The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-23 00:00:00

take. an active part with the Magistrates to-morrow.
lie is said to be deservedly popular amongst his work-
people, having kept his works going to the fullest pos-
sible extent. All the furnaces are at present " on,"
xi.nt one, which is being repaired. During the
winter, in consequence of the resolution of the iron-
masters to reduce the making of iron one-fourth, the
greatest distress prevailed, in endeavouring to allevi-
ate which Sir John and Lady Charlotte Guest were
unceasing in their attentions to the wants of the poor
work-people. Besides contributing his ordinary an-
nual subscription to the benevolent fund established by
Lady Guest, Sir John subscribed 201. per month for
the relief of the poor ; and as soon as the time during
which the proprietors had resolved to reduce the make
had expired, Sir John again put on the furnaces.

We have made some inquiries to get some data as
to the extent of the existing distress in this district,
and from all that we have been able to gather, we
think that we are within the mark in saying that at
least one-fburth less is paid. in wages now than about
twelve or eighteen months ago ; not that the wages
are reduced to that extent, but, in consequence of the
bad state of the iron-trade, which has thrown num-
bers out of work, a great many of whom have emi-
grated to America and try Spain. With every dispo-
sition on the part of; we believe, all the proprietors,
without exception, to meet the wants of the workmen,
there mast of necessity be great distress when the
price of iron is now from 41. 10s. to .5/. per ton, when
in 1840 it was 81. to el., which was pointed out to
the men by Mr. Henry Crawshay, when they
waited upon him to request an advance of wages
to the rate of 1840, asking them how they
could reasonably expect what they asked, when
they knew as well as he the state of the trade. So
far as the iron7masters are concerned, it would be a
relief to them, as far as the make of iron is concerned,
that the men should strike for a time, for they are
being paid out of the capital of their employers, with
thousands of tons of iron on hand, for which there is
no demand. Employment is, therefore, diminished,-
and the rate of wages lower than it has been ; and
it is little short of absolute insanity in the men to
attempt to coerce the master into giving higher
wages; and we really do not believe that such is the
rea' object of the present movement in this quarter.
It is only used as a pretence to further their designs
(as they think) by some of the most ignorant of
Chartists. Indeed, the thing speaks for itself—there
has been no attempt to reduce the wages on the part
of the masters, and why, therefore, should men who
are employed forsake their employment, and raise an
o:Itc:y of distress, if they had r ot some other object in
view. Let us hope that the honest and deluded por-
tion of the workmen will soon see their error, and re-
turn to their lawful occupations. The filowing, we
have learned, from a disinterested source, is the pre-
sent rate of wages :- -Colliers, 14s. per week ; puddlers
and firemen. average about 255. per week ; and corn-
man labourers ls. 10d.
_per day and their coals.

GLASGOW.
ARRIVAL OF A DELEGATION FROM
MANCHESTER.

GLASGOW, SATURDAY EYENING.—A good deal of
sensation WB3 created in town this" afternoon, imme-
diately after the publication of the Saturday Post, con-
taining the following paragraph :
" We have heard this afternoon of the arrival
in Glasgow of a delegation from Manchester, . and
other of th disturbed English districts, whose object,
so far as can be ascertained from present appearances,
is to induce a general strike amongst the operatives
here. If they are successful with the various influen-
tial trades' leaderS, with whom they seek interviews,
there can be no doubt that Glasgow will speedily wit-
ness a repetition of the unfortunate scenes now of daily
occurrence in Manchester, and the other manufactur-
ing English towns."

This—statement I believe to be perfectly correct,
though what has yet been their success it is impossible
to deterinine. It cannot be doubted, however, so far
as the number of the unemployed and the wretched
condition of the working classes are concerned, that
these agents have plenty of material to work upon.
The effect of such a movement in Glasgow, which
every right-minded man will pray may be long
averted, would be productive of the most tearful con-
sequences. Some idea of the extent of the depression
here (as affecting not the lowest paid operatives alone,
but extending to the highest grade of workmen) may
be formed, when I state that in one large thundry,
which a short time ago employed about 700 men,
comprising engineers, machine-makers, &c., there are
only now about twenty in regular employ, and these
are only retained to keep open the establishment.
Another class of workmen (tenters of factories) have
been seriously affected by our decreasing trade. It is
computed that in Glasgow there are about 200 of
them obtaining a small pittance from their brethren,
weekly, for their support. Dressers are in like cir-
cumstances, their description of labour being super-
seded by starching machines, &c., and there are not
less than 150 of them gettingsupport from their society.
All other trades of what is considered the better
class, are similarly circumstanced ; and when these
things, in addition to other exciting causes, are taken
into account, it is frightful to contemplate the masses
of people which a general strike would turn into the
streets. The citizens upon many occasions have had
to contemplate with alarm and surprise the immense
crowd- of di: orderly characters which on a Queen's
birth-night, or some such " rejoicing " occasion, can
in a few minutes be collected on a given point for a
mere matter of- " fun" and boyish disturbance. What
would be the case with our manufacturing population,
already rendered desperate by pinching poverty,
joined to these, is too alarming to think of with calm-
ness. The reflection that these " agents " may find
our labouring classes too ready to listen to their
seductive tale is what makes such a paragraph as the
above of more than ordinary interest at the present
time, and forces upon all classes the thought that
when such things are staking place, real danger is to
be apprehended.
THE MINING DISTRICTS IN
SCOTLAND.
(From the Glasgow Saturday Post.)
CAMPSIE.—'We are glad to be able to state, that the
struck workers in the alum works of this district,
have now come to terms with their masters, and are
again at their usual employment. We cannot say
anything yet however, in reference to the Campsie
colliers. We believe they are still " out.". _ _

COATBIZIDGE —By a letter from Coatbridge, of date
this morning, we learn that " there was an unusual
bustle visible amongst the working classes here yes-
terday, owing to one of the iron-stone pits of Dun-
dyvan having commenced working. The men had
an interview with their employer, Mr. Wilson, and
although they are still unsettled as to several minor
details, they have agreed to 4s. a day." The writer
anticipates, but for this we see no substantial grounds,
that the rest of the miners in this quarter will follow
by the end of next week.
. .

BARRILEAD.-All the colliers in this district have
stopped working. Notwithstanding the strike, how-
ever, we are happy to know that no complaints fro':
the farmers or other proprietors of farm produce in
this neisbbourhood have, yet been forwarded to the

- We are informed that at the meeting of the Ayr-
shire colliers on Thursday, they resolved to strike,
after giving the regular warning, unless their de-
mands were in the interval complied with.
CLACKMANNANSIIIRE.--ALLOA, AUGUST 7.—The
greater portion of the colliers in Clackmannanshire
have struck work. Some of the masters of these
works resolved on making an example of some of the
supposed ringleaders of the strike, and, accordingly,
several police and other officers were sent last night
(Wednesday) to Clackmannan to apprehend them;
but whenever they made their appearance, and their
purpose was seen into, they were set upon by a mob—
mostly women and boys—who gave the officers a
most severe handling. One officer is lying danger-
ously wounded about the head ; another got three of
his ribs driven from the back bone. Report says that
military have been sent for. The constables lately
sworn in in Alloa have all got notice to keep them-
selves in readiness.

(From the Caledonian Mercury of Saturday.)
On Friday a general meeting of the colliers of
Mid and East Lothian took place at Musselburgh
Links, which was attended by about 1,000 indi-
viduals, 800 of whom might be colliers. Wilson was
again in the chair, and proposed the resolutions adop-
ted at Lionghead, with the addition of a fourth, to the
effect that no single body should accept those terms
until they were agreed to by all the masters. Meikle,.
from Whitehill, rose to propose an amendment, but
was put clown by clamour, and drew off his party to
another part of the Links, where he advised them to
return to their work, and trust to the justice of their
employers ;• arguing that as there was a large supply
of coals above ground, their labour would be for some
time in less demand. Smith, a supposed delegate
from Holytown, stated to the general meeting that he
understood the greater part of the colliers in the west
had returned to their work—the masters, as he had
heard, having agreed to their terms. The whole as-
semblage separated peaceably, and it is generally ex-
pected that those of the colliers in the quarter who
have struck, and who form a minority of the whole,
will resume work in the beginning of next week.
AIEETING OF COMMISSIONEES OF SUP-