The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-05 00:00:00

THE DISTRESS IN LANCASHIRE.

On Saturday evening a public outdoor meeting
of the inhabitants of Stalybridge was held in Acres-field, in
that large and populous borough, under peculiar circum-
stances. The placards summoning the meeting were beaded
" Bread for the People," but beyond this there was no inti-
mation of the object of the gathering, or by whom it was
convened. The placard was drawn in an inflated style to
which the people are somewhat accustomed, and mid the
public of Ashton, Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Hyde, Gloom,
Droykden, &c., were respectfully informed, " that
• monster meeting will be held in Acres-field, on Satur-
day, May 3, 1862," and an exhortation was added :
" Masud in your thousands, that the TOM of the people may
be heard through the lecgth and breadth cf the land." On
the walls, aide of this announcement, were equally
oonveying a caution :—" Notioe to the Public.
lfl4ihereas information has come to band that a number of
evil-disposed agitators have been hired by the enemies of
liberty, the advocates of slavery, and paid by the
agents of the rebels of America in order to get
the assent of the people of Lancashire in favour
of breaking the blockade, and acknowledging the
rebel government. This would be a declaration of war
against the North, which would nine provisions 50 per cent.,
canoe 100 per cent., and prove our complete ruin. Be not
led away by these hirelings, bat take a calm and prudent
view of the facts, and judge for yourselves.—By miler of a
committee of working men who are advocates of
faction of labour, property, and the liberty of
independent of rank or condition, country or colour."
The meeting did not prove to be one of the monster order.
About 2,000 people gathered on an open building plot celled
Acres-field, and a cart served as rostrum for the springs.
Mr. BlaCTOurrg having been appointed chairman,
Mr. THOMAS WILOON moved :—" That in the opinion of
this meeting the deep and metal distress prevailing in the
manufacturing districts calls for immediate and decisive
action, and inasmuch as the question is again to be brought'
before parliament, we deem the present a favourable oppoe-
tunity for pressing upon the Poor-law Board for a relaxation
of the laws- by ,wkw.h relief is afforded to the poor."
The motion was seceedied by Mr. JOHN BOIL; isep.
ported by Mr. WILLIAM AIMS, and carried.
Mr. HAIGH moved • memorial to the President el the
Poor-law Board, representing that the labour test ought lad
to bs applied to applicants for relief in the present crisis,
because people usually employed in rooms heated to a high
temperature were not fitted for out-door work; bei
which those on short time had their labour spread over parts
of three, four, or five days, so as to render it impossible to
attend regularly to any other regular employment. The
memorialists also thought that larger power should be gives
to the guardians than they at present possess.
The memorial was seconded, cornett, and the meeting
closed with • vote of thanks to the chairman.
A correspondent explains, that though the meeting was
called by the game parties who had convened • similar one
at Ashton on Wednesday last, and which petition's& parka-
meet for the recognition of the Southern Confidante', it
had been thought better, probably in consequence ol the
exposure above quoted, to confine the business to a more
legitimate object, or at lent one upon which there is almost
perfect unanimity of opinion, and the only reference made
to the other subject was by Mr. William &thin, in supped-
ing the resolution, who said, "By an understanding between
the committee and myself I shall not address myself to the
question I was discussing at Ashton the other day." The
meeting was attended generally by the better oh= el
operatives of both sexes, and was exceeding orderly sad
well conducted : but a cold north-easterly wind canted
clouds of dust continuously over orators and auditors alike,
rendering the position of all exceedingly uncomfortable, se
that the proceedings concluded in semething under ea boar.
The only speaker who indulged in straws Isagsage
was Mr. Aitkin, who told the meeting that the skeisuot
duties of a government were two-fold —" First, to prawn
the lives sad property of the people, and secondly, to lad
pradieble employment for labour and capital," and that
when it was found, the people were out earning wages to sup-
port them a government that did not step in to their relief
VOA abdicating its functions, and it was their duty to tell
them so. He said, let any man come down and tell them
that the labour test would not be relaxed and he would not
answer for it that that person would not bin before en
I hour was over, with the verdict of • Stalybridge jury upon
him of " served him right !" He called Mr. Rickards, chair-
man of the Manchester guardians, a " Mawwortm" and the
two members of South Lancashire who attended the recent
meeting of Lancashire members in London " niggardly
*comps." In fact the language had much of the old inflated
style of stump oratory, telling the people they must make
themselves heard " voices of thunder at Somerset House,"
and describing the unemployed as of " gaunt and spectre-
like" appearance as they gassed through the streets, • de-
scription which is by no mean true, because though dis-
tress is great much has been done by private sad public
charity to relieve it, one establishment alone in the neigh-
bourhood giving out soup at • coot of 201. per week.
Our correspondent adds, that it is currently reported in
Stalybridge that money has been supplied in quantity from
some quarter to some of the old factory agitators to stir up
the people to violence, with a view of influencing govern-
ment on the American question, and that perhaps the best
way of defeating the object will be this early exposure of the
design. On Saturday • number of old chartist' and leaden
of strikes were assembled at Stelybridge, who did not ap.
pear at the meeting, who hive money enough to speed in
public-houses, go from town to town, issue large and expos-
sive printed placards, he., and who are at the protein time
contemplating a series of meetings to follow up those of
Ashton and Stalybridge.

The contributions received at the Mansion-house
have been =sally increasing daily, and a oonsklerable
amount lad received during the week. On Saturday
there was a marked increase in the amount which came to
hand, and among the oontribntions were the following :
From the Bev. Charles Langton, Barthel& Tunbridge
Well; per London and Westminster Bank, 1001. ; Wm. Le
Lachenr, Eeq., 50/. ; John Carew, Esq., 254 ; Mr. J. I.
Briscoe, M.P., per Gosling and Sharps, 251. ; Edward P.
Bothwell, Esq. 101. ; Mn. G. L. Parsons, 101. ; Donald
Larnach, Keuaington Pekoe-gardens, 101. 10e ; Mr. and
Mies Downs., 71. ; Rev. J. Tboense, 51. ; Mrs.
51. ; Edmood X. Blood, Eq., Park, ; trii=tZ
Alexander, 31. 3e. ; B. J. IL, 3/. 3s. ; Primrose, 11. ; Miss
Smith, 11. ; E. G. &,10s ; B. IL, se. ; L Z., 10a. ; Waite
Paper, 2s. 6d. Mn. S. C. Whitehead, 11. la. ; Mn, W. IL
; Borland, 11. ; the Hon. Georgina Irby, 21. ; Mrs. Batt,
Clapham. 11. ; John &toot, Fag., 21. ; Mr. P.. K. Slam,
11. ; Mies T. M. Steal, ; 1/. ; A Merchant's
Clerk, 10a.

The editor and proprietor of the Nation has
brought an action for libel against the editor and proprietor
of the Irishmafi, the alleged libel having been published
in connexion with the NatiOles diacloeuree of the mal-
practices of the Phoenix Secret Society ; agents ri which
fraternity had accused the Nation of having set the govern-
ment on the went of the illegal confederacy. The ease

will be tried at the ensuing term.
The Suez . Canal Company have lately been
enabled, by means of the large supply of men obtained
from the Egyptian government, to posh on their operations
with greater activity. They have at the present moment,
according to the information received from a gentleman'
who has just returned from the Isthmus, in forced labour
about 22,000 men, and above 1,5C0 volunteers. The inten-
tion is to raise the mumbled labourers to 40,000 men if the
government can be induced to grant them. At present the
work is almost entirely concentrated upon the Gutting to be
made through the wad heights of Fl Die, and the
engineers of the company promise that the Titre& demonic;
or small elementary canal, will, within the next two months,
convey the water of the Mediterranean Into the bean of
Lake Tisonelt.