The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1819-07-27 00:00:00

jodice eadd no longer operate...-(Applaust.)—Wir
William concluded bjf proptioing. that the Report
read to theiMeeting be confirmed ant adapted.
Mr, Tomtit in seconding this motion. observed
that the Committee were only anxious to tee a trial
by way of experiment made on the establishment if
an iostitotioss on Mr. Owen's San. By 14t eaPe",
'imam. the plan must stand or fall, and there could
be no possible objection he thought to give it •
fair
trial.—(Applattm.)-.They would then have put to a
practical issue the effects of Mr. Owen's plait. and
the theories of political economists.
The ROYAL CINIAIRMIAW, in putting this motion.
expressed his full reliance on the good sense of the
'letting. and that they would enable him through-
out the day to preserve that strict attention to the
real business of the day, which was essential to their
purpose. He relied on their co-operation iu enahling
him to check any political allusions. if such were
obtruded, and to confine speakers strictly to the

question.—(Applanse.)
Mr. Lows complimented Mr. Owen in very flit-
tering terms fur his philanthropy and perseverance,„
though he did not concur in the general practicabi-
lity of his plan. He could not refrain from ex•
pressing his dissatisfaction at the expression of an
Hon. Baronet (Sir Wm. de Creopigny). that melt
were mere machines. This was the strong objec-
tion to Mr. Owen's plan, that it had • tendency to
make emu usacliisies—to take away from than that
spirit of independence which Englishmen cherished,
mid which was, in its operation, the find stimulus
to good action.—/App/arse.)—The plan had, in
his view, a tendency to alter this high and patrio-
tic feeling, without substituting a better principle.
There was one sweeping objection to this system—
its object was to give effect to industry. and make
its productions so cheap us to be within every body's
reach. But could they shut their eyes to the fact.
that one of the causes of the present distresses
among manufacturers was, that the demand for the
art:cle had so diminished as not to enable the em-
ployer to give the workman any thing like ass ade.
quote remuneration for his labour. If, therefore,
Mr. Owen's plan increased the production of the
article, it must still lower the 'trice is the marker,
and augment, rather than reduce, the existing evil.
Such a plan might apply to the new colonisation in
the Cape of Good Hope; but to a state of society
like that in England, he feared, on e general scale,
it would never be found applicable.
Mr. TKst.wALL begged to esplain away the no-
tion that had beets •ttsched to the expression of •n
Honourable Baronet, when he had said man was
on a certain degree • machine. The expression was
evidently intended to convey a meaning, that man
was a machine capable of receiving and communi-
cating instruction, such an instruction as Mr. Owen's
plan was meant to diffuse. He had certainly seen
manufactories where man was made a complete ma-
chine—for instance, the pia•nsauufactory of Bir.
iningham—there one man was all his life making a
pits's head, another the stem, another the point,
another rivetting 011 the head, and the last man co-
louring the pin. —(A laigh.)—There, indeed,
man was a mere machine. lit Mr. Oweu'is islets,
the machinery was that which set intellect at work,
not that which obscured it. It was set at work fur
the general good---which he thought was the real ob-
ject of religion and liberty._(4pp/aute•)—loo a
certain extent, Mr. Owen had himself demonstrat-
ed the practicability of Isis plan; at all events it
would give rise to the consideration of the topic,
soil perhaps lead to the more mature consideratioo
of the best mode for the relief of the distresses, of
the people. The people, the many-headed mon-
ster as they were called, were only disorderly when
they were kept in ignorance—when they were its.
strutted, they were useful nut only to themselves,
but to their superiors its wealth and statism.--
(Hear. hear.)
Mr. Parrs came forward, sod was proceeding to
allude to some Om which he had submitted to
the Chancellor of the Exchequer, for the relief of
the people, when—
Mr. RowcaorT rose to order, and objected to
the introduction of the plans of others at this
Sleeting, which was specifically convened to consi-
der of Mr. Owen's plan alone. If every man were
at liberty to create a discussion upon his own parti-
cular plan (and he knew there were a dozen plans
in the roast). there would be no time for the regu-
lar business of the day.
Mr. Parrs then contented himself with present-
ing to the Chairman a paper, cuisteiuisig, we pre-
sume, some outline of hi. plan.
Sir SAKURL CLERK J ERVOISg said, that the plan
at Mr. Owen had been called wild and visionary.
He was of opinion that that Gentleman had already
done great good. If nothing else resulted from his
plan than the opportunity it afforded of ezcitiisg
great discussion upon the state of the labouring
classes, and even possibility calling • better plan
into action. still Mr. Orem] would be found a great
benefactor to society.—(Hear.)—The Hon. Bart.
concluded. by proposing a Resolution. That in pur-
suance of the recommendation of the Committee, an
Institution be founded to try practically the result
of the plan. ,
CIIWILES GRAY. E.g. seconded this motion.
Major Tomas, in giving his humble support to
this motion. begged to state in what he agreed and
where he differed from Mr. Owen. He congratu.
listed the Meeting on the presence of their illus.
trious Chairman. who, as well as the other mem-
bers of his august family, were always ready to
come forward on ass, occasion where it was necem
wiry to enlighten the ignorant. and succour the dim
tressed. At any time the co-operation of such dim
tinguished personages was of incalculable advim.
loge. but at this time it was peculiarly g►atift slag.
--(eipplarse.)—Mr. Owen's character should nut
also be forgottesi—( Hear, hear.)—He bad aliewn
iuvincible perseverance, in pursuing. at a great ex.
pease, and under every difficulty. the promotion of
his plan—he had pressed onward in the midstof
emery difficulty, and when the object of hia solid.
Vida was considered, there was • moral grandeur in
this course, which would even ensure fur • hewer°.
Neat esithusiast the approlsation of his country. Bat
Alf. Owen was not • benevolent enthusisin—he had
practically satisfied himself of the efficacy of Wisp.
?ens, though he had. be thought, much over-rated its
ellieral application. He had, however, surmounted
.atom eery 'strong peejudice, that the human mind
was the victim of obitisside habit. A Froucholaw.
Woad, Weed, remain • Frenchman as to Isis
bedsits, Mid an Englishman would remain with 14
Iringlisb prejudices,. perhaps, under •ay circuits.