The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-06 00:00:00

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, FEB. 4.—lt was currently rumoured yes-
terday that the Associated Masters purposed simulta-
neously ringing the bells, and opening their mills on
Monday morning week. To-clay, however, on inquiry,
I was assured by a member of the association that the
report was destitute of foundation. Last week it was
considered probable that Mr. Gratrix, worsted manu-
facturer, would shortly resume work, but unfortunately
the negotiations then pending between that gentleman
and his hands were suddenly broken off. After the
operatives had agreed to accept the average prices of
similar mills throughout Lancashire, they insisted upon
the average being taken from all the mills paying the
ten per cent. advance.' To this proposition Mr. Gratrix
declined to accede. Both master and men are now en-
gaged in obtaining lists of prices. Mr. Hollins con-
tinues to increase the number of his hands. Last night
he had 180 looms at work, and upwards of 130 opera-
tives employed.
The returns for this, the 19th, week of the lock-out,
and the 23d of the strike, show that the number of un-
employed bands relieved from the Trades' Union funds
was 16,174 ; last week, 16,335 ; decrease, 161. The
amount disbursed in relief this week was 3,0491. 55. 6d.;
last week 3,0731. 10s.; decrease, 241. 4s. 6d. Annexed
is a summary of the week's expenditure by each of the
six committees :

No. relieved. Amoußt.
Power-loom weavers' committee 10,251 £1,924 14 6
Spinners and self-actors' do 2,964 582 0 0
Card-room hands' db 2,203 349 14 0
Throstle spinners' do 503 83' 0 0
Power-loom overlookers' do 194 67 0 0
Tape machine sizers' do 54 32 8 0

16,174 £3,049 5 6
It will be observed that there is again a considerable
decrease in the number of hands receiving relief, the
weavers alone showing a diminution of 124 as compared
with last week. This arises from the active measures
taken to assist the hands in removing from the town.
The amount of contributions was larger this week than
last. The following will show in what manner the funds
are expended :
Weavers' committee—Relief as above, 1,924/. 14s. 6d.;
additional relief, 831. 14s. 6d. ; salaries, travelling ex-
penses, &c.. 811. lls. 2d. ; rent of rooms and sundries,
21. 4s. 4d. ; reports and other printing, 1071. 11s. Id.
Spinners and self-actors' committee—Relief as above,
5921. 9s. ; additional relief, 161. ss. 6id. ; salaries, tra-
velling expenses, &c., 18/. ss. Bid. ; rent of rooms and
sundries, 31. 12s. 104. ; reports and other printing,
11/. ss.

Card-room hands' committee-Relief as above,
3491. 14s. ; additional relief, 14. 9s. ; salaries, travelling
expenses, &c., 10/. 12s. 10d. ; rent of rooms and sun-
dries, 1/. 11s. ld. ; reports and other printing, 91.
Throstle spinners' committee -Relief as above, 831. ;
additional relief, 13s. ; salaries, travelling expenses, &c.,
51. ls. Bd. ; rent of rooms and sundries, 15s. 11d. ; re-
ports and other printing, 21.
Power-loom overlookers' committee- Relief as above,
671. ; additional relief, 2s. 6d. ; salaries, travelling ex-
penses, &c., 31. 6s. 4 d. ; rent of rooms and sundries,
12s. o,ld. ; reports and other printing, 21. 10s. 6d.
Tape Machine Sizers' Committee.-Relief as above,
321. Bs. ; salaries, travelling expenses, &c., 10s. 2d. ;
rent of rooms and sundries, Bs. id. ; reports and other
printing, 12s. 6d.
Amalgamated Committee.-Appropriated to relief,
4501. 7s. 11d. ; salaries, travelling expenses, &c., 131.
10s. 7d. ; rent of rooms and sundries, W. 3s. Bd. ; re-
ports and other printing, 171. Bd. 3d. This committee
merely apportions the money it collects among the first
four committees.
A large meeting of operatives took place in the
Orchard this afternoon. Most of the delegates were
present ; Mr. Kinder Smith, of Oldham, presiding.
Addresses were delivered by Mr. Cowell, Mr. Wad-
dington, and Mr. Eccles, of Preston ; Mr. Worsick, of
Padiham ; and Mr. Grimshaw, of Great Harwood. The
assembly manifested a strong determination to persevere
in the struggle.

144,444 births were registered in the last three months
of the year. This number, though slightly above the
average, shows a considerable diminution on the num-
bers registered in thename period of the two preceding
years (148,912 and 162,066 respectively.) This decrease
is observable in nearly the whole of the country ; the
only counties which exhibit au increase in the number of
births being the metropolitan and extra-metropolitan
parts of Surrey, Huntingdon, Staffordshire, and South
Wales.