ever she did not die during his imprisonment, but a very short time after. The manager was spoken to by the men, and told that the men who had been taken and put in prison were the very men who opposed the strike, and were the most respectable and law-abiding men they had at the colliery; and he replied: "I know that, and that is what I have put them in prison for. It is of no use putting those in who cannot feel." This is a fair index of the state of feeling existing at this time between the employed and the employer. We have selected those collieries as they were the largest, and considered models in management, so that when such a state of things prevailed at the model collieries the reader can perhaps readily enough imagine the general condition of the miners of Northumberland and Durham up to this late period. There was a growing desire amongst all thinking men that a union should be established, but the question which required much consideration was, how was it to be done? The men knew by experience that whoever attempted this was sure to be a marked man amongst the coal owners, and few were hardy enough to dare the united wrath of the powerful capitalists. The desire to commence a society amongst the miners for the purpose of providing against accidents was also very strongly felt by the thinking and intelligent part of the men, but nothing short of such appalling accidents as that at Burradon, could rouse the general body of miners at this time. Mr. J. Baxter Langley, then editor of the Newcastle Daily Chronicle, made himself acquainted with many of the miners' grievances, and began to take a very active interest in them, with a view to the amelioration of the condition of the pitmen. At his suggestion an important meeting of miners was held on the Town Moor, Newcastle, on the 23rd June, 1860. Mr. Young at this meeting proposed "That the plan of the proposed Miners' Provident Association deserves the cordial support of the miners generally, and that the rules. and regulations recommended by Mr. J. Baxter Langley, and approved of at several public meetings called together, be adopted by the meeting, and that it be recommended that sub-committees be formed in each colliery to carry out the application of those rules. That the Mines Inspection Bill now before Parliament deserves the attention and support of the miners of Northumberland and Durham." This was seconded by Mr. Nichol and carried unanimously. Mr. J. Watson then addressed the meeting on the Mines Inspection Bill, which had been twelve months before the miners. Mr. Thomas Messer, moved "That this meeting is of opinion that the investigation into the cause of the explosion at Burradon Colliery has been useful, but that to secure the full benefits that would arise from such inquiries, action should be taken to make the masters responsible for the accidents which occur in coal mines; that this meeting is also of opinion that the conduct of Mr. S. Reed on the inquest referred to, was grossly partial and unfair, and that the following memorial approved of by a meeting of delegates at Seaton Delaval, be adopted and signed by the chairman of this meeting." The memorial represented that on occasions antecedent and subsequent to the Burradon inquest the conduct of Mr. Reed had not been of that impartial character befitting an officer and judge in a solemn and important investigation, and it concluded therefore by praying that Sir George Cornwall Lewis, would suspend the aforesaid coroner, till he had satisfied himself by full investigation of the truth of these allegations. Mr. J. B. Langley seconded the resolution amidst loud cheers. He spoke at some length on the conduct of the coroner at Burradon, and also on the question that was raised in the northern districts of England, whether or not the masters were to be held responsible for the lives that were lost in the pits. It was to their interests to have accidents in mines thoroughly investigated, to have such a Mines Inspection Bill as would bring all these facts before the public, and would secure their children against an improper amount of labour which interfered with their education. This meeting, which was of a very successful and useful character, was organized and arranged by a few of the miners, who paid most of the expenses out of their own pockets. They were assisted by Mr. Wilkinson, of the Victoria Hotel, who built them a plat form gratis, and gave them £2 to assist them in carrying into law the Mines Inspection Bill. A delegate meeting was held after the general meeting in Mr. Wilkinson's, Victoria Hotel, and a resolution was carried to the effect that a levy of 3d on each man be made, to be divided equally between the Burradon Defence Fund, the Mines Inspection Bill, and the Miners' Provident Association, as none of these movements had any funds at their command at the time. The principal clauses of the Mines Inspection Bill which was then before Parliament, were as follows: "That no boy under twelve years of age be allowed to go into any mine, unless he can produce a certificate that he could read and write. That all boys between ten and twelve will have to go to school five hours in one day every week not being Sunday. That all persons under 18 years be prohibited from taking sole charge of any engine or machinery. That all possible and accessible places must be properly ventilated. That the entrance to all places not in actual working be properly fenced off. That places of refuge at the side of every engine plane, not more than twenty yards apart, be made for the workmen to go into if the set be running. That a general rule, providing that all coal or iron stone shall be weighed, with proper weighing machines to be placed at the bank of every colliery. That the workmen be at liberty at their own cost and charges to place a man to see the coals weighed. That special rules, drawn up by the owners or agents for the guidance and working of each colliery, must be hung up in some conspicuous place for 14 days, to allow the workmen to see them before they are presented to the Secretary of State for approval. That the payment of wages in any office contiguous to a house where intoxicating liquors are sold be prevented, and that all wages be paid in money; a penalty of not more than ten pounds being fixed for non-compliance. That no owner of a mine, or any relative of such owner, sit as a magistrate to adjudicate at any trial with such owner and his workmen employed in mines." The bill embracing the above clauses, was passed, and came into force in July, 1861. At the latter end of August, 1860, Mr. Martin Jude, whose name has been so often mentioned in these pages, and one of the immediate results of whose labours was the Mines Inspection Bill just referred to, died in North Shields, in very abject circumstances. He was buried at Elswick Cemetery, on Sunday, the 2nd of September, and though he had been the moving spirit amongst the miners for nearly half a century, his remains were laid to rest without the passing tribute of any but that of two or three warm-hearted friends. Referring to this truly great man the editor of the Chainmakers Journal has the following: Martin Jude, the true friend of political and social reform, the veteran soldier in many a severe struggle of labour against capital, the earnest worker for the amelioration of the condition of the miners of the North, is now no more. In the fifty-sixth year of his age he shuffled off this mortal coil, and bade adieu to the many friends who admired his talents, and were conscious of his civic virtues. On Sunday, September 2nd, we followed his remains to their last resting place in St. John's Cemetery, Elswick, and dropped a melancholy tear over the bier of our departed friend. For upwards of a quarter of a century Mr. Jude was an efficient labourer in various political agitations, and, as is well known, took a prominent position in the unions of the miners of Northumberland and Durham, to which class he belonged in early life, and whose interest he watched until the end of his days. For some time past he was in declining health, but his death took place more suddenly than was expected. Of great and varied intelligence, his conduct was characterised by an entire absence of egotism. Firm, yet conciliatory towards opponents, his modest and respectful manner gained him many friends amongst those who differed with him in opinion. As our great dramatist hath it— "The elements So mixed in him, that nature might stand up, CHAPTER XXXV. THE CO-OPERATIVE MOVEMENT. THE STRIKE AT WEST CRAMLINGTON. Having gone thus far with the union, it is necessary to turn aside for awhile to record the sudden uprising of a movement which has not been without its influence in the amelioration of the condition of the miners. Amongst the many combinations and organizations which have had such a beneficial influence on the miners, none have exceeded the co-operative movement, which, springing from a very small foundation, has spread over the face of the large and densely populated Counties of Northumberland and Durham, and drawn together some thousands of honest industrious persons. West Cramlington has the honour of having commenced the first local co-operative store. It is customary at colliery villages for men to associate together in small groups, and as each had their different topics to discuss, co-operation was the principal subject debated in one of those small companies of men. It had been discussed in its various aspects, and at last it was decided to make an effort. A meeting was called at Mr. Henderson's, innkeeper; but there was a very small number present. The object was explained amongst the few, they agreed to put their names down as members, and as a test of their sincerity, to pay sixpence per man to defray expenses, should the movement fail. These men, however, did not believe in the word failure. Another meeting was called, which was attended by a large number of workmen. One of the most intelligent men on the colliery was asked what the meeting was about, and replied, “I cannot tell, but they say it is for every man to have a shop of his own." A little work, published by Mr. George J. Holyoake, called "Self Help," was read and explained-a book that cannot be too often read, even at the present time, in Co-operative Societies. But the very name of the author terrified many, and a number of objections were started by the sceptical, and those whose interests were to be touched by the success of the movement. The religious feelings of |