The Shropshire Examiner and all round the Wrekin advertiser. — 1874-07-04 (Wenlock, Shropshire, England)

THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS' GRAND MARCH.  Shortly before six on Sunday there came trundling into Cambridge a very big open van, labelled "money box," big enough to accommodate the National Debt in coppers. A blue banner, on which were written the mystic letters "N. A. L. U.," caught what faint breezes of wind there were, and then came from Newmarket a hundred or so of locked-out agricultural labourers. The processionists wearing their ordinary corduroy attire and carrying rustic staves, cheerfully tramped along, and when their limbs must have been tired with their weary march, they raised their drooping spirits by singing a few union melodies. Gathering first on the ground known as the Severals, at Newmarket, the labourers destined to take part in the grand march started on the journey. Into the capacious money-box were poured coppers, silver, and even a few gold coins. No demonstration of any importance was made until Cambridge was reached. The procession rather courted the streets in which lived the labouring poor, and from them received liberal support. From windows buxom and smiling dames threw over their little mites, and children came trotting out from many a lowly cot with a little encouraging help. Sheets of union melodies had a ready sale, and, on the whole, the procession must be regarded as a success. At seven o'clock the procession gathered on the Cambridge Common, where a platform was extemporised. Mr. H. Hall took the chair. and Mr. H. Taylor, secretary of the Union' who marshals the procession, was the chief speaker. Mr. Taylor said the labourers did not intend tr make this demonstration a pleasure trip. It had not been started for their own gratification, hnt they intended to show to the people thronghout the heart of the country the actual condition of the farm labounrs. A labour named Ford addressed the meeting, and resolutions in favour of the Union were passed. A good collection of motley was made.  Early on Tuesday morning, before continuing their journey, the labourers formed into procession, and marched through the principal streets of Cambridge. A farmer residing in one of the villages adjacent to the town, recognised one of the labourers and told the man he would give him half-a- vereign if he would leave the party and return home. "No, sir," said the man, " I on't go, net if ye gie me twenty 'elf suvverins." At the conclusion of the procession the party at once set out for Bedford, walking, to Lord's Bridge, whence they went by train to Gamling,ay. Here they again took to the road, and marched through Patton, to Sandy, the remainder of the journey to Bedford being accomplished once more by the aid of the railway. where they arrived about five o'clock. Half-an-hour's rest and a few cups of tea and coffee having been consumed (no beer), the party again started with flags flying and headed by a brass band for the new Market-hill, where a meeting has been arranged for under the chairmanship of Mr. H. Wright, a landowner of Litton. Henry Cole, of Suffolk, too, made a speech, and spoke of his condi. tion as a labourer in 1852, when he sail that for ploughing on acre of land he received only tenpene,. This was all he could do in one day, and with it had to keep himself, a wife, and four children. Mr. Taylor (the general secretary), and a few other persons ad. dressed the meeting, which ended a little before nine o'clock.  On Wednesday the men proceeded through Olney to Northampton, en route for Coventry, Birmingham, and the Black Country.  Mr. Howard Staunton, the chess player, and editor of' Shakspere," died suddenly on Monday last.  The Parisians, who would die of ennui if they had not some new sensation at least every forty-eight hours, are gossiping about two rather romantic suicides. A. retired judge shot himself at St. Germain on Wednesday morning; and on the previous night, as be left a Paris club in which be had lost at cards more than he could ever pay, the aide-de-camp of a general high in office blew his brains out.