Star. — London, England, 1819-08-17 00:00:00

1 ,P" .H... ~~,M 1. /4 LONDON. THE EVENING STAR . TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1819. THE FUND& PRICE Of eroding THIS DAY AT OSIE O'CLOCK Bank Stock 231} 232 3 per Cent. Reduced 721111 3 per Cent. Consols 711 721 Si per Cent. 84+-4 per Cent. 9111,1 5 per Cent. Navy 1051 104 j Bank Long Annuities 3-16 India Stock 221 220—India Bonds 14 lg pre. Exchequer Bills (2d.) 12 pre. Omnium 5 5 pre. Consols for Acct. 711 721 711. As might have been expected, Mr. HALE'S letter ca the impolicy and injustice of reducing the wages of workmen below the rates absolutely necessary even for their subsistence, has brought forth various ano xymous writers in the Daily Papers, who have re peated, with much self-complacency, the old doc trine that labour is a commodity, and like every other commodity should be allowed to find its level in the market; but, like all their predecessors on the same side, they have carefully kept out of view the im policy of suffering a system to continue, which puts it in the power of interested individuals, by artificial and adventitious aids, to force down the price below it: natural and proper level. They seem to be 9onverts to one of the leading artifices employed by Mr. WILKE3, who, when asked how he could so confi dently propagate, on a certain occasion, as true, v hat he must well know would soon be known by all the world to be a falsehood ? replied, ,‘ The lie, in the meantime, answers my purpose; for before the truth shall be found out, I will have gained the ob ject for which I maintained the falsehood!" Not con tent, however, with repeating their favourite doc trine, they have attempted to illustrate it by con trasting the state of trade, &c . in.Spitalfields, where there is a fixed scale for the wages of the workmen, v ith that of Macclesfield, where, by the bye, when trusters have agreed to fixed prices, they are permit ted to s iolate the compact whenever it suits their interest. • We might 'easily show that to contrast a place where th e law regulates the wages, with one where the master's wits, and the measure of his curidi.'..y is the sole law, is not the way to get at a general truth. But we waive this at present, and shall take a statement of one of these writers, merely to shew how easily any anony mous individual may offer garbled facts as indispu table truths—" There is," says he, " an extensive silk manufacturing district, not mentioned by Mr. HALE, which may be fairly contrasted with Spitalfields , the thriving town of Macclesfield, in Cheshire, at no great distance from Manchester, Stockport, and within what are now considered the disturbed districts. The leading articles of the loom of the two districts are similar —the comfort, employment, quiet and or derly conduct of the labouring poor of Macclesfield, not inferior to Spitalfields ; and, in its increased and rapidly increasing silk manufacture, leaving every other silk district far behind. Why this flourishing district, so circumstanced, not only was not chosen for the contrast with Spitalfields, but not even men tioned in the letter of Mr. BALE, will readily be con jectured ; because having attained all these advan tages, without any system of regulated prices of labour, the contrasting this district with Spitalfields, would be conclusive against any support the system of regulated wages could receive from the circum stances of the silk manufacture." It is plain, from this writer's stile, that his measure for ascertaining the prosperity of any manufacture is, the quantum of wealth it yields to the employers. We contend, on the contrary, that this measure is one that is quite fallacious; and that no manufacture can . be in a thriving condition which puts the workmen in a state of starvation. Now, how stands the whole case as to Macclesfield? Simply thus: Macclesfield continued in a peaceable flourishing state, as it re- garded the Silk Trade, from the year 1796 to 1815. During that period the Journeymen were paid a fair price for their labour, agreeably to REGULATIONS MUTU A L LY AGREED UPON, AND WHICH WERE PRINTED AND SIGNED DT THE MAsrcas. But in the year 1815, the cruel system of reducing wages commenced, and has since been systematically acted upon. The Masters proposed a reduction of from 25 to 30 per cent. The consequence was, that the men immediatelyl 44 struck work," and much unpleasant altercation was exhibited on both sides; almost all the looms in Macclesfield were at a complete stand for some weeks, and serious consequences were apprehcnded superior situation of the mas hold out the longest, and the haying any choice, were at last !!—Thus proving the truth that '- all disputes the workmen. " Should they workman, they can generally die stocks they have already could subsist a week, year I: IL LA I. IV '• WCGS.3, :lama ........... a • • from the dispute. The superior situation of the i • ters enal led them to hold out the longest, anc , journeymen, instead of having any choice, were at starved into compliance !!--Thus proving the t of ADAM SMITH'S statement, that in all dial about wages, " the Masters can always hold • ' much longer" than the workmen. " Should not employ a single workman, they can gene live a year or two upon the stocks they have alr acquired. Many workmen could not subsist a v few could subsist a month, and scarcely any a without employment." In November. 1817, the 11%acclesfteld journal p: c ...,. ~ . a • • .• • ' . .. ‘• '• •‘ • „ • • 1. 1 • N \. • l b • ‘s. TP S . . 0 . f t s ' • .• , • . • , , printed the following Address, and sent one to each of the Masters: LW LIRAS or TOR 101COMI8 Of MAC- CLISTIIILD, TO THIT SWIM auxuesiervasas. Masters, give unto your Servants that which is just and equal knowing that ye also have a Master in Heaven:—Col. 4. 1. " Gerrusass--Impreued with a serious conviction of facts, which daily pruent themselves to our view, and at the same thne seeing an absolute necessity for your Interference as Masters, and our just and lawful perseverance as Journeymen, to endeavour to take Into our most serious consideration measures to amelio rate the present existing grievances; grievances, which, if not timely and effectually attended to, will most assuredly and ine vitably be the complete and total ruin of the Silk Manufacture of the town. " We hereby beg permission to call your attention to the truly lamentable situation into which the trade has been reduced and de g raded, since the unprecedented reduction of our wages, and also the alarming increase of pauperism that daily presents itself to your view, to the manifest injury of the inhabitants of the town in general. " As Masters and Fellow Townsmen, we sincerely hope that you will give the present system of things a serious thought, to rescue from threatening ruin the people, whose real interests imperiously call on you to promote; a people, whose industry and unceasing study has contributed so much to the beauty and improvement of the Silk Manufacture, and likewise to the prosperity of the town at large ; we submit to your consi deration the inconsistent manner in which Weavers working for the different warehouses are paid for their work, where by, generally speaking, they cannot obtain a living price, and, consequently, are deprived of the comforts of life ; and at the same time we are confident that you, as masters, are labouring under many incoeveniencies peculiar to yourselves, whereby our trade is much discouraged, and your profits and real interests much obstructed; we likewise submit to your consideration the unhappy consequences resulting Irons throw ing cur trade open to the mercy of all kinds of wandering fugi tit, es, whose principal aim is to learn the art and mysteries used by us, and at the most favourable opportunity retreat with the much-desired spoil to their favourite towns and places of abode, and thereby materially injure you as masters, and us as journey men, for we are sensible that the interests of our masters are in separably connected with our own, and we conceive these la mentable misfortunes arise from a want of a permanent regula tion; we do hereby humbly hope that you will condescend to unite with us to endeavour to remive the present existing evils, by aiding and assisting us in what we stand so much in need of, namely, a regulation equally binding on masters and men, whereby the present abuses will be rectified, and our trade re stored to a permanent stability. " Gentlemen, we remain, with every sentiment of respect, " Your humble Servants, " TUT SUX-WT.AVERS OT INAC'CLISTIII.I). " Nov. 3, 1817." . No good resulted from this appeal, and the jour neymen continue degraded, oppressed, and justly discontented at the present time. We have no desire for legislative interference if it can be avoided. But how stands the fact ? In Spi talfields one master cannot give less wages than another—no one can undersell him by robbing the orkmen ; but he may be undersold by the Manu facturers of Macclesfield, who enjoy this enviable privilege. " Though in disputes with their workmen masters must generally have the advantage," says SMITH, " there is, however, a certain rate, below which it seems impossible to reduce, for any considerable time, the ordinary wages even of the lowest species of labour. A man must always live by his work, and his wages must, at least, be sufficient to main-I tain him." So said SMITH ;so will every sound economist say: but oar pseudo economists, with un blushing impudence, maintain a contrary doctrine. They contend that they have a right to drive their workmen to the parish for one-half of their suste nance; and this they would have their plundered neighbours—plundered by the levy of Poors'-Rates —to believe, is only suffering labour to find its own This has been too long suffered to go on without opposition, but we hope will not be long permitted without a remedy. It would be absolute economy were all the Parishes in the Kingdom to resolve that the Masters shall not have the labour of the Work- men below prices sufficient for their support. To effect this, an increased rate might be necessary for a single quarter; but they would thus for eter get rid of the tax laid upon them by the Masters to pay wages which they themselves ought to provide.— Look at the question, make a cool calculation, and you will see that you would thus not only obtain jus tice for the working class, but promote the interest of every family that now contributes to the Rates. The Paris Papers of Saturday arrived at a late hour this forenoon—they are quite barren of news. The KING has returned to Paris.—Five per CentE. Satur day, 71 fr.. 40 c. A Hamburgh Mail arrived this forenoon with Pa pers to the 11th inst. The Emperor ALEXANDER was to leave St. Peters-. burgh on the 3d inst. on a tour to Archangel. The Russian shipi have sailed from Copenhagen, on their voyage of discover y to the Polar-regions. Lord LTHRDOC K, and a friend, have arrived from Scotland at Hamburgh, on their way, it is said, to pay a visit to Lord CATHCART, at St. Petersburgh. - Hamburgh on London, August 6, 36.1 35.4.-- 10th, 55.7. 35.10. The following is an extract from a letter from an American Gentleman at Cadiz :—« We daily have reports from Madrid ; but although they cannot be relied on, it is generally thought that his Catholic Majesty will take his own time to ratify the Florida Treaty. The people here have a prejudice against the Americans. A striking instance of this occurred on the King's Birth-day, when the Ipanish men of war were arrayed in the flags of the different tat►o . u. The English, French, Dutch, and other sags held a distinguished place in the rigging ; but the stars axdi broad stripes of Columbia were omitted. Our ship was decked late in the afternoon, and, to mortify them, the Spanish flag was made to float at our fort royal masthead. lam afraid, however, that these fellows did not understand our intention, but thought we designed to honour or cringe to them. They have an idea that we greatly aid and abet the Patriot cause, and consequently dislike us. They are a bi gotted and pitiful set. I hope that we shall not re main here much longer ; for I have no desire to be where the flag of my country is treated in a way bor dering on contempt, though they take good care not to insult any of us. They will repent their unman nerly conduct, if we ever get a chance of trying our strength with them. The French and English men of war have treated us with politeness and attention." The following extract of a letter from Alicant ex hibits an instance of hardship and oppression against English Merchants which we trust the strenuous ex ertions of our Ambassador at the Court of Spain will succeed in removing : " ALICAN; Jinx :1, 1519. " Repeated orders from 'mat, the Minister of Finance, hav ing been given to our Consulado to make all foreigners pay the contributions and forced loans raised for the fitting out of the Cadiz expedition, and Sir Henry Wellesley, our Ambassador at Madrid, on the other hand, advising us to resist, we have all, in spite of the late Treaty, bad our property embargoed and sold at public auction to cover the quota and costs. Ours was 12,500 whilst the first Spanish Houses have only had to pay 4000. Wig all sent a Petition by courier to the Ambassador, who with out loss of time attended to our claims, and sent him back with an order from the Minister of State to stay proceedings until the King's return from Sacedon ; but the Consulado say, they have only to obty the orders from the Minister of Finance, and having once got our money they will not easily return it." COWES, AUGUST IG. The Duke of YonK will certainly be here to-day, and, with his Royal Highness the PRIIZCE REGENT, will honour the Earl of CAVAN, at Eaglehurst, with their company to dinner. The lovely serenity of the weather, the gently as pirating zephyrs, the endless val iety of yachts skim ming the surface of the deep, the rich luxuriant ap pearance of the Island, and above all, the swarms (if we may use the expression), of beautiful and magnificently-arrayed females, who in all directions present themselves—these are the features which at this season render Vecta's fair Isle a perfect Paradise. His ROYAL HIGHNESS, indeed, has been heard to say, that he knew not he had such an enchanting spot in his dominions. To-morrow Lord HENRY SEYMOUR is to have the honour of entertaining his ROYAL HIGHNESS at his splendid mansion at East Cowes. His Lordship is universally beloved in the Island, and his liberal and hospitable spirit has induced him to open his lawn and grounds to the public, who are to be treated with refreshments at his Lordship's entire expense. The PRINCE REGENT has directed Sir B. Btoom- FIELD to look out for land whereon he can build, and already the moorings for the Royal Yacht are fixed in our Roadsted. He says he shall pay us an annual visit for a month together. The PRINCE, at present, intends to remain here a fortnight longer. Lord CASTLEREAGH arrived yesterday morning, at eleven o'clock at his house in St. James's•square, 1 from his seat, North Cray ; after transacting business , at his office, hereturned back to North Cray at two. Lord and Lady GRENVILLE have left town for their seat, Dropmore Lodge, Bucks. The Right Hon. CHARLES and Mrs. LONG, Sir ABRAHAM HUME, Bart. and Miss CAST, have left Bromley-hill, Kent, for Holland, from thence to Brus sels, wnere they intend to remain some time, and then proceed to Paris. The Hon. JULIET VERERER, the beautiful and ac complished daughter of Lord Viscount GORT, will shortly be led to the Hymeneal Altar by Colonel WHITE, of the County Dublin Militia, eldest son of Luca WHITE, Esq. M. P.for the County of Leitrim. General Sir C. HASTINGS, with a view to afford employment to a number of poor labourers during the ensuing winter, has given noticesof his intention to have the Lake at Willesly, near Ashby-de-la-Zouch, considerably deepened. Monday last, the Bellman went round in Birming ham, saying, that 2000 persons were wanted for the harvest on the Worcester road—wages sixteen shil lings to twenty shillings. Last year the farmers gave only Bs. to Its. The crops in that quarter are very heavy, and it is said far exceed in grain and straw any they have had in the memory of the oldest far mer in the county of Worcester. TUg DISASTER BY LIGHTNING.—We are happy to learn that no lives were lost, though several were in great danger, by the accident which we mentioned yesterday had befallen the Ipswich and Norwich wag gon. The waggon was discovered to be on fire before it caught hold of the gunpowder, and the waggoner, by great exertion, succeeded in getting three women and two children who were in the waggon, as also the horses out of the way before the explosion, which was tremendous, took place. The Mail had passed the wagon but a few minutes before. The report was distinctly heard and windows shaken with it, in Head-street, Colchester, and many persons were , greatly alarmed. On the 2d inst. lightning fell at Cantal, on the house of the Abbe Coyrier, Professor of the College of Aurillac ; it killed two students and two young La dies, between 10 and 12 years of age, besides wound ing another person. Wednesday evening, between five and six o'clock I ' an alarming _fire broke out in the warehouse belong ing to Mr. MELLIN, of Halifax, druggist, which it [ entirely consumed, together with some stables in the occupation of Mr. JuLttisotr. THE DISTURBED DISTRIC7. MANCHESTER, SUNDAY ti warrant Mr. HUNT had heard yesterday matins',' I' warrant had been issued by the Magistrates c i chester to apprehend him, and in order to si,,, how little he cared for it, he marched do v , „ New Bailey, in company with his friend Jo in order to surrender himself to their a ti When he arrived there, he addressed En ; , gratuitous magnanimity to the Magistrates ; ii them that he had heard of the warrant %kb, had issued against• him ; added, that he no before them in order that they might, if they good, execute it upon him ; and conclude, quiring what bail they demanded for his appe The Magistrates stared with astonishment at I —they had issued no warrant for his apprel and therefore could not at first c,:rup re b en d ject of the Orator's extraordinary visit. 11• hr ever, they did understand it, they info rued tor that he had been deceived, and that no 51 sure, as he appeared to fear, was then in a : Mr. HUNT, after receiving this intelligent & he did with the utmost composure, bowed Magistrates, left the Coui t.house, and re:;o: friend and companion, who was at the door for him. It is said here, that he volun:e surrender of himself on Saturday, in Wei bail might be accepted on Monday before ing assembled, and that he might then be c. meet the numerous friends tcho will t':e❑ be expecting his approach. It was yesterday evening reported (and so many reports cut rent in Manchester, that ficult to decide which are correct and w• 1•. that there was to be this morning a Mceti, Radicals from all parts of this and the neigl county, in which the plan of to-morrow's of was to be fully decked on. The place of is said to be Whitemoss, a moor six or se from Manchester. It is impossible to depict to you the state dation and alarm in which the threatened M to•morrow has placed the inhabitants of M They look forward to nothing eke but scene of riot and diAnrhance, though in m nothing of the kind is likely to ocur, unless some interference of the Magistr.l.:y, which expected, in order to put a stop to the prc, of the Meeting. A large placard was issued last night, anl that a grand dinner would take place speechifications of to-morrow, in which ti mers publicly avow that they abstain from wine and spirits, in order to injure, as m, them lies, the revenue of the country. They it is the first. step in the new system which adopted against the Boroughmongers : the infliture to abstain from all high-taxed comb They limit their numbers also to 200, ptob, make people suppose that more than that have already applied for tickets. They , that those who paid 10s. 6d. for their ti receive ss. 6d. back again, on application server-office. GLASGOW WEAVERS. The weavers who were employed in the and who struck work on Monday se'nnigl , to the wages being reduced to Is. a-day, quence of the numbers who applied for wor commenced on Wednesday morning, and going on quietly. A letter, however, from a Private states that " not one-half of the people 01 ployment have been yet employed, altho , applications are repeated every morning." Another letter has these words :—A fi however, I am afrail, will develope a see] tms that the present generation had no of, and which, I would fondly trust, will Cal portion of that active benevolence on the p; wealthy inhabitants, which formerly dist them." A notice has been published, calling Meeting of the Inhabitants of the East Di , Barony Palish on Saturday, the 9.lst in: o'clock P. M. It professes to be for thi of taking into their consideration the distre. of the country, and the necessity of a Ref Commons House of Parliament." The na Householders, who have joined in calling ing have been lodged with the Justice of Clerk. The Soup Kitchens which have been talked of have been by no meats relished those who are in the greatest distress. charity, is at all times abhorrent to an in, mind; but when given through the me( morsel of victuals, and with all that pubb Soup Establishments naturally produce, rent species of charity truly revolting to those been in the habit of maintaining themsel' milies with any degree of respectability. WEAVERS OF EDINBURGH. A scheme has been printed and put int tion for the establishment of an " Edinburg thropic Manufacturing Society," but we' it has not been approved by the great boa weavers of this place as it professes to bc.. ing of them was to be held in Freeraascr, IC7 Moßxmc . thr . rates to si,r.v. dour tutl., end Just N' n eir Err*elf rtes; ircirmel sp nt uhid ,1 .. • he rou they th,, u „:, chided L s a p pear..;.ce. eat at ti t a . -acrid the . When, I ! , imed the O r t no such rr- n in api..4 igence, bowed d door v..z.,i; 1 fact:eerc~ ti order that i. fore the Viler . 1 be • be (and there r, that it is d;. id which nc• a )Iceting of ti neighbntrin, ow's operni.-- ce of it or seven cll., • e state of tre, ned Meeting of Manch. but a gen. in my opini , unless thee' which is part she prc ceedin, ht, announcin, glace after •. iich the Ref. from the use as much as They say • vhich they ha. rs : they ic:r d commudV. 00, probably is that guar. r also atria: teir tickets nu ation t'.e 0 in the G e'nnight, -day, in a- 'or work, , and all ism C , Correspond Iple out of c although u. mg." —A feu. tee.. 4. S. A a scene c. r d no concept; will call fain the part of a ly distingui' . • :ailing a Pu' Lst District of Ist inst. at for the p. s distressed sta a Reform is • le named ailing this M.• • ice of the ' been so m • elished, ectn . ess. To ) an indepen e medium el • publicity uce, renders those who emselves and lity. RGI • gut into ci • iinburgh P.l a it we and -cat body of to bc. A ge r • if nasons •