The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1826-01-31 00:00:00

THE SILK 71(40E.

MEETING of wEAvEita: • .
Yesterday a meeting of the journeymen broad wearers took
place at the Chorch of S:. Matthew, Redmal-green, pursuant to
public notice. for the purpose of receiving the Report of a Qom.
tnittee appointed at a former meeting, to present a memorial to the
Board of. Trade, and to addpt such measures as might be deemed
necessary under existing ciicumstances.
The meeting was appointed to take place at one o'clock, and
soon after that hour between lire and six thottiund pereoCs had
assembled.'

Mr. Jeans Bethel was called to the Chair, and having briefly
stated the object of the meeting, 'crested that the PetsOng p. rat
would twOusw_t Minch: of their alestmainee with Mat attentme
which thffe fidillii.dmation required. .
Mr. WaLtis, one of the deputation to the Bread of Trade,
ascended the platform which had been, erected for the purnose,
and addressed the meeting to the following effect :-11e *as glad
to Nee go nonevent ah assemblage, for it clearly showed the in.
wrest they felt in the cause which had called them together.
%Vhen he lam addreaaed them they were assembles! to hear
a Memorial read; which was to be presented to the Board
of Trade. Re was one of those on.whorn the dotty of present-
ing it had devolved. ' The' alma's! was presented, and last
11 edneeday was the day Appointed for a conference on the
subject. The Committee on that day met Mr. Illuskisson,
Mr. Oraat, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and their con.
ference lasted above two hnurs, during which time many arguments
were adduced on both aides. The 3liniatert of the Crown con.
tended that the ovii oemple.ined of did not arise from the content.
plated measures, but from, other 1111144,1 RAMO', an overstocked
market, and also &general depression which had affected other ba-
thes besides those engaged in the Silk Trade. The'Cominittee,
on the other hand, contended that the distress arose principally from
the repeal oftheprohibitory laws' and they gave several teairone fen
their opinion. lat. Bemuse the depression in their trade had been
Progressively advaocing before it was felt with its present severity.
2d. All previous flacks in the trade were partial, and in many eases
only affected itartieular branches, but now the depression was ge-
neral, and affected the whole, and left them almost without hope.
The Ministers then urged that the superiority of the English manti-
home 'would command the market, and said that our causes
for fear had in a considerable degree their origin from odr-
selves, as by giving publicity to the claims we tilt we at the tattle'
time gave a degree of confidence en the French manufacturer, who
who would naturally put a higl er price on his goods, and bring
them Rearm to an equality with the English manufacture. To this
the Committee replied, that the English dealer in silk, as a man of
business, if be could purchase foreign silk fire or ten per cent.
cheaper than English, would be induced not only to recommend
them to his customers in preference, bu; even to sell them as Eng-
lish manufactured goods. We had never admitted that we were
unable to meet them in the enerket, if we were placed on any thin
like an equal footing, but that so Wog as the price of food and
house-rent between the two countries wart so disproportionate, that,
with other advantages the French enjoyed over us, paracularly
the benefit of a climate which enabled them to produce the raw ma-
terial on their ciOn snit, these advatuagrs were such as a pmtecting
duty of 30 per Cent. could not guard us against. Mr. Homewood,
who accompanied the deputation, then pressed the Alinistem fora
more explicit answer dii the subject of the memorial, but they re-
plied, that" we had all their arguments on the subject, and knew
cur own, and that we were therefore capable of forming an answer
as well as any they coati fitinish." 31r.Wallis sat down, returning
his thanks for the confidence which had been so often reposed in
him. (Great applause.)
Mr. Po VTON, another of the deputation to the Board of Trade,
said he would not trespass at any length on the patience of the
meeting, nor go over the topics which had been so clearly stated by
Mr. VI allis ; but in the course of a two hours interview with the
Ministers other topics had beets creed whlth)Xr: 114
machod upon. Mr. Huskishm dedlgred that if he wtre enovinced
that the genteel benefit of the country and the proiprlty of the
silk trade required it, he was not as wedded to hisuptnions as to
prevent hls going to the House of Commons and detlariog his
belief of the error under which he had Isboared for two years be.
fore. To this he (31r. Peyton) replied that the silk trade
could never be protected in this country without prohibitory
I laws, and in support of his assertion he mentioned the authority of
a Committee of the House of Lords on the subject in the year
1821. It was then declared by them that the laws gave us a
monopoly in our own market,' without which the silk trade
could not have formerly existed, and the only reason which
induced the Committee to think we were enabledto compete with
foreigners was, that we had a better supply of raw material from
our own colonies. We however said, that although:the article
from our colonies had increased in point of quality, it had also in-
creased in price. The Lords' Committee then stated also that the
difference between Bengal and Italian silk was more than one-
third, and was even one.half. Now, there is only Is. in the pound
weight difference between them, anti every person present knew
there was move than that difference in the quality of the articles.
Mr. Peyton then adverted to die relative situations of France and
England with regard to the silk trade sixty or seventy years
ago, and said that notwithstanding that prohibitory laws were then
repealed for a Short time, and produced distress, England was then
bitter
.prepared to stand it competition, for at that period bread was
at a higher price in France than it is now, and England it was at
one-third only of its present value ; added to that, a smaller number
of hands were then engaged than are at present, and the climate
of France enables them to grow the mulberry tree, which they
had formerly to go to Italy for, an advantage we can never
expect to obtain. In answer to this his Majesty's Ministers
replied that every other trade also thought they ought to be
exempt from the general e inciple, on the ground of sonic pecu.
Lathy to which it was %abject, but which, when acted upon,
was found to be beneficial. The Iron trade was instanced. IVe
answered, that there were peculiarities in our trade which did nut
attach 'to others ; for with us so rough labour was consumed on
the raw material. In conclusion, Mr. Poyton hoped the Committee
had conscientiously discharged their ditty. He was ready to answer
any questions that persons present might be disposed to ask him.
Several questions were then proposed to Mr. Poyton; in answer
to which he replied, that in the year 1014 the cotton trade exported
18,890,3 fie pieces of cotton, for which they obtained 17,393,7151.
but in 11124 they exported '27,170,107 pieces, and obtained no more
than 15,2411,01411. So that in the year 1824 they exported nearly
eleven millions of pieces for almost twojmillions sterling less than
they had done in 11114.
In answer to a question as to whether the Committee had any
conversation with the Ministers respecting the smuggling of
French silks, Mr. Peyton said they had ; and contended that a duty
of 30 per cent, would only act as a bounty on smuggling ; fur
after the goods once gained admittance into the country detection
would be impossible.
Mr. WODDEN, a manufacturer, a gentlenian who spoke with
strong Irish accent, said this was the first time he had had the honour
of addressing an English assembly. The interests of the masters and
their men were inseparably united. Ile had been sixteen yeais a
manufacturer. Mr. 11'odden then produced several patterns of
silk which had come from Lyons under the denomination of gros-
de-riaples. It could be purchased at Lyons at the rate of 4s. per
ell, and 24 inches wide, or, including duty and all expenses. might
be importeditt 4s. 5d., or in other words, making allowance for the
difference or measures, a mercer in London might have it en his
counter at 3a. 7d. per English yard, but, he would ask, what
could an English manufacturer make it for ? His journeymen
might work sixteen hours a day for Its. a week. Ile could
not go to the Intile House with money in his pocket and purchase
the raw material for leas than 3s. Cid. therefore the mercer might
have the manufactured articles for sale at Id. less than the price of
the raw material. Ile thought the East India Compuity would in
time mouophlise the whole trade, for they had it in their power to
put such a price on the raw material as would protect the sale of the
manufactured article introduced by them. (Mr. Wodden's address
was received with great applause by the meeting.)
Messrs. Noguet, Davis, Fox, and White, addressed the meeting
at considerable length to the sameut.
Several resolutions were then
moved—
let. That the meeting regretted the result of their memorial to the
Board of Trade.
2d. That the distress of their trade is attributable to the repeal
of the Prohibition Laws.
:141. That in the opinion of the meeting if the new regulatiops be
acted nu the silk-trade of Great Britain and Ireland will be nearly
annihilated, and hairs million of industrious individuals reduced
to a state of degradation, starvation, and pauperism, which will
increase the already heavy burden upon the landed interest of the
nation.
4th. That they ought by every legal meting endeavour to remove
the evil which has already come upon them, and is daily in-
arising
sth.' That a Committee of six,be appointed, with full powers to
call in such assistance as they deem necessary, to obtain, it pos.
eible. a missal of such parts of the silk-trade bill of 1024 as relate
to the Imputation of foreign wrought silk into the country.
The rosolutitms were till adopted unanimoutly.
The thanks of the meeting were afterwards voted to the late
Commiuee, to the :Minister and Chueh.wardens, for Meuse of the
Church on the present occasion, and to the. Chaittnan.
The meeting was then adjourned.

A.

. ... s 1

PAINK'S• Bi*TIADAIi

7.'.....'-- • ,JC-,. . • • • 1, f
' A public diffher id tiePtitMe the hildilasldej drwsw, the author
'of the bleaphomous Ilben Oe the Chtlithiperdiglig. ,Mid y ''''
terdey at the City of Dandled. Tea:m.llW
about seventy perepon. An anal Oa due WI Tifie Or. •
Cerlile, of .1 het-stria. 'tasted die • 110174
styling linntielt_s the " Rev. RAM t the d''..,l
thin Evidence Socks'," who irroutehit 'terevell t Mr. Rife
:hh.enueeldati.irreis tethe
kett di.
etecirdiair ihnigelly.bS"As loft is e• cil‘lothb!y
cork...m*o,ll'i
drawn, ~•
Mr. Enart:si4 rose to prOpose ifte fret Mini. U. 11 belt
fallen to his lot to relieie the worthy•Citiennett alt elf hie
duty. Which he had no doubt the eompetty seduldt peartit their
o
readlected how lately Mr. Cathie Itral ltirniedi Itreedli ete'rii fik
Mabel re. preheat sloyld therefote, wlthoot mast relative
4
to the illoetrioue individual whose lily thOluidptet to vela- .
orate—a man who had been a most. Inniouttigle membetof society':
and whose life had been devoted to tile gond of the.public at large,"
doring•thei ctiCtn'e of which lie hid done raittegeed thee any huh:
vidual that had ever canted in thotworld. ate condleded by Istevillic • •
the higowing toast —." Thorne*. Paine. We meet is feePett Ws • •
memory and to extend hie principlee." ~
Mr. ru Eras ibßitgT next rose for the ptilifi of trepan:tie
the health of their Wordir Chairman. Mr: Cartier. ' (Mu:h cheer"_
inv. The applaute that had followed the propealdolabad rindered
owner. ivy all he intended to my, and theft fgea be 0 atr"
rem from saying more that) thin hp reopened:* bail 0(
1
" Richard Csrlile. We thank him i.:r las fortitude, and ice
that his 'minting. have established-the right or free doignselCq:"
Mr. CAR t.f t.t begged to aeltniiviledge the Hanotfrsidne him by
the wimpsh). for which he rettllned them hie omit garrets thwarts.
The Ile-. Roe r.RT Tar Chit raid •Ite win to hOsethe botiont wf
proposing the third tom, atiticri leas to thclollowincelleg4-" Mr.
Cathie's fellow-sufferers. We feel ituillgnant that anicyl thins re;
main in prison." '
An intlividital it the iy,fra aid of fliereldro ;DJ, that Rime of
those who came within the last feint; Pte bedded to Atom thanki
for himself and those to rrhuens,lirrid.•
Mr• 111041 any peeptilied,the. ea.%
-thoolddimtliil^: -.let.v -
" Thi chew) .Evidesce tsHill„ ' Usti
its founnir, the . ---
7-7.--
'...Z , Ina, aod r thit thei
CAI- ism Igvidente Satiety hada/Mt* twee founded j.hist, but
that its support had been found in those be hast,...tbsc.livuou, e et;
address. It was a cause in whiCh every goOd mane Lett 30 "'Mee":
and our to which the man whosertymory they had met so Comm*.
Come.
would given his tiopport. Li 'Wes We Martell* bat(
):tell. It In that which enabled a man to live in gratettil to em:
brance of the pig. and to.leave a noble !wet to hn..4lellOdUntli-
Paine (the speaker continued) lived at this day in a'.l their hearts.
and he would live in the hearts of thousands yet Unborn. Ili(
writings inculcated un'versol.. benevolence, integrity and phinn.
thrOpy ; he failed only whet/ natiirt lurid( felled. The ottocteof
the Christian ErWence itociety were the same. rot thee for tettith,
Paine hash lived, and they must be putmed by the amnesiac*. He
knew the hatred which existed to that Society, but the bid result
would prove that it had never been deserved. •fle Muhl not convey
to the company the feelings of obligai!oa he noel to annuity tidied
—toe fairest of the fair—that attended the meetings of die Chrietiad
Evidence Society ; their presence guaranteed the purity and inns:
cenee of theit ductivelonts; while, to emancipate Mei( minds ftern,
superstition and priesteraft was worth the autt.i.tico, of the *oder
of the Christian Evidence Society. Tenth ha..t no einiseetreneee til
fear: her voice a' the harmony of all rational mnisii., lard iteppi..
nem reclined upon the pillar). of her throne. . • . .
The next entertaimnent of the evening Alas a vattnntre inhdy by
a prime who &Scribed himself as A reptilaßan, . hien Or the
world, and a member of the Christian Evidence '
sty. The
4
berg, he said, was- in eCanenemOtatian of the 411bilion;
and was adapted to the air .of " Rote Belteuntei . the (p
ension lif his song he pro/Witted the WI • •
the ptineAples and power ot reason 041461;110160, wa
eradicate satire trash which prejudice and i inatitialsed
L
pon
eisiaap. t
The CMAIIIMAII theftßeggeseed the prepritti illt in
the ceremonial of ehomiseg. as quietism and-gendterkeriimuete;
Arabia. He next peagened the fol=teeet--' The Mdthenies'
Institute, an. Ogboalmot •9111 .
'
Mt. SDICIISDI CI Lit"hi miaow thiatenot teams* sir
lence. The bemitu _hi queition formed a new riat'd(tlar lostitlit
of these gays. SudtfMlihdeawbo &turreted to de Innegffiratan
any that were ever *Mali Nth or any other coaary..% for
the labours of Timms Anne they teed would Mire Wing.
Schouleol liberal edneation..anti,Slicimies Bite the M .....- .
stitute, would teeth the people not to bow down their t t
aristocracy .1 but as they were better intonate/I, nien=lr...
learn, not the truth that had been taught in his (31r. Edinondlerf
infancy, but science and literate,* : they professed the actinism of
no particular creed or sem. but vete open to all far opt anew=
good, not alone for the went. but for future generations.. •
A song front the opera of Kai, was then sung, and the fgßoling
toast given—" Speedy indepaideace to the Greeks, and-tie cause
of liberty all over the world.' .
The tit•TIMAM then proposed, as the sixth toast, "Robert
Owen. We admire his perseverance in hit weer of hdtuaility and
generosity."
The singing republican, citizen of the world, and manioc. ..if
the Christian Evidence Society, then favoured the convey aids ii
paredyWn " To Ranks dud Man," which celled npun the Freida
'IS ".dieid• the land, and live In peace test unity !"
. • The CNA/IMAM neat gave the seventh Bert—" The fenntli
Republicans—their presence would hire lidded gram to our min-
pany:" 'He mid that it had been suggmted that they etiohA ha
present* en this mention, but it had been overruled: ' Ho' (the
Chairman) hoped, however, to nee them as the neat avioneraney.
The •• Reverend" ROBERT TATI.OII peoposed, " Tho 1111Coles
of • America. lila, their republimaieur extinguish their supteiti-
tion." When he looked round upon dm fiftnitant of tit 4 Melo
room. he could not help fancying that the ornaments water per.
tained to the trappings of Royalty wormed a gimedy best bide
toter which hail been just given (allediog to the royal esma on
the ceiling.) He could not but imagine that the Reyall.4ioo
scowled upon that true republican their Clisieniao. Happy was it
for that individual that he did not set his mind en such duns: hot
fear the tremtedinni monster of royalty that frowned-over Millard.
The Cnatemaw then proposed " The Repubtleam of Hari ;
may the nelghboeiriny islandem become equally independent."
The Curve ' i .I".Y 'bell said that a nee daily paper Itml.mosently
appeared, which was raid to be countenanced bye paetke at lire
Majesty's Ministers, not those tinder the Eleton influence, but the
liberal part of the Cabinet, and which, as it advocated the ainelplet
of Paine, by upholding the teaMentative against the thwart-h. iml
system, he considered was entitled to their favourable amoister-
ation, anti concluded with the following sentiment :—" The geore..
sentative Newspaper • if an organ of any portion of the Jlitatany,
we hail their approach to the principles of Thomas Pattie.? - .
Mr. TAY Lon proposed " Protestant as well as Catholic Eman-
cipation." Ile said he had suggested the tease, to the swards,
anti he now came forward to state the ground. on which he did so,
It had been his happiness, he said, to reside some years in•lreleed,
among that amiable but unhappy, virtuous but deluded people.
The emancipation they called for watt only at the instance of primal
and demagogues, but the emancipation that he (Mr. Taylor). wmail
: give them should be from a wicked priesthood. He hall teft:.hts
heart among than, hot not his judgment. There was not I'mpre
amiable creature than the Irish gentleman • but the Turk and Tar-
tar, or the wild Arab of the Desert, was tle aupetlor of the ;fish
priest.
Several toasts followed to the mammy of Voltaire, Reenteaui
and other writers, including Byron and Shelley. " who have wri,
ten to the end of humeri improvement." The " Reverend" Robert
Taylor then pronounced a laboured eulogy on the per ons whom
names had beet, mentioned, and concluded by calling upon hie
friends to labour with him in the tedemption of mankind from

superstition,
The CHAIRMAN then gave the two followin sentiments:—
g
" The memory of all others who have laboured &sr the improve:
ment of mind," and " Universal Benevolence," the 'atm ye
which he *aid was intended to represent she principles of Palma.'
The business of the day being disposed of, the company bro%4
up at II o'clock.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

TATTERSALL'S. AIONDKY, JAN.3O.

The Room was not numerously attended, nor was there an?
business of importance done. Scarcely any alteration took plane in
the odds, the only horses which have varied being Finevest and
11lignionette. the fernier h►ving given place to the !Otter sr saconci
favourite. The present betting is as folio's:—

5 to i agst Monarch
Il to 1 opt Tredrille
1 l to 1 agst Gratnarie
14 to 1 apt The General
20 to 1 apt Adraoce
22 to 1 agst Panlc

Si to 1 apt Pawn
7 to 1 mot FiHaire*
to 1 agat Mignionetta
11 to 1 agat Moats

DIBRIty.
122 to I. apt Sophist
125 to I east Pranks
28 to I apt Rowena
30 to 1 aptliaron3junctomea
.
30 to I apt llolivas
36 to 1 east Pluto
°AILS.
-- -

74 to 1 ipt Bdlamita
11, to 1 apt Utlasei
12 to I agit Crawler
20 to I apt Baratta&

12 to 1 apt Elirabeth
14 to 1 apt Henri
15 to 1 apt Bo Peep

VT. 11

:alit.

26 to 1 agar Calypso
25 to 1 apt Brother to Mai.
Fanny
40 to 1 apt Brother toßar4Scl

APPOINTMENTS.
The Hari of Derby's risk Ismsoda will meet this day at Stn'tharit
Bottom; and Saturday at the Modred Acres.
H. Jotidle, H.q.'s foz hound. Willorrow at Obsierood Cociaiash
and Saturday at Chipstsad Church.
The Surrey fox hounds on Thursday M Pratt's 13qtrob, and Sit.
turday at liodsione.

s i

We are sorry to hear that a respectable and 'esttenairt
itnporting house in Leith has stopped
Ihe proprietor of the Doikistc. Oros*le,, Mr. W. F.
Stewart, who suSwed an unjust and creel impritiotheelk
=hty-three sla,s in the dungeon of outh:trtS4s
pi of the Home' of Assemble if mei
lately prosecuted for a libel wises that Ni e,
luitted by an honourable and grill& 41111.'111/441.11.
Paper. - . .
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