Jul 09 1828 The Northern Counties - Cumberland and Westmorland Newspaper Transcriptions

Jul 09 1828 The Northern Counties

The Times, Wednesday, Jul 09, 1828; pg. 3; Issue 13640; col C

                              THE NORTHERN COUNTIES.
                                            ----------------
                           [PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE.]

Since the date of my last letter I have traversed Lancashire, Westmoreland, and
Cumberland. I have not restricted my observations to the large towns, and the
great manufacturing establishments in my way. My visits have been, indeed, most
studiously directed to the villages. I have exerted myself to discover the
condition of the labouring classes, agricultural and mechanical, rather than
that of the opulent portion of the trading community, which is, for obvious
reasons, often artificial and delusive.

The result of my observations, in respect to the state of our manufactories in
the three counties above-named, is this, namely, that almost all those which
depend chiefly or largely upon external consumption, that is, such as furnish
our exports, are in activity; and that most of those which supply articles of
home demand are languid. Without particularizing the various species of
manufactures, this result, I am confident, may be assumed to be the fact: it has
been obtained, not from visiting large extablishments merely, and reasoning upon
data derived from intermediate agents, but from the small manufacturers and
custom-weavers scattered over the country. It is an effectual, progressive, and
healthy demand alone which keeps these persons in active employment.

The augmentation of manufactories throughout these provinces, even in regard to
unprofitable and unpromising objects of speculation, seems opposed to the theory
of a want of demand. It is wonderful to perceive that, whilst the population in
some places is undergoing transmutation from manufacturing to agricultural, new
establishments are forming, and new species of manufacture are introducing. Even
in the romantic vale of Keswick, consecrated to the muses by the presence of a
laureat, an enterprising tanner has lately formed a large manufactory for
waistcoat-stuffs. It is gratifying to know, at the same time, that the pure air
of the Derwent-Water will not be polluted by the vapour of a steam-engine. Water
affords the cheap power of machinery in the hilly country.

In visiting the different abodes of the poor, I was struck by the disparity
between the aspect of the two classes of artisans and peasants. The habitation
of the agricultural labourer displayed that neatness, comfort, health, and
apparent content, for which the peasantry in Cumberland especially are
celebrated. On the contrary, in the hut of the manufacturer, whether he laboured
at home or abroad, the children appeared often squalid and sickly, and the
furniture deplorable. Yet the labour of the latter is better paid than that of
the former. A weaver in Cumberland earns at least 3s. per day, and his family
add their mite to the stock; even the young children can get 1s. 6d. per week as
tailers to a carding mill. A farmer's labourer gets only from 1s. 9d. to 2s. 6d.
per day, and is dependent upon the season.

The value of education seems well appreciated by the poor; the children are
taught to read at least in Sunday or national schools. Nay, the accomplishments
of polished life are not neglected. I had lately the honour of being present at
a ball where about 100 female children were assembled, of very humble condition
in life. The ball room was a flooring laid immediately upon the tilted roof of a
house, to which the ascent was by a ladder. The band consisted of the dancing
master's violin, which "discoursed most excellent music." The ladies acquitted
themselves tolerably well, though evidently incommoded by the use of shoes
without soles of wood and iron. - July 4.