Papurau Newydd Cymru
Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru
8 erthygl ar y dudalen hon
..THE TRUCK SYSTEM.
THE TRUCK SYSTEM. TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY. Sin' --In perusing your journal of last week, I saw, among other letters, one from a grocer, of Abersychan, in which he has controverted my letter of the previous week, which he had no place nor right to do. Now I beg leave to state more fully how the British Company act in immediate connexion with the truck system, that the public may judge for themselves in these matters. In this neighbourhood there are two classes of shop- keepers, without mentioning the truck company shopkeepers, viz., ready money and credit shops. Certainly the British Company pay once a month, and the gaffers of the said works, though not mentioned in my last letter, have a full authority, though the company have a large truck shop themselves, to send their men to other shops of the place, according to their will; and the gaffers, as a matter of course, become responsible for the money to any such shopkeepers but at these shops the men are as tyrannically dealt with as ct the company's shops; and this they must do in order to pay the handsome discount exacted by the gaffers for the custom of those who suffer them- selves to be thus enslaved and whether he who signs himself Grocer" is guilty of this or not is better known to himself. The ready money and the credit or the truck petty shops dif- fer in their charges of from F.5 to E10 per cent. In the time of the worthy late manager there was a money draw every other week at the British works, and that very near to the amount of.earnings then the men did not grumble much if the pays," as we generally call the settlement at the end of the month, would be so long as seven or eight weeks, which did not often occur and immediately after Mr. Wood left, an alteration took place. There is now but one very small money draw even during the five-week month, to only about the amount of ten shillings to us colliers and miners, and the others in that proportion to their earnings. The other draws are put in the shop to be served in truck, I am sorry to say, of the basest sort. But now if we can wait without their provision or the money till the first Saturday in each month, we should receive all our earnings then; but we cannot stop without shop goods or money for a month, as I said before, our earnings being small. This company a short time ago were often in courts of law for trucking. What can be more shabby any- where I wonder than putting the labouring man under the necessity of having his goods served him on the counter, and calculated before he receives his money to pay for them, and then receives only the exact amount of the goods, then he pays for them, and the cash runs back immediately to the cashier, as already explained. I now appeal to the Grocer," is not this a fact, which can be proved by hundreds of us? In fact, they have dealt more shabby, in my estimation, a great deal, in the last reduction of wages, than the Varteg and Golynos Com- pany. The reduction of the first amounted to about ten per cent., while the latter amounted to only about five per cent. Also I have heard from good authority that the latter-company will in future be more liberal, which I hope they will be able to be, and right confident I am that they will feel pleasure in being so, as soon as circumstances will permit them. I hope the Grocer" will again review my letter, then he may be convinced that all he said is wrong and utterly incorrect. The old proverb may be well applied to him, Put thy hand on thy mouth that thy words may be few." I ask him again, Is it not true that the money draws at the British works have been much lessened lately ? Is it not true that the company intend to enlarge the truck shop P and is it not true also that there is much more business doing now at the British Company shop than in times past, owing to the truck string being drawn much tighter about the working men than it used to be? But perhaps I have trod rather heavily on the sore foot of the Grocer;" but he has been weighed already in the scales of the public mind, and found wanting, and the mene mene tekel upharsin has been written. I feel proud for the privilege you grant us to discuss a matter so important in your paper, and I beg to remain Your faithful servant, Abersychan, May 20, 1850. AN OLD MINER.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY.-'
TO THE EDITOR OF THE PRINCIPALITY. DEAR SIR,-Your Beaufort correspondent, in your last num- ber, expresses his surprise at the sentiments advanced in my letter which appeared in your paper of the 10th ult. I asi equally surprised he should have misunderstood, or misrepre- sented, the views therein advocated. He would have me ap- pear as an apologist for the truck system, if the facts referred to have this effect. With thatl have nothing to do, and can only say that I regard the system of truck as a great moral and social evil, and, therefore, rejoice at its exposure in every form still I cannot disguise the impression that no efforts aparPtrom those pointed out in my last will effect the object desired I, therefore, think greater good would result from agitating this matter if accompanied by some scheme to raise the moral stan- dard of the masses of the population, and I can conceive of no plan better adapted to secure this end than by advocating princi- ples of temperance and frugality. The present seems to me a most favourable opportunity to make the working man feel the burden entailed upon him by the oppression of truck in its aggravated form, when wages are so low, and he, by the sys- tem, compelled to pay fifteen or twenty per cent. higher for articles he may require than he could procure them elsewhere. Still, I ask your correspondent is this a well-selected time to in- crease the dissatisfaction of the men, when, during this state of depression, the remedy is hopeless would not a greater amount of good be likely to result if the evils were dwelt upon, and the masses of the people aroused to make provision for a stand, after having waited their time, although, in the majority of instances, it is impracticable at present ? Acts of Parliament have been passed for the ostensible pur- pose of protecting the operatives against the oppression caused by truck-shops; but even these have failed in the object at- tempted—a proof, to my mind, that all efforts apart from those put forth by the oppressed themselves are futile. My opponent states, he is quite at a loss to know how to recognise the truck system as the offspring of drunkenness ¡", but, perhaps he will admit its being an offspring, if not the offspring still, if he wants proof of this, I refer him to the statements of your Abersychan correspondent, signed A Grocer." From the in- formation contained in that geiitleman's. letter it seems palpably evident that during the prosperous times experienced in that neighbourhood the truck was supported chiefly, if not alto- gether, by the improvident (intemperence is the prolific source of improvidence), nr those who had not that character which would have secured them monthly credit at private shops; and, indeed, at one time during the recollection of the writer, aud within the last ten years, the earnings of the majority residing in these mineral districts were so ample, that frugality and in- dustry would in a few months have secured a sufficient amount to have made nearly the whole population of these parts inde- pendent of truck-shops, so that, in the event of their continu- ance, they must have competed with private establishments. So far as report and testimony can be considered authentic, my experience enables me to confirm the statements of your Aber- sychan correspondent, having frequently heard both agents and working men say they, at the draw and pay, were at liberty to take ali their earnings in cash without any fear of being marked men and I believe this was the case for many years. This fact, no doubt, is the secret of the prosperity of that neighbour- hood. I am not aware that there has been of late any depar- ture from this just rule, except in the non-continuance of draws altogether. Notwithstanding these advantages, that neighbourhood has had as much drunkenness andproftiga,cy as any I know. If men will take tobacco from the company's shops at Is. 4d. the quarter of a pound, and dispose of it to the publican for one shilling's worth of beer or something akin—surely the man who could do this would be equally reckless if he had cash at command. The foregoing remarks in reference to the British works are L sufficient to prove that temperance and frugality would be im- portant auxiliaries in the abolition of truck, and may help in teaching your correspondent how even teetotalism would materially assist in the destruction of the unjust system of pay- ing the labourer in goods at a dear rate instead of cash. How your correspondent can so pervert the obvious meaning of one assertion I made, namely, That God helps them that helps themselves," I am puzzled to understand; it may be his perceptive faculties were dormant for a time, but whether from the too free use of alcohol or not, so as not to see clearly the bearings it had on the whole drift of the position, I took, up, I cannot tell. I now respectfully take my leave of him by saying, I have done, and bid him farewell. Apologising for trespassing so much on your space, and wishing you, Mr. Editor, every success, I am, dear Sir, A LOOKER ON. Pontypool, May 22nd, 1850. '■ ■■■ ..5?
[No title]
GRAND ENTERTAINMENT BY THE LORD MAYOR TO THE J UDGES.- The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress have issued cards to a large party for the 28th instant, to meet her Majesty's judges, the masters in Chancery, the sergeanta-at-law, the Queen's coun- sel, and others in the legal profession-
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN…
REVIEW OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE DURING ( THE PAST WEEK. 1 £$ 1 [From the Mark-lane Express.] Though the weather is still far from genial, its general character has ilither improved within the last few days, and in proportion as the fears entertained respecting the effects likely to be produced by continued cold have decreased, so has the inclination to pur- chase wheat diminished. Up to the close of last week the demand was tolerably active, but since then it has slackened materially, whilst the anxiety to sell has become more apparent. This is plainly indicated by the increased supplies which have been brought forward by larmers, and it is evident that, unless appre- hension respecting the future should be kept alive by. the recur- rence of unfavourable weather, the recently established advance would not be maintained indeed, some reaction has already taken place, sales having been made at many of the markets in the agricultural districts at prices Is. to 2s. per qr. below the ex- treme rates obtained last week. This appears to us to bear out the opinion we have lately expressed, viz., that the upward move- ment was caused solely by the unpropitious state of the weather, and not by any fears of stocks proving short between this and harvest. Since then, however, a new element has arisen, which may make a difference in the state of affairs as far as future supplies from abroad are concerned—we allude to the somewhat menacing turn which matters have assumed between this country and France. The mere possibility of the tranquillity of Europe being disturbed would, unquestionably, have an immediate in- fluence on the grain trade and though there may be little danger of such an occurrence, still the recall of the French Ambassador is a proceeding of sufficient importance to deserve attention. The future is involved in so much uncertainty, that it would be rash to enter into predictions; but we feel satisfied that the stock of home-grown wheat in the country is quite as large as is usually held at the corresponding period of the year and that, unless any unforeseen troubles should arise out of the difficulties referred to, the importations from abroad will be on a scale to keep down the value of agricultural produce, in the British markets, at a point so lotor as to be unremunerative to the producers. At most of the large consuming towns business in wheat has been less active this week than at any period since the middle of April. Buyers appear to have secured what they deemed enough for their immediate wants, and having added sufficientl o their stocks to render them indifferent about making further purchases, they have declined paying the enhanced terms asked. Though the arrivals of foreign corn have been more moderate than previously, the tendency of prices has been downwards. At Liverpool, on Tuesday, the value of wheat was the same as on that day se'nnight; but it did not sell so freely as the previous market day. Subsequently sellers found it necessary to make some; concession, and on Friday the turn was certainly in favour of the buyer. At the leading markets in Yorkshire the inquiry- for wheat had already fallen off as early as on Tuesday. At Hull con- siderable difficulty was experienced in obtaining former terms and at Leeds prices were Is. per quarter lower than on that day week. The reports from Birmingham and Bristol, of Thursday's date, are of a similar character, and at most of the markets held on Friday a decline of Is. per quarter took place. The advices from Scotland are not so flat, the supplies from the growers not having increased there in the same ratio as with us, and the arrivals from abroad having been quite moderate. At Edinburgh, on Wednesday, wheat was in fair request, and good qualities were Is. to 2s. per quarter dearer. The advance was not so great at Glasgow, but the trade was decided ly firm. The most important news from Ireland is, in our opinion, that relative to potatoes. Fears were, we are sorry to say, entertained that the young plant had received injury from the severe weather, and the demand for Indian corn had, in consequence, increased to an extent causing its value to rise Is. to 2s. per quarter. Tha the probability of a failure, or even adeficiency in the potato crop, should be regarded with great apprehension, is perfectly natural, a very large breadth of land having been planted but we trust that the alarm may prove groundless. Some slight increase has taken place in the arrivals of wheat coastwise into London still the quantity brought forward is small, amounting up to this (Saturday) evening so only 3,084 quarters. The show at Mark-lane by land-carriage samples from Essex, Kent,: and Suffolk, has been quite trifling since Aloriday, and the operations have consequently been on a retail scale, tha millers beings generally unwilling to purchase on so bare a market. The little business done on Wednesday was at rates precisely similar tb those current in the commencement of the week. On Friday we had only a run or two fresh up from Essex factors, consequently, remained firm, but there was certainly less inclination to buy, and we much question whether it would have been possible to place any quantity without submitting to a decline. The averages are now beginning to show the effect of the late rise, and the last weekly return for the kingdom, pub- lished on Thursday, is 38s. per qr. The receipts of wheat from abroad have, as compared with the arrivals of previous weeks, been very moderate, though the wind has been favourable for vessels from the northern ports of Europe. It will be observed, by referring to the Sound List, that there is also a decrease in the number of ships, corn- laden, which have passed Elsinore; and it is, therefore, pro- bable that the supplies will, for a time, be less abundant than we have lately been accustomed to still we may calculate on tolerable arrivals from some of the nearer continental ports and unless a fresh impetus should be given to the demand by increased apprehension regarding the growing crops, the supply is likely, we think, to keep pace with the demand. Hitherto importers have avoided landing as much as possible, but they have lately been enabled to realise somewhat better prices from on board ship, say, for good qualities of red 39s. to 40s., and fine Rostock 42s. to 43s. per quarter. At these rates, which are about the same as those at which sales were made on Monday, only a retail business has since been transacted. Polish Odessa and the lower-priced kinds of wheat have met with a moderate show of attention. There was rather less inclination to buy on Friday than earlier in the week, but there was no quotable alteration in the value of any description. The? top price of town-manufactured flour has undergone no change. The supply of the article from France has not been so liberal as it was last week, and what had been previously landed has been held with firmness, still no difficulty has been expe- rienced in buying the best sorts at late rates. English barley has almost ceased to come forward the total quantity received coastwise during the week having amounted to only 914 qrs. This grain is evidently getting scarce and though the close of the malting season will necessarily cause a falling off in the demand, still present prices seem likely to be maintained. The few lots exhibited since Monday have been held firmly at the terms then, current, which needy buyers have had to pay. The market has been in great measure cleared of the foreign previously pressing for sale, and the receipts from abroad having during the last few weeks been moderate, quotations have been gradually creeping up. The operations since Monday have not been on a very extensive scale, but the recent advance has been well main- tained, and good heavy qualities were fully as dear on Friday as earlier in the week, the best grinding sorts being then held at 19s. per qr., and Saale higher. Holders of malt have shown more disposition to raise than to lower their pretensions, but there has not been a great deal doing in the articles. We have to report a shorter supply of oats than in any previous week for some time past, the home and the foreign arrivals having fallen off simultaneously. Altogether only 16,446 qrs. have come to hand, of which 1,187 qrs. are English and Scotch, the remainder froni abroad. The large dealers have taken advantage of this state of matters to dispose of a portion of their recent pur- chases, which they have been enabled to do at remunerating rates, the advance during the last fortnight having been about Is. 6d. per qr. The sales from first-hand have, consequently, been rather unimportant since Monday, more especially as factors have endeavoured to establish some further advance, which, however, they have only succeeded in partial instances in obtaining from necessitous buyers. The inquiry for beans has continued tolerably active, and fine qualities, whether of home or foreign growth, were easily placed, both on Wednesday and Friday, at the prices current in the com- mencement of the week. The accounts from Ireland report an advance in Indian corn in the sistier isle; parties having floating cargoes off the coast have therefore8 raised their pretensions.
[No title]
ACCORDING to the Dutch papers, Holland has produced a celebrated contralto singer, in the person of Madlie. Adelaide Weintlial, a native of Deventer, who made her debut recently at the Felix Meritos Society in Amsterdam, and sang also before the royal family at the Hague, She is a pupil of Garcia, and has studied also at the Conservatoire at Paris. It is added that she is coming to London, THE UNIVERSITY CommissioN.-The Daily ivews says, it is stated that a strong remonstrance against the issue of any com- mission from the Crown for inquiry into the affairs of the two universities is in course of signature, and has already received the names of nearly all the heads of houses at Oxford, and is likely to meet with a similar reception at Cambridge. I
ACCIDENT TO H.M. STEAMER CUCKOO.
ACCIDENT TO H.M. STEAMER CUCKOO. The Daily News of Friday last reported the sinking of the Royal Navy steam-vessel Cuckoo off Jersey, on Wednesday last. The following additional particulars are from the Jersey Times :-The Birkenhead, Queen's -steaxner, of 1,200 tons, Captain Stevens, having anchored in the Large Roads, on Tuesday evening, under the charge of Mr. Gallichau, Queen's pilot, with the depot 26th regiment on board, from Queenstown, Ireland, for the Jersey garrison, the Cuckoo, on this station, proceeded to her early on Wednesday morning and took on board 300 of her troops, with whom she was steaming towards Victoria Harbour at about half- past 5 o'clock, being at the time in charge of Mr. Payn, Queen's pilot, when her starboard bow suddenly struck upon the. dangerous and unbeaconed rocks in question. Just pre- viously, Captain Dumaresq, hearing some doubt expressed to Mr. Payn by Mr. Gallichan (who had come on board from the Birkenhead, as a mere passenger to shore) as to the safety of his course, gave the order ease her," an order which fortunately mitigated, although it was too late to prevent, the violence of the strike. Owing to the coolness of Captain Dumaresq and his officers, and the exertions of Major Hogarth and the officers commanding the troops, and to the disciplined obedience of the men, no panic ensued. The troops remained in their places. Captain Dumaresq then got all the Cuckoo's steam up, ordered the troops en masse astern, to keep her bows as much as possible from the water, and happily succeeded in driving her just beyond the har- bour's entrance, into shallow water, the vessel slightly canting over towards her larboard side as she took the ground. All the troops on deck were then safely lapded in boats, leaving nothing behind them but two or three muskets, which were afterwards found in the harbour. With some 40 men, prisoners and invalids, below decks, main force had to be used by the sailors to get them upon deck, and thence into the boats, so stupified were they by their sudden disaster all, however, were got on shore without personal accident to any one of them. Fortunately Captain Dumaresq had declined taking on board from the Birkenhead, for that passage, any of the wives, or children, or baggage, of the men, and much loss of life was, it is probable, in consequence e* tec prevented. They, and the rest of the troops (169 men) and the baggage, were subsequently brought to shore by the Polka steamer, and by the Birkenhead's and other boats, and the entire depot—men, women, and children—642 in all!- were eventually landed in security. On the fall of the tide, it was found that the Cuckoo had received extensive injury in her starboard bow in which a hole of considerable size had been made, low down, and her copper was scraped some distance along her starboard side. No time was lost in ren- dering the aperture, by means of hides, &c., as water-tight as possible and as soon as the rising tide permitted in the evening she was floated into the inner harbour, alongside the quays of which she now lies. This accident to a Queen's vessel-an accident which, but for the admirable presence of mind, and promptitude of action of her commander, might have been attended by a dreadful loss of human life- must have convinced the authorities that the re-erection of the oyster-rocks beacon is necessary for the safety of vessels entering or leaving the harbour. With regard to the blame attributed to Mr. Payn, the pilot in charge of the Cuckoo at the time of the catastrophe, it is not for us to form or express an opinion. He will have to render a strict ac- count of his conduct elsewhere. The Polka steamer was engaged on Wednesday afternoon and evening in conveying the baggage of the 54th depot on board the Birkenhead and at half-past six o'clock yesterday morning the Superb steamer left Victoria Harbour with the whole depot (about 160 strong) and with the soldiers' wives and children on board, and safely embarked them all in the Birkenhead; which latter steamer left at about 7 o'clock for Guernsey, where she will land them, and there embark the 16th depot for England. A correspondent says-The excitement occasioned through- out the town and island by the accident was extreme, and throughout Wednesday the road leading to the harbour, quay, and pier were thronged with people. The parties who are principally to blame are the island authorities for not beacon- ingtlie dangerous rocks in question immediately after the bea- con on them was washed away by storms three months*ago.
[No title]
THE CONVICT ANNETTE MYERS.—This criminal, who was convicted at the Old Bailey in 1848 of the murder of Henry Ducker, a Guardsman, by whofn she had been seduced, by shooling him in St. James's-park, and sentenced to death by the Lord Chief Baron, was, upon the commutation of that sentence, and the substitution of the punishment of transportation for life, ordered by the Secretary of State to be imprisoned in the West- minster Bridewell for the space of two years. That period having expired on Saturday, the prisoner was removed from the Bride- well to the Millbank Penitentiary, preparatory to the sentence of transportation being carried into effect, and she will be sent amongst the next batch of convicts to Van Diemen's Land. Her health is now much improved but during the first part of her imprisonment she suffered very much, and was continually in the deepest grief and melancholy. It was at onetime thought that her reason was affected, but the authorities have satisfied themselves that such is not the case. INCENDIARY FIRES IN DORSETSHIRE.—The village of Winfrith and the neighbouring hamlet of West Burton have been thrown into a state of much anxiety and alarm by three incendiary fires, which took place consecutively on Thursday, Friday, and Satur- day nights last. The first was a large dairyhouse and premises, near the Red Lion inn, Winfrith, occupied by the dairyman of Mr. W. J. Reader, which was discovered to be on fire about four o'clock on Thursday morning, the 9th inst., and the dairyman, his wife, and son, had barely time to escape before the whole premises were in flames very few of the household goods were saved, and but for the prompt exertions of the neighbours, it is probable the opposite and surrounding premises could not have escaped.-Oa Friday night, about twelve o'clock, the cottage and premises occupied by the policeman, Forsey, who has been indefatigable in the execution of his duties, were set on fire, and the room in which he and his wife slept was nearly surrounded by flames before they were aroused by persons from without, and the whole of the premises were in-& short time in a heap of ruins.-On Saturday night, about eleven o'clock, a hay-rick, belooging to Mr. Hopkins (whose house and premises were only separated from the policeman's cottage by the turnpike road), was also set on fire and consumed. The premises above destroyed in both cases belonged to Joseph Weld, Esq., of Lulworth Castle, in the occupation of his tenants. On Saturday, in consequence of some reports which had been circulated respect- ing the above-named policeman's cottage, two idle characters of Winfrith, named Brine and Bowring, were apprehended and taken to Wareham, where they were kept in custody until Monday, when the Rev. G. P. Cambridge attended and it appeared from the evidence of Robert Trent, that on his return from Weymouth on Friday night, and while taking his supper, his son ran in anq, gave the alarm of fire, upon which he immediately ran across the heath towards the village of West Knighton, believing it to be Mr. Hopkins's premises which were on fire. As he was approaching, he saw two men running away from the fire, and whose persons were distinctly seen between him and the glare of light, which was momentarily increasing, Believing at first that they must be tramps, and had fired the premises, he made towards them on coming up with them he knew and accosted one of the party with Holloa, George, what be you doing here don't you see there is a fire ? Upon which they replied they did not, and appeared as if they would still go on. This was talked of the next day, and led to their apprehension previous to which some footmarko leading over the garden hedge to the precise spot where the fire broke out, and others again going the same way back, were care- fully preserved, and upon the capture of the suspected parties the marks were found to correspond exactly with their boots. From this and other evidence which came out in the examination, they were both committed for trial at the assizes, for having wilfully set fire to the house of the policeman. GREAT reduction is taking place in the cost of railway worb&. Upwards of forty miles were let by the directors of the Great Northern Railway Company on Thursday last, for considerably under £5,000 a mile. AN overture has been received by the Royal Commissioners from the Government of the United States of America, offering to remove the Great Exhibition of 1851, after its close in London, to be reproduced at New York, and paying a consideration for the same, which would go towards the increase of the English fund. COMMUNICATION WITH AMERICA.—The mercantile body in Limerick are urged to compete with Galway in demonstrating the advantages of their port for a packet station and it is proposed to make an experimental trip to Halifax from the Shannon "by inducing the City of Dublin Company to lay on one of their best steam-packets for a start across from Loop-head." AN Edinburgh paper suggests that, of existing poets, Profeqaor, Wilson possesses the strongest claim to the vauaat laureateship.
THE CARDIFF ATHENJEUM, AND…
j pleased to be enabled to state that he had not heard the slight- est disapproval expressed by any one member of the Council whatever (cheers), but that every opportunity should be given for the purpose of affording amusement (loud cheers). So much then for the reasons he had in granting the use of the hall to the Athenaeum, and he could assure them that as long as he held the power he should continue to do as he had hi- therto dorie (loud and prolonged cheering). He had been always promised that all meetings should be properly conducted and when he saw such men as those before him he was sure that such meetings could not be conducted otherwise. Some few he knew wi uld misconduct themselves, and one or two might set up, as it is termed, a cat-calling, but he thought the society should not be blamed for that. In the matter before them he regarded that what had taken place that night would prevent a repetition, and he would therefore read the resolu- tion. It was this- That the members of the Athenaeum take this opportunity of expressing their unabated confidence in the 'committee, and thank them for their unwearied exertions to promote the objects of the institution." Now he thought he might be taxed with inconsistency for proposing such a reso- lution, when it must be recollected that a proposition to after the previous committee was opposed by him. The reason why lleopposed it was his great respect for Mr. Lowder, who, toge- ther with Mr. Clinton, had done a great deal for the Athenaeum, but they found they were obliged to give way. His friend Mr. Lowder had rose the institution to an important position, and seeing that he was to be suppressed, he (the mayor) considered it was his duty to support him. But after the alteration took place he saw so much energy that he could not regret the fc11ang (hear, hear, and cheers) and having been fairly beaten he then gave his support to the winners. He therefore had supported the new party, at the same time let it be remem- bered his respect for Mr. Lowder remained unabated, and would continue so [hear, hear]. He was glad to see Mr. Williams present that evening, because he would now know the senti- ments expressed. He (the mayor) had great respect for him personally, but they all knew that editors had sometimes to write what they did not exactly feel; for be had heard of geti- tlemen—but he did not say Mr. Williams was one of such— who would engage themselves for Liberal or Conservative pub- lications but he would at all events say this for Mr. Williams, that a better reporter, when he chose, could not be found, and he was sure those gentlemen connected with the Guardian would not wish again to insert such articles as had been alluded to that evening. He was not a musical man himself, but he wished to increase and encourage what would give intellectual j enjoyment rather than excite animal propensities. With re- j gard to the committee, their exertions had been unabated, and t therefore he felt great pleasure in proposing the resolution [loud and prolonged cheers J. Mr. Roger Davies very cordially seconded the resolution, for he thought that any one who had taken a review of the past, and of what had been done by the committee in forward- ing the objects and interests of the institution, had been most praiseworthy, and almost beyond precedent. The meeting of that evening, he was happy to say, had exceeded the most sanguinfe expectation; in fact so much so, that they had doubtless galled the Guardian (hear, hear). He could not call the articles which had appeared in that paper criticisms, but it appeared to him to be more like a little bit of spleen coming from one corner, or one side of the mouth in fact, he hardly knew how to express it (hear, hear). Mr. Edwards, surgeon, said, that he was entirely unac- quainted with the management of the meeting,- but he would request the liberty of saying a few words. He had no idea of attending till within a few moments of its commencement; but as he was present, he was anxious that the proceedings, as they had passed on, should not be considered by any one as occasioned by a mere spirit of retaliation. He had watched the institution in its progress, and had felt glad of its success since its new management, for there was a great want of energy, and a vast amount of monopoly, going on in its pre- vious management (hear, hear) but since the change he had been highly pleased at the exertions that had been made by their present committee (cheers). When he attended this meeting, he thought it was held for the purpose of showing more confidence among its members in the future conduct of | the committee, and as this resolution had to do with such a vote, he felt great pleasure in supporting it. He would ] rather that the meeting had been of the same nature through- out, although he might be incompetent to give an opinion, yet he hoped the committee were not so thin-skinned as to relax j at anything which might be said of them, but rather go forward clothed with the confidence they ought to have in their future success (cheers) They need not in this to wn be afraid of any -organ of party, but continue to go forward in the achievement of a future good, seeking that prosperity which has hitherto attended them (hear, hear). He thought that from all he had heard, they, as members, had more to fear from the relaxed -efforts of the committee, than from any criticism of their pro- ceedings which had yet appeared and he sincerely hoped that the feelings which had been expressed would be set down to the vote of confidence, rather than any act of retaliation to those persons who might be supposed to have injured them. The resolution was carried unanimously. Mr. Ritchie begged to be allowed, before the meeting sepa- n rated, to propose a vote of thanks to their respected and worthy Mayor for his kind co-operations in behalf of the success of the AthentBum (cheers). They must all be aware, that if it had not been for the kindness of that gentleman, they would have been unable to have held their usual meetings; and, therefore, he (Mr. R.) considered that this meeting, and the town of Cardiff generally, were under great obligations to his worship for his oft-repeated kindness (loud cheers). He most cordially thanked, the meeting for the vote of confidence to the com- Jnittee which had been so unanimously passed; but hai he been, present last night at their meeting, he should certainly i have endeavoured to dissuade them from following out the course they had now done. The best thing which he thought could have been adopted, would be to treat the aspersions they complain of with that silent contempt which he considered they richly deserved (hear, hear). It was not until five o'clock on that evening (Saturday) he was at all aware that such a Meeting as the present was to be held; but as it had now taken place, he was sure that the committee, from the large attendance present, would get fresh zeal and fresh energy by having so cordial a vote passed on their behalf. He Would, with the greatest pleasure, propose a vote of thanks to f their Mayor for the very great services he had rendered to the Cardiff Athenaeum (loud cheers). j Mr. Barry briefly seconded the proposition, which was un- i aninaously carried. ) His Worship in rising to respond was received with loud and I long-continued cheers. He said that they all did him so much j honour he did not know where to stow it-it quite overwhelmed him. lie could assure them he felt deeply sensible of their 1 kindness, but wanted words to express himself. In giving the i Use of the Town-hall it was only fair for him to say thateri.ry Member of the corporation conceded with him in his wishes to grant it. It was only for him to break the ice he knew, for previous to his going into office the hall was looked upon as a sort of Tabernacle, or sacred place but he was anxious that it should be used for all useful purposes-a deviation from the Customs of by-gone years-and if a little plaster should at any time get knocked off, they would get it put on again without much murmuring (laughter). He was very Pleased to hear that the vote of confidence given to the com- mittee passed off so unanimously, for he thought it would have a beneficial effect. It would have an effect he hoped upon the young people, and induce them to join the institution, Which supplied means of self-instruction to so great an amount ~a means by which so many had risen in life. Their Athenaeum had already been the means of eliciting the genius t)f one lad. It was in the art of sculpture, and was a very Worthy and creditable production, the ideas for which he had Procured from some of the drawings in the institution. This w a means of developing his genius, and the genius of others 'light be discovered in the same way. He was sure that their 'tiend the Guardian would not now be any more attacking them, "ut would rather turn round and support them. He (the mayor) glad the meeting had taken place, and they had each ex- pressed their sentiments respecting it, as the hubbub would 110W probably be over (hear, hear). But to proceed. If they I1"- fancied themselves indebted to him (the mayor) for what he ,lad done, how much more must they feel towards their respected President—one who might be termed the father of them all, a,1d who was in season and out of season always at his post, to Render his services in the promulgation of the benefits of the ^stitution [loud cheers.] He (the mayor) knew the great Success of their institution—it was something like a snowball- Continually getting larger and larger-and he hoped all the young people in the town would join it; and then, whatever oe the results arising therefrom, he considered they were Ml indebted to their respected president (cheers). The mayor concluded by moving a vote of thanks to that gentleman. It was seconded by Mr. Hopkins. The chairman in reply kindly thanked his friends and Promised his continued support to the institution. In explain- Z1? a conversation he had had with Mr. Williams respecting the Paragraphs which had appeared in the Gwrdixn, that gentle- said they were meant rather to do good than harm Wisapprobation). J After a few further remarks the meeting separated.