Star.
London, England, 1819-08-17 00:00:00

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LONDON.

THE EVENING STAR.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 17, 1819.
THE FUND&
PRICE Of eroding THIS DAY AT OSIE O'CLOCK
Bank Stock 231} 232
3 per Cent. Reduced 721111
3 per Cent. Consols 711 721
Si per Cent. 84+-4 per Cent. 9111,1
5 per Cent. Navy 1051 104 j
Bank Long Annuities 3-16
India Stock 221 220—India Bonds 14 lg pre.
Exchequer Bills (2d.) 12 pre.
Omnium 5 5 pre.
Consols for Acct. 711 721 711.

As might have been expected, Mr. HALE'S letter
ca the impolicy and injustice of reducing the wages
of workmen below the rates absolutely necessary even
for their subsistence, has brought forth various ano-
xymous writers in the Daily Papers, who have re-
peated, with much self-complacency, the old doc-
trine that labour is a commodity, and like every other
commodity should be allowed to find its level in the
market; but, like all their predecessors on the same
side, they have carefully kept out of view the im-
policy of suffering a system to continue, which puts
it in the power of interested individuals, by artificial
and adventitious aids, to force down the price below
it: natural and proper level. They seem to be 9onverts
to one of the leading artifices employed by Mr.
WILKE3, who, when asked how he could so confi-
dently propagate, on a certain occasion, as true,
v hat he must well know would soon be known by all
the world to be a falsehood ? replied, ,‘ The lie, in
the meantime, answers my purpose; for before the
truth shall be found out, I will have gained the ob-
ject for which I maintained the falsehood!" Not con-
tent, however, with repeating their favourite doc-
trine, they have attempted to illustrate it by con-
trasting the state of trade, &c
.in.Spitalfields, where
there is a fixed scale for the wages of the workmen,
v ith that of Macclesfield, where, by the bye, when
trusters have agreed to fixed prices, they are permit-
ted to s iolate the compact whenever it suits their
interest.

•
We might 'easily show that to contrast a place where
th e law regulates the wages, with one where the master's
wits, and the measure of his curidi.'..y is the sole law, is
not the way to get at a general truth. But we waive
this at present, and shall take a statement of one of
these writers, merely to shew how easily any anony-
mous individual may offer garbled facts as indispu-
table truths—" There is," says he, " an extensive silk
manufacturing district, not mentioned by Mr. HALE,
which may be fairly contrasted with Spitalfields,
the thriving town of Macclesfield, in Cheshire, at
no great distance from Manchester, Stockport, and
within what are now considered the disturbed districts.
The leading articles of the loom of the two districts
are similar —the comfort, employment, quiet and or-
derly conduct of the labouring poor of Macclesfield,
not inferior to Spitalfields ; and, in its increased and
rapidly increasing silk manufacture, leaving every
other silk district far behind. Why this flourishing
district, so circumstanced, not only was not chosen
for the contrast with Spitalfields, but not even men-
tioned in the letter of Mr. BALE, will readily be con-
jectured ; because having attained all these advan-
tages, without any system of regulated prices of
labour, the contrasting this district with Spitalfields,
would be conclusive against any support the system
of regulated wages could receive from the circum-
stances of the silk manufacture."
It is plain, from this writer's stile, that his measure
for ascertaining the prosperity of any manufacture is,
the quantum of wealth it yields to the employers.
We contend, on the contrary, that this measure is one

that is quite fallacious; and that no manufacture can
. be in a thriving condition which puts the workmen
in a state of starvation. Now, how stands the whole
case as to Macclesfield? Simply thus: Macclesfield
continued in a peaceable flourishing state, as it re-

garded the Silk Trade, from the year 1796 to 1815.
During that period the Journeymen were paid a fair
price for their labour, agreeably to REGULATIONS
MUTUALLY AGREED UPON, AND WHICH WERE PRINTED
AND SIGNED DT THE MAsrcas. But in the year 1815,
the cruel system of reducing wages commenced, and
has since been systematically acted upon. The Masters
proposed a reduction of from 25 to 30 per cent.
The consequence was, that the men immediatelyl
44 struck work," and much unpleasant altercation was
exhibited on both sides; almost all the looms in
Macclesfield were at a complete stand for some
weeks, and serious consequences were apprehcnded
superior situation of the mas-
hold out the longest, and the
haying any choice, were at last
!!—Thus proving the truth
that '- all disputes

the workmen. " Should they
workman, they can generally
die stocks they have already
could subsist a week,
year

I:
IL
LA
I.

IV '• WCGS.3, :lama ........... a • •
from the dispute. The superior situation of the i
• ters enal led them to hold out the longest, anc
, journeymen, instead of having any choice, were at
starved into compliance !!--Thus proving the t
of ADAM SMITH'S statement, that in all dial
about wages, " the Masters can always hold
• ' much longer" than the workmen. " Should
not employ a single workman, they can gene
live a year or two upon the stocks they have alr
acquired. Many workmen could not subsist a v
few could subsist a month, and scarcely any a
without employment."
In November. 1817, the 11%acclesfteld journal
p:
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