The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-06 00:00:00

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, SATURDAY EVENING.
It is stated that the agents of the associated masters
who have been despatched to almost all parts of the
kingdom) have already entered into contracts with some
hundreds of people, to whom constant work is guaran-
teed for at least 12 months. Many young persons are
to be brought here, and instructed in the various branches
of the cotton trade. Detachments of the strangers are
coming every day. The police force and fire brigade,
and frequently several magistrates and other local autho-
rities, attend at the railway station to escort the new
hands from the platform to the omnibuses and cabs en-
gaged to convey them to their destination. To provide
for the accommodation of a portion of these people, the
associated masters have taken and fitted up a commodious
building, formerly the Bolton railway station, situated in
Fishergate, the chief thoroughfare of the town, and with-
in about 200 yards of the London and North Western
Company's station. The millowners, I understand, are also
renting cottages adjacent to their works, and furnishing
them for their new hands. It is even alleged that bed-
ding has been carried into some of the mills, or out-
buildings connected with them, for the accommodation
of the strangers. The importation of these people (most
of whom appear to be Irish) has produced unusual ex-
citement, though only on one occasion has a serious
breach of the peace been committed. This was on
Thursday night. A number of persons, many of them
children, arrived from the north about 8 o'clock, and
were transferred to an omnibus, three cabs, and a
Whitechapel, to be conveyed to the mill of Messrs.
Leigh. A crowd collected ; cries of " Turn them out "
arose; first mud and then stones were thrown at the
conveyances, the windows of which were broken, and a
child was struck on the forehead. Seven policemen
were despatched to the scene of action in a carriage,
which was also assailed with a shower of stones. The
disturbance was soon quelled. Two youths, who were
captured on the spot, have been committed for trial at
the ensuing Liverpool Assizes.
Yesterday afternoon about 50 Hihernians, of all ages,
arrived at the Mandland Railway Station from Belfast
vid Fleetwood. They presented a miserable spectacle ?
nearly the whole of them were destitute of shoes and
stockings ; few of the females had bonnets, and some
appeared in night-caps. Many of them, it was said,
were from the union workhouse at Belfast They were
received by detachments of the police and fire-brigade ;
the mayor and two other magistrates being also present.
A large concourse of people having congregated in the
vicinity of the railway, the authorities deemed it expe-
dient to read the Riot Act. As may be supposed, some
excitement existed, but, so far as I could ascertain, no
violence was threatened. After the reading of the Act
the police cleared a road for the vehicles employed to
remove the strangers, and they proceeded without ob-
struction to the works of Mes rs. Birley Brothers. Other
strangers continue to arrive daily.
In consequence of people assembling in the neigh-
bourhood of the mills of the associated masters when the
hands were leaving work, the authorities issued a cau-
tionary placard forbidding such assemblies as unlawful.
At a meeting of the watch committee, held yesterday,
the mayor, on behalf of the magistrates, suggested an
augmentation of the police force, to meet the present
state of the town. Eventually, it was decided to in-
crease the force by a hundred men, to be obtained
without delay from the metropolis, if possible. A tele-
graphic despatch was, forwarded to the Home Secretary,
requesting the loan of; hundred men of the metropoli-
tan force. His lordship, however, is understood to have
replied to this effect—that it would be better to swear
in a number of special constables, and if an emergency
arose to call in the aid of the military. In accordance
with Lord Palmerston's suggestion, the enrolment of
special constables has been proceeded with to-day.
A proclamation, by the mayor and magistrates, for-
bidding all public meetings, has caused great consterna-
tion. In consequence of this prohibition, the weavers'
committee decided to hold their usual Saturday's
meeting on Ashton March—a plot of land reclaimed
from the Ribble, without the borough. The town's
bellman being sought to advertise the meeting (he
having performed this duty on former occasions), it
was ascertained that he had been forbidden to wield
his bell or his paste brush for the object named.
Under these circumstances, a delegate undertook
the mission, adding, after his announcement of the
meeting, " God save the Queen, and preserve the peace
of this borough." Thousands of the unemployed re-
paired to Ashton Marsh, at three o'clock this afternoon,
when, much to their amazement, they found posted on
the rail several written notices, intimating that all tree-
.

passers would be prosecuted accordingtolaw. In this

emergency, a farmer residing in the village of Cottam,
about three mile.; from the town, offered the use of one
of his fields, which was joyfully accepted, and thither
the vast concourse forthwith adjourned. The prohibi-
tion of their meetings was the chief topic referred to by
the speakers, the proceeding being condemned as -un-
constitutional, tyrannical, and oppressive. A strict
observance of " peace, law, and order" was urgently
enjoined, in conjunction with their own motto of " Ten
per cent, and no surrender." Thanks were voted by
acclamation to the owner of the field, and cheers were
given " for the ten per cent, and the downfal of cotton
lord tyranny ;" also " for Eiackburn and the trades of
England." The day being fine and sunny, the proceed-
ings were protracted until half-past five.
There has been a decrease this week of 198 in the
number of hands receiving relief, the disbursements of j
the committees amounting to a,267/. 188. id. 1