5. That various causes have, from time to time, been assigned for these 12. That the chief and foremost terrible visitations:-Too high prices interest in the State, the Agricultufor the produce of land; overtrading; ral, being about once more to be retoo great an extent of manufactur-gulated so as to encourage trade, and ing; and an over issue of papermoney, are among the reasons now set forth by His Majesty's advisers, and their adherents, as the origin of our present distress.

hopes, we cannot but couple them with remarking, that, up to this time, no practical good has accrued, nor has the new system as yet obtained the approbation of many practical

men.

15. That our taxation is unequal, injurious, impolitic, invidious, unconstitutional and overwhelming.

noblemen, &c., being landholders, merchants, manufacturers, bankers, ship-owners, or otherwise engaged in similar pursuits, have, with deep regret, to declare our inability to continue to support the unemployed artisans and labourers.

That we hold it to be a paramount duty in those at the helm of the state to take especial care to govern it so as to ensure to the whole popu lation their proper share of security and comfort.

16. Unequal, because it has been so constructed as to fall lightly on the dealers in Government and other public securities;-injurious, because it has already, and is daily, forcing 19. That we trust, therefore, that persons of every rank and calling to these our well-grounded remonbe deprived of many comforts, or to strances shall meet with earnest conseck relief from its baneful influ- | sideration, and that we shall not be ences, by absence from their home trifled with in having the long hackneyor their country;-impolitic, because ed specifics of patience and time thrust it brings the cheapness of every com- on our view: these we know the imfort in revolutionised France and port and the use of, and do not doubt America into constant comparison with that with their aid we shall witness our condition, and thereby arrays a temporary recovery, and even enjoy against the Government the great a time of prosperity; but in looking mass of the people, who are now-a- to the future, we cannot divest ourdays too well informed not to see selves of the conviction, that the plainly through the once impervious convulsion under which we are now but now flimsy veil which is thrown labouring must periodically return, around our enormous indirect taxa unless strong and decisive remedies tion;-invidious, because it places be prudently, but manfully, adthe consumers of taxes in ease, se ministered; such we hold to be abcurity and comfort, when compared solutely requisite; and as such can with the toils, and cares, and anxieties only emanate from the government, of those on whose abilities, activity we humbly, but earnestly, beseech and industry, they have the good for-you, Sire, immediately to assemble une placidly to repose;-unconsti- the Parliament, and to direct their tutional, because it is measured, not first and best attention to the woful by the scale of what the nation can condition of the country-to the lastpay, and thrive under, but by that ing and fatal effects of such terrible which the Chancellor of the Exche- visitations-to the absolute necessity quer chooses to demand for the pay-of a great reduction of the existing ment of sums lavishly expended in taxation-the providing for the effects maintaining needless wars, useless of Mr. Peel's bill of 1819-the replacemen, and blundering financiers, fraining from any kind of public exthe effect of Mr. Peel's Bill being to pense-the adoption of an uncommake us pay a bankrupt subject, full promising line of policy, and general thirty shillings for the pound);- -over-retrenchment, calculated to restore whelming, because at all times it is confidence, give present relief, and found as a mill-stone on our neck, the prospect of a gradual return to and, especially in times like the pre- prosperity and comfort. sent, deprives us of much of those means we would gladly devote to the employment of the people.

That under its pressure, and a want of all profitable return, we, the

I have numbered the paragraphs of this petition, that I may refer to them the more easily if necessary. I request the reader

to look at paragraph 16. In fairly set forth, by a newspaper that paragraph a reduction of the called the Blackburn mail, which interest of the debt is clearly gives a very detailed account of pointed out; and then, recollect, the manner in which the London that this petition was received with subscriptions have been made use loud cheering. It is a great pity of in a neighbouring parish, to that Daddy COKE and BETTY SUPPLY THE PLACE OF HARBOURD Were not at the Pais- POOR-RATES. For instance, ley Meeting to abuse these Lords and Gentlemen, and to call them "Swindlers" and "Rogues." These hole-and-corner gentry will be taught better than this before next winter is over.

a poor family, who are receiving six shillings a week out of the poor-rates, have two shillings a week given them out of the London subscription, and thereupon the overseer deducts two shillings a week from the parish allowance! Bravo, overseer!

But, since we see that the main object of this Renfrewshire meeting is, to get a grant out of But, how is any man in his the taxes, let me again remind senses to believe that this will not Doctor BLACK, that such grant be the case? Indeed, it is downnever could have been asked for, right nonsense to expect the conif there had been a regular sys- trary. Precious nonsense is it, tem of poor-rates. But, what therefore, to call it a charity to justice is there in taxing all the send money into the distressed people in England, in order to districts of Lancashire. It is sendrelieve the distresses in Scotland; ing money to give to the rich, and and, indeed, what justice is there not to give to the poor; and yet in taxing the people in Scotland, that stupid creature who conducts in order to send relief to the peo- a lump of dulness, called the ple in Ireland? Yet, in every Manchester Guardian, cries aloud case, it is as just to do this, as it for relief, out of the public funds, is to relieve any part of the Eng-"Lancashire," says he, “has had lish out of the taxes. The fact the honour of being the county, is, the real truth is, that the mo- "where the sum raised for the ney thus granted is not given to poor, amounted to the lowest the poor, but TO THE LAND-"rate per head, on the populaOWNERS, whose land, in Eng-" tion of any county in the kingland, is compelled by law to" dom. And we would much maintain the poor, and whose" rather that an extraordinary land ought to be compelled to difficulty should be met by an maintain them in Scotland and in " extraordinary and temporary Ireland. remedy, than that those feelings Just the same may be said " of independence, which have with regard to the subscriptions, "stood in the way of numerous raised in one part of the king-" and frequent applications for dom to be sent to another part of “ parochial relief, should be it. This matter is most fully il-"broken down, and an extensive lustrated by the conduct of the pauperizing of the population Parish Officers in Lancashire," take place.'

"

"

which conduct has been pretty A pretty" honour," indeed, to

peo

have been able to pinch the poor cashire make a general call upon harder than any other county. them. What impudent ruffians In another place, he says, that he these must be. They call upon is "decidedly convinced, that a the whole of the people of the "contribution from the public country to do that which the law "funds, is less objectionable than commands them to do themselves! assessments in aid, sufficient for Only observe, pray observe the "the relief of the poor." Yes, extent and audacity of their iniless objectionable to him, who quity. They derive enormously ought to pay his full share of the high rents from the great populapoor rates at Manchester, until tion which great manufactures the poor be sufficiently relieved; have caused to settle upon their but not less objectionable to us of land; the great numbers of the rest of the country, who main-ple which the manufactures have tain our own poor. What! am I, brought upon and round their esfor instance, who pay my full tates, have raised their rents five, share towards supporting the poor, six, or ten fold. They have been in this village of Kensington, and amassing wealth, and rolling in also, in the parish of St. Dun- luxury, at the same time, in constan's in the west, in the city of sequence of these enormous rents; London; am I, who thus pay my and now, at last, when these poor share towards the support of the people, out of whose earnings they poor in two parishes, to be have grown so rich; when these TAXED TO HELP KEEP poor people, obeying the voice of THE POOR AT MANCHES- the law, come to them for relief, TER? Yes, I would let this they bid them go to the national be with all my heart: I would taxes and not to come to their cheerfully give to the poor of lands, of which taxes these poor Manchester as much as I give to people themselves pay a part! the poor of both these parishes; Bad as this is, it is not the worst; but, I should know very well that for, while the land-owners are what I sent to Manchester, would calling upon the nation in general be given, not to the poor, but to the to relieve the poor, instead of relay-payers; that is to say, those lieving them themselves, as they who have to pay the poor-rates; are bound to do, by law; while and part of what I sent would, of they are doing this, they, themcourse, be given to this dirty and selves are causing a great part of conceited fellow, TAYLOR, the the poverty and misery, by their editor of this lump of dulness cruel and insulting TAX UPON called the "Guardian." BREAD. What! Lay a tax The Ministers must see this upon bread, in order to put money matter in its true light. They into their own pockets; and then are called upon by these noble- call upon the nation at large to men and gentlemen of Renfrew-maintain the poor out of the shire; that is to say, by the taxes! land-owners of Renfrewshire, to maintain the poor of that county out of the general taxes of the country. The land-owners of Lan

If the Ministers were to lend themselves to the perpetrating of an act of injustice like this, they would deserve the severest punish

ment that the law has provided for the highest of criminals. It would be nothing short of a bribe to these grasping and merciless men. If they make a grant to the people in Lancashire, they must do the same with regard to Scotland, to Yorkshire, to Warwickshire, to Norfolk, and, above all things, to Ireland. The Editor of the Glasgow Chronicle has the following remarks upon this subject.

At the Meeting of the County of Renfrew, held on Thursday at Paisley, to consider the means of employing the suffering workmen, it was unanimously resolved, on the motion of Mr. MAXWELL, that in order to avert the pressure of want, the interposition of Government was necessary. This judicious measure on the part of so intelligent a county as Renfrew will, we hope, shake the resolution of Ministers; and if it be properly followed up by the other manufacturing districts, there is little doubt that a sum commensurate with the exigency will be afforded by Government. Meanwhile we repeat, our advice that the workmen themselves should petition the King, giving a true account of their destitution, and praying for a Government grunt.

So! you see, they are very hot upon getting this grant of money! They want the workmen "themselves, to petition the King." Ah! Do I, too, want the workmen to petition the King! But not to get the King to cause themselves to be taxed in order to save the pockets of the Landlords. I want them to petition for Reform of the Parliament! That is the subject for the workmen to petition upon. Aye! I, too, wish the workmen themselves to "give the King a true account of their destitution." Indeed I do wish that they would give him such an ac

count; tell him of all the taxes that they have to pay, and of all the Offices, Salaries, Pensions, Sinecures, Grants and glorious jobs for which they have to pay. And I believe, if the working men were to set about such an account, those that set them on to do it, would try to stop their mouths before they had half done.

In conclusion of this article, I must repeat, that I do not believe that the Ministers will enter upon such a course of injustice and of folly, as that of granting relief out of the taxes.

GOOD GOD!

SURELY MY EYES DECEIVE ME!

I take the following from the Morning Chronicle of the second of August. It will make the reader stare, as it has me.

"The Requisition for the Town's Meeting, in Manchester, is already signed by upwards of a hundred highly respectable names. Should the Boroughreeve decline to call the Meeting, other measures will be adopted in convening it. Every sensible man feels that no time can, with safety, be lost in promulgating a knowledge of the state of the district, and making a formal and solemn appeal to Government for relief.”

What! a solemn appeal to the Government! Indeed! Can such steps be necessary to a town that has the benignant protection of LAVENDER, the late London thieftaker! Surely they joke! There can be nothing the matter of a town that has a Boroughreeve and Constables," so vigilant as to have horse, foot, and artillery

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