During the autumn of this year a turbulent spirit displayed itself among the working classes in the manufacturing districts. Meetings were held in various quarters, and demagogues addressed the assembled multitudes in the most inflammatory language. The two-fold cause of this disaffection was the poor-laws and the price of bread; and as a remedy for these evils the people were taught to ask for universal suffrage. A favourite practice with the parties to these transactions was to assemble by torch-light in the open air—a practice which gave a mystery to the meetings well calculated to strike the imagination of the vulgar, and which gave those whose employment did not admit of their being present in the daytime, an opportunity of attending them. The speeches delivered at these meetings have been well characterized as “furious nonsense;” but at the same time they were calculated to work mischief in the community. Happily, however, the Whigs were in office, and for their own interest’s sake they restrained these ebullitions. Had there been a Conservative government, possibly the danger might have been greater.
PROPOSED REDUCTION OF THE RATES OF POSTAGE.
At this time the question of an alteration in the rates of postage was beginning to occupy attention. A proposal was submitted to the country by Mr. Rowland Hill, for substituting a uniform rate of one penny upon every half-ounce, without any reference to distance. This scheme was loudly applauded by all classes of society; and the subject was referred to a committee of the house of commons. The report of this committee was, that the high rates of postage then in existence were extremely injurious to the community, interfering with moral and social improvement; restricting commercial enterprise; impairing general national prosperity; restraining the progress of art and science; circumscribing the operations of religious societies, and acting as a grievous tax upon the poor. The report further stated that the illicit conveyance of letters prevailed to a great extent, and was on the increase; that the law was impotent to arrest the practice; and that the only mode of effectually suppressing it would be to reduce the charges to the standard of the contraband carrier. The report recommended that, prior to the establishment of an uniform rate of one penny, a similar rate of twopence per half-ounce on inland general-post letters should be adopted at the rate of one penny with every additional half-ounce, with certain exceptions. It further suggested that as soon as the revenue would bear a large temporary reduction, it would be expedient to subject all inland letters to a penny postage the half-ounce, increasing at the rate of one penny with every additional half-ounce. It advised also that payment of postage should be required in advance; and for the facilitation of this plan, recommended the adoption of stamped covers, which should have the effect of franking the letters enclosed. The use of these stamps was to be made compulsory as soon as justified by experience. At this time, the report added, it was calculated the number of letters, &c., passing through the post-offices of the United Kingdom were from 75,000,000 to 80,000,000 annually; of which about 5,700,000 were general-post letters. The number of franks was about 7,000,000; and of newspapers, 44,000,000.
THE STATE OF IRELAND.
As usual, Mr. O’Connell devoted his time during the parliamentary recess to “agitation.” A series of manifestoes issued from his retreat at Derrynane Abbey, all well calculated to stir up the evil passions of human nature. Nor were these missiles the only instruments of his agitation. On the very day of his arrival in Dublin, after parliament was prorogued, he convened a meeting of his constituents for the morrow, in order to take into consideration “ulterior measures, to procure from the British legislature ‘full justice for Ireland,’ or to provide for the contingency of a perseverance in the refusal of that legislature to right the people of Ireland.” Accordingly, a large concourse of people assembled at the Corn-exchange, and were addressed by the demagogue in that braggart style which he well knew would win its way to their feelings. In his speech Mr. O’Connell intimated his intention of forming a new association, the exertions of which were to be directed to obtain for Ireland a greater share in the representation of the United Kingdom. He developed his plan for accomplishing this design in a series of letters to the people. In these letters he founded his allegation, that Ireland had not her fair proportion of members of the house of commons, on this data. By the last census it appeared that the population of England and Wales was 13,899,675; of Scotland, 2,365,930; and of Ireland, 7,943,940. Scotland, he said, had fifty-three representatives, while Ireland had only one hundred and five; so that the Scotch had more than half the number of representatives possessed by the Irish; whereas, in order to be on an equality, the latter ought to have one hundred and fifty-nine. In order to be on an equality with the English, he said, they ought to have one hundred and sixty-six; but Mr. O’Connell said that he would be satisfied with one hundred and fifty. In order to obtain that number he proposed the organization of an association sufficiently numerous to speak the sentiments of all Ireland. For this purpose, he said, the “Precursor Society” had been established, and was now in progress of enrolment. Mr. T. M. Ray was secretary to the “Precursor Society,” and to become a member it was necessary to pay him one shilling at the enrolment. All the population might have the privilege of enrolment—men, women, and children—for the more shillings that were paid, the better for the pockets of the agitators. The operations of the society was to be conducted by local boards, corresponding with that over which Mr. Ray presided at the Corn-exchange Rooms, Dublin. The duty of the “Precursor Society,” in every parish, was to procure petitions to parliament for “justice to Ireland;” for a corporate reform; for an amendment of the law of election, and extension of the suffrage, and an increase of representatives. The precursors were also instructed to furnish accurate details of the state of the franchise in every parish, and to keep up and extend the registry. This was what Mr. O’Connell designated in one of his letters as “one great experiment more to obtain justice;” and if this failed, then he would have repeal.
THE AFFAIRS OF CANADA.
It has been seen in the parliamentary debates that the affairs of Canada were in a very unsettled state; it is now necessary, however, to give a brief account of the transactions which had taken place in that province.