The Sun.
London, England, 1842-07-08 00:00:00

•
United States of America.—(Cheers.) -Income not-as a
practised orator accustomed to debate ; I come not rely
ing upon the power of words to stir up your feelings ;
burl come to give you hope in the midst of your
despair.—(Cheers.) I come to read to you an account.
of the condition of the manufacturing classes in the
United States, that you may contrast it with the condi-
tion of the manufacturing clAses in this country. I
come to tell you that there is abundance of bread, and
that the reason why the condition of the working classes
is better th_n the condition of yours is, that we have
cheap bread, low taxes, and cheap literature.—(Cheers.)
My task is prepared for me, all that I have to do is to
lay before you the resultsiof the statistical labours and
the experience of others, I believe I shall be able
to present to you some facts which will probabiy
tend to give a new impulse to your enhrgies, which will
induce you to unite your efforts with outs, that we may
promote our mutual prosperity.— (Hear, hear.) There
is not perhaps a manufacturer in this room who has not
heard of the town of Lowell, in Massachusetts. I hold
in my hand a statement of the statistics of that town, a
portion•of which I shall read to the meeting.— (The lion,
Gentleman here read from a pamphlet some statistical
details relative to the state of the working classes in the
:;own of Lowell). He found that the average wages of
females, clear of board, was two dollars per week, and
the average wages of males, clear of board, was eighty
cents., or about 3s. 4d. per day. That was the rate of
payment clear of board.
A GENTLEMAN in the meeting—That is to say, pkinty
to eat and drink, and that money besides.—(Hear, hoar.)
General GREENE said that was what he meant.--
(Hear, hear.) They had lately had in the United States
several conflicts between the different interests of the
community. His experience of what had happened in
his own country induced him to make a recommendation
to that meeting as to the course which it would be ad-
visable they should pursue. He thought that the gentle.
men around him seemed to forget that their great object
should be to 'enlist in their behalf those who regulated
and controlled the destinies of the country. He thought
they should appeal more strongly to those in power,
and to enlist their sympathies in the cause
in which the Delegates were engaged..=-(A voice, " They
have no sympathies.") He N 1 as convinced that they
might insure the sympathies of the higher classes if those
classes could be convinced that their interests were in
truth inseparable from the interests of the country at
large. There was a mode by which those high in au-
thority might be made to feel that the source of British
power—that the pillars of British prosperity were the
labouring classes of this country.—(Cheers.)*The true
question, therefore, for the Delegates to consider was,
how they could enlighten the higher classes as to their
own interests ; and to that object he would advise them
to direct their efforts.He would proceed with these sta-
tistical.details in relation to the condition of the working
classes of America. The writer of the pamphlet which
he held in his hand showed that even the females in
Lowell were earning good stages, and were in every way
in a prosperous condition. There were 1,500 girls in the
Own employed in the mills in the year 1828; and during
that year there was not among them a single death. The
writer stated that those girls were seldom, if ever, unier
the age of 18, and their labour, though profitable, was SO
light that it rather improved than impaired their health.
He then proceeded to speak of the religious influence in
the city. The whole number of scholars amounted to
5,559, and nine- tenths of these were females employed
;n mills.
Mr. GEORGE THOMPSON said that, perhaps, it would
be as well it' General Greene would state the general
nature of the quotations he intended to make, as the
whole of the documents submitted to the meeting would
be laid before the public.
General GREENE said the facts were very important.
The writer of the pamphlet was very minute in his de-
tails to prove that the number of marriages in Lowell is
rroportlon to the population was very great. The moral
character of the females was improved, and this
was au inducement to the enterprising young
men of America who were disposed to emigrate
to the west to find wives among the factory girls in the
city of Lowell. He stated another fact, speaking of
wages and the use made of them. In Lowell at the insti-
tutions of saving the whole number of depositors at 23d
July was 1,976 ; while the ainount of the deposits was
307,796 dollars. lie said they had high wages in
Amsrica, and he .would tell them why. They had cheap
bread, low taxes, and cheap literature. lie held in his
hand &awes's last work, " Zanotti," which was published
in this country at 31s. 6d., and in America for Is.—
;Cheers.) There was also one of James's works for 3d.
They could send these Works 2,000 miles for three-far-
;Wogs. He would tell them how they could send
:heir cheap bread to this country. In England
.here was a population of 283 to the square mile, while
hey had a national debt of 800,000,00 a In America
.here were eight to the square mile, and nu national
lebt. They could afford to manufacture cheaper than
we could, but they made more by raising corn than by
manufactures.—(Uheers.) He told them that he was an
advocate for free trade. In 1833 he had hoped that the
ittestion was settled, but it was prevented by untoward
circumstances, all of which he traced to the city of Lon-
don.—(Hear, hear.) Not to the aristocracy, but to the
money power which controlled this country. They in
the United States were divided by party, as we were
here. They had not their Lord John Russell or Sir H.
Peel, but they had the leaders of their parties as well as
we had, and their great fault was that they relied too
much on their leaders.—(Hear, hear.) He was no
Chartist, and he regretted very much yesterday to see the
manner in which Chartist principles were received.
It' there was one man in England more than another
~vhorn he respected, if there was one man to whom the
country owed more than to another, that man was Mr.
flume. lie admired him, as he had set an example in
the face of corruption to the country, as he had relmed
to come forward as a candidate, unless he could sepre-
sent a virtuous and unbought constituency.
The CHAIRMAN said that as the meeting was to ter-
minate at two o'clock, he hoped the General would- be
brief.

General GREENE said he regretted that he should say
anything that was unpleasant, as he' certainly had no
wish to do so.
Mr. G. THOMPSON said it was very desirable that Ge-
neral Greene should be allowed to go on, as there were
many things he would have to state in order to arrive
at the conclusions he intended.
The CHAIRMAN said he was somewhat astonished at
the course taken by his Friend. The chairman was placed
there to maintain order, and to confine the speakers
o the subjects before them.—(" Hear," and che.:•rs.")
However excellent General Greene's observations might
be, yet he (the Chairman) was in the hands of the meet-
ing, whether it was r.glit to go.into the merits of any in-
flividual, be he Mr. Hume or any one el-e.—(Cheers.)
They ‘vere met to discuss the suiibriog of the people of
England, and to consider the best mans of its remedy.
Mr. G. TuomPsoN begged to disclaim any intention
of interfering with the authority of the Chairman, but he
thought that General Greene had imp ►rtant sta,r,--ments
to wake, which were necessary to be submitted to the
in eting.

After a short conversation,
General GREENE resumed. He should not be doing
ustice to himself if he did not go on. He was about to
suggest a remedy. He did not think that Universal
Suffrage would prove a remedy, as in En land they hail
wore populution than land. In Englited the largest
°viol', of the people must necessarily depend upon
T:culture. This was very different in the United
There the factory-girls could lay up
..ey, then marry, and go to the west and become the
nothers of families, and the mothers of future Members
)i" Congress, . and of Presidents. This was not the case
e England If they asked the man in America to sell
!iis vote, he would turn away, for he believed that by so
(loing, he was sacrificing the interests of his children,
himself, and country. In the winter morning he called
his cattle, his horses, sheep around him, and fed them with
his own hand. The persons that represented the people
n England purchased their seats.—(t !ries of" Question.")
The Gallant General was again interrupted by a De-
legate, who said he thought that General Greene was
wandering from the subject.
The CHAIRMAN Said that the meeting could only last
two hours, and the Gallant General had already con-
Aimed three• quarters of an hour, and he hoped there-
fore that he would be brief.
Mr. G. THOMPSON said he could not sympathise with
the impatience expressed by the meeting, for he thought
that the Gallant General ought to be allowed to proceed.
After a short conversation,
General GREENE resumed. He would be as brief as
possible. There was an impression in this country that
the Legislation in the United States was retaliating, and
that they were disposed to lay on duties, because we
would not reduce ours. This was not the case, for the,
Americans would not injure themselves because we in-
jured ourselves. All they did, was to secure a
cheap Government. There had been an appre-
hension that if the Corn-law were repealed it
would be injurious to the agricu!tural interest.
Apprehension had been entertained in the United
States, that if they, repeal the protective duties they
should destroy their manufactures. The free-traders
insisted that it would be a benefit to them, and such had
been the result. So, here ;if they were to repeal the
duty on corn, it would benefit the agriculturists, by
giving employment to the labouring classes ; and when
the manufacturers would be employed, of course they
would be better able. to pay for bread. Mr. Clay was the
leader of the high tariff party of the United States,
and he had recently proposed a series of resolutions for
increasing the import duties. He had been replied to
by Mr. Calhoun, who read a series of statistical tables,
showing the operation of free trade. America could-of
course only export in proportion to what she sold abroad,
and she could not purchase .English merchandise to the
extent she would co, unless England took her corn and

ates.

bean
shilli

agricultural produce in exchange. During the eight years before the repeal of the high duties the exports of the
United States had amounted to 469,000,000 dots. During
he eight years of low duties it had amounted to
768,000,000 of dollars.—(Cheers.) The effect on the
tonnage had been the same. In 1825 the amount of
American tonnage was 1,423,000. tons. In 1835, the
rear of the repeal of high duties, it was 1,606,000 tons;
and in 1840 it had risen to 2,180,000 tons.—(Cheers.)
Such was the beneficial effects of free trade. It might
have been supposed that a great fulling off would
have taken place in the exports of American
manufactures. The free traders had said, however,
that such would not be the case ; they laid it down as a
rule, that among people of equal scientific and physical
powers, those who had the cheapest food and were the
least taxed, would command the market, and such had
proved to be.the case. In 1825, the value of the export
of American manufactures was 5,129,000 dollars. In
1832, under-the system of high duties, it had fallen to
5,050,000 dollars, which, in 1833, the first year of free
trade, the value of the exports of American manufactures
had risen to 12,848,000 dollars. Many present were
doubtless aware that they now
,purchased raw cotton
lunch cheaper than they did before 1833. Mr. Calhoun
had drawn up a table, showing the effect of free trade
upota the export of cotton rrom 1820 to 1826, the

value of the cotton exported was 170,735,600 dollars.
Froth 1827 to 1833, under a system of protection, it
amounted to 201,000,000 dollars, and in the year 1833 e-
- year of the-repeal—it rose to' 435,300,000 dollars.
Such was the effect of free trade On production. With
regard to tobacco, under the high tariff system, the value
of tobacco exported was 39.165,000 dollars. On the re-
moval of the prohibition, it amounted to 57.809,000 dol-
lars. He apologised to the meeting for having occupied
their time so long, and expressed his regret if he had said
anything that could wound the feelings of any one pre-
sent. He had hoped to have been the mediator between
the two great parties agitating the country, and thought
that his experience might' have been useful. Many in
the United States believed that an important crisis in
the destiny of the world was at hand, and they looked
with a deep anxiety to the result of the deliberations
now going on in .Englande. and trusted that by wise
councils and moderation, they would be successful in
establishing the principles of free trade.
Mr. S3lllll (of Haddington) was desirous of correct-
ing some errors in a report of his statements the other
eveninee lie had stated that out of 233 ffituilies which
he had visited 26 had only 2s. lid. a week per head to
live on. He had been represented to have said Is. lid.
He had also stated that one manufactory had given
notice that they should give up giving out hand-
loom weaving. He had been • reported to have
said that the manufactory would close, which
was a very different thing. He had stated • that
400 individuals would be deprived of the means of
subsistence in consequence. He had been reported as
saying that they had been deprived of employment.
Now not so many as 400 had been deprived of employ-
ment, because that number included the fatnihes. He
had also stated that a man who had, been forty- ode
years in the same manufactory, who forty years ago got
16s. 6d. for weaving thirty yards of cloth, now got but
10d. [Such we understood to be the purport of what
fell from the Hon. Delegate, but front the low tone of
voice in which he spoke, lie was at times nearly inaudible.]
Mr. Roberts, of Burnley, was then about to read a
statement to the meeting, when he was interrupted by a
Delegate from the body of the meeting, who suggested
that they had had quite sufficient of tI4 details of Ihe
distress existing, and that it would be better at once to
proceed to discuss the question of the remedy.
The CHAIRMAN said that the meeting had delegated
to the Executive Committee the arrangment of the pro-
ceedings, and decided that the Delegate was out of order
iu interrupting Mr. Roberts.
Mr. ROBERTS then read the following statement :
Having on former occasions presented to the Anti-Corn-law
League statistical statements of the distress existing within the
limits of the Burnley Association, more particularly one which
was presented at a meeting of the Delegates in Manchester last
)ear, it has therefore been deemed unnecessary to enter into so
particular a detail thereof again, but merely to state that the
distress then existing continues, and not only continues,
but to much greater extent. Up to that time the factories
had not run much short time • since then there has been a
serious deduction of time in almost all the mills in Burnley,
and the neighbourhood. In addition to the ruonine of short
time, there has been a serious reduction in the wages of spin-
ners and power-loom weavers; this, in must cases, amounts to 20
per cent., in others to more. Low as hand-loom weaving was, a
further rduction has taken place upon that atso. A hand-loom
weaver of cotton must now be very diligent and industrious who
earns upon the average 3s. per week. The weaving mouslin-
de-lains affords rather better wages, but the uncertainty of the
supply of that kind of work, and the great trouble and loss of
time the weavers are put to in obtaining it, renders it upon the
average little better than the weaving of cotton. I met with a
weaver the last week. who is now weaving 40 yards of
cloth, 40 inches wide, with about 42 picks per quar-
ter, at the rate of Bd. for that 40 )ands. These are
a light kind of goods, generally called Tangibs. mostly
manufactured in the neighbourhood of Blackburn. The wea-
ver told me three pieces were a fair average week's work, in-
cluding the fetching of the work, the delivery thereof,
and other matters connected with it. This would
of course amount to two shillings per week, and . this
lull work. The weaysr was a middle-aged man, I believe a very
industrious man. Suppose he wove four pieces in the week, I
asked him what time it would occupy to do so. He said that
that for five days he would have to commence by five o'clock,
or very soon after, and to continue until after eight
o'clock in the evening, allowing himself very little time
for his meals. Saturday, after such a week's work,
he did not reckon, as he considers that day taken up in the
fetching and delivering of his work, and other things—whon
this was accomplis'oed he would have earned 2s. tich ; he would
have worked 75 hours, including the short time he would have
to allow for his meals. This man had a family partly grown
up; but suppose him to have a wife 'and three or four
small children, how could they live upon it ? We will
suppose it winter time, he has his rent to pay; fur though it is
impossible fur him to do so, still we must that into aceoun:, as
of course he cannot live oat of doers. He has coals and light
to find. I will mention no more than these three items, and I
will leave the assembly here present to deduct what
sum they please on the account thereof, and they
may reckon what the man would have left cut of 2s. Bd. to
support himself, his wife, and children. This I grant is an
extremely low rate:of wages, the lowest. I ever met with ; but
the highest rate of wages for hazel-loom . weaving of cotton
within the limits of Burnley Useon, will not enable a good
and industrious weaver to earn more than from 3s. to 3s. 6d, a
week. Besides
;wages being so much depressed, there is a
very great scarcity of work. 0.-e large, manufac-
turer is declining making goods &together, which
will most seriously affect that part of the country in which he
resides. Ile is as large and as respectable a manufacturer as
we have in our district. There needs do in,l,re about the poor
hand-loom weaver.—As it respects the persons employed in
mills, their wages have in general declined also, souse of
them to the amount of from twenty to twenty-five per cent.,
as before observed. Although the factories in the
immediate neighbourhood of Burnley have worked more time
for the last three or four weeks, yet unless there is an imme-
diate revival in business, there is almost a general intention to
return to short time again immediately. One large concern
has been standing for some time, thereby inducing the persons
who formerly works(' therein to great privation. Another
large mill in the neighbourhood of lobe was burn: &an a few
weeks since, this it is feared and generally believed was the
woes of iecendiarisni. In order to convey some idea of the
state of Burnley itself, independent of the nut-townships,
which are upon the average much more distressed, it has
be n ascertained by persons very competent to ascertain the
same, that there has been paid 25.000/. less in wages, in
the mills and print works of Burnley, from April 1841, to April
1642, than during the previous year. 'I here is only one establish-
ment of print, works in the town, and this mostly in conse-
quence of the resuming of short time ; a considerable part of
tie reduction in wages not having taken place dui mg the time
mentioned. 'I his amount of money does not include the less
amount paid to hand-weavers and others of different employ-
ments. In addition to the above reduction, in the amount of
money paid, the iron-founders in the town have reduced
the number of their workmen more than one-half; masons and
joiners have been much more than one-hall thrown out of em-
ployment ; other operaeives are also getting out of employ.
rho reduction of wages in the mills is chiefly upon mule spin-
ners and power-loom weavers, and will amount to the sum
of 12,00 W. per annum, with every prospect of running
short tune; this, - in connection with the reduction of
wages will be most seriously felt. It has been calculated that
the reduction of wages in Bureley and the neighbourhood within
a short tune amounts to morethau the taxes which each indivi-
dual would have to pay, supposing tle:t each person had to
bear his or her proportionate part of the a hose exionde use
of the nation. I have a statement of the moneys paid to the
Poor in Burnley Union, which consists of twenty-six town-
ships, Colne and its neighbouring townships being included
therein. It may be necessary to say that what has been said
of Burnley in the Newspapers refers to the Union of Burnley,
and not to the town of Burnley separately considered.
By this statement the great distress of the poor may
be inferred. I have not the amount paid previous to
1840, but it was considerably less; but the comparison
of the amounts paid in 1840 and in 1842
will be sufficient.
By the years 1840 and 1842, we mean the years ending in
March in each year, as the annueleaccounts of townships are
made up to that time. The demadds made upon the different
townships (at least a many of them) are so- heavy it is impos-
sible to collect them. One township since March 25, has al-
ready paid 3s. 4d. in the pound upon a rack runt. There is
another township has paid more, and, from what 1 have
the rates in that township will be near twenty
eggs in the pound if the distress continues. I was told also
sat the collector of the rates had almost or altogether given
animation that he should give up the business of collector, net
being able to collect it from the farmers and poor people. The
property in such townships must and will become of little or
tee value. After making these statements of a very small
portion of the trading community, and taking the other. state-
inenta of distress which have, and will come before this meet-
ing, we should add to them the ruin and distress which has
overtaken the honest and industrious tradesmatewit 11 all the varied
branches of trade depending upon a regular and remunerating
state of the great staple trades and manufactures of this
country. Many who thought themselves secure from a state
of insolvency, and even calculated upon retiriug from the toil
and bustle of business with a sufficiency, are now become de-
prived of their all. Numberless are those who during
the last three or four years have been brought to
ruin and distress, who are now oblted to support them-
selves by that labour they formerly provided for
others ; thus adding their numbers to the already super-
abundant quantity of labourers. Some, unable to obtain em-
ployment, are dependent upon the charity of others, or may be
upon a scanty parish allowance ; but bad as the retrospect may
be, the prospective is infinitely worse. The state of matters,
both as it refers to master and operative, is alarm-
ing. If we attribute (and we may truly do so) the past
and present distress principally and chiefly to a cause which
has been in operation for years, then the distress must and
will continue, and increase in an alarming ratio. So long as
the same cause remains similar effects will ensue. The mind
cannot contemplate these things without dismay and fearful
forebodings; and to suppose that th:s state of suf •
fering and distress can fur a much longer time be con•
tinued, to increase and accumulate, without some dreadful
crisis or revulsion taking place, is impossible. 'I he hand-loom
weaver has been deprissed lung ago. But distress and privations
is now falling upon other men whose situation in life becoming
suddenly changed will not so quietly submit to a continua•
Lion of distress. There men will look back upon the comforts
they and their families have enjoyed, with strong feelings of
indignation, and attributing their distress to that' cause which
may be most prominent will combine their remaining ener-
gies, and rranifest a eetermination to be no longer injured by
laws and regulations which cramp the sinews of trade and
commerce, whereby they themselves are rrsvented from obtain-
ing an honest livelihood. If no improvement takes piece in
our trade, ruin stares both master arid workman in the face.
When one failure has taken place, ten or more will to. We
have no reason to expect any change for the better until an al-
teration is made in our Corn-laws and other restrictive measures-
It is now granted by Sir Robert Peel and others of his party
that more liberal measures mustbeadopted—then why not appiy
the principles of more liberal measures to the Corn and Sugar-
laws, &c., and not: to articles of little er no value? We went
an exchangeable artic.c for our manufactures, anti what more
likely than gran, the food of the poor principally, instead of
trifles which might be discontinued, and salted end pickled meat.
The Corn-laws mu t inevitably be changed sooner or inter ;
therefore, why sot immediately? why wad until the ineeent and
iuttne ells:ress of the country has brought about all that an .r
chy and contusion which will lay the country pro:trate ? 'I he
dark months and long nights of winter are fast approaching,
and, unless an alteration for the better tikes place, it is imps-
tible to conceive what will be the consequence. Neither per-
son nor pro,. erty will be secure.
Moneys paid to the Poor in the Burnley Union, Lancashire,
exclusive of every Charge save In-relief and Out-relief.
Burnley Union contains 26 Townships.
For the year ending March, 1840
For the year ending March, 1842
Difference 4,827/. 10s. 10d., equal to an increase of 61 per
cent. upon the sum paid in 1840.
A statement of several Townships in the same Union, partly °,
the most part employed in Hartd•loom Weaving, for tie
years etahng March 1840 and 1842.

1840. 1842. Increase.
d. s: Pertent.
...... 415 7 10 s`::. sf so