1.

.

WHAT IS OUR EXTERNAL POLICY AND CONDITION ?

harbours, and thereby interposing between the more than once dwelt, and to which we may parent state and its immense colonial posses- hereafter revert. Suffice it to say, that the jeasions. And if the Thames, the Severn, the Mer- lousies consequent on the influx of a vast and sey, and the Clyde

, are blockaded by the com- active population of British subjects upon the bined fleets of Russia, Denmark, France, and native and stationary French population have Holland, we should be glad to know how the been so increased by the democratic feelings, millions of Middlesex, Staffordshire, Lanca- which, emanating from the British isles as a shire, and Lanarkshire would be able to exist common centre, have more or less pervaded all for three months; or what it would avail Great their dependencies, that the country is now alBritain that she ruled a hundred million of Hin- most in a state of rebellion. Nor is it surprising doos in the East, if a victorious hostile fleet was that this is the case. The Canadians see in the to cast anchor at the Nore? Of all powers, a debates of Parliament, and in all the democratic maritime state having great and distant colonial journals of England, a constant assertion of the possessions is most easily prostrated by a deci- right of self-government; the indispensable nesive stroke at the centre of its resources, because cessity of giving the people of all parts of the it may be reduced to starvation and irrevocably empire a share in the great work of legislation, destroyed before the news even of the critical in which their knowledge and capacity have so state of the heart can reach the extremities of peculiarly fitted them to shine. Are these docthe empire.

trines confined to one side of the Atlantic? Are And is our colonial empire so very loyal and the Canadians not likely to imbibe them from contented; are dissatisfaction and jealousy, re- England on one side, and America on another, sentment and indignation so thoroughly banish- and the freedom of their own forests on a third? ed from its wide circle, that we could rely with Having done so, are they likely to submit longer certainty upon deriving aid from these distant than expedience may council them to a governpossessions, if the parent isle were hard pressed ment in London, where they are totally unreby a combination of enemies? Is Ireland so presented, and which, so far from evincing any thoroughly pacified ; are its millions so com- regard for their interests, is avowedly about to pletely united; is religious dissension so effec- deprive them of the protecting duty or the staple tually banished, and gratitude for concession so branch of their industry, which alone compenuniversal, that there would be no danger of any sates to them for the want of a government of portion of its population joining the enemy? Has their own, and all the vexations consequent on the country been so effectually pacified since colonial regulation? the days of Wolfe Tone; have the efforts of This is a point of vital importance, and has O'Connell and the priests been so uniformly never yet received nearly the attention which it directed to sopite ancient divisions, and diffuse deserves. The timber trade is the staple of the an attachment to the English alliance, that the British North American provinces: it is the cot200,000 united Irishmen who he tells were ar- ton and woollen trade of their industry. It emrayed in regiments and companies at the ap- ploys the greater part of the 500,000 tons of proach of the tri-coloured flag, are no longer to shipping annually absorbed in its trade. Of this be apprehended? Or if the Catholics are, not- vast and lucrative trade, about two-thirds come withstanding the Relief Bill, still actuated by to England, and one-third to the West India their old and undying animosity against Great Islands. The great difference of duty is the Britain, is the support of the Protestants of the cause of this immense market having been North so very secure, their gratitude for recent opened up for their industry; the import on Ballegislation so conspicuous, their confidence in a tic timber being 55s. the load, while that on democratic government so strong and deserved, American is only 10s.* Ministers are known to as to afford a reasonable ground for hope that be determined to equalize, or make a step tothey will make the same heroic efforts in de- wards equalizing, the duties: the Commons' fence of the British connexion and the British committee of last Session have proposed that Government, which they did in 1798 ? Pressed the Baltic duty should at once be lowered to 40s. by external enemies in the centre of her power, a load. The necessary effect of this must be to the utmost that could possibly be hoped from ruin the whole capitalists engaged in the Canada Ireland would be, that its antagonist forces trade, crush the industry engaged in this im would engage and destroy each other; but as mense branch of trade, and sever the last link to supposing that either could afford any effec- which unite Canada to the British empire. Th tual aid to the general defence of the empire, is adoption of such a system at once demonstrate altogether out of the question.

that our colonies are no longer regarded as on Turn to Canada. Is the prospect more cheer-children; that we are resolved soon to give the ing on the other side of the Atlantic? Is the al- no preference over foreigners, and that, provid legiance of the magnificent Transatlantic colony we get good articles cheap, we care not whet which employs in its intercourse with the mo- it is from our friends or our enemies—are in ther country 500,000 tons of our shipping, or fully a fifth of its total amount, secure beyond * The trade in timber with Canada is four times as the reach of doubt? The reverse is unhappily as that with all the world besidos, as appears fron and notoriously the case. It would far exceed following returns: 1835, loads of Canada timber, 439 the limits of this paper to give even a summary all other countries, 118,446: 1836, loads of Canada ti of the troubles and divisions of our North 563,935; all other countries, 131,024.--Parl. Pap American colonies, on which we have already Feb. 1836.

ferent though our whole colonial empire goes will not exceed 60,000 tons. Supposing, thereto the bottom. Being actuated by such a prin- fore, that the negroes all work quietly at the close ciple, can we be surprised is the feeling of indif- of the apprenticeship (which present appearances ference becomes reciprocal? Canada is prepar- give no reason whatever to hope will be the ing, on the first convenient opportunity, or the case,) still the property destroyed by the emanfirst serious reverse to the parent state, to sever cipation act, without any compensation whata connexion from which they have ceased to ever, was at least forty millions sterling: an derive any benefit.

instance of wholesale revolutionary confiscation The tenure by which we hold the West Indies well worthy of being placed beside the most is, if possible, still more slender. The wounds illustrious deeds of the Jacobins in that line; inficied on those splendid but unhappy posses- and which, when its ultimate effect on the negroes sions have been so deep; the injustice worked themselves comes to be fully understood, will upon them by democratic tyranny at home so deserve to be classed with the most inhuman flagrant; the confiscation of property by rash deeds which human rashness and delusion ever and ill-judged legislation so enormous, that recon- yet perpetrated on mankind. After such treatciliation is impossible; the injuries done can ment, it is unnecessary to say, that all reconcilianeither be forgotten nor forgiven, and a connex- tion between the colonies and the mother counion is kept up with the mother country only till try is impossible: and to close all avenue even it is possible or expedient to dissolve it. In the to such a chance, it is whispered that it is in the long catalogue of West Indian oppression, all contemplation of Government to equalize the parties must take shame to themselves, the duties on West and East India sugars: thus Tories eqally with the Whigs must take their striving to obviate the rise of prices arising from full share of the general blame; but the great the commission of one deed of injustice by the and crowning act of confiscation and infatuation perpetration of another. could only have been perpetrated by the min- Even the magnificent dominion on the shores gled madness, conceit, ignorance, and benevo- of the Ganges stands on a tottering foundation. lence which were let in tumultuously to the It enjoys a revenue of twenty-three millions, and legislature by the Reform Bill. For the last boasts an army of above two hundred thousand twenty-five years West India produce has been men; but the shortsighted parsimonious spirit loaded with a duty of from thirty to twenty-four which has sprung up with the growth of demoshillings a hundred weight on sugar; equivalent, cratic power at home, has loosened, to a degree even at the lowest rate, to a duty of fifty per which to those unacqainted with Indian affairs cent on wheat and barley. We should like to would be deemed incredible, the loyal and affechear what our domestic cultivators would say to tionate disposition of this vast host, especially such a burden; but West India cultivators must the British officers by whom its character and groan and submit in silence. Not content with disposition are formed. Looking to nothing but this enormous and withering direct burden, the the saving of a few hundred thousand pounds Reform legislature have by one sweeping act a-year, the Government of India have ventured confiscated property to the amount of £40,000,000 upon the hazardous step of making a great and in the sugar islands, absolutely and irrecovera- simultaneous reduction in all branches of the bly, supposing the emancipation system to work service: the number and pay of almost every as well as its most ardent supporters can desire. grade has been materially lowered. The disgust The sum awarded by the nation for the eman- and heart-burnings which this injudicious step cipation of 800,000 slaves was £20,000,000, or has excited throughout India are indescribable. about £22, 10s. a-head. Before the Reform Bill Nor is this surprising—the officers of the Indian was passed, there was not a West India proprie- army left home early in life, renouncing all their tor who could not have sold his slaves for an relations and friends, the enjoyments of home, average of seventy or eighty pounds a-head: the love of country, probably for ever, in order we have known as much as £300 a-head given. to earn a competence and perhaps collect an Not more than one-third of the value of the slaves independence on the sultry shores of the Ganges. taken over the whole islands was given;* in In the midst of their exile, after the best period other words, forty millions were destroyed with of their life was past, and all hope of getting into out any compensation. We know one property any other line was utterly extinguished, they in St. Vincents where, on a stock of two hun- found a considerable part, generally about a dred negroes, for which £80 a-head had been third of their income suddenly withdrawn, and recently given, only £20 a-head was received; themselves reduced for the remainder of their in other words, £6) a-head was lost, that is, on life to such a pittance as precluded all hope of this small stock, £12,000 was confiscated. We making a fortune, and to most prolonged the know an estate in Nevis, where the loss on the term of their banishment to an indefinite period. negroes by the emancipation act was £70,000, Is it surprising if such flagrant breach of faith and land to double that amount was rendered to men so situated, and who have irrevocably totally valueless. It is the same in all the other made such sacrifices, should lead to the utmost islands. The high lands in Jamaica are going dissatisfaction? The only surprising thing is rapidly out of cultivation, as the rise in the price how the officers of a hundred and eighty thouof sugar proves; the produce of the island was sand native troops with bayonets in their hands some years ago 100,000 tons a-year; this year it submitted to such an injury. It affords the

strongest proof of the mingled loyalty and rir. * In some places it was a half, or even two-thirds, in tue of that upright and meritorious body, the others not a third or a fourth.

Indian officers, that under such provocation, and

WHAT IS OUR EXTERNAL POLICY AND CONDITION?

with such power in their hands, they submitted gatory, as, if the stigma arising from their prein peace to the change. But let it not be imagined sence were removed from the colony, it would that because they have done so in time past they be sufficiently stocked with free settlers of a will continue to do so in time to come. There higher moral cast and greater capital; and that is a limit to human patience, even in the most when, instead of persons of this description, they loyal and upright breasts: the embers of discon- are flooded with others of the most abandoned tent are smouldering, not extinguished: and a description, who necessarily by their presence repetition of the same mingled injustice and im- keep off

, in a certain degree, a more eligible policy may at once, by a general revolt, sever class of free settlers, it is to the last degree unthe empire of the East from our arms.

just to burden them in addition with the cost of Nor is such a catastrophe less likely to arise a police to restrain these periodical discharges from another cause. Under the new bill prepar- from the English prisons. So it is, however, ed by the Reformed Parliament, all settlers from that these complaints, as coming from persons the British islands are allowed to go to Calcutta, not represented in the legislature, are disregardMadras, and Bombay; while by a recent regu- ed, and it is only necessary to take up a file of lation of Government, emanating from the same Sidney papers for the last nine months to see the supreme influence, all restrictions on the press angry feelings which have in consequence beare removed from these settlements. Thus are come general among the inhabitants of the colony. the three capitals of India to be deluged at once Serious, however, as these evils in our finanwith an unlimited inundation of British emi- cial, naval, military, and colonial situation ungrants, and an unrestrained freedom of public doubtedly are, they are trifling compared to one, discussion. This, too, is to take place in a coun- to which public attention has never been suffitry situated in such very peculiar circumstances ciently drawn, viz. the rapid decline in our shipas Hindostan, with thirty thousand whites dis- ping interest engaged in the foreign trade, and persed among a hundred millions of blacks, and progressive increase in the tonnage of foreign twelve thousand miles from the parent state or ships in carrying on British commerce since the any effectual succour. It is upon an empire so fatal era when the reciprocity duties were introsituated, in circumstances unparalleled since duced. This is an evil of first-rate magnitude, the begining of the world, that we have let in at because it tends at once to rear up in our haronce an unrestrained flood of foreign settlers and bours a race of foreign seamen who will speedidemocratic discussion! It is on a people buried ly equal our own both in numbers and efficienin ignorance, embued for three thousand years cy; and who may at a moment's warning be with superstition, and requiring above all others summoned away by their respective flags, and in existence care and delicacy in the details of after having learned the art of seamanship in carpractical government, that we have thrown at rying on British commerce, employ their skill in once a firebrand sufficient to wrap in conflagra- destroying our navy. To this vital subject pubtion the oldest and best consolidated empire of lic attention has hitherto been very casually dimodern Europe. Of a truth it may be said, that rected; but the facts we are now about to comthe curse of judicial blindness has been pro-municate are of such a kind as to cause the most nounced upon our rulers, and unless the good inconsiderate to reflect. sense, or necessities of the Government in India The reciprocity system, it is well known, was allows these enactments to remain a dead letter, introduced by Mr. Huskisson in February 1823; which, with the present temper and composition and let the result be attended to upon the comof the House of Commons it is extremely doubt- parative growth since that period of British and ful whether they will be permitted to do, it may foreign shipping in carrying on our extensive be affirmed with perfect certainty that the seeds commerce.* of irrevocable ruin, and that too at no distant period, have been sown in our eastern dominions. VESSELS BELOGING TO THE BRITISH EMPIRE.

As if, too, our democratic rulers had been re- UNITED KINGDOM AND POSSESSIONS IN solved to excite a flame in all, even the most

TOTAL

Ships. Tons. Ships. Tons. remote and inconsiderable of our colonial pos- 1821 21,969 2,449,629

25,036 2,560,203 sessions, they have contrived, by a most absurd 1822 21,238 2,355,853

24,642 2,519,014 1823 21,012 2,302,867

24,542 2 506,769 and unjust regulation to excite a ferment even in 1824 21,280 2,318,314

24,776 2,559,587 the convict colony of New South Wales. This 1825 20,701 2,328,807

24,280 2,553,682 1826 20,968 2,411,641

24,625 2,635,644 has arisen from their having imposed the expense 1827 19,524 2,181.138

23,199 2,460,500 of the police of that colony, a very heavy burden 1828 19,616 2,193,300

24,095 2,518,191 1829 19,110 2.199,959

23,453 2,517,000 in such an unruly population, and amounting to 1830 19,174 2,201,592 i 4,547 330,227 23,721 2,531,819 £40,000 a-year, not on the mother country, as 1831 19,150 2,224,356 4,792 357,608 24,242 2,581,961

4,771 356,208 1832 19,684 2,260,980

24,655 2,617,638 heretofore, but the colony itself. This tax the

Foreign Shippi colonists complain of, and apparently with rea- Years. Imports. Exports. British Shipping. Outward To

1820 L.31,484,108 L.48,343,051 2,560,203 433,328 son, with great asperity. They assert, that they

29,724,173 50,796,982 2,519,014 383,784 are first saddled with a convict population, the 39,401,264 52,770,416 2,506,769

34,591,263 51,733, 461 2,559'587 refuse of all the jails in the British isles, to the

36,141,339

2,553,682 746,707 immense relief of the mother country, but their 42,661,054 55,618,327 2,635,644

905,520

36,069,999 50,401,292 own great discomfort, and then burdened with

2,460,500

695,440

43,467,747 61,082,695 2,517,000 an enormous annual tax to keep them in order. 1828 43,396,527 61,957,805 2,531,819 The advantages of convict labour, though great 1829 42,311,648 66,072,163 2,581,964

44,815,397 69,028,423 2,617,638 758,369 at one period, they assert is now altogether nu- 181 48,161,661 70,820,066

767,821 608,118 730,250

From the Parliamentary returns quoted below, nearly two thousand less than it was three years it clearly appears, that down to 1832, our ship- ago. The general returns of the amount of ping employed in the foreign trade was rapidly British tonnage exhibit no insight into the prodeclining, and our tonnage was kept up solely gress and effect of the reciprocity system, beby the vast increase in our colonial trade, which cause in them the whole trade, foreign and colois of course entirely our own. From 1823 to nial, is mixed up together, and consequently the 1832, the tonnage of foreign shipping in British rapid increase of the latter compensates and harbours had increased from 433,000 to 896,000 conceals the progressive decay of the former. tons, or more than doubled; while the British When Mr. Huskisson repealed the navigation engaged in the same branches of trade had rapid- laws, and introduced a total change of system ly declined. From a paper laid before Parlia- in 1823, he grounded his alteration on the imment in this session (Parl. Pap. 26th Feb, 1836), possibility of keeping up a lucrative commercial it appears, that since 1833 the progress of foreign intercourse with other states, and especially vessels in carrying on the foreign trade of the Prussia, without making such an alteration. In empire is still augmenting; and that the foreign truth, therefore, the change was a sacrifice of shipping now employed in carrying our trade our maritime to our manufacturing interests. with foreign nations is assuming such a magni- But let it be observed what has been the result tude as, but for the colonial trade of the em- of this great alteration. Has Prussia, in return, pire, would speedily render their shipping, nurs- admitted British goods on favourable terms, and ed in our harbours, superior to our own.* made us any return for the vast sacrifice of

It is of the highest importance, therefore, to maritime security which we made to propitiate reflect how large a proportion of our foreign her good-will? So far from having done so, she trade is carried on in foreign bottoms. When has formed an anti-British commercial league, we next resume this subject, we shall give a de- which, though nominally imposing only a duty tailed comparison of the British and foreign ton- of ten per cent, really loads our manufactures nage to all other countries and our own colo- with a crushing impost of fifty per cent, and in nies; from whence it will distinctly appear, that this she has contrived to include twenty-five in all our intercourse with foreign states, foreign millions of souls. M. Thiers very recently, in vessels are gradually encroaching on those of the Chamber of Deputies, loudly protested British construction; and that it is the colonial against the supposition that France was to be trade of the empire, and it alone, which enables seduced, by the insidious offers of England, into us to maintain a superiority over them. Suffice any relaxation of the duties on its manufactures, it to say at present, that the number of British imposed for the protection of French industry. vessels annually passing the Sound is at present Thus the reciprocity system has not the excuse, even for its adoption, that it has obtained a boon † VESSELS EMPLOYED IN THE FOREIGN TRADE OF THE UNIT- for our manufacturing interests; for the conduct ED KINGDOM. of the nations, to propitiate whom it was introduced, could not have been more hostile to our An Account of the Number and Tonnage of Vessels, dis-manufactures, if the navigation laws had stood tinguishing the Countries to which they belonged, which as they were origininally enacted by the Long Entered Inwards and Cleared Outwards in the Year en- Parliament, and praised as the wisest regulations ded 5th January, 1836, compared with the Entrances which could be adopted on the subject by Adam and Clearances in the preceding Year ended 5th Janua- Smith. ry, 1835; stated exclusively of Vessels in Ballast, and of those employed in the Coasting Trade, or the Trade,

Between Great Britain and Ireland.

COUNTRIES

to which the Vessels belonged.

ENTERED INWARDS. Years ended 5th January. 1836.

1835.

Ships. Tonn'ge. Ships. Tonnage.

But even if a benefit had accrued to our manufactures by their sacrifice of our shipping interests, what comparison could such an advantage bear with the enormous and lasting evils arising from nursing up in our own harbours a maritime force belonging to foreign states, which may at any moment be all arrayed under hos tile flags against ourselves? In this view, the increase of our exports and imports only in11,678 2,108,492 11,740 2,203,026 creases the dangers of our situation, by aug 55,894 menting in a greater proportion than our own 16.39 the foreign seamen employed in carrying it on. 115.914 And if a struggle in the end ensues, it will little 121.815 avail us that our manufactures are thriving, our merchants opulent, and our operatives in full 29.215 employment; a blockade of the Thames, the 32058 Mersey, and the Clyde would soon prostrate all 50 these resources, and convert what is now deem5,536 ed the pillar of our strength into a source of fatal And in such a crisis, millions of

196 54,458 204
111 15,765
130
711 119,151 734
679 55,377 630
545 117,009 572
44,850 505
31,942 295

55,307

38.333
27.372

552

Holland,

336

Belgium,

France,

829

28

3,269
3,237

33

60

Italian States,

26,918 282
35,441 769

5,007

forced to give way even in our own harbours to are equestrian. The horse-race is a fête at the nautical classes of hostile states.

which all classes enjoy themselves, a time at Finally, amidst general present prosperity and whịch all thoughts of business are laid asideprofound external tranquillity, we discern the with the exception, perhaps, of the pickpocket symptoms of approaching misfortunes and a and thimble-rig proprietor, to whom alone works just retribution for foreign injustice. We see a ing-days are days of idleness, and holidays are government at the head of affairs actuated by days of work. Doncaster, Epsom, and Newrevolutionary violence in foreign transactions, market afford themes for discussion for every and democratic parsimony in domestic arrange- day in the year. Hundreds of persons think of ments; provoking thus the hour of external nothing else. The news of which horse is the vengeance without any provision to avert its winner of the St. Leger is everywhere received fury. We see a great and splendid colonial em- with the same breathless earnestness as the pire becoming disunited and falling to pieces event of a battle or naval engagement upon from the blind selfishness of the dominant mul- which the fate of the empire hinged. When the titude in the British islands, and their determina- Derby and the Oaks are run for at Epsom, and tion to sacrifice every colonial interest to the at the time of Ascot races, no business is done in interested views or inordinate passions of the the House of Commons;- whatever may be the classes at home installed in power. We see a importance of the subjects waiting for discusnavy, once the terror and glory of the world, sion. Opposite those days on the notice books, silently melting away under the wish to buy Derby, Oaks, and Ascot are written, as a warngood articles cheap; and our army, which once ing to all that it is useless to talk of business at struck down Napoleon, suffered to dwindle into such a time; for the House of Commons must insignificance, lest its numbers should excite the go to the races as well as the rest of the world. discontent of the tradesmen in our manufactur- In London, for the three weeks preceding the ing towns. We see that what Napoleon once Epsom and Ascot races, the price of horses fit to said of us has now literally become true; we be put in harness rises from ten to twenty per are a nation of shopkeepers, and a nation of cent.; for all the world must go to the races that shopkeepers is unfit to rule half the globe. The can find horses to carry them. storm is not yet arisen ; the vessel sails on ma- Our next truly national sport is hunting--a jestically, with its sails filled and its motion still sport so peculiar to the English, that there is no directed by the impulse of former times; but the corresponding term in any other language. The breakers are distinctly visible a-head, and its expense, however, attending hunting, limits it in beams begin to yawn with the progress of inter- a great measure to the higher classes. But so nal corruption. And tracing back these multi- fascinating is it, that there is many and many an farious appearances of evil to their remote causes, English gentleman who hunts every day in the they will be found all to be distinctly referable season that is neither a frost nor a Sunday; or to one common source: the undue preponder- if he does stay at home at other times, it is beance of ONE SINGLE URBAN class in the national cause he either cannot find hounds to hunt with representation; and the constitution of govern- or a horse to ride. When a rich shopkeeper's ment upon a basis which compels its impatience, son comes to his fortune, the first thing he does parsimony, and selfish desires to be applied in is to buy a horse and to go out hunting. When every department to an empire far too exten- the apprentices of London enjoy their great holisive and scattered to submit long to so intolera- day of Easter Monday, what do they do? Why ble a dominion.

they go out hunting in Epping Forest--that is, as many of them as can find horses. Nor is this pastime confined entirely to the rougher sex. Many a fair lady joins the field, and some we

have seen ride well across a country; there are On the Breed of Horses from which our caralry constant source of jealousy to their husbands,

several, indeed, that we could name, who are a is mounted.

not, however, in the same way that Spanish

ladies are said to rouse the vengeful feeling of “Give me another horse!"- Richard III.

their spouses, but because they beat their hus

bands across a country. If you want to astonish ENGLAND, in comparison with most other coun- a foreigner, take him into Hyde Park on a fine tries, may be considered as a riding nation. day, and show him the same ladies, whose There is hardly a gentleman in England who beauty and delicacy he admired the night before, does not know how to ride, and hardly any per- scampering about on horseback like wild things. son who can afford it that does not keep a horse. He will probably go home fully persuaded that Perhaps, indeed, a man who keeps a horse to the English ladies, like the men, are born on ride for his own pleasure may be as good a de- horseback. Indeed, if you want to have a horse finition of that undefinable word, gentleman, as well rattled, lend it to a lady to ride in the Park. any other. In France, it is nowise necessary If a chaperon wishes to take her young lady out that a gentleman should know how to ride. In in the morning to hunt for an elder brother, she Holland, nobody rides—they either go upon must needs do it on horseback. We ourselves wheels or by water. A Venetian, perhaps, does remember a case (calculating the length of Rotnot know what a horse is. In England alone, of ten Row at half-a-mile) in which a certain lady all European countries, the national amusements and her daughter chased a young baronet for

VOL. XXIX, SEPTEMBER, 1836.-50

From the United Service Journal.