The information I have received, shews that so little business has been done, that no fixed price can be stated. In many parts, the dealers had not come into the country as usual, but the price is certainly rising, and considerably; and it is a general opinion that it must and will speedily rise higher, and that credit is in a considerable degree re-established. There is an expectation that some ports which are now shut, will be open to us, and that when the check which has taken place in consequence of the late derangement is at an end, the wool will be required at its former prices. It is known that, until very lately, no wool was sold except by the necessitous, that the Wool Staplers have supplied the manufacturers from their old stores, which must now be much exhausted; that the manufacturer draws his supplies monthly, and sometimes weekly, and seldom has any large stock in hand; and it is well known that the embarrassment of the Staplers is greatly increased by the difficulty of obtaining discounts; that under these circumstances, the growers of fine wools, in all the principal districts, had no expectation of a sale at present, the price being inadequate to its value, that they concluded on keeping it, perhaps, till the two years' stock supposed to be in hand, is exhausted. The fair of Dorchester in Oxfordshire, where inferior wools were sold, is the only exception that has come to my kuowledge. The meeting appeared very much satisfied with the Report. Lord Chichester proposed the health of Lord Sheffield, and the thanks of the company for the useful information, and comprehensive view he had given of the whole subject, observing, that without the advantage of the infor. mation Lord Sheffield had yearly communicated to the meeting, they should have been under great difficulty to form a conjecture of the real value of their wool, and of the state of the trade. The wool buyers acknowledged the fairness and correctness of the statement; they said they had suffered so much, that the trade could not afford even the reduced prices proposed by his Lordship, and they alluded to the Non-Importation Law of the American States. Lord Sheffield in: sisted that the home consumption, and the export trade, being both increased, there was, no ground for a reduction of the price given of late years for the South Down wool, except that of the market being overstocked with foreign wools. That the reduction he proposed was from 10d. to 1s. per lb. nearly a third; and that previously to the late speculation, the best had sold at 3s. 34d. per lb. that the manufacture had been raised upwards of a third per yard, but that the average between the low and the high prices did not justify a rise of more than 1s. 8d. per yard; that he was satisfied that if a non-intercourse with the American States should continue, for a time, through a partiality for France, on the wrongheadedness of a party in the American States, if witt not be general. The people of that country will not go naked through their affection to the Freuch, or enmity to this country; and whatever they can pay for will find its way to them, and if they do not take any thing from us this, they will another year, and thus, on an average, it has always been found, they have taken nearly the same quantity. It does not appear that they can get cloathing from any other country at present, nor will it be possible for them, for a long time, to manufacture sufficiently for themselves; and this is most certain, that they cannot get pay "It is the opinion of many, that there is no more wool now in the hands of the growers than there used to be in those of the Staplers; but I conceive it probable, that the late good prices tor fine wools may have increased the growth of them considerably; and that if the Legislature should not give the country that protection to which it is entitled, by adequate duties on the import of foreign wools, it is certain that such ramense importations must utterly put an end to the growth of fine wools in the United Kingdom. "As to the price that should be accepted for our wool, it is very difficult to give an opinion. I have stated all the facts that appeared to nie worth the attention of the meeting, and notwith-ment for their produce or merchandise but tanding the home consumption and the exports are both increased, perhaps in consideration of the state of the trade, and the market being overtocked with Spanish wools of all kinds, it may be advisable to take from 28. to 2s. 4d. per lb, for the best South Down; and this reduction I am sure is full as much as the times require." through this country, and that the United Kingdom can get every article of the American States' produce or merchandize, full as good aud cheap from other countries. Lord Sheffield added, that at all events it would be advisable to keep the wool if they could not get 2s. 3d. for the best lots. Printed and Published by G. HOUSTON, No. 192, Straud; where all Communications addressed to the Editor, are requested to be forwarded. VOL. XXVIII. No. 9.] LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 2, 1815. [Price 1s. d. 289] NOTICE. AMERICAN HOAX. [290 In the "DAILY COURIER," published at Petersburg, in Virginia, on the 10th of July last, and which some friend in England has had the goodness to forward to me, I find the following curious article. "COBBETT. In consequence of the additional tax of a halfpenny, imposed by government, on newspapers, the Register will in future be sold at 1s. d. Numerous complaints having been made of irregularity in the delivery of the Register, the readers are informed, that this may be obviated by applying, (letters post paid) to the pub. lisher. Those gentlemen who have not received the Five Letters to Lord Shef-it was given him, and he writes no more. í field, published last week, may still be supplied, on giving orders to their news men. "Cobbett is silenced:-We are sorry for it; his price was 1500l. per ann.— This we have from passengers who lately "arrived from London. This new in"stance of a corrupt heart will make the friends of England chuckle; they ought not; it is not only a proof of Cobbett's venality, but also of the corrupt means used by the Government of Great Britain to procure the silence of its adversaries. The great Burke was purchased. The Indexes, Titles and Tables, for Vo" lumes 25, 26, and 27, will be completed and ready for delivery to Newsmen and others, on Saturday, the 9th of September. In future, the Title and Index will form part of the Number which shall close every quarter of a year; so that the read-Why then feel surprised at Cobbett's ers will all be regularly supplied with tergiversation; both were worth buy 66 them, without any inconvenience, or anying, both told unwelcome truths in a additional expence or trouble.-The Tables" style of irresistible language.--We reof Prices of Bread, Wheat, and Meat, to 66 peat that we are sorry for it. Independ which will now be added that of Wool; "ent of the facts he descanted upon, his and of the English and French Funds, language was fascinating: Americans, together with the number of Bankrupts," therefore, have lost much newspaper will now be given weekly, instead of at amusement. If the truths disclosed by the end of each volume. It may be con- "Cobbett had ot galled the ministry, the venient for some gentlemen, for temporary "ministry would have suffered Cobbett purposes, to possess these weekly, without "to sink into oblivion." the necessity of applying to other sources of information; but, the great object of them is to enable those who enter into subjects of political economy, that is to say, the matters most interesting to mankind, to refer, at any moment, to data so important to all discussions relative to the situation and prospect of this country. There is intended to be a Supplement to each Volume, to contain such facts and observations, as may be suppressed, in the course of the Weekly Numbers, for fear of offending the modesty, and thereby exciting the anger, of the parties concerned. In what way this Supplement will make its appearance will hereafter be explained. How delighted must this gentleman have been in a few days afterwards (for it could hardly be longer) when he found that these passengers had deceived him; and that, in short, he had been hoaxed!— For myself and my conduct I have nothing to say here, except that this gentleman's compliments as to my talents are too high; but, there are two passages, in the article, which call for a short remark. "The great Burke" was not purchased by the "Heaven-born Minister," who only gave him a pension of 3,0001. a year, with a reversion of 1,5001. a year to his wife for her life. That was all.-The reader wil perceive that the Editor of the Petersburg Courier supposes, that the "friends of K No. II. or, Excitements to a new War with America. England will chuckle" at my having been silenced; and he will wonder why they should, seeing that I am, in proportion to my ability, labouring more for England than any other man living. But, he mást observe, that a "friend of England” in America means something very different indeed from what the same words mean here. Here, they mean a man attached to the honour and interest of England; holding in abhorrence bribery, corruption, oppression and fraud; a man, who is so anxious about nothing as the real liberty and happiness of the people of England. In America, they mean a man who is the eulogist of bribery and corruption; who justifies the selling and buying of seats; who, being an Aristocrat in heart, would calmly see the people in all countries moulded into mere beasts of burden; and who is now burning with rage to see that America has come out of her late struggle with real glory, and that, while she is pushing forward in the path of greatness and prosperity, she has retained her cheap Republican Government. It is monstrous to think, that there should be men of this latter description, even amongst the native Americans; but, that there are such men, though few in number, is undoubtedly true. These are 66 lund," of whom the Petersburg editor speaks; and that such men should have been supposed to be pleased at my being silenced, is certainly what I have no reason to complain of.-lowever, I must say, that the Petersburg editor was a little too hasty in his publication. He should have known the "passengers," and have obtained something like evidence of such a are glad to learn that cotton goods confact. If these passengers arrived early in tinue in great demand. Manchester was July, they might have carried out Regis-never known to do more business than ters of the middle of May; and, could it has done for some weeks past. The they carry out one, any one, which did Americans have assisted greatly in clearnot contain evidence of the falsehood of "ing the market; and we may hence be their tale? The proceeding, therefore, of "satisfied that the stories of the progress this gentleman was not strictly just. The" of the cotton trade in the United States penalty I impose on him shall, nevertheless, not be very heavy. He has certainly done me wrong, and the satisfaction I demand is, that he send me, by the earliest opportunity, to the office of the Register, in London, about 100 grains of tobacco seed, and about 50 seeds from a fine watermelon I have, I think, in my Letters to Lord Sheffield, clearly proved, that manufactures, in all branches, have been established in the United States; that machinery of all sorts is in motion; that the raw material is possessed in abundance; and that, as the effect, immense quantities of goods have been made and are making in that country. This wonderful change in the commercial affairs of the world I have proved to have been produced by our Orders in Council, Impressments of American Seamen, and by the late war. Still there is room for English goods in America. For many years, if peace continue between the two countries, English goods may be sent to America in great quantities. The population goes on increasing there at a rapid rate. Supposing the manufactures in America to hold their own, still there will be a demand for English goods. But, only let us have another war with that country of a few the friends of Eng-years duration, and we may bid adieu to that market for ever. Yet are there several writers in England, who are labouring hard to produce a new war with Ame WM. COBBETT. rica. The COURIER newspaper, which is one of the principal vehicles of these efforts, has the following paragraph upon the subject of American Manufactures. 66 We 66 are not authentic." The Editor, or, rather, the authors, the real authors, of this paragraph, had seen the Notice of my intended letters to Lord Sheffield, proving, not asserting, that the cotton and other manufactures were mak, ing great progress in the United States, under a cheap, republican government, and amidst a people, the labouring part of whom eat butchers' meat every day once The word "avoidance" was used merely because hostility would have let the writer's motive peep out a little too soon. But, here is the President of the United States, with whom we are at peace, called a scoundrel" in an English public print, issued in the metropolis of the kingdom, while the minister of that country is resident here, and is negociating, as it is said, a treaty of commerce with America. is directly put upon a level with men, who, as this writer asserts, are " scoundrels He at least, and, in general, if they choose it, poultry once a week, or oftener. This paragraph therefore was intended to check my letters in their effect, by causing the public to believe, that my "stories" were "not authentic." How, then, must this writer have been surprised, when he found, that it was not "stories" that I had to relate, but that I had evidence to produce as good, aye, and a great deal better evidence, than ever was or ever can be, produced in a Court of Justice. The lives of men are taken away at the gallows" that deserve to be hanged." And yet upon evidence not nearly so good as that these same writers have the impudence, which I have produced to Lord Sheffield and that, too, in the very same paragraph, of the wonderful increase of American to complain of " an infamous libel," pubManufactures. It is a subject which ad- lished in America, against whom? Why, mits of no controversy; for I have left no against "this country." room for it. The man, who attempts to controvert, must begin by swearing that truth shall be, in future, considered as falsehood. But, this paragraph of the Courier has another object; namely, that of preparing the nation for another war; as if it had said to you, the Manufacturers, "be not afraid of another war with, America; for, you see, she cannot make goods for "herself." This was what Lord Sheffield said in 1811. See his report, page 288 of this Volume of the Register. But, I have proved that she can make goods for herself; and, therefore, it behoves you to consider, betimes, how you will be affected by another war, to which these men are exciting the nation, as I shall presently shew you. This "libel," as they call it, is a publication, which appeared, in America, in March last, bearing date the 10th of February. It is entitled "An exposition 66 of the causes and character of the late "war with Great Britain." It traces the war to its causes; it describes the conduct of the two parties during the war; and, from first to last, it appeals to official documents for the truth of its assertions. So far from being an "infamous libel," it contains not one single rude expression. The style of it is dignified, the language all mildness and moderation. To be sure, it does contain great numbers of most shocking facts; but, so far from its being an attack "on this country," it invariably avoids every thing disrespectful to the people of every part of the kingdom. As to its being The TIMES newspaper, of the 23d of "committed to the press as soon as Mr. August, 1815, after expressing its regret," MADISON heard of Bonaparte's having that the most distinguished of the republicans of France had not been put to death, concludes thus:-" Why are these scoun"drels tolerated in civilized countries? "If they must be sent out of France, "instead of being hanged there, as the "law would have them to be, why not con"fide them to the paternal care of Mr. "PRESIDENT MADISON? Birds of a fea"ther should flock together. By the bye, an infamous libel on this country has "lately been published in America, and "Mr. MADISON's friends gave him the honour of its composition. It was probably committed to the press as soon as he "heard of Bonaparte's having reached the "Thuilleries; but it will serve to shew "the sentiments of its author, and to mark "him out for our avoidance. "reached the Thuilleries," this must be a wilful falshood; for this writer knows, that it was published in America in MARCII, and he also knows, that the news of Napoleon's having landed at Cannes did not reach London till the middle of that same mouth of March; and that the news of his having arrived at the Thuilleries did not reach America till the beginning of May. This EXPOSITION is a publication of great importance. It is not only the most interesting publication that I ever read, but it contains the most useful matter. It has not left the work of history to the time when it can be of no use. It has done the thing at once, and, without any account of battles, which some one else may give, it has put the causes and conduct of the war upon safe record, and has placed this record in the hands of every man, woman, and child in America, who now, at this moment, know for a certainty what a glum, gloating despotism would have kept from their knowledge, leaving their posterity to guess at it amidst the contradictory assertions of party or venal scribes. Can had forgotten the bar and all its "learned Such a publication, if it bear hard upon our country, or its government, should be answered; not abused. This hero of the TIMES newspaper, who is a perfect fire-eater I presume, that it will not now be preof the quill, should assail it from his maga- tended, that America is too insignificant zine of fects and arguments. To call Mr. to be worthy of such notice. There was President Madison a scoundrel that de- a time, when it was in fashion to speak of serves be hanged, is no answer to such a pub- her as being of no consequence at all in lication. The "EXPOSITION" is now re- the world, and as not being in a state to published in England. I have a copy of be spoken of as a nation. I never shall the pamphlet before me. "And why do forget the cool insolence of the MORNING "not you answer it?" Some one may CHRONICLE, just after the return from say, I wish, with all my heart, my ability America of Mr. JEFFERY, the conductor. were equal to the task. But, I have of the Edinburgh Review, who went to before, and I now again, offer to any one, that country, for a short time, previous who will answer it, the columns of the to the late war. The paragraph of the Register, through which to convey such CHRONICLE, to which I allude, stated, that answer, as I once offered them to the Mr. JEFFERY, during the time that he was Botley Parson, as a vehicle for an answer, in America, "being dining in company if he chose to write one, to Paine's Age "with the President, was asked by the latof Reason. Strange to tell, the Botley "ter,what were the sentiments of the people Parson abused me for this offer, though" in Great Britain as to the dispute and he agreed with the Attorney General, that the work was calculated to produce the eternal damnation of the souls of those who read it, and though it was notorious that a large edition or two of the work had been sold, and, of course, read. I hope, that I shall not meet with like treatment on the present occasion. There are, as I said before, all the Ministers, all the Privy Councillors, about a thousand Noblemen and Gentlemen of the two Houses of Parliament, about fifteen thou-have misrepresented its meaning. It struck sand Bishops, Deans, Arch-Deacons, and other Clergymen of the Established Church, about twelve thousand officers of the Army, about ten thousand officers of the Navy, besides a civil list that costs better than a million sterling a year, and all the innumerable secretaries, commissioners, clerks, sinecure-placemen and pensioners. It is hard indeed if not one is to be found amongst all these, to say nothing of the writers by trade, to give an answer to this five-shilling pamphlet, which does not contain so many letters as there are persons of the above descriptions at this hour in England. And the bar, too! "the probable war with America; our ce"lebrated critic, putting his fingers to his "forehead, as if endeavouring to recol"lect, answered, at the end of a minute or two, I think I do remember hearing some person at Liverpool mention the name of America." I will not be answerable for the very words; but, as to the substance. I pledge myself; and, let the paragraph, which the editor must have, though I have it not, be republished, if I 66 me at the time as an instance of the most consummate folly as well as the most consummate insolence. I do not believe that the conversation ever took place; and, I would fain hope, that the publication of the paragraph was unauthorised by Mr. JEFFERY. But, why did he not justify himself against what implied in him such a want of sense and of knowledge, and, indeed, such a barefaced disregard of truth? At any rate, "our celebrated critic" will not need to put his fingers to his forehead; he will not need his considering-cap, to enable him now to recelIlect, whether he has heard any one speak PEN |