598 
Belegstellen. 
the disposition of the weavers, or at least will support the opinions given 
by Mr. Needham in his evidence. This is a list of gsubscriptions given in 
London at the same period in 1808, to defray the expenses attendant 
upon our application to Parliament. 
{The Witness delivered in the same etc. etc.) 
5677. Were there a great many petitions of this description at that 
time? — Yes; the petitions were general throughout the trade. I have 
another document here that we received from Ireland, which relates to 
the operation of the board of trade in Belfast for six years, and it Shows 
the manner in which it was interrupted. 
(The Witness delivered in the same, which was read as follows:) 
„Gentlemen, — In reply to your letter of the 13% April, enclosing 
a letter to the Legislature of the united Kingdom, I have only to say, 
that I handed your letter and its enclosure to the secretary of the weavers 
at the period you state, and who continued to be so as long as a Secretary 
was necessary; his explanation is prefixed. The same gentileman is still 
in possession of all the books and documents that were then wanted; 
his name is John Crouch. — I am, Gentlemen, your most obedient. 
Belfast, April 28 1834. James Mort.“ 
„P. S. I only received this document to-day.“ 
In the year 1792 a turn-out took place among the cotton weavers, 
on account of the masters beginning to change the names of light work 
for a pretext to reduce the price; it was then and there agreed that 
sertain numbers of yarn should be put certain reeds, and the weavers 
agreed to give up the bawble; that is, 1'/, pence on each shilling, the 
amount allowed them in lieu of providing materials; this agreement stood 
steady for six years, until manufacturers then began to multiply, and every 
new hand found out some new invention to reduce the price of weaving; 
however, up to the year 1809, all decent warehouses that were able to 
sarry on business paid uniform prices, and a weaver knew by the reed 
and fabric what he was entitled to receive; and I think it is evident that 
several decent manufacturers would have continued to pay steady uniform 
prices, but they were overrun by small designing men getting into the 
‘rade, and every one trying to undersell his neighbour; as the principal 
sonsumption was the Irish market, one manufacturer of the name of 
Johnson made a determined struggle and sacrifice to reduce the wages; 
he continued his career from ihe year 1811 to 1814; the ‚weavers made 
a desperate resistance; his house was blown up in the night; in conse- 
quence of which two weavers were hanged, and from that period every 
manufacturer does what seems good in his own eyes. A number of agree- 
ments have been entered into between manufacturers and weavers in the 
intermediate period to preserve and procure a uniformity of wages, but 
all to the same effect: it cannot be done unless by a compulsory law.