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

THE STRIKES.

VROK OCR LOCAL

precisetne price Mr. Lem paid on that day. Mr. Roberts
am that he could not get evidence from the ladle
of w t the prices were, but he (Mr. Ellison) was attorney
to the masters' meeting, and drew up their neolutions and
Me of priees, and had no objection to be wont as to what
they were. They were le. 9d. in the first Instance' and
lies Is . 10d. in September, and the plalatiff would have
bed Is. 10d. in the next week if he had remained at work.
Mr. Ellison coecluded by eal:ing
Mr. James Lees, who proved what the promise of ed-
emas was. He made that promise himself, and it was,
Wt ea the first crossing.off day after the 30th July the
lam should have an advance according to the list of amo-
ebae' meters. He held the list of the masters in his band
wham he told them this, and they expressed satisfaction and
west to work. Remembered an agreement of the masters
for • second advance, of five per cent., which came jet°
operation on the Bth of September, and the plaintiffs and
ether turnouts would have come under that advance had
they remained at work another week. They left work on
the 27th August, without giving any notics, and did not
return to work until the following Tuesday, when leave
was given to them to return to week, and they did not.
Mr. Roberts replied on the whole case, contending that
as Mr. James Lees held • list in his band, but the men
looked at it, they went to work under what was
equivalent to a secret or fraudulent deed.
His Honour said he had no hesitation in saying that the
plaintiff had broken hie contract tentinier the notice in the
mill, but he quite went with Mr. Roberts in regretting
that more care had not been Won fn making known the
masters' new list; and for this reason, that anything tend-
ing to create • suspicion that the masters wished to take
advents!' of the men, must necessarily induce a bad feeling.
Bat it must be recollected that the workmen combined
and fixed trade list as well as the masters, and the master
bringing a case into court would probably have'
quits as much difficulty in producing their lists
as they had in getting the master.'. However,
this was so objection in the preseat case, because
it was well known that they had the mean. of proving the
list of prices agreed to by the masters, if it were desirable.
II these men went to work without knowing the price at
whist they were going it was their own fault, because
nothing would have been easier than to have asked to see
the list which Mr. Lees exhibited to them. though it
appeared they never exercised it. Judgment must be for
the defendant.
Two eras-actions by )Ir. Lies, to recover the value of
one week's sander from the turnouts under the notice
quoted above were en the cause list.
Mr. Roberts applied for an adjournment.
His Honour suggested that the plaintiff should consent
to take nominal damages for IL in each case; and Mr.
Roberts as well as Mr. Lees consenting to this, the pro-
ceedings terminated.
Such is the history of one of these paltry strikes, in
which the men having pursued • false policy in the first
instance, have kept alive a bad feeling for want of the
moral courage to acksowlentge the fault. They place an
advocate like Mr. Roberts, who lithe them honest credit
for many more virtues than flesh is heir to. at great disad-
vantage by misleading him as to the grounds of defence.
When Mr. James Lees told them the advance would be
given, and went to them with • list of prices, instead of
'taring to scrutioise the list, they rushed off to work in a
spirit of 'lmitation at their own success; and then in a
court of justice attempt to visit the consequences of their
own neglect on Mr. Lees as a piece of trickery, that be did
not thrust the paper into all their hands. His Honour
himself, in his kind-hearted sympathy, seemed to think
there was something :n this charge, though it really cane
ems to ereernansinatisn of the witnesses that not one of
Iles mak or if they could, had ever taken the trouble to
sumetuda what 10 pee oat. was upon Is. Bd. One of them
blew that the advisee ade at 2d. r thousad
banks difference, but hem could not say per
whether the at
was iS or 10 per cent. Besides there could be no reel con-
cealment of prices given, inasmuch as the list was practi-
cally published every pay day, when the spioner told what
his work was, and the bookkeeper brought out in figures
for him the amount of wages it gave. Then again they
Misled their legal adviser is saying no witnesses could be
subpoenaed from other mills to give evidence as to the prices
paid in those mills, from a fear of sacrificing their situa-
tions. In the short time this case was before the court
they obtained three wtnesses from the largest neighbour-
ing mills, and at one of these mills the writer subsequently
learnt, though accidentally, that they had not even troubled
themselves to ascertain on which side the witness lad been
subpoenaed. The men had farther led M
r. Roberts to
believe that though Mr. Lees was paying th masters' list
prices, he was not paying their actual prices; and the fact
that one millowner was giving td. more than Mr. Lees ap-
peared to sustain this pretense ; but in reality
it turns out the halfpenny is given at that mill
to compensate for dieadvantages the workmen labour under
which are not known in other establishments. Nobody had i
better means of knowing this than the working men—the
turnouts, and therefore in giving such pleas to their advo-
cate they were placing straws before him, and leaving him
to flounder amongst statemeats as unstable as water. No
doubt there are employers who much Muse their work-
people, but unreasonable conduct such as this is not likely
to improve their temper; and though it has been well ob-
served, that the superior education and enlightenment of
the master should teach him to show much forbearance,
there It a dogged perseverance in-wrong in this instance,
and resort to mean subterfuge that are discouraging to the
best friends of the working
.classes, however lightly they
may be disposed to view their failings, or highly to value
their many excellent qualities.

GLOSSOP, Tat. SADLY.
A coID the County Court in this town, as
come s opportunely as • means of showing the
set 01 which some of the strikes which have recently
Wien place in the menufacturing districts have been con-
..wet.d. The mill•owners of Glossop Dale began very
early to experience th, pressure for higher wages amongst
000 operatives, and in July they held meetings to consider
tie proptiety of secodicg to the demand. On comparing
pr `tit y found a considerable inequality, and that the
amend of the operatives for 10 per tent. in every case
would leave this inecuiity spectacled. The plea adopted
.0. therefore, to bring about en equalisation, with an mi-
nus an /swag about 10 per rent. on spinning, but in re-
mo.ating to 15 per cent. on the rates paid by some of
the wp.ogsges, whilst with others it was, perhaps, as low as
per cent. The aseociatioe of masters formed to consider this
Inc:Ades allna three in Glossop- dale. The meeting
quo
•• `
shied they finally agreed to a uniform scale on this basis
a •
was held on the 29th of July ; aed the advance was to
take effect from the test " crossing-off" day, which in
'sags would be a week, and in others a fortnight
wee Ibe muter here have a system of paying which
toneless to the district. They pay a fortnight's wages at
a tame, hat do not pay it until the Saturday after that to
whi.h the earnests rao calculated. The Saturday to which
th, tinier are calculated is what is technically termed
the " noesinvoff day." It is in fact the intermediate
Saturday between each ti,y day. The operatives were
sot satigied with this rad advance of a to Li per cent., and
about Ms middle of August Om masters had another meet.
04, at which they agreed to give a further advance of five
per nat., to take effect, as before, from the succeeding
crosier off day at each mill. It might have been espected
that the easy complien.e of the employee with these sumer
shre demands would hero induced a pleasant, good under-
standing between them and the operatives—a feeling of con-
aigrettes amiegst the latter to guard them against any very
hasty SIOINIZOS with the millowuers, even if they had some
grounds foe sespecting that one or two of them were not
steel fulfilliag the cew cenuaet. At all events, if they
wre determined to exact the uttermost farthing of the new
irrasuri meat, it was incumbent upon them to be careful
then was no mistake on their own part before disturbing
it. The ewe, which it is now proposed to give is detail,
shows en abuses of such considerations which is surprising.
One of the master spinners and manufattmen affected by
the sew arrange moats was Mr. S. Lem. He was paying a
medium rate of wages when the first advance was agreed
to, and kis prices had to be raised 5 per tent. On the day
of the masters had agreed to the advisee, the spisnen
at Mr. Lees waited upon his nephew, Mr. James Lees, ar.d
were told that the list price agreed upon by the masters would
be paid. One of these men says he asked if thatwas 10 per cent.
and was told it was. He says ho then asked if the other
masters should agree to a still further adman of 10 per
cent , would that also be given, and that Ms. James Low
replied. " yes—they would not be a fraction behind their
neighbours." Up to Saturday, the 27th August, these men
went on working at the new scale, by which their priors
for the description of twist they were spinning (on 56
&ten mules) were raised from lx. M. to 11.9 d. per thousand
hanks. The second and further advance would have come
into operation there on the following week. But on Setae.
day, the 27th August, these men lett work, after receiving
a fortnight's pay, without a word of complaint to their
master, and on the Monday after it was found they were on
strike. Some of them were communicated with, and asked
the reason they did not come to work, and the answer was
that they had been " ordered" by the working men's com-
mittee not to go to work until after a meeting of delegates
bad been held that night at Hollingworth. The de-
legates, it subsequzatly transpired, scolded them
for this precipitate strike, and on the Tuesday
morning they pre seated themselves at the pew
of the mill, and ask. d if they might return to work.
James Lees was present, and replied, "You an de as you
like." They went up into the spinning rooms, but without
actually resuming work, they again left the mill. No ex-
planation was given to the employer or manager why this
second desertion took place. An inquiry into this mseted
shows in tune bow the operatives themselves discharged
their duties as employers—for the working spinners wie
employers of labour, paying their own assistants out of the
sum charged to the millowner. These assistants are boys,
and ate called " pieties." The piens, when the spinners
bad struck weak so unnecessarily oa the Monday, asked if
they were to be paid for the lost day, and receiving a nega-
tive reply, they "struck," on the Tuesday, against the
spencer! The 'Milometer may be somewhat excused if his
patience gets exhausted in dealing with people like
these, who leave his machinery idle for days together;
and as the wages which spinners at Glossop can
earn are sufficient to induce men to take situations in de-
hisce of the displeasure of the trades' union, the places of
the men who had struck were soon supplied by other work-
men. And hence the litigation we have spoken of in the
oust, court. When the spinners left work they did so
with a week's wages owing, which by the well-undentood
rules of the mill became a forfeit to the employer. Con-
spicuously printed netices were hung up in this as en the
other mills of Glossop, which said, " A fortnight's notice
will be given to, and required from, every person in this
mill previous to their leaving their employment, or a fort-
night's wages will be forfeited ; such notice to be given be-
fore two o'clock on the Saturday afternoon, except in case

of damage to machinery or work, and then persona
liable to instant dismissal, end damage in every cue to be
made good from the wages in hand."
Oas of these turn-out epinnen, named John Clark, at
thb instance of the trades logos, sought yesterday to
recover his last week's wages, 2.1.61. 2d. from Mr. Luc The
ease was hued by Joseph St. John Tates, Beq., judge of
the County Court, and the operatives had engaged to eat-
duct it their well-kaolin adulate, Mr. W. P. Roberts,
atsoreey, Manchester, who, in opening the case, said the
claim was for work done between the 20th and 27th
of August, and the only difficulty be felt in sustaining the
claim was in reference to what the real promise made by
Mr. Lees to his operatives was. So far WI he could leafs
from the operative., it was that he would pay Wood's
prices, or the prices given by Mr. Wood and other muter,
his neighbonis : whilst the defence, he believed, would be,
that Mr. Lees had promised to give the list prices agreed
upon by the meatus. Now, he confessed his utter inability
to get at either the list prices or the actual prices paid by
the masters generally, which were said to be more than the
lasi prices. To get the actual prices he should have to sum-
mer workmen from the whole of 27 mills in the district,
and he was told that if he did the min dared not come, he-
canoe they would forfeit their situations.
John Clark, the plaintiff, was the lint witness, and said
hi and Thomas Clark, Thomas Taylor, and Samuel Wild
sou ',limn at the mill of defendant on the 16th July,
whin they gave notice to leave ludas their wages were ad-
newt. on the 30th. On the 29th the masters bed a mut•
tag, mad on the neat morning Mr. James Lees seat for them
and stud be was prepared now to my that they would
receive an advance from the nest arousing-off day, which
would be the Bth Asyut Themes Taylor asked what the
advance would be, and the answer was that he did not
exactly know, but he should be nothing behind his neigh-
boirs—nct a fraction. On the 27th August, when the first
fortnight's advance was due, the price paid was le. 9d.,
insteed of ls. Bd., as before, and they complained of that,
and said it was not so much as others paid. Did not com-
plain to Mr. Lose, but to his book-keeper. Saw Mr. James
Lobe after two o'clock that day, but did not speak to bins.
Saw Mr. Junes Lou on the following Monday, and told
him why they had struck work. They retained to work
on-ths Tuesday, but there were no pieta's, and so they did
noi resume work.

Thome! Clark and Thomas Taylor stated they were pre-
seat at the interviews mentioned, and they corroborated
the evidence cf the plaiotiff. In answer to Mr. Ellison,
attorney for the defeadant, on cross•eaemination Taylor
said the promise was to give 10 per cent. advance, bat
afterwards the:witness slid this was a mistake, and Mr.
Lees had promised not to be a fraction behind his neigh-
bour!. He (witness) had bad some drink on the 30th July,
when this couversation took place. Whether the delegates
told them they were wrong for striking on the 27th of July
or not was a matter for their own breasts.
Joseph Broadhurst, from Wood's mill, said they paid
is btd. on i 6 dozen mules before the advance, and 10 per
neat. had been added. Did not know what 10 per cent. on
was, but they made the advance there about 2d.
Samuel Harm, spinner at Sumner's mill, said the prices
paid there for twist like this were Is. Bd. before the rise,
then 6 per neut. was given, making Is. 91 , and afterwards
another five per cent., making the price la 10d.
Robert Yates said he was corresponding secretary for the
unionist men, and after this strike he went to Mr. Lees to
ereoncile matters, but he said lie would admit of no intro-
slob between him aid big 1 ends.
Mr. Ellison addressel tic court for the daindant, and
said that he would admit that Mr. Sumner end other mill
°semen paid ls. 10d. on the 9th of September, and that wee

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 11, 1853.

The Chairman—Yen twat the degree of pagelthel7
which now surrounds the ease ts by no means an induce-
ment to fint-rate merchants to accept it.
Mr. Hubbard—That makes it anything but attractive ;
quite the levees,.
Mr. Lewis—Can you form any opinion as to the existing
defects of the cementation of the corporation, or as to the
beet mode of removing them ?
Mr. Hubbard—l know nothing about the constitution of
the corporation. lam not acqatinted with a single mem-
ber of the oorporation, tempt Mr. Mclennan Thompson,
who is • governor of the Basket Ragland.
Mr. John Dillon examined—l am • merchant of the City
of London, and • partner of the firm of Morrison, Dillon,
and Co., wholesale warehousemen. I was connected
with the corporation. In 1833 a commission was appointed
to inquire into the abuses of the City of London, aud
committee was appointed in the City of London to co-
operate with that commission. We complained of many
abases at that time which have since been partially re-
medied—in respect to police and sanitary measures. I be-
lieve that any reform of the City of London must be con-
nected with an extension of the present municipal bounds
of the City.
To Mr. Lewis—l think it possible that the police and
minims might be combined under one management with-
out including tee whole metropolis in the City of London.
I don't think the corporation, which is an institution of an
old standing, should he abolished altogether. I would give
municipal institutions to the other puts of the metropolis,
and in the course of time • corporation might be formed
for the whole metropolis, but this could not be done
at once. One of the first things that should be looked
to was the system of making freemen. The richer
merchants are exempted from the payment of
finis for not taking out their freedom, and some of the
poor were exempted on account of their poverty. I ham
myself got a poor .widow exempted whose yearly numy
were only 621., and from whom the corporation demanded
141. as the price of her freedom. This gave rise to great
bitterness of feeling in the City. I see no advantage In
the connexion between the freedom of the City and the
freedom of the companies. I am a member of the Foveae,'
Company myself. I believe that the companies
wish to have the connexion with the City kept up. 111.112
• mere surmise. There are many abuses in the City of
London, and there is, I am aware, a feeling on the part if
the highest clam of merchants "(mind the acceptance of
corporate offices ; but I think the argument founded
on this feeling has been greatly exaggerated. The great
merchant class in the City of Louden le peculiar, and not
like the merchant class in other large towns. They are die-
inclined, for various reasons besides the abuser of the cor-
poration, to the acceptance of 'separate duties. This disinelle
nation may arise partly from the magnitude of their concerns.
I therefore think that under any reform the either merchants
would be unwilling to take part in the affairs of the
corporation. I cannot well explain the reason of this.
Chambers of commerce have been established in other
large towns, but though attempts have WA as& In eels-
bash them in London they have always failed. Pedigo,
too, they might be more careless with respect to corporate
matters in consequence of their not living within the City.
I have certainly myself felt less interest in the effigies of the
corporation since I ceased to reside within the limits of its
jurisdiction. Even if you removed all the nonsense and
tomfoolery of the Lord Mayor's show, I don't believe you
would get the highest class of merchants to take part in the
[ busing*s of the corporation.
I The Chairman—Have you any further observations to
mho ?
Mr. Dillon—There are at present three different coned-
, tilescies in the City of London—toe constituency under
the Reform Bill, the constituency of Common Hall, end
the ward constituency. I would suggest that them
different constituencies should be abolished, mad
one uniform constituency formed for all elections
within the City of London. I am of opinion
that some of the officers of the City ought
lobo appointed by the general body of electors; but there
Imee some officers which, I think, should be appointed by
en active and restricted body—as the magistrates for W-
I stance. My opinion is in favour of stipendiary magistrates.
I think that the best plan would be to appoint barristers
[of • certain stantang as magistrates. This would take
away magisterial functions from the Lord Mayor and the
aldermen. I don't see any advantage in the retention of
Ifs division of wards, but I have not directed my attention
le that subject. With regard to the funds of the City of
London, they certainly require to be made clearer than
obey are. With some knowledge of accounts I can say, for
147•8 u that I cannot make either head or tail of them ;
Nei I have beard others say the same. I think the as
enema ought Cobs fully set forth, and properly audited. I
iss of gabs that the accounts, judging from what they
am, are in incompetent hands; and I think that they are
susceptible of great improvement. I approach the ques-
tion of the remedies to be applied to the exist-
ing evils of the corporation with great diffideaos.
There are great objections to the including the
whole metropolis in one municipal institution. In
the hands of tbo government such an institution might
be dangerous to the liberty of the people, and in the hands
lof AO people it might be troublesome to the government.
what might be quite good for an inhabitant of
~ might not answer equally well for the inhabitant
of -square. I would give to the metroplitan boroughs
imusisipal institutions, whether they asked for them or
not. I would make them try the experiment for four or
five years. I would improve and remodel the existing oor-
poration of London, but I would not abolish it because I
think, on the whole, it has promoted the benefit of the in-
' habitants of the city and of the people generally. There
are some matters of general concern which I think ought
to be placed in the hands of some central authority. I would
Sate the police and drainage under a general board. I
would also place the paving and lighting under a central
hoard, although I feel I am leaving but little to the corps- [1
nation to do. I see no reason to take the water supply out
of the bands of the private companies. I would have the
megistrates appointed by the crown.
Mr. Lewis—What, would you leave then to the corpo-
ration to do ?
Mr. Dillon—l would produce the results I have mentioned
gradually, and not all at once. I don't think it would be
Mr to apply the City funds to purpose' outside the City
bounds. Objects could be found within the City for the
employment of the City funds. One of these objects, and a
most desirable one, would be to widen the streets of the
City. I have not to complain of any impediments in my
own business from the City of London.
Mr. Lewis—Are you compelled to employ the City
porters ?
Mr. Dillon—No, we employ our own porters, and :I
should be sorry to think we were bound to employ any
others.
The evidence of Mr. Dillon having closed, the commission
, I adjourned.
of-- ______

CORPORATION OF THE SONS OF THE
CLERGY.

The annual court of the corporation was held yes-
terday, at the office of the society, 2, Blocenrbury-place;
Mr R. R. 1110 LID, Ram, M.P., the senior treasurer, in
the chair.

The Bishop of London expressed the regret which his
grape the Archbishop of Canterbury felt at being unavoid-
ably absent on the oecaaion.
The following noblemen and gentlemen were unanimously
elected governors, via.:—The Duke of Norfolk, K.G.;
Earl of Egmont, Earl of Hardwick., Viscount Sydney, the
Lord Bishop of Norwich, Lord Radstock, Lord Leigh, Right
Hon. Lord Jude. Turner, Very Rev. Archibald C. Tail,
D.C.L , Dean of Carlisle; Ven. W. H. B. Rendus*,
MA., Archdeacon or Westminster; Rev. W. H. Cookson,
D.D., Master of Bt. Peter's College, Cambridge ; Rev.
Lewis Bneyd, MA., Warden of All "fouls College, Oiferd ;
Rev. W. H. Miller, M.A. ; Richard Baggaltsy, Esq., jun. ;
Coo. Baker, Esq. • Mr. Ald. Challis, M.P. ; H. Dover, En. ;
Charles Raolumiltsuohn Thornton, Esq.; the Ven.
J. M. Stevens, of Beet.,; tev. James Bien-
cows, Rev. H. liseaker. LOC B. Edward., Rev. J. C. ',oy-
ster, Rev. J. W. smog% Rev. W. Hiberden, Rev. Ed.
win Bogeys, Be,. Jame noise, Rev. Jame. Ware, Geo.
Baron, E.g. ; Wm. ; John Heady, Esq. • H. M.
Hoere, E.q. • Joseph Ilterintod, E.g. ; Henry Sikes,i Esq. ;
W. Woodhouse, Sq. the Hon. J. 8. Wortley, MP.
The leen then to tha choice of a president,
vies-putiient. tralensers for the year earning, when
the Ardiliehap of Casemirary was re-elected president,
Lord Demme vistogrealions, and Flir R. H. Inglls,,+, Mr.
Alderman Ospubmil,-esEllEr. Fnshfield, M.P., were elected
Joint 1... an
Pognp-ene ether noblemen& and geadeinea, clergymen
and laity, healed by his loyal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, were dented for the pas 111011101 members of the
Court of Afighlunts, to sib= the shatter of Charles 11.
entrusted.' magi and moneineont of the corporate affairs.

The emerootion is to eehbaele its bi-centenary festival
ant year, glass it le bevel that all friends of this
@SIMS MIA UMW Wiii hod their willing aid
to peeseate the semen of se intereadag an event.
The governors have had the gratification of distributing
during the year now closing no leas than 15,0001. amongst
the various objects of the charity, namely, necessitous
clergymen, their widows, aged single daughters, and
children.
The !proceedings terminated by the Bishop of London
moving a cordial vote of thanks to Sir R. H. Inglis for the
kind, able, and never failing services which he had ren-
dered to the society during the twenty years of his filling
the office of treasurer. (These particulars were supplied
by the secretary, raporters not being admitted.]

COMFORT FOR

-The L.ncet Com-

LAND IMPROVEMENT.

missioners have submitted 48 samples of cigars to micro-
soopical examination, and found all but threo to be genuine.
One was made up apparently of sweepings of a warehouse,
fragments of mortar, apple parings, and refuse tobacco
hat; and two, which were purchased of hawkers, were
m►de up internally of hay.
WHEAT SOWING.—The breadth of wheat sown in
North Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire this 11(114012

already exceeds considerably that of any former year.
Owing to the almost incessant rain which prevailed at the
beginning of the autumn, the ground was in a very unfa-
vourable state for seed planting, but during the last three
weeks the weather has been, with some exceptions, all that
could be desired ; and in the extensive districts under
notice the farmers, stimulated by the I resent high prices
and the short crops of last harvest, have been busier than
they have ever been known to be before at so late a period
of the year. Even on the clay soils unprecedented breadths
have been sown, and the seed has been got in in excellent
condition. The early sown crops already exhibit a strong
blade and a good colour.