suffered from the "reign of terror," and it required many years' experience of the tender mercies of an anti-reform Government to bring back her old and healthy liberalism. In spite, however, of this somewhat retrogressive tendency of the people on the subject of freedom, the history of the town from 1791 to 1801 is full of an interest of its own, and is rich in lessons of public importance, even for our own time.
Our first extract brings us back to the irrepressible buckle:-
Buckle Manufactory.
January 2, 1790.—We had the satisfaction, in our last, to announce to the public the circumstance of some Gentlemen of the Committee of the principal manufacturers of Buckles in this Town, Walsall, and Wolverhampton, waiting upon his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales; and we are now enabled to present to our Readers the words of their petition.—Mr. Sheridan, who had the honour of introducing the deputation to the Prince, passed the highest compliments on the Abilities of the Gentlemen who drew it up; and remarked that he had hardly ever met with sentences so happily expressed, and which contained so much matter in so few words, as those which we have distinguished by an italic letter.
To His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales. The humble Petition of the Buckle Manufacturers, &c.
Sheweth,
That, with minds strongly agitated by the alarming decline of our Trade, we approach your Royal Highness, not without hope, being abundantly convinced that you will rejoice in an opportunity of displaying, at the same time, your goodness, public spirit, and humanity.
It will stand, instead of a thousand arguments, simply to state to your Royal Highness, that the Buckle Trade gives employment to more than Twenty Thousand Persons, numbers of whom, in consequence of the prevalency of Shoe-strings and Slippers, are at present without employ, almost destitute of bread, and exposed to the horrors of want, at this inclement season of the year; That should the same stagnation of trade continue, the miseries, emigrations and other horrid consequences that will inevitably ensue, may be better conceived than expressed.
It is in a great measure owing to the two valuable Manufactures of Buckles and Buttons, that Birmingham has attained her present importance in the map of Great Britain; the latter, when in an infirm state, was cherished by Parliamentary assistance; but averse to prohibitory penalties, we have the fullest reliance upon the gracious interference of your Royal Highness.
We beg leave to observe, that when Fashion, instead of foreign or unprofitable ornaments, wears and consumes the Manufactures of this Country, she puts on a more engaging form and becomes Patriotism. When Taste, at the same time and by the same means that she decorates the Persons of the Rich, cloaths and feeds the naked and hungry Poor, she deserves a worthier appellation, and may be styled Humanity. We make no doubt but your Royal Highness will prefer the blessings of the Starving Manufacturer to the enconiums of the Drawing Room.
