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| Archive Reference / Library Class No. | D3155/WH/2916 |
| Title | Volume containing correspondence and other papers relating to currency (Col. Torrens), corn, wages, tithes and game laws, marked 'Confidential', presumably assembled by or on behalf of Sir Robert John Wilmot Horton in his capacity of Under Secretary of State for War and the Colonies |
| Date | Oct 1826-Feb 1827 |
| Description | SUMMARY
- A substantial paper about currency stabilization by the economist Robert Torrens (1780-1864), with related correspondence, Nov 1826
- Letters from Thomas Moody (1779-1849) and related documents discuss Moody’s possible research activity in relation to wage levels, supply and demand for labour and relevance to emigration policies. At the end of the volume is a specimen “schedule” [questionnaire] which may be related to the issues set out in the Moody correspondence.
- Documents with discussion of policy about game laws and about tithes, including correspondence with John Tomlinson (1772-1838) about support for a Tithes Commutation Bill.
CONTENTS
- Paper by Robert Torrens “On the Means of establishing a cheap, secure and uniform Currency: and of placing in the Treasury, for the public service, the sum of £25,000,000” (32 pages)
Discusses fluctuations in paper currency that is based on precious metals. Lists remedies already proposed and sets out proposals, including confirmation of gold standard, linkage of bank notes to bullion; pledges from provincial banks for paper notes issued, and replacement of higher value gold coins by bank notes.
- Letter from Robert Torrens, Holmes’s Hotel, Parliament Street, 7 Nov 1826 (4 pages)
Sends a copy of the currency plan. Has also sent a copy to Lord Liverpool. Refers to works of Ricardo, Henry Drummond and MacCulloch. Believes it is necessary to reduce poor law expenditure through a programme of emigration; to modify tithes to prevent them operating as a tax on tillage, and to make available a cheap and abundant yet secure and uniform currency in order to reduce the pressure of debt
- Copy letter, [sender unknown] at Brighton, 28 Oct 1826 (5 pages)
Wishes to avoid newspapers reporting that Major Moody had been sent to make enquiries. Lists questions of interest: about wage levels; workers’ distress; level of emigration needed to balance supply and demand for labour; likelihood that a reduction in supply of labour would lead to greater use of machinery; whether unemployed workers would benefit from a reduction in the price of corn, and whether the benefit from any reduction in prices would increase the master’s profit rather than the worker’s wage
- Memorandum for Mr Wilmot Horton [author unknown] (3 pages)
Refers to questions put to Major Moody; discusses the concept of market price applied to the value of labour, including enslaved labour: and includes references to a “proposed letter"
- Letter from Thomas Moody at 18 Downing Street, 27 Oct 1826 (4 pages)
Will write to Mr Franklin. Ready to go at short notice to Glasgow, Manchester or wherever sent. Rejects the practicality of making research visits incognito. Met no problems when he made similar enquiries in France and the Netherlands. There would be a risk of getting unreliable information. Suggests using a cover story of writing a book about labour, wages, etc. Encloses [not present] and discusses draft diagrams for 1825 taken from finance accounts. Would like to meet
- Letter from Thomas Moody at 18 Downing Street, 30 Oct 1826 (7 pages)
Will see Mr Myer about the diagrams. Discusses geometric representation of relative sums. Asks to visit Brighton for discussion. Sets out a plan for research about wage rates. Has forwarded queries to Mr Mathieson. Offers thoughts about individual queries. [The queries themselves are not stated, but the context implies the gathering of information about wages, supply of labour and technical innovation in relation to Corn Laws]
- “Observations on the Necessity of making Game private Property” [Author not given] (3 pages)
Argues that if the sale of game were made legal such a measure would bring an end to poaching; the current penalty for poaching being a fine but with no loss of liberty
- Newspaper cutting of an article containing excerpts of a letter from Wilmot Horton to the Duke of Norfolk about controversial issues relating to tithes [The New Times, 25 Oct 1826]
An original note and the next letter refer to the source of this cutting being The Courier, but it certainly also appeared in The New Times
- Letter, 31 Oct 1826 (4 pages)
Response to the newspaper article (above) about tithes. Address and signature of author unclear
- Letter from John Tomlinson Cliff-ville, 10 Feb 1827 (3 pages)
Expresses appreciation for interest taken in his Tithes Commutation Bill. Discusses related arguments and refers to Mr Hamilton’s views, which will remain in confidence
- Letter from Anthony Hamilton at 42 Castle Street Leicester Square, 3 Feb 1827 (13 pages)
Offers his opinion about commutation of tithes and associated issues
- Letter from John Tomlinson at Cliff-ville, 25 Nov 1826 (5 pages)
Expresses appreciation for interest taken in his intended Tithes Commutation Bill. Discusses related issues. Intends to call upon Wilmot Horton at Downing Street for personal discussion.
- Letter from John Tomlinson at Cliff-ville, 25 Jan 1827 (1 page)
A reminder: asks for Wilmot Horton’s views on the Tithes Commutation Bill. (Annotated on reverse: “Where is his letter?”)
- Letter from John Tomlinson at Cliff-ville, near Newcastle, Staffre., 16 Nov 1826 (3 pages)
Acknowledges having not supported Wilmot Horton’s election at Newcastle. Asks for support for his intended Tithes Commutation Bill
- Copy letter from J W Horton, Downing Street, to J Tomlinson, undated (7 pages)
Agrees with the principle of Tomlinson’s Bill and will support it. Would like to be sent more details. Discusses further thoughts and contingencies
- “Minutes, Rectory of Stoke upon Trent”, 16 Nov 1826 (3 pages)
Describes the Rectory [parish] and sets out John Tomlinson’s proposal of a Tithes Commutation Bill [Legislation was enacted as the Stoke Rectory Act 1827]
- Document examining economic implications of tithes undated (15 pages)
Author not given; bears marginal comments in a different hand
- “Memorandum for Mr Wilmot Horton relative to tythes – and considering them as a tax, on whom do they fall?” Undated (34 pages)
Author not given; bears marginal comments in a different hand
- Specimen schedule for completion by individual workmen: to be completed with details of family composition; occupation and income of each family member; itemised annual expenditure, with differentiation between home produced goods and goods from the colonies; expenses incurred related to sickness, children’s education and taxation; and information about average prices during the year. Undated (4 pages) |
| Extent | 1 volume |
| Level | Item |
| Repository | Derbyshire Record Office |
| Archive Creator | Sir Robert John Wilmot Horton, baronet (1784-1841), Under-Secretary of State for War and the Colonies 1821-1828, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Ceylon 1831-1837 |
| Wilmot-Horton family of Osmaston and Catton, Derbyshire |
| Format | Document |
| Physical Description | Hard covered volume |
| Copies | A digital copy of this item is available on the public computers at the record office. |
| Related Material | For other letters from Robert Torrens to Robert John Wilmot-Horton see: D3155/C/6493, D3155/C/6495, D3155/WH/2882, D3155/WH/2889, D3155/WH/2927, D3155/WH/3028 and D3155/WH/3057.
For other letters from Thomas Moody to Robert John Wilmot-Horton see: D3155/C/6713, D3155/C/6819, D3155/C/6907, D3155/WH/2849, D3155/WH/2940 and D4576/19/8.
The text of Torrens essay on currency has been published as follows:
- D. O'Brien (1965) 'The Transition in Torrens’ Monetary Thought', Economica, Vol. 32, pp. 286-301
- Mark Blaug, Ed. (1991) 'Ramsay McCulloch (1789–1864), Nassau Senior (1790–1864) and Robert Torrens (1780–1864)'. |
| Term | Emigration |
| Colonial administration |
| Colonial administrators |
| Tithe legislation |
| Currencies |
| Corn laws |
| Game animals |
| Wages |
| Wage policy |
| Labour economics |
| Tithe Commutation Act 1836 c71 |
| Game law |
| Poor Law |
| Unemployment |
| Labour |
| Slavery |
| Forced labour |
| Oppression |
| Agricultural labour |
| Agricultural development |
| Ethnic groups |
| Letters (documents) |
| Poachers |
| Acknowledgements | With thanks to Roger Jennens, Cataloguing Volunteer for the additional description provided, September 2021. |
| Archivist Note | This catalogue entry has been amended in line with cataloguing procedures to address offensive and oppressive language, 10 November 2022 KM |