The Sun.
London, England, 1842-09-08 00:00:00

e

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 8, 1842.

yellow fever, caused, as was supposed, by the
extreme heat, their contents are unimportant.

CLOSE OF THE COLLIERS'
STRIKE.
WEST BRO-MWICH, Wednesday Evening.
This morning a meeting of iron and coal-masters,
called by Mr. Salter, was held at the Dartmouth
Arms, to meet a deputation of men from the various
pits, with a view to an amicable settlement of the dif-
ference between the masters and men. Amongst those
present were Mr. Eaton, Mr. J. Nock, Mr. T. White•
house, Mr. Hood, and Mr. Fisher, coal and iron-
masters • agents were also present from the works of
Messrs: and Heines, Messrs. Guest, Wood,
and Salter. Several gentlemen anxious to effect a
settlement were also present, and amongst them were
Dr. Booth, W. Chance, Esq., Mr. Burgess, Commis-
sioner of the Birmingham police, J. 11eredith, Esq.,
Captain Baldwin, and others.
At one o'clock Lord DARTMOUTH was requested to
preside, and on taking the chair his Lordship stated
the object of the meeting, and in so doing referred to
the meeting held last week at that hotel. His Lordship
said he did not think he had any right whatever to in-
terfere between the masters and men, but having been
requested to use his influence to bring about an
amicable settlement, he had attended for that pur-
pose. He felt more at liberty to afford the men
an opportunity of meeting the masters, because
he knew that ample precautions had been taken
to secure the peace, and that the power of the autho-
rities was such as to give an ascendancy to the law.
The law and authority having been upheld, he for
one would be most willing to go into any grievances
of which the men might have to complain. He
thought the better course to be pursued on that oc-
casion would be to call in the working men and let
them state their case. They had also better call in
the butty colliers, and hear both sides, and after
hearing all, he would recommend that all those
gentlemen not engaged in the trade should leave the
room, and let the masters and men settle the difference
between them. Before they went into the business,
he thought Mr! Chance and Dr. Booth might wish to
say a few words. •
WM. CHANCE, Esq., a Magistrate and manufacturer
of Birmingham, then rose and said, that he had met a
highly respectable gentleman belonging to the coal-
trade the day before, who seemed to intimate that he
(Mr. Chance) ought not to take any part in the pro-
ceedings between the masters and men, and the
gentleman asked him how he should like it if a similar
interference took place between him (Mr. Chance) and
the persons employed in his glass-works. He (Mr.
Chance) disclaimed most positively any intention or
wish to interfere between master and man, but at the
same time he felt bound to say he considered the pre-
sent strike one of more than ordinary importance,
the effects of which were daily being felt throughout
the country. The question was one which had assumed
a sort of national importance, and in which every
man might be said to be interested. He had
in his manufactory 600 men and 100 women and
boys, to whom not less than 7001. a week was paid in
wages. There were not less than 2,500 individuals
depending upon the above amount of wages, and he
certainly felt that he had a deep interest in their wel-
fare and whatever affected them. He had been three
weeks ago within a very short time of stopping all his
works owing to the want of coal. He had been ob-
liged to get coal from Derby, and every other place
he could, at a very considerable loss and inconveni-
ence. He did not complain of that loss, but he looked
to the present strike as one deeply affecting the in-
terest of the country generally. They had not much
coal in Birmingham, and the scarcity must be felt
in other places. He and Dr. Booth had received a
deputation from the colliers, consisting of about thirty
men, and he must say he never met a body of men
with better feelings towards their masters, or men
who, if they told the truth, had stronger grpunds of
complaint against persons who had the employment
of them. He must, however, say that the statements
which he had heard were ex parte—he did not, he
could not, vouch for them ; but they were certainly
deserving the consideration of all those interested in
the trade. He only wished that the unfortunate
affair might be amicably settled, and, in saying so, he
was fully convinced that the sooner the strike was
settled the better for all parties.
Dr. BOOTH next addressed the meeting in explana-
tion of the motives which induced him to come for-
ward on that occasion. He and the Magistrates of
Birmingham, in common with those throughout the
county, had had a good deal of anxiety in preserving
the peace, and now that tranquillity was perfectly
restored, they were most anxious to retain it, and they
felt that nothing would more effectually tend to re-
store complete order, than the restoration of the col-
liers to the pits. He felt bound to corroborate Mr.
Chance in the character he had given of the colliers.
He met the deputation of miners with a very un-
favourable impression respecting them ; but he was
really bound to say he had been most agreeably sur-
prised at their conduct. He never met a better be-
haved body of working men in his life, and he should
never feel any
difficulty in meeting one thousand of
them.
Shelton, Hughes, and other colliers, whose state-
ments made last week relative to the butties, have
already appeared, then came forward, and reiterated
their grievances, consisting of bildasses, over-time, and
the truck system. A great deal of contradictory
evi-
dence having been gone through,
Mr. EATON, a master, said he had travelled a good
deal the day before in Bilston and neighbourhood,
and he could say that the masters and butties had
made up their minds not to allow bildasses any more,
nor would the butties press the men in future for the
quarter and half-days. He hoped the men would,
therefore, have reason to rejoice at the result of that
day's meeting ; that a far better understanding would
spring up, and that they would resume work upon
good terms with their masters.
Mr. DAVIS, a butty collier, after dross-examining
the witnesses at great length, said, the great evil of
which they had to complain was the big weight. He
had to send off boats laden with so much coal, for
which he was not allowed the full weight, and he
could not, consequently, afford to give the men all
they required.
SHELTON said he would ask, was it right to throw
all the burden on the poor men ? Why not go at
once toget redress, in place of
throwing
Mr. SALTER said he had every reason to believe
the
all p
uponit pit-owner wtnhee r ando
ro men
that all the masters in that part of the county would
remove the abuses of which the men had reason to
complain. He thought they might now safely close
that inquiry.
Some men said they were afraid to complain, be-
cause they would be discharged.
Several agents said the men might rely upon it the
masters would not refuse to listen to any proper com-
plaint, nor would they allow any man to be put away
by the butties for complaining.
Dr. BOOTH then addressed the men, and advised
them to go at once to their masters and avail them-
selves of the present favourable feeling. They had no
right to doubt the sincerity of the masters, who had
expressed their determination not to allow any more
oppression upon their men.
Lord DARTMOUTH said he hoped things would now
take a favourable turn, and that they would soon be
all at work.
During the course of the meeting it was stated that
nearly all the pits had been set on to work during
the last two days at the old prices—the proposed
reduction having been abandoned by some masters.
The other proportion, it is hoped, will soon follow.
It is, therefore, to be hoped that the whole district
will immediately resume labour, so far as consump-
tion will allow, and that the admitted evils of which
the men have had to complain may never be repeated,
nor the
peace of society threatened by such a mass of
discontent being thrown upon it.

A GREAT MAN. —That the Anti-Corn-law

League, says the Examiner, is a body of some im- I
portance, nobody can doubt who sees the labour the
Tory press bestows upon its defamation and destruc-
tion. That Joseph Sturge is by the same rule a great
man, indeed a very great man, nobody can doubt who
sees the labour that both the Tory and the Whig
Journals bestow on his writings and proceedings. The
Times, Herald, Globe, Standard, and Post, all in turn,
defame and try to destroy Joseph Sturge. Peel and
Palmerston, great as they were at the close of the
session, and great as one of them is said to make him-
self every day in a Contemporary, do not receive half
the attention that does Joseph Sturge. While their
laboured orations are forgotten, his address to the Irish
nation, his Circulars to the Complete Suffrage Society,
are daily commented on, as much as is the new Bible
by the Mormons. Joseph Sturge has seized hold of
the movement by the right handle, and fixes the at-
tention of the mere politicians of all parties by alarm-
ing them. Feargus O'Connor is making way for the
man of peace, and it seems not inconsistent with the
progress which society has made in knowledge, that
the next great change should be headed by a benevo-
lent Quaker.

CU,

AIOVER.

We have received a very bitterly written letter in-
veighing against the curtailment, at the permit office,
of the time usually allowed to give the permits, from
two hours to one, previous to the boat sailing. We
cannot admit the letter, but, we are confident, if the
party will write to the Mayor a temperate letter,
stating the inconvenience himself and family suffered,
and their losing the boat in consequence, it will receive
every attention. For ourselves, we cannot see why
the permits are not delivered, during the day, to all
who choose to apply for them. Then, an hour pre-
vious to the boat sailing would be sufficient to supply
all travellers arrived after the bureau closed.—Bou-
logne Gazette. [No one can be surprised that the
correspondent writes bitterly. Can anything be more
absurd than to restrict passengers to one hour for re-
ceiving permits to embark when the number generally
exceeds one hundred, and the officers at the passport
office cannot possibly supply all in that time ? If the
official authorities at Boulogne wish to prevent all in-
tercourse with foreigners, why do they not state so
openly, without allowing persons to come there and
spend their money, and then insult them as they
leave ? The system is disgraceful to a civilized country.
—ED. Sun.]
EARL RADNOR ON TIIE CORN-LAWS.—This up-
right and honest Nobleman has published the speech
which he made on moving the second reading of
his Bill for abolishing the Corn-laws. Like all the
Noble Earl's speeches it is plain, sensible, and
pithy ; coming at once to the point, and stating in
a few sentences the arguments which diffuse
speakers expand into a lonecolumn. The Noble
Earl's well-timed speech will enforce the still more
eloquent language of facts which are now, both in the
manufacturing and agricultural districts, demanding;
trumpet-tongued, the abolition of the Corn-laws.

REPORTED DEATH OF THE KIN G

OF HANOVER.

We have just received the melancholy intelligence
of the death of the King of Hanover, from a gentle-
man who reached London this afternoon direct from
Dusseldorf. '
His Majesty attended a review on Saturday last at
that place, and appeared in perfect health during the
day ; but having taken some ice, or other refresh-
ment, was suddenly seized with illness, and diedeither
on Saturday night or early on Sunday morning.
The melancholy fact Nv as matter of common con-
versation at Cologne.—Evening Paper.
[The Dutch and German papers of the 6th instant,
received last night, make no allusion to this report.]

MANCHESTER AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY.—It ap-
pears that three quarters of an hour are now saved by
this line to Crewe. If the original plan were carried out
to Rugby nearly two hours would have been saved. But
the spirit of monopoly would not allow it !
EDINBURGH AND GLASGOW RAILWAY. THE
QUEEN'S VislT.—Perhaps not the least remarkable ef-
fect of her Majesty's visit to the metropolis was the ex-
traordinary
run of passengers upon the Edinburgh and
Glasgow Railway. The receipts, so far as can be esti-
mated in the mean time, quadrupled those of the week
previous, and the number of passengers was, conse-
quently, great in proportion. The amount of money
drawn was about 6,500/. ; this, contrasted with the week
previous, gives a rise of 4,8821., the sum drawn that
week for passengers being only 1,6181. 2s. 6d. The pas-
sengers for the same week (we mean the week ending
the 27th of August) amounted to 12,345. For the week
therefore be set down at not less
than 50,000. Add to these the numbers who came and
just past they may
went by other conveyances, and it is not improper, we
think, to say that upwards of 100,000 persons from Glas-
gow and neighbourhood traversed Auld Reekie upon this
eventful occasion. The officials of the railway at both
depots describe the numbers who travelled with them as
unprecedented on this line.—Glasgow Chronicle.
About four
o'clock esterday afternoon a young
y
man of respectable appearance, about 23 years of age,
called at the 'residence of Mr. Phillips, surgeon, No 44,
Albion-street, Hyde-park, and requested to see Mr.
Phillips. He was immediately showl into the surgery,
IN her, on being asked by Mr. Basevi, assistant to Mr.
Phillips, his business with that gentleman, he replied
that he wished to consult him medically. Mr. Basevi
accordingly handed him a chair, and left him in the sur-
gery, while he
went to acquaint Mr. Phillips of the cir-
cumstance. On his return in a minute or two afterwards
he found the pretended patient was gone, and on search-
ing the place it was'discovered that he had stolen from a
drawer in the surgery two mourning rings, one with
three diamonds in it, and the other a plain one, two gold
pins set with torquoise, a ditto with a red stone, a tor-
toiseshell-eased watch with a silver guard chain, and a
very fair hair, sallow the property of the assistant.
The fellow is described as about 5 feet 10 inches high,
boots,dressed
anind as
tolbarockwnhaPt
.te 6rsham coat, with velvet collar
complexion, no whiskers, and
quantity of silver money's,
and pockets in front, brown broad-.5M174
trousers,
worn very tight at the bottom, with straps,'Blucher
1
.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
" A Constant Reader" is informed that " a young man
under 21 years," cannot be imprisoned for debt.

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SUN OFFICE Three o'Cloch.

There appears to be no truth whatever in the
Standard's report of the death of the KING of

Among other public bodies admitted to the
presence of the SOVEREIGN at Dalkeith Palace,
was a deputation representing the Church of
Scotland, consisting of some thirty members of
the late General Assembly. According to a
former precedent, which, considering the late con-
duct of the dominant portion of the Church,
would have been more honoured in the breach

than the observance, they presented an address
to the QUEEN, in which they attributed the rapid
advance of the Scottish nation in civilization, com-

mercial enterprise, the peaceful arts of industry,
and loyalty, to " the power of divine truth im-
pressed on the heart by the faithful preaching of
the word, accompanied by the inestimable
advantage of a sound practical education,
based on the Holy Scriptures." Now, making
every allowance for the inestimable blessings
conferred on Scotland by her admirable system
of Church government and parochial schools, it
is only fair to state, in justice to other parties,
that the Church cannot exclusively claim the
merit of the vast improvements which have
taken place in that country, since the accession
Of the house of BatiNswlcK. The learned men
who enlightened the community by their
writings on every useful branch of science and
philosophy, the practical agriculturist, the indus-
trious merchant, and, above all, the wise legis-
lators who established the parochial schools, and,
by the passing of the Union Act, opened the wealth
of the English colonies to Scotch enterprise,
must come in fur no small share of the honour
which the Church would attribute to her exer-
tions alone. But independent of these circum-
stances there were great men the in Church before
the accession of the present line of kings. They
preached the word in season and out of season,
and, notwithstanding all their exertions, the
Scotch remained a lawless and turbulent people,
rebelling not unfrequently against their Sove-
reign, and committing deeds of atrocity towards
one another, not surpassed in modern times.
And besides allowing the ministers of the
Gospel all the merit which they assume,
the praise must be awarded, not to that
sect which unfortunately has thrown the re,
ligious community into such disorder, and who,
nevertheless, complacently regard themselves as
the only " faithful preachers of the word," but
to the great majority who, during the period of
these vast improvements, had supreme control
in ecclesiastical matters. Among the more dis-
tinguished of these in latter times were ROBERT-
SON, BLAIR, and HILL, with others whose names
it is needless to recount; and how are the men
that now tread in their footsteps treated by the
present majority of the Church? The history of
the three laSt General Assemblies affords the
melancholy answer. Many of them have been
deposed for obeying what they conscientiously be-
lieved to be the law as established by Church and
State, great numbers have been suspended, or
threatened with suspension, for sympathising with
their suffering brethren, and thus 'the very men to
whose ecclesiastical policy such a just tribute is
paid, are all but thrust out of the Church. On
referring to the address, we were curious to see
in what way the present leaders would express
their loyalty, after they had been pronounced by
the Supreme Civil Courts in Scotland and Eng-
land guilty of a breach of the law, and were no t
a little delighted to find on the first perusal that
their "aim was to inculcate the indispensable
duty of allegiance to the Supreme power of the
State." On reading it, however, more carefully,
we discovered in a sort of parenthesis a striking
reservation, by which all this professed loyalty
was only conditional and subservient to the
►► paramount obligations, privileges, and hopes
of the Gospel," which, when translated into
plain, intelligible language, means their own
acts of Assembly. They b)ldly told the QUEEN
they reckoned these paramount to all others, and
would give allegiance to the sovereign power of
the State, only so far as it was consistent
with the law which they had laid down for them-
selves. Sir ROBERT PEEL probably wished to
act a generous part on an occasion of such
general rejoicing, and was anxious to avoid all
collision with the ministers of peace, but had he
refused his assent to the address, he would have
been justified by the law of the land, and by the
established practices observed in all communi-
cations between the Sovereign and people.

The speech of Lord DENMAN on the sth inst.
at the York Assizes, preparatory to pronouncing
sentence upon upwards of 150 persons convicted
of being guilty of riots during the late operatives'
strike, was in many respects worthy of the high
character of that eminent Judge. He affected
no alarm—indulged in no exaggeration of facts
or appearances—and exhibited no warmth of
temper unsuited to the high duty which he was
called upon to discharge. There were one or two
points in his speech, however, suggestive
of observations which evidently did not
occur to his Lordship, though they may
have done so to the prisoners at the bar.
In alluding to the conflicts of the people with
the police and- constabulary, the Noble and
Learned Lord observed, that, " forgetful of the
plain and undeniable truth that the civil powers
are even more for the protection of the lower
orders than of other classes, ignorant people
assembled against them, and the oppor-
tunity was selected by wicked men of wreak-
ing their mean malignancy upon those
whose vigilance they had reason to dis-
like." Now, we can assure the Learned
Judge that the forgetfulness of which he com-
plains was not the sin of the operatives. The
persons who first forgot the real object for which
he tells us the constabulary were appointed, and
who taught the police to forget it too, were
the middle and upper classes, and, last of all, Sir
JAMES GRAHAM. They it was, who, forgetting
that the civil powers were appointed for the pro-
tection of the lower classes, taught them
that their proper business was to asssist
in coercing them, devoting the rest of
their labours to the protection of the property
and persons of the rich. Doubtless, as a con-
stitutional doctrine, nothing can be more correct
than the statement of the Learned Judge; but
in practice it has long become obsolete. A
Secretary of State has pitted the con-
stabulary against the operatives; and the
universal cry now is, that the working
classes find, instead of protectors, inveterate ene-
mies in the police. They allege, and we fear not
untruly, than more constabulary solicitude is ma-
nifested for a rich man's dog, than for the life of
an industrious artisan or small shopkeeper, each
the father of a helpless family.

We have the Journals of Madrid and Barce-
lona of the 30th of August. The Patriote of
Madrid says that the statement of the Eco del
Commercio, that the Ministry has it in contemp-
lation to organise a secret police for Spain, is
fhlse. The bands of Estramadura and La Manche
still keep the field; they get recruits from the
old comrades of Pidillos and Orejita. The
Spanish Journals call on the Government to
take efficacious measures to put down these
bandits. The Madrid Gazette of the 28th pub-
lishes the following circular, which the Director-
General of the Customs has just sent to the In-
tendents in the provinces :
" In order to put an end to the frequent doubts
which are raised in Custom-houses open to foreign
respecting the admission and forwarding
importation,
of goods which have a mixture of cotton in them,
the Board, seeing the embarrassment and the, injury
caused by them to honourable merchants, and to the
Treasury, have decided—
" That notice shall be given to all hands of the