The Press. — London, England, 1854-01-21 00:00:00

JANUARY 21, 1854. Greek writers, Sir Edward proceeded to give his opinion , t h a t from m odern as well as from the older Athens streiuued the lights of philosophy and learning. The hun. barone t concluded in these terms It would ill become me to enter into the special grounds of debate now at issue; b u t permit me to remind you that, while pressing with year accustomed spirit for whatever you may deem to be equal rights, you would be untrue to your own fame if you did not feel that the true majesty of Scotland needs neither the pomp of courts nor the blazonry of heralds. What though Holyrood be desolate—what though no king holds revel in its halls ?—the empire of Scotland had but extended its rangeblended with England, under the daughter of your ancient kings, peoples the Australian wilds that lay beyond the grasp of Columbus, an d ri l ls over the Indian realm that eluded the grasp of Alexander. ( Loud applause.) That empire does not suf fice for you. It may decay—it may perish. More grand is the domain you have won over human thought, and identified with the eternal progress of intellect and free. Inn. (Ileuen•ed applause.) From the charter of that domain, no ceremonial can displace the impression of your zeal. This is the empire that you will adorn in peace ; this is the empire that, if need be, you will defend in war. It k not here that I would provoke one difference in po lities, opinion; but surely yon, the sons of Scotland, who bold both fame and power upon the same tenure as that which secures civilisation from lawless force—aurely you ale not the men who could contemplate with folded arms the return of the dark ages, and quietly render up the haven that commands Asia on the one side and threatens Europe on the other, to the barbaric ambition of some Alaric of the north. (Laud applause.) But, whether in reluctant war or in happier peace, and in your various c allings, continue to maintain for Scotland her sublime alliance with every power of mind that can defend or instruct, soothe or exalt humanity.'" (Sir Edward re sumed his seat amid loud and continued applause.) At the conclusion Lord Robertson moved " That the societies tender their warnest thanks to their president for his visit, and for his unrivalled ad dress ;" which proposal was warmly responded to. Sir E. B. Lytton returned thanks. MANCHESTER AND THE STRIKES. THE annual meeting of the Manchester Commercial Association, which came off on Monday, was attended by an assemblage of more than ordinary numbers. The past twelve months had been busy and memo rable in their trading aspects, while the opening year held forth many promises and threatened various perils which were of absorbing interest to a manu facturing community. The task of commenting upon these matters fell upon Mr. Aspinall Turner, pre sident of the association, whose address has acquired almost the importance of an official manifesto from the head-quarters of manufacture, touching all ques tions relating thereto. His chief attention was, how ever, bestowed upon the still pending strikes among the factory operators. On this subject lie said : " Perhaps no more important subject could be introduced at the present time to a party of intelligent gentlemen like those he saw around him, or to the operatives themselves, if they would put aside their prejudices and passions, and calmly listen to what might be told them in a friendly spirit. This country had risen to its present manufacturing pros perity in consequence of a few advantages easily enume rated : in consequence of the existence of capital and enterprise on the partof her manufacturers and merchants, of cheep fuel, and the industrious habits of her hard working operatives. If these elements of advantage were not maintained and made to work together in harmony, the manufacturing prosperity of this country was at au end. (lear,hear.) if any element was wanting, what was the consequence ? Look at Ireland. In Ireland one of these elements had been wanting. Capital had been wanting, and labour had had to depart and seek employ- ' ment elsewhere. Starvation and misery had rapidly driven the people to seek an asylum in other lands. Capital was , now being introduced, and Ireland would undoubtedly rise to what her geographical position entitled her to be—one of the finest positions on the face of the globe. This was one of the wonderful effects of capital, aided, as it had been, by the industry, energy, anti skill of those by whom it had been introduced. If we look back at the history of these the Lancashire districts we should see the source of that capital. We *should be made aware that some of the most eminent firms contained men who had risen from the ranks, and that such men, by their industry, energy, and skill, were raising still higher that capital by which the trade of this district was carried forward. (Hear.) But to be success ful capital must be respected by the labourer, and the labourer must be respected by the capitalist. But lately there seems to have sprung u . p sort of jealousy—a kind of antagonist f ee li ng, among the operatives against capi talists, under the impression that they were obtaining all the benefits arising from trade, while the operative was unduly rewarded, or crushed down. That masters had aemininlated money was true : they would not have in vested their money in lar;sl establishments, or devoted their own industry to the ermagement of them, unless they had the opportunity the.. 1.7 of accumulating more money. But the operatives were mistaken if they thought they had not their share of the advantages of such a tailin. It was an error to suppose that because a warder Id* have made 3,0001. or 4,0001. a year by his manufac legs that he owed his fortune to the operatives. It had Oft done by embarking money in it—by giving assiduous attention to its management, and by skill ; and, while he has been doing so, it must be observed that he had not only been benefiting himself, but he had been placing com fort within the reach of thousands of workmen. (AP value.) By doing so he had placed such comforts within THE PRESS. the reach of many who, if they had used it with the eco nomy and wisdom their employers exorcised, had the oppor tunity of raising themselves to the position of masters themselves. (Hear, hear). Hu made no doubt but that there were few establishments in this country where a master had accumulated money, or gained for himself a profit, in which the workmen, if they had chosen to be economical, might not accumulate money. There was, and ever would be, in this country, a deter mined spirit to put down tyranny. Times had been when we had had to put down regal tyranny ; and times had been when we had put down aristocratic tyranny ; and, if ever the time came when we should require to put down demo cratic tyranny, he did not doubt but the same spirit and disposition would be found to exist. (.lpplause.) If this were not done the result would be, that as labour was driven from Ireland by those who ought to have fostered and encouraged it, so he believed capital would be driven front this country by the arbitrary conduct of the operatives. (Hear, hear.) He spoke from his own experience and what had been observed by others when he said that there was a close contest between the masters of this countryand those of America, Germany, France, Switzerland, and many other countries, for the possession of the market ; and that the time was come when we must work assiduously to maintain our present position. He had samples laid before him last week by a gentleman most able to jadge—whose name, if he were to mention it, would have great weight— showing that the Americana were progressing with rapid strides in cotton mauufactures, and that they were making most beautiful cloth not only of the coarser description but of fine fabric, and that there was nothing to prevent them passing us, except that labour was a little dearer there than here. In a few years he felt confident that we should have a hard race with them. He knew the same thing of other countries by his own experience. He had Leen suffering a diminution of orders from the Continent, and he had been told the reason why it was that continental manufacturers were progressing to such an extent that they would be able very soon to take several branches of his business from him, and were already producing several articles he had been accustomed to furnish at a cheaper rate than he could. Hear, hear ) Now, if this were the case, not only with domestics, but fine goods, unless we were prepared to fight the battle with energy we should lose it. lie said this without any unkindly feeling towards the operatives. If they could obtain better prices for their labour they were entitled to obtain it, but let them not, while they were making their own bargains, endeavour to prevent their neighbours from making one also. They had a right to sell their own labour, but they had no right to send dema gogues up and down the country, endeavoming to set the masters against the men, to create an unkindly feeling where there should be nothing but kindness ; and at tempting, in fact, if they were allowed to continue these proceedings, to upset the whole manufacturing system. There had been other attacks upon capital, fur the ten dency of legislation had been in that direction. While the operatives had been relieved from taxation on every article of domestic consumption to make up the deficiency thus occasioned, new burdens had been imposed upon capital in the shape of income tax, and in other forms, all of whtch was so much taken from the lower and middle classes to be laid on the shoulders of the capitalists. If this system was to go on, capital would have more than it could bear, and would seek vent and occupation in lauds where it had more respect. Ile had himself, as well as other gentlemen, had application made to him to commence works out of this country. (Hear, hoar ) He had had a very fiattenrig offer of something of that kind, and Imbed no doubt that he could employ his capital, if he were un-English enough to do so —(Hear, hear)—to more advantage abroad than he could employ it here ; but at all events, at his time of life, such things were out of the question. He should never re move one single iota of capital from operation in this country ; but he would tell the workpcople, and he would have them consider it seriously, that, it .. capital became more unfavourable in this country by their oppression of it, the tendency would certainly be to remove it to lands where it could be employed to greater advantage. Alluding afterwards to the prospect of war, Mr. Turner remarked : " It was a new cry in this country, and one which it was very much to be lamented to luive raised among us. This country, lie was sure, and the Government of this country, had shown wonderful forbearance in endeavouring to stave off any possibility of our being engiged in war. Some people thought the Government had been rather too cautious, too dilatory, in their proceedings. How that might be he knew not, le the was quite willing to attribute only the best motives ; for cer airily war in any form would be a most disastrous ev, nt both for the com'ort of this country and the comfort t f tie country in which it might be carried on. We scarctly knew what war was in this country, and long might it be before we had it located on these shores! It would be disastrous whenever it took place, for he believed we little knew, and be thought onr opponents, if we were to have opponents, little knew, the strength and the power which could be put forth when England was really rowed to use the resources which she possessed. lle hoped that, if we were drawn into that position, we should not use our power int ffectually, but that we should use it strongly, and that every effort would be made for carrying on the war with vigour, so that it might speedily end; and he hoped that, as there were duties on the part of Government to carry on the war vigorously and stmnaly to maintain the dignity of this country, so he hoped that the people at large would never begrudge the expense necessary to be incurred for that purpose. (Hear, hear,) He was now speaking among merchants and manufacturers, who, with their operatives, were likely to suffer as much as anybody ; but, as this country had carried on wars, perhaps less necessary and less justifiable, on former occasions, with patience and with endurance of many evils uncomplainingly, so lie hoped that the merchants he now saw around him would not ow- 53 barrass the Government by unnecessary complaints of the expense incurred, but !inbuilt with proper patriotism to a ll y evils, any state of things, which war might bring upon them. (Hear, hear.)" The meeting separated with a vote of thanks to the president. BANK-NOTE CIRCULATION. THE returns of circulation of the Irish and Scotch banks for the four weeks ending the '24th of Decem ber, 1853, have now appeared, and give the fol lowing as the weekly average during the past month, viz.:— Average circulation of the Irish bank* Scotch banks 4,112,7147 I, Average circulation during past month.... 10,568,014 On comparing the above with the fixed issues of the seve ral batiks, the following appears to be the state of the circu lation : .2 The Irish banks an above their fixed issue.... 014,73:1 The Scotch banks are above their fixed inane.. d,(h21,M17M Total above the fixed issue 1,124,311 The amounts of gold and silver held at the head offices of the several banks during the vast mouth have been as follows : Gold and silver held by the Irish banks Scotch banks Total 2,527,390 These statements complete the returns of the note cir culative► for England, Ireland, and Scotland, for the month ending 24th December, 1S:13. When combined with the previously-published accounts from the Hank of England. they show the following as the comparative movement of the circulation in the United Kingdom during the last month of the year : Nov. 26, Dec. 24, 1 „ lams . 1 Decrease,, 1953. 1853. X R i 1 Bank of England 21,985,961 20,910,700 .. 1,019,191 Private Banks 3,907,994 3,800,994 .. 168,000 Joint-stock Banks 3,1200470 3,055,1493 .. 04,877 Total in England 29,024,811 27,782,747 .. 1,242,008 Scotland 4,288,496 4,112,787 173,699 Ireland United Kingdom. 199,090,521 38,348,761 .. 1,341,740 Showing a decrease of 1,242,008/. in the circulation of notes in England, and a decrease of 1,341,7001. in the circulation of the United Kingdom, when compared with the month ending the 26th of November; and, as com pared with the month ending the 25th of December, Nrel, a decrease of 1,214,6161. in the circulation of notes in F:nglatid, and of 08,1071. in the circulation of the United Kingdom. The average stock of bullion held by the flank of Eng land in both departments during the month ending the 26th of December was 14,424,0401., being a decrease of 187,•!3.1/. as compared with the previous month, and a de crease of 5,884,184/. when compared with the same period of the previous year, 1K52. The stock of specie held by the scotch and Trish banks dining the month ending the 24th of Deeember was 3,427,890/., being an increase of 72,3g3/. as compared with the previous return, and en increase of K1ii,778/. when com• pared with the corresponding period period in 1/01. THE BRITISH FLEET IN THE EAST OF EUROPE. WnEN uttering the Black Sea, Admiral Dundas is announced to have taken with him about half of his naval force—namely, four line of-battle ships and five steamers. The shirt appertaining to his squad ron are accordingly now distributed as follows : IN TFIE BLACK SEA. . . SHIPS OF VIE LlXE.—Briiannia, 120, Captain Carter, with the flag of the Commander-in-Chief; Agamemnon, 111, screw, Captain Simonds, flag-ship of Hear-Admiral Sir E. Lyons, second in command ; Rodney, 00, Captain Charles Graham, C.li. ; Vengeance, 84, Captain Lo►d Edward Russell ; Satt.pareil, 71, screw, Captain It. C. Dacreti. PADDLE STEAM-FRIO ITY.S.—Terrible,'22,t'apt.M ` tleverty Ferioas, 10, Captain Loring ; Tiger, 10, Captain Giffard ; Firebrand, 0, Captain Hyde Parker; Sampson, 0, Captain Jones. AT SEBASTOPOL. Retribution, 28, paddle-frigate, Captain Hon. J. R. Drummond (accompanied by the French steam ftigate euire), bad been sent to Sebastopol with the warning of the British Ambassador that it would he dangercus for the heroes of Sinope to show their noses out of port. AT SINOPR. Infirsihlr, paddlo:sioo ILeen vent to Bloolw to warn the Russians off from a second visit. AT CONSTANTINOPLE. Tin, following force remained at Constantinople on Jan. 1 :—Trafulgar, P.IO, Captain Oreville ; Queen, 118, Captain Michell ; London, 90, Captain Eden; Alliftin. 90, Captain Lushington ; Bellerophon, 78, Captain Lord Paulet ; Leander, 00, Captain King: Arelhafea, 00, Captain Mends ; Niger (screw 1, Id, Commander Heath ; Fury paddle ), 8, Commander Tatham. The latter vessel was waiting the arrival of the mails, when she would overtake the admiral in the Black Sea. A e^' I I