are aware of;
for there can be no doubt that the more the consumer has to pay for his
bread, sugar, and other articles of food, the less he will have to spare
for cottons, woollens, and other manufactured commodities. The demand
for his labour is thus lessened both at home and abroad. The weaver of
cloth may be unable to obtain a coat even of his own manufacture,
however necessary it may be for his health and comfort; he must have
food, in the first place, being more indispensibly necessary to his
existence,--no doubt he may have to content himself with a less quantity
than he could have wished, and have to substitute oatmeal and potatoes,
or some other inferior food for wheaten bread and butchers meat; still,
it is less in his power to curtail the consumption of agricultural
produce than of manufactures, so that the manufacturing classes suffer
from the general distress which renders the people unable to consume in
a greater degree than the agriculturist.

R.T.F.

* * * * *

TO THE EDITOR OF THE ECONOMIST.

Darlaston, September 8, 1843.

Sir,--Twelve months ago the editor of the _Morning Chronicle_ allowed a
letter of mine, referring to the distress then prevailing in this town,
to appear in that journal; in it I stated that for our annual wake only
twenty-four cows had been killed, when but a few years previously
ninety-four had been slaughtered on a similar occasion. Perhaps you will
permit me to state in your columns that this year the festival, in this
particular, has afforded as melancholy and unquestionable proof of
distress as the last, while it bore other evidence, which though
trivial in itself, is not unworthy of notice. Last year two theatrical
shows visited us, displaying their "Red Barn" tragedies, and illuminated
ghosts, at threepence per head, at which they did well; as also did a
tremendous giantess, a monstrously fat boy, and several other "wonderful
works of nature:" this year only one show of any description attended,
and that, with kings and queens, and clowns, as well dressed and
efficient, and ghosts, as white and awe-inspiring as ever paraded before
an audience, has reaped but an indifferent harvest at the "low charge of
one penny each;" while the swing boats and wood horses, patronized with
such glee by the miniature men and women attending and enjoying wakes
and fairs, only worked half time. The physical-force majority in the
House, and their aiders and ab