The Express.
London, England, 1867-09-18 00:00:00

Eite eVinviiii•

TO OORRESPONDENTE
lilvertioemrnts Intended for " The Express," London Evening
Paper, muet ho at the Office, 10, &uvula-street, by Two
delock ou the day of publication.

DRURY LANZ.
ON SAITNPSe. REPT. 2t, FAUST. Kr. Phelps, Messrs. E.
Phelps. Ilar...mrt, Warner. Webb, Temple, Re. Mesdames'lemma Re.—Awl THE MILLER AND HIS
MEN- Ihmrs. DYdrr and Phelps ; Mae Edith Stuart.

fIAYM Aom.
TED" EFINDM xi
, ROMEO AND niuer. Messrs. Chlppendale.
Howe, Rogers, Kendal, Clark, Weathers'''. &c.
"emit simp,mk, Laws, Coleman, the —TO PARIS AND RACK
FOE AA Mr. Buekatone.—And PERFECTION. Mils Burke.

PAINCMWS.
Tllte Pyemro, MAR PILLICODDY. Mews Dominick
Murray it Gresham ; Miss Polly Marshall —And Tll It STREETS
or Ia)NDOS. Mr. Vining, Men M•Lcan, D. Murray, An. ;
Mesdames Sanger, Barnett, and Addle.

LYCEUM.
Tnre Fermin, THE MISTRESS OP THE MILL—THE
LADY OF LVONA Mr. Pechter, Messrs. Jordan, Addison,
Mellon. Dalton. Stuart, and Prances ; Slimes Els-
worthy and Carlotta Leclercq, Mrs. Marston.

samunru.
WIN EMMEN ALONE IN THE PIRATES LAIR.—The
American 'Minstrels and Japanese Tommy; The renowned
Gymnasts. MM. Coutelller and Enke, from the Grand
drums, Paria.—And THE CASTAWAY.

MOH WATItt AT LONDON 8RTD4315.
TM DAT —Morning, 4h 3161—Afternoon, 4A. :Om.
1110.11IONAMT—Mornbatt, bh Mot_Afterooon, 6b. tnt.

LONDON, WEDNESDA Y, SEPTEMBER 18.

Ir appears from the annual return of the in-
dustrial societies in England, registered under the
Act of 1863, that it is still among the eminently
practical and economic population of the North
that the principle of co-operation is moat intelli-
gently embraced and most extensively applied.
Of the entire number of co-operative societies in
England, nearly half are in Lancashire and York-
shire. The artisans of the north appear to com-
bine self-reliance with gregariousness in a much
higher degree than those of the south. There were
676 co-operative societies in England at the end
of the year 1866 ; and since that time
many more have been established. The cash
sales of those societies amounted to no less than
4,455,5961., the share capital to 1,048,0961.,
and the number of members to 173,423, in the
year mentioned. With few exceptions these so-
cieties confine themselves to the work of distribu-
tion, those of them who attempt production not
being able as a rule to exhibit any remarkable ene-
ma. There is, however, no just reason fur dis-
couragement in this fact, since its causes are
ascertainable and capable of diminution, if not
of entire removal. Association for production
undoubtedly calls for the manifestation of higher
qualifications, both moral and intellectual, than
association for mere distribution. For a man
to work aide by side, week after week, with
a partner who has an interest in his industry, to
throw the fruits of his labour into a common fund
uncertain what will come out, to bear the
chances of loesby debt and mismanagement, instead
of taking certain wages every Saturday night,
are things which demand patience, fixity of habit,
and a degreo of mutual confidence which cannot
exist without some personal worth. For these
reasons, co-operative societies attempting produc-
tion, when successful, will generally be found
composed of the elite of the working classes, and
to be of limited extent. As education becomes
more general, bringing with it more self-respect
on the ono hand and more amenity on the other,
the conditions of successful productive co-opera-
tion will be more easily realized. In the mean-
time, perhaps, the system of partnerships of in-
dustry is destined to form a means of transition
from that of waged labo•nr to that of simple co-
operation, associating as it dues the energy
of the artisan and labourer with the
organizing and directing skill of the capitalist, and
providing a most equitable distribution of their
joint product. This system, in which the workers
are at the same time capitalists, with a certain
participation in the government of the concern,
has now been applied to coal-mining, printing,
cabinet-making, the manufacture of boots and
shoes, cotton-spinning, and a variety of other
trades. The Working Gilder' Association, a
small body of London working men, began with
no more than 81., and did business last
year to the amount of 2,5001., employing seven-
teen men upon better terms than the latter could
get elsewhere in the trade. These gilders have re-
cently, upon the invitation of their landlord, who
is a master frame maker, formed themselves
with him into a Framemakers and Gilders'Associa-
tion (Limited), on a capital of 6,0001., almost the
whole of which is contributed by him, by them-
selves, or by their workmen. By the articles of
association, in order to secure the co-operation of
all persons employed by the company, one-
fourth of the shares are set apart for the employed,
and every facility is given to them for purchasing
the same. A rent of 711 per cent. is payable to
capital, and ultimate profits are to be divided
equally between capital and labour. Fixity of
management in the hands of three managing
directors is provided fur by a five years' term of
office. It is thus gradually that the principle of
co-operation—not long ago regarded with more
than suspicion as allied with the worst social and
even religious heresies, but now recognised and
sided by the law, and patronised by Tory and
High Church noblemen—must win its way.
There need be no fear that, among the working
classes at least, it will effect any sudden and
violent displacement of our accustomed methods of
labour and reward.

A SHARP contest is going on in Paris for the
honour of the French army. M. SMILE DE
GIRARDIN has published a confidential Circular
issued by Marshal liszsuts in Mexico, in which
we read :

After these savage acts, revenge becomes a necessity and
a duty. All these bandits, including their commanders,
have been outlawed by the Imperial decree of the 3rd of
October, lACZ. I beg you to make known to the troops
under your orders that I do not allow prisoners to be
madig Every individual, whoever he be, taken with aims