xxii LONDON COUNTY COUNCIL 281 



The first two resolutions were passed, and 

 they were discussing the third, to which there 

 was a good deal of opposition, when Sir Whit- 

 taker Ellis, who was in the chair, asked Sir John 

 to express his view on the subject. He replied 

 that he had come prepared rather to listen than 

 to speak, that probably they knew more than he 

 did, but that he thought the last proposal was a 

 somewhat desperate remedy, and he could not 

 but hope that it would be dropped. On the 

 other hand, if they went to the Docks with the 

 first two suggestions, the Directors would cer- 

 tainly say, as regards the first, that they were 

 aware of and deeply regretted the inconvenience ; 

 and as regards the second, that if Mr. Burns' 

 pickets were removed they would have plenty of 

 labour in five minutes. He thought, therefore, 

 that this course would do no good, and indeed 

 doubted whether the moment was one in 

 which they could take action with advantage. 

 He did not like to suggest to them to retrace 

 their steps, but he thought that the best course 

 would be to keep this committee together, to be 

 ready to act, and to ask the Lord Mayor to 

 interview the Dock Directors and the leaders of 

 the strike, and see whether some satisfactory 

 solution could be arrived at in that way. This 

 suggestion met with general approval, and was 

 unanimously adopted. 



The following account of the proceedings is 

 from notes left in Sir John's own hand. 



After considerable discussion the meeting 

 passed a unanimous resolution requesting the 

 Lord Mayor, the Governor of the Bank of England, 



