The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-18 00:00:00

THE raltr9B, 18ATIfirliirY #VENINCif, iB, 1862.

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.

The London Committee of the Lancashire Relief
Fund met yesterday at the Mansion-house. The LORD
MAYOR presided, and Messrs. Cotton, Howes, Morley,
Armitage, and Gibbs were present. Mr. Pickering, the
cashier, reported that the total amount which had been re-
eared in aid of the fend up to the previous day was
72,6471. 18e., of which sum the week's receipts were
6,0131. 19s. 'rho total amount already remitted for distri-
bution, exclusive of the grants made by the committee yes-
terday, wee 40,4331. 19s. 6d. With regard to the clothing
fund, it was reported by the superintendent of the clothing
departsuset at the depot, which has been established at the
pnsra of Bridewell Hospital, in Bridge-street, Black-
friarti 72 bundles of clothing had been already
received at that establishment. Several applications were
read, some of which were from districts to which as vet
no remittances had been made, and some from district" to
which the oommittee bad already sent numerous greats.
The following are the amounts which were directed to be
remitted for distribution : St. James, Heywood, sewing-
clam, 251. ; Shawford, 1001. ; Glossop, 3001. ; Dukin6eld,
2001. ; Si. Barnabsa. 501. • Itawtenstall, sewing-alas, 251. ;
Belmont, 751. • Collybunt New District, 1001. ; Shuttle-
worth, sewieg!olans, 251. ; Barno/dswick. 1501. • Tollingtoo,
501. ; St. Michael's, Manchester, 1501. ; Royto:x, 1501. ; St.
Michael's, Huhn, 501. ; 7lntwistle, 310!. ' • Blackburn,
5001. ; Wigan, 5001. ; Hyde, 2501. ; ankle' a total of 3.0501.
There were some other applications, but the consideration of
them was adjourned until further particulars were forwarded.

The Mayor of Manchester has received the fol-
lowing letter from Australia:
"Mahatma August 25, 1862.

"To the Right Worshipful the Mayor of Manchester.—
Dear Mr. Mayor,—We have the honour to confirm the con-
tests of our last month's communication, duplicate of which
we enclose, and we have now the pleasure of informing you
that, in addition to the 5,5001. previously remitted to
Mama Loyd, Entwistle, and Co., we have to-day forwarded
to that firm • further draft of 4,0601. 15a. lld. on tbelUnion
Bank of Australia, London, accompanying it by similar
instructions as on the former occasion, that the proceeds may
be placed at the instant disposal of yourself and thealdermea
of Manchester, or your authorised agent. This amount you
will kindly apply in the exact lame manner as we pointed
out to you last month ; and we trust that the contributions
of the colony of Victoria will afford all the relief which the
contributors to the fund ea earnestly desire. With next
month the labours of the committee will close • but they
wish to mention how easy their labours have been, through
the voluntary assistance which they have received io almost
every district of the colony. Although not without distress,
absolute want is almost unknown in the mining and country
districts of Victoria, and no sooner, therefore, wasit known
that subscriptions were being received in Melbourne to re-
lieve the unemployed operatives in the Lancashire manu-
facturing districts, than, far and wide throughout the co-
lony, local committees were formed, to whom it is mainly
owing that the central committee are in • position this
day to supplement so largely their last month's remittance.
ilt s difficult to describe to parties at a distance how much
real labour has attended the canvassing of our country
districts, where the population is widely scattered, the
hamlets and homesteads separated by long distances, and by
reads which the weather—the 'overeat which we have bad
for years—has during the put month rendered all but im-
lieftißut in • labour of love such as the Lancashire
und buboes to its contributors and promoter,s even
far greater personal inconvenience would have been gladly
encountered • and if • whole population's heartfelt wishes
are of avail, ibe dark night of Lancashire's distress will soon
give place to • brighter d.awn. We send to your address by
this mail some of our local newspapers, from which you will
gather how largely our country districts have contributed to
the fund ; tad trusting to address you with • further and
final remittance by next mail, we remain, dear Mr. Mayor,
very truly yours, for and on behalf of the Committee of the
Victoria Lancashire Relief Fund,
"duo. JNO. SOIENZR, Hon. Treasurer;
" EDWD. ENADIDLND Slater, Hon. Secretary."

The reports of the state of trade at Stalybridge have
shown that from week to week the distress has increased ;
the weekly loss of wages in the cotton business in this small
borough is not less than 4,7001., or 244,4001. per auuuin,
and the misery and privation consequent on this loss to the
working class in general may be faintly conceived. There
are at present 53u girls employed in the three schools, and
the wages paid this week amount to 711. 13s. Classes for
boys are being formed, and laical hundred boys under
13 years of age are already on the books. Boys over
13 year. of age will be received next week. The relief
committee are expending 3501. per week on brad, meal,
and wages paid to the sewing classes, and this amount
its expected will within ten days be increased to 4001. The
local subscriptions are most liberal, 7001. per mouth for the
next eight months being promised. In addition to all this the
Messrs. Leach and Boos are giving to their own heads 1,500
quarts of soap weekly, and they allow Is. 6d. per week to
each hand as the operatives stop working. This firm also do
not stop say rent, and thus they sacrifice 251. per week, or
1,3001. per annum. Messrs. Benson and Co. have bees giving
away to their workpeople 1,000 quarts of soup weekly since
the end of January last. It is stated that a great number
of operatives will be thrown out of work next week.
The following is the state of trade in the borough, as
prepared by Mr. Chadwick, the chief constable :—Cotton
mills, 24 ; working full time, with all hands, 3 ; full time,
with pert hands, 8 ; short time, 5 ; stopped, 8. Numberof
handa,_lo,4ol ; working six days, 1,0911; five days, 10 ; four
days, 7 ; three days, 2,911; two and a-half days. 2,250 ; two
days, 139 ; less than two dsys, 415 ; out of employment,
3,573. , Foundries and machinists, 24 ; full time, with all
hands, 2 ; fall time, part hands, 6 ; abort time, 14 ; number
stopped, 2. Hands, 1,042; working six days, 449; four
days, 732 ; three days, 45 ; two and a-half days, 18 ; two
days, 2 ; and out of employment, 296. Bobbin turners, 3 ;
working full time, part hands, 1 ; short time, 2. Hands
78 ; working six days, 9 ; four days, 8 ; three days, 11 ; and
out of employment, 50. Increase of hands out at employ-
ment since last return, 41L