The Sun.
London, England, 1823-07-03 00:00:00

SPITALFI ELDS WEA VERS.

Tuesday night some propositions were made to
the Committee of Journeymen Weavers from the Lords' Com..
mittee, respecting the Bill now pending in Parliament, with a
request that an answer might be given fmtante.r. The weavers
not considering they had such power, instantly issued notice
for their fellow-workmen to assemble at the Three Colts, Beth-
nal-green, and by six o'clock yesterday morning upwards or
10,000 met, for the purpose of taking the propositions into con-
sideration. A temporary platform was erected in the centre
of the Bowling-green, for the accommodation of the Com-
mittee, and Mr. BENSON was called to the Chair. He briefly
stated the reasons for calling them together at so early an hour,
and after a few prefatory observations, read the following pro-
posals, as sent from the Lords' Committee:-
1. Information of offences or actions for penalties to be
brought within three months.
2. The restraint on the employment of capital to be done
away beyond the extent of the present Act.
3. All the figured and fancy branches of the trade to be ex,
empt from the operation of the Acts.
4. The Acts to remain in force for plain pork made within
the district of the Acts for seven years.
5. The Penal Clause, as to two apprentices, is to be repeal.
cd ; but not in so far as extends to apprentices in weaving.
On the first Resolution being put, it was approved unani.
mously.
To the second, the following Amendment was moved and
carried :

" The Alasters may extend their capital to any part of the
country, provided it is not within 70 miles of London, or the
present limits, viz. Middlesex, Westminster, and the Tower
amlets."

To the third, the amendment was—" The Journeymen are
willing to meet the Masters, and make such alterations in

•
prices; according to the order of Sessions, as may seem just
and necessary.'
The fourth was rejected, the fifth was approved unanimously.
The CH AMMAN then addressed the M feting, and informed
them the Committee were to return their answer to the Prop.
sitions of the Lords by twelve o'clock yesterday. The Meet.
ing unanimously agreed to accompany the Committee.
Yesterday, at twelve o'clock, Palace-yard, and the avenues
to the House of Lords, were crowded with weavers, all dt,.
cently attired, and conducting themselves with the greatest
propriety. The Committee of the House assembled br the old
House of Lords about half an hour afterwards, .and Counsel
immediately laid before them the amended propositions, as
adopted by the journeymen yesterday morning. Several of
master weavers were also present. It was stated by Counsel,
that the proposal to the journeymen had been made, by direc-
tion of their Lordships, after receiving the sanction of the roas-
ters, who were anxious to conciliate. -Their Lordships having
shortly conferred, came to the decision, that they could not en-
tertain the resolutions as amended by the journeymen, and
desired that the case might proceed. When this informatioa
was communicated to the assembled multitude on the outside
of the House, the disappointment was apparently severe; but
not the slightest symptom of disorder was manifested even ita
any single instance.

On Saturday se'nnight, as the fishermen he-
longing to the salmon fishery, at St. Andrew's, were returning
from adjusting their nets, one of them picked up from a hole or
cavity in the sand what he supposed to be a piece of a
broken spar, and carried it to the salmon house.
Mitchell, one of the proprietors of the fishery, and ano-
ther Gentleman, happening to be present at the time,
upon looking at it, were struck with its uncommon appearance,
and the fishermen willingly ceded it at the request of the Bailie,
in whose hands it now remains, It was immediately brought iu
St. Andrew's, and after being properly washed and sub-
mitted to minute inspection, has been ascertained to be a
petrifaction,. or rather, an incrustation; of a musket or match-
' lock into a solid mass. Notwithstanding the adheaien and in-
corporation of various kinds of shells anti other ma-rine, tint:-
stances, which render it a great natural curiosity; the stock, bar.
rel, and ramrod, can be distinctly traced from the muzzle dowt.:*
wards, with the keepers arid pins that attach them together
and although the butt end is not so entire, having bec!A
either broken or wasted; from the great length of time it nieA:
have lain embedded in the sand, the length of the piece mei,.
sures feet, and the weight nalb,--( Rdintnirgh Couruilt
Jane 30.)
. .

On 'Saturday se*lmight, about twilight, art
officer of dragoons, for a wager, deliberately rode his
down the east tide of the Mound, kltlinbargh, at the south
end, and arrived in safety at the bottom of it. The perftwinstice
was witnessed with astonishment by those who were aecidentaliv
.
present.
ALARMING FIRE.--,On Saturday evening, Omit
eight o'clock, an alarming fire broke out in the brass-foliar:
of Mr. MILNE, at the foot of Chalmers's Close, in the Higt•:-
street. The engines were speedily at the spot, but so
rapid was the progress of the destructive element, that,
in less titan half an hour after the fire was discovered, the
whole of the extensive foundry was literally a body of fire.—
About nine o'clock the roof of the building fell in with
a tremendous crash, and the blue of the burning at this time
seemed awful. By the exertions of the firemen and a large
hotly of the police, the flames were prevented from cornmum-
eating with the adjoining buildings, which were also threatened
with destruction, and from which the consequences might have
been still more deplorable, as there is a wood yard, a spirit shop,
die. contiguous to the devastated premises. The firemen were
busily employed in subduing the flames till a late hour yeste:..
day morning. It is not ascertained how the fireoriginateti, the
workmen haying left the foundry at six o'clock; but, we err
happy to add, that the premises were partly insured.--/
buret Courant, June 30.)
Yesterday morning, as Driver's Blackheath,
Greenwich, and Deptford coach was passing
along Toothy-street, in the Borough (the car-
riage-way in Iligh-street being under repair),
when near 'the Maze, the off' fore-wheel came oft,
in consequence of the linch-pin slipping out, and
the coach overturned ; a fine young woman Who
sat on the box with the coachman, with an ipfant
in her arms, was thrionwtti;eupeciiidnetiLhveouptit. vteomseanytwtittitet
child,gre
e.,
ea fell upon
nnd
nu itbe
ontehc ews sear; sot: tsaekrei o u slythermjur
tea
St. Thomas's hospital immediately ; the coach-
man Avs also much:. hurt. Nome of the other
passeugoes received. any material injury,

T 1 LONDON JOURNALS.

DA 1 IN

Extracts front the Morning P(Ters, July 3.

i-MOR NINO POST.]
The• Budget Statement of the Chancellor of
the Exchequer last night will be read with inte-
rest by every one. It is rich, not in promise but
in performance. We are not told that we shall
have tt.Sinking Fund of from five to six millions,
but that we have got it. instead of hearing that
the public debt is to be reduced, the future tense
is diScarded, ;and we now learn the gratifying
fact that within the last six months a positive re-
&Talon of debt has taken place to the amount of
no 1p” 'thati 3,ooo,ooo!—While,thiS has,been ef-
fected, it will be remembered taxation has
been largely reduced. Coupled with that,
active the gratifying fact, that the
venue has so improved, that the remitted taxes
are not wanted ; and the Chancellor of the
Exchequer expressed an opinion which few Mi-
nisters in his situation ever ventured to utter,
namely, that the very reinission of taxes—the
relief afforded to the people, if not pressed too
rashly, would furnish the means of extending
the operation of that principle on which it is de'-'
sired that our finances shall be regulated.—
Having at the opening of the present Session
taken 4 general view of the' finances of the coup-,
try in the current year, as compared With tire
last • the Right Hon. Gentleman thought it un-
necessary ininutely to recapitulate. He accord-
ingly did not go through the usual comparison,
but the l'aper, presenting it at one view to the
exe, fernish a general outline of the state-
ment he was enabled to make.—(See. (mother
column qf itt: Su NO

[T.1111.1 TIM ES.I,
•
The following intelligence from Spain is of a
later date than that furnished by our immediate
correSpOtident : 'comes, hOWever, from' 'a source
so respectable, that we think it our duty to lay,
it before the public :—Sir Robert Wilson was at
Vigo ten days since, in good spirits, and confi-
dent of :eventual success to the Spanish cause;
Galicia is likely to ,be defended. It is .
country abounding in- strong military posi-
tions, and -peculiarly well adapted, therefore,
to, that description of warfare -in whiCh the
Spaniards have generally most eminently dis=
tinguisbed themselves. A militia is organiz,
ing rapidly 'in Galicia, which will amount; it
is expected, to 10,000 men ; and "it, is- upon
that accumulating force that the Spaniards are
generally retreating. Sit. Hobert Wilson proceeds
in the levy which he has undertaken, and can
find soldiers, we hear, much faster than lie can
get muskets to arm them with. Much reliance
is place(( upon supplies of money from England ;
and the. Spaniards only regret the want of such a
British force as would have proved a rallying
point to the people in CaseS of temporary eNi-
gircy, Bollasteros is said to be likely to do well.
Ile has 1%000 men with him—yoUng soldiers,
tome of them ; -but armed and determined.
Guerilla parties are rapidly fonning.in
The bodies generally consist of about fifty men
each, and more than 30 snch parties were estab-
lished at the, dale of our information. The course
on the part of the Spaniards must necessarily be
confined to a rptrenthq and irregular warfare;
bat this is . a mode of defence, which, from
experience, the French have cause to dread.—
We feel great pleasure in stating, that the spirit
of the people in that quarter remains, under every
circumstance, vigorous and unabated; The force
of money on the par( of the French, and the
utter destitution of it on the part of the Spaniards,
can scarcely fail to throw the balance, at the
outset, in favour of the fanner ; but supposing
France even to gain full possession of Spain, and.
we doubt whether her arms and money together
will carry her'so far-suppesing Franee, we say,
to gain full possession of the Spanish territory,
she will then find, as she has found before, the
impossibility cif keeping possession of it.

[BRITISH PRESS.] .„
We are highly gratified to hear that the grand
fancy ball at Covent-Garden Theatre, on Friday
night, is sure to be most brilliantly and nu-
rnerously atteniled. The great and affecting
cause, in aid of which it has beef' projected, can-
not fail to attract a splendid assemblage in the
very lint circles. Chivalrous and romantic cou-
rage have always been dear to WOlllllll'S heart ;
both are now, oxerted by the gallant. Spaniards
in defence of all that can be prized by a nation,
and our fair countrywomen will not, we are sure,
when such a cause solicits their powerful patron-
age, be absent. The Courier, with a spirit worthy
of itself, has been making vilo attempts to ridicule
the ball : but. this,, venal and versatile print is
now little, indeed, attended to ; a few of the old
underlings of the Government Offices are its drily
present patrons. It is known to be paid for its
slanders, and could not, therefore, iutluence the
conduct of the rrsost worthless member of the go-
vernment circles. An infamous Sunday paper
hss beets also wiiiihg.-upon it, end trying, by its
menaces and falsehoods, to frighten respectable
femeles lovay. This abominable Publication only
exists on slander, and cccvers with its poisonous
slaver every thing corning within its reach. Moral•
assassination has long' been, its, trade, and the
murder of female reputation its infernal proles-
sion. The wretches who contribute to this paper
never yet spared tip eharacter of man, or the in-
nocence of, unprotected woman. They are assas-
sins whose trade is slander, and vituperation
their pursuit. They hire their pens as the
bravo does his dagger, at so many sequins for
the victim. A fellow who has purloined a
purse will seldom baulk the murderer of a reputa-
tion after, if it, increase his spoil ; destitute of all
character himself he. will endeavour to reduce
all others around him to the same level. Na-
tional freedom, like private. honour, is too
generous a,feelin to,find any place in the breast.
of such a recreant. He, has , no sympathy 'but
with vice/ and no solace but in seeing debase
went and degradation. as general as possible
about him. Ile, knows, that it would be Mollie.
tion to female lips to rep'eat: his name; he

therefore bates the sex with the same antipathy
that ever influences the slanderer towards those he
has injured and sought to destroy. The praise of
this paper would be the worst censure any measure,
public or private, could receive. Scorn and con-
tempt are the best returns that klan be made to
its falsehood._ The cause of liberty in Spain is
a just and holy one; it embraces every thing
dear to British feelings ; and the splendid fete
on Friday night will, we are assured, be fully
attended, and bring with it a• considerable acces-
sion to the interesting purpose for which it was
projected by its most rsspectaWe'and patriotic
authors.

[MORNING nEttALn.]
The accounts from Ireland are at this moment
looked to with some anxiety respecting the issue
of the Ist of July. We havo seen letters by the
last Irish Mail, from .which it appears that little or
no' apprehension prevailed in Dublin. The most
reputable even of the Orange Members of the
Corporation of that City, had not only aban-
doned the dressing of the statue, but used their
influence to prevent any ceremony. Under these
circumstances, it is likely that there will be no
attempt at any kind of celebration, or that it will
be so contemptible as not- to cause mischief.—
Other precautions have, we are informed, been
taken by the Government to prevent disorders
throughout the country. The Yeomanry have been
commanded not to parade in the usual manner on
this anniversary. Should the zealots of the
party still meet together, there will be less
danger from their being unarmed. It is through
the country that the public peace is most likely
to be disturbed. In Dublin there are means suf-
ficient to enforce order, and due precautions have
no doubt been taken. At the same time is
long since the two parties which divide and dis-
tract that unhappy country, have been so exas-
perated against each other. The idea of danger
to the State from the association called Itiband-
, men, is quite absurd. But the united opera-
' lion of illegal confederacies against law and
life and property, with religious and political
animosities, bid fair to produce the lament-
able effect of not only checking the natural
progress of civilization, but of throwing the
country back into a state of utter barbarism.
This effect is not a thing merely in apprehen-
sion. It has commenced already. It is true
that the commission of crime and outrage has re-
cently somewhat declined. 'But even this, if we
must credit some of the accounts from Ireland, is
more alarming than consoling. It is the silence
of a secret conspiracy, to break out on the first
of July ! The event will soon decide. But we
venture to anticipate that the prediction will be
falsified, and the alarm proved groundless.—
" Things cannot continue to go on in Ireland
in this way," is one of the tritest of all
trite remarks. It is, however,, true, and
though this truth seems to be felt, and though so
large a proportion of the time of Parliament, in,
this Session, has been devoted to the affairs of
Ireland, nothing has been done in the way of
effective amelioration---whilst the close of the
Irish Inquiry has proved the source of mischief.
t is to be regretted that Mr. Goulburn's Tithe
wo not introduced earlier in the Session—
or rather that the minds of the Irish and Anglish
Governments were not earlier made up. It would
appear that` the author, at least the mover of the
Bill, himself even had hardly' fixed in his mind
the provisions which he should consider essentia
to its operation as a measure of relief and trim,

[NEW TIMES.],
The speech of the young Emperor of Brazil
(the Prince Royal of Portugal) to the Repre-
sentatives of the Brazilian Nation, convened for
the first time in a Constituept awl Legislative
Assembly, is an important and interesting docu-
ment. It is remarkable that this young Prince
denounces the errors of the deinocrutical Consti-
tution of Portugal, a very short time previous
to its abolition by the people of Portugal
themselves---it is remarkable that at the present
moment the two great branches of the Porte-
goose Monarchy are separately employed, in the
two hemispheres, on the formalion of moderate
Constitutions—Constitutions which, to use the
judicious expressions of the young Monarch,
" may place insuperable barriers to Despotism,
either Royal, Aristocratical, or Democratical."--
Our sagacious Liberals in Europe never dream'
that there can be a Democratical Despotism till
they experience' it, like poor Sir Robert
Wilson, in their own persous.—Then, indeed,
they are ready enough to cry out against " a
frenzied populace".—then they find that the
majority of a nation may be very ignorant, very
violent, very unfit to be trusted with governing
themselves ; and then at last peeps out the whole
secret of a Demagogue—that he thinks himself
the only proper man to govern the world.—Such
was the opinion of that Prince of Charlatans
the late Monsieur Napoleon Buonaparte. 'We
have elsewhere exposed the sheer nonsense which
that worthy Gentlemau talked about religion.
and the ludicrous notions that he had of mar-
riage ; and we shall hereafter advert to some cu-
rious specimens of his shallow, confused, Wan-
'
derinA prattle on other important topics. Yet
this was the idol before whom " all the talents"
of England prostrated theniselves for ti ears in
servile adoration. They could pardon his des-
potism in France ; they could palliate his invasion
of Spain; and they could talk learnedly and long
on the madness of opposing his great schemes for
the happiness of mankind. They are more
enlightened now. They see that the mutineers
of 1820 were true lovers of liberty—that Mina
is a most humane burner of towns and mur-
derer of iirisoders—that the " gallant" Spanish
nation is unanimous in its enthusiasm for the
Constitution of Cadiz—that the grand military
plan for the defence of Spain is proceeding
triumphantly, to its consummation ; and that
nothing is wanting to its entire success, but
a Quadrille of Whig Ladies at Covent Garden
Theatre

Si foret in terris rideret Democritus.

However, let the merry Party show oil their
political wisdom in a dance ; end, above all,
let them not put it off beyond the pre-
sent week, for in all probability they will
next week hear that they have capered in

rain. Only a few, and those the most desperate
of the traitors who have deposed their King,
are believed to have got into Cadiz, the rest
have wisely run away on the road. The two
French Corps, those of Generals de Bourmont
and Bordesoult, 'after separately traversing
Estretnadura and. Andalusia, have met not far
from' Cadiz ; having first annihilated the Army
of li,opez Banos, and forced that ferocious
robber to disgorge two millions of reels, the
plunder which he had taken from his unhap-
py countrymen. We find, too, that those
brave French heroes, the friends of Mr.
Bowring, who went to Spain to raise the
tricolor flag, and make all their countrymen
desert, are returning to England re infecta.
Alas ! alas! the cause 'of treason is -in a bad
way ! We are sorry we have not room to insert
the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which appeared
in The Morning Chronicle yesterday, in the shape
of a letter from one of Sir Robert Wilson's
Aides-de-Canip. It is. a very doleful piece of
mirth and highly entertaining.