The Express.
London, England, 1853-11-28 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 28, 1853.

THE STRIKES IN THE NORTH.

PRESTOS, SATCRDAY.
The largest meeting we have had here for some
time, took place in the Orchard, this afternoon. It was
computed that from 10,000 to 12,000 people were present.
Considerable surprise was excited, by its being announced
that the manufacturers of this town had memorialised the

Some Secretary, in reference to the rough treatment ex.
periented by some of their body at Blackburn, no such
document having been heard of here (except, of course,
amongst the partite by whom it was signed), until to-day,
when it appeared simultaneously in the Daily News and
the Manchester .7unsclian.

The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Wadding:on, of Preston) expressed
himself gratified to see the people so cheerful as they were
at present. The manufacturers might say what they
would, and write what they thought proper in any paper
they clines to select; but there was no paper iss this country
that could trample down truth, reason, and justice. (Hoar.)
Mr. K. Swim (President of the Executive Council),
having dissected a letter published in the local papers by
the committee of the Masters' Association, in reply to the
memorial recently forwarded by the operatives to Lord
Palmerston, proceeded to observe, that on account of this
leek-out, a mother had had to leave her home, and in con-
sequence of that, a serious accident bad happened in her
family. Now, if all the crimes TRIM be ins;uted to the
manufacturers of Preston which he believed really belonged
to them, a great deal might he enumerated. (Hear, hear.)
The masters in their memorial did not deny the fact that
they had made the promise to restore the previous amount
of wages. They said that that promise was not "gene-
rally " given, but they did not say that it was not given at
all. The operative., therefore, are right. The masters
stated that since 1847 several advances have taken

place ; but, although they had thrice taken off
ten per cent, they did not say that even one ten
per cash had been restored. (Hear, hear.) Then
the masters alluded to the reduction of the hours of
labour from 69 to GO per week, but it was generally
admitted that in all mills where the principle had been
established the operatives produced more work propor-
tionately than before when they were employed 69 hours. '
After touctsing on other points. Mr. Smith concluded by
saying that last week there bad been a diecussion going on
at a meeting of various trades in London as to whether they
must send 5001. or 1,0001. down to Preston. (Cheers.) The
cork cutters of London had granted them 201., which bed
come to band that day. lie had every reason to believe
that if all the mills in Lancashire were to leek up and the
people of Preston would persevere in this movement, they
would be supported until they won the day. Everything
was prosperous before them, and under these circum-
stances he hoped they would be true to the ewe of 10 per
cent. (Cheers.)
Mr. kI.LACE Bunion stated that during the week he
had been in various districts where the people were locked
out, and he found them very happy and contented, far
they were receiving very good pay from the parish. He
met one man, the head of a family, who had been for paro-
chial relief, and he had got 21s. Many were receiving
Is. Gd. per head for every member of the family, and there-
fore they were in better circumstances than the operatives
of Preston, for, taking the average, his hearers did not get
so much as that. Af:er all, however, the people he had
spoken of were eetermined to go to work if the masters
would open their mill doors, and some would go in even at
a reduction before they would sacrifice Preston. They
were resolved that the battle should hero be fought and
here be won. (Cheers.) After asserting that the masters
were scheming dsy by day to induce the operatives to break
the peace, and after cautioning his hearers to beware of
any " dodges" by which it might be sought to exasperate
them, the speaker finished by defending the delegates from
the taunts of going up and down the country end spending
the money collected. Last week they had realised 2,0001.,
which they would never have had bat for the delegates.
Mr. Ling, Mr. Qrimshaw, and Mr. Chadwick having
briefly addressed the meeting, the customary compliment to
the chairman closed the proceedings at sunset.