The Sun.
London, England, 1834-05-03 00:00:00

RECOLLECTIONS OF kNAVAL LIFE.

..
By Captain James Scott, R.N. 3 vols.
111.
EXCURSIONS in the HOLY LAND,
EGYPT, NUBIA, SYRIA, &c.
Including a Visit to the Unfrequented District of the
Haourans. By John Madox, Esq.
In 2 vols. Bvo., with 27 Illustrations.

A SOLDIER'S RECOLLECTIONS of the
WEST INDIES and AMERICA.

By Lieut.-Colonel St. Clair. 2 vols. Bvo., with nu-
merous Illustrations.

NAVAL ADVENTURES.
By Lieut. Bowers, R. N. Comprising a Narrative of
35 Years' Service in various Parts of the World.

2 vols. post Bvo.

New and Cheaper Edition, in 2 vols. post Bvo., with
Plates,

CAPT. SKINNER'S EXCURSIONS in INDIA.

VII.
TRANSATLANTIC SKETCHES.

By Capt. Sir J. E. Alexander. 2 vols. Bvo., witl►
numerous Etchings.
Just ready,

New Edition, in 1 vol. Bvo. with Plates,' revised and
corrected by the Author,
EXCURSIONS IN NEW SOUTH WALES,&c.,
in the years 1830-31-32-33; therefore comprising
the most recent account of the actual condition of
these Colonies. By Lieut. Breton, R.N.

DESTRUCTIVE FIRE AT CI DAVIS'S.—.
This morning, about three o'clock, a fire broke out
at the Plough public-house, West Smithfield, kept
by Mr. Cyrus Davis, the ex-pugilist ; and had it not
been for the presence of mind of Rice, the watchman,
who first discovered it, it would have been impossible
for any of the inmates to have escaped. In less than
an hour the Plough was reduced to a skeleton. The
property, however, was insured, and no lives were lost.
CORONER'S INQUEST.—Yesterday afternoon
an inquisition was taken at the Middlesex Hospital,
before Mr. Stirling, touching the death of Eliza James,
aged 22. On Friday afternoon the deceased, who was
is company with a soldier of the name of Thomas, at-
tached to the Fusileer Guards, was crossing Oxford-
street, for the purpose of entering Cumberland-gate,
Hyde-park, when she was met by a horse without a
rider, which was coming out of the park at a frightful
rate. She was instantly hurled to the ground, and fell
under
the horse, which quickly got up, and with its
hind leg levelled a tremendous blow at the deceased's
head, which fractured her skull. The deceased was
attended to at the hospital, but she gradually sunk, and
died on Sunday last. It appeared that previous to the
accident, the horse, which belonged to Mr. W. Cooling,
tailor, Maddox-street, and was ridden by him, had
thrown its rider in Hyde-park. The deceased was to
have been married on Sunday next. Verdiet—Acei-
dent ildeath.

TRADES' UNIONS.-PAROCHIAL

MEETING.

Yesterday erening a numerous meeting of the inhabi-
tants of St. Paul's, Covent-garden, was held in the Ves-
try-room, pursuant to pablic notice, for the purpose of
considering the subject of the Trades' Unions, and taking
steps to counteract their operation.
Mr. WAKLER, parochial churchwarden= was called to
the Chair.

Mr. RICHARDSON, wine--illrellatlt,• stated that he
thought it his duty to co.:„0 forward at the present time,
when so much inuccenience was caused by the numerous
combinations workmen. He would call upon them to
remember the procession which took place on Monday
weet, the alarm that was then excited, and the dangerous
-onsegnences which might ensue if such proceedings were
repeated. When this was taken into consideration, toge-
ther with the intimidation practised by the unions on
peaceable workmen, he was sure he need make no further
preface to the resolution he begged to move. He moved
a resolution to the effect that " the kneeting viewed with
regret and alarm the combination of vast numbers of the
working classes, who, influenced by interested and design-
ing men, not only presnmed,.in the most arbitrary manner,
to dictate to their employers, but, by acts of intimidation
and violence, corivelled the co-operation of many of their
well-disposed fellow-workmen, to the great inconvenience
of trade, to the serious loss and injury to themselves and fa-
milies, and to the disturbance of the public peace."
Mt. M'CALLAN seconded the resolution.
ROCHE, solicitor, moved the second resolution—
" That the meeting declare its determination to assist in
every way calculated to counteract the designs contem-
plated by the trades' unions and their unprincipled ad-
visers; and resolve to withhold employment from every
person identifying himself with their tyrannical proceed-
ings, and to submit to any delay or inconvenience, rather
than that the unreasonable dictation of the trades' unions
should be complied with."
STEVENS, auctioneer, seconded the resolution.
A PARISHIONER—The resolution, I presume, applies
only to workpeople. It does not extend to tradesmen in
any way. (No.)
Another PARISHIONER-Does it pledge me to discharge
my men, supposing that I know them to be connected with
a union ?

Mr. MacittN, auctioneer, said he apprehended the re-
-solution pledged them to discharge those men whose con-
duct was violent, and to discourage all intimidation.
The CitAtitmaN—Why, Sir, those who hold up their
hands for the resolution are bound by what it contains and
no farther.

INTICnous said that he had been informed by a
respectable young man, that the whole of the unions, with
the exception of one, subscribed and paid to each of the
turn-out tailors 6s. a week. The excepted union paid ss.
a week. The subscription of each unionist amounted to
:2s. 6d. a week. Now, if tradesmen retained in their em-
ploy those men who belonged to unions, they virtually sup-
ported the turn-out tailors, and kept up the combination.
A PARISHIONER—There are not twenty tradesmen in
tha parish whose workmen do not belong to a union.
How is it that no stir was made about these combinations
before ? The builders and others have already suffered to
a great extent by strikes. Why is it that we must inter-
fere because the tailors have turned out ? The builders
cannot now discharge their men ; for an arrangement has
been made, and if the men should be discharged, the
builders could not get others to supply their places.
Mr. FEW, solicitor, observed, that they had not assem-
bled for the purpose of causing differences between masters
and servants, but to take measures for preserving the order
and well-being of society. The strike of the tailors had
nut brought him there, but he had come in consequence of
the parade in the streets a few days ago, and of the open
and practical attempt of servants to set themselves above
their masters, which, if not checked, would tend to the
subversion of society. They had no right to interfere in
any competition between the tailors and their masters ;
but he would ask those gentlemen who had homes and ser-
vants, to whom they wished well, whether they would not
be doing good to them by supporting the resolution that
had been moved, and by pledging themselves to keep order?
A PARISHIONER—When our differences with our
workmen are settled, are we to discharge them? (" No,
no it would be a shame to ask you.")
Mr. MicniN wished it to go forth explicitly to the
public that the meeting had no tyrannical object in view ;
that they had no intention of interfering between master
and servant, and that their object was only to set their
faces against that hydra-headed monster--the Unions.
Let them consider the operation of the system. He would
take the number of the Unionists at the lowest number
300,000. Suppose 50,000 men out of that number struck.
The other Unionists would then be called upon to subscribe,
perhaps at the rate of 2s. each a week, and the whole sum
would amount to 25,000/. In addition to this, they
boasted that they had a clear fund of 40,000/. When the
Unions were so powerful it was impossible that tradesmen
could make head against them, unless some decisive mea-
sures were taken. It was said that these Unions would
work their own end, but he remembered that they had de-
signing men at their head, and he understood that their
mode of operation was this :--While the tailors were un-
employed no other extensive trade would strike, but when
the tailors succeeded in their combination, and gained
employment, then the leaderi would say to the shoe-
makers or hatter—" Now you strike, and the tailors will
subscribe for you." Thus they would go on bringing
ruin upon the country, and, of course, upon themselves.
Mr. Machin concluded by moving a resolution, " That the
meeting disclaimed all right or intention to interfere with
any regulations of the working classes, so long as each
class confined itself to its separate calling, without co-ope-
rating with any other branch of trade, and refrained from
acts of intimidation towards such as are willing and desir-
ous unmolestedly to follow their occupation."
Mr. DARLEY, silk-dyer, seconded- the resolution.
A PARISHIONER observed, that he understood from
good authority, that the subscription of the unionists was
only 2d. a week, and that fines went to the general fund.
The tailors received 4s. 6d. a week only. They had long
ago resolved to strike at the present time, in the spring,
when the trade was brisk.

Mr. 111‘CALLAN,-tailor, said that levies had been made
on the bootmakers' union to the amount of 6d. a week, on
the hatters Is. a week, goldbeaters Is., and on another
trade 6d. a week, for the purpose of enabling the tailors to
compete with their masters. He had been a workman
himself, and though he was not now a workman, he had
the same sympathy with them which he had always enter-
tained. His men, before the union leaders disturbed them,
were sensible of this, and would have done anything to
serve him, but after they had joined the union, their con-
duct became quite changed. The men were deluded.
They were told that they would shortly march up to the
goal of prosperity, where the rich would no longer revel in
the luxuries of life produced by others. This sophistry
was constantly sounded in their ears by seditious and de-
signing individuals ; and could they, then, wonder that
these unfortunate men had been drawn into the vortex of
destruction ? But let the tradesmen step forward and pull
them from the pit ; in so doing they would not be guilty
of oppression, but they would act as the best friends of the
working classes. ( Cheers. )
Mr. H. ROBINSON, banker, said that though he had no
doubt that the mighty fabric of domestic tyranny which
had been alluded to would in a short time crumble to
pieces under its own weight, yet he felt it was incumbent
upon them to step forward before that time, and endeavour
to rescue the working classes from the misery which awaited
them, as well as to prevent a recurrence of the late alarm-
ing proceedings. He moved a resolution, "That the meet-
ing, being fully aware that the existing unions, blindly
entered into, must shortly greatly increase the number of
applicants for parochial relief, recommends the parochial
officers to withhold such relief from all persons whose con-
duct as trades' unionists should unnecessarily throw them
out of employ, and thereby reduce them, their wives, and
families, to a state of pauperism and destitution ; and the
inhabitant householders present at this meeting, collectively
and individually, pledge themselves to support the parochial
authorities in such a course of procedure.'
Mr. CRIBB seconded the resolution and said that paro-
chial relief of course would be withheld only from those
who unnecessarily left their employ. He had one fact to
state which would show very forcibly the result of the
strikes. He was connected with the savings bank of the
parish, and a few days ago the wife of a tailor came there
and drew 18s. out of the bank, the whole sum that had
been collected there by little savings being one pound. He
said to the woman, " What ! does your husband belong to
the union ?" " Yes, Sir," was the reply, " he was obliged
to join it. We have not a shilling in the world but what
is here." Another fact worthy of remark was, that within
the last twelve months there had been a considerable falling
off in the small deposits which had been formerly made by
working people.
Mr. -IENV said he was convinced that firmness on the
part of the masters would ultimately cause the submission
of the men. He concluded by moving the following reso-
lution :—" That the meeting could not sufficiently repro-
bate the conduct of any tradesman who should, either for
the purpose of obtaining present employment, or otherwise
in any respect countenancing the uncalled-for and un-
principled combination now existing ; balk convinced, that
if the masters were but true to themselves, they would be
supported by the public, the guilty promoters of the mea-
sure would be detected and punished, and the misguided
and over-awed speedily reinstated in full work."
Mr. KNIGHT, druggist, seconded the resolution.
Mr. M'CALLAN recommended that every master should
make an appeal to the good sense of his workmen. It
might be attended with some effect.
Mr. CARROL thought it would be a more advisable
course to pass resolutions having for their object the pro-
tection of those workmen who did not wish to join the
union, than to agree to any strong propositions. How
could the inhabitants of different parishes unite against the
house tax, or the poor law bill, and at the same time cen-
sure the union of the working classes ?
Mr. Fxw said that they endeavoured to defeat the house
tax or the poor law bill by legitimate means. But the
proceedings of the trades' unions were not legitimate; and
if they were not checked, their houses might be entered,
and every kind of outrage committed with impunity.
Mr. BROAD did not think that the unionists had
any
such intentions as those imputed to them. They were the

aittpeg of designing men. He would advise a course of
conciliation, and if that were ineffectual, then let the
unionists suffer. The parish funds would not be open to
them, and then they must either starve, emigrate, or re-
turn to their work. Let the masters determine to dis-
charge every unionist, and in that case what could the
workmen do? With regard to the procession which had
been alluded to, what could have been more orderly ? The
unions were not unprecedented ; and if. they were illegal,
then the political unions were illegal ; and yet it was well
known that the Ministry had sanctioned them. Upon these
grounds, he recommended that the resolutions should be
more conciliatory.
Mr. CRIBB said, he had never heard a more inconsistent
speech than that of the last speaker. He would repeat
again, that the meeting had no intention to injure the
workmen, but to resist the combination of trades—the evil
of which every one admitted—and to show the workmen
the folly and the danger of the course they were pursuing.
The resolutions were then put seriatim by the Chair-
man, and were all agreed to, the number of dissentients
not exceeding four or five.
Mr. MACHIN proposed a petition to the House of Com-
mons, praying that some measures might be adopted to
check the evil complained of; but this was negatived by a
large majority, the meeting being of opinion that as yet
no such measures were requisite.
Thanks were then voted to the Chairman, and the meet-
ing broke up.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS, May 2.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY took his seat-on the Wool-
sack at four o'clock.
Lord ELLENBOROUGH said he understood the
house was to commence proceedings on the Warwick Bo-
rough Bill at a quarter before four o'clock, and it was now
considerably after that time.
Lord WYNFORD thought that the understanding was
that the house was to commence public business at that
period, and that at its conclusion they were to proceed
with the Warwick Borough Bill.

Lord KENYON considered the arrangement to be,
that the presentation of petitions was to take place,
from a quarter before four to five o'clock ; that then
the house was to proceed with the Warwick Bo-
rough Bill till six o'clock, at which hour the public busi-
ness was to commence, and at its termination the consi-
deration of the Warwick Borough Bill was to be proceeded
with till ten o'clock.

After some further observations, their lordships pro-
ceeded to present petitions.
Lord WYNFORD presented a petition from Blooms-
bury in favour of the established church.
Earl FITZWILLIAM presented petitions from the
dissenters of Leeds and Northallerton, praying relief from
the disabilities under which they laboured. Also, peti-
tions from Glasgow, for the better observance of the Sab-
bath ; from the hand-loom weavers of Ayr, praying for the
establishment of a board of trade, and from Dewsbury, for
a separation of church and state.