the assistance of the Employers to enable them, by their
industry, to make their existence comfortable, they point out the
moderation of their request, by giving a comparative statement
of the prices for family necessaries, between 1793 and 1809,
by which it appeared, that in sixteen years they were nearly
doubled. They further add, that
“‘It has been observed by the Duke of Portland, in his letter
to the Lord Lieutenant of Oxford, that ‘_there is no reason
why the labour of the Handicraftsman, the Mechanic, and the
Artizan, should not keep pace with the advance on the articles
of the Farmer, Grazier,’ &c._ Upon this principle, the justice
of which is too evident to need the smallest comment, might we
not calculate, as Morning Papers, in 1793, were paid 36_s._, and
Evening Papers 34_s._ that we should now receive nearly 3_l._
12_s._ on the Morning Papers, instead of 2_l._; and nearly 3_l._
8_s._ instead of 1_l._ 17_s._ on the Evening?
“‘There is another consideration to which we must beg to call
your attention; at the time of the last advance a ratio of
one-sixth was obtained on all works in Book-houses, which
proportion was not received by those employed on Newspapers; four
shillings only being granted on Morning Papers, which before that
time were 36_s._, and three shillings on Evening Papers, which
previously were 34_s._, being only one-ninth on the former, and
scarcely an eleventh on the latter. These circumstances, together
with the great increase of labour on Papers of late years,
arising from the introduction of _so large a portion of small
letter_, are considerations which, we hope, will not be passed
over without that deliberation they deserve.
“‘From an impartial view of the comparative statements and the
proposed advance, it will be seen that we have kept perfectly
within the limits prescribed by justice. We have pursued this
line of conduct from a solicitude to avoid the introduction of
any thing which might prevent your ready compliance with our
request.
“‘PROPOSED SCALE.
Daily Morning Papers to be paid £2 8 0
Per Galley on ditto 0 3 9½
Daily Evening Papers 2 3 0
Per Galley on Ditto 0 3 7
“‘That Ten Hours Composition be the specific time for Daily
Evening Papers.
“‘That Assistance be paid at per Hour in proportion to the sum
per Galley, considering the Galley as Four Hours Composition.
“‘Papers Three Times a-Week, and Weekly Papers, to take an
advance in proportion to that on Evening Papers.
“‘☞ That the above advance do take place from Saturday the 3d of
June, 1809.’
“This request was verbally and negatively answered in the
different News Houses, and the 3d of June passed over as if no
solicitation for a rise of prices had been made. The Journeymen
felt the necessity of perseverance, and the following Circular
was sent to the Employers, dated June 13, signed by the same
number of men:
“‘GENTLEMEN,--We cannot help expressing our surprise at the
manner in which our request has been passed over; nearly a
month has elapsed, and no answer has been communicated. Had
we in our Scale gone further than the urgency of the times
renders necessary, or had we neglected to shew that respect
which your situations in life require, we might have anticipated
such indifference; but feeling our conduct not liable to such
objection, we are entirely at a loss to assign any motive for
the want of attention to our present circumstances; and we feel
ourselves under the necessity of requesting an answer by Saturday
next; a noncompliance with which will be considered as a refusal
of our propositions.’
“This second Circular received no answer, and on the 20th of
June, the regular notice of quitting was given to the different
Printers; but before the fortnight had elapsed, each Journeyman
received a copy of a Report of a Committee of Masters, dated June
30, accompanied by a string of Resolutions, but not meeting the
request of the men.
“Your Committee regret that the document is too voluminous for
insertion, but they will make a few extracts in furtherance of
their present object. It commences with stating, that ‘A General
Meeting of the Proprietors of London Morning and Evening Papers
was held this day (June 30, 1809), Mr. Stuart in the Chair, to
take into consideration the Report of the Committee appointed to
enquire into, and report their opinion upon the _Circular Letter_
of the Compositors, respecting certain alleged grievances, and
_demanding_ an advance of Wages; present five Daily Morning,
and five Daily Evening Papers,’ and that the said Report was
read.--To answer the above-mentioned ‘Circular Letter,’ eleven
paragraphs are given, and a comparative Table of the Prices of
Necessaries, from 1793 to 1809, in contradiction to that given in
by the Journeymen.
“The _first_ paragraph condemns the strong spirit evinced by
the men in demanding so large a rise as 20 per cent. on their
labour; and protests against the ‘Scale proposed,’ as containing
‘_Rules and Restrictions_ new to the Trade, and embarrassing to
the Proprietors, while no reciprocal benefit or advantage is held
out.’
“The _second_ attempts to controvert the assertion of the
Newsmen, that they ‘experienced difficulties in procuring the
necessaries of life,’ by declaring it ‘a matter of surprise and
regret, that any thing so unfounded should be advanced on so
serious an occasion by a body of men, generally speaking, so
intelligent and respectable;’ and after comparing your prices and
situation with your Brethren on Book-work and other mechanics,
conclude with stating, that
“‘Their claims to high wages do not rest on the difficulties in
obtaining the necessaries of life, but on the disagreeable hours
of labour. They make more money than falls to the lot of 39-40ths
of the men in Britain, and they can procure not only all the
necessaries of life, but even _more of its comforts_, than 99
out of every 100 men in Europe. It is lamentable to see men so
insensible to the _blessings_ of their situation!’
“Your Committee cannot congratulate you on the _comforts_ or
_blessings_ of your situation; they leave to your own feelings
the fallacy of assertions so hackneyed, and proceed to the
_third_ paragraph, which calls the quotation from the ‘Duke
of Portland’s Letter,’ a ‘misrepresentation, and a pretended
extract,’ and concludes with finding a meaning not intended by
his Grace of Portland--‘that the arbitrary fixing of wages was a
most alarming evil.’
“The _fourth_ respects the statement of the prices of
necessaries, and will not admit the propriety of introducing the
year 1793 in comparison with 1809, because the Compositors ‘then
received all they asked, and a _new compact_ was formed with them
on their own terms.’ A difference appears in the Compositors
statement and that of your Employers, for the year 1793, of
2½_d._!
“The _fifth_ acknowledges the calculation for 1809 to be
correct--10_s._ 4½_d._; and as the prices for 1800 were 8_s._
9½_d_., there only remained a difference of 1_s._ 6¾_d._ to 1809;
a loss they conceived you might well bear ‘without incurring the
penalties of starvation.’
“Your Committee feel it necessary to quote the _sixth_ at
length;--it needs no comment.
“‘The reference the Compositors make to the increased labour
on Newspapers, in consequence of the introduction of _small
letter_, is unjust, is absurd, and we cannot understand how
they could allow so unfounded a complaint to escape them. The
proprietors have always paid, and paid smartly too, for this
introduction. The Compositors have limited hours of employment,
limited quantities of work, and they _compose only one number of
letters_, whether small or large, _agreeably to the universal
rule of the business_.’
“The _seventh_ mentions Apprentices, which your Committee will
not repeat, considering that question set at rest.
“The _eighth_ recommends that ‘the false assertions, groundless
complaints, and extravagant pretensions of the Compositors
should be met by a firm and determined resistance;’ and for fear
that you should be intoxicated by success to demand ‘double
wages,’ state, that they ‘have therefore considered a plan of
establishing a society of Compositors under an Act of Parliament,
connecting with it a benefit society, which, they are confident,
will enable the trade to go on, and which they may hereafter
submit to you;’ but without stating who were to be the _honoured_
Members of such society.
“The _ninth_ paragraph, after expressing the indignance of the
Masters at the extravagant demands of the men, recommends that
the wages should be put upon a footing with Book-work in 1800;
acknowledging that the rise on the latter was 1-6th, while that
on News-work was but 1-9th on Morning, and 1-11th on Evening
Papers, and propose that 2_s._ per week should be added to the
Morning Papers, but that only 1_s._ should be given to the
Evening Papers, ‘the difference in the labour and hours of work
being much more than 4_s._ per week.’
“The _tenth_ recommends that no alteration in the hours of
composition on Evening Papers be permitted.
“The _eleventh_ expresses the anxiety of the Committee to give
the Compositors a detailed answer, in order that the latter might
clearly understand and appreciate their own interests; and the
whole concludes with the following
“‘RESOLUTIONS.
“‘_Resolved_,--That the Report of the Committee now read be
agreed to.
“‘_Resolved_,--That the Newspaper Compositors have not made out a
case entitling them to a rise of wages; but that as they complain
their rise in 1800 was not equal to the rise in Book Houses, a
Regulation do now take place, putting them both on a footing.
“‘_Resolved_,--That as the labour on Morning is considerably
heavier than on Evening Papers, the latter are not entitled to
the same indulgence on this occasion as the former.
“‘_Resolved_,--That from Saturday the 15th of July, 1809, the
wages of Compositors on Daily Morning Papers shall be two Guineas
per week, and on daily Evening Papers Thirty-eight Shillings;
and that the Galley on the former shall be Three Shillings and
Four-pence, on the latter Three Shillings and Two-pence.
“‘_Resolved_,--That the Circular Letter of the Journeymen
Compositors, together with the Report of the Committee of Masters
and these Resolutions, signed by the Chairman, be printed in the
form of a letter, and that some one Proprietor of each Newspaper
shall personally deliver to each Compositor, while at work in his
house, a Copy of the said printed Letter.
(Signed) “‘D. STUART, CHAIRMAN.
“‘_Turk’s Head Coffee House, Strand_,
_June_ 30, 1809.’
“After some discussion, the Newsmen agreed to accept the offer
made by the Proprietors in the Resolution above stated; but
as the sums given were declared to be on the principle only
of putting you on an _equality_ with the Bookmen, in their
advance in 1801, it was determined to continue united to support
the original Propositions when an opportunity offered. This
regulation gave the Morning Papers 2_l._ 2_s._; Supernumeraries
1_l._; per galley 3_s._ 4_d._; 10_d._ per hour; and Evening
Papers 1_l._ 18_s._; Supernumeraries 19_s._; per galley 3_s._
2_d._; 9_d._ per hour.
“At this period the Book Compositors were soliciting a rise of
1-7th on their prices. The Newsmen were not long behind their
brethren in claiming the same advance on their labour, and the
long Report of the Masters, before mentioned, was answered,
paragraph by paragraph, in a manner which must have convinced
them, that if they would not allow the talent, they must
acknowledge that all the justice in the dispute lay on your side.
This answer is dated January 18, 1810. Your Committee cannot, in
consequence of its length, insert it here, but, to suit their
present purpose, will extract the answers to the _second_ and
_fifth_ paragraphs.
“‘The profession of a man should be always equal to the support
of himself and his family in a decent way. They should be
supplied with not merely what will preserve animation, but what
custom has rendered necessary for our comfort; and every man of
family must feel the truth of the assertion--that at the present
time he experiences difficulty in procuring such necessaries.
With respect to the difference between the wages of Book and News
Compositors, it will be observed, that the expences of a News
Compositor are necessarily more than that of a Book Compositor,
arising from the unseasonable hours of labour.--We believe the
latter part of their paragraph will be found very deficient of
truth; for there are but few mechanics with the same constant and
regular exertion, but would equal, and exceed by far our incomes.’
“As the two dates given by the Journeymen for the prices of
provisions were to be contradicted, they introduced _three_
tables, and made a calculation by the rule of Subtraction.
But the men were not to be deceived by this _new_ system of
Arithmetic, and combated by the _old_ mode as follows:
“‘_It would seem as if the sum of 1s. 6¾d. was considered as
the loss we sustained in the course of a week; but it is the
proportion it bears to 8s. 9½d.; and we find that it makes a
difference in our weekly incomes of 7s. 1d., a sum which must be
felt particularly by those having families._’
“The assertions made in the other paragraphs were most ably
controverted, and your cause made doubly sure by the truths
which accompanied its defence. The Employers never made a reply
to it, because it was unanswerable; and your Committee cannot
refrain from expressing their gratitude to all concerned in its
production.
“1810.]--To proceed. The Book Masters acquiesced in the request
of their Compositors for an advance, which was to take place
on the 1st of May, and the Newsmen taking advantage of the
acknowledgment made in the _ninth_ paragraph before mentioned,
demanded the rise of 1-7th to place them on an equality with
their brethren in the Book department. Their request was not
noticed. They still persevered, and to assist their cause the
Bookmen came to a Resolution, that no man should apply for a
situation on a Newspaper during the dispute.--Highly to their
credit, and honourable to their character, not one application
was made.
“The Newsmen still continued their exertions, and, on the 14th
of May, the following proposition in MS. was presented to each
Companionship:--
“‘_The Proprietors of the Daily Newspapers, having taken the
request of their Compositors for an advance of wages into
consideration, and on_ referring to the whole series of rises
from 1783{5}, _when Bookwork was 4d. per thousand, and Morning
Papers were 1l. 7s. per week, find that 2l. 0s. 6d. on Morning
Papers would be equal to 6d. per thousand, the present advanced
price on Book-work._
“‘_But the Proprietors unwilling wholly to disappoint the
expectations of their Compositors, consent to give them an
advance of 4s. on Morning Papers, and 3s. on Evening Papers, per
week, making the wages on Morning Papers 2l. 6s. per man per
week, and on Daily Evening Papers 2l. 1s.; to take place from
Monday, May 21, 1810._’
“This was answered by the following Resolutions:
“‘At a General Meeting of the Compositors employed on Newspapers,
held May 19, 1810, the following declarative Resolutions were
agreed to _unanimously_:--
“‘Res. I. That in tracing our advances of wages from the year
1783{5} up to 1800, there not being extant any clear and certain
records, and a perfect collection of documents containing all
the circumstances, many important facts and transactions may be
forgotten and lost.
“‘Res. II. That from the above consideration, it is evident, that
to refer further back than 1800, in order to determine what ought
to be the advance of wages on Newspapers, is unfair and improper;
and it is contrary to right, according to the declared opinions
of the Newspaper Proprietors themselves, as expressed (in a
Report of their Committee, dated June 30, 1809, and generally
circulated) in the following words of their own: ‘The Compositors
have no right to refer further back than the year 1800, as they
then received all they asked, and a _new compact_ was made with
them on their own terms.’
“‘Res. III. That the Newspaper Proprietors ought to give their
Compositors an advance of wages fully equal to the advance on
Bookwork since 1800, conformably to the principle admitted by
themselves in the above-mentioned document: where, after stating
the allegation of the Newspaper Compositors that their advance in
1800 was not equal to the advance on Bookwork, and admitting the
fact, they allow it to be (using their own words) a reasonable
ground of complaint in your Compositors Circular.
“‘Res. IV. That, in the Scale of 1805, a considerable advance was
granted to the Compositors on Bookwork in respect to Sunday-work,
Night-work, and Morning-work, which required a correspondent
advance on Newspapers, to which it is particularly applicable.
“‘Res. V. That, even if we had not the above indisputable
grounds, we have in justice sufficient grounds in the exigencies
of the times, as, according to the News Proprietors own statement
of the comparative prices of the necessaries of life between 1800
and 1809, there was a rise of 1_s._ 6¾_d._ on 8_s._ 9½_d._, which
makes a difference in our weekly incomes (taking the medium of
Morning and Evening Papers) of upwards of 7_s._
“‘Res. VI. That the Compositors on Bookwork have received less
from their Employers than their exigencies required, and only
what circumstances allowed. Those unfavourable circumstances were
alleged to arise principally from the war, and, consequently, far
from being applicable to the Newspaper branch of the Business,
which derives its prosperity from the war. Therefore, there could
be no reason why Compositors employed on Newspapers should not
have an advance fully adequate to their exigencies.’
“A fortnight’s notice to quit was then given upon the Daily
Papers, and on the day of its expiration the News Compositors
were given to understand from the individual Printers, that the
demand was acquiesced in, and your Scale, as it now stands,
was acknowledged--Morning Papers 2_l._ 8_s._; Supernumeraries
1_l._ 3_s._; galley 3_s._ 10_d._; 9_d._ per thousand; and
Assistants 11½_d._ per hour.--Evening Papers 2_l._ 3_s._ 6_d._;
Supernumeraries 1_l._ 1_s._ 6_d._; galley 3_s._ 7_d._; 8½_d._ per
thousand; and Assistants 10½_d._ per hour.
“Thus terminated your last struggle. It will be found that
in the space of twenty-four years, your prices and modes of
work have equally changed with the appearance of the Journals.
From the former rise to the present nothing appears worthy
notice, excepting the alteration of measure during the sitting
of Parliament; but from the great pressure of matter, and an
alteration in the size of paper used, most of the Journals
retained the same measure during the recess.
“Your Committee feel that some apology may be necessary for
giving so minute a detail of what perhaps has occurred within
your own memory; but the task imposed upon them embracing so
wide a field, must plead their excuse; and having introduced the
latter document to your notice, considering it the precursor of
an understood and established ‘Scale of Prices,’ they trust its
utility will compensate for the trespass.
“Having now advanced to the period (May, 1810) when your
endeavours, after twelve months’ struggle, were crowned with
success, your Committee, trusting to your own feelings, must beg
to pause on the events of that time.”
[Then follow some observations which are not relevant to the present
work, nor to the tracing of the history of prices, nor to the
management of Newspapers in the metropolis.]
“In the year 1811, a dispute occurred on an Evening Paper,
respecting the introduction of Apprentices, which lasted but six
weeks.
“About the year 1813, Morning Papers of 20 columns became almost
general. Papers of the present size have not rendered the use of
small type less necessary than when they consisted but of sixteen
columns; and the remarks made in the extracts from the documents
before your Committee, of the years 1793-1810, are equally
applicable as the same causes exist.
“In the commencement of the year 1816, the Trade was thrown into
confusion by the introduction of Nonpareil, a type not recognised
in former agreements respecting the price of Newspapers. The
Companionship were required to compose it at Minion price and
quantity; they refused, and in consequence left their situations;
but others, in direct opposition to the interests of the
profession, submitted to the demand. Ignorance could not be
pleaded by them; for your Committee are well aware, that few men
can be found incapable of casting up the galley on a Newspaper,
or be unacquainted with the difference in price of Nonpareil and
other types used in Book-houses. The bad example set by these
men, with the desire of gain, may have induced others to follow
their steps; but they cannot, unless you lose your unanimity, sap
the foundation of your rights. It is therefore incumbent on your
Committee to protest against any men taking upon themselves the
right of deviating from your regulations, or of settling either
the price or quantity of the galley of smaller type than Minion,
without a general understanding with their brethren of the
profession. It has caused both trouble and expense, and been the
means of removing good men to gratify the meanness or greediness
of those, who have in the end been necessitated to throw
themselves upon the mercy of their fellow-workmen, for permission
to gain a subsistence among those they had, by their previous
conduct, deprived of bread. Your Committee beg to state, that
adding the difference in price given on Nonpareil or Pearl in
Book-work to the price per thousand in News-work, will be found
the equitable charge for those sizes; that is, 1_d._ per thousand
extra on Nonpareil, and 2_d._ on Pearl. Thus the fair charge for
Nonpareil on Morning Papers would be 10_d._ per thousand, Evening
Papers 9½, Pearl, 11_d._ per thousand on Morning and 10½ on
Evening Papers--or a _reduction, in proportion to value, on the
galley quantity_.
“In the latter end of the same year a misunderstanding arose in
consequence of a Morning and Evening Paper being done in the
same place. It might have been considered a local dispute; but
as certain Resolutions were passed at a delegated Meeting held
on the 3d of January, 1817, your Committee cannot refrain from
noticing it:
“‘_At a delegated Meeting of News Compositors, held at the Coach
and Horses, Water-lane, Fleet Street, Jan. 3, 1817, the following
Resolutions were passed unanimously:_
“‘_Resolved_, I. That it is the opinion of this Meeting, that
there are but three classes of Workmen on Morning Papers that
can be acknowledged by the Profession, viz., _Full hands_ 2_l._
8_s._ per week; _Supernumeraries_ at 1_l._ 3_s._ per week; and
_Assistants_ at 11½_d._ per hour.
“‘_Resolved_, II. That we consider the situation of _Finishers_
on a Morning Paper, (where no person is employed to do the
preceding part of the work,) as an innovation that would tend to
disorganize the system hitherto acted upon.
“‘_Resolved_, III. That under this consideration we recommend
to our fellow-workmen to refuse any such situation should it be
offered them.
“‘_Resolved_ unanimously.--_That with respect to the ----
(having no precedent to act upon) and there not being a regular
Companionship, we recommend to the persons employed thereon to
regulate the trifling difference between them and their employer
as amicably as possible, keeping in view that the interests of
the profession are not invaded thereby._’
“This matter was amicably adjusted; but your Committee regret
to state, that at the commencement of the following year, a
dispute arose on another Journal, by a demand being made for
eleven hours’ work (time and quantity)--or two measured galleys
and a finish, sometimes extending to three hours. This mode was
declared inadmissible by the trade; it was resisted; and you
again triumphed by the sacrifice of situation only of those who
refused their acquiescence.