The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-09-20 00:00:00

THE TURNOUT.

(Prom Saturday's Manchester GUdaiIIII.)
At a numerous meeting of the hands in the mills of Messrs.
Waterhouse and Thompson, Mr. Waddington, and Messrs.
Clarke and Co., held on Monday 'morning last, near the
Engine Tavern, on the New Bradford-road, a resolution was
unanimously adopted, to the effect that all the mills must be
turned out, or no good could be done. It was stated, at the
same meeting, that it was expected 22 mills would be closed
by the end of the week. At another meeting of some band-
loom weavers, it was stated that they intended to turn out
next week, to resist an alleged intended reduction of their
wages, to, the extent offid. per cut on tnortsselaines de Thine.

TURNING OUT• OF WORRPEOPLE IN SALFORD.-011
Thursday morning, about half-past eight o'clock, a large
mob proceeded to the cotton mill of Messrs. James A.
Turner and Co., Booth-street, Salford, and turned out the
hands. Thence the same mob went to the mill of Mr. Wm.
Morris, James's-street, Oldfield-road, and called upon the
workpeople to turn out. They rushed out, armed with sticks
and other weapons, and expressed a determination to defend
their employer's property from any attack that might be made
on it. A few stones were thrown by the mob, and two of the
workmen were slightly hurt. Fortunately, the appearance
of Mr. Diggles and the Salford police, at this juncture, so
alarmed the rioters that they fled in all directions. Two of
the ringleaders, John Donnelly. of Miller's-land, Manchester,
and John Dunn, of Back Blakeley-street, Manchester, were
taken into custody. They were brought up before Sir Thos.
Potter, the same morning, at the Salford Town Hall, and
remanded to the following day. Mr. Morris's hands, and
also those employed inigessrs. J. A. Turner and Co.'s mill,
immediately afterwarde tesumed work.—On Friday the pri-
soners were again brought up, and committed for trial at the
sessions.

DEATH OF ONE OF THE RIOTERS.—Since writing the
above, we have ascertained that one of the rioters—a weaver
named Joshua Lyons—was stunned by a blow which he re-
ceived on the left side of the head, from one of Mr. Morris's
workpeople. Lyons was carried off by one of the mob, who
concealed him in a house in Salford, lest he should be appre-
hended by the police. The blow which he received left but
a slight mark, and it was expected that he would soon re-
cover from the effects of it ; bit, perceiving that he became
worse, a surgeon was sent for, who ordered him to be taken
to the Infirmary. At three o'clock in the afternoon he was
admitted to that institution, in a state of insensibility, from
which he did not recover ; and he expired at half-past ten
o'clock yesterday morning. The deceased was a weaver, 25
years of age, and has left a widow and one child. It is sup-
posed that the rupture of some blood-vessel in the brain was
the cause of death. This is the first life that has been lost
during the disturbances. On inquiry at the Infirmary, last
night, we regret to learn that Edward Walsh, who was
wounded with pigeon shot, while endeavouring, along with
others, to turn out the hands employed at the Adelphi Dye
Works, Salford, on the 10th ult., is still dangerously ill, and
but little hopes are entertained of a recovery.
EXAMINATION OF BERNARD M'CARTNEY, THE LIVER-
POOL CHARTIST, AT MANCHESTER.—At a petty sessions
held at the New Bailey Court-house, in Manchester, on
Thursday last, Bernard M'Cartney, of this town, a Chartist
trade delegate, was placed at the bar, charged with having
used inflammatory language at a public meeting in Eecles on
the 11th of August last. The prisoner was apprehended on
Tuesday night last, at his house, in Crossball-street and
many documents, showing his connexion with Chartism,
were found in his possession. Nathaniel Fryer, of Eccles,
proved that he had heard the prisoner address an assembly
at Eccles on the 11th of August. He addressed the meeting
as " fellow-slaves," and commented much on the evils the
working-classes were suffering, all of which he ascribes to
class legislation. He advised them to continue their cessa-
tion from labour until the document known as the People's
Charter became the law of the land. He used other expres-
sions tending to prove the power possessed by " rampant
capital over prostrate labour." On cross-examination by
M'Cartney, the witness said the prisoner inculcated peace,
law, and order. James Cromley and Richard Pollitt gave
similar testimony. M'Cartney commenced his address by
calling his harers " toiling slaves," and then entered at great
length into the destitution, poverty, and misery of the work-
ing-classes, whom he described as degraded to the lowest
pitch, and attributed all this to class legislation; and recom-
mended thifirtion of the People's Charter as the cure for
all their ev He also spoke of " peace, law, and order ;"
and told the people not to injure person or property, nor even
to excite any man's feelings ; but the first part of his speech
was very exciting. He called the workpeople sons and
daughters of toil ; and said this was a contest between ram-
pant oppression and prostrate labour. He advised the people
not to work till the Charter became the law of the land. The
prisoner was remanded till the following day, when he was
again brought up and remanded till Friday next. Mr. Burt,
solicitor, applied for the prisoner's liberation on ,bail, but
the request was refused.
At Glossop, the life of Mr. Shepley, from whose mill the
rioters were fired on and three wounded, it is stated, is only
preserved by the presence of the military.
John Teer, Secretary to the Dyer's Union, was charged,
at the New Bailey, Manchester, with rioting and conspiring
to turn out the factory hands, and committed to the assizes,
but admitted to bail.

Bearstow, the Chartist lecturer, was apprehended in the
pulpit, at Bear-lane Chapdl, Bristol, on Friday, while
haranguing about two hundred people. After a long exa-
mination, the magistrates bound him over in £lOO to keep
the peace and be of good behaviour for twelve months.
The Manchester Courier of Saturday contains the fol-
lowing :

STATE OF;THE TOWN.-FRIDAY.
Matters continue still in a very unsatisfactory state. A
few more weavers have gone in, in the course of the week,
but there is still nothing like a general resumption of work.
as will be seen by the subjoined statement. The first column
of figures shows the number of weavers regularly employed
in the different establishments; the last, the number who
have returned to work.
250- Waterhouses and Co., Temple-street
532 Twist Company, Oxford-road
144 Henry Marsland, Chester-street
127 Shawcross

70 J. Hoyle, Albion-Street
300 George Clarke, Pollard-street
550 Stirling and Beckton, Lower Mosley-street
200 Bateson, Lower Mosley-street
-Ferneley, Gaythorn .
148 Dacca Mills, Fleet-street
55 Jones, Store-street
34 Wilson, Lark-street
500 Guest. Holt Town
165 Chappell's, Beswick
33 Jos. Gibbins, Pollard-street
250 Hugh Beever, Jersey-street .
116 Parnell and Thomson, Rodney-street
113 Dodshon and Co., Jersey-street ....
150 Binns, Ancoats-street .
100 Thompson, Pin Mill Brow
81 Ditto, Mill-street
90 Harbottle, Beswick-street
120 Jordan, Commercial-street
-Birley
-Woodley, Liver-street..
200 Leese and Brothers
132 Barton, Pin Mill ..
74 J. and L. Williams, Upton-street
-Fairweather .....
-V alsh, Pollard-street
114 Allen
70 Handford, Jordan-street
128 Cheetham and Co.

148

114

IMPORTANCE OF THE USE OF IRON IN SHIP.

BUILDING.

(From the Mining Journal.)
The mining interest of this country is one of no ordinary
importance. The fact that the minerals which lie richly
stored beneath the soil of Great Britain, when rendered
available by the industry of our people, compose one of the
principal sources of our national strength, is now so com-
monly acknowledged as to have become almost proverbial.
Every fresh means by which the demand for the productions
of our mines may be increased, must be hailed as a direct
gain to the nation at large. While unemployed the ore is
perfectly valueless—it is so much of the country's capital
sunk and lost ; but when, by the efforts of man, its virtues
are drawn forth, the products are all clear gain. A small
portion of it goes into the pocket of the owner of the land,
and a very large proportion of its value consists in the amount
of wages paid to the labouring classes employed in raising
and converting it. It is needless to trace the advantages that
result from such causes, and the very important part such
operations have borne, and may, to a much greater extent
than heletofore, be made to bear, in supporting and perpe-
tuating onr country's glory. There are, however, two addi-
tional considerations that render the question one of para-
mount importance. We may first inquire--Can the metals
produced from our mines be employed as substitutes for ma-
terials from other lands, by which our capital is drained cdtir
of the country ? And, secondly—Will the articles rnanufac-
tnred from these metals be superior to those constructed of
manufactured from the foreign productions? To both in-
quiries we may give the most decided answer, that by em-
ploying iron as a material for ship-building, we use it as a
substitute for the timber of other countries—at the same
time, that we construct a vessel in every respect superior,
and which, in addition to its direct advantages, such as in-
creased strength, durability, stowage, &c., will enable our
own mercantile marine to cope with the ships of foreign coun-
tries in freights, and reverse the order of things at present ex-
isting—facts brought forward by the government commission-
ers employed in the inquiry, clearly showing that it is impossible
at present for our ships to maintain their ground, while foreign
vessels can work at such reduced freights. To all these, and
to many other advantages, does this subject give rise, that
we do not hesitate in pronouncing it one of the highest na-
tional consideration, and worthy of individual and legislative
iniquity. We will, however, take a few moments to show,
by figures, to what extent the substitution of iron for timber
in shipbuilding will he found to be advantageous • in doing
this, we, at the same time, contemplate that muchl more of
the ship will be built of iron than at present—an opinion in
which we fully agree with Mr. Grantham, and that not only
the hull, but the masts and rigging, will be of the same ma-
terial. If experience should prove that we are correct in our
opinion, all the most costly parts of a vessel will be of iron—
leaving, probably, not more than one-eighth of the whole of
any other material. Supposing, then, the average value of
a ship ready for sea to be £2O per ton, £ll 10s. will be ex-
pended in iron-work, and, taking the shipping required for
this country at 200,000 tons per annum, we show an expen-
diture of nearly £3,500,000 sterling in iron-work alone, a
very large proportion of which is caused by the wages paid
for producing and working it. This calculation allows no-
thing for th increase that may be expected in the number
of our ships when better able to compete with foreigners.
Mr. Grantham has, in different ways, urged this important
consideration, and has showp that, in consequence of the
difficulty of getting timber for our vessels, our docks are
crowded with colonial and foreign-built ships, so that a very
small portion of their cost is expended in the employment of
our own people, and a very small portion of the materials is
the production of our own soil. By this simple illustration
we hope we have shown that the question of iron ships is of
the first importance for England ; and when we contemplate
the prospect of the result of steam navigation, and on the
navy, it assumes a character that calls loudly for inquiry.

A DRUNKEN Cow.--On Friday evening last a beer•fionse
keeper at Merthyr put two pails of wort to cool outside his
house: a cow, which was grazing close by, went and drank
about twenty quarts. It is not known where she spent the
night, but early on Saturday she was observed by many
running up and down, evidently under the influence of Sir
John ; and, in the course of the same day, the unfortunate
cow died in consequence.—Monmouthshire Merlin.
QUEER REGATTA..—Last week the inhabitants and visi-
tors of Hastings were highly amused with a regatta, not by
members of the Royal Yacht Squadron, but by eight fisher.
men in tubs, with a shovel to steer by. The distance to be
performed was from the battery, round a tub moored off
Beech Cottage, and back. The party started off amidst the
cheers and laughter of the spectators, but had not pro-
ceeded far before six out of the eight tubs were capsized,
which the men did not attempt to recover, but set off to
swim the distance. The tubs, however, proved victorious, as
they both got in before the swimmers. The first contained
Charles Brazier, who was declared the winner of the prize :
and the second, a fisherman, named Richard Hide, who
reached the Battery in his frail craft in safety. A second
match of the same description then took place between eight
boys. sons of fishermen, but their tubs met with the same
fate, as only two out of the eight reached the gaol in safety,
the boys swimming like fishes after them. The sport afforded
considerable amusement to the numerous visitors, and it was
calculated between 2,000 and 3,000 persons were present.

TUESDAY MORNING, SEPTEMBER 20, 1842

What is a libel ? Few men, we believe, can give an
answer to this question. And yet the law of England
consigns to a penalty, which- may amount to absolute
ruin, the unfortunate journalist who has committed an
offence, the guilt of which ninety-nine men out of a
hundred cannot discern ! There is not one journal in
a dozen which is not guilty of libel in every publication
which it issues. There is not one journal in a dozen
which is not every day of its existence at the mercy of
some fool or knave, whose name chances to be men-
tioned in its columns, provided he has as much money
in his pocket as will procure for him the services of an
attorney of " sharp practice," and as much character
as an intelligent jury would be warranted in estimating
at the value of the lowest coin in the realm. Laugh
heartily at a man, quote Shakspeare or Garrick at him,
write his name even, except at a respectful distance
from some epithet or allusion which, by violating gram-
mar and punctuation, may be tortured into connection
with it, and any " Dodson and Fogg" may wave the
whip of the law over your unlucky head, and by the aid
of its " glorious uncertainty," mulct you in a farthing
damages and costs, for an offence which no twelve men,
who know English and possess common sense, would
decide to be an offence at all!

However we may be disposed to regard the sacred-
ness of private character, and however opposed to the
tolerance of too great licence in the press, we must
confess that we cannot but regard the fetters, by which
that powerful engine is restrained, as oppressive and
absurd. We are accustomed to boast in England that
public opinion is free—that the press, which is the
mouth by which public opinion speaks, is free ; yet the
law baits it round with traps, into which .the most
wary treading will not at all times prevent it from fall-
ing. Upon the most ordinary subjects, the journalist,
if he would be safe, must speak in parables and riddles ;
with him " the use of words is indeed to conceal

thoughts." He must convey his meaning by inuendo ;
and even then he must run the risk of his interpreter
being a goose or a hungry legal practitioner. Straight
hitting is forbidden, and shooting in the air is doubly
dangerous, for you may ruffle the feathers of some
senseless fowl of whose very existence you were not

even dreaming.
Really this perplexing state of things ought not to
be. Bind down as you will discussion or remark,—
restrain it as you will from inflicting wanton injury and
pain upon private or public individuals,—put down the
wanton or the wilful libeller; but do draw a line of

distinction between What is libel and what is not,—do

apportion also the amount of punishment to the quan-
tum of offence ! We quarrel not with the general
principle upon which the law of libel is constructed.
We are willing even to allow the apparently incon-
sistent principle, that truth should be a libel; for we
hold it to be unjust that the actions of any man.should
be liable to be held up at all times to public observa-
tion, or even to ridicule. But let the truth of a charge
be, at least, a palliation of the offence. Let the animus,
too, be considered. Take away from the prosecutor
the opportunity of selecting that form of proceedings
which will involve the greatest amount of inconvenience
and cost to the prosecuted. Make, in a word, the law
of libel a protection to the character and the feelings of
the honest and well-principled, and not merely an in-
strument of tyranny in the hands of the malicious and
designing—a weapon ever ready to. be used to crush
the independence of a free and honest press !

Thomas Bolton, the Albion informs us, is about to
retire from, the representation of Castle-street Ward ;
and the same luminous authority conceives that the
announcement will drive us frantic with delight. This
determination the said Thomas came to " not from
any apprehension that he would not be re-elected as
triumphantly as he had been before, but from consi-
derations of private convenience." What be they,
Thomas ? What he these motives of private con-
venience ? Are they not all comprised in this—to a
vain man a strong motive—that it is not pleasant to be
contemptuously kicked out, and that, too, mainly by
the disgust of your own friends?

Such would have been the inevitable fate of Thomas
Bolton ; and we are, therefore, not at all obliged to
him for refusing to his friends, and ours, the pleasure
which we should undoubtedly have felt in performing
the operation. We would rather have met Thomas
Bolton, as the candidate for Castle-street Ward, than
any other man, for no other man would have been so
easily beaten. The constituency of his own party are
tired of him—disgusted with his factious insolence—
his unceasing ebullitions of venom against our esta-
blished church, which even liberals are to be found
who sincerely respect; and we dare venture to say that
any other liberal candidate—the editor of the Albion
himself, whom, by the bye, we should be delighted to
see in the Council—will poll thirty or forty more votes
than Thomas Bolton could whip up with the purse of
his entire tribe to back him.

We are compelled again to call the attention of the
authorities to the disgusting state in which various
localities of the town are permitted to remain. It is

utterly impossible that the health of our population can
be satisfactory whilst so many fertile sources of disease
meet us in every thoroughfare ; and the authorities
will really not have discharged that duty which they
owe to the public until these nuisances shall have been
removed, and measures taken for the effectual and per-
manent purification of the streets within the borough.
We could point to fifty places which certainly do not
appear to have been visited by the scavenger's broom
for months, and in which that instrument really does
not appear to us likely to be of material benefit if used.
Where drainage is deficient,—where dark filthy pas-
sages stand open,—where owners of oyster stalls are
permitted to throw their shells and offal within a few
feet of crowded thoroughfares,—where nuisances ac-
tually grow faster than they can he removed,—preven-
tive measures appear to us to be the only ones likely to
be at all efficacious.

We have inspectors parading our streets, and, we
presume, those inspectors have duties. We presume,
also, that the authorities who employ them have powers.