FEELINGS OF THE WORKING CLASSES. TO THE EDITOR or THE
SPECTATOR.
Sia—Some time ago you stated your conviction, thattbe union of the middle
and working classes, by which the Reform Bill was carried, was gradually 'breaking up, and a complete Heparation was taking place in feeling and participa- tion of interest. You added, that you did not think yourself quite a competent judge of what was going on in the minds of the working classes, and therefore advanced your opinion with some little hesitation. I do not pretend, either, to be a sempetent judge ; but I am a workman, have often painfully felt the want of a sixpence, and never knew what it was to possess twenty pounds at one time. 14 that any warrant for me to advance my opinion? The separation between the working and the middle classes is going on silently, but thoroughly—effectually I am a cordial admirer of the amended Peordaw system ; I think it will pour fresh life-blood into the morality of our social system—will lift the labourer (rain the slough in which he was plunged. But it will do more. Under the previous vicious system the labourer was com- pletely a pandant of the middle classes. He lay on them and under them-- might bully the Overseer and overawe the Vestry—yet was stuck to the land. lie moved us the middle classes moved—felt as they felt. All this is broken up abruptly. The labourer must test very much on himself; and in learning to do so, will acquire a strength he never thought of. It will take years to heal the sereness which the disruption has caused ; the aversion felt towards the huge Union Bastiles, (not an inapt, though some may think it a cant term,) will be gradually extended to all who support them ; and the pettifogging attempts to tiansfer a hundred or two of agricultural labourers now and then into a manu- facturing district, will only have the effect of snapping the indolent attachment to parish, of mush's, them from ignorant stupor, of making them reflect on the disparity of conditions, without much amending theirs. The amended Poor. law will accomplish more than some people perhaps anticipate from it. Some years ago an association of working men merely might be taken as an almost sure and certain token that there would be found in it much declamation and but little reasoning, pot-house politics and speechifying, high-flying objects, stet no definite notion of how they were to be obtained, with occasional outbreaks of badly-infortned heterodoxy, not very logically laid down. When associations of working men aecompliehed any thing at all, it was when well-informed, well intentioned midille•classrnen mixed with them, advised them, guided them, led them on. Now leaves are turning: and, if Fox Misuse had been aware of it, he would never have let out the foolish insult about "court costume." Would Fox MA I; LE have lent one of the deputation his bag-wig and sword? It makes one appear like a croaking and ill-omened bird, to Bay that the working elasees have but little sympathy in the new accession to the throne. What ! when the graceful young creature who now fills the throne is so hemmed in by shouting crowds as to make it almost an annoyance to her to stir out ! Ah ! it is chiefly the middle chess, assisted by a few strollers and women at Brighton it is chiefly the IDLE, the TRIFLERS, the VAIN, the SILLY. When the mob—i e., the working classes—turn out, it is to see the show and gratify their curiodry. I got a glimpse of her on the day she dissulved the last Par- liament ; and though not given to shouting, and though I did not shout, (the shouts were not very loud,) I felt as if I could, I was so pleased with the kindly affable smile that sat on her countenance. Her youth, her eex, the ease with which she has risen from a girl into a Queen, the excellent character which liar mother the Dutchees of KEN r bears, and the excellent education she is re- puted to have received, along with the natural buoyancy and excitement consequent on a new accession, might be thought to carry all before them. So they do— for a lime, but in that time of apparent satisfaction and joy, there is brooding a deep and permanent discontent. The great bulk of the working classes have no very decided opinions on firms of government, because their limited edueation and small reasoning faculty pre- vent them from having very decided opinions on almost any thing berund their immediate interests. A portion are ardent Republicans, overlooking all difficul- ties ; another portion can see clearly that if the government of Britain could be changed at once into a republic, the change would be iu the name, not the nature of the government: the privileged classes would still rule, the unprivi- leged would still be ruled. There are too many old institutions rooted iu our soil; the wealth and power of the privileged classes are too strongly consoli- dated; deference to rank and authority pet vades thoroughly the middle classes ; the working classes are far too ignorant for a republic to be of use just now. But seeing all this, the working classes can see that the Queen will—must- become a tool in the hands of either or of both of the great parties of the pri- vileged classes. Yes, rest assured that either immediately or mediately there will be a coalition of thew parties to retain possession of the Queen. The working classes will have but little part or lot in the matter. Fox 3Iause and Sir ROBERT CHESTER shut the door. The Irish and O'Cosseee will be quieted by some kind of Corporations, and the middle classes of England will have some kind of abolition of Church-rates—then hold fast ! The working classes may work—when they can get it ; may get drunk occasionally—for it keeps them in tune and working order for :in election. But the working clams are slowly and irregulatly acquiring power—power in rapidly increasing num- bers, power in better knowledge of thmeeelves and their resources. Then let a derangement of the "money-market "—ivaimercial embarrassment—come ! Then what ?—Why, nothing but that Whie and Tory—or Coalitionists, if the union be cemented by that time—will feel what the working classes are, even unaesisted hy the middle classes. Various things might be done to postpone to a distant day an event which, trader the present course of procedure, will come as surely as any thing in the feeder of nature. A great safety-valve might be opened in systematic emigration ; Ike revision of the Corn-laws ; bold and effectual reforms in the Church, purifying it and rendering it really a great mural engine ; checking the infamous system of nepotism and patronage, which at this moment is AS rank as ever, down even to a humble situation in the Post-office. But why mention these utterly ridi euloue things? Well—wait a bit. The Coalition anticipated will make the Radicals look insignificant for a time. In that time they will grow and gather fresh strength. Meantime, let Aldermen rejoice, and shopkeepers let their first and second fluor windows: the 9th of .Novernber approaches. I do nut grudge the Royal lady a single shout ; nay, I may shout myself. I wish sincerely that it was in her power to exhibit Royalty in a different light to the win king classes than they have hitherto seen it To them it has hitherto appeared a kiud ef mischieveue and expensive abstraction. They have smut been able to get their nulls sod daughters 011 the Pension.list, or smuggled iuto the Army or Church. A few years are nothing : when the next census is completed, it will be seen how the working classes are accumulating ; and they may feel that they rtm.t trust to their own right arm. Yours, A WORKING LOOKER•ON.
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