The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-08-24 00:00:00

MANCHESTER, At GCST

An excursion which I made within the last week to Old-
ham, Rochdale, and Middleton, enabled me to collect such
information relative to those towns as confirms my former
anticipations of same improvement in the trade of those
places. There is a gradually•inercasing demand for cotton
goods of almost every description, but it is not rapid, nor
very extensive. It is, however, sufficient to show that
there will not be any further reduction of labour nor of
price's. The hat trade at Oldham has not partaken of
much improvement, and may be said to be almost stagnant.
Asa proof that the cotton trade has revived, three small
factories in that town have resumed work within the last
week, and others, which reduced their hours of labour, are
extending employment to the full time. The elevated si-
tuation of Oldham, its good air, and other natural advan-
tages, give to its inhabitants a superiority over some of
their neighbours in appearance and health, which might
lead to an opinion that distress does not exist amongst
them ; but they, like their neighbours, have suffered consi-
derable privations. The spirit of Radicalism does not gain
ground there. A meeting 01 this school of patriots was to
have been held yesterday, but there was a want of zeal, or
of numbers, and the intended meeting is postponed for a
fortnight, when an attempt is to be made to get up such
an assemblage ; Lilt what is to be the subject of their dis-
cussions, or whether they meet at all, is scarcely worth
further inquiry.
At Rochdale, the woollen trade, which is the staple ma-
nufacture, is still dull, but in a better state than it has
been. Yesterday was market day, when the purchases
were rather limited; this, however, is partly accounted for
by its being a festival, what is called " the rush bearing"
in Rochdale, which, in sonic respects, resembles the annual
fairs in and near London, when business generally gives
place to merriment. Great distress still continues amongst
the unemployed poor; but it is gradually decreasing, which
is clearly shown by the Rochdale Relief Committee being
enabled to reduce their expenditure fifty pounds a week.
The approach of winter was looked to by the poor with
considerable alarm, which is very much allayed by the
ladies of the town, who have associated together for the
purpose of preparing warm clothing, bedding, &c. fur the
poor, against the approach of inclement weather; and all
those necessaries are so be made by poor women, which will
ha►e the further good effect of affording partial employ-
ment.

At Saddleworth there does not appear to have been any
visible improvement ; and the poor there are in a btill
worse situation than in come of the other districts. In
Middleton there appears to be no change either for better
or worse ; but then it is to be recollected that the extreme
pressure of distress never extended to that town.
In this town (Manchester) the trade continues to evince
strong symptoms of improvement. Prices, except in grey
cloths, have not risen ; but there is no tendency to a fur-
ther decline in any species of manufactures. The pur-
chasers, tliisday, were Irish, and, the situation of the unem-
ployed poor excepted, the state of things here generally
might be considered satisfactory. The trustees of some of
the turnpike trusts, together with Mr. Ilyett, from the
London Committee, Mr. APAdam and several members
of the committees here, have been devising means of em-
ploying the adult pour in working on the public roads, but
hitherto they have not been able to agree upon a practica-
ble plan for such employment. I understand that 1,000/.
is now deposited by the London Committee in the hands
of Manchester bankers, to be appropriated is employing
the poor in whatever way may be determined on by the
Local Committee, and it is to be hoped that no time will
be lost in coming to a decision so anxiously wished for by
the sufferers.