New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-10
ENGLAND.
Free Trnde-Co Competition rradesImprOying-
Ship-buildin&-W Matchmaking.
LETTER From CHARLES Ii.

LETTER Fro " CHdRLES LINE.
To HE Editor Of The Tribune,
LONDON Friday Nov Is, 1859.
To my speculative faculties it sometimes ap,
pears that the truest progress in good does not
SO surely take place by the direct destruction of
that which is relatively bad, nor by opposition to
it, as by its improvement and its perfection, if it
be capable of perfection. Thus | think the de-
yelopment Of true social arrangements will arise
rather from the competitive system being allowed
to run to seed than from any attempt to crush the
plant. The people, like children, must be allowed
to possess the toys they cry for, before they can
discover their worthlessneSs.
know not whether what is called free trade is
@ more advanced step in competition than
monopoly, but to me it appears | also think
that before competition can be worn out it must
be carried on TO its extreme point. Society will
not lay aside that garment until it is found to be
too ragged to cover and comfort it. AT present,
in spite Of what some of our newspapers report
to the contrary, England, that's to say the working
class of Bnglishmen, is better oil than during tho
close trade or monopoly system
however very well know how delusyely sta
tstical tables may be cooked up" yet as far as
the official returns show greater extent OF oPe-
ratons in our factories, since the opening OF the
Corn trade and the repeal OF the Navigation Laws,
it cannot be denied that England has so tar been
gamer by Free Trade measures. This kind of
evidence is relatively confirmed by the accounts
from the United States reporting the closing oil
many factories in the neighborlood OF Providence
as well as other places Mankind, we are aware,
can gain nothing by thus shifting employment
from one country to another, and it is only by
movements far deeper and more metaphysical
than this, that the permanent welfare Of man can
be seriously helped.
One other sign, if | mistake not, will. be given
next year, of the comparative prosperity oil the
people, in the increase of the number of marriages
and of the population. The great increase OF hu-
man beings in the United States is certainly not
attributable to the superiority of its climate over
ours nor to the greater regard OF life, but simply
to the fact of the easier means OF subslstence-
This is not q rule without exception, as we know
by the case of Ireland but it Is at present lar
guide in England
tual progress of the several trades and the con-
dition of the persons employed therein, II we
could but obtain the simple facts oil the case at
several dates But the feelings OF the reporter
are so liable TO be enlisted that the Judgment Of
the reader has small opportunity
There are two trades OF very distinct charac-
ter in which can affirm q considerable improve.
ment-an improvement reaching even the work
men, viz; Ship-buding and Watch making. /
happen to know, On good information, open indeed
to any one who will inquire, shat both these
branches OF buainess are brisker than they have
been for many years past. The Thames has long
ceased to be eminent for naval architecture, the
builders on the w ear having attracted the buyers
by their superiority OF structure and lowness OF
price. The Wear never was so crowded with
ships and ship wrights as it is at present. About
sixty vessels are now on the stocks, varying in
size from two hundred to seven hundred tqns and
will be launched in quick succession. On the lyme
about half that number are building, including an
East Indiaman of GOO tuns These are all TIM
Der built ships. On the Clyde, the great work
shop of steam vessels, there are IN hand about
eleven paddle.Wheel steamers and four screw
steamers from 100 to $50 tuns measurement, and
five screw steamers from 500 to $50 tuns, beside
various sailing vessels. Many Of the steam yes
sells are constructed wholly Of iron. At Bristol
and other ports in the West of England, great
er number Of coasting and other vessels nave
been constructed and are now in hand than have
been observed for many years. AS to the prohts
on these works, | cannot say whether they arc
remuneratiye or not can only suppose Ehas, a.
capitalists are not accustomed TO engage "o g
men without a good return, that business NM
this must be lucrative. .o..o
At the statistics of matchmaking IL IS no. ~
easy to arrive 1 can only say that all parties
connected with the trade admit it's amendment
and almost every day may be seen adYel lf.
ments for good worhmen. So long as Tue "Ae5lD
run briskly in the manufacturing DISTRICTS 1ne de'
mand for this luxury will continue Z b