Northern Times. — 1859-11-14 (Liverpool, Merseyside, England)

TERMINATION OF THE STRIKE.  At length there seems a reasonable prospect that the unfortunate strike in the building trade is likely to terminate. For nearly sixteen weeks the workmen and their families have borne, if not with cheerfulness, at least with dignity, all the privations consequent upon their loss of inc6me. The different associated trades have supported the men on strike and locked-out, as far as their means allowed, but considerable as their contributions have been, when they came to be divided among some six thousand men, the majority of whom have wives and children, the amount was hardly sufficient to avert starvation. The sufferings of many have been very great, and the police courts have testified how great must have been their privations, when to obtain food for their families they had to pawn, not only their clothes and furniture, but also their tools. The men have at length given in, that is to say, they have withdrawn the demand of ten hours' pay for nine hours' work ; and they have farther declared the strike at Messrs. Trollope's, the original cause of the disunion, to be at an end. All that they now ask is that the masters, on their part, shall withdraw the declaration, or "document" as it is termed. When the masters combine, with wealth and capital to back them, they are more than a match for the men. Let them now, therefore show some little consideration for the artisans, and not drive them to desperation, which they will do if they adhere strictly to the letter of their first demands. More than six weeks ago the United Master Builders agreed almost entirely to the terms now proposed by the men ; but then the men would not consent to abandon the strike at Messrs. Trollope's ; if they had done so all the shops by this time would have been in full operation. The men have now made this concession, and for their own sakes the masters should not pursue the advantage which they have obtained. Many of the masters, it is well known, are most anxious that the strike should terminate, but there are some few influential builders, who, having very large resources at their command, would drive the men, and along with them the small masters, to the wall, and obtain, through the means of their sufferings, absolute and complete concession to all their demands. With one or two exceptions during the long lock-out hardly a man has been betrayed, either with direct or indirect intimidation, neither have they been brought up before the magistrates for any breach of the law. The men struck for what they probably most erroneously thought was a fair demand. The masters refused it, and locked out the men. After sixteen weeks' warfare the men have acknowledged themselves practically beaten, and are willing to return to the same state of things as before the strike and the lock-out. The moral influence which the masters have obtained will be quite sufficient to prevent a recurrence of anything like a general strike for years to come. The men have in the short space spent all their savings of past years, and they will, it may be relied on, hesitate a long time ere they lend themselves to such proceedings again. The masters can therefore afford to be generous.  THE FRENCH RIFLED CAN army ordnance authorities have just completed in the ateliers de precision a new field piece, which was taken out to be tried for the first time on Tuesday. It is stated to be an American invention. The gun is of wrought iron, loads at the breech, and is of considerable size, requiring six horses to draw it.  Galignani's Messenger says :—" We regret to state that Mr. Mitchell, the originator of the Zoological Gardens in the Regent's Park, and the inventor of the aquarium, who was intrusted in Paris with the organisation of the grounds belonging to the Societe d'Acelimation, committed suicide, at his residence at Neuilly, on Thursday night. The motive for this melancholy act has not transpired."