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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st November 1846, Edition 3 of 3, Page 6

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    • Craflttg-* j-Hotemeitts,
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      ^- ¦ -¦•- : -—¦ ¦ -•¦ -;•;¦ - : •;" ; ";...

      _^ - ¦ - _¦• - _- _—¦ ¦ - •¦ - ;•;¦ - •;" ; _"; - ; : THE NORTHERN _STAR , lSoyEMBm 2 l _\ 8 i 6 _.

      Craflttg-* J-Hotemeitts,

      _Craflttg- * _j-Hotemeitts _,

      , "1 10 Tab 2t0bth Of England Miners. To...

      , " 1 10 TAB 2 _T 0 BTH OF ENGLAND MINERS . TO CHASLES CABB , _£ SQ , SEGHILL . Sir , —It appears that the government commissioners have published a report on the strike of the miners of Northumberland and Durham , in 1814 , the whole of tbe evidence being taken from tbe misters of the above named districts , amongst whom figures yourself . He pretends to _prova that the leaders of tbe Union and Mr . Roberts were tbe sole cause of tbe strike . Now , any nnprejadiced person will easily form an idea of tke veracity of evidence coming from such a quarter , therefore , 1 will say nothing of it in general , but confiue myself to a _portAon of that given by yourself , as I happen to be able to refute lome of it as you shall speedily see .

      Tou state— "There is a library of 600 or 700 volumes at Segbill , adjoining the School ; we established it in 1837 , it has , however , now no subscribers , and is entirely neglected . Tbe strike knocked it all up . 'When it was first set ou foot a considerable number of the pitmen read thebooksor got tbem read to them . The use of tbe library fell off at least twelve months _bef-ire the strike of 1844 , when tbe men ' s minds got filled with what they were told by their readers . Tbey then read nothing but * Miner ' s Journal / ' Miser ' s Advocate , ' and the Chartistpapfrs . such at the 'Northern Star . ' The library remains stiU but is little used now . Half tbe men in the employ are new bands since the strike . " Now , sir , joa say , "tie library fell off , at least , twelvemonths before the strike . " Now tha union did not exist much more than tbat time before tbe strike , and it was not until May , 2813 , that i t was anything like general at Seghill , thanks to the state of the weather , and your kindness in _preventing the publicans allowing ub a place

      to meet in .- Bat you played a wrong card at that time iu an act of Tyranny tbat you bave probably not forgotten , and which never wiU , which caused a partial strike and , therefore , brought the men together in a manner delightful to behold _. Instead _% _{ the evidence given as to the cause of tbe strike , if you had given something like the following you would bave been nearer the point . " * ' Under the Band made by ns , and for us , we had the power to take every farthing of the earnings of the men , as they were not able to keep tbe coals free of the quantity of tbe _rcfose _ypecified in the band , but we could not take anything more ; therefore , it was necessary to have tbe power to take what they earned and _* a little more , so that they might be in debt to us after their day ' s work , so we framed our monthly Bond accordingly , not that wa would absolutely enforce it , but to have tbe power was a ' great thing . "We also coBld filch the desired amount by additional fines , while the number of forfeited corves could be reduced which would look rather better in tbe eyes of tbe public . ''

      Now , sir , yon might have said thai and a great deal more .. The commissioner says , that , previous to your coming- to Seghill , the men were paid in lots of twenty or thirty , and bad to go to the bublic bouses for cash , but _ yon put a stop to tbat by paying them separately , and in cash . _~ Sow this is false , for as late as 18 * 3 we gave notice that ire WOnId have Out * money paid separately , or rather , that as two men worked together tbat two be paid together , however , wben the usual pay day arrived the men were refused their money , except iu cheques as be fore , and it was not till I went into the office and demanded , my money in cash tbat your officers would give way . They even had tbe policeman in the office , because I said , I wonld not go without my wages . I was told

      that I was tbe worst man tbat ever had been on the calling , hat there was a time coming , & c . It did come , and 1 got the . "sack . " Shortly after that I was one of a deputation , of four , that -were sent to yon to ask you to pay ns up the "lying week ' s" wages that you kept erery pay , you . refused , aud I told you that I believe *! we COUW -compelyon , when you said , " you believed we could , but you were determined to bring " _* t to a trial before y « u would Submit , bnt you would pay me mine if I would leave tbe -Colliery , '' I told you tbat I was not prepared to come to such terms , but I would publish the fact to the world , -that jou-would pay roe my wages full np if I _wou'd _lea _* ve the work , but if not , not ; now with the permission of -the proprietor of " such Chartist papers as the Northern Star * " I _fnlfill my promise .

      In conclusion I might tell you , that although for along iime after the strike I had . to go about the country with "bat little in my pocket , yet I have so much work no * that I have to write this on the Sunday . I trust tbat jou will use the half of your men that are " new hands " better than you did those tbat bare left . I trust also , that although I had not the benefit of your library , and am consequently _Yery " ignorant , " tbat I have written -nothing but truth , and I _wish some of my wealthy acquaintances would stick to tbe same rule . I remain , One of your many victims , Kobebt _TuBHsr / u . November 8 th , 1846 .

      NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNITED TRADES . Ghee-sock . —Monday—A public meeting of the trades of this town was held at the Suck Head , Hull , to near a lecture from Mr . Jacobs , tbe Association commidonary . The Hall was filled with a most -orderly and attentive audience . A master nailer was called to the chair , who introduced the lecturer " with a sensible and feeling speech _» n the numerous reductions that had taken place within his time . The missionary commenced by notieeing the griev--ances ofthe working class generally , he contended that they had produced all the wealth of Brittain , and had a claim thereon were entitled to a better reward , after dwelling npon the nature and failure of former remedies , fie set forth the new ' plans of

      the association , which he said had already been tested by the _businesse * the b . _* ard of directors had started , he then showed , from several estimates , that the trades conld accumulate vast wealth , b y their subscription to the general fond , and taking shares in the Employment Fund and the profits that would accrue by its use in mines , manufacture , and agriculture . The meeting seemed to testify their approval ofthe instructive lecture by their cheers . At the conclusion several Questions were asked and readily answered , a vote approving the association was carried , and a committee of one from each trade elected to organise the Trades on the Association . A vote of thanks was passed to the lecturer and the tneeting separated .

      Glasgow . —Tuesday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the brush-makers , in Nelson-street Chapel , who immediately joined the association . Wednesday—Mr . Jacobs delivered a lecture to the _handjoom" weavers in Suffolk-street Chapel , who also joined the association . Thursday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the Dyers of Paiselyin Methodist Chapel , who have since agreed toj"in the association and take shares in the Employment Fund . _G-lasgow . —Friday--The missionary lectured to the upholdsterera in _Leis-h Kirk Session-house , who agreed to decide on joining , and the purchase ot share at their general meeting on Monday next . N . B . —The Strike at _Cameloo ended tbe third < ky , the whole of the employers cave the rise .

      THE OPERATIVE BASKET MAKERS . The Manchester union of the above trade now on strike made application to their metropolitan brethren lor support , and at a special meeting of their trade , held atthe White Hart , Gillspur-street _, on Monday evening last , £ 20 was voted witb a view to the " sett employment , " of the men on strike . We understand that " Hires" will be forthwith opened at Birminghan _, Wolverhampton , Nottingham , Leicester , and other towns , for the sale of the goods manufactured .

      SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS . _Effeci 3 of Funis Tribe . —On Saturday night , at the meeting of the Broad-silk Handloom "Weavers ' Union of Spitalfields , held at the Crown and Anchor . Waterloo-town , _Betbnal-sreen , the _subjact of the presentation of a memorial to the Board of Trade , in reference to the depressed state of the silk trade , arising from the repeal ofthe protective duties , was taken into consideration . Mr . G . _FenJinando , in the chair . Mr . Sherrard said , that hehad been instructed to draw up a statement to be presented to the Board of Trade , in which he was to show the State of the trade from its earliest establishment in that neighbourhood , how it had prospered under protection , and what had been the effect ofthe

      relaxation of the Prohibition Laws . He bad prepared numerous details from official documents , which -Would show that the trade had flourished when it was protected hy the Legislature , and that in the loss of that protection , was the consequent depression of the trade and the impoverishmentof the weaver . { Hear . ) He now wished to know whit course the -anion was willing to adopt in reference to the memorial . It was evident that their trade was in need of protection . Prohibition he thought they need never expect . But , while that "mis-lit not be conceded , if they had local boards of trade , it was his Opinion that , with a doty ol £ 30 per cent-, they might have sufficient protection for their labour .

      when he was inthe country districts , he found that ihe trade was in favour of a good duty . ( Hear . ) They were also desirous to have local _boards of trade . Those subjects he thought they ought to suggest to the Board of Trade , when , if they showed the inconsistencies _a- _'d contradictions in the books upon political economy of porter , _M-CuUoeh , _Baines , & c „ ne had little doubt bnt that they would be successful . ( Hear . ) After speeches from Mr . Berry and Mr . Ferdinando , showing the injurious re-mlts of Free Trade , the latter speaker concluded by moving—* ' That the subject of the memorial to the Board of Trade be taken into consideration that day three "Weeks . " Mr . Garnall seconded the motion which "was agreed to and the meeting broke up .

      THE KEIGHLEY TURN-OUT . _T- SE 3 DAT _, Nov . 17 . —The contest betwixt the manufacturers and woolcombers still ' continues without any material change from last reek's report . Thc men continue firm and the masters obstinate , and it now remains to be seen whether the bullies of the men or the . purses of the manufacturers can hold longest out . Thirteen weeks nave now elapsed since they were turned from their work , and although they nave suffered the extremes of want , not one has either gone in or talked of going . Lund ' s weavers and mill hands remain out on behalf of the combers , find they appear equally . as inn . The manufac-

      , "1 10 Tab 2t0bth Of England Miners. To...

      I turers have _Bhown some signs of giving way , by requesting an interview with the men last week , but j the only satisfactory result was the appointment of another interview to-day ( Tuesday ) to endeavour to come to some explanation . Nearl y all the factories are running only daylight , " and , as one of the combers observed in his speech , that " if the Btruggle has done no other good , it has at least made the manufacturers act upon that part of Christianity , which says , " work while it is day , for when the night cometh no man can work . " Another great result is the establishment of a sanatory committee to ' examine into the condition ofthe dwellings of the poor . The necessity of this measure has been long felt , more especially amongst the combers ; the manufacturers having gradually taken away their workshops to save expenses , and thus driven them to the necessity of working at their own homes . The effects of this upon the health and comforts of the poor fellows and

      their families is terrible . Let any one picture to himself the bed-room of a family , with a large combpot iu the middle , and the heat arising from the pot and the slates over-head in summer time , ranging from eighty to one hundred degrees , with scarcely any ventilation . The consequence is , that during the day the inmates are nearly baked , and at night nearly suffocated and worried with vermin , which are nourished and kept alive during winter with the heat of the pot . The only person who could form anything like a correct opinion of the dwellings of many of the combers , would be one who had resided in some of the swamps of the West ladies , worried with mosquitoes and vet-vim , and even he could hardly do it justice , if he took the land and sea breezes of that country into consideration . Yet this is the condition of hundreds ol men who are now submitting to almost total starvation to procure from their employers the miserable pittanceof ten shillings and nine pence per week , a sum they almost deserve for enduring the sufferings of one summer .

      We must not forget to mention an act of benevolence performed to these men last night by the power loom weavers . This body had accumulated abjut £ 40 . raised by _^ one penny per week each , as a fund for the protection of their wages , and last night , at a publio meeting , they voted thirty pounds of it as Ja gift to the combers . They are now about entering the United Trades , and being in no pressing or immediate want of the money , thought it could not be better applied . _Wubxesdav : —The manufacturers having intimated that if a deputation of the combers waited upon them something might be done towards a settlement , two of them were appointed yesterday to attend upon tbem , at one of their weekly meetings . The deputation carried the following propositions to

      their employers . First , —If tbey resumed their work would the manufacturers give the advance required , of a farthing per pound ; if not , would they give it for ten weeks , that being the time three have already % iven it ; and if they would not do that , would they give it till the first day of January next , reserving to themselves the power of _tlien pulling it off again , providing they could then make it appear that the state of the markets would not enable them to give it any longer ? The deputation was informed by one of the manufacturers that they might resume their work at the wages they had when they were turned off , but that they were determined to give no

      advance . The deputation then wanted to kHow if the manufacturers would allow one or two of the combers committee to meet them in argument on the subject . This was also refused in a peremptory manner ; the manufacturers remarking , that all further interviews on the subject would be useless . The arrogance of the manufacturers appeared to proceed from a belief that , because the combers waited upon them they were begging for employment . They were however quite deceived in this , as the combers had no such intention , and only did it to give them a chance of settling the dispute , if they were so disposed .

      LEICESTER STOCKING MAKERS . A portion of the hands working under Mr . Hopkins , of Albion-street , having been offered a reduction of 3 d . a dozen on mens stocking legs , and 2 d . on womens ' , a public meeting was held in the market place , on Tuesday , to solicit the opinion of the trade , whether they were agreeable to submit to the same , when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — That this meeting is of opinion the reductions offered by Mr . Hopkins is contrary to the recognized principles ofthe trade , therefore we do hereby agree to pay 3 d . each per week for tbe support ofthe men out ou strike against the said Mr . Hopkins ; and , that the same be transmitted to the Barkby Arms , Upper _George-street , between a and 10 o ' clock on Saturday next .

      That it is tbe opinion of this meeting it wouldbe advisable , and for the benefit of all , to join the National Association for the Protection of Labour ; and that the committee be empowered to enrol them . Further that 8 s . be the average of the Strai ght-down Hose aud Strai ght Shirt branches . Thecommitteetrust , that as the manufacturers show signs of lowering the price of labour , the men will assist those on strike , and ** enrol themselves " in the association . For further particulars inquire of the secretary . A general meeting of the branches will be held at the Barkby Arms , on Monday next , at 8 o clock in the evening , when all are requested to attend . Signed , ' on behalf of the branches , John Squire , John _Saraons , Edward Muggleton , John Weston , John Brown , committee—Daniel Lucas , secretary . Committee Boom , Barkby Arms , Leicester , November 17 th .

      _Sdbscbiptions Collected at Bubnlby , in Behalf of the _Keighlet . Tubn-oots . —By Messrs . Crockbon and Tattersall . From the shoe makers , 12 s . 6 d . ; from the weavers , 5 s . ; from the public-house , lis . 6 d . ; per Ruben Bland , 13 s . 7 d . ; ditto from tb 6 Painters nnd plasterers . Is . 2 d . ; per James Crockbon , lis . 4 Jd . ; per John "Ward , 4 s . 43 d . ; per John Gray , jun ., 8 s . ; per Geo . Hudson , 8 s . 4 d .: per Jobn Gray , 8 Hi „ Is . 6 d . ; per Parker Parker , _iod . ; per Robert Holgate , Is . 8 d . ; per Thomas Tattersall , at _Clitberoe , 2 s . 9 d . —Total , £ i 2 s . 7 . The Tanners of Edinburgh appeal to their English brethren to aid them in getting a fair day ' s wage for a fair day ' s work . The Edinburgh tanners have enrolled themselves in union , and the tanners of Haddington and _"Musselburgh are about to loin them . All communications to be addressed to James Gossert , 8 , Lanston-street , Edinburgh .

      National _Thade-s Union Association . —The usual weekly meeting ol the Central Committee of this body was held on Monday , at the office of the Association . _Hyde-street . _Bloomabury . T . S . Duncombe , Esq ., M . P ., in the chair . A great number of letters were read , from various parts ofthe country , with reference to the business of the Association , and among others a letter containing the intelligence of the formal accession of the . Clitheroe Power-loom Weavers , Kimberley Miners , Barrhead Block-Printers , Manchester Power-loom Weavers , Oldham Cord-Griddere and Strippers , and Leeds Tailors . The contributions for the week amounted to a considerable sum , and included two items of £ 10 i from the Maidstone Fapermakers , and £ 50 from the Needle-stampers of Redditch . In

      causesequence of some misunderstanding between the metropolitan acting members of the Central Committee and the Manchester District Committee as to the construction to be put on a vote of the Conference held in May last , by which a levy was made to assist the building trades then on strike , it was resolved to convene a meeting of all members of the Central Committee , including its provincial members , for Tuesday fortnight . At the same meeting , the propriety of the Association petitioning Parliament in favour of the Ten Hours' Bill will be taken into consideration , and several other important matters discussed . _ A report from the directors of the twin Association for the employment of labour , gave the information , that in addition to tbe boot and shoe

      shop established by the Association in London , the business of which is rapidly increasing , the Association have now at work horse-nail-makers , ot Lye , Worcestershire , and silk glove-makers , at Duffield , near Derby , being parties who have struck , and who , in the failure of mediation between them and their employers , have been put to reproductive employment , instead of being supported in idleness from the funds of the Association , as is the case in ordinary strikes . The directors of this Association have also purchased frames for the purpose of setsing a portion ofthe tramework-knitters of Nottingham , now on strike , to work in the same way . The week ' s receipt of this " Monster Association" could not be less than £ 300 .

      Capmaktsg Akd Starvatioh.—On. Monday An ...

      _Capmaktsg akd Starvatioh . —On . Monday an inquest was held on tbe bod y of Mary Ann Ryan , aged forty-three . The body lay at a most miserable place down the middle of which runs a ditch about two feet wide . ___ The room was so small the Jury could only enter it three at a time . Elizabeth Simmons , who looked like a resucitated corpse , said that she occupied the room in which the bod y lay , for which she paid Is . fid . per week rent . She got her liviBg by capmaking when she could get it to do . In February last she fell down and hurt one of her legs , causing a bad wound , from which she suffered most severely . She did not apply to the parish sureeon

      for assistance , but got a pennyworth of salve when she had the means . The deceased had no bed to lie upon , but used to sit on a bundle of rags and lay her head on a boxwhen she went to sleep , She had not had any work to do for four or five days before her death , and had lived very badly . The Coroner—Why do you not go into the house ? Witness—They won't take me in , Sir ; I applied two years ago . but they won Id not admit me , I don ' t know why . About half past two on Monday morning I awoke , and as 1 could not get an answer when I spoke to the deceased I got a light , and found her dead and cold . Some discussion then took place among the Jury , and a verdict of " Found dead , caused by starvation , " was

      returned . WHECBxve . —More than twenty persons have been committed to Bodmin gaol at hard labour , from three to five months , for plundering from the brig Samaritan and her cago washed in by the sea , during the late gales .

      The Whigs Exposed By The Late Henry Hunt...

      THE WHIGS EXPOSED BY THE LATE HENRY HUNT , M . P ., FOR PRESTON . We have been requested by " several of our Barnsley readere to republish the celebrated lecture on " The Conduct of the Whigs to the working classes , delivered by tho late Henry Hunt , M . P ., at Lawrence-street chapel , Birmingham , on the 31 sfc of October ; 1832 . We cheerfull y comply with the request , omitting only such portions ofthe proceedings of the meeting at which the lecture was delivered as are no longer of interest to present readers : — Gentlemen : —I have requested your attendance this evening , because I had not an opportunity of addressing you at length at the great Meeting of Monday last . It Is well known to mort of you , that within the last fifteen months , my name has been made use of in Birmingham ,

      with no common share of opprobrium attached to it , because it was said , I had opposed the Reform Bill . Now I will briefly state to you what my conduct has been with regard to that measure ; first observing , however , that I feel no ill will towards you for having taken the part you have against me , because I know it is the public press that has misled jou . ( Hear , bear . ) Ever since I was capable of thinking and reflecting , I have contended for a full Radical Reform in the Commons House of Parliament ;— -such a Reform as should include in the suffrage every male Inhabitaatin the community , of full age , and unstained with crime . ( Cheers . ) On the night after the Reform Bill was first introduced into the House by Lord Jobn Russell , I addressed the House at length , and stated my great surprize at so large a measure having beea brought forward by the _Whin » . for never did I

      anticipate tbat they would have consented to lop off so many rotten boroughs . With regard , however , to the Ten Pound Franchise , I said it would exclude seven out of eight of the male adults in the kingdom , and that the people would not , and ought not to be content with such a measure . ( Cheers . ) I voted for the disfranchisement of all the rotten boroughs , for the enfranchisement of all the large town , and I was anxious to rote even for more but I could not justif y mjBelf in voting for a measure which I felt convinced would make all England a rotten borough . ( Hear . ) Now you all know that soon after tbis Bill was introduced , a cry was raised through _, out the kingdom , of " the Bill , the whole Bill , and nothing but tbe Bill , " and the man who would not join in that cry was deemed an enemy to Reform . I will now remind jou of one of the provisions of the First Bill

      which I opposed . One of the clauses made it imperative on the elector to pay up his rent , tcw «« and raft * , to the 94 th of June in each year , "before be could ba registered in July . Thousands have been disfranchised by the present Bill , which does not require tbe payment of rent , and gives a much longer time between the payment of taxes and rates , and the registration ; but how many would have been enfranchised if the First Bill had become law ? ( Hear , hear . ) For opposing this clause I was denounced by the whole press of England , with the exception of only two newspapers , the Leeds Patriot and the Poor Man ' s Guardian , the editor of which ( Mr . Hetherington ) sits here at my right hand ; he never failed , amid the whole clamour , to speak of ma correctly

      aud justly . ( Loud applause . ) About this time I was _patsing through this town , " and by invitation went to "Darlaston ; at that place , I and tbe gentlemen who were with me , gave a description of this Bill , and of the clause I have b * en speaking of , in particular ; after which I put the question honestly and fairly to them , whether they thought the Bill would do the working classeB any good , or was ever intended to do them any _? wbich was _decided unhesitating in the negative ; and the same was done at Manchester , Bolton , Blackburn , and Preston . When , therefore , I got back to the House , 1 said , that since the working classes had understood more correctly what the Bill was , they were determined not to receive it as a final measure . Was it right or wrong % ( A universal shout , " right , "

      Gentlemen , I will now proceed to the more immediate object ofthe meeting this evening , which is to give you a brief history ofthe Whig Ministry . The press ought to have done this , but has not , and therefore I will attempt to suppl y the deficiency . ( Bravo . ) I purpose to begin with a very _ahort narration of what they did when last they were in power in the year | _1806-7 . Wben I was a young man , I wa * a great admirer of Fox , Sheridan , and the Whig leaders of the day , who were always denouncing aad properly so too , the _measuv-s of Fitt , as calculated to ruin ths country . For fifteen years they bad been forte-ling the poverty and distress which would come upou the natiou by tbe acts of the Pitt Ministry , and in particular had they opposed that most infamous of Pitt ' s measures , the income tax , which was a tax of 5 per cent .,

      afterwards increased to 10 per cent , on every man's income that amounted to £ 50 and upwards , I my * elf beard Tierney in this place in tho House of Commons , declare that "tbis tax was go inquisitorial and unju 9 t that the people would be justified in taking up arms to resist it . " ( Hear , hear . ) _WeU , '» t length the Whigs came into office in 1 _$ 06 , and now _observe their consistency and political _honesty . The first _tbi-ag they did was to pass a high eulogium on the character of Pitt , and put us to the expense of a grand national monument . Not satisfied with thin , they proposed that Pitt ' s debts , amounting to £ 46 , 000 , should be paid out of the taxes , for being so clever and honest a man . ( Laughter and cheers . ) They then brought in and passed a bill , which cost the country £ 84 , to enable Lord Grenville to hold two offices in the Government at the same time , viz . First

      Lord of the Treasury at £ 6 , 000 a year , and an Auditor of the Exchequer , at £ 4 , 009 a year . ( Hear , hear . ) Then came the consideration of the income tax about which they had complained so often . Pitt had raised this tax from five to six and a quarter par cent ., but the Whigs had not been in office many weeks , ere they rose it to ten per cent , taking care to insert a clause in the Act , exempting the King ' s private property , whieh then amounted to about two millions , from the operation of tbe tax , although it was levied upon tha widow or orphan ' s £ 50 per annum . ( Shame , shame . ) The next thing they did was to _briag in a bill to raise tbe annual grants to all the Princes of the Wood from twelve to eighteen thousand a year , and those of the Princesses from six to ten thousand a year . All the salaries of all tbe officers of "the State were raised one-third , upon the plea of tbe high

      price of provisions , and the necessaries of hie . m eonse-( fueuce of which they were notable to maintain their dignities forsooth . ( Laug hter . ) There was at that time no man in the House of Commons bold enough fo ask whether those increased salaries were not te come out of the pockets of a people who had _themsi'Ives to pay the same high price of provisions ; and it also happened that no reduction had ever been made in their salaries , although provision had come down one-half , ( Loud cries of Hear , hear . ) At tbis time there was a general cry for an equalization of the malt , hop , and beer duties , for the poor man was _paying 10 s . per barrel more for bis beer than the rich man . Every gentleman , farmer , or tradesman who eould afford to buy malt and hops and brew himself , escaped a tax of 10 s . per barrel which was imposed ou malt liquor wben brewed for sale to the poor

      man . ( Shame . ) It was contemplated to put this duty on malt , so tbat every one shoulil pay alike . At this time I was introduced to Mr . Fox , being then a very considerable farmer , and explained to him a plan by which the difficulties complained of might be got rid of . Mr . Foi expressed himself so well pleased with it , that he said he would carry it into execution . Iu a short time afterwards , however , to my great surprise , they brought in a bill on this subject , by which the exciseman was authorised to enter every private house in the kingdom . But this was too bad even for the House of Commons , and knowing that such a measure would affect themselves , they refused to entertain it , and Kicked it out . ( Loud crieB of bear , and laughter . ) Anc-thM thing about whicb the Whigs used to be very indignant when out of office was Hanover . The connection of this country with Hanover , _tiwsy » a « l , they must be got rid of ; it was always injuring us in our wars . No sooner , however , did they get into power , when Fox declared tbat Hanover ought

      to be as 'dear to us as Hampshire . ( Laughter . ) During their administration they sent out three military and naval expeditions , all of which failed . One was sent to Constantinople , was defeated through bad management , and returned loaded with disgrace . A second expedition consisting of 8 , 000 men , was sent out to conquer Egypt , after Napoleon Buonaparte had made an unsuccessful attempt with 30 , 000 men . Four thousand out of the eight thousand were killed , a » dfour thousand came back , Tbe third expedition was tbat of General Whitelock , to South America , and you _aU remember what a disgraceful affair that turned out . ( Loud cries of hear , hear . ) So much for their naval and military fame . I will now go to another matter about which the Whigs always made a great stir , I mean Catholic Emancipation . They certainly did bring in a bill to relieve his Majesty ' s Catholic subjects , at which , however , old George the Third was very much displeased , and declared that sooner than he would sanction such a measure , he would dismiss them from office . Now this was the unkindest cut of all— .

      ( laughter)—they promised the King that if ha would forgive them , and retain tbem in office , they would never mention the subject again as long aa they lived . But the King had got tired of them , and kicked them out , amid the universal execrations of the people . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Tbey , however , left a sort of neat egg behind them , in the shape of a Bill , which was found b y their successors in Mr . Grattan ' s office , making it an offence transportable for seven years , for any Irishman tobe found out of bis own bouse between sun set and sun rise . ( Shame . ) I , who was such an admirer of these Whigs before tbey came into office , was you may be sure , very much disappointed and cut up by their short and inglorious career , and from that time to the present moment , I hare always maintained that , so far as the people go , there is no essential difference hetween Whig and Tory . ( Loud cheers . ) The Whigs were so unpopular with the people after they left office , that they were obliged to remain almost inactive , and thus their

      successors were allowed to go on for a number of year * to almost any length , iu oppression and tvrauMng over I the people . At length , however the Whigs rallied again , and again the people placed confidence in them _. They exposed this abuse , and the other abuse , and created such an opposition to the Tories , tbat the people began to think thorn good fellows after all . ( Laughter . ) They constantly kept railing agaiust the enormous amount of the Civil List , the Pension List , and other profligate waste of the public money . In 1 ? 30 _, Sir James Graham now first Lord ofthe Admiralty , brought up a statement to the Ilouse , showing the £ 600 . 000 a year of the taxes was distributed among the Privy _Cou-ecillors . This exposure resounded throughout the country , and every one was crying , " What excellent fellows these are ; " "These are the men we want , " < fcc , ( Laughter . ) Well , at length , George the Fourth died , and the _prfBunt Kiugcame to the throne , Now , when the _liing dies , the civil list and pension list are at an end : end knowing

      The Whigs Exposed By The Late Henry Hunt...

      this , now thought we , this is the time toiet _aingsrifhij particularly as they tell us we have got a modern Aitrea come to the throne . ( Laughter and cheers . ) we found , however , thatth « Wellington Ministry proposed that the same civil list should be gi anted to William the Fourth , as to the late King ; but still there wereOUr friends , the Whigs , like watch dogs on the alert . They loudly declaimed against such extravagance-declared that it was infamous to take so much money from the pockets of the people for the service of a King , and that somethi » g like half the sum would be quite sufficient .

      In this way they blustered throug h five or six hours debate , when at last they came to a division , and actually beat the Ministers . We all know what was the conse . quence , the Wellington Administration went out and the Whigs came in . They _ditecly _proposed , that the civil list should be referred to a Committee of their own nomination , who should report the sum which might be saved to the country . This Committee sat for some time , with Lord Althorp as its Chairman , and at length they reported to the ' house , that a saving of £ 12 , 000 per annum , out of the million , mig ht be effected . ( Loud

      laughter . ) When , however , Lord Althorp came to _propose thc civil list for tbe sanction of the House , he said , that really this sum was so very trifling and unimportant , that he was Convinced no man would desire to curtail the King of it ; and he therefore proposed that the amount ofthe civil list should be the same as before . No one except myself rose in that house to protest against so flagrant a measure . I said I certainly concurred with the noble lord that the sum of £ t 2 , 000 was insignificant , when compared with the million , but still it was an important sum to be taken from the pockets of the starving people of England , and was , moreover , more than doable the sum g iven to the . President of tbe United States , for performing his very arduous and onerous duties . ( Hear , bear . ) I therefore proposed that the

      civil list should be reduced by the amount which the committee had reported might be saved , and on this question I divided the House , determined that it should be put upon record . ( Loud cheers . ) Only four or five members voted with me , and tbe consequence is , that the civil list of William IY . is upon tbe same scale as the most profligate monarch that _evi-r sat on the British Throne , and that , too , by the retrenching Whigs . The same night , tbe Pension List came under consideration . Now , thought we , wa shall , at any rate , have a little practical reform . The Whigs havi- said so much and 80 Often about the enormity of paying pensions to people who never rendered one iota of service to the country , that we shall certainly lop off a considerable part of this £ 175 , 000 . ( Laughter . ) Several of the members objected to the subject being gone into tbat night , and were for

      having a committee appointed to inquire into how many cases were really deserving of pensions . But no , this would uot do ; it was r iot the _Miniatera'will that any reduction should be made ; and Lord Althorp said he thought it very hard to take away the pensions from these poor people , many of whom were getting very old , the Duke of Wellington ' s mother , for instance . ( _Laughter . ) His lordship wound up his speech by _novlng that the Pension List should remain as before , though he had so often railed against it . ( Shame . ) I divided the Ilouse on the question , but was left as usual in a paltry minority , so tbat tbe country has the honour to maintuin the favourites and mistresses of George tbe Fourth , besides aniee little bit wbich may bave been added since . ( Hear , hear . ) After this had been disposed of , I took an opportunity of drawing the attention of Sir James Graham to another little matter about which he had made so much

      _atira short time previously ; I mean the £ 600 , 000 a-year amoug the Privy Councillors ; hut oh , no , they would hear nothing about it . ( Laughter . ) And although I have mentioned the subject _tercral times since , 1 declare I can never persuade Sir James to look me in the face ; he always looked , askance , like a cow at a bastard calf , ( Loud laughter . ) Every oneknows how tbe Whigs uaed to rave away at tlio standing army , yet no sooner had they stepped into office than they increased it by an addition of 10 , 000 men . ( Hear , hear . ) Then came the Queen ' s business , it was , of course , necessary that we should make some provision for this beloved German Princess , in case her husband died first . ( Laughter . ) It was proposed to settle upon her £ 100 , 000 a-year , and as the King is an old man , and the Queen is comparatively young , it is not at all probable but they may have the

      pleasure of paying this immense sum of money for thirty or forty years . ( Hear , hear . ) I am really , gentlemen , somewhat concerned at being obliged to intrude my conduct upon your notice so frequently ; but I find it _necessary , in order that you may he informed correctly of what has been done . ( Hear . ) There was not a man in the House of Commons except myself who opposed this grant . ( A voice , " they ' re a bad lot . " ) I argued that Queen Caroline was allowed only £ 50 , 000 , in paper money , and tbat £ 100 , 000 , in gold was at least equal to £ 150 , 000 ia paper , ( Loud cries of hear , hear . ) It was all ef no use , however for the grant was voted . Well , then came thu Princess "V ictoria ; this little damsel bad already been allowed £ 6 , 000 a year , but she was now about thirteen years of age , and it was necessary that our

      future Queen should learn to dance and sing , d _* c _> Lord Althorp , therefore , came forwnrd and proposed an addition to her former grant of £ 10 , 000 a year , mr king a total of £ 16 , 000 a year : more then treble the sum received by the President of the United States of America . ( Hear , hear . ) I exclaimed against this as _nio-strous . and in order to try the character of the house , I moved that the grant be only £ 5 , 000 in addition . Sir Francis Burdett got up , on that occasion , and declared that he believed the member for Preston was the only man in or out of the house that would object to the grant ;—( cries of oh ! oh!)—which was followed up by the entreaties of several of the bon . membi rs around me " not to take up time by dividing the house , " " 'twas a pity I should push it to a division , " and so forth . ( _Laughter . )

      I , however , was determined as a matter of principle to persist , and a division accordingly took place , when there appeared 340 agaiust me , and not a single man of them who voted with me . ( Loud cries of hear , and cheers . ) Thus then whilst the Princess Charlotte , who was the King ' s daughter , was allowed £ 15 . 000 a year in paper money , tbis little damsel has got £ 10 , 000 in gold . Who , after this will say , that the Whigs are better than the Tories * But I think I hear some one of the Council of thc Birmingham Union say , Oil 1 but this Hunt is hired , and paid by the Tories , to come here and state these things . So that if a man takes the trouble to point out the hypocrisy and villnny of tho Whigs , or does his best to serve the cause of the working classes , he is at once to be denounced as an enemy to the people , and a friend to the ti . ries . ( Hear , bear . ) Now I think no

      honest Meeting man will uccusu me of having any liking for tlie Tories , I say they are like a set of highwaymen ; but I also say ou the other hand , the Whigs are like dexterous pick-pockets . ( Hear , hear . ) The conduct of the Tories'I know has been most infamous , they have brought thecountry iusuiih a state , that no man knows , for a week together , what may happen . They are now , however , oat of office and let us now occupy our time in railing at those out , whilst we overlook the treacherous conduct of those who are in , and who pretend to be reformers of abuses . ( Loud cheers . ) Only let the Tories again come into place , and attempt to continue the same system of misrule , and I will be one of the loudest in my opposition to thorn ; but let any set of men , whether Whig or Tory , bring forward measures for the benefit of the working classes , and they shall have my warmest

      support . ( Applause . ) But I have yet to notice two or three other matters , relative to the conduct of these Whigs , since they have been in office . You will remember that in _Castlereagh ' s time , there was a grant from Parliament of £ 300 , 000 to repair the beautiful _Windsor Castle , whicb it was said had got delapidated _, and that the King wished to reside there , It was objected to at the time , but upon a distinct and specific pledge being given , that the urn should include all contingencee , and that not a shilling more would be required , it was allowed , Notwithstanding this solemn pledge , however , various grantB have been made year after year , until the sum is swelled from £ 300 , 000 to £ 700 , 000 . ( Loud cries of "hear ,-hear , " " shame , shame , " & c . ) On every occasion of these grants being made by the house ,, tho Whigs , as usual , protested loudly _againkt the

      extravagance , " what a shame it is , " ( said they , ) " to spend such enormous sums in the repair of a King ' s residence . " ( Hear . ) Of course , then say youi they have stopped'the supplies to Windsor Castle . Oh ! no ; on the contrary , they had not been in office long , ere the annual grant for Windsor Castle was made , and what think you was the amount ? No less 1 assure you than £ 81 , 000 to go on with the repairs . On the motion being proposed , Mr . Hume and myself called for the papers , by whieh we found there had been £ 750 , 000 granted already , for the _repairB only ; and £ 250 , 000 more for furniture . The bouse was divided on the question of this further grant , when only Mr . Hume , myself , and about six others voted against it . ( Hear , hear . ) The very same night another grant was proposed of £ 6 , 000 for furniture , for one of the rooms in the same castle ,

      although £ 250 , 000 had been already expended in furniture . ( "Shame , " and a voice "Is it finished now . " ) Finished , no ! nor likely to be ; the job will last just as long as the contractor can induce the Ministers to set grants of money from Parliament . ( Hear , hear . ) I will now mention another little affair ;—There is a Society forpropogating tlie Gospel in the Colonies , with one or two of the Bishops at tbe . head . The society itself subscribes a very few thousands a year , and induces the government to give them a subscription of £ 16 , 000 a year . ( Loud laughter . ) The Whigs were _alwaya very indignant at this grant , and in 1829 , Lord Althorp moved , and Lord Howick , who is the sou oi'Earl Grey , seconded a motion , that the sum should be only £ 8 , 000 that year , and that the next year it should cease altogether . No sooner , however , did they come into power , than theBe very men proposed , that the grant should be £ 16 , 000 as

      usual;—( Hear , hear . ) Whilst a conversation was taking place on the subject , I went to the library , and fetched the report of _thi-yvoceeduxga which took pta . ee on'the occasion when Lord Althorp moved tho reduction of the grant . I returned , and made exactly the same motion made by his lordship in 18 _'" 0 , and yet not a single Whig voted with me . ( llear , hear . ) Again;—the Lord Chancellor's salary is £ 14 , 000 per annum and the retiring pension of Lords _Erskine , Eldon , and Lindburst _, waB £ 4 , 000 per annum , which the retrenching Whigs have raised for my Lord Brougham , to £ 5 , 000 , although every body knows that £ 3 , 000 in gold now , is equal to much more than the £ 1 , 000 in paper , received by the former Chancellors . ( Hear , hear , ) Had this been done ny the Tories , we need not have been surprised ' , but for men who came into office expressly pledged to retrenchment , it is most atrocious . ( Loud cheer * - , and c . ies of " away with them . " ) ( To be concluded'in our nexQ

      The Short Time Question". Renewed Agitat...

      THE SHORT TIME QUESTION " . RENEWED _AGITATIOtTfOR A DIMINUTION OF THE HOURS OF LABOUR IN FAO * TORIES ,

      GREAT MEETING AT HALIFAX . On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the Odd Fellows * Ilall , which will probably hold 2 , 000 persons , and which , on this occasion , was thronged to excess . A considerable number went away , unable to obtain admission . The meeting was of the more interest from the circumstance of the principal mill-owner here , Mr . Akroyd , chairman of the Mill-owners' Association , having recently issued a document , stating that , after several meetings , the masters had resolved that they

      would reduce the hours of labour from 12 to 11 , with a proportionate reduction of wages , unless two-thirds of their hands would sign a declaration of their desire to continue to work 12 hours with the present rate of wages ; those above 15 years old were required to answer for themselves , and the parents for those who were between 13 and 15 . The Short-Time Committee had issued an answer , claiming a law to protect their children from 18 to 21 being worked more than 10 hours a-day , and proposing to leave the price of labour to be regulated by supply and demand . About 8 o ' clock the chair was taken by

      Benjamin Rbshton , a hand-loom weaver , who briefly opened the business _« f the evening , remarking that ten hours were enough—he believed eight were—for the labour of either man or beast . Kobebt _Sijtcliffe , a working man , moved the first resolution : — " That the advocacy of the shortening of the hours of labour has been incalculably a benefit to society at large , has produced a better understanding between masters and men , and taught the operatives that it is useless to war against machinery , but rather to struggle for the regulation ofthe hours of labour , as a means of comfort and happiness to themselves and families . " Joseph _Kebibaw , a comber , in seconding the motion , bere testimony to the benefits which had flowed to the working classes from tho interference of the Legislature .

      Mr . Fieldiw _, M . P ., being called upon to support tbe resolution , was received with loud cheers and hurrahs . He said , I have attended her * at the special request of the supporters of the Ten ffoura' BUI In . Yorkshire , and 1 have come to ascertain whether your opinions are unchanged , and whether you are as strenuous as ever in your advocacy of a Ten _llours'Bill . ( " We are . '') Do you want a Ten Hours' Bill , or do you want an Eleven Hours' Bill ? ( "A Ttn— _-a Ten , " ) If there are any Eleven Hours' Bill men in this meeting , I should be very glad if ORe of them would step forward and assign a reason for tbe preference of eleven to ten . [ The Chairman .- " Come forward to the platform , Eleven Hour . -.- * men . " ] ( Laughter and cheers . ) I am old enough to know that factory _labour was much longer before the agitation for a Ten Hours' Bill commenced than it has

      been since . I remember the time when it was the pre * vailing practice in the factories in most parts of Lancashire aud Yorkshire , to work 12 , 13 , some 14 . some as much as is Hours in the day ; and therefore i bear my testimony _tojtha fact _statad in the resolution , that the agitation for the Ten Hoars' Bill has been productive of great good . ( Hear , hear . ) Gentlemen , it was 31 years last June since Sir R . Feel , the father ofthe late Premier , introduced into the House of Commons a bill , which passed through committee , and was reported by Mr . Brogden , but was afterwards shelved in some way or other—a bill to fix 12 } hours a day for labour , meals , and education—one hour and a half for meals , half an hour for education , and 101 for actual work ; and it embraced the mills engaged in working up cotten _, flax , _v _¦ _o _' _oUe _a _, _anlJ _» _U _¦ _- _. How , if jou bave been struggling 31

      years , and have not yet accomplished your object , there must be some formidable obstacle in the way somewhere , for ic is admitted on all bands that what you ask is reasonable , that you ought not to be called upon to work more than 10 hours a day , that children between 13 and 18 ( or rather 1 would say between IS and 21 ) , ought not to be required to work more than 10 hours , a period , indeed , which becomes 12 _J with the time for meals and going to and fro and , besides , why Bhould those who work in factories be called upon to work longer than they do in other trades , and not leave off aa is tbe custom in almost all other trades when 10 hours labour has been performed ! ( Hear , hear . ) Yet Sir R . Peel could not succeed , nor bave all the advocates that followed bim . But still I come here to give you encouragement and hope , and to exhort you to persevere . Let every

      indivldual in the manufacturing districts make it an especial object to do all that be can to promote the passing of the Ten Hours'Bill in the next session . ( Hear , hear . ) I have already _jfiven notice , that early in tbe next session I will _introduce the bill , and I come here to obtain your support , ( "You shall have it . " ) I want every man , woman , and child above 13 , to petition tbe Legislature not to delay the passing of the Ten Hours' Bill next session . It has been said that you hare * a giant' * strength , ' and I want you to exercise it . I do not want you to do as has been suggested , I am sorry to say , by the Chancellor , of the exchequer , who now represents you , or ought to do so ; I do not want you to havi ) recourse to " turn . outs , " The question was asked , both by him aud Mr . M . Philips , " Why don't they turn out for short time ? They c » in turn out for an advance of wages ;

      why don't they turn , out for short time \ If they do they will obtain it . " Nothing can be more false ; and for a legislature to hold out to thousands of men an inducement to do that which might lead to anarchy and confusion in the country is a thing almost unparalelled . Do not you take such advice . ( Hear , hear . ) I caution you against being led by any man that advises you to have recourse to violence in any way ; if you do that , you will lose your object ; but if you will be peaeeable and persevere , the bill cannot be withheld from you , I believe , many months . ( Cheers . ) At the same time it must be admitted that you cannot go from twelve hours at once to ten , without creating s _. me little disturbance iu the arrangements which now exist , and , therefore , parhaps , it might be more wise , besides disarming members of the League who object , —and many of whom I

      have known to say , that wben the Corn Laws were repealed they would vote a Ten Hours' Bill , —if I could get eleven hours fixed , for two years from next February , and ten hours afterwards , it might be _wibc to adopt those terms in order to settle the question . I would rather have ten hours at once ; but this plan might be prudent , if we can thus meet those who are _always ready to'heaii the Minister and frighten him almost out of his wits , and if we can compel the members of the League to perform their pledge . ( Hear . ) But I would not commence with eleven hours in this way , without your concurrence ; I come here to consult you and advise with you , and if you tell me you will not be satisfied with that , I will not be satisfied either . ( Hear , hear . ) With your concurrence , however , that is what I should propose—eleven hours at first , and ten in the spring of 1849 , wben the

      Corn Law repeal comes into complete operation ; would that be agreeable to you , gentlemen ? ( "Yes , yes , we will submttt to that . " ) What is it , after all , that is the bugbear that frightens these mill-owners , these lords of the spinning-jenny and the loom t They are very easily frightened ; they seem like men that bare not good consciences , and are doing wrong ; and they know it is wrong to insist upon children of thirteen or fourteen keeping at work thirteen hours a day . It is contrary to the laws of nature and of God , and I am here to denounce them for it . ( Hear , hear . ) I have a right to do it ; there aro not many that employ more than me and my partner , or work up more raw materials , and I have as good a right to judge what is proper to be done as _uuy manufacturer in Lancashire . ( Hear , hear . ) But what is it that frighteus them ? Why , there is a gentleman in

      this town , Mr . _Altreyd—I should have liked to meet him here . ( Hear , hear . ) I wonder why these millowners cannot meet me when I come to Halifax . I should like to discussthe question . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Akroyd says , in the letter he wrote to the Halifax Guardian , that the spinners and the combers , and all classes ofthe operatives , will have _one-sixth less wages ; but that is by way of frightening you , for all our experience gives the lie to the assertion . ( Hear , hear , ) He tells you , too , that we Bhall lose our foreign trade and our home trade . That is going a step further than any one I ever heard of . I suppose you will want clothing from somawhere , and if you are not to make it for yourselves in England , whence is it to come ? If the manufacturers in other countries could send you all these things , would they let you have them for nothing ? If they would , the sooner we

      lose the factory system the better . Ydu have been the slaves of Germans , the French , the Russians ) and the Americans for a long time ; suppose the slavery was transferied to them , and you have the ease fur the rest of your life . ( Laughter . ) But Mr . Akroyd does not seem to hare considered the subject at all ; for if we are to be supplied from other countries viith what we now produce among ourselves , we must give something for it , and where can we find property to hand over to them ! Tho arrangement vanishes into air ; it would apply to the introduction of corn , and they are all for Corn Law Repeal , and letting us depend upon foreigners for the supply of corn , If we are to send out gold to purchase corn , there would not be any great harm in sending out gold to purchase clothing , ( Hear , hear , ) When they bave exhausted tbe coffers of tbe Bank of England , you

      must give them some articles xu exchange ; and then , perhaps , instead of being cooped up in factories , you might be spread out over the land , and make it produce double what it does ; and I do not think you would lose much by that , for I say agriculture should be the base in all countries . ( A voice ; " They should be man and wife . "j— -manufacture should be its handmaid ; I say that as a manufacturer , But , says Mr , Akroyd , they work longer hours and for less wages abroad , and they would drive us out of the * market by their competition . If Mr , _Akroya had ever studied the subject , like a man that wished to arrive at the truth , he would have tound that the competition he ought most to complain of is the borne competition —( hear)—it is from the

      manufacturers In Bradford , and Leeds , and Manchester and so on , trying to gain some advantage over _oue another . ( Hear , hear . ) We have always bad the cry of foreign _eompetition . Let me tell you what was said in 1833 , before a committee ef the House of Commons , by Mr . W . Greg , who wrote a pamphlet in favour of a Ten Hours' Bill , and then altered his opinion—though I believe he said , not long ago , that if thu Coin Law wero repealed he would still advocate a Ten Hours' Bill . He stated in 1833 that , in Manchester the average rate of I wages was about 10 s . a-weck , wherea * in France it was 0 s . 8 d . ; aud the hours of labour in France seventy-two to eighty-four ; that in Switzerland the wages were Is , 5 d ,, the hours _seventy-eight to eighty-four - ia _Aua-

      The Short Time Question". Renewed Agitat...

      trift the wages wera 4 s ., the hours seventy-two to Bight in the Tyrol the wages 3 s . 9 d ., the hours eighty ; in g _. _'' ony 3 s . 6 d . for seventy-two hours ; in parts of _Pruss _*" 2 s . 6 d , for _ssventy-two to ninety hours ; _andhesaid th _' t we could not bear up under this competition . Wh y * _£ Greg himself proved on that occasion that the con * _sum _'tion of cotton had risen from 163 , 000 , 000 lbs _;» 182 C . to 230 , 000 , 000 lbs . in 1832 , and it has since reached 532 , 000 , 000 lbs . So that m are not swallowed up b , Frenchmen and Swiss —( a laugh)—we seem rather to have got too much wark to do still . If we were to io 8 a foreign trade lty reducing the hours of work , the last thirteen years , ought to have given us some experience of it . ( Hear , hear . ) But there was anoth er gentleman brought before that committee , an American , who was to crush the Ten Hours'Bill in a different way ; and ' he proved , that the wages in America , in parts where tha cotton manufacture is carried on , are 14 s . or 15 s . a-week the hours of work being seventy-two in tbe week . Then " if the

      argument bad been good , the French would have been able to eclipse us , though the Amerieans would not have made much advance upon us . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Yet we , with our medium wages and our lowest hours of work , have increased our manufacturers more than either the French or the Americans . ( Hear , hear . ) But why should these men thus repeat _argu . ments ten thousand times answered , whenever you he-Stir yourselves to obtain a Ten Hours ' Bill ? I believe they are more to be pitied than blamed , for it is evident they do not understand what foreign trade is ; it is only the interchange of one commodity for another , the quan . ttty varying according to the quantity of that article ia the market . The interchange of these commodities re . gulates itself without the interference of man , and the manufacturers have no control over it except when they make too much , as they have done in Yorkshire now . ( Hear , hear . ) Neither is it regulated by wages . Though the French bave bad such low wages to hel p them , we have increased our manufactures in the last thirteen

      yearB sixty-four per cent ., while the Americans hare Only Increased theirs forty-eight per _cimt ., and the French theirs still less . ( Hear . ) The Americans , how . ever , paying 15 s . wages to our 10 s ., ean undersell mi often . It is not done by low wages , Jbut by getting re . turns suitable to the consumption ; and all the talk about our losing our foreign trade , if we worked shorter time or paid higher wages , is a fallacy and a deception , I challenge any millowner to make it out ; I have as deep an interest in it as they , and I do not want to to ruin my * self , or you , but there is no necessity for wages to fall , ( Hear , hear . ) But are the millowners of Halifax quite certain they can continue the wages tbey now pay , even with twelve hours ? ( Hear , hear . ) I say they cannot , unless something is dene to correct the evils that prevail * I do not think they know what that is , but they will find

      it out by and bye . ( Hear , hear . ) T hear that in Stock _, port alone , the diminution in the consumption of COttoa within a few weeks amounts to 500 bags a Week through working four days a week instead of six . They would not do that if they were not losing ; they would want you all for full time if business paid . I believe it is ( he same la Yorkshire , and that they are not all working full time . Yet there were houses in Yorkshire with hundreds of horseponer and of hands standing still , -who sent up to Sir K . Peel and Sir J , Graham to frighten them _ag-. insl _givim ? a Ten _HonrB' Bill ; as if a Ten Hour ' Bill could ba objected to by men who were working only four days a week ! ( Hear . ) But , gentlemen , you have a great many friends

      in Parliament ; and if Ministerial influence , in opposition to you , shall cease to be exercised ( and I believe this will now be an open question ) , you will carry the bill the first time it is brought forward . ( Cheers . ) Besides , here is an election close at hand ; and if the bill is not carried before , I hope you will oppose erery candidate that will not vote for it . ( Hear , hear . ) Do that by Lord Morpeth ; he richly deserves it . ( Hear , hear ) I have a great respect for that nobleman , but be ought not to take part against the poor working children . I regret that he made such a mistake , but I hope he will do so no more ; and we should always forgive when people repent . The hon . gentleman retired amidst loud and hearty cheering _.

      The resolution having been carried unanimousl y , two working men , Joseph Crossland and Thomas Hawkyard moved and seconded a resolution to the same effect as the third and fourth resolutions _pasged at the Huddersfield meeting . Mr . R . _Oastmk , on standing forward to support the motion , was received with great applause . He felt that he was looking on a singular sight ; men who had been in their factories before the sun rose that morning were still Btanding there by hundreds , calm and steady , to listen in that hot and crowded room . In reference to Mr . Akroyd ' s document , Mr . Oastler said the millowners , perhaps , thought the reduction to 11 hours would really reduce wages ; he ( Mr . Oastler ) thought differently . His opinion was tbat if the hours were reduced , the

      wages would be increased iu amount , the reason why tbey were so low being tbat the men worked too long ; but there being a doubt upon the subject , it wag impertinent , Gruel , and dishonest , for tbe masters to require the workmen to bind themselves to the worst side of that doubt . If wages would fall the masters wanted no document to compel the men to thelower sum ; the men could not prevent a fall . ( Hear , hear . ) As for saying that if a man now got Is . for 12 hours' wages , he must as o . matter of course receive only lOd . if the hours were reduced to 10 , tbat was disproved by the fact that there had b « en no aueh reduction in the case of children who now worked six hours where they used to work 16 . ( Hear , hear . ) But it was shown by the " philosophers" themselves , in 1832 , in their Penny Magazine , p . 47 , that the fall of wages was produced hy supernumerary hands

      competing for employment , and that a diminution of the number of hands ready for employment produced an equal effect in the opposite direction ; and so long as factory labour was not made to agree with the number of hands that sought factory employment , it could never be said that a man received 13 or 10 hours' wages for 12 or 10 hours' work . While they were working 12 hours a day , had they never found that there were supernumerary operatives ? _(* ' Plenty . " ) Then , till the hours of work were reduced ao 88 to bring those labourers into employment , the employed men might be sure of not getting full wages for their time ; and if the reduction of hours to 10 should have the effect of bringing in those _supernumeraries , wages would not , and could not , be reduced . ( Hear , hear . ) How dare the masters , then , say thata reduction of the hours of labour necessarily _involved a

      reduction of the wages ? ( Hear , hear . ) But Mr . Akroyd , who was said tobe a very ' good man , and of whom he must try to make a convert , thought we should loose our foreign trade . No one could make out how that could be if the wages were to be reduced . ( Hear , hear . ) But we had no right to bave foreign trade—it was dishonest and unsound—Until those at home were supplied . We talked about '' our roaring foreign trade ; " yes , we were giving three pieces where we \ is « d to give one ; did they . wear three pieces at home where they used to wear one [ " No , nor one where we used to wear three ; " "We have not a blanket upon onr beds . "J Then they were robbed . ( Hear , hear , ) Tbe theory of home and fsreign trade was the following : —The proper employment of labour was that one man should produce a commodity for another , and this other man should produce in return a commodity for him ; on this principle a home trade

      was established , consisting of general and mutual demand of home produced commodities , and thus the consumption and enjoyment of the necessities and comforts of life were secured to the labouring population of the country . Foreign trade should be indulged in only for that portion of our products whieh was not required for the necessary comfort of our own people ; by it a portion of our existingcupital was abstracted from home circulation , which could not be safely extracted from the general fund , excepting in the event of all members of the homo community being well off , or kept in employment with good wages ; the surplus of the general or national apital might then , and then only , be fairly applied to the purchase und for the enjoyment of foreign productions . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Oastler , having then urged the working men to be united " and persevere , sat down amidst much applause .

      A . vote of thanks to Mr , Oastler , Lord Ashley , Mr , Fieldeu , asd other members of Parliament , was then passed _. The meeting closed at half-past 10 o ' clock .

      The Immigration Of Irish Paupers Has Of ...

      The Immigration of Irish Paupers has of late excited considerable attention in Lancashire . Oa particular days the roads leading from Liverpool to Manchester and other populous parts ofthe country , are covered with Irish families , consisting of men women , and children , of ail ages , from the _grandsire to the infant in arms . From the greatly increasing numbers in which these poor creatures are now arriving , there is reason to fear that thoy will , before long , produce a considerable effect _buth on wages and poor-rates in the country . The facilities for getting across to _Englana and Scotland are now go great , that immigrants of thiB class are likely to come in constantly-increasing numbers , as the pressure of distress increases in Ireland . Those who have

      paid any attention to the nature of the extensive emigration winch is going 0 n from Ireland , and which is already sufficientl y great to pi-event any apparent increase of population in a country , in which it is increasing more rapidl y than in any other country in i . urope _, must be aware that it consists of two kinds ol emigrants—the emigrants of hope and the emigrants of despair . The class which emigrates trom Ireland , not from sheer necessity , but from the hope o improving its condition , _eonsists principally _Ifon arrnes ' s possessed of some capital , say rom £ 20 to £ 100 each , who go to seek the means of improving tueir condition in Canada and the States ; whilst the second class , the emigrants of despair , consists of the poorest of the poor , who cannot live at home , or obtain the means of emigrating to

      America , but who beg or burrow the trifle which is necessary to Tiring them over to this country . For the last twenty years this class has been increasing , with every improvement in the _niodo of communication between the two countries , until a populous Irish quarter has been formed in London , Liverpool , _Manchester , Glasgow , Leeds , and moat other largo towns in England and Scotland . _llouBEUY . — Mdlle , Malvina Florentine de Saumeiez , the young French lady , who was apprehended on an extraordinary charge of Robbing Mr . Puikes , a ship-builder residing at Fareham , Hants , of a cash box containing a large sum of sovereigns and a cheque , was last week examined before Mr . Thresher , a magistrate at Fareham , and committed to Winchester gaol for trial at the quarter sessions ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 21, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_21111846/page/6/