The Express.
London, England, 1856-03-27 00:00:00

LORD SHAFTESBURT IN MANCHESTER.

It having become known to the factory operatives
of ldanehester that the Earl of Shaftesbury was about to
visit dist city. they wrote to his lordship requesting him to
give th- men isterview, and also to emend • select meeting
of &item. • from the several mills in the neighbourhooo.
Accordingly the deputation met him on Monday evening,
at 7 o'cli.ca, at the Albloo Hotel.
The deputation stated that their object was to obtain his
lordship's opinion in reference to Colonel Wilson PattoCit
hill on the subject of feneieg of machinery, now before the
House of Commons. In stating their cue,
Mr. SIWILZY observed that, although there did not ap-
pear to be soy materiel objection to the bill as it now stood,
the workmen had reason to believe that many of its pro-
moters were known to be unfavourable to all legislation of
this kind, and therefore they were afraid that some attempt
might be made in committee to alter or extend the hours
of working. They were therefore in the position of not
knowing whether to oppose or to snp?ort the measure.
The workmen, be said, were by no means hostile to
any act which would maks tte working of the Teo-hours
Bill as agreeable to their muters as possible; but they
were determined to watch with a jealous eye any re-opening
of the question in perbament.
Several others of the deputetirn eorroborated this view of
the eau, sad it was stated that the r. observition com-
mittee" had written to Colt nel Patten requesting an inter-
view, or a written sesuranoe that if any attempt was made
in committee to disturb the time of working, he would at
once abandon the bill.
Lord SaIIPTBIDORY congratulated the depilation upon
the very judicious course they had adopted. The bill, be
said, had not been printed when he left Owe, and %beret, re
he had not bad an opportunity of reading it; but, from
what he had heard, it was not an unreasonable measure,
and be believed it was not the intention of its promoters in
any way t disturb the time of working. It was, however,
he said, toe duty of the workmen to watch with • careful
and jealous eye any discussion on the subject. He did not
say that, even as it stow stood, at for se he knew, the bill
wn free Frain all objection ; but this much he would advise
them to do—to mist their employers in the promotion of
any measures calculated to forward their into eeeee ,00 lenges
no infringement was made upon the Ten-hours Bill, which
he held to be the workmen's charter,

The deivitsti.n then withdrew, and his lordship, seem.
partied by Lord Ashley (hie eldest sou), the Hon. W. Ashley,
Mr. P. Grant, and others, proceeded to the meetieg of dele-
gates, which was assembled at the Cot on Tree Ina, Great
Ancoste.street. The meeting was composed of about 400
working men and their wives and sisters; and the noble tut
on as taring the roma was loudi cheered.
Mr. Pant liationaves occupied the chair, and briefly
opened the proceedings ; after which Mr. THOMAS MAwDO
Lgi read the following address to his luroship
" My Lord,—We ere factory workers employed in the
mills of Manchester and its neighbourhood, and having
teemed that it was your intention t, visit this city, we have
smigt t this interview that we may once more personally
beer testimony to the beneficial results of the ten-hours
facto', law, and also tender to your lordship our most grate-
ful acknowledgements for the many sacrifices you have
made for us, our &milks, and the workirg classes generally.
Of the many advantages which we continue to derive from
the operatics of this salutary measure, it is unnecessary for
us to say more than to assure your lordship that all the
beneficial result. foretold by its promoters are now being
realisrd by these who avail themselves of the orportunities
which it affords for recreation, as well as for intellectual and
moral instruction. If our improvement as a body of opera-
tives ha. been less rapid and lees distinctly marked than
might have been expected, it is obvious that, to whatever,
ether eases or 'muse. this result is attributable, it cannot he
merltied to any detect In the measure Itself, bet meat pro-
ceed, as it appears to u', from a di. 4 of their own
isterests by a portion of the workpeople themselves.
Bash aopez,nt indifference on the tart of any portion of
our fellow-operatives, from whstover cause it may have
arisen, is greatly to be regretted. Oar experience, how.
ever, micioursges the hips that it will gradaelly disappear
from amongst us, and give place to higher • ewe with
regard to their interests and duties as members of
society. Indeed we flatter ourselves that the time is not
far distant, when flame public parks which have so ma-
terially improved the unitary condition of our city—when
the Free Library and those scientific and literary institutions
which are iso great an honour to their promoters—will be-
come the general resort of the working classes in their
leisure hews, to their physical, moral, and intellectual
improvement. These appear to us moot important con-
adoratiose upon which your lordship's advice will, on this
as on every other occasion, be esteemed a great boon. That
the impression is fast stalnieg mound In the public mind as '
to the soundness of the various legislative measures passed
on our behalf, is amply demonstrated by the fact that a bill
is now before p irlimett, we hope with every prospect of
recces', io which it is sought to limit the hours 6 f labour of
females end young person. engaged in various other occu-
pations—we allude to the Bleachers' Bill, a measure which
we are quite sure will commend itself to your lordship's
consideration, and, In so far se it is calculated to accomplish
the obj. et aoaght, and sword* with justice and humanity,
we an equal:y certain that yoar Icrdehip's powerful aid will
sot be wasting in causing it to bee me the law of the land.
The many years of anxious toil which you have undergone
for oar rakes, and the numerous hi/stings which 3ou have
been instramental in conferring upon us and oar families,
have nut failed to arrest oar attention and to command our
I lastieg gratitude; and we f tly pray that the Almighty
Giver of all Good will grant you, your amiable lady, and
lamby, health, cootentment, and 'wrath of dayt. That you
and yours Meg be long spared to witness the realisation of
the great otjetit of your lordship's public life, the social
elevation of the worming classes, is oar heartfelt arid 'theme
prayer "
Lord *hurl' addressed the meeting at oonsider.
able length. and, in the wane of his epeech, he advised the
persona protest to tarn to good account the leisure hours
secured to them by the factery law, which he hoped would
matinee to effiet those salutary improvements amongst the
working claws which had hitherto characterised it in pro-
ducing the most beneficial results.
The thanks of the meeting having been given to Lord
Avhlsy, his lordship briefly addressed the delegate., and
.tated that he would soon be in harness in the same cause
in which his father had so long been engaged ; and he
hoped to be able to hand to posterity new and fresh laurels,
which the name of Ashley had acquired among the poor of
all classes of Great Britain.
_ . .

---
Oa Tuesday evening Lord Shaftesbury addressed the
Yowls( Men's Christian Amocistion at the Cern Racemes,
dwelling at some length upon the evils of what he termed
diseased commercial activity, leading to that compeution
by which young men in coops were taught to make the
worm appear the better edicts', and by which the customer
was to be sedated In a variety of ways. He also referred
to the evils arising from the too long detention of young
people in se and other establishments, lowering the
whole physleJ sptem, as well as the moral taste and appe-
tite, while it increased those of an opposite tandem. A
another of leading clergymen sad oiler inhabitants also
eddrered the meeting.

GIGANTIC STEAM HAMMER.—At the Govan Iron
Works, where Mr Condo carries on the manufseture of
his excellent steam hammere, one has jest been fioished of
eatraordinary dimensions. It is about to be lent I. Hol-
land, to be err cted at the works of the No therlands Flattery,
PROPOSED PUBLIC PARK FOR WOLVERHAMPTON. a* Amsterdam, end is 5 tons weight. It has a total height
—We (WoherAonspews CArvitie e) have on various meg- of 23 feet, with • c ear working spate between the standards
of 12 feet wide by 6 feet high, haviag • stroke of 6 feet. The
atom, advoested the expedimacy—may, etiolate necessity of
weight of the whole machine is no less than 30 tom. Not-
establishing a public perk, or other institution of a like
sow.. in weloerhewptoo. With unfeigned phowero we withstanding the entre:ors mass of me til it contains, and
now hare that, what has hitherto failed wito the beat in-
though at first eght it seems ruttier to be toms piece of
tuitions and great 111fiat0011 appears in a fair way to be morsumeistel work then a tool to be used in the manufacture
of machinery, it is beautifully proportioned in its s al
tarried out in en unexpected, and certainly most prairie-
parts, and umanageable as a cnild's toy. All its levers
war hy sad miriade manner. Eneoureged by the power-
ful example of Manchester, Macclesfield, and other town and other gearing ere very carefully finished. and polished
in oat,n porte of the hi, gdow a portion of the „whin, to a high degree of bele totes; and it works as smoothly
claws of %Wolverhampton, alter grave deliberation ma
and sweetly as the 11121 Chtol6l3l of • chronometer. Large
numbers of the hammers manufactured by Mr Condit have
diligent inquiries, have formed themselves into a society,
with a firm den mutation to le..ve no atone unturned till a found their way to Germany, France, the Netherlands,
g park end pleasure Holland, and America ; yet the government continues to um
rounds be established in some mavenient
tad healthy spot in the eoeirone of the town—the oaid hammers in their smitt-works and dockyard. insignificant
is power savage and erroneous in principle, and liable to
park, when established (with each useful anziliarim in the
shape of gywnwiow museum, &a, as aim...mum may continual accident and derangement, notwithstanding it hen
adesi.), to be devoted to the free can of the inhabitants of been over and over again stets d in ail the pubic journals
woloteliosp,ou for ewe. From our own knowledge of that such an excellent tool as that which Mr. Condos
h
several members of the Working Men's Committee, and the patented many yens ago is available, and which is as amp
energy sad &clean of their elected president, Mr. Henry as the rudest cameo which the government continues to
Beckett, we doubt act that the work will be succemfully w.—G4l.ow Daii, Ma"'
metered and carried out.
EAST INDIA HOUSE.—Some important changes
DZAD LAW.—How freely, even in spite of yearly are M eon'emplation in the Examine et-office, consequent
ataaasorseitas mop of legislation springs, another figure or upon the retirement of Mr. Peacock and Mr. Hill, the chief
two will egret. On the subject of the qmlification and and deputy examiners, and we uadent end that those duties
election of a ...an of perliewtoii then suet ma b..- will devolve upon Mr. J. S. Mill and Mr. F. W. Prideaux„
dred tad eighty-five WC Oa the 'sliest of poor law there *hits the 'natant examiners will be Mr. Hawkins, a re-
ore. In the sittit,imb.... impaled and twenty yin tired Madre* *Milian, and at present secretary to the India*
Upea the Better of Mamma then are me hundred sad Law Commission ; Mr. Bourailloci, for many ye .n in the
thirty acts. Upon the subject of 'zeds' one hundred and examiner's department •, Mr. W. Thornton, of the marine
twenty. Gas set ought to eaffice for each of these matters, branch; and Mr. J. W. Kaye, the t rejector of the Crifnetlet
yet the statutes still include four or five thousand pipe of Review, who is spoken of as likely to under;ake the Publie
deed renew law.—Detherie's " iforeehoisl Words." Works Department. —Howe News.