The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-26 00:00:00

TILE THREATENED STRIKE OF OPERATIVE

ENUINEER.S.

ustice to themselves, and by their duty to society, to meet
these
encreetehments with firmness and resolution, and
he therefore had pleasure in moving—" That the
dependence of the public prosperity upon the steady
I'M uninterrupted pursuit of mechanical industry, ren-
ders it essential to the successful development of prac-
tical engineering enterprise, to the protection of the
community from extortionate prices, of the capitalist
from becoming the slave of his own hands, and of
the steady and able workman from encroachment upon his
independent rights of 'abater, that the threats conveyed in
the foregoing runnifesto of dictation to employers and ty-
ranny over toe employed, should be promptly and peremp-
torily resisted."
Mr. BRYAN DOBBIN, Jun., seconded the resolution,
which was also unanimously adopted.
Mr. It. RAVENIIILL moved, "That while the
division of labour, which is essential to the profitable
prosecution of mechanical enterprise, renders the em-
ploymeot of one denomination of workmen depend-
ent upon the co-eperation of those engaged in other
departments, tho threatened strike of the Amalgamated
Society, by withdrawing certain chimes of artisans from the
factory, must have the effect of throwing their fellow-work-
men out of employment, by compelling masters to close
their establishments until the combination of skilled
labour, interrupted by tho secession of the members of the
tiuion, can be supplied." The best character he could give
to the persons in his employment was the great length of
time they had belonged to his establishment, not a few
having numbered fifteen, twenty, an.l even ave-and-
twenty years in tho service of his firm. (Cheers)
But that was an evidence also that little etound
existed to complain of employers. lie could say
that they had always dune their best to promote the com-
fort and elevate the position of their hands. They had
uniformly listened with willingness to their representa-
tions of grievance, and Lan never hesitated to adopt any
reasonable suggestions for their welfare. (Hear, hear.)
But, in truth, if any men on earth were without title to
complain, it was the persons in the po,ition of those be-
longing to this union. (Cheers.) The British were the
best paid artisans in the world—(hear, hear)—and those of
Loudon the hest raid of the British. On the occasion of
a former turn-out en agreement was made between the
masters and the men, to which the latter solemnly pledged
themselves to adhere NI long as it was observed by too for-
mer. The masters had strictly and honourably fulfilled all
its conditions, and their reward wns the present dictation by
the executive council of the operatives.
Mr. JOEL SPILLER seconded the resolution.

A numerous and highly influential meeting of the
masters engaged in practical engineering, machine-cooking.
&c., was heed at the London Cotrechoule, on Wednesday
atternoon. It emloraced all the leading engineering firm,
of the metropolitan districts, including—W. B. Adams,
Adams and Co. ; William Anderson; C. E. Amos, Fasten
and Amos; Lewis Ash; Julie Blyth, J. and A. Blyth ; 11.
W. Blake, James Watt and Co. ; George Bevil!, Swaine
and Bovill; Alfred Burton, Burton and Son; J. J. Brunel,
Seaward and C.spel ; Alfred Blyth, J. and A. Myth; James
Cope ; Edward Crawley ; Aithur Collinge' Cullinge and
Co. ; Bryan Don Lin, juu., liryan Doeskin and Co. ; 'lkons is
Donkin ; Lieorge Easton; James Easton; Joshua Field,
Mandslay, Sone, and Field; George Fletcher; M. I). Geis-
bell, H. and M. Urissell; henrys Grheiell . • I'. IL Hedge,
Hodge and Batley ; William Healey; W. Joyce Joyce
and Co. ' • William Jackson ; Joel James ; Thomas Maud*.
ley • J. E. MA:tomtit ; James M. Napier ; J. S. 'teasel!,
leablmien and Unseen; John l'enn, Penn and San ; W.
H. Persson ; C. Poutifex, Pundit:, San, and Wood ; Geo.
Rennie, G. and Sir J. 'Lennie • Richard Itarenhill, Miller,
Bare:Rhin, and ; Charles Rich ; It. A. Robinson ;
'William Shears, Shears and Sun ; John Seaward, Seaward,
and Capel • J. D. A. Samuda ; William Simpson, Simpson
and Co. :Daniel Shears, jun.; Joel Spider ; Hayward
Tyler, Tyler and Co. ; Stephe nT. Taylor ; Joseph N ilkin-
sem and other firms; oleo, a deputation Irma Manchester.fAtters were read from Messrs. Beale, of East Green-
wich; henry Fletcher, Son, and Fea:mill, Union Dock,
Litnehouee ; J. and E. 'Lill, Dartford; William Fox,
Clerkenweli ; George Scott, Commercial-road, and other
firms, expressive of their hearty concurrence in the objects
of the meeting.
The HAIR lAN, Mr. Joshua Field (of Maudslay,
Son', and 1 ielo), said that,as probably most of the evutle.
men present were aware, lie could at any time sooner make
a eteain-engine than a speech—(laughter)—yet as those who
were not gifted with eloquence were sometimes moved to
utterance out of the fulness of the heart, he felt con-
strained to say how deeply he regretted the overpowering
neceseity which rendered this meeting indispencable to the
protection both of tile employers and the employed—
(cheers)—for the operative mechanic* as a class he enter-
mined the highest respect, mud fur many of the individuals
composing it he had mime retain to entertain the most cor-
dial and friendly feelinge. He was, therefore, must anxious
to say that he adopted the step of concurring in the mea-
sures which would be submitted to the meeting with the
utmost reluctance, purely as u measure of seli-defence and
for tee protection and liberty of action, out I,li of the etc
players than the employed. The requisitions of the union.
whose intolerable proceeilines had compelled their profes-
sional brethren at Muuchester and themcelies to adopt
the step on which they had resolved, were destructive
of the independence of masters and of the just rights
of Labour. Ile had great reason to belies that these
requisitions were not approved of by the steady and indus-
trious workmen. (Hear, hear.) It was doubtful whether
they were even 4.lllellOgell by a mujority of the members of
the society from which they professed to emanate. (Hear,
hear.) He (the chairman) yet hoped that that society
would see the wisdom of retracting their threats—(heur,
hear)—and withdrawing demands to which he, fur our,
was determined never to submit—(cheers)—and to reedoee
harmony betwixt theemployers and the employed. (Cheer..)
Mr. SIDNEY SMITH, the secretary, read a COMMUIII.I-
- from the leading engineer., die. of Manchester and
neighbourhood, intimating that " a hotly of persons styling
themselves the Amalgamated Society of Engineers,
blechanice, &c., have made the follow-
ing demands to the employers of this district, action-
panied by a threat to one of the principal firms, that
unites they arc acceded to, their workpeople will strike on
the 31st instant The abolition of overtime, excepting
in cases of break down. 2. When overtime is absolutely
necessary, it is to be paid for at double rates. 3. The abo-
lition of the system of piece-work. 4. The unconditional
discharge of all labourers, or such clue of persons at pre-
sent engaged in working planing machine., or viols of simi-
lar character, and the employment in their stead of mecha-
nic., members of the uliion. The Secretary also read an-
other communication' dieted London, 25, Little Abe-street,
Whitt:chap, I, signed William Allan, General Secretary, and
purporting to be an address from the " executive council"
of the same Amalgamated Society of Engineers, &e.,
notifying to their employers in the metropolis that they
have come to a resolution to abolish the practices of piece-
work and overtime.

Mr. T. MAUDSLAY said he nuwcanietowli;tiitieht be I
called the point of melon, in which was to be mile) lied the
practical conclusion to be drawn from the previous reso-
lotions, and that he thought was very logically deduced
from the following very plain but very effective
prupositione—That while this meeting would, m the spirit
of candour and friendly remonstrance, admonish the 1
authors of the manifesto of the pernieioue consequences
of its enforcement to their own order, the enep.oyere here
present, and such others as shall adhere to these resolutions,
take this earliest opportunity of announcing that, solely as
a measure of selfeletence, and a protection to their hide-
pendent workmen, they will, in the event of the hands
of any establishment in London, Manchester, or clsewh. re, '
going cut on strike, or otherwise enforcing the dement.
of the Amalgamated Society on the 31st Deeentber, IS.il, or
at any subsequent period, entirely close their establishments
on the 10th diy el January, 1852, or within Oils week after
such other ;wriest resiectively, until the causes whicii
have rendered this step necessary shall have been removed
to the satisfectiun of the executive committee to be here-
inafter named. Like his partner the chairman, he was
no great hand at a speech, as he would very soon convince
them. (A laugh.) That was of less consequence, as the
resolution spoke for itself. These strike, and demands
about piece-work, and over-time, and so forth, had already,
as they all knew to their cost, made it but too difficult fur
masters to support the competition against which they had
to contend. (Hear, hear.) By these overbearing combina-
tions, first the printing trade had gone, then the silk-weev-
ing, then one, then another, until now at lust the engineer-
ing and machine businc,4 was following the rest, and
leaving London—(loud cries of " hear, licar")—to go to
places where labour was cheaper end masters were
murders, and net the slaves of their men. (Hear,
hear.) As an eisimuyer of a mushier:di:el number
of hands, no one could more regret than he did the serious
responsibility which devolved upon those whose raids acts
and dictation were in the ceuree of throwing oo many out
of the means of livelihood; but acute diseases required
sharp remedies—:aid he for on •• had made up his mind to
the conviction that, by entirely closing their works, they
would all the seener open them in peace and at liberty.
(Cheers.)
Mr. GEORGE BOVILL, in seconding the resolution,
observed that it WAS the main point of their labours..
(Hear, hoar.) lie was convinced that if the workmen were
allowed to beat them in detail, there would be 110 end to
their ilifficultiee ; and CIA if they submitted now to the
dictation which was attempted to be practised upon them,
they may as well shut up shop altogether. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. HODGE approved most heartily of the resolution
Mtn were tithing the work away from London altogether;
he had been lit years in establishments in Am. mica, unit it
was noterious to all ina4era there that the troublesome
men were uniformly. traced from the old country.
The Amerie ins were intelligent enough to trace cede
to their source, and they abominated these unions from the
hardships they had entailed on the workmen. lie had seen
men in the States working without the least jealousy beside
others who were earning double their wages, because their
superior skill enabled them to do so. lie had observed in
London that when men joined the Amalgamettel Society
their productive euergy rapidly fell elf, so teat they did nut
give within thirty per cent. of the same work for the same
stages. (Hear, hear.) lie had reason to know that the
iudependent awl peaceable workmen complained bitterly of
ti.o tyranny of the union, and he believed that they had
only to be firm iu holding to the resolution, in order to
stifle the combination in its birth. (Hear, hear.)
Mews. Jobe reun, Joel Spitler, Mautislay,
Whitworth, Somata, Platt, William Persson John Sea-
ward, Blyth, J. S. Russell, and Jabex James, having made
observations to a similar effect, the resolution was uumlie

111011114 adopted.
Thu SECRETARY here read over the names of the
gentlemen who had signed the attendance sheet of the meet-
ing, explaining that as the host resolution proposed
pledged those not objectiug to it who were present to close
their establishments when called upon by the committee
it was neeosary that no mistake should exist as to their
determination individually, us well as collectively. The
' resolution, thus explained, was again de•cl.ired unanimously
adopted by the meeting.
Mr. J. VENN proposed the following resolution :—" That
the persons present at this meeting do form theme Ives into,
and are hereby constituted, a society, to be called the Cen-
tral Association of Employers of Operative Engineers, Cc.,
for the puryose of carrying the foregoing resolutions into
effect."

Mr. SHARP explained the causes which had driven the
einaloyers of Lancashire to the determination of clueing
their establishments. Since this mischievous agitation had
been commenced by a small hut noisy class, fur the purpose
of luterhrence and dictation with masters, and of poisoning
the minds of their hands, it was a WO general complaint
that a fair day's work was not given for a fair day's wage—
(hear hear)—and no way of crushing this ruinous system
appeared open except that of a total cessation of busiuess,
in order to prevent masters from being sacrificed in detail.
(Hear, hear.)
Mr. FAIRBAIRN could assure the meeting that it was
not without many misgivings, and the most anxious delibe-
ration, that the Lancashire employers had telt con-
strained to apply the only remedy which seemed
adequate to meet the disease. It was felt, however,
that such was the complicated nature of engineer-
ing employment, and the minute subdivision of labour
incident to it, that the withdrawal of workmen in one
department necessarily stopped the operations of those in
another ; so that if the hand*, tar example, of the Messrs.
Platt, of Oldham, thought tit to turn out, that must of ne-
cessity close many minor establishments which supplied that
firm with particular parts of their machinery. As it was
found by experience, also, that to continue the partial em-
ployment of those who piofesseil they did not belong to the
combination against the masters hail only the effect of sup-
ply ing wages to feed the turn-out, it was universally agreed
that the must humane course to the meritorious workman
to prevent the further levying of contributions wrung from
him by the threats of the discontented, was entirely to
cease work until the coo piracy was crushed. (Cheers.)
Mr. HOBERT stated that the Amalgamated Society,
which a few months ago did not muster 5,000 members,
now reached upwards of 15,000. Ile read some passages
from the Operative, the organ of the union advocating
socialist doctrines with regard to labour and the moat
violent principles in reference to industrial employment,
and observed that from these it was apparent that the pre-
amt requisitions user? only the beginning of much more in-
tolerable exactions. (Hear, hear.) The operations of the
combination were rapidly spreading over the kingdom, sad
the next meeting was to be at Glasgow, in order to bring
th, Scotch into the movement. Such, organisation could
only be met by union on the part of the misters—(cheers)
—and he Caine here that day to ask for their co-operation.
Mr. JOHN BLYTH moved the following resolution:—
" That while this nation, by its reprentatives in parliament,
has abolished guild privileges, exclusive charters of corpo-
rate handicrafts, restrictions on the export of machinery or
the free egress from the realm of skilled workmen, and all
monopolies, the foregoing requisitions of the Amalgamated
Society are an attempt to ignore the right of every British
subject to dispose of Cis labour or capital according to his
individual views of his own interest—to deprive the skilled
workman of the natural advantages of his superiority—
forcibly to compel the industrious and careful mechanic to
share the profits of his assiduity and dexterity with the
slothful and inexpert—and deliberately to deprive the un-
skilled labourer of the means of employment.' The address
of the executive council covered the most tyrannous exac-
tions, under the cloak of a plea for the social Improvement
of the working classes—(hear, bear)—and it was time that
they should lie informed that employers required no iucca- I
Rees to promote that object. (Hear, hear.) Masters were
moat desirous to improve the moral and social welfare of
their hands ; and hail readily, he had almost said eagerly,
lent themselves to every proposition by which their com-
fort could be promoted and their elevation advanced.
(Cheers.) Ho felt persuaded that the artisans as a body
were quite conscious of this, and that any appearances to
the contrary were the result of the tyranny esercised over
the quiet and peaceable by the restless and discontented.
(Loud cheers.) In fact, he was not without the ex-
pectation that they would yet receive from their
workmen a manifesto declaring that they repudiated
the proceedings of the union, and this conviction led him
the more to regret the bard necessity of involving the inno-
cent in the consequences of the acts of the guilty, for which,
however, it was obvious that they had to thank the union
alone. (Hear)
Mr. 11. GRISSELL briefly seconded the resolution,
which was carried unanimously.
i Mr. J. SEAWARD, in moving the second resolution,
observed that there was little novelty in a scheme which
was imported from the other side of the herring pond, and
had Louis Blanc for its author. They were called upon, in

Mr. J. S. RUSSELL, in cordially seconding the resolu-
tion, admitted that the address of the executive council
was craftily qualified to catch simple humanity.mougeni.
It was an artful device to qualify extortion, with appeals to
the benevolent promoters of tbu early-closing movement.
The hypocrisy of the pretext should be thorou,ehly
exposed. It should be distinctly declared, that
masters were perfectly ready to co-perate, by all
benevolent and moral means, for the elevation of the
working classes, but that au educational movement or as
effort to promote social progress was a very differeut step
ONE that of men end avouring not to rise by their own
=grit to a level with their employers, but forcibly, by mere
Inaction and encroachment, to change places with their
miners. lie repeated that the whole pretext was hypocri-
*al. It was notorious that so far from overtime being
enssidered as oppressive, the men regarded it as a privi-
lege. Nay, to his certain knowledge, the very hands who
were leaders in this strike were the largest voluntary over-
time workers. (Loud cheers.) Who forced them to work
over-time ? (Cheers.) Any man was at perfect liberty to
decline to do so. (Cheers.) But the fact was, that the
unionists wanted over-time wages without overtime work.
(Cheers.) That was at the bottom of the whole
movement. (Cheers.) Again, who asked any man to
labour by piece-work ? But if ono man put through his
hands in a given time more work than another, was he not
to be paid for it ? (Cheers.) Yet that was the proposition
of the unionists, or rather they demanded that the
profits of the dexterous workman should be divided with
the lazy and unskilful. (Hear, hear.) Ho presumed that
the executive committee would give the signal to the mem-
bers as to the time when the closing should become general,
and les could only say that he, fur one, should faithfully
I stand by his order. (Loud cheers.)
Mr. G. RENNIE proposed the sixth resolution, as fol-
lows :—" That John Scott Russell, Thomas Maudslay,
Joshua Field, John Penn, George Beanie, Richard Raven-
hill, John Seaward, Bryan Deakin, jun., Henry Grissell,
C. E. Amos, John Blyth, Joel Spiller, and George Bevil,
Esqs., together with the chairman and treasurer, with
power to add to their number, be elected the executive
committee of this association, to adopt all steps necessary
to effect its objects and its permanent establishment, fur the
purpose of watching over the interests and guarding the
mutual rights of employers and employed ; and that it be
instructed to convene an adjourned meeting of this associa-
tion, and to report when it shall see lit." He was proud of
this public occasion to acknowledge the virtues and value
of the artizans of this country. lie, for one, was not
ashamed to acknowledge the debt of gratitude under which
they had laid him. (Cheers.) He believed all muter' of large
experience had been indebted for many useful suggestions
and valuable ideas to their men—(loud cheers)—,llll.l he
deeply regretted the causes which created estrangement
between them. It should nut be, however, forgotten, that
M mesa had token the initiative in this act of aggression, ,
Ind that self-respect as well as prudence required that the '
nail= should &tend themselves and their peaceable hands '
from a dictation that was ruinous to both. (Hear.)
Mr. C. E. AIOS seconded the resolution, and thanked
the representatives of the eminent firms then present fur
their attendance and unanimity; he believed that their'
• promptitude and energy would supersede the necessity for
I
the USC of them. He had had the greatest difficulty in
1 reconciling himself to the strong measures which had been
recommended, but he was perfectly satisfied that it was
possible to be "cruel only to be kind," and that en this
occasion rigour was substantial mercy. (Cheers.)
After a vote of thanks had been carried to tr.e deputa-
tion from Manchester, Mr. BLYTH presented the acknow-
ledgments of the committee to Mr. Charles May.
Mr. MAY, in returning thanks, was desirous to explain
that his firm, carrying on its business in au agricultural
district, was not obnoxious to the dictation which had been
complained of, and could not therefore take part in the
proceedings. He, like them, felt pressing upon his kind-
lier feelings the pain of visiting the consequences of the
sins of the guilty upon the innocent, and he would not rest
satisfied until a counter union to that which had produced
so many evils was cemented between the masters and the
peaceable workmen. (Loud cheers.) He conceived that by

THE EXPRESS, FRIDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1851.

a system of mutual insurance generously contributed to by
masters, and managed by responsible and competent persons
the money lavished upon strikes, or too oftvn embezzled in
benefit and other clubs. might realise a comfortable provi-
sion to the artisans in sickness and old age. (Loud cheers.)
If the operative members of such an association received a
preference of employment from the master members, and
bore with them diplomas certifying their membership, and
in which were entered minutes of their engagements with
their employers, he believed much would be done to
break the neck of these improper combinations. (Cheers.)
After a vote of thanks to Lie chairman, the meeting
adjourned.

THREATENED TURN•OU'f OF MECHANICS
AND ENGINEERS.

Most of our readers are (says tho Manchegter
Guardian of Wednesday), no doubt, aware, from com-
munications and advertiszments which have appeared in
our columns, that the numerous and exceedingly well-paid
body of workmen known u mechanics, millwrights, and
engineers, and principally employed in the construction of
machinery, have entered into a combination, which is un-
derstood to extend almost or entirely over the kingdom, the
objects of which, or such of them at least as it is con-
sidered expedient to avow, were set forth in an address,
purporting to be from " The members of the Amalgamated
Society of Engineers, Machinists, &c., to their em-
ployers." In that address the workmen are represented
as demanding that, for the future, no men shall work
overtime, except in cases of accident, and then to be
paid double wages; and that piece-work shall be entirely
discontinued; which, of course, would have the effect of
putting the idle and industrious—the skilful and unskilful
—on the same footing. Nnw, if " the members of the
amalgamated society," or rather the agitators who speak in
their name would content themselves with merely advising
the workmeni to cease working overtime, and to refuse
good and highly-remunerative employment at piecework,
leaving them to accept or reject the advice as their inclina-
tions
ur interest might prompt them, nobody caved and the
slightest fault with them for so doing; and we are very
sure that their exhortations would do very little harm.
Idle and incompetent svorkineu always do-ire to be put
upon a level with the industrious and the skilful • and, as
the agitators, who unfortunately sway the proceedings of
associated bodies of working men, are usually found in the
former class, the abolition of piecework and the equalisation
of wages have generally been favourite objects with them.
It is by no means intended, however, that the workmen
shall be indis'dually kit at liberty to follow their own incli-
nations in these respects; and, no doubt, the usual means of
coercion and intimidation will be resorted to in order to
influence their conduct. It is necessary to inform our
readers that, although the two demands which we have
specified above are all that the "amalgamated society "
have considered presentable to the public, there arc others
in the background of a far more objectionable character.
Ou this, as en many former occasions, an attempt is making
to concentrate the entire force of the combination upon one
estaldishment, in the hops that the united resources of so
large and highly-paid a laxly of workmen as the machinists
and engineers of Great Britain would be fauna irresistible
by any firm, however opulent. A notice has bsen given to
Messrs. Ilibbert, Platt, and Sons, of Oldham, tea: the
workmen in their very large establishment will leave their
employment ou the list inst. unless certain demands are
complied with, the first of which is expressed in the follow-
ing terms: "That in future all planing, shaping, end
boring machines be worked either by mechanics or ap-
pi entie. to lie taken up by them as they become vacant.
that the labourers at present employed on those ma-
chines ho not unduly interfered with before Christmas,
when the machines shall entirely full into the hands
of the mechanics; but if any of the labourers are dis-
charged, or the machines otherwise become vacant, the
vacancies shall be filled by mechanics as they occur."
That a number of workmen should combine for the pur-
pose of advancing their own wage*, or of limiting their own
hours of work, will astonish nobody ; but that a comhina-
lion should be entered into Coe the purpose of taking away
the employment of some hundreds of industrious men, and
reducing them to destitution, would seem surprising, if
we did not well know the base end immoral purposes
to which such combinations too frequently minister.
There is nothing in the employments referred to that
requires the skill or the knowledge of a practical me-
chanic. Indeed, there are very, few mechanics who will
condescend to work on such machines if any other employ-
ment can be obtained; and they are, rind have been for years
past, almost invariably worked by labourers. The present
demand is, therefore, as unjust towards the employers as it
is cruel and oppressive towards the men whose dismissed
and destitution is demanded. Hut it is quite clear, we
think, that this monstrous demand will not be submitted

to. Already the employers of this town and neighbour-
hood, knowing perfectly well that the intention of the
"amalgamated society" is to attack them in succession, have
determined to make 04111140 a cause with Messrs. Ilibbert,
Platt, and Co., and to stop all their works if the workmen
of that lirm should leave their employment, as they threaten
to do. The machinists and engineers of London, or the
greater part of them, have, we beli,ve, come to the same
conclusion; and a meeting is to be held there this day
fur the purpose of concerting, with the ecountry em-
ployers, joint measures of resistance to the tyranny which
the combined workmen are endeavouring to ,exercise. It
will, indeed, be a lamentable thing fur this country, and
most of all for the men who have been urged into this un-
warrantable course by a number of paid agitators who prey
on their earnings, if demands like these can be successfully
enforced. Their success would very soon put an end to
that pre-eminence in mechanical and engineering construc-
tion which England now possesses, and throve all foreign
orders for machinery into the hands of the Belgians and
Liermuts, who, even now, are found to be formidable rivals
with our own machine-makers. The mechanics would then
find, to their cost, that they had grasped at the shadow and
lost the substance.

CiumiNAL LtrxArics.—The following memorial
has been addressed to the Home-office on this subject by the
committee of visitors of the Gloucester County Lunatic
Asylum The visitors of the Gloucester County Lunatic
Asylum venture
,to submit to Sir G. Grey, as Secretary of
State for the Horne Department, the following reasons infas
your of the establishment by the government of separate
places of confinement for criminal lunatics, in the hope that in
case it should be made:tu appear that the evils and disadvan-
tages of the present system of mixing with other patients in
county lunatic asylums those who have been either convicted
of serious crimes, or when charged with them have been ac-
quitted on the ground of ineanity, arc so great as to call
for an immediate remedy, her Majesty's government may
be induced to give the subject their serious consideration,
and introduce, in the next session of parliament, some mea-
sure calculated to effect the desired objects. The visitor;
submit, for themselves, that in the management of this
county asylum they have endeavoured to the utmost to
carry out the mild and persuasive treatment of patients,
which modern experience has proved to be that best
calculated for the alleviation and cure of those afflicted
with the unhappy malady of insanity. The measure of
,success, however, attendant upon such mode of treat-
I meat, greatly depends upon the extent to which the mana-
gers are enabled to excite and maintain, among the patients
theineelvv, a feeling of self-respect, to promote which it
is desirable to treat them, not only with kindness, but
with the utmost apparent confidence. For which object all
personal restraint has been abandoned, and even the ap-
pearance of iron bars, and all such obstructions us convey
the idea of confinement, have been to the utmost practica-
ble extent removed, and with the happiest effect. Such
changes, however, have made a county lunatic asylum no
longer a fitting exchange for a orison to one convicted of a
serious crime.' Not only is the restraint insufficient, but the
moral effect upon the other patients of such an introduction
amongst them is most deteriorating and discouraging. A
whole ward is not unfrequently so infected by the entrance
of one old offender from prison among them as to almost
require, for a time, a change of treatment, and the ex-
tent to which the association is felt as a degradation
by the other patients can, they. believe, be fully appre-
ciated only by those well acquainted with the peculiarly
sensitive notions of the insane. The visitors, believing the
improved system of management of the insane in the public
asylums of this country to be one of the proudest features
of nods= advancement in science and civilisation, feel
nathioillhalther Majesty's government will be found anxious
he premoses the extension of ouch advantages, and to remove,
as far as right and fair, every obstacle which impedes
the further development of plans which have already
so materially alleviated the misfortunes of the most helpless
and most entitled to sympathy of all her Majesty's subjects.
They ask for the consideration of her Majesty's govern-
ment with the more confidence, because, at the time when the
acts of parliament upon this subject were passed, the county
lunatic asylums were in a very different condition from
their present state (being then too often really places of
confinement), but the expenses of convicted prisoners were
then generally borne by the county rates, which have since
been almost entirely transferred to the public account. So
that, in asking that convicted prisoners being or becoming
insane should be maintained in a separate institution at the
public charge, they are only asking that the expenses of
their maintenance should be defrayed in the same manner
as that of all other prisoners in pars stars. They are more-
over, only ;taking a boon which has already been granted to
Ireland.
A CHILD STARVED TO DEATH BY ITS PARENTS.—
A shocking case of cruelty and neglect of an infant by its
dissolute parents has been under investigation at Bath, be-
fore
the coroner, Mr. English. The name of the deceased
child was Charles Hughes, and it was proved in evidence
before the coroner that the father and mother of the child
were in the frequent habit of leaving the infant at home
while they were out drinking at public-houses; that the
deceased had been frequently so neglected for a week toge-
ther, during which time the parents were in a state of al-
most continued intoxication, and that the neighbours of the
dr uuken parents had beenfrequently in the habit ofgoing into
the house and feeding the neglected child. The deceased
was the youngest of four children, tho eldest being seven
years of age. Mrs. Britton, one of the witnesses examined
on the inquest, deposed that, hearing the child cry on Wed-
nesday week, she went up stairs, and found it lying by the
side of its mother, who was drank. The witness gave the
child some food, which it devoured eagerly, and appeared
as if it would cat the spoon with which it was fed. When
sober, the mother would iced the child, both at the breast
and by hand, but she was very often drunk. She was
drunk from the Saturday until the Wednesday before the
child's death, and when in that state she was unab:c ti feed
it. Early, on Thursday morning Mrs. Britton was called
up, and then found the child dead in its father's arms.
Two surgeons deposed to the emaciation of the child, and
both attributed its death to the want of sufficient nourish-
ment. Under these circumstances, the jury found a ver
diet of " Manslaughter " against the parents, who were
committed under the coroner's warrant for trial at the next
Somerset amine.