The Sun.
London, England, 1842-08-12 00:00:00

GLASGOW.

THE COLLIERS' STRIKE—ALARMING APPRE-
HENSIONS IN THE MINING DISTRICTS
NEAR GLASGOW. •
With regret we have to announce that the miners of
Airdrie, Coatbridge, and vicinity, have resolved to con-
tinue,their alarming and extensive strike, and that the
potato° fields in this quarter are stillravaged with the most
barefaced audacity. The military are still stationed at
Airdrie and Coatbridge, but their presence . seems to be
little avail in restraining the starving depredators.
On Monday night a large potatoe field, near Calder, the
property of Mr. Lindsay, was completely cleared f its
contents ; and on the same day, another field at Ras-
bush, not more than half a mile from the head-quarters
of the military, was severely visited. Indeed, so far as,
appearances go, this turn-out would seem to be the
tuost alarming that has ever taken place in the mining
districts in the west of Scotland. At a large meeting of
the colliers on Saturday last they resolved unanimously
i,ot to return to their employment until their " reason-
able " demands were complied with ; and at three dis-
t rict meetings held on Monday, that resolution was de-

liburattly Contirtned. Whatever be their present cir-
imnstances, the colliers upper to be united and deter-

lained to continue to strike ; and this resolution, the I
conduct of the employers at the meeting in Airdrie, '
where the Sheriff presided, on Friday last, would seem '
to have considerably strengthened. What renders matters
more alarming., is the circumstance that the shopkeepers '
begin to exhibit au interest in the affairs of the men. Some
i,liea of this feeling may he formed from the fact, thut
the military have not yet been attempted to bo billeted
t►pon the inhabitants, and that no offers have been made,
even by the most loyal, to provide accommodation for
I hem in their houses. There is not a man working at
the coal or ironstone pits of Dundyvan, and all the iron
furnaces are on short allowance. The masters are buy-
ing, borrowing, and exchanging quantities of coals, with
the view of resisting the strikers, but serious fears are
entertained that they will be unable to continue. All
the furnaces at Calder are extinguished. There are five
out at Dundyvau, eight at Gartsherrie, and two at
Chapelhall. The miners have appealed to the shop-.
keepers for assistance to carry on the strike (and when it
is considered that many of them arc altogether dependent
!Ton the colliers for subsistence, it will not appear won-
derful that their appeals are attended to), and in this
wive considerable sums have been raised ; sums from ss.
to 11. are extensively contributed, and one grocer, we are
informed, is so involved in the success of the colliers, as
to find it to his interest to offer them the loan of 1501.,
to be returned when they get into employment.
The excitement in Airdrie and Coatbridge is con-
,iderably increased. Large bodies of the unemployed
congregate round the Court-house and the inn where
:he military are established, and remain sitting, stand-
ing, squatting, smoking, and chatting together.
The sentries at these parts have been doubled, and
the general community themselves are anything but com-
fortable. The colliers would seem to lie a bed the greater
part of the day, and bestir themselves at night to a very
bad purpose—the digging of the potatoes in their nearest
vicinity. On Sunday and Whinday night last, shots of
guns were heard eight and nine in succession, in the
fields around .Airdrie, to the great alarm of the inhabi-
tants. These were from the muskets of watchers, who
had either been terrified or attacked. So great is the
alarm of the authorities, that they issued yesterday an
additional proclamation. It is to the following effect :

" PROCLAMATION.

" The sheriff, having learned with regret that, notwith,
standing the professions of moderation, and a wish to
abstain from violence, made by the different deputations
ef colliers and ironstone miners, with whom he has had
eunferences during .the last week, depredations to an
alarming scale on the part of the combined colliers still
euntinue ; and in particular, that large bands of men, in
very direction, throughout the mining districts, enter
fields of potatoes during the night, and often threaten
and inalreat the persons stationed to defend their pro-
perty, to the great terror and injury of the peaceable in-
Ustbitants of the country, hereby intimates that such de-
inedati,,ns amount to
,stouthrief, and. like murder and
obberv, are punishable by death, or transportation.
end in order to put a stop to such disgraceful pro-
eeeaings in future, notice is hereby given, that steps are
in preparation for calling out the Yeomanry, and sta-
tioning them in the disturbed districts, in order to
establith nightly patrols in every direction for the pro-
tection of the •life and property of the agricultural popu-
lation ; and with a view to co-operate in the proposed
rat-ti.hures, the Sheriff hereby calls upon the posse comi-
,'atz..s of the couvto come forward to the support-of
public l'eaee,-4ttd.recottniends all wea-dispoted per.
la the lower atld, roiddle wards of I=4:kkhire, azd,
11117 in t4l:f4s94li4tficts. inhabited by Coal and iron-
:;tone iTtifler§, to tho nearest Jus4o9 of the Peace,
to-lio prom is >lriat coait4lo6 114. -44 voids

. ~>. ~ ~

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themselves with batons, elect officers, and establish
points of rendezvous, in order that they may be in a
condition to co-operate with the military and yeomanry
forces,. in perambulating the country and securing and
bringing the offenders to justice.
"Persons threatened with pillage, who do not feel
themselves in • sufficient strength to resist, are recome
mended to watch where the depredators go, and in what
rows or squares 'they dwell, and to send information to
the Sheriff, in Airdrie,•in order that they may be imme-
diawly apprehended. "A. ALISON, Sheriff:
• " Xirdne, Aug. 8, 1842."
It is brit fair to the men to state, nevertheless, that at
every meeting they have held it has been strictly en-
jelned on the multitude ta abstain from all acts of vio-
-lena,,, and to conduct themselves orderly.and peaceably.
A gee.nriiiinv of the colliers have left the towns for the
stn: vetit, and a numbei more "to visit their friends ; but
the -numbers in the towns are still sufficiently imposing.
The following circular was eXteusively circulated by
the miners in Airdrie yesterday!--
"Sir.—As a general request, could yoU find it con va
ife;:it. to attend a meeting of the respectable grocers and
treder;, in and around Airdrie, at two o'clock, in the
afterioon, at the Mason's Lodge, when you will find on
the table a petitien from the Coal and Iron-stone Miners,
6taling to you our circumstances, and the present neces-
sity of ourdemands; this meet your approbation,
we Will expect to hear favourably from von.
"By order of the .Committee.
4. Meadow Head, 9th August, 1842."
In answer to this request, a meeting of shopkeepers
w:ls:held in the Masons' Hall, where a meniorhd containing
a detail of the principal grievances of the colliers. lay on
the table for examination, At the meeting several sums
of motley were subscribed, and a friendly feeling towards
-the colliers generally exhibited.

ABERDEENSHIRE.
(From the Aberdeen Journal.)
PROCLAMATION BY THE AUTHORITIES OP ABERDEEN.

. _
• In consequence of the inflammatory and threatening
harangues of some of our local agitators, at recent public
Meetings, the Municipal authorities, in conjunction with
the Sheriff of the county, issued a proclamation on Mon-
day last, warning all and sundry, of the danger of such
proceedings, and -expressing a firm determination to em
ph'y the powers vested in them by law, to repress such
incitements to popular disturbance, and to inflict rigorous
punishment on their authors. Upwards of two hundred
of the unemployed have for some time been receiving,
and are continuing to receive with gratitude, such A'ork,
wage's, end. other aid, as the means placed at the disposal
of the Magistrates permit.