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Leader (1850-1860), 19th November 1853, Edition Town of 2, Page 1112

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      rights of certain persons who claimed against the parties entitled to the residue , and . chiefly as to interest and costs . The interesting feature in the case was a letter , which was in evidence , from the poet Lord Byron , written to Mr . Leigh , Hunt , disclaiming a legacy of 2000 ^ . ^ bequeathed to his lordship by Percy Bysshe Shelley . This document had only come to the knowledge of the executors of Lord Byron since the commencement of the proceedings . The letter was dated June 28 , 1823 . The earlier part of it related to private matters , after alluding to which his lordship proceeded as follows :-

      —"I am sure there is no such intention on my part , nor ever was , in anything which had passed between us , although there arc circumstances so plausible , and scoundrels so ready in every corner of the earth to give a colour of their own to everything . The last observation is dictated by what you told me to-day , to my utter astonishment ; it will for ever teach me to know my company better , or not at all . And now , pray do not apply , or misapply , directly or indirectly , to yourself any of these observations . I knew you long before Mr . S . knew either you or me , and you and two more of his friends are the only ones whom I can

      &t all reflect upon as men whose acquaintance was honourable and agreeable . I have one tiling more to state , which is , that from this moment I must decline the office of acting as his executor in any respect , and also all further connexion with his family in any of its branches , now or hereafter . There was something about a legacy of 2000 ? . which he liad left me ; this of course I decline , and . the more so that I hear his will is admitted valid , and I state this distinctly , that in case of anything happening to me my heirs may be instructed not to claim it . —Yours , ever and truly , " N : B . " The question of costs and interest was under argument on Wednesday , when the Court rose .

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      THE STRIKES . JIEMOEIJlL TO LOUD PALMEKSTON . Preston , Nov . 17 . The annexed memorial , adopted at a general delegate meeting , was to be forwarded to its destination this day : — " To the Right Hon . Lord J ? almcrston , Her 2 l £ ajcstt / s Principal Secretary of State for the Home Department . ¦ ' ¦ " Illy Lord , —We , the po- \ verloom . -weavers of Preston and its neighbourhood , beg to memorialize your Lordship and solicit your consideration of the causes which have brought about the unhappy dispute between the employers of factory labour and their workpeople in this district . We beg likewise to call your attention to the means we have adopted to avert a general lock-up , and the different proposals wo have mado with a view to an amicable arrangement . Wo presume , my Lord , to address you at this time , because , independent of your well-known sympathies for suffering humanity in whatever part of the world it may exist , we understand that your Lordship is desirous of being made acquainted with anything and everything that may affocb the- poaee and harmony of tlui . se realms .

      "Wo consider that nothing can be more detrimental to the manufacturing and commercial interests of this country than the anxiety , agitation , and confusion which at present pervade tlicso districts . They destroy that harmony and equilibrium no necessary for the peaceful progress and development of the skill and ingenuity for which we , aa a people , are proverbial ; and wo feel , my Lord , that a serious responsibility is at taclied to those who , by a disregard of reason and justice , have brought about this state of things . " In order that you may fully comprehend our view of this matter—and we assure you that it in based upon incontrovertiblo facts— -we beg your careful consideration of tho following digest taken from the- public documents of our body : —

      " We presume that labour has its rights us av «« 11 an duties , and that capital has its duties unwell as rights ; and we liiive yet to learn that it is antagonistic 1 o those principles peaceably and at a proper time to endeavour to get a better remuneration for our labour . "My Lord , you will remember the depressed state of tho cotton trade about tho year 1847 . At that t . hne the limnufacturerfl of I ' reston and neighbourhood made a noriouH reduction in our wi ^ es , but they promised that they would restore . 'it as noon jim an improvement justified it .

      "On the 1 st day of Juno , IBfitt , a meeting of weavers took place , and it wns agreed that a memorial ho Rent (<> each master , respectfully noUnting an advance of 10 n . cent , on all fabrics of eloth . The memorial Raid , — -- ' ' Wo would beg to impress upon you that a lew years ago , Avhen trade was in a depressed Htal . e , we submitted to a serious reduction in our wages , in tho confident hope that , when it . revived , it ) would honourably be put on again . We have patiently waited to see our expectations realized . We find that , trade is in a most flourmhin ^; condition , that the demand for manufactured goods is on tho inerenHo , and we . submit for your consideration whether wo aro not , justified in wishing to participate ,. in { food trade . If we are to receive none of the benefits of a flourishing ( . ratio , but are

      to have our wagew continually reduced whenevery depression taken place , our position will ultimately be deplorable . ' When t . ho hands waited upon their employe ™ for a reply , Home treated them with courtesy and rospeet , but a great . majority with hiHult and contempt ; » nd many who YhuH waited upon them wero discharged and cant , upon the world an marked mem and wouien . My Lord , up | , o this time we had no thought of combination or union ; it ban boon called into existence by tho natural sympathy ( hat alwaya 1 iuh and will exist among men if they lielievo their felJow-ereaturcH suffering in a righteous eaimo . Wo have had no reasons yet , shown Hint our domumlH wero unreasonable ; therefore , thin has mused ua to throw around our Buffering brethren tho phioM of protection , and to

      actin union and concert against future acts of despotism . This is the real cause of our organization which at present exists—not formed to dictate ^ but to assist by pecuniary aid those who have been thrown out of employment for soliciting their } ust claims , and we now appeal to and fall back upon public opinion for protection . ' " But , my Lord , we may be asked what grounds we had to suppose that our masters were in a position to redeem their promises . So strongly did we feel ¦ upon the subject —so desirous were we not to act . unjustly by being deceived by appearances , that a manifesto , was agreed to at a large public meeting of our bod y on the 14 th of July , 1853 , m whicli we made the following proposals : — " ' If , on the other hand , we look around usrat the present

      time , and at the state of trade for the last five years , T » e find the current prices for goods far superior to what they were at the former period . We find hands scarce , and mills and workshops springing up , mushroom-like , on every hand . We see evidence of accumulated wealth in every form and shape , testifying to the prosperity which exists . The press sings its praises , and your orators make it the theme of every 'discourse . It has formed a paragraph , in every Eoyal speech , and both Houses of Parliament , by their divisions , have attested to its truth . Yet the great body of masters , with a few honourable exceptions , declare that tliey are unable to let us taste of this general prosperity by an honourable adherence to their word . ' " . ¦ ' '

      And again" We have no desire to be parties to keep up the present antagonism and excitement without good cause . Our labour is our only wealth , and the miserable wages we receive for it our only reward . But we here publicly and solemnly declare that if we were not convinced that our masters are able to give the required advance we would be the last to request it . If we are labouring under a misconception , we wish to have our minds disabused ; if we are in error , let it be proved by plain facts . We wish to see peace and concord reign throughout the empire

      among all classes of tho community , consistently with our own rights and duties , and , to accomplish this object , we propose , for the consideration of the masters of Preston —• First , that if tliey will prove that the same necessity which caused them to reduce our wages , still exists , and prevents them raising our wages at the present time , and that it is incompatible with the state of trade to give us an advance ; or , secondly , if they will rather prove before a jury of disinterested , gentlemen , of respectability and experience , that they are m as bad a position now as when the reduction took place in 1847 , we will abandon our claims to a more favourable time . '

      " My Lord , in these proposals you will perceive that we had placed ourselves entirely at the disposal of our employers , if they wero really unable to give an advance ; but wv wero treated with nothing but silence and contempt . In the meantime two of the manufacturers had given tho advance ; and , about the middle of August , advances had been made of full 10 per cent , at Stockport , Blackburn , and other places throughout tho manufacturing districts . " Preston has boon proverbial for paying a low rate of Avnges , much less than other towns in Lancashire ; bub ; it appears , our mastera were stimulated by the example of other places , and they simultaneously offered an advance , with , a few exceptions—some less than 10 per cent ! , some more ; but four firms refused altogether , and thoc '

      oonscquenco was that disputes and strikes arose between them and their workpeople . Strikes took place at two firms where the masters had offered an advanco , but not equal to what the hands anticipated ; and , as much stress is laid upon these two disputes , as the cause of the masters closing their mills , we beg to stale that , if an inquiry was properly made , it would bo found that it was not tho fractional dispute ifc has been represented , but it was the way in which that advance was given which caused that irritation and ill-feeling which induced the bands to resent what they considered to bo studied imposition . At those mills where- the advance was given everything was settling down satisfactorily and harmoniously , but ; it was an understood thing that if all tho mastera did not givo an ndvanco the others would ho obliged to take it . off again ; and wo were

      naturally led to appeal to the public to support those on Htrike iii order to retain the general advanco . But on tho 15 th of Soptombor a bill appeared on tho wall , signed by 'W > firms , giving notice to clone their mills in one month , unless those now on strike are prepared to resume their work , and a bettor understanding is established between the employer and employed . ' In order that no justifiable grounds for inflicting such a calamity as now threatened Hhould exist ; , deputations of the operatives of three of those mills where diHputofl existed , waited upon their respective employers , and wore prepared , if possible , to havo brought filings to an arrangement . Now , mark you , at Messrs . Dirloy Brothers , they were told that it could only bo nettled by tho oommiUoo . At Messrs . Taylors , they wore driven from the work ; and at Mohm-h , rfwainaon Brothers , they pretended not , to know thorn , and would not hour them Bix'ak .

      " We prenumo , my Lord , that it would f ake a wiso people to fathom the inyHterioiifl proceedings of these gentlemen ; but when every channel appeared v . ut off whereby t , ho operatives on wtiiko might resume work and prevent the innocent from Muttering , thocoinmitteo then undertook , on behalf of tho whole body of-weavers , to address a letter to Mr . T . Miller and Mr . W . . Ainnworfch , both Justiooa of the Peace , and acting as president awl secretary to the Associated MiUownorn , in which wo proposed the following : — ' 1 st . That a deputation of employorn moot a deputation of their workpeople for the purposo of diyouBHingund arranging the diU ' oroncoH ; or , if this bo objectionable , we propose , wecondly , that the matter in dispute bo referred | , o arbitration , ouoli pnrty to appoint an equal number of experienced mon , unoounoctcu with tho fllriko , and that ; Mr . . 1 . 1 . T . Parker , M . P ., he ( , ho umpire . If thin < 1 ooh not . meot your yiowH , we renpoet fully request , you t <> make aproposul , ) f you desire l , o come ( , o an honourable arrangement , and if based on equity wo pledge ourselves to accept it . ' To

      these proposals the answer we received was , ' The Mastera Association could not receive those who sent them . ' , " We beg , my Lord , to inform you that though it has been said that the combination of workpeo ple ha d forced the masters into combination for mutu&l . protection * long before a meeting took place in this town the employers had an association , and that weekly meetings of then * body had taken place , and appeared in the public journals . But other par ties of great respectability and influence have endeavoured to approach pur master * for the purpose of arranging the dispute , and they received tip following answer : — ' At a meeting of the Committee of the Masters ' Association , held on Wednesday , the loth October , at the Winckley Club , Presjfcon , Mr . Thomas Miller in the chair it was resolved— '

      '" That acting on the p rinciple that has hitherto guided the associated masters , this committee , with a due appreciation of the benevolent motives by which the gentlemen named as a deputation are influenced , is unanimousl y of opinion that any such interview as that ' suggested " by-the St . Paul ' s School Committee is , in the present temper of the operatives , undesirable . : * ¦ ' * ThomasMixjceb , Cliairman ' " ' ' Wiiliam Aib-swobtH ; Hon . See ' "My Lord , we appeal to you whether the temper we have displayed in tnis unfortunate dispute has not been such as became men and women desiring to effect a mutual arrangement . We have never been publicly informed what reason our employers have to pursue the course

      they are pursuing . The present Masters Association has borne testimony that we are the best workpeople in Lancashire ; and , further , nearly one-fourth of the firms in the town are working ' their-mills' quietly 4-a noble protest ; against the injustice of the number of firms now closed . Some thousands of the hands have Bad no dispute with their masters— -have not given a shadow of cause to be treated with the cruelty they are treated . As one instance , there is a mill Where not one hand has contributed a fartbing to the support of the strikes . They dared nofc do it . It would have cost them their daily ' bread . They have never had one Word of ill-feeling with their employers , and they too have been turned into the streets . There are other

      cases as bad as this , and the onl y conclusion we can reasonably come to is , that they are determined to reduce us to the lowest depths of misery and starvation , if possible . And for what purpose ? If they open their mills to-morrow morning , we are prepared to recommence work , as we ceased on the 15 th of October ; and if they keep them closed for twelve months , it can only be the same , un r less they have some ulterior object in view which they caro not for shame to mention . " My Lord , we have entered largely into this unfortunate affair , because with an idle and discontented people—discontented because they are deprived unjustly of the means of existence , —it is not impossible that the peace of the

      district may be disturbed . Hitherto we have each and all used our influence and calmed down our feelings , in order to prevent scenes such as have occurred in a neighbouring town ; but how long- this good feeling may exist is uncertain . An accidental spark may lead to serious results ; and wo submit for your consideration whether your Lordship can adopt any measures calculated to lead , to an arrangement . Wo feel that at present the responsibility does not rest with us . If wo have been unfortunate and called meetings and formed organizations , who set us tho

      example ? If wo have appealed to public opinion and enlisted its sympathy , who showed us thp value of it when it could be used for their own peculiar purposes ? If wo havo collected among ourselves some few hundred pounds in n . week , who used to give their thousands ? If wo were so foolish as to believe that trade was good , who told us so ? Or if we wished to enjoy its blessings , who told us that wo wero certain to participate in them ? Why , my lord , the very men who are now punishing us for following their example , and placing credit in their honour ana their word .

      " My Lord , we beg to assuro you , in conclusion , that though wo cannot boast of . the education and attainments that our employers aro possessed of , you will find us always prepared to adopt any reasonable courso calculated to , pror mote tho peace of tlio country , and , the ' happiness and social wellbeing of its inhabitants . " The memorial was signed by tho chairman o \\ behalf of tho meeting . Wo havo little to record beyond tho above memorial . Preston still holds out ; but the , colliers at Wigan havo in the main given in and gone to work . In tho other towns there ib a disposition to return to work at tho masterM * terniH .

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      JOURNAL QF RAILWAY ACCIDENTS * . We aro compelled to rCHumo th ™ form of reporting the recent " uccidontu" which aro again becoming HU / lu'ionMy numerous to make it convenient . Monday . —A railway-train , running along the lino near the Plymouth breakwater , suddenly went over , into < >" nea , downing two brenksinen . The train won laden wiH » Hlone . Tho driven- and wtoker saw t ] wt Koine planktf , >» advance , bad given way , and they leaped into ( he son , Inn "

      waving their liven . _ , 7 VW / r // .-Two accidents occurred tliw day . J , he > lu «* wart on tlio Midlatul Itailway . A goods train oomuu ; <» n from l )( M-by iowanlH Long ttnUm , enve ) op <)( l Jn a log , Haw a Hignal to ritop when ehmo upyn it The breaks wore ]) ut . on , but in vain : Tho goodn train wn / wliedinto a oo » l Mi "" - from () odnor Park to Kugby , crotmimj M * Z"u \ ,. ll ( 'Hl" H ' threw the engine aero ™ tfio line , mu | f-liu truflw wiw ?»« - pended . No one hurt . .., . On the » ame < lay , Hui-ing tlio % , a u . an was kiljr « »• nli . Hiipl . inp io < rr » HH Iho raiiH a little lu ^ oiwl tho ICuig . » (! i'ohh Htation . . -, ,, ji .,, W <« h , < mb , .-0 n this day an ace dent , occin-r «> d (> il ; o ( W Northern Itailway , ' fiVo miles fom . l >< . n ««« fc «* A J night foBtROodH U-uiii , a few minute « bolund time , reac hed

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      1112 THE LEADER . [ SAyufcpAY ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 19, 1853, page 1112, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2013/page/8/