The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-08 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN SPITALFIELDS.

The Committee of Journeymen Silk-weavers, ap-
pointed to inquire into the state of the Spite!fields
trade, and the extent of the distress existing in that
dis-
trict,laid the result of their investigations before a
meeting, convened for that. purpose, on Saturday night
at the Crown and Anchor Tavern, Bethnal-green. The
following is the report :
The Committee bad visited thirty-six streets in Spi-
talfields, Bethnal-green, and Mile-end New-town. In
them were 784 families, comprising about 3,436 persons,
taking men, women, and children. There were 1,02.5
looms in work, and 658 out of work. There were 63
empty houses, lately occupied, in which on an average
were three looms each, which made 189 more looms
out of work ; which, added to the former, made a total
of 847 looms vacated. The Committee were told that
those looms which wars at work were only half em-
ployed.
From a general calculation, it is believed that
there are between 12,000 and 13,000 looms in the
district, halt of which are not in work, while the re-
maining half are working half time ; and as each loom
gre
employs three hands, the weaver, warper, and winder,
oau large
mp oritoi
yo am
eonft. eT
hp: Population is necessarily sung
the workhpouse, so that there areatbody object to go into
many rooms in which 1
two and three families are living together.

THE NIGER EXPEDITION.
(FURTHER PARTICULARS
1301ITSNOUTLI, MONDAY.—The Horatio transport,
s
Lieutenant Chapman, arrived here on Friday from
Helena and the Coast of Africa, and has brought iintnte'
some of the officers who have been invalided belonging to
the Niger expedition, and who had come down the river
in the Soudan steamer. The accounts they bring borne
are up to the Ist of' October, and are most deplorable.
(These we published yesterday )
The steamers make very slow progress in ascending
the river ; none of them are remarkable for their speed.
The current of the stream is about three miles and a half,
and the average speed of the steamers is six miles, conse-
quently their progress is not more than two miles and a half
per hour. The Albert was to proceed up the Niger, and the
Wilberforce up the Tchadda, while the Amelia schooner
was to remain at Mount Stirling, where the farm is to be
established, and where the tent lately used at the Eglinton
tournament has already been pitched. The natives were
very friendly ; at Eboe, a town containing 8,000 or.'
9,000 inhabitants, several of the officers went on shore,
the natives crowding to see them. At the Queen's
palace they were received by her sable Majesty, who I

THE SUN, LON

was squatted at the door surrounded by her ladies, the
principal of which were decorated sith heavy ivory
anklets, weighing fronireiglit to ten pounds each. They
seemed much pleased with the visit, and laughed immo-
derately, and in return for some little trinkets given by
the officers, her Majesty presented them with a fowl and
some Gooza nuts, the bestowal of which is considered
highly complimentary there. The King of Eboe went
on board the Wilberforce, accompanied by his son and
the interpreter, and others, his suite. A bottle of port
wine was placed before—him, which he did not pass round
to any of his attendants, but drank it all himself, and
then gave a broad hint, which, however, was not taken,
for some grog. The King of Attah was more dignified,
and upon the Commissioners waiting upon him he
told them he was perfectly aware that they were the sub-
jects of a Sovereign to whom they paid every respect,
and he should expect the'same respect paid to him. He
should not go on board,. because he considered he was
entitled to as much attention as their own Sovereign.
He said they might have the command of the water, but
he had the command of the land. He looked with per-
fect indifference on the elegant and valuable presents
of velvet robes trimmed with gold, but seemed much
taken with the spectacles worn by the chaplain, and gladly
accepted several pairs that were given him. He, as well
as the King of Eboe, entered most willingly into all the
arrangements of the Commissioners, and they both ex-
pressed their desire that their subjects should be in-
structed. He sold them_ the land at Mount Stirling,
where they intend to establish the settlement, which he
said was just within the extent of his dominions. The
officers belonging to the expedition who came home in
the Horatio are—Lieutenant Harston, Mr. Belem, master,
and Assistant Surgeon John Stirling, of the Soudan.