The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-21 00:00:00

Westbury, Wilts, July 19.
Sir,—l beg to inform you that at a meeting of a few friends
of our great cause, held this morning, it was decided that I
should rroceed to London on Thursday next, I expect as a
Deputy from the manufacturers, and perhaps the shopkeepers
of Westbury. I remain, yours very truly,
Mr. P. A. Taylor. NATH. OVERBURY.
'I he following is the present state of that agricultural dis-
trict which boasts of Sit James Graham as its principal landed
proprietor :

Longtovm, July 18, 1842.

_ .
Sir,—l am sorry to say that there is no improvement in trade
in this district—nay, that matters are getting worse, both as
respects the manufacturing and agricultural labourers. The
condition cf the latter is much worse than it was last year,
males in many instances being glad to work at field labour at
a woman's wage, 10d. per day.
There is scarcely a diversity of opinion in this part of the
country respecting the cause of the unprecedented distress of
the country. It is ascribed with almost one voice to that
iniquitous and barefacedly selfish piece of legislation, the Corn-
law, and other restrictions on our trade and commerce. This
opinion is not. participated in by many farmers, who hesitate not
to express their decided conviction, that the orn.law is as in-
jurious to them as to the rest of the community, and that their
trade (for what is it else but a trade) will continue to be, what
in fact it has hitherto been. nothing but a hazard-,us and gam-
bling speculation, till the Corn-law be swept from the statute-
book. _ _ _ _ .

I can assure you, Sir, and I believe I speak the sentiments
of nine-tenths of the population here, that we highly appre-
ciate, and feel deeply grateful for the labours of the " League "
in this righteous cause. We repose implicit confidence in their
wisdom, honesty, and talent, and it shall be our fervent prayer
that, through their instrumentality, our suffering country may
be raised to her former comfort, 'happiness, and content ; and
that they may thus entitle themselves to the lasting gratitude of
a long insulted, oppressed, patient, but never an ungrateful
people.

PROM PETER RYLAND, ESQ., WARRINGTON.

Be assured we, in the country, are watching your proceed-
ings with the deepest interest, and the eondnct of the Deputa-
tion deserves success, whatever it may accomplish.
Wicker Iron Works, Sheffield, Seventh Month, 19, 1842.
Respected Friend, John Bright,-1 have been hoping from
day to day that 1 might be set at liberty to join you in London.
I ant ceneerned to find that there now seems to be little probe-
batty of my doing so. Not that I could have rendered you any
s,rvice, but my heart is in the cause, and I would prove this by
my presence among you.
Much need is there for some one to work ; the clouds are
fast gathering ; every day a deeper and deeper gloom settles
upon us here. More men are discharged every week. The
poor-rates are becoming heavier ; more houses empty ; less
rent paid. Less and less employment for our mills ; less re-
turns for our shopkeepers; and more suffering amongst our
starving unemployed workmen..
In the midst of all this discouragement, my heart was re!,
joked the last week by the noble conduct of the Earl of
liadnor, who, not satisfied with that cheap pity which spends
itself in idle words—not placing in contrast professions of sym-
pathy and deeds of no relief—most handsomely remitted to me
for our distressed poor, the sum of 251.
May this unsolicited evidence of real feeling be made known
to the remotest corner of the empire ; and, be it remembered,
that we have no connection or especial claim, beyond the com-
mon plea of suffering humanity, to urge on this patriotic
Nobleman.
Now, allow me to advert to another topic. I heard with
regret some intimation that, if our appeal were not listened to,
there would be nothing left but to dissolve the League, and let
matters take their course. Entertain not such an idea for a
moment ; the League must last as long as the Corn-law ; our
principle is founded upon a rock; all laws to make
food dear are impolitic, immoral, and unjust ; ar.d,
so long as a law for starving the country remains
on the statute book we will never hold our peace—never !
Our eyes are now opened, and work we must to put down
this iniquity. It is matter of conscience as well as our interest.
Let it be clearly understood that it shall be the last ques-
tion mooted in Parliament whilst it continues its sittings ; and
if no relief be granted, the first—the incessant topic—awaiting
its re-assembling. Lecturers must again carry the question
undaunted into every hamlet. The provincial Press will re-
echo the subject in a never-dying agitation, through every
large town, and " No Landlord's Tax, no Famine Prices
must be our watchword.
" Protection !" Surely a more bitter mockery cannot exist
than a law " protecting" the people against being fed—" pro..
tecting" them against buying their sugar too cheap—" protect-
ting" them against having too much meat or too much coffee.
No ; the " protection" is not for the many but the few, that
they may put their hand into their neighbour's purse, and be
protected against the consequences.
Be not disheartened by any temporary failure—success is
mire ; it is but a question of time. Never did I feel more per-
fect confidence than that this oppressive law must give way.
The eyes of the country are upon you. Ignorance on this
topic is yet to be found amongst honest men ; but every day of
your meeting is fast dispelling it. When the news of your in-
terview with Sir Robert Peel arrived, a large assemblage of
our workpeop:c was waiting in the streets to hear the result;
and a bystander would not have inquired whether they were
cart le.s spectators.
But there is a fearful and hourly increasing responsibility
resting on those who are keeping the country in its present
alarming state. There is an infatuation in thus trifling with
the comfort and actual existence of tens of thousands, which I
cannot comprehend. Ruin is advancing with fearful strides.
The once well-furnished houses of our artisans are being
stripped of their furniture; for the condition of a pauper is
features, " it is long
and they will nearly
famish " It is long," said a clever
very galling
will
hasektfireelidisfrople,
ethne,
hoathagerardday, as I noticed his
andwel n
mendeddust r industrious u
clothes,
cutler b tout
sunkm e
since I had enough to eat, but. I cannot go to the parish," and
his ryes tilled with tears, and his face trembled with emotion."
Capital is wasting away, and I cannot forget that winter
will soon be here !
I need sal no more. Thy friend
EandDWARD SM fellow labourer,
ITEL
Batley, July 14, 1842.
Honoured Sir,--We have watched your unceasing efforts,
and thanks for them,. trusting you will continue them until the
from
trade of our common country' is free -oat its fetters, which w;'"
cause have sufficient to eat.
every industrious man to .
I remain, Sir; your obedient and humble servant,

C. H. GREENWOOD, Secretary.
P. A. Taylor, Esq.,' Brown's Hotel, London.
STATISTICS.

Showing the state of trade in the village of Batley,
together
with the amount of poor-rates paid in the union, from the
year 1839, to the year 1842, inclusive:—
In maintenance. Out-door relief.
; number of persons
March, 1839 .........No sum stated. ..,....k.A,384
15 9
°every 13.
Christmas, do. ............ ... £319 9 8i • .... 1,555 17 4i
Midsummer, 1840 ......... 345 4 2 ...... 1,918 14 6i
Christmas, 1841 ............347 11 7i
3.1.5"00-38w7age3s not much les2slt:29h4B4aBn in 151183259.
March, 1842 ... ......
Woofut 2,000
no employment, 300—distress in
Increase in out-door relief, from March 1839, to March 1842,
62% per cent.
oi
r,eerlPopulationiaetveeds,
employed,
i 4 no,
of6t:huntne
aivoribnll
yleai ugnpegwos
fr
aboutdßs
a toll
ef
yo6uaOtb,
; of these fully
About half-employed, 1,200;
consequence prevails to a considerable extent.
Total, 2,ooo—shopkeepers, butchers, shoemakers,
&c., are
suffering severely from the inability of the people to pur-
chase food and clothing.
Number of manufacturers at the beginning of 1839, 101 ;
failures in business since, 55 ; number of manufacturers at
the present time, 46—of these many ate much reduced in
circumstances.

19, New-street, Borough-road.
imllyhtinteentryeatsthoef cause of the
Sir Robert
reSelira,n—dlsnircojnasmegeuseGncreahoaf hmt,theats
machinery
present alarming distress, I would humbly submit that it would
be well that all trades not affected by macninery should imme-
diately make a statement to you of their situation, that their
ast,2rtions may be contradicted by aeii attetud. 11,1 y
tiscL: 16 that oia Loot and sloe.-inal.er, and i iia.bLem
for the last 40 years engaged as a manufacturer, enyloying a
great number of bands, male and female ; and, until the last