The Express.
London, England, 1867-02-22 00:00:00

TRA DRS UNIONs.

Exeter-hall was well filled last evening by
members of various trade societies, who assembled, at the
invitation of the Amalgamated Engineers, to consider the
recent legal and prospective government action relating to
trades unions. It waa pointed out by Mr. W. Newton,
the chairman, that nothing had occurred for many years
of so much importance to trade societies as the legal deci-
sion lately given in the Court of Queen's Bench. Sir
Alexander Cockburn, attorney-general in 1551, pronounced
an opinion that the rules of the trades unions of this
country were perfectly legal, but Lord Chief Justice
Cockburn, presiding at the Queen's Bench in 1867,
decided that laws which were much less restrictive
than those of 1851 were illegal. The security which for
12 years they had enjoyed was now destroyed, and it was
highly necessary that application should be made to
parliament for protection. There was no reason why there
should be a royal commission for inquiring into the
organisation and transactions of trade societies generally,
although none would more rejoice than the members a
the societies at a full inquiry into the execrable Sheffield
outrages. (Loud cheers.) Let the government by all
means inquire and investigate. There was nothing to hide,
and every society felt confident the result would be in
favour of the working men of the whole country. Let,
however, the government extend its inquiry into the
masters' societies. (Cheers.) Why should the iron-
masters of South Staffordshire, for instance, who met
periodically to fix their prior, be freed from the scrutiny/
(Cheers.) It was an old truth that masters were always in
tacit, if not actual, combination to lower the wages
of the workmen. He ridiculed the statements
made in recent newspaper serrespaelleetillrllffilirflffi Wet
trade was driven out of the country by trade societies,
and denied that the distress in the east of London had
been caused by the operations of the unions. As an illus-
tration of the good effected by them he instanced the case
of three leading trade societies that were at the present
moment supporting something like 16,000 persons, by grants
of fromlos. to 15a. each family. All these recent charges
against trades unions were but repetitions of what, to his
own remembrance, had often taken place during the past
quarter of a century, for whenever trade has been de-
pressed there were always persons miming to throw the
entire blame upon the working men and their combina-
tions. (Cheers.) The first resolution submitted to she
meeting declared that the recent decision of the Court of
Queen's Bench in the case of Homby r. Close," virtu-
ally destroyed the protection which trade societies had
enjoyed since the passing of the Friendly Societies Act,
and took from them the privileges the legislators intended
to give in passing that measure. The resolution also in-
cluded a memorial to the Home Secretary in favour of
Mr. Neste'. bill. The mover was Mr. Applegurth, car-
penter, and the seconder Mr. D. Guile, ironfounder.
The latter speaker caused much amusement by insisting
that the barrister who accepted a lower fee than legal eti-
quette prescribed was as much a " knobstick " in the eye
of the bar ea Dan Guile would be in the eye of the
unions if he worked for lower wages than the trades
accepted as the standard. Amongst other statistics be
stated that his own society, although comparatively a
small one, during the last seven years had paid 71,0211. to
persons out of work (not because of strikes) ; 25,:1201. for
cases of sickness, and 6,194/. for funerals. During 1862
alone, when so many were thrown out of work by the
cotton famine, 19,732/. were paid to the unemployed.
Disabled workmen received 1501. from the society.
The resolution was carried with acclamation. The
second motion, proposed by Mr. Odgers, and seconded
by Mr. Manta, was in the following terms :
That in the opinion of this meeting no commission of
inquiry into the doings of trade societies can give satisfac-
tion to the working classes unless they be represented on
the commission by members of their own order ; and that,
as the royal commission appointed to inquire into the
organisation and transactions of trades anions contains no
suck direct representation, we feel bound to express our
disappointment and regret that the commission has not
been more equitably composed." Mr. Odgers thought the
working men had reason to complain that not one of their
number was allowed to be on the royal commission. True,
Mr. Hughes and Mr. Harrison were there, but other mem-
ben of the commission would not be likely to act so fairly
towards the working men as those gentlemen. He was not
afraid of Mr. Walpole, who was "one of the best gentle-
men in the House of Commons," but no trust could be
placed in the party behind him. (Cheers.) The motion
having been carries , a hearty vote of thanks to the chair-
man terminated the proceedings, which throughout were
of the moat unanimous and enthusiastic description.

COUNTY OP CORK ELECTION.—We leant by tele-
graph that the nomination of candidates for the vacancy
in the representation of the county of Cork took play
yesterday. Mr. Vincent Scully having retired, Mr.Arthrar
Hugh Smith Barry was declared to be duly elected. He
would not, he said, pledge himself to any party, but
would take an independent coarse of action.
REFORM MEETING AT SoUrHAMPTON.—On Wed-
nesday evening a crowded and enthusiastic niveting was
held at the Carbon Rooms, Southampton, for the purpose
of considering the government resolutions upon the
question of reform, and ids° to hear on address From Mr.
G. Moffatt, the liberal member for the borough. The chair
was occupied by Major-General Tryon, J.P., and there
were fully 1,500 persons present.
THE. SCOTTISH NATIONAL REFORM LEAGUE.—The
first general meeting of the Edinburgh Branch of the
Scottish National Reform League was held on Wednesday
night. The following resolutions were adopted :—" That
the Edinburgh Reform League treat, th- ministerial reso-
lutions as the basis of a reform bill with scorn 11111 i deri-
sion, these not being in accordance with the requirements
of the times, and antagonistic to the deliberately expressed
opinions of all reformers, and to the attitude of the
working classes in their recent gatherings and demonstra-
tions for reform."—" That this league, so far es relates to
reform of parliamentary representation, expresses its want
of confidence in the present government, its members
having on all opportunities evinced tendencies to legislate
for class interests, extending the territorial influence and
interests which are already overwhelmingly represented
in the House of Lords, and by the English county mem-
bers and the nominees of small burghs in the House of
Commons."

SOCIETY FOR THE. ENCOURAGEMENT OF THE FINE
Am.—This society held its first conversaMne this sawn
last evening at the Exhibition of ',male Artists in Con-
duit-street. There was a good etteiehthee of members and
their friends, amongst whom were several artists and
amateurs of distinction. The musical arrangements were
under the direction of Messrs. Benedict and Alfred
(:ibert, the conductors of the evening being Meson. W.
Baru Harrison and S. Lehymeyer, who each played a
solo on the piano. The vocal prograime was supplied by
Meseta. Clinch, Tielkens, F. May, 11. L. Ilellini, Madame
Thadeus Wells, and Miss Julia Derby. The proceedings
went off with great eclat.
ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY.—At the monthly general
meeting, held yesterday, at the society's house, in
Hanover-square, Mr. Ceo. &Liter-Booth, M.P.. in the
chair, Mrs. Henry, Mrs. Sheridan, and Messrs. H. Alberti, X.
H. Burnell, A. H. Dennistoun, A. M. Drummond, 1).
Forbes. It. Wheen, jun. C. F. Skirrow, H. C. Metcalfe,
M. I). Treherne, S. Montagu, G. B. Worms, M. P. Worms,
and C. Cumberland, were elected fellows of the society.
Forty-four cinilidates for the fellowship were pnlosed for
ballot at the next monthly meeting, in March.
ATTENDANCE AT THE Junnan' CHAMBEILL —Yes-
terday Mr. Baron Channell took the stanniousica of the
Court of Queen's Bench as well as his own court, in conse-
quence of the circuits having Collinlelned and the other
judges being engaged. Lord Chief Justice Cockburn will
be the vacation judge, end new regulations are expected
shortly to be issued.
THE FENIAN ALARM AT CHENTEIL—The follow-
ing letter has been received by the Chester magistrates :
" Whitehall, Feb. Is, 1967.—Gentlemen, I am directed
by Mr. Secretary Walpole to inform you that la. has re-
ceived the report of the attempted outbreak by
Fenians at Chester, which you instructed the town clerk
to forward to him : and I mu to convey to you Mr. Wal-
pole's approval of the judicious arrangemet..s which you
made on that occasion, whereby the a tempts of .he evil.
disposed were frustrated, and any disturbance of the
public peace was effectually prevented. l sin at tie same
time to request you will be so gasl as to make known the
sense which Mr. Walpole entertains of the re.il and loyalty
which induced the members of the volunteer force to
tender their services so promptly in support of the law and
good order.-1 am, km, BLIMOItr."
BUNHILL-FIELDM GROUN!).—A bill will
be immediately introduced to dedicate Bunhill4elds
burial-ground to the public for ever, :mil to compel the
Xcelesiastwal Commist.ioners, if they will not hand it over
to the trustee-ship of the corporation t lomselvee, to under.
take the expense of maintaining it ill &emit onler as one
of the open apices of the metropolis. Probably the mere
eppesrance ot such a bill on the table of the house will
helm* the commissioners to come to terms with the ow-
pordiun. Put the dissenters of tile United Kingdom must
hold themselves in readiness to support the bill with all
their energy. It will be peen that the dissenting deputies
have taken the matter in hand, and itreefficiently helping the
other bodies who have for some time past been striving to
get this matter settled. The conunisaioners had an oppor-
tunity of regaining some popularity by a generous conees-
sion of the rights of dissenters iu this small particular.
The wholeoountry will he (litigated with their shabbiness
in trying to make a market of so famous a berial-pLue.—
Emiltsk Independent. . - .

ADMIRALTY, Fri. 21. APPOINTMENTS.—Lieu-
tenant—H. H. Lang, to the Narcissus. Master—R. Coens,
to the Aboukir. Master's Assistant—•T. W. Angear, to
the Galatea. Assistant Surgeon--Dr. Walter Reid, to the
Victory. Midshipmen—P. D. C. de Crespigny, to the
Galatea (supernumerary) ; C. 11. Lutkraft and A. C.
Corry, in lieu of cadets.

I

MAPPIN BROTHERS.—Entablished A.D. 1810.

CIIESTS of SILVER PLATE fur theCOLONIES,

CUTLERY and SILVER PLATE foe

MAPPIN BROTHERS, LONDON-BRIDGE.

MAPPIN BROTHERS, 222, REGENT-
STREET.

BE SONS WATCHES.
ns And 60, Ludgate hill; Oldßond.strect.
BROWN and POISON'S CORN FLOUR
for CIIILDREICs DIET.
Tr, obtain extra profit by the sale other Linda are sometimes
offir,•,l ',intend ..1 lifti/VPN and POLION'S
•• John Itrown," "John Potion," Is signed by the maker, on
each packet.