The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-03 00:00:00

MEETING OF BUILDERS' FOREMEN.
(THIS DAY.)

A meeting of the foremen of the master builders, whose
establishments aro now 'closed, took place this day at the
Adelaide Rooms, Strand.

Mr. WILLOUGHBY, foreman of plasterers at Messrs.
Cubitts', occupied the chair. He said the present meeting
was called, in accordance with a resolution passed last
evening that a meeting of the foremen of the lock-out firms
should be held, in order that some steps might be taken
to bring about a settlement of the unhappy differences
that at present existed between the employer and the em-
ployed. He urged upon all present the necessity of main-
taining order in their discussions, in order that a proper
degree of weight might attach to their proceedings. Mr.
Dabbs had proposed a resolution to the committee, but it
was thought the best step to adopt was to summon a gene-
ral meeting of the foremen before anything was finally
decided upon.
A discussion then arose as to the persons composing the
preliminary meeting, at the termination of which
Mr. METCALFE said their business, after all, was to
see what could be done towards terminating the pre-
sent state of things. Whatever was done it would be
thought by the men that they (the foremen) had been sent
to that meeting by their masters, but such was not the case.
The meeting was a perfectly spontaneous act on their part,
and whatever was done, on them (the foremen) rested the
whole responsibility. The foremen had come forward to act
as mediators, and they had done so solely for the interest of
both parties, and ,in the hope that they might be successful
in stopping the wide-spreading ruin to thousands. (Hear.)
Mr. WESTON, of the firm of Evans Brothers, said he
should like to know whether it was intended to ground
their proceedings on the adoption of the " document " or
not. (Hear.) If so, he felt confident all negotiation would
fail, because the men believed the " document" to be de-
testable. (Cheers.) There might be some hope if such
was not the case, but none if they adopted it as their basis.
(Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN said he thought he had better call upon
Mr. Dabbs to read his resolution.
Mr. DABBS, foreman of founders at Messrs. Cubitts,
said when he attended the preliminary meeting last night
he found the proceelings of a very vague character, and it
was then he saw the necessity of proposing something of a
tangible nature, and he then drew up his resolution in
order that, in the event of their agreeing to take any steps in
the matter, they might have something definite to offer to
the masters for consideration at their meeting next Tues-
day. His resolution was as follows :
" That this meeting of builders' foremen, connected with
the London establishments now closed, form a committee
(with power to add to their number), to act independently
between master and man, and to adopt measures containing
some tangible terms by which we may recommend the
masters to resume business ; and we, their managers, pledge
ourselves to use our best endeavours to secure a sufficient
body of workmen to carry on the various departments over
which we have the control." (Cheers.)
Mr. ALLEN seconded the resolution.
A somewhat irregular discussion ensued, which was
brought to a conclusion by
The CHAIRMAN, who said the meeting before they pro-
ceeded with anything else must dispose of the resolution, as
it had been moved and seconded.
Mr. DABBS said the resolution did not confer any power.
The committee, after it had been appointed, would receive
its instructions from the body of the meeting. (Cheers.)
The resolution was put from the chair, and carried una-
nimously.
Mr. PARKER moved a resolution that the committee
consist of seven foremen and seven non-society men.
Mr. DAnns said if such a suggestion were agreed to it
would upset the former resolution, because by that the
meeting states that it is acting entirely independent of any
body or any society. (Hear, hear.) The next business. of
the meeting, after having passed a resolution similar to
the one they had already agreed to, was to give the persons
constituting the committee that was to wait upon the mas-
ters their instructions, and with that view he moved the
following resolution :
"That this meeting agree to recommend to the masters so
to modify the present declaration as to dispense with the
book and so-called counterfoil altogether, and make it a
shop rule only. That in the engagements between foreman
and workmen it be clearly understood that they are not
society men."
After a short discussion the proposition of Mr. Dabbs

was agreed to, with but five dissentients.
Mr. METCALFE thought in order to strengthen the hands
of the committee the names of all the foremen present should
be taken down and submitted to the masters, to show the
persons from whom the proposition emanated. He was so
impressed that this would be a wise course to pursue that
he should move a resolution to that effect.
The resolution was seconded by Mr. CLARISS, and car-
ried.
A person present wished to know whether the Builders
Foremen's Institution had been communicated with, as he
was anxious that the present should not be looked upon as
a hole-and-corner meeting.
The CHAIRMAN said there need be no apprehension on
that point. The reason that the Foremen's Institution
was not connected with was, because it was thought as
the building trade was only concerned, there was no occa-
sion for others to become involved.
Mr. HARDING, of Messrs. Jays, complained that the
present meeting did not fully represent the feeling of the
foremen of the building trades.
Another person present suggested the propriety of
adjourning for a few days. Then instead of the 250 or
300 persons present they would have a larger attendance.
The CHAIRMAN said he did not think any good would be
derived from an adjournment. The secretary had sent out
1,500 notices of meeting, and if persons did not choose to at-
tend they could not compel them to do so. The only busi-
ness that remained for the meeting was the nomination of
the foremen who were to compose the committee to wait on
the masters next Tuesday ; and he called upon those pre-
sent to bring the proceedings to a close in a business-like
manner. (Cheers.) .
The committee was then nominated as follow :—Mr.
Bray, of Messrs. Piper and Son ; Mr. Willoughy, of Messrs.
Cubitt ; Mr. Allen, of Messrs. Rigby; Mr. Webster, of
Messrs. Lawrence ; Mr. Brisley, of Messrs. Mansfield ;
Mr. Gill, of Messrs. Waller; Mr. Clements, of Messrs.
Lucas ; Mr. Lovejoy, of Messrs. Wilson; Mr. Lucas, o 1
Messrs. Axfords; Mr. Brooken, of Messrs. Hollands ; Mr
Hearne, of Messrs. Kelk ; Mr. Smith, of Messrs. Myers ;
Mr. Newell, of Messrs. T. Cubitt ; Mr. Elliott, of Messrs.
Brown and Robinson ; Mr. Evans, of Messrs. Wslchman
and Gale's ; and Mr. Harding, of Messrs. Jay's.
A vote of thanks having been awarded to the chairman,
he Proceedings terminated.

THE EX-KING OF OUDE'S PRISON
LIFE.

The Overland Phoenix gives the following parti-
culars respecting the ex-King of Oude and some of
his companions during the imprisonment; their
release was noticed in the last Indian Mail.

" The ex-King, up to the moment of his release,
was unaware that his imprisonment was so soon to
end. His liberation was announced to him by
Colonel Cavenagh and Major Herbert, and he re-
ceived the announcement testifying great but dig-
nified satisfaction. He had invariably been treated
by these officers with the courtesy and considera-
tion, and was always willing to communicate freely
with them, and often sought their advice, which,
as freely rendered, has more than once baffled
attempts made on his purse. The ex-King's
meals were always brought to him from Garden
Reach, and his dinner had reached on Saturday
evening at the time it was intimated to him
that his imprisonment had terminated. His ex-
Majesty ordered the viands to be taken back to
Garden Reach, whither he intended immediately
proceeding—but, before he got into the carriage,
prayer time had come round, and he would not
leave until he had gone through his rather lengthy
devotions. These finished, he drove off in an open
carriage, accompanied by Major Herbert.
"The ex-King's life during his two years' impri-
sonment, has been such as to induce the belief that
if left to himself he would for an Asiatic prince be
of very irreproachable character. He has been ab-
stemious in the extreme, and has denied himself
many pleasures which even the rules which regu-
lated his imprisonmentwould have permitted. His
time was mostly spent in the composition of verses,
in portrait painting, and in writing letters to his
numerous begums, both in Oude and at Garden
Reach, to whom he generally sent presents of
jewellery and of money. His attitude or pose
during verse-writing hours was a curious one, his
ex-Majesty on such occasions being stretched out
like a large turtle taking a swim on the top of a bed
piled with cushions, at one end of which was a
writing desk ! Like other great men, he was fond
of toys; and spent much money on them, nothing
apparently giving him more pleasure than to sit
and watch the circular movements of automatic
toys set in motion by himself. He was particularly
jealous of being intruded on, and comported him-
self like a king in that respect. The orders of Col.
Cavenagh were, however, very rigid on this par-
ticular point, and none, no matter what their rank,
were allowed to enter the ex-King's chambers, or in
any other way to incommode him. He will have
to confess that if the English did imprison him,
that during his imprisonment he was treated in
every respect as became his rank.
" Ally Nucky Khan was less comfortably situated.
He was liable to be visited by the officers on duty
and by others ; but of the presence of any the ex-
vizier took little notice. He was always reserved,
if not silent, and apparently cast down in spirit,
his whole time being devoted to reading the Koran.
" All the prisoners left for Garden Reach about
half-past five o'clock, and might at that hour have
been proceeding thither in an open barouche and
five or six hired garis.
" In all probability Saturday night was a jolly
one at Garden Reach,