The Express.
London, England, 1859-08-19 00:00:00

nut &IBMS IN TEI BUILDING 73.1D3.

The following letter, signed by Mr. Lilwall, was
received on Tuesday by Mr. Potter
8114—At the request of the committee of thb society, I
have just addressed • letter to the Central Association of
Yeadevs, inviting them to appoint a given number of their
members to meet a like number of the baling Mends of the
Early Closing Auociation, in order to discus in a calm and
dispassionate manner the central points of contention now
unhappily miating between the masters and the men, end
which tend to prolong the strike, and its manifest evils to
both bodies, as also to society at large. The object of this
latter, therefore, ie to invite your committee to appoint •
given number of delegates to meet the friends of the Early
Closing Amociation and the masters on the proposed occasion.
We think six persona from each committee would be about
the just number to secure a full dismal= of the several
points of contention, the various details of the suggested
meeting, including:the names of the representative* of the
Early Closing Association, should be previotialy submitted
for the approval of both committees. Hoping that you will
anent to our proposition as above, by appointing mit •
number of delegates ea may here►fter be agreed upon—l
remain, dec."

To this proposal, Mr. Potter, on behalf of the corderecee,
returned the following reply
Bir,-1 am directed by the conference of the nine hours

movement to InfAqa you that your letter wee read last sun-
* at themeitereace, and that the following resolution was
unaaimously passed .—' That the semelary be empowered
inf.rm the Early Closing Association, that as soon as the
Committee of the Early Closing Amputation shall have been
amered as mediators by the master builders, this conference
will they be prepared to entertain your proposition.' "

It has been reported that the fisatar;A;sociation have de-
clined the proposed conference.
At a meeting of the conference held last night, it wu re-
solved to send Messrs. Cramer, Facy, Brown, and Osborn, as
delegates to visit the principal towns in the kingdom
for the purpose of agitating the question, collecting support
for the men locked out, and persuading operatives not to
come up to London to ell their places. On Monday next a
dividend will be struck for the support of the 18,000 men
who are amertained to be locked out. The lame amount
will be given to aU the men, whether artisans or labourers.
The adjourned meeting of the delegates from the different
trades of London is looked forward to with considerable
interest, became it will then be ascertained to what extent
these confederated bodies of artisans are prepared to sup-
port their brethren of the building trades in their present
emergency, end to uphold them in agitating the Nine Hours
Movement.

MEETING AT WOOLWICH.

Lest evening a dewily-crowded public meeting of the
operative elutes connected with the building trade wee held
at the Castle Tavern, Powis-street, Woolwich, for the pur-
pose of taking into consideration the present lock-out, and
adopting such resolutions thereon as might be deemed expo-
dint. The great majority of the meeting were workman
now employed, and the utmost unity prevailed during the
pronedinge. The chair was occupied by Mr. G. Darby,
joiner, and chairmen of the Woolwich and Plurnsteed Load
Committee for Supporting the Lock-onto, who urged
the necessity which existed at the present crisis
for unity of purpose end action amongst the opera-
tive builders of every branch. He found that the
cmpentere and joiners of Woolwich were not, generally speak-
ing, society men, although they had come forward nobly to
support the present straggle. The meeting had been con-
I mud to disease he propriety of forming an association of the
Woolwich building operatives, or to form a breech of the '
Londe; Society, in order that they might be enabled more
effectually to assist the present sheet-time movement,
and at some future period obtain judos for themselves.
Several speakers having addressed the meeting, • com-
mittee, cseristing-ei five members, was appointed to prepare
• report, Is be eabmitted to • future se g.• uto the beet
mode of effectieg a utopias combination of the operative
builders of Woolwich and It dietriot. In reply to
questions, the Chairman stated that the local com-
mittee for Woolwich and Plonesterd had received nu-
merous contributions in aid of the fund for the support of
the men who were locked oat, and members of the committee
had canvassed many of the shopkeepers and trading dames,
who evinoed their sympathy by subscribing. A collection
was then made in the room, and • considerable amount
subscribed.