The Sun.
London, England, 1841-10-22 00:00:00

DISTRESS IN THE MAN ur.tc-
TURING DISTRICTS.
The effects of the Duke of Wellington and Sir 11 obert
Peel's policy, in disr „„ d'
tions of tethetanatsatfpruiflaiceitiuirelniiipgultahtieonsu, sufferings and anprdoitpuricis-nag-
the very
have been expected. !During
to assemble for the purpose
the prospects of a new might
consideringry,
the wretched
and a Parliament about
and ruined condition of our industrious of
esr:.nr artisans,uraed lenithoughb e
few sales were going on, and sil
mulatinn., still the manufacturers AMU-.
spirit thlt trade would soon improve, an
better times, their workmen,trtetis(i
hwrere
manytt ldnis. the. hopes of
kept longer .employed than. otherwise 'e
been. By the reckless policy of Sir IltoYbev:t"e,ed the..ve
Duke, their hOpes are now, however, blestorl.. in
place of speculating in the production of new goads, to
be exchanged for the corn our people are Starving' for the
want f, with no prospect of even the consideratiOe much
less the relief, of their trade on the part of the L'egiala-
tiire for some -months •to 'come, the manufacturers in
many of the districts have now, no, alternative left them
but to discharge their workmen, and in numerous cases
to half break up their establishments That they play
save themselves from certain ruin.
From the best information we can obtain, this state of'
things.appears tube pretty much the case in all the ma-
nufacturing districts. The spring trade was a total
failure, and the fall trade has been no better, therefore
in too many of the towns, both of England and Scotland,
existence from public subscriptions, ,or from the
noor-rates, seems the only mode left for preserving. the
of the inhabitants during the .ensuing months of
white,: At a sample of,the condition of our industrious
manufact...'ring population, and as a proof of the correct-
ness f thku, remarks, we eopy from the Morning Chro-
nicleletter descriptive of the wretched
condittihoen foof•et,l '''t
'ln?,:enious am: industrious population
of Paisley. The letter, .it will be obserred, has been
addressed by a minister of that town, to .a respectable
deputation, sent up cn the part of the local' Magistracy
to lay the condition of that part of the comitry before
the members of her Majesty's Government ;-. and front
the harrowing description of human suffering
.which it
adduces, we do hope the condition of that po.tiion of
the community who contribute so xaaterially to the
wealth and importance of the country, will receive more
thoughtful and humane consideration at the hands of Sir
Robert Peel's Governnient now, than it was their fate to
obtain before the late prorogation of Parliament ;--
" TO THE MEMBERS OF THE PAISLEY DEPUTATION TO
LONDON Poll THE UNEMPLOYED.
lientlemet,—ln discharging the duties of your mis-
sion to London, you will of course be expected to give,
particular statements as to the distress existing in our
town. You have already sufficient information on that
point to form the ground for a strong plea of .;ympathy,
which I know you will effectually make in proper
quarters. The numbers of the umnDployed grid their
destitution present a scene on which no humane person
can look without keen and painful feeling. We have not,
however, anything like a fair view of the actual distress
when we look at those receiving assistance from our
poor-relief fund. Thereis a large portion of our opera-
tives, and I hesitate not to say the best portion, that have
never yet applied for any relief, but who have been
suffering to an almost incredible amount. They have
been disposing of furniture, body clothes, and bed clothes,.
in order to keep themselves and families in life, until
at length their houses are so spoiled that they have
scarcely one article of comfort left. Their resources are
now dried up ; they cannot get employment ; many of
them have only a single meal a day, and that meal a few
potatoes and salt; they are sinking amidst the hardships
of poverty; spirits once honourably independent are now
being crushed ; the horrors of staiiiitiOnlor themselves

anti -their already famishing little ones are rising' fear-
fully before them, and the coming winter seems ciaai-ged
with evils fir theM which I do not see hew they are
able to endure,
" yesterday forenoon a decent-looking young married
woman, very thinly clad, and without stockings and
shoes, called at our door seeking relief. She had her
arms a young infant, a few months old, and apparently
dying. My attention was attracted to her, in conse-
.quence, of hearing Mrs. Cairns express surprise that a
child in such a diseased state should be. brought out
in such a cold and wet morning, and especially es it was
almost naked. The poor mother, whose pale and ema-
ciated features at once announced her privation of com-
forts, said it was altogether a matter of necesaity. She
'stated that she had another child ; that bet- husband had
work at present; but that for a considerable tini he had
not half employment ; that the proceeds of his labour
were so small that they were' in a starving state, while,
because he has work, he cannot get assistance from the
relief fund ; that unknown to him she had tal:en the
infant in her arms, and made a hasty call on a few _canii-
lies, in the hope that she might perhaps get sometiring
to procure medicine and clothing for her child.
" I took a note of her residence, and in the afternoon&
went with a friend to ascertain the facts of the case..
I did not only find her statement true, but that their
poverty is actually greater than she had intimated.
Their dwelling consists of ono small, dingy, damp apart-
ment, on a ground floor, which many would not con-
sider a sufficient kennel for their dogs. There is a bed-
stead in the room belonging to the landlord. but no bed
on it ; only a little straw laid out on the boards, on which
the family lie down at night, without either blanket or
coverlet. We saw 'no other furniture in the yoom, ex-
celst an old chair, a small deal table, and a little box,
with some straw in it, as a substitute fora cradle. The
husband, who was at home when we called, assured us
that their poverty is not the result of dissipation, but of
a succession of periods of commercial distress, each leay.
in the operative poorer, and worse prepared for the
next :season of suffering. Bis wages have not averaged
above Ss. Gd. a week for the last twelvemonths. •We in-
quired as to their ordinary food, and were told that they
generally subsisted on potatoes, but that frequently they
could not procure even that diet.
" After leaving this house, we went to visit another
family reported to be in great distress. We found a
woman and three children occupying a small garret
room. There was not a particle of furniture, except one
little stool, and the frame of an old folding-up bed.
which was laid uselessly in a corner of the room. Oa
a few fags, as a substitute for a bed, an infarrx, ten or
eleven weeks old, was sleeping, and that, we ware told,
was the only dormitory for the household. The haisband
had absconded from his family about ten months ago ;
and as the mother, who was wont to sew for a. ware-
houie in town, cannot get employment of any descliption,
she and her little ones are in a state of great destitution.
" These are only samples of numerous cases that. might
be noticed. Our town is in a most deplorable state.
Society is breaking up amongst us ; and unless some im-
provement speedily take place, dreadful results may be
anticipated. I trust the friends among whom you go,
seeking .assistance for our suffering towasnu m, will
readily and liberally respond to your request ; and at
once enjoy the luxury of doing good, and diffuse comfort
through many a suilipring family. lam aware that you
have a strong case in the statistics with which yOu have
been furnished. I know also that you have numerous
and painful details of suffering to give. But it occurred
to me that I might inform you of what had come under
my own observation yesterday ; and if it contribute in
any way to further the benevolent labours in which you
are eng,aged, the time spent in writing out the preceding
sentences shall not have been occupied in vain.
" I am sincerely yours,
ROBERT CAIRNS.
" Paisley, October 15, 1841."

ROBHOUSE AM) CO.'S BANK.,

RUPTCY.

The first meeting of the creditors under this bank-
ruptcy was held on Monday, at tho White Hart. The
Commissioners were J. Gunning, W. Reed, F.
Dowdinz, and S. Batellellor, Esqs. The large room,
in which the meeting was held, was crowded with cre-
ditors and others interested in the affairs of the Bank,
amongst whom were many ladies. The business was
opened by the Commissioners taking affidavits for proof
of debts.
The amount of debts proved yesterday (Wednesday)
was 27,8851. 72. 9 d., so that the whole amount proved in
ttlhtit:ltihardeitot
adranyesdiusntitirt h 8
,65i6/. 17s. 3d. The meeting was
Both Clovnick. • (Thursday) morning at 10.-'L-

WOOLW.IC H—NVEDNIi SDA Y.
NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.
The Siren, 16 gun brig, launched this season at the
Woolwich dockyard, and commissioned by Captain
William Smith (b), was taken out of the basin yesterds,2
and, it is mid, will leave in a few days for C Pi!
hi
at
number of other vessels preparing with all expeditiona im-
chin
Portsmouth are expected to be ordered to
inediattly.
The Geyser steam vessel,
trial, and will
by Messrs. Seaward and Co., ie ready for -55.
leave Liruehouse in a few clays for Sheernehe
service, a
to enter t
In order to encourage seamen
the vessels recently
great number being required to man
1 measures have
commissioned, several very
eteinr just
en.ords of the etdmi-
been introduced by the present •
highly appreciated
Iratty, which cannot fail to he fitted with her niachine7
—e, such it.,
inensures, adopted in the artseugran
ting only 6d. a day
a the late pension wary
returning to the old system, her
raw 25years- service,
by our brave sailors. Were the same
e-
tobre roetsi
andltter men, and be better served.
Majesty would .have .
erable prospect. held out at pre-
than with only the
'fnilsier forces. It Is to be hoped the
sent to that branefr 1;43
wn
by the heads of the naval de-
partmentfollowing extanl4!' she followed by equally encouraging
will soon
measures to the army"uissioners of the Admiralty have been
The Lards C IF
•°n 'the regulations which prevented pen-
pleased to resell' • pensions when sowing '
Ting their ng in the
'loners from receiving
a all pensioners will in future, if
,fit for
Roy.til IC,avfil ed to receive their pensions in addition
service? oe 4. OW
to their PAY.
As a further proof of consideration for the comfort of
the men employed in her Majesty's serviev, it is worthy
of being recorded that the Lards Commissioners
of the
Admiralty have directed, that in the case of any soldiers
who may be temperance men being embarked on board
her Majesty's ships, or troop-ships, or in transport or
freight-ships, such non-commissioned officers and pri-
vates shall be allowed double rations of sugar,
cocoa, and
tea, for each ration of spirits stopped. This is a boon
which will be bailed with the greatest satisfaction and
will be attended v.-ith the most beneficial results. '
01NM.M..........1•••••.....111

GREAT NORTH OF ENGLAND RAILWAY.
Traffic returns for the week ending Oct. 18, 1841:
Passengers ........................... £1,042 4 3
Merchendtze

Darlington, Oct. 20.

1,451 7 1
D. O'BRIEN, Secretary.

Tuz GALE AT LIVERPOOL,The storm On
Sunday night was severely felt in Liverpool. The piers
were overflowed, and the cellars of houses near the river
filled with water. The streets were covered with chint-
nev-pots and tiles. No damage ie mentioned as haring
been done to the shipping.