of Anglesey.-On the 29th of November, the Rev. Ree Lloyd, of Bronith, Radnorshire, to Jane Dorothy, daughter of the Rev. D. P. Powell, rector of Sarnesfield, Herefordshire.-On the 23d of November, at Llanbadarn-fawr, Cardiganshire, the Rev. Thomas Lewis, of Aberystwith, to Mary Ann, only daughter of Arthur Worsley, esq. of Penaberth, near Aberystwith.-On the 30th of November, at Kerry, Montgomeryshire, by the Rev. D. Davies, Mr. John Owen, of Pool, to Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Mr. Matthews, of Yew-tree, Kerry.-On the 18th of September, at Tattenhall, by the Rev. Prebend Bloomfield, Owen Williams, esq. of Stafford street, Liverpool, to Emma, youngest daughter of Samuel Bromfield, esq. of Gatesheath, near Chester.--On the 8th of November, at St. Philip's church, Liverpool, by the Rev. John Lingard, B.D., John Joshua, son of the late Joshua Hatton, esq. of Barbadoes, to Emma, daughter of the late John Thomas, esq. of St. Asaph.-On the 15th of December, at Llangar, Merionethshire, by the Rev. Peter Williams, rector, Morris Powell Jones, esq. of Plas 'n Bonwm, near Corwen, to Anne, second daughter of the late Rev. Robert Roberts, D.D., rector of Barnwell, Northamptonshire.

Deaths.

At Caernarvon, aged 24, John, only son of the Rev. Richard Lloyd, of Beaumaris: his death was caused by the shock received at his witnessing some of the melancholy effects of the late wreck of the Rothsay Castle.-On the 17th of October, W. Owen Brigstocke, esq. of Blaenpant, near Cardigan.-In October, aged 14, William, youngest son of the Rev. T. Ellis, of Tanrallt, Bangor.-On the 24th of September, at Caernarvon, aged 70, Capt. Evan Evans, of Caernarvon. -On the 8th of October, at Dolgarreg, Caermarthenshire, aged 67, John Rees Bishop, esq. for many years a magistrate.-On the 29th of September, after severe illness of many months' duration, the Rev. J. B. Roberts, pastor of the Baptist church, in Pwllheli -On the 28th of September, aged 34, Richard Augustus, son of J. Wynne Griffith, esq. of Garn, in the county of Denbigh; his generous, amiable character obtained for him a very numerous circle of friends in the Principality, who do not cease to lament the loss they have sustained by his premature decease.-Lately, in Chester, aged 74, Mary, relict of the late Price Jones, esq. of Rhuabon, Denbighshire.-On the 7th of November, at his house, South Parade, York, aged 77, the Rev. Wm. Jones, rector of Holmton, and vicar of Welwich, in the county of York. Mr. Jones was a native of Llaneilian, Denbighshire.-On the 14th of November, Mrs. Edwards, relict of the late Richard Edwards, esq. of Nanhoran.—On the 12th of November, in Dublin, Jane Anne, wife of Capt. J. M. Bennett, and only child of the late W. Williams, esq. of Rhidw, Caernarvon.-On the 1st of November, at Woodside, Richard, eldest son of James Boydell, esq. of the Rossett, in the county of Denbigh, aged 29.— At Norton, near Presteigne, Richard Jones, aged 102.—On the 21st of November, Marianna, second daughter of Joshua Peel, esq. of Shrewsbury.-On the 21st of November, Thomas Evans, esq. of Cotton Hall, near Denbigh. He was a man of strict integrity, and a sincere friend,-what he was as a husband and father, they only can know who most deeply feel and lament his loss.-On the 9th of November, aged 56, Mrs. Lewis, relict of the late J. Lewis, esq. of Pantyrhaid, Caermarthenshire.-On the 5th of November, at his residence at Clifton, the Rev. David Davies, D.D. of Werndrevy, Caermarthenshire.-On the 14th of November, at his father's house, after a severe illness, Thomas, son of John Jones, esq. of Ruthin. At Mold, on the 30th of October, aged 49, Mr. Robert Jones: for some years he was employed as a pressman in Mr. Gee's printing establishment at Denbigh: his exemplary diligence enabled him to maintain a numerous family in comfort; he was remarkable for his intimate acquaintance with his native language; and, as a Welsh poet, he arrived at considerable eminence.-Lately, after a short illness, Thomas Longueville Longueville, esq. of Oswestry.-On the 20th of May last, on board the Hon. East India Company's armed schooner, the Royal Tiger, while on the passage from Persia to Bombay, Edward, second son of Edward Owen, esq. of Maesmynan, in the county of Denbigh.-On the 9th of December, at Hull, in the prime of life, after a few hours' illness, occasioned by a fall in attempting to board his vessel, Capt. Simon Roberts, of the

schooner John, of Nevin.-Lately, the Hon. Miss Ponsonby, of Plasnewydd, Llangollen.-On the 9th of December, at Aberystwith, Anna, youngest daughter of Lieutenant J. R. Lane, R.N.-On the 15th of November, Owen Roberts, mariner, of Lumber street, Liverpool. The deceased was a well-known character in the neighbourhood where he resided, having, in the latter years of his life, obtained a partial subsistence by selling in the streets a small history of his "Voyages and Travels." He was born in the island of Anglesey, in March 1739, and commenced his maritime career in the reign of George the Second, since which time he has sailed to the coast of Africa and other places upwards of forty times. Considering the vicissitudes to which this veteran tar must have been exposed in the course of his long and arduous existence, he affords an instance of longevity which the seafaring life could scarcely be believed to allow.-On the 17th of October, W. Owen Brigstoke, esq. of Blaenpant, near Cardigan.-On the same day, at Cardigan, Miss Anna Maria Noott, youngest daughter of Mr. Noott, surgeon, aged 17 years.-Lately, at Kilgerran, near Cardigan, aged 70, the Rev. Thomas Morris, of that place. Lately, aged 45, at her residence, Glandwr, Bank Quay, Caernarvon, Catherine, relict of the late Robert Roberts, esq.-Aged 56, deeply regretted, Mrs. Lewis, relict of the late J. Lewis, esq. of Pantyrhaidd, Caermarthenshire. On the 25th of November, at his seat, Taliaris, Caermarthenshire, at the advanced age of 83, the Right Hon. Lord Robert Seymour.- On the 10th of November, at her son's house, at the advanced age of 88, Mrs. Downs, mother of David Price Downs, esq. of Hendre Rhys Gethyn.-On the 27th of November, at Bodorgan, Anglesey, the seat of her brother, Owen Fuller Meyricke, esq., Mary, fourth daughter of Augustus Eliott Fuller, esq. aged 14.-On the 9th of October, aged 71, Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, at Havod Hedrod, Cardiganshire, daughter of the late Mr. Richard Williams, of Pen-y-Gwndwn, in the said parish. -On the 6th of December, in London, Mr. Hugh Griffith Jones, late of Pwllhehi, on his return from Paris to Wales.-Lately, Miss Diana Foulkes, at Erthig, near Wrexham, sister of the Rev. Principal of Jesus College, Oxford.

PRICES OF SHARES OF CANALS IN WALES.

Brecknock and Abergavenny, 90; Glamorganshire, 290; Monmouthshire, Montgomery, 80; Shrewsbury, 250; Swansea, 180.

FOREIGN FUNDS.

Closing price Dec. 19th. Austrian-; Brazilian, 444; Buenos Ayres, 24; Chilian, 18; Colombian, 11; Ditto, 1824, 12; Danish, 661; Greek, 23; Mexican, 1825, 364; Peruvian, 11; Portuguese, 504; Prussian, 1818, 100; Ditto, 1822, 100; Russian, 1822, 99; Spanish, 1821 and 1822, 14; Ditto, 1823, 13; Dutch, 424; French Rentes, 69}.

ENGLISH FUNDS.

Dec. 29. Bank Stock, 1924; 3 per cent. cons. shut; 3 per cent. 90; 3 per cent. red. 827; 34 per cent. red. 9011; 4 per cent. 993; Long Annuities, 16 9-16; India Stock, shut.

Corrigenda. The article Tithe Composition," in our last Number, unfortunately was not submitted to the particular revision for which it was destined, which has rendered a few corrections necessary. Page 489 line 3 from bottom, for "impropriation" read "impropriate." 4938, after “monopoly price" add "were to be realised."

493

25,

493 -- 7

494

after "distinguish," instead of the three following 1 nes, read "the required augmentation of food from that of manufactured commodities. Capital may be employed without limit in the extension of manufactures at the same rate of profit as before, &c."

from bottom, for "as short food will raise a monopoly," read "in short, food will reach a monopoly price."

23, for "changes" read "charges."

496 16, for "expensive" read “extensive."

THE

CAMBRIAN

QUARTERLY MAGAZINE

AND

Celtic Repertory.

No. 14.-APRIL 2, 1832.-VOL. IV.

A LETTER to the LORD CHANCELLOR on the Expediency of Establishing a General State Insurance, to defray the Expense of an efficient Rural Police, and to operate towards the gradual Reduction of the Poor Rates.

MY LORD,

THE alarming increase of pauperism, vagrancy, and crime, more particularly incendiarism, together with the consequent accumulating burthen of the Poor Rates, call loudly for the remedial interposition of the legislature. Indeed, unless some speedy cure be devised for these crying evils, we cannot but feel the most serious apprehensions, lest, at no distant period, the richest country in the world, however paradoxical the assertion, may become overwhelmed by its own pauperism.

Various projects have been proposed, and others are said to be now in contemplation, but it is evident no remedy will be effectual that shall not assure the attainment of this fourfold object,

viz.

1. Provision for the invalid poor unable to work.

2. Work for those poor who are unwilling to labour, or unable to procure employment.

3. The prevention, repression, and speedy correction of crime, combined with that general "surveillance" of the country, which shall afford effectual protection to the persons and property of its inhabitants.

4. And, lastly, an alleviation of the present onerous pressure of the parochial rates.

The writer presumes to flatter himself that the accomplishment of these four desirable purposes may be simultaneously effected by the adoption of a system, the general outlines of which he has

NO. XIV.

L

now the honour of submitting, with great deference, to your lordship's consideration.

In the first place let the present stipendiary police of the Metropolis be extended to the whole kingdom, with certain additions to its functions and attributions, and subject also to certain modifications and restrictions.

The excellent effects which this system has already produced in London and its outskirts are now fully appreciated, and its general extension to the country, or at least to the more populous and manufacturing districts, is become so universally desired that we hear of but one single objection urged against it, and that is, the very serious one certainly, of the heavy expense attending it, at a time too when a great portion of the rate-payers are little able to bear any surcharge on their already oppressive assessments: but the peculiar advantage of my proposal, and the principal object it has in view is the diminution, and not the increase of the rate; consequently, the objection on the score of expense is obviated.

As the financial part of my proposed improvement is by far the most important, and forms the basis of the whole, I shall commence by developing some of its details.

I venture to propose then that Parliament should enact a law, establishing a general compulsory insurance of all the houses and buildings in the kingdom, with the government. That is, that the state, on the one hand, should become the one sole, universal assurer, and, on the other, that all the individual owners of property, capable of appreciation and insurance, throughout the country, should be the obligatory assured.

Is there any thing startling in this proposition? Is there any thing in it that is arbitrary, or that at all militates against the received opinions we entertain of that entire freedom of action which the policy of the law of England ought to allow, and does allow, to every man in the administration of his own affairs? But, for the collective wisdom of the nation emanating from Parliament, to make that universally obligatory on all which common prudence has already rendered imperative on every individual, can never surely be deemed an undue invasion, or an unjustifiable control of the sacred rights of private property.

Without referring either to our own antiquated sumptuary laws, or to those of ancient Rome, as precedents for enforcing prudence by statute, I may be allowed to cite the Building Act as bearing a close analogy to those legislative provisions which I am now presuming to recommend.

By the common law of England, a man might build the partywalls of his house as slightly, and of as bad materials as he pleased.

But the legislature interposed, and from motives of precaution as well towards the builder himself as towards his neighbours and the public, has most wisely enforced a certain statutory solidity of construction as the best protection against the rapid communication of conflagration. In this the law has only enjoined that which prudence prescribed before. So, in like manner, a General State Insurance Act would merely exact as matter of municipal regulation, the performance of a measure of public and private economy, already most imperiously dictated to every man by sound policy, and a regard to his own interest, with this superior advantage over the Building Act, that the operation of the new law would be at once both retributive and preventive. I say preventive, for when once the universal insurance of all the insurable property in the kingdom shall be established by law, it is obvious that the great cause of incendiarism, the gratification of revenge, must necessarily be frustrated and annihilated: for to what end or purpose would the most fiend-like malice seek to wreak its vengeance against any individual, or against any class or order of men, by the destruction of his, or their property, when it is known that the losses thus occasioned would be infallibly and instantly replaced to the sufferers out of the Public Purse, unless, indeed, we are to suppose that mischief would be done for mere mischief's sake, which is supposing a degree of unaccountable wickedness, of which human nature has shewn no examples without some exciting cause.

The advantage to the assured would certainly be great, as well in the ampler solidity of government security over that of any private individual, or of any public company whatever, as in the presumable reduction of the premiums of Insurance, which may be expected from the universality of the operation.

There can be no doubt that the trade of Insurance has proved in the aggregate and for a long period of time extremely advantageous to those who have been engaged in it. The losses sustained are supposed to bear but a small proportion to the general total of the Premiums received: of what this is, some idea may, perhaps, be formed from the returns made to Parliament by the Stamp office, of the amount of the stamp duties on all fire insurances, which, in the year 1830, was ascertained to be £776,007. Now, as the stamps are very high in proportion to the premiums paid, I will not estimate the present amount of these premiums at more than £500,000. But the smallness of this sum, for the entire amount of the fire insurance premiums of the whole nation, seems to afford convincing proof that at this day, not more than one eighth part of the whole insurable property of the country is covered by insurance.

I will, however, only assume that the present amount of the premiums would be quintupled by the universal enforcement of