The Express.
London, England, 1850-01-04 00:00:00

MEETING AT KNARESBOEOUGH.

Oa Wednesday last, being the market day, a pro-
tectionist meeting was held at Knaresborough, in the Town-
ball, at half-put one o'clock in the afternoon. Shortly after
that hear the large room was crowded to excess, and many
Partite were unable to :obtain admission. JOlizlN DINT.
Esq., of Ribeton Hall, late high sheriff, was in the chair, sad
he war supported by Andrew Lawson, Su , of Alehrough,
late M.P. for Knereeborough, A. 8 Lawson, Esq Wil-
limn Collins, Esq Sir Joseph Ratcliffe, Sir Charles blingsby,
' John Hinnies Esq ,of North Deightoo, M. Wortley, Esq.,
W. W. Whitiiker, Esq , &c. Before the business of the
meeting ertneasuid, in consequence of the crowded state of
Uterus, it was agreed to adjours the messing to the Court-
house, • plans much more commodious and convenient, sod
better adopted to the object in view ; sad in a few moments
the room was cleared, and the assembly repaired to the Coati.
honor, which in • very short time was well filled. There
could not be less than six hundred persons present, three
fourths of whom were free traders. On the motion of Sir
Charles Slingsby, Bart., seconded by the Rev. T. Collins,
JOSEPH Bata, Esq., wee unanimously called to the chair.
The CHAIRMAN coma need the proceedings by • pro.
tectionlit speech, in the course of which he was frequently's-
sailed by questions and other signs of impatience on the part
of the anaitorr.
C. WILKINSON, Esq., of Cayton Hall, moved the first
resolution, which was as follows:
" Trnt the egricultural and colonial interests of this empire
are by the present so-called free-trade policy, unaccompanied
by reciprocity, involved in great distress."
He said, if Ye had consulted his own feelings he should have
remained ia the body of the court, but as the subject woe
ono in which he took a deep end lively interest he bad the
greatest possible pleasure in moving the resolution put into
hie hands, ter he felt the truth of it. Mr. Wilkinson con-
fined his remarks to the question of labourers' wages, and
argued that when corn was dear many farmers gave their
servants increased wages. He for one bad paid as high as
h. 6d. pee day for labourers, when flour was selling at high
rates. The average maps of labourers under the graduated
scale of duties when the corn law woo in exiceoce was 2s.
per day. Many labourers had come to him lately and offered
their services ler 9a. a week, a fact from whicu Mr. Wilkin-
son argued, that although corn wee low in price, the
lab sneers were no bcttr on, for they had less money to pur-
chase it with.

Mr. 7011 N HANNAH, of North Deightou, seconded the
resolution. He proceeded to argue that there was a great
and unparalleled distress existing among toe lumen gene-
rally, who were paying wages out of their capitol; and if
the present awful condition of the agricultural clams was
suffered to exist for twenty-four months longer, three-fourths
of the small farmers of this country would be entirely ruined:
the heavy taxes and rates, sad tee low prices at which corn
was selling, pressed upon them with undue severity. (Ap-
plause and uproar.) If they canted the evideace of tai',
he would refer them to Sir Robert Peel's own letter. The
very fact of hie returning some of the rent to his tenants was
a proof of the existing distress. He then combatted the
arguments of the free traders in reargues to the fashionable
dogma of " buying in the cheapest and selling in the
dearest market," and contended that it was wrong in
principle. Mr. Sidney Herbert, • member of the go-
. vernmcnt, had recommended a subseripion to be
=de, for the purpose of sending 26,0u0 of the
laliewrion population of the kingdom abroad. This he
considered was draining the muutry of the very lifeegiviag
sap and phygical strength. It seemea to him a strange ano-
maly, that whilst they were exportieg the labour of 26,000
souls, they were importing the lahour of foreigners in the
shape of cheap corn. As the labouring class appeared to
form the largest unties of that meeting, he would ask them
what bent fit they had derived from tree trade ? (A mot,
"Cheap bread.") Cheap bleed, what had that done for
Vitra ? It had not reduced the poor-rates, for in 1647 the
amount expended in the relief of the poor was under
8,000,0001. sterling, whilst in 1849 the poor-rates had risen
to 9,000,0(101. He went on to contend that the free-traders
were seeking to ruin • great portion of the agricultural
community, tar the sake ot °Malting their dour at 61. per
stone. lower. (Cries ut " No, no ;" and a voice, " It's not
true.") He would prove it. (A voice, "It's you land-
lords.") He would come to that part of the question. If
he were selling at less then the corn east him growing, he
' must he relent, unless he lest his native Lome, and prevailed
upon some silly fellow t succeed Lim. (A voice, Settle
your rents.") Mr. Hannam alluded to tee une.ttled state
of the continent as discouraging agricultural pursuits, and
cousequently not so much corn had been imported into this
country as otherwise would have been the cue If a state
of peace had existed. In the cultivation of corn three points
were to be considered—the cost of 1-nd, the cost of labour,
and the capital employed in it—sx.d in al these three points
the foreigner had a great advane.ge over us, fur it aas im
possible er this country, which had fourteen millions of hexer
to pay, to produce corn at the same price as t .e tertigiter.
(Applause and uproar.) He occupied 200 acres ot the highest
cuiuvated turnip land, aid they were aware that land of this
dascription I i cost • great suns in :abeur and maaagement,
' inasmuch as they were nearly always In crop. The pro-
duce on a turnip farm ought to sell for four times the
amount of the rent to gain a profit. Owing to a dem-
elation in the value of twin twenty-live to tinny per cent.
in the produce, the cultivation, it he ha i tie land rent the,
wtaild be a loser to the amount of 211. Mr. Hainaut
was proceeding to review the great ardeunt of money the
agricultural Oar had to pee In taxes, tithes, and rates, and
in the course of his remarks he said he had been compelled
to reduce the wages of his labourers, as te could not afford
to pay them as the same rates as he had done form.rly.
(Cries of " Shame, shame," and uproar, and a voice "Want
woe the reason that corn was selling 395. per quarter in
1839.") Mr. Liannam replied by observing that the abon•
dente of corn produce was the cause. Another person in the
crowd observed that in his opinion the pre sent low price of
corn was owing to the newts speculation in that article when
et was SOs. and 100 s. per quarter a few years ago. (Ap-
plause.) Another person sued the reason why the prices of
corn were now ruing, when Mr. Mannam soid it was an evi-
dence of the ',muting good sense of the community at large.
Muck uproar prevailed for some tine, and in the end Mr.
Hannam resumed his seat cheereei by his triends, and hissed
by his opponents.
The CHAIRMAN remarked, erne: much confusion, that
it was very clearly the cue they had come to the meeting
to make • disturbance and stop the proceedings. He was
abou. to submit the motion to the meeting, when several
voices called out that an amendment would be proposed,
and it ought to be put first. The chairman, however, re-
fused to entertain the amendment, and the original motion
was put, when the protectionist party held up their hands
for it.

T. COLLINS, Esq., of linaresborougb, submitted the
next rcsoluuon. He procerded, with occasional interrup-
tion*, to assert that protection was necessary for the work-
ing classu generally in order to secure for them a fair
day's wage for a fair day's work. Alter alluding to the
great importations of loreign corn into this country from the
banks of the Vistula, he turned kis attcntam to the
colonies. By the operatious of free tride the \Vest Indies
were in a dreadful state of depression, owing to the im-
portation of slave-grown sugar from Cuba and Brazil.
Fur the sake of saving Id. per pound in sugar, the West
Indi.n proprietors were to be ruined. The rtarlut on he
had to move was:

That import duths ♦arying from 5 to 10 per cent. are at
present levied on manufactured article of fore.gn nations ;
we ask, tterefurr, for tie same measure of justice for our
agricultural produce."
The Rev. Y. R. 8. MON TRA.TR, Thorp Arch, bristly
seconded themotios.

lhe CHAIM/4AM read the resolution amidst hisses and
grosus, and was about to put it, when
Mr. DUDGEON proposed the following amendment:
. .

" That it is the opinion of this meeting that any interference
or alteration respecting corn will be destructive of the best
interests of chic kingdom."
The CILAIILMAN not knowing Mr. Dudgeon, asked if he
was a Knaresborough man, and what his name was. llte
reply was, " My name is Dudgeon, and I come from Ripon."
The CHAIRMAN intormed Dudgeon that he ought not
to have come to liouesborough and disturbed the meeting.
He had had his turu at Ripon lately, and that was midi-
. cient, without thwarting the obj. eta of that meeting.
Mr. DUDGEON, win great co..lneet, inquired of the
chainsan it he were a linaresborough man. (Laughter and
applause.)
The CHAIRMAN answered the question in the negative.
He was not a native of Knareaborough, but he lived in the
neighbourhood, and consequently had a lively interest in
its prosperity and well-being. The chairman having refused
to put Mr. Dudgeon's :amendment, tl.at gentleman put it
himself to the meeting., when it was carried with loud
cheering b a mai,rity of flee or six to one.
JOHNGROVES, Esq., Knareeborough, moved the last
resolation—" That petitions, embodying the above resolu-
tions, be presented to both houses of parliament, and that
the Right Hon. the Earl of Harewood be requested to pre-
unt the same in the House of Lords, and Edmund Deni-
son, Esq., that to the House of Commons." The tumult
was very great, not a tingle word that the gentleman uttered
being audible.
The Rev. T. ATTWOOD, Gul lsborough, seconded the
resolution, but it was not put to the meeting, the noise be-
ing so great.
Mr. DUDGEON got up, and, amid the applause of his
companions, charged the chairman with a want of proper
respect fur the feelings and wishes of the meeting, in not
submitting the amendments, that being the proper coarse to
adept at ill asacmblies of that description.
Toe CHAIRMAN replied that as they had taken the law
into taeir own hands, and had paid no attention to the chair,
he had refused to put the amendment. He supposed they
were for an equal distribution of property, and thus sub-
vert all law and order. (Cries of " No, no," and great
uproar.)
The CHAIRMAN said the mutts% was at an end, and he
and his followers immediately retired, amid groans, hisses,
and other marks of disapprobation.
The free tr.den then gave three cheers for " Cobden and
fres trade," and dispersed.

THE NEEDLE TRAWL—There was never, we are
inforeis.l, . better demand for the manufmtures of Redditch,
needles and flab Ito. It% than at present. There is full em-
ployment for all who choose to have it, and overwork if they
are minded to thkv it.— Worcester Okramoic__ _ _

Tug ALLEGED EKBEZZLLWENT DT A BANK MANA-
GIN AND CLIDLL AT —TM trial of &Wield John Rice
and Henry Senior, far an alleged extensive system of em-
bezzlement to the extent, it is said, of upwind, of 10,0001., at
the hank of Dyson and Taylor, at Din, which was arranged
to tske 'dace at the general quarter sessions for tho county
now sitting, has been postponed. Bath prisoners will to
tried at the next assizes.

THE
MANUFACTURING DISTRICTS.

PIgeTON, JAN. 3.
So far u the treasurer of the county of Lancaster stood
in the way of an effective reform of the expenditure, and a
mere effective control of the finances, the mega rates have
thoroughly relieved themselves. The adjourned annual
sessions of the county wu opened here yesterday morning,
and the attendance of mogistrates was nom• roue Al-
most beyond precedent. Not only was the bench
crowded, hut the whole of the seats at the table
for counsel in the body of the court, with those
behind them for encircles, and the jury-box, witness-
box, the dock itaelf, and many of the passages, were crowded
by magistrates. Mr. W. A. Mullein, the county treasurer,
was present, and there was a large muster of his friends ; but
the magisterial mind must have undergone a great revulsion
since the meeting held a few months ago, at which a resolution
to this gentleman to resign his office was negatived by such a
large majority, for a motion yesterday tantamount to a dis-
missal was carried by more than two to one. The Rev. Jo-
nathan Brooke of Liverpool presided, and after several tan.
important questions had been disposed of; the motion which
wee to excite the giand struegle of the day was allowed by
common consent, and contrary to the special rules of the
court, to take precedence of other business which stood
before it on the notice paper. Mr. Edmund Ashworth, of
Bolton, introduced the subject by movirkz :
" Whereas it is requisite, for the interests of the county,
that the county aeomints be kept upon a general uniformity
of system, and under the conduct and direction of an officer
well conversant with the duties of an able accountant, who
shall be paid by salary, end who shall give has sole and un-
divided attention to the business of h s office. And whereas
William Adam Hutton, hag., the j resent county treasurer,
has accepted the appointment of judge in one of the county
courts established under the act of Orb and 10th Vic., cap.
9.5, it is the opinion of this court that tha functions and
duties of a judge of one of the said county courts are incom-
patible with the duties attached to the office of treasurer for
this county."
In the notice paper • clause was added, rescinding the
appointment of the treasurer, to the notice of motion; but
Mr. AMworth reserved to himself the ri4ht of discussing
this and a furth.r proposition af;erwardr, if it should be
found necessary. Tue motion was seconded by Mr. John
Fenton.

_
Mr. Townley Parker referred at great length to the
charges contained in the rommilee'e rep rt as evidencing an
unfriendly spirit towards the county treasurer. He con-
tended that a coure more calculated to give pain to Mr.
Hutton could not have been adopted than that to-day, by
atandoning the reflections contained in the report sea nar-
rowing the question to one of incomprihdity of offices tend
the desirability of having a treuuter to devote the whole of
his time to the duties. Mr. lime Jeanie nee to move an
amendment to the effect that Mr. Hu:ton retain his office
but that he be required to appoint an accountant, at 20)1.
2-year, to devote the whsle of his time to the duties of
treasurer—his salary to he paid by the county treasurer
out of that guitieman's present salary. Mr. Marshall
hoped the meetiag would adopt the amersiment on the ground
that the office of treasurer was one uncle:et-lid to be held for
life unless anything of a serious nature athcting the eharait-
ter of the holder was alleged. This proposition was re-
ceived with laughter and cries of "No ;" and Mr.
Hutton, the treasurer, having the question nut to him, whe. to.. .r if the ameroltnent were carried he would be eatisfied to
continue the office of treasurer, prying a clerk, Mr. Watts
cemmeuied upon this as an admission by the treasurer of his
own ii. competency. Mr. Ashworth replie i, and the meeting
then procerced to vote upon the amendmer.t, which wee
negatived by a majority of 84 to 41. Without wait-
ing till the otiamal motion was put, Mr. Ilulton
at onco rose and ea:d, after the expression of
opinion which the court had come to, he thought
he ought to do that which he was ready to have done two
years ago. hut for the circumstances under w..kh it was re-
paired. lie would t jitter resign at once, or boil the office
hir a few moa•lis until fresh arrangements could be made.
Under th, se circumstances Mr. Ashworth withdrew his
motion, and substituted one requesting the treasurer to hold
his office till the 31st of May neat (the current
financial year) and empowering the ccmmittee to
examine the accounts and report to the next
annual meeting. With the adoption of this motion
the interest of the great body of the ma3istrate.
ended, and they retired in great numbers from the couets
Not lees ILI2 125 to 130 took part in the proceedings, of
whom many were from the southern part of t'.e county, and
for their accommodati• n the I menhir, sod Yorkshire Com-
puny put on a special train to 31anchester, which left Preston
about six o'eleek in the evening. The proceedings had lasted
from eleven in the morning till after five in the evenit.g.

RAILWAY MEETLNG.

MANCHESTER, SHEFFIELD, AND LINCOLN-
SMILE.

A meeting of ttc shareholders in this undertaking, resi-
dent in Lesua, was held at Searbro's Hotel, Lec.le, on
Thursday eft,rnoon, for the purpose of promoting the
appoinuneut of a committee of inrestigati an. Mr. BRAM*
saaw, patrivsft, of Barton. near Hull, presided, and there
was a terry large a•tendarce of shareholders. After a long
address from Mr. Morton, of Wakefield, a large hclder of
stock in the company, dcacrihine the disastrous peeition of
the conrany% stflirs, a resolution WAS carried unanimously
us favour or the sprwintment of a committee of investigation,
sod a requisition, vallicg upon the directors to call a general
meetirg of shareholder.; for the purpose of appointing such a
ctaamittee, was signed by the shareltailers present.

LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN.—CorAidtrable improve-
:write avd enlargements hare been carried out at this com-
Pany's principal stauons at Steiford and Crewe. At the
atter, owing to the act:Welds that have occurred. a hand-
some clued in ga:Pry has been thrown ov‘r the line, over
which, instead of as hitherto crcuing,tim numerous pea-
*engem at this Fated= go.

SOUTH STAFFORDISKI/LI.—II is stated that a deputation
from the shareholders is this undertaking having waited
upon the directors for the purpose of requesting them to
convene a special meeting, in order that Mr. DI Clean's
proposals to lease may again be taken into consideration, the
director% hove consented to convene the meeting.

Sours( WALee.—A memorial k in course of •i;Rnature by
several of the char holders of the South Wal.s Railway
resident at Swamis, suggesting to the directors of the South
Wares the propual of certain new coodiinis to the Great
Western Railway Company, in lieu of the guarantee of tire
per cent. on the completion of the line to Fisligulrd. The
promoters of the memorial deem the latter condition im-
practicable.— Smonse a Herald.
Tue BARNSLEY BRANCH of the LANCASHIRE and
YORKSHIRE IitILWAY was opened on Tue-day tar goods
and panengers. Some hundreds of perso: s astemb:ed to
witness the arrival and departure of the trains during the
day.
Sr. LAWRENCE AND ATLANTlC.—Arrangements have
been made for the construction of this and for its com-
pletion in three years.