THE LANCASHIRE OPERATIVES.
TO THE EDITOR OT THE SPECTATOR.
Sea—In your notice of my Tour in Lancashire, you have stated your dissent from my assertion that the abstinence of the operatives from the ex- posed wall-fruit at Mr. HENRY ASHWORTH'S Mill is an evidence of the high moral character of the working-classes in the North of England. Permit me to mention, that a body of the Turn-outs visited that mill on Monday last, and compelled the machinery to be stopped ; but, though the trees were covered with jargonel pears, and a great many of the multitude were so hungry that they went up to the house to beg fur a morsel of bread, not one pear Was plucked by any of the mob. I have too often experienced your kindness in notices of my former writings to complain of any harshness in your recent critique; social science is yet too imperfect for unanimity of opinion to be expected ; but I trust that you will not refuse insertion to this note, not on my account, but as an act of justice to the operatives of Lancashire. I have the honour to be, with sincere respect,_ your humble servant, W. COOKE TAYLOR, LL.D.
[Let the operatives have all the credit they deserve. This "abstinence," however, bait not been extended to the provision-shops of Manchester, &c., or to the pockets of some of the passengers who got involved in the different melees.—En.]
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