Star.
London, England, 1826-08-05 00:00:00

• BIRMINGHAM MEMORIAL.

BIRMINGHAM, Aeovsz 3.
To the Manufacturers of tie Town of Birmingham, who signed the
Memorial to his Majesty's Governstmt, dated July 13, 1826.
GENTLEMEN—We think it proper to report to you
.• that at the instance of some of the principal Manufac-
turers of the Town, who signed the Memorial, we pro-
ceeded to London for the purpose of presenting it to his
Majesty's Governnient, and of answering any questions
relative to the sta•e of the TJwn, which Ministers might
think proper to ask. Upon our arrival in Under, we
addressed a note to the E arl of Liverpool, requesting the
honour of an interview, for the purpose of presenting
the Memorial, and his Lordship appointed Friday last,
at one o'clock. We were received with great courtesy
by his Lordship, in company with Mr. Secretary Peel,
the Chancellor of the Eschequer, and the Puesident of
the Bsard of T: ade.---These Ministers perused the Me-
morial with great attention, and made many inquiries
respecting tie state of trade in the town, and the causes
of the gene l distress, which they appeared to think
arose in a great .degree from overtradinffa. We ventured
to represent the impos.ibility of this, because during
the last year, to which the charge applied, all our manu-
factures were carried of by absolute consumption, quite
as fast as they could be produced; whereas now, in the
present year, almost all our manufactures are made for
Stxk, notwithstanding the workmen ate very generally
placed upon half work or less.
We further ventured to state, in answer to some ques-
tions put to us, that in our humble opinion, and in
that of many of the principal inhabitant's of Bir-
mingham, t'ie distress proceeded chiefly from the con-
traction of the circulating medium, and could not be
remedied without providing an ample and secure cur-
rency, adequate to meet the obligations and immense
engagements of the countrr.
The increase of our population, the amount of our
Poor Levies, the management of the Poor, and a variety
of matters relating to our Workhouse, and Parochial
Regulations, were specific objects of inquiry, with re-
ference to the statements contained in the Memorial,
and upon each of sham we gave the fullest information.
After an hour's conversation upon these important
subjects, our interview was terminated by an expression
of the strongest assurance from the Earl of. Liverpool,
that the facts contained in the Memorial should have the
most serious consideration of his Majesty's Government.
We could hive wished that nothing bad been made
public respecting our proceedings until the publication
of this report; but we find that some unjustifiable re-
marks have found their way into the public papers, one
of which it may be, proper to notice.
In Aria's Birmingham Gazette of yesterday, an article
appears (which we are persuaded never proceeded from
its respectable Editor) in which it is asserted, that ,g a
number of the principal inhabitants, deeply interested in
the manufacturing and commercial prosperity of the
town,declined countenancing the Measure, on the express
ground that the allegations contained in the Memorial
were not borne out by fact." As this representation may
be construed into a denial of the facts stated, we think
it proper to mention, that out of upwards of one hun-
dred of the principal manufacturErs of the town to whom
the Memorial was presented, not more than eight or
ten declined signing it. Of these, not one individual
denied the general correctness of Me facts stated. Oue or
two expressed their full concurrence, but stated, that
owing to some peculiar circumstances, their own trades
had not fallen off to the extent represented. Two or
three others concurred in the whole statement—but ex-
pressed their opinion, that the Chambee of Commerce
ought2to hive taken up the subject; and three or four
others represented that the subject ought to have been
brought forward at a Town's Meeting.
The Gentlemen with whom we acted, as well as our.
selves, were of opinion that the Chamber of Commerce
was.not the most proper body to take up the subject,
because the Chairman and Deputy Chair man, and many
of the most influential Members, are Bankers, who are
irritated and injured by the measures of Government,
and whose interests might by some be supposed to be
too much compromised by those measures to allow
grerr disinterested interference. With regard to a Town's
'Meeting, also, it was thought to be advisable to make a
private representation to Government in the first in-
stance, which might, perhaps, obviate the necessity of
a public measure of that kind, during a period of so
much excitement and distress. Under these impressions,
the Memorial has been signed by Manufacturers only,
who can have no other interest than that of the country
at large, who have the responsibility of employing the
mechanics and artizans ; and who are, of course, better
acquainted with their sufferings and privations than
either Bankers or Merchants can be.

We cannot but regret, that the sufferings and priva-
tions of these meritorious and unfortunate classes of
men should have been treated rather lightly in the
Paper above alluded to, because nothiug so soothes and
consoles a distressed population as the -knowledge that
their distresses are known and appreciated by their more
affluent neighbours.
We think it proper to make one other remark. We
have been informed, from good authority, that some in-
dividual in this town has had the meanness to write to
a Member of the Administration, for the purpose of
misrepresenting the statements made in the Memorial,
and of disparaging our humble exertions in making
known the real situation of the town, in a qua, ter from
whence alone relief can be expected. We have, how-
ever, the satisfaction of assuring you, that this unworthy
conduct has had no effect; for we had every reason to
be satisfied with the reception which we experienced
from his Majesty's Ministers, and with the kind and
anxious attention which they paid to our representations.

We insert below a copy of the Memorial, and of the signatures
attached. which, with the exception-of the Gentlemen' bove alluded
to, and of a few others who are absent from Birmingham, are gene-
rally those of the most respectable manufacturers of the town.
We are, Gentlemen, your most obedient servants,
CLIARLE.SJONES,

BENJAMIN HAULEY,
THOMAS CLUTTON SALT.

Birmingham, August 1,1826. __ _ _
We, the undersigned Manufacturers of the town of Birmingham,
think it our duty to make kniwn to hit Majesty's Government
the following statement of facts:

lat. For the last six months we have experienced a great, con-
tinual, and progressive falling off in the demand fur our manufac-
tures, anti an increasing difficulty in obtaining payment of our debts
due front even the most responsible houses.
2d. That in order to meet this state of trade, we have been corn
pelled to dismiss great numbers of our workmen, and have generally
placed the remainder of them upon four, three, and even two days'
work per week.
3d.: That notwithstanding these distressing reductions in the em-
ployinent of our wot kmen, we find that the diminished demand for
our manufactures requires still further lacrifices ;st hat we are keeping
open our manufactories at a great and positive loss, and many of us
apprehend that it wilt be necessary for us to close them altogether
ualessb is Majesty's Ministers can devise some measures for our relief.
4tit That some of us, whose names ate hereto affixed, have heel,
rganufacterers in this town from fortrto fifty years, and tbat during