The Sun.
London, England, 1839-12-17 00:00:00

DIMINUTION OF WAGES.

We perceive from Burn's Conzmercial Glance that in
the first nine months of 1839, there has been a decrease
of 317,796 bags, or about '25 per cent., in our imports
of raw cotton, as compared with the first nine months
of 1838. Now, as the stock of raw cotton on hand at
present is only about 60,000 bags less than it was last
year at this time, it is clear that our consumption of
cotton during the first nine months of 1839 must
have been very little short of 20 per cent. less
than it was during the same period of 1838.
Taking these facts into account, then, let us see
bow the falling off in the amount of wages
paid would be. In 1832 our annual consumption
of cotton, according to Macculloch, was 891,574
bags. The total amount of wages paid to the various
classes of operatives—including spinners, weavers,
bleachers, engineers, machine makers, masons, smiths,
joiners, &c.—at that time, was estimated by him at
21,000,0001. annually. But the quantity of cotton
wool entered for home consumption last year was
460,756,023 ; while in 1832 it was only 260,000,000,
according to Macculloch. So that we shall be con-
siderably under the mark if we estimate the wages paid
to the various classes of operatives employed in the
cotton manufacture last year at 32,000,0001. Compar-
ing the amount of wages paid in the first nine months of
1838 and 1839, the difference will then be as follows :-
1838 £24,000,000
1839 (20 per cent. less)
Here we have a falling off in the purchasing power of
the operatives employed in this branch of manufactures
alone to the enormous extent of 4,800,0001. in nine
months. But the number of mills on short time, or
entirely stoppeJ, is much greater now than it was dur-
ing any part of those nine months ; so that if we bring
up the account to the end of the year, it will exhibit
the following result as compared with the previous
twelvemonths :

Wages paid.
1838 £32,000,000
1839 (20 per cent. less)
A reduction of 6,400,0001. in the amount of wages paid
to one portion of the labouring classes ! Of this large
sum, which our industrious operatives have been pre-
vented from earning by our mischievous laws, nearly
5,000,0001. would have gone into the pockets of the
people of Lancashire. What wonder, then, that the
population of this country arc starving ? If the greater
number of them have little more than can supply them
with a sufficiency of the first necessaries of life, even
when in full employment, what a wretched condition
must they be in now when their wages have been dimi-
nished to the extent of about 41. per head for the whole
population of the county, man, woman, child I—Bolton
Free Press.

Mr. O'Connell's son, Morgan, has received his
patent of appointment to the Registryofsce in Dublin.

MEETI?k of the CLERGY of KENT

TO THE EDITOR OF THE. MOANING CHRONICLE'.

short time since I sent you an account of
the strangd doings of the clergy of Rochester, who,
when called together by the Archdeacon of the diocese
to promote the education of the poor in the principles
of the Church of England, refused to entertain the sub-
ject until they had passed a condemnatory vote upon the
Queen's Ministers for their unchristian scheme of edu-
cation. Upon the Archdeacon's refusal to put the vote,
the meeting separated. Determined, however, not to
be defeated, the following circular was sent to those who
were supposed to be influenced by the same views, with
an invitation to meet at Rochester 1—

" MEETING ON THE SUBJECT OF NATIONAL EDUCA-
TION, UNDER THE SANCTION OF THE BISHOP OF

ROCHESTER.

" In order that the precise object of the meeting of
the clergy and laity to be held at Rochester on Friday
next, the 13th instant, may be distinctly understood, and
with a view to insure perfect unanimity, we beg to sub-
join a copy of the declaration and resolution proposed to
be adopted, the same having been submitted to the
Bishop, and fully approved by him :
" I. This meeting, impressed by a deep conviction
that the Government plan of national instruction, as
well in its present as in its original form, is both evil in
its principle, and hostile to the welfare and perpetuity of
the Established Church ; and persuaded of the disposi-
tion of the Education Committee to renew the attempt
to introduce the proposed plan at any favourable op-
portunity, desire publicly to record their decided disap-
probation of it. They are unable to express their views
on this subject more appropriately and forcibly than in
the words of Sir Robert Peel, in his speech in Parlia-
ment., on the 20th June last, in the debate on this
great question of national education. ''With re-
spect to the Established Church,' Sir Robert Peel
declared I hope that, rather than consent to
any plan from which ecclesiastical authority shall he
excluded, it will separate itself altogether from the
State =on this point, and take the education of the
people into its own hands.' In this opinion the present
meeting, influenced solely by religious and not political
considerations, entirely concur, and now unanimously
declare their determination to act in conformity with
it ; and trust that the same sentiment will actuate the
whole body of the Church of England engaged in the
cause of national education, and that they will stedfastly
refuse to accept any pecuniary aid whatever from the
State, and separate altogether from it on this point,
rather than be parties to so unsound and dangerous a
plan, or suffer the Ecclesiastical authorities to be ex-
cluded from the superinteuence of the religious educa-
tion of the people.'
" 2. That this meeting pledge themselves to promote
sound Scriptural education, in connection with the Esta-
blished Church, to the utmost of their power, indepen-
dently of any aid from the Government while combined
with the principle of inspection, as at present insisted
upon.

" M. IRVING, Prebendary of Rochester,
D. F. WARNER, Vicar of St. Warburgh, Hoo,
G. HARKER, Vicar of St. Nicholas, Rochester,
S. DEWE, Rector of Kingsdown,
A. MARTIN, W. W
D. B. LEWIS, E. TWO PE NY.

" Rochester, Dec. 6, 1839."

Accordingly a very numerous body of the clergy from
various parts of the county, and a smaller number of the
laity, assembled on Friday last, when Lord Bexley was
called to the chair. The business was commenced with
a letter from the Bishop of Rochester, approving of the
meeting and lamenti..g his inability to attend. The
Rev. Mr. Formby then proposed to read a letter from
the Archdeacon, which was understood to contain his
reasons for declining to be present. The reading of this
letter was successfully resisted, upon the plea that no
reasoning was allowed, the object of the meeting being
only to give assent to the resolutions to be submitted to
them. Colonel Austin then proposed the resolution in
the words of the circular, upon which, Dr. Griffith,
one of the Prebends, moved, that all relating
to Sir Robert Peel should be omitted. He was in-
terrupted with the objection that was urged against
reading the Archdeacon's letter ; but it appearing that
the circular had not been sent to all who were invited,
and that therefore some had no opportunity of judging
of the propriety of the resolutions, the Chairman al-
lowed the discussion to proceed. A long debate then
ensued, during which more warmth of temper was dis-
played than is expected from ministers of the gospel of
peace. At length, upon a division, Sir Robert's name
and all connected with it were expunged, and the reso-
lution, thus curtailed, was adopted by a large majority.
The feelings by which the two parties in this debate
were influenced may be readily guessed at. The ma-
jority, bearing in mind the grievous injury inflicted upon
the Church by Sir Robert, in the affair of Catholic
Emancipation, would naturally be indisposed to re-ap-
point him for their champion ; whilst the authors of
the circular, composed with such care, as they fondly
though vainly'helieved, " to insure perfect unanimity,"
6sperieueeti,the jealousy of others at the attempt to
impugn their taste and judgment.
Having thus accomplished their purpose of calum-
niating Government, their next object ought to have
been the promotion of " sound Scriptural education,"
which, at the former meeting, they declared was only
postponed till the vote of censure was passed. No such
disposition was however manifested, and the meeting
separated without taking a single step towards that pur-
pose, although one of the speakers strongly urged them
to embrace the favourable opportunity of so large an at-
tendance to appoint a Committee.
The schism between the Peelites and anti-Peelites
was quite unexpected after the precautions to secure
unanimity. As far as the welfare of the country is con-
cerned, it is immaterial which party triumphed, both
being unanimous in their refusal of the proffered aid of
the State to remove the ignorance of the poorer classes—
ignorance mainly arising from the negligence of the
clergy in the performance of their duty.
Many of the meeting now regret that Sir Robert's
name was introduced, and, having been introduced, that
any opposition was created to its remaining.
I remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Dec. 14. A FRIEND TO EDUCATION.