14 
fact, are, either that the means of sub- 
sistence in the mercantile and manu- 
facturing parts of the population are 
very difficult to procure, or that dissi- 
pation has attained. a demoralizing 
and fatal ascendaney which cannot be 
too strongly reprobated and exposed, 
or that they-are both united to pro- 
duce one general scene of national 
degradation and misery. The fluctua- 
tions in the distresses and comforts of 
the poor are now, and have for some 
time been, considerably in their fa- 
vour ; but look to Ireland for that per- 
manent misery that must inevitably 
follow our artificial and preposterous 
arrangements. From the report of the 
select committee, ordered July 16, 
1823, we learn, that the districts in 
which the distress was found most 
urgent, were equal in extent to half 
the superficial extent of all Ireland, 
and that considerably more than one 
half of the entire population of these 
districts depended upon charity for 
their support. Among other curious 
and extraordinary discoveries by the 
commissioners, they found that the 
population could be made to subsist 
upon “something less than one penny 
per head per day ;” and that even this 
inhuman allowance could not be pro- 
eured by the sufferers themselves, but 
must be supplied by English bounty! 
though potatoes were then selling, in 
the county of Cork, on the testimony of 
Sir James Anderson, at the rate of 
seven pounds for one halfpenny- In 
many districts labour was eagerly 
offered for two-pence a-day from a 
population well worthy of a better 
fate. Ardent, submissive, and grate- 
ful for the smallest attentions of their 
benefactors, but driven to desperation 
from the absolute want of the neces- 
saries of life. All the evidence bear- 
ing ample and willing testimony to the 
good disposition of the people, all pre- 
ferring the wages of labour to chari- 
table dependance. 
How is it possible the public should 
remain satisfied, and express no de- 
testation of the unfeeling monopoly of 
the bounties of nature, that first creates 
the distress, and then insults the help- 
less sufferers? With by far the rich- 
est church-establishment in the world, 
the most inflexible and unaccommo- 
dating in. its demands, and the most 
unjust because of its partialities; this 
is ‘contrasted with by far the greatest 
portion of public misery that despotism 
and cruelty can any where else exhi- 
Birmingham Musical Festival. 
[Aug. 1, 
bit.. And yet ours is a land of eiviliza- 
tion and christianity,—of compliment- 
ary adulation,—of enlightened days 
and happy prospects,—of missionary 
zeal and heart-throbbing anxiety for 
the everlasting welfare of the untu- 
tored pagans. Millions of Bibles are 
scattered in every portion of the habi- 
table globe, which, if read at home, 
would teach some precepts which have 
never flashed upon the conviction of 
their ardent circulators, who continue 
to revel in all the luxurious refine- 
ments of modern haughtiness and in- 
sensibility.—“ Sell all that thou hast, 
and give to the poor;” ‘*‘ Whatsoever 
ye would that men should do unto 
you, do ye even so unto them;” 
** How hardly shall a rich man enter 
into the kingdom of heaven.” These 
commands or admonitions, however 
incredible it may appear, are really to 
be found in that book, which, though it . 
may be thrust upon the consciences of 
the poor, has so little influence upon 
those who are so much its pretended 
advocates and admirers. 
Will it.be said that these things are 
entirely out of our reach, and that no 
personal sacrifices we, as individuals, 
could make, could be rendered availa- 
ble towards removing the cause of the 
distress; and that, therefore, it is 
visionary and absurd to expect from 
human nature, what humanity itself 
will not call upon us to perform? But 
is no distress or folly to rouse our 
feelings but what comes immediately 
home to ourselves? Is no considera- 
tion to be given when tke gangrene 
has already fixed itself in one of our 
own extremities; or shall the individual 
continue his fantastic vagaries because 
a mortification has only threatened to 
seize upon his frame? Is it possible 
we can ayoid the contagion,—or is no 
sympathy due to our political kindred? 
If, indeed, all our time and all our 
efforts are to be spent in frivolous or 
unproductive. amusements, then, cer- 
tainly, we can have none to spare for 
duty ; and, after witnessing with indif- 
ference the attacks of calamity and 
oppression upon our distant brethren, 
we must eventually submit to the same 
inflictions ourselves. 
As one lamentable proof of the inor- 
dinate and selfish encroachments of 
wealth and authority over the comforts 
of the great mass of the community, 
may be adduced the glaring fact, that, 
while dissipation and extravagance in 
the higher classes are sporting their 
mad 
