The Statesman.
London, England, 1823-09-09 00:00:00

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e. Militia demist not *se iettetie eelsiiole, eieept
eon these foemal risks J the VbsoMPAffe Of Presbytery.,
wise*. nosenibly tO their ansnill=at only inquire'
mop wise anistelligibM . dos bowbt, astir
hoer ask whit veal k
Mon Mess Ili far mom . of -did teat state Of these'
WWI* OA* are .vi 6 IMleisfils house. than a great i
pedal date intellignit pieta the population of Europe
sad Lisestea. In seastiquestse of Ms ignorance, combinid
with his Prtinikest he le wholly loseespeteot to give a ra-
shest opinion rtiOsedieg dim.
Now as to the isloilin andAdoeption which' these Rev.
ileatlessea allege tilt I bete practised • upon the public.
.=tesdag the Need atskaef kW ishabitinta of New Le;
It is verspes possible I ma 4prepqsietsed in favohr of
'these paOple. 1 do waafttrer ii in mypower to over
some. is toy men mad, prejodices of *eery deseriptica,
testis all cheeksodesvose to drill my . eonclosioris frog
tow close.'hag studying tots.* a 'Won intend Mae
of one aster", I da ate*, hosiever, that t !SAW not sees, Ii
say part of tie wield In which I have been, an equal pc.
polatton bf work* people so nniforiely industrious, esbet,l
holiest, &Wady sad well sendsteted is all respects as-the to:'
babitaats of New Lanark have beet for many years pa •
sod I speak set figittly epos thew: copious. The populatioo
of New Lass& le now doable what it was 24 years ago; sod
before that peeled the Justice of Peace Court legator ly oont-'
pied during egged parrot every sitting lis taking conisansee
of the petty squabbles and trial-practices of the villagers; ant
this balms ematinued to increase up to the day when my
parterre and myself brat purchased the Establishosest.—
Now. It is asobjert of surprise to the Magistrates If a
single ammo's before them from New Lanark. while,
from the test of the neighbourhood, they have' as mach
betimes as ever. There is also a regular daily register
kept of the eonditet of every one who is. employed in the
mills; this account extends to (Mir degrees of comparison,
vie. excellent. good, indifferent or. bad, as applicable both
to their moral and working character: and it gives me
pleasure to state, for many years past more than 19 out
of 20 have deserved the first character, or excellent;
that move than 19 out of 20 of the remainder have me-
rited the second character. or good ; that the third cha-
racter is seldom given to any one for more than one day,
and that the fourth character, or bad, is scarcely to be
blond for a single day in the columns of any department.
The appeanee of this popeladon, as they go to and re-
tarn from their work, is quire seicient to convince any
intelligent observer that the inhabitants of New Lanark
are very superior, In their condition and general conduct,
to ney other working population to be found in any part
of the kissed's& There is no public house in the vilksge,
nor does any religious animosity exist among them; from
the youngest to the oldest they exhibit in their daily.prac-
tiee a love to (lad and to their neighbour, such as I bare
no where else ever witnessed. A quarrel among the chil-
dren is a very unusual occurrence ; and even the young-
est are seldom heard to cry either in the street or in the
schools.
Hut how should Mr. Menzlis know any thing of these peo-
pl.: t He scarcely ever visits them, except at a funeral, a bap-
tism. or a wedding, when he is obliged to attend. 1 am told
be has not regularly visited the %Wagers, in his official capa-
city for more than eight yeses, and that he has not exaslued
Isis parishioners in New Lenark for more than 20 years. I
know he has not entered the houses of some of the most coo-
slant of his hearers for more then 10 years. I believe the real
truth to be, that he found the inhabitants of New Lanark to
improve so rapidly In general good conduct, while he could
discover no material change In any other part of the parish,
that he directed the whole of his ministerial powers to improve
the latter, amongst whom, I hope, be has bad great seeeess.—
The tact is, he has derived his information respecting Nett Le.
nark, not from personal inspection, but from the reports of say
individuals whom he could discover to be in any way disaf-
Anted to the establishment, and who were always sure to ex-
perience his countenance and friendship; more particularly, a
poor young woman, who was for a short time employed in the
schools, with a view to give habits of cleanliness and neatness
to the little girls, but whose usefulness was almost totally de-
stroyed by an unfortunate propensity to iotermeddas withevery
thing ; a propensity arising, as it wen appeared, from a de-
rangement of her faculties on the subjeceof religion. This she
has already so often changed, that her mind has become entirely
unsettled, and bereft of all charity for those who may differ
from her present opinions, as is evident from the letters which
her friends, or rather her enemies, have induced her to publish
respecting New Lanark.
But Mr. Menzies and the Committee of the Presbytery say:
" there is one species of vice very prevalent at New Lanark,
-illicit intercourse between the sexes, as the parish records
abundantly testify, which frequently comes under the cogni-
sance of the Presbytery, but which is not recognised or
checked as such by the principles of Mr. Owen."
There is no single report which Mr. Menzies and the Coin-'
mlttee of the Presbytery of Lanark have been so active in cir-
culating as this. Fortunately, however, the fact is easily as-
certained; for every illegitimate birth here has been regis-
tered for many years past. When this list comes to be ex-
amined, with reference to the disproportionate number of
young females who are employed in the mills, and when It Is
considered how the population was first oollected, It must as,
tonish every unprejudiced person, that under such circuit'.
stances any female population of the same eXtent, could ha
trained to be so chaste end circumspect in their conduct, as the
females of New Lanark have been for massy years past.
The facts are these:—The number of illegitimate chil-
dren, born in the village of New Lanark, fur the last 12
Tears, is 66; or averaging between five and six a year.,
flee number of unmarried females liable to such a misfor-:
tune is 630; consequently, the number of illegitimate
children born in New Lanark for 12 years past, does not
amount in the year to one in a hundred of such young per-
sons. Of these, the fathers of 28 belong to the village; of
19 to the town of Old Lanark, and 19 are strangers. And
this the Committee of the Presbytery calls a prevalent vies
at New Lanark. Truly they seem to have had some diffi-
culty in finding any prevalent vice among them. For my.l
ow part. I can say that the conduct of the female portion
of our population, as well as that of the inhabitants gene-
rall7, has been such as I never expected to see realized in
practice, while they were .snrroonded by so many unfa-
vourable circumstances as still exist at New Lanark, one of
the greatest of which is, its vicinity to Old Lanark, and to
Mr. Menzies,
To Old Lanark—because it is the usual station for the'
Volunteer Corps of the County, when ow duty, and all
know bow nnfavootrable a military. station , is to female
'chastity; and beratwe nn notional plan has yet been adopt-
ed in practice, for the proper training und employm4nt of
the population there. And to Ir. Menzies—lmmense the
opinions and sentiments which he holds, anti which be con-
scientiotrsly considers it his duty to assent:in ste;are such as
cannot fail to stir rep son i to foment religious animosities,
aid to retard the general kntrotlactiaa of kind, jot. and
charitable feelings, which otherwise wduld, have been, loog
Niece estahliiheri In this liboriet: •
In reply %elite utiorepresectatinne of the Comtniftee of
the Presbytery of Lanark, I peg leave to inform. then, ilsat
a osori false report orfltg at 911114 ectiqol was newel be.
foie ptiblishea. l aauvoniciiliat surprised, tketmen Nemo.
sing goo(' end, eliaritablo.spritiqiplea.. could hnie set Melt
moues to's .stttelifelt wleck sonytine, tixt roAttine its-
teure:'' The Committee state With regret that fittleyos
no attention seems to be paid to the religious in traction of

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qienunft routax w ns.
.ff' -VOLLASTON, WINEMEIIC4IA NT,
,1176,Titearasiantreal. sear clawiatte; bits always on'
raged AM P.' Mk.; pa bawl; tilaparben Sherry,-
ef *PIM ; .264 Cr:ma:l4o4l4m . the Guest evar imported,
• Iple Ow Abe,: Teseellk, Atwell's. Lisboa,
eaz Mewls Claret. .(Bt. Julian) Ob.
ow. Ma. (01eSseis ela. per dez.; Mantes',
Mr.taa.liellalLf Old eed Port Warranted. fear•
misMillebbolib. pram. . .
Osilaired Owe otommo, o,lllinift vow?
buoio*}Zersooluft kolo ab=treedok' O!.;,
Amos to4l6ll:sitil
but Ike. 1. 0f,e4nt444914
Arai% 4ber • ideas ?sir '

teitLesidiging749Fre,irimiillolo% 0,44,1 ,11.0
the mat rot. Clirresowitto At Xises'
softtool4ihi florobttilmoitio. ert Cotomtile.ily
..-1111X70* liss ell PAM , eb• saga ous !OM KM.
i z= SIIIIERRY, alo. , pc .
don CAPS,
,1 la 104 Ii Swops, at leo. Or ses. A
=44l4...stitioei
odo.ot ANL of 11WoboviviStioos, bowies,
'Kb! 1 ordo4l 06 rocOot of 01. ;
fit WO dare Gooolistolvo, 100 le. for W. ; Madeira,
Uolkoliellloroolsina Ara 11- for doom—
ritojiltUVll
_—•Frook. imioo4 W Pion alwayo on.
WA' rra• • ma Cogisio• &tardy; Illo.• iii. per rain..
14 &WIN- lgol. 1111. Id. por ipolioa.-0111AMPACINES,
lootloodtd. No. per doses.
•,stoorosi• NEW* of die Moos Noy bo • whited ; Old
port.ls. per boils; nervy, lb.; Cap* Madeira, 1..6d. be.
Nosy to be psl4.-101 Clotit. •
• • noillloYdr Doosodolio Moe, hi tog quart bet**, 78.6 d.
per 4•0011,4114P.1PY 'ft. dam.

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leg SIRIRI4 VIVO'S

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Ilii'Mlildemi at ibis selseled." it the Cominittee hadnimi. s*
AtiediehletriAbaluted with 'the rent fait!. they mast
,lye'
mei bare dieeoverod thdt dieffeitese of this Statement wits .
,Hpetillirlyltiie, sod Oat dkrei is tit the Semi number of
'obildren to be found in anywise.% within the British Em
g=hali Ally praetke. for sulatileare peat, has et aced So
;It a kaowledge of reel reli on, not the religion of
%Simi endorsees certainly, fur 1 should regret 'Utensil) if
else of threes should elms exhibit the some spirit 'of dish).
4inloonsdess. and all .tseharitabletiess, which pet...rade& 410
reponownotoofisedthe Costa. ziet:eethoofwthobeillas
6iiiiirobikecPtreilin bity,kertryo.rerl
Hiltah; ,
heforlitkei world,. for it igloo' I otptittant to be made a V_Otty
4VeestioaketWien an individual and the Minister and, Pres-
byterY4f Linark. or Sven the General Aiseasibly of Sept-
ISs4 'The best interests of society are deeply Iltrolac4
is AWiss'n• of these proceedings:
! The Misistiti of Lanark, the Preshrteij of Lanark, aid
the General Assemtiliof Scotland, have led theysiblic to
iinptiose•" thai they. had been unatiecessfel in treiatitti:
Mr: Qwhill•ittempti tie exclude the scriptaiei front Ws
'it imoit at Moe Lenerle
The obeli ,of tMa stilmelduk IS folk ; there; is sot •
wbPd of tiothin it, fee L iiiistr,, Ibr a morisent, had the
Most distant Mee or oritiiiiriiiiog. the scriptures from the
'Schools; lot iodooti because I deem thaw a proper school
itotati but Manse the' petiole of the children have. been
edisedtedio lie Oilainisti,,and to think it right that their
cblidieniihoold read the seriptitise in schen&
The Minim/ and Coniedued of the Preallytery of Lan-
ark nay that I hake deceived the world ai to the moral state
of the vilibto it New laselatk. . .
This is false. 1 have never given to 0. puldie .itsch a
repreventation rof'the general toed conduct of thee? mile
as their cinetant; daily, superior behaviour, Weida Itiiitif.N.
They charge the population of .Nee Lanark with hvi
particilaily addicted to die vice •of illicit iniereouise, ho-
tween•the sexes. •
• The statement which I have given prone -tots to be 4o
unfounded slander On the . character of yon
they
whose conduct, under the circumstances in which are
placed. is most exemplary, and not to be surpassed, if
equalled, by any such population ib the world.
They state " that little or no attention seems to be paid
to the religious instruction of the children in the schools."
VI the inhabitants of New Lanark, and all strangers
who have taken the trouble to make themselves aelnainted
with these schools, know; that a more syrect falsrb sot was
never penned ; and I am trolly serpneed that any men
could be found to put their names to a statement sibkh so
many thous and persons can any day disprove.
The Minister and Presbytery of Lan irk, and a tualorfty
, of the members of the General Assesuhly of Scotland.
might know that there is not a population of the seine fa-
, tent, associating every day as the inhabit4nts of Now Linark
I must do to carfy on their occupations, whOse moral And
religions character, and good will and kind conduct t •
each other, can be paralb led In any part of the Britis:i
. dominions.
. And it is this very superiority that has tallied the i,l
s will and angry animadversions of these Ilevetend Gentle-
men ; otherwise, they would have foetid fault with all tho-e
• manufacturing establishments In Scotland, in uNich no aide-
, quite provisna for the education of ilia children is made br
1 the proprietors, where vice and immortality proceed en-
. checked, where the scriptures are never u:sest on a weekday,
I and wi.ere the illicit Intercourse of the sears is twenty or
I thirty fold greater.
I would however spin express how strongly I feel that
I these Rev. Gentlemen are Dot to be blamed, but greatly to
be pitied. It is a law of human nature that children ma/
be trained to believe any thing : as witness the A fatigue:-
' o dan Chinese and Pagan children. Now, these (indenter),
t
, have been taught from infancy that knowledge atudiroe
, religion and good conduct Can proceed only from mote-
, rids, which were forced at that period Into their teitdec
• minds. I have long been impressed with contrary notions,
• and have beefs forced to believe that these Gentlemen, like
1 the children of the Hindoos and Pagans. hive been taught
' mysteries and not facts, that, in consequence they hare been
brought up in ignorance, and trained to force the SWIM lira
notance upon others. and that by reason of this grieveus
error. ignorance, poverty, vice and misery are nfinecesiardy
perpetuated among mankind.
My real offence, in their eyes, is that I have considered
• it my duty to follow an opposite course to that which tLey
recommend; and that in consequence, the inhabitants ut
1 New Lanark have derived the greatest benefit. even
from the very partial change of system which 1 have in-
troduced.
I would here distinctly state my conviction that the ch,l-
- dren here, and the population generally, are as mach i wits-
rior to what they would become under a completely, r.i-
tional system of 'training, that should surround them witit
favourable circumstances only, as they are at present stye.
rier in habits, dispositions and general information...to
the most neglected Individuals to be found any where in
society.
My principles I have no Wirth to disguise. They are true
or false; agreeable to facts or opposed to them; and I at
willing to meet the General Assembly at Sty time and place
they may appoint, for the purpose of discussing, in an ,brit
and frieidly manner, those points wherein the principle:
which I advocate, may differ front those which they have
been taught to entertain, and which in consequero r they
deem it their duty to teach to cotters.
Should these Gentlemen convict me of holding on* Perin-
ciple which is not in strict accordance with ever3lctiowsi
fact, or of which the practical application is no: cirecilv
calculated to increase the knowledge, the virtue and tae
happiness of mankind, I will at once. before the world:III--
knowledge my min. But should Ihe able eatisfactorik
to prove that the system which I recommend will soon lila tt
every individual beyond the reach of poverty, will etillive-
ally exclude temptasion to evil, will permanently estahl•sts
the virtue, and continually promote the happiness of Jos•
world, then shall! expect that the time is arrived when the:
reverend body will no longerregard my advocacy of see!,
system as an offence, but will cordially unite with me iii
rendering their fellow creatures, daily aod hourly wiser an l
happier. .
If the General Assembly will not adopt this short anti
decisive step,. to bring before the tribunal of the public
what they must consider a dangerous heresy, l. must con,
elude that they are not desiroos of having the principie4
and practices of the two systems placed on fair and open
comparison. if fair it ran he called, when every possiirleal,
vantageis proposed wise given to the old systeni,..and Whets
the new shell be advocated against their united learning, il i
.
on. nnlearoed individual. .
My extreme anxiety on this subject arises from a sie,
acre th;l4,e.irroti which now prevail in society, an ttii,s
Miseries yrlo are experieoced by so many millions of !one
fellow crenturPe.,bite..a. i he. liteitish Empire. shoat)
.not continue to exist one day longer than is &beaten*
ungintitletlic• , is,, J-. ~..,/ .-_l, I I:l...Russar Wu.,"
New iianpzlt;Wtk
.A4E0'4,1823. • : ' • •91?

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ask
llia
Orpti
An alatnalegebo.broki one 'of, Sotidity• si ett; 1 1 VI
eleven and twelve...sloe's. at .the hook* otbir. Acir ,IM;
InatTY:gooks4lo. it:, Guinea Street', Citypiihi L 6, a
4tilesedrotilise stit, homer,: andAlnw44o,4lmae . z:
The activity of the firemen, and a good supply o ir e ?
prevented the fames fr ; m doing firtherininry.