The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-19 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING JULY 19, 1862.

THE DISTRESS IN THE COTTON DISTRICTS.

(THIS DAY.)

A meeting of noblemen and gentlemen connected
with the cotton manufacturing districts was held at
noon (by permission of the Earl of Ellesmere),
at Bridgewater House. There were present the
Earl of Dater, who presided, the Marquis of Wert-
winger, the Earl of Ellesmere, Earl Ducie, the
Marquis of Hartingtoo, Earl Talbot, Lord logestre. M.P.,
Lord Egerton, Lord Skelmersdale, Mr. Algernon Egerton,
ILP., Mr. Leigh, M.P., Mr. Cardwell, M.P., Mr. Gramm,
M.P., Mr. Bailey, M.P., Mr. Cobbett, ILP., Colonel Wil-
son. Patten, ILP., Mr. Garnett, M.P., Mr. Ribbed, ILP.,
Mr. J. L. Ricardo, M.P., Mr. C. Turner, M.P., Sir J. K.
filuttleworth, Sir J. Scarlett, Sir T. Hesketh, the Mayor of
Manchester, kc.
The Earl of DEW; having been called to the chair, mid
he thought the time had arrived when the owners of pro-
perty connected with the cotton district, were bound to come
forward for the relief of the distress which prevaffedthere, and
which was gradually increasing in severity. The object of
raising a public subscription was not to relieve paupers,
but to assist those who were (Still struggling to
maintain their independence, and thus to prevent them
frees being unavoidably added to the list of paupers. He
hoped that the appeal now about to be made would be
cheerfully and liberally responded to.
Colonel Yarns said through the kindness of Mr. Villiers.
the President of the Poor-law Board, he had obtained •
return of the amount of pauperism in Lancashire
from November up to the present time, and it showed
that pauperism was steadily and rapidly increasing.
In the union of Ashton the number of paupers in four
months specified vases follows: In November last, 1,944 ;
in January, 3.304 ; in April, 5,549; in July, 9,957. In
Blackburn, the number of paupers in November was 3,377 j;
in Jan., 5,319; in April, 9,373; in July, 11,543.
In Preston the number in November was 4,143; in Joinery,
7,417 ; in April, 10,636 ; in July, 12,209. In Man-
chester the number was, in November, 6,845; in
January, 10,315; in April, 12,703; in July, 14,547-
Having dissected the return he found that pauperism was
increasing at an average rate of from 1,030 to 1,500 per
week. After referring to promises of contribu-
tions which had been received, and observing
that it was desirable that the two chief ex-
isting organisations for collecting subscriptions, one under
the Lord Mayor of London and the other under the Mayor
of Manchester, should be merged in a central association, in
order that the common object might be more effectually
promoted, he concluded by moving the follow-
ing resolution :—" That the increased distress in the
cotton districts calls for increased efforts for relief ; that it
is incumbent on those who are connected by property with
these districts to take a prominent part in contributing such
relief ; that the following be the committee for receiving
subscriptions, to be transferred to such association for the
relief of distress as they may think fit; and that the under-
signed engage to contribute the sums set against their seve-
ral ammo."

The Marquis of WILBTMINSTER inquired whether the re-
lief contemplated was to be confinedto Lancashire ?
Colonel PATTICN said the object was to include Lancashire,
a small portion of Yorkshire, and part of Cheshire.
Mr. A. Ecoorrox, M.P., seconded the resolution, which
was put, and carried unanimously.
The committee nominated included the High Sheriff of
Lancashire, the Marquis of Westminster, the Earl of
Ellesmere, the Earl of Sefton, Lord Egerton of Tattoo, Sir
J. Gerard, Sir J. K. Shuttleworth, Mr. Cross, and the
Mayor of Manchester.

The MATOR of MANCHESTER was convinced that any
amount of public subscriptions would be inadequate to meet
the distress of the next winter ; it could only be met, be
thought, by rates in aid, extending over adjacent districts.
Manchester was able to support its own poor, but he was
appalled when he thought of the surrounding districts.
The CHAIRNAN deprecated the confounding of the object
of the meeting with government aid. Government emir
tame should not be resorted to until all other resources
had failed to meet the case, and the owners of property
were bound to come forward in this emergency.
. .

The following contributions appeared in the subimiption
liat :—The Earl of Derby, 1,000/. ; the Earl of Ellesmere,
1,0001. ; the Marquis of Westminster, 1.0001. ; Lord Egerton
of Tattoo, 1,0001. (501)/. of it to Manchester) ; Earl Ducie,
1004 ; Captain F. Egerton, R.N., 100/. ; Mr. A. Egerton,
M.P., 1001. ; Mr. Charles Turner, M.P., 1001. ; CoL Wilmot
Patten, 3001. ; Sir J. Seariett, 100/. ; Sir J. K.
Shuttleworth, 300/. ; Mr. Legh, M.l'., 3031. ; Mr. Thomas
Barley, 5001. ; Lord Skelmersdale, 1001. ; Mr. R. Stanley,
1001. ; Sir Thos. Heaketh, 1501. ; Mr. H. Woods. 250/. ;
Mr. Thornhill, M.P., 5001. ; the Marquis of Harlington,
3001. ; the Earl of Talbot, 500/. ; Major Ed-
wards, 100/. ; Captain Edwards, 100/. ; Major G. C.
Legh, 2501. ; Sir B. Gerard, 5001. ; Mr. W. E.
Forster, 2001. ; Captain Grey, 100/. ; Rev. W. Thtomby,
100/. ; Mr. Garnett, M.P., BO& ; Sir J. D. Fitzgerald, 501. ;
Mr. Greven, M.P., 100/. ; Mr. I'. B. Crosae, 50/. ; Mr.
J. J. Blackburn, 501.

Sir J. K. Shuttleworth was appointed secretary, and
Colonel Wilson Patten treasurer to the committee!.
The proceedings terminated with a vote of thanks to the
chairman, and a similar acknowledgment to the Farl of
Ellesmere for the use of his residence for the meeting.

THE ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE FAIR.
(THIS DAY.)

This morning large numbers of members of the
theatrical profession and their friends proceeded to Syden-
ham, to take part in the fancy fair which is held today at
the Crystal Palace in aid of the funds of the Royal
Dramatic College, the arrangements for which have been
for a long time pest in course of progress. Stalls have
been elaborately fitted-up on the most liberal scale. From
large numbers of the nobility and gentry costly
presents have been received, and are offered for sale
at stela presided over by Mrs. Stirling, Mrs. Alfred
Mellon, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss Marie Wilkie, M.
Howard Paul. Miss Lydia Thompson, Miss Conquest, Mrs
E. Romer, Miss Kate Kelly, Miss Laidlaw, Mrs. Billington,
Miss Amy &dire*,Miss Elsworthy, Miss Catherine
Lunette, the Misses Nelsoa, Miss Agues Burdett, Miss
Fanny Jecapha, Mies Kate CA/SOO Mrs. E. Fitzwilliam,
Kiss Fanny Hunt, Kim H. Sims, Miss Willard, and other
ladies not so well known in the theatrical ranks.
For the gentlemen who are fond of ruder sports,
,
a plentiful supply of "Aunt Sally," " Punch,,
"Peepshow," and kindred amusements has been pro-
vided under the direction of Mr. Buckatone, Mr. Paul
Bedford, Mr. James Rogers, Mr. H. Compton, Mr. Tom
Matthew; Mr. Paul Herring, Mr. Toole, Mr. Howard
Paul, and other theatrical celebrities. A thrilling melo-
drama of the good old Bartholomew Fair times has been
prepared, and an original burlesque by Mr. Byron. The
South Middlesex niggers promise to prove a great attrac-
tion ; and the whole proceedings will be enlivened by the
band of the Grenadier Guards, under the direction of Mr.
Godfrey, and the band of the Crystal Palace Company. The
morning has been fine, and the attendance being large, it
may be hoped that the Royal Dramatic College will reap a
Lich harvest. The fair will be continued on Monday.

The race meetings for next week are Nottingham
and Southampton on Tuesday and Wednesday, Stamford om
Thursday and Friday, and Marlborough on Friday ; and
then the sporting year culminates at Goodwood.

The yachting and rowing events for next week
include Swansea Regatta on Monday and Tuesday, King-
ston-on-Thames and Great Yarmouth on Tuesday, Wells-
next-the-Sea on Wednesday, and Barnes and Mortlake
Amateur Regatta, Corsair Rowing Club, Nautilus Club,
West London Rowing Club, and Irish Model Yacht Club, on
Saturday.
The Great North and South cricket match will
Ibe played for Grandy's benefit, at Lord's, on Monday.
The Hon. C. G. Littleton, Mr. R. H. Mitchell, Carpenter,
Daft, Grandy, Hayward, Jackson, Parr, Rowbotham, Tar-
rant. and Wootton represent the North and MOM% W.
P. Trail and C. Wadeson, with Bennett, Caffra, Omar,
Griffith, Locker, Sewell, H. H. Stephenson, Willaher, sad
Wiles, the South._

WHITZHALL, JULY 18.—The Queen has been
to direct letters patent to be pulsed under the
real Seal granting the dignity of a Knight of the Gaited
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland unto George Alfred
Army, Eoq,. Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Now
Zealand. The Queen has alaobeen pleased to direct letters
latest tote pared under the Great tied, granting the dig-
nity of a Knight of the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland unto Francis Smith, Esq., Judge of theSupregos
Court of Tasmania.—Gaz(ttr.

LAMBETH SUPINNION Barone.—The program of
this new bridge (at present the only adaptation of wire
ropes is the construction of bridge. across the Thames) has
hue sorprisingly rapid dnemg the lest few weeks. Already
half the iron roadway, with its projecting brackets at the
sides for the support of the passengers' footway. bas been
firmly attached to the iron who ropes (which latter weigh
nearly 150 tons, and hare cost about 6,C001.) by diagonal
tiss of great strength and firmness. The cables, which were
sosouifectured by the Messrs. Newell, is a small workshop
et the Lembsili side of the bridge. are doe specimens of
strength combined with lightness. The workmen are busily
upon the approaches of the bridge, the Westminster
engaged
which is opposite Market-itmet, the Lambeth end
, being apruched from Church-street. The total cost of
L the bo will be 40,0001.

SHARE LISTS.-(THIS DAY.)

Two o'Ouvx.

The railway market to-day is dull. The tendency
of prices is rather drooping, but the only altera-
tion of importance is a decline of 4to per
cent. in Midland and Lancashire and York-
shire stocks, and in South Eastern.
London and North Western stock is now quoted
96 to i ; Great Western, 72 to
ort;ahlyedlan_ t_ll
1284 to 129; Lancashire and Y • 1064
to 167 ; South Eastern, 821 to 83 ; Cal onian,
106 to i ; Great Northern, U 8 to 119; and
Eastern Counties, 561 to 571.
Lombardo-Venetian Railway shares have de-
clined to 4to prem. Belgian Eastern Junction
are inquired for. San Paulo have improved to 14
to Yesterday's rise in Great Western of
Railway shares is barely sustained.