ABSENTEEISM.
IN our hasty notice of Mr. MACCULLOCH'S Principles of Political Economy, three weeks ago, we stated that his opinions on "Absen- teeism" seemed to us less decided than heretofore. This impression we derived from a somewhat qualified expression in a marginal note on that subject ; but on looking again into the text, we perceive that our statement was unwarranted,—that Mr. Maccur.Locn's opinions on Absenteeism, whether sound or not, are unchanged. We have, in consequence, been induced to direct our attention to the grounds on which this distinguished economist rests his very peculiar doc- trine; and the result has been a conviction that he is in error.
The question, as our readers must know, had reference, originally, to Ireland. The non-residence of the principal landed proprietors has generally been enumerated among the causes of the misery of that country ; while Mr. MACCULLOCH contends, that the expendi- ture of their rents abroad is quite as beneficial to Ireland as. tbeir nnfactures.of the, country. Were all the absentees to return to Ireland, there
be shown that foreign merchants trade for smaller profits than the home
ever be the mode in which the latter operation is effected. pended in it would be obviously thrown away.
is absent."—Edinburgh Review. the subject of absenteeism erroneous.
trade, by means of which his revenues are carried abroad. corn-growing part of the community—the corn was not grown."
countries—they would not relinquish burgundy and claret for poteen, • No.19, for Jun. 1829. or tea and coffee for butter-milk. Assuredly not—nor would such a revolution in their tastes be of the slightest benefit to Ireland. But, by residing at home, with their love of foreign luxuries undiminished, KING'S THEATRE—MADAME LALANDE'S DEBUT. • they open a market for the investment of Irish capital in foreign WE had heard much of Madame LALANDE'S celebrity on the Continent, commerce, besides stimulating the production of the native manufac- and it is merited. She is a charming performer, and a great acquisi-; tures that may suit them. Whether capitalists shall supply foreign lion to our opera stage. Her figure is above the middle height, and manufactures, or produce manufactures at home, is in every case de- of graceliti dignity ; her features soft, but intelligent, and expressive termined by the effectual demand for the one or the other ; but what- of sensibility ; her action easy and appropriate. Her voice is a high ever the Irish merchant may import to suit his customers at home, soprano, of considerable compass, but rather meagre in its upper he must pay for in Irish products that shall suit his correspondents notes, and occasionally harsh. The general effect of her performance abroad ; and, in that way, the demand of resident landlords for foreign is extremely pleasing, and never disfigured by any of the vulgar ex- luxuries must stimulate the production of food .or manufactures in pedients to catch applause. The elegant is indeed essentially her Ireland, quite as much as if the landlords consumed them directly. style, and it is the elegance which seems but the property of a supe- But a merchant will import only while he can find consumers. The nor nature. number of these is lessened by the non-residence of Irish landlords. The opera in which Madame LALANDE appears, is Ii Pirata, a The importation of foreign luxuries, therefore, is lessened, and by version of MATURIN'S Bertram. The music is by BELLINI, a young consequence the exportation of the products of Ireland. The land- composer much admired in Italy ; which circumstance, we must ob- lords ,an carry abroad the gold, in which we have supposed their serve, carries with it no great force of recommendation, as we have rents to be paid, even more easily than grain or cattle ; and the corn- learnt to distrust Italian admiration, which seems of what the Scotch merce and manufactures of Ireland must be diminished in exact pro- would call a very facile character. We would not speak confis. portion to its value. - dently of R Pirata after a single hearing, but our first impression is Mr. MACCULLOCH, however, declares that landlords do not export that it seldom rises much above mediocrity. directly either gold or raw produce, but effect the transmission of Madame LALANDE performs the part of Imogene; and we sus- their rents by means of bills of exchange. pect it is unluckily calculated to discover the defects of her voice we -" The agent of an absentee landlord, after receiving the rents of his tenants, have remarked. Several of her songs are delivered in the agitation say 10,000/., purchases a bill of exchange for this 10,0001. from an Irish mer- of grief, and, for the effect of dramatic propriety, she utters tones which chant. But the merchant, in order to supply his correspondent in London,
Liverpool, or Amsterdam, on whom the bill is drawn, with funds to pay it,
ference to Ireland, in so far as the demand for commodities is concerned, acting would hardly desire to see them exhi- -whether the landlord is, or is not resident ? When he is resident, lie will re- ceive 10,0001. from his tenants, and he will go to market, and buy an equal amount of Irish corn, beef, hats, shoes, &c.; and when he is not resident, a bited on the stage. The common expression of lamentation might, we merchant gets the 10,0001., and lays out every sixpence of them in the pur- think, be advantageously softened by Madame LALANDE, and with chase of Irish commodities, just as the landlord did when he was at home." the effect of avoiding the worse tendencies of her voice. With Before a merchant can sell a foreign bill of exchange, he must have respect to the dramatic fitness, she may console herself by consider- purchased it, by placing at the disposal of his correspondent, equi- ing, that the finest natures are capable of the best government of the valents from the native market. The sale of the bill does not con- emotions, as, on the contrary, the vulg,arest are observed to be most stitute a new transaction between him and his correspondent—does obstreperous in the expression of the passions. not induce that correspondent to make a fresh demand for the pro- DONZELLI admirably, played the part of the Pirate, the Bertram of ducts of Irish industry, Those products cannot be sent abroad vsith- the piece ; but we agree with the critic of the Times, that he de-: expenditure at home. He supports this opinion by a reference to the out a previous demand for them ; and as by the supposition, 10,0001. modes in which he supposes the transmission of rents to be effected. worth have supplied that demand, on what principle can the Irish 'I As there is very little specie in Ireland, and as Irish bank-notes do not merchant send 10,000/. worth more ? The sale of the foreign bill to circulate in England, it is obvious that they can be remitted in one way only, the Irish landlord is merely an exchange of foreign for Irish money ; and that is, by sending abroad an equivalent amount of the raw produce or ma- and unless it can be proved that such an exchange has the same would, rio doubt, be an increased demand for commodities, or labour, or effects upon Irish industry as a redoubled demand for Irish commo- both, in the home market, to the extent of three or three and a half millions dities, Mr. Maccuasocifs argument appears to us wholly untenable. (the supposed amount of absentee rentals). But it is undeniably certain, Now the advantages of trade result from the exchange of equivalents; that this increase of demand in the home market must be balanced by a pre- not of things precisely alike. The cotton-manufacturer adds to the cisely equal diminution of demand in the foreign market; and unless it can national wealth by sending his goods to places where they are more merchants, we must be satisfied, on the first blush of the matter, that the valuable than at home, and bringing back in return commodities that expenditure of those landlords.who reside in London or Paris has just as have a higher value here than on the spots where they are produced. great an effect in vivifying and animating industry in Ireland, as if they re- Cotton goods are not exchanged for cotton goods, nor British corn sided in Cork or Dublin."—Ediabto gh Review. for corn grown abroad ; but each is exchanged for equivalents—for The question is not, in our opinion, as to the comparative advant- articles, that is to say, on the production of which an equal amount ages of home or foreign trade, Ivli:eli Mr. MACCULLOCH supposes it of labour has been expended. Gold is not imported into this country to be ; nor do we perctive any similarity in the results produced by in exchange for gold—because such a traffic would not stimulate the exportation of commodities, and the exportation of rent, what- the produCtion or consumption of any thing, while the labour ex- " Let it be supposed," says he, " that the rent of a resident landlord con- The sale of a bill of exchange adds nothing more to the national sists of a thousand quarters of wheat, or a thousand head of cattle, and that wealth than such an exchange of gold for gold. It is merely an it is paid in kiwi, and that he exchanges his wheat and cattle for an equiva- affair of convenience to individuals. The wish of the landlord to pos- lent amount of such Irish arid other produce as he may have occasion for : sess himself of foreign money, will not induce foreigners to purchase suppose, now, that this landlord transfers himself and his family to London, and that the actual sacks of wheat or head of cattle are sent to him there, he more Irish commodities than they otherwise would do ; and in ex- will in this case exchange them for an equivalent amount of English commo- changing his rent for money due to Ireland, he to all intents and pur- dities. Now, it is obvious that the landlord has consumed, in both cases, the poses carries his rent abroad with him, without' in the slightest de- whale value of the corn and cattle ; exchanging them, in the first case, for an gree increasing the trade of Ireland. The transmission of rent ope-
whisky and brown ale better than the claret they at present drink abroad. But as long as this liking is not produced, to shut them up against their
Suppose, again, the rent to be paid in gold. The gold will, as in The cases, we beg to submit to the Westminster Reviewer, are
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