The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-25 00:00:00

LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.

CENTRAL RELIEF FUND.
The weekly meeting of the Central Exeoutive
Committee was held yesterday in the Manchester
Town-hall, the Earl of Derby in the chair.
Mr. MACLURE, the honorary secretary, reported
that the balance in the bank was £310,588 Os. 10d.,
and that £l9olBs. 10d. had been received during the
week. The honorary secretary also reported that
during the 'week three parcels of clothing had been
received. Nothing had been sent off.
Mr. FARNALL lead the following report :
" I beg to intorm you that on the 15th inst. there
was an increase in the:number of persons receiving
parochia' relief in 27 union in the cotton manufac-
turing districts, as compared with the number so
relieved in the previous week, of 382. The increase
of 382 is csplained ns follows :—There is an increase
at Blackburn of 91, at Burnley of 73, at Bury of
46. at Chorley of 29, at Choriton of 6, at Clitheroe
of 13, at Glossop of 476, at Haslingden of 60, at
Lancaster of 3, at Leigh of 16, at Macclesfield of 8,
at Oldham of 170, at Preston of 76, at Prestwich of
28, at Saddleworth of 60, at Todmorden of 111, and
at Wigan of 15—making a total increase of 1,281.
But there is a decrease at Ashton-under-Lyne of
195, at Barton-upon-Irvvell of 31:i, at Bolton of 2, at
Garetang of 6, at Manchester of 236, at Rochdale of
169, at Salford of 232, at Stockport of 24, and at
Warrington of s—making a total decrease of 899,
so that there is a net increase of 382, and since the
6th of December last a total decrease of 125,752.
There were on the 15th inst. 146,231 persons re-
ceiving parochial relief in the 27 unions adverted
to ; in the corresponding week of 1861, 46,807 per-
sons were so relieved ; there is, therefore, an in-
crease of 99,424 persons in the receipt of parochial
relief, or 212.4 per cent. In the corresponding
week of 1862, 126,580 persons received paro-
chial relief. The total weekly cost of out-door
relief on the 15th inst. was £9,023 14s. Bd.; in the
corresponding week of 1861 it was £2,264 15s. 9d.;
there is, therefore, an increase of £6,758 18s. ld.,
or 298'4 per cent. In the corresponding week of
1862 it was £7,127 la 6d. The average percentage
of pauperism on the population of these unions
on the 15th inst. was 74 ; in the corresponding
week
.in 186.1 it was 2 4 ; and in the correspond-
ing week in 1862 it was 6.4. The amount of
money in the hands of the treasurers of the above
unions on the 15th inst. was £79,183 8:i. 2d. Your
committee will have observed the increase of pau-
perism in the union of Glossop-rviz., 476 ; but the
clerk of that union wrote to me on the 21st inst. as
follows .
" This increase is caused principally by the

Glossop Belief Committee throwing the single men,
and men with their wives and no children, on to
the guardians, and also by the stoppage of a colliery
in the township of Chisworth:
Had there been no alteration of arrangements in
the union of Glossop I should have been enabled to
have reported a decrease of pauperism in the cotton
manufactured districts."

A diEcussion. followed on the general prospects of
the district. . .

Mr. J. R. KAY said that the conditions of things
in the district which he represented (Bury) ap-
peared to him to be more gloomy now than it was a
few weeks ago ; and mentioned as a fact in point
that one of the largest manufacturing firms in his
neighbourhood, that of 'Messrs. Grant Brothers, was
about to close their mill and retire from business.
Mr. T. ASHTON thought there were no new
grounds to warrant any important variation from
the estimate of the prospects of the cotton trade
put forth by this committee at Christmas last. The
imports of cotton in the interval had been, if any-
thing, rather less than was calculated upon ; but
the difference was inconsiderable. There was no
doubt that every bale of cotton imported would be
used. In reply to the chairmen, he observed that
next year a large supply of cottoii might be looked
for, inasmuch as they ought pot to anticipate
another failure in the Indian crop;
Mr. 'limn MAsoN mentioned that a manufac-
turer with whom he was well acquainted, employ-

ing 700 hands, and whose works had been stopped
for several months,bought cotton about eight weeks
ago, and again opened his works, thinking that at
the then price of the raw material there wculd be
less loss in working than in keeping the machinery
idle. Since he went into the market, however, the
price of cotton had advanced 2id. per lb., and it
became a question with him whether he should not

close again.
Mr. ASHTON said that similar changes in the
market had been occurring during the last 18

months.

Mr. E. ASHWORTH expressed the opinion, as
member of the Cotton Supply Association, that there
would not be more than 22,000 bales per week for
consumption till the close of the year, leaving the
stock in Liverpool at that time the same as in the
present month—viz., in round numbers, 150,000
bales less than at the commencement of the year—
that was to say, the trade would lessen the stock in
Liverpool beyond the imports to 150,000 bales. This
22,000 bales per week would be equivalent to three
days' working. He could show from correspondence
received by the Cotton Supply Association, a pro-
mise based upon crops of cotton now growing, of a
supply equal to 4 days per week employment for
1864.
The CHAIRMAN inquired from what countries the
increased supply was expected ?
Mr. E. Asilwormi replied that 350,000 bales,
equal to 250,000 bales of American, were expected
from the Turkish dominions; there would be a
small increase from Italy and the Mediterranean
islands, an increase of 50,000 hales from Egypt, and
of 100,000hnore from Brazil and Peru. Sir Charles
Wood had stated that, owing to the unfavourable
season in India in 1862, we bad a much smaller
excess of quantity than might have been anticipated
from the increased breadth of land placed under
cotton. They might now take into their calculation,
however, last year's increased breadth of land and
the increased breadth this year; and he thought
they might safely estimate an enlarged import from
India
for 1864 to the extent of 250,000 bales.
The CHAIRMAN said if these calculations were ac-
curate, they were most important. Heretofore these
d~trlots had been dependent, he believed upon Ame-
rice for
at least five-sixths of their cotton ; and
accordingnext Sear
the estimate now made, there would
r be
a supply equal to nearly five days'
working p„
tr. asialoveek, wholly independent of America,
said he had no doubt that the whole
of Lancashireltwithout a blae °figlat be at full work in 1865 or 1866
ppouil:otton being received from Ame-
rica, and au
Ithe war were still progressing
in that country.
that be believed th4e,"ply to Mr. Worral, ho added
for 4-4- days' working be a sufficient supply
immediately after Christmas.
Mr. E. A suwoleta itot
empion)observed that the time
at which the 41 days.
:cruent should commence
would be regulated, to
tent of stocks in hand. If they extent, by th© ex-
tent
reduced at Christmas to keep prices
were suffiziently
r
at the point
which would permit of immediate
to fuller
working, extended operations
mence. The Indian cotton crops :id then com-
mence.
towards Midsummer, but prices wouldnbot arrive
?Mediterranean and some other crops by
_ring the
During the past year the exports of rnanuJfaanuary.
etured
from England lend exceeded the
goods imports et
the raw material, and therefore the old stocks in the
warehouser must have been considerably lessened.
The CIIAIR:4AN (Laid Derby) asked if there vies
cl eased supply of cotton from
and respect cif an in
instance, or Australia?
SouthAfrica—Nntal, for
little indeed. We shall
Mr. E. ASIIIVOE.TII—Very
not have 10,000 bales from all Africa, excluding
Egypt.
Lord EGERTON inquired what was the prospect
factured goods.
with regard to the export of
Fcn the
He understood that the exports &Tended u
price of cotton here. •
Mr. E. ASHWORTH said that in 1860 or 1::';b1 we
exported cotton goods to the value of £63,660,000
sterling. When the price of cotton rose the exports
began to fall off, but the Times twitted them by
saying that they still sent out £60,000,000 worth
of goods--that was, half the exports at double the
price. Tee question was whether, when the bulk
of raw cotton imported was 50 per cent. more than
at present, the £60,000,000 of money would be
rbibed to £00,000,000.

. ,
Mr. T. X.,IITON believed that with the low price

of cotton formerly prevailing, the trade would again
extend in proportion. They could not enlarge their
operations at the present prices of cotton. The cot-
ton growing districts of India had, owing to the
high price paid for their produce, enjoyed a degree
of prosperity never before witnessed. The effect
was beginning to be seen in Calcutta. An esti-
mate had been arrived at as to the quantity of goods
they could use in the six months, from January to
the end of July, and this was one of the causes of

th© large business done in Manchester last week.
The usual consumption in Calcutta was, in spite of
present high prices, only 25 per cent. per month
more than that of the first six months of this year.
In addition to this they knew that the stocks of
goods up country had been reduced materially
during the same period.

Mr. E. Asnwomm said the money paid to India
during the last year for cotton had been about
£20,000,000 sterling more than had been customary,
and the increased amount to Egypt—to a popula-
tion of 3,500,000—was about £7,000,000 sterling.
Some portion of that money would be sure to come
back to this country for manufactured goods.
Mr. STERN did not think there would be any
difficulty in selling all the goods they could produce,
provided there was no very sudden fall in the price
of cotton.

Lord E. HOWARD, M.P., said they could not be
too thankful for the hope of brighter prospects
which had been held out to them, but he gathered
from the conversation that a period of something
like two years must elapse before they could be
realised, and thought, therefore, that they must bear
in mind what they had to encounter in that long
interval. He was sure they w,luld have as winter
approached plenty to do, both in applying the money
under the Public Works Act and in finding employ-
ment by other means for the distressed population.
These people, if he mistook not, would soon be
badly off for clothing, and that might interfere
with their going to a distance in search of work.
He should be glad to learn what had been the
result of efforts made by certain benevolent
persons to employ these cotton operatives in out-
door work. It would be well, especially as a long
period had to be tided over before brighter times
are ivcd, if such persons would publish the result of
their experience in the employment of factory
operatives at a distance. It might probably en-
courage others to follow their example by finding
occupation for the same unfortunate class.

Lord EGERTON said the expense of removing
deterred married men with families from going in
search of work to long distances; they had also a
natural repugnance to breaking up their homes.
Mr. MACLURE (hon. sec) said that wherever
operatives had gone to avail themselves of specific
offers of work through this committee, he had taken
care to inquire how they had conducted themselves
as regarded their general behaviour and suitability
for their new employments. In every instance
the reports had been most satisfactory, and
on more than one occasion he had laid those reports
before this committee. There was a great advan-
tage in offers of work of a temporary nature, as
they enabled single young men to employ them-
selves for a time, and yet be within reach when a
better state•of the cotton trade came. The great
difficulty was, as Lord Egerton remarked, the ex-
pense of transit. He stated that he had received
an offer from Mr. Haig, of Newton, North Wales,
for the employment of 20 men for five months,
which he hoped to be able to make available. Such
offers showed great consideration and would always
be gladly received by the committee.
Mr. E. ASHWORTH inquired whether, if the
whole of the money provided under the new act
were borrowed, employment would net be found
thereby for the whole of the operative population
not occupied in the cotton trade. It would be bet-
ter in every sense not to send them away till it was
ascertained that there was no work for them at
home.

In reply to the CHAIRMAN, he said he estimated
41 days' work in the mills from January next.
The CHAIRMAN thought it highly important that
the facts detailed in the conversation should be
made public, particularly as they might tend to
reconcile an apparent inconsistency with which the
manufacturers had been charged—natnely that of
endeavouring to prevent the people to disperse to
other districts, at the same time that they made
the most dismal statements regarding the present
state of things.

After a little further conversation the subject
dropped.
The MAYOR Of MANCHESTER said that in all
probability Manchester would make application for
£lOO,OOO under the Public Works Act. The cor-
poration were most anxious to follow out the inten-

tions of Parliament, and assist in finding employ-
ment for the distressed popu!atiun.

THE MOORS,

rEnTllsmitE--The greater part of the Perthshire moors
have now been opened and tested, and from the reports re-
ceived the sport generally appears to have been excellent on
all the principal shooting grounds of the country. The wea-
ther since the season opened has upon the whole been highly
propitious for shooting, and sportsmen have in many places
secured good bags of grouse and other game daily. In
the RillM district, Sir Samuel Morton Peto, 111. P-1
and party, bagged at Auchlyne on the 12th 201 brace of
grouse. On the Glenlochy range, Sir Edmund Filmer
and party shot 511 brace grouse. The Earl of Wemyss and
party killed at Auchmore 73 brace of grouse, and on all the
days the sportsmen were out since they have enjoyed good
shooting. On the 12th and 12th, Mr. Cook and another gun
bagged on the Straloch and Baledumna moors 1061 brace of
grouse. Col. Dzwar sh.;t on the 17th, on the hill of Balna-
killy, 20 brace of grouse, Sir Patrick Keith Murray, Bart.,
of Ochtertyre, and party, killed at ',mils Wester, on the
18th, 27 brace of grouse, and on the 19th 37 brace of grouse.
On the 20th the party had an Excellent day's cover shoot,
ing. Messrs. Lumsden and Muir shot on the hill of Glen-
turret on the 17th 421 brace of grouse, and on the 19th 40
I brace of grouse. Sir Hugh Hume Campbell, Bart., bagged
on the hill of Monzie on the 19th and 20th, in the course of
of a few hours each day, 45 brace of grouse. On the Ran-
noch moors grouse are pretty numerous, and good bags
have been made, but the birds are not so strong as in some
other districts of the county, On the Ochil range, grouse
are not plentiful, and the numbers killed are but few com-
pared with other districts of the shire. Blackcock shooting
commenced on Thursday the 20th, and it appears that
the birds aro not so numerous as last year, but are in a
forward state and 'in fine condition. On the moors of
Drummond Castle, belonging to the Right Hon. Lord Wil-
loughby, the following bags were secured the last few days :
On the 15th, Earl Sefton killed 33 brace of grouse, Col.
Tyrwhitt 42 brace, and the Hon. G. Heathcote, M.P., 303/4
bi ace of grouse. On the 17th, Earl Sefton shot 41 brace of
grouse, Col. Tyrwhitt 43 brace, and the Hon. G. Heathcote
one stag. On the 18th, Earl Sefton bagged 32 brace of
Tyrwhitt 50 brace, and the Hon. G. Heathcote
twogrstags.ouse, Col.
Lord Willoughby killed at Stobhall, on the Tay,
on Saturday last, a fine salmon, which weighed 191 b.

THE NOlllll.—The moors throughout the north have
been now well tested, and have not been found wanting.
North of the line of the Caledonian Canal birds are more
numerous and in better condition than usual. Morayshire is
also above an average ; but the strath3 lying between the two
districts, Strathdearn, Strathnairn, Stratherrick, and the
upper parts of Strathspey, have suffered considerably frora
disease. In these districts the scarcity of birds is felt almost
exclusively in the high grounds, and on these it is irregular,
large moors being in some cases passed over, while those
on each side of them are scant of game. The forests are
everywhere satisfactory—the deer heavy, and the antlers I
well formed. In at least one instance a head, which has
been sent to Mr. Snowie for preservation, has been clear of
velvet fully a fortnight earlier than usual. The following
are notes of sport throughout the north :—On the moors of
Castle Leod, on the 13th, W. F. Webb, Esq., of Fodderty ,
bagged to his own gun the extraordinary number of 101
b
A Leathana, Esq.,
P.orace of grouse, 1 snipe, and 13 hares ; and on the IStb, at
G arbet, 6hi brace of grouse and one hare. On Friday, E.
Coul Cottage ,na n., 1
nbcl
sr
s.
mFenton,oors: shotaud o2ni3 braceond
Monday
grouse and three hares
the same gentlPmen, accompanied by Edward Taw, Esq.,
Alness, bagged, in a few hours, 51 brace of
heav
birds and 4 hares, notwithstanding a very high wind and
y showers of
maderieh were desire•erdwild, and
heavy
29 brace to his owrain. On the 18th, too, Mr. Fenton had
plentiful, thoughnrganthn. In this district the birds are very
12.
()At luverlair, on the 12th, bags might be
Cap-
tain ex shot, atter
Hue the birds are reported 32
iti very fine condition.
brace of grouse.
On the 13th, While shoolin tf)g
be
Atht the first shot two
one
il.t2tb, Lord Lovat
elainflo,rt moors ;
F. 51:, succeeded in killing enbiAlirdg''urt It. Tennant,
Seven in two shofs, right and kft. 3 "t
of a covey of
birds fell, athl'at the second four. On
45 brace a ..f
and party bagged 163 brace of grouse
and on the 14th Lord Lovat and the lion,
needed in killing 43 brace. James Merry, Esq., Ivlaeller sue
-
on the, 12th, bagged 2,5 brace. On the same clay ata
od rur ,
clan, E. I.ll,ol:,ribanks, jun., 11-,r1., killed
grouse, 1 ry eocicock, and 12 hares ; and Francis Palrue°r'
Esq., killed 3:5 brace of birds at Lochletter. On the 13th:
at Allaclale, Niij,)r Cowes and Jeho Claw's, Esq., bnzei