The Express. — London, England, 1853-11-01 00:00:00

Ehe orprego. arbitrators had that knowledge of law which is so singularly admired and prised in Ire- i land. We should be heartily glad to see In dustrial Tribunals solidly and effectually tested, for the settlement of disputes about wages, hours of labour, and so on. If a group or series of such tribunals should be wanted for different kinds of manufacture and production, let us try them. The money sunk or unproduced through a single Strike of the many now occurring would sustain any need ful number for many a year to come. It would answer well to everybody to maintain handsomely a hundred Industrial Arbitrators, if we could thereby save our manufactures and commerce from the mischiefs of those Unions, which are but another word for desperate divisions. We might get our industrial legislation perfected by such a representa tive agency as would thus be constituted. We might also get other advantages, great and many, more than we can even indicate now. TO CORRESPONDENTS. • wind U.ltMn . f 4 • T..e tannin.," etranivrag true near evening's **Goetze." u yubliattal 'my Tingsday and Yrlday sight, as tuns tar pfist. *eereelevrets'idol ler "Ile Lames," Loalos Emmett peen. art be et the I na.v, to, nimedomitrme, y Teo ecioele es the ley el petitiestbe. 111011 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins Dar —Yuman, lb. 27a. ...Alternirol, 1h ;Ito. 1 . 0411011WW-114rutag, 91i. 13. .. lb. 97m. LONDON. TUBBD.4T, NorEmBER 1. TnERE is probably always a feeling of shame in every Englishman's mind when Strikes take place. If they do not run on into violence, there is no secu rity that they will no•. From the moment that employer and employed differ as to the share that each should have of the proceeds of united capital and labour—differ practically, so as to split off from each other—there is present every probability of an outbreak of bad passions, with all its humili ating consequences. 'there never was a stronger occasion for national shame about the relations be tween capitalist and labourer than the present condition of 'Wigan. More soldiers wanted ; the streets strewn with broken glass, windows boarded up to keep out the weather, valuable paintings demolished, furniture broken and half-burned, ladies and children chased from home—such is the aspect of Wigan. And who is there that can tell what in the world all this has to do with the respective shares of the capitalist and the labourer in the proceeds created by their union? How is the question helped forward by all this waste? How is the case improved to ans body by all this dead loss being added to that which has been arising from the cessation of labour for many weeks past? The brawny colliers have been impo verishing their neighbours for nobody's gain—un lese, besides the thieves who were caught with their pockets full of tea and sugar, there were others who escaped. The brawny colliers are probably not ex ceedingly proud of having afforded a rare opportu nity for paltry thieves to steal tea and sugar. The passiveness of the Preston ;men is as dis tressing as the foolish violence of the Wigan rioters; but the factory operatives are at least free from the folly and vice of useless rioting. If the colliers kept to the question rationally, and the factory men kept their own affairs in their own hands manfully, we might be sorry for the want of knowledge that, by the very nature of the case, must exist some-' where, either among masters or men—but we should cordially respect, on any side, the effort to obtain justice. As it is, the whole spectacle is a very painful and shameful one—the idleness and depres sion at Preston; the violence and wanton mischief making at Wigan; the weakness of the guardians of the peace. Indeed, the whole transaction, which ever way it is looked at, is very bad; and the more so since it occurs at a time when rational people, with any sense of the real good to be desired in life, should have been remarkably easy, and with more reason for thankfulness for sound prosperity than ever they had in their lives before. If it be true that the special' constables ran away the first moment they were wanted, and that the Riot Act was never read, so that the injured victims of the mob can claim no redress from the county funds—those are special causes of shame and indignation. And is there anybody wbo can give a fair and really accurate account of the case ? The employers think they can, but the employed deny it. The operatives and colliers think they can, and the mas ters deny it. The agitators among the men claim to do so, but, from the nature of their function, too , much suspicion attaches to their statement to permit the public to be satisfied with it. We complain that there are no means by which the public may be fully informed of the facts about these last Strikes. We are perfectly sure of the principles involved in all such cases—the princi ples, economical and moral; and the historical know ledge which is so important in instances of such col lision is open to as all. What a thing it is that nobody—or nobody who will be regarded as autho rity—oan put us in possession of the means of judg ing of the existing Gem which is putting the peace and prosperity of our country to hazard. Here, as so often before, cornea in Mr. HUME with his wise, disinterested, and quietly benevolent advice. He was the instructor of the youth of many of us, and we cannot do better than take him for our instructor still, in matters to which be has devoted the study of a life. His suggestion of an arbitrating authority ought to have our earliest and most earnest at tention. The question that will be first asked is—whether the disputants would admit the jurisdiction—would steadily abide by the decisions of such an autho- rity ? We have no doubt whatever that they would. Our want of faith in the efficacy of international arbitration at present (however it may be in a remote future) arises from the ab sence of any firm basis for decision in international cases. No natural laws are there concerned; and even questions of fact have some quicksand of opinion under them. In economical cases, it is otherwise. In that province,. there are natural laws at work among elements that may be computed; and if only the requisite knowledge can be obtained, the deci sion may be indisputable. Some sacrifices must be made. The employers must give up their taciturnity, and explain their position, and the employed must give up their two favourite notionsi— that the wages fund is inexhaustible, and that wages ought to rise and fall with the price of provisions. But these concessions are trifles which no wise man would regard in comparison with what he would gain. The Preston men, who now stand at the corners of the streets waiting to be told what to do next, might be glad enough to be guided by wiser advice than any they are getting at present; and the employers, who are maintaining garrisons in their mills, or sending away wives and children in the dark through gardens and back doors, would think it anything but an evil to say what they were worth, as the price of enjoying each his own house as his castle. The benefits derivable from a sound scheme of Industrial Arbitration are so obvious and so greatly needed that we shall certainly have it, I sooner or later; and those will be good citizens and patriots who help us to it soonest. THE STRIKES. FROM OUR SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT. rRESTON, MONDAY. Yesterday formed no exception in the apathetic appearance of the town. When every day is a holi day, Sunday in particular "shines no holiday" to anyone. 'the same sad sauntering through the streets, the same absence of purpose, were the prin cipal characteristics of the scene. There was action, however, going on somewhere, but it was hidden. The nearest approach to life out of doors was visible at the corners of the streets and opposite the doors of gateways, on which were pasted large placards, addressed" To the Thirty-five Associated Firms of Legree Brothers!" This address to the millowners, couched in a tolerably vigorous style, with a tendency to declamation, appeared to be hugely relished by knots of the " turn-outs" who were in general con tent to receive its contents through a reader, who gave it aloud for the benefit of the rest. I was struck with the manner in which more than one of these men performed their task. One in particular read in a deep clear tone, with a solemnity of man ner and a perfection of emphasis which I have rarely beard equalled. The impression he produced was very marked. One of the listeners—a tall, gaunt man, of about fifty, with features apparently pinched with want—remained during the whole time of reading, his eyes fixed on the reader, with a look terribly earnest. At the conclusion he seemed for the first time able to give utterance to the feelings which possessed him. His remark was prosaic enough, but it was uttered with such sincerity that it met with a ready res from the assemblage : " Roight if ye ne'er anither word, man." " Aye, lad," was the chorus, and the body walked off with their hands in their pockets, to listen at another corner to the same tirade. Not a very refreshing incident for the masters. I said there was a little more life going on, but out of sight. This was where the delegates met to tan accounts of the money they had noi sed to pay it into the common stock. The principal meeting was that at the Cockpit, • building close to the town. There was little to notice here, except the business-like manner in which the proceedings were conducted, and the perfectness of the organisation. There was a terseness and a precision in their mode of expression which might be advantageously imitated in societies of far grater pretensions. There was also an evident consciousness of right, and a certainty of success which, when viewed apart from other cir cumstances, sugared well for their ultimate right. George Cowell. who is the most popular of the leaders—indeed, the only coo that I could find commanded much popularity at all—is • striking per sonage in his way. He is rather under the middle size, of a sallow complexion, has clear,open, mirthful eyes, great breadth of forehead, and an expression of resolute adventurous determination which makes him master at once of the sympathies of his audience. He the broad dialect of the county, uses all the Tot: m of the class with a clear consciousness of the force he gains by so doing, and stems all op position by the good-humoured decision with which be puts aside all objections. He chooses his words well, and is, in short, one of the most effective popular orators I have heard. Such a man as this has immense power over masses composed of such elements as the Preston operatives. There was not much to bring him out at this parti. calor meeting, but I shall have more to say on him in connexion with the movement. _ The first consideration is that the question is not, as so many are saying, a matter of opinion, strictly speaking, but a question of fact. If it were a matter of opinion—that is, case of interpretation of feats according to the differing perceptions of varying minds—there would be no certainty that the object would be gained by merely transferring the power of practical opining to a set of minds appointed by the disputants. Mach would be gained by the question being transferred to disinterested persons; but still, while their decisions rested on opinion only, they would always be open to question, and subject to dissent; and there would be no great probability that the dissent would not far exceed the sweat, among disputants whose minds must be biassed by class views and interests. The truth is, the question in all Strikes is fundamentally and certainly one of fact ; and the evil of our present condition is that none of us can get possession of the whole of the fact, or prove that we have done so. Now, such a tribunal of arbitration as Mr. Hums suggests not only might, bat must, obtain or derly and quiet possession of the whole of the fact in volved, and be able to produce it in justification of their decisions. They mast be informed of the history of the kind of production concerned, and the statistics of the existing period of it must be obtainable by them frem public documents. Knowing the whole state of the case—the amount of raw material in volved, the amount of capital and labour, the former and present conditions of demand (which include the price of the necessaries of life)—knowing all these conditions of the case, and any others that may belong to the particular instance, the tribunal could not fail in deciding, and in pointing out, what proportion of the ascertained proceeds should go to the capitalist, and what to the labourer. It seems clear that if the facts were at this moment known to the disputants, the dispute would be at en end. It is the tendency to selfishness on both sides, which is an auxiliary to ignorance, and canes, that conflict of prejudice and passion which disturbs the peace of our towns, the progress of our prosperity, and the harmony of our citizenship. If there could be thorough knowledge and perfect openness, there could be no dispute. Such thorough knowledge is, then, the thing wanted : and it might surely be obtained and supplied by a set of men qualified for the business. The way to do it is not to summon a few men at random, on an emergency—still less to make a tribunal out of a sommittee of masters and men involved in the exist ing dispute; but to have something more like an tatt . ntion Inv the maoagement of such affairs. O'Contzl.t.'4 Arbitration Court: answered extremely well for as long as they were wanted/ heautte the The crowd outside displayed the usual apathy. They have turned over the ent of their affairs to their delegates, and wait with a blind trust in destiny that you could scarcely expect from any one but a Mahometan. Some are evidently unaware of the nature of what they are asking for. " What do you mean by your 10 per cent. advance ?" I asked of a lad about 18, who was walking away from the meeting. "Why, di get twenty shillings now, I am to get thirty shillings, then, that's all, I suppose," was the reply. Ido not mean to insinuate that this youth should be taken as a fair sample of the operatives on strike ; it is sufficient, however, taken in conjunction with many other incidents, to show me that in a very great number of cases the "hands"are totally unacquainted with the merits of the question, and that they are submitting patiently to their present inconveniences in the vague persuasion that something magnificent will " turn up" in the way of increase. This morning a large meeting was held in the open air. There were large numbers collected together, but I have not heard how many. The reports vary between five and ten thousand. Never theless there was very little excitement and scarcely any enthusiasm. On Cowell's making his appear ance there was a slight movement. " CoweLl's the lad"—" Give it 'em " (the millowners), were heard in various parts, but there were no outrageous testimonials of sympathy. The mob came to listen, and not to be hurried into extravagance. He congratulated them on their prospects—told them that the committee had 1,7001. in baud to pay the turnouts for the last week, and was certain that they could stand out, even with the resources at present promised, until past Christmas. He alluded to the disturbance at Wigan, and blamed the rioters for their attacks upon property. What madness to destroy what you yourself had created. The working classes made property, were they the persons to destroy it ? Men were in fault, not pro perty. I looked round to try to discover whether THE EXPRESS, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 1, 1853. any one in the crowd looked as if be thought there i lurked any significant hint in the orator's words, but I coal perceive nothing of the sort, and I do not believe it was intended. He stigmatised the con duct of the millowners as arbitrary, unjust, and cruel. The " belly-floggcre—to distinguish them from their American types the back floggers—must be brought to their senses. In addition to the ordi , nary modes of attack, these men must be ,I ousted from the town council. Let the voters v amongst the working men go to the poll to-morrow, ' and vote utterly without any reference to politics. V Let them be solicitous only to turn out the belly flogger.. He was heard with the most profound attention, but I could not discover that any move , meet took place, except upon the vehement iteration of the obnoxious epithet helly-floggeis. There was little or no cheering, and Cowell left the meeting without exciting any marked attention. I consider this absence of enthusiasm the most peculiar and dangerous feature of the strike, and I think it easily shown from the following con siderations. There are at least 2.3,000 men, the greater portion of whom allege that they have not "turned out" themselves, but have been " locked out" by the manufacturers. They per sist in calling themselves " lock-outs," instead of submitting to the usual appellation " turn-outs." These men could have " gone in" at any ,time before the masters' late determination, and possibly now, after the 9th instant, by merely rejecting the media tion of their committee and negotiating personally with the masters. The masters who are in the most favourable circumstances at present for holding out refuse to admit of and• mediation, but insist upon all future negociations being conducted between the owner of the mill and his own men. The men with scarcely any hesitation cling to their own committee, and place the conduct of the matter without condition or limit in their hands. They wash their hands of responsibility, and leave the whole of it to rest upon the committee. They have given up the old plan of bawling ,and hooting unpopular owners, of committing occasional acts of violence. They are bound hand and foot by the decision of the committee, and are content to be as still as machines until they are wound up. They make no superfluous displays of - energy, but they are evidently keeping back simply because they have the most superstitious confidence, the most un limited faith in the men who have taken the conduct of affairs in their own hands. away. The mayor wished us to take some of the rioters, but I told him there was no oue to support us. Ile then took us rep the Bagleiard. All the (root of the Eagle was smashed in. I saw the mayor struck several times, and I was hit myself. We remained there two hours, and during that time I heard yelling and breaking of windows, sufficient to satisfy me the town was in great commotion. The mayor then went to the railway station, where we afterwards joined him, and remained until the military came. Wither described the course taken by the inagii• triter, constables, and military after that time through the streets of the town until the Erects were cleared. Mr. Thomas Past, clerk to the magistrates, was next ex amined, and described at some length what he saw and heard of the disturbances before the Eagle, and in various parts of the borough. The military arrived at ball-past ll, or soon afterwards, and the mob was dispersed. The pri soner Clayton was running past witness after the mob was dispersed, and he gave him into custody. The court, at this stage of the proceedings, was adjourned until Wednesday. The elections of town•councillors to-day (Tuesday) are expected to create a good deal of excitement, as several of the candidates *revery obnoxious to the turn-outs, and their success will naturally create a strong feeling. (ui ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.) WIGAN, MONDAY NIGHT, 8.30. A mob at Lord Crawford's colliery has been fired upon, and a man was carried away on the shoulders of others. The soldiery were called out, but have returned without any further collision. PRESTON, MONDAT NIGHT. Tho Mayor of Wigan has just sent for two addi tional companies of troops. It is reported hero that rioters are fighting at Haigh colliery. Colliers are said to be pouring into Wigan. WO Court. The committee, then, are practically the leaders ; the officers of a compact (in all moral aspects)j disci plintd force of 23,000 men. They pay this force, they organise it, they relieve it from all necessity of cousulting for tho future, they control all its move. meats. A strike in put times was *rude, undisci plined outbreak, in which the individualities, by their opposing action, damaged the action of the masses. The present strike, on the contrary, receives its whole significance from the fact that the indi vidual merges into the mass, and that the masses are subject to the action of a powerful external force. This is recognised by the owners themselves, who bear willing testimony to the qualities of their workmen, to their docility most particularly, but who complain that there is no doing anything with them now they have given up their freedom of action to " foreigners." (This term is applied to intruders from other towns or other mills.) I leave the right or wrong of the whole question out of dis pute; the discussion on that is to come. Here is one division of an army of labourers, as disciplined, as far as the surrender of freedom of action is concerned, as the troops of the Czar himself. But the Preston division of the great army of labourers, although 25,000 strong, is only one contingent. It is cal culated that in Lancashire alone the army will this week be 70,000 strong. Remember the great feature in the tactics of the present men is the adop tion of Napoleonic stmtezy. They beat the enemy in detail. They make one town work to support another town on strike. Blackburn alone sent 6131. to the Preston men this week. They see no difficulty in supporting this vast army on this principle ; and from some accounts which I have seen, it is clear they are not without some shadow of ground for their belief. If this is the case, all the capitalists mast be beaten town by town. " Ah," says the ob jector," two can play at the same game. 'The capi talists are now adopting the same tactics. They are becoming united." True : but what does this show ? That thepreparations for contest are day by day becom ing more and more perfect,that each party is thinking more and more of its own powers of offence and de fence—that the antagonism of the two classes be comes more and more inveterate—that the diffictety of reconciliation increases daily. In the mean time capital is wasted away; labour is deteriorated; the labourers become first idle, then corrupt ; hundreds are walking . through neighbouring towns and vil lages, gaining a miserable living by singing their woes ; girls are roaming through the streets of Preston, and the same must happen in various places; and all the end to be looked for is, not a reconcilia tion, but a victory—a victory that will have damaged the capitalist, and ruined and corrupted the labourer. I see the greatest evils threatening us from the very perfection of the organisation of both parties. It will give rise to thoughts similar to those of Southey when he wrote the "Glorious Victory." WINDSOR, Om 31. The Queen, with the Duchess of Brabant, drove out this morning in an open pony phaeton. Col. the Hon. Charles Grey attended on horseback. Prince Albert, with the King of the Belgians, accom panied by Earl Granville, went out shooting. The Duke or Brabant and the Count of Flanders, attended by Baron Prism and Cul. Wylde, left Windsor this forenoon by the South Western Railway for Woolwich. Earl Granville, the Portuguese Minister and Countess Lavradio, the Marquis of Breadalbane, Lord John Russell, and Viscount Haruinge, lift the Castle to-day for London. The French Ambassador and Countess Walewski, Ma dame Van de Weyer, the Marquis of Lansdowne, the Earl of Elgin, Lord Elphinstons, Lord Raglan, Major-General the lion. Sir Edward Cust, and Sir James Graham, have been invited, and are expected this afternoon. The Turkish Minister visited the Earl of Clarendon yes terday afternoon, at the Foreign-ottice. Earl Granville returned to town yesterday afternoon from Windsor Castle. Sir James Graham left town for Windsor Castle last evening, on a visit to dm Queen. The Duke of Rutland entertained a select party at Choseley-park, Cambridgeshire, during last week. The Earl of Wilton has arrived an Grosvenor-square from Newmarket. _ The Bareness de Cetto and family arrived in IHU-street on Saturday, from a visiting tour. The Baron is still en con4Q in Germany. Lady Brougham, who has been staying at Brougham Hell since the departure of the noble and learned lord for his chateau in the south of France, comes to thwfton-street early in the ensuing month for the season. Hts lordship will remain abroad until after Christmas. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has left town for Hawarden Castle, near Chester. Lieutenaat•General Wyndham and visitors left Cocker mouth Castle on Wednesday last for a brief sojourn at his seat at Westward Park. THE RIOT AT WIGAN. Lord Stanley, daring hie late visit to Lynn, inspected the Athenteum in the town and the progress of the new cut of the Norfolk estuary. Lord Stanley of Alderley has left town for his seat at Alderley-park, Cheshire. The marriage of Lord Frederick John Fitzroy. young est son of the Duke of Grafton, with Miss Wescomb, youngest and only unmarried daughter of the late Rev. W. Wescomb, of Langt,rd-grove, Essex, was solemnised on Saturday at St. George's Church, Hanover-square, in the presence of the Duchess of Grafton and a distinguished circle of the friends of both families. Apartments have been taken at the Hotel de France, at Nice, for the ex• Queen Marie Amelie, the Duke de Nemoun, the Duke d'Aune ale, the Prince de Joinville, and a foreign princess who is travelling with them. A Spaaish steam-frigate is waiting at Villefranche, to convey the party to Seville. The latest accounts from Geneva speak of the ex-Queen of the French as being in a satis factory state of convalescence after her recent severe ill ness, and it was hoped that she would be well enough to travel at the beginning of next week. COURT TREATRICALS.—The aeries of royal dra matic representations in the temporary theatre in the Rubins Room at Windsor Castle, are to take place this year, under the management of Mr. Charles Kean, on Thursday, the 10th of November, being earlier than natal. (FROM OUR LOCAL All was quiet at Wigan up to yesterday evening, bet some fears were entertained that the disturbances would be renewed. The colliers deny that they were the rioters, and some of them have been heard to promise that they will let t►e inhabitants see what they taus do. The magistrates assembled at the Town Hall, to hear the examiaations of the prisoners taken, but the police were not in &condition to complete the cases against these people. Only two witnesses were examined. The names of the pri• sonars en: Richard Clayton, Richard Birchen, John Hughes, John lacy, John Baker, and Richard Norris. Edward Birchen, on being sworn, said—l was in charge of the police-office on Friday night last. About ten minutes or a quarter before 12 that night several persons were brought to the aloe and given in charge. All the prisoners except NOM' wore brought to the office. /dr. Hopwood brought the prisoner Baker. I searched Baker and found on him some tea and three; or four biscuits. Two of his pockets were filled with loose Ma. Wm. Siam said—On Friday aftemosta there was a great crowd of people assembled in front of the Eagle (other. wise celled the Royal Hotel), in consequence of a meeting of the coal masters being held there. The mayor came to the police-office about 5 o'clock, and seen after he had left I received information that he had seen a lad throw a stone. I shortly after went down to the front of the Esgte. The people assembled seemed very math excited, and several times hooted and shouted, but I could not see the (shiest of their excitement. 1 should think It Would be about 6 is'elciek (but I cannot speak positively) In formation same that they had broken Mr. Johnson's windows. I had :previously seen the main body move off from the Ragle. I also received information that they were throwing stones at the Dog and Partridge. I went there with a part of the police force. and remonstrated with the mob, and several parties then cried oat—. don't fear him,—go at him." Some one cried, " Knock off Chow glazed hats." Stones then begun to Sy at us. Several of** officers were hit ; Topping was one. I bad seat off to the mayor, and finding it utterly impossible foe us to remain where we were, I marched the men to the office is Mitigate. The streets were crowded as far as I could see in every direction, and the crowd shouted. Stones were thrown at us, but a way was opened for us through the mob, and some of the men took refuge in the Wiend (a narrow streqt to the east of Wallgate). An attempt was made to throw me down by laying hold of my legs, and I was stoned all the way to the police office. The mayor then summoned the magistrates. and Mr. Cook and Mr. Broome came. Mr. Cook went out six or seven minutes and then cam back again, saying that the mob had get to the Eagle, and were smashing in the front. By the mayor's orders we then again turned out, about 30 strong (including specials), two of the regular force hacks been sent by the mayor to the railway station. The mayor and magistrates went in front of us, and the mayor charged all persons to assist us. Some of them went oH'. We went to the front of the Eagle, and there was a great crowd collected there in a body. All the market-place was filled as fares I could see, and all Standishgate also. The mayor said, " I request that all persons will go quietly to their homes." S stones were then thrown by the crowd. There was great shouting and excitement, and stones were thrown at us, and pieces of the stalls in the Marketplace were broken off and thrown at us. I saw Mr. Cook hit. A regular volley of stones were thrown at us, and after that all the constables except myself and police•conatablee Hart and Watmough ran IMPROVEMENT OF POSTAGE STAMPS. TO TILE EDITOR OF TEE EXPRESS. Sla,—Why, in the name of common sense, is not the very ceavenient plan of perforation adopted as well for the postage stamp's& for the new receipt stamps ? I think I recollect seeing a statement some time back that the government had purchased the patent. I ea, itc. E. B. DEFACED COIN. TO TILT IDITOR OF TUT =PIM. Sta,—When a persona oo unfortunate as to receive coin with holes in it, litters cut upon it, or other wise defaced, be finds some difficulty in getting rid of it. I have therefore avoided it as much as possible ; my servant has had orders to do so too, and upon a coin being tendered I with a large hole in it, she requested another might be given in lieu of - it, but the next offered her having several letters and marks cat upon it, she declined receiving that also, and was they told she might "go without it," which she did. The same parties having before tried to thrust defaced coin upon me, I requited the Master of the Mint to repri mand them, at the same time remarking that I did not wish to do the people in question any harm. The following letter tells me the coin was not uneurrent ! Are we to understand the recent act relating to defaced coin is a dead letter? 1 enclose my card, and remain you., Re., B. T. W. Sir,—l am directed by the Muter of the Mint to inform you that it does not certainly appear that the coin you re ceived was unman, and that at all events the Master of the Mint has no authority to reprimand, as suggested. " Royal Mint, Oct. 27. " W. J. ABBILDIIIK. " Mr. E. T. W." CATION SYSTEM. TO TIM ZDITOR OP Till ZXPRIU. Sts,—lt becomes a pressing question to know what to do with convicts. Surely we can secure the main objects in their treatment, of punishment and warning, of security to the public, and of moral reformation, without disregard ing economy. Inasmuch se convicts must in any ease be fed, clothed, and otherwise taken care of, all which costs money, they should invariably, and as a necessary :part of their system of management, be put to some productive work. This productive work should, as far se possible, be such as will not interfere with trade or the labour market, nor infringe upon the domain of private enterprise. These are the principles which British tax payers should maintain and contend for. There are in the British blends extensive tracts of waste land, certain of which, capable of improvement, mad to be had at a cheap rate, are yet unmar getable, being unsuited for the remunerative employment of capital. In spending money to improve land it does not pay unless you get at least eve per cent. for your money. The mosey soak in improving land is mostly spent in Wear; very little in materials or other things. Now, with a number ..)f convicts, stout bands enough,who must be fed and kept at any rate, the labour is ready to be applied to the land at once, without much extra cost. The labour is already paid for, and may as well be turned to some ac count. Thus circumstanced, it would surely pay govern ment to improve land for an annual return of one or two per cent. on the estimated cost of outlay in convict labour; and so land might be improved end brought into the land market, which otherwise would fur ever lie comparatively useless. Your obedient servant, London, Oct. 28. W. E. C. N. PROFESSOR MAURICE AND TILE COUNCIL OP KING'S COLLEOII.—It is understood that Mr. Maurice has been definitively removed from the chair of ecclesiastical history by the council of King's College, in consequence of the doubu respecting his orthodoxy suggested by a volume of "Theological Essays" recently published by the rev. gentleman. The announcement was made by Dr. Jelf on Saturday last that Professor Maurice's lectures would be FRANCE. PARIS, MONDAY EVIININO. It is stated upon " unquestionable authority" that the much-talked of and dreaded manifesto of the Emperor of Russia on the receipt of the Turkish de claration of war now turns out to have been a very pacific note from Prince Nesselrode, in which he informed the Four Powers that the Emperor, his master, regretted extremely that the Turks should have so misunderstood his intentions as to have pushed matters to a declaration of war ; that he de plored the present state of suspense, and was most anxious for its speedy termination. As the readiest way of effecting this, and with a view to the imme diate evacuation of the Principalities, ho proposed that a Turkish plenipotentiary should proceed to Prince Gortschakoffs head-quarters, and arrange the matter on the spot. This proposition is said to have been declined by France and England, on the ground that matters had gone too far to allow the difference between Russia and Turkey to be arranged in this summary manner, but that those Powers were ready to draw up a new note, based on the evacua tion of the Principalities, in which the portions of the Vienna note, which had offended Turkish dignity, should be omitted or explained in such a way as to leave no ground for Russian interference with the sovereign rights and prerogatives of the Sultan. Such a note, it is further stated, has been drawn up, has received the assent and approbation of Austria and Prussia, as well as of the representative of the Emperor !Nicholas at Vienna, and is now on ifs way to Constantinople. An unfavourable reaction took place at the Bourse to-day. Final quotations:—Three per Cent. Rentes, 73.13; Four-and-a-Half per Cents., 99.63; Bank Share, 2,783. General Baraguayd'Hilliers is officially nominated to the Embassy at Constantinople. The following not irreconcilcable statement is from another source: VIENNA, MONDAY. 30,000 infantry and 400 cavalry, under the orders of Omer Pacha, passed the Danube at Kalafat, on the 27th inst. A great number mo►e were in the act of passing. An encounter with the Russians was expected on the 28th. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The draft of a new arrangement to supersede that framed at Vienna has been approved by the English and French governments, and is now on its way to Constantinople. It was in connexion with this ex pedient that the recent meetings of diplomatists at Vienna mentioned yesterday in these columns, and which the Russian ambassador has attended, have taken place. There is no fresh io telligence of any compact securing abstention from hostilities having been concluded on the Danube. The new and dilatory orders from Constantinople mentioned by the Afoniteur would reach Omer Pacha about the 25th, probably in time to retard the execution of any general plan of ope rations which he may have formed. On the other side, it is unlikely that Prince Gortachakoff would attempt with the force at his disposal any serious movement against Turkey, even if his position in the Principalities were not professedly defensive. At this distance it is difficult to say how the encounter of the 23rd may be judged of on the spot, but as pre sented in the narrative of the Monileur it wears the aspect of a local incident rather than a part of a systematic plan of attack on either side. The condition attached to the Sultan's instructions for delaying hostilities—viz., that " in case hostilities should have been commenced, the order was to be considered as null and void "—reduces the practical effect of that order more than at first appears; for although a commander bent on peace might come to the conclusion that the collision of the 23rd ult. was no commencement of hostilities in the intention of his government, a general whose success required immediate action would see in the proviso a reluctant concession to some other influence rather than the expression of a self-resolved will. The entrance of the fleets into the Sea of Mar mora was not made, as to time, in accordance with the provisions of the French government, as stated in the Mon iteur. The fleets only left Besika on the 22nd, and on the 23rd only three of the French vessels were at Gallipoli. Admiral Dundas was at the first castle of the Dardanelles. It will be remembereiftl;;Cti;:government organs of France and England have declared in concert that the Russian proposition at Olmutz, of a note by the Four Powers which should stand aide by side with the Vienna note, has been rejected by France and England, as not calculated to afford that "sufficient tee" of which the Univers speaks so warmly. et the latest advices from the East appear to indi cate that, in the language of the hest. Cor., " the declarations given by the Emperor of Russia at Olmfitz have furnished a basis upon which negotia tions may still be carried on." While journals which affect a kind of ministerial authority tersely announce that events have placed the direction of the present crisis beyond the power of negotiators, we know that a lively interchange of opinions, views, and pro- positions is still taking place between the five Euro peen powers on the subject of Turkey. We have letters from Constantinople of the 17th, two days later than that published yesterday. The only important feature in the correspondence is a reference to the endeavours made by the ambassadors Ito induce the Porte to protract the term of (theft) existing peace by eight days. This addition to the 15 days originally allowed by Omer Pacha would give November Ist (the date mentioned in subse quent telegraphic despatches) as the day on which a state of war would be recognised. The utmost activity continued to be displayed in the defence of the state. Every day men, money, and munitions were sent off to the seat of war. On the 17th the new battalion of chasseurs left Constantinople for 'Armenia. GERMANY. Lettere from Vienna speak of the probable recal of Baron Bruck from Constantinop:e to take the post of Minister of Finance. In such a case, it is said M. Prokesch Osten, who has had considerable eastern experience, would go to represent Austria at the Porte. Prince Napoleon arrived at Stuttgard on the 17th. The King's aide-de-camp was waiting for him at the railway terminus, and he rode to the palace in one of the royal carriages. A grand dinner was given at the palace the same afternoon, at which Prince Napoleon was seated at the right hand of the King. AUSTRALIA. THE GOLD DIGGINGS. (FROM Orli OWN CORILP.:ITONDLNT.) BALLARAT, JILT IS, N 3 It is now exactly ten weeks sin ce 1 first sight e d the Port Phillip Heads, with a heavy gale blowing on the land, and the sea breaking over the ill-fated Sacramento, close under our lee—no very pl eas ," eight for a strange captain—without a pilot boat is sight, nor did any appear in answer to our signals, though we stood close in shore until the turn of the tide, when the force of the set left us no alternative but to try to find a channel for ourselves. So we led the van of 16 largo ships, principally emigrant ves sels, passing within hail of the wretched passenger., dragging fragments of their elects th roug h the surf front the wreck, and reached in safety the inner wet cr of the bay. When out of danger in the smooth waters of the inner harbour, a British schooner came alongside, as might be supposed, to congratu late us on our escape, but it proved to be the pilot, who hailed us to cast anchor fur a few hours, ma he went ashore for his things. As it seems th ese holiday folk could not think of going, by the bye, is their pea-jackets, and are so careful of their finery that they would not carry them afloat. A similar summons was seemingly conveyed to the entire doer, for within a quarter of an hour we were all riding with al fathoms of chain out, with a fair wind blow ing, that would have brought us to our destinatio n , while our l'alinurus was looking up his go-ashore costume—a state of things which impressed me with no very favourable opinion of the exe.utive, and ac. ! counts, without any comment, for the subsequent wrecks, and the enormous loss of life and propen e , which have lately occurred in this port. The next sample of colonial discipline was in no way more commendable than the pilot service, far it was well advanced into the following day, before the port officer came on board to point out the discharg. leg anchorage, and a further interval elap se d b e f ore any customs authority appeared to permit the pas. sengers to disembark. When at length all obstacles were removed, a clumsy, unsightly steamer Came alongside, and after a tedious river navigation reached what turned out to be the wharf at dusk, in the middle of a pelting rain storm, and a scene en sued which, to use the patent phrase, o battl es s e description." The skipper of the s:eatuer, deter mined to have all clear fur a start by daybreak, husth d the soaked and shivering passengers ashore, into a lake of liquid mud, which, without exaggera tion, was fully hip deep to any one under middle stature, and then he tumbl«l trunks, portmanteaus, carpet bags, and bonnet boxes promiscuously into the same slimy bed. Any attempt at identification was simply impossible, so that those with weak nerves determined to bit it out until daylight would enable them to discern their luggage; those with weak constitutions endeavoured to Hounder through the mire in search of shelter. It was alto- gether a serio-eomic scene of unequalled interest, in which the cries of children, the sighs of mothers, the moans of invalids, and the ejaculations of disappoint ment were ludicrously mingled with the reckless jests of hardy voyagers, the quaint toasts and comic songs of parties provided with an antidote to the ele ments, the hopeful predications of enthusiastic be lievers in the old adage about " bad beginnings," &c., and the various remarks and rejoinders that were banded about, amongst which I was most amused with the following Hibernian soliloquy, uttered in tones of female earnestness :—" An this is the great Australian climit is it, where people can strip naked and go to bed in the open air, in under a gum tree, with possums for a pillow, an the nighting a les asingin all livelong night —may the black es td luck overtake the liars, God forgive me, and make them spind many aftlhirnoons like the present." I managed to get a rough shakedown, under a counter, at the Victorian rate of as., and went down early in the morning to the wharf ; the rain, as the decrying female querulist remarked, " pouring down all the blessed night without intercession.' And though I have often seen saturated crowds at Green wich festivals, and dissolving views by the greatest living artists, I never saw any scene, real or imaginary, to compare with the emigrant groups on that occa sion. The people and luggage all seemed ready to melt. Linings, bonnets, and flabby hats, looked as if reduced to the last ; shawl patterns running into legend collisions; the overcoats dying out their inmost essence, their wearers dripping from the nose points and finger-ends, as if afflicted with a gushy dropsy ; while the packages about, if I must give a comparison, looked like saturated lumps of sugar just about sinking into dissolution in thick brown coffee. But, as I before remarked, while I pitied many, there were some Mark Tapleys amongst the number whose bearing and philosophy provoked a smile. It was calculated that four thousand souls arrived the same tide as ourselves, and the average for eleven days after was over ten, many of whom landed penniless, and would assuredly have become victims to hunger and exposure, only for that admi rable institution the Emigrants' Home, founded by the excellent and philanthropic Mrs. Chisholm. For some few days the streets of Melbourne were thronged with detachments of the new arrivals, yet a few days more and all were absorbed like water in the thirsty desert, without producing the slightest depreciation in the wages rates of mechanics, ser vants, or labourers ; and so it still continues ; crowds upon crowds pour in, and after lounging and gossip ping for a little, become mixed up in the wheel of business and employment. In Francisco, though wages were exorbitant for a period, the in flux of people quickly moderated the rates, because the mining districts were comparatively in accessible, and parties could not think of venturing without a team and necessaries; but here the dig gings are so comparatively contiguous, so easy of approach, and so studded with stores, where every requisite can be had, that no difficulty pre sents itself; superior to the hope, and almost ameent ing to certainty, that once there and the battle of life is over. Thus those who remain in town can command their own terms, and though you conform to their exorbitant demands, you must be content to give servants and tradesmen their own way in a great measure, for if you take your brick-maker to task for not coming early in the morning, he may tell you to finish the job yourself; or if you tell your cook, rather late in the day, that you are bringing home a few friends to dinner, she may most likely remark " she is sorry she can't wait to dress it," as she is going out to the nigger concert In the evening. I can speak from personal experience of this intolerable species of in dependence. When, after fishing my :valise from the mud, on the morning after arrival, I asked an idle fellow who was enjoying the sport "if he wanted a job ?" " What is it ?" he said. " To take this to the hotel," I replied. " Would it require two ?" he then asked. "Not it" " Then take it yourself" was his answer. In fact, every species of aspirant for place is certain of immediate employment, except clerks, who are at a regular discount, and I would therefore strongly recommend those nice young men who take a daily stroll to Somerset house or Downing-street to eat their mutton chops, and spar over their desks till park hour, to remain at home, unless they are ambitious of getting en throned in orange stalls, or turning grooms to lucky diggers. What most annoys a new chum—as they term it —is the rate of rent-2,5001. for a business pre mises ; 1,2001. for a middling shop ; 5/. per week for an office, which is a sub-division of a small room, about the size of one of those curtained recesses where a London merchant retires to wash his hands-31. per week for a niche in some suburban slum, which is termed a sleeping apartment. Yet at those unheard of prices, if you do not answer the advertisement with the utmost prompti tude, you find another party in absolute occupation. The price of simple necessaries is not so startling, as I may instance, good beef, mutton, tea, sugar, and even flour, but then the cost of putting them into a consumable shape constitutes the grievance; for what with servant's wages ranging from 35/. to 50/., wood at 3/. 12s. per load, and water at 65.6 cask, the expense of producing the raw material in the shape of a roast leg of mutton or a loaf of breed, would require the computative knowledge of a poll tical economist. I must not omit noticing the fabulous price of land, not only in the city but in the remote country. Wha, t do you think of 2,50/. per foot, with only a depth o f ~ feet. I cannot bring to mind the value of Lom loll City or West-end property, but 1 fancy that in nei ther Cheapside, Piccadilly, or Belgrave-square could any such proportionate rate be obtained, and the ut ITALY. The Tuscan Moniteur pub l ishes a decree providing for the administration of the Grand Duchy during the absence of the Sovereign. The decree virtually empowers the ministers to govern Tuscany with as much authority as if the Grand Duke were at home to endorse their acts. SPAIN. A meeting of Opposition members of the Senate was held on the 24th, reinforced by some grandees of Spain. It was intended to adopt a course of pro ceedings for the Opposition clueing the approaching session, but the meeting broke up without any de termination having been arrived at. FLOODS.—For more than a fortnight past the rivers and rivulets in this county have been overflowing their banks, and the low lands have been and are becoming more deeply covered with water up to the present time In the vicinity of Lewes, particularly about Denney and OM ham, the water spread over the land to a great extent, giving it the appearance of lakes and islands. In the nor thern part of the county the case is similar, and the area between Lancing and Worthing has had, during the past week, very much the appearanc e of an archipelago. The land to the west of Angmering is in the same state. On Sunday morning last the rain fell in torrents.and continued to do so for hours, rendering the roads at Fishbourae and Donnington quite impassable fur foot passengers ; at the former place the water reached to the axletrces of carriages passing that way. The farmers have been put to much in convenience, but we have nut heard of any casualty.— Brigli fon Go:ette. CHOLERA AT GUERNSEY.—A fatal case of Asiatic cholera occurred last week at Guernsey. It was that of an unfortunate woman, who died alter twelve hours' illness. She had been in an utter state of destitution before her illness, without food or fuel, and was living in a filthy neighbourhood. penev know you dual 9c Tel 13