The Express.
London, England, 1861-07-18 00:00:00

TO TUB ZDtTOR OP THE TIMM

Sir,—We have read the letter which appeat
your impression of the 15th inst., headed "The Saddens'
Strike," and signed by eight gentlemen, most of whom we
believe to be members of the legal profemion, the avowed
object of which was to obtain a hearing for the a m limes.
In the first place, there never was lees reason to cOriaplain
of WWII, of publicity upon any question, abundant currency
having been given to the statements of the workmen by
the public press, and the masters have at all times been
ready to discuss with their own workmen, in detail, all
matters affecting their interests, but have declined to see
the delegates from Trades' Unions.
Although it is now stated that the present movement on
behalf of the men is not for what is termed the "nine hours'
system," the change resulted entirely from the renewal of
that agitation. Payment by the hour is intended solely to
remove this cause of strife for the future, and there is no
wish, nor has it ever been intended, to deprive the car.
pentcrs of their customary allowance for sharpening tools,
or any other trade privileges which they have hitherto
enjoyed. The assertion that masters wish the men tp work
longer than ten hours per day, except in eases of emer.
gency, we emphatically deny. So contrary, indeed, is the
fact, that we are frequently requested by the men to allow
them to make overtime at the usual rate of wages—a re.
quest that is often on that account acceded to.
In would be manifestly unjust to submit to arbitretiou a
question practically settled to the entire satisfaction if the
great majority of the men employed in the building trades,
and now only kept alive by the agitation of a few members
of the trades unions.

In justice to the men in our employment, 'we indignantly
deny the statement that they are inferior workmen, or that
they are working under protest. They have been selected
for their skill and experience, and the majority of them
have been with us for many years, and we are cerkkinly at
• loss to conceive by what recouping the few men now on
strike can venture to impugn the abilities of many thou.
minds of their fellow•workmen.

In conclusion, we beg to deny in the most explicit manner
any covert intention—a charge which has been mdwitriously
circulated, and we cannot too distinctly awed that our only
object in the change was one of conciliation.
We are, Sir, your obedient servants,
Center and Co., Gray's-inn-lane.
HOLLAND@ and HARNEY, Duke-street, Bloomsbury.
Gaoaua lime, Lambeth.
Geo. MANBPTELD and SONS, Gray's-inn-lane.
Gamut Sara, Pimlico.
WALLER and SON, Lyalatrest, Belgrave-square.
Joiu Km.; Booth-street, Grosvenor-square.
LUCAS BROTHERS, Lambeth.
July 17.

THE BUILDERM' STRIFE.—A meeting of the asso-
ciated master builders was held yesterday at Messrs.
Oubitt's, Gray's-inn-road, for the.purpose, it was reported,
of taking into consideration the offer of arbitration made by
the men, and the propriety of continuing the hour system.
Considerable difference of opinion is said to have existed oe
both these subjects, but, owing to reporters as usual being
excluded, the result cannot at present be ascertained. A
deputation from the masons' committee yesterday.had an
interview with Mr. Lsyard, H.P., ou the subject of the
Sappers employed at the Chelsea barracks. This gentle-
man received the deputation very courteously, sad pro.
mimed to see the Uoder-Secretary for War upon tite quer
Lion, and if possible induce him to receive a deputation on
the subject.
THE Corrox SUPPLY.—Mr. G. R. Harwood,
secretary of the Cotton Supply Association, sailed from
Southampton on Friday, in the Euxine, ru route fof Egypt
and India, as commissioner representing the aasociatiou and
the Manchester Cotton Company. During his short stay
in Egypt Mr. Haywood will have an interview with the
Viceroy, and present • memorial from the association,
pointing out that this is a most favourable opportunity
for • great and profitable extension of caftan cul.
tivation in that country. From Egypt Mg Hay.
wood gods on to Bombay, and thence to the I-Aare/sr
districts, primarily to ascertain how far the' supply
of cotton therefrom may be increased, and to orgesiiiie, in
the interests of the Cotton Company, cotton cleaning and
packing establishments at tiedasheghur and elsewhere. His
route will then be through the districts of Lingsoor,
Bellary, Bangalore, Raichore, Doab and Mysore, Combs.
tore, Palghaut, Tinnevelly, Madura, Salem, Madre;
Coringa, Chsndab, Negpoar Oomrowtee, Caodeish,
Bombay, Surat, Broach, Barad., Ahmedabad. Raj.
kote, Dhattera, and ogo • thence retuning to
Sedashegur in time for ihe next cottou4scking
season. During this tour he will report upon the
relative advantages offered by the several districts
for affording an enlarged supply of good merchantable cot-
ton, and for the opening up of new establishments and
agencies similar to those proposed for the district of Dhar.
war. Mr. Haywood travels with Dr. Forbes, who has been
deputed by government to accompany, him, and whose
acquaintance with the dialects and habits of the Mindoo
population, and knowledge of the cotton question, are likely
to be of the utmost service. The commissioner is also fur.
niehed by the government—who, it is said, have shown a
desire to assist him in every possible way—with hitters of
introduction to the Viceroy of Egypt, and some of the
principal government olfksls in India.
SUDDEN DEATH IN AN HoTEL—An official
quiry took place on Tuesday before Mr. Humphreys, the
coroner, at the Dudley Anna, Harrow-road, Paddington,
touching the sudden death of an unknown gentleman on
Friday last in the coffee-room of the Great Western
Hotel, Paddington. The evidence adduced from several
witnesses showed that between 1 and 2 o'clock on the
above-named day the deceased, a gentleman seemingly 60
years of age, entered the coffee-room of the hotel in apple
rent good health. He told one of the waiteni.named
Marsh that be had just come off the Great Western Rail-
way, and asked what it was best to take by way of refresh-
ment after • long journey. The waiter suggested a chop
and a glass of ale, and deceased then said be would bane
both. The chop and ale being supplied, he ate and drank
a portion, and then passed over to the other side of the
room, when he entered into conversation with another gentle.
man, which lasted from 10 minutes to a quarter of an hour.
Afterwards he returned to his own seat, and was noticed to
give a convulsive shudder and expire, without soy pre
monitory symptoms whatever. Upon his person were found
two half-sovereigns, a few shillings, some coppers, and
portmanteau keys ; but, singularly enough, although be
yed to be a gentleman of position, just cane off
a long journey, no luggage or other valuables have
as yet been found, neither were there any cards or pipers to
lead to his identification. His linen bore the initials
" J. IL 1'.," and the publication of this fact together with
the circumstances of the case by the reporter the Coroner
hoped would be the means of procuring the unfortunate
gentleman's name and address. The result of a post
moqent examination proved that death was caused by fatty
degeneration of the heart. The jury returned a venlict
accordingly, with a recommendation that inquiries should
be instituted at the lest luggage offices of the Great
Western and other railways.
DEATH IN HANWELL ASYLEIL —The C. 'minis.
sinners in Lunacy instituted a preliminary investigation on
Tuesday, at Whitehall, in reference to the death of an insane
inmate of Hanwell Lunatic Asylum. The deed. ..cuffed
on the 29th ult. It was at first stated by the resident meth
cal officer to be from liroochitis ; it was afterwards praised,
however, to be from fractured ribs and other injuries. .10
an adjourned coroner's inquiry, concluded on Saturday last,
it was shown that the deceased, whose name was Henry Hill-
man, of 33, Upper Flurystrect, Pimlieo, was admitted as
patient from the parish of St. George, Hanover-squ.lre,
nine days before his death, and it was farther ond.,kvoured
to be shown by the asylum medical officer, but indignantly
repudiated by Dr. Bloxam, medical officer of the work-
house, and Mr. F. A. Rogers, removal officer of St. George's,
that deceased sustained these injuries before his admission
to the asylum. At the same time it was admitted that no
medical assistance was rendered until alter the 21th, fear
days after admission. The jury. however, deemel it cape
client to return a verdict in effect that deceased died from
the fracture of divers of his ribs and other injuries to the
body, but by what means, how, where, or when the frac-
tures and injuries were sustained, there was not sufficient
evidence to show. On account of this verdict the pn:lind-
nary investigation above alluded to has been uuder:akeu by
the commissioners.

FR•I;DS ON THE LONDON AND BIUMFITON RAH"
WAY. —The chief booking clerk at the London-biidge Sta•
tion has just absconded, and the directors have uttered 3
reward for his apprehension. The amount of his defale.i•
tion, as at present ascertained, is reported to be about 240.
only.
A CRINOLINE Rtrrr.—Many of the rabbit of
Cracow and the neighbourhood have oondemned the use of
crinoline, and interdicted females so attired front agearing
at the synagogue. At Tarnow, however, a few yo 2gor
some Jewesses, leaning on the arms of their male Metall,
boldly presented themselves at the synagogue in the pro-
scribed garment. But a number of low Jews, arming them•
selves with sticksand knives, drove them away, and cow
palled them to seek refuge in the adjacent house. Several
persons, fearing the women would be injured, phiodthere-
selves before the house. • A fierce conflict ensued, and MO
was shed on both sides, but nobody w.us killed. The polio)
did not interfere.

F