The Express.
London, England, 1853-07-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, THURSDAY EVENING, JULY 2R, 1853

fir Court.

OSBORNE, it.7.T. 27.

l'a ince Albert. the Prim* of ales:and Prince
A •rt. t:kt ou, yesterday afternoon.
Ib, 1116,11 'loyal and Princess ides drove round the

thiclira. of Kent, attended by Lady Augusts Brace,
•own yesterday mornind for her reeidance„ Fenimore.
I a, c..iminisetoaers for anuitinsi the public accounta, with
st.,or o at, ttry, Mr. Uromila y, attendad the Chancellor of
Es,`. later yesterday, et his odSci.al residence, is
ii,,,,Dic•t,ett, it the ball-yearly declarstain of accounts.
deputotiuo, heeded by Sir benjarata M.P.,hai
sit intriguer with the E tel of Aberdtea, yesterday, athis
edictal roodence, in I),wainau street.
Ihe Chaseellot of the Lschaqucr and Mts. Gladstone
Psi a dinner party on To. nay, at the aerial nii•leice, in
yijauis,r.stratit. The company roasisted of the Earl of
A,. Ores, the Mishap of °erased. Lard de Tsbley, Lady
blar.sa:Altoral, Lard Hada°, that Itireht Meat. Sidney end
rts llos. Mrs. Ilcri,cr
t, Mr. It. l'hilliasore, M.P.. sad Mr.
ar4 Mrs. Wilbrabara. la the evening Mn. Gladstone had
sa ansisbly.

TIIE s*TRIKE of TILE CAB-oWNEIIS.

LONDON WITHOUT CABS.

Ytatenlay the metropolis stood, as Eir Charles
Wetherelleace phrased it, in a " perentbesie of TCIIICU.
seri:y." There was not only a dearth, but an absolute
famine of locomotion, and never, since the days of Charles
the &coed, usher. hackney coaches were first invented, have
the 14M-seeing and out-going public been reduced to such
u extremity of helplessness as by the cabmen's "strike"
of yesterday. For once, the magistrates who fine and the
legislaturo who settle the fares of "cabby" base been de-
feated. One man may take a horse to water, but a bun
dyed can't make him drink. 3lr. Fitzroy may ordain what
" cebby" shall charge, but the whole House of Commons
Can't nuke him drive. The grievance that has so
snug the eerfraught breast of "cabby," as to
make him declare " a holiday," is said to be not
so much the lowering the rate of charge pee
mile to sixpence instead of rigbtpence, as the abolition el
back fates, and the compromise desired is said to be that
this back fare may be charged for elistances of three Wise
beyond some fixed spot after nightfall. " Cabby" Mt-
plains that by the new system he starts from an ever-
shiftiag centre to an ever-receding point of distance, and
may be compelled to travel anywhere at any time six miles
from himself. " Cabby" wants something settled, even If
it be nothing more than the restoration of that indefinite
fixture known during the hit half century as " the plate
where Hicks's Ilall formerly stcoil." S 3 .‘ Cabby" re-
solved to " play," and determined to " give labour a holi-
day," after the fashion e f the Lancashire chartist rioters in
IMS. The cab proprietors gave their men notice simulta-
neously not to call at their stables after Tuesday, and ese
Keeley morning the sun rose on a city without cabs.
Of course much inconvenience has been experienced by
the public in general through this determination of the ear
owners, but more especially by those who had intended
setting off by the early trains. When the vehicle was
wanted not one was to be seen, and consequently resort was
compelled to porters, carts, and carriages of yet beabier
description ; but even with this assistance the parties is
many cases had the mortification of healing themselves too
late for the train. Much confusion and discomfort also
arose to those coming to London, who, unable to engage the
usual conveyances to carry them to their town locations,
wire compelled to avail themselves of the assistance of
those porters who were willing to eller their etc
vices, although at a considerable advance on their accus-
touted rate of wages. A great number, both cf ladies and
gentlemen, were to be seen walking by the side of their
porters, heavily laden with all sorts of luggage, and were
but too glad to secure their highly paid services. Among
those porters were observed some of the waterside labourers
of Southwark, who have struck for an advance of wages-
The strike of the cabowners having become known, at most
of the railway stations about 200 or 300 additional working
men presented themselves, with the hope of procuring pro-
fitable employment as luggage porters. As an empties le
the rule, however, about 12 o'cloek a cab was *banned
wittier( for a passenger at Serjeant's-inn, Chancery-lanee
This quickly attracted the attention of the scouts, and very
soon some appearances of disturbance manifested their
selves, which was only prevented by an assemblage of a
dozen City policemen, *he guarded and protected die
driver. In one respect this unexpected movement produced
a very desirable change ; for the traffic of the metropolis
has been carried on with greater facilities than has ever
been previously witnessed, 'zed foot passeugen have been
able comfortably and safely to cross the various streets
without let or hindrance at any moment. In consequence
of the absence of the cabs the omnihnses were well tilled,
although there has been an advance in the fares.
Several of the cab drivers were all day perambu-
lating the metropolis and its suburbs, for the purpose of
seeing whether any of their fraternty should be guilty of
an infraction of the strike, and of marking those whom tbey
deemed delinquents; and in some two or three Judaism
where drivers have not abided by the combination, riolesee
has been offered, as will be seen below.
• To 'nun the inconvenience as much as possible to the
passengers who arrive by the South Eastern Railway, the
directors of that company have promptly advertised a noti-
fication that they are prepared to receive tenders for a
hundred Clarence cab., either new or second-hand, con-
structed to carry luggage on the root No doubt a similar
re solution will be immediately adopted by the directors of
all the other railways having their termini in London.

In one instance an unfortunate cabman, more sen-
sible than the rest of his fraternity, accepted a fare, and
had arrived in Fleet-street, when he was attacked by a lot
of ruffians who hauled every bit of luggage from tt.e roof
of the cab, turned out the fare, and the cabman having fled
in terror, they marched off with the horse and cab in
triumph. At an the railway stations crowds of men
attended, some from curiosity, and others, and some
of them cabmen, for the purpose of obtaining employment
as porters. It was stated by a police inspector that the
arrangements of the cabmen were, that if any cabman bad
the temerity to ply for hire, be was to be engaged imme-
diately, and ordered to drive sit miles out of London,
because under the new act he could not charge back fare.

THE MAGISTRATES AND THE CAB STRIKE.
At Bow-street Charles Hudson, a cabman, was charged
w,th drunken and disorderly conduct, and annoying Thomas
Hutchiosoo, another cabman.
Constable F 40 stated that the ease arose out of the cab
" strike " which had taken place that morning. As tome
few men had not fallen into the general organisation, large
numbers of the drivers were employed to watch for them,
and, by threats, stratagem, or otherwise, to keep them out
of the streets. At shout 12 o'clock witnees saw a body of
these cab-drivers ranged in front of the Euston-square
Railway Station. Passengers were engaging costermongers'
harrows and such things to convey away their luggage, and
were themselves compelled to walk behind. If a cab by
any chance arrived, one of the drivers thus grouped together
immediately pounced upon it and get inside before any-
body else could secure it, desiring to be driven into
Um extreme suburbs of London, or some other out-of-the-
way spot. In the present instance the complainant had
scarcely arrived in the square with his cab, when the de-
fendant accused him of " plying for hire " in the street,
and ordered him to drive to Bow-street, to answer the
offence. Complainant took him at his word, and gave him
into custody for being drunk.

The cemPlainant, who seemed half afraid to proceed with
the charge, said be was not plying for hire at the time, bu
was going home.
The constable said that many drivers who disapproved of
the "strike " had applied at the station for protection to
porsne their calling in the streets.

Mr. Jardine said that cab-drivers would soon find the law
too much for them if they punued this course.

The defendant uid he saw complainant plying for hire
without his license-plate, and therefore ordered him to go to
the police court.
Mr. Jardine said the act gave him no power to do so, and
bound him down to keep the peace for two months.
At Guildhall, Alderman Wilson having been informed of
the proceedings of the cabmen, or rather of their obstinnte
refusal to proceed, sold he was of opinion that the cabmen
had forfeited their licenses. As be understood it, a cab
license was like a public-house ►icense. Upon payment of
a sum of money, a privilege was granted which uo one
could exercise except upon certain conditions--the
publi-
can, that he should keep his house open for public accom-
modation under prescribed regulations ; and the cab-driver
upon condition that he did not overcharge, and that he
treated the public with civility. It was his opinion that
the present combination came under the head of misbeha-
viour, and that the licenses should be suspended, if not
withdrawn entirely. There would then be introduced a
new race of proprietors directly of a much better class, and
It would enable Sir 11 Mayne to bring into operation the
powers of the new act at once, for one-half of the cab-
horses, and driven were a disgrace to the country. If Sir
Mayne would upon this strike issue new licenses to new

wen and new cabs, of which there would soon be a suffi-
cient number, the public would have no reason to re-
gret the inconvenience they may be put to for the neat few
days.

CAB PROPRIETORS' MEETING.

h the course of the afternoon a large body of cab proprie-
tors arrembled at the National Hall, Holborn, the principal
of the Hasp Cab Company, Manchester-square, in t►e
*hair.

The CHAIIIMAN, in opening the proceedings, said they
were met to consider their position, suffer*, under a most
oppressive and usjust act of both houses of Parliament, as I
mast be known to those who read the reports of what bad
recently taken place In the police cruets, and especially of
one ease, that of Phillip:, at the Dow street court. The act
of which they complained had been made by country gen-
tlemen and Manchester men, not one of whom could give
an idea as to the working expenses of a cab; and intro-
duced by a ministry guided by public opinion, having no
meriu of its own, contrary to the expressed wish of the
whole trade, and to the estimate which they gave of their
expenses. (Hear.) The parliamc nt could not know the loss
of horses to which cab proprietors were exposed.
especially in winter, when a 23/. horse might be kept stand-
ing for hours at a corner, and die next day from cold.
(Hear, hear) Why, be had known a proprietor to lose
120 horses in a year and a half out of a stock of 60 or 80.
(Hear, hear.) Ile knew another case of a proprietor who
had sent 4d horses to the slaughterer in six months. (Hem
hear.) The hackney cab proprietors were not really an
united trade. (Cheers) Three months ago, before that
unjust and tyrannical law was attempted, they were codes
Touring to tut each other's throats by competition, but now
they would stick together. (Cheers.) Men had been in the
trade for 23 years, and had scraped a little iodependenee
together, sad now it was to be swept away by the act, for
their business could not be carried on, and their property
could not be sold,as horses were now worth 51. each lets than
they were a fortnight ago. (Hear.) They had given the bill a
fair trial; they bad tried it for a fortnight, and found that
it could not be carried on. (Cheers.) They were told they
might keep three horses; but they knew that three horses
could not be supported at present prices. (Hear, hear.)
Those who were there knew that a time was coming on (the
winter) when the driver would not be able to earn suffi-
cient for himself, without carrying anything home. (Hear.
hear.) Cabs would then remain at the stands for hours,
and then be taken off for 6.1. (Hear, hear.) The govern-
ment, however, were beginning to find it out, for that
afternoon Mr. Fitzroy had sent a messenger in a great
hurry to say that the house had already Toted a
shilling beyond the fare when the cab was four
miles from the General Post-office. (Cheers.) He
(the Chairman) was himself at a railway station that after-
noon, where he saw ladies and children crying, and going
on in a way which no man could wish to see ; but the go
vcrnment bad said that in all great improvements there
must be sufferieg, and they must not be blamed if, in the
endeavour to obtain their rights, they were obliged to op-
press the females to-day. (Hear, hear.) lie hoped, how-
ever, that it would not last, bat that the government would
so alter the bill that they might go on again; but they
would not go to work again until they could have such re-
gulations as they could live under.
Mr. BEADLE moved, as the first resolution, "That forany
distance within and not exceeding two miles the fare shall
be one shilling." The people of London and the govern-
ment bad not expected to see that unity in the cab trade
which they now saw. (Hear.) For his own part, he thought
the public had no occasion to grumble at the construction of
cabs now when compared with those used in 1(20, and even in
1830. They were dependent upon the public, and bethought
it a great pity that they should inconvenience that portion of
the public who were their supporters; but, at the same
time, he thought that it would be considered they were only
acting like Englishmen, standing up for their honour and
liberties. (Heir, bear.) They were now entitled to charge
6d. a mile, but the return in reality brought it down to 3d.
(Hear, hear.) That very dsy their movement had been re.
(erred to in the House of Commons, and he would like to
know whether any other trade in the country had been so
soon taken notice of by government under such circum-
stances. (Hear, hear.) They had commenced a good work
well, and let them finish it well, and keep their cabs at
home till they got the resolution as a clause in the act.
(Cheers.) If the public could do without them, they could
do without the public. Their horses and cabs would fetch
money in any part of the country, and if gentlemen wished
to start cab compauies, they would drive for them.
(Cheers.)
_ _ _

Mr. MORETON moved as an amendment, "That the fare
for the first mile be Is.; exceeding one mile, and under two
miles, Is. 6d. ; two miles, and under three, 25.; three, and
under four, 2s. 6d. ; for every additional mile, or fraction
of a mile, 11."
After a rather disorderly discussion, the original motion
was put to the meeting and declared to be carried.
A series of resolutions, as amendments to the act, were
then agreed on, as follows :
Sixpence to be paid for every mile, or fraction of a mile
after the first two miles (as at present).
For any distance beyond four miles from the General
Post-office (or other central point), Is. per mile to be paid
(at present 6d.)
When two or more persons arc inside, any luggage which
cannot be put inside to pay 2d. per package. (At present
more than two persons must ride to render the payment
compulsory.)
When more than two persons shall be carried, 6d. to be
paid (for the distance) for each additional passenger. (At
present one extra 6d. only is paid, whether the excess of
passengers be one or more.)
In cases of dispute about distance, a book or list, signed
by the police commissioner, to be held conclusive, except
either party shall require the distance to be measured.
Drivers not to be held responsible for " neglecting" to
deliver a number ticket to passengers, but only for " re-
fusing" to do so (both words stand in the act at present).
That a power of appeal spins: decisions of a magistrate
or commissioner of police be allowed.
It was announced that • communication had been re-
ceived from the great omnibus proprietors, pledging them
to support the cabmen while they acted well.
A subscription was commenced in the hall, and in a few
minutes an amount of 1001. was acknowledged from the
chair.

A pledge was unanimously given to keep the cabs at
home to morrow (this day), and to place fall confidence in
the committee.

wearied frames to-day and looking anxiously forward to
what to-morrow is to bring forth.
It must be admitted, then, that the owners of the cabs—
great authors of this cab strike—have produced a crisis•
If this admission is Ray consolation to them, they are at
liberty to make the most of it. It might Dave been fore-
told that the sudden withdrawal of the great majority of
the •ehicle, which are absolutely necessary for the

use of • population of two millions and a half,
would occasion inconveniecce at least, and sometimes injury
and loss. The event has fulfilled the prediction. The
etlect yesterday at the railways alone was remarkable. The
cabowners have inflicted undeniable iojury on Londoners
and their visitors. Is this the limit of their plan ? Have
they struck a blow to show they can do dsmage, and ars
they POW going to return to their usual avocations? We
shall see. The cabowners have much to consider. If the
strike is legitimate, it must be carried out. lite a ill of the
legislature is something rather different from the will of an
ordinary master of workmen. The cabowners to do any good
must hold out until the new Cab Bill is repealed.
At any time before that, if they return teethe stand, their
men are liable to penalties if they ask or receive more than
the decreed sixpence per mile. The strike, if it means
anything at all, must endure until the obnoxious measure is
uo longer the law of the land. "We refuse to carry pas-
sengers ►t sixpence per mile," say the proprietors; and in
order not to be compelled to modify our refusal, we keep
our cabs at home. " Very right," say the would-be-riders
in cabs ; " but remember that this is a virtual abandon.
meat of your business altogether." It is not to be hoped
for by the most sanguine of cab proprietor?, that the Queen,
Lords, and Commons will humbly beg him and his bre-
thren to resume their functions until such time as proper
redress is afforded them. If the united population of Lou-
don were willing, in order to get rid of a temporary annoy-
ance, to pay the cabmen after the old tariff, the present law
would interpose invincible obstacles in the way of such an
arrangement. The proprietors have, therefore, impaled
themselves upon the horns of a very ugly dilemma. They
refuse to work unless fur rates which the legislature has de-
clared unlawful. At the same time, it is next to impossible
that the taw would be repealed—certainly not this erasion.
Cabmasters must abandon their strike or their trade. Will
they like to do either?
While condemning the principle of the strike, and feel•
log certain that it will end, as strikes almost always do, in
the disappointment of the parties striking, we have no
hesitation in admitting that the various moot points of the
measure ought to have been canvassed by the public, and
decided upon by the magistrates in a spirit of fairness to
the cabmen and their masters. This has not always been
the case. Full compensation has not always been awarded
to the cabman when right, while he has been harshly
treated when wrong. We are not sure whether the scan-
dalous decision of Mr. Henry, which is not at all ex-
plained away by his subsequent declarations, or by
Lord Palmerston's tortuous comments thereupon, may not
have bad very great influence in bringing on the
present collision. Whenever cues arise in which the legis-
lature is bound, for the protection of the public, to interfere
in the slightest manner between the employers and the
employed, the utmost care should be taken to render such
interference as harmless as possible. It is incumbent, in
such cases, on the interpreters of the laws to exercise a wise
and lenient discretion. It is desirable that as few as pos-
sible of these cases should exist: nevertheleu there is no
avoiding them. Railways, gas companies, water companies,
are supposed to form exceptions to the ordinary rule that
allows the most perfect freedom between the supplier and the
purchaserof certain articles or accommodations, and there are
very sufficient reasons for bringing cabs under the same cate-
gory. Government, however, has always shown itself ready to
modify any obnoxious regulation in favour of parties who
are injured by the act of the legislature; and what took
place in the House of Commons, last night, proved that
there was no disposition to depart from the usual rule in the
present instance. The abolition of the back fare, an
acknowledged grievance, has already been taken into con-
sideration ; and Mr. Fitzroy lamented that the " absurd
!Asp " taken yesterday would greatly embarrass him in pro-
viding a remedy for the inconveniences of the clause in
question.
. _ _ _

It must be confessed that, in no strike which
has taken place has so little public sympathy
been manifested for the panics striking. It is
known that cab proprietors do not make a less profit upon
their investments than the ordinary mass of tradesmen. It
is well known that they exact from the earnings of the cab
drivers a proportion which leaves the latter but a bare pit-
tance, and that in consequence, they are but too often taken
from the meat needy ranks of society. These men generally
pass their time in incessant labour. They have no holidays,
no Sundays. The hours not occupied in labour or sleep are
preen.' in loses:as aboat fr041.1.10.-IsOnles. WHO Ilinil CIIHICE`S
against them, it is, in one sense, creditable to them that
more outrages are not laid to their charge. At the same
time it is evident that the proprietor, as long as he
gets his stated sum at the end of each day, has no
direct interest in securing the services of respectable
men. Mr. Fitzroy's bill, by introducing a system of rea-
sonable fares,and thereby iacreasinv the demand for cabe,by
paving the way for a possibility of accurate measurements
by providing for a better mode of deciding disputes, would,
it was hoped, tend to diminish the opportunities of specu-
lation, which induced many men of indifferent character to
act as cabmen. Cheap fares render the employment of cabs
more certain, and proprietors will be able to calculate pro-
bable receipts more surely. Well ascertained distances
diminish the chances for a dishonest driver. Certainty of
detection and punishment in ease of ill-conduct make these

chances still less. It *ill not be worth while for men of bad
character to apply for employment; and we may hone that
a better clue of cabmen will arise ; men who are not &COIF
I toiled to risk their places and their good name for the sake
of a sixpence. If the proprietors think these changes will
be prejudicial to them, they will meet with little sympathy
on the part of the public. We should have wished to see
them endeavour to co-operate honestly with Mr. Fitzroy in
the endeavours he told them—as we learn from his speech
last night—he was willing to make to alter the obnoxious
clause involving the abolition of the back fare. They have
not done so, and we fear that they have pqt themselves in
a position from which they cannot retreat without loss of
honour or money. In the meantime there is one point
worthy of their serious consideration. They have been
conspiring to render useless an act of the legislature, under
the provisions of which they hold licenses. Is it not com-
petent to the authorities to suspend or forfeit these
licenses ? This question will assuredly be asked.
A VOICE FROM A STAND.

TO TUZ EDITOR OP TIM EXPRESS.

Sta,—l regret to observe that the cab proprietors Lave
taken the very ill-advised step of withdrawing their ve-
hicles from the public stands. Such a proceeding can only
be attended with injury to themselves, not only from the
want of employment for a day or two, but in the ultimate,
and, it may be, permanent lots of regular customers, who,
having been in the habit of riding short distances, find, on
being obliged to walk or patronise the " bus," that in
neither cue is their strength or comfort materially affected,
while the saying is considerable. In my cue the saving,
' even under the new act, will not be less than 10s. a week.
I am, air, your obedient servant,
A RIDER OF SHORT DISTANCES.
Leaden, July 27.

STRIKE AT THE NEW HOUSES OP PARLIAMENT.
—About half-past one o'clock on Tuesday the bricklayers
working at the New Palace of Westminster struck. The
trowels were laid down, the jackets put on, baskets taken
up, and the men walked out. The labourers were Outage
obliged to follow in the wake of the bricklayers, and the
New Pekes has been deserted by both bodies of men. The
cause of the strike is said to be a demand, on the part of
the men, and a refusal on the part of the master, for an
increase of wages. The men assembled in clusters in New
Palace-yard and the neighbourhood, consulting as to ulte-
rior proceedings.
STRIKE OF CARPENTERS AT LEEDS.—The joiners
and carpenters of Leeds have this week struck work, in
order to obtain an advance of wages and an abridgment of
' the hours of labour on Saturdays. Their demand is for Is.
per week in addition to a recent advance of the same
amount on their wages, and the cessation of labour at four
instead of six o'clock on Saturdays. The muters are will-
', inw to give the advance in most cases, but they refuse to
close their works at lour o'clock on Saturdays.
LANCAsUIRE REGtsvn.tvtoN.—The liberals of LAU-
cashire have this year been extremely Reties in revising
the registers of electors, under the management of Messrs.
James Moorhouse and Son, and have succeeded in making
not lees than 2,000 new claims fir the southern division of
the county, and 1,000 for the northern division. Not con-
tent with this, they have industriously examined the de-
scriptions of qualifications of freeholders already on the
register, with a view to counteract any objections that may
be urged by the other part) on the ground of misdescription.
The number of re-claims sent in by the liberals on this ac-
count will be about i,OOO.
WESTERN DEBATING SOCIETY.—The tenth anni-
versary of this society was celebrated last evening by a
supper, provided by Mr. Frampton, the host of the West-
moreland Arms, George-street, Manchester•square, and of
which a numer sus party partook. The chair was filled by
Mr. F. llullam, Mr. C. J. Smith occupying the vice-chair.
This is one of the many debating societies scattered over the
i metropolis, and which are fast taking the place in many
instances of card•playing societies, formerly so popular.

IRELAND.

Drsims, Jrzr 27.
Strangers are pouring in from all directions to
visit the Exhibition, and at no time have the Dub-
lin hotels been so crowded. One of the last steamers
from Holyhead brought over three hundred visitors,
and all the boats arriving at Kingstown are crowded
with passengers. It is said that some thousands of
French people purpose availing themselves of an ex-
cursion trip on a large scale during the time of her
Majesty's visit to Ireland.
The Irish government has appointed Mr Creighton,
Q.C., and Mr. Finch White, barrister, commissioners
to inquire into the forfeited estates and chattels of
William 11. Kirwan, convicted of the murder of his
wife on Ireland's Eye. 'rho commission will be
opened at Longford in the course of the ensuing
month. Ihe statement that Kirwan has been al-
lowed to enjoy certain privileges at the convict depot
in Spike Island, and that he was actually on board a
convict ship fur removal to Van Diemen's Land, but
I was withdrawn through the influence of friends, is
most positively denied.
William Thorne, a man of gentlemanly appear-
ance, and believed to be of respectable connexions,
has been convicted of shoplifting at Cork, and sen-
tenced to ten years' transportation. He carried on
a most extensive system of plunder, the articles
found in his possession at his arrest being almost
sufficient to set up a bazaar; and at the time that he
perpetrated these depredations he visited, and was
visited by, highly respectable persons in the neigh-
bourhood of Cork.