ABSTRACT
Ihavelatelydevotedmyselftoinvestigatingtheincomingsand conditionoftheNeedlewomenofLondongenerally.Myobjectis, inthefirstplace,toobtainanauthenticlistofthepricespaidto thedifferentartisansandlabourersthroughoutthemetropolis. Itiscuriousthatthisshouldremainundone,andevenuntried, tothepresentday.Butsoitis.Mr.Porter,inhis"Progressofthe Nation,"tellsus:-
"Themostextensiveregister,inpointoftime,thatwehaveof therateofwages,isfoundinreturnsmadetoParliamentby GreenwichHospital.Unfortunately,however,thedescriptionsof artisansemployedintheestablishmentarefew,andtheiroccupationscomealtogetherunderthedescriptionofskilledlabour. Besidesthis,thereturnsmadeupto1805aregivenonlyatintervals offiveyears,whiletheratespublishedarethosepaidtomasters, whocontractfortheperformanceofthework,andarenotthe sumsreceivedbytheworkmen.
