186 Traxsactions of tub American Institute. 



not only the necessaries of life, but many comforts ; and in such 

 estimation were they then held that the shopkeepers and tradesmen 

 sought their custom and patronage. In such request was their labor 

 that it was no uncommon thing for the employer to offer £10 or £20 

 to a master-weaver if he W9uld have his four or five looms supplied 

 with work from him. One respectable firm, to secure the weavers' 

 labor, built a number of houses specially for them ; others bought 

 them looms, taking repayment by easy instalments. On every side 

 throwing mills had been erected, and so great was the demand for 

 houses that they were occupied before they were well ready for habi- 

 tation. Some weavers who were prudent and economical bsilt 

 houses for themselves. Families from the potteries and surrounding 

 towns flocked into Macclesfield in order that they might partake of 

 the increasing prosperity. To provide for the culture of rising gen- 

 erations, Sunday-schools, the national and other day-schools were 

 erected ; and at the same time places of worship were built by every 

 denomination. For' years the trade and town continued to flourish 

 until Mr. Huskisson took the first step in free trade by tampering 

 with the silk duties. Apprehensions being expressed, he told the 

 silk-weavers of Spitalfields that if they would be patient and allow 

 him to proceed with his contemplated measures, they would not only 

 have roast beef for their dinners, but boiled fowls in addition. At 

 that time it was the daily custom for the London brewers to send 

 round porter to the weavers' houses at noon, as milk is uoav brought 

 to our doors in a morning. Mr. Huskisson's first alteration came 

 into operation in 1826, from which period the silk trade of the coun- 

 try began gradually to decline. Subsequently we were told that our 

 decline was attributable to the then existing corn laws ; and in 1844: 

 Mr. Bright, accompanied by some of his copatriots, came over to 

 Macclesfield to inform the Aveavers and silk hands that to the repeal 

 of the corn laws they must look for improvement in their trade, and 

 he assured them if they would join tlie agitation and secure the 

 repeal, their trade, which was on the wane, would speedily revive, 

 and enable their wives and daughters to wear silk dresses on a Sun- 

 day. I may here remark that up to 1826, it was not uncommon for 

 the weavers' daughters and the superior factory hands to appear in 

 silk dresses on Sundays, bought on easy terms of payment from their 

 employei's. Mr. Bright and an eminent barrister told them if they 

 could only get cheap food, the surplus earnings could be spent on 

 elegant clothes; therefore it may readily be supposed, with such 



