STOL1AM MEMOIRS and CORRESPONDENCE of JAMES ACLAND. Proprietor and Editor- written by HimitflJ. « * I LIKE HONESTY IN ALL PLACES."— Judge Bayley. .. I Printed and Published by JAMES ACLAND ( SOLE HBOPBIITOR AKD EDiioHjatNo. 4, All Saints'stre « t, Bristol. VOL. III.— Mo. XXVII SA 1 UKDAY, JULY 10, 1630. [ P » : ci l^ d BRISTOL ELECTION. INDEPENDENT FREEMEN or ran C ITT Of BRISTOL. Jw* it, * rin, or ( » r evrr fdim !"— MILTON. BRISTOLI AN » . However singular I may appear in follow- ing up the announcement of my determina- tion to contest the high honor of representing you in Parliament, by a full and candid de claration of my political principles and opin- ions, I trust that yon wi'l not deem such singularity prejudicial to my claim on your confidence. Elector* should not vote for " a pig in a poke " They have a tight to demand that the candidate enter the political confes- sional, and 1, at least, think that no honest candidate should desire to deceive those, * vhom he cannot deceive twice, and who well merit that the bat gain of confidence should have a mutuality or reciprocity of obligation. I therefore, proceed to the resumption of my address. The VOT> JV BALLOT, is the next claim Iof the Ultra- Radical, and as I cannot concede either the necessity or policy of Annual Par- liaments on the one hand, or Universal Suf- frage on the other, so neither do 1 believe the vote by Ballot desirable. If the system of rationable icform brooched by me in its two principles of Classified Triennial Election and Rateable Suffrage, should appear to yon, » » It does to me, practicable as well as preferable to the revolutionary pretensions of radicalism' it will not give me gteat trouble to shew that the necessity of voting by Ballot would no longer exist. Who are to be the electors ? I hose who contribute largely to the revenue of the Country— the possessors of rateable property, whethet in the Funds, in Land or in Houses, to a certain amount. These are not a description of voter who would be liable to the operation of corrupt influence. That class of Electors will have ceased to exist. The poorer description of voters will have exchanged this privilege for an exemp- tion from taxation— or, at least, for such a reduction in taxation, as will place him as nearly as possible on a par with » resident in the United States of America. The object of voting by Ballot is, to secure the voter from any evil consequences attendant on the noto- riety which may accompany the exercise of his franchise. But, there will be no occasion for any such provision, when the Electors will be above the operation of the evil con. sequences to which I have referred. How many votes, under the present system bav been sold for a pint of beer! Why is thi » The answer is simple and unquestionable, He who sells to the extent of nothing— thai] which cost him nothing— will strike the bar g: '• on whatever terms may be offered him. The poor man who has a vote, cannot antici pate any sensible proportion of political orj personal injury, as the result of his preferring Mr. Candidate Thompson, to Mr. Candidate: Johnson ; and as Mr. Candidate Thompson' has given him a pint of heavy, and as Mr. Candidate Johnson has not, " Thompson fo: ever" becomes hts electioneering cry, and h votes for his pint in defiance of the unproduc tive smirks of his opponent from the hustings. It is not ihe poor man's fault. God knows, he pays dearly enough for his whistle. He gets no nourishment for which he does not pay a ruinous tax to Government— and if he' has no dinner for his family on the Sunday,! it is because those devouting wolves of a cor J rupt system, the greedy pensioners of a dis- 3 honest Government were overgorged on thoj Saturday, and awake with craving appetites on ihe morrow of each revolving sui » . I then the voters should be such as will feel that the privilege they exercise costs them' much in a direct tax, the price of the com- modity will be so greatly and so sensibly in- creased, as ( it not feeing an Art tele of necessity) t I ( hi THE BKIS TOIiJAN [ to put it beyond the purchase of the most [ ambitious or the most venal candidate. Do I perpetrate injustice on the poor man by de- priving him of a merely nominal privilege r I give him in exchange the means of subsisting [ himself, and those dependant on him for their [ support, at little more than half its present cost! But how ? I will shew you ' by a slight sketch of my view of what ought to be done, and what may be done in the way of National Economy— without injustice and without revolutions The revenue of the past year was about . forty- seven millions. Now, an honest Par- liament would have but little difficulty in reducing the expences of the State by the odd seven million;. Towards this revenue, the Excise produces nearly eighteen millions. It is part of my proposition that the Excise <! uii « s should cease, and with them the Excise In- quisition. We shall thus have fcut twenty- nine, wherewith to meet an annual charge of forty millions. But, from those twenty nine, 1 propose relieving the Country of th ee millions, by reducing the Stamp Duty one half— and the revenue will thus be decreased to twenty- six millions, leaving a deficiency of fourteen milliuns— for which amount, I sug- gest, an equitable tax on real property— the f possessors of real property to be the only . Electors of Members of Parliament— and such tax on the voters to be reduced in pro- portion, and from time to time, as their repre- sentatives may reduce the expend ture of the [ Country. Now, my friends, is it not obvious that this is [ a most fea; ible means of relieving the distresses into wluch the extravagance of our sham repre- sentatives has plunged the people of every part Lot" the United Kingdom? If the wrong- doers were ma lt to feel the consequences of the wrongs ^ ihey perpetrate, would they uotbe more cautious in their conduct? If the weal h and property j of the Country paid more in proportion to their j means than the poor labaurer or the honest j artisan, ( who pays his heavy quota to the j Rational expenditure by the sweat of Uis brow). would they no: be less senile in their adulation of the minister and more honest in iheir indig- ' nation at his extravagance than lliey have been, ! or them they are ? I If any one of you had to travel a j luruey of i twenty miles on foot in a rainy night and over a rough road, however irksome the task, you would be most anxious for its termination by your arrival at the place of destination. De- pending on your own exertion, you would make the best of your way, without allowing any sur- mountable impediment to detain you in jour progress. But how differently disposed would you be if you should be overtaken by a carriage, the driver of which s'lould affer you a con- veyance t » the end of your journey. Meihinks you would bo well disposed to enter the first road- side inn fir a draught of beer and- a warm at the blaa' ig fi e. The poor horses could wait. Another pint would d > yon no harm— nor yet another. A pipe would be pleasmt— the news of th# day would be interesting— a dry pipe would require moistening, and justify you in again, troubling the jovial landlord— the bsrrsrs could very well wait. If you bad waik » J tin- distance, depending on yourself, you would have gone the j > urney b.- fore you had finished your third pint at the way- side public- house. Apply this simile. Let your representatives feel thai ii is they who aie t<> sufTer the inconvenience of taxation, and that they hsve only themselves to depend upoa for its reduction ; let them not expect the industrious, yet impoverished people, to nartiess ihtir half- fed bo lies to the carriage— and you wsll see ho. » speedily the difii rallies and danger* of th « ir course would be removed by the exertion which, until then, ( key will not find either necessary or desirable. Mow, what would be the effect of this measure on the great mass of the eomriTunit) ? You would obtain the best Rice at lid, per pound ! Tea, at'fr. im 3i. ( M. to 4s! g> od moist Sugar, at3£ d! Soap, 4- 1! Currants, 6 i ! Beer, 31. per pot! Tobacco, Id. per ounce ! and Pepper at about half that price !— with a long lis; of the essjtr. ials for house- keeping at a proportionate reduction I ! 1 And such consequence would be immediate on the adoption of this s) » ! em of POLITICAL . lusnca. To be sure you would have to do without a STANDING ABMV in the time of Peace— be cause this ii one of ike unconstitutional ex. crescnu'IS that would be cut off. But who ol the people would regret il ? The United King- dom is ts-. eritlally Naval in its belligerent cha- racter. The tactics of etis island should ever be defensive not otlen. ive The object of an Island Government should be to mail, lain the integrity] of the people and the inviolability of the Country, I by leinlering invasion impossible, and by abstain ing from invading the territories of other nations. Let us always have a Njivr Art'J- AT of sufficient power for ali ihe Irguinute purposes! of a.> Island Government; but let us not have lhat continent!*! dr. « in upon oar ieso! irce » — 1 that tool of Despotis si — that d- cided enemy to ] liberty, a IRASUTVO AKMT. The vcry - id** 1 niunt, t. i a rightly cons'ituted mind, appear most rid etilo isly absurd. It is oppojtd (< fc « ti>*- ( Wturalcharacteristics of our Political position, and not'less so to cur lute'ie. ti ail freemen, and to our prejudices and partialities as E iglishfli'ii I'he desire of military conqutst has burtisened as witii a debt of upwards of Eight ! I indeed Millions! Like the pig in the water, we. have been in a strange element, an I al ho jglt we have not drowned, our struggles have lacirated and weakened us nigh to • xhaustion, for they have been opposed to nature. l; i happi'v re- gaining terra Jit ma, let us * c: with propiiet) and consistency, and as the instinct of the would send hira as far inland as he could scamper, let the boasted reason of man « ! Ica- t. equally serve him— let us, as speedily as p us- | ulc, hasten from the da- gt^ roui shore on which we have, with so great duBcul y, escaped ship wreck— lit us relinquish our military i. s « rpa ioi and rescue our Naval and natural Sovereignly We should thereby avoid llie temptation, to! which the possession of ihe means' might lead us, if improperly . interfering in matter> which do not concern us, and by v. fiich conduct tb' nation has been so often and so fatally embroiled with Foreign powers. % f Miirr;^^' at;: f. tudfu.' THE UKISIOUAIN The COLONIAL EXPBSDITURE should also fully lavished on the ueedy relatives of time- . e pui an end to. We have been too long sub- serving sycophants. lected to a very heavy taxation for the unpro. At ail events there is clearly no right why iiable purpose of possessing a bankrupt property the inhabitants of Gr « ai Britain should suffer ind « i h ihe unconstitutional and ruinous view themselves to be taxed for tbe good of the slave < f etia liiiJ a bad Government to secure a venal dealers in the Wot, or of tke Monopolists iR the roaj > rity in the limit of Parliament in sapport Eas Indies. With an honest representation in f any measures they may think fit to f;> rce upon Parliament it woul i tii> t be so ; and it should be the Nation. There can surely be no ad. qaa'. e rec. lec « d that our Coloaial expeaces ata but nlvan a » e in the retention of Colonies, which,: the means for bribery and of favoritism, and » ft » r King experience, have been found insuffi-! instruments of evil ia the hands < f the cor- tent to the dischaige of their t- x; encts. if a tradesman has not sufficient business to bear the alary of a clerk, he must get rid of hitu. The > aiae prudential economy should actuate our Government ; but so long as the electors wil' return venal or incompetent lapresentativrs to Pdiliament, the Colonial patronage ftill be re ainrii by Ministers, let it cost the Country what t may, tVh, not insist on each Colony providing for itself? If it be poor— the g- « at « r necessity will th « re be foi economy in Iti Government. There is sca'cely one, if there be one of the nany Colonial dead- weights on this Country, jut would be heartilj g'tad to fort* an indc- oendant state. W hy should it not be so ? We shsuld b « well rid of a most onerous tax m the population of the U. iited Kingdom. rupiiiuiis'. Caa it be btaeficial to the people of this Couatry that a paltry island in the Atlantic, the resources of which cannot be ai\ de available by taxation to the anoouat of jE1,000 should have as mi » y, and as well- paid functionaries, as a wealthy state— at our eipencc t The i lea is perfectly absurd, and the system so wretched, ih*', RI Shai. » jje » re teilt U6, > ve atut " reform it altogether." With ihrse proposition*, f > r an e « > « ormical lopi i:: g- uff i> f the unfruitful shoots which have so laasen'ably weaketrtNl ttie truak of the British Oak, th « te ate yi- t others to be cor. aec eti— and iiivag '. he ir. irtt c msfSictioas, stand tbe abuses in T « * Li* ai. d in Ti; » Ciiuacii. It is now tin cces, ary to argue the necessity of a legal icform. All classes are agreed > n such necessity. Yef, there will be no legal [ 1 know but of one objection to such course,; reform under a conupt syste n of Govern- ml that alone to those applies Colonies, ment. Why? Beca^ s the disgraceful evils which had not for i's base the extension ofj their pationage by the creation of new offices,) or the increastd lucrativeness of those in ex- J istence. i he same observations apply mutatis inutun dis to the STATE CHURCH— in which there is equal i. ecessity for an effectual and econo- micalreform. In the agitation of this question, ( for the! evils are alike evident in each of its branches)! I desire to be distinctly understood, as ad J vancing my propositions for their reform as z warm advocae and sincere friend of both these establishments.,,, Ihe physician who evinces his friendship for his dying patient, by the concealment of his danger— or'th; parent who cannot recommend medicine to a! child because, however necessary it is nausc- J ous, is the dupe of feelings which the i magma i tion tngfiidjrs, but which reason and judgment cannot fail io disavow. Were the barons of John ea « ii> i « of the Monarchy ? Were Cnlvib » n( i the tefor mers enemies of n l^ ion. v. hether viewed in is general character or in » : « influential aspect « s a Slate Church? I unhesitatingly affirm ttt.. t they were fltii. They but oppt. s d iheio- v Ur> • « » the blight which ditearened destruction to ihe fi Mi:, and consequently io the perbciuity of the tree by its prolific seed. Tliey swej » nhat blight frum the di$' i » ared branches and the f. ui' j ripeii'd and the tree w is p'reseivrd. Bur, 11 of the ex'st ng scourge a: c a most prolific ! at,„ ib<- f arid a like visitation i » upon it ii> the ir fMnn. Shall t seek to cleanse it of if ynere the traffic in the human blojd which [ lows bcnea. h an embrowned skin, hassolong soutce of patronage to the minister for the; ind so disgracefully been permitted. Let j time beir. g; fhere 2r* the Lords of the Privy j destroying impurity— or sh„ 11 1 holi buck let,, hat damning evidence of the corrupting in- j Council— the twelve Law J id-* es— the Lord ] some shutfl! sty " hs would destr. iv the Ifvt ?'• l ience of gold over man be removed 5 and Chancellor — Vice Chancellor— Ma « t « r of the It were to neglect a plain and obviiius j- ry hore could be no hesitation in- our according Rol s— ihe Deputy Chancellor-- the Rcclesi ' snij I « i|| n.„ chargeable with such' hegli | o such colonies our nationd protection for astical and Admiralty Courts— t » o Attoineys « . BCt.. T| le imiveisal dis- re s uf the. V i , te- t. ic- ed period and until the perfect com- General- two Solicitor General-- King's | c. „,„„,„ s : j. e service, of all who can iiii m » • xetion of Negro Enancipation, > r vidcit. at Counsel- the Judges and I. iw Olfiiers in mi, i41tntm> of> sthi m„. e ;„ , be rem. lvsl^ • filial personages be made to content tlietn- the respective Colonies— thi immensely per- 1 caUM. aillj ( t1(, prevr i,- i., u of us repeuiior,.-' elves with such remuneration for their s- r feet e^/. blishmentsin Irelan i and Scotland — 1 fin<} j mmt ',! elay> my s; i.*.> eStions ah' tS / ices as the resources of each settlement will " nd an interminable c! cetera of luctativs ap- subject until my next let1 r jeiniit There are bund eds witn both ability pointmems for— good bo s who kno-. v* how , « nd disposition to discharge the duties attach' to behave themselves. Thus it is that the1 Since I List addressed you you, O OCj OS yo :, 1 present tepresentative* has declined . p- o eel nt to ing to th • ><, M if there shou'd'be A d to Colonial appointments at a very cor, si- Government has evrr refused it ass ierable reduction of the salaries, now so waste- any and every description if legal reform. Candidate,' 1' IVilibe P'CHarei to 1 HK BiilS I'ijljl Aft on'the hustings— with a moral certainty ofi give htm more than 8s. per week, until some [ beating him. The Corporators & Merchant [ mopopolists may affect to doubt, and try to laugh— but the proverb say " let those laugh who win*— and as I mean to be a winner, it [ is ten to one they will not laugh when I sub- jniit the degraded condition of this Corporate City to the consideration of Parliament. Youi's prepared, JAMES ACLAND TO THE R. GHT WORSHIPFUL THE MAYOR Of BRISTOL. Bristol Gaol, July 9, 18S0 Worshipful Sir, I regret the occasion Of claiming your [ official interference with the officers in the I Town Cleik's office, to whom a Writ of Error [ in my case was delivered early yesterday, an [ which Writ was made returnable itnmtdi | ate/ 9." I understand that it was not attended to jves'crday, although there were seven hours' I time for the business, which wonlil not ne [ cesiarily have occupied ihree hours. I cannot but feel the injustice and cruelty lof this needless delay on the part of the clerks, lespecialiv as 1 have already suffered an illegal limpri onment of nearly ihtee months through lthe ignorance or wor^ e than ignorance of '; heir official head— the Town Clerk, of Bristol. Assured that you, Sir, will not allow a repe ition of such disgraceful neglect oa the part of those u » der your contrc. uj, 1 subscribe myself. Worshipful Sir, Your obedient servaat; JAMES ACLAND, of your ships should arrive. From that date vou have paid him only at that reduced rate. Pe- haps vou a e one of those, who think 8s sujficient for the maintenance of a man and his wife for seven days. They must live on Half Ox- check soup then, and be plentiful with their water. Three weeks ago your ship came in; yel still you refused this poor fellow his due, I le summonrd you in the Court of Conscience. You told the Mayor that last we< k you em. ployed him at hay- making, and that although you gave bim his victuals, you did not make him pay any thing for ' he grub. Liberal man Just merchant ! Religious preacher ! Pray how was it that yon did not produce th itidentutes in the Court of Conscience ?— And why was it you were let off?-- But 1 need not eaquire further— I remember that 1 am in Bristol. JAMES ACLAND. To JOHN IRVING. Merchant ami Preacher of the Gospel, No. 13, Queen Square, Bristol. Sir, They tell nac you are a rich man ; whence I conclude th* t you can pay your debts. They tell me that you are also a religious man ; 1 conclude that you ought to be readv to render unto Cassar that which is Caesar's The following circumstances however, invali date rav Tather hasty conclusions. On the 23d of April, 1827, David Saunders, a « ehipwright, was bound to you for 4 years. Hi* salaty was to be 1* 2* per week in harbour and w£ 2. per month at sea. About ten weeks since, you told him that tour circumstancts would not permit you to Messrs. BRICE & BURGES. Acland, v. the King. Bristol Gaol, July 9, 1830. Sirg, In the absence of Mr. Robert Saundc s my Attorney, ( who is now in London) vour letter to him of this day, has been handed to me. I had prev. ously written to the Right Worshipful the Ma\ or, Complaining of jour gross negligence in not having made your re turn to the Writ, yesterday. You may, there fore, judge my surprise, on learning from your letter, you do not intend making such return until to- morrow afternoon at Two o'clock The Writ wag especially made returnable immediately " It was delivered to you at half past Ten o'clock on Thursday, & your return is not to bo ready ualtl Two o'clock on Saturday— upwards offifty hours J You may call this an immediate rct'iin. but others will entertain very considerable doubt on that point, aad among them myself. What has caused the delay? Your iefter informs me of the quantity of labour, v z, 31 folios— or 1240 wards. Now, there is in this letter, down to this paragraph, just four folios, which in the writing have occupied less than five minutes. One hour would therefore have been suffici- ent for the entire job. At least, I should have found it so; bul, supposing neither you nor your Clarks capablo of getting through mote lhan one folio in five minutes — four hours would have been ample time and you had seven hours yesterday before the departure of the mail. Yet it was not ready. Twenty four hours have elapsed since the return might have been made— and even now it is not prepared. You promise it shall be ready it twenty one hours from this time, and 1 think ii possible you may keep your word— for this is| Friday, and vou say you will make your returi on the morrow. Of court- e you are aware iha o business is transacted at the Clown Office or11 the Sunday, and as 1 also am aware < T that cir cumstai. ce, I can conceive that you may keej ! your wind, if simply because by doing so yi t j II not facilitate my discharge. It is t:| disgraceful transaction from first to last, and mean as it is disgraceful. But this is not tbt] only feature in yo'ir communication. Y'ouj inform one that your fees " to be paid " are — 1 Drauing and mgrossing re turn to Writ o/ j Error, 31 folios at L » 4< I. per/ olio—. F2. LI 4C/.' J What ! Is it usual with you to send iq your bill] before the work is done for which you ciiaigeij This is pri fessional courtesy I suppose. Ai d si it usual with you to charge fees to which you] are not etui, led? This is profissional instinct 11 suppose. Bul it is clear that you are as ignoran as you are malignant. You know that yoml chief ( Sergeant Ludlow) had no businiss to sein ir. e heie at ail. Y'ou know lhal such is ile| o| inion of ibe Attorney General. You kno » the importance of my libeiation ; and knowing] all thtse things you determine on disgracing] yourselves in the estimation of all honourable J mind's by a purposed d » lay in the d. scharge t f| your duty. For such duty you demand) payment Isefcre ihe work is done— and of fee?) you have no right lo charge. I don't ask yot to make a return by the Attorney General, lot J I have seen the liat issaed by him in his olBciai chaiacter. You have delayed doing so. Ill you mean to say that you will not un; il y< iu an f paid your feis by me— I tell you that your duty ] is to fill the return in the Crowa Office— ais< l| ihat I owe you nothing— » or will I pay )< any thir. g. But I will hold you aiiswtrabUl elsewhere as well for your wilful neglect as fori your extortionate demand. You are fit instrti f mer. tj of |.- ers » ctitois— wonhy tools of a learned! Town Clerk, who * iiber know* nothing or dartsl any thing. I have, however, the satisfaction of, knowing that you cannot keep me hate for thei period » t my sentence— and that 1 . hull have liiel gratification of being cbatred as ' be new Mem- ber for the honest freemen of Bristol. What Mr. Saunders may think of your coc « duct I will not anticipate— but JOB are anun| that he is not the man tamely in submit to insult. JAMES ACLAND. M e m : — An Addrtsi will appear in the Brii-', tolian of Wednesday nert to the Shart holderi in the Brittolian Bread Association. J. A Edited by JAME8 ACLAND - tSote Proprietor) in! Brwtoi Ga » I, nnd fxbliibetj tv hint ( ibronpli his J • wrvaoH) at eh* BrisioUim 0 « « , N « . i, All 1 Saints' Street, BciAt » t.