community which is to receive supply. I than nine shillings per bushel. To those

The landlord and tenant ought to be identified-in other words, the argument upon the expediency or inexpediency of Corn Laws, ought to be conducted in the same manner as if every occupier were possessed of the freehold of his occupation. Omitting then all interests, except those of the consumer, the question is brought within a very narrow range. All agree in the importance of securing a supply of bread corn at a moderate and steady price, and of guarding (so far as human care can guard) against the recurrence of that enormous and distressing increase of price, which bas twice, at least, within the last Efteen years, arisen from unfavourable seasons-the inquiry is, how this may best be effected; and that question resolves itself into the following points.In the first place we must determine under what degree of encouragement, at what remunerating price to the grower of corn, the internal supply can be insured. In the next place we have to consider, whether the foreigner can, and if he can, at what price he will, fill up that deficiency of supply, which must be the necessary effect of refusing to the internal cultivation such remunerating price as shall ensure its continuance. It is most evident that unless the grower of corn can calculate upon a re turn which will replace his expenditure, and compensate him for the use of the capital advanced, and the risk incurred, he will cease to cultivate. There may be some difficulty in ascertaining the extent of the protection necessary to ensure internal cultivation. Much must depend upon the quality of the land. The rich soils are of such easy cultivation and abundant pro-produced, I have never been fortunate duce that they might (oppressed even as they are by charges and taxation) compete with the foreigner in our home markets; but every information which I have collected upon the subject confirms me in the opinion that it is far otherwise with the average lands of England. It is calculating upon a very high average of the land of this country to assume its produce to be equal to twenty bushels of wheat, and thirty two bushels of barley per acre.-To every statistical and agricultural writer, I appeal as authority for this position. There is no person conversant with agricultural inquiries, who will argue, that wheat grown upon such lands can, in seasons of ordinary produce, be supplied (after the deduction of the tithe) at a less price

who are not unacquainted with the necessary expences and charges attached to the cultivation of land, this will not appear a high average price. Who can be so uninformed of the present state of this country as to disregard the charges and taxation, to which land is exclusively liable; the support of the poor, the maintenance of the ecclesiastical functionaries, the re pair of the parochial churches, and of the public roads, the land tax, and seven and a half per cent. income tax, are all charges exclusively applicable to the land. When I assume that the average land of England cannot be cultivated but under the proba bility of a remunerating price of seventytwo shillings per quarter of wheat, I by no means intend to state that such must be its minimum price. In seasons of abundant produce the price will naturally fall.— Quantity of produce will in that case compensate for the deficiency of price. If I am correct in the above positions, it remains undeniably proved, that if the foreign grower can, and is allowed, to superadd his surplus to our home produce of corn in our own markets at a price below seventy-two shillings per quarter, the average lands of this country must be thrown out of cultivation. We must, then, depend upon foreign supply, to replace that deficiency which will necessarily arise from the subtraction of the produce of all the land of England which is below the assu med average.

"I now proceed to the consideration of that part of the subject, which I never contemplate without the most painful and unfeigned alarm. No evidence has ever been

enough to collect any, that the present surplus of foreign produce is by any means equal to replace the produce of those lands which must, as I have proved, be ultimately thrown out of cultivation, under a system of uncontrouled foreign importation. It is possible that by the application of British capitalto the spits of Poland and America, those countries may, in common years, yield a supply of bread corn, which shall equal that, which, by the operation of wiser measures, might have been produced by our native soil-But, let me ask, what will be our security; what our certainty of this supply? I do not here allude to national differences, and possible future war.-No; England must cease to con

pear

incontrovertible."

STATE OF IRELAND.

-The Dublia

troul those powers upon whom she has | firmation of principles which to me ap made herself dependent for subsistence.I merely refer to the probable effects of unproductive seasons on the Continents of Furope and America. When the Rulers Evening Post, of Saturday last, contains a of those States, upon which we are to most elaborate charge of JUDGE FLETCHER depend for the existence of our population, to the Grand Jury of the county of Wex. shall be called upon to withhold their pro-ford, delivered at the late Summer Assizes, duce for the maintenance of their own in which that able Judge has given a most people, then shall we experience the fatal interesting picture of the state of Ireland, affects of our prejudice and delusion.for the avowed purpose of shewing, that Good God! what will then be the state of the Coercive Bills, recently passed in Par ur unhappy land! Then will the people liament, respecting Ireland, are wholly in of this country vainly call those who applicable and unnecessary. My limits have misled them, for that supply which will not permit me to give this document they are now taught to reject-then will at full length; but I shall make such exthose theorists who now contend for sys-tracts from it as appear to me most im tems inapplicable to the present state of the world, lament that, to their direful experiments, they have sacrificed the dePositive luded people of this country.

upon

famine may not be the early consequence, but difficulty of procuring food, and corresponding high prices, must be the almost immediate effect of our dependence upon the foreigner for subsistence.

portant. Judge Fletcher denies that the disturbances in that country, of which we have heard so much on this side the water, proceed from disaffection to the Govern ment. He says,

"In my circuits through other parts of the kingdom, I have seen the lower orders of the people disturbed by many causes, not peculiar to any particular counties-operating with more effect in some; but to a greater or less extent in all.-I have seen them operating with extended effect in the North-West Circuit, in the counties of Mayo, Donegal, Derry, Roscommon, &c. &c, These effects have made a deep impression on my mind. My observations, certainly, have been those of an individual-but of an individual, seeing the same facts coming before him, judie cially, time after time, - and I do now publicly state, that never, during the entire period of my judicial experience (comprising sixteen circuits), have I discovered or observed any serious purpose, or settled scheme, of assailing his Majesty's Government, or any conspiracy connected with internal rebels, or foreign foes.-But various, deep-rooted, and neglected causes, producing similar effects throughout this country, have conspired to create the evils, which really and

"Assuming that there exists no real scarcity in foreign countries, is it possible to imagine, that foreign Governments will remain unobservant of our dependence upon them? Can it be supposed, that they will abstain from levying those contributions upon this country, of which we tender them the ready means? Will they not impose duties upon the export of their corn? But why should I state doubtfully that which is in demonstration before us? In the present moment the Government of France has closed her ports against In the exportation of French corn. Prussia the course of the late war, levied a duty of forty per cent. upon all grain exported to this country. From such self-evident propositions it appears to me most clearly deducible, that a certain and cheap supply of bread corn can be insured to the consumer by the sole He then proceeds to develope thess means of our internal produce, checked in He arranges them under the two price by external supply on the one hand, causes. and enabled to compete with it by protect- general heads-POLITICAL and MORAL ing duties, or relief from taxation, on the Under the former, he classes, high rents; other. It were easy to corroborate this paper currency; an over activo Magis opinion by the evidence of long and uner- tracy; the existence of Orange, and other ring experience. I am, however, so Societies; large County assessments; and Under the latter, h aaxious to avoid occupying your attention absentee landlords. by a re-statement of these facts, which may puts, exciting discord between Catholic be seen in every publication upon the sub-pastors and their flocks; the existence of ject, that I feel it a duty to resist my in- tithes ; County presentment code, and clination to enter into an historical con- money; hasty decrees on civil bills; and

truly do exist."

illicit distillation. With regard to paper who ought never to have borne the King's com+ currency, he states

"We all know, that the country has been delnged by an enormous paper currency, which has generated a new crime, now prominent upon the list in every calendar-the crime of making and uttering forged bank notes. In every province, we have seen private banks failing, and ruining multitudes; and thus have fresh mischiefs flowed from this paper circulation."

Respecting an over active Magistracy, the charge contains the following pointed remarks:

mission. The vast powers entrusted to those Officers call for an upright, zealous, and conscientious discharge of their duty.”

The dreadful consequences resulting from the existence of Orange Associations, are thus emphatically described --

"Those disturbers of the public peace, who assume the name of Orange Yeomen, frequentthe fairs and markets, with arms in their hands, under the pretence of self-defence, or of pro tecting the public peace, but with the lurking view of inviting the attacks from the Ribbon Men-confident, that, armed as they are, they must overcome defenceless opponents, and put them down. Murders have been repeatedly perpetrated upon such occasions; and, though

"Here let me solicit your particular attention to some of the grievous mischiefs flowing from the misconduct of certain Magistrates. One is occasioned by an excessive eagerness to crowd the gaels with prisoners, and to swell the calen-legal prosecutions have ensued, yet, such has dars with crimes. Hence, the amazing dispro- been the baneful consequences of those factious portion between the number of the committals Associations, that, under their influence, Petty and of the convictions, between accusation and Juries have declined (upon some occasions) to evidence, between hasty suspicion and actual do their duty. These facts have fallen under my guilt. - Committals have been too frequently own view. It was sufficient to say-such a man made out (in other counties) upon light and displayed such a colour, to produce an utter distrivial grounds, without reflecting upon the evil belief of his testimony; or, when another has consequences of wresting a peasant (probably stood with his hand at the bar, the display of his innocent) from the bosom of his family-immur-party badge has mitigated the murder into maning him for weeks or months in a noisome slaughter." gaol, amongst vicious companions. He is after- But of all the political causes attended wards acquitted, or not prosecuted; and returns with pernicious consequences to Ireland, a lost man, in health and morals, to his rained and the continuance of which must for and beggared family. This is a hideous, but ever prove a bar to her national improvecommon picture. Again, fines and forfeited ment, that of Absentee Landlords seems to recognizances are multiplied, through the mis-be the worst. Their effects are thus deconduct of a Magistrate. He binds over a pro- scribed by the learned Judge:secutor, under a heavy recognizance, to attend Superadded to these mischiefs, are the perat a distant Assizes, where, it is probable, that manent and occasional Absentee Landlords, rethe man's poverty or private necessities must | siding in another country, not known to their prevent his attending. The man makes default-Tenantry, but by their Agents who extract the his recognizance is forfeited-he is committed uttermost penny of the value of the lands. If a to the county gaol upon a Green Wax Process-lease happens to fall in, they set the farm by and, after long confinement, he is finally disebarged at the Assizes, pursuant to the Statute; and, from an industrious Cottier, he is degraded, from thenceforth, into a beggar and a vagrant.Other Magistrates presume to make out vague committals, without specifying the day of the offence charged, the place, or any other particular, from which the unfortunate prisoner could have notice to prepare his defence. This suppression is highly indecorons, unfeeling, and unjust-and it deserves, upon every occasion, a severe reprobation of the Magistrate, who thus deprives his fellow-subject of his rightful opportunity of defence.-There are parts of Ireland, where, from the absence of the Gentlemen of the county, a race of Magistrates has sprung up,

public auction to the highest bidder. No gratitude for pass services-no preference of the fair offer-no predilection for the ancient tenantry, (be they ever so deserving) but, if the highest price be not acceded to, the depopu lation of an entire track of country ensues. What then is the wretched peasant to do? Chaced from the spot, where he had first drawn his breath; where he had first seen the light of Heaven, incapable of procuring any other means of existence. Vexed with those exactions I have enumerated-and harassed by the payment of Tithes -can we be surprised, that a peasant, of unenlightened mind, of uneducated habits, should rush upon the perpetration of crimes, followed by the punishment of the rope and the gibbet?

Nothing (as the peasantry imagine) remains for them, thus harassed and thus destitute, but with strong hand to deter the stranger from intruding upon their farms; and to extort from the weakBess and terrors of their Landlords, (from whose gratitude or good feelings they have failed to win it) a kind of preference for their ancient tenantry."

their tenantry a market for their corn; and con sequently increased the rents of their lands besides they were themselves consumers of those liquors, and in every town and village there was an unlicensed house for retailing them.--This consumption of spir.ts produced such pernicious effects, that at length the Executive Powers deemed it high time to put an end to the system.

The consequence was, that the people, ren-. dered ferocious by the use of those liquors, and accustomed to lawless habits, resorted to force, resisted the laws, opposed the military, and hence have resulted riots, assaults, and murders." As to Tithes, the charge contains the following judicious remarks:

"They are generally complained of as a great

are a tax upon industry, upon enterprize, and upon agricultural skill. Is a man intelligent and industrious-does he, by agriculture, reclaim a track of land, and make it productive of corn, he is visited and harassed by the Tithe Proctor; does his neighbour, through want of inclination or of skill, keep his farm in pasture and unimproved, he is exonerated from the burden of tithes, and from the visitations of any clergy, not belonging to his own church. Far be it from me to say that tithes are not due to the clergy. By the law of the land, they have as good a title to their tithes as any of you have to your estates; and I am convinced, that the clergyman does

Among the moral causes of depravity in Ireland, that of Illicit Distillation may be considered the most prominent. On this part of the subject Judge Fletcher observes:"From this source, a dreadful torrent of evils and crimes has flowed upon our land.-The excessive increase of rents had induced many persons to bid rents for their farins, which they knew they could not fairly or properly dis-grievance. In the times in which we live, they eharge- but they flattered themselves, that, in the course of years, the value of those farms would rise still higher, and that thus they might altimately acquire beneficial interests. In the mean time, they have had recourse to illicit distillation, as the means of making good their rents. Hence the public revenue has been defrauded to the amount of millions.—Nay, it is a fact, that at one period, not far back, there was not a single licensed distillery in an entire province-namely, the North West Circuit, where the consumption of spirituous liquors is, perhaps, called for by the coldness and humidity of the climate. The old powers of the law having proved unavailing, the Legislature was compel-not, in any instance, exact what he is strictly en-, led to enact new laws, which, though clashing with the very first principles of evidence under our happy Constitution, were yet called for by the exigency of the times-laws, which qualify a prosecutor to be as a witness in his own cause. If he feared not the consequences of perjury, he gained the suit, and put the money into his pocket. Hence, a kind of bounty was necessarily tendered to false swearing: and we all know the revenue folk are not very remarkable for a scrupulous feeling in such cases.These oaths were answered again by the oaths of the parties charged, who, in order to avoid the fine, denied the existence of any still upon their lands. Thus have I witnessed trials, where, in my judgment, the Revenue officer, who came to impose the fine, was perjured-the witnesses who came to avert it, perjured--and the Petty Jury, who tried the cause, perjured, for they declined to do their duty, because they were, or might be interested in the event; or because the easy procurement of those illicit spirits produced an increased consumption of grain for their benefit. The resident gentry of the country generally winked with both their eyes at this practice, and why ?-because it brought home to the doors of

titled to. But this mode of assessment has been
much complained of ; and it is particularly felt
in this country, because the Catholic receives no
spiritual comfort from his Protestant Rector; he
knows him only through the Tithe Proctor, and
he has, moreover, his own Pastor to pay. This,
is the reason why he thinks it a grievance; and
I must admit, that although the clergyman does
not receive all that he is entitled to, and although
it may not be a grievance in another country,
yet the tithe system is a painful system for Ire-
land."

These are the leading causes to which this able and patriotic Judge, and true friend of humanity, attributes the riots and disturbances which are so common in Ireland, and from which he very naturally infers, that the penal laws enacted to suppress these disturbances, under the idea that the parties are seditious and hostile to Government, must become nugatory. Instead of adopting inefficient measures of that nature, he charges the Absentee Landlords, in particular,

"To promote the establishment of Houses of Refuge, Houses of Industry, School-houses, and

set the example, upon their own estates, of build-I generally speaking, know about as much of the
ing decent cottages, so that the Irish Peasant
may have, at least, the comforts of an “English
Sow" for an English farmer would refuse to
eat the flesh`of a hog, so lodged and fed as an
Irish Peasant is.-Are the farms of an English
landholder out of lease, or his cottage in a sate
of dilapidation ?—hé rebuilds every one of them
for his tenants, or he covenants to supply them
with materials for the purpose. But how are
matters conducted in this country? why, if
there is a house likely to fall into ruins, upon an
expiring lease, the new rack-rent tenant must re-degraded country. And, indeed, such an extra-
build it himself; and can you wonder, if your
plantations are visited for the purpose, or if your
Joung trees are turned into plough-handles,
spade-handles, or roofs for their cabins? They
are more than Egyptian task-masters, who call
for bricks without furnishing a supply of straw.
Again, I say, that those occasional absentees
ought to come home, and not remain abroad,
resting upon the local manager, a species of
“locum tɛuens” upon the Grand Jury. They
should reside upon their estates, and come for.
ward with every possible improvement for the
country. I do not propose that you should ex-
"Gentlemen, I have had a long professional
pect any immediate amendment or public be-
nefit from the plans suggested for the education experience of the state of this country, travelling
of the poor. It is in vain to flatter yourselves two Circuits every year-and I have spoken the
that you can improve their minds, if you neglect result of my professional observations and judi
their bodies. Where have you ever heard of cial knowledge-perhaps the sincerity with
= people desirous of education, who had not which I have put forward these observations may
clothes to cover them, or bread to eat? I have excite some displeasure. But I hope they may
never known that any people, under such cir-de some good, and I am pretty indifferent whe
cumstances, had any appetite for moral instruc-ther they are found disagreeable or not -living a

Trish, as they do of the Hindoos. - Does a visitor
come to Ireland, to compile a book of travels,
what is his course?-He is handed about from
one country gentleman to another, all interested..
in concealing from him the true state of the
country; he passes from squire to squire, each
rivalling the other in entertaining their guest-al!
busy in pouring falsehoods into his ears, touching
the disturbed state of the country, and the
vicious habits of the people. Such is the crusade
of information, upon which the English traveller
sets forward; and he returns to his own country
with all his unfortunate prejudices doubled and
confirmed—in a kind of moral despair of the wel
fare of such a wicked race, having made his mind
that nothing ought to be done for this lawless and

tion.

vagant excess have those intolerant opinions of the state of Ireland attained, that I shall not be surprised to hear of some political projector coming forward and renovating the obsolete ignorance and the prejudices of a Harrington, who, in his Oceana, calls the people of Ireland an untameable race; declaring that they ought to be exterminated, and the country colonized by Jews; that thus the state of this Island would be bettered, and the commerce of England éxtended and improved."

The motives which influenced this upright Judge, to deliver his sentiments so fully on this occasion, are pretty clearly expressed in the following concluding paragraphs :

great part of my life in the hurry of professional "But there is one remedy, that would, in my pursuits, I have employed the moments of my estimation, more than any other, especially con- leisure in literary retirement. Attached to no tribute to soothe the minds of the discontented party, I have never mixed with the zealots of peasantry, and thereby to enable them pa- either-I have been assailed and calumniated tiently to suffer the pressure of those burthens, by both. Such is the lot of the man, endeavourwhich cannot, under existing circumstances, being to do his duty with firmness and sincerity. effectually removed-I mean the "Equal and impartial administration of justice;"-of that justice which the rich can pursue, until it be attained; but which, that it may benefit the cottager, should be brought home to his door, Such an administration of ju-tice would greatly reconcile the lower orders of the people with the Government under which they live; and, at no very distant period, I hope, attach them to the law, by imparting its beuents, and extending its protection to them, in actual and uniform experience."

"Gentlemen, if you should feel that any of these observations are founded in truth and reason, you will give me at least the credit of upright motives for those, from which you may differ." I can have no other motive, indeed, than a hope of doing some public good, by inciting other per

us to useful and meritorious actions. Other Judges have very frequently, and with great propriety, charged various Grand Juries upon the general state of this country, its disturbances, and the cause of its commotion-and some of them have ascribed those disturbances and commotions to a general spirit of disaffection and

Referring to the mistaken views enter-sedition. If I have a very different and far tained by their neighbours, as to the true situation of Ireland, the charge contains the following very striking and apparently well-founded passage

more consolatory view of the same subject, it cannot be improper or ugbecoming my functions, to take the like opportunity of stating my judicial opinions, of enumerating the several Causes which, in my fixed judgment, have gene rated those disturbances, and have retarded "For my part, I am wholly at a loss to con- peace and prosperity in this country and disceive how those permanent Absentees cay re-tinctly pointing out the remedies and correctives concile it to their feelings or their interests to re- proper for terminating all those mischiefs, and main silent spectators of such a state of things-allaying all discontents. These considerations or how they can forbear to raise their voices in will, I trust, vindicate as well the motives as the behalf of their unhappy country, and attempt to propriety of my conduct in this respect, through open the eyes of our English neighbours; who, every scrutiny, and against every cavil.

Printed and Published by J. MORTON, No. 94, Swand.