not this old man to have had his house and fire free, with a reasonable pension to live on? Two days ago the foundation stone of a monument was laid on Pensher Hill to the late Earl of Durham, in the presence of thirty thousand persons, the cost, exclusive of the stone which was given by the Marquis of Londonderry, being £3,000. If the marquis thought this noble deed should be recorded in history, let it also be recorded that Barrass was a working man, and had worked in his pits for thirty years, and that he was then, in his 80th year, houseless. (He, the speaker, then raised himself up and shouted at the highest pitch of his voice"The day of retribution will come.") He urged every man to stand to his colours. The last week had not yet come, and should they lose their point, they would give them another rally after. The union should never die. The speaker resumed his seat amidst tremendous cheering, and the resolution was carried.

Mr. R. Archer, of South Hetton, proposed the next resolution. He said that he felt very unwell, and would not therefore detain them; still he felt a pleasure in coming amongst them to lead them to the accomplishment of their object. It was a fact that the strike had now lasted for sixteen weeks, but they had not been without friends, and he hoped they were all prepared to keep the promise which this resolution pledged them to. They had received supplies from many quarters, and they ought to be grateful, and remember that "a friend in need is a friend indeed." He trusted that they would show that they had a disposition and a determination to keep to this promise.-(Cries of "we will!") If they had come into the field single-handed, let them bear in mind the truths they were endeavouring to advance. The public were watching their movements, and let them remember the precept inculcated by Scripture, "Not the sayer of the law, but the doer of it shall be rewarded." If they said there that day what they would do, they should do it. He concluded by reading the resolution, as follows:-"That in the opinion of this meeting, our gratitude is due to those shopkeepers, and other friends, who have so kindly supported us in our present struggle, and we fully expect they will continue to do so, in order to enable us to discharge, in an honourable manner, all our

F

obligations, and at the same time to assist us in bringing the present struggle to a successful termination.'

The chairman here announced that he had received a communication, informing him that two farmers in Bishop Middleham had contributed for the men employed in that colliery four rows of potatoes, which announcement was received with loud cheers.

Mr. T. Wakenshaw seconded, and Mr. T. Hay supported the resolution, which was ultimately carried unanimously.

Mr. Charles Reveley proposed the next resolution amid a shower of rain. He jokingly remarked that it was a very fine day and would make the potatoes grow. He was sorry to be under the necessity of proposing the resolution, still he considered it his duty to do so. He did not like to be the bearer of bad news, yet he thought the men ought to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth. Some miscreant had laid an information against the organ of their association, the Miners' Advocate. This was another blow of the enemy at their association, but would they suffer their paper to be thus put down?-(Cries of "No, never.") No, he thought not, it would only make them support it the more, and exert themselves to make it a stamped paper. Would they do that?-(Loud cries of "we will.") He hoped they would stand between the publisher and all danger; in fact, he knew the association would do so. It was a working man's paper, therefore it was to be put down; but the base informer would find it was not so easily put down as he imagined. He might say with the dramatist that""Tis a very good world to live in, To lend, or to spend, or to give in;

But to beg or to borrow, or to get a man's own,
"Tis the very worst world that ever was known."

They should look to themselves, support their paper, have no flinching, and they might depend the battle would ultimately be their's. He concluded by proposing the following resolution:-"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the prosecution commenced against the organ of this association, viz., the Miners' Advocate, is unjust, oppressive, and totally uncalled for; inasmuch as the paper has reached its eighteenth number without being disturbed; it therefore shows a spirit of malice and vindictiveness un

worthy of the age we live in. We, therefore, pledge ourselves to stand by and support that paper more firmly and energetically than hitherto, and to exert ourselves in making it a stamped paper as soon as possible:

"For the more oppressors bind us,

The more united they shall find us."

Mr. William Bird, of East Cramlington, seconded the resolution. He said a writ had been issued, headed-" The Attorney General versus Dodds," against the printer of the Miners' Advocate, because it was not stamped. It was only a trades' paper, and did not contain general news, or meddle with politics or religion; it had been established near a year, and they had just found out that it was not stamped. Persecution generally defeated itself, and, instead of destroying the paper, it would do it good. He entreated them to stand by those who defended them, at all risks; to give the paper their determined support, and recommend that it should be stamped immediately.

Mr. Joseph Fawcett, of West Moor, proposed the next resolution, and strongly urged them not to surrender their principles. Let them continue friendly and united, and they would become in the end triumphant. Let nothing induce them to leave their association.-(Cries of "never!")— He hoped not, it was their only shield of defence, their only hope. The resolution he proposed was :-"That, in the opinion of this meeting, the state of the markets (as the winter stock must of necessity be immediately got in), and the conduct of the masters in using so many schemes and plots to get them to work, warrants us in believing that fresh conditions will soon be offered; and this meeting recommends every man to stand out, and no surrender."

Mr. Edward Smith, of South Hetton, seconded the resolution, which, like all the rest, was unanimously carried.

Mr. William Daniels proposed a vote of thanks to the Mayor for the use of the Town Moor, and to the trades and shopkeepers for their support to the men, which was seconded and carried amid much cheering. After a vote of thanks to the chairman, three cheers loud and long for the Union and Mr. Roberts were given, and the immense assemblage of men peacefully separated.

This was one of the largest meetings ever held by the miners up to that time, much larger than any on Shadon's Hill, large as many of them were. The Tyne Mercury stated that there could not be less than 30,000 on the ground at one time. A board was held up during the meeting, bearing the following inscription, on one side :

'Stand firm to your union,
Brave sons of the mine,
And we'll conquer the tyrants
Of Tees, Wear, and Tyne.'

On the reverse side:

'We'll never leave the union field

Until we make oppression yield.'

It ought to be stated that it rained heavily during the time of the procession and meeting, notwithstanding which the men continued unmoved in their ranks, and stood on the wet grass till the close of the proceedings; a most convincing proof of their determination.

Another large district meeting was held at Bishop Auckland about the same time, when upwards of ten thousand men assembled. Mr. M. Elliot, from Trimdon, in the chair. Major Wemyss, of the police force, rode up to the platform, and, congratulating the men on their orderly and peaceful conduct on past occasions, hoped they would continue to conduct their meetings in the same orderly manner. The chairman assured him his advice would be attended to. The meeting was addressed by some of the most intelligent and energetic advocates of the miners' rights, Messrs. J. Wilson, J. Fawcett, R. Archer, G. Charlton, G. Emmerson, J. Beaston, N. Heslop and M. Dent. The resolutions, which were carried unanimously, were the same as those agreed to at the great meeting on the Town Moor.

CHAPTER XIX.

THE CONDITION OF THE MEN ON STRIKE. EFFORTS MADE TO RAISE FUNDS. SECESSION FROM THE RANKS OF THE UNION AND RETURN OF MEN ΤΟ WORK. YIELDING OF THE DURHAM MEN. MEETINGS ON THE TOWN MOOR, AT DURHAM, AND AT SCAFFOLD HILL.

Hundreds of the men on strike were at this time away in other parts of the country, some of them staying with their friends and relatives, some working in other places with their friends during the strike, whilst many who were travelling the country to collect subscriptions, grouped together in musical bands, met with harsh and unjust treatment which would have discouraged less zealous men than they were. Twelve of these musicians arrived in Whitehaven, from the County of Durham, the greater number being from Tanfield. They asked permission of the Rev. John Jenkins, chief magistrate of Whitehaven, to play through the town, but not to beg, and had permission at once accorded to them. On the Monday, July 1st, two benefit societies of miners held their anniversary, and paraded the streets with music; but neither of these societies had the graciousness to employ the musicians out of the County of Durham. These men, ten in number, were one day playing in the street, the other two being on the alert to receive any donation that might be given them. They never went into any house, nor yet asked any person for anything, but suddenly one of them, a man of the name of Thomas Dixon, of South Shields, was taken into custody by police-sergeant Bell, brought before Mr. Robert Jefferson, and charged with begging in the street, a charge which the prisoner denied. The magistrates asked him where he came from, and who he was; he told the magistrate that he belonged to the County of Durham, a miner, and out of employ for twelve weeks. The magistrate read the clause in the Act of Parliament, and said he was liable to 28 days, but he would or ly commit him to the House of Correction for 14 days. These poor men met with very few friends amongst men of their own calling; but received better treatment from a few carpenters of the town, for, after playing a few airs, they presented them with 12s. and refreshments.