The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-09-17 00:00:00

PRADFORD COMBRRS AND WEAVERS.

In consequence of the Circular lately issued by the
.Masters of Bradford, requesting the co-operation of the
masters of the neighbourhood in suppressing the work-
men's union; a meeting of the worsted spinners and mann.
facturers was held on Saturday last, at Halifax, to consider
the most proper teems to adopt in order to " counteract
the mischievous consequences likely to arise from the ex-
tensive combinations existing amongst the operatives con-
' nected with that ttade."fhe resolutions view with seri-
ous concern tbe combination among the combers and
weavers, which the meeting regards as injurious to both
masters and men; that owing to the recent depreciation in
the cotton bide, it becomes imperiously necessary to con-
duct the worsted business on economical principles ; and
that they have consequently rki!ved firmly and steadily to
resist combination among their Workmen, and to discharge
such as they ascertain to contribute to the support of any
union for the advance of wages. The resolutions. are
signed by upwards of forty of the most respectable houses
in Halifax and the neighbourhood. We received th's fol-
lowing letter froM our correspondent late last night:—
firagto.rd, Sept. 14, 1823. '
The contest between the master manufacturers and timir men,'
which appeared last seeek to be Jrswing to a close, has assunied.a
Much wader range, and a more serious ?spect. The resdisess with
which the masters in Keighley. Halifax, and their respective neigh.l
bourhoods, and even those of the remote manufacturing districts of
Lancaster end Darlington, have joined the Association here, has,
infused new life into we Bradford masters,and the question as to the
result of the disputes is become much more problematical than it ap-
peared a few days ago. Still, if no other trades join the Masters'
' Association, I think it very probable that the men will succeed in
their object; for the support capable of being drawn from the
journeymen in other trades will (if given) be perfectly competent
to answer the demands of the AVoelconibers' and %Vetivers' Union,
through the whole of the worsted manufacturing districts. The
price of worsted goods continues to fall, notwithstanding the great
rethietion which has been made in the supply ; and so long as this
is the case, it seems reasonable to suppose, that though the prices
demanded could be given at the commencement of the strike,
yet the continual fall of profits will at length make it impossible
to afford them. But these prices hale been given Sy Mr. Few.
Celt, Messrs. Garnett, and Messrs. Firtd, and consequently, say the
'men, they can be sftbrded. The other masters say they cannot
be given withoirt absorbing more than the profits. There is an
ipearent contradiction between the practice of those who are pay.
inn
the advance, and those who assert that it cannot be paid without
loss, and this difficulty on the aide of the Association ought to be
removed by a fair statement of facts. It is universally allowed
that a gentleman of wealth. like Air. Fawcett, would not manufac-
ture to a certain loss, because it cannot be necessary for him to du
so in order to meet his trade demands; the Infer/bee, therefore, that
he is venting under the advanced wages, mat be fairly drawn.'
If the men can hold out foe any length of time, the defection or in-
solvency of the smaller capitalists teems certai

Bradford, 12 o'Clock at Noon.
Just now the following persons. warmly—Hannah Nicholson,
Betty Barker, Wm. Davy, and Cornelius Haley, have been com-
mived by the sitting Magistrates hers, to Wakefield hout4 of cor-
rection, for a fortnight to hard labour, for molesting Wm. Ryan,'
who lately belonged t;• the. Union. for kavirte it. and going to
' sot, 14.%7 Mr. El...c.tt at the advanced trams.—Leedt IntelSignior.