The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-18 00:00:00

STATE 9P TRADE.

STOI K poRT.—FrOM all tot inquiries we can make, we
are inclined to believe that, on the whole, the prospect is
cheering. The very small quantity of goods on hand is
beginning to be felt ; and the much-diminialscd supply is
not more than adequate to the actual demand. In fact,
were there any forsign orders to be received, an absolute
scarcity of goods would be experienced, and we have no
doubt that, in a short time, a gradually-increasing supply
will be demanded for our home trade. Orsr-production has
Wen one great cause of our distress ; that production was
encouraged by the facility with which money could be•
raised upon securities (falsely so called) not worth a far-
thing ; and though the full effects of the distress may not
yet have been felt, we are approaching slowly, though
surely, to a more healthy and natural state.
Bawnroan.—Whenever we feel that we can be justified
in stating any improvemett in the trade of this town, we
shall not be backward in communicating so agreeable a
piece of intelligence; but we cannot say that the result of
our inquiries this week warrants any statement of positive
visible improvemmt. Paragraphs have followed 'one ants-
ther from time to time, in neighbouring journals, in which
the trade in this town has been said to be better ; but if
there hail been any foundation in truth for these state-
ments the condition of Bradford must have been very
flourishing by this time. The fact is, a few snore goods
taken off, or a few snore hands put on, prove nothing
worth recording ; the must that can he said is, that there
seems to be something of a more hopeful feeling among the
trade than existed two months ago.

THE 14' EA VERS.
Since our last report, no material alteration has taken
place in the state of the trade of this district, although
we believe there is rather more employment for the weavers,
and consequently for the other numerous individuals en-
gaged in our manufacturing establishments.—The weavers'
wages are. bowel cr, en extremely low, that it is utterly
impossible for them to oimtin (even with full work) the
common necessaries of life, and most of them are therefore
still obliged to receive the bounty dispensed by the Coin-
mince foe the Rebel of the Poor, although we are per-
suaded it is opposed to those feelings of independence,
which, as British Freemen, a majority of them yet possess.
flow long this state of things will last, we know not; but
we sincerely trait that as there is now a brisker demand
for goods, the manufacturers of this town will, at all
events, fry whether they cannot afford to give better wages
to their half-famished industrious workmen ; and thus
bring down the blessings of those who are now almost
" ready to perish."
Since wnting the above, the following address from the
suffering weavers of this town has been put into our hands.
it demands the prompt attention of those who would not
willingly " grind the face of the poor," nor deprive the
" labourer of his hire :"
"TO THE MANUFACTURERS Or ILACEIHI nx.
" 6El'7lAm:tr.—We, the Committee
of the Operative
Weavers of Blackburn, beg leave to call our serious attention to
the present state of distress brought an us by the small price given
for our labour. We do earnestly request you will call a Meeting
as early as possible, in order to adopt such nteaaum as will enable
you to give the same wages, In proportion to the reeds, &c. as the
minafacturen in the neighbouring towns give. You cannot but
be well aware that giving low wages is injurious to the well.mean.
ing manufacturer, and in no way beneficial to those that give them,
to say nothing of the effects it Ilas upon the workmen. It is painful
to dwell upon our auterings, which have already torn our affections
asunder, anti nearly destroyed those delicate feelings of honour and
respect acquired by civilization, and which, if something he not
done to restore to us the means of cherishing them, will entirely
vanish. We arc gradually sinking into a state of pauperism, the
trault of eontinned and hopeless misery, which will compel us
lawless you come forward and advance the wages with the manu-
(snorers of the neighbouring towns) to the painful necessity of
exposing you to'the public (whether manufacturer or putter.out),
by giving a contrasted list of the prices paid for the different reeds
by the manufacturers of Blackburn and other towns. All those
mast:ars that cannot come up to the prices, we wish to withdraw
from the business, and leave it to those that can, and thereby en-
able the whole of the operatives to receive wages equally alike.
Trusting that your good sense will enable you to see the utility of
tie ah measures. we once more earnestly pray you will lase no
time in adopting them, as we should prefer a werkbouse to our
pretest situattoo."—Btarktotrn Ma.