The Sun.
London, England, 1817-11-22 00:00:00

FOR THE SUN.

ON THE POLICY OF PAYING TILE WAGES OF WORK.
MEN ON FRIDAY, INSTEAD OF SATURDAY.

EDlTOR,—Having frequently read with plea- 1,
satre observations in THE calculated
mote the welfare, comfort, tool happiness of the
lower orders of society, I beg leave to suggest
that you would render a most essential service to •
them and to the community, if, through the me-
dium of your widely-circulated Journal, you would
strongly recommend all Masters and Manufactir-
rers to pay the wages of their worl;nen upon
FRIDAYS instead Of Saturdays. The,reis:nothing,,
perhaps, that would so effectually promote habits
of economy, sobriety, and good order'amongst
the poor, as this simple regulation; it is now ge-
nerally adopted in this city, to the great satisfac-
tion.of both master and servant ; and I am certain
it only requires to-be mentioned, to he adopted by
every considerate person in the Empire. It is
only. the force of habit,. which has such powerful.
influence over us, that can have prevented its
`adoption long since. The workman's_ week may
'As well close on FRIDAY as on Saturday, and all
that is necessary in commencing the plan, is to
pay him his wages in the first week for five days
instead of six, beginning a new week on the sixth
day.. The advantages of-it are 'so obvious, that
they' scarcely require to be, detailed. It is the
interest as well as the duty of the master to pay
his workman's wares at a time that they would
be most useful and beneficial to him ; and their
• value in some cases would be enhanced 20 per
cent, by this measure. In all cases the opportu-
nity of choice and selection, in the purchases of
the poor, which are generally made on Saturday
evening, Avould be increased tenfold. Whoever
has seen the crowded avenues in the markets . and
butcher-stalls in London on Saturday, at an hour
which ought to be dedicated to repose, " when
night. almost contends with morning," must regret
that custom should tolerate, and have even ren-
dered necessaiy, such an abuse ; and when the
many temptations to
.mis-spend their time and
their money, which are unavoidably thrown in the
way of the poor by its continuance, are-. consi-
dered, I think there is no doubt that it will cease
at once by general consent.

Virile!) u workman receives his wages on FRIDAY
night, heln all probability takes home the money
to his wife and family, and being conscious tliat
he I►as to attend his work the next diky, he retires
early to rest, and leaves to his wife'the careful and
prudent disposal of it ; but on the Saturday night
he has no suck restraining principle; the next day
is a hoiday to him; it is set apart as a day of
rest ;- nd if temptation assails him, he is perhaps
incapable of resistance, a habit of dissipation is
produced, alid " Saint Monday too. regularly
follows the cessation from labour on the Sabbath,

If the Managers and Directors of those. admi-
rable institutions,' SAVINGS' BANKB, would co-ope-
rate in this plan, by having those places of Ilepo-
sit ,open regularly_upon Saturdays, it would serve
materially to advance the objectsT of the institu-
tion ; they No coidttesseirtially promote the pro-
posed alteration by their influence and example,
and if THE PIitESS lends its powerful aid, I think
it could hardly fail to be general before the end
of this. year.
Cork, Nov. 11, 1817. PHILANTHROPOS.