The Sun.
London, England, 1850-08-21 00:00:00

EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.

" Humbly shovvetb,—That your petitioners, the en-
gine-men end firemen in your hon. service, have been
driven by the uujtvt and tyrannical proceedings of Mr.
Gooch to appeal at once to your hon. board. We are
still willing to serve your hon. board on the same condi-
tions we did Wore Mr. Gooch became our superinten-
dent, and we [Litter ourselves we gave your hon. beard
every reason to be satisfied with our conduct and capa-
bilities as enginemen and firemen. We deeply regret
that we are compelled to be so hasty iu our proceedings,
but the prompt manner in which Mr. Gooch is carrying
out tyrannical rzer.ssures leaves us no alternative We
are quite willing to serve your hon. board as heretofore,
but we have unaninion,ly come to the determination to
be the servants of your hon. board no longer than the
18th day of August, 1850, unless Mr. Gooch is removed
from being our aupeAntendenr,
" Signed on behalf of the enginemen arid fire-
me❑ in the employment of the Eastern
Counties Railway Company.
(No signatures.)

" Joseph Tatton, engine man, and his fireman, were
fined each two drys' pay and suspended two and three-
quarters, for the cotter of his cross-head breaking in
three pieces after being 34 miles on his journey—an ac-
cident over which he possibly could have no control.
" James Steel, engineman, and his fireman, were
fined a quarter of a day each for his eccentric strap
breaking—caused by the cage of his bluck breaking and
the ball working up into the pump.
" ' Henry Harris, engineman, and his fireman, were
fined a quarter of a day each for detaining his train 10
minutes—the cause was his eccentric sheave slipped,
over which he had no control.

"' James Nelson, engiueman, and his fireman, were
fined one day's pay each for a drawbar giving way on a
train of 50 waggons. ,
" Edward lice, engineman, and his fireman, fined
Is. each for a draw -bar breaking in a truia of 30 loaded
waggons.
" John Thomas Hope and Joseph Kinnersley, en-
ginenun, with their firemen, were fined 2s. 6.1. each for
the cotter of a drawbar orestking in a train of 56
waggons; the cost of the cotter would not exceed 3d.;
and fancy two engines attached to such a train, and to
fine men for 3 simple cotter breaking.
" "rhese are a few in his tyrannical acts too numer-
ous to mention. The deputation can give you every
satisfaction. He is discharging the old and experienced
enginemen and firemen because they receive 7s. 6d. and
4i. per day, the which your hon. board agreed they
should have.' _ _ _

" Mr. Ellis stated to the men that the board had no
knowledge of any disagreement txisting between the
engine-drit ere and Mr. Gooch. They had never com-
plained either individually or collectively, and this was
the first intimatio❑ they had given. lie added that the
directors nad no desire to part with their old servants,
or any intention that they should be harshly or unfairly
dealt with; that they believed Mr. Gooch to be a kind
mart, and he was so considered by those under his ma-
nagement on the Soutli-Western Reilway, where he had
been employed for the last ten years. His serious ad-
vice to them was not to act precipitat ly or prematurely;
many of them doubtless had wives and families, and they
should therefore consider before they acted. in the way
mentioned in their memorial. They would see that he
could not be prepared with an answer, as, in justice to
Mr. Gooch, the directors must hear his reply before they
determined the matter. They would see Mr. Gooch, and
endeavour to adjust their differences.
" The men expressed themselves satisfied with that
as'urance and departed. Within an hour of the receipt
of the memorial 178 resignations, including those of the
deputation, were seat into the superintendent's office in
one parcel.
"'These notices wore on printed forms, which had been
prepared and signed beforehand.
" The directors immediately sent for Mr. Gooch and
placed the memorial in his hands for explanation. On
the following day that officer addressed the annexed letter
to the Board:—

" TO THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS OF THE EASTERN

COUNTIES RAILWAY.
Eastern Counties Railway-office, Bishopsgate Station,

London, August 13, 1850.
" Gentlemen,—l return herewith the paper which was
referred to me, purporting to be a memorial from the
engine-drivers and firemen of this railway, but which
bears no signature. As it however quotes some in-
stances of what is termed tyranny on my part, I think
it desirable to give the following explanation upon
them:— . _

" The first case quoted was one where, in taking the
Co!ches:er gotes train, the engine failed from the loss of
a cotter, causing considerable damage to the cylinder
and other vans of the engine, arising entirely from a
I, ant of careful examination by the men in charge, and
although they state that they had made a proper ex-
amination et Chelmsford, within four miles of the place
where the accident occurred, they admitted to me, in the
presence of the foreman, that, had those parts then been
right, the accident would net have happened.
" The second is a case of similar carelessness on the
part of the men, in not satisfying themselves that their
engine was in a proper...state. These men are in the
shod every third day with their engine, during which
time it is strictly their duty to have their engine pro-
perly examined and repaired.
"In the third case, the fine was for not reporting the
circumstance of the engine failing, and that the train had
to be taken to St. Ive's by horses, and not for the shift-
ing of the eccentric.
" The others quoted are for breaking drawbars of
waggons, a circumstance which, in nearly every instance,
is the effect of carelessness on the part of the men, and
which I am sorry to say, is of very frequent occurrence
on this line, acd requites to be stopped, as very much
mischief is caused by it.
"You will observe by the list that several cases of
fines are omitted, which prove the want of discipline
under which these men are working, and which it is ab-
solutely iv cessary, both for the safety of the public and
the interest of the company, should be changed.
" I will only further observe that the statements made
by them verbally, as reported in the Times of yesterday,
ate wholly without foundation.
" I have the honour to be, Gentlemen,
" Your obedient servant,
"J. V. Gooca."
"In consequence of the determination expressed by
the neer, the directors immediately proceeded to make
arrangements for continuing the traffic on the line, and
they succeeded in placing new engine-drivers and fire-
men on a considerable portion of it on Thursday, the

15th inst.
" Having obtained a further supply of these men from
other lines, the directors communicated with Mr. Gooch,
and with their sanction he issued the following notice to
the enginemen and firemen:— .
" I hereby acknowledge to have"received notice of
your intention to leave the service of this company on
Nlonday next, the 19th inst., and I accept your resigna-
tion. But, as the directors have been informed that
some of their people have families who live upon the
lino of railway, and have been compelled to quit the
company's service against their wili, I have thought it
right to give such man an opportunity of returning to
their duty.
" ' Should any man wish to withdraw his resignation,
he may do so by writing to me to that effee, when I will
give his case my best Consideration.
" (Max V. Gooca, Locomotive Superintendent.

" August 17.
" Mr. Ashcroft, the company's Superintendent of Way
and Works, being aware of the desire of the directors
not to act with harshness towards the men, or to part
with them, it by any means they could be brought to a
sense of tteir duty, saw several of the leading men en-
gaged in these proceedings on the same day. The whole
boly, at a later period of the day, held a meeting, at
which the following resolutions were passed :
" At a meeting of the engine-drivers and firemen, held
in Stratford, August 17, 1850, the following resolutions
were unanimously agreed to :
" 1. All old hands to be reinstated that were dis-
charged without just cause.
" 2. In the event of an excess of hands, the junior
enginemen to return to firing, and junior firemen to re-
turn to the shed.
" 3. The maximum time to be stated for one day's
work, namely, from 100 to 130 miles, and, where miles
cannot be run, that ten hours be considered as one day's
work for all passenger trains; extras to be paid for.
Goods and passenger trains but from eighty Ito ninety
miles, or ten hours, to be considered a day's work for
goods trains.
" 4. If any enginemen or fireman, through accident
or otherwise, cause darnai,e (previous to dismissal), to
be brought before the officers' committee, so as to have
is fair and impartial hearing.
" 5. In the event of any sudden change through ex-
cess of business on the line requiring firemen to drive,
then the prior term served as drivers in their rate of
wages to be considered, so as to entitle them to wages
sanctioned by the directors.
"' The following scale of wages we beg to submit to
and fur the approval of the directors:—
" Cleaners, promoted to be firemen, to receive 3s. 6d.
per day for the first six mouths, 3s. 9d. the next six
months, and 4s. after they have been firemen 12 months.
"' Firemen, promoted to be shedmen, to receive ss.
per day, and when promoted to be enginemen to receive
6s. per day for the first six months, 6s. 6d. for the
second six months, and 7s. for the next two years, and
after that time to be 7s. 6d. per day.
" Firemen of good character,' previously employed
on other railways, to receive fur the first three months
3s. 6d. per day, alter that time to be paid 4s. per day.
" EngiLemen of good character, previously employed
en other railways, to receive 7s. per day for the first
tr: years, after that time to receive 7s. 6d. per day.
All fines that have been unjustly inflicted by Mr.
party‘ l
nto no
questione shallihmoamay yimnagittfiht,ine,neek fairpob rreaonpbtieierr,:fl.
tnirocept
appoint.
prds
impartial
coawhillitihe.oortmtr:
Gooch to be returned to the parties so fined.
t
the
inaragi
tee
ecteerra:
Resolved, that the foregoing resolutions, approved
by this uceetit4;, be forwarded to the directors by Mr.
Ashcrefr, who has kindly offered his unities as medi-
ator between the directors and us.

" We, the engineraeu and firemen, deeply regret the
misunderstanding that his already. arisen 'oetweett.us
, and the company's superintendent, viewing the depressed
state of railway property at this time, as it has a most
ruinous effect on the value of all railway investment.
" We theref ,re beg to say that we only require that
weed of justice that is our clue. for the great length of
s.crvice, and anxiety of mind which we have always bad
for the welfare and safe-working of your line of railway.
" Mr. Ashcroft attended the board with a copy of these
resolution 4. The result of the board's deliberations is
contained in the subjoined extract from the minutes of
their proceedings of that date:-
6" Mr. Ashcroft attended and handed in a copy of a
series of resolutions passed at a meeting of the engine-
drivers and firemen, held this day at Stratford. The
same havin.; been coesidered, the fullowing resolution
was unanimously agreed to:—
The directors having received at the hands of Mr.
Ashcroft a copy of certain resolutions passed at a meeting
of the eegine•drivers and firemen held at Stratford this
day, and havieg fully considered the strue, with every
disposition to treat their men fairly, regret that it is not in
their power to accede to their demands. The directors
having communicated with Mr. Gooch, that officer has,
with their sanction, issued the notice sent herewith, and
it will be a source of gratification to the board to learn
that this notice has been received in a proper spirit.'
"For the satisfaction of the shareholders the directors
append to this statement a copy of a report which has
been this day handed to them by Mr. Gooch.

" TO THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECToRS OF THE EASTERN

COUNTIES RAILWAY.
"Locomotive Nod Carrisga Deprtnient,

Stratf,rd, Aug. 20.
" Gentlemm,—From the various statements which
appear daily in the public pspers, I led it to be due
both to you and to myself to explain, as concisely as I
can, the stveral circumstances connected with the notice
given to me by the enginenaen and firemen in your ser-
vice on the afternoon of Monday, the 12th inst., to re-
sign their kituati on 3 on the evening of Sunday, the 18th
inst.

" The reason they assigned for so doing, in the memo-
rial they presented you on the same day, was the unjust
fine:;which bad been imposed upon them by me. You
are fully aware that, in conducting
an establishment of
this character and magnitude, the strictest discipline is
necessary to insure safety to the travelling public, a, well
as economy to the shareholders; it is with great regret I
am compelled to say that, on taking charge of this de-
partment of your railway a few weeks ego, I fcund the
discipline throughout the whole extent in a very umatis-
faeory state.
" Being most desirous to effect the changes which
were necessary as quietly as I;could, and only gradually
to introduce the same system on this railway as prevails
throughout all the other leading railways, I, in every
case, imposed such fines only as would act rather as a
warning f .1- the future than as punishment for the offence.

"I deny, most emphaticalli, that in any case has a
fine been imposed for any failure of an engine which a
practical man would say was beyond the common care
and control of those in charge. I wish only to state,
that the other fines ere imposed for not reporting,'
and one case in particular, when in consequence of the
ecetntric shifting, the train had to be taken a distance
of five miles by horses.
" Fines also have been imposed for arriving at stations
with goods-trains at periods varying from une hour to
half-an-hour before the appointed time, thereby endan-
gering their own as well as the safety of all other trains
travelling over the same part cf the line.
" I state distinctly that I never had any intention to
reduce wages or to increase the das'e work of any man.
" On receiving the instructions of the board, in conse-
quence of the resignation of the men, I immediately took
measures to replace them by good and efficient drivers,
and I am happy to say that, with the kind assistance re
ceived from other railways, by yesterday morning I had
engaged 77 engine ,drivers, whose testimonials from their
late emplo3ers will bear the closest inquiry.
"I shall lay them before you to-morrow.
"On Saturday evening all the trains running north
of Cambridge wore worked by new men, and since yes-
terday morning the whole of the trains have been so
worked. Knowing that the lines as well as the engines
wero strange to these men, I folt it necessary to give
instructions to each to use the greatest caution—to
study safety before speed, and not to attempt to re-
gain lost time, and thereby to incur any risk. There
have been several trains a good deal behind time, but
these have in every case arisen from tricks having
been played with the engines which could not easily
be detected until they had tralleved some distance—viz..
sand mixed with the grease in the axle-boxes, oil and
other injurious matter put into the water-tanks, and
such other things as those only who know their effects
would do. At Norwich a slight cAlision took place in
backing out of the station by two engines coming to-
gether and causing a very trifling injury. This is an
occurrence not by any na, airs peculiar to new hands.
So far as the safe conduct of the trains by the new men
goes I have every reason to believe that they are quite
competent for the duties they have to perform; and, had
they not been subject to such malicious tricks as those
before mentioned, I have no doubt whatever but that the
trains would have continued as punctually as before the
change was made.
" The precaution which has been taken of placing the
inspectors of permanent way and the head guard of each
train upon the engine, to point out to the driver the
various stations, junctions, and signals, has worked ex
ceedingly well.
" Toe number of men who have been engaged will be
sufficient to work all those trains which have been sus-
pended, and all those men not now actually employed
in working trains are travelling over the various lines
of the company, that they may tecome thoroughly ac-
quainted with them. I have, therefore, no doubt but
th4t on Monday next the whole of these trains may be
resumed, it you so desire it.
" I have the honourto be,;&e., " J. V. Goma.
" In conclusion, it must be obvious to the shareholders
that the demands made by the men were such as both
on public grounds and fur their interests could not be
complied with.

" EDWARD LADD BETTS, Chairman.
" Bishopsgata Statiun. 'Aug. 20."

JENNY LIND AT LIVERPOOL.

LIVERPOOL, AUGUST 20.—The performance of the
Messiah, last night, attracted a larger audience than
the first concert; upwards of 3,000 attended. Jenny
Lind's singing surpassed anticipation. Her energy
and brilliant execution of " Rejoice greatly," her ex-
pression in " He shall feed his flock," her tenderness
in "flow beautiful are thy feet!" her fervid devotion
in " I know that my Redeemer liveth," and her fine
reading of the last air, " God be for us !" which made
it a new and unexpected feature, raised unbounded
enthusiasm. The second and fourth airs were en-
cored. In the recitatives, besides the excellence of
her vocalization, the pointed articulate mariner in
which she pronounced the English words excited ge-
neral admiration. Signor Belletti made a highly suc-
cessful debut in Handers music, and produced great
effect in " Why do the nations." His English was very
good. The chorus was excellent, the band indifferent.
Miss Williams, Miss Andrews, and Mr. Benson were the
singers. M. Benedict conducted. After the oratorio
the National Anthem was sung, Jenny Lind giving
the two principal verses. The scene that ensued
defies description. The walls of the building rever-
berated with the cheers. Hats, sticks, and handker-
chiefs were waived in every direction. The platform
of the orchestra 'mai covered with bouquets and
wreaths, many of which fell upon the head and
shoulders of the songstress. It was a leave-taking
such as Jenny Lind herself has rarely experienced in
the course of her artistic life.
Between the parts of the Messiah an address was
read to Jenny Lind, on the part of the committee,
voyage and a speedy return. On the head of
lauding her character and talents, and wishing her a
happy
the address, which was written on vellum, were the
arms of Liverpool, and at the side the arms of Sweden.
M. Benedict received a handsome gold snuff-box.
This morning Jenny Lind visited the hospital,
where she was presented by the committee with the
silver teakettle of which we have spoken, besides a
splendid pair of silver candlesticks. She was after-
wards conducted over the new wing of the hospital,
which has been added threfugh` her -exertions. A
great number of Jenny Lind's admirers have hired
a steamer to escort her on her Voyage as far as the
North Light. She starts to-morrow morning at ten
on board the steam-tender Sampson, which conveys
her to the Atlantic. The boat sails at half-past five.
message has just been sent
s agent).
Her companions are Benedict, Belletti, Miss Hernen-
sen, a relative, Mr. Hisertsberg, her secretary, and
Mr.E `Nilsght oc r Ellclk r
r . B.
ma r. uAni'
from the superintendent
requesting
of police to Mademoiselle
Jenny Lind her,
as a favour, to start two
hours earlier by the steam-tender, since, from the
immense crowds that will be on the piers to witness
her departure, and from the dangerous nature of the
locality, an accident and even loss of life might be
expected. Jenny Lind will, therefore, leave the
Aquite privately,
and
cheated of their
sightseeing.
an will -he surprised to
de lt p
the
i mob Hotel
G Doubtless
a lookers-on
o u a
bquartertles s
in w t oiyl
l eight,be
morrow morning.
read this announcement of their disappointment to-

SUICIDE ON TAE EASTERN COUNTIES RAILWAY.—
On Monday evening an inquest was held by Mr. C. Lewis, at
the Greyhound Tavern, Lea-bridge-road, on view of the body
of William Beard, aged 42, in the employment of the Go-
vernment small gun tactory, Enfield-lock, who committed
suicide on the Eastern Counties Railway. The deceased,
.
who lived at Enfield with his family, had for some time past
exhibited an aberration of his mental faculties. He left his
home on Thursday last. On Saturday morning he was ob-
served walking in Leyton marshes, near the Eastern Coun-
ties line, when, on the 8 A.M. express train to Hertford pro-
ceeding down the line, as it passed the Lea-bridge station,
he attempted to go on the line. Ihe driver Bounded the
whistle, upon which he started back, but when it got closer
to him, he deliberately placed his head before the near wheel
of the engine, by which it was immediately severed from his
body. The train was promptly stopped, upon which the
lifeless body of the deceased was taken to the Greyhound.
Verdict—" Temporary insanity.
IRON Snir JOHN GARROW.—This well-known
vessel, the largest iron sailing ship afloat, which was built in
the early part of the year 1840, and has since been employed
on foreign voyages in tropical climates, supposed to be pre-
judicial to iron ships, has, during the last week, been care-
fully examined in the graving-dock. Several holes have
been bored in her, and the thickness of the Plates taken, but
by the closest examination no perceptible loss can be ;seer-
' tuariltiyedo.r
fiftyltis
years,clear and,ttat
when
repairs for many years.—Liverpool Standard.,