The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-13 00:00:00

LAW AND POLICE.

DEFAMING CHAnACTEIL—At the Gloucester Assizes an
action was brought by Mr. Powell, a commercial traveller,
against Mr. Hawkes, who manages an extensive malt
business. It seemed that during the last Cheltenham
election party ran high, and the defendant circulated
some bills about the town stating that the plaintiff and
another person named Atkinson had been convicted at New-
castle of riding in a first-class carriage whereas they
had only paid for a second class, and had been fined for the
offence. A number of these bills bad been circulated in
Cheltenham, and half a dozen actionshad been brought by
the plaintiff against parties who had published the libel,
but the other defendants had compromised by paying the
costs. The defendant, it was alleged, had circulated a
number of these bills after the plaintiff had contradicted
the charges in them. The jury awarded £3O damages.

CHARGE OP ATTEMPTING TO POISON A FAMILY AT
EXETER.—Wm. John Hoare, a respectably-connected lad,
11 years of age, was charged with attempting to poison
Mr. NIT. Gilbert, of the Homoeopathic Hospital in that
city. It appeared from the evidence of Mr. Gilbert, cor-
roborated by other persons, that the accused was under
notice to leave. On the family taking breakfast on Tues-
day morning they discovered that something was the
matter with the tea—it tasted sharp and pungent, and
was very nauseous. Mr. Gilbert examined the water in
the kettle, and found it the same as that in the teapot—it
was of a yellowish colour. He then tested it with lime-
water, and discovered the presence of oxalic acid. In a
wine glass of the water there were six or seven grains of
the acid. A little girl, Mary Harding, had made the tea
with the water from an iron kettle in the kitchen. It was
shewn that the prisoner had access to this kettle during
the absence of the girl from the kitchen, and that in his
care in the " snuggery " room was placed a bottle of oxalic
acid for cleaning the brasses of the shop. The bottle was
labelled "Poison ;" the liquid which it contained was suffi4
cient to poison six or seven persons. The kettle had been
filled by the girl from the tap in the scullery, but the tap
water on examination proved to be perfectly wholesome.
Mr. Superintendent Steel applied for a remand, in order
that the water might be analysed by Mr. Herepath, of
Bristol. The magistrate accordingly granted a remand.
CONVICTION OF SHEFFIELD TRADES UNIONISTS. —At
the Leeds Assizes, John Sheridan, Isaac Morton alias
Hall, Henry Hinchcliffe, Edward Beebe, James Butler,
Alfred Staley, Joseph Armstrong, and Daniel Sanderson
were indicted for unlawfully conspiring to injure James
Powell in his trade of a mason and builder, by molesting,
obstructing, and using threats and intimidation to such
workmen as might be willing to be hired and employed by
the said James Powell ; and also prejudicing, injuring,
and oppressing the said James Powell in his said trade,
and preventing certain workmen of the said James
Powell from continuing to work for him, at Sheffield,
on the 15th April and on other dates. The
prosecutor was a mason, and carried on his business
in a manner that does not seem to have gained
the approval of his men, who struck and left.
Some "free labour" men 'were had from London, and
worked for Mr. Poovell. A few days after their arrival
the defendants met the men and said that Powell's was a
" black " job, and they ought not to work there, and after-
wards a bill was posted telling the masons not to work at
the prosecutor's. The evidence pointed clearly to Hinch.
cliff e, Armitage, and Sanderson, who were found guilty,
and the remainder of the prisoners were acquitted.

ACTION AGAINST A RAILWAY COMPANY.-At the same
assizes the jury awarded £5O in the case of Brearly v. the
Great Northern Railway Company. The plaintiff, a plate.
layer, sought compensation for having been run over at
the end of a tunnel near the Bradford Station of the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire Railway Company, on the 15th of
January.

MuRPHT's LECTURES.-Eight young lads, named
William Mansfield, David Greenwood, George Bunting,
Levi Bennett, Nathaniel Taylor, Thomas Lever, George
Howarth, and Thomas Hatton, were indicted for,
together with other persons, riotously, " routously,"
and tumultuously assembling, to the disturbance of the
public peace ; for beginning to demolish and destroy St.
Mary's Roman Catholic Chapel ; for breaking and enter-
ing the said chapel, and stealing one crucifix and other
fixtures and ornaments, the property of one Robert
Hilton ; and for wilfully committing damage in the
said chapel to the amount of £5O. This was another
case arising out of Murphy's lectures. Five hundred
persons assembled on the Dunkinfield, and rushed into the
Roman Catholic chapel, mutilated an image of the Virgin
Mary, and committed other excesses. The jury after
hearing the evidence returned a verdict of not guilty.
THE MURDER BY A SOLDIER.-At the Gloucester
Assizes, John Maskell, a private of the 3rd Buffs, was
indicted for the wilful murder of Robert Synon,
at Horfield. On the day in question the accused
complained to his officer about being overcharged for a
letter. Soon after several shots were heard, and were,
found to have been fired by the prisoner. The people in the
barrack square ran out, and the deceased, with Priva' e
Lewis, was retreating to some steps opposite the sergeant's
mess, when the latter fell, and the next momcn',
just as Synon had passed him and was going up the steps,
another sha was fired, and Synon fell dead. The prisoner
was seized and put into confinement, The jury, after
hearing evidence of the friendship that existed between
the deceased and the accused, convicted the latter of man.
slaughter, and ho WM orclorod to in kept in poual otryiludo
_ -
Ca taxon.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

WOLVERHAMPTON RACES-WEDNESDAY.

The CHILLINGTON STAKES of 10 sous each, h ft, with
100 added, for two-year-olds ; colts, Bst 101 b ; fillies and
geldings, Bst 71b ; winners once in the present year 31b,
twice 51b extra ; maidens having started three times al-
lowed 31b ; the second to save his stake ; T.Y.C.
(straight half mile) ; 26 subs.
Mr Lincoln's Melody, by Macaroni—Nightingale, Bst
121 b (inc 51b extra). (Kenyon) 1
Mr neene's Luna, Bst 41b
Mr Goodwin's Perfume, Bst 121 b (inc 51b ex)...(Lynch) 3

The following also ran :—Tint Bobbin and Abyssinia.

Betting-65 to 40 on Melody, 9 to 4 agst Perfume, 10 to
1 agst Luna, 100 to 8 " bar three." Won cleverly by half
a length. _ _ _

Borough Members' Plato of 60 sovs, added to a Handi-
cap of 7 sovs each, 4 ft; winners of any race after July
23 71b, of two or more 101 b extra; straight half mile ;
10 subs.

Mr Wright's Venturer, by Acrobat—Varna, b yrs, Bst 91b
(Peppier) 1
Mr Wright's 13ouquetiere, 3 yrs, 7st 131 b (inc 71b ox)
cClement) 2
Mr Barber's Susan, 4 yrs, Est 111 b ((sradwell) 3
Lady of Croome also ran.
Betting— 5 to 4 on Venturer, 7 to 4 agst Lady of Croome,
7to 1 "bar two." Won in a canter by three lengths.
The Stamford Biennial Stakes of 10 sous each, h ft, with
100 added, for three year olds ; colts Bst 101 b, fillies and
geldings Bst 71b; the winner of this stake in 1867 blb
extra ; maiden three year olds allowed 71b, untried 31b ;
the second to save his stake; one mile and a half; 51

subs.
Mr Hodgman's Vex, by Vedette —Flying Duchess, 3 yrs,
Bst 71b
Mr Naylor's Lady Higbthorn, 3 yrs, Bst 71b (T. Chaloner) 2
Mr Ston's Ottoman, 3 yrs, Bst 71b (Kenyon) 3
Mr Barber's William, 3 yrs, Bst 31b (Payne) 4

Betting—Even on Lady Highthorn, 5 to 4 agst Vex, 6
to 1 "bar two." Won by a length.

The Holyoake Stakes (Handicap) of 5 soya each, with 50
added; winners of any handicap value 100 soya after
August 7, at 10 a.m., 71b., any two such handicaps or
_ _

one of 500 101 b extra ; the second to save his stake ;
once round (about a mile and a quarter) ; 10 subs.
Mr R. C. Naylor's Wild Briar, by Stockwell—Summer-
side, 5 yrs, 7st 101 b (Parry) 1
Mr Lincoln's Barnabo, 5 yrs, 7st 61b (Kenyon) 2
Mr Beverley's The Returned, 3 yrs, 6st 101 b (Fox) 3
East Lancashire and Abbotsford also ran.

Betting-6 to 5 agst East Lancashire, 7to 2 agst Wild
Briar, 4 to 1 agst Barnabo, 5 to 1 agst The Returned.
Won by a neck.
The Wrottesley Stakes of 5 sovs each, with 50 added ; two
year olds 7st 81b, three 9st, four 9st 91b, five and upwards

9st 121 b ; straight half mile.
Mr Webb's Alberta, by King Tom—Princess, 5 yrs
(.£3O), Bst 21b (l'ay ue) 1
Mr W. F. Copeland's St. Valentine, 3 yrs (£3O), 7st 51b
(Kenyon) 2
Mr R. C. Naylor's Caroline, 2 yrs (£3O), 6st (S. Darling) 3
Mr Beverley's Abyssinia, 2 yrs (£100), 7st 51b (Peppier) 0
Betting-6 to 4on Alberta, 2to 1 agst St. Valentine, 10
to 1 " bar two." Won by half a length.
The Cleveland Cup of 100 sovs ; three year olds 7st 71b,
four Bst 101 b, five 9st 31b, six and aged 9st 71b ; mares

allowed 41b, geldings allowed 71b; winners extra. &c. ;
once round (about one mile and a quarter). 8 subs.
Mr R. Osborne's King's Cross, by St. Albans—Eleanor,
4 vrs, Bst 101 b
Mr Bryan's Runic, 3 yrs, 6st 91b (car. 6st 111b)(Kenyon) 2
Mr Hartley's c, by King Tom, dam Princess, 3 yrs, 7st
(Vinell) 3
Betting-5 to 2on King's Cross. Won easily by two
lengths.
- - - - -

The Shaksporo Stakes (Handicap) of 3 sovs each, with 25
added, for all ages ; three-quarters of a mile.
Mr Stone's Ambition, by Brother to Bird on the Wing—
La Belle Alice, 5 yrs, Bst 71b (Kenyon) 1
Mr Wadlow's Gordian Knot, aged, Bst 21b ...(Chalouer) 2
Mr Clayton's Slanderer, 3 yrs, 6st 71b (Fox) 3
limiter also ran.
Betting-5 to 4 agst Gordian Knot-6 to 4 agst Ambi-
tion, 4to 1 agst Slanderer. Won by a length.

BROMLEY SUMMER MEETING-WEDNESDAY.

The Rail way Plate (Handicap) of 30 sovs ; the winner to

be ;old for 30 sove. About five furlongs.

Mr E. W. Taylor's Volhynia, by Voivode—Knuston's
dam, 5 yrs, Bst 41b (H. Jackson) 1
Mr F. Master's Wcatherbreaker, 3 yrs, 7st (Hardy) 2
Mr Rover's Lady Fly, 3 yrs, fist 61b (Tenfold) 3
Lady Ward and Joyful also ran.
Betting-6 to son Lady Fly, 2to 1 agst Volhynia, 100
to 8 bar two. Won by four lengths.

The Bromley Summer Handicap of 5 sous each, 2 ft (to
the fund), with 50 added; winners of a handicap after
Aug. 5, at 6 p.m., 71b extra. Nearly one mile and a

half.
Air H. Temple's Lionel, by Knight of Gwynne—sister to
The Nob, 3 yrs, 7st
Mr Lapidist's Vampire ch b), 5 yrs, :!st 121 b (Holt) 2
Mr E. Uayer's Isabella, o yrs, 7st 101 b (Penfold) 3

The following also ran :—Crosslanes c, Lord Paramount,
Triana, and Arkadi.
Betting-6 to 4 agst Lionel, sto 1 agst Triana, 100 to
13 each agst Isabella and Arkadi, and 7 to 1 agst Vampire•
Arkadi made play, followed by Lionel, Lcrd Paramount,
and Vampire, Triana next, and the Crosslanes colt, evi-
dently outpaced, bringing up the rear. No material change
occurred till passing the stand, when Lionel assumed the
command, the rest lying in a cluster, with the exception
of the Crosslanes colt, who was still last. On reaching the
far side Vampire joined the two leaders, Lionel and Arkadi,
Triana being c 105,3 up, and on entering upon the planta-
tion beforo tho distance Vampire took up the running,
having in close attendance Lionel, Arkadi, and Triaua ;
but, at the distance, Smith gave Lionel his head, when
he came away, ani won easily by a length and a half, a
length intervening between the second and third ; Arkadi
was fourth, Triana fifth, and Crosslanes colt last through-
out.

A Welter Stakes of 3 sovs each, with 20 added ; for three-
year-olds and upwards ; weight for age ; penalties and
allowances; gentlemen riders allowed 51b. One mile

and a distance.
Mr H. Temple's Fitz-Ivan, by Ivan—Diana, 4 yrs, list
7113 (C. Smith) 1
Mr A. Deacon's Peninsula, 3 yrs, 9st 111 b (Deacon) 2
Mr Hot atio's Harold, 5 yrs, lOst 61b .(Halley) 3
Mr Robinson's Lady Ward, 3 yrs, lOst 41b (J. Potter) 4

Betting-2 to lon Fitz-Ivan, 3to 1 ag-t Peninsula, 6to
1 each agst Lady Ward and Harold. Won in the com-
monest of canters by ten lengths.
The Bickley Stakes of 5 sovs each, 1 ft (to the fund),
with 30 added; winners after August 5, at 6 p.m., 71h ;
the winner to be sold for 50 sovs. About six furlongs.
15 subs.
Mr Taylor's Volbynia, 5 yrs, 9st (including 71b extra)
(11. Jackson) 1
Mr W. Rover's Inheritance, 3 yrs, 7st (Penfoln) 2
Mr J. Lowe's Charivari, 3 yrs, 7st (Killick) 3
Torn Coke and Lady Skeynes also ran.

Betting—Even on Charivari, 3 to 1 agst luheritauco,
to 1 each agst Volbynia and Tom Coke. Won by two
lengths.

The winner was sold for 106 guineas to Mr 11. Temple,
and Lady Skeynes was purchased for 19 guineas by Mr
W. Johnson.

The Stand Plate of 40 sous ; winners extra. About six
furlongs.
. _

Mr H. Temple's Fitz-Ivan, 4 yrs, 9st 51b (inc. 51b ex.)
(C. Smith) 1
Mr Bcadman's Barcelona, 2 yrs, 6st 41b (J. Clark) 2
Mr Rover's Lady Fly, 3 yrs, 6st 41b (Barker) 3
The following also ran:—Arkadi, Queen Ebba, Jennie,
and Flash.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Fitz-Ivan, 2to 1 agst Barcelona, 7
to 1 agst Arkadi, Bto 1 bar two. Won by a length and a
half.

A Selling Stakes of 3 sous each, with 20 added, for all
ages ; weight for age ; selling and other allowances.

About half a mile.
Mr Nightingall's Skimble Scamble, by Joskin—Peahen
2 yrs, (-CA), 6st 131 b (Wyatt) 1
Mr A. Deacon's Peninsula, 3 yrs (£5O), Bst 111 b

(Deacon) 2
Mr Knight's Joyful, 2 yrs (V 0), 6st 131 b (Ponfold) 3

La-Ros'e als-O ran.

Betting—Even on Skimble Bearable, 3 to 1 agst Joyful,
4to 1 agst Peninsula. Won by two lengths.

STOCKTON MEETING• -WEDNESDAY.

The Trial Stakes of 5 sous each, with 30 added ; weight

for age ; winner to be sold for 200 sous ; penalties and
allowances. One mile.
Mr Dawson's Waffles, by Ellington—Olive Branch, 2
yrs, Est llib (Hudson) 1
Mr T. V. Morgan's Lord Bothwell, 2 yrs, Est (Wilson) 2
Mr W. Nicholl's Rabbit Trap, 4 yrs, Bst 91b (French) 3

Betting—Even on Waffles, 6to 4 agst Bothwell. Won
by a length and a half.
The Cleveland Stakes of 5 soya each, with 80 added, for
two year olds; colts Bst 101 b, fillies and geldings Bst 71b,
penalties and allowances; second received 20 soya,

T.Y.C. 33 subs.
Mr Johnstone's Thorwaldsen, by Thormanby—Lady
Ripon, Bst 101 b .. (J. Osborne) 1
Mr T. V. Morgan's Dryad, Bst 41b (Snowden) 2
Mr F. Gordon's Sunshade, Bst 41b (Cameron) 3
- - - -

The following also ran : —English Rose colt, Little
Duke, Fitzwilliam, and Jeanie Deans.

Betting-7 to 4on Thorwaldsen, 4to 1 agst Dryad, 100
to 15 agst Fitzwilliam, and 10 to 1 agst any other. Won
cleverly by a neck.
The Town Plate of 50 sovs ; winners extra. Half a mile.
Mr J. Osborne's Jenny Mills, by the Marquis—Sadie, 3
yrs, 6st 71b (Platt) 1
Mr G Silverside's Progress, 3 yrs, 6st (M‘Ewen) 2
Mr Johnstone's Holstein, 6yrs, Est 121 b (Cameron) 3

The following also ran :—Attache, Flying Jib, Thank
ful, and Masterman.

Betting-6 to son Masterman, 4to 1 agst Flying Jib,
5 to 1 agst Thankful, 6 to 1 agst Attache, 100 to 15 agst
Progress, Bto 1 agst Holstein. Won by a neck.
Tho Stockton Tradesmen's Handicap of 100 sovs, added
to a Sweepstakes of 20 sovs each, I. ft, and 3 if do, lared,
winners extra ; second received 25 sovs. Two miles.

58 subs, 20 of whom paid 3 sovs each.
Mr Watt's Strathconan, by Newminster—Souvenir, 5
yrs, asst 81b (French) 1
Mr Johustone's The Dean, 4 yrs, Est 121 b ...(Cameron) 2
Captain Gray's Fortunio, 4 yrs, Bst 31b.. (Morris) 3

The following also ran :—llonesty, Tbree per Cent.,
Miss Osborne, Rap, El Cid, Rel Tub, and Lady Zetland.
Betting.-7 to 1 apt Fortunio, I to 1 agst strathconn,

6 to 1 each agst The Dean and Three per Cent., 8 to I
agst Honesty, 100 to 6 agst El Cid. Won by a neck.
The Second Year of the Eleventh Zetland Biennial.
Stakes of 10 soya each, h ft, with 50 added, for three-
yr-o!ds ; colts Bst 101 b; fillies and geldings, Bst 71b;
penalties and allowances; second saved stake. One
mile. 23 subs.

Lord Durham's Apollo, by Thormanby—The Nymph,
Bst 111 b (inc 41b ex) (J. Osborne) w.o.
Mr. C. Percy's Russian Bear saved stakes.
The South Stockton Selling Stakes of 5 sous each, with
40 added ; weight for age ; selling and other allowances.
T.Y.C. 4 subs.

Mr W. Cowen's Sleeping Maggie, by Loiterer—Sala, 2
yrs, (.£3O), Est (11‘1,wen) 1
Mr J. Osborne's Toon, 2 yrs (£3O), Est 61b (W. Platt) 2
Mr Dawson's f by Van Galen—Damsel, 2 yrs (£3O), Est

(Hudson) 3
Mr W. Nicholl's Rabbit Trap, 4 yrs, (£3O), Ost
(Snowden) 4
Betting. - 7 to 4 agst Inon-4 to 1 each agst Sleeping
Maggio and Rabbit Trap. Won by a neck.
The Barry Fowler Stakes of 70 sous., added to a Handi-
cap Sweepstakes of 5 sous each ; winners extra; second

received 15 sovs. T.Y.C. 16 subs.
Mr F. Watson ns Last Rose of Summer, by Newminster
,—English Rose, 3 yrs, Est 12Ib (Cradock) 1
M. A. de Montgomery's La Mousse, 3 yrs, Est 71b
(Hudson) 2
Mr J. P. Craven's Bessio Dixon, 3 yrs, Est 51b...(Lewis) 4
Donaldbain and The Prior also ran.

Betting-5 to 4 agst Last Rose of Summer, sto 2 agst
La Mousse, 4 to 1 each agst Donaldbain and Bessie Dixon,
sto 1 agst The Prior. Won by a length.

YORK AUGUST MEETING.
THURSDAY, Aug. 20.
The Great Ebor Handicap Stakes of 200 sovs., added to
a Sweepstakes of 20 sovs. each, 10 ft., and 5 only if de -
dared on Aug. 4, at noon ; the winner of any handicap
value 100 sovs. after July 29, at ten p.m., 71b; twice, or
of 200, 101 b; thrice, or 500, 141 b extra; the second to
receive 50 sovs. Two miles, over the Old Course, 45
subs. .

Age st lb Age st lb
Strathconan (inc. Mercury ... ... 3 6 9
10lb extra) ... 5 9 4 Fair Wind ... 4 6 6
Mandrake ... 4 8 6 Deceit ... ... 1 6 4
Maid of Masham c. 4 8 0 Lord Palmerston 3 6 4
Three per Cent. ... 5 713 The Spy ... ... 3 6 4
Taraban ... ... 4 7 9 Wildßriar ... ... 5 6 3

Honesty (by Young
Dutchman) ... 5 7 9
Fervacques ... 4 7 5
Tabouret ... 3 7 0
Emigration ... 5 6 11
Ilium ... 3 6 10

Donaldbain 3 6 0
Makeshift c ... 3 5 12
Miss Osborne 3 5 9
Buttercup ... ... 3 5 9
Gulnare ... 4 (pd)
Bandmaster 4 (pd)

RAITENING IN THE PRIMING TRADE.

TO TEM EDITOR OF TILE TIMES.

Sir,—Will you oblige us by inserting the follow-
ing statement of facts as the latest contribution to
the " History of Industrial Organisations?"
About six weeks ago we printed a cheap edition
of a book which made 10! sheets. As usual with
this class of work, it was made up to 11 sheets by
four stereoplates of advertisements, with blank
pages at the back—two pages and two blanks at the
beginning of the book, and a like quantity at the
end. These four stereoplates had been set up and
stereotyped by some other printer, and were sup-
plied to us by the publishers. They comprised a
list of their own books, and we are quite sure no pub-
lisher would pay over again for such pages, nor
should we attempt to charge them. The com-
positors, notwithstanding, wrote their bill for
the 11 sheets ; but on our asking them to
point out anything in the scale of prices for
work agreed to between masters and men to
support their demand, they avowed their ina-
bility to do so, and rewrote the bill for 104
sheets ; and we supposed the matter was done with.
However, two inefficient compositors who had been
on the work, but were discharged on its completion,
reported the case to the secretary of the Com-
positors' Society, and about a month afterwards
this official ordered the compositors to rewrite the
claim for the two stereoplates and two blank pages
at the beginning, but not for those at the end of the
bock. These were not claimed, because they were
" imposed" so as to cut out of the centre of the
sheet. Those at the beginning were so placed as to
form the two first leaves of the sheet. Had these
been " imposed" like the others (and the imposing
them differently was no gain whatever to us, but
simply a matter of convenience to the binder), there
would have been no claim made. The question,
therefore, is made to turn upon composition ; and,
as we paid for imposing the pages, we consider that
we paid every just demand. So indisposed were
the compositors in our office to reopen the case that
for some tiino no one concerned would obey the
secretary's order, but ultimately the claim for
four pages was written, and we simply put our
pen through it, stating that if they thought they
had any case we should be ready to argue it with
them in the County Court. This course was not
pursued, nor did we receive any communication
whatever from the Compositors' Society, but at the
next meeting of the committee it was decided to
withdraw the men from our employment. Directly
we learnt this decision, and before it was officially
made known to our workmen, we waited upon the
principals of three large printing offices, who have
probauly done more of the sort of work than the
whole trade, and the opinion of two of them was
Cie same as our own—that there was not the sha-
dcoomwmoufnaieactladim this eithero at law or in equity. We
our compositors, stating also
that we had arranged with the chairman of the
Association of Master Printers to submit the case
et
at their next meeting. Notwithstanding this, a
tinen—about one-sixth— acting
he secretary, gave us notice last
small
el Ir
onrUcre
ibse rfroomf
Saturday.

Now, here is a case which had been amicably
settled between env' )yer and employed re-opened
hsatrvieken,obtheiclia6 to lose and every-
in in the event of
tbhyintgwotopgenapmlebNyvhoa
a strike, the men who leave their employment im-
mediately go on the funds of the society, and, as
o v r
they s
get
mo re mostly
from
provoked by inefficient
persons,
rom the funds than if they
c o ntr si e are
were at work. Many persons may be disposed to
credit compositors with more than an average
share of intelligence; but we believe the men be-
longing to the Loudon Society of Compositors are
much the same as in other trades—most of the
really good and efficient workmen, even if contri-
buting to the funds, taking no part in its
management. The committee is ordinarily com-
posed of third or fourth rate men, who are
disposed to magnify their office exceedingly.
There is a secretary, who receives 50s.
weekly for his services ; but, like some secre-
taries in larger spheres, we suppose he is too big
a man to do the work, and therefore there is an as-
sistant secretary at 365. weekly. It is obvious that
it is the interest of such persons to foster disputes,
otherwise their occupation would be gone. We
have before us the last annual balance-sheet of this
society, from which it appears that it received in
contributions from its members during 1867 about
£3,650. During the same period it expended in
what is called " defence of the scale," £659 odd,
exclusive of the solicitor's bill of costs, which
amounted to over £B9, paid for rent and taxes £B2
odd, for hire of rooms £22, for " trade and com-
mittee meetings," &c., more than £230, for salaries
£261, besides grants of £3O each to the Derbyshire
miners and London tailors. The society also con-
tributed to its unemployed members nearly £2,600
during the last year. It is evident, there-
fore, that there is a very considerable num-
ber of persons interested in things as they
are. Ordinary people might suppose that a
society which had paid to its unemployed mem-
bers more than two-thirds of its income from
subscriptions would have done all it could to smooth
matters. But the £750 expended in " defence of
the scale" would seem to point a different moral ;
and it is a fact that more than one house was
" closed" to members of the society. The list of
" closed" offices now includes the Times, Morning
Post, Star, Sun, and Globe; Messrs. Eyre and
Spottiawoode (her Majesty's printers) ; Spottis-
woode and Co., Woodfall and Kinder, Letts and
Co., Ford and Fill, Hansard's "Dhates," theVic-
toils Station Printing Works, &c.
If all these houses—some of the largest in the
trade—carry on their business without the help of
society hands, other firms surely need not attach
much weight to the vagaries-of the nobodies whom
it has become the fashion of late years to desig-
nate " trade councils." As a rule, we believe
they are composed of voluble, lazy, and inefficient
persons, who have found that declamation and rant
yield more money than the work of their hands,
and who will not try to cultivate a good under-

tanding between employer and employed, because
inch good understanding is inimical to their inte-
rests. But we believe no employer has anything to
fear if he will face their antagonism boldly, and
pay fairly for work done. The most zealous society
man we ever knew admitted that he did not think
tl kere were half a dozen persons in the whole trade
who would not go on the gimes if they had the
chap ce ; and the probability is, that among the
candidates for employment on the gimes may be
found the names of some of the most blatant up-
holders of what are called " fair " houses.

We fear this letter may be already too long ; but
there is one other point we should like to refer to.
Li3re many other trades; the operative printers of
L ondon succeeded nearly two years ago iu shorten-
i• 3g the hours of work and in advancing the
rate of wage. But if there ever was a barren
vrictory, this surely has been one. Directly this was
attained the country printers seized upon the op-
portunity to come in and compete with those in
town; in consequence a large quantity of work has
been diverted into the country and the Continent,
and the opinion is pretty generally entertained that
the printing trade of London has not been so bad
for the last 30 years. Notwithstanding this, and
the fact already stated that the compositors' society
last year expended more than two-thirds of its sub-
scriptions in relieving the unemployed, the society
and its members have never been so arrogant.
Much the same thing has happened in other trades ;
and if the demagogues and dupes of the " trade
councils" cannot read the signs of the times more
clearly, they may yet awake to the fact that they
have done all they could to drive the work from
the country and their employers' capital into other
channels.

Your obedient servants,
August 10.

0. AND CO.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—ln your issue of to-day appears a letter
headed " Rattening in the Printing Trade," and
signed "0. and Co." Into the na,?.rits of the dis-
pute between our members and the manager of the
firm in question I do not propose to enter, as that
would occupy far more of your space than I dare
venture to ask you to accord. I, however, trust
you will allow me to state that the dispute set forth
in your correspondents letter is not the reason why
our members have determined to leave Messrs. " U.
and C 0.," the cause for the adoption of such a course
being that incessant disputes have arisen between
the society hands employed (who now number only
four) and the firm through their endeavour to
override the London scale and customs of the
trade, and also the insulting treatment our mem
bers at all times experienced when they had any
representations to make to the manager.
With regard to the observations personal to my-
self, I pass them by as unworthy my notice ; and
with respect to the committee, those who know its
constitution can afford to smile at your correspon-
dents' ignorance of the capacity of its members ;
but I may state that the Committee of the Master
Printers' Association, representing the immense
majority of the employers of London, do not appear
to entertain the opinion so flippantly put forth by
" 0. and C 0.," as they always display their willing--
ness to enter into correspondence and conference
with the representatives of our society on all needful
occasions ; and notably was that the case in 1866,
when our members agitated for an advance of wages,
on which occasion an employers' committee appointed
by a general meeting of the master printers of Lon-
don, met an equal number of compositors elected
by the workmen to discuss the question submitted
to them, and after nearly 12 months' deliberation
conceded the advance desired ; and, as a proof that
the compositors' claims could not be deemed ex-
cessive, two of the employers recently examined
before the Royal Commission on Trades' Unions
stated that even now they did not think compositors
were too well paid.

With regard to the sum expended by the society
in assisting its unemployed members, I should have
imagined that such a fact was to the credit of any
body of working men who made such a provision,
rather than a matter to be objected to or
sneered at.

Your correspondent also takes occasion to state
the names of certain offices which are closed against
our members ; but, although that is so in the
few houses named (and I very much regret it), I
beg to state we have 210 others in which our mem-
bers arc paid by the London scale, and they em-
brace, with t ffo exceptions, all the great houses in
the metropolis.
Agaiu, your correspondent chooses to assume
that the advance of wages in 1866 has drive❑ work
out of town, and thus caused the depression under
which the trade has for some time languished. I
am in a position to know, however, that that slack-
ness has bean equally experienced in the provinces ;
the fact being that trade here has suffered for the
last two years in consequence of the monetary
panic of 1866, and not from work having left Lon-
don to be executed either in the country or abroad.
In conclusion, Sir, I must energetically protest
against the use of the word " rattening" which
heads your correspondent's letter, in connection
with the dispute between themselves and us —a
word which is a convertible term for the most out-
rageous ruffianism culminating in murder. What,
in the name of common sense, is there in the
laboured epistle of " 0. and Co." that justifies
such an insolent imputation? All that our mem-
bers have done in regard to the firm of your corre-
spondents is to give them notice to leave, finding
hat they cannot agree with them, and that, they
may rest assured, is all the rattening they will re-
ceive from us.—l am, sir, your obedient servant,
H. SELF, See.
London Society of Compositors, 3, Raquet-
court, Fleet-street, Aug. 12.

711 E RISE IN 71IE PRICE OF GOLD IN
THE UNITED STAI ES.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)

" The steamers leaving to day (August 5) for
Europe take out $1,000,000 in specie. Gold,
149." This telegram from New York, last Wed-
nesday, tells of cause and effect—au effect suffi-
ciently startling to raise hair on bald heads.
On all sides people . ask—" What is the
matter ? Gold, 149 !" Those, however, who
have carefully watched the current of events
in America, although surprised at the sudden-
ness of the jump, have anticipated and confi-
dently predicted a steady increase in the price of
gold. Although there doubtless are many reasons,
which we either dimly see or do not see at all, why
gold should rise in Wall-street, there are others so
patent that he who runs can read. The first is the
old law of supply and demand, by which a decrease
in quantity adds to the value of the balance, and
which may turn an Irishman's potato into the
priceless luxury of a bloated English aristocrat, or
macadamize a road with diamonds. Mr. 111‘Cui,-
LOCH recently informed Senator CATre Lt. that
after the immediate demands upon the Treasury
had been settled, inclusive of the payment for
Alaska, but $37,000,000 iu gold would remain,
and no relief could be expected from the
Treasury in the event of a stringency which
could scarcely fail to follow the continuation
of the specie export on the present scale. From
January 1 to July 10 $55,200,000 of specie were
shipped from New York to Europe, being
$24,600,000 more than in the same period of 1867,
and over three times the amount in 1865. The
United States is a gold-producing country, but if
the export be a million, and the produce but half,
any one by the Rule of Three, who knows the entire
stock held, can tell at this rate when the last dollar of
the precious metal will leave the Union. The law,
how,ver, of supply and demand interferes, and on
the drain being felt sends up the price. Bat why
should the Milted States be thus lavishly exporting
her treasure ? The most obvious reason is a cer-
tain spendthrift recklessness in Americans which
leads them to live up to all they have got and more.
This received a spur instead of a check by the war,
through inflation ; an :1 the only way to bring them
up is by what sailors call " a round turn." That
is, that while galloping along the strain comes all
at once, and they are suddenly jerked back by their
own impetus. The war, more or less, destroyed
most of the great American exports, while the