The British Press; or, Morning Literary Advertiser.
London, England, 1821-07-05 00:00:00

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FESTIVITIES AT DRAIZELOW.

On Monday the 18th ultimo, Drakelow Hall, In Derby-
shire, was a scene of great festivity, Sir Roger Greeley
having appointed that day for his tenantry, and the poor of
the neighbourhood, to welcome his late arrival there, in
company with his bride, Lady Sophia, in the enjoyment of
true old English hospitality.
. . .

About mid-day the Lichfield troop of yeomanry cavalry,
under the command of Lieutenant Proby, marched into the
park, amidst parties of foot people, arriving from all
quarters, to witness and partake of the pleasures of the
day; after being inspected by Sir Roger, their Captain,
they dismounted, and partook of some refreshment at the
Hall, whilst upwa►ds of •00 of the labouring poor, with
their wises and children, were regaled with beef and ale in
a spacious out-building prepared fur the occasion, where
they afterwards bad a dance. The yeomanry then went
through their maim:vivre. in the park, commanded by Sir
Roger Gresley ; the Burton band contributing to use live-
liness and gaily of the emu/ h, playing on the ground.
At sit o'clock the yeomanry and principal tenantry sat
down to an excellent dinner in the great dining room, in
company with Sir Rorer and Lady Sophia Greeley, rod ■
few gentlemen and ladies of the immediate neighbourhood;
in all about one hundred. The cloth bring removed, " The
King, and God bless him" was given, and drank with en-
thusiasms in three times three, with " The Royal Family,"
and many other loyal and patriotic sentiments, Sir Rare
freepeutly addressing the company with great liveliness,
fluency, and feeling, in proposing the various toasts.—
" God save the King," and several glees were sew by the
Burton band in good style, and some of the yeomen contri-
buted to the joviality of the evening by their song■
At ten o'clock the gentlemen adjourned to the ball-room,
where the ladies, wives, and female relatives of the tenantry
were assembled : country dances were kept up with great
spirit until supper; the amiable bride engagingly joining in
the merry throng. At twelve, 'nipper was announced, and
afterwards the dancing was resumed, and continued to a late
hour, siren all departed, highly delighted with the pleasure
they had enjoyed, and doubly gratified by the unaffected ur-
banity, kindness, and hospitality experienced by each indi-
•idual from Sir Roger and Lady Sophia

An Inquevt was on the 19th ult. held at Tilshesd,
by Mr. CLAIM, Coroner of Devizes, on the body
of ANN COLEMAN, wife of the veterinary surgeon,
who died on the preceding Sunday. Mts. COLE-
tat,N, a few hours previous to her death, deposed,
in the presence of a Magistrate, that her illness was
occasioned by blows which she received on the 29th
May, from IllituP CoOKSirit. It appeared, Low-
ever, at the Inquest, from the evidence of two sur-
geons (Messrs. Box and Ives, of Lavington) who
had eascuined the body of the deceased, that she
died of dwle►a norlial, and by their testimony the
Jury were guided in returning their verdict. COOK-
SLY, who is a farmer of Tilthesd, is bound to an-
swer the charge of having assaulted the deceased.

FOREIGN TRADE.

The Report of the Select Committee of the
House of Lords on the means of extending and
securing the Foreign Trade of the Country, has
just been printed. Their attention has bees direct.
ed to the Silk and Wine Trades. With respect to
the latter, the Committee do not feel themselves
justified in recommending any material alteration,
" until some disposition is evinced by the French
Government to facilitate such an arrangement, by
making sow concession in favour of articles of
• British Manufacture." They add, however, that it
" may tee worth considering, whether the substi-
tution of a duty, ad valorem, for that which is now
taken by measure upon French Wines, would not
lead to an increased consumption, and contribute,
without detriment to the revenue, to the accommo.
dation of the British consumer." In regard to the
Silk trade, the Committee 'declare, that they are
upon the whole of opinion— •
" That it would be highly detrimental to a mannfactery
which has so lung enjoyed an txclusive protection, and has
been but lately brought to say great degree of activity or
perfection, abruptly to take off the prohibitions and duties
upon foreign articles; but considering the tendency to ill-
ciessed deinansl which has fur some lime manifested itself
in the home mirket, a very small diminution of the duty
upon the raw material might be expected to produce con.
siderable effect in giving as increased steadiness to the ma-
nufacture; sod if the circumstances of the roasts allowed
it gradually to be taken off, would have nothing to dread
from the competition of French silks, even if permitted to
be introduced upon a duty of from 12 to 15 per cent. and
a considerable augmentation upon the export might at the
same time be reasonably expected.
" If it was found impracticable to make any speedy re-
ductioa in the duty oil raw silk, without the substitution of
another, it might deserve consideration whether it might
nut, with safety to the ,be transferred to the menu-
factored article, by which all the inconvenieee arising from
advance of capital and the necessity of drawbacks might be
avoided.

" There is another consideration connected with this
branch of trade, spun which the Costesittee theta themselves
hound to solicit the attention of the Legislature. The silk
manufacture in London and Middlesex is regulated by the
Act 13 Geo. 111. cap. 68. moiler which the Lord Mayor, Ma-
gistrates, &e. have a power of settling and regulating the
wages to be paid to journeymen weavers by persons residing
within limits therein prescribed, and by which heavy penal-
ties are imposed upon persons so residing •nd employing,
fur the purpose of evading the Act, weavers who lire
beyond these prescribed limits. The effect of this law
has been to produce a variety of orders, with prices and
limitations affecting every description of fine work.—
Instances frequently have occurred of these pekes be-
ing raised, none of them ever being reduced. Their
variations with respect to the ■umber of threads to an
inch, the penalties to witch a manufacturer may issoo-
trinity become subject by these variations, and the obliga-
tion to pay the unskilful the same wages with the skilful
workman, the discouragement to •Il improvement in mar hi-
eery, the total omission in the Aet of all limitation in point of
time within which informations may he brought ; these, and
many other vexstimis have been stated to the Committee as af-
fecting the master manufacturer,aud more than all, that part
of the Act which prohibits hiss employing in what part of
the country he thinks most ed gems' any portion of
his capital; and it appears to the Committee, that it most
ultimately have also as injurious effect with regard to the
jonrueymeu ; for, even as it is in times when the trade has
been checked, it has prevented the nvanufactiirer (ruin re-
lieving his vrorkmen, by giving them wink at • lower
rate than usual, sod obliged him at once to d.sehrge them;
but its plain and certain tendeitcy is to banish the trade
from Spitalfields into the reentry, where it may be
carried on with freedom, and therefore with greater advan-
tage and profit. Some branches of work are already done
is the country at two-thirds of the price fur which it can be
done under this Act ; and it is clear that there only, for a
time, or at least while this Act continues in force, will every
improvement in machinery be adopted.
" It is but lately that great waving establishments have been
set up at Macclesfield and Masehestee, sod in other places,
but several branches are now tarried on in these places, which
have In consequence been entirely discontinued in Spital-
Gelds ; and it is e!ear that, under the existing regulations,
the Leedom workmen must be undersold. The general in-
crease of demand fur silk massifaerures, the difficulties al-
ways attendant upon the removal of capital, the proximity
of these establishments to the best market, and their stabi-
lity, (tom lung continuance, have allowed them hitherto to
prosper; but it is clear to the Committee, that unless some
modification takes place in this law, it attest be in the end
ruinous to the silk manufacture of Spitalfields, and as injet-
rictus to the workmen as it will be to the employer.

FROM TILE LONDON GAZETTE.

PRICE OF 1.11
NEW POCKETS.

Kent lis to 4/ 15s
Sussex —V es to 3/ 8s
Essex ....el 8s to 3/ 15.
Farehani,fioe, 4/ les to 61 Os