The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1872-12-14 00:00:00

THE MARRIAGE OF THE EMPEROR

OF CHINA.

- -
The Daily News publishes the following (tram a private
letter), under date, Pekin, Oct. 12 :
" The fortunate day and hour for the Imperial
wedding have been fixed, and the ceremony will
take place at daylight to-morrow (full moon).
The foreign Ministers have all been asked to
request foreigners not to go to-day or to-morrow
into any of the streets through which the pro-
cession going for and returning with toe Bride will
pass ; and the Ministers have consented, but have re-
turned very cold answers, DA the Chinese Government
have not had the courtesy to advise them officially
that the wedding was to take place. We have been
able to see something if the arrangements, but very
little, and are hoping to see some more this afternoon.
" nem Oct. 16
"We had what I never expected—a perfect view of
the procession yesterday. We succeeded in getting Wl-
mediatelyopposite the entrance to the Imperial Palace,
and in persuading the mandarins sent tip to orderns down
that we ouglitto be &Bowed to stay, and they fortunately
assented. The coup d'crel was magnificent. The pro-
cession was not very long, but the dresses and appoint.
scents were splendid. First came a Prince on horseback;
then 48 white ponies, with yellow housings, led by
risen in scarlet; the band, in scarlet, silent; 32 ban-
ners, 48 Jane (big round things), 2 black umbrellas, 2
white ditto, 6 yellow ditto. 6 red ditto, 2 blue ditto,
2 embroidered yellow ditto, 197 lanterns (all these
things carried by men in scarlet) ; Prince Kong,
looting very handsome, on horseback, with his four-
bearer chair carried beside him: the chair, yellow and
gold, carried by sixteen coolies, all in scarlet (with
batons), with sixteen spare coolies to relieve them (the
chair apparently containing the Bride) ; about 100
officials on horseback, in their best clothes ; about 200
officials on foot, ditto.*

MEETING in LONDON on BEHALF of
the AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS.
A great meeting was held at Exeter Hall on Tuesday
evening, the ppecial object of which was to enlist the
sympathy of the working classes of London on behalf
,f the sgricultura! labourers. Mr. Morley, M. P.,
presided, and amongAtthe speakers were Sir C. Mike,
M.P., Archbishop Manning, Mr. Mundella, M.P.,
Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Joeeph Arch. President
of the National Agricultural Labourers' Union, and
Mr. Ball, a labourer from Lincolnshire.

The following resolutions were submitted to the
meeting and carried :
" That this meeting deeply sympathises with the agrb
caltural labourers of Nogland hi their depressed circum-
stances, believing their present position to be a disgrace in
this age of civilization, and inimical to the best int,rests of
the country, and is f opinion that measures should be adopted
without delay for their social improvement and intellectual
e'evation." [This was proposed by Archbishop Maiming

"That there can be no permanent improvement in the
condition of the agricultural labourer until such vital
changes be effected in the land laws now in force in this
country as shall break down the land monopolies at present
existing, and restore to the people their rightful pat in the
land:' fins was proposed by Mr. Bradiaugh
[There was uproar and conhucion after the reacting
of this amendment, although Mr. Bradlaugh did
not insist on his right to address the meeting be-
yond expressing his 53 mpathy with the resolution as
far as it went. There were several cries of "You
soeak the truth, Bradiaugh," and a scene of consider-
able confusion ensued.]

"mat this meeting congratuiates the farm labourers on
the formation of their association, regarding ft u the best
means of securing an improvement in their general condi-
tion and prospects, • proper interchange of information af-
fecting the labourmiarket, and a nuitable organization for
assisting them in exceptionid cases," Figs was proposed by
litindella.l

"That, In order to help the agricultural labourers In ill
legitimate efforts for the amelioration of their present de-
pressed condition, this meeting Is of opinion that steps
should be taken to procure subscriptions in aid of the objects
set out in the foregoing resolutim, such subscriptions to be
sent to Mr. G. Mitchell, and to be deposited in the names of
the trustees of the National Labourers' Union—Mr. Jesse
Collens (Birmingham), Mr. Edward Jenkins (London), Mr. A.
Arnold (Hampton-on-ArJen), and Mr. 0. W. Ward ( eerrtston
Towers)."
(This resolution was moved by Sir C. Nike, who said
he looked Oil the fact that the labourer was divorced from
the soil as one of the chief causes of his preseLt con-
dition, and contended that the filching from him of the
commons of the country was one of the moat fruitful
causes of his degradation. (Cheers.) He insisted on
the necessity of union and combination among labourers
if they would amend their condition.]