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Leader (1850-1860), 1st April 1854, Edition 1 of 1, Page 296, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      THE FKIENDS OF POLAND . NSTEAjp of their annual ball , the friends of Poland iave this year given a dinner , and it proved highly uccessful , the proceeds of the evening ' s subscription o the funds of the Literary Society reaching 1000 ? . rhe scene of the banquet was the London Tavern , ind the flag of Poland hung beside that of Turkey . Phe proceedings were very spiritedly sustained . the iird Mayor presided , supported by the Prince Szartoryski ,-the Earl of Shaftesbury , the Earl of Albermarle , the Earl of Yarborough , the Earl of Karcowbyj Lord Beaumont , Viscount Sandon , Lord Kinsale , Lord Dudley Stuart , Sir John V . Shelley ,

      M . P ., Sir Benjamin Hall , M . P ., Sir G . Strickland , M . P ., Si * Joshua Walmesley , M . P ., Sir James Duke , M . Pi , VMj . Muntz , M . P ., Mr . Moncton Milnes , M . P ., Colonel Freestun , MJP ., Mr . T . Hanfcey , M . P ., Admiral Taylor , C . B ., M * . Zohrab , the Turkish Consul , Alderman Wire , Mr . Alcock , MrJE \ , Mr . Ferguson , M . P ., Mr . Otway , M . P ., Mr . Penney , M . P ., Mr . Cobbett , M . P ., Colonel Szymrf , Lieutenant C . Szulczewaki , Mr . Anderton , Mr . Gore Langton , M . P ., Mr . Brady , M . P ., and Mr . Chisholm Anstej- The speakers showed the utmost sympathy for Poland , and ardent longings were expressed for her jestoration to the map of Europe .

      Untitled Article

      TRIAX OF COWELL AND OTHERS POSTBONED . At thelJiyerpobl Assizes , onTuesday , George Cowell , Michael Gallagher , MortimerGrimshaw , Luke Wood , John Brockebank ^ John Lang , , John Gardner , Wil-Ham Parkinson , J- ames Waddingtoa , Joseph Dolphin , and ^ ornas" Greg 8 on » were indicted for unlawfully cjojp ^ piruig together , and threatening , intimidating , TOlfjSraUiii ^¦ ' ^^ o ^^ p ^ t | iig ' - - ! certj ^ n' workpeople at Prpj » n , ; Md pi ^ accepting empl $ j |^^ there , whose names ' - ^ a ^^ i ^ b tpufelin ^ tte" ind&tment , * in order to lo ii

      rce' ^ Baia-mant ^^ their mt ^ e of carrying on their trades and buaiaesses . ^ m ^^ mmmm ^^ eyim- ^^ chiirger ^ ¦ ^ 'smsssmst m ^ s ^^ mm&r- - ' --Mr . Watso ^ arid Mr . Spinks appUed for th « postponenieiit of the tri ^ - on the graurid that the defendants had not had sufficient tiiaie tcf prepare their defence . The ^ ttorney-General for the Conafcy Pa * latihe pressedforthe ^ rial , which it was important should le settled at once . Bat Mr . Justice . Cress well thought the ptlblic would hold the trial to have been < iimair ^; . pio ^ eede 4 with then , and accorded the a | ipliCBitioii ; : •¦ -: ' v * " > .. - d- ''¦¦' ¦ * V ¦ ¦ ' , '; ¦ ' ' ¦ '" '

      Untitled Article

      ;; , Sia 8 & rkjigiftpr labour-battle . ( Frokcur CorresponctenL ) ¦ .,.. ' .: " . * ' Preston , Thursday . The immediate result of the apprehension of the eleven delegates mentioned in ray last , is indicated by a considerable increase of subscriptions to the relief fund . The weavers' fund alone mounted up to nearly 27 OOZ ., which was 700 / . more than that of the preyiotis week , and . greater than any one week ' s 8 ubscr £ pt ; ion ^ excepting that which included the extraordinary-sums for the supply of the Christmas dinner . The fund organised for the defence of the

      defendant delegates now amounts to a very sufficient sum , by the aid of special levies made throughout all parts of the district , and some very munificent subscriptions from independent persons of all ranks ; who , wKile desirous of avoiding anything calculated to inflame this disastrous dispute , are yet determined to have justice done by these men . The postponement of the trial until next August assizes is regarded here with very conflicting feelings ; the operatives look upon it as a proper assertion of justice , and the associated masters with all the bit * ternefta of disappointment . The secresy with which the prosecution was prepared , its postponement until

      conspiracy of the masters and the conspiracy of the men , and it has been urged , vrith great j ustice , that if the men are to be prosecuted for doing such and such things , the masters should be made to undergo the same ordeal for doing likewise . I do not anticipate that the workpeople wilL be so ill-advised as to take any aggressive measures against the masters or their agents ; but , if these prosecutions be persevered in , they cannot be blamed if they act in self-defence . The reception of the defendant delegates at Liverpool appears to have been quite a triumph . The workpeople of different trades took a holiday , and feasting , toasting , and subscribing were quite the order of the day . An enthusiastic meeting was held in the Concert Hall on the evening of their discharge , at which many of the defendants spoke .

      In spite of the extraordinary efforts made to conceal the facts , the conduct of the immigrants imported by the association is not believed to be very satisfactory to their new employers . Cases of drunkenness , and of selling clothes and bedding furnished to them on their arrival , are confidently related ; but none of these find their way before the magistrates , and for very obvious reasons . I hare good reason to believe , and that from very likely information , that the work turned out by these persons is of the most unsatisfactory description , and that , indeed , they spoil much more than they render available . In spite of these discouraging facts , the agents of the association appear to be contriving their efforts to swell the number of the recruits , and as each , batch arrives endeavours are made to spread

      about a very exaggerated report of the number and importance of their accessions . If this is done with the view of frightening the old hands into resuming work , it entirely fails of its effect ; for the Unionists take care to be very well informed upon the number of persons imported into the town . Erom returns wliich I have obtained of the immigrants imported during the week , X find that there has been a very considerable falling off . From last Saturday morning 4 ip to this morning 127 persons were imported , of whom 27 were useless . During the same period 20 have been sent back again , by train , among whom weretwo 'lunatics ( who are understood to have been procured from a union Workhouse in Buckinghamshire ) , and many other returning immigrants are said to have gone on foot as far as Chorley , taking the train there .

      As an instance of the feeling which exists among someof the ^ oraaigrants , I may mention the case jofia woman named 'Matilda Taylor , who , on -Saturdaylast , made an appeal to the Mayor under the following circumstances : —Ott appeared that this woman h ^ d Jbejph brought from Ireland by an agent of Messrs . Bjfrley , Brothers , and that on tier " arrival she was assigned to Mr . R . ThrelfalL Mr . Threlfall ' s manage ? stated ; that upon her arrival , with a company of Irish , shewas appointed housekeeper of the house in which they lived , to prepare their food and attend to

      the household duties ; that the company under her care refused to permit her to remain in the capacity of housekeeper ; and that -when asked if she would work at-the mill , she replied in the negative . The poor woman denied the statement made by Mr . Threlfall ' s manager , and expressed a wish to return to Ireland ; whereupon the Mayor made an order that she should be sent back again forthwith , and that Mr . Threlfall should pay the expenses of her journey .

      entailing upon the inhabitants numerous evils for which they alone are reponsible who , by their abitrary proceedings have prevented this protracted dispute from being brought long ago to an amicable settlement . " 2 . That while we who are here assembled sincerelr regret the unwillingness of the Preston tnillowners to pay the same rate of . wages as other master spinners and manufacturers , we are quite amused at their endeavours , by printed resolution , to create the impression that the scheme of importing new hands , to supersede the old ones , is a successful one ; also at their bombastical resolution , professing to adjourn their meeting for three months . Moreover , as it is the firm resolve of the factory workers to continue to sun .

      port their fellow-workpeople of Preston , and relying with confidence upon the sympathy of a generous public , the turn-outs and lock-outs of Preston may look with the most perfect indifference -at the proceedings of the miuowners ' meetings , whether called at the end of three or six months , which hare not for their object foil and ample justice to their workpeople . " 3 . The spinners and minders formerly employed in the mills of Preston , having ever manifested a sincere desire to arrive at a speedy , honourable , and amicable settlement of existing differences , and having adopted every proper means they can think of for that purpose , this meeting respectfully recommends them to surrender the ten per cent ., provided their former employers will agree to take'an equal number of

      the highest and lowest lists of prices from districts within a circuit of a given number of miles by which the spinners and minders in such districts are paid , and will take as average of the whole as their future list of prices . " 4 . That this meeting being convinced on the evidence of the most palpable facts , that the Preston factory workers have deplored the existence of the present dispute ever sinoe its commencement , and as nothing but their acceptance of the most degrading conditions will satisfy the millowner ^ all their endeavours to bring it to a satisfactory conclusion , whether by arbitration , mediation , or by interviews with their employers , having hitherto proved unavailing , a weHdigested scheme of co-operation be now recommended , and

      commenced at the earliest possible opportunity , convinced as we are that the union of capital and labour in the same hands affords the best guarantee of a fair return for both . " 5 . That in order to carry out the last preceding resolution into effect , this meeting is of opinion that the trade ' s throughout the country should be communicated with , urging upon them the necessity of petitioning the Legislature fo pass a law of limited liability in partnership , and thus offer those numerous capitalists who are anxious that the working classes should permanentl y improve their social condition , au opportunity ©^ assisting them to do so by the enactment of to the

      a law w-hicir ^ DalFfioid them responsible only amount of money they may think proper to invest in , any undertaking . " ' . ' A cneeting of the townspeople was convened last night , in the Theatre , for-the purpose of taking the present crisis into consideration . Several speakers addressed the meeting , and mafry gentlemen were nominated " mediators" to interfere between the masters and the' operatives . As many of those names , however , were uitrotiuced without the sane * tion of their owners , I do not anticipate' any good effect from the meeting ; oh the contrary , I think that such crude proceedings , far from facilitating can only impede an amicable settlement .

      On Tuesday evening jlti accident occurred at Messrs . Humber ' s mill , exemplifying the folly ( not to say cruelty ) of patting Unskilled hands to superintend complicated machinery . A new hand from Buckinghamshire was set to manage a selfacting mule , and one of his legs was torn off by the mechanism . The practice of crowding round the mills and the railway stations is now altogether abandoned , neither is the offensive word " knobstick" publicly used ; but

      the mischievous have invented a substitute for the latter by crooking the fore-finger into the shape of a " knobstick" when any of the bffenders happen to pass by . Large and enthusiastic meetings of the unemployed continue to be held in various parts of the district , and in the neighbourhood of Preston , and a plot of land , part of the freehold ! park , situate within the borough , has afforded space for several open-air demonstrations , with the full permission of the owners of the freehold .

      The trime 8 tral adjournment of the masters has drawn from the operatives a pledge to continue the dispute for four , or even six months , if necessary . At a meeting of the Association of the Spinners and ^ finders of Lancashire and the adjoining counties , held at Blackburn on Sunday last , the following resolutions were adopted : — " 1 . That the ratepayers , and other inhabitants of Preston , bo respectfull y requeatod to accept tho lustin g gratitude of this meeting , for ilia practical sympatliy and generous support they nave extended to the factory operatives of I ' reston and their advocates , under tho trying circumstunces in which they are now placed ; likewise the assurance of our deep regret at tho fact , that strangers , in a state of tho most abject poverty , aro being introduced into tho town for tho purpose of depressing labour to tho starvation point , thereby

      the , very . commencement of the Assizes , and the indecent liqste with which the preliminary examinations weM harried over , and the committal pressed for , all tend to show that the association was very anxious to give ' the defendants the least possible time for their defence , and to press the indictment to a conviction during the present assizes . It is difficult to conceive how they could have been advised tliatsuch an offence against all ideas of fair play would be tolerated , or that any judge would lend himself to the petty manoeuvres of a clique by permitting so gross a distortion of the law ; but there can be little

      doubt that such were their expectations , and that the postponement of the trial may be looked upon as the complete failure of the coup . Some , indeed , expect that the prosecutions may now be safely numbered among the things that have been , and if ( as we sincerely hope may bo the case ) these unhappy differences aro healed before next autumn , it would obviously be a most imprudent act to reopen tlie sore by resuscitating the most ill-advised among a long string of mistaken measures . The independent public are , moreover , beginning to inquire what are the precise points of difference between the

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      Untitled Article

      DR . BA&TH'S ARRIVAL / AT TIMBUCTOO . This indefatigable and enterprising traveller has arrived safely at Timbuctoo . He has accomplished a perilous journey of 2000 miles from Kuka on the shore of Lake Tchad , to th « far-fiuned city of the Great Desert , without any companion to . share the responsibility of the undertaking , or to consult with in its difficulties . The loss of Dr . Overweg at itoks , in ^ September , 1852 , obliged him to give up thengrand enterprise—a journey from Lake Tchad to the shore of the Indian Ocean—but Dr . Barth then

      determined to attempt the journey to Timbuctoo alone ,. " As the sole survivor of the mission , " so wrote Dr . Bartti before his departure from Kuka , " the completion of its objects now devolving entirely on me , I feel my powers doubled , and my mind all the more determined single handed to follow up the results already obtained . My means consist of a tolerable supply of presents , in addition to 200 dollars , four camels , and Four horses ; my health is in thft bast condition ; and with five trustworthy , long-tried servants , -well armed and having plenty of powder and shot with us , I shall with fresh and redoubled courage , and with full confidence of success , start on my journey to Timbuctoo . "

      He left Kuka at the end of November , 1852 , for Sakatu , but the last letters received from him were dated Kaslina , 6 th March , 1853 . Kaalina is about halfway to Sakatu . His letters from that time until September last have not been received . The letters and despatches received this week bear dates ranging from the 7 th September to the 5 th October last . " On the 7 th September , 1853 , Dr . Bartli entered Timbuctoo in a grand slyle , escorted by thejbrotherof the She ' rkhel-Bakay tho ruling chief of tliat city , and by a splendid

      suile on horseback , on camels , and on foot , welcomed nnd saluted by the festive multitudes of the inhabitants . The latter hud been made to believe that the stranger was a messenger from the Great Sultan of Stambul ! tho real character of I ) r . Burth being only known to the Sheikh himself , whose protection and goodwill tho intrepid traveller had been fortunate enou g h to obtain , and who considered it advisable that ho should assume that character on account of tlie very fanatical disposition of the people . During his subsequent stay up to the 5 th of October , the Sheikh-el-Bukay and his brother had remained the faithful friends of tho pretended ' ambassador

      Untitled Article

      296 THE LEADE It . [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), April 1, 1854, page 296, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct2032/page/8/