The Sun. — 1838-12-20 (London, England)

HAND-LOOM WEAVING.—A few days ago, while a weaver was purchasing half a pound of candles in the shop of a neighbouring town, he made the following observation :—" I've got a warp which is a bit tender (imperfect). I'm paid not much over twopence halfpenny a yard for weaving it ; if I light a penny candle, it is just burnt out when I've woven a yard. Fine flour sowling, soap, and winding, take from me more than halfpenny a yard, besides other outgoings. While weaving, and trying to keep up with the candle, I am continually tempted to leave my work and go to bed, as the labour of two hours and a half is required ere I can addle (get) a penny ; but then the belly pinches." In 1802-3, the price paid for the identical kind of work now described, was twenty-three pence per yard. Meal, flower, and potatoes, and even candles, were not higher during that winter than at present. Were even-handed justice doled out to the weaver, candles ought to be only one penny per lb., potatoes a penny farthing a score, meal five shillings, and flour nine shillings per load. But apart from the weaver and his privations, Corn-laws, the sole cause of our difficulties and commercial embarrassments, have, to so great an extent, crippled our sales and intercourse with other countries, whose inhabitants were, in former times, purchasers of hand-woven goods, that the manufacturer's profit, which was formerly as much as one shilling per yard, will now, in most instsnces, barely cover the expenses. Under these circumstances, when every Newspaper teems to overflowing with apprehensions of a struggle, the doubts and apprehensions entertained or suggested by the interested must be dispelled by a repeal, and that instantly, of what are now appropriately termed " the d—l's laws." Certain it is, that if such expressions as " an awful crisis is at hand—a collision is inevitable," and equally alarming suggestions are employed to assail the minds of the people, they will gradually consent to try the reality and effects of hostile concussion. If it be desirable to prevent a catastrophe, why, then, we repeat, repeal the murderous enactions of " the enemies of mankind," viz., the Corn-laws. Since the commencement of the current sessions at the Central Criminal Court on Monday no fewer than 39 pris • oners have been sent for trial, a large proportion of whom are under eighteen years of age. With the exception of petty larcenies, the crime with which the largest number of these prisoners stand charged is robbery in their capacity of servants. The total number of pri soners for trial up to yesterday was 189, of whom 83 are under twenty years of age, and 72 between twenty and thirty. Only 10 of the accused have passed the age of forty. M. Charriere, surgical instrument maker, has, by an ingenious contrivance, converted the check-string of a carriage into a means of communicating to the coachman any order that may be wished to be given. The cord is formed of a flexible India-rubber tube, with a mouth-piece at one end, and the other in the shape of the lower orifice of a trumpet. The person in the carriage has only to pull this tube, which the coachman holds in his hands as an ordinary check-string, for him to apply his end of it to his ear, and an order may then be transmitted through the tube, which will be heard by the coachman even though it be uttered in the lowest whisper. A reply can be given to the master in the same way. To make the improvement quite complete, a similar tube should be adapted to the footman.—Paris Paper.  The following advertisement having appeared in the daily papers—" Found—The wig and gown of a barrister unknown," the place of reference was next day blocked up with applicants answering the description.—Comic Atmanack.