The Sun.
London, England, 1848-01-05 00:00:00

THE IRON TRADE.

BIRMINGHAM, TUESDAT.—The first of the meet-
ings preliminary to the usual quarterly meeting of
iron-masters, was held at the hotel, Dudley, to-day,
and was numerously attended, representatives from
the most extensive firms in South Staffordshire and
Shropshire being present.
A long discussion took place on the present de-
pressed state of the trade ; and ultimately a consider-
able reduction in prices was determined upon. Sheets,
which last quarter day were quoted at 131. 105., were
fixed at 11/. 10s. ; bars were reduced from 101. to 81.,
and hoops from 101. 10s. to 81. Bs. The price of pigs
depending altogether on accidental circumstances,
could not be fixed, but at present, and for the best
sorts, the price ranges from 31. 15s. to 41. ss. The
prevailing opinion, however, seemed to be, that in
consequence of the number of furnaces out of blast
pigs, the supply will soon be diminished, and the
prices rise proportionately.
Manufacturing operations are being limited by
nearly every firm, and in many instances throughout
the midland district the works are stopped altogether,
and further stoppages are being announced. About
.5,000 workmen are out of employment, and those
who are still kept on have had to submit to a re-
duction in wages amounting to between 15 and 20
per cent. This, however, has not been done without
a manifestation of resistance on the part of the men.
A large meeting of puddlers was held yesterday at
Tipton, when it was resolved not to submit to the
terms offered by the masters. They propose to sup-
port themselves for a month out of their own re-
sources, and then to fall back upon the union ; but it
is not supposed they will be able to adhere to their
determination, as the masters are immoveable.

MORE DEATHS IN MILLUANK PRlSON.—Yester-
day Mr. Bedford held two inquests in Millbauk prison
on the bodies of Woodhouse Moore, aged twenty-six,
and Joseph Rocke, aged fifty-four, convicts therein.
The first-named deceased was received into the prison
on the 25th of last March, having been convicted of
felony at the previous January session at Norwich, and
sentenced to seven years' transportation. He was then
in good health, but on the 14th of April, suffering from
pleurisy in the chest, he was removed into the infirmary,
where he remained gradually sinking till the 27th ult.,
when ho fell into a state of stupor and lost the use of
his limbs, remaining so till the night of the 80th, when
he died. On the body being opened tho cause of death
was found to be scrofulous disease of the lungs and
bowels. In the case of the deceased Rocke he was stated
to have become an inmate of the prison on the 20th of
April last, having been found guilty of larceny at the
previous month's Gloucester sessions, and sentenced to
seven years' transportation. Oft the 24th of July he
was placed in the infirmary for an attack of asthma,
which was followed by pulmonary consumption, under
which he lingered, and died on Friday last. Verdict in
each case—" Natural death."

Tint PAYILIoN.—The whole of the remaining es-
tablishment of servants left the Pavilion at Brighton on
Friday, having received notice to quit some time since.
Many of theta have been there for the last twenty or
thirty years. We understand that everything that can
he has been removed from the edifice, the interior of
which, to use the term of an eye-witness, has more the
air of a barrack than a palace. Yet the usual repairs,
painting, &c., have been executed this year on the out-
side; and, if it were intended to destroy the building,
this was a superfluous expense. What is to be done
with the Brighton Pavilion is still a puzalc—Hantpshire
Telegraph.