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A) THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST " CO-OPERATIVE LAND SOCIETY.
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' Wednesday nig ht , June 10th 1846. jfy...
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VOL. X. NO. 448- LONDON, SATURDAY TTTNE ...
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Watford , 9 o 'Ciock, p.m. Thursday. ANO...
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PROTEST AGAINST THE SECOND READING OF TH...
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HOUSE OF LORDS.—Friday, June 5. Lord Rip...
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Transcript
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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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A) The Members Of The Chartist " Co-Operative Land Society.
A ) THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST " CO-OPERATIVE LAND SOCIETY .
' Wednesday Nig Ht , June 10th 1846. Jfy...
' Wednesday nig ht , June 10 th 1846 . jfy Dear Fbiesds ,- —There are many to whom this letter ( which stern necessity , duty to you and duty w myself , compete me to write ) will giveniuch pain , tat when the plain and simp le narrative is read none ^ jl blame me for the resolution to which you will * nd I hare been driven . Perhaps no man in this fgdi has ever been circumstanced as I have , and 1 jin Tain enough to think that amid a torrent of cir-( Otnstances that would have weig hed any othe portal to the ground , I have preserved an eveness t f bearing and uprightness of character which chaises comparison and defies slander . It is very
irksome to be compelled , now and then , to recur to the past , bnt as it is the only safe foundation whereon t ohise the future , I have no alternative . To iny narrative . —For thirteen years and a half , then , . 1 jjjvebeen at the head of such a popular movement 55 no coantry ever witnessed . I haTo seen characters , which I supposed above suspicion , yielding to jrwpowcrlng or irresistible influences . I have seen the political world turned tqpsy turvy ; men changing principles for new fangled notions , and parties violating every guarantee that long and trying events had g iv en of their faithfulness . I have remained steady jn themidst of change , constant in a whirlwind of
iaconstancy , and if any one circumstance more than another has enabled me to preserve my equilibrium in the storm it has been , the faithfulness with which 1 have ever administered the National Funds committed to my care . I have been entrusted with a larger amount of public money than any other man living , and it is now my pride to say , that upon a balance of accounts the NATION IS MY DEBTORI have been foolishl y lavish of my onra foods , but scrupulously protective of yours . I found the one ingredient necessary to bind a great party together was INTEGRITY , " and all my battles with sections of the moving party have been for the improper uses
to which public monies were applied . This 1 sought as much as possible to correct , b y settin g an example of punctuality in my own dealings , and that I have succeeded generally is manifest from the fact that your confidence in me is not only Unabated but in creases . Sut , my friends , if integrity - is indispensable to the preservation of public confidence , belief in that integrity is also indispensable to the fulfilment of a national project ; and to preserve it is the sole object of this to me most painful narrative . I arrived in London this monf-Ing for the purpose of arranging the purchase of 130 acres of the most beautiful estate in England for our purpose . There are 100 acres of old meadow land vrith a high road frontage for cottages , within fifteen miles of London , and one and a quarter of a railway
station . I was obliged to treat for it by private confe actas it is to be sold in three lots , and Idare not ventur e upo n bu y in g land in lot s as the pr ice mi g ht be considerably raised . . Ton might be sore that this fascinating prospect gave a relish to my next week ' s hbour , and made me enjoy the thoughts of the past . Shortly after I arrived in London I had s visit from Mr . Clark , who put me in possession of fil e following facts , and in the following manner ; 'Veil , sir , I saw Cooper since I last saw you , and 1 don't know what he is about . He said that we woe all deceived , that yon were not fit to be trusted nth the funds or the management of the affaire . He asked in whose name the Estate was purchased ? sad when I said in yours , till we were enrolled , he said , ' Good God ! why the man is over head and ears in debt . Bo yon know Ma liabilities ? Do von know
ftathelsSUPPORTINGTflE STARUPONTflE LAND FUND ? and as to settling his accounts at Manchester , did you COUNT THE POST-OFFICE ORDERS he produced , or what ' security have yon for the money—THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE UNDECEIVED . Well , my friends , it is to undeceive the country that I how write ; and , although sometimes snappish upon other questions , I can aford to write calmly upon money matters , as dates are stubborn facts , and figures are stern combatants . I shall now take those several charges seriatim .
The Estate was purchased in my name much against my consent . Had the society been enrolled it would have been purchased in the name of the trustees ; when it is enrolled , which it will be when the new act is passed , it will be conveyed to the trustees ; till the society is enrolled the trustees could not have conveyed the Estate to the shareholders ; all was done by the advice of Counsel . I purchased the Estate and paid the deposit , and when the title was completed I gave directions that the conveyance should be to Mr . Roberts . On the day before the purchase was completed Mr . Roberts ' clerk waited npon me , and said , " Sir , I CAN'T
HAVE THE PURCHASE MADE IN MR . ROBERTS' NAME , it will look very strange now , after the affair being carried so far in your name . ' - ' 1 said , " Never mind that , let the conveyance be to Mr . Egberts . " " Well , sir , it will make me look very awkward , and it will seem odd . " I consulted the Directors , whosaid , « TO BE SURE , LET THE CONVEYANCE BE IN YOUR NAME . " I consented very reluctantly , not that I doubted myself , hut beetle I had resolved that it should be otherwise . So Each for the purchase . Kb w for my liabilities .
My friends , I HAVE NO LIABILITIES . I owe no man . a guinea that could affect that purchase , and I owe no more of any sort than you shall presently know of . It is really heart-breaking to be dragged into this exposure of pecuniary matters , but «« y one who reads this letter will see that I have so alternative ; and that the success of a great national undertaking depends upon confidence . " DO TOU KNOW THAT HE IS SUPPORTING THE SPAR UPON THE LAND FUND ? " My friends , this is a direct charge of fraud , and one which , although painful to myself , I will answer most
dearly , simply , and emphatically . I shall take dates and figures , and from them shall establish sucha case as will , if possible , increase public confidence in me , and add to Mr . Cooper ' s guilt . The Land plan ^ established in April , ISia , and from that period to tbe present moment I will exhibit such a Star and land account as Mr . Cooper's NEW FRIENDS ^ siil perfectly understand . The pavment for paper and stamps for the Star are made by bill at 3 months , aid since the Land plan was established the Mowing have been the amount and dates of payment : — Jiil ; 19 , Paid Bill for paper aad stamps ... ... C 57 0 0 July 19 , Received from Mr . ArdilJ , as per cash boot , page , 136 ... 173 0 0 Bo . per do . by cheque in part of bill ... 150 0 0 1 17 , Received from Abtl Heywood 300 0 0 J € 23 O 0
LAND FUND . JalylS , Paid Treasurer all in land up to that time ... 150 0 0 Sot . 19 , Paid bill for paper and stamps 659 9 2 17 , Received from Abel Heywood S 0 O 0 0 Borrowed from TV . P , Roberts , ( SOTLAKD HONEYj 339 0 0 Cheque from Mr . Ardill ... ... 56 9 2 70 S 3 2 Ell C 09 9 2 Paid Landlady ... 47 0 0 How humiliating all this is—but , thank Go d , I can doit .
LAXD TTJND . Sept . 4 . Paid bank , as per Treasurer ' s Sank Book ... 748 12 o Sov , 1 . Do . ( nearly Bill tbir ) 891 4 2 April 19 . Due by BiU for paper and stamps 1470 6 9 14 . Received from Abel Heywood ... ... 900 0 0 Ditto from quarterly accouuts of Star . to end of & ardi 335 5 9 > ¦ 1 , 285 5 9 April 19 . Paid on BiU of £ 1470 Cd , Jid 1200 0 0 K < nevs'Ing by bill and paving five per cent , for it 279 7 10 LAND TURD . Jan . 31 . Paid Bank ... . * . " 1 J 0 D i J >
' Wednesday Nig Ht , June 10th 1846. Jfy...
So much for the Star bein ? supported by tho Land Fund ; now for weekly expences . Composition and Printing H 10 0 Sob Editors ... ... ° "" \ n a Office ... i a n • ••• . . . .. . .. . O " ± V Newspaper and cart men ... 15 0 33 19 o London Sale abont 2 , 000 weekly paid in cash £ 3 $ 6 8
From the above account it will be seen that , with t he exception of Air . Heywood , and the London Agents , that from April , 1 S 45 . to April 1846 , 1 have only put down 43 S 5 , as received from all other agents of the Star . This brings the Star account down to the 19 th of April , 1846 . DID TOU COUNT THE MONIES ? Aprils . Paid into Bank ... 1920 14 0 ( Bill due 19 th inst . ) PAYMENTS SINCE . Deposit on Estate ... 372 0 0 Paid expences ... 77 8 2 Returned money ... 20 0 0 ¦ 469 8 2 £ 8 , 396 2 2
This account was exhibited at Carpenters' Hall , on Sunday , April J 2 th , and included all monies re- ' ceived up to the end of March . I left London on Thursday night , April 9 th , and took with me all the post office orders which had been received the two previous weeks to have them ' signed , with the exception of some that I sent off the previous week for signature , to make sure of having a sufficient amount to cover what was wrongly sent in the previous two
months . I wrote to the Treasurer and told him of the quantity of irregular orders , and asked how I should state them in my general account ; his answer was , it you have not the money to cover them , I will send it to you , but I am very anxious for a full and simple ' account . The monies came in for the Star , and I advanced over £ 200 to make the account simple , and repaid myself to take up my bill , or part of it , due on the 19 th . Perhaps this REPAYING 01 ' MYSELF , so contrary to my usual practice , was an
error . Now , all who know that the Land Fund is paid in Post-office orders will see that what was received up to the 4 th and 11 th of April could not have been cashed on the 9 th , when I paid all monies into the treasurer ' s account up to the end of March . BUT DID IOTJ COUNT THE MONIES ? TES ; MR , JOHN MURRAY , AND FOUR OR FIVE
OTHER PERSONS , WENT OYER THEM WITH ME , AT THE MOSELEY ARMS , ON SUNDAY ; and I told Mr . Murray to hand them lor inspection to a reporter who was reporting the proceedings . Sut think of a man , a great philanthropist , too , asking , " Did you count the Post-ofiici ' orders ? " Now , my friends , compare all the dates of my lodgments of the Land Fund with the dates when my own bills were due , and ask yourselveswhether ever so clear a refutation was given to malicious slander ? But I have not yet done with this charge . In July I was very anxious to try an experiment npon a model farm , and was in treaty for
twenty-four acres at Pinner , which I was promised . I mentioned the fact to Mr . Roberts , and told him that I had no cap ital to take from the Star . He had a large number of shares in the Great Western Railway , and sent me , by return of post , five , to sell , and use the money . I sold the five for £ 550 , a large portion of which went to pay off Messrs . Yates and Turner ' s hill of costs for the Lancashire trials , White ' s trials , and all the legal proceedings in London connected with those trials , and other debts . Isold the copyright of my "Small Farms" work for £ 95 ; and I sold property that cost me over £ 1 , 200 for £ 93 , within the same period , to pay off
LIABILITIES . In July I was sadly pressed tor money ; and a person who knew it said , " Can ' t yon USE THE LAND MONEY ? " I replied , "NO , I WILL GO WITHOUT MY DINNER . FIRST !" Ihave now been accurate as to dates , which I have exhibited in my hook and the banker ' s hook , to Messrs . Wheeler and Clark ; and you will learn that I was borrowing money at five per cent , rather than touch the fund ; that , while I had over £ 1 , 500 inmy possession , on the 19 th of April , I renewed a bill , and injured my credit , and paid five per cent , for the money . In October last . I was very hard pressed for money—indeed , I have always been so ; and on my
c return from the Continent I was served with a writ for £ 22 4 s . 6 d ., the very first writ I was ever served with in my life . It was upon a bill of £ 20 , given nnder the following circumstances : —In February , 1845 , two working men in Manchester were about entering into business ; they asked me to lend them £ 30 . I told them the fact , that I had it not . They then begged of me to lend them my bill at six months , which they could get cash for , assuring me that I should never hear more ef it . I did hear no more of it till I was served with a writ ; I had not the money at the moment , and sooner than use the Land money I incurred more costs till I paid it .
j t li . c a t 3 , * » I ' I have been appointed treasurer to the Expence Fund , which is now large , and I have invariably mixed that up with the General Land Fund , and was taunted for doing so at Manchester . Since my last lodgment , the weekly expence of building , for bricks , timber , labour , and expences of all sorts have been and will be so large that I have not settled , nor could I ; but EVERY FRACTION IS THESE , and at the end of the quarter shall all be placed to the account of the Treasurer up to the day of my RESIGNATION , which shall be the day of balancing my accounts , as I am resolved that the jealousies and" ambition of artful men shall not injure a I cause that I have deeply at heart . If 1 can preserve nothing else I will preserve my honour ; I will beg
with it rather than fare sumptuously and fraudulently upon your confidence without it . I hope that no one will suppose me capable of being driven out of my course , however , by the ravings of a madman . No , my friends , w hen I say that I will resign , I merely mean that portion of my labours , that one sing le office , which enables ignorant , insolent , presumptuous peop le to attack me . I mean only to resign my office of Deputy Treasurer—I mean still to retain my office of Director and Bailiff . I Ho not mean to abate a particle of my zeal and resolution , but I do mean that henceforth no man shall be able to charge me with any ether crime than that of laziness . I refused to be Treasurer , I now relinquish the deputyship , and will henceforth content myself with the title and labour of CHARTIST BAILIFF . Now FOR
"THAT MAN'S LIABILITIES . " W . P . Roberts , Esq £ 35 ° ° 0 Abel Heywood 750 0 0 Ilicliard Oastler ... 75 0 0 Unpaid Shares on Star about ... 180 0 0 £ 1 , 555 00 I am now merely giving the Star liabilities , which include all my liabilities . Due to me by Chartist agents which I never expect to see , about ... £ 3 , 400 0 0 Due to me by Chartists , money IK . TENDED to be repaid , about ... 700 0 0 Due to ine on account of bringing out Mr . Cooper ' s " Purgatory of Suicides ... ... ... ... 30 0 0 * ii * £ 4 , 130 0 0 The almc sum docs not include monies paid to families of poor Chartists , nor am I now speaking o the thousands that I have expended . in travelling , getting up meetings and so forth ; no small item , when I tell \ ou that the meeting to oppose the Fox and Goose club at Leeds cost me over £ 80 , and one of Mr . Cooper ' s prompters negotiated with a Leeds
' Wednesday Nig Ht , June 10th 1846. Jfy...
Tory to have the expences paid , which I declined I have told you a tedious tale that has been dragged from me ; and now let me offer a word of comment on the hero of my narrative . You are all aware thai Mr . C . and I had had some differences prior to his release from Stafford gaol ; shortly after his liberation he called upon me , and we had a very friendly explanation . It was NOT THEN his interest to fall out with me . In order to convince him that I had good grounds for suspicion before his conviction , I read two very long communications
from two bodies of the Chartists of Leicester . The one from poor Duffy and the veritable Chartists , and signed by about forty-eight , and for which they DEMANDED publication ; the other from another body with whom Mr . Cooper had formerly acted , also DEMANDING publication as a means of saving the Chartist cause from Mr . Cooper . I shall not now even hint at . the import of . those communications , suffice it to say , that when I read then ) Mr . Cooper looked arhazed . and said , * ' Well , you do indeed astonish me . IDON'T WONDER NOW AT
YOUR SUSPICION . All the past APPEARKD to be forgotten . . The next time I saw Mr . Cooper he brought his manuscript poem with him , and he told me that he had been with Douglas Jerrbldj with'Dichens , " ( Foster of the Examiner ,. Lady Blessington , and a host 0 / publishers . That all had given fair words and great praise , but that none would PLAY THE FOOL for him . He sat down and read some portions of his poem-connected with the history of his mother , which made him cry , and 1 wept with him . He said , " The rascals ! when I think how they nsed to sell the old soul up I pant for revenge . " I stopped him and said , "Well , Copper , the old friend is thebestafter all , send Mr . M ' Gowanupto
me , and you shall have satisfaction ; ILL BRING OUT YOUR CHILD . " At the moment his gratitude had no bounds : He brought Mr . M'Go wan to me ; and I gave him orders to print the poem , to get paper on my account , and to SEND ME IN TUE BILL . I thought Cooper would have gone mad with joy . My LIABILITIES would amount to nearly £ 70 . The publisher purchased the work and paid for the printing , but £ 30 is still due for paper for which I have paid , and for advertisement duty which I have paid . As those whom I have most served have most abused me , perhaps Mr . Cooper too may say that I printed his poem to DAMN HIM , but I can only observe that my mode of damning Chartist leaders is a very fascinating one .
From the moment that I became Mr . Cooper ' * patron to the present moment , he has gone out of his way to vilify , abuse and misrepresent me . He even said that I had treated him shabbily , in not spending large sums of money in . advertising his poem in the daily newspapers ; he wished to increase my LIABILITIES . Mr . Cooper believes himself capable of using the land plan as a wedge to split up the Chartist party , and , being wholly and helplessly
gnorant of the subject , he affects to dislike it . In short , he must have a grievance , and he has fabricated one . Now , my friends , it will be for you to say whether or not Mr . Clark was justified in repeating to me what Mr . Copper mentioned , not in confidence but as a matter upon which he intended to open your eyes . Could . Mr . Clark have done otherwise asa director than mention the fact , and could I do otherwise than meet it as I have done ? It is a
favorite scheme with my opponents , when they are beaten with their own weapons , to turn round and cry out MORE DENUNCIATION . I have been longer than any other man in the present movement , and I declare on my own knowledge , and on my own conscience , that Mr . Thomas Cooper has been by far the most extensive mischief-makerHhat ever was in the movement , from June 1842 to the present moment . Mr . Cooper must not use the pot-house , the coffee-shop , and the news shops , as places to sport with my character , and then fly to the justice of defending himself in the Star SUPPORTED BY THE
LAND FUND . If he stated what Clark repeated , of which there can be no doubt , he has a simple answer and shall not make his own fabrication the cause of controversy in the Star . It is a portion of his plan , but for this time he will find himself frustrated . As to the mere spleen of Mr . Cooper , it is foolish ; as to his power ? . there is nothing to be dreaded from them beyond his own undoing . He speaks loudly upon natural infirmities , and professes much kindliness o f nature , and then he will not be angry with me when I tell him that . nature never designed him for any more extensive movement than leader of three or four
who would surrender all self-thought and self-respect . No man that ever I heard of has agreed for three months with Mr . Cooper ; no man ever will , no man ever can . Nature made him a poet , I made him an author , and it is for you to say whether or no he has carried his christian principles , SO pompously boasted of , into practice . It is now time that I should be plain with those for whom I spend every hour oi my life , and every penny of my money . Some scamping vagabonds run about the country , and wberevei
they can find two or three gathered together , they begin to calculate tho profits on the Northern Star * and speak of them as if they had a right to sliar them amongst them . I think they have dona so pretty extensively ; but , my friends , did yeu ever before hear of the proprietor of a newspaper being called upon to account for his profits ; and as to Chartist newspapers and publications , is it not the invariable custom to make an appeal to the public to make good all the losses , and if there are profits they are pocketed .
The way I now spend my time is this . I am up at 1 past 5 on Monday morning . I am at work for you till ten at night on Monday and Tuesday . On Wednesday at eight in the evening , I leave for London to do my own business . 1 sit up till two , and sometimes three on Thursday morning . It is not yet seven , and I am at work . I work without a moment's cessation till eight on Thursday evening Start again for the Farm , arrive at ten , up at hallpast five , and work till ten on Friday and
Saturday . On Sunday post all the books to the amount of afraction with your foreman , he keeps tbe [ accounts , I pay the money . The Sunday before last I travelled seventy miles , and walked from one till four o ' clock with Mr . Doyle , over nearly 300 acres of ground , in the melting sun . Last Sunday , after my work , I walked over every field of 130 acres in a broiling sun , and nw I tell you , ones for all , that the return , the only return I expect , is , that while I work like a slave . YOU WILL MEET MY
ASSAILANTS like men . No hope of reward , not any sum , would induce me to work for myself as I work for you . I mean to astonish the world with my sue * cess , and you with my constancy . You will now proceed to appoint my successor to the office entailing no trouble . THE LABOUR PART 1 WILL YIELD TO NONE , anddont be alarmed for your funds , whoever you appoint shall do his duty ; YOUR FUNDS ARE SAFE . If I had ten millions of money and was at a loss for safe custody , I most solemnly declare that I would rather place them in the hands of W . P . Roberts , than in any Bank in the world
and I would be more sure of them when I wanted j them . Of him I rejoice to think there is no doub { . of ME THERE SHALL BE NONE . It was mj intention to have written you a very different letter this week , one that would have given you the greatest pleasure , as all goes on cheeringly . Visitors still continue to pour upon us , and now the higher , nay the highest order are looking at us . On Saturday last , when the men had lei ' t work , Lord Robert Grosvenor visited the farm . I escorted him through the whole , and explained the plan to him ; he appeared much pleased , aud promised iue another visit when we had made more pVogyess-.
' Wednesday Nig Ht , June 10th 1846. Jfy...
I have read this : letter all through for Messrs , WheelerSrad . -ClarkfCi asked , Clark if I had miss tated or ^^ prstated . Cooper ' s communication ? His answer was || ro ^« scept that Cooper aaitf much mor e and put it mnch more bittorly than you have ; besides , "said hej *? we have all heard it from more than a dozen ; feopl & ihat Csoper . has told it to , but . they only laugh atjifc . " ' It i 3 all very well my friends to laugh , bu | some who do not believe it will attempt to make ' a-hfindle of it . I have now done , detertermined { thatho trick , ; scheme ; or falsehood , shall drive me ; from my position , - or ; allow others to luxuriate in . tho failure of apian to which I attach paramount Importance . Whenever you are tired
of me , sa ^ so , jand if you desire it I will have great pleasure rahtmding over all my responsible offices to Mr . Cobpt & 'i while I will remain as manager of the works . ; , Ihave always shown you the necessity for presei * vihk ; Some fund in hand for emergencies , and youiwillfsee the propriety of it when it was in the power ofelhe ; Victim Fund Committee to draw upon me alight * £ 16 for John Frost . Now that ray longSlet ^ is-written , I -feet' no slight pain at being cojnpjjted ^ to take ' upso much space in the refutat ^ oflllheariiunwarrantaWe , unbeliered ; and ungrateful a ' slander , but , if ever my integrity is shaken , your cause , which is my cause ,, perishes , and this is the . only excuse that I need offer . Your faithful friend and bailiff , Fbargus O'Conxor .
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Vol. X. No. 448- London, Saturday Tttne ...
VOL . X . NO . 448- LONDON , SATURDAY TTTNE 13 1846 ^ * m ™«« ™ ^ - ^ v- » "ami U ^ M , . J . UaU' A . O , lCy * U . yive 8 hnHn 8 » and Sfxpcnce per QMnrler
Watford , 9 O 'Ciock, P.M. Thursday. Ano...
Watford , 9 o 'Ciock , p . m . Thursday . ANOTHER PURCHASE . 130 ACRES OF PRIME LAND , 100 OF IT MEADOW . Since writing the above , and doing my day ' s work , I have been to Watford and to your ESTATE , within a mile and a quarter of that town , within 15 miles of London , and a mile and a quarter of Bushy station on the London and Birmingham Railway , within two miles and a half of the London Canal , with three hi gh road frontages for buildings ; particulars next week . It is now 9 o ' clock on Thursday night , and Mr . Wheeler , who accompanied me , has but just time to get back in order to insert this cheering information in the first Edition . Your faithful friend , Feargus O'Conkor . . _ . \
Protest Against The Second Reading Of Th...
PROTEST AGAINST THE SECOND READING OF THE CUSTOMS' BILL . Dissentient , 1 . Because all those who are engaged in any branch of native industry are justly entitled to full and effectual protection in the Home Market against the competition of foreigners , who , from working at lower wages , and from being much less burdened with taxation , might bo able to undersell them , and thus to depriva them of their due remuneration , 2 . Because this country has very long flourished under a system ot protection which enabled it to establish several branches of industry that would not
otherwise have existed , and to give profitable employment to an inereasint' population . S . Because it cannot reasonably be expected that the proposed reduction of duties would be followed by reciprocity on the part of any foreign state ; but , even if such were to be the case , and that some branches of native industry were encouraged while others were depressed , the measure could not be justified , as no Government has a right to impoverish one portion of the community for . the profit of another . " ''" ¦¦'¦
i . Because the proposed measure would be most injurious to many of the industrious classes ,. by reducing their wages , or by depriving them of employment , and would thus produce great distress and discontent , which would be detrimental and dangerous to all the other classes of the community . 5 . Because all the industrial classes ought to be fully represented in the House of Commons , which is not at present the case , and could not be deprived of protection without tho most flagrant injustice , without destroying their respect . for the existing institutions of the country , and without endangering the security of property of every description . Stanhope .
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House Of Lords.—Friday, June 5. Lord Rip...
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Friday , June 5 . Lord Ripon moved that the Hardinge and Gough Annuities Bill be committed . Lord Mosteaqle strongly objected to the clause which provided that the annuities should not be given during the lives of their Lordships , in consequence of the East India Company having settled pensions on their Lordships for life . The Duke of Richmond moved , in committee , to expunge the third clause , which made the pailiamentary . grant to cease so long as that of the East India Company of £ 5 , 000 was paid to Lord Hardinge . Lord Ripon opposed the amendment . After considerable discussion a division took place , in which the amendment was carried by a majority of 3 S over 26 . The Bill then went through Committee , as also did Lord Gouou s , which was similarly amended .
Earl FnzwiLLiAM then brought forward his resolutions , with regard to railway schemes , which , after some observations from Lord Dauiousie , were withdrawn . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Fkiday , June 5 . Sir James GiurrAif stated , in reply to Mr . G , Berkeley , that no alteration of the present system of delivering letters on Sundays was in contemplation .
THE POOR LAW REMOVAL BILL , Mr . E . Dexisox moved that it be an instruction to the committee on the Bill , to make provision for the establishment of union settlements . After a day to be fixed ; tor each union , all paupers of the parishes comprising the union to be settled in the union , and not in any parish of such union . That such paupers be maintained , and all expenses defrayed from a fund levied from each parish , in the proportion of the expenditure for the relief of the poor incurred by such parish , for the last seven years . Debts already charged on tho rates , and interest due in respect of such debts , not to be affected by the change . Mr . Baskes opposed the instruction , because no proposition could have been made which would more effectually operate to prevent the employment of labourers .
Sir James Graham said , that as the principle involved in the instruction was one which he had himself proposed to the house in a former measure , he would support it ; but if it should be the pleasure of the house not to sanction that instruction , he should not on that account recede from the Bill proposed by her Majesty ' s government . As to tbe delay which would be occasioned by adopting the motifca of the lion , gentleman , he could only say , that if the house should carry the motion , he-would take care that the Bill should be altered accordingly in a few days , and laid on the table of the house early next week . After observations from Sir R . Inglis , Colonel W ' ooil , Mr . Rice , Mr . Christopher , Mr . Strutt , Mr . Packington , Mr . C . Wood , Mr . Henley , Mr . V . Srrithand Mr . Newdsente .
, Mr . T . DoNCOunK moved as an amendment , "That it he an instruction to . the committee on the Pour Removal Bill , that they he empowered to make provision for the repeal of all laws regulating the . settlement of the poor , aud to makeprovision . that all poor persons entitled to relief henceforth shall have the necessary relief afforded to them within the union where such necessities occur ; and shall also make provision to supply the requisite funds from the county rates , or such other equitable
assessment as Parliament in ita wisdom shall devise . The House , the country , and the Ministry , must be wo ) l aware that free trade in tho abstract had not been popular with tho great operative classes of the country . They had looked upon the contest between tho landed and tho manufacturing interest with apathy and indifference , . regarding it as a sort of ' pull-devil , pull-baker conflict , " the baker being upon the whole rather the favourite .- —( Laug hter . ) And why was i . t that thev regarded the struggle with apathy ? Because they did not believe that the cap-
House Of Lords.—Friday, June 5. Lord Rip...
italists of the country , whose fortunes had been amassed by fchefr labour and skill , were eufficiently mindful of their interests in times of depression . The large manufacturers , who had'accumulated imniensefortunesbyfihein'd'astryoftaelabouringclassesj ought not to be the persons to turn ? them . adrHt to wrestle with adverse fortuses in the moment of distress , after they had takes out ef their- sinews eve ;? y particle of sap whick they couhL extract . ( Dear , hear . ) The poor had too often reason to charge the manufacturers with susft'oversight during r / sriods of commercial depression . ( Hear , hear . ) The Right Hon . Baronet at the hcad-of this Government on the occasion of submitting to the' country his- ' plan of commercial reform , held oafcanadjustment oF the law of settlement as a great boon to She nianufaoSarers and lauded interest . It now , however , appeared' the question was to be treated in avery different manner , he ( Mr .. Duncombe ) would lnavebeea content tb'tafce
the measure as he found it , if tho right hon . baronet had remained firm to his principles : It was not-the provisions of the Bill that were valuable , but in * the address of the right hon . baronetthere was a valuable communication , to tho effect , thatrwhere the labourer required relief , that relief 811001 * ' be giren upon the spot where it was requisite , instead ' ' of driving the poor person from post to pillar , as undbrthe presen * law of settlement . The right hon . baronet had ,, however , altered his original intention ; and had acceded to the . proposition of the hon ;' member for Malton . He ; ( Mr . Duncombe ) was sure that the country would not permit itself to lie done out of the measure , as unquestionably it woukhbe , if the proposition of the hon : member for Maltan were to receive their sanction . The hon . gentleman concluded by moving his amendment . General Johnstone seconded the amendment .
Mr . Bkihht was at a Joss to discover whether the object of the hon . member for Finsbury wastoDppose the Bill and the instruction of the hon . member for Malton , or to have a blow at the manufacturers . He stated , that the working classes felt no interest in the change about to be made in the Corn Laws ; : but he ( Mr . Bright ) believed that those classes felt the greatest interest in that change , and that the union which for the last two years existed between them and their employers had had the effect of bringing the leaders of both sides of the House to the opinion that the Corn Laws could be no longer maintained . Wherever manufacturing es =-tablishments were supported by large capital there was more attention paid to the comforts aud
education of the operatives than was bestowed on them in concerns carried on by limited capital , and yet the honourablememberfor Finsburypandered to the prejudices of ignorant persons by speaking of the disadvantages inflicted on the operatives by large capitalists . There was a concern at Halifax which , for three years paid wages to the amount of £ 120 , 000 , and during that period the proprietors did not return one single sixpence to the income tax . ( Great laughter and crit-s of " Hear , hear" from Lord George Bentinck . ) He ( Mr . Bright ) hoped that the noble lord , the member for Lynn , did not think so badly of human nature as to suppose that this was not possible . ( Laughter . ) During that period the proprietors of that concern did not make 6 d . profit .
He told the hon . member , for Finsbury , that those parties with whom he was found at public meetings out of doors had been the greatest enemies of . the repeal of the Corn Laws . ( Cries of " Name . " ) Let the hon . member read the public reports of those meetin g s , and they would find out the names . lie ( Mr . Bright ) stated the fact , and he meant "to maintain it . He would only add , that the hon . member did not represent the opinions of the working classes when he said they were apathetic on this question , and though he might have succeeded in inflaming the bad passions of the working classes within his sphere , he ( Mr . Bright ) would warn him not to call himself the representative in that house of the working classes in Lancashire and Yorkshire . Lord G . Bentinck regrettetl that such an attack should have been made on his hon . friend ( Mr . Duncombe ) . He believed his arguments to be true , his reasoning to be conclusive . He could instance 340
cases of poor suffering individuals who were thrown into the infirmary from the wounds and afflictions they had been subjected to in the mills , ami of that number he knew that only two were compensated . Are the charges against the hon . member for Finsbury just ? I should have thought , if there were any man in this house who had a right to say he knew something of the feeling of the operatives , it was my right hon . friend the member for Finsbury . ( Hear , hear . ) Upon what interest is ho returned to this house ? Is it on the interest of the millowncrs , or is it on the interest of tho landed aristocracy ? Is he not especially returned by a constituency consisting of tho lower classes — of the working classes ? Therefore , I think we have a right to take the opinions of the hon . member for Finsbury as affording a just criterion of tbe feelings of the operatives of tho country . ( Hear , hear , hear , ) And I do believe helms told the house the truth when
he told you that the operatives took no great interest in the question mooted between the ogriculturaland the manufacturing interest . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , I do not believe that the operatives are Free-traders . ( Hear , hear . ) lie thought , as regarded the motion of the member for Finsbury , that the further consideration of it should be adjourned , ia order that the house might be able to consider the matter fully and maturely . ( Hear . ) » After some observations from Lord John Russell and Lord J . Manners , the House divided first on Mr . T . Buncombe ' s amendment—For Mr . Buncombe ' s Amendment 59 Against it 105—Majority against the Amendment ... 46 The House then divided on Mr . E . Denison ' s
instruction—For tho Instruction 02 Against it 70—Majority for the Instruction 22 Mr . T . Duncombz said , he considered that some amendment of the poor law of this country would be more acceptable than an Irish Coercion Bill , and should have precedence of it . On Monday , therefore , he should make a motion to that effect . After a short discussion , it was arramred that the House should go into committee pro formCc on the bill next Monday , in order to in loducothe ^ amendment consequent upon the instrnetios which had been carried ; a future day to be then fixed for going regularly into committee . The other orders of the day were then disposed of . and the house adjourned " at half-past twelve o ' clock .
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Monday , June S . The house met at five o ' clock . Tho Earl of Ripon laid on the table , by command ; a copy of the minute of the Board of Trade on the report of the Commissioners on Railway Gauges . BATHS AND WASHHOUSES FOR THE POOR . The Bishop of London ; said , that he wished- -to call the attention of the house to several petitions ho held in his hand , and which related to a siiJyi'Cfc deeply affecting both the physical and moral welfare of the public . These petitions referred to the establishment ofbaths and washhouses for the labouring classes , and the object of the petitioners was tp praythat their Lordships to pass into a law a measure which ho believed would shortly be laid on the tabl-a of the
house , enabling boroughs and parishes of a certain size to borrow money on-the security of tho rates for the purpose uf establishing baths and washhouses for the poor . 1 le believed that these institutions would be established without any risk of capita ! ^ But even if there was any risk , he was sure thai ; it would be amply compensated by the benelit thesa institutions would confer on the public . He need not remind their Lordships how much and how intimately the moral and social condition of the labouring classes was connected with their physical condition . Until : something were done to mitigate the evils , wnichcramp the energies of that class of the community , which ought to form the basis and tho strength 06 all the o ther classes , it would be ia ruin for the
philanthropist or politician to carry into eusct . any af their theories for the improvement of the moral sad social condition of the poor . r I ? his , however , waa no new experiment , for it had . been tried , and it had been tried on a scale safficieatly large to jusfci ! . y the most sanguine expectations , of the greatest sueeess , if tried on a still greater scalev These petitionastatcd in strong terms the evils which resulted from the overcrowded state of the poor in the metropolis , ami he mm bo allowed to state that this orer-. erowdiEg had been occasioned by carrying into effect the nwqnt alterations which had been , made in London . These alterations were no doubt a part benefit ia themselves ; . yet , in the meantime , a great hardship was inflicted
on the poor , who were driven out of their wretched tenements and compelled to resort to worse . The consequence m as , that some portion ot the metropolis were now so overcrowded that two families were compelled to occupy one room , All this tended to an obvious disregard of the decencies and proprictii s of life . It was . impossible that persons so crowded could he cleanly , even if they would . But if they had the wish they would soon ' loso it . Another consequence which he should mention was , that this owr . crowding occasioned a-greataggravation ofdiscasc . It changed the type of * disease . It so gradually lowovvt the whole condition of the labourer that medical men were Obliged to adopt a different treatment , and mjv .
House Of Lords.—Friday, June 5. Lord Rip...
instead of having feeoufse to depletion the > ficlfninlsv tered tonics . ( Hear , hear . ) Some twenty . years ago , whenhe was a parish clergyman , he recollected an instance of one house containing sixteen families / comprising sixty-four persons In all . Each family there had a separate room ; but it was not unusual S ^ L !? 52 ? in he met" > P <> lis . two families , consjsting of the fathers and mothers , and some five or w , n \ " ^ f « ach j occupying the same room , ( Hear , hear . ) lie therefore said , that great benefit would be conferred on those families if they could wash their linen away from home , in fact , at one of those institutions , where they could get plenty of wafer , bath
hot and cold , and a proper apparatus . In houses tbu thickly inhabited it would clearly be seen tbe injury * which must be felt by washiug the linen of the faniilv , where the houses would be in a constant state of humidity from the steam . It m ust be admitted thatf baths are necessary to the health of those to whom ablution was not habitual . After alluding to the success which had attended the washhouses and ) baths at Liverpool , and in Glasshouse Yard , London , the right rev . prelate said , he hoped ; steps would be taken to meet this state of things , and that the recreation and innocent amusement of the labouring classe s , which had been so little attended to for a long time , would be now considered . He could cite a precedent in favour of the measure" which had been
proposed for last session ; an Ac * was passed author rising the different town councils to borrow money for the establishment of museums and parIo | ' for the instruction and roausement of thepablic ; but unless they provided bath * and washhouses ' so as to bugec habits of cleanliness-, it would beis - Tain to provide amusement and instruction for the * by means of museums and parks . ( Hear , hear . ) The right rev . prelate-concluded hy presenting the petitions ; The Marquis f > f Nomfxxm said , bethought the right ret . prelate owed bo apology for introducing soimportant a subject . It was- a most important question , and in cdnnezion with a subject tha * had been before the-other Hosae of- Parliament—the dwellings ot the poors-entitled to their ' greatest consideration . 1
ptear , hear . ) ' , ; r Lord Kinsaibd saidy : that' iS was impossible to imagine the distress sad mise ? y which existed in ' ithra metropolis—it required ocular proof to gm any one an idea of its extenfc . The poor were crowded together in consequence dHhe Improvements' taking pla « e in other parts of ths metropolis .- There were buildings now going on at Bethna ^ green , and there waa-not one sewer provided for ih ' & m , and this , he thought , showed the necessity ^ arid j . indeed , he considered it high time that a Board'of Health should be established . The Bishop of Dwkbam : presented a petition front Durham in favour of ' the Corn Bill ,. and the Marquis of LofOONDERBv seised the opportunity to defend himself . ' from the imputation of having-been a recent convert to the measure .
' . CORN IMPORTATION Bl & L . l Tim Bnke of BuckiiYgd-am gave notice , that in committer-on the Com Importation -Bill , he should move thatnhe words •« until the 1 st day-of February , 1849 , " be omitted . ( Hear , hear , hear . )' LORDS HARDINGE- AND ' . GGUG-H'S ANNUITY BILL . On the motion of Earl Ripon ; The presentation of the report on- these Bills was postponed . untU Tuesday next .
; TITHES . J ; Earl Gro t ' then presented a petition' ^ rora th er churchwardenirof the parish of Wokingham , a peculiar of tho Dean of Salisbury , by whom the tithes , commuted at ii 3 j 69 S per annum , are leassd out for lives , renewable on payment of a fine at an annual rent of £ 20 peivannum . The stipend of the perpetual curate is & J 50 per annum , of-which only £ 40 is paid out of the tithes . To make matters worse , the church was out ot repair , and in consequence of tbe impossibility of arriving at a satisfactory-arrangement with-the'dean , and his lessee , the churchwardens had'been' obliged 10 expend between £$ > 0 and j £ 80 & on an inadequate repair of the church . - After detailing . the spiritual destitution of the parish , the noble lord- hoped' the Ecclesiastical Commissioners would step in when the lives fell vacant * and secure some of the reversionary interest for- the assistance of the parish , which was labouring-under grievanceslliat called loudiv for rntlrcss .
The Bishop of . Sujsfionr . admitted the hardship ; of the case , but saw no assistance immediately-available , eacepfcin the yearlyrentof £ 2 : 3 / which had just fallen in to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners , under an act of parliament ,, by a vacancy , in the deanery . When the existing leases expired , however a large sum would be applied , to tiie spiritual revief of- the parish , as the commission had resolved not to renew leases on Jives .- The right rov . prelate concluded by expressing a wish , for the abolition of- all peculiar jurisdictions . The Friendly Societies Bill was read a third time and passed ; und their loidships adjourned . HOUS-E . OF COMMONSi-Moxaar , J , u s *& The Speaker took the chair at-the usual hour ..
IRISH & GERGION- BILL AXD- BOOR- LAW REMOVAL . BILL . "Upon the order of tbe day for the second reading of the Protection of Life ( Ireland ) Bill , Mr . T . DuxooMnu objected to the progress- of the Coercion Bill until the Poor Law Removal Bill had been disposid . of . The Right Don .. Baronet had promised to take that Bill before the Irish- measure , and he called upon him to- / uitfJ his promise . The House had been requested to read tho Irish Bill a first tinidout of compliment to tho House of Lords ,, and that argument had weighed . so much . with many lion . Gentlemen that they had voted for the first reading though they now intendvd . to vote , against
thesecoad . The House had also been , surprised by the support given by the Government to-ithe motion of the Dent . Member for . Malton , and . he requested them to go on withtha-Eoor Law Removal Bill-, in order again to take their opinion upon the instsuction agreed . to on-Friday night . He did not believe that that instruction contained the sense of the House , and ' ae wished to raise the question : as to > the dischaip of that instruction . This was absolutely necessary to prevent the trouble and inconvenience of remodelling the Bill . He moved , therefore , that the order . of-the day for the Poor Law- Removal . Bill be taken in . preferenae to the orilcr of the day . upon the Protection of Life ( Ireland ) Bill . Upon the question being put , "
Sir J . Ghauam dealarvd that he would not object to the motion ot Mr . T . Duncombe , . if he would consent to have the order of the day read for the , mere sake ofipositponing it . After the decision- of the House on Friday-night , ho had . given directions on Saturday for tho preparation of certain clauses calculated to give enact to the instruction approved by the-majority of that House . lie . understood that those clauses were ) now ready ; . but he had-, not yet had time to consider them . If . the Uousa would agree . to postpone the order of the-day , which Mr . T . Buncombe hadimoved , lie should- be- ready on Wednesday or Thursday next to . go- , into Committee pro fsntuc-on tiiese abauses . Mr . Baskss . concurred with-Mr . Duncombe in thinking that the house had . been taken by surpriso by tho decision of Friday-. nigha . ;; for the
instruction ,, which was ther * affirmed , was the same measure which Sir James Graham had publicly declared on a ^ ' osmer occasion that he . had gjven up , because it was so distasteful to the . agricultural interest , lie was prepared to say , tha * . lx ; fore the house iidouted ' thau instruction , there niuat , he another division , and he hoped tha ^ VIr . D . utiaonjbe . woiiih ! take it on the present occasion . . Thc . l . uor .. Law : Removal Bill wis draught in by the Government as part of their grand : am ! comprehensivesshcnuv & ad waste accompany , it paripas & i . ^ 0 . the other . hoisse of Parliamv-nt . With rcg . ird to the arj ; uni 2 S » 5 that the consideration of it would iutcrpf . se . ( inlay hi the progress uf the Irish Coercion , Bill , ho- had only t' ) say , . thattlieuiiUarsal belicf-of . tho country was , that the-Government , would not : have ; the pow « r , even , if- it had the-wish , to' oan-j-. thah b : ll through Parliament .
Sir R . Peel cg $ ; JcI not admit thafc Iw had ever said th ^ t the Poo ? Law llenioviil B . Uitehould proceed . pari passu with the Corn Impoxtaiifta ; Bill , and with . tho Customs' Bill ; for ho : ha ( L si & ien \ tlmuighoaS- j that he would take she Irish Bill at , i \\ a owliest op ? portanity . Ha had fulfilled every , jssvrawe w-Ui-h he had ever siyen respecting tin- erdor of p » Uic business . A conversation of some interest then took \ i \ xm . as to the ti ' ma- when the fuvtkcv- oubfUo on tho J ' oor Semoval Bijlshuuid take place . . Atlas ' i J ^ y . % Dun-Bombc was . induced Uvvuhdra * his .-ivnei . dn ^ iu , oir condition , that an opportunity should he aWi « icd Liiu . of re-intxaducing tli & question on Tarrsihy-, when Sir J . © raham would , move iiyit the I'our- fiaw Removal . Bill be eomsaitteu awArwu . - ;
A-TTACKS . ON . THS MAGISTRACY . ¦ Mr Gouutt renewed his formevinasa-ies as to the , coarse intended to be adopted by the f & vernment ia . rsspect to the alleged . mjfeconduct of £ &• C . Taylor . o . 5 iS , !?" ' » l said > &» t when lucsjK-harges a » aiusfc Sir b . laylor wore ikst brought u ^ er the notice or > the house the honourable nienilvsii- for Athlc-ao had ; not spccifiail the r # me of the wim ^ r on whose in * , formation he had relied , sUU fii > o . mosti » ir . iue in . * , mimes bad beer . made . Tbo . sinli-mwii of tha honourable gentleKiiisn \ v «? , referred , to t ho-maaUratea of the
country . An expianatioti had bcearceidvud , from two Justices of thy Peace , who said the parti- in this case , whose cvideaco had been i ' ailv * relied on , was no more i ] . vm a convicted felon . " He therefore did not bi > lk > vt > tho accuracy of the slnsement vclcrivd to . He had sent down to Sir J . Tavior copies of the a 3 i < bvu . , awl had received that acii ' ikman s r-iwitivo i > s *\ tv « w 5 8 s io their falsity .- HsWd ! : i . t hesitate to toil t | H » t . osiimiv . hle -inemher for Athh . no ( Mr . J . C . ' . ! i ; -H ) trat Kir diariesT : \ . v : o : h > 'id her Mii . iesly s " i > omuitssi [ in "'; 'it this present ni . 'me ; ifc ai « ar . henr . l
A conversation Tniii . wed in whUh much-w-. t « . uh Was I ' l . phiVi . d . , 'ii .. co i- ' vct = '' A f . Coil f ; : r jircfemju t : 0 : o cli . rues iy « tfifea ii by air - J .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 13, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_13061846/page/1/
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