The National Register.
London, England, 1819-08-30 00:00:00

'Or

No. 211—VoL. XII.]

MR. HoLrs LETTER TO THE EARL OF DERRY.

The following letter has been addressed by Mr
Holt, the respectable manufacturer of Manchester, to
the Lord Lieutenant of the county of Lancaster:—
•
TO THE RIGHT HON. TIIE FA RI. OF DERBY,
1.0111) LIEUTENANT OF THE COUNTY OF LAN-
CASTER.

As I have no olkject in view lint the good of my
country, I trust, noble Earl, thou wilt pardon the free-
dom I n,r, in thus addressing thee; I hold it to he the
ditty of every mutt, in times of imminent danger and dif-
ficulty, if he possess either influence or info.ination, to
use it, if possible, to at rest in their progress the growing
evils of the day, which may have originated in the dust
tress occasioned by the general presstireof the times, and
arc laid hold of by wicked and designing men, to create
through the United Kingdom a general political tii:nesit,
dangerous to the peace and happiness of the country.
*' I have for tipsily years had %touch to do with the
labouring orders of people, and at the present time em-
ploy several hundreds aIIVIIII'n these, occasionally, I
have It id to contend with much discontent and iits,ibm-
dination, arising, I ant digitised to think, from the pre-
s ,ilitig associations for the support, of whist they call the
pi, ir man's rights, and which have not untrequently
been carried to such an extreme, as to int 0 Fen inosl
materially With the comfortable conduct of nor nianu-
factoties, as well as with the best iyerests of the work-
men themselves. This being the case, the thentivenience
could only he temporary, as the rill cured inch', without
its being needful to resort •to stay strong or utsconstitu-
tional means for its suppression.
"The alarm which has pervaded the country for some
than hack, particularly the manufacturing districts,
seems to have been pressed open the notice a every
man ; and though it has been generally admitted that
the labouring orders have long beets suffering severe Ke-
ratin's., for-wain of employment, yet they have mifortu
stately been allowed so reiterate their complaints unno-
ticed; have been driven with their families for seek
parochial relief; and front this state of wretchedness have
easily been cersisailed to throw themselves into the antis
of moderolteforieters, who, with this accession of power,
• pmtuise to better their condition, by a re equal di,-
intuition of the gored things with which the country
aim Is. That thousands—nay, tens of thousands,
should flock to the standard of these men, is not to uc
woudpred at, while men of rank and fortune fail to do
their Bitty. Many who, by their successful prosecution
sir business,have, loy the very labour Iw.t I .c.l Is ;tow palsied
sod rests as a deid weight on the market, acquired
'princely ft s—l say,while these men wise are alone
competent to arrest the growing evils, look supinely on,
indifferent as it were to those consequences which are
inevitable, what can be hoped fur unless relief be in sense
way administered.

"It is in vain to look for a more proverous state of
things from the probable improvement of trade, as it re-
gards a great portion of four lablinring poor.; the means
of prodnetiatt,, aided by our n 1111 l emus mechanical con-
trivances, are almost incalculable, and thew presv so
upon the markeu to which this. far we have found ac
echs, as to render our manufacturer of little oalne, leav-
ing the industry of the mutiny without hope Of
remu-
neration.

" It is not from foreign competition alone that these
evils proceed : it is from the mistaken policy of our ma-
nufacturers. who ought to be the natural guardians of the
labour of the country. but who am ever bent upon re-
ducing the price of that labour whelk:ter the demand
I)econses languid; and thus producing a twofold evil,
'destroying the comforts of Ake operatives, and, in pro-
portion as the prices are reduced, inning them, by
long hours and exceasiee exertion, to the pusloction of
an increased quantity ofthe %cry articles w Men are al-
ready too abundant.

"I have too gond an opinion of g-wittlis of the popu-
lation of thiv country, for a moment to beliot that rhe
present ebullition deserves any such character as that
o to it; but I am at the same time confirmed in my
judgement. that great distress precedes a la ge body of
well-disposed and wellaliceted men in the country, who
would sit down contented with living in great modera-
tion and plainness by their own intlmtrious exertions.
Give them but food mid clothing as the reward of their
labour, and all the cant of universal suffrage and annual
Parliament% with the test of the catalopie of their de-
mantle, would d.s.rpuear, or be found only with the iti-
nerant politicians of the day. But wrien want stares
them in the face, and the melt of weight, of conse-
quence, and of information, refuse to listen to their com-
plaints, to whoa, then, are they to lonic
" I em no party nun myself, nor do I recollect ever
in the course of my life, attending a political meeting,
or in any way interfering with the political contests ul
the day. But, surrountlesl, as me are with alarm and
difficulty, I could not mime myself, if I did not mate
what appears to mew be calculated to traequilize the
4.siblic mind, mull to restore order dod conduit awougst
Ills.

" Pr!Mil me with due deference and regret fur the
character aged rank in life, to suggest that..ls Lord Lim-
iting.% Or the county, if thou wen to call .1 meeting of
tbe.nobility, gamy, landholders, and princ;ll4l 111:11W •