The Sun.
London, England, 1844-03-12 00:00:00

THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS.

THE TRICKS OF THE. ANTI-LEAGUE ASSOCIATION.-OR
Saturday night, at nine o'clock, a numerous meeting of the
Broad-silk Hand-loom Weavers' Union was held at the
Crown and Anchor, Waterloo-town, to agree to a memorial to
the Board of Trade for the purpose of ascertaining if the silk
trade was to be included in the Commission appointed to in-
quire into the state of the cotton-spinners, and also to receive
communications in reference to the late proCeedings of the
Anti-League Association. Mr. Le May in the chair.
Mr. BURROUGHS, the Secretary, having stated that at the
previous meeting it was agreed that a memorial should be
presented to the Board of Trade, said that one had been pre-
pared, which he read, and which it was unanimously resolved
should be forthwith communicated, the purport of it being to
know if the Spitalfields weavers were to be included in the
Commission of Inquiry into the State of the Cotton-spinners,
lately appointed by her Majesty's Government.
Tile CHAIRMAN then called upon the Secretary to give the
meeting information relative to the Anti-League Association,
to which he and a weaver named Sherrard had been appointed
delegates, when the Secretary, having stated that his col-
league would give an account of the proceedings, as far as
they were concerned with the League,
Mr. SHERRARD said, that according to an arrangement
with Mr. N. Doran Maillard, who attended the last meeting
of the weavers, he and the secretary met the committee of
the Anti-League Association on the Monday evening, about
five o'clock. Mr. N. D. Maillard and a few gentlemen were
there. After speaking upon the business about to come
before the meeting, he mentioned to him that he and the
secretary had been requested to appear there to support the
resolutions, that they had lost nearly two days, and that it
was but just they should be paid for their time. Mr. D.
Maillard then took a half-sovereign from his pocket, which
he gave to him, and remarked that he had no money in his
pocket to remunerate the secretary but that he should hea
from him on Tuesday morning. The secretary, however, has
never heard anything of his half-sovereign.—(Loud laughter.)
He then stated that while in the committee-room a lette
was put in his hand by Mr. Maillard;who at the same tim
charged him with having been instrumental in getting th
Chartists to attend the meeting. [The speaker read the
letter, which was written by a person named Mentz, one of
the members of the council of the Chartists, and was ad-
dressed to Mr. Maillard. The purport of it was that it was
the intention of the Chartists to be early at the meeting, and
to appoint their own chairman, and that the class leaders
had obtained a large quantity of tickets, which were dis-
tributed very extensively. A committee of three persons had
been appointed to draw up resolutions to oppose the Anti-
League Association, and to propose an amendment in favour
of the principles of the Charter.] They were all aware what
sort of chairman was appointed, and what was the result of
the meeting.—(Hear, and laughter.)
Mr. BURROUGHS observed that it would be remembered by
the meeting, when Mr. N. Doran Maillard appeared among
them, he stated that Mr. Oastler had promised to be at the
meeting of the Anti-League Association held last Monday.
He wrote, in consequence, to . Mr. Oastler, for information
about a fortnight ago, but that gentleman did not. receive his
letter till last Saturday. He sent an answer to it, and in
that letter he denied that he had promised to be present at
the meeting, observing " that whoever told you that I had
been asked to take the chair at the meeting about to be held,
that I declined, but that I promised to be present—l say, who-
ever told you so, told you that which is untrue."
Several weavers observed that Mr. Maillard stated, that
Mr. Oastler would be at the meeting, and that he was asked
to take the chair.
Mr. BURROUGHS then proceeded to state that Mr. Oastler
had forwarded copies of two communications, which were
sent to him from the Anti-League Association, and which had
the signature of Mr. Maillard, rn which it was alleged that
great success had attended the exertions of the League ; that
shoemakers, cork cutters, silk weavers, and other trades, had
given their support, and that branch associations were in the
course of formation, and Mr. Oastler was invited to attend.
[He read the letter from Mr. Oastler, in which he remarked,
" My weak state of body and excited state of mind render it
quite impossible to accept your kind invitation."] He con-
cluded by saying that had the letter from Mr. Oastler and
the communications of the Anti-League Association to him
been received in time, they would have exposed the attempt
to impose upon the working classes by that body.—(Hear.)
Mr BERRY said that the weavers ought to show their opi-
nion of the conduct of the Anti-League Association. He
proposed that copies of the letters from Mr. Oastler be sent
to Mr. Maillard, with some severe remarks upon his conduct,
and that the weavers pay the Secretary his expenses for at-
tending on the Anti-League Association.
Mr. MALrus, in seconding the resolution, observed that
the only object of the Anti-League Association was to get
the assistance of the working classes to put down the Anti-
Corn-law League. Mr. Maillard had intimated to that
effect. He also believed that, when the agitation had ac-
complished what the Anti-League Association wanted, that
nothing would be done for them.—(lieur, hear.) lie thought

The Poictiers and Ann Robertson, Indiamen, sailed on
Wednesday, for Calcutta.
The Pekin and Serge, packet-ships, for Hong-Kong, ar-
rived from the River on Thursday, and will proceed to-morrow.
In Harbour—St. Vincent, Victory, Excellent, Victoria and
Albert, Dee, Fearless, and Echo steamers ; Adventure, tran-
sport.
At Spithead—Pekin and Serge, East Indiamen.
The Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty have issued a
circular, directing that, from the Ist of April next, officers of
all ranks doing duty as secretaries shall receive five shillings
per diem out of their half-pay, in addition to their present
salaries. (As secretaries to Admirals are quite irrespective of
the service, we question the right of the Admiralty to inter-
fere in this manner with the half Tay.)

PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS.

PROMOTlONS.—Mate—Frederick Robinson (1835), of the
Comet, to the rank of Lieutenant.
APPOINTMENTS.—Commander—J. S. Brock, to the Bonetta.
Lieutenants—George Newcomen (additional), to the Agin-
court ; J. H. Veitch, to the Styx ; H. C. Otter, to command
the 'Sparrow.
-Master—John Penn, to the America, vice Mackey, war-
rant cancelled.

Paymaster and Purser—John E. Dring (acting) to the
Larne.
Assistant-Surgeon—J. B. Lawrence, to the Styx.
Chaplain—Rev. R. Petman, to Chatham Dock-yard,
vice Whitehead, superannuated.
Clerks—James Timpson, to be Secretary's Clrk to Rear-
Admiral Bowles, vice Winstanley, to the Victoria and Albert
yacht; J. Roberts, to the America; W. A. G. Young, from
Sir C. Rowley's Secretary's office, to the St. Vincent; Au-
gustus Gilbert, to Bonetta (in charge).
Naval Instructor—Mr. F. W. Smith, to qualify.
Engineers—W. Jeffery (Ist Engineer), and Henry Lee,
(2d Engineer), to the Comet.

FIRE ON BOARD A SHIP.
➢iELANCHOLY LOSS OF LIFE.

DEVONPORT, MARCII 9.—This morning about one o'clock
an alarm of fire was heard at Mutton Cove, and shortly after
flames were observed issuing from the companion and cabin
window of the brig Theresa, of about 150 tons, Captain
Nichols, belonging to Devonport, and recently arrived from
Newport with a cargo of coals, which she was discharging at
the wharf near her Majesty's arsenaL The two town engines
were speedily on the spot, but owing to a defect in the hose,
some time elapsed before they were brought into play. Lieut.
Williams, the superintendent of the dockyard police, with one
engine, and Colonel Clarke with part of the 76th Regiment
and another engine, were soon there. Captain Milne, son of
the Port Admiral, Sir David Milne, and Lieut. Elliott, with a
company of Artiller7, were also present. About ten minutes
after the engines arrived a boy was observed to make two inef-
fectual attempts to leap from the cabin and catch hold of the
skylight combings : the third time a man on the quarter-deck
pulled him out, but, harrowing to relate, the flesh on the poor
boy's arm peeled off in the act ; the shirt was burnt off his back,
and the hair of his head destroyed. He was immediately con-
veyed to the workhouse. The cargo very soon ignited, and,
although low tide, the vessel was most injudiciously scuttled,
when of course the water ran out as soon as it was poured in.
The fire was, however, eventually subdued, but the brig is
so much injured as to be past repair. The charred remains
of John Davis, of Devonport, aged 18, were found in the
steerage berth. He, with John Phillips. aged 13, the lad
who was rescued through the cabin-window, were the only
persons on board. The unfortunate youth was relieved from
his sufferings in the course of the forenoon. Before dying,
lie stated that he went on board about 9 o'clock on the Fri-
day evening, carefully put out his light and retired to bed,
in the state-room, having received permission to do so from
the master. The lad, who is the son of a gentleman now re-
sident at Newport, but formerly a collector of customs at a
Cornish port, was determined to go to sea, in opposition to
the wishes of his relatives, and was considered on board the
brig more as a passenger than a sailor. The fire originated
in the steerage, where Phillips slept in the mate's berth. It
is supposed that he came on board very late, and that through
his negligence the accident occurred ; he must have been
smothered in his bed-place. The clothes belonging to the
crew are destroyed, as they slept aft and messed with the
captain, to whom no blame can be attributed in this melan-
choly accident.

THE RIGHT HON. THE SPEAKER'S LEVEL: On
Saturday night the Speaker of the House of Commons held
his second sessional levee, at his residence, in Eaton-square.
The reception of the Right Hon. Gentleman was rather nu-
merous, and the Duke of Wellington, Earl of Shaftesbury,
Lord Lowther, and Sir Augustus Clifford, were among the
visitors. The following Members of the House of Commons
paid their respects to the Right Hon. Gentleman :—The
Marquis of Douro, Lord Stanley, the Right Hon. W. E.
Gladstone, the Judge Advocate-General, the Lord Advocate,
Lord Charles Wellesley., Viscount Duncan, Viscount Jocelyn,
Earl Jermyn, Lord Eliot, Sir William Jolliffe, Sir John
Walsh, Colonel Wood, Colonel Thomas Wood, the. Right
Hon. Frederick Shaw, Captain Boldero, Mr. Maunsell, Mr.
Protheroe, Mr. Lindsey, Mr. John Round, Mr. Botfield,
Mr. Forster, Mr. Divett, Mr. V. Smith, Mr. John Young,
Mr. Lefroy, Mr. Towneley, Mr. Dunn Gardener, Mr. John
Lowther, Mr. Bailey (Herefordshire), Mr. Tollemache
Cheshire), Sir George Staunton, Mr. Antrobus, Lord
James Stuart, Mr. Rice, Mr. Scholefield, Dr. Bowring, the
Hon. Octavius Duncombe, Mr. Collett (Athlone), Mr.
Hindley, Mr. Blackstone, Captain Taylor, Mr. B. Wilbra-
ham, Mr. Pakington, Mr. James (Cumberland), Mr. Elphin-
stone, Sir Charles Burrell, Sir John Con Hobhouse, Mr.
Wyse, Mr. Waddington, Mr. Wrightson, Mr. L. Fox, Mr.
Villiers Stuart, Sir Edward Colebrooke, Mr. Kemble,
Sir Stephen Glynne, Mr. Barclay, Mr. Gill, Mr. Stanton,
Right Hon. B. IVlacaulay, Mr. B. Hu&hes, Mr. C. Leigh, Mr.
W. Collett, Colonel Powell, Mr. Phillips, Mr. Allix, Hon. E.
Yorke, Mr. Trelawney, Mr. S. Davis, Mr. Ross (Rosstrevor),
Mr. G. Craig, Mr. J. H. Vivian, Viscount Ebrington, Mr.
Tufnell, Mr. Brotherton, Mr. Wawn, Mr. C. Douglas, Mr.
Estcourt, Mr. Shirley (Warwickshire), Mr. Ward, Mr.
Hastie, Lord Worsley, Lord Acheson, Hon. Colonel D.
Darner, Viscount Howick, Mr. Martin, Colonel Fox, Sir G.
Grey, Mr. Rashleigh, Mr. Stewart (Lymington), Mr. Ald •
ham, Hon. J. S. Wortley, Mr. Hawes, lion. %. B. Baring,
Lord Howard, Sir John Mordaunt, Mr. Acland, Sir William
Heathcote, Mr. Thornely, Mr. Greene, Mr. W. 0. Stanley,
Mr. A. Chapman, Mr. Lyall, Mr. Beresford, Sir Charles
Lemon, Mr. Grogan, Lord Harry Vane, the Hon. W. Cowper,
Colonel Rawdon, Mr. Bellew, Mr. Raikes Currie, and Mr.
Wilshire. Previous to the levee the Right Hon. Gentleman
entertained Viscount Grimston, Viscount Newport, Lord
Alfred Hervey, Sir T. Dyke Acland, Bart., Dir. Beckett
Denison, Sir Charles Knightley, the Hon. Colonel Rice
Trevor, Mr. Darby, the Hon. Captain Maxwell, Mr. A.
Hodgson, the lion. Francis Charteris, Mr. W. Beckett,
Captain Jones, Mr. B. Estcourt, Mr. Neeld (Chippenham),
Mr. J. A. Smith, Mr. Thesiger, Mr. G. A. Hamilton, Mr.
Monckton Milnes, Mr. W. Hamilton, Mr. Henley, Mr.
Mundy, 111 r. Hope Johnstone, Mr. C. Round, and Mr. J.
Bailey (Worcester), at dinner.
CHARLES WooD, • ESQ., KR—We regret to find
that the Honourable Member for Halifax has been for some
time prevented by illness from attending his Parliamentary
duties.—Leeds Mercury.
Mr. Francis Nicholson, the distinguished artist,
who has just died at the patriarchal age of ninety-one, was
the father of the water-colour school of painting in this
country. He was a man of true genius ; and eminent as was
his position as an artist, he was no less distinguished for his
practical knowledge of mechanics, music, optics, and che-
mistry. He also devoted much of his time to lithography,
for the advancement of which art England is much indebted
to

Dr. Dn.t, of Dublin, followed. He stated that they (the
Presbyterians) had shown what they could suffer; but he
(Dr. Dill) cautioned those who were now opposed to them,
not to reckon too largely on their capabilities of endurance.
He said, that were the Presbyterians of the north to combine
with the Catholics of the south, the Government of the
country could not long resist a demand that had been lately
made upon it, by which it was sought to separate the two
countries. He brought this forward merely as an instance
why the Legislature should not look lightly on so important
a body as the Presbyterians.
Mr. Molyneux, Mr. Johnson, and Dr. Stewart next ad-
dressed the meeting, the last of whom, at the conclusion of
his speech, submitted a draft of a:petition to the house, which
he had drawn up in the course of the day, for presentation to
the House of Commons. It was unanimously adopted.—The
Assembly then adjourned till the following day (Thursday).