The Express.
London, England, 1861-08-01 00:00:00

DEPUTATION. TO TIM OECIUTTIAT FOR N.\!.

Yesterday afternoon a deputs..tion from the build-
in trades of the metropolis and a deputation from the Lott.
doa trades delegate meeting waited by appointment upon
Sir George Lewis, the Secretary for War, at the House of
Commons, on the subject of the interference of the govern-
ment in the dispute now existing in the building trades by
the supply of a body of the Royal Engineers to the contractor
for the erection of the new barracks at Chelsea, to fill the
places of those workmen who had left hie employ in come-
guises of their refusal to work under the hour system. Sir
G. Lewis received the deputations in 01111 of the committee•
rooms.

Mr. ityrtee, M.P. for the Tower Hamlets, having intros
domed the deputation from the building trades,
Mr. Parma., carpecter, said he presumed Sir Osage
Lewis was aware of the nature of the dispute now midis(
between a large portion of the building operatives and
certain of the employers, about 9.5 in number, who were
endeavouring to force upon them a system of payment and
eugagemest by the hour, with the iatimation that those
men who did not like those terms mast leave the employ.
The men, who although they were memerialisingthe masters
for a reduction of the bourn of Ulmer, were wurkiag peace-
ably upon the old and usual terms of the trade, considered
the hour system would act meat prejudicially to their in-
terests, and the greet bulk of them, especially in two
breaches of the trade, declined to work under that system.
Amongst the employers thus enforcing the hour system was
Mr. Higgs, the commenter for the new berisees at Chelsea.
The regime that bad brought, hinmeif and ealeaguirs them,
ea behalf of the banal trades, was to complain that the
government, by supplying a body of military artificers to
Ule coatnicter for the Chelasieut
' Idea to diaregatd the affirm stied as are
siscoengereent generally to the to persevere in
their course, and was: a direct violation of thee principle of
government neutrality in trade disputes which had been so
well prockiated by the right boa baronet, when Home
Secretary, in the dispute of leak and which had then given
so ninth satisfaction to the building operatives.
Mr. Patheoe, mason, said, he had hoped that after the
deputation which had waited upon Mr Tiering, the late
Under Secretary for War, the result wouldleseve been the
withdrawal of the Semmes sad Miners from the service of
the contrictor. but this not having been done necessitated
the present deputation, as the trade be represented, who '
were the greatest sufferers by this interference of the War-
office authorities, were determined not to rest Middled until
the military artificers' were enthdrawn. Instead of their
having been withdrawn since the last deputation more bad
been supplied—masons, bricklayers, carpenter*, end la-
beaten. fin Tueedsy ltht theme had bees marched off the
works at the close of the day's labour, and the places
of screed who, being dissatisfied with their treat-
ment, bad been sent back to Chatham, were
to be filled by. a fresh supply from the depot. The
contractor paid into the War-ofece the sum of de. Rd. per
day for each Sapper supplied to him, working them ten hours
per day. The contract had been made at the rate of Gs. per
day wages, and he was therefore making a profit of Is ed.
per day on each man above what be would do were
he to employ the regular artisans ; and by paying them for
a regular working day of 10 hours was actnowthigime the
very principle which be repudiated, and was trying to
destroy with regard to civilian workmen. He had also by the
unlimited supply of Sappers placed at his command been en-
abled to discharge several of the men who had remained is
his employ when the rest left, and had thus enabled them
to transfer their services to other employers who were co-
ercing their men. The Sappers received from the Warofflce
2s. 4d. per day out of the 4a &L paid ie for their services.
He hoped to hear from the Secretary for War that this M-
I terfarence would at once cease. _

Mr. Armee thee introduced the deputation from the
London Trades Delegates.
Mr. 11KAP, of the Amalgamated Engineers, &wired the
right hon. gentleman that this question had been taken up
very warmly by the working clams throujliout the United
KmOom. He stood there as the represeutetis eof a society
numbering '2,000 members, end his colleagues, called to-
gether at a short notice, represented at least :0,000 skilled
artisans. The right hon. baronet must be well aware from
his 'ence that the artisans combined together in trade
socistis comprised the bulk of the moat intelligent, the
most industrious, and the most wealthy portion of the
working classes, and he thought it was well worthy the con-
sideration of the government whether they would make
enemies of these men by a perseverance in their present un-
wise and injudicious interference between the employer and
the employed.
Mr. Perammainoz, carpenter, urged similar views, and
said the body be represented denied the right of the
government, either to serve its own purpose or that of a
private contractor, to place soldiers in competition with
regular workmen, who had families to support, and who
contribute their quota to the national expenses. Ile thought
it was the duty of the government, on finding that the
contractor could not go on with this contract for want of
men, to have inquired with whom the fault laid ; sod bad
they done so, lie felt convinced, instead of supplying him
with men, they would have insisted on his proceeding with
the work from his own resources. Not having done so,
they had inflicted a great injury upon the building opera-
tives, which it was their duty to repair as speedily as
possible.
Sir Geosue Lewis said he had listened with interest to
the various statements placed before him by the different
speekeis. He could assure the deputation that in placing
the Samson at the service of the contractors for the barracks
there had not been the slightest intention on the part of
the government to interfere on behalf of either side in the
dispute unfortunately existing between the men and the
employers ; their only object had been to expedite the com-
pletiou of the work. If, however, the government bad un-
intentionally violated that desirable neutrality he much
regretted it. He was equally desirous now, as in 1559, to
avoid interference. He could not deny, after what he had
heard from the deputation, that there were many points in
the question well worthy the consideration of the govern-
ment ; the question was fairly open to discussion ; he
thought they had made out a good case for inquiry, and
without pledging himself or the government to any peril-
cake course, diligent inquiry should be made, and the
various point. urged should receive his most serious consi-
deration. He regretted his necessary presence in the house
prevented him now entering more fully into the question.
The deputation then retired, thanking the right hoe.
baronet for the courtesy extended to then ; also Mr.
Ayrton for his attention.
The united deputatious held a meeting afterwards, when
it was agreed that the otticers of the Loudon Trades Council
ahould sign sod send in a petition to the house on ledpalf of
the trades of Loudon, to accompany that from the building
trades, to be presented on Friday, praying for the imine- •
diate withdrawal of the soldiers from the service of the
contractors for the barrack,.

Dmernuvrivz FULL—Yesterday morning, be-
tween two and three o'clock, a destructive fire took place
on the extensive premises of Mr. Bparkes, cabinet maker,
Duke-street, Union-street, Bishopegate. The fire escapes
and engines arrived most powerfully manned, and with a
good supply of water got to work iu an admirable manner,
under the direction of Mr. John Bridges, the district fore-
man. The flames, however, shot through the roof, and the
staircase fell with a tremendous crash, which buried several
a the firemen in the &brio. An alarm was instantly raised,
and with difficulty they were extricated, fortunately receiv-
ing only a few slight contusions. By dint of great exertions
the fire was sidalued, but not until the premises were nearly
destroyed, and the adjoining houses of Mr. .1. 31iasly silk-
manufacturer, and others, were danec by fire, water, and
removal. The loss will fall on the Royal Exchange, Atlas,
Phenix, and other offices.
8610CILING DEATH Ur THE DEPUTY SHERIFF Or
NOTTINOHAMMOIRL.—On Tuesday evening Mr. John Brew-
ster, an eminent solicitor, of Nottingham, who has held the
office of deputy sheriff of Nottinghamshire for, .1.,111t, met
his death under very shocking circumstances. Early in the
evening Mr. Brewster had witnessed the performance of
Bloudiu at the Isarmck•yard, Nottingham, and after return-
ing home partook of supper so uvual. He remained in con-
versation with hisfamily until abouteleveno'clock, when his
sone bade bun " Clued night," sod retired to rest.
Almost immediately afterward* they were aroused by the
shrieks of their sister. Upon going to the spot they found
their father lying at the bottom of the steps lending into
the garden, his head being fearfully bruised. A surgeon
was sent for, but the unfortunate gentlenian never rallied,
and expired half en hour afterwards. A coroner's inquest
was held yesterday, and from the median' testimony
adduced it was supposed that the deceased wee seized with
an effusion of blood to the bend, which caused him to fall
down the steps, and a verdict to that effect was returned.
Mr. Brewster was 64 years of age, and a member of the
Town Council.

SINGULAR ACCIDMKT AT A TELEGRAPH °TRUE—
During the thunderatorm which raged on Thursday last,
as accident of rather a singular nature occurred at the
Newry Telegraph-office. It appears that the electric fluid
struck the magnetic wires on some pert of the line. and the
curreet at the tune was conveyed into the office. Mr. Lewis
Hanson! (the principal telegraph clerk iu charge), who, at
the same moment, chanced to be engaged at one of the in-
struments in the office, received each a severe shock that he
was instantly prostrated to the ground. and appeared to be
quite senseless for about a minute. He was, however, more
frightened than hart, as he only experienced a revere electric
shock, as if from an extra charged galvanic battery. Two
of the junior clinks, and a commercial gentleman who
chanced to be in the office at the time, thought it was some
kind of a at ho lied got. until they perceived that the steel
portiou of the telegraph iustiumeut were Mimed up, ail if in
a furnace. Mr. Hanssnl, on recovering, explaiuni to them
the crime of the oceurrence, he having, shunt two years
ago, experienced a similar shock when at the Liuteriek
Junction station, neer Tipperary.—Freeman's Journal.