The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-27 00:00:00

THE POLYTECHNIC.

Tli ic LANCASHIRE DISTRESS.

Wliat in theatrical parlance is called a "free
bandit " we. given at the Polytechnic last night on behalf
of the starving operatives in the north. All the varied
entertainments and wooden of the institution were per-
formed or exhibited, and all the performers, eniployis, sod
servants worked without pigment, in order that the entire ,
receipts of the evening should go to swell the collection I
maim; io Marylebone (in which parish the Polytechnic is
situated) in aid of the central relief fund. The Earl of
lthefteshury —whose sympathy with the operative. was years ]
ago displayed in his loag continued and ultimately suc-
cessful efforts in connexion with the Factory Act— I
gave additional force to the charitable intentions
of the managing committee, by consenting to act
as president or patron of; the performiumes, and 1
sea matter of course was at his post. Most appropriately
the business of the evening commenced with Profaner
Pepper's very interesting and instructive lecture on the
enters and growth of the cotton plant, and the made ,
adopted in different countries of gathering in the cotton,
gleaning and peeper* it for market, and conveying it to
the port of shipment. This lecture is illustrated with ,
several beautifully.executed dissolving views; and the ohs-
Teeter of the fibre of cotton, flax, China pass, the nettle,
the recently suggested looters manna, and other fibre-
yielding plants, together with the fabrics produced from
them, are made clear to the meanest capacity by the aid of ;
the o: hydrogen microscope. After the lecture Lord
fliniftesbury made his appearance, and, the stage being
arranged as a platform, took his seat as the chairman of the
evening. supported by the Rev. J. B. Owen (chairman of
the institution), Rev. C. Mackenzie, Deputy Judge Payne,
Messrs. F. Lasoellea, W. Greatorer, and Professor Pepper,
and after a few introductory words from the Rev. Mr.
Owen delivered an address describing the sufferings to
which the Lancashire operatives had already been reduced,
the remote prospect of alleviation by the restoration of the
eetton supply, and the utmost certainty that before many
weeks were over the number of those who were thrown out
of work, sod who, having expended all their savings and
danatled their homes of all those little comferte which re-
presented the prudence and self-denial of many years, would
le driven to seek relief from the rates, would largely in-
crease. There were now, he said, between 300,000 and 40%000
of these operatives dependent upon the poor-rates or private
benevolence for the daily breed of themselves and their
families, and there was every reason to fear that very 'soon
the somber would rise to 800,000, which was the total of
those manually engaged in the manufacture of cotton goads
in the diatricts in question. Nor was this all, for these
0.10,000 were many of them heads of families, and might
fairly be said to represent, taking into account children and
aged and infirm persons, from one and a half to two millions
of persons. From personal knowledge he bore testimony to
the worthiness and independence of character which marked
the factory operatives as a class, and reminded his hearers
that the terrible infliction under which they were suffering
had been in no way brought about by their own miscon-
duct or neglect. He pictured the hardship which was per-
beps the necessary condition of poor-hw relief, viz., that
these poor persons were put to employments, as stone-break-
rag, trench-diggieg, and other hard labour, for which their
previous occupation wholly unfitted them, and, what was
wane, which would probably unfit them for resuming
their ordinary occupation when better times returned. It
was possibly true that many of the great manufacturers and
ibm who had grown rich upon the labourlof the operatives
Lad neglected their duty, but others had come forward nobly
to their relief, and made great personal sacrifices to that end.
Nor was it any reason that because some persons had de-
netted their duty the people of London should desert theirs;
and when they found hundreds of thousands of their
fellow.countrymen craving for bread, nit being able to
obtain through the ordinary channels of relief enough to
keep body and soul together, it behoved all who loved the
human race and respected the doctrines and precept' of
the Gospel to contribute as far as they could to the mitt-
ption of this great and overwhelming necessity.
A cordial vote of thanks was accorded to the noble lord
for hi attendance, after which the noel concert took place,
in which the Misses Rose Hersee, Leffler, Grace Barrow,
Xis Amy Ashton, Messrs. Carter, F. Osborne Williams,
De Fontania, G. A. Cooper, the Neapolitan Minstrels, and
that other vocal and instrumental members of the musical
gaff, exerted themselves to the entire satisfaction of a vary
ameerous audience.

THE MANSION-HOUSE COMMITTER —The dons-
Roes in aid of the fund for the relief of the distressed opera-
tives in Lenesehire were not yesterday so numerous as they
have been for the last few days, the total amount being
only about 4,0001., whereas on the three or four preceding
days they have amounted to about 6,000/., and al Tuesday
they amounted to about 7,2004 Amongst the amounts
which cane to band was 1,0004 from the Union Bank; 2504,
being a second instalment, from the parish of Lewisham ;
Mears. C. de Murrietta and Co., 304.11. ; Gravesend, drat in-
stalment, 2004 ; Mears. Jamiesoc, 2004 ; Mani: Fire
06os, 2104 ; C. Newton, Esq., 100/. ; HOWL Drivrl.
Mackinurdo, and Co., 50/. ; Rev. Sir E. R. Jodrell, Bart.,
104 There were • large number of smaller amounts. •
great many of which were the paces& of collections in dif-
ferent churches and perishes.
CENTRAL RELIEF FUND. —The latest contribu-
tions received include 5001. from the Tyrone Rebid Com-
mittee ; 1101. collected at Forties Dockyard ; 2504 from
the Dewsbury Relief Fond ; 1001., proceeds of • concert at
Great Malvern ; 1001. from the Penzance Relief Fund ;
961. from Beverley; 601. from Larlesheaton , and 401.
Lon Barnard Castle')
BracKavatc—At the weekly meeting of the
relief committee, held on Monday evening, 121/. 15s. 7d.
was voted for awing, and 1114 14s. sd. for educational
11111 WWW. About 2,500 young women are employed in sew-
ing, knitting, and straw plaiting, 1,607 young men are
imaged in the educatiocalclasees, and upwards of 500 in
the iodnstrial schools. The committee next decided to
takelarge promises in Back-lane as a clothing depot. It
was reported that daring last week 592 tons of coal bad
been distributed to the poor, and that the distributitn on
that scale Rill continued. On Monday evening, • meeting
el small tradesmen and cottage owners was held in Paradise
ilebord. Mr. J. Beads, manufacturer, occupied the chair.
Mr. B. Nightingale moved the first resolution as follows:
"That in the opinion of this meeting, small tradesmen and
eottage property owners are unable to meet the demands
made upon them for rates, in consequence of the present
distressed state of trade." He stated that many
of the cottage owners could get little or no
rest—uot enough to meet the rates ; and that,
though several were in distress, no relief was granted
to them, as they passaged property, no matter whether it
was mortgaged or not. The proposition was agreed to.
Mr. B. Abbott moved, "That the board of guardians be
memorialised to adopt that clause of the Rate in Aid Act
which empowers them to throw the excess of Se. in the
pound per annum on the rates of the county, as recom-
mended by Commissioner FarnalL" —Mr. Carr seconded it,
and it was carried.—Mr. C. Pollard showed that, as a shop-
keeper and a cottage owner, he hail already sacrificed from
2001. to 3001., and that a neighbouriog shop was now closed,
sad the shopkeeper attending one of the educational classes,
for which he received lea. per week. He moved—" That
this noating desires to express its conviction that the time
has arrived to petition parliament for a grant from the Con-
solidated Food, to help to alleviate the present distress."
The motion was agreed to, and a committee was appointed.
ANIITON-LINDIR-LYNE. —At the weekly meeting
of the Ashton board of guardians on Monday, it was an-
nounced that the total number of persons relieved during
the week was 33,342 ; corresponding week last yew, 1,715 ;
iwarease, 31,657 ,• 10C11•11411 over last week, 1,028.
Wroaw.—There are uow 4,323 cases, representing
11,1168 persons, on the books of the relief, committee. This
slows an increase of 157 eases, or 431 persons, on the last
returns. The expenditure during the past week has bean
619/. 10s. ; an increase of 30/. Pa. sa compared with the
previous week.
P RESTON. —This week, as last, the fever is still a
little on the increase. In regard to the distress, it *m-
inium to increase very rapidly. In the union of Preston
this week there are 21,620 plasma in the receipt of relief
from the guardians. Last week the number was 21,006 ;
the corresponding week last year it was only 4,104. In the
township of Preston the guardians are now relieving 17,074
pawns, at a cost of 1,3 W/. 4s. 3d. Last week there were
16,619, whose relief coat 1,3761. Oa. 9d. ; and in the corre-
sponding week of 1861 the number was 14.161, and the cost
of relief 1944 2s. 44. The relief coruiruttee have this week
on their books 34427 persons. The average amount of relief
given by the guardians in the Preston union is lea. 7d., and
s• the township of Preston Is. 7id The percentage of pau-
perism in the former is 194, and in the latter 33i. During
the present week the relief committee will distribute 600
teas of coal and 1,0004 worth of bedding and clothing. The
teal expenditure for the week is estimated at 2.4401. At
the meeting of the guardians yesterday there was a very
lasi discussion relative to the administration of relief, and
oho as to the pasiticia at present held by the guardians and
the relief committee.

Mr. Muggleston, a surgeon who attended the daughter in
her confinement, said she was attacked by puerperal mania.
LEAMINGTON AND WARWICKSHIRE HUNT Misr- I She was mad from the 4th May until the 18th August, when
Ea.—Additional arrivals : The following bays arrived in be discontinued his attendance and she remained so after-
addition to those announced on Tuesday :—Friar of Apshall, I wards. During her illness she said very little. It was more
Cuirassier, Cannibal, Gleam, Fairplay Liberality the Perfect j melancholy, but anything she said during that time was
Oars, Weatherwise, Peahen, Light of Other Days, and Twi- certainly not tubs depended upon.
Might. Scratchinp Welter Cup.-M0 Mary and The I Dr. Thos. Angell, who had been called is consultation on
Hurdle Bane.—Wortliam and !dilator). the 13th of May, said she was suffering from a melancholy
PATCH OF AMERICAS( AND CANADIAN MAILS.— form of insanity, and that he also thought no statement she
Yesterday (Wednesday) the Inman steamer Kangaroo was ; made while in that condition could be relied upon.
despatched from the Mersey for New York, with mama for i Mr. Serjeant Parry then addressed the jury on the
abs United States, Ae., together with pewugen, asrgq Am. part of the defendant. He admitted that as the
70-dsi7 (niunek7) the Ftsildne and Moetraal OC.Sa ; young woman had undoubtedly been betrayed and
ship Company's steamer North American will leave Liver, ruined by a sane man she commended everyone's
Vs for Portland with mails for Canada and the United . sympathy, but be earnestly appealed to the jury
The box at the Liverpool Yost-office will be open not to allow their feelings to influence their judgment, but
far the reception of letters, until 1.30 p.m., and via to fflvs a fair and impartial consideratice to the case for the
Londonderry till 8.30 p.m., without and with late fees of defence. He then showed the fearful nature of the issue
IL until 9.30 p.m. On Saturday the Canard Blyal mail to the defendant, as almost the only answer to the chugs
steamship Arabia will be despatched from Liverpool must come from himself, and a verdict adverse to him
far Boston, with mails for the United States would be tantamount to his utter ruin in his profession and
and British North America. The box at the Liverpool the society in which he mixed. A woman could easily
Past-oleos will boom for the receipt of letters, An., until make as accusation of this kind against a man, even thouga
12 o'clock OWN and Tit Queenstown till 8.30 p.m., and with Ours wee so fouodation for it, and he stood in the slz
Iste fees of Id. until 9.30 p.m. position of being aloes in giving it • contradiction.
Ongsgst Perron. Own SHILLING DAY.— the man knew the falsehood of the charge. he required
lirnownenay, NOVIDISEI 95.—Admissions on payment, 286; great moral courage to resist it ; and in the present case, if
by moos tickets, 570; total, 856. Major Thorp wereguilty of having seduced thisyoung woman,
WINTER OVERCOATS of the new materials are . teas it probable, when he could easily_ have compromised
boot for Inspection or sale, at HerelHon and Unstop's, 105 . the action for a sum of money he could have readily Paid.
Stunt opposite ratter HELL-(Advertisement.! ' that he would come into court sad brave a pub/is exposure