The Express.
London, England, 1853-09-02 00:00:00

THE LIGHTER MEN'S STRIKE.

Yesterday, at the Mansion-house, Robert Savage
was summoned fur baring assaulted Juha Wilkins. The
aide was connected with a strike amongst the lightermens
and as a matter of course excited a great deal of interest
Mr. Hobbit attended (or the prosecution, Mr. Buchanan
for the defence. The justice-room was crowded °Pt-
ratives in several trades and callings.
Alderman Sir John Musgrove presided.
John Wilkins said—l ant a lighterman in the employrnen
of Mr. Charles Lucy, of Fresh Wharf. lam a free water-
man. The defendant is in the employment of Mr. Joyce,
a master lighterman. There has been a strike amongst
many of the men in the business. I have not struck at all
for wages. None of our men have struck. The defendant
and all the rest of Mr. Joyce's men have struck. At one
o'clock on Tuesday I met the defendant and many more of
Mr. Joyce's men in Fresh Wharf gateway. My brother
was in the defendant's company. He said, " What is the
reason you have not turned oat ?" I said, "1 am very
well satisfied, and Ido not intend to turn out." He said,
"goon." The defendant then turned round to me, and
said "Yon was up at the meeting." I said I had not been
there, and tone meeting at all. He said he would be hung
for the —, and struck me twists with his fist on the nose
and cheek. It cut my cheek. I said I'd take the law of
him. Nothing was said about my leaving my work.
Sir John Musgrove—Was anything said by the defendant
or those who were with him ? _

Witness—They said it was a bad job, and that he had no
right to do so.

Crom•examined by Mr. Buchanan—The defendant struck
the first blow. I did not strike him, but we had a tumble
awl I was undermost. I do not remember biting his ear.
I never bit it. I called him a liar, but it was after be said
to me " You were the first to propose, and the last to tern
out." I did not strike him under the eye. I did not offer
to fight him, and I did not tantalise him, and I did not say
to any one I And given him the first blow.
Mr. Buchanan said the dispute had arisen from a conver-
sation upon the unfortunate subject of a strike, but he
could prove that his client, who bad accused the complain-
ant of having been the first to propose the strike, and not
to have bad pluck enough to carry out the proposition, was
the first person assaulted ; and that, if it had not been for
:he interference of others, he would have been actually
minus au ear, in consequence of the savage vindictiveness
of the complainant.
William Wells, a ligbterman, said—l am not upon
strike, and I was not present at the time of the alleged as-
sault. I went afterwards with the complainant to see him
protected. He said be had been violently hurt. At a pub-
lic-house the complainant said "If I can't fight a man I
can bite him," and that he struck the first blow.

Sir John Musgrove—Where do you
Witness—l am in Mr. Lucy's employment. We never
'Mended to strike, because he pays us in sickness or in
health. I aspect that Mr. Joyce pap the same u Mr.
Lucy.
George E. Somerset, lighterman, said the complainant
and defendant had several words together, and the defer.
dent told the complainsot to go from biol. The witness
then described what took place u a tight between the
two, commenced by the complainant.
In answer to Sir John Musgrove,
The witness said—l am in the service of Mr. Grey, jun.,
and I am on the strike.

Sir John Musgrove—How much do you get • week on
the strike ?

Witness—Oh, that's a Godsend. (Laughter.)
Sir John Musgrove-4 regret this very much. I believe
you to be both excellent and industrious hardworking men,
and it seems to me from the evidence I have heard that
there has been provocation on both sides. The
magistracy deplore these strikes extremely, and I
fear that those who join in them and ere, I ant
convinced, instigated by interested and injurious men,
to pursue such a course will be severe sufferers. Now it
appears to me that, notwithstanding all that has been said
upon the subject, the men who strike are not aware of the
law. The act most strongly alludes to the conduct of
those who attempt to influence others as to the perform-
ance of thei: duties. Threats, or anything at all tending
to interference, are punishLble by three months' imprison-
ment, and it would give me great pain to send to the dis-
grace of a gaol a man like the person before me, who reams
to me to be just the sort of man who would do anything
to avoid such a stigma. If lightermen feel aggrieved they
can meet together and quietly resolve upon applying to
their employers for redress, but they have no right to call
apon those who form a different idea of the amount of
remuneration to which they may be entitled, to join
in a confederacy to compel employers to raise the rate
of wages. It is quite clear that the complainant
believes that it would be an act of great in-
gratitude in him to leave his employer, and what
can wo call the conduct of those who would endeavour
to force him to perform such an act? (Suppressed ap-
plause.) lam sure that the man before me would never,
from his own feeling and judgment, attempt to exercise so
unworthy a power as he may thisk he has, and I merely
call upoa him to enter into his own recognisance in the
sum of 201. to keep the peace towards the compainent for
six months.

Mr. Hobler assured Sir John Musgrove that the trade of
London was suffering the most injurious impediment in con-
sequence of the strikes amongst the lightermen, and that it
wu the determination of Mr. Phillips, a great sufferer by
the strike, and other gentlemen who were deeply interested
in the question, to apply, if the nuisance were continued,
to the Company of Watcrmen and Lightermen to suspend
the licensing power, which gave an exclusive authority to
watermen and lightermen, and admit strangers to the privi-
lege which had been so tyrannically used.
Mr. Phillips, the lightermen—said that seventeen men
tad left him on Friday, and he knew nothing about it till
Saturday morning, having been some hours absent.
Sir John Musgrove—And I have no doubt the pay of
your men wu most liberal ?
Mr. Phillips—They receive from me from 40a. to We. a
week. _

Mr. Hobler—The impediment and confusion may be
judged of from the statement that Mr. Phillips's craft
amounts to 70 sod 80 a week. All this trade is suspended.
The funds for the support of the strikes are now come
down upon by all the idlers, and by-and-bye the suffering
I will be (rightful to the families of all those men.
Mr. Buchanan (who had been speaking to the do Pendant
and his companions) said, Sir John, I have had some con-
versation with the defendant, and it is most gratifying to
me to state that my client is determined to report to his
comrades what has occurred here this day, and to advise
them to be guided by your most kind and judicious in.
@Unctions.
Sir John Mugrove—l am most happy to hear it.

SOMNAIIBULISIL—Between twelve and one o'clock,
yesterday morning, as police constable Blade., S 324, was
on duty in Upper Albany-street, Regent's-park, he ob-
served a female in her night dress walking briskly along
the pavement. Be spoke to her several times, but receiv-
ing no answer, felt convinced that she was in a state of
somnambulism. Re immediately laid hold of her, and
wrapping her up in hie great coat called a cab, in which he
conveyed her to the Albany-street station, where, after the
lapse of an hour, she became restored to consciousness. She
was then asked by the officer on duty as to her name, ad-
dress, and occupation. In reply she said she was a domestic
In the service of Mr. Haines, chemist, Albany•street. It
appeared that, having been in the habit of engaging a cab
for her master in the morning, she had, while her " senses
were shut," gone in her sleep upon the same errand. The
key of the street door, which was discovered to have been
left open, was at the station found in her hand.
MONKLAND RAILWAYS.—On Wednesday, the
eleventh ordinary general meeting of the shareholder. of
the Monkland Railways Company was held in their office,
West George-street, Glasgow; John Bain, Esq., of Morris-
! ton' chairman of the company, in the chair. The report
stated that there has been an increase in the gross receipts
during the last six months of 1,3881. 16s. 3d. • and this in-
crease has arisen from the shipments of pig-iron at Bo'nem
having been resumed in the spring, which during last
autumn had been almost entirely suspended. The pi opor-
tion which the amount of the working expenses bears to
the gross receipts is 40 4-5 per cent. The net balance at
the credit of revenue account is 10,8861. 4s. 10d., which your
directors propose to dispose of in the following manner—via. :
to meet the dividend on the 6 par cent. shares, 1,6601. ;
ditto 6 per cent., 1,000/. • dividend at the rate of 3l per
cent. on the consolidated stock. 5,7721. 17s. Bd. ; balance to
reserve fund, 2,4631. 7s. 2.d. The report was unanimously
adopted, and at an extraordinary meeting which followed
the Chairman moved a formal resolution, to the effect that
3,000 new shares of 251. each, making 75,0001. of capital, be
created, with a guaranteed dividend, fixed for tea years, at
the rate of 44 per cent., it being in the option of the
holden, at the expiry of seven years and not later than
ten, to convert their guaranteed shares into the general
stock of the company. The motion was unanimously agreed.
to, and the meeting broke up.
DARLINGTON AND BARNARD-CASTLE HAILWAT.—..
A public meeting of the inhabitants of Barnard-castle was
held in the evening of 26th ult., Mr. Steele in the chair, for
the purpose of inducing the promoters of the bill defeated,
through the opposition of the Duke of Cleveland, last ses-
sion, to renew their efforts next year. The meeting, which
was a large and influential one, was addressed by the Rev.
Mr. Allen, Mr. Kirby, solicitor, Mr. Knipton, Mr. Bad-
cock, Mr. Moore, Mr. Kirtley, the Hey. Mr. Harden*,
and Mr. Winpenny. Resolutions were passed, avowing
that the depressing influence to which the trade of the
town was subject was caused by the want of railway com-
munication, deploring the failure of the recent attempt to
establish a direct line between Barnard-eastle and Darling..
ton, which alone is adapted to the nenesities of the town,
and urging the promoters of the late bill to renew Vaeir
exertions next session. The mineral wealth is very great
in the distriet around Barnard-castle, and at present it has
no outlet.
DUNDEE AND PF.RTII RAILWAY.—The half-yearly
meeting of this company was held on Tuesday afternoon.
The report stated that the traffic and working expenses for
the year had increased, and that there is • free surplus of
3,80.5 i., out of which 2,827!. falls to be posit'. as interest in
1 the preference shares. It was hoped that at next meeting
\ the directors would feel themselves in a position to recom-
i mend a dividend on the original stock. The acts for the
) Blidtgowrie and Kirriemuir branches of the Scottish Hid-
t land having now beta obtained, the works would be pro-
s I ceeded with, and when completed would, it was expected,
5 produce a consider able surplus on the Newt'''. line. The
septa wm agreed to adeninossly.,

IRELAND.

Dunuas. Sari. 1.

The following had the honour oiiet;iv.it;tcinvita-
tions to meet her Majesty and Prince Albert at mo-
ll r last evening at the Victregel Lodge
Granville, the Ducheis of Wellington, the %atria
of Breadalbane, the Margins of Bath, the Lad
and Countess of Mayo, the Earl and Countess
of Clunmel, the Earl of Listowel, Viscount and
Viscountess Massareene and Ferrard, Viscount
and Viscountess Monck, Viscountess Forbes, Lord
and Lady Clarina. Lord and Lady Talbot de Mita-
hide, the Hon. Miss Bulteel, the lion. Colonel Grey,
the Hon. Lieutenant-Colonel Gordon, the Chief Jas-

tice of the Common Pleas and Miss Monahan, the
Right lion. the Attorney-General, Sir James Clarke,
Mayor Henry Ponsonhy,A.D.C. in Waiting.
The Lord Lieutenant and the Countess of St. Ger-
mans gave a grand concert at the Viceregal Lodge
last night, in honour of her Majesty's visit.
Her Majesty and Prince Albert promenaded yes-
tetday morning in the beautiful grounds of the ice-
regal Lodge. The Prince of Wales and Prince
Alfred, accompanied by Colonel Phipps and their
tutor, Mr. Gibbs, visited the Zoolog;cal Gardens.
His Excellency Prince Carrini, ambassador from the
Court of Naples, visited the Great Exhibition yester-
day, and made a most minute inspection of its
contents.
The Mayor and Corporation of Cork yesterday
voted a loyal and congratulatory address to her
Milkiest v.
Mr. lirewster (Attorney-General) is spoken of as
a candidate for the vacant representation of Lisburn.
No decisive step in the matter has however yet been
taken.
The Roman catholic bishops of Munster assembled
yesterday at Thurles to hold a provincial synod. The
proceedings commence there to-day.
A deputation from the Elder Brethren of the
Trinity House, who arrived in Ireland with the
royal squadron on Monday, inspected the site of a
new lighthouse at Itockabill, north of Dublin Bay,
yesterday.
The subscriptions for the Deegan Testimonial are
coming in rapidly. Several large contributions have
been handed in within the Ism few days.
'rim following applications to the Board of Works:
for advances under the Landed Property Improve-
ment Act have been made

Mirquis of Conyegbam, Buncreggy, Clare, 1,2121. ;.
re h, Burren, 1001. ; John Mu-11101es, Bliorgarty,:
Tipperary. 1,200/. ; Joseph Radcliffe and Charles Waddler,
ditto, 100/. ; Nicholas Roche, Ballinamona, Tipperary,'
1.1501.; Josses Jones, Barrett*, Cork, 1,0611.; Daniel,
M•Carthy, Kerriciarrihy, ditto, 3021. ; Nicholas Leader,
Daballow, ditto, 1,0001. ; Cornelius 4:Melly, Dunmore,
Galway, 6711. ; Lady Charlotte Wolfe, Naas, 4381. ; Wm.
Orme, Tyrawly, Miyo, 4001. ; Thomas Strickland, Cos-
tello, ditto, 4001.
The following harvest report appears in the Limc-
rick Chronicle:

The weather yesterday was very wild for autumn, cold
wind and violent falls of rain, like to thunder showers, but
without a glimpse of sunshine. The chillness of the atmo-
sphere indicated nothing less than winter. Reaping has
been proceeded with is all the surrounding di•tricte during
the week, and, notwithstanding the numerous showers that
fell, little interruption took place. The mops continue to
be well spoken of in general, the yield of all kinds being
reported good. The potato crop is safe from any attack of
the disease, and it is hoped will remain so ; but whether or
not, tue tubers are well matured, and universally of good
quality, and an attack now will be comparatively powerless.