Star.
London, England, 1822-07-17 00:00:00

• 147,M,11,r, TRW' •

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MISTING OP 7'RE NORWICH WSAPERS.

NORWICH, JULY Ls.,
Friday 'week, a General Meeting of the Manufac-
turers of this City, was held at the Hall, in the mar-
ket, on business of great importance to the trade of
Norwich, involving the consideration of the present
prices paid for-weaving. At this Meeting, at which
nearly all the frincipal Manufacturers were present,
it was, after much discussion, agreed by a large ma-
jority so adopt a seduced scale of prices, from and
after that day. A printed list, from 1 id. to 2d. per
dozen under the old prices, and bearing the names of
those Manufacturers who had concurred in the mea-
sure, was accordingly prepared and distributed for
their use. The announcement of this alteration to ;he
journeymen weavers on the Saturday morning, caused
a great sensation among that numerous class of inha•
bitants. On Sunday morning, about 150 of them
held a Meeting on the subject at the Friary Yard, in
St. James's, when it was by them determined to de-
pute two persons to go rountfeach parish to desire
the attendance of all the weavers who were house-
holders at a Meeting to be held in St. James's on the
following day (Monday). In pursuance of this sum-
mons about 1100 met together; and a Petition having
been drawn up, and very numerously signed, it was
presented by them in a body to J. W. ROBBERDS. Esq.
the Deputy Chairman of the Manufacturers' Com-
mittee, at his house in St. Saviour's, requesting him to
call another Meeting, to reconsider the proceedings
of Friday.

This request was acceded to by Alderman ROB.
Berms, and a Circular was immediately sent round
requesting the attendance of. the Manufacturers at
the Guildhall, on the following day (Tuesday). On
Monday afternoon there was an immense assemblage
of the weavers on Mousehold Heath ; and on Tues-
day morning they presented a second Petition to Mr.
Itoaszaos, soliciting leave of admission for fifty-four
individuals of their body to a conference, in order
that their case might be represented to their em-
ployers. The number proposed, however, being
deemed larger than was necessary for that purpose,
it was agreed that twelve only should be admitted.
At the hour appointed for the Meeting on Tuesday,
a vast concourse of persons, of both sexes and all
ages, had collected in the Market-place: and as the
Gentlemen went up to the Hall, they were hooted or
cheered by the populace just as they were considered
friendly or adverse to the reduction of wages.
On Mr. ARTHUR Batoes making his appearance,
he was received with loud acclamations ; and, pre-
vious to his entering the Hall, Mr. Beloe addressed
the multitude. He said that he considered the mea-
sure of reducing the wages of the weavers to have
been ill-advised, and that he thought the Manufac-
turers ought at least to have postponed the adoption
of it until the return of their worthy Chairman, J.
Harvey, Esq. from the Continent. Mr. Beloe pro-
ceeded to say, that at the last interview he had had
with that Gentleman before his departure, he (Mr.
Harvey) had declared himself to him (Mr. Beloe) as
adverse to the reduction. " For my own part (added
Mr. Beloe), I do net see the necessity for it ; and as
for the assertion respecting 400 pieces a week being
sent from Yorkshire to this city, to be dyed, I believe
it to be a palpable falsehood but, be that as it may,
I do not feel afraid of competing with the Yorkshire-
man, though he may be paying a penny or two per
dozen less than we are. The old prices, however, shall
be kept up by me."—This speech was followed by
repeated shouts of applause and clapping of hands
on the part of those to whom it was addressed.

A full attendance of the Manufacturers having
been obtained, the appointed twelve journeymen
weavers were admitted, and a discussion commenced.
On the part of the Manufacturers, we understand,
the fact was urged that goods were making in York-
shire, in large quantities, at a much lower rate of
wagei than in this city, and that 1000 hands were
there employed in the making of Bombazine—an
article which had long constituted a prominent branch
of the Norwich manufactures. Hence it was argued,
that unless the expenses incurred in the weaving were
reduced, they would not be able to compete with the
Yorkshire Manufacturers in the markets, and conse-
quently that the trading interest of this city would
be materially injured.—lt was contended by the
weavers, on the other hand, that from the increased
demands made upon them for house rent, and the
advanced price they had to pay for their coals since
1792, it was impossible for them to live at so reduced
a rate of wages; and that lowering the price of work
would only tend to produce inferior weaving, and
consequently bring the goods into disrepute.
Up to this period of the business nothing had hap-
pened of a seriously unpleasant nature, and the gene-
ral deportment of the people was marked by as few
aberrations from a peaceable course as could, per-
haps, be expected in so many hundreds of them con-
gregated together under circumstances of peculiar
interest to their feelings. But in the course of the
afternoon an act of outrage was committed, not less
serious in its consequences to the unfortunate subject
°fit, than aQlicting to those who witnessed the scene,
and disgraceful to the perpetrators. About half-past
four o clock in the afternoon, as Mr. Wm. Bossley, a
respectable Manufacturer, was proceeding up the
steps of the Hall, in order to ascertain how the busi-
ness was going on, he was pushed violently down the
staircase by some of the persons with whom the porch
was crowded ; and, in endeavouring to make his way
into the Market-place, was beaten and kicked in a
most dreadful manner. It was with the utmost diffi-
culty that, by the spirited efforts of some humane
individuals, Mr. Bosley could be rescued from his
infuriated assailants, so as to effect his escape into
the shop of Mr. Woodhouse, in the Cockey-lane,
who had some of his windows broken by the popu-
lace, for giving shelter to the almost exhausted object
of their vengeance. Mr. Bossley's hat, shoes, and
coat, which had been torn off, were afterwards rent
in pieces, and thrown up in the air in triumph.
In consequence of the turbulent and mischievous
,spirit which now manifested itself among the multi-
tude, it was deemed expedient to apply to the Officer
commanding the detachment of the seventh Dragoon
Guards, stationed at our Barracks ; that the military
might be ready to act, when called upon by the Ma-
gistracy, in aid of the civil power, for the preservatior
of peace. In the meanwhile, and shortly after the at•
tack made upon Mr. Bossley, the conference between
the masters and workmen had terminated; and it
w4l announord from the balcony of the Guildhall.,