The Express.
London, England, 1860-07-12 00:00:00

THZ NINE HOURS

roviwzNa.

Last night a very crowded meeting of the build-.
Mg operatives was held at St. Idartin'ehall, for the purpose •
of gvmoting the success of the movement.
MONTAGU. 11. P., who presided, said that the
question which had brought them together was one of the
most important that oould be discussed. (Hear, hear.) It
was a question which had stood the test of argument, and
even of vituperation and ridicule, and had forced its way
on the public attention. It had been said that the demand
of a reduction of the hours of labour to nine hours was
opposed to the principles of political economy.
The great axiom of the economist was that you
should buy in the cheapest market and sell in the dearest.
Well, if that were so, what was this demand
of the working men but an endeavour to get a maximum
of wages for a minimum of labour, which was precisely the
mane thing. (Hear, hear.) The landlord had the option of
raising his mot, the merchant of asking more for his wares,
and the capitalist for the use of hie capital. Why then
was the workman not to be allowed to determine the price
at which he would sell his labour (Hear.) But he eon.
aidered that the political economists put the question on a
low ground. He did not believe that the working man
should be put on a level of a commodity, and subjected to
the higgling of the market. (Hear, hear.) He believed
the poet put the question more truly when lie said,
Oh, men with sisters dear ;
Oh, men with mothers and wives,
It is not linen you are wearing out,
But human creatures' lives.
(Cheers.) Feeling that they were beaten out of this
argument they entrenched themselves in the inmost citadel
of self-interest, and cried out, "]fay I not do what I will
with my own." He believed that Lord Erskine, the famous
lawyer, replied properly to that argument when he smartly
strut a.iababat who used this ammo* with his cane.
" What de-Yaw moat by that," said-the capitalist to Lord
Erskine, " kay I not do what I like with my own!" was the
reply. (Cheers.) Money was not the only remuneration
they asked for. The man who merely eat and drank, and
worked and slept, and did nothing else from year's end to
year's end, led the life of a beast of burden, and not the
life of a man. (Cheers.) As had been recently said in the
House of Commons, "You are note mere extension of the
steam engine;" you have a moral and intellectual, a
spiritual and domestic life to cultivate as well as an
animal one. (Hear, hear.) This might be heterodoxy in
the mind of the political economist, because it did not put
money into the pockets of the capitalists, but it was true.
(Hear, hear.) He had been told—and be believed it was
true—that the building operatives had to spend twelve
hours away from their homes and families although nomi-
nally they worked but ten. (Hear, hear.) Under such cir-
curostances how could the working men devote that time to
the superintendence of their families which was as much re-
quired from them as from any other class of society.
(Hear, hear.) He believed that this nine hours movement
was in accordance with the tendencies of the age. (Hear,
hear.) He had been told—and he believed truly—that the
cause of the failure of so many mechanics' institutions was
to be found in the excessive labour of the working class,
who returned to their homes so exhausted that they
could take no pleasure in intellectual pursuits. (Hear, hear.)
He had been also told—and be believed truly—that the
nine cause helped to fill the public-houses. (Hear, hear.)
He believed, with Mr. J. B. Mill, that the invention of
machinery was intended to diminish human labour, but that
in its result machinery had supplanted and not helped
humanity. He believed that it was essential to the exis-
tence of every nation that its population should not be
ignorant and morally corrupt. Italy, Spain, Venice, and
Genoa had fallen from this cause ; and this country could
never make head against its foreign rivals and enemies if
ignorance and moral degradation were to spread amongst the
people. The noble lord sat down amidst loud cheers.
Mr. Camino proposed the following resolution :—"That
we believe our request for a reduction of the hours of
labour justified by the first principles of political economy ;
and that by the increased skill and rapidity of manipulation
acquired by the workman—the necessity for the ten hours
system has passed away ; the building operatives, in con-
junction with machinery, being enabled to produce suf-
ficient for the requirements of society by laing nine
limn per day." He thought the first pert of the resolution
had been settled, but it appeared that this was not so, for
he had found that Lord Bt. Leonardo recently in the House
of Lords declared that their demand was opposed to the
first principles of political economy. Now, so long as
labour had not a fixed price it could not be opposed
to the principles of political economy that they should en.
ileavour to get the mast they could for their day's labour.
He thanked the government for the course they took in deal-
ing with this dispute. But he must call upon his fellow
workmen to persevere, and when their organisation was
perfect there was no power which could prevent the succele
of the movement. (Cheers.)
Mr. PITT, painter, .econdedthe motion, which was inlaid.
mously aowdopted.
Mr. Hei.t., bricklayer moved the neat resolution in •
very able speech :—" That this meeting regrets the late
refusal of the master builders to discuss the nine hours
question with a deputation from the men, believing such
refusal to be inimical to the interests and position of the
employers, and calculated to engender embittered feelings
between themselves and their workmen at • time when
every effort should be made to render the interests, welfare,
and progress of both identical. Being convinced that the
concession we seek is necessary to the preservation of our
physical and the expansion of our intellectual and moral
newer., we pledge ourselves to press our claim until it hes
been conceded." . .

---
Mr. Msaourti seconded the resolution, which warn adopted
unanimously.
Mr. Porrat, who wes received with loud cheers, proposed
a vote of thanks to the chairman. He applied to several of
their metropolitan inemlx.rs to preside, but they declined
from one reason or another. (Groans.) Lord R. Montagu'
Fowever, came forward at ones—(cheers)—and he believed
he had proved by his speech that be was a friend of the
working classes. (Cheers)
Mr. CREMER seconded the motion, which was carried
unanimously.
The CHAIRMAN returned thanks, and in doing so took
occasion to explain a phrase which had been falsely sari.
lasted to him in a report of a speech be made in the
House of Commons. He had never called the working
clam the " scum of the earth." (Cheers.)
The meeting then separated.

ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OP ENGLAND
MEETING AT CANTERBURY.

CANTERBU*Y, WFINISDAY.

This is by far the best day, (so far as the attend-
ance of visitors is concerned, but the admission-fee ia now
only one shilling. Up to five o'clock upwards of 20,000
persons had entered the show-ground ; yesterday the num-
ber was 5,866, besides the visitors to the plough-field.
The great Kentish trial of the turnrise ploughing was
sabered in this morning amidst a good deal of excitement,
for it was the subject of contemplation by thousands who
flocked to the plough-field from every side. Everything
=2 .on the tip-toe of expectation, and the bulk of the
(of which there were 26 altogether and chiefly
East Kent) were elegantly got up, in some instances
more lllie pieces of household furniture than agricultural
implements. Each plough had its four horses, richly•capa-
rimmed, with expensive harness, and finer animals the eye
could not rest upon. They commenced their operations—
each confident in his plough and in his skill—like Pharaoh
and his host, all splendid and brave, but in
the short space of one half-hour they were over-
whelmed in confusion. As we have already re-
marked, the ground was not at all suitable for the opera-
tion ; so it has turned out, and it is now matted that up-
wards of a century has elapsed since the field chosen forth*
trial was operated upon by a plough • and the ground is
not only hide-bound, but it has a had, gravelly subsoil.
Eight inches deep was the order given out, but Ave or six
inches was much nearer the depth generally obtained. It
was not the want of depth, however, that threw confusion
among the ploughs, but it was the fact that the furrows
were thrown on their sides like so many planks of deal oa
their ends. And as the sward was fall three inches long, it
presented a fearful eight to the Kentish fanners, who pride
themselves on their ability to litu7 the sward—to put aliment
out of sight—and they were prepared to back their ploughs
against all comers, if they could but have another trial.
It was finally, agreed that the Kentish ploughe should have
another trial ups a light sandy soil, or the same field that
the steam ploughs were operating upon. It was a loos
field, about 30 acres, and what with the six or sieves stoma
engines puffing away and the long line of hone ploughs, sad
many thousands of spectators, the scene presented an ani-
mated appearance. The ploughing upon this light soil with
the Kentiah ploughs was much more to their credit ; indeed,
some of it was excellent work. Five wore subsequently
selected for a final trial, and the following is the result :
First prize, 301., to F. B. Hvey, Bowhill, Fading ; mood
prize, 201., Isaac Corldash, Airington ; third prize, 101.. to
Joseph Simmons, Rainham—all old Kent plough. The
judges of the ploughing were Hr. T. Abbott, of Ayleeford ;
lir. T. Hammett, of Hurry; Mr. H. G. Austin, of Canter-
bury ; and Mr. Punnett, of Chart Sutton.
The banquet, under the auspices of the council of the
society, was held in the Music Saloon, St. Margaret's, last
evening. Lord Walsingbam, president of the Royal Society,
presided, being supported on the right by the 'WorshijDful
the Mayor of Caaterbury (T. N. Wightwick, Req.), Lord
Camden, the Fart of Winchilsea and Nottingham, the
Marquis
of Conyngham, Lord Nelson, Lord Sondes. Lord
the Hon. H. Butler-Johnstone Sir B. W. Bridges,
Dam, M.P., sad the Very Rev. the limn of Canterbury.
On the left of the chair we observed Sir Courtenay Honey-
wood, high sheriff of the county, the Earl of Ansley, Earl
Pow* Lord Bernet+, the Fart of Erroll, end Lord Sheffield.
About 400 tickets were issued for the banquet, and nearly
every seat in the spacious hall was occupied.
Lord Walsinihani, the president of the Royal Agricul.
tural Society, has been robbed of his gold repeater, neck
chain, a gold octagon snuffbox, aid two gold rings. These
articles were left by his lordship on his dressing table at yet
proved HoteL All efforts to trace the thee( bays as yet
proved fruitless

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