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ther tax; the remission proposed on this subject, is of the duties imposed during the American and late wars. The present amount of this tax is 600,000l. and of this one half is now to be taken away, leaving, of course, one half still available to the government.

The tonnage duty, bringing in a revenue of about 150,000l. is to be entirely removed, which will certainly afford a considerable relief to the shipping interest, a circumstance of much congratulation; her maritime interests are, in every point of view, of paramount importance to Great Britain.

The next and last tax to be removed is the Irish window and hearth tax. Our readers may recollect that on Lord Londonderry's arrival with his Majesty at the pier of Howth, he pledged his honour to a public spirited individual who demanded the boon, that he would do his best to have this tax removed, and the noble Marquis has certainly redeemed his pledge creditably. We are glad of it on every account. No man in existence owes more to Ireland than the Marquis of Londonderry. These taxes amounted only to 250,000l. and were, both in their operation and in their collection, most oppressive. The window tax was most unwise and most unproductive compared with its evil effects; it caused the closing up of the windows in many houses, by which ventilation was impeded and disease produced. It was called in Ireland, by way of distinction, the Typhus tax, as to its operation the inhabitants chiefly imputed the pestilential malady which lately raged there. While on this subject, we have no hesitation in saying, that with proper economy in the collection, a saving might be made to the Irish public of at least one-third of the existing taxes. Will it be credited that, in some of the taxes in Ireland, where 2001. are collected, 1001. goes into the pockets of the officers and collectors!! Yet such is the fact. We may hereafter return to this subject.

A document has been laid on the table of the House of Commons, on the motion of Mr. Hume, which presents a statement of our newspaper circulation that would otherwise

appear almost incredible. It is an account of the stamps yearly furnished from the stamp office, to the London and provincial press. By this it appears, that the London newspapers printed in the year 1821 amounted in number to 16,254,534, and the provincial newspapers in the same year, to 8,525,252, being a total of 24,779,786; the duty on which amounted to 412,996l. 8s. 8d.! In the year 1801, the London and provincial papers taken together amounted only to 16,084,905.

By another paper, it appears that during the two years which have elapsed since the re-enactment of the Alien Act, in July, 1820, only four persons have been sent out of England under its provisions—a small number, certainly, considering that by a parliamentary return, no less than 25,000 foreigners are now residing in this country. We believe the persons so deported were connected with the establishment in St. Helena.

A motion was made in the House of Commons, by Lord John Russell, on the subject of a Reform in the representation of the people in parliament, which, after a short debate, was negatived by a majority of 105. The minority, however, was very respectable. The numbers were, for the motion, 164-against it, 269. This, we believe, is the greatest division which has yet taken place on the reform question.

A very useful and necessary bill has been introduced into the House of Commons, by Mr. Bennet, namely, a bill for throwing open the present monopoly of public houses. The provisions of the bill are, we think, unnecessarily long, but its main object is that which we have stated. We need only adduce one fact to prove how systematic the present monopoly is: by a return to the House of Commons, it appears that out of many thousand houses annually licensed, not more than three new houses have been added in each year to the original number; the same houses only being licensed from year to year. Surely this is monstrous.

By an official return made to parliament, it appears that the total exports of Great Britain for last year exceeded the amount in the pre

ceding year, to the amount of three
millions and a half; there was, how-
ever, in the imports, a comparative
decrease of half a million.

Mr. Canning brought forward a
measure in the House of Commons
which has been successful in that
house, and may be said, though by a
side wind, to have established, there
at least, the justice of the claims to
further concessions on the part of
the Roman Catholics. He obtained
leave to bring in a bill to provide
that peers of the United Kingdom,
being otherwise duly qualified, might
exercise the right of sitting in par-
liament, without taking the oath, or
making the declaration recited in
that bill. This oath and declaration
are the tests which have hitherto
operated as disqualifications upon
the admission of Roman Catholics
into parliament. Leave was given
to bring in the bill; and after many
animated discussions, it was carried
through its different stages, by small
but increasing majorities, and finally
transmitted to the House of Lords.
The Duke of Portland takes the cus-
tody of it in the upper house. Its
success there, however, is more than
problematical; the bishops, with one
exception (Norwich), are hostile to
the enactment; and even independent-
ly of them a considerable majority of
the lay peers are understood to be
opposed to it. This bill was cer-
tainly the least objectionable manner
in which the principle of Roman
Catholic emancipation could have
been presented for the acceptance of
parliament-the number of candi-
dates for eligibility are few-the
prejudices annexed to ancient fa-
mily and high rank, and the asso-
ciations inseparable from renowned
achievements, are favourable, and the
measure has the recommendation of
being exclusively beneficial to the
English peerage, as the Irish who
could derive under it are elective only
-but still as an acknowledgment of
the grand principle, it is almost cer-
tain that the attempt will now prove
abortive. It will, in all probability,
be the last parliamentary experiment
of Mr. Canning in the House of
Commons, as we perceive by a speech
of that gentleman at the anniversary
dinner of the Literary Fund, that his
departure for India is certain,

VOL. V.

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spectively brought forward motions, Mr. Lennard and Mr. Warre rein the House of Commons, on the subject of our diplomatic expenneral question, and the second rediture. The first embraced the ge ferred to the particular appointment These motions were supported on of Mr. Wynne to the Swiss Cantons. the grounds that retrenchment under the present circumstances of the country had become absolutely necessary in every department, that the expenditure of our ambassadors much exceeded the exigencies of their station, and that by an analogy to foreign countries, particularly to America, it would be found that govern ment was guilty in this respect of great

During the debate, Mr. Tierney stated comparative extravagance. his conviction, that a saving to the amount of 150,000l. might be effected in the branch of our foreign diplo macy. To these arguments it was replied, that the appointments had not latterly departed from their former scale; that at the five courts of France, Austria, Russia, Prussia, and the Netherlands, which now formed the quintuple alliance upon expensive duties devolved upon our which the peace of Europe rested, ambassadors, who were bound to sustain by their establishments a rank and splendour suitable to the chapresented; and that there was no racter of the great nation they reanalogy whatever between the magnificence necessarily attached to the representatives of a monarchy, and the simplicity which characterised a republican form of government. It was also contended, that this subject tion of the executive, with whose was exclusively vested in the discre right of general controul the proposed interference would be unbecoming and unconstitutional. debate was pursued with consider The able vehemence, and ended in Lord Londonderry's unequivocal declaration, that if left in a minority, he would retire from office! This was a threat which it was understood the noble Marquis had on previous occasions frequently made in private; but this, we believe, was its first public promulgation. On a division, in very full houses, ministers had a majority on Mr. Lennard's motion of 127, and

498

Abstract of Foreign and Domestic Occurrences.

on Mr. Warre's of 106; so that the country will still have the benefit of the noble Marquis's continued official services. We should perhaps state here that by a paper lately laid before the House of Commons, it appears that this country paid last year for diplomacy the sum of 265,962. including 52,6421. for pensions! In 1792, the total charge was only 113,9897. including 11,4867. for pensions. Fortunately, his Lordship abstained from a similar menace in the debate on the subject of the postmasters general, which was again perseveringly urged by Lord Normanby, who succeeded in convincing the house that the well-paid duties of this office might be adequately discharged by one individual-a truth indeed almost axiomatic, as one of the postmasters, Lord Clancarty, has been for the last two years necessarily absent on his diplomatic mission to the Netherlands; the consequence was, ministers were left in a minority; and Lord Salisbury, who, in the phrase of Mr. Tierney," had served the country for many years, and was willing to serve it on the same terms to the very end of his life," was obliged to retire. This is to be followed up by the dismissal also of one of the postmasters general in Ireland; but with respect to a proposed similar arrangement for Scotland, Lord Londonderry declared, that as the postmaster there had other duties to perform, besides those of the post office, any similar reduction in that country was impracticable.

A bill has been brought in by Mr. Goulburn, the Irish secretary, for the temporary relief of the Irish by the employment of their poor. The specific measure empowers the Lord Lieutenant to advance on presentments the sum of 50,000l. for the making and repair of roads and other public works in Ireland. The bill was carried unanimously through the Commons, and, in consequence of the

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suspension of the standing orders in the House of Lords for the purpose, it passed into an act with unusual expedition. Although there was no opposition to the bill, its introduction caused some passing remarks upon the causes which rendered such expedients necessary, one of which, and a prominent one, was stated by Mr. Plunket to be the rapacity of the Irish landholders; several individuals in both houses generously undertook the Herculean task of defending these gentlemen, on grounds, which, if they could be established, would cause, we have no doubt, very universal satisfaction amongst the tenantry of Ireland. Lord King seemed to think that Mr. Plunket's proposition was not quite general enough

his Lordship said he thought the observation ought to have run thus"the rapacity of the Irish landholdis greater, and both are exceeded ers is great-that of the Irish church by the rapacity of the government."

of Commons by Mr. Hume, on the A motion was made in the House subject of the Ionian Isles; in submitting which, the honourable member made heavy complaints of the expenditure of the government, and the abuses practised there under the present system. He moved a string stances under which these Islands of resolutions, reciting the circumwere consigned to the protection of Great Britain, and pointing out some of the particular abuses which it was his object to correct. To these was praying for an inquiry into the goadded an address to the Crown, vernment of these islands. Ministers denied the accuracy of Mr. Hume's statement; and on a division, the motion was lost by a majority of 152 to 67. It appears since, by a statement of Sir Thomas Maitland, the goat present under martial law. vernor of these islands, that they are

May, 26.

MONTHLY REGISTER, JUNE 1, 1822.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

THE discussions upon the agricultural distress have been continued almost day by day in the House of Commons throughout the present month, and with but small approximation to any beneficial results. The loans to parishes, and the expenditure of a million in the purchase of British corn to be warehoused, are schemes as completely exploded as we foresaw they would be. Indeed they fell by their own weakness, and were trampled to death without remorse, by those who affected to uphold them so long as they appeared to have any show of strength. Thus the member for Norfolk turned round upon the Marquis of Londonderry, and the Noble Lord turned round upon Mr. Irving, as the real author of the proposal for warehousing, which the Marquis had undertaken to submit to the House, but from which he withdrew his support, after having for a time made it his own by moving its adoption. This tends to prove the hesitation and uncertainty under which ministers have laboured, and still labour, and the total want of a principled foundation in their minds, upon which to build any practical scheme of relief. The latest view Lord Londonderry has taken of the subject, is to be found in his endeavour to establish, as a general principle, that it is expedient to curb importation, should importation ever be found necessary, by such a fixed duty as shall preclude the introduction of foreign corn at low prices. His Lordship appears to wish, that such a duty should be imposed as will forbid all possibility of foreign wheat, for example, being sold in England under from 658. to 70s. per quarter, and to this, as a general but temporary proposition, the House assented. The Marquis, therefore, has prepared his bill upon these grounds, and the exact rate of duties is to be fixed hereafter. This scheme, however, will neither satisfy the grower nor the consumer. It is too low for the one, and too high for the other. At present, and for some time to come, such an act is likely to be wholly inoperative; because, should the ports be opened, the quantity of foreign wheat, already in VOL. V.-Mon Reg.

warehouses, which will come into the market under no duty at all, except the holders choose to accept the option of taking it out at a duty of 15s. per quarter, when the average price is 658. will suffice for a more than an average deficiency of supply. Nevertheless there are good grounds to suppose, that importation is nearer than is generally apprehended. The following are the reasons to be adduced. Up to the year 1816 inclosure was very general. It then ceased. From 1792 to 1818 inclusive, it is found, that on average annual importation of grain of all sorts, to the amount of upwards of 1,400,000 qrs. took place, besides the introduction of flour and meal, to the amount of 338,000 cwts. The importation in 1817-1818, amounted to an annual average of 3,322,266 qrs. grain; 960,123 cwts. flour and meal. The price fluctuated from 109s. 1d. to 84s. 4d. in these two years. It is, therefore, assumed that a quantity of the English growth, equal, or nearly, to the quantity imported, more than the average, was displaced by the English farmer holding back, while the importing merchant was selling; for in the month of March, 1819, no more than 957 of foreign wheat remained under the King's lock. The stock thus held back has therefore been added to the surplus of crops above the usual average, and thus the glut has extended to the present hour; but the supply by sea to the London market, has not for many weeks past equalled more than one half (hardly indeed so much) of the usual average. It is therefore to be inferred, that the stock is exhausted, while an increasing population, and a decreasing state of cultivation, a consumption probably augmented by cheapness, together with the demand which the destruction of the potatoe crop in Ireland must originate, will soon put to proof the disputable question of the relation of supply to demand. From the facts we have recited, it should almost seem probable that the ports must open before the period assigned by the Marquis of Londonderry, (two or three years) though their immediate opening will

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be prevented by the coming harvest, and the prices perhaps be still further depressed by the operation of the circumstances above mentioned. Before the publication of our next Report, the terms of the act will be settled, and its provisions will then be clearly understood. At present, the general impression is, that no benefit will be derived, either to the landed interest, or to the country.

A decision relative to tithes in Norfolk has created a great sensation, and if supported by future decisions, will produce a most important change. Hitherto, it has been customary to assess tithes at the rate of almost one-fourth of the assessment on arable land. Dr. Bulwer, the applicant to the court, endeavoured to establish this as a maxim; the court, however, decided that there was no rule of law for assessing tithes, at a proportion of the assessment of land, but that all property was assessable at its productive value.

A proposition has been made by Mr.

Crisp Brown, a great maltster of Norwich, to work his houses, for any farmers disposed to sell malt to their labourers, at the reduced price of 58. per bushel, the trade ready money price being 6s. Mr. Brown is able to produce 6000 bushels per week, which he calculates will supply as many labourers for a month, and thus he proposes to increase the consumption of barley, and augment the comfort of the cottager. The example is worth following.

The crops are looking generally well, but begin to want rain, particularly in the light land districts. The wheats are, perhaps, the least promising. Preparations are now every where making for turnip sowing. The crops of grass are abundant. Stock is selling ruinously low, and in Smithfield, on Monday last, fell to a degree not experienced for a very long course of years.

May 25, 1822.

HORTICULTURAL REPORT FOR APRIL AND MAY, 1822.

DURING April and May, only a few successional crops require the attention of the horticulturist, his main ones being inserted in the previous months: weeding, thinning, and keeping his tribes" in order strict and due propriety," claim his chief exertions; and these cares are in no small degree increased by the mild temperature and genial showers of the present season; so rapidly indeed do the weeds advance, that the extirpating hoe needs to be the gardener's constant vade mecum.

April 20.-The vine (vitis vinifera) is expanding its empurpled leaves. 22. Honesty, or moonwort (lunaria), is in flower; this common yet not inelegant plant, will flourish in any soil or situation however impoverished and bleak. 24. The black currant is presenting its blossom to the bee: 26. As are also the jeanotin and codlin apples; of all the varieties of this fruit there is a promised abundance-" yet uncertain as a lover's vow." 29. The fragrant flowers of the red, and a few of the white lilac, are gradually expanding. The new sprung leaves of the sweet chesnut (fagus castanea), in their turn, are playing wanton in the breeze. The double white, the yellow, and some others of the earlier tulips, are fully opened; but the more illustrious varieties will not blow for some weeks. This tribe is the gayest off spring of floriculture, it is here

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April has fled before the wings of Time; and although during its stay we felt some of the piercing gales of Winter, yet they were his last struggling sighs-violent, but fransitory; its last days, "like those of the lovely, were peace:" so fervently did the sun beam upon its departure, and on the arrival of its successor, that the fires on our hearths were gladly extinguished; so joyous came "fair May, the grace."

May 3. The flowers of the hawthorn (crataegus oxyacantha), of the horse-chesnut (æsculus hippocastanum), and on the 6th, those of the honeysuckle "betrayed their loves before the God of Day." As this is the season when flowers are plucked from their parent stems, to wither by degrees as bouquets on side-boards and mantle-pieces, it may not be unacceptable information, that they will much longer retain their vigour and fragrance, if a small portion of common salt (six grains to a pint) be added to the water, and a small portion of the stalk be cut off at intervals of three or four days. 9. All the varieties of the strawberry," plant of my native

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