The Express.
London, England, 1860-08-31 00:00:00

(Stamped, Id. Additional.) [T

CLOSE OP THE COVENTRY STRIKE.

The Coventry strike, which has been maintained
over so long a period, and attended with so much privation
ail suffering to the working eludes and such vast loss to
the general trade .f the town, is virtually at an end. For
seine days previous it was evident that the pressure of want
was becoming too powerful for the committee to hold to-
gether the organised woes, and the resolution initiated by
that body on Tneeley that contract work should be resumed
was considered by a large number of the operatives at
the time of its proposal to be significative of a break-up
of the strike. It was argued that, as there were
hundreds who had contracts uncompleted of verying
quantities of goods, there could be no guarantee that
the weaver, under the pretext of ounipleting a contract,
might not undertake tee times its amount of new work at
the same or any lower terms which he could obtain from the
manufacturer. General confidence was evidently shaken,
and on Wednesday morning its result was seen in the large
number of men and women surrounding the priucipal fac-
tories in the town, with the view of applying for work.
At a later period of the day a meeting of the operatives
was held, when the consideration of the resolution
submitted to the meeting on Tuesday was resumed. Mr.
M'Lesn, one of tau committee, iu submitting the motion,
observed that " the committee was desirous this strug-
gle should now terminate, and he therefore hoped the
resolution eyelid, be mimed." It was in the following
terms : --" That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable
that all factory hands, and all outdoor hand., should finish
their present cantatas, bat that no sew oats shalt be
Alistersi* swihr We* gaitaip s Iscrueoplpaos with the
of jjhyy ttrade; and that all who act upon . resolu-
tke fm the support of those who cienot go to
*lrk Olt tilts. cOoditione, and that under no circumstances
abellertylkly wags be accepted. gech person going to work
to receive the Minimised card of the trade."
' ' This Motion, which was put to the meeting and carried,
wallidlowfei by • resolution of a more sweeping elm-
etwiter, awl which eeerns to supersede it, inasmuch as it
really permitted the operatives to consult their own discre-
tion in reference to the terms on which they iihoukl resume
winds. This was also initiated by the committee, and was to
the effect--" That the bands should treat with their several
employers and resume work on the beet terms they could,
the committee, however, being empowered to withdraw the
hands from any factory they may select, with the view of
carrying out the list of prices and the piece principle of pup
meet." In support of the resolution the adv.iut.ige of fight-
ing the ma mit act crers 'tingly was strongly insisted upon, and it
was very clearly indicated iu the course of the remarks made
upon the market that the resolution was directed more pert'.
cularly against those mauttfactming establishments in which
the, system of weekly wages prevailed. In fact, the names
of several of the manufacturers adopting this mode of pay-
hunt were broadly mentioned by persons in the meeting as
Wee upon whom the experiment of a "all out" would be
first tried.

Other lutions, having reference to the ormsnisation
of the "Association fur the Protection of Labour," having
been passed, the proceedmp were brought to a close.
Immediately subsequent to this breakup .4 the strike
the operatives oreelet! forward in great numbers to over
their labour at the factorise, and fur some hours in the
afternoon those streets of Coventry in which the factories
are situatod pria.at.d, in consoqueoce, a scene of more than
ordinary animation. In every ease weak was resumed on
the employers terra, both as to amount of wages and mode
of payment.

THE LOCK-OUT OP SOUTH YORKSHIRE

=""=cro~Lieei

A meeting owbehiCif df xhe;minerB now locked
out in this district was held-in the Mediaslh:se-hall, Barns.
ors Monday night. The building was crowded in every
Part, the great majority of the audience being colliers.. The
chair wee taken by tioltev. L. E. Biwa; Baptist minister.
The enaritmAg having opened the meeting by stating its
objects, coiled upon
Mr. 'JOHN VALLASCE to propose the Bret resolution. He
kneed the dispute betvreeo the colliers and their employer*,
up to the present tinse. He then moved the adoption of
.the following resolution Resolved,—That this meeting
deplores the uufortunate position of those miners who have
not been allowed to resume work euless they sign a new
code srf bye-laws, ynich they consider to be oppres.
sive and contrary to the couditioirs that were u-reed
iby So riseerea Alingiatioa sa
&hates at the deo of the liectr.wei. We d Ow' more
tan-
' not but feel indignant at the conduct of epees firms
who will neither employ their men nor give thew clear-
ances 10 enable them to get work elsewhere, /L., the em-
ployers know well that without • clearance, or ticket of
leave, no non can get employed iu the district. The
meeting, taking into consideration the gnat number of
women and chit Ireis slemmdent on the, miners far support,
call- upon the people of England to loud a helpita hand to
the Bernaley :nines% in this emergency, believing that they
are fairly entitled to all the assistance that can possibly-be
given to them, till an amicable adjustment can be accom-
plished."
Mr. J. WILKINKON (Peashills) seconded do resolution.
He said the meeting was not =lied for the purpose of ants.
gonism. They were not met as lovers of disputes and
wishing to live by strikes. Ho had certainly often hood
that there was a class of persons who lived by the perpe-
tuation of strikes ; but 111 his own experience he never knew
a committee that was not always desirous of ending
them, doing all in their power, as the colliers had done, to
effect that object. The masters without a union were very
strong, awl could order many powers in their favour. The
police were at the order of the employer* as a spans.
All authority was at the command of the employers. They
objected to working men forming unions, but he thought
the wenk ought to be protected ; and if they were nut to
have protection, then let them "Cry havoc, and let slip
the dogs of war." Nobody suffered so much from strikes
as the working-man and no one strove so much to end
them. He was pleased a short time since to and that the
masters had lulled notices that the strike was ended. The
announcement gladdened his liana Some of the masters.
however, did not allow the men to resume work, but showed
themselves capable of doing great mischief and defraudiug
their fellow.men. After eulogising the men for their peaceful
conduct and the executive for its ability—se the strike was
the best managed one that Lad taken place in the town—he
advised the colliers to look after thew own independence.
They might realise it in a few years, when they themselves
might become cool-owners, members of the Masters' Asso-
ciation, arid thus be enabled to infuse a little bit of honesty
into that body. Mr. Wilkinson concluded a long speech by
stating that the consummation of the masters' villany was
arrived at when they turned round upon the men after it
was agreed they should go to work. The men Lad done
right in refusing to go to work, and they would he sup-
ported by the people of this country, although iu carrying
on the struggle they must expect to undergo privation. The
resoluticn was then put and carried.
Mr. Jong Lanny proposed the next resolution -"That
deputations be appointed to wait upon Mr. W. Day, Messrs.
Newton, Chambers, and Co., and Messrs. Simpson and Co.,
with a view to the above arms withdrawing the obnoxious
bye-laws, and willing to an amicable arrangement with their
men."

The resolution was 8000nded by Mr. MARI GRADWELL,
who, after speaking at some length, suggested that the
clergymen of the town should be requested to form a depu-
tation to tho masters. . .

The resolution. after being supported by Mr. F. Mitt.
rietn, was put to the meeting and Qirried unanimously.
After some remarks on the subject of the deputation
from Mr. C. Urrutr and others, a resolution was passed
to the effect that all the minister' of the town be ap-
pointed a deputation by the meeting for the purpose of
waiting upon the masters ; and ou being proposed and
eexeeLad it was i.gissol to, the chairulan agreeing to form one
of the deputation.

OPERIIING Or THE BIRKENHEAD STREET RAILWAY.
—LIVERPOOL, TRORRDAT.—To-day the first lime of street
railway in Oreat Britain was formally inaugurated at Birk.
enhead amidst great icha by Mr..G. F. Train, of &Won,
U.S. The day throughout the town was one of much en.
thusiasm, and the people turned out in immense numbers
to witness the novel and interesting experiment. As early
as ten o'clock in the morning Ir.utt crowds were congre-
gated in the vicinity of the Woodside Ferry to witness the
Bret trial of the new street railway. Among the invited
guests we noticed, Wm. Darpn, Faj,, D.L., of Dublin ;
C. IRawline, Eaq. ; J. Newland*, Earl. ; J. Kernnghau,
Esq., Dublin : Alderman Kinaghan, J. , Dublin ; Alder-
man Mackie, J.P., Dahlia ; H. Littledale. Esq., Lc. The
total number was upwards of 300, nearly all of whom took
part in a trial trip along the line as far as Ilirkenhoad-perk,
and back to the depot in Chatham.street. There were four
carriages, each containing about 70 passengers, and each of
which was drawn by two horses with an Wad apparent to
everybody. The one moved along the line as easily and
as smoothly as any first-class railway cariar. Each car-
riage was fitted both before and behind with 'sweepers "
miniature cow catchers--which kept the rails clear of
atones, Su., thus rendering the passage of the vehicles
smooth. After the conclusion of the trial trip, the guests,
to the number of 300, adjourned to the spacious workroom
at Mr. Ilene. coach factory, where a grand bouquet was
laid out. The chair was taken by Mr. Train, and a number
of !pooches were delivered on the occasion.
TIJ A CONOREUATIONAL MINISTER.—
The Rev. Thomas U. Lee, who for nearly twenty years has
been the minister of New Windsor Chapel, Salford, has
been presented by the members of his rhurch and congrega-
tion with an address, expressive of their high estimation of
his character and labours. The address, which WSW beauti-
fully magrowied on vellum and illuminated, was accompanied
by a purse of 50 sovereigns. Mr. Lee, though he has for
thirty years been a zealous and industsious preacher, is per-
haps better known to the general public as a talented and
successful lecturer and writer on soca' and pobtical reforms.