sweetness in the food to which exertion has given an appetite.*

A government stands towards a people in the relation of a parent to his family, and if it neglect to provide the means of subsistence, or put obstacles in the way of the people procuring their food, that government takes upon itself a fearful responsibility.

According to the law of God and nature, no class or order of men, forming a government, have a right to tax the food of the rest of the citizens, in order to save their own property from taxation.

The proportion of the fruits of the earth demanded by Moses was a land or property tax, and nothing else; or it may be called the rent of the soil, paid to God as the proprietor. It formed the total burden of taxation, for the support of the worship of God, and for the general expenses of the government of the country.

Such is the stupifying effect of the avaricious disposition on legislators, that the laws of many countries excite, among impartial investigators, contempt for their authors. But the varied expressions, which the smiles of pity and derision give to the beholder, is soon overcast by the gloom which the fiendish spirit of those laws throws around.

The aristocratic sect of political economists, to whom reference has been made, turn round to millions of the

* In unison with the songs and warblings of birds, one of the most pleasing sounds in nature is the whistle of the ploughboy, heard in the calm of a summer's morning, thrilling over the field. Even in the neighbourhood of a crowded city, the stonemason, the carpenter, and other mechanics, will be heard singing, and with healthy faces proceeding to their daily labour. There is a compensating principle in nature. What contortions does the face of the philosopher present, when some circumstance forces a smile! Who ever heard a statesman whistle? Peel would fall into convulsions, were he to attempt to whistle any air more joyous than "Begone, dull Care!"

human race, and tell them that that there is no room for them at nature's feast! But how can they thus impeach the wisdom and beneficence of the Author of nature, with their knowledge of the provision-laws made by dominant parties among the Spaniards, the Dutch, and the English!

The laws made by the aristocratic government of Spain decreed that the olive and the vine should be rooted out and destroyed from the soil of Mexico, and prohibited the cultivation there of every article that might interfere with the consumption of the productions of Spain.*

The colonial regulations established by the monopolizing government of Holland, condemned to destruction all the produce of their Spice Islands, that exceeded the limited quantities assigned for the markets of Europe, held under monopoly. The Dutch Spice Islands have been appropriately called the gardens of the earth, and nature is there most exuberant in her productions; but man interposes his laws, and casts a blight on what he touches.

The sugar laws made by the colonial power in England are in principle precisely similar to the Spanish and Dutch decrees, for they are established to uphold a necessary article of consumption at an extravagant price, in order

To speak candidly, Spain has a long catalogue of national crimes registered against her, and to the philosophic investigator they stand out in colours which reflect on that country a deep shade. Among her other atrocities, she is indirectly responsible for the system of Buccaneering, established in the West India seas early in the seventeenth century. Many of the islands in those seas, which she did not consider worthy of her occupation, were settled by colonists from England, France, and Holland; and in a spirit of spite she proceeded to harass and destroy those colonies. These measures of rigour rendered the settlers desperate, and, under the name of Buccaneers, they commenced a savage retaliation against the Spaniards and their settlements, and ultimately against the natives of other countries. In fine, an atrocious system of piracy sprang out of the retaliation inflicted on the Spaniards for their original wanton cruelties on innocent persons.

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look at futurity with calmness and resolution, and be prepared for great changes. The middle classes of this country will require to put forth their well-established energies, and on the electoral portion of this class depends the safety of the empire. They cannot now halt between two opinions, and they must decide between being made the victims of a social convulsion, or the saviours of their country, by instituting a system of retributive taxation. The question is one merely of time. It is assumed, that the vast accumulation of wealth in the hands of the privileged legislative class, has been made from the partial and severe taxation of the people; and it is proved incontestably, that this heavy and unjust load of taxation presses down in misery the body of the industrious citizens. Therefore, as partial taxation has caused the distress and decadence of the nation-retributive taxation is the only safe and constitutional course to be pursued, for the deliverance from the misery which exists and the danger which threatens.

The statistical statements and facts, adduced in support of the position taken in this branch of the subject, are arranged without strict regard to their connection with each other; but they must stand for themselves, and the inferences and reasonings therefrom be judged accordingly.

A comprehensive view will be first given of the state of the property in Great Britain and Ireland, taken at three different periods, by three writers on the statistical condition of the British empire. These estimates of the resources of this country were severally made by Mr. Colquhoun in 1812-Mr. Lowe in 1822-and Mr. Macqueen in 1832.

In 1812 Mr. Colquhoun estimated, as under, the property in the empire, taken in round numbers :

Cultivated lands, gardens, and orchards - · £1,200,000,000

Tithes belonging to the Laity

80,000,000

75,000,000

50,000,000

400,000,000

Property annually, created in Great Britain and Ireland :

Agricultural.-Grain

:

£73,731,000

89,200,000

29,000,000

2,850,000

5,000,000

2,000,000

Mr. Macqueen estimates the amount of wages annually

paid to

Agricultural and mining labourers, at

Manufacturing and maritime labourers.

Artisans and all other mechanics

Domestic servants

£161,000,000

155,000,000

59,000,000

35,000,000

£410,000,000

Mr. Colquhoun divides the annual income of the nation into £292,000,000 from the productive classes, and £137,000,000 from all other classes.

From these statements, let us proceed to deduce the fiscal and political consequences to the vast bulk of the inhabitants of this country. With respect to the political bearings of the question, we have the majority of numbers in receipt of four-sevenths of the annual income of the nation, absolutely helpless and prostrate under the feet of the dominant party in the country. Their property, their

liberties, and their very existence, lie at the mercy of laws made by a small section of the inhabitants; and here is a fearful illustration of the fact of the political power of an Aristocracy, being founded on the direct control of the subsistence of many millions of active and intelligent men.

It rests with the electoral body in this country to remove this monstrous evil, and to restore to every man in Great Britain and Ireland, the right of giving a simple vote to send a man to the legislature, to protect himself, his wife, and his children, from the effect of partial laws! Can the most timid mind really perceive any danger in imparting such a right? There is none. By imparting this right, it is doing only an act founded on the eternal principles of justice.*

The greater the number of persons interested in any establishment, or joint-stock company, the more solid is its foundation, and consequently