declarationthathedidnotbelongtoanyTrades’Union，andpledgedhimselfnottoassistorsubscribetoanysociety，havingforitsobjectinterferencewiththemasters’powers；and，thirdly，thatthemastersshouldpledgethemselvestoprotectandencourageallwork-menwillingtoacceptemploymentonthoseconditions，andattherateofwagesfirstoffered。ConsideringthatthemenwhonowstoodlisteningwithloweringbrowsofdefiancewereallofthemleadingmembersoftheUnion，suchresolutionswereinthemselvessufficientlyprovocativeofanimosity；butnotcontentwithsimplystatingthem，HarryCarsonwentontocharacterizetheconductoftheworkmeninnomeasuredtermseverywordhespokerenderingtheirlooksmorelivid，theirglaringeyesmorefierce。Oneamongthemwouldhavespoken，butcheckedhimself；inobediencetothesternglanceandpressureonhisarm，receivedfromtheleader。
　　MrCarsonsatdown，andafriendinstantlygotuptosecondthemotion。
　　Itwascarried，butfarfromunanimously。Thechairmanannouncedittothedelegateswhohadbeenoncemoreturnedoutoftheroomforadivision。
　　Theyreceiveditwithdeepbroodingsilence，butspakeneveraword，andlefttheroomwithoutevenabow。Nowtherehadbeensomeby-playatthismeeting，notrecordedintheManchesternewspapers，whichgaveanaccountofthemoreregularpartofthetransaction。Whilethemenhadstoodgroupednearthedoor，ontheirfirstentrance，MrHarryCarsonhadtakenouthissilverpencil，andhaddrawnanadmirablecaricatureofthem——lank，ragged，dispirited，andfamine-stricken。Underneathhewroteahastyquotationfromthefatknight’swell-knownspeechinHenryIV。Hepassedittooneofhisneighbours，whoacknowledgedthelikenessinstantly，andbyhimitwassentroundtoothers，whoallsmiled，andnoddedtheirheads。Whenitcamebacktoitsownerhetorethebackoftheletteronwhichitwasdrawnintwo，twistedthemup，andflungthemintothefireplace；but，carelesswhethertheyreachedtheiraimornot，hedidnotlooktoseethattheyfelljustshortofanyconsumingcinders。Thisproceedingwascloselyobservedbyoneofthemen。Hewatchedthemastersastheyleftthehotellaughing，someofthemwere，atpassingjokes，andwhenallhadgone，here-entered。Hewenttothewaiter，whorecognisedhim。“There’sabitonapictureupyonder，asoneo’thegentlementhrewaway；
　　I’vealittleladathomeasdearlylovesapicture；byyourleaveI’llgoupforit。“Thewaiter，good-naturedandsympathetic，accompaniedhimupstairs；sawthepaperpickedupanduntwisted，andthenbeingconvinced，byahastyglanceatitscontents，thatitwasonlywhatthemanhadcalledit，“abitofapicture，“heallowedhimtobearawayhisprize。Towardsseveno’clockthatevening，manyoperativesbegantoassembleinaroomintheWeavers’Arms’public-house，aroomappropriatedfor“festiveoccasions，“asthelandlord，inhiscircular，onopeningthepremises，haddescribedit。But，alas!itwasonnofestiveoccasionthattheymettherethisnight。Starved，irritated，despairingmen，theywereassemblingtoheartheanswerthatmorninggivenbythemasterstotheirdelegates；
　　afterwhich，aswasstatedinthenotice，agentlemanfromLondonwouldhavethehonourofaddressingthemeetingonthepresentstateofaffairsbetweentheemployersandtheemployed，orashechosetotermthemtheidleandtheindustriousclasses。Theroomwasnotlarge，butitsbarenessoffurnituremadeitappearso。Unshadedgasflareddownupontheleanandunwashedartisansastheyentered，theireyesblinkingattheexcessoflight。Theytooktheirseatsonbenches，andawaitedthedeputation。Thelatter，gloomilyandferociously，deliveredthemasters’ultimatum，addingtheretonotonewordoftheirown；anditsankallthedeeperintothesoreheartsofthelistenersfortheirforbearance。Thenthe“gentlemanfromLondon“whohadbeenpreviouslyinformedofthemasters’decisionentered。Youwouldhavebeenpuzzledtodefinehisexactposition，orwhatwasthestateofhismindasregardededucation。Helookedsoself-conscious，sofarfromearnest，amongthegroupofeager，fierce，absorbedmen，amongwhomhenowstood。HemighthavebeenadisgracedmedicalstudentoftheBobSawyerclass，oranunsuccessfulactor，oraflashyshopman。Theimpressionhewouldhavegivenyouwouldhavebeenunfavourable，andyettherewasmuchabouthimthatcouldonlybecharacterizedasdoubtful。Hesmirkedinacknowledgmentoftheiruncouthgreetings，andsatdown；
　　thenglancinground，heinquiredwhetheritwouldnotbeagreeabletothegentlemenpresenttohavepipesandliquorhandedround，adding，thathewouldstandtreat。Asthemanwhohashadhistasteeducatedtolovereading，fallsdevouringlyuponbooksafteralongabstinence，sothesepoorfellows，whosetasteshadbeenlefttoeducatethemselvesintoalikingfortobacco，beer，andsimilargratifications，gleamedupattheproposaloftheLondondelegate。
　　Tobaccoanddrinkdeadenthepangsofhunger，andmakeoneforgetthemiserablehome，thedesolatefuture。Theywerenowreadytolistentohimwithapprobation。Hefeltit；andrisinglikeagreatorator，withhisrightarmoutstretched，hisleftinthebreastofhiswaistcoat，hebegantodeclaim，withaforcedtheatricalvoice。Afteraburstofeloquence，inwhichheblendedthedeedsoftheelderandtheyoungerBrutus，andmagnifiedtheresistlessmightofthe“millionsofManchester，“theLondonerdescendedtomatter-of-factbusiness，andinhiscapacitythiswayhedidnotbeliethegoodjudgementofthosewhohadsenthimasdelegate。Massesofpeople，whenlefttotheirownfreechoice，seemtohavediscretionindistinguishingmenofnaturaltalentitisapitytheysolittleregardtemperandprinciples。Herapidlydictatedresolutions，andsuggestedmeasures。Hewroteoutastirringplacardforthewalls。HeproposedsendingdelegatestoentreattheassistanceofotherTrades’Unionsinothertowns。HeheadedthelistofsubscribingUnions，byaliberaldonationfromthatwithwhichhewasespeciallyconnectedinLondon；andwhatwasmore，andmoreuncommon，hepaiddownthemoneyinreal，clinking，blinking，goldensovereigns!Themoney，alas!wascravinglyrequired；butbeforealleviatinganyprivatenecessitiesonthemorrow，smallsumswerehandedtoeachofthedelegates，whowereinadayortwotosetoutontheirexpeditionstoGlasgow，Newcastle，Nottingham，etc。
　　Thesemenweremostofthemmembersofthedeputationwhohadthatmorningwaiteduponthemasters。Afterhehaddrawnupsomeletters，andspokenafewmorestirringwords，thegentlemanfromLondonwithdrew，previouslyshakinghandsallround；andmanyspeedilyfollowedhimoutoftheroom，andoutofthehouse。Thenewly-appointeddelegates，andoneortwoothers，remainedbehindtotalkovertheirrespectivemissions，andtogiveandexchangeopinionsinmorehomelyandnaturallanguagethantheydaredtousebeforetheLondonorator。“He’sararechap，yon，“beganone，indicatingthedeparteddelegatebyajerkofhisthumbtowardsthedoor。“He’sgettenthegiftofthegab，anyhow!““Aye!aye!heknowswhathe’sabout。SeehowhepoureditintousaboutthatthereBrutus。Hewereprettyhard，too，tokillhisownson。“Icouldkillmineifhetookpartwi’themasterstobesure，he’sbutastep-son，butthatmakesnoodds，“saidanother。Butnowtongueswerehushed，andalleyesweredirectedtowardsthememberofthedeputationwhohadthatmorningreturnedtothehoteltoobtainpossessionofHarryCarson’sclevercaricatureoftheoperatives。Theheadsclusteredtogether，togazeatanddetectthelikenesses。“That’sJohnSlater!I’dha’knownhimanywhere，byhisbignose。Lord!howlike；that’sme，byG——d，it’stheverywayI’mobligatedtopinmywaistcoatup，tohidethatI’vegettennoshirt。Thatisashame，andI’llnotstandit。““Well!“saidJohnSlater，afterhavingacknowledgedhisnoseandhislikeness；
　　“Icouldlaughatajestaswellase’erthebeston’em，thoughitdidtellagainmysel，ifIwerenotclemming“hiseyesfilledwithtears；
　　hewasapoor，pinched，sharp-featuredman，withagentleandmelancholyexpressionofcountenance，“andifIcouldkeepfromthinkingofthemathome，asisclemming；butwiththeircriesforfoodringinginmyears，andmakingmeafeardofgoinghome，andwonderifIshouldhear’emwailingout，ifIlaycoldanddrownedatth’bottomo’th’canal，there，——why，man，Icannotlaughataught。Itseemstomakemesadthatthereisanyascanmakegameonwhatthey’veneverknowed；ascanmakesuchlaughablepicturesonmen，whoseveryheartswithin’emaresorawandsoreasourswereandare，Godhelpus。“JohnBartonbegantospeak；theyturnedtohimwithgreatattention。“Itmakesmemorethansad，itmakesmyheartburnwithinme，toseethatfolkcanmakeajestofstrivingmen；ofchapswhocomedtoaskforabito’
　　fireforth’oldgranny，asshiversi’th’cold；forabito’bedding，andsomewarmclothingtothepoorwifewholiesinlabouronth’dampflags；andforvictualsforthechilder，whoselittlevoicesaregettingtoofaintandweaktocryaloudwi’hunger。For，brothers，isnotthemthethingsweaskforwhenweaskformorewage？Wedonnotwantdainties，wewantbellyfuls；wedonnotwantgimcrackcoatsandwaistcoats，wewantwarmclothes；andsothatweget’em，we’dnotquarrelwi’whatthey’remadeon。Wedonnotwanttheirgrandhouses，wewantarooftocoverusfromtherain，andthesnow，andthestormaye，andnotalonetocoverus，butthehelplessonesthatclingtousinthekeenwind，andaskuswiththeireyeswhywebrought’emintoth’worldtosuffer？“Heloweredhisdeepvoicealmosttoawhisper。“I’veseenafatherwhobadkilledhischildratherthanletitclembeforehiseyes；andhewereatenderheartedman……Hebeganagaininhisusualtone。“Wecometoth’masterswi’fullhearts，toaskforthemthingsInamedafore。Weknowthatthey’vegettenmoney，aswe’veearnedfor’em；weknowtradeismending，andthey’velargeorders，forwhichthey’llbewellpaid；weaskforourshareo’th’payment；for，saywe，ifth’mastersgetourshareofpaymentitwillonlygotokeepservantsandhorses——tomoredressandpomp。Wellandgood，ifyochoosetobefoolswe’llnothinderyou，solongasyou’rejust；butoursharewemustandwillhave；we’llnotbecheated。Wewantitfordailybread，forlifeitself；andnotforourownlivesneitherforthere’smanyaonehere，Iknowbymysel’，aswouldbegladandthankfultoliedownanddieouto’thiswearyworld，butforthelivesofthemlittleones，whodon’tyetknowwhatlifeis，andareafeardofdeath。Well，wecomebeforeth’masterstostatewhatwewant，andwhatwemusthave，aforewe’llsetshouldertotheirwork；andtheysay，’No。’Onewouldthinkthatwouldbeenoughofhard-heartedness，butitisn’t。Theygoandmakejestingpicturesonus!Icouldlaughatmysel，aswellaspoorJohnSlaterthere；
　　butthenImustbeeasyinmymindtolaugh。NowIonlyknowthatIwouldgivethelastdropo’mybloodtoavengeusonyonchap，whohadsolittlefeelinginhimastomakegameonearnest，sufferingmen!“Alowangrymurmurwasheardamongthemen，butitdidnotyettakeformorwords。Johncontinued——“You’llwonder，chaps，howIcametomissthetimethismorning；I’lljusttellyouwhatIwasa-doing。Th’chaplainattheNewBaileysentandgivedmeanordertoseeJonasHigginbotham；himaswastakenuplastweekforthrowingvitriolinaknob-stick’sface。Well，Icouldn’thelpbutgo；
　　andIdidn’treckonitwouldha’keptmesolate。JonaswerelikeonecrazywhenIgottohim；hesaidhecouldna’getrestnightordayforth’faceofthepoorfellowhehaddamaged；thenhethoughtonhisweak，clemmedlook，ashetramped，footsore，intotownandJonasthought，maybe，hehadleftthemathomeaswouldlookfornews，andhopeandgetnone，but，haply，tidingsofhisdeath。Well，Jonashadthoughtonthesethingstillhecouldnotrest，butwalkedupanddowncontinuallylikeawildbeastinhiscage。Atlasthebethoughthimonawaytohelpabit，andhegotthechaplaintosendforme；andhetell’dmethis；andthatth’manwerelyingintheInfirmary，andhebademegoto-day’sthedayasfolkmaybeadmittedintoth’infirmaryandgethissilverwatch，aswashismother’s，andsellitaswellasIcould，andtakethemoney，andbidthepoorknob-sticksendittohisfriendsbeyondBurnley；andIweretotakehimJonas’skindregards，andhehumblyaxedhimtoforgivehim。SoIdidwhatJonaswished，Butblessyourlife，noneonuswouldeverthrowvitriolagainatleastataknob-stickiftheycouldseethesightIsawto-day。Themanlay，hisfaceallwrappedinclothes，soIdidnotseethat；butnotalimb，norabitofalimb，couldkeepfromquiveringwithpain。Hewouldha’bittenhishandtokeepdownhismoans，butcouldn’t，hisfacehurthimsoifhemovedite’ersolittle。HecouldscarcemindmewhenItelledhimaboutJonas；hedidsqueezemyhandwhenIjingledthemoney，butwhenIaxedhiswife’snameheshriekedout，’Mary，Mary，shallIneverseeyouagain？Mary，mydarling，they’vemademeblindbecauseIwantedtoworkforyouandourownbaby；oh，Mary，Mary!’Thenthenursecame，andsaidhewereraving，andthatIhadmadehimworse。AndI’mafearditwastrue；yetIwereloathtogowithoutknowingwheretosendthemoney