The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1825-02-02 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.

Si a,—As you have opened your columns to the contribu•
tion of one " West Indian," von will perhaps have the
kindness to indulge another, by inserting a comparison
similar to that given in your Paper of the 28th inst., and
resting on authority equally respectable, while it testifies,
in language as unequivocal, the superior comforts and hap,
piness of the Slaves in the West Indies, as contrasted with
the condition of the labouring poor in this country. This
I most particularly desire all country gentlemen and
ramie's, who may have signed petitions in favour of Negro
Emancipation, to permit; and then to consult their con-
aciences.—l am, Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
31st Jan. 1826. A CREOLE.
WEST TN1)11:9. ZWOLAVD.
Extract (tom the Speech of Ste Extract from the Evidence of the
Henry %Verde, Governor of Hee. Anthony Collett, Hector
Barbados', to the Assembly, of Ileaveningham, Suffolk,
28th Sept. 1821. before the Select Committee
" I now seize, with pleasure of the House of Commons on
snd sincerity, this public oppor- Labourers' Wages, page t 7,
tut.ity to express those semi- 12th May, 18-24.
mentscnostuncquirocally, which " The labourer is now in ge-
have long been felt, but never neral the mere servant of the
called forth ; that though cases, day, or of the seasoh. and is east
as etceptions, do exist, which, off when the task is completed,
under similar circumstances, to seek a precarious subsistence
would exist in every other part from other work, if he can find
of the globe, so long as men are it, if not from parish rates.
imperfect, and their dispositions This has most rapidly effected
differ in an innumerable degree the demoralization of the lower
of shades, from good to bad; orders; and while the pittance
yet, after more than three years allowed to sustain life ha. driven
constant residence on this Island, those to despair who still cherish
it is my firm conviction (as far as the feelings of honesty, it has
has come within my own obser- made those who are void of prir.
ration to judge), that the Slaves, tip le perchers, thieves, and rob .
as a body, throughout the Co. hers. In the generality of )a.
Tony, are muffin-m. 4 treated with rishes, from five to forty labourers
kindness, lenity, and liberality, have been without employment,
and to which their general ap- loitering about during the day,
pearance of cheetfahiess and engaged In idle games, insulting I
happiness may be fairly attri- passengerson the road, or else
buted." -- Council Chamber, consuming their time in sleep,
Sept. 28, 1824. that they might be more active
In the West Indite. It Is per- in the hours of darkness. The
feetly notorious, that all the air- weekly allowances cannot supply
grace keep pigs, poiatry, aid more than food. Ilow, then,
stock of every description, which, are clothing, tiring, and rent to
with the fruit raised in their gar- he provided? By robbery and
dens, they carry to market on plunder. l'icklock keys have 'I
their own account, and many of readily opened our barns and
them accumulate considerable granaries. The lower orders of
sums front the produce. artificers, and in one or two in-
etances, ' small farmers,' have'
joined the gangs, consisting of
from ten to twenty men. Dis-
graceful as these facts are, I could
enumerate many more. I will
mention one of a poor unem-
ployed fellow, who was convictsd
before me of stealing wood, the
penalty of which was mitigated
to the lowest sum, and he was
allowed a month to pay it ; he
entreated me, with tears, to send
him, as ass act of merry, at once
to t.'ie House of Correction,
where he shmild find employment
and jbod."
" There nre many insurers
where the labourers have endea-
voured to free themselves from
the poor-rates altogether, and
the farmers have prevented their
doing so. A great part of the
allowance which the labourers

receive, returns to the farmers
and landowners in the shape of
exorbitant rent for cottages a and
where collages are is the hands
of farnsert, they always prohibit
the labourcrs front keeping a pig,
and chiini the produce of the
appt..trees. and of the vine which
utu,liu carers the haute."—p.47.
Evidence of Henry Drummond,
Esq. a Magistrate for Surrey,
before the same Oommittee, Vtli
April, 11124.

At the lasi Quarter Sessions fur the borough of Mon-
mouth, before Henry Hughts. Esq, Mayor, an indictment
was preferred, and a true bill found by the Grand Jury,
against Jos. Price, Esq. Messrs. Edward Lucas, E. B.
Prosser the younger, Win. Shayle, Jas. Lane. John Miles,
and several others, for a riot and assault on the 4th of No-
vember last. The tumult arose cn the evening of the
annual ball, given by the Mayor to the independent bur-
gesses and their families ; and it had been thought ad-
visable to lay the evidence of the disturbance before his
Majesty's Secretary of State, who recommended this appeal
to the laws of the country.
The dispute between the proprietors of cotton-works and
their spinners is at last terminated, with the unconditional
acceptance of the masters' terms. It has lasted 20 weeks,
and has occasioned a deficiency in the quantity of yarn
to the value of 200,000!. The spinners, in whoa..
cause the dispute was maintained, amount to about 030,
whose weekly wages when employed would reach nearly
1000/. Their total loss is therefore about 20,000/. But
along with these there were employed piercers, preparers
of cotton, smiths, weights, and other tradesmen, to the
number of nearly 6000, whose loss cannot be set down at
much less than 45,0001. Here therefore is a defalcation in
wages of 03.5,000/. and if it be supposed that the persons
who incurred this part of the loss, contrived to live upon
half their usual income, there will still hang over them
debts exceeding SO,uool.—Causgue, Citron/de.

-