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

THE STN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SrPTEMTIER 9, 1859.

whose deputed mission it was to free the con-
stituencies from the bribes, and the country from the
rule, of the corrupt Conservatives. But very uncom-
fortable does he look now, though seated in the
sofest of easy-chairs, and those who look on begin
to understand why he should be so eager a cham-
pion of the borough freemen, those being notoriously
the class of all others most accessible to bribes.
Wakefield is one of the borough created by the Re-
form Bill of 1832, and Mr. LEATHAM is a political
puritan of the most advanced' school—a relative
and chosen lieutenant of Mr. BRIGHT'S ; yet what
do we find proved of this reform borough and reform
champion ? The evidence adduced before the commit-
tee clearly established the prevalence of the most dis-
graceful corruption on the part of the Liberal mem-
ber, the tariff of bribery ranging from LlO to £3O for a
vote, according to the hour of the day and the aspect
of the poll. And the committee found and declared
' That it was proved to them that THOMAS BEAU-
MONT has been bribed by the payment of £lO ; that
JOHN JACKSON has been bribed by the payment of
£3O ; that JOHN COUSINS has been bribed by the
payment of £25; and the GEORGE SENIOR has
been bribed by the payment of £3O; And their
unanimous decision is, That WILLIAM HENRY
LEATHAM was by his agents guilty of
bribery at the last election for the borough of
Wakefield ;' that therefore he is not duly elected
to serve in the present Parliament ; and that
the last election for the said borough is a void
election."

So much for W. H. So much—as we have
seen—for E. A. Yet it is absolutely for the cele-
bration of the triumph of Mr. E. A. LEATHAM, and
for the celebration of that triumph in the name of
purity of election, that three thousand people
assembled last evening to hear Mr. BRIGHT pro.
pose that remarkable resolution at Huddersfield.
After this, it would be preposterous to say that
there is any exaggeration whatever, of over-
colouring, or caricature, either in Boz's Eatanswill
or in ToM TAYLOR'S Flamborough.

The Strike and the Lock-out, the Central Associ-
ation of Master Builders, and the Anti-Strike
Committee, are all in full play at this moment ; but
the position of matters is somewhat altered. The
trades' unions who have combined and centralised
their action through the Conference are labouring
very energetically, and enlisting the aid of artisans'
unions all over the country. Two of their leaders,
Messrs. POTTER and GRAY, were absent on a finan-
cial tour at Glasgow when the last meeting of dele-
gates was held ; but a bricklayer, of the name of
NOBLE, supplied the eloquence and political
economy requisite to elicit cheers and guide the
judgment of those assembled. His strongest point
seemed to be, that, even if the great merchants of
the City did render aid to the builders, yet that
many of them would have to go into the Gazette ;
and his auditors seem to have been intelligent
enough to believe that, if masters were ruined, men
would be likely to find more work ! It was de-
clared that the men were " firmer now than on the
day when the strike and lock-out began ;" that the
3s. dividend (for a fortnight) had given the greatest
satisfaction ; and if they could but get a sum like
that added to the contributions of the unions, they
could hold out ten weeks longer. Such, according
to their leading speakers, is the position of the
union now. They will be able to fight on till the
short days and winter lessen employment from na-
tural causes, it they can but get is. 6d. per week
from contributions ; the success of the strike de-
pends, therefore, upon ls. 6d. per week.
But there will be, after next Monday, a new trial
for the men. The masters will then open their yards
to all who will accept the declaration, and a large
number of the non-unionists have avowed that in
the declaration itself they see nothing objectionable.
We think them, as we have already stated, in the
main, perfectly right. The declaration is simply a
declaration of perfect liberty for both master and
man. It releases the former from the necessity of
regulating his proceedings by the dictates of a mas-
ter outside his yard; it releases the man from the
tyranny of a Union which, in the majority of cases,
he blindly obeys, and would much rather not obey.
Whether any considerable number will make the
required declaration remains to be seen. The non-
society men are now suffering heavy losses and trials
for the sins of the society men ; but even they, too,
do not like the printed declaration with number and
counterfoil. They wish to make it a " shop rule"
between the foreman and the man, when the fore-
man engages the latter, and they think this will be
sufficient. It is repugnant to the feelings of that
better class of men which sees through and hates
the tyranny of the Unions, to have, as it were, a
sort of master's special badge affixed to them. The
masters, however, think that by conceding this,
they would place the foremen in a position incom-
patible with the discharge of their duties between
master and man. At present, therefore, the masters
have changed nothing, and receded from nothing.
Declaration, number, counterfoil—all—are to be the
test next Monday.
Is this wise ? We have repeatedly acknow-
ledged that the unionists drove the masters into an
assertion of freedom for themselves and their men,
as the basis of recommencing business. In this we
think the masters were fully justified. Men
under the orders of an organisation exterior to the
master's yard could not offer to their master their
unrestricted abilities ; and masters would have to
consider, not the capacities and interests of the men
merely, but the arbitrary whims and caprices of
ignorant and conceited secretaries and committees
of unions. The authority of these despots must
anyhow be crushed. No respectable man would
employ his capital under such enslaving conditions.
But it is quite another thing to insist on a mode of
doing, what at best is unpleasant, in the most un-
pleasant manner. We admit the -value of decision
in a mutiny, but in a dispute between free men and
free masters conciliation has its advantages. Even
the _natural pride—self-respect, we should rather
say—of both parties, of men as well as of masters,
ought to be consulted. It ought hardly to be ex-
pected that the masters should give way in
nothing. Some graceful concession simultaneously
with opening their yards, strikes us as most desir-
able; and if not too late, we should even now urge
it on the attention of the masters.
It should be surely their object to place them-
selves in the fairest position, both with the non-
society men and the public—we may add, with
the thousands who groan under the tyranny
of the unions—next Monday. By a vote of
the Anti-Strike Committee on Wednesday it
was agreed to suggest the renunciation of the
nine hours' movement on the part of the men, and
of the declaration on the part of the masters, since
neither had been approved by the public. We
cannot think this would be sufficient to satisfy the
masters. They have put their finger, now, on the
cause of the evil—the unwarrantable interference
of Benefit Unions with trade ; and that evil they
are wisely determined, so far as they are concerned,
to annihilate. It seems to us that masters should
say to men—" On one point we are determined, we
will not employ a man who takes his orders re-
specting the mode of doing his work, the number
of arprentices, or the kind of men we shall employ;
the wages he shall accept, or refuse ; or anything
relating to work and its remuneration, from any

body of men whatsoever. Show us any way most
pleasant to yourselves which shall attain these
objects, and we shall be happy to adopt it* We
will have none but perfectly free agents in our
employ, and we have no wish to make men free by
what seems to them like a badge of slavery ; let the
men devise their own certificate of freedom, only
let it be a sufficient one."

Would not such a tone as this have been more
attractive ? Would it not have placed the wrong-
heads more obviously in the wrong ? And could
it have been difficult to alter the form of the
declaration into one, not exacted from the man
by the master, but offered by the man to
the master, just as he would offer a certificate
of character ? A master might as reasonably re-
quire evidence that the man is a free-man as that
he is sober, reliable, and skilful. It is notorious
that some persons of standing, members of Parlia-
ment amongst them, have censured the declaration.
But what have they censured ? It cannot be, that
each master and man shall be perfectly free in their
dealings with each other—it cannot be the sub-
stance of the declaration—it must have struck them,
as it strikes most of us, that no Englishman would
like to be " numbered and ticketed" as it is com-
plained is done by the present declaration. It re-
minds us all of tickets-of-leave; and we don't like
it. The comparison may be very unjust. Nothing
of the kind may be intended ; but, if so, why shrink
from removing the appearance of evil ? It is un-
worthy of those who insist on the substance to be
pertinacious also about the form. We do not think
the masters will do either themselves or the non-
society men justice if they do not modify their
plan before next Monday. We can indeed see no
reason whatever why a simple statement on the
part of the latter, that they have been, and are now
non-society men should not be sufficient. Those
who have never committed an offence do not like
to be asked for a promise that they never will.

THE GREAT EASTERN.

(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)

WHITSTABLE, SEPT. 9.
The Great Eastern got under way at 9.15 a.m.
Wind fresh.

MARGATE, FRIDAY, 11 A.m.
The Great Eastern is steaming grandly past
Margate. Distance eight miles from shore.

NORE LIGHT, THURSDAY, SEPT. 8.

After her first short run the Great Eastern re-
mained at her anchor off Purfleet for the rest of
the night, and slowly resumed her progress down
the river at a quarter to 9 o'clock this morning.
Her stoppage at Purfleet was a sad disappoint-
ment to many thousands who had been collecting
at Gravesend all day in the firm belief that she
could or would stop nowhere else. Her slight
detention at Blackwall Point, however, prevented
this, and it became absolutely necessary from the
state of the tide to bring up at once at Long Reach.
The distinguished arrival threw Purfleet into a
state of uncommon excitement. Every one within
moderate reach of it by road or rail hurried to the
little village till it was thronged to the water's
edge. Gravesend, also, seemed most unwilling to
yield up its share in the great occasion without an
effort, and before long crowded boats steered round
and round the ship, the passengers cheering them-
selves till they were hoarse again, while the bands
played " See the Conquering Hero comes," " Rule
Britannia," and all sort of musical welcomes. For
the rest of the evening there was a constant repeti-
tion of such visits. Not a vessel passed that did
not turn up hands to cheer, while many, as they
came down the river, dressed in flags from stem to
stem. It was not until night had fallen that the
Great Ship was fairly left alone, and began swing-
ing round to her anchor with the rising tide. The
night was a little puffy, and seemed inclined to
become more so, but the wind fell as the moon rose,
and the weather eventually settled down into a ,
dead calm. It took upwards of an hour for the
tide to turn the ship fully round, and at low water,
as she lay across the river for a short time in turn-
' 0, ir she might almost be said to have stopped
-
the navigation with her colossal bulk. During the
night she swung twice again, and by daylight was
lying with her head fair for the resumption of her
course down the river. It seems almost incredible
that a ship of such a size could have swung in any
part of the Thames, but only nautical men can ap-
preciate the fact of her doing so in a strong tide way
with a single 6-ton anchor, which was crossed and
recrossed no less than three times without the chain
fouling it or the anchor being disturbed in its hold.
At about half-past 8 this morning the vessel was
again underway. The Marquis of Stafford had
joined during the night, having travelled all the
wav from Scotland to witness the Great Ship's first
efforts. Lord Alfred Paget also came on board be-
fore starting. One turn a little below Long Reach
required to be carefully rounded, but with the depth
of the water and greater breadth of the river this
pwa-asssianco.coimt,palilsiltitelde whriitgh,cwomhipeahrawtiaxa-ecieuaistee.
aJaufestwaifiteenr
she was sailing uo, appeared frightened at the sight
and, altering
rherea t
Eastern,cours n
course, stooda
and
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ac path of the G
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air
their cheers, and the river was covered with boats
of every shape and size crowded with people, all
with
shoutipg or waving hats and handkerchiefs. There
was something almost affecting in the spontaneous
enthusiasm and delight with which all seemed to
hail the release of the noble ship from her long
thraldom in the river. No matter whether it was a
Hamburgh or Rotterdam steamer with half
foreigners on board, or a fishing smack with a
couple of men in the bows, none seemed too high or
too low to do her honour, and her voyage down the
river was one continued scene of vociferous welcome.
Off Gravesend and in front of the thronging piers
and terraces were several large troopships with de-
tachments on board for India. The crews were in
the shrouds of these ; the soldiers, grouped in pic-
turesque masses, stood on deck. From all, the Great
Ship got a welcome which was worth a long journey
to see, and which, triumphant as may be her recep-
tion in the States, is never likely to be surpassed,
nor often equalled. With the parting cheers still
floating across the Niter Gravesend was left be-
hind, and the two tugs ahead began to go at greater
speed as the Lower Hope was passed. Soon the
water began to change its tint from dirty black to
muddy green, the cool air came fresher across the
reaches, and those on board rejoiced at last at the
long wished-for approach of sea water. The tran-
sition was marked in the usual disagreeable manner
by the boilers " priming," as it is termed, and
throwing showers of muddy water from the steam
pipes over all the deck. This unpleasant inaugura-
tion, however, was soon over as sea water was
fairly gained, and preparations were made for cast-
ing off the tugs and leaving the Great Eastern for
once and for all upon her own resources.
The change, as may 132 readily imagined, made
no difference, the wanderer thus cast adrift being
better able to take care of herself than any vessel
that has ever yet floated or the world seen. Still,
as the event marked the commencement of what
we believe will be a long and triumphant career,
and one which will inaugurate a new era in ocean
steam ships and ocean navigation, it deserved to be
marked. The tugs were cast off at the Chapman's
Head, at the top of Sea Reach, the passengers with
the ship's band being assembled aft and the crew
forward. :The National Anthem was played as the
smoky auxt!taries left her head to her own control
—the passengers cheering from one end of the ves.
easvwci
noamgr mppeleidrmfioenln.tnito.etdhrrethhsuehsirrotuandie. ids
arduous
fuoogur.
ss-
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were
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duty under the most difficult circumstance in a way
that commanded the admiration of the most expe•
rienced pilots on board. As soon as the vessel was
left to herself an increased amount of speed was
got on her. This was done, not in the least with
a view of testing her power, but literally only
to give her good steerage way and move her
engines easily. Throughout the whole course
down the river the paddle engines had never
been moved at. a greater speed than from four
to six revolutions per minute, and the screw at
from twelve to eighteen. In fact, neither engine
was moved till it became actually necessary to
assist the tugs. Yesterday, however, when our
valuable little aids, which had realised the fable of
the Mouse and the Lion, and freed the Great
Eastern from all her river toils, were cast adrift at
Chapman's-Head, more speed was put upon the
vessel, and in 10 minutes she set at rest for ever all
doubt as to her being the fastest vessel beyond
comparison in the world. It has already been
stated that the proper sea-going trim of the Great
Eastern is a little over four feet down by the stern.
Instead of this she is at present six inches down by

the head, while_her whole draught of water is too
light to allow the proper immersion to her paddle
floats, and no less than four feet of her screw-blades
are out of the water.

Anyone at all acquainted with steamships Will
see that an attempt at real speed under such cir-
cumstances was out of the question. Yet even in
this trim enough was done to show the marvellous
power which this vessel will possess when fully
ready for sea. At sea the Great Eastern is intended
to work at 251 b. of steam, the paddles going 14
revolutions and the screw 53. To-day the pressure
of steam was under 171 b., the paddles never actu-
ally reached nine revolutions, and the screw only
27. Yet even when not employing two-thirds of
her power, and in the worst trim against a strong
tide, she ran from the Lower Hope point to the
Nore lightship, a distance of 15 statute miles, in
two minutes under the hour. Calculating from
this data, it will be found that working to her
ordinary sea-going power will give her, even in her
present trim, an average of from 18 to 19 miles an
hour. During the time that the vessel was going
at this speed of 13 knots, or 15 miles, the engines
worked with an ease that, when their size and
power are considered, was perfectly astounding.
So still was the ship on deck while going at this
speed, that a pail of water that stood on one of the
paddle-boxes did not show the slightest symptoms
of vibration ; and, as far as could be gathered from
outward objects, one might much easier have
imagined one's-self writing in a Parisian salon than
in the state cabin of the Great Eastern flying down
to the Nore. -One thing connected with the vessel
is as remarkable as her other characteristics. Even
when going 13 knots an hour there was ail utter
absence of " swell" in her wake—even less, as far
as could be judged from the deck, than is made by
the ordinary penny steamers, and not one-half as
much as was thrown up by our own tugs.
The Nore light was reached at half-past twelve
o'clock to-day, and the anchor let go in 8 fathoms,
with 45 fathoms from the hawse-hole. Before an-
choring the vessel was put about, and went com-
pletely round under steam in less than three-quar-
ters of a mile. In a few minutes afterwards Ad-
miral Harvey came alongside in his yacht, dipping
his ensign as he approached, as every single vessel,
man of war or merchantman, which has yet met
the Great Eastern, has hitherto done. In an hour
afterwards the ship was surrounded by yachts and
sailing boats of all kinds. During the run down
from Gravesend the fixing of Mr. Langley's steer-
ing apparatus was completed, and worked to per-
fection. Captain Comstock was, on the previous
day, at his post on the bridge, directing the steer-
ing by the signal indicator. Captain Harrison and
the pilot were on the starboard paddlebox, and Mr.
Scott Russell directed the engines. Mr. Campbell,
the indefatigable managing director, as usual, was
everywhere. Among the passengers who started
with the vessel were Mr. Fen, jun., Mr. H.
Ingram, M.P., Sir It. W. Carden, Mr. Appold, Mr,
Oakford, Mr. Hotbs, Mr. Ayrton, M.P., Mr.
Smith (the originator of the screw propeller), Mr.
John Dillon, Sir John Burke, and two of the ablest
of the company's officers—Mr. Leverson, the soli-
citor, and Mr. John Yates, the secretary.
It is arranged that the Great Eastern is to leave
her present moorings at seven o'clock to-morrow
and steam away easily to sea. It is probable, if
the weather permits, that she may swing at the
Forehead to adjust compasses, but Mr. Gray has
already effected so much towards rectifying their
slight deviation that it is scarcely necessary for the
run round to Portland. As matters are arranged
at present, it is expected that the Great Eastern
will enter Portland harbour between seven and
eight o'clock on Saturday morning.

NAVAL PREPARATIONS 1N FRANCE.

The. Paris correspondent of the Independance
Beige says, that the French government have re-
solved to construct twenty casemated vessels instead
of ten, as was at first contemplated. Of the first
order for ten vessels six have been completed. Al-
though the sheeting of these war vessels is not less
than ten centimetres in thickness, they are on the
whole very light. The government, being appre-
hensive that the Imperial Foundries could not sup-
ply the whole of these vessels, have given an order
to the proprietors of the Creusot foundries for `the
manufacture of some. Fifty large steam transports,
each capable of containing 3,000 men, will be
finished in a short time. Preparations for defence
are being made along the whole coast. Besides the
casemated batteries, of which the Neuvelliste of
Rouen has recently spoken, the forts on the Medi-
terranean and the ocean, which have been aban-
doned for a long time past, are being rearmed.
The forts of St. Malo are also taking in new ord-
nance.