The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-18 00:00:00

THE COMBINATIONS IN SCOTLAND.

An apprentice of Mr. Andrew Liddell, brass-founder,
having for some time past conducted himself in a disorderly
manner in the workshop, and having latterly refused to work
as desired by his master, was, on Fnday last, apprehended
for examination, under a complaint founded on the late act
for enlarging the power of justices in reference to such cases.
In the course of examination it appeared that his misconduct
and refusal to work, originated in a cause which Mr. Liddell
knew had no existence in any other department of his work,
and which he did not believe to exist even among the brass-
founders, viz. that system of combination which has of late
produced such disastrous consequences in almost every de-
partment of business. One of his journeymen brass-
founders was recently dismissed for gross misconduct, and
another employed in his place. The other servants in this
department being of opinion that Mr. Liddell ought to
have borne with the former, and that the latter was not
regularly bred to the trade, would have struck had they
not been all under written engagements. In these circutn-
stances the young man stated that lie resolved not to work
with the nob, although lie denied that he had come to this
resolution at the request of the combined brass-founders.
The Magistrate, being of opinion that the severest punish-
ment ought to be inflicted in every case in which workmen
attempted to control their masters either in the employ-
ment of their servantsor in the management of their work,
would have adjudged the apprentice to three months' hard
labour in Bridewell, but for the intercession of Mr. Lid-
dell, at whose request the term of confinement was re-
stricted to thirty days.
Between twelve and one o'clock on Saturday morning a
cotton spinner of the name of Peter APAuley went to the
door of Mr. James Napier, power loom tenter, Hutcheson-
town, and in a rude and imperious manner demanded in-
stant admittance. Alarmed by the noise. Mr. Napier sprang
from his bed, and declared that he would not open his door
at such an untimeous hour till he knew who his visiter was,
and the nature of his business. " Open the door in a mo-
ment," said the fellow, " I know well enough who you
are; you are one of Todd's- nobs; I would like to
get a day's shooting at you like a parcel of fowls, and if
you do not instantly open the door, I will break it open
and rip you up." Mr. Napier ordered the delinquent to
go about his business immediately, or if lie did not he
would make him feel the weight of a pair of excellent tongs
that were in the house. On hearing this, M'Auley repeat-
edly snapped a large clasp knife, and declared that lie had
a good pistol to protect himself, and with horrid threats
and imprecations he drove his knife several times into the
door, and redoubled his exertions to burst it open. Find-
ing him so determined, Mr. Napier called on his neigh-
bours in the flat under him, and three men came up and
secured him while he was endeavouring to force his way
into Mr. Napier's house. While on the way to the police
office he dropt his knife ; but he was observed, and it was
instantly picked up. The details of the outrage being
clearly proved in a Justice of Peace Court, held on Satur-
day, M`Auley was sentenced to be confined in Bridewell,
and kept at hard labour for 60 days, and afterwards till he
find security to keep the peace for twelve months from the
date of his bond.

When it is considered what sort of characters generally
begin and carry on combinations, it can excite no surprise
that in direct contradiction to their pretensions, they should
practically mar the interest of the deluded bodies whose
prosperity they pretend to promote. When the work, in
whole, was obviously too little for the weavers, no one but
a knave, or a person whose sanity might be questioned,
would soberly maintain, that it would become more plenti-
ful by putting some of the moat extensive manufacturers
out of the trade. Strange and unaccountable as it may
seem, a meeting of weavers was held some time since, at
which it was resolved, that none should work to specified
houses, till they, in paying their work, conducted them-
selves agreeably to the wishes of the sapient leaders of the
organization. Determined apparently to enforce this extra-
vagant resolution at all hazards. a weaver, who resides near
Ruthcrglen, on the evening of Friday se'nnight got a large
atone thrown threw his window, which materially injured
his web and terrified him so, that next day he returned the
work to the proscribed warehouse. A atarcher in Hutche-
sontown, who continued to work to his usual customers,
was repeatedly threatened with serious consequences if he
continued to finish the work of certain manufacturers.
Among other threatening letters, he received the fol-
lowing:—
" ROAM TiAR—I ken ye stark till a Boole i the Toon L & R
Gin ye tlinna drop it ye may depen upont that muckle harm will
come toe ye Baith in person and properti the place ye wark in wull
be brunt abune yer Head. Mind this and a that wark to that
house as ye are cluing Take tent for I am one o' a club wha are
determine toe punish a wha wark to that Hoos as ye are duin.
Min this warning. "JOHN SPITFIRE."
This was by no means an idle threat, for on Thursday
night his starching-house was set on fire by some incen-
diaries, and had it not been for the prompt arrival of the
engines, it would have been burned to the ground. On
Saturday the minds of Mr. Barr and family were greatly
relieved by receiving a letter from the formidable " John
Spitfire," informing him that he was in perfect safety,
provided he did no work for certain houses named. These
facts but ill agree with the audacious assertion in the ad-
dress of the Associated Trades of this city presented to
Mr. Heine, that the abrogation of the Coutbination Laws
had caused a "great decrease in moral turpitude."—Glas-
gow Chronicle.

We are glad to perceive, by the Isle of Man papers, that
the disturbances amongst the peasantry in that island are
at an end. It appears that the discontent originated in the
belief that tithe would be taken from the poor tenants of
the island. The Bishop's proclamation, however, disclaim-
ing such an intention, will, we trust, have the effect of
completely restoring tranquillity.
The Manchester Journal says " it was stated by a
Manchester paper last week, that a reduction had taken
place in the prices of weaving. We have made some in-
quiry on the subject, and cannot find that any general re- I
duction has taken place. It is true that the weaving of
some articles, which are not in demand till the summer, is
somewhat less ; but goods which are preparing for the
spring demand cannot be got out at lass than they have for
some time been wove for, and in some instances even an ad-
vanced price has been given."
. .

Notw.ithstanding theThumerous salt works lately erected,
such has been the increased consumption in consequence of
the abolition of duty, that within these few days salt has
advanced in price 3s. or about 13 per cent. The price then
given upon it was 33/. per ton, now it is not as many
shillings. _ . .

A COmpany has been formed in New-York to raise the
British frigate Hussar, sunk at Hurl Gate during the Re-
volutionary war.
PRI:SERVING FISH BY SUGAR.—Sugar, according to
Dr. Macculloch, is a very powerful antiseptic, and though
sparingly employed in the curing of hams, it is one of the
most active substances in their preservation. Fish may be
preserved in a dry state, and perfectly fresh, by means of
sugar alone, and even by a very small quantity. He has
thus kept salmon, whitings, and cod, for an indefinite
time, and with the best effect. Fresh fish may also be
kept in that state for several days, and when boiled are the
same as if newly caught. If dried and kept free from
mould, there seems no limit to their preservation, and they
are much better than when salted, the sugar giving them
no disagreeable taste. This process is particularly valuably
in making kippered salmon, those preserved in this way
being far superior in quality and flavour to those which are
salted or smoked. In the preparation, it is merely neces-
sary to open the fish and apply the sugar to the muscular
part, and keep it in a horizontal position to allow it to pe-
netrate, after which it may be dried, being occasionally
wiped and ventilated to prevent mouldiness. A table-
spoonful of sugar is sufficient for a salmon of five or six
pounds in weight.