On this page
-
Text (6)
-
November6, 1847. THE NORliHER^^ 5
-
" Able and Interesting" Balance Sheet of...
-
Pobtsea.—MitiiARV OoTBAGB.—On Tuesday ni...
-
FEARGUS O'CONNOR AND THE PKESSGANG. >' i...
-
A Po.-btitb Parson. —Elizabeth was affia...
-
Mr UobertJUli^d. con^iaWb^lboj|lS/^v o^/...
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.
The Following Is Tbe Description Giving ...
< --g hundred pounds ; I could raise on that property {^ thousand pounds , for which I should pay fou „ gf cent . IeaviBgme one hundred pounds to pay for & e expenses . Here , then , is security . What , say Whilosop hers , could you raise ten thousand pounds ? « Yeg . and iu three yean I could raise fifteen thouind * pounds , not upon the land , but upon the Latanr which had been put into the land . It is the { Soar that enhances the value of land . ( Hear , bear ) I can show , so that there may be no mis ° jjjeVstandin p , how it may be done . If I had two hundred pounds for an allotment , I could get for this mm eight pounds in a year at the bank , but in the " ijme ef rent I should get ten pounds . I put a man jrto theplace whose labour would be worth ten
Sjnjpgs a week , which would be twenty-six pounds ryear , and then tour pounds for his house would « jie thirty pounds security for the eight pounds « nt It w thematfs labour that increases the value , tut our opponents do not reckon the labour ; they always leave that out in their calculations ; they jjever account for tbe labour . ( Loud applause . ) Wfcat is the laud compared to the labour ? Give me two acres of landat £ 1 per acre , and I will make £ 50 ef it in the year . Iflear , hear . l What proportion is the land to labour ? The land of itself only pays four per cent ., and when compared with labour , ihe balance , asyou see , is greatly in favour oflabour . Xtis an apothegm of philosophers , that * labour is the source of wealth / bnt tbe Whigs say to capitalist ! ,
it is not the source of wealth , and that my plan must toil . Now , when ! see Tawes coming back to the vo rkHouse . I will say my Land Plan has failed ; ffhen I see Tawes coming to that Mollycoddle , and going to his old abode , then I shall say it has failed . ( Applause . ) I am confident of its success , and 1 freely oner , as I did list night , when I addressed ? five or six thousand people , to release such members as are dissatisfied . ( Applause . ) T » u have heen told that I am deceiving you ; that it is all a joggle ; that I am cheating yon , and want to cornrait a fraud . The { Government has undertaken to apply to ihe House of Commons for an indemnity for violating the Bank Charter ; I undertake to relax the conditions of the
rules , and to take an indemnity from the Company , and I offer , if there be any shareholder in Nottingham , who by penury is placed in circumstances to Ere vent him carrying on hia subscription , or if there e a man who thinks himself jossled , or if he be influenced by the * Whistier , * or out Bailey ; or if he be dissatisfied with his allotment , and he will bring me his certificate , I will pay him back his money . ( Tremendous applause . ) 1 will pay him here to-night ; I will pay him also four , per cent , interest for his money , which the rules dp not allow , and he may take his money hame with him . ( Applause . ) With regard to the Bank , and the security . I have actually got from capitalists , by their own wish . £ 10 , 000 mortgage upon land , in two sums ef £ 5 , 000
each , at four per cent , interest , and for ibis reason , the parties said they would rather have the land as security . The banks were only giving these capitalists three per cent , for their money , and they were sure of my four per cent . But perhaps , when the capitalists should go to the Bank some morning for their interest , the clerk may not be in the office ; then where is the security for their capital ? I will sow draw a . picture , but yon must bear in mind , though I charge Mr Bailey with a fault , I should respect him if he acted as a gentleman . Suppose I had charged Mr Bailey with a mere simple dereliction of duty , though he charges me with fraud , misrepresentation , cheating , and juggling ; but suppose I had done so in the Nobthebs Stab , and Mr Bailey
bad sent me a challenge , and instead of accepting that I had issued a handbill , as he has done , and headed it' The Press , the Press ; 'if I had said . 'No , Icat ftmeet you . * I think you would burn the Stab nest Saturday . ( Hear , hear , and applause . ) This is precisely Mr Bailey's case ; he charges me with committing a wrong , and he dares not face me . ( Applause . ) I am prond of the position which I occupy , no matter what abuse is heaped upon me , I am prouder of being your bailiff than your member , and depend upon it I would not be an honourable member and a dishonourable bailiff , for any advantages this world could confer upon me . ( Applause . ) What do you think of the noisome beast , the unnatural monster , who supposes I could for a
moment draw the life-blood ofthe father , live on the sighs of the mother , and the anguish of the children , whom he represents that I am deceiving . Does he think I reduce myself to a par with him ? I , who have led a life of abstinence , that I may do geid ; of frugality , that I may be able te serve my country ? ( Applause . ) Lastnightlconfinedmysetttothedistriet I was in ; I did sot mention the name of the ruffian there . To night I confine myself to thuspot . but at the same time , I am ready to submit the con ., dactofmy whole life as a subject of inquiry . I tell the gentlemen of the press , that I am ready to give them the name of every nobleman , magistrate , clergyman , and country gentleman , resident within fifteen miles of the place where I was bred and born ,
and if any one can impeach me , and show me guilty of a dishonest act , I will withdraw all claim to confidence . ( Applause . ) I do not come here to gloss over a life of crime ; I come here to defend myself—{ hear , ' hear , hear}—though , the whole werld should he assembled before me , and I claim a public and a patient hearing . I defy Mr Bailey , or any one else , to prove a single charge against me . ( Applause . ) But I will tell you what the press has done by fabricating these charges against me ; since these attacks , I am an inch and a half taller than I was . 1 began to stoop and had fears of becoming paralytic for want of exercise ; bnt now I feel robust and strong again . ( Hear , hear . ) Had I been your enemEliza Cook would have lauded me to the
y , skies , but as I am yom * friend , lam maligned and reviled . ( Appkr ose . ) What should I be worth to yon if I were capable of being intimidated ? It is the first instance of a gentleman standing before an audience like this , and such as I stood before last night , and on Monday night at the Crown and Anchor Tavern , being able to snap his finger as I do , in defiance of all calumniators . ( Applause . ) Solongas the press confines itself to the exposure ot wrong and error so long will I be supporter of it ; bnt the moment it prostrates itself to destroy ta man who is a supporter of the rights of the poor , I discard it , and rise superior to it . ( Applause . ) I am the first instance upon record of one man who , beine injured , has beaten down the combined
influence of the press in this conntry . but I have not only withstood that power , but the cause which I have espoused is prospering . ( Applause . ) We were told some short time ago , that Chartism was nowhere : that democracy was at an end . and Chartism given « p . Two years age , we could not make a policeman ; now we have made a peer of Sir John Cam Hobhouse . We have as much power as the Queen . { Laughter and applause . ) Will not that give you an insi'ht into legislation 3 A man comes here . and . you jndM thai he is not fit to represent yon in the House -of Commons , but the Queen thinks to the contrary , andso sends him into the House of Lords . ( Hear , hear . ) Can there be a stronger exposure of the system than this ? Ah ! you do not know the reason
why this fire is kept op against me . I confined myself at Manchester to tbe game there ; I took my books to falsify the charges made against me . My clerk went with me , and I submitted the accounts for examination ; I now come here for a like purpose , as I consider the man whose conduct is such as to disqualify him from coining before bis constituents is not worthy of the name of man . ( Applause . ) H I now appeal to you for ajustification ; if I now ask for an approval , and for an- acquittal , it is on the ground of the past , which I will refer to . ^ InI 832 I was returned to ' parliament for my native county , against a powerful aristocracy , thirty-six noblemen , and the whole press combined as n one common causeThe whole ofthe parsons , the magistrates ,
. the landlords , and the press , were all opposed to me , bat I triumphed , and was returned . Did the press then , Tenture an assertion against my honour or against my character ? Theyssid I wasa Democrat , a Radical , and a devil-tlaughter and applause . ) - hut not a word against my character . I struggled aSM ' astthew powers for three years , and in isso I went to another election ; did they then venture an assertion against me ? I came here , and have jou heard anything against my character from my native country ? ( Criesof'No , no . ' ) Now , I ask , if any man placed in the anomalous situation I was , has conducted himself more as a gentleman and an honest man , than I have done ? ( Cries of * No , no , ' -and anolanse . 1 I ask you to point out one single
act of my life unbecoming a gentleman or a man of honour- ( Applause . ) Think of the philanthropy of these men ! they say the 'Land Plan is bad , take care you are not plundered . ' Not a word about the Poor Law Bastile , nor about your masters wringing the sweat out of your body . But the moment you are about to be taken out of your cellar , and £ 15 . or £ 20 , given to you , you are warned against your dangers . ( Applause . ) I wonder we have not all the Methodistical parsons in the country imploring protection for yon ; I wonder that the pulpits do juotrine with the eloquence of these men , topreventTou from becoming the subjects of delusion . I would recommend that fellow , Bailey , to turn parson ; he would find it a better occupation than to be the editor of the Nottingham Jkrtwry . ( Laughter and aDDkuuuO [ Here Mr O'Connor convulsed his
audience and the reporters with a sermon ot a Methodist parson cautioning his beloved chddren and * ock against the snares of «» l-na KWf" * JJ « damnable inacbinations of its projector . TM tone and cjantenance of the preacher whde delirermg this discourse was the richest treat , we ever wit-» e * ed . Every mouth in the asaerabfr ; was wide open , and every eye was staring . A j -PU * cwhlbp hearltofeU until this calm was sneeeededhy the most % ojbous and conTnliiTa laughter . ] Toe press u Powerful when . right , but wwerleM when wp f-( Heir , hear . ) ffinue , the Wstorisn , has sad the People are seldom wrong , and peter very long wrong Hhear , hear , hear , and Ittg & terHu'J I will add , rtdoes not require the a ^ offeaKta O'Connor to PWTe to a well educated pe & kwhen the press is right and when it is wvaat ^ lhe press may not dread the Land Plan , bhitEw dread the lion ' s roar j u self defence ; they dreMaman who will aot be
The Following Is Tbe Description Giving ...
put down ; they dread a man who will never abandon because of the people . As Mt Sweethastold worth more thanrfl the government has got put to-} cZmM n nn }***? , *?¦ P en in ft * Home of SKoliifr 86 * ' ? tlwyla -d me downa S 5 S 2 . r t 0 fil , J np aga - m 8 t the Chancellor of the £ mS ' WOn ! d no * * " UPtha P 08 " 1 * " * 1 now hold in your estimation , although I am charged 3 ¦ £ «^ ffis a % \ T ***** wiiBiBtetbevalue or my aitnahen ? It » in the retention of your good opinion . I have been frugal , and not spent £ 10 . upon myself unnecessarily for the last three years , in order to irerve you . If I had I would not
money spend it except in your cause . If I had one million to-morrow , I would have one million ' s worth of land , iou may be sure I would not be a severe landlord . I would place those eloquent expounders of liberty , the cottages , near Nottingham and other towns , and the framework-knitter who was disinherited by his master , should have a home to put his head in , instead of walking in the fields to reflect upon the disparity between man and man , and being doomed to unwilling idleness and starvation . When a man is in his ' own castle , and has free labour , he cannot be disinherited . There may be a glut in the market , of hosiery , and ot lace—a workman cannot eat them ; but if he have a surplus pig , ha will never be without a surplus pair of
breeches . ( Laughter and applause . ) To raise produce on the land is not a competitive process of an injurious character ; and had there been an abundance of small landholders , there would have been no necessity to send our gold to America , in order to pay for then ? corn . You would have had a surplus here . ( Hear , hear . ) It has been said , in that case where should we get a market ? Why you weald create a market . If there were 3 , 000 women coming into Nottingham every market day , tbey would come for something , and they wonld carry away something from the shops . The towns-people would want milk , butter , wheat , poultry , and pork from the country visitors , and the latter would want articles from the shopkeepers . The system wonld be reproductive ;
it would work well for buyers and sellers . ( Applause . ) You have been told there is no security in the Bank , and that , when all the money is laid out , if you want to draw , there will be ho money fer you in the Bank . Now , supposing I had £ 20 , 000 . in money : I should always have £ 5 , 000 . of that lying in the Bank , to pay for labour . Then £ 15 , 000 . would be laid out upon land , and there wonld be £ 5 , 000 . for ready cash . I have taken the precaution to adopt the rales ofthe Savings' Bank to prevent any run upon the Bank ; so that when a depositor wishes to draw out of the Bank , he must give notice ; and I have always two or three capitalists ready toletmebave money without a mortgage by depositing title deeds for the amount required . This is the simple process .
( Applause . ) Suppose Ihad bought 100 acresof land , and had given £ 39 . an acre for it , and sold some of it , as I have done , at £ 67 . 10 s . an acre , should I not be a gainer , and have money for building my houses ? That egregious blockhead , who makes his calculations without book , tells you I build a house for one hundred pounds ; but what do you suppose there is in that house ? There are three good rooms , a dresser up to the ceiling , and cupboards in two rooms , honse-closet , back-kitchen , dairy , cow-bouse for two c > ws , and a place for a donkey ( that ' s for Bailey ) , places for roots , stores , < fec ., a sty for four pigs , and the whole walled in and a gate attached , with lock and key ; there is all this for one hundred pounds . I told you this would soon
reach the rich and monied men , and a friend of mine has bought 373 acres of land in Lincolnshire , on which he is building twenty cottages , and though he paid for an architect , he contracted for the houses , exactly of tbe same description as mine , and as he could not superintend them himself , they cost him £ 155 . each . Mr AIlsop is the individual who has purchased this land , and he lives only a mile and a half from the city of Lincoln . Now , then . Robinson , Timkins , and Simpkins , what do you say to that ? Where does the devil put- liars ! ' Down , down , ' said Tomkins , ' and Bailey will go there . ' ( Laughter . ) Now , lam going to show you what your bailiff has done . 'J . am going to show how your bailiff ' s accounts i are made out , and tbe surveillance your bailiff is
under , I am going to call a meeting of all the men —the carters , masons , overseers , carpenters , and workmen ; I will not go near that meeting , but they shall give theiropinion as to the manner in which I have discharged my trusteeship ; and I do not doubt but there will be an unanimous vote , that they believe in their souls , no man could have taken mare care of his own property than I have done of your property . They will declare that I have made tbe best bargain , paid tbe highest amount for the best labour , and taken care to have the best materials , or as good as can be obtained . These ruffians say there are no books kept but the accounts in the Northebh Stab , Well , suppose Sweet sends me £ 55 . 17 s . 4 d . and I
have a letter the next week , to say that 4 d . had been omitted in the acknowledgments , why , directly , in the next Stab , tbe omission is corrected . Thus the Star is a complete book , which may be referred to any day in the year ; whereas , had I made the entries in a book without making them public , eecresy might be alleged as a means I was adopting to deceive the subscribers . But how is it done ? Why I keep the money ; Mr Cunningham and Mr hang call out the names of the tradesmen and the labourers , naming the amount to be paid , and I pay them , and these two make the entries in their respective books . There is not a word or figure of mine written in the books belonging to the Land Company ; and yet I am the man charged with
setting down ' more Trips , ' and so on . ( Laughter . ) I am equally sorry that our time is so wasted noon so worthless a subject . I am sorry I have not something worth being in Nottingham for ; and as 1 shall be here on Monday week , on our own business , which would have served our purpose , I sa */ it was unfair to call me here on such a poor and pitiful occasion . But it was tbe act of that reptile , that creeping animal , that wretched creature who does not know that two and two make four ; but yet who can make a balance sheet for me , and insert' more Trips , ' It would have been unfair to you if I had not , under such circumstances , have come to explain to you . Bailey remarks , 'Mr O'Connor sajs he is the only man who can know or understand the Land Flan . ' I can't help thinking of the
Frenchman who was in the river , and cried out , I will be drowned , and nobody shall help me ; ' and he kept crying in this way , till a man who stood sear said , * Then be drowned and be d d , if you will !' The poor fellow made a mistake—he put shall instead of will . ( Hear . ) Mr Bailey will impute to me what I do not mean . He says , 'Mr O'Connor is the only man who knows , and can understand , the plan . ' I say . I am the only man who does understand tbe plan from the first commencement of its operations to the close , but it is in a different sense to what he means . One man may understand one part , and another others , bnt 1 understand the whole , tbe buying of the land ,, the laying out of the roads , the making contracts , the purchase
of guano , the valuing ef the land , and everything connected with the scheme . One man may know how to buy land , but not to make a contract ; another may know how to lay out a road , but he may not understand how to buy bricks , and lime , and stones ; I know all these things and charge nothing for my knowledge . ( Applause . ) He says I paid £ 1 . for a post bag , but he forgot to put down that I pay £ 16 . a year for a postboy to carry it , asd £ 10 a year to a woman for churning . I have paid above £ 430 . in three years for travelling the country , to bid for estates , and on business connected with the public—( hear , hear)—and some weeks I have paid £ 22 . out of my own pocket in a similar manner , and there is no charge for these
things . I repeat now what I have said before , I have never travelled a mile at ydar expense . . ( Applause . ) Suppose I had put down travelling expenses , and shown the price of each mile , would it not have made a good margin , without' more Trips V No , I have charged you nothing ; and y et this fellow says , that he rejoices beeaue I am not his representative ! Hesaya he did not vote . I say he is not entitled to vote , because , according to our rules , a man who is not of sane mind and untainted with crime , is not entitled to vote . ( Laughter and applause . ) I ask you if there be any questions with reference to your personal feelings as tomymanagementof your property ? If there be anything that has created alarm , or doubt in yonr minds , that I have left unanswered ,. ! shall be will put the
consider such man as my friend if question to me . f Applause . ) If there be any man here who requires information , and he will only say on what point , I will tell him . ( Applause . ) . Last nightamangotupintbemeetmgand asked , if it were true that No . I , Engineers Branch had sent for £ 30 . to my banb , and he wished toknow whether he had got it ? A man instantly jumped up , and said * I can answer that question . I wrote aletter on Sunday night , and the money was down on Tuesday , with interest np to that day . ' ( Applause . ) If * Rambler * will go to our estates , he will find plenty of wheat seed for the occupiers to sow , for which they have not to pay till tbe next harvest . ( Cheers . ) This is the system by which yon are to be elevated , and by which you are to be redeemed from your perilous situation ; but your enemies wish you to think about matters of a scientific character , and of elevating yourselves in the
moral scale . I again repeat , that if any one has a question toask , ! shall be anxious and ready to answer , and I trust yon will all keep silence , that you may bear the temarhs . ( Thespeaker sat down amidst re-• Herated cheering and clapping of hands ) No person rising toask any question , Mr O'Connor observed , that any man who embarked his little all , or any amount that abstracted from his comfort , wouldnot do his dnty to himself or the directors , if he did not inquire fully into the affair . Mr O'Connor , exhibiting signs of fatigue , called for water , but none was immediately procurable . Meanwhile one of his devoted adherents produced a very small apple from his pocket , which Mr O'Connor eat , remarking , that hesopposed the apple the * Rambler ' gave to Tawes was about that size ; and added , that he was sorry he had not a potato to give ia exchange . ( Laughter . ) The ^ ^ honourable member then resumed
The Following Is Tbe Description Giving ...
—As no one has asked any question , I will make one more observation . This man says I told you 1 bad a cow that gave fifteen gallons Of milk . Did yoa ever hear such blarney ? ( Hear , hear . ) I never said anything of the ktyd ; so that-yon may see the extent to which a bad man will go to carry out bis ill purposes . ( Hear , hear . ) But I did say I had one cow that , I'll bet him £ 10 ., will give ten gallons of milk a day upon good grass . And Lhave never estimated the milk of a cow at more than fore gallons a day ; and every cal eolation I have made with regard to the land has been 80 to 100 per cent , under what the land would really do . ( Applause . ) . What's the reason they never analyse my work upon Small Farms ? They dare not attack it . ( Loud applause . ) They have not reviewed the last number of the Labourer . What's the reason
of that ? ( Shouts of approbation . ) They dare not ( Repeated approbation . ) But there's an item whicn I told you was not down in the balance sheet . . There's no charge for advertising for the society '—rich as we are , we never spent a pound upon advertising . Now next time I have to put down on the credit account ofthe balance sheet , I shall put down nine or ten advertisements the papers are giving us for nothing . ( Laughter and cheers . ) The Dispatch says , ' We have sent the war-song throughout the length and breadth of the land ; it comes from the sweet lips of our Eliza , and the people will not be gulled any more . But this week we shall have between £ 3 , 000 . and £ 4 , 000 . ; what will they say to that ? ( Cheers and laughter . ) It is upon opposition that a cause
thrives , and if they bad letme alone , perhaps 1 roignt have gone to sleep . ( Amusement ) But I like to be goaded . You remember how I was goaded when they stuck up the little knobstick parson Stephens here . J have battled with you as no man ever battled with the people before . ( Applause . ) I have gone to prison , and defied the judge and jury , and told them that if the law gave them strength and vengeance , God gave me power to resist them , and that I would live in a prison mere happily hugging these principles to my heart , than out of it , hugging their principles . ( Tremendous applause . ) You are so dear to me , that it would break my heart if I lost the affection of one of you . What dees a man lire for , if it is not to leave a name to hand down to posterity ? I was
getting old for want of work . I wanted to throw off my steam . ( Loudlaughter . ) I feel my wind and my pipes better ever since I have been engaged blowing tbe reptiles off the face of the earth . I knew that you did not require my presence here . But I knew that falsehood , like a snowball , gains strength by its progress , and that it was better to come and put the extinguisher upon the farthing candle at once . ( Uproarious laughter . ) Now I hope from my soul that Mr Sweet will not burn the Nottingham Revim next week . ( Shoutsof'No . no . theJfercury . ' ) Yes : God forbid 1 should say the Review . You will see a better report in tbO Review than you can see in the Stab next Saturday . But don't burn the Mercury , or you will make a plague in Nottingham , for it is the most
stinking , rotten thing you ever beard of . ( Great laughter . ) The next time Mr Bailey condescends to notice me in the Nottingham Mercury , I hope he will also condescend to come before his townsmen , and if he can destroy the character of your representative , it is his duty to do so . What has led to the present corrupt system is the want of proper vigilance over the representatives . But is it net a proud thing for you to see a representative who stands before yon as your honoured and trusted bailiff ? ( Cheers . ) I consider this a greater dignity than being a member of Parliament . ( Applause . ) The deed will soon be registered ; and God knows no man was ever more anxious to get rid of a fever or cold than I am to get rid ofthis itch in my skin . ( Hear , hear . ) The
moment that it ' s registered , that momentl will assign the whale of the property to trustees . This Land Plan has not been completely registered , to please you ; it is registered to please your enemies ; to silence the men who have nothing to do with it . ( Long continued cheering . ) It shall not be handed over to the trustees without becoming security for four per cent , on the capital of every man who has deposited his money in the bank . —( Hear , hear . ) It shall become security ; and then I will present to a proper accountant , —I will present'to this fellow , if he knows how to put figures together , —such a balance sheet as no treasurer of any fund has put together ever since the world began . —( Applause . ) I will show you not a
farthing received for any services rendered by me ; and before Parliament meets , I will ceme down here and meet all classes ; and frequently , during the session of Parliament , will take counsel from you ; and you will find , that while I am just to you , I will be just to the other classes also , and will do as much for the town of Nottingham as it I belonged to the pampered classes . —( Hear , hear . ) I will bring on your grievances , and the grievances of all classes upon all occasions , before the house ; and , in order to prove to you that I am a staunch supporter of the rights ol universal suffrage , as soon as ever the
session closes I will come into your market-place , and if it is yonr will that I resign your trust , I will do so , and cease to be your member . ( Tremendous applause . ) Can conduct ever be snspected , coming from one who puts himself under popular control ? It has been a fancy with the press that a gentleman demeans himself by coming before the ' unwashed . ' But my friends , I want to wash you . ( Laughter ) Yon are now much sweeter than the aristocracy ;—cleaner;—you feed them , and dress them , and perfume them , till the air they walk in stinks . [ Mr O'Connor sat down amid riotous applause , at fifteen minutes to eleven . ]
Mr Sweet then introduced to tbe meeting , from Horncastle , in Lincolnshire , a Mr W . Jee , deputed by the friends in that place to pay into the bands of F . O'Connor , Esq . M . P , the [ whole ofthe monies of the branch at present collected , amounting to £ 63 . 0 s . lOd . ( Loud approbation . ) Mr Dorman proposed the following resolution : — That this meeting views with the utmost contempt the efforts that have been made by different sections ofthe press to shake the confidence of the British working classes in the honour , honesty , integrity , and fidelity of
Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P . for this borongh , with a view to counteract and undermine his influence in the British House of Parliament : and that this meeting assures that honoured and distinguished gentleman , he continues to have their unqualified and implicit confidence , which has been , and continues to be so deservedly placed in his hands ; andfurther , thatwepledgeourselres to co-operate to the utmost of our power , with our brethren in bonds in all parts ot Great Britain , in raising the sinews of war , that Mr O'Connor may avail himself of the law in punishing or bringing to justice those execrable reptiles , who like vampires are thirsting for his blood .
( A voice . ' They'll never Eet it . ' Mr O'C : 'If tbey do , they'll give blood for blood . ' ) Mr Dorman made a somewhat lengthy speech and sat down amid great applause . Mr Hemm having seconded the resolution , it was unanimously carried . Mr Swest , having incurred expenses to the amount of JES . hoped that those present would deposit their pence in boxes to be held at the doer . Mr O'Coskob again rose and spoke as follows : — Having now discharged my duty to Mr Bailey , I have a few words to say to you as your representative . It is asserted by the press , that when 1 get into the house , I shall soon find my level ; I was there before and I did find my level , and that level was independence and uprightness . ( Hear , hear . ) And when I go into the house again , I shall
go with more knowledge and better tempered down ; and that portion of the press which is building on the presumption that I am going there as an inflated , furious , ridiculous declaimer , will perhaps find out their mistake . ( Hear , hear . ) The great value I skall be to the working classes in thebonse will consist in tbe faot ^ that 1 bring an amount of practical knowledge not possessed by others , to bear upon the labour question ; and in the fact , that while collegians—that while ministers—that while drawingroom gentlemen and perfumed lords pride themselves upon the education they have received from books , I pique myself upon the education and information which I received from the people looking for justice for themselves . ( Tremendous applause . ) This is
what will make me powerful ; and I would be inoperative in that house , —I would be a nonentity , —a disgrace to you and a nullity to society , if I had not sufficient discretion to know how to bring my knowledge to bear upon that house . ( Applause . ) I pledge myself to yen , men of Nottingham , and however they may try to hoot me down , they shall not do it ; and I pledge myself to you , that however the press may be opposed to my principles , they shall not be able to expose my follies at a ranting demagogue . I think I have nous enough not to talk nonsense in a criticising discriminating assembly ; and I have this power now which I had not before , that what tbe press makes me say in folly on Monday , you will see translated into understandable English on Saturday .
( Loud approbation . ) I assure you that the experience I have gained is worth mines of gold ; and if I were asked from what source I have derived my most valuable education , —whether from books , or conversation—from the aristocracy with whom I have mixed most extensively , or from the middle classes , with whom I have not mixed much , —or from the working classes , with whom I have ' always mixed— ( applause ) —I would say , all my knowledge derived from books or other sources , is dross , nothing , nonsense , compared with the education , tbe knowledge , the information I have derived from the working classes . ( Uproarious plaudits . ) This is my potfer-4 bis is my strength ; this is your power—this » your strength ( cheers ) — that whereas formerly they misrepresented you , and no advocate pleaded your
cause , no one knew your case , and it was only ow m misrepresentation on both sides that the government was allowed to glean what it considered the todance of truth . ( Hear , hear . ) And now I will teh the whole truth , and nothing but the truth , so help me God . ( Loud applause ) And who can tell theitrutn , and stand by the truth , without supporting labour , and standing by labour ? ( Bursts of applause , awl cry of ' No one . ' ) No one . Good God 1 when I go through your lanes and alleys , and seethe little decrepit children with their pale little faces and their tottering limbs , that oughtjto be exposed to the free air ; when I see year pale wives , that under other circumstances would be the friends of your hearts , the pride of your bosoms , and tbe honour of your bouse-, holds ; when 1 see you , squalid , emaciated , workdestoyed , that others may live , upon the sweat and
The Following Is Tbe Description Giving ...
Wood extracted from yon , "hoW » S A Professing the love 1 do for your class;—how coultt lj who now stand / up proudly as the defender of that class , deceive you ? ( Tremendous applause . ) My friends " , the worid without your affection , would be as a blank to me . Where could I go to-morrow f how could I enjoy myself to-morrow ? where would be the balm which now solaces me under all my trials , if it were not to be found in yoar confidence and affections ? ( Loud plaudits . ) Say to yourselves , ' This man has been amongst us fifteen years ; he has come here as our champion , as the defender of our cause , and when £ !* M our enemies i and a member of tho Cabinet , ne aid not turn from his principles or desert our cause . ( Loud applause . ) Then ask yourselves , ' Do we see anything in his kindnessin his lifewhich
, , leads us to suppose that he would be happy under the sting of our reproach and censure '' ( Great cheering . ) No ; but justly to lose your affection , would be to lose myown existence ; and , so help me God , if I had my choice this moment , whether I would deservedly lose your affections , or lose my life , I would prefer the latter . ( Loud and long-continued expressions of approbation . ) I would be as a loathsome thing for each passer-by to point the fingure | of scorn at , if , after being so long wedded to so much miserv , I could betake myself to another class ; but what is more ,-& na here ' s your still greater security , —I am not worth 2 d . now to any other class : I am ticketed , though not for 8 ale- ( hughter ) -because directly I stood up to support them , tbe Nobthkiut Stab would flash in
my face . One man would get up and read this paragraph , and another man would read that paragraph ; and all the Angers you have , and more if you had them , and your toes too- ( laughter ) --would be pointed at me . There ' s your guarantee . There ' s your security . I speak to masons , & o ., and 1 love their frugality , their simplicity , and their children . Newspapers said it was a pretty incident when the Queen kissed an infant Marquis lately ;—l consider it no" condescension to wipe a little child ' s little nose , —the child of an humble labourer , and kiss that little child —( hear , he » r)—and lam never so happy as when have thirty of them sitting on the grass with their ittle cats and degs—telling me their little stories . Lend applause . ) And there is not a child in Lowlands that is not fonder of me than of its own father
and mother ; and the only contest they had m tbe summer , was who should have my finger and walk . with me . ( Hear , hear . ) My friends , I shall always endeavour to deserve your confidence . ( Long-con tinned cheering . ) I beg leave , before I conclude , to tell you that the Municipal elections are at hand , — that these are the JNormal schools : if you hope to preserve the power which secured for you the man of your choice on the last occasion , you will exert yourselves in the struggle , and place men of your own stamp in the corporation of this town . ( Hear , hear , hear ) Don't be bribed . ( Applause . ) Don ' t sell your birthright for pottage , —( hear)—but stand firmly by your order , and the more virtuous you are , the greater will be your power . ( Loud applause . )
To show you that I am of a forgiving disposition , I beg leave to propose a solemn vote of sympathy and compassion for Thomas Bailey , of the Nottingham Mercury , and that this meeting pledge itself to use its best endeavours , by all emollient , placid , soft , and easy means , to restore that erratic gentleman to a state of sanity and . honesty , which will once more entitle him to be placed in the ranks of citizens , and confer upon him the right of the suffrage . ( Laughter . ) And I hope , that so far from opposing this man , you will , administer , to him that comfort which , in bis present circumstances , he stands in need of . I trust yon will make all allowance for the situation in which the monkey is placed , and allow him to go to that eminence in the tree from which he may see himself reflected in his native folly , and perhaps , after proper training , he may become an honest man , and a useful member of society . ( Laughter and applause . ) I ' m glad he ' s gone to live
at Base-lord ; there could not be anything more proper ; and if itbad not been christened so before , we would christen it now . ( Laughter . ) It reminds me ofthe old tale of tbe traveller , who saw a corpulent fellow stand at the door of the sign of'The Hog . ' He was the landlord . The traveller asked him the way to such a town , and he gave him a very bluff , surly answer . 'I beg pardon , ' said the traveller , ' I took you for the roaster of the house , but I see you are the sign . ' ( As the fun ofthis gradually dawned uponthe audience , a roar of laughter rose , from small beginnings , increasing gradually till it spread all over the hall . ) If I were to pros another resolution , it would be compassion for the gentleman who has been sent tonight to represent that newspaper ; for he would have no easy task . And now you will see what will be made of it . You will hear of Mr O'Connor ' s vulgarisms , and of not meeting their argument , and so on . But mark ' . —
' An ounce of civet , good apothecary . ' When a man charges you with murder , you don't stop to discuss tbe breed of horses , and if he refuses to meet you , you call him a vagabond , and a scoundrel . And if Mr Bailey had come here to-night , I would have met him like a sucking dove , and whispered the softest nothings into his ear . ( Laughter . ) I would have argued with him , and shown him his folly ; but if I convinced him , he would not cease te be your enemy . ( Applause ) . Persuade Tom Bailty against his will , He'll be of his own opinion still .
The resolution was carried unanimously , and votes of thanks were given to ' our little general' ( Mr James Sweet ); to the Mayor , for the use of the room ; and to the NoTTisouiiM Review , —coupled with a recommendation by Mr O'C , to persons who took in the Stab , to take in the Review . lie should give Mr Sweet instructions to send n copy every week , to himself personally , besides the one sent to his office . Mr Sweet announced the sum paid in that night , as ± 250 . The meeting , after three rounds of cheers for Feargus O'Connor , the Charter , & e „ & c , broke up at a quarter past eleven o'clock .
November6, 1847. The Norliher^^ 5
November 6 , 1847 . THE NORliHER ^^ 5
" Able And Interesting" Balance Sheet Of...
" Able and Interesting" Balance Sheet of Alexander Somerville , alias " One Who has Whistled at the Plough " alias "The Flogged Soldier , " alias "The Convicted Thief ; ' alias " The Correspondent of the Manchester Examiner" alias " The Friend of Joshua Hobson . "
" Able And Interesting" Balance Sheet Of...
( The following is from the Daily papers of August 6 tft , 1841 . ) EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF SWINDLING , On Thursday , William Hopkins , landlord of the Hole-in-the-Wall public-house , Fleet-street , appeared before Sir Peter Laurie , who sat for the Lord Mayor , at the Mansion House , to answer the complaint ofthe British Auxiliary Legion , under General Evans , in Spain , under the following circumstances . ' —Captain Roberts said that he appeared to support the summons , in consequence of reading the following letter : — King-street , Long- Acre , June 23 ,
Sib , — In compliance with your wishes , and , at the same time grateful for jour kind consideration , I hereby endeavour to transmit to you a few of the names of those unfortunate individuals , who , like' myself , have been defrauded by that prince of swiodlcrs , Alexander Somerville . — £ . s . d . . James M'Culloch , 8 th Scots , ... 7 13 0 •¦ ' Robert Johnson , ditto ... ... 3 10 . ' John Holland , ditto ... ... 19 13 0
Robert Cohen , ditto 7 10 0 , Samuel Cuddy , ditto .. ... 9 3 ' 0 Jaraes . Callagher , ditto 3 17 2 jEdward Fields , ditto 3 17 2 Daniel Grady , 6 th Scots ... 5 0 8 James Mullin , ditto 7 12 6 JohnMullln , ditto ... ... 9 2 6 Henry M'Every , ditto 9 2 0 James Stuart , 4 th regiment ... 9 3 0 James . Scott , 2 nd Lancers ... 17 2 8
4 > HO A O £ 112 i 2 These , sir , are only a few ofthe too many instances which I can recollect of duplicity practised by Alexander Somerrllle on those who were so unfortunate as to be * come apr ? y to his insinuating and artful way of victimizing . . - \ . I have the honour to be , Sir , Your most humble servant , ROBEBT M'COBMICB .. Late 8 th Scots , British Auxilisry Legion . To Captain Roberts , British Auxiliary Ltgioa .
Captain Roberts stated that the complainant was a private in the Lancers ofthe British Anxiliary force , who served under General Evans in Spain , and on the dissolution of that force Scott retired to Belfast , in Ireland , where ho worked for some time as a woodturner , until he met with an accident , by which he lost the use of one of bis hands . Some time after this accident j an advertisement appeared in the Londonjournals , as well as the provincial ones , and placards , signed' Alexander Somerville , ' stating that he was an agent for the recovery of gratuities and pay due by the Spanish government to the British legion ' and which was secured under the convention of both countries ; her vrpdwtook not only to recover the amount , but make them an advance .
Sir Peter Laurie—Was this the Somerville that made such a noise at the Reform Bill , and figured away in the Scots" Greys ?—Captain Roberts said that it was , and proceeded to state that every soldier on hk discharge obtained certiGcates for his gratuities and paj „ which , being endowed by the
holders , were transferable . Scott , on see ' ng Some "' ville ' s hand-bills in Belfast , applied to him by letter , to which he received the following answer : —" . 4 . Brydges-street , Strand , London , Jan . 13 , Sra , —I beg to acknowledge tbe receipt of your letter , and have to say , that 1 can do nothing with your cer . tlfleates until I see them , and have submitted them to the judgment of tbe Spanish Commissioner who is appointed to Inspect them . Tbe moment be sees them , and lays they are good ones , I shalllnsiantlyse » d you money for them , I shall either purchase them nt 13 s . in the pound , or get you tbe Instalments keeping 2 s . each for my trouble , or I will do anything else you may instruct me , if that is In my power . Only , as . I have been taken in by purchasing and lending money on bad documents received alread y , I cannot do anything with you until I show your papers to the Commissioner , which , if you send them soon , I shall endeavour to do next week .
I am , yours faithfully , A . SOMEBVIHE . Mr James Scott , 5 , Mitchell-street , Belfast . Sir P . -Lab-rib—What was Somerville originallv ? —Captain Roberts—He was originally a labourer ' in a stone quarry , and was latterly an orderly to Colonel Jacks . Subsequently he went to Glasgow , and commenced agent for tho recovery of the British claims , and , Belfast being so near , he despatched his emissaries out there . —Sir P . Laurie—What was the price ofthe certificate?—Scott—An offer of 13 s , in the pound was made to me Captain Roberts—The father of Scott , on receiving Somerville ' s letter , forwarded the certificate unendorsed , and of which they heard nothing until they made application to tho Spanish Government , and the following answer was received from M . Castaneda , the Spanish commhsioner : —
' 163 , Albanj-. street , Regent ' s-park , April 21 , 18 « . James Scott , —In raply to your application respecting certificate * , I have to inform you , that the one for arrear of pay was presented at the office byMrW . Hspkins , of tbe Hole-in-the-Wall , Fl « et-street , London , who obtained a final certificate ol the same in his own name . The other , for gratuity , was also presented at the oftlce by tbe same person , who received the first and second instalments , payable thereon , on the 14 th of Februarylast . N MlOOEl Castasbda . '
Accordingly an application was made to a Mr Bradburn , a gentleman much employed in the recovery of Spanish claims , asd he took Scott U Queen-square police-office , when Scott declared that he never endorsed them ; also a declaration to the same effect was obtained from bis father , notwithstanding they were sold in this market to Mr Hopkins , and they bore the endorsement of Scott ; and what was required of Mr Horkins was , that he should give up the certificates which he holds of Scott ' s , and the endorsement on which is forged .
Mr Hopkins—I bought them in the market at the market price , and they are transferable by endorsement . —Sir P . Laurie—There is no doubt but Somerville forged the endorsement . Pray , Mr Hopkins , how much did yon give for them ? Mr Hopkins-Twelve shillings in the pound . Sir P . Laurie—To what amount of Scott ' s did you purchase ? Mr Hopkins—About £ 1 V . Sir P . Laurie—Pray , whom did you purchase them from ? Mr Hopkins—From a Mr Gilbert . Sir P . Laurie—Where is Mr Gilbert ? A person of the name of Williams , who represented himself as his clerk , said he was a livery stable keeper , and he got them from Mr Baudry , who keeps the Britannia public-house , Commercial-road , and Baudry got them from Somerville , and Gilbert gave 55 s . per cent , for them . Sir P . Laurie—I suppose Baudry and the other parties are dealers in tbem ? Williams—Yes , they are , when legally endorsed !
Sir P . Laurie—Well , Mr Hopkins , had you not better give them up ? Mr Hopkins—I have not got them . Sir P . Laurie—Where are t ' oy ? Mr Hopkins—I sold thero . Sir P . Laurie—When ? Mr Hopkins—About six weeks after I purchased them . Sir P . Laurie—When had you notice ofthe forgery ? Mr Hopkins—About the 19 th of July . Sir P . Laurie —Did you sell them before you had the notice ? Mr Hopkins—I did ; it was decidedly wrong to have purchased them without ascertaining tho genuineness ofthe endorsement , but when I purchased them from Mr Gilbert , I had no doubt of everything being
correct . Mr Williams—Gilbert purchased them from Baudry , and he had them from Somerville . Sir P . Laurie—Oh , yes , we know that ; but what I want to ascertain is , whether it was likely that Hopkins , Gilbert , and Baudry , had any knowledge of the trick played by Somerville ? Captain Roberts said that he did not believe they had . Sir P . Laurie— What has become of Somerville ? Captain Roberts—After finishing his agency operations in Glasgow , he published a work called ' A Narrative of the British Campaign in Spain . ' which sold very well , and he subsequently came to London , and published a sixpenny work in fifteen numbers , which ho called ' A Narrative of the Wars of
Europe , ' which also sold well , and a part of which appeared iu the Pispatcft . Sir P . Laurie—Ob , in the Dispatch ; then he was one of the pillars of tho Dispatch ? Captain Roberts—Yes ; and for which he was tied up ; he subsequently fell out with the Dispatch , and published a letter in the Morning Ad vertiser , and he had lately become an advocate for military flogging . ( Laughter . ) Sir P . Laurie—However , it appears that those jarties did not know of the forgery . Captain Roberts—Certainly -, 1 'm sure they were not cognisant of it . Sir P . Laurie—Why did Somerville choose Glasgow as the field of his operations ? Captain Roberts—Because we enlisted 2 , 500 men there , and upwards of 100 in Belfast , Sir P . Laurie—How many certificates are still out 1 Williams—Upwards of 4 , 000 . Captain-Roberts—My object in seeking this public inquiry is to spoil Somerville , which , as sure as it is made public , it will do .
Sir Peter Laurie—It does you infinite credit to come forward in behalf of those poor plundered men . Pray , Mr Hopkins , to whom did you sell your eertifi cates ? Mr Ilopkins-To Mr Gilbert . Sir P . Laurie—To Mr Gilbert , from whom you bought them , how came that ? Mr Hopkins—When I heard there was a likelihood of there being trouble about them . Sir P . Laurie—How came jou to suppose that there was to be any trouble about them ? Mr Hopkins—From a letter 1 received freni Mr Kirkman Lane , the attorney . Sir P . Laurie—Did you sell the certificate back to Gilbert before or after you received Mr Kirkman Lane ' s letter ? Mr Hopkins—Oh , before I received the letter . Scott—Nof you did not : for two months afterwards I saw my certificates in your bands . Mr Hopkins—No , you did not : I showed you the certificate of another Scott .
Scott—There was no other Seott in tho same regiment . Sir P . Laurie—It appears that there has been most extraordinaay dea'ings in these certificates . Capt . Roberts—Most shameful . I know where one person holds £ 900 . of these certificates , composed entirely of the tw >> months' and six months' gratuities , the former £ 3 . and the latter £ 9 . for which a mere trifle was given ; and the publicans , Jews , and crimps of Portsmouth obtained hundreds of them for a pot of beer , or a glass of gin . Sir P . Laurie—Ob , shocking I shocking ! _ Cap . tain Roberts—And I know that one physician , at the West-end , holds £ 15 , 000 . worth , purchased through an agent .
Sir P . Laurie—Well , I think , as these parties have creditably come forward to meet the charge , and as they are reapectab ' e people , they will give to Scott anything they made by the purchase of the certificates . Mr Hopkins and Mr Williams having agreed to do so , Sir P . Laurie inquired whatbecame of Somerville ? Captain Roberts said that it was reported that he was in the Isle of Man , and begged to say , that as the case would no doubt go before the public , he did not , in the most remote way , impute anything improper to Messrs . Hopkins , Gilbert and Baudry . Sir P . Laurie perfectly concurred in the observation ^ and congratulated Captain Roberts on the victory he had achieved . The parties then left the office . [ Will William Grocott read the above to my Man-Chester children on Sunday ?—F . O'Cl
Pobtsea.—Mitiiarv Ootbagb.—On Tuesday Ni...
Pobtsea . —MitiiARV OoTBAGB . —On Tuesday night , about half-past eleven o ' clock , a picket of the Royal Marine artillery went through Oyster . street in pursuit of a prisoner vtho bad escaped . Imagining that he was concealed in the bouse occupied by Mrs Fennel ! tbey knocked at the door , but the inmates being all iu bed they were refused admittance . The picket imraedUtelj burst open the door with the butt end ot their guns , am ) catered the house with drawn swords , to the great ter . ror ofthe inhabitants . Their search proving quite in " , effectual , the picket proceeded through the premises iuto a house In White Hart-row , and searched there . Tha whole of this time the lost man was standing under a doorway opposite . Inspector Way had to be sent for before the soldiers would remove from the house .
The Cholkba . —The report that the cholera had broken out In Moscow has , wa are sorry to say , been confirmed : 6 fteen persons ( via ., elevm men and lour women ) have been seized with it . Thoy belong chiefly to the lower clashes , and had been previousl y ill from eat . ing fruit and being exposed to the weather ; ol these fif . teea perions nine have died . A vteok before it ap . peared at Moscow a case occurred at Sorpuchoff , in the government of Moscow , where a traveller from Woreneascb , who arrived . thtre on tho 2 > tid of September , sickened and died soon after .
Cbum . —A social meeting of the Crieff branch of th , MMWswekty w &> u „ ia \ n the Weavers * Hull , on Fridaje the 29 th ult . Mr John MWab in the chuir . Mr D ' Scrimger gave tha first toast of theeveniing , ' Feargus O'Connor , Esq ,, M . P ., thefounder of the Nstional Land Company . ' Mr O . MGibbon gave , ' Tha National Land Company , ' and delivered a masterly speech at ^ great length . Mt D . M'Arter gava ' Co-operation . Mr James M'Ainih gave 'The Nostbebn Stab . Ihe mealing wn . numerously attended , ; and . admirably conducted throughout ,
Feargus O'Connor And The Pkessgang. >' I...
FEARGUS O'CONNOR AND THE PKESSGANG . > ' ii . The following article , translated from IheReforme , the most able of the French journals , and a consistent supporter of the rights of labour in all countries ,, will cheer the woiking classes of England with the proud , consolation , that hence / orili the battle of universal liberty is not to he confined within the limits of our sea-bound dungeon . The Reforme says : — About two years since the 'Chartist working men of England founded an association for the purpose of purchasing land and dividing it in small allotments among the members . It is hoped by these
means to reduce the pressure of competition in the manufacturing labour market , and by drafting a number of working men on to * he Land to establish on democratic principles a new class of small proprietors . This undertaking , founded by Mc Feargus O'Connor , has already achieved such success , that it consists of a vast number of members , and has at its command a sum of £ 60 , 000 ., while its subscription list , as published in the Northern Star , exceeds £ 2 , 500 . per week . In fact , this Society , of which I purpose ere long to give you a more detailed account , has assumed so powerful an attitude , that it begins to disquiet the landed aristocracy ; since it is evident that , if it progresses
as it has commenced , it will end by becoming a national movement for the re-possession of the land by the people . This plan finds no better favour at the hands of the middle classes , since they behold in it an agent of popular . power , capable ot * redeeming the working classes from their tyranny . The members of the trading class , indeed , whether calling themselves more or less liberal . are particularly opposed to the Land Compamy , as they find , the Chartists , since its formation , already more independent of their patronage . These so-called radicals , therefore , astonished at the cold way in which the people receive their lukewarm liberalism , incessantly attack Mr O'Connor as the : only obstacle in their
way towards attaching the working classes to their views . It was sufficient that the Land Plan was originated by Mr O'Connor for it to receive the unmitigated hostilily of the middle classes . At first they affected to ignore it ; then , when the conspiracy of silence was no longer of use , they attacked the plan , endeavouring to show that it was founded on erroneous premises , and must end in a signal failure . And , last of all , when the society kept prospering in despite of th < m , they returned to the tactics they had followed for the ' last ten years , but always without the least success , — they assailed Mr O'Connor himself , tried to throw suspicion on his character , and to undermine h s
reputation as the incorruptible and unpaid Bailiff of the Working Classes . In pursuance of this object , five or six papers , that had evidently preconcerted their plan , seized on the occasion of Mr O'Connor ' s publishing the balance sheet of the Land Company , to open their attack . The Weekly Dispatch , The Globe , The Nonconformist , The Manchester Examiner , Lloyd ' s Weekly Newspaper , and The Nottinyham Mercury , accused Mr O'Connor of the most barefaced robbery , and tried to give a colouring of proof to their accusations , by quoting and disturbing the very figures of the balance sheet . Not satisfied even with this , they dived into the private life ol this celebrated Agitator , and hurled
at him a mountain of accusations , in the expectation that he would he crushed by their serious nature and accumulated weight . But O'Connor , who , for the last Un years , has never ceased contending with the sham-radicai press , instead of bending before the storm , published in tie Northern Star of the 23 rd of October , a reply to the six editors , which , as a masterpiece of polemical writing , recals to our minds the happiest efforts of William Cobbett ; refutes each accusation seriatim , and , in its turn assuming the offensive , retnrts by a crushing and truly dignified rejoinder . This vile attack , and this convincing answer , have , if possible , but increased the people ' s confidence in Mr O'Connor . The Northern Star of the-30 th
of October , contains unanimous votes to that effect , passed at public meetings held by Chartists of more than fifty localities . But O'Connor still df sired to give his opponents an opportunity to attack him before the public . He therefore challenged them to prove their charges against him in a public meeting at Manchester and Nottingham . Not one of them , ventured to appear . At Manchester Mr O'Connor addressed more than ten thousand men in a speech of four hours , hailed throughout with thunders of applause , and receiving , amidst rapturous , acclamations , an unanimous vote ot cwi & dcnce from the meeting . So great was the crowd , that besides those within , another meeting of from ten to fifteen thousand' men was held simultaneously without the walls , and addressed by several speakers .
" When his address was concluded , Mr O'Connor announced that he was ready to receive the payments of the . members ofthe Land Company , and received , on the ' platform , a sum exceeding £ 1000 . " On the following evening , Mr O'Connor held , at Nottingham , one of the largest meetings ever known in that town , amid equal demonstrations of enthusiasm . " This is at least the hundredth time Mr O'Connor has similarly and signally triumphed over the calumnies of the middle-class press . Unmoved by his assailants , this indefatigable patriot pursues the even tenor of his way , and the unanimous confidence of the English people is the best proof of his C 0 Uta e , his energy , and his integrity . "
A Po.-Btitb Parson. —Elizabeth Was Affia...
A Po .-btitb Parson . —Elizabeth was affianced to a young clergyman ofthe name of Owlet , a fellow —and an odd fellow—of Baliol , and a minor canon of Salisbury . Owlet was a man of much learning , eccentric habits , and Pusej itical opinions . He doated on the dark ages , indeed- was so fond of obscurity , that he was hardly ever seen or known to be abroad except in the twilight . He was particularly bent upon reviving the Mjstery Playsand Moralities , and had quarrelled with his dean for objecting to tbe representation of Balaam in his cathedral .
Paop . arioK at Female to Male Cbiuihais in Livsb . pool . —Ac the last Liverpool Quarter Sessions , the re . cordtr , in his charge to the grand ju r y , said be had before bad occasion to remark en the large number of women brought bifire the court . The totnl number committed for trial iu England and Wales iu 1805 bore tbe proportion o ( one fumilu to every four male offenders On nfdrence to tbe calendar before them it would ha found that out of 118 persons accused , no fewer than 5 fl were woman , lie veatur . d to say that such a propord tlon was unparalleled in any calendar hitherto priuteanyivlx-re ,
IIoiiANB Pabk Footpaths . —At a meeting convened by Mr H , D . Griffiths , secretary of the West London Central Anti-Enclosure Association , held at Clarke ' s Rooms , 1 H Et ! gesrare . road , on Monday evening . Jfovem . ber the 1 st , Mr G . II . Susse in the chair , the fallowing resolution , moved by Mr Stallwood , seconded by Mr Eiles , was carried with only one dissentient : — ' That this meeting is fully convinced that the public an 1 Lord Hoiland are equally anil fully satisfied with the diversion of footway as proposed by Lord Holland , and sanctioned by the vestry and Highway Board ofthe pariah ot Saint Mary Abbotts , Kensington , ai . d satisfied -by a public raeetinij convened by the secretary ofthe West Londoa Ctntral AntLEncloBure Association , held iu these rooms , on Monday tbe 18 th of October last / [ We can give no raoro ofthis storm in a teapot — Ed . N . 9 . J
Birmingham , — Ship Ink . —At our usual weekl y meeting on Sunday evening last , Mr Garland in tho chair , the following resolution was unanimously passed : —Moved by Mr Fussell and siconded by Mr . Foster—! ' That we , the members of the Laud Company , meeting at the Ship Inn , seeing that it is tho wish of our talented friend and bailiff , Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., topur . ebase the mansion and u portion of the laud adjoining thereto on tbe Oxford Estate for his own use , we re . spectfulljr recommend to the memb » rs the propriety of giving instructions to tholr delegate * to tho next confer , euce , to vote for the authorisation of the trustees to
transfer to Mr O'Connor the aforesaid mansion , with tho eleven acres »( land adjoining thereto , as a free gift from the memb er * , and as a small acknowledgment for the honesty , integrity , and dlsinterestednsss , with Whiffh he has ever discharged the ardous and responsibleduties of principal manager of our Company ; but should the law under which the Company is registered prevent tbe trustees giring tho es > ate to Mr O'Connor , thtn they shall bo empowered to sell it to him at a merely nominal price , ' The report of the Manchester » iid Nottingham meetings will be read at the People ' s 11 * 11 , ou Tuesday evening , No « emher 9 th , at eight eight o'clock .
Mottbam —On Sunday last , we had a numerous and spirittd meeting . The following resolutions Wire car . ried unanimously :- ' That all shareholders pay up their local expenses ; and that the Secretary deduct all arrears Irom the subcriplions of those mem . bers in arrears . ' ' That Mr John Campbell be the room steward for the ensuing year , st £ 1 per annum . ' The Secretary announced that , poUvithstaridrag th » wWe spread poverty , and want of employment , tbe ra t < wipt » wtre upivwds of twenty pounds for the Land
FuHd . After business had closed , Mr UobertJUli ^ d . dressed the members and frlendsat con ^ iaWb ^ lboj | lS /^ on the « Land Question , '' The Lind o ^/ L a ^ wr ^ a . nk ^ S \ The Position and Prospects of tlifcK ^ mngsVHHai ' . V ; , / went rapidly , over the movements , ^ bro ^ o ^ ' ^ ho ^^ njj ^^ ;! rlcan War , ' isc , and sat d » wa Vo udly «^ ufe ^ d ^^ , 'Eu « V ij' ) next meeting will be held on IhoSIst ofJ ( pembfei ,, ^ s ; ; - i ' Mr UobertJUli ^ d . t comiiderfb ^ llbQisji ^' Sv d oftd / La ^ ur-Jteok ^ A t hfc ^ ft ' ft ^ V ^ w *^ - ^ he ^ u % ^ it cpPmbKAvj ? ± ! v
Mr Uobertjuli^D. Con^Iawb^Lboj|Ls/^V O^/...
v ' ^ « S / hl ^ ! Wg I . 3 5 & ¥ V ^& 8 mm ft ^ Y ^^^ J ^ 1 |
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 6, 1847, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_06111847/page/5/
-