that he had nothing to fear from that Quarter, he came over hither, and the Alderman of the Ward he liv'd in foon after dying, he had the Affurance to offer himself as a Candidate to fucceed him." It happening that feveral of his Creditors were either Voter's in that Ward, or had a confiderable Intereft in it, he (out of a Principle of Confcience no doubt) fent for them to a Tavern, and (after getting a Promife of their Affiftance) paid them their Debts, the Confequence of which was that they voted and used their Intereft for him, and he was elected.

I think that, without being gifted with B the Spirit of difcerning, as this Writer is pleafed to call it, it will be no difficult Matter to determine, whether this Action was the Refult of a confcientious Principle, or of Policy.

To conclude, I did not expect any one would have taken the Pains to have cri-C ticiz'd on a Thing fo trifling as my Letter, much less did I expect to find it done fo ju diciously; I must however acquaint your Correfpondent, that candidly to point out the Miftakes of another, is the Pert of a generous Adversary, and is by many Degrees more prevailing than the ill-natur'd Snarling of a carping Momus. Yours,

May 8, 1739.

I. H.

Cafe between the Clothiers and Weavers, &c. continued from p. 206.

come to confider how the

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he fays, has drove Multitudes into Hol'land and Pruffia, as well as Picardy and Languedoc in France.-Mr Gee, applicable to the fame, fays as follows:

The Dutch have brought their Poor under fuch Regulations, that there is fcarcely a Beggar to be feen in the United Provinces; for, that no Nation may underwork them, they take all imaginable Care to keep all Materials for • Manufactures as low as poffible, and lay their Taxes upon fuch Things as the People cannot fubfift without, as Eatables, Firing, &c. very, well knowing, that Hunger and Cold will make People work to fupply their Neceffities. Flanders and Hamburg purfue the fame Measures for fuppreffing Idleness and Beggary.". The SPECTATOR, Vol II. p. 232 in the Character of Sir Andrew Freeport, argues thus:

I can fee no Occafion for Charity to common Beggars, fince every Beggar is an Inhabitant of a Parish, and every Parish is taxed to the Maintenance of 'their own Poor. For my own Part, I cannot be mightily pleased with the

'Laws which have done This, which have provided better to feed, than employ, 'the Poor.

Thefe Gentlemen, we fee, were of Opinion, that Necetlity is the best Spur to Induftry, and is the Mother of Diligence, as well as Invention. When there is nothing but a Profpect of Starving without Industry and Providence, This

WE Clothier may fall the Price of La-E will make the Poor frugal, diligent, and

bour, without incurring the Odium of op preffing the Poor.

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Our Laws are fo tender of the Poor, that where a Man cannot fupport himself and his Family by his Labour, he receives all Neceffaries from the Landed Gentlemen and Traders, rated for that Purpofe. By feveral judicious Perfons this Law has been condemned. Mr Wood (in his Survey of Trade) fays, It is thought by many, and not without good Grounds, " that the A& for the Maintenance of the 'Poor may be the Bane and Destruction of our Manufactury, as it encourages Sloth and Beggary, and alfo as it makes the Parishes of England fearful of en'tertaining any Perfons but fuch as are well to pafs; for fo long as the Parishes know they are to be burthen'd with all the Poor that shall obtain Settlements upon them, whether fuch Poor will work or not, they will keep out all fuch H • Perfons as have nothing to fubfift on but

the daily Labour of their Hands to • maintain themfelves and their Wives and Children. This and other Things,

provident. If the Poor had no Laws to rely on for Support in their Extremities, they would behave in a more decent and becoming Manner to their Masters and Superiors; knowing that their good Behaviour would be the only Thing which could recommend and entitle them to the Commiferation and Charity of their Neighbours, when in Diftrefs.

What is given to the Poor now, they look on as a legal Due, and give no Thank's to any one for; whereas if the Poor were supported by voluntary Charities, This would be a Means of producing a mutual G Harmony between their Superiors and them. The Poor would look with Reverence and Efteem on their Benctactors, who fupported them in their Extremities; and this grateful Behaviour in the poor would beget Pity, Tenderness, Commiferation, and Benevolence in the Rich: Whereas, by the prefent Methods, all these mutual Ties and Endearments are loft.

Barnet in his Hiftory of his own Times, Vol. II. fpeaks to this Purpose: 'It may be thought a ftrange Motion from a

234
'Bishop, to wish that the Act for charg

The GENTLEMAN'S MAGAZINE, VOL. IX.

A

ing every Parish to maintain their own Poor, were well reviewed, if not quite 'taken away: This feems to encourage idle and lazy People in their Sloth, when they know they must be maintained. I know no other Place in the World, where fuch a Law was ever made. SCOTLAND is much the pooreft Part of the Ifland, yet the Poor there are 'maintained by the voluntary Charities of the People. HOLLAND is the perfect eft Pattern for putting Charity in a good 'Method; the Poor work as much as they can; they are humble and induftri- B ous; they never ask any Charity, and yet they are well relieved. If a Spirit of true Piety and Charity should ever prevail in this Nation, thofe, whose Condition raifes them above the Drudgery of fervile Labour, might employ fome Years of their Life in this Labour of Love, and relieve one another in their Turn; and fo diftribute among them All this noble Part of Government. ' this must begin in the House of Commons, and I leave it to the Confideration of the wife and worthy Members of that Body, to turn their Thoughts to this, as foon as by a happy Peace we are deliver'd from the Cares of the War, and are at Leifure to think of our own Af'fairs at Home.'

A Gentleman, who now refides at an English Factory at Lisbon, told me, that their Houfe had configned to it as good fine French Cloth, made of Spanish Wool, for 135. per Yard, as they could buy That the from England, for 15 or 165. Portugueze perferr'd the firft, on account of its Cheapnefs; wherefore they were obliged to import the French Cloth on British Bottoms, and fell it as English, in order to have fomewhat to do. Thus the French, by Dint of low Wages, are running away with our Manufactures; whilft we are buoying up ourselves, with vain Boafts, and empty Imaginations, that we out-trade and out-fell every one.

We cannot reasonably expect to keep Pace with our neighbouring Nations, in the Goodness of our Manufactures, when both Magiftrates and Gentlemen cherish, at leaft connive at, the Infolence, Dif Cobedience, Difregard, and Contempt, which Manufacturers difcover towards their Masters and Superiors.

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How different is the Policy of the Dutch, Hamburghers, and the Sentiments of the Gentlemen above quoted, from the Opinion of the ftupid Author of the Ef-E Say on Riots! Dutch Policy taxes all the Neceflaries of Life, to make the Poor diligent and fober: Our Politician is for taking off all Taxes which affect the Poor, tho' they have already the Means of Luxury and Idleness, as has been demonftrated beyond all Contradiction. Wretched Politician! But this Writer and his *Patron seem to tally, in all Respects, like Ralpho and Hudibras.

One Argument against lowering the Wages of the Poor, is built on a Prefumption, that no Nation will ever arrive at the fame Perfection in manufacturing Cloth as ourfelves; and therefore we fhall always have a Market, tho' other Coun tries manufacture and fell much cheaper. This appears, to me, to be an egregious Piece of Vanity! We had our Skill from the Lovainers Burgundians, Flemings, and Netherlanders; and why they and the French should be for ever uncapable of arriving at the fame Perfection as ourfelves, mult appear to every thinking Man an in

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I would not be understood here to condemn all the Juftices and Gentlemen. I fhould be unjuft, if I did not declare, that know many of them to be wife, judicious, and impartial Magiftrates, particularly the worthy John Ivory Talbot, Rogers Holland, John Thresher, John Eyles, Francis Eyles Montague, jun. Efqrs, who used their utmost Efforts, and Diligence, to fupprefs the Riot, and detect the Offen ders, even at the Hazard of their Lives.

Another Argument against lowering of Wages is, That it would fink the Goodnefs of our Manufactures, by obliging the Poor to work quicker and fighter.

I must acknowledge, if Wages werereduc'd already fo low, that the Poor could not fubfift on a further Reduction, that then this Argument would carry fome Force; but this is far from being the Cafe. The beft Goods are made in the worft Times. When Employment is scarce, every Manufacturer endeavours after Perfection in his particular Branch; not. knowing where to meet with Employ-, ment, his Mafter fhould difcharge him, and very well knowing, that lefs Wages. G are given in other Crafts.

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In Dearness of Provifions, it is just the fame. If Wheat fell for 10s. or 125. per Bufhel, the Mannufacturers are obliged to work more and better, and debauch lefs. When Corn was fo high, no greater Price was given for Labour than at the Time of the Riot this Winter, or not. above 1d. in 16 more; and yet I could never learn that the Poor either starved or rioted. The Poor in fuch Times are. sale and in a

we do. This Confumption is made by the common People chiefly; for the Tradefmen and Gentry bear but a small Proportion to them.

Mr Wood argues thus: The Woollen Manufacture is undoubtedly by Laws, and all poffible Care, to be encouraged; but 'tis its Exportation abroad, and not the Confumption of it at Home, that must bring Profit to the Kingdom.-And indeed the beft Way of promoting the Woollen Manufactures, is not to force its Confumption at Home; but by wholsome and good Laws to contrive, that it might be wrought and manufactured cheaply; which only can enable us to command the Markets, and truly make this Kingdom a Gainer by it.

It is certain, no Country in Europe manufactures all Kinds of Goods fo dear as the People of this Kingdom; which_gives the French and other Nations a vast AdC vantage in carrying their Manufactures to Market, and enables them to become, tho probably not in Goodness, yet in the Cheapnefs of them, our Rivals in Trade, to almoft all Countries.

Licentioufnefs and Immorality, Idleness and Debauchery, are not the only evil Confequences which attend the giving great Prices for Labour. The Lofs of our Trade, the Reduction of the Value of our Lands, and univerfal Poverty will fpring from the fame Source, if not time-G ly prevented.

The French, the Dutch, the Flemings, the Irish work much cheaper than we : They live many of them exceeding hard, and labour for very low Wages. Had not the Legislature interven'd, the Irish would have run away with all our Wool-H len Trade long ago, meerly by the Dint of Manufacturing at low Prices: There is no Nation in the World confumes fo much Flesh-Meat, Strong-Beer, c. in Proportion to the Number of People, as

or that Wages can be abated without any Inconvenience to the Labourer; yet nothing is more certain, than that both thefe Things may happen. The Wages of the Labourers make the greatest Part of the Price of every Thing that is useful; and if, in Proportion with the Wages, the Prices of all A other Things should be abated, every Labourer with lefs Wages would be still able to purchase as many Neceffaries of Life. Where then would be the Inconvenience ?And further, Every Intereft in the Nation will receive a Benefit from an Increase of our Working People. Here I would remark, that putting our Manufacturers under a Necellity of working conftantly would, perhaps, in the Woollen Trade, amount to the fame Thing, as an Addition of one Third more of People.

The Chinese have che mit extended Manufacture in the World; and the'r Manufactures pufh themselves into all C Countries, meerly by their Cheapnefs. The Price of Labour there is exceeding Jow, not aboveTwo pence per Day Sterling. We are under no Necelfity of reducing the Price of Labour in this Manner; but we must have some Regard to the Prices given by our neighbouring Nations, or D they will run away with all our Foreign Trade, and reduce in time the poor Manu acturers of this Nation to the poft Poverty and Mifery, by robbing them of all their Employment.

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15. 6d. per Day of him in Harveff, lation he found, if those Men, who took would be content to work at 45. 6d. I per Week, it would anfwer for him to enter on his Project, otherwise it would ther or no they would not esteem it a ' not. I will ask thofe Gentlemen whegreat Hardship to be ftigmatized as Oppreffors, for making fuch Propofals to Men who would be tarved without them, and who could not find other Employthe most bafe Ingratitude, if their Houses ment? Would not those Gentry think it fhould be threatned to be pulled down, their Wheat Mows and Barns to be burnt, lefs they would advance Harvest Wages or fome private Mifchief done them, unfor their proposed Improvements?

This is a Cafe in Point; A good Time of Trade is a Clothier's Harvest; a bad instead of Lucre, often induces him to Time his Winter; in which, Compaffion, continue his Trade: Were he to drop fo much of it as the Rules of meer Prudence might dictate, the Landed Gentlemen would foon feel a Burthen which they perhaps, entertain kinder Sentiments of would be unable to bear, and would then, the Clothier.

A Super fine Cloth cofts 30 or 40s. more Years ago, and yet felis for a lefs Price, the compleating, than it did about 20 fometimes 20s. lefs. On fuch an Occafion,

Mr Locke fays; If a Clothier finds a or not at all: If he fells cheaper, he must Want of Vent, he muft either fell cheaper, alfo pay less for Wool and Labour. See bis Confiderations of the lowering Intereft, &c. where, I fay, the Noodle, who wrote the Effay on Riots, &c. may fee a full Confutation of all he and his * Great Man have faid about lowering Interest.

But to confider this as a Domestic Affair only, between the Clothier and Ma- E nufacturer: Suppofe the Clothing Trade fhould be fo bad from a Glut of Goods, and the Price of Cloth fhould be fo far beaten down by the Drapers, (who then take alp poffible Advantage,) that the Clothier having no Profpect of Sale for his Goods, fhould refolve to drop the greatest Part of his Trade, or manufacture his Gonds at a lower Price, in order to compenfate fomething for the dead Stock, which, by continuing his Trade, he will have on Hand; where is the Injustice and Oppreftion of fuch a Proceeding? Is not the Manufacturer entirely at his Liberty to feck out for Employment elsewhere ?G Does the Clothier compel the Manufa &urer to ferve him? Or is he obliged to carry on Trade to the Destruction of his Fortune? Further, Does a Gentleman or Farmer employ all the Year the fupernumerary Hands they fet to Work in Harveft? No; As foon as Harveft is o- H Obfervations in the Effay on Riots? The How ftupid and foolish then are the ver, they are difmiffed to find Employ-Effayer would have the Profits of the Trade ment where they can. laid open, to induce more Adventurers to come into the Trade; whereas the Truth

But fuppofe a Gentleman or Farmer fhould reprefent to them, That he had Lands to improve, and that upon Calcu

falfe Notion of the great Profits made in To this we may alfo add, that from a the Trade, becaufe formerly three or four large Estates were raised in these Parts by it, many Perfons of various Occupations have pufh'd themselves into it, whereby the Markets are fo glutted, that Trade, has often Cloth to that Value on a Man who employs 2 or 3000l. in the Hand. Nay, I believe, Inftances might be given of Clothiers, who have 8 or 10.0col. worth of Cloth lying as a dead, fold off as taft as manufactured. ufelefs Stock; whereas formerly Goods

* Sir John Barnard.

The Gentlemen and Magiftrates ought to aid and encourage the Clothier in the Reduction of the Price of Labour, fo far as is confiftent with the Laws and Principles of Humanity, and neceffary for the Prefervation of our Foreign Trade. We R B muft by fome Means or another reduce the Price of Labour, that our Manufactures may find a Vent in Foreign Markets; for it is on our Foreign Trade, or Exports, the Riches of our Nation depend.

plead Poverty and Incapacity. Why not profecute, as well as riot and plunder?

As to Truck, their Capital is fufficient to fupport any Scheme for putting it down if they had Inclination. Whence we draw this Conclution, That Trucking is no real Grievance to the Manufacturers, whatever they may pretend.

But as many Gentlemen and Farmers have feverely cenfured Trucking, I would beg Leave to ask them, whether some of them never paid their Servants partly in Truck? Whether Wheat, Cheefe, Butter, Bacon, Beef, Mutton, &c. were never fold by any of them to their Servants at a Market-Price; and whether they thought they injured the Servant by fuch Sale? I do not make thefe Interrogatories, as an Advocate for Trucking, and to palliate the Crime, for I abhor it; but to convince the World, That it is a common Thing for fome Perfons to bellow out against Offences of their Neighbours, whilst they are guilty of the fame criminal Conduct; and what an eafy Matter it is for us to deceive ourfelves, for want of Reflection.

For, fuppofe we fhould lofe but one half of our Exports of Woollen Goods, which have been valued at Four Millions C per Annam, the Amount of the Wool unfold the first Year, would be 250,000l. which will lie by on Hand, and fink the Price exceeding low; and the Amount of the Labour of the People, 1,750,000 l. I have known very good Manufacturers which at 61. per Head per Annum, will leave Ready-Money Clothiers, without maintain near 300,000 Perfons, who D fignifying any Caufe, to go to Trucking would be without Employment, and be- Mafters. It's obvious from the publick come a Burthen on the Lands. Trade Declarations of the Clothiers, that 45 improved our Lands 180 Millions; our out of 50 abhor thofe mean Practices. If Stock, fuch as Coin'd Silver, Coin'd Gold, they inform, they shall be unemploy'd, is Bullion, Wrought Plate, Furniture, Jewels, their common Excuje: How do they know Apparel, Stock for Trade, Confumption, Live this, when they never try'd in ten Years Cattle, 100 Millions; and this in ninety E paft? Years only, from 1600 to 1688. This fhews what a watchful Eye we ought to have over our Foreign Trade, which has thus enrich'd us; and that the Clothiers may and ought to keep down the Price of Labour.

I come now to the Charge against the Clothiers, of combining together to lower the Wages of the Manufacturers. To this we mult fay, that we never heard of fuch a Thing, or fuch a Charge, 'till we saw it in the Essay on Riots.

When the Clothier can afford to give high Prices for Labour, he is forward enough to do it, moft commonly too forward, and highly imprudent in this Refpect. But this Happiness generally attends it, that when he gives the highest Prices, he gets moft Money; whereas when he gives the loweft, he often lases.

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If there be any Combinations for lowering Wages, why are not the Authors pro-H fecuted according to Law? The Manufacturers have Stocks raised by their Clubbing, fufficient to carry on Profecu tions of any kind, being feveral Hundred Pounds Capital: They cannot furely

A certain Clothier of Probity infifted that a Weaver who served a Trucking Mafler, as well as himself, fhould leave the Truckster, and weave both Looms to him, otherwife he would discharge him. The Weaver fignified that he was unwilling to leave him, and frankly declared, that the Loom employ'd by the Trucking Mafter would not do for him. Since the Riot, a Clothier, who formerly is fupposed to have paid in Truck, put out a Chain to a Weaver, who fhot it out of his Bag, and left his Mafter, because he retufed to let him have Truck upon the Credit of his weaving it. How can they pretend then to affign their being paid in Truck, as one Caufe of their Rioting? I think therefore, on the whole, it is ma nifeft that reither Oppreffion, low Wages, detaining of Wages, Combinations to lower Wages, nor Truck, nor all together, could be the Canfe of their Rifing.

Yours, &c. PHILALETHES. The Author of the Essay on Riots bas publish`d a Defence of that Piece, and another entitled The Miferies of the Miferable (Manufacturers )---We Prall give proper Extracts of b.th in our next.