The Express. — London, England, 1851-12-31 00:00:00

We have received Athens papers of the 17th in stant. The emirrier trAthenes contains a report of a stormy debate which had taken place in the , Chamber of Deputies. M. Chourmouzi attacked the; ministry, and particularly the minister of war, on the subject of the brigandage, the violence oommit tod by the mobile columns, and the protection ac rordtsl to the fatuous brigand, Sigditza, which the chsmber of accusation had sent before the courts, but *horn M. Spiro Milio had, notwithstanding his crimes, sheltered in the ranks of the army. M. Chouritiouzi proved that brigandage had not been s uppressed as it might have been. So ' violent did the debate become, that, at the order of the President, the gendarmes in vaded the tribunes, and prepared to (clear the chamber. Order being, however, re-established, this measure was not rendered necessary, and the debate proceeded, the speeches on both sides being full of furious invectives and personalities. Eventually the chamber declared the explana ti ons of the Minister of War to be satislactory. The project for giving a pension of 3,00 dnaehnuis a month to M. Georges Condouriotis had been adopted by a large majority of the chamber. The same newspaper contains a long answer from the Greek government to the memorandum addressed to it from the Foreign-office regarding the brigandage p r evalent during the past few years. The ministry state that their efforts have barn continuously and suc essfully directed to the repression of piracy and rob bery within their jurisdiction. Cbe Court. WINDSOR, Dec. 30. The Queen walked in the Ilome-park and Slopes this morning. The Prince of Wales, the l'rineess Royal, ponyouner of the royal family, took their usual and walking exercise. Prince Alhert went out ohnoting this forenoon, accom panied by Prince Nicholas of Nassau, Baron lhntinek, and lord Cowley. Colonel Bouverie attended on Prines: Albert sad Baron lladeln on Prince Nicholas of Nassau. At the rural table last evening at the Cantle were the Duchess of {tent, Prince Nichol.' of Nassau, the lady in waiting to the Duchess of Kent, the Baronesa de $ teth, the Bares Bentinek, Lord and Laity Cowley, the Right ilea. 11. Labouchere, Baton lladeln, and Baron Roggen back. Earl Granville, the Queen's Principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affnrs, held a diploniatie levee at four o'clock ymerday afternoon, at the Foreign-oftlec, Downing-street. the reception eras MtenclAl by the Ansbaseador of France Wount Walewdei). The Ministers of Belgium (N . Van de W,yer). Baer,. Ayres (M. Moreno), Bavaria (Baron de (AV)), Russia (Baron Brunnow), Prusoia (Chevalier Bun gee), Sweden end Norway (Baron de lath:awn), United Fates of America (Mr. Abbott Lawrence), Greece (Mr. Trienupi), Turkey (M. Musurus), Austria (Count Boot), l'artiqal (Count de Lavradio), Brazils (Chevalier de Ma- redo), Nardi., and the Two Walks (Prince Carini), Persia (•hitfee Khan). CharOs d'Affaires of Pere (Mr. Rivera), Is smirk (M. tic Mello), Spain (M. Comps), t3ardinza (the Marquis ()Odin), Guatemala sad Costa Ries (M. Walk rant' snit Colonel Facie. Their Riesileasise sp pared in their respective diplomatic osetainee, sad each u were memliers of unites of knighthood woes their rospese tile insignia. The reception was ecnielessed at Ulf-put ustlock. (Pros at Wars Gasefte.l WlNDsnit CAsrt.g, DEC. 29.—This day had an- Ciller of her Majesty:—His Excellency Mons. Alexandre Cabana Waleereki, Ambassador from the French Republic, to deliver a letter from the President of the French Repub. Lc, accompanying • preeent of tapestry from the French satim on the occasion of the Meat Exhibition; and the baron de Mutineer, Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Irknipotentiary from the Emperor of all the &Isaias, on his 'aura to England, after a temporary absence : to which they were respectively introduced by the Earl Granville, her Msjesty's Secretary of State for Fordo Affairs. CoIIYISSIONS SIGNED ET TILE LORD-LIEUTENANT or Fireentits.—John Amtruther Thomson, Esq., Roger Sinclair Aytoso, Eq., and James Touneend Oswald. to be deputy ►ieutenants. - - - COMMISSION SIGNED BY TILE LORD-LIEUTENANT or LAM:ASH I 11.11.—Itobcrt Montague llornby, dent., to be ensiun in the 3rd Regiment of the Duke of Lancaster's Own Mania. LORD NORMANDY we are assured has never written anything on French politics to any Frenchmen not at the time connected with the government of France. And in alluding in this journal to papers tcised by the police agents of Louis Napoleon, when General Cavaignac was arrested in Paris, on the morning of the coup data, it was not intended to impute any improper conduct to the English ambassador in that city. MR. LABOUCHERE, THE PRESIDENT OF THE B,IA•D or Tutor., is at present on a visit to Manehestar. He is the gust of Mr. Thomas Bailey, president of the Maseheder Chamber of Commerce. BISHOP PHILI.POTIN AND TILE EVANGELICAL CL/ACM—The Bishop of Exeter seems determined eat to tolerate the evangelical cicrgy in his diocese. flues he has, as we announced the other day, issued • inesition against the Rev. 11. Newton, who wee selected, Are his well-known piety and seal, by the Rev. W. Howard, rater of St. Thomas, near Exeter, as the curate of that mai The parishioners, naturally very indignant at this pew& lag on the part of their diocesan, are making greet mil sums's] cautious to indemnify Mr. Newton he the loss of his curacy. The Rev. John Matehnni. of St. Andrew's,. Plymouth, whe has frequently mitered the hits with the melt rev. combatant, and to wham It vas rumored the bishop bad extended the olive Irma Miss es a late visitation to that town, hes ppaabiiely eseribeid the fund. It will perhaps be remsmlered that, emme time ago, the Bishop of Exeter refused to license a mei NW. mated by the Rev. J . W. Humor of Torah_ ea ogee' gelical divine of some note in the deeds Hems. The poserds of refusal were the " baptismal regmeradea swesties." and Mr. Burroughs being determinist net to Lee a herr ran curate of the bishop's stamp has riled In the wire eme of a Scripture reader, with whose label" in and at th direction of the vicar, it is esid,the e =tr: not interfere. Rumour says that If the fight rev. pikes eas, by any possibility, rake out the dying rasa slam di MUM against this procedure, he will be sure to de it. Tax EDINBURGH RuPOl.3l COMMITS* amminble la Ifeiday next to mature measures for bailee apu bile merig to ascertain the sentiments of the mmmWty at tie n i tle mpuiso seleret of Parameter, rediew—ilmeineri. x or B2lo2ol.—The if mesa Timm, sr the astbseir , of " ea marred oweeepeatiseit; coatradknithe rumour that Kr. s. Peel intends to berms a medicine be Bristol at the neat election. It is MOM that the Ma. gestimen hes se latenia eit= iff lde perlimeatry esametion with dm been. li of Tie &Can as Una mg Can Arens slalss that di &pie yhimersese imams M meriliet itself, sad some beiseering Pamir vertea lug it are giro is • Wee, hem "bilk the following =- tract is taken 'memory% Dee. 22, 18.5 t. Meet a fortnight age I eineived ems mem te bore for ware ea that pest et Chet pined, lame by the sere of Bartle heir Pima, bid by Edward deem erd Ce., about a herbed Tanis hem for lees Mess al stien. Par the Ant 14 het the brig we. thevegh gat mans and may sebelsesse ; the ems two Mt of Wee eley led eight feet of eel rata The ripe tier inlaid a dry mod for about six rim air metre gads* beret forth with a noir reo the mime ef roma hem the safety mho ef , a keg pobt, we farmed : 8 111W1h• re l a e r a eztie te the gas es it mega wash imi limed with a Mr ha fret 114 1 . 68 ali a t l ear to extinguish it mil IPO Mel the ben et mem In the mem of born it Is to have • tam the ske ef the serer, es poi We ill. ea* of *see lan dime lashes In dimmer, 1 pied see red in the bees mil read it per pribialarly • Mehl ef thirty-tin het. Oa LE being ts.it ineteeely mega fn, mililoso 10 above 14. it ea be sem carer meey ems reed. colour ef is thaw is • fright nil, bismillallr sinks& at dim with bins; bet whir ibe mare h Imp, it gives it • yellow appeasers. emir mimes reg it bib the era of dewier bet 1 emir &rest gam or alio. The pewee le per ; bed vbee eindesd in a Ina sae dr pew le smel, ea net at el sumbllei the time ham esel pa It oft mairem a Welt will lbs sere dear as is far, set re me main sassy pepretise he applying it le tbe remengies rased ef emir. The gas seem to be icaked to s 00 7 , rie, ow Te tirenir age a We me mei am 100 to the Emit el , sr pm um fwd } i alba as mem wee the. 111 hat Ma re =a airs thr lad e the irk wee hurl Warr ew betweee. weesase ten about yeas l ees ma, awl head 23 het et moss, • blush tree ere het het of bine alb het of wed Met reps hen aimed • led ei pea hem wa ram V he Mpg ef 13 lime up the bele. As it is &Meal& is OM rata as war the 1t.... SI perils, I am am berm alma * peas nem the lies, nil have already Teethed • depli M 35 hot Ma me Mang my pa" Raison, ibuous..—The WNW. of this bag ber, during die emeniag series, breed plying to PP Merit se erred amt sepal lone of their sate, ar as lie mite it me Imps •Wleatetry urea them to vary ana nee led dear eaMbly eel y, bet to mai ie Mere my inlet bee a se my el die M theof Mee sad geld byte mid es e, Mrel . e . lere the hedge dem. his erill• gnat boom m it was Urea der that mam T a es heavily ems the that Lam eel Oriatemel arm Parket Compasy, while maim desk UM blase le Ormi, they having - tee away the time. if the mires ef Ibis beam he afield r amiss e ewourr hege the iser le Odra vie llemegrer THE EXPRESS, WEDNESDAY, EVENING, DECEMBER 31, 1851. GREAT COLLIERY EXPLOSIONS. THE RAWMARSH TRAGEDY. Yesterday, the adjourned inquest, to investigate the circumstances attending the death of the 50 miners who lost their lives by the explosion at the Warren Vale Colliery, near Rawmarsh, on Saturday, the 20th inst., was held at the Star Inn, Rawmarah. Some of the men who were employed in the colliery hiving been examined, tee following important evidence was given by Mr. Charles Morton, the government inspects:4' of mines. He said : On Saturday last I examined the Warren Vele mine with a party . of the surviving colliers. Last Monday I examined it again with Messrs. Biram, Jeffeock, Locke, Sm. On Monday the general ventilation of the thick coal mine was better than on the Saturday. I infer that on the latter day it was better than before the explosion, because latterly there has been a furnace-man both day and night. Prior to the explosion the furnace was attended in the day time only. On Monday the quantity of air passing through the " dip " aide works was about 13,000 cubic feet per minute. On the " rise" Rideworks (near where the explosion took place), it was about 16,000 cubic feet per minute; and near the small staple pit (where the air leaves the thick coal) there were about 20,000 cubic feet per minute. It may fairly be assumed that prior to the explosion 15,000 feet per minute passed through the thick coal works, or some parts of them. Ordiasrily this quantity of air might be sufficient, but in an emergency it would be quite inade quate. It is not the mere ordinary conditions of a mine that are alone to be provided for. There must be, to keep it safe, a large surplus of air, to meet unforeseen exigoecies, such as the sudden influx of inflammable gas, which led to the recent explosion. The accident originated in the western portion of the thick coal workings, in a " benk " about 200 yards from the shaft. The place is called No. 8 beak on the " rim " side of the colliery. It is the spot la which the bodies of Sylvester, Cousin., Bugg, Lee., Go thard, and Knapton were found. It is comparatively a newly-opened piece of work, aud it appears that the roof here had been threatening to fall for the first time for two or three days before the explosion. The area of coal exca vated at this point does not exceed one-eighth of an acre, and having a height of about six feet. In my judg. ment, the roof of this bunk fell freely on the morning of the accident, and when Sylvester was examining it. It is not unusual for the roof of a recently started bunk to disengage a large quer thy of fire-damp when it begins to break down. The liberated gas was then suddenly and unexpectedly brought in contact with the workmen's lighted candles in the face of dia hank, and there it ignited. It seems that Sylvester and tem Misers attempted to escape front the place by clamber *, WPM the fallen rubbish which now blocked up the south side Of the honk, but in vain, fur their retreat was cut off, mad the body of Sylvester was eventually found lying on Ms tap of a heap of debris seven or eight feet high. All the liedkations at present observable in the mine point to the No. 3 bank as the locality where the fire originated, and I have no doubt it arose in the manner anal at the spat before described. The portion of cold which had here been excavated left a hollow space termed a goal, which on two of its sides is completely enclosed by air-tight walls six feet thick, built of roof stone and shale. These are called pack walls end they serve to keep open the tramways laid along the northern and southern boundaries of the excavation. The third, or lower, side is bounded by solid coal, and the fourth, or upper, side only is open. The current of air is not allowed to yam across this Roar, but merely along its upper edge ; and the consequence is that it soon becomes a mumble of inflammable gas which rises by its own levity to- wards the face of the Wok where the colliers are at work with naked lights, and where it is liable to be accidentally ignited. A fall of the roof in the middle of the goof may at any time drive out upon the miners' candles sufficient fire-a damp to cause an explosion, pros ided there be not passing at the moment an abundance of fresh air to dilate gas below the igniting point. Ignorant or careless persons imprn dently venturing into the goat' with a naked light may also set fire to the confined gas. The kindled tire-damp on the morning of Saturday last was fed by the gas contained in the goof of No. 3 bunk, and rushing outward to the shaft, found additional supplies of inflammable matter in its career amour similar goofs formed in No. 2 and No. I banks. The flames, thus augmented, ap pear to have visited almost every avenue of the mine, excepting the extreme dip boardgates, when Hague and his sons, Shaw, Cooper, and a few more of the survivors, were employed. I have not been able to discover any criminal neglect on the part of any person in connexion with this dreadful calamity ; but I feel it my duty to state that there has been in venoms was, and by various indivi duals, a want of caution and a degree of laxity in the ma nagement of the m'ne, which is at all times pregnant with danger in working a fiery coal scam. For exaople, the ventilating furnace, which is the prime moving power of the whole system of ventilation, and which ought to be kept constantly and fiercely blazing both day and night, was here not attended to in tee night, but was smothered up with fuel from 6 p.m. to 5 the stoat morning. On Sundays this inattention extended over a still longer period of time. The effect is to slacken the current of air in the works during the night, sad increase the risk of explosion next morning. Common prudence, therefore, dictated that a furnace-man should go down and stir up the fire at least two or three hours before toe opals's desoanded. Prudence would also have dictated that a 'competent bottom steward should enter the mine two or them hours before the workmen, and visit every place with a many lamp, to see whether or not it was fru ban ant Kis discovered danger, to place a well- understood smogs the entrance, to prevent unwary person !toes gag te work there. These usual and salutary precautions wen Indliftunately omitted by the deceased (Sylvester), sad by these who were in authority. If Sylvester had gone down on the massing of the accident, two or tbros hours before the ml . and taken a safety lamp with his, instead of a end* the probability is that he would have forbidden the EOM meelffifet is No. 3 beak, and thus the explosion might have bees eseibed. It is almost impredie to prevent acci dude Am 6e-dam,. if the miners On to be permitted to go down llibmbelootely with the beim steward on his first vidt, m they Mut to kayo dons hew. A similar inoon siderateneee wens M barre a rjeaselead towards even ing, for it has set bees the deep of any person to look round the works at the and of the day and see that all the trapdoors were sarefully closed, although the accidental lea,* apes of one all night may cause an expire= next morning. The colliers and boys have evidently bees left too much to their owe guidance, sad have had tee and of their own way, es immoraut of the moddidese *veggies of Sylvester, who has bees supposed to be their superintendent The various bramilm of monnal labour devolving upon him as fire-trier, rent gsgsloar, stopping builder, trapdoor setter, &c., would liteely possinde him from exercising the im portant mesh& dude midi appertain to the vigilant and skilful sapeedeles of 70 perinea working in a fiery mine. And Sylvester's deficiencies in this respect do not appear to have been tad for, and in het could not be effect ively. eta ffffied as aged lied Mimes man like Kay, who nom:m.lly lid Sas lime et beim eiewerd at this and other pies buboes, in MOM ChilinllNlntb. Toe safety at these 70 erifelmeeple mid the econsuoird management of die miss die - demand the SIMI* IlMinine see ** ef as emerged. and ei periesced eapeeistandent, gememed et eslideet .hill and intelligent* and endowed el* ample astbetily et Motet and cootrol tho wider-ground redeem of the therein, and the sa upon wham *bility= ls ;4 B. 2 .ll goribling foesafety sad mdf= " of the ZOO end Ole miners. It is marl. hat that in the preesst melancholy instance the gspeedbility has bees vaguely distributed in seer bed proportion mew erylvester, Kay, and Wars, est ssdiority OW the men has not bars adepreedy esembed as pieemed by Sylvester. The Ames of don& of bind, and the non-existence of printed st edits to define the duties and regamel balm et der egos% sod workmen, is to be regretted, id Mille etyma improvement for the future The peas Woof tairati mess labouren is the pit at night instead of deem all in the day-time is advisable. The duty of thaneierl beta report to the bottom steward in the morn ?gni =of ri s m 7 = har sea iag th in e tnhigehtni.rinf aid t will, esysiese lemelter te imp Se level, headings, and hardiness well In edemas of el the other work', with a view of tagging and drawing et the natural gaseous sup plie, sada will be prudent to work such places with " brat tires " est misty lamps. Mr.lllcolos was still under examination at half-past four, when our report was despatched. only fireman or underlooker of that part of the mine when this explosion took place. Pigott was short of breath, being plagued with asthma, but was capable of doing his work well. If Pigott, who went into the mine half-an hour before the coldere every morning to examine the Nate of the air, had found any fire-damp in a bay as he went up the workings, he would usually wait till the col- UM ems up, and caution them. It was Pigott's duty to maim every forking, bay, or drift-way in the mine, whether in work or exhausted, and he was sup posed se do so every morning. There were no writ tea neles, but the colliers were often told what the rakes were, and where was the use of written Mee le men that could not read f The galloway teeters leswiled She furnace fires in the pit on Sundays, but at Idleblelbe *es were raked with coal and slack, and left to dismiskews. The air was good, and was very strong that Healy Reynolds, underlooker of the colliery, said he had I been manager at the bottom, in these mines, 10 years. The laic time he was in this pit, and in the workings where the explceiun occurred, was the Thursday before the accident. Four colliers and their drawers were then working there, but he saw no gas. Had never seen any gas there, except just up to the fault near it. The men were working with naked candles, and the current of air was strong. Had examined the workings since the explosion, and, judging from the blowing down of the stoppinga, and from the knowledge of where the foul sir was most seen, he should thick the blast must have occurred near the step of the fault, near which Whittle and Davies were working. Pigott and Bushell, two of the deceased, were employed in drawing props after examining the air. They would not be drawing props that morning, because there were some ready for use. Had found the top of the fire• man's lamp near his body. Could not find the bottom, but it did not appear to have been blown off, end thought it must have been unscrewed and the top taken off for some thing. This should not have been done, because it would expose the flame. The furnace fires were never much at tended to at this time of the year, end he could not say whether they were kept in by means of damped ashes beaten down at night. Never gave any directions *gaited that being done. He did not know it' the fire was out during Sunday, this foggy weather, that it would cause the draft to be languid on the Monday morning. Edward Harrison, collier, sworn—Had been attending the ponies—or galloways—in the mine for the fortnight before the explosion. He also attended to the furnace. On Sunday (the day before the explosion) :he fire was out : he raked it out en Saturday night, and on Monday morning he went down at a quarter-past four o'clock to light the fire. Did not light toe fire till between five and six, after he had fed the horses. He was in the stables in the mine when the explosion occurred. Tile Coroner inquired if any further evidence could be obtained from amongst the workmen at the mine, but it appeased that all the colliers and their assistants in the workings within 150 yards of the point where the explosion occurred, had been killed by it, so that in point of fact there was no direct evidence as to the immediate cause of explosion. Mr. Joseph Dickinson, a government inspector of coal mines, was then examined. He said—l went down this pit on Wedneelay last with Mr. Reynolds, the undcrlooker, and his son, and the boy Banks, who so providentially es caped, with the view of ascertaining the cause of the explo sion. Banks pointed out to me the place where he left his muter, Davies, and Whittle, when he took the tub to the pony shunt. Between that place and where the other col liers were at work there is a narrow straight drift, with wide drifts branching out of it, which is said not to have been worked at the time of the explosion. One of these wide drifts has no opening through it, not having been holed for air, and having no bratticing in it. It conse quently forms a natural receptacle for tire damp, being iso lated from the ventilation. It is to this wide drift that I trace the explosion. The stoppings are driven from this point, and such of the props as aro left standing have their sides, next to it, thickly coated with dust, and some of them with char, the direction of the blast being clearly traceable from this point, both towards the goer or sink, as well as along the other open ings. An accumulation of gas in this wide drift is not only probable but likely. This gas would accumulate from the sides and roof. 1 cannot, however, reconcile this accumu lation of gas, in close proximity and open to the working places of the men and boys, with the proper examination by the firemen, such as appears to have been required by the rules of the pit. Had the fireman tried the place, he would, I think, have detected the gas, and have dislodged it, or, tailing to dislodge it, he would not have allowed the men and boys to work close to it with naked lights, or would at least have cautioned them of the danger. But no such intimation appears to have been given. The boy Banks, the only one who escaped, says ho heard nothing ofj any danger. The conclusion, therefore, forces itself upon me that these old drifts had not been examined that morning. Pigott, the fireman, was a very old man, and although he is said to have been a strong man for his age, it appears to me questionable how far a man so much advanced its age should be entrusted with duties which, in ' addition to experience and care, require all the energy and strength of • man in his prime. I can only conjecture how the gas was fired: it might have been by a train in the roof from one of the working places, or one of the sufferers may have entered this place with his lighted candle. The top of the fireman's lamp was found in my presence among the rubbish, and as the screw is perfect it is probable the lamp was open at the time; but, from the position where it and the man's body is said to have been fouud, I see no reason to suppose that the gas was fired by this light. and if the lamp being open indicates anything, it j may be that the fireman considered he had completed his examina tion, and had taken off the gauze for the sake of a better light. considering all to be safe. From the extent of the workings in this pit, the furnace power appears rather limited, the furnace being only 23 inches wide across the bars. The practice of damping the fire down (called raking it) with ashes and dust at nights and week ends, or allowing the fire to go out on Sundays, would naturally sleeken the ventilation and tend to form accureulatioas of gas in places whick would be otherwise clear, and may have led to the accumulation which formed the explosion Mr. Dickinson explained, by a plan of the workings, to the jury, the grounds on which he had come to his conclu sions as to the cause of the melancholy catastrophe, and they found a verdict attributing the deaths of the unfortunate men to accident. AN ATROCIOUS OUTRAOR WAS PERPETRATED ON TUESDAY last, at the house of Mrs. widow, lessee and keeper of the Coughton toll-gate, Lewis , ;bout half-a-mile from Attester. The only inmates of the house were Mrs. Lewis, ber grand-daughter, nine years old, and a youth aged fifteen years. About one o'clock in the morning, Mrs. Lewis was awoke by a call of " Gate," and on going to the window she saw two men leading two hones. After coming down stairs, and whilst in the act of opening the host door, one of them struck her on the head three these with a bludgeon. She instantly cried " Murder," emi attempted to close the door, but her exertions were neeveiling ; the door was burst open, and the man VIM bad struck her rushed into the house. Mrs. Lewis denegled with her esailant, and succeeded, with the of bow little grand-daughter, who had run dowa stain es the noise, and laid hold of the robber—in wrest ing*, frOm him, not, however, before he had aims& a New at the girl's h ead, which would undoubtedly ban been fatal had it not been warded off by the arm of I Mes. Lewis, which was fractured by it. The fellow who kept watch outside handed his comrade another bludgeon, by which time Mrs. Lewis and her grand-daughter had gained the inside of the staircase-door, and the youth, who was upstairs, ca lling loudly for help, the ruffians decamped, taking with them what they thought was the cash-box, but which contained only a few articles of little value, the box which they wanted remaining in the room, with a large amount of money in ft.—Birmingham Casette. MANSLAUGHTER AT WHITECHAPEL.—Lad even ing Mr. W. Baker held an inquest at the London Hospital respecting the death of George Hankin, aged 30 who, it was alleged, had died from violence received in a Ilht with a man named Peter Draper. Police constable Clar ke, 90 K, proved that Draper struck the deceased with his fist with great violence, which knocked the deceased backwards on the pavement, the latter being intoxicated, and not able to save himself. Witness asked Draper why he bad struck de ceased, and he (Draper) replied "Bea use he struck me father-in-law." Mr. 3. 0. Kent, the house surgeon , that the deceased died from an extensive fracture of the skull, as doubt by a severe fall. There were injuries also to tie boa*, and other parts of the head. The coroner having enemsed up the evidence, the jury unanimously returned a Verdict of " Manslaughter" against Peter Draper. DEATH OF A CLERGYMAN'S DAUGHTER IN MILL- Sege. Pi.—terday, Mr. Bedford held an in quest in M i ll be nk Prison on the body of Elisabeth Ilan Chambers, aged . 64, the daughter of a deceased elergyman, and a prisoner therein, under sentence of transportation for life. The deceased, described as nage, and whom the witnesses styled a lady by birth, was h ig hly respectably connected, and formerly kept her carriage. On the 27th of June, 1850, she was received into the above prison from Newgate, under sentence of transportation for life, for forging and uttering, and for a previous eoaviction. She was admitted as 45 years of age, butshe subsequently stated to some ladies win visited th e prison that she woe 64. By her own desire she was kept apart from other prisoners, and would not see any relatives or acquaintances. She made no complaint, but enjoyed good health up to the 1 5 th of August last, when be ill she was removed into the Infir mary where she reoained • fore night. On the 28th of O ctob er, suffering hem lose of appe tite and great debility, she was re-admitted into the Infir mary, in which she remained, gradually sinking, till the afternoon of Sunday last, about five o'clock, when she died. Mr. Helps, assistant surgeon of the prieoe,said that deemed while in the Infirmary, was 'applied with everything she fancied, including wine, bon, and brandy. She never, however, rallied, and two days before UST death was attacked with diarrhea, which haeteoed that mat. The deceased was very reserved, bat from the little enweenedini witness had had with her he °weaned her to bevels= highly educated. On ma king epee wren examisetios et the body he found the cause of death to be:extensive dissose of the lungs. The jury returned • verdict of s ' Natant MoD. ,• NATIONAL PUBLIC SCHOOL ASSOCIATION are about to appoint a deputation to wait upon Lord John Rua sell. His lordship having already given an audience to the deputation appointed by the rival society—the Manchester and Salford—has consented to an interview, and has fixed I the 31st January for it. THE HOPE Or THE NEW YEAR.- 14 Mr. Putsch presents the compliments of the season to Lord John Rus sell, and hopes the Noble Premier will not forget that New Year's Gift which he promised him—that same measure of Parliamentary Reform for which Mr. Punch has so long been waiting. —Pink. FUNERAL OF THE LATE J. M. W. TURNER., B.A. The remains of this distinguished artist were in terred yesterday in the catacomb. of St. Paul's Cathedral. Precisely at 12 o'clock the precession arrived at the western entrance, in the following order: Hearse and four hones, with velvet hone-cloths and plumes, containing the body in a splendid coffin, co vered with fine black cloth, upon the plate of watch was the inscription : " Joseph Mallard William Turner, Esq., MA., Died 19 Dec., 1501, aged 79 years." Eleven mourning coaches and four followed, containing the personal friends of the deceased, and the members of the Itoyal Academy all wearing the usual insignia of mourn ing. In the first carriage were—Mr. Harper, chief mourner, Mr. G. Joues, and Mr. Hardwicke. In the second—Messrs. Munro and Griffiths. In the third—Sir C. Eastlake, Mere. Mulready, Chalon, and Cooper. In the fourth—Messrs. E. H. Bailey, C. It. Leslie, H. W. Picker gill and Clarkson Staufield. In the filth—Messrs. Un ties, F. Wetherington, David Roberts, and C. Barry. In the sixth—Messrs. John Prescott Knight, C. Landseer, T. Webster, John Rogers Herbert. In the seventh—Misers. Cope, Richard Westalacott, Grant, T. Creswick. la the eighth—Mr. Richard Redgraye, DeNtayo, Messrs. floisma Alexander Hart, and Cockerell. la the ninth—Messrs. Cop ley, Fielding and llaghe, Col. Thwaites, and Mr. Winans. is the tenth—Messrs. Ilardwicke, Kingsley, Stokes, sal March. In the eleventh—Dr. Price, Messrs. Bartlett, Drake. and Pound. Private carriages :—Mr. ltardwicke's, Mrs. Francis Denby, Mr. Turner's housekeeper and Mr. Harper's clerk ; Mr. Stanfield's, Mr. Chalon's, Mr.Windus's, Mr. Pickersgill's, and Mr. Bartlett's. The collie having been taken out of the hearse was covered with a pall; Messrs. Creswick, Chalon, Roberts, Wither ington, Mulready, and Stanfield officiating as pall-bearers. The dean, Archdeacon Hale, the canon residentiary, at tended by the choristers of the cathedral, having joined the funeral party at the entrance, a procession was formed, which at ones moved up the nave, the choristers chanting the burial service, as harniunised by Croft and Purcell, with a singularly solemn and beautiful effect. Tnmels had been arranged in the aisle close to the lec tern, upon which the coffin was placed, and the burial service was alternately read by the Dean of St. Paul's and chaunted by the full choir. The aisle was very mach crowded; sad a conspicuous object of interest was the old housekeeper of the deceased, who, clad in the deepest black, sat close to the coffin and sobbed her responses to the service. She hail been in Mr. Turner's service for fifty-two years. According to custom the service should have been chaunted over the grave, but the numbers of the choir rendering such a mode impossible, it was, with the excep tion of the last verse, performed in the church, after which ' a procession was again formed, and proceeded to the crypt, where the body of the deceased artist was laid in a grave situated, as his last wish had pointed out, clew to that which contained the remains of Sir Joshua lteyuolds, and in the near neighbourhood of Sir C. Wren's. The Dean then read the last verse of the burial services, which was taken up and chaunted by a few of the choir, who had descended with the procession, and the grave was finally caned upon the great artist. lf rumour may be credited, Mr. Turner ha• bequeathed to the Artiste' Benevolent Fond Society the bulk of his property, amounting, as some allege, to 200,00 W., or there abouts. An additional proof that the welfare of British art was the thought uppermost in his mind is found is that clause of his will in which he has presented his fine collection of pictures to the nation ; at the same time setting apart a suf ficient sum to erect a suitable receptacle for them, which may enable, not only the public, but artists also, to have tree access to them. 'lbis testamentary clause can be con t iered as little less than a protest against the continuance of that rule of the Academical authorities, by which the por tion of the national collection which is contained in Marl borough House is closed to studious copyists. He has acted wisely, we think, in ordaiuing the erection of a separate gallery for his works. They have nothing in common with the bygone race of landscape painters. It was, in fact, his succentul endeavour to emancipate himself from scholastic trammels and follow out the natural bent of his genius, which may now be said to have upset their imitations of Claude and superfetation. of Poulin, which mark the decayed vigour of the whole of the last century men. The benevolent artistic society, above alluded to, was originally founded for the relief of distressed painters or their widows ; and has had for the exponent of its practical working and future prospects the lamented Sir Robert Peel, who made one of his last :wad most forcible appeals to public sympathy in its behalf. It is said that the deceased painter, throwing aside that sense of retirement which marked his actions while alive, has directed a certain outlay to be made in order to raise a marble monument to his memory over his remains in St. Paul's Cathedral; should this turn out to be the case, let us hope that it may lead to an amelioration of the style of sepulchral monuments which is sorely heeded. THE BELFER MURDER-CAPTURE OF THE ASSASSIN. On Monday an inquest was held at Belper, on the remains of the unfortunate bar (Mrs. Barnes), the parti milers of whose dreadful murder by a man named Turner appeared in that day's Express Several witnesses were examined, who detailed the appalling circumstances connected with the tragical occurrence, and the inquest was adjourned. Turner, it will be recollected, effected his escape, after committing the murder, notwithstanding that a number of persons were in the house at the time. He was captared, however, on Monday evening, near his own house. The following are the particulars : A young man, named George Jackson, who lives in Belper-lane, about a quarter of a mile from Turner's house, met the latter es he was coming in the direction of Wirksworth, about half-past 7 in the evening. He felt confident it was Turner, and he walked briskly up to him. Upon seeing him do so, Turner got on the shady side of the rued, so as to be out of the reflection of the moon, which was shining very bright at the time. Jack son wished Turner "Good night," as he suspected he was the man. Turner made no reply, but went on as fast as he could; and, on arriving at the endof the lane, he jumped over a high wall and ran across the fields. Jackson then told the Belper constables what he had seen, and the pur suit was planned. Wragg and Samuel Taylor went up Belper-lace towards Turner's house, and Joseph Taylor, Wm. Taylor, and Mellor went by Shireoaks, which leads to the p lace where he was last seen. A number of the inhabitants, guessing what the constables were about, ia the pursuit, and assisted in scouring the woods. WLan &and Taylor and Wing arrived near to Turner's house, is Lane-end, they met a young man named Watson, who told them that Turner had taken refuge in his mother's house, close by, and they were afraid of has bouring hint. The two constables went into the house together, and en seeing them Turner retreated up stairs, and made an attempt on his life by cutting his throat with a common table knife: but the wound was a very slight one, a con stable having struck him a blow on the arm before he had time to do himself much injury. He was immediately so : cured, and Mr. Pym, magistrates' clerk, jum then ma* up in a light cart, he was put into it and conveyed to Helper lock-up, where he arrived at ten o'clock, an immense mob being there to witness his arrival. On being conveyed to the lock-up he met a man who has succeeded him as col lector of rent.; and he is stated to have said to him, " If I had met you I should have murdered you. l am an honeeter mu than you though a murderer.' We understand he 'spree'ss himself pleased that he did not kill Mr. Bannister. He was very tired when captured, and had evidently walked a number of miles. REFORM MEETING AT HADLEIOH, Newby a public meeting, in connexion with the National Rams Amociation, was held in the New Hall, Hadleigb. The pees was well tilled by a highly respectable auditory, Marling may farmers.—lsaac Everrett, Esq. (an salmis timer is the district), in opening the proceedings said ewe for a bog date past everybody had been advocates of ilmaniabredarm, but all were now beginning to De con vinced that, la order to obtain and secure it, it was indis pensably ilesenery to go • step further and endeavour to shads parliamentary edam. Lord John Rama bad pro mind to give a bill, bat be sew be looked Was in the of his prais e *....15e it wosid be a wily little Mot a bill he wadi glee. Is depesded es the rice! ea et the mph what the ilwiseat of that mums thesis be. la hie (the ebairralues) egleise, wary ores wee paid tame ought to have a yoke is the 1,11101•1•• eg the asantry hut, however much the arbors wen ewe ki/lekit waddle minpneatively useless without a 101116 In = a ria or it hes existed at preseat.—Mr. thes hewed the meeting at eaceklankle dIM drewb of the Nadine Milles • tire= peemilege terminated. TOTAL DicfIUVION, ALDIXABLI42IIIII. Mdse. behests Faraday ,aeliverei the emod el s ems et homes which he Is giving te Miser does. eelow pVL. et hie seine es the , by kw die W aerie op et Ikon bed keri boos hem the mosey. Twai.ot he isilliewleseowels wee the elleesties et sr. is Miter lemon the oesewelisi to p ca r Cl ig e s e s =ir a i I lie homed prehmerehmigatle i r . rtie obseros lihis3irsewe suodse el espiessele sad illestratroes. hi piper the pelesiplee le Lit dews were of a eery mil his Woes err evihatly zf Mealiest MM. Inenevnow.--Irostorday a swig ilm).,11.1111.1111 est salseriben to go = l 4 of w p est penman and MR she Mist se mesbeee et the b50d15 wok, wan stiles Mae We .awape. ego% Yob wee Mewl het they dad sow heir hale dem mho hoe burls, wed the swot he mewed sown to astir thew to sleets will hither sweber. Owlecte he eeeemwhii kid swami the km annal isl e the enewithte have ear -1 imbed w bag waft" ea the 11th !!dewy seat. TM larOw the peel yeas up es the date at the report were lye. 11., sd the beesween Illr. Gong. ;cad, rF actedthat the ma seer is the Mee el Ohs Maws was MOL, wheelie's' a weelatios weee sweethwe . Mi. awl seceded, that a saw et lOW. be lei& eat it the les Mei to be fee Absehowe hued, awl the remiseer So the robot MI CATIMUMM 111 BCOTIAND.—The Minn a men dila dais Oth• Roma Oasbills Oboe he 404 NA poppos 14 Ns ea Milt lisa mem he maim he Webs Se Cabello Usa se Duren. THE WIGAN EXPLOSION. In the Express of Wednesday last we gam an amount of • colliery explosion at Ince, near Wigan, Law shire, which resulted an the 1091 of no less than diem lives. The explosion occurred in the " Deep Pit," we of • number of mai mines belonging to Mr. Meantime. arida workings in which the fatality occurred Weed make township of Hiadley, although the shaft is in Ines. The inquest was held at the Red Lion Tavern, 'Lindley, pater day, bali ski Driffield, county_ coroner for the hundred of West , and a respestribla jury. Robert • reek who supposed himself to be about 14 poen dam, and was employed in the Deep Pit m a collier, was the S eisa ritatas. He said he worked es drawer to Ishat Da one of the deceased colliers, es the nomdeg of the (the 22nd inst.), and de sessisi the shaft at a grew past live in the morning. Wes at the Galloway shoat whoa the explosion took place, above HO yards bona hie master ' who bad sent him there with • tub et coal towards the shaft. His muter was at the hoe of the coal (about 650 yards from the shaft) when he left him. Old Jolla Whittle was with Davies that morning vbs. be left bins, shovelling coals ; they might have hags _with then ihe ought he knew. He was not awationed that mean of any fire-damp that he was to he metal of. He hod sot seen the deceased an"rier , GIMP' IiMPA. that aiming, sae sap see else. He MS been to the peay road above tea =bates beim the tteliz s a . . osontred, welt*/ be 66.7aw:t eaw ai the a* mad tabs Ay . tba Hrr is t kil biaoself midi it watt look. His bra was nose, and he leaked he Ws. awl Sbea stand elf with hi he the sa ail they wen draws sat legether. Pigott always cx ay Ole MOO biro tie edam went down. Didrimen (Oeconseasat Inspector of Minee)— Mee wrilve arm* deal) ea oil tars I be could eit, ad did Net somegig , ride ea the tram By Gie jury—Had set bowl er ray Ml air that sassing in the aim. ao-utalsed b y his nadir that necetty to 6.0 e be amid ergot • fresh road •rielaying, bat did and kaiser what road it was. It . te r = ale~oe, senior, easeeinad.—gow Pigott, the imams& He was aMS Wood wrsa: THE AMALGAMATED SOCIETY OF ENGINEERS. Yesterday evening a public meeting, convened by this body, was held in the Hall of Commerce, Threadneedle strect--employers, as well as the public generally, having, as was stated, been included in the invitations. The hall was densely thronged with workmen, not less, probably, than 2,000 being present The object stated on the card was as follows: " To diseuu the present state of the iron trades, and the position of the Amalgamated Society in relation thereto." The chair was taken at 7 o'clock by Mr. JOSZPII MUST°. The CHAIRMAN said words were inadequate to express his feelings on being called upon to preside over such an important meeting—a meeting more important than any which had been held in London connected with their Mk Ile could well remember the great meetings which IMO htld in 1836, and the unanimity with which they were conducted. Ile could remember the great meeting which was held at that period at the Mechanics' Institution. But let them mark the difference between that meeting and this. That meeting was entirely confined to themselves ; this was a public meeting. That meeting was confined to their own members, no person being admitted except by tickets issued exclusively to the members of the trade. It was his duty to inform them that this meeting had been called as a public one. In con , sequence of statements having appeared in the Times newe paper which misrepresented the executive council of the Amalgamated Society, it seemed desirable to the members of that council that a meeting—the only resource left to them—should be called, at which they would have an op portunity of explaining to the public what they had to say with regard to this question. A committee was appointed for the purpose of convening it. The whole of the employers had been specially invited by ticket. [lie then read the terms of the .invitation ] If any employers were present and wished to take part in the proceeding., he hoped the meeting would be actuated in reference to them by that spirit of lair play which was found in the breasts of Eng lishmen. (Hear, hear.) He would now introduce to them Mr. Newton, who would enter into explanations of the pro merlins of the executive council. Mr. NEWTON was received with loud cheers. He said ho had undertaken to explain to the meeting the cause of their assembling on that occasion. The proceedings which were first adopted were not intended to en gage so much public attention as they had done, nor would the council have forced on the public the explanations they were about to make had it not been for the many misrepresentations which had been made respecting their objects and intentions. (Hear, hear.) The combination of employers started at Manchester was either misled by the statement of Messrs. ilibbcrt and Platt, and Oldham, or was based confessedly on untruths. At all events a combination was formed, and that professedly ou the ground that the workmen of Messrs. Ilibbert and Platt were about to commit an injustice against their employers. A writer in the Time: had made certain statements with regard to the objects of the Amalgamated Society, and upon these es parte statements the Times had written a leader denouncing those objects; and since that time almost every ether newspaper had taken up the subject in the same Wain. Ho must confess that since the public was made sequaiated with the circumstances which had attended their proceedings, a different feeling seemed to have been possessed both by the public and by the press. The news papers had modified their tone considerably, and this led him to expect that after that opportunity, of giving a full explanation of what they did request, and of disavowing what they did not, those newspapers which had taken up the cause of the employee would see that the workmen were justified in their proceedings, and would give them credit fur what they had done. (Cheers.) First of all, they were charged with making three demands, and with hay ing in addition one intention. The public was told, first, that they insisted upon the abolition of systematic overtime; next, that they insisted upon the discontinuance of piece work ; thirdly, that they insisted that the master should at once, and without reserve, discharge the Glass of persons who had been engaged fur a long time in the working of self-acting machines, and employ in their stead mechanics who were members of the union. A g ain, " Amiens " said, " It is understood that the council are prepared to advocate an equalisation of the rate of wages ; to lund themselves, in fact, to an agitation for a trial of the ingenious doctrines of M. Louis Blanc." Of these proposi dons, the first two were the propositions of the Amalga mated Society. (Cheers.) The third was never made by that Society. The request had never been made either by the Society or by the council of the Society, and the inten tion which was attributed to them of equalising wages was as foreign to their objects, their intentions, their practices and their general opinions, as one thing could be to another. (Cheers.) It would be his duty, then, to show how these statements had originated, and how unfounded they . were; and another duty would devolve upon him, that of justify ing the council is what they requested. First, he would say, then, that they disavowed all intention of removing any persons at present in the service of employers. (Cheers.) They had never asked for the removal of an in dividual from a machine who was now working that ma chine, and who had earned a title to work it by the time that they had been employed in so doing. So far trees their opinions having been against these men, limy bed halsred and encouraged them. They had begs the list to use those machines; they had been instrumental in introducing unskilled labourers to them ; and it was no part of the plan of the executive council to remove those now employed in working them. In &s -wamies this third proposition, he must refer to some pro sesdlngs which took place some months ago, because out of times proceedings had the present charge arisen. In May km a dispute took place between Messrs. Hibbert and Platt, of Oldham, and their workmen; and that dispute seemed likely at the time to end in a strike. The men de s mended the abolition of over-time ; they asked for the dis , charge of a certain number of men who were employed— illegal men in the trade ; they sent up to London to in quire if any one would go down for the purpose of mediating between Messrs. Hibbert and Platt. He (Mr. Newton) did not go down without previously consulting the executive council, and the council were decidedly of opinion that the parties should not be assisted by the society in getting the men discharged from the machines. Ile went to Oldham; he attended a public meeting there; he heard the explanations which the men gave of their grievances ; and he insisted at the meeting that the men should not strike, but endeavour to settle the dispute by moral means—by the aid of a deputation. A de putation was appointed to go to Messrs. Hibbert and Plan. Mr. Platt received the deputation with kindness; he argued the question with them for more than two hours ; he made certain prepositions to the deputation, which were carried back to the meeting. Those propositions were modified by the meeting, and then sent back to Mr. Platt. The re sult was, that six resolutions were adopted by the meeting and three of them submitted to Mr. Platt. He would read them to the meeting: I. That in future all planing, slotting, shaping, and boring machines, at the workshop of the undersigned, be worked either by me chanics or apprentices, to be taken up by them as they fall vacant. 2. That the labourers at present employed upon those machines be not unduly interfered with before Christ mas, 1851, when the machines shall fall entirely into the hands of the mechanics ; but if any of the labourers are discharged, or the machines otherwise become vacant, the vacancies shall be filled up by the mechanics as they occur. 3. That Michael Benard have taken from him all authority over workmen in our employ, and that all illegal hands be discharged ; we further say that we disapprove of the prac tices alleged against Benard, and pledge ourselves that they shall not again be repeated." Mr. Platt said he was willing to agree to those resolutions, provided the same conditions were made with other employers, and he himself wrote out an agreement to secure that object. He not only signed the resolutions, but he required that the workmen should endeavour to force other employers to do so; and if that were not done at the expiration of three years, tithe whole arrangement was to be null and void. His (Mr. Newton's) reason for interfering was, that it had been stated that when men interfered themselves they were always marked by their employers, and were discharged the first opportunity. At the conclusion of the negotiation Mr. Platt, on behalf of his firm, expressed the greatest satisfac tion with the result, complimented the deputation on the part which they had taken, and said that if he had bad such reasonable men to deal with from the first the dispute would not have lasted a day. Now the council heard nothing more of the agreement which was thus entered into until within the part week or two. Believing, then, that a combination of employers had been formed to prevent Mr. Platt from ful filling has agreement, be wrote to that i r e n t r tm essaa a fort night ago, when he found that be was Woolf with the combination at Manchester, and emit lee considered that, by repudiating the document labile bis hod signed, he would be sating unfairly. Mr. !bit wrote teak, telling him that be mmidared that in July hot. two swath after the documandialla OW: his workman broke It selves • and, dm, Mains so, he bediewai it was apes to him self to leis windrow mares he theft POW With nod to it. Wow es Ibis print be (Mi. Moms) mad remark. *Mt Miami award was me at them ribs mom beditaas the employee and the earZt en ir a, pieeirwork. ; he was a kind ot lOW • gems somtity of work, and emploliolt Mbar men ea resskft, of course, the chief tone bimosif ba was, in • man whom the mikes MOM mil • •••Mer. (Greed hter.) Such was the pselliaa width Ibis ima mawiled, and so tyrannical was b arrigat lime vim Om mos was represented to Mr. Platt time imatims• stubseadrely disapproved of his conduct, ea gm dainsairs should depend upon his own labour. 111114 mann woe eo far satisfactory ; but the men declared fat ea es agreement was signed that part of the not was net carried out, and because they lade= MI to the continuance of what was to have boaMadiebod, Mr. Platt said they had broken the egarisent entered into. Whether this was the OM or not was not now the quarks. Mis ism induced, however, to go to Oldham for the wpm be lid stated, by his knnwledge of tke evils of Wash Is boor the mischiefs of dribs. (Hem, imar.) Is basset that they had given rise to the worst feelings between the employers and the employed, and had conferred no advan tage on either—(hear, hear) ; and ho insisted, therefore, on the conditions agreed to by Mr. Platt being accepted. Ho said further that If Mr. Platt refused at present to fulfil that egreement, it still remained a question between him and has workmen ; they were determined not to be dragged into the dispute, and as regarded the men whom it was formerly naught to remove, considering that those men had been employed with themselves for years, they had a greater disposition to make common cause with them than to insist u e thought h pon their bein e had g _th sho w w ron n, d t i hen, pole u that, n th so far as e worldthe ( AmaCheers.x*) H , mated Society were concerned, the question of the machines had nothing to do with their present request to their em ployers. And he was sure every one present would believe him, when he mid they had no intention to equalise wages. Why, it was preposterous to suppose that one of the highest F.M trades in existence could adopt the doctrine of the equalisation of wages; a doctrine which would tend W bring down their wages to a level with those of the agri mitural labourer. What they required was a fair opportunity for every man, as far as was practicable, to ex ' ereise his powers of labour. They knew that labour was an attribute of their nature, on which they depended for their subsistence and support—(hear, hear)—they knew how much depended upon it in their homes and families; and they were desirous of making it less precari ous and more continuous than it was at present, and of im proving the condition of their trade by the regulating the work to be done. They were told that they were identified with Louis Blanc and the communists. (Laughter.) Yes, those who knew the constitution of the society might laugh, hat it was no laughing matter in relation to the public. The Times had iatimated that there was such a con nexion. Ile dill not believe that a single member of the council ever spoke to Louis Blanc ; he was sure he had never done so, and, having read a small book published by him, he must say that he did not know what it was that was advocated. If they happened to hold any principles in common with others, that was not their fault ; they did not advocate their views because Louis Blanc ,might . have done so, but because conference had taught them that some changes were requisite to elevate their social position. (Hear, hear.) Let any employer or editor of a newspaper look over their rules, and lie would find that there was nothing in them connected with politics; there was no social party; no religious sect; politics were not allowed to be discussed. (Hear, hear.) They were 12,000 men banded together for the purpose of charity and providence. They were a reflex of the OpinlOß of the country. They had amongst the 12,000 of whom their society was composed, men professing conservative and chartist and social principles—men who advocated what were called extreme free trade principles, and men who advo cated protection. Was it not preposterous then to suppose that in a society composed of so many different elements they entertained the sentiments attributed to them ? What was it, then, they wished ? The Times said that if the masters combined, the men might combine, and that work men had a right to conspire if employers had the right to conspire. (Hear, hear.) The object they had in view was a just one then, and the only question was as to their policy. Aud if they could only convince the public and the press that what they asked for was only what was necessary and desirable, and that they did not seek to disturb society, or to throw themselves out of employment, but that they merely wished to have an opportunity Of obtaining thaw advantages which they were fully entitled to, they would effect a great deal. '1 hey asked far the abolition of over time. Now what was the meaning of overtime ? Over time meant time over and above six days work in the week. (Hear, hear.) Six days was the proper time for a working man to labour, and in six days the labouring man could earn enough to keep himself and family. (Hear, hear.) They did not ask for a reduction in the hours of labour in the week, which amounted to ldj hours. Everything over this number of hours was over work. This system of over work was the cause of much physical, moral, intellectual, and social evil, and this it was which they desired to abolish, and not the regular hours of weekly labour. (Hear.) This question of overwork was not ono which was raised to-day, or yesterday, but one which was agitated in the trade for the last 15 years. In 1836 men elder than he was remembered that the same question was discussed in this metropolis at that time. At that time it was agreed that for the first two hours after the completion of the day the men should be paid for nue hour and a quarter for every hour, and from 8 o'clock in the evening until 6 in the morning one hour and a half for every hour. This was the effect of a compromise between the employers and the men at that time. In 1846 their attention was seriously drawn to this subject, by means of an essay pub lished by a medical man of Manchester, in which the physical evils consequent on working so many hours—from 6 in the morning to 8 and 10 and 12 o'clock at night—were pointed out. (Hear.) Many of them must be aware that men worked from 4 o'clock in the morning till 8 at night, and from 6 o'clock in the morning till 10 at night. (Hear.) The physical evils consequent on such excessive labour must he evident to all. (Hear, hear.) If men wi.hed to do serviceable duty they would work the regular time, but he defied any man to work front 6 in the morning tilll 10 at night, and do jus tice to his employers. (Hear, hear.) Men could nut pre serve their health, and at the same time undergo so much labour. Investigate the question in whatever phase they would, it was still a bad one. The moral effect of over time was more dangerous than the physical. In 1848 and 1849—those years of distress and famine in this country and in Ireland—when the society had one-fifth of the entire of its members out of employment, this system had a most deleterious effect on the body of the trade. At that time the society consisted of between 6,000 and 7,000 member', and 1,500 were out of employment. (Hear, hear.) These men could get nothing to do, and they resorted to the pub lie houses to order to drive away care and sorrow, and to mu away that time which they could not otherwise employ. They could not bear to meet the squalling misery which met them at home, and thus they became despised, de graded, and dissipated. (Hear, hear.) And thong!, they were said to be an intelligent trade, lie regretted that there were too many amongst them ignorant and uneducated, and for the reason that they had not the opportunity of ac quiring knowledge. (Hear, hear.) Physically, morally, and intellectually this system of over-time was injurious to them. (Hear. h ear.) If men were obliged to work from six o'clock till eight and ten at night, bow was it possible lfor them to gratify their intellect at the mechanics' insti tutes (Hear. hear.) He knew that a mutual instruction clams had been established in Greenwich, the objtet of which was to discuss ,questions connected with the trade, and to make men skilled workmen and good members of society; hut that society failed in a few weeks, because the system of overtime was commenced. (Hear, hear.) Men were compelled to work overtime. (Hear, hear.) Ile said " compelled " to work, and ho main tained, in spite of what the masters said, that they were compelled to work overtime whether they liked it or not. (Hear, hear.) Ile recommended them to read a little book written by Mr. Sidney Smith, called the " Mother Country," wherein the condition of ignorance in which the working classes were kept was described, and the disgrace to the country of allowing such a state of things denounced. Were they, then, to be blamed for seeking • remedy for such a state of things, or, rather, was it not their duty to seek for one ? (Hear, hear.) He hoped, at all events, that Mr. Sidney Smith would not oppose them in their endea vours to shorten the hours of labour, which was the only means by which they could avail themselves of mu tual instruction classes and mechanics' institutes, and without which they could not possibly take ad vantage of them. (Hear.) At the meeting of employers, Mr. .1. S. Russell said that " tho address of the executive council was craftily qualified to catch simple humanity mongers." Well, if they did appeal to humane feelings, he dad not see much that was wrong, or much of what they should be ashamed of in that. (Hear, hear.) They did not intend to appeal to the commercial spirit of the em ployers—that calculating spirit which knew no knowledge but that of the ledger. (Hear, hear.) But if by appealing to the common feelings of humanity, and to those general sympathies which pervaded all men, they thought they would interest others in the misery inflicted upon them, and the wrongs they suffered, and thereby to elevate their condition without doing injury to others, ho thought it was only the more honourable to them as a class—that it was more honourable to the twelve thousand workmen of this society. (Hear, hear.) Mr. Russell said further, " that this pretest was a hypocritical one, and that so far from overtime being considered oppressive, the men regarded it as a privilege ; that to his certain knowledge the leaders in this strife were the greatest voluntary over time workers, and that every man was at e, ierfect liberty to refuse overtime work if he desired." He Mr. Newteo) de flied that. (Hear, hear.) He maintain that the work men were forcibly compelled to work overtime, for • man was not able to refuse. (Hear, hear.) If he did be was punished—he was discharged. (Hear, hear.) A man was either obliged to work overtime, to undergo labour that was too excessive, or he was seat to starve. (Loud cheers.) Was that fair competition? He was compelled to work overtime, or he was thrown out of work altogether, and he and his family were left to starve. (" That is true.") Aye, that it was true, and hundreds here knew it to be a fact. (Loud cheers.) Well, then, when oar man maw his fellow-workman discharged for refusing over time work, and when the alternative was proposed to him self, he had either to submit to excessive labour, and to have his health injured, or to be discharged. There was an more hesitation than this. (Hear.) And the men had game to the conclusion that this thing must be resisted. (am, Men) They knew that it was in vain for individual mess to nisei, for it was certain ruin, bat as a body they hod come to this conclusion; and, indeed, it one which they had come to fifteen years ago. (Cheers.) If Mr. Rummell had sufficient influence with the rest of the em ployers to ensure that the men would not be forced to work overtime, that they would not be discharged for refusing, they (the men) would ask no more with regard to overtime. (Hear, hear ) They desired, after performing six days labour, to have some little time left for enjoyment. This was the ground on which they advocated the abolition of overtime. (Cheers.) With regard to piece work the public in general considered that their case was less just than in that of overtime, because they had the notion that piece work meant that every man should make the best use of his industry and abilities. lie granted that, and no honest workman had any objection to it. (Hear, hear.) They did not object to piece work, but to the abuse of it. (Hear, hear.) If it was carried out in the format an agree ment and contract, the same as between the employers and their customers, no person would advocate it more than he. Bat that was not the nature of the piece work with which they had to deal. It was this: The workman is brought a phis of rude materiel, with a design, and he is told " Do that Ist 21." If he saye " I cannot do it for 24., my NSW ywee* =OM," he is told, " Do lit or leave, I shall Ineefinneeill Men" (Hear, hear.) There were 100 there , Win ineenn remind to that assertion. (Cheers.) He would ask a dlosenedng public, and any disinterested body of moo, wbeggistinsh a system was anything like a fair connect be tween Ilbb genies, or was it the way that a contract should NMI