The Sun.
London, England, 1839-02-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TITURSDAY,-EVENING EDITION,-FEBRUARY 21, 1839.

SHIRT-MAKING.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Having read in your excellent Riper, a letter
contradicting an assertion relating to Siiirt•making—
as your paper is so eagerly sought, and read with so
much avidity in this county in general, and in these
towns in particular, we should feel exttemely obliged
by the insertion of the following, which, perhaps, is
more explicit, for we think it necessary that the public
should be undeceived in this matter.

Ie consequence of humane Editor of the Hamp-
shire Telegraph having exposed the advantege which
was taken of the poor of these towns by these Shirt
Manufacturers, Mr. Knight, of Queen-street, Port-
sea, (who is one of them,) wrote a letter in reply
thereto, which appeared in the above paper of the
21st ult.— a letter containing as gross assertions
as ever were written by the hand of man.
He asserts, " Now, Sir, I will tell you what the
honest and industrious poor can do,—nay, what they do
actually perform : one woman can easily earn 6s. per
week by m Acing shirts at 10d. per dozen, &c." Surely,
Sir, tliepublic must know this to ba impossible. We grant
it could be done, provided they were " tacked" tope-
but the superior manner in which the workis required
to be executed, precludes the possibility of it ; and we
beg to appeal to the judgment of a reasonable and dis.
corning public, whether it is not so.
We would offer the following instance, among many,
which may be taken as the full extent of the earnings of
each person who devotes her whole time to this lucra-
tive employment. There are a mother and, her three
daughters (women)—a family of unblemished' character
(not " immoral, lazy, gin-spinning women, " as
Mr. Knight said, in endeavouring to excuse him-
self, were the parties who complained of their
oppressions and sufferings to the above editor),
who devote their whole time and attention to that
work, and, after their united and utmost exertions,
cannot accomplish more than the making of five
bundles (each containing nine, for which they have
Is. 9d.), amounting in all to Bs. 9d. for four women—
the earnings of a week spent• in fatigue and weariness;
and when a woman has her domestic dutie; to attend to
(which must be very partial indeed), it is with muck
dyficully she can earn ls. in that time. So much for the
". Immense Benefit (as Mr. Knight terms it) to our poor
population !" He certainly is a very considerate man, but
he takes care that the " benefit" shad be cei his own
side : from such considerate men, and "imm, nse benefits,"
may Heaven deliver us !
Howevei, it would indeed be an " immerse benefit "
to the poor, if those assertions were true ; most heartily
do we wish they were ; but as the thin, has been so
egregiously misrepresented we feel it our duty to contra-
dict it, because such assertions from a man who is con-
sidered a respectable tradesman, are calculated to be
prejudicial to the poor,—and the Lord knows they are
oppressed too much as it is.— We are, Sir,
Very respectfully your's,
A PARTY OF SIIIRTMAKERS.
Portsmouth, Feb. 18, 1839.

EXETER.---"WEDNESDAY.

We have had a Pro-Corn-law meeting here, which has
just closed, at two o'clock a rri. As the mail starts almost
immediately, I have., only time to give you a brief note of
the proceedings arid the ori,!in of the me Aing, merely pre-
mising that your friends, the Chartists, arc absolute wags,
for they broke into our meeting With an attempt to oppose
the eern-growers and cl.eaper bread—Lin the North, I be.
lieve, they support the corr.-growers and the dear loaf.
The agriculturists of Devon are mostly united in an
attempt to uphold the present Corn-laws, in which they are
generally supported by the superior class of traders, who
depend very much upon• the agricultural community for
their subsistence, and who are now experiencing the fruits
of the comfortable state of things which the farmers at
present enjoy. It was thought advisable' to call a county
meeting in support of the Corn-laws, but this was aban-
doned, from a dread that the Exeter artizans would out-
number the agriculturists ;so it was determined at a meet-
ing should be held in the Corn Exchange- to-day, which
being Flir day would enure a full attend ince of yeomanry
and others. Accordingly the meeting took place.
Sir T. T. F. E. DRAKE, Bart., was called to the chair.
He briefly opened the bu,iness by stating the object of the
meeting, and v xpressing a belief that the Corn. laws had ex-
ist-•d for centur'e;.

BALDWIN FULFORD, jun , Esq., flint proposed a reso-
lu:i,m, approving of the present system, which he pre-
faced by an ab'e review of the arguments put forth
ly the landlords, contending that the manufacturers wore
but a minority, and that the agriculturists ought not to
h we their int•reassaeriticed to their imaginary conveniencL,,
f,r he denied that the repeal of the Corn-laws would serve
even the views of the manufacturer, who would ruin the
home ma, ket.

•S. T. K,kewich, Esq., Mr. Trood, L. W. Buck, Esq.,
H. Northente, Esq., and J. Garrett, Esq., formerly Lord
Mayor of London, but now a Tory 'Squire, also addressed
the meeting, when a petition was adopted, &c., praying
the cor.tinu4nce of the present law.
Mr. KEKEWICH spoke with great spirit and effect, but
there was nothing, new in his arguments.
About one o'clock a Chartist party appeared at the
meeting—the first that has shown at any public meeting in
Exeter. They interrup d the business with " Three
cheers for a che.►p loaf," '► Three cheers for Feargus
O'Connor," " Three cheers for Stephens, the Poor Man's
Friend ;" and they kept up their cheering in very success-
ful style, to tile great annoyance of the agriculturists, who,
ho.vevpr, carried their
.petitions, resolutions, &c., by an
overwhelming majority.
About 300 persons were present. The muster of the
agriculturists was very influential.

HAMBURG PAPERS.

CIIRISTIANIA, FEB. 3.--The Kilg continues to enjoy
excellent heal►h. In the festivities on occasion of hig
birth-day; and his fete (Saint's-day), the 26th and 28:h
January, his Majesty received here, and in the whole
kingdom. the most unequivocal proofs of the affection and
veneration of all classes. We look forward with joy to
tl,e arrival of the Queen next month.

The Storthing met the day before yesterday. There
were 99 Members.

Count Wedel Tarlsberg being still hindered by the
Government from leaving home, the King has held a
Council in his house, at which several important matters
were arranged, and communications to the Storthing
■greed on.
HAMBURGH, FEB. 12.—1 n spite of the quantity of float-
ing ice on the river sixteen of the ships that are lying at
Cuxhaven have succeeded, by favour of a pretty strong
south-west wind, in corning up to the city.
HANOVER, FEB. 12.—The Prince of Bertheim Tecklen-
burg (an officer in the Prussian service) spent the day here
yesterday. M Kruger, Professor of Painting to the
Prussian Court; left us yesterday ; he has taken with him
the portraits of the King and the Crown Prince, sa Moll he
has begun, and also portrait sketches fur a large picture
representing his Majesty on horSeback surrounded by his
Aids-de-Camp, which he will paint at Berlin. The
Crown Prince is now so far recovered that he walks or
rides out every day ; but his Rlal Highness must not t-
tend concei ts, the theatres, liege companies, &c. The
Kin.- is perfectly recovered from his indisposition.
frANoVER, FEB. 15.—Lieutenant-General Hartman,
celebrated for his eminent services in Spain, Member of
the late Privy Council, and Chief of the Artillery, has
been passed over in the forming :ef the new Council of
State. It is said that he will tender his resignation on the
approaching celebration of the fiftieth anniversary of his
military service. He declined the elevation to the ran of
Baron, offered him by the late Government, and was al-
lowed by the late King to add to his arms the motto,
Treu end Fest. As the energy and activity of this able
General are by no mans impaired, his retirement will be
much regretted.
FRONTIERS Of MONTENEGRO, JAN. 24.—The Visier of
Bosnia and Herzegowina, and the Vladika of Monteneg:o,
have made a new conventian respecting the territory of
Grabowo, the first having beep rejected. It was signed on
the 22nd of December, 1838, but as the Vladika has re-
ceived the satisfaction of Russia, the document was
immediately sent to the Russian Ambassador at Constanti.
nople, to be forwarded to St. Petersburgh. The Visier
has sent it to Constantinople to be ratified by the Poi te.
COPENHAGEN, FEB. 13.—The Danish Navy consists of
seven ships of the line, seven heavy frigates, five ligfit
frigates or corvettes, five brigs, three schooners, aid
seventy-one gun-boats The number of officers is one
hundred and fifty-two.

HAMBURG BORSEN HALLE, Fee. 13.
hills. Money
Austrian MetcPiques, 5 per cent.
Dit'o ditto 3 per cent.
Ditto eitto 2,3 per cent
Litto Bank Shares
145, kris
Anglo-Russian Loan 10734 9 7..,
Russian 5 per cents. Metal
Paper inscription, 6 per cent l_4 jOi
Russian Inscription, Hope and Co., 3d and 4th
Series
Ditto, Certificates
Portuguese Regency Bends,s per cent — _
Ditto, 3 per cent. —
Dutch i'34 per Cents.
Ditto 5 per Cents 99 Ekiii
Polish Bonds, 3 per cents.
New Tickets 1551i
A tiglo-Danish Loan, 3 per cents 7174 .
7134
Norwegian Lean of 11,34, 4 per cents
Spanish, in piastres, 3 per Cents —
Cortes Lean, 5 per Cer ' —
Greek 4 per cents. 1533, guaranteed by France
EXCHANGES ON LONDON.
HAmindto, Pao. 15 —l3 5% ; two months, 13 434.
STecitilinAt, Fee. B.—Two months, 12 0.
Cuetsrismi4, Fee. 6.—Three months. 4 103.
Beitt.im, Fee 15.—Three ninths, 6.291,4.
—Hamburg Papers, Feb. 15.
AUSTRIAN FUNDS.—Vinnss, Fax. B.
Five per Cents. Metalliques ' 107li
Four per Cents.
Three per Cents.
Bank Shares 145934
--,lllgoneineZeitung, Feb.l4.

Flit--CTION OF CORONER FOR
MIDDLESEX.-WITHDRAWAL OF MR. ADEY.

At four o'clock 3 ester:lay the state of the poll was as
follows :

For Mr. Wakhy 1,992
111 r. Adcy 579
Majority for Mr. Wakiey --1,413
On the announcement of the state of the poll,
Mr. ADEY came forward, and said that he felt it incum
bent on him to withdraw from the contest.

Mr. WAKLEY then came forward amid loud cheers, and
said that Low he had succeeded in the contest, he certainly
should not speak disparagingly of his opponent. He be-
lieved that Mr. Adey had been ilhadvised, and that the
votes which he had got were those, not of his friends, but
of his (Mr. Wakley's) deadly enemies. He thanked the
people who had elected him. They should find that he
(Mr. Wakley) would not be a mere clerk in the discharge
of his duties, but that he would assert all the rights of his
office, which he knew to be a most important one. Though
his opponent had withdra,in, he could not, by law, be de-
clared elected until Monday next, at which time he would
pin add' ess them. After sonic further observations he
retired, amidst loud cheers.