The Express.
London, England, 1852-01-08 00:00:00

MANCHESTER.

At Manchester, the position of the questions at
issue between the operative engineers and their employers
has undergone hut little change since Monday, except that
bath parties have now taken public offices, giving an air of
determination and prospect of permanence to the strike,
which it was hoped might yet have been avoided. The
employers have taken a room is Cross-street, at Messrs.
Richardson and Whitworth's offices, and appointed these
gentlemen their secretaries. At their meeting on Tuesday,
attention was called to a statement made by Mr. Newton,
at a meeting in London on Monday evening, to the effect
that he had, on Saturday, " attended a meeting at Green-
wich, which had been called in consequence ul Mr. Penn,
the great employer there, having stated that the executive
committee of the employers association were desirous tore-
ceive a deputation from the executive of the Amalgamated
society." Mr. Newton added," Thattbe feclinguf the meet-
, ing was unanimous, that if the employers wished to receive a
deputation, a deputation should attend them, but th it the me n
ought not to take the initiative." There was a general ex-
pression, on the part of the members of the committee, that
this statement did not deserve any credit; and it was unani
mously determined that the Manchester executive should
not only repudiate any idea of inviting a deputation, but
should a/so insist that even if one sought an interview it
should be declined ; and that nothing should be taken into
consideration but • communication, in writing, from the
leaders or officers of the Amalgamated Society.
Besides the employers in Manchester, Oldham, and other
towns in that neighbourhood, who joined the Central
Association in the heat instance, it is stated on good autho-
rity that ten firma in Bolton have sent in their adhesion.
Among the largest firms in Manchester which yet hold
heck is that of Messrs. Galloway, but it is said that the
business of this house is more in the foundry line than in
the mill-fitting, and is not so much mired up in the
question.
We have heard of two or three instances in which the
feeling of the men with regard to the question of overtime
has been manifested with extreme harshness, and with &de-
gree of inconsiderate recklessness which could scarcely be ex-
pected from any men who would lay claim to the slightest
consideration on the part of their employers. In one case, •
Manchester firm was under • heavy bond to deliver • lo-
comotive to a railway company on a certain day—a Satur-
day, we believe. At seven o'clock the labour of some four
or five men fur two or three hours was required to complete
the work ; but although the obligation under which the
firm wax placed was well known, every man left the esta-
blishment, and the bond was forfeited. In another case, at
Bolton, a machine was being repaired without which an
establishment in that town could not commence work on
the next morning ; a couple of hours work on the port
of • few men was all that was required to complete the
repairs ' • but the men left punctually at seven o'clock, and
the establishment to which the machine belonged was kept
standing.
The operatives have Mr. Hewn for their secretory, whose
office is in Stanley-street, Dale-street, and here the Mari-
cheater committee have their meetings, but have taken no
public step, so far as we can learn, to make known their in-
tentions beyond the publication of an advertisement, trans-
mitted from London, repudiating the assertion made by
their employers, to the effect that they were demanding the
dismissal of persons working selt acting machines. The
following is • copy :
Engiueers' Dispute.—(By Electric Telegraph.)—Lon-
don, Tuesday night, Jan. 6, 18.52.—The executive council
of the Amalgamated Society beg to inform the employers in
their trade, that they have never demanded the dismissal of
any person at present working self-acting machines, nor is
it their intention to do so.—Wm. Brown, Thos. Morgan,
John Ives, Wm. Newton, James Potts, Wm. Powell, John
Reid, members of the council ; Joseph Must*, president ;
Wen. Allan, secretary."
The operatives complain very generally that they are
misrepresented on this question by the press, and assert
that their only objection to labauren is, where masters
introduce them to be instructed in the business at machines
of a certain description which they think mechanics would
be throwing away their business to comply with.
From the firm and independent attitude assumed by both
parties, there is reason to fear that a false pride may pre-
' vent those overtures fur bringing about • reconciliation
which is so desirable.

We have inquired the names of the firms who have given
notice to their hands, and are informed that all firms arc
not required by their rules to give notice, but all of 36 firms
who need to give notice have given it for the 10th, and on
that day from 10,000 to 11,000 hands employed by the
Manchester association, consisting of 36 firms, will cease
work.

There was a meeting of the masters, at Manchester,
yesterday, but nothing of any importance was done,

DOUBLE-BARRELLED RIFLE CARABINES FOR T7IE
Cara.-3.50 double-barrelled rifle carabines have been
shipped in the Birkenhead steam troop-ship for convey-
ance to the Cape of Good Hope. These rifle carabines
are for the use of the 12th Lancers' and are of the same
construction as those with which the non commissioned
officers and privates of the 12th Lancers from the depot at
Maidstone practised at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich,
a abort time ago, to acquire • knowledge of their
use, so as to be able to instruct their brother non-
commissioned officers and privates on their arrival at
the head-quarters of their regiment at the Cape of
Good !lope. The non•commimioned officer and pri-
vates who were at Woolwich for the purpose stated
have embarked in the Birkenhead as part of the detach-
ment of the 12th Lancers ordered to proceed, under the
command of Cornet John Holt, to the Cape, to join their
regiment. The balls used in the double-barrelled rifle
, carabines are of the conical description found so effectual at
long ranges by Mr. Lancaster, doing great execution at 600
or $OO, and in many instances at 1,000 yards range. The
result of the recent trials of small arms gives reason to
expect that a complete change in the arms of the British
soldier will shortly take place; and it is contemplated to
have rifled cannon made rawly fur experiments during the
prc•amt year, some beautiful self-acting machinery having
been invented fur grooving the cannon in the most perfect
manner. It is expected that, with rifled cannon and
conical-shaped shot, the field artillery will attain a /crest
range, far exceeding what can be obtained front small.arm
rifles.

SUICIDE. OP A LIVERPOOL MERCHANT
day an inquest was held before the coroner for Liverpool, on
the body of Mr. Joseph Edwards, residing in Prince x l'ark,
who committed suicide on Christina-day by taking a
dose of prussic acid. The deceased was wealthy, and no
cause could be maligned for the nub act. Alter a long in-
quiry the jury returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity."
There were many vague rumours afloat, sonny of which
alleged that the deceased had la en poisoned, but the result
of the inquest leaves no doubt that the rash act was that of
the unfortunate deceased himself.

DEAD CHILD FOUND IN THE STREKT.— BetWOCH
eight and nine o'clock lust night, as several lads were play-
ing in Little Bridge-street, Illarkfriars, their Ott ration was
attracted by a large canvas bag lying on the steps at the
hack of the premises belonging to Messrs. Wilkinson, up-
holsterers, 14, Ludgate-hill. Not suspecting the contents,
they were fur soma time dragging it up and down the street
fur their amusement. On opening it, however, a fine
newly-born female child was found enveloped in a piece of
white linen. Pulice-eunstahle, 30.1, at once conveyed the
body to the station-house, where Dr. Ilutchinson's assistant
attended, and was of opinion that sielenee had beam used
to the child. As in the case reported yesterday, the actors
in this fearful drama have escaped.