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6 , THE NORTHERN STAR. ™»Mn™xo,m& ¦ i »^...
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Craftcs* flftobenmits* - i
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THB TU8N-0UT AT KEIGHLEY. The present st...
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THE SHORT TIME QUESTION. RENEWED AGITATI...
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¦ ''¦o^ MEETING AT DEWSBURY. On Friday a...
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MEETING AT WAKEFIELD. On Monday evening ...
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Loss op Life ox Tns RiVER.—On Tuesday, a...
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36anfcriipt&
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[.fYom ffte Gazette of Tuesday, Abvemtie...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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6 , The Northern Star. ™»Mn™Xo,M& ¦ I »^...
6 , THE NORTHERN STAR . _™» Mn _™ _xo , m _& ¦ i _»^ _m _^ _tti , — — — — ¦ ; . —— ' ' .. _¦*« _' , * | - _^ _-- _^ _MMMM " _^^^ _^ . ¦ .. ¦ .. .. ¦ . . ¦ ¦ -- — . ' i " - ' ' . '• ' 7 _^ ' . - _ ¦ ' " ' : " _^—**^** Br
Craftcs* Flftobenmits* - I
_Craftcs * flftobenmits * i
Thb Tu8n-0ut At Keighley. The Present St...
THB TU 8 _N-0 UT AT KEIGHLEY . The present state and prospects of the woolcombers may be ascertained from thc following placard , which bas been extensively posted throughout the town : — TO THE IXHABITJ . _" * erS OP _KEICHIEV AXB JOE PDBUC . OENEBAILT . Gentlemen , —On account or the desire expressed by certain respectable individuals , that the woolcombers should , if possible , take some steps in ord < -r to . bring the present struggle to an amicable conclusion ; . cnd a certain respectable manufacturer bavin- desired the same , we , tbe woolcomber * ot _Seighley , _beinjr equally _dusirous with our employers nnd the public generally that . the struggle should terminate , bare ibis day -submitted fer their consideration the following propositions : ___ First—Tbat we earnestly request tlie _manufiwturer * to give the advance asked for thirteen years ago , hoping that tbey will agree to the same .
Secondl y—That if they are not nt liberty to agree to the above , we request them to give the advance As long as "Mr . Clapham , and other gentlemen in the town , have given it . And , Thirdly—Tbat if this should not meet their _ajprobatloa , we request them to give it _till-tlie 1 st of _January , 3 S 17 , and if the trade r < _-r _« e ,. to continue it , but if . not , to be at liberty to reduce it again . The reply to these nropesitiong is , that they icannot accede to any of them ; aU that they offer U for USito go to work at the old raieof _* vages , and this we do uot feel St liberty to submitto . _Fretaous to the time we . came out we were suffering severely on account of tite extremely low wages that we were _receiving , we . have suffered still more in endeavouring to improve our . aondition , * . r _. d ne _ciinnotfor one moinent imagine thai . * _je Are in just bound to compromise the point any further than what we bare done ; we have bended considerably _, in order to settle the thing peaceably , and yet there _isna _binding whatever on tbe other side ; tbey say that liei
trade will not afford it , but whether it will afford it _mwvi or not . one thing is certain , it _wouldiave afforded it atthe time we requested it , aud is it _= 2 ot reasonable that ' after we have sacrificed so much , tbey 6 bould sacrifice a } - little ! When tbe trade bas been prosperous , we have ' not been able to live and pay our debt- ; , whilst they have ; amassed large fortunes ; and surely saw that we have _struggled so long to better our _conditioc _,. common justice requires that they should do something for us ; this , it appeais , however , they will not do ; aad we , therefore , call upon you , fellow-townsmen and the public generally , to assist us with all jour power , till ue are able to accomplish the point ; hitherto you hare done nobly , you bave manifested jour sympathy by jour liberality , and yonr generosity is proclaimed through the length and breadth of the land ; we entreat you relax cotjjrour exertions—do not stay your band ; still , as jon £ ave been -wont to do , use your utmost tfiorts on onr account . "Reason , humanity , religion , demand it , and we iave the greatest confidence in jour proving yourselves ocr friends to tbe last .
Tours , _drc ., The Committee of the _Keighlet _IYoolcohbees . On Thursday a meeting ofthe mUl hands was held in Support Of the woolcombers . _llr . T . J . Pickles occupied the chair . Mr . J . Brook , a woolcomber said , it was well known that the Corn Law repealers had told the working classes over and over again that if the Corn Laws ¦ were once repealed they would have plenty of work , good wages , and cheap bread . Last winter the Free trade manufacturers told the operatives that on account ofthe existence ofthe Corn Law they were obliged to reduce the wages , but that as soon as trade _revired , which it would vrhen the Corn Law was repealed , an advance in wages would he made . The reduction took place in January last . In spring the woolcombers waited on the _manufacturerifor anadraBce of nages , but were lold that they came too soon . To accomodate them the demand wai
postponed for five or six weeks , when three of the masters agreed to give _^ i advance . Others said they would give the advance when it became general , but all of them had previously determined that it should never become general . Things remained in tbis state for a fortnight , when Bri gs * , Clapham , and others , declared that they would also reduce , unless other manufacturers paid the same wages . Tbeir wages had been reduced 9 d . a week in whiter , on a promise that when the Corn Laws were repealed , that Sd . would not onl y be restored , but au advance of wages allowed . The woolcombers merely asked to have 91 . a week ; and what was 9 d . _S Why , it was considered so small by every body but tbe masters , tbat this was termed " a sheep ' s bead strike , " although a good sheep ' s head could not be bad for 9 d . ( Cheers and laughter . ) When the masters refused to raise the Wages to that point from which they had been reduced last -winter , tbe operatives were compelled t j st : ike .
Jlr . J . B . Ehhett said , it was impossible for eithermen or devils to afford worse examples of tyranny than tbe great majority ofthe master manufacturers of Keighley . ( Cheers . ) They wanted to _starre the woolcombers by wholesale . ( Hear , bear . ) He had sought employment in gathering the freight brought up on the canal , but his employers , influenced by the manufacturers for whom they carried the goods , weie obliged to dismiss him , _although they fully approved of his services . Where was the freedom of labonr here ? While engaged iu collecting the freight for the canal , he went to one peisonfor payment of an account , aud was called by bim a rascal and a villan , because he _endeavoured to protect himself and other individuals from the tyranny ofthe manufacturers . That individual turned him off the premises , and threatened to have him sent to Wakefield if he did not desist from advocating thc rights ofthe working man . Hehad since been informed that this manufacturer regretted that his dog was not there atthe time , that he might worry him ( the speaker * before he got off the premises . ( Oh , ob . )
Mr . W . Jxubitt said , that the manufacturers had told tbe _operatives that low wages was caused by the Com Laws . When Bright and Oohdeu were lecturing here , they said that trade would be good by sending gojds abroad : that the foreign demand would be increased if the Corn Laws were repealed , and that the result would be cheap bread and plenty of wages . It was all gross humbug . ( Cueers . ) The _design ofthe manufacturers were toentick themselves . They wanted the assistance of the labouring classes to get the Corn Laws removed , and when their object was accomplished , " they showed their gratitude bv turning them out of employment . * What had the operatives to do with foreign trade ! Had any of the men a sufficient supply of shit ts ! (" "So , no . ' ') Had any of the females enough of petticoats 1 ( - '"So , no . " ) After a few remarks from tbe Chairman , the meeting xesolved on continuing the strike until the required advance was conceded , end the meeting adjourned .
John Farrar Pickles , secretary of the Woolcomber ' s _Committee , begs to _acknowledge _the receipt of £ 2 . Is . from William Frank land , of Burnley , for which he returns his sincere thanks ,
THE _LON'DOX OPERATIYE * nOUSE PAINTERS ' _ASSCCIATIOX TO THE HOUSE PAIXTERS OF
I 0 XD 0 X . Adokess . In _pursuance of an _understanding that was come tobv tbe Delegates who met in March last , at the instance oi the society held at the Unicorn , St . James ' s , the above Association has been founded . Since the meetirg referred to , two public meetings of the members of our _profession have been held , at which the necessity ot a Central House , with convenience for large meetings , Library and Offices attached , where business and instructiou might he conducted , was _sttongly enforced .
The Association has existed since the first of October . Its purpose is to carry the above object into effect ; and as _experienc 2 accumulates in working tlie plan , it" is almost certain that ot' _-tr , and probably more _advantageous objects will suggest themselves , and , with our improving organisation , be found easy of attainment . _Upwards of a hundred and fiity have already had their names enrolled , and as tlie Directors intend holding _suotlier public meeting , ( as advertised below ) it is _advisable _lUjtall who intend to join should do so previous t-j that time , in order that they may have a voice in _sanctioning tbe laws which will then be submitted , and also that Officers may be appointed , in whom the greatest _coufidrucs can be placed .
The number of persons who join , and intend giving t "» eir continued support , will likewise determine what extent of premises the Association will require . Members are admitted by tbe Secretary on any Thursday evening . tbe subscription is one penny per week—at present no entrance fee is required . After tbe meeting alluded to other regulations will be adopted . It is cheering to see tbat so many have already joined the Association , and from the spirit that is generally evinced when the subject is spoken of , the Directors feet confident that their fellow tradesmen fully appreciate the ot . jects _.-Maght to . be obtained . An Association commanding such small - means may seem incapable ot effecting much good , but "the union of generous spirits and devoted exertions will effect _improvements that cannot be forseen by those phlegmatic mortals who are so accustomed to despair , that they are aliens to hopeful action .
Progress ts the watchword of the day—progress in art , in science , and in literature : in fact , society teems-with tbe effects of the spirit of progression . But unfortunately theworkingmanisnot proportionally benefitted by it ; he is shouldered back by wealth—he is crushed by combination—he is alone and unprotected—he is single banded , and , therefore , bas no means of defence from the oggrandiz-anent of capital . He is uneducated , and therefore ia he despised ; he is weak , aud capitalists tread him ( it may be unconsciously ) undtr their feet . We , the Operative Painters , are not exempt from tha evils incident to the working man ' s position . We contribute to the necessaries as well as to the luxuries ofthe
rich ; yet we dwell amidst the very reverse ot that comfort which our hands are daily engaged in producing . We minister to the health and enjoyment of others , and in so doing are obliged to risk our lives , and sacrifice our own health . We use our strength in expelling that which would other iviie provoke disease , and in the process are ourselves the recipients of disease . In short , it is a well known fact that , through the injurious nature ef our employment , we become prematurely emaciated . We allow ourselves to be overworked in summer , aud in winter wc are often altogether unemployed . We are forced to labour in the scorching heat of summer in an atmosphere that is not _tinfrequently poisoned with the -fumes of lead , and cholic is the consequence ; which is too often followed with the permanent prostration of the system . In the inclement seasons we have to wander
Thb Tu8n-0ut At Keighley. The Present St...
bout in search ot employment , and at the same time are all-but conicions tbat our m . reh will be fr uitfeM . Day after day—week afur week , ii thus _hopiLssly spent by many of ou-professioa ; and if * old *> S _*» _fhonlI hftre begun to trespass upom their features , the task is more _hopi-lens still : the _ponilite « a . is ma *** - _8 reet fte _* P _" plication for leave to toil , until heart-sick they give up the search , and wait until some one with whom they are acqticintea _, can make room for them . Such are some ofthe evils to which we are subject ; some . of them are perhaps inevitable , but others are not so , and all of them may be mitigated if we are hence _, _forthresolred to unite for purposes of education and mutual protection . In this process wc shall learn self-respect , and that will cause us to ba respected . Let us then help ourselves , and assistnnce will come from where we cannot even now _expectSt .
We li-. ve been told that there already exist institutions that comprehend the object our association has in view , and _thst . br confining it to one trade we shall cripple it . This may be a plausible , but it is a groundless objection , for by being _enabled te assemble away from public house , and un lor advantageous circumstances , where we can be educateddn the higher branches of our profession , bave when practicable , Museums of Art , and discuss questions relating to . our position as workmen , or to our social condition , _« e shall proceed under more _iavourable , auspices _thatt -we could possibly dc . in mixed assemblies .
Besides , _mey . we not rely upon the friendly feelings that the _pursuit . of our profession generate ? How many pleasant associations are suggested in the phrase , that " we have laboured together . " Many of us have lived in each other ' scooiety for months , asd even for yearsmany happy times can we recall wlien the same song has enlivened ut , ithe same scenery _inspired us , or when mutually _interaiiijg experiences have ibeen related , and thus drawn forth the treasures of memory— those lasting reeords of the picturesque and romantic , the witty and the humourouf .
The Director * . 6 hsrefore , earnestly _entscat all you who wish for improvement in mind , _professiac , or in your social cenditioR , to . think seriously upon iShe sentiments ¦ contained in this address ; and if you _apjuove of them , . ire invite your _co-operation—we hold out the most _caitholiz feeling of fellowship—we aim to extend the influ-. euee of good feeling . . On tho force of enlig ' _tUned public _-qpinion alone do we de _. _pqnd for a redress of our common _eni ' s . Onr faith is , _tiiat-. the oppressor , in the Sang run , is injured by his own Kilfulness—that the oppressed has _weu Fometimes the advantage in theamountof iacreasud cympatby that is shown iini .
_icconcluding this address , the directors with io Impress iv-pon your minds that ; all reforms to be effective _jntistibe wisely conceived and perseveringly adhered to , for U » is-eason , they are generally slow of accomplishments be cautious , therefore , inot to expect too much : and above all we would have you to recollect that the gap between fte beginning and tbe-successful issue of anj undertaking is filled by the word , Perseverance . Lead , then , your beads and hearts to the . work—not only join , but fancy that the success of the association depends upon your . conduct as individuate , fw it is clear that if each man does his duty the general interest will be _attended to . The humblest individual should feel tbat he is a part oftlie whole , and that , therefore , his conduct will necessarily influence the whole .
f _$££ , IMINABT BEGCI . A . _TIOKS , That each Member shall contribute not less than One Penny per week . All persons making application to become Members must produce evidence that they have worked seven years atthe profession « fHouse Painter , Cramer , Paperhanger , er Glazier . Apprentices are admited , but not allowed to vote or bold office . Tbe business of tbe association is conducted by a Board of Directors , President , Secretary , and Treasurer , wh « meet every Thursday evening , at the Parthenium , for the enrolment of Member * , < _fcc .
S . B . —A General Meeting of the Subscribers will take place on Thursday evening , the 17 th of December , at the Parthenium Coffee Booms , 72 , St . Martin ' s Lane . The chair is to be taken at eight o ' clock , when a code of laws will be submitted to the members for their adoption . Officers for the ensuing six months will also have to 'be elected . Son-Subscribers are invited to attend , but will not be allowed to vote . Donations of Books , Haps , Prints , Drawings , Busts , etc ., will be gratefully received . ,
_COKDITIOff OF THE BAKERS . The present system of oppressive labour and slavery ought to be abolished , it is tbe bane of the masters as well as the men , and places a great majority of them in an unequal state of competition ; tbe little masters cannot compete with those carrying on an extensive business , on the account of labour alone . There are many who bake from forty to fifty sacks of flour per week ; these employ probably three men , while the man who does only half the business employs the same number of hands ; thereby he is enabled to drive bim from the market , by having double the quantity of labour pertormed for the same money . Now , was night work to be abolished , or the number of hours lessened , these masters would be placed on an equal footing ; for the one having double the
quantity of business , would be obliged to employ two sets of men to perform the same as he now requires from one , thereby taking some of tbe surplus labour from tbe market , which , is at present in a miserable condition , and give employment to hundreds , which are at presentnearly starring , willing to wotk and cannot obtain it . Thc employer often suffers severe losses through the men ( engaged in _nigbt-work ) _oversleeping themselves and letting the fire burn out , occasioning waste of fuel and the spoiling of the dough in the oven . This night work is not necessary ir . tbe country , why then should it be regarded as indispensable in London ! In the country the men can leave work at nearly , and in many instances , at the same time that the London baker does ; be can have his night of rest and evening of enjoyment , and yet get through the
same quantity of work in considerably less time . Then why should such abuses exist when it is unnecessary and prejudicial to both employer and employed ? The masters say " It is impossible that we can hara our rolls in the shop by eight o ' clock , if night work is abolished . " I have before stated that things are managed differently in the country , and yet they bave their rolls by tbe desirtd time , but not a batch of bread previous , for families seldom require a hot loaf on the breakfast table , rolls being quite sufficient . Now as this impossibility is done at one place , of eourse it can be done at another , without any difficulty . It is accomplished in this way ; they commence their work about five a . m . ; the first operation is the making of dough . No w if the quantity of rolls required is not large , a poition of the sponge is taken out
and put aside , about one half for the quantity of dough desired , tlie other part being added when you first commence to mix the dough , which is made a little li ghter than it would otherwise bare been required , on account of the sponge being rather of a softer consistence ; these two are then mixed together , ( that is the dough and reserved sponge ) , wrapped up in a sack or flannels , and laid in a warm place . Hy the time the process of dough making is finished , this is ready to make into rolls of whatever nature may be required . In other cases , especially where _" the quantity is large , tbe dough is made overnight , atthe same time the sponge is set , a necessary portion of ferment being reserved or set for the purpose ; this is then ready to commence on the first thing in the morning . Thus , if there are three men employed , two
of them proceed witb the dongh , and the other with the rolls . As soon as the dough is finished , they also assist with the rolls ; these are all got ready , and often a half hour or more to spare before the tim _*! they are required . The batch follows in rotation , the oven is properly attended , and the master is enabled to bare the management and command of his business . The first batch can be in tbe shop by ten o ' clock , the oven again ready for bakings by eleven ; a second batch can follow this , and even a third , and whole be done by seven , and the sponge set between eight aud ten o ' clock in the eve . iing , Now certainly this is a better system of doing business than tbat practised in London , besides being of advantage to both employer and employed . —G . Read , Author ofPrac treat Bread Baker .
{ Even the"improved system"susrsested by Mr . Read , appears to us to be a system of miserable slavery ; for what else can labour be called which consumes a man ' s time from five in the morning till S or 10 at night ? If we are not misinformed , they manage these things better in Scotland . In the West of Scotland tbe hours of the operative labourer are from five in the morning till five in the evening ; and as regards hot bread in the morning , there is no lick of that , hot bamber rolls , and hot bomber scones , may be had by or before eight o ' clock in the morning . Why could not the same system be established in this country , in London as elsewhere ? The bakers are degraded , self-devoted : slaves , if they do not rise against the present atrocious system . —En . N . S . ] _% g ~ Since the above was in type we havereceived the following interesting communication concerning
THE SCOTTISH OPERATIVE BAKEIIS . TO TBE EDITOB OF THE _NOBTHEBN" STAB . Dear Sir , —I bave jnst done reading the extract from "the Practical Baker , " by Mr . lleid , and your comment thereon , and beg to return you my most sincere thanks for it , and your manly exposition of the wrongs of the working classes of whatever denomination of labour they belong to . I never wrought in London , and therefore cannot speak by experience ofthe horrid systems that the Operative Bakers in London have to endure , but from what I have heard from those who have worked there , it ie hig h time the operatives should arouse themselves , aud try to ameliorate their own condition , as we have done in Glasgow , Edinburgh , and many other towns in Scotlaud within these last ten or twelve months . For a verv long period thc operative bakers have been the most
enslaved , degraded , and ill-paid class of tradesmen . In "Edinburgh , _Glargow , and many of the large towns in Scotland , they have had to work 12 , 14 , 16 , 18 , and in some cases to " JO hours per day ; and for a very scanty wage . Now it is happily otherwise . About a twelvemonth ago , aa association was got up for the purpose of petitioning Parliament to regulate tlieir hours of labour , but after they saw the fate ofthe " Ten _Il-iurs Bill , " they abandoned the idea of petitioning , and sent in circulars demanding of their employers to work only f . velve hours per day , ( meal hours included , ) and to be paid in cash for their labour , most of them being board , d in their masters' houses before . The Glasgow bakers were the first to send in their circulars , and the masters immediately acceded to their just demands ; Edinburgh followed and succeeded , and so on the smaller towus . Xow they only work from 5 in the morning to 5 in the evening , and
Thb Tu8n-0ut At Keighley. The Present St...
wUl not work longer except iii cases of emergency , and are paid extra for what or . _r-work they have done . I am sorry to say t ! at iu some \ 1 % cs they are not working on tbe new system » s yet , but it is the m » n themselves that are to blame , by their apathy and indifference to their < wa interest * , and if they do not take advantage of the movement going on at present , another opportunity may not occur again in a hurry . Nothing but union and firmness of purpose is required amongst the operatives , aud what is to hinder them from gaining an _object so desirable as the short honr system , compared with the abominable long hour system .
Now I don't see what is to prevent the -mow of Lovidon from following in tbe wake of their Scottish brethren , _pnople cannot want bread , and what is better , they wont . Now if the operatives of London and elsewhere would unite as one man , and make a stand for their rights , I am not afraid but they would be successful , and would earnestly urge them on to commence the good work , aiad try and get the night work doue away with altogether , —no time like the present . Again thanking you . I remain , dear Sir , Your obliged reader , James Faulds .
THE RASCALLY FREE-TRADE MANUFACTURERS OF ARBROATH . Tho Star being the only organ through which thc etifledj voice ofthe oppressed working man 1 * 9 heard or finds an advocate , perhaps you would give insertion to a short detail of the manner in which our Free-trade employers in Arbroath propose to treat us _. ' . their canvas weavers , when we ask to be sharers with them in the benefits of Free Frade . In the course of last summer , when the news arrived of the success of the Premier ' s measure in favour of Free Trade , the joy of the mercantile gentlemen here knew no bounds . At the hotel they dined sumptuously , and drank health and long life to Cobden and the League , Us , poor "wearers ,
waited -patiently for any crumbs that might fallfrom our master ' s table . In a few weeks after the town was placarded , _announcing a grand procession in honour of the triumph of Free Trade ; the working classes wero ordered to meet at a certain place on a certain day . Obedient to their masters , nearly all the workies assembled at the place of rendezvous , and from thence were marched through the town by the superintendent of police . There was a few of ( he poor weavers who bad the audacity to come with fustain jackets on , having no other , they were told by the worthy captain of police to begone , the nasty , dirty fellows . The triumphal procession being over , the working men were ordered to assemble in tbeir respective workshops in the evening , and await their masters' will ; they did so , and were regaled . with a drink of Scotch potter ; nay more , the masters condescended to quaff a rone , of porter , toasting the
health of the champions of Free Trade , amid the uproarious plaudits of their slaves . We really thought we had reached the promised land , no more poverty , — ¦ high wages , cheap bread , " and all the Hoe things the modern Moses had promised would take place immediately . ' We never doubted but that the masters when their rejoicing was over , would give us an advance on our wages . There were a few Chartists , who , of course ,. shook their heads ominously , as if to remind us of the prophetic warnings of the star . A number of weeks passed over , but there was no word of our wages being advanced , provisions were getting enormously dear , we began to get a little uneasy , a meeting of the weavers was convened , and it was agreed to solicit an advance of sixpence on the bolt ; this was a moderate demanl , about one shilling on our week ' s wages . Deputations w . iited on the masters and solicited the advance , but to our dismay we met with a decided negative .
There are two firms in the town , at which a number of tlieir looms were empty , the weavers determined to assist no person that might come in to learn until the masters gave the advance , and declared those two factories in a state of blockade . The masters then turned out a great number of the hands , and went round the town requesting the other employers not to give the men they had discharged any work . We that were in work subscribed a little to support their wives and families , and sent the men elsewhere to look for work ; most of them got work on the railways , much to tho discomfiture of our master ** , one of them having got pressing orders in hand , and afraid of losing them , called in the men , and gave them the sixpence advance ; of course the
rest had to follow , so far we were successful , not for long however . In the course of the second week of the advance , we observed the roasters clubbing together , and holding hole-and-corner meetings . Printed bills were now served on thc weavers , announcing their intention to reduce our wages , stating that merely as an act of grace , and in consequence of dearness ot provision , they would only take threepence off the sixpence recently given . That portion of canvas wrought with the fly shuttle was formerly paid three-pence under the handwrought webs , this combination of masters reduced them sixpence under the hand-wrought webs , chiefly
as the instigation of a needy adventurer , who came down from the highlands , with all his wealth in a wallet , but who has become rich by cheating the working man . Tho weavers convened a meeting , and appointed six of their number to wait on the masters and reason with them on the injustice of their proceedings ; tho masters would not hear any reason on the subject , but told them that tbey had combined , not for the purpose of keeping up the price of cloth , but to keep down to starvation point the weavers wages : and more , that if the weavers in future dared to ask an advance on their wages , they would turn all their hands out to starve .
This is the treatment we are to get for our snare of Free Trade , after all the fine promises they held up to us during the agitation of that measure . We have no funds to meet any emergency , we are not combined , our position is humiliation indeed . We , out of whose sweat and skill our masters' lordly mansions rise , are denied the commonest necessaries of life . Our families are growing up in ignorance , we live in miserable hovels of garrets , pay exorbitant rents , whilst those cormorants live in palaces and riot in all the luxuries of Dives . Foreign flour
coming to our harbours is bought up by wealthy _shopocrats , who store it up in ware-rooms , —not a pound of it will they sell until it reaches an exorbitant price ; thus they create an artificial famine when they please , and we are , with our families , starved to death with cold and hunger . 0 FOR TIIE LAND AND THE CHARTER !! One word to the weavers generally . Part of the blame rests with themselves . Why do they not keep out of the dram shops ? at many as _possible join the Land Company and the National Trades Union .
There is no class of tradesmen in more need of being united than the weavers . The local newspapers in this cold nothern region will not give insertion to any matter that might be displeasing to our employers . We , therefore turn to our only friend the Northern Star . A Sailcloth Weaves . Arbroath , November 23 , 1810 .
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNITED TRADES . EAGLEsnAM . —A meeting of the weavers and spinners was held in the Hall on Monday night , to hear a lecture from the missionary of the association , Mr . Jacobs . The lecturer entered into the evils machinery had entailed on the weavers , and set forth ns the only remedy , the purchase of machinery by the trades , which the association would enable them to do ; then tho monster would work for the people instead as now , against .
Greenock . —Tuesday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the Coopers of Greenock , in thc Ivy Lane Hall . The lecturer concluded a soul stirring lecture , with an appeal to the _meeting , to join and help to make the association the British Lion , and then thc Times itself would fear to " Beard him in his den . " A resolution that the Coopers ot Greenock do join immediately , was carried unanimously , alter which a vote of thanks to the lecturer , and the meeting separated . Wednesday—Mr . Ja _col ) 3 lectured to the Boiler Makers in Ivy Lane Ila . l . After going into the question of grievances , the following resolutions were moved by Mr . I ' cacock , and carried unanimously : —
That we , the united Boilers of Greenock , being deeply impressed with the conviction that isolated Trades Unions are not in themselves capable of giving that protection to labour which it deserves and requires ; that hitherto all local unions havo failed , with very few exceptions to acquire for themselves any just demand through strikes supported by local means , hereby resolve to do all that lays in our power to urge the necessity of the whole oftlie _Uoiler Makers iu Scotland joining the Nationol _Associa tion . That we the Greenock body , do join from the first of January , 1817 , and request all the loogea to do likewise .
Thursday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the trades of Alexandria Vale of Leven in the Odd Fellows Hall . The lecturer set forth injuries inflicted on the trades by the encroachment of the master class _and-cb ' ihpetition of machinery , and reading a text from them , introduced " the Monster Combination" as the only remedy , of which all seemed fully convinced . A resolution approving the association was carried , and the Block Printers expressed their determination io join . Friday—Mr . Jacobs lectured to the Block Printers of Paisley in the Concert Ilall , which was crowded wiih n very attentive audience , who expressed themstlves thoroughly satisfied with the progress of the association , and duly honoured by their title in the Times . Saturday , —Mr . Jacobs addressed the Plumbers of Edinburgh in Cranstones Hall , High Street , who agreed to discuss the subject of joining forthwith .
TO THE FRAMEWORK-KNITTERS OF THE THREE COUNTIES . Friends , —Several persons having applied to us on the question of charges , tickets for work , and especially the frauds and abuses in what is technically termed the cut up work , desiring us to ascertain whether it would be possible to bring a bill before the Legislature to amend the present act , and to cripple , as far as practical , the fraudulent orspurious _manufactures in this coun try , we thought it our duty to make the necessary enquiries on these points . The Questions have been submitted to
Thb Tu8n-0ut At Keighley. The Present St...
gome few gentlemen , and they think it highly necessary that _eomethiny should be done , to arrest tbe . onward course of spurious manufacture , and the _exorbitantdemands made on the workmen , whether in full work or half work , in consequence of which , we submi t the case to thetrade in * general , and solicit their opinion . Any communication from trades or individuals on tb » question , will be thankfully received , addressed to T . Winters , 73 , Bedford-street , _Leicester . We are friends , yours , < bc . Thomas Winters , George Buckby , Daniel Lucas . Leicester , Nov . 23 . 1846 .
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF UNITED TRADES . In consequence of tho ferment caused by the attempt of the carpet weavers of Kidderminster , to obS a portion of those ' -lugher" _™ ff _™ ™ as one of the blessings of Free Trade , and the extiaordinary letter of the Rev . John Downall , published in the Ten Towns Messengers , by this Minister ot Peace and Herald of Glad Tidings , written , as the reverend gentleman has since admitted , on evidence furnished by the employers , against the men on whose behalf he was requested to interpose his merciful aid , the operatives sent a request to the Central Committee of the National Association , ; to send down an agent to tike such steps as might be deemed pruof the town b
dent in the excited state . Mr , Roson was accordingly despatched , and on Monday , November 23 , a great a public meeting was held at the Albion Tavern , the large hall , said to be capable of holding fifteen hundred persons was crowded to excess . Mr . Ayres , town councillor , was called to the chair , and complimented the operatives of Kidderminster on their forbearance and general good conduct ; he briefly stated the object of the meeting after which Mr . Robson , in his usual eloquent and convincing style , addressed the meeting at considerable length , completely demolishing the web of sophistries woven by the Rev . Mr . Downall ; he said that the rev . gentleman with a committee of operatives have already admitted that he had proceeded on a wrong data ; that in ' -more prosperous times" the carpet weavers wages did not average more than h
Ucnty shillings per week , instead ef thirty , as e stated in his letter— "that in his statement of their immoralities and improvidence , he did not mean to inculpate all ,- —there were many exceptions , many really careful , prudent , self-improving men amongst them , many men of character and intelligence . The reverend gentleman was now ready with Mr . Best ( ex-mayor ) to bear honourable testimony to the peaceable and orderly conduct which characterises the working classes of that town , and to state his conviction " that the working men of Kidderminster are an example to every _manufacouring town in the kingdom . " Now , friends , said Mr . Robson , I leave the incumbent of St . George ' s in your hands . After exhorting the men to adhere to each other _. and to their association ; to be peaceable and vigilant , assuring them ** that the good time was coming , " Mr . Robson resumed his seat amid loud and long continued
applause . Several other speakers addressed the meeting , and the following resolutions wero adopted by acclamation :- — " That in consequence of the general refusal ol the master carpet weavers to grant our very moderate request , we hereby resolve to watch vigilantly , and seize the first * opportunity of obtaining a just remuneration for our labour . " That wo deem an adherence to the rules and principles of the National Association of United Trades , the best and surest means of obtaining a quick redressal of our trade wrongs . '' That the host thanks of this meeting are due _. and are hereby given , to Mr . W . Robson , for his very able address and untiring exertions on our behalf . " After a vote of thanks to the Chairman , the meeting quietly dissolved .
BRIDGENORTII WEAVERS . On Tuesday , November 24 , a public meeting of the carpet weavers was held in the Town Hall ; _Bridgnorth , when Mr . Robspn very ably and eloquently addressed the meeting . Similar resolutions to those passed at Kidderminster were adopted , and the meeting quietly dispersed . UNITED TRADES FOR THE EMPLOYMENT OF LABOUR . We understand that in consequence of the increase of business at the " Workman's Own Shop , " _Drury-lane , and the desire generally expressed , for the establishment of a depot for the sale of goods manufactured by operatives , much more extensive premises are about to be taken for the purpose .
The Short Time Question. Renewed Agitati...
THE SHORT TIME _QUESTION . RENEWED AGITATIONFOR A DIMINUTION OF THE HOURS OF LABOUR IN _FAC TORIES . Bradford , —We learn by the Wakefield Journal that a meeting took place in the Temperance Hall , Bradford , on Friday evening , tbe 13 th instant . No report of the meeting reached us or it would have been inserted in last Saturday ' s Star . Joshua Pollard , Esq . presided over the meeting , and the _Bpeakcrs were the Rev . Dr . Scoresby , the Rev , John Carey , the Rev . John Frost , the Rev . W . Stirling , Mr . Oastler , Mr . A . Smith , Mr . C . Walker , Mr . Rawson , and several working men . All the resolutions were unanimously adopted . This meeting was remark able for the number of clergymen and _manufacturers who co-operated with the factory operatives in the pro . ceedmgs .
Ma . Oast _& eb at Keighlet , —We gave in our last a short account of the mcetimc at Keighley , we now give the following extracts from Mr . _Oastler ' s speech : —May 1 be permitted to ask whether all the able-bodied men that I see here are in a condition to go out in tke morning and work a good day ' s work , and come home in the evening with wages sufficient to buy comforts for themselves jand their families ? ( " We are not . " ) You are not . I recollect being told , when certain measures wen proposed in thi * toivn , by two of your representatives in Parliament , with whom I held a discussion on those measures , that their passing would bring society into a happy state , I deniud it . Here thea I have a living testimony that what tbey said was false , and that what 1 said has unhappily proved true . ( Cheers . ) You are not still able to go out in the morning , and work a geod
day ' s work , and come homo in the evening with plenty ot money in jour pockets to buy the necessaries of life without the comforts—are you ? ( Cries of "No , no . " ) I see large mansions in this neighbourhood , and I knew their owners , who now carry coachwhips , when tbey ban curt whips in their hands . ( Hear , hear . ' I know the history of all the men that live in those mansions . Mow is it that they should have thus risen up in the world und that the labourer cannot get any of the fruit of his labour ! I was coming to town to day ou the outside ot a coach , and I happened to fall into conversation with the driver . I si . il , " Are you . not in a curious state , here in Keighley ? " "Yes , Sir , we are . " " Which side has the right of it S" I said . " Why , " said he , " Sir , perhaps you are a manufacturer . I had better say nowt about it . ( Laughter . ) "Thatis quite * enough , " I said " I see
that you are all slaves . " ( Hear , hear . ) The coachman dare not say what he thought to a stranger in Keighley , list that stranger might happen to be a slaveowner . ( Cheers . ) " Well , well . " said I , " I am not a manufacturer , I will do you no harm . Which side is thu right ? , ' I think he gave me the wisest answer I ever heard , und I hope that answer will go on the wings of the press to London , . ' and that Lord John Russell will read that answer of the coach-driver at Keighley . It was this" That trade is worth nowt that won ' t keep baith measter and man . " ( Great cheering . ) 1 heard tho wholo of the debate on the Corn Laws , night after night , in the House of Commons , and I do not hesitate to say , that I did not hear , on either side of the question , so much to the point upon which they were arguing , as I heard from your own coachman , as I came in here to-night . ( Cheers . )
1 hope Lord George Bcntinck , Lord John Russell , and Sir Robert Peel , the three heads of the three parties , will read what I say , and take occasion , when they are in difficulties on questions of trade , and know not how to extricate themselves , to write a _slu _. rt note to your coachmall to give a pithy answer . " That trade ia worth nowt that won't . keep both . " ( Cheers . ) [ The speaker was interrupt * . il in consequence of some females having fainted from the exhaustion occasioned by the crowded state of the room . J I wonder any female can stand it , it is so hot . ( Loud cries of " We a 6 e used to it , " ) Ah , let that go to her Majesty , and let her * know that her liege subjects in Keighley are used to a more hot and oppressive air than this . ( Hear , hear . ) I will never forget , when I come to Keighley , that it was iu this town—and it is upon recoid in the archives of England—thnt a poor
little factory child , after having been completely exhausted by her daily labour , was compelled to offer a peuny * . to one of her stronger comrades to take her last hourtlabour . As she wended her weary way from the mill to her home , she had to rest upon the roadside , and had to be lifted and dragged the remainder of the distance by her companions . ( Hear , hear . ) I shall never forget that Sadler afterwards immortalised her in one o ' his beautiful poems— " The Factory Child ' s Last Days . " Yes , she was put to bed , and her father hung over her all night , being afraid that the fuctory bell would ring before she awoke to go to her next _daj ' s work . He watehed over her all night . ' The little creature spent that night in fits and starts , but the last start—the last death start of that British labourer was when the factory bell was ringing , and she died . ( The recital of this
narrative excited the most intense sensation , and affected to tears most of those present . ) -Ah , it was in this town . 1 do not forget that . When I come to Keighley I feel as if some new strength was given mo to plead this sacred cause . She was not the only victim by some hundreds , but she was the one Parliament was informed of , I think this independent British labourer was a female of seven years of age . she was worked to death to maintain our institutions . { Hour , hear . ) Is that protection ? ( No , no . ) Is that freedom ! ( No , no . ) Is that Christianity ? ( No , no ) Is that humanity ? ( No , no . ) Then that system cannot stand . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Oastler , after some further remark * on the advantages that had already been derived from the Short Time agitation , said ho was commissionud by their friend , Mr . John _TieldeH , to ask whether it was true that tho operatives in the manufacturing districts wero satisfied with
The Short Time Question. Renewed Agitati...
an Elaven Hours' Bill ! ( False , false !) H _« had heard that stated , but that there might be no doubt about it , If there were any one present satisfied with an Eleven Hours' Bill , let him say it at once . ( Loud cries of " Wt will Have eight . " ) After some further remarks , Mr . Oastler resumed his seat amid loud cheers . _
¦ ''¦O^ Meeting At Dewsbury. On Friday A...
¦ ''¦ o _^ MEETING AT DEWSBURY . On Friday a public meeting was held in an unemployed mill belonging to the Rev , W . Sharp , for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning Parliament to reduce the hours of labour in factories from twelve to ten ; and of adopting such other measures as might be deemed necessary for the promotion of that object . The Rev . Thomas Allbut , vicar of Dewsbury , was called to tho chair . The Chaibman said , the first meeting he had ever attended in Dewsbury was one in favour of a Ten Hours ' Bill . He was convinced then that they had justice and mercy on their side , and consequently he was never disposed to desert them on any occasion of this kind . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Oastler had been one of their great leaders , and he ( the Chairman ) was rojoiced to see him once more among them , and hoped victory would crown their efforts . He knew that much might be said in
favour ofa Ten Hours' Bill , but his duty as Chairman was rather to bear others than to speak himself . He had never considered the Ten Hours' Bill as a matter of wages ; be iooked o : i it as a matter of justice and mercy . He did not believe , however , that the Ten Hours' Bill would reduce wages . They might be temporarily affected by it , but in general they were only affected by the supply of labour and the demand for it . When there was a large quantity of work to be done , and only few bands to do it , wages rose . When there was little to be done , and many hands to do it , wages declined . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) The Ten Hours' Bill would hare a tendency to decrease the quantity of labour in the market , and thus to raise rather than lower wages , ( Hear , bear , ) A great many of the millowners were with them on this question , and the next time the friends of the Bill met , he hoped it would not be to advocate that just measure , but to rejoice that it bad passed both Houses of Parliament , ( Cheers . )
Mr . Bbook g was rejoiced to see Mr , Oastler present , and thought tbe meeting could not do better than by g iving three cheers for the " good old king . " ( Great applause . ) He ( Mr . Brooke ) was sure the working men of England had not a warmer friend than Mr . Oastler , who had taken up this subject , and continued to advocate it solely for their benefit . ( Hear , hear , hear , ) The operatives would prefer a Ten Hours' Bill for all , to the present arrangement . They were not satisfied with the short hours' system . Many people would not let their children go to the mills , for the . small pittance received as wages was spent in finding them clothes and making them cleanly . But a ten hours' system would do away with this . The children would then be taken in at the age of ten , which was quite early enough , and the day made ten hours instead of twelve . Wages then would be equalised . The ten years old children would get good
wages for ten hours , and the other operatives would get the same amount they were now receiving for _twslve . He had seen it asserted on good authority , that the mas chiuery at present ready for use in England would do as much work as 600 , 000 , 000 hands . If that were so , itwaimpossible that they should ever see a time when there would be ten hours' work for the whole of the operatives iu England . ( Hear , hear . ) Those employed in agricultural labour , which was more healthy , never worked more than ten hours ' and why should those who laboured in the mill and in the most unhealthy of atmospheres , be compelled to work longer than out-door labourers ? Mr . Brooke concluded by moving : —* ' That a reduction ofthe hours of factory labour is a growing necessity , from the great increase and high perfection , of machinery , the use of wbich is to lessen and not to augment human labour . "
The Rev . * W . King seconded the motion , and it passed nem . dis _. Dr . Hemmikowat moved the second resolution , which was seconded by Mr . H . Cullingworth . Mr . _Oastleb then came forward and was loudly cheered on bis appearance in front of the platform . After some preliminary remarks , Mr . Oastler said that the only check that could be given to home arid foreign competition was to regulate the supply to the demand , and thereby place our manufacturing interests on such a fsoting , that each operative in his sphere might be working fer some other operative in soma other sphere , and that those two operatives might be mutually contributing to each other ' s wants . ( "Very good . " ) I am glad to hear a working man say that that is good , for that is the only foundation on wbich the home and foreign trade can be built .
( Hear , hear , hear . ) It is the only foundation which will enable the operative in any branch to receive a just remuneration for his labour . For of what avail is it to your trade if jou , the manufacturers of Dewsbury , can only make blankets for tbe people in London , Paris , or the West Indies—you want to make blankets for yourselves . ( Cheers . ) Have you got as many blankets as you want at home ! ( "No , no . " ) The reason is , because there has not been a proper regulation in the exchange of the different products of industry in this country , and it is absolutely impossible that a profitable exchange can exist , unless you have a regulation ; and the first step towards the regulation of domestic industry is to reduce the time of labour of those persons who are already working longer than nature can sustain . ( Hear , hear . ) There will be a good deal to do afterwards ; but that is the first
_alep you ean take ; and if you do not take that step , you must be content to make blankets for other people , and ito to bed without them yourselves . I shall read to you whatMr . Halliley _toldmelS years ago , relative to homecon sumption , and which , that I might make no mistake , I read to him previous to its publication ; but he did kow allow me to give his name . He said , 'he happened to be in London ; an acquaintance of his said , " Mr . , you _understand the quality of woollen goods _. andcan spare £ 5 , 000 out of your concern . I will put £ 5 , 000 to yours , and [ will show you how to make meney wholesale . ' My in' ' ormant asked hi . s plan : ' You shall go with me into the City to-night , and I will show you how it is done . ' They went in the dark to one of those streets running from Cheapside —( in those days the harpy was ashamed of his trade , and the poor fellows having been Eought up in the
day time by ' the runners , ' met him in the night by appointment ; now they sin in the face of day , and boast of their prosperity in Parliament)—they entered a warehouse—in a trap there was one head of game secured ; the poor manufacturer opened his bale of goods ; my friend examined them , and declared that they were ' cheap' at the ' invoice' price charged by the manufacturer . The poor fellow was in distress' the bale of goods was worth £ 115 , nml £ 70 must be linil next morning , or a prison must have beeu his home . The ' wholesale money maker' satisfied himself in thc just charge in the invoice , and ofthe absolute necessity the poor man was under te receive £ 70 next day . He took his pen , and wrote at the foot of the invoice , ' by fifty per cent , discount for cash , £ 72 10 s . ' Then handing thedocument to the poor manufacturer , he _daid , * I don't want the goods , you
want the money—you can bave the amount in the morn _, in **—I shall give no ' more . ' The result was , the offer of one half the valuo was taken ; and these goods were afterwards sold to the ' cheap shops , ' and were shown to other manufacturers , in order to reduce the prices of their goods . M y friend said , as he went away , ' Is this the way you would teach me to make money by whole _, sale ? I'd rather take a pistol and turn highwayman , his business is honourable and gentlemanly in comparison with such cowardice , meanness , and cold-blooded cheating ai I have seen to-night . ' I need not say my informant resisted the luring bait . The other followed the unholy gain , got rich , and now boasts ofthe ' prosperity of our manufacturing districts' just because he is enobled to find a man in misery who fell into his ' trap , ' aud got fleeced by his ' relief ,, and who , by lifting him up to
prosperity , are sinking themselves in despair anil poverty . " Ho ( Mr . Oastler ) denied that we ought not to limit our exports to ths wants of foreigners , and when he was young that used not to be the case . Instead of the English merchants sending their goods to the foreign m . irkets , the foreigners came here , and gave good price . Talk of improving the condition of the working classes ! When he was a young man , he found his father ' s cropeprs and weavers having their leg i . f mutton and their loin of veal ; and their Yorkshire pudding , aye , aud their currants in their Yorkshire pudding . ( Cheers and a cry of " Tlio machinery has eat puddings , currants , and all . ") He wanted to see those days again . But why was it so ? Because they sent the foreipners no more than they wanted , and therefore they paid a fair price for what they received . It was a truth which no one could gainsay ,
that we had been going on exporting our goods till we gave the foreigners for the same money three times as much as we formerly gave him . But had the operatives three times as many blankets ? ( "No , we have none left . " ) Had they three times as muoh money iu their pockets 1 ( "No . " ) That was a proof that the foreign trade wanted some regulation . And , until we could establish the foreign trade Dn a good home trade—which we never could do until we put we thu working classes of England into the receipt of that which was their due—a fair day ' s wages for a fair day's work—we should never havo a foreign trade worth caring for . He had been commissioned by Mr . John Fielden to ask them whether they were for a Ten Hours' Bill or an Eleven Hours' Bill ( " A Ten Hours' Bill . " ) Might he then tell Mr . Fielden that this meeting was unanimous for a Ten Hours'Bill . ( "Yes ! " ) He now spoke calmly and dispassionately on
this question , because the atrocities of factory labour were now bygone . The little children were not now slain by the millowners ns he had known them to be ; the little children wero not driven to distraction , so that ) they hanged themselves , as he had known them to be . ( " Oh , shame 1 " ) The little children had no longer tlieir b : icks torn by the lash ofthe overlooker , as hehad known them to be . (• ' Shocking ! " ) The little children were no louger taken up by the hair of their head , und dashed on the factory floor a 3 he had known _tiiem to be . ( "Scandalous 1 Horrid . ' ") The little children were not now taken from the jenny when fast asleep , as he had _knoA'ii them to be , and dipped into a tub of cold water . ( Great sensation . ) The little children were not protected b y law . ( Cheers . ) But who were to be thanked for that f—who but such men as Mr . Brooke , Mr . Tweedalc _, and himself " Mr . Oastler concluded amid loud cheers . The resolution was then carried unanimously .
Mr . Tweedale moved , " That petitions to both _hOUSCS of Parliament founded on the resolutions be prepared and signed , nml that tho workers in each factory be recommended to send petitions on their own behalf " Mr . Woolbs ., surgeon , seconded the motion , and it was agreed to ,
¦ ''¦O^ Meeting At Dewsbury. On Friday A...
On the motion of Mr . Rush _woaia , the secretary of th Dewsbury Short Time Committee , seconded by Mr Sod Aim of Bradford , a committee , was " appointed to _caiJJ out the objects of tbe meeting , and to raise _subscri _ptioH ofa halfpenny or a penny psr week to meet tho necessart expenses which may be incurred , until an efficient T Hours Bill receive the sanction of the Leg islature Thanks were then voted to the chairman , anj tha usual cheers for Mr . Oastler and others concluded th proceedings . e
Meeting At Wakefield. On Monday Evening ...
MEETING AT WAKEFIELD . On Monday evening a Tery numerously attended meeting took place in the Court Ilouse , Wakefield forthe purpose of petitioning Parliament to _enapt ' the Ten Hours' Bill The clergy of thb _neighborhood are all for the Bill , " and several of the ma nufacturers earnestly desire its enactment Th * Rev . Samuel _Sharpe , Vicar of Wakefield , was called to the chair Altera short address from the chairman and letters ot _apo _^ _gy had been read from Mr . Fielden , M . P . ; Mr . Ferrand M . P . and 8 e 3 Mb / _sbbu moved the adoption of the first resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Dawson _asj fo \ . iOWS . •—¦ -
That a reduction in the hours of factory labour Is a growing necessity , from the great increase and high per . fection of machinery , whose use Is tolossen _, and not toaugment human labour - —that long hours , thoug h at first not felt to be so great a social evil , are now found _, to be very injurious both to the personal and pecuniary interests of the parties employed . The resolution was carried unanimously . The second and third resolution- * , which were similar to the resolutions adopted at previous _meetings , wero moved and seconded by Mr . Scholefield a manufacturer , the Rev . W . 'fait , and Messrs . Wood and Ash .
Mr . _OAsnca on rising wag received with deafening cheers . After some preliminary remarks Mr . Oastler proceeded to describe some of tha past horrors ofthe factory system . The children were obtained in the work _, _housesof the metropolis , of Birmingham , Bristol , Liver _, pool , and other large towns . The manufacturers having chosen these children according to their strength and health , a bargain was made between tha workhouse _authocities and the factory masters . Great inducements were offered to the poor children to give their consent . They were told , that if they would consent to' go to thea _ctories _, they would soon become fine ladies and fine gentlemen ; that they would go out gathering daisies and _buttercups ; that tbey would be engaged in fishing and walking in the pretty fields , and wear silk
stockings and very elegant dresses . B y 6 iich inducements It was very natural tbat the poor children should give their consent to go into the manufacturing districts , I have seen many persons who told me how they had been decoyed into the mills of Lancashire and Cheshire , Afterwards persons brought , on speculation , waggon loads and vessel loads of little children to Manchester _,, where they quietly put them into a cellar , and there the factory masters came with candles to examine these poorlittle children and draft them off to the mills . Mr . Oastler then narrated a case which came recently within his own knowledge . It was that of a femaU who had btea taken . without her mother's knowledge out of a workhouse in London to serve in old Sir Robert Peel ' s mill , The mother inconsequence of the loss of her child , went mad aud died
in a madhouse . Iu consequence of the expensive postage , and the child having only 2 _« . a year , she only received one letter from her friends in London in answer to one she had for warded by a Loudon gentleman who was on a visit at Sir It . Peel ' s , and it was only during last session cf _Parliamentthatshe was enabled , when in London with her husband , who was a Short Time delegate , to discover her friends . They had all forgotten her , and it was only through the letter she had receired from her father thatshe could prove her relationship . He ( Mr . Oastler ) hoped she would nowcome into possession of some property which belonged to her , ic was stipulated inner indentures ] tbat _sheshould receive £ 2 from old Sir Robert P eel at thexpiration of here apprenticeship . She never received that money , and he ( Mr . Oastler ) hoped that when Sir Robert Peel would see *
this account in the paper , be would inquire after _thia woman' . hat he might pay her with interest . ( Cheers . ) In Sir R . Peel ' s mills there was no cruelties practised , but in other mills the cruelties were too disgusting to relate * In one mill tho deaths were bo numerous that the proprietors actually dared not to take all thedead bodies to the churchyard , but _interrtd them in other places , lest the notice of the parishioners should be attracted to tha subject . The floggings , hard working , cruel exactions , indecencies , and immoralities of those mills wers recorded ia a work written by Robert Blinco , which contained more horrible descriptions of human suffering than ever were
heard of in any region ofthe world . Fevers broke out in the mills , and the fear of contagion induced the wealthy to get Parliament to pass an Act regulating the labour of apprentices in mills . Afterwards the Irish labourers began to work in the mills , and ultimately the . operatives in the manufacturing districts were obliged to let their children go to the mills to make up foi the wages which the improper use of machinery had stolen from them . Mr . Oastler having observed that Robert Owen of Lanark was the first who suggested the adoption ofa Ten Hours Bill , proceed to describe his own conversion to the principle of that measure , and concluded a most interesting speech amidst loud applause .
On the motion of Mr . T . _Haioh , seconded by Mr _MlctntUWAITE , a petition to Parliament , founded on tbe foregoing resoiution r , was unanimously adopted . The Rev . Dr . Carter was then called to the chair , and the thanks of the meeting having been given to the Vicar for presiding , the proceedings terminated _.
Loss Op Life Ox Tns River.—On Tuesday, A...
Loss op Life ox _Tns _RiVER . —On Tuesday , a youth named Dingle , in the employment of a bookbinder , residing in _Fercival-street , Clerkenwell , accompanied by two other youths , hired a wherry at ilungerford Suspension Bridge , for the purpose of being rowed to Kew on the business of his employer . They had safely proceeded as far as Battersea Bridge , when they ran foul of one of the bridge supporters , and , although much shattered , the boat appeared to have sustained no material injury ; they had not , however , reached Putney before she was discovered to be filling and rapidly sinking . A boat was immediately put off from the shore , in answer to their cries for assistance , but before they could be reached , the deceased and his companions were immersed in the water . By great exertions thc two youths and the waterman were recovered , and brought sately to the snore , but every ettbrt to reach _decea-od proved ineffectual .
Murder and Crim . Cox . —The trial of M . Jeune , of the Rue Montmartre , for the murder of M . Jay , took place last . week , before | the Court of Assizes . The prisoner , on being brought in , was at first calm and self-possessed , but on seeing his wife , who was in a retired part of the court , burst into tears . It appeared from the evidence , that Jeune had for some time suspected Jay of having improper _intentions towards Mnie . Jeune ; he hesitated , at first , to forbid him his house , on account of the advantage he gained from him as a customer , but , nt length , provoked by iiis too flagrant conduct , desired that he would never enter the doors again , and told him . that if he did , he would find him , Jeune , armed to receive him . Jay replied ihafc he , too , carried arms . Notwithstanding this , Jcunc was soon afterwards informed that Jay came to the house while he was
absent , and he thereupon determined , on August 17 , to pretend to go to Senlis on business , but remained at home conccaledVith i pistol . Jay , about eight o ' clock , came , and was heard by Jeune conversing with his wife , who seemed to resist his advances , but was at length induced to go into the bed-room . Upon this Jeune came from his hiding-place , and finding the two parties in an unequivocal position , tired ' at Jay _. _jbiit though the powder singed his left evebrow , he was not wounded , and it was doubtful _whethe bullet , if Jeune put one in the barrel , had not dropped out . Jay turned upon him , and struck hini with , a knife , and at the same time _kiokedhim . Upon this Jeune drew his own knife , and stabbed Jay through the heart and lungs , and lulled him . Ihe jury pronounced a verdict of not guilty , and the prisoner was thereupon immediately discharged . —Paris paper .
# _Pe-xny Omnibus Model . _* -A model « f the Hew emmbusintended tobe used by the Economic Conveyance Company in Liverpol has been shown to us { Liverpool Courier ) . The body of the carriage is divided into three compartments , having separate entrances . The centre carriage is lower than the two end ones , and is intended for passengers paying two-pence a mile . The compartments in front and behind are raised Fomtwhafc higher , for the purpose of placing the wheels under the body , so that ladies' dresses might not be soiled by entering or leaving the vehicle But the most ingenious part of the invention lies in the
wheels . There are eight , four under the front carriage and four under the hinder one ; the whole of which are connected by bars from the axles , which give a uniform motion to tlie whole , no wheel being capable of moving without giving % corresponding motion to tlie other seven . Two horses will generally be used , but when the line of route is hilly , three horses will be attached abreast , as in Paris . Each station in town will be a mile ; and should the passengers wish to rule further , other omnibuses will vim in conjunction ; so that tho traveller can proceed in another conveyance , either in the same line or at a tangent , ashis business requires .
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[.Fyom Ffte Gazette Of Tuesday, Abvemtie...
[ . fYom ffte Gazette of Tuesday , Abvemtie > 24 . ] Henry Xeivton , Northumberland-street , Strand , chymist —Francis Clark , George-street , Adelphi _, jewel-case maker —Joseph _Oitss , Cub-ester , draper— Samuel Garrod , Church-street , Hackney , surgeon—David Wui'tliington , West Hani , l * sse . \ , general shopkeeper—James Smith , Edmonton , brewer—John Green , Greenwich , loilsiiighousc-kucper—Joseph Coles , Strand , tobacconist—Henry Flower , _Noi'tli-bliildings _, _Fiiisburycircus , publisher-William Clay and James Clay , Halifax , woolen manufacturers—James Muv , Uedruth , Cornwall , stationer—James Walton , Leeds , tailor—Hichard _Cripps _hhoyil . * , Liverpool , painter — James Ford , Uirniiiighain , hosier — Joseph _Aii-hull ** _Eihrbaston , Warwickshire , stonemason—Thomas Luwis , Newcastle-upon-Tyne , hosier .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 28, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_28111846/page/6/
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