one or more religious tracts, which they were in the habit of receiving from visitors who called and exchanged them periodically. On the Economic Statistics of Sheffield. By a COMMITTEE. Sheffield is known abroad chiefly by its cutlery; but it is not less celebrated at home for its silver and plated productions. Those engaged in the latter species of work have not been subject to the same vicissitudes as the cutlers, but have been constantly in full work, and receiving high wages. The following table shows the value of British-made plate for a series of years. It must be borne in mind that the goods are generally of an inferior quality : : The annual consumption of these goods in England is estimated at 1,200,000l. The earnings of the men vary, in proportion to their skill, from 188. to 428. per week, and some receive much more. The unions among the workmen are rich, and should any master resist their dictation, they can afford a handsome allowance weekly; but the restrictions imposed by these unions are not so severe as in other trades, partly on account of the variety of work, and partly on account of the superior intelligence of the workmen. The number of operatives is a little over 400. They have sick societies, separate from the unions, which afford efficient relief to those who have been incapable of working for three successive months. The saw-manufacture is next in importance. The workmen are remarkable for sobriety, intelligence, and good conduct. They have unions, which regulate wages, the number of apprentices, and afford relief in sickness. There are 208 journeymen, about twenty of whom are not in union; the number of boys is 130, which exceeds what is allowed by the rules of the trade. The wages vary according to work and skill, but may be stated at from 248. to 32s. per week. Piece-work is still more uncertain, ranging from 288. to 458. Wages are about the same now as in 1814, but work has been increased 25 per cent. The trade depends on foreign orders, and is subject to great fluctuations. The edge-tool manufactory employs about 200 foremen, 200 strikers, and 50 apprentices. The average of the wages, supposing a man to work eleven hours per day, is, foreman 34s., and strikers 228. they all work by the piece. The labour is severe, and produces exhaustion, which leads to vicious excesses and intoxication. The spring-knife manufacturers are among the worst paid in the town, and suffer more than any others in seasons of commercial distress. Their numbers In the first manufactories of the town, the average of wages is from 168. to 258. per week; but in many inferior manufactories they receive only from 12s. to 16s. The tools required by these men are few and simple; and hence, in periods of distress, they manufacture for themselves, and sell the goods to hardware dealers, &c., which produces still greater depression in the trade. These operatives marry early, and have generally large families. The file-trade employs 1420 men, 700 boys, and 100 women: the wages vary considerably, as the work is paid by the piece; but the following is the average : Forgers-Double-hand, average. Single-hand...... £ s. d. 2 19 7* 1 11 10 1 3 7 The filers are inferior to the platers, but are superior to the grinders, &c. The number of clubs among the operatives in Sheffield is 56. The numbers in 1839 only amount to 7978; and the whole stock, belonging to 38 clubs, is 53,3731. There are no accounts of the numbers in 17 clubs, and of the funds in 18. The number of secret orders is 36, containing 2940 members. On the Vital Statistics of Sheffield, prepared by a local Committee, and forwarded to the Section by Dr. Holland. It began by describing the position of the town, showing how favourably it was circumstanced in respect to ventilation, drainage, and supply of water. It had advanced very rapidly both in population and wealth; but though no data existed for determining the latter, it was believed that wealth had advanced in the greater ratio. Sheffield did not possess many large capitalists; the nature of the trades followed in the town did not require any expensive outlay in stock and machinery. A remarkable proof of its advancement was, that in the middle of the last century there was only one commercial traveller employed in the town; there is now scarcely an establishment that does not employ one or more. The following table shows the increase of population: The value of property in Sheffield had been greatly diminished by the cessation of foreign demand; and this had principally affected the cutlers, who depend on the export trade, but had not seriously injured the silversmiths and platers, who look to the home market. In no place perhaps have the poor-rates exhibited such extraordinary variations. In 1801 they were 7200l.; but in 1820 they rose to 23,000!., out of a rental which, it is supposed, did not exceed 46,000l. In 1825 they were reduced to 6000l.; in 1836, to 5000l.; and in 1837, to 4000l. The present amount is 6500l.; and the distress at the present moment is believed to be greater than it has ever been before. Trades in which combinations and associations exist, are found to become claimants on charity less frequently than those which are uncombined. This is attributed by the author of the Report to the habits of foresight and prudence which arise from trade societies for a common object. One branch of trade, within the last four years, paid to unemployed workmen in the same line not less than 2000l. The author of the Report then entered into a comparison of the condition of the operatives in Sheffield with those of Liverpool, Leeds, and Manchester, for the purpose of showing that enormous capitals are not favourable to the happiness of the general body; and that the greatest misery must be expected in the vicinity of the greatest wealth. He dwelt particularly on the fact, that the operatives of Sheffield usually have a house to themselves; and that there is nothing in that town similar to the cellars of Liverpool, or the lodgings of Manchester. The danger to life involved in the manufactures at Sheffield, was illustrated by a comparison of the numbers who die beyond the age of 70 in that town and in other districts. Out of every 1000 deaths the average above 70 is 145 for England and Wales. 210 for the Northern and Western Ridings of Yorkshire. 104 for London. 66 for Sheffield. 63 for Liverpool and Manchester. The mortality of infants under 7 years of age, in every 1000,270 for the mining districts of Staffordshire. 180 in the agricultural counties. 242 in Sheffield. " In comparing the mortalities of different trades, the two classes of occupation most unfavourable to human life, are found to be those which require frequent transitions from heat to cold, and which generate metallic dust. In what is called “ dry grinding," the mortality is said to be "truly appalling;" but the rate was not stated, save that a" dry grinder" is considered an old man at 35. Early marriages in Sheffield are more common among the underpaid than among the higher classes of workmen ; and the ratio of children to a marriage is also higher in the more distressed class. But Sheffield exhibits a less ratio of marriage than most other manufacturing towns. In Sheffield (1839-40) the proportion of marriages to a thousand inhabitants was 9, while in Leeds it was 17. The writer of the Report then entered at great length into the question of Savings Banks, for the purpose of showing that the amount of deposits affords no trustworthy criterion of the prosperity or adversity of a community. He stated that adversity, by forcing prudential considerations on the mind, was more likely to make men become depositors than prosperity. As an example, he stated, that during the last three years trade had notoriously declined in Sheffield, and had gone on in a falling ratio, yet the amount in the savings banks had been on the increase. In 1838 there were 4093 depositors to the amount of £142,000 The proportion of artisans among the depositors appears to be very small; and it is least among those to whom a provision is most necessary. Out of 5000 cutlers there were only 221 depositors; while out of 450 silversmiths and platers, there are 89. The greatest number of depositors is found in the present year, which is the year of greatest depression. Mr. Fripp read a paper on the Statistics of Education in the city of Bristol, which was intended to complete and perfect the Report he had made on the subject at the meeting of the Association in 1836. The present population of the city of Bristol is about 120,000, and this number is assumed as the basis for the proportions between the instructed and the uninstructed. The schools which formed the subject of inquiry are divided into six classes. The total number attending Sunday schools is 11,684, but 4513 also attend day schools, and are therefore not reckoned. It appears that of the total number of children receiving instruction, 10,181, or about 8 per cent. of the population, attend day and evening schools. 4,513, or about 34 per cent., attend both day and Sunday schools. 7,171, or about 6 per cent., attend Sunday schools only. Of the total number of children in day and evening schools, 7,825, or 53 per cent., are boys. 6,869, or 46 per cent., are girls. In the Sunday schools there are― 5,780, or 49 per cent., boys. 5,904, or 50 per cent., girls. The following is a comparative statement of the ages of the children attending day and evening schools: Under 5 years of age.. Between 5 and 15 Above 15 Not ascertained. 3,274, or 22 per cent. 502, or 34 per cent. The following is the estimated amount of payments in the schools entirely supported by the pupils : Scholars. Per annum. Reading is taught in 486; writing, in 292; arithmetic, in 250; needlework, in 844 ; knitting, in 36; grammar, in 196; geography, in 186; history, in 153; drawing, in 45; classics, in 23; mathematics, in 22; music, in 1; domestic duties, in 4; moral duties, in 362; religious duties, in 371; French, in 46; mensuration, in 22; navigation, in 2. Refused information, 23. Comparative Statement of the Income and Expenditure of certain Families of the Working Classes in Manchester and Dukinfield, during the years 1836 and 1841. By W. NEILD, Mayor of Manchester The general results are contained in the following tables :— Overlooker Labourer Dyer ...................... 1841. 1836. 4 7 0 4 10 0 0 15 2 2 17 0 0 14 0 1 14 0 1 2 0 1 1 0 1 0 0 1 1 0 1 3 0 Total......... 22 4 2 Income the same. 1. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d. l. s. d.l. s. d. 2 972 2 2 2 0 5 2 7 10 0 11 4 09 10 0 280 17 9 814 15 11 5 3 3 7 10 5 0 890 22 Income and Expenditure of Seven Families in Dukinfield. Account of the Monts de Piété of Rome, Paris, and other cities on the Continent. By HENRY JOHN PORTER, F.S.S., Tandragee, Ireland. The author stated that an institution of the kind had been formed at Rome before the Christian era by the Emperor Augustus, but that they were revived in modern Italy under the patronage of the Popes. The system was supported by the Franciscans, and opposed by the Dominicans, until the matter was set at rest by Leo X., who declared lending-houses to be legal and useful, a decree subsequently confirmed by the Council of Trent. From an old Italian work, entitled 'The Pious Institutions of Rome,' published in 1689, he gave the following account of the origin of the Monte di Pietà. The work was so rare that he could not purchase a copy, but had been permitted to make an extract. "The original founder of this great work of benevolence in Rome, was Padre Giovanni Calvo, a Franciscan of the order of Minorites, who obtained the sanction of Paul III. for an association of some persons of distinction, whom he had united for this object. This pontiff not only approved the institution of the present sacred Monte di Pietà, but assisted the undertaking with money, enriched it with indulgences and privileges, and conferred on it all the favours enjoyed by similar institutions. The sacred Monte di Pietà has for its object the advance of sums of money, in each case not exceeding thirty crowns, to poor and necessitous persons of every description, on the security of pledges. This is accomplished as individuals, actuated by benevolent motives, supply funds to the institution, or, apprehensive of danger if they retain money at home, deposit it with the establishment.for greater security. The pledges which are taken from day to day are retained eighteen months, after which, if the owner fails to claim them, they are sold publicly and fairly, by auction. The proceeds are applied to satisfying the claims of the establishment, including interest at two per cent., and the surplus is returned to the owner of the pledge. The institution is governed by a fraternity, which every year elects forty of its members as directors. The directors meet weekly, to deliberate on all that is required for the maintenance of the establishment, which may be regarded as the common patrimony of the poor, and the great mansion of all." The document their set forth the favours which had been shown to the institution by successive popes, ending with the promulgation of its statutes by Alexander VII. Mr. Porter stated, that as he was anxious to obtain some information respecting the founder of this institution, he applied to the General of the Franciscan order, and obtained from his secretary the following extract from the records of the Franciscan monastery at the Arracœli in Rome:-"1541. John Calvus, son of Calvus, was a native of the kingdom of Corsica, and educated in the province of Corsica. He was a man renowned for his learning, skill, and suavity of manners. He held the office of Commissario in the court of Rome; he was selected at the general assembly at Mantua, to regulate the whole order of Franciscans. He was the first person to institute the Monte di Pietà. He was eminent for a two-fold apostolic office; he was theological advocate at the Council of Trent; he was esteemed by Paul III., and the kings of France and Lusitania. He died at Trent 21st of January 1547, having held office about six years.' The following table shows the state of the Monte di Pietà in Rome, for the year 1839: |