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ly with increasing discontent among the people. The state of Massachussets has publicly voted a censure on the measures of administration. Several American ships have been condemned in the French ports. It is probable that the recent events in Europe may add to the unpopularity of the French cause be yond the Atlantic.

MONTHLY COMMERCIAL REPORT.

The gallant resistance made by the Spaniards to the tyrannical yoke of Bonaparte is likely, among other beneficial effects, to have a favourable influence on commerce. The large proportion of French troops required to fight the cause of the Usurper in Spain, diminishes exceedingly the number of men allotted to the interdiction of British commerce. The wishes of the inhabitants of the different countries in which trade with England has been prohibited, are all in favour of an open intercourse, and these wishes are too strong to be repressed after the departure of the coercing power. In truth, as far as regards the Baltic, we have reason to believe that the suspension has never been rigorously enforced. British ships have often entered hostile ports under the American flag, and the last advices from Riga informs us that no less than eighteen sail of shipping are about to take in cargoes for a foreign country, by which it is well known that England is meant.

Our shipments to Spain and Portugal have already commenced, and are likely soon to become extensive. The depression in price of our manufactures, although still great, is considerably alleviated by the favourable prospects opened to us by the state of affairs in Spain. We would be most happy also to indulge the expectation of renewed intercourse with the United States. After a long interval of silence from France on this head, it appears that Bonaparte has expressed his readiness to give complete freedom to the American trade on the continent, provided England rescind her Orders of Council. He offers not only to revoke the Milan decree, which he issued in consequence of these Orders, but the Berlin decree which preceded them, and which was represented to have caused them. It is now for our Government to consider how they are to act. If the real motive of the Orders in Council was to force France to act with justice towards the Americans, that object is attained, and we ought to measure back our steps; but if our motive was to distress France, by depriving her of all direct intercourse with America, it is likely that the same motive may prompt the continuance of the measure. The vigour which it discovered made it popular for some time, but the evils which it has caused by the obstruction of all American traffic, have of late become so serious as to alter considerably the public feeling with regard to it. Now the real history of these hostile decrees on both sides is still in a great degree unknown to our Countrymen. We shall, therefore, briefly state their origin and nature. In November, 1806, when Bonaparte's mind, always presumptuous, was elated beyond measure with the conquest of Prussia, he revenged himself for the affront we had put upon him by the recall of Lord Lauderdale, by issuing the well-known Berlin decree, or, as he termed it in his jargon, the "Blockade of the British Isles." This decree professed to declare all neutrals trading to and from Great Britain lawful prizes if taken by French privateers; but it soon appeared that this was an empty boast in regard to the Americans, the principal neutrals, for a letter from the French Minister of Marine, Decrès, to the American ambassadors at Paris, declared that this decree was not applicable to American ships. Accordingly the premium of insurance remained pretty much the same, and trade went on nearly as usual. Lord Grenville thought it necessary to retort the affront upon France by depriving her of the accommodation of neutrals in her coasting trade; and here the matter ended for the

time. Soon after the change of ministry, however, it was determined to abridge the privileges of those neutrals which were considered to be Dutch property, namely, the flags of Papenburgh, Mecklenburg, Oldenburg, and Kniphausen, An Order of Council was issued, purporting, that after the 2d October, 1807, these vessels should not be permitted to trade otherwise than to and from Great Britain. They were thus excluded from trading between Germany and France; and our irascible antagonist, stung at this affront, and intoxicated with his successes over Russia, now ordered the actual execution of his Berlin decree, namely, that no ships coming from England should be admitted. Scarcely was this command issued when the British Orders of Council appeared, and these were as promptly followed by Bonaparte's Milan decree, which, to adopt again his own jargon, denationatized and subjected to capture whatever ships should comply with our injunctions. Next followed the American embargo.on the 22d of December, since which nothing of public notoriety has occurred, until the arrival of an American gentleman from Paris, a fortnight ago, with the intelligence that Bonaparte was ready to permit the free trade of the Ame ricans, if we would do the same. Such is the present state of the case; and there can be little doubt, that the resolute opposition of the Spaniards, among other good consequences, has made him lower his tone towards America.

The Committee appointed to enquire into the best mode of relieving the distresses of the West India Planters, have made in all four reports. The first of these related to the use of sugar in the distilleries, and has been abundantly discussed; the second regards the expediency of allowing the planters to barter sugar with the Americans, to the extent of the stores which the Americans bring to them. This freedom existed formerly to a limited extent, but the act of July, 1806, took it completely away. It is contended by Dr. Smith and other political economists, not only that our colonies would have prospered much more, but that Great Britain would have gained much more by their intercourse, had no monopoly ever existed, and had their trade from the beginning been open to all the world. Many among us have been so long accus tomed to connect the idea of great profit with monopoly, as to consider the terms almost synonimous; but a very different effect will be produced on the mind of him who studies the principles of the "Wealth of Nations," and applies them to the present condition of our East and West India trade. Were the price of sugar high, and were our demand equal, or nearly equal, to our supply, it might be matter of doubt to admit of any relaxation of the monopoly; but the policy of such a measure can scarcely be questioned at present, when the market is glutted. A diminution of the quantity is exactly the object for which we contend. Plantation stores are annually brought from America to the value of about twenty-five or thirty thousand hogsheads of sugar, for which, under our present system, the planter must generally pay in bills, which amounts to the same thing as paying in money. The prayer of the second report of the West India Committee is, that the planters should be allowed to make their payments in sugar.

Another report from the same Committee urges the importance of allowing the refining of sugar to take place in the West Indies. At present it is carried on exclusively in Great Britain, the import of refined sugar being loaded with very heavy duties. In the French sugar colonies, on the contrary, complete freedom has always been given to refine sugar; the consequence of which has been, that these colonies have prospered as much without the aid of capital from the mother country as the British islands, with all the advantage of that capital. The last report recommends the adoption of measures for the use of rum in preference to French brandy, and for the introduction of molasses for fattening cattle in Great Britain. All these reports are of importance. The resolutions which the Legislature may be induced to adopt in regard to them, will affect not only the colonies, but the empire at large; and we therefore propose to discuss them at length on a future occasion.

Last month the usual issue of dividends took place to the extent of about six millions, and the money market was in consequence pretty well supplied.

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The Average Prices of Navigable Canal Shares, Dock Stock, Fire Office Shares, &c. in JULY 1808; at the Office of Mr. Scott, 28, New Bridge-street, London. Grand Junction, 1201. ex. dividend of 21. per share for the last half year.Ellesmere, 531. to 541.-Kennet and Acon new shares, 41. 10s. premium.-Ashby de la Zouch, 221.-Chelmer, 571.-West India Dock Stock, 1521. per cent. ex. div. of 51. half-yearly.-London Dock Stock, 1151. per cent. ex. div. of 21. 15s. ditto.-Globe Insurance, 1161. per cent. ex. div. 31. ditto.-East London Water Works, 481. per cent. premium.-West Middlesex ditto, 21. to 101. per cent. premium.

AGRICULTURAL REPORT FOR JULY, 1808.

Harvest has for some time commenced with rye, pease, and oats, and with them has nearly finished in the most forward districts. Other grain will speedily follow, the present season promising an early harvest.

From the long continued drought, notwithstanding periodical flying showers of late, the crop of wheat only can be expected large, and that, with the benefit of a favourable harvest, will in all probability be extraordinary. A considerable quantity of smutted corn may yet be expected, from the nature of the season. Oats, barley, beans, and pease must not be expected to rise beyond middling crops. The same of seeds in general. Potatoes and hops promise well. The winter barley sown in Sussex and some few other places has stood the drought well, and is likely to be a good crop. The thousand-headed cabbage has grown luxuriantly, notwithstanding the want of rain.

Turnips, which were going off apace, will be revived by the rains, now generally approaching. It is doubtful whether the rains have come in time for any second crops of hay. In some parts harvest labourers are very scarce.

The quantity of live stock seems somewhat reduced in the country, and the keep has been very short. Small pigs, as usual, in plenty, but very few large good stores.

Smithfield. Beef, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 6d. Mutton, 4s. 6d. to 5s. 4d. Lamb, 4s. to 7s. Veal, 5s. to 7s. Pork, 5s. to 6s. 8d. Bacon, 6s. 8d. Irish do. 5s, to 5s. 6d. Fat and Skins rather advanced.

FROM ANOTHER CORRESPONDENT.

The crops of grain and pulse of every kind appear strong and abundant; the wheat well headed, and the spring corn equally full, with a good bulk of straw; on warm soils in condition nearly ready for harvesting, particularly barley and oats. Some rye have already been cut.

Harvest men offer themselves in sufficient numbers, but demand great wages,

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The fallows for wheat on strong lands, the season has been favourable to for cleaning and making a good tilth for sowing in- the autumn. The drought we have recently experienced has much-injured the crops of young turnips, as they have suffered much from the ravages of the fly, and in some situations a large breadth of land has been sown a second time: however, it is now to be hoped the rains we have recently had will save the crops and renew the verdure on the meadows and pastures, which have been parched up by the late hot dry weather. The short bite in the pastures and artificial grasses, with the doubtful appearance of the new-sown turnip crops, have occasioned a considerable reduction in the prices of lean stock, offered in immense droves at the large old Midsummer fairs, where cart colts and horses were the only stock which sold readily and well, being much in request.

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THE ATHENEUM.

No. 21. SEPTEMBER 1st, 1808.

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GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE.

REMARKS ON HISTORICAL RELATIONS OF POISONINGS.

To the Editor of the Athenæum.

Sir, EVERY one who is conversant with history must recollect numerous instances in which the death of eminent persons has been attributed to poison. In some periods, particularly, this notion has been so prevalent, that scarcely one is to be met with in a whole line of sovereigns who has been supposed to have died from the consequences of mere natural disease. Besides this vague supposition, several of the more noted cases of poisoning have been admitted into the number of unquestioned historical facts, although attended with circumstances which a little reflection would show to be highly improbable. I shall not here enquire whether the propensity to this belief be owing to a natural maliguity in mankind, a love of wonder and mystery, or any other innate principle; it is sufficient that it is one of the sources of erroneous opinion, to induce a lover of truth to submit it to impartial discussion.

It appears to me, that in judging of this matter certain rules or canons may be laid down, which might abridge the process of enquiry in each particular case, or even supersede such an examination as, from the distance of time, and want of authentic testimony, cannot now be satisfactorily instituted. The first of these that I shall propose is the following: Great crimes are to be regarded as among the rarer occurrences of human life; whenever, therefore, an event can with probability be accounted for without their aid, it is unphilosophical to suppose their existence.

I know not how far this proposition will be generally allowed; but for my own part, being convinced that there is more good, both moral and physical, than evil in the world, and that even in bad characters crimes abhorrent to human nature are not committed without a degree of repugnance, I cannot give an easy credit to such an impuVOL. IV.

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