544 



NOTES OF THE MONTH. 



ORIGIN OP THE TRADES' UNIONS. The greatest feature of the past 

 month is the meeting of the Trades, and forming a grand procession 

 to petition the Government in behalf of six individuals, who had by 

 their conduct rendered themselves obnoxious to the laws. Three of 

 these persons in whose behalf this pageant was displayed, were, it 

 seems, professed scamps, and it only seems a pity that the philanthropy 

 of such a benevolent multitude did not take a range equally extensive 

 as indiscriminate. Many an interesting sufferer is groaning away his 

 existence in Newgate cells at Brixton, too, how many are pro- 

 gressing but by slow and toilsome steps towards the period of their 

 captivity. It is rather curious that the Trades should have chosen 

 such an equivocal spot to await the result of their labours as the open 

 space before Bethelem Hospital, commonly called Bedlam. Mr. Owen 

 ought to be especially grateful that the gates of that valuable institu- 

 tion cannot be opened to every sufferer, else his philanthropical labours 

 might that day have been brought within a less extensive sphere. 



It is said that great effects sometimes spring from the simplest 

 causes, and it may be curious to know from how simple a circum- 

 stance these formidable bodies of the Trades originated. It is well 

 known that the waves of the sea are represented at the Theatre by 

 blue or green stuff, spread over the stage, but before " Science had 

 unlocked her golden stores" to the theatrical machinist, the heaving 

 of the waves was enacted by sundry ragged urchins, who bobbed 

 vigorously up and down beneath the artificial ocean, at the rate of 

 sixpence a-night. Now these wavelets, thinking their services not 

 sufficiently rewarded by so small a consideration, set their wits to 

 work, and the next night, after the preliminary flash of lightning and 

 growl of thunder, to the astonishment of all, the sea wrs unruffled as 

 a mill-pond flash succeeded flash, and peal after peal ; the tempest 

 raged but the devil a wave stirred. Poor Farley ran about as one 

 demented, but all to no purpose, the waves had struck for wages ! 

 What was to be done ? for now another storm was brewing, and on 

 the wrong side of the lamps the combination was successful they 

 obtained the shilling. But the result was not encouraging ; for the 

 indefatigable Farley, aided by the entire scientific talent of the The- 

 atre, so adroitly contrived springs, pulleys, and lines, that ere another 

 week the triumph of machinery was manifest by his contrivances 

 the waves arose in a more perfect manner than before, and the Union- 

 ists were therefore dismissed to seek fresh channels for their industry. 

 This is the earliest Union and strike that we know of. 



THE NEW PALACE. When will this architectural Briareus be done 

 growing ? year after year it is seen to be increasing in new members, 

 either upwards, sideways, or backwards ; but, like the penny show- 



