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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st November 1846, Edition 1 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      TO THE NORTH OP ENGLAND MISERS . TO CniELtS CARD ., £ S « , SEGBILI . ' Sir , —It appears that the government commissioners hare published a report on the strike of the miners of Northumberland and Durham , in 1814 , the whole of the evidence being taken fr-im tlie masters of the above nsratd districts , amongst whom fi gures yourself . He pretends to prove that the leaders of the Union and Mr . Roberts were the sole cause of the strike . Now , any miprrjudiced person will easil y form an idea of tie veracity of evidence eomins from such a quarter , tntrefore , 1 will say nothing of it in general , but confine » " . v-Sfclf to a portion of that given by yourself , as I happen to dc able to refute tome of it as you shall speedily see . Ton state— " There is a library of C « 0 or 700 volumes at Swiiiil , adjoining the School ;\ ve established it in 1837 ,

      it has . however , now no subscriber- * , and is entirely neglected . The strike knocked it all up . When it was first set on foot a considerable number of lhe pitmen read the boots or got them read to them . Tiie use of the library fell off at least twelve months before the strike of 3814 . when the men ' s minds got filled with what they were told by their readers . They theu read nothing but 'Miner's Journal / ' Miner ' s Advocate , ' and the Clmrtist pap ; rs . such as the 'Northern Star . ' The library ictnains still hat is little used now . Half the men in the employ are new hands since the strike . " Now , sir , ¦ vo n sav , " the library fell off , at least , twelve months before the strike . " Now the union did not exist much more than that time before the strike , aud it was not xur . il May , 1 S * 3 . that i * -was anythiu ; like general at Seirlii !) , thanks to the state of the weather , and your kindness in preventing die publicans allowing us a place to meet in . Hot you played a wrong card at that time in

      an act of tyranny ihat you have probably not forgotten , and which never will , which caused a partial strike and , therefore , brought the men together in a manner delightful to untold . Instead ef tlte evidence given as to the cause of the strike , if you had given something like the -following you would have been nearer the point . " Under the Band made by us , and for us , we had the power to take every farthing of the earnings of the men , as they were n > t able to ktep the coals free of the quantity < -f the rtfuse specified in the band , but we could not take anything more ; therefore , it was necessary to have the power to tolw what they earned andji little more , so that they might he in debt to us after their day ' s work , eo we framed our monthly Bond accordingly , not that we would absolutely enforce it , tut t-i have the power was a great thing . We also could filch the desired amount by additional fines , while the number of forfeited corves could be reduced which would look rather better in the eyes of the public . "

      Sow , sir , jou might have said that and a great deal more . The commissioner fays , that , previous to your coniing to Seghill , the men wire paid in Ints of twenty or thirty , aud had to go to the bublic houses fur cash , but you put a stop to that by paying them separately , and in cash . Now this is false , for as lateas 1 S 13 we gave notice that we wonld have our money paid separatel y , or rather , that as two men worked together that two be paid together , howevtr . when the usual pay day arrived the meu were refused their money , except in cheques as be fore , and it was not till I wtnt into the office and demanded my money in cash that your officers wonld give Tray . They even had the policeman in the office , because I said . I would not go without my wages . I was told

      that I was the worst man that ever had been on the calling , but there was a time coming , &c . It did come , and I got the "sack . " Shortly after that I was one of a deputation , of four , that were sent to you to ask you to pay us up the " lying week ' s" wages that you kept every pay , you refused , and I told yon that I believed we could compel you , when you said , " you believed we could , hut jou were determined to bringit to a trial before yeu would submit , but yon would pay me mine if I would leave the colliery , " I told you that I was not prepared to come to euch terms , but I would publish the fact to the world , tbat ; . on would pay me my ¦• rages full up if I wou'd le .-. ve the work , but if not , not ; now with the permission o ' the proprietor of " such Chartist papers as the'Northern Star '" I fulfill mv promise .

      In conclusion I might tell you , that although for along time after th « strike I had to go about tbe country with tut little in hit pocket , vet I have so much work dot that I have to write this on the Sunday . I trust that von will use the half of your men that are " new hands' ' better than you < Hd those that have left . I trust also , tast although I had not the Venefit of your library , and am consequently very " ignorant , " that I have written nothing but truth , and I wi > h some of my wealthy acquaintances would stick to the same rule . I remain , One of yonr . msny victims , Robert Tcbsbuix . November 8 th . ISiC .

      AATIOXAL ASSOCIATION OF UNITED TRADES . Giieexock . —Monday—A public meeting of the trades of this town was held at the Buck Head , JIull , to hear a lecture from Mr . Jacobs , the Association enmmisionary . 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 on the numerous reductions that had taken place within his time . The missionary commenced by notiecing the grievances of the working class generally . hV . coatendtd that they had produced all the wealth of Brittain . and had a claim thereon were entitled to a better reward , after dwelling upon the nature and failure

      of former remedies . lie fct forth the new plans of the association , which he said had already been tested by the businesses the b < ard of directors had started , he then showed , from several estimate , that the trades could accumulate fast wealth ,, by their subscription to the general fund , and takinp shares in the Employment Fund and the profits that would accrue by its use in mines , manufacture , and agriculture . The mec : in . ! j se -med to testify their appr . iv . il of the instructive lecture by their cheers At the conclusion several questions were asked and raidilr answered , a rote approving the association was carried , and a committee of one from each trade elected fo organise the Trades on the Association . A Tiite ( if thanks was passed to the lecturer and tlitmeeting separated .

      GusGaw—Tuesday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the bnishmafcers . in Nelson-street Chapel , who iramediate ' y joined the association . Wednesday—Mr . Jacobs delivered a lecture to tbe Landloom weavers in Suffolk-street Chapel , who also joined the association . Tharsaay—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the Dyers ol Paisely in Methodist Chapel , who have since ajroed toj ia the association and take shares in the Employment Fund . Glasgow . —Friday—The missionary lectured to the iifih'jidsferers in Leigh Kirk Session-house , nho agreed to decide on joining , and the purchase ol share at their general meeting on Monday next . N . B . —The Strike at Camelon ended the third day , tLe whole of the employers save the rise .

      THE OPERATIVE BASKET MAKERS . The Manchester union of the above trade now on strike made application to thair metropolitan bsetlirea for supporr , and at a spec al meeting of their trade , held attire White Hart , Gillspur-stri : et . on youday eveninu last . £ 20 was voted with a view to the " sell ernpluyiiient , " of the men on strike . "We understand t ' . ; ai " Hiri-s" -will be forthwith op ? nrd at Birmin ^ Iian , Wolrerhaniptun , Nottingham , Leicester , and other towns , for the sale of the goods manufactured . SPITALFIELDS WEAVER ? .

      EfF £ CT 3 of Fkee Trade —On Saturday night , ptllie meeting ftf the Broad-silk Jlandlooni Weavers ' Uiiiin of Spitalfields . held at the Crown and Anchor , V »' ater'oo-town , listhnai- ; rein , » he subject ; of the pree : it . ' ition of a memorial to the Board of Trade , ir ref-renca to the depressed state of the « lk trade , aii-ini ? from the repeal of the protective duties , was fcifcm into consideration . Mr . G . Fm'innndo , in the Cisair . Mr . Sherrard said , that he had been instructc I t < i draw np a statement to be prase ? ted to the B'mr

      numerous details from official documents , which would show that the trade had flourished when it was protected by the Legislature , and that in the loss of that protection , was the consequent depr < s < iot : of the trade and the impoverishment- < if the weaver . ( Hear . ) lie now wished to know whit curse the union was willing to adopt in reference to the memorial . It wasevident that their trade was in nee

      the trade -was In favour of a good duty . ( Hear . ) 1 hey 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'Culloch , Baines , &e ., le had little doubt but that they wonld be successful . ( Hear . ) After speeches froni Mr . Berry and Mr . ierdinando , showing the injurious results of Free Trade , the latter speaker concluded by moving—• 'That the subject of the memorial to the Board of Trade 1 » taken into consideration that day three weeks . " Mr . Gurnall seconded the motion which was agreed to and the meeting broke up .

      . THE XEIGHLEY TURN-OUT . Toesdat , Nov . 17 . —The contest betwixt the manufacturers and woolcombera stiil continues without any material change from last wreck ' s report . The men continue firm and the masters obstinate , and it now remains to be seen whether the bellies of the men or the purses of the manufacturers can hold longest out . Thirteen weeks have now elapsed since they were turned from their work , and although they have suffered the extremes of want , not one has either gone in or talked of 2 oin < r . Lund's weavers and ml hands remain out on behalf of the combers , tnd they appear equally as firm . The manufac-

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      turers have shown some signs of giving way , by requesting an interview with the men last . week » . " , the only satisfactory result was the appointment oi another interview to-day ( Tuesday ) to endeavour to come to some explanation . Nearly all the factories are running only delight , " and , as one of the combers observed m ta » speech that "if the struggle has done no other < -ood 11 aT at least made the manufacturers act upon hat part of Christianity , which says , " work while it is « Jay , for when the night cometh no man can work . " Another great result is the establishment of a sanatory committee to fexamine into the condition of the dwcllines of tbe poor . The necessity of this measure has been long felt , more especially niKongst the combers ; the manufacturers having

      gradually taken away their workshops to save expenses , and thus driven them to the necessity oi 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 combrot iu the middle , and the heat arising from the pot and the slates over-head in summer time , ranging fr <> m eighty to one hundred degrees , with scarcely any ventilation . ' The conscqurnce is , that during the dny the inmates are nearly baked , and at nfcht noarlv snffocated and worried with vermin , which

      are nourished and kept alive during winter with the heat nt 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 Indies , worried with musquitoes and vervim , 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 of men who ar « now submitting to almost total starvation to procure from their employers the miserable pittance of ten shillings and nine pence per week , a sum they almost deserve for enduring the sufferings of one summer .

      We must not iorget 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 th » protection of their wages , and last night , at a public meeting , they voted thirty pounds of it as , a gift to the combers . They are now about entering the United Tnidos , and being in no pressing or immediate want of the money , thought it could not be better applied . Wednesday —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 them , at one of their weekly meetings .

      The deputation carried the following propositions to their employers . First , —If they 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 bein ? the time three have already gh'en 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 then pulling it off a ? ain , 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 misht resume their work at the wages they had when they were turned

      on , but that they were determined to give no advance . The deputation then wanted to know 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 besging 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 sime , when the following resolutions were unanimously adopted : — That this meetiu ^ is of opinion the reductions offered by Mr . Hopkins is contrary to the recognized principles of the trade , therefore we do hereby agree to pay 3 d . each par week for the support of the men out on strike against the said Mr . Hopkins ; and , that the same bo transmitted to the Barkby Arms , Upper Gc'orge-street , between 5 and 10 o ' clock on Saturday next .

      That it is the opinion of this meeting it would be 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 . he the average of the Straight-down Hose and Straight Shirt branches . The committee trust , that as the manufacturers show signs of lowering the price of labour , the men will assist those on strike , and ' enrol themselves " m 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 Sarsons , Edward Muggleton , John iVeston , John Brown , committee—Daniel Lucas , secretary . Committee Room , Barkby Arms , Leicester , November 17 th .

      Subscriptions Collected at Burnlet , i ! J Behalf of tiie Keigiilet Tben-octs . —By Messrs . Crockbon and Tattersall . From the shoe makers , 12 s . Gd . ; from the weavers , 5 s . ; from the public-house , 11 s . 6 'J .: pL > Ruben Bland , 13 s . 7 d . ; ditto from the Painters and plasterers . Is . 3 d . ; per James Crockbon , lls . 4 Jd . ; per John Ward , 4 s . 4 id . ; per John Gray , jun ., Ss . ; per Geo . Hudson , 8 s . 4 d .: per John Gray , s : n ., Is . Gd . ; per Parker Parker , lOd . ; per Robert Holgate , Is . Sd . ; per Thomas Tattersall , at Clitheroe , 2 s . 9 d . —Total , £ 4 2 s . 7 . The Taxnehs of Edinburgh appeal to their English brethren to aid them in petting a fair day's wasre for a fair day ' s work . The Edinburgh tanners have enrolled themselves in union , and the tanners of Lladdington and S ? usseiburgh are about to join them . All communications to be addressed to James Gossert , S , Lanston-street , Edinburgh .

      National Trade ' s TJkion Association . —The usual weekly meeting ot the Central Committee of this body was held on Monday , at the office of tbe Assofliation , Hyde-street , Bloomsburr . T . S . Dancombe , Esq ., M . P ., in the chair . A great number iif letters were read , from various parts of the country , with reference to the business of the Association , and among others a letter containing the intelligence of the formal accession of the Clitheroe Powcr- ! oom "Weaver ? , Kimberley Miners Barrhead Block-Printers , Manchester Power-loom Weavers , Cldham Cord-Gridders and Strippers , and Leeds Tailors . The contributions for the week amounted to a considerable sum , and included two items of £ 104 from tke Maidstone Papermakers , and £ 50

      from the Needle-stampers of Redditch . In consesrquence of some misunderstanding betwt en tbe 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 ; tll 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 oi ' kbour . cave the

      information , that in addition to the boot and shoe shop established by the Association in London , the business of which is rapidly increasing , the Association have now at work horsc-nail-makers , at Lye , WoKHstershire , and silk glove-makers , at Duflield , near Derby , being parties who have struck , and who , in the faiiure of mediation between them and fucir employers , have been put to reproductive employment , instead of being supported in idleness fiom 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 of the h-amework-kriitters of Nottingham , now on strike , to work in the same way . The weeks receipt of this " Monster Association " could not be less than £ 300 .

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      . - ^ -- — - " i rr' - '"" m ^ 4 M " ' '¦ ¦ ¦ _ jn . THE WHIGS EXPOSED BY THE LATE HENRY H U NT , M . P ., FOR PRESTON . We have been requested by ^ several of our Barnsley readers to republiali the celebrated lecture on "The Conduct of the Whigs to the working classes , delivered by the late Henry Hunt , M . P ., at Lawrence-street chapel , Birmingham , on the 31 st of October , 1832 . We cheerfully comply with the request , omitting only such portions of tbe proceedings of the meeting at which the lecture was delivered as are no longer of interest to present readers : — j , ^ v—i-w . ^ i « w-r > -. j- . »' . i - ¦ ¦ » ¦ ¦ * - ¦ '" Vl ¦¦—' ' - ¦« - ¦¦ ' - ' ¦ ' - M «^^« " ^** ' ** -- ^ * ^ * <^' MWM * ^*' ^' *^^^

      Gentlemen : —I lwive r . quested your attendance this evening , because I had not an opportunity of addressing you at length at the great Meeting of Mondny last . It 1 b well known to most of you , that within the last fifteen months , my name hns been mnde use of in Birraiiiglmm , with no common shar « of opprobrium attnchei' to it , because , it was Eaid , I had opposed the Reform Bill . ' Now I will briefly state to you what my conduct hns been with regard to that measure ; first observinf , however , that I feel no ill will towards you for having taken the part you have iigainst me , because I know it id the public press that has misled jou . ( Hear , hear . ) Ever since I was capable of thinking and reflecting , I hare contended for a full Radical Reform in the Commons House oi' Parliament ;—such a Rvforin as should include in the suffrage every male inhabitant In the community , of fall age , « ' ¦<)

      unstained with crime , ( Chcere , ) On tho night after the Reform Bill was first introduced into the House by Lord John Russell , I addressed the House at length , and stated my great surprize ut so large n measure having been brought forward by the Whigs , for nevtr did I anticipate that they would have consented to lop off so many rotten boroughs . With regard , however , to tho T « u Pound Franchise , I said it would exclude seven out oi eight of the male adults in the kingdom , and that tbe people wouljl not , and ought not to be content with such a measure . ( Cbeers . ) I votod for the disfrahchiseraent of all the rotten boroughs , for the enfranchisement of all the large town , and I was anxious to vote even for more , butl co \» ld not justify myself in voting for » measure which I felt convinced would make all England a rotten borough , ( dear . ) Now you all know that soon

      after this Bill was introduced , a cry was raised throughout the kingdom , of "the Bill , the whole Bill , and nothing but the Bill , " and the man who would not join in thatcry was deemed an enemy to Reform . I will now remind you of one of tho provisions of the First Bi " which I opposed . One of the clauses made it imperative on the elector to pay up his rent , taxet and ralet , to the 24 th of June in each year , before he could bo registered in July . Thousands hate been disfranchised by the present Bill , which does not require the payment of rent , nnd g ives a much longer time between the payment of taxes and rates , and the registration ; but how many would hare been enfranchised if the First Bill had become law ? ( Hear , hear . ) For opposing this clause I whs denounced by the whole press of England , with tbe exception ofonly two newspapers , tbe Leeds Patrijt and

      the Poor Han ' s Guardian , the editor of which ( Mr . Hethcrington ) sit * here at my right hand ; ho never failed , amid the whole clamour , to speak of me correctly and justly , ( Loud applause . )_ About tliia time 1 nas passing through this town , and by invitation went to Darlaston ; at that place , I and the gentlemen who were with me , gave a description of this Bill , nnd of the clnuse I have been speaking of , in pftrliculni " , after which I put the question honestly and fairly to them , whether they thought the Bill would do the working classes any good , or was ever intended to do them any * which was decided unhoiitating in the negative ; and the same was lione at Manchester , Bolton , Blackburn , and Preston . When , therefore , I got back to the House , I said , that since the working cl » sses 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 . " GjntK-men , I will now proceed to the more immediate object of the meeting this evening , which is to give you a brief history of the Whig Ministry . The press ought to have done this , but has not , and therefore I will attempt to supply the deficiency . ( Bravo . ) I purpose to begin with a very short narration of what they did when last they were in power in the yearil 80 G-7 . When lwas o young man , I was a great admirer of Fox , Sheridan , and the Whig leaders of the day , who were always denouncing and properly 60 too , the measures * of Pitt , as calculated to rnin the country . For fifteen years they had been fortelling the poverty and distress which would come upon the nation by the acts of tho 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 myself heard Tierney in this place in th « House of Commons , declare that " this tax was so inquisiterial and unjust that the people would be justified in taking up arms to resist it . " ( Hear , hear . ) Well / at length the Whigs came into officjsin 1800 , and now observe their consistency aad political honesty . The first thing they did was to pass a high eulogium on the character of Pitt , nnd put us to the expense of a grand national monument . Not satisfied with this , they proposed tbat Pitt ' s debts , amounting to £ 40 , 000 , should be paid out of ihe taxes , for being so clever and honest a man . ( Laughter and cheers . ) Thuy then brought in and passed a bill , which cost the country £ 84 , to enable Lord Grenville to hold tmi nfiintsm the Government at the same time . viz . First

      L'ml of the Treasury at £ 6 , 000 a year , and au Auditor of the Exchequer , at £ 1 , 009 a year . ( Hear , hear . ) Then came the consideration of tlie income tax about which they bad 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 , which then amounted to about two millions , from the operation of the tax , although it was levied upen tho widow or orphan ' s £ 50 per annum . ( Shame , sharce . ) The next thing they did was to bring in a bill to raise the annual grants to all the Princes of the blood from twelve to eighteen thousand a year , and those of the Princesses from six to ten thousand a yeur . All the salaries of all the officers of the State w « re raised one-third , upon the plea of the higli

      price of provisions , and the ntcesiaries of lite , in consequeuce of which they werf not able to maintain their dignities forsooth . ( Laughter . ) There was at that time no man in the House of Commons bold enough to asic whether those iucreased salaries were not to come out of the pockets of a people who had themselves to pay Hie same high price of provisions ; and it also happened that no reduction had ev < : r been made in their salaries , altliouith provision had come down one-half . ( Loud cries of Hear , hear . ) At this time there was a general cry for an equalization of the malt , hop , and beer duties , far the poor man was paying 10 s . per barrel more for his beer than the rich man . Every gentleman , farmer , or tradesman who could afford to buy malt and hops and brew himself , escaped a tax of 10 s . per barrel which was imposed on malt liquor when brewed for sale to the poor

      man . ( Shame . ) It was contemplated to put this duty on malt , so that ev « ry one should 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 taid he woald carry it into execution . In a short time afterwards , however , to my great surprise , they brought in a bill on this suliject , by which the exciseman -was authorised to enter every private house in the kingdom . But this was too bad even for the Homo of Commons , and knowing tbat such a measure would affect themselves , they refused to entertain it , nnd kicked it out . ( Loud cries of bear , and laughter . ) Another thing about which the Whigs used to be very indignant when out of office was Hanover . The connection of this country with

      Hanover , they said , 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 that 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 , mid returned loaded with disgrace . A second expedition eooeisting of 8 . 000 men , was sent out to conquer Egypt , after Sapoleon Buonaparte had made ua unsuccessful attempt with 30 , 000 men . Four thousand out of the eiuht thousand were killed , and four thousand came back . The third expedition was that of General Whitelock , to South America , and you all remember what a disgraceful affair that turned out . ( Loud crie * of hear , hear . ) So much for their naval and military fame . 1 will now

      go to another matter about which the Whigs alwaye made a great stir , I mean Catholic Emancipation . They certainly did bring in a bill to relieve his Majesty ' s Catholic subjects , at which , howevcr . old Georgethe Third xras very much dispkased , and declared that sooner than he would sanction such a measure , he would dismiss them from office . Now this was the unliindest cut of all—( laughter)—they promised tho King that if he would forgive them , and retain them in office , they would never mention the subject ngstin ns long as they lived . But the King-had got tired of tlwm , and kicked them out , timid the universal execrations of the people , ( Laughter and cheers . ) They , however , left a sort of neBt ejjg be . hind them , in the sliupo of a Bill , which wua found by their successors in Mr . Grattan's office , making it an offence transportable for seven years , for any Irishman

      to be found out of his own house between sun set and sun rise . ( Shame . ) I , wno was such an admirer of these Whips before they came into office , was , you may be sure , very much disappointed and cut up by tlie'r short and inglorious career , and from that time to the present moment , I have always maintained that , so faras the people go , tliere is no essential difference between Win ;? and Tory . ( Loud cheers . ) The Whigs were so unpopular with the people after they left office , thatthey were tibligc-d to remain almost inactive , and thus their successors were allowed to go on for a number of years to utmost auy length , in oppression and tyranizing over the people . At length , however the Whigs rallied again , and again the people placed confidence in them .

      Tiler exposed this abuse , and the other abuse , imd created such au opposition to the Tories , tbat tbe people began to think them good fellows after all . ( Laughtei . ) They constantly kept railing against the enormous amount of the Civil List , the Pension List , and other proilijinte waste of tlie public money . In l ? 30 , Sir James Graham , now first Lord ofthe ' iidrairalty , brought up a statement to the House , showing * he £ 600 , 000 a year of the taxes , was distributed among till Privy Councillor ? . This exposure resounded throughout the country , ano every ona was crying , " What excellent fellows these iira ; " "These are tl : c men wo want , " < fcc . ( Laughter . ) AVoll , at length , George the Fourth died , and tlie { ires' / iit Kingcamo to the tlirone . Now , when the King dies , the civil list aaJ pecsiou list are at uu tiui ; nutf kuowiug

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      this , : now thought we , this is the time to set thingsrlght particularly as they tell its we have got a modern ^ Alfred come to the throne . ( Laughter and cheers . ) We found , however , that the Wellington Ministry proposed that the same civil list should be granted to William the Fourth , as to the late King ; but itffl . there were our fri * ds , the Whigs , like watch degs on the alert . They loudly declaimed against such extravagance-declared that It was infamous to take so much money from tne pockets of the people for the service of a King , and that somethinlike half tbe sum would be quite sufficient . ^ __^——i^—^ jmm—— W ^ i ^* ---- *^^^^^ — :. , ' - . . _ ;• ' ; :. ¦

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

      laughter . ) When , however , Lord Althorp came to propose the civil list for the 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 o £ the civil list should be the same as before . No one except myself ro 3 e in that house to protest against 60 flagrant a measure . I said I certainly concurred with the noble lord that the sum of £ 12 , 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 given to the President of the United States , for performing bis very arduous and onerous

      duties . ( Hear , hear . ) 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 . ( Loudcnecrs . ) Only four or fire members voted with me , and the consequence is , that the civil list of William IV . is upon the same scale as the most profligate monarch that ever sat on the British Throne , and that , tco , by the retrenching Whigs . The same night , the Pension List came under consideration . Now , thought we , we shall , at any rate , have a little practical reform . The Whigs have said so much and so 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 that night , and were for having a committee appointed to inquire into how many cases were really deserving of pensions . But no , this would not do ; it was not the Ministers ' will that any reduction should bo 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 moving that the Pension List should remain as before , though he had so often railed against it . ( Shame . ) I divided the House on the question , but was left as usual in n paltry minority , so that the country has the honour to maintuin the favourites and mistresses of George the Fourth , besides

      a niee Httlebit which may have 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 st . r a short time previously ; I mean the £ 600 , 000 a . yeor among the Privy Councillors ; but oh , no , they would hear nothing about it . ( Laughter . ) And although I have mentioned the subjuctjieveral times since , 1 declare I can never persuade Sir James to look me in tbe face ; he always looked askance , like a cow at a bastard calf , ( Loud laughter . ) Every one knows how the Whigs used to rave away at the standing army , yet no sooner had they stepped into office than they increased it by an addition of 10 , 000 men . ( Uear , hcar . ) Then came the Queeu ' s business , it was , of course , necessary that wo 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 tlie pleasure of paying this immense sum of money for thirty orfortyyeaM . ( 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 be informed correetly 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 that £ 100 , 000 , in gold was at least equal to £ 150 , 000 in paper , ( Loud cries of hear , hear . ) It was all ef no use , however for the grant was voted . Well ,

      then came the Princess Victoria ; this little damsel had already beeu 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 , &c , Iiord Althorp , therefore , came forward and proposed an addition to her former grant of £ 10 , 000 a year , m ? king a total of £ lG , 00 Oa year : more then trebJe the sum received by the President of the United States of America . ( Hear , hear . ) I exclaimed against this as mo :-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 lion , members around me " not to take up time by dividing the house . " " 'twas a pity 1 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 therp appeared 340 against me , and not a single man of them who voted with me . ( Loud cries of hear , and cheers . ) Thus then whilst the Princess Charlotte , nho was the King's daughter , was allowed £ 15 , 000 a year in paper money , this little damsel has got £ 10 , 000 in gold . Who , after this will say , that the Whigs ore better than the Tories ? Butl think 1 hsar some one of the Council of the Birmingham Union say , Oil ! 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 villany of the 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 tv > r : es . ( Hear , hear . ) How I think no lione .-t reflecting man will accuse me of having auy liking for tlie Tories , I say they are like a set of highwaymen ; but I also say on the other ha « d , the Whigs are like dexterous piek-pockets . ( Hear , hear . ) The conduct of the Tories I know has been most infamous , they have brought the country in such a state , that no man knows , for a week together , what may happen . They are now , however , out of office , and let us now occupy our time in railing at those out , whilst we overlook tho treacherous conduct of those who .-ire in , and who pretend to be reformers of abuses . ( Loud cheers . ) Only let the Tories again come into p ' aee , and attempt to continue the same system of misrule , and I will be one of the loudest in my opposition to thun : 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 Castle'eagh ' s time , there was a grant from Parliament of £ 800 , 000 to repair the beautiful Windsor Castle , which it was said had got delapidsted , and that the King wished to reside th « re . It was objected to at the time , but upon a distinct and specific pledge being given , that the ? u n should include all contingence ? , and that not a shilling more would be required , it was allowed . Notwithstanding this solemn pledge , however , various grants have been made year after year , until the sum is swelled from £ 300 , 000 to £ 700 , 0 . 00 . ( Loud cries

      of "hear , hear , " " shame , shame , " < bc . ) On every occasion of these grants being made by the house , tho Whigs , as usual , protested loudly againbt the extravagance , ' what a shame it is , " ( said they , ) " to spend such enormous sums ift the vepvuv < jf a King ' s residence . " ( Hear . ) Of course , then say you , they have stopped the supplies to Wiiulsor Castle . Oh ! no ; on the contrary , they had not been iu office long , ere the annual grunt for Windsor Castle was made , and what think you was the amount ? No less 1 assure you than £ 84 , 000 to go on with the repairs . On the motion being proposed , Mr . Hume and myself called for the papers , by which we found there had been £ 750 , 000 granted already , for tlie repairs only ; and £ 250 000 more for furniture . The house 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 £ C , CO 0 for furniture , for one of the rooms in the same cattle , 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 ; i 6 the contractor can induce the Ministers to get grants of money from Parliament . ( Hear , hear . ) I will now menlion another little alluir ;—There is a Society for proposing the Gospel in the Colonies , with one or two of the Bishops at the 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 laughtir . ) The Whigs were always very indignant at this grant , and in 1 S 29 , Lord Althorp moved , aud Lord Howick , who is the son of EtU'l Grey , seconded a motion , that the sum should be onl y £ 8 , 000 that year , and that the next year it should eonse altogether . No sooner ,

      however , did they come into power , than these 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 the proceedings which took place on the occasion when Lord Althorp moved the reduction of the grant , I returned , nnd made exactly the same motion made by his lordship in 1829 , and yet not a single Whig voted with me . ( Hear , hear . ) Ajjain ;—the Lord Chancellor ' s salary is £ 14 , 000 per ' annum , and the retiring pension of Lords Erskine , Eldon , and Linuhurst , was £ 4 , 000 por 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 tlaformer Chansellors . ( Hear , hear . ) Had this bet-n dune t-y the Tories , we need not have been surprised ; but for . uitiii who cfiino into o / lice expressly pledged to relrtnclir . miit , it is most airocious . ( Loud chetr' - , and cits of 'hway wtih them , " ) ( To k wnrftttfetf in

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      tria the wage ' s were < s ., the hours sSn ^ wnTT * ' in theTyrdlhe wages 3 s . 0 d . > the hours eiS ?* S ony 3 s . 6 d . for seventy-two hours ; in parts r f I" V 2 « . ( id . forsoventy-two to ninety hours- andh " ' » we could not hear up under this competition wJ " "I Grsg himself proved , on . that occasion that th ltr sumption of cotton had risen from 1 G 3 000 nnn i \ c <> 11 " 182 ( 5 . to 230 , 000 , 000 lbs . in 1832 , and it has ' sinl lbs - ! 4 532 , 000 , 000 lbs . So that we are not swallowed ** Frenchmen and Swiss—( a laugh)—we seem raii ! P k have got too much w » rk to do still , if We w * ner foreign trade by reducing the hours of work th ' thirteen years , ought to have given us some exiier * - ' ^ of it . ( Hear , hear . ) But there was another eemi e brought before that committee , an American wl a to crush the Ten Hours' Bill in it different way anV ' proved , that the wages in America , in parts who , * ' cotton manufacture is carried on , are 14 s or is . . " ¦ m ^^^ . ^ Izi ' ¦ ... - Vj ' . . ; . ; . ^ _ . ,. ~ 7 ,... _ -..,. _ , ~ ^^^^ - " ^ SSto fc

      me nours oi worK Deing seventy-two in tho week rv , > if the argument had been good , the French would 1 T ' been able to eclipse us , though the Americans wool \ rl have made much advance upon us . ( Laughter » i cheers ) Yet we , with our medium J . ^ , 5 JJ lowest hours of n-Ork , have increased our manufacture ™ more than either the French or the Americans . ( H ? hear . ) Bat Wh y shoul d these men thus rep at 1 ' ments ten housand times aiuwered , whenever you \ " stir yourselves to obtain a Ten Hours' Bill % I beli ° they are more tp be pitied than blamed , for it U evwll ! they do not understand what foreign trade is ; it is Oni , the interchange of one commodity for another the ous tity varying according to the quantity of that article in the market . The interchange of these commodities » gulates itself without . the interferenw of man , and th 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 have bad such low wages to help them , we have increased our manufactures in the last thirteen years sixty-four per cent ., while the Americans hats only increased thiirs forty-eight per cent ,, and the French theirs still less . ( Hear . ) The Americans , how

      ever , paying 15 s . wages to our Ws ., can undersell m often . It is not done by low . wages , | but by getting returns 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 neceeisttj for wages to fall , ( Hear , hear . ) But are the millowners of Halifax quite certain they can continue the wage * they now pay , erea with twelve hours ? ( Hear , hear . ) I say they cannot , unless something is done to correct the evils that prevail 1 I do not think they know what that if , but they will find it out by and bye . ( Hear , hear . ) I hear that in Stock , port alone , the diminution in the consumption of cotton

      within a few weekB amounts to 500 bags a week through . working f « ur days a week instead oj 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 the same in Yorkshire and that they arc not all working full time . Yet there ' were houses in Yorkshire with hundreds of horsepower and of hands standing still , who sent up to Sir R . PeeJ nnd Sir J . Graham to frighten them agiinst giving a Tea Hours' Bill ; as if a Ten Hours' Bill could be objected to by men who \ V 6 re working only four days a week J ( Hear . ) But , gentlemen , you have a great many frienus in Parliament ; and if Ministerial influence , in opposition

      to you , shall cense 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 every candidate that will not vote for it . ( Hear , hear . ) Do that by Lord Mi > rpeth ; he richly deserves it . ( Hear , hoar . ) I hare a ereat respect for that nobleman , but he 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 nomore ; and we should always forgive when people repent . The hon . gentleman retired amidst loud and hearty cheering . ¦

      The resolution having been canted unanimously , two working men , Joseph Crossland and Thomas Hawkyard moved and seconded a resolution , to the same effect as the third and fourth resolutions passed at the Huddcrsfield meeting . Mr . B . OiSTtER , 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 standing there by hundreds , calm and steady , to listen in that hot and crowded room . In reference to Mr . Akroyd ' s document , Mr . Oastler said tbe millowners , perhaps , thought the reduction to 11 hours would really reduce wages ; he ( Mr . Oastler ) thought differently .

      His opinion was that if the hours were reduced , the wages would he increased in amount , the reason why they were so low being that the men worked too Ions ; but there beinj ; a doubt upon the subject , it was impertinent , cruel , and dishonest , for the masters to require the workmen to bind themselves to the worst side ofthat 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 tbat ii a man now got Is . for-12 hours' wages , he must as a matter of course receive only lOd . ifthehoura were reduced to 10 , tbat was disproved by the fact that thore had bsen no such reduction in tbe 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 ^ he fall of wages was produced by supernumerary hands competing for vmployment , and that a diminution of the number of hands ready for employment produced an equal effect iu the opposite direction ; and go 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 12 or 10 hours' wages for 12 or 10 hours ' work . While tkey were ' working . 13 hours a day , had they never found that there were supernumerary operatives » ( " Plenty . ") Then , till the hours of work were reduced so as to bring those labourers intoemplajfneiit , the employed men might be sure of not getting full wages , for their time ; and if the reduction of hours to 10 should hare the iffsct of bringing in those

      supernumeraries , wages would not , and could not , be reduced . ( Hear , hear . ) How dire the masters , then , say thata reduction of the hours of labour necessarily invoked a reduction of the wnges ? ( Hear , hear . ) But Mr . Afcroyd , who was said to be a very good roan , and of whom he must tryto make a convert , thought we should loose outforeign trade . Xo one could make out how that could be if the wages were to be reduced . ( Hear , hear . ) But we had no right to hnve foreign trade—it was dishonest and unsound—until those at home vere supplied . We talked about '' our roaring foreign trade ; " yes , we were giring three pieces where we usod to give one ; did they wenr three pieces at home where they used to wear one ? [ "Ko , nor one where we used . to wear . three : " "We have not a blanket upon our beds , "J Thtn they were robbed . ( Hear , hear , ) The theory of home and foreign trade was the following : —The proper employment of labour was , that one man should produce a commodity

      tot * auothei ' , aii'l this other man should produce in return a commodity for him ; on this principle a home trade was established , consisting ofgeneinl 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 tbe country . Foreign trade should be indulged iu only for thatpojtion of our products which was not required for the necessary comfort of our own people ; by it a portion of our existing capital was abstracted from home circulation , which could not be safel y extracted from the general fund , excepting in the event of nil members of tho home community being well off , or kept in employment with good wages ; the surplus of the general or national capital might then , and then only , be fairly applied to the purchase und for thu enjoyment of foreign productions . ( Hear , hear . ) Jtr . Oa . « tler , 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 , Pielden , aud other , members of Parliament , waB Xbeiv passed . The meeting closed at half-past 10 o ' clock .

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      The Immigration or Irish Paupers has of latfr excited considerable . attention in Lancashire . On particular days the roads leading from Lirerpoo ! to Manchester and other populous parts of the country , are covered with Irish families , consisting of men ! women , and children , of all ages , from the granfcire to the luhmt in arms . From tbe greatly increasing numbers in which these poor creatures arc now arming , there is reason to fear that thev will , before long , produce a considerable effect bkh on vaces and poor-rates m the country . The facilities for getting across to Li . gUmo . and Scotland are now so great , that immigrants of this class are likely to come in constantly-increasing numbers as the pressure of distress incre . iscs in Ireland . Tl ^ e who have paid any attention to tlie nature of the extensive emigration which is going on from Ireland , aud which is already sufficiently great to prevent any apparent mcreaseof population in acouiitrvin which

      , it is increasing more rapidly than in any other country in Juuope , must be aware that it consists of two Kinds of emigrants—the emigrants of hope and the emigrants of despair . The class which emigrates trom Inland , not from sheer necessity , but from the hope of improving its ' condition , consists principally of small farmers possessed of some capital , say froai * 20 to £ 100 each , who go to seek the means of improving tneir condition in Canada and the States ; whilst the second class , the emigrants of despair , consists of the poorest of tbe poor , who cannot live at home , or obtain the means of eniiarating to Angelica , but who bet . ' or borrow the triliiTwhtuh is necossary to bring thorn ova to tLU country . For the last twenty years this class has been iueivasiu-r , wita every improvement in the mode of coiniuuiiicitisn between the two countries , until a populous Irish quarter has been IbriiieJ in London , Liverpool , As ;" " chencr , Glasgow , Leeds , aud most other lai"S « tliffaS hi Eimlaiv . l and Scotland .

      Robueuy . — \ U \\ k-. Miiivina Florentine ue Saumeivz , the young French-lady , who was aps'i'eheiiikd onnu extrnosdiiinrr charge of Ribbing Mr . I ' mk'js , aship-buiidcr residing at Farehani , Hants , of a cash hox containing ft 'ar $ ? o sum of sovereigns iind a cheque , was last wesk examined tvfore .- ' ¦ Thresher , a magish-ato at Faroham , and coium . ^' - ' u to Winchester gaol ibr trial at tiie quarter scisioas .

      •C Rafccsp Jhobrmrntsf*

      • C rafccsp JHobrmrntsf *

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      — i ^ Capmakivo and Starvation . —On Monday an inqueat was held on the body of Mary Ann Ryan , aged jorty-thrce . ^ The bady lay at a most miserable place down the middle of which runs a ditch about two feet wide . The ro ^ m was so small the Jury could only enter it three at a time . Elizabeth Simmons , who looked like a rcsucitated corpse , taid that she iccupied the room in which the bndy lay , for which she paid Is . Gd . per week rent . She got her living by capraaking when she could get it to do . In February last she fell down and hurt one of Itev legs , causing a bad wound , from which she sti&red most severely . She did not apply to the parish surgeon for assistance , but got a pennyworth of salvo when

      she had the means . The deceased had no bed to lie upon , but used to sit on a bundle of ra « s and Jay 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 Cor-mcr Windo you not go into the bouse ? Witness—They won't take me in , Sir ; I applied two years ago , but tllCV woti Id not admit me , 1 don ' t know why . " About haff pasttwo on Monday mnrnin ; . ' 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 auiong the Jurv , and a verdict of "Found dead . , caused by starvation , " was rcturuei '

      Wheckixg . —More than twenty persons have been committed to Boduiin gaol at hard labour , from tines to five months , for plundering froin the bri " Samaritan and her c ; igo washed in by the sea , du £ i ng the late gaks ,

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      THE SHORT TIME QUESTION . RENEWED AGIT ATION ~ FOR A DIMINUTKW OF THE HOURS OF LABOUR IN FAC TORIES . .: ^^^^^^ - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^ - * - ¦ -..-,-.-,. - . ¦ - - .. ¦ : .. _ . -..,. ¦ - . ;

      GREAT MEETING AT HALIFAX . On Thursday evening a meeting was held in the Odd Fellows' Hall , which will probably hold 2 , 000 persons , and which , on this occasion , was thronged to excess . A considerable number went away , unnble 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 it proportionate reduction of wages , unless two-thirds of their hands would sign a declaration of tlieir 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 13 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 chnir was taken by Benjamin Roshton , a hand-loom weaver , who briefly opened the business ef the evening , remarking that ten hours were enough—ho believed eight were—for the labour of either man or beast .

      Robert Sdtcliffe , a working man , moved the first resolution : — " That the advocacy of tbe 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 taucht the operatives that it is useless to war against machinery , but rather to struggle for the regulation ef the hours of labour , as a means of comfort and happiness to themselves and families . " Joseph Kerbuaw , a comber , in seconding the motion , here testimony to the benefits which had flowed to the working classes from thu interference of the Legislature .

      Mr . Fielden , 51 . P ., being culled upon to support the resolution , was received with loud cheers and hurrahs . He said , I have attended here at the special request of the supporters of the Teu Hours' Bill in Yorkshire , and I have ( come to nactrtaln whether your opinions are unchanged , and whether you are as strenuous us ever in your advocacy of a Ten Hours' Bill . ( " "We are . " ) Do you want a Ten Hours' Bill , or do you want an Eleven Hours' Bill ? ( 'A Ten—a Ten . ") If there are any Eleven Hours' Bill men in this meeting , I should be very glad if one of them would step forward and assign a reason for the preference of eleven to ten . [ The Chairman .- " Come forward to the platform , Eleven Hours ' men . "J ( 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 prevailing practice in the factories in most parts of Lancashire nnd Yorkshire , to work 12 , 13 , « ome 14 , some a ? much as 15 hours in the day ; and therefore 1 bear my testinony tojthe fact stated in " the resolution , that the agitation for the Ten Hours' Bill has been productive of great good . ( Hear , hear . ) Gentlemen , it wa 6 31 years last June since Sir R . Peel , the father of the late Premier , introduced into the House of Commons a . bill , which passed through committee , and was reported by Mr . Urcgdeti , 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 10 $ for actual work ; and it embraced the mills engaged in working up cotttin , flax , woollen , aud silk . Now , if you have been struggling 31 years , and have not yet accomplished your object , there must be some formidable obstacle in the way somewhere , for it is admitted on all hands 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 I would say between 18 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 should those who work in factories be called upon to work longer than they do in other trades , and not leave off as is tbe custom in almost all other trades when 10 hours labour has been

      performed 1 ( Hear , hear . ) Yet Sir It . Peel could not succeed , nor have all the advocates that followed him . But still I come here to give you encouragement and hope , and to exhort you to p-reevere . Let eveiy individual in the manufacturing districts make it an especial object to do all that he can to promote the passing of the Ten Hours' Sill in the next session . ( Hear , hear . ) I have already given notice , that early in the 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 the Legislature not to delay the passing of the Ten Hours' Bill next session . It has been said that jou have ' 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 oui ; ht to do so ; I do not want you to . have 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 can turn out for au advance of wages j why don ' t they turn out for short time ? If they do they will obtaiH 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 . Bouot jou take sucb . 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 < lo that , you will lose your object ; but if you will be peaceable 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 ilisturbauce in the arrangements which now exist , and , therefore , parhaps , it might bp more wise , besides disarming mem . tiers of the League who object , —and many of whom I have known to say , that when 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 wise 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 mett those who ure always ready to head the Minister and frighten him almost out of his Aits , and if we can compel the members of the League to

      perform theirpledge . ( Hear . ) But I would uot commence with eleven hours in this way , without jour concurrence ; I come here to consult you and adrise with you , and if you tell me you will not be satUfied 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 , when the Corn Law repeal comes into complete operation ; would that be agreeable to you , gentlemen 1 ( " Yes , yes , we will submiit 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 ? They are very easily frightened ; they seem like men that have not good

      consciences , and are doing wrong ; and they know it is wrovig 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 denouuee them for it . ( Hear , hear . ) I have a rigbt to do it ; there are 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 ai . y manufacturer in Lancashire . ( Hear , hear . ) But what is it that frightens thorn ? Why , there is a gentleman in this town , Mr . Akrayd—I should have liked to meet him here . ( Hear , hear . ) I wonder why these mill owners cannot meet me when I come to Halifax . I should like

      to iHseussthe question . ( CheerR . ) Mr . A-kroyd says , in the letter he wrote to the Halifax Guardian , that tlie spinners and the combers , and all classes of the 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 . ) lie tells you , too , that we shall 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 somewhere , and if you are nut to make it for yourselvts in England , whence is it to come ? If the manufacturers in fcthtr countries could stnd you all these things , would they let you have them for nothing ? If they would , the sooner we lose the factory system the better . You hare been the slaves of Germans , the French , the Russians , and the

      Americans for a long time ; suppose the slavery was transfencd to them , and you have tbe euse lor the rest of your life . ( Laughter . ) But Mr . Akroyd does not seem to hnve considered the subject at all ; for if we are tube supplied from other countries with what we now produce among ourselves , we must pive something for it , and where can we find property to hand over to them ? The arrangement vanishes into air ; it would apply to the introduction of corn , and they are all for Com Law Repeal , and letting us deptnd upon foreigners for the supply of corn , ' If we are to send out goU to purchase forn , there would not be any treat harm in sending out gold to purchase clothing . ( Hear , hear . ) When they liave exhausted the cotters of the Bank of England , j-ou must rive them some articles in exchange ; and then ,

      perhaps , instead of being cooped up m lactones , you might be spread out over tlie land , and make it produce double what it does ; and I do not tbiuk you would lose much by that , for I say agriculture should be the base in till countries . [ A voice : " They should bu man and wife . "J—manufacture should be its handmaid ; I say that us a manufacturer , But , says Mr . Akroyd , they work longer hours anil for less wages abroad , and thc \ would drive us out of tho market by thiir com * , petition . If Mr . Akroyd had ever studied the subject , like a man that wished to arrive at the truth , he would have lound that the competition he ought most to complain of is the home competition —( hear)— it is from the

      manufacturers in Bradford . ;> mi LeedB , utld JJlllWhtStOr and so on , trying to gain some advantage over one another . ( Hear , hear . ) We have always " had the cry of foreign competition . * Let me tell you what was saiii in 18 " 3 , before a committee of the House of Common ? , by Mr . W . Gn-g , 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 the Corn Law were repealed he would Still advocate a Ten Hours' Bill . He stated in JSSS . thar , in Manchester the average rate of wages ivns about 10 s . a . week , whereas , in France it was as . 80 . ; uu « l the hours of labour in trance seveuty-two to eighty-four ; that in Switzerland Uia wages Here iS . U ., the hours Eeveiity-eight to eighty-four : in Aus-

      Untitled Article

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  • 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/vm2-ncseproduct1393/page/6/