Mr.

Gurney's, in order to let you see the lown Rooks [hear! and a laugh.] In blessings which the paper-money order to explain this, I shall relate an brings upon the country. The 101. anecdote which I read a few days note which I presented was dated since in the public papers. the 26th May, 1818; so that by next Crickitt (who was a great banker in May it would have been eight years Suffolk), became a bankrupt a short in circulation; at all events, it was time since. He was looked upon as in circulation long enough to give a man of solid and undoubted proMr. Gurney a protit of 4l. 13s. 2d., perty. However, upon his examinacalculating the interest at five per tion, it appeared that he became a cent., and of course including the partner in the firm in 1809; that compound interest [hear!]. Now, I soon after that, he became indebted ask any of you, whether there is any to the firm, into which he never reason, any utility, in a system such brought one farthing afterwards, and as this? Our government is a kingly that he continued a debtor to it up government. We maintain a King and to the bankruptcy; that during these a Royal Family; and let me tell you seventeen years, he had borrowed that we maintain them very well, too, money from the firm to buy an though I say it [hear! and a laugh.] estate, which estate he afterwards We maintain a large and expensive settled upon his wife. But this is not Royal Family; we also pay a large all. It further appeared, that during number of placemen, pensioners, these seventeen years, this Mr. and sinecurists! and surely it is not Crickitt, who never brought a fartoo much to expect that we should thing into the concern, during that have something in the shape of bene-time, and who was always in debt to it, fit in return. Ours is a government actually shared 57,000l. of profits of King, Lords, and Commons; it is [hear, hear, hear!] Now I ask, is not, or at least it ought not to be, a it not clear that this sum of 57,000l. government of Bank, Lords, and as well as the 4l. 13s. 2d. of Mr. Commons! And if His Majesty had Gurney, must have come altogether, but continued to exercise his prero- out of the pockets of the public? gative—aye, and one of his most im- He gave no lands for it-he gave no portant prerogatives, the issuing of goods for it-he gave no labour for the circulating medium of the coun-it-he administered no physic for it try-Mr. Gurney would never have—he administered no law for it; nay, made his 47. 13s. 2d. upon the 107. he did not even so much as preach note, which he cashed me to-day [a for it [a laugh]. And yet he bought laugh.] I now come to give you my an estate, he lived in style, he kept opinion upon the state of the Rooks. servants and expensive establishYou must have, by this time, per-ments; and all this was taken out of ceived that they are dropping off their the pockets of the public [Hear, roosts, one here and one there, and hear!].-In this way he possessed one elsewhere; they don't in general himself of what the labourer should make a very great noise, except have eaten; in this way he possessed in their own neighbourhoods, but himself of what the farmer should they are dropping off. And yet, have saved and put by, or else exstrange as it may seem, I find that pended upon his family. Let it not. every one has the greatest confidence be supposed that this is any exagin his own Bank. "True it is," they gerated statement of mine. I give say, "that other Banks are going, it to you as I read it in The Herald but our Bank is perfectly safe." But of Monday or Tuesday last. The at length the critical moment arrives, picture is sufficiently appalling; but, and that "very safe Bank" goes with thank God! we have some prospect the rest, and then the parties begin of an end being put to the system to discover the actual state of their which produced it. It is hoped that

This reduction must go on until wheat is brought down to 3s. 6d. or 3s. 9d. the bushel-that scientific bushel, the capacity of which is a little increased, and which is fixed upon by weighing certain ⚫ square inches of water in an atmosphere of 62 degrees of Fahrenheit's

with the assistance of the Bank of they must pay in gold, have been England, that system may be prop-drawing in their notes, and this ped up, and still carried on. It is, drawing in will go on until the prices however, a vain hope; the time is in this country are brought nearly fast approaching, when the people on a level with those of other counwill no longer be shuffled off with tries. You may depend upon it that the paper, even of the Bank of Eng-will be the case, if Ministers perseland. It is now pretty notorious vere in the measure now adopted, that the lie, the profitable lie, that a and the man who thinks otherwise, Bank of England note was a legal grossly and egregiously deceives himtender, can no longer be thrust down self. the throats of the public; and as the people find the fact, they will refuse to receive it, and then the Rooks must die; and then small paper will, of course, be swept out of circulation, and the large paper, too, for that matter! Ministers, indeed, think to keep large notes in circulation, after thermometer. [Hear! and a laugh.] the small ones are withdrawn; but It is true that they have made the We know that the large notes walk bushel a little larger, but all they upon and are supported by the small can otherwise do will not prevent the ones, and that, when the one is out price of it from coming down to of circulation the other will disappear 3s. 6d. or 3s. 9d., if Ministers persealso. Will any one tell me that, vere in their present course. We are when a man takes 41. in notes to a drawing gold from the Continent, bank, and gets gold for them, he will and it is now pouring very fast into not also get gold for his 57. note? the country; this must render it He will say to himself, It is only ask-scarce abroad, and, of course, lower ing one sovereign more; and as I prices in proportion; and unless our have to keep it by me for a little prices fall in a corresponding detime, I may as well take care that I gree, the gold will go back, and then run no risk by the failure of ANY-why then, unless she draw in her bank. The revenues of Government paper, the old mother-bank must must necessarily be paid, and then will stop, and there will be at once an come the tug. We all know that end to the system. But, she will prices will fall-that they must fall; draw it in. [Hear, hear!] Any man they did so in 1820, under similar who allows himself to be deceived circumstances; I am well informed into an opinion that things are mendthat wheat, which, three months ing, because of any trifling vibration since, was at 78s. per quarter, in in prices, will sadly and fatally deScotland, is now at 48s. in that coun-ceive himself; that is, if, as I said try. You will see that this is no before, Ministers persevere. To be more than 24s. a comb. I under- sure, nothing short of Omniscience stand, also, that the loaf, which was, can enable us to divine what they three months since, eleven pence, at will do; but if they do persevere, Edinburgh, is now at eight-pence. prices must go down, so sure as we Good God! is not this sudden and are here together assembled. You alarming reduction a sufficient warn- will, perhaps, tell me, that if such be ing? It is true that the law, with the case, the landlord must be ruinrespect to small notes, is not yet ined, and his estates must pass into the force with respect to Scotland, neither hands of the fundholders and the indeed is it with respect to England; stock-jobbers. Very true, he must but the people of Scotland are na-be ruined, and must give up his aturally cautious, and feeling that estates to those parties; but the

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farmer and labourer will remain, be-fourths of that "Best Friend," as it cause the estates will remain-they has been happily called by the Hocannot stop; the parson too will re-nourable Bart. (Sir T. Beevor), then main, for he continues well; he does they would be able to get on. It is not wait till the crop is sold, and the true that it belongs to a set of Jews value received; he comes in at once and Jobbers; but what of that? and takes his share; but the land- You may say what you will about lord must certainly be ruined. You national faith, and national honour, will, perhaps, ask me, whether the but the true history of the case is landlord will stand by, and with this. The landlords themselves get folded arms, allow the Jews and Job-hold of a great portion of the taxes. bers of the day to take quiet pos- Only inquire, for a moment, who are session of his property? And cer- the officers who govern forts and tainly, one could hardly suppose that garrisons, which have neither emhe will. But have we not seen what brasures nor guns; look into the took place in 1822? We were very Navy List, and see who are the men near the mark then. Another year, who are promoted over the heads of and that which we have now every older officers; inquire who are they right to expect, must necessarily who get possession of all places and have taken place. You will say that sinecures of emolument, either at the landlords do all this from a high home or abroad; take the Pension sense of national honour and na- List; and amongst all these you will tional faith; and, perhaps, they do; find, that the far greater part of those at least, let us give them some places, pensions, and sinecures, are credit for such feelings. But we distributed between the children, have a right to inquire whether there uncles, aunts, cousins, and other reis not yet another, and perhaps a lations of these very landlords. >>more powerful, cause, operating [Hear, hear, hear!] After the peupon them? We have what has tition which we presented in 1823, been called by some a "Dead- they stated that they heard with horWeight," lying upon us; we have an ror any proposal to touch a farthing army; and in that army, according of the public debt. But what did to Mr. Hume, we have some 16,000 we say in that Petition? We, too, or 17,000 officers. This army, we expressed our horror at any attempt are told, has rendered such important to touch a farthing of the debt, or services to the country--it has placed the interest of it, until they had reher national institutions, and her duced all and every one of these esprosperity and independence, upon tablishments. This is the true reaSo secure a footing, that we are in son why they were afraid to touch gratitude bound to support and re- the debt; they felt that they must ward all those who belong to it! first give up all these good things, Again, we are told, on the other otherwise they would lay their hands hand, that the army is for the safety upon it and reduce the interest toand protection of the country in morrow. [Hear, hear, hear!] But time of war. But is there no other who ever expected that any man, or reason for all this gratitude for past set of men, ever willingly gave up services and reward for expected pro- any thing profitable, which they had tection? There is another reason, been accustomed to consider their and that reason I think I can point own? If a man holds an estate, out. They cannot touch one penny which it is shewn by law he is not of the interest of the National Debt; entitled to, does he walk quietly out, which, taking it altogether, amounts hat in hand? No; he takes good to 35,000,000l. out of the 54,000,000l. care to hold it as long as he can. of revenue. If they could only clap An Honourable Member of the their hands upon one half or three House of Commons (Mr. Gooch)

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has said, in reference to the Corn- ter did not fix the amount to which Bill, we ought to start fair, and that it must be lowered, but the Parson English landlords ought to be upon was not so scrupulous; he at once the same footing with the landlords said it should be lowered one-half! of other nations. Mr. E. Wodehouse That is to say, that where a man had has talked of an equitable adjust- 17. due to him, he should receive ment (we owe that phrase to him.) 10s.--Mr. Gurney certainly has not But if the fundholder were to turn gone this length, but he has adopted round upon Mr. Gooch, and say, the principle; and what is that prin"Sir, you wish to start fair, then let ciple? That of clipping the King's us start fair; before any alteration coin? The Debt would remain no"is made in the debt, or its interest, minally the same, to be sure; but "let your brothers and family give in fact the money of the country up the good fat livings and other would be brought to half its present "things, which they hold in the value. Mr. Gurney, as well as the "Church and the Army?" This Hole-and-Corner men of this county, was what the fundholder would be called our plan of 1823 a roguish likely to say to Mr. Gooch. He proposition, and it was broadly aswould probably answer Mr. E. Wode- serted that I had come down to house pretty much in the same induce the people of Norfolk to agree way. He would say, "if you wish to a roguish and most dishonest act. to start fair, and have an equitable But let us see what would be the adjustment, let us, if you please, effect of Mr. Gurney's plan. Why begin by taking away those large it would be this, to reduce every crethumping livings and dignities which ditor's demand one-half. Then let your family enjoy;-let us take care us see how it would work. And, that your son, who has been pro-first, you will observe that the plán moted over the heads of so many is not new. Many of our Kings senior officers in the Navy, be re-resorted to the plan of clipping the turned back to the situation which coin; that is, actually cutting a piece he must have filled if you had not from it; but this was, at all times, been (what you are) [hear, hear, and by all historians, decried as a hear!]." Gentlemen, they know gross and villanous act of dishonesty that all this would be said, they know towards the public. Here, however, that all this ought to be said, because the dishonesty is increased; for not a they know that it is right; and this, smali piece, but one-half, is to be at as I have already said, is the true once taken off. And let us only inreason why they decline to act upon quire who are to be the losers of this the prayer of our Petition. Some half? The fundholder loses his persons, however, proposed to reduce half; the trader, the farmer, would the interest of the Debt indirectly. lose half what he was entitled to, They would not listen to our advice; from the passing of the Act; but the on the contrary, they ridiculed it; labourer, supposing him to be hired and yet Mr. Gurney, who was one for a year, from September last, of those who joined in that ridicule, would lose half his wages for the has his project, and what do you whole year. But, mark the dishonthink it is? Why, nothing less than esty of the plan, with reference to lowering the standard. This opinion Country Bankers. We all know he has expressed in his place in Par- the principal trade of a Country Bank liament, and he has further sup-consists in deposits. If any one of ported it in a pamphlet which he has us were to deposit 100l., say in a given to the world. A Parson in Country Bank to-day, and that this Suffolk (a Mr. Cruttwell) has adopted new measure were enacted to-morthe same opinions, but he has gone row, then the Banker would only further than Mr. Gurney. The lat-pay us back one-half. This would

affect the Annuitant, the Mort- all know that farmers, as well as gagee, and the Fundholder to tradesmen in towns, who can afford the amount of half the property to keep horses, find it impossible to of each for ever. It would affect leave their business on week days, the landlord only for the term of any and are therefore obliged to avail lease he may now have granted; but themselves of Sunday for the purthe Parson, the cunning Parson, pose either of visiting their friends, would escape even that, as he goes into or taking the air. But on that day the field and takes his tenth of the a double toll is exacted from these crop [hear, hear!]. So you see that persons; while the rich, who drive Mr. Cruttwell would be in the same about every day, and perhaps stay at situation that he was before. This home more on Sunday than any was the plan propounded by Mr. other day, are, in a great degree, exGurney, and more accurately defined empted from it [hear, hear!]. Let as to its extent by the Rev. Mr. me ask, if such a law would ever Cruttwell. Our plan was not of this have been passed, if the people were sort-we did not propose to touch a generally represented in Parliament farthing of the Debt, or the interest [cheers]? You all remember the disof the Debt; we did not propose to missal of Sir Robert Wilson; he was interfere with any contract, until we dismissed from the army for some ascertained the period at which each offence, or for no offence; I don't contract was made. If I contracted stop to inquire which, nor is it neceswith any one of you, when wheat sary to my argument. It was then was 12s. a bushel, it could not be contended that he ought not to be expected that I should pay according deprived of his half-pay, as that moto that contract now. Is there any-ney was to be considered as a reward thing unfair and dishonest in this? for past services. The Ministers anAnd yet Mr. Coke and several other swered, that it was a retaining fee persons said that our Petition was for future services. Now, do we not not only ridiculous, but dishonest; know that there are a great many while they listened courteously to parsons-do we not know men, who the principles laid down by Mr. Gur-have devoted themselves to the savney, and fixed in their extent by Mr. Cruttwell, the one being a banker, and the other a parson [hear, hear !]. But, Gentlemen, we may recommend this plan, or the other plan, it is all of no use; for until a reform in Parliament is brought about, we have no chance of success; and for that Reform, too, do we pray. Depend upon this, that neither placeman nor sinecurist will ever give up a farthing, until he be forced; neither can it be expected that Parliament, as at present constituted, will ever make them. Let me call your attention to two or three things, and then ask you whether such a state of things would be allowed to exist, if the people had their proper influence in returning Representatives to that House? I will begin with Sunday tolls, which, in a great many places, are double those of other days. We

ing of souls, who are at this very moment on half-pay [hear, hear, hear!]? Now, observe, the parliament has decided, that the clerical character is indelible;—that is, in other words, that the parson cannot ever again serve as a soldier; and yet these men who can never again serve as soldiers have their half-pay continued to them, while it was taken away from Sir Robert Wilson [hear, hear!]. Inot this alone a monstrous inconsiss tency? Is it not a thing which could not occur, if the people were properly represented? True, Mr. Hume has tried to shake off and get rid of this superfluous expenditure; but he has no support, at least he has not that effective support which would be given to him by the freely chosen representatives of the people. You are, of course, aware that the Poor Laws compel the father to provide

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