The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-09-29 00:00:00

- pal
by any unfortunate circumstance, his extensive works should be
dentroyed, would it be fair that ell his tvorkers thrown out of em-
ployment should be saddled en the county ? and was it not proper
they should do whst lty in their power to prevent this? It had
ever been his pride and hie glory to see the people of this country
happy, and to do every thing in his power togaard their just rights;
and he would ask, whether the natural inhabitant of the boll, or
those people who were brought over by manuracturers who were
engaged in over-speculation, hail the best right to the support of
the county ? ft was certainly the former, and with them he would
never refuse to break his loaf.
Sir JAMES STEWART, D. begged to second the Report in foto.
Air. o T F.IT II proposed that. instead of this, it should merely
be stated that the Report was received. Should this not be agreed
to, he should feel it to be his duty to enter his dissent.
Alr. Alaxw ELI , ALI'. said he had come to Ilamilton on some
business, and had exercised his privilege of being present on this
important occasion. He did not conceive at first that it would
have been necessary for him to have said a single isord. Ile had
just heard the most able Report, in his opinion, that had ever been
presented to any meeting in (heat Britain. It was -absolutely ne.
cessary test it should strike 'at the root of the evil, and that the
nation should he enlightened on so momentous a subject, where the
existence of so many thousands of people were concerned. They
had to witness the gnat mass of the inhabitants reduced to a state
of mendicity front the efacts of war and misrule, and every effort
should be made to save them, whether it sleuth: be deemed newt-
saty to trench on the property of the county or the kingdom. This
was the truth, and a truth whieli must be universally promulgated.
Mr. Maxwell commented at some length on the facts stated In the
Report. He observed that whenever there was an increased circula.
lion, great hobo, of manufacturing and other labourers were
brought over from Ireland ; and when a dulness took place these
poor people were thrown on the gentlemen foe support, who had
nothing to do with them ; and so small was the pittance that it was
possible in these cases to give, that it disgusted alike. the giver
and the receiver.
• The Report was then carried ; Alta Monteith dissenting, bet not
pressing for a division.
The Duke t f hlam Lao* said that as the Report of the Cora-1
mitete bed now been disposed of, lie begged leave to state the pair-
pose for which the present Meeting had been called together,l
namely., to consider of the distress which exist( ranong the rearing
population. Ile had on various occasions made a statement of thei
crate to his Majesty's tiovernment, and urged them to the consider.
anion of the evil, as there was no saying what delay might lead to;
he had likewise stated the inefficiency of all partial aid; but he
had received for answer that Ministets did not consider themselyes
justified in giving any relief to the weavers in the West of Scotland.
He had likewise described the evil to be a national one, to which
°lily a national remedy could be applied ; but all had been of no
avail. It was certainly very degrading to the people to be con-
demned to eleemosynary aid, and the distress could be but very
partially alleviated in tjtis way. There had been various rrojects
formed ti*dititinishing the evil, but they were ell partial, and could
never be of any pettuartent advantage. With //geed to the Corn
LAWN it was plain that if the prices of the landlord teem diminished
he would be the less able to maiotaan his portion of the distressed,
and to purchase tl:e commodities which they produced. it was far
from him to say that cheap corn wits not a desirable object to the
people; but if the poets were to be opened to one article, they should
be so to all ; for when this was net the case, it appeared plain Chet a
beetles was imposed on one part of the community at the expense
of the other. With regard to emigration, when he agreed to give
his support to this, it was at the expense of his general inclination,
as he was convinced it would be prejudicial to the country; for
the places of our virtuous and moral people would he filled up
by a comparatively degraded population, who could not be
possessed of that love of country which the natural inhabitants
were. aa'hile, therefore, he neither asked for open ports nor emi-
gration, he strongly advocated the necessity of a diminution of
public expenditure, and an Invariable currency, which would err.
mainly give those people, who could not now ptocure a loaf of bread,
%something better, and width they so well deserved. His (;race'
then pronounced a high culogium on the character of Mr. Mon-
,' teith; who, he said, had done much by his patriotism and love of
' country to adorn and support lt. lie then read a shitement of the'
comparative rate of wages of 1 weaver now and what they fortnerly
were—what they used to get lad. for, they only got 21. new, ana
they were able to procure nothing but oatmeal and potatoes, with-
out any butcher meat. and only water to drink ; and what, lie
retold ask, must be the feelings of a father to see his wife and
children but ill able to proceie even a itefficiercy of auth food as
this ? These men were to be replaced by Irish, who could live on I
nothing, and who paid little or no house rent, as it was their prac.
tie fur three or four families to live in one hovel.
Admiral Faast 'NG did not think the distress arose alto-
gether from taxation, or some other of the causes which bad been
mentioned.
Lord BELHAVEN assured the Meeting that the Resolutioni
were not meant to convey any thing hostile towards machinery, nor
to cherish any political feeling whatever.
Air. MONTEITH, after referring to the low rate of wages, said
he felt the utmost Imrror at the statement, anti he could not help
expressing his detes•ation of the principles of that man whO could
force his work on a starving man • for sutir a paltry remunerations
Ile begged leave to say. once for all, that, from the political feeling
divined in the Resolutions, it were much better to let them alone
altogether, for they could do no good. I
Lord BELHAVEN' said it was impossible to divest this subject at-
• together of politics ; but as far as this could be avoided it had been
done ; but if any thing of this description remained, he was quite
willing to have it expunged.
Dr. CLARKE thought it wee strange to talk about the currency
in the mantle: which had been dose in the Report ; for it was con-
sidered we had gained a great victory when we were allowed to re-
main as we were in this business.
Lord IlEaßavErt denied that any complaint had been made.
Dr. CLARKE imagined they had nothing to do with the currency
of England ; under their own system the value of property had in-
creased in an extraordinary degeee, and they were perfectly satisfied
with it.
Lord BM/HAVEN observed that the currency question was still
under the discussion al Ciovernment. was by Ito means settled,
'and there was little doubt it would be uttered, for it was impossible
that a separate currency could exist In the same country.
Mr. Altisrearrit said the resources of the country were by no
means exhausted ;—Necessity was the mother of Invention. There'
was not the smallest doubt but that the land was still capable of
supplying all the wants of the poor.
The Duke of lIA observed, that if the resources of the
country had not been employed to the full extent, lie wished just to i
ask what gentlemen wished to contribute farther. As long as he
had any thing left he was willing to give a little; and it was for
gentlemen now to come forward, and say what assistance they were
inclined to rendea
Admiral FLEMING said there was no doubt, if the country were
I occupied by a French army, something might yet be squeezed out
I of it ; but the fact was, that in the present circumstances no more ,
money could be got.
The Duke of II ARITLT(rN knew it was very natural for those
gentlemen who had derived so much benefit from the inroads of
strangers to support the system which had contributed to aggrandize
them; and all he wanted wits, that they should now come forward
and contribute towards their relief.
Lord Iteutavew said it was impossible, unless they descended'
from their station, as gentlemen altogether, to support 40,000 peo-
ple fora length'of time every three or loin years.
Mr. Mox 'mate allowed that die comparison he was going to
make was rather invidious; but he asserted, and he would continue
to assert, that if the sums subscribed by mercantile gentlemen
were put into competition with those given by gentlemen of
landed property, it would put many of the latter class to the
blush.
he I
Hisl a at;
xt.exr
toi
nar e
hv never
iiinutbeind intended
piarnityathdi nifbcpzei
toyn: personal
adt
existing
MT. oit)tutekiel h. of

pope of drawtng Op, and- eratietnitting to Government, a Repre-
sentation oe the Mores% existitiggenerally throughout the County."
His Grace the Duke of (Witt-row, fierdaLleutenant of the
County, was unanimously called to the Chair.
Before the Meeting entered on the business of the day, the Re-
port of the Committee, which had been previously appointed to i
quire into the exirting distrewewas read. It began by perectilariaing
the vsrieus sums which 11.1 been received. and hew they had been
expended ; it regretted that in some parishes, whets the distress had
almost not been felt. nothing hadbeen done to relieve the wants of
their neighheurs. It stated, that the Committee had every reason
to be. satisfied with the exertion* whist had been made by the
Clergymen in their respective bounds. From the commencement
of the distress no alleviation had mewl piece until the time of
has vest, when the number of operatives requiring assistance had
rather diminished; but it could hardly be said tf at during the last
six nitintlin there had been any diminution in the actual sufferings
of the weaving population. A good weaver could not earn more
than one shilling per day, white, sum could nut etieport existence,
especially if that man had a wile anti family ; and it was the opinion
of medical men, that fever; and other diseases must be produced
by the scand*is of the rare. The good behaviour of the people
who were suffeeing was likewise highly applauded for while they
(the once corn stable and happy weavers) were going about
like mendicants, they still rexerved the most exemplary order,
and cherished all the good dispositions of their forefathers.—
The improvements which hed been made in machinery were
alto considered as tending to di..ninith the comforts ot the labouring
classes, by eating np their employment. The Report stated, that
during times of mercantile prospeeity, great numbers of Irishmen
were constantly attracted over to assist in our manufactures. Thew
people were very different from the original inhabitants of the soft,
for they could bear all sown of privations. This had no doubt in-
cr.-aced that distress, -which was new come to such a h.ight, that
great numbers of the virtuous and decent mires of this county
weve petitioning to besent to America; and leaving their places to'
be occithird in their own country by people who had no interest in
it, and to he IMO tip by persons from all, parts of Scotland, and
particularly from Ireland ; dins tilling the military with an entirely
new and extenuenus population, the purity of whose morals oath'
hear no comparison with the sober and steady habits of the former
natives of the district. I; statedfurther, that there were 30.000
hand weavers In the county, and it was vain to suppose that volun-
tary eubscriptlons fur such a mars of people could be procured.
The only plan that could 'be adopted was, first, after having ob.
mined acceitete list* of the whole hand-loom weevers in the county.
specifying the number of men, warned, and children so occupied,
to prepare a pension to Parliament, craviag the immediate inter-
ference of his elajemty'r Government, lametiting teat die state of
the reentry should he melt as to compel a largo anti indtretrious
population to seek the omens tie existence in a foreign country. Se-
cond, to induce the herltora of the different parishes to ascertain
the number of houses and workshops oocopied by the cotton-wea-
vers, to whom such premiers belong, sell to whom they are (cued;
and to recommend to all land proprietors got to want any fees of
ground, without expressly pthiftlebar the erectiop of hand-kome,
mikes security is riven for tit* femme not fatting upon the parish
for support. Third, to correspond with the different counties of
Scotland, similarly situated with the county' of Lanark, and obtain
the assistance and cooperation of these togas in bringing a Bill
into Parliament, and carrying it Into a immerge the purpose of re-
enehoing or preventing parish settlements palalrehi, not natives,
and for making the owners of bowies or buildings, wherein; by
means of residence, parish settlements are first obtained, liable to
relieve the parish in the maintenance of each poor, to the extent of
the rent of such Wince or buildings, while they remain a charge on
the parish.
Lord BELHAVEN said, it was now for the meeting to approve
or disapprove of the Report.
The Duke of IIAatiLTON begged to return his most unqualified
thanks to the Gentlemen of the Connnittee, who had given so much
attention and been at so much-pins in dr:acing np such a deer and
succinct view of the subject.
HENRI' M ri ONTEti. Esq. of Cant/tine said, that though he,
was one of die Committee appointed to assist in drawing up this
Report. he could not claim any of the praise which had been
awarded, for he lived at such a distance that it was impossible to'
attend the Meetings. lie could not say, however, that he entirely
agreed with the speculative views contained in the Report, tape-
ciallyellet pert of it which talked of the evils produced by,the em-
ployu:int of machinery—the employment of which mientehe power
had formerly been hailed as the greatest blessing to the inha.
hitants of this country ; there improvements in manufactures, and
in the machinery, had rendered the land ten times more valuable,
and he could nut discover that there was less morality among the
inhabitants now than formerly. Ile had been engaged iu trade for
a very considerable period, and he never knew of five or six years
passing over our heads without tome parted stagnation or dulness,
the same CO the prevent. In 1733 there was a great convulsion,
even greater than what has lately taken place ; and in 1797 and
17118. in 1803, and from 1810 to 1318; much distress had been
felt, but these evils should not be attributed to wrong causes. The
mate of things which now existed lie believed to be altogether pro-
duced by ourselves, namely, by, glutting and stocking the market
with such a quantity of goods that it would yet take twelve
months to consume. He was not in the least degree afraid, how.
ever, but that happicess and prosperity would again revisit the land;
of this be was as ceimilent its lie was of his own existence. All
that was wanted was time, end he trusted that the lesson which
bud been got would never be forgot by men of liminess, and that
it would make them cautious and prudent in ad their future none-
actions. These *trellis reasons for not falling in with the specu•
lance part of the Report. With regerd to the proposal of not al-
lowing louses to he erected air manufacturing purposes, he could
not agree, for he had never heard of this proposition before. •
Lord BELHAVEN hardly knew what his lloncurable Friend
meant by the speculative part, for, if he could patine out any portion
of the Report which was not not founded on fact, he would be nitwit
wiiling to expunge it-altogether. There was nothing in the Report
but a recommendation that Government should interfere in
so momentous a crisis ; and, also, that those persona who ellowed
houses for manufacturing purposes to be erected on their
land should take care that the occupiers did not fell a burthen on
the parish. No person who looked et the English poor laws but
must be thankful we had nothing of the kind here, and 'every thing
should be guarded ag'iinst that could lead to their introduction. It
was evident, al-o, to every body, that we could not compete with the
foreign manufacturer, burdened as we were in this country by tax-
'pion. The Report, his Lordship thought, treatee of facts, and lams
alone.
Mr. MONTEITH rose to explain. Ile could not agree to the
statement of the Noble Lord that we could not compete slab the
foreign nianufacturers, and compete successfully too. Ott this sub-
ject he handily iinatened he was nx capable of funning as correct a
judgment as Ins Lordship, although he had not travelled quite so
pitrn. It might, laced, be proeer enough to discuss some of these
general subjects at a proper period; and among tlie rest the poor
hive ; but no this was a meeting called tar a specific purpose, these
extraneous questions shoubl not be lietened to. fie had only to
state, that lie did not approve of the whole of the Report, but at
the game time lie should like well enough to see It published.
Lord nEtnAvi —I sin afraid the fiat stares us in the film that
we cannot bring our goodsento successful competition with the ma-
nufactures of other countries. When our hand-loom weevers were
petitioning to be traneporteti to foreign lands, it was a.pretty con.
vincing proof that they could neeexist by their labours in thin.
Admiral FLEMING expressed hie approbation of the eieflity and
research which had been manifested in drawing up the Report ; but
lie would not like to believe that the emplornent of ntachinety
had been hurtful to the country, finite ha lievcd that melting as we
maintained our laws and constitution inviolate, and so long an
publicity war given to all our pubrk transactions, the manufactures
of this country would be *We to compete, and that suctetutfuliy,
with those of time Continent. One cause of the distress was. that
South America writ overloaded with our goods, and no retur:us had
been - '‘ would be a considerable period before trade

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PATENT HARPS.—SCIIWIESO anti CO., in re-
turning thanks for the extensive patronage with which they
have been honoured, are happy to infonn the Nt.bility, Gentry, and
Musical Wend in general, that they have just obtained his Ma.
jesty's Royal Letters Patent for a new and brilliant
'ofe of

__, _ „ __ _ _ _ _ • ._. _ .. _____ _ __ __ _
.RENT on the HARP. It has been ever a subject of complaint, . made ; and it -_ _ ________ ___ ____ _ ___ __ ______ , „ . --- --
.
anti the Makers' attention strongly directed to remove, those un- could pineohly revive, for it vnuld be long erc the manufactured always been most conspicuous during period of the .
pleasing jars to which Harps have always been found subject—a goods on hand could be disposed of. Nothing had tended more distress.
desideratum, linwerei, till now, tinactomplished. Sehwieso and to produce the distress dam the facility with which credit was pm- Admiral FLtsti NG bore testimony to the liberality and kindness
Co.'s Patent will be found effectually to remedy this defect, giving cured ; and whenever a stop was put to it, every thing had gone to of the manufacturers of Glasgow. On every occasion where the
a fulness and richness of tone to the Instrument hitherto unknown, wreck. He approved of the general terinsof the Report, with these Committee had applied for work, they had been most attentive hi
as well vivo as facilitating very considerably the movement of the ex onde:la.he
sending it out. As to the Hon. Gentleman (Mt. Monteith),
Pedals. They will be happy to give proof of this most interesting bord IlwravErs said it was a fact which no man could deny, stood in the double capacity of landlord and manufacturer; and
discovery to any Lady or Gentleman who will honour them with a that as the application of mechanical power to the purposes of trade there was no person who knew him but would readily confess that
call, at their k:staWishment, 263, Regent-street, where an extensive had increased, the pecuniary circumstances of the baud.loom wea- he was ever ready to 'assist in any measure that tended to benefit his
assortment of elegant and brilliant-toned Harps and Pianofortes is vers had gradually become worse. country.
constantly on Sale. 31r. MONTEITH—That arsertion.l completely deny. After a good deal of farther discussion, in which Mr. Monteith
i.i. A greet variety of Spanish COWS On Slae. hoed IittIIAVEN-:-The only why to collie at the tact is to corn. took a prominent part, the hot Resolution, regarding the currency,
..• Harps and Pianofortes Lent on Hire; Itomun Strings of pare the rate of wages now with what they were thirty years ago. ace.,
thc first quality. Mr. Mowratin admitted that the wages were low, and he had - The Duke of HAMILTON then adverted to a number of peti.
POLS agreed to be omitted.