The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-01 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1, 1862.

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.

(nom ova 'min

MANCHESTER, Ocr. 29.

The apparent disproportion between the alleged
intensity of distress in Wigan, and the amount of
the poor-rates, so much lower than in many towns
similarly circumstanced, has its origin, I
believe, in the peculiar arrangement of its
factory labour. Of its 19,500 hands, by far
the larger part are women and girls. There has
long been a tendency in the manufacturing system
of Lancashire to dispense more and more with the
services of men, and families have been supported
rather by the aggregate earnings of their younger
members than by the wages of their head. But in
Wigan, owing to the prevalence of the old-fashioned
throstle spinning, which is managed by female
labour, this is tenfold the case. Everywhere women
have long been acquiring a monopoly of weaving :
here they invade &domain which for the most part
belongs only to men. What, then, becomes of the
male population 1 Some are engaged as overlookers,
mechanics, engine-tenters, performing functions
which are absolutely and necessarily unfeminine ;
others are employed in the foundries of the
town ; some of the older men are handloom
weavers ; the great majority, however, work
in the coal pits. At a very early period,
therefore, the attention of the relief com-
mittee was especially directed to the condition of
the women thrown out of work by the scarcity of
cotton. Many of them, although members of Wigan
families, lived in lodgings, high wages having pro-
duced a precocious and dangerous feeling of inde-
pendence. How was it possible to abandon these
girls to the perils of want, or to leave them to the
doubtful protection of the workhouse 1 Accordingly,
as the distress deepened, a kind of tacit under-
standing was arrived at between the relief committee
and the board of guardians, the former directing
their chief attention to the female factory hands,
the latter accepting, when necessary, the charge of
able-bodied men. For various reasons the number of
the latter is but few, and the expense to the
ratepayers comparatively Man The colliers are
not as yet a distressed class. In accordance with a
custom, which may or may not be peculiar to Wigan,
some 200 of the highest paid men, overlookers, me-
chanics, and others, are still kept on at the mills,
at four days' wages per week. Besides, then, the
rest of the male factory population, there remain a
wretched class, some 400 handloom weavers, who
are always trembling on the verge of starvation,
and who were precipitated into the abyss by the
first shock of this calamity. Their ordinary work
is the weaving of ginghams, damasked table cloths,
and the like, at which, in ordinary times, they were
able to earn 7s. or Bs. a week. Many of them
are old men, who have lagged behind the times thus
long, and have neither energy nor capacity to learn
a new trade. Their children, for the most part,
work in the factories ; and the probability is that
the present distress will altogether extinguish their
trade. It will be but the substitution of one short,
sharp pang, for years of slow suffering. There is
none of the busy sounds of manufacture in the
North that a kind-hearted man will so willingly
miss, as the heavy clatter of the handloom, begun in
ome dark, damp cellar while the factory folk are
trooping to their work, and prolonged into the night
for hours after they have returned to rest or recre-
ation.

In the week ending October 24, the number of
persons in Wigan receiving outdoor relief was
4,290, the cost of relief being 2891. 13s. 9d. The
corresponding week of the relief committee ends on
October 25. Their accounts show 10,490 as the
total number of persona relieved, at an expense
of 5081. 10a. for food, and about 301. for education.
It would be a mistake, however, to add these two
accounts together (as I nutice is done in some cases)
to estimate the total amount of dependence upon
legal or voluntary charity in Wigan. In all pro-
bability most of the families in receipt of pariah
pay are also pensioners upon the relief fund.
Here, as in Blackburn, there is one general com-
mittee, which takes the direction of the whole
work ; and air ward committees, who attend to its
details in as many districts of the town. There is
no restriction of the committee to any class of the
community, and no complaint of sectarian
rivalries or partialities. The visitors, all but
two, are unpaid, and are for the most part, with
the admixture of one or two working men,
tradesmen in the town. Of the manufacturers,
one represents the town in the Manchester Central
Committee ; another gives his whole time and
strength to the local board in the capacity of secre-
tary ; while the rest take no active part in the
work. Cases are visited, with the usual precautions,
and the principle of relief is to supplement paro-
chial aid, till the income of the family reaches 2s.
per head. In practice, I was told that this limit
was not only reached but slightly exceeded, and
that a feeling prevailed in the committee that a
still higher rate would become necessary as the
winter drew near. Relief is given in tickets, each
of which is worth Is. at any provision shop in the
town. The shopkeeper, before presenting the
ticket at the general treasury, is required to endorse
it with the name of his customer and an invoice
of the gouda supplied. The general impression
seemed to be, that the liberty of choice thus given
to the people was wisely exercised ; the principal
part of the money being spent in bread, meal, and
potatoes, and only • small fraction being reserved
for those working-man's luxuries, which it is diffi-
cult to distinguish from necessaries, sugar, tea,
butter, bacon. A curious consequence of the fact
that each ticket has a fixed money value is that in
one or two instances they have been used as cur-
rency, the shopkeepers passing them after they
have been exchanged for goods from band to hand
among themselves. The advantages of this method
of relief are obvious ; and not less its disadvantages.
It enables the poor to buy articles which it would
be inexpedient, even if possible, to distribute ; it
relieves them f rom the distasteful waiting an crowd-
ing at the central store, and it helps to sustain a
class of shopkeepers who are themselves severe
sufferers by the distress. On the other hand, food
can be distributed at a lower price than any shop-
keeper will sell it ; and the system offers the mini-
mum of security against fraud and waste. It is
impossible for any relief committee to tell through
what hands their tickets (especially when of fixed
value) pass after they have left their own office ; or
to provide against the deceptive statements of needy
or unscrupulous men. On the whole, I am con-
vinced, that unless the distress of the coming winter
be unexpectedly lightened, or the means of reliev-
ing it be largely increased, this plan, wherever
adopted, will have to make way for others, in
which the possibility of making a shilling go
as far as a shilling will, is the chief con-
sideration. It is, however, only fair to add, that
the Wigan committee express the utmost confi-
dence in the loyal co-operation of the tradesmen of
the town ; and declare their conviction that their
method is free from any serious taint of imposture.
As might be concluded from the general sketch
which I have given of the relief system of Wigan,

the sewing-schools form one of its most important
features. Of these there are four, containing 1,800
women and girls. The hours of labour are four
per diem for four days a week, half the time being
spent in education. The girls are not paid any
fixed wages, attendance upon the sewing-school
being required as an equivalent for the necessary
amount of relief granted to their families. Up to
the present time they have been chiefly occupied in
clothing themselves ; now some of them are engaged
in working for a fund which has been raised to
supply the labourers on the roads with a couple
of shirts a-piece. I heard the old story over again,
• story which in these depressing times and scenes
it is difficult to hear too often, of the aptitude and
willingness of the girls ; of their orderly behaviour,
their cheerful gratitude, their rapid progress. Be-
sides these four large schools, one or two small once
which have been organised in connexion with the
Baptist chapels of the town. The adult school
system has not yet been adopted in Wigan. In a
district which is very poor, and where the sewing-
school is the largest, it has been proposed to give the
girls a weekly entertainment, of a half instructive,
wholly amusing character, to which it is hoped that
their fathers and brothers may be attracted. In
addition to the girls in the sewing-schools, the relief
committee have taken under their charge all young
' children of persons receiving help from their funds.
They make it a condition of relief that all such shall
be sent to some school, themselves paying the
school fee at the rate of 2d. a head. At present
500 to 600 of such scholars have resumed their
places upon the benches which their parents'
ipoverty compelled them to vacate.

A clothing depot which the Wigan committee
have opened is hardly yet in operation. The
want of this has, however, to some extent, been
made up by the liberal donations of money and
clothing! which have been placed in the hands of a
gentleman who, under the signature of " A Lanca-
shire Lad," some time ago appealed in the columns of
the Times to the generosity of the public in behalf
of his suffering townswomen. The work has grown
upon his hands, nor less his kindly energy in its
performance ; and he at present devotes the whole of
his time to the service of the relief committee, and
the careful distribution of the gifts which come to
him from many quarters. Nor is this a solitary
instance of benevolence. The noble family of
Lindsay, who represent the traditionary heroine of
Wigan, and inhabit her ancient mansion, are
eager to aid in any good work ; while, at:three fac-
tories, food to the weekly value 'of 651., as nearly
as I could ascertain, is distributed to the unem-
ployed workpeople. It was a Wigan coalowner, Mr.
Blundell of Ince, who gave the munificent amount
of 5,000 tons of coal to the whole suffering district.
Last winter many donations of the same kind were
made to the town by the proprietors of neighbour-
ing collieries, and tokens of similar liberality are
again apparent. Still, even in Wigan, where the
scale of relief is high, and the presence of a large
population not dependent upon the distressed
trade exercises an indefinite though great effect
upon the condition of the rest, the prospect for the
winter is sufficiently ghastly. Disease has greatly
increased during the last month ; and the low fever
which is generated in underfed bodies and fostered
by listless spirits has already set in. All that has
' yet been done is to provide a bare sufficiency of
food, while the necessity for shoes, and clothes,
and bedding, although admitted, has yet been but
vaguely measured. It is at least a momentary re-
lief from thoughts and apprehensions such as these
to turn to the recollection of the energetic and un-
selfish goodness which this trouble has revealed and
' called into action, and to cherish the belief that
those who have already accomplished so much,with
little meed of praise more than that awarded to
them by their own consciousness of well-doing, will
not fail us now in our extremest need, when sup-
ported, as they will be, by the help, and sympathy,
and gratitude of the whole nation.

Prince Napoleon will, it is expected, visit the
Ordnance Survey Office at Southampton, previous to his
embarkatioa at that port for France.
Commander Thomas C. Bruce, R.N., has been
appointed naval mail agent on the Southampton station.
GREAT CENTRAL GAS CONSUMERS' COMPANY.-;-
The twenty-third half-yearly ordinary meeting of the share-
holders of this company was held yesterday evening, at the
London Tavern ; Mr. Alderman Lakin in the chair. The
Chairman read the report, which stated, that after paying
all working expenses, including a suitable provision for
repairs and depreciation of plant., as well as discharging the
obligation, for the period, arising out *tithe Wood-street
tire and the arbitrators' award, there remained for share-
holders' profit, the sum of 12,580 f., out of which the di-
rectors recommended • dividend at the rate of 8 per cent.
per annum, free of income tax, payable on and after the
19th day of November next, after which there would
remain • balance of 1,Z561. Ils. Bd., to be carried to the
next half-year's account. The rental had increased by the
sum of 3,875/. A. 5c1., and although the larger portion of
that amount was due to the increased price obtained, there
still remained • very satisfactory increase of rental as com-
pared with former years. During the summer the 36. inch
main was hid from Mile-end to the City, and was now in
operation ; the work had been carefully and satisfactorily
performed, and the directors were persuaded that the outlay
would be amply repaid by the larger and more regular supply
of gas to the consumers, and by the diminution of leakage.
In the last report it was stated that the Court of Common
Pleas had given an unanimous decision that this company
came under the operation of the Metropolitan Gas Act of
1860; since then, however, the Commiesioners of Sewers
bad removed the case by writ of error to the Eachequre
Chamber ; it was partly beard on the 21st of Juee last, but
being the last day of term, the court intimated that the
further hearing would take place in November next ; the
directors are still advised there was but little probability of
the judgment of the Court of Common Pleas being reversed.
The company's engineer reported the works to be in a highly
efficient condition for the present and future supply, the
quality of the gas had been fully equal to the requirements
of the Metropolis Gas Act. and satisfactory to the consumers
generally. The report was unanimously adopted.
RAILWAYS IN THE WEST. Some months ago we
mentioned that the Great Western and Bristol and Exeter
Railways bad commenced running feat trains from Padding-
ton to Exeter and back, and that the distance of 194 miles
was accomplished in 4A hours. Since then the two com-
panies have endeavoured, but in vain, to pennade the South
Devon Railway Company to join them in their efforts to as
the public by running • quick train over the
South Devon line. This company, by way of keeping pace
with the enterprise of the other companies, has now an-
nounced that it will, after October 31, cease to run the
express train which left Exeter at 10.10 p.m. and retched
Plymouth about midnight. Thus, in spite of the great in-
crease of traffic upon the line, involving • large expenditure
in new stations and a second lie, of rails, this company has
resolved to cut off a town of 150,000 inhabitants, and an
important seaport, from any communication with the metro-
polis later than 11.35 LW. Plymouth has been called
the "capital of West Barbary." The inhabitants bid fair
to become "Outer Barbarians."— Western Morning News.
RECOLLECTIONS OF RIIPILIOS. —I have sat near
that young man at a public dinner, and beheld him in •
gilded uniform. Bat yesterday he lived in splendour, had
loug hair, a Bowing beard, a jewel at hie neck, and a smart
enema,. So attired he stood but yesterday in court ; and
to-day be sits over a bowl of prison cocoa, with a shaved
bead, and in a felon's jerkin. That beard and bead shaved,
that gaudy deputy-lieutenant's coat exchanged for felon
uniform, and your daily bottle of champagne for prison
*aces, my poor Rupilius, what a comfort it must be to have
the business brought to an end ! Champagne was the hon.
gentleman's drink in the House of Commons diuing-room,
as lam informed. What uncommonly dry champagne that
must have been ! When we saw him outwardly happy,
bow miserable he must have been! When we thought him
prosperous, how dismally poor! When the great Mr.
Harker, at the public dinners, called out —" Gentlemen,
charge your glues% and, please, silence for the honourable
member for Lambeth !" how that honourable member must
have writhed inwardly I One day, when there war a talk
of • gentleman's honour being questioned, Rupilius said,
" If any man doubted mine, I would knock him down."
But that speech was in the way of business. The Spartan
boy, who stole the fox, smiled while the beast was gnawing
him under his cloak. I promise you Rupilius had some
sharp leap gnashing under his. We have sate at the same
feast, I say ; we have paid our cootribation to the same
charity. Alt! when 1 ask this day for my daily breath
pray not to he led into temptation, and to be delivered from
evl—" Ronadabout Papers," in email! Maga:ins fo
November.

LAW INTELLIGENCE.
(THIS DAY.)

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY. '
(Before Yr. Ocannsissioner GooThum.)
RE BACON.—A FAVOURABLE CARE.
This was an application for an order of discharge by
Henry JAMS' Bacon, of Sunatreet, Hitchio, upholsterer.
Mban r
te.
p Edwardt. s, of Bt. •
Swithin'alane, supported the
The unsecured debts are 5.561., and the official assignee
stated that there was a prospect of a dividend.
There was no opposition, and, in discharging the bankrupt,
The Commissioner said—l have much pleasure in stating
that you stand much more favourably before me than many
bankrupts do. Yon can take your discharge at once.
lis COLLIC.—A BUILDER'S FAILURE.
. .

The bankritpt,iiiotiaso;iii.,;;;; described u of Eden-
grove, Holloway, builder. The unsecured debts are 4471. ;
secured, 4721., holding mortgages on two houses and a
public-house in Baxter-road, Ball's-pond.
Mr. J. J. Holt applied for the bankrupt's dwoharge,
which was granted.

CENTRAL CRIMINAL COURT.
(THIS DAY.)

David Brown and Benjamin Iforgoaki were this morning
convicted under the Bankruptcy Act et conspiring together
to defraud their creditors, and Brown was sentenced to be
imprisoned for two, and Kortoaki for twelve months.