Massachusetts spy and Worcester advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1823-1825, 1824-03-03

Blackburn, large manufacturing town |
of Lancashire, with a population of a
bout 10000 inhabitants, is said to have
the best regulated poor house in Eng
land. About thirty years ago, there
were from one thousand to fifteen hun
dred applicants for charity. In the year
1929, say Sept. there were but $50
persons on the charity list. Their en-
ploy was chiefly weaving and winding.
The looms in work were 14O, all on
the ground floor. The cloth made, was
intended for common prints, or calicoes,
furnished to the house by manufac-
turer Of Blackburn. They had GER
tain quantity of yards to weave per
week, for their food and clothing-over
work to be paid them when leaving the
house. One family in particular, was
held up as an example to alIthat sought
for charity A man, his wife, and five
children, were paid, for over work,
in thirteen weeks, els sterling, larger
sum of money than they ever had be.
fore,. and until this time, they we're Of
opinion, that they could not maintain
themselves and children. The buildings
inclosed two sides of a square--on the
other sides was a wall, leaving large
open yard, for the benefit OF airing and
play ground for. the children, at dinner
and in the. evening. They were all
well clothed, well fed, and appeared,
remarkably healthy; their food was Of
the best kind, and found 10 be the
cheapest, after long experience to the
contrary. A committee oftwelye free
holders, were Inspectors by rotation
changing every month; and by their
judicious management the poor rates had
ceased altogether, and the poor house had
become profit to the parish of about
f25 per week.
The Pilot.-A literary correspondent
of the Statesman, after reading the last
popular novel of the American Scott,
(Which by the way, has already run al
most through the second edition. pen
ned in haste the. following paragraph,
which is truly, nnultum IN parvo, what
ever may be said of the justice of the
criticism.
q Precaution," the first of Mr.. Coop
er's Novels, is well named, as it puts us
on our guard" "The Spy" follows,
and the very name admonishes US to
keep ''good look out" The $ Pho
neer'' drops in, in regular sequence; of
border customs, scenery and morals. and
last, but not least, comes g The Pilot.n
with bis - tale of the sea- All these
works are liable to severe criticism, and
some of them have received it-but the
reading public, the severest as well as
the most profitable critic, having taken
.,off-edition after edition, leaves but little
to be said in the way of general denun-
citation, with any prospect of putting
+" the sails aback."
Every thing from Mr.. Cooper's pro-
life pen seems to be struck off at
single heat''---and sent to the printer
with all its freshness and all its imper-
tections on its head. He writes rapidly:
writes but once--has noheof the tine
labour about his pages; is often careless
but never tame; his gossip is spirited,
. and his btunders lean TO genius side.
Precaution has the kindliest feelings and
the best morals. The Spy is the more
interesting story, and has the best dra-
matte keeping. The Pioneers is supe-
rior in graphical deIineations of usu-
al characters, and forest scenery; and
lhe Pilot, though possessing, l think,
less general interest than its two imme.
date predecessors, yet witten with more
accuracy, and presenting some more
highly wrought and admir able descrip.
tons than either of them, will, no doubt
like the Waverly's find its place by the |
side of its brothers.