[List-Cumbria] Carlisle Journal, 02 Sep 1815 - Local News (1)

[Petra Mitchinson]

Saturday 02 Sep 1815   (p. 3, col. 1-5)

 

*** It is not with the most grateful feelings we inform our readers (but of the fact they are doubtless already aware), that some
time ago Government passed an Act, amongst other things imposing an additional duty of one-half-penny upon every Newspaper stamp.
Burdened as the Press has been for many years with a weight of taxation, which seriously operates against the diffusion of useful
knowledge, it was with the utmost regret we observed this additional impost upon the public, because Mr. VANSITTART well knows, that
it would be absolutely impossible for Newspaper proprietors, if they wish to support themselves and families, to meet the increased
expence, and that therefore the price of the Paper must be raised, or a serious loss ensue.-In common, therefore, with our
contemporaries, we are reluctantly obliged to inform our readers that the price of this Paper will be from this date 7d. per number.
If the people seriously wish for redress from the evils of an illimitable taxation,-they must look to the state of the
representation-they must put their shoulders to the wheel, instead of sitting whining under grievances which it only requires the
constitutional and firm exertion of the nation to remove. 

 

WRESTLING.-We are informed by the amateurs of wrestling, that a greater number of young men will this year contend for the prize of
20gs. at our races, than has been recollected.-All the expected combatants are of great local celebrity; and there is little doubt
but the prize will be severely contested between the lads of the South and those of the North of Cumberland.-Betting, at present, is
rather in favour of the Border lads, but any odds may be had, Cumberland against all England. We sincerely hope that our Lord
Lieutenant, and the gentlemen of the county, will continue to countenance the diversion of wrestling, which is an innocent, but, at
the same time, a manly amusement. In a political point of view its utility is apparent, from its giving strength, courage, and
agility, to the peasantry of a country. As an instance, it is mentioned in the Morning Herald, of the 23d ult. that THORNE, the
celebrated wrestler and single stick player, was one of the heroes engaged at the battle of Waterloo.-He had been in the Life Guards
two years, and on the 18th June actually cut down nine French Cuirassiers by his superior strength and agility. 

 

"It is an ill-wind that blows nobody good"-the verity of this trite maxim is experienced by the pewterers and dealers in measures,
who for some time past have been quite unable to fulfil the orders of their customers, in consequence of the immense seizure, in all
parts of the county, of the deficient measures of innkeepers and others; which, indeed, is said to have been not only vigorously,
but most rigorously executed. Would to God the like vigilance were extended to matters of much superior interest!-It is understood
to be the intention of the magistrates to inflict the severest penalties of the law upon those in whose possession measures, not
according to the standard, have been found.-We shall here just take the liberty of remarking, that in all the instances we have
heard of, there does not appear to have been any settled design in the victuallers to deceive the public-we mean as to the ale
measures: for these were never acknowledged to be according to the legal standard, and, consequently, imposition and fraud are out
of the question. We would be very far indeed from countenancing in the slightest degree what may be deemed legal offences; but,
whatever the final determination of the superior powers may be,-we deem it our province to state thus much, as an act of bare
justice to a class of the community who have contributed no mean proportion to the exigencies of the state, and who are subjected to
numerous burdens from which the mass of their fellow-subjects are exempt.-The vulgar and uninformed are too apt to catch at the
straw and the chaff of law, whilst the "weightier matters" may in the mean time be entirely neglected. 

 

A coroner's inquest was held on Wednesday upon the body of a young man of the name of GADDES (formerly a drummer in the Royal
Cumberland Militia), who was found dead in bed at his residence in Caldewgate, on Monday morning. Some slight bruises were
discovered upon him,-he having been engaged in a row on the fair-day night; but they not being sufficient to have occasioned his
death, and it being proved that he had been subject to fits,-the Jury brought in a verdict accordingly. 

 

On Sunday evening, as a person of this city was proceeding homeward, he was rudely assaulted by a fellow with intent to rob; but at
this instant, the villain's efforts disengaging a quantity of silver from his own pocket, he stooped to gather it, when the other
contrived to make good his retreat. 

 

At no former period was the general distress amongst the agricultural interest any thing comparable to what it is at present. The
flattering hope of relief, by the operation of the corn-bill, has proved quite futile, nor can we conceive any possible alleviation
of the distress experienced by the farmers, under the severe pressure of taxation, and the decline of trade, which prohibits the
lower orders from procuring that quantity and quality of food which they would otherwise consume,-than by a reduction of rent;
though a modification of the oppressive tithe system would surely go far to ameliorate their condition. The gaols both in England
and Scotland are represented to be choaked up with farmers, prisoners for debt; and we pledge ourselves for the truth of the
following statement; that in Cumberland many farmers, of late, after expending some hundreds upon the cultivation of their grounds,
have agreed with their landlords to cancel their leases. Economy in the expenditure of public money, an abolition of all sinecures,
and a consequent reduction of taxes, are the only means to obviate the distress complained of. 

 

 

[to be continued] 

 

 

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