Our Inspector under the Factory Bill met the manufacturers in
Taunton on Saturday last. They represented to him in strong terms the utter impracticability of the measure. The provisions, they say, are so vexatious that masters will be unable to escape the numerous penalties to which they are made liable. A general notice has been given of a reduction of wages ; which has, of course, occasioned rod& discontent among the work men.---Skerborne Journal.
In the last session of Parliament, an act was passed, upon the re- commendation of the Law Commissioners, giving authority to the Sheriffs of the different counties, by order of the Superior Courts, ta try eases on actions for less than t20/., and incidental to this the further power of appointing courts to be held in any places in the county for that purpose. By this, the great expense attendant upon taking wit- nesses to the county town will be obviated, the delay occasioned bythe _suitor being obliged to wait for the assizes prevented, and a debt may now be recovered within three weeks of the time of the demand for pay- ment. In acting upon this important alteration of the law, the Sheriffs of Devonshire, Kent, and some other counties, have already divided the counties into divisions where causes are to be tried.
At the majority of the cotton factories in Oldham, the employment of the hands for only half time continues, greatly to the disadvantage and distress of numerous families. The workpeople at a few of the mills have, however, again begun to work full time. A brisker demand than there was some time ago has arisen for cotton hand-loom cloth -of a new description. Silk weaving, as winter is hastening towards us, declines in spirit.—Mandester Chronicle.
In .Preston, in consequence of yarns having settled down to the prices paid previous to the late speculations in cotton, plain goods are dull of sale ; but checks are in great request, and one house in Manchester has offered to employ as many weavers as will apply on tape and other checks, from forty to fifty-six reed, at an advance of ten per cent, on the present wages. The quilt and counterpane trade is languid ; waste yarns nmintain their prices better than the finer sorts. —.Manchester Chronicle.
The combinations of the workmen connected with the various branches of the building trade in Manchester are considered at an end. Nearly nine-tenths of the members of the Trades' Union have totally repudiated the association ; and as a proof of their returning good sense, it may be mentioned that they are loud in their condemnation of the despotism and rapacity of the self. called leaders or directors. Tlie master builders, much to their credit, have taken their repeinantjour- neyinen into employ again ; and there is an evident desire " to forget and forgive" on both sides.
It is in the contemplation of several gentlemen in Birmingham to provide ground, as near the centre of the town as possible, for the re- creation of all classes of the inhabitants in the games of cricket, racket, and quoits, and such other games as may conduce to health and amuse- ment. The plan is patronized by Earl Denbigh, Earl Dartmouth, Earl Howe, Sir G. Skipwith, Sir Eardley Wilmot, Mr. Bolton King, Mr. Congreve Russell, the members for the borough, the municipal officers, &c. [It would seem that there is nothing like a little insubor- dination to attract the attention of the "puff and patty portion of man- kind" to the necessity of providing for the "health and amusement" of the poor.]
There are sixty-one packs of fox-hounds this season in England, with one hundred arid thirty masters. Among the noble masters, are the Duke of Grafton, of two packs ; Earl Fitzwilliam, three packs; the Duke of Cleveland, two packs ; Lord Petre, two packs; the Duke of Beaufort, two packs; Lord Segrave, Lord Forester, three packs.; Earl of Lonsdale, two packs ; Lord Yarborough, Lord Scarborough, Earl Radnor, two packs ; Lord Harewood, Lord Middleton, and Lord Hawke. The counties which have the greatest number of packs ore —Yorkshire, tell; Sussex, foal.; Surrey, three ; Somerset, three; Staffordshire, three ; Lincoln, four; Leicester, three ; Kane, &see Herts, three; - Hants, five; and Essex, five. In Scotland there are seven packs, by the Duke of Buccleugh, Lord Elcho, Mr. Ramsey. Lord Kilburn, Lord Kintore, Mr. Murray, (Dumfries), and Captain Wemyss.—New Sporting Magazine.
A plan has been issued for establishing a new public burial-ground at Manchester, by a capital of 200,000/. in twenty thousand shareiof 10/. each.
It is said that the Devonshire and Cornish farmers, by wearing fustian jackets, have done more than any other class of men in the community to depress the price of wool.—Globe.
The fruiterers and green-grocers of Richmond and Kew have suf- fered severely since the departure of the Duke of Cumberland for the Continent. The fruits and vegetables of the Royal Bijou 'Gardens are now sold by a serrant of his Royal Highness ; and as royal fruit is preferred to any other, the business of the fruiterers is materially de- creased.
The King has contributed 100/. to the fund for building and.endol- ing the free church now erecting in the eastern part of Brighton.
A severe shock of an earthquake was experienced at Chichester on Thursday morning, about twenty minutes before four, attended with a loud rumbling noise : the shock was so great that it caused the town- clock as well as many others to strike. At a quarter before six, a second shock was felt, but not so violent as the first. This is the third shock of earthquake which has been felt in this neighbourhood within these three months.
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