The Express.
London, England, 1864-10-08 00:00:00

LORD LEIGH AND THE STAFFORDSHIRE
COLLIERS.

Yesterday, about 4,000 miners assembled at a
Milli meeting at Oldbury, to bear a statennet from the
deputation with whom the Right Hos. Lord Leigh, the
Lord-Lieutenant of Warwickshire, bad been in commu-
nication relative to the strike. Mr. Griffith/A presided. Xr.
Levi Brittain said that when, in reply to the noble lord's
telegram, they met him at the hotel, at Dudley, they were
treated both coarteoualy, affectionately, and hospitably.
They had a little friendly talk together about the gnevances
under which the miner was labouring. Lord Leigh then
told them that he was an entirely disinterested person,
and had no mines himself ; but regretting the adamities
to which the strike gave rise, desired to see the termins•
ties of so disastrous a struggle. Up to that time Lord
Leigh had not, he said, seen the minters ; but after that
conversation be would, he said, go and see Mr. Ricluid
Smith, the agent of Lord Ward, and the men were
to meet him on the following day, in Birmingham. They
did so ; and again were treated with every courtesy
and kinds... His lordship then wanted the misers to
concede something. They offered to go to work far a fort.
night at the reduced terms, if after then they could get the
old rate of wages. His lordship said he would again ere
Mr. Smith, and would meet them in the afternoon atind.
ley. Again assembled. Lord Leigh said that Mr. Smith
showed that the arrangement of a fortnight would be iliac.
variant to the employers; but his lordship added that
If the men would cogent to go on till the end
of the month, then that Mr. Smith, he thought, would, as
one of the employers, comeot after that time to give the
rate of wws that the men were making. The deputation
deliberated over the matter a cousiderable time, bat, being
determined that there should be no obstacle placed by them
in the way of the termination of tbe strike, they at length
ooueested to further give way. This was the'proporition
which on the following day was laid by his lordship before
the mast.,,, whets in the Hem and Chickens, in Birmingham,
the men assembled in one room and the masters in soother.
What might have pared he could not tell, but when Lord
Leigh came beck he called Mr. Corbett into a private room
and asked him if he could Dot induce the mess to resume work.
Corbett replied that he could not, for the men would take
their own course. Lord Leigh then sent for Mr. Griffiths,
their chairman, and made the same appeal to him, but with.
out soccer. They bad heard from their chairman that
his lordship then offered him 10!. to do nothing himself
to persuade the men not to hear him if he himself should
attempt to persuade the men to resume work on the
masters' terms. Hen, again, unsuccessful, Lord Leigh
then began to call the deputation fools and fanatics and
madmen ; said that they were the cause of all the distress,
and that but for them the men would probably go to work.
Was it so ? (Loud aria of " No.") Lord Leigh then said
that be would do all he Gould to deprive them of public
sympathy. (Shame.)
Bandanas' were thee adopted revolving that no more
interviews should take plans between the men and their
masters, or mediators or arbitrators of any class or same,
bat that the men should remain out till they were sent for
sod given " their wages." New drums are to be bought
and fresh efforts made to bring again out the men who have
resumed.

THE AMERICAN WAR.—The effect of these com-
beta on the fortunes of Lee and Grant has yet to be seen.
They tell in favour of Grant. and Lee does not seem to like
the responsibility of an onslaught on the Federal lined. No-
thing had occurred of moment near Petersburg. In the
meantime Sherman is mimed in converting Atlanta into a
base of operations. Foolish people sneer at him for so doing,
but no competent person doubts the wisdom of the
step from a military poiot of view. Ronan?
has it that Georgia already feels the peewee
of victories and his army. and is even now engaged in sego-
=sties. for readmiesion to the Coke. If wean rightly =-
formed, the proposal of Georgia to secede from the Cur-
federscy was antecedent to or coincident with the fall of
Atlanta. At all events, the Richmond papers Sr. alarmed,
and are conjuring Georgia by every 000sideratioa not to
leave the Confederacy. That there are dark days for the
South is plain to all, Nevertheless, there is • sled
of fight yet left in the Confederacy which has Jefferson
Davis for its statesman and Robert Lee for its geteral.—
dray and Neer Gamete.
The rare Me. JOHN MACDONALD.—We learn
that on hea g, oa
_Saturday last. of the alarming Moms of
Mr. John ocald,who. from the rogaLuity of his *atom-
nal visits to the respected minister of Onithitawas doubtless
well =sown by personal appearance to the Queen, her Molest,
immediately requested her physician. Dr. denser, to wait
upon him ; and the same evening, having herd of lie
death, the Queen sent a message to the manse to express
bow deeply struck and grieved mho was to hoer of the sud-
den and unlooked-for event, The private telegraph of her
Majesty to Balmoral was at noes offered am a means of eon.
yoyior tidings to Mr. Macdonald's friends in Edinburgh,
and was used several times in the course of the day. Os
Tuesday morning her Majesty sent to the manes to Inquire
whether any of the relatives of the deceased gentleman had
wired, and manifested great anxiety to learn whether any
service could be rendered in paying the last duties to hie
remains. This case adds another to the many proofs we
bays bad bow tenderly her Majesty sympathies* with affiki•
Lion in all its forms, and bow kindly an interest she takes is
all familiar faces. We may add that the remains of Mr.
Macdonald were conveyed from the manse to the railway
station at Aboyne on Wednesday morning by a small com-
pany of relatives and other mourners, sad were demo taken
south by railway for Edinburgh. Yesterday they were
interred in the Dean Cemetery. -Edinburgh Courant.
NARROW ESCAPE OF A PARTY OF VOCALIsTS.—
On Friday night last, a party of vocalists, amongst whom
were Mies F. Wyss*, Mims Elton, Mr. Infernal'. Mr. F..
Raineford. and Mr. J. Taylor, were returning tGkvgowin
a carriage and pair from a come= given at the Vale of Leven.
When within ten miles' distance of the city the driver
fell from his box, and the horses started off at full
speed. Is this dilemma Mr. Taylor opened the door and
jumped out, followed by Mr. Informal!, who narrowly
escaped being ran over, his hat being caught sod
crushed under the wheels. After two or three
" rolling' over," Mr. Taylor suooseded is getting on his
feet, and started in pursuit of the fugitive horses, who were
dr-wring their terrified burden at a terrific speed thoingh
the darkness. Afters sharp run of nearly a quarter of a
mils, Mr. Taylor succeeded in overtaking the horses, and
arresting their further flight. It was then determined
that some of the gentlemen should return in search
of the driver. They did so. and discovered him
lying doubled up sad partially stunned, but in so
way injured. On raising him it was found that
he was drunk. He was accordingly assisted to the
carriage, but, on being required to take a seat at the back,
he obstinately refused, insisting on being allowed to resume
the reins. Knowing it would be madness to again allow the
drunken man charge of the bones. Mr. Taylor undertook to
drive the party to town. Arriving at a small bridge over
a canal, and being nesequainted with the road.
Mr. Taylor pulled op to ascertain whether there
might be danger in crossing, when the driver
jumped down from his seat behind, declaring be
would not allow the our-lege to proceed any farther, nil
seised the horses' heads. After a struggle arid alteresnoo.
sod Midisg there was so polies station near. it was doter-
mised to resort to force to get the excited man away. This
was does after some difficulty, two or three of the part!
dribletsg him by the roadside until the carriage had re'
esetted a little distance. They they freed him and overtook
the carriage, having no option but to leave him behind.
The party at length reached Glasgow in eafety.—Edin-
burg= Courant.
Le Caviar, French ship of war, has passed
through Great Yarmouth roads this weak.