From The Times, 17 Mar 1819, posted with permission of the transcriber, Petra Michinson. Geo. DISTRESS OF THE CARLISLE WEAVERS (1). --------------------- (From the Carlisle Patriot of Saturday last.) On Monday last, in the forenoon, at the time that the principal inhabitants of this city were about to meet at the Town-hall, with an intention of petitioning the two Houses of Parliament against the renewal of the present laws regarding Insolvent Debtors, a great number of weavers, some wholly out of work, and others only partially employed, assembled together in the market-place, for the purpose of making their distressed situation known to the leading gentlemen of the city. A communication was held with some of them: they stated their distresses in calm and respectful language, and expressed their willingness to work at whatever employment might be procured for them. A requisition was immediately presented to the Mayor, requesting him to call an early meeting on the subject, which he instantly complied with by appointing the following day. Accordingly, on Tuesday morning, a great many gentlemen repaired to the Town-hall, and after a short preliminary discussion, resolved that Committees should be appointed for separate districts, to ascertain the number of persons in want of work, and the best means of affording them relief, &c. Committees for those purposes were instantly named, and the meeting adjourned till Friday. The adjourned meeting took place yesterday at the Town-hall, as agreed upon, the Mayor in the chair. The gentlemen appointed to institute inquiries relative to the number of weavers out of employment made a report, which stated, that at the beginning of the present week, about 140 were in that predicament, and that at the end of it, 80 more were expected to be added to the number. The report added, that there was no present prospect of an improvement in the trade, but, on the contrary, it was likely that the number of unemployed would increase. Several resolutions were unanimously agreed to, and several handsome sums inscribed on the subscription paper. It was intimated at the Meeting, that others, besides weavers, were out of employment, to whom the benefit of the subscription will be extended. Power is conferred upon the Committee to afford relief to whom and in what manner they shall find most likely to promote the design of the subscribers, keeping strictly in view that effectual aid can only be rendered by employment: they will commence their inquiries on Monday. The inhabitants of Carlisle have never yet been backward when called upon to relieve the necessities of their fellow-townsmen: we feel convinced that on the present occasion they will not shrink from discharging so obvious a duty. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~