PRITCHARD, C., Bath, upholsterer. WARING, J., Charles-street, Commercialroad East, ship-owner. YOUNG, W., Rochester, coach-master. INSOLVENTS. JAN. 6.-DELACOUR, T. C., London, diamond-merchant. JAN. 6.-SHAVE, J., Ipswich, innkeeper. TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 1831. BANKRUPTS. BOTCHERBY, J., Holly-bush-place, Bethnall-green, dyer. HOP INTELLIGENCE. BOROUGH, Monday, Jan. 10. - Fine new Hops meet with a ready sale, and the supply this morning was rather abundant. Prices remain the same as this day week. SMITHFIELD-Jan. 10. Beef for the best young meat sells at 4s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per stone, and the coarser meat is 3s. to 3s. 10d. per stone. Mutton, for prime young downs, is at 4s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per stone, and Veal, for prime calves, goes off at 5s. to 5s. 8d. per stone. In the Pork trade dairyfed porkers sell at 4s. 6d. to 5s. per stone, BURT, W. A., Christ Church, Surrey, coal-and large Hogs at 3s. 4d. to 3r. 10d. merchant. LONDON MARKETS. MARK-LANE, CORN EXCHAnge, Jan. 10.Prime picked samples of English Wheat are a shade higher this morning, but the general qualities remain as on this day week. In foreign there is likewise no variation. The supply of English grain is rather more, but still continues moderate. Flour may now be quoted at from 60s. to 63s. per sack, but the foremost quality is still quoted at 65s. but not given. Barley is in good demand, and may be quoted full 1s. per quarter dearer. Oats are also rather on the advance, and may be quoted at 6d. to Is. per quarter above last Monday's price. White Peas are in some request, and bring rather more money, but Grey Peas are as we quoted on Monday last. Beans also are looking up, and the holders ask a trifle higher for this grain. In other articles there is no variation. THURSDAY, Jan. 13.-This day's supply was a most miserable one, both as to quality and numbers. The few beasts that were exhibited consisted of poor and quarter-fat and about half a score of primish Scots; town's-end Cows, half fat and fleshy steers, whilst the small stock was, for the most part, of inferior quality. This is the last day on Thursday. The ex-Friday market will resume which a cattle market will be held on a its full functions next week. There were no Milch Cows, or Sucking Calves present.Prime Beef, from 4s, 2d. to 4s. 6d. ; middling Beef, 2s. 8d. to 3s. 2d.; inferior Beef, 2s. 4d. to middling Mutton, 2s. 8d. to 3s. 2d.; inferior 2s. 6d.; prime Mutton, 3s. 8d. to 3s. 2d. ; Mutton, 2s. 2d to 2s. 4d.; Veal, 3s, 10d. to 5s. 8d.; Pork, 3s. 2d. to 4s. 8d.-per stone of 8lbs, to sink the offal.-Supply, as per Clerk's statement: Beasts 102; Sheep, 820; Calves, 90; and Pigs, 120. Prices as on Monday. MARK-LANE.-Friday, Jan. 14. derate, and the prices the same as on Monday. The supplies are still small, the demand moEnglish arrivals. Flour Foreign. Irish. 30s. to 34s. 40s. to 43s. 42s. to 44s. 20s. to 24s. LONDON TAVERN, on MONDAY EVENING the 17th instant, at Seven o'clock precisely, to express admiration of the noble Conduct of the People of Preston in electing Mr. HUNT; to hear Mr. Mitchell on that subject and on the Expenses of the Election, and the objects of his Mission to the Metropolis-THOMAS WAKLEY, Esq. is invited to take the Chair. Printed by William Cobbett, Johnson's-court; and published by him, at 11, Bolt-court, Fleet-street. VOL. 71.-No. 4.] LONDON, SATURDAY, JANUARY 22D, 1831. ΤΟ THE KING'S MINISTERS. On the easy, the speedy, the quiet, and the ONLY EFFECTUAL, Means of putting a stop to THE FIRES, which now terrify and disgrace the Country. Kensington, 17th January, 1831. KING'S MINISTERS, [Price 1s. 2d. the remedies which I have to propose. At first thought on the matter, it will appear to be absurd to state such a proposition as this, especially after the numerous trials that have taken place without there having appeared, throughout the whole country, one single particle of evidence to give countenance to the notion that any one fire in any place had been set by any person but a farm labourer, or that any person whatsoever, except a farm labourer or farm labourers had instigated the perpetrator to the act. SCOTT ELDON (I will always when speaking of this person retain the word SCOTT) is reported to have said distinctly, that one of the county jails was full of foreigners who had been committed for these crimes. PEEL, BEFORE I proceed to point out to you KNATCHBULL, and divers others, stated, the means alluded to in the title of this as a matter of course, that the fires had paper. I shall endeavour to convince been instigated by persons going about you of these three things: 1. That the in gigs, curricles, post chaises, landaus! fires have been set by the labourers with-There was a woman in Philadelphia, out instigation from any-body; 2. That who, as a Quaker neighbour told me, the means of terror, or of punishment, are imagined herself to be a tea-pot, not calculated to put an end to the fires; stretched out one arm in the shape 3. That the fires, unless effectually put of a spout, put the other a-kimbo to a stop to, may become far more exten-represent the handle, and cried out to sive than they have hitherto been. It every-body who came near her, "Pray is necessary, first of all, that I make don't break me"! "What," said my good these three propositions; because, neighbour, "would thee have done in unless you be convinced, and heartily that case, friend Cobbett"? " Why," convinced, of the truth of them, you said I, "being a tea-pot I could have will not listen, and it is not reasonable" taken care that nothing but water that you should listen, to that which I should have gone into her in the shape have to offer with regard to the mea- "of liquid, aud that no solids should sures which I think ought now to be" have gone into her till she had washed adopted; and, therefore, the best pos- "all the dirty linen and had scrubbed sible proof that I can give of my sincere" every floor in the house;" a remedy, and anxious desire to cause to be effected by-the-by, which I beg leave to the great object stated in the title of this recommend to my readers in general, if my address to you, is, to endeavour to they happen to be troubled with wives implant this conviction firmly in your with imaginations so extraordinarily minds. strong. FIRST, then, that the fires have been set by the labourers and without instigation. You must be convinced of this, or, you will not listen for a moment to Strong, however, as the indulgence of the husband had rendered the imagination of this lazy she-devil, it certainly did not surpass in point of force that E of those persons who have ascribed of the best-tempered fellows in the these fires, or any part of them, to the world. Men that talk very much are instrumentality or instigation of any apt to do very little; and I, if I had body but the labourers themselves; ricks and barns at stake, should be and the wonder is, how any one ever more afraid of the vengeful feelings of can have entertained such an idea. For one single labourer, whose son or broa good while I believed that no one ther I had caused to be imprisoned, or was sincere in his professions upon this severely dealt with, for poaching, than I subject; but at last I met a gentleman, should be of the speeches, the writings, a country gentleman, a considerable and the machinations of all the dislandowner and land cultivator, a ma- contented spirits of London, who, begistrate of long standing and great ex-sides all the rest, hardly know wheat perience, a public-spirited man, not from peas when they see them growing, only a liberal but a generous man, a hardly know a rick from a barn, and man singularly good, not only to his certainly do not know a barn from a own labourers but to all round about stable; are totally ignorant of the state him; a considerate, a mild, and in- of the homesteads, and of the means of dulgent man; a man of sincerity and assailing them; would be frightened out veracity as perfect as I have ever known of their wits at the idea of going along to exist in man; and this gentleman, a dark lane, or over a down, by themwhile he was ready to make every apology selves; and, in short, are as incomfor the other violences, ascribing them petent to give instructions or suggesto the real sufferings of the people, told tions in such matters as the labourers me this, that, "as to the fires, the would be to give instructions with re"people have certainly been instigated gard to getting up plays and farces at "to those by a SET OF CONSPIRA- Covent-Garden. "TORS IN LONDON." Yet, so loth are you to acknow I was astounded to hear him utter ledge; so loth are the landowners, these words. I could account for Scots the parsons, the bull-frog farmers, aye, Eldon's foreigners; for when he talked and the debt-owners too; so loth are of the intelligence coming in a letter, you all to acknowledge that these fires one could see that it was a hoax. I have proceeded purely from the minds could account without much racking of of the labourers, that you all still cling my brains for the strong imaginations of to this monstrous idea of extraneous Peel and Knatchbull and the rest; but instigation. The cause of this clinging I really was frightened when I heard is this; that you cannot acknowledge this gentlemen talking of a conspiracy that the fires have proceeded purely in London instigating the fires; and, from the minds of the labourers, within his case, I can account for the out tacitly acknowledging one of two monstrous absurdity only by reflect- things; namely, that they must have ing on the effect of the stories had some deep and irresistible provocawhich the people in the country are tion, or that Englishmen are become a continually hearing of the surprising totally altered people. There is not dexterity and cleverness, and the pro-much to choose between these two; found wickedness, that exists amongst either of them looks pretty angrily at the discontented spirits in London! If the Government which has existed for this gentleman were to dwell a little some years past. The fact is, that while in the vicinage of these surprising- these dreadful acts, if ascribed to the ly clever and discontented spirits, his mere movements of the labourers, imalarm would pretty quickly cease: he ply that they have been rendered deswould soon find that if he could keep perate by hunger. This implies that his wine-decanter and brandy-bottle they ought to have had higher wages; from them, that need be his only care; this implies, that, to put a stop to the and that if he would let them have their fires, they must have higher wages; run at them, he would find them some and this implies that many millions a-year must now be taken from the [To be sure, I cannot help what people aristocracy and the church, or that write to me; but if the Secretary of those many millions must be taken State will send a clerk to read all my from the debt-owners. Therefore it is letters over for me, they will stand a that every effort is made to ascribe the great deal better chance than they now fires first to foreigners, next to people stand. All that come with the postage travelling in landaus and post-chaises, not paid I send back unopened, for the next to conspirators in London, and amusement of the Duke of Richmond; lastly to writings of various descrip- and if he read them all with attention, tions, particularly "cheap publications." he will have quite enough to do. About Why, there are no cheap publications one half of them are threatening letthat I know of, except my poor Two-ters; some threatening to burn my PENNY TRASH (of which this paper house; some my barn; some to shoot is to form the eighth number, on the me; some to take me off by other 1st of next month), and this I am al-means. These frequently come postlowed to publish only once in a month. age paid, and then they immediately go As to the Register, a single number of into a basket for the maid to light the it now amounts to nearly as much as fire with. Till I began to receive these the Wiltshire allowance for a week's burning letters, I used to insure; but I food and clothing for a constantly hard-have never done it since, except in the working man. I know of no cheap case of my house at Kensington, which publication but this that goes regularly my lease compels me to insure for a forth, while the "Society for promoting certain sum of money. I discovered, Useful Knowledge," while the church too, that, in the case of every insurance parsons, with their pamphlet societies; that I had made, I had paid nearly and while the nasty, canting, lousy twice as much to the Government in Methodists, who inveigle the pennies tax as to the insurance-office for ineven from the servant-girls; while all surance. This deemed a payment to these are pouring out their pamphlets by millions, and all of them preaching up the doctrine that bacon, bread and beer corrupt the soul of man, and that potatoes, salt and water are sure to lead to eternal salvation. How, then, can the fires have been produced by speakings and writings! and how is a man of sense to believe that from Dover to Penzance, from Pevensey to Carlisle, the fires have been produced by instigation from my speeches and writings. Yet I have been told, and 1 believe the fact, that the POSTOFFICES, particularly in Sussex, Hampshire, and Wiltshire, have been narrowly watched, in order to discover some correspondence between me and the rioters and burners. If these watchers will but stick to their several posts, till they find a letter written by me, or by any one by my authority, not only about rioting and burning, but about any-thing else, they will be amply punished for their curiosity. No, no, I have too much to write for the printers, to amuse myself in this sort of way. protect me against the dispensations of To conclude under this head. You have now had trials in Kent, Sussex, feelings of fathers for sons, urothers for Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, Wilt-brothers, friends for friends; and conshire, Dorsetshire, and Buckingham-sider that there can be scarcely one shire, before some one or other of the single man, amongst the labourers of Judges. In other counties, and in these Hampshire and Wiltshire especially, counties too, you have had trials for unaffected in his mind and heart by these offences, and plenty of transport- these transactions. The Morning Chroings and imprisonings at the Quarter nicle, in giving an account of the hangSessions. More than fifteen hundred ing of Cooper and Cooke, at Winchespersons, I believe, have been arraigned ter, last Saturday, concludes the account and tried; and, amidst the cries of pa- thus :-"There was not a crowd of rents, wives, and children, under all the "more than 300 persons, and those terrors of separation or almost instant" chiefly boys. Some of the crowd we death, not one single fact has come out," heard say they would willingly give a in spite of rewards which are perfectly" sovereign for a reprieve. The moterrific; not one single fact has trans-"ment the drop fell most of them pired to countenance the idea of foreign" went away. The special constables actors or instigators, of instigation on were in attendance at seven o'clock, the part of conspirators in London, or" and, in fact, composed the greater of extraneous instrumentality of any part of the crowd. Close under the sort, and therefore I hope that you are" scaffold, on some doors, was written now satisfied that the acts have proceeded purely from the minds of the labourers themselves. "in chalk-MURDER FOR MUR"DER! BLOOD FOR BLOOD!'" Now, this is what we never see and SECOND. That the means of terror or never hear of when malefactors are exeof punishment are not calculated to put cuted at other times. Cooper's offence an end to the fires.-It is an old saying was riding at the head of a mob, who that, if you kill a fly, twenty flies come extorted money, or broke machines, or to his burying. The newspapers tell something of that sort. Cooke's offence us, and indeed we know the fact must was, striking BINGHAM BARING with a be so, that there is scarcely a village in sledge hammer. But Baring was well the counties before mentioned, and par- enough to appear and give evidence ticularly in Hampshire and Wiltshire, against him; and it appears was seen which has not been, in a greater or less immediately after the affair walking in degree, plunged into a state of mourn- the streets of Winchester; so that this ing in consequence of the late trials and was very far from being MURDER; their result. But, is mourning all? and, before the passing of Ellenbo When men suffer for well-known and rough's Act it would have been an ASlong-understood crimes, then there is SAULT, punishable not even with transno apology to be offered for them. portation, but with fine or imprisonTheir memory is grieved, their banish-ment, or both. Now mind, the labourment or death lamented; but the re-ers are not lawyers, they know nothing lations and friends acquiesce: the law of Ellenborough's Act; their estimate takes its course, and no vengeful feelings of crimes is traditionary; and it will take are excited in the survivors. You have a great deal indeed to convince them read the Birmingham petition for the sparing of the lives of the men at Winchester; if you have not, I beg you to read it. The question, however, is not what sort of feelings the surviving labourers ought to entertain upon the subject; but what feelings they are likely to entertain; and now, then, consider the effect of screaming mothers and wives and children; think of the and to produce perfect acquiescence in their mind upon the subject of this punishment. "Kill one fly, and twenty come to his burying." Accordingly the very next sentence in The Chronicle newspaper is in these words: "There "have been eight fires in the neigh"bourhood of Blandford since Saturday "last. This circumstance will almost "preclude the hope of mercy being ex |