The Express.
London, England, 1867-06-26 00:00:00

THE SHEFFIELD DISCLOSURE .

Yesterday morning • conference of the Miners'
National Association was opened at the Co-operative Hall,
Bridge-street, Bolton. There were present:—Mr. A.
McDonald, president ; Mr. Allen Tetlow, vice-president ;
Mr. W. Pickard, treasurer ; Mr. P. Casey, secretary ; and
also about fifty delegates from the following districts and
towns :—Bolton, Wigan, St. Helens, Haydock Farnworth
and Kearsley, Worsley, Oldham, Ashton,Northumber-
land, West Yorkshire, Derbyshire, Staffordshire, South
Yorkshire, &o. The first business was the examination of
the delegates' credentials, after which
The PREHIDRYT addressed the insolubly at considerable
length. He congratulated the delegates on the fact that,
although their calling was • very haziadous one, they had
been permitted to meet together again. In opening the
conference he felt it to be his first duty to draw atteniion
to the shocking disclosures that had been made within the
last few days at Sheffield. He held it to be their bounden
duty, as a body of trade unionists, as citizens, and as men,
to express their horror, their disgust, and their detesta-
tion at the dreadful revelations. Moral power alone must
be their weapon, and if that failed nothing else would
succeed. Unhappy, utterly unhappy would be the
country whale laws would permit such things, and
doubly cursed must be the trades of any town if the
connived at such shocking acts. It was horrible to think
of having hired assassins who were ready at any moment
to shoot • poor victim because he did not comply with the
wishes of any particular body of men. (Hear.) Not only had
the men who had entered upon this fearful career of crime
covered themselves with lasting obloquy, but they had
seriously imperilled the position of trades' unions through-
out the country. Only that day he read that the man
who committed these sets was afraid to disclose his con-
nection with such an abhorrent affair. And why ?
Beaue he dreaded that the assassin's knife or bullet
might be used against himself. In short, these terrors
had become an ogre in every family, • terror in every
breast, and even in that of the assassin himself. If they
could not obtain their objects by other means he would
have nothing to do with the assassin. But they had no
need of the asaasain'a bullet or the midnight marauder's
knife. All trades' unions were not to be condemned on
account of the conduct of those they abhorred. To do
that would be as unjust as to condemn the English people
for the conduct of the late governor of Jamaica. As a
union they disclaimed being in any way identified with the
outrages at Sheffield, and with confidence courted an
investigation into the affairs of their own society.—A
resolution was brought forward by Mr. George Pickard
(Wigan), condemning the conduct of the chief insti-
gators of the Sheffield outrages, and was spoken to
by Mr. Edwd. Rymer (St. Helen's) and Mr. W. Pickard
(treasurer), but was not considered to be strong enough,
and ultimately Mr. Thomas Burt (Northumberland) said
he thought the following resolution would be more
expressive of the feelings of the delegates:—" That this
conference has seen with feelings of pain and indignation
the foul outrages and revelations which have been mode
before the Trades' Union Commission at Sheffield ; that it
expresses satifaction that such inquiry has taken place,
and bops that the exposure thus given will put an end for
ever to such abominable outrages ; that it further records
its unqualified abhorrence and utter disgust at the part
taken by the trades union officials of that town with those
who themselves have violated the law, and those who have
connived at those violations in others ; that it regards the
conduct of such men as grossly immoral in itself, and cal-
culated to raise in the minds of the unreflecting and indis-
criminating • prejudice against the whole of the organised
trades of the country." The previous resolution was then
withdrawn, and this one adopted unanimously. The con.
ference then proceeded to receive reports of the operations
of the vari Ins branch associations, and adjourned at 5
o'clock, until this morning.

AacympArrugaz. Ennarnos Soczgyy. Last
evening a lecture in connection with the Architectural
Museum was delivered in the galleries of the former
society by Mr. Edward A. Freeman, M.A., entitled,
" Notes in Normandy." After a few introductory remarks
by the chairman. Mr. F. H. Dickinson, the lecturer com-
menced by noticing some striking points of resemblance
between the English and Norman buildings of early date.
He than gave a rapid account of most of the important
churches and other buildings in the country, and Ulna-
tnited his remarks by a large number of sketches. In
conclusion he impressed upon his audience tho necessity
of understanding the political history of the country if
they wished thoroughly to master the architecture. He
also gave it as his opinion that the parish churches and
cathedrals of England contrasted most favourably with
those of any other country.

The following notification was promulgated yes-
terday from the Admiralty, Whitehall :—" The Admiralty
have reosived information that in consequence of the news
of the severe epidemic prevailing in the Mauritius during
the months of March and April, the troops sent out in the
Himalaya, destined for that station, were, pending orders
from England, leaded at the Cape of Good Ho ; also
that measures had been taken to move the troops from the
Mauritius ; and it is hoped that they would be conveyed
rapidly to the south in roomy steam transports. There is
good ground for hoping that the fever will not spread.

Mr. Dronfield was called, and said that he acted as
honorary secretary to the Defence Committee, secretary
to the United Kingdom Alliance of Organised Trades So-
ciety, sad secretary of the Organised Trades of Sheffield.
He was a printer by trade, and he was secretary to the
Printers' Society. As secretary to the Defence Committee
he had issued a circular to the secretaries of the local trades
unions, dated February 16th. It had reference both to
the local commission now sitting, and also to the
commission now sitting in London. He received about
forty answers to that circular. Witness then handed
in a number of the answers which he had relived.
Mr. Thomas Smith, saw makers' union, had replied that
" moral persuasion " was used in their union ; if that did
not succeed, the masters were seen. Mr. Barker, taw-
handle maker, replied that there had been no
outrages within ten years to his knowledge in his trade.
The contributions were paid voluntarily, and they bad no
Method of enforcing their claims. The jobbing
grinders had not me any return. The secretary
to the file trade had written to say that no outrage had
been committed within ten years in the Me trade.
Their method of enforcing claims wax by the union men
declining to work with the non-unionists. They gave
the masters warning of that course before they left,
and thus gave one more chance to the men. There was
no admission of rattening in the file trade in any one
instance. The Stove Grate and Fenders' Society union
admitted the Acorn-street outrage, for which Thompson
was tried. The mode of enforcing payment was expulsion.
In one case, that of Thompson, they had resorted to more
severe means. The Joiners' Society acknowledged that a
man named Champion had been shot by a man named
Henry Grayson, who was tried and was found guilty
of the outrage at the next Leeds assizes. They had
no mode but moral suasion of enforcing contributions;
first, the members were excluded from benefit,
and if twenty-six weeks in arrears were excluded
from the society. The razor blade grinders knew of
no outrage, and the mode of enforcing contribu-
tions was exclusion from benefit. The file grinders had no
outrages to report. In order to enforce payment the matter
was brodght before the district meeting. The scythe
grinders had no outrages, but admitted that if remon-
strances failed, sometime bands were missing, and, if that
did not suffice them, expulsion from the society was the
consequence. The society of which William Webster was
the secretary had destroyed no property, but admitted
removing tool*. The File-wakers Society had no out-
rages. They enforced their contributions by moral
suasion or any other legal method. The table knife
cutlers and the pen and pocket Made forgers had
neither of them outrages to report, and both resorted
to moral suasion for obtaining their contributions.
The society of which Mr. Mounsey was secretary only em-
ployed legal methods to enforce their contributions. There
was no outrage to report from his union. The engineers'
tool makers had De outrages to report. Moral suasion was
the best mode of enforcing payment. The Edge Tool
Grinders' Unionhad no outrage to report, but in order to
enforce payment they " annoyed their members in their I
work;" indeed "annoyances were often pnurised." The '
File Hardeners Society had no outrages. Moral suasion
was their mode of enforcing payment. The work
board hands of the scissor trade replied that they
had no outrages, hut he gave no answer as to
their node of enforcing payment. The Wire Drawers
society had no outrages and the payment of contributions
was optional. The letter-press printers' society had no
outrage to report. The mode of enforcing payment was
expulsion from the society, and not allowing non-union
men to work with unionists. The spring-knife cutlers had
no outrage to report. Their mode of enforcing payment
was moral suasion and every other legal method. The wool
shear forger had no outrage within the last 10 years, and
their mode of enforcing payment was moral suasion. The
society of which Thomas Cook was the secretary bad
nu outrage to report, and payments were enforced by
fines. This concluded Mr. Dronfield's list of returns.
Witness thought the number of unions in Sheffield was
about sixty. The Alliance numbers about sixty thousand
members. He had been connected with trades unions for
many years. Among the printers he had never heard of
any case of fattening. He believed it was almost exclusively
confined to the grinding branches. Any man who was en-
gaged in any trade where grinding was practised was liable
to be fattened_ Any man who transgressed the rules of
three societies was liable to be fattened. Out of thirty-
four trades in the association there were eighteen in which
grinding was carried on.
Mr. Overend said that it would greatly shorten the
labours of the commissioners if the defence committee
would recommend the different secretaries of the unions
to oome forward and tell all they knew for the satisfaction
of the town. For the character of the town he thought
they should come forward.
Mr. Dronfield said that be would comply with the re-
quest of Mr. Overend. Witness then proceeded to explain
that he considered that the reason why rattening so ex.
tensively prevailed among the grinders was because of the
extraordinary facilities that existed in that branch
of trade for the carrying out of those outrages.
The men not having the legal protection which
they should have, took that means of enforcing
their demands. The witness believed that if legal pro-
tection were afforded, rattening would become almost ex.
tinct. He went into details on the subject of the effect
which the amendment of the law would have on trade
societies, and considered that the origin of rattening lay
in the fact that in olden times the grinding wheels were
built on such outside streams as the Loxley, where water
power was available, and thus afforded every chance to
the unions of rattening the bands without fear of detec-
tion. On the question of apprentices, witness did not
think that legal enactments would have much effect on
their number. As far as he knew rattening was almost en-
tirely confined to Sheffield.
John Wilson, a pen and pocket blade forger, said he was
a member of the union for about three years after he was
of age. He then left the union because be did not like
being mixed up with things be was ashamed of. He be-
lieved some joined the anion voluntarily, but others did
so from being frightened. There are very few non-union
men from principle. Most men join for the purpose of
maintaining the prices of labour.
A good deal of other evidence was taken having reference
chi.tly to cases of fattening and blowing up, and the in-
quiry was adjourned till to-day.

THE LONDON TRADES AND THE SFILTFIELD OUT-
EAGF.s.—A special meeting of the general council of the
London Working Men's Association, including delegates
frog, the various local branches and from the trade socie-
ties affiliated to the association, was held last evening at
the offices in Bolt-court, Fleet-street, to express an opinion
on the late revolting disclosures before the Sheffield Trades
Commission. Mr. George Potter occupied the chair. Re-
solutions oondemnatory of the practices deposed to se
having been adopted in connexion with some of the trades
in Sheffield were unanimously adopted.
THE HEALTH OF LONDON. —lt appears from the
return issued by authority of the Registrar-General that
in the week that ended on Saturday, June V, the births
registered in London and 12 other large towns of the
United Kingdom were 4,746; the deaths registered,
2,416. The annual rate of mortality was 30 per 1.000
persons living. In London the births of 1,142 boys
and 1,092 girls, in all 2,214 children, were registered in
the week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years,
1857-66, the average number, corrected for increase of
population, is 1,993. The deaths registered in London
during the week were 1,052. It was the 25th week of
the year ; and the average number of deaths fur the week
is, with a correction for increase of population,
1,245. The deaths in the present return are less
by 193 than the estimated number. The deaths were fewer
last week than in any week since that ended on fith July,
1861, when out of • less number of people 1,P13 deaths
were registered. The deaths from all xymotio diseases
have recently declined. From fever only 29 persons died,
but one of these deaths was remarkable enough to deserve
notice. It occurred in an open street leading to Battersea.
bridge in South Chelsea. On 17th June, at 19, Beaufort-
street, • publisher's clerk, aged 19, died of purpuric fever
(cerebrospinal typhus), 27 hours. Dr. Crisp, the medical
attendant, adds:—" Many parts of the body after • few
hours covered with purpuric spots." He identifies the
disease with the fever which, under various names, has re-
cently excited much discussion in Dublin, where the deaths
from it have not been numerous. It may be mentioned
that down to the end of the 17th century, a
heading, under which many deaths appeared in the
London bills, was "Spotted Fever and Purples;"
which means probably nothing more than fever in persons
of a scorbutic habit. The death of one person who was
killed by • vehicle in the street, was registered.
A musician, aged 70 years, run over by a cab,
died on the 12th of June in St. Mary's Hospital.
The annual rate of mortality last week was 18 per 1,000
in London, 21 in Edinburgh, and 72 in Dublin ; 20 in
Bristol, 17 in Birmingham, 24 in Liverpool, 26 in Man-
chester, 28 in Salford, 2L in Sheffield, 24 ire Leeds, 20 in
Hull, 21 in Newcastle-upon• Tyne, and 25 in Glasgow. The
rate in Vienna was 33 per 1,000 during the week ending
the 15th inst., when the mean temperature was 2.0 dep.
Fahrenheit higher than in the same week in London,
where the rate was 19.
RARE BOOKS AND MSS.—An extraordinary se-
lection of rare and valuable books and MSS., train the
library of the late Sir Thomas Gage. Bart., and other
eminent collectors, in very choice condition, and exhibit-
ing exquisite specimens of richly ornamented bindings,
is now being disposed of by auction, at ths rooms of Mears. ,
Sotheby, Nt ilkinson, and Hal in Wellington-etre/rt.
The selection includes several hly important heraldic
MSS., Illuminated Hibbs, Bre a, Hone et Missal', a
most interesting Liber Precum, written by Islip, Abbot of
Westminster, for Henry VII., with his device on every
page, splendid books of prints, and numerous other works
of extraordinary rarity. Yesterday was the firstday's sale.

THE OXFORD COMMEMORATION.

OXFORD, JO= 25.
The Enocenia, or Commemoration of Founders sad Bene-
factors, will take place in the Sheldonian Theatre on Wed-
nesday (this day). The noblemen, heads of homes, doc-
tors, proctors, and gentlemen, who partake of Lord Crewe's
benefaction to the University, will meet the Vice-Chan-
cellor in the ball of All Souls' College, at half-past ten
o'clock. They will then proceed in proomeion to the thea-
tre, where the oration by the Public Orator will be deli-
vered, and the honorary degree of doctor of civil law
conferred on the following distinguished persons : The Right
Hon. and Most Rev. Richard Cheneviz Trench, ,D.D.,
Lord Archbishop of Dublin, Primate of Ireland; and
Chancellor of the Order of St. Patrick ; the
Right Honourable Major-General Sir Henry Knight
Storks, G.C.8., G.L.M.G. ; Sir Henry Bartle Edward
Frere, K.C.8., K.S.J., now Member of her Majesty's
Council for India, and late Governor of Bombay; Boy.
Thomas Romney Robinson, D.D., F.R.S. M.R.1.A.,
sometime Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin, and now
Director of the Observat Armagh ; Mr. eorge Pea-
body ; and Mr. George Rind, R.A.
The prize poems will afterwards be recited as follows :
The Newdegate—subject, "Marie Antoinette," by Mr. R.
C. Moberly, Scholar of New College ; the English essay
—subject, "The use of the classics as an instrument of
Christian education," by Mr. W. H. Sinicoz, Fellow of
Queen's College ; tho Latin poem, " Ades West-
monasterietins " by Mr. J. A. Godley, of Balliol College.
The proceedingsl will then be brought to a close in the
usual manner.

The Vice-Ciancellor and Proctors have issued a notice,
urging upon the junior members of the university the
necessity of abstaining from such interruptions as have of
late years frequently impeded the business of the Enoenia,
and stating that men of the highest distinction, both at
home and abroad, have declined the offer of honorary de-
grees, alleging as a reason their unwillingness to undergo
the ordeal by which the feelings of their friends on pre-
vious occasions have been outraged. Should the appeal
have no effect, the Vic,Chancellor will be empowered by
• statute, accepted by convocation last we. k to fix the
holding of the Commemoration elsewhere than in the
theatre, and at some other than the usual time.
In the afternoon a musical fête will be given by the
Freemasons in the gardens of St. John's College, which
will no doubt be attended by • large and fashionable com-
pany. A grand ball will be given in the evening at the
Corn Exchange by the members of the university, and St.
John's and the " Shooting Stars" theatrical companies
will again perform, the former in the Music-room, and the
latter at the Victoria Theatre.