The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-31 00:00:00

EVEN ING SUN

price is dependent upon supply and demand. Itgan
article is scarce in the market, however small the defi-
ciency may be, the price of all the stock in the market
is raised. In like manner, if there be a surplus, how-
ever small that surplus may be, it affects not merely
the vurglela, but the tehole of the commodity, which is
thereby reefeete3 in-price. Now, we can show by sta-
tistical facts and irrefutable documents, that since the
year 1815, there has been a constant introduction of
self-acting machitiery, or machinery which imposed
greater labour on the smaller number of adult opera-
tires retained ; thus cheapening the cost, and in-
creasing the amount of production. And what has
bean the consequence ? Why, exactly in proportion
as this as taken place, the profits of the capitalist
and the wages of the labourer have regularly de-
creased ; until at length, in 1E32, we received no more
money for three times the amount of raw material manu-
factured, than we received in 1815 for the one-third.
This result, in our opinion, is clearly traceable to the
unregulated use and extensive introduction of machinery
which has either superseded adult labour entirely, or
replaced it by the cheaper labour of woman and childrem
What is now the consequence? Throughout the manu-
facturing districts mills are nearly closed. The capi-
talist and middle classes are in difficulties—insolvent or
bankrupt ; while the operatives are in a state of desti-
tution which must make every heart bleed, and which
arises from causes over which they themselves have no
contrail!. Now, if this insane course had been checked,
if over production had been discouraged by wise laws, and
a prudent system of trade pursued, wages and profits
would have beenbetterond employment more permanent
ansi more equally diffused over the year. Fur these rea-
sons, Sir Robert, we believe that the dictates of sound
political wisdom coincide with the dictates of humanity,
morality, and religion, in calling upon us to retrace our
steps, and arrest the progress of a system which is
spreading disease, disorganization, and disaffection, in
the factory districts. As a proof that we are not over-
stating the facts, we beg to present you; Sir Robert,
with one illustration of many which might be offered.
It is a printed copy of the Report of the Unemployed
Operatives' Enumeration Committee of Leeds, in which
a detailed statement of the condition of ad operatives
in the several wards of that town, the emporium of the
woollen district, is given. The summary of that ap-
palling statement is, that nearly 20,000 human beings
-are now living upon an average Weekly income of 110.
per head. We leave to your own judgment what must
be the ultimate end of Leh a state of things."
Sir Rozerer, taking the document, said, " I am
sorry to say that I have already seen this melancholy
statement in manuscript, through the kindness of Sir
James GrahaM, to whom it was presented by Mr.
Beckett. lam deeply grieved by the knowledge of
such au amount of suffering, and sympathise most sin-
cerely with the condition of the people as there de-
seribe4, It is indeed very distressing, and some effi-
cient remedy is most desirable."

The DEPUTATION—TLP requirements of humanity
icnperatively-demand it. No system which entails upon
the great biirk of the community such sufforing, ought
to he permitted to exist ; such a baneful influence
ought .not to -go unchecked, whatever reasons, political
or ceonomica!, may be adduced in its behalf.

Sir RosEßr PEEL tben directed the conversation to
the broad question of machinery. which, he said was
oee .?eservin:,• of the greatest consideration.

'r
DEPUTATION said, '°
We will not atf empt to
conceal from you, Sir Robert, our opinion that, in
order to meet the case lolly and fairly, the enactment
of other and more 'comprehensive measures is indis-
pensably necessary. A ten-hours Bill ten years ago
might and would have produced much more benefit
the it can now produce. In the interval a vast
amount of automaton power has been called into ex-
istence. It appears lay the reports of the Factory In-
spectors that between the years 1835 and 1839 the
horse-power increased at least one-half, while, so tar
from the new machinery calling new manual labour
into exercise, the fact was, that the number of
spinners in Manchester required to work the
enlarged and increased machinery was not more
than one-third of the number previously employed.
For such a state of thgs it would be very unwise,
and a concealment of the truth, to say that a ten-hours
Bill would be a complete and perfect remedy ; but it
would, at least, be a step in the right road. To insure
effective relief from the dangers and evils by which we
are now surrounded, bolder and more comprehensive
measures most assuredly are requisite ; and if you, Sir R.
Peal, will excuse us for stepping beyond the legitimate
boundaries of our mission, we will tell you our opnions
as to those measures. We have come to you in the spirit
of friendship—not to dictate or dogmatise—neither
have we come to find fault, without suggesting such a
remedy as-appears to us capable of alleviating the evil ;
and we also come free from all party feeling or preju-
dices. We are sick of party nicknames and party
contests, for party' purposes. We are sick of the ever-
lasting confusion and bad feeling arising from these
contests, and are prepared to award our confidence,
support, and gratitude, to any Government, or set of
seen (no matter what their party name may be), who
will show by their actions that they sympathise with
our wrongs-end ourisuff4rings, and are honestly desirous
of removing them. We venture to recommend, for the
reasons laid before you at length, the passing of the
Tea Hours Bill, and to accompany it either by the
total repeal of the New Poor-law, or by such an altera-
tion of it as will render it applicable to the manufactur-
ing districts, in Which it is at this moment practically
inoperative, and in which we defy any Government ever
to enforce it. •

Sir ROBERT—WeII, gentlemen, I have listened with
deep interest to your statements, and feel obliged by,
your waiting on me. I confess that there is much force
in what you have advanced, and that the evils you
complain of are manifold and great, especially those
which press upon the manufacturing operative. I also
fear that an extension of our manufactures will not
afford the relief desired; for past experience, I think,
shows.that such an extension would only bring into
play more machinery, and not employ manual labour in
an thing like the rate of the increase in the machine de-
partment., Of course.l cannot pledge myself to any
particular line of action in respect to the measure you
advocate. But .I shall give the subject that full and
attentive consideration which its importance and various
bearings deserve, and should I come to a different con-
clusion to that you hold, I shall do so with a confident
reliance on the intelligence, moderation, and good feel.
ing yeti have now displayed, assured that these conclu-
sions and the reasons I may adduce for them will re-
ceive a calm and impartial examination.
The DEPUTATION repeated that they had no wish to
draw from the Premier any premature avowals of his
policy. Their sole object was to make a true and full
statement of the condition of those whose interests they
represeated in the spirit of friendship to all parties.
They sought not the injury of any class, but the welfare
of as : and they believed that the policy and measures
they recommended world insure this commendation.
They wished it to be understood that they had no anti-
pathy whatever to the masters—no desire to injure
the.aa. They neither,accused them of selfishness nor
cruelty. It war,. the
_system which made them what
they were ; and the object the Deputation had in view
was to alter the system in as gradual and beneficial a
manner for all parties as passible.
The Deputation then rose to take leave, observing
that they had some thought, of waiting upon Sir
James. Graham, and asked Sir Robert if it would be ad-
visable or necessary ?
James, had better see Sir Jam
To which be replied, " Cer-
tainly ; I think you. and also
Mr. Gladstone." *Sir Robert immediately wrote notes
of introduction to those two gentlemen, after which, he
most courteously bade the Deputation farewell, again
expressing the satisfaction the inter Yi'eW had afforded
him.
The impression left on the minds of every
one of the
Depoption on retiring was, that Sir U. "et is fella
aware di the great source of our evils at the present
moment, and that be sineely sympathises with the work_
ing-classes. GEORGE A. FLEMING.
JOSHUA HOBSON.
JOHN LEECH.
MARK CRABTREE.
TITUS S. BROOKE.
•

The bridge over the Berre, between Grignan and
3fontelimart, in the Drome, had several of its arches car-
:ried away by the late flood. The Courrier of Valance
states that some nights ago a merchant's clerk, travelling
with goods in a cart, being unaware of the accident, drove
on to the sound part, and passed for some little distance,
hut towards the middle the road sunk under him, and
with the cart and horse he fell into the river, 20 feet be-
low. By a miraculous chance he contrived to get on dry
ground again, without the least injury to the horse, the
start, the goods, or himself, except a good drenching.
The Alsace relates the following cruel and cold-
blooded murder :—M. Haanaan, the Cure of Schlestadt,
bed leug been accustomed to make his house an asylum
for bc'nighted travellers, giving them a moderate supper
and alae'd, sending them on their way in the morning,
Ivith a small sum of moneyin their pockets. On Wednes-
day evening last he brow ht home a man of decent ap,
pearcitee, Who he admitted to partelre at his own table,
anal then conducted to the guest chamber. In the morn-
ing, when the bour of mass came, and the servant of the
good priest-Went to call him, he was found dead on the
lloor, his throat having been cut with a razor. The
stranger had fled, taking with him 50f., all the money in
the house, though probably he expected' a much larger
booty, the deceased's watch, his cloak, and some other
por•
table articles 11, has not been discovered, and it is
believed took his departure by the Colmar Railroad.
TOTAL REPEAL OF THE BREAD-TAX.—A
public meeting of the inhabitants of Manchester will be
held in the Town nal!, King-street, on new year's day,
for the purpose 'of petitioning Parliament in favour of the
total and immediate repeal of the Bread and Provision
taxes,- and of recommending to the House of Commons
the appointment of a Committee to ascertain the best
mode 'of compensating the injured bread-eaters of Great
Britain and Ireland for the great misery, privation, and
loss sustained by them from the operation of the Corn
and Provision-laws. Mr. Alderman Brooks will take the
Th'e Patriote of Chalons-sur-Saone states that
the wife of a farmer of Veesey has been taken into cus-
tody for having, after a quarrel with her husband, and as
he was lying in bed, thrown a large saucepan of boiling
water over Is face and breast,

THE RAILWAY SUN
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TUE CHINA SUN,

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Sun Dec. Office, D3l, 1841
.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
What do„ our
Correspondent " Judex" say to the facts
proved by several witnesses, that slips had been appre-
hended on the line for several days previous, and that
all the watchmen were in the habit of leaving at ten at
night, and not returning till six in the morning ?

1:11-rA " vir
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"rl-TliElt.—NOON, DECEMBER 31. A
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