The Sun.
London, England, 1841-02-27 00:00:00

HAND-LOOM WEAVERS.

SUMMARY OF THE REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONERS ON
THE CONDITION OF THE HAND-LOOM WEAVERS, PRE-
SENTED TO BOTH MOUSES OF PARLIAMENT.
We have inquired into the condition of the hand-loom
weavers throughout the United Kingdom. We have
stated that, as a body, they are in a sate of distress; that
the great cause of this distress is a disproportion between
the supply of hand-loom labour and the demand for it ;
the demand being, in many cases, deficient, in some caws
decreasing, and in still more, irregular, while the supply is,
in many branches, excessive, in almost all has a tendency
to increase, and does nct appear in any to have a tendency
to adapt itself to the irregularities of the demand.
In considering the second of the objects proposed to us
by your Majesty's Commission, namely, the reporting
whether any, and if so, what measures can be devised for
the relief of the hand-loom weavers, we were governed by
the result of our previous inquiry. It having been ascer-
tained that the principal cause of the low earnings of the
hand-loom weavers is the disproportion between their num-
bers and the demand for their labour, it follows that no
measures can effectually raise their earnings, except by
getting rid of that disproportion ; but even while the dis-
proportion continues, the condition of the weaver would be
improved by any cause which should render the demand
for his labour more steady, or eiminiin the price or im-
prove the qualities of the commodities on which his wages
are expended.
The remedies for the distress of the weavers appeared,
therefore, to .be reducible to three classes—first, those
which aim at increasing or rendering more steady the de-
mand for their labour ; secondly, those which aim at
cheapening or improving the commodities on which their
wages arc expended ; and, thirdly, those which aim at di-
mitoshing their number, or preventing its undue increase.
We tucn gave an • outlioe of the principle measures
which appeared to us the most expedient for the purpesea
cf increasing or rendering more steady the desnand for the
labour of h end-loom weevers, and of cheapening or im-
proving the commodities on which their earnings are ex-
pended.
As the principal means by which all these purposes may
be effected, by whieh the trade cf the country, both inter-
nally and externally, may be made more steady ; by which
the exportation of the products of our own looms may be
promoted, and the food and babitatbns of our labourir g
population may be improved, we have recommended the
substitution, for the p: went anomalous and fluctuaing cern
duty, of a duty, either to be annually reduced or to be per-
manently fixed at a low rate ; and such a change in the
duties on timber as may no longer exclude from all build-
ings intended for the use of the
.great majority of the
people, the timber which is cheapest and best. And we
have recommended further measures :for promoting the
healthiness of the dwellings of the labouring classes, and
for the improvement of ocr foreign trade.
In order to cheapen the material on which one class
of weavers are emploe /, and thereby increase the demand
for their labour, vie have recommended the abolition or
dimiuution cf too duty on organzine.
For the purpose of further increasing that demand by
the improvement of Biitish patterns, we have recom-
mended the extension and protection of copyright in de-
signs, the establishment and promotion of schools of de-
sign, and the general cultivation of the popular taste.
Believing that the cost of production to the manufac-
turer is much increased, and, consequently, the demand
for hand-loom labour much diminished, by the embozzl:-
meet of woven goods, and of the materials of weaving, VS c
Lava recommended measures for its more effectual rc-

pression.
Believing the restrictions on the manufacture and sa'e
of Irish linen to be mischievous, we have recommended
their abolition.
And believing that hand-loom weavers suffer even more
that the libouti. g classes in general under the obstacles to
the tree use and circulation of labour imposed by combina-
tions, we have recommended measures for rest°, log liberty
to the werkieg &asses by deptiving combinatiuns of their
powers of intimidation.
We have, lastly, consilered the means by which the
number of hand-loom weavers may be eirrinished, or their
undue increase prevented. After remarking that the re-
storing freedom to the labour market will, to a certain
degree, effect these purposes, we hive directed our attention
to two auxiliary measures—emigration and education.
We have stated our fears that the weavers will not derive
much direct and specific advantage from emigration. Nor
have we encouraged the hope that they will be peculiarly
benefited by the extension of education. But believing
most firmly that the who!e body of the labouring
would derive benett from a general system of education, classes
means, and parents, and all ethers
filling the place of pa-
rents, to use them, no
have
suggestedan outli..e of a plan
under veh;ch the communit y should he bound to supply the
en duced.
by which such a syseem may to
( Signed) NASSAU
SAMUEL JO
'DWARD HICKSON.
WILLIAM
JOHN LESLIE.
London, Feb. 19, 1841.
SENIOR.NESo

TERRIFIC ----Fixi,LoslorrofoaF
very 9 2 SA
alarmingT
which
T.:40 C K •
atm e,
the manufactory of Mr. Charles Axon of
islacaendinotnhesosmerevioefe i'tibpee,batuis .
Helton- lane,lt appears
the lower story, where the pipe
Stuckport,_. on. Frilay evening.
considerable quantity• sup-
• gti.ig
oreocnuTr.r7dAr:nexilsion ef. gas, . .
eeditisinic't:veatesprnase thewdi ct,i thamhake imhal lliodli:iltgilt:ahhtkteaergnrt'io'fi c explosion
So lout was the report, that it was heard all over the
town, and fur nearly a mile beyond it, and the utmost
canste-nation was excited in all parts of Stockport,
some attributing the report to an earthquake, and all
being se'zed with an undefined sort of al rm and appre-
hencian. The building, which is four stone; high, was
shaken in the most violent manner ; nearly every window
was shattered to atoms ; all the lights were extinguished ;
a great deal of the machinery was disarranged; and the
efleet was desetiLerl by the hands who were at work in the
upper stories as similar to their being lifted up about two
, r three fe.t and then thrown down again. So far as we
hove heard, no lives were lost, oar has any serious injury
bcco suLt tined by the hands in the mill, except by one boy,
who war re, eta I y hurt. The shock was felt more or less in
all the buildings near to the stmt.—ilia:re/fester Chronicle.
MARRIAGE IN HIGII LIFE. —On Saturday
last, at Hollywood Church. Downshire, the Hon. Thomas
aCnidotwhioarrtmhi
ISakteeffivinsgeotounn,tesfosumrtahssseoren of Viscount
ene,totile Fer
Hon.
rard
Hen-
rietta Catherine Blackwood, daughter of the late Lord
drTeemih,eountHiye.o
on
n.
anpace
elegant
and friends.
Dufferin and the Dowager Lady Dau,
tef fi
eetghr iaenn.
et e
Theilthnle
Rev. \V. J. Blackwood officiatedhas addressed a letter to Dr.
Dowoe
cla
:al
Thu
une rpt
oLcaaa dsnye i
ofeDe ucfpeoartritinl
Phillimore, the Commissary of the Archbishop of York,
through the York Courant, in which the Dean denies the
right of the Archbishop to interfere as Orditiary.