Aug.] 



CHRONICLE. 



101 



advance of wages ; this we admit 

 to be in part true, but not abso- 

 lutely so. Two years ago, when 

 our employers demanded a re- 

 duction of ten hanks, they affirm- 

 ed, that the state of the market 

 imperiously called for such reduc- 

 tion ; but when the markets 

 would admit of an advance, they 

 would willingly give it. We 

 depended on their honour, and 

 continued to labour for more 

 than 12 months at the reduction 

 proposed. About 10 months 

 since, on comparing the price of 

 cotton and yarn, we found that 

 the markets would allow our em- 

 ployers to fulfil their promise ; 

 we therefore solicited them to 

 that purpose, and only wished to 

 be re-instated in the same prices 

 we worked at previously to that 

 reduction. Some declared they 

 could not give ^ it; others they 

 would not ; but the greater part, 

 that they would, if others did, 

 but they should not like to be 

 the first. Thus we continued 

 working and soliciting for the 

 last eight months, though the 

 demand for yarn has been un- 

 precedented, and the consequent 

 rise in twist great ; they have still 

 refused our just request ; and in 

 order to cause a belief that trade 

 was in a declining state, gave no- 

 tice, that their mills should only 

 work three days in the week, 

 which appeared so extremely 

 ridiculous, that the very chil- 

 dren employed in factories laugh- 

 ed at it. 



" It is asserted, that our average* 

 wages amount to 305. or 40s. per 

 week — it is evident, that this 

 statement was made by some in- 

 dividual either ignorant or in- 

 terested. In 1816, the average 



clear wages of the spinners in 

 Manchester was about 245., they 

 were^then reduced from 20 to 25 

 per cent, and have ever since 

 laboured under that reduction. 

 And it is to be remarked, that 

 spinners relieve their own sick, 

 as well as subscribe to other 

 casualties ; therefore, when their 

 hours of labour, which are from 

 5 in the morning until 7 in the 

 evening (and in some mills 

 longer) of unremitting toil, in 

 rooms heated from 70 to 90 

 degrees, are taken into consi- 

 deration, we believe the public 

 will say with us, that no body of 

 workmen receive so inadequate a 

 compensation for their labour. 



" The next thing we would 

 advert to is, our employers have 

 asserted, that if they submit to 

 our present request (which they 

 admit is reasonable) it would not 

 be long before we demanded 

 another advance of ten hanks 

 more : whatever some individuals 

 may have said, we know nothing 

 of, but the great majority of spin- 

 ners have never said or intended 

 any such thing. And we hereby 

 declare, ' That we are willing to 

 '-enter into a treaty with our em • 

 ' ployers on fair and honourable 

 ' terms.' 



" We believe there is no 

 species of labour so fraught with 

 the want of natural comforts as 

 that the spimiers have to contend 

 with ; deprived of fresh air, and 

 subjected to long confinement in 

 the impure atmosphere of crowded 

 rooms, continually inhaling the 

 particles of metallic or vegetable 

 dust, liis physical powers become 

 debilitated, his animal strength 

 dwindles away, and few survive 

 the meridian of life, and the 



grave 



