The English ancien régime received a new lease of life, not only in national affairs, but also in the perpetuation of the antique corporations which misgoverned the swelling industrial towns. In return, the manufacturers received important concessions: and notably the abrogation or repeal of “paternalist” legislation covering apprenticeship, wage-regulation, or conditions in industry. The aristocracy were interested in repressing the Jacobin “conspiracies” of the people, the manufacturers were interested in defeating their “conspiracies” to increase wages: the Combination Acts served both
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