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lonies to supply from the growth of this country, can any unbiassed man hesitate for one moment, as to the propriety of bringing into consumption as food 370,000 qrs. of grain, (for I take it for granted that 100,000 qrs. would be still required for feeding cattle) especially, too, when it is recollected that the king in council will be enabled to put an end to the prohibition of the distilleries whenever the interests of the farmer shall require it? It appears to me, that very serious consequences may be the result of our not availing ourselves of every mean of

tay; and, I cannot but hope that the patriotism of the landed interest, will induce it to withdraw its opposition to a measure, so just in itself, and, under the present political circumstances of Europe, so necessary to our welfare.I am, &c.-Z.-May 12,

1808.

the mark. Upon this supposition, however, in case the distilleries should be compelled to use sugar instead of corn, 100,000 qrs. of barley would be required for producing that food which is now supplied from the distilleries, must say, Mr. Cobbett, that before so general and determined an opposition to this measure had been raised throughout the country, it would have been but decent to have waited till the report of the committee, and the evidence given before it, had been printed, in order that the principles, on which the prohibition of corn in the distilleries is recommended, might have been calm-increasing the food to be used in this counly considered and fairly discussed. The report and the appendix are now before me, and if any reliance whatever is to be placed on the opinion of Mr. Arthur Young and Mr. Wakefield (the great champions of the agricultural interest), the prohibition of the use of corn in the distilleries is a measure not only fit and proper in itself, but such as the ministers of the country are bound to do all in their power to carry into effect. On Mr. Young being asked. Q. Under the probable circumstances of the country "with respect to the supply of foreign "grain, can we look forward to the effects "of a short crop or mildew, or a wet har"vest without apprehension? A Not "without great apprehension." In fact, the whole tenor of his answers, upon which you have so ably commented in the Register of last week proves the great distress this country would suffer in the event of a short crop, and even with a plentiful harvest there would be a deficiency in the usual supply equal to the amount of the importation. Mr. Wakefield after stating the average annual importation from 1800 to 1806, to be 1,447,500 qrs., was asked, "Do you con"ceive that we are likely to have a supply equal to the average of the last five

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in the present state of Europe? A Knowing the ports of the Baltic to be shut against us, I should say, certainly not. I "know that the importations from America "have been very trifling indeed. Q. Must

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you not then apprehend that there will "be a great scarcity of grain in the market? "A. The present prices of wheat best speak "the contrary fact at this moment: but if

a short harvest was to take place next "year, the coming-in year, I should think "the country in an alarming state indeed." Now, Sir, having before us this evidence from two of the best practical agriculturists in the country, shut out as we are from the whole continent of Europe, and excluded from all commerce with America, having in addition to all this, our own West India co

CROWN LANDS.

SIK,The present disposal of the "crown lands," would certainly be worth investigation, and I much wish that the public attention should be directed to the subject. - 1 am surrounded by a valuable portion of them, which have been leased for so many years back to the representatives of an opulent family in the neighbourhood, as to be considered at this day a part of their own property. This family, of course, is enabled

to return the members; for the crown lands and houses are judiciously stocked at an under rent with free and independent electors, as I understand they usually are in cities by the leading men. I sincerely hope that an immediate resumption of these grants may be made. First, that the benevolence of the king, which might be directed to more deserving objects, should not be intercepted and turned to unconstitutional purposes by the middlemen. Or, secondly, that in these times of difficulty, the government should draw the full value of its estates, now by no means the case, and which can only be fairly ascertained by a public auction. And, finally, because, by the destruction of this source of undue influence, the first stone would be thrown into the chasm which yawns between the honest voter, and the independent candidate. UTOPIAN.-May 12, 1808.

LIVERPOOL PETITION.

DISTILLATION FROM SUGAR.- --To the Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled, the humble Petition of the Gentlemen, Clergy, Merchants,

and other Inhabitants of the Town of Liverpool:

ceed seven hundred and eighty thousand. quarters, and therefore the corn to be exSheweth, That this town essentially decluded from the distilleries. by the proposed pends for the supply of bread to its numemeasure, supposing it to extend to Ireland rous inhabitants, and a large and populous as well as Great Britain, will only supply the district in the interior of the county of Lanplace of the quantity hitherto imported from caster upon importations of corn and flour foreign parts.-That in addition to this usual from other parts, and that a large proportion foreign supply (of which a large proportion of such supply has heretofore been derived has been received at Liverpool), there has from foreign countries.--That of late, in been imported into this place from Ireland, consequence of the unhappy situation of the on an average of the last five years, two hunContinent of Europe, and the embargo which dred and forty two thousand five hundred has taken place in the United States of Ameand twenty-five quarters of corn, flour, aud rica, the importation of foreign corn and oatmeal, per annum; that during the period flour has ceased, and the prices of these artinow past of the present year, this usual sup cles have advanced considerably, and are still ply has been greatly diminished, and in place. advancing, while at the same time from the of a continuance thereof, at this time, orders stagnation of trade, and the consequent want for the parchase of considerable quantities of of employment and depreciation of wages, wheat and oats have been received by mer. the labouring classes of the people are bechants in Liverpool, from millers and others come less able to purchase those necessaries in Ireland, at unlimited prices, to be shipped of life at a high rate, or even more reasonfrom hence for the supply of districts in that able rates, as fully appears by the report part of the United Kingdom, where lately made of evidence taken before a comscarcity appears to be apprehended. mittee of your honourable house, ordered to -That large supplies of corn are annually be printed on the 12th of April last, on the received at Liverpool from Scotland, that petition of certain cotton manufacturers and these supplies during the present year have journeymen cotton weavers living in this been much less than usual, owing to the county.That from the united operation of deficiency of the last crop in several quarters these circumstances your petitioners have in that part of the United Kingdom, all been and continue apprehensive of much which tends to enhance still more the price distress amongst the poor in this populous of bread here, already too high for the town and county; and it was with peculiar labouring poor generally to afford, and par satisfaction that they observed, in a late reticularly the manufacturing poor, from the port of a committee of your honourable house, the recommendation of what your petitioners humbly deem a wise measure of precaution loudly called for by the existing situation of the country; namely, the suspension of the use of grain in the distilleries of the kingdom, and the restriction of them to the use of sugar for a limited period. That in proportion to the satisfaction of your petitioners in so well-timed a recommendation, is their regret in perceiving that meetings have been held in some parts of the country for the purpose of obtaining petitions to your honourable house, against the measure in question, as calculated to injure the farmers and discourage agriculture.That your petitioners humbly contend that this measure cannot produce those effects, as it appears by the report of your committee, that on an average of the last five years the importation of foreign corn into Great Britain, has not been less than seven hundred and seventy thousand quarters per annum, which must of course have found a consump tion, but which can no longer be imported; while the quantity of corn used in the dis tilleries of the United Kingdom does not ex

present want of employment, and conse quent depreciation of wages.-That if any insuperable obstacles, should prevent this restriction from being extended to Ireland, it appears there would then be a deficiency of three hundred thousand quarters of foreign supply, to be provided for, if possible, by

an extended cultivation of the soil of the United Kingdom, in order to meet the usual consumption of the country, without taking into the account the extraordinary supplies of corn, flour, and bread, which, in the present situation of affairs must inevitably be wanted by the British West India Colonies from the United Kingdom, as well as that our allies the Swedes, being deprived of their usual supply of bread corn from the opposite shores of the Baltic, and their own growth being generally inadequate to their ordinary consumption, may at this time be compelled to resort to this country for sup plies of barley,, which when mixed with rye is, as your petitioners are informed, used for bread in times of scarcity in Sweden.→ That in the opinion of your petitioners, the though they trust that the adoption of this prices of corn are likely to continue high,

measure will prevent them from becoming exorbitant. That the advantage of exorbitant prices even to the farmers is very questionable, experience having shewn that they terminate eventually in uncommon depreciation, while, in the meantime, the evils that ensue to the public at large are unquestionably great, and your petitioners feel assured that your honourable house wil! deem the good of the whole to be preferred to a doubtful interest of one class of the people, however numerous and respectable; a class, moreover, which being protected, by a special act of the legislature, from the injurious effects of an excessive depreciation of the prices of corn in times of plenty, by bounties on its exportation, payable out of the public revenue, ought, at other times; in fairness and justice, to submit cheerfully to such measures as may be necessary to guard the public against the contrary extreme of exorbitant prices, particularly in the present peculiar situation of the country, and unprecedented state of the continent of Europe. -That with regard to the local interests of any particular districts in which barley may be chiefly cultivated, your petitioners humbly conceive they have a still less claim to be put into competition with a measure of general advantage; but your petitioners are of opinion, that even the local interests of the barley countles are now likely to be materially affected by the proposed measure, for though barley is the grain chiefly used in the English distilleries, and though it appears there are some lands in this kingdom where no substitute for the crops of that grain can be resorted to without injury to the farmer; yet, on the other hand, it appears there are also lands on which barley is grown where oats would prove an advantageons substitite; and when your petitioners consider, that, of the quantity of barley annually produced in England, only one sixteenth part, or thereabouts, has been consumed in the distilleries, they cannot doubt that such a change of culture might take place as would prevent barley from being reduced below its proportionable price compared with other grain, or if it should for a time be somewhat lower than its just proportion, it would soon, in the opinion of your petitioners, find a more extended consumption as bread corn, the effect of which must inévitably be to raise it to its natural level; in confirmation of which, your petitioners are enabled to state to your honourable house, that of late, in consequence of the adtance in wheat and oats,

well as the reduction of wages, the lower classes in this county have begun to

have recourse to barley bread, which they are not accustomed to use except in times of scarcity and comparative dearness of other sorts of grain. That your petitioners conceive that the confining of the operation of the measure in question to a single year, with a power vested in his majesty in council to put an end to it within that period, if necessary, would be so guarded a proceeding, as under all the circumstances of the case, cannot reasonably excite in the minds of those concerned the

least feeling of alarm or apprehension.-That although your petitioners are anxious to recommend the proposed measure to your honourable house, on grounds of general benefit, without reference to any partial interests, yet they cannot be insensible of its tendency to afford relief to the West India colonies, in their present distressed situation, which have been shewn to have peculiar claims on the consideration of the legislature, and which, in the apprehension of your patitioners, affords a strong additional ar gument in favour of this measure, more especially as the preservation of the colonies from the ruin which threatens them, is confessedly an object of the first national importance, as it appears the article of sugar alone pays an annual duty of above three millions to the country, that the manufactured goods exported annually to these colonies have exceeded six millions in value, and that this trade is one of the principal remaining nurseries for our seamen, and of employment for our shipping. Your petitioners therefore pray that your honourable house will, pass an act to suspend the use of grain in the distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland, and to confine them to the use of sugar for one year from the 1st day of July next, subject to a discretionary power to be vested in the king in council, upon a sufficient notice, to do away the suspension, and allow the distilleries to carry on their trade in the accustomed manner. And your petitioners will ever pray, &c.

OFFICIAL PAPERS. Report from Lieut. Col. Robertson, Com mandant of Scylla Castle.(Concluded from page 800.)

The fire from the breaching batferies had been variously directed till the evening of the 10th, when they bent their undivided fury against the left bastion with such success, that the breach would probably have been practicable by the following evening. It was under these circumstances that I received your orders to evacuate the castle, and have the great satis

faction of reporting, that we accomplished this yesterday morning, in full view of the enemy, and without leaving an individual behind. The approach of the boats from Faro gave the French full intimation of our design, but the tempestuous state of the weather obliged us to seize the short opportunity of an hour's lull.-Every battery poured its utmost fire upon the castle, and subsequently upon the boats; while infantry with field pieces tried the breach on either side. The garrison was drawn off in succession, and the embarkation effected with the greatest order, notwithstanding the tremendous fire of grape, shells, &c. Our loss in the operation was small; and before we were a musket-shot distant, the French were in the fort-The masterly arrangement of the transport boats and man of war launchers upon this occasion, does high honour to Capt. Trollope, of his majesty's ship Electra, who personally superinteuded this service; and the conduct of the officers and men under him was marked with all the coolness and dexterity of British seamen. I regret to add, that one of them was killed in the operation, and ten wounded, some of them dangerously. The uniform good conduct of the garrison which I have had the good fortune to command, demands my warmest gratitude; and their intrepid spirit during the siege is hardly more commendable than the zeal with which they went through the fatigues that preceded it The detachment of the Royal Artillery was highly conspicuous; the excellence of their gunnery was proved by the severe losses which the enemy has sustained; and I cannot too strongly express my sense of the skill and indefagitable zeal which Lieut. Dunn has displayed throughout the siege. I feel highly indebted to the exertions of Capt. Cruikshanks of the o2d, Jordan of the 27th, and Pringle of the 21st, as well as to the officers and men under them.--From Lieut Dickons, of the engineers, I received every assistance; and my adjutant, Lieut. Hadfield, of the 35th, has been throughout indefatigably zealous.—I cannot, conclude, Sir, without expressing my particular thanks to Capt. Nicholas, Assistant Quarter-Master General, whose abilities and activity rendered him eminently useful. And I have the satisfaction of reflecting, that the support I have received from all ranks has enabled me to sell. Scylla dear; and that General Regnier has obtained possession of this little heap of ruins with the loss of several hundreds of his best troops.-The return of cur killed and wounded is annexed. We have

lost some gallant men; but considering the weight of the enemy's fire, the number is by no means great,-I have the honour to be, &c.- -G. D. ROBERTSON, Lieut. Colonel. Commandant Scylla Castle.

To Maj. Gen. Sherbrooke, commanding his British Majesty's troops in Sicily.

Return of the killed and wounded of the detachments forming the British garrison of the Castle of Scylla, in Calabria, from the 4th to the 17th of Feb. 1908; viz.-Royal Artillery, 3 gunners killed; 1 bombardier, 8 gunners wounded.-27th Reg. 1st bat. 3 rank and file killed, 14 rank and file wounded.-68th Reg. 3 rank and file killed, 6 rank and file wounded.-62d Reg. 2 rank and file killed, 2 rank and file wounded.-Total, 3 gunners, 8 rank and file killed; 1 bombar. dier, 8 gunners, 22 rank and file wounded. (Signed) J. CAMPBELL, Brig. Gen.

Adjutant General.

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for

The emperor has informed all the cabinets of Europe and his own subjects of his constant endeavours to inforce his rights grounded on subsisting treaties with Sweden, and to obtain by virtue thereof the co-operation of his Swedish majesty against England. After having pursued these measures for several months, his imperial majesty was concerned to find that while he was endeavouring to preserve a good understanding between Russia and Sweden the latter preferred the friendship of England his enemy.--His imperial majesty has not concealed from the king of Sweden, or all Europe, that the welfare of his people required of him to employ all the which Providence has bestowed on, the safety and welfare of his empire.-Faithful to his system of moderation, his majesty declared to the king of Sweden his readi ness to convert the step, which he had reFuctantly taken, into a mere measure of prudence, if the king would immediately, and without delay, perform his engagements, and co-operate with him and the king of Denmark to shut the Baltic against the English fleets.-The silence observed by the king of Sweden, the accounts given in public papers of the conclusion of a treaty, by which subsidies, a fleet, and part of the land forces of Great Britain were placed at the disposal of that monarch; in short every thing bespoke the real sentiments of that prince with regard to Russia; every thing clearly, shewed, that his imperial majesty

could not expect any favourable change of the sentiments of the king of Sweden, and that it was time for his imperial majesty to secure his subjects against the evils which had been secretly planned against them. His majesty was accordingly compelled to alter the character of his measure. He has received intelligence that his ambassador in Stockholm on the 20th of February (3 March) was put in a state of arrest by the king's order, that all the persons belonging to the Russian embassy were also confined in one house, by his command, that the said monarch had even proceeded so far as to order all the papers and letters of the embassy to be taken under seal, and the whole mission to be guarded by the military; his majesty has therefore to complain of an act of violence committed against his prerogative and the dignity of his crown, which concerns all other powers as well as himself. The diplomatic body, resident in Stockholm, was so perfectly sensible of the truth of this assertion, that it immediately protested against an act of violence unprecedented in Europe, with the exception of Turkey.-The emperor might use reprisals, but he has preferred to direct his ministers to increase the attention which they have always paid to the Swedish ambassador who is still in Petersburgh, and to take care, that, should he chuse to take his departure from hence, he may not experience any difficulty or unpleasant proceedings on his journey.-His imperial majesty hereby informs all European powers, that, from this moment, le considers the former Swedish Finland, which his troops have not been able to subdue, but in consequence of several actions, as a province conquered by his artis, and that he incorporates it for ever with his empire. His majesty expects that Providence will continue to bless his armis in this war, and assist him to remove the evil from the frontier of his empire, to which the enemies of Russia endeavour to expose him. PORTUGAL.-Proclamation by General

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not. Dated April 5, 1908.

sels belonging to the English squadron, be expressly prohibited: and that should any vessel or boat, of any description, approach the coast throughout all Portugal, under any pretext whatever, (even with a flag of truce,) it is ordered, that all officers commanding batteries or forts, do fire on them; any offi cer who shall suffer a vessel or boat to approach the shore, shall be tried by a court martial and broke-II. Any individual detected in endeavouring to get on board an English vessel under any pretext whatever; shall be brought before a military committée, and condemned to six months imprisonment, or to death, according to the case.-III. Any master or owner of a boat, or other individual, who shall be proved to have facilitated the passage of any person to the English squadron, shall be brought before a military committee, and tried as an accomplice with the enemy, and as an instigator and spy, and be punished with death.-IV. Any individual, convicted of exciting the soldiers of the French and Portuguese army to del sertion to any power whatever, will be punished by death as a crimp traitor.-V. Any person who shall give information of a master of a boat having conducted any one to the English squadron, or any person using endeavours to get there, through the intervention of a crimp or spy, on the fact being proved, shall receive as a reward the boat and one hundred cruzados for any individual, or two hundred for a crimp or spy.--VI. All the property of those who have quitted Portugal up to this moment, and are gone off to the enemy's squadron, shall be sequestered, if they do not return before the 20th instant. The magistrates in each department will examine the respective inhabitants, and take a list of those persons who have fled, and transmit the same to the intendant general of the police-VII. The French military penal code from this day will be put' in execution against the Portuguese army, agreeable to which every deserter on being arrested will be punished with death.-VIII. The secretaJury of state, the commanders of the French, Spanish, and Portuguese armies, all magistrates and justices of every description, are charged with the execution of this decree, throughout the kingdom, and to make the same generally known any boats found without a copy of this clict, shall be seized and sold for the benefit of the captor. (Signed)-JUNOT.

The general in chief of the army of Fortugal, understanding that many souliers and inhabitants of the kingdom of Portugal have suffered themselves to be deluded by false proclamations, published by the English, to procure soldiers, of which the British squadron is so much in need, and wishing to preVent the misery of those who may hereafter become the victims of the perfidious insinua tions of the commanders of that squadron, it it decreed-1. That all communication be. fween the kingdom of Portugal and the ves

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SWEDEN-The King of Sweden's Proclamation on the Rupture of the Intercourse with Prussia. Dated Stockholm Castle, April 5, 180s.

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