Page:The Scourge - Volume 5.djvu/41

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(29 ) STAFFORDSHIRE POTTERIES.


[The following letter portrays in such feeling language, the distressed situation of one branch of the manufacturing in-* tersest of this country; that we comply with the wishes of the fair WRITES, in giving it an early insertion, while at the same time we most sincerely condole with her, and lament that she should be compulsorily exiled from the soil which gave her birth — but we may truly say with Goldsmith, " 111 fares the land, to hastening ills a prey, where wealth accumulates, and men decay."]

Staffordshire Potteries, November 28th, Mr. Editor,

1 trust that you will excuse the liberty I take in addressing myself to you, upon a subject which so . immediately - concerns myself and family. But, Sir, when you find that my unfortunate situation is not an insulated one — that thousands are pining in consequence of the defalcation of trade, and the rise of war; justice to the cause of the injured will plead in excuse for me and probably induce you to insert this letter.

My husband is a partner in one of the largest manufactories, where on our marriage, he was principally engaged in conducting the concerns — possessed a very good property, and I conceived that my prospects in life were good — the war too fatally, alas! convinced me how very fallacious are appearances — how destructive to commerce is the sword! Exports were excluded — our trade was in a great* measure ruined, when, to complete the sum of our unhappiness, came the orders in council.

My husband's partners unwilling to turn adrift vast number of workmen employed them, and to obtain a market for the goods, sought the home consumption; but that resource was delusive: accounts were opened with

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