Star.
London, England, 1820-01-08 00:00:00

BIRMINGHAM rowwgamipio.

TURSIMY, JANUARY 4.
At twelve o'clock the Hton BAILIDIO took the Chair,
and read over to the Meeting the Requisition, io
compliance with which he had called them togetisep
to take into consideration the distressing state of Ma-'
nufactures and Commerce, and to enter into Resolu-
tions to Petition both Houses of Parliament to make"
inquiry into the causes of such distress.
CHARLDS LLOYD, Esq. Banker, moved the dwee
first Resolutions; and prefaced them by saying, that
the situation of the country, and of Birmiigham In
particular, was truly distressing, and milled most
urgently for an inquiry to be instituted into the causes
of such distress. He was a very old man, and his
townsmen would, he hoped, appreciate his motives
in coming forward upon this occasion, for nothing
bat the awful importance of the occasion, could have
justified him, at his time of life, in taking an active
part in public business. He had always promoted the
happiness of Birmingham, as much as lay in his power,
and he yet hoped to live to see the return of prosperity
to his townsmen. His speech breathed the purest
benevolence, and his venerable appearance gave an
uncommon interest to the proceedings.

RICHARD SPOONER, Esq. seconded the Resolutions
moved by Mr. Lloyd, in an animated and impressive
speech. He stated, that the cause of these unexam-
pled distresses called most imperiously for inquiry :
they were brought upon us by man, and they must
be removed by man. They were an unnatural state
of things. A country like this, possessing wealth,
and all the means of creating wealth, more than any
other country in the world, could never be reduced
to this deplorable state of misery and privation,
'without being under the influence of some fatal delu-
sion. In 1816, we were told that the distresses arose
from the transition from war to peace; but there was
now no such transition! Was it not strange that this
country could support a war of unexampled continu-
ance and expenditure, with a population compare.
Lively thriving and happy—yet in time of peace, no-
thing but beggary, pauperism, and ruin, stared every
man in the face? What was the end of war, but a state
of things, which gave plenty and prosperity to the in-
dustrious of every class of the community, and which
was always looked forward to as a compensation for
the evils that are endured in the progress of it. In

1317 and 1818, trade revived, and with it hope and
expectation that all would be well again, and that
the gloom and distress of 1816 had passed away.
But now, in 1820, the misery has become overwhelm-
ing, and we are plunged deeper and deeper in ruin.
The payments made to the Out-poor at the work.
house in December, 1816, amounted weekly to about
4.:700. The payments in December, 1819, to the Out-
pour, amounted weekly to about the same sum ; but
in 1816, the bushel of wheat was 15s. now it is only
bs. consequently, the number now receiving parochial
aid is nearly double to what it was in 1816. He
then alluded to the various plans for relieving the
poor, with which the Newspapers are filled, and
stated that it was mere delthion to think that the
mass of the population could be prcivided for in any
other way than a fair remunerai ion for their labour,
and that this 'remuneration must be found, or the
evils would cure themselves, and that at no distant
time. As to charity it would be ruin to think that
its efforts could be, or ought to be, efficient in re-
lieving the wants of the million. His speech was re-
ceived with great applause.
Mr. JOHN TURNER (button manufacturer) rose to
object to some of the observations of the-last speaker.
He thought that he had made some remarks which
were extremely improper, respecting Charitable In-
stitutions—(No, no !)—He insisted upon it •that he
had—(Hisses). He was not to be put down by cla-
mour. He observed a party in the Meeting whom
he had recognised at former Meetings—(Question.!)
The Thom BAILIFF requested that Mr. Turner
might proceed without interruptioq.
Mr. TURNER resumed. He said that he did not
understand Mr. Spooner's account of the Out-poor ;
but he had no hesitation in saying, that the cause of
the paupers being so numerous, was, they were idle
and improvident men, and many received relief who
were able to pay to the poor themselves. Hz. had a
man some years ago who was enabled, by employing
others under him, to get ten guineas per week—
(Hisses.—What has that to do tvith it!). He said,
men would not work—(Hisses). His mouth was not
to be stopped—(Give him some Pea' Soup!)—Mr.
Turner could not obtain a patient bearing, and sat
down, after thanking that small part of the Meeting
which had hot interrupted him. As to the others,
they were beneath his contempt—(Loud and general
laughter and hisses).
Mr. Sroowxa explained. He said Mr. Turner had
cemprtmented him for the goodness of his heart; butt,
he felt no gratitude to him far sacrificing his head at
the same time; and he would leave it to the Meeting,
_whether his head and his heart did, or did not, meet
their approbation?
Resolutions were passed, and very able speeches
were delivered by T. G. Sateox, Esq. Mr. JAMIE
Panasow, merchant; Mr. Porra, merchant; and other
highly-respectable Gentlemen,
Mr. J. }imam merchant, stzteif,4oi.the Manu-
facturers were themselves ills Cause of their own dis-
tress, in a great measure. /hey aile credit to vaga-
A .4', • •
bond merchants, c.arltal,* and their losses
mom from that Thf:Prt,e4nectiPt