Star.
London, England, 1818-03-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE STAR.

SlR—The following facts appear to be deserving
of serious attention at this moment, with reference to
the subject of labour, and other points connected with
the economy of Cotton Factories.
It is not perhaps generally known, or at least not
sufficiently considered, that on an average calcula-
tion, the quantum of labour performed in one tiny by
a poor working Spinner is adequate, in extent of time,
to what would be deemed, in most other occupations,
to constitute the proper task cf a day and a quarter,
and be requited as such with proportionable wages.
This c;,:unnstance. I think, is very important, and
for these reasons ; it tends to shew, in the first placz,
what a severe and unmerciful requisition is made on
the poor man's time and strength in this employment;
and in the next, that tl:e ostensibly great wages given
by Master Spinners to their workmen are nothing
better than a tempting fallacy; that when the delu-
sion is, stript off, it will be found in fact that they pay
no more for their work than. Masters in various other
trades; and that all the real difference is, that in
other occupations, the poor man is allowed comfort-
able seasons of rest and refreshment, unknown to the
labourer in a factory ; makes less money in a day, only
because much less work is required of him; and pre-
serves, in the one case, his health, his comfort, and
perhaps his morals; whilst in the other he incurs a des-
perate risk of losing every one of these inestimable
blessings ; for which no gain in this world can be an
adequate compensation.
Of the ejects of the plan at present pursued in Cot-
ton Mills on the health of the persons so employed, it
enters not into my purpose to speak more particu-
larly. Suffice it to observe, that there is evidence in
abundance, and that of weighty import, to prove, be-
yond all controversy, that those effects are shockingly
pernicious, and matter for deep lamentation to every
true lover of his country and of mankind.
But there is one point, Sir, distinct from all pre-
vious considerations, which I am anxious to submit
to the particular notice of the Ley-payers, and all
who contribute to the support of the Poor within the
town of Manchester. It is simply this, and I am ena-
bled to state it on the best authority, and after careful
investigation ; namely, that although the proportion
of Inhabitants of this Town immediately dependent
on Cotton Mills for support forms between a third
and afourth part of the whole population. the sum
total of Poor Rates collected from the Owners of
Factories and their dependents, for their Mills and
'Dwelling-houses, appears, on a fair estimate, to form
' nut so much as one .Tsvelfih Part of the Aggregate
Amount of Money adually collected under the operation
of the Poor Rates ! This is a fact which certainly
merits grave attention ; and I presume the Ley-
payers of Manchester and Salford might find it their
Interest to found some practical measure upon it.
What I have further to observe at present is, that
as it cannot be doubted that Cotton Mills are a prin-
cipal means of cau.ing such a prodigious influx of the
Poor into this Town; and as the temptation which
they offer consists in the superior wages given by
their Owners ; and this, again, is owing to the present
immoderate hours of labour, by which those Owners
seek to indemnify themselves ; therefore the Bill of
Sir ROBERT PEEL, should it pass into a law, promises,
by curtailing the hours, to operate ;di imately a sensi-
ble relief V'the present enormous burden if Parochial
7asation ; inasmuch as it will, by such a regulation,'
have the effect of equalizing the wages cf that species
of labour with what is customary in other occupa-
tior.s, consequently of taking away the specious but
ruinous allurement by which the poor man is tempted
to leave his distant home, (and, with that, too often
his health and his morals), to come and settle in the
neighbourhood of Cotton Factories ; whereby is
created a population, vast, unnatural, indigent, and
diseased, whose maladies and immoralities together
form an afflictive visitation to the district so circum-
stanced, and the burden of whose support is scrionsly
oppressive, whilst at the same time the least propor-
tion of it is borne by those who are the principal oc-
casion of this gigantic evil. ArI:ITIDES.
Nasr.laitcr, Mara 16, tets.