[Rarebooks] fs: Josiah Wedgwood says- "GET BACK TO WORK!!" (1783)

[Joslin Hall Rare Books]

Wedgwood, Josiah. AN ADDRESS TO THE YOUNG INHABITANTS OF THE POTTERY.

Newcastle; J. Smith: 1783. 

In 1783 the war with America and the Industrial Revolution had both caused 
unrest in the manufacturing districts of England. The cotton spinners had begun 
to destroy their own factories and robbers and highwaymen ruled the roads. To 
the general unrest was added resentment at provision dealers who were felt to 
be overcharging the poor and taking advantage of the workers. A mob seized one 
of Wedgwood's barges and sold the contents at auction, whereupon Wedgwood sent 
for help and received a company of Welsh Fusileers and Staffordshire Militia, 
who arrested and hanged several of the alleged culprits. 

After the tumult had calmed, Wedgwood made an address to the workmen of his 
factory which was also printed up in pamphlet form and distributed amongst 
them. Dated March 27th, 1783, Wedgwood addresses "My Young Friends", assuring 
them that they are more apt to be deluded and lacking in judgment than those 
of "riper years". He draws their attention to the difficulty of judging which 
side to take, and which side is right and which is wrong, especially in "the 
unsettled state of the mind in the midst of riot and tumult", but he also draws 
their attention to "the danger of judging and acting wrong" -no doubt a pointed 
reference to those about to be swinging from local gallows. 

Wedgwood calls for calm, explains at length the reasons for food and provision 
shortages, and, pointing out that the farmer and tradesman must also make a 
living, outlines at length his own proposals for renewed commerce and 
betterment of trade. He ends by urging the workmen to consider themselves lucky 
to be working under the paternalism of the factory system which has bettered 
their condition considerably from what their parents enjoyed- 

"I would request you to ask your parents for a description of the country we 
inhabit when they first knew it... Their houses were miserable huts; the lands 
poorly cultivated... roads almost impassable... Compare this picture...with the 
present state of the country. The workmen earning near double their former 
wages -their houses mostly new and comfortable, and the lands, roads and every 
other circumstance bearing evident marks of the most pleasing and rapid 
improvements. From whence, and from what cause has this happy change taken 
place? Industry is the parent of this happy change." 

So be quiet and get back to work. 

Hardcover.  4"x6.5", 24 pages, bound in nice full leather with gilt spine 
decoration, light cover wear and rubbing, contents with very minor soil, 
trimmed just a bit closely, but not affecting text or page numbering; overall 
near fine. [12169] $4500.00 

Illustrations-
<http://www.joslinhall.com/g-12169.htm>

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