The Express.
London, England, 1853-10-22 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EXPRESS.

SlB,—The intelligence of the death of Lieut.
Bellot, of the French navy, while engaged in the
Arctic expedition, having caused much public sym-
pathy, I was induced, at the suggestion of many
naval and other f:iends, to address the Baron
Duces, the French Minister of Marine, on the sub-
, ject of the monument proposed to be erected to the
memory of his gallant countryman, and have received
the toLlowing reply :
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
H. ROBERTSON.
3, St. Michael's•alley, Cornbill, Oct. 21, 1833.
Compiagne, Is 10 Octobre, 18'4.

Monsieur,—Je oomprendsai;ement les rympubies qu'a
dis reneontrer au milieu dune grade nation comma M
sutra Is projet d'elever us monument Fru:ern,
qui a trouvi la mon dans one perineum: enterprise, od 11
await heureux d'apporter son eoneours a de braves it
digaes officiers de la Marine Royale d'Angleterre.
Jo roils reaurele, au nom de sea trine d'a'mes, de tons
dire fait interprets de cello idle qui tend a resserrer encore
davantage les liens qui anis:eat nos deux marines comma
nos deux nation', et j'aime a vows donner lei l'assurance

quo le gonvernenentdc S. M. l'Empeteur facilitera par
tons ks mopes en son plink la realisation d'nn you
&sentiment bins fait pour honorer I la feu coax qui root
rime et celai qui en est l'objet.
Le lieutenant de vaisseau Ballot, de si regrettable me-
moire, etait at a Paris; main as famine reside a Rochefort;
&est a es port qu'il emit attache depuis le commencement
de is cartiire maritime. C'est done I Rochefort quo me
semblerait devoir etre elate le monument dont 'ins m'aves
fait l'honneur de m'entratenir. Si d'autres reassigns.
meats eons itaieut nicessains, je n'ai pas besoin d'ajontcr,
Idecsieut, quo tons me tronveres toujours entiatement die.
pose a Tons les fournit, et je saiasis Gatti; occasion de
TOILS offrir men sentiments de sincere 'same.

Le Minims Seetitaite d'Etat de la Marine et
dee Colonies,
THEODORE DUCOS.

Nogaieur H. Roberto°,
3, St. Miehaers-alley, Cornbill.

GREAT MEETING OF PRESTON OPERATIVES.

On Thursday morning, about 5,000 of the unem-
ployed factory operatives of Preston assembled in the
Orchard, where they were addressed by Mr. Faßowes, of
Preston (who presided), and by a delegate from Stockport.
The Ciounxiete said that some parties had sneered at
them, and declared they would not be able to pay the turn
outs ls. per head this week. Those parties, however,
would perhaps be surprised to hear that the committee
would be enabled to distribute 6s. per head, as heretofore.
Communications had been received from various parts of
the country, from which it appeared that an amount equal
to their most sanguine anticipations would roll in at the
end of this week ; for instance, Blackburn had promised
4001. or 500/., and Accrington had passed a resolution to
increase its contributions from 3d. to Gd. per loom.
In the afternoon, an aggregate monster meeting, con-
vened by the committee of the spinners and selt-setor
minden, was held on the Mardi, under the presidency of
Mr. John Sargent. Upwards of 10,000 persons were
present.
The Casin••• having briefly opened the proceedings,
introduced
Mr. OALLAIIiI, who gave a history of the present agi-
tation. About the 13th of July the operative eotton-spinnen
and self-actor miuders of Preston issued a memorial to
each manufacturer, soliciting an advance of ten per cent.
_ .

That 11121110flai wai treated with silent contempt.' Subse-
quently a second memorial was addressed to the employee%
all of whom, with the exception of four, then consented le
give the required advance. Those hands who did not ses.
calve the ten per cent. were authorised toy give a lapel
notice to leave work ; and whilst that notice was heap
served, the associated masters convened a meeting e. tin
15th September, wren they resolved to don their milk is a
month from that date, " unless those on strike were per
pared to resume vr..rk." The resalt was, that the melts
wereclosed, and from 20,0iAl to 24,000 hands thrown ma
of employment. All their endeavour to settle the e.ispiase
having faded, what were they to dot (Voice "Be hard."
—Cheer.) The speaker concluded by recommending pease,
seder, and frugality.
Mr. J. 'IONLINSON moved the first resolution—" Time
our request for an advance of 10 per cent. is an equitable
and just cwt.': He said the operatives were always nipisai
to share with them. masters the lose consequent upon a a."
pension in trade, and under these circumstances be thong!.
they were fairly entitled to participate in the general prow.
peaty. (Cheers.)
Mr. J. Moxx briefly seconded the resolution, and it
was carried unanimously, as also were those which kap
lowed.
Mr. J. Gains proposed the second resolution—" That
this meeting views- with deep regret the determination the
masters have come to of closing their mills, and that the
said meeting is of opinion that such a proceeding, whilst
prejudicial to the masters themselves, is attended with
fibs grossest injustice to their workpeople, and to the com-
munity at large." He observed that many would i'oubt-
Isse hel the effects of this lock-out very severely, but he
toped Wet rather thin gin in they would be content with
ilia maul a day.
Mr. T. BILADIAT seconded the resolution.
Mr. M. JOLLT was intrusted with the third 'mistime,
labia was as follows: "That we, the operative wean
"keen and self-acting minders of Presto., an resolved
to stead firm for an advance of 10 per nat. at then mills
where the 10 per cent. has not been given, sad to persist
to a perfect adhesion to our stain, by supporting and sub.
wribiog to its funds with ell our might end main." After
urging upon his hearers the importance of resisting the
wasters in their rows to crush the *aim, the speaker
seated that the self-acting minders of Preston received car
third less wageeehen they did in Oldham. la Preston, this
Mime operatives wsivess received, some as low as Is,,
end New as high as ;les. se 175.; but in Oldham, they
unwed on en average pee week. (Surprise.)
Mr. LANlaler 11•11.11111•11$110 resolution.
Mr. E. BWINOLIMUSIST said they were now all enstarkell
in one vessel on a tempestuous see, and what they had 10 dr
was to gourd against the rocks end quieksands. ?bit
seaduct hitherto had gained them the favour and apnear
tint of every good and honest man, and public opinion was
setting in every hour against the tyrants who had closed
their mills; for was a greater piece of injustice done
to a body of working men than had been consummated in
Preston. Many of them had been working quietly sod
peaceably tinder their 10 per cent , and no reason had beta
I assigned why the Mills were closed, and the operatives
debarred from enjoying that peace and happiness which
I they were so justly entitled to. Wages were not now
the question with the manufacturers of Preston.
They were determined to break up the combi-
nation of operatives—to split them Into sections,
and crush them. That object, however, they would
never accomplish if the operatives were only true to them-
! salves. Let them be firmly united, and be had no for for
the result. In Blackburn, Darwen, Stockport, and other
towns he had visited, they were resolved rather than give up
the ten per cent. they were now enjoying, to lose their lives.
Their masters told them they could not continue to give the
! advance unless the Preston masters conceded a similar ad-
! vane. The Preston manufacturers must be beaten, sad he

was sure they would be beattn ; they would get such a
thrashing as they had got in their lives. (Cheers.)
Referring to the project for co-operative self-employment,
the speaker stated that such was the countenance it
had received that they should soon be in a position to set
about building factories of their own. (Loud cheers )
Thanks having been voted to the chairman, the meeting
terminated " with three cheers for the union and the ten per
cent"— Northern Daily Times.

HtNGARY.--Letters received by Hungarian officers
in Paris totate that a free corps of Hungarians is in arm,
sad earryiug on a guerilla warfare in the Carpathian moun-
tains.