests consider themselves as one, With a view to this, the Local and contend in a body against that Committees are requested to comcruel system which is so fatally un- municate with the Agricultural Asdermining their whole vigour and sociations in their districts. stability. Then we may hope again to see the day when British vested capital shall receive its due profit, and British labour reap permanent employment and its full reward. Annual subscriptions of 1., and donations, to be paid to Local Committees, or into the Bank of Matthias Attwood, Esq. M. P. Gracechurch Street, London. In consequence of the insidious The Second Number will be pubprogress of the disease which has lished on the 1st of November: to be cured, and the studious efforts the succeeding Numbers twice a which have been made to conceal month.-Price 2d. THE ENCOURAGEMENT OF DOMESTIC INDUSTRY, AND FOR 1834. LONDON: JAMES COCHRANE AND CO. 11,, WATERLOO PLACE, PALL MALL. SOLD ALSO WHOLESALE BY GROOMBRIDGE, PANTER ALLEY, PATERNOSTER ROW; WALKLEY, CHELSEA; THOMPSON AND NEWBY, The Third Number will be Published on the 15th of November.-Price 2d. Printed by W. Nicol, Pall Mall. COMMITTEE. Chairman-E. S. CAYLEY, Esq., M.P. Yorkshire, N. R. Hon. D. G. Hallyburton, M.P. Forfarshire. L. W. Dillwyn, Esq., M.P. Glamorganshire. George Finch, Esq., M.P. Stamford. Hesketh Fleetwood, Esq., M.P. Preston. G. F. Young, Esq., M.P. Tynemouth. Honorary Secretary-R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN, Esq. F.S.S., CORRESPONDING MEMBERS. Aylesbury-Henry T. Rudge, Esq. M.P. Macclesfield-Mr. Swinnerton. Esq. Swansea-Joseph Bird, Esq. Communications to be sent to the Secretary, post paid. |