The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-15 00:00:00

MR GLADSTQ AND RADTS UNIONS.

An aggregate meeting 9r trades delegates has been held
at the Bell Inn, Old Bailey, in accordance with a ieSol-
tion passed at 6 similar meeting held on the 31st beceinber
16st, to invite Mr. Gladstone itol.)ther leading.opponents
a tradiS'unjou4 to attend 7itl,feting to heap' from trades
unionists' ihemsefvel what trades union iiirelpfes Tealfy
are. Mr. George Potter presided, and the attendance of
delegates Was unusually numerous, some fifty trade
societies beixik represented.

The CHAIR AN, in opening the proceedings, Baia the
meeting had been called to lay before the delegates of
trades unions certain statements Which had been recently
made regarding these associations. He had sent a circular,
signed by himself, to Mi. Gladstone, in which ipeci :1 atten-
tion was directed to " the.speech denunciatory of trades
unions " (such was the phrase employed in the circular)
made by that right hon. gentleman a short time ago at
Oldham. He had, in reply, received the following letter
from Mr. Gladstone :

" Hawarden, Chester, Ja:-1. b.

"D oar have received a printed circular, under
date January 1, and signed by you, with reference to the
contents of which I beg to say, as it may save trouble to
those whom you represent—
' I. That I am not aware of having made any rpeecll
denunciatory of trades unions,' and that the word roust
be an error either of the printer or the composer of the
circular. In my speech at Oldham I stated that unions of
working men wore in themselves rather to be commended
than otherwise, and that if any objection were to be taken
it must be to the abuse, and not the use, of such asso-
ciations. I then objected broadly, for myself, to all rules
which tend to limit the freedom of labour, or to produce
an artificial equality among workmen, and this mainly on
the ground of the injury which they do to the working
class.

" 2. On these and on all other points I am very desirous
,0 be corrected and instructed by those better informed
than myself, but I could not attend any public meeting for
that purpose, while I should be most happy either to
receive and consider any written document in answer to
what I have said, or to hear any arguments from persons
who might be appointed by such a meeting as is intended,
and freely to converse with them in a friendly spirit as
men should who have a common object in view, under the
condition, however, that they would be good enough to
select and state those propositions of mine which they
might consider to call for animadversion.— I am, dear sir,
your faithful servant,

Mr. George Potter." "W. E. GLADSTONE.
To this he (the chairman) had sent the answer sub

ioined :—'

" 10, Bolt-court, Fleet-street, London, Jan. 9.
"Dear Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your
letter of the 6th inst., and, after some consultation with
my colleagues, I beg to say that we are sorry that the
circular convening the delegate meeting on Tuesday next
contains a word which has caused you to take exception to
itPand I hope that you will not think that it was used
offensively. I regret, however, that we did not say
erroneous' or ' incorrect'—instead of denunciatory'—as
either of these words would have brouelt out our meaning
and would have been more accurate.

" I also bog to say that on reflection I entirely concur
with you that a deputation of a representative character
to wait upon you will be better for all purposes than a
public meeting, and I shall sug7est this at the meeting on
Tuesday, and I trust that it will be adopted, because it
will give to the trades unionists an opportunity of refuting
some of the false charges which have been brought against
them by influential persons ; and will also afford them the
means of making clear the reasons why some of them
enforce a minimum rate of wages, and others the limita •
Eon of apprentices.--I am, sir, yours obediently,

" GEORGE PorrEll.

"Right Hon. W. E. Glidstone, M.P."

The chairman, in continuation, said he himself' approved
the deputation, for it was probable that the proceedings
of the deputation would be given more in extenso in the
daily papers. What were trades anions really ? He de-
Sued a trades union thus—" It is a combination of work.
men to keep up the price of their labour and keep clown the
Amin of work. It is the means taken by combinations to
pre vent the individual workman at once agreeing to the
employers' terms in the sale and purchase of his labour. In
other words, a trades union is to prevent by giving the
power of bargaining, which taken singly it is impossible for
him to possess, so that he should suffer no reduction in
wages below the regular demand and supply rate which
governs the price of commodities in general. Trades
unions seek to secure for the workman that share of the
profits of production which is due to labour." Mr. Glad-
stone had said the influence of trades unions was to bring
men down, not to one dead level, but to a middling level.
He (the chairman) said that the majority of men working
in any trade were of an average degree of skill, and no
man was allowed to be enrolled in a society until his capa-
city was testified by two workmen of the satne trade. They
had no objection that the masters should give superior
men Inure wages, but the employers, instead of raising
the pay of the more skilled workmen, always tried to pull
them down. If they were allowed to give the inferior men
less wages, they would then reduce the pay of the average
workmen to the level of those of inferior capacity an 1
skill. With regard to piece-work and over-work, he was
of opinion that they tended to the degeneration of the
werkmen, for whatever additional pay the men mi;elit
oi }bin iron overwork was devoted to a purpose far diffe-
rent from that for which they bad exhausted their ener-
gies. Strikes were alst•ays unfortunate, but they were
sometimes absolutely necessary. It was said that no ad-
vantages were ever derived from these agitations, but lie
asserted that various trades had profited largely by these
movements. He would call their attention to the celebrated
strike and lock-out in the building trade in 1859 ; 50,000,
say, were locked out at that time, and let them suppose
that each of these lost £2O, that would represent a total
loss of £1,000,000. Since that they had obtained three ad-
vances, making ss. per week or £l3 a year increase in their
rate of wages. That represented £65 for five years, and,
calculating that 50,000 obtained that advantage, the whole
gain to the trade would amount to £3,250,000 in five years,
and, deducting the £1,000,000 lost by the strike, would
leave a balance to its credit of £2,250,000. In conclusion,
he recommended that such a course of action should be
adopted as would conduce to remove the prejudices which
existed against trades union societies. Mr. Gladstone was
the leader of the Liberal party, and it was of the last im-
portance that all misunderstanding should be removed
between that gentleman and the representatives of their
association. _ _ _

Several delegates present addressed the meeting. The
following resolution was adopted : " That this meeting
form a deputation to Mr. Gladstone, as suggested by that
gentleman in his letter read this evening, to explain
tN him the real principles and objects of trades
nia:onism."

LAW AND POLICE.

----~-

A CURIOUS rOINT.—In the Court of Common Pleas an
application was made for a rule nisi for a new trial in the
vase of Brickman v. Chambers. The plaintiff had taken
shares in the General International Agency Company, and
he sued three of the directors to recover damages upon
the ground that he had been induced to take these shares
by a statement in a prospectus that applications had
already been received for upwards of one-half of the
25,000 shares which formed the first issue, and that this
statement was untrue. At the trial the jury found for
the plaintiff, and the motion on behalf of Captain Telly,
J.N., one of the defendants, was for a rule for a new
trial upon the ground that the balance of evidence was in
favour of the captain's own testimony that he never saw
the statement complained of, and did not know of its
existence until after the action was brought. Mr. Justice
Willes said that the court thought that the question was
one which was worthy of discussion, and there would
therefore be a rule.

BETAKING OFF NEGOTIATIONS FOR A PARTNERSHIP.—
Mr. Justice Smith and a common jury have been occupied
, for two days in trying the case of Wardle v. Black."
The plaintiff, a retired builder, had his attention some
time air() attracted to an advertisement for a partner with
£2,000 capital in the business of a West-end tailor. This
advertisement was inserted by the defendant, and when
the parties had been brought into communication a nego-
tiation for a partnership took place. The lawyer who was
to draw the partnership deed died, and this caused some
delay. During the time that elapsed the plaintiff advanced
£255, and before any deed was signed he broke off the
affair, and declined to become a partner. He now sued to
recover the £255 as money lent, but the defence was that
the partnership had been orally agreed on, and that the
Dioney advanced was part of the consideration for tho
partnership. The jury found for the defendant.
Mn. BOVILL% PATENT AGAIN.--In the suit of Bovill
v. Hitchcock, which was an action relating to the well-
known patent of Mr. Bovill for improvements in the manu-
facture of flour, Lord Justice Cairns has refused an appli-
cation of the defendant made on appeal from the Master
of the Rolls, that the else might be tried with the assis-
tance of a jury. His lordship held that there was no
abstract rigz.t to have a jury ; it was a matter for the
discretion of the court ; and he saw no reason for differing
from the Master of the Rolls.

SENDING BAD MEAT TO MARKET.—Mr. Joseph Good-
land, of Marriott, in Somersetshire, was charged at the
Guildhall with bending, to the London market meat which
was unfit for human food. It appeared that the defendant
had purcltasad a lot of beasts at £8 a head, and another,
which was in had conditign, was thrown in to clinch the
bargain. 'llia make-weight was killed and sent to the
LoCant re.t•rket, and was there condemned by the inspector.
Sir 'Robert Carden said that as the animal was emaciated,
rather than dissa.sed, he should inflict only the mitigated
pena;ty of 205., with 425. costs ; which, with the expense
of coining to London to answer the charge, made the de-
fendant's rather a bad bargain, and it is hoped will prove
a warning not only to him, but to others.
AN IMPORTANT QUESTION FOR RAILWAY PASSENGERS.
--The Manchester County Court has jest had before it an
action; brought by one Mr. Clement Hall, against the
La yawl: ire :111;1 Yorkshire Rail way Company to cover
dmaa,:xs for fal:;e imprisominnt and assault, and for
refuniig to grant a contract ticket. The facts of the case
were simply that the company neglected to renew Hall's
contract ticket for several days, and in the meantime Hall
travelled up and down the line with his old one. Upon one
of these occasions the ticket collector at Miles Platting
refused to acknowledge the validity of the old ticket, and
teak the plaintiff on to Manchester. In this consisted the
alleged assault and false iiuprisomnent. The real question
at issue Nas—Are railway companies bound, as common
carriers, to issue contract tickets to an one who applies
as
for them, in the same way they 'are bound to carry any-
ono who tenders money fora single ticket? The company,
through their legal adviser, contended that they should
have the power of n'litz, their discretion in such a
JUdgraeut was reserved.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

-READING STEEPLECHASES -T CESDAY.

Owing to the postponement which was last week ren-
dered necessary, in consequence of the unsettled state of
the weather, these chases, which were brought off to-day,
were not so successful as they otherwise would have been,
or as the energy of the management deserved. The stakes,
which closed on Monday night, obtained but poor entries
and the four races decided to-day produced only limited
fields. The attendance, too, of the general public was
hurt of previous anniversaries, but there was a fair muste r
n the ring. Speculation, however, was not brisk. Bal-
loon defeated a warm favourite in Warwick Lass for the
Open Hunters' Stakes, and Alice Mary, not backed for a
shilling in the ring, won the Selling Steeplechase, Gany-
mode, the favourite, finishing second. An objection by
the latter against the winner for a "cross' was not sus-
tained. Pakington, who came in first for the Handicap
Plate, was disqualified, having run on the wrong side of
flag, and the stakes were awarded to Love in a Mist. The
day's racing concluded with the W hitloy Stakes, for
which Lawrence came in alone, one of his opponents
having fallen, and the other pulled up. Details are ap-
pended :
An Open hunters' Stakes of 3 sovs each, with 20 added,
for horses which have been regularly hunted with some
established pick of hounds during the seasou of 1867-
68, and which have not been in any training stable for
three months prior to the time of running for this
stake ; 13st each ; any previous winner of 50 sovs
to carry 71bs extra ; the winner to be sold fur 100

sous.
Mr. A. Yates's Balloon (pedigree unknown) (h b), aged
13st (.£100) (Mr. P. G. Hobson) 1
Mr. Hoado's Warwick Lass, aged, 12st 21b, (£10)
(Mr. Weston) 2
Mr. H. Stollery's Miss Franklin (h b), 6 yrs, 12st 21b (.£-10)
(Mr. Vallander) ,
Mr. J. Goddard's Staple Oak (h b), aged, 12st 71b (.£50)0
(Mr. L. Goddard) .
Mr. W. G. Jarvis's Farnborough, aged, 12st 91b (ine
• 71b ex) (X4O) (0 wile
Betting—Even on Warwick Lass, 5 to 2 agst Balloon
and 10 to 1 "bar two." Warwick Lass made the running
with a long lead of Balloon, the ethers following at inter-
vals fo about a couple of lengths for about a quarter of a
mile, when the lot closed, but at the fence preceding the
farmhouse the favourite quitted her horses, and, approach-
ing the brook, for the first time she was fully a hundred
yards in advance of Balloon, who deprived Staple Oak of
second place. Coming down the hill, Miss Franklin re-
fused at the farmhouse fence, and was not persevered with.
Going up the hills beyond the stand, Balloon decreased the
distance between himself and the favourite, heading her in
the next fence. Warwick Lass, however, was pulling over
Balloon till about three-quarters of a mile from home,
when Mr. Hobson drew away. For a moment, at the
farmhouse, the favourite seemed formidable, but after
clearing the brook she was beaten, and Balloon won easily
by four lengths ; Farnborough and Staple Oak, who had
been toiling on hopelessly in the rear, passed the post
almost head and head some time after the judge had left
the box. There was no advance upon the entered selling
price of the winner.

Selling Steeplechase of 3 sovs each, with 25 added ; 4-yre
old, list, five, 12st, six and upwards, 12st 51b ; the N% in-
ner to be sold by auction after the race for 50 sows, and
any surplus to be divided between the owner of the
second horse and the fund; if entered to be sold for 30
sovs allowed 71b ; about two miles.
Mr. Jarvis's Alice Mary, by Voltigour—Mary, by Mel-
bourne, 4 yrs, lOst 71b (.£3O) (Filkins) 1
Mr. W. Page's Ganymede, aged, list 121 b (.£3O)(J. Page) 2
Mr. Gilke's Sir Stephen, aged, list 121 b (.£3O) (T. Ablett•) 3
Mr. A. Weston's Belle of Kars, 6 yrs, list 121 b (X3O)
(Heade) 0
Mr. Ellison's The Dictator, aged, 12st 51b (£5O) (Owner) 0
Mr. Mumford's Strike, aged, list 121 b (X3O) (Owner) 0

Betting—Even on Ganymede, 4 to 1 agst Strike, 5 to 1
agst The Dictator, and 6to 1 agst Sir Stephen. Belle of
Kars made play, followed by Ganymede, the others being
in a cluster to the farm-house fence, where The Dictator
came down, and took no further part in the race.
Belle of Kars was first over the brook, but before reach-
ing the stand she resigned the command to Strike, who
led up tho hill, followed by Sir Stephen, the favourite, and
Alice Mary. Ganymede dropped into the rear on the top
of the hill, and Sir Stephen closed with Strike, whom ho
headed at the fence into the stubble field. Strike imme
diately afterwards boat a retreat, Ganymede simultane-
ously closing with Alice Mary, the pair going on in pur-
suit of Sir Stephen, who was, however, fully a dozen
lengths ahead at the farmhouse fence. Descending the
hill towards the brook the favourite and Alice Mary got
on level terms with Sir Stephen, and the three cleared
the brook abreast of each other, but Alice Mary was
quickest in landing, and Sir Stephen bei rig in difficulties
she was left in front. Coming up the straight she ap-
peared to tiro in the soft ground, and Page, riding the fa-
vourite most resolutely, got level with her, but Filkins
calling ou the mare for a final effort, she responded gamely,
and won an exciting race by a head. Sir Stephen was third,
beaten 10 lengths. Belle of Kars and Strike walked in, hav-
ing been eased at the farmhouse, when pursuit was hopeless.
On returning to scale Page lodged an objection against the
winner, on the ground of a cross. The stewards imme-
diately entertainod the objection, taking the evidence of
the jockeys, and after deliberation they decided that no
cross had taken place. The winner was sold to Mr. J.
Goddard for 86 guineas.

A Handicap Plate of 50 sor•a, for all ages ; the winner
to ba sold for 70 soya, and any surplul to ba dividod
between the owner of the second horse and the fund ;

entrance 2 sous, to go to the fund ; about two miles

cud a half.
Mr. Percival's Love in a Mist, by Martext—Wings of a
Dove, aged, list 71b
Mr. W. G. Jarvis's Farnborough, aged, list 121 b,
(0 wnor) 2
Mr. Smith's Pakington, 5 yrs:, lOst 101b...(J. Holman) die.
Betting-5 to 4on Love in a Mist, 6to 4 agst Paki ngton,
and 6to 1 (at first 6to 4) agst Farnborough. The last-
mentioned held the lead until reaching the farmhouse
fence, about half a mile from home, when the other two,
who had been lying handy, closed with him, and the three
took the water jump in close company. Immediately after
landing Pakington got the best of it, and maintaining his
advantage to the end, won iby a length fiom the favou-
rite, Farnborough being defeated a length from Love in a
Mist. At the scale Coslett, the rider of Love in a Mist,
lodged an objection against the winner for having gone
on the wrong side of a flag at the fence near the farmhouse
The stewards visited the spot where Pakington was
alleged to have run out, and they found tracks on the
outside of the flag, as indicated by Coslett, the/ rider of
Love-in-a-Mist. They also heard the evidence of several
eye-witnesses, and at once disqualified Pakington, award-
ing the race to Love-in-a-Mist.

The Whitley Stakes (free handicap) of 5 sovs each, with
50 added ; winners after Dec. 31, at 1C a.m., 71b extra.
About three miles.
Sir W. Call's Lawrence (h b), by Vortex, aged, 12st 71b
(G. Searle) 1
Mr. IT. Ellison's Spatchccck, aged, list 71b......(0wner) 0
Mr. Clifford's Watorperry, aged, Ilst (Mr. F. G. Ifpbson) 0
Betting-5 to 4on Waterperry, and .5 to 4 agst Law-
rence. Waterperry was the first away, but on passing the
Stand he gave way to Lawrence, Spatchcocic following in
the rear. Traversing the hillside the favourite again took
up the running, but he held only a slight advantage till
reaching the stubble field, where ho took a c:ear lead ,
Spatchcock being at this point so far in the rear that his
owner pulled him up. At the brook Lawrence headed
the favourite, and the pair kept close company until reach-
ing the farmhouse fence, where Waterperry, completely
exhausted, came down, but sustained no injury. Lawrence
was thus left to canter in alone.

THE CALEDONIAN AND NORTH BRITISH RAIL..
WAYS.—The Scotsman of yesterday says :—" It has
been pretty well understood lately that important negotia-
tions have bean going on between committees of the di-
rectors of the Caledonian and North British Railway Com-
panies, including the chairman in each case. Wo believe
that the terms of an agreement for a long period of year;
upon the principle of a joint-purse, on the basis generally
of gross revenue returns, have now been all but arranged,
and will shortly be submitted to meetings of the share-
holders of both companies, to be specially called for their
consideration and approval. It is also understood that the
arrangement will include mutual stipulations for the post-
ponement of a large amount of new works on the part of
both companies. This arrangement will, undoubtedly,
form one of the most important eras in the history of rail-
way property, and may be expected to operate most bane..
ficially for the contracting parties."
ROMEO COATES, THE AMATEUR TRAGEDIAN.
About 1801 one of the most conspicuous characters in the
park was a tall, thin, elderly West Indian, with a sallow
wrinkled face, who, wrapped up in costly furs, paraded in
the drives, in a shell-shaped carriage, drawn by two fine
white horses. The eccentric but handsome vehicle was
covered with the owner's heraldic device—a cock crowing.
This shallow, inane, yet cunning-looking man was that
celebrated amateur tragedian, Mr. Romeo Coates. Ho
was supposed incorrectly to be a second Crowns ; and he
appeared at London balls covered with as many diamonds
as Count Esterhazy, who was popularly supposed to drop
three hundred pounds' worth of them every night he went
out. His buttons, even his knee buckles, glistened with
diamonds. Insanely vain and utterly foolish, Romeo
Coates appeared on the stage as Shakespeare's youth-
ful lover, first at Bath, and then at the Haymarket. The
ridiculous being wore a spangled cloak of sky-blue silk, red
pantaloons much too tight, a white muslin vest, an enor-
mous bolster cravat, a Charles-the-Second wig, and an
opera hat. No burlesque was ever half so funny. He
bowed tct the audience in the most extravagant way and
with a hideous grin ; he took snuff in the middl) of the
balcony scene, and on some one asking for a pinch handed
round his box to the nearest spectators. lie dragged.
Juliet from the tomb a 9 if she were a sack of potatoes
When, finally, ha had to die, he put down his opera hat for
a pillow, and swept a place clean with a dirty silk hand-
kerchief. Three times did this extraordinary idiot die for
the amusement of the house. This half fool, half cheat,
was at last driven from the stage for pocketing money he
had obtained under pretence of playing for a charitable ob-
ject; ho retired to Boulogne, and there married some
foolish woman, who was probably duped by bis pretended
wealth.—Belgravia.