The Express.
London, England, 1867-04-02 00:00:00

THE ENGINE DRIVERS' AGITATION.

The present week will, it is believed, witness
the end of the agitation which has now existed for nearly
two months, the directors of all the railway companies
being disposed, since the aettlement of the question on the
London and North-Western, London, Brighton, and South
Coast, Great Western, and North-Eastern Railways, to
grant the requirements of the men as far as it is reason-
able to do so. In almost every ciao where the driven
and firemen had sent in memorials the principal claims
as to hours and wages have, after long discussion, been
granted. There are still many minor points to be settled,
such as the mileage and the "shed-day," and grievances
attaching to certain lines, which by the force of circum-
stances are not felt on others; but with mutual for-
bearance there is now no reason to doubt that they
will soon be overcome. The agitation which was brought
into prominent significance during the past week by the
" one day's strike" has hardly been before the public
two months, and many therefore will be surprised to learn
that the drivers and firemen have for several years been
endeavouring to arrive at the result now attained. They
have sought to attain this by interviews, but with the ex-
ception of one or two lines their claims to consideration
have not been attended to. In November last a great
conference was held in London, which was attended by
delegates from railways in all parts of the kingdom, at
which the grievances of the men of each particular com-
pany were set forth. The conference extended over seve-
ral days, and at its close certain resolutions were drawn
up and approved, which have since been embodied in the
memorials presented to the various boards of directors.
Such, in brief, is the origin of the dispute now nearly set-
tled. The notice of the men of the North British Rail-
way, requesting that during their dispute with their
superintendent driven on other lines will not apply for
situations as engine-drivers or firemen, is still published,
leading to the inference that matters were not progressing
so favourably as could be wished. We are, however, enabled
to state that there is a prospect of an amicable settlement.
The engine-drivers of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Rail-
way bad an interview with the superintendent of the line
on Saturday, and we have authority fur stating that thy
ten hours per day was granted, together with the other
principal requests as set forth in the mernoriaL The ten
hours has been granted on the North London Railway, and
many grievances redressed, and the same may be said of
the Brecon and Merthyr and other oompaniea in the west
of England. On Sunday evening a special meeting of the
engine-drivers and firemen of the South-Eastern Railway
Company was held at Bermondsey, Mr. Milman in the
chair, to hear the opinions of the men respecting the cir-
cular letters sent in to the company by them (240 in num-
ber), asking for 10 hours a day, instead of 72 hours
per week, under which they are now working. It
appears that the South Eastern men were the first to take
prompt action by memorialising the directors for fewer
hours and more money. It is only fair to the directors to
say that thez granted both requests at the time, but the
system of /2 hours on an engine driver for the week,
which the directors of the company got the men to sign
for, was manifestly so wrong, that hardly had it been
granted than the men were dissatisfied, for the extra
line frequently bringing the day's work to 17 and IS
hours, revived in full force the grievance of which they all
BO much complained. It was then determined that as soon
as the ten hours had been conceded by the companies, the
men should again memorialise the directors. This has
been done, and we have reason to believe that, following
the example of the Brighton line, the boon will be
granted.

SINGULAR DEATH or A PHYSICIAN.-011 Mon-
day Mr. Coroner Whiston held an inquest at Willington,
eight miles from Derby, on the body of Dr. Watson, aged
46, a physician, who was found dead in his house under
the following extraordinary circumstances. It appeared
that on Friday last Dr. Watson telegraphed to his solici-
tor, Mr. Burton, of Nottingham, to come to Willington
at once, as ho wished to see him. Mr. Burton obeyed
the summons, and when be got there the doctor said he
had heard many unpleasant things about his (Dr. Watson)
housekeeper, and he was determined to get rid of her
that day. Mr. Burton, seeing his excited state, tried to
persuade him to keep his servant (who had been many
years in the family), but he said be would not, and that
she must go away that night. Mr. Burton, therefore,
had no alternative but to pay the housekeeper her wages,
make her pack up her boxes, and leave the house, which
she did, and went to Mr. Bull's, farmer, residing in the
neighbourhood, to stay all night. Mr. Burton remained
with Dr. Watson until ten o'clock on Friday evening, and
then left him, the doctor giving him instructions to prepare
a fresh will. On wishing Dr. Watson good night, the latter
said he must fasten all the doors, as there was no one in
the house but himself. During the night lights were seen
in various rooms, as if some one were searching about the
house. On Saturday morning the neighbours noticed that
the shutters were not opened as usual, and that the blinds
were drawn. This state of things remained until five
o'clock in the afternoon, when suspicion was aroused,
and some parties tried the different doors of the house
and found them all lockets Mr. Osborne, of Etwall, •
distant relative of the doctor's, was then sent for, and
on his arrival he obtained the assistance of a
constable, and with the aid of ladders they effected an
entrance into the upper rooms. They searched the bed-
rooms, but found no one, but the doctor's bed had evi-
dently been lain in, as the bedclothes showed that some
one had rolled about in it. They then went down stairs,
when, to their horror, they found the doctor lying nearly
at the top of the cellar steps, with his head and part of
his body just within the hall. He had nothing on but
his shirt and stockings, and was lying on his left side
with his face downwards, his legs down the cellar steps
(one being rather drawn up), and in his right hand was
clenched a tumbler half full of ale. He had evidently
been dead for several hours- It is supposed that he had
gone into the cellar to drink some ale and on returning up
the steps he became insensible, fell down in the manner
described, and being unable to move again, lay for some
hours in the cold, and died. Mr. Gisborne, surgeon, of
Derby, and Mr. Burton, of Nottingham, were coniusuni.
cated with, and they proceeded to Willington on Sunday
morning. The deceased wax still lying in the same
way as when found on Saturday evening. Mr. Gisborne
said in all his experience be never saw anyone die in such
• peculiar position ; although he must have ceased to live
early on Saturday morning, he firmly grasped in his right-
hand a tumbler gloss half full of ale. The deceased was •
bachelor, and possessed of great wealth, and has no near
relatives living. Until recently he had • good practice in
Derby, and was for a short time one of the physicians to
the Derby Infirmary, but his health failed him, and he
resigned that appointment some years ago. Two months
ago Le left Derby and took up his residence in • mansion
that was his property at Willington. His habits for some
time past had been of rather an eccentric character. The
jury returned a verdict in accordance with the shove &eta.
METROPOLITAN FMB HOSPITAL, DEVON/MIRA-
SQUABS, Crry.—The aggregate Dumber of patients relieved
during the week ending March 30 was—Medical, SST ; sue-
gieel, 668 ; total, 1,555 ; of which 706 were new eases.

LONDON WEEKLY

DOCH 1
Import&

,Deilvenl.

SVGA a-w.i. hk& &t,
Do. bra d: hags
B Mauri
Inditius ...... —begs,
un a
boakV
Sim
' Manilla WWI
Havana Immo'
Fo=illosoorodocooks
Beet Root lindiatoroinks
Do. begs
Cam—W. 1... package,
D 0..... brio. ,It=
Ceylon
Do. ....kin a
Mocha Panel
Other IL India
Brazil *Coots E 26114:
COMA
Foreign bogs
e=
Rum
Do. bhda
flak Mat India tore

2,641
1,415

1,606
614
1.666
6,615

3,190

17,049
1,403
700
Kt
730
2,13
10041

983
1,989

1.060
3,124
36
401
4
3,033

881
2,f18

• • •••••••T
ElALTrzras tom!

113
1,021
1,666
NO

ZOOS
36

rs.—Muci 30.
Yr. tit, ic log.
...--

7,8 n luc,
6.371 3,121
792 littot
301,.123 24,.0,33
„% 22
460,332
1402
11,126 41.70612,213
17.1174 Ikea
4.604 so,
37,721
367 :NS

6.816 1.14,
33,1116 15,4
1.366
,134
t,3114 I 26.471
16.11131 $3,20
20.145 14
,167

27,955".

18,-102
9,6151 ;:tx

TALLOW.—Ilmome SVIIIINO.—Then hu been very gme
movement In the tallow market for some time put. Tbe
demand from the home trade has been small, and pee,
supported mainly last week by purchases to cover prer);,,;
speculative sales. For the last three months there has tem.
fair inquiry-114 Cat. has been freely offered for the period, 0,,
is asked. We quote spot, new, 445. 3d., same price for Jut ;
October to December, 444. 6d. to 44a. 9d. ; town tallow, 41. ,
art
cash. Odessa sheep, 44a. 6d. to 44a. 9d. ; Australian slum
44a. ed. : mixed, 43a. 6d.: beef, 43a No South American
Cocoa-nut oil firm : Cochin, at 584. to 49v.. Ceyln, 6n •
Sydney, 47a to 495.: middling to fine, down to at, for Ys
and inferior. Palm oil, 411., flue Lagoa —From the Urmg..4
Messrs. Smith and Charles).

OCIITOI4.—LIVEIYOOI., Ann. I.—Our market is dead* to
day at Friday's prices. Estimated Was today, 10,014 hi,
Including 1,000 speculation and export. 5,000 American liji„
to 15d.: 400 Pernam, de., 1101.~ to yr.• 100 Nisrsahm
144 d. to 1444. ; 100 Hanel° and Nib* 13 .to 131 d.; 400
Ulm, 1:4. to 11d. ; 200 Smyrna, 101 d. to Std. ; 1.400 *est. 71d.
to 11d.; Bengal, Mode, Be.. 74d. to 10d. ; 200 Pero, 1314 co
1544. F llerah, llfd. ; fair Oomrsenttlee. 1144.: htr
Broach. 1114.: ialr &mind. 80. ; fair led.; be
Pemans, 141. ; middling Bowed'. 134. middling Orleans,

WOOL AND WORATED.—BitenToun, APRIL I.—Kure
little, If any, actual change in the wool market. There is a isje
average demand fur choice sorts, and aa stocks are now tery
low, prices are fairly maintained. In worsted yarns the owe.
dons of buyers have on the whole been limited. Some mama
have, however, been placed to-day in leading spinnings, so's, aid
prices are much the same so lad week. In pieces the swritd
has been well attended, but only a small amount of he*
business ham been done in plain goods. In fancy goods sous
heavy stocks have been cleated out since Thursday. Wool sal
cotton still keep up; prices continue steady.

CATTLI.—LreeMBoot. AMT. I.—The supply of cattle au
much larger than on Monday last, while that of sheep au
about the same. The demand was alms for each, at nth,
lower prices for cattle. Beef, bd. to 74d.: mutton. 7d to
ed. per lb. There were 2,147 cattle and 4,669 sheep at market.

COAL—LOwnon, Anal 3 1.-11.4-well Slain, 17s. ; Lambent
Waal Hartley, lin 3d. ; Walker Primrose, 13n ad. ; West Han-
ley, 17n ad. ; Walls End Goaturth, 10n 94.1. ; Walls End 1101.1 m.
las. ; Walls End Braddylls Helton, 17a. Dd. : Walls End Ilanordl,
Ws. ; Walls End Helton, 20s. ; Walls End Helton Lyons. Inc fnl .
Walls End Kepler Grange, 17n Sd. ; Walls End ?mallet' Pars.
roan, leo. al. ; Walls End Russets Helton, lit 9d. ; Walla End
South Hatton tam. ; Walls End Tunstall, les. ocl. End
Cuanp, 115. : Walls End Hartlepool, 19s ; Walla End Kele,
17a. ud.; Walls End East liartlepoul, 10n Walls End Teerk
198. &I. Walls Had Trhudom Thornley, lin—Ships at mutt%
a01d,120.

1