The Express.
London, England, 1863-03-27 00:00:00

THE LATE RIOTS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS.

(mom OUR OWN col

STALY BRIDG E, THURSDAY.

The discontented and their advisers are in high
glee at the decision of the Lord Mayor's committee to give
5001. with the stipulation that it shall be distributed in
money. To some extent it ties up the hands of the local
relief committee, and compels them to make some oonces-
sion. It remains to be seen whether any concession lea than
the abandonment of the whole principle of relief in kind will
be accepted now that the door has been partially opened.
The unemployed operatives held a meeting yesterday,
and the result was that a deputation, consisting of one
male adult from each school, was sent to seek an
interview with the local relief committee. The in-
terview was accorded, and the deputation stated that
what they had to propose was that the attendants at the
schools should be paid in money instead of ticket*, and that,
a reduction of 4d. per week having been made in the
amount of relief, in consideration of this reduction, one
day's attendance at school, out of the six per week, should
be dispensed with. This proposition the relief committee
were not willing to comply with, but made an offer to
give the amount of relief half in money and half in
tickets. The delegates replied that their powers did
not extend to any middle course, but said they would
report the proposal to a meeting of the schools,
and take an opportunity of waiting upon the committee
again ou Saturday morning with the decision. Sir J. K.
Shuttlewortb, deputy chairman, and Mr. J. W. Madam,
boo. secretary to the Central Relief Fund, were present at
the meeting, but took no part in the proceedings. Mr.
Commissioner Farnall was also present. Thus the matter
rest* for the present. Meantime a committee is said to be
carrying round and offering for signature a memorial to the
Lord Mayor of London, thanking him for hie isterfereuce
on their behalf ; whilst the leaders of the late movement are
mid to be exhorting the people to be tirm,and telling them
if they are the committee must yield to their wishes. There
is no question that the recent proceedings here have been
encouraged to a great extent by addresses from the pulpit.
A gentleman, long ago notorious aro su agitator among the
people, ',hoboes now a chapel of his own in Stalybridge, but
1 who is affiliated to no particular sect, is blamed for exciting
appeals to the people attending his ministrations for some
weeks past. A pair of ragged trousers sent down by the
Lord Mayor's Committee mime time ago, suiongrot a bale of
cast-off clothing, found its way into the preacher's heeds.,
and he is reported to have exhibited them to his congrega-
tion with deprecatory remarks as to the kind of charity
which had dictated such present. to the working-classes.
The trousers are arid to have been worth 4s. to Is., and fit
for any working man to wear, after a little mending ; but
the preacher thought such a donation insulting to
the people, and said each leg was worth 501.
on that account. declaring his intention to send
one part of them to the Earl of Derby and the other to the
Lord M..yor. We axe assured there is no exaggeration in
this amount of his proceedings, and, if so, there can hardly
be much wonder that people, many of whom are unedu-
cated, as well am poor, should have been led to acts which
will hardly bear refection on the part of the right-minded
portion of society. At the sitting of the magistrates at
Stalybridge this morning two young men, named Wm.
Cheatham and John Kelly, were brought up ou remand for
taking part in the riotous proceedings on Monday. Cheatham
is a collier, from Charlestown, AslitorounderLyne, and hail
taken out a stone from one of his pocketo, and struck a
policeman on duty with it. The policeman, in return,
felled him with his cellos. He had received a slight cut of
the scalp, but hod lost very little blood, and appeared this
morning to have wholly recovered from the effecta of the
wound. Both prisourre were committed for trial to the
assizes, and were removed at noon by rail to Chester
Castle.

RAILWAY AND PUBLIC COMPA NIE4 IN PAALIA- I
MlL'it. —Yesterday Lord Stanley's committee cooeluded its
inquiry, and passel the remaining measures referred for
its coneideration, namely, the Brecon Junction Railway,
to incorporate a company for a lion from Brecon to Day-
fvonoek and Llsodorery, with powers in favour of the
Hereford, Hay, and Dreeon, Mid Wales, and other compa-
nies; also the proposed Ogmore Valley Railway, for an
extension from Melyneran do to Nautymoel, with running
powers over other lines. The bill for the Manchester and
Milford, exteosion of time, new capital, new railways and
ttamw►ys, junction with Aberystwith and Welsh Coast,
and arrangements with other companies, was withdrawn.
The case for the promoter. of the Bristol Docks was closed,
ami evidence for the opposition opened by Mesas. Phion,
Davison, and Clarke.
°SWEATILY ♦ND NEWTOWN RAILWAY COMPANY.
A special meeting of the propiletors we held yesterday at
the offices, No. 9A, Bridgeetreet, Weetzniester ; Mr. G. H.
W bailey, M.P., in the chair; foe the nurpaie of considering
an agreement with the Newtown and Machyolleth Company,
under the provisions of the Osweetry and Newtown Act,
with reaped to the work* of the latter by the former
company. The chairmen moved a resolution sinctioniog the
agreement, which having been agreed to, the meeting
adjourned.