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COMBINATION OF WORKMEN. must end. As it is,-with a law probihiting cheap food, the On a former occasion in writing on the subject of the Com-mechanic cannot live on the miserable pittance which his bination Laws, we expressed a hope that the tumultuous proceedings of the operative classes would subside before the authorities of the country were irritated into a re-enactment of the old laws, which were felt so oppressive to the skill and industry of the mechanic. We have been disappointed in this hope. Combinations to a great extent have been organized, and confusion spread in all the manufacturing districts. Every branch of trade has been seriously affected and the commercial prosperity of the country appears to be endangered, if some conciliating measures cannot be devised to reconcile the conflicting interests of the master and the man.

The violent and uncompromising spirit displayed by the labouring classes in the present dispute, the arbitrary means to which they have resorted to enforce the accomplishment of their aim, though in a degree to have been expected in men who have long suffered, and whose minds cannot be supposed to be disciplined into philosophic forbearance,-have been most injurious to their future welfare.

We fear it will be found when the question next comes before the Legislature, that they have frightened and alienated many of their former friends, and confirmed in their prejudices many of their old enemies, who were willing perhaps to abate something of the rigour of the law, which had long placed the poor labourer at the mercy of his haughty employer. We are surprised and disappointed that the information which is now so generally diffused among the useful classes, did not point out to them the fatal consequences of their conduct. It was easy to foresee that the wealthy and the powerful would be on the watch for, and ready to avail themselves of the slightest irregularity and inconvenience arising from measures which oppose their interests; much more, then, will they now insist on the necessity of curbing their refractory workmen, since the first use of their freedom, has been productive of a national embarrassment and disadvantage.

But while we regret the circumstance of their misconduct, we can scarcely blame the unfortunate mechanics, who are the victims of the discordant state of affairs in this country. In the natural contest between rich and poor, between the employer and him he employs, while combinations on either side are made illegal-though it will be recollected that it is much easier in this respect to watch over any controul the many workmen, than the few masters who may conspire almost in secrecy, while things are in a healthful and fair condition, labour will ever obtain from wealth its just reward. But when, as is now unfortunately the case with England, a long course of misgovernment has deranged the social state, and implicated the different interests in never-ceasing conflicts, when a national encumbrance has been entailed, to support which from time to time all sorts of ruinous expedients have been adopted; when restrictions are one day imposed and the next taken off, to ease some temporary pressure which is directly felt in an opposite direction; when the best-disposed and most sagacious Ministers would be-(say, if it so pleaseth, are) confounded between their liberal inclinations and the necessity for harsh measures,-well may, in this distempered and chaotic state of the political elements, the humble and suffering mechanics deviate into error and injustice, while endeavouring to secure their rights, while struggling for their bread-for their existence.

employer is obliged to restrict him to, if he would keep his
manufactured article at such a price as shall enable him t
enter the market on the same moderate terms as his foreig
rivals. The mechanic cannot exist decently, if at all, on this
little, the master, if he would profit by his trade, cannot
give more. Here is the dilemma. This is one of the many
evil consequences of a restriction on the importation of corn.
How far,-to continue the chapter of political paradoxes,-
this measure is necessary for the preservation of the agricul-
tural interest, for the collection of the taxes on home consump
tion, for the raising the value of money commensurate with
the vast nominal amount of the national debt, is the consider-
ation for another time.-To return to the Combination Laws.
It is generally understood that measures will be taken to pre-
vent the association of the working classes for the purposes
they at present contemplate. It appears from what we have
before stated, that one class must be sacrificed to the other-
the rich to the poor, or the poor to the rich. The rich hold
the power-the poor then will be the victims. That they
will obey the mildest legislation that the unfortunate circum-
stances of the country permit, we trust-that they will resist,
firmly but not riotously, any unnecessary and harsh or vindic-
tive enactments, we hope.
measures most complained of, let them petition Parliament on
the subject of the grievances-let them point out the hard-
ships-the difficulties of their situation, let them appeal to
the country-to its justice, to its humanity, for such protec-
tion as their usefulness is most indisputably entitled to.-
Kent Herald.

Let them at once desist from the

POSTSCRIPT.

MONDAY, OCT. 17.

Some days ago a paragraph in a Paris paper stated that M. de Damas, the French Minister for Foreign Affairs, had given a dinner to the black Envoys of Hayti. No mention was however made in the paragraph of the presence of the diplomatic corps. A letter from Paris describes the difficulties with which their sable Excellencies had to contend before they could approach the Ministerial table, and mentions the important negotiations which took place before the members of the Holy Alliance could settle the point whether the representatives of revolted slaves could be admitted to eat and drink in the presence of their legitimate ambassadors. It is the usual custom with the Foreign Minister in France to invite a new Envoy to dinner immediately on his arrival, and to introduce him at the King's levee on the Sunday following. The Haytian deputies coming to France with a large purse in their hand, remembering the enthusiasm which the French squadron expressed at the admission of the Royal ordinance for their independence, and trusting that there was some meaning in the toast of "Charles the Liberal," imagined that every official saloon in Paris would be open for their reception, and that his Majesty would be impatient to welcome despatches from his sovereign brother and ally the President of the Black Republic. But the taste of the King was completely mistaken. He neither likes a black face nor a liberal sentiment, having been taught, by the cry of the absolute and legitimate party in Spain, to confound a negro with a lover of freedom. He was therefore exceedingly The Corn Laws are most intimately connected with this wroth with Baron Mackau for allowing his health to be momentous difficulty, if not the cause of it. The operation is drunk with such an addition to his title, and turned his back obvious enough. If the free importation of corn were per-upon him when he appeared at St Cloud. M. de Villele, in mitted, nobody doubts that the price of bread, and of provi-order to show that he had not taught this diplomatic bird its sions generally, would be infinitely lower. The mechanic wrong lesson, imitated the example of his master. M. de then could afford his labour at such a price as would enable his employer to compete successfully with the foreign manufacturers, without which in these times of general peace and universal intercourse, the commercial greatness of Britain

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Mackau, however, did not forget his Haytian friends, and seeing it impossible to introduce them at Court, exerted himself both with the Minister of Marine and the Minister for Foreign Affairs to get them an official dinner. The former

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No. 925. MONDAY, OCT. 24, 1825.

THE POLITICAL EXAMINER.

Party is the madness of many for the gain of a few.-POPE. PRISON DISCIPLINE-GLASGOW BRIDEWELL. Tuf Glasgow Chronicle contains a report from the managing Committee to the Commissioners of the "County and City Bridewell," furnishing a description of the establishment as completed by extensive new buildings last year, and an account of its income and expenditure during a period of 63 weeks, ending on the 2d of August last. This report has interested us very much; and we think an abstract of its principal facts will be acceptable to our readers. Every prisoner has a sleeping cell to himself, ten feet high, nine long, and seven wide, furnished with a hammock, blanket, sheet, and coverlet, and a small chest, constructed so as to answer for a seat, and contain the prisoner's clothes, books, and other necessaries. Some of these cells have fire-places for such prisoners as may require them. The females occupy a separate building, under the control of officers of their own ser, a most important provision to guard against the total loss of modesty and decorum which the employment of males in the like capacity is so likely to cause. The whole prison is supplied with means for carrying on various manufactures; and the scope for classification is so great, that there are fifteen apartments for the women (averaging about forty in number) to work in-so that there need not be more than two or three together. The building is well provided with store rooms, washing houses, &c.; nor have the judicious contrivers of the place forgotten baths, so necessary to cleanliness and health, though unfortunately so little used by the people of this country, whether in or out of prison. The grand particulars however respecting work and instruction, in which this establishment resembles the Pensylvanian gaols, we shall transcribe in the words of the report:

"WORK.

"The inmates are employed in weaving, winding, twisting, twining, and warping yarns, making shoes and stockings, tambouring, sewing, veining, spinning, picking cotton, &c. &c. &c. A separate account is kept for each prisoner; from the amount of their earnings, the expenses of food, clothes, washing, &c. are deducted; small sums are sometimes advanced while in confinement, to encourage industry; and the surplus is paid at the end of their confinement, on leaving the establishment. INSTRUCTION.

"A permanent and efficient teacher has been appointed to watch over the morals of the prisoners; to instruct those who cannot read; and to communicate instruction to all. His whole time and talents are devoted to this end. The Committee have fixed his hours of attendance every week day, from 1st November to 1st March, at 8 o'clock morning till 5 o'clock afternoon; the other eight months at 7 o'clock morning till 6 afternoon, allowing him reasonable time for his meals. On Sabbath, he collects the females into different classes, when he performs worship, reads a portion of scripture, and concludes with an exhortation. The males are taught and exhorted each in his own cell, and at no time are they allowed to congregate or have any intercourse."

work disgusting? Again, this system does nothing for the prisoner on his release. He may, if docile in temper, be more inclined to industry, from the mere habit of work, and the healthful result; but we fear this effect is seldom produced by compulsory and odious labour upon the stubborn and ignorant persons who form the majority of the inmates of gaols. The system of which Pennsylvania has had the honour of setting the example, and Glasgow that of adopting, goes upon a finer and wiser principle: it treats prisoners as human beings, having the same feelings, and for the most part the same rights, as their fellow men at large; it acknowledges the labourer in prison to be as worthy of his hire as the peasant in the field, burdened of course with the charge of his own maintenance and confinement. It does not turn him out of the walls, at the expiration of his period of imprisonment, pennyless, friendless, with a ruined character, to be shunned by all prudent people, and forced by absolute necessity to reenter the paths of crime; but it rewards his industry with the profits of his work, it gives him a little stock to begin the world with again, it furnishes him with a certificate of good conduct while in gaol,—and thus at once makes him taste the sweets of labour, and affords him a fair chance of encouragement in society. It has been found in Philadelphia, that discharged prisoners, possessing certificates of good conduct from the governor of the penitentiary, have a preference in obtaining employment,

A system of prison discipline which really reforms the prisoners, would be cheaply purchased even at double the expence of the exist ing barbarous modes; but as all the results of a sound principle are more or less gratifying, it is not one of the least benefits of the philosophic system, that it is extremely cheap; indeed, it may be reasonably calculated, that if generally adopted, the confinement and government of criminals, instead of being as at present a grievous charge to every county, would after a time cost the community nothing. Some years ago, we know this was the case in the Transatlantic penitentiary, and must be so now, unless some mismanagement has crept in, not at all affecting the principle of the experiment. The Glasgow Bridewell, even in its infancy, nearly approaches this desideratum. By the account appended to the Committee's report, it appears that the prisoners (averaging daily 200 in number) in the period referred to manufactured articles which sold for 2,016 13 0

Add to this sums received for aliment or board of prisoners detained on warrants in that part of Bridewell which has been declared a legal prison, but not sentenced to work

95 6 10 £2,111 19 10

If that total be deducted from the gross expenditure (2,704/. 19s. 10d. including 334l. 5s. 11d. paid to prisoners for surplus earnings) the balance will be 5931.; being the whole cost to the public for the Bridewell, which gives a rate of 21. 88. 9d. per annum for each prisoner.

With this example before their eyes, we should hope that certain Parliamentary and magisterial persons will be cautious how they sneer at, as wild and visionary," the endeavours of the excellent individuals who spend their time and money in attempts to mend our prison discipline.

EASTER "OFFERINGS"-CLERICAL GREEDINESS-
MAGISTERIAL DESPOTISM.

This imitation of a plan which has long been practised in the prisons of several states of the North American Union, reflects the greatest credit on those who have put it in operation in Glasgow. The success has been correspondent to the wisdom. The unreflecting and the brutal in society may content themselves with locking up criminals in indiscriminate confinement, and maintaining, that when a guilty wretch is once in prison, they need trouble themselves no more about For many years past the ambiguous demand by the Church of what him. But sooner or later the victim of bad education and bad laws are ludicrously misnamed "Faster Offerings" has been very partially must be set free again; and what can be expected from him but a levied in Birmingham, owing to the reluctance with which the poputerrible retribution on the community whom he views merely as lation (a considerable portion of whom are Dissenters) paid that conenemies and oppressors? The "wisdom of our ancestors" was no tribution to the wealthiest of all Ecclesiastical Establishments. This better, in respect to criminals, than this shortsighted calculation: the reluctance has been increased lately by the spirited resistance made gaols were crowded with miserable beings, of all ranks and all degrees to the demand by Mr Peter Watson, a shoemaker of Chester-le-street of criminality, huddled together with scarcely a distinction, perfectly in Durham, who still has an appeal pending against the enforcement idle, the hardened criminals corrupting the novices, and all leaving of the claim. In consequence, the Rev. Charles Curtis (brother of their common den of profligacy worse than they entered it. Even in Sir William) a Pluralist, being a rector in Birmingham parish, and later times, and under more humane and considerate management, holding a lucrative vicarage in the neighbourhood, the two livings the nature of the human mind was little consulted in the treatment yielding him together from 7,000l. to 10,000l. per annum, hit upon of prisoners. They were set to work certainly; but it was the expedient of farming the "Offerings;" and strange to say, a work of the most mechanical and oppressive kind-picking wealthy Nonconformist undertook the agency, and commenced a hemp, or (latterly) walking up an eternal step, to turn a mill hid general and vigorous enforcement of the full contribution of fourpence from their sight, their toil not cheered by the sight of its operation a-head for each individual above 16 years of age, exclusive of eightand product. This is a fatal error: the object of prison discipline is pence for every householder and his wife. Hundreds of summonses to reform the prisoner; but how shall his idleness (and crime may were issued; the magistrates were occupied with contested cases; and generally be traced to an aversion to labour) be cured by rendering | many inhabitants, from scruples of conscience, resisted the magisterial

order to pay, the claim, choosing rather to suffer the amount to be levied by distraint upon their goods.

Mr Russell, a bookseller, pretty well known as a sufferer in the cause of Reform, was early assailed with a summons, and appeared in November last to answer the poor rector's complaint of his non-payment of one shilling and fourpence, being the amount alleged to be due for two years' "Offerings." He resisted payment on the ground that the contribution was only claimed from "communicants," and that he was none. The clerical justice present, however, made an order for payment; in pursuance of which an officer speedily visited his house with a warrant of distraint. Instead of levying however, the officer on several occasions merely urged payment verbally, as if there was some irregularity in the proceeding which made him afraid of pushing the matter to extremity. Thus it remained till the 3d inst. when, in consequence of a summons differing in form from that of last year, Mr Russell appeared before T. Lee and W. W. Smith, Esqrs. in their private room, accompanied by his shopman; and the following dialogue occurred :

Magistrate. Well, Mr Russell, what have you to say in answer to the Rev. Mr Curtis' complaint against you for default of ayment of 1s. 4d. due to him?

fied of the correctness of Mr C.'s claim. He might take out a man-
damus, if we neglected to enforce his just demand.
Mr R. This is most strange. I always understood that a claimant
by process, in the first instance, was required to produce proof of his
right. I deny his right, and am prepared to show that I am not in
the situation on which, on the former occasion, it was said the right
Magistrate. Do you mean to deny that Mr Curtis is rector of this
parish?
Mr R. I mean to deny no such thing. When I was here ast, the
demand was said to be lawful against all Communicants above the
age of 16 years. I deny that I am a Communicant, and consequently
maintain that I am not liable to the demand.

claim was founded.

unjust and arbitrary; and we doubt if it would have been hazarded in the metropolis. It is true, that it does not belong to a magistrate to decide upon the general question of the legality of any demand like that of "Easter Offerings;" but surely, when one man summons another for non-payment of an alleged debt, the magistrate is bound to call upon the plaintiff to prove the debt, not upon the defendant to disprove it. It cannot be proper for him to settle the point in dispute with a simple-" we are satisfied of the justice of the demand," without even requiring the plaintiff to state the nature of the claim-as it appears by the above statement furnished to us (upon the accuracy of which we rely) that he did not.

So strongly is the injustice of this clerical extortion felt in Birmingham, that we are told it is very probable a pétition from a considerable body of the inhabitants will be presented to Parliament against it next session.

THEATRICAL EXAMINER.

DRURY LANE.

THE grandest theatrical treat perhaps we ever had, was on that Mr R. Please your Worship, I deny his right to any payment famous evening when Messrs KEAN and BOOTH played in conjuncfrom me, and request you to demand of his agent to show on what tion. The former the part of Othello, the latter that of Iago; and we ground he rests the claim. never recur to the effect that exhibition produced on us without wishMagistrate. We do not sit here to expound the law: we are satis-ing that the whole world could have been spectators. Mr BOOTH and similar style of performing provoked comparison. Here then was brought out as a competitor with Mr KEAN: their equal height was the opportunity, when they came foot to foot, for KEAN to show the great inequality of the powers of the two men; and this he did by an effort-an (as it were) intellectual bound, which must have satisfied every spectator then present, that competition was out of the question:-and, with all the wonderful colouring of that performance as fresh in our minds as if it were at this moment an embodied painting by Titian, we are compelled to say, that if Mr Boorn on this re-appearance has intended to fill up the chasm left by Mr KEAN'S retreat, he has greatly overrated his own powers. By the plain and the two actors, let not Mr BOOTH charge us with unfairness; we are unequivocal manner in which we have spoken of this disproportion in Magistrate (Mr LEE). I know nothing about what you are urging, so far from feeling anything like prejudice against him, that indeed and do not believe it relevant in answer to the demand. [At this our inclination is to his advantage. There were many touches the stage of the business, the officer in attendance notified to the Magis- than common respect-though the result of our opinion of the perother evening which lead us to think of his understanding with more trates, that the defendant's servant was taking a minute of the pro-formance as a whole, is, that it wanted power. The speech before ceedings, and wished to know if their Worships allowed it.-Mr SMITH said-No: make him desist, and turn him out of the room. Mr RUSSELL said I protest against this; I am alone in a private room, making my defence, and I require his assistance in order correctly to refer to the proceedings, if I find it eligible hereafter to appeal to a superior Court. Mr Lee however assented to the order, and the officers forcibly turned the defendant's shopman out, and closed the door upon him.]

Magistrate. Have you anything more to say why we should not make an order for payment?

Mr R. There is now a similar case removed by appeal from the Magistrates in Durham by a Mr Peter Watson: it comes on for decision in the next term, in the King's Bench. This is a reason for staying the present proceeding for the short period that will elapse between this and the decision on Watson's case, which will set at rest the legality of the demand.

the senate was delivered off hand, as if he had learned it by rote;
not as if it were the spontaneous effort of one who felt that he could
"little grace his cause in speaking for himself." The third act-the
memorable and most trying part of the character, went off rather
tamely. But the last scene was by far the best of the whole perform-
ance; and our impression is, that it was nearly as well as we ever
saw it played. We still say that Mr BooтH will benefit the esta-
advantage; and we wish him success in the public favour.
blishment that we hope he may be offered an engagement to his

WALLACK played some parts of Iago very creditably: so did BROWN the difficult character of Roderigo: for it is difficult to convey the discrimination between weakness of understanding and sheer fatuity; which latter quality, as it is more gross and palpable to common eyes, so is it the favourite reading of the character by common actors. PENLEY'S Cassio was sad work. Mrs WEST made a tole

Magistrate. We cannot suspend proceedings on any such ground.rably good Desdemona, and evidently exerted herself to do her best. Mr R. This demand has not been generally collected lately. The objection to it is very great-it should be a voluntary offering, not a compulsory assessment. It is not a legal demand; and I have documents here to show, that if the plaintiff was required, as I insist-I beg pardon, I submit-he ought to be

you

Mr LEE. Hear me !-To my knowledge this demand was paid by my father in this parish upwards of 60 years ago; and I believe must know, from the connexion, that would not have been the case, had it not been legal.*

Mr R. Your father, Sir, paid willingly: my case is different; I have not attended the Church, and deny that the rector possesses any right to enforce it against me, who am not a Communicant.

After some further remarks, Mr Russell withdrew; the order was made against him for payment; and he daily expects to suffer a dis

traint for the amount.

After witnessing the shameless avarice exhibited by the City Clergy in the recent attempt to revive an obsolete claim against the citizens of London, we cannot of course be surprised at a proceeding on the part of the Birmingham incumbents so entirely in accordance with the spirit of our greedy and oppressive Church Establishment. But the procedure of the magistrates, as above detailed, does appear to us very

Mr Leg's father, as well as himself, was an Unitarian and a lawyer,

And last, Mrs BUNN was respectable in Emilia. This lady has a fine and commanding person. Does she stoop on purpose to detract from her height of stature; and does she imagine that she appears uncouthly tall? If so, she only changes hands, and transfers the uncouthness from her stature to her carriage.

We may observe, in addition to the above favour from a Correspondent, that Mr BOOTH, in expressing some very natural and wellgrounded resentment at certain mean and false attempts to lower his private character, seems inclined to go to war with the newspapers in general. That an actor's opinion of his own merits should differ from those of other people, is no way surprising, and must pass; but the other sort of injury is as base, perishable and malignant, as the quarter whence it chiefly emanates. It was quite amusing to read the John Bull of Sunday last, in reference to Mr WARDE, from whose merits and respectability we have no sort of disposition to deteriorate; but it is quite absurd to exalt level acting in the abstract beyond exalted genius; and, in talking of histrionic talent, to be formally alluding to private character. This sermonising in reference to the subject, is monstrous twaddle at best, and, if carried higher, would at once be found so by John himself. From the Treasurer of the Mauritius, it is indeed the sublime of the ridiculous,-the very negro girls of that island would smile at it,

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