English Gilds.*

deputies there to maintain its privileges . But the Nottingham manufacturers did not acknowledge them . They AA * ere already employers of the modern style * they had ( for tho most part ) not served a seven years ' apprenticeship themselves , ancl employed unlawful

workers , such as journeymen Avho had not served their legal term or did not belong to the Company , as Avell as women ancl children ; of tAvo employers , Ave are even told that the one Avorked with twenty -three , the other with forty-nine , apprentices , Avithout

employing any journeymen . The company rel ying on its Ordinances confirmed by tho Lord Chancellor , threatened to enforce those masters' submission at law . But then its former conduct toAvards the petitions of the journeymen in 1710 , and its OAVU degeneration , were revenged upon itself . The retort on it Avas that its members did not thcniselA * es

maintain the seven years' apprenticeship as a qualification of trade , —that they had themselves given up the requisite of a masterpiece , —and that instead of preventing frauds they rather committed them themselves . The fact is , that the London manufacturers Avere quite as much modern employers as those of

Nottingham , and their Avhole proceeding appears nothing but a trick arising from envy . Tho workmen , hoAvever , hailed Avith joy the proceedings of the Company . Tho Company also addressed tho men especially , asked them to join them , mado easier for

them the conditions of entrance , promised the reestablishment of tho old order , aud designated themselves as the true friends of the ivorkmcn , whilst they called their other employers their enemies . Tho master-manufacturers , threatened Avith laAvsuits b y

the Company , petitioned Parliament and accused the Company of ruining tho trade by ' monopolies . As Parliament Avas of tho same opinion , the Company became unable to enforce its bye-laws legally , and therefore ceased henceforth to exercise a real influence

OA er tho trade . As the complete abandonment of the Avorkmen to tho discretion of the employers plunged them , notwithstanding the flourishing state of tho trade , into the greatest misery , they petitioned tho House of Commons in 1778 for a legal regulation of the rate of

Avages . In consequence of IOAV wages , tho payment of frame-rents , and other charges of tho employers , they were , according to their statement , unable to maintain themselA cs and their families . As the

master-hosiers made a counter-petition , a Committee Avas appointed to inquire into the complaints of the workmen . The Avitnesses examined confirmed tho justice of the journeymen ' s statements in an alarming manner . The earnings of a Avorkman Avere affirmed to be about Gs . a Avcek . Besides , there Avere the

most infamous exactions on the part of the employers . According to the evidence of an examined master , many of them hired workmen Avithout giving them sufficient employment , for tho mere purpose of obtaining frame-rents . But notwithstanding the Report of the Committee , the influence of the masters prevailed ,

ancl the motion-for enacting a krw according to the petition remained in the minority . On this the employers in the silk branch of the trade attempted at once to reduce the prices paid for the Avork 25 per cent ., and a strike Avas the immediate result .

On tho 2 nd of February , 1779 , the Frameworkknitters of Nottingham and the environs again petitioned the House for the regulation of the trade of frame Avork-knitting . This petition was folloAved by similar ones from ToAvkesbiuy , Godalming , Derby ,

London , Westminster , and Northampton . ' Witnesses from all these places AA * ere examined by a Committee . The shameless exactions on tho workmen by their masters unveiled by this Committee find their equal only in tho articles of the " Morning Chronicle" in

1819 , on the position of the London Tailors , and their oppressions by sAvcaters . According to the evidence of all Avitnesses examined , Avages had constantly fallen during the then last twenty years , Avhilst the prices of food had risen . The employers had always endeavoured to reduce wages . After various deductions—Avhich the Avorkmen had to

submit to—for frame-rent , Avinding , seaming , needles , candles , & c , their wages are stated as 6 s . or Ss . weekly . Numbers of workmen could not OA en earn as much . Tho most disgraceful abuse was carried on as to frame-rents . The value of a frame is stated as

£ 6 or £ S . But for its use the Avorkmen had to pay rents from Is . 3 d . to 2 s . a Aveok , that is , up to 56 per cent . Tho Avorkmen Avere obliged to hire these frames , if they Avishcd to got Avork ; if a Avorkman had himself a frame , ho Avas refused Avork . This

rent tho Avorkmen had to pay Avhether they Avorked or not , even during their sickness , for Sundays ancl holidays , or Avhen they had no materials , which the employers had to furnish . Many of the employers in Nottingham stinted their Avorkmen from making

more than a certain number of stockings a Aveek , though they could have made more—evidently that they might bo able to deduct the more frame-rent from a certain sum of Avages . Tho Avorkman had to buy from tho employers the material for making

the stockings . The latter then rebought tho stockings from the Avorkmen . But they also often loft them on the Avorkinen ' s hands . Tho Avorkmen , says tho report , Avere in a state of starvation . They had to submit to any conditions of their employers . A number of Avorkmen AVIIO had signed the last year ' s