t has prevailed. In England, more
dependent than other nations on the extent of its commercial
intercourse, it may be said to have operated as a scourge. The most
terrible inflictions of natural evil, storms, famine, and pestilence,
have not produced an equal amount of suffering. Indeed, it has combined
the characteristics of the worst of those evils. It has devastated, like
the storm, the busy hives of industry; it has exhausted, like famine,
the life and vital principle of trade; and, like the pestilence, it has
"walked in the darkness and wasted at noon-day." When we read of
thousands of miserable wretches, in all the cities and towns of a great
nation, huddled together like so many swine in a pen; in rags, squalor,
and want; without work, bread, or hope; dragging out from day to day, by
begging, or the petty artifices of theft, an existence which is
worthless and a burden; and when, at the same time, we see a system of
laws, that has carefully drawn a band of iron around every mode of human
exertion; which with lynx-eyed and omniscient vigilance, has dragged
every product of industry from its retreat to become the subject of a
tax, can we fail in ascribing the effect to its cause, or suppress the
utterance of our indignation at a policy so heartless and destructive?

Yet, this is the very policy that a certain class of politicians in this
country would have us imitate. Misled by the selfish and paltry
arguments of British statesmen, but unawed by the terrible experience of
the British people, they would fasten upon us a system whose only
recommendation, in its best form, is that it enriches a few, at the cost
of the lives and happiness of many. They would assist a constrictor in
wrapping his folds around us, until our industry shall be completely
crushed.

* * * * *

ST OLAVE'S CHURCH.--The rebuilding of this church in the early part of
the last century cost the parishioners a less sum than the organ. The
old church having fallen down, the new one (that recently destroyed by
fire) was erected by raising an annuity of 700_l_., and the granter died
after receiving the first half year's payment of 350_l_. The organ was
the most ancient instrument in the metropolis.

FREE-TRADE MOVEMENTS.

MESSRS COBDEN AND BRIGHT AT OXFORD.--IMPORTANT MEETING OF FREEHOLDERS
AND FARMERS OF THAT COUNTY.

As we stated last week, announcing the intention, Mr Cobden and Mr
Bright visited Oxford