The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-20 00:00:00

FROM ONE OF THE MOST EMINENT MANUFACTURERS OF'

CLOTH IN THE WEST OF ENGLAND.

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
should proceed 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.

he following Is the present state of that agricultural dis-
trict which boasts of Sir James Graham as its principal landed
proprietor
Longtown, 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 of 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 ►s 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 now participated in by many farmers, who hesitate not
to express their decided conviction, that the Corn-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 hazardous and gain.
bling speculation, till the Corn-law be swept from the statute-
book.
1 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, thi ough 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.

FROM PETER RYLAND, ESQ., WARRINGTON.

Be assured we, in the country, are watching your proceed.
ings with the deepest interest, and the conduct at the I)eputa•
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 am concerned to find that there now seems to be little proba-
bility of my doing so. Not that I could have rendered you any
service, 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 ; has re-
turns for our shopkeepers; and more suffering amongst our
starving unemployed workmen.
In the midst of all this discouragement, my heart was re-
joiced the last week by the noble conduct of the Earl of
Uadnor, 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 he 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
sure ; it is but a question of time. Never did I led 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 workpeople was waiting in the streets to hear the result ;
and a bystander would not have inquired whether they were
careless 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 trilling 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 arc being
stripped of their furniture • for the condition of a pauper is
very galling to our Sheffield people, and they will nearly
famish before they will ask relief. "It is long," said a clever
and industrious cutler to me the other day, as I noticed his
well• mended clothes, but sunken, haggard features," it is long
since I had enough to eat, but I cannot go to the parish," and
his eyes filled with tears, and his face trembled with emotion."
Capital is wasting away, and I cannot forget that winter
will soon be here

I need say no more. Thy friend and fellow labourer,
EDWARD
Batley, July 14, 1842.

. -
Honoured Sir,—We have watched your unceasing efforts,
and thanks for them, trusting you will continue them until the
trade of our common country is free from its letters, which will
Cause every industrious man to have sufficient to eat.
I remain, Sir, your obedient and humble servant,
C. H. GREENWOOD, Secretary.
P. A. Taylor, Esq., Brown's Hotel, London.
ST A STISTICS.

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.
March, 1839
Christmas, do. ... £319 9 86 , .... 1,555 17 46
Midstimmt.r, 1840
Christmas, 1841
March, 1842

Increase iri out-door relief, from 11arch-1 t'39, to March 1842,
62% per cent.
Population of union upwards of 60,000; number of persons
relieved, 4,674—being about 1 out of every 13.
Operatives in the village of Batley about 2,000; of these fully
employed, or nearly so, 500—wages not much less than in 1839.
About half-employed, 1,200; no employment, 300—distress in
consequence prevails to a considerable extent.
Total, 2,ooo—shopkeepers, butchers, shoernakers, &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 ;
feilures in business sine'', 55 ; number of manufacturers at
the present time, 46—of the a many ate much reduced in
circumstances.
19, New-street, Borough-road.

'Sir,—ln consequence of the silly statements of 'Bir Robert
Peel and Sir James Graham, that machinery is the cause of the
present alarming distress, I would humbly submit that it would
be v ell that all trades not affected by machinery should imme-
diately make a statement to you of their situation, that their
vsertions may be contradicted by well attested facts. My
trade is that of a ladies' hoot and shoemaker, and I have been
for the last 40 years engaged as a manufacturer, employing a
great number of hamis, male and female ; and, until the last
few years, a steady industrious shoemaker could earn f"om two
to too pounds ten per week; and a woman employed at bind-
ing from twelve to fifteen shillings per week; but such
is the operation of these infernal Corn-laws, that Lon-
don has not only lost its export trade, which was, in my
recollection, immense, but its country trade also, which
in a variety of ways was very considerable; and what is the con.-
sequence? the poor men now must work hard to earn from nine
to twelve shiliit gs per week, and the women from one shilling
and ninepenee, to three shillings ; with a drawback of one
shilling on the men for grindery, and on the women, sixpence
for silk and thread; and I speak carefully, for I have read
nearly all the accounts transmitted to you from the country.
I could lead you to as much distress amongst the shoemakers in
London as exists amongst t he operatives in cotton in the country.
Now, Sir, let it be remeinbcred this is a trade in which ma-
chinery has never yetheen brought to bear, and yet its dis-

tresses are as great as any trade whe*ritichinery has had pre-
eminent power.
Mr. SIDNEY SMITH observed that under the new
tariff foreign boots and shoes would be largely im-
ported into this country, and yet the boot and shoe-
makers, whose trade would be thus injured, would still be
compelled to pay a high protective duty to the land-
owner, for whose benefit the Corn-laws were maintained.
There was an instance of the justice which emanated
from a landlord's Parliament.

Mr. LAURENCE HEYWORTH, of Liverpool, here pro-
ceeded to address the meeting. He had, he mid, just
returned from Liverpool, where, on Monday
last, a most numerous and respectable meet-
ing was held to take into consideration the now
existing distress, and also to move resolutions expressive
of their opinions as to the best means of remedy-
ing the evil. The meeting also had. in contem-
plation an adoption of a memorial to her Maje:ay,
stating the existence of the distress, and their
opinion as to the remedy requisite to be adopted for its
removal. He was happy to have to mention that the
greatest unanimity prevailed in that large assembly as
to the cause of the distress now prevalent through all
parts of the kingdom, which they were convinced
arose from the restrictive provision and commercial
laws which cramp the energies of the industrious. Ile
would, without any further observations, read to the
meetkg a document in which were forcibly put forward
all the arguments that bore on the question.
(The meeting had not concluded when we went to press.)

THE MAIIKETS.-(THIS DAY).
CORN EXCHANGE.

There have been moderate arrivals of English Grain since
Monday, but another large arrival of Foreign NVhcat and Oats.
The trade was very dull for every article at Monday's prices.
Flour met a slow sale.
COLONIAL MARKET.

The prices of produce were firm, and a good business was
done. The demand for West India Sugar was steady. and about
500 Mids. and tres. ware sold at full prices—brown 565. to 605.,.
yellow 60s. 6d. to 655., and fine 665. to 6Ns. 6d. per cwt.
White Bengal is inquired after, and sales made at former
prices—mid. to good 665. to 675. fid., and tine 68s. to 70s. per
cwt. Mauritius steady. In the Coffee Market no new feature
has occurred—good ord. Ceylon 73s to 765. 6d. per cwt. P,
denumd for West India Cocoa continues dull, and pikes arc
declining; 395. to 40s. per cwt. for Trinidad. Rice in de-
mand and prices firm, at 10s. to I Is. 6d. for white.
TEA MARKET.

Since the eoncluiion of the large public sales, the market
his exhibited a much firmer tone, and several of the breaks
bought in have been told at extreme prices. The Lou est point
of the market for low sound Congou was Is. 81d. per lb., and
Twankay of every quality Is. i ld. per lb. The deliveries still
very large ; nearly equal to half a million lbs. per week.
• TALLOW MARKET.

This market was very dull, and prices still nominal, or 48s.
fur fine quality on the spot, and at 495. for delivery in the last
three months of the year.

EXTRAORDINARY PROCEEDING
Monday night last between 40 and 50 able-bodied
paupers, in a filthy and ragged condition, from various
parts of the country, besieged Islington Workhouse and
'demanded relief and admission, saying that they were
exhausted through starvation; they had sought after
work without success, and they could proceed no further.
Crowds of persons assembled around them and were
loud in their exclamations against the parish officers for
not admitting them immediately, and it was much feared
that the result would be violence and outrage. A com-
munication, however, having been made to Mr. Ashley,
the relieving overseer, ho came and furnished them
with an order 14 food and beds for the night, and
they were admitted as casual poor. They were,
as is customary, ordered into the bath to cleanse
themselves, which some of them quietly submitted to,
whilst others resisted and behaved themselves in a most
refractory manner, and it was evidently their intentio❑
to intimidate the parish officers and to commit outrage,
if not plunder, and it was with considerable difficulty
that they were made to go to their beds. One stout
ruffianly-looking fellow, named Baines, who described
himself as a labourer out orwork from Brentwood, kept
the house in a continual uproar during the whole of the
night by his bawling, swearing, and abusing the officers.
Yesterday morning when the proper officer repaired to
their wards to give them notice to quit the house, he
found several of them sitting on their beds in a complete
state of nudity, they having torn their old and tattered
garments to pieces for the purpose of being kept in the
workhouse or being provided with fresh clothes. It was
found necessary to call in a body of the police, with whose
assistance the unruly gang were ejected, with the excep-
tion of the ringleaders and those who had torn their
apparel, and they being supplied with a workhouse suit,
were taken into custody and charged at the station-
house. Yesterday morning they were taken to Clerken-
well Police Court and charged before Mr. Combe, when
the parish officers attended and gave evidence against
them. The prisoners in their defence said, that they
had come from various parts of the country in search of
work, and they met accidentally and formed themselves
into a body, for the purpose of demanding anal insisting
upon being relieved by the parishes through which they
passed. The party charged with destroying their clothes
did not deny the fact, saying that they were in so filthy
and ragged a state that no one would employ them, and
they devised that plan to get fresh clothes. Mr. Combo
committed the prisoners to the House of Correction, with
hard labour for 21 days each, which sentence they re-
ceived with perfect indifference.