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September 25, 1852.] THE LEADER. 915
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THE CALICO BLOCK PRINTERS OF LONDON TO T...
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POOR-LAW ASSOCIATION. A meeting of the e...
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THE ENGLISHMAN ABROAD. Our countrymen ab...
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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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National Prosperity. Unusual Prosperity ...
turers , will , no doubt , ere long , require it to be produced in very considerable quantities . There are some difficulties in the way of a rapid extension of this new branch of manufacture , particularly with regard to procuring wire of the requisite quality and in sufficient quantity , but these are matters which a little enterprise and perseverance will quickly set right . The question of the increase of cotton manufactures may not be uninteresting in connexion with the present prosperity of the trade , and a few facts serving to indicate the extent of it will not be misplaced . According to Mr . Leonard Horner , no less than 81 new factories had been built or set to work in the course of last year ( up to October 31 st ) in the district of
which Manchester is the capital , employing steam power equal to 2240 horses power , besides the enlargement of mills within the same period to the extent of 1477 horses power . The total increase of steam power within that sing le year was , therefore , equal to 3717 horses power , and calculated to give employment to about 14 , 000 additional workpeople . " That the profits of factories continued , on the average of years , to be abundantly remunerative , " Mr . Horner thought , "these facts of the investment of fresh capital in them abundantly proved . " Since then capital has become still more abundant , while the means of otherwise profitably investing it have decreased ; and that the building of factories is on the increase will not be a matter of surprise . ¦ The linen trade last week was unusually brisk , both in yarns and cloths . Manufacturers felt themselves much pressed by the scarcity of hands , owing to harvest operations and emigration . Equally encouraging are the accounts even from agricultural districts , at least as regards the labourers . And this in spite of the bad harvest . In fact , emigration has so drained the labour market , that , the prosperity of workpeople has re-acted upon emigration , and considerably checked it . Still the emigration is enormous .
September 25, 1852.] The Leader. 915
September 25 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER . 915
The Calico Block Printers Of London To T...
THE CALICO BLOCK PRINTERS OF LONDON TO THEIR EMPLOYERS . [ This address is the subject of a letter in our " Open Council . " It eminently deserves public attention . ] Gen ' tlemeu . —Events of a painful character which have occurred within t he last few weeks and brought with them proposals from the majority of you for a reduction of the price paid for our work , have seriously impressed us with the necessity of addressing you collectively and individually on the subject .
For the last six or seven years there have been incessant demands for reduction—some years twice—but every year some reduction ; whether under the plea of adjustment or direct curtailment , the object has been the reduction of the price paid for our labour . To all of these we have , however , reluctantly submitted ; they have become at last a matter of course , and to be expected with every recurrence of the seasons , of which there are two in a year .
These- reductions have , until now , emanated from one firm , acquiesced in no doubt by others : but in this cisc a more general understanding among you seems to exist , though not an unanimity of feeling , as wo are happy to say , all the Employers in the London Trade < lo not agree with , nor propose , the- present offer of reduction . There has been no reason assigned by you for the proposed reduction of price , as ia usually the case . We ( nil only nuppo . se that it is from the force- of habit ; thsit as wo have always submitted to these reductions , of eourso we will to this —and tho same next season , and tlie same a ^ ain , and ho on without end . If it is
on tlu . ! plea ( hut wo arc paid too much for our work in comparison with the Scotch Printers , it can be answered in few words by the facts , that our excuses payable directly out of our wages are more than double as much "s theirs ; that extra care in our work , which is exacted from us , to keep up tho character of tho London Trade , ™ a drawback upon our earnings ; and tho greater out'i ' . y . unavoidable on our part —in rent , and firing , independent , of the greater expense in tho maintenance of a family bore than in Scotland , renders our position only equal to theirs , and any further reduction would make us a worse-paid class of workmen than any others "i our trade .
I'ho men can see no reason in the state of Trade to warrant them in reducing the price of their labour . Is tl > e market for their floods in an unhealthy state ? Is the competition ho intense and ruinous n » to demand ''¦ of them ? In there a stagnation in the Trade only to bemused | ( v their nncrificer Is Free- trade bringing ' <> them , only , of all classes of manufacturing producers , loss of employment and reduced wages ? They think "one of those causes exist to produce these offered reductions . They think , on the contrary , that the marli ( -t is in a healthy state ; that tho competition is not
so great as at times it has been , and that , having reduced their wages—all things considered—to the level of the lowest paid workers in their trade , they should partake of some of those benefits which they are told are flowing from Free-trade measures , in the shape of increased activity of trade , increased wages , and the increase of comforts which are proudly pointed at by our statesmen and merchants as within the reach of the working-classes , and resulting immediately from those
measures of Free-trade which have been advocated by you , and from which we have been led to expect so much . The fact that our earnings are so precariousthat we lose so many months of work in the year , keeping us constantly in debt and difficulty—a loss of time which is altogether unavoidable—is an additional reason why we cannot afford to reduce our present price , and thus sink ourselves into greater and greater difficulty .
These considerations , of local and peculiar poverty and difficulty , of general and national prosperity and improvement , compel us to the conclusion , that we cannot accede to this proposed reduction , in justice to ourselves and families , and also those of our Trade who are immediately influenced in their prices by any reduction effected by us . Respectfully hoping that you will give these reasons your consideration , and that your sense of justice and the necessities of the Trade will induce you to withdraw the proposed reduction , We remain , Gentlemen , yours respectfully , The Working Block Printers of the London Trade . ( On their behalf ) George Hudson , | Secretaries , YlNCENT POOLE , j July 20 th , 1852 .
Poor-Law Association. A Meeting Of The E...
POOR-LAW ASSOCIATION . A meeting of the executive committee of the Poor-law Association ( established to promote in poor-law unions generally the substitution of useful and productive employment for total idleness and mere taskwork ) was held on Friday—Edward Herford , Esq ., coroner for Manchester , in the chair . The general secretary ( Mr . Archibald G . Stark ) read the minutes of the former meeting , and a mass of correspondence , from which the following passages are selected : —From William Scholefield , Esq ., M . P ., approving of the proposed conference , and enclosing his subscription . William Groves , Esq ., chairman of the Sheffield board of guardians , writes : — ' I liave read with much pleasure and deep interest the address of the Association , and shall consider it an honour to bo connected , in any way , with a body whose efforts are tending to further the prosperity of my countrymen . " Letters were also read from the Rev . J . S . Lyon , chaplain , F . G . Potter , Esq ., and several other members of the Sheffield board of guardians , and W . J . Fisher , jun ., Esq ., of that town , in favour of the objects of the Association . Edward Morgan , Esq .,
vicechairman of tho board of guardians , Holywell , North Wales , concurred in the object , saying , " The want of productive employment of the poor has always struck ine as the chief point of failure in our poor-law system . " J . II . Shaw , Esq ., Mayor of Leeds , consents to preside at a meeting of the inhabitants of that town , and writes— " I shall , with great pleasure , afford the Poorlaw Association whatever assistance I can in bringing their view of the subject before the inhabitants of Leeds . " Viscount Godericli , M . l \ , writes : —
" I cannot but agree in what seems to bo the fundamental principle of your Association—tho . sottin g the unemplo y ed poor to work , instead of , as now , maintaining them in a forced and injurious idleness ; and 1 cannot but hope that such a system , if well carried out , would greatly tend to diminish ono of tho great evi ' V of this ( lay-pauperism itself . If 1 can assint . in furtnoring the objects of the Association in Parliament , I shall bo very glad at any time to communicate with you on the subject . " John Carmichael , Esq ., of Cork , and of the Liver
Establishment , Liverpool , highly approves of the object , and encloses his subscription . From Sir . John Trollope , Hart ., M . P ., the chief commissioner of poorlaws : — "Siit , —By desire of Sir John Trollope , I beg to acknowledge the receipt of your note to him , and to forward to you a eopy of the fourth annual report of the Poor-law Hoard . I am also to state that the printed document which accompanied your note shall receive Sir J . Trollopo ' s careful consideration . 1 have the honour to be , Sir , your most obedient , sorvant , lliiuu Owion . "
The Secretary stated that be regularly forwarded to the I ' oor-law Hoard the publications of the Association , and referred to the recent " order" of tho commissioners , which practically recognised one of the objects of the Association-- viz ., the exacting of work from the able-bodied poor in return for relief . The Secretary then called the attention of the committee to the description given at a recent mooting of the Stoekport guardians of the miserable condition of the in-door aged ix ) or of that workhouse , from luck of Homo
occupation , and was directed to forward several of the publications of the Association to the board . The Secretary reported an accession of members to the general committee , from Bury , New Cross ward , & c ., and the following subscriptions , since the last day of meeting : Robert Barnes , Esq ., mayor of Manchester , 51 . ; William Fairbairn , Esq ., C . E ., F . R . S ., 31 . ; J . Carmichael , Esq ., 21 . 2 s . ; Viseount Goderich , M . P ., 21 . 2 s . ; smaller sums , 21 . 14 s . 6 d . The meeting then adjourned . — Manchester Examiner and Times .
The Englishman Abroad. Our Countrymen Ab...
THE ENGLISHMAN ABROAD . Our countrymen abroad sometimes seem to forget not only England but themselves ; and must make odd impressions on the continental mind . Lately the name of a Mr . Weble , described as a young gentleman of fortune , has appeared several times in the Parisian Courts . His penultimate appearance was in an action against a Spaniard , named Loussada , his wife , and her mother . Part of these proceedings consisted , in the trial and condemnation of Loussada by the Court of Assizes , for having from , as he represented , jealousy , caused sulphuric acid to be thrown into Mr . Weble's face , whereby he was frightfully burned . His ultimate appearance was on Thursday , before the Civil Tribunal , when M . Jules Favre , advocate of Mr . Weble , made a statement to the following effect -. — " Mr . Weble is a young Englishman of good family , and very rich . In the course of bis travels in different parts of Europe he became acquainted with . M . and Mme . do Loussada , and the latter ' s mother , Mme . Devaisore . De Loussada was a Spaniard , but naturalized an Englishman , and he lived by scheming and play . His wife , who is of considerable beauty and great intelligence , and is , besides , possessed of musical talent of a high order , was destined for the theatre . Mr . Weble met them , at Homburg , and became their intimate friend . Being very easy and goodnatured , he gave money freely to Loussada , to his wife , and to the mother . Their exactions at last became so
excessive that lie was threatened with ruin , and he checked them . Thereupon Do Loussada pretended to be jealous of the attentions which Weble had paid to his wife , and a challenge , was the result . Weble accepted it , and it was settled that they should meet at Venice to fig ht . Mr . Weble at that time deposited 7 , 000 f . in gold m the hands of Mme . Devaisore , as a reserve for her and her daughter in caso any misfortune should happen to him . At the decisive moment , M . de Loussada observed that it was foolish to fight for such a trifle , and the idea of the duel was abandoned . Mr . Weble demanded and obtained his 7 , 000 f . from Mme . Devaisore , but she and her daughter were very much , irritated at his so doing . In 1851 , Mr . Weble
returned to France , and the two females did the same . It was shortly after that De Loussada threw the sulphuric acid in Mr . Weble ' s face . In October , 1851 , that gentleman resolved to establish himself at Paris , and as ho feared that as a foreigner he might be imposed on , ho got the two females to purchase a quantity of furnituro for him . He supplied the money for that purpose . The two females had not the means of doing so . Mmo . Devaisore , though living in costly style , had only an income of l , 5 wJf . a year ; Mme . de Loussada bad nothing at all ; and , Avhon in Italy , both had lived on tho Jiberality of Mr . Weble . The furniture selected was of great beauty , and cost GO , OOOf . It was conveyed to tho apartment occupied by the ladies , No . 30 , ltuo de la Chautiee d'Antin , but that place being too small , another apartment was taken at No . 25 ,
in tho same street . There tho furniture was deposited , but not arranged in order , and a number of pictures and other works of art , worth 22 , < XM ) f ., purchased by Mr . Weble in Italy , wore also deposited there . Tho two females subsequently pretended that tho furniture was theirs , and their claim to it . led to a rupturo between them and Mr . Weblo . That gentleman subsequontly went to London on business , nnd on his return , hired an apartment for the furniture . Mine do Louseada then wrote to him , to nsk him to provide for her ; and tho provision nho required was 12 , <)< K ) f . ii-year , well secured . Mr . Weblo refused to accede to her demand , and it was then that sho and her mother took ^ measures for re-obtaining possession of tho furniture . Mr . Weblo had consequently boon obliged to bring an action before the tribunal , to got it out of their bands . In support of his demand , he produced the bill ho had paid for tho furniture , and for the works of art , from Italy . "
M . Lacbaud , for tho defendants , urged that the property was theirs ; that Weble bad wronged Loussada , who had tried in vain to obtain satisfaction ; and that Weble bad not , been at all generous to tho ladies . M . Jules Favre , in reply , maintained that the furniture and other things were undoubtedly the property of his client ,. He then charged Mine . Devaisoro with having encouraged and profited by the immorality of her daughter . In proof of it , be read the following letter addressed by her to Mr . Weble , just after bis departure for England : —
"My dear Mr . Weblo ,- I address Uioho linos to you , under the painful impression of a conversation which 1 have just bad with Fanny . Ah 1 said to you yostmday , the future prospects of this poor child terrify mo , if who does not boeomoinistr . sHof lier potion . Alas . mon ) iou what will become of her ? At this sad idea my heart and my eyes fill with tears . 1 ' iirdoii m <> , for I scarcely nn » well onough to writ ... 1 supplicate you , as I havo done boforo , nnd f now iniiko tho hiiiuo praym—bo to my lanny hor Having angol , sinoo I , her mother cannot aid her . That idea cause * incessant pain to tho heart of a mother who cannot herself nave from ruin tho bolovod child . Mon Diou ! You , sir , whowe heart ami mind are ho lofty , judge
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 25, 1852, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_25091852/page/7/
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