The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-16 00:00:00

ANTI-CORN LA.W CONFERENCE.
(Continued from our Afternoon Edition of ye.terda.l.)
Mr. WiLcocx read the fullor4ing letter :
Blackburn, July 11. 1842.
Dear Sir,—John Hindle, in the beginning of spring, had
eight farms untenanted, three of which he has let at a reduc-
tion of 25 per cent., the other five he cannot let. It appears
from what 1 can learn from Thomas Thwaites that there are
from fifteen to twenty public-houses to let, or one-fifth of those
in the town. Messrs. T. and W. 1 hwaites have twelve pub-
licans petitioning for the benefit of the Insolvent Act this
Court, July 14. The Black Dog public-house, formerly let
for 751., is now let for 40/., and too dear. A public-house, be-
longing to J. J. Livesey, let in 1839 for 35/, was let a fortnight
since for 14/. per annum. The information about empty pro.
perty I can get through no one but the overseer, and might
have to wait a week for it. The reduction in the price of
new milk is a halfpenny, that in blue and buttermilk a farthing
generally, some places a halfpenny in blue. Butter at the be-
ginning of April was 111/ad. to Is., now 9d. to 91,42 d., has been
at Bd. and 81.0. to the farmer. In conclusion, I may add that
we have have three or four shopkeepers failing every week,
with the prospect generally of a very small dividend.

That letter was from a gentleman who was one of the
largest provision merchants in the town. He should
say he did as much business as all the town put together.
The next letter was as follows :

I received your letter and newspaper, and have to thank you
for them. You appear to be going in the right direction for
making an impression upon Sir Hubert, as well as to satisfy
the cquntry that the delegates are in earnest, and are deter-
mined not to look on supinely while the people are starving.
You want information or statistics of the state of Blackburn.
I will give you what 1 can, and you will make up what is
shin t from p.ur own information. I can tell you our state in a
few words, and that is. we get worse every day, more and
more people are being out of employ, consequently more desti-
tution and want is the result ; scarce a day passes but some
tale of woe, either of suicide committed, or actual starvation
having taken place, for want of employ. Hundreds of fami-
lies who, two years ago, were in good circtLustances and had
plenty, are now in the most wretched state. -alanufacturers,
grocers, butchers, shoemakers, publicans, in fact., all who re-
tail, are ruined, or being ruined. The hand-loom weavers are
wretched in the extreme, they canreit ave,age more than 3s.
per week—a portion of them w ere better employed a few weeks
ago at fancy work, but within the last fortnight that sort of
work has been so depressed, that the manutacturers have re.
duced wages fifteen per cent. ; besides hundreds cannot get
work. 1 know that weavers have come from Sabden to Black-
burn six times for a warp, which is eighteen miles, both ways,
and when wove received only 65., thus ytsu see the poor
creatures received only 6s. for walking 108 mi;es, and
vv,hvin,s 220 yards of cloth, and bear in mind these are not
isolated cases but of frequent occurrence. 0
We have seven cotton mills less working now than we had
two years ago ; we have 300 mechanics, less employed ; three-
fourths of the joiners are unemployed ; masons, bricklayers,
tailors, shoemakers, labourers, and indeed all op es, and
callings, are three-ffitirili;.atemikid isalnejlro ertivr-
Great falling off vritli' !Metiers, publicany, small shopkeepers,
and in fact with all descriptions of trades.,,
-Cottage property is 'Worth ritithing tb the oviners, especially
at the outskirts of the town, and rents of shops, public-houses,
are greatly reduced. the number of poor at present in our
worth; use is 700,
a year ago we hsd ;.6U; the rates are in-
crea-ing, and the rate-payers' means of paying them are
rapidly decreasing ; what the end will be God only knows. A
great eha.iige also is taking place for the worse in the morals
of the people. Thi. middle class, formerly so honest and punc-
tual in all their dea.ings with creditors, are becoming wreck-
less, and dishonest, the working operative openly and boast-
msty d..cla:es his hatred of; and his plans to destrey, the
utivernment which so grievously oppress him ; indeed nothing
but curses, and imprecations are common topics of conversation
amongst the industrious classes.
Breaches of the law by .the unempolyed are of frequent occur-
renc,s, that they may get into pi icon and get bread ; one in-
stance out of many I will give you : —on Thursday last; about
bed-time, crash goes the room-window of AIL Carruthers. He
got out of. Led, and threw up the window to ascertain the
cause, when an emaciated creature stood in the street. When
asked why he had broken the windows? he replied, lam
nearly hungered to death, and want to get into prison, to get
something to eat." A police-cheer was called, the man was
taken to the police station, and taken care of, rejoicing in what
he had done.

I will now briefly recapitulate what I have stated above, and
leave you to draw your own conclusions. Two years ago we
thought trade very bad, and the operative miserably
prsid fur his labour, then the weaver had 4s. for what be
now receives Is. 4d. Th, mechanics then were well paid, and
plenty of work ; now three-tout ths are out of work, and badly
paid. Then publicans, shopkeepers, butchers, tailors, shoe-
makers, and other businesses could make a living; now they
ace all distracted, not knowing what to do to save themselves
from paupe,istn. Two years ago rents of cottages were paid.
and no empty shops or cottages : now no cottage rents paid,
and numbers of shops, public-houses, and factories to let. Our
union workhouse had then 260 inmates, now we have 700 ; our
win king population then were comparatively comfortable, with
he xeeption of the hand-loom weavers; now they are wretched
and miserable in the extreme. Publicans are doing very bad,
numbers are in the hands of the brewers, so that you may judge
the dept.( elation of such property. The Black Dog, which let
for 701. six months ago, has been re-let for 401. ;in fact, we
cannot go on much loogcr without a great change for the better.
You wrote to Air. G. Briggs, requesting him to answer cer-
tain questions, which he has handed over to me, himself not
having had time to write to you. You may gather from what
1 have written answers to the questint.s propounded by you.
1 have omitted to mention the destitute state of the working
classes. They ate hungered, without elathing, without bed-
ding, wiliout furniture, and altogether in a most woe.nl state.
Mr. Briggs has handed me a list of wages; what he is paying
now, and what he was paying two years ago :-6.4 super he
was paying in 1840, 2s 6d. per cut of 24 yards, and he is now
paying Is. 2d. ; 6-4 40 jaconet he was paying in 1834, 45., in
184::, Is. IPd., and all other sorts reduced in the same
proportion. I have given you a rough sketch of the state of
Blackburn, and not an exaggerated one ; it will refresh your
memory, while stating to the meeting your opinions. James
eilkington is not at home, consequently I cannot tell you who
will replace you at the Conference. A meeting is being held
to-night, when a Delegate will be named to replace you. We are
mid, in the state as we were when you left. Another letter
wi I follow this to-morrow, when I will report was is going for-
ward. The Conference resolutions have revived our drooping
spirits ; all approve of their proceedings. Until you hear from
me again, I am, &c.

The-population of Blackburn was upwards of 37,000.
He should say that the gentleman, who had eight farms
in the beginning of the spring, and had now only five,
had now six hou*s in King-street, which was considered
tne best part of Blackburn, varying in rent from 201. to
251., all empty. He was a Tory, however, and perhaps
it served him right.
Mr. Moonr, begged to ask Mr. Wilcock it' there
were not some mobs of people in the dear 1826 who
broke the mills and machinery ?
Mr. WmcocK—Oh yes ; we were great people then.
They came in their thousands from the mountains, and
were called " the blue mountaineers ;" they came with
large sledge hammers, and with pikes having loaves of
bread stuck on them, and some had guns, and they went
to the mills, where they used power looms which had
just been set to work. The people said, " These looms
have deprived us of our bread, and we'll serve them so
that they'll not work any more ;" and they made good
their threat. He thought Sir Robert Peel was
Home. Secretary: then, They were in great distress
then, and George IV. sent them 1,000/. fir R. Peel was
inviting them to do the same thing now, for he attributed
a great deal of the distress to tatichi:ery. i e wer..dered
if the populace 3110111 d ti.Ci upon the Premier's sugges-
-

whether they would arraign him for high treason?
The agriculturists and the manufacturing interests must
go Nether together they- must sink or swim ; like
the Siamese twins, they could not destroy one without
aiming a deadly blow at the other.—(Cheers.) The
other (ley Mr. Sidney Smith said it was a great shame
that Bluelthurn should send two Tories to Parliament.
So it was a ;rest shame. The majorities, however, were
small over the Reformer, Mr. Fielden having a majority
of 15, and Mr. Hornby only 1, over Mr. ihruer, the.
Refermer.—(Neer, hear.) When Mr. Fielden, who was
:i large manufacturer, left home for London, he had 200
or 300 looms standing still ; if trade had been healthy
and profitable. he (Mr. Wilcock) apprehended they
would not have been in that condition—and yet Mr.
Fielden voted on the side of monopoly.
Mr. Mamie wished to know what was the feeling of
the people—whether there was any under-current going
;or ; whether, in fact, the peace was safe in Blackburn
Mr. WiacteCx was glad the question had been put to
them, because he could inform that meeting, and he
could inform the country, that the peace was anything
but safe.' The soldiers in the barracks were on duty
night and day ; each soldier was provided with ten
rounds of ball cartridge, and, indeed, an outbreak was -
daily expected. O.s the 13th of June, Feargus O'Connor
went to the town of Blackburn ; of course there was a
procession, and upwards of 15,000 frill grown men ap-
peered in it. Mr. O'Connor lectured in the theatre in
the evening, and the place was crammed to suffocation.
They, as Corn-law Deputies, had been told that they had
not the people with theM. How was that ? What did the
people say ? "Faugh, why yourney as well whistle jigs to
a mile-stone as to expect to get anything from the House
of Commonscotrie along with us, go along with us in
all our measures and we will get
.y
ou what you
want—
we will get you cheap bread."--(t It was a ques-
tion, however, with him whether they ought to go with
the Chartists in all their measures. In February last
year. he (Mr. Wilcock) sold engines equal to 86
horse power, 22,000 spindles, 500 power-looms, 50 cot-
tage-houses, two excellent dwelling-houses, in one of
which he resided himself, for 13,0001. ; and, if they had
to be sold now, he shoule most probably not be able to
find a purchaser fur them. Some part of those premises
were erected in 1818, and the remainder, including most
of the machinery, was put up in 1832, the whole expense
being 50,0001. lle -had met an attorney, a few days
be:bre he left Blackburn, who was a large rent-collector,
and he was congratulating him (Mr. Wilcock) on being
out of business; he said he was a lucky man. He asked
him why? The attorney answered—" I've been a re-
ceiver c,f rents for thirty years, but never saw such a
rent-day as this ; 10s. where we ought to have 205., and
we can't get more ; what it will come to, I don't know."
Now, this gentleman was a high Tory, and he (Mr.
Wilcock) told him, it serves you right, and, next year,
I hope you will get ss. instead of 20s. A short time ago
he met a large spinner belonging to the neighbourhood,
and he asked him when they were going to have
an end of this dreadful state of things, and what was to
become of the labouring population ? He replied, " Oh,
I find that they're working very well—l have great faith
in poverty." He was a high Tory, and said that the
repeal of tee Corn-laws would not benefit them at all.
But then with the sugar and coffee duties. " Oh." said
he, " that's another case, quite. I think they ought to
be repealed." And why should he think so ? Because
he sent out goods is Brazil, and was obliged to take
sugar and coffee in return ; and he cauld not bring these
to our shores, but was obliged to take theta to Belgium
and Holland.—(Hear.) Where the shoe pinched lie
could feel.—(" Hear, hear," and laughter.) He (Mr.
W.) met that gentleman the other day, and he said, " No
matter what it is, something must be done in our pre-
sent distressed state, or we shall not be able to get
over the winter."—(Hear.) In that part of the country
there had been several daring burglaries, and that too
during midsummer, a thing which was never heard of
before.—(flear, hear.) About three miles from Black-
burn there was a Roman Catholic priest residing at a
place called Pleasington Priory. In the latter part of
May last, about two o'clock in the morning, he was
awoke by the crashing in of one of his .windows. He
had a pistol with him, and, with it in his hand, he jumped
up out of bed, and called out, " What's to do ? " He was
answered " We'll let thee know what's to do ?" There
were eight men. They had black crape hanging from
their hats and caps, over their faces. First they told hint
to get into bed again ; then to tell them where his
money was,; and he did so. But one of the fellows,
thinking that the clergyman wus observing him too much,
struck him a violent blow on the head, from which he was
slightly protected by the bedclothes. They took away
the chalice, the pix, and other utensils of the altar, his
plate, watch, and money, about 50/. worth, which was as
mucheas the house itself was worth. The house of
another Catholic priest. at a place called Long-
redy, was attacked on the same night. They
drove in the window ; for they do not now proceed very
seeretly, but smash in the windows at once. The priest
was front home, and the housekeeper had a person to
keep her company. The fellows who broke into the
house used those two women very badly. In the former
case the priest anti his housekeeper, however, took some
notice of Otte of them, who had an old black veil over
his face, in which there were some holes. From the de-
scription they gave of him a policeman said, " That's
Rawlins a;" and in a few days he was taken. The
fellow was tried at Preston at the last assizes, was con-
victed, and sentenced to be transported for life. Mr.
Wilcock concluded by thanking the meeting for the at-
tention with which they had heard him.
A Lady who has attended the Conference for some
days, and hits appeared to take great interest in its
cause, was desirous of Making some observations, but the
• Chairman politely informed her that although there was
no objection to a lady's presence at their meetings she
could not take part in their proceedings.

Mr AV IL.COCS sate, he„pael,omil,teiftoNeftil .an el tract
/fotfill A ightdanitn'-'llewspipeP,\.iixiviii4li.he hid:tirade&

-HeT,4a ..cptklnlq.tfly sleOived then),i.o.ud thby richly merit
the deceition.which hks been practised upon them; it wine
for the country to take advantage of it. For oar part we are
heartily sick of both ; the farce has beenkept up too long ' • and
we should advise the whole band of monopolists, with Peel,
and all his company of political mountebanks, to clear the stage,
and take themselves off, ero an enraged and starving multitude
" put out the lights," ar.d demolish their whole paraphernalia
of political jugglery. There are some queer signs abroad—
sone ugly breakers a-head ; and let but a storm arise, such
tinkering top-sail men as Peel, Stanley, Graham, and that
scurvy crew, will be totally incapable of steering the national
bark into a safe and secure anchoring place. It will require
more skilful hands than such a lubberly set as they are.

Mr. M‘Leou, Delegate from Lambeth, said that the
distress was universally admitted by all parties, not only
by the advocates of the repeal, but by every class of
persons, friends and foes. The distress was not so great
in the metropolis as in the other parts of the country- ;
and when they considered the wealth accumulated here,
it was not to be wondered at. But in the trade to which
he belonged, and which was intimately connected with
the condition of the working classes, upon whom it very
much depended—for when he mentioned that the trade
was beer, they would see its connection with the work-
ing classes —(lleer, and a laugh)—he was very far
from wishing to see men make themselves drunkards, or
waste their earnings in the public-houses ; still it was
well known, that in the metropolis at least the working
classes, for the most part, locked upon beer as one of the
necessaries of life, and as far as they used it only as
such, he thought the poor working man was as en-
titled to his beer, as any gentleman in the land
was to his wine.—(Hear.) At all events, it was
a fact that the public-houses of London would aftbrd
test of the earnings of the working classes in the- metro-
polis. Their value had greatly fallen off in the last few
years. Houses that would, not long ago, sell for 6,000/.
or 7,000 L, were at present worth no more than 2,0001.
Numbers of publicans were lately bankrupt or insolvent,
and the brewers had been severe losers. This was to
be attributed to the inability of the working men of the
metrupolis•generally to 'supply themselves with • what
they considered a necessary of life. Sir Robert Peel
had alleged that the cause of the distress was chiefly
of this country.—(Hear,
should
that tureign nations, since the termination of the general
war, had been able to turn their toattentiboenno clogs u
u u
tures instead if spending their money upon war. But
the Right t;noc-
Hon. Baronet omitted to say that this was an
additthe :toultirailltfarcetausreillii
g why indu tsitlrere
hear.) NV ye
do not object that foreigners should endea-
vour to employ themselves in manufactures ; but we did
and do object to our lawmakers creating laws which dis-
able us from fair and free competition.—( Applause.)
Ile did not regret the long continuance of peace. On
the contrary, he hoped most earnestly that it would con-
tinue, and that nations would so understand its value as
not to all,w themselves to be led into the plains to be
slaughtered for the gretification of their rulers.—(Ap_
plause.) He was intimately acquainted with the come.
ties of the north, especially Northumberland, Cumber-
, laud, and Durham ; and in them the people were in
the most distressed state. Tho labouring men subsisted
upon a little weak tea and b!ack bread, nut ht for dogs.
A DELEGATE—The dogs won't, eat it. I have made
the experiment.—(Hear. hear.)
Mr. M-LEoo didn't doubt it. The question was how
were they to remedy their present evils ? He thought
. the League had already done much to enlighten the peo-
ple----(dear, hear.)—and when the people came to
un-
derstanel the question, he thought they would knock so
loudly et the doors of the House of Commons, that
those
within would not have courage to resist the call,—
(1.3 rent applause.) Ile had been present when the Right
!lon. Baronet made his magnificent speech against the
Catholic Emancipation Act, in which he predicted that
if the measure passed the Crown would be destroyed,
and that the Church would crumble into dust. He had
afterwards heard him propose that very Bill as the Mi•
ulster of the Crown: And on what greuud did he pro-
Fuse it ? :Cot because it was just, but because it was
ex ped ien Hear.) "rho Irish party had wrung it from
his rears ; let them take the same course with respect to
the Corn-laws.— (hoar, hear.) For his• own part, he
was hardly surprised at the course pursued by the arise
7aC:: T.ley bad all rho power, gadnnrh, al tie
I.lleit cc 7_l i.-,and!;, and ac they thotiht that
the re-veal of tiro Tfc'ald reduce their iWel9e,

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