The Birmingham gun-makers gave a feast yesterday week in honour
of Mr. Newdegate and Mr. Iluntz, to commemorate the services they have rendered to the trade in Parliament. The two Members listened to flattering speeches, and received handsome testimonials in token of the gratitude of their clients. Mr. Goodman, the chairman, vindicating the enterprising spirit of Birmingham, said that in 1854 the manufacturers had promised 150,000 muskets in two years. The actual performance was that they had sent in the enormous number of 272,000. And of that number 240,000 were Minie rifles of a quality that the world never saw before, and such as no other country in the world could equal.
The stone-masons of Newcastle-upon-Tyne have struck to compel their employers to give them a weekly half-holiday without diminution of pay. The proceeding does not excite much sympathy in any direction.
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