The Sun.
London, England, 1853-12-19 00:00:00

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

PRESTON, DEC. 17.—We have now arrived at the six-
teenth week of the strike and the 12th of the lock-out,
and still it is impossible to say when the present conten-
tion is likely to be brought to a close. It is said that the
committee of the Masters' Association met on Thursday
last, but the result of their deliberations has not been
made public. There seems to be little, if any increase,
in the number of applicants for work at the closed mills ;
in fact, the registration of the names of those seeking
employment is scarcely ever mentioned. The reports
show that this week there has again been a large increase
in the number of persons relieved by the various com-
mittees. The income, however, has more than kept pace
with the increased demands on the funds. Subjoined is
a return of the number of persons relieved, together with
the cost :

No. relieved. Amount.
Power-loom weavers' committee ... 10,079 ...21,915 1 0
Spinners and self-actors' committee 2,787 ... 566 12 6
Card-room hands' committee......... 1,903 ... 258 12 3
Throstle spinners' committee ...... 483 ... 70 10 6
Tape machine sizers' committee ... 60 ... 31 8 6
Power-loom overlookers' committee 190 ... 66 310

15,502...02,908 7 9

Last week the number relieved was 14,972, and the
cost 2,8201. Bs. From this it will be seen that the in-
crease this week in the number of hands receiving relief
has been 530, and the amount paid 871. 19s. 3d. The
sum disbursed by the respective committees since the
commencement of the strike now amounts to close upon
30.0001.
As an illustration of the condition to which some of
the unemployed are reduced, it may be recorded that at
a meeting of spinners held in the Temperave Hall last
night, an operative named Giles Howarth, in seconding
a resolution pledging those present to 'Wand firm- for
ten per cent. and a strict adherence to their union,"
made the following statement :—" There is suffering
(said he) in the town of Preston, and such suffering as
few have any idea about. I myself know a family who
'have visited a slaughter-house regularly and fetched
blood and used it, without having anything like groats
pr bread to mix with it. There is also another man
who has been without food until be has been seen pick-
ing the bits out from the wash that was put by for pigs.
These statements are not made at random ; they are the
result of observation; and (added the speaker) they
brand the manufacturers of Preston with infamy."
The weekly meeting held in the Orchard this afternoon
was as large and as enthusiastic as any that has taken
place since the commencement of the strike. From ten
to twelve thousand of the unemployed were present.
Mr. Waddington, of Preston, presided.

SEVEN FIRES IN ONE NIGHT.

The firemen of the London Brigade and West of
England office were actively engaged from five o'clock
p.m. of Saturday until past five o'clock yesterday morn-
ing, there being during that period no fewer than seven
fires, at which they had to give their assistance. •
The first of these disasters occurred at%3 London
Club-house, 71, Jermyn-street, St. James's, and was
caused by the heat from one of the grates igniting the
girders and floorings of the first floor. At one time the
safety of the whole building was threatened ; and, as tit
was, the damage done was very considerable.
Another fire, and which was nearly attended. with
fatal consequences to several persons, broke out in pie-
mises in the occupation of Mr. A. Wright, linendraier
and mattress maker, No. 34, Seymour-street, Euston-
square. The fire was discovered by a policeman, and it
was with some difficulty that the inmates, who were ell
in bed, were aroused, and were enabled to make thpir
escape. The stores on the basement were quite de-
stroyed, and the staircase leading to the warehouse was
partially burnt. Fortunately, Mr. Wright was insured
in the County Fire-office.
A. third fire, which was attended with great destrUc-
tion of valuable property, took place at the Homerton
Colour Works, belonging to Messrs. Berger and Sons.
The flames 'originated in the Prussian blue stove, in
which many hundred pounds' worth of that commodity
was undergoing the process of drying. In spite of
every exertion, the building in which the misfortune
commenced, and which was about 60 feet wide by 40
deep, was burned out, the roof destroyed, and the
valuable contents consumed. The evaperating-house
adjoining was also damaged by fire, water, and break-
age. The total loss is very considerable, and it is under-
stood that the firm. was not insured.
A fire also happened at the Twickenham Paper Mills,
the property of Messrs. Healey and Co., situate on
Twickenham-common, about two miles from the Rich-
mond Railway terminus. It commenced in a long store-
house, used as the drying depot for millboards. A de-
spatch was immediately sent to town for assistance, but
when the firemen arrived they found that their services
were not required. The store had been burnt down,
but the workmen had succeeded in confining the flames
to that part of the premises. The firm, it was under-
stood, were not insured. This accident was likewise
intahestopyreemises of Mr. caused
Anotherby thefireo voecrchtterrateidng of
East-
house, No. 4, Ann-street, East India-road, Poplar. It
was caused by a spark flying from the grate upon-a horse
of clothes. The loss was great. The sufferer was net
insured.
A fire also broke out at No. 15, Great Chapel-street,
Oxford, the property of Mrs. Sarah Day. Here like-
wise much damage was done; and the owner was unin-

sured. - •
Lastly, a fire happened in the neighbourhood of
Bloomsbury-square, but the damage done was only of a
trifling character.

CHRISTMAS BOXES.—The following has been issued
by the large houses in the iron trade :—" Notice.—The
practice of giving Christmas boxes is discontinued at
this establishment. This warehouse will henceforth be
closed on the day:after Christmas-day.—Dec. 15, 1853."
MR. JOHN MARTIN.—This gentleman, the painter of
" Belshazzar's Feast," has suffered, it is stated, an
attack of paralysis that disables his right hand, and
impedes his utterance ; though his hearing and sight
remain perfect. This misfortune occurred to him last
month, in the Isle of Man, where he was planning im-
provements for the harbour of Douglas.
THE BRAZIL SCREW STEAM-SHIP OLINDA, Captain
Ilaram, with advices from Monte Video to Nov. 4 ;
Rio, to Nov. 13 ; Bahia, to Nov. 18 ; Pernambuco, to
Nov. 20 ; St. Vincent, to Nov. 29 ; and Lisbon, to the
Bth December—put into Queenstown on the 16th
inst., with cogs of flywheel damaged. She was expected
to leave on Saturday for Liverpool. She had 43 pas-
sengers, and 7,7261. in specie. Her news has been an-
ticipated by the arrival at Southampton of the Royal
Mail steam-ship Great Western, on Saturday morning.
GOVERNMENT RAILWAY MEDIATION.—Mr. Cardwell
has submitted to the heads of the London and North
Western and Great Western the name of a gentleman,
as co-mediator, which appears to us entirely unexcep-
tionable. The parties most interested, however, not
having yet expressed their acceptance of the services of
the honourable gentleman referred to, we are scarcely
justified in further indicating his personalty than by
saying that he is a good man of business, a member of a
noble Yorkshire house, and representative of one of the
boroughs in that empire county. Should the honourable
gentleman be acceptable to both parties, we believe they
will enter upon the negotiations on Wednesday next.—
'

LINES LEASED AT FIXED RENTALS.
Prices
this
c Leasingomp
ans . 0 l osalit
Sbr. Paid EiILWATS.
- • - -- -------. -
50 all Bedford and Ln.&N.W.
Bietchley.... ••• ...
St. 100 Bwkghamsh. L. &N.W. 101 io3
50 all ClldesdaleJc• Caledon... 51 ._. 52
St. 100 E.Lincoln. gr.
6 p .Nceenwt ..... Grsto "'.Northi 42
145
25 all Ghs. Barr. & Caldonian.
ICeils.Direet.
•••
25 all Do. .
25 all GlstrADn•Fr.lgt.Westn. 30 - 32
... •
_!
100 all Hrtlpl. Dk. & Yk. New.
Railway & Berw..
50 all Hull & Selby Y.&N.Md. 109 111
25 all Do. i Shares Do s4i 556
12. all Do. I Shares. Do 27 28 isg
121 all Lon.d;Greenw S.Eastern l3i
~.url4l
20 all Do• Preference Do 246 --z
St. 100 Lowestoft gr.
4 per cent... Norfolk
St. 100 Do. 6 per ct... Do ..,
5:1,, all Manch.Baton. Ln.&i
.W.
and Matlock & blidld• 2i 3
50 all Middlesbro' & Stekton & .
...
Itedear •• . ..• . . Darlin.gt. ..
~a 101
100 all Midld.Bradfd. Zifidlana "
50 all Northern and Count„ 60 _
62
Easternsp•e• E. .
... _
...
5 all Do. 6 per et.. Do -
.x . _
...
L. 6;IS
2,:i all Prost. &Wyre dllanitYWk ...
5v all Do•Fi
0. A Shares. Do . .
I. 12 - &Hit. Gt.Northn 143 146
S 100 Roystu.
ed sp.c Do ... ... .
5- -- •Roth. Lancash.d;
2 , 18gShef. Ro • d
wo Do•Shepth.St. Do 143 146
••• Yorksh
12 9i S. og;dss.Phic. MTMClean 2 —16 d
all w-G:So,ta:l\ll°Taileygr Stockt. 6;
50
6 per cent ... Darling. ...
25 all D 0.... Do 304 —31 i
St. 1100 Wilts&Somrst Gt.Westn 99 100

LLOYD'S SHIPPING.--(THIS DAY.)

LONDON, Dec. 19.--Wind this day at Noon, E. to S.E. ;
moderate breeze, and fine frosty weather.
RAMSGATE, Dec. 18.—The Africa, Umea to Melbourne,
has put in here leaky, and cargo shifted, having been
aground.
GnigsßV, Dec. 17.—Arrived—Georg,e, from Findhorn,
for London,' with considerable damage.-18. The Orelio,
from Gothenburg, has been assisted in here with damage,
and part of 'c'argd thrown overboard, and with loss of one
man overboard.
MILFORD,' Dec. 17.—Wind, S.S.E. Arrived—Packet,
from the Clyde, for Melbourne leaky.
BONCHURCH (Isle of Wight), Dec. 18.—The Hibernia
(brigantine), of South Shields, has been totally wrecked
here to-day ; crew saved.
LOWESTOFT, Dec. 18.—The Leo, of Stettin, Newport-to
Bremen, has been assisted in here leaky, and must dis-
charge, having struck upon a rock at sea during a gale.
PLYMOUTH, Dec. 18.—Wind, S.E. Arrived—Lady Sale,
from Havannah ; Countess of Zetland, Savanilla, for Len-
don ; Clio, Miramichi, for Hull.
PORTSMOUTH, Dec. 18.—Wind, S.S.E., blowing hard.
Arrived—Columbia, from Quebec, for Null ; Richard
Cobden, New 'York. _ _ _

LIVERPOOL, Dec. 18.—The Humboldt (s), from Havre
and Southampton to New York, in making for Halifax,
sth inst., ran on the Sisters' Rocks, and was breaking up ;
crew and passengers paved.—The Eliza (barque), of this
port, Callao to Baltimore, was totally wrecked 28 miles S.
of Cape Hentry, on the 28th inst ; chief officer drowned.—
The Maiden City (s), from Londonderry, burst one of the
tubes of her boiler ; one man killed, and another severely
scalded.

QUEBEC, Dec. I.—The winter season has set in. The
Britannia (ship), while at anchor here, 28th ult., was cut
through by the ice, and became waterlogged.—The Eliza-
beth (barque) went on shore at Reviere du Loup, Nov. 28.
The British Queen (barque) was surrounded by ice on
the 28th, and was abandoned by her crew. —The Wilson,
the J. K. L., for Bristol ; the Waterlily, for Liverpool ',•
the Sutton (brig), for Wisbeach—have gone on shore at
Havre Island, and five more are reported to be on shore
at the same place, one of which, the Mount Washington,
has passed Reviere du Loup in safety.
PERNAMBUCO, Nov. 21.—The Wm. Russell, Bahia to
Bremen, which put in here, Oct. 24, leaky, has been con-
demned ; cargo partly damaged.

(BY SUBMARINE AND EUROPEAN TELEGRAPH.)
GRAVESEND, MONDAY, 10 A.M.
CUSTOMS RETURN.
Wind, E., fine and frosty ; low water.
Arrived-18th—Leonida, from Gefle ; Parkfield, Callao;
Herman, Gothenberg ; Joshua Bates, New York ; Mar-
chioness of Bute, Cadiz ; Equivalent, Leghorn ;
Har-
binger, Cronstadt ,• Mary, Copenhagen ; Lochlibo, Callao ;
Flectric, Cadiz ; Gem, Girgenti ; Gateshend'2,Vdae Ceylon
Rufina, Tarragona ; Alvers Mild Faahorg; Clydesdale,
Mauritius ; Mangerton, Bombay ; Norden, Brevig;
Odessa ; Marie, Gravelines. n m • Naraden,
Arrived-19th—Vestelanden, from"—roali-, 'Harlingen
Galatz ; Concordia, Cronstadt ; Queen
Wilberforce (s), Gluckstadt.
DRAL, MONDAY, 9 A.m.

Wind, S.E., strong and cloudy.
Passed—Robert Morrison, from London, for Calcutta,

LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S DISFRANCHISEMENT
BILL.

regret to inform the electors of theundermen-
Wed
places that their boroughs are to be disfranchised
tione
by Lord John Russell, according to his intended new
Reform Bill:—
Andover,
Abingdon,
Ashburton,
Arundel, , Bandon,
Banbury, Bodmin,
Boydleb
Buckingham, Caine,
Cashel, Chippenh am,
Cirencester, Clitheroe,
Cockermouth, Coleraine,
Devizes, Dorchester,
Droitwich, Dundalk,
Dungarvan, Ennis,
Evesham, Eye,
Harwich, Helston,
Horsham, Huntingdon,
Kidderminster, Kinsale,
Launceston, Lisburn,
Ludlow, Lyme Regis,
Mallow, Malmesbury,
Marlow, Midhurst,
New Ross, Northallerton,
Petersfield, Portarlington,
Reigate, Richmond,
Sligo, Tamworth,
Tewkesbury, Thetford,
Tiverton, Totness,
Wallingford, Wareham,
Westbury, Wexford,
Wir,ollt
e. , Wilton,
Wycombe, Youghal,
None of the above baying 500 electors.

Armagh,
Athlone,
Beaumaris,
Brecknock,
Carlow,
Christchurch,
Clonmel,
Dartmouth,
Downpatrick,
Dungannon,
Enniskillen,
Frome,
Honiton,
Kendall,
Knaresborough,
Liskeard,
Lymington,
Marlborough,
Morpeth,
Orkneys,
Radnor district
Ripon,
Tavistock,
Thirsk,
Tralee,
Wells,
Whitby,
Woodstock.

THE CUSTOMS.—We are authorised to state that it is
not intended, on account of a temporary pressure of
business in the shipping department, to make any per-
manent increase in the existing number of landing
waiters in the Customs in London. They are a ing.hly-
paid.elass of officers ; and economy, as well as. facilities
to the trade, must be considered.—Sunday nom

/

_I that
4.14
.4,.. ! 7q., T.:Ty.7t)

RESIGNATION OF LORD PA_ I'4

( From tke Times. )

£I
3

It will probably not be very easy to bring the public,
to any exact agreement with regard to the amount of
loss the Ministry has sustained by the withdrawal of
Lord Palmerston from her Majesty's councils. Evpry
one will judge of it for himself according to the estimate
of the man, and there are few public men about whom
estimates so conflicting are formed and expressed.
There are those who insist upon considering Lord
Palmerston as the best friend to the march of liberal
opinions on the Continent of Europe, regardless of the
calamitous fate which has sooner or later overtaken
all his portega, and which he used no means to
prevent. There are others who have been in the
habit of looking up to him as the head of a party of
more advanced liberality in home politics than any
that has yet scaled the defences of Downing-street.
I Rather than own themselves mistaken, those persons

will probably adhere to their expressed opinions, and
insist upon believing that a severe shock has been sus-
tained by Lord Aberdeen's Ministry in the loss of a
nobleman so liberal and so popular. But they who took
at the matter without prejudice, and with a wish to

judge it fairly and impartially, will pr&iably come to
the conclusion that the loss, however great, is not
irremediable. Whatever opinions may have been
held by certain parties with regard to Lord Pal-
merston, those who attend carefully to the cir-
cumstances of his resignation will find very much
in them to diminish their regret for his loss. The
time was one which peculiarly demanded that
patriotic sacrifice of individual opinion out of which
the present Coalition Ministry derives its existence. On
the threshold of a war with one of the most powerful
nations of the earth, when the best means of averting
this terrible contingency is the unanimity of all parties
and the thorough accord of all counsels, a principal
officer of State feels himself called upon abruptly to re-
, nounce his official position, and to quit a Government
which had hitherto obtained his support. There was
nothing in the time which pressed for an immediate
decision, and there were many things, to a mind
capable of rising above party and personal motives,
which counselled delay and forbearance. War de-
clared, or peace re-established, would have left him
free to act with little public injury. Nor was
there anything in the previous history of the man
which should lead us to consider him as of too unbending
a nature to submit his own opinions to those of others
for the sake of the public good. There is no party in
the country which he has not served, no set of opinions
which bare not at one time or another been supported
by his vote. A nobleman who could hold office under
Mr. Percival and Lord Grey, Lord Liverpool and Lord
John Russell, can scarcely plead a punctilious delicacy
or a rigorous adherence to consistency as an excuse
for the resignation of office at a period so singularly
inopportune for the best interests of the country.
If we turn from the time to the avowed causes of Lord
talmerston's resignation, we see still less reason for
consideringre-
signed
r m because
Bil
l,h ias l
htlheooscus
ogiuirilrdet
ot
notr ic
aevr
raagb)
agree
n at
oeLaLos
orurdrdeP
Johnfarle Palmerston
on Russell'sstonrhe his
s
view of the subject would have been, in the presentame tem-
per of the Legislature and the public mind, an impossi-
bility. It matters little whether Lord Palmerston de-
clared at once that he was against all reform, or whether
he objected to the disfranchisement of more than twenty
boroughs, and insisted upon giving all the members
thus placed at the disposal of the Legislature to the
counties, at the same time that he objected to lower by a,
single shilling the county franchise. It is quite ob-
vious that ministers would have done more wisely to
encounter Parliament without any Reform Bill at all
than to redeem their pledge in so futile and unsatisfactory
a manner. To bring forward a bill of so much moment
in order that it might be rejected would have been un-
worthy of the character for good faith and honesty
which the public ascribes to Lord Aberdeen and his
Government. And yet, because the plan of the Minis.
terial measure was not of this evasive character—be.
cause it was intended honourably to redeem the pledge
which the Government had accepted, the statesman
whose loss we are called upon to bewail as irretrievable
resigned. Happily, England is not yet so poor in talent
and experience as to regard as irreparable the loss of
a Minister who, never celebrated for the consistency
of his opinions, resigns his seat in the Cabinet rather
than fairly carry out the pledge to grant a just, mode-
rate, and necessary reform, and selects for that resig-
nation a most critical moment, when such an act is sure
to be misconstrued by foreign nations, to the great
detriment of the public interests, and the complication
of affairs already sufficiently entangled.
We understand that upon Lord Palmerston's resigns.
tion, Lord Aberdeen offered the Home-office to Lord

John Russell, and we regret to hear that the offer was de;

clined, mainly from the fear that his acceptance of it might
be misconstrued. The office has now been offered to Sir
George Grey, and awaits his acceptance or rejection.
Whoever is destined to be its future occupant will, w
trust, be prepared to advocate and carry through a fai
and substantial measure of Parliamentary reform, and t
consider his official situation as a great trust held for the
benefit of the country, neither to be undertaken rashly
nor flung aside hastily, and least of all when the welfare
of the State exacts every sacrifice in order to preserve
in the presence of foreign nations the appearance of unity
and harmony in our councils.

( Feom the Morning Post.)
Though, as we have already stated, the whole matter
can only be completely entered into and explained before
the tribunal of Parliament, we do not hesitate to affirm
with confidence that, from the first, serious differences
of opinion with regard to the course to be pursued
towards Russia existed between Lord Palmerston and n.
certain section of the Cabinet, and that the Home Secre-
tary's views of foreign policy were opposed to those of
the Premier. It was not, however, for a patriotic man,
whose experience was acknowledged, and whose coun-
tenance was requested by all, to resign office because he
could not persuade others to act together upon his con-
victions. Suffice it that he could effect a partial good,
and be of more use in the Cabinet than out of it.

It will be remembered that, on the 17th of August
last, is a memorable speech, Lord Palmerston used
these words :—lf England, united with France, shall
say that Turkey shall not be molested by any other
Power, their dictum will be enforced." Eery one
knows that when Lord Palmerston says a thing he means
it, and does it, and we may be sure, had his counsel
been followed, that the often repeated dictum of
England and France would have been uttered but once,
and then acted upon with an energy worthy of the nations
pledged to it.

- Instead of that Turkey has been " molested," whilst
Russia has been treated with a vacillating timidity that
has tempted her continued aggression far more than any
weakness of Turkey, or present haste to obtain the long-
coveted Empire of the South.
And what has been the consequence ? Why, that
Russia holds the " material guarantees " of her demands,
and that up to the present time she has held the com-
mand of the Black Sea, with what effect let Sinope tell.
That disgraceful catastrophe could never have occurred
if proper measures in regard to the Black Sea had been
adopted.

The dispute must result in one of two possible issues
--either Turkey, beaten, prostrate at the feet of the
Czar, may submit to his demands, or the Emperor of
Russia, must withdraw his pretensions.
The policy of England was simple, had her statesmen
carried it out. When the Emperor threatened to cross
the Pruth, we should have replied that, as soon as he
committed that act of war, our fleet would pass through
the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus, then open in accord-
ance with the provisions of the Treaty of 1841, and would
enter the Euxine ; and when he occupied the Principa-
lities we should have taken coilmand of the Black Sea,
giving notice to the Czar that, if the bowsprit of a Rus-
sian roan-of--war appeared beyond the harbour of Sebas-
topol, it would certainly result in his ship's being towed
to Constantinople.
This would have been a vigorous and an effective
policy, worthy of the country ; instead of this our ships
are merely in the Bosphorus. They certainly are of con-
siderable service to the Sultan for they Protect his capital
from a coup de main, which but for their presence might
have proved as effectual at Constantinople as 'at Sinope.
We do no more than this, however, and wherefore ? be-
i cause forsooth, it is feared there might be " war " were
we to enter the Black Sea, and, for instance to prevent
Russian reinforcements being conveyed to Sokouin Kaleh,
which is a Russian port within some days march o
Batoum ; but as those forces are to march against our
ally, where is the difference of their Leing landed at one
port or another, so their purpose be the same ? Yet
we profess to protect the Turkish territory, though the
profession was but ill supported at Sinope. If we under-
take to protect Turkey, why do we not do so ? Why are
English professions and English aid all show, and no sub-
stance ? If we are afraid to act the part which our interest
and honour require of us— if we are afraid to puetwTeumrkigehyt
in command of the 131ack Sea, lest we offend the Autocrat
—if we are afraid to send our cruisers, or to send in afietl,
n,
,stwaanrt.i:.
to convoy the Turk's ships or shield his ports I
almost as well not have sent outrimflideetsastlonuo:
nople, this being as much interference with the Czar as
been encouraged, any other act we have nameiedaa,
has been
not
andA tchoeurasendaapepiatyrenetflyßtnasnsi
nandna:l
checked, Sooner or later this policy must be changed,
if the independence of ,
throughouatr
the honour of England,
and the great interests of Europe,
ielatsoubregesdavaed.
That Lord Palmerston straight-
forward and honourable
; and we have policy, his every precedent gua-
ranteesneglect of his advice theevery reason to believe that to the
sent unfortunate disaster of Sinope and the pre-
sent state of affairs is owing.

ESCAPE or LORD JOHN RUSSELL PROM A RAILWAY
ACCIDENT.—A report has reached us that a few days
since, Lord John Russell, with some gentlemen, were
about to return from Southampton to London, and that
the first-class carriage in which his lordship had engaged
a centre compartment was about to start When Thomas
Darven, her Majesty's guard when travelling by the
South-Western line, discovered that the tire of one of the
wheels had snapped asunder. The carriage was re-
moved, and another one substituted. The discovery is,
in all probability, a fortunate one, judging from the
many accidents which have arisen from the breaking or
snapping of the tires
L ofOraNDilON,y cwaarri
The fagollowinge wheels.
appoint-
KING'S COLLEGE,
ments have been made by the Council of this college in
order to fill up the professorships recently vacated by
the Rev. F. D. Maurice :--The Rev. A. M'Caul; D.D ,
is elected to fill the chair of Ecclesiastical History, in
addition to that of Hebrew and the Old Testament,
which he has hitherto held. A lecturer is to be imme-
diately appointed to relieve Dr. M‘Caul, by instruct-
ing the junior classes in Hebrew. Mr. George Webbe
Dasent, of Magdalene-hall, Oxford, Doctor of Civil Law,
has been elected to the °lair of English Literature and
Modern History.