The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-03 00:00:00

TILE PROPOSED STRIKE OF THE OPERA.
ME ENGINEERS AND MECHANICS.

MANCHESTER, FILIDAT Evarrixo, Jaw. 2.
A masters' meeting took place this evening, when
resolutions were adopted for giving a week's notice, to-mor-
row, to close workshops on the 10th instant.
An impression prevailed yesterday that New
Year's-day having passed over without the threatened
strike of the engineers and mechanics having taken place,
the question was set at rest. A correspondent at Man-
chester, who has consulted a gentleman likely to be well
informed of the course which the operatives will take, gives
the following as the answer elicited by his question as to
the position in which the workmen conceive themselves
to be placed:—" Messrs. Platt and llibbert's workmen, at
Oldham, call upon that firm to fulfil an engagement which
they entered into with their workmen last May, and which
was made in writing. In that agreement the men stipulated
for the abolition of overtime and for the other terms which
have now been made public through the newspapers. Mr.
Platt is a gentleman who has always stood well with the
workmen. On the occasion of a great turn-out years ago
they made an arrangement with him by which he was to
be supplied with the best workmen in every department
of his business. His establishment got a name, and
whilst his business flourished his workmen continued
much attached to him. Well, he entered Into this
arrangement with the men last May, and they now
call upon him to fulfil that engagement. He turns round
and says--But you broke through that arrangement your-
selves in June last! Now, there may be some truth in
that; but the men say, if these terms were good in May,
why may they not be good now? In the meantime the
Cleneral Amalgamated Society of Operatives—who have
always wished to keep their proceedings distinct from
this affair of Platt and Hibbert's men, though it
may, perhaps, be difficult for the public to sepa-
rate them—conceiving that the terms which Messrs.
Platt and Hibbert had conceded to their men in May
last were likely to be beneficial to the trade, have deter-
mined, if poeuble, to secure the same terms from other
masters. The masters have taken alarm, supposing this to
be a combined movement of the trades' unions, and have
adopted certain resolutions. The issue, it was supposed,
would be seen on New Year's-day, but that is an
error. The workmen will be drinking and enjoy-
ing themselves as usual at this period of the year
till the week has closed. On Monday morning,
probably, the workmen of Messrs. Platt and Hibbert
will send a deputation to their employers to know
what they are prepared to do in the matter. If terms can
be come to between them, the men will resume their work ;
if not, they will not go to their work on Tuesday, and in
ten days the resolutions of the United Masters' Association
of the whole kingdom will come into operation, and the
tuna-oat will become general."

The subjoined is a copy of a letter addressed yesterday by
the Southampton branch of the Amalgamated Society of
Engineers to their employers in Southampton, who com-
prise, amongst others, the two great steam-packet associa-
tions, the Royal West India Mail and the Peninsular and
Oriental Steam Companies. By this menmesisation it will
be seen that the Southampton =glum mmeynee their a.
Magma not to strike, and are net is messed with the aim
and objects of the movers la the Lend= and It andiedee
agitations :
" Gentlemen,—As you have reedved a Smola similar
to others sent to the various segisserhig firms,
your co-operation la eadsavesiting to abolish :4=
sad systessatio over-time, end obese this we see eu rg to
observe that • general misendeestratism et me
pomades all dram et the pals we ask the privilege et
explaialai to yes the re
the et our rogue= sad in
the denim mu is pen by the executive mesa
Ogfir Ameigmemied lissiely iregraress. we beg to red
our ally wilt is le AMY peer estenuesee with the slew
muftis= *me= he Ile wpm. of daiYm Ye, year week-
mem, is 1:11straill that we may be mils ID apply sm.
selves to enitme, Meted of the emmelsemes send=
of work andakseasiseed by weddeg igusiongs elms
time. evils seematlisi will thisegalms
are so erdi to yes dowdy that we amid net endea-
vour to =pees yen with their insgeilsile.
" reestimas= yea rasa be aware dist the beet imam he
the shelties et this system is • well= ea whisk =my
edits= meg
_with reason sad jes be urged, aid tie eat
beet esiesided be any out this eldest would be the wisp
ties otos =mew ef Pernooti to toter those =
wile en set Wring M tee away with automat=
sad ad Or the peeve of may pecuniary gels to item an-
ployeg. ifattheek with the dad= et pleee-week an
oar say segue= we seed osly refer yen to the demist
seat by the anseulve etrasel.
" We ly dewy the her following mensdiese that
we are with, mei
" 1. we Isavba enlie_Salssil the idea of Moping
molar= eats of nemesia the mummy.
la " We draymashie= the immediate &WNW et
borious lbsna
" We sestedist these who Meat that our latestkie is
to abed= the mem= hears of labour.
" 4. We positively deny hadag may such intention as to
COON after the net Driumb= 1861, should oar
rftseeleviliedafel =Wed In
Hot we In= should any armegenteate be generally
adopted theeughout the country in esshaserith these
our you will. as Ger as pawl= with their
spirit; My =Ming te your leve sad ma-
stderation for themmAit et dm= whom yen esqleyme loam
the matter at pore= in year hank mil beg to gebeeribe
°Lreal, ea Mali of the Southamptes Mm=sf the
imalgassalled limisty of Engineers.
" By order of the Committee,
" W. BAMBILO, Secretary."

SERIOUS ROBUST. AT HATCLIPFE-BILIDOE.—On
the enalag of the eth ult. the Wilton Arta, lon, at Rad-
glierbehlge, near Barn Lancashire, wee entered by
gni • serious ray was orniallesd. The thieves
on4gyleour— between 6 and 7 o'd••de—so sae at
nee es wend be nest ilholg to be nagged be-
low nag, sod sleeted an gateman though eg roof.
Pint singeing • slate, they Used • bele ewelb the
isidpie tat roof, and=ede=d Mona
loam lank the sweisary
rkniek set would Ihe n as to lunge mho or alarm.
An eationse Winged, they neeeesdedfa orgung away 1601.
in notes sad coin, and got clear at- An gooiest
of the rebbery having been forwarded ea Kr. Biskard
Boserlek, Wet seperignindest of detwithwpree, ad Man-
chester, robe lb dinlll6llll Inspector lapiraey and rose
odor semen ineseedgi Is taking of the press on
iseheimg Jams god TbeseggistiwAegt
Wallin brims. Jaw_
es, of
=e• IBM arred Jean Den" gs gem woe
el owls sign be be sae stens Mein ga J.
ens woo awl le Oa. 7ed. es& ;on ilese. ill. 10a.
Oa Jades woo hurl a quineity of new &egg, mad from
bb itmegninle when taken it b believed Oat be had swa-
nned •de gen te prevent dgemetioa. The Omen were
Iska ti Drift saar•Misabeimlltoesestbosehestes
midis lbw la tally Ihnises.