The Sun.
London, England, 1834-05-26 00:00:00

TRADES' UNIONS.

(From a Correspondent of the Times.)
BANBURY, MAY 21.—A perusal of the following
statement of the connexion of the Banbury weavers
with the men styling themselves " The Grand Na-
tional Consolidated Trades' Union of Great Britain
and Ireland," will throw a light upon these matters.
In Banbury and its vicinity the plush trade is carried
on, and gives employment to upwards of 500 weavers,
besides women and children employed in other branches
of the business. Although the statements as to I6e
earnings of the men, as severally AIM bathe masters
and men, vary, yet it is the opinion ,of. many, that on
this score there has not existed any great cause of
complaint ; but all the weaving being performed by
the piece, of course a difference was to be found be-
tween the earnings of the industrious and those of the
indolent or weak men. The rage for trades' unions
' had not escaped Banbury, and in the latter end of the
last year, or the beginning of the present, about 280
of the men formed themselves into ' a branch of the
" Bradford Order of Weavers." The inducement to
this, or in what way they communicated with the lodge
at Bradford, or whether they contributed money to,
or received any from thence, or any other lodge, arc
unknown, but it is strongly presumed that no pecuniary.
transactions took place. The masters being aware of
the union of the men, determined on discharging some
of the most active of their number ; and on the 15th
of March last 13 men were out of employ from this
cause. On this day two men, both of whom it is un-
derstood were tailors, one of the name of Pietrie, and
the other David Thomas, came uninvited to Ban-

bury, and representing themselves to be delegates
from the Grand National Trades' Union of Great
Britain and Ireland, charged to form lodges and
initiate members, they persuaded the Banbury weavers
to abandon the Bradford connexion and to unite with
them. This- done, they formed a lodge at Banbury
and initiated members, and, according to the reports
of the day, an oath was a part of the ceremony. They
received 6d. a-head from each man initiated, and 10s.
for what was called a dispensation, being some printed
document in the nature of instructions, or a declara-
tion of the objects of the union. A card was given to
each member. Sixty-five weavers, and many of other
trades, were initiated the same evening. During the
stay of the delegates at Banbury, Pietric, in the pre-
sence of David Thomas, dictated a letter to be sent
to what they called the Executive Council in London,
to forward 1001. that week, to be employed in setting
the unemployed to work; and they were 'most lavish
in their promises of the support which should be sent
to Banbury. Duped in this way, and by the specious
manner in which it was represented to the men that
they should all be made masters, it is not surprising
that they should have been elated beyond all bounds,
and that to maintain the connexion which had before
subsisted between master and man became a matter of
difficulty • in fact, the masters found it could not be
maintained, and they therefore discharged the men
as the work in hand became finished. It is stated,
however, that not more than 200 men ever joined

this last union. The men being discharged from
time to time, the funds, which were wholly sup-
plied by the contributions of those who kept in work
(no assistance being afforded from elsewhere), were
found insufficient to maintain the unemployed and
their families. Several applications were therefore
made to the Executive Council. Plenty of sympathy
was expressed in the answers, but not any remittance
was made ; the excuse in one letter being—" Our
friends at Derby require all the assistance we are able
to give them." At length two of the weavers were
sent to London : they saw, it is said, the " Executive
Council ;" the promises were renewed ; the two men
were relieved with los. ; and after their return, a soli-
tary 51. was remitted, hardly, if at all, exceeding the
expenses of the journey for obtaining it. Letter after
letter was now written to the Executive Council for
assistance, but no answer was received ; when the
men, driven to the utmost state of destitution (the
wives and children of some of them weeping for the
want of bread, potatoes for a whole week being, it is
said, in more instances than one, their only food) sent
two others of their body in the last week in April to
London. They were in town three days, and went to
the Hercules Pillars, in Great Queen-street, the place
of sitting of the Executive Council. This council
they understood to consist of five tailors, of whom a
person named A. C. Douglas was one. In the course
of the three days they saw all the council, and they all
denied that the letters had ever been received. It was
even suggested by some of them that the letters had
been intercepted by government at the Post-office.
It was evidently seen the council wanted to get rid of
the application. The men, however, were not to be
thus put off; they went to the corresponding secre-
tary, who appears to have been a straightforward man.
He said the letters had been received by the Exe-
cutive Council, and by them handed to him.. It was
not until the evening of the third day that the council
met as a body. They denied all knowledge of the let-
ters ; but the men repeated what had been told them by
the secretary, and then one of the council said he did
remember that he had received the letters. The council
are then stated to have looked extremely foolish. Still
no relief was granted ; but promises were made that
the case should be laid before the committee when it
met, and that relief should be sent. However, none
has come, and the Banbury union is broken up. The
council also promised attention to their letters ; three
have since been sent, but no answer has been received.
The men on the last occasion received ss. from the
council ; and a society of weavers in Spitalfields sent
also 101., and another Si. or 101. has just been re-
ceived from the same society for the relief of their
distressed brethren at Banbury. The work and the
wages which the men have lost they would be most
happy to return to ; and, more sinned against than
sinning, it is hoped their masters will again employ
them. Any other resource they have not. They at-
tempted a subscription among their neighbours, and it
failed ; and the parish officers have also set their faces
against unionists. But mark still further the conduct
of the " Grand National Trades' Union of Great Bri-
tain and Ireland." They could not grant the Ban-
bury weavers more than 51. 155., but for the support of
the tailors (the Executive Council are stated to be five
tailors), they have ordered a levy of Is. 6d. from every
member of the union. And yet, if any class of the
unionists should have been supported by their " bro-
thers," it was the Banbury weavers, who did not strike
as a body, but were turned off because they belonged
to the union.
The following is one of the letters alluded to :
" Banbury, May-14.
" Worthy Brothers,—Once more we have ventured
to relate to you our tale-of distress, and how far the
narrative may prove effectual, time and circumstances
must determine. We do not complain of lack of sym-
pathy, compassion, or promises, each of which we have
had our share of ; and believe us when we say, if these
kind feelings from London and elsewhere (with the
exception of Spitalfields) could have filled our bellies,
we should have more resembled the bluff appearance
of his Majesty's beef-eaters at St. James's, than so
many clock-cases with a tick-tack of hunger sounding
in the vicinity of our stomachs. This may appear ra-
ther too jocose for a plain unvarnished tale, but rest
assured the simile is not distorted beyond a comparison.
" In consulting the Pioneer of this week, we noticed
a proclamation emanating from the tailors, whose
strike has recently occurred, that Is. 6d. levy be im-
mediately laid on all lodges belonging to the Na-
tional Consolidated Trades' Union generally. Now,
although we wish well to all our brothers, whatever
trade or. occupation they may belong to, we cannot
help observing, that as the limited boundaries of their

Saturday night the nineteenth anniversary of this ex,
cellent institution was celebrated in Freemasons' Hall:
Upwards of one hundred and twenty geztlemeil sat
down to dinner. The right hon. the earl of iNrh.s6
in the Chair. The Chairman was supported on tits
right by Sir M. A. Shee, President of the Royal
Academy, andon the left by Mr. E. J. Stanley, M. R.
Among the gentlemen present we observed a number
of distinguished Members of the Royal Academy.
On the cloth being removed, " The Benedictus" was
admirably sung by Messrs. Broadhurst, C. Taylor, T.
Cooke, and Chapman, and Masters Howe and Coward. I.
The CUAIRMAN gave " the King," which was drunk
with four times four. _

Air--" God save the King."
" The Queen" was next given from the Chair, and
was received with unbounded applause, which lasted

for some time.
- Glee—" Great Apollo strike the Harp."
In proposing the next toast, namely, " The Prin-
cess Victoria, and the rest of the Royal Family," the
noble CHAIRMAN said he could not give it without
mentioning that this was her Royal Highness's birth-
day, and he was sure they would all concur in wishing
her many happy returns. Drunk with three times three.
Song, Mr. Broadhurst--;." There is not in this world

a valley so sweet."
" The Duke of Sussex, the Patron of the Institu-
tion" was given, and drank amidst loud and long con-

tinued cheering.
Glee—" Where the bee sucks there lurk I.

"The Vice Patrons of the Institution" were next
given, and received with reitels-appl-su.e.
Song by Mr. T Cooke.
Sir M. A. SHER rose to propose the next toast.
He was sure it would be received with the honour to
which it was most justly due. He yeas satisfied the
gentlemen around him would anticipate the toast he
was about to give, namely, " The Right Hon. the Ear/
of Durham, the noble chairman." (Tremendous ap-
plause.) He need not expatiate on the merits of the
noble earl. The services which the distinguished
family to which he belonged had done to the fine arts,
as well as the country, were too well known for him to
advert particularly to them. (Loud cheers.)
The toast was drunk with tremendous applause.
The Earl of DURHAM begged to thank them for thd
most cordial manner in which his health had been re-
ceived. He accepted the invitation to preside orl this
occasion from a wish both to promote the interestg
the fine arts and to advance the cause of benevolence.
Ever since he entered life he had been a warm ad-
mirer of the fine arts, and he believed that in his gal-
lery in the country he could show some of the best
productions of the present living artists in this country.
They were all aware that the most distinguished artists
were liable to be overtaken by sickness, which inca-
pacitated them for their professional avocations, and
obliged them to throw themselves on the benevolence
of their fellow-artists. With the view of promoting
the benevolent objects of the institution he had that
day consented to take the chair, and he trusted his
example would induce others to come forward in its sup=
port. There were two institutions which were very
similar in their titles, but different in their objects,—
" The Artists' Benevolent Fund," and " The Artists'
General Benevolent Institution." The former did not
relieve distressed artists, but merely aided the widows
and orphans of deceased artists ' • but the object of the
present institution was to afford relief to decayed and
distressed artists. He had taken care to provide a
successor to the chair he now filled against the next
anniversary, with whom he was sure they would all be
pleased • he meant Lord Brougham, the Lord High
Chancellor of England. ( Immense cheering.)
The CHAIRMAN was sure the toast he had then to
propose would be received in the most cordial manlier.
The specimens which were now exhibiting in Somer-
set House were alone sufficient to show what were the
merits of the members of the Royal Society of Arts.
The chairman then gave " Sir M. A. Slice and the
Royal Academy."
Sir M. A. SHEE said, that connected as he was
with the institution to which the noble chairman had
just called their attention, he need not say that he felt
peculiarly gratified at the way in which he bad brought
forward his name connected with those of: his asso-
ciates. For this mark of distinction, he begged, in
his own name and in the names of his associates, to
offer his most heartfelt thanks. The members of the
Society with which he had the honour to be connected,
had benevolently formed a fund for the assistance of
those of their brethren who might need their aid, and
he felt gratified in the highest degree to find that this
ins titution was receiving such liberal support. (Loud
cheers.) He would not trouble them with any
lengthened observations, but content himself with again
thanking the noble earl and the gentlemen present for
the honour which had been done him and his associates.
The NOBLE CHAIRMAN then gave ‘f The Royal Hi-
bernian Academy, the Academy of Scotland, and the
other Institutions for promoting the Fine Arts in the
United Kingdom." Drunk with much applause.
The following donations to the funds of the Insti-
tution were then announced. The several announce-
ments were received with great applause :
Earl of Durham, 20 guineas • Sir M. A. Shec,
9th donation, 5 gs. ; Josh. Neeld, Esq., 7th don.,
; Earl of Carlisle, sth don., 10/. ; Sir John
Swinburne, 9th don., 5 gs.; Duke of Norfolk, 12th
don., 10 gs. ; Sir Jeffry Wyatville, 16th don., 10 gs. ;
Thos. Phillips, Esq., R. A., 16th don., 5 gs. ; F.
Chantrey, Esq., R.A., 17th don., 10 gs. ; C. R.
Cockerell, Esq., R.A., 10th don., 5 gs. ; Sir. C.
Cockerell, Bart., 5 gs. ; D. Wilkie, Esq., R.A., 12th
don., M. ; Lord Farnborough, Bth don., 10/. ; ir M.
W. Ridley, 2d don., 5/. ; Sir John Soane, R. A., 12th
don., logs. ; Geo. Jones, Esq., R. A., 12th don.,
5/. ; Thos. Griffiths, Esq., 3d don, 5 gs. ; A. Keight-
ley, Esq., 2d don., 5 gs. ; Sir Ab. Hume, Bart., 11th
don., 5 gs. ; Richard Westmacott, Esq., R. A., 9th
don., 101.
The CHAIRMAN, after adverting to the arduous
duties which devolved on the office-bearers of the In-
stitution, and pronouncing a high eulogium on the
manner in which those duties were performed, pro-
posed—" The President, Vice-Presidents, Directors,
and Officers of the Institution."
Sir M. A. SURE returned thanks in his own name,
and in the names of the vice-presidents, directors, and
officers of the institution. He felt that in so far as he
was concerned, the eulogium of the noble chairman
was unmerited, but he did concur in all the commen-
dation which had been bestowed in so far as his col-
leagues were concerned. They really did perform
the duties of their several offices in a manner which
was creditable to them in the highest degree.
(Loud cheers.)
THOMAS PHILLIPS, Esq., R. A., secretary to the in-
stitution, begged to return his warmest thanks for the
way in which the nobld chairman had spoken of his
and his colleagues' conduct in managing the affairs of
the institution.
" The Stemirds of the Institution" were then
given, and drunk with much applause.
Mr. MANN, one of the stewards, returned thanks on
behalf of hitnself and the other stewards.
The CHAIRMAN, in proposing the next toast, viz.
" The Ladies, Subscribers," said he could well - un-
derstand why the ladies were not to be seen on that
floor when the meeting was one of freemasons, or was
held for political purposes, but he could not see why
the friends of this institution should not have their
wives, daughters, and sisters with them on an occasion
like the present. (Loud cheers.) He was sure it
would add much to the prosperity of the institution
if the ladies were to be present. He would respect-
fully suggest to the gentlemen present to make ar-
rangements for having their female friends present on
the next anniversary, for he could assure them that
wst
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benefithek exist
oi
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tsaahttineet
and that
warmestt admirer ma
ti r
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.utcould
hbe he a
have
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the noble lord who was on the next occasion to his
greater compliment to that distinguished nobleman, as
large attendance of the fair sex. (Loud laughter and
cheers, which continued for some time.) The toast
The noble chairman then left the chair, and the
meeting soon afterwards broke up, after an evening
spent with the utmost good feeling and hilarity.
In the course of the evening a number of excellent
and appropriate glees and songs were effectively sung,
accompanied by Mr. Cooke on the rimoforte.

CRUELTY TO ANIMALS.—Mr. Pease has
entered upon the Commons' Book a notice that, on
Tuesday, June 10, he will apply for leave to bring in
a bill " to consolidate and amend the laws relating to
the cruel treatment of cattle and other animals."'