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Leader (1850-1860), 15th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 159, Untitled Picture

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    • dDjira Cmraril.
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      divided in proEt among them £ 230 , every farthing of which would have gone into the pockets of shopkeeper . Some of your readers may ask what I am teaching . In a few words I tell you . The great theme is thiswhatever is done for the working classes must be done by them- I tell them to make the best laws which their united wisdom can devise . To select the best men they can get as managers ; and when they have elected them to render entire obedience to their own laws and managers . If a manager is unfit , his unfitness will soon appear ; but obedience is too blessed a thing to do without . It is by

      obedience to their laws and to their manager that the men of Pendleton have put up sixty power-looms . I had the pleasure of seeing the machinery yesterday . The people ' s mill will be more terrible to selfish capitalists than a host of street barricades . I tell them , in conclusion , that if they would be free they must no longer be slaves to their own vices . Avoid , as pesthouses , the gin palace and beershop . Freedom is too holy to be polluted by any connection with these places . Having faith in God , in truth , and in humanity , I believe the " good time is coming . "

      Yours respectfully , Walter Cooper . [ This letter was first omitted through our Index—then through an analogous pressure . We regret the delay in its appearance . ]

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      Hali . of Science . —This hall , situate in the Cityroad , has progressed under the management of Mr . William' Bendall , until it now ia both commodious and elegant , and , together with the coffee-room and saloon , is adapted to various forms of meetings and committees . Every night it is occupied with lectures , amusements , or tuition classes . At present , Thomas Cooper is delivering orations there on Sunday evenings on Roman history ; on Monday evening , on astronomy , bringing a poet ' s fervour to illustrate the miracles of that sublime science .

      Temple of Free Thought . —A society is in progress , the object of which is , by means of donations and shares , to raise a fund for securing a large hall in the neighbourhood of Oxford-street , wherein the industrious classes may assemble to acquire and communicate useful knowledge , and where they may have recreation and amusement at a trifling expense . The hall is to contain a lecture-room capable of accommodating at least 3000 persons , with committee room , library , and depot for books , reading room , class rooms , school rooms for children of both sexes , shop for the sale of publications , and other conveniences . Mr . T . Whitaker , of No . 23 , John-street , Fitzroy-square , is appointed the financial secretary , which is a guarantee of-the business efficiency of the project . All willing to aid an object so desirable can communicate with Mr . Whitaker .

      Mr . Ludxow ' s Lecture . —At the soiree of the Cooperative Store , Charlotte-street , Filzroysquare , held on Wednesday evening last , Mr . Ludlow delivered a reply to the Edinburgh Review . The subject was " Opponents of Christian Socialism . The Reaaoner , the Edinburgh Review , and the Eclectic ; " but , owing to the importance and variety of topics mooted in the Edinburgh Revieto , the evening was devoted to that . The rejoinder to the Edinburgh was able and complete on the part of Christian Socialism , and it included some passages which seemed contributions to the literature of the Socialistic controversy .

      RoitEHT Owen . —The committee formed to disseminate Mr . Owen's views during the Great Exhibition met on Wednesday evening last , when communications were received from Paisley , Halifax , Derby , and other districts highly favourable to the objects of the committee . Parties desirous of promoting this important propaganda will please address the secretary , Henry A . Ivory , 52 , College-place , Camden-town . Redemption Society . —Dr . Lees has returned to Yorkshire , and we hope that the branches will make arrangements for engaging his services in connection with the society . Monies received for the week ending Feb . 10 , 1851 : —Leeds , £ 1 12 s . Hd . ; Wortly , Mr . J . Barker ,

      8 s . ; Burstall , per Mr . William Sands , £ 1 ; Hyde , per Mr . J . Bradley , lls . 4 d . ; Huddersfield , per Air . U . Studdard , 5 s . Communal building fund : — 'Hyde , per J . Bradley , Is . Cd . ; Leeds , 9 . s . Mr . David Green gave a lecture on the Redemption Society on Sunday evening , February 2 , at Birkenshaw . At the close a discussion took place . A number entered the society , and a branch was formed . This makes the fourth branch in a cluster of large villages , namely , Burstal , Drigglington , Gildersome , and Birkenshaw . These form the four corners of a quadrangle of villnges ; it is one of the moat denselypopulated districts in the West Riding . Si'uiNa-KNii'K Cutxbiib' Cooperative Store . —

      We understand that a portion of the Bpring-knife cutlers in this town are making indefatigable efforts to establish a store for the sale of groceries and all kinds of provisions generally , to be called the " Spring-Knife Cutlers ' Cooperative Store . " The chief objects of this society will be to supply its members with a good article at a cheap rate , and the profits that accrue from the business be allowed to work in the concern for the joint benefit of the society ; thus ultimately securing to each member u considerable amount of profit for the loan of his subscription . We strongly recommend every individual of that most formidable body , of which there are upwards of

      2000 in Shcilield , to rouse themselves , and add their names to those who are already making strenuouB effortH to better the condition of their fellow-workmen . A booiety tmnllur to this was formed in Rochdale some time ago , and the result in most cheering . A committee hua been appointed to watch over the interoatB of the society , and we believe that , at present , it in their intention to admit none but spring-knife cutlers aa members ; but , in the event of that body neglecting to come forward and support them in their enterprise , it will be thrown open for the benefit of the public at large . The rules upon which the society is based have been forwarded to Mr . Ti ( M Pratt for enrolment . —iSlioMvld Free l ' reas .

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      freely , having been unable to attend the meeting held on the 30 th ultimo . 2 ndly . In justice to the unfortunate sufferers in prison , some of whom I am prepared to show are much calumniated by the unwarrantable statements of the ex-Chancellor of Ireland . And , lastly , that the facts may be made known to the public , which , with so much circumlocution and artistic adroitness , have been evaded and withheld by that right honourable and learned gentleman .

      SIR EDWARD SUGDEN AND THE COURT OF CHANCERY . 20 , King-street , St . James ' s , Feb . 1 , 1851 . Sir , —Will you permit me , through your influential journal , to answer certain remarks made by Sir Edward Sugden in the columns of the Times on the Chancery Reform Association . I beg this favour on three grounds : —lstly . As a member of that society , wliich Sir Edward has criticized so

      The charge I prefer against Sir Edward is this , that he has made statements calculated to mislead the public . It would have been more prudent , at the same time decorous , if he had invited strict inquiry into the subject ; if he had made himself conversant with the facts before he presumed to publish to the world a direct contradiction to the statements of the association . I have been assured by some of the parties themselves that he did not examine those whom he gives the public to understand he did examine . Did it never occur to him , as a lawyer , that the truth of a matter so pursued was not likely to be long veiled from the public ? For though Truth may encounter many crosses by the way , in the end it will surely triumph .

      I believe , notwithstanding , that Sir Edward had no desire to propagate a mistatement ; still his offence is great in having thus boldly and unhesitatingly disseminated the most unfounded assertions , without prosecuting rigid inquiry , to protect himself from falling into error : some might have been deceived by the cool indifference , the apparent consciousness of perfect certainty , manifested in the mode in which Sir Edward deals with the subject , who were content to take all for granted , without personal patient inquiry . It is obvious the Chancery Reform Association has brought dowri the anger of Sir Edward by neglecting to take especial notice of that uct which he introduced into Parliament , and because the society will not go with Sir Edward in thinking it the most perfect and efficient reform , and all thatever was or could be necessary for the relief of chancery

      victims . Sir Edward says , ho went to the Queen ' s Prison to ascertain whether the statements put forward by the association wore correct as regarded the Chancery prisoners , and , alter examining their cases , adds : — " I could not find one who could be doomed a victim . Several of them , when I asked them whether they considered themselves victims of the court , said they did not "! ( One of them only , Sir Edward , told you he was no victim ; and , verily , he is not !) When I read this , it was my turn to be surprised ; and I was surprised . I then determined to make searching inquiry clearly to ascertain which of

      us was in error ; that if the association was , then to huvo publicly acknowledged the same . The result of that inquiry i » , however , that I find the statements of Sir Edwurd to bo most erroneous . It is unnecessary to mention names—1 pledge myself for tho faithfulness of my assertions— -but should Sir Edward require the nimiCH , I am at perfect liberty to Hupply him . Now , for a little of tho system—I found ^ one man who had been in prison for about ten years—ho was not originally a Chancery prisoner , and , therefore , Sir Erlwurd say « he is no victim ; but judge if he bo not . He was it Holdier who obtained his discharge after long service in India . A n lution had died and left him £ 10 , 000 or £ 12 , 000 . " Soldiers

      are not often good lawyers , at least he seems not to have been , and his solicitor found it no difficult task to impose upon him , according to his own tale . He could not get from him the particulars of his property . It was necessary to get him out of the way . He had purchased some household articles , and of course wanted money to pay for them . He was told he must wait a short time ; the affairs of the estate were not quite settled , the will was not quite proved . However , he was sued for the amount , and , ultimately , arrested for £ 120 . Once in prison he was safe . Money was then lent to him , not enough to pay his debt , and get out ; but to keep him in food , and from making a

      noise . This little became in time a good sum . Then , kindly , his friend allowed him to retain the borrowed money on paying exorbitant interest . He must sign papers , give mortgages , &c . Somehow or other it was managed to file a bill against him . Now he was rendered perfectly helpless . A receiver , an officer of the court , was appointed . It has been under the protection of the court some years , and he is allowed to know nothing that is going on . He has never received a sixpence . It is not in dispute , but they have sold the greater portion of his estate ; for what purpose does not appear ; and to use his own words : —" They have taken all

      my property from me , and here I am left ; all I know is , that when I was brought here , I had ten or twelve thousand pounds . " His property has been transferred , by legal means , to the pockets of others , without his leave or knowledge , whilst he is left to finish his earthly career in the Queen ' Prison ' . " What right has he to complain , " says Sir Edward , "he can get out immediately by the Insolvent Court ! " I may say— "Oh ! most wise , most excellent judge ; oh ! just judge—a second Daniel come to judgment ! " This poor man is not allowed a voice in his own affairs . The court holds his property ; and it

      does as it pleases with it . Ihough the court has his property it does not pay his trifling debts , and liberate him . He sees no prospect of better things . Is he not a victim of Chancery ? The court holds his money from him ; it will not pay his debts , which its process has been the cause of bringing upon him ; nor will it enable him to do so . This appears to me a most atrocious case , for it is clear , that had the court not taken possession of his estate , he would at once have freed himself from his dungeon walls . But if he were liberated to-morrow , it is not impossible that he might have to seek an asylum in the workhouse !

      The next case reflects somewhat on Sir Edward s unfortunate memory . He says : — " This gentleman has been in prison since 1846 for not answering , and not delivering up deeds . " Sir Edward goes on to say , " that lie told him that he was not insolvent , and was about to move for his discharge on the ground of irregularity . The gentleman assured me , that he stated nothing of the sort ! and described the interview to be this . Sir Edward was reading the paper when his name was announced . He started round saying : — "Oh ! Mr . , I know you I

      think ; " " Very likely , Sir Edward , ' was the reply , " for I ' ve seen you before . " " Oh ! I ' ve nothing to say to you , you ' re not ' a victim . " " But , Sir Edward , will you have the goodness to hear what my case is ? " "No , I want to see some of the others , you are not one that I want . " " Then may I ask , why you sent for me ? Was it that you might sttite that , you had seen the Chancery prisoners ? " Sir Edward shrugged his shoulders ami was silent . He then states , " I did not say what Sir Edward imputes to me , for he would not hear one word I had to s . \ y . " ( This is the way Sir Edward ascertains whether or not the association

      was correct !) " It is untrue that I have books or deeds which I refuse to give up . My co-defendant is , I believe , detained for some deeds , yet has made affidavit long since , that they have never been in her custody , but ulvvays in the hands of the solicitor ; whose clerk stated , that he had seen them in the oilice of his msi . ster , but that he will see them all ut Jericho ere he will give them up ! " What , this infallible court detain persons six or seven years on mistaken grounds ? Ho adds , " I never owed a guinea in my lift ; till I was imprisoned ; and now I do not owe any man a shilling . Since I have been kept here , of course , I linvo been unable to do anything for my

      family . I have had heavy expenses and much iniafortune . I huve had enough to do to provide for their daily wants . I am detained for costs which I do not consider I owe . I was made a defendant , and could not help myself . " Thus is a man drugged before the court , with tho fear of costs on one side , and the grim spectre , Contempt , on tho other . It may be very pretty fun , but I fancy it looks vastly like injustice . Another is that or a gentleman , who began by asBsuring me , that Sir Edward had most

      imperfectly ( loscribod the cuhch of the Chancery prisoners ; that ho had not written from information given him by tliouo parties ho professed to have gono to examine , but hud evidently taken his idcnH either from imagination or accounts received from the ou * icialH of the place . Thin gentleman , however , gave u graphic description of the visiting musters . It goes any length but tliat of confirming Sir Edward ' s opinion , that there can be no overnight in tho visiting under the Contempt act . It wan on un occasion of one of tho wonior vibitors attending , and being sent

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      There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened , and his judgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable for him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .

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      ^> [ IN THrS DEPARTMENT , AS AM , OPINIONS , HOWEVER EXTREME , ARE ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THE EDITOR NECESSARILY HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR NONE . ]

      Ddjira Cmraril.

      dDjira Cmraril .

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      Feb . 15 , 1851 . ] ® f ) f . HeaiTCt . 159

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 15, 1851, page 159, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1870/page/19/