Star.
London, England, 1828-11-25 00:00:00

GENERAL MOURNING.

Yesterday afternoon a public meeting of manufactu-
rers and venders of fancy goods was held at the London
Coffee House, Ludgate-hill, to consider the propriety
of petitioning his Majesty that he will be graciously
pleased to curtail the period at present customary in
cases of issuing his commands for general mournings--
Mr. J. W. LIDDIARD in the Chair.

The CHAIRMAN having read the requisition con-
vening the Meeting, said that he sensibly telt the inde-
licacy of addressing his Majesty on such an occasion.
The Meeting were aware that a few years since the
period to which general mourning% extended had been
reduced one half, and that at the time was considered
a great boon---bur, under exi:ting circumstances, and
considering the present state of our manufactures,
the last order for a general mourning was to a nume-
rous class of persons a very serious evil. Certain !Lao-
lutions to that effect would be submitted to the Meet-
ing, and which he trusted would meet with their appro-
bation.

Mr. Hem (of Wood-street) said 04 in the early
part of the reign of George the Third, general onsorn..,
ings continued for a period of twelve months. A Peti-
tion was presented from the silk weavers and others,
praying that the time might be shortened, to which
his Majesty lent en attentive ear, and it was limited
to six months. Petitions and representations from
other bodies had since been forwarded to the Sore-
, feign, who, ever anxious t' promote the welfare of his
people, had since limited the period. to six weeks ; and
since that his present Majesty had ordered that general
moornings, in the event of the decease of any branch
•of the Royal Family, should only continue for three
,weelcs and the Court mourning for six weeks. He
thought that as short a period as possible. They ought
not to consider the question merely as one of profit and
loss, but to show something like respect and veneration
for the Royal Family, or they would deserve the appel.
lation Bonaparte had bestowed upon them—of being
a nation of shopkeepers—(Hear, hear). He should be
sorry to have the question pressed upon Government at
the present period, when several members of the Royal
Family were of cted ith painful illness—it would
have a bad effect on the feelings of Engli,hmen gene.
rally. He wool.' wish the opinion of Iris Majesty's Mi-
nister: upon the suSject should be aicertained,for which
purpose a Select Committee of the Trade might be
appointed, and he had no doubt they would pay the
greatest attention to any suggesti.rn that tended to the'
benefit of the persons who so applied to them.
Mr. BROWISI said, he was aware of the delicacy of
approaching the Royal Person on such an occasion, but
repreientation cf their grievances might be made
'through the constituted authorities, either the Board of
Trade or the Lord Chamberlain. The evils of a ge
steal mourning were severely felt by a great number
of tradesmen, some of whom were nearly ruined by the
sacrifice they *ere compelled to make of their capital.
It would be injustice to suppose that his Majesty would
not attend •to the complaints of at least six hundred
thousand persona, *hose interests were materially af-
fected bythe present system, which paralysed the exer-
tions of tile manufacturer, arrested the ingenuity of the
invetstorAitnd discouraged the ttadesmen from becoming
purchasers. He then moved that a Committee be ap-
pointed to collect information of the evils arising to
rations branches of English manufacture, from the pie.
sen_cletod allotted to general and court mourning.
111r...10norion seconded the resolution.

14;:iviooft-----ithoughtdlat bythe-present system of
Court mournings every concession was made that the
ttade could reasonably'require. Did they wish to abolish
general mourbings altogether? If they did, they ought
mantully to say so at once. He believei they had
'Wised.* bugbear that was more formidable in imagina-
tion than fact.

Mr. TAYL6II said, the present Meeting had been got
rup by some disappointed speculum in coloured goods,
who, if they had supplied the retail trade before the
mourning commenced, would have left them to take
care of themselves.—After a lung discussion, the original
motion was put and carded.
Thanks were then voted to*the Chairman, and the
'Meeting separated.

A dreadful accident happened last week near High-
gate, which terminated the life of a respectable in-
habitant named Lemm, of Potter's Bar. The Gentleman
was returning from ndon with a young hone in a gig.
when the horse suddenly took fright and ran away.—
The Gentleman attempted to get out at the back of the
I gig, *Len • pat caught, and he was dragged a cos
siderable • • when picked up he was quite lifeless.
Verdist, 4 Nadu"