The Express.
London, England, 1867-01-21 00:00:00

TO THE EIHTOR OF THE EXPRESS.

SIR,—I have been requested by the members of
the committee of this association to say that, after having
resolved to assist as far as they had means in alleviating
the distress so long existing from defective employment
on the Thames, they were astonished at a statement of
Mr. Ford, the manager of the Thames Ironworks Com.
limy, in the Express of Friday. Mr. Ford says that,
to avoid the discharge of their workmen now employed,
they proposed to execute work without profit in the ex-
isting pressure, expecting that their men would have ac-
cepted a reduction of lid. per day on their wages. He
adds, however, that the men declined, and quotes a reply
from the shipwrights. We have inquired into the facts,
and find that the shipwrights do not number more than
Ii per cent. (or per 1,000) of the men engaged
in building iron steamers, the work referred to by
Mr. Forde. The other men, or 910 per 1,000, did not, we
understand, make any objection to the proposal. Farther,
the shipwrights, although unwilling to alter the agree-
ment respecting day wages, were perfectly willing to take
the work by contract at 10 per cent. under the common
contract price. which is one-half lower than the lid. per
day of reduction required by the Thames Shipbuilding
Company. We trust that this explanation, which we
believe to be perfectly accurate, will be satisfactory, not
merely to our own members, but all who are willing in
the existing emergency to assist in relieving that temble
distress in the east of the metropolis, obviously es iginating
in the financial panic of last summer, the great reduction
iu freights, and consequent indisposition of shipowners to
enlarge the number of their ships.—l

GEORGE TROUP.
London Working dlen's Association, 10, Bolt court,
Fleet-street, E.C., Jan. 19.

BEAcHINt: OF THE GREAT EASTERN.—The big
ship was, on Saturday, placed on the gridiron at New
Ferry, just above Liverpool, on the Cheshire side of the
river. The gridiron, on which the ship now rests, was con-
structed about three years ego, when the vessel was first
overhauled in the Mersey, but has since been altered,
strengthened, and very much improved. There was a very
high spring tide, and although the ship was drawing 18 feet
d. inches of water on an even keel, there was quite sufficient
depth on the shore to render the operation of beaching a
safe one. She lies broadside on the grid running parallel
with the river. About 9 o'clock a.m. all was in readiness,
and the ship left her moorings. Sir James Anderson, the
commander of the big ship, attended to the navigation,
while Mr. Brereton, the successor to Mr. Brunel, and Mr.
Yockney, carefully watched the engineering department.
Four steanhtugs (two on each side the Great Eastern)
usisied to keep the vessel in position, as with scarcely
perceptible motion she neared the beach. The screw
engines only of the big ship were worked. The screw
boilers have been taken out of the ship, and are to be re-
placed by new ones, and the screw engines were conse-
quently worked from the paddle boilers. The big ship
took the grid about ten o'clock. She was placed with
great nicety in the exact position fixed upon. Every-
thing passed off without the slightest accident, and the
beaching may be said to have been accomplished in the
moat skilful and successful manner. The Great Eastern is
kept in position by two massive dolphins. Although her
sides and bottom are rather dirty, the lines, bolts, and
rivets appear in excellent order. The gridiron is perfectly
flat for 60 feet wide, and the big ship rests in perfect secu-
rity upon it. Every precaution has been taken to prevent
accident. Thousands of men are at present engaged on
the ship, and she will be ready at the time specified to
trade between New York and Brest. Her Mat voyage
after she conies off the gridiron will be from Liverpool to
New York, with goods and passengers.
THE STRIKE ON BOARD THE. GREAT EASTERN.
At the Police-court, Liverpool, on Saturday, John Sea-
winhe was brought before Mr. Raffles, stipendiary magis.
trate, charged with laving intimidated a fellow-workman
named James Flanagan. The men are both ship carpen-
ters, and members of a trade society. Both men were em-
ployed on board of the Great Eastr-rn, and both " turned
out" when the strike of carpenters, &c., employed on
beard, took place. Each had received money from the
society. On Thursday last the complainant encountered
the defendant on one of the ferry-boats. The latter abused
hint for having returned to his work on board of the
Great Eastern, and threat.med to throw him into the
river. This was the complainant's statement, but as it
was not corroborated the magistrate declined to convict,
and the prisoner was accordingly discharged. Mr. Raffles
said had there been a clear case he would have inflicted
the heaviest punishment inhis power.
THE WEATHER IN Till ISLE OF MAN.—An
incumbent in the Isle of Man writes as follows respecting
the severe weather experienced there :—" We have had a
' strange and trying time here. On Sunday last we awoke
to find a snow drift between the parsonage and the church
from 7 to I'_ feet high, the church lark filled to the roof,
and all traffic stopped. We were for the time ' excommu-
nicate.' To add to our comforts, the drift had penetrated
the house at all points—our entrance, within doors, two
feet deep. We were engaged all the forenoon getting the
snow out of bed-rooms and sitting•roonts in many pail-
fuls. Worse than this, it had got between the slates and
ceiling of the upper rooms, whence it could not be dis-
lodged, but came down with the thaw like great
shower baths. We bad to cover the beds with water-
proofs, and picket ourselves downstairs for the night. I
have not yet re-ascended. To make our enjoyment pee-
-1 feet, we have not had a crumb of bread in the house since
Saturday night—a snowed-up baker bring the cause.
Luckily, 1{01114.1 Hour and oatmeal in the house for cakes
and porridge. Plenty of beef and mutton, but no
potatoes, our any vegetable to eat therewith. A jar of
excellent whisky, but as wo could not take the article
neat it was not available. No water to be bad, except
snow melted in a pot over the fire, so that we are reduced
to the foreign (I dare say Manx) custom of ablution, in
half-pints of fluid. And all this while I was suffering
from an attack of my old London enemy, brought on from
too long a walk."
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