Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1859-07-23
From Household Words. a1i IS
THE FIRST ENGLISH LACE WEAVER.
SIR N BoRLAcE.

1t is singular that, in this age Of book-making,
neither volume nor pamphlet has been written to
preserve TO Us the events Of the life OF Sir Henry
Borlace. Two hundred years ago this philantbrop-
list and benefactor Of bis country lived on his patri-
nonial estate near MARROW, Bucks. His income was
triaing, compared with the length Of his ~rentroll,
but the farmers either would not or could not pay,
and at that time not only they, but the whole ag-
ricultural population of the country, had obtained
unenViabio ~nctoriety for paupefish and vice.
Many causes, into which we need not at present
enter, had tended to create and foster this excess
of generalization which ended in a universal re-
lection of all attempts at productive industry.
The demands of landlords who were pressing we're
met with audacious r~efusals, while persons who,
like Sir Henry, expressed SYN pathy towards those
from whom their own circumstance still compell-
ed them to seek some payment in either money or
kind, were answered by details of domestic ahi ic-
tions, or by having sternly exposed to their start
led view the previously half concealed meshes Of
poverty and guilt, 10 which the wretohed speakere
we're entangled. The landed gentry perceived
that o crisis was at hand; but not knowing how to
meet it, mary Of them withdrew into the owns
Sir Henry went from one proprietor to another,
and from them to the people, endeavoring 10 bring
into action the elements Of reason, and justice
and truth. His success was not great. He found
the landlords ready to admit the violence, the
recklessness, the insubordination of their tenant.
~, but not ready to take any active part In their
behalf, though in doing so they would have used
the only check which could arrest their own down.
ward progress. The people he found full of evil
Ideeds and vat Nth mania E.-l:.l -. -
which poverty 10y like q horrible incubus.
After some negotiation, carried ON principally
through him., public meetings were proposed.
Much was hoped for from them, but they led to
no useful result. Many were the conferences held
some of them were rather stormy and at length
one broke up with wild and terrible violence, lives
being lost on both sides. 1t was on awful comen-
tary on the absurdity of bringing into collision
the moral and physical strength of the country
the men OF wealth and culture, with men reouir-
ing food, needing restraint, incapable of trust.
Sir Henry felt this, and perceived that q period
critical Tor the interest, not only of Buckingham.
shire, but OF the whole country, had arrived. He
resolved not to call any further meetings, but
alone to labor for the wretched men who, in the
madness OF their ignorance and debasement, had
offered resistance to law and order. He determ-
ined also to persevere in his labor of love for them,
until he had accomplished such practical means of
social improvement and individual happiness.
Many and weary, however were the days and
weeks which rolled by before he could see his vay
to any hopeful plan of usefulness. At length an
idea presented itself suddenly to his mind. He
is described as being q. the time with bis head
bent over some statistical returns, and computing
the difference between the number of laborers-
supposing oil, whose duty it was. did labor-and
the number OF those who depended on those labor
ers for the necessaries Of life, when, suddenly
starting up. he exclaimed IL thank Heaven |
have found what l sought. The poverty, the mis-
cry, the crimes, the constant state of agitation and
excitement OF our peasantry. are not attributable
to misrule, nor heavy taxation, nor unfair dealing.
8 nor On oppressive feudal system, but simply to the
absence OF productive employment for females"
1t was a singularly plain solution of o case which
D was at the time taxing the wisdom of the Iepisla-
t ture, and its worth has since been proved by it's
%wondrous results-the influence which il has ex-
? ercised on the condition not only of the country.
but of the whole empire. ...'
, A day or two elapsed and then be left bis fine
, old paternal mansion with little more than a few
COINS IN his pocket, and with his wallet literally
slung from a stick over bis shoulders. How he
c%ontrived to reach Holland (which was the place
/, of his destination, or how to live there for two
q years, We are unable to narrate; oil that is fullv
known is, that The manufacture of lace occurred
as an employment in every way suited to the cir
o cumstances OF the people Of Buokhamshi-e: re-
e curing but little time to obtain a knowledge of
Dut little capital to commence with, and having An
q established home market, inasmuch as thousands
OF pounds were sent annually out of England to
purchase the lace fabrics Of Brussels, France and
Germany. .i
Many years after be had returned home. be de.
scribed the first check to the hopes with which he
had set out as arising from a view of the bright
ana beautiful homes of the Dutch peasantry. "Cau
such an amount Of comfort" was the thought suy-
gested by his fears, ''be mainly dependent on
the peaceful home employmeuts of women and
children !" circumstances which could not he
controverted answered the question. lie sourb,
ana obtained a home, first in Que, and then In an
other, OF those beautiful little Dutch nests of conn.,
tort and domestic love, and found in all. that
family attachments were of paramount importance
IN social relations; and that, as woman guided in
her little domestic circle by her employmeuts as
we'll as BY her feelings, SO was she Influencing. be.
You'd the sphere Of her ken, the vortex of human
affairs.
Alter an absence Of two years. Sir Henry re-
turned to Buc~kinghamshire,~ accompanied by two
iace-makers. a mother and daughter, whom he in
duced to settle in the village Of NARROW. where he
endowed q school, or factory, in which twsn.v-
four girls were taught the trade of fascinating.
1t was a small beginning for the glorious results
which ensued. The girls succeeded each other
rapidly and 10 loss than sixteen years, the lace
makers were no longer counted by units, but by
thousands, and that not only in Buckiughamshire.
but In Bedtordshire and Northampton. The
change in the moral character of the peopIe was
RAPID and Sir Henry Borlscs lived to see the day
: when the ~iace-makera' homes of England we're as
beautiful. as fresh and as happy as the homes
which had almost startled him into unbel;sf nv
L I'M