eyes blinded, it shall not be my fault 7. Because the Clergy were paid to that they remain unenlightened and ig- keep the people in ignorance. 8. Because Swiss troops were paid to fire on norant. The financial situation of France is the French people if they would deterrible! After all the bloody and suc-mand their rights and liberties. 9. Becessful wars of Napoleon, he, with all cause expensive and sumptuous estabhis faults, and he had many, left us only lishments for ambassadors were kept a debt of sixty millions of francs per up at Foreign Courts by the French annum. Now the funded debt is two Government to maintain the Holy Allihundred and four millions per annum of ance System. 10. Becanse France was Rentes, and we have very few more saddled with an immense expenditure, souls to pay this vast difference. This by the Holy Alliance, for having imdebt has been increased eight millions of posed upon her against her will an Rentes since the Revolution of July; anti-national and Jesuitical Government. not to obtain our frontiers-not to add 11. Because a large standing army was Belgium to our provinces-not to secure maintained during a time of peace and us allies among the people-not to order, to keep down popular moveeffect the triumph of liberty in Spain, ments in France occasioned by the faults or Portugal, or Italy, or Poland, or Bel- and vices of this anti-national Governgium, or Germany; but this increase ment; and 12th, Because, during the has been occasioned by the anti-national whole period of the Restoration, spies, and detestable juste milieu system, which mistresses, discharged ministers, courdesires, above all things, to maintain tiers, and foreigners (whom I shall the treaties of the Holy Alliance, and name hereafter), were paid pensions by add one more to their number. the Bourbons out of the earnings of Well, then, what is this debt composed the millions: and the French Press, of this increased debt from the period such as the Debats—the Universel—the when Napoleon abdicated, or, if you Quotidienne—the Gazette de Francewill, was driven from his throne-to the the Drapeau Blanc, and a host of others, moment when Charles X. was conducted received regularly annual stipends for to Cherbourg? How came this large, supporting the Bourbons, for siding with this frightful, this oppressive, this killing Villele, and Peyronnet, and all the other increase? 1. Because the debts of the public robbers of France, and for telling Bourbons were paid. 2. Because the the people they ought to feel too happy scoundrels the emigrants were remune- in being governed "by LEGITIMATE rated. 3. Because the PEERS of FRANCE! PRINCES!" yes, gracious heavens! because the Now you know why cur debt inPEERS of FRANCE were paid and pen-creased from sixty millions of rentes to sioned. 4. Because a war was under-two hundred millions of rentes during taken by France against the cause of li- the Restoration!! And now you know berty in Spain! 5. Because the Bour- why the taxes increased-why plan bons and their ministers and agents after plan was resorted to to meet the and courtesans were fed on gold and increased and increasing expenditure— silver, and drank wine at twelve, fifteen, and why he, who cajoled with most and twenty francs the bottle by hundreds address the tax-payers and the rentiers of dozens each day, whilst the tax-(I mean, of course, M. de Villele), was payers worked from four o'clock in the morning until ten at night, to obtain sufficient money to purchase bread and vegetables, and pay the tax-gatherer. 6. Because the Bourbons made an expensive war against the Dey of Algiers, who had been cajoled by France out of money due to him, and was then dethroned, because he demanded payment. most loved and most flattered by the Bourbons, the Peers, the kept-mistresses, the priests, the Jesuits, and the courtiers. At length came the Revolution of July, 1830! The people rejoiced and were glad-not because Charles X. was shoved down, and because Louis-Philippe perched himself upon the stool (as Mr. Cobbett observes); but they in Treasury Bonds and Exchequer Bills, rejoiced, and were glad, because they which have to be paid off out of the expected to have more liberty and pay earnings of the hard-working poor. less taxes; to have a Citizen King or Hereditary President—and because they said, if we have not a Republic by name, we shall, at least, have a cheap and a National Government. Little did the people dream in July, 1830, of making loans to keep up an army which should rest inactive whilst Poland was crushed, whilst Italy was invaded, and whilst the Spanish Constitutionalists were driven from their native land! Little did the people dream, in July 1830, that the question for which they were risking their lives, was to be one merely between "Peter" and "Paul " -or, if you will, between "Charles " and "Louis!" Little did those who made the barricades and fought at them, and drove away the Bourbons, and the Priests, and the Jesuits, and the Courtiers, and the titled Now the population of France is THIRTY-TWO MILLIONS; the expenses of the actual Government are ONE BILLION TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS OF FRANCS PER ANNUM, including the interest on the funded debt; and this sum has to be paid by the population. Of this thirty-two millions, only ONE-FIFTH are taxed directly, since four-fifths are children and persons of tender years, or in circumstances dependent on others, as domestic servants, &c. THUS SIX MILLIONS OF PERSONS IN FRANCE HAVE TO PAY PER ANNUM THE SUM of one bil LION TWO HUNDRED MILLIONS OF FRANCS! This is TWO HUNDRED FRANCS PER ANNUM to be paid by each taxpayer! Of this sum FORTY FRANCS EACH PERSON PER ANNUM, or one FIFTH, consists of the interest on the debt! a of France-debt contracted to ruin France-to imlittle did they believe that the same pose on her an anti-national governBudget would be proposed-more taxes be laid on the millions-an enormous and monstrous Civil List be demanded -and the public money expended in altering the gardens of the Tuileries to make private walks for the Citizen King, and his sons and daughters!! and this at a time when a workman at Lyons gains TEN-PENCE PER DAY TO SUPPORT HIMSELF, HIS WIFE, AND PERHAPS TWO OR THREE INFANT children, unabLE TO WORK ON ACCOUNT OF THEIR TENDER YEARS!!!!! I say, little did those who made the Revolution of July believe or dream that such would be the termination of the events of the "great ment-to maintain it on the throne for fifteen years-to make wars unjust and unnecessary to support priests, mistresses, Jesuits, and a bribed and corrupted royalist press; and since the Revolution of 1830, increased, in order to cheat, to cajole France out of the natural results of that very revolution? week!!" Now, then, remember that each taxpayer has to contribute two hundred francs per annum out of his earnings towards the expenses of the Government promised to be "cheap! true! and national!" in July, 1830. But, besides this, the tax-payers have something else to pay! They have now to clothe themselves as NATIONAL GUARDS to maintain themselves so clothed_ and to calculate on a loss of a time, and, therefore, of money, for the hours which, during each month, they are obliged to discharge those duties-to mount guard Since the Revolution of July, 1830, the debt has been still further increased!! NEARLY EIGHT MILLIONS or FRANCS per annum have been added to the former amount, and France is now saddled with a debt, the capital of which attend at reviews-and perform exeramounts to more than FOUR MILLIONS cise. The National Guard service costs OF FRANCS, and the annual amount of at least, in towns, 200 francs per annum interest to TWO HUNDRED AND FOUR-and in villages, at least 100 francs per MILLIONS OF RENTES. Besides this annum. I admit that a considerable funded debt, there is also an annuity portion of this charge falls on the middebt on lives, and a floating debt of dling classes, but it also, in all rural THREE HUNDRED MILLIONS OF CAPITAL communes, falls heavily on the labouring 763 66 people. Besides these taxes and the but where the unfortunate beings are National Guard service, there are local republicans!-the average of each taxtaxes, such as a duties payable for the payer is not twenty francs per annum, entry of wine and victuals into a town, or one-tenth of that in France! Do you which are collected at the " Octroi," in think we do not know and feel this every order to support those local expenses day and every hour? Yes, Mr. Cobbett, "The French Debt will which are not paid by the Government you are right. out of the general budget. For instance," be swept away, and in all human probability it will end in creating a rea commune is obliged to build a church The Government will give so much out" public.” of the general budget, and the commune is obliged to pay the remainder; so that although it is generally said that the budget in France includes all local as well as general expenses, yet, in truth, it does no such thing. Besides this, we have now a new system, introducing to an extent most dangerous-and that is the system of making local loans to meet local wants. Then the commune is to pay this local tax and support the bur-sists of the millions;" yes, these are to den, and thus bills are every week being introduced by the Minister of Finance, to enable this and that commune, and this and that parish, to borrow money for local objects. Loan-making is, of all systems, the most easy for obtaining money, and the very facility with which they are procured are sure to end in our ruin! Well, then, you perceive that each tax-payer, who is not a National Guard, will pay, at all events, 200 francs per annum; in most, or, at least, in a vast many communes, on account of local taxes not supported by the state, an additional 50 francs, making 250 francs per annum. That a tax-payer, who is a National Guard in a town, will have to pay, at least, a total of 450 francs; and one who is a National Guardsman in a commune, from 300 to 350 francs per annum ! This is frightful!!! It is awful!!! It is an account which would make the stoutest heart tremble, and even Baron Rothschild shudder, if he dared to contemplate it! In the canton de Vaud, in Switzerland, where there is a fine climate, a good soil, a national government, wise laws, liberty, civilization, colleges of learning, newspapers, literature, good society, and all the delights of society; but where, alas! alas! there is no public debt, and no monarchical institutions; But how are the tax-payers to support this expenditure? Why, by making new loans! Yes, we are to have new New loans for France! and loans ! new loans for Paris! and new loans for the Departments! But how is the interest of these loans to be paid? By the taxes! and who are to pay these taxes? Why the French people, "the working part," as Mr. Cobbett says, "which con pay the present, and all future taxes!! Can they do so, even if disposed? I will answer this question in another letter; but, for the present, I will give you some general data, and then you will judge for yourself. No, no; the millions shall not, will not, must not, cannot, if they would, continue to support this grinding, this ruinous, this overwhelming system of oppression. A workman at Lyons gains 400 francs a year! A superior workman 500 francs, a foreman 700 francs!! What! and out of the 400 is a workman to pay 200 for taxes ?-out of 500 is a workman to pay 250 for taxes?—and out of 700 is a workman to pay 250, and be a National Guardsman? It is impossible. But then, says the Baron Louis, he pays most of his taxes in an indirect manuer, and so he feels it less! What stuff is this! What! does it make any matter to a workman whether he pays six sous instead of four for a bottle of wine or of cider, if he has to pay the difference in direct taxes, if his bottle costs him the lesser sum, and six sous instead of four, if he pays no direct taxes? In either case, he must go without his wine and without his cider. He must go without it, if he pays six sous, because it is too dear; and he must go without it, if it costs four sous, because he has to pay direct taxes. But worse than this! He has to pay his six sous and his direct views-he is no statesman-he is a taxes too-and thus he is ruined. Do respectable merchant, and a good not, then, I pray you, join that silly herd, banker-but he knows just nothing at who cry that the affairs of Lyons are ar- all of the Revolution of July. ranged! that every-thing is terminated, and because 20,000 troops are in one city to keep the workmen from revolt, therefore, that France is satisfied, and her population kept from starving!!! The workmen will be heard-must be heard -cannot but be heard, and, as Mr. Cobbett says, "they will endure only to a "certain point, and when they will en"dure no longer, the whole fabric of the "system, after rocking to and fro for a "while, will come tumbling down on "the heads of its upholders." Your obedient servant, O. P. Q. From the LONDON GAZETTE, NELSON, J., Rolls-building, Chancery-lane, BANKRUPTS. ANDERSON, J. W., Bradford, Yorkshire, oil- merchant. I do not mean to stop here! I mean to show you in subsequent letters that the manufacturing, agricultural, and labouring classes cannot support the amount of taxation which at present grinds them to the dust, and that the French debt will be swept away, and in all human probability it will lead to creating a republic, unless the people be now redressed-unless the Revolution of July be now followed up-unless the people be redressed before they redress themselves and unless France become what she intended to become when she made her FIRST REVOLUTION. I have pointed out to you the FINAN-MARR, J., Worksop, Nottinghams., tanner. CIAL STATE OF FRANCE-I have shown READ, T., Hockliffe, Bedfords., victualler. SHAW, E. D., Delph, Yorks., grocer. you, by unanswerable facts, that WE THORNTON, J. S., Griffin-court, Shepherd's BROUGH, L. H., Neath, Glamorgans., grocer. CORLASS, W., Reediford, Lancashire, cotton- CANNOT GO ON AS WE ARE DOING and that THERE IS A NECESSITY FOR A NEW STATE OF SOCIETY. I shall return to this subject very often, but for the moment let me direct your attention to ofher topics. THE GOVERNMENT 19 MERELY POSTPONING THE EVIL DAY FOR THE STOCK JOBBERS! It has been proposed to abolish the SINKING FUND, then to diminish its amount, and then to put it on another footing. The Government has urged on M. Thiers in the Commission to oppose all this. The Government wishes to postpone the catastrophe to gain time to make more loans-to add to the debt, and diminish the salt tax, just as though France could not see through this system of "robbing Peter to pay Paul." M. Perrier has no large court-road, carpenter. KING, F. B., Prince's-sq., St. George's-in-the KNIGHT, S., and J. Knight, Mold, Flintshire, LUCK, T. P., High-st., Southwark, lacemen. market, May-fair, and Half-moon-st., Piccadilly, carpenter. THWAITES, J., Austin-friars, commissionagent. WINRAM, J., and G. Winram, Ulverston, Lancashire, ship-builders. WRIGHT, A., aud J. Woodhead, Woodroyd, WYATT, G., and H. Thompson, Portpool-la., brewer. SCOTCH SEQUESTRATION. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 13, 1831. MARTIN, C. E., New-st., Dorset-sq., linen- REDMAN, E., Worthing, Sussex, shopkeeper. BANKRUPTCY ENLARGED. HERITAGE, J., Uxbridge, Middlesex, draper, BANKRUPTS.. ANDERSON, J. W., Bradford, Yorkshire, chemist. GUNTON, J., Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, confectioner. HENFREY,W., Northampton, wine-merchant. SMITHFIELD.-December 12. This day's supply of beasts was great, of small stock moderately good. The trade was throughout somewhat, brisk. With beef at an advance of from 2d. to 6d. per stone; with mutton, veal and pork at Friday's quotations. Next Monday's market is to exhibit what is termed the great Christmas supply of superior beasts; but should it be no better supplied than was that of to-day, there will be no deficiency either in numbers or quality. Beasts, 3,662; sheep and lambs, 19,240; calves, 120; pigs, 150. CHEAP CLOTHING!! SWAIN AND CO., Tailors, &c., 93, FLEET-STREET, (Near the new opening to St. Bride's Church,) TARLETON, R., Liverpool, bat-manufacturer. WELLS, J., Kingston-upon-Hull, merchant. builder. LONDON MARKETS. MARK-LANE, CORN-EXCHANGE, DECEMBER 12.-Our supplies, since this day se'unight, of English, Scotch, Irish, and Foreign wheat, barley, and flour, as also Foreign beans, peas, linseed, and rye, good; of oats, and with above-mentioned exceptions, seeds from all quarters but limited. This day's market was tolerably well, but not to say numerously attended by buyers, most of whom aimed at depressed prices; but as the sellers were stiff either to an advanced or to their last Monday's currency, the trade was, with every kind of corn, malt, seeds, and flour, very dull, at barely last week'squotatious. Indeed, an abatement of from 1s. to 2s. per quarter on the intermediate kinds of wheat .... Gentlemen's Dress Coats of Medley 1. s. d. 180 12 0 18 0 Silk 1 80 A Plain Suit of Livery.... 4 40 Ladies' Habits and Pelisses, and every description of Clothing for young gentlemen, equally cheap. The whole made from goods of the finest quality, and, the CUT and WORKMANSHIP not to be surpassed. 'I recommend Messrs. Swain and Co. as very good and punctual tradesmen, whom I have long employed with great satisfaction. WM. COBBETT. "GIVE ME A CIGAR." Just Published. Price 3s. 6d. [ICOTIANA; or the SMOKER'S AND and barley, was said to have been pretty! SNUFF-TAKER'S POCKET COMgenerally submitted to, where any-thing like extensive sales could be effected. PANION, containing the HISTORY OF TO- By HENRY JAMES MELLER, Esq. London: Effingham Wilson, 88, Royal Exchange. Printed by William Cobbett, Johnson's-court; and published by him, at 11, Bolt-court, Fleet-street. |