Star. — London, England, 1819-08-13 00:00:00

+' ~'7 ' 7 .• d p ; 4 ! . . • .• • • t, • • • THE EVENING •STAR. LONDON. • NEXT TITESDAY the Lottery Draws..—Tero Prizes of 1036,000 Conwls—only 64,00 Mans. FRIDAY, AUGUST 13, 1819. THE FUND& IPRTtt OF STOCKS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK s 3 per Cent. Reduced 72)72* 3 per Cent. Consols 71i*** 81 per Cent. 811-4 per Cent. 91 soit .5 per Cent. Navy 101341 Bank Long Annuities 19 3-16* lipperial 3 per Cent. Ants. 70* India Bonds 12 1,3 pre. Exchequer Bills (2d.) 1 2 pre. Omnium pre. Consols for Acct. 72 71i. Every new day furnishes proof of are truth of our e_ssertion, that the Public Press of this Kingdom never is, or can become the systematic abettor of oppres sion and injustice of any kind ; but, on the contrary, will ever give support to the cause of the oppressed, the distressed, and the injured—when rightly in formed on the points at issue. The Morning Chronicle has, we are happy to say, given, this day, a striking instance of the truth of oar general position, as to dte glorious character that attaches to our free press; and has, at the same time, manifested much candour in admitting one of our leading and fundamental doctrines on the question of the Remuneration due for Labour.— The Editor of that Paper has adopted, enlarged, and illustrated the views which we yesterday gave on the effects of Legislative Interference in regulating the Prices of Labour, in a manner which does him credit ; and which, from his known hatred of injustice and wrong, we were prepared to expect: but which, from the limited view he took of this question yes terday, we durst not hope to have witnessed by the revolution of only twenty-four hours. However such is the fact. It is true, he sets out with a brief de fence of the Masters, before he advances the argu ments which he offers in support of the cause which we advocate. To this we have no objection : on the contrary, ACC are as willing as he can wish us to be to do justice to the Employers; for we blame , not them, but the system which empowers them to oppress their dependants. Our censure of the Masters is but secondary—and of that character which should ever be extended to those who, under any circumstances, minister to injustice and rob- Lery : cur detestation of the system which not only empowers, but, as it were, solicits them to defraud their worb.:en, is radical and founded on principles which must either ultimately prevail, or we may ex pect to see, and that at no very remote period, the whole of our enviable political fabric entirely sub verted. The cause which we advocate is not merely that of the oppressed workmen :—it is that of cur Government and Constitution—that of every friend to peace and order—that of our whole community— that of the entire human race. After, with due decorum, offering a defence for the Masters, and putting the best possible face cn the arguments offered by W. B. (see the STAR of Thurs day), The Chronicle of this morning does great justice to the argument we advanced yesterday, expressing itself in the following terms : , " But while we contend for liberty to the master, justice de mands of us that we should also advocate the liberty of the work man. While we would protect the master from unreasonable demands, we would extend the same protection to those whom be employs. "" That the workmen of this country are under very mere and 11110ial restriction-I,Am the purpose efpresenting them from de riving aU the advantages which a demand for labour entitle, them to, it aid I known. The removal of these restrictions would, not, it is true, have the effect of raising wages at the present moment, when the markets are overstocked ; but this state of things car, not last always, and a better time cannot be chosen for vindi cating the just claims of the workman, than when the public is generally disposed to sympathise with their sufferings, it not to be unjust towards their masters. " We allude of course to the laws against combinations, which ought more properly to be called laws to make workmen take what ever their employers choose to give them When there is a demand for labour, the workman ought to be at full liberty to avail him self of his knowledge of this circumstance. The struggle be tween wages and profits, ought in this, as well as the former case, to be left perfectly free ; for if the profits of the master cannot admit of the addition demanded by the workman, of course he will not give it. The I.ublic have no right to interfere between them. Labour is a commodity which ought to be bought and sold with the same freedom as any other, and there can-be no reason why a man should be compelled to work for less than be pleases, than that he should sell his grain for less. In the same manner the workman ought to be allowed the most perfect freedom of deliberation with those who are similarly circumstanced with himself. No man would now think of' , puisishing a number of farmers for combining together to raise the price of corn. Yet combinations arc much snore practicable with farmers than with workmen ; for the facility of combina tion is always in the inverse number of the numbers combining. " If a number of workmen choose to throw up their work, and to remain unoccupied for a time rather than take the wages offered them, this is a speculation which may or may not turn out beneficial for them; but we can see no more reason for say ing they should not be at perfect liberty to do so whets they please, than for saying that a person who brings goods into a market should not be at full liberty to sell or not sell them at the price offered him.—' It is not difficult to foresee which of the two parties,' says Dr. Ssuru, must upon all ordinary occa sions have the advantage in the dispute, and force the others into a compliance with their terms; but the Combination Laws have the effect of throwing additional power Mco th e t oa d s of those who, from the nate% of things, ere the most powerful.- 5 A landlord, a farmer, a master manufaisturer, se merchant; conti nua Dr. Batton, • though they did not employ a single work man, could generally live a year or two upon the stock which they have already acquired, while many workmen could not subsist a week, few could subsist a month, and scarce any a year, without employment.'—And yet to guard against the romibility this cessation from labour, which can seldom occur, and must neces sarily be of such short duration, have all the rigours of the law beers directed as against a most heinous crime. " We have never yet heard any reason for this interference between master and workman, deserving of the slightest atten tion. It may be said, that it is the interest of the master to throw every obstacle in the way of a rise of wages ; but it does not follow that the interest of the Public it to be identified with the interest of the master any more than it is in the interest of the workman. It has also, we know, been said, that by workmen suddenly striking, the concerns of the master may often be ex posed to the greatest hazard. But in all cases where a business may be endangered by this circumstance, such a contract ought to be entered into as might prevent the master from being ever taken unawares. He bas no right to call for a law to protect him against what originates altogether in his own want of foresight. " 6 Masters, says Dr. Santa, ' are okays and every when in a sort if tacit, but constant and uniform combination, not to raise the wages of labour above their actual rue. To violate this combi nation is every where a most unpopular action, and a sort of re proach to a master among his neighbours and equals.' There was for a long time, however, no law against the combination of masters, and when from a skew of justice it was at last thought fit to prohibit these combinations also, the master was allowed to escape with a slight fins, while a severe imprisonment was impended over the head of the workman. Combination is thus in the one ease considered a venial offence, and in the other a hei nous critne, a distinction for which there is no other reason that we know of, but that masters happen to be makers of laws and work men are rlt. a But though the combination of masters happens ale.° to be prohibited by law, this circumstance would even seem to be sametimes forgotten by those who administer the law, as well as by masters themselves. We remember, during the last turn-ou t of the Cotton Spinners, that a certain Judge in his charge to a Grand Jury, even went so far as to say, that any master who complied with the demands of his workmen, was the enemy of his country ! " If this is not recommending combination, we know not the meaning of the word. We recqllect, too, the unsparing abuse which was heaped in several Newspapers, and particularly in The Courier, on a certain Manufacturer in Manchester, who alone refused to make common cause with his brethren, and whose workmen never left him, from his having at once agreed to their demands ; but while all were ready to condemn the combinations of the workmen, this indication of a similar combination on the part of masters was allowed to pass unnoticed. " Before the close of the last Session, a Petition wrs presented to the House of Commons for a Repeal of the Combination Law:. Those who are interested in such repeel would do well to avail themselves of a moment peculiarly favourable for ob taining the public attention to claims, which require only to be fairly discussed to be generally admitted. The public will soon see that they hate no interest z. , fcr:aurin,g either the liftr party or the other, or in determining what share of the returns shall go to profits and :chat to wages. They will see that it is for tke general good, that matters and workmen should be left in the enjoyment t , f equal liberty; that both are entitlrd to protection, when they claiml only that liberty; but neither, when they claim to place each other under restrictions." Thus far The Morning Co-ankle. The doctrines are so precisely those which we have advanced, that we should have thought the Editor had The Star be fore him as his text, and was occupied in composing a well written commentary ;—but his next words op pose this idea, for he adds : .6 We had written thus far, when The Star of last right came into our hands, which we; are happy to find coincides with us in opinion en this subject, though the writer seems, on what ground we know not, to take it for granted that we approve of the Com bination Laws. As the specific injuries suffered by the work men, under these Laws, are very forcibly pointed out by our Cotemporary, we shall conclude with inserting that part of the article he accordingly did. Happy are we to find that we are so far agreed. There is, however, one received opinion, stated in his argument, to which we cannot subscribe till we shall have some demonstration of its truth offered to us. It may he true, butive-are not satisfied that it is so. The words we allude to are these :=-" Labour is a commodity which ought to be bought and sold with the same freedom as any otber."—ln our present views, but we may be wrong, Labour is vnt a com modity, but that which produces all marketable com modities ! We have :ec ived to-day Halifax Papers to the 20gi of July. Orders have been received there foi the immediate discharge of almost every person em ployed in his Majesty's Naval Yard and Hospital.— The%e establishments are no longer to be kept up ; the ships of war on the Halifax station are in future to receive at Bermuda whatever repairs they may require. The Earl and Countess of llnurovsa ar rived at Quebec, in his Majesty's ship MERSEY, on the 30th of June. The Parliament of Upper Canada was on the 14th of July prorogued by proclamation until the 21st day of October. A Mail arrived last night from Flanders, from the Papers brought by which we have given some ex tracts in a preceding column. A Dutch Mail has also arrived this forenoon, with Papers to the 11th instant. The KING of SWEDEN arrived in Stockholm on the 27th ultimo ; and the KING of PRUSSIA at Berlin on the 2d instant. The KING of the NETHERLANDS has issued a Decree ap pointing Exhibitions of the National Manufactures to take place at stated periods, at Ghent, the first to be in the year 1820. The Countess of GommAND (Queen of Sweden) has been recently in Frankfort, under the strictest incognito. She is almost always with her sister, the Ex-Queen of SPAIN. Yesterday Admiral Sir GEoßos Commit,/ left town for Portsmouth, to attend the hums RZOENT. L TIM DISTURIIO DItTRICTS. LEEDS. AUGUST 10. ANOTHER ATTERIPT AT ASSASSINATION. About eleYen o'clock, on Monday night, as a Gen tleman was going from this town to Dewsbury, about half way from hence, he heard a whistle, and on turn ing his head, perceived a man on the bank of the New-cut which runs alongside the turnpike road, who presented a gun at him, and immediately pulled the trigger, but luckily the piece only flashed in the pan ; the villain, however, immediately re-primed, when the gun went off, and the Gentleman felt the ball go close past his head ; but by putting spurs to his horse, he escaped, and returned safe to this town last night. As this Gentleman is a stranger in this part of the country, there is no doubt the assassins had mistaken their man ; and there is every reason :o fear their intention was to assassinate Mr. HAL LIDAY, an opulent and extensive manufacturer of Dewsbury, who passed along the road a few minutes before. The Reformers and Members of the Union So cieties, are now acting in a mariner well calculated to excite alarm. Instead of giving public notice of their meetings, and assembling in the face of day,. they prefer congregating at night. A numerous Meeting was held on Holbeck Moor, 'near this town, on Monday night last ; but for what purpose, or with what results attended, must be told by those who were in the secret. These nocturnal as semblies auger no good. • GLASGOW, AUGUST 10. During last week upwards of 300 people, living in the Royalty, were working in the Green, and behaved with great propriety during the whole time. The wages during that period were Is. Is. 3d. and Is. 6d. according to the circumstances of the families.— During the same time 330 persons, belonging to the Barony Parish, were employed in a quarry breaking stones on the same terms ; hut, as it appeared from the application to the Committee for work, that there was at least double the number of persons who re quired employment, they resolved to employ a con siderable number in addition to those already em ployed, and, as the;r funds were inadequate to con tinue this for a length of time, they resolved to dimi nish the wages to Is. a day. This determination was intimated to the people in the Green as early asWed nesday last, when they approved of the measure, and' the whole returned to their work on Monday morn ing. The people in the Quarry, however, belonging to the Barony, were not satisfied, and refused to work unless their former wages were allowed them ; both parties having met at the breakfast hour yester day, the Glasgow ones likewise struck work. Under these circumstances, and from a great number of people assembling in the Green, the Magistrates, and R. 11/oval-ow, Esq. Sheriff Depute for the County, took the necessary precaution for keeping the peace. —The constables and a detachment of the 10th Dra goons were on duty, and the 80th Regiment in our garrison were under arms. The evening passed with out any material disturbance. About nine-tenths of the whole workers have, this morning expressed a desire to be employed at the rate of wages offered, and arrangements are making for their re-employ ment. Those from the Quarry resolved yesterday afternoon to wait upon the Rev. Dr. BURNS, to desire him to call a Meeting of the Heritors of the Barony Parish, in order to grant them higher wages. They appointed a delegation, as Dr. BURNS very properly refused to speak to the crowd. He referred the de legates to Mr. GORDON, the agent for the heritors• They accordingly proceeded to that Gentleman's office in Glassford•street ; but finding him from home. they returned to the Green and dispersed, after ap pointing a Meeting this day to take further measures- The military were under arms most of the afternoon• PAISLEY, AUGUST 8. Mr. CAMPBELL, of Walkinshaw, the Convener of the County, has just issued the following notice: " At the request of Lord Blantyre, as Preses of a respectable Meeting of the Heritors of the Abbey Parish of Paisley, held on the sth instant, a Meeting of the Noblemen, Heritors, Ma gistrates of Towns, and Gentlemen at the head of Manufac turing Establishments in the County. is hereby requested at Renfrew, on Friday the 20th instant, at One o'clock, for the purpose of taking into consideration the best and most effectual mode of relieving (by creating employment or otherwise) the distress T.t present experienced by a very considerable proportion of the Operative Manufacturers in the County." STATE PROSECUTIONS. The true bill found at the Warwick Assizes, is against George Edmonds (of Birmingham, schoolmas ter), C. Maddocks (of Birmingham, schoolmaster), John Cartwright (commonly called Major Cartwright) Thos. Jonathan Wooler (Editor of the Bloc& Dwarf), and Mr. Greathead Letris (of Coventry, schoolmas ter), for seditiously meeting to Elect a Representa tive for Birmingham, in Parliament, and electing at that meeting Sir CHARLES WOLSELEY, as Legisla tive Attorney and Representative. A Certiorari has been applied for, by the prosecutors, to remove the proceedings into the Court of King's Bench, in con sequence of which the defendants will be called upon to plead in that Court on the first day of next Term, and the prosecutors will be enabled to take down the record for the trial of the defendants at the next War wick Assizes. Monday last, Mary Bradshaw, alias Moll Nush, was apprehended by Jehn Kay, constable, on a charge of felony at Chorley.—This is one of the Ladies who adorned the stage at the much talked of Reform Meeting in Blackburn, when the Cap of Liberty was hoisted. THE MINCE REGENT'S EIRTIL Yesterday being the nat a l d ay o f his It, ness, the same was o b serve d w i t h the usu, strations of respect and gratitude, by the t of the Royal House. A grand dinner wa s the Thatched-house Tavern, in tVit.Lis's I to which a present of two fat bucks not a , tributed. At six o'clock about sixty perso ns When the cloth was removed, Non Nf,t , was sung by the several professimal Centls nected with the Winter Theatres, after usual constitutional toasts were given. On of the PRINCE REGENT being drank, the Rum NI, who was in the Chair, made are in the course of which he expatiated or. t_ amiable qualities of his Royal Highness. In the evening the illuminations were vet The Opera House and the Little Theatre in market exhibited P. It. and a Crown ; and Covent-garden Theatres thesame, With vices. In short, in every leading streit, dour was remarkable. PORTSMOUTH, AUGUST i His Royal Highness the PRINCE Ret, with Admiral Sir GEORGE CAmpai:u. oti after which he went on brarki of the 1101 yacht, at her moorings at Spithead, where HIGHNESS slept. Yesterday morning, at nine o'clock, th, under weigh, when a royal salute was tin the ships and batteries. She then_proceede to the Westward till five o'clock, when litotiNEss landed at Cowes, under a r from Cuwes Castle, where the royal st been flying all day. Hi. ROYAL. Haat with the Marquis of ANGLESEY. At nine HioHNEss returned on board th sleep ; and this morning, at six o'clock, slu weigh, and went through the Needles, and ing till near five o'clock, when he landed dine s% ith Mr. NASII. The shore was line, sands of elegantly-dressed Ladies and who most heartily greeted his ROYAL Hi, COWES, AUGUST 12. The PRINCE REGICNY'S visit to the Isle has animated all ranks with joy, and greetings more sincere and manifest than to his ROYAL HIGHNESS, from the mom arrival. Tuesday his ROYAL Hrotrret , s disem the first time, on the Isle of Wight, and the Marquis of ANGLESEY, at West C ROYAL HIGHNESS was received with cheers and acclamations from thousands °I and under salutes from the Castle, the shi and yachts belonging to the Club. His Roy Ness re embarked at eleven o'clock, to sleep his yacht, cheered by an attendant and loyal Yesterday the royal yacht got under w( o'clock a. rn. and stood to the Needles, retu a delightful sail of six hours to her an( Cowes Roadstead. At five the PRINCE li, into his barge, accompanied by Prince Es; and landed at East Cowes, where his Ito' Ness was received by his Excellency Lon RIS, the Governor, and the principal inhabi the loudest demonstrations of joy. He: Mr. NASH, the Royal Architect, with a Cowes Castle, and after partaking of an past, returned to sleep on board his yacht This day the PRINCE, in his yacht, Wi PERION frigate, CANIELION and HIND dm and about twenty yachts of the Club, arir' tilla of all sixes, are gone for a sail to till and to view the Ryde Boat-race. To-i whole assemble near Cowes, to wittiest Match, between all the Pabt vessels roun, of the Brambles, and that of the Royal Spithead. His Royal Highness's delight it ing is inexpressible, and his health is high, by this pleasurable and rational pursuit. The Royal yacht's rendezvous is Co stead, the head-quarters of the yachts of and report says, from the great enjoyment PRINCE REGENT, since his arrival within Wight, his Royal Highness's stay will be for some time beyond the period first men, town of East and West Cowes, and ship; bour have been illuminated for two nig sively, and illuminate again to-night. PETITIONS OF FORMER TI In the year 1642, when CHARLES I. at liament were at issue, two remarkable Peti presented to the House of Commons. On' the Porters, fifteen thousand as they said exclaiming against " the prevalence of malignant, blood-sucking, rebellious par: suited tne privileges of Parliament, ant the Irish Rebellion ; which, if rct punt should be forced to extremities not fit to and make good the saying—Neassity They had nothing to lose but their lives. would willingly expose in defence of thi Commons, according to the Protestation. The other Petition was in the name of sands of Poor People in and about the Ci don: this was in fact from the Beggars, wl " That their oppressions were so great, h; the Bishops and Popish Lords, that the , where to get bread ; want and necessity the bounds of modesty, would force them on the next remedy to remove the c l)stur peace, and the hinderers of the harpy r who ought to be publicly laid open to and they cried out for the LORD': sake to . 1 that their religion, laws, and welfare cious in their sight—that the cries of the bless them." 1/D ll . It o }4lli su,,i der, t , ade. e . as l k , t z a Iltl e ),1S sr I "4 , t er L t d )n he (I:t., I, ne e , 3 r. 5•.(: vet .e in t 'it, the , . 1 1. ect):r on ` , l Royal ere the r., : '• tired tie eded t en t royal . standArd ine ss.s o'doi the ),„: she %Qs.; .nd kept ed at Cos. ned limn an, Isle of r AI never an those t. noment of embarked, nd dined Cowes, h the 1., s of siuc • ships of ROYAL H sleep on • • )pal multi • 7 weigh, at returning anchorage, e Recur e TEMA RONAL Ilso ~ord Fiizn it habitant:, N.. , then llonct.i a visit at an elegant icht. with the H sloops of • arid a vu.; :he Eau. ro-morror tecs a land the • ral George, t in yacht • ighly bere 4 t. Cowes R. of the Cl lent felt b!; tin the Lee be prc:rar tenti. - ned. ips in the. • TIMES. . and bit • Petitions • One ral. aid in nu 4' an a,l Party, u'r and 11 , .. ,unishc2, to be ty as .o • t s„ which "' the PO on." of meta City 01 " who d • • t'v re.si thov k:len sky. !Iv ern :0 1 - 3c . tirbe-,•& r to to be mig',:t