Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1827-04-13


the Liverpool CommercialChronlcle OF the if'h
of February last:
STATE OF THE MANUFACTURING
DISTRICTS.
During the last few months, we have repeat
edly drawn the attention Of the puhlicto the ex-
treme distress which has been suffered by the
inhabitants Of the manufacturing districts OF the
country, particularly by that portion oil the pop
ulaton most directly depending on the manu-
features for their support. From time 10 time
we have heard Of shelter times, OF "lncreased
demand," and higher rates OF remuneration.
Even now some Of the papers are inserting
statements relative TO "mcreased hustle" In the
market, for goods, and full Of an,icipations oil
immediate benefit to the artizan. How far state
ments of this nature agree with the actual state
Of things will be perceived by the perusal OF the
following letter, written by an intelligent and
accurate observer, aud Que upon whom the ut
mos, dependence may be placed, II will be seen
from the minute descri ptions given by him, how
severely the pressure is felt by the inhabitants
Of th0se districts through which he passed: we
fear that the description is applicable 10 the
whole OF the population depending on the man.
Ifacture Of cotton goods.
Whatever difference Of opinion may arise
respecting the cause Of this dreadful suffering,
we are conviacrd there can be but one opinion
respecting The Propriety Of Instantly adopting
measures calculated TO afford il relief. The dis
tress is beyond the reach Of private bounty; in
dividual cases Of suffering may be mitigated by
individual aid, bu, the great mass OF misery
must depend forits mitigation on national mea-
sures. The first Of these measures of relief will
speedily be discussed in parliament; the Corn
Laws are to be altered, and the nature OF the al
L.. ,xlnI~ H. 90.
In the absence OF any decisive information on
duty seventeen sSil1inss and six.pence ner
quarter be levied on the importation or IurrfSn
wheat, that the measures viii De atrenueu with
no immediate benefit to the people; that it will,
therefore, disappoint their just expectations, &
exasperate the feeling OF discomfort which al
ready so widely peryades all classes Of the man.
ufacturers en- this subject. If this amount Of
duty be levied, il is CLEARLY contrary to the views
and feelings Of certain portion Of the admin
istration, and it can only have been adopted by
them in order TO render the measure palaiabe
to the great hereditary legislators and landlords
under whom they hold their situations.
The obvious tendency Of the recent measures
Of the administration is to some great change in
the foreign and domestic policy of the nation
We cannot suppose that ministry whose per-
ception Of small evils is so quick, whose rea-
me ,urcs respecting them have been so decis-
i've, can pc inseasible to the greater evils under
which tha county iabours. They who seek
the impo!icy of prohibiting foreign silks, mus,
also see the danger, as well as the impolicy Of
prohibiting foreign Corr; and, whilst they are
zealously endeavouring To establish free trade,
they cannot with any shew OF proprie,y place an
excessive duty on the importation Of food,
In the meantime, however, some measures
must be adopted for The relief of the misery, the
details of which will be found in the letter Of
our correspondent; what those measures will
be, we know not; of what character they ought
To be is sufficiently obvious
We have already stated that an individual
bounty will not 10 much in the way of relief;
but lie, il be remembered, that every shilling
will TO certain extent, do good, and that every
cast-of garment will clothe some individual
who would otherwise be naked The commit
tee for the relief of the Distressed Manurac,ur-
ers is still sitting in this town, s. :hey doubt
would gladly take charge of any donations of
clothing which may be made.
"Burniey, 4th Feb ls27.-Dear Sir: In cheer
full compliance with the request in your much
esteemed letter to me at Rochdale, now send
YOU an account oil the present state OF the manu-
featuring district through which have JUST
here given, may not only be means Of stimu-
lating my kind friends in Liverpool to greater
exertions in affording temporary relief to the
poor distressed weavers OF Lane ashire, but that
il may induce them TO devise, and as far as
they are able, TO put into practice some plan
for effectually removing, if possible, the evils
under which they have so long and so severely
suffered. The statements ! have made may be
depended upon as correct and faithful, and
without exaggeration, and are supported by a
bundau, testimony from respectable manufac.
turers, machine makers, sho2keepers, owners
Of ase-houses, charitable funds, committee
men, and others, and by conversations / have
had with the weavers themselves, both at cas-
ual meetings and in visits to their dwellings.
The cotton weavers who reside principally
in the nsighborhood Of Bolton, Chorley, Wigan,
Blackburn, Washington, Psdiham, Burnley, Col.