PROSPECTS OF THE PEOPLE.
SEVERAL documents are lying before us, the contents of which force attention to the state and prospects of the working popula- tion during the approaching winter.
First, the Revenue Tables for the quarter just ended, compared with the corresponding period of last year, exhibit an apparent increase of 656,000/.; but it has been explained that this sum must be reduced in consequence of large payments having been included in this year's receipts, which in 1837 were carried to the account of the July quarter ; and with this alteration the com- parative increase in the Excise will be only 35,000/. instead of 388,0001., and on the revenue generally only 303,000/. But the October quarter's revenue of 1837 was miserably de- ficient. There was a reduction on that quarter of 1,187,7621.; of which only 303,000/. has been made up, notwithstanding the growth of the population ought to be felt in the constantly aug- menting consumption of taxed commodities. And yet it is un- questionable that labour has been more regular and better-re- warded during the quarter just ended, than at any previous period of the year, or than it is likely to be again till next spring. There is, however, a probable mode of accounting for the almost stati- onary amount of the Excise revenues, and for the fact of a rather busy quarter in the manufacturing districts and in the metropolis, having been nearly on a par, in respect to the consumption of articles used by the mass of the people, with that of a season remarkable for a stagnation of trade. The price of bread has advanced; and more in quantity—cor- responding with the increase of numbers—has been required to feed the labouring population. The necessary consequence has been, inability to purchase the usual supplies of other articles than bread. Thus it has come to pass that the brief season, which ought to have been comparatively one of comfort and plenty to the working man, has in point of fact been a period of hard labour and need.
We have passed the best part of the year. Winter, with its increased demands upon scanty means, is at hand. And this leads us to the consideration of the accounts from the manufac- turing districts. They represent the state of trade as unfavour- able. There are few foreign orders to be executed, and the system of "working short hours" has commenced. Reduced wages go along with shorter hours. Our private information con- firms the statement in the public papers, of the utter hopelessness of any material revival of commerce till next spring. Some rely for relief on a reduction in the price of corn; but it is to be remarked that good corn has not fallen, and that the averages are calculated upon returns from remote markets, as well as from the sales of wheat in London, Wakefield, and Glasgow. Moreover, well-informed persons are now pretty much aereed on the fact, that both at home and abroad the crops are deficient. The great holders are certainly of that opinion, and anticipate a considerable rise of price during the winter. It is also remarked, that much sickness has already been occasioned by the bad quality of old bonded as well as the new wheat.
• That we must be prepared for an unusual amount of distress among the labouring population for not a short period, is manifest from the facts stated ; and the next question which oi curs is— how is it, to be met and relieved ? The great resource will of course be the Poor-rates ; and a reference to the Fourth Report of the Poor Law Commissioners, delivered within these few days, satisfies us that the new law will require to be considerably re- laxed to meet the exigency of the time. It appears that, in dis- tressed manufacturing districts, the workhouse system cannot be fettered, and out-of-door relief must be permitted.
Last year, the Guardians of the Nottingham Union were for- mally instructed, that "the rule which prohibited them from giving relief to able-bodied mute persons, excepting in the workhouse, should be suspended, whenever they should find the pressure such as that, in their opinion, there existed a necessity for so doing." And that necessity came, although a voluntary subscription of 4,000/. was raised in Nottingham and the neighbourhood, and oneof-door relief was actually administered to a large amount. Within the present year, the Poor-law has been extensively in- troduced into the manufacturing districts ; and it is almost cer- tain that a similar relaxation of the workhouse system must be made in those districts. That law is calculated admirably, no doubt, for prosperous seasons ; but when tested severely and tho- roughly, in times of difficulty and dear bread, as at Nottingham, it lads in a most essential part.
These consieerations should make the predominant landed inte- rest pause. They are now, indeed, the only "prosperous gentle- men." The reduction of the poor-rat.bs since 1834 amounts to 2,300,000!.; of which they have clutched the lion's share. Mil- lions have been paid them during the same period for land taken at an enormous price, virtu .1Iy fixed by themselves in a Legisla- ture of jobbers, for railroads; and they have huh a constantly in- creasing revenue from their estates ; for rents depend generally upon the price of corn ; even where there are leases, the corn-rent system is very common. But, thanks to their Curn-laws, there is a prospect of an increase in the poor-rates; which ill doubtless fall in the first instance on the occupiers, but which must soon touch the lords of the soil. There will be something like retri- butive justice in this operation even of "time Devil's laws."
it there is truth in the statements given of' the actual condi- tion and near prospects of the great bulk of the population, surely something should be done by the Governmeet and Legis- lature to meet the present mid coming evils. It is of course too late this year to think of obtaining any material augmentation of the supply of corn. The duty is now at 20s. 8d. a quarter ; so that ii there were any large quantity in the Continental ports, the torn-laws would prevent its importation. The fall of the averages is chiefly caused, as we have before explained, by the reduced price accepted for bad wheat, and does not indicate' a good supply ; but there is no corn to be had on the Continent, even though the duty should again fall to a shilling. The chief difficulty and danger will be caused by want of em- ployment to the swarms of operatives in the Northern and Mid- land counties : and would not this be partially obviated by an assurance that next year and afterwards, the importation of wheat in payment of merchandise would be permitted? The manufac- turers might then be induced to work for stock. They would be sure of a market enlarged to some extent, and the year after that a further extension might be reckoned upon. This suggestion may be said with truth to be the best that has been made; for we really believe it is the only one. Everybody is talking and thinking about what is to become of the people next winter ; but we are not aware that any plan has been pro- posed to meet the pressing difficulty. Without some such resource as we have indicated, there must be a serious conflict for the maintenance not only of the Corn-law, but of that sheet-anchor, as it has been termed, the Poor-law Act.
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