NEWS OF TIIE WEEK.
Let it not be supposed that suffering is confined to commercial and manufacturing districts. The agricultural labourers complain of the inadequate proportion of wages to the cost of bread and other necessaries. This week, a Middlesex Magistrate, whose kindly feelings had been hurt by many recitals of distress from peasants summoned to pay poor-rates, because earning 8s. to 128. a week and having fewer than four children themselves, declared "it was a disgrace to the agricultural interest that wages should be reduced to so low a rate:" and he " asked publicly, whether it was proper for farmers, at such a time as this, when bread is at so high .a price, to pay so little for labour." Another Magistrate said, "it was an awful state of things, and he feared it would be worse yet." Of laws regulating wages these worthy Justices are ignorant enough, but they know the condition of the agricultural labourers in the Metropolitan county. In connexion with the general physical deterioration, an increase of crime is observed and lamented. It is stated that in Wor- cester County Gaol, there are now 2.40 prisoners—a larger number than ever were there at once before. At last Assizes, the Judges on circuit deplored the amount of criminal business ; and there would more likely be an increase than a diminution of crimes in the dark winter months.
