The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-05-05 00:00:00

IMPORTANT TO BRICKMAKERS.

A case of great importance was, on Friday, brought before
Mr. Rushton, connected with the foolish strike of the brick-
makers, most of whom have been idling away the last few
weeks, to the detriment both of themselves and their employ-
ers. The following facts will explain the nature of the case,
which is not a strike for wages, but the result of a resolution
of the Journeymen Brickrnakers' Union, to which the mas-
ters have seen fit to demur. The whole court was densely
crowded with the turnouts, and many of the masters were also
present. John Williams, John Cosgrove, Michael Duffey,
George Morecroft, Samuel Daniels, William Harrison, John
Tomkinson, and John Thompson, were placed at the bar,
charged by Messrs. Samuel and James Holme with having
absented themselves from work, having previously contracted
to make bricks for the season, at certain prices, and in
moulds of a certain size.

Mr. Samuel Holme having been sworn, deposed that John
Williams was in his and his brother's employment—that
Williams, as well as the others, had commenced the prepara-
tion of his clay at the end of last autumn, by casting or
throwing up—that during the whole of the winter months
everything went on satisfactorily, weekly wages being ad-
vanced on account of the work performed—no objections
being ever made by any man either to the prices or the size
of the moulds. A few weeks ago when it was necessary to
commence moulding the bricks, but whilst the men were
levelling the ground, which they did by the day, he received
a note dated the 10th April, Is4o, stating, " that in accor-
dance with a resolution passed the day before, the brick-
makers of Liverpool would cease to work with any mould
containing more than 150 cubic inches of clay when wet,
after Saturday, the 11th instant." This note was signed by
John Roberts and James Mawdsley, " secretaries to the
committee." The evening, before paying them their wages,
Mr. Holme told them that he would not permit them to go
on with any more day work until he had an assurance that
they would work with the usual sized moulds, such as were
customary. To this they did not seem to object, and on
the Monday evening many of them came to the office and
stated that they were walking about against their will, and
that they would go to work if they dared. Amongst others
who made this remark was Harrison, one of the defendants.
They, however, all consented to enter into an agreement, in
writing, to go to work, after having had a long conversation
with Mr. Holme, who remonstrated with them on the folly
of their conduct, and after having signed the contract, all the
other men came up to the office, including the defendants,
and voluntarily entered into the written engagement. As
some of the moulds were too short for the width, Messrs.
Holme had some new moulds made, the cubical quantity of
clay which they contained being, however, considerably less
than the contents of the moulds usually employed. Having
to go from home, directions were given that when these new
moulds were ready they should be substituted; but in the
mean time, the men bad been influenced by the club, and
on one of the clerks informing them that he should send up
the moulds when ready, they refused to work with them,
notwithstanding they had been made to ensure uniformity of
size in the bricks, eight or ten cubic inches less than the
moulds agreed on. Three sets of men, however. had refused
to obey the club, and had continued honestly arid soberly
at their employment. notwithstanding the jeopardy in which
they were placed by their good conduct, and Mr Holme hoped
the magistrates would give them their powerful protection.
Mr. Wardle, solicitor, who appeared for the workmen,
objected to the agreement, as it was not on stamp.
Mr. Rushton.—Your objection is futile, as the act of par-
liament does not require an agreement between master and
workmen to be on stamp.
Richard ivloore deposed that he was a clerk in the employ
of Messrs. Holme, that the agreement produced bore the
si_natures of all the defendants, and, that they had absented
themselves from work after being requested to proceed.
Mr. Wardle then called Edward Moorcroft and Samuel
Earle for the defendants, but neither of them appeared.
He next called Mr. Siddel, one of Messrs. Holmes' clerks,
to endeavour to prove that the agreement had been broken
by Messrs. Holme preventing the men proceeding. It ap-
peared, however, that the contrary had been the case. The
witness deposed that during the absence of both his masters,
he had, so far from stopping the men, requested them to go
on—had reasoned with them on their folly, and had also to
make himself clearly understood, sent a special message to
them on the Monday to request that they would proceed
with the regular moulds, at least until Mr. Samuel Holmes'
return home ; but they all refused to do so, and struck work.
Mr. Rushton then addressed the defendants in a very
powerful and feeling manner, and after explaining to them
the act of parliament, which left him no discretion but the
painful one of committing them to the House of Correction,
amongst thieves and vagabonds, he entreated the men to go
their work according to the desire of their masters, who did
not wish to enforce the penalty of the law, unless by their
own obstinacy and blindness. He desired them to consider
their wives and families, and not exhibit a ridiculous bravado
because they might have made a foolish promise to a club.
Labour, he said, was the poor man's capital, and he had a
right,to sell it on what terms he pleased, high or low. Every
man breathing had a right to do so ; and those who, by in-
timidation or threats, prevented a man's disposing of his
labour for the benefit of himself. his wife, and children, was
guilty of the grossest tyranny, and if proved against such a
person, would deservedly subject him to severe punishment.
But in their case it was altogether different. They had en-
tered into a written contract, which had been most satisfac-
torily proved on oath, and unless that contract was fulfilled,
painful as it might be to him, he should deem it his bounden
duty to commit the whole of them for the longest period
which the law admitted, taking into his consideration the
peculiar circumstances of the case. They had been ably de-
fended, and he requsted they would confer with their legal
adviser and let him know their decision.
During the time the men were conferring with Mr. Wardle,
a man of the name of Wood, who is, we are told, a ringleader
amongst the turn-outs, in a most impudent strain questioned
Mr. Rushton's decision, declared that in the law between
masters and servants there was nothing said about brick-
makers (loud laughter), and produced an article from the
Albion newspaper, stating that that was the law, and that no
brick should be moulded more than 150 cubic inches. He
ultimately conducted himself with such rudeness, that Mr.
Rushton was obliged to threaten his committal, and declared
that such a man was deserving of punishment, as it was
evident that he was misleading better men.
After a conference of more than half an hour, the men
again came into court, and, after displaying much stupidity
and mental evasion as to the size of the moulds and other
matters, which, however, which Mr. Rushton promptly
detected, they one and all consented to go to their work.
Mr Rushton again addressed them, and told them he was
glad of their decision, and he assured them, that when they
went to work, if they were in any way molested by any other
workmen, they should have every necessary protection. The
law was strong enough to repress any breach of its provisions :
and, if it were necessary, the whcle of the police force should
be ordered to protect them. He warned all those who heard
him, against interfering with them or any other men who
were willing to work, more especially such characters as that
which had just given such annoyance to the court ; and he
declared his intention of punishing, with the utmost severity,
all who so unjustifiably and cruelly prevented an honest man
from earning his bread on any terms he chose.
Mr. Samuel Holme begged Mr.- Rushton to read to the
court, which he perceived was crowded with bricknsakers, the
definition of the Act 2d Victoria, as he believed many of the
workmen were influenced by the opinion that the Act required
the moulds to be within'lso cubic inches.
Mr. Rushton read to the court the " general order" of the
Board of Excise, as well as a communication from the
Secretary to the Masters, in which it appears, that by reason
of some description of clay shrinking when in the act of
drying, much more than others, it is impossible that a general
standard mould can be specified ; but that the definition of
the act is this, that the bricks when dry and ready for the
kiln shall not contain a greater quantity of cubic inches than
150, that being the usual size of bricks, when burnt, for many
years : whereas if the clay is only made in a mould of that
size, the bricks .would be very much below the stipulation of
the act when they were dry ; and both masters and the public
who buy by the thousand would be proportionate loser.
This, at least, appears to us, as far as we can understand
it, to be the question at issue.
Mr. Holme wished to say a few words before the men were
dismissed. He assured them that he should forgive and t
forget the whole transaction ; and when they returned to work
he should endeavour to make their situation and employ-
ment as comfortable as it had hitherto beie n.
The whole of the defendants were then liberated.

DEPARTURE OF THE BRITISH QUEEN, FOR
NEW YORK.

It will be perceived, by the following copy of a letter from
Messrs. Garratt and Gibbon, the Agents for the Underwriters'
Association of this town, to Mr. Court, tht.t the British
Queen left Portsmouth, for New York, at half-past four, on
Fri day last.
the Ist 'natant. She was, we hear, full of pas-
sengers. We beg to call the attention of our readers to the
latter part of the letter, in which Messrs. Garratt and Gibbon
offer to take charge of letters on any similar occasion, and
put them on board the vessel for which they are intended.
" Portsmouth, May Ist, 1840.
SIR,—We beg to acknowledge the receipt of your es-
teemed favour of the 29th instant, with letter enclosed, which
we immediately put on board the British Queen, in charge of
our clerk afloat, who deposited it in our letter-bag, with se-
veral others we received from Liverpool the same post, which
we have acknowledged to the respective writers, whose names
we have annexed. Many others also came without any ad-
vice ; they were also all put on board. The vessel sailed at
half-past four, p.m. to-day. We are much obliged for the
suggestion, and beg you will inform the merchants and ship-
owners, generally, we shall, on similar and all other occasions,
be most happy to receive and forward their letters, and that
we will always advise them if they are in time or not. —Re-
maining, sir, most respectfully, your very obedient servants,
" GARRATT and GIBBON.
" Thomas Court, Esq.
" Secretary, Underwriters' Rooms, Liverpool"'

A cow from Lord Clarina's pasturage, which was killed
for this market last week, yielded 13st. 41bs- tallow, and
hide 3st. 51bs. The beast was sold to Mr. Hickop, Irk,.
tvtaller, for £27.—Lies rica Chronitle.

LORD STANLEY'S IRISH REGISTRATION BILL

Yesterday a public meeting was held in Clayton-square
for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning
the legislature against the bill introduced by the Right Hon.
Lord Stanley, for the purpose of reforming the notorious and
monstrous vices of the Irish system of registration. The note
of preparation had been extensively sounded, and accordingly
a considerable body of the whig and radical forces made their
appearance in the square at twelve o'clock, headed by the
leading members and orators of the Reform Association.
Mr. Tnos. BLACKBURN, having been called to the chair,
stated the object of the meeting, and after having urged the
miseries that would be inflicted, not only on Ireland, but on
England and Scotland, by the proposed measure, he said if
it passed, he would not say that he should not become a re-
pealer. He was, however, confident that it would not pass;
and that it had already raised a spirit that would show the
tory party the impossibility of their principles ever becoming
the government of the country. The bill must be defeated,
if it were for no other reason but that Lord Stanley had in-
troduced it.

• Mr. W. W. CuRRIE moved the first resolution, which was
to the effect that the right of electing representatives in par-
liament, was the undoubted constitutional privilege of the
inhabitants of all parts of the United Kingdom, and that all
unnecessary difficulties placed in the way of their exercising
that right was an invasion of that privilege which it was their
undoubted duty to resist. Mr. Currie, in support of this
resolution, contended that this was a case in which they were
called upon to resist—Lord Stanley's bill, that it ought not
to be entertained, as it had a concealed object in view, and,
lastly, that if reforms were required, the party now coming
forward were not the party whom they (the liberals) expected
to make them.

Mr. JOSEPH En ART seconded the motion. Ile was de-
lighted to see his fellow townsmen assembled under the
canopy of heaven, whilst their opponents were too much iii
the habit of packing their meetings and stifling the free voice
of the people, in the way in which he trusted they would
always meet to discuss legally, quietly, and constitutionally
all those great measures which affected either them indi-
vidually or the general interests of the country. It was
incumbent on the town of Liverpool, circumstanced as it
was with regard to Ireland, to do its utmost to assist him in
the glorious struggle in which she was engaged ! and he was
sure Liverpool would never rest satisfied till every measure
of justice was conceded to that country. He trusted this
great meeting would be followed by others in various parts
of the country. There were very few privileges conceded
yet--there were the corn-laws and the ballot, which though
they _were apparently slumbering for a time, were only
slumbering to wake like a greater giant, who would never
forget, in them the rights and privileges of Ireland. The
resolution was carried.

Mr. Wm. RATHBONE in moving the next resolution,
wished he had the voice and language of an angel to bring
home to every one's heart as much as it was to his, how
much the noble lord of thiuible-rig notoriety was inclined to
give a specimen of the system the people must expect from
him. Lord Stanley professed that the bill was to assimilate
the Irish registrations to the English, now he (Mr. Rathbone)
had looked at it, hut he did not find that it would make any
similarity between them. He must candidly s y that the
measure was one the despotic ruler of China would have
been shamed to have introduced to the poorest of his people.
If there were no other reason for it, he (Mr. Rathborne)
would oppose the bill, because it would throw the repre-
sentation of the counties into the hands of the great landed
proprietors. He begged to move " that this meeting cannot
to strongly express its indignation at the introduction of a
bill in the House of Commons by Lord Stanley, for the
regulation of the registration of votes in Ireland, being con-
vinced that the insidious, unfair and compulsory provisions
of that bill are such as if passed into a law, must eventually
disfranchise many of those who are legally entitled to vote
for members of parliament, and make the members for
counties the mere nominees of the great landed proprietors
of the country."
Mr. JAMES AITKEN seconded the resolution, and it was
carried.

Col. WILLIAMS, after a long discursive speech, in which
he complained of all the grievances that have supplied whig
orators with materials for their eloquence, mixed up with
much abuse of Lord Stanley, Lord Sandon, and Mr. Cress-
well, moved the next resolution.
Mr. JAMES MULLENEUX seconded the resolution, and
said, that since they had wrested the reform bill from the
hands of an insolent oligarchy, that oligarchy, through the
Marquis of Chandos, had maintained their power in the
counties ; and through the old freemen in some of the bo-
roughs thus grasping at the whole representation of England.
If they succeeded in this hated measure of Lord Stanley's,
they would substantially repeal the reform bill, and rivet the
chain as effectually as ever it was bound by feudal robbers,
round the necks of the people; if they succeeded we should
have heavy taxation and expensive establishments kept up
for their support, and the consolation of labouring and toil-
ing to enable them to wallow in luxury and idleness. Lord
Stanley was a man steeped to the eyes in insolence, pride,
and arrogance; and whv ? Was it because of his fancied
superiority ? He was but the accident of an accident ; and
if he were swept away by the angel of death to-morrow, the
community would suffer far less loss than by the removal of
the poorest artisan who contributed to the national wealth.
The resolution was carried.

Mr. RICHARD SHIEL proposed the next resolution, which
was to the effect, that if this bill was carried, it would
strengthen the efforts of those who wished to dissolve the
legislative union between the two countries. The last time
lie had the honor of addressing a public meeting, he was
threatened with an opposition, but where was now the gen-
tleman, who said he was ready to meet him in Clayton
Square? Did he appear without giving that gentleman fair
notice? Had not the annocncement of that meeting been
posted publicly in every district of Liverpool ? Why then
did not the gentleman appear? Having made these allu-
sions, Mr. Shiel proceeded to speak on the resolution, con-
cluding, by reproaching the people for having appointed
conservative overseers.

Mr. WILSON LEDGER seconded the resolution, and con.
tended that Ireland had never been treated as the sister
country ought to have been. Lord Stanley's bill, he de-
clared, would puzzle the wisdom of Solomon himself to
comprehend.

Mr. FLETCHER supported the resolution, on the ground.
that the proposed measure was an insult, a sin, a shame. It
was then carried.

The remaining resolutions were moved by Mr. Rosson,,.
Mr. Charles WilliamS, Mr. R. V. Yates, Mr. Ottiwell '
Wood, Mr. Theodore, Rathbone, and they we-e all carried.
The meeting separated about three o'clock. Several dis-
turbances occurred during the proceedings, but they were
speedily suppressed.

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I

k INTELLIGENCE.

• tHESTER AND CREWE RAILWAY.

On Wednesday last, the usual half yearly meeting of the
proprietors of this undertaking was held at the Royal Hotel,
Chester. It was very thinly attended, only two proprietors
being present in addition to the directors. John Uniacke,
Esq., the right worshipful the mayor of Chester, chairman
of the board of directors, presided.
H. Kelsall, Esq., the law clerk to the company read the
following reports :