The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1878-12-19
EUROPE.
The Business Depression in Eng
land.
Great Distress Among the Work,
ingmen.

LONDON, Dec. 1S-At Birmingham meet
ing was held by the mayor yesterday, to cou-
slider the best mt a as to relieve the distress of
the poor The suffering is declared to be
exceptionally severe, and is increasing daily.
They mayor was requested to organize some
means for raising and distributing relief.
At Sheffield 1000 children and 300 adults
received aid last week. The mayors relief
fund is 10000 pounds.
A Stockton the distress is increasing.
Hundreds of families Of iron workers are des-
titute and an Influential committee is can
wasting for subscriptions.
At Stoke-on-Trent great distress prevails
which is enhanced by the severity of the cold.
The distress committee is unable to keep pace
with the dem ands.
AT Burslem a meeting was called by the
mayor Yesterday, to take measures to alleviate
the distress.
Great want is felt by the laboring classes in
the north of Staffordshire.
At Edinburgh deputation of unemployed
men waited on the magistrate and asked for
employment. The magistrates authorized the
street Inspector TO give them work.
At Glasgow the depression is unexamped.
The streets are swarming with idle and starry
ing men, women and children. The Lord Provost
and the magistrates are organizing very
thorough relief for the most urgent distress. A
Dundee despatch says much misery exists in
that part of Scotland. No adequate measures
for relief are organized in the northern part of
the country where fishermen and agricultural
labOrers are destitute. In Aberdeen, FarfAr
and Dunfernline private charity and efforts
of magistrates are actively employed. At
Manchester vast numbers of the middle class
are poor who will not appeal to charity and are
suffering keenly. Vigorous and combined
efforts on the part OF the authorities, churches
and private organiz atoms are being put forth.
A liverpool despatch says that il has been
many years since the working classes endured
such distres aud privstion as now. An ex-
cellept system of relief is ORIGINATING.
AT Brsto there are large numbers OF IN
employed people and much suffering. There is
no organized relief beyond the ordinary parO-
chial fund as yet. -.ee.1.
WIgan advlces say that considerable
distress exists among the better classes OF
mechanics and work men.
Wolverhampton advces report much dig
tress throughout South Staffordshire, and relief
in the shape of food, coal and clothing is be
ing distributed.
In the House of Commons last night, Mr.
Cross, Home Secretary, answering an inquiry
"whether it was true as reported, that We are
| now face to fee with such a crisis of distress
as this generation has never KNOWN" said that
though much distress prevailed among the
laboring poor, the description of 1t in the
| question was exaggerated. There was nothing
| to cause necessarily alarm. He read the
telegram from the Head of the Board
| of Supervisors at Edinburgh, and the
| mayors of Liverpool and Manchester, stating
| that the ordinary means Of relief were at pres
! ent sufficient to meet all necessities. He haG
| not had had time to enquire into the condition
| of the coal and iron districts.
Rus.ian Mission Withdrawn from CABIN
A St. Petersburg despatch says that the Rus
| sian mission at Cabul has been formally WI th
| drawn.
Foreign Notes.
Reports of several district meetings Of oper.
atives in the Oldham district are unfavorable t(
| a compromise
Bayard Taylor continues to improve.
| The French Senate has adopted the budget
| of expenditures.
| Gladstone has intimated that he Will stand
| as candidate at Middleton at the mex
| election for the House of Commons.
| The American consul at Constsutinople has
| decided to hold Romsr, the Grand Vlzler hav.
| ing alleged that proof. exist of Romer's guilt.
Mr.. Welsh, q. S. Minister to England is sicl
| with bronchitis.
| The Eastern Roumeian Commission has
| failed to accomplish anything
A new Italian ministry has been formed will
Signor Dspretis at its head.