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Northern Star (1837-1852), 14th November 1846, Edition 2 of 3, Page 4, The Peace Society.—Thesecond of a series...

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    • lilft i>UUillTjiliS OiAll SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 1S«.
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      .-*- - The Northern Star. November 14, 1...

      .- * - - THE NORTHERN STAR . November 14 , 1840 .

      Sow Ready, Price One Shilling. . Thk Sbcosd Edition Of

      Sow ready , Price One Shilling . . THK SBCOSD EDITION OF

      Ad00411

      MT LIFE , OR OUR SOCIAL STATE , PiRT I . a 1 'oem , hyEKNEST J OSES , Barrister at Law . Ynll of wild dreams , strange fancies and graceful images , interspersed with many bright and biautiful Oiouslits , its chief defect is its brevity " The author ' s inspWtions scttn to snsh fresh and sparkli ng from llij > j > oirene . lie will want neither readers nor admirers . -Morn . * gl ' osL It contains wore pregnant thoughts , more bursts t > f i « r ; cii . « wer , inure , in fine , of the truly grand and Inmutt-> l , fhan any ixwtical work , which lias made its appc . ir-7 t € tf .. r years . VTe know of few things more drmiiati-? 3 Hyinteuse than the scenes hstweer ' Viriiir-P , Warren Ittt-l .-nv . —JVeir Quarterly Jlcnicw . Published by 3 Ir . Xewby , 72 , Mo . timer-street , CavMi-%$ l-squarc . booksellers

      Ad00412

      CHARTIST POEMS , BY ERNEST JOSES . . Price Three Pence . SECOSO EDITION , HEV 1 SED AKU COBBECTED . 5 he wish having been expressed in several quarters for %% t author io publish in a collected form JiiS , PosniS * 3 » thav « appeared in the Northern Star , he begs to an-S-Ctaeetliat a revised and corrected selection under the s &» re title is now on sale . Agents arc requested to « -nd their orders io the author loMr . Wheeler , at the offlce of the N . C . A ., 88 , Dean Street , Soho , iondou , or to SI'Gowan & Co ., Printers , 16 , Great Windmill Street , Ilayniarket , London , where conies may he procured .

      Ad00413

      TO TAILORS . IOXDOX ind PAI 1 IS FASHION'S FOR AUTUMN A > "I > WINTER , lSIii-47 . By READ and Co ., 12 , IIart- ? n-eet , Bloomsbury square , London ; And G . Berger , Ilolywell-street , Strand ; May be had of all booksellers , wheresoever residing . SOW BEaDT , By approbation of her Majesty Queen Victoria , and ids Royal Highness Prince Albert , a splendid print richly coloured rnd exquisitely executed View of 11 yd Park Ga .--3 eus , as seen from Hyde Park , London . With this beautiiul Print will he sent Dress , Frock , and Riding Coal r « i : » -ras , the o west style ChesterneM , and the X-jw Fashionable Double-breasted Waistcoat , with Skirts . The uieibod of reducing and increasing them * br all sizes , csi'kunrd in the most simple manner , with I > ur estra Piatt .- ? , and can be easily performed by any person . Hauiier of making up , and a full description of the Uniforms , as now to be worn in the Royal Navy , and Other inibnnation . —Price 10 s . or p :: st-free lis .

      Ad00414

      UTUOGKAriilC ENGRAVINGS 07 THE DUNGOMBE TESTIMONIAL . MAT still be had at the Office of Messrs . M'Oowax and Co ., Ki , Great Windmill Street , Haymarket , London ; through any respectable bookseller in tOWuOV country ; orat any of the agents of the XorVtcrn Star . TheengraviugisonaV . irge scale , is executed in the raost finished stv'e , is finely printed on thitea paper , and gives a niinutJ description of the Testimonial , and has the luseripdon , & c , ice , engraved upon it . PRICE FOURPENCE .

      Ad00415

      BirOUTAXT TO PHOTOGRAPHISTS . AX application was m : id < - on the 22 nd September , to the Vice-Chancellor of England , by Air . Beard ( who , acting under a mosi ratraor / Jiny delusion , considers himse 5 ftlie * -c . V x « c ; , / Aj or ths Photographic process . ' ) to restrain - AIR . EGEKTO . W of 1 , Temple-street , and 148 , Fleet-sueet , rom Liking Photographic Portraits , which he does by a process entirely different from and very superior to 3 ir . Heard ' s , and at one-half the charge . His Honour refused the application in toto . - ¦ to license required to practice this process , which is taught by Air . Egcrton iu a /• ' »»• lessons at ami-derate charge . All fheAppsratus , Chemicals , etc ., to be had as usual at his Depot , I , Temple-street , H hitefriars .

      Ad00416

      In thePre = s . and will he ready on the 21 th Instant , The Fifli EM-icn , Clotli , 2 s . ( id . practical xasagsmett of small fafiMS , Br F . O'Cosxon , Esq . Abel Heywood , 53 , Oidham Street , Manchester : and ail BuokseU ^ rs .

      Immz Mtttii\%$.

      IMMz Mtttii \ %$ .

      The Peace Society.—Thesecond Of A Series...

      The Peace Society . —Thesecond of a series of lectures , in the coarse of delivery under the auspices of the Society for promoting Peace , and for the Abolition of War . was delivered on Tuesday evening , in the Hall of Commerce ; Threadneedle-street . by Mr . Henry Claup . jnn ., who was announced as the editor of the Lynn Pioneer , published at Lynn , Massachusets , in the Uaifed States . Mr . Clapp after describing the anxiety felt by a vast body of bis fellow countrymen , nut nvrcly for the maintenance of pacific relations between the two nations , hat for the establishment of ; i i-nsnpleie brotherhood and unity of feeling ic ; vre » rii the s = us of Oid and JJew England , proceeed to ari' « : e that the spirit of war , based as it was up :, u i- » -iiit ; at ; uu a < id revenge , was at variance with Christianity , and that the institutions which encouraged xbosa passiens , engerdered every species of moral c-iirimiion , and therefore ousiht to be

      abandoned , lie trusted the day was not distant when the eagle , 'which ^ o ^ ni ed the heraldic bearing of America , weird beexcb ? nis r « j f y the dove , and that the lion , vcliicli was appcr . iicil as a supporter to the arms of Great Britain , -. wnld give place to the lamb , lie contended thus as ' . ho passions of retaliation and rcvease would be check **! in individuals , so it also ought to be curbed iu nations ; and that the principles uhirli governed the domestic hearth , ou . jJifc to dictate to nations their irue enmie of duty . It was to give effect to these principles , that he and many of his countrymen de .-. ir < d to see a league formed , to abulish and exercise i : e spirit of war . Mr . Ciapp introduced several intsreiiiuu narratives in the course of his address in iilu-tttUion of his arguments , and concluded a lecture , wbx-li occupied upwards of two hours in tho delivery , amidst general plaudits . The hall was fully attended , especially by the members of the Sucictv of Friend .

      Lord Match ' s Day . —On Monday the usual procession and f .-rnialitics attendant on the swearing iu of Sir Gi-o-i : v Carroll to the office of Lo ; d Mayor , took p lace . lii ti'c evening the customary Banquet was given at the Guildhall . It appea's froni the accounts in the daily papers to have been unusually sumptuous Pnd splendid . The Ambassadors , Cabinet Minister . Judges , & c „ were present ; there was , however , nothing in the speeches worthy of note . Privates AlAt : iewsox axd Cook of the Seve . mii Hussaks . —Oa Tuesday evenirg , a meeting of the "eutlemen wlso have formed themselves into a

      committee ior " s . urchiU 3 uig ihe discharge of privates Mathewson and Cook , witnesses at the late coroner ' s : inquest at J Jouiisi-jiv , from the 7 ih Hussars , " toi . k : place at the Blue Posts Tavern , Shoe Lane , Fleet Street , for the purpose of receiving the report of the i treasurer and secretary , and to determine on the ; most efSc :=-nt rae ' isures ioi- can-vim * out the humane i ebject of ih- ' committee . Subscriptions excifcding . £ 30 in anvou-. t were announced . T : ie requisite sum j is £ 50 , being -30 for Mathewson , as he has only been i ia the regiment a few mouths , and £ 20 forCook , ^ who has been ten years in the service .

      Tub Pons is St . Paxcuas Wobruouss .- ~ On Tncs-( day a fully attended meeting of the board of directors < of the pons- of St . l'aneras took pkee in the board i room of th : workhouse , Kings Road , for the pur-J pftse of fcmisnievinsr th ? ir reply to the recent report * . f t the Poor Ltw Commissioner in reference to the 1 ; late inquest on the pauper , Alary Anne Jone * , « t » id t the general treatment and manigemeat of tlie poor iin St- Ta-. K-ms workhouse . Air . Cliureii warden I Kowarth oceapied the chair , and read the late comnmunication oi the Poor Law Commissioner . ' , and in ddefence of the Board of Guardians . The main uoints

      wwew ? , that the dietary was established many years ; a . ago , under ihe sanction of eminent medical authoriitities , and thar the dietary of the inmates of the ip : p .- > Hnni -ward was also i = xe « i by them . As to the man VHVitt—it is alleged that the employment in which he r »;» a » wagaged was nearly as possible at an end ,

      The Peace Society.—Thesecond Of A Series...

      when he was dismiss ! fron it ; the Guardians regret the master should have deprived him of any privilege on account of the evidence ho gave , but refuse any compensation . As to remedies , th e Directors have ordered that all punishments arc to be recorded , and copies sent to the C ommissioners . The ablc-bn . iiu ! poor are tn be al ' iwrd to ! e- > . ve the workhouse , but shall not be rc-ndmitted without an order from the Board on Tuesday or Friday . The dampness of the shed has been partially removed , and the directory ol theoakiiai room improved . : m well as its inmates limited to the number required by Dr . Fair . ! . Tiie resolutions of the vcr-try , laudatory of the workhouse authorities , and by implication of the lizard , having betii appended tn tho » eply , } . \ r , Douglas objected tu fhem as a part of the reply ; f hey were wiilidnnri- , and on the motion of that gentleman , the answer , : > .. amended , was adopted uiiani : ; . < iu > ly , and »> nl « .-rai t << be sent , forthwith to the I ' oor Law Commissioners . The Board then broke tip .

      Teetotal Dkmo . nstkatmk . —On Monday night- a very crowded meeting of teetotallers was held in Exeter Hall . Dr . Oxley iu the chair , when , after upwards ol twriiiy working men had addn-s-td ( lie assembly , a memos ia' to Lord John liiissell was adopted , praying his Lordship to prevent the consumption « f j > ram in brewing or distilling , and to preserve it for ( lie urn of tho *; who wen . writhing under the effects of famine . They marched to and departed from Exeter Hull in io ' gcs , > i \ ce < i « l by bands of music . It was computed that there wure 4 , 000 present , each of whom paid an admission ice of fourpcr . ee .

      Lilft I&Gt;Uuilltjilis Oiall Saturday, November 14, 1s«.

      lilft i > UUillTjiliS OiAll SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 14 , 1 S « .

      The Ten Hours' Bill. There Is No Hsiler ...

      THE TEN HOURS' BILL . There is no hsiler system of warfare than Die undermining process , especially if the enemy ' s camp is otherwise impregnable . Many a battle'has been lost by ill advised and hasty operations , which might have been won by patience and perseverance . We tolerated Free Trade more for the power of which it stripped the old feudal aristocracy , than for any immediate i cuelit it was likely to confer upon the popular army . Kvcry feather plucked from the high flying wing of rampant authority brings it within nearer reach of that arm which has been so long but so hopelessly uplifted in suppliant imploring for justice or even mercy . Upon the same principle we now hail the renewed agitation for a T » N HOUltS' BILL , though with the meat

      improvement of machinery , increasing population and diminished custom , we would much prefer an Eight Hours' Bill . However , wc do hail the resuscitation of the question , provided . it is not once more to be made a stalking horse for some aspiring leader , or the sympathetic plaything of a goudnaturcd and pliant lord . In short , if the battle is to be really fought , we shall cheerfully enlist in the volunteer ranks , but we will not " inarch i 1 iiouj ; 1 i Coventry" with the feather bed commanders and officers , commissioned and iioii-coinniisaioiicd , who have hitherto marshalled , disciplined , encouraged aud led on , damped and halted , the Short Time army . W-tli the noble lord who surrendered his commission when his forces were r ' pe for aciion , and with the Short Time committee who

      treacherously offered to compromise tiie question without the consent of th * forces , we will neither consult , consort or fig ht . If , upon the other haul , we are summoned by our old and faithful General , who has never deceived or deserted ns , and uuiier whose bold command we have so often checked the enemy ' s march , we are ready for the struggle , if Duneombfi takes the lead , we will follow , and we tell those most favourable to the measure , that unless those for whose benefit it is sought are thus assured at least of honesty , that they will not exert themselves as thev otherwise would .

      Wc contend for the Ten Hours' Dili for the same reasons that we tolerated Free Trade , namely , hecause it would p luck the master Squill from oppression ' s other wing-, and lower ihe proud crest oi the pom' ius high flying cotton lord . Indeed we have always assigned to this measure the very hig hest importance , as well for its undermining effect as for the great aud immediate benefit that it would inevitably confer upon society at large , hut more especially upon the industrious classes . There can be little doubt that a Chartist parliament would consider the regulation of labour a question of the very first importance , and consequently it must be treated essentially as a Chartist ine .. sure . Indeed we know of no change which would inevitably give a greater impulse to the Chn list cause .

      Firstly—It would lessen the hostility of those who now fatten upon the slave toil of the overworked operative , and Secondly—It would tend to convince the enemies ot Chartism , the pvoclaimeis of the people ' s ignorance , that that ignorance was rather a consequence of Tree Tradcrsmonopoly of the poor man ' s time , than of his disinclination to instruct and improve himself and his family ; as we feel assured ' that the time saved from slave labour would be devoted to mental improve , ment , as well as to the discovery of the vaiue of free

      labour . And here we fear is the rub . These two circumstances weigh heavily with the monopolists of the poor man ' s time . Nothing is more damaging to unjust authority than the education of the people upon the one hand , while , upon the other , nothing is more dangerous to monopoly in the slave mart , than the slave ' s knowledge of the value of ids own laboir . For all these reasons , and others which we shall presently assign , Ave rejoice to learn that the good old King of the Factoiy Children llichard Oastler , has once more opened the campaign of the Ten Hours '

      Bill . There is a great charm in humanity and vanity . Humanity we have ever considered as the main sp . jig of justice—and honest vanity as the greatestimpuHeto useful action . In fact , without those two attributes , humanity and vanity , the populpr leader would be hut a cypher . Oastler undertook the cause of the Factory operative from humanity , while we feel assured that his honest vanity in being one day the successfi'l actor in so noble a cause , makes him above purchase and above suspicion . Upon previous occasions we have given it as onr candid opinion , thr-t Richard Oastler would very much prefer dying upon the floor of the House of Commons , proclaiming lahour ' s triumph and infancy ' s release , with his last

      breath , to having the Crown of England placed on his head , as the reward of his treason to his helpless clients . ? 5 ow this is a large character , a great qualification , and one which should insr-e for the apostle on his mission that respect due to so much virtue . The Chai ; ists , who will constitute Mr Oastler ' s audience wherever he speaks , for the working classes are now Cb ? r ! ssts to a man , should bear in mind that the TEN HOTJltS' BILL has been adopted as one of those immediate changes sought for by tbestrnggimg Chartists ; that it i 1 : one of the things prayed for in our nations 1 petition ; and , above all , that Oastler is its sincere advocate—and therefore are the Clw : lists bound to give to the missionary of this branch of their creed , all the assistance in their

      power . We shsl ! now proceed to show the immediate and valuable advanfages to be gained even by a " TEN HOUItS' BILL . " Firstly , it goes far to realize the pr ' mcipie of equitable distribution , it cquaVzes the labour market and deprives the master of a large idle rcseire . It realizes equitable distribution fo a certain extent , because , inasmuch as 6 , 000 persons are to 5 , 000 what twelve hou-s are to ten , it woiihl

      change the 1 , 000 addition ; - ! hands required hv short li-ne from a competitive reserve into a necessaiv supply . Second !}' , if the hours of labour were reflated by law , as much wages would be given for the working day of ten houis , as is now given for the working day of twelve hours , whereas any diminufiou in the time of ihe longest working day is called she- '; true , ami is followed by a relative vcduc " oii ;" u wrjjcs . That is , if the working day is ten

      The Ten Hours' Bill. There Is No Hsiler ...

      hours , a day's wage is paid for ten hours' work , but if the working day is twelve hours , a sixth is deducted from the wages if hands arc only ALLOWED to work ten hours . It would lead to a more equitable distribution , because the manufacturers would be compelled to give to their hands one-sixth more of the profits than they now give ; the one thousand in every six thousand being brought from the reserve into the ranks of necessity , and the certainty of wages remaining as high , and , in our opinion , very much higher ' , inasmuch as a profitable disposal oftJ . c surplus hands is the one thing for which labour lias most energetically struggled . So ,

      then , the employment of an additional sixth not only benefits 1 hose who work at that branch of business , hut it makes them belter customers with all other branches . They wear more hats , and shoes , and clothes , eat more , and require more furniture , and thus is the Ten Hours' Bill , in point of sound fact , a whole , entire , and compkic labour-question . Again , as we have more than once observed , onr confidence that tie hours spared from slave ltihour would he bestowed upon mental culture and the discovery of the value of free labour ; rather than wasted at the GIN PALACE and BEER SHOP , gives to the Ten Hour's Bill an additional charm—as wc believe in

      some of the sayings of political economists , " and especially in that which declares that where there is a demand there will be a supply , we would hail the Ten Hems' Bill as a great auxiliary in clearing ihe unhealthy towns of their squalid population , aud by these means , because we rejoice in believing that the LAND QUESTION is now the all-absorbing thought of the working classes , and that consequently the lime spared from slave labour would be applied to free labour upon the Land , and which , of necessity , would lead to the establishment of cheap trains lo such distances as those districts to which

      the town population would scamper after a day ' s slave toil ; not trains travelling twelve or fourteen miles an hour , but special labour trains , travelling at the rate ol * thirty miles an hour , or ten miles in twenty minutes . Let us illustrate the position , — it is worth it . Suppose factories to work in summer time from six to four ; at twenty minutes past four , the hands would arrive in jog trot at their respective stations , and ten miles from smoke at forty minutes past four , and would be ready for free

      labour from five till eight , nine , or ten , if they pleased , when they could regale themselves with a good supper of their own producing , fresh , for the most part , from their cwn stores . Each might ii & va his hit of land , or six , ten , or twelve , mi g ht have a plot in common ; these would constitute great and powerful Normal agricultural schools , while attachment to the science , aud the discovery of the value of free labour , would progressively remove the factorv weed to the free soil .

      For these reasons , added to the fact that we have now opened a safe market for the expenditure of spare time , and one which would seduce factory slaves from dissipation and idleness , aud believing the people themselves sec this additional value given to the measure , we call upon all good Chartists to rallv around Hichard Gustier , to r id themselves of their false , leaders and inefficient committee-men , to elect their own ofiicers , to do their own work , and prepare for a short struggle and decisive victory , under Dunconibe and Fleldeu , that is , provided the operatives are themselves in earnest .

      The 'fen Hours Bill is too large a subject to be trifled with , and we have too sincere an interest in its success to recommend a struggle which may be defeated by the pliancy of generals , or the inadequacy of machinery . Machinery is the monsterdevil , man ' s greatest enemy , and man must beat it , ov it will beat him . Man must make it his holiday , instead of his curse ; lie must subdue it to Ids necessities and wants , instead of allowing it to subdue him to its owner ' s convenience and caprice .

      The Colliers And Their Staff. It Is A Re...

      THE COLLIERS AND THEIR STAFF . It is a remarkable fact , that the cause of labour , and the success of those who struggle for its emancipation , is ever marred by those who profit by , and live upon , the giievances and sufferings which they are hired to redress and allay . In a previous article wc have shown that our argument applies to those who have hitherto undertaken the guardianship and management of the Ten Hours' Bill . Upon many occasions wc have traced the failure of Trades ' Unions to the treachery of idlers , who lived upon

      the confidence—and something more—of the hetrayed , while the present position of Ireland furnishes a wholesale illustration of the fact , so convincing and strong that denial or refutation is impossible . Indeed , the Charrist cause has suffered more from the attempt of ii crs to eke a comfortable existence out of jjojiular grievances than from any other circumstance . Upon the other hand , we have just cause of complaint against the labouring classes themselves , who r-e always slow to see and confess advantages that are gained without convulsion , commotion , excitement , and noise .

      It is now some tune since we published some of the doings of the coWer leaders amMccturers , which were neither to our taste nor calculated to serve the interests of those by whom they are paid , and upon whose confidence and industry they live ; and we were only checked in the further exposure of much more that came to our knowledge , by what we must characterise as the weakness of Mr . Roberts , who assured us of the devotion and kindliness of those who hoped to smother our voice in the colliery districts " . - Indeed , we have of late asked ourselves , of what use Mr . Roberts himse'f is to the colliers : as we now look in vain for any of these exciting trials and astounding tiiumphs which kept his name so promineut'y before the miners , the legal world , and the judges .

      There is not , we he ' eve , one single instance of a co'lier now being impilsoned for violation of contract ; that underground stream , which threatened to burst its ? i lieial limits , runs -smoothly ill the legal course ni'liin which the miners' legal adviser has , by unremitting attention and astounding legal knowledge , continetl it , and , like all other pent in waters , it seeks an outlet and discharge . The poet

      says : — " The course of true love never yet ran smooth" — and hence , we presume , it is , that the over-groundei . i , d ' ssslisfied with the even under-ground current , have become growlers . The case of the colliers and their indomitable union has ever heen a subject of great interest to us . We have jealously watched the formation of their socieLy from its infancy to its giant growth ; from the introduction of the twelve apostles to the clearance of eveiy gaol , we have chronicled their every triumph and exulted in their every vicioiy .

      We have encouraged their leaders as long as we found tliem holiest and persevering , and we have even withheld exposure when its publication was cr . lcu'ated to lessen their utility or destroy their efficiency . We : u'e 'eaay to admit that they were mfiny of tl cm ciiv :: c ;; t , xei ' . ' . ous , and powerful , in ,.-on ¦ > ¦ ¦>•») ! ng the j / ievaiiecs of their class , while we . -: c compe t ed ! o scy , that they seem to repine at die dest . notion of ( hose grievances , as if the " rungs "

      were cut f . om their ladder of promotion . Eveiy sct . iona ! triimph gained by labour is a victory to llixi natio :. cause , whilst , upon the other hand , C 7 CI . - sectional tMeut sustained is a wound to the nation ? movement . Vor this reason , then , we feci ourselves compelled to publish the following letter , cloni : entj though simple , —convincing , though plain , w . lttca by the hand of a devoted , but untutored miner . It is as follows : —

      Honoured ano Inspected Slit , —If you had allowed us to continue the exposure of some of the tricks that have heen practised in our i-anKs for a longtime , we nvght have spared you the treuble . of again ) referring to

      The Colliers And Their Staff. It Is A Re...

      thesubject . All that you published be fore « as , mc true , and your refusal to publish more has only led to 2 % dls Jtcr .. Honoured Sir , by union we had become powerful , and by a continuance of our un . on we miuh t have become rich , but it appears that there is always something to mar the success of the poor . As your time is precious , I shall at once proceed with whati have to say . I am a Chartist collier , and therefore have a proper rospect for Universal Suffrage , and indeed it was by maUiug ' our delegates the organ * of om- will , Histeau or tludr own sentiments , that w < : became ! powerful , but now , sir will believe that some of our lecturers and other

      you officers arc endeavouring to overcome the pei > mlar voice hv the mastdingraceful tricks and insinuations . Perhaps , Bomo of them may find it hard to get supported by those who work , unless thev have a grievance to complain ot , and now that , throughout Lancashire , and I believe Euglan-a , there is not a single miner in prison , and that our union has struck terror into those who used to use the law as a means of reducing wages , and seeing that wo have no grievance on that head , some of our lecturers arc wojliii'gbeaven and earth to get rid of Mr . Boberis , and we , who have benefited by his victories , and Still beneBt by his presence , are of opinion that tliescjudlises

      are in the pay of the masters , and , sir , they never tail to bestow some portion of their spleen upon the Northern Star . Now , Sir , it would be curious to make a calculation of the amount that Mr . KobertS has saved the miners in wages , and indeed it would b .-. hard to calculate it , except by eutssing at the tenderness of the masters , as but for him we don't know what it woula now he , or how many families of victims would be now depending upon our subscriptions . Honoured sir , if those men succeed in breaking up our union by taking away th « only scoutge Wo have over the masters , there is no dombt but we shall be handed over to the tender

      mercies of other lawyers , who will all live upon us and sell us , while the Judases will ha rewarded for their good work . Is it too much then , sir , to appeal to you in order that , through you , the eyes of the miners may be ononed , and that our next Conference may speak the solid opinion of those who work and pay , instead of the mind of those who work not and are paid for destroying US . I trust , sir , that you will not deny us this boon , but afford us the opportunity of speaking ' o eacfi other through your organ . It is our opinion that Mr . Roberts ' triumphs would sooii render lecturers unnecessary , and therefore they bene to encumber ns with grievances by getting rid of him , and handing ns over to the tools of the masters . I hear , sir , that Mr . Roberts lias already

      mentioned his intention of resigning , but I hope and trust you will condescend to ask him to reconsider his re . solution , until the miners themselves have an unbiassed opportunity of speaking out , aa such a step is the very one to which our leaders hope to drive him , and , sir , although Mr . Roberts appears to have more business than he can well manage , I hope lie will not be induced to desert us before he gives us an oportuniiy to speak out for ourselves . I remain , dear and honoured sir , One who speaki the sentiments of a large number of onr body , Your moitobedi ' . nt aud humble servant , A Cn * . niisT Collier . .

      The above letter requires but little comment .- It is precisely similar in character to many that we have recently received . As far as we are concerned , we hurl defiance at the lecturers and leaders , and , as far as Mr . Roberts is concerned , we have but little sympathy for him , because it was he who requested of us not to publish some letters which he feared might tend to damage the character of parties in whom be professed entire confidence . We cannot , however , entirely acquiesce in the desire of our friend , to use our influence with Mr . Huberts ; he is the best judge

      of his own affairs ; he is upon the apt—we before attempted to open his eyes , but he rejected our interference , and therefore he must now deal with the monster created by his own good nature . We quite agree with the Chartist Collier , that it would be ntterly impossible to estimate Mr . Roberts' services , as long as Mr . 11 . remains in his present position . And , perhaps , Mr . ll . ' s resolution to lesign has been formed with the view of allowing the miners the means of judging of his value ; which will be speedily discovered , in an abundant crop of victims , full jails , reduced wages , increased grievances , aud consequently an increased demand for lecturers . Whatever Mr . Roberts ' s resolution may be , we think he should abide the judgment of that tribunal to which the working miners appear anxious to appeal . 1

      For our part , we wou ' tl recommend the labouring portion to deal with their priests as bishops usually deal with their ' s when refractory , by suspending them till they come to their senses . But at all events , if there is to be another conference , we would caution the constituencies against being led blindfold by those " artful dodgers . " Of course we do not apply the term , or our strictures , to all ; but let it be borne in mind " that one scabby sheep infects the whole flock , " and , that " what ' s done cannot he undone . " The Chartists , we are happy to say , have more gratitude than the miners , for they feel gratitude to their legal adviser who saved fifty-nine of them , two , three , and four years' imprisonment , But , like all other parties , even the Chartists look slightly upon their triumph , because it was so easily achieved .

      It is a pity , nay a sin , that any disunion should occur in the miners' ranks just now , the v # ry period at which the masters would hail a breach . From now till the period of contract should be spent in wholesome and friendly consultation , instead of being frittered away in useless and unprofitable wrangles ; and let the staff rest assured , that , however they may repudiate our interference , we will , nevertheless , hold the scourge over the refractory ,

      and teach the miners that they can devote the parings from their hard-earned pence to a better purpose than paying their betrayers . The very thing that the masters pant for is , the breaking up of the union ; and therefore our counsel and advice to those who have paid for its preservation , and who have derived benefit from its existence , is to put the check at once upon the unbridled tongue of slander , by teaching their lecturers that " union is strength , " and " dissension is weakness . "

      Weekly Review. The Week Has Been Unusual...

      WEEKLY REVIEW . The week has been unusually barren of incidents either for record or comment . It ' s most noticeable and most important event , the revival of the association for the Ten Hours' Bill , under the auspices of Oastler the most popular , most powerful , and most successful advocate of that great measure , has been commented upon at length in another column , and it is , therefore , unnecessary to enter further upon the subject here . We can

      only express our earnest hope that , under the guidance of honest , uncompromising , anil disinterested leaders , like Messrs . Fielden , Oastler , and Fcrrand , the factory operatives will speedily achieve that triumph , which lias several times been lost solely through the adoption of a temporizing policy . We have no doubt of the present leaders of the movement ; let the people , therefore , be tuie to each other , and reject all offers less than their full demand , no matter from what quarter they may emanate } and success is jertain .

      In connexion with this subject may be noted the fact , that the firm of Bright and Son were the fijst to commence running short time in their extensive mills at Bradford . Tins is a queer fulfilment of the promises , the glowing predictions of plenty , which the twin leader of the league used to indulge in , when describing the results that were to flow from Corn Law Repeal ! Mr . Bright has also , at all times , been the most Litter , the most unscrupulous , and the most personal opponent in Parliament of a Ten Hours' Bill . In resisting it he indulged in prophecies as to the ruin which it would bring upon Olir manufacturing svstcm , tpuite as confident , quite as

      vivid , as those uttered with respect to the eftects of Repeal . Seeing he has so utterly failed in the one case , why should he not be equally mistaken in the other ? We ask him to put this question to himself , for we have no douht oh the subject ; at all events , we hope " Bright John" will abate that swaggering bullying tone , that supercilious air of self-confidence and political superiority to those who differed from him on such topics , which made him notorious iu the House of Commons . lie can't afford that demeanour any longer . Let hira re member that his mills are running four days a week , that the Corn Laws are virtually Repealed and " eathumble pie . "

      Weekly Review. The Week Has Been Unusual...

      By the proceedings at a meeting of the Spitalfields Weavers , last Saturday , it appears that the anticipations of that body , as to the injurious effects of the late tariff upon their occupation , have been fully realized . Under the tariff of 1842 , which altogether abolished , or materially reduced , the duty on imported raw material , and maintained a moderate discriminating duty on imported manufactured goods , the trade of this district was iu a more prosperous state than it has been known for many years . The change lias been most disastrous for them . The French manufacturer has beaten the British out of

      the home market , in all the finer description of fabrics ; and the consequence is , that for the present at least , that branch is at a complete stand still . Those employed and heretofore receiving good wages , are necessarily thrown hack upon the inferior and lower paid work , and there being too many for that description of work . the two fold consequence of low wages and insufficient employment is produced . This is a sorry state of things , and unfortunately Spitalfields is not the only district in which it exists

      —Ihe weavers of Leigh , Middleton , Macclesfield , and Manchester , join ill the same complaint , and endure the same suffering . It is time that some bold and systematic measures were adopted , by which trade might be placed on a sound foundation , conducted upon rational principles , and conduce to beneficial results . At present it is a chaos . Machinery , competition , and selfishness , are its ruling elements , and these effects are such as might " make angels ween . "

      The accounts from Ireland are of a more agreeable character than heretofore . Ths i mprovement noted last week has continued . Outrages and other indications of suffering and excitement are diminishing . The works for the relief of the unemployed and starving peasantry are coming into general operation , and at the same time the unexpected improvement of at least some parts of the abandoned potatoe crop , aruUhc

      importation of large quantities of foreign provisions , have brought down prices . In the lull which is approaching , we trust that statesmen and legislators , will not see any cause for apathy—bat rather , looking back with thankfulness at the imminent dangers they have escaped for the moment , betake themselves in all earnestness to the preparation of measures by which the recurrence of such a season may be in future prevented .

      The Gazette of Tuesday contained the Jong promised Brevet . Promotion has been given to a large number of officers in all branches of the service . Three of the oldest Generals have been made Field Marshals . One of those upon whom this empty honour has beeen conferred ( General Nagcnt ) is , we believe , 97 years of age ! Of course the public must pay the piper for all this promotion , which is merely ar . otiier genteel mode by which the

      aristocracy dip their hands into the public purse , and abstract from the / ice support for those branches of their family quartered upon the taxes . The fighting privates , the men upon whom the hardships of their profession most heavily fall—for them no brevet is ever gazetted . They live and die under the cold shade of the aristocracy , by whom they are tyrannized over and -jurdered by the lash , under the authority of a barbarous and stern military code .

      After all the fuss about the Wellington statue , the expense incurred in raising it to the top of the arch in Piccadilly , and—worst of all—the conversion of the facile Times to the opinion that it ought to stay there , the Queen has expressly ordered it to descend again from its elevation ! Where this effigy of an overpraised soldier and absurdly lauded statesman will ultimately find a resting place , no one can tell . Waterloo place and the Horse Guards are both named . If we might give an opinion in the matter , it would be that it should be sent to the brass founders to be melted down again , and sold at the fair price

      of the material , and the proceeds remitted to the Lord Lieutenant to be destributed among the Duke ' s countrymen . It would be almost the only good they ever got out of him , and it would confer a benefit on the country by ridding it of a monster in metal . We English are not a lucky people in matters of taste . The artistic sense requires educating in us . Had that faculty been developed nationally , such monstrosities as the fountains , pillar and statue of Trafalgar Square , or that last exposed to the face of day Piccadilly , would never have been perpetrated . It would be better for us to let such things alone till

      we are able to do better , and not make ourselves the laughing stock of intelligent foreigners . When we have acquired the ability to do this kind of work well , we shall perhaps at the same time have acquired the moral faculty of discerning where honour should be paid . Instead of erecting statues to bloated sensualists , and lucky soldiers , we may find worthier objects in the long roll of philosophers , philanthropists , and political benefactors which distinguished our histoiy . At present fhe instinct of " hero worship works blindly , and expends its force on worthless or vicious idols -

      Colonial Ana Tfovmix Ktwix)

      Colonial ana tfovmix KtWiX )

      A Dearth Ot Colonial Intelligence This W...

      a dearth ot colonial intelligence this week , affords us the opportunity of offering a few remarks on a subject of great importance to the interests , and honour , of the people of this country . We allude to certain projects of our commercial classes , for extending the colonial territory of this country in the Indian Archipelago , and the opening of a trade with the Japanese Empire .

      From Free-Trade platforms , and in the journals of the profitocraey , how often have we heard , and read , of late years , the nauseating and lying cant of " the civilising results of trade , " and " the peaceful influences of commerce ! " This , too , in the teeth of the undeniable facts , that many of " our colonial possessions" have been achieved by violence ; that " our Indian Empire" has its foundations laid in the blood of many nations ; and that some of the most formidable wars in which this country has been engaged , have had their origin in the

      bloody-minded cupidity of our " civilising " traders . Well , the roar of our cannon in the dishonourable " opium war" has ceased but a little time , the last of the plundered Chinese silver has , we may say , but just arrived , Cobden ' s cant of trade-engendered peace is yet sounding in our ears , when lo , our ever restless profitmongers are already si ghing for new worlds to conquer—we beg pardon—for new regions to inoculate with the blessings of English trade and European civiliz tion .

      Respecting the precious project of colonising or " annexing" that huge den of savages , Borneo , we shall say nothing now , for the present we shall confine ourselves to the Japanese question . For some time past several of the public journals inthepayof the mammonocracy , with the Morning Chronicle at their head , have been worrying at the Government to send an embassy to Japan , for the purpose of inducing the Japanese government to open the ports of Japan for purposes of trade with this counlry . It is argued by the advocates of this scheme that for more than two centuries

      Japan nas kept itself secluded from the rest of the nations af the earth , which is very wrong aud should not be any longer tolerated ; that Japan has a population of at least thirty-five millions , capable of supporting a most ex ' . cnsive trade with England . that Us foreign trade is restricted to twenvT-threc vessels annuall y , of which three alone are European , and not one of those English ; thai the little European trade permitted by the authorities of Japan is monopolised b y the Dutch , which is , of course , very unfair to England ; that the necessity exis t s of seeking everywhere new markets for English goods : and , finally , to sum up the catalogue

      A Dearth Ot Colonial Intelligence This W...

      of grievances , that while " Young Europe" is anxious to pay back to " Old Asia" in the shape of an advanced civilization , that debt which the former owes to the latter for having first taught her the alphaleta of progress , this obstinate Japan stands in the way of carrying out intentions at once so disinterested and philanthropic ! To abolish the evils and achieve the objects above enumerated , it is proposed that the British Govern ment should send an embassy to the Japanese emperor . This British ambassador is to be instructed to conduct his negotiations in the most pacific manner , as all idea of war and conquest must be scouted , nevertheless , by way of impressing the

      emperor with thefact that we are a great and peace loving people , it is proposed that our ambassador should be escorted by " a first-rate linc-of-battle ship , a frigate , and two or three war steamers . " It is thought that the sight of these accompaniments to the embassy , aided by the remembrance which his Japanese Majesty must entertain of the recent exploits of British-war ships , war-steamers and troops in the neighbouring Chinese seas , will so operate upon his reasoning faculties , that he -will be induced to abandon the exclusive regulations which for more than two centuries past have kepi English adventurers out of Japan , at least it is expected that the Emperor will be induced lo place " us" on an equal footing with our Dutch rivals .

      This is hoped for , nevertheless success is doubtful . No matter , " Peaceably if we may , but forcibly if we must" is themotto of our peace-loving free-trade civilizers ; therefore , they are determined by some means or other to accomplish their ends . " England , " says the Morning Chronicle , "has never yet imitated the Knight of La Mancha , by compassing sea and land in quest of enemies ; but in the peaceful pursuits of trade there is no limits which it is not ready to pass , ami , we may add , no danger which it is not willing to brave . " This is pretty significant . But again , says the Chronicle , " The

      necessity of seeking everywhere new markets for our goods , will henceforth lead us perpetually into the neighbourhood of Japan , to traverse its seas , to circumnavigate its coasts , and to encounter its native traders ; even on their own thresholds . Lack , moreover , of provisions , or stress of weather , will from time to time force us into its ports ; so that our mariners , in that pugnacious temper of mind produced by- expected ill-usage , will be brought violently into contact with the Japanese provincial authorities , in which quarrels may be expected lo ensue , whose consequences it would be difficult to foresee . " It is not at all difficult to see what is meant hv these surmises . lithe " Soft-SSlV'dQr" o (

      our Ambassador , aided by the " war steamers , " & c ., fail in effecting the desired results , then the mask will he thrcwu away . English ships well manned and armed will attempt to carry on a contraband trade , in defiance of the Japanese governments ; they will rather pick a quarrel than seek to avoid one ; in all likelihood force will be had recourse to by the Japanese authorities to expel the intruders from their harbours , the employment of this force will be denounced by the English as " an outrage against the law of natiions ; " then will come an imitation of the Chinese war , with the usual results . Such we may safely shadow forth as the " peace programme " of the free trade civilizers .

      Here we must pause ; we shall , however , return to the subject , and in a future article will OlideavOUE to inform our readers something of the people of Japan , and the reasons of their government for e xcluding the abomination of European trade . For the present we conclude by denouncing this Japan project as a scheme fraught with mischief to the true interests of the people of this country , aud with dishonour to our national character .

      It will by seen by our " Foreign Intelligence , " that simultaneously with the revival of the Chartist agitation in this country there has commenced an Electoral Reform Movement in France . We have one fault to find with the French Petition , it asks for nothing definite . It . demands a reform of the present infamous system of representation , but does not specify what sort of reform . This word reform may mean anything , from universal suffrage to the veriest fraud which would find favour in the eyes of a rascal like Thiers , or a humbug like Barrot . A national agitation which resulted , for instance , in

      the clearing out of the Government officials from the Chamber of Deputies , would be called a ' " reform , " but such a . " reform" would make no sensible difference to the people if the suffrage was confined , as at present , to some two thousand 0 * the haute hourgeoisie . In fact there is no reform of the representation short of Universal Suffrage which would he worth the while of the people of France struggling for ; and we venture to predict that anything short of that will fail to rouse the enthusiasm of the French people . No doubt there are plentv of good-meaning teinporisers who

      fear to excite the prejudices of the middle class by hoisting the Hag of Universal Suffrage—but we tell such that the middle class are too cowardly and too selfish to effect any change for the better . As for the working men , they would befools indeed to give their support to any movement that had not for its object their direct emancipation . The national sovereignty is proclaimed in the French Petition , but that there may he no illusion , no mistake , let that phra & e be defined ; let the French people be made to understand , that the national sovereignty means the investing of every male adult with all the rights of man aud of the citizen .

      We take the following from the Reforme of the 10 th : — It was several days ago rumoured that endeavours were being made to throw ou the soil of Algeria uunbcrs of those noble exiles whom Poland has confided to our keeping until her final deliverance . A general , himself a Pole , has , it is paid , undertaken to march tbeui into Africa , where they mi ght take a part in those unfortunate campaigns , tiio wretched wastes of our squan . dered glory .

      Is there not some wily combination hidden under this design « Can it be the mere result of despair in a great misfortune » Or , may it not rather arise from the wish of our government to render themselves agreeable to Russia , by diminishing- by these means the number of tlia adversaries whom the Czar may on some future day encounter again ou the field of battle ! We will not inquire further into the depths of this mystery . We hope to see the Poles escape from this new snare . Common sense and the instinct of their duty towards their fatherland ought to guard them against this new danger .

      If some of them are likel y to allow themselves to be mislead , we would call out to them : Think first of alt of Poland , and of Poland alone . You are no vulgar soldiers , who might indulge all the fancies of your warlike propensities . Your hands and your swords do not belong to you alone ; you have other barbarians to struggle against than those of Africa . Preserve your strength for your own country ; your lives are of a greater value than those of others , because you carry in jour veins the biood of a whole people , and in your souls tbe life of an empire .

      To the above noble exhortations of our French contemporary , wo can add from our own information that these endeavours of General Bern and of the French government , are not the first of the kind ' Twelve years ago this same line of policy was pursued against the Polish soldiers at Woolwich and Portsmouth by the agents of the Literary Assoc iation , headed by Prince Czartoryski , under the name of Lord Dudley Stuart . Better informed of the " " tcrcsts of Poland than we then were , the French democrats at that time appreciated , as now we do , i ' value of that Czartoryski policy . That the democrats of Poland concur with them on this subject , but »« more severe in their condemnation , is a fact wc ca « and ought to fully certify .

      SftflQ painfully interesting information couc eriu » 3 unhappy Poland w ill Jie found in our seventh pag Just before going to press , we have received some further revelations of the present state of thing 5 in that bleeding land , which it is impossible to fi | 1 ( 1 room for this week , but which shah not be lost si S

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 14, 1846, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_14111846/page/4/