The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-14 00:00:00

' THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 14, 1861.

BANK OF D•EPOSIT.
(Established A.D. 1844.)
No. 3, PALL MALL EAST, LONDON.
Prospectuses and Forms for Opening Accounts sent free
on application.
PETER MORRISON, Managing Director.

ADVOWSON.—FREEHOLDS 'UPTON AND ROTHERS-
THORP E, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE.
TO BE SOLD, pursuant to an Order of the
High Court of Chancery, in a cause of Donaldson v.
Fairfax, with the anprobation of Vice-Chancellor Kindersley,
in Five Lots, by Messrs. Holloway and Son, at the George
Hotel, Northampton, on SATURDAY, the 26th day of Octo-
ber, 1861, at Three o'clock in the Afternoon, very valuable
Freehold Estates, situate at Upton and Rothersthorpe, in
the county of Northampton, consisting of 374 Acres of Land,
Water Mill. and the perpetual Advowson and Right of Pre-
sentation to the V carage of Rothersthorpe, part of the
Estates of the late Sir Thomas -Samwell, Baronet.
- - - .

Particulars and conditions of sale, with plan, may be had
gratis of Messrs. King and M'Millin, No. 4, Danes-inn, St.
Clement's, Strand, London, solic tors ; at the George Hotel,
Northampton ; the Swan Hotel, Bedford ; the George Hotel,
Huntingdon ; the Royal Hotel, Kettering ; the Angel Hotel,
Market Harborough ; the Spread Eagle, Rugby ; the White
Bart Hotel, Leicester ; the Crown Hotel, Leamington ; and
of the Auctioneers, Pitsford, near Northampton.
EDWD. WEATHERALL, Chief Clerk.

TIIE PAPER TRADE.

The papermakers of this country have the satis-
faction of finding that their own predictions have
been signally verified. To be sure, the satisfaction is
rather a gloomy one, inasmuch as their forebodings
implied the ruin of their trade, but it is something,
still, to find one's-self in the right. It has been said
that even calamity may have its agreeable side so
long asit is exceptional, distinctive, and altogether
without parallel. Victims of misfortune delight in
describing their fate as unprecedeuted and unique.
It gratifies them to dilate on the peculiar and ex-
traordinary features of their case, and to represent
themselves especially as suffering from a visitation
which they had always foretold, though nobody
would believe them. Our readers can hardly have
forgotten the protests which were put in from the
paper trade during the recent legislation upon that I
subject. Nothing could be more reasonable than these
expostulations, but unhappily there was a presump-
tion against them too strong to be overcome. What
the papermakers were saying all kinds of people had
said before them. Every trade in turn had repre-
sented its own position as "unexceptional" and
" peculiar." Nobody denied the abstract truth of
Free-trade doctrines, but all rules have their excep-
tions, and here was the exception to Free-trade.
" Competition in all other callings, but protection
in ours," was invariably the demand, and when
it came to the papermakers' turn, and they
set up the same cry, they were not believed. So the
Acts were Passed and the ptipermakers were non-
suited ; and now appears the report of a select com-
mittee confirming in all important particulars the
allegations of these unlucky traders, and declaring
the injustice with which they have been treated.
The paper manufacture is pronounced upon this un-
impeachable authority to stand in " a peculiar and
exceptional position." It cannot really be classed
with the other staple trades of the country. The
doctrines which applied to other manufactures are
not applicable to this. The illused papermakers
are really in a bad way, and, for once, all that was
said about the " untaxed foreigner" and destruc-
tive competition has turned out to be true.
That paper, or at least that class of it which is
used for literary purposes, is principally made from
rags, ;s a very elementary proposition, though it
would have been as well if our authorities had
borne it a little better in mind. This raw material
on which a great manufacture depends is of a
character altogether peculiar. It is not a production
of industry in any way whatever. It is nothing but
a refuse, and the consequence is that the supply
cannot be increased or extended to meet a demand.
When a piece of linen or cotton has answered its
original purposes it becomes a rag ; but, as the rag
can never be so valuable as the linen itself, nobody
would ever think of deliberately turning linen into
rags. Rags therefore are produced involuntarily,
and the producers indeed are interested in limiting
the production, for the longer a man can wear his*
clothing before throwing it away the better will it
be for his pocket. The raw material, therefore, of
paper cannot be sown or grown. So much of it,
and no more, comes into the market according to
the numbers or other conditions of any particular
population, nor is there any method of iqcreasing
the available amount except by greater care in the
process of collection. This being the case, the
papermakers urged that if England allowed free
exports of rags and free imports of paper, while
other countries prohibited or taxed the exportation
of the raw material, the foreign paper manufacturers
would enjoy such an advantage as would. give them
the command of the English market to the ruin of
the home trade. France, for instance, and Belgium
would have the raw material of paper artificially
cheap. They would keep their rags at a compara-
tively low price by shutting out foreign purchasers
from their rag markets, and, having thus got a start,
would send their manufactured paper over here
duty-free, and undersell the British papermaker by
virtue of the advantage which they had themselves
created. " So," said our manufacturers, " let us
have fair play and free trade on both sides. Give
us access to foreign rag markets and we will meet
foreigners in our own paper markets, but it you
allow them to have the benefit of Protection when
they are buying their material, and Free Trade
when they are selling their manufactures, we
cannot stand up against such competition as that."
However, the collective wisdom of the nation
thought otherwise. The appeal was unsuccessful,
and when the Customs duty on foreign paper finally
expired'our manufacturers were left exactly in the
position they had predicted.
The Report of the Committee, in recapitulating
the actual results of this legislation, confirms the
predictions on which the Papermakers had ven-
tured, while it shows that the prophecies uttered
on the other side had not been realised. The
"equalisations" anticipated from sundry influences
have not taken effect, so that the disadvantage
under which the British papermaker labours "ap-
pears to be permanent." The substitutes said to
be forthcoming for rags have not been found. The
relief expected from the French Government has
not been fully experienced, inasmuch as the prohi•
bition, instead of being removed, has only been ex-
changed for a duty, while in Belgium the absolute
prohibition exists still. When, therefore, under
these circumstances the last penny of import duty
was removed on this side the Channel, and paper
manufactured from this protected material admitted
freely into oar markets, the effect was to reduce the
value of British paper about 10 per cent , " so as to
entail a loss on the working of some mills and
drive others to go upon half-time, while the foreign
makers have been able to secure an enhanced price."
In fact, the Report speaks as roundly to the point
as a meeting of the trade could do, affirming that
" the most disastrous consequences must ensue to
the British paper manufacturer unless some steps
umec
fact
tcit iethts into
hnhua
at
twhv
other
Ftr hr
theireteh hand,o s e
Trade os
it
ft
ethe
aai Continent."
are speedily taken to place him on terms of fair
n
aml t
doneipe os s. s i bi ea r
ewt o
cu
aor
knv e. r
sl
poAoi
nkl
nu
competition
cotton and manufacture hardware better than any
people: We are getting the command of the
French market at this moment in a variety of
manufactureno or a nt yhe
articlespf ntuhoste w
Frenchii tnh s t
tahned i
other
c o s t of
of
people
pt raap ne sr po ,
can
wr transport,
osahnnotdstitlrdii be content to have it so, provided we
meet them on equal terms. All this is plain sailing,
but all this, it must be confessed, does not touch
the point on which the Papermakers insist. They
concur unanimously, as the report observes, in re-
pudiating all desire for protective duties. They
profess themselves ready and willing to contend
against " any natural facilities or advantages which
foreign nations may possess." What they ask is
that those countries which desire the benefit of
free admission to our market should not be allowed
to create for themselves an artificial advantage by
shutting their markets against us. If the raw
material were of a less unique and extraordinary
nature they could easily procure supplies; but where
restrictions they cannot make head
the whole amount available is limited by such in-
superableagainst the superiority which a protected supply
how it can be denied that this is
We do not see
a bard case for the British Papermakers. Parlia-
which virtually taxes
t has sanctioned a treaty men
confers upon the manufacturer.
, as if the sane duties Were levied 0 Southampton
the raw material of our Papermakers quite as much

' and Hull instead of at Havre and Hamburg. The
object of treaties is to do justice to both sides, but
in this instance the advantage has been wholly
secured to our rivals. Of course, we cannot re-
turn to our old system of countervailing duties,
" and the committee therefore recommend that the
British Government should continue strenuous
exertions to effect the removal of all restrictions
abroad upon the export of all papermaking mate-
rials." That is the alternative, no doubt, but are
our " exertions" likely to be successful ? Our
foreign rivals are tasting the actual delights of
commercial superiority, and are probably not a
little gratified to find how completely we are
beaten. Will they surrender their advantagejust
when it is beginning to iny ? We can hardly ex-
pect such magnanimity at their hands. On the
contrary, we should rather fear that, when the
field is all their own, they may turn the monopoly
to good commercial account, and saddle us, not
only with foreign paper, but with dear paper to.—
Times.

MEETING OF THE oPERATIVES IN

THE SILK TRADE.

Last evening a numerous meeting of the opera-
tives in the silk trade Was held at Crown and
Anchor Tavern, Cheshire-street, Waterloo Town,
Bethnal-green, " in consequence," to use the words
of the bill calling the meeting, "of a fearful reduc-
tion of wages which had been offered to the opera-
tives-by an association of silk manufacturers; to
hear the report of the various deputations which
had been sent to the employers, to remonstrate
against the most extravagant and uncalled-for re-
duction that had ever been offered to the already
starving workman ; and also hear the report of the
conference which had taken place on the subject at
a meeting of employers and workmen."
Mr. Walker was called to the chair.
The CHATRMAN briefly stated the object of the
meeting, after which

Mr. PERRY, who formed one of the deputation
that waited on the associated masters in connec-
tion with this matter rose to explain the circum-
stances of the case. He commenced his observations
by saying that that was not a meeting of velvet
weavers alone, to whom the reduction in wages
was to be made, but it consisted of members of all
branches of the silk trade, who desired to do all that
in them lay to assist their brother workmen in the
velvet branch of the trade. He might now observe
that 12 months ago the velvet silk weavers con-
sented to a censiderable reduction of wages. Some
masters at the time said it would not be possible to
reduce the wages of the operatives lower, yet they
now associated with other masters who had pro-
posed to reduce the wages still lower. (Hear.) The
proposition was unprecedented, not only es regarded
the period of the year at which it was made, but
also to the extent to which it was intended to go,
for it was actually proposed to make a reduction
in some instances even as much as 25 per cent. In
consequence of this proposal on the part of the mas-
ters meetings of the operatives took place, the result
of which was a deputation to the Associated Mas-
ters. A meeting between the masters and the depu-
tation took place on Tuesday last. There were eight
out of the ten associated masters present. The state-
ments made by the masters in justification of the
proposed reduction were of a most conflicjing cha-
racter—some said they were suffering from the
effects of foreign competition because the foreign
silk manufacturer could, owing to the rate of wages
which he paid being less than that paid in this coun-
try, undersell the English manufacturer here. Other
of the associated masters, however, attributed the
difficulty with which they had to contend to home
competition—namely, that some masters could get
their work done cheaper than they could; and a
third portion of the masters said that they only
kept their workshops open out of sympathy with
the men, as the prices they received for the mann-
factured article did not remunerate them. Now,
with respect to the first ground stated by the mas-
ters, namely, that they were not able to compete
with the foreigner because of the rate of wages
which they paid, the deputation of the working
men showed the English velvet weaver was receiv-
ing less wages than the weaver at Cranfeldt, in
Rhenish Prussia. They showed this from the book
of wages agreed to in 1859, with the sanction of the
Government, and which rate of wages would be in
force for four years from that time. The masters
professed to follow the principle carried out in Ger-
many, but the deputation fully established the fact
that the rate of wages was higher in Germany. The
deputation also proved that the home competition
referred to by the masters was equally without
foundation ; and that as to the subject of sympathy
the deputation thought it would be better for the
masters to close their workshops for the present
rather than a permanent reduction of the wages of
the operatives should take place; so that when the
shops opened again they could do so at the old rate
of wages. Now he (Mr. Perry) thought it would be
better to let the masters close their shops, if they
chose to do so, but they had no such intention, than
for the workmen to take out work at the newly pro-
posed rate of wages, and if there was no other way
of meeting the difficulty they must only have re-
course to the Poor Law. (Hear, hear.) The masters
seemed determined to abide by the proposal, and
the consequence was that it became necessary for
the general body of the operatives in the silk trade
to take some action in the matter. (Hear,)
Mr. WHITER then begged to move the following
resolution :—" That having heard of a most un-
called-for and unprecedented reduction of wages just
made by some of the masters in the velvet branch of
the silk trade in Spitalfields, this meeting, consist-
ing of workmen in all branches of the silk trade, is
determined, when the opportunity arrives, to assist
the velvet weavers to drive as hard a bargain with
their employers as the employers are now driving
with them.'

Mr. WATTS in seconding the resolution showed
that the effect of the proposed reduction in wages
would be equal to 25 per cent., and said that the
masters in Spitalfields were many of them making
rapid fortunes at the expense of the operatives.
One house that had commenced with very small
means was now said to be worth £lOO,OOO. (Hear.)
It ought to be made known that it was not the city
masters, but the Spitalfields masters, that were the
persons who proposed the present reduction of
wages.

The resolution was then put to the meeting and
was unanimously adopted.
Thanks were given to the Press and to the chair-
man, and the meeting separated.

THE NEW STATE OF KANAWHA.

The following letter addressed to a member of
the Convention of North-Western Virginia, gives
the opinion of the United States' authorities on the
question raised by the proposed creation of the new
State of Kanawha :

"Attorney-General's-office, Aug. 12.
" Sir,—Your letter of the, 9th inst. was received
within this hour, and, as you ask an immediate
answer, you of course will not expect me to go
elaborately into the subject.
" I have thought a great deal upon the question
of dividing the State of Virginia into two States,
and since I came here as a member of the Govern-
ment I have convErsed with a good many and cor-
responded with some of the good men of Western
Virginia in regard to that matter. In all this in-
tercourse my constant and earnest effort has been to
impress upon the minds of those gentlemen the vast
importance, not to say necessity, in this terrible
crisis of our national affairs, to abstain from the in-
troduction of any new elements of ravolution—to
avoid, as far as possible, all new and original
theories of government, but, on the contrary, in all
the insurgent commonwealths, to adhere as closely
as circumstances will allow to the old constitutional
standard of principle, and to the traditional habits
and thoughts of the people ; and I still think that
course is dictated by the plainest teachings of pru-
dence.
"The formation of a new State out of Western
Virginia is an original, independent act of revolu-
tion. Ido not deny the power of revolution. Ido
not call it right, for it is never prescribed ; it exists
in force only, and has and can have no law but the
will of the revolutionists. Any attempt to carry
it out involves a plain breach of both the Constitu-
tions—of Virginia and of the nation. And hence
it is plain that you cannot take such a course with-
out weakening, if not destroying, your claims upon
the sympathy and support of the general Govern- i
ment, and without disconcerting the plan already
adopted both by Virginia and the general Govern-
ment for the reorganisation of the revolted States
and the restoration of the integrity of the Union.
"That plan 1 understand to be this :—When a
State, by its perverted functionaries, has declared
itself out of the Union, we avail ourselves of all the
sound and loyal elements of the State, all who own
allegiance to and claim protection of the Constitu-
tion, to form a State Government nearly on the
former model, and claiming to be the very State
which has been in part overthrown by the success-.
ful rebellion, In this way we establish a constitu-
tional nucleus, around which all the shattered
elements of the commonwealth may meet and com-
bine, and thus restore the old State to its original
integrity.

e "This, I verily thought, was the plan adopted at
Wheeling, and recognized and acted upon by the
General Government here. Your Convention an.
nulled the revolutionary proceedings at Richmond,
both in the Convention and the General Assembly,
and your new Governor formally demanded of the
President the fulfilment of the constitutional
guaranty in favour of Virginia—Virginia as known
to our fathers and to us. The President admitted
the obligation, and promised his best efforts to fulfil
it ; and the Senate admitted your senators, not as
representing a new and nameless State, now for
the first time heard of in our history, but as repre-
senting 'the good old commonwealth.'
" Must all this be undone, and a new and hazar-
dous experiment be ventured upon at the moment
when dangers and difficulties are thickening around
us ? I hope not ; for the sake of the nation and.
the State I hope not. I had rejoiced in the move-
ment in Western Virginia as a legal, constitutional
and safe refuge from revolution and monarchy—as
at once an example and fit instrument of all the
revolted States.

" I have not time now to discuss the subject in
its various bearings. What I have written is
written with a running pen, and will need your
charitable criticism. If I had time to think I could
give persuasive reasons for declining the attempt
to create a new State at this perilous time. At
another time I might be willing to go fully into
the question, but now I can say no more.
" Most respectfully, your obedient servant,
"EDWARD BATES.
"Hon. A, F. Ritchie, Virginia Convention,
Wheeling."

THE LATE ATI EMPTED MURDER AND
BURGLARY AT ISLINGTON.

At the Clerkenweli Police-court yesterday Mary
Ann Redkisson, the young woman who was nearly
murdered by Frederick Strugnell, at the late rob-
bery in Chapel-street, Lower-road, Islington,
attended before Mr. D'Eyncourt, and said that she
had come forward to vindicate her character from
the aspersions that had been made on it, not only
by the inhabitants of Kensington, where she resided,
some of whom had written to the magistrates at
this court, but also from the remarks that had been
made in the press.
The complaints that were made to the magistrate
were to the effect that when the unfortunate woman
received her weekly allowance which had been sent
to this court by a generous public, she sadly mis-
applied it. She resides in James-street, Kensington,
and the neighbours complained of the riots that were
made in the house in which she resided, and that
she paraded the neighbourhood dressed in a manner
that was not very becoming. The Chief Usher of
the court was directed to inquire into the matter,
and from what he reported to the magistrate, our
reporter was requested to state that no further
money would be received at this court for Mary
Ann Redkisson.

The applicant now stated that all that had been
said about her was false, and very wicked. She was
living with quiet respectable people, and she kept
herself very quiet.
Mr. D'Eyncourt inquired of the Chief Usher if
he had made proper inquiries as to the truth of the
statements that had been made, and whether they
were correct or not.

The Chief Usher said that he was sorry to say
that the statements were too correct. The young
woman was well-known to the police of the district
as living in a turbulent neighbourhood, and was
walking about with a hat and feathers. When she
came to this court to receive her money she came
in a cab, not being content to ride in an omnibus.
The applicant said a young man paid for the cab;
and as for the hat, for she had no feathers, that was
also made a present, when

Mr. D'Eyncourt said it had been stated that you
are pregnant. Is it so, or not ?
Applicant—lt is not so. It was said that I was
so when I was in the hospital, but it was found not
to be so. I have always had a great many enemies.
Mr, D'Eyneourt said, after some further conver-
sation, that he must decline to receive any more
money for the applicant.
Applicant—But I can have the money that is in
hand.

Mr. D'Eyncourt—No; at all events, not for the
present. Whan kindly-disposed and benevolent
persons send money here to be applied for the use
of any particular individuals, and it is ascertained
that the party receiving it does not apply it pro-
perly, the money remaining is placed in the poor-
box, so that the parties who sent it can either re-
ceive it back or allow it to remain for the use of the
many pressing cases that continually come under
the notice of the magistrates. If, after a time, it was
ascertained that the applicant was livieg with re-
spectable persons, and she herself was conducting
herself quietly, then he would take into considera-
tion Whether she should have the remainder of the
money or not.
The woman with whom the applicant is residing
said that all that had been stated was false. Her
house was very quiet, and she herself was a sober
woman, and her husband was a respectable man.
Certainly the streets at the back of her house and
at the end were very noisy, being inhabited by
costermongeri and other low persons.
Mr. D'Eyncourt said he could do nothing fur-
ther in the matter, and the parties then left the
court.

The building of the Repulse, 91, screw man-of-
war, at Woolwich, has been suspended for some
time past, and she has been surveyed by the Ad-
miralty authorities with a view to decide as to the
advisability of altering her construction to a 51-gun
frigate.

THE GUN BOAT FLOTILLA.—The Admiralty
have given instructions at Chatham and other of
the Royal dockyards for the construction of ten
more additional gun boats.

ROYAL MARINES.—.First Lieut. John Strahan,
in command of 2 serjeants, 2 corporals, and 60
Privates left the head-quarters of thio Chatham
division, yesterday morning, en route for Plymouth,
; and 30 recruits left Chatham for
thefor embarkationßoyal Aia
rine
depot, at Deal, the same
morning.