The Statesman.
London, England, 1818-09-26 00:00:00

vrtiE sItATESMAN

NSW LANARK. - •
• u 3
EXTRACT 07 A LETTER, bATEtt AUGUST 25-
1 promised to give you somaccount of the visit
pi(t to New &nark, because you more (hawonce
expressed a desire of learning all the Particulars I
could collect respecting the grand Eialopiao Esta-
blishment of Mr. Owen. I was willing myself to be
silent on the stager, becituat I was fai 'from ohlain-
ii.g the full and satisfactOry information I hoped to
have gained, during a residence of 14 days on the
spot. I fully designed sets have attentively perused
Mr. Owen's pamphlet before visiting the mills, and
should have taken the liberty of calling on him to
hose heard his practical inferences on a system which
has been submitted to so'fair a trial ; but I could not
procure a reading of his book, or a communication
with himself, as he went to Switzerland with two of
his sons a few weeks before our arrivol at ',spark.
I very frequently stalked through the village of the
new town, which contains about 2000 iuhsbitants,
ell in some way connected with the cotton mills.—
They are lodged in neat, comfortable-looking houses,
built of stone, which Make a beautiful appearance
from the heights on both sides of the River Clyde,
particularly on the Lanark side, where many hand.
some, well-constructed gravel walks have been made
by the company, at great espence, for shortening
the distance to the mills, in descending a considerable
hillock, round the base of which the old road wind*.
There are other walks; so judiciously contrived, that
the infirm may avoid the laborious ascent of the bill:
many of these are through rising plantations, com-
manding fine views, sod must certainly conduce much
to the enjoyment, as well as the convenience of the
artisans. The mills are immense buildings, five Model
high, and one, if I recollect right, contains near
200 windows, they are four in number, there e,'
these existed before Mr. Owen came there. Vie Viejo'
conducted- through these by the Secretary, who was
so patiently polite as to indulge os with a minute in.
spection 9f all the machinery while working, sod
who explained the 'redoes proeitsses from the cleans-
ing the cotton, in the rough style, to the pressing
end packing up the banks fit for esportatioo. The
machine most admired is that which cards, but that
which pleased toe most was a kind of winnowing Jut-
plemeot. Its this they place the rough cotton, which
it submitted to the action o, numerous beaters, by
this the dust and dirt Of all sorts being extricated
pass through a kind of sieve, while the depurated
cotton is forcibly blown forward by a powerful cur-
rent of wind, and erectly resembles a shower of
snow. I never sew any Machinery so complete as
that now in use, not having visited cotton-mills for
many years before. There Is a splendour in the ap-
pearance of these spinners which seem to denote
the utmost perfectios in the art, and yet probably
in the course of it few yews' they may be replaced
by new contrivances, and be condemned as in.
efficient. Such is the progress of mechanical know.
*dee, that eft can aMicety set any bounds to im-
provement in the arts ; end happy would it be for the
'Haman race, if Mr. Owen could as certainly reform
the vices and ameliorate the condition of his fellow.
creatures, as the ingenious mechanic can multiply
the necessities, and pamper the luxury of the opu-
lent. This brings me naturally into the consider*.
Lion of the system which he has announced as se
admirably adapted to work a reformation in the
morals of his colony. It would appear, that what-
ever be may ultimately do to make them more vie-
Woos or contented than their neighbours, they are
not set verging towards that point. In answer to
snotty interrogatories as, to their condition, I heard
that his village contained the same mixture of Ma.
faders as other places, that is to say, the good, the
tied, and the indifferent. Those with whom I con-
versed appeared by no means anxious to represent
Mr. Owert ale Patriarch, whose chief carp is that
Of doing good to' his People, but seemed to in-
einuste that the shears of the shepherd rlippod
somewhat too deep while sheering the fleeces of his
flock. Tim proprietors of the mills suffer no strops
to be opened in their village, except those founded
by themselves, where they vend' provisions, coals,
clothes, end storys of all kinds for the workmen.—
I naturally expected they would be satisfied, with
low profits, hut the People complain of being
charged at a high rate for every thing, and aver that
they are the first to advance, and the last to re-
duce prices, although in consequence of importing
large quantities they could afford to supply every
article cheaper than the shopkeepers in Lenark.-
11ere then, you must perceive, there exists .1 ge-
vent cause of dissatisfaction. I was assured by
one of the workmen (a shrewd Scotchmsti), that
the Company, gains more by clothing arid vic-
tualling the artisans than by the goods they ma-
nufacture. During the awful stagnation of trade
and commerce which succeedral the peace, when
so many unfortuitate beings Were destitute of
work, Mr..owen,
.it is said, furnished immense
slumbers_ with employment. Now that was cer-
tainly doing a positive good, for which he ought.
to receive the thumbs of the community, More ewpe-
dally some of the "Folks In which they, en-
gaged were not profitatle to the concern. There is
tonsetbing consolatory in the idea of a ass's being
able to, procure constant work for all hlt family,
who sre,well lodged, clothed, and victualled with-
out his giving himself shy trouble about the matter.
To some'who had been exposed to all the vicissitudes
of precarious existence, end who were often reduced
to urgent distress for want of permanent empley::
'went, who. were turned oat of doors because they
could not pay their rent, and whose- being were
agpuised by seeing their wives and children in danger'
of starvatiOn, such a change must hive been pro-
drictiVe of unspeakable felicity. •Thisis the briirobt
side of the picture, and you would,. suppose *aril
people would pass the remainder of their days in a
ilatn of blessed content, if yoli did not know it was
not• whined LW mortal men should remain long
es!tlified With their lot. Is would apoear•thet iris
not the object of Mr. Owen to ho his workmen
grow rich, akthey often expend 611.0'7 mon; This
seems.' a great defect in, hie 'vital,. Ile should elso
adop,t some mode' le reform' the prodigal and' make
the 'thoughtless provident. 'they told Mettler. were
'nple at the mill who bad not ffisgered any money'
for ten years. Yoq will tell me iris a species of rr.
fanny to dictate to a MR I) tiovelti 'shall dispose ofthe
tonnry'he has so dearly'etrued by the sweat orbit
Lt The same may be said-of a parent'llalo puts

his children .ondor luny reatraiuts with the sole In-
tent of .promoting their welfare. If Mr. Owen pre-
sented his 'people from • upending their earnings is
superfluities he would perform the part of a father to
them, and -afford such a proof of disinterested con-
duct is would satisfy the world that he• was sin-
cere is hie profession of philanthropy. It may be
said, that should the Mill Company refuse to credit
a workman, be may rate his wages elsewhere
and spend it in pnofligacy ; but as the artisans soh•
jut themselves- to certain established vales when
they joiu this colony, they should be . silo pat
ender the whelesonse restraint of saving some.
thieg to provide - foe themselves wiles sickness
of infirmity residue them incapable of labour.
sailors were silage& to take ep from the
.purser as many slops and as much tobaccoes they
chose, it is well known that asany of these incon-
Wrists beings would have little or no pay to receive
at the expiration of the year. Their expenditure is on
that account subject to the controul of officers, wb
become guardians of their property ; and however
despotic the exercise of loch a power may appear, it
is an set of disinterested kindness to restrain thole
prodigality. 'Chose who employ labourers to work
for them in Irisland, are also. obliged to keep back
some portions of their Rgy upon the same principle.
It is, in feet, a stretch of power to controul the do.
mystic economy of an artisan ; but I think if it .was
strained as far as to curb the extravagance in dress
which prevails among the girls at New Lanark, it
would haves happy influence on their morals. I
was surprised to sea how gaudy they appeared on a
Sands)!; but in Scotland the lose of finery appeals
nett, if possible, mere prevalent than in England ;
every little cottou.spinnor is a fasnionist. You
would be highly amused by the travelling costume
of plebeian belles in Scotland. They are frequently
to he met in entslin•g..wns, with fine bonnets mounted
with feathers, carryiog an umbrella in one band,
and their aho»s and stockings in the other, tramping
the dusty roadie, muddy pavements.

t

nasty
had almost forgot to mention how much I was
delighted by the system of education adopted at
tie Liiiigrk mitts. The artisans are compelled to send
their children le school. They are taught after the
modes of Bell and Lancaster, evenlthe girls are drawn
up rank and file, and go through a species of eget-
cise. As we were treated with peculiar attentioo,
the scholars went through all their etarieuvres ;
after marching and coonter.eterching, dressing end
wheeling, some of them were drawn up to dams,
reels and country dances, and to conclude the per.
(opulence, the best singers lilted one of Borne's ex.
quisite songs; when falling again into the ranks
they marched into their schoolrooms, some of the
boys acting as fifers and drummers; so that you see
the Muses and the Graces are employed to finish the
wo,k which Mars sad Bellows began. All this sp.
penred. rather a finikin exhibition, but it inspired de-
lightful feelings, because the children were evidently•
raised above the-condition of that squalid misery for
which the offspring of our artisans ate often remark.
able. They are to be dressed in a kind of uniform
in future:• we saw some thus habited, who looked
very well ' • the boys wear kilts and jackets of green
tartan, and the gowns of the girls are to be of the
same. Those who are. now employed as teachers
seem actuated by a generous teal, and take wonder.
ful paincin forwarding the education of the children.
This system is.made ewer:impiety, that even the young
creatures who can-just run about, are collected into
one !sip room sod kept during school hours, until
they arrive st.s proper age for being instructed, then
they,are taken into theclasses. ThiX plan is very
beneficial to the parents, as they ere relieved from
the care Nod trouble of looking after them? we went
into this room, where they were seated on the Boor,
and as we walked round they got up to shake hands
eith.us. This plan will prevent them from being
and diffident, and I hope it will not. make
them pert and brasen.

friend or relations, bet at knit the toltowing was ex-
tracted frem her :--Airtme years ago her mother died,
and bee father married a second wife ; she was then
Sent to service et a Gentleman's house, is the vici-
nity of Sobo-squares where she was, treated tith
great kindness by her mistress. A foreign Gentle-
man, who used to visit at. the house, a short time
since prevailed upon her to accompany hiss to
Astley's Amphitheatre, -unknown to her mistress;
and when the performance was oter she wished to go
home, but he inveigled her along Waterloo-place,
on the Surrey side of the Thames, and finally to a
brothel, mherehe remained with her a few days, and
then left her ezposed to wretchedness and west.—
She had oat received her wages, nor taken away her
clothes, and shame prevented her going back to de-
mand them. Shame and fear prevented her applying
ti hor father or realises, and she wandered aboitt
qeke destitute, not knowing where she was going
:41.1.0 last, she found hostel( in itytie Park, where
rtt Sccurred to her to pecan end to her misfortunes,
banging herself from
,one of the. trees. She
termed a noose upon a keekkerchief, and by climbing
'ep succeeded in fasteninllo6 the bough of a tree,
rood by patting her head into the noose,. and thr6w..•
ing herself off, she obtainedlter object. "In this si-
tuation she was observed by a Gentleman% what
heard a noise and he very humanely cat her do**
and took her to the parish workhouse, where she
refused to give any account of herself, fearful of
exposing her friends; and• although. treated with
great kindness, she absconded, and did not lie in a
bed since, but wandering about and lying in the bpen
air, in any corner remotelrom society.
The MAGISTKATIS asked whether the constable
made any enquiry about her relations ?
The constable replied, that • he was inforetig her
aunt was in good circumstances, that her father held
two situations in the Exchequer, and that he bad pro-
perty in the funds besides.
The MAGISIXRATI then directed him to site her
to the workhouse, and lose sto time until he acquaint-
ed her friends orher wretched "Situation.
MARLZORtitIIIII•STRtIiT.---,GeOrge Stade, I than
Who is employed by Mr. Smith, lamp contractor, of
St George's parish, 'was committed fo Bridestet fed
three months, for embezzling oil intrusted to ctrF
for trimming lamps. The Prosetutor stattklAtrat be
was liable to a fine for hot keeping the lamps in or-
der, besidei losing hts contract. The/ had kite Ity
which they could accurately ascertain. &quantity Of'
oil necessary for each lamp, but this was the'practice
resorted to by their serventr.
WOR spit-rrater. —On Friday. W. Flemming was fully cons-
mi:ted for eintseazlitig 51 the property or his master. Mr Trigg.
a hedsteatmaker, in %l Ilson street. FiriNtsurrequare.--Gtedds.
the Officer, who a, prebended the Pritinaer, found 41. of din
money in his possemion
J. 'locker was ordered to be whipped 101) yards for robbing
a Gentleman's orchard at Islington
LANSETU-STILSET.—On Friday J. Lewis was fully commit-
ted fur robbingJ. Sutton of his clothes and lss. in silver. The
Prosecutor had accompanied an unhappy woman to sirs vett
in Wbitechapel, into which place the Prisoner gut,_and pot on
the Prosecutor's clothes whiht he was asleep; but the wuinaq
giving alarm, he was secured with diem ,n his hack.
UNION-CULL— 00 F. iday J, Laker, aged novas Wycoff'.
mit ed for stealing 2hlbs of sugar, the property of Mr. Arthur,
a grocer, of Temple street, Kennington. lie was observed by
a person who resides opposite. loitering about the shop, and
afterwards coming out wi.h the parcel. She informed Mr.
Arthur, who pursued and took him with the sugar its his pos-
session.
Abigail Hill and Mary Lane. two Cyprians, and M. Challis,
their bully. were fully committed for robbing J. Ansten, A
countryman, of SI. h a brothel, to which Lane had taken him.
When 'Austen found he was robbed, he charged Dine and Gill
with it; but they denied it, and gave a signal, on which Challis
aide low the room. amt knocked the countryman down.

OLIO BAILEY.
FRIDAY, SEPT. Z.
W. Smith was indicted for embezzling 161. 6d., the property
of his employer, Mr. Foot.
The Prosecutor stated; that he was a brewer, and had em-
ployed the Poisoner as a carter, and confidential servant. The
sum charged in the indictment was the amount of a bill duelor
heerby a Mr. Sidney. The Prisoner had received it, and after-
wards said that Mr. Sidney had not paid the bill.
The Prisoner said nothing in his defence, and the Jury found
verdict—Gnihy.
It appeared, after the verdict was .proattawed. that there
were.no less than 47 charges steainst the Primo:ter of a similar
naturelo the present. The Prosecutor only carried sin a small
business, and had very seriously starved by incrusting the Pri-
mmer.
Robert Martin was indicted for stealing, on 3d August. 51b.
of snap and other articles, the property of Juba Ruddy; his
employer, residingin East Smithfield.
The Priseseer was detected by a Police Oaleer carrying the
soap along White Lion-street. The Officer asked him what he
bad in the bundle! " What is that'll) ybi F' the Prisoner re-
plied, and refused to tell where hesrasgei at. Being-al ked where
he had got the soap, he said that be had bought it of a poor map
in the street. The Prisoner was taken into custody ; and the
next morning the Pri.oner varied his ateeunt at to the' 'neither
in which he obtained the mop, and said that he had foandit si-
der the wall. of the London Docks.
The Prosecutor proved the s..ap to be his property.
The Prisoner par in a written defeat& Oast, by the ltdviee egg
his Counsel, it was not read.
The Jury found the Prisoner Guilty.
John Hooper was Omelet/ad of stealing fa° foals
chub', value 21. the property.of Cress. The Prowler
ran against the 'Proosecutor, in Dean-street, Westminster., sod
snatched at the chain and seals, which were Winging froth his
fob. The chain broke, and the Prisoner ran Off -with it.
Eliza Baker was convicted of stealing, on. the 4th of Jule.
some plate and linen, front the dwelling-house of Mr. W. P.
Audrey.
As tong as the verdict had beat pronounced, the Prisoner fell
into convelsions. The Prosecutor recummended her to mercy.
Ile tad she had seen better days, and be believed, that pre-
sormine on her knowledge of his family, shelled taken the poi-
perty. He did not think she would have been gilitty of- the
rubbery in any other house. • . .
Thomas Judd was convicted of stealing, on thelsth of July,
three 11. Bank-notesfrtim person of Charles Biosidley.•
The RECORDER asked the Officer, when the verdict had been •
pronounced, what sort of a character the Prisoner was.
efitilmore replied. "Oh, my Lord, he was here about a tielve-',
month ago. lit is a &usurious eh:Lwow-in W
Wm. Prussia. 23.. was was indicted for stealing a silver
watch. chain. &e. the property of Thomas Lear, from his per-
son.--Nut Guilty.
Tbe ft isenstaint.—Now, Mr. Prussio,-let me once more ui.
arsoniskyor to change.yo otr conduct, and to follow a better line
of life than to bus always stealing. You knot, thi, is not the
firlt time I forte had occasiturto do's°, its ydu were tried here
beforet.. Be assured, •thet if I see your face a third timet • you
shall be. without doubt, trawvrted out of the Kingdoms. Gen-
(teasels of the Jury, I have known this fellow before; he is a
Berate" thief.
A Jwcfxma.—We did not know thnt, my Lord, and. per
hops you should 'have told the Jury this; our sole season for ae. J
quitting him wa., titas•sv were not satisfied wish the evidence.'
• The, KEVOROSIt•.-Clemlemen, my reason for not telling'.you'
was, that I did nal, on any 4ievosont , presume to influence your
minds: It would have been highly improper in mew have told
vat what the history of his former life was; boot. certaloole' I
know him to bea 'imminent fell too. The Priooner fa now at li-
berty ;,hut it is ten to one but he will begin the same trade
Hitt, Prisoner, hear me. take care, for if' 'you once more ap-
pear at that hat, sons shaliquit this country for life.
The PrtsoO,er.—Thank you. my Lord—God bless you and the
Gentlemen of the Jury.
Iticouore.—Aye I very along.

Ailingle potato?, cut in pieces, and planted in a
garden of the White Hart Inn, at Widecnrabe, has,
this year, produced IN potatoes, and many of them
at a considerable size.