The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-21 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OP THE EXPRESS._

Sir,—A great number of persona would willingly
subscribe one shilling or half-a-crown a week towards re-
lieving the distress in Lancashire if in every town there was
a byateelatie organisation, by trustworthy persons, for col-
lecting such sulweriptions.—Yours, Sc.,
Southampton, Nov. 20. AN ENGLISHMAN.

THE VICE•PRESIDENT OF THE BOARD OF
TRADE ON THE COTTON FAMIRE.

Ou Wednesday evening the Right Hon. W.
Hutt, M.P., Vice-President of the Board of Trade, pre- 1
sided at the annual meeting of the Gateshead Mechanics'
Institution. After alluding to the success of the society, the
right hon. gentleman said :—I had occasion not very many '
days ago to traverse the counties of Cheshire and Lanca-
shire, the sites of those terrible calamities which the civil
war in America has brought upon the manufacturers of
this country, and I had there placed palpably before my
eyes the moat remarkable and touching evidence of the
blessed results of popular education and enlightenment.
Does any man doubt what would have been the condition of
the population of Lancashire if this calamity had befallen
it before popular schools and mechanics' institutes had been
established among them? Is there any man living who has
read the history of this country, and who believes that a
vast and ignorant population, blind like the fabled giant of
antiquity, blind but strong, would have passed through this
hour of trial and of agony with such a respect for the laws,
with such a patient and peaceful constancy under suffering,
as now challenges our sympathy and admiration in the people
of Lancashire? I have mentioned the subject of the distress
in Lancashire, and you may naturally ask int whether there is
any prospect of that terrible calamity being brought to a speedy
conclusion. I believe a cautious abstinence—a determination
to interfere and to meddle as little as possible, a resolution
to give fair play, to solve the adjusting influences of de-
mand and supply. will offer the readiest means of deliver-
ance to those mills. I believe it is calculated that in the
course of the next year there will be brought to England
at least half the amount of our ordinary demand, exclusive
of any supplies which we may derive from America.
(Cheers.) Now, here, then, in the natural agency of free
trade is a certain legitimate source of relief ; but if, on the
other hand, we were to adopt any of those projects which
have been so earnestly and so clamorously demanded ; if we
were to prohibit the exportation from this country of the
cotton which has been brought into it ; if we were to offer
large public rewards for the substitution of some other ma-
terial for cotton ; or if we were, by any untimely activity, to
attempt an intervention in the civil discords of America, 1
believe that we should not only paralyse the present efforts
of trade, but that we should close up the legitimate chan-
nels of relief, without effectually opening out any others.
Very few persons are aware by what steps the price of cot-
ton has mounted up, or the point ►t which it has now ar-
rived. I nod, in the year 181.1.4 that what is called Ameri •
can Upland cotton was sold in Liverpool for 66d. per lb.
That was in July, 1860. On October the 9th, 1862, it
had mounted to Bid.—very little short of half.a-crown par
lb. The last account which I have, which is the
13th of November, states that the cotton was selling in
Liverpool for 23jel. per lb. The price has receded a little
during the last month ; that is probably in consequence of
the very large shipmente which have been announced from
the East Indies, and from other parts of the world. It is
rather a remarkable fact that the quantity of cotton sent
from the East Indies during the nine months of the present
year is not quite equal to the quantity of cotton sent duriog
the same period of last year, and very little exceeds the
quantity which was sent in ordinary years from the East
Indies ; but an explanation of that fact is in this circum-
stance, that up to that period the people of India—the
merchants and other persons interested in the trade, were
not at all aware of the very large prices which cotton
would command in the markets of Europe. They have
since that time been exceedingly active in collecting it, and
announcements have been made of very large shipments
which are now on their way to this country.

THE " LIBERATION^ MOVEMENT IN THE
METROPOLIS.

A•conierence, summoned by private circular, of
the nonconformist ministers and prineipal laymen of the
metropolis, was held at Hadley's Hotel, on Monday even-
ing, in connexion with the Liberation Society, Nearly 44/
ministers, representing some of the most important con-
gregations of London, were present, and about 100 laymen,
many of whom had not previously connected themselves
with this movement.

The chair was taken by Wis. EDWARDS, Esq., who, after
a general review of the present aspect of the church and
state controversy, eaplained the particular purpose of the
meeting, which was to organise the metropolis for the pur-
poses of the liberation movement.
Mr. CARVELL WILLIAMS foaowed with a paper, in which
the executive committee of the Liberation Society ex-
plained their view,. The committee stated that they were
on the eve of a great national controversy, and that all non-
conformists • must be prepared to take their part in it.
The time would arrive when this question would become
the battle ground of hostile political factions, and the
religious mind of the country should therefore be leavened
with the principles of the society. Attention was drawn
to the fact that the various ecclesiastical sections in the
establishmeot were prepared to forget their differences in
unitedly strum/ling to retain their political status, and there
should therefore be a cheer union for political purposes of
those who held nonconformist principles. Reference was
made to the gratifying progress and ;iocreasing influence of
the society ; hut it was now uecesssry that it should repre-
sent and wield the whole power of nonconformity so far
as related to ecclesiastical legislation. They, therefore,
called for increased support from the dissenters of the me-
tropolis. The paper concluded with an enumeration of the
means which might be adopted to give effect to this desire.
After this paper had been seed a long and animated dis-
cussion took place, in which suggestions for lemons, lec-
tures, public meetings, local committees, the circulation of
nonconformist literature, cud other measures were thrown
out. Ultimately two resolutions were unanimously agreed
upon.
The first resolution was moved by the Rev. Dr. EDMOND,
seconded by the Rev. A. If. HENDERSON, and supported 'oy
Mr. Slum. That having regard to the resistance now
offered by the supporters of church establishments to any
further recognition by the legislature of the principles of
religious equality, and to the probability that their influence
will for some tune continue to be successful in parliament,
as well as to the fact that the bicentenary agitation has
awakened an increased interest in the principles held by
oluotariee, this meeting is of opinion that ate)* should be
taken forearnest; and united acetic' on the part of noncon-
formists, for the more systematic diffusion of their eccle-
siastical sentiments."
The second resolution, which was moved by the Rev.
JOHN PILLANS, seconded by the Rev. R. W. Berra, and
supported by the Rev. A. HANNAY, was as follows:—" That,
recognising the special difficulties involved in central action
in the metropolis, this fleeting earnestly begs of the minis-
tern of the several nonconformist congregations in London
and the suburbs to consider in what manner they can best
aid in promoting the advancement of nonconformist prin-
ciples in their own localities during the /resent winter.
The meeting, which was throughout of a very earnest
character, separated about 10 o'clock.

WAREHOt'SEMEN AND CLERK'S' SCHOOL—] eater-
day evening the half yearly court of the governors of this
institution was held at the Guildhall Coffee-house Mr.
Welihon Creators: in the chair. The report stated the
amount received for general purposes during the past year
was somewhat in emcees of the amount received during the
previous year. In the item, " Annual subscriptions," there
was a giatifjing increase of 100 guineas es compared with
the accounts for Is6l. The tidal amount received under this I
bead was 1.7.1.3!. N. Cojpled with the increase of foods
already mentioned there was a diminution in the amount of
general expenditure, although the number of children in the
institution was throe more than the average. A sum of
1,0781. was also received on account of the building
fund of the proposed new schools ; the cost of the
erection of which is limited to 1,2001., sod the foundation
' stone of which is to be laid in the course of the ensuing
. year. The number of children admitted since November
1861 was 11, and five had just completed their term of
• pupilage, and one had died of an hereditary disease. In
. general the health of the children was good. The number
1 at present in the school was stated to be 64, viz., 47 boys
I and 17 girls ; six of the former and four of the latter
will leave at Christmas, and an election is to be held this
day to fill the vacancies. With respect to the financial con-
dition of the institution the receipts for the ball-year, in-
eluding a balance of *IO/ On. Id. from the last half-yearly
audit, amounted to 1,6311. 10s. 7d., and the expenditure to
1
1.4.181. de. 11d., leaving in band • balance of 1931. Is. lid.
The report having been adopted, the governing officers
were appointed for the ensuing year, and the proceedings
terminated.

The inagikrates etgaged in the investigation of
the alleged poisoning case at Sudwell, near Hindoo, Wilt-
shire, came on Wednesday night to the conclusion that
nothing had been allow° to justify the detention of Mrs.
Trowbridge. They remanded her, however, on bail for a
fortnight, in order that the contents of certain bottles which
bad been found in her house might be analysed.
OVEItCOATs. —Gentlemen who do not mind pay-
ing a tom price for a tool coat can depend on the .1111 e, at
Hamilton 1111.1 husiptodi, las, strand. opposite Exeter Hall.—
(Advertistweat