[THE LABORERS' MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.]

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1886, 22 August 1874, Page 4

[THE LABORERS' MOVEMENT IN ENGLAND.]

The area of the agricultural excitement in the eastern Counties is threatening to extend itself indefinitely over the whole eastern coast ; and day by day, as the "lock-out continues, both mastersandmen are becoming more and more embittered in their feelings against each other. Owing to Joseph Arch's illness, the duties of leader of this movement have devolved upon Mr Geo. Ball, formerly an agricultural laborer in South Lincolnshire, and for the last 12 months one of the general delegates of the National Agricultural Laborers' Union. For several years he has been an ardent Methodist local preacher, an occupation which has supplied him with an admirable training for the present conflict. He Bpeaks with great force and precision, and at times rises into a rugged, austere kmd of eloquence, which exercise a marvellous effect upon his rustic auditors. His meetings are conducted very much after the fashion of the open-air con venticles formerly held in that part of the country. He is an admirable singer, and taking his stand in the market-place invites his hearers to join hioa in offering up one of the agricultural hymns. These songs are of a semi-religious, semi-political character, and most of the laborers know them by heart. Singing them with all the solemn fervour of religious devotees, we need scarcely say that the effect is singularly striking. Here is one of their favorite hymns: "Lord, as Thou didst invite of old, We. weary heavy-laden, come. Thy roused, uprising poor behold. And those with hopeless misery dumb . Beneath our feet we tread the lie That our great wrongs are thy design ; That we in want should live and die, While others share the corn and wine. "

Seventeen coal waggons ran into a p as senger train at Merthyr-Tydvil stationForty persons were injured, some so severely that their lives are despaired of. Messrs. Grundy's woollen factory at Bury, Lancashire, has been destroyed by fire. Damages, L 40,000. Smallpox is frightfully prevalent at Consett, Durham, one hundred persons being afflicted with it. The Rev. Dr. William Johnston, the United Presbyterian minister at Limekilns, Fifeshire, Scotland, is dead. He was fifty years a minister. A woman named Jessie Edwards or Miller, who kept a private club at 73, Rentield-street, Glasgow, has been beaten to death with a wooden "beetle." Her husband from whom she had separated, is said to be the murderer. M. Bedenheimer has been appointed President of the Swiss Confederation for 1874-5.-Sir Charles Fox, the celebrated English civil engineer, and Baron Von der Hoidt, formerly German Minister of War, are both dead. - It appears that the vexed question of precedence at Court has now been satisfactorly settled. Inasmuch as the duke is heir to the Principality of "Coburg Gotha, their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will take precedenoe immediately after the Prince and Princesß of Wales.