The Express. — London, England, 1849-12-06 00:00:00

THE GREAT EXHIBITION OF 1851. We hoe received the very lengthy report of Mr. Cole Gad Mr. Preach Fuller,tho gentlemen who were i/ aut h or ised by Prince Albert, as prchtent of the vo of Anr," to travel through the manufacturing die of o r e gra nny is order to collect the opinions ef the nienulacturers and further evidesce with reference *fates imbibition of industry of all nations to be held in lira 1851, in order that hie royal highness might v i m the welts of such bertiry before her /dainty's govern fie" The following lean abstract The madam state, that their present report has reference or me Inquiries prosecuted up to the 6th of October teat, 0 1 1 * mai period they had visited, either jointly or singly, limas's:Or, Staffordebize potteries, Sbefeeld, Bradfutd, 11;14,,1 , Leeds , Nottingham , Derby, Newcastle. upon. tee Coventry, Binsiaghem, Kendal, Maidstone, Canter iwy 'd VOTOr, in Ragland; Edinburgh, Cillsegow Pais. by iyaaiag Perth,Dundee, and Greenock, in Scidland ; , me Dublin and &that in Inland. Since the sth of Octo city places have been visited, and treat committees h o med it them. These remelts will be published hereafter. nay peenseed extracts from the minutes of the meetings um at Suckiaghaa-palace atd Osborne, showing that "the ✓ e n dee and imbibition was intended to cuusiat of the fol- w pm, enemas : raw materials, machinery, end mechanical v or atime, manufacture, sculpture, and piaci° art gene ral, ;" the the governmein had offered the area • eomereet boon. or, if that were unfit, a more seiner site on the property of the crown; that MsAlbert bad pointed out a v acc.t s p ot on Ms sock side of Hyde lark ; that the exlibition should • °pee to the industry of all nations; " that by offering emy large premiums in money sufficient inducement would be MMus; ts the various manufacture n to proouce works w eigh, althusgh they might nut, loran meeufaetnre pro fitable is the petrel market, would by the effort necessary Mr their aellestishmeot permanently raise the powers of and rove the character of the manufacture M ie ; ll"l t a kiit a royal cconniesson should he appointed on nie abject; that the Society of Arts Amid organise the o wes of tables funds for that purpose; an that the OM proposed to he submitted for the consideretion of the ememiniou should be " medals, with money prizes so large • to overcome the orsples and prejudice eves of the larg. st geg Tithes: manufacturers, and WWII* the greatest amount gnomon. It wu proposed that the first prise should be 11,0001., and that one at leant of 1,0001. should be given in mai et the foot sections. Medals conferred by the Queen aired very mach enhance the value of the erne." These extracts the reporters exhibited for perusal, or read them selves to all picots. whom they consult d. They also &Limed Meier% that thou who were willing to be prumoters of the premeed uadettaking should have the opportunity of mmedieg Mthiselyes as such, and wereselisgly they pre pa a adored's, ezprissiag a high Knee of the im presses of the undermine'. and • desire to be its pro geese" both by personal es-uperstion sad by sabscriptions Tye 11/41.11000 received suniercus signatures ; but, had fhllso Via =On time. the reporters feel assured that " the MCA every piece visited might have been vary largely in areaseat.' The report the* proceeds ti Leans la mind your royal hiehneee's wishes, we stated mar secelly, on all .remasiosse, that our inquiries were to be rsgeld, d only es pnlimissry sodas rivate. At the outset we tomotheed our inquiries by Oki. g individuals Or counsec Mal Use simply, proposing to consult, in each locality, only thos e which in ear jaggiest appeared to be the mist ad zest, ..nit only asmell Lumber of theme We accordingly d, la this way, the Staffordshire potteries, Sheffirid, sad raldfOrd, and we were pursuing this course! but at m ore .. ro ter we found, in none eases, that our inquiries Were viewed as of so great an importacce that net only were all the several amen of large firms ambled to naive us end dimuss the proposal, but that st wend fines had waited M a joint meeting for the same object. Limiting our te state*, in the tint ins:wee, to manufacturen, we had not gropeeed to °Gault merchsets, er oiLers I- se directly con sithee in actual production; but very soon alter our snivel Manceaster we found that this course would to Had/- glees, aid we received cm all side. suegestioes th it for many goons it was expedient we should mike our visit known as is possible to the mayor, or chief magistrate, and be by him • to the parties it might be moat deirable to', NM We forthwith communicated with the Mayor of Man &OW ,r who lamediatelj enabled us to sunsuit a few of the lust impertest persoas. The deputation pursued the saws course at other places. " Hain g ascertained the general fee tee of the more inn gnaeat menufactueieg towns, we deeme6 it most expedient, of continuing our visitations to other seats of menu fame, to acacia.* mime inquiries into the probable feeling s eet h es' the am ieultaral districts and places where the inhabitants were likely to be exhibiton of raw material, &aid were con sum rather than producers of meoufactures. We corn• mewed these investigations at Maidstone, which has some Manufactories In its neighbourhood, red es a country town la the midst of the riche at and meat varied productions of egMeniture. We next visited Canterbury aid Dry. e, and we hays the addiction to report to your r 'yet higenne that in all these places we found, as in the manufacturing districts, an equally cordial recognition of the maiiona im prnince of tile proposal. a desire to exhibit as fat as possible j the best productions of the locality, and a willingoese to suin , leribe to the funds." In the CLAIM of these inquiries before they left Lyndon, cod during their visitations, especially in the manufacturing die. pier, the deputation heard some useful expire:minas of opinion and interesting suggestions on teatime details of the proposed ezhihisios, which ere given in their report. With respect so the general rips henry of such extubitiors, they Mate that they met with perfect unanimity throughout the whale of them vi-itations " In Dome cases we heard expocions of surprise, if not regret, that our sotantry should have been so tardy in hue- Venlig such an exhibition, et the um: time a feeling was expressed that the features of the proposed plan were au sub broader than those et any other which had preceded it, that it beanie invested with an originality of es own, end we have mum to believe that there eel be • coasider able amcmit of rational pride and exertion on the put of ledivoluals to contribute to its success." On toe question es to whether the scope of the exhibition Mould he exchisively national or universe., the report shows that opinion was unanimous in favour of the letter : " Even in those manufactures where one own inferiority would probably be demonstrated in the exhibition, menu thetensis certainly welcomed the opportunity which would tier be olLred for comparison." The preponderance of opinions also weeks favour of wholly supporting the exhibition by voluntary eubscription. Tee reporters heard this feeling strongly expressed by persons of very opposite polities, end even by those but very remonally interested in the proposal. A lady, nearly 80 years of age, who probably would not be able to travel to London ever to see the exhibition, said. " I will subscribe my crown if no put of the espouses COMB out of the taxes, but Lot ether wise." In a few instances, as at Paisley, they heard it said that government should at :eget contrieute a moiety of the nparre. Mr. it. OLTALIOr. of Manchester, exposed histeelt setefegly against the tends being provided by government. Ilir James Campbell, of Glasgow, thought it might bo an epee question, whether southwest shouts help it with fends ; at the same time he considered it might provoke die. custions in parliament that might preys injurious. Mr. Bailie Puller, of Perth, rem .rked that the government of France had by their energy rather loused than stimulated indiviouel exertioa," and he thence deduced " the ill / triOT advaitoo of retaining the popular rather than the govern pent lima of management" Mr S. It bithiurun observed, at the Canterbury suetisg, "That he wee glad to understand the exhibition was to be voluntarily supported ; fer that, had it been determined seek the aid of the goverament, he believed the public would bare felt themselves relieved from the necemity of essioting, and, regarding tne exhilrition as • part of compul sory tazetioc, would bare looked open it m uch less favour 1 " ith respect to a walkers's.; to exhibit, the deputation Mete that they bread the S. elite/ very general, but that in Me or two IMO, they met with symptoms of that feeling almost peculiar to British manufacturers against exhibiting the pr. 'menthe to any but Gunn fide outman*. This re- Inlgneree appeared to arise from an apprehension of pinny. Although the *fleet of the Copyright Registration Act eno universally admitted to base lesen good so far as it extended, still it seemed to be felt that the protection, owing to Itaioll4 MOW, WWI still Ills ithcient Than was ciesizeble. Ott all Adel it was considered mot necessary that means shou.d be Taken, sad prizes so rewarded, that every one should be mohled to appose fairly In the particular grade be took is these rauffscuring productions ; ---oome persons produce.* es.celleace with little regard to east, others producing it et the cheapest possible rate. It wee .tae deritoue tines me ' producers ought not to be regard competiton on the isms level. On the absolute earesity of a tribunal se impartial as pos sible in the awarding of prizes all, without exception, were 'stir ly unanimous. All thought that a royal commission wu tie only means of souring the utmost practicab i s im partia:ity, and that its appointment wee indispensable to securing public confidence. Oa the subject of prism, Mr. Alderman Neild and Mr. Onhain, of Manchester, (injected to them with respect to textile fabrics. Mr. Neild says: "Pric s for excellence is textile fabrics would fail : in the first r: sr-, because a competent tribunal cannot be obtained. By' cempetere; I mea n one whose &Denim., would be re mote.) by the oommontty. But, OTIS supposing you could °Mein a cempettht tribunal, could they _dispose of the prac tical di ffi culties with which they would have to conteed ? Take, as an latent', my own trade of a calico printer (which, I belie et, will be an illustration of most othere); a prodigl was mesa of production is placid before them (a. e the demarcation between the bst and the worst there is a ;e of that the most inexperienced can hardly mistake bet as they proceed there are points of excellence of various Ideas, but differing in various ways—one posseating sei !hefty of design, another of execut 00, and some approaching mel ply that the duff reno is hardly more than one allude In deer P. supper.' the numbers thus approaching become reduced to two, four, or six, would not a lags prier awards] to one, and nothing to the others, be pronounced by an in dignant community as a piece of monstrous injustice anti eb- Rah, ? The safest course, depend upon It, *ill be to lee,. the puhllc to be their own lodges. It is trklJ the public mmetimes make mistakes, but, at an rate, its verdict, if efw of approval, is pronouncri a good, substantial patron ?deoni. Julies Black and of Glasgow, saw no objec tion t the prizes proposed, " The larger the amount the gluon would be the ezertione." Mr. Wakefield, of the firm st Inglit and Wakefield, of G'ssgow, was decidedly in favour °I money prises. He doubted if many wo u ld exhibit without those. Mr. Hertz. of the are of Messrs Delgnish , !Worm, and Co., thought there should be no reward of money Riven to any menufeetters where the c,ournereal raCt less a sufficient reward ; but he thought it expedient that ace very large prize should be given when no other reward dbe expected ; this aecording to the hale and expense of the production, and the WLLtr piss should be b: sad on the same principle. Mean. Heehaw and Ca. approved of prises, but objected to the i proposed large amount of them. Mr. Minton considered that the eabiti/on ought to receive the prime whether they were manufacturers, designers, or retailers. He thought, i however, that the prises ought rather to be medals than mosey. The greater the money prizes the greater doubt lea, the incentive to exhibit; but they would encourage speculation and lead to ruin. At Paisley the meeting was unanimosuly in favour of large prize., so as to command the attention of scientiLc men not only is this but in other countries. Mr. J. Stuart Mill recommended that every jury appointed to adjudge the prises should have SOILS foreigners upon it. He consid.red that the most effectual mans of insuriog madames abroad. Mr. 11. Hedge ire, one of the master of the Had Sc u, of Desip, suggests that " Coilectio.x of the most rare and choice works produced by the skill of put ages (such as our museums and soietke of ass bluest*. and archseolsgists could so well supply) should form centres to the various groups of manufactures to which they:relate. Such collections would be a great stimulue to new efforts to produce by mechanical means that are is our howi r, much that was then accomplished only by costly and labour. Information would be obtained by the juxta position of the exallecce of the past with the endeavours of the present." Ms. B. Hailstone, of Horton-hall, near Bradford, also suggested teat a collection should be made of mediaeval art ufactures: bet his views are that it should he ten- Wed at the Soci,ty of Arts next year, in order to give ma ' onfeeturers all the advantages and information derivable from such a collection, whien they might turn to practical account in the preparations fur the exhibition of 1851. Mr. Farquharson, of Purdy, suggi sti d that the premedi tated designs should, if possible, oo colinted together atter the exhibition, and be made to instruct the workmen in ' different pens of the country by rotating exhibitions. ' The report concludes with rating, "That the directors of the East lathe Company have agreed to give their cordi .1 co-operation in carrying out the wishes of his royal highness, by obtaining from India such speci / inns of the products and manufactures of that country ss ' may tend to illustrate its resources, and to add to the interest of tae gnat national exhibition." RELIEF OF REAL PROPERTY. MEETING AT NEWPORT PAGNELL. A. meeting was held yesterday. at the Swan Mete], New? en Paged!, to take Into consideration the present depressed state of agrieul.ure, end to devise the best means for its relief, and for that of real property generally. Toe proceirdiests commenced with the usual farmers thoner, the Rev. A. Cu es fee presiding. There was a very numirous attendance of tanners and others ccunected with' the agricultural interest. On the removal of the cloth, the usual loyal toasts well given from the chair, and suitably reap inded to. The CHAIRMAN eh• n proceeded to state the objrcte of the meetiog, which were simply to consider the present &Trotted state of agriculture, and to devise the best means for its relief. Mr. LUCAS moved the first resolution. lie congratu lated the meeting on the presence of Mr. Disraeli, and the symptoms of approaching adhesion to their cause oe the part of the /inns newspaper. The ro solution he held in his hanu complained that, in ad. did." to their c intributions to the general if the country, the farmers were obliged to pay twelve millions annually under the name of local taxation, but which was la reality levied for general and national purposes. He asserted that the landed interest had the sole heathen of supporting the poor. They also sustained the expense of prisons, trtalr, bridges, roads, and otter county purposes. Sacks had, last year, paid 15,0001. for those purposes. Kr. Lucas ogee:hided by moving the first resolution, the terms of which were in accordance with hie previous observations. Mr. GRAVES seconded the resolution. The resolution wes put, and carried unanimously. Mr. DISRAELI nee to propose the next resolution, and was received with great cheering. He said:—Mr. Chaim man and Oenticmes —I need not express my gratification, as a member of this Ism:laden, at wing Ut this district of the Northern Hundreds of Buckinghamshire, so numerous anti intelligent an emenibly as that I am now address ing, and one so time:Lilly distinguished by the presence of some of the meat intelligent and distinguished yen men and tertian of the northern pert of the county. (A farmer from the lower end of the room here shouted out, " You'll oblige me by standby up in your chair, Mr. Diemen ; we can't heir you at this end of the loom." The violate. of the request nice ed much laughter.) Truth trevele slowly, but its time it will reach you ; have patience , my Weed. (A laugh.) I like a public meeting, even when the pressen is inconvenient, and I trust that my hon. friend will he of the same opinion, and put up with the temporary inconvenience he endures. (Heel., hear.) Gen derma, sines we last met very interesting and important events have occurred with reference totem great subject which absorbs cur attendee, and which the painful experience of every day renders it necessary we should ponder Over. I think there is now a very prevalent opiniun *bread, that whatever may be the ultimate consequences of the pretest state of Agin, the first victims of the recent revolution in our cons ' menial system will to the fanners or England. (Hear, hoar.) I remember that hitherto, whenever the question of arrieultural protection was discussed in this country, we were always told that it was a landlords question,and that it never could interest the farmer. I always felt hat although every member of the agricultural body would in turn oe victims, the first and principal sufferer would be the farmer, and great as is the diattelli which all now acknowledge they suffer, there is no doubt but that it is the farmer who feels it most severely, and who experiences the suffering with most scuttle et (Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, we an told that however severe may be that suffer ing, it must not for a moment he considered in com perigee with the advantages which have scented from the new legislation of this country to its great middle climes , . Now, there are in the United Kingdom a million of farmer., nearly a fourth of the whale adult population; and I want to know when we are to find mere numerous or more important representatives of the middle classes of England (Hear, bear.) Year after year we have the interests of the cultivator of the soil pieced in antagonism with those of what are celled the middle classes. Can anything be more ah urd than to assume that the farmers of England con have no interest in the presperity of that great order indeedi they are the rightest ornament, and the foundation ? (He b ar, bear.) One would euppem, from the way in widen the interests of the British farmers are treated, that they were a class apart from the great interests of the nation, and when day after day we have it dunned in our t all, that they must be sufferers in order to secure the prosperity of the middle classes, the world is apt to forget that of those middle classes the most important e:ction consists of tho farmers themselves. (Hear, hear) But, gentlemen, if each misconception exins re spectfng the farmers, let us look to the Interests of another section of the agri cultural body respecting whom misrepro sentations as calumnious, and misconceptions almost as grope, are circul.ted I mean the owners of the soil. One would suppose, from the way in which the own ers of the soil are spoken of, especially in the large maculae. taring towns, that thee were a small body of luxurious pro pintoes, who lived onthe honey which the industrious bees bad accumulate d fur them. Why, the owners of the soil in Eastland alone exceed 220,000 in number ; and if they were to divide the boreed rental of England amongst them, they would not p rives 1601. a yew each ; and inasmu ch as we know that many proprietme of the nil possess a great deal more, it follows that some must poems& a great deal leas. T 1. here no subject upon which there is greater misre presentation at present in vogue than in the distrac t, r and numbers of the lauded proprietors of the United Kingdom. (Hear, hear.) Those who dilate upon the large possessions of some rare individuals who attract attention by their dietinguished position, forget the states• men of the north, the co-partners of Lincolnshire, and the yeomen of the midland and southern counties. There is, lin truth. no chug in this country who work harder and live harder than the numerieel majority of the proprietors of the mil. (Hear, hear.) Yee have, then, in the first place, a million of Cannes in the United Kingdom ; you have a moot numerous body of proprietors ; and you have, in the third piece, a million and a bar of peasantry depending on the owner end occureers of the soil, and upon their own honest indeed?. (Hear, hoer.) But more than that, you have the poeulstion of more than twe.tbirds of our towns sod you have besides all this vast amount of property and ' population, and, Reneging from the land, the most valued of ear ancient institutions. (Hear, hear.) Our famous paella , meats, our free tribunals, our sacred and patriotic church, end deb reputation, mounting to two-thirds of the United Kingdom, involving such interests of numbers and property, sad affording such elements of power, have been called only within these few days a petty interest. (Hear, hear ) There is no disguise on the part of your opponents. Whatever may be their faults, however unfair their Means, or impolitic their objects, they are at least freak opponents. They told yon when they began the straggle thst they wished to snake this country the workshop of the world. They told you as they a veined to moms that this country ought to be governed by the great towns and they told you, as they approached neer to the goal of their ambition, that they saw no necessity why a single wxter of wheat should be grown in England. (Hear, Lear.) Only within these few days they told you, with an admirable hearten, that they wished to change the deposi tories of power in this country, and their new of things is this—that the mechanics of the great towns should buy votes in the counties, and return the county members as well as I 1 their own. They tell you further, that if the purchasers should be dissenters, it would be so much the better for the I l ecannplishment of their ulterior objects. Now, gentlemen, knowing what your power is, and what are the designs of year enemies, it appears to me that the time has come whim you should determine on a course calculated at ones to lemurs your interests and to Nettle their attempts. (Heer, hear.) I leave been told by weighty authorities teat I make a great mistake in the manner in which I address the fanners or England, that I do not understand how I should sr :dress them, and innt I should, in addressing them, avoid I sorbing precise ; fact, anyt h ing that means anything— ' (cheers and laughter)—that, in fact, you gentlemen are In the habit or being deluded, and that you rather like it. (Continued laughter.) They say that what you want is VIIRUC phraseology, to be used as tools, and to be gulled as you were galled before. (Great cheering.) I 'believe I I made my first political speech in your county hall tweet! yens ago (I am sorry to aeknewledge it), and ever sine* lone attempted to advocate the interests of the farmer, roe have I Toothed my opinions as to the enure, most conducive tee thee interest. And if lam now asked what is the real nun of the forlorn state into which that master interest has new fallen, if I were asked why that great interest is now in a pritien of diegrate, and !wham or peril, I should Fay it oes not the yodeler or a minister—that would not be the C/1144 I should alleee—but that it was the remissness of the agricultural constitsencies themselves. (Hear, hear.) They understood their own position, they knew their own power, end they ought to have comprehended their own duty. (Hear hear.) If I were asked for the reel gauge o r the prostrate condition of the landed interest I should say it wee because for fear years the owners and cootesens of land have been too contented to look after their own affain. They have not it-Attired into the facts ; they have not known their own power, they have not understood their own duty, nor comprehended the designs of their opponents. (H.ar, hear.) You have Ise long been satisfied with those who ought to have guarded your interest, joining in some unmeaning chorus of what was supposed to represent your wants. For too long you entrusted your interest' to eminent public men sitting for close boroughs or !tuned universities, who had no sympathy with your wishmono me for you bat to make you the ladders of theme ambition. (Hear.) So lug es those gentleman ap pealed to a jury in your behalf who were sure to give them a verdict, they were proud to be your counsel, but the moment the jury hesitated, they threw their briefs in your feces, and left you in the mud an which you are now floun dering. (Cheers.) What has happened since then ? Was then • single section of this great agricultural Interest which behaved with common sense or ammon spirit ? lou know nothing of the resources of foreign countries, you know nothing of the designs of your enemies, anti this be cause you bad done nothing for years but echo praises and support a system which I am called on to follow. (Hoer.) But, pentlemen, I shall do no such thing. I act on • differ ent swim, and I am convinced that however great may be the tower of the agricultural interests, however numerous its population , however vast its cspital, or great its intelli gence, it musi ultimately fall unless we can create among the fanners of the country en activity se disciplined when turned upon political subjects as they exhibit in their own imme diate procession. (Heir, hear.) Unless the farmers are practically aware of the designs of tht it foes, of the resources of their foreign comp - titers, and of their own domestic Pewee, we can do nothing. We may obtain a momentary triumph, but it will surely end in speedy, and, perhaps. total discomfiture. (Hear, hear.) It is for these reasons I am prepared, on every 'cession I meet you, to give distinct reasons for the course I think you ought to pursue. It is possible—nay, it is inevitable—that some shall differ from the course I recommend, and our opponents will point exult- Ugly at such differences ; but I draw from such differences —Mckerings, if you like—conclusions of a very different cha racter. Remember that the protectionist party is no orga nised body, acing together on system, but a whole column sky, and • suffering community. (Hear, hear.) It is net rly idle to suppose that when the great claws of this country are in a state of hourly suffering, they can always echo the sentiments, however just, of any individual. Why, these differences are only a proof of the multiplicity of their suffer , ings. 1 look upon all the classes who are at present suffer log from a departure from our ancient legislation es very much in the condition of persons on board ship. Some are sea sick, some squeamish, some wish to be put on shore, and some would wish the ship to change her course. But amid all this there is a pilot who can weather the storm, and when he has brought the ship into still water all is forgotten and forgiven. (Chests.) If the protectionist party be a pe pular party —and it is nothing if not popular—there will always be differences of opiuioa, but these differences of opinion will yield to the sympathies of a common end, and while one man sagest& one plain, and another another, still, if the object of both be the protection of native industry, de pend upon it there can be no permanent severance of interest or conduct amongst them. The best advice will always be followed in the end, because i. is the interest of all to toJew the course which their judgment p Ants out to them as the must practical. I say this because I know that when parlia ment meets there wi 1 be • large amount of sympathy in the racks of all your friends in the Hines of Commons. We shall show as unbreken front, a united pnt pose, and a determined spirit. (Cheers.) And we shall have only one object in view, and that is to put an end to thou leaguing , which all of you extra/nee, rid to terminate treat system of misrule which is fettering the industry and dilapidring the capital of the country. (Cheers.) There area great many of our triends whose remedy for the present state of things ia a dissolution of parliament, and I am free to admit that a more simple remedy was never suggested, or one that in its results is more calculated to be satis factory. But inasmuch as the prerogative of dissolving parliament does not lie with tee constituency, and as we cannot be sure that her moat Gracious Majesty will assent to our request for • dissolution, we should be prepared fur the other contingency, and see what we can do with parliament as it at present exists. (11. ass, hear.) I have read in certain oreans of public opieien which at one time worked well ter the farmers, and which notwithstanding a great deal of abuse of myself, I wish to treat with rotpect, • complaint that have not encouraged the great movement for a dissolution because I was afraid to meet the indignant agriculturists of Buckinghamshire. Why gentlemen I am now meeting those indignant agriculturists at a meeting which has seldom been equalled in its northern hundreds for immure or intelli gence. (Cheers.) I am perpetually meeting them, I live among them, and if there were • dissolution tomorrow, I sheeld leave my interests without fear or anxiety in their hands. (Cheers.) Fur my part I should be very, glad to see • dissolution of parliament, and I do not seek to glean& any individuals la this room (torn getting a dissolution if they can, but if about the lot of February next I find that parliament is not dissolved, I must then ask you, whether you wish me to sit with my arms folded with out making any attempt for the redress of your otrievances. (" Certainly not. ") Well, then, if you are not to get the dissolution, will you be prepared for the other fortune ? I come to ask your counsel, and humbly to offer my advice as to the course we should be prepared to pursue. I think that there is no reason to distrust the die positions of the present parliament to remedy the distresses under which you are suffering. (Hear, hear.) I have had opportunities of comprehending their dispositions, and wnatever doubt I may produce by the avowal, I say without reserve, that I believe the dispositions of the present House of Commons are in favour of a generally protective policy to British industry. (Loud sheers.) Look at what has been their come. It was returned without any constituency calling its member to a severe scrutiny. I hear a great deal of the wee in which the farmers are treated, and of the ne witty existing for a dissolution of parliament. But it is my duty, however disagreeable, to remind you that after tne great betrayal of 1846 you had in 1847 an oppoitu nity for another selection, and you neglected it, and that too after an elaborate warning from the truest of public servants. The present parliament has mo dified an ! mitigated the sugar bill, absolutely retracing its steps with regard to that important free trade measure, and that at the instance of an individual member who bed the presumption to propos' some of these specific remedies which are now so much denounced. When the repeal of the na vigation laws was proposed in parliament it met with such an opposition that the existence of the government was in danger, and if the House of Lords had done its duty the •mstence of government had terminated. (Loud cheers.) These are facts, not abstract hypotheses. I am not in dulging in dreams of imagination. These are great his torte events with which every man in this room is ac quainted as well as myself. Devolve this parliament if you can—make that appeal to the people which I have no doubt would be responded to in a manner that would determine the question of protection. (Hear, hear.) But if you cannot du that, don't let any pawn persuade you that it is your interest or duty to give up the game as hope less. (Cheers.) Rely upon it that • greater political blun der could not be committed. It was the mistake which Mr. Fox and the whig party committed at the time of the French revolution. He, bemuse he could not induce the House at Commons to adopt his policy, and proud of his eloquence and the great intelligence of his parliamentary oortheziens, absented himself with his party from the House of COMMIS, The considered the gime hopeless, and thought they would destroy the influence of the Henn of Commons by depriving it of its greatest ornament.. But what heppened Great as Mr. Fox was as an orator, and great in talents as were the indivi lusts who gathered round him, the country felt that the existence of a House of Commons was more important than the existence of Mr. Fox, and a set of second-rate men carried on the go vernment of the country with consid cable ifficieccy. (Hear, hear.) Shortly after Mr. Fel and his party were obliged to resume their position in the house, with all that want of consideration which was the consequence of a policy - which had been a failure. (Hear, bear.) I can conceive nothing more fatal than the !pretectionist party absenting itself from the present House of Commons as long as it exists. I read of sneers against hopeless efforts which allow persons to make brilliant speeches without carrying measures. That is a mistake as regards public eveats—it argues a total igen ranee of the geaiva eel this country, and of its polities. This is a country of discussion, and if opinions however right are not maintained in public discussion, the great body—the gent multitude of the nation—will never follow them. I consider that whether in majority or minority our opinions on all public questions should be vindicated and maintained, (Hear, hear.) Public opinion is not always right I say more public opinion is often wrong. But then is one characteristic of public opinion wh ich is cer ' to—that it will never sympathise with the unintelligent; and whatever may be your cry oat of doors, if the parlia ment be opposed to you, and you have not men of courage and talent to vindicate your opinions, your ultimate suemo will be impouible. (Caere.) Now, gentlemen, I have on all occasions co-operated with those who had the same object in view as myself, viz., the restoration of the protective system to this country. Under all cieculatarthes I ; here attempted to follow the example of an individual who wee placed in circumstances very similar to these in which you now all find yourselves, I mean the late, Lord George Bentinck. (Hear, be ar.) I knew that great man well. 1 loved him better. I was the compation of his councils—often the consoler of his cares. I never knew a man who more completely realised my idea of an English worthy. (Hear, hear.) Some thing of the devotion he gave to your service his re rosining friends may still offer you ; but we shall in vain look for t .at indomitable 'plat that was never cowed—that inspired industry that baffled as it were both time and na tore, and that masculine vigour and proud simplicity which were equal under all circumstances to either fortune. (loud cheers.) But strikin as were the convictions of rd George Bentinck, alth o ugh he was not a man who w L ou o ld ga out of his way to conciliate any human beieg, although he usually shrank trim ampromise more than any man the ever existed—how did he behave when the new parlia ment commenced its existence in 1847? Remember he had solemnly warned the farmers of their position 7 remember that he had foreseen, with a sagacity which has never had justice done it, everything that subsequently took place. Remember, that though his counsel was derided by those for whom he sacrificed his life, that he allowed no other feeling to influence him, but his anxiety to forward the obct to which that w role lire was devoted. (Hear, hear) What was the consequence of that devotion ? Before twelve months the ministry were obliged to retrace their step on the West India questi n. That was an attempt at a specific remedy, and following his example under most adverse circumstances, I say it is our duty, if th is parliament be net dissolved, to set with the mune pinworm* and untiriog devotion which animated him, and under no circumstances to sanction a policy of despair. (Chews.) I am reminded that Ido not take li tin agrkell iedwawh i lle f i t:a r t : b i t in cual p t actu ;il e b o u n uo ts i tf v .:l i e e ur n w ie o d t o e f l i ce n aff trh t tin aira i h mk es i :it ad sa vota ks, ing not ti re dear myself from personal imputations, because I have no fora m th om a e at n i t da th g e tha saus th e atleflt being lw"let y he as land d otguid b ranch u na rat a g smne o th f ,hb th e t e l a ara o uii: re m: nags bitainal o o i f fals a tt : d emestr u a t, s ta oeu t H r v . l y ega . rg l e ( figrau li dat i e t ar rdha a i: , e a teea t h e.r e r ta us.e ar )os e : . : ill:du: l et Maid= of my critics. It is utterly impossible that any propose a specific remedy that should meet the case of all the great interests. They were destroyed in detail, and in detail they must be reconstructed and lettered. Until the great agricultural interest was stabbed in the back no one dared attack any other interest, and no other interest will b 3 restored until the land of England has its rights. (Cheers.) I will not say, what I might my truly, that I sun • member of a society for removing the burdens from real property. I might say that 1 am a member for on agricultural county, and that I have never spoken tempt in concurrence with the watts of my constituents. That would be my complete vindication ; but I will not avail myself of it. 1 maintain that we never can count guntr in its b y roktha p t i w oper hichpositin theo u th . er great interests desire entil we place the land of Ragland in the legislature of this (Hear, hear.) I deny that I ever said that it was necessary tor all of us to stand to eether, and that when the agricultural luta:est was defeated it was because it wanted the assistance of the other interests. I utterly deny it. I shall be happy, if the shipping inter, st ur the colonial interest come forward with their claims, to plead their cause ; but I deny that agriculture fell because it was conoes.ed with shipping or colonies. It tell because it was deserted by its triends —because there were treitore the tamp. (Loud cheers.) it fell because the county mem ben did not do their duty—because there was a mieister chosen by the protectionists as the champion of their policy who himself ottered the poisoned bowl to the beings lee ought to have cherished and protected. (More cheering.) Weil, I think 1 may draw from the general expression of feeling this evening that you go an far with me as this — that while you wish as 1 do myself for a dOsolutien of the preseut parliament—(and, speaking of myself and colleague', Ido not think there ever was a patty who bid less reason to fear • dissolution ; fur it wuuid he a scandal on the faith of England if a body of men, under such trying circumstances obliged to work by themselves, no card to guide them but that sympathy which lightens all our ditll• culties—it weuid be a scandal on the spirit of the English nation to suppose that such men eould ever be deserted by those who sent them to the House of Commons)—that, while you wish this parliament to be dissolved, you would sill be auxious, in the event of failure, to obtain all possible goo I from it as it stands. (Hear, hear.) We have to fight ageenit the peeked men of the House of Commons, against the present government and the late gaverument, and against the revolutionary school which is rising eve ry (ley in auda city and power. We are obliged to do this deprived of that assistance which we always looked up to, and a that coined chick we had a right to expect. We have nothing but our sense of duty, and the spirit of our constituents, to uphold ain the struggle. Tbercore I cannot beeicee that auy mem- ' her of the Howse of Commons sitting on the protec tionist benches can look to • dissolution of parliament in any other light than as • May-day festival. (Cheers.) I toenk, then, that we aro in this position—that anxiou, as we are to meet a doselation, it is of the utmost importance that we should, to the utmost of our ability, salmis our ponciples and wring forward such remedies es we ueed not despair of seeing ultimately carried. (Ilea, hear.) With respect to the agricultural interest, such remedies a I think oar have • right to look fee, and which you may possibly obtain, I shall now put before you as bristly as possible. I think that agriculture has • right to two dunes. It has a right, io the first place, that the Biddle farmer should be placed on a level with his fellow citizens, and in the second place. that he should, in his own market. be placed on a level with foreigners. (Cheers.) Thee" an the two positions chick I am prepared to support in the House of Coauaeus, and welch I think you have • right to enforce. (Ilea, Leer.) le my opinion the first way fur the egoculturists to be placed oar a level with their fellow citizens is by relieving them Isom tans which their fellow cities% do not pay. (Hear ) Let us far a moment briefly consieer this important p.iet. I do not think that this question ot local taxed= has been sufficiently opened by the agricultur 1 in tercet. I want you to consider what must be the cause. queues of my carrying in your behalf • measure similar to tea: which I proposed last year ? In the dm pleat, this measure was defeated by no large majority. You lied against you the present mil the late government, with unu sual virulence. Yea had, of course, all the ha trade scheul against you, and yet the majority was only eto —thear)— t hough the re was then no pinch as compared with the pre sent pressure, and although the coastita ales did not come lorward till • day after the fair to preened petitiesee its favour at a notion which hail already been disposed of. Gentle men, you have a very fair chance of carry rob taming of that kind. (Ilesr, hear ) I have no hesitation is soling that it the agricultural constituencies stir themselves, you will carry it. What will be the consequence ? The Chancellor of the Exchequer will have to supply a deficiency of some five or six millions sterling. How is he to supply it ? lam not going to say Low it ought to ho supplied, fee 1 have had 'aliment experience of epee sition to know that it is enough to prove that a certain line is right, end to let the means of its execution be deviled by the government of the day. Bat we have high authority on this subject, an eminent physician celebrated for etuelyiag the symptoms if the patient points out a remedy — l mean tee Tenses newspaper. (A laugh.) Lea year, I remember it with pleasure, we recetved • meet powerful Led sus ainal support from the Times in a series of admirable articles en favour of the principle that real property should out oboe be subject to the general national bunlees. 1. is quite iltip..ssi ble that the Times can leave changed its opinion 0.. that eab j. et. (•• Oh, oh I" and laughter.) But what hear pp until this year ? the Times, while courteously comineneug tau some exposition of our views which were mole at Ay !cautery, lays it down as • principle that the claims at real property ter remission cannot be satisfied without • city eis ineperts. Well, gentlemen, that dill not break our hearts. (A laugh ) If justice is done to yuu by making the for. iguer pay the tell, you will not refuse it on that recount. We live its :43 age of cemprotaiee, peace, and conciliation ; sued, it it thoulit be determined to settle this king-vexed questeli by levying a duty on foreign imports, I, ter one, shall iee pereetly ready to bow to that decision. (Hear, hear.) Cm the farmers of this ceuntiy relax in their efforts while such im mense results aro to be attained In my epiuion, their game at present is to concentrate their efforts on this ques tion of local taxation. (Hear, Mar.) It may be said that this does not involve the question of protection ; I ay that fur that reason is is the wisest measure for you to pursue. Take the outworks first, and then you have • better chance of storming the citadel. (Cheers.) It is of the utmost im ponauce teat we should have something with which to bid our great party together, and to consolidate our forces. (Hear, hear.) We must have something to give courage to an army which bas lost its. heed, and almost lost all heart. (Hear, hear.) I think that our first move should be one in which you have a chance of tnietsph, and which should be permanently beneficial in its regalia. I have heard what 1 advise deri sively styled tactic—they are tactics—but it you think you can encounter a triumphant enemy placed oa • vantage ground without tactics, depend upon it you are indulging in • false hope. Whatever may be your 'trine tb and uumars, you will be oventhelmed like the Indians. who encountered the cavalry of Cortes and the infantry of lizerro. I 'read then, es long as we are not allowed to appeal to the Sens. 01 the nation, meet tam, supported by the powerful champions lof the principles, whether origiaal advocates or recent con verts. I would meet them, and never budge an act. I would never let • night pass without vindicating what think true, and prop:arm what I think practicable. I Inv: entered into this 'selectmen of my views, because the mo ment is critical, because the meeting of parliament cannot he long postponed, and beau,* I thought the best way of treating those exaggerated and superficial differences in our party was by a trank and cordial explanation of my intentions, which if rot just and prudent are not practicable. I here that confidence in the common sense of the Eog isi people that I know they will register their verdict against them if', not reasonable, and I shad listen to that verdict with cheer- I fulness. I will give to those who are prepared to support an opposite policy, ca long as it has the cencurreues of the great bode of the nation, my cordial ecsoperation ; but I have not yet head 'that that policy is, and until something less vague , is proposed I feel it sine to myself and to you who sent me to the House of Commons to /dedicate that policy which I think I sound and to preserve it with • firmness that never can be shaken. (Charlie Then are yet one or two points which I feel it my duty to touch upon I think the sagacity of Lord George Bentinek was n more exemplified than in his recommendation with regard to Inked. He saw from an early period that the interests of Ireland were I I stricly territorial, and feeling that erten the great inter est* of that country were concerned friction woula disap pear, he was always prepared with' IneaSllll4 tO advance its material interests. Recent events have vindicated his sw I treat that there will be frum sat henceforth a feeling of coreia co-operation between the English tied Irish people, who are booed together by the I eyer.pathy of the landed principle and by the feeling tint the fate of this national industry eapends upon that tone- Milli system which we still partially et joy and which we are pmpared firmly to uphold. (Hear, hest.) I thick we stall masks a great ntisuke if we allow this great etas , doet of the land of England to degeneoee Leto • earty question. The real qaestien is weether England than re main • great and free monarchy or become, in imitation of the United States, • republic, and, what is worse, a manufacturing republic. 1 think the time is come wLen we should recognise sympathy with the land as the greet question . to bind Englishmen in puolic life. Aed as I cannot &elites that the great whip Jambes can be lase to the soil to which we all owe allegiance, I trust that from henceforth the basis I of our political connexions may be more comprehensive', sad 1 that the moment we receive eympathy from any quartet it may meet with a cordial return fr om ourselv. a. (Hear, bear.) I wish to observe, in conclusion, that great exer tions have, of late, been made to direct public attention to , the question of general taxation. I would remind you that sir.ce the peace 40,000,0001. of taxes have been taken from the shoulders of the community, while during that interval our population has increased by many mil ems, and oar foreign aide one-third. Our agriculture al-o, under protec tion, has become the meet skilful andsuccessful in the world. How is it, population, foreign trade, higely improved serieelture, awl then, with all teem eiemeats o f seam, i i .eremed 40,000,0001. annually taken off the public beramn, tt.al the burden of taxation is still so oppressive and intolerable ? Depend upon it that there is no tax the Tepee: of weich would be more than a drop of water to the agriculturist. The manufacturers have taken off every the that presead upon them. They have acknowleged to having saved 2,000,0001. a week by the repeal of the proviaion la ors, an h ow can th e y pr etim,2 to he suffering tenths burdens of taxation? The contlosiOn to which I saris: is this— that the cry for diminished taxation is a political cry, not a fiscal clamour. I should recommend a policy exactly contrary to that of the Manchester school. They the moment there is a balance in the Exchequer call for diminished taxation, while I recommend you to adopt the principle of a sinking fund as a great breakwater against what is insidiously called "financial reform." That sink ing fund, I think, should be maintained by a duty on foreign Imparts and when I remember that the national debt was mainlyincreased in aiding foreigners, I cannot think it un reasonable that foreigners should assist in paying it off. (Hear.) Under these circumstances I propo.e this resolu tion, but before I sit down I would impress upon you the importance of active exertion, I wish the fulness, who are the most important portion of the middle classes, to assert their share in the government of the country. After an allusion to Lord Brayliroake and Mr. Harcourt, the former of whom he described as a free-trade landlord, who wished to enjoy high prices and low rents, ani the other cs a member of parliament, who accused him (Mr. Disraeli) cf proposing what he could not execute, while he himselt was a person who neither executed nor proposed any , thing, the hon. man concluded by moving a resolution to the effect "that it was essential to the interests of this country that a sinking lund should be established, and that smith fund should be maintained by n dui on foreign im ports." The motion was seconded by Mr. Tnowan and passed by acclamation. Another resolution, adopting a petition to parliament in favour of the preceding once, was alto proposed and agreed to, and this proceedings terminated. THE MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS. Itf~nCIIEeTXB, Dm 5. The investigatins into the affairs of the Itschdele Savings Bunk is still goiug on, &tad from what has since transpired it appisirs thst, thmsh the late Mr. Howor,h kept the mounts in two sipento ledgers, oae being open to the managers to.d the other being a private one, a rou-ih css..-book has been f iund, in which he had entered all the moneys received. It is end to be a bock which was weer examintd by the auditors, and t►e only use it will now be of will be to assist the im vestigieiln going on to recettain the amcuut of deficit. The mode of auditing the recounts of the bank is mid to have been this:—A quantity ut sheets have regul +sly been sent down by the commissioners irom London, ruled in such a form m to contain the accounts for four with* at a time, and giving the balance nt the commencement of each day, the liNpuuts reCri‘ed from depositors. the total of three; then the repayments to depositors, balance invested, balance at the end of the d.y, and the di.prsition of such balance — all in separate celtenns. Tee managers. at the end of the month, eziwimd Misstatement, and a duplicate being made, the original was sent to London. The Manchester Ezowiner thus accounts for the oversight of the auditors : - - -- • The trustee ea lit takes place on the 20th of November, previous* the general animal meeting (nit; Illy held in February), when the report of the auditors is r. caved, and a new manager, B*. appointed. Messrs. Turner and Ecroyd, or whatever gentlemen might be appointed to perform the annual audit, would necessarily take the basil of that audit from the sheets referred te, examining the total umcunte in the books in tensrel cerroboretion of the corm:nen of tinsel statements; and It is a matter greatly to be regretted that such unlimited confidence was placed in the late actuary, that the gentlemen appointed to audit did not ocenionelly, at least, =ekes ohm investigation into the respective items retained in the ' , heel; themselves, Instead of assuming them to be correct beceuse they had been biped and paned by the mina / len at the monthly audit. It le sail that a very strong feeling exists among the tra“ tees in favour tit unktnie up the defec , ency to the depositors which may exist atter the deceased actuar)'s property shall here been s Id, but nu public notification to that effect has yet been made knowu. The contest between the enginesdriven and the managers of the Laet Lancashire railway seems likely to incline in favour of the latter. It appears that though tan demand fur engine-drivers has hen very great, owing to the rapid con sum:dun of railwsye during the last three or four years, the turnotiti hail miscaleulated the probabilities as to She power of the company to supply their places. The great majority of the companies having pretty well supplied themselves wide koomotives, a great number of the machine shops in Mah atma and elsewhere have had to discharge their meeseanies fur neat of employment to give them. Amongst these were won of tee workmen of Isleests. lairbeines well-known eetauliehneent—men honied "engine-fitter."—and persons who, though not accustomed to run trains over lines of rail. way, are yet extremely well qualified from their knowledge of locomotives to drive them alter a little practice, and when they shell have Reined a knowledge of the in. qualities of the line, in the shape of cu.' wee, inclines, and other peen levities. It is said teat tie old engine-drivere, en leaving the company's service, had emptied their oil cane into the water in the tenders, which would cause at first the water toe neer into the cylinders with the steam, but they have not attempted any other neaLcious damage, and the trains continue to run as usual, though at times considerable irre gularity prevails in point of time. Nc accident has resulted, however, up to this time. The Vicar of Leigh. whose refusal in past times to bestow ski rites of the church on &velum on the children of die venters, and some vagaries regerding the disposal of the offertory money, have already formula him under the notice of the llislee pot Matchester, his diocesan, continues to pur sue his obnoxiot s conduct, and the following notice of his consltter on Sunday testis given in the Manchester Examinee I of to-dap:— Oa Sunday !act, and the preeedine Sunday, the child of Jemes and Jane Turner, of Kerkhall-lene, West Leigh, was turned away from t'.e baptismal font at the perish church, Iby the above reverend gentleman. Due notice was given to the •.icar that it w:nild be pre.entid to him, and nu Suede) , week, in the eternoon, at the usual hour it was brought to him at the baptismal font. Ile asked the partite presentiag themselves as sponsors it they were ecmmunitunts ? Two out of the three de clined to answer the question, and the other stated that she was not a c mununtcent ; upon which he slid he po.t. ported, net reused, the elitist. ning of the child until proper sponsors were brought to hint, se provided by the canons. Fresh notice was given on Friday lest, and on Sunday ern r• noon three parties (including another female in plate of the one who had answered the question) presented the child. Ile age* asked them if they were communicants, and they ell d. einect to answer the question. lie stated that he *lOl suspend the christening until proper sponsors, as re quired by canon 29, were brought to him. He said lie did nut refuse, hut only deferred the chrietenieg. We under stand it is intended to test the legality of the vicar's conduct in this we. It is quite time that the matter should he settled. The vicar still refuses to obey the order issued by the Riede , " of Menchreter respecting the offertory money, even Sunday *keit the whole of the money, without allowing the wardens to count it. We understand the churchwardens of West Heisghton have presented the Rev. J. Alsop, the vicar's son in law, to the bishop, but we have net heard the nature of the presentment. DEATH FROM IMPRUDENTLY STEPPING OUT OW A RAILWAY CARRIAOII.—On the evening of Wednesday last, when the tram which lift the Londus•road Station at 'even o'clock la Ashton-under-Lyne. had reached the Fair field Station, a man named George Lees, &gardener resid ing at Dukiufield, got into one of the carriage', Just at the moment that the break was put on, for the gurpoe, of step ping the train at the G aidebridge Station—but while the train wee going at the rate of ten guiles an hour—bees pushed open the door, anti sapped out, but was immediately thrown down, caugnt between the curb-stone and the toot sooard, and dragatel forward several yards. lie wee pick.d up about 20 or 30 yards from the regular stopping piace of the train, and sent to the )lauchtster Royal nfirmary s soon as possible. It was then found that the i bone of t ie upper right arm, and both bones of the fore arm, had been fractured; and there was also rateablee laceration of the flesh. He was in a state of collapse when admitted into the iuhrtotry, from which he never thor-ughly rallied, and died early on Friday morning.—On Saturday last, Mr. E. Her lord, Leanne' coroner, held an inquest on the body, when Idr. Drew, house surgeon of the infirmary, sail that the deoeased had stated to him that he had bean drinking Wetly on the evening of the accident, and had no re• membranes of how it hal cccured.—The jury returned a verdict in accordance with the above facts.—Manchestcr Guardian. OUTRAGE ON TUE ULSTER RAILwAY.—On Sabbath evening last, some misereart placed a piece of strong r lank acres the nib of the Ulster line at L imbcg, evidently fnr the deadly purpose of throwing the train off the line, and thereby risking the Urea of the pastergers. Such was the force of the coneussfirin, caused by the engines dathing against the obstruction, that :he iron fender in front was seriously injured, though pr ,videwially no further damage ensued We ruret to learn that, up to the prss.mt, no trace of the cowardly scoundrel concerned in the entracte has yet been discovered.—Banner of Peter. THE LINEN TRADE.—For several weeks there had been a slitht tali ng off in the di mend for yarns, hut during the laid week the demand was bri-ker, and a good trade is expected during the coming mono. As the manufacture of Scotch linen gingham is now entirely over, the demand for coarse pans will tall off. In Bs!tymena, on Saturday last, there was a large show of cloth, the hoer description. of which amazed hands in favour of the buyer. Stocks were still low, end, until matten change in this respect, we reed ant look for any reduction in tie proem Tee exports from Belfast, during the past week, were as follows t—Lmen 462 packages, yarn 16 do., muslin 2 do , thread 2 do.—Bel New-Latter. DREADFUL COLLIERY ACCIDENT.-011 Tuesday an accident of a suicide natur W oocured at the pit belonging to Henry Woods, , house', Wigan. The men went to their work at sis o'clock, and about twenty of them descended the /it. About an hour afterwards, an est phxdon of hr.-damp tnok peace, whets thy men, in great 111001, moved tie Dat eye -f toe pi:. They got into the cage, sod wen ascending, when a loud cry au heard, and it wee auertainsd that the Lead of a boy named Howorth bad been severed fr. ne gig body. The boy hail Rot entangled in some way in getting into the tag., and whilAt his heed was token above, the body remained below. The yen* was fifteen yore of age. Others were slie,htly injurvii in their haste to get into the cage, and two or three stained severe burns from the explosion. At present it is teapot:ibis to state the cuss of the accident, as it would Oct be safe to descend the pit.—Jkoridiester Eutmintr. x tha t r s t t h o t eh r d en i n ue : t at o r y tni o. general RAILWAY MEETINGS. meeting of the shareholders EAST LANCASHIRE. An o i n e: the above under taking was held yesterday at the Company's offices, u l3 . lac in kh ß u u rn ry , , Ci f i o t r he t r h oe e p , u an rp d cet Wes of t iak Yo i r a l! into consideration au arrangement proposed to be entered shire Company for the working of the railway and traffic of the latter c m_par y. J. GRUNDY, Rae., the Chairman of the Board of Di rectors, presided. The CH &MEAN, in opening the proceedings, said he felt confident that the proposedarrangement between the East Leneashire end the Blackburn Companies would be highly advantageous to both. (Hoer, beer.) He confessed he should like to see higher rates taken for the goods traffic between Bolton and Darwen— (hear, hear)—but with respect to the bills now before parliament for rsiaicg the railway rates, he eared very little about them as regarded passenger traffic; for however much a rise might be necessary in lines with stations twenty miles apart, he believed that on the East Lancashire line the way to bring in the most money was to lower the fares as much as possible. He had great pleasure in proposing the following resolution: " That stirs meeting doth approve elan arrangement belog sockrai i West w Yorkshire toahrnekdsi traffic r Rat La nc ashi re 1 a o i I f w thata y C o mpany, Railwayo company,m p a ny, cb t too ; b id e t, with y working doth roo a adopt the t entered into with the Bolton, Blekburn, Clitheroe, and and confirm the terms submitted to this meeting of a pro pealed cur.tract and agreement between the two eampaniea ; and this meeting cloth authorise and empower the directors of the East Lanceshire Railway Company, by such means as may be considered expedient, to eater into, make, and perfect, a good, valid, and binding contract and agreement with the Bolton, Blackburn, Catteroe, and West Yorkshire Railway Company uron the terms aforesaid, with such alterations therein and additirne thereto, as the directors of the two companies may determine and mutually agree upon, _tied also to af fi x the common seal of the East Lancashire Railway Cecupauy to all such deeds, writings, contracfs, and agreements, and do all such other acts, matters, and things, as counsel may advise or consider. essential for the carrying tato effect of this re solution." Mr. BUGDALE seconded the resolution. '1 he SECRETARY then rend the heads of the agreement proposed to be entered into between the two compotes. Heads of an agreement proposed to be entered into be tween the Era Lancashire Railway Company, of the one part, and the Bolton, Blackburn, Clitherue, and West Yorkshire Railway Company, hereafter called tie 11:a k burn Company, on the other part.—The East Lancashire Railway Company to take the Blackburn Company's rolling stink of engines, carriages, and waggons, at a valuation, and :e pay fcr sech stock in six months after such valuation is com pleted, with interest at 5 per cent. per annum iu the mean ' time. The East Lancashire Beltway Comp iny to work the Blackburn Cowpany's railway and the teethe, using both companies railways fee 40 per cent. on the gross receipts, including throne at the principal stations, the Blackburn Company paying their own rates and taxer, and their mileage pro tenon of the passenger auty. Toe East La cash ire Company to have the use and occupation of all the Blackburn Company's present station buildings and convenience% (except such as may be required tor the officers of the Blackburn Company), arid the Blackburn Company to provide such other building's, stations, appreuelt roads, cranes, turntables, and usual fix tures as may be required fur the conducting of the mac. The buildings, to be kept in repair by the East LlD etphire R eilway Company, and to be insured by the Black burn Company. The East Lancashire Company to have entire control and management of the Blackburn Company's railway and its traffic, end to maintain the permanent way and fences, so far as providing labour, ballast, spikes, and keys, as well as the psinting of bridges and maintenance of vilpie, after beirg properly completed; but not to provide rails, chairs, or sleepers. After deducting 40 per cent. from vie gross receipts, the net proceeds to be divided in the fol lowing proportions: Teethe between ll'aekburn and Minchester.—The Black burn Company to be entitled to teurteen twenty-fourths of the net proceeds of three-fifths of the whole teethe, and the East Lancashire Company to the r. meander. Blackburn and Liverpool.—The Blackburn Compel to be entitled to fourteen forty-e• cends of one-third of the net proceeds of all the traffic, and the East Lancashire Compety to be entitled to the remainder. Blackburn to and from Wigan and Chorley to be equ divided. Illacklmen and Bury.—The Blackburn Company to 112 en titled to fourttea twentieths of the net proceeds of one-half of the whole teethe, the East Lancashire Company to be en titled to the remainder. Clitheroe and Mancheater.—The Blackburn Company to be entitled to twenty-five thirty-fifths of the net proccerls of all the traffic, euhject to a deduction of a parliamentary toll for passing over the East Lancashire Railway at Blackburn, the East Lancashire Cumpeny to be emitted to the remainder. Clitherue and Liverpo 1 —The Blackburn Company to be titled to twenty-five fluty-thirds of the net proceeds at all the traffic, sulfite: to the parliamentary toil, the Ea et Lan e-101We to have the remainder. Clitheroo and Burp.—The Blackburn Company to be entitled to twenty-five thirty-firsts of the net proceeds of all the traffic, subject to the parliamentary toll, and the Batt Lancashire Cempaey to the remainder. The Blackburn Company to receive the same mileage pro portion of any traffic destined for Manchester or Liverpool, and rice masa, arising between Blackburn and Ileum, which may be diverted over the East Leaman:re Rail way, as if such traffic were tent via Button. All tra ffi c tiering at Manchester, wbetlier foreign or heal, des tined for Blackburn , . to be treated as Maniheeter and Blackburn teethe ; aid all teethe arising ,at Bury, whether foreign or local, to be treated as Bury and Mackburn truffle, and to be divided in the preportien above stated. Traffic from Liverpool or Preston to Bolton, or from stations on the East Lateashlre railway to stations on the Blackburn Company's relive ay, 4,Tticerersa, to be settled according to mileage. All goods traffic arising within a cirele of one mile and a half from the Bull Inn Blackburn, destined f Manchester or Liverpool, to be Considered as Blackburn tailia. Passengers from the etetiors between Blackburn and Bolton going to Liverpool or Manchester, to be booked through. All rates, tares, and tolls charged for traffic, to be the same on the Blackburn Company's railway as on the Est Leecashire railway, except with the sanction o f the Blackburn Company. It during any ball-year the East Lancashire Compane's working exi eaves over their own railway and the Blackburn Company's railway together shall nut exceed 34 per cent. of the gems receipts, the Bleck burn Company are not to be charge d more during such half year than the average working expenses a mount to. The East:Lancluthire Company to run out fewer than three trains a day, each way, for passengers over the Blackburn Company 'a line, and to fix the rates and tares such trains as do not earn, on a monthly average, 3.. 6.1. per mile of tational ea ir rman of bee, to gross receipts , to be discontinued . The East Lancashire tompany to book through from all s stations on the Blackburn Compaq'. lint The ch the ai the Blackburn Company for the time being to have a seat at th e E.st Leuceshite beard , b ein g duly <ratified as a director. The secretary of the Bl.ckburn Company, or his clerks, to have power to examine books and decumenta ne cessary for write mg the returns testis to the Blackburn Company, and to hare a free pass over both railways when on the nosiness of the company. The secretary or engineer to have power to grant a le-e pass to any of their own servants on the Blackburn Company's railway, during the progress of any works, or other, ise nu the business of the company. The balances die to the Blackburn Company for paescmg. rs to be amertaiced and paid over wet kty to the Blackburn Com parry's bankers, within fourteen days atter each week's receipts, and the balances for goods to be paid over within fourteen days after each month's receipts. The term of contract to be e.. 1 years. If any question should arise as to the additional station buildings required for the traffic on the Blackburn Come ne's line, or if there should be any disputes ur differences between the two companies, the same to be left to V e determination of the chairman of the Esst Lancashire Company and the chairman of the Illachhum Company, with power fcr them to call in an umpire it they cannot agree. The necessary formal document. for carrying the contract in'o tact, to be prepared be Robert Sty. er, Require, of Prelates, on behalf or both psrhes. Mr. R. KAY wished to know the value of the rolling stuck oft e Blackburn Company. It app. :mai to him to he a heavy charge upon this company, teeming it to be 40,0001., because, in addition to h-iving to raise that extra c epitel, 5 pre cent. ought to he added to it fee the UR , of the money. Mr. WRIGLEY said the price put upon the rolling stock had been put down at 40,0001 , t act it would have to be re valued, and it did not follow that this company would have to pay so much sa that. Mr, KAY theutcht fist too small an amount was allowed for working expenses. He thought 40 per cent. melees than any company could work at, and that it would have been well if the directors could have made a better master is that respect. Mr. DEODALE ex; Joined that they xpected to effect an economy in that respect by taking the whole of the traffic from Blackburn to Manchester k e eight instead o dames f te was the act that them to take this per te nta g e, teeing, as a present; and as an her&death mil inducement tfhis w cusupsny would get the adiidonsd fare for the pas-angers over their own line atter the trains lint left the Blackburn and Defoe.) pertiee, which now went over the lines of another camp soy. Mr. T. GItEIG aid Me. BLACK LOCK (one of the Audi their coneicticn that it wo o uld be to the ineer.st both companies. The motion being put was carried w Wriat a single dissen tient, and the proceeding , then termica . _ LONDON AND SOUTH WESTERN RAILWAY.—Amount of traffic on the London and Settles Western Railway for the week ending Dee- 2, 049 :—Pesseneers, 5.84:0 1 . 15.. 9d. goods, 2,7041. 2a. lied. ; total , 8,6641. 18s. ent. [foal A GINTLULAN SUOT.—A melancholy and fatal occident kas taken plans in l',Deb.hke.place. The victim is Mr. ficeddamore, a surgeon, r. sidiug at Prercot. The pare dcalars, so far as we could hastily garher, ire that the unfor tunate gentleman, sonompsnied by Mr. William ELoseme, a friend, were leering town in a gig about nine. o'clock. Oa reaching Ye in Mr. Miscue, we understand, mad. 1 s rite rens.rk in re...,ard to a pair of pistol., which !•.aelln-en brought for security, when Mr. Scuddbutore put Li.. hand ' into his pocket with the view of showing him one. Wa.st in the act the pistol unforternatt a y wr,nt A, and the contents w ater ed Mr. Scuddr.morc's gr it. The repast. of course , cca.ioaad meat alarm in the u.tlirbbeeurboud. Tue gig was immediately pulled up, and Me. Kay, surgeon, was promptly in a unchains, but death almost immediately ensuci. The body of the girAlszaan was oonsejed to the &la- Ibor's* 'Ube lodestar', when It at pr stai Up.—Livorpool Cowper. THE FXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING. DECEMBER 6, 1849.