The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-10-04 00:00:00

MR. lIUME AND THE COMBINATIONS.

t From the Ghpiron. Cironkle.]
On Monday night a public meeting, called under the aus-
pices of some of the leaders of the weavers' combination,
gave a specimen of the impartiality and fairness to be ex-
pected from such persons. A meeting of the mechanics and
operatives was advertised to be held at five o'clock in the
Lyceum, to take into consideration the propriety of pre-
senting Mr. Hume with a token of approbation. At the
appointed hour the hall was scarcely one-third full, and it
received very little accession of numbers during the even-
ing. It was proposed that the meeting should proceed to
elect a chafrinan. This was opposed by some persons, as
trenching upon the rights of the committee. It was answer-
ed that every poison had a right to propose whom be piens-
ed, in contempt of pretended 'committees, of whom the
public kr.tw nothing. The speaker then proposed, as chair-
man, a man who had peculiar claims on them as a firm
supporter of free trade, although he had been repeatedly
attempted to be assassinated. Ile alludes! to Mr. Robert
Watson, (one of Messrs. Ddnlop's new workers). The
mover and seconder of this reoposition were vehemently
hissed. Two other candidates fur the chair were proposed,
one of whom was chosen. After a common-place intro-
duction, a resolution was proposed, expressive of the Me-
chines' and Artizan's high approbation of Mr. Fume's
conduct in promoting economy and retrenchment In the
State ; and for his valuable exertions in procuring
the repeal of the Combination Laws. The motion
was seconded. The individual who proposed the
first chairman, then rose and expressed his regret
that he must decidedly oppose this resolution. Had
the resolution been simply confined to thaniing Mr.
Hume for his meritorious efforts to reduce the national ex-
penditure, it would have met his cordial approbation ; but
to thank Mr. Hume for his conduct with respect to the
Combination Lews would never meet the approval of any
intelligent, rational, and unprejudiced mechanic. He had
yet to learn that flattering the prejudices of the working
classes at the expense of their best interests, was the crite-
rion of a wise Statesman, and suspected that the popularity
was very fleeting which owed its existence to correspond-
ing with and giving countenance to the leaders of such
combinations as had existed in this part of the country.
(Hisses.) It could not have been very consolatory to the
Hon. Gent. during the cess Won of his Parliamentary la-
bours, to consider how little his promises of immense good
to the working classes from the repeal of the Combination
Laws have been realised. Was not the first fruit of that
repeal a powerful attempt to put out of the trade one of the
most extensive and enterprising manufacturers in Glasgow?
What shall be said of the measurei one of whose fruits was
so iniquitous a combination to nun a gentleman who had
given employment to thousands, and done so much good to
this part of the country? (Hisses, and "'Turn him out.")
He wished particularly to call the attention of the meeting
to the well-known fact of Mr. Hume continuing to corre-
spond with the persons who were at the head of this couspi-
racy. Hence, no doubt, originated the gross misrepresent-
ations in Parliament, which displayed his extraordinary
ignorance of the real state of matters in the west of Scot-
land. Who but the basest informers could have induced 1
Mr. Hume to give so false a colouring to the spinners' late
strike? The manner in which he introduced the name of
the Alessi,. Dunlop, and the differences they bad with their
workmen, under corer of his Parliamentary privilege, was
another of the many instances in which lie allowed himself
to be imposed upon by false statements. The causes of the
dispute, and the promptitude with which the proprietor of
cotton works came forward to prevent those most respect-
able gentlemen, the Messrs. Dunlop, from being ruined by
a combination of their own workers, supported by all the
other mills, were too well known to require derail hie
should only say, that for humanity, and doing everything in
their power to render the situation of their workers corn-
forteble, these gentlemen had always been distinguished.
The speaker then animadverted on Mr. Hume's introduc-
tion of a clause in a late Act of Parliament for disabling
Writers (that is, persons well acquainted with the law)
from being Justices of the Peace. This clause was also
introduced in a manner not very creditable to Mr. Hume.
He ought to have proposed the rider at a proper time, and
not to have carried it in a thin House at a late hour. The
practical usefulness of the Small Debt Court was greatly
hurt by this measure. The most efficient of the Justices of
the Peace, those who were by profession best acquainted
with the law, and of course the best fitted for administering
justice, were by this foolish clause prevented from acting.
In making these observations the speaker's voice was
drowned at almost every sentence with hisses, and other
rude modes of interruption. The Chairman repeatedly
endeavoured to obtain him a hearing, but was obliged to
desist, stating to the speaker that he could do no more for
him, the Meeting were unanimous in determining not to
hear him, and fie would advise him to desist. After inef-
fectually endeavouring to go on, the speaker proposed as
1 an amendment, that Mr. Hume Was entitled to the thanks
of every public-spirited man, for his efforts in favour of
economy and retrenchment; but that as he thought proper
to receive grossly incorrect information respecting the state
of the manufacturing districts, especially of Glasgow, that
this Meeting do now adjourn. Thia was received with a
storm of hisses, and cries of " Turn him out !" " Show
him to the door !" It was in vain that the Prescs endea-
voured to protect the speaker from insults on every side.
One of the managers of the weavers combination, of the
name of Tait, then got up, and acknowledged that the re-
moval of the legal gentlemen referred to had been caused
by a representation from the weavers' committee here to
Mr. Hume, of their conduct while presiding at a trial of
weavers delegates. Mr. Hume had determined to bring
the motion before Parliament • but on consulting with the
Secretary of State, it ivas agreed to let the matter end, by
Mr. Hume proposing the clause to prevent writers from
acting in such Courts in future. The Speaker then ex-
patiated on what he called the good consequences which
had already flowed from the repeal of the Combination
Laws.

There were several mechanics present whose opinion of
Mr. flume agreed entirely with that of the mover of the
amendment; but they were so overawed by the uncivil
treatment be experienced, that they were afraid to express
themselves.

It need hardly be added that the motion for thanks to
Mr. Hume was carried, and that a subscription be entered
into among the operatives for presenting Mr. Hume with a
piece of plate, the inscription on which was to be referred to
the consideration of a future meeting.
It appears that the person who presided at the late meet-
ing of workmen finds it ;accessary to disavow his compara-
tive decent conduct and regard for fair play; for a letter
has been written in his name, in which he declares that he
was anxious to haie the opponents of the side he espoused
" kicked down stairs." The Spirit of the contributors to
Mr. Hume's gold cup may hence be conjectured. These
degenerate Scotsmen call a meeting of the artizans and me-
chanics, "to consider the propriety of presenting a token of
regard to Mr. Hume," and when a person rises, in obedi-
ence to the advertisement, "to consider the propriety,"
the chairman is neither ashamed nor afraid to write a letter,
in which lie declares that he was "anxious" to have the
speaker "kicked down stairs." We give Mr. Hume joy of
his new supporters!

The consumers of coal in Glasgow and its vicinity will
not be astonished to learn, that after Mr. Flume's recent
conduct, the combined colliers of Scotland have subscribed
200 guineas to purchase a gold cup, with an inscription ex-
pressive of their gratitude fur his exertions in their favour.
The cup is to be finished this week: and whenever the
Hon. Gentleman arrives in Glasgow it is to be presented to
hitn at the house where he puts up by a procession of col-
liers. Various were the tokens of respect proposed. One
was for a gold snuff-box, set with emeralds ; but this was
objected to, as it was discovered the Hon. Gentleman was
not a snuffer. Another proposed a punch-bo with
which the Hon. Gentleman could entertain his new friends
when they visited him. This was also thrown aside, as
was a proposed silver tea-tray and equipage.

The banking establishment of Square, Pritleaux, and
Co. Knightsbridge, stopped payment on Wednesday. Ex-
traordinary as it may appear, scarce a mumur is heard, so
thoroughly convinced are the holders of the notes and
creditors that every wablizity will he given to the ac-
counts, and the came of the failure satisfactorily explained.