On this page
- Departments (2)
-
Text (7)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
fT«rietfr& W&Xiitit fi.
-
Untitled Article
-
Death bt Lightnisg. — Ori Thursday afternoj**
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
JZ \ 51 * fl * " ** to mike choice of persons Of such worth and honour for our frieads that if thev Sfi eT 6 ICeM ? * *> . they Trill not abase oS confidence , nor give ub cause to fear them if enem ? £ $$ S £% < £ S . i 2 £ ' $£ 8 ; JS ££ l £ ^ ftS ^ - *** ° fti ~ ** 5 ^ L ^ i . wi ^ tay justifies the somewhat rigid exerci ^ of authonty which she adopts towards Jftmee Albert , of which some palpable instances have Been afforded , by alleging the orders of her P&jsieuui that , m her present peculiar situation , she jaust lire by rule . ¦
The Death of Morison , the hygeist , is reported to have been caused by his having incautiously taken too large a dose of his inTaloable pills , the effect o which was so operatiTely powerful as not only , as he hun s * if would hare expressed it , to " carry off every noxious humour , " but himself into the bargain ! A Rapid Increase . —The wife of a sawyer residing at Danbury has , on three successive occasions witnin the last four years , presented her husband with twins . The happy couple are each 38 years of age only ; they now have nine " children . The last pair presented themselves on Tuesday last . —Essex Herald . LAKDJTER S COXSOLAT 10 . N . What though , he took my wig ! his fickle bride , Whom every grace but constancy adorns , Has decked the forehead of her Heavisida
£ > o that no wig can ever hide hi 3 horns ! The JMasquis Bute . —The motto of this-northern Marquis , Avito y iret honore ( He lives in an honourable aneestry ) , is likely to prove a very apposite one indeed ; for although married two and twenty years he has given no hostages of handing his name down to posterity , so that if he lives at all it must be in Ms ancestry . Koran ; G is more exasperating to an artful mind than its perceiving not only that its motives have been exposed , but its designs defeated by life superior address of another .
The Reverend delinquent , Lardner , has been expelled from the V ^ -Presidentship of the Marylebone Literary Insntntien . We are surprised at this , for we kuow of no man more fitted to fill a Vice-President ' s chair than the Reverend delinquent in question . Bishop Bbowjtrig . — " He carried learning -enough i » j \ umeralo about him in his pockets for any discourse , and had much more ^ at home in his chesic- for any serious dispntes . " Is some of the State ? , the Yankee legislators ¦ carry their vehemence in debate very far , indeed , and in one particular assembly , an American paper state * that two members became so mutually exasperated , as to spit in each other ' s faces . ' In St . Stephen ' s , the animosity of hon . members is displayed more discreetly , though with quite as much heartiness .
It caxsot be said that the Queen is opposed to the absurd plan of sriekins-plasier postage stamps ; but , on the contrary , approves of it , as is proved by the circumstance of her lending her countenance to it . Albert ds Ymez , the German who was convicted of stealing two dressing-cases , at the Central Criminal Court , on Wednesday , and who was represented to be one of a party of swindlers who obtained possession of a house in St . James ' s , and committed depredations on various tradesmen in tie neighbourhood , is not in any connected or related to the political or theatrical performers now in this country ! _ There i 3 but one step from the sublime to the ridiculous ; but the elevation of Prince Albert to the rank of Field-Marshal is looked upon , in military circles , more in the light of a step from the ridiculous to the sublime .
" Lazt Moxks . "— "We owe the histories of England and of many other kingdoms almost solely to the Benedictines . Indeed no clas 3 of learning was disdained by these much-abused Churchmen , and but for their labours in the middle ages , Printing " would have been invented in vain as regards the ¦ wisdom of the antients ; in the works of antiqaity , there would have been no ilSS . to print from .
THE ADHESIVE STAMP . Th' adhesive stamp—th' adhesive stamp—No more disloyal thing is seen ; 'Tis sure ih' invention or some scamp , To force us spit upon the Queen . ' A Black Bcsixess . —One of the judges is in the habit of wearing a black stock , greatly to the horror - of certain members of the bar , who look upon this legal innovation as significant of changes of a still more terrific description . Who knows whether some of tire "big wigs" may not bye and bye take it into their heads to wear their own hair i
Woxth ATTExmsQ to . —The Indians of America talk bnt little ; and though their knowledge is of course limited , yet they have at least the wisdom never to speak when they have nothing to say ; and it is a remarkable fact , which has been frequently observed , that they neither curse nor swear . Co . nveb&atiox . — " Seeing we are civilized Knglis ^ . men , let us not be naked savages in our talk . " Mostalut . — " To smell to a turf of fresh earth is wholesome for the body , no less are thoughts of
mortality cordial to the souL " It is cbged by the opponents of the Penny Postage scheme , that the introduction of a likeness of the Queen in the sticking-plaster stamps cannot be said to be putting a new face upon the matter . Readkes op xewspapebs often find light amusement in what is called " cross-readings . The fellowing may be called " sign-readings : "—In the front of two adjoining houses in Tsew York , we literally read this brief history of a duel—James Shot—and Jonathan Fell .
Rjdictle . —The fatal fondness for indulging in a spirit of ridicule , and the injurious and inseparable consequences which sometimes attend ilie too-severe reply , « an never be condemned with more asperity than it deserves . Not to offend is the first step towards pleasing ; to give pain is a 3 much an offence against humanity as against good breeding .. It is yen tbce that Prince Albert" has directed the old clothing of 'AL ? regiment ' ( the 11 th Hussars ) to be sent to Germany , to be distributed among his poor relatives ! The probability is , that it will be Bent as a presen : to the two brothers of Kobary and
¦ S&xe Gotha , to clothe tneir armies . It beisg fct to Lord Alfred Paget which Prince Albert would give up , in the event of being compelled to make his election , his pension or the Queen , Loto Alfred replied th 3 t it was thirty thousand sovereigns -to one aga . i :. it his giving up the former . Of that there can be but one opinion , we thisk . A Qvaxeb in Philadelphia , wanting to buy some oysters , r = quested the oysicrinan to leave two or three busbtis at his b ^ use . " Pray , sir . " said the oysterman , " What might your name be V " It might be Beelzebub , " replied the friend , " but it isnH . "
Cokplikestabt . —A poetical genius about town was highly delighted the other day by somebody telling him he resembled Byron . " Do you realJy think bo V asked the sonneteer in ecstacy— " Pr&y in what respectV "Why , you wear your shirtcoUax upside down , and getcorn'd on gin and water . " The Pilgbim ' s Pbogkess . — " Why , Diek , " said a Bond-street lounger the other day to his friend , -whom he met hobbling along like the devil on two sticks , ** you are getting on like a pilgrim with peas in his shoes , which he has not taken the precaution to boil . " " Getting on like a pilgrim , " growled the other ; " it is the Pilgrim ' s Progress by Bunyon then , for I ' ve a confounded great one on this right foot of mine . "— John Bull .
Losd Brougham . —The crest of this learned and self-akrng-care- « f Lord , is an armed hand holding a pike fish . " Hew exquisitely appropriate ! as what can . typify : this ravenous lawyer more accurately than the merciless pike . The motto , Pro rcge . lege , grege ( For the king , the law , and the people ) , is evidently a piece of grave satire , it being the business of BTery lawyer in her Majesty ' s dominions to feather bis nest by plundering " the king , the law , and the people ? Takihg tttt ; Responsibility . — The Louisville
( Ky . ) Journal Eays : — " The Wolverine girls appear to be dangerous customers . The Adrian ( Michigan ) Waichtower says , that a preacher , at a " - late religious meeting In that town , published tho Barnes of several yonng ladies , who had on a previous occasion disturbed Mb proceedings by whispering and laughing . On the following evening the aggrieved ladies provided themselves with raw Maes , went to the clexgymaa ' a house , and belaboured Trim until he had the rawest hide in the company . '
A Good Cast . —A countryman the otheT day got into an . omnibus in the Strand , and , after sitting for half an hour , desired the cad to put him down * in St . James ' s-square . " " St . James ' s-Equare , " echoed the cad . " Why we ' re going to the city . What made you get into our bus for St . James ' s-squaie F * "Whoy , " answered the farmer , "I ' ve just come from our lawyers , and having told him as how I wanted to go and pay the squire in St . Jeames ' ssquare , be said I was to get into the first omnibus I saw , which is yours ! and that ' s my reason . "
The Aechbishop of Caktebbuby gave his first public dinner on Saturday last , and sorry are we to state that his Grace was very near getting into disgrace on the occasion . The guests were growing lather mellow at the episcopal end of the table , when the Archbishop ordered in some splendid lachiyrruB Christi , whieh his Grace assured them he eoala recommend as being rare Catholic stuff 1 It is impossible to describe tbe pious horrors of the bishops Kt this announcement , and it was not until his Archgraee h&d explained the mistake , which he did very agerly , that their lordships could be persuaded to zeeome their holy potations * ,
Untitled Article
- PROSECUTION FOR LIBEL-MEETING IN THE HALL OF SCIENCE , MANCHESTER . ( From ths Manchester Times . ) A meeting was held on Wednesday evening , in the Hall of Science , Camp Field , Manchester , for the purpose of expressing opinion on the prosecution of Mr . Abel Heywood , bookseller , Oldham-street , and adopting measures in reference to his case . The large room , which will hold 1 , 400 or 1 , 500 persons , was completely filled . Considerable disturbance was caused in the meeting by the appearance of Mr . Thomas Clarkson , the assistant reporter for the Manchester Guardian , on account of his having appeared in evidence against several of the Chartists who were tried at the Liver-PROSECUTION FOR t . irt ? . t mrbttvc tn
pool assizes . He was assailed with cries of " spy , " " public prosecutor , " " traitor , " " scoundrel , " aud many other epithets , and for some minutes there was a general cry of " Turn him out" Much apprehension was entertained for the peace of the meeting , there being good reason to believe that -violent hands would be laid upon the obnoxious party . At length , Mr . Elijah Dixon , having succeeded in obtaining silence , shortly addressed tbe meeting , and prevailed upon them to maintain quietness ^ and business was proceeded with . Mr . J . Higginbottom was unanimously called to the chair .
The Chaikmak briefly stated-the object of the meeting , and read the placard by which the meeting was convened . He then called upon Mr . A . Prentice , who , ho had been informed , would propose the first resolution . Mr . P . B . Templeton , the reporter for this paper , said—That he had been commissioned to state to the meeting that Mr . Prentice was unavoidably absent from Manchester , having been called to Scotland on urgent business , where he had been for the last e ght or ten days . Had Mr . Prentice been in town he had no doubt that he -would have felt great pleasure in attending their meeting , and ot using the best of his abilities to further the important object for which they were assembled . ( Cheers . ) The resolution which Mr .
Prentice would have moved , hat he been present , was the following : — "That this meeting considers it to be the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on theological subjects , aud teat any interference with this right is a gross violation of the liberty of the subject , and injurious to the best interests of society ; and that any Government offering persecution for opinions' sake vu unworthy of popular support . " In his absence , he ( Mr . T . ) bad consented to endeavour to supply the place of that gentleman , though he confessed himself altogether inadequate to tbe task . The principle contained in the resolution which had been read was one of much importance , not only to the gentlemen composing that assembly , but to every individual -who could be regarded as forming one member of the great
bulk of civilised society , inasmuch as it affected more or less the religious freedom and responsibility of every thinking being . It was a resolution of the truth aud propriety of which no man in his common senses , uninfluenced by prejudice and unrestrained by powtr , could for a moment entertain the slightest duubt , whatever might be the opinions of such extraordinary men as Lord John Russell , Lord Melbourne , or the Secretary of State . If individuals had not a right to think , and after thinking to give utterance to their sentiments , to diffuse their thoughts amongst their fellow-men , either verbally or through the medium of the press , then there must be end of all freedom , both political and religious , End mankind must be content to become the Willing slaves of any , or of every party who may , for the time being , be able to exercise a despotic power .
Either it was the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on theological subjects or it was not If it was not the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on these subjects , then there was a gross inconsistency in our laws , which were in some respects founded on tbe very principles of those men "who had broken through all religious restraint , and at the risk of imprisonment and death had spread before the world those opinions which had been the groundwork of what was called the " Glorious Reformation . " ( Hear , hear . ) If it were not the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on theological subjects , not only was there a gross inconsistency both in the fundamental principle of many of our law « , as well as in tbe constitution of many of our national institutions , but there was also
a gross inconsistency in the conduct of tbe very men who now -were wont to talk loudett aud longest in favour of a State Church , and by whom the names of such worthies as Luther and Calvin , and Melancthon , instead of being hfld up to admiration &s worthy of being ranked amongst the noblest spirits of mankind , and the great means by which we had been emancipated from the trammels of Popish superstition and Papal despotism , ought to be desecrated as the violators of the law , as innovators of the constitution , as men whose writings and example were equally a disgrace to themselves and the age in which they lived- ( Cheers . ) Either it was the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on theological subjects , or it was not If it was not , then not only would there exist
the inconsistencies already alluded to , hut the principle , if fairly carried out , would prove that every preacher of every denomination , except those licensed under the church establishment , was every day and every week doing that which he had no right to ao—disseminating opinions which the law did not sanction , and were consequently producing every day an increased amount of disobedience to the laws , fur which they , as the ringleaders , ought to be visited with the severest ptmishnient . » Cheers . ) But was this the fact ? No . Would it ever be the fact ? No ; and wjjjj Because the law iolerattd all opinions , and gave to every man a right to communicate to otherB the sentiments which might happen to arise in his own mind , or the conclusions at which he might happen to arrive from the
consideration of any premises which might be presented to his attention . "Where , then , was the legal ground for that prosecution , in reference to which they -were then assembled ? "Was not the law in this instance inconsistent with itself , inasmnch as it punished a man for doing that which it had previously authorised him to do ? But further ; if it were not the right of every individual to print and publish his opinions on theological subjects , then a religious despotism would be right , and instead ef living under the present " glorious system of toleration , " -we ought to return to the days of Queen Mary , and burn , hang , gibbtt , or toiture every man who might have the inipudi-uce to contravene the edicts of the Pope ; cr whu dared to think that he bad any right to be in possession ef a conscience . ( Hear , hear , and
cheers , It was well known to all those who possessed the slightest acquaintance with the history of those times , what arbitrary power was possessed by the then called " ministers of religion : " it was well known that a whisper of a man having a heterodox opinion was quite enough to subject him to excommunication ; and at that time of day , to be out of the church was worse than being out of the -world , for it wa 3 at once the rtgnal for branding a man -witb every epithet that could imply disgrace . ( Cheers . ) The religious tyranny of those times stood forth in the history of our country in awful promi nence , constituting , as it were , a flaming beacon in the darkest night to warn us of the danger of conceding power to any hierarchy , -whether of the Church of England or the Church of Rome , or of any
other sect or party into which the religious world had ; been , and , apparently , ever would be , divided . ( Hear , ' , hew . ) And yet to deny the right of every man to print i and publish his own opinions on theological subjects \ was , in effect , to return to those times , and those princi- ' pies , which then influenced those in power ; and if thi 3 ; evil were not checked , who could tell bow soon we j might again be called upon to behold our market places i lighted -with tbe fires of persecution , our streets stream- ! ing with the blood of its victims , and in every visage we met to encounter th ? exhibition of superstition , envy , malice , hatred , revenge , and every bad passion which could degrade mankind ; turning our homes into pri- j sons , our social intercourse into Bocial strife , arresting j the progress of every improvement , darkening the land '
with the blackest ignorance , supporting and fosttring I the reign of terroT , and desolating the fair creation of God with the blood of the noblest werks of his Almighty hands—i cheers );—setting parents against their chil-: dren , brother against brelher , friend against friend , | kingdom against kingdom , empire against empire , continent against oontinent , and , if their power extended ? o far , world against world . ( Lond cheare . ) There could not therefore be two opinions aa to the truth and propriety of that part of the" resolution which held it forth as the right of every individual to print and publish his own theological opinions ; and if that were the right of every individual , then it weuld follow , as j a matter of course , that the second proposition contained in theresolution was equally true , namely , that " any
icfringement of that right was a gross violation of the liberty of . the subject ; " thus involving our Government in the greatest possible inconsistency , inasmuch as this prosecution , if not got up at their instigation , was at least conducted under their sanction , and would be paid for out of the treasury . ( Hear , hear . ) I Why ¦ make Mi . Heywood responsible for the opinions | published in that pamphlet ? opinions which he had nothing to do with , a pamphlet which he had not printed , but which he had merely sold over his counter i in the same way as he would sell "Tom Thumb , " or j " The House that Jack Built" If any one was to be ! prosecuted , why not prosecute the printer or the i writer of the books ? And what was the fact ? Mr . ¦ Heywood bad not printed that pamphlet , but he had j printed and published several others in reply to it ; as i -well u many pamphlets of a character the very opposite of this one . To prosecute him , therefore , for Belling a pensv pamphlet to the tool of the Tory
churchwardens of Manchester , was just as absurd as it would be to commence a prosecution against every pennj bookseller who might be happen to be guilty of selling such a notoriously injurious book as " Jack the Giant Killer "—( cheers and laughter )—the story of " Cinderella , " the discoveries of the celebrated " Baron Mnnchausen "—( renewed laughter)—follies which nevej existed except in tbe minds of such whimsical imagmers , and which Beamed to have been penned for the sole purpose of ridiculing the extravagant follies of mankind . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Against-whom thei was this presecution directed ? Why , against a man who had already endured much for the cause of tb < liberty of tie press , who , in spite of the offorti of past Governments , had been able to work th way by honest industry , and to raise himself U a respectable position in society ; a man agalns whom slander had never dared to east its foul pollution a man who , whatever might be his political or reli
Untitled Article
glous opinions , was veil kaowa by all who knew him to have the good of mankind al heart ( Cheers . ) He ( the speaker ) -was not a Socialist : he never -was a Socialist ; and , so far as he could judge from the opinions which he at present antertained , he never would be a Socialist —» t least in the sense to whieh th » t term had recently been perverted But that was not the question . The question they had to decide was whether they had a right to think for themselves , and to communicate their thoughts to others , or whether they would tamely submit to be dictated to as to their religious opinions by the rabid followers of Hugh Stowell , Hugh M'NeUe , and such like furious enthu-• i « n . , mtninM «» n v «^ ... ^ . t .. _ ,-
siasts . ( Cheers . ) For himself he would maintain his right whether as a private individual ot aa a servant of the public ; and , though perhaps he might never again be seen addressing a public meeting in Manchester , his silent energies should ever be directed to the accomplishment of that great object , the " Liberty of the press , " of which he was a humble , and perhaps an unworthy member . ( Loud cheers . ) He had only just touched on the first proposition contained in the resolution . It also contained many others which no doubt would be commented upon by succeeding speakers , and without adding more he would move the resolution as a whole , with the entire of which he most cordially agreed . ( CheersJ
Mr . Warren , the president of the Operative anti-Corn Law Association , said : —If he were to consult hiB own peculiar feelings at the present moment , he should most assuredly decline saying anything further than that he most cordially seconded the resolution which had been so ably moved by his friend on his left ; but when he saw attacks being made by privileged individuals , not for the purpose of maintaining right opinions , not for the purpose of preventing wrong opinions from being disseminated , but for the purpose of crushing individuals in order that an additional power may be given to those privileged individuals to continue te monopolise to themselves an amount of this nation ' s wealth to which they had no right , which was diverted into channels contrary to the legitimate modes in which this wealth ought to be
appropriated ; when he saw those things g » ing forward , and that too under the name and sanction of religkn , it was time that men Bhould dispense with their own private feelings , and stand nobly forward in the cause of freedom—in the cause ftf that freedom which was the birthright of every Briton , without which we shsuld never dare to talk of the rights of Englishmen , and of obtaining for every man equal rights and equal Usrshe said it was time that they should stand forward in support of that freedom of « ptaion , and furthermore it was right that they should stand forward as men on behalf of freedom of opinion , more especially in reference to religious matters . If we took a glance at the history of this country and the religious world in general , we should discover that the greatest hindrances
to the progress of sound knowledge and sound truth had been placed in the way by the very men who prof&ssed themselves to be the heralds of truth and the disseminators of the glad tidings of the gospel of salvation to what they were pleased to term " a ruined world . " Not , indeed , that the principles of their religion which they advocated had a tendency to put a barrier between right principle and mankind , not because he was of opinion that the religion contained , in the New Testament had any such tendency—for he believed the contrary of that—but because that religion and its principles were prostituted to the vilest of purposes , to tbe supporting of men who knew nothing of its true princip les , and who cared nothing for its precepts , except so far as they could make them
subservient to filling their own pockets . ( Cheers . ) He was led to these observations because he knew that those men—the vtry men who had instituted prosecutions for what they were pleased to call " a blasphemous libel , " cared not one rush about Mr . Heywoods principles , provided they did not interfere with their own supposed predominance : they cared not whether Mr . Heywood was an infidel or a Socialist , a dissenter or a Churchman , supposing that he interfered not with their special arrangements in making the provisions which they had made for their own special purposes . It was not in order to restrain what was denominated the " torrent of infidelity , " that these prosecutions were instituted , but it was to restrain the progress of mental freedom , in order that those parties might continue to
themselves that preponderance -which they supposed they had in the public affairs of this country—that they might be able to tyrannise with a high and mighty hand over the mental privileges of mankind . ( Hear , hear . ) He desired not to be uncharitable , or to make use of hard words in reference to individuals , but these were his opinions , and he was bound to state them , considering the course which these men have been disposed to pursue . They say , indeed , that if these things were allowed to go abroad , they would tend to demoralise mankind ; and if we asked them what it is that tends to moralise them , they would say it was the
promulgation of tha truth as it was contained in the Bible . Granted . But another question would arise here as to what was that truth , and how we were to arrive at a safe conclusion in reference to it ? The answer to this question most undoubtedly must be on the part of those men instituting those religions prosecutions that there'll a certain , system laid down and sanctioned by th ^ e law of the Ljnd , taught according to law by men appointed ~ tj y tac , andJjaid for by tha people , because the people are forced by law to contribute to its support . ( Cheers . ) They told us that this was the sort of religion that men should imbibe , and that these were the prindftot thex SMht tOtftBBOrt . that these were the principal thai , ^ oaght . totapport .
Now supposing that all thIs"Nraa tree , " jmd njatwe should discover , by taking a simple glance at » ur present institutions , that two or three systems w $ re sanctioned and supported by this said law for the promulgation of correct principles , two or three systems , each of ¦ which , in times past , have been and are yet wont to anathematize each other as being every thing contrary to the principles of the gospel—which of those systems could they determine upon as being that which ought to be believed and adopted ? ( Hear , hear . ) In England we have a Church called the " Episcopal Church , " the doctrines of which , according to some lev . gentlemen in our own immediate neighbourhood , were the only true doctrines , and whose ministers , according to the same high authorities , weie almost the lineal descendants , of the inspired apostles themselves—( hear , hear )—and consequently who , being their legitimate descendants were the men who had a right tt > represent in their own propria persona the meek and lowly Jesus . ( Hear . ) Now these gentlemen had been at considerable
pains to make us believe that the Church of England was the true Church , and that the papists were nothing more nor less than the foul pervertors of the ChriBian faith , and ought to be put a stop to : th » t they ought to be excluded from all privileges connected with the commonwealth ; and that they ought not to have any place , emoluments , or power so long as they maintained the principles of papacy . ( Hear , hear . ) If we took a sail across the herring pond , as it was called , we should there discover this said papacy to be tha very system supported by the law for tLe purpose of propagating sound views according to law . In Canada he believed the established religion waa that of the Roman Catholic Now how was it that those gentlenieii who were so very anxious that correct , and none
< : ' ' . ' but correct opinions Bhould be advocated and promulgated—that two Bets of opinions as diametrically opposed as light and darkaess , according to the statements made by those Rev . Gentlemen—how was it that both of these systems could receive the sanction of the law , could be both enforced by the law , and yet both be right ? ( Hear , hear . ) It , was not , then , that they cared whether the papists were right or themselves , but it was because they were desirous of maintaining an ascendancy over the public mind , and keeping those places and profits which they derived in such rich abundance from the church as established bylaw . Again , in connection with this very church which had instituted these religious prosecutions there were to be found men of all sorts of opinions , from the man who
believed in all the things and creeds taught by th ministers of the Church of England , to the man who believed nothing about them but regarded them all as nonsense . ( Hear , hear . ) In connection with this very church , under the wings of the highest authorities of this sacred establishment , protected and supported by the law and the public funds , were to bo found men professing all BOtts of opinions ^ only they did not happen to tell people that they did profess thoseVppinions . They were supporters of this clrarcb ., dn& ^ hey did something towards its support , sometknesJb ^ aiuwit was respectable and got them a good name > ^ add ' jh * hei ' times because their friends were connected with « and would tbns derive a benefit . ( Hear , hear , hjflar . ) They were , therefore , all " true sons of the fchurch , " as well as " sons of one common Lord . " He would say ,
away with such trash and absurdity as this . ( Hear . ) Speaking as an individual believing the principles contained in the New Testament to be true—believing that these principles if acted upon , and if we honestly applied ourselves to the working out of them would rectify the abuses connected with society , would form men's minds anew , and cans © them to do unto each other as they would wish that men should do Unto them—believing this , he should say , away with the men and their principles who told us that thev instituted these prosecutions for religion's sake . ( Bear , hear . ) Must he be told by those men professing to be tbe followers of tbe meek and lowly Jesus , that they were anxious to propagate sound opinions—moat he listen to them going forth and exhibiting to the world the hallowed and sublime truths of the Gospel on one day , and , perhaps , the very next day , behold the same man heading a body of soldiers brought out to batcher tbe widow's sons because she could not pay them
tithes ? ( Cheers . ) If he must take the doings of the ministers and supporters of the Church of England as a test by which he must approve or disapprove of the principles of the Christian religion he should renounce those principles altogether , as being fraught with injury to manVinrt and tending to make men bloodthirsty beyond degree . If he most take the conduct of these men as a test of correct principles , what should he say when he saw them incarcerating John Thorogood for nfteen months , separating him from all that was dear to him in life , debarring him from all the pleasures in society , and all because he had refused to . pay the paltry sum of 5 s . 6 d . which he believed he had no legal right to pay , and which he could not pay conscientiously , believing the contrary of the principles of religion for which this surd was exacted . What Bhould be say when he considered that because John Thorogood would not allow these men to rob him of 5 s . 6 d . he must be again visited in bis cell and threatened with a further incarceration unless he paid an addi-
Untitled Article
tional 5 s . 6 d » ( Strong marks of disapprobation . ) He maintained that those men knew nothing of the truths of Christianity , and , when tested by their own condnet , Were not worth s straw . He ceuld hot beliera that ft man professing the sacred principles of the gospel could ever lend himself as a party to destroy the lives of the widows sonB , or could ever be a party to the doings of a set of men whe would take a man from his family and his home and incarcerate him , because he would not suffer himself to be robbed . ( Hear , hear . ) But he hoped that the conduct of these men , neither in a political nor a moral point of view , could be any test , or form a correct guide to the principles of truth , let them tell us what they would , or talk about the Established Church as they might We found that even , __ . _ ... _ . -
the Established Church itself might be supplanted where there was power to do so , and that a very opposite system of religion might in such case be sanctioned by the Government , provided a number sufficiently great could be found who would not submit to be tyrannised over for their opinions' sake . He would mention , as an instance of thia , the Presbyterians of Scotlanda church opposing itself to the principles of mental predominance , each man being determined to submit to no spiritual rule which his conscience told him was wrong , and being also determined to serve his God as he pleased . No sooner was a successful opposition to this attempt got up , than it waa sanctioned by those who had previously told them , and spent much blood in endeavouring to convince them , that no religion
could be good except such as was established by the law of the land . ( Hear and chears . ) Again , be contended it was wrong to prosecute men for any religious opinions which they might entertain , not only hecause there could be no correct and definite criterion by which those opinions should be judged , bnt because it was diametrically opposed to the principles of the very religion which those men professed to advocate , and in which they promulgated their belief . Was he to suppose that when a man was taught not even to revile his fellow-creature even when enduring persecution , but that when he should be brought up before princes and potentates , and punished for entertaining the opinions
contained in the New Testament—was he to believe that that man was to turn round the moment he felt himself supported by the arm of the law , and begin a persecution of the very parties to whom he was told to offer no opposition » No , no ; this gave the lie to all their proceedings , for every principle of humanity came forward to declare against the persecution of men for entertaining religious , opinions ; and more especially would every right-minded in an come forward to declare the same thing , when he saw that there -were so many varieties of opinion existing with reference to religion , and so little pains taken to disseminate right principles , or to put men in possession of the means by which they might arrive at right conclusions . He contended it
was a gross tyranny upon society to attempt anything like the persecution of those men holding contrary opinions , when they saw the vast amount of difference existing in the minds of men on religious subjects , and the little effort that had been made by tbe men empowered by the law to disseminate those principles to teach the people what was right and what was wrong . It was not , therefore , that these prosecutions were instituted because they cared whether men should judge between what was right or wrong , but it was merely because those men were opposing the men in place , and profit , and power , and not because of the opinions they entertained . But some people would say , what had all this got to do With the Government , and Why Should the Government be brought into the
matter ? And why should this meeting be called upon to declare that the Government , in consequence of such prosecutions as these , was not worthy of the support of the public ? For this reason ; a prosecution was instituted against Mr . Hoywood , for publishing such stuff as this . [ Mr . Warren read a paragraph from the pamphlet , which advised people to burn the Bible , &c ] Mr . Heywood waa prosecuted , not for writing or disseminating this as his own book , but for selling it , or publishing it in a way of business—merely handing it over his counter to anybody who | chose to give him a penny in return for it This prosecution was got up at the instigation of certain parties , but who they were nobody knew . The name of the solicitors in the case were only known , and the Attorney-General , as the
representative of the Queen in the prosecution . It did not come out as the prosecution of the Revds . Hugh Stowell , M'Grath , or M'Noile , or any of those men who were so zealous for the welfare of the Church , but as the prosecution of the Queen v . Abel Heywood . If this prosecution were persisted in , and sanctioned by the Attorney-General , why then the expenses connected with it must be paid out of the treasury , and that could not be done unless the members of the Government thought proper that these expenses should be paid out of the treasury . It was then , after all , a Government affair . He would not blame Lord John Russell , Lord Melbourne , or the Marquis of Normanby for this , if they had no control over it—if they had no power to suppress it , or if it were like a
common action , where one party prosecuted another , at the risk of doing it at his own expense . He should not then think it right to blame any of those noblemen for doing as they did ; but because it was under their sanction that this was done , he must confess that he most cordially agreed with the sentiments of the resolution , that any Government consenting to payout of the public treasury the expenses ef a prosecution like this , in times when thousands and tens vt thousands of poor people were actually pining away for-want of the bread that periBheth—a Government consenting , under the present distressed circumstances of the country , in times when evidence had been offered to them before their House to prove that thousands of our fellowcreatures were actually starving , that millions more
of them were not half fed , and that the prospects of millions more were such as to induce them to believe that they would soon be brought to the same condition —he blamed the men who , having the control of the public purse , would make the use of that purse in defraying the expenses of prosecutions for opinions' sake ; and under such circumstances as these especially , he contended that such men were not worthy of the -confidence of the people who supported them . ( Loud cheers . ) He dared say that little Lord John would feel very indignant if he were to hear such observations as he hail made . Lord Melbourne would perhaps again say that he was mad if he heard all this ; but he ( Mr W . ) contended that a man had a right to his opinions . He had a right to his opinions , and they bad
a right to theirs , and Lords Melbourne and Russell , and the Marquis of Normanby , had a right to their opinions . They had each a right to their own views on any subject . He did not want to interfere with their views , and he would take good care that neither they nor Lord John Russell , nor the Secretary of State , nor any body else , should interfere with his , so far as be could help it Did Lord John Rnssell hear all this , he would , doubtless , feel very indignant at it , and ho would likewise consider it a very outrageous thing for that meeting to come there and applaud such sentiments as they had heard in favour of every man having a right to his own views . But independently of this he would ask , in what position did they stand relatively to each other ? Let them inquire into this , and then he thought
they would arrive at the conclusion , that they had a right to interfere with those men , and that they had a right to put a stop to their proceedings in the best possible way they could . ( Hear , hear . ) Now it had beenia favourite maxim with those men , who continued to teach through the medium of the Church established by law , that it was the duty of the people to submit passively and obediently to the dictates of the religion appointed by the law . But he would ask , whence was it that these men derived this power ? Leave them to themselves , and what had they capacity for doing , either mental or physical ? Leave them to themselves , and he knew tout in twelve months they would be a set of the most miserable wretches that ever crawled on the face of the earth . Let the Lords and the
Members of Parliament , together with the Ministry , be turned out in one collective body , and be made to provide for themselves , and they would soon be without shoes and stockings , leaving alone the mass of wealth which they consume and squander . ( Loud cheering . ) Now , then , the whole of the power possessed by these men is derived from the people ; ( hear , hear)—the people pay the whole , expense connected with this Established Church ; the whole of the expense connected with this hereditary legislature , the army , the navy , the ministers , the parsons , and every body of that class , while the people'fhemselves , by paying this , were deprived of the means of a right and pro-subsistence . The man who went to seek employment from another recognised him as his
employer and paid him proper respect ; but who were the employers of these men ? Why , the people—at least they ought to be—and so long as they derived that power from the people , and expended their money , they had a right to bo under the control of the people in the same way as a servant was under the control of his employer . ( Cheers . ) They were the people ' s servants , and until they were recognised as such , and until those men themselves discovered that they were employed by tho nation , and that they ought to be employed only for the nation's good , neither they nor the people would be in their correct position , nor would society arrive at its proper state . No : he contended , most earnestly , that any Government instituting and supporting prosecutions for opinion ' s sake , was
unworthy of the support of the public ( Cheers . ) It would be for them , that night , to say-whether they thought that opinions of any sort ought to be prosecuted , but especially whether they could approve of such prosecutions as these . It would be for them to say , whether one of their townsmen—a man against whom no mouth could be slanderously opened , a man who was merely endeavouring to obtain an honest livelihood by the sweat of his brow—should be brought up before their tribunals , and punished according to laws which tbreir framers would admit were made , not for the spread of corject and righteous principles , but for the support of a set of people who were of no manner of
use to society whatever ; a set of men from whom we derived no benefit at all ; who had done more by their extraordinary oppressions under the name of religion to suppress the diffusion of correct principles—who had done more by their utter want of religious feelings , by their utter want of honesty of intention , and of every principle that elevates mankind in the scale of moral beings— -who had done more to bring odium upon the sublime and hallowed principles of the Gospel , than all the infidelity that ever was penned . ( Cheers . ) Let them , then , not be led away by the supposition that these prosecutions would do any thing towards the preventing the spread ef principles opposed to the
Untitled Article
Gospel : let them not be led away by the notion that religion would suffer * supposing prosecutions of this sor t were not instituted . No ; if the principles of the Gospel could not support themselves without the aid of the civil authority , they were not worthy of being supported . But he contended that these principles , only needed to be allowed their own course , to accomplish all the work which the most sanguine worshippers of the God of the people could possibly expect ( Cheers . ) It only required the plans laid down in God's Book to be followed out with honesty of purpose , and then there would be ne necessity for the interference ef law . ( Hear . ) True he , aa an individual , had been advised mthe pamphlet of Mr . Haslam to burn bis Bible , What cared he for that ? He would not burn it because Mr . Haslam had tried to persuade him to do
sono , nor if all the men in the world were to try to persuade him to burn it And though the author of that pamphlet had advised all persons to burn their Bibles , he did not try to make them do so by any other means ; and yet instead of answering his folly or refuting his sophisms they had prosecuted Mr . Heywood , who merely sold it for a penny , without the party ever coming forward to toll the author of the pamphlet where he was wrong . ( Sh&me , shame . ) This , he fearlessly contended , was contrary to the spirit of justice ; contrary to the spirit of humanity ; contrary to the spirit of the gospel , and the spirit of all right and proper principle whatever ; and in his opinion to xue again the words of the resolution , any government supporting and aiding such proceedings must be , he respectfully submitted to that assembly , unworthy of popular support . ( Very loud cheers . )
Mr . Watts , Mr . E . Dixon , Mr . Leech , Mr . J . Smith , and Mr . Ross subsequently addressed the meeting in effective speeches , and a resolution was moved to the effect that the meeting considered the prosecution against Mr . Heywood as unjust , and pledged itself to support him to the best of their ability . The meeting separated about eleven o ' clock .
Untitled Article
BREACH OF PROMISE OF MARRIAGE . COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH , May 16 . JACKSON V . SHARPE . Mr . C . Phillips , Mr . V . Lee , and Mr . Keating , appeared for the plaintiff ; Sir F . Pollock for the defendant _ . This was . an . action to recover compensation in damages for' an alleged breach of promise of marriage The damages were laid at £ 1 , 000 . ¦ It appeared that the plaintiff is a young lady of the age of twenty-eight , one of five daughters , whose mother carried on an extensive business at a children ' s dress and lixen warehouse in Regent-street . All the daughters were engaged and interested in the concern . The defendant Is thirty-eight years old , and is one . of the largest manufacturers of table cutlery in the
metropolis , his business being conducted in Gough square , Fleet-street . The Misses Jackson were in the habit of attending St . Bride ' s church , Fleet-street , on the Sunday morning , and in the evening they went to Trinity church , Gough-square . One Sunday , when the young ladies were waiting in the porch ot the former church , during a storm of rain , the defendant very politely offered them the loan of his umbrella . A short time after the plaintiff was walking with Mrs . Hooper , aa intimate friend of the family , when they were overtaken by the defendant , who , placing himself between , they walked some distance together . Soon after this he called at Mrs . Hooper ' s , and in the course of conversation inquired of that lady whether the plaintiff had been religiously educated , and whether she was
industriously disposed ? To these queries Mrs . Hooper replied in the affirmative , and added , that she had neither father nor brother , that her mother was in very ill health , and with infirmities daily increasing , and that the family were without fortune . She also expressed a hope that if the defendant had an idea of paying her attention , he would act towards her with honour and veracity . She further said , that the family , by their own exertions , were in the enjoyment of a comfortable competence , and besought him to weigh well any steps he might contemplate with regard to the plaintiff . However , the defendant pressed his suit , until , in a short time , he was openly received as the accepted lover of the young lady , who , with her sisters , constantly dined and supped at his house after
church on the Sunday , whilst he in turn frequently took his meals at her mothers . He had also introduced his own family to the plaintiff , and to her nephew and sisters . In fact , his attentions were unremitting , whilst his professions of attachment were of tho most honourable character . He took her to church with him for a considerable time , and she occupied , by his desire , the seat which had formerly been filled" by his first wife ! In the month of July last , Mrs . Jackson was so ill as to render it necessary that she shouTd ' go to Norwood . Thither he accompanied those members of the family who went with her , and he was so constant in his visits as to go twice or thrice every week . It was daring this sojourn in the country by the plaintiff that the defendant bad commenced a series of letters , from which , if there had been any want of proof » f the position in which the parties stood with regard to each other , abundant evidence was to be collected , shewing that the defendant was engaged to that lady as her intended
husband . [ Som 9 of these letters , which were read in evidence , we s ^ jpia . ] At length , by one of those letters , that datedihe 14 th of February in the present year , the defendant , it appeared , hod altered his mind , and had resolved upon breaking off the connelifci Every means was at first used by the plaintiff and her friends to ascertain how it was that he had arrived at such a determination , but failing therein Mr . Hooper called upon him to ask for an explanation . The defendant , who was much confused , said he had been taken so much by surprise , that it was impossible for him to enter into the matter at that time . Tno following day was then appointed for a second meeting , but on Mr . Hooper ' s arrival at home , he found that the defendant had written a letter ( given in the evidence ) , declining to hold any communication with him in reference to the subject Finding all attempts to obtain exp lanation fr om the defendant in vain , the plaintiff gave her consent to the institution of the present proceedings .
Several witnesses were examined in proof of these statements . The following letters were then put in and read : — "No . 9 , Great New-street , Feb . , 1839-" My dear Annas , —I find I shall not be able to leave business before seven o ' clock this evening . I am really very sorry , because it ' s so fine a day for the gardens ; but I have several orders in hand that require my personal attendance to . Let us then fix on Monday next to give our dear little Willy the treat that we hod intended to-day . I saw and spent the evening with Tom , and found him quite well and happy . He sends his love to yeu and Miss Betsy , and I have a kiss te give each of yeu ; but I will tell you particulars when I see you at half-past seven . Pray excuse haste , and believe me your Bincere lover , " Richard Sharpe . " To Miss Annas Jackson . "
[ No date . ] " My Dearest , —I received a note from you last nlghi s » kind and endearing that I can't express to you wha 1 good it has done to my wounded feelings . Breathing such an affectionate spirit as it does , I should indeed b < very unfeeling did I not write you word this morning tc tell you how I am . I feel , and am , I believe , much the same as yesterday ; I think I never suffered bo mucl from cold in my life , but surely a few daya will set m < right . Do not expect me up this evening ; I shall be you know , much engaged iu preparing for my dear boy ' i return to school ; I purpose to take him to-morrow a three o ' clock . Mr . Nason will accompany me with hi little William . I shall endeavour to be back in time fo : church , but I can't positively say whether I shall h
able or not to do so ; if not , I shall be bock in time for supper . I presume you will be at St . Bride ' s , as usual . I hope your mother continues to improve , but I think she is very much altered in appearance for the worst . Thomas Moore has Bent me word to say that he will be ready to accompany us to Peokham to-morrow . 1 am really sorry that he intends going , for I would rather not be troubled with such a trifling , ridiculous creature ; of course , I feel indignant at hte behaviour to you . But j « M » know that there { s one who loves you above everybody , and who cherishes in his bosom an affection which nothing shall extinguish but death itself . lam sorry you ask mo to oome up this evening . I do hope and trust you'll allow me to remain quiet a few nights : you know it ia only for your Bake I do come . It will be some time before I can come with the easy feelings I have done . I think there was something very unkind in our not being admitted at the doer in the manner L have been welcomed . I am sure
both the ring you gave and the knocks you gave were heard , but the friendly hand to open the door waa purposely withheld . But I'll endeavour , aa you tell me to forget it , so we'll say no more upon the Bnbject ; your loving and truly kind note has done me more good than anything I have taken . I have read it over fifty times , and preserve it carefully ; the children enjoyed themselves very much till ten o ' clock last night at Mrl Battan ' a . Tom is highly pleased with his chessmen ; Be kind enough to thank Mr . Rabies for him . They are gone with Miss Murphy to dine at Farringdon-street this day ; an invitation has been sent me , but I have declined it ; I must dine at New-street , and confine myself entirely to slops and broths , and most particularly keep within doors . And now , my beloved girl , I must draw to a conclusion , entreating yon to put up and look over any offence I may have given , and to make the best apology yon can for me whenever the subject is alluded to by your sister . I can't forgive mysalf for my thoughtlessness , but I still remain
• ' Your affectionate lover , " To Miss Annas Jackson . " «• R . Shabpe . " "December S , 1839 . " My Dear Annas , —I find myself so very unwell this evening , that I dare not venture up to Regent-street I have caught a very severe cold . I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you to-morrow evening . We are in an unsettled state at New-street , in consequence of the house next door to us being in a dilapidated condition it is to be taken down immediately , and our house requires to be propped up in various directions ; of course it much alarms my father and mother , and 1 believe we shall be under the necessity of taking a house for them—if so , I shall be obliged to take up my quarters at New-street , which I do not at all covet
Untitled Article
My father wishes us to take fn hrm the honsTZ Mr . Marttflt now occupies in Googh-sqnSe ,. £ S leave at Chri 8 tm « , and I think ft tb « mortice ?* for him ; of course we must study to make htm L ^ S in mind u we possibly can . I eah hardly secTfavW these lines ; my ey « are aa though they were fflSdrf hot waterj bnt I know yon wonld feel grieved at J not assigning any reason for not showinglny miwwJS countenance to you this evening . Last nkhfc tv to bed early , taking the usual remedies ofwarmynS stockings , pills , gruel , flannel petticoats , tallow ian ? &C . && ; but I do not feel sufficiently relieved vet « S Nason tells me that to go out to-night might brfo ' ir . ! an inflammation , or something worse . I tm suw > * ¦ will feel for me , and would feel much pleasure 2 nursing me . I am sure I should sooner recover und » your treatment than any one '* . I hope you are w * and wishing yon , till I see yon , every blessing oX can give , ^ vro ' " I remain , dearest Annas , " Your most affectionate and faithful ^ - —
"Richard .. * vr , . " Aged 36 yearn , U months , 364 d ^ gj " To Miss Annas Jackson , 164 , Regent-street . " - " 4 , Gough-square , Jan . 25 , 1840 . " " My dear Annas , —In reply to your note before n » I hope you'll not entertain the impression for a momS in your mind that I do retain the least degree ofaaf mosity or ill-feeling ; it Is impossible that I shoaU " but I do , and shall always , I am sure , maintain lii most friendly regard for you above any one ; but I reattr under present circumstances and sufferings in mte and body , feel I cannot call at Regent-street , and *? determination to remain in my present state , as * l dower , is unshaken . I know the high responsibilS
unaer wmen yon would be bound , as the wife and & mother of my children ; the cares -and troubles bfi wedded life , and the highmindedness and the irrik bility of disposition which you have ftTmanifeaa , shown to me , particularly since Christmas day Won 2 so clash , that I dare not , I dare not . entertain 9 idea of becoming united to yon . My prayers s&ri always be for your welfare and happiness . As long »« i live I shall eves-regard your name with feelings of de « interest , but I believe now that « nr union would nott * a happy one . I know my own ? 3 p £ » kn < 583 and bad tern , per , and I feel and lament my own infirmities . Bnt speak of in honw
you an ; enemy my ; You have m enemy here ; I am certain yon have not one ; no om dare tomaketheiBUghteit allusion in disparagement < 3 you . I would not h ** e suffered that person to fca £ - st < M » d before me that J-could have supposed to be omT All who know you love and respect you . May you \» happy , happy for ever ^ -think that this occurred f » your good . Do not indulge the thought of my alterini m TSS ?* \? ' hom « - ^ ny children-require me to " act faithfully and sincerely . Good night , and may God bless you apdkeep you for ever and ever , is the sincere * prayer of , my dear Annas , ( ^
" Yours truly , „ ,,. . _ " Richard Shabpe . " Miss Annas Jackson . " This was the plaintiff ' s case . Sir F . Pollock , in addressing the Jury for the defendant , urged as a ground for the course he had our . sued , the irritability of temper of the plaintiff , and directed the attention of the Jury to the fact of the matter being broken off on the 14 th , and the commence-Bient of the action on the 19 th , only five dayg after , wards , a circumstance which he submitted did not show much grief on her part Lord Denman said there was no doubt of the defendant having broken his promise in this case , and of bif having done so without the least apparent grouHd . Tha plaintiff , therefore , was entitled to full justice at the hands of the Jury . The Jury returned averdict for the plaintiff—DamaK * . £ 225 ; costs , 4 « s . ^*
Untitled Article
SOCIETY FOR THE RESTORATION OF THB RIGHTS OF ENGLISHMEN . NO . III . Fellow Counteyhkn , —inthispreliminaryaddrw , we will not attempt to give an elaborate exposition oj the numerous and important rights ; the full possesdm of which , we feel as needful to make np a real ind complete Englishman , as we do the possession o { limbs , of strength , of reason , and of courage . Weban not now space for more than the fundamental righto enumerated in the last number of our address ; in which we also gave the rules by which we ascertained the rights of Englishmen . The next important point , perhaps the most important of all , is , what means do this society possess , or by what means have they % reasonable certainty of hereafter possessing that which will enable them to make efficient progress in recovering those lost rights . A ' : moment ' s reflection will be sufficient to show any reasonable hang that the dev * . lopment of those means , and these powersmust be
, the work of time : that as nwch caution , prudence , dnd forethought are requisite'in chosing the time of aeclaring them , as in flxin « , that of acting upon them . That we possess in sufficient abundance wh % t are universally held aa the elements of power ; that is , num » bers , members possessing great political influence , members generally esteemed to possess political knowledge and sagacityi ^ and wealthy members are too generally notorious to maka . it appear boastful to affirm it ; and if credifc . be give * to our solemnly expressed determination of both power and will , may reasonably tatitle us to some confidence ; but after the repeated , IMygfBoa ! cons » ant fa | luree of every plan for the * eeovery offbajtr liberttes-wblclTtt » speoplBinave been induced t » support . after the enormoui-Mcrifices thy have been vainly induced to make ; for pchemes fwt which they expected much-, but which eventually bar as a bubble , and vanishe&into the air like a summert cloud . : \
After theae repeated disappointments , they msj fairly and reasonably say to us . Bhow us , afrjeast , obi of your weapons before we engage in political warfait again ; show us one efficient mode of attisk * show as that there are means of disturbing the robbers at thefa unhallowed orgies ; and , at all events , of rendering them uncomfortable during their possession of the booty . Are you going to lead us to fight ? Ifyouaw not , tell us , at least , of one moral weapon really certain of inflicting a severe wound , and we will give you full credit for your assertions ; that you possess others , whose nature and properties it is not prudent to dfcclose just now . This is a just and reasonable demand , and we are bound to comply with it ,
First , then , we are not now gathering together ill the particles of our strength , for the purpose of fighting ; it is true , that the bounds which tho most cautious lawyers have fixed , as those beyond which , further delay of forcible resiitance to oppression would be unconstUutlonji and criminal , have long since been overleaped by tha money-changing oligarchy of England . It is true thafc even the ultima Thule of passive obedience and nonresistance , placed by the courtly Blackstone almost beyond human ken , in the frozen regions of the North , has long been left a barely visible speck in the Southern Sea .
All this , and ten times more , as regards the question of rights , is true ; but we have carefully and anxiously weighed the question of policy , and hereafter will Is } before our countrymen what we think valid reaseni for our dictum now—that it is not politic , at present , to use force in the recovery of our rights . To answ « the remainder of the question propounded , we will Is } bare one of our intended weapons—it is the weakest of alL We consider its employment as little more thai preparatory to others of greater efficiency -, but it fa the only one whose disclosure we consider beaeadjl in this address , and in this stage of our progress .
Premising , then , that we believe some of our members will be seated in the Legislature next Session , and that we know one will , we will shortly state the modi in which we mean to wield the oldj the formidable , thil fool-abused weapon—petition . Manchester and it * immediate neighbourhood contstms 40 , 006 men , who have habitually come forth , nvide sacrifices , lost time , spent money , whenever their sense of public duty called upon them to attend public meetings , sign petitions , & perform other political act * . Scarcely another town i » . South Lancashire contains so few in proportion tojb * oumber ' ofitainhabitants ,., -.,. - , ¦ "• - ''""; : v
. _ , The total number of persons who may always » depended on in Lancashire to make political exertics * when they think the time and cause propitious , are e * tainly understated at 200 , 060 . Now , onr . intenti * is , after preparing these men by addresses and otfc *' means , to furnish each town with forms olpetiti »» each to be signed by ten persons , adding residence and calling . This trouble ; of writing their names , residence , and trade , we shall call upon them to perform ever / week , on a paper that we shall supply those that wk them at the rate of eight for a penny . These 20 . 8 H ' petitions a-week we shall hope to see backed by »» many from Yorkshire , and nearly as many from the North . ¦ ¦ .: •«
The House sits but five days a-week , and 12 , 000 petitions will thus be presented every night , by Members who will take care that each is attended to « ep » - rately . Thus ail other business must necessarily ** suspended , and the people may declare , and ensort their declaration being carried into effect—that th « House of Commons shall do nothing but read petition until they consent to " restore the rights of EngB * men . " ¦ , .- ¦ ,. -. —— -. Secretary .
Untitled Article
tins town and neighbourhood were visited ww » thunder-storm , which , though of short dnratiMj has nevertheless been attended with most distressM consequences . A young man named Edward Prow ' foot , m the employ of Mr . Wight , tenant of Pittl ** hengh , in the parish of Eccles , was struck wi """ - ? electric fluid while engaged in ploughing at a sbon distance from the farm-house , and , we re gret V add , was killed upon the spot . One of the horse&i * valuable animal , was also killed , and the otoo much injured . A fellow servant , who was p lougn * ing in the same field , on seeing him fall as if stro » with a cannon shot , ran to his assistance , andtw horror-struck to find a blackened and lifeless corp » The body presented a shocking spectacle , and frw his hair being much singed , ana his bonnet beins found at some distance with the crown blown out , » would appear that the lightning had first straw him on the head . The deceased was nnmarrwi and bore an excellent character . —Kelso CAronww *
Ft«Rietfr& W&Xiitit Fi.
fT « rietfr& W&Xiitit fi .
Untitled Article
- THB NQRTHRSK STAR . ' I iii . > ¦ =====:: a = ==:=:=: m " -
Death Bt Lightnisg. — Ori Thursday Afternoj**
Death bt Lightnisg . — Ori Thursday afternoj **
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), May 23, 1840, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2685/page/6/
-