The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-26 00:00:00

The Riots of the Manufacturing Districts.

MANCHESTER, WrOdneS3ay,
The tumultuous proceedings in these districts
appear to have come to an end with the meeting at
Staley bridge yesterday,at which the operatives were
advised to return to their schools. There is very
little doubt that the refusal of the relief tickets for
five days had been a very inconvenient matter for
the majority. In the plunder of the shops only the
strong and more disorderly obtained provisions,
while the greater proportion of the people were
starving, and had begun to repent following the
bad advice of their leaders. Accordingly, it is said,
that when yesterday the resolution had been passed,
that they should return to their schools, many
happy faces were seen in the crowd, and some of
them shook each other by the hand in an excited
manner. The chairmen of the meeting is reported
to have said :—" Now, my lads, in the House of
Parliament it is always that the majority ruies. So
let it be here. Ail of you go to your schools, and
let not one man be missing when the names are
called over in the morning." The people dispersed.
crying, "The riot is over," and " Bravo !"
This morning it was found that the advice was
acted upon, and the town had resumed its ordinary
peaceful aspect. It is one of the advantages of the
school system, for both sexes and for people of all
ages, that it enforces some degree of discipline_ The
people are taken out of the streets, where they would.
otherwise be collected in groups, and be always open
to temptation. The promises made to the deputa-
tions by some of the leading members of the Relief
Committee to reconsider the ticket system, will no
doubt be carried out, but, it is very doubtful if
the committee will be persuaded to return to
money payments. The arguments used by the
operatives against tickets are that they are served
at the shops where they present them with in-
ferior articles of food, and are obliged to some
extent, to take not so much what they would pre-
fer to have but what the shopkeepers may have to
part with. "Besides," said an operative to our
correspondent, "some of us want a little baccy or
a little beer, and if they have 3s. to give why can-
not they give it in money as well as in paper P''
The answer, of course, is that some of the men
with families spend all or the greater part of the
money in drink, and leave their families to starve
or go about begging. Tnere is one complaint of
the dissatisfied which it would be well to remedy
as coon as possible. They allege that there are men
upon the committees who treat them coarsely when
they go for relief. It is to be feared that there are
men who get upon Boards of Guardians and Relief
Committees who are too apt, under the pressure
and irritation of such scenes as occur in crowded
offices, when applicants are troublesome and will
take no denial, to give way to temper and use
abusive epithets ; but, so far as we can learn, the
majorities of such committees consist of men whose
fault lies in the other direction, and whose kindly
disposition renders them liable to imposition.
At Ashton the tumults had their origin in raids
from Staleybridge, and with the end of these the
town has become peaceable. At noon yesterday the
Town-hall was in charge of one solitary poicemate.
Cue magistrates, county constabulary, and special
constables had all returned to their ordinary occu-
pations.

From Hyde, Dukinfield, and neighbouring towns
the reports are of the same satisfactory character as
those from Ashton And Satley bridge.

Mr. Thackeray at the Royal Wedding.

On the day of her entrance into London who
looked more bright and happy than the Princess ?
On the day of the marriage the fair face wore its
marks of care already, and looked out quite grave,
and frightened almost, under the wreaths, and lace,
and orange flowers. Would you have had her feel
no tremor ? A maiden on the bridegroom's thres-
hold, a princess led up to the steps of the throne ? I
think her pallor and doubt became her as well VS
her smiles. That, I can tell you, was our vote who
sat in X compartment, let us say, Li the nave of St.
George's Chapel, at Windsor, and saw a part of one
of the brightest ceremonies ever performed there.
My dear cousin Mary, you have an account of the
dresses, and I promise you there were princesses
besides the bride whom it did the eyes good to be-
hold. Around the bride sailed a bevy of young crea-
tures so fair, white, and graceful that I thought of
those fairy-tale beauties who are sometimes prin-
cesses and sometimes white swans. The Royal
Princesses and the Royal Knights of the Garter
swept by in prodigious robes and trains of purple
velvet, 30s.
,a yard, my dear, not of coarse including
the lining, which, I have no doubt, was of the
richest satin, or that costly " miniver "which we
used to read abcut in poor Jerrold's writings. The
young Princes were habited in kilts; and by the
side of the Princess Royal trotted such a little wee
solemn Highlander ! He is the young heir and chief
of the famous clan of Brandenburg. His eyrie is
among the Eigles, and I pray no harm may befall
the dear little chieftain. The heralds in their tabards
were marvellous to behold, and a nod from Rouge
Croix gave me the keenest gratification. I tried to
catch Garter's eye, but either I couldn't or he
wouldn't. In his robes, he is like one of the Three
Kings in old missal illuminations. Gold Stick in
waiting is even more splendid. With his gold rod
and robes and trappings of many colours he locks
like a Royal enchanter, and as if he had raised up
all this scene of glamour by a wave of his glittering
wand. The silver trumpeters wear such quaint caps
as those I have humbly tried to depict on the play-
ful heads of children. Behind the trumpeters came
a drum bearer, on whose back a gold laced drummer
druobed his march. When the silver clarions had
blown, and, under a clear chorus of white-robed
children chanting round the organ, the noble pro-
cession passed into the chapel and was hidden from
our sight for a while, there was silence, or from the
inner chapel ever so faint a hum. Then hymns arose,
and in the lull we knew that prayers were being
said, and the sacred rite performed which joined
Atbert Edward to Alexandra his wife. lam sure •
hearty prayers were offered up outside the gate as
welt as within for that princely young pair, ana for
their mother and Queen. The peace, the freedom
the happiness, toe order her rule guarantees,
are part of my birthright as an Englishman, and I
bless God for my share. Where else shall I fled
such liberty of action, thought, speech, or laws
which protect me so well ? Her part of her com-
pact with her people, what Sovereign ever better
performed ? It ours sits apart from the festivities
of the day it is because she suffers from a grief so
recent that the loyal heart cannot master it as yet,
and remains treu tad fest to a beloved memory. A
part of the music which celebrates the day's service
was composed by the husband who is gone to the
place where the just and pure of life ratet the re-
war d promised by the Father of all of us to good
and faithful servants who have well done here
below. As this one gives in his account, surely we
may remember how the Prince was the friend of
all peaceful arts and learning; how he was true and
fast always to duty, home, honour ; how, through a
life of complicated trials, be was sagacious,
righteous, active, and self-denying. And as we
trace in the young faces of his many children the
father's features and likeness, what Englishman
will not pray that they may have inherited also
some of the great qualities which won for the Prince
Consort the love and respect of our country ? The
papers tell us how, on the night of the marriage of
the Prince of Wales, all over England and Scotland
illuminations
al,eareinmsvdilel,agtehaendpocoirty
alphdoucsahnilddsreonf
were feasted,
kindly schemes were devised to mark the national
happiness and sympathy. " The bonfire on Copt-
point at Folkestone was seen in France," the Tele-
graph says, " wore clearly than even the French
marine lights could be seen at Folkestone." Long
may the fire continue to burn! 'f here ote Dire-
peen coasts (and inland pliceL,) where the liberty
tight has been extinguished, or is so low that you
can't see to read by it—there are great At!antiO
shores where it flickers and smokes very gloomily.
Let us be thankful to the honest guardians of ours,
and for the kind sky under which it burns bright
end steaay.—Cornitill Magazine for April.

THE CHANCERY VACATION.—The Ctuncery v
cation will commence on the 30th inst., and terminate on
the Bth April ineluaive.