The Express.
London, England, 1867-03-25 00:00:00

STRIKE OF AGIUCCLTURAL LABOFEERS.—Though
the weather has been most inclement since the " turn out"
of the farm labours at Gawcott for en advance of wages to
12s. per week, with Is. per day for Sunday work (the pre-
vious amount paid being only Ea. and 10s. per week), yet
the 2.4 who left their employment in that village are still
on strike, supported from the fund which has been formed
in order " to enable them to obtain their just rights," and
which has received considerable augmentations in re-
sponse to the appeals of the secretary, who, among
other subscriptions, has received, In consequence
of the paragraph which appeared a few days ago in the
Ti 1.11., a sum of 5/. (ruin " A landowner and clergyman,
who is willing to help the men to better wages and cottages
to." Similar expressions of sympathy are continually flow-
ing in from various quarters. Enough was distributed
ou Saturday among the labourers to satisfy their families'
requirements ; and some of the labourers have been sent to
situations in different parts of the country at 14s. and 16a.
per week. The secretary says he hopes in the course of
another week or so to send 14 more to other districts, on
wages amounting to about res. per week, and shortly to
draught all the agricultural labourers out of Gawcott, so
that the farmers there will be obliged to advancethe rate of
wages if they would obtain labour at all. Edward Esater,
one of the Gawcott labourers, has on their behalf issued an
address to the public, which is a curiosity as coming from
that clam, and in which occur the following missages
—" We are poor men and wish to have facts fairly stated,
as the only thing that can give us a standing in the sight
of the public. For a long time we have complained, and
stated our position to our employers. In some cases we
have been laughed at and had indefinite promises. We
have worked all the winter at 9s. and 10s. per week ; we
are willing to take the sum of 12a. per week. To show
that the former price was not enough, J. C. has a wife and
eight children lone boy earns :is. per week) ; W. M. has a
wife and five children ; E. E. has a wife and four chil-
dren ; W. 8. has a wife and three children. This is an
example of some of the families who have lived, or rather
breathed on Os. and 10a. per week. What Is a man to
spend when he Ina paid—rent, 1.. IW. ; firing, la. ; bread,
at l'Ad. per loaf, &c. ? We have nothing left for the
clothier, draper, butcher, shoemaker, &c. Where are we
labourers with our industry ? Why, on the verge of
pauperism. We ask that we may live—not as
paupers, but by our own industry. We are wil-
ling to work, that our families may live. All
we now ask is 12s. per week, and for those who work
on Sundays Is. more. For this application some of us
had a part of our week's wages put into our hands, and
were dismissed there and then. Will the advance of wages
bring ruin on our employers? We know it will not, but
it will enable us to have more to eat, in order for us to do
our work to their satisfaction." It is noteworthy that
the men still off work are represented as conducting
themselves peaceably and respectfully towards their
previous employers, and refraining from processioning
and other things calculated to annoy the farmers ; and we
are told that the strike fund is sufficient to enable them to
hold out for some time to conic. Mr. John Bin and Mr.
Thomas Baker, jun., of Buckingham, have undertaken to
act as secretary and treasurer to the labourers in this
movement. —Tam% .

447;iiimabomntaosTION. —The Southampton
papers contain a i.....eepundence, divulging a hoax of en
extraordinary character played on the vicar and church at-
tendants at Newport, Isle of Wight, on Sunday last. The
vicar, the Rev. G. H. Connor, writes to Mr. Preem, the
Electric Telegraph Compauy's engineer at Southampton,
calling attention to the fact that the following telegram
CAM, into his Lerida on Sunday morning, and, " consid...ring
the intelligence of great public importance," the rev. gen-
tleman says, " I read it to the assembled congregation, and
requested their prayers for those who were supposed to be
in so much peril. Here is the despatch :—` Private. Dub-
lin. Fortifications attacked. Two thousand Fenians killed
and wounded. Telegraph office burnt down. Fleet of
Fenian' off Liverpool expected to attack that port to-day.'
To my horror and consternation," adds the vicar, "in
making further inquiries at the telegraph office here I dis-
covered that the telegram was a gross fabrication." Mr.
Preece, in his reply, expresses his deep regret for what had
occurred, arid which arose, he says, from the fact that a
boy in the telegraph office at Southampton had been play-
ing a practical joke with his friend at Newport, who, an a
pastime, telegraphed to him to know if there was any news
from Ireland ; and adds that both have been suspended,
awaiting the judgment of the directors of the Telegraph
Company. Mr. Connor rejoins, expressing his belief that
the boy was joking with his friend, and pleads for both
being retained in the company's service.
THE ROYAL INFIRMARY, CITY-ROAD.—Sane the
foundation of this hospital for all chest disease., 7000
cases have been admitted. The number under treatment
last week was 650. Acute cases are received for indoor
treatment without any letter of admission. Public bene-
volence alone can help the hospital to keep pace with the
claims on its resources.
INDIA AND CHINA MAIM—MALTA, MARCH 23.
—The Nyanza left at noon, and the Tanjore leaves at
8 p.m. to-day. The former will be due at Marseilles about
midnight of 25th instant, and the latter at Southampton
about Ist April.