The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-31 00:00:00

THE PRESTON STRIKE.

At the meeting of the Preston Board of Guardians, on
Tuesday, Mr. Cane, poor-law inspector, was present. The
chairman (Mr. Howitt) suggested that the manufacturers
in the town should send to the relief committees every
week during the strike a statement as to whether they
required any hands, so that if there were any operatives

in receipt of relief they might be sent to their esta-
blishments. Mr. Cane said that he and his colleague
(Mr. Fleming), who was present, knew with the rest
of people the peculiar relations which existed in Preston
between the manufacturers and the operatives ; and they
had come to the board meeting with the view of giving
advice as to the best way of administering relief. He wag
thoroughly convinced that it was no part of the duty
of the guardians to interfere or take part on either
side during strikes or lock-outs. No interruption
arising through differences between the employers
and ,the employed for any considerable time could
fail to increase the labours of the guardians, because
when people were out of work privation, distress,
misery, and destitution were, unhappily, sure to follow;
and it was with this peculiar state of things that the guar-
dians had to do. He believed the relief committees were
quite aware that when a labourer of any class came before
them, and it was ascertained that he had it in his power
to accept work on such wages as would enable him to
earn the bare necessaries of life in sufficient quantities to
maintain himself and family, such person was not desti-
tute within the meaning of the Poor Law, that he had no
claim upon them forrelief, and that they were fully justified
in dismissing his case and telling him to go and accept the
work open to him. Persons really in distress must not
remain on the rates one hour longer than they possibly
could. The must not have relief granted to them in such
form as could induce them to rely upon the union, and
they must avail themselves of any fresh offer of work they
might have.

It was announced about 12 o'clock on Tuesday night
that a letter relative to the Preston strike, addressed by
Mr. Mundella, M.P. to Mr. Janson, secretary of the
Preston Amalgamated Trades' Council, had been received
by the latter, and was then undergoing not only the
consideration of the Council, but also of the
different cotton operative associations in the town.
Mr. Mundella in his letter expressed a desire that all
the detailed information that could possibly be obtained
respecting the present condition of capital and labour with
regard to the case of the expected great strike should be
furnished him. He further stated that he would most
gladly render to the Trades Council in their difficulties
whatever assistance he could. Mr. Mundella added that
he would view with pleasure the formation of a per•
manent Council of Conciliation at Preston, by which
both masters and operatives may in future settle
amicably all such difficult questions as the present, without
resorting to such dreadful alternatives as either strikes or
lock-outs. Mr. Mundella's wishes are being complied
with, and information upon all the difficult subjects
bearing upon the strike is being rapidly collected for
transmission to him.

There has been a committee meeting of the Preston
Associated Female Operative card-room hands, s,
body of work-people which includes the male card-
room hands, numbering upwards of 2,000. The meeting
was called for the purpose of assuming a decided position
with reference to the proposed reduction of ten per cent.,
and of considering the advisability or otherwise of iaime•
diately striking work when their notices expire. Two
resolutions were carried unanimously, the first of which
was, "We are of opinion that the present proposition of
the masters to reduce our wages ten per cent, is not only
unnecessary, but exceedingly unjust, and we also express
our determined intention of resisting, to the utmost of
our power, t'le reduction ; that when our notices expire
we, as a body, strike work at once ; and that such hands
as come out on strike be considered eligible members for
union pay." The second resolution was, "We also
decide that delegates be sent from our body to represent
our case before all the different districts, both in and out
of the union, in South and East Lancashire, and to
solicit aid on our behalf."

Mr. Trevelyan is preparing a bill to remodel ths
Greenwich Hospital funds.

In the event of a vacancy in the representation
of Marylebone, Dr. Sandwith will come forward, provided
the payment of his election expenses is guaranteed. At
a recent meeting of the Electoral Association, it was
resolved that " the utmost endeavours " should be made to
return Dr. Sandwith free of cost, should Mr. Harvey
Lewis resign his seat.
AN OLD TRICK R E VIVE D. —The Eclaireur of
St. Etienne relates that as a farmer was two evenings back
in a cart driving towards St. Bonnet-le-Chateau (Loire), ho
was accosted by a Sister of Charity, who asked him for si
seat. He consented, but in aiding the other to get up he
became certain that the hand which he took was that of a
man. Thinking it best to dissemble for the moment he
suffered the other to take a seat by his side, but on reaching
a hill told his companion that they must alight to let the
horse walk up the ascent. The pretended Sister got down
first, which she had no sooner done, than he gave the lash
to his horse and started off at full speed. The next moment
he heard a shrill whistle, and in looking back, saw that

0 ,
several ill-looking fellows had joined his late companion,
and that the whole party were going across the fields to
intercept him further on. He reached the town, however,
in safety, and on examining his carriage, found in it a
basket, left behind by the Sister, containing 500 francs in
money, a pistol, and a poinard, the whole of which ho
deposited in the hands of the police.

SENDING A VALENTINE TO THE POPE. —A
case has just come to our knowledge which is probably
without parallel in the annals of St. Valentine. Six
young ladies in an English boarding-school—two of them
hailing from the 'north—purchased a very pretty valen.
tine, which they sent directed to " His Holiness the
Pope, Rome." Accompanying the valentine was
a letter, signed by all the young ladies, stating that
they had seen his Holiness's condemnation of chignons
and long dresses, and had been so impressed by it that
they had given up both. The young ladies waited
patiently, and iu due time received a letter from Cardinal
Antonelli acknowledging receipt of valentine and epistle,
which had afforded his Holiness much gratification. The
letter was in French. The young ladies were delighted
to get an epistle from such an exalted prelate. However,
another post brought back their valentine, with the
Pope's blessing beautifully written upon it in Italian.
His Holiness had not been accustomed to such souvenirs,
and thought it would be doubly valuable returned with
his benediction. The young ladies were immensely pleased,
and are now having the documents lithographed for
preservation—the originals to be given to the girl who
suggested the affair. It may be added that neither of the
young ladies has either taken down her chignon of
shortened her dress one-eighth of an inch ; the whole
matter having been entered into as a joke, although it may
seem to some that for a few girls to hoax his Holiness Pope
Pius IX,, and leis great lord cardinal. of a oecretarh te3
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