The dockers of Marseilles have been for some weeks on
strike, and the injury to trade is most perceptible, vessels laden with imports passing out of the harbour to unload at Genoa and other places. The strife is still most bitter (there was severe rioting, involving cavalry charges, on Thursday), the men refusing to yield till higher pay is conceded, while the masters, who are singularly exasperated, decline even to discuss terms with the representatives of the workmen. The labow. ing class generally sympathise with the dockers, and a general strike is threatened. That is improbable, but on Wednesday the attitude of the bakers became so threatening that the Government, fearing a famine, which if it lasted even for three days might produce terrible social effects, hastily despatched numbers of military bakers to ensure a supply of bread. Great efforts have been made to bring over .Aigerine labourers, but they cannot do the work, and the labouring class will not endure a great importation of Italians or Spaniards. The Government will probably enforce some compromise very soon, but the general aspect of affairs suggests that Marseilles is nearly as dangerous as Paris, while its workers are worse paid. All this while the Chambers go on artificially raising the price of bread.
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