The Express.
London, England, 1862-05-03 00:00:00

DISTRFAS IN THE COTTON MANUFAC-

TURING DISTRICTS.

A deputation had an interview yesterday with
the Right Hon. C. P. Villiers, M.P., at the office of the
Poor-law Board, Whitehall, on the subject of the distress
which prevaibi in the cotton manufeeturiag districts. The
deputation consisted of Mr. liazley, M.P., Mr. Cobden,
ILP., Mr. Cobbett, M.P., Hon. A. Egerton, /LP.. Hoe.
Wilbraham Egerton, M.P., Captain Gray, M.P., Mr.
Garnett, M.P., Mr. Grepon, ILP., Mr. Greenall, M.P.,
the Marquis of Hartington, M.P., Mr. Hadfield, kLl'., Sir
Thomas Heeketh, M.P., Mr. Modell, M.P., Mr. Hereby,
Genteel Lindsay, ILP., Major G. Cornwall Lsgb,
M.P., Mr. W. J. Legh, M.P., Mr. E. Potter, M.P., Colonel
Wilson Nits; M.P., Mr. F. Peel, M.P., Mr. Charles
Turner, M.P., Mr. T. A. Turner, M.P., Mr. Woods, M.P.,
end Mr. Hoary Ashworth.
Colonel WILIDON Parry; stated that the object of the
deputation was to confer with the President of the Poor-
law Board on the subject which he (Colonel W. Patten)
had given notice to bring before the House of Commons,
namely, the present state of the cotton manufacturing dis-
tricts. He described the destitution which prevailed in
Lancashire, and expressed his doubt as to the adequacy of
the poor law to meet it. He referred to the stringency of
the conditions on which relief was administered.
Mr. ViLIALIIB remarked that the distress varied in inten-
sity in different localities. The datum rather diminished
in the third week of April, as compared, with the fourth
week of March. He explained the provisions of the order of
December, 1852, for regulating out-door relief. The order
had reference to able-bodied male persons only; the
relief of other classes of poor, persons being in the un-
fettered discretion of the guardians. With regard to able-
bodied
men, the order required that one-half at least of the I
relief should be given in food, fuel, or other articles of also-
lute necessity ; that the relief should be given weekly or
oftener ; thet it should not be given while the applicant was
employed for wages, and that he should he set to work so
bug as he continued to receive relief. U the guardians
deemed it expedient to depart from any of these regula-
tions they could do so if they reported the departure to the
Poor-law Board within twenty-am days; aid the
relief given in the mean tune would be lawful.
He refuted the allegation which was made in some
of the newspapers, that guardians required that applicants
for relief shouldn't their furniture before they could be
relieved. In reply to inquiries ou the subject., he was as-
sured, by poor-law inspectors of 27 yearsexperience, that
they were not aware of a single instance of the kind. Mr.
Villiers explained the steps taken by the board in view of
the premiere which was anticipated in the manufacturing
districts ; the arrangements which the boards of guardians
made for dealing with it; the ample power which they pu-
nned; and suggested the desirableness of leaving the mat-
ter at present in the lands of the guardians, who were per-
forming their duties very efficiently.
Mr. Potter, General Lindsay, Mr. Aspinall Turner, Mr.
Cobden, Mr. Hanby, Mr. Gibbon, Mr. Cornwall Legh, and
other members, took part In the conference.

In the course of yesterday the Lord Mayor re-
mired the following contributions is aid of the funds far
alleviating the distress amongst the operative in Lanca-
shire 0. H., 961. ; Mn. Thornton, Old-park, Clapham,
161.; Messrs. Morley and Powell, 101. 10s. ; Hamm Joseph
Pollard and Co., Newcastle, 101.; Hears. Pratt, Bmallme,
and Son, 51. 6e.1 F. B. or F. V., half note, No. 72,439, 51.;
Mr. Josh. Marton. 31.; Mr. J. Joaquin Carreras, 2i. Bi.;
Mrs. J. C. Parr, Wavingtom, IW.; Watson, IL; Mr.
James Weblin, 1L; Mr. lame Sprott, if. Is.; Mr. end Mrs.
Henderson, 11.; W. Z., 10a.; the Mims Leonard, 114 J. 8.,
Is.; Er., 108.; J. B. 8., 2s. 6d.; G.M. 8., Is.; Mr. Louis
Parnell, if. ls.; T. C., 11.

IarTROPOL/TAN BOARD 07 WORKB.—The Metro-
politan Baird of Works met yesterday, at the office in
Spring-gardens, after the Bestir recess ; Mr. J. ulnae' in
the chair. The chairman said he bad great regret in an-
nouncing to the board the death of Mr. Edward Palmer,
their late respected member for St. George, Southwark, I
upon which notice had been communicated to the vedry of
that parish. Communimtions were received from St.
Marylebalie, St. James, Westminster, St. Luke, Middlesex,
Lunbeth, Greenwich, arid the Westminster district, re-
questing that various periods of time should be 'Sowed
them to pay the outstanding precepts for main drainage
works. In every case a resolution was passed that, unless
the amounts were paid in a week, the board would itself
collect the rates in default. The chief engineer presented a
detailed and satisfactory report as to the progress of the
main drainage works, which was received and ordered to be
petaled Some reettthe matters haviag bees disposed of,
the heari adjourned.