The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-24 00:00:00

THE TEN HOURS BILL.

MEETING AT TODMORDEN.—In consequence of the
secretary of the Association of Masters and Mill -
owners, held in Manchester, having forwarded to all
the manufacturers in the kingdom copies of resolu-
tions recommending that an effort should be made
by the masters to get a repeal of the ten hours clause
of the Factory Bill, accompanied by a form of peti-
tion, to be presented at an early opportunity, John
Fielden, Esq., of Centre Vale, late M.P. for Oldham,
immediately published an address to the factory
operatives, exhorting them to remain firm to the
principle of ten hours, for which many of them have
for more than 30 years been struggling. The short-
time committee of Todmorden met on Friday even-
ing last, and came to a unanimous determination not
to allow themselves to .be deprived of the victory
th,
had so recently assisted in obtaining. An im-
pOrtant meeting was held at Todmorden on Monday of
the central committees of Lancashire and Yorkshire,
Mr. Joseph Hurst in the chair. The Chairman having
opened the proceedings, the meeting was addressed
by several delegates, urging the necessity of the re-
organization of the various local short-time com-
mittees ; and expressing their regret that the mill-
owners should attempt to get the factory hands to
sign an eleven hours petition, without giving the ten
hours clause a fair trial. Mr. Mullineux, secretary
to the Lancashire Central Short-time Committee,
made several statements as to the means used by
many masters in Lancashire to coerce the hands to
sign the petition, but said that, in nearly all cases,
the masters had failed in their attempts. Letters were
read from Lord Ashley and other Members of the
House, expressing their determination to assist the
factory operatives in boldly maintaining the ten hours
clause. The meeting separated, after several hours'
deliberation, and having passed several resolutions
unanimously.

ACCIDENT ON THIII NORTII•BRITISII RAILWAY.—
Last night, about nine o'clock, an accident, which might
have been attended with very serious consequences, took
plao2 on the North British Railway. From what we
have ascertained, it appears that an engine, in charge of
• stoker, was proceeding from Meadowbank to Edin-
burgh (a distance of about a mile), when it was overtaken
by a luggage-train upon the same line of rails. The
concussion was considerable, but not such as to damage
materially either of the engines. The stoker, it is sup-
posed, fell from the engine in consequence of the force of
the collision; and the steam not being reversed, the
engine ran into the station at the North Bridge, where
it came in contact with four waggons. These it dashed
in pieces, and drove in great violence against the stone
supports of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway Sta-
tion, where it was brought to a stand-still. In addition

to the demolition of the trucks, a cast-iron pillar in the
station was driven down. Great as the damage un-
questionably is, it would have been still more so had the
frngine happened to be on any of the side rails instead of
the centre one, as in that case it would have done sad
havoc on the passenger carriages, which generally stand
ranged on each side of the station-house. The stoker,
we learn, is injured by the fall, but not severely.—
Seotsma n.

CLIA.TIUM, DEC. 22.—Yesterday the 63d Regi-
ment assembled on special parade in the barracks, for
the purpose of witnessing the presentation of a silver
medal for meritorious and faithful services, awarded to
Quartermaster Serjeant James Stewart, he having served
in the regiment 22 years, 14 of which have been in India,
and six years as Quartermaster Sergeant. The medal
Was presented by Lieutenant Colonel role, in front of
the regiment.
• SUDDEN DEATH.—About a quarter before three
o'clock yesterday afternoon, a stout gentleman, appa-
rently 60 years of age, came to the Euston Railway sta-
tion, stating that be came to meet the train arrivino• at
three o'clock. lie had only been on the station a 'few
minutes when be suddenly fell down rind almost instantly
expired. He was dressed in a black body coat, waistcoat
and trousers, low shoes and gait,rs, with a brown over-
coat, his linen marked °J. 8.5." A paper was also
found upon him, addressed " Captain Stericker, care of
Captain Dyett, bark Robert, The body now lies at tl.o
Royal George, Drummond•street, awaiting the Coroner's
inquest.
It appears that the draughts of the North-Western
Bank of India, which were on Wednesday refused ac-
ceptance by Glyn and Co., have been accepted by the
Officiating agent of the establishment in London, and
that expectations are held out of the whole being paid at
maturity. The bills of the bank at sight, it is also said,
are paid by this party immediately on presentation. The
• capital of the bank is now understood to be 400,0001.

LOUIS PIaILIPPE AND THE PRESS.—The Commerce
has calculated, that during the last seventeen years no
less than 1,129 prosecutions had been directed against
the journals in the name of King Louis Philippe, who
had inaugurated his accession to the throne by a formal
promise that no prosecution should be in future insti-
tuted against the press. During that period 57 journals
were obliged to suspend their publication in consequence
of the severity of the penalties. The writers were sen-
tenced to 3,141 years and 8 months' imprisonment, and
the journals to 7,110,500 f. fine.
THE BRITISH AND FOREIGN BIBLE SOCIETY.—
A parcel of Breton Testaments have arrived here by a
steamer from one of the French ports, which are in-
tended for gratuitous distribution by the British and
Foreign Bible Society, and the Lords Commissioners of
her Majesty's Treasury have granted permission for the
books to be delivered to the Society, free of duty, for
the purposes mentioned.
WHALE STRANDED AT ABERDEEN.—On Saturday,
while two boys, Robert Fernie and Isaac Massie, were
walking along the beach, they observed a whale blowing
away and playing about outside the breakers, and soon
after got into shallow water and was washed ashore.
While he lay stranded, and lashing the tide with his
tail, one of the boys ran to the shipbuilding-yards, where
they were instructed to give information to the proper
authorities at the Town House ; but by this time Capt.
Reid, of the Pacific, had got accounts of the stranding of
the monster, and proceeding to the spot, harpooned him,
and cut his initials on the blubber. Intimation having
been given to the town-clerk, it was arranged that the
whale should be taken charge of by the magistrates as
admirals of the port and harbour ; and Captain Reid has
got the necessary instructions to have it cut up and the
oil boiled. The whale is 49 feet in length by 26 in cir-
cumference—is a male of the finner spccies—clinker
built, and has very little whalebone in its head. Thou-
• aands of the inhabitants have flocked to see the monster.
—North of Scotland Gazette.

WINDSOR, THURSDAY EVENING.—HER MAJESTY'S
liEw YEAR'S GIFTS TO THE POOR.—Her Majesty has
just commanded, that on the morning of New Year's-
day a liberal quantity of provisions is to be given away
to nearly 500 poor families residing in the parishes of
Windsor and Clewer. the recipients of the Queen's
bounty being selected from amongst the most deserving
of the needy and distressed, by the Hon. and Rev. C. L.
Courtenay (her Majesty's domestic chaplain), the Rev.
Isaac Gossett (vicar), the Rev. Mr. Gould (curate), and
the Rev. Stephen Hawtrey (the incumbent of the church
of the Holy Trinity, at Clover), assisted by the church-
wardens and overseers, and the ladies of the Visiting
. Committee. The Royal gifts will consist of meat, bread,
plum pudding, coals, and potatoes; the quantity to be
regulated according to the extent of the families of the
respective applicants. There will also be given away,
by command of her Majesty, a quantity of winter cloaks,
flannel, and calico, besides upwards of one hundred
Pairs of blankets. The distribution will take place in
the Queen's Riding-school, at the Royal Mews, in the
presence of her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and the
• members of the Royal household.
ROYAL SAPPERS AND MINERS. The company
Stationed at Chatham, under the command of Captain
Robinson, Royal Engineers, left Chatham on Wednes-
day morning for Nine Elms to proceed by railway to
. Portsmouth, where they are to be employed in con-
etructing fortifications at that important naval port.
The duties of the company at Chatham will be per-
formed by large detachments from the companies at
Woolwich.
THE LATE FAILURES IN THE IRON TRADE.—
The first decided step towards a reduction in the price
of South Staffordshire iron has just taken place, the
agent of Lord Ward having issued a circular fixing the
price of forged pig iron at 31. 10s. Last quarter-day the
• nominal price was 51., although little business has in the
Ineantime been done at that quotation. A meeting of
the creditors of Messrs. Oakes and Jones, of the Ketley
iron-works, Kingawinford, was held at Dee's Royal
Hotel, Birmingham yesterday (Thursday). The atten-
dance was numerous. The liabilities of the firm, exclu-
. sive of debts secured by mortgage, were said to amount
to about 20,0001. There was a unanimous expression of
good feeling ,towards Messrs. Oakes and Jones, and of
coufidence in their honour and integrity. After dis-
cussing the affairs of the firm, it was resolved to accept
an instalment of 6s. Bd. in the pound, payable in January,
1849, and further instalments of 3s. Bd. every six months,
until the debts are fully liquidated—thus finally winding
up the affairs in three years hence. The concern will
hereafter be carried on under the inspection of Mr.
Charles Shaw, of Birmingham ; R. Smith, of Dudley ;
and Williamson, of the Potteries. The meeting of the
creditors of the Oak Farm Works is further postponed
141 Monday, the 3d of January.