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THE SWANSEA RACES.

SWANSEA PETTY SESSIONS.

THE REBECCAITES AT HAVERFORDWEST.

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----u--"I..'"' TSKaras-

THE MEETING AT ALLTWEN, NEAR…

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THE MEETING AT ALLTWEN, NEAR PONTARPAWE. A Meeting of Farmers and others, was held at the above place, on Tuesday evening last, for the purpose, according to the jVelsh notice, which h&d been circulated, "of considering tbe causes of -the present unprecedented distress of the farmers, and other inhabitants of the parishes of Langtiicke, Kilybebyll, and Ystiadguolais, and also for tbe purpose of devising remedies thereto." The meeting was held in a field nearPontardawe, where a plat. form had been erected, on which were tables provided for the accommodation of reporters. [We must take this opportunity of observing, that parties underlakingto prepare platforms for public meetings, should construct those of such strength somewhat pro. portionate to the weight they might probably be required to sus- tain, instead of endangering the limbs of public speakers and others, as at the present meeting, where the platform broke down," and portions of it more than once, by which one of the reporters was precipitated to the sawpit below.] The numbers present nnounted to between fourteen and eiatheen hundred persons, consisting of freeholders, fanners, farm-labour- ers, and prities connected with the collieries and other works in the neighbourhood. It appeared that no resolutions had been prepared by tbe parties who had convened the meeting, and no persons had selected any gentleman to be proposed as chairman. Some delay consequently ensued, as several gentlemen present declined permitting themselves to be proposed. Mr. BENJ. HILL, at last, came forward to explain the cause of the delay. He said, that many of the gentlemen present declined, from diffidence, allowing themselves 10 be proposed. It had been suggested that be (Mr. H.) should be proposed. Though he would rather decline the honour, as there were many present more capable of performing the duties, yet, rather than delay the business, if any person would propose him, ai d tbe meeting agree to such proposal, he would be perfectly willing to act to the best of his ability —Mr. Hill having been proposed and seconded, was unanimously elected Chairman. The CHAIRMAN then said, that printed notices had been circu- lated, stating tbe objects for which the meeting had been convened, yet, as all persons might not have had an opportunity of reading them, he would briefly explain the purpose of the meeting. They were perfectly aware that he could not address them very fluently in Welsh, but after having volunteered himself to their service, he must work with the instruments he was possessed ot, rather than seek for better. If thev looked to the length and breadth of the land, thev perceived that poverty and distress were prevalent. The object of the meeting was to inquire into the origin of this disastrous state of affairs—to see if any measures could be suggested for bringing about some change for the better. It was probable—though all acknowledged the existence of the deeepest distress—though all felt the disease—that all would not agree that the same remedy would perform the cure. He would only say, let each man stand up and explain his own views, and he f the Chairman) would endeavour to give themall fair play. The farmer yttell knew, that after exerting himself to the utmost of his abililv, from one year's end to tbe other, and paving bis rent, &c., that he had nothing left for the mninlenance of his family. The labourer, after working hard from week to week, could Dot procure bread for his family. How could this state of things be remedied? The colliers might be inclined 10 say, We wlllstaud out, and decline working, until the masters give us a fair price." He would say, that would not do, for masters, as well as workmen, felt the effect of the general dis- tress. The question, then, was—Why did the farmer nnd. after all his labour, exertions, and economy, that at the year's end, after paying his landlord's rent, the assessed laxes, the police rate, and the county stock rate, he had nothing left for the main- tenance, in comfort, of himself and family. They were assembled for the purpose of proposing some remedial measures. They would take care not to transgress the law. He presumed that his friend Mr. Jenkins would suggest the measures which, in his opinion, would be most conducive to the interests of the country, and the meeting might either assent to. or dissent from, his pro- positions. Any other persons might in the same manner submit their views to the meeting. He would take that opportunity of saving, that both Mr. Martin and Mr. Leach had been requested to take the chair at the meeting, and both had expressed their regret at being unable, from prior engagements, to attend. He would offer no apology for being chairman—any man might be chairman They were met to inquire into the grievances them- selves. Unless tliey would exert themselves, nobody would do so for them. He wished thetf to act up to the old English motto, God helped them who helped themselves He was prepared to hear any observations. A person in the crowd, said, that several persons in the meeting wished to hear explained the position of this country, witti regard to its trade with foreign countries. Mr. JENKINS, M.A., after some observations from Mr. Joues, which were inaudible to us, observed, that the meeting had not been called to propose any remedies before, in the first place, inquiring into the causes of the existing distress. Let each speak from his own experience They were not assembled as persons determintd to support one party or the other, but that each might relate hi* own experience of the distressed condition of the country, then they miltht look at the remedies. Let them enquire the reason why the working man did not procure a fair day's wages for a fair day's work Whv, after working twelve hours or more in the day, he was unable to maintain his family. There must be some great and radical causes for ibis state of the country. The REV. JOHN JAMES, Unitarian Minister, observed, that when he attended the meeting, it was not his intention to take part in any of the proceedings. He had a great objection lo speak at political meetings, because what he spoke was liable to be mis- represented but all there were reporters present at that meeting, he was confident such would not be the case on that occasion. He seldom interfered in politics. Though forty-five years of age, be had drawn up but one petition to Parliament during his whole life-lime, and that was a petition against the New Poor-law. There had been much glorying and rejoicing at the time the Re- form Bill was passed. The landlords were then going to let thetr lands for nothing, and the tenants were to live as gentlemen. He (Mr. J.) then told his friends that they would be deceived. He thought all farmers would now tell him that be bad told them the truth. He had, bis windows then broken for opposing the Reform Bill, but no person would do so now. He then told farmers that Tithes were oppressive. They said no, but they would not say so now. Two years after the passing of that bill great distress visited them Then came the Poor-law, after the enactment; of which, it was said, no person could starve. He had then said that thousands would starve, and his prophesy had been verified. He then said that the Poor-law would be at a future time kept up by the force of arms, and so it had. Let the towns of Swansea, Carmarthen, Cardigan, Newcastle-Etnlyn, and other places bear testimony to the fact. Lord John Russell had stated that, by the passing of that bill, two millions of money had been saved, while the fact was, that many millions had been taken from the poor, 8.'1 well as from general circulation, alld given those who had (00 much riches beforc- to tbe numerous officers whose incomes were increased by. anJ who rejoiced at, the distress of I he people. If the old law were again put in operaiion, poor people would go to their respective parishes and procure plenty of food, and the farmers would feel a pleasure in dispensing to the poor the rates contributed by themselves. They would see that the poor re- ceived the whole, He remembered that when the Romans, in ancient times, gol iolo confusion, they retraced their steps, JlnJ re-enacted the laws of their ancestors. So he (Mr. James) would say, our Government should act—do away with the new Poor-law, and re enact the old and if the people would co-operate in that, it would be a much more legitimate way of getting rid of their grievances than by night prowling and tbe destruction of gates and toll-houses. He would say that the New Poor-law was almost the sole cause of distress," by keeping such a large amount of money out of circulation. The relief afforded the poor in their own parishes would be expended by them in those parishes. They ought to get rid of this law rather than listen to persons who went through the country telling people that one measure and another wonld better their condition. He (Mr. James) occa- sionally read a journal which called the Times newspaper the lying Times; he thought that journal merited that apptllation rather than the Times, for he was happy 10 say that he lound the Times very consistent in its opposition to the New Poor-law, in spite of much opposition, and at the risk of offending many •« great men." who were its supporters. That powerful journal bad already overthrown Lord Melbourne's administration by the ex- posure of this monstrous law, and it would overthrow Sir Robert Peel s government unless he would abolish the law. Were that were done by him, he might be the most popular man in Earope —-Mr. James then proposed a resolution condemnatory of the New Poor-law, which, having been seconded, was carried unanimously. —Mr. James afterwards proposed a vote of thanks to the Editor of the Times, for his consistent opposition to the New Poor-law, which was also seconded and carried unanimously Mr. POWELL, the Reporter of the Tones, acknowledged the compliment. He said he could not address them in Welsh, but he was happy to (ind them opposed to the New Poor-law, which he thought a very cruel law. He thanked them for the compli- ment paid by them to the Editor of the Times. He hoped the Editor would continue to merit their thanks, and that when he ceased to merit it, they would cease to give their thanks. The CHAIRMAN then observed, that the meeting had heard Mr. James s opinions as to the cause of the prevailing distress. He (the Chairman) coincided with what had been spoken by Mr. James, but the New Poor-law could not be the sole cause ofdis. tresS. There must he some great grievances besides the Poor. law. He wonld be glnd to hear the opinions (if farmers. A person, named DAVID LEWIS, then rose to read some statis- tical observations from A book written by Mr. Colquhoun, who was, he stated, a great political economist. The statistics went to sho," the great difference between the incomes of a certain number of the working or productive classes, and of the unpro- ductive classes. To the great disproportion between the incomes of the two classes that writer mainly attributed the distress. The RF.V. J. JAMES could not agree in the npinion quoted by the last speaker. The distress did not proceed from the large incomes of the upper classes. It was frequently stated that the Queen spent so many thousands on a dinner He was of opinion such things did not produce distress, for all the money so ex- pended returned in some shape to the people. He was aware that when the nobility and gentry expended their incomes out of the country they did an injury, but not otherwise, for farmers and others were bettered by the expenditure of lar;;e incomes. Mr. James reiterated his opinion that the New Poor-law was the cause of I he present distress. Mr. JENKINS. M.A., apologised to the meeting for his speaking Welsh but imperfectly, for though by birth a Welshman, he had spent a great portion of his lifetime out of Wales He hoped they would have the patience 10 attend to him for a few mi, ules, He agreed with many of the opinions expressed Ly Mr. James, but there were olher causes why the farmer and the shopkeeper suffered—why the persons employed in the various manufactories, after labouring twelve, thirteen, and sometimes fifteen hours, cou1d barely oblain a livelihood. He was of opinion, that though a good poor-law might be bencficial, yet it was infinitely better to keep people independent of any poor-law. It would be better to raise the price of labour than enact a good poor-law, for Pro- vidence undoubtedly intended that everv diligent man could pro- vide for the wants of his family. Mr. Jenkins then proceeded to show, I hat the low price of lahour was caused by Ihe disproporl ion existing between the f*ipply and the demand He illustrated this \VeIl, known theory, by supposing that eighty men WHe required in any works at Pontardawe, while one hundred offered rheIn" selves, the price of labour would be lower than if seventy only- had offered themselves. The speaker then showed how trie do- mand for labour decreased with the decrease in the demand for the viiriotts kinds of manufactures, and how the decrense ill the demand for manufactures was caused by the prohibitory duties iii.-pi sed by our Government Oil 'he productions 01 foreign countries. He would shew the effect of the Corn Laws upon our trade with the Americans, who formerly took a great portion of our iron and manufactured goods, but as this country could not take in return any of their corn, in consequence of the high duty imposed thereon, their Government soon imposed a duty upon our iron and our other productions, amnunting, ill some instances, lo 50 per cent., which immediately decreased the demand, and the low price oflabour followed as a natural result. Mr. Jenkins then showed, from statistical returns, how our trade witli Ger- many, and other continental countries, decreased from the same cause, while the duties thus impo-ed did not enrich the treasury nfthe country, hut went into the pockets of the landed proprietors. Mr Jenkins then explained the difference between taxntion for the pioteciion of the agricultural interests, as it was called, and taxation for revenue purposes. Ile contended, that the taxation for the benefit of the lauded interests amounted to 10s. upon svery quarter of corn and taking Mr. J. Deacon Hume's calcula tion, that on the average each of the twenty-six millions in our country consumed one quarter in the year. that would gi, e thirteen millions ss the amount paid for protection to the landlords. The proleclive duties and indirect taxes paid on all articles, amounted to a hundred millions per annum, while direct taxation amounted lo no more than fifty millions. The duties on sugar were imposed upon the same principle. The landlords wssisled the West India [iroprietors to keep up the sugar duties, wbik' tbe tatter, in return • helped tbe landlords to maintain the corn and provision | Tbe effect of the combination was, that every pound of sugar consumed by the people of this country, was enhanced 3d. to 3^d. in price. Mr. Jenkins then explained to tbe meeting, at consi- in price. Mr. Jenkins then explained to tbe meeting, at consi- derable length, the principles of free-trade—how every country had some superfluities, consisting either of tbe productions of the soil, or what was produced by the ingenuity, industry, and skill of the inhabitants. We bad a superabundance of iron, and other manutactufes, white there was a superabundance of food on the banks of the river Mississippi; but the laws of this country, in effect, said—" You cannot interchange commodities. Mr. J. then adverted to the restrictive duties imposed by the French Government upon British iron, which was thereby enhanced to the people of that country. He also contended, that the Corn Laws were of no benefit to the farmer, whose prosperity depended upon that of commerce. Corn Laws bad, ever since their first enactment, deceived tbe farmer. One corn-law fixed tbe price of corn at 80s. The farmer took his lease, or stipulated 10 pay bis rent, on the supposition that corn would be kept at that price; but it soon fell much below. The farmer consequently had to pay rent out of his capital. The next attempt made WHS, to fix the price at 72s., soon after which it fell to 40s. Sir Robert Peel's Corn-law, which had been lately passed, wss enacted with the professed object of keeping corn at 56s. but it had fallen to 47s. since that modification of the Corn-law was passed. Mr. Jenkins concluded by showing, that the importation of foreign cattle bad contributed little or nothing to the depression of agri- culture, for the number of cattle imported would not provide one dinner for half the populalion of London. The above is but an outline of Mr. Jenkins s address, the subject having been so re peatedly before our readers, it is deemed unnecessary to enter into details.—Mr. J. then submitted to the meeting a resolution in favour of free trade. Mr. REES THOMAS, farmer, seconded the resolution. The REV. J. JAMES rose to propose an amendment. He thought distress was not caused bv the Corn snd Provision Laws. Landed proprietors frequently gave bread to the poor, which the manufacturers did not do. The home market was tbe principal support of the manufacturing interest, but the New Poor-law destroyed that market The Corn-laws litid been twenty-eight years in existence, and no distress equal to the present had existed. Mr. Jenkins had said that he would supply them with books to read on the subject. He (Mr. James) would inform them, that the books were sent by the Anti Corn-law League, who had sub- scribed fifty thousand pounds for (he purpose of distributing tracts, and paying persons for preaching against the Corn-laws. He thought people did not sufficier tlv understand politics to in. terfere in subjects of that kind.—Mr. James then moved an amendment to the effect •• that the present distress was not attri- butable to the Corn-laws, but that the New Poor-law wa.. the principal cause of the existing distress." Mr. THOMAS, who seconded Mr. Jenkins's proposition, said, that it was not necessary to understand much politics to know that thepeopieofthis country wanted bread, and that the Corn-laws shul it out of I be coul/try, He WitS confident, as a farmer, thllt the Corn-laws were of no benefit to him, and he had heard nothing from Mr. James to induce him to withdraw his support from the free trade resolution. Mr JOHN THOMAS then addressed the meeting, and said ibat he did not dispute Mr James's opinion that the Poor-law was one cause of distress, but be thought it was not the only or prin- cipal cause. He was of opinion it arose, in a great measure, from tbe want of feeling and sympathy between the wealthier and poorer classes of society. The speaker tbeu proceeded to com- pare the British constitution to the human body, which was formed of many members, and contended that one class should feel for another like all the members of the bodv suffered whtm one was injured He found fault not only with the Corn-laws, but with the Game-laws, which kept from the poor man the fish of the river as well ItS the fowls of heaven, and all oiher restrictive laws. The CHAIRMAN submitted the proposition in favour of Free Trade to tbe meeting and Mr. James s amendment-the former was almost unanimously carried, about thirty hands having been held up for the latter. The REV. W. THOMAS then addressed the meeting in a power- ful speech He reminded them of Nelson's motto, England expects every man to do his duty," and he would advise them to act unanimously, then they would see the New Poor-law, whioh he characterised as the devil in flesh," and the Corn-laws and all bad laws abolished. He referred to many instances recorded in Scripture, in which unanimity had contributed to extraordi- nary success. He also illustrated his remarks by a reference to the bee and the ant, and concluded by saying, that if the people acted together" in a peaceful and legitimate way, all bad laws would fall like Dagon before the ark of God." Mr. JENKINS, after a few observations in reply to Mr. James's remarks relative to the Anti Corn-law League, submitted to the approval of the meeting tbe following Petition, which was unani- mously agreed to :— To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. "The bumble and dutiful petition of the undersigned free- holders, fanners, and others, inhabitants of the several parishes of Languicke, Kilybebill, and Ystaogontais. assembted in public meeting at Pontardawe, in the comity of Glamorgan, this 29th day of Auglhl, 1843, sbeweth— That your Majesty's petitioners reside in a district of the country, which in respect of obedienoe to the laws, tbe peaceable demeanor of its inhabitants, and their loyal affection 10 your Ma- jesty s person, has hitherto yielded to no part of yoor Majesty's dominions. Thai yoor Majesty's petitioners view with alarm the progress of distress in this neighbourhood — a distress which extends equally to all classes and trades, to the retail dealer, the farmer, and 10 the workman as well as to the manufaclurer. That your Majesty's petitioners conceive that the distress in which they, nnd others of your Majesty's sobjecln, are at present involved, arises principally from the want of demand for thp. pro- duce of British industry and that thecanse of the want of such demand is 10 be sought for in those impedimenls to II free inler- change of Ihe commodities of different countries, imposed in Ihe form of protecting duties. And your Majesty's petitioners conceiving Ihal, by tbe course of legislalion adopted during the late session of Parliament that body has declared itself inadequate to meet the present circutn- stxnces of the country, humbly pray your Majesty to exercise yourroyat prerogative, to dissolve the present Parliament, and summon a new one, with directions to lake into its moslllerioUI consideration the present condition of the country, and to devise measures whereby its commercial prosperity may be restored— the demand for the produce of British industry may be rendered commensurate with the IlIpply-and the happiness of all classes of your Majesty's subjects be promoted. And your Majesty's petitioners, &c," A Correspondent, residing at Llanon, says—" After all the speeches, exhortations, and recommendation on Myiiydd Sylen, on the 25th ult., to desist from nightly meetings of the population, Rebecca and her Daughters, notwithstanding, made their appearance on the very night, and in the immediate neighbourhood of the spot where the meeting was held. The village of Pontyberem, about a mile and a half from Mytiydd Sylen, was the place selected by the t.iir Dame to march in battle array. On the road a man met them, and endeavoured to wrestle a gun from one of the" fuir daughters," but missed his aim—the damsel would not yield to him, but kept her grasp. The man took refuge in a public-house close by,CH))ed tbe New Inn, when the fair one opened fire, and sent some shots after liim through the front entrance, which lodged in the cellar door opposite, passing close to a person who stood in the way at the time. They then malched through the village, blowing their horn", shouting in triumph, anJ then disposed. --==

To the EDITOn of The CAMBRIAN.

. To t%t EDITOR of Tht CAMBRIAN.

[No title]

Family Notices

- SHIP HEWS,

COUN TRY AI A RK ETS.