The Sun.
London, England, 1854-08-08 00:00:00

TURN-OUT OF THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS.

Yesterday nif min; a large body of Spitalfields silk-
velvet weavers, a b isiness which has sadly declined
during the last 20 or 30 years, turned out for the pur-
pose of waiting upon the master manufacturers, to solicit
from them an advance of their present scanty amount of
wages.
At half-past ten the men assembled in Thorold-square,
Bethnal-green-road, and shortly afterwards formed them-
selves into procession. Between 500 and 600 men were
present at starting, but the procession gained strength
as it advanced, and on arriving at Spital-square the
numbers amounted to about 800. The men who took
part in the demonstration were well-behaved, decently
clad, and committed no breach of order. Some extra
policemen were put on duty for the purpose of preserv-
ing, the peace but their services were not required.
Spital-square and Steward-street, the principal locali-
ties in which the manufacturers carry on their business,
were the points made for by the procession, and a com-
mittee, composed of Messrs. Ferdinando, Howsharn,
Smith, Douglas, and Walkingshaw, waited upon the
heads of several of the leading firms, to whom they re-
spectfully but firmly represented their grievances.
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or else to advance 3d. per yard upon the present prices
for weaving velvet fabrics. The committee, having held
a consultation, were of opinion that it would be injudi-
cious to go forward with both objects, and they, there-
fore, determined to place the "list" in abeyance until
a fitting opportunity for enforcing it should arrive, and
to adopt as the object of their mission the advance of 3d.
a yard all round, irrespective of any disparity that might
exist in the prices at the present time. The committee
represented that they had not abandoned the "list," but
they thought that having struggled for it for a period
of four weeks, and after the large promises which had
been made to them by certain leading manufacturers
(which promises had proved abortive), their right policy
would be to lay the list aside, and to ask the advance of
3d. per yard. In order to show that this demand was
not unreasonable they represented to the manufacturers
that the manufacture of one yard of silk velvet would
occupy a man the whole of a day—sometimes 14 or 15
hours—and for this, at the present rate _of charges,
he would receive only 12s. a week. By the pro-
posed increase he would, supposing him to be constantly
at work-, receive 13s. 6d. a week. They admitted that
it was true they received more than this for the sup-
port of their families, but that increase could only be
secured by keeping their wives and children constantly
at the machine, sacrificing every domestic comfort, and
bringing up their children in a state of the grossest ig-
norance, and depriving them of all sorts of healthful
exercise. They urged, too, that in another respect the
manufacturers had not dealt fairly with them. They
had heard that as soon as the committee sent in their
uniform list of prices, the manufacturers exhibited them
to the mercers, and on the representation that they had
raised the prices in accordance with the wishes of the
men, demanded and received Is. and 2s. a yard extra
for their produce, the fact being that the workmen had
received no additional benefit of any kind. The corn-
mittee added, that Mr. Nichols, of Steward-street, had
promised that if the other manufacturers would consent,
he should have no objection to the required advance,
and that some others had made the same conditions.
promise.

- Most of the manufacturers upon whom the deputation
called received them with courtesy, and patiently
listened to their demands, promising that the trade
would without delay take the matter into consideration,
but at the same time declining to pledge themselves to
a compliance with the workmen's demands.
The whole of the morning and afternoon were occu-
pied with these calls. When they were completed the
men returned to Thor°ld-square, where they were in-
formed that the result of the labours of the deputation
would be communicated in the form of a report, which
would be submitted at a meeting which would be
specially convened for that purpose. They were also
informed that it would be for that meeting to say what
course they would take, whether they would abandon
their movement, or use some other and more vigorous
means to obtain the small boon for which they were now
seeking.
From the opinions expressed by the great body of the
men who took part in yesterday's proceedings, it may
be inferred, that if the manufacturers resist their ,
demands, they will refuse to return to work.

GREAT MEETING OF THE MEN.
At nine o'clock last night, according to arrangement,
the men assembled in the large school belonging to St.
Matthias Church, St. John-street, Bethnal green. The
spacious room was densely crowded, and some hundreds
stood outside, being unable to obtain admission.
Mr. Horsham was called to the chair, and briefly
opened the proceedings, stating that the deputations
would give to the meeting the results of their interviews
with the manufacturers that morning.
Mr. Smith said the deputation called upon Mr.
Hodges, but he was immovable in the existing system.
Mr. Martin received them with more consideration.
Mr. Goodson refused to see them. Mr. Robinson
determined not to yield. Mr. Le Mare consented
to advance the 3d. if the other manufacturers
would agree to do so, and added that he had room
for 200 or 300 extra hands. Mr. Brooks made

similar concession. Mr. Casey and Mr. Stone would not
make an advance in any respect. Mr. Simmons not only
acceded to the advance of 3d. a yard, but had offered to
pay the men according to the " uniform list." He (Mr.
Smith) believed that if a determined effort were made at
once on the part of the men, the manufacturers would at
once fall in with the suggestion of the additional 3d.
Mr.Walkingshaw said he had frequently been engaged
in matters connected with the trade, but he had never ,
witnessed such a determined spirit of combination on the
part of the manufacturers. He believed that the leaders
would not give way, for they had expressed their bitter
disappointment that in consequence of this and at a pre-
vious turn-out 4000 yarditof velvet had been lost.
Mr. Ferdinand() said the number attending the demon-
stration was nearly 15,000, a circumstance which had
spread terrible alarm amongst the manufacturers. (Hear.)
Mr. Austen suggested that the prices paid by the va-
rious manufacturers should be sent to the mercers, in
order that they might know bow much they should offer
and pay for their goods. If mercers knew how much
the manufacturers paid, they would be disposed to avail
themselves of low prices as well as the manufacturers.
(Loud cries of " Out again to-morrow.")
Resolutions were then agreed to, declaring the con-
tinuance of the strike, and pledging the men to turn out
again to-morrow (this) morning, in order that they might
again urge their claims upon the attention of the manu-
facturers.

A vote of thanks was passed to the chairman, and the
meeting separated.

THE CHOLERA.

THE INTILLBANK PRIsoN.--Yesterday three inquests
were held by Mr. Langham, deputy-coroner, at the
Penitentiary for male prisoners, Millbank. The first
was on Michael Hillman, aged 23, a convict, who died
of an attack of Asiatic cholera. The prisoner, who was
a single man, was admitted into the prison on the 23d
of February, 1852, having been convicted at the previous
Wiltshire assizes of stealing a quantity of cloth, for
which he was sentenced to eight years' penal servitude.
Mr. G. Attfield, resident surgeon, said that deceased
was admitted into the infirmary on the 4th of July for
observation, in order to ascertain the state of his mind.
He was in good health, but of feeble intellect. On the
Ist of August he bad an attack of diarrhma. He was
treated for it, and on the 3d appeared to have re-
covered. The next day (the 4th), about eleven
o'clock in the forenoon, the diarrhoea came on again,
which rapidly passed into Asiatic cholera, from the
effects of which he died the same night about 11 o'clock.
Verdict, "That the deceased died of an attack of Asiatic
cholera." Another inquest was taken by Mr. Langham
respecting the depth of Thomas Portsmouth, aged 38,
which was also the effect of Asiatic cholera. Deceased
was admitted on theJ4th of June, having been convicted
at the Berkshire assizes of stealing a number of fowls,
for which he was sentenced to seven years' transporta-
tion. He was in the custody of a warder named Wes-
terham for about eight weeks, during which time he
saw the surgeon twice. Charles Griffiths, infirmary.
warder, stated that he received deceasedl soennetshse
o3fdt he
bowels, for which he had medicinof
of August. He was suffering fer a
st cholera.
three
and other symptoms d
but in half-an-hour was brought Soonbac aftera
he was seized
with cramps and the
glHe as
nilke a
left thein. infirmary,put to bed and prescribed for.
He gradually sank, about f Asiatichalf-
p o'clock on Sunday morning. Mr. Attfield having de_
ed
any other cases in the w ards if there were
posed to the treatment prescribed, Mr. Langham in-
quired
from which the deceased were removed ? Witness
—There are many cases of diarrhoea in all parts of
the prison, but more particularly in the Pentagon, facing
the river. Mr. Langham—ls there anything in the
prison,
ortointtihiee daitsttareikct; clavlciutolaetsesd_Ntoop.redDisrp.
predispose the
prisoners
hy. nu u sual. Deceased
d e a t h f
r wasom
accompanied me over the prison, to ascertain if there
gaol,
but anything wrong in the water or in the
obfuta
feeble habit o nothing
body. we
found
u
nd
Verdict,
Asiatic cholera." The third inquest was upon the body
of James Fisher, aged 51, who was sentenced to four
years' penal servitude, having been convicted at the Sal-
ford assizes of stealing two bags of rope. Mr. Samuel
M'lntyre, clerk to the prison, proved that the deceased
was admitted into the gaol on the 23d of May, that he
was a strong hearty man, and in good health. Mr.
Langham—Are there many cases of Asiatic cholera now
in the prison ? Witness—There are six or seven cases.
Mr. Langham—Are they cases of long attack, or recent ?
Witness—They have all occurred within the last forty-
eight hours ; the most of them in the last twelve hours.
Verdict, " Death from Asiatic cholera."
WOOLIVICH.—Twenty-eight cases of this disease have
occurred on board of the Defence (convict-hulk) and
eight of these oases have proved fatal. There have also
been several cases on shore having a fatal termination ;
but, singular to relate, the Warrior convict-ship, sta-
tioned opposite the dockyard, has not had a single case
on board. The present appearance of the cholera at
f
Woolwich has shown itself within a few yards
the same place where it broke out in the Justicia
convict-ship on its former appearance, and the hulk
r I
was blamed, and the convicts all removed from
but it is now evident that it is the locality that is
to blame, and no wonder, ns there is a most shortdisa
na gree.
able drain emptying its filth into the
riveard the Unite
dis-
tance above the place where the Defence
arises
hospital ship are
stationed. The cholera probably
from suspended perspiration during certain states of the
weather, especially if the perspiration is checked by the
foul dram or totandiag
moist, clawmy from