The Sun.
London, England, 1840-05-18 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

London, May 15, 1840.
SlR,—Having been a constant reader and admirer
of your valuable Paper for many years. I venture (for
the first time) to solicit a favour, viz., the insertion of
the following statement :
A few weeks back I was at Tewkesbury, in Glou-
cestershire, a place well known for its excellent manu-
facture of cotton hosiery. I made it my business to
inquire among the workmen the state of trade, wages,
&c. I was informed that business was very dull,
wages very low, and, indeed, that things were never
worse ; still it was pleasing to hear, on all hands, that
those in better circumstances endeavoured to alleviate
the sufferings of the poor as much as possible; but
there was one complaint made by the workpeople, and I
think with justice (which is the cause of my troubling
you with this letter). It is the custom of the master
hosiers to charge the workpeople for the use of the
machine, or frame, as it is called, Is. per week, and as
there are sometimes imperfections in the hose when
taken home to the master, a halfpenny a week is also
deducted from each hand to pay for the necessary re-
pairs. This has been the custom for some years ; and
although a shilling a week is a very high charge for the
rent of a frame (the average value of frames being
about 41.), it is not complained of. But the workmen
do complain (and I think they have great reason to do
so) that the master's have restricted them in their work
to ss. a week, and yet stop Is. Old. per week, as
though they had full employment. Each hand is
allowed to earn ss. a week, minus Is. Old. for rent of
frame and mending work, being money wages 3s. 113 d.
If this be a fact, and I believe it to be so, I consider it
a fraud on the workpeople. The only reason I could
get for it was, that the hosiers sold their goods at prime
cost, the frame-rent being their living. But see the
result of such a system to the poor and. half-starved
workpeople. They are charged (I had almost said
plundered of) 6id. a week each, that the persons who
have '2OO frames may ehtain 101. a week rent, when
they have business only for 100 frames. But this Is not
all ; it engenders a spirit of idleness, and tends to bind
fast the fetters it has placed on the unfortunate. If a
man, for instance, has a child that works for him, they
are allowed to get 103. a week ; deduct rent of frame
and mending of work 2s. 1 d., the amount of wages for
man and child is is. 11d.; but if the man was allowed
to do the Thole work, he would obtain for the same
quantity Bs. Hid. a week, and his child would have
an opportunity of obtaining some other employment.
Your excellent Paper is much read at Tewkesbury,
and, by giving insertion to this letter, you will oblige
many who feel themselves oppressed, and also
Your obedient and hum ile servant,
• AN ENEMY TO OPPRESSION. ,

ST. JAMES'S PARK AND KEN-
SINGTON GARDENS.

TO TILE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN.
SIR—I was sometime since struck by the very
unfair, and, as I think, wholly unnecessary system
of exclusion prevailing with regard to the admis-
sion of persons to St. James's Park. Any one
dressed in plain clothes, unless habited like a beg-
gar, or carrying a parcel, is admitted. No one, on
the other hand, who is in livery is admitted, though
sometime ago, the rule was relaxed in respect of
soldiers in uniform. My servant, therefore, in
taking a quiet walk with his wife and children, finds
himself thrust back, and his wife and children not.
The reason for this restriction must be presumed
to be, that a livery servant is a disorderly character,
while a journeyman carpenter or a tailor's appren-
tice is nos, a reason too absurd to be of the slighest
weight. But, assuming that the parties are equally
likely to be disorderly, what is their relative posi-
tion ? The one is, by the fact of his wearing a
livery, a marked man, and cannot well escape detec-
tion, in addition to which, he runs a fair chance of
being dismissed his master's service. The other is
exposed to an infinitely less chance of detection,

and would run no risk of losing his situation.
Hoping to see this unjust distinction put an end to,
I am,-your obedient servant,

On Wednesday an inquest was held before Mr.
Higgs, at the Penitentiary, Milbank, on the body of Henry
MiAard, aged 18. The deceased was admitted on the 4th
inst., having been sentenced by a Court-martial at Chatham
to twenty days' imprisonment for being absent without leave.
On the Bth he was taken to the infirmary, being attacked with
erysipelas, arising from a small scratch under the right ear.
The inflammation increased, and produced suffusion on the
brain, which caused his death on Tuesday. He was attended
by Mr. Wade, the surgeon, Dr. Bailey, and Staff-Surgeon
Roe. He was in perfect health when admitted, but the surgeon
said erysipelas was prevalent at this time, especially in Chelsea.
The deceased's father, who is apatient in Charing-cros Hospi-
tal, had obtained leave to bring a letter for his son, and though
he was in the inquest-room, was not aware of his death till he
hoard the name. Verdict—Natural death from erysipelas.
ROCHDALE SPRING FAIR, MAY 14.
There was a very numerous show of cattle in the
market to-
day of every description; but the prices demanded were very
high, on account of which, comparatively, few changed hands.
HARBOURS ON THE SOUTH EASTERN COAST.
—We understand that the Commissioners are ordered to meet
a t the Admirayy on Wednesday, the '2oth instant ; and doubt.
less the Report will be submitted to the House of Commons
shortly after.
OPENING OF THE PRESTON AND LONG-
JUDOS RAILWAY.—This line, which is intended chiefly for
the conveyance of stone from the celebrated Longridge Delphs
was opened on Friday.—Preston Chronicle.