The Express. — London, England, 1853-10-31 00:00:00

erVreAA• TO COIMESPONDENTA. Hexed/,'..ton ul • T: .r 1:11orewt,” on.teinute the erase , vestine'r .oa4d - r," N pub. ..he! every Twee, rat Er.d.y •Lteb:., 0 :Jae tee p•vt. Avertimmestm let►n.ted tcr The FaTirrork," Lawton Iteee.i 4 r, mut trz et Me 'Mike, 0, Tommrsor.tre,t, t Teo o.l4ftsw tzar dikr N pubiliesaboo. 111G11 WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Two Dar —ldurt.ang, 012.:'m Afternuom, lA. Ism. dm. lb. Ea... ...Atenseue, Ih. 3.g0. LONDON. MONDAY. OCTOBER 31. Om Saturday the Exchanges of Paris and Lo.don Were strongly excited by a telegraphic de- patch an nouncing the conclusion of an armistice bete% een the Russians and Turks. Where this armistice had been arranged, and by whom negotiated, was left a mys tery. It is not easy to prove a nigative : it would be rash to say that no armistice has been arranged, or is in the comae of arrangement. lint it requires a strung faith to believe that an armistice can have been concluded at any place and time that tender it possible fur the news to reach Paris and London, even by electric telegraph, on Saturday. The wish was probably father to the thought: perhaps the whole has been a stock-jobbing trick. It would seem, indeed, that there are good grounds for believing that strenuous efforts are btiag made to bring about an armistice between the Tullis and Ru_sians. A despatch from London is raid to have reached Vienna on the 24th; to have been followed by an immediate convocation of the Ministers of the Four Powers; and to have resulted in the rending off an express w ith despatches from the Russian Minister at Vienna to tl.e seat of hostilities. It is highly probable that these despatches and delibsrations may have had in view a pc;stpnni men t or cessation of hostilities; it is possible that the Russian Minister at Vienna may have been empowered beforehand by his Imperial Muter to arrest the progress of Prince GORTSCHAKOFF upon certain contingencies. Bat there must be two par ties to an armistice. OMER PACIIA could nut take upon him to conclude one without authority from his Sovereign; and it does not appear possible that a proposal for an armistice could reach Constantinople, that it could he accepted, and in structions transmitted to and received by Omni PALMA, in such time as would admit of the intel ligence of the suspension of hostilities reaching this country two days ago. They who have recommended an armistice may have reason to feel confident that their advice will be adopted; and in this case the telegraphic de spatch may be simply a preliminary statement that what its author confidently believed would take place ou a given day actually did take place on that day—a narrative by a second-sighted seer in the historical, not in the prophetic tone. Ono thing is tolerably clear :—that the Ottoman Government, if it can have its rights satisfactorily maintained with out war—if the Hui sian horde will withdraw beyond the Pruth—fully appreciates the bless ings of peace, and will not be instrumental in dis turbing it. On the other hand the Emperor of Itussf would rather not fight at present, if he can avoid it, but temporise in order to gain time to strengthen his position and mature his plans of con quest. And another thing seems painfu:ly palpable —that the abettors of Russia in Western Europe are unscrupulously active—much more energetic, reso lute, and persevering, than the opponents of its nefarious designs. We feel inclined to dismiss with contempt the rumour that the King of the Bc.i.ct.sx.4 has gravely propounded as the basis of an arrangement between the DAR and the Porte, that Russia should be allowed to retain the Danubian Principalities, and Turkey receive compensation in the shape of cession of territory on the side of Georgia. It is true that the potentate to whom this monstrous proposal is attributed, has re cently contracted intimate relations with Austria; and that his connexion with the unscrupulous and intriguing House of ORLEANS—the family of the wretched Spanish Marriage intrigue—exposes him to suspicions szarcely less grave than his Austrian liaison. Still there is nothing in his past life to warrant men's regarding him as fool or knave, and only one who was both could seriously recommend such an arrange ment as we have been alluding to. Russia it is acknowledged on all hands has violated the law of nations by seizing upon the Da nubian Principalities without a shadow of a pretest. To allow Russia to retain those pro vinces would be to establish a precedent which would render the territorial rights of every state in Europe insecure. It would be to overthrow entirely the system of international law or equity which has tediously, painfully, and incompletely been built up by the pangs and struggles of European humanity in the long course of centuries, and to restore a state of barbarous anarchy in which Might made Right. Come what may, it is indispensable to the maintenance of anything approaching to law and order in the rels,- tions of European States that the Russians be obliged to seeress the Pruth. No price that could be paid to Turkey could make that power compensation for the moral weakness and degradation which would result from its submission to any other terms. No peace could benefit Europe purchased by the sanction of any trampling on all law and justice. And how is it proposed to compensate Turkey for giving up Mol davia and Wallachia ? Russia is to pay for the stolen provinces by lands of which on termer occasions it has plundered Turkey and Persia! It is pretty obvious from the latest intelligeues that the Government at Constantinople could not enter into such a shameful compromise even if it would. The popular feeling would prevent it. As to the alleged jealousies and mutual counteractions of the French and English Ministers at Constanti nople, they may safely be set down t, the score of what CARLYLE calls " preternatural suspicion"—a crazy and ridiculous mood of mind, ns rife in all great national crises as in revolutions. Ihe all but official declaration in the 21t,,,dreur rho: that the French Government is honestly anxious to co-operate with the English policy avowed by the majority of the cabinet ; and ere longs new French Minister will reach Constantinople, between whom and his professional brother of England entire confidence is likely to exist. It is rather late to be surprised at any novelty and brilliancy manifested by Lord PALMEIVITON ; but it may yet be a surprise to many people, as it cer tainly is a novelty to all, to see him plunging into the Scotch Church, and winning victories there, as easily and smartly as in other regions of conflict. We ace him beating the Edinburgh Presbyters on their own ground of Scriptural religion, without in trusion, without levity, but with the cheerful ala crity which springs out of sound sense in a great MUM. The Presbytery of Llinburgh have taken for granted that a general fast would be appointed by royal authority, to ackaowlcdge our national unwor thing it, and pray for a cessation of the cholera ; and they have written to Lord PALMERSTON to in quire, in order to arrange their ovrt appointment of a Fast accordingly. Lord PALfirasroN, thus ap plied to, and of course obliged to reply, declares his opinion that, in the great work we have to do in re gard to the cholera, the observance of a general fast Is Dot the right beginning. While leaving the am plest scope for the exercises of piety, he conceives that our civic duty in regard to this affliction begins at another point ; and he gives reasons foe this opinion, which enable us to say confidently that the Scriptural sanction is all on his side. Both the Old and New Testaments bear him out in his doctrine that obedience comes before homage. It is not any part of our usual function to make even the rcmatest theological references ; but in this case the Edinburgh clergy have brought their theological proposals into the field of politics, and they must be conferred wi!h in their own way. We say, then, without hesitation, that the whole spirit and matter of the Old Testament, from Deuteronomy to Micah, gives the same response to their request that they resent when it comes to them from the pen of a SECRETARY of STATE. Besides the general doctrine that a blessing follows obedience, we have special assurances in abundance that prayer and praise are absolutely unacceptable till duty is done. The language of the first chapter of Isaiah is plain enough, one would think, to prevent any assembly of divines being at all surprised or offended at Lord PALMEIV,TON'S doctrine that we must remove causes of offence before we may dare to pray against their consequences. We are to " put away the evil of our doings" before our prayers will be listened to: the shepherds are to ace that their flocks arc cared for before they may come face to face with the Mosr llmu : Mercy is better than sacrifice, and obla tions are vain till men have put away their trans gressions. Such arc the assurances of Isamu, EZEKIEL, and Micsit. As for the New Testament, we need only (for we would rather leave this part of our subject as soon as we can) refer to the case of the two sons, one of whom made great promises of obedience and did nothing, whereas another was accepted because he obeyed, not only without pro fessions but against them. There is St. JAMES, again, with his rebukes of lip-homage and lip-duty, without the act and substance. The doctrine of Prophets and Apostles is precisely suggestive of such a reply as that of the SECRETARY of STATE, when applied to for an order to pray against an evil, exemption from which is within our own power. It is to be supposed that the Edin burgh Divines believe that GOD made Man, and gave the laws of the human frame—of its health and life. They can hardly suppose that it is by nay other will that poison is poisonous, and that deadly agents cause death. They must surely admit that we have some duty to do with the knowledge that we are permitted to obtain ; and that, having learned that certain ways of living are destructive, and others wholesome, we must live accordingly before we can without offence ask to have health and life. They would not bid a drunkard pray to be spared the horrors of delirium trement till he had left off drink ing; and if he uttered in his sinful madness any such prayer, they would rebuke him in the words of prophets and apostles, and of a greater than they. Well, this is precisely what Lord PALMERSTON means; and yet one of the Edinburgh presbyters de clares his total dissent from the doctrines contained in Lord PALMERSTON'S letter, and another regards the document as unworthy of any Christian Govern ment or governor. What is this dissent ? What is all this conster nation about ? Is it true or is it not that there are everlasting laws regulating, as the letter says, " the planet in which we lice, and that the weal or woe of mankind depends on the observance or neglect of those laws ?" Is it true or is it not that when people live so crowded as to exhaust the vital air, they breathe that which is unwholesome ; and that when people breathe unwholesome air, either from being shut up, or from the air being poisoned with gases from denyed or otherwise offensive substances, they lose their health and strength, and become liable to fever at all times, and to cholera when circumstances arc favourable to its propagation ? Is it true or Is it not that the first persons to be attacked by cholera are those who live by stagnant water, filthy river banks, open drains and stinking piggeries, and in damp cellius or close garrets ? Is it true, or is it not, that there are places in Edinburgh, as in all our towns, where people cannot live in health, but where they do live in great numbers? Is it true, or is it not, that the shepherds have sought out and recovered all these rotting sheep before offering themselves to perform fasts and humiliation before God? Is it true, or is it not, that He is likely to favour their prayer before they have fulfilled the declared conditions? And which is the most religious proceeding—to disobey GOD'S everlasting laws, and cry from the dust to be spared the penalty, or to obey the law, and then say what the obedient heart suggests ? Lord PALMER STON makes no objection to the devotional part of the action. Every man can of course pray in his own privacy; and there is, moreover, the whole eter nity that will be left after the conditions of the Divine law are fulfilled. Here is room, not only for every man's piety, but for a conjoint expression of it, if it should be conjointly desired hereafter. The one only suggestim is that the duty should be done first ; and it ill becomes any assembly of divines to object to a doctrine so expressly scriptural and so vitally religious. The time is a serious one; and the topic a most impressive one. Much rain has fallen, amidst a rising I temperature, since the I'resbytery wrote their letter and Lord PALMERSTON his reply. The damp places arc more damp; the refuse which was fermenting has fermented more ; and the cholera is spreading accord ingly. We are certainly aware, for everybody is saying it, that the liability is to a great spread of the disease with the first warns weather of next year. Here is an interval which will test our faith and our works. We do not want now a day set apart for in tercession, which we have not qualified ourselves to make, even supposing that a general fast would be observed as the Edinburgh Presbyters suppose. What we rather want is, that not a day nor an hour should be lost in purifying what is foul, and giving a I chance of health and life to a multitude whose death warrant is actually in our keeping. When next summer's sun rises up to prove our work, it will appear whether we have most cause for intercession or thanksgiving: and there is nothing in the letter of the SECRETARY of STATE to justify any suspicion of his wishing to interfere with the expression of any natural religions emotion. The last sentence of his letter is this—" When man has done his utmost for his own safety, then is the time to invoke the bless ing of Heaven to gire effect to his exertions." INTERESTING PIIENWIENGN AT ABERDARE.— A curious circumstance has just occurred at the Maya Iron and Coal Company's work., in the vicinity of Aber dare, in Olamorganabire, when, as some workmen were sinking a shaft at a distance of 53 yards below the surface, they came upon a most extensive masa, or " blower, - of explosive gas ' which burst out of the solid rock. This oc currenoe impeded farther operation. far some time, but at length a plots was devised by Mr. E. Williams, the manager, by which the explosive agent was collected and carried to the surface in a succeuion of pipes. This was properly and successfully carried out, and at a height of five yards from the ground the gas was ignited, when it burst out into a flame three yards in I ngth. At night this luminous mass attracts attention, and can be seen for a great distance. Competent judges affirm that it will continue for a long time. TUE NEW STREET IN THE ClTY.—Considerablo progress has been made with New Cannon•street, which now extends westward to Old 'Change, and is only divided from St. P.ul's-churchyarl by a few stacks of old housn. The new street will pass at the back of the handsome row of warehouses lately erected on the south-east side of St. Paul's-churchyard, aud form a juection with the latter at rael'irchain. THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 31, 1853. THE STRIKES. MR. HUME AND THE STRIKES AT PRESTON. Of all our public men, perhaps Mr. Hume is best entitled to attention when he speaks on the subject of Strikes. For more than a third of a century he has taken a prominent part in every attempt to im prove, by legislation or otherwise, the condition of the working people. His letter to the chairman of ' the Operatives Association in Preston ought, there fore, to have weight with masters and workmen . alike. The interests of both are involved too deeply I in the present struggle for them to do other than welcome most heartily any suggestion for arbi tration, or anything else, that may promise a speedy arrangement of disputes which impoverish, without exception, all involved in them, and which in a greater or less degree injure the whole community. " Blessed are the peacemakers;'" and with this text on their I lips and in their hearts let the letter of Mr. Hume be taken into consideration by the disputants--capi talists and labourers—at Preston, Wigan, and else where. Our correspondent says : PUZSTON, OCT. 2). The president of the Operatives' Association in this town has received &letter from Mr. Joseph flume, in which that gentleman, after giving his decided opinion th..t " all strikes, whether of workmen or of masters, are injurious to both and detrimental to the public interests," and after glancing at the repeal of the combination laws in 1824, thus refers to the Preston dispute : " You declare that workmen have always been for arbitrmion, and that the masters have refused that fair course. lam nut in a condition to know whether you are correct or not ; but wbiclieve'e party have refused to refer their differences to arbitration, have much to answer for, both so the public and to the parties who have become the sufferers thereby. I consider the benefits of free-trade to be great, and to be increasing. The freeing of labour, in 1824, from the shackles that then interfered with and bound the working-classes was the commence ment of that great movement; and I do yet hope that the good sense of both masters and men will enable them to see the advantage of doing what was the object in view by the repeal of the combination laws—of referring all disputes to arbitration." In a postscript, the writer adds : " 1 see on the list of advocates for arbitration to settle the disputes of nations, instead of having recourse to war, many master manufacturers who are at this moment in strife against their men ; and I do hope that a little consideration will induce those masters, and all masters, to meet with the readiest means every application from the men for the settlement of these ruinous strikes, in which innocent women and children and small traders become the victims." This afternoon about 6,000 of the unemployed sasembled in the Orchard, to hear addresses from their dele gates. Mr. E. Swinglchurst (chairman) adverted to the closing of the mills in Burnley and Ramp, where, he said he had advised the hands to apply by hundreds kr parm , ebial relief. Mr. Walton (Blackburn) suggested that unless I the mills were speedily re-opened, the operatives of Preston should remove to other towns, where they could get paid for their labour. In Blackburn alone one-half of them might find employment by-and-bye. Mr. George Cowell reminded the assembly of the approaching municipal elec tions, and urged them to do all they could to prevent the re-election of those " cotton lords " at present in the coun cil. They must support men who would vote for the ap pointment of a stipendiary magistrate, and thus rid the bench as well as the council chamber, of cotton. Mr. Brown (Blackburn) intimated that when they had obtained an ad vance of wages they must make application to the legisla ture for a reduction of the hours of labour. Mr. Rhodes (of Stoskport) vindicated the justice of their demands for in creased remuneration by reference to the advanced prices of manufactured goods. Mr. Luke Wood (Stockport) briefly addressed the meeting on the lock-out at Padiham, stating that the masters there would re-open en Monday if the hands would pledge themselves not to contribute to the support of Preston. The proceedings terminated at half past four o'clock. THE RIOT AT WIGAN. (FROM A SPECIAL )NDZNT.) WIGAN, SUNDAY. Here I am then at Wigan, having walked up from the railway station to the Royal Hotel through a street strewed with window glass. It seems as if a ge neral assault had ended yesterday, and the inhabitants were putting their houses in order to-day. Some of the shop fronts seem utterly shattered. The public houses have been the especial objecteof the vengeance of the rioters. Scarcely a fragment of glass remains in any window of an inn or hotel, the whole length of the way through which I have passed. The volleys of stones have been in some cases so fearful that the fronts of the windows have bees literally stove in. It is fair time, but there is no laughter and no fun, and the stalls, many of them at least, have been wrenched to pieces to furnish weapons for the rioters. The town is crowded, but not with pale faces, like the Preston men. Hard, heavy, reckless countenances, set upon broad projecting huge shoulders; arms and fists adapted to tell oxen; spare bodies, supported on thin legs, form the type of the Wigan workman. The streets are crammed with specimens of this clan. They move or stand about the streets strewed with the ruins caused by their own handiwork last night, with a carelessness, an insouciance, an appa rent feeling of security, that is anything but encou raging to the lookers-on. They look like so many Onions, after pulling up trees and rocks, and flinging them at random for their pastime. They seem to dread nothing and to hope as little. As you pass along the battered sides of the streets they stare at you without moving, and you have to pilot yourself with a discretion that virtually makes the path you wish to go three times its usual length. Push on nevertheless ; the Royal Hotel, the point of the chief assault, has to be reached, and the obstructions must be overcome as best they may. You pass by ' the Victoria Hotel, and there through the intervals of the planking that is pat up to keep the weather ' out in the absence of windows, which the Orsons have demolished, you see visions of red coats. Look ing in at the door-way you find that the house is apparently under military occupation ; soldiers are visible everywhere. " Lancashire Witches," vi ith shawls, or cloaks, or aprons pic turesquely pulled over their heads, are looking at the soldiery with an evident admiration that would ex cite anything bat pleasurable feelings in the minds of their Onions were the latter sufficiently clever to find it out. Go ea and you come to a regular stand still. You must make up your mind to fight your way if you want to get on at all. On looking up to a point to which all eyes are directed you see the cause of the stoppage. You are in front of the Town hall. It is crammed with soldiers, who are looking down upon the crowd from a position which we must suppose is prescribed by the tacticians as essentially military, since we know of no class but soldiers who adopt it. Tho top sash is pulled down, and the soldiers are looking over it. A few steps further and you are at the Moot Hall, filled also with soldiers from the floor to the roof. A long balcony runs along the front, and two soldiers are pacing up and down as sentries. You would stop and ask yourself where you are, but your time is limited. A few desperate plunges and you come in front of the Royal Hotel. It is to be hoped you did not know it in times past, or you would not recognise it again. Its features are strapped and bandaged and plastered like those of a fortunate Irishman the day after Donnybrook fair. Fight your way through the crowd at the door. Turn to the left, and observe, when your eyes are accustomed to the gloom, your humble servant, listening to an intelligent coal proprietor, who is doing his best to explain the cause of the strike, which has been the cause of the riot, which has been the cause of the smashed furniture, and so on. We will not go into that subject just yet, as we hardly know whether we elan have time. What we want you to do is to look at the room. Every pane of glum is smashed : there is scarcely a splinter left. 1% eathcr-boarding is nailed in front of the window higher than the bottom sash. A large pier glass over the fire-place, which is on the right hand side of the window as you look outwards, is crushed into a hundred bits. A picture on the side of the room opposite to this has suffered just as much; while the side opposite the window, on which was hung a valuable oil painting, is almost stove in by the hurricane of stones thrown by the mob. You will see by this description that the stones must have been hu r led from every available quarter of the compass. After you have contemplated the state of this room, every article of furniture of which is damaged, walk into the room to the right of the door, where the land lord is dining with a few of his friends. This is equally dark, equally damaged, equally uncomfort able. The Orions have done their work well here also. If you aro curious walk into a few more rooms. In one you will see a heap of the fragments that have been removed from the various rooms. They are sufficient to fill it. In another you will see a whole side of the room laid tare. You ask the cayse of all this. Expect to hear it told in various manners, but after comparing them together you cannot be wrong in coming to some thing like the following as a true statement of the facts. The proprietors of the coal mines of the dis trict met together yesterday for the purpose of con sulting as to the propriety of accedinz to the terms offered by the men. The meeting held at the Royal Hotel was private, but the fact soon oozed out, and it became soon generally known that no concession would be made. Large crowds of colliers soon as sembled before the house, and by their appearance ' some assault was feared. One gentleman who left the hotel in a gig was pulled out and ill-treated. The excitement gradually increased. Suddenly a storm of missiles sae hurled against the windows of the hotel, and a simultaneous attack made upon it from all quartirs. The proprietors had barely time to retreat, when the house was in pos- session of the mob, who commenced operations very significantly by extinguishing every light, and then smashing the furniture. They then rushed down the street, taking care to smash the lamps and put out the lights. Wigan was in a state of complete darkness, thoroughly given over to the possession of an infuriate mob. It is a bright fact in a gloomy narrative to tell that there are very few instances of plunder recorded during the four hours in which the mob held the town. With a few exceptions, they contented themselves with committing acts of atro cious mischief. I must hero break off for the pre sent, for the train is nearly due. THE REPORT OF OUR LOCAL CORRESPONDENT. The turnout of colliers and factory operatives at Wigan has for tome time past occasioned fears that peace would hot be maintained ; and on Friday evening an outbreak of nn alarming character took place. At 'Wigan, as at Stockport I and Blackburn, under similar circumstances on previous occasions, the small police force at the disposal of the au thorities is quite inadequate to such emergencies, and the mob once incited to ♦iolence carried everything before them. Extinguishing the gas lamps, they succeeded in throwing the town into utter darkness, and under cover of the night they proceeded to commit acts of the most wan ton violence on property of all kinds coming within their reach, though happily no lives were sacrificed during the riot. For upwards of four hours the town was entirely at their mercy. The population of Wigan, according to the last returns, was 32,000, and of these about 6,000 factory operatives hove bccu on strike from six to seven weeks, and nearly 5,000 colliers have been on strike five to six weeks. With the factory operatives little has occurred during the strike to vary the trying monotony of the idle life they have led. They have had several public meetings, but their late em ployes have rarely come into contact with them, except when a deputatton has been sent to obtain an interview oc casionally. With the master colliers matters have stood on a different footing. They have had periodical meetings at the Royal Hotel, is the centre of the town, the time ❑s well as place of meeting being known ; and it is not sur prising that, regarding them as the arbiters of their fate, the colliers should have assembled from time to time to watch the place of meeting, endeavouring to gain encouragement or information from a word or gesture as the more frank and friendly disposed of their employers passed in or out. One of these meetings took place on Friday afternoon, at four o'clock, Mr. Peace, manager of the collicries belonging to the Earl of Crawford aad Baleares, in the chair. At five o'clock, the meeting terminated ; and by that time several hundred colliers had congregated in front of the hotel, and manifested great anxiety to know the result of their masters' deliberations. The decision of the meeting soon oozed out. It was that the pits should be thrown open, and that the men might resume work at the prices they received when they struck ; but even this was with the condition that the masters could close the pits again at the end of a fortnight, if the men did not return to work in large numbers. An impression had prevailed amongst the operatives that if the masters did not yield toe whole 16} per cent. demanded, they would at least at this meeting agree to offer half that advance, and when the actual result became known, an excited feeling began to he manifested by the colliers, and they continued about the hotel and Market-place. According to one account, two coal proprietors (and to another, Mr. Peace, jun., and a coal preprietor) left the Royal Hotel together about half-past six o'clock, and walked through the Market-place towards Wellgate, fol lowed by a large number of colliers who hooted and pushed them. They took refuge in the shop of Mr. Charles John son, watchmaker, Wellgate ; but a scone was immediately thrown through the window, and they then went into the Bog and Partridge public-house, close by. It is said that as they were going in, one of them (some say Mr. Peace, jun.) showed a pistol, and this only excited them the more. The mob remained nearly half an hour in front of the house, hooting and cheering derisively ; but in the meantime the police. beaded by tho chief constable, had come to the spot, whilst the obnoxious parties left the house by a side door. The mob now turned upon the police, and hooted them ; and not content with this, they next com menced throwing oyster shells, stones, and other missiles. Seeing that the presence of the puck° excited the mob, Mr. Sims, the chief constable, thought it advisable to withdraw his force to the police station, and accordingly gave orders to that effect. As the police were marching back through ' the market-place, the crowd cheered lustily, but the chief ' constable, who was in the rear, was stoned and otherwise assaulted, and attempts were made to throw him dawn. When the force had got back to the police office, informa tion of what was going on was sent to Mr. Nathaniel Eck ersley, the mayor, who arrived at the office in a fewminutes afterwards. Mr. Cook, draper, and Mr. Thomas Byrom, grocer, borough magistrates, were also sent for, and a con sultation took plane on their arrival, which ended in the two latter gentlemen going to the Royal Hotel, with the view of addressing the people, and advising them to be peaceable and to disperse. They arrived there just as the mob, now about • thousand strong, returned iron the attack on Mr. Johnson's shop, the Dog and Partridge, and from their pursuit of Mr. Marilee!' Peace, and began to threaten the Royal Hotel. Mr. Minkel' Peace and his father had become much more unpopular than the other coalmasters, it appears, in conse quence of the latter having brought 150 colliers on the previous day from Wales, per London and North Western Railway, to supply the place of some of the turnouts at the Earl of Crawford's colliery—men who were at that moment lodged and provided witn food in a saw-mill at the colliery in order that they might not come in contact with, or be annoyed by, the turnouts. When Mr. Cooke and Mr. ' Byrom saw the threatening position which affairs had as turned, they conceived, from the temper of the mob, that anything like advice or mild remonstrance would be in vain, for the hotel would be attacked, and they therefore returned to the Police Office, and suggested their fears to the chief magistrate. It may be desirable here to interrupt the narrative to mention one or two facts which will convey a better notion of the subsequent proceedings than if we inserted them in another place. And dust, as to the posi tion of the IL >yet Hotel. This is the principal hotel in Wigan, and stands on the eastern side of the Market place, which occupies the crown of a hill forming the highest point of the town. The principal streets leading from the Market-place are:—Wallgate to the Bouth,Standishgate to the north, and Millgate (in which the police-office is situate) to the cast. The Royal Hotel (called sometimes by its old name, the Eagle) in situate at the corner of Staudishgate and Mitigate. Wallgate, leading from the market-place to the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Station and to the North Union Railway Station (both of which are near its southern extremity), is the great tho roughfare of the town. The annual autumnal cattle fair had commenced that day, and the weekly market was holding at the same time: so that, besides the mob of turn outs, the market-place and three thoroughfares here indi cated were crowded with stalls, cattle, and many people from the country. The Police-office, in Millgate, stands something more than 100 yards from the Royal Hotel and market-place The force stationed there when complete inc,udea a chief constable, one sergeant, and nine policemen ; but on this occasion one man was ill, and ono or two others were ab sent from various causes. An auxiliary force of 50 special constables had been sworn iii to meet any emergency that might arise from the strikes, and this force, consisting of artisans (and what is remarkable, so far as we could learn, not including a single shopkeeper), might now have been of great value had they been courageous and reliable men. On learning the opinions of his brother magistrates the mayor hastily summoned a number of these specials, and with six of the regular force sod 21 specials he and his two brother magistrates went to the front of the Royal Hotel. The mob had watched the master colliers out and hooted them as they left the hotel, and a scene of great uproar and confusion presented itself when the mayor arrived, which became worse and worse every moment. The mob seized awns, and, when they could not find these, potatoes, turnips, and other veectithles from the market stalls, and hurled them at the windows of the hotel. Mr. William Marshall, standing by tho side of the morr in front of the hotel, was struck on the eye with one of these missiles, and another gentleman was hit behind the head. His worship gave one of the leading ruillaes into cuctody, and tour Policemen proceeded with him towards the police-office, hut ho was rescued by the mob. The mayor had two of the regular police still by his side, het the brave spceiala, when be turned to look fur these, they were nowhere to be seen! The mob from this time had everything their own way, and the mayor and magistrates having held a hasty consultation, went to the Electric Telegraph office at the North tinian Railway sta tion, and forwarded a message to Preston, 16} miles dis tant, for the aid of the military. Subsequently, at half past eight o'clock, sent a epeeist messenzer by railway train. The barracks, however, are at Felvrood, 31 miles further, and as the soldiers had retired to bed when the message arrived, and as a consultation had to be held whether it was safe for the military to leave Preston, where an outbreak was not unlooked fur, much time was lost before the troops could be put in motion. The shopkeepers, during the disturbances we have de scribed, were seized with a pana', and most of them preciei- tately closed their establishments. After breaking the win dows of the Royal Hotel, the m th, which now included mere factory operatives then colliers, proceeded, at a little after S o'clock, down 111illgate, destroying the police office windows, extinguishing the gas lamps, and breaking the glass shades. They then returned and watt down Standish gate, committing the same violence. The less darieg in these acts of violence cheered and encouraged those who most distinguished themselves. Many of them had sticks. as well as pockets full of stones ; and others armed thcru• selves with staves by destroying the frames of the stalls, iu the market place. About half-past S o'clock they attacked the Moot-hall and the Town-hall, and broko a good deal of glass. They then proceeded down Wallgate, extinguishing the gas-lights, breaking many of the lamps entirely off the pests, and hurling stones thro Agit every window where a . was visible. They broke the widows of the Clarence Hotel ; threw stones into the Pcst-effiee, kept by Mr. Wall, bothseller and sta tioner, destroying his glass-cases and other property inside; and demolished the front of the Victoria lintel. Hosing gone as far as the railway.stetions in thin direction, they re turned, about 9 o'clock, arid commenced a second attack on the Royal Hotel. This time they entered the hou , e, tore down the curtains of windows and beds, smashed the pier and other glasses, the glass in the pie lire frames, took away some liquors from the bar, and finally attempted to set fire to the house. The attempt, however, was happily frustrated. A cry arose to "blow up" the house; but there was fortunately neither gunpowder nor blast ing apparatus colliers know so well how to use, The mob next made another excursion down Wallgate, and on reaching the opening onposite the Victoria Hotel 'proceeded up it to the house of Mr. James Taylor, a partner in the firm of T. Taylor and Brother, cotton spinners—a lofty three-story building, which they attacked both back and front, entirely demolishing the windows. An attack was made on Mr. Esplin's shop, well stocked with jewellery and watches, and the shutters and windows were broken, but just then a heavy railway train crossed the bridge over the street close by, and a ftlse alarm that the soldier.; were at hand from Preston being raised, a precipitate retreat was made. The mistake having been discovered, the over seers' offices, the Olen of the Board of Health, and other public buildings were attacked, and bad their win• dews destroyed. A cry of " Johnson's" was here raised, and the mob rushed down Green-street, to wards the house and mill of Me. Johnson cotton spin ner. Mr. Johnson and his family had barely time to effect a retreat through the garden, when the mob attacked the house, breakirg open windows and doors, and . entering the drawing-room and parlours to destroy the furniture. A valuable finger organ, a pianoforte, some ' fine engravings, paintings, and their frames, were demo ' lashed in a short time, and damage was committed to the amount of about 500/. here they took the fire from one of . the grates, and placing it in the middle of the drawing ' room floor placed on it some tablecloths, furniture, and other combustible ma:erials, and so left the housa to be come a bonfire. On their retreat, however, Mr. Johnson 1 and his family re-entered the house, and were ultimately able to counteract their design. Passing through the garden, part of the mob destroyed some rustic garden chairs, and threw a lug of wood through the glass of the conservatory. The next rendezvous was the house of Mr. William Tipping, cotton spinner, living in the same outskirt of the town. Here they broke the , windows and deers of the house, but did not enter. They contrived, however, to do a deal of damage. Retracing their steps to the heart of the town, a third attack was • made, about 10 to half-past ten o'clock, upon the Itayal Hotel. They tro ve surrounded and attacked it back and i front, broke more windows and furniture, end destroyed whatever came in their way. Atter this, two shops, situate in distant parts cf the borough from each other, were en ' tered and sacked of their contents. One was the shop of Mr. John Liptrot, of Wigan-lane ' provision dealer, and the r other that of Mr. Isaac Wright, provision dealer, I Dulington-street. These parties are supposed to , have been singled out for spoliation, because they had refused to contribute to the turn-out fund sinco the r strike. An attack was made upon the shop of blr. Collin ) son, pawnbroker, Stnndishgate, and clothe, of 5/. or fit. iu value were taken. Mr. Collineon offered the party a move ' reign not to destroy his stock (after they had broken his windows), and, after calling for a light to see if the govt . reign was a good one, they accepted his offer and decamped. At length (at half- past eleven at night) the military arrived, consisting of 1.30 rank and file of the 34:12 Infantry, t under the command of Captain J. Wilt. The mayor and , some of the magistrates placed themselves at the bead of the soldiery and went through the town, but they only Came up with au insignificant party of stragglers from the rioters. Of these they apprehended hve youths, mostly Irish, who had evidently taken part in plundering the provision dealers, their pockets being stocked with tea, sugar, to bacco, biscuits, &c. The prisoners were lodged in the lock-ups, and the town gradually asaumtd a state of quie ' rode, the soldiers took up their quarters at the Victoria • Hotel and the Moethall. _ _ Oa Saturday all was quiet up to a late hour in the crew. ing, the military still being present. Great numb( rs of glaziers and other workmen were busy repairing the houses which had been attacked, so as to keep out the weather, whilst the streets were crowded with groups of wondcring strangers from the neighbouring districts, who had of tae partly oat of curiosity and partly to see the fair, which la'ts until Akisday evening. Ihe magistrates met between one and two o'clock, and the Rye prisoners underwent a short examination, but they were remanded until Monday. In the afternoon the magistrates proceeded to draw up a letter communicating the particulars of the riot to the Secretary of State for the Home Department, and afterwards issued a public notice, warning all inhabitants to leave the streets after; dark as soon as they had completed their lawful business. We believe the riot act was not read during the disgraceful scenes of Friday niaht, so that there will be no means of obtaining for those who have suffered this sad de struction of property any compensation from the county funds. THE QUEEN'S YACHT. TO THE EDITOR OP TILE EXPRESS. Stg,—The Admiralty may hesitate to issue orders conformable to my recent suggestion on the question of coppering ships. There may be plausible reasons which I have not noticed. But what sound argu ment is there for continuing to prefer copper to Muntz's metal, which is at least as durable as copper, and costs a penny a pound lees? Custom, sir, is against such changes ; or, it may be, some one has usually had the contract, and it is urged in his fa vour "don't be hard upon so and so ; no one will care about the difference of St. or 91. a ton, or, it will never be observed in the estimates." Now, sir, this won't do with Sir James Graham, unless I am much mistaken. The Queen's yacht will afford him a good opportunity of adopting the harder metal at a cheaper rate. We shall see what he does. There aro two more hints to be offered on the said yacht. Her hold should be thoroughly ventilated by means of apertures on or near the deck, as done in the Viking yacht. This keeps the vessel sweet, and preserves health and comparative comfort. Also, there should bo adopted the Yankee notion of a small engine to do the heavier work, such as getting up anchors, setting up rigging, and pumping—a saving in men. Telescope masts are worth thinking about, as also galvanised ironwork and galvanised wire lifelines. ,The more perfect these arrangements the more likely it is that the new vessel will give permanent satis faction—the point of view in which the public is concerned. The vessel may be warmed throughout with hotwater pipes—a great and cheap luxury. Your obedient servant, JOHN TRELAWNY. TESTIMONIALS TO DARGAN AS WELL AS PRINCE ALBERT. TO THE EDITOR OF THE EXPEL,' SlR,—The unceasing interest you stall times display in all that concerns or engages the attention of working men, emboldens mo to ask for a small space in your ably conducted journal. I see by the papers ,that the . city mag nates are about to hold a gathering for the purpose of moan mentalising Prince Albert for his !successful exertions in relation to the late Ilyde-park Exhibition. I further glean from the same source the fact that the noble Dargan is about to realise a loss of some 20,0001. for his exertions in relation to the Dublin Exhibition. It has occurred to me and others of my class that wuile the middle and higher classes aro burning incense at the shrine of Saint Success (by the way, in no small measure owing to us), we (i.e. working men) might be w!!rthily employed in en deavouring to raise a fund by small—say potty subscrip tions, to indemnify Mr. Dugan for his prince-like sacrifice in endeavouring to promote the industrial regeneration of Ireland (so long sacrificed to landlord indolence, ignorance, and selfishness). Trusting some public spirited men may see this, and devise soma practical mode of varying my suggestion into effect, and asking pardon for my temerity in infringing on your space,—l an, &e., AN ADJURER Or DISINTERESTEDNESS. SVORTINt; EKTAAORDINART.—The following ad vertisement appears in the Freeman's Journal If the gentleman who shot a greyhound in mistake for a hare, near Trim, on Thursday last, will apply to H. 8., Custom house, Dublin, be will hear of something to his advantage." LATEST FROM ABRO_Ii. RUSSIA. WARSAW, Ocr, 22. Reinforcements have been sent off to the Crimes. The impregnability of Sebastopol is considered put question. The l'ircassians have lately exhibited won. derful activity, and have pressed down to the coast of the Black Sr.!. Forts Gortogojewsk and Ten. gith , k have been completely demolished, and the Russians so hard pressed that a number of thei r priests, who were carrying crosses to stimulate the soldiers, were left dead upon the field. Three Rus- sian brigades have been sent from Tortum to the Turkish frontier. Osten Saeken's corps still Lalts in Volhinin. A portion of the corps of General Ltithrs is still on the Russian side of the Prutli. G ItEECE. ATHENS, OCT. 17. The official journal contains an article cont.•rilin g for the strict neutrality of Greece, and reprehending those who attempt to excite a fanatical hatred to Turkey. The government has forbidden public functionaries to keJnie candidates for election to the Chamber. FRANCE. ._.- PARIS. Srsn.►V EVENIN The Muniteur says the government has received from the French Ambassador, at Constantinople, telegraphic despatch, dated October 21 :—" Prime Gortschakors answer had been considered as a refusal. Neeerthcless, in consequence of a repr o . sentation from the ministers of the tour allied e,:urts, the Ottomen government had ordered a suspension l of hostilities till Nov. 1. In case, however, of has. tilities having been commenced, the order was to considered null and void. The combined fleets were to enter the Dardanelles the next day." You will see by the above that there was an im portant stimeBsto reri in the despatch from Vienna which occasioned the enormous rise at the Ilatu-,c yesterday. The order to suspend hostilities was cot, ditional, and not absolute. If hostiliths should already have begun, the order was to go for nothing. The Porte obviously felt the consideration to which I alluded yesterday—that to check the enthusiasm of Omer Pacha's tm..ps after the war had be gun would be fatally to prejudice the cau,e. The " new phase" is, however, variously regarled here. The " little 13ourst" mustered in great force in the Iloulevat d this morning in spite of renewed prohibitions. The first business done was at 00c. or 70c. lower than yesterday, but the quotations soon improved, and 7;gr. 30c. was pretty well maintained throughout the day. This is only 20c. below th e b e g price of yesterday. Some sergeits do rifle came up to a group of speculators, and inquired whether things were up or dawn. On being told that the rente was rising they went away. Had it been otherwise they would probably have dispersed the meeting. The only two jqurnale that have yet had an op. portunity of commenting on the announcement in the Moniteur, the Paine and the Preae, take ve:y different views. The Patric says : Notwithstanding the condition attached to the order cent on the 21st to Omer l'acha, we hope that the wi s Air of laatchta, which for the rtst was not important, will have no serious cons( gurneev, and will not be an obstacle to the continuance vet negothdions. But upon this point we ate re ducart to conjel tow, and no one can:say hoe Omer Puha may have interpreted his instruct lens aftiv this fuit ac'ompti. The affair of lsalchta is, therefore, under present circum stances, in every way regrettable. It may compromise the peace of the world. Russia has again assuta• dan immense rcsi.onsibility. 'While protesting that she desired to pre serve peace, she has already twice jointed treaties, fir,t by crossing the Pruth, and next by forcing the passage of the Danube. At this moment the most recent news states that the Ituasians are sending considerahle reinforcements into Asia, and that a corps of troops has left Poland by forced marches for Bucharest, to strengthen General G sebakoll's army. Still in spite of the impcnacce of these facts we must observe that the Four Pow, n have never for an instant ceased to act its common for the main tenance of peace, and that at this solemn moment they are redoubling their efforts to effect a solution satisfactory to the contending parties. - - - • The PresTe: howercr, while noticing the Tarim: 'Versions of the new eflurts of diplomacy, makea co account of them. h says : The despiesh of yesterday was but a fattest akrte. The most impsirlont latilf wad suptireased. After the rectifica tion of the Mel, itt ur, it is evidently of no importance what- ever. Howl!din, having bi gun, the order to suspend them till Nov. 1 is necessarily null and void ("on man). - - The rumours to-day are more warlike than ever. There is a talk of a government contract tor steam boats to carry troops to the Levant. The Pays, far from treating the affair of Isatcha as unimportant, says, after quoting the paragraph from yesterday's Moniteur : Subsequent intelligence leads us to think it almost ger tsia that the fortress of Isatcha way really burnt by the Russian ships which succeeded in forcing the passage, not withstanding the heavy loss they sustained from the 0:- toman fire. The Patric says, in allusion to the alleged reduction in the Austrian army: - - • We said that the generals commanding in Italy and Ilangary, so far from i:iminishing their forces, bad asked ' for reinforcements: several German journals—andi in par ticular the liocrsen-Italle—tow announce that Austria hu just sent several regiments into Lombardy to strengthen the garrisons. The court of " Mises en Accusation," at Poitiers, has committed Baron Asselin de Crk7-7ecceur, a railway inspector of the first class; M. De Sasaenay, another inspector; M. 'Andre, keeper of the night station, al Ituffec ; and M. Le Roy, another officer of the Orleans railway, to take their trial before the tribunal of correctional police upon the charge of having, by a succession of imprudent acts, by inattention, negligence, and disregard of standing regulations, and of the Orleans Company's instruc tions, involui,tarily caused the death of several per sons, and the injury of several others. M. Charles Didion, a director of the railway, and five other officers of the company who were included in the accusation are discharged, the court having found no sufficient evidence against them. The prisoners who are to be tried will he liable if found guilty to from six months' to five years impri sonment, and to fines of from 3001 r. to 3,000 fr., und..l a law of July 13, 18-15. RUSSIA AND TURKEY. The Coarrier de Marseille, announces that the Caredoc, which had just arrived, left Constantino ple on the 23rd. At the moment of the Caradoc's departure, the allied squadrons, which only left Besika on the 22nd, had not yet reached the sea of Marmora, on aceount of bad weather which had dis persed the ships. Admiral de Tinan with three vessels only had arrived at Gallipoli, and Admiral Dundee had made the first tower in the Darda nelles. Letters from Constantinople of the 18th state that a division of 12 ships of the line, eight frigates, four corvettes, and three brigs, had just been formed to protect the northern coast of the Black Sea. The vessels composing this division arc the Turkish ships Bourdj-Zafar Mesoudich, Fevyzen, Pethieb Nous retjoh, Therifjeh; the Egyptian ships Mansourah Masser, Accn, Beylan, lialep, Fayoum, and the frigates Vapor el Nil Rechid, Sirigtad, Babirek Fa doullah, Rezim-Zafar, Sourieh. These are considered the best vessels in the two fleets. They are well armed, and have good crews. At the date of the last news this division was quite ready to sail, but had not yet quitted the port. BELORADE Oct• IS. Omer Pacha, being informed that the Russtaas had evacuated Kalafat, sent a patrol to that place , which encountered a detachment of 1)on Cossacks. The two parties were equally seized with a panic' and each evacuated the place in great disorder. file Turks, however, came back with fresh forces, and fortified an island in the vicinity of Widdin. The Russians are still concentrating their troops at Bucharest. Our correspondent writes : c An important modificationtiNsi'AinStThleNmOtln'LisEtr,yoocecr.. jlt3t.ed on *fhursday last. 13th inst., too late, however. in the evening to transmit the news. Mousse Safeti Pacha, 1 p,.. ,0 b , prgos env., has been again recalled to power, [ and reinstated in his old post as Minister of Finances. Hie E coanci 110WISi I ndeet i s in I probit and c the re ceedc± Safi gmt latcd He tit becn C the hi or pol to 418 Pied am-WI in con the tr lion si \VI told c with TI Min Um, nu to cie