The Sun.
London, England, 1841-04-24 00:00:00

W ARKIN GTON.

. -
PRESENTATION OF TWO MASSIVE CUPS TO
MESSRS. WM. !AND JOSEPH STUBS, BY
THEIR WO It K E itqt
[Though the following intelligenets Is now a little past
date, it is cf so gratifying a dcscr:ptior, and so valuable in
illustrating the influence of kindness and liberaVity in the
treatment of the working classes by their e.nployete errer
their moral character, that we willingly find a place for it. j
Every ore connectel with the incelsinies or manufec-
turars of this country Rost have heard of the respect-
able firm ttarling under the firm of " Peter Stubs," as
Lancashire file and tool manufacturers, established for
the lan fifty years in this town. Last December a
ineellog of the large body of workmen connected with
their works tack plate, and those present, feeling con-
viecad that it was to her manufactures that this country
owed its present greatness, and believing that one prin.
cipel means of her -ms.intlining the superiority acquired
over all other nations of the civilised glote, Would be found
to exist in a good tanderstardingbetween the employer and
the employed, at once resolviT:g on raising a aubscriptiosi
among t themselves . and their fellow-workmen - at
Me sr,. Stubs's steel-works, at Rotherairs in Yorkshire,
fur the purchase cf two pieces af plate, to be presented to
their employers, "they having" (quoting the words of the
reselutions) invariably acted with the strictest sense of
justice, combined with a boundless liberality towards their
war kmer." Agreeably to the object of that meeting, a-
subscription was accordingly set on foot, two massive silver
gilt cups were purchcscd, and Saturday week was appointed
for the pre:enlation cf the same. At. five o'clock on
that dry', upwards of two hundred of Messrs. Scuba's
workmen celebrated the event by a dinner in the
town-hall. Mr. James Mason, the manager of the works,
occupied the cha'r, Mr. Win. Stubs siturg on the right,
and Mr. Joseph Stubs on the left of the chairman. Mr.
Wm. Heath, Mr. G Stubs, Mr. Dakin, Mr. Evans, of
Wigan, Mr. Win. Wagstaff, Mr. J. Litton, Mr. T. All-
core, Mr. Skaile, Mr. Kekessielr, the manager of the Ro•
theram works, and Mr. J. Mason, jun. also occusied seats
at the cross table. Ample justice having been done to
a very ample supply cf provisions served up by the joint
culinary skill of Mr. Lamb, of the Bull's Head, Bridge-
street, and Mrs. Thorcan of the Three Crowns, in the
Corn Market, the cloths were removed, and " Nun
nobis Domine" sung by Messrs. Taylor, Broadhurst,
and Brown. The health of " the Queen" was then
given from the chair, and chalk with three times
three. The national anthem, " God save the Queen,"
Was then sung verse and c'eorus, accompanied upon the
organ belonging to the musical society, by Mr. EaUr',e.
The Princess Royal, and H. R. H. Prince Albert,"
" The Duke of Sussex and the test of the Royal
Family," " The Earl of Derby, Lord Lieutenant of
the county," " John Ireland Blarslaburne, Esq., the
Lord of the Manor, and thanks to him for the use of
the hall," having been duly proposed from the chair, and as
duly quaffed in bumpers of Warrington ale—save end ex-
cept by some fifty of the workmen, who ranged themselves
under the teetotal barium, and confined themselves to plain
pop and soda water, the chairman proceeded to call the
attenfon of the company to the immediate business of the
day—the presentation of two cups to the Messrs. Stubs by
theic workmen.. He was happy to say that there was net
a man is their employ who had net contributed towards
the purchase of them—erch man had apparently sought to
outdo his fellow-workmen, and although they could not all
win the race, yet, certain it tsar; (as the cups testifies) they
had all reached the distance-pose —( Cheers%)
JOHN RIDGWAY, the secretary to the Committee formed
fur raising the funds to purchase ti.e cups, then read the
minutes o the different nreetiega held on the subject. The
cups were then presented by William Bound and Wil-
liam Howard, two of the oldest workmen. They were
precisely alike, except in the inscription, one bearing the
name of " William Stubs, • Esq.," and the other " Jo-
seph Stubs, Esq."—silver cups richly gilt inside and
out, covered by glass shades, and resting on rich crier-
son velvet cushions. , In. form they arc antique, with han-
dles and covers; they contain about three quarts each.
They are cost rad with a profusion of resells, scrolls, end
flowers, the family arms, an arm and battle axe, embossed
in high relief, stud presenting a very rich and massive
appearance, ieflecling great ci edit upon the taste and skill
of the manufacturers, Messrs. Henry Wilkinson and Co.,
of Sheffield. The weight of each cup is between 80 and
90 ounces. The shields bore the following inscriptions
Presented to William Stubs, Esq. ton tire other cup,
Joseph Stubs, Esq.), by Iris woreteers at Warrington and
Roaerliam, as a testimony of their esteem for his honour-
able conduct towards them as their employer, 1541."
The value of each cup is about sixty guineas.
Mr. J. RIDGWAY read tire fullov,ing address:—
" Gentlemen,—ln the presentation of thew our humble
memorials of gratitude and esteem, we have deviated ,
from the course usually adopted on such occasion's, by
taking into our own hands what generally belongs to the
province of the chair.. By so doing we do not, however,
wish it to he supposed that we are unnecessarily infring-
ing its prerogati% es, neither do we presume tss cherish the
idea of being, able to acquit ourselves in a more satisf,,e- •
tory manner than our respected chairman would, were
he placed in our situation. The object we have endea-
voured to attain has been to delegate this high honour to
workmen who have been the longest under your employ,
and
,who have consequently had more opportunitiei cf
marking the profound judgment displayed by you towards
the aggrandisement of this concern, and the welfare of
those employed therein, and we are happy to congratulate
you on the success which 'has attended your effarts. We
also have chosen as our deputies on this occasion men
who have been in this 'establishment when it did not give
employment to a sixth part of the number of hands
who now earn their daily bread within its work-
shops; who were servants of your much•respeeted father,
and whose steps in the determoratioa to manufecture su-
perior articles of workmanship they are pseud to bear
testimony you have strictly followed, and to which we
think may be ascribed, in a great measure, the respect
which is every where entertained for your honourable
firm. With regard to the question of your meriting such
a token of our esteem, there can be but one opinion. 'No
masters give more liberal wages to those they employ ,
no masters strive to make their servants mere comfort-
able and happy ; and no masters are better deserving of
their workmen's esteem than you Need there, then, be
any surprise that we should thus seize an opportunity of
evincing our attachment to such liberal-minde I employers?
Certainly not. Ye e rather should we net conduct our-
selves in such a manner as to merit, in some degree, such
unusual advantages? Should we net, by following your
example, strive to make our fasnilles as comfortable 'am!
happy as you des:re to make us? Should we not endea-
vour to raise eurselves in society, by embracing those op-
portunities afforded by our good old town, for tee improve •
anent of ourselves and the education of our children? Arid
among those who are foremost in strenuously promoting
the means for attaining such desirable objects, we ever
find the Messrs. •WilliaM Mid Joseph Stubs. We also think
it
.not inappropriate to remark, that upwards of twenty
I years have elapsed since the management of this este-
' blishment came into your hands. During that period
there have.been rnsny fluctuations in trade ; but in no
one instance, not even in the heaviest depression, have
we had cause to compb.in of your conduct towards us-
You have not, as would have been the else with many
manufacturers, discharged your servants, to gO and seek
for work which they have been unaccustomed to, and not
being successful in obtaining other employment, to become
chargeable to their parish. No ! these alternatives you
have never made use of, but have left them to be ens-
, ployed by those narrow-minded manufacturers who wit'
employ all they can meet with when trade is flourishing,
and even take on numbers of apprentices to be discharged
on the least appearance of gloom, with the unwelcome fare-
well of a chance of employment at the return of trade 1
who use their men as mere machines, to he taken
on or turned away as suits their own caprice or interest
in short, who do not consider the labourer worthy of his
hire. Would- that these unjust practices %tete discos-
'
tinued amonst manu'acturers, and that there were
more
following your. laudable example; that we could finmdae
' better understanding exist between masters and men;
and that they were not looked upon with such an air of
inferiority as they are by some ! If these things were
im-
partially weighed by those who hold such opinions they
would be compelled to admit that great merit is due to
the working classes of Great Britain, in perforMing their
share towards placing her in that position of superiority
she now holds over all other countries, and also that tacir
co-operation will be required in maintaining the same.
To you then, Mr. William Stubs, and to you, Mr. Joseph
Stubs, we beg to present these cups as an humble yet
earnest acknowledgment of • those favours which have
been so unsparingly bestoeed upon us at your hands, and
we know that although, their value is trifling, yet we
trust that they will be received with those feelings which
have prompted their bestowment. We are proud to be
foremost in such an undertaking, and hope that our ex-
ample will be followed by. other workmen, and that it
sill stimulate other masters to use that conduct towards
them which has always been displayed by you, and which
they will find to their mutual interest:' May you, Sir,
(addressing Mr. William) long live to fulfil those duties
which have been imposed upon you in. your • magisterial
capacity since your retirement front the active duties of
this establishment, and which you have hitherto per-
formed with so much credit. May you, Sir (addressing Mr.
Joseph), long continue to have the management which
has necessarily devolved wholly upon you from your
brother's retirement. May those who have the good for-
tune to succeed you in the same follow the steps which
have been so. successfully marked out by you; in the
doing of which we trust they, will find in us and our
children men who writ further their interests, and main-
tain that superiority -which we have attuned in point of
workmanship. May the Almighty disposer cf events pour
down his blessing on you,- your. families, and ourselves„'
and may he grant to us all that which is most acceptable
to the generality of mankind—wgood long life. And may
he grant thet•when we ale gathered to the dust him
whence we came, this day's proceedings may be' handed
down to posterity, as aim incentive to their industry,an in-
ducement forlheir good behaviour, and an exampleworthy their imitation." well
-The CHAIRMAN proposed the health of .111 r. -William

• -
Stubs, which was drunk with musical honours aed th 3
most enthusiastic applause. .
Mr. WILLIAM STUBS, in returning thatiki, said he fserre'd
that on the present occasion his feelings were too retch'
excited to permit of acknowledging, in adequate terns
bow highly he felt the compliment they had paid him by,
the manner in which they had drank his health; still less-,
for the testimonial of respect they had presented to him,,
and, less than that, for those marks of respect and admira-
tion of his conduct which they had been pleased to express.
towards him in the address just read. 13e could only
assure them that the thirty-five veers he had been a fel-
low-labourer with them, it had ever been his :Mehl, to pre-
mote and extend the comforts of eveey one connected
in any way with the . works. position at the head.
'of the establishment bad not been without its me milts
of care and anxiety. It was necessary that dtriet
discipline should be at all times observed ; and
connection was not like one casually formed
a short time only—it was one that had been cou,
tinued for a series of years : they had to meet each
other almost daily, and though he and brother
(Mr. Joseph Stubs) might have succeeded in cateblish-
iug the observance of strict discipline, and in their
wisdom and discretion conveyed many comforts to
their homes, yet their vigilance must have rendered
their conduct open to the charge of c: price. It was
therefore a compliment highly to be aoprcciated to
find them now corning forward and sayieg that their
conduct had merited their approbation. The cues
which had that day been presented, to them would bre
handed down to posterity, and he should take care,' by a
testamentary disposition, that they should hereafter be con-
sidered as objects which he most prized. Nothing coal
be a greater honour than such a compliment bestowed by
workmen upon any master. He could assure them that, ha
reality, this was one of the proudest moments of his life.
Time, during their connection together, had fled rapidly,
and this day was not without its reflections. He could not
pass over the events of the last twenty years without ask-
ing himself whether he had deserved this testimonial
of respect which he had that day received at their
hands ? To them he left the verdict ; fie' would not
trust to his own sense of justice in the matter. - One:
thing, howevem• the events of the dery had brought:
to his mind. In his travels on the Continent, when
at Naples, he had seen a representaion of tire
twenty-six virtues ascribed to some celebrated in.
dividudo He believed the address just presented to
him and hie trether did not go quite to the length
of giving them credit for such a number' of virtues,.
but they had drawn such a beautiful picture that it would
:be hard
~passible to reeognise the patty who sat.forhthe
likenaa. ilatii;ei, There was en odd virtue which the ad-
dress did not give them credit fen It was this, they had
been the first men in their branch of manufacture who had
had the sagacity to discover that in exact propertiou to the
intelli,genee of the people they employed, so was their suc-
cess. He was proud to say that no body of workmen were
to he found possessing or displaying a greater degree of in-
telligence than these he was addressing. There was no
flattery there. Tire address itself, and the resolutions ac-
companying it, proved the truth of the assertion. It heat
always been his study to increase, by every means in his,
power, the intellectual stores of their worhpeople. In taking'
apprentices they all knew that the preference was given to
more who bed the advantage of a good education. Odium
was cast upon him for so doing. It had been said that edu-
cation was the means of making workmen socially and
politicolly discontented with their state; that it was the'
cause of differsnm strikes, formed by workmen against
their employers; but after a trial of more than twenty
yea s, the reverse had proved the case. There was
not a single instance of a strike, or the display of a
feeling of discontent, is the whole of their establish-
ment. His fleet public efforts had Leon directed to
the extension of the • Warrington grammar school, so
as to make it available to the public at large. Find-
ing that impossible, he next tried what could be done
whit a mechanics' institution, and that had succeeded
beyond their most sanguine expectations. What had
been the result? Were they discontented with their
condition ?—(Cries of " No, nee") Were they die-
' posed to did fault with those placed over them in a
political point of view ? No, they were not. In con-
clusion, he (Mr. Stubs) said he perfectly agreed v.ith
them in the sentiment expressed in their resolution,
viz , " that one principal means of this country maintaining
the superiority she had acquired over all other netious was
found to exist in a good underst inding between the em-
ployer and the employed." The cup presented to him was
a mere matter cf gold ; but that sentiment was one worthy
to be inscribed in letters of gold. God heel prospered
his efforts, and it was slow no longer necessary for him to
coefiee himself to the seine!' empropeent of personal ag-
grandirement. Ile had higherand more imporiaut duties
to perform. As a ;Magistrate, he had to look to the wel-
fare of the community by whom he was surrounded. He
.had now only one word to add, that was—he heartily
thanked then.—(Great applause.) •
Ile CHAIRMAN afterwards proposed the health of Mr.
Joseph Stubs, which was drank with that same display of
enthusiasm ea was evinced on the announcement o: The
preceding toast.
Mr. JOSEPH STUBS said, there was gloat truth ire
the old proverb, that it was a happy thing for a man
to have father born before hint. When he cameo into
the concern he felt the importance of it. He found
'that - hishldher's mcdc of conducting the business had
got a "good name,'" to that his brother bad added,.
and there remained but little for hint to do further
then to maintain that good name they had so justly
acquired. He had atways studied to make himself
tailed to the establishment, and hoped he could with-
out vanity arid with truth say, he loud on all occasions
dorm his, beet to promote, the interests of every man in
their-employe- He perfectly--agreed with every eenti-
tdent uttered by his brother (Mr. William Stubs), and,
heartily thanked them for the kind testirnoatal uf sip-
probation presented to him that day. fro 'return, he
Iha i only to drink to all their good he tithe, acid to assure
them the, so lorg as he lived, lie should strive to promote
their interests, their comfort, and their wishes to the best
of his ability.—(Cheers.)
Mr. Join,/ LIT'roN proposed the health of " Mrs. Wil-
liam Stubs and-family," and Mr. JuSEPH !Amer the
health of " Mrs. Joseph Stubs." The toasts havieg been
nesponded to, , ,
Mr. Wsi Simus proposed the health of " Mr. Keke-
•wick, the Managsr of the Rotherham Works."
The healths of the Chairman, Mr. James Nieman. jun.,
Mr. William Masson, Mr. Howard, and other persons corm
nected with the works, Were ether-wards drank,
Suce'_'ss to the Lancashire file and tool trade—The Lords
Commissioners of the Admiralty and the other patrons of
the Stubs's files—The town and trade of Warrington—Tbe
Lar.cashhe witches—and other toasts, enlivened by the in-
trude:mho:l of a number cf glees admirably sung, parsed the
time merrily cri, until the approach of midreg it warned
the company to ret:re.