The Sun.
London, England, 1820-04-20 00:00:00

Ut?'FHE, SUN.

THE OPERATIVE CLASSES.—.CNo. LIE)

Tile peat tlitteieoce wages- io France

does not arise so much from ttie diminished price

of Provisions in the Plovinces as from the general
want of ttatle, wbich is felt more sensibly in the

Country than t I.e Capital► which ['tempts ricl►
by the gtrat influx of foreigners. Tile Manufac-
turing Classes in France are badly pai►l, but as

steam engines and other inventions to abrid,:e
liftman labour *re COSlfilltil to a few rich Capita-
lists, (bete are less hands vmpl °yeti in that par-
ticular branch of trade than in this country.
Having hcwu the difference of wages in England
and France, we wilt nove make a comparative
statetwent of *he pike of lodgings, clothing, and
prn'isions, by which it will he ascettained,whe-
!her a nitin esrnittg fifteen shillings weekly in
Pittis, is better off than the same description of
worl4uicn here with 30s. Clothing in Paris is
cheaper than in England, on account of the

ness cat the taitor's wages—and shnes are much
leas expensive. The clo hing must be at least 15
per cent. cheaper.

Cltearr.
. .

Dearer.

Cl. th;ng
Lodgings fur the !kleclianic
are comparatively dear ;';t is in
forni4led Sodgings of a superior
miler that the great oaring is
found
Fact.
Groceries 2O per cent.
Wet, if we calcilia.te tfr supe-
reorqualityof the FAtglisti„ is only ..
Vegetables, except Potatoes
Ens ..
Potatoes SO per cent.
Bread .
eserage, usis4.ig seine for Paris,
and Beer for f..ondert lO per cent.
lint so C.llOl more is (Irani: titan
ocnutall Ist of Beer, it ersereases the
clearness.

48 per cent.

.. '” per cent.

gour *
bottcr SO per cent.
By this statement's which is made from the pre-
scot twice of piovisions, it trill be seen that

they are no: a third cheaper in Paris than in

London, and, with the excloion of bread and
vegetattics, t►ot a fifth, If we place the price of

gt (tett itl And furl, of %.vitith the poor Man uses to

a comparative great amnusit, against that of vege-
taHes, we shtsli find th:at rntavisio4s are not more
than a lomat cheaper in Fatis than they ere in
London. Eamon les, wine, siiid poldtry, do not of
course conic into this calculation which embraces
only the articles consumed, by mechanics iu this
country. The English mechanic, therefore, who
receives 11. 10s. weekly, is able to live as well
upon it as a Frenchman with 11. 2s. 6d.; but the
latter earns only half as much as the Englishman,
and cannot, of course, live so well. The French
mechanic is abstemious, but he is as well clothed
and vice as healthy as the well-paid Englishman.
Animal food he rarely touches ;. bread, which is
only half as dear as in England, is his chief sup-
port, with vegetables and fruit, which are also
fifty per cent. cheaper; and of wine be is natu-
rally obliged to be sparing.. A very weak beer, at
2d per bottle, is Isis usual beverage. A French
josirn yeast mechanic will eat two pounds of bread
and a pound of currants or cherries for 'dinner ; this
covs only aid. or 41. In the summer, when be
can purchase the stsccutent fruits, he rarely
dric,ks either wine or beer, but sometimes water If.
His breakfast is coffee and soaked ,bread ; he uses
a great deal of milk, but scarcely ever touches
butter. For supper, in the 'summer, he his bread
and cherries ; in the winter, bread, with apples
or an onion. This is sometimes varied by soup
made with beaus and fresh vegetables. Animal
substances rarely enter into Itis'diet, and fish in
Paris is generally (y-. 0 alight say always) too dear
for his purse. If this statement he true, and I
challenge contradiction, the English mechanic is
not so miserable a creature as be has been repre-
sented. I have not time now to speak of the
mechanics in any other countries than France and
England ; bus if I were to do so, it would have
tne effect of making the Englishman still more
satisfied with his station.

1 am, Sir,
Your very obedient Servant,
G. M.