The Sun.
London, England, 1838-03-13 00:00:00

WEAVERS' UNION, NORWICH.

(From the Ipswich Journal of March 3.)
Perhaps the following charge, which was on Thursday
decided by the Magistrates, H. J. Money, and N. Palmer,
Esqrs., may tend to throw some light on the animus by which
the Weavers' Ccmmittee are actuated. The case has excited
great interest here, and is one of the most villainous that can be
imagined. On the information of Mr. Samuel Fish, the
Secretary of the Weavers' Committee, supported by Mr.
Morston, attorney, Mr. John Clark, of the firm of Churton and
Clark, manufacturers, of St. George's of Cole:ate, was sum-
moned before the Magistrates, and charged with paying
James Harris, a weaver, in the employ of the firm, 6s. 6d. for
his work in coals, and net in the lawful coin of the realm, and
for which a penalty of 10/. was sought to be recovered.
Harris stated that he had worked for Mr. Clarke five or six
years, during which time he had always paid hint his wages in
full the same price that was going in Norwich ; but at NE-
chaelmes last, Mr. Clarke let him have a ton of coals from the
wherry of Mr. Dunn, which was then lying in the river; the
price of which was 225., and 2s. 6d. carriage; and as he ha,l
usually done, he paid him Is. 6d. each time he carried home a
piece. When he carried home the last he was 6s. 6d.
in Mr. Clerke's debt, the whole of which Mr. Clarke, on that
occasion, deducted. He then told Fish about the business,
and Mr. Clarke was summoned. In his cross-examination by
Mr. Staff, he said Mr. Clarke had no warehouse for coals, nor
did he deal in coals. Ile did not deny that Mr. Clarke did
this merely to accomodate him, because he could not raise the
money himself. On other occasions he could only buy his
coals by the hundred, or half hundred, at a time, et hen he
paid much dearer for them. It certainly was a great accomo-
dation to the weavers to assist them in this way, and had Mr.
Clarke only deducted the Is. 61 from the piece, instead of
the whole, he should not have appeared against him. He
was a member of the Weavers' Union, and paid " so much" a
week ; but he did not know whether Mr, Fish was the Secre-
tary, or whether the Committee met at his house, or whether
there was a Committee at all. He did net know who the
Committee were. There were several persons at Mr. Fish's
house wleen he called, but he did not knew one of them I He
still had work of Mr. Clarke, and he paid him his full wages I
*Mr. Dunn, the coal-merchant, was sent for, and on being
sworn, stated that Harris ordered the coal of him, and that
Mr. Clarke merely passed his word that the money should be
paid. The price of the coals was 223. 4d., beside the carriage,
but Mr. Clarke got him to deduct the 4d. for ready money.
He had never seen him before the man had had the
coals, nor had he (Mr. John Clarke) any advantage front
whatever in them. Tho Magistrates immedia•ely declared
Mr. Clarke not guilty, and ordered Fish tc pay the costs. In
this it will be seen that Mr. Clarke's only object was
to benefit the mon that he had in his employ, by advancing
them money to buy coals at the season of the year when they
are cheapest, that they might not have to purchase them in the
winter, when work is scarce, and fuel exceedingly dear; and
then he received it back only in small instalments when they
carried in their work. Even the 4d. that he induced Mr.
Dunn 'so deduct was allowed to the weavers ! But Mr. Clark
bait recently offended the Weavers' Committee, and this is the
return he receives for his kindness. He is a marked man. The
work has been cut from his looms, nobody knows by whom ; and
his house and warehouse are watched night and day to see who
obtains work from him. His weavers are tampered with. Even
at this time, when the general complaint is that there is no work
in the city, those that he has been in the habit of employing,
and would now employ, are receiving Bs. per week from the
Wearers' Union, rather than they should work for Mr. Clark;
and we learn they have come to a resolution to ruin him.
This is but one attempt out of many to do so. Let it be re-
membered too that Mr. Fish attended at the examination, and
we should be glad to know at hew much per day at the ex-
pense of the Weavers ? There is another view which should
be taken of the case. Tho Weavers' Committee, about half a
year back, by representing to the rate-payers of this city that
they had no object but what was perfectly justifiable—that is
to save themselves from oppression and a further reduction of
wages, and that their Committee was far more intelligent than
those that had formerly existed—obtained many subscriptions
and an increase of their funds. This appears to be the mode
try which they are z,pplying them. The rate-payers. under
elks! circumstances, will doubtless tee the propriety of with
holding them in future—their contributions will only enable

thorn to do fittihe;r tnisehlef. We cannot but think such b
and inPilop; attempts. (to say nothing, about the iann.ratef
riss of them) call for every Rossible cttr',.l",:,n on the part of
the Magistrates to p'6i thZitt down.

PRIVATE BUSINESS OF PARLIA-
MENT.-( ith VEn'tAV.)
(Fre% our gecond Edition of last night.)

SLTO-COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS FOR

N.), 114.
M. Chi:RN in the Chair.

Mr. Gain; N 1 Mated that he was requested by the '..tanditlg
OrdZrs' Committee to inform the af!ev•ts, ()titers, that that
Committee had made a rely r-equiring that the names of all
persons opposing Bins, should be given at the back of all re,
ports transtnitted to them by the Sub-Committees, and that
no person shall be allowed to oppec. before them who had not
previously appeared hof,:re one of the Sub-Commi.tees.
Roads.—To continue termer Acts, and amend
powers and raise tolls. Notices proved. Estimated expense,
1,1001. Certificate of trustees as to income put in. Unop-
posed. Decided Standing Orders Lot complied with, as
duplicatca of plans not deposi'ed.
Aberbrothwick Harbour.—Petition read for amending har-
bour, and transferring jurisdiction from Town Council to new
Trustees. Notices proved. Estimated expense 63,5001.
Income 2,103/. last year. Compensation to be made to
Town Council 12.5001., exclusive of the 63,500/. The Com-
mittee said this is a speculation, and there ought to be a sub-
scription list. Considerable discussion arose on this. Un-
opposed. Report according to the facts.
New Brunsnick and Nora Scotia Land Company.—Peti
tion read reciting Charter, &c., held that no Standing- Orders
apply.
Twyford and Theelc Road.—Petition read for increasing
powers of forming road, and levying new tolls. No notices in-
serted in London Gazette. Unopposed. Standing Orders
not complied with as to the Lyndon Gazette.
Dudley Hill and Killinghall Road.—Notices proved, esti-
mated expense 5,500/., 5304 lodged, unopposed, Standing
Orders complied with.
Kirkstall, Ilkley, and Shipley Road Notices proved, es-
timated expense 2,0001., 2001. lodged, unopposed, Standing
Orders complied with.
_ _ _

LadykillCand Norham (Tweed) Bridge.---Notices proved
Estimated expense 5,9491. ; subscription contrast, 6,0001. ;
half in England, and half in Scotland ; deposit 600/. ; unop-
posed; Standing Orders complied with.

SUB-COMMITTEE ON PETITIONS (No. IL)
Mr. ROBERT PALMER in the chair.

Lough Foyle and Lough Swilly Drainage.—This case was
gone into by adjournment, from Friday last. Tho question
was, whether the petitioners for this Bill were or were not the
owners of the lands sought to be drained. Into such a
question, however, the Chairman declared the Committee
would not go. A ♦ast deal of desultory conversation arose
upon it, without furthering the business a step.
The room was then cleared, after which the Chairman an-
nounced the decision of the Committee, that the case should
be adjourned until to-morrow, at two o'clock, in order to allow
time for the agent of the Marquis of Donegal to present a
petition to the Committee.

COMMITTEE ON BILL (MIDDLESEX LIST).
Mr. PHILPOTS in the Chair.

Necropolis Cemetery.—The Hon. Chairman, the Counsel,
the Agents, and others connected with this Bill, were in at-
tendance at eleven o'clock, but after waiting until nearly half
after twelve, sufficient Members could not be found to
form a Committee. The Chairman therefore adjourned until
Friday next at twelve o'clock.

COMMITTEE ON BILL (GLOUCESTER LIST).
Cheltenham and Great Western Union Railway.—Mr.
POI:LETT SCROPE in the Chair.

Considerable delay took place, owing to the parties for and
against this Bill, with their counsel, entering into a private
consultation, to endeavour to settle the contested points ami-
cably. After a considerable time, it was agreed to refer
the point in dispute to the Chairman and Mr. Philips
who, if they did not agree, were to appoint a third, whose
decision should be final.

The Hon. CHAIRMAN announced that they could not agree
to an additional clause (which had been the only point before
them) as proposed by the parties for the Bill.
Report to be made on Wednesday.—Adjourned until that
day.

ELECTION COMMITTEES.
(YESTERDAY.)

(From our Second Edition of last night.)

READING.

The following votes were struck off by the petitioners :
NV. Turner, Jeremiah Humphreys, Charles Masters, John
Parsons, Stephen Taylor, Wm. Storker, Joseph Leith, and
William Wiggin. And the following by the Sitting Mem-
bers : —Thomas Lague, Thomas Henry Trandell, Chas. Car-
ter, John Webster, Wm. Thorn, James Barker, John Barry,
Edwin Ayre, and John Gibbs.

Adjourned at four o'clock, the Sitting Members being in a
majority of one.

CARLOW.
The Committee were engaged the whole day in hearing the
arguments of Counsel with respect to the opening of the
registry,_

—Mr:KEATING, who applies for the opening of it, had not
concluded when it was reported that the Speaker was at
prayers, and the Committee adjourned till to-morrow, when
the arguments will be resumed.