The Express.
London, England, 1861-03-09 00:00:00

TO TITII TIMOR OF TN! =PRIM.

Sia,—ln the spring of lost year the workmen in
the bui/dieg trades presented so wilted memorial to the
master builders, asking for • reduction in their hours of
labour. This year, for various reasons, they have decided
to send • memorial from seek of the five branches of the
building trade. I beg to disclose you • copy of the one seat
by the carpenters and joiners, and shall feel obliged if you
will kindly insert it in your next impreesiee.—l sea, kg.,
0190. POTTER, Ifisimetary.
96, Denbigh-street, Pimlico, B.W , Marek 7.

"ro nut imam or Iwo =ram, rasocutios or
_ _ MAST= BUILDSIII4.

" Gentlemen,— In the epilog of bat year we approached
yen sespeethilly, in the hope that you would favour with
yaw mem our request that our haus of labour should be
reamed without decreesing our daily earnings.
" We would submit to you, that the maser in which
this was presented should sot have done less than have
favourably recommended it to your notice, inasmuch as it
might have demonstrated to you that our desire was entirely
in mead with the efforts of the wise and good, who are
seek* by every legitimate memos to bring the working
dame nadir the influence of educational enlightenment; for
which, It must he admitted, the time we seek for that pm,
poem is an inevitable condition.
" You, gentlemen, however, considered our request as
ear a demand for aa increase of 10 per mot. on oar wags+ ;
taking this view we consider it quite unnecessary that any
apologv should be offered, in our character of " milers,"
for endeuvouring to enhance the value of the article we
have to offer, finding as we do our justification in the first
principles of " politid economy."
" Upon the occasion referred to, you did not deem it con-
sistent with your interest to accede to our proposition, sod
we were ultimately obliged to accept your own terms for
oar labor.

" The time has now arrived at which we, the asrpenters
and joiners, feel it neesinery to renew the mined then made
for nine hours as a day's work, and we desire to do so, no
lees respectfully than before, sesuring you that in our
belief by acceding to our wishes the health and intelligence
of the workman will be improved, and a more friendly feel-
ing between employer and employed will be established.
"An answer to this memorial, by the sth of April, is
solicited.

" fours, very respectfully, the carpenters and Jolson of
Loudon. " Gso. POTTER, Secretary.
" 96, Deabish•atnet, Pimlico, &W., March 7."

TIM WIWI HOME' MOVEMENT IN EDIN argon...—
MI Thursday night, • meeting of the master builders el
Edinburgh was hell is Georgeatrest Hall, to consider the
peasant position of the nude caused by the strike of the ope-
rative mamas and joiners in support of the nine hours'
movement. The hall was BUed with master builders, and
the chair was occupied by Mr. John Watherstee. Mr.
James Paterson, builder, moved, and Mr. Alexander sr
minded, • resolatios, to the effect that omaiderisg the
usual working time of operatives is the builditg nodes
to he neither oppressive nor seined to any extent by
machinery, or fry their own harnessed skill considering
also that the wean elf Ow openings are not such as to
warrant the propned ntlectice, sen that ea increased rate.
if given4anea, would serial* nook, the prosperity of
lase der' trade la trade Edinburgh—the meeting was strongly
el opinion**dowsed of the operatives for shorter
hewn wee monied for, and that it ought still to be
refused. This enientio• was carried sem. con. The
abairrnan intimated that they hod been successful
it genie, the moist of the architects ; and they
led alee eaesseini- is genies some important maim
dtl9lll fee • genes till the result of this movement wee
bona. The directors of the Railway Station Access Com-
pany had agreed to &Doer buildings in Cockburnatrait to
shod for • time, and the builders were liable to no penny
if they were not finished at any stated period. The number
of operative MOODS on the strike roil wee ea Yeaday re-
duced by thirty, several having succeeded is °Maisie( em-
ployment in tows, while others have goes to jobs in the
coustry. There are still upwards of 4170 on strike, and the
men show as little isellaation to yield as the employers.

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM.
MEETING AT NORWICH.
A meeting of working men was held in a room at
the Free Library, Norwich, on Tuesday evening, for the
purpose of organising a movement in favour of their en-
franchisement.
Mr. C. J. Burma, having been celled to the chair, said,
that for some time past there had been an opinion in Nor.
wick that something ought to be done to give expression to ,
the feelings of the working classes, with regard to the pre-
I seat state of the reform question. When they looked at
recent occurrences in the House of Commons, they could
not but feel that they had been insulted by one petty and
betrayed by wither. He did not expect to have seen the
time when a liberal government, placed in office almost
for the purpose of peseing a Reform Bill, should re-
'iodate the me sure OM the Mend that in the peewit
Mete of public feeling it was inespediest The question
would never be the leading question of the day till the
working classes took the matter up for themselves, for if
they did not move on its behalf, who could be expected to
do so? There might be a difference of opinion on the sub-
ject, but be was sure they were all agreed that it was
time that the national disgrace, the omseefranehisement of
the industrial classes, should be removed. (Hear, hear.)
Yor this object they should combine, and should, he thought,
revive the old agitation for nunhood suffrage, for they bed
of late been limiting their demands to such ao extent that
they had become almost infinitesimal. (Applause.) But,
In addition to this, he might add that, when the working
man had got a voie, he would want peetsetloa for its seer-
ciao, sad therefore he was ea advasts Of the ballot,
(Cheers.) Whether or not it might be prudent toorganise
such an iumeciation as be bad alluded to was now the sub-
Jett for consuleratten ; at any tale, he Mt Mist they had
dose right in 0311Teellig than meeting, and he would now
leave the matter in their hands.
Mr. EILACIUSUUS then moved the follow* resolution:—
" That the continual and systematic exclusion of the
working classes from the elective franchise is a direct
violation of the principles of justice, and a standing re-
to the boosted freedom of the British oonstitutmoa.“
hi saide that in 1845, daring the chartist agitation, Lord
J. Russell urged that the sutff:pcould not be granted at
a time of agitatioa, and in com with a popular de-
mand ; and now they were that the people did not de-
mand it, sad therefore did not desire it. A week or two
ego he himself had a vote, but his rent now being under
the standard, he had not ace.
Mr. ROBERTS seconded the resolution, which was carried
unanimously.
Mr. Balms° read two letters one from the London Re-
torts Union, sad the other from the Birmiaghatu Political
League, thank* the people of Norwich for what they had
already done in sending tip petitions (of which about 40 bad
been presented), and urging them to increased activity in the
same direction.
Several other poisons having expressed their views on the
subject before the meeting, the following remiolutiou was
proposed by Mr. J. Witrexa :—" That in the pre-
sent state of political parties it is important that
the wen-kiss classes, who are especially icterested in
the great question of amending the representation of
, the people' should organise for its effectual and speedy
settlement. It is therefore resolved to re-establish without
' further dela , the Norwich Political Uniosi." Mr. Winter
' then pneeedd to say that they should put tbeassedvss is
such a position as to be this to commons!e all their efforts
when the proper time arrived, especially misgovernment had
said that it was their own fault that a bill had not been
brought forward this amaion, inasmuch as there wan no
prospect of popular suppmt.
Mr. &eau exprnised his opinion that an error had been
committed in satin too much from the legislature, and
be considered that if their demands had been moderate, and
had been backed by sufficieet energy, they would have had
more success.

Several persons having expressed themselves of a de-
cidedly different opinion to the last speaker,
Mr. ADAMS kris* seconded the resolution, which wee
then adopted.
Mr. G. LTNILS next moved that "The union recognises
no settlement of the electoral system u final which does
not provide for the complete enfranchisement of the
voting by ballot, short parliament, a just appartioPast
of represealatives to population, and the means of Manilas
members without personal expense ; but that as progress
towards this consummation must be gradual, the union
'Mods pledged to support every we effort
which may secure an instalment of its anima, and that
every penes aceepting the constitution of the union and
subscribing not less than Is. annually to its funds, be en.
titled to registratioe as a member."
The resolution, having been seconded by Mr. Wx. KING,
and discussed at some length, wee ultimately adopted.

MEIrWG AT DRURY. .
On Tuesday evening last a crowded mei/
wee held in the Town-ball. Derby, for the
" taking into consideration the statement rosturLerd
John Rumen respecting the wants gad wishes of the people
knead to the reform patios.* The mart (Mr. Coal
I• ripened the =snag, he baring celled it is with
a requisitioo. He, however, declined to brat made
a few remarks, in the course of whilst' be add, whilst they
had a perfect right to seed and discuss the question of re-
' form. he thought it would have hemmers opportune if the
ematihad Wears/led to consider the present depressed
maaufacteres eadcosonenia, and the best means to
alleviate our suffering mechanics. His worship having
left the hall, Mr. Councillor Etches was voted to the chair,
j and called ups Mr. G. W. Y. Reynolds, of London, who
' delivered a loss address. A working man named Reynolds,
moved, sail a working man named Watson seconded, the
following resolution :—" That in the opinion of this meeting
her Majesty's ministers in their treatment of parliamentary
reform have grossly betrayed the trust reposed in them by
the people ; that the present restricted franchise depeives•
large number of honest and iadustrioua citizens of their just
electoral rights, entail* on the nation bad legislation, great
(asocial extravagance, and an irresponsible foreign policy. ;
that • comprehensive measure of parliamentary reform, in
which the electors shall be protected by the use of the
ballot, is the just demand of the working classes ; that this
meeting pledges itself to maintain the principles of
.labour being fully and fairly represented in parliament ; de-
nied' the total extiseties of class legislation ; recommends
that committees be formed in all cities, towns, and villages
throughout the kingdom, fur the purpose of forming
Gee great reform union ; and resolves to promote, as far as
it can, in every locality, the agitation of the question until
equal rights, equal justice, and equal protecties, are ob.
tamed for all classes of the community. And further, that
this meeting motet's the members for Derby to remind her
Majesty's government that an alteration of the present
representative system has been prayed for by petitions to
parliament far the last twenty yams by those whose he
it is to labour ; and that the members be requested to urge
the ministry to take the elective franchise into their serious
consideration, to prevent being driven by popular impulse to
grant sea matter of necessity what is refused on the ground
of justice, via., • recognition of the inherent right of the
working cliess to political liberty—• recognition which
would be the bulwark of constitutional freedom." The re.
solution was supported by the Rev. W. orißth (Wesleyan
reformer), who, is the coarse d his speech, said Birmingham
must be put in motion spin. A million of people must
march uE_to St. Stephen's with their bill of rights in their
hands. They must tell them that they will not leave the
doors until their rights are conceded. The fates of the
house will then be thrown opts. to them, not from a sense
of justice, but from fear of • rebellion, and the people would
then get posseseion of that liberty which bad been so long
denied them. (Cheers.)
The resolution was than adopted.
BIRMINGHAM RADICAL REFORM LZAGITL—The
members of the above league, of which Mr. Charles Marge
Is chairman, held • meriting at the c..s , Benastes.hill, on
Monday; Mr. J. Taylor, jun., is the chair. The provisional
committee's report stated that they had been in communica-
tion with reformers in many towns, and although so short n
time bad elapsed, the most encouraging and satisfactory re-
plies had been received, and a large number of subscriptions
announced. Letters from societies working for the same
object. had been rewired from London, Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Carlisle, Norwich, and other large towns, while at Banbury
• similar league had been formed, expressly to co-operate
with that at Birmingham. The report recommended that
all subscribers should be members ; that it should be
managed by • committee and cadre elected by the mem-
bers ; that its objecte should be to obtain a measure
of reform which should include manhood suffrage, vote by
ballot,..d2ouaileleetcwal districts. The report was approved,
and the f issolation unanimously passed,'- That
the deliberate diehanourable abandonment of reform by
her Majesty's government having again thrown the question
before the country, it is the duty of reformers of all dames
Caipitittis House of sad y
i°
combine
the national nforte
ationaurdiStit "ior ;
thorough
': reform.
every townnii: tegingtilohmerel:rPetiesu paurlianmtehnet
the prement session, praying for an immediate consi-
derate,. of the subject, and for the adoption of • measure
which shell satiety the just requirements of the people by
including manhood suffrage, vote by ballot, and equal elec-
toral districts. That the league further recommends the
adoption of memorials to individual members, calling upon
them to endeavour by all means in their power to procure
an immediate settlement of the question ; sad earnestly
*shorts the people, by the promptness of their union, and 1
the enemy of their proceedings, to strengthen the remnant
of real reformers is the House of Comnmas.' The meeting
then separated.

LOILD ADotrtzv. VAltl Tixp r. We under-
stand thatjmrd Adolphus Vase Tempest, who was charged
a few days since with treaties • disterhases la Coventry-
street, aed whose enedest wee of each an streweedissey
maitre before the 'magistrate at the Ilaelberough-treest
police-court, has, ender medical advice. been removed
to a private lunatic asylum by has friends, there being little
doubt that Ma lontrhip is Libouring under temporary
derangement.