The Sun.
London, England, 1824-12-21 00:00:00

[BRITISII PRESS.]

The improving state of the revenue naturally
suggests the consideration how the increasing
surplus shall be applied. When this question
was last before Parliament, it was, on the sug-
gestion of Ministers, determined,—and we be-
lieve all parties have concurred in applauding the
wisdom of the decision,—that the surplus should
be appropriated to the abolition of some of the
absurd restraints on our foreign t rade.—
The silk manufacture was then selected for the,
experiment, if it may with propriety be so called,
and entire success attested the perfect justice
and sound policy of the measure. The public
cannot have forgotten the ignorant clamour which
was then raised, to deter Government from pro-
ceeding in the course they had resolved to follow.
The result is, that already, instead of the ac-
compli,hment of the predictions of Mr. Powell
Buxton and Mr. Calcraft, not only is Spitaltields
not desolated, but the most intelligent French
manufacturers are removing their skill and ca-
pital to the market, which they foresee is des-
tined, at no remote day, to supply the world. It
may therefore he reasonably expected, that the
further reductions of which the improvement of
the revenue may admit, will be applied in further-
ance of the great principle of freedom of com-
merce. The silk manufacture being fairly and satis-
factorily settled, we know of no commercial object
moreworthy of attention than the present state of
tire wine trade. The absurdity of revenging
upon ourselves the disinclination ofour neighbours
to deal with us is now universally confessed. The
single question then will be, how, consistently
with national faith and the necessities of the
public revenue, we can most beneficially throw
open our ports for the admission of foreign row-
moditie ? There was a time when it would ha‘e
been considered hardly less than disloyal to have
proposed any measures calculated to promote our
commercial intercourse with France. 13y. the
Methuen Treaty in 1703, by which we bound our.
selves to impose duties one-third higher in amount
on the nines of France than on those of Portugal,
we lost the French market for our woollen manufac.
tures, in order that we might secure the mono.
poly of the Portuguese market, on the condition
of buying from the Portuguese worse liquor, at
in higher price ! We gave up twenty millions of
rich costerners, in order that we might have the
exclusive supply of two millions of poor ones!
The political relations that have since subsisted
bet wee,' the nations have at different periods pre-
vented the subject from being regarded au much
in a commercial point of view as its importance
entitled it to be. Our treaties with Portugal
have been renewed from time to thoe,,in accord-
ance with the unwise atipolution3 of Mr. Me.
j but fortunately it ha ppoo Oat the la,t
of these treaties, negotiated in hill,-,expireiiitext
'ear': We shall then be absolutely at liberty to
decide upon the course Ice may deem it advis-

able to follow in future wiih respect to the wine
trade.

[THE TIMES.]
We regret to find, from the Glasgow news-
papers, that the weavers and cotton spinners of
that great city continue to stand out against their
masters, and refuse to work. The objects of
the combination are stated to be two-fold--an
increase of wages and of power. It is quite un-
doubted that if any class of workmen conceive
themselves to be inadequately paid, they have a
right to ask a higher reward for their labour, or
not to labour at all. The Legislature acted from
pure motives, as well as from sufficient reasons,
when they repealed the old law against combina-
tions of journeymen. It was a law not only un-
just but ineffective, and the existing state of
Glasgow is no argument against the wisdom of
abolishing it. For when it is asserted that the
workmen have a right to combine, it will be also
acknowledged on all sides that they must stand
the natural consequences of combining ; and
among those consequences are the resistance of
the masters to their demand, with the probability
of other workmen being employed, and of
their own final reduction to beggary. —lt
ought to be observed, that the repeal of the for-
mer statutes was accompanied by a sharp legisla-
lative provision against the means which have
usually been resorted to by the journeymen for
giving effect to their schemes ; any violence, or
menace, or molestation, offered to such indivi-
duals of their own order as may continue at their
work, and decline taking part in the general se-
cession, is liable by the new law to be severely
punished. We find, accordingly, that a mea-
sure has been adopted by the masters in Glasgow
which must bring about the submission of the
;journeymen, and a measure which every friend to
justice must wish to see successful. This is no
other than the peaceable employment of new
hands willing to work, instead of the old and re-
fractory, who would labour only on their own
terms. A number, it is said, of 44 weavers from
" Paisley, and of excellent spinners and piecers
" from other parts of Renfrewshire, have been
engaged" to carry on the business of the de-
serted manufactories. Arms were supplied to
them, in case of an attack from the sulky and
threatening seceders ; regular nightly watches
are kept ; a proclamation has been issued by the
Sheriff against disturbers of the peace ; and many
of the works are in full and unmolested action.
It seems plain, that in the present state of the
country, when there is no want of constant work,
the wages proposed by the masters were not
unreasonable, since they have been able, to sup.
ply themselves from the neighbouring towns and
country on their own terms. But, as we have
already hinted, it is said in the Glasgow journals
that wages are not the sole point in dispute.—
The journeymen are accused of seeking such a
degree of power over the masters, as would, if
conceded to them, totally change the relative po-
sition of master and servant. They are accused
of seeking no less than that the management of
the mills should be lodged with the workmen—
that, individual weavers shall be employed or dis-
carded—that foremen shall be selected, not
accordingtiiailtimetsos, the master's will, but to theirs---
drunkenness, and unmarket•
able work, shall be no otherwise punished
than as they, the drunkards and idlers,
themselves, may authorize ! These, we say,
are the charges brought against the 44 01)P-
-" ratives" (we detest the Scotch pedantry of the
word), who have long kept Glasgow in disorder,
and who will end by ruining themselves and
families. if the accusations he just, the punish-
ment will be as well merited as it wilt be certain.
Other hands will be employed ; some of the,
masters will emigrate (one has already done so)
to parts where they can find labourers more tract-
able : and combinations—we mean such as are
not fairly provoked—will thus be cured by le-
gitimate expedients. We have seen something
of the Glasgow weavers, and feel bound to say,
that among the body are a large proportion of as
coarse, ruffianly, and turbulent fellows, as ever
annoyed an industrious and inoffensive community.

[MORNING,. POST.]
Communications were received from Spain
yesterday, which contradict the report propa-
gated by
,the Ultra Journals that the French had
suddenly halted in their retreat, and that the eva-
cuation of that country, partial as it is, was sus-
pended. it continued on all
points where it was
to take place, and excited the gr
eatest alarm
through all the peaceful classes. For 'unjust as
had liken the aggression of France, its
consequences fatal as
consequences are still likely-tOProVe, the conduct
of her army, both during the war and the nun^
pation, has been so exemplary as to fling a re-
deeming lustre over the enterprise, and to gain
the confidence of the nation which it was,
sent to disarm. It is as curious fact
rthat
those soldiers who ,had been for years the terror
and the'plunderers of Europe, became 'in 1824
the supporters of order and the Protectors of the
Conquered in the Peninsula. Their departure
is felt as the loss of friends, and while the
[ Satellites of Despotism view it with joy as.an-
noiinCing the lunged-for hour of unshackled per-
secution and blood, it is lamented by the rest of
the country as the completion of its misery. Ac-
cordirig to these advises, the Goverment•had de=,
dared open war 'against all persons who were
sospected'of a desire that a.systein approaching
-to moderation . should be adopted, rrhe Police
being entirely occupied in the Pursuit Of political
offenders, that is to say, .of all who were not per-
secutors themselves, opposed no cheek to the
practices and atrocities Of conunon roblit.ts,:ind.
[sassins, and whilst it was impossible to appear in
the_ streets of Madrid after dad( without the
ri‘li of property ;-tiod
Abe environs of
that city were infested watt banditti, who Pion-
tiered and murdered in the face of ow doy.
the neighbouring-
.Provili('us those
.excessei
I sullied something inure Of at aatlbtaackl-,
▪ The [banditti rose into and
411,4114
their victims illllollo 1.1)(' Claih from whonilhe
bitterest hostility to the Cons'OctiStilin,
y,-‘vbose
had'ilkiM'd;
whose
erg
that is to say, frOnt amongst the
.ef
r houses they pillaged, and persons they
▪ treated with great indignity. The Prietts, on

the other hand, whose distinguishing characte•l
ristic in Spain is not patient endurance of
injuries, had raised a force among the peasantry
which they paid liberally, and which, under the
guidance of Its Militant Pastors, had in some
instances succeeded in driving away the ravaging
bands. At the head of this clerical army the
Curate Merino is said to have been placed, or to
have placed himself, and a sort of partisan warfare
to be carried on with great spirit on both sides,
and with Much general suffering to the bulk of
the people. It continued to be asserted by the
friends of the Government, and to be disbelieved
by the nation at large, that the projected ex-
pedition had been completed, and had ac-
tually sailed from Ferrol for Cuba. Even had
a sufficient number of regiments been re-
tained from the ancient army, or created after
its dissolution, to compose a respectable
body, the want of money would have thrown
obstacles in the way of this expedition, which
must occasion long delays, if not ultimate failure.
Much uneasiness is said to have been expressed
by Ferdinand and his Ministers at the orders
given for increasing the.military force of Bayonne,
as they apprehended that it indicated an inten-
tion on the part of France, to leave Spain alto-
gether in the Spring, with the exception of Bar-
celona and Cadiz, which were to be holden as
security for the repayment of the expences of the
war, until the whole debt, which is of great mag-
nitude, should be liquidated.

ELY TIMES.]
Yesterday passed off without any foreign ar-
rivals; not even a single French Express was
received in the City ; from which circumstance
it is generally and correctly inferred, that no
event of the slightest interest had occurred
in Paris of sufficient frnportnitee to forward by
courier. The private letters received by the
French Mail merely repeat the prevailing
opinion that the Speech of the King of
France would prove highly satisfactory. Consols
for the Account closed at 95i to 96, being a
slight advance in the price in the course of
yesterday.—The report of Mr. Canning's retire-
ment had the effect of lowering the prices of
of South American Securities between one and
two per cent.: as, however, the report began to
be discredited, the prices regained their previous
station, or nearly so.—Mexican Bonds 69k, and
Colombian 864. Greek Bonds, in which much
business has of late been transacted, were also
lower. In the European Securities the business
was confined, and the prices remained, with
little variation, the same as on Saturday, as did
also the Shares in the. New Mining Companies.