The Express.
London, England, 1861-02-26 00:00:00

THJ COVENTRY RIBBON TRADE.

The half-yearly
_report. of the inspectors of
factories have bees laid beim parliameet. They state that
the Factory and Print Works Acts are upon the whole wall
observed, and that there is an increasing desire among all
Blames to fulfil the nodnments of the law with exactitude
sad cheerfulness. The list of casualties unhappily is
heavy ; 42 lives were lost by accidents in the half-year
ending October 31st; in 28 oases a hand or arm was lost,
and is 166 others part of • limb. The report of most
interest at present is that of Mr. Baker, on the trade of
Coventry. In his judgment the distress in that town
has been, is great pert at any rate, caused by the
strike of last year, when an attempt was made by the
men to maintain • price list—that is, a system
of working by pies instead of tr day, the strike
taking place just upon • greatdepression in the
*trade of ribbon weaving, in consequence o change of fashion
is dreg. The depression of trade began in the spring,
the strike was in the summer, and the returns, from the
savings-bank for the summer months, July to September,
show that, notwithstanding the depression in the spring,
57 per cent. of the usual number of weavers depositors
ware depositors when the strike took place, so that they
were not all out of profitable employment, and the strike
was not • matter of escassity, or residence of oppression.
But when the strike cam* also the savings of years were
gradually wasted ; and Coventry may be kept in the back-
ground for a long time. Mr. Baker gives no countenance to
the project for establishing a joist-stock cotton mill is
Coventry with the view of furnishing employment to the
population. He considers that the object would be more
readily attained by throwing the same amount of energy
into an effort to procure • higher class of looms for ribbon
weaving, the specific trade of the piece ; and he points out
that, as the workmen of Coventry have in their own cot-
tages about 1,000 steam looms more or less their own, it is
• serious thing for them to have the labour of the place
directed into an entirely new channel. He thinks that the
secret of success is in obtaining the aid of improved ma-
chinery, which can multiply and form textures that will
compel purchasers by their attiactions, and that it is be.
cause the system of manufacturing ribbons at Coventry has
been behind the times that it has never been able to com-
pete with other countries, being contented with prodrcing
ordinary fabrics possessing few of those attractions which
make ribbons sell, and for which, indeed, they are worn.
He ear It le sow perceived that in the system of oar fore-
fathers them is something inadequate to the wants of this
generation, and it may be hoped therefore that more energy
and enterprise will be applied to the manufacture.

AYEICAN Mai .—On Sunday, Lord Edward
Cecil, Prince Wiodiachgrats, sod Sir Robert Dore Booth,
Bart., lady, itc., took their departure from Liverpool in
the roval mail steamer Armenian, which was despatched on
that day with the mails for Madeira, Teneriffe, and the
different stations as the West African west.
INTIMIDATION IN THE LION THADIL—OD SMUT-
Iay, Henry Crook's, Edward Matthews, John Daft, and
Jobe Soar, were brought before the county magi".
Mates at the Shire Hall, Nottingham, on • charge of
intimidating the workmen in the employ of Mr. Charles
Shaw, lees manufacturer, Radford, near Nottiegbarn. The
prisoner Matthews was further charged with assaulting one
of the workmen. From the evidence adduced it appeared
that a strike had taken place at Mr. Shaw's factory, awl
that two of the workmen, who had previowely belanned te
so the trade ciety, were mrroseded by a mob me
the factory, and that Matthews threw a quantity Or ;t
and ether alike into the face of Jolts nwiewte, ens of
the workmen. The nob increased to the number of 500,
following the mem into Use *own, 'bootleg and hooting and
penis( Umia with stasis. The police were there in plain
clothes, sad tech the prisoner. into custody. The evidence
was aeschrivo, 'ad the magistrates eirsteseed Matthews to
them menthe amil the ether primers to two mouths' im
ptieseusse with hoilikser.