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it, as to lowering the rate of wages ?-That is a subject I have paid considerable attention to ever since it was erected, I recollect perfectly well that when it was first introduced the weavers looked upon it as something foreboding their ruin; and I believe to some degree, though I have no objection to improvements in machinery, it has already gone a length which is beyond what is reasonable; and certainly it produces a cheapness of cloth, though it is not directly that which is produced by the hand-loom: it has its effect in shedding its influence in producing the cloth as produced by handlooms, the very same way as a superabundance of oats in Scotland would reduce the value of wheat, which was a superior grain, bringing it down below its natural level, though there had not been a superabundance of that article.

Do you consider that as the power-loom with one person can produce as much cloth as three hand-looms with three persons, and that as there are taxes on the necessaries of life, that it would be expedient either to take off those taxes on the necessaries of life, or to put a tax corresponding to the evasion of those taxes which the powerloom enjoys, upon the power-loom itself? I should conceive for my part that the taking the taxes off the necessaries of life would be a great benefit, upon the whole, to the community; but it would not thereby, in a relative sense, better the weavers' condition, because it would also be taken off to other tradesmen; still we would be proportionably below them in our wages. we have principally to complain of at the What present moment is, that we have to pay dear for the productions of other workmen, while they again receive our productions cheap in return. Now to illustrate this, I shall give, for example, the case of a shoemaker: he has 20s. a week; he has 3s. in consequence of his high wages, for making a pair of shoes; for we must pay for the workmanship besides the leather, and the pair of shoes will cost us, say 7s. Now if the shoemakers' wages were reduced to our standard, it would take two thirds from his wages, and he would only have 1s. for making a pair of shoes; consequently, without any alteration in the real value of the article, we would have them all the odds of workmanship less, or 2s. cheaper.

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are the necessaries of life that a weaver and his family use?—I have not the statement with me just now, but my colleague is preparing it.

called the Corn Bill?-With respect to the Do you ascribe your distress to what is Corn Bill, there are many different opinions upon it; but as relates to us as weavers, we are persuaded that though the Corn Bill were off to-morrow, such is the nature of our manufactures and the disposition for cheapness, that they would reduce us just exactly proportionably to the fall of corn.

Bill has been instrumental in affecting either Do you suppose that what is called Peel's your employment or your wages; do you know what is called Peel's Bill for reducing the quantity of money?—Yes, I have heard tell of Peel's Bill; what I understand by it ing the currency. Now, under such ciris this, that it has been a means of contractcumstances as that, there is nothing more clear than that it must be a general evil to the country. I shall illustrate this to you just now. money in this country is, so much the betThe higher the circulation of ter; for we stand on artificial ground in comparison with that of the rest of the surrounding nations of Europe. This becomes necessary on account of the very great burthen of the national debt. If the country has an artificial burthen to bear, it becomes absolutely necessary that it should have artificial means of support. circulation of the country (that is, the value of labour) be £200,000,000. yearly, and the If the there is one fourth of it taxation, paid out of taxation £50,000,000., it is clear then that this £200,000,000. We shall suppose then, by Peel's Bill, or any other measure, the currency is restricted to £100,000,000., being still the yearly value of labour. If we pay still £50,000,000. of taxation, it makes the burthen double; and I might add, that if the income of all other classes, productive and unproductive, were reduced proportionably as the weavers are, it would be impossible to pay the taxation, and a national bankruptcy would be the consequence. (To be continued.)

A FABLE.

THE WOOING OF MASTER FOX.

(Continued from our last.)

Can you ascribe to any causes why you should be in that particular state of distress meeting so suddenly a creature that had "The Dog was by no means pleased at while other classes are not; do you ascribe only to open his mouth to swallow him up it to the power-loom or any other cause at a morsel; however he put a bold face on upon which you can give us information?- the danger, and walking respectfully up to There may be other causes, but I would the Griffin, said, “ ascribe a considerable portion of it to the much obliged to you if you would inform Sir, I should be very power-loom, and the influence the cheapness me the way out of these holes in the upper of its production sheds on that of the hand- world." loom weavers.

Can you show us any statement of what

and looked at the Dog very sternly.
The Griffin took the pipe out of his mouth,

"Ho! wretch," said he, "how comest thou hither? I suppose thou wantest to steal my treasure; but I know how to treat such vagabonds as you, and I shall certainly eat you up."

"You can do that if you choose," said the Dog," but it would be very unhandsome conduct in an animal so much bigger than myself. For my own part, I never attack any dog that is not of equal size. I should be ashamed of myself if I did; and as to your treasure, the character I bear for honesty is too well known to merit such a suspicion."

"Upon my word," said the Griffin who could not help smiling for the life of him, "you have a singularly free mode of expressing yourself;-and how, I say, came you hither?"

Then the Dog, who did not know what a lie was, told the Griffin his whole history, how he had set off to pay his court to the Cat, and how Reynard the Fox had entrapped him into the hole.

When he had finished, the Griffin said to him, "I see, my friend, that you know how to speak the truth; I am in want of just such a servant as you will make me to keep watch over my treasure when I sleep." "Two words to that," said the Dog. "You have hurt my feelings very much by suspecting my honesty, and I would much sooner go back into the wood and be avenged on that scoundrel the Fox, than serve a master who has so ill an opinion of me; even if he gave me to keep, much less to take care of, all the treasures in the world. I pray you, therefore, to dismiss me, and to put me in the right way to my cousin the Cat."-FROM THE PILGRIMS OF THE RHINE. (To be continued.)

COMMUNICATIONS RECEIVED.

THE Secretary of the Committee for conducting the Agricultural and Industrial Magazine, is directed to convey to C. the thanks of the Committee for his letter respecting the burthen of the Poor Law Assessment, more than one-sixth of which is not appropriated to the relief of the Poor. The following suggestion, offered by C., is given for the purpose of promoting further investigation into the practicability of the plan proposed :-"The great burthen of poor rates, as at present levied, is the inequality of the rates in different towns and in different counties-some districts paying, with all its improvident charges, as low as three shillings in the pound annually on the valued rental-whilst many other districts pay as much as eight shillings in the pound, particularly in commercial and manufacturing districts. Now, why should not the expense of the maintenance of the poor be equalized throughout

the country? For instance: let the whole of the expenditure for the relief of the poor throughout the kingdom, be apportioned similar to the land tax. Wherever the charge of pauperism occurs, let the district provide for it according to the general rules ordered by the Act of Parliament; and those districts which might have expended more than their equalized rate, should be repaid through receivers general appointed for each county, who should receive the poor levy according to annual fixed rental, estimated every year from the rates of the assessed taxes."-We shall be glad to hear further from C.

Mr. Rosser's able, but in some respects, visionary brochure, entitled "Credit Pernicious," together with some other works, shall be noticed as soon as the arrangements now in progress, for the purpose of reviewing useful and moral publications, are completed.

The excellent letter of a Gloucester Agriculturist, Mr. Birch's, and other favors, in succeeding numbers.

The figures sent by Agricola shall be examined. Some extracts from the speech of J. Maxwell, Esq. M.P., on moving for a committee on the Hand-loom Weavers, shall be given in No. 3.

NOTICE TO CORRESPONDING

MEMBERS.

The Agricultural Associations which have sprung up so numerously in consequence of distress, are especially requested to take active steps to introduce the circulation of the Magazine in every market town and district; agriculture being admitted on all hands to be the foundation of the great home trade, which is so miserably depressed.

With a view to this, the Corresponding Members are requested to communicate with the Agricultural Associations in their respective districts.

It is also to be hoped that Corresponding Members will forward, at their earliest convenience, to the Secretary, any details or statistical facts relative to the agricultural, commercial, or maritime condition of the people.

Annual subscriptions of £1., and donations, to be paid to Local Committees, or into the Bank of Matthias Attwood, Esq. M.P. Gracechurch-street, London. Annual subscribers of £1. are entitled to five copies of each number for the year; and donors of £5. £10. £15. £20. or £25., to five, ten, fifteen, twenty, or twenty-five copies, according to the amount of donation. These copies will be furnished to the subscribers or donors on application to the Publishers, who will forward them according to instruc

tions.

PRINTED BY W. NICOL, 51, PALL MALL.

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ENCOURAGEMENT OF DOMESTIC INDUSTRY, AND FOR
PROMOTING EFFECTUAL RELIEF FROM
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1834.

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COMMITTEE.

Chairman-E. S. CAYLEY, Esq., M.P. Yorkshire, N.R.

Hon. D. G. Hallyburton, M.P. Forfarshire.
Sir G. Cayley, Bart. M.P. Scarborough.
Sir Hyde Parker, Bart. M.P. Suffolk.
Sir R. B. W. Bulkeley, Bart. M.P. Anglesea
Sir C. Burrell, Bart. M.P. Rape of Bramber.
Sir Eardley Wilmot, Bt. M.P. Warwickshire.
A. Chapman, Esq., M.P. Whitby.
R. W. Hall Dare, Esq., M.P. Essex.
L. W. Dillwyn, Esq., M.P. Glamorganshire.
John Fielden, Esq., M.P. Oldham.

George Finch, Esq., M.P. Stamford.
Hesketh Fleetwood, Esq., M.P. Preston.
W. C. Harland, Esq., M.P. Durham.
H. Lambert, Esq., M.P. Wexfordshire.
E. C. Lister, Esq., M.P. Bradford.
J. Maxwell, Esq., M.P. Lanarkshire.
R. A. Oswald, Esq., M.P. Ayrshire.
G. Sinclair, Esq., M.P. Caithness-shire.
C. Tyrell, Esq., M.P. Suffolk.

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Honorary Secretary-R. MONTGOMERY MARTIN, Esq. F.S.S.,
11, Waterloo Place, Pall Mall, London.

CORRESPONDING MEMBERS.

Aylesbury-Henry T. Ryde, Esq.
Bakewell-Mr. James Taylor.
Belfast-J. E. Tennent, Esq. M. P.
Beverley-T. Sandwith, Esq.
Birmingham-G. F. Muntz, Esq.
Bolton-Mr. Thos. Myerscough.
Bury St. Edmund's-R. Dalton, Esq.
Carlisle-Mr. C. Thurnham.
Cambridge-Jas. B. Bernard, Esq.
King's College, Cambridge.
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Thomas Calley, Esq.

Cricklade.

M.P.

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Durham H. J. Spearman, Esq.
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Sinclair, Bart.
Exeter-Ralph Barnes, Esq.
Greenock-R. Wallace, Esq. M.. P.
Huddersfield-Mr. Richard Oastler.
Hull-James Iveson, Esq.

Knaresborough Mr. John Howgate.
Leicester-Sir Edmund Hartopp, Bt.

Linlithgowshire-W. D. Gillon, Esq.

M.P

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Malton-W. Worsley, Esq.
Manchester-W. Clegg, Esq.
Northallerton-Right Hon. The Earl
of Tyrconnel.

Nottingham Mr. John Crosby.
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Vavasour, Bart.
Richmond—O. Tomlin, Esq.
Ripon D. Cayley, Esq.
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Stockton-on-Tees-Thomas Meynell,

Esq.

Swansea-Joseph Bird, Esq.
Tamworth-J. Holte Bracebridge,
Esq.
Warwick-Chandos Leigh, Esq.
Whitby Dr. Loy.

Worcester-R. Spooner, Esq. and
J. M. Gutch, Esq.
York-Thomas Laycock, Esq.

Communications to be sent to the Secretary, post paid.

"A LONG PULL, AND A STRONG PULL, AND A PULL ALL-TOGETHER,"

FOR BETTER PRICES, BETTER PROFITS, AND BETTER WAGES.

A PROPHECY.

In those days, when England shall have left to perish as intruders on the world of reached the measure of her greatness, verily our Lords the Monied Interest. the hour of her tribulation will be at hand. And it shall come to pass, that the Nation shall be delivered up for sport and for experiment, to Loan Jobbers and to Political Economists.

And, in pursuance of these "sound and wholesome" principles, the Philosopher male and female shall propose to diminish the superabundant population by beastly “preventive checks" and the morality of in

And, they shall declare that there is a fanticide! superabundant currency, a superabundant population, and a superabundant produce; whereas in truth, there will be no superabundance whatever, except of knavery and folly in their respective brains.

And, the Nation being prosperous, powerful and happy, the Philosophers shall pronounce its condition to be repugnant to "sound general principles ;" and they shall assert that meat, drink, and clothing, and all other necessaries or comforts, if purchased by an artificial currency, are unsubstantial and ideal; and that it is far better to be in a state of solid, tangible misery, than of such fictitious prosperity.

And, having said those things, they shall be permitted to act accordingly.

And, our too luxuriant manufactures and commerce shall be pruned down to a "sound and wholesome" standard, by the removal of all protecting duties, which will afford matter of gain and derision to other nations, while bankruptcy, desolation, misery and despair shall hourly increase at home.

But, the rulers of the state shall adhere nobly to the "sound and wholesome;" and the Sages shall tell them that it is wrong for a Government to interfere in the way of relief, and the wretchedness and destitution of millions shall be left to "the working of Events."

And, if any sufferer should venture to complain, or to question the wisdom of the "sound and wholesome," he shall be assailed as a public robber, a violator of good faith, and it shall be demonstrated to con

Then, in pursuance of the "sound and wholesome principles," a law shall be passed to double the amount of every man's debts; and this shall be called "stern justice and viction, by h+u-m-b-. good faith!"

And, Loan Mongers shall rejoice thereat exceedingly, and Usurers shall extol the national honour.

And, paradox shall in all cases be admitted as self evident fact; sophistry shall supersede argument, and the practical experience of ages, on which the wealth, greatness, and fame of England were founded, shall be called " antiquated absurdity."

And, all the celebrated Statesmen and Legislators from Lycurgus to Napoleon, shall be pronounced ignorant blockheads.

Then, shall the strength of a People be deemed to consist in the fewness of its numbers, and the wealth of a Country in the scantiness of its produce.

And, an abundant harvest shall be declared a curse, and a numerous progeny a grievous misfortune.

And, it shall be held presumption in any man to propagate his species, except he be a money dealer, or in the enjoyment of a protected income.

And, the offspring of all others shall be considered as mere human rubbish, and be

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g

And, impudence shall be unto the Philosophers as a triple shield of brass.

And, it shall be said in the Great Council, that it would be desirable to render the Nation dependent on foreign harvests for food; and astonishing nonsense shall thereon be talked touching free trade and the theory of Exchanges.

And, to all these rigmaroles the great Council shall lend an admiring ear; and Political Economists shall wax powerful, and in defiance of human reason and of human suffering, shall be upheld in their wild and mischievous schemes; and lo! confiscation and crime shall proceed with accelerated pace.

And, persons of great rank and of greater dulness, shall be persuaded that they perfectly comprehend the mysteries of the "sound and wholesome"; and because the arguments of the Philosophers are hollow, shall fancy that they are profound.

And, in the midst of all this havoc, the unhappy victims thereof instead of uniting against the unfeeling plunderers, shall be

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