The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1842-08-16 00:00:00

" CHARTISTS AND BRITONS

"Now is youriiineiliniUll&Lndard of freedom :
show your oppressors that you will no longer be trampled
upon. Liberty is now within your grasp. If you allow the
the present opportunity to slip, it will require the exertions
of years to produce such another. Be no longer fools, raised
to the highest pitch of enthusiasm one day, and the next
told to observe laws that oppress you, and that, too, by pre-
tended friends, but who are in reality the paid tools of a
corrupt government. You know what are your Tights, and
that they never will be given you : take them while none can
withstand your present and increasing force. If you are
oppressed after the present struggle, it is your own fault.
The day of small measures is gone by. Let your say be,
" LIBERTY OR DEATH!"

A letter received in Liverpool yesterday (Monday) morn-
ing from Birmingham, and part of which was written on
Sunday, makes no mention of any outbreak, and we there-
fore presume there is no prospect of any disturbance here.

TURN-OUT IN PRESTON.
(From Saturday's Pilot.)
We sincerely regret to state that the turn-out mania has
broken out in Preston, but as yesterday was the first period
of its appearance, and that in no very formidable form, so
we most devoutly hope that the time for reflection which has
since transpired may have been so profitably spent by the
unfortunate, but still culpably misguided victims, as shall
enable them to return at once to a sound and better state of
mind. It was the weavers of Messrs. Ainsworth who com-
menced the disorder, and as we before said, it was the timidly
yielding to their idle, empty menaces, which emboldened
them to proceed in their reprehensible course of conduct.
They first visited all the factories on the west, south-west,
and north-west parts of the town, and finding that their inso-
lent demands for the stoppage of work at the mills were com-
plied with, they hardened themselves in their audacity, and
proceeded to other mills in the town, (we believe nearly all,
except that of Messrs. Horrocks and Jackson, which they
seemed to have either spared or forgotten till about six
o'clock in the evening) and were successful in stopping them :
they also made a visit to Mr. Calvert's mill, at Walton,
which was attended with the like results. Beside the stop-
ping of the mills, we believe the damage that has been sus-
tained by any of the mill-owners to property has been quite
inconsiderable ; and as we have got two detachments of the
72d regiment. one from Blackburn and the other from Wigan,
we trust that all apprehensions for the peace and safety of
the town, may at once be allowed to subside.
SATURDAY.—This morning, about seven o'clock, a meet-
ing of the discontented took place at Chadwick's Orchard, a
vacant space near the middle of the town. In a short time
the crowd there collected proceeded to the factory of Mr.
Francis Seddon, North Road, and called upon the hands to
turn out and leave work. The men were averse to this man-
date, and turned the water-pipes upon the mob, with a view
to drive them back. They were, however, overpowered, and
compelled to turn out, by the superior numbers of the rioters,
who did some damage to the mill, breaking a considerable
quantity of glass and a clock. The mob thence proceeded
to Mr. Dawson's large mill, in Water-lane, where they broke
several windows, and also turned the hands out. Intelli-
gence of these tumults having reached the police, and it
appearing that the rioters were making for the centre of the
town, a body of police, unequal in number to meet the
emergency by themselves, accompanied by thirty-three
soldiers, proceeded along Fishergate and down Lune-street,
with a view to suppress the commotion, if possible, before it
proceeded further. They met the rioters opposite the new
Savings' Bank. Stones and other missiles were copiously
thrown at the military and police, in the first instance.
Captain Woodford proceeded in front, and was about to seize
one of the foremost of the rioters, when he was struck vio-
lently on the side of the head and knocked down. While he
was on the ground a hostile rush was made at him, and he
was severely kicked. The police ran up to his rescue, and at
the same time endeavoured to drive back the general body of
the rioters, who filled the street from side to side in a com-
pact body . The crowd, thus opposed, fled down the street, but
made a stand at the vacant space opposite the Butter Market,
and began to throw stones, which, indeed, fell in showers,
and hit many of the soldiers and policemen. One of the
former bad one of his arms disabled. The protective force
dislodged the rioters, for the time, from that locality, and
pursued them down Wharf-street. There the malecontents,
many of whom were striplings and women, collected a large
quantity of stones broken for macadamizing, from the depots
near the Canal, which they supplied to those who headed
the mob. The soldiers and policemen, seeing this, returned
up Lune-street, in hopes, by their forbearance, to conciliate
the rioters. The latter, however, followed them closely up,
the boys and women, in particular, supplying them with
"ammunition," which was thrown among the police-officers
and soldiers. The mayor made a strong attempt to reason
with the parties, but with little or no effect. They were
again and again told, that, if they did not disperse, they
would be fired upon. The Mayor read the Riot Act, during
which a stone knocked the document out of his hand. The
riot then became most serious and alarming, no attention
being paid to the admonitions given. The Mayor, accom-
panied by John Bairstow, Esq., again went down to the
crowd, and endeavoured to reason with them, but was not
allowed to be heard, stones continuing to be thrown amidst
shouts, threats, and imprecations. At length, not only the
lives of the protective force, but the safety of the town being
in imminent danger from the tumult, orders were given to
the soldiers to fire, and a few shots were, accordingly, dis-
charged, at about half past eight o'clock. Some of the
muskets were first fired over the heads of the crowd, which
produced no impression upon them ; others were then fired
at or amongst them, and some of the charges took fatal
effect. Several persons were wounded. The precise number
is not yet ascertained ; but it is stated that eight men were
more or less injured, and, it is supposed, four mortally so.
One man was shot in the knee. He was taken to the House
of Recovery, and it was found necessary immediately to
amputate the limb.
Five of the wounded are under medical treatment at the
House of Recovery. They have all been seriously injured,
toad doubts are earert.ined that one of them will recover.
There is another considered as having no chance of recovery
that has not been removed from his own dwelling. The fol-
lowing are the particulars :
William Lancaster, aged 23, was wounded by a ball hav-
ing entered the front of the chest and passed under the
fourth rib on the left side. He is not expected to recover.
James Roberts, weaver, aged 21, was shot through the arm
and one of the bones was fractured : he was also grazed on
the chest. He is expected to recover.
Bryan Hodson, aged 36, had a ball lodged in his back,
where it cannot be extracted. Not likely to recover.
John Mercer, aged 27, had a ball shot through the fleshy
part of the right arm, through the fifth rib, and passed
through the chest, and out at the left sido of the spine. No
hopes of his recovery.
Lawrence Pilling, aged 21, had a ball shot through the
knee, which smashed the bone in a frightful manner. Am-
putation was immediately performed. He is likely to re-
cover.

Barnard M`Namara, aged 17, was shot through the right
side of the belly, from which the bowels protruded to a great
extent. He is in too dangerous a state to be removed from
his own house. He is not expected to recover.
The streets were perfectly quiet at eleven at night, and on
Sunday nothing unusual took place. Some rifles entered
the town on Saturday, and a detachment of rural police ar.
rived on Sunday. It was expected that the hands would re-
sume work yesterday (Monday) morning, but whether this
expectation will be realised will be seen from the account of
our reporter, who left Preston last night, and which will be
found elsewhere,

SCOTLAND.
We have already given a report of the turn-out of the col-
Hers at Airdrie and other places in the neighbourhood of
Glasgow. The military are still stationed there, but their
presence seems to be of little avail in restraining the starving
depredators. On Monday night a large potato field near
Calder, the property of Mr. Lindsay, was completely cleared
of 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 appear-
ances go, this turn-out would seem to be•the most 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 not to return to their eta.
ployment until their " reasonable" demands were complied
with; and at three district meetings held on Monday, that
resolution was deliberately confirmed. `it hatever be their pre-
sent circumstances, the colliers appear to be united and deter-
mined to continue the strike; and this resolution, the con-
duct of the employers at the meeting in Airdrie, where the
Sheriff presided, on Friday last, would seem to have con-
siderably strengthened. At that meeting the facts adduced,
and which are now made generally known throughout the
mining districts, have tended greatly to excite the sym-
pathy of the community, and to render the conduct of the
masters exceedingly unpopular. One or two of these it
will be sufficient to detail :—The men complained (and as.
serted that it was a grievance, without exception, in every
coal pit in the neighbourhood) that, instead of trying the
quality of the contents of their hutches by a riddle, the
openings of which should not be more than one inch square,
the masters have adopted the use of an article called "
skree," which is generally from eight to ten feet in length,
and its bars from one to two and a half inches apart, through
which coals of considerable size are suffered to drop, to the
great injury of the profits of the workmen, it being generally
understood that the men are not paid for any coals that go
through the bars of the skree. In this way they insist they
are defrauded not only of the small coals, for which the mas-
ters get as high as As per 30 cwt., but of a great quantity of
larger coals that find their way through the article in question.
They were also loud in complaint against the truck system,
practised by nearly the whole of the masters, the e.ffeet ot which
is to compel the workmen to pay an exorbitant price for their
provisions and other necessaries. The men also complained
that their pay days had been unnecessarily lengthened from
fortnight to a month, by which means they were kept cn,At
the use of ready money, and compelled to haye recourse to the
masters' stores. Another grievance which was pointedly re-
ferred to, was the system of taking interest from the men,
at the rate of ld. per 12d. and Is. per pound for all monies
paid them before the pay day,—even when such wages were
fairly earned and wrought for. All the 'furnaces at Calder
are extinguished; there are five out at Dundyvan, eight at
Gartsherrie, and two at Chapelhall. The miners have ap-
pealed to the shopkeepers for assistance to carry on the
strike, (and when it is considered that many of them are
altogether dependent upon the colliers for a subsistence, It
will not appear wonderful that their appeals are attended to),
and in this way considerable sums have been raised x sum::
from ss. to £1 are extensively contributed, and Pile grOCl:rz
we are informed, is so involved in the swepeas of the colliers,
as to find it in his interest to offer them the loan of £ISO, tsr
be returned when they got into employment. Wednesday,
the fields in the vicinity of Airdrie and Coatbridge were
fearfully ravaged, and a greater quantity of this valuable
root carried off than on any one occasion since the corn.
mencement of the strike.
We deeply regret to state that, on Monday and Tuesday
night, serious riots took place amongst the weavers of Dun-
fermline. It appears that a week or two ago the proprietors
of some of the large shops in the town, containing twenty
or thirty looms, have seen cause to reduce the wages of their
workmen. This the men were much dissatisfied with I but
no serious outbreak took place till Monday night, about
ten o'clock, when a large party assembled, Paraded the prin.
cipal streets of the town, loUt out the lamps, and broke the
windows of those who had proved obnoxious to them,
From thence they proceeded to their factories, and set on
Are the looms in one or two factories, which were consumed,
though the flames were extinguished before the buildings
were reached. On Tuesday, Mr. Sheriff Monteath went
over to Dunfermline, and exerted himself strenuously to
preserve the peace of the town, by swearing in special
constables, &c. ; but on Tuesday night the riotous assem-
blage again appeared, broke more windows, set on fire
more looms, and broke into the shop of a man named
Scotland, who, besides being a partner in one of the fac-
tories, keeps a grocer and spirit-dealer's shop, gutted his
shop of its contents, and threw them into the street. We
understand also that when the sheriff was conducting one of
the rioters to prison, the mob set upon the constables,
wounded several, and rescued the prisoner, It may he
stated also, as a specimen of the wild justice &gaining
when they were breaking the windows of
n ts, under the impression that he was a
o among
partnere o ftthi
the
mair;filatnchbtaolttray n,
he looked out of the window and told
them that they were mistaken, on which the mob immediately

rjE TO CORRESPONDENTS.

moured by receiving such " excerpta " as
o.

ompson is not related to George Thompson,
:y are brothers in radical iniquity.

aving declared that he would leave Notting-
first breach of the peace and yet heartily
and congratulating the leaders in it, would
kink the best definition of Quaker to be

iith " R.. T." that the arrangements for the
steam-boat passengers at the Pier-head are
ete :.we should be glad to be the medium
ing any practical suggestions for their im-

►elieve the post-office is entitled to charge
per, under the circumstances ; but our cor-
t obtain it by applying at the post-office at
lout any payment.

Eiberpoot gPtanZgarb.

MORNING, AUGUST 16, 1842.

reports, which will be found elsewhere,
to the latest hour at which we could
a time for our first edition, it will be
lanchester and other of the disturbed
pect of affairs wore last night a more
z. We are, however, far from being
rmanent tranquillity is restored. From
i gather, further " manifestations" in
harter are in contemplation ; and every
made to swell the numbers assisting at
Ltions, by prolonging—if necessary by
•es—the turn-out of the factory opera-
te body of troops now concentrated in
ring districts, it is to be hoped will
i efforts on the part of the disaffected
directed with firmness and decision,
,t the disposal of the magistracy, aided
ace to be anticipated from the well
aen themselves, ought to be amply suffi-
it every movement by which property
aout the district can possibly be endan-
er this will be so or not, the events of
ossibly determine.
ce of the anniversary of the Peterloo
fortunate juncture—the 16th of August
—may not improbably be seized upon
ity for some senseless and dangerous
chester. On this day, we understand
o open for the first time to his admirers
iat incendiary ruffian, the late Henry
l by-the Anti-Corn-Law Leaguers, as a
list party, in the chapel of a dissenting
;v. J. Schofield. As a matter of course,
the kind can, or ought to be, tolerated
ties ; and upon this quarrel we much
lision between the disaffected and the
ise, the issue of which is in every re-
ful to be contemplated without a shud-

re our reporters present upon the spot
day; and should any untoward events
I we fear, our readers may depend
the fullest particulars in a second edi-

of the organs of the League party to
isturbances going on in the manufac-
as A CHARTIST MOVEMENT, cannot
Amervation. From the first notice of
Lnces, contained in the Manchester
astute journalist has endeavoured to
r, in fact, a question of wages, into one
throw upon the shoulders of Chartist
►dium which, of right, belongs to the
he acts of the League millocracy. The
n by the local organ of that body has,
accepted and acted upon by his fellow-
ughout the country; and could we in-
isty agents with the privilege of colour-
which are now passing, after their own
nation, the pretended loyalty, the love
urity and the disinterested humanity (!)
t faction would soon stand out, unstained
before the world.

however, be so indulgent. Willing as
Ly be

" to start,
n at the sound itself bas made ;"

cowardly agitators may be to shrink
sequences of their own desperate and
duct ; they must not, and they shall not.
to do so at the expense of truth and
as these men have earned the contempt
m of the right minded amongst the
teeped as they are in infamy to the very
endure that contempt, and drain the
lfamy to the dregs. It is their hands,
me, which has plunged thousands—
thousands—of the poorest, the most
most wretched of their fellow-creatures,
ld suffering; it is their hand which has
ets of our manufacturing towns to run
ind it is upon their heads, and theirs
could be done, that the punishment
.11(1, whether this consummation be or
d—whether the arm of the law reach the
;, or only strike at their wretched dupes
►eads must rest, in the judgment of their
men, the moral guilt of all the crimes
mated population may be driven, by
s and their madness, to commit.

ian suppose that the present outbreak
th a sudden shock upon the League
We assert distinctly that it has not. It
yed for months ago. It would have
hs ago, if the working people could have
`ake the first step. THEN it would have
ague party. THEN it would have fur-
ators, in parliament and out of it, with a
to dilate upon. THEN we should have
imed throughout the land, that " the
t insurrection to put down the corn-law."
lose possible occurrence was gloated over
s of all denominations," and League
very grade, would have arrived. We
realised that consummation--a civil
which the peace-loving Quaker of Bol-
the Home Secretary would be got
ithout the loss of any of the really
ests of society"—without the loss of any
doable than the monarchy, the constitution,
blished religion of the land! But the
ses would not move to advance the in-
-3 of the Anti-Corn-law League. They
ash to an insurrection to gratify even
.ral and amiable philanthropists. They
,7e until goaded—purposely goaded—
mof their wages—an uncalled-for and
,tion—to a point at which they could
enzselves from starvation !

this step was taken by the League party,
rs had failed, to drive the working classes
'he outbreak, which has put a stop to the
;t district—which has filled it with blood-
ine—was one meditated and provoked by
i-Law League ! It was a turnout against
)le reduction of wages; and if it has re-
ir, as all such movements within our re-
re resulted, in the mixing up of the origi-
with the question of politics, that eircum-
ot, and never can, absolve from blame the
ovoked it. If, even now, it has become
Arement, (which we deny,) then it is a
?went which has been wickedly brought on
' the League-men. We defy these unscru-
nendacious e defy even the je-
,dian—to wriggle
t the stone a-rle-
Vrt, This dilemma.
3g; and if it overwhelm
Led institutions of the land—if it crush