The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1824-05-31 00:00:00

PREPARATIONS AC AINST tHE ALar.nrxEs. ;TO THE EDITOR OF THE BRITISH PRESS.!
The Hampshire Telegraph, of Saturday morning's date, 1 Sift,--I send you the following observations, perceiving
contains the following notice of vessels about to sail against that
. I Ireland, and
is the only London journal which speaks of
the Algerines and Irish affairs, from a knowledge of them, and
Saturday morning the /Etna bomb, Captain Sandorn,
at' ; from abetter inducement than the mere necessity of saying
rived at Portsmouth from Chatham, fitted for service in
procee Mediterranean. She is to dto Algiers forthwith. something respecting them. It is a general subject of com-
the Me plaint amongst my countrymen, that not only is there
Such has been the expedition in (quipping the iFtna, that
s (lays off the stocks. The . great want Of general information with respect toihat coun-
he has been only fourteen
try, but that there also prevails at, indifference with regard
Infernal and Meteor bombs are fitting with all haste for to its concerns, which is a great bar to the improvement of i
the same service. I them. How far such an opinion may be well founded or
His Majesty's mortar-vessel ralinouth, was taken out of riot, I shall not now inquire,—but with the exception of
dock, at lb infortl, on the I itli inst. with 12» artificers
same articles in your journal, which certainly diacover an
working on board her. On the
9'21 she was maimed, accurate acquaintance with this country, I have not seen
masted. and otherwise equipped for forcign service. On
towed to Nortlifleet, by the Comet steam- any thing of any real interest on the subject. The ideas
the 26th she was tow
I of those who only obtain their malerirl at second-hand, are
vessel, and placed miller the orders of the lion. Captain
I worse than ludicrous.
Montagu Stopford, of the Al Brine, which ship is toil:MU-. I
What is the cause of the long-existing erns of Ireland ?
parry the mortar-vessel, to join Sir Harry Neale, in Algiers'
a. Every body is agreed as to the grieyousnessof their extent—
B y but no two persons will give you the same account of their
Captain Clisrles Sotheby commissioned the Seringspa- origin. Dariagognes say, the linion—the penal code—
tarn, on Monday, for foreign service—it is supposed the and the tithe woctors. Orangemen say, the ignorance of
Mediterranean. Lieutenants W. H. lioneyman and W. 1 the people, ana the influence of the priests. In short, every
Wmlicid. and Mr. Robert Scott. Purser, are appointed to party trams the disorders to a different source—and suggests
that ship. Lieutenants 11. S. Dyer and J. NVCausland,
command mortar-vessels, for service at in a different remedy for their removal ; and all are alike the
are appointed to
Algisuggestions of prejorliee and self-interest. I s well con-
appoi ers. Lieutenant
nted to the Blonde. the Honourable H. J. C. Talbot is rimed that Mr. O'Co ts Ness, cam sociis, feels that a repeal
of the Union would ant be a good nor a happy ciremn-
- ..elf

CAPTURE OF AN ALGERINE FRIGATE.
The follow tog extract of a Idta from Naples has been patted at
Lloyd's :

stance for Ireland in her present state. For myself, I shall
not attempt to follow the stream of her misery to its
fountain-head ; but, Sir, I am a plain man, and I shall
give you a few facts in plain language, and let these speak
for themselves.
All the MeaillfC3 which have been hitherto taken for the
pacification of the country, are measures of punishment,
not of prevention.
The Insurrection Act,—and when I say this, I speak
from my own knowledge,—has left the peasantry in a worse
temper of mind, in a more firm conviction of the parti..
ality of English administration, and, consequently, a more
deeldy-rooted hatred of English control than before.
iThile this feeling exists, we shall look in vain fur a ces-
sation of the disturbances. if there were more mind in
the cause, there would be more hope; but men who fight
in the dark will fight to the death. Let us select one of
the most disturbed districts, the county of Limerick for
example, in which the outrages commenced, and in which
they still continue ; and let us see what was the proximate
cause of their origin here. But here a fresh question will
suggest itself; what was the state of lauded property in
that county? I shall enumerate some of the principal
estates, with the landlords' names, giving a short view of
the management of each at the time.
A lISENTE ES.
Loin) CouRTEXAY—One of the most extensive and most ill-
conducted properties in the country; every farm paid, or at least
leased out, at a rack rent; the landlord perfectly unknown, and
as to his agent, to whom may be attributed the first actual break-
ing forth of the angry feeling that prevailed, nothing can be said
of him that is not already well known.
THE EARL 0 • LIMERICK.—This nobleman rose the other
evening in his place, to say that the Irish peassnts would rather
live in idleness on a bare subsistence, than obtain by industry the
means of comfort. This is not the first calumny which has been
thrown out against Irish tenants, by those who drain their estates,
for the purpose of spending in other lands that wealth which has
been wrung from the labour of those they traduce; and who, after
absenting themselves for years from their tenantry, return to them
with empty pockets—find most in array, and many ruined—deal
out ejectments to these—make the good tenants and those who are
I fixed in their holdings make up the deficiency occasioned by the
poorer class, and then come here to complain of their insolent
Irish tenantry.
Loan ADARE.—A fine estate, and a most miserable population;
the full power to relieve them, but making no effort to do it.
RESIDENT.
JOHN WALLERS, Esq. of Castle Town, almost the only resi-
dent landlord of importance in this county. It is really a source
of comfort to walk into this gentleman's estate, though by no
means so to compare it with the desolate wildernesses which surround
it. The neatness of the cottages, the compactness of the enclosures,
and the industrious appearance of the inhabitants, give a picture of
what Ireland ought to be. It is a known fact, that this was the
only part of the county, and I believe of the kingdom, which
RECEIVED NO PART OF THE ENGLISH BENEFACTION* IN
111±:.

" NAPLES. MAY 11.
" His Majesty's ship Naiad captured an Algerine frigate off
liergenti, on the Ist inst. afters severe anion of one hour."

PORTSMOUTH, M 29.

On Thursday arrived the schooner Prince of Denmark,
from a sealing expedition, on the coast of Africa, with a
cargo of .5,000 seal-skins and 15 tons of oil. She left the
Isle of Ascension on the Bth of April, and brought thence
Major John Campbell, Royal Marines, who commanded
on that island since the establishment of a garrison
there. Major Campbell was succeeded by Lieutenant-
Colonel Nicoll', who arrived there with a relieving party
of Marines, in the Victor, Capt. Priekett, on the 20th of
Much. The Victor had touched at Sierra Leone, but she
did not convey any news thither from Cape Coast. Lieut.
Puget, and four invalids, from the Victor, also came home
in the Sandwich. Mr. J. L. Stephens, of the Victor, had
been promotell to the rank of Lieutenant, rice Puget. A'
few days since the Sandwich spoke the Eddystone, of
London, bound to Prince Edward's Island, all well.
The Success transport will take on board detachments,
and sail in about six (lays, for Malta. The Vibelia will
proceed to Liverpool, to embark detachments for Halifax
and Nova Scotia, and will return to England, calling at
Barbadoes. Two newly employed transports arc daily ex-
pected here to take on board the 21th Regiment, for Ply-
mouth, and to bring the :til Guards, now in Plymouth, to
this garrison, who, on their arrival, will proceed for Wind-
sor and Brighton.
The Marchioness of Ely East Indiaman, passed down
Channel last night. The Cornwall (extra ship) from Cal-
cutta, sailed from the Motherbank this morning, having
embarked about 40 passengers.
The Sparrowhawk, IK, ('art. the Hon. 11. S. Dundas,
is ordered to be fitted for a fort ign station.
The new sloops of war, Orestes and Champion, will be
launched on Monday noon next, at this Yard.
The Niemen will be paid off on Thursday, by Captain
Sibly, and re-commissioned for Channel service.

---
But I should trespass too much on your columns
were I to go into a further enumeration. Now, in this
state of things, what have we to hope? Rack-rent and ab-
senteeism are on the increase. There is no Prrss in Ire-
land. With the exception of two papers, there is not an
Iriih Editor can see with clearness—or if he can, dares
tell what he sets. We have no Irish talent—l mean great
ind-pendent talent—in the Legislature. Mr. STRING RICE
seems to exert himself for popularity rather than from
single-hearted patriotism. To be sure his name is in every
minotity, and he speaks more or less on every question
that relates to Ireland, or involves her interests ; he does
every thing that is necessary to impress his constituents
with an opinion of his zeal and activity ; but, capable u he
is of better things, this ought not to be,—what seem-
ingly it is,—the extent of his ambition. D. S.

COMBINATION LAWS.

FOURTH REPORT FROM THE SELECT COMMITTEE

ON ARTISANS AND MACHINERY.

[Continued from TA. Br; fish Press of Thursday, May 24).]

Among many examinations on points of considerable in-
terest which are presented to the public in the preSent Re-
port, we select the following, es relating to a topic likely to
be better understpod by the generality of readers, and as
affording inforn ation at the same time of considerable im-
portance, on the peculiar subject to which it relates :-
1 Mr. Thomas Osler called in and examined.
By whom are you deputed hefe ?—The Chamber of Commerce
at Birmingham.
What is your businese ?—I conduct two distinct businesses, •
glass trinkerniantrfacturer and a chandelier furniture manure-turn.
Do drone trades necessarily connect you with other and different
branches of manufacture ?—Yes ; with the jewellers, with the gilt
toy-makers, with the chandelier or lustre-makers, and with fancy
button-makers.
Is it yen' opinion that the emigration of artisans would mate-
rially affect the interests of the town of Birmingham I—lt is.
M ill you he en good as to state any fact, in support of that
opinion ?--Two or three branches of trade have been altogether
lest to the town of Birmingham, in consequence of the emigration
'of an exceedingly small number of artisans; and perhaps I may
be here permitted to state, that it is the neciiliar character of the
'manufactures of elinninginni to be capable of transportation by an
exceedingly small number of persons.
In what branehee ?—There is a fancy cut white metal button; it
is rat by an engine, a showy and cheap thing, of which I have
brought minim:re; a few years ago that employed between forty
and fifty house, in the manufacture of that article chiefly.
What number of men do you suppose were employed ?—Dife
ferent numbers, varying from twenty to forty men in each house.
A menufacturer, a man of small pronery, but who perfectly under-
stood the trade, was detained by Bonaparte, with other English-
men, at Vernal', from whetice he made his escape. Ile was repre-
hended, and brought back; and a second time went from Verdun,
and found his way to Paris, where he stated to the Government his
ability to establish this branch of manufacture.
In what year wasthis ?—I cannot speak to the exact year, it
must have been before 11114. He was patronized by the French
Government ; and France has now for some time supplied all Eu-
rope with that article, and distant markets ; there are none of them
now made in Birmingham.
That trade is entirely lost to Birmingham?—it is.
Do you know what market you had, at the time Birmingham
supplied them ; were they used in En land ?-1 believe scarcely at
all in England; I am now speaking from the evidence of others.
A man of the highest respectability, my next doot neighbour, who
is one of the principal manufacture's, one of the largest button
houses in Europe, furnished me with particulars.
What is his name ?—leedeani.
Do you know how many button manufactories there are in
France ?—Chiefly at Paris for that kind of button.
Do you know how many men are employed there ?—I cannot
speak to that fact; I know that they continue to be made there.
Mr. Letisam assures me they are still extensively used on the Con.
tinent.
Did those buttons go to other places beside, Paris, previously
to the loss of the trade?—Yes, Genuany and Italy, and Swit-
terlaed.
Did that manufacture exist in France before it was removed from
Birmingham ?—No, I believe not at all.
You are not able to say how many men are now employed in
France, making those buttons?-1 do not know ;I am only in-
formed there is a very considerable manufactory kept in active em-
plovir.ent in Paris.
There are the same different kinds of workmen in Paris, em-
ployed in making buttons, probably ?—I should suppose so.
How much lower are the wages in Paris than in Birmingham ?
I cannot state; but we know, that when the French or any other
Continental power have the means of manufacturing an article, we
cease to export it; and our inference is, that labour and raw mate-
rial must be cheaper.
Do you know whether a French artisan will work as much as an
English artisan, in the same time ?—I cannot conceive Mere can be
any very great difference, at least in the manufacture of such articles
as are usually made in Birmingham. From my knowledge of the
Birmingham trades, I should say, that a native of any country in
Europe, possessing ordinary bodily power, and employed at almost
any of the trades carried on in Birmingham, would be able to work
as fast as an Englishman.
1)o you know of any
.people going from Birmingham ?—I believe
I am warranted in saying, that an exceedingly small number in-
deed have emigrated. But I fear, that if foreigners were instructed
in the various proteases of our manufactures, nineteen-twentieths of
the Birmingham manufactures for exportation would gradually
cease to be made in England, by degrees; and the foreigners would
have the trade, to the exclusion on the Continent of Englishmen.
What do you conceive to be the population of Birmingham and
the adjacent manufacturing districts ?—From 130 to le0,000; I do
not include the coal district of Staffordshire, nor the iron district,
but only the district making the light hardware manufactures, of
which I have been speaking.
Have you an idea that of this large number, many would be in-
duced to emigrate?—No, very few.
Thcn is it possible, that the emigration of so trifling a number
would be seriously prejudicial to the remainder P—Tleu is my con-
viction certainly.
Why ?—Because the processes which form the basis of those '
several branches of trade, which give enipeoyment to many thousand
persons, actually rest in very few hands indeed ; they may be com-
municated by an almost incredibly small number of persons. 1
will beg to trouble the Committee with the sight of • few of them ;
there is an article ( producing it.) It it an imitation of engraving
on stone; those impressions could not be given to real stones, but
at the expense of front a guinea to 90s. each, if executed by a
tolerable artist ; we produce them for three halfpence ; the mount-
ing of those furnishes employ • very large number of hands in.
deed; now the means of giving those impressions to glass, which
form the basis of all those trades, may be communicated by one or
two persons to 20,000.
Therefore you conceive it would be injurious to permit artisans'
to go abroad T—l do.
Bo you know that artisans do go abroad ?—Certainly.
1)0 you know of any means of preventing them ?—Not Aso-
lately ; but that I conceive to be the business of the legislature.
This (prod/wine it) is an article which has employed a very large
number of persons in Birmingham ; what were called Maltese
buttons were made of these beads.
Of what are those made ?—Of glass, called satin glass ; I be•
I here the mode of preparing this glass is confined at present in Bir-
mingham to two individuals, who know the secret; one of them is
in our service. If those men had been taken front Birmjngham a
few years ago, we should in all probability have lost a very import.
ant, though temporary article of Birmingham manufacture. In'
every thing relating to glass in particular, we should be successfully
rivalled by the French in consequence of there being no duty on
their glass, the drawback being quite unavailing to articles of this
description. The raw material which we employ in making articles
of this kind costs me from 2s. to Is. a pound ; if it were not for the
duty, I might buy it at a third of that price; foreigners use ma-
terial which pays no duty.
How long has this trade in glass ornaments been in Birming-
ham ?—Fitty or sixty years, at least ; but within the last thirty
years it has been astonishingly increased.
There is littleor no machinery used ink ?—Very littlemachinery.
I have brought with me some French articles (producing them)
what appear to be gilt beads, are merely glass ones ; and what rip-
' pear to be plated beads, arc of the same materiel. If they had the
means of instruction in our other branches of business, I think
they must successfully compete with us. I cannot afford to sell
that under fourteen pence, whilst the other article is produced in
France at three halfpence.
What market is there for those articles out of Britain ?-oces-
sionally a very extensive market. Are send some to the East
Indies ; but merchants are very reserved in explaining to manu-
facturers the precise spot to which their orders are consigned ; hut
I have sold to a merchant in London a very considerable number
of Maltese buttons made of those articles, which I understand were
designed for the East Indies.
1)0 you mean to say that the French make them as good as Tog
410?-1 believe they do not make the articles I have in my hand at
all ; but I believe, that if they were instructed by English artisans
they would produce as good articles at a much cheaper rate.
There is no great art in the making of them, if they have a
person to instruct them ; is there ? No. there is not.
If the difference existed which you have stated, in the price of
article.' of considerable demand, of from 2d. to lid. do you not
conceive that would be so stmrg an inducement, that a manufactory
for them would be established in France, with very little dif-
ficulty ?—One would suppose that would be the case, but fats
seem to indicate the contrary ; they have soon learned to press
the little pieces of gilt metal into which those are put to make
seals, but they mini to us for the glass; and they do from America.
If they had the means of snaking them at Insole, we should hear
no more of their orders..
The following will be read with extreme interest; the
detail is atnusing, but it contains wherewithal to make the
MELANCHOLY Ca a E.—On Saturday an inquest was philosopher reflect, and to shew how much of accidert
held before Charles Jemmett, Esq. Coroner for Surrey, at the
Noah's Ark Tavern, Rotherhithe, can the body of Swainish Bald- there is, occasionally, in the fortunes made by experi-
mental and mechanical atience :
win, aged sixteen years, who died in consequence of taking poison.
The deceased was a very pretty girl, as remarkable for her correct Are the Committee to understand that the glass you make is of a
conduct, as for her lively and tuniable disposition. She had resided nature they cannot imitate?—The manufactured article they can-
with her uncle and aunt, Mr. and Mrs. Pitt, of Rotherhithe, for not get at present, brit from this country. The raw material they
some years, and was treated as one of their own children. On can get three or four hundred per cent. cheaper than the English
Thursday, the 21st instant, • quarrel took place between Mr. and manufacturer can ; and consequently, if they had the means of
Mrs. Pitt, during which Mrs. Pitt insinuated to her husband that manufacturing it, their order would cease.
his affections were estranged from her, and that he had fonned an Is there any thing else you have to state upon this subject ?
improper intimacy with her niece. Mr. Pitt replied that he was Gentlemen may consider the articles on the table as extremely in-
not surprised at anything, however nionstrous, which her jealous significant, but perhaps I may surprise them a little, by mention-
disposition might imagine. The deceased heard the dreadful aceu- ing the following fact. Eighteen years ago, on my first journey to
swarm of her aunt, and appeared overwhelmed with agony. On London, a respectable-looking man, in the city, asked me if 1
the following morning she sent one of the servants to a che- could supply him with dolls' eyes; and I was foolish enough to
mist's for two-pennyworth of oil of vitriol. under the pre- feel half offended ; I thought it derogatory to my new dignity as a
tenee that it was to be used for cleaning sonic of the cu- manufacturer, to make dolls' eyes. Ile took me into • room quite
hoary utensils. As soon as the liquid was brought, she went as wide, and perhaps twice the length of this, and we had just room
to the back of the house and drank it, and on entering the house to walk between stacks from the floor to the ceiling, of parts of
again, she threw down the empty cup. The servant said, Good dolls. Ile sac I, ~These are only the legs and arms ; the trunks
Good ! you have not drank it." She replied, " Yes, 1 have drank are below." But I saw enough to convince me, that lee wanted a
it all ; 1 have been accused of what I ant not guilty of ; I cannot great many eyes ; and as the article appeared quite in my own line
Peeve my imiocence—l must die, and I will tee." Her aunt and of business, I said I would take an order by way of experiment ;
uncle were informed of the shocking event, and were inconsolable. and he showed me several specimens. I copied the order. Ile or-
A medical gentleman was called in, and administered an antidote. dered various quantities, and of various sizn and qualities. On
She lingered till Thursday night last, and then expired. On her returning to the Tavistoek hotel, I Pound that the order amounted
body being opened, the coat of the !stomach was found to be de- to upwards of 500 f. 1 went into the country, and endeavoured to
stroyed, and her intestines in a state of mortification. The Jury I make them. I had some of the most ingenious glass toy-makers
returned a verdict of—" Died from taking poison, being in • state in the kingdom in my service; but when I showed it to them,
of temporary mental derangement a' the time." they shook their heath and said, they bad often seen the article be.