The Sun.
London, England, 1854-05-02 00:00:00

"To Till TRADES AND PEOPLE OF BRITAIN.

" Friends and Fellow-countrymen, —We, the under-
signed members of the Executive Committee of the Power
Loom Weavers' Association, beg to inform you that a
combination of circumstances renders it imperatively ne-
cessary that we should lay before you the position of the
Preston weaver.
"The successful termination of the late strike at Stock-
port, which was immediately followed by an advance of
wages in Blackburn and other places, led us and the factory
workers of Preston to believe that the employers were in a
position to give a similar advance, which was conceded by
32 of the employers, but was afterwards taken off through
the refusal of four employers to follow the praiseworthy
temporary
w. e
haveclo close.
example of the great majority of the trade. After 36
weeks' struggle, we are obliged to bring the contest to a
the universal coemn
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operatives.
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have been assisted in the circulation of their fne arious
misrepresentations by a powerful but unscrupulous press,
and by the miscalled guardians of the poor, who have
emptied their workhouses of all that could crawl from the
gates.
"The employers have been further assisted in their un-
holy crusade by the recent proceedings of a portion of the
overlookers, who have lent or sold themselves to the em-
ployers to circulate through the country false statements
respecting the position of Preston, which have had the effect
of curtailing the amount of subscriptions in those towns
where their misrepresentations have been made. Coupled
with those obstacles, the Eastern war, and the unprece-
dented high price of provisions, have operated as insur-
mountable difficulties to the continuation of the power
loom weavers' struggle. The operatives have therefore
been advised to resume work until a more favourable
opportunity • as the time will come when that 10 per cent.
will be granted to the operatives which is now unjustly
and by might withheld from them.
"In conclusion, we beg that you will carry out the fol-
lowing resolution, passed by the Central Committee at
their meeting, held on Sunday last :
" ' That the executive of the Weavers' Association draw
up an address to the country, stating the reasons that have
brought the Preston strike to a conclusion, and soliciting
the working classes to subscribe to support those whom
the manufactures have thrown upon the streets, and to pay
off any engagements the executive have entered into.'
" We remain, fellow-countrymen,
" Yours in the cause of labour,
" GEORGE COWELL, " JOHN CHEETHAM,
" MORTIMER GRIMSHAW, "THOMAS RHODES,
"JOHN MATTHEW, " WILLIAM WALTON,
" JOHN TONGUE, " EDWARD WHITTLE.
" KINDER SMITH, President,
" EWIN WHITTLE, Treasurer,

" J. B. HORSFALL,' Gen. Sec.

" Preston, May 1."
This morning the operatives were called together at
the usual place of meeting, in order that they might be
made acquainted with what had transpired. There was
an immense gathering, and the people still seemed full
of spirit and enthusiasm. Mr. Cowell was escorted to
the cart by troops of friends, and the multitude cheered
vociferously.
The CHAIRMAN (Mr. Baxendale) said, circumstances
have occurred that have compelled us this morning to
call you together, in order to lay our position before you.
You are all aware of the efforts that have been made by
the associated masters for the purpose of destroying this
movement. You all know the course the Stockport
masters have taken with regard to the wages paid in that
town. You also know the course taken by tho masters
of Darwen and of Elackburn—namely, a redu tion of 10
per cent. Under these circumstances, we felt it our
bounden duty to call you together, knowing that when
the reduction in Blackburn and in Darwen takes place
tne excitement will be such that it will be impossible to
keep those hands in the mills. The consequence must
be that our funds would drop off, and the weavers would
be compelled to resume work. Now, in order that we
may not drive the struggle on to such a length that the
people should suffer more than they have done, we have
determined to retire until a more favourable oppor-
tunity presents itself. (Hear, hear, and cheers) I
am proud to say that during a cold winter with only Is.
each per week, the people of Preston have conducted
themselves with such propriety and decorum as to have
gained the respect of the whole country. You have
stood nobly to the cause in which you embarked, and
depend upon it that, although we have to resume work
now, the masters have not been able to accomplish the
object they had in view. (Hear, hear.) We advise
you, then to return peaceably and comfortably to your
work, and, depend upon it, the day will conic when
your demand will be granted without either strikes or
lockouts. (Cheers.)

Mr. COWELL, after some introductory remarks, pro-
ceeded as follows :--Though it may be said that we on
the present occasion have suffered a defeat, let me tell
you, my respected friends, that had it not been for. this
agitation, which we are now bringing to a close, I feel
perfectly satisfied that the operatives of Preston,
Blackburn, Stock port, Manchester, and every other
manufacturing town in the kingdom, would at this time
have been working at a reduction of 10 per cent.
(Hear, hear.) I believe that we have prevented a re-
duction taking place for the next ten years, and that, if
ever the time should come when another reduction is
contemplated, it will never come under the denomina-
tion of alO per cent. That cry has resounded so often
in the ears of the manufacturers of Preston that they will
fur ever be disgurr.ed when they hear the name of " 10 per
cent." mentioned. (Hear.) While we now ..dvise you to
return to your employment rest assured that whenever a
reaction takes place in the commercial affairs of this coun-
try, the telling-note shall again be sounded in Preston—
"Ten per cent., and no surrender." (Loud cheers.)
But you, the working bees of Preston, of Blackburn,
and of other towns and districts, must be prepared for
the emergency, and whenever the demand is made, if we
have a good fund at our back, it is my decided convic-
tion that the employers will give the advance rather
than risk another turn-out. (Cheers.) I have a word
of advice to give to the masters of Preston. When two
contending armies meet, and one has proved successful,
I would ask the employers of Preston to reflect whether
it would be right for the victorious army to pursue the
enemy after they had grounded their arms, and ride
roughshod over them ? I hope the employers will take
this advice. Now that we have withdrawn from the
field, I hope and trust they will be willing to open their
gates and let you resume your work. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. Cowell then reviewed the various kinds of opposition
the operatives had had to encounter, and, after recom-
mending them to preserve their union, he retired amid
general acclamations.
Messrs. Waddington, Grimshaw, Walton, Worswick,
Matthew, and Smith also addressed the assembly.
The following resolution, moved by Mr. MATTHEW
and seconded by Mr. COWELL, was carried unani-
mously :

"That the best thanks of the people of Preston be given
to the trades of England for their munificent support
during this protracted struggle."
The CHAIRMAN announced that 4001. or tioo/. was ex-
pected from Blackburn that day, and that, together with
the money received yesterday, would be divided among
the hands.
Several hearty cheers were then given for the 10 per
cent., and the multitude dispersed.

WRECKS AND SALVACE.—A Government bill for the
amendment of the law. relating to wrecks and salvage
has been printed. It contains six clauses, which provide
that the Receiver General is in future to conform to the
directions of the Board of Trade, and that after the next
vacancy the office in question will not be filled up, but
its duties and functions transferred to the Board of Trade.
Officers of the Customs or of the Inland Revenue are to
be appointed to act as receivers ; and the provisions of
the Salvage Act, 9th and 10th Vict., c. 99, are extended
to Scotland. A scale of fees is also affixed to the bill,
' and all sums thus received will be carried to the Mercan-
tile Marine Fund, and a separate account kept of them.
MR. HOLFORD'S PROPERTY.—There is no foundation
whatever for the statement alleging that Mr. Holford,
the rich American merchant, lately deceased, had left
his property to the Prince of Wales. There were some
idle rumours about the neighbourhood that Mr. Hol-
ford sometimes used to say, when the improvements
and decorations of his houses and grounds in the Re-
gent's Park were referred to, that he intended them
for the future residence of the heir appa, ent to the
Crown. This may have been idle badinage only. Some
people, however, still say that it was his serious inten-
tion to bequeath his house and grounds—if not the whole
of his property—to the Royal Family. If he ever in-
tended anything of the sort, it is certain that he did not
carry out his intentions. We Lelieve the f lets to be, that
in 1845 Mr. James Holford made a will, by which he
appointed his brother, John Holford, of Alanchester,
and his nephew, John James Itolford his executors, %rid
authorised them at his decease to sell and dispose of his
real and personal estates, and to divide the proceeds
thereof among the children of his sa'id brother J ohn, in-
chiding the said John James liOlford. He also em-
powered him to call in all moneys out on mortgage, and
to convert all bills and securities for money into cash,
for the same trusts and purposes, to apply all his per-
sonal estate inithe same manner. The above-named
executors having died in the meantime, the other chil-
dren of Mr. John Holford have become entitled, and
are represented by two sons of the former, Henry Shaw
Holford and Frederick Shaw Holford. The personal
property in England is sworn under 100,000/.

WEATHER.—Sus OFPICI, MAY 2.
TEERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
59—highest since noon yesterday.
48—lowest this morning and during the night.
60 —this day at noon.
BAROMETER, went clown to 21.22—n0w up to 29.29.
WIND, S.W.—Fresh breeze, with sunshine and clouds.