The Express.
London, England, 1861-04-09 00:00:00

(Stamped, ld. Additional.) IT W OPENCE .

THE SOUTH LANCASHIRE STRIKE.
--0---

Tho strike of weavers and the lock. out in Ashton,
Stalybridge, Dukinfield, and the Hyde district still con-
tinues, and has been augmented since our estimation of
the number of hands out of work on Monday last. Messrs.
13ayley's weavers at Stalybridge are now all out, together
with Messrs. Nield, Sutcliffe, and Co.'s, Aehton, and Messrs.
Sidebottom'a, of Waterside. There is no doubt that the
number of hands not now working in these districts
amounts to some 30,000, and that they are sacrificing up-
wards of 93,0001. per week in their resistance to the at-
tempted reduction of 7 wages. A
3 per cent. upon their
great number of the hands out, having owed work a
fortnight, are now in actual distress, and the Weavers'
Committee have appointed duly authorised parties to
solicit assistance with books bearing the stump of the
Power-loom Weavers' Association, and have issued a hand-
bill addressed to the "Public of Ashton-under-Lyre and
neighbourhood," appealing for assistance. Considerable
disaatidaction is manifested by those now locked out of
various mills, the cry being, as they walk the streets, " We
are willing to work, but they (the weavers) will not let us."
The most anxious wish is therefore expressed by everyone
that this unhappy dispute may soon be brought to an
amicable settlement. Deputations from each mill were to
wait on the employers yesterday to endeavour to
effect some arrangement. From reliable information,
we fear that the reduction will be insisted upon. The
masters say that the turn-out is the best thing that could,
wider present circumstances, have oome to them, that their
warehouses are stocked with goods, that the markets are
depressed, and that they do not believe the resistance by
the strike can last,

An oat-door meeting of operatives out on strike, and
others locked out, attended by some 1,500 people, took
place in the Marketplace, Ashton, at half-past 10 o'clock
on Saturday morning, over which Mr. William Jardine
presided. The chairman announced that " @hop meet-
imps" (deputations from the various mills) had been held,
and that deputies had been appointed to wait upon the
employers at each mill to learn what was their determina-
tion, and each deputy was to attend at the house of Mr.
John Bethell, at six eiclock on Monday night, and give
in his report. He did not think the masters, however, had
repented of their deeds. He read a report of Tuesday's
market, and commented upon it, to show that the market
was not in such a depressed state as asserted. Mr. Richard
Mellor stated that the deputies would ask the employers
if they would give the same as at the last making up. It
was the opinion of the ahopkeepers and their class that
they should take some steps to bring about • nameable
settlement ; and he thought that should be done if it could
be done honourably. If the offer of the employers was
ressonable and just, it would be met in the same spirit.
They had no wish to dictate to the employers, but they had
a right to protect their labour. It was said they had given no
notice, but he said all they did was, that they said they
would not be reduced 7i per cent in their wages ; but the
masters set them at defiance, and said they would reduce
them 7i per cent. Capital was only accumulated labour,
and unless they lent their labour, capital became nothing.
The operatives, therefore, thought they were right in re-
sisting, and he thought they were doing right, though, as
he had said before, he was against a strike. Their strike
was the same as the employers' refusal to sell their yarns
at a certain price in the Manchester market, as they said
they had a right to sell their labour at • certain price.
Abler • few worths from the chairmao, he announced that
the meeting was adjouioal to Tuesday morning, when the
result of their deputations to the employers would be laid
before the meeting.—Afaarkesfer Guardian.

THE PAWNBROKINO SYSTEM IN SCOTLAND.

A public meeting was held in the Bumaide(U.P.)
Church, Caper, on Friday evening, for the purpose of con-
sidering the evils of the pawnbioking and -heeling system,
and suggesting restrictions and modifications upon it.
Provost HOCAKTH occupied the chair, and stated that the
subject they were met to discuss had been brought under
their notice by the alarming statements contained in a
pamphlet published recently by a Mr. Macrae of Glasgow.
The Provost then adverted to the evils of the system as
offering great temptations to crime, and being the handmaid
and nursery of the public-houses, while tile good dune by illwas
infinitesimally small compared with the evil.
The Rev. Jowl *Amax addressed the meeting, and
submitted the following resolutions "That in the judg-
ment of this meeting, the system of pnwnbroking and ' wee
pawns' as at present awned on in Scotland, is injurious to
the social, morale and religious condition of the commu-
nity." In speaking to this motion, he stated that in
Glasgow alone there were no fewer than 79 large pawn-
braking sad 400 broking establishments ; and the pledges
put into these places in the cause of the year amounted
to the enormous number of 5,000,000. In that city there
were 64,000 houses below 10/. of yearly rent, and as the
higher classes of society never dealt with these establish-
ments, that left 78 pledges to come from each of these
houses ; while if they turned to the other side they
would fiod that for 78 deposits in thcse pawnbroking
establishments, there were only two in the savings bank.
thus showing a great amount of improvidence on the part of
the working classes. The rev. gentleman then proceeded
to show the degrading effects of the system, as affording in-
ducements to theft, and the committal of other crime, as
well as stripping Scotland of the thrift and independence of
her people, which had so lung distinguished her.
ldr• SIMPSON PHILP seconded the motion.

The Rev. J. CoCHRANE next addressed the meeting, and
moved, "That the meeting is further of opinion that the
right of granting pawnbroking licenses should be conferred
upon the load may in burghs and the justices of
peace in country districts ; that the provisions of the act
13 and 14 Viet., rap. 33 (enacting that no person holding a
license as a pawnbroker shall be allowed to conduct the
business of a broker in the same premises), and that the
other provisions of the said act be made imperative through-
out the country ; and that such other restrictions be made
upon the whole traffic as may be deemed most advisable by
the legislature for mitigating the evils complained of."
Rev. W. BURNET seconded the motion.

Rev. Mr. JOeIEPH proposed, "That petitions to the
Legislature be framed in conformity with the resolutions
just proposed, one to be sent to the House of Lords, and
entrusted to Lord Strathodeo, and the other to the House of
Commons, to be sent to the member for the burghs."
Mr. DUNCAN, jeweller, seconded the motion, which, as were
all the others, was carried by acclamation ; and, after a vote
of thanks to the chairman, the meeting soperated.

A SnrP oN Fnut yr THE LONDON DOME. —The Ame-
rican ship Hortense, Capt. Barnes, of Richmond (Virginia),
for Port Ybilip, loading alongside of North Jetty, London
Docks, was yesterday morning discovered on fire. Captain
Barnes, his wife, and most of the crew, were on board the
ship, which was ready for sea, but appeared to be uncon-
scious of the danger until aroused about a quarter to six
o'clock by the watchman attached to that part of the dock,
who discovered smoke issuing from the seams of the fore
hatchway. On the batches being removed, the smoke and
fire burst forth curiously, and increased. The alarm bell
in the docks was rung, and the police lost no time in con-
veying the dock engines to the spot, as also hauling one of
the dock floating engines alongside the burning ship, which
were immediately put into operation. Intelligence was at
the same time sent for the assistance of the fire brigade, who
shortly arrived in great force, with land and steam floating
engines. After much exertion, and an immense quantity of
water had been poured into the fore hold of the ship, the
progress of the tire was stopped, but not until most part
of the cargo in the hold was destroyed. On examination
it was found to consist of 116 cases and 19 casks of lucifer
matches, heifers, and Lucifer wax vests.. The under part
of the main deck and beams are much damaged by fire, but
not to such an extent that will detain the ship in port. The
refuse of the lucifer cases, and casks, /cc., have been hauled
out of the bold and removed from the docks.

HOUSEBREAKING BITRAGEDINARY.-011 Satur-
day, at the Portsmouth Quarter Sessions, the wife of a
warrant officer of her Majesty's ship Castor, lying at North
Shields, named Emma Madam, and George Midden, her
son, were brought up under the following circumstances:
The prisoners, who occupy a respectable position in life,
rented a house in Grafton-street, Portsmouth, next to
which another warrant officer, named Andrews, resided.
The latter being appointed by the government to a ship on
the coast of Ireland, removed there, and hi. house, next to
Mrs. Madden s, was consequently closed. In the meantime
Mrs. Madden and her son koke into the house belonging to
Mr. Andrews, and completely stripped it of furniture,
books, and valuables. She sent a portion of the goods to
her husband, who delivered them to the police. The rob-
bery was discovered, traced to the prisoners, and they were
both apprehended. The Recioter, in sentencing the pri-
soners, said it was the worst (Ilse he bad hal to deal with
during the session, and sentenced them to four years' penal
servitude. The female primmer fell down in a fainting fit
on hearing the sentence.
-nut
dimin-
ishing. DISPUTE IN TEE BUILDING TPADEPL—The
unfortunate dispute which saw exists between the employ-
ers and the employed, sod which at present amounts to a
to
establishments of Messrs. Kelk and Lucas, but now Mr.
thebr' ct kh
smith hes joined them, and refuses to employ the skilled
partial
p to
lock-out, seems
seeireems
workmen upon any other terms than 71 per hour.
• • --- -

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