The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-11-08 00:00:00

THE SILK TRADE.

The following letters were handcd to us some days ago
for publication. The pressure of temporary matter has
hitherto prevented their insertion :
TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.
LONDON, OCT. 17, 11123.
SlR,—The argument you use In your Paper of Saturday. to
show that the persons interested in the silk trade entertain mistaken
views of their own interest. do nor convince me that you are right
in your view of this subject. You have stated, and you rerar,
that the " prohibition of French silks has hitherto been attended
I with no beneficial result." This, I contend, is not the case. The
silk trade has afforded subsistence to at least 600,000 persons for
many years past, who would never have found employment in it,
bid no prohibition of foreign goods existed. Is this no benefit to
the country ? Our neighbours hare such decided advantages over
us first, Oa I have shown) in the cost of the raw material. 2ndly,
in the price of labour; 3dly, in the superiority of their machinery;
and. lastly, in an exemption from the payment of heavy taxes--
that they can make, 1 allow, bettergoods at a cheaper rate titan our-
selves ; and, es you say, " the best goods will keep the market."
Foreign silks, when suffered to be sold openly, will have a vrefer.
ence over those of our own manufacture Our trade will inevitably
be annihilated, and the greater number of those now employed in
it will, consequently, be thrown upon the country ter support.
I am perfectly convinced, that our liberal measureti:respecting free
trade, will not be met by any reciprocity on the part of vilr neigh-
bours, whose system of exclusion is, and will continue to be quite
as strictly enforced as that hitherto adopted by ourselves.
Your reasoning respecting competition may, on general princi-
ples, be correct, but there are exceptionslto all general rules. It
does not, I maintain, apply to Silk Trade, which requires pro-
tection, and must be mined if that be withdrawn.

1 am, &c.

Venires.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE MORNING HERALD.

.....
London, 20th Oct. 1C25.
SIR.—If the letter I addressed you on the 17th instant, has been
intentionally kept out of your Paper, I must say, such conduct on
your part, does not accord with your pmfessions :If candour towards
your opponents in argument on the subject of the Silk Trade., and
as it is essential to me that your observations, (however superficial
and irrelevant they may be) should rot be left unsweretl, I shall
procure the insertion of my letter in another Paper, should you not
think proper to publish it yourself to.morrow.
-I
am, &.e. VERITA9.

THE BRADFORD COMBERS AND WEAVERS.

[From the Bradford Chronicle of Saturday.]
We commence the printing of a second edition, at a late
hour, to announce to the public the gratifying information
that the long-existing differences between the master ma-
nufacturers of this town and their men are now rapidly
drawing to a close. This afternoon a deputation from Mr.
IVood's men waited upon him, and made a tender of iheir
services at the old prices. To this Mr. Word has acceded;
and many of his men have this evening fetched theircombs
to be ready to commence their work on Monday morning.
Mr. Wood is one of the largest worsted spinners in the
town, and of course the number of men in his employ is
proportionably great; so that in fact we may now consider
the Union at an end, and things in a fair way to revert to
their former channel.

We are glad that Mr. IVotxfs men have at length seen
their own interests in the proper light; and the manly and
handsome manner in which they have come forward to
effect this reconciliation reflects the highest credit upon
them. We have no doubt that next week the example will
be followed by the men who were employed by other ma-
nufacturers; and we trust they will be met in the same
handsome !miner as they were by Mr. Wood. The late-
ness of the hour prevents us from saying more than that
we hope in our next number to have the pleasure of an-
nouncing that the differences bt.tween all the masters and
their men are consigned to oblivion, and the men engaged
in their work as usual.

Mr. Wood had previously, in the course of the week,
engaged 120 combers in the neighbourhood of Kildwick, a
village about 13 miles from Bradford, and the SO which
have returned to their employment to-day, make the num-
ber lte has set on this week 5200.