Star.
London, England, 1826-10-05 00:00:00

BLACKBURN, SEPT: 1816.

Most people say, the reports of the distress among
the labouring classes were great exaggerations in respect
to the extent of the distress in general. In Lancashire,
there are several hundreds of thousands of labouring
people (men, women, and children, of both sexes) de-
pendent on the cotton Manufacture, the great bulk of
whom consist of spinners and weavers. Now, the spin-
ners have at no time suffered much; in some places,
not at all. At Preston, for instance, there they have
all through been kept at full work. In other places
where there was a suspension, it was only for a short
time, and now they are again earning in Blackburn,
20s. to 80s. per week.
The weavers, on the contrary, have been much dis-
tressed ; indeed, during the last two years their wages
have been declining, in a great measure, on account of
the increase of power looms, but from other causes also.
It is admitted, that at present, in Blackburn, weaving
by hand is much cheaper (so low are wages) than by
power. But, besides their making a better texture, there
are collateral advantages in using power looms ; so that
power looms are likely to increase, and, consequently,
there is no reasonable ground to expect that the situa-
tion of the hand weavers will improve.
For some months the wages of hand weavers were,
and still are, low beyond conception ; for weaving a
piece of 28 yards cloth here, they are now paid only
Is. 9d. at the worst, it was done even as low as 9d. and
a weaver must work hard to weave four pieces in six
days. The weavers, many of whom have large fa-
milies, are thus dependent on the poor rates ; and it is
believed; that, during the ensuing winter, they will
require other assistance in addition, say, for clothing
and fuel.

It should be remarked that, in proportion as the
master spinners or manufacturers failed in any one
town, in the same proportion has been the extent of
suffering. Where the great majority of the masters
failed, nothing was left to uphold the community. At
present, there is pretty general employment for both
wearers and spinners.
Since goods have, as respects labour, been, in a considerable mea.
sure, paid for by the parish, and the low price of the raw material
Concurring, it is no wonder that goods have been selling at low prices.
For the lowest desaiption of 28 yard calicoes, at one moment,
the market price was ss. 6d. and the lowest, 61. 2d. 12 yard cam-
bric. at the same.

All the towns of Lancashire are generally, at present, garrisoned
with a detachment of cavalry, besides infantry.

FONTHILL, a.
A very extensive manufactory for superfine cloths
and kerseyn3eres has recently been erected on a part of
this far•famed and naturally beautiful domain. It is
situated on the boundary of the lake towards Tisbury.
There are some neat cottages built at the side of it for
the workpeople. The mill, which is driven by a water-
fall from the lake, is said to be of immense power.—
The manufacture is in its infancy, but is capable of fur-
nishing employment to at least 1,000 bands. At present
there are about 130 employed, many of whom came
'from chippenham to found the establishment. These

people are constantly employed, and earn good wages.
Numerous applications for work hive been made from
other towns, in which the trade is nearly stagnant, but
ifis desired to employ the people of the- seighbouring
parishes, rather than to draw webpulation loom distant
ones. Mr. Beckford employed a great many builders
and labourers in rearing his buildings and forming his
pleasure grounds and plantations, and fortunately for
the poor, the erection of these new manufactories has
found them employment recently.
In the neighbouring parish of Hindon the poor rates
are said to be 14s. in the pound, the population being -
only 900, and the land only about 200 acres. The
neighbouring farmers are overdone with labourers at
this season, and of course they employ their own pa-
rishioners first. There being so little land in Hindon,
no manufacture, and very few persons of property or
engaged in trade, there are at this moment a great
many able-bodied men and boys dependant on the
parishes for support, and loitering about the streets.—
Mr. Beckford some time since appropriated twelve acres
of land for gardens for the poor, which is found to be
of great use to them, and he demands no rent for it.—
His interest in the borough has been purchased lately
by Lord Grosvenor, who has erected some new cottages
in lieu of others which had fallen into decay.
Lord Calthorpe has also an interest in the borough,
and returns one Member to Parliament. He established
a school here for thb education of the children some
time since; but that which they want is some profitable
labour. Constant work for about fifty men and boys
would set the town alive. Foothill is in the parish of
Tisbury, which is of great extent, and includes the house
and farms of Mr. Benett, one of the Members of Par-
liament for Wiltshire. This Gentleman farms about
1,100 acres of land, and did some time since keep in
hand nearly 5,000.
The farniers here complain greatly of the low price
of wool and stock sheep. The wool which was worth
2s. 3d. the lb. will net sell for more than 7d. at present.
The labourers here are paid about Bs. per week, and if
they have large families, their wages are made up to
ls. 3d. each person per week front the parish. The grass
lands and turnips were never known so fine at this sea-
son of the year. Game is most abundant in the pre-
serves at Fonthill, Pyt-house, and Wardour.

,

'•-•

Tti.A LADY.

Q! who in life has journey 'd far.
Beneath *mild and fav'ring star.
And has not wen dark, clouds arise
To dim Dope's fairest, brightest skies?
And who baa then not vrish'd to end
A soft and care-dividing mind?
When ranune's flowers aresodos fade,
Or seeming friendship has boomed.
And she black world with chilfkig frown.
Would press the sinking sleds* down i
nris sweet to know that ate wM feel, •
MI which the grief-oiled sighs reveal.
0 yes! amidst the varied care—
The deep and common mortal share—
There still will beans, in thii dear wee,

A light to cheer the travel* en ;
And be will-always ibmili Imps •
The tender and best consfortir.:
And I have found it so in thei„ •
Thoti child of warm sincerity !
Tbough Fortune's smiles with joy elate,
Or. gloom surrounds sy deem fate,
I fondly turn to thee, and And
The ever bright and changeless mind ! C. P.

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