The Sun.
London, England, 1848-05-16 00:00:00

STATE OF TRADE.

FOREIGN WOOL TRADE, LEEDS, MAY 12.—There has
been no apparent alteration in this market, either as re-
gard sales or prices since our last week's report. We
expect, however, to- see more bu'ineis doing when the
present London sales are brought to a conclusion.
ENGLISH WOOL MARKET, LEEDS, MAY 12.—We have
not any change to report this week. Combing wools
remain dull sale; and the tendency of prices is down-
wards. There is rather more doing in middle qualities
of clothing sorts, at last week's rates.
TRADE OF LEEDS.—The markets at the cloth halls
have this week been about the same as last, but there
continues to be more goods delivered out of the halls.
and although the quantity of goods coming in from the
country makers has been larger than of late, the stocks
in their hands do not accumulate. Prices remain steady.
There continues be a moderate demand for goods for
the hesne market, and the foreign houses are now doing
more than they have been doing of late. On the whole
the tone of trade is improving.
TRADE OF MANCHESTER, THURSDAY EVENING.—
The favourable appearances that showed themselves last
week have disappeared, and that altogether, and prices
obtained a week ago are not now obtainable for either
goods or yarns, both of which are now selling on lower
terms than ever before known, and which, if continued,
must be ruinous. This retrograde movement may, how-
ever, be safely attributed to the very unexpected news
relative to the blockade of the Elbe and other rivers, and
which it is thought will not be long continued, as in any
event, a few weeks arrangements will no doubt be made
for sending by another route. At present, however, all
German trade is at a stand—even bales at the carriers
as well as those at Hull, have been stopped from being
forwarded. The Americans are doing considerably, and
in rather valuable goods. The. Greek houses are gra-
dually resuming their former shipments. For India and
China a moderate but not a large business is doing. To
show the ruinous rates at which some spinners are selling
yarns, it :nay be stated that a large lot of yarn, 16 and
18 Nos., has been sold at 54d. per lb.
TRADE or NOTTINGNAM.—The cut-up cotton hose
trade in the town has retrograded a shade further, but
not to an extent to be much felt; this hes caused a dis-
pute to take place between a master atockinger who
employs a number of cut-up frames and the workmen,
who have struck, and to such heat is this carried, that a
paper war has commenced, both parties publishing
hand-bills. The drawer, pantaloon, and shirt branch
has also rather retrograded, and some few hands are
again without work. The silk glove branch continues
" pretty good," the hands in general having employ-
ment, and there are some few frames to let. Tee
wrought coiton hose, appear# gradually declining, but
without that intense distress we have witnessed in some
other parts of the manufacture. The bobbin-net trade,
it is more generally admitted, is a shade better, though
some of the German houses have become half atagnart.
We hear of more lace hands coming from the interior of
France, whilst a few others are returning to Calais by
solicitations of their former employers. The warp lace
trade throughout is in a most lamentable state, but is
improving in coarse strong articles, particularly in the
imitation knittings.
TRADE or LEICESTER.—There is more confidence in
our market, both for worsted and cotton goods, as far as
the home trade is concerned—the orders from America,
though comparatively small, yet being carefully given,
have put amass cheerful aspect on our-trade. ‘Vorsted!
yarns are still heavy of sale but little is doing in wools,
and prices are in ray* of the tstaplir.

THE CONritsrlo,ll., QF 'FAR
•
There is a is Essex; called • the Aveley Farmers'
tlub, composed of indivicuals • who have something
More in view than the protection of their own indivi-
dual interests, They have an eye to improving the con•
dition of the agricultural labourer. Heaven knows, be
is in a deplorable plight at present; and unless some-
thing be done fur him, instead of a hardy race of English
peasants, we shall soon have a puny, sickly people,
without a particle of iron in their composi-
tion, eat up with scrofula, and a prey to
all the diseases to which flesh is heir. What
do the Aveley farmers mean to do in order to
improve the condition of the labourer. The task is a
difficult one. In the first place, he has been reduced to
pauperism. The Squirearchy boasted that the peasantry
were paid, or should be paid, according to the market
price of corn. When the price ran down the scale,
down also fell wages; but when the price ran up, wages
did not follow. It was a hollow pretence to say that
men were paid wages agreeably with the price of
corn. By degrees, the poor hard-working clod-
hopper was robbed of his labour wages ; and then,
to complete his misery, the bastile was erected
by the instrumentality of the very same class of men, to
receive hiin and his family, after they had been made
paupers by their accursed system. A member of the
Aveley Club observed "There were three objects which
he considered especially calculated to claim the atten-
tion of the meeting, and of all those persona who, from
their circumstances or position, possessed ;the power of
promoting them. The first of these was the im-
portant benefit which would accrue to the labouring
man, if those farmers whose capital enabled them
to enlarge their business would, instead of extending
thei occupation, employ it in additional labour; fur, by
this means, they would materially reduce the poor-rates,
increase their profits, and add to the general production
of the country; for it by no means followed, as a matter
of course, that an increase in the number of acres compre-
hended an increase of business, since daily experience
would show that there is frequently as much labour
employed on some farms of two hundred acres
as on others of double the number. Another
means whereby the condition of the labourer might be
exceedingly improved, would be the providing for him a
comfortable cottage, with a garden attached to it. 'On
this subject,' said he, I can speak most feelingly and
from experience, having been in the habit of visiting as
many as 70 cottages in a day, and I am convinced that
nothing is more calculated to demoralize the labouring
classes, and render them unhealthy and uthappy, than the
Present crowded and miserable condition in which whole
families are frequently huddled together in one or two
small, badly-ventilated, and ill-lighted rooms, without re-
gard either to age or sex. The poor man is thus driven to
seek at the beer-shop that comfort or relief which he can-
not find at home; he is there exposed to the example of
men of bad character, loses his self-respect, becomes reck-
less of himself and indifferent to the welfare of his family,
and thus sinks below the moral standard which, under more
favourable circumstances, he would have sustained."
Well, the upshot of the meeting was this. Atter some
observations had been made on the subject of the
importance of educating the agricultural labourer,
the meeting came to the following sensible resolu-
tion:-" That this club deeply feels the necessity of im-
proving the moral and social condition et the agricultural
labourer, and strenuously urges on landlords the duty of
co-operating with their tenants in-1. Providing com-
fortable cottages and gardens. 2. Enlarging the field
of labour. 3. Extending the blessings of education."
If this resolution were worked out, and we see no reason
why it should not be, happiness would at once
be brought home to the hut of every labourer.
Whenever the allotment system has been introduced,
upon a favourable system, the labourer's condition has
been improved. In some cases, *here the grasping
landlord exacts an excessive rent from the poor devil,
his chances of success are less ; and we regret that, in a
few instances, where a cottier has brought waste land
into cultivation, it has been mercilessly wrested from him
by his bard-hearted landlord. There ought to be a fixity
of tenure, whereby a man might be enabled to see his way
clear. He ought not to be pounced upon at a moment
when he has rendered a desert a prolific source of cul-
ture, without being handsomely paid for the improve-
ments, and his toil and anxiety. We are satisfied that
the allotment system might be made to work to the ad-
vantage of the peasant. He might return to the " good
old time" when the labourer kept a pig and fowls, and, in
some instances, a cow—when he grew potatoes and other
vegetables more than sufficient for his own consump-
tion—when he could get a draught of beer after a hard
day's toil, and could buy himself coals instead of going
to the parish, and furnish his house with what he cannot
get at present—namely, coals and candles. We heartily
hope that many Aveley Clubs may start into existence,
in order to secure the labourer his rights. We perceive
that the directors of the South-Eastern Railway are
letting small allotments of land; and from what we have
already seen on the line, we are induced to augur
the most favourable results. The plan begets a spirit
of rivalry ; industry is encouraged, and, ere long, thou-
sands of acres of land, now lying waste, we hope may be
placed under cultivation. A few hundred cottages,
erected between the stations, would afford great accom-
modation to labourers, while they would be remunera-
tive to the company, and, in cases of accident, assistance
might always be secured. But it is the landed gentry
must begin the work.— Weekly Dispatch.

,M LA-

EXPORTATION OF BREEDING STOCK.-011 Satur-
day last ten bulls, with twelve heifers of the pure short-
horn class, six rams, four ewes, two gimmers, two sows,
and a fine sporting dog, all of the finest breed, were
shipped on board the steam-ship Gazelle, Captain Main,
for Antwerp. The whole of the above have been selected
by the agents of Messrs. Von Vulsen and Co., of Brus-
sels, from the stocks of the most eminent breeders in
Durham.—Hull Packit.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.
ROUSE OF LORDS, May 15.
The LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat on the Woo'
sack at Five o'clock.

Lord EDDISBURY (lato Mr. E. J. Stanley) took the
oaths and his seat.

PARLIAMENTARY PROCEEDINGS BILL.
Lord STANLEY moved the second reading of this
Bill. After the kindness with which their Lordships
had listened tr him, when he brought in the Bill, he
would not detain them by any further observations.
Lord CAMPBELL did not rise to oppose the second
reading of the Bill, although he doubted whether the
measure proposed by the Noble Lord would provide a
remedy for the evil of which he complained. The pro-
visions of the Bill, however, were worthy of the most
attentive consideration, for.they went to change the whole
constitution of Parliament. The Noble Lord proceeded
upon the supposition that it was necessary that every
Bill should be read three times in each House. Such,
however, was not the case. It was not the law—it was
merely an order of each House, which it was perfectly
competent for either House, so far as regarded its own
procoodinfik so necked by Fesolutioa. The position
of theakii rentwould sitandid with Es*wil Pm'

tical inconveniences. Suppose the House ,of Commons
should agree to repeal an obnoxious tax, and should send
the Bill up to their Lordships' House ; .if the Bill of the
Noble Lord were to become law, it would be per!ectly
competent to their Lordships to read the Bill a
first and second time, and then, without rejecting
it, to detain it in their Lordships' House for twelve
months, and thus virtually continue a tax which
the House of Commons had determined to abandon. It
should be borne in mind, too, that the circumstances
under which one branch of the Legislature had thought
it expedient to pass a particular measure might have
altered, and rendered it quite inexpedient to carry the
measure further. Their Lordships would do well to
pause before they agree d to a measure the consequences
of which would be difficult to foresee ; and he much
doubted whether it would not be expedient to look for
another remedy for the inconveniences which the Noble
Lord's Bill aimed at removing.
Lord REDESDALE felt it his duty to express his
opinion most strongly against the measure. The system
contemplated by the Bill would be found quite inopera-
tive in times of political excitement, and it might lead to
collisions of a most dangerous character between the
two Houses of the Legislature. It was not want of
time they had to complain of so much as the late period
of the session when Bills were brought up to their
Lordships' House, and when there was a very limited at-
tendance of Peers ; but that was an evil which the Bill
of the Noble Lord would rather increase than diminish.

Earl GREY was of opinion that both Noble Lords who
had spoken against the Bill had rested their objections on
the most far-fetched and unlikely suppositions whick it
was possible to conceive. Surely, if the present practice
was an inconvenient one it was the duty of Parliament
to amend it. For his part, he thought that very consi-
derable advantage had arisen from the manner in which
the Railway Bills were allowed to continue over two
sessions ; and that it would be highly convenient if the
measures which this Bill affected, were to be originated
in the other House, and that this House should then
revise and pass the measures, if necessary. Though he
was strongly of opinion that this Bill by itself would
afford a very inadequate remedy for the evil hitherto
complained of, yet, so far as it went, it was plainly in
the right direction towards effecting an improvement
in that which had been experienced to be a great incon-
venience.

Lord BROUGHAM concurred in opinion with the
Noble Earl, and should have the greatest reluctance in
opposing a measure which had for its object the removal
of what was a very great and crying evil. Still, without
giving a decided opinion upon the subject until he saw the
Bill in its later stages, he could not say that he had made
up his mind to give it his support. Their Lordships
should recollect that this would be the very first
time that there had been an Act of Parliament passed
to regulate the standing orders of either House of Par-
liament. Between two sessions of Parliament circum-
stances might occur to change the opinion of the House
of Commons, though they might not change the opinion
of the House of Lords, and the effect of their Lord-
ships adopting the Bill without an alteration would be
to tie down the House of Commons to the measure as
originally passed by them, and that notwithstanding
their change of opinion.
Lord BEAUMONT agreed with other Noble Lords
that it was necessary to provide some remedy for a
growing evil, but he was not prepared to say that the
present measure was the best way of curing that of
which they justly complained. If the Bill were passed,
it would prevent any Bills of importance being ori-
ginated in that House. He would reserve further ob-
jections until they went into Committee, when, if it
were not greatly improved according to his mind, he
must record his vote against it on a future stage.
After a few words from the Earl of DEVON,
The Marquis of LANSDOWNE had stated on the
introduction of this Bill his warm concurrence in the
object which the Noble Lord had in view. He was not
disposed to withdraw that concurrence. He was per-
fectly sensible of the -inconveniences and difficulties
which had been stated as attendant upon the Bill, but
Of all those inconveniences there was none greater than
that Howe being compelled' to give their assent to a
measure to which they were not averse in principle in
too hasty a manner. He trusted the Noble Lord would
give his att,ntion to the suggestions given that evening,
and improve the details before proceeding turther with
the Bill.
_ _

Lord STANLEY received with respect and thank-
fulness any suggestions from any Noble Lord, and un-
doubtedly they would have his best consideration.
At that hour of the night he would but very lightly
notice some of the objections which had been taken
to the Bill. He had stated in introducing the
Bill that it was an interference with the preroga-
tive of the Crown —it was but slight but still he
had said that he doubted whether the Bill could be
passed without the consent of the Crown being signified
through one of its responsible Ministers. The consent
of the Crown ought to be taken as a preliminary to the
adjournment of any Bill, said the Noble Marquis ; but
supposing that such were the law, it would give the
Minister of the period a veto to prevent the adjournment
of any Bill. The Bill did not touch the prerogative of
the Crown until the Bill was proposed to be ad-
journed. There must first he a majority for passing
the Bill, and also a majority for an adjournment.
Under such circumstances no Minister would dare
in these days to stop any Bill ; but still the
Crown, even if his Bill passed, would have
the power to stop any obnoxious Bill, by a prorogation
of even 4.8 hours at the time proposed for the further
proceeding of the Bill, supposing that any Minister
would dare to take such a bold step. The great
objection he had heard raised with regard to the
principle of the Bill was, that it was likely to make an
innovation of an organic nature upon our present consti-
tutional system. It was said that difficulties might arise
from postponing Bills from one session of Parliament to
another; but, for his own part, he could not see that any
breach of constitutional principle, or more inconvenience
would arise from postponing measures from July to
February, than from February to July. In conclusion,
he trusted that their Lordships would give a second
reading to the Bill; and, having heard many valuable
suggestions made by his Noble and Learned Friend
opposite (Lord Campbell), he should be happy to con-
sider them in Committee.
The Bill was then read a second time, and ordered to
be committed.
ASSIGNMENT OF ECCLESIASTICAL DIS-