shudder but to think of Inquiry, in-Commons? What more can he want deed! What inquiry is wanted ad What than the bill of fare published by the more does Lord Greys want than the Magistrates of Dorsetshire? sevidence already before the House of hors de sang of (asta Distr !yilliupost 970fa97 of hinst ad or sidail sd lada novebab dus

esthe Weekly

or a woman, or boy, or girl, above 14 years old. For a boy or girl of 14, 13, or 12 0641.to..so For ditto, L, 10, or is in soiluna.

j}For ditto, under9synoས་དབར

boold bus bigote on ban christeni 300 9387 blo Here is, at the present price of bread, recourse to measures of force and violence, 7d. a week for a man to live on aud and have actually committed various acts of outrage in different parts of the counties aboveto work on. This is the scale published mentioned, whereby the property of many of and acted upon by the Magistrates of the our good subjects has, in several instances, Stourbridge Division, in 1828. In some been wholly destroyed, and their lives and counties it is less. t is less. Why, then, look at properties are still greatly endangered: We, therefore, being duly sensible of the it, LORD GREY, and then think further mischievous consequences which must inevitinquiry necessary, if can. The ably ensue, as well to the peace of the kingquartern loaf is now 10d. Let us see, dom as to the lives and properties of our subthen, here are one man, one woman, one jects, from such wicked and illegal practices, if boy or girl of fifteen, one boy or girl of solved to cause the laws to be put into execution they go unpunished; and being firmly refourteen, one boy or girl of eleven, one for the punishment of such offenders, have little child; and, for these six, here are thought fit, by the advice of our Privy Coun8s. 9d., including their earnings; that is cil, to issue this Proclamation, hereby strictly commanding all Justices of the Peace, Sheto say, here are ten and a half quartern riffs, Under-Sheriffs, and all other Civil Offiloaves amongst the six; that is 431b.cers whatsoever, within the said counties of of bread; that is to say, 71b. 3oz. of Wilts, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, and bread for each to live

sand to work upon too; and NOTHING vours to discover, apprehend, and bring to justice, the persons concerned in the riotous for drink, fuel, or clothing, or bedding, proceedings above mentioned. or washing! Look at this, Lord Grey, and then think of extinguishing the fires by a proclamation that does nothing but menace!

And here, before, we go further, let us, as it is what Prince Waterloo would have called the "complement" of Lord Grey's speech, have this Proclamation, which was issued on Tuesday, the 23d instant, the day after the speech was made.

WILLIAM R.-Whereas great multitudes of lawless and disorderly persons have, for some time past, assembled themselves together in a riotous and tumultuous manner, in the Counties of Wilts, Kent, Sussex, Surrey, Hants, and Berks; and for the purposes of compelling their employers to comply with certain regulations prescribed by themselves, with respect to the wages to be paid for their labour, have had

And as a further inducement to discover the said offenders, we do hereby promise and decover and apprehend, or cause to be discovered clare that any person or persons who shall disand apprehended, the authors, abettors, or perpetrators of any of the outrages above-mentioned, so that they, or any of them, may be duly convicted thereof, shall be entitled to the sum of Fifty Pounds for each and every person who shall be convicted, and shall also receive our most gracious pardo for the said offence, in case the person making such discovery as aforesaid shall be liable to be prosecuted for the same.

And whereas certain wicked incendiaries have secretly by fire, in many parts of the said counties, destroyed the coru, hay, buildings, and other property of our subjects, we do hereby promise and declare, that any person or persons who shall discover and apprehend, or cause to be discovered and apprehended, the authors of the said fires, so that they or any of them, inay be duly convicted thereof,

• shall be entitled to the sum of Five Hundred it is some new, for temporary, cause Pounds for each and every person who shall that has produced the present effects! be so convicted, and shall also receive our most gracious pardon (except the actual perpetrator of any of the said fires), in case the person making such discovery shall be liable to be prosecuted for the same.

Know all this, and believe that menaces, mere menaces, à la Sidmouth, can tend to restore tranquillity!

But if this excite our astonishment, Aud the Lords Commissioners of our Trea sury are hereby required to make payment what are we to say of that part of Lord accordingly of the said rewards. Grey's speech in which he speaks of Given at our Court at St. James's, this" instigators?" He and his colleagues twenty-third day of November, one thousand will inquire, he says, into this curious eight hundred and thirty, in the first year of our reign. God save the King, part of the affair; for, he adds, "there is every reason to believe that the disLook again, I say, at the 71b. 3oz. of turbances have taken place at the inbread for a man to live on for a week; “stigation of persons whom the distress look at the horrid scale above inserted; "did not affect." To hear Peel and and then hope that these menaces, un- Knatchbull, and the stupid and bloody accompanied as they are with a single old Times, talk at this rate, might word of kindness, can possibly tend to not much surprise anybody; but to hear extinguish the devouring flames. It Lord Grey talk at the same rate, will is no temporary cause, it is no new have made people stare. A little time feeling of discontent that is at work: it for reflection, however, steadies one's is a deep sense of grievous wrongs; it head here too; for they are, though is long harboured resentment; it is an not always pulling together, all in the accumulation of revenge for unmerited same boat; and it is that circumstance punishment; it has long been smothered that blinds them all; or, at any rate, in the bosoms of these our injured and makes them talk upon this matter as suffering countrymen, and it has now if they were blind. What! can these bursted forth: it is a natural effect of a men look at the facts before their eyes; cause which is as obvious as that ricks can they see the millions of labourers are consumed by fire, when fire is put every-where rising up, and hear them to them. What! know well, that men saying that they will no longer starve are harnessed to carts and compelled to upon potatoes"; can they see them breakwork like horses or oxen; know that ing threshing-machines; can they see carts are constructed on purpose for them gathering together and demandthem to draw; know that they are shuting an increase of wages; can they see up in pounds like cattle; know that in all this, and can they believe that the order to weary and insult them, they fires do not proceed from the same perare made to carry a heavy load back-sons; but that these are the work of ward and forward on the road, while some invisible and almost incorporeal the overseer, who has a salary out of agency! I told Mr. BENETT, of Wiltthe poor-rates, stands by with a stick to shire, last week, that it was "pity he compel them to perform the degrading" took upon him to vouch so very posi task! What! know all this! know" tively for the labourers of Wiltshire, that bells are fastened to their necks," because here is a long winter coming." in order that the overseer may hear It now appears that he was too hasty in whether they be moving, when within his vouching. He said, that "they hearing and out of his sight; know that" would not only refrain from outrages, they are put up to auction and sold; "but would be most active in suppressknow that the married men are seing them"; though it was hard to see parated by force from their wives, to prevent them from breeding; know that the House of Commons actually passed a law to authorise the overseers to sell their dead bodies! What! know all this, and then to seem to believe, that

what cause could arise for this activity, unless the outrages were committed; and it was, if possible, still harder to see who was to go into Wiltshire to commit the outrages.

In short, all this talk about insti

gators, about men going in post-chaises proaching to starvation for want of a and landaus, to cause stacks and barns sufficiency of wages. 2. That they have to be fired; it is all so foolish and so combined in a demand of higher wages, false; it is at once so stupid and staring and have used bodily violence in order and insulting a lie, that it really does to obtain what they wanted. 3. That astonish one to hear it put forth; such they have not had physical force wherean useless lie, too, if we suppose the with to proceed in the enforcing of their hearers of it to be possessed of the demands in all cases, and, in every case, smallest portion of common sense. The such enforcement is attended with great motive of it is, however, evident enough risk to their liberty and lives. 4. That, to men who reflect that every tax-eater therefore, in order to intimidate their and tithe-eater, no matter of what sort employers so as to induce them to render or size he or she be, is afraid to believe, to them what they deemed justice, they and wishes the nation not to believe, have secret y set fire to the stacks and that the fires are the work of the la- barns of those whom they regarded as bourers. And why are they so reluctant most strongly opposed to their interests. to believe this, and so anxious that it This is the state of the case. And now, should be believed by nobody? Be- then, what is to put a stop to these cause the labourers are the millions fires? Force is of no avail; and, if (for, mind, smiths, wheelwrights, collarmakers, carpenters, bricklayers, all are of one mind); and because, if the millions be bent upon this work, who is to stop it? Then to believe that the labourers are the burners, is to believe that they must have been urged to the deeds by desperation, proceeding from some grievous wrong, real or imaginary; and to believe this is to believe that the burnings will continue, until the wrong be redressed. To believe this is to believe that there must be such a change of system as will take from the tax and tithe-eaters a large portion of what they receive, and give it back to the labourers; and believe this the tax and tithe-eaters never will, until the political Noah shall enter into the ark! This is the true cause of all the at once stupid and impudent talk that we have heard about secret instigators, and about incendiaries in post-chaises and landaus.

And, now, as to the use of all these menaces. The Old Times, always bloody, begins to call aloud for blood. Send a "SPECIAL COMMISSION," says this bloody-minded news-paper writer, which always speaks the language of the base miscreants of stock-jobbers. But what is the "Special Commission" to do in stopping the fires? And what so likely to increase them as acts of severity! The case is this, in plain and distinct propositions. 1. That the labourers have long been reduced to a state ap

of

force be useless, of what use is me-
nuce? If we listen to the railings
of the miscreant stock-jobbers and
Jews, those cannibals who suck up the
nation's blood, we shall wish all the
whole of the labourers, who give us
food and raiment, to be slaughtered.
The bloody old Times, the organ
the Jews, would send a special com-
mission to strew the counties with
hanged carcases, as it advised Louis
XVIII. to do with the departments of
France. But there would no
arise from this, even if the thing could
be done, which I believe it could not.
The fires would still blaze, and with
more fury than before.

good

I beseech Lord Grey to observe, that though these are,in the eye of the law, acts of arson, and worthy of an ignominious death, a statesman ought to see that the perpetrators do not so deem them, nor do the millions in their own state of life so deem them; and this is a very important consideration. They look upon them selves as engaged in a war, with a just object. The public in general, and even the employers themselves, declare that their demands are no more than just, though they, owing to high rents and tithes and taxes, cannot comply with the demands without being ruined. But in speaking of the probability of putting an end to the fires, it is no matter whether the parties be right or wrong in their view of the nature of the act: the

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15

that the proceeding was inexpedient, and, he further declared, that although they were actuated by the most devoted feelings of loyalty and attachment to the King, yet, as the Government, had turned a deaf ear to the just and reasonable complaints of the people, the latter could not so

important matter is, what is the light
in which they do view it? And, as I
said before, it is clear that they view it"
only as the means of obtaining that
which they deem justice, and which
they can obtain by no other means. And,
therefore, in order to make them desist
from this terrific and fatal course, this"
plea must be taken from them; and " cheerfully co-operate with them. The
this can be done only by enabling their "room was crowded to excess, and Mr.
employers to pay them sufficient wages; Austen was much, applauded at the
and this is to be done only by taking" conclusion of his address. The in-
off two-thirds of the taxes; which can "habitants then simultaneously left the
be done without any injustice, and “ meeting, and upon their arrival in the
which ought to be done immediately. open street, they gave three cheers to
Besides this view which the labourers" Mr. Austen, whom they considered as
themselves take of the matter, they are "their representative. This, however,
kept in countenance by the middle" was a demonstration of feeling which,
class, who are every-where beginning" as it bore the appearance of disrespect
to make common cause with them. The" to the bench, was no less reprehended
aristocracy have hitherto carried this" by the inhabitants, in general, than it
class along with them; or, rather, they was unpleasant to the individual who
have employed them to keep the work-" was the object of it. The persons
ing class down. But the labourers have "summoned from the other parishes
now taught this middle class, that there" generally refused to be sworn in. They
is more danger in being on the side of "complained of the intolerable burden
the aristocracy than on the side of the " of the taxes, and the inattention of
labouring class; and, thus taught, "Government to their distress. To
though the teaching has been long" these complaints the magistrates, re-
about, the middle class are fast sheering "plied, that, as they were not legis-
away to the side of the labourers! If " lators, it was of no use to complain
Lord Grey doubt of this, let him read," to them, and that several respectable
under my head of DOMESTIC AFFAIRS, "inhabitants having, upon oath, declar-
the account of Lord Darnley's defeat at "ed their apprehensions of a riot, it was
Rochester; and, if that fail to satisfy "imperative upon them to take the
his mind, it will, perhaps, get that" steps they had done to preserve the
satisfaction from the account of what " public peace. Lord Brecknock was
took place at TUNBRIDGE, on the 23d" present, and entered familiarly into
instant, as given in the Maidstone Ga-" conversation with some of the prin-
zette of that date: "The meeting, cipal recusants. One of those pla-
"convened by the magistrates, on "cards, headed 'Nice Pickings,' which
"Monday last, for the purpose of swear- have been so numerously circulated,
"ing in special constables, gave rise to" was placed in the hands of his Lord-
"an extraordinary display of political" ship, who declared that the statement
"feeling. Soon after ten o'clock, the" of the income of several of the in-
"inhabitants of this town mustered individuals therein named was grossly
"great numbers at the Court Hall," exaggered. Out of upwards of 300
"pursuant to summons, when, upon the " persons who were summoned, only
"oath of special constable being ten-" fifty-two, including some volunteers,
"dered to them, they, almost to a man," who took the oaths on the previous
"refused to take it. Mr. R. M. Austen "Saturday, consented to act as special
"addressed the bench in explanation of " constables. A troop of the 5th Dra-
"his refusal, in which he stated it to goon Guards is at present stationed
"be the opinion of himself, and that of "at Tunbridge Wells; but, although
"the greater part of the inhabitants," information has been received there

66

of the assemblage of mobs at no great "distance, the services of the military "have not yet been required. We are

Sir

sorry to state, that information was "received here on Saturday evening, "that several corn-stacks at Riverhead 66 were set on fire. The Rev. "Charles Hardinge has reduced the vicarial tithes of Tunbridge ten per cent, in order to relieve the farmers, ❝on account of the pressure of the "times, and to enable them to raise the ૬ wages of the labourers. The vicarial "tithes have always been moderate, "being rated at little more than half "their real value. It is to be hoped "that those who hold the rectorial "tithes will be induced to follow the example set them by the Rev. Ba"ronet." OPT

典

46

"into the state of his kingdom, "whether in its foreign relationslips or in its domestic concerns, "that there has been for many years great mismanagement; "that the country has sunk in the eyes of the world; and that his people are in a state of ruin and beggary, such as was never known "to their fathers. The King has traced these sad and disgraceful "effects to the want of a full, free, "and fair representation of the "people in the Commons House "of Parliament; and, therefore, he 66 recommends to the two Houses "to pass a law to enable the

people at large freely to choose "the members of the Commons "House, excluding from the right "of voting no man who has at"tained the age of twenty-one, "who is of sane mind, and who "has not been legally convicted of "an infamous crime.'

Now, is there not matter here for a Minister to muse on? Does he not see, that here the middle do, in fact, make common cause with the lower? What is the plain language here? Why, this : "We are so taxed by the Government, Not a single fire should we have heard that we have been unable to give the of, if this Message had been sent to the working people what they ought to Parliament; because the people would have had; the Government has been have concluded, that a real change deaf to our prayers: and, therefore, we was about to be made; that real relief will not now aid the Government to keep was coming to them; and, therefore, down the working people.” If a Minister they would have waited with patience. can doubt after this, he must be very But, then, there must have been a real hard to believe. Addressed to a com-reform directly, and real relief given; munity in this mind, what is a procla- and these things must be done now; or mation of menaces? If I had had to there will be no end of the fires, until draw up a proclamation, it should have the middle class join the labouring, been of a very different stamp, and it until these make common cause, and obshould have put a stop to the fires as tain a radical reform and a cessation of completely as they could have been the oppressive taxation; and this cessastopped by another Noah's flood. But, tion cannot be with acting upon NORindeed, if the King, on coming to the FOLK PETITION; and to this, or to throne, had followed my advice, we something a great deal more inconvenient should never have heard of a single fire. to the aristocracy, the clergy, and the My advice was, that he should call the fund-holders, it will and must come at new Parliament together as soon as it last. was elected, and send to them the following message

1

It is universally acknowledged, that the labourers ought to have that which 144 The King informs the House of they demand. The LORDS have, inCommons [the same to the deed, not said this, nor has it been said “Lords], that he has called them in the INCOMPARABLE HOUSE; Yaw together for one important pur- nor do the FAT CLERGY say it; nor 300 ¶pose, and for that purpose only. do the LOAN-MONGERS and JEWS

Upon coming to the throne, he say it; but every-body else says it; it to finds, from a careful examination is said by all the middle class, in town