Star.
London, England, 1830-01-20 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

Sln,

Before I advert to the subjects alluded to in my last,
I must remark, that although many causes may have con-
tributed to the rapid extension of machinery in the opera-
tions of clothing manufacture, none afforded more encou-
ragement than the paper system, which enabled almost
any one to create those establishments which have annihi-
lated domestic industry, effecting almost instantaneously
what the ordinary incitement of profit could scarce have
accomplished at a remote period. The usual controlling
Powers could not withstand its impetuous, and all over-
bearing action. In respect of the often-repeated notion,
that labour,though forced out ofone employment, is sure to
find refuge in another, I hold it to be a capital error, and
beg to oppose facts to opinions. When and where has
it ever happened that any large body of people, com-
pelled to abandon a STAPLE manufacture, have ever
found resource in other profitable employment ? In
the first place, who is to employ them ? Certainly
not the bulk of the population, formerly their chief sup-
porter ; for by the position of the: case, they now procure
the homely fabric, which they need for clothing, from a
non-conforming power.
The most successful of the Capitalists, who have sup-
planted them in their former occupations, may require a
few more servants, and indulge in other luxuries; but
since their profits cannot equal what were formerly made
by the weaver, when he earned his twenty shillings per
week instead of as at present four shillings, tad thousands,
jearce anything, so cannot their disbursements.
War, emigration, and disease, may afford outlets for the
outcasts, but I apprehend no other sufficient distribution
of the superseded man. Wars are terminated, emigration
is found impracticable on a large scale, and the last, under
the form of starvation, no doubt will in time carry off the
superfluity. Subsistence not being demanded, or rather
its production no longer requited, is withdrawn, and popu-
lation, deprived of its natural impulse, recedes, and along
with it revenue and wealth. Certain Italian States formerly
exclusively possessed the whole silk trade of Europe, and
their cities gloried then in their marble palaces ; and in
all the luxuries of prosperity rivals arose, their staple
departed, and grass now grows in their depopulated
streets. The picture may seem invidious, but it is
true. The same tale may be told of Austrian
Brabant and other States, that no longer exhibit the
splendour and importance of a later age. No doubt the
agricultural ranks were filled up, but a large surplus re-
mained to be dissipated. It is easy for certain econo-
mists to promise such happy evolutions, but it would be
better to set forth the instances and the modes of such im-
mense conversions. We are again told, remove the incubus
of Wmation, then all would prosper, and machinery prove
a leasiag, rather than a curse. This assurance I must
also doubt ; but it is useless to raise the question, so long
as we purpose to pay the public debt, and to maintain our
large and expensive civil and military establishments.
It now remains for me to prove that there are still
means by which we may restore to manual labour its due
remuneration. If I have truly represented the evil that
in reality most oppresses this country, few will dissent
from the proposition of removing it at almost any pur-
chase—but I must beg permission, in another brief letter,
to close my observations.

ULYSSES.

I am, Sir, year obedlent servant,
The Wats of Wednesday last quotes the following
article front the Gazette of Noreatburg of the 6th :
" A negociation is on foot for inducing Dm MroVEL to
abdicate, and to allow him a pension. With regard to the
first of these objects, the British Cabinet thinks it has
sufficient influence to decide the question with MIGUEL
himself; but as concerns the pension, it is at this moment
the object of au active negociation with Don PEDRO, the
natural protector of his daughter, the legitimate Queen.
Donna MARIA."
The Lady Mary Pelham packet, just arrived front
Mexico with the mail, brings 650,000 dollars on mer-
chants' accounts. The country was tranquil at the time
of her sailing, on November 24. The accounts from the
mines are said to be favourable.
ST. SAVIOUR'S, SOUTHD•Rl.—Yesterday morning
a meeting of the inhabitants of this parish took place. to
take into consideration whether.the old church should be
repaired, or be pulled down, and a new church erected.
The arguments used pro and con. were frequently inter-
rupted during the boated discussion, by the dissentients
but it was finally resolved that the old church should be
repaired, and the Ash saved the enormous expense that
would be incurredby erecting a Dew structure.
The number of candidates who underwent examination
this year for Winkles into the Polytechnic School was
464. Since the latitudes eta :uegguttlsr mode of compe-
tition, eller whisk are . this number
has seldom been ex=l.6 In 1812 the number of can-
didates was 447 ; het then the examination took. plow. at
Amsterdam, Mayne., Guam,. Arc. Out of ties 464
eesdidates, 105 wee ededited. as pupils.-4444006.64
Moszenper.