1800.) + State of Public Affairs in Ofober, 1800. 363 
ing by making Peace, When Jacob heard 
“there was corn-in Egypt,” he did not 
con{ult his prejudices, but fent to purchatle 
it, where it was to be found. Were Peace 
reftored and Commerce open, it is cer- 
tain that the markets throughout Europe 
would find their level. Peace is prover- 
bially united with plenty ; aad we are 
fatished that nothing can fo effectually 
. tend to alleviate the public calamities. If 
the War goes on, the Taxesmufi inevitably 
increafe, at a time when the people are les 
able to bear them. The firft care of our 
Minifters and Legiflators, we tru will 
therefore be to open negociations for Peace ; 
and to this end we firongly recommend to 
every county and confiderable town in the 
kingdom to petition for Peace. We are 
fatisfied that no one ttep can fo effeCiually 
tend to prevent riots, as the people will 
then be convinced, that the higher ranks 
of fociety are in earneft, and are purfuing 
the only meafure which can relieve their 
fufferings. 
We were much concerned that popular 
prejudices, during the late commotions, 
were very unjulily excited againit a highly 
refpectable body of people, the Quakcrs ; 
and it affords us much pleafure that they 
have fince publifhed a Declaration, which 
cannot fail to fatisfy every candid perfon 
of their entire innocence of the charges 
brought againft them : — 
«s The Society of FRIENDS, commonly 
called QuakeERS, having been, for (ome. 
time, calumniated as oppreffors of the la- 
borious and indigent clafies of the commu- 
nity, by combining to monopolize thole 
neceflary articles of life, Corn and Flour, 
think themfelves called upon to vindicate 
their own innocence and integrity, and to 
affert that no fuch combination or mono- 
poly hath exifted, or doth exift, either with 
refpeét to Corn and Flour, or any other 
article whatever ; and that they abhor fuch 
wicked and baneful praétices. 
“* Aggrieved by the unjuft reproach, they 
not only affert their innocence, but put in 
their claim for pofleffing an equal degree 
of fympathy tor the wants of the poor, 
with their fellow citizens of any defcrip- 
tion. 
“6 Tfany man will come forward, and prove 
that the charge of foreftalling, moncpoliz- 
ing, or regrating, which they folemaly de- 
ny to attach to the Society, or any other im- 
proper conduct, whereby the neceflaries of 
life are inhanced in price, ean be fixed on 
any one or more individuals, they are far 
from defiring to fkreen fuch from juftice : 
hut, at all events, they claim for the Society 
in generala place in the good opinion of their 
countrymen, and freedom from the infults, 
which they have long patiently borne- 
Signed on behalf of the faid Society, at a 
Meeting held in London the 6th of the 
roth month, 1800, and by order thereof, 
by JoseryH Fosrer, Clerk.” 
To this honeft declaration we might add, 
that the Quakers, as a body, have no funds 
or fubf{cription, appropriated to trade of 
any kind, nor do matters of trade make 
any part of the proceedings withia their 
meetings. 
At a Common Hall, held OGtober the 3d 
the Lord Mayor, Sheriffs, Aldermen, &c. 
came upon the huftings at one o’closk, and the 
Town Crier read the requifitionsand the pur- 
pofe for which the Livery were affembled, 
namely, ‘That of confidering an humble Ad- 
drefs and Petition to his Majefty, praying that 
- he would be gracioufly pleafed to call his Pare’ 
liament together, in order that they might de~ 
liberate upon fuch means for diminithing the 
prefent high andexorbitant price of Provifionsy 
as to their judgment fhould feem meet. 
The Lord Mayor then came forward and 
obferved, that the Livery were in pofleftion 
of the object of their meeting; and, in order 
that it might be accomplifhed with decorum 
as well as expedition, he firenuoufly exhorted 
them to abfain from all interruptions; and 
to hear the fentiments of every gentleman 
who fhould addrefs them on either fide, with 
patience and impartiality. 
Mr. Thorn then offered himfelf. On a 
guettion like the prefent, he faid, that no- 
thing was more proper than that they fhould 
entirely diveftit of all political ellufions. Nei- 
ther himfelf nor many of thofe who heard 
him, perhaps, felt the full preffure of thefe 
calamities 3; they might not be deftitute of 
neceffaries, nor even of comforts, but they 
were not the lefs to feel fympathy for the 
ftarving poor, with whom the metropolis, in 
common with every other part of the king- 
dom abounded. Upon the caufes ef this 
fearcity, every manhad his particular opinion; 
and in that variety fome afcribe it to the 
horror and calamities of the exifting War 
fome to the fpirit and pra€tice of Monopoly == 
fome to the machinations of rich Mealmen—= 
fome to the opulent and overgrown Farmers, 
and others to the increafed circulation of 
Country Bank-paper, which gave Speculators 
a facility of engroffing morse of thefe articles 
than they could otherwife do. But. where- 
ever the caufe was to be found, certain it 
was, that many affecting fituations of dif- 
trefs came within the knowledge of them) 
all, He had had that day put into his hand up- 
wards of one hundred cafes of families with 
eight, nine, nay, fome ten children, with- 
out any poflibility of getting bread for them ta; 
eat, ‘hele cales were independent of innu- 
i merable. 
