gbe Vrobintes.

There is little to add respecting the state of the manufacturing-dis- tricts this week ; slight advances in the progress of tranquillity at one quarter being compensated by retrograde movements elsewhere. The Manchester Guardian of Wednesday takes a comprehensive survey of the state of the surrounding district-

" There is no material change since our last in the relative positions of the workpeople and their employers in the country about Manchester. To the northward of the town, both spinners and weavers are at work at the old prices; whilst to the southward and eastward—especially at Ashton, Staleybridge, Glossop, Hyde, and Stockport—all are still at a stand, and, as far as we can learn without any reasonable prospect of a speedy resumption of employment. In Manchester, the spinners are all, or nearly all, at work, while the weavers are generally idle. Altogether, the lumber of power-looms now standing is supposed to be nearly 60,000."

Small mobs continue to collect from time to time in Manchester. On Tuesday the hands of Mr. Ritson's factory were turned out ; and the manager was obliged to fly for safety. An overlooker's wife was beaten at Ancoats.

Only one factory, that of Messrs. Bradshaw, in St. Peter's Gate, is at work in Stockport. A meeting of the working-people was held at the Chartist Association Rooms, on Tuesday, on the subject of the present turn-out. The room was crowded to suffocation, and the speakers were all political agitators. On account of the proclamation of the Magis- trates against meetings, no chairman was appointed. Several speeches were, however, delivered; and it was unanimously determined not to return to work at the old prices.

On Saturday last, four pairs of looms, in good condition, with six lathes, some of them having double boxes, and a large quantity of jacks, treadles, and other articles used in hand-loom weaving, were sold, in the new Market-place, for eight shillings! To those at all acquainted with the subject, this fact will at once convey an adequate impression of the dreadfully depressed state of the hand-loom weaving of this district, a branch of manufactures which at one period was the source of much prosperity and enjoyment to hundreds of families, and the means of opulence to many. These materials were bought by a baker, or some such person, to use as firewood,- and would fill two

moderately-sized carts. They must have cost the first possessors about 20/. On Monday, at the same place, a pair of looms, with lathe and gearing complete, was sold for 10d. While the looms stood at 10d., a bystander said they were well worth Is. ; and the auctioneer, mis- taking his observation for a bid, knocked them off to him at that sum. Then came an explanation and a dispute ; which was settled by the looms being sold to a former bidder for the sum mentioned.—Bolton Free Press.

The proceedings at a meeting of Comity Magistrates of Stafford- shire, at Stafford, on Monday night, indicate the continuance of a very unsettled condition of things in that quarter. Earl Talbot, Lord- Lieutenant of the County, presided; and among those present were Mr. J. E. Piercy, High Sheriff, Mr. T. Twemlow, Chairman of the Quarter-Sessions, Viscount St. Vincent, Lord Wrottesley, Vis- count Newport, Mr. E. Bailer, M.P. for Stafford, Major Chetwynd, and altogether about thirty Magistrates. Earl Talbot stated that the county was in a better state than it had been for some weeks past ; but the evil remained unconquered as long as the people did not return to their usual occupations. Lord Wrottesley said, thit all the disturbances were created by mobs coming from a distance; and Mr. Williamson added, that on that account was it so difficult to apprehend the perpe- trators of outrage, for as soon as they were interrupted by the police or the military they fled. Mr. Monckton explained the unusual na- ture of the present strike— The Staffordshire workmen, whether colliers or potters, were plain, straight- forward, and honest men, who seldom interfered in politics. In former strikes the cases were isolated, and each had no connexion with another. After a few comparatively unimportant breaches of the peace, the men in a short time gene- rally returned to thew work at the reduced prices, until their masters were able to obtain better prices, and trade and manufactures found their former level. He WAS satisfied that the difference between the present and former strikes was to be attributed to the insane spirit of Chartism ; and to this was to be attri- buted that sullen spirit of discontent and those combined movements which had taken place in various parts of the county. He was confident that the movement which had lately occurred could only be met by organization on their part.

Mr. E. Buller having remarked that the work people in North Staf- fordshire had returned to their employments, Captain Powys declared, that nothing but the presence of the military in some parts of North Staffordshire at the present moment restrained the discontented from the commission of acts of violence. When they knew that the upraising of a single finger would bring up hundreds out of the pits, he did not think the Magistrates would be justified unless they adopted efficient measures of precaution. On the night of the barnings in the Potteries, he passed through Hanley about twelve o'clock ; then all was apparently quiet ; but they all knew what devastation followed in a very short space of time.

The following regulations were moved by Lord Wrottesley, and car- ried— " One or more stations to be fixed upon in each hundred by the Magistrates of such hundred, at which the meetings of the Magistrates are to be held ; and such special constables shall be there quartered as the Magistrates may deem requisite.

"That communications be kept up betwixt the several stations of such oc- currences and information as may be deemed advisable, communicated to such persons as the Magistrates may appoint.

"That horses be engaged at each station, under the sanction and at the direction of the Magistrates of that station, for expresses or extra patrolling when required. "That horse-patrols (if practicable to be sworn in as special constables) be established, without pay, for patrolling, according to circumstances, the high- roads between the stations. The patrolling to be at the discretion and under the direction of the Magistrates of the hundred.

"That the horse-patrols do regularly report the result of their patrols to such person as the Magistrates shall appoint at their respective stations."

A resolution was also proposed by Lord Talbot, to the effect that the Magistrates were determined to adopt all possible means to protect life and property ; that they earnestly appealed to the masters in the mining and manufacturing districts to remove all just grounds of complaint on the part of the men ; and that the Magistrates further pledged them- selves to be at all times ready to investigate and punish all cases of oppression or illegal conduct which could be maintained against em- ployers. It was thought, however, that the resolution would be con- strued as an encouragement to the men, and it was withdrawn.

A meeting was held at Westbromwich, on Wednesday, at which the mine and coal owners were invited to attend, to consider the alleged grievances of the colliers and miners. The masters, however, showed little disposition to attend ; holding back, according to the reporter of the Times, on these grounds-

" First, they conceived that as against the masters generally, the men had no grounds of complaint. Upon this head, Mr. P. Williams (one of the great- est non•masters in South Staffordshire) stated at Stafford, that the firm of which he was a member had not fewer than 1,500 men in their employ, and not one complaint had yet been made against them as masters. Secondly, it was thought that as the men were gradually returning to work, the proposed meet- ing of today was altogether unnecessary; and that if the colliers were left to themselves, they would, without compromise between masters and men, return to work within a week or ten days. Thirdly, it was argued that Mr. Salter, by whom the meeting was convened, was a comparatively young and small master, and that previously to his committing the trade to the meeting, he ought to have consulted the coal-proprietors and the iron-masters of the iron- districts of the entire neighbourhood. The consequence of these combined reasons was, that although there was a numerous attendance of the working colliers at the Dartmouth Hotel and its immediate neighbourhood, there was a comparatively small attendance of the masters."

The Earl of Dartmouth took the chair ; and in doing so, he stated that he had no personal interest in the dispnte. Mr. Davies, of Crook Hay Works, said that his men had no complaint to make, and so he begged to retire. The workmen again urged their complaints ; which were chiefly, that they are called upon to erect wooden props without pay; to " cleanse " the pits, or remove superincumbent rubbish before they arrive at the available matter, also without pay ; and that they are compelled to work " bildasses," or portions of a day, (on one occasion, a man said he had worked from six o'clock till four in the afternoon) without pay. Joseph Davies, a butty, (or middleman who contracts for work,) said it did not take more than a quarter Of a day to set a prop. Wages were said by the men to range from 6s. to 24s. a week ; but it was admitted that, even with the drawback of "cleansing,"

pikers could now, if they chose to return to work, earn from 68. to Ss. a day. In times of good trade and fall employment, the men would be able to earn much more. Mr. Eaton and Mr. Salter, coal-masters, ex- pressed their belief that the bildas system would speedily be abolished; that the butties were anxious to do justice to the men ; and that the masters were anxious to remove their real grievances. The Earl of Dartmouth counselled the working-people to return to their occupa- tions; and the meeting separated.

The municipal electors of Derby borough have issued an address to the authorities of the town, under circumstances which are explained in the address itself— "On Wednesday morning, August 31st, Mr. Vincent's friends received no- tice of his intention to give a lecture at Derby, on the evening of Thursday September let, upon ' the present state of the country, and the necessity and safety of extending political power to all classes of the people.' They imme- diately engaged the theatre for the purpose, and issued placer& announcing the particulars. Various attempts were made to prevent the spread of the in- formation ; shops were entered and the placards requested from the windows, and during the night the whole of those posted upon the walls were torn down. The next morning, however, more bills were printed and circulated. In the course of the day, a private meeting of a part of the Magistrates was held : the lessor of the theatre was sent for, and warned that by letting the building for any such purpose he would become liable to a heavy penalty. The result was that he withdrew his permission. A compromise was, however, subsequently effected; the doors of the theatre were opened, and the parties were put in pos- session. The acting Magistrates hearing of this, sent down a posse of con- stables, who, by sheer intimidation, induced the lessor to authorize them to eject the persons then in possession; and the theatre was thus finally closed against them. To exemplify the spirit actuating the prime movers of this pro- ceeding, it may be as well to mention, that one of the Magistrates, under whose authority these scenes were enacted, was called upon by a party, who believed that a clear statement of the case would remove all fear ; and this Magistrate refused to hold any communication with the individual, and repeatedly stated that he would hear no explanation whatever. "We fearlessly assert that all the circumstances of the case prove that there was not the remotest probability of any breach of public order. The Com- plete Suffrage Union, with which Mr. Vincent is identified, is peculiarly cha- racterized by its pacific principles. Its leader, Joseph Sturge, is a man of peace ; the constitution of the Union particularly inculcates the use of none but moral means; and above all, the Tory press has openly expressed its dread of the movement in consequence of its peaceful character. * • • In ad- dition to these facts, it must be borne in mind, that for more than a week pre- vious to the proposed lecture, the town had not exhibited the least symptom of excitement. And finally, let it be remembered, that the placard earnestly re. quested the attendance of the middle classes, and that this fact alone was an ample guarantee for the peaceful intentions of the assembly."

The municipal electors think that the case resolves itself into an at- tempt to deprive them of the right of publicly expressing their opinions : they deny the right of any individuals to dictate to the people what they shall say and what they shall not say ; they intimate a fear that if "the great safety-valve of society," free discussion, is put down, "the pent-up feelings of the multitude will gradually increase in intensity until they find vent in some dreadful outburst of popular indignation "; and they "respectfully enter their protest against this unjust exercise of magisterial authority, and at the same time express their firm deter- mination to use all lawful and peaceable means to oppose this infringe- ment."

The Council of the Anti-Monopoly Association of Liverpool have addressed their fellow-townsmen to disclaim the having fomented the late disturbances ; which they rebut as "false, calumnious, and entirely destitute of proof." They say that they have frequently confessed their fears that neglect of the evil effect of the Corn-laws might have a disastrous result, and late events have justified their fears ; but to at- tribute to them any share in the fulfilment of those fears, "is as mani= featly absurd as to charge a physician with being the cause of a disease which the neglect of an organic law has enabled him to foretell."

The clearing of the "supplemental calendar" at York Assizes, con- sisting of charges connected with the late riots, which began on th3 1st, closed on Saturday. The particular cases were destitute of inas- rest, each being the copy of the preceding. The question was generally reduced merely to one of identity, or of degree in culpability. In the heat of advocacy, Mr. Charles Wilkins, who defended a great number of the prisoners, made a collateral charge against certain Magistrates, not named, of "exciting the people against the laws, simply because, in the bigotry of so-called Liberalism, the laws did not snit their notions." Lord Denman checked the counsel in these irrelevant remarks, and afterwards observed—.

It was of the utmost importance that all men, especially those in the situa- tion of the prisoners, should clearly understand, that by the law of England any man voluntarily lending—even if by his presence only—his sanction and support to riotous and unlawful mobs, was guilty of a participation in the offences in which they were involved. For it was the very numbers which gave force and invested with terror these illegal assemblies ; and each individual present, and silently aiding and abetting in their lawlessness, was as a private in a large army of rioters carrying the terror and the violence of invasion into peaceably-disposed districts of her Majesty's dominion. As to the allusions which had been made by the learned counsel to alleged exciting language on the part of some Magistrates, if such conduct had been pursued, it certainly was most reprehensible. Still, however, on the part of the people of this country, he must assert the right of free discussion and of peaceable statement of grievances ; and, unfortunate as it was that the discussion either of political questions or of the laws regarding provisions should produce excitement and ill-feeling, it was the undoubted right of Englishmen to meet and peaceably to discuss the grounds of what they deemed just complaint. But there was a very wide difference between meeting for the purposes of peaceable discussion, or of petitioning the Sovereign and the Parliament—there was a wide differ- ence between this and assembling riotously, and to the terror of the peace- able subjects of her Majesty, and with the view of committing acts grossly illegal and tyrannical. Nov was it fair or just to trace to perfectly legal and constitutional discussion all the unlawful acts which might there- after be committed. Unfortunately, it was matter for astonishment and la- mentation, that after all that had been done to enlighten and educate the pet pie—and he would fearlessly add, to improve their condition and promote their comforts—there should be found in this country men, by the hundred and the thousand, ready to assemble together for the absurd, the insane the suicidal purpose of throwing men in their own circumstances out of empioyment, and thus increasing terribly the distress which unhappily existed. . `fhe Judges certainly endeavour to give full effect to every circumstance of panic.-

tion; but the monstrous and unheard-of tyranny of preventing men from working who were willingly engaged in work must be met with condemnation;

and it waa far from mitigation—It was ag.gravation—that men of education and of religious profession should have taken a share in these proceedings, which might have produced bloodshed. Another advocate having pleaded in respect of some of the prisoners, that mere presence at an illegal assemblage did not constitute participa- tion. Lord Denman added on that point, more emphatically—

No man would be convicted merely for accidental and unintentional presence at a riot ; but if from all the circumstances there was ground for justly con- cluding that his presence was voluntary, he should be convicted, though lie might not have committed, or he might not be proved to have committed, actual violence. Numbers constituted force, raised terror, encouraged the evil. disposed, and deterred those whose duty it was to disperse such crowds. It was impossible to ascribe to each individual the precise amount of criminality be might have incurred; the actors of particular deeds could hardly ever in riots be discovered or identified. Let it be, too, well understood, that if money was obtained by means of the terror inspired by such large assemblies of people, the offence would amount to highway robbery, and would be liable to fifteen years' transportation. Little did ignorant and misguided men imagine the fearful responsibilities they incurred by their foolish participation in lawless proceedings. On the prisoners severally convicted sentence was passed on Monday. One man, Mitchell, who had been convicted of plundering a soldier who was struck down, was sentenced to ten years' transportation. Wilkin- son, who had stabbed a constable, was sentenced to imprisonment for eighteen months. For the rest, they were condemned to terms of im- prisonment varying from six to two months, or to imprisonment for the nominal term of three weeks, to be reckoned from the beginning of the Assizes; and a number were discharged upon entering into their own recognizances.

A great number of rioters were tried at Salford Sessions, on Monday. They constituted a party who were charged with riot at Clifton, on the 20th of August, and with turning out the colliers at Mr. Knowles's and other pits. The cases were all alike. The rioters met at Kersall Moor, and then proceeded in a body to several collieries on the road from Manchester to Bolton. When at a short distance from the works, the general body halted, and six or seven went to the place and entered into conversation with those who happened to be on the spot. They then demanded, in a menacing tone, why they were at work ; and im-

mediately the whole mob made its appearance in such formidable numbers as to cause considerable alarm, and the bands left work. The

military and police came up with the mob when they were leaving the colliery of Mr. Knowles, at Clifton Moss; where they had turned out all the hands, pulled out the plug of the engine-boiler, and cut down the bank of (be reservoir, which would have the effect of stopping the works effectually for some time. No sooner did they perceive the half dozen Dragoons that formed the advanced guard, than the crowd dis- persed in every direction. Most of them were strangers, from the neigh- bourhood of Oldham and other places twelve miles from the scene of the disturbance. The Jury convicted six of the number, and acquitted all the rest ; apparently somewhat to the surprise of the Chairman. On Tuesday, a party of seventy-eight were charged with riot at Hey- wood on the 17th August, and another party were charged with riot at Little Lever on the 12th. A few traversed to the next Sessions : almost all of the rest were convicted.

Sentences were pronounced on Wednesday. The punishment varied from a fortnight's to two years' imprisonment ; those who had taken the most active part in the riotous proceedings, and appeared to be the ringleaders of the mob, being condemned to the longest confinement.

The Kentish Observer has a capital instance of "Justices' justice." Two comedians at Dover, James Fitzjames and Edward Gladstone, were charged by Frederick Fox Cooper with assaulting him, and fined 10s. including costs. The same parties were then charged with threatening the life of Mr. Cooper ; and required to find two sureties, in 20/. each, to keep the peace for two months, and in default, were com- mitted. They found bail, after being confined about three or four hours. To pass the time, they sang a duet, "All's lost,"—which the gaoler coo- trued to be " bellowing "; and, in spite of their objection that it would hurt them in their business, he had their hair cropped ; to which he compelled them to submit under pain of having nothing but bread and water. They were also told that they would have no dinner unless they picked oakum ; and that unless they conformed to the rules of the prison they would be publicly whipped. The injured persons brought their case before the Magistrates on Friday ; when the gaoler justified his conduct—

lie ordered the complainants to be cropped,' and subjected to the same treatment as other prisoners committed for misdemeanour. They bad been examined by Mr. Coleman, the surgeon of the gaol. They were cl an. They neither of them asked him to have their hair left on. Ile told Macdonald to treat these men as misdemeanants. Ile uas bound to take their de- scription. All prisoners were treated in the same way, and the rules of the prison left him no alternative. Persons of the higher classes of society, be said, had been served similarly ; and instanced a Mr. Baring and a Mr. Beresford, who had their hair cropped in Dover Gaol."

The Magistrates, after some deliberation, said that they had come to the conclusion that the Governor of the gaol was perfectly justified in ordering the hair of the prisoners to be cut off, and therefore they dis- missed the case.

At Quadring near Spalding, on Friday last, Mary Spencer, a school- mistress, was murdered by William Howitt, a deaf and dumb man, aged twenty-two; to whom the woman had often shown kindness. It is sup- posed that plunder was not his object, as several things of some slight value were untouched. He has been committed, on a Coroner's warrant, to Lincoln Castle, for trial at the next Assizes.

Francis Bradley, an Irish shoemaker, thirty-two years of age, was banged at Liverpool, at noon on Saturday, for the murder of his wife. He had treated his wife, to whom he had been married for eight years, and who had borne him three children, with great inhumanity : latterly he formed an intimacy with another woman, Theresa Pearson ; and he poisoned his wife with arsenic, intending, it is supposed, to decamp with Pearson to America. He was tried and convicted at the last Assizes. He died protesting his innocence.

The Albion, one of the largest two-decked vessels ever built, and pierced for ninety-two guns, was launched at Devonport on Wednesday. Lord H Adington and other Lords of the Admiralty were at Pipuouth, on their official visit, and they were present at the launch. Mrs. Drake, the daughter of Admiral Superintendent Pym, christened the ship. Its extreme length is 243 feet 1 inch ; length of the gun-deck, 204 feet ; extreme breadth, 60 feet 21 inches ; burden, 3,110i tons; weight of broadside of shot, 2,016 pounds.

The Queen's ship Superb, of 80 guns, was launched from the Royal dock-yard at Pembroke, on Monday. The Superb is a sister ship to the Collingwood, of 80 guns, launched from Pembroke dock-yard about a year ago. The extreme length is 190 feet ; extreme breadth, 56 feet 3 inches; burden, 2,583 tons.