The Sun.
London, England, 1841-11-18 00:00:00

LORD PROVOST FORREST:

At Edinburgh on Monday last a great assemblage of
respectable citizens, on the invitation of the Lord Pro-
vost and Magistrates, met in the Parliament House, for
the purpose of celebrating the birth of the Duke of Corn-
wall. The Lord Provost presided on the occasion, sup-
ported on the right by the Lord President of the Court
of Session, and on the left by Lord Greenock, Com-
mander of the Forces. Among others who attended were
the Judges, the City Clergy, the Professors, the Town
Councillors, the military officers in the Castle and Piers-
hill Barracks, &c., &c. An ample repast covered the
tables which were ranged through the hall; and a bless-
ing having been asked by the Very Reverend Principal
Lee, the speeches commenced. The first three were by
the Lord Provost ; the fourth by the Lord President of
the Court of Session, proposing the Lord Provost's health,
for which the • City Lord returned thanks in another,
speech. Thus, at a public entertainment honoured by
the first men of the Northern Capital, only five speeches
were made, and four-fifths of these were appropriated by
the crazy Non-Intrusionist. If this is not intrusion, we
know not what is. This is no fiction of ours. The
account is taken from an Edinburgh paper.

MASONS' STRIKE.
Another adjourned meeting of the masons and the dele-
gates from the various Trade Societies of the Metropolis
was held, last evening, at the head-quarters of the Masons'
Committee, the Craven Head, in Drury-lane, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the future means to
be adopted relative to the late strike at the new Houses of
Parliament, and to receive reports from different societies
of London as to the assistance they. purposed lending the
masons during their present situation.
Mr. BUTLER took the Chair.
The meeting was called for eight o'clock, but' it was
nine before the Chairman took his seat, at which hour
the room was about half full.
The minutes of the last meeting were read, and an
opposition was offered to their confirmation, in conse-
quence of a resolution passed at the last meeting relative
to the Pipe-makers.
A DELEGATE moved that that part of the minutes

should be struck out.
The original minutes were subsequently. confirmed.
The CuainstAN inquired if any delegate had any re-
port to make, and
Mr. O'CONNOR, from the United Brothers Society, of
Grosvenor-mews, delivered in 51.
Mr. OTWAY, from a society of plasterers, tendered 51.,
and said they would support the inv*-,hy,ii,-,weekly

subscription.
Mr. ALSTON, a delegate from a society of p.a. it4rs in
Great Portland-street, said he had,. incelidA 4o have
brought let, and their secretary had been.,vlstructed to
draw that amount, but he had been unfortunately taken
ill, and they could not appoint another till next Satur-
day. They would then be able to draw the money,
and after that the society would support the masons
with the sum of 5/. a month.—(Cheers.
Mr. JACKSON, from a friendly society at the Queen's
Head, Acton-street, Gray's Inn-road, said they had
given 201. last week to the masons, and he begged to
tender 201. more.—(Cheers.) He had also instituted a
subscription amongst his private friends, and bad ob-
tained the sum of 41. Is. 6d.—(Cheers.)
Mr. GODDARD, from a stone-cutter's society, said they
had given 51. to the masons.
Mr. DUNBAR said he had raised a subscription from a
few private friends to the amount of 21. 7s. 6d.—(Cheers.)
Mr. RILEY, a delegate from a bookbinder's society,
said that a strike had taken place some years ago in
their own trade, which was an expensive one, and had
placed the society up to this time in difficulties. The
masons then assisted them with 401. He was therefore
not enabled to announce that they could assist the masons,
but they had made a levy on the members of 2s. 6d. a-
week each, and they would, on Saturday, pay 10/. to-
ward the debt, and theremainin 301. would be paid in
a few weeks. There was no merit in paying a debt, but
though they owed other societies money, they thought
they ought to pay the whole of the masons' debt first.
Mr. SIMPSON, from the 13th Branch of the Union of
Carpenters, said that his society was in difficulties at
present, and as a society they were unable to assist the
Masons, but they had raised a subscription amongst cer-
tain individuals of the society, amounting to 31.
Mr. RYAN delivered in the sum of 165., which he had
collected from " a few enemies to oppression."
A DELEGATE from a masons' society not on strike,
said that the strike at the Houses of Parliament, had
caused a great many masons not employed there to be
out of employ; and it was necessary that they should be
supported, in order that they might not take work at
the Houses of Parliament; and, therefore, his society
could not assist the masons on strike. It was very de-
sirable to keep the masons not employed from taking
work at Woolwich, Nelson's Monument, or the Houses
of Parliament.—(Hear, hear.)
A discussion then arose relative to the subscription
papers.
Mr. DUNNING proposed that each paper be numbered
and sealed, to prevent mistake.
Mr. WoaTuisioToN stated that the Committee had re-
cently adopted that plan, and
Mr. DUNNING withdrew his proposition.
Mr. Bush proposed that books should be used instead.
lie thought they were much more convenient.
A DELEGATE opposed the motion, on the ground that
the middle leaf might be taker, and thereby the masons
would be Jewed out of four pages of subscription.
This gave rise to some desultory discussion, which at
times was rather uproarious.
The CHAIRMAN rose to speak to and put the motion,
and was met with cries of " Time, time."
The resolution was lost.
Mr. ARMSTRONG WALTON then rose and said that
he would, as far as possible, give them some-
thing like a correct statement of the position in
which they stood at the present time; and he thought
he might say that they were similarly situated as on the
last night they had assembled there. He did not see
that there was much change, as Messrs. Grissell and
Pete had evinced no disposition to investigate the
charges the masons had made or to answer their chal-
lenge. They seemed determined to oppress the men as
far as they possibly could. the same number of men, or
nearly the same, which were at the works last week were
there still. About four had left the works at Wool-
wich, being convinced of their error, and believing them-
selves to be wrong in endeavouring to take up the pines
of the men who had struck to support those who had
resisted the tyranny and oppression of Allen. He be-
lieved he might also state that two men had left the
works at Nelson's Monument, actuated by the same
principle. They would see that the masons were in the
same position, or nearly so, as they were last week. He
would tell them, of which perhaps they were already per-
fectly convinced, that the object of Messrs. Grissell and
Peto was to carry on their works with as few men as
possible. However incompetent the few individuals
they had now, they would make that few do till
after Christmas, and endeavour to starve the masons
out, which was their object.—(Hear, hear.) From the
notice he had taken of the whole proceedings, he could
plainly see that this was their object. They expected
by these means to drive the masons back to work. They
thought that the trades would slacken their efforts—that
they would not stand by the masons' backs as nobly as
I they had hitherto done. But those gentlemen ought to,
know, that not only was London adopting the masons'
cause, but the whole country was equally forward in
taking it up; and he had the pleasure to announce that a
large public meeting was held that night in Birmingham
on the subject, and they had requested the attendance of
a delegate from London to give them a full account of
the strike, and a full statement of the grievances of the
masons from the commencement, and their position at
the present time. There was also a Trades' Committee
formed in Bristol similar to the one in London, and they
had called a meeting of all the delegates in Bristol, for
the purpose of carrying out the present strike. There
was a similar Committee in Leeds, and also one in Man-
chester; and there was one thing which he would sub-
mit to that meeting, that it would be necessary that
the Committee in London should correspond with the
Committee in the country. There ought to be a proper

mode of communication through the country. He took
the liberty of suggesting this, although it might seem
out of his province to do so ; because, unless there was a
proper mode of communication—a proper and systematic
mode of action, it would tend very materially to destroy
the energy and spirit which at present existed. He
would also tell them that there were several parties in
town, men entirely unconnected with any society, who had
formed a society to last while the Masons' strike existed.
He (Mr. W.) had received an invitation from a gentle-
man to attend at one of their meetings as a delegate from
the Masons. Their meetings were to be held at Duke-
street, Grosvenor-square, fur the purpose of assisting the
Masons, by entering into voluntary subscriptions. He
had no further information to communicate; it would be
then left to the meeting to take the steps they thought
proper. The determination of Grissell and Peto was evi-
dently backed by some party, and that party he believed
to be Government. He thought that if this strike was
put down, it would have the effect of destroying
the spirit of union throughout the country.—
(Hear, hear.) He was quite certain that no
means would be spared by their opponents to do so. For
his own part, he could have had jobs plenty, but he felt
the greatest desire to be on this strike, and do all that he
possibly could in endeavouring to make it successful,
and bring it to a speedy issue. lie had only to add that
the masons were equally determined with Messrs. Gris-
sell and Peto. He would leave the subject in the bands
of the meeting, to adopt what measures they thought
proper.—(Cheers.)
A 1 ELEGATE said that he had heard it reported that
Messrs. Grissell and Peto intended to send Allen to
Malta, upon some Government works that were going
forward there. _

Another DELEGATE—It was no such thing, as a gen-
tleman of the name of Martin was going:
A MEMBER of a Trades' Union inquired how many
men were out on strike, and what they received per week.

The SECRETARY stated that there were 230 men on
strike, and they received 12s. per week each.
A lengthened discussion then arose as to the propriety
of giving the men 15s. instead of 12s. The Secretary
said they were afraid that the funds would not allow it,
when it was replied,,that the'4,ooo masons who were in
work, and who had agreed to pay 6d. a week would sup-
ply 1001. a week. It was at length proposed, in the
form of a resolution, that the delegates should, at the
next meeting, state what was the probable amount that
the society coal give the masons each week. This was
negatived, ana it was agreed to refer the subject to the
Committee.
The Cirsiniuml then read a note from a society of
tin-plate workers, in Coldbath-fields, held at the Ben
Jenson, Bath-street, enclosing 20/. for the masons.—
(Much cheering.)
Mr. WORTHINGTON then said, that when they last
struck they found that they received the best assistance
from the quarrymen, who refused to cut the stone, and
therefore it did not matter how many men they got, if
they had no stone to work. The masons, therefore, in
the present strike, had written to the quarrymen at
Dartmoor, the place where the stone for Gnsell and
Peto's works was taken, and they had agreed to strike
if they were supported whilst upon that stake.
The CHAIRMAN then put it to the meeting as to when
they should meet again, and the meeting adjourned to
Wednesday evening next at the same hour.

IMPORTANT FREE-TRADE
MEETING IN SHEFFIELD.
(From the Sheffield Iris of Tuesday.)
Yesterday a highly-important meeting, for furthering
the objects of the Sheffield Society for the promotion of
Free Trade, was held in the Cutlers' Hall, Offley Shore,
Esq., President of the Society, in the chair—present,
Earl Fitzwilliam, John Parker, Esq., M.P., Sir Arnold
James Knight,. and nearly all our most influential mer-
chants, manufacturers, &c.
The CHAIRMAN rose, amidst cheers, to open the pro-
ceedings, and said,—Their object in meeting and uniting
was not to annoy the Houses of Parliament and disturb
the country with unnecessary agitation, but to promote,
as far as possible, the general peace and prosperity ; and
under such circumstances he had the greater pleasure in
taking the chair. Some there were who had said that if
not a hammer was lifted, nor an anvil struck in Eng-
land, the country would not be any worse off than at pre-
sent, and he deprecated such an absurdity. If they
simply looked at the prosperity of the landed interest
alone, they would see that its tendency had always been
to improve' with the extension of commerce, and
it followed as a natural consequence that the value of
landed property would inevitably sink with the decline
of trade. Another important thing to be taken into
consideration was the fiscal resources of the country,
for they depended not less upon trade ; and the pay-
ment of the interest of the national debt itself would be
endangered when that source failed. It therefore was in-
cumbent upon them to guard the rights of commerce.
R. J. GAINSFORD, Esq. (one of the Secretaries),
stated that invitations had been sent to the borough
Members, as well as to the Members for the ,Vest Rid-
ing and North Derbyshire, the latter of whom repre-
sented some portion of the interests of Hallam-shire—
(Hear, hear)—as well as to some other Noblemen and
Gentlemen connected with the • neighbourhood, from
some of whom he held replies, excusing their non-attend-
ance, but expreSsing their cordial approval of the meet-
ing and its objects.(Hear, hear.)
A letter was'read from Mr. Ward, excusing himself,
because he had his house filled with company.
" Wortley, Nov. 10, 1841.
" SIR—I have the honoui to acknowledge the letter
from yourself and Mr. H; 4intle, containing an invitation
to mote attend the first general ineeting of the Sheffield
Society for Promoting Free Trade, on the 15th inst., at
the Cutlers' Hall ; and I beg, in the first place, to assure
you that I am very sensible of the value of that compli-
ment, both as regards itself and the manner in which it
is conveyed. I prize it the more, because it proves to me
that, however I may unfortunately differ in some points
of opinion from many of the gentlemen whose names are
connected with this Society, they do me the justice to
believe that I am anything but insensible to the intrinsic
value of the great principles which they evince their de-
sire to promote; and that there is nothing in those diffe-
rences alone which would prevent my cordial co-opera-
tion with them for such a purpose. lf, therefore, I think
it necessary to decline attending on the approaching oc-
casion, I feel sure that they will not consider my decision
as springing from any indifference towards those great
principles, and still less from anything like disrespect
towards themselves.
" Upon a general view, my first impulse is to comply
with the request contained in your letter, and to unite,
without distinction of political party or prejudice,' in
any effort for removing or relaxing, as far as possible,
all those vexatious and injurious laws and regulations
relating to trade, which prevent us from freely exchang-
ing the products of our industry with the various nations
of the world.' lam desirous of a complete and impartial
revision of our commercial tariff' with the above view,
a work which I am by no means without the hope of
seeing undertaken by the Government, which is, in my
opinitn, the l cop r quarter from whence it should pro-
ceed, and I shad be anxious to avail myself of any op-
portunity width I may have in my legislative capacity to
promote it.
" Thus far, therefore, I should be able to concur
in the objets of the proposed Society ; but, upon
further consideration of the address which you have
been good enough to send me, I am led to fear that
in the di,eussion of these principles there would be
points on which I might find myself compelled seriously
to differ from the views of the Society. I am not informed
of what took place on the occasion Of the former meet-
ing mentioned in the address ; but although I am only
too well aware of the actual existence of commercial
depression and distress, I am by no means prepared to
proclaim that our trade appears to be upon the decline,
and is rapidly departing from our shores.' Again, lam
as little prepared to adiait that the present distress and
stagnation is chiefly traceable to the present scale of
import duties—high on most articles, and both high and
fluctuating on the paramount commodity of corn.' Still
less should I be likely to assent to many of the argu-
ments with which it is probable that these propositions
will be maintained ; and when I add to these reasons
the recollection that a peculiar party signification has
been unfortunately of late attached to the phrase Free
Trade,' which the Society has adopted in its very title,
I cannot but apprehend that my attendance at the pro-
posed meeting would lead to no beneficial result ; and
that I shall be taking, on the whole, a more expeient
course, if I beg that my absence may be excused by the
Society.
"I will request you to be so good as to convey my
answer to the Committee, and to assure them that I re-
main their, as well as your, very obedient servant,
" J. STUART WORTLEY."
Mr. Denison preferred reading to hearing the speeches
of his constituents, and therefore declined attending.
EDWARD SMITH, Esq., amid cheers proposed the first
resolution—" That the present import duties, which
either prevent or obstruct our intercourse with foreign
countries, greatly aggravate the distress now existing
amongst the mercantile and manufacturing classes of
England." Mr. S. thought he might, in the first place,
congratulate the meeting on the progress of Liberal prin-
ciples—(Cheers)—for he was glad to see that an influen-
tial Member of the West Riding had so far yielded to
them, as in some degree to modify his views upon those
subjects they were now met to deliberate on.—(Cheers.)
Our imports were paid for by our exports, and who
would suppose that the men of this country would con-
tinue to send their goods abroad, unless they could get
more by what they brought back than what they sent ?
Where, then, was the possibility of a loss from the re-
moval of restrictions ? The direct tendency of import
duties was to restrict consumption ; and foreigners
would not trade without profit any more than us.
After showing the injurious effects of
etshpeeciiamllpyoirnt
duties in relation to the domestic comforts and
minor necessities of the working classes,
the consumption of coffee and sugar, Mr. Smith turned
his attention to the paramount subject of the heavy duty
on corn ; and, deprecating the irregularities to which it
often gave occasion, said that nothing in trade was more
beneficial than steadiness—(Cheers)--for when a 'sud-
den demand was by any means caused, its immediate
effect was to give such an impulse to industry as could
not be met by ordinary means ; workmen, finding the
value of their labour rise so high above the proper me-
dium, and not knowing how to take a right advantage
of their success, often gave their employers a great deal
of annoyance—and tinder such circumstances they were
more to be pitied than blamed.—(Hear, hear.) Upon
this alone might be founded a great objection to
any duty on corn, but especially under the sliding
scale—for its great tendency was to produce the revul-
sions he so . much deprecated.— (Cheers.) Suppose
that the merchant might in some case be making mode-
rate profits in his business, the prospect of a failiag har-
vest, Or even one of those sleight-of-hand tricks with
which corn dealers were sometimes charged, would im-
mediately induce an excessive importation of grain,
which from the suddenness of the occasion would have
inevitably to be paid for in gold ; and here was another
of the great evils of irregularity.—(Hear, hear.) On
one occasion a reduction was speedily made to the
amount of six millions ; and an increased rate of in-