facturing profit is reduced below the living point, as we have seen to be done by the Corn Law,-by what magic is it that the profits of agricultural capital are to be sustained? If the one has been attenuated to nothing, by causes not directly affecting the other, must they not be equalized almost immediately by the activity of competition? If manufacturing capital were at any time unfavourably situated, it would rush inevitably to agricultural employments; and the impulse would assuredly continue until all were at the bottom of the same truckle bed. The agriculturist, therefore, if he views matters aright, will perceive the utter impossibility of his oppressing the manufacturer, and passing himself unscathed. And we now ask him, in the third place, whether he HAS passed unscathed, or if our assertion is not emphatically and lamentably corroborated by his history during the last sixteen years? Never, we dare to say, during the existence of British agriculture in its modern state, has so much capital been, lost, so many bankruptcies forced on, and so much misery! The farmer, we are aware, can reply with a glib talk about prices, and about the effect of the cornduty repeal upon prices; but we remind him that the question is not about prices-the question is about PROSPERITY. There is some fatal deception connected with this word, prices, which has completely turned the poor man's brain. Instead of thinking, as other people do, how to get rich, he only thinks how to get "high prices ;" and he will insist upon "high prices" and fight for "high prices," although it is clear that they not only starve his neighbours but also himself. What signify small profits, if he has but "high prices?" What signify a diminishing capital, a sinking country, a family unemployed and unprovided for,-what matters even a coming bankruptcy, if it but comes by means of "high prices ?” The farmer cannot assert that we mistake the effects of his darling law ; or if he has forgotten them, perhaps his banker will refresh his memory. And it were folly to allege that these disasters have not followed from high prices, but because of separate though concomitant causes; as we can thoroughly demonstrate that they result from their direct and pestiferons agency. The truth is, that the farmer has hitherto been used by that master-drainer, the landlord, to assist him in draining upon a large scale; but, O! vile ingratitude! the landlord has drained the farmer too. The manufacturers saw the thing long ago, and would have clapt a stopper upon the process; but the leal farmer sprung up with his yeomanry accoutrements, and he has got well drained himself for his pains. It is a curious view which this gives of our society, alike in regard of its morals and its intelligence! There has been said to exist an honour among thieves: but we suspect it is only if they be equally skilful; and if otherwise, that, as in the present case, the most skilful will contrive to "grab” all the spoil. It is at any rate clear, that there falls no praise of skill to the farmer; as he fights the battle and loses all, knocks other complainants stoutly on the head, and straight gets ruined himself. Who can overlook that the instant a high price endures for the shortest period, it all goes into the landlord's purse, its destination being clenched by the rise of rent? Let the farmer only examine the illustration near the commencement of this paper, and the actual fact will immediately become apparent to him. When corn is at fifty shillings, or when the soil is cultivated, the landlord gets one hundred and thirty quarters out of a total produce of three hundred and thirty, being considerably upwards of a third of the whole, upwards of three-eighths. When corn again has fallen to forty shillings, and the soil has been abandoned, the

landlord gets ninety quarters out of two hundred and ninety, or not onethird-only about two-sevenths. The difference of the two cases is this; that at the lower price, th producing classes receive about onetwelfth more of the produce than at the higher price; and it may be stated as a general fact, that the lower the permanent price, the greater will be the proportion of the total produce which falls to the producing agriculturists. We may have spoken of the farmer's prejudices in this matter with apparent lightness, but assuredly they are cause of our deep grief. Our confidence, however, has never been shaken by temporary disappointment; as we perceive that he acts in ignorance, and ignorance endures not for ever. Nor is there one good reason on the farmer's part, that the remedial measure should be delayed; as in every succeeding year the personal objections remain exactly as they were. In every year new leases are entered on, upon the ground of existing prices; so that if one man might be freed by delay, another would be bound. We yet expect the performance of a high duty at the hands of the producing agriculturist. We expect that the time is near, of his making a stand with us on behalf of the country, on behalf of his own family, on behalf of common honesty. Our aid to him will not then be wanting; and we may recommend him even now, to hug no longer in a sort of wilfully blind despair what he knows or suspects to be delusions; but to direct his thoughts to the planning of some means by which he and his capital may be saved from encountering serious difficulties during the period of transition. This is the practical point; and assuredly he does ill to substitute for it in his contemplations, the fruitless and sacrilegious aim to hold up a system which, while it has ground the trading part of the community to dust, has also brought the direst evil upon himself! (4) 2. Modern Cincinnati-all hail! Heroes of Doncaster, Melton, and Crockford's-come ye now upon the scene and let us submit you to a gentle questioning!-The point we have made out against the landlords is this: That they may gain, they make every one else suffer; they destroy the prosperity of the country, they prohibit our advance. These consequences of the Corn Law, are not in any way to be denied ; and the question now to be discussed is, whether it is consistent with the ordinances of nature, that privileged wholesale robbers should in reality flourish ?

When the wretched peasantry in the southern counties of England were waging war against the wealth of every other class, in the vain hope to secure, in this manner, their own permanent prosperity, sundry of them were hanged because of holding to so erroneous a system of social philosophy; and, to follow up the effect of the salutary argument, various orthodox and impressive tractates and discourses were writ, in detection of all mistakes in the Swing theory of morals. There were two points, as we remember, at that time lengthily expatiated on; and we now take them as the text of what we have to say to the landlords; -the points being, First, That Swing obstructed, instead of augmenting, the true means of his relief; and, secondly, that what he did would infallibly make him worse than he was before. The absolute truth of these propositions casts a beautiful light upon the economy of Providence-an economy not to be controlled by the decrees even of our landlords! The peasant Swing destroyed machinery that he might have more work ; -the proprietor Swing destroys capital, that he may have more rent. Vain hopes both! What, we would demand, has been the cause of the increasing real wealth of our landlords? what, the natural cause of the

increase of rents? It is this-a cause increasing in efficiency with the increasing prosperity of the country, viz:-The application of additional capital to good soils, whereby a greatly increased produce is obtained, without any addition to price. (5.) Such has been the only healthful progress of agriculture hitherto, and that progress is effectually stopped by the Corn Law. Like any other application of capital, this one is now barren to the producer ;-it is only one other situation in which the devoted capitalist may be drained. The amount of capital employed in farming has notoriously been decreasing for years, and with it the natural sources of rent are drying up. We have singular documents at hand, by which we could illustrate this subject, had we space; but we cannot now omit recording our conviction, that, under a natural and free state, the amount of healthful rental would, by this time, have been higher than the highest amount ever attained by means of these felonious laws. The landlord has spread death all around him; and the plague steaming from the putrefaction, has entered the halls of his own manor-house. And mark how the avenger works! Not only has the Corn Law ob structed the growth of his real and stable wealth, but, by an instrument already alluded to, it is tearing away from him even his ill-gotten gains. That agent is the POOR LAW. Go to England, if you would see how effectually it avenges us! The starving peasant feeds at the expense of the very man who heartlessly encompassed his starvation; and, in its turn, we hear the landlord's voice lamenting loudly over the dissolution of his fortunes. For want of the opportunity of employing capital profitably in commerce, his children, like noisy beggars, crowd the official doors of Downing Street, and he is often forced himself to hide his poverty in a foreign land.

But do we rest our argument for the abolition of the Corn Laws on the fact, that they have brought loss to the proprietors? Assuredly not. Although you could shew gains, gentlemen! you must yet be HONEST:-you must be HONEST! What sort of honesty Corn-Law honesty is, we leave the foregoing paper to determine; and we beg to intimate, in parting, that it is no argument in your favour, although you should cry out that you will be "ruined." The answer we give to the cry, is one your servants have often given to the cry of the poor: it is a scientific answer contained in a certain volume by MR. MALTHUS. It indeed astonishes us that this reply has never until now been laid before you; and we think it a grievous wrong towards you, that the philosophic discoveries of this economist have hitherto been preserved for the sole use of the "unwashed." When the "unwashed" cry out, they are Malthussed without mercy; but to you these high consolations are now, for the first time, addressed. The fact is, that if you will be ruined by being forbidden to encroach on your neighbour's property, it is a clear evidence, as Dr. Chalmers will inform you, that you have "multiplied too rapidly." You must marry later, breed less, and oftener enjoy the blessings of celibacy. This is the answer of Mr. Malthus to your cry; and seeing the earnestness with which you recommend its application to the "rabble," we hope you will appreciate, in your own persons, the mighty consolation of being reminded, that it is just by systematic "ruinings" that nature represses "population" within the barriers which she has set!

We bid our readers, for a short time, adieu! Already have we overpassed our usual limits; but the momentous bearings, and universal interest of the subject, may be pled as an excuse.

NOTES TO ARTICLE ON THE CORN LAWS.

(1.) It may be argued against us, that as it is only a "transference," the national wealth is not hurt. There is, it will be observed, a sinall absolute loss; but the almost immeasurable national evil or loss arises from the impoverishment of the producing classes occasioned by this detestable law.

(2.) Are we not arguing in contradictions? If the operative receives the corn, how can the capitalist be benefited? Our answer is, that the sum would be divided; and each class's share of the division, coupled with the certainty of obtaining food at the same, or even a lower price for an indefinite period, would immediately relieve BOTH of the load now pressing them to the earth. If due attention is paid to the statement in our text, it will be seen how very preposterous, if not fatal, it always must be, to consider the interests of capitalists and labourers as disparate.

(3.) A remark of Dr. Southwood Smith's strikes us as so apposite to the train of thought in our text that we are constrained to quote it :

"Our Creator has planted happiness deeply in the very constitution of our nature, from its lowest to its highest function. It is in our power to increase it, each for himself, and for others to an illimitable extent. Of this blessed privilege we have not availed ourselves. The production of pain, the destruction of life, have been profoundly studied as a science, and universally practised as an art. The science and the art of happiness is yet in a state of infancy; which would be incredible were it not deeply felt, at once, in the misery and the brevity of human life. But light is beginning to break in upon mens' minds. Let each, according to his capacity, receive and extend it."

(4.) The only practical difficulty in the way of the farmer's assenting to the entire and immediate repeal, excepting his engagements to the landlord, is the fact of capital being sunk by him in cultivation of the soils which the repeal would compel to be abandoned. We do not write this note for the purpose of shewing how to get over that difficulty; as it in the meantime suffices if the farmer observes that it is one not to be got over or lessened by delay; and we take it for granted that it is not a difficulty which he would be disposed to set off against his permanent prosperity, the prosperity of his family and his country. But we write this note to protest against the difficulty being made greater than it now is; and to warn the public who take an interest in such questions, that there is an immediate and pressing danger of this being done. If Tithes are commuted, without an accompanying modification of the Corn Law, what has long acted as a hindrance to the cultivation of poor soils on Tithed estates will be done away; and the very soils which must afterwards be abandoned when the Corn Law is abolished, will just now be taken up. This operation will occur over the full half of Great Britain; so that, if we do not beware, we shall plunge ourselves into most serious difficulties, for the sake of what, in such a case, we should be tempted to denominate the ideal part of our Church Reform. We do not expect a satisfactory settlement of the Tithe question; and should perhaps be content, if it did not threaten us with a positive evil. What is about to happen, may be made use of, on some future day, to show how little progress political economy has yet made in Downing Street.

(5) It would have exceedingly delighted us to have made this truth our text, and probably we shall do so at no distant day. How valuable, as citizens, the landlords might be under a free state, with their interests so closely bound up with the prosperity alike of capitalists and labourers, we shall then be proud to unfold. Had they been in this condition now, where should we find opponents to the abolition of Entail laws, Hypothec laws, and the whole host of absurdities that retard the progress of agriculture? But the good day is coming, and then they shall have our right hand. In the foregoing paper we have been compelled to speak of them only as unprincipled encroachers on other men's rights-AS FOES OF THE STATE.

[Their position is such as we have represented: but we are very far from insinuating, that those landlords who enacted the Corn Laws understood, to any thing like its full extent, the evil consequence of their enactment. Of the landlords of the present day, probably the far greater number are little aware of the mischief of the same Laws. Many of them, we trust, will follow the noble example of Lord Milton; and, forgetting their own interest in the perpetuance of the most oppressive law in our statute book, magnanimously second our efforts for its abolition. E. T. M.]

PAUDRIG DHUV.

"Paudhrig Dhuv? Hang him, he's the greatest liar in the world; you don't know what to believe from him."

"No matter: this is a good day for the Gap, and his flies are the best in the world for that place; so come along, William," (said I to William Moriarty, not the brightest of country squires,) "even though Truth were to choke herself with vexation at Paddy's stories. But really I don't think that he is guilty of any—”

"Why, his wife is as great a liar as himself. I tell you, he tells lies as fast as a horse can trot, and she swears to every one of them."

"Oh! ungallant man, to talk thus of the soul of love and honour. But en avant! as Napoleon used to say in answer to every observation at Waterloo." Far different from William's is my notion of Paddy. A mere fisherman-he is, I think, the man of absolutely the most fertile invention I ever met. Had he been born in the east, he would have excelled that first of story-tellers, Sinbad the Sailor. Had he received an education he would have gladdened the heart of Colburn and Bentley, and lightened the mighty shelves of New Burlington and Marlborough Streets. Drury Lane might have dispensed with Moncrief, even though he requires but twenty-four hours notice for a tragedy or a farce; and Covent Garden might then have boasted of a genuine Dark Diamond. Tell any extraordinary story to Paddy, he looks in your face, and immediately outdoes it by another. Get the most extravagant fiction you can, put it on a white horse;' then let Paddy get a glimpse of it, and 'tis distanced in a moment. His face is square, hard, and quite matterof-fact his voice firm and distinct, with a peculiar tone of frankness. In telling a story he never changes a muscle, never makes a pause, nor shows the slightest doubt of your full unhesitating reliance on his veracity. The story proceeds without delay, in one clear rapid current. There is no admiration of himself, no lurking wonder at his genius:— his sole business is to tell you a fact that occurred to himself, and which bears out in some degree what you have mentioned. This he does in the most unpretending manner, without a consciousness that there is anything unusual in the transaction he relates. One feature of his stories will be lost, I fear, in the few short specimens given here of them, -the train of minute circumstances that gather round the narrative as it proceeds, and give it an air of great naturalness. He details incidentally such a number of trifling things, but all so appropriate to the scene, the time, and the persons; and looks all the while in your face with such an air of truth and quiet earnestness, that you are led insensibly to the extravagance for which these were intended to prepare you; and it is only when you have looked down its extreme absurdity, that Paddy's real character begins to be perceived. His stories, therefore, can scarcely be told with one-tenth of the effect they have from his own mouth. Moreover, if the reader could be acquainted with the place and the persons, he would yet want the solemn asseverations of Paddy's wife, Moll, to the perfect truth of the story. In more serious matters her fidelity to Paddy was questionable enough; but for each and every one of his stories she pledges herself body and soul. If he has not been a man of strict veracity, his wife's salvation is in a perilous way; for I never heard him tell a story which Moll did not swear was one entire and perfect chrysolite.'