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With the exception of the new Solicitor-...
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AND NATIONAL UdES'JOUMAL. I —— ^^—— ^f——...
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ENGLISH COMMUNISM. TO THB EDITOR OP IDE ...
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^ CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE AGENCY, 76, Charl...
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THE O'CONNOR FUND. The numerous communic...
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Received at thk 'Star* Office.—6. J„ Is....
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MEETING OF LIBERAL MEMBERS AT LORD J. RU...
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Fire-damp Explosion.—The Belgian journal...
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CAPTURE OF THE SEA SERPENT. The "New Yor...
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Robbing, a Bishop.—Ono night last week a...
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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.
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With the exception of the new Solicitor-General for Ireland , the members of the Debbx ^ Administration have walked over the course . Mr . Whiteside had a haremajority of nine at Enniakillen , and themefropolitan Ministerial journal headed it Triumphant Betura ! ' It will not occasion surprise therefore to find that the same organ gravely records the fact of no opposition being offered to the New Ministers as a proof that the feeling of the country is with them ! How delighted they would he if that were true I But
no amount of self-deception can enable them to shut their eyes to the fact that there are no contests just now , jjecanse their political opponents are reserving their strength for the General Election , which must , under any circumstances , he close at hand . The speeches at the hustings maintain the character we gave them last week , with the exception of that of Mr . Chbisto . jeer . They say nothing . Inuendoes are not wanting , hut itii doubtful if the agricultural mind is quick at comprehending ministerial and di plomatic hints . Ihey would prefer something moreplain-spoken , and it mast be rather a trying task to keep them in doe
order to suit the convenience of the men in office . Their greatest danger will arise from their own supporters . The farmers are not transcendental enough to be content with a Protectionist Ministry in power , merely for the show of the thing . It will have to redeem , or attempt to redeem , its former pledges . Then will come the tug of war . Meanwhile the Free Traders are mustering their forces for the coming contest . Mr . Cobdes has had a monster meeting at Leeds , and announced his
intention of standing for the West Riding , as a test of the largest county constituency in the kingdom . On Thursday the Ex-Premier collected a large number of Whigs , Whig Eadicals , and Free Traders at Chesham-place , and organised an opposition to his successors .. What the terms of the compact between leader and followers were , does not appear in the report of the piooceedidgs . If it is merely to restore Lord John and the Family Party to the Treasury Benches , the meeting was thrown away .
If a Liberal and really progressive party is to he organised , it must be upon a broader and a firmer basis than mere Whiggery . The time has come ¦ when Ministers must be more than the representatives of cliques and coteries . Political power mnst no longer be bandid from one set of aristocratic families to another . Lord Debut may become King Stork , but that is no reason why we should return to UnssELL King Log . The country desiderates something better than either , and will have it too , despite the intrigues of hereditary or adventurous ' statemen , ' who want to keep * Cabinet making * a close
monopoly . The first Council of the new Cabinet was held on Saturday last , and since then others have been held The sittings have been somewhat protracted in each case . It now appears that the Ministerial programme is deferred to Monday , when the Premier in the Upper , and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Lower , House , will ; develope , as far as they think prudent , the results of these deliberations . Pending this official Enunciation of their plans , it ii not a little amusing to see the desperate and unscrupulous methods employed by the Free Trade journalists , to damage the new Ministers with the commercial classes . The * Daily News' tells its readers that ' we are now under the role of men who
sre Anarchists in Social science . ' The same journal continues : —* We have read as thorough Socialism in the amusing works of the Chancellor of the Exchequer , as in those of Owen or Louis Blanc ;—not that he was aware of it , any more than the "Bourgeois Gentilhomme" was aware that he had all his days been talking prose . But it is Socialism , nevertheless , in as far as that term embraces a hostility to capital and competition , and the principle that the working classes ought to . be under general organisation , and remunerated , - $ @ j | according to their productiveness and value inthelabour market , but on some more equitable Social system . '
If the writer understood the words he uses , we might pause ~ io ask what he means by remunerating the working classes according to th <&\ r productiveness and value ? But this is not the place for such questions ; and we shall , therefore , merely pass on , g iving the following glimpse of Socialism in high places , irom the same authority : — ' The general tendency of the novel of ' Sybil , ' for instance , which might be supposed to have been written from a celebrated aphorism of Pjwodhon about robbery and property , is in the direction we have indicated . The workhouse system is there spoken of only to he supported by the hateful man of the book who finds in it features
congenial to ^ his selfish cruel nature . The author ' s tendencies and sympathies are seen in the eloquent denunciations of the philosophical workmen , who assail capital , machinery , and competition . Thus an aged man , who had seen better days , announces in this manner the causes of the fate of the hand-loom
• weavers : — ' " It is that tbe capitalist has found a slave that has supplanted the labour and ingenuity of man . Once he was an artisan—at the best he now only watches machines—and even that occupation slips from his grasp , to the woman and the child . The capitalist flourishes—he amasses immense wealth : we sink lower and lower—lower than the beasts of burthen—for they are fed better than we are , and cared for more . And it is just , for according to the present system , they are more precious . And yet they tell ua that the interests of Capital and Labour are identical . '"
This is certainly a shocking sentence to be penned by a Chancellor of the Exchequer . It is still more shocking to see tbe paper which is understood to be the recognised organ of the New Ministry , writing in the following style of Messrs . Cobden and his friends : — « They have pursued exclusively their own aggrandisement ; and with vast and loud professions of their care for the working classes , they have utterly neglected all means of improving or
ameliorating the condition of the workmen—of removing the difficulties under which they were labouring , of adjusting their disputes with their masters . Nay , more , they have turned a cold and contemptuous look upon all attempts made by others . We tell Mr . Coeden that his conduct on Mr . Slaney's motion will not soon be forgotten ; and that when he and others of his party return to their constituents they will find a very different welcome from what they once received , and from what they expect
' How many questions are there affecting the social condition of the people at large , and still more of the manufacturing lasses , for whom these men have loudly professed their sympathy , which they have utterly neglected ; the more shamelessly as they were raised into power by the very men for whom they care not a jot , except to secure their own political importance ? How many questions are there even at this present moment imperiously demanding the attention of the legislature , and all its study and foresight , which these men would throw overboard merelvfor the sake of factious agitation ?'
Of course our readers will take for what they are worth the warm protestations of interest in their welfare made by both parties . We merely note them in passing , because it is something to know that the unwholesome stagnation which pervaded the political world , has been at length stirred , and politicians of all parties begin to court the * support' of the * working classes . ' With the exception of the speculations as to the probable course of affairs on the re-assembling of Parliament , there is scarcel y anything to note in tho home news of the week . It has been one of comparatively suspended animation .
Approaches have been made towards a settlement of the dispute between the Operative Engineers and their Employers . A temperate , and , at the same time , a courageous explanation , on the part of the men , has been made , which must materially smooth the path to a reconciliation . They do not want a victory in mere words . Enough if the thing asked for he conceded . There are symptoms of y ielding on the other side . It is said that the Masters have at last discovered the foll y of being led by a person who is a mere doctrinaire , and much more anxious to maintain his own superiority and opinions , than consult the interests of either * Masters or Men in a
practical way . They have , it is stated , thrown overhoard their Secretary ; and the ' Weekly Dispatch , ' which , since the commencement of the Strike , has , nnder his inspiration , been a strenuous advocate of the Masters , last week turned round , and spoke in its natural voice . It is alleged that a loss of ten thousand in Us weekl y circulation has brought it to its right senses and excluded from its columns the lucubrations of the clever litterateur , who was much too intent upon victory to care for anything else . As
With The Exception Of The New Solicitor-...
we have * very cordial dislike to all hired agitatori and professional Dosald Daigetii ' s , either with sword or pen , we shall rejoice to find these statements confirmed , as being the preliminary to a restoration of amity between Masters and Men . The Society of the Friend * of Italy had a meeting in Lambeth , to draw attention to the march of military despotism on the Continent , and its threatening aspect towards England , at which Mr . Masson and Mr Stanbeteld told some home truths , that ought
to be kept in remembrance by all classes . It would seem , however , that Kossuth had exhausted that view . Public attention is -languid , and if the statement of the * Times' correspondent be true , it is the same in the United States , where the immense excitement and enthusiasm rapidly kindles before him , and dies out as quickly behind him . There seems , besides , to be two Bichmonds in the field . . Professor Keckei was on the ground first , soliciting help for Germany ; and it may be that the two causes have jostled each other .
From the Cape the news is somewhat more reassuring , though no material change had taken place in the relative position of the belligerent parties , with the exception of the ' rumour' that Sasdilii was about to abandon his hostile position , and the statement that the Fingoes had rallied rouad the British troops . There will be a nice little bill brought in for that job , by and bye .
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[ As the columns under this head are open for the free expression of all opinions , the Editor is not responsible for , or committed to , any . ] A MINIMUM RATE OF WAGES FOR UNSKILLED LABOUR . 10 THB EDITOR 0 * THE NORTHERN STAR . Sub Sis , —As I am desirous of seeing the working daises acting upon the true principles of polities ! economy , as laid down by the best and most approved writers on that science , I showed your readers , by copious extracts from the writings of the great Dr . Adam Smith , " That labour , alone , as it never varies in its value , is alone the real standard of value , by which tbe value of all commodities can , at all times , and in all places , be estimated and compared . " And for the purpose of reducing this principle to practice , recommended that working men of all trades should unite and organise themselves , for the purpose of Obtaining from Parliament "The labourer ' s real and best charter , " an act to fix , by law , the minimum rate of wages for unskilled labour .
But let me not be misunderstood . I do not propose that a law should be passed to compel a master to give to every unskilled labourer he employs 20 s . per week , on the one hand , nor every unskilled man to accept of 20 s . per week on the other . Nor do I propose that the price of any kind of piecework , or the price of any kind of produce , material , or manufactured article , should be fixed by law . Such a statute could not work—the variety of ingenuity , talent , and character , among workmen , and the law of supply and demand , would at once defeat it . But I propose that an act of parliament should be passed , abolishing the law that makes gold and silver the standard of value , and the only legal tenders , and to make them simply commodities , to be sold by weight , at market prices , like as iron , lead , copper .
& c , are at present . The government still continuing to coin gold , silver , and copper money , or tokens for small cbange as usual . Gold and silver coins , sold by weight , at market prices , as advertised from time to time by the national bank , to continue to be legal tenders , as well as the national bank notes . The denominations of our money might also remain as they are—vii ., pouwls , shillings , and pence . But the only standard of value ( which these natnei might express , as well as any other ) in future to be ( what Dr . Adam Smith says , always was , and always must be ) labour . One pound being , by law , the wages for six days labour often hours per day , for a working man , at any kind of unskilled labour , payable in tho legal tender paper money of the national bank .
The way I would propose for the law to operate would be this : —Every master , who set a man to work , at any kind of unskilled labour , without first making a bargain with him , about his wages , should be compelled , by law , to pay him at the rate of 20 s . per week ; and no unskilled labourer should be allowed to charge mora than 20 a ., unless he bargained for it before he begun-his woi'k—thus enabling the clever and industrious man to make the best use of his talents , without compelling the master to overpay the idler or bungler . The wages of unskilled labour being fixed , the wages of skilled labour would naturally fix itself , no portion of it , of course , would be less ; but , owing to there being too
many hands in many skilled trades , arising from improvements in machinery , or falling off in tho demand for the article , and other causes , their wages might possibly be no higher than the unskilled labourers ; probably the building and iron trades would retain much the same rate of wages that they obtain at present ; but one great advantage from it , to both masters and workmen , in all trades , would be that it would equalise the rate of wages all over tbe kingdom , and thus cause an emulation to make the best article , and prevent , in a great measure , that foolish and ruinous competition , in making and selling cheap and nasty work , so injurious to both men and masters , and the public everywhere .
So article can be sold below its prime cost , for a long time , without bringing ruin upon the employer , or compelling him so to reduce their wages as to bring poverty and distress upon his workmen ; and there is at present no law of tbe state , and neither conscience , Christian principle , nor the common feelings of humanity , have hitherto been found powerful enough , under the present system of unlimited competition , and what is falsely called freedom for employers and the employed , in settling the rates of wages , to prevent the employers of tbe weavers , agricultural labourers , nail makers , sweated tailors , and distressed needlewomen—besides many others in England—from reducing their earnings from time to time , till their food and raiment is so coarse and scanty , and their habitations so miserable , that every people in the world cry , " Shame on our inhumanity . " But their condition , bad as it is , is far
preferable to that of the large majority of the labouring population of Ireland . By a return placed in the hands of members of the Douse of Commons , at the commencement of this Session , it appears that 1 , 225 persons died of hunger , in the Kilrusb Union alone , in the year ending March , 1851 . That there have , on the average , been about 750 , 000 paupers in the workhouses in Ireland each year , for tho last four years , and out of these about one in fourteen have died in each year ; thus , four out of every fourteen paupers in Ireland have died within the last four years—many from starvation in the workhouse , and many from starvation they endured before they would resign their liberty , and go to the union . If such be the mortality in the workhouse , what must it be out of it , in the West of Ireland particularly , where thousands of families are living upon little miserable patches of land , or working for sixpence , and even tourpence per day .
Is it not high time , then , that something was done to put a stop to this frightful state of things ? We are told , also , that there is a great increase in crime , and more especially in juvenile crime ; and can we wonder at this amidst all this misery f—and why and how has this state of things arisen ? It is because there has been no Organisation of Labour , no Trades' Unions , no Amalgamated Societies , to protect tbe wages of these poor people ; but more especially it is because there is no minimum rate of wages , paid in a National Paper Currency , and because labour is not practically made the standard of value .
The above dreadful state of the labouring poor has been time after time made known , in all its horrors , to government , to parliament , and to all the wealthy and influential classes , clerical and secular , by Incontrovertible evidence and testimony ; but , hitherto , either a deaf ear has been tni-nea to their complaints , or they have been put off with — We are sorry to hear it ; but it cannot be helped ; it is a necessary consequence of a high state of civilisation ; a great oeal of it arises from indolence , imprudent and early marriages , vice , and intemperance . Government and legislation can do nothing more for them ; there is a parish for tbeir relief , and charitable institutions innumerable ; what
more can be done for them ? There are rich and poor now , and there always have been rich and poor in all countries ;" and the professedly religious add , "Does not Scripture say ¦ The poor ye have always with vou , ' and that ? Tho poor shall never cease in the land ; ' ft is the dispensation of Providence , to which we must all patiently and piously submit , as it is the natural and inevitable state and condition of the larger portion of eocietv . " But this twaddle will no longer satisfy the starving poor . They have inquired , and they will inquire still more , whether their horrible condition be the natural state of societv . On this subject we will again consult Dr . Adam Smith . See " Wealth of Nations , " book I ., chap . C and 8 .
"In the early and rude state of societv which precedesboth the accumulation of stock , and the appropriation of land , the whole produce of labour belongs to the labourer ; and the quantity of labour commonl y applied in acquiring or producing any conimoditv , is the only circumstance which can regulate the quantity of labour which it ought commonly to purchase , command , or exchange for . If among a nation of hunters , for example , it usually costs twice the labour to kill a heaver which it does to kill a deer , one beaver should naturall y exchange for , or be worth two deer . Ii is natural that the produce of two days' or two
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hours' labour , should be woM- ( hlUaliy ) -double of what is the produce of one day ? s or-one hjaur ' s labour . But if the one species of labour be more severe than the other , some allowance will naturally bo mad ^ for this superior hardship ; or if the one species of labour requires an uncommon degree of dexterity and ihgeu jH |^; . acquired in consequence of long application , the esteein which men have for such talents will naturally give-W . tneir produce a value superior to what would be due to theLtime . employed about it . The whole produce of labour , the ^ efore |; oonstituteB the natural recompense or wages of tb | : labourer . He has neither landlord nor master to share withmm ; Now , my working brethren / this is the natural state of the labourer , when justice is ^ one- to him ; and this is exactly tho state of the emigrant labourers who settle on the
ud lands in Canada , and the Western ( states of America ; they have neither landlords nor masters ; and thus they enjoy the whole fruits of thejrVJabbrjr ; and hence there are neither beggars , nor paupers , nor children crying for bread , among them . But let us see how it is with thorn naturally as they progress onwards . '; . y Chap . VIII . — " Had this stato continued , the wages . of labour would haveaugmented / With all those improvements in its productive powers to which the division of labour ( employments ) gives occasion-., ; : All things would have become ( in nominal price ) ' gradually cheaper . They would have been produced by a smaller quantity of labour ;! and as the commodities produced brequal quantities of labour would naturally in this state 0 $ things , bo exchanged for one another , tbey would have been purchased likewise with the produce of a smaller quantity of labour . " " But though all things would have become cheaper in reality , in appearance , many things :, might have become dearer than before , or have been ; exchanged for a greater
quantity of other goods , I Let ' as suppose , for example , that in the greater part of employments the productive powers of labour had been improved to tenfold , or that a day ' s labour could produce tea - times tho quantify of goods which it had done originally ; but that in some other employment they had been increased by improvements only to double , or that a day ' s , labour could , preduce only twice the quantity of work ( gobds ) . ' which it had done before . In exchanging the produce of a ' day ' s labour in the greater part of employments , for ? thati . of a day ' s labour in this particular one , ten timesv-, the | original ' quantity of work ( goods ) in them would purchase only twice the original quantity in it . Any particular quantity in it , therefore , a pound weight , for example ; would appear to be five timet dearer than before , In reality ; however , it would be twice as cheap , Though it requited' : five times the quantity of other goods to purchase iti "' , ij ^ would require only half the quantity of labour either ; / to purchase , or to produce it . The acquisition , therefore , would be twice as easy as before . " ¦ - ; : ;' .
Having thus so beautifully stated the Natural State of Society , and the natural condition of the labourer , he leaves tbe subject altogether , although it is the most important in tho whole work , and comes abruptly to the following lame and impotent conclusion > : — " But this original state of things , in which the labourer enjoyed the whole produce of his own labour , could not last beyond tho first introduction of the appropriation of land and the accumulation of stock . It was at an end therefore , long before the most considerable improvements were made in the productive powers of . labour , and it would be to no purpose to trace further ^ w hat mig ht have been its effects upon the recompense or wages of labour . " But I maintain that it would ' ha ' ve been to great purpose to do so , and that I shall attempt it in my next letter . I anv-rfj & t' John Fihch . Liverpool , March 6 th . H ;
English Communism. To Thb Editor Op Ide ...
ENGLISH COMMUNISM . TO THB EDITOR OP IDE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , — "Will you permit me through your valuable spnoe to offer my view of Communism , and as I believe it is generally understood by the members of the Redemption Society , in opposition to the strictures of N . Y . E ., in the «' Journal of Association" of February 26 th , 1852 , which , as I conceive , though very logical in form , are built upon error throughout . . He says , ' , ¦ ' { the ' . whole Of the selfishness and consequent injustice of ( a ' certain Phalamterie , which he sets up for Communism ) lie in its being enforced as a law . " His italics—not mine . Now , then , if an opponent proves that his premise , thus emphatically given , is incorrect , on his own admission , his card house tumbles about his ears .
I meet , then , his position by { affirming it simply untrue , and invite him to show that Communists in Britain , openly or covertly seek for law ; enforcement for their dogmas are law-enforced opinions , so popular that we need them to shield us from the scornful ; arrows of prejudice or ignorance . We believe , as well as N . V ^ E ., that to enforce the abandonment of individual property while the desire for it remains , would bo tyrannical selfishness . But if Iff . Y . E . desires metaphysical discussion , 1 > beg to decline it in journals devoted to Economics , and though N . V . E , may demur to Communistic views , proved any way till Robert Owen's theory of character is proved . Also I hold that they are independent , unconnected fields of human inquiry , and that this , insisting on their connexion , is not only unfavourable to the elimination of truth , but also indicates a
carelessness or wrongheadness about distinctions , rear and tangible , that in such a writer as N , V . E . is utterly uaaccouhtable . ! ' Onoe more , tnejij let it be plainly stated , that the only Communistic experiment in Britain that the deluge of hopelessness has not submerged , is not based or dependant , on any view of human chancier , no farther , at least , than is every movement that pretends to be concerned about our social condition—sanitary , educational , or theological—no more than does a . recent able pamphlet about the Operative Engineers and their ^ Emp loyers . I appeal to N . V . E . ' s memory on this head . ^ Communism , as we here in England understand , means simply , "the most
economical way of living happily ; " and I challenge N . V . E . in your broader columns to disprove , this , and I will undertake to show that , if tbe Sfcores , a ' r 6 . based on souud economics , they conduct this wordjeith ' er this way , or to fiercer competition . I decline to discuss Owen ' s , or . any ones , view of human character , simply because it is irrelevant . I decline two inquiries at ' - once , because it prevents the settlement of either ; . biit though I , hold Communism on economic grounds , as opposed to sentimental ones , I cannot see how the founder s of Stores , ' , mbro than I , can ignore , or consistently joppose , Owen ' s view of character . Xp & R . Jones , Secretary of Redemption Society . Leeds , March 9 th .
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^ Central Co-Operative Agency, 76, Charl...
^ CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE AGENCY , 76 , Charlotte-street . Fitzroy Square . Weekly Report , March 2 ad to March 9 th . The Agency transacted business with the following stores ; —Galashiels , Leeds . Hawick , Barrhead , Banbury , Braintree > Brighton , Rochdale , Ullesthdrp , Birmingham , Woolwich , Halifax , Swindon , Middlesboro'j Burnley , Bradford , Bacup ; & c . ? : ¦ _ '¦' ¦¦ \ Ye hear from Cardiff that ; the Co-operative Store in course of formation there is Iti , ah advanced state of organisation . .- ~ p }}¦ :. ' : An application was received from the Co-operative Sioie at Norwich , to have their rules certified . \ We take this opportunity ' of stating that all customers not sending in their purchase , books for the last quarter by the 20 th of March , will forfeit / their bonus .
The partners of the Central XJo-operative Agency have resolved to send a copy of theirfWeekly Report to the editors of the principal London papers * - ' and to a certain number of persons likely to take interest Via its proceedings , with the following circular : — ¦ " ' ' . } . . ' . ¦ -., ; . - ' " The Partners of the Central Co-operative Agency present their compliments to Mr ,: — -r— , and beg to enclose a Weekly Report of the business ofithe establishment , either for his own perusal , or for the information of the public , if
he thinks it proper . ; , , " Such Reports have been ' published for sometime , and they are to be continued regularly . | " The claims of tbe Co-opefative Agency to he considered as a public institution , arenas follows s—Although a commercial firm , the Agency is-cbiiducted under the supervision of Trustees ; a PublicRepo ' rfislbbe made half yearly j the books are to be audited by a public accountant , and half the profits are carried to a common fund devoted to purposes of public benefit . 'iH , i The the of
" objects of Agency are : —1 st . To remedy one the greatest evils of the present-mode of trading , by counteracting the system of adulteration now prevailing in trade , and which includes nearly every article of consumption , in food or raiment . 2 nd . To ? promote the principle of COOPERATIVE Association as ' - it-methodof busineis , the word CO-OPERATIVE expressing that Association , as it is understood by the Partners of the A gency ^ iojplies an equitable arbitration between Labour and Capital , and as complete a conciliation as possible of the cdiiflicting interests of the present competitive system . " '; 4 . — . *
LEEDS REDEMPTION SOCIETY . Mr . Henderson lectured . oh Sunday . ' . last on the duty and necessity of tbe tetal destruction : of adulteration , and exhorted his hearers to assist in the good work . We urged upon our branches the desirability of their having shares in connexion with tbero , and arexglad to announce that several approve , and they will he begun inUhe Potteries shortly . — Monies received this week .- ^ Lle ds subscriptions , ^ 9 S . 5 ( J . ; Candidates and Members , lsvr 6 d . ; Huddersfield , France , 10 s . ; Hyde , Bradly , £ 1 ls |" 6 d .- ; Manchester , Bloomer , 4 s . U . \ Hanley , Wilbraham ^ S . ; Buildirig Fund , 2 s . 9 d . ; Propagandist Fund , 4 s . SW .- ^ R . Jones , Sec . —Afarch 9 th . 1 '"» : " i ' "
The O'Connor Fund. The Numerous Communic...
THE O'CONNOR FUND . The numerous communications we have received this week from various : parts of the country , show that a general and an earnest desire exists to promote the objects in view , if the matter is set about in a right spirit , and under such guarantees as will give proper security for a judicious and effective application of the subscription for the immediate and per * mauent benefit of Mr . ' O'Connor . We cannot find room for all the communications in extenso , and therefore condense their substance . W . Booth , writing for the Chartists of Pudsey , states that they concur in the views expressed in the' Star , ' by Mr . Brown , of Preston , and hope that an efficient
committee will be formed in London , including if possible Messrs . Duncombe , "Wakley , and S . Crawford . They regret , that in common with many Chartists of other places , they are not in an organised state ; a fact which they attribute to the discussions among the leaders of the party , and they believe that if Mr . O'Connor had retained his health and energies , the disruption and disorganisation would not bare existed , at all events tp the same extent . Theybaye asumof moneyjre ' ady to send as soon as responsible parties are appointed to yeoeive subscriptions , but decline to answer appeals of private individuals , of whom they have never heard before . They believe that the Land Plan would have been successful if the members themselves had done
their duty ; and they now suggest that the directors of the Land Company should give all the assistance they can to an efficient and responsible committee , by collecting all books and papers belonging to the Company , and otherwise assisting , by their personal knowledge , a speedy and . satisfactory settlement of the accounts , so far as Mr . O'Connor is concerned . They are farther of opinion that all the members of the Company are bound to come forward with money , and give every facility in their power for bringing these affairs to an honourable close , and that the general subscriptions for Mr . O'Connor ought not to be applied to prolonging proceedings in the Court of
Chancery , if there is no probability of the result being satisfactory . The Chartists of the Manchester Locality have formed a committee . At a meeting held on the 4 th instant an address was agreed upon to the inhabitants , and on Saturday last it was placarded , and read with avidity . The subject was discussed at the usual meeting in the People ' s Institute , on Sunday night , and a resolution was passed , expressive of sympathy for Mr . O'Connor , and a determination to assist him in a pecuniary way or otherwise , as circumstances may require . A
liberal collection was made at the meeting , and the committee have resolved to meet every night , at the Northern Star , Heyrod-street , to receive subscriptions . ' Mr . W . Grocott , secretary to the committee . Mr . 0 . Willis informs us that the allottees of Charterville are nobly responding to the appeal oh behalf of Mr . O'Connor , and that Mr . J . Hayes , has collected about 15 s „ which will be sent next week . The allottees hope that the great exertions of Mr . O'Connor in the cause of the people will not be forgotten .
Mr , A . Loudon of Auchtermucbty , Scotland , states that a few friends are getting up a subscription for the above purpose . Mr . James Brown , of Preston , suggests that two funds should bs raised ; one for the purpose of -appointing a counsel and accountant to look after Mr . O'Connor ' s affairs in the Land Company , and the other for the purpose of purchasing him an annuit y , or any other permanent plan of assistance which the committee may decide upon . He also thinks that the land members should subscribe from their own body ; the necessary funds for bringing the affairs of the-Company and Mr . O'Connor ' s accounts to a
satisfactory settlement . To command success , Mr . Brown suggests the names of Mr . Duncombe , Mr , Oastler , and Mr . Samuel Fielden , of Todmorden ; and for Ireland , Mr . Patrick O'Hjggins and Mr . Sharman Crawford , to take partjin the movement ; and concludes by saying that " if the subscriptions intended for the personal use of Mr . O'Connor he not separate and distinct from that intended to apply to his affairs with the Land Company , the assistance will be circumscribed and inefficient for the purpose intended ; but if the affair can be inaugurated with the proper influences , and be rightly directed , it will be everything that is needful . "
At a public meeting held in the Working Man ' s Hall , Heckmondwicke , on Sunday last , a Committee was formed to receive subscriptions , and £ 1 2 s . collected . . A resolution was also passed , appointing Mr . Duncombe and Mr . Wakley as trustees .
Received At Thk 'Star* Office.—6. J„ Is....
Received at thk 'Star * Office . —6 . J „ Is . ; O . W ., 5 s . ; A Pew Friends , Nottingham , per J . Sweet , 9 s . ; From the Seven Stars , per ditto , 10 s . Received bt Mr . R . O'Connor . —Mr . Polthnm , HA ; Mr . Reynard , Hackney , Gd . ; Air . Paton , Is . ; Mr . Logan , Barrhead , Is . ; Mr . Means , Bristol , 5 s . ; Poeklington , 2 s . ; J . Lewis , Lanturt Varden , 2 s . 6 d . ; A Jones , Cardiff , Is .
Meeting Of Liberal Members At Lord J. Ru...
MEETING OF LIBERAL MEMBERS AT LORD J . RUSSELL'S On Thursday a meeting of Liberal Members of Parliament was held at Lord John Russell ' s residence in Cheshamplace . Although the meeting was called for twelve , the proceedings <;> d not commence until one o ' clock . A great number of persons assembled in front of the noble Lord ' s residence , to see the members arrive . One hundred and sixty-seven members were present , including , of course , the leaders of the Liberal party . Sir Alexander Cockburn was prevented from attending the meeting by severe indisposition . Lord John Russell urged upon the meeting tbe expediency of bringing tbe government to an immediate issue on the question of Free Trade . It is understood that Lord John Russell ' s course was not adopted without previous consultation with tbe most eminent members of the present Opposition .
The noble Lord was throughout received most warralv , and the only discussion arose on the expediency of simultaneously pressing the Cabinet to declare its views on Par . liaraentary Reform . We believe that the prevailing feeling of the meeting was in favour of in the first instance concentrating the efforts of the Liberal party on the preservation of Free Trade . We hear that Mr . Yilliers will invite the government to explain their intentions on this momentous subject on Monday eyen ' mg .--Evening Paper .
Fire-Damp Explosion.—The Belgian Journal...
Fire-damp Explosion . —The Belgian journals contain an account of a deplorable accident near Mons . On Saturday , about ten o ' clock in the morning , whilst the miners , seventy-seven in number , were at work in tbe coal-pit called Longterne Ferrand , at Elouges , an explosion of fire-damp took place , and it was followed by an extensive falling in of coal and earth . Two miners were killed instantaneously ; fifteen , more or less injured , succeeded in reaching the mouth of the pic , but one of them died shortly after ; it is not known what became of the others . All day on Saturday and Sunday excavations were made to reach the unfortunate men , but without success . Tho explosion was caused by one of the miners having imprudently opened his lamp . It had been intended to suspend operations in the mine on the very day on which the accident occurred .
Athbn ^ um Institute fob Authoes asd Artists . — A new society under this name is projected . The object is stated to be , to afford to authors and artists the advantages arising from extensive co-operation . To effect this object it is proposed that the institute shall consist of four branches—namely , a protective societv , a philanthropic and provident fund , an educational association , and a life assurance department . The Right . Hon . B . Disraeli is president of the society . The Anti-Cohs Law League . —The subscription-list includes the names of the Right Honourable the Earl of Radnor , £ 100 ; Thomas Thornely , Esq ., M . P ., £ 100 ; iam lIkl
iJ r ' , ° . ? r ngton , M . P ., Blackburn , gives £ 1 , 000 ; * B ^ 9 i 7 eira ' ° ndon ( £ 1 , 000 ; Mr . Goo . tee Andrew and Sons , foOO ; and Messrs . Dixon and Son , £ o 00 .-Tetal up to Monday about £ 40 , 000 . T p Piocoiomsi . — A denoendant of one of the great Guelphic families of Italy , tho Pioeoloraini of Sienna , Madamoisello Clementini-Piccolomini , recently made her debut as a cantatrice at La Pergola , in Florence , and excited great enthusiasm . Her success is said to inoreass- at caoh successive performance ; as yet she hag only appeared in Lucrem Borgia , " and a popular buffa called « Crispino o comare . Her organ is described as a mezzo-soprano of great power and extent ,
Capture Of The Sea Serpent. The "New Yor...
CAPTURE OF THE SEA SERPENT . The " New York Tribune" contains a lengthy and somewhat graphic account of the capture , after a terrific ;' . nigi < le of this aes monster . The account is written by Chsrle Seabury , the master of the whale ship Monongahela , and dated at sea , February 6 th . It says : — "A vessel has been reported from my mast-head , and as she is apparently bound into some of the northern ports , 1 intend to speak her , purposely to acquaint , through your width fiiffused journal , the people of the United States , of the iaci of the existence and capture of lheSea Serpent—a monster deemed fabulous by many—but the truth of whose exisience " for ever settled , and l ' trust I shall be excused in saying hy Yankee intrepidity . " It then proceeds to state that on tn 8 mori > mg of January 13 thwhen in latitude 3 deg 10
, nun . south , iongitllde l 31 aeg . 50 min ., the set pent was discovered by a Marquesan Islander , who was much alarmed at u « appearance . It was afterwards seen by the crew . Volunteers were called ior , and the maste . - a-UHLet me say to their credit , every American in the ship stepped out at once , followed hv all hut one native ml two Englishmen . After a considerable chase , the ieruant sometimes disappearing for a few nijn Md ( hfin risi a mile a-head of the ahip , ' the crew got alongside of his snakeship . The fight is thus described :-- [ came to with the head yards a-back to have a better control of all the ship , and told the ship-keeper' to keep close to us , ami !> v no of
means to loose sight us for an instant . We . lowered , ' myself taking the lead , and in a few strokes—the wind and sea carrying us to leeward—I told the boatstearer , Jamis Whit . tenmore , of Vermont , to'stand up . ' With cool and calm intrepidity he laid hold of his iron ( harpoon ) , anu . when I beckoned with a movement of my hand , quick as thought both of his weapons were buried to the socket in the repulsive body before us . I shouted 'stem , ' but there was no visible motion of his snakeship . I shifted ends with the boat steerer , and cleared away a lance as quickly as posVihle , beckoning them to pull up , that I might get a ) aiic « , v ^ ea s movement of the body was visible , and the head and sail of the monster rushed as it were to ' touch tbe woii ; i ( K' The
¦ rig htfulness of the head , as it approached the boni , t \ led the crew with terror , pd . three of them jumped overboard . I instinctively held out my lance , and its sharp point encred the eye . I was knocked over and felt a deep chumir : . !! of the water around me . I rose to the surface and esmint a glimpse of the writhing body , and was again stiuckand carried down . I partly lost my consciousness undffi water , but recovered it ; when I rose again in the blood- fwam , the snake had disappeared , and I shouted , 'Pick ap the line . ' The third mate , Mr . Benson , caught a bite st my line near the end , and bent on his , which in an initan' began to be taken out rapidly . The mate picked me up as soon as I rose to the surface , and in a few minutes ail were picked up—one was severely bruised and another insensible , hut he reeovered and both are now jvell . Tbe snake had
taken my line , the third mate's , and was taking the second mate ' s , when I ordered the mate to bend on and give his line to the ship . The snake was sounding , and I cautioned the officers not to hold on too hard for fear of drawing the irons . At first the line , went out rapidly , but decreased gradually , nevertheless I was obliged to get up a spare line out of the fore-hold and bend on . For fear that the ship would by its weight on the line dtaw the irons , I put on several drags and gave the ]' u : r to the mate , when it became stationary . There were now out four boats' lines , 225 fathoms in a boat , and twothirds of another line , 100 fathoms more—in all , 1 , 000 fathoms , six feet in a fathom—0 , 000 feet—better than one mile and an eight , an enormous depth , and the pressure at that distance is inconceivable .
" At 4 a . ro ., of the 14 th , sixteen hours after he went down , tho line began to slack . I had it taken to the "jhuliass , when we got nearly two lines ' hand over hand , ' then there came a strain again . This strain continuing , I told everybody to bear a hand and get breakfast , and just before wa were through , the cook cried out , ' Here he is . ' In no time all were on deck , and sure enough he had risen ; but all that was visible was a-bunch , apparently the biieof the snake , where he had been fastened to . I lowered three boats , and we lanced the body repeatedly without eliciting any sign of life . While we ware at work be gradually rose to the surface , and around him floated vhat I took to be pieces of his lunga , which we had cut with our lances . To make our work sure we continued to h ' . nce , eagerly seeking for his life , when he drew himself up and we pulled away , and then witnessed the terrific dying struggles of the monster . None of the crew who witnessed , that toi-rible scene will ever forget it ; the evolutions of the body were rapid as lightning , seeming like the revolving of a thousand enormous black wheels . The tail and-head
would occasionally appear in the surging bloody foam , and a sound was hoard , so dead , unearthly , and expressiya of acute agony , that a thrill of horror ran through our veinsr The convulsive efforts lasted ten or fifteen minutes , when they suddenly stopped , tho head was partly raised—it fell—the body partly turned , and lay still . I took off my hat , and nine terrific cheers broke simultaneously from our throats . Our prey was dead . We how held a consultation as to what we should do , and I had requested all hands to offer their opinions . After a short tidk , nil of \ isfett , cowrinccu that it wom \ u Vm impossible to get him into port , and then we concluded to try and save his skin , bend , and bonei , if possible . In tiio first place I requested a Scotehman . -who could Idraw tolerably , to take a sketch of him as ho lay , and the mate tomeniure him . As I am preparing a minute description of the
serpent , I will merely cive you a few general points . It was a male ; the length 103 feet 7 inr . nes ; 19 feet 1 inch around the neck ; 24 feet 6 inches around the shoulders ; and the krjjest part of tho body , which appeared somewhat distended , 49 feet 4 inches . The head was long and flat , with ridges —the bones of the lower jaw separate ; tho tongue hsd its end liko the head of a heart . Tho tail ran nearly to a point , on the end of which was a flat firm cartilage . The back was black , turning brown on the sides ; then yellow * and on tho centre of the belly a narrow white streak twothirds of its length ; there were also scattered over tbe body dark spots . On examining the skin we found to our surprise that the body was covered with blubber like tint of the whale , but it was only four inches thick . Tbe oil was clear as water , and burnt nearly as fast as spirits of turpentine .
"We cut tho snake up , but found great difficulty , and had to ' flense' him , tho body would not roll , and the blubber was so very elastic that when stretched twenty feet'by the blocks it would , when cut off , shrink to five or six i ' cet . Wo took in tho head , a frightful object , and are endeavouring to preserve it with salt . " We have saved all the bones , which tho men are not done cleaning yet . One of the serpent ' s lungs was three feet longer than the other . I should have observed that there were ninety-four teeth in the jaws , very sharp , all pointing backward and as large as one ' s thumb at tho < jum ,
but deeply and firmly set . We found it had two spoutholes or spiracles , so it must breathe like a whale ; it also had four swimming paws , or imitations of paws , for they were like , hard , loose flesh . The joints of the back were loose , and it seemed as if , when it was swimmin ? , thi-. t it moved two ribs and a joint at a time , almost like feet . The muscular movement of tho serpent after it was dead made the body look as if it were encircled by longitudinal ridges . We were nearly three days in getting the bones in , but they are now yerj clean , and are very porous and dark coloured .
" The heart I was enabled to preserve in liquor and one of the eyes , but the head , notwithstanding it is cool , begins to emit an offensive odour ; but I arn so near the coast now that I shall bold on to it as it is , unless it is likely to breed a diiUmper . Every man in the ship participates in my anxiety . " 2 p . m . —I have just spoken the vessel ; she prove ? to bo the brig Gipsy , Captain Sturges , eight days from Ponce , P . It ., with oranges and merchandise , bound to Bt'idjrport . He has kindly offored to put these sheets in tho Post-office when he arrives . As soon as I got in I shall be enabled to furnish you a more detailed account . "
Robbing, A Bishop.—Ono Night Last Week A...
Robbing , a Bishop . —Ono night last week a couple of oxpert but profane thieves " difected an entrance into Auckland palace , whilst its inmates { were all injhed . After scouring the culinary and reception apartments , without profit to themselves or loss to episcopiicy , they ascended to tbe next story . There tho irreverent scamps found their way into the room where tho Bishop of Durham and Mrs . Maltby slept ; and thonce , notwithstanding tho very natural inquiry from Mrs . Maltby , " who was there , " they managed to retire , carrying off with thorn the bishop ' s purse . The contents , however , probably disappointed the rogues , as they aro reported not to have ex * ceedod £ 3 . A ext day . the bishop entertained the judges on circuit . —Nonconformist . Number op DErosnoits in Savikoi IUhks . —A parliamentary paper has been printed which shows that on the 20 th November , 1850 , there were 1 , 032 , 581 individual depositor *
in savings banks , whose deposits , with interest , amounted to £ 27 , 108 , 563 . There were 12 , 912 charitable instituions which had deposits with savings banks amounting to £ 055 , 093 , and 7 , 506 friendly soci « ties to £ 1 , 077 , 320 . The total depositors numbered 1 , 112 , 099 , and the amount wiih interest £ 28 , 930 , 982 . There were be » ides 5 S 6 friendly societies in direct account with the conimUsion « rs < -f tho Nationial Debt , and the amount deposited was £ 2 , 277 , 340 . Joini Stock CoMr-Asies . —On Wednesday a paper was printed , by order of tho House of Lorda , aho * in . <» the number of licenses granted by the Board of Trade , from tho 20 th of February , 1851 , tothe 24 th ult ., tojohtt s : ock companies to hold lande , tenements , & c , Them aro twenty-eigbt companies mentioned in the document , to each of which a grant for thirty-one years has been made to hold hands .
A young female , who has the monomania of homicide , has just been arrested and sent to the Prefecture . She had attempted , but fortunately without efrecc , to murder her father , her mother , her meter , and several females of her acquaintance , declaring-that she wished to drink their blood , —Ggliffnani . . Tub Sistkbs of Mercy . —A recently published y . anv . hlet gives iistoun < ii"g disclosures oi the degree to which Popish practices , obtain in . Miss §* l ! cn '« s sisterhood . The ji ^ hop of Exeter lias directed that lady to reply to or explain the allegations . An extraordinary plank has just been received from Van Diomen ' s Land . It is harder than East India teak , i-. ' . eaawea 140 feet _ in length , 20 fcohei i „ breadth , und C inches thick , without a knot to he seen ' on the entire nrface .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 13, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_13031852/page/1/
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