The Sun.
London, England, 1854-02-14 00:00:00

RAILWAY TRAFFIC RETURN.

LONDON AND OITTII-EASTERN RAlLWAY.—Traffic re-
turn for the week ending Feb. 11, 1854 £12,190 11 6
Corresponding week last year 10,827 19 11

Increase in 1854

£1,362 11 7

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

THE STEAMSHIP HIMALAYA.

PRESTON, FEB. 13.
The diminution in the number of hands chargeable i
upon the Trades' Union funds has enabled the Power-
loom Weavers' Committee to advance their pay to-day
The greatest anxiety is manifested by the Government
from 4s. to ss. per bead. This, as may be supposed, has
authorities for the early arrival of the Peninsular and
diffused great satisfaction amongst the recipients. The
Oriental steam-ship Himalaya, which it is hoped may
weavers' income this week from the various districts is
reach Southampton not later than the 16th inst.
2,2701., the following sums being included in this She
left Malta on the night of the 7th inst., with the India
amount :—Blackburn, 6701., Stockport 2401., Preston
and Australian mails. The following ltter from is gen-
1511., Ashton-under-Lyme 1401., Glossop 1301., Over
Darwen 1151., Oldham 951., Church Parish 701., Tint- tleman on board gives an account of her performances,
and, both from the interest attached to her first voyage
wistle 601., Great Harwood 601., Staleybridge 521. Hs.
as well as the important part this steamer may have to
10d., Accrington 421., Droylsden 311., Compstallbridge
301., Bolton 291., Clitheroe 251., Chorley 221., Heywood r'l in the approaching extensive naval operations, will,
20/. Burnley 20/., all the other items were under 201.
doubtless,"
We left Malta at 1.10 a.m. on the 31st of Janmary,
In addition to the relief contributions, the emigration ay be read with attention :
and met with a fresh north-west breeze all the way up,
fund as been raised to 811. lls. 6d. It was reported to
with a heavy swell, and arrived in 60 hours. On the
2d inst. we saw the lighthouse at Alexandria, 840i:61es
day at the pay-table that the hands of three other mills
have resumed work at prices which are deemed satin- 2d
a pilot ; hut, owing to the heavy swell on the reef,
distant from Malta, and, in 61 hours, slowed the.engines
factory, but as yet I have been unable to obtain authen ••
the pilot boats could not get out ; 80 we sent our boat-
tic information upon the subject,
a boat's csew in the mailboat to fetch the
An important placard, a copy of which is annexed,
pilot, which, with great difficulty and considerable swain with with
has appeared this morning. • l at
eras at length done. A small French screw steamer
Molls y
The following resolution was carried unanimously
the most numerous meeting went in a few hours before us and touched twice on the
of power-loom overlookers
reef. It seems a great want of consideration on the part
ever held in Preston :
" Resolved—That the c overlookers of Preston
pinion that to of the authorities of the port of Alexandria that they do
are opposed to all staikePsTvnurPre are of o
secure our own personal safety, and to preserveour families not have such boats for their pilots as, for instance, our
from the indignation of the public and the perpetual in- Cowes pilotboats, so that they could come out a few
miles to sea • dl v to, or cruise about for vessels, for
snits of our neighbours, it is our duty, as well as our irate- miles
rest to
t to take no active part between the contending par- when it . ,", a,
prepared to pay all due deferece it is blowin hard on this coast it is most danger-
ties ; and while we are ous for vessels for un for the port, unless they can feel
and render all necessary obedience to our employers, we
have a strong con victim that we are best serving the ulti- certain of obtaining a pilot. t
mate interests of the said employers by preserving a strict 1
both parties to " During our run up she frequently. went 151 and 16
neutrality; at the same time, beseeching knots, and at 8 p.m. on February 1 the log was hove and
come to a speedy and reasonable settlement of the present ran off 164 knots, wheri the line parted ; and our oldest
dispute, so that our town may resume its former quietude quarter-master, who was heaving the log, said, " she
and prosperity. must have been going 17." Her average from Malta to
eßy order of the power-loom overlookers of Preston.-- Alexandria was 131 knots, and from England 124. We
February 13, 1854. remained just two days in Alexandria, and sailed thence
There was an immense gathering of the unemployed at 5 p.m. on the 4th of February, experiencing, first day,
in the Orchard at noon to-day. Mr. Luke Wood, of fresh breeze from N., with heavy swell ; second day,
Stockport, presided. Addresses were delivered by light headwinds ; third day, fresh westerly breeze *right
Messrs. E. Swinglehurst, Waddington, Wadman, ahead. She ran up in G 7 hours, or 121 knots per
Gallaher, and Cowell, of Preston ; G-rimshaw, of Great hour. The quickest passage hitherto made from Malta.
Harwood ; Walton, of Blackburn ; and Lawless, of to Alexandria was by the Pasha's yacht Paid Giihaid, of
Warrington. Several speakers severely censured the 2,400 tons and 800-horse power, eight hours longer
conduct of certain clergymen, who, it was alleged, had than ours ; from Alexandria to Malta, by the Bengal,
endeavoured to persuade a number of young women at- 70 hoers. Her engines ever since leaving Gibraltar
tending their schools, or places of worship, to resume I have performed most satisfactorily—at noon, February
work. Mr. Cowell contradicted a statement that a large 1 1, we were, by observation, 365 miles from Alexandria.
number of weavers had returned to their employment at 1 lighthouse, and by two p.m., Feb. 2, slowed the engines
the mills of Messrs. Hovist and Miller. The speaker ' for a pilot. - ..
remarked that it was not likely they would go to work "We shall leave here to-night, and shall, D, V.,
at that establishment, where they could only earn, on an with moderately fine weather,
think
ein
oSouthampton by
• /
average, Bs. 9d. per week, whilst they were allowed ss. the afternoon of the 15th. I
_I
_u mayt well say
for playing. It was announced that 1001. might he ex- this ship's average speed
panted next week from Sheffield, and that some of the an ocean paddle-wheel steamer afloat whose average is
delegates were about to visit Leeds and other towns in as great as this ? The Tri▪
este steamer Calcutta sailed
Yorkshire. Before the close of the proceedings, Mr. : from Alexandria three hours before tin. - NVe have a
am
Grimshaw called for " three cheers for the 10 per cent. ; good many Australian passengers and a large oitlit of
eplrture of the rrivel p, "'oiii`t de
and the downfall of cotton lord tyranny." This appeal ' gold. The Australian steamer
hours
Australians tfter the
having been responded to,.three cheers were even for the 41alle,.C.eythalont,
the
e 6
Ben-
factory operatives of Finland, after which the meeting , tinck, so
separated. nearly a fortnight.
.: ...
_ .

THEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE.
Lessee, Mr. E. T. Stn tb.
THIS EVENING, Frs. 14,
Will be performed THE STRANGER. Characters by Mr. G. V.
Brooke, A. Younge, and Belton ; Miss Featherst ,ne, Mrs. Vickery.
To conclude with RING HUAIMINGrOp ; or, Elaleguin and the
Land of Toys.

THEATRE ROYAL, HA YMA .{R}:T
Uncle/. the mansge,rent of Mr. Rackstone

THIS EVENIN(4,.. FEB. 14,

Will be performed a new comic drama, ctiled R ►NELAGH.
Characters by Messrs. Van ienhoff, W. Farren, and Buckstone ; Miss
Reynolds, Mrs. Fitzwilham, &c.
After which, the Grand Cif ItIiTMAS PANTOMIME, call. d
HARLEQUIN AND THE THREE BEAR:; or, Little Silverhalr
and the Fairies. Columbine, Miss M Brown; Hirlequln, Mr. J.
Marshall; Pantaloon, Mr. W. A. Barnes; Clown, Mr. H. Marshall.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD.sTREET.
Under the Mansgemmt of Mr. CHARLES KERN.
THIS EVENING, Fzs. 14,
Will be performed."THE LANCERS; or, The-Gentleman's Son.
Principal characters by Messrs. Meadows, Ryder, Everett, H. Mellon,
nd D. Fisher; Mrs. Winstanley, Miss Daly, and Miss C. Le lercq.
After which will be presented the new Grand CHRIST A AS PAN-
TOMIME, entitled HARLEQUIN AN THE AILLER AND
HIS MEN; or, King Salamandar and the Fairy of the Azure
Lake. Harlequin, Mr. Cormack ; Clown, Mr. Huline; Pantaloon,
Kr. Paulo; and Columbine, Miss Desborough.

LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Management of Madame Vestris.
THIS EVENING. Fan. 14.
Will be performed A BACHELOR ON AurS. Characters by
Messrs. C. Mathews, F. Matthews, and Baker; Miss F. Hughes.
After which, the original Fairy Extravaganza, called ONCE
UPON A TIME THERE WF.RE TWO KING-4. Principal cha-
racters by Mr. Roxby and Madame Vestris.
To conclude with PATTER VERSUS CLATTER.

THEATRE ROYAL A.DELPIII.
Proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.-13tractress, Madame Celeste.
TIII3 EVENING, FEB. 11,

Will be
presented theaux. with new pepulAr New Nktutical 3felo-drams
in Ave -----
highly
scenery, the Set, of Ic,?, &c., new
Azip TAE WILD FL.nirt,:a OF _II,O.XICI.
dresses and appointments, called VIE r.mt,r OF
TKK LOST SHIP
Principal characters by assess.assess.l3. Webster, Keeley, Paul Belton',
Madame Celeste. &c.
New OTo be followed by the popular and entirely "Ir'E'); or,
rand Sp.cta-
enlar legendary Christmas piece, in two act,, with new scenery,-
dresses. mac.hinerv. and aPirintornti, called vi r 1(3 E': NIP, or
THE SPIRIT BRUM, Principal characters by Mr. Paul Bedford,
Madame Celeste. Mrs. Keeley, Else wow
gar, &c.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, 31r. A. Wigan.
THIS EVENING, Faa. 14,
win be performed THE FIRS r NIGHT. Characters by Messrs.
Alfred Maws, Leslie, Franks, Harwood Cooper, and Vincent ; 'Miss
p. Horton, ant Miss IVynlham.
After which, ran BENTGIL TiGPIR. Principal chiraetera by
Messrs. Alfred Wigan, Leslit., and F. Robson ; and Mrs, A. Wigan.
Followed by THE WiNrogn[Ni; MINSTIigL.

STRAND THEATRE.
So's Lessee, Mr. F. W. Allcroft.—Directress, Miss Rebecca Isaacs .

TRIS EVENING, FEB 14,
WM be pertbrmel THE ROBBER'i IFE.

.•
To be followed by STATE SECRE pr, The Irish Ambassador
Atte, which, the new grand Comic Christmas PAotomim entitled
HARLEQUIN AND KING NUTCR tCICK t ; or, The World of
Toys. Clown, by he ',imitable Flextnore ; H trlequin, Mr. Bologna ;
Pantaloon, Mr. Griflittur ; Columbine, Govrard,
Stalls, 55.; Boxes, 35.; Pit, 14. fg 1 ; lallery, lid.; Private Boxes,
11. 1 Is. 6c1., to be had of Mr. Allcroft, IS, Sew Bond-street.

ASTLErS EUROPE'S NATIONAL AMPHITFIEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. William Cooke.

Extraordinary co nbina-lon of attraction—Che Performing Ele-
phants, whose wondrous feats ant hitlerto unlea-d of incredible
performances nqw snare their nuts :y trinmp wth their Petite
rival LE AI 4G 5 C; or, Nimble ILarinJz .t. le is incleep
another wonder, for hit trit"its a id exerzises are achieved with such
human-like action, that the beholder can reality imagine he is
watching In a mirror the refi,ctive action.' of a man. In addition to
these" Zoolozical Stars," the Grand Chines' Spectacle (which has
reached its 56th nizht). The inimitable Scenes of the Arena, and
the successful arid gorgeous Pantomime, for fling the most novel and
unparalleled entertainment ever offered to the public.
THIS EVENING, Faa. 14,
and during the week, THE WISE ELEPHANTS OF THE EAST,
or THE MAGIC GONG, in which Ar. William Cooke's Matchless
scenes of the CIRCLE, and the Grand Comic
.ntomitne or BILLY
Bt/T ros's JOURNEY TO BRENTFORD;,r, Harlequin and the
Lad! es' Favourite.

lios-offlee open from Eleven till Four. Stags Manager, Mr. W.
West.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tuts DAY —Morning 1 min.e.fter 3 I Evening 16 n3in.aft. 3
To-Moßßow—Morning 33 inin.after 3 Evening. 48 niin.aft 3

THE WEATHEIL.—SUN OPPICII, FEB 14.
THERMOMETER, IN THE SHADE.
44 —highest since noon yesterday.
30 —lowest this morning and during the night.
41 —this day at noon.

BABOSIETEE, 30.58.
WIND, N.W.—Fine, sunshiny weather.

~~~^~~

whereby it is calculated that the right of voting
will be extended to a considerable number of the
labouring population. .It is the principle of this
we look to—the principle which has now been
formally asserted that the working class '3 have a
right to a somewhat larger share in the system of
national representation.

Wherefore, we repeat, it is already apparent
to us that the prominent merit of the New Re-
form Bill of the Coalition is its declaration of
this great principle—its chief demerit the total
omission of the Ballot in its scheme of innova-
tions.

A measure so considerable as this requires,
however, let us add once more, time for
its due and deliberate consideration. The
reasonableness of which assertions must be
at once manifest when it is remembered that
the New Reform Bill involves the disfranchise-
ment of 29 boroughs which have fallen below 300
electors and have less than 5,000 for a popula-
tion, and the substitution of one for two Members
in the instance of 33 boroughs having less than
500 electors and under 10,000 for a population !
A project consequently placing 62 seats at the
disposal of the Legislature, or rather 66, includ-
ing the forfeited seats of St. Alban's and Sud-
bury. Remember that these 66 seats the " large
measure" of the Coalition proposes to distribute
thus—by giving another member to those coun-
ties which have (exclusive of the population of
represented towns) more than 100,000 as their
population, by dividing the West Riding of York-
shire, which has a population of 800,000, and
the Southern Division of Lancashire, which has
500,000 inhabitants, and allotting to each of the
four divisions three representatives, by awarding an
additional member to all towns having more than
100,000 inhabitants—and by other additions
giving representatives to the Inns of Court, to the
University of London, to two of the larger towns
of Scotland, and to the Scottish Universities, to
Birkenhead, and Staley-bridge, and Burnley,
and Chelsea, and Kensington. Remember
all these, and the remaining points of the scheme
proposed to the House of Commons yesterday
evening, by Lord JOHN RUSSELL, and it must then,
we conceive, be obvious enough to any man's
capacity—that soap
.m,derate lap,se, of time is
requisite in order to enable the country ade-
quately to appreciate the " large measure" sug-
gested by her MAJESTY'S Government.

The first three Government measures have been
favourably received by the House of Commons.
No one, at the present price of coals, was reluc-
tant to throw open the coasting trade; none could
with decency object to the most stringent propo-
sitions on which a Government would venture for
suppressing bribery and " undue influence ;" and
it would require no small hardihood to defend our
present law of settlement and of compulsory re-
moval.; of the poor. As Mr. BAINES shows, on
the authority of a Parliamentary committee of the
highest character, and by appeals to every one's
knowledge who has paid attention to the subject,
the present law is not only an intolerable cruelty
to the poor, but in numerous instances a real
injury to their employers. The detestable system
of " close parishes," as it is termed, where one or
two proprietors combine to keep the poor from
acquiring settlements on the property they cul-
tivate, thereby forcing the burden of their
pauperism on the neighbouring parishes, and
compelling their labourers to walk many
weary miles backward and forward to their

work, has long and justly been marked for de-
struction at the earliest opportunity. Even slave
proprietors do not waste the strength of their
"niggers" in this way, nor farmers that of their
horses. For the following, fact we can vouch,
though we suppress,nafuesi A large ,farmer living
about four miles from a city was met by an
acquaintance wh ) lived there, and informed
that. it was reported he was going to keep his farm
horses at the White Horse—an inn within the
city gates. The rustic potentate indignantly
inquired whether "he thought him a fool, or
whether the cit was a fool himself." The wag
assured him that it was generally believed. Why,
rejoined he of the top-boots and riding-whip, " do
you think I should let my horses tire themselves
out before they got to their work, and have to
walk all that way back after they had done it ;
you must be a fool to take that in !" " Well
then," was the reply, " how is it that four of
your labourers lodge at the White Horse, and
that you won't let them have a house in your
parish ; or do you care more about tiring your
horses than your men ? Which is the fool now,
sir ?" A faint defence of the close parishes was,
indeed, ventured by Mr. KNIGHT on Monday,
Sir J. TROLLOP; however, whose aid he seemed
anxious to purchase by commendations, would
not take the bribe, but declared decidedly for the
principle of the Government measure. Notwith-
standing his plaints no one seemed to recognise
the injustice of making parishes which had
escaped rates by refusing homes to their labourers,
share the burdens as well as the privileges of
property.

Mr. BAINES'S propositions are two. " That
from the passing of this bill it shall not be lawful
to remove any poor person by force upon the
ground of settlement froth any parish in England
or Wales ;" and' that..-" the hrea of- chargeabi-
lity shall no longer be the parish, but the union."
He aims ultimately at equal rating as be-
tween the parishes of each union, and the hard-
ship of this upon some parishes he proposes to
lighten by removing inequalities at the rate of
one-tenth per annum, so as to extend the process
over ten years. As to the first proposition, it is
a sheer necessity. The cruelty to the poor, and
the cost to the ratepayers of nearly 14,000-re-
movals, of at least 40,000 persons per annum,
have settled that point. It is, moreover, the ne-
cessary complement of free trade. If commerce
in every shape is liberated from restrictions, so
must be the labour by which commerce is created.
The operative must be made free of his country ;
and lie can never be so if a week's distress, or au
unforeseen, accident subjects him to a compulsory
removal to the place where he or his grind-
father, it in ty be, was b )rn ; a place which
may have become to him almost a foreign land.
We are not quite clear, from Mr. BUNES.S speech,
as to lii.s mode of recmciling union, instead of
parish settlement, with the abolition of forcible '
removal. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON wished him to
wake his bill c!etr on the poor man's " right of
settlement." It seems to be taken for granted
that settlement as well as rating will go with the
union ; of course, in ten years time, *no parish
would have any interest in removing a pauper
within its own union. But if Mr. -BAINES'S doc-
trine be accepted, that relief can be claimed where
the destitution occurs (and it ought to be so), and
if the destitute man.c.,asnot•beo-compelled to re-
move to the union of his settlement, it would
seem that h s support must fall upon the union
in which he is resident at the time. If so,
of what use is a right of settlement to
him ? It can be of avail only in the case
in which, after short residence in a distant
union, which has not, therefore, become a home
to him ; he may desire to be removed to his real
home when circumstances have disabled him from
earning his livelihood among strangers. The re-
servathar of such a right would be certainly
humane and desirable.

Mr. PASHLEY has reminded us, in his admi-
rable work, " Pauperism and the Poor Laws," that
" district relief" was tried under the statute of
14 Elizabeth, c. 5, till it was superseded by the 39
Elizabeth c. 3, the fundamental act of our present
system of parochial relief ; and he seems disposed
to lay great stress on its failure and supercession
by a return to the parish system in a reign of ex-
traordinary administrative ability. He also points
out the important fact, that the rating varies almost
as much between different unions as it does
between parishes in the same union. In Glou-
cestershire the average of the Tewkesbury Union
is 1O 1. in the pound, that of the Dursley one
3% sid. In the North Riding of Yorkshire, the
Darlington Union pays on the average Bd., the
Reeth Union 2s. 614., in the pound, and the list
may he enlarged indefinitely. Mr. BAINES retains
the Union as the area of rating and the basis of
management, chiwiy on the ground that local
01•TaM" 44(1144i Wtereat are eneut44 to pre.