The Sun.
London, England, 1851-02-24 00:00:00

CLOSE OF THE SAILORS' STRIKE

IN THE NORTH.

The strike amongst the sailors in the north against
the Mercantile
,Marine Act, was abandoned on Satur-
day, the Board of Trade having given up the new re-
gulations fur the traiintennrce of discipline on board
ship, and pr,-)ruis,ei to consider some other grievances
cumpldinei of by the men. On Friday evening a large
meeting ( f Newcastle and North and South Shields
seamen was held at South Shields, and, after hearing the
report of the delegates who had been to London, aTtel had
an interview with the Board of Trade, the following reso-
lutions %ere come. to:—

" That as the Lords Commissioners of her Majesty's
Privy Council for Trade have abolished the 22 regu!a-
tions, and as Government is unable immediately either
to suspend or et:reel the other, and several parts of the
recent Marine A c:s, to which we neither can OCT will
submit, excepting in so far as such submission shall
conduce to the eventual repeal of the obnoxious clauses
in question, we resolve to proceed to era, and to our
usual employments, under protest, on Saturday, Feh. 22,
afternoon tide, acting, however, in concert with the
other northern ports, laid in accordance with the princi-
ples of our friendly associations.
" That the following i.ersoree he a committee to pre-
pare a form of protest, v z : William bnow ball, Thomas
White, John Williamson, Daniel Stewart. and Ale xan.ter
Hamilton. That it be signed by masters, mates, and
men, this and the following day, et.d that copies be left
with the secretaries till every seaman now at sea has had
a❑ opportunity of joining.
" Resolved, that this meeting solemnly pledges itself
to sup; ort the friendly associations in every legal way;
and specifically that it will strain every nerve to secure
the support and entry of all sailors sailing from this
port who at.the present moment are not members of the
association, and aUI in planting similar associations
in every port of Great Britain and Ireland, the objects
of the associations being threefold—first, to main-
tain wages; secondly, to agitate this grand question
of sailors' rights, and to petition Parliament for re-
dress; and thirdly, in case of Parliamentary inattention
to or rejection of our petitions, to organise a grand and
universal system of passive resistance, through which,
by suspending the whole commerce of the country, we
may compel Government ,to do us justice. 3,000,000
British sailors, if united, would move the world, as they
have conquered it before now."
On Saturday forenoon an immense procession, con-
sisting of at least 4,000 seamen, paraded the streets of
Shields with bands and banners, and after burning Mr.
Labouchere in effigy, sung " Rule Britannia," arid went
quietly to their ships. An immense number of vessels
would leave the Tyne on Saturday and Sunday for all
parts of the world. The seamen of Sunderland, Seaham,
and Hartlepool, terminated the strike yesterday. The
wages to he received throughout the district is 4/. 10s. a
voyage in winter, and 3/ 10s. in summer i❑ the coal
trade; and 31. a month and small stores in the foreign
trades.

RIOT OF SEAMEN AT YARMOUTH.
YARMOUTH, SUNDAY MORNlNG.—Yesterday a serious
riot, arising out of disputes between the shipowners and
sailors, took place in this town, and so alarmed the au.
thorities that the military were sent fur from Norwich.
Since the passing of the new Mercantile Marine Act
there has been considerable dissatistaction among the
seamen of this port, as they considered that they were
thereby subject to unnecessary fines and other griev-
ances. Meetings of both shipowners and sailors have
been held to adopt petitions for the repeal of the Act.
These meetings led to dissensions on the subject of wages,
and the seamen who have hitherto received 60s. per month
or voyage during the winter, and 505. in the summer,
formed an association in order to obtain an equalisation
of wages all the year round. Relative to this matter a
meeting of shipowners was held, pursuant to a requisi-
tion to the Mayor, presented by the committee appointed
by the sailors of the port. During a long conference
between the shipowners and the committee the latter
formally, on behalf of the sailors, demanded 555. per
month or voyage both summer and winter, instead of the
old arrangement. There has been no attempt on the
part of tic shipowners here, as in Lynn and other places,
to reduce wages. The movement bee been entirely on
the part of the sailors, to obtain an advance of their
earnings on the whole year.
The shipowners positively refused to accede to any
alteration of the old arrangement, and declared that it
any was attempted they would consider all understand-
ings between them and the men at an end, and they
would feel themselves at liberty to obtain men where
they could get them on the cheapest terms. The conse-
quence of this declaration was a general strike of the
seamen. Yesterday morning Mr. Barber, a shipowner,
preferred an information, before the Mayor and magis-
trates, against a sailor, who, after engaging to go a
voyage, had refused to do so. The man was brought up
in custody, and on being questioned said he would go
if properly protected. Ilisressel was lying at Lowes-
toft, and under the direction of the magistrates a steam-
tug was brought up the harbour to a point opposite the
Town-hall, for the purpose of taking the man to Lowe-
stoft. The mayor and magistrates, accompanied by the
police, started from the hall with the man, for the pur-
pose of escorting him to the vessel, but were imme-
diately attacked by a crowd of seamen, and a regular
fight took place. The authorities managed to get the
man on board the tug, and to send him away. Ten or
twelve of the rioters were apprehended and placed in the
station-house. The crowd of seamen retired fur a
short time to consider what was to be done, and
they determined, if possible, to rescue their comrades.
For this purpose, they turned cut in great force, and,
amid a concourse of 2 000 people, carried the mast
of a ship to the station-house, and began to use it
as a battering-ram, in order to break down the door and
to rescue the prisoners. The station-house was de-
fended by the police, about twenty in number, also by
several men from the revenue cutters, and several of the
coast guard, and eight or nine militia men. The tumult
increased, tho authorities caused the Riot Act to be
read, and 100 special constables were sworn in. Not-
withstanding the efforts of this extra force the riot
continued, and the seamen seemed determined to
force the station-house. At this time there were only
20 policeman, 9 militia men, and 30 revenue cutters'
men, with the coast guard, and the special constables,
to oppose about 2,000 people. The mayor and magis•
trates, fearing that the force at their disposal would be
overcome, and that property and life would be eudan-
gered, sent a telegraphic message to the commanding
officers of the 11th Hussars, stationed at Noreich bar-
racks, stating that a serious riot had taken place, and
requesting a sufficient military force to besent by special
train. This message reached Norwich station at 4.30
ran, and through the exertions of Mr. Martin, the su
perintendeut of the Norfolk Railway, a troop reached
Yarmouth at 6.15 P.M. Another troop followed imme
diately afterwards, bah being under the command of Capt.
Douglas. When the first troop arrived at Yarmouth, Mr,
Martin found it necessary t clear the station, a mob of
people having assembled there, threatening to pull up
the rails and disconnect the telegraphic communication.
The Mayor (Captain Pearson, RN.) was then sent for
to the station; he soon after arrived, and authorised
Captain Douglas to proceed immediately to quell the
riot. The military at once rode into the town, and
having received orders quickly cleared the streets. In
a few hours quiet was restored, but the troops continued
to parade the streets during the night. This morning
all remains quiet, and it is expected that the military
will return to Norwich in the course of the day.

THE SMITHFIELD-MARKET REMOVAL BILL —On
Saturday the Bill brought into the House of Commons by
the Government for the removal of Smithfield-market was
printed. The preamble states, " Whereas for preventing the
evils attendant on the holding of the market now holden in
Smithfield, it is desirable that in lieu thereof a more
spacious cattleiarket with a meat-market and conve-
niences connected therewith should be provided in a suitable
place more distant from the centre of the metropolis." There
are thirty-seven clauses in the Bill. Her Majesty may ap-
point Commissioners under the Act, and they may provide a
cattle and meat market, and build slaughter-houses, &c., and
lairs for cattle, and maintain and repair roads, &c. Amon..
other things the Commissioners of Police are to regulate route
and time for driving of cattle within the Metropolitan Police
district.
-

THE SEA SERPENT AGAIN.—The New York Journal
of Commerce states—" Captain F. Bernssee, of the barque
Frances Watts, at this port from Rio de Janeiro, in lat. 15
N., long. 55, saw a serpent that passed within thirty or
forty feet of his vessel, and appeared to be about sixty feet
on the water., It passed so near the vessels as to be distinctly
seen. Its motion was up and down, like the swimming of a
leech; not horizontal like the motion of a snake or eel.
It appeared to be as long as, and shaped like, the mainyard
of the barque, tapering off towards the extremities. Its
progress through the water was very rapid. When first seen
it was approaching from the S.E., and it passed the barque
heading N.W., without any apparent alteration of its course.
Its head differed from that in the drawings published of the
one seen by Captain M'Quahe, of one of her Majesty's ships,
nearly two years since, and its whole body was on the surface
of the water, and distinctly seen. No fins were seen. Its
colour was apparently very dark green. The gentleman who
handed us the above is well known to us, and remarks, I
have known Captain Bernssee for many years, and can vouch
for his integrity and veracity.'"
THE CENSUS, 1851.---A number of additional
papers have just been issued relative to the census of the
population to be taken by the 31st of next month. These
papers include returns relating to public worship, to educa-
tion, and to literary and scientific societies.
SUICIDE IN THE BOROUGH.—Yesterday morning,
during Divine service, a female servant, aged 20, in the
family of Messrs. Jones, Brothers, curriers, 194, High-street,
Borough, committed suicide by nearly severing her head
from her body with a carving-knife. It is stated that for
some time past the deceased has been labouring under mental
and nervous excitement, occasioned by peculiar religious
scruples, which preyed on her mind, and produced such a
change in her demeanour that Messrs. Jones had deemed it
advisable to send for her family; and it was arranged for her
sister to have come to town on Monday (to-day) for the
purpose of removing her from her situation.
THE MARBLE ARCH.—At the time when Buck-
ingham Palace was first placed in the hands of Mr. Blore,
with a view to its improvement, the arch was, as it has con-
tinued to be, a subject of difficulty and discussion. It was at
length determined to abandon the expensive style of decora-
tion commenced by Mr. Nash; to patch it up at as little
cost as possible; and, after finishing it in a plain manner, to
leave it standing where Mr. Nash has placed it, satisfied with
exclaiming, " Thou canst not say I did it." Among the
fragments of Mr. Nash's intention was found a handsome
frieze, executed by some of the first sculptors of the day, and
intended to adorn the upper compartment of the arch.
Would it nut be worth while to consider, whether, in finish-
ing the arch in its new site, the original plan might not par-
tially be carried into effect, adding to the beauty and im-
portance of the work, by removing these pieces of sculptured
marble, and others now scattered about, to their original des-
tination ? A bronze Victory, or car and horses, resembling
that on the Brandenburgh Gate at Berlin, would be a material
addition to its general atfect.—Builder.
THE FISHINGS.—We regret to say that the Ness
still continues unproductive, and the other northern rivers
do not seem to be much better stocked. Only cne or two
fish have yet been taken in the Club's waters. -A
few clean
fish have been caught, we believe, at the head of Loch Ness.
In the Findhorn, the season's operations have as yet been
Wet 111.1111CCe438fUl.— Inverness Courier.