The Express.
London, England, 1862-09-11 00:00:00

MEETING AT BIRMINGHAM.

A public meeting, convened by the Mayor of Bir-
mingham, was held in the theatre of the Midland Institute,
es
Tuesday evening, to take steps for aasistiog in the elle-
viatiot of the distress which exists in Lancashire. The
MAYOR presided.
The Msroti said. although there might be diversity of
ippioion as to the proper period for calling the meeting,
there was no doubt of the fact that the present state of du-
limo in Lancashire was almost unparalleled. At the present
time there were 100,000 more persons receiving relief than
a t the same period last year. The deputation which had
visited the distressed districts would give them information
as t the state of the inhabitants, sod he bad
no
doubt the people of Birmingham would do their
duty. The present meeting bad been called to give the
men of Birmingham of all classes an opportunity of ahowiug
*sir sympathy with tho operatives in Lancashire. The
Mayor concluded by annouociog that he had received a letter
tr,n, the Rev. Dr. Miller, Rector o ISt. Martin's, express-
ing hi sit :motion to band to the committee the sum of 1601.,
soilected at Ns thurch, to be forwarded to the Manchester
eon:mines.

A letter was read horn 11r. Fareell, the special oommts-
sioner appointed by the government to inquire into the state
of the operatives in the cotton manufacturing districts. That
gentleman stated that the lows of weekly wages io twenty-
four onions was not less than 120,000/. per wea, end was
increasing.
Mr. G. DIXON (a Birmingham merchant who bad been to
the Lancashire district as a deputation to ascertain the
amount of distress) moved the first resolution, viz ;—" That
in the opinion of this meeting, it is the duty of the in-
habitant& of Birmingham to contribute largely to the relief
of the distressed operatives in the cotton manufacturing
districts." The speaker entered at some length into the
present distressed condition of the people in Lancashire,
quoting from the Timm and other newspapers accounts of
the destitution which prevailed. These accounts, he stated
from his owe personal observation, were understated. The
distress was not confined alum to the cotton operatives, but
extended to the shopkeepers who depended for a
being on the custom of the workpeople ; to the
proprietors of houses, who were usable to obtain their
rents, and to the millowners themselves, who were
suffering heavy loss. With reference to the stets-
meats that had been made that the millowners and cotton
dealers should support the operatives now out of employ-
ment, be denounced such as idea as monstrous. The whole
community had benefited by the labour, intelligence, and
skill of the operatives engaged in the cotton manufacture,
and now they were reduced to deep distress from no fault
of their own, no unwillingness to work, it was the duty of
all to make some sacrifice to alleviate their sufferings.
Mr. G. F. Moan seconded the motion. He looked at
the present distress as a calamity affecting the whole coin.
amity. It had been urged that it was the duty of the rich
inhebiteate of Lancashire to contribute more liberally to the
support of the operatives ; but his opinion was that they
bad a claim upon the sympathy of the whole community;
sad because some few individuals did sot perform their
duty as they should, that was no excuse for the people of
Birmingham dome the same.
Tlic resolution was then put and carried unanimously.
Mr. J. G. GOODMAN moved " That the clergy and Dinar