Star.
London, England, 1818-08-17 00:00:00

THE SPLLVNL'RS AT MANCIIE3TER,

RXTMACT OF A PRIVATE LETTER FROM MANCORSTifi;

TO A GENTLEMAN IN 01411GOW. • I
" It may be matter of surprise to you in Glasgow
how the SpiPners can so long remain out of employ-
ment. It is known here that when the Ashton Spin-
ners a fcw years since stood out for higher wages,
About 23,0001. was advanced them by the Manchester
Spinners, which sum the latter are now receiving
hack by instalments. It is also known that those
who have employment, contribute towards the su
port of those who have turned-out, and the quiet and
orderly demeanor of the " tuns-outs" enables them
to levy contributions fro.: other classes of working
people, who look rather favourably to their cause.—
The Stockport Si.inners go round the country, and
are assisted by the farmeis and country tradesmen.
The Spina:rs, in the handbills they Lave published,
say they do not ask any advance c;-, the reneral rate
of wages, bat merely wish them t,. be what they were
previous to a reduction which they had consented to,
on the promise that whenever the price of yarn al.
lowed it, they should have their old wars. They con-
ceive their masteis can n w fulfil their promise, and
after their attempts otherwise to ob:ain the old rates
have faired. they say they have no alternative left buL
4 general turn out.'"

FROM WHEELER.S MANCDRiTER CHRONICLE, OF
SATURDAY, AUGUST 11

" We are sorry to observe that the question re•
specting wages, which has been so long pending be-
tween the Masters and the or.erative Spinners, still
remains unsettled ; and that the same spirit of hosti-
lity continues• to be shewn to those men who are dis-
posed to return to their lawful employment, which
has so repeatedly and daringly been (gyred in the
course of this alarming contest We have also no-
ticed the varioui papers which have been circulated,
and placarded upon our walls, to mislead the Public.
and to excite the men to continue in their illegal
combination ; and we deem it necessary that the
public should be correctly informed, and that state-
ments, void of truth, should not remain uncontra-
dicted. We have therefore taken some pains to pro-
cure correct information, and we can pledge ourselves
that the facts we now sale are authentic.

" Doling the greatest part of the years 1816 and
1817 the weavers, and almost every other class of
manufacturers and labourers in Lancashire, excepting
spinneis, suffered excessively from low wages and
want of employ-meat. The spinners had full and
constant work, and high wages during the whole
of this time. • No cla .s of people have had such
constant and uniform employment for the last
twenty-eight years. as they have had ; and tins
advantage the Spinner enjoys at the risk and ex-
pense of his employer; fur such is the nature of the
trade, that when once a Cotton-mill is completed and
fully set to work, it cannot he stulped, or even :ri=
terrupted, without peat loss to the Proprietor. The
interest of his sunk capital, his rent, insurance, sala-
ries of principal servants, decay of machinery, &c.
are nearly the same whether his mill be standing or
going; and thew amount to so heavy a loss, arid he
frequently finds himself in such a situation, that he
must continue to employ all his people at full work,
and for many months together, although he cannot
sell to a profit.
The working Spinners have not only enjoyed
this constant employment, but they have had much
higher wages than any other numerous class of ma-
nufacturers. At the time they turned-out for an ad-
vance, they were receiving the same wages that had
regularly been paid them for nine months previou,
to that period ; and we have ascertained that the net
average of weekly wages paid to men spinners from
the Ist of January last to the middle of June. when
they turned out, was upwards of this ty• one shillings;
and for boys and ;...tirls, spinners, upwards of seventeen
shillings ; clear of all charges and deductions what-
soever.

" Contests of this kind, which have for their object
an advance of wages, have generally defeated the end
for which they were entered into; and where the ope-
rators have usurped the controul of their employer;.
or where insubordination has prevailed, to the tic-
gum interruption of business, those particular
branches which have been thus exposed, and which
in our several manufacturinF, districts hale been lo-
calized, have gradually declined—the or cupathais by
which thousands gained a comfortable subsistence
have been lost to them. 'The present depressed state
of the manufactures in which the hatters, the hosiers,
silk weavers, &c. sk ere employed, and which had-by
ingenuity, industry, and perseverance, been raised to
a pitch of great national importance, is chiefly owing
to that kind of overbearing influence which is now,
most unjustly and illegally,,employed to deprive the
master-spinners of the controul of their own concerns,
and must ultimately, if not successfully resisted, add
another to the melancholy catalogue of events most
distressing avid ruinous in their consequences.

"'MACCLESFIELD, AUGUST IL

" Two troops of the 6th Dragoon Guards are now
stationed in this town. Troops of the same Regiment
are also stationed in Leek and Congleton. We are
sorry that the turbulent spirit which has manifested
itself in some of our neighbouring towns, should
hive required their presence among us; but our regret
is considerably heightened in knowing that means
have been taken to create a similar discontent among
'the peaceable and orderly artizans of our Borough.
Most earnestly do we caution them to avoid giv►ng
any ear to those who, in the dark of nig4t, have at-
tempted to scatter a fire-brand among diem."