The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-14 00:00:00

THE STRIKES.

(raoM ouri LOCAL

MANCHESTER, SATURDAY.

It was stated in the Express of last week that
the eollien were gradually returning to their work, and
there can be little doubt that the turn-outs were virtually
defeated at the moment of the violent outbreak • fortnight
ago, when so much property was destroyed. It was so
with the turn-out dyers here. It was only when all rea►
hope of success bad vanished that they began to commit
violent assaults upon the masters and upon the workmen,
whom they dignify with the singular name of " knob-
sticks." A letter dated yesterday ssys :
" There is now a prospect of a speedy termination of the
strike of the colliers in Wigan and the surrounding district,
which has lasted about two months. The large body of
men employed at Haigh Colliery, belonging to the Earl of
Crawford and Balearics, seceded, on Wednesday, from the
Miners' Union, and on Thursday morning about 500 of
them, and an equal number of drawers, returned to work at
the prices they were receiving when the strike commenced. I
This =ruin the remainder ul them resumed work at his
lordship's pits. There are now about 1,500 men at work at
Haigh Colliery ; and this great secession from the general
body has much dispirited the men who yet remain
on strike. Some of the latter held a private
meeting on Thursday, at the Top Leeks beer-
house, Aspull, and we believe they agreed to ad-
journ until Monday, that they might in the meantime learn
the result of the meeting of the coal proprietors and their
reprerentatives, which stood adj•.'urned to yesterday (Friday)
afternoon. In consequence, no doubt, of the fearful out-
rage which immediately followed the termination of the last
fortnightly meeting of colliery masters, the meeting, which
was to have been held yesterday, was postponed until
Thursday nest. There are symptoms of the whole of the
colliers now on strike returning to work in a few days.
Since Tuesday morning 60 colliers and drawers have re-
sumed employment in the cannel pits of the KAOLIN* Hall
Company (Messrs. J. Lancaster and Co.), and some of the
men who worked in the coalpiu belonging to the firm, have
also made application to be allowed to go in at their old
prices. Several of the men have likewise returned to work,
as have also forty colliers and drawers, at the pit
belonging to Messrs. J. Blundell and Son, at Ince.
Yesterday morning some of the colliers who were
employed by the Moss Hall Coal Company made
application to be allowed to resume work, but were
told that the pits were net in a state of readiness for
them. At a meeting of masters and tradesmen, held by
adjournment, at Grant's Hotel, Slrallgate, on Wednesday
morning, a committee, consisting of the Itees,J. Cren-
shaw, W. Roaf, and W. Itowe, presented an address to
the factory operatives, which they had drawn up at the
request of a previous meeting. It was adopted and ordered
to be printed, and extensively posted. The address states
the result of their meeting with the employers., who, while
desirous to terminate the strike,wished the men to act freely
on their own discretion. The masters distinctly declared,
however, that they could make no advance on the previous
wages. Some assert it to be to their interest to keep their
mills closed, while all feel the determination not to grant
any advance, strengthened by the late disgraceful riot,
when their property was wantonly destroyed. The addressers
consider that it would be perfectly useless for the men to
staled out longer, and believe that if the men, discarding
all leadership, apply in any great numbers to the employ-
ers, they will re-open the mills. AU the =ids remain
closed, with the exception of that of Mr. James Gridlow,
Ince. The hands employed there have resumed work at
the priers paid before the strike."
The largest colliery is that of the Ince-hail Company,
which employs 1,800 to 2,000 people, and this, with the
Kirieless-hall Company, employing about 1,000, are still
standing; but it is thought probable that the whole of the
colliers will resume at the Ince-hall mines on Wednesday
nest at their old prices. Mr. Samuel Lancaster's colliers,
at the Birkett-ball colliery, have been at work throughout
the whole period of the other strikes.
We have had • few mills closed in Manchester
and other parts of the district in consequence of
disagreements between masters and operatives, uncon-
nected with the general strike, and the whole number of
manufactories in the cotton trade in Lancashire now closed
are estimated at upwards of 200, and the decrease of pro-
duction is supposed to be equal to nearly one-sixth of the
whole. Seeing how little this decrease has affected the
marks•, it is probable that a termination of the strikes
would not lead to a general resumption of business, but
that en extensive system of working short time will have to
be resorted to.

PRESTON, Nov. 12.
No new feature has presented itself during the week in
till- unfortunate dispute. There has been a slight increase
in the number of hinds receiving payment from the various
committees ; but it has been fully met by enlarged sub-
scriptions. The last two weeks' returns are as follows
No. of bands paid. Amount.
This week 14,153 £2,526 14 9
Last week

Increase 146 £66 12 3
The total amount already disbursed amongst the six
classes of hands, since the commencement of the strike,
has been 14,4791.45. 7id ; the proportions being as follow :
Power-loom weavers £11,152 11 10
Spinners and self-actors.. 2,054 15 91
Card-room hands..... 687 9 2
Throstle spinners"... lB4 19 31
Tape machine users l3B 14 8
Power-loom overlooken 260 13 101
The operatives held an out-door meeting this afternoon,
at which some four or five thousand were present. Nothing
new was enunciated. Peace and order remain undisturbed.