The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-04-25 00:00:00

THE BRITISH PRESS.

STATE OF THE POOR.

MANCITUTZR, APRIL 2L

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We are sorry to have to observe that the state of the poor,
throughout the whole cotton manufacturing district. continues to
be most deplorable. Not only is the number, who are out of work,
greater than at any forme, period within our recollection, but even
a large proportion of those who are not wholly destitute of employ-
ment. are so far from having full work, that the insufficiency of
their earnings, doting the time they are employed. reduces their
families toped distress; whilst with respect to another large class,
the hand weavers, particularly those engaged in the manufacture of
calicoes, the rate of payment for their labour is now reduced so ex-
tremely low, that even such as have work can muesli obtain a
pittance adequate to the support of natute.
There is, therefore, the most urgent necessity for the wealthy to
come forward—we should rather say, to use additional and renew.
ed exertions. for the relief of that distress, of the termination of
which, unfortunately, there does not at present seem any early pros-
pect. When rite sufferings, it is In their power to prevent, are cons!.
dertd, we trust that that contemplation itself will be an ample re.
eomdenae for any sacrifice they may submit to. We may add,
however, that gratitude for the itlessinp they enjoy, and the com-
forts which surround them, ought also to stimulate all who have
the means to continue their elFrits fee alleviating the wants of their
destitute fellow creatures, until, by the revival of trade, those who
are now unwillingly obliged to depend on the bounty of others,
are again enabled to maintain themselves by their own honourable
industry.
In these observations we wish to be understood as referring not
only to this town, but also to die towns of Blackburn. Colne,
Bolton, Burnley, Rochdale, and others throughout the cotton
ditfricts.

WEAVERS' WAGIII.—A large number of the most respectable
manufacturers of the towns of Burnley, Colo,. Blackburn, Tod.
morden, he. are, from very laudable motives, making an attempt
to establish an advanced rate of payment for the wearing of ca-
licoes, &c.; and to counteract the efforts of those who, taking ad-
vantage of the present slackness of demise! for labour, have led the
war in reducing wages to suck an unprecedented point ofdepression.
They are supported by a large number of the most respectable
buyers of calicoes in this market, who declare that the measures
adopted by the manufacturers for this purpose shall have their most
cordial @auction and support.—/Ifowchester Guardian.
(From the Lecds Mercury.]
LEEDS, Arlin. 22.
We do not find that the wants of the unemployed poor in chic
town are in any material degree diminished. Their number de-
creasrs but slowly, and the longer they remain out of work the
more urgent their wants become; partly becauee they have spent all
their little savings, and partly because such of them as raise sup-
plies by pawning their furniture or clothing, soon come to the end
of such resources. At present the funds of the t:',.,ciety are ex-
tremely low, not exceeding IW. oe 121., though the last week's
distribution amounted to about 44/. ; and we must beg the public
to bear with us. if we ask for contributions to carry the society
through a few weeks longer at least. It is some consolation to
know that the 30/. or 40!. which has been spent weekly here in this
way, for some months past, yields as effectual assistance to the
unemployed poor of Leeds as the 7001. or 00111. distributed weekly
in flanehester affords to the unemployed and distressed in that
place.

Several of the clothing villages in, this neighbourhood have be-
come unusually active in the course of the present week. The sr.
rival of another order foe the East India trade* principally for
smart light fabrics, usually called ladies' cloths, has given this Ft,
tial but salutary impulse to the manufacturers. In the cloth halls
little is doing except in low-priced cloths, which make a great show
of business, but produce little either f profit or return. One
consolation however we have to offer, both to the clothier and to the
staff-manufacturer, and it is this—now, thst wool has got to a coo.
Berate price, we shall soon have a demand ; fur it is a principle of
almost invariable application, that low prices never fail to produce
a demand, and as there can be no security for a continuance of a
brisk demand when goods are high, so there is no fear but that
both the foreign and the home demand will gradually revive, when
the manufacturers and merchants can afford tiara at low prices.
Accidental circumstances may delay this revival, but it is as certain
to arrive as effeet la to follow cause.

The depression of trade, and its natural concomitant. the dis-
tress of the labouring classes, remain unabated at Bradford. :Attie
business is transacted in the piece hall, and that little is unattended
by profit to the manufacturer.
[From the Alacelmfeld Herald.]
CONnLETON.—Though our accounts this week will not allow
us to hold out the hope of a speedy change for the better, yet we
believe that no alteration for the worse has taken place. Things
indeed seem to be in a very languid state, and some Impetus is re-
quired in order to incite activity : a general want of employment is
comp!ained of, and we do not think that there are grounds to induce
the belief that a remedy for this evil is near at band. A respected
correspondent at that place. however, is of a different opinion, and
we can only express our desire that his anticipation will be re-
alized.

NORTHWICIL—There is a great flatness. almost amounting to
stagnation, in the rock salt trade, which is likely to continue so
at least for some time.

SANDBACH —The shoe trade, which had been the main support
of this town, has almost entirely fallen off: The largest silk ma-
nufactory In the place, and which employed about three hundred
hands, is now gismg work to about thirty. Other silk works are
totally suspended. The poor rates are quadrupled.

(From the ManchesterGuattitan.)
We are again under the necessitt• of stating, that the trade in
this district continues without material amendment. In twist, and
especially in water twist, the market is this week decidedly more
depressed than ever, nor are there any symptoms of improvement
observable in the market for grey cloth. There still continues
some demand for the country trade, buttit is too limited to take off
even the greatly reduced quantity of goods which is at present ma-
nufactured, and the prices. generally speaking, are ruinously low.
Plytluce is so unsaleable, that even parties who arc desirous of buy-
ing goods have not at present the means of coming to market.
LIVERPOOL, APRIL 22.—We regret to state that our markets
for foreign produce do not improve, and that the prices of almost
every article are again lower. Of cotton wool the import this week
is 1400, and the sales amount to 8,350 bags, at a depression
generally of Ad. to Id. per lb. The export of raw cotton from
Great Britain, for the week ending 15th instant, 1,177 bags, and
in the shape of calicoes and twist alone, from London, Liverpool,
and Hull only, not less than 7,081 bags.

[From the Dublin Morning Port.]
Distress at present prevails in the Liberttes of Dublin, to an ex-
tent, we state it upon good authority, unexampled at any former
period. The number now out a employment, and therefore in a
state of total destitution, in the silk, cotton, and woollen trades,
amount, it is estinuaed, including their wives and children, to
20,000 persons! The sufferings of these wretched people are
scarcely credible. The applications to the Society for Relief of
Sick and Indigent lioomkeepers are altogether beyond the extent of
their means toaffurd relief.

So reduced it the price of sewing figured work in Belfast,
that females can scarcely earn six-pence per day by such em.
pinyment.
CARLISLE.—Berween 70 and 00 of the poor men not of employ.
went were on Tuesday lam set to work by camera directions of the
Committee, in improving the balk on the sande between the Eden
bridge and the nee coarse: and in several places in the suburbs
improvements are rapidly making, in forming footpaths, mending
the roads, &e. which contributes greatly to alleviate the present
distress.--Curlisk Journal.

[From the Glanron. Chronicle.]
In Darvel, out of WI wavers. about 140 are out of employment ;
and ly Newrnlins dare are 7:10 looms, and about the same propor-
lion unemployed. The number of the idle would have been much
greaser, had not a spirited manufacturer in town, within these four
weeks, engaged between two and three hundred hands, belonging
ezelusively to the above towns. No out-door labour has been pro-
vided.i* any other mans ofrrlief devised for those in distress; but
petitions have been presented to ',lr. Brown of B'aterliaws, and
31r. Hamilton, factor to the Earl of Aloha, praying client to .rater.
pose in their behalf, and relieve them in any way they may deem
molt proper.