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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st November 1840, Edition 1 of 1, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      iCNitLYSIS OF THE-TSAND-LOOM WEAVERS' REPORT . - " ~ Lbttjkb y . v CompetitiaB of jow ^ r-boma is ' alleged as the second jinse dF 2 ie depression of the' hand-loom weavers ' eoodltion . There is more troth in this allegation than is . all the Tillanous nonsense about the Com Laws . ffeere can be no doubt that maebiaezy Is the principal OB * of the decrease in the wages of the h&nd-loom -weaver , or Ifcatihe-wages so decreased are still redaeed by the accumulation of debt and taxes . ' ffce question of maddnery I » one of monied impbrtanee to fae manufacturers tod capitalists of tMs counter , but it is one of belly-pinching importance to the labourers . The advocates of machinery are of two

      Rat , the manufacturers and capitalist * , whose intenet it is to encourage machinery as far as human invention can Be * tw * ehed ; and to effect this , they esswrage Mechanics' Instttnte 8 rA * t 8 and Saences vtbe worb of Hie Society for fee Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , Leetarers upon Political Economy and Free faaen lry each , means Usey not only keep np a system irlwHy devoted to the aggrandisement ef wealth , but they pervert the minds of the rising generation by towing their attention from the natural labonr of the eaMratian of the soil , and thus make them for ever the Blades of the monopolism of -wealth and power . The eras practised by thia elass and their dupes are mnitt-. fcrieus ; but the great one is the dartrneti&n of manual labour without afibrding any compensation to the persona injured , or to the state which the injured party is compelled to rapport in all its corrupt extravagance

      The other class of machinery ad-rocatea are yeur " march of intellect" men , who are eternally chattering aboat aan being an -inteUeetiuJ- and & progressiTe being , and that all improvement * in arts and sciences an intended ft * the benefit of mimH ^ but reserve to themelves the plausible humbug about unequal distribution of the pranta of machinery , of the improper use made of it , and such lite stuff ; by such like argument , they cheat the deluded people into a show of patriotism . The oldest book on record tells us that the laud wss given to us for an heritage ; and Aristotle tells us "That if we wish U see mankind happy , we must search uot in otie * and towns , but in Tillages , where each man , besides his domestic occupatien , cultivates a small plot of land with the produce which

      nature has so liberally endowed him . " Your march of intellect men , and your manufacturing capitalists , repudiate this doctrine , and use all their powers to drain tbe-iand of it * inhabitants , and- - congregate them in latge . masses upon the politico-economical principle " that where there is a superfluity of hands , labour will be cheaper . " It ia downright folly to suppose that maehinery was erer intended to make mankind - happy for whatever tends to make men less dependentupon their own industry is false in principle , as such a state of things can only result from the crafty and cunning designs of a race of idle schemers , who liTe upon the labour of others , or from the powerful means which one portion of society possess to plunder the rest " He that will not wort , neither shall he eat , " says the Old kbut

      Boo , youi Penny M * g « rini > philosophers say machinery must do all the work , and the people stand by and watch it . TMonary enthusiasts > Cemmon sense , and the practices of the world in all ages , hare taught us that wherever the inventive genius of man has been exfirdse > d in the developtment of an advantageous principle of action , anch adraniage has been seized by the rich , the ambitious , the monopolist , or the powerful , and those for -whom such advantage was projected , ihebody of the people haTe been made subservient to the invention : in like manner , power-looms have subjugated the people , and raised the rich , the ambi-Soos , the monopolist , and tbe powerful . If machinery was intended to benefit the people , how is it that we never heaz its advocates open their mouths about its domestic use ? And how is it that these same fellows are always endeavouring , to concentrate the masses of labourers in .-their infernal dens of machinery and

      slavery ? Tour cheap production men and machinery advocates by their philoeophy have completely annihSated domestic industry , which was once considered to be the real wealth , of the country , and reduced the labo ^ eta to the precarious contingencies of competitive foreign trade . Your old-fashioned fanner weavers have become extinct , and your rural population drawn within the rortex or misery and crime . I knew well how much yonr condition has been deteriorated by power-looms—how much your onee manly spirit of independence has been , broken dowi>—how much you have been exposed to the merciless attacks of the machinery monopolists—bow much you have been beguiled by that dara of philosopher * who first intruded upon your G « Bfi « ae industry , gradually superseded your labour by their machinery , and how much pains they have taken to persuade you "it is all for your own good , because productions hare been so cheapened as to create an universal demand for them . **

      Power-looms , I emphatically mwert , have been the principal cause of your distress , and I produce the following corroborative proofs of my assertion .: First , I find in the reports of the Committee of the Beading silk weavers the following opinion : — " Power-looms bare bad a great tendency to injure as by throwing » great Influx of goods into the market at a cheaper rate , while great numbers of journeymen have been thrown out at employment in consequence j thus prodneing the two-fold injury of lower wages and leas employ , " &e . Ag » ia , from a similar report from the silk wearers of Breintree , " The introduction of the power-loom into the crape weaving has , we believe , been a great means of depressing the hand-lo * m weaver employed upon crape , and indirectly those employed upon soft silk , " Ac

      r » ow , in the woollen trade , where machinery has not been so destructive of manual labour as in the cotton and silk trade , yet frost the following extracts enough may be learned to prove its injurious effects : " A mana&cturer who has erected several powerlooms stated that Mr . — , in Huddersfield , calculates that he can get a piece ( woollen ) of forty-two ells , which now costs e 3 s-, woven by power for 20 a . " A Mr . Charles Stanten , in the woollen trade , Gioucestershtre , in his examination , states : — Q . ' Is it not a fact that , however small the proportion of power-looms to hand-looms , yet then- introduction has been the means of reducing wages ? A ^« - Yes : for manufacturers who wish to lower wages have Tirade an Tmfiur handle of the few power-loams which they employ . " Timothy Exell , woollen weaver , and a principal Witness , emphatically states : —

      " Before I conclude , 1 enter my solemn protest against stap-looms , \ ijt . factories ) power-looms , long warping ban , and tracks . " "It must remain for the Government to decide whether the body of weavers shall be annihilated and ruined , for the purpose of giving place to power-looms , which I believe would not be to the general interest of the country . " Here I would just stop to refer you to the extracts from the report now published in the Black Book for 18 * 1 , showiDg the actual condition of the hand-loom weavers of Gloucestershire ( pages 28 , 29 , SO ) . If such be their present condition—and I doubt it not—what wQl be their conditisu if more woollen factories or strap-looms are established or more power-looms employed ?

      The following extract from part IT , by S . Keyser , Esq ., one of the Commissionm for enquiring into the Linen Trade of Yorkshire . Thi 3 extract is very valuable in consequence of the author ' s position . Unless , like a man-of-war ' s man , he has ' told truth by aetident : "—^ There are many causes that have been at work in bringing down the hand-loom weavers' wages to this starvation price . The power-loom is one ; and though but little progress has yet been made in weaving linen goods , yet , by having nearly destroyed the cotton Weaving , and greatly injured the staff and woollen Weavers' trade , it has driven many out of those branches into the linen trade , and overstocked the market with hands , and the manufacturers have taken the advantage , and reduced the wages . "

      2 tow these power-looms contribute nothing to the revenue ; on the cordrary , they Tuzve been the means of throwing great number * out of employment , and has brought thousands , and tens of thousands , to sup the cup of misery even to its very dregs , and if not speedily -checked , trill , ere long , bring the whole of the teeacing trade to complete ruin ! What will the machinery parrots say to that ? What Will the honourable * and right honourables think of such startling facts ? What will the march of intellect

      men g ay now about the " tcaust improvements" in machinery ? Tens of thousands of the labourers—the honest industrious labourers of England bare been "brought to sup the cup of misery evan to the very dregs !! : " Nothing less than " useful knowledge" could have made the tens of thousands patient under soch sufferings . How long they wDl continue under the influence of such doctrine I cannot say ; but it is to be hoped that the legislature will speedily check the rapid progress of misery by salutary laws , and prevent the weaving trade from falling into " complete ruin . "

      Another Commissioner , a H . Chapman , Esq ., for the West Riding of Yorkshire , states— " The opinion that machinery stands foremost among the causes of lew * ages , prevails almost universally among both the cloth and stuff weavers of the West Biding . By machinery ia meant the spinning mnle , used in cletb auuraf aetares , and the power-looms , used hi both cloth and stuff fcanufactttre . Little doubt existed in the miad * of the Witnesses examined as to the operation of machinery , * ad especially the power-loom , in producing a decline of wages , by limUing the demand for hand labonr . " I * aoald thick you will at ones perceive that the competition , by power-looms , is the principal cause of the distress of the hand-loom wearers . A few more extracts from the evidence of the wearers and Trmtitifpf .. tnrers , I hope , will suffice to impress you with the truth of my former assertions : —

      " "William ? rorris , weaver of tick , Eccles , states—Power-lcoms have entirely superseded the weaving of calicoes and fustians , which were formerly wove to a peat extent here . " " James Stafford , wearer of shawls , Manchester—I conceive the evils of machinery to the hand-loom weavers to be very great It is production without con-Bnnptioii . The work is done by fire and water , and bought into the market cheaper than human labour can do i t »

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      " Mr . John Redfern , mannfactuTer , Ashton-nnder-Lyne , states—I attribute the . low rate of wages of wearers to power-loomsj m conjunction with other causes . " " . " Joseph PeTgBson , tmlnofectUTa > rof CarTiBie , states —The low rate of w&gcslavB been partly occasioned byi the introduction of power-looms . " ! "James Parker , agent , Pretton , rays-1 attribute to * depressed eoadition of the wearers to ti » eompeti-1 tion among sasten , the competition by power , and to art * production . " Joseph Gillon , manufacturer , of Pmtoa , says—It is-avident to most persons connected with hand-loom manufactures , that the introduction of the powerlooms has been the principal cause why hand-loom wearing has been so Tery muchreduced . "

      I might go on , ad injinitam , quoting corroborative opinions , but space precludes ne giving more at present . There are several erils arising out of the use of power-looms , and few , if any , greater than that of their superseding men ' s labour upon machinery by the employment of women . I know of no crime so gross in the catalogue of manufacturing evil * as that of employing females in such unnatural , unhealthful , unsocial , and inhuman labour . I win not tract Myself to express the indignation I feel at the unmanly and

      cowaroiy manufacturers who first allured them from their domestic duties for the purpose of reducing the wages of the men , and finally supplanting them in many of the branches of cotton , silk , and weoUen manufacture . They find it much easier to regulate the wages of women , Decause of their weakness , than to regulate , oKoj reduce , the wages of men , because of their stubbornness and unyielding disposition , Females now are as numerously employed , if not more so , than males in cotton factories and wearing mills . As an illustration , I submit the following extract from the Report 5 : — " In Mr . Edward Pollard ' a factory , near Colne , I wvmu &wvw& * w « ****** nvatuiK iiiiiift . JX . S it-II UlU < a ( T « fcUvIlk I submit the following extract from the Report 5 : — " In Mr . Edward Pollard ' * factory , near Colne , I round the number ! hTicj 215

      o » w , Of whom were Females , abore 18 years of age 129 Females , under 18 do . 38 167 Males , above 18 do . 42 Males , under 18 do . ' . 36 T 8 Majority of females 89 Which U about the average of other establishments of this nature . " Another evil in power-loom establishments is , tha they destroy domestic labour , domestic comfort , and domestic endearment . Wives and daughters are locked up in the mills , whilst the family affairs are neglected , and their comforts destroyed : their health becomes injured , and their constitutions weakened , so as to

      unfit them for tke ordinary duties as wives and as mothers . The husbands and sons , too , are locked up to toil incessantly from morn to night , without relaxation , without pleasure ; -whereas , under the old system , the father , mother , sons , and daughters were all under their own roof , enjoying comparative ease and comfort . Now , in consequence of hand-loom wearing being so depressed , and the power-looms having congregated the weavers , 'who have taken to power-loom weaving , into the mills , all their comforts are gone , all their happiness vanished , and their ancient independence destroyed ,

      Power-looms , I do emphatically repeat , have been the principal cause of the miserable condition of the hand-loom weavers ; and nothing less than a radical reform in the Commons of England will ever benefit the hand-loom weavers , as a class , or the people of England , as a body . Let s chemers ta ' ik of machinery and free trade as they please" To this complexion they must come at hist !" K . J . RlCHAKDSON .

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      ^ LETTER OF MR . WILLIAMS TO THE SUNDERLAND CHARTER ASSOCIATION . TO THB KDITOE OF THE NORTH £ UK STAR . Sunderland , November 9 th , 1840 . Sib , —The following letter has been received by the Charter Association from our incarcerated friend , Mr . Williams . As the Association consider that the publication of it would do much good , I beg to request that you will give it insertion . I am , Sir , yours , < fcc-, J . H . TO TH £ INHABITANTS OP SUNDERLAMD .

      Fellow-Towssmex , —Though by a mean , cowardly , and tyrannical faction I hare , for a time , been serered from personal communion with you , yet my heart is ever with' those of you who are anxious to advance the caose of truth , liberty , and universal happiness . To that eacBe every faculty of my mind—every feeling of my heart—every particle of talent or influence which I mar possess , shall be sacredly devoted . Aye , and although my roicc may not now be heard , yet , there axe other means by which my thoughts can still reach those to whom

      1 know they will not be unacceptable . I address you generally , although my ob » errationB to many will be unpalatable ; but the subject is one in which the honour of the town , and the welfare of all classes , is deeply interested . It is the necessity for a Public Hall , or a Lyceum , for the peoplean institution which shall , on equal terms , and at all times , be open to all parties and ti > all creeds , social , political , moral , or religious ; a place where any one may be heard , who deem that they ha ? o aught of importance to communicate that may contribute to the general stock of knowledge , and by the collision of mind with mind , advance the cause of truth .

      This is the age of education ; but there is an education of cant and humbug . The education ibr the people is to enlighten them upon their position , duties , interests , and grievances . I say the people , not the working classes only , aad certainly not the rich and idle ; the people , they who , whether they toil by hand or by brain , who , whether they produce the physical necessaries of life , or labour in the diffusion of real knowledge , are equall y worthy members of the stale , and equally interested in the discovery and promulgation of truth . Of all the means for this great end , lectures and public meetiDg 3 are amongst the most powerful . All who rerereBce mind , who esteem it as the highest boon which the Creator has bestowed upon manmnst

      , cherish the free utterance of thought ; they , and they only , ean say with the immortal bard : — " Gire me the liberty to know , to utter , and to argue freely , according to conscience , above all other liber ties . " Let Tiot the hereditary creed man , the factionist , the political juggler , the pompons bigot , or the narrowsouled Eectarian , pollute the hallowedname of Milton by their praise . He wrote for the people , and in the spirit of his noble expression , I ask why there exists not in Sunderland a place where this great liberty can be exercised ! What say you , is there not such a place 3 Aye , my friends , there is the sea shore ; it has not yet been , declared a trespass to

      walk there . There is the Town Moor , yours by immemorial usage and natural right ; but think of the old women in breeches , who are yet scarce recovered from the hysterics into which they fell by the meeting held there . The heavens may not now listen to the roice of the pleader for right ; they blush for yonr folly , and frown on a faction ' s deeds . Sunderland is not Athens—although you are about to gH an Ath £ ^ £ cm , and nave long had a sect of Athenian philosophers . Sects have their conventicles closed against all but those of their own creed . There is the parish church , and the parish vestry , plaees where our forefathers were accustomed

      to meet to discuss temporal grievances , as well as to receive spiritual instruction ; the law that warranted them may yet exist , but what ia law now ? Royal proclamations , or the letters of & servant of the Crown . Sheets of foolscap , upon which a Minister of State records his will , bare more authority than the most venerable statute book or the most ancient charter , however solemnly ratified . There is the " Arcado , " a room bow used by the teetotallers , the proprietors of which , or the committee for whom , recently displayed their liberality by consenting to let the room for a tea to Messrs . Byrne and Owen , liberated Chartists , upon condition ( mark it ) that no speeches should be made ! Liberty to drink tea , to look , to read , hut to be

      dumb ! Oh ! rare men ! We live in very liberal times ! Yery ! There is , however , the "Assemblyroom , " the only place & , for a public meeting—open to all parties ; but , alae ! that in a few mouths will be razed to the ground . The theatre ? Oh ! no , the theatre has been "decorated at great expence , " decorated to please the gentry , who shew their gratitude , by empty boxes , while the unwashed , the * beasts ' ( as they hare been elegantly called ) , who really support it , who contribute as much in a season as would build them a hall . They are thanked by the grateful manager , eh ? Ask them . But "Mr . Williams : you don ' t know that Eince yon left us , a fine building has been finished , the " Thompson ' s Arms , " with a noble room . Well , will the liberal

      and worthy Alderman permit the poor to meet there ! The committee of the Mechanics' Institute had recently the sum of four guineas to pay for the use of the Aldennau ' s Arms . Dear , whistle that . Bet keep yourspirits np , poor people ; fustian jacket-Ben , tear the glad news . The Athen&nm , a noble and beautiful building , with a hall expressly for public aeetiags , is nearly finished : a great number of liberal and enlightened individuals are connected with it ; they will surely open their door to all parties . No doubt they will , but ( oh ! that but ) working people make so much noise , and their shoes are so Tery dirty , therefore , when you can keep your shoes clean by riding to meetings , then you mar use

      the hall . But in the meantime , you want a place to meet in . Aye ! aye ! and look here , you sball Bee , what you shall see , here then now lies before me a " Proipecttufor building a . hall for tha Sanderland Mechanics' Institnte , and other societies . You will get served at last . The prospectus , which I expect is placarded about the town , and copies of which ought to be in erery workshop , club-room , trade and benevolent societies' rooms in the borough , demands a careful reading , and cautions consideration . ,- it must be a good one because it emanates from the committee , ( ?) omib-eommittec , of a society established to " instruct , refine , enlighten , and generally improre the working classes 5 " and

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      we learn from the prospectus , that the institution wants that accommodation : which is absolutely necessary to enable it to realize all the important objects funriiioh ' lt was esfaktiiflhe * f' * bj ^« ke & «* ia no I wee ball connected with it , wd asthtete ; fea ! dispensabletortheB ^ TOmmodationoflait ^ M ^ leiio ^ L 1 it can only occasionally hold these , and then « fr ] & « at coat and sacrifice . ' Well , then , ttiere is another party wanting a hall , and it is right that they shottM have the' accommodation they Want : ' Th « fM «* hanie Institute is ( ( me whose usefulaees hM'be ^ ri ' griaV Its members are ameng the most enlightened ^ and public-spirited of the working classes : indeed , there ia no institution in England more worthy to be called a Mechanics' Institutebat who and by whom

      , do the committee expect to get the accommodation they want t They tettuBtira * " other institutions is this borough ' , of a character similar . to this ( the Mechanics * Institute ^ buV established by and for a richer class , will shortly enter into a noble and beantiful building v with every accommodation for their objects . " How did they accomplish thia 1 They laid a statement of their necessities before their liberal and enlightened townsmen , and in a few days they obtained promises of subscriptions to the amount of £ 3 , 000 ; and therefore , say the committee , with amuBi « g simplicity , " the Mechanics' Institute ia induced to do the luce , and the committee hope the effort will be attended with similar success I " Amen ! Amen ! Now we might ask the

      committee , how a society established by and for , a richer class can be similar in character to one established by and for the working classes } The logio at best seems to run thus : —John Lucky was walking in Bridge-street , one morning , at three o ' elock , and found a purse , therefore , if we rise before the sun , and take the same road as John Lucky , we may hope to fiud a purse too ; -or , Alderman Thompson , recently gave j 65 , O 00 to Christ Church Charity School , ihertfore , the committee may hope , that that "liber *! , enlightened , " aud warm friend to education , that " faithful representative" of Sunderland , will render other aid unnecessary , by subscribing the needful , . £ 1575 himselC . The servile spirit of the address is nauseouB to

      every honest and independent mmd , and if the members of the Mechanics' Institute do . not foel it so , a few months has made a woful change in their character . I will see in a few weeks .: But , supposing that the funds are procured by the committee , will the building be available to any other society 1 han the Mechanics' Institute ! - 'Yes ! ' but mark the first reason—* As this building should be madeas profitable as possible , as well as useful , to the shareholders , the hall , and committee rooms , will be let for any purposes whatever , be the' same political , moral , Bocial , or religiouB . " Giye the shareholders &s much as possible , and you may have the use of the hall . If the " Thompson ^ Arms" be £ i 4 s . you may get the Mechanics' Hall for £ 4 .

      But of what value is the premise of the committee that ' the rooms " shall be let for any purposes whatever , " unless they take proper means to secure the foiaiment of their promise . If , however , their '' richer and more fortunate brethren" constitute a majority of the shareholders ; or , if they be trustees , wkich ia no doubt intended , you will then find that '' any purposes whatsoever" bare as muoh meaning as " peace , retrenchment , and reform . " The committee say u it is expected that the different trade societies , benefit , and other societies in the borough , will avail themselves of » his opportunity of securing better accommodation , either by becoming shareholders of > this building , or tenants of

      a portion thereof . To this . I heartily add my wishthese are the parties that ought to take the matter up . Their co-operation , would hare been more likely if they had been consulted first , and invited to appoint representatives upon a provisional committee . It is not too late to correct the blunder . No matter what the views of the committee may he , the shareholders &re , after all , the parties who must determine the matter . I therefore call upon the reall y liberal of ail clasBety but especially upon the working classes , to enrol their names as shareholders , and raise a temple dedicated to truth ; to hare a club-house , or club-rooms , where they can all meet in the spirit of fraternity .

      The Society of Odd Fellows are alone capable of raisiDg a Hall . Their brethren in Halifax , a town with not one-third the "population of Sunderland , hare recently erected a noble Hall at an expence of £ 8 , 000 . * Working men of Sunderland !—Canyon not raise one-fonrth that sum , without compromising principle and dignity , to gain the aid of your " richer and more for tunate brethren J" Odd Fellows , Foresters , Moulders , Tailors , Joiners , Carpenters , Chartists , Socialists , and Mechanics' Institute men , unite ! unite ! and you will hare a Hall worthy of those whoae skill is now rearing a " noble and beautiful building" for others . You may have one , for which generations yet to come will reverence and bless you . I am , Your faithful friend , J . Williams . Durham Chartist College , Nor . 9 .

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      ? A SAMPLE OF A TRUE SCOTSMAN'S TRUTH . TO TH * EDITOB . OF TH 1 ROB . TUEBN SIAJU 114 , High-street , Edinburgh , Nor . 7 th , 1840 . Sir , —The following letter was sent at its date to the editor of the True (•>) Scotsman , in answer to certain injurious statements which for weekB back be has been circulating to my prejudice . After the lapse of ten days he has intimated Ma refusal to publish it ; and I have to ask , as a favour at your bands , the opportunity to deli-nd myself , which he ha « denied me . I do thia the more earnestly , as he has not only refused to publish it , but has given a false and distorted representation of its contents .

      He publicly preferred a general charge against me , which he defied nve to contradict . I did so , and challenged him to mention and prove the particulars , failing which I would brand Lim as a slanderer . What does the fellow do ? He refuses to publish my denial ; and , instead of giving the particulars of his charge , tells me very coolly to do so myself . ' and as to proof , says not a word about iu I leave the public to put Its proper name on such conduct . Tour most obedient , John Duncan . ( COPTt . ) TO JOHN FRASER , ESQ ., EDITOR OF THE TRUE SCOTSMAN . Si f t , —In the last number of the True Scotsman , I perceive that , in the abundance of your wrath , you Uave been pleased to make , or rather repeat , a pointed charge against me in the following terms : —

      " We prevented him ( John Duncan ) from betraying tHe principle of Universal Suffrage at a public meeting where Messrs . Aytoun and Tait succeeded in making him a tool for said purpose . " Adding— " This we defy John Duncan to contradict . '' And in a previous paper— " It is not rery long ago since he ( John Duncan ) , and the committee with whom he acted here , would have betrayed the principle of Unirersal Suffrage , had we not made them feel that we ¦ would not allow them . " These charges , as they stand , are vague and stupidly inconsistent . What , for instance , is the " said purpose" ? "Betraying the principle of Universal Suffrage . " Betraying a principle ! In one place , the Committee and I merely would have batrayetl the principle of Universal Suffragt , hut the mighty and potent " We" of the True Scotsman interpostd , while in

      another Aytoun and Tait " succeeded" in making me a tool , &c . at the same time that you " prevented" them . This rery " anomalous" state of things you had better explain . In the meantime , and until you have stated the charge more definitely and s ' ensibiy , I proceed on the a 8 iumption that your meaning is that 1 joined to support the Whig-Radicalism , or anything short of "Universal Suf . frage , or would hare done so but for you , and will just say , and I say it openly and fearlessly , that your assertion is wholly , utterly , and entirely false . I never ( either individually , or in coDJunctien with the Committee ) did any such thing as you impute to me . Explain , and bring proofg of your charge forthwith . If you do not , 1 shall brand yon as a slanderer and calumniator , and add another mark of infamy to the many similar ones which your editorial career has stamped upon your forehead .

      You have alao , tome two weeks bock , in a leading article , devoted entirely to abuse of me , culled me a slanderer , and said that my opposition to you arose from your net countenancing the " physical folly of which I and many others were guilty . " To defend myself from the charge , and shew the falsehood of it , I shall repeat my accusation and its cause . I called your taper " a pretended Chartist . " The cause was this . In reporting the proceedings in Dunedin Hall , when Collins and Dr . M'Douall were present , you reported and called attention by italics , to some grammatical errors alleged to have been made by a working man who occupied the chair . Though trifling in detail , that was important in its spirit , and is rendered doubly so b y your subsequent admissions . When referring to this matter in your

      last number , how do you attempt to palliate such conduct ? Why , by saying that Mr . John Ritchie , the chairman in question , noticed at the . cloge of the meeting , an error you jhad committed in your estimate of the number at the preceding meeting . You gave 700—he upwards of 1 , 000 , and he must have been right , for he drew the money . Instead of apologising , and making amends , you reiterated the falsehood and sneered at his speech— " simply to shew" ( as as you express yourself ) -what kind ot a man the party had put into the chair , beth as regards good feeling , discretion , and attainments . " You then add , that the sentiments of Buch a person , " utterly unqualified as he was to fill the chair of such a meeting , is rery different in point of view from the same sentiments ! uttered by a person of respectable i !> attainments i " This is a strange Xhartist doctrine , methlnkB . To say that a man ' s reracity , or the want of it , is to be estimated by the correctness of his language , or the " respectability of hie attainments , " as you term it , is

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      ' just tantamount to -asserting that-working men—( for fewof theni ^ ever had the advantage of learning Lennio K 55 ® wltra | e the most ^ brtUess men In existence ; jra ^ Mpyr »^ ttmeiil NW fm « nlf to p ^ itit lithe griufrmStfeal errors of him who made it ! Tjils , offraa ftbjjfafirwt'ibthe ^ class of which 'Mr . tRttehie « a meinber It ¦ hows plainly , * hate > er y % tf mVprewn ^ , tha > y < m are-no Chartist , and it was my duty , as One ; of the insulted bo < hy * nd ; devoted to their welfare , ' to expose such conduct , even Had the conne you cnr-i ¦ ued fdr some time back been dififerent from ^ Tiafe ' ft has bom , - The grammatical errors of working men ; you cannpttrat know , are t > he } r ^ fortune , not their faulta misfortune canted by toe system which all true Chartists seek to chaage ^ -and he who wouH , sneer at them for . these ia perfectly capable of making ' mertf witfi the * ta » ' wMch the taskmaster lash

      * may hairelettolkttoiW&ed'iback of tfie negro . He may pretend what he j ? lease « , but I repeat It , he is no tme Cbirtist ' I WM , thereforei ho " slanderer" when I eaHed yuatt |^ p « ' ^ pretended Chartlstr-mnless you ¦ wan by the termOne whO'exposea' trdly the hypocrisy of another , In which ease 1 pteap guilty . * It is , th % refere , "« ot trn . fr that my motive fo » finding foult -with ^ your paper was for your- opposing my ' ? physfcal foiryV- a * yo » tenri It ; nor will the mean shift of attempting t » buoy upr your sinking print by ^ presenting yourself as persecuted avail you . I oppose for the k * me reason for which I st the first supported yo «; that is ; I think you deserve-it . > This is theprinciphs I actotf , and'rest assured , that neither the false bat open attacks trf'yourself , nor the equally false and eewaMtyiones of * the anonymous gang who support you , will-mafee Hie ehsngeii v ,

      I notice your « hargta ( as I will those of Mr . Douglas ) because ; the / writer is acknowledged . ¦¦ ¦ Anonymous « blrg « S are Wow contempt . One may reason in that manner , but ' when statementB prejudicial to another ' s character are made , he who refuses to / fire his name art * thtfpartof a base and cowardly niaassiiv Let the anenyiBons gentry * alluded to take the hint , and if they wi * h their rubbish noticed , come forth like men , aad « upportiaietr charges with tlie credit of their n * me « . Were they to do this , the very act of unmask ing might be answer sufficient . ^ This letter hftB ^ been called forth by a pointed defiance on' your-part , ani , as a right , I demand an insertion for *¦ : ¦¦ - - ;';¦¦ . ' , <• ¦ -- ¦¦ - <• . ? ¦ - ' . , ¦ . ,. -., ... - ' ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦• ¦ ' '"¦ " - ¦ ' ' ? Signed ) - ¦ ¦ • ¦ ¦ . ¦ :. . „ ¦¦¦¦¦ '• ¦ - •¦ ¦ - John Duncan . Oct . 29 , 1840 . .

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      MARGIN THE VICTIM . . , House of Correction , Northallerton , u i : ' > ¦ ¦ ' ¦ ,. Nor-7 fh , 1840 . Dear Brother , —You must be aware from the in * formation that yoo ; hare Already , received , that the only persons who are permitted to find themselves are those who have -not been sentenced , to , hard lubour , ' and then they are not allowed any other but the prison diet ' Though I amof opinion that the situatUns of the victims would be rendered a little more comfortable if they" were removed from labour ; yet I cannot consistently , neither will I admit of one penny being paid towards my support in this pandemonium of aristocracy . If I cannot ehame the liberal Lord of thff Home-office and his subaltern Fox into an act of . greater kindness than that of removing me : from , the oakum-room , if it be possible , I : will Buffer greater indignities rather than the generous Chartiata nh » U gire a premium to persecution .

      The subject which I consider to be of paramount importance is the silent system ; and I am of opinion that if it were pushed befow the publlo , the Whigs must uuavoidaWy and of necessity abrogate a decree bo unconstitutional and cruel . . It may be necessary to obserre , that the petty officers do not apeak with the tongues of men or angels , when displaying their authority wMih which thjs By stem invests them ; but the language which they employ is that of pandemonium , or . the language of serpents . The following instances will . enable you to judge of the indignant -manner iu which I have been treated , and which nerer could hare been permitted , if it was not for the silent Bisteni ;—On Sunday , the 5 th of April , I was standing against the wall . of a large yard , iu which were arranged all

      the misdemeanants , to the number of forty , or perhaps more . Thrte wardsmeh were busy in superintending , and the noise occasioned by , tue £ perpetual hissing , must have been as great as that occasioned by the confusion of tongues at the time the . great adversary of mankind was relating his victory , over Eden ' s happy pair . Ono of these wardsmeu came to itne , and , without any ceremony , clasping my bead with boU » bis hands , pulled it downwards aud hissed in my face ; the second treated me in a similar maumar Immediately afterwards ; and the third seemed determined to have a finger in the pie : but he contented himself by Baluting me with one Uu . d round of hissing that would have frightened a whole fiald of sparrows . But these men were prisoners -who seemed to possess no other

      quality but that of cruelty : and when they were removed , and paid officers appointed , I did think that such a mode of caattgation would have ceased ; but 1 am sorry to say that many of these are equally as bad , for , on Sunday , the first of November , one of them hissed me out of the priry , and hissed me again when I came into the mess-room . Enlightened humanity would be shocked were I to tak « a review of the system ; but I hare ascended the mountain of contemplation , to anticipate the future ; and I lire in hopes to see the rictims of the treadmill , and all my brethren released from their perilous situations , soon after my removal from this domicile . The voice of the millions

      is for us ! The men who have raised themselves in the scale of moral excellence by their habits of prudence and sobriety , shout onward ! The ensuing Parliament will , with one loud burst of indignation , order the slarish fetters to be remored , and the unconstitutional silent 8 y 8 tem to be abolished , and a mode of education to be intreduded for the purpose of kindling the holy flame of intelligence in the dark minds of the wretched rictims of parental neglect , for which purpose this house was built , and f « r the employment of the wilfully idle in all the useful branches of industry , not for the torturing of political offenders , who never would have employed any other than moral means , if they had not been goaded on by employed spies and

      common informers . Since writing the above , I have ascertained that the sum required for the maintenance of each prisoner is three shillings per week , thirteen weeks to be paid in advance , and it is my wish that nothing that I have said will be a stumbling block in the way of aDy change that may be likely to nmeliorate the condition of my fellow-sufferers : on the contrary , I hope that the sum required will be immediatel y forwarded , which , taken altogether , will amount to eleven pounds fourteen shillings , namely , — « ™ . « . £ s . d . Mr . Thos . Booker 1 19 0 Mr . Wm . Booker 1 19 0 Mr . Samuel Holberry ... 1 jo 0 Mr . James DufTcy 1 19 0 Mr . Wm . Brook ... „ 1 k . / . iur . wuuxtrooK ... « 1 ly 0

      _ Mr . Wm . WtliB 1 19 0 Total 11 14 0 Yours , truly , William Martin . Mr . Walsingham Martin , Chesterfield , Derbyshire . Mr . Editor , —I send you the above letter , which I receired from Nortballerton Hell : I shall decline any comments , as it speaks volumes to siow the working milUons how their best friends are tortured for having the moral courage to exert themselves in the emancipation of the human vace from worse than Russian slavery . ¦ . By the insertion of the above letter in the next number of the people ' s paper , you will oblige , Yeurs , &c In the Bacred cause of freedom , Walsikg ham Martim , A Republican .

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      TO THJt EDITOR OF THE NOttTHERN STAB . SIR , —You have well described the sayings of the independent Dublin paper as " The best Joke that ever was IK THE ( World ) . " Oh , it is the real thing itself to hear Irishineh grumbling at the Chartists for collecting money ! Yes , indeed , the people who are 0 enthusiastic in chsering the details of the' rent received , wlietner CathoBc , Kepeal , Regtetration , Pre . cursor , Repeal agaui and again , and the ^ dispensable O'Connell rent ! By the way , it seems that the Liberator ' s own has now received the more respectable name of the O'ConneU Annuity ; but , by whatever name it is to be called , Irishmen will have the gratification Of subscribing it all to themselres ; as , ' thank < God , ; tin ! people of Britain , at least the working

      classes , will never again be gulled by froth or blarney to give their money to the unprinci pled and mendacious accuser-of the principles which he has deserted . The Editor of the Dublin World " cannot see" that the Chartists are doing anything beyond : lecturing and collecting money . Now .. auaty blame , to the Worthy Editor for his incompetency of jVision ; though , may he be informed that the parties most intf rested are quite satisfied with , this , at present , exceedingly unsatisfactory state of things ; fer they are simple enough to believe that lectures are excellent things to spread tho knowledge of the Charter through the land . And thjs is the return the working men of this country get for their exertions in the cause of Ireland ; belied , and sneered at ! Yet nerer mind that , we shall get over it ;

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      and let Mr . Mooney , or any other Repeal missionary , come among ua , they will be heartily welcome ; they may rest assured thai they will not be insulted and assaulted * by any mobs of ruffianly and cowardly slaves . No , no , there are na "Dear Rays " in England to direct violence in its unholy efforts to > injure the advocates of troth and justice . The asplratlens of the people of this country for the welfare of-Ireland are too pure "to allow , them to retaliate On ttwl * -misled frlenis Ttheir dugnceful conduct . All that we want from the Irish press is impartiality , if i t can give it ? O'Connells malignant appeal to toe passions of his hearers , in his slurring the Welsh character , is altogether as worthy , and as veracious , as his infamous slanders on < the chastity of English *

      women . I am not going to justify the unfortunate occurrence at Newport , but this I will maintain , that no honest-minded person , possessing any ability to discriminate , would charge the Welsh peeple with cowardice , after an examination , of all the circumstances connected with that sad affair ; and here let me add , that though Messrs . Frost , Williams , and Jones are " traitors , " there is more patriotism and virtue in the little finger of either of JJiem , than there is i n the whole body of their dastardly calumniator . Can the trading patriot adduce an . yjtbiiigfto surpass the instance of a multitude of persons , epme' of them walking thirty or forty mUes , and remaluing ' tout a whole night .

      without the least shelter from a bewildering tempest , and being collected for a traitorous purpose to © , pay for every pennyworth , of refreshment nature required , and then making anl attack on tite military , characterised hy folly , and sustaining it till a part of the soldiers had expended their cartridges ! Truly the acme of cowardice f I will not attempt to traduce the Irish name ; but I am unacquainted with an instance where a body of retreating Irishmen , with their passions inflame d by defeat , refrained from wreaking their revenge on the objects within their reach , animate or inanimate , particularly when the retreat was not harrassed by pursuit .

      In conclusion , I beg leave to submit that those who expect fair play should at least be guided by it themselves . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , And constant reader , A Cambrian . London , Nov . 16 th , 1840 .

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      THE MISSIONARIES . TO THE EDITOR pp THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —The Chartists know full weft that the most beneflcjttl ^ ff « ct 3 result from the efforts of our miBsiouaries , inasmuch as they not only propound the truisms of the Charter to the hitherto thoughtless and inactive , bui are instrumental in more firmly uniting those who , through evil report and good report , are determined to battle •? the powers that be "—vanquish the fell monster , Tyranny , and establish the temple of freedom on the ruins of the citadel of corruption . Our enemies are aware of the success attendant on the labours of the heralds of Chartisni ; they know that by them the cage of uncleau birds are exhibited to the world in all their fllthlnesa—they know that the sink of

      iniquity , miscalled " the Government , " is made bare to public gazer-they kuow . tUat the peculatire syBtem of that den of thieves , ycleprd " the Parliament , " is made known in all ita ramifications—they know that the sophistry of their , hired sycophants ifl exploded , and all their insidious schwnes successfully thwarted ; hence , the" base , bloody ; and brutal" Whigs , and their compeers ., the Tories , hare recourse to their old weapons ^ -bribety , falsehood , au < J Blander . The real Chartist is iavulnerabla to all attacks of the enemy with the former weapon- —his cause ia to him of more intrin sic worth than all the boasted wealth of the pursepKud aristocracy ., It is only the trading politicianthe needy ; adventurer and idle bawler—whe will fall down and worship corruption for filthy lucre ' s sake .

      I am ; not surprised to hear that " patriots , " who hare sat in the " Peopled ParliauienS , " should now be blowing the Russian bom . Three or four pounds . pa weak is estimated by . some calculators aa of greater ralue , than truth , principle , and the public good . Such characters would do our cause no good , and it is better that we see them desert our ranks , and fly to the enemies' : camp , rather than that they should remain among our troepa .: . ..... . i The other weapons wielded by our antagonists can hare but little effect at this time of day ; the people are now beginning to inquire before they decide—they ( I mean the majority of the working class ) will trace report to its origin , and look to the character of the persons engaged- to throw the shafts of slander , and they , will not , as in times . past , give credence to the enemy , who speak falsely , that they may injure our advocates , ruin our friends , and , if possible , annihilate our cause .

      Tbe Whigs will now find it a difficult task to raise an army of working men to fight the battles of faction ; this they have done , but the fighters have had to pay the whole account , with interest to boot . If Henry Hunt was now living , the Whigs would have to scratch their lousy lumps till their fingers were nailleas , ere they could g « t a mob to surround his house in Stamfordstreet , and insult his servants when about their business . No . no , those days are gone by , to the grief of the poor clique who are just foiling from the perch . Dan might get a troop to insult Lowery , if he plied them well with the " eratur ; " but Dan has no influence , save in his own nest , and I query whether he will have any there before next " tint' day .

      Now , Sir , I will rery briefly give yon my reason for addressing you on this subject I find , in your last number of the Star , an article relatire to the appointment of missionaries , in which you say " We hare received directions from Mr . O'Connor to say , that should any Objection be made to this mode of securing an honourable and useful employment for good men , he will pay all himself . " The employment is "honourable , " it is " useful , " and it is absolutely necessary in the present position of affairs ; but as to the mode of defraying the expencesof the missionaries I think the Chartists will have some objection I mean to that part of it which makes Mr . O'Connor the principal , if not the sole pay-master . Let any man review the political history of Mr .

      O'Connor , and let him ( if he can ) show us that Mr . O'Connor has not sacrificed too much already . Where is the man that hath contributed , either in a personal or pecuniary point of view , a tithe of that which Mr . O'Connor has done ? There is not one . I have been in the ranks under many generals , yet I never found one so much like a walking treasury as the present worthy commander of the Chartist forces . See the contrast between Dan the Liberator ! I J of the yet hanrf-and-foot bound Irish , and Feargua the Advocate of the rights of the whole human species—the former is the greedy and needy recipient of the poor mail ' s last mite , while the latter seems resolved to conform to the Christian m&xim , " It is better to give than to receive , " until , in the end he may have nothing wherewith to carry the maxim into practice .

      Mr . O'Connor has unquestionably done more than his share In the work ; and , as burdens ought to be somewhat equally dirided , I trust some of your correspondents will suggest a plan to defray the unavoidable expences of the missionaries , and , at the same time , give Mr . O'Connor ' s pocket a little rest . A district comprising a dozen associations might do much for the support of a temporary missionary j and if many of the associations could avoid holding their public meetings , &c , at the Brewer ' s Arms , Malt Shovel , Barleycorn Inn , or Geneva Hotel , they might do much more . Many say , •« I am going to tho meeting to night , and I must haTS price of a pint "—that is 2 £ d . Well , put these many twopence-half pennies together , and sea how much Mr . O'Connor ' s over-drawn pocket will have to supply .

      I don ; t charge the Chartists with the crime of drun kenness ; but I know " mine host" does not like com pany meeting in his house and spending nothing . Yours , truly , Wm . Rider . Leeds , November 16 , 1840 .

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      ¦ ^ . IO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . SIR , —Permit me , through the medium of yonr brilliant Star , to return my sincere thanks to those gentlemen who , at their last weekly meeting , at the Lambeth Charter Association ( on the 10 th inst ) were pleased to pass so favourable a resolution on my poor comments on the accursed Bastile . I can assure them that there is but two things which can turn me from the Charter , and that is death and a R « pubii& I remain , Sir , Yours , respectfully , H . Griffiths . Edgware-road , London .

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      Town Council . —The adjourned meeting of the Town Council was held at the Court Hoase on Monday . After the minutes of tha previous Monday '? proceedings had been read , documents tare laid before the Council , from which it appears < that the Bums due from tho out-towus of Bramloy and Armley , to the i ^ orough rate , amounting to ! £ 802 , will , shortly . be paid . AJderman Fawson ( a Whig ) , who had been accused at the late meeting of the Council of uitimidating voters at the recent muni- ' cipal election , made a long , rambling speech ' in his own defence . Ho denied intimidation , but acknowledged to having canvassed voters , although Ke is a presiding Alderm& 4 of one of the wards , i'htj next business brought betpre tho Council was the

      appointment ot a committee ^ or revising , ' printing , aud publishing the Report , of , the Statistical Committee , with a view of obtaining an Act of Parliament for improving the health of the town . The report was then presented ; arid ' all parties appeared to beconriiiced of the disgraceful state " of the streets in which the poor reside . "Mr . Councillor Atkinson said that Euch was the sta ^ e of a great part of iLeeds that if any traveller had published a statement ! of the facts contained in the report , he would not have been believed . The mortality iu Leeds had a frightful preponderance over that " of ttie test of Eogland . Dr . Hunter stated , fhatjby a recent report of the House of Recovery , out of between three hundred and four hundred" patients , fifty-seven ¦ Were oases of typhus feyer frffm Boot and Shoe Yard , and the yard adjoining . The folio wing was the com-

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      mittee appointed : —Aldermen Williamson , Benson , Musgrave ; Councillors Baker , Cawood , Hall , Atkinson , Hey , Beckett , and Oiorley . The following were then appointed a CMafittW to frame Byelaws for theBoroughj . andto Jay * draft of tl . em before the Council as iooa , as they can : —Messrs . G ^ Goodaflan , -Tfttti ^ Heiden ^ Baler ,, Watson , CharleswMthjChorle ^ WbiteheiA siBrnmfitv Bramley , Englana , and- A ^^ sofl ,,, iytr . ^ un 9 iJlQri ^ aker , in moving for thi 8 " coinnnt | ee ^ gatea Jfi » £ aipresuit ail the filth from the sweepings of the town was conveyed into the most thickly ,-p ? pulatei pMi of -it , and there set down to the do ^ iment of the health of those whp live there . Tho streets inhabited by the poor were not . swept at all . A committee was then

      appointed to superwte ^ d the naap , survey , and valuation of the borough now in progre&a . The su > a which it is estimated to cost is £ 3 , 700 » £ 1 , 660 of which has been already expended , and this committee was empowered to spend £ 50 more in procuring some scientifio person to examine and report upuu tha work already done . The following were then appointed presiding Aldermen of the respective Wards subjoined to their names ;^ r-James Uoldforth , MiU-bill Ward > G . Gopdmari , North-west Ward ; Hebden , North Ward j PawsonvJEast Ward ; Mosgravie , 'KirkgateWard ; Brown , South Ward ; Guunt , Headin ^ Je y ; Hubbard , Hunslet ; J . Goodman , Holbeck . The voting papers for the North eas-s , West , and Braraley Wards were not filled up . Mr .

      Councillor Atkinson then moved to expunge from the Report of the Chancery Suit Committee certain words which be considered imputed perjury to trio defendants in . this suit , He said ihat the author of the Kepoithad "dared to iissumo that it was withia the Qom pass of possibility" that the defendants had " purposely withheld" certain books , when they had ijtatod upou oath they had given up all tht-y possessed . , The motion haying been seconded , Alderman Gaum ( the Chairman of the Chancery Suit Committeo ) stated that there was no such in < i u uuation in the Report ; but if the cap fitted , let Mr . Atkinson wear it , . Alderman . WijUamsou objected to any part o £ tho Report being expunged , whila

      he agreed iu a great measure with Mr . Councillor Atkinson ; . and rn ^ v ed au amendment to tho effect that it was the opinion , of that Council , that uo offence was intended towards the . defendants in the Chancery Suit , by the expression in . question , but that it was not expedient io expunge it from the Report . After an angry discussion , which manifested much virulence and reciimination on both sides * the amendment was adoptedI : by . thirty to twenty-one . The last business transacted was the appointment of a committee to inspect the various Corperate Baildings with a view to tkeir bettor ventilation ; after which the Council adjourned .

      BOLTOW . The Corn-L ^ w Humbug . —The Corn-Law Repealers had a meeting , by circular , of the -electors last week ' , with a view of ascertaining Whether there existed a chance of returning two candidates in their interest at ' the next ' general election . ' "The sham of agitating for 'Household Suffrage by this party , :=. ? - pears to be abandoned , and a desire to « o " the whole hog" with the people has been hinted at , if tbe Chartists will only change—not their principles , but thoir name . It is said they wish coalition , and a committee of individuals , selected from botb : parties ,

      has been appointed to confer together . The' mtdf' ^ Q classes feelihatthe landed aristocracy is too powerful for them when unaided by the working m ^ n . Hence the expression of their desire to heip the people in obtaining their political rights . * ' A ft Uowfealing makes us wondrous kind ; . " Thi ? by powe is said to be a mere scheme of the ' repealers to compel the lauded interest to repeal the bread tax , which it is presumed they would more readily do than grant Universal Suffrage . The Chartists are quite alive to the move , and firmly determined not to be jockied .

      The No-Popery Firebrands . —On Monday l ^ dt , the no-Popery firebrands , M'NeUe andStowell , Lau a gathering in this town , admission by ticket , in which was a notice that none would be allowed to speak who entertained views opposed to those of the bigots . So ignorant are these religious instructors " of the popular mind , that they bad the folly and impudence to appeal to tne masses to step boldly out and trample on their Roman Catholic brethren , whom they averred were onl y waiting an opportunity to demolish that sacred and venerable institution , the law-established Church . Four-fifths ot the audience were women and children .

      LEIGH . Opening of the Tbaveiabbs' Hohe Lodge of Mobekn Druids . —The officers of tho Bolton district met at the bojlse of Mr . John Yates , Red Lion Inn , West Leigh , for the purpose of instituting the above Lodge , being the first branch in Leigh of the Grand Order of Modern Druids . , After the bueincas of the Lodge was concluded , the brethren sat down to an excellent supper , which did great credit to the worthy hostess , Mrs . Yates . On the cloth being removed , Mr . Thomas Dootson , F . R . A ., was called tothe ^ chair . The usual loyal toasts were drank , and a variety of songs very , tastefully sung by several of the members . On the Committee of Management bciag given , Mr . Thomas Chadwick , Corresponding

      Secretary to the Order , returned thanks on behalf of the Board , in a seat speech . He commented on the great utility of persons coming forward to join such Societies as tho Order of Modern Druids , for it it a . matter of no small importance to a working man to ba provided with 10 s . per week when he fell sick , which he can receive without compromising his independence : or we might , perhaps , find ourselves stretched on a bed of protracted sickness , in th « midst of strangers , far from our home , and far from our parents and relations , upon whom the ties of blood had some claim , and none around us from whom we could claim those kindly attentions—no parent to administer those comforts and necessary assiduities which would be required under such

      paintui circumstances—no wife to wipe off the big drops of sweat froui the brow , which pain and sufforinj ? were forcing to flow—no affectionate sister to lift up the cup to the sufferer ' s parched lips , to moieten those springs from which the most fascinating song or language had perhaps issued , " and delighted those with whom he was acquainted . But no sooner would thia be made known to the proper officers of the Order , than'they would fly to the abode of the suffering brother , and administer cheerfnlly those brotherly and kindly attentions which his helpless condition require . This consideration should be a great source of comfort to us all , to be members of such a vast , extensive , and philanthropic institution . —Correspondent .

      MANCHESTER . The Middle Class and the Taxes . —These short-sighted , credulous dupes begin now to open their eyes . The system having , brought the working men by thousands to a state of destitution , consequently deprives them of contributing so much aa they were in the habit of doing formerly to the taxes , the selling of their goods , and every other means being inefiieient to meet the expences of the country at large . The authorities begin now to , bear alittia more severely upon the middle class , and tho alarm is dreadful ; but we hope-treason and sedition will not be the end of it . They are taking moral means first , and what will come after remains to be seen . A great number of bricklayers have been employed iu building up windows ia many parts of the town , to save the tuxes .

      ©Ttgmaj Com^Ontrencc.

      © ttgmaJ Com ^ ontrencc .

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      • I may mention ; f 6 * the berieBt of the Star readers , that thir refers to a dozen or so of anonymous scribblers' wnor ' taWngffieir UuefrOTB ' theft ! patrtn ; have , under flc ^ itiyus isames ; been'baslly engaged in his « firty work . ' As a bpecitaen 6 f fhe ' tHbey I mayoSduce a Writer in to-dijr ^ ' True S /» tsm < M , -wh * " provei (? j ¦ me tdhate aceeaed to ' tbe ' rasciUy Caltion Hill resolutions , because I addresse ' d the meetWgwbo iJassed them ; and -charges rue with inconsistency in rescinding thorn , which he calls "a balm to the wpuuded Spirit of O'Connor . " True , I addressed the meeting , as he says , but , unfortunately for him , it was toi&ay ^ iat neither the Association I Was connected ' with , n 6 *' myself , ha < l anything to do with these resoWttons ! So much for the anonymous lads . ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' ; _ -i— : -. ¦ *»¦ :

      Xieeds.

      XiEEDS .

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      __ THE NORTrTf . RV STAR

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      Total Rkpeal of the Window Duty . —On Tuesday forenoon , a numerous and respectable Veetry Meeting of the parish of St . Martin-in-the-Fields , to adopt measured : for ( he total repeal of the Window Duty , was held in the vestry room , Mr . Hutchins , senior churchwarden in the chair ; The former committee for attaining this object was , after some discussion , re-appointed . The tax was reprobated strongly by all the speakcre , and tbe new assessment was still more strongly condemned . SuPEBsxmoN . —A wealthy farmer , living not 100

      miles from Nunnington , in the North Riding of this county , having lost a number of cattle by disease within the last twelve months , and entertaining the idea that they were bewitched by a poor old woman * sent for a " wise-man , " who after burning tbe heart of an ox stuck with pins , read a form of prayer in every field and . out-house belonging to the farmer : after remaining for a week ,, living upon good cheer , and getting his pockets well filled with cash , the wiso man then took his departure , leaving the poor dupe of a farmer satisfied that he shall lose no more cattle .

      Alleged Ill-treatment and Starvation or ? Parish Apprentice . —On Wednesday evening , an inquest , Which lasted three hours , was held before Mr . Payne , at the George ; Paul ' s-alley , Barbican , on Thomas Oakley , aged-fifteen , parish apprentice from Islington to a shoemaker j named Taylor , residing , in Youtig ' g building 3 . Deceased died oa Monday last , under the following circumstances : — Deceased's brother and several other witnesses proved that he had told'tfaein that Ms master never gave him sufficient food , and that he kicked him near the loins about three weeks ago . Since that time , deceased complained of pain in the back , and could scarcely walk . He had been seea 4 ) y an opposite neighbour smell to his food , and then throw it out of the window * as . if it was putrid . On the contrary , a witness wHo worked * with the deceased

      said he saw him have meals regularly , arid that they were iu sufficient quantity , and of good quality . Deceased ' s master used to chastise him by cuffing hun on the head when he performed his work badly . The master dented having kicked deceased , and said that he never even struck him . Mr . Raines , a surgeon , who had opened the body , said that deceased laboured chrome infiamation of the pleura , , ¦ pericardium , and mesenteries glands , which caused / a great effusion of water into . the cavities of the chest and abdomen . This ^ complicated chronic disease was the primary cuus ^ lMfJW ^ HW ^ teauMl ana nutritious food , but be v ^ fluHRwi ^ wfauall y sunk under the disease by wbj £ O& |^ j&ftig $ a «* sV / tacked . Verdict , after lon / l ^^ H ^ g ^ € b *\ tural Death , " the Jury ^^ 9 JS"&nt 3 ^ t ^ iP \ that deceased had not had »^ tap ^^ W ^^] w- \ UdVcisAiajj

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 21, 1840, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2711/page/7/