Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1841-1853, 1846-05-07

To the Editors Of the State Sentinel
''Sir Robert Peel does not mind cracking joke at
Tamworth he tells the burghers that he is one of
themselves the son of cotton spinner. "-Sentinel,
April %.
As in several of the country papers the fact that
Sir Robert Peel is the son of cotton spinner has
lately been noticed, it would seem that the pedigree
of that great man has excited interest in this
part of the world, and it might be gratifying to some
to know little more about him.
That the father of Sir Robert a cotton spinner
there is no reason doubt Sir Robert having declared
the fact at public meeting at Tamworth, at which
meeting he must have been that there were
several who could have contradicted his assertion if
it were not true. But besides being cotton spinner
he also calico printer and 10 his ingenuity the
public is indebted for the low prices at which
printed goods sold. Previous to his invention,
about forty or fifty years ago. printed cacoes were
sold by retail at from three shilngs, say 66 % cts. TO
is. Cd. "a dollar) per yard The price varying
cording to the colors in the pattern At that time
prints of more than one color were called London
prints. Patterns intended for more than one color
were printed at Manchester with color only the
other coors being afterwards put in with pencil !;
this being done by the capital of certain London
dealers in their own neighborhood The calcoes were
sold all the kingdom, under the appellation Of
London prints. At a town called Wandsworth, stu
ated the Thames river about seven miles above
London, large quantity of this work done,
aUUTQn0 employment 10 DuDUTeuS OF the women dOQ
boys and girls of the place, besides what done in
other towns and villages in the vicinity of London
1t occurred to Mr. Peel, however, that cheaper pro-
cess for coorng prints could be devised and he
ceeded in inventing that of printing in the colors
instead of painting or pencilling them. OF course
this was great saving of expense; and as Mr. Peels
business increased the employment of the poor Wands
worth people necessarily diminished gradually until
in that line it ultimately ceased. While Mr.. Peel
the only calico printer who printed more cOlors
than one, (whether secured to him by patent
know not) the demand for his calcoes very great,
and as have been informed by respectable authority
in Manchester, he parted with piece Of printed
calico from his warehouse without clear profit Of
three guineas (fifteen dollars.)
By this means the very large fortune of the
father Of Sir Robert Peel accumulated The Wands-
worth people, indeed, and all others who made their
living by pencillng calicoes, were thrown cut of
employment and had to seek their livelihood by other
means; but where is the monopoly the labor saving
machine which has not a similar effect SYNTAx.
WARNING To BLAcKGUARDs.-The editor of the
Louisville Journal recently received letter from the
Postmaster at Baton Rouge, superseded G. Dirty
Prentice" 1t forwarded by the editor to the Post
master General, who returned the following reply
Prentice may be dirty enough, but Postmaster has
an official right 10 tell him so.
Posi- OFFICE DEPARTMENT,
April IL, 1916.
! DEAR Sir: received yours of the Sd April, enco-
sing letter from the postmaster at Baton Rouge
the letter should have been ranked by the postmaster
and the postmaster at Louisville upon the presenta-
ton of this letter will remit the postage. The ad-
dress your letter has been enclosed TO the posmas-
ter at Baton Rouge for explanation if he he has any
Such of conduct in the subordnates of this
Department, is not tolerated here.
am respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
| G. JOHNSON.