The National Register. — London, England, 1816-08-04 00:00:00

Ile otootored the meeting that it was not his intention to disturb or o pis- the 111.'3 , 111e which they hail in contemplation. All he desired was, that the resolution ch 10 be put upon a true and proper footing. Ely a return whielo he held in his hand, it ic t opeare.l ilia; the nett revenue of the country was between sixty-two s nl sixty•three millions, upward.. of 10,004,0301. of was absorbed by the interest dime oil the national debt. was this that bore down the population of this cowry ; it was from this origin all the mischief proceeded ; aad it WAS 1111011 w recognition of this feet that the resoliotion in question ought to l;e founded. The iitsuppoi table load of this taxation, prin cipally cause l by a system of profuse espenditoire, and the prodigality with which large sums were lavished upon indivi duals, was the great evil which reqaired to 1w clued. If, there f ore, no other person should move an amendment, he should f -not it his ditty to propose an omission of that part of the rest:). ition which ascribed the distressed state of the country to the transition front a state of war to a state of peace, and to state she cause to he an enormons debt and a lavish expenditure. Mr. Knowles seconded the amendment ; observing, that it w.. 6 a strong symptom of the deciiniug state of the coon try,that there WUS not a tangle article of our manufactures in which we did not now labour under a disadvantageous competition with tither countries. The distress was uni%eysal ; and in Stockport alone there were 1,9J0 persons out of employment. Mr. Wilberforce said, he was himself too much of an Englishman, and had been too long engaged iu political trans act' 111 l s, to feel any surprise that those who felt warmly on snch a sidkje‘-t us the present should be anxions to give expression to their sentiments; but he could not help thinking, that upon cool reflection, the noble lord and the gentleman a ho had just spoken -would be of opinion, that their own object would be better at tained if they contioed themselves on this occasion to the dis tinct question under consideration. The noble lord said the country was in a crisis, and would they apply a mere topical remedy t but he might ask the noble lord if lie would refuse to assuage the pain of a distemper because he had it not in his power at once to cure it radically i—(Applausc,) To him the existing distress appeared- to be u distemper which rather called liar immediate alleviation, than for a speculative discus sion of its cause. lie thought the most charitable and manly course to be pursued—that which must be most congenial to what he knew to be the noble lord's own charitable and manly disposition—wag, not to call upon the meeting to give an opi nion upon a political question not under consideration, so as to divert them from pursuing it with diligence and confidence ; but to pf.stpone to it titter opportunity a discussion of this no. tore, and to unite cordially in the general cause of findine, em ployment and encouragement for our suffering fellow-citizens. in referring to the plans adopted by the association of 1812, he was also a witness to the frank avowal made by the late Mr. Whitbread, that he had been miste.en : and that he was con vinced Itv subseqilent observation, that they had operated most beneficially in communicating an impulse and a tone to the ex ertions of the country, without which they might never have been called into action. For these 'cations he felt extremely desirous, and entertained sonic confidence, that the noble lord wonlil be induced to withdraw his a:noulment. The Duke of Kent said, he haul offered the resolution as it had been put into hi , hand; cud if he had conceived there bed been any mention of a cause upon which a difference of .opinion could exist, he hoped they knew him sufficiently to be lieve that he should have been incapable of requiring their as sent to it. lie be:teed, therefore, now to prapose an omission of all that part of the resolution which had any reference what ever to the cause of the present distresses. Lord Cochrane declared, that he did not wish to create any unnecessary difference of opinion ; and with regard to him self individually, he had no objection to withdraw the amend ment. _ _ The Duke of York then read the amended resolution, which was pnt and carried. _ _ - The Duke of Cambridge observed, that after the very excellent and appropriate speeches which had been made, and the explanation which had taken place, it would be inexcusable in him to take up any of their time further than to move the re solution which be held in his hand. He had had the means of witnessing the extensive good achieved by the association of 1812. During his 25 months' absence from this country he had also had the satisfaction of seeing what benefit had been de rived in Germany from the liberal subscriptions set on foot in this country After the handsome manner in which the noble lord had consented to relinquish his amendment , and as they could have but one common object, that of charity, he antici pated an entire unanimity of opinion. He returned the noble lord his thanks for having come forward, and regretted that any allusion whatever hail been made to the cause of the pre vailing distresses The fact was indisputable, that distress and great distress existed ; and he trusted it was equally indisputa ble, that the humanity which had been so conspicuously dis played in the relief of distressed foreigners CM other occasions, would not be found less warm or active when the objects of it were our own suffering countrymen. Here His Royal High ness read the second resolution, and sat down amidst loud testimonies of approbation. The resolution, which was seconded by Mr. Reed, was rut b% the Duke of York, and carried in the affirmative. The Archbishop of Canterbury.—Beibre he moved the resolution which he then held in his hand, he wished to make one or two observations in introducing it. It might be said that there was something iu this attempt, both in appearance and in fact, so inadequate to the great end which they had in •iew, that it was not surprising if some entertained apprehem Mons of a total failure : but it should be recollected, that if no attempt were to be made until we were satisfied that we had sinew and strength enough to east off the whole of the calamity, and it' we were to remain under this impression passive and quiese..at, the evil would be gaining ground in proportion as our means of resisting it were diminished. The report, !ma ever, which had been submitted, proved that former efforts for a similar purpose had not been ineffectual, and furnished them at least with an encouraging example. Mr. B. Long seconded the third resolution, which was carried unanimously. The Duke of Rutland expressed his confidence that, with regard to the resolution he was about to propose, there would be no discordance of opinion. After a few other re marks, lit Grace submitted the fourth resolution, which was seconded, and caviled likewise in the affirmative. The Bishop of London rose to trespass on the atten tion of the meeting only for the purpose of moving a resolution which he bad no doubt would meet with unanimous approba. lion. It was a motion of thanks to the illustrious Duke who had honoured them by taking the chair, and who Veil portico laity entitled to the gratitud e of the country for In conduct on this occasion. He wished fr ,„ o • y to add lime expression o f his own anxiety to promote the ob)e :tea view, an d i ns sangu i ne hope that it would be attended wit h success. ' Mr. Bar.. 1::?, tor !• t tht THE NATIONAL REGISTER._ The Duke of Kent put the question ; observing, that it WWI impossible the chair conld submit a proposition which conveyed a compliment to itself. The question was carried by a great show of hands. The Resolutions (as carried) were : I. That there do at this moment exist a stagnation of employment, and it revulsion of trade, deeply affecting the situation of many parts of the community, and producing many instances of great local distress. 2. That from the experieni -.I generosity of the British nation, it may be confidently cxpetetl that those who are able to afford the means of relief to their fellow-subjects will contribute their utmost endeavours to retuedy, or alleviate, the suffaings of those who are particularly as ' tressed. 3. That although it be obviously impossible for any association of individuals to attempt the general relief of difficulties affecting, so large a proportion of the public, yet that it leis been proved by the experi ence of this association, that most important and extensive benefits may derived from the co-operation and correspondence of a society in the metropolis, encouraging the efforts of those benevolent individuals who may be disposal to assoziate themselves in different districts for the re lief of their several neighbourhoods. _ . 4. That a subscription be immediately opened, and contributions generally solicited, fur mrrying into effect the objects of this associa tion. [The Mcctinz Yc as numerous and respectable; and we most sincerely regret that any political topic was introduced on the occasion ; as, however just it might be, it had a tendency to di vert from the immediate purpose of the Convocation. We have no room further to observe at present, than that a subscription inunediately opened ; at the head of which is our illustri ous Regent with a princely donation of 5001. followed by the Queen, Dukes of York and Cambridge, 3001. each ; and in a short time near 10,0001. were subscribed in aid of the laudable purposes of the Meeting.] Though the present distresses are too deeply rooted to be remedied by mere temporary expedients, yet it is the duty of all to alleviate, as far as they can, the sufferings they cannot cure. One Correspondent states, that on the disuse of shoe buckles fir shoe-strings many hundreds of buckle-makers were thrown out of employ ; and by the adoption of covered, instead of metal buttons, many hundreds of button-makers were de prived of their daily bread: he observes, that if these two branches of Birmingham manufacture were again introduced by the Nobility and Gentry of the kingdom, much good might result from it. From another source we learn, that a plan has been adopted of employing double the number of labourers, by a greater subdivisinn of labour. A plan of the kind has been adopted by the market gardeners to the westward of the me tropolis, which is highly praise-worthy, and we mention it that it may excite imitation. he late inclement weather prevented them from employing in their grounds, or in carrying the pro duce to market, the great smothers of labouring poor, chiefly females, who annually visit them from distant comities. Many of these industrious creatures must have starved, or taken to vicious courses, if their case had not been taken into considera tion. It was therefore agreed, that such employment as there was in the grounds should be equally divided among them, and that they should work only on alternate days. The private families in the neighbourhood co-operated in this plan, by giv ing household work in the intermediate days to such as were theu unemployed. The plan has succeeded perfee:ly; and now that the season has become rather more favourable, the indivi duals in question are no longer burtheusome to the neighbour hood, for they have resumed their usual employment in the fields. Much might also be dour, according to another writer, to give employment to the poor, and produce an abundance of food during the cnsuiug winter, if landed proprietors, great and small, from the possessor of thousands of acres, down to the owner of a mere cabbage-garden, would sedulously cultivate every patch of ground now waste or useless, and plant cabbages, turnips, carrots, and potatoes, for the winter, on such spots ; and if an inclement winter should succeed, an a mple fund for distributiou will thus be provided at a small ex pence. Extract from Suggestions for producing Public Improve ments, and affording employment to the Labouring Poor, by Mr. M. Phillips:—" Grateful as the country will Mel ter the Subscriptions that will he raised for the assistance of the Poor, it is hoped such measures will be recommended to the atten tion of the Legislature as may place the lower orders in a situa tion that will enable them to support themselves. The Landed Proprietors have now an opportunity, as many new aerange ments must be made, of letting their lands in small farms, with a covenant in the lease for a plot sufficient to keep a cow to be allowed to the labouring cottager. No language can /suffici ently state the blessings to the community from small farms, or the evils that are felt where they have been monopolized; farm steer farm has been added together, so that England is now be come a nation of starving beggars, exhibiting at each vestry the utmost pitiable and heart-broken objects. In many instances, within an hour's walk of a parish church., there were fermerly from 50 to 100 happy families—the little farmers—industri ously employed in producing not only the common articles of sustenance, but abundance of the comforts of life. Every cot lager's child had its dish of milk, of which the hungry babes are now robbed. What is become of those happy useful fami lies, that so regularly, neatly, and piously assembled every Sunday ut their parish churches?—the good people who sup plied the markets, the tows's,. and the villages, with such im mense quantities of butter and cheese, pigs and poultry, and made the land to over fl ow with milk and honey ? Alas! driven from their little kingdom, these once happy people, the hus band, the wile, the antis, the daughters, are hurled into misery, wretchedness, and want. The distresses of the poor are greatly increased by enclosures of waste, or, in better words, common lands, which afforded great assistance to the surrounding cot tages. The taking away these privileges was like taking from them a table furnished wick provisions. To have kept them away front parish support, crumbs at least should have been thrown before them--a trifling piece of land should have been 3ilottcd to each cottage.-001 FISHERIES SHOULD RE ET TENUEM—If England had three times its number of inhabi tants, every city, town, and populous place might have an abundant and cheap supply of anotherapecies of food, namely, FISH, from an inexhaustible store; and thousands, stud tees of thousands alum& belonging to and connacted with the Fish eries, would find employment. Every place in the country 3bould have an interest in promoting our Fisheries— " Oh God ! thou &et peeper:, Tit roiugh esealt, the rza, and air, A bounteous Bill of f Snore thnn•nrnis of worismen moy h. employer! for .1 time in the .%, .s, itad iipuu %vui ks in the tillUtoUl4." AUGUST 4. DISTRESSES in the COUNTRY. The most melancholy end distressing accounts are reeel vet, of the situation of the labouring classes in StatiOrdshire, thr own out of employ by the decline of the coal anti iron trades ; 717 families in the tot% nship of llilston alone are without fried. ex cepting what is given by the Mind of charity. In eye pat is h it s 15,000 ore out of employment! though reduced to starvation, they are yet patient and limiest in the tablet of their sufferings. E eteee t of a later from Ceseley, near itilidon, duly 'Al:— "My heart bleeds for the t°° helpless children, pale as &lA, crawang about like walking skeletons—to rceite eufletiees of indi• 'Minds would fill a volume. A few days ago, a woman was foiled about 60 yards from my brother's bowie; she had a young child is her arms; exhausted by hunger, and unable to proceed, she was Mum! on the ground, with ate child u s her breast, in a senselees, and, to every appearance, in n dying condemn; she however revived, and we administered such food as we considered most suitable for her. When she could speak, she told us her husband had got no work; that slis had several children at home, to wham she hed given all Ahe could leer the two preceding days; that she had had nothing during that time, and had famished herself sooner than they shoald die foe wine; she had walked to where she was round, and being unable to proceed farther, had reitigiral herself to her tats, and would have perished for want within a little more than a mile from her home, bad we not hap— polka to have found her." ' 4 Casely, near Dihton, Staffordshire, July , 24, 1516. " When some of our principal iron-works first failed, the whole extent of the consequent distress was not immediately apparent. The pour manufacturers had many of them made a little money ; this, with the greatest frugality, did not last long: when expended, they ran in debt wherever they cowl gain credit ; and when they could nut be trusted any longer, they pawned or sold their furniture, article after article., till they had mote to sell. When their goods were gone', th-y were obliged to have recourse to their parishes and to begging rho parishes were overwhelmed by the numbers upolying fey their aid, and could afford butt little comparative amiport. The coi 11111 l wits. in general (for commercial districts are usually generous) . made great efforts to relieve their necessities. Fur my own part, I deter ' d that I would tre harder, and that my children and household should do so likewise, is order to administer to their wants ; and it was my desire that none wen.- . thy of relief' should go away unrelieved. It is true, the see , cour was but small; they asked fur nothing but a piece of bread, and bread for some time great numbers of them received : but I soon fimnd that my very limited income, arising chiefly from uncertain sources, would not even tarnish this scanty sup ply ; and I was reduced to the necessity—to me a most painful oite—of confining my charity within much smaller imuntiaries. Companies of .1, or 8, or l poor manufacturers, able and will- Mg to work, have been many times in the course of a day at my dour, soliciting bread; and, what has often cut me to the heart, necessarily soliciting in vain. " Multitudes went through the country, offering to work at any thing merely for a little food, not even expecting wages, sod thus gained a little temporary employment and subsistence ; but still their wives and children were at home iu the greatest possible distress. " Within a small distance of my home is a large iron-work ; the machinery extend for nearly half a stile ; it was a noble manufactory ; I passed by it one morning after its operations were suspended, and was exceedingly affected with the sight : a little before, it was all animation and industry, affording the honourable means of iivelihood to many thousands of my fellow creatures ; the silence that now pervaded it spoke more elo quently and impressively to my heart than any language could possibly do--it was the silence of umbingled desolation. I vi sited a row of houses occupied by the workmen : the doors were used to be open, inviting the eye of the stranger to glance as he went along at their neatness, cleanliness, anti felicity ; lit tle grottpes of healthf u l children were accustomed to appear about the cottages, full of merriment and joy ; and the inhabi tants, strong And healthy, salut. d you as you went by. But the scene was lamentably changed ; it produced a melancholy ou my spirits that I did not lose fir a considerable period : the cottages were closed—the inhabitants could not bear to have it known that they si ere stripped of their little ornaments—no children played around the doors—the very plants trained up indheir windows had pined and died—one man only appeared, emaciated and ghastly, a living spectre, as if the peaceful se puleht e had sent forth its inhabitants to fill with terror the abodes of the living. " When I have told these poor creatures that the parish must find them food or labour, they have replied, 'Sir, they cannot do either and some wh o have fared the best when our manu factories were flourishing around its, have said,' We would ra ther die, Sir, than be &pendent on the parish.' " It is an unanswerable proof of the excellent disposition of these poor nsanufacturers, that although there are many thou sands of fluent in the most distressed condition imaginable, there is very little depredation in the country. " It it will aid you in your benevolent designs, I will go through any part of our neighbourhood, from house to house, and give you a particular statement of the circumstances of each ; the labour will he to me a delightful remuneration ; doing good I have long Wand to be its own reward. I would devote any portion of my time to procure on information. "Some, I believe, have really died of starvation ; and in many cases, if not immediate it was the primary cause. Am insuffi ciency of wholesome nourishment where they had been accus tomed to great abundance, produced diseases which terminated indissoinnon. " Even t howdy, Sir, has left some of our districts. She has given all she had to give ; the stream of her benevolence is dried up, and nothing remains but the grateful recollection of the channel through which it flowed, or emotions of despair lest it should never again be replenished. " I could send you many individual cases that come under my own personal knowledge. Not far from my house, a respect able individual, possessed of extensive information in the iron trade, who had been a confidential foreman in a large t concern, and lived in much credit, has been for sonic time, with a wife and eight children destitute of a sufficiency of bread. Many poor families distinguished for their sobriety and industry, with 5, 6,7, or 8 children, are in the same disastrous circumstances: I have repeatedly saved a mall, his wife and six children, from absolute s t ar anon, who were reduced to eat the cabbage-stalls, and 1.10 refuse of their little cottage-garden, as the only food •hey yodel obtain. " Had I the pleasure, Sir, of being present at the meeting of •,oar I lon..nrable Society, I think I.could plead the cate.e of these poor 111411Ufacillreis till my s:rength would tail sue, and I coul,l pit t• 1141 longer, their gr.•at dist. esses hose taken deep nt my heart. MIMI the injured Arrivals readily find a multitude of the must able and eloquent of oar nation, to de fend his raose, add se.•ur hie ris,hts; and shall there be none to commismate our perishing fettoivrointryawn, whose inge nuity and industry have ,e mead the Jury uf Britain througlmut die m old- Ls hit. glon , shod vo friendly bond be extelided to et ipe away their ty.rs, and to west at thew lium riultug tuft