New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1847-11-10
The Nottingham knitter.
Foreign Correspondence Of The Tribune.
Inrnnx Octoher Ii Ia


LONDON. October L. isi7.
Among all the objects Of charity to be daily seen
in the streets Of the Metropolis, one has at
tracted more attention than Nottingham Knitter.
The operatives Of the once active and thriving
town Of Nottingham have recently been unable 10
obtain sufficient employment TO support their fami
lies The trade OF the place is almost annhiated.
The knitting-machines, which once were constantly
In motion, stopped and covered with
large orders for Nottingham goods which formerly
rived from the United States By every mail are 10
longer received. Under these circumstances those
operatives who change their place of abode. and
ind employment elsewhere, are leaving the town. IT
would be singular Of them did reach this
grand world Of itsell-London. "a was passing
through very narrow street last week. ! noticed a
large crowd and heard the sharp clicking of some
chine from lie centre. | stopped TO ascertain what
novelty attracted 80 many persons respectfully clad
female. who the outer ring Of the crowd came
toward with stockings and cotton nghtcsps Ia her
hands, and asked If would purchase something Of
her examined the articles and found thsm well
msde and remarkably cheap. The cotton stockings
only sixpence per pair. The nightcsps were
offered 81 the same price, sixpence each.
"Will you take two or three psrs, siri' asked the
woman. imploriDgy, and with lace marked with
wrinkles of care and sorrow.
% do~nOt require any stockings, my good woman !;
but II you have any gentemens hsli-hose, should Ike
a few pairs" the substance of my reply.
Do, sir, take these night caps" said the woman
My husband is very poor and have left five children
at our lodgings"
Is that man who 10 now knitting az the machine,
your husband 2" inquired
Yes Sir" she replied He has worked with that
machinethese eleven years la Nottingham asoOer
Industrious but he could not get work At nome
and a gentleman money TO pay our passage u
London, and we We made good move by coming up TO
town"
How much" inquired, does your husband earn
nowf"
some dave cir ten and twelve shlings and that 10
more than he got 10 Nottingham in whole week, and
p0rkiHg Sundays beside"
But he ougn, not to work on the Sabbath day, said
" If be hadn't worked me and my children would
have starved ~ she quickly replied.
gave the woman small piece OF silver sud edged
through the crowd 10 get near tho Nottingham weaver
aud his machine. The latter was placed upon plain
with four wheels and stood about three feet from
the ground Every part of II In the neatst order
and the steel esened Ia the sun Ia front oil the ma
chine man, apparently about thirty-hve years Of
age He was tall, but gaunt he looked Ike temper
ate honest ana hard working person. His clothes were
threadb and patched but very clean tie sat At his
machine and rapidly threw the shuttle, and In lew
minutes finished cotton stocking He then took il out
OF the machine and passing II among the crowd, wiped
the Precipitation from his temples and then moved his
machine some lew yards onward. In the meantime
observed several gentlemen advance toward him aud
drop silver and copper In bis hat, and depart
This incident however trhins it may appear, mpsr,s
a most melancholy fact Ii is worth more than all the
trade reports OF the year shows that the weaVers
or knters been driven from their native towns
their houses by the fear OF starvation TO seek pre-
carious livelihood wherever they find H. Here
poor industrious operative plying his machine In lead
log ,horouehfare Of this great metropolis enlistng the
sympathy of the crowd aud collecting sxpences sndcop
ppsrs while hundreds of his fellow operatives are left ia
Nottingham stsrve 1t sad picture Of the situation
Of tens Of thousands in England.
Your very obedient servant, ?.