The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-18 00:00:00

ROYAL SURREY GARDENS.

A. novel feature gave variety to the entertainments
last night, in the shape of music accompanied by recita-
tion—or, more strictly speaking, recitation accompanied
by music. The passages recited were from " A Mid-
summer Night's Dream," comprising considerably more
than half of that unequalled dramatic poem. The music
was that which, perhaps more than any other, has en-
deared the name of Mendelssohn to England—since, if
anything could possibly be added to Sbakspere's im
mortal verse, it has been supplied, in another language,
by the German composer, whose melody and harmony
breathe the very spirit of the poet. The task of reader
devolved upon Miss Vandenhoff—the original An-
tigone in 1845, when a translation of the famous
tragedy of Sophocles was produced at Covent-garden
Theatre, with the choral and incidental music cam•
posed by Mendelssohn at the suggestion of the present
King of Prussia. It is, therefore, not the first time that
Miss Vandenhoff has, if we may so express ourselves,
acted to music ; and that she should acquit herself like
one well experienced in the matter was by no means
surprising. She recited the purely poetical passages with
appropriate emphasis, and endeavoured not unsuccess-
fully to impart a species of marked individuality to each
of the more prominent characters in the dramatis per
Bono. The Music-hall was crammed ; and it was grati-
fying to mark the decorous behaviour of the crowd and
the strict attention which was paid, interrupted only at
rare intervals by certain of the "outsiders," situ-
ated at too inconvenient a distance to catch the precise
signification of what Miss Vaedenhoff was saying. But
even these were at once brought to order whenever the
familiar strains of the music were heard. Nearly
the whole was introduced —the whole, indeed, with the
exc- ption of one or two melodramatic scenes, the cur-
tailment of which was inevitable unless the entire even-
ing could have been devoted to Shakspere and Mendele-
' whin The chain of beautiful and romantic interludes
for the orchestra—including the overture, scherzo, and
fairy march ; the intermezzo, describing Hermia's search
after Lysander ; the notturno, and wedding march—
were all played, and admirably played, under the direc-
tion of M. Jullien, who, not for the first time, showed
his intimate acquaintance with the most delicate refine-
ments of the score. Without being invidious, where
there was so little fault to find, we may cite the exquisite
notturno (performed while the two pairs of " star
crossed lovers " are asleep in the wood), and the
stirring and magnificent wedding march, as the most
striking achievements of the evening. In the first the
horn solos were played to perfection by Mr. Jarrett,
whose tone and manner of phrasing were equally
worthy of praise. The march, executed with wonderful
precision and force, Teas unanimously encored. The
principal voice parts in the duet with chorus—" Ye
Spotted Snakes"—were extremely well sung by Misses
Stabbach and Poole. The chorus would have been more
effective had all the singers put forth their strength ;
but, as it seemed to us, one-third at least of the number,
instead of singing themselves, looked on with closed lips,
as if curious to observe what the rest were engaged in
doing. Mr. Land, the able chorus-master, should
endeavour to rectify this on a future occasion. The suc-
cess of the new experiment was complete; Miss Vanden-
hoff retired amidst the loudest applause; and the audience
felt all the better disposed, after this truly intellectual
treat, to enjoy the miscellaneous entertainments of the
second part of the concert. The revival of " A Midsum-
mer Night's Dream" i
is likely to prove one of the most
attractive incidents in an naugurative season of rarely
exampled prosperity. —I isnes •

ROTAL SURREY GARDENS.—StIAKSPERIAN READING 3
BY Mess VANDE:sIIIOF.F.—We are glad to welcome this
talented lady once more in that peculiar role in which
she stands so pre-eminent, and we congratulate the
directors on this new addition to the varied attractions
they have brought before the public. The play selected
was Shakspere's " Midsummer Night's Dream," in-
terspersed with Mendelssohn's delightful music. To
say that the language of our immortal bard was delivered
with due emphasis and discretion would indeed be faint
praise ; the reading was most delightfully rendered
throughout. The principal ringers were Miss Poole
and Miss Stabbach. Both ladies eang the music allotted
them with much taste, and were warmly applauded.
The choruses, conducted by Mr. Laud, were most effi-
cient. The music was sung with great precision and
effect. Altogether it was an evening delightfully spent,
and we feel noertred 3 rasproye highly attractive.
•

(4 SEPTEM BER 18.

CRIMINAL COURT.—(This Day.)

(Before Mr. Justice Williams and Mr. Baron Bramwell.)
CONSPIRACY.-Tllll LATE STRIKE AT MESSRS. YOUNG'S,

SHIPBUILDERS.

Richard Gale, .Tames Mumford, George Reeves, Ed-
ward Layton Hoppe, John Brown, Frederick Young,
Augustus Henry Fredericks, George Bind, John Hopper,
and Stephen Mayse surrendered to their bail, charged
with conspiracy in reference to the late strike at Messrs.
Young's shipbuilding yard.
The Attorney-General, Mr. Sergeant Ballantine, and
Mr. 101 l were counsel for the prosecution ; Mr. Edwin
James, Q C., Mr, Metcalfe, Mr. Ribton, and Mr. Sleigh
3 I were for the defendants.

The Attorney-General, in stating the case to the jury,
said that this was a case of very great importance, and
he begged their serious attention to the circumstances
he should lay before them. The case was of great im-
portance, not merely to the parties concerned, but it
was also of the greatest importance to the whole of the
manufacturing industry of the country, because in it
was involved the relations between employer and the
employed—whether the employer should have a right
to say that he would employ whom he liked, and on
such terms as he liked, or whether, on the other hand,
the operative should have the right, not only to say that
he would furnish the labour required on such and such
terms, but combine with others of the same, or any other
trade, to constitute themselves into a body, calling them-
selves by any Dame they might choose to adopt, and
exercise an undue power over others, and prescribe
the terms on which they should labour. No one,
disputed for a single moment that it was competent to
any number of persons belonging to the same trade or
the same department of manufactures to agree that they
would not afford labour except on certain terms, having
a perfect right to combine for the mutual protection of
their common interests, so far as related to the terms on
which they would labour, but they had no right to go
beyond that, and by molestation, obstruction, illegiti-
mate means, and undue combination, and, above all, by

ntimidation, to prescribe to others the terms on which

th ey shoul I afford labour to those who required it.
Those were the principles which the law sanctioned on
the one band, and common sense and reason dictated on
the other, and it was for the violation of the law in that
respect that the present defendants appeared at the
bar of that Court. The case he had to produce on the
part of the prosecution he should be able to prove with-
out difficulty and substantiate against the defendants,
viz., that they bad combined by illegal means to prevent
Messrs. Young and Co., shipbuilders, of this port, from
carrying on their business except on certain terms ac-
ceptable to the defendants and those who acted with
them. The practice in the shipbuilding yards of Lon-
don, with the exception of one private yard, and which
was adopted in Messrs. Young's yard, previous to last
May, was to commence work at 6 o'clock in the morn •
big and continue until 8 o'clock, when there was half an
hour allowed for breakfast. At half-past 8 o'clock the
men returned to their work and continued until
eleven o'clock, when twenty minutes was allowed for
allowance (refreshment), after which work was resumed
and continued till 1 o'clock; there was then a cessa-

tion of an hour for dinner. At 2 o'clock the men re•
turned to their work, and continued till 4 o'clock, when
there was an interval of 20 minutes again for allowance,
after which they continued their work till 6 o'clock,
when they left off, making together 9 hours and 40
minutes. The periods for allowance were a peculiarity
belonging to the London ship-building yards, no such
practice existing in provincial yards. It was found by
Messrs. Young and Co. to be one productive of great
inconvenience, and, so far from benefittingthe men, was
considered to be productive of inconvenience and harm,
for the men, not having time, in these short intervals,
to return to their homes and their families,
necessarily repaired to the public houses in
the neighbourhood. Every one, he felt cer-
tain, must agree with him, that whilst every oppor-
tunity should be afforded to the labouring classes for
recreation and refreshment, the less they fre-
quented public-houses the better it would be for them-
selves, their families, their employers, and society ;
and Messrs. Young considered they might make such
an alteration in the hours of labour as would be at
once beneficial to them and the men, without reducing
the aggregate number of hours of labour, though
in reality shortening the length of the day. After
maturely considering the subject, they issued in May
a notice, stating that the hours of labour would be
altered as follows :.—To commence at 6 o'clock in the
morning and continue till 9 o'clock, when the men
would have an hour's cessation, instead of half an hour.
They were to retain their 20 minutes allowance at
11 o'clock, but instead of stopping at 4 o'clock,
they continued on till half-past five o'clock instead of six
o'clock, when the day's work ceased, the effect of which
was that the day, instead of being 9 hours and 40 mi-
nutes, was 2 hours ned a half, whilst the men worked as
long as before. He (the Attorney• General), in conduct.
ing that prosecution, took his broad stand on this: that
the employer had a right to say to those in his employ,
"If you desire to remain in my service it must be on
such and such terms," and that the artisan and operative
had a right to say they would not accept such terms,
but that, if you desire to have the benefit of my labour,
it must be on such and such terms. The learned gentle-
man then referred to the terms of the notice, of which
he said the men had no right to complain, and entered
at great length into the facts of the case as detailed In
evidence, and read some of the placards issued by the
men, in which they characterised the change as an in-
vasion of their rights, which had been legalised by cus-
tom, which, he said, was a total misconception of the
rights of the employer and the employed, for there
could be no rights a man could possess in any particular
system adopted by an employer with reference to the
terms of labour or any other circumstance, and the only
right or interference the artisan had was to say he
would not labour on the terms proposed. Thu learned
counsel next detailed the organised plan of operation
laid down and acted upon by the defendants, and their
interference with the prosecutors in procuring men from
Wales, Ireland, and the various parts of England, as
well as their conduct to wards the men they succeeded in
obtaining from Guernsey; and in conclusion said that the
three men, Fredericks, Reeves, and Binet were not in
the prosecutors' employment at the time, but the others
were. The first was president of the trades' union ;
Reeves president of the joiners' union ; and the third, a
Jersey man, who took a conspicuous part in the proceed-
ings. Every man had a right to assert what ho consi-
dered his rights, and trades' unions might be of great im-
portance and advantage to the various trades to which
the men belonged, but if they were allowed to usurp a
power they could not exercise without detriment to the
whole operatives of the country, and such tyrannical
power over those who belonged to the same trade by
their interference, as in this instance, they would be
found to be the greatest curse of the trading community
generally.

Mr. Young was then called, and deposed to the
issuing of the notice for the alteratio❑ of the hours of
labour in May last, the strike of the men, the committee
sitting at the Edinburgh Castle which overlooked his
yard, and the issue of counter placards by the Union,
and the engaging men to enter their employ in the place
of those who had struck, and he identified several of the
defendants es being at the window of the committee room.
Edward Hopper admitted to him that he met
the Gloucester men on the platform of the Great
Western station and offered them money to go back,
and endeavoured to prevent other me❑ from going into
their employ. On the 26th July there was a great
crowd in the neighbourhood of the yard in consequence
of 42 Jersey men having arrived the previous day and
been accommodated in the yard. From 80 to 100 persons
congregated daily, and there was much excitement.
About half-past 12 of that day several hundred had
assembled, and when the Jersey men were expected back
from their dinner from 800 to 1,000 persons had assem-
bled. There was great shouting, evincing a feeling of
exasperation, and he wrote to the sitting -magistrate
twice, and on the second application he bad the assist-
ance of the police. He saw Reeves and Brown there
that day ; they were standing quietly. Very few of the
men could get back to their work at half-past 1 o'clock,
being kept back by the crowd. His son went with the
crowd, and was struck. Reeves came up to him in an
excited state when the excitement was at its height, and
said, "For God's sake, Mr. Young, put an end to this."
Witness asked " How ?" Reeves replied, " Why, by giv
ing up." Witness said to him, "Go away, you foolish
man; give that advice to your colleagues at the public-
house over the way—don't offer it to me." Reeves then
left. Previous to the above day Reeves called on him with
others, and introduced himself as president cf the
joiners' society. Witness said, "I don't think I ought
to discuss this with you." He replied; " Oh, we are all
making one common cause of it."

W. George Osborne, gatekeeper to the prosecutors.—
After the strike the Up-stairs room of the union public-
house, commanding a view of the yard beneath, was
occupied by the men on strike. He saw Brown, Edward
Hopper, Gale, Mumford, Reeves, Mayse, and Fredericks
there whilst the strike was going on. People congre-
gated round the prosecutor's premises during the strike.
An additional crowd assembled on the coming of the
Jerseymen. On Saturday, the 2titb. July, the Jersey mess
were at wosi in the yard. O'4o nuioer of men co .

P •
• No/ •


gregated on that day about the time these men left the
yard, at dinner-time. The defendants Brown, Edward
Hopper, Reeves, and Youn g were amongst the crowd.
He saw Reeves frequently d uring the strike outside the
premises. At dinner-time of the above day he
saw Brown near the yard, and also Young.
The Attorney-Generv.l proposed to show by the evi-
dence what the crowd di •i on the 26th July in offering
obstruction.
Mr. James objected to i ';s production.
The Attorney-General contended he could; and it

was for the defendants, who had been identified in the
crowd, to afterwards explai► ► their conduct.
Mr. Baron Bramwell sa id he thought the question
could be put to show the aggregate conduct of the
crowd.

Witness was examined. 'And said that about half-past
12 o'clock from 500 to 600 persons were present.
The Attorney-CT' enerai—What were they doing ?
Mr. James objected to the question. No sufficient
grounds bad been yet shown to identify the three men
spoken to with the acts of th e crowd to make them re-

sponsible. They were for aught shown to the contrary
passive spectators, or rather, so far as Reeves was con-
cerned, ad stated by Mr. Young, attempting to put an
end to the excitement. They bad not been shown as ob
strutting the Jersey men or inciting the mob.
The Atterney-General contended the evidence could
be received, and that it was for the jury to decide ho s it
affected the defendants, The defendants could have no
other motive in being present than to control and coerce

the conduct of the business at Messrs. Young's yard, and
Mr. Young's evidence, relative to Reeve's conduct, was
evidence sufficient for the jury to decide whether or not
he was not a member of the congregated body who
assembled at the union public house.
Mr. Baron Bramwell said he thought more evidence
should be shown to connect the defendants with the
acts of the crowd.

Nicholson, a shipwright, from Southampton, entered
the service of the prosecutors on the let July. On
first going into the yard he saw a number of persons
round the union. On Saturday, the 26th July, he
attempted to return to the yard, after dinner, with
three others. At a short distance from the yard they
saw a crowd of 200 persons in front of the yard. The
crowd said, " Here they are," and opened to let them
pass, after which he and his comrades were closed on and
struck. The crowd said, " Serve them out." On being
struck, he turned round to see who it was, when he was
struck again from behind. When within 12 yards of the
gate, as he turned round, Brown struck witness violently
two or three times about the head and neck. He was
afterwards knocked down by tke crowd, and he was
unable to work for a week from injury he received in
the hand. Witness saw the defendant the first day he
arrived in London. They were standing around the
Union public.house.
Mr. James reminded his lordship that there was a
separate indictment against Brown for this assault.
Mr. Baron Bramwell—But that does not prevent his
being charged on this indictment for conspiracy.
John Hillier deposed—On the 26th July last I was
in company with a man named Nicholson, in Messrs
Young's employ. I was struck by several persons and
knocked down. I saw Brown in the crowd. The crowd
was shouting very much, calling out " Let them have
it—give it them." He described the attack and the
state of the crowd similar to the last witness.
David Hunter corroborated the evidence of the last
witnesses. The crowd cried out " Hit them, beat them
—knock them down—give it to them." He was knocked
down. A policeman assisted him, but none of the men
who comprised the crowd. He was guarded home by
police.

Edwin Goodwin, P.S., was at the yard on the 26th
July. When the men returned from dinner, there was
an assemblage of 800 or 1,000 people of all sorts in front
of the yard. Men and women attacked the shipwrights
going to work, and knocked their hats off. He described
the mob as unruly, and he saw a rush, and 30 or 40 men
on the ground, including two policemen. He saw Brown
lying on Nicholson. He saw many shipwrights i❑ the
crowd he had seen previously in and about the Union
publichouse. Brown and Young were in the crowd.
Cress-examined by Mr. James.—Young said, "rescue
him," meaning Brown. There were a great many
" Jumpers" there.

What is a lumper I—A man who does anything.
(Laughter.)
Mr. James.—lt commenced first good naturedly—
knocking one the other's hats off.
Wituess—Yes. (Laughter.)
Mr. Baron Bramwell.—l did'nt hear him say good
naturedly on the first occasion.
Mr. James to witness—How many more were in the
crowd f

Witness—A great number.
Mr. James—And comprised ladies, Jumpers, and
children
Witness—Yes.

Benjamin Thomas and John Davey also described the
riotous nature of the crowd. The last witness hal his
hat and rule tali en away.

Police-constable 313 K deposed that he spoke to
Drown and asked him "if he wanted to kill the man—
that he should know his face again." Witness saw him
strike a man several times.

Mr. Tucks, clerk to the prosecutors, deposed—ln
May I was sent to Paddington station to meet some
shipwrights coming from Gloucester. When I got there
I met Gale and Mumford. The train had not then ar-
rived. Mumford asked me how many men I expected
up frem the country. I said I didn't rightly know. He
said he understood twelve were to come, because he hal
had a letter from Gloucester saying some hands were
coming. He also asked me if some were coming from
Wales. I said I did not know. He said he believed
they were, and asked after Mr. Cosens, in prosecutors'
employ, who was then at Gloucester. I said to Mum-
ford, "You appear to know more about it than I
do." He replied, " Lord bless you, we know all
about persons coming." On the arrival of the train
the two defendants walked with witness up and duw❑
the train to see if there were any men like shipwrights.
The two defendants found the men out fire, and had
some conversation with them. I took the men to a
lodging at Paddington, and afterwards took them to a
public-home, and went into the bar. Gale and Mumford
were there. They entered into conversation with the
men, and said they were out on strike for
their rights and privileges, and that Mr. Young was
as good an employer as any could be. I said
what these men have said is true, except its being for
their rights and privileges. Gale and Mumford.said it
was the unanimous opinion of 2,000 shipwrights of
London that it was so. Gale, Mumford, and I afterwards
had something at the bar. Mumford went back and
spoke to the men, and they joined us. The two defend.
ants then sent some refreshments to the men in the par
lour. Gale, Mumford, and I then rode to Limehouse in
the same omnibus. Before parting Mumford said to
Gale, "We must go the Union public-house to see our
mates, for they are waiting for us." Oa the following
morning I went to Paddington, and stopped the Glou-
cester men from coming down to Limehouse that day.
In Fenchurch-street I met Gale and Mumford, who
said, "Your men are waiting for you at the station at
Paddington." I went on to Paddington, but in Oxford-
street I saw three or four of the Gloucester men in an
omnibus coming into the City. Lodgings were provided
at Limehouse, but they were not to go there
till night. On the following day I went
to the lodgings, they were not there ; two cabs were
near the house, in one of which was some of the
Gloucester men with Edward Hopper, a signal
was given, when Hopper slipped out and shut the door.
The men were driven of to Paddington station, and left
by train for Gloucester that same day.
The Court adjourned for half an hour for lunch. On
the return of the learned Judge,

Mr. James addressed his Lordship, informing him
that he had availed himself of the interval to persuade
his clients (except Fredericks, against whom there was
no case) to withdraw their pleas of not guilty, and plead
guilty. He concurred in the opinion expressed by the
learned Attorney-General with regard to the law of the
case, and he (Mr. James) thought these men were now
convinced of their error in coercing others.

The Attorney-General said that the prosecutors had
no vindictive feelings in the matter, but they considered
their duty to society, the trade, and themselves, rendered
it necessary that they should take the course they bal.
They had no wish to be considered other than good
masters, and they would be satisfied witb the defendants
except Fredericks, entering into their rocognizances to
come up when called on to receive judgment.
Mr. Baron Bramwell said he had no objection to the
course proposed, but a question arose in his mind whe-
ther he ought now to take cognizance of the violence
proved against Brown and Young, or leave it to be met
in another place. Ile would, however, take into consi-
deration the recommendation of the learned Attorney-
Gen eral.

The defendants having retracted the plea cf Nut
G ailty,
The learned Baron then withdrew, and consulted
Mr. Justice Williams, who was presiding in the other
court, relative to the evidence as it affected Brown and
Young, and on his returning into court said that Mr
Justice Williams agreed with him in thinking that the
defendants were not )ndicted for the tieeaults, Not

-

being indicted fora conspiracy to deter with violence,
it would be wrong to punish them now, but to leave it
to the parties aggrieved to proceed against theca
elsewhere. The defendants had been well ad•
vised to plead guilty, for they must have
been found guilty of conspiracy under the counts
in the indictment. The parties who bad offended might
not have known they were breaking the law, and under
the circumstances, acquiesced in discharging the defend-
ants on their own recognisaoces, as suggested.

The defendants having entered into the required re-
cognisances, left the court with their friends.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—(This Day.)

AL.A.RLBOROUGIi-STREET.

DARING WATC3 ROBBERY.—EIiza Shephercl, a well-
dressed young woman, was placed at the bar before Mr.
Bingham, charged with stealing a silver watch, the
property of Mr. David Heard, draper, 143, Oxford•street,
Mr. M'Oubray, the barrister, appeared for the pri•