Star. — London, England, 1819-08-03 00:00:00

I I ti IF 1 It I' I 1 1 I ;d LONDON. - THE EVENING STAR. TUESDAY, AUGUST 3, 1819. THE FUNDS. FliiiioriTOCKS THIS DAT AT ONZ OVLOCK Beak Stock 232 233 2321 3 per Cent. Reduced 72 71f 3 per Cent. CGmsols Si per. Cent. 81i 80i 81-4 per Cent. 90fil 5 per Cent. Navy 104 fit Bank Long Annuities 19i 3-16 India Stock 220 221i —India Bonds 10 11 pre. Exchequer Bills (2d.) 3 4 2 pre. Omnium 4i 4 pre. • Consols for Acct. 71it. We yesterday endeavoured to call the attention 01 the affluent and humane to the distresses now cap - rienced by the unemployed workmen, especial* in , the Manufacturing Districts; and endeavoured tO press upon the consideration of the benevolent the ne. cessity of making an instant provision to relieve their sufferings, by proceeding to collect, by voluntary contributions and subscriptions, a Fund for the pur pose. For this end we recommended the calling of a Public Meeting in the City for this object exclis sively (all political discussions to be avoided on the oc casion) ; and that Charity Sermons should be preached in all Churches and Chapels, and also in all Dissent.. ing Congregations, in aid of the Fund. This was suggested for a present supply ; but we mentioned also the necessity of digesting, and adopt ing generally throughout the Kingdom some efficient means calculated to secure employment to the work men, and when employed, a proper remuneration for their labour : and on this we shall now offer a few ob servations—premising, that mere discussion, however useful, will not afford any remedy, and that the true philanthropist, and every Christian is called upon to exert himself according to his sphere and influence, in carrying salutary measures into operation. To assent w the fitness of any proposed mean is nothing, if every one shall still continue to leave to others the carrying it into effect. To find employment for as many as possible of those who are willing to labour, is an object of the first consideration. On this subject several practical plans have already been submitted to the public, and one of them has received the consideration of Parlia ment—the plan for letting small portions of land to the Poor.-on which the Provisional Committee sit ting at the King's Head Tavern, in the Poultry, be stowed much labour ; and to which every Parish may give efficacy in consequence of the Act passed last Session, relative to the Poor Laws. On this we need not dwell farther than to press upon the well disposed in all the Parishes throughout the Kingdom, a due consideration of the facilities afforded by chic Act for finding employment for the Poor, instead of allowing the able bodied to continue a burden upon the Rates. On MI. Owsia's rhilanthropic Plans we need not in sist at present, as we have, on different occasions, laid the whole subject before our Readers : but we can not pass them over without pressing on their atten tion the claims they have to consideration. It is no argument to say that they are new—they have not the sanction of experience; for this is the case invariably with all measures called for by new circumstances. The present situation of the country is unprecedented' and we think Mr. OWEN has demonstrated that a complete change is indispensable in all the arrange ments that relate to the economy of labour, and the means of subsistence for the labouring classes. The plans, therefore, demand the most serious attention and, sooner or later, if we would avoid most dread ful calamities, they must, either in their present or in some modified form, be acted upon. But what seems, at the present moment, to call for the most decided exertions of all the friends of humanity, peace, and good order, is the preventing the whole mass of our employed manufacturing la bourers from becoming an overwhelming load upon the Poors' Rates—that is, upon the rents, property, and income of the rest of the community. We have long raised our voice against the absurd and falla cious doctrine that labour is an article of commerce, which, like material property, should be left to find its level in the market without restraint. To main tain and act upon this doctrine, without limitation, is to sanction and legalize injustice, and to subvert and set aside one of the leading social duties of the Christian religion : " The labourer is worth,q of his re ward." To receive from any man his whole weekly la bour for a less remuneration than will furnish him with the necessaries of life, is a twofold robbery. The la bourer is robbed, and also those who are, obliged to make up the deficiency. It is foUy to maintain that, at the price at which the employer is obliged to sell his commodity, he cannot afford to give higher wages. will ever be regulated by the cost and the price of labour is part of the cost, maintain, which principally concerns Lnity ; for the maintenance of its members gal aim of all the public social relations: have a right, or should be permitted, ivalship by running a race for the star men who rear the fabric that is offered for the ri., t rf c 1 The price will ever be re g utatea ny me cost anu 1 1 . i demand. The pric e of labour is part of the cc and that, we ma i n tain, which principally cone the community ; for the maintenance of its memb 1 1 1 i is the principal aim of all the public social relatio 1 i t and none can have a right, or should be permitt • to carry on rivalship by running a race for the st nation of the men who rear the fabric that is offer i for sale. Anciently this was impossible, for the remune tion for labour was a certain quantity of bread bread-cern, settled; ibr the tut be tarok species of fabourZat a quantity indispentible to the austauanoe or the labourer. When 'Payments in money came to lon'Substituted for mutual convenience, the money price of labour wasseplated by the price of corn.— In process of time this scale of equivalence has been lost sight of, but it is high time that it should be re vived and acted upon. Is any one benefited by paying a less rate of wages fir the manufacture of goods than will enable the workman to live? On the contrary, every person is injured. We have not as a nation, nor can we pos sibly derive, any profit by selling or by exporting goods below print* cost. The labour being part of the cost, if not flay paid for, is, to the extent of thk difference, a. sinking of capital—and the issue, if pert severed in, must he ruin and poverty.—We have just received from Manchester an Address to, the Mau facturers on this subject, signed " A Mamifactuper,' which puts a part of our argument in a pretty Or: light, and from which we therefore mike the ktllowi ins extract • " (Jerusalem—The deplotable situation to which the Weaving Classes in the Cotton Manufacturing' Districts are reduced. induces"me to come forv4l: 4 o their behalf, and to offer to your consikalatiose the following observations and remarks, in rtu will coincide with me that something ought imme : 4iately to be done, to put a stop to the country ma nufacturers reducing weaving below all possibility of existing by it, and continuing to give less than most of the town's manufacturers do, by n to 5 per. cent. on the sale price of most goods at present wanted. In the absence of foreign demand (now our manufactory has arrived at so great a pitch), great sacrifices in various descriptions of goods are made. " A few leading London and country buyers, who monthly or oftener, visit this narrket, are so very keenly sought after by necessitous wage-reducing men, that an awful fall in the price of goods is the natural consequence. Larger quantities, and cheaper lots, time after time, are forced on them, and that they may not be under-sold by their competitors, let the goods go at a fair profit on the invoice price.— The astonished draper after purchasing such goods, goes home, tickets his new-bought stock 5 to 10 per per cent. less than he has heretofore sold-similar goods for, and immediately undersells his neighhours, and depresses a considerable part of the stock he had left on hand. And who has caused this evil? " The inconsiderate manufacturer, by the abomi nable system of reducing labour when the slightest depression is felt in the market. I was informed by a very extensive buyer, on Wednesday week, who resides not a hundred. miles from Skinner-street, London, (very much M his credit be it stated) that the very low price of goods at the present moment was entirely owing to the manufacturers, and that if weaving averaged one-third more, he and other, buyers should not purchase one piece less—and every London and country buyer with whom I have lately conversed have made similar declarations. "All foreigners in town admit, that full and over stocked markets here, cause glutted and flat markets abroad ; and that when their markets are over stocked, no merchants have more difficulty in effect- ing sales at saving prices, especially when a few bales of goods, bought by individuals more fortunate than their neighbours, in meeting with a sacrificing manu facturer, make their appearance ; that their stock on hand, fairly bought, is neglected, or considered dear ; that evil instead of good, and embarrassment instead of relief, is the natural consequence of dimi nishing the price of weaving. " These regular foreign stock-holders come fresh into the market with all these circumstance, full in view, and are consequently determined to have goods cheaper than before—and who can blame them Why should a man who gives relief by purchasing extensive quantities, and supporting a steady prudent trade, be superseded by a trifling buyer ? ‘ 4 The man of trifling means, and mean purchases under such circumstances, Lecome a common injury; and he and the oppressing manufacturer should be alike treated, viz. put under proper restraint by whole some regulations of the price of weaving ! ! " We produce goods at extreme low prices, en tirely to the advantage of the home and foreigq con sumers, while a population of one million employedi and otherwise interested in the cotton manufactory, have not the means of becoming consumers to half the extent they would, if a price, below which weaving should not be reduced, was fixed. The following statement will shew, in addition to the foregoing observations, the necessity of some regulation ;- 1810, 1814,'1816, and the present year, have given four striking proofs of over-trading !! Look at the re-action of our too-much extended commerce, and the facilities of our merchants, spin ners, and manufacturers. In 1809, the import into Great Britain of cotton amounted to 440,380 bales, and in 1818, 665,300 bales; increase 224,920 bales. When we spun 3,500 to 5,000 bales weekly these pe riods came only every five to seven years. But no sooner do we spin 6,000 to 7,000, and now nearly 8,000 bales per week, but we have four of the most awfully ruinous periods in nine years that oifr ledgers or memories can furnish. Every additional draw back of this kind sinks the value of weaving lower than before; and I am persuaded, that if we go on to spin nine to ten thousand bales weekly, un less the export trade for twist doubles or trebles, (v/hich would be injurious to the manufacturing intetest) and, if an increasing- quantity of sood! . :41 paciortion to the increase of spinning were produc e', *Ad the weavers torow e gittliten for noelsisg, the mann, 'faettsrerr would be no better off than they are it pre sent : inasmuch as we have full proof that the fo- ' reign OtarliStOinnot take beyond a certain quantity, let the price be what it may. . " It may be fairly presumed, that not more than nine-tenths of the goods exported in the last ten years have been, or ever will be, paid for ! indeed some men of extensive information have supposed that more than one-fifth or one-sixth remains unpaid at the present moment!!! " That these evils are attributable to the British Qovernment, I cannot admit. It is the spirit of over trading which has grown upon us, and which calls 'loudly for reformation. But as long as the supine indiffetence of the middle orders of society exist, and the easy overlooking capitalists turn a deaf ear to their. Ikea interests, and the good of a well-disposed ~ ..: . • , no better state of things can be hoped for the - anufacturing, Districts. 41 , • elAthidle orders of society ought, in all cases • local &stress, to search the causes, circumstances, • ~ nc , and influence of such distress, to the very . , aml to bee well to it, that every thing that Can be done ta.give relief in such cases is promptly and . judiciously attended to and .if legislative enactment be necessary for the accomplishment of such desirable objects, should solicit such assht ance without delay ; and if such modes of procedure Stine acted upon, the best possible security of this realm would be fully insured. ', I am confident that 20 hand•loom manufacturers formed into a Committee, with their heads and hearts intent en doing good, would be of more real benefit to these districts than all the ilftelel tribe of itinerant Reformers in the Kingdom. Such arrangements I presume might be entered into, and sush measures adopted, as would show to the world that £60,000 per week might as well be added to the income of those employed, and supported by cotton weaving, as' 60 pence I ! ~ What a relief to ley-payers! What a relief to shopkeepers of various descriptions ! What a relief to thousands of various artisans.—But more pleasing than all, what a relief to suffering humanity !! " A MANUFACTURER." We shall return to this subject. In the mean time we entreat eur fellow-labourers at the Periodical Press to give us their hearty co-operation in endea vouring to disseminate right views on these most important topics. THE DISTURBED. DISTRICTS. WEAVRRS UNION. Saturday last, a Meeting, consisting of about SOO persons, principally,of the labouring classes, was held at Dewsbury, for the purpose of strengthening and explaining the nature of the Weavers' Union. JAMES HINESON explained, that the object of this Society was to better the condition of the workmen, by enabling them to acquire a higher remuneration for their labour, to prevent undue advantage from being taken of them, by fixing a regular rate of wages, and to diminish the quantity of labour, and thereby to give to all a fair and equitable share, with out overstocking the market. These benefits, he said, were not to be secured without a struggle ; but with firmness and moderation they would succeed, in spite of all the opposition of their overgrown tyrants. GEORGE HonosoN enlarged upon several of the topics insisted upon by the ,preceding speaker. He conceived that the interests of the employer and the employed were the same. He contended that no ad vantage had arisen from reducing wages, either to the master or to the men. The oppressor indeed might be benefited, while the man of feeling was in jured by such a measure. This was strongly exem. plified in the fact, that some men, owing to their want of bowels of compassion, had so screwed down their workmen, that they were making goods at half the .price of their . neighbours. Owing to this cause, the working classes were unable to live by the sweat of their brow. The price of labour was at present no toriously unequal, and a standard, which might serve as a criterion, was indispensable. Low wages, he said, injured the trade, by glutting the markets, and caused the labourer and the produce of his labour to be equally despised. One of the causes of the present complaints was the intrusion of upstart masters—men' who had no legal right to the trade, who were un acquainted with its operations, and were the first to diminish the value of that labour which they did not know how to estimate. In conclusion, he recapitu lated the objections made against the Weavers! Union, and urged the answers contained in the Dews bury Address. Mr. WILLA/4 wished the Meeting not to be alarm ed if he said a few words upon politics, which they so much deprecated. Their present distress might be justly attributed to the political state of the country. Cheap goods could not be manufactured with dear provisions and high taxes, and the Wool Bill would not lessen the evil. Our Merchants and Manufac tureri could not, from the pressure uncler which their [ trade labours, cenvete with Foreigners, *without re ducing wages : this was the true cause of the evil, and not any oppressive disposition of the employers. The increasing burdens of taxation compelled them to look about for relief ; and that relief they o, 4 ; red at the workman's expense. If they obtained their birth-right, the eiils of which they comp', naed would cease. These observations agitated the Meeting " i: er. pressions of disapprobation and applause; a:ILi Hi:mow having observed, that neither that Me et i rs nor the Weavers' Union had an y t hi ng to do ui politics, the assembly dispersed. A little while after the Meeting hid proceed t i to business, a violent thunder-storm came on, w hi di forced the persons present to seek for shelter in ert? , direction. After an interval of about an hoar, t h e) , re-assembled and proceeded with the bushiessgi t h e meeting. About seven o'clock the whale broke, with perfect tranquillity and good ordLr. T, ci. y hth t t h ae c l o i a n tn :e l d p i t t . i h r : it ei r e ed2 ti r fee ,k . yes d,. !eting % so, er. ause; arai :,; r. . ,r e; ng to d o , i 1 c r i proteedei to 6 c me on, whi c h At( shelter in ereq, 1 an hoar, rl, - busilie w of the no whale broke, ..l IX. I V, ce owners ) ~r t i. e It chiefly ).,l ound, tttended by the II 31asgow, as tt. m rho are proprie. es to the promi se ii ;, at the Crov al •ei as resoived that ta attire sl:-.'id be Ael ited for tlie pe r , o tomediate effect, to of affording in. 0 ! Weavers them. tie exist, to anot h e r "os give such reef td that a vols. 1 1 mmediately. A al •esent undertook J .1,.: eputat:on free w Loan Psovosv an commtuficattl the DepuLuitio mmense body of e he result. The e he most enthu• i e Meeting being s :: its humane co:. 01.1 the most rapt:. e spersed. y eavers and some i „ t k, soup-kitcheas lv( to relief of such Th This will be the ',... i ome meal once a l'. s who may sta:l 41:: .•e all Sheriff of ce ..) Card, have is,lea Teem it 7', , ..;!..t ;,, i " that sincet! i m of many eil:t -, they are use!, e eviate these of )se inhabitantsis ski co are actually'[ ile they are thz as 111 are of the um s, hereby declare t ntain the public Ofi iot, and attempts ce es to employ A , I laced by the hi . l - 'hereas numrocs led in the Greet ugh the stress of a the public peace; J i farther intimate, in .mblages and pro. au necessary for de ger eel situation of ire or ,dipstresATE:::l;* contrary to lair ar, at lic Veavers of ILin4 c-y r the Church, it id t mode of alien :- i in. A Commies ies ndividuals of esi kp 111 Tuesday, to ea' • 'nu After taking* ',ii was recommesioi x rs should be rael q„, ,Ii ng that they sys:;-- es for their ;:to .xr fined, that cl:: 1 ae I, 1 4 , 99 are r.ow•o'' `:s, :RS. ' e av, . o that we ha" °6 ., h oT th 'E e ß ha , isong the no , , t( the weaving to° e Kilwinning , i';:" H is reat many l' - . I believe, ho' ny o unavoidably -. • fi era' 0 than in T'l i ris ch the natio xel Us ' I HI w ast shift for 4 ' " I 1 1 r D r C S I 1 week. iskialsfl'oriloo.go:faltiO, GLASGOW W EAV ERS. A Meeting of the Heritors (144d -owners) of the Barony Parish, where the Weavers chiefly ;il,, nrid, was held on Thursday, which was attended by t h e LORD PROVOST and Magistrates of Glasgow, as re. presenting the community thereof who are proprie. tors in the Barony Parish, agreeably to the point * made to the Deputation of Weavers, at the croo n Hotel, on the day preceding. It vas resolved th at work of both a public and private nature he created, and a Committee was appointed for the pr. pose of carrying this resolution into immediate deo. It was also resolved, for the purpose of affording in. stant relief in extreme cases, that the Weavers then. selves should report where such cases exist, to :mothe r Committee, who were authorized to give such reef as these cases seemed to require, and that a vols• tart' contribution should take place immediately. A number of respectable individuals present undertook to procure subscriptions. According to appoirtment, a Deputation free the Weavers waited next day on the LORD PROVOR and Magistrates, when his Lordship commuificattl to them the above resolutions, and the DepuLrion proceeded to the Green, where an immense bodyof Weavers were assembled to hear the result. The communication was received with the most enthu. siastic cheers ; and the thanks of the Meeting being moved to the LORD Pnovnsr for his humane cu. duct, the same was carried amidst the most rapt:. rous applause, when the Meeting dispersed. On account of the number of Weavers and some others tieing at present out of work, soup-kitchens have been opened for the immediate relief of such families as live within the city. This will be the means of furnishing a good wholesome meal once a day to sober and industrious families who mry st4,l in need of such temporary aid. The Magistrates of Glasgow, Sheriff of ce County, and Justices of the Lower Ward, have ismi a Proclamation, stating that they deem it this manner publicly to intimate, " that sir , sympathising in the present distresses of many labouring classes of the community, they are every means in their power to alleviate these tresses, and to afford Relief to all those inhabital this City and populous suburbs who are actual:y necessitous circumstances. But while they x endeavouring to mitigate the pressure of the the Magistrates, Sheriff, and Justices, hereby their determined resolution to maintain the peace, and to repress all disorder, riot, and at at depredation, and for these purposes to employ the force, both civil and military, placed by the at their disposal." The Proclamation adds, that " whereas nume-c:s bodies of men have'of late assembled in the Gras, and have from thence paraded through the street< the City, to the imminent hazard of the publi the Magistrates, Sheriff, and Justices farther . that such large and tumultuous assemblages and, cessions, which are altogether unnecessary for purpose of representing the distressed situation , dividuals, or of obtaining relief, are contrary and can no longer be permitted." HAMILTON. Saturday last a Meeting of the Weavers of . ton was held in a small Green near the Church, the purpose of ascertaining the best mode of Ling their present distressed situation. A Comni.: consisting of the most respectable individuals of & district, were appointed to meet on Tuesday, berate on this important subject. After takir subject coolly into consideration, it was r ecr that a representation to the heritors should be out, stating their distress, and craving that the: adopt the most expedient measures for their . diate relief. It has been ascertained, that ort 1209 looms regularly employed, 499 are nos and the numbers daily increasing. AYRSHIRE WEAVERS. EXTRACT FROM A PRIVATE LETTER, DATED MARNOCK, JULY 30. " You are right in supposing that we have escaped coming in for a share of the distress at present so generally prevails among the classes. Not only here, but in all the weavinl, of this county, at Ayr, Saltcoats. Kilwinning , maurs, Mauchlin, Beith, &c. a great inany / have been thrown completely idle. I believe, ever, that the distress which must unavoidabl exists, as yet, more in apprehension than in That provident sentiment for which tie name this side of the Tweed are so justly renhu kablat the unemployed workman feel almost as anal( the dread of being in want a few week; or as if he were already at his last shift for