The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-18 00:00:00

THE BLACKBURN WEAVERS 41W THEIR

EMPLOYERS. --
In every instance, with one exception, the
Blackburn women have rejected the terms of the em-
ployers, and have left their loom@ with the intention not to
return until the masters either promise to pay the old rate
of wages or consent to run their mills and sheds only four
days per week. The exception is in the cue of Mr. C.
Alston, who' it is stated, has guaranteed to make up the
difference of the 5 per cent. reduction by bonuses. The
town 1/1 in • very excited state, and not hue than
14,000 persons—weavers beamers, lowneni, and drawers-
In—are now unemployed and patrolling the streets.
The operatives employed by Mr. W. H. Hereby, Brook-
house, and Mr. iblart, Bank Top, are at present
working under an arrangement which will expire next
Thursday. The following mills, we understand, are work-
ing full time at the old rate of wages :—Peel Mill • Oldie's
Nova Scotia, Ashburn's Paradise Mill, Emmett and Co.'s,
Holden Brother*, Cleaveratreet ; BirtwietWs, Green-
wood's, Holden Brothers, Daisy ; Marsden and
Clark, Clnunley's, Lower Darwin • Parson-dime
Mill ; Bennington and Bury ; Ward's Swellowetreet Mill ;
Shuttleworth and Co.'s; Hopwood's Brunswick-strest
Mill • Brandwood's, Knowles and Co.'s • Sager, /leaden
and Aspen; Primrose Mill • and Whalles, -neratseet
Mill. At Church four of the employers ve agreed to the
terms of the operatives, and their mills are again at work.
At Enfield the whole are still stopped. At Darwen, where
the notices have been only partial, negotiations have been
made with operatives to resume work on their own terms.
At Accrington there is a similar movement, while at Black-
burn Mr. W. Birtwistle's operatives, who left work on Thurs-
day, will return to their looms this day on their own terms,
viz.., short time and 5 per cent. reduction. It was rumoured
that two other firms hail followed the example of Mr. Birt-
wistle. On Thursday evening a crowded meeting of operatives
was held in the Itechabites' Hall, when a resolution wee
passed declaring that the operatives adhere to the resolu-
tion agreed teat the great gathering last Sunday. A large
out-door meeting was held in the Market-place on Friday,
and was attended by at least 5,000 operatives. Speeches
in favour of the policy already adopted by the operatives
were mule, and a resolution was carried to the effect that
they should not resume work at the reduced rate of wages
unless short time be conceded. The stoppages of so many
looms have of course caused • considerable reduction in the
consumption of yarn, and the cotton spinners have therefore
taken the necessary steps to reduce production. They have
given notice in most instances of the adoption of short time
in their various establishments.
On Thursday evening, a large meeting of the weavers el
Prestos was held in the Spinners' and Minders' Institute,
Church-street, Preston, for the purpose of considering the
hest means of supporting the operatives who would be out
on strike at Blackburn, in consequence of the refusal on the
part of the masters to accede to their demands. The
meeting was also convened for the purpose of eliciting
additional support on behalf of the operatives out on .trite
at Colne, at which place the strike has now lasted 35
weeks. Mr. E. Frankland, of Collie, and Mr. E. Walker,
of Blackburn, addressed the meeting at length ; as did
also Mr. Swift, the secretary to the Preston Weaves'
Association. The feeling of the meeting was unanimous
as to the necessity of " running " short-time in preference
to a reduction of wages, and a resolution was panned
pledging the operatives present to support, if necessary,
both the people of Colne and of Blackburn. For that pur-
pose it was decided to make • levy of led. a loom
throughout Preston. Upwards of 700 operatives were
in attendance ; and it was stated that four of Mr. W.
Dawson 's weavers bad received notice to leave in con-
sequence of collecting from the hands at the factory gates
small sums of money in support of the Colne strike.—At
mient, all the mills are " running " full time, as nensi, in

THE LONDON FREIGHT MARKET.

Berth freights; hence to the East are flat, and the
amount of tonnage heavy. The quotations for shipping ere
per ton dead weight to Bombay, Calcutta, and Madras,
355. ; Singapore, 40s. ; Kurpichee, 425. 6d. to 455. For
Australia, say Melbourne, 755. to .10s. per ton register.
More has been doing this last week in East India outward
charters, but the rates are much the same, a long interval
having preceded in which shipping accumulated and mer-
chants did not make engagements. Aden, 43/. ; Cape of
Good Hope, 391. ; Bombay, 35/. to 36/. • Point de Gallo,
381. to 391. ; Calcutta, 401. ; Singapore, 371. Homewardss
Java, 655. ; Calcutta, 60s. to 65e. ,• Bombay, 56e. ; ries
porta, Ms. ; Moulmein, 92a. 6d., teak. Guano chartering
has ceased. The Mediterranean trade is without animation.
Homewards : Rata comprise Odium, 5•25. 6cL ; Asa,
tea. rid. Jane shipment : Danube, 10s. 6d. ; Minsk,
7a. 6d. ; Alexandria, 54., nominal. Outward orders are
not so scam, and there is • slight improvement in rates.
The American timber business is very languid, being
unfavourably influenced by the high price of money.
Quebec is • shilling lower, Am. to Esat Coast being very
doubtful :-Richibucto, 954 ; Miramichi, 905.: St. John's,
87s. 6d. to 905., &c. ; Darien 40a. to 42g. 6d. ; Montreal,
Ba. direct ; Be. Gd. orders. There is a fair inquiry in the
Baltic trade, and rates are pretty well settled for spring,
although the transactions hitherto are very few. Danzig,
18s. ; Memel, lids. ; Konigsberg, pain, 4a. ; wheat, Rip,
3e. Gd. ; oats, 21s. ; sleepers, Luidon, 21s. 6d. ; fir. 245. 6d.
oak logs to dockyards in Thames or Mersey, Cronstadt,
42.5. fid. to 45e. ; Lundswall, 575. Gel. ; Archangel, 4s. 6d. ;
4s. Gd. oats. As the Nasal program, Havana 'Mpg become
worth, 7151. 6d. to 755. out and hems, 52e. 6d. bons* only ;
St. Lucia, 50s. ; St. Croix, 72a. 6d. out and home • Rio de
Janeiro, 775. to 80s. ; Pernambuco, 70s. • Patook, 60s.
mahogany. The Indian Council ask for tenders-305 tons
to Cakmtta, and 235 and 200 taw of coals rn separate ships
for Bombay.-(From the Ciroeler of Mom Thomas Sharer
and Co., dated Elatardsy evening.)