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March 15, 1851. ^ THfr NORTHERN STAR. ¦j...
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WHIES REGEIUQ Fob tbx Week Eksiho Thubsd...
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NATIONAL CHARTER FUND. Received by Jobs ...
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£atfoiiai 2.auB <fompam).
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Exeteb.—At a. meeting, held at Mr. Green...
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"What's is a Name?"—At the Newcastle Ass...
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GRAM) BANQUET IN COMMEMORATION OF TEE GE...
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Ohe ot the Latest Ikvektiohs tor the Cuv...
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;4 <f ™£ ?fTW£ CONVENTION. ''"Ainblib ne...
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MEETING AT JOHN-STREET INSTITUTION* The ...
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NATIONAL A SSOCIATION Ofl UNITED TRADES....
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MEETING OF COAL-MINERS. A meeting of the...
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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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Parliamentary. Our Financial Reformers I...
apprentices ifcey . send © it , and provides legal ooirera and means for prosecuting persons ^• ho may be guilty of ill-using these unhappy and desolate Pariahs of our antisocial systein , la the Peers , Lord Brougham has introduced a Bill for Extending the Jurisdiction 0 f County Courts to a degree that , if itever passes into a lav , will make it one of the m ost valuable law reforms ever effected in this country . An immense amount of business , ..
now confined to the Courts of Bankruptcy , would be transferred to the cheap and summary jurisdiction of the County Courts , with extensive powers of arbitration aud reconcile ment Lord Brougham laid great stress upon the" courts of reconcilement * ' as means which , in France , Denmark , and Hamburgh , had largely diminished litigation . We fear that will not recommend the measure to the sympathy and support of thelawyers in the Lower House , if it ever reaches them .
HOME XEWS . These offer bnt few topics for comment this week . The industrial disturbance created by Mr . Labouchbre ' s Mercantile Seamen's Act is not yet quieted . At Liverpool , and in the Metropolis , the mariners are actively at work with the view of obtaining its complete repeal . The sailors at "Manchester have received an intimation from the Mayor that they will not he allowed to collect subscriptions from the public . The seamen of the Port of London are now
out on strike . An adjourned meeting was held on Monday , at the Temperance Hall , Ratcliffe , when the promised answer from the Board of Trade , on the new Mercantile Marine Act , was read , and was unanimously ¦ voted unsatisfactory . At a meeting held oa Friday night , a resolution was adopted to the effect : — «« That tho seamen of every port of the United Kingdom be solicited to
co-operate with those of London in petitioning parliament to redress the grievances they now labour under by the operations of the Mercantile Marine Act of 1850 . " Mr . JohnKa-Tanagh called npon all those who intended to abide by the " strike" to appear this ( Saturday ) morning with a piece of blue ribbon in their jackets , that they might be distinguished from the blacklegs .
Saeah Cheesejias , whose celebrity as a poisoner by arsenic has been long known to newspaper readers , has been convicted at last . Let loose by the verdict of successive juries , to pursue her murderous career , and having learned from the medical witnesses in the coarse of their examination , more scientific modes of administering arsenic , she tried her hand upon her husband . This time , however , either the evidence was more conclusive , or the jury not so tender in conscience , and so she is to be strangled at last . In pr ison , it ia said , she is quite cool and collected . Her demeanour was the same during , and at the
close of her trial . At the same court another murderer received sentence of death , for the cowardly and brutal murder , of a young woman whom he had seduced , and who was on the eve of her confinement He is utterly prostrate , passion had not hardened into systematic crime , yet the law awards the same punishment to the hardened systematic destroyer of lives , young and old—and the young man who—iguorantly and passionately —sought to cover an error by the commission of a crime . Sorely in these matters we might he a little more discriminating . CALCBAFI is not the nenZttS ultra of human wisdom and legislation .
Atr ial in the Court of Chancery has attracted considerable attention within the last few days , and at the time we write is not decided . It is an action to restrain the transfer of £ 7 , 000 to the names of certain trustees , among whom is Cardinal Wiseman . The allegation ia , that a Koman Catholic surgeon , priest and barrister—all of them previously unknown to an old Frenchmanfastened upon him in his dying hours ; and that the priest , under threat of
refusing him the last offices of the Church , forced from him a bequest and deed of attorney , by which he gave the bulk of his hard-earned and carefully hoarded savings to endow a female school in Somer ' s Town . The leading facts are not denied , — aud the queerest part of the story is , that after the deeds were got and the money secured , the old man was left to die without " the Spiritual Consolation , " which was to have been the qmd pro quo / Surely he had paid dear enough for it , whether voluntarily orcompul-Eorily !
The Refugees who landed last week at Liverpool have been offered £ 8 each by the Government , if they will emigrate to America . Lord D . Sioabi , General Polzski , and other influential persons are in favour of the emigration scheme . Other friends , however , allege that the British Government , by this course , is serving the Absolutist party on the continent , whose policy it is that the Polea Ahould be carried off as far as possible . The Befngees believe this , aud are desiroW of staying in England . The Committee gave the men two days to decide on their future
course , and the result wws , that they have decided npon remaining in this country ; in consequence of which the Government have withdrawn their bonus , and the result will he , that the poor Befugees will be thrown upon the support of those who sympathise with this brave hut unfortunate body of men . A case of great brutality will be found in our Police reports . Two Irishmen—O'Leabx and Sglutax—had been drinking together , and quarrelled . Soluvan » a very old man , and a labourer , and his assailant is a young man of the same calling . During their quarrel Scram hit off the lip of his companies , and
dropped it in the gutter : it has not been found . The Magistrate justly stigmatised the brutality of the case , but was at a loss how to decide . Had the knife been used the costs of the prosecution would have been paid by the county , but as the case stands , the costs must be paid by the prosecutor , and as he happens to he a poor labourer , that is impossible . The Magistrate could summarily convict , but after viewing the case in all its enormity , he resolved on committing the miscreant for trial , and the poor labourer is hound over to prosecute . This is another case showing the necessity for a public prosecutor .
The celebration of the anniversary of the German Revolution at the Freemasons' Hall , was one of the most magnificent and striking demonstrations of the kind which we have seen in the Metropolis . The spacious and magnificent hall was crowded in every corner , and at the cross and head tables sat men whose learning , talents , and patriotism have made & eir names distinguished in every part of the world , —heroes , whose true greatness will only be discovered in its fall proportions and dimensions , by succeeding generations . The audience was worthof such noble orators as
y those who addressed it . Every patriotic and exalted sentiment , every aspiration for free institutions , every pledge that they would fitruffgle , despite all difficulties , to win tnem for fatherland and for the world , met with a simul taneous and thrilling response . The reception of Mazzini was one of the most estraordinary we ever witnessed . The whole multitude rose « i man * and the plaudits were prolonged and enthusiastic ; the speech wasi listened to with the reverencedueto anApostleof
freedom , or only interrupted for a moment by irrepressible applause , and at its conclusion tke applause was protracted and overwhelming . The appearance of such men as $ 0 . \ ge , Kinkel , Siko te , and others among •^ martyrs in the good cause , but bearing tii emsehes bravely and hopefully amidst all •*«!• trials and difficulties ; the zeal with which the banished discip les of Free InstimfioBs cUng to their creed , contrast—not at all -advantageously — with the lnke-wann and
Parliamentary. Our Financial Reformers I...
apathetic conduct of English Reformers . Would that % shamed them into following the example ! One thing is certain— with such men despotism has no chance of triumph in the long run . We now understand why the " Times , " like the rats , has deserted the sinking ship of dynastic tyranny . _
rOKElGS . The famil y feuds which separate the older and younger branches of the Bourbon family , have been made tha theme of comment by the quidnuncs of the French Press , in the absence of more important matter . A reconciliation , it is said , is farther off than ever ; and the mere announcement that Count Chambord is coming to the Exhibition in May , has induced the Orleanists to fly from their retreat at Claremout to Belgium , Naples , Portugal , and Germany—anywhere , to be out of the reach of their " beloved" royal relative . May not the unwillingness to face , the foreigners , who will swarm here in a short time have
something to do with this scattering of the exroyal family ? As to Louis Napoleon , be is still served by his extra Parliamentary Ministry , who are in constant hot water with the Assembly , and , as yet , there is as little appearance of his getting a regularly-constituted Parliamentary Administration as we hare of getting rid of Lord John Russell and the Incapables . Business is deplorably dull—stocks low—distrust and discontent general . The country is drifting fast to bankruptcy . Conspiracies are said to ramify throughout the provinces—emeuies have broken out in several places , and the sole reliance is physical force . The sword is the sceptre of the so-called French Republic . j
The German question is still obscured with negotiations and explanations that lead to nothing and explain nothing . If any definite result can be gathered from the cloud of rumours , it is that Austria has been checkmated —that her Dresden Conference has proved an utter failure , and that the royal conspirators will either fall back on the old Diet , or the ghost of that at Frankfort The country bristles with armies in every direction , as if here , too , brute force was the only sheet anchor of the ruling classes . The whole of the Austrian Empire is in a very unsettled and unsatisfactory condition . Hungary is ready
to use the first favourable opportunity . Mazziw ' s agents are actively and successfully at work in Italy , and keep old Radetsky in a state of constant fever and fury . Everywhere the despots and their agents are sowing dragon's teeth—ere long , of course , to spring up armed men . Even the " Times " sees that a bloody and desperate struggle is approaching , produced by its profiles , and its backing out of the melee before blows are actually exchanged , so that with some show of truth , it may exclaim , — "Thou cans'tnotsay that I did it . "
March 15, 1851. ^ Thfr Northern Star. ¦J...
March 15 , 1851 . ^ THfr NORTHERN STAR . ¦ j """ •" , . .. ' — _ 5
Whies Regeiuq Fob Tbx Week Eksiho Thubsd...
WHIES REGEIUQ Fob tbx Week Eksiho Thubsdat , March 13 th , 1851 . FOB TIE HONESTY FUND . BECaVED SI W . KIDEB . £ s . d . Norwich , per J . Collins .. .. 0 11 Q A few Friendt , St . Jlartin ' s-at Oak , per R . Self 0 3 10 | A few Working Men , Barnsley , per S . Shepherd 0 2 3 J . Southern , M'Kee ' s Port AUegana County , Worth America ( certificate ) .. .. 3 18 0 Eromajtheroe— YF . Britcn . .. .. 003 R . Porter .. .. « . - 0 0 3 R . F . Entwistle .. .. « 0 6
£ 4 7 0 WINDING-UP OF THE LAND COMPANY . MCFOVED SX W . BIDEE . £ S . a . c . wishartjPreftonhohne .. .. o 1 o Norwich , per J . Collins .. .. 0 li 3 Nottingham , per J . Sweet .. .. 0 4 fl From Markinch—A . Walker .. .. 010 A-Speed .. .. .. 010 Kirkcaldy Branch , per W . Hepburn .. 010 0 Oldham , per J . Lord .. .. 033 J . Weeks , Brighton .. .. 0 10
£ 115 6 R . Moor .. .. .. 0 0 6 ILJupp .. .. .. 006 C . Denney .. .. .. 006 T . Tootte .. .. .. 006 J . Foster .. .. .. 006 G . Harrison .. ... 0 , W . Harrison . ; .. .. 00 9 Athton-under-Ljne .. .. 10 6 0 Brighton , per Feast , E . Bias .. .. 006 F . Parkinson .. .. .. 0 0 6 B . Parkinson .. .. .. 006 C . Parkinson .. ,, .. 006 A . W . Parkinson .. .. 006 J . Norman .. .. .. 006 J . Neeass .. .. .. 006 W . Dean .. .. .. 016 Mr . Kendrick .. .. .. 010 O Clitheroe , per R . Entwistle .. .. 0 19 0 J . Barker , lynn .. .. 010
National Charter Fund. Received By Jobs ...
NATIONAL CHARTER FUND . Received by Jobs Arnott . —Worceeter , per J . Harding 7 s ( rliis item was included in the total , and was omitted by mistake last week )—Edinburgh , per H . R . Kay 6 s—Oram is—Collected at York-street , Westminster £ l 2 s 3 d—B . J . Kearney , Fimlico Is—Messrs . Wright and Tanner ditto Is —East London Locality , per Mr . Tickers 8 s—Limehouse and Ratdifie locality , per Mr . Shephard 5 s—Collected at Jobs-Street , UMid—Cards at i'tto Is—Messrs . taswill , Hocken , and stedfuueo , Torquay la 63 . —Total , £ 218 s lid , CONVENTION FUND . Received by Jobs Arnott —Me * srs . Wright and Tanner , Fimlico id—Messrs . Carlton and Hodgson , Darlington 2 s —A Republican Chartist , Chepstow Is—T . Kingar , Barnsfey , l s- ^ G . Farrow , Finsbory 2 s . FOR THE HUNGARIAN AND POLISH REFUGEESKeceivd by Joan Akhott . — Messrs . Radford and Nightingale 2 s-rM . W . Norman , Ventnor , We ot Wight Is—W . iIatthews ,- " dittol 8—W . Galley , ditto 6 d—C . Bnll , dittoed—T . Butter , ditto 3 d—H . Haythorn , Little Compton-street , Souois .
£Atfoiiai 2.Aub ≪Fompam).
£ atfoiiai 2 . auB < fompam ) .
Exeteb.—At A. Meeting, Held At Mr. Green...
Exeteb . —At a . meeting , held at Mr . Green slade ' s , Crediton Inn , Paul-street , on tbe 4 th inst . —Mr . Rowe in the chair—the following resolutions were unanimously passed : — " That a petition be forthwith forwarded to the House of Commons , praying for the speedy passing of tbe Bill for Winding np the Land Company in its present form . " " That the petition be signed by the Chairman of this meeting , on behalf of the members , and forwarded to Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., M . P ., for presentation . " " That we , the members of tbeExeter Branch , are truly surprised atthe conduct of P . J . O'Brien , late of Exeter , towards Mr . O'Connor and the Land Company generally ; we are totally at a
loss to conceive on what ground he , ( Ifr . O'Brien , } claims ' compensation . Did he not petition Mr . O'Connor more than once to he sent to Lowbands , because his profession did not realise his expectations in this city ? We would have him ( Mr . O'Brien ) hear in mind , that there are many parties in this city who knew his circumstances well when he left . We think gratitude to Mr . O'Connor for advancing the £ 30 which have not yet been paid back , and his having been on the land nearly three years without paying any rent , would have led him to pursue a ver / different course . We trust Mr . O'Brien will never again call himself one of Mr . O'Connor ' s " Old Guards , " after the line of conduct he has pursued towards him and the Company generally . " " That this meeting he adjourned to this day month . "
Newcasilk-os-Tyke . —At the usual quarterly meeting of this branch , the following resolutions were adopted : — " That the Secretary communicate to Mr . O'Connor , through the columns of the Star , the desire of this branch , that the provisions of the Bill now before parliament for winding up the Land Company be published , so that the members may learn the same before they petition the House on the subject , as other branches have done . " " That all members in arrear of local levies are requested to call upon Mr . Greener , sign of the Cock , Head of tbe Side , and pay tbe same ; or , to Mr . James Watson , Bookseller , Green Market . "
"What's Is A Name?"—At The Newcastle Ass...
" What ' s is a Name ?"—At the Newcastle Assizes , last week , a person named John Smith ( who was out on bail on a charge of rape ) was requested by name to come forward , whereupon a respectable young man , apparently a farmer , placed himself in the dock . After the clerk of arraigns had read over the indictment , the young man said , with some astonishment , " What ! " The clerk of arraigns having again read the indictment with increased emphasis , the young man , with laughing simplicity , said— " It isn't me you mean—it must he another o' tho same name , " and-retired amidst the convulsed laughter of the Court , whilst the real John Smith , who had been standing near the door of the dock ready to surrender when the discovery should hemade , presented himself for trial . , ix is annonnced that an Irish Quarterly Review * ai . shortJy be originated in Dublin .
Gram) Banquet In Commemoration Of Tee Ge...
GRAM ) BANQUET IN COMMEMORATION OF TEE GERMAN INSURRECTION . ; - Sj r About 600 persons eat down to an elegant banquet to commemorate the glorious rising in Germany of 1848-9 , at the Freemasons' Tavern , on Thursday . General Hang was in the chair . Behind bim was a large curtain , with the name of" Robert Blnm inscribed in red letters upon it . After dinner , the Chairman rose , and in an excellent and eloquent speech declared that nothing but Republicanism would give nations their , rights . As for himself he avowed that he went beyond mere Republicanism ; he was a Socialist . ( : Thtsannouncement was received with tremendous
cheers . ) The following resolutions were then read by the general : — 1 . —This meeting declares its sympathy with the liberal movement in Vienna in 1848 , its detestation ofthetyranny of the House of Hapsburg , and its conviction that the . liberties of Germany , Italy , Poland , and Hungary , are incompatible with the dynastic dominion of that House . 2 . —This meeting declares its sympathy with the universal German Revolution in 1848 and 1849 , its detestation of the treachery of the German Princes , and its conviction that the intelligence and earnestness of the German nation will reconquer and consolidate the liberal priaciples and popular _ I ; iws , pronounced and enacted in the years 1848 and
1849 . 3 . —This meeting declares its sympathy With the efiortsof the German Republicans , and its conviction that not only by a Republican self-government the unity and liberty of Germany , and only by an universal fraternisation of nations , the peace and welfare of the world can be assured . 4 . —This meeting declares its convicfion that political and religious liberty are inseparable . 5 . —This meeting declares its conviction that the social questions of the day can find their true solution only in a Republic , and that on their solution the durability of Republican institutions mainly depends . 6 . —This meeting declares its conviction that the martyrs of the German Revolution in 1848 and
1849 , like their brethren in France , Hungary , Italy , and Poland , will live in the grateful memory of the nations . Father Rosgb , a Hungarian clergyman , then in a most powerful and thrilling speech , depicted the horrors his country had endured under tho Austrian rule , btit he lived in hope that it would soon be restored to freedom . For who could despair of the cause of liberty whilst Kossuth breathed , and Mazzini was among them ? ( The utterance of this sentence was followed by a scene of the most soul-stirring enthusism . Tliepresence of the Italian patriot was hailed with bursts of prolonged and tremendous cheering : tho whole company rising en masse . Citizen Straws addressed the meeting , and was followed by
Citizen Mazzini , who was again received m the most enthusiastic manner . He said that he was but a simple soldier serving in the ranks of democracy ; but he hoped that by perseverance , constancy ,, and never-failing vigilance , he should be able to perform his part iu the good cause . ( Immense cheering . ) The hopes of his earlier years were now assuming reality , for Rome should yet be free . Democracy was progressing in Italy with the holy watch words of " Fraternity , Equally , and Association . " Italy has a grand future to construct—the past years of her lethergy must be atoned for—and a superb destiny was yet in store for his country . To accomplish this Rome must be faithful to herself and all true-hearted Italians will eagerly join tbe good work . ( Loud and reiterated cheering . ) The names of those two potentates who had arrogantly and impudently
undertaken the ignoble task of oppressing the Italian people , were abhorred by every free and honestminded man—the Emperor of Austria and the Pope . ( A bunt of execration followed the mention of these names . ) Germans as well as Italians were interested in overthrowing those two hideous despotisms ; and before the time had grown old , the name of the people should be substituted for that of the Emperor of Austria ; and instead of the Pope , tbe name of God should he paramount . ( Prolonged , enthusiastic acclamations greeted Mazzini at the conclusion of his able speech . Citizen Catchers , a French patriot , apologised for the absence of the Citizen Ledru-Rollin , on the ground of sorere indisposition . Citizens Tauseman ,. Arnold , Ronge , Lewis , Reynolds , Frank , Einkel , Caussidiere , and others addressed the meeting , ' which separated at a late hour .
Ohe Ot The Latest Ikvektiohs Tor The Cuv...
Ohe ot the Latest Ikvektiohs tor the Cuvstal PalaCE . — A Strange rumour has reached our ears . Whether there be any foundation for it , or not , we cannot undertake to say . The joke , however , is too good to be lost , even , if it were pure invention ; though we have been assured , in sober earnest , that it is a literal fact . When the Commissioners of the Great Exhibition , so runs tbe tale , were receiving tenders for tbe refreshment rooms , there appeared among the parties offering to take the contract a firm not hitherto known among the restaurants of the metropolis . To cover any objection which might be raised on the score of want of previous reputation , the tender was accompanied by the offer , a tempting one : we should think , to
the surplus-lacking Commissioness , to pay down the amount in hard cash . The fairness of the terms proposed , and the prospect of ready money , had well nigh decided the Commissioners to close with the bargain , when , just in time to prevent it , there was a suspicion whispered in the Commissioners' ears , which led to further inquiry ; when it turned out that the firm in question consisted of more partners than were " ostensible ; " that , in fact , horrendum dictu , the offer came from the fraternity of pickpockets , who had subscribed a handsome sum , in the hope of purchasing the privilege of acting as waiters in the Crystal Palace , and easingthesight-lovingpublicofsomeoftheir external superfluities , while ministering to their internal
wants . Imagine twenty miles of a crowded holyday thoroughfare , sprinkled over with gentlemen of the swell mob , in black dress coats and white ties , ticketed as tho servants of the establishment , exercising their vocation amidst the exciting explosions of soda-water and limonade . mouxseuse , and the insinuating comforts of cherry brandy and punch a fa Romainc . ' No wonder the idea took with the " profession ; " for the purchase of such opportunities any outlay almost would have been a profitable investment . The fellow that first hit upon the scheme deserves to have a cast of his head taken , and placedioVjbhe Exhibition as a specimen of the ' m | riesi ^ P ^^ ment of the organ of acquisitiveness . r- ^ oJin Sua . The'Son or Marshal Jokot . —Another name has
to be added to the obituary of distinguished persons of tbe present year . That name was ohe of the most popular to be found in the military annals of the Re £ volution and the Empire , and whose fame is almost coeval with that bf Buonaparte . Napoleon Junot , Duke of Abrantes , the elder of the two sons whosurvived the Marshal , has just died in the forty-feurth " year of his age , in a lunatic asylum near Paris . The wild youth and eccentric career of the deceased are thus accounted for : —Notwithstanding the great irregularities of his life , which can only be explained by partial insanity , the son of Junot possessed talents of no mean order . As may be supposed , the imaginative faculty was predominant . He composed and published several pieces bf poetry , which had considerable merit notwithstanding , or perhaps because of
their eccentricity . He was also the author of several dramatic pieces , and published a considerable number of romances separately , or in literary periodicals . He was also an excellent musician , bespoke and wrote with much correctness the English , Spanish , and Italian languages , and was an excellent classical scholar . For the last few years of his life , and during the intervals of his malady ,-he devoted himself to the production ot what he considered his most important work—a translation of Shakespeare , in verse and prose , into French . The work is , it appears , considerably advanced , and it is curious that it was while he was employed upon the tragedy of Lear , that the most decided symptoms of his malady appeared . The only surviving brother of the deceased , and the inheritor of his title , is now a captain on the staff of General M'Mahon in Africa .
The Charter is Australia . —A recent number of the Adelaide- Observer contains the following paragraph : — ' Elective Fraschisb Association . — The wealth producing classes of the community , t > ., the industrious classes , are hereby informed that an association is formed for the purpose ot obtaining , under the proposed new constitution , the following political rights and privileges : universal Suffrage . Vote by Ballot , Annual Elections , Ivo Property Qualifications of Representatives , and So Nominee Members , Those who value political , civil , and religious liberty are invited to lenaji helping hand to tbefew who have originated the question in this province . ( Here follows the terms of membership . ) Working men ! Do not allow the i jle to domineer over the industrious classes in this colony . " We also see that a Thomas Powell has taken the Campbell Arms in the Murray Disi
trict , but we do not know whether he is the » nartist spy of 1848 , or not . m , The Sale of Absenics .-Ou Wednesday Lord Carlisle ' s bill to regulate the sale of arsenic , now in the House of Lords , was printed . It declares that the unrestricted sale of arsenic facilitates the commission of crime . The bill provides that on every sale , particulars of the sale shall be entered by the seller in a book before the delivery of the arsemc , and every such entry is to be signed by the person making the sale . Any person selling arsenic , save as authorised by the bill , and every person giving false information , in order to obtain the same , to be summarily convicted before magistrates , and liable to a penalty not exceeding £ 20 . The act is not to prevent the sale of arsenic in medicine under a medical prescription . The bill has beea brought forward in consequence of the recent case of poisoning atCIareriof .
;4 <F ™£ ?Ftw£ Convention. ''"Ainblib Ne...
; 4 < f ™ £ ? fTW £ CONVENTION . ''" Ainblib neeting was * held on Tuesday evening at the British Institution , Oowper-aireet , conrenedby the Chartists of the City of London and Finsbury , for the purpose of electing a delegate to the Convention . ' ° ° . n , ^ " ? - ?" caIIed to the chair , and opened the proceedings by stating the objects of the meet-$ &? & °£ Con ? ent'ons had proved failures , else were could havo been no necessity for the present . rt £ ! n £ 1 * L ai . tb , s Convention would so act that tnere should be no necessity for another to assemble until thej-had a Chartist parliament . He trusted they would selectmen trustworthfor the occasion-¦
y Mr . Elliot moved a resolution pledging the meeting to elect and support a delegate for the district ; and he trusted they would electa man capable oi perlorming this important trust . The present ! L A mo 9 t cl [ lUcal time « » ever was it so necessary that the people should be united . Their opponents were interested in creating division among them . He trusted that enthusiasm and fidelity would cha-« hnw 9 ^ P ^ eedings , and that they would SL hJ ^'" Wt ^ 'w ^ g inen would no longer would depend upon their own unity and determinaturn { there was no help , no salvation for them from any other quarter . Let them rally round the National Charter Association and the National Convention
. * w r ; u !? K seoond ed the resolution . They found that the other classes had their yearly meetings and parliaments , and it was necessary that working men should hold their parliament . . Lord John Russell had resigned , but was again reinstated , Why did not her Majesty send for those men who pretended to be the friends of the people—such aa CoMen or Waimsley ? It was evident her Majesty did not want the people to be represented in her C iS *! ? tnerefore became necessary that they should look to their own interests , and by calling a Convention force their claims upon the attention of the Government . They must not oply elect delegates but they must support them . Hitherto the working classes had been backward in supporting those whom they appointed to do their work . This must be remedied if they intended to make their cause successful .
The . resolution was then put , and carried unanimously . Mr . Osborne moved that Mr . Leno should he the candidate for that district , which was seconded by Mr . Fennell . The drift of their speeches was that they had too long allowed themselves to bo represented by men calling themselves gentlemen , who , when they could ho longer he supported , deserted them for the middle class . It was , therefore , their dutyito elect one of their own order—a veritable working man . Mr Fennell also trusted that the Convention would press upon the legislature tho necessity of passing a general amnesty for political offenders . Mr . Mabtin moved , and Mr . Watts seconded , the nomination of Mr . Bezer . Mr . Brisck moved Mr . Harney as a candidate . A letter was read from Mr . Harney , declining to stand in opposition to the persons nominated ; and his nomination was withdrawn .
Mr . Fuzzen was opposed to an agitation for Socialism being mixed up with Chartism . Mr . Hbwktt moved , and Mr . Crowb seconded , the nomination of Mr . Finlen , Mr . Leno then addressed the meeting . He was a working man ; he did not , neither would he ever live upon the labour of another man . If elected he should maintain not only the political , but the social emancipation of his fellow working men . He would have the Ch & rter become the law of the land , and a
Chartist parliament would then decide upon the most complete organisation for emancipating labour . He would take the good out of every system that had been propounded by all the great Social Reformers of the day , without pinning himself to any of their peculiar systems . He was in favour of an extended agitation in the agricultural districts . He was also in favour of the land being national property , and was opposed to the present system of capital , which enabled the few to oppress tho many .
• Mr . Bbzbb next addressed the meeting , and made some remarks relative to some charges made against himself , which gave rise to a discussion . He then detailed his views relative to the subjects likely to be brought before the Convention ; he held , that under present circumstances , they ought chiefly , if not wholly , to confine their attention to the Charter , as a means to an end . Taking care at the same time to lay bare the social evils of our present system . : Mr ; Finlbn then addressed the meeting . He was for the Charter whole and entire , in order that they might have such social laws as would allow them to live in happiness and comfort , As long ; as the present social system existed , so long would he be its bitter and determined opponent ; He wished to see no opposition between Political and Social Re ^
formers , but to see them act in unison together . The Chairmas then put the several candidates to the meeting , and in the course of his observations stated , that Powell , the spy , had £ 200 given him , a chest of tools . which cost £ 50 , and a free passage to Adelaide , in New South Wales , by the government . With this blood-money he had nearly finished building three houses in that place , when one morning they were levelled to the ground . Government endeavoured to keep this expression of popular feeling from being known in this country , but it was a fact that they might depend oh . Ashow of hands having been taken , which did not give satisfaction , a division took place , which resulted in Mr . Finlen being electpd by a considerable majority . J || w A vote of thanks was given to the cbairman , pp the meeting dissolved . ' ¦ 15 * 11
Meeting At John-Street Institution* The ...
MEETING AT JOHN-STREET INSTITUTION * The second of a series of sessional public meep ings , convened by the Executive of the Nation ' s ^ Charter Association , to consider public proceeding ^ at home and abroad , took place at the above Institution on Tuesday evening . Mr . Honniball was called to the chair , Mr . TJtting moved a resolution , expressive of regret at the apathy displayed by the toiling masses towards their political : md social condition , and called upon them to agitate for the enactment of the People ' s Charter ; Mr . Wood ably seconded the resolution . Mr . Harney—who was loudly cheered—in supporting the resolution , said the virtue sorely needed by the working classes at that moment was
perseverance ; they were too much in the habit or sinking back into apathy and despair upon the ' -first object that presented itself before them . A great deal was said about the treachery of leaders ; but the people in a great measure were answerable for their own failures . ( Hear ,. hear . ) The people ought not to rest all the blame of their failures on leaders ; nor ought the leaders to excuse their failures upon the ground of the apathy and inconsistency of the people . Mr . Harney , ^ then , in answer to a question from the gallery , explained that the principles contained in the programme recently put forth by the Executive Committee , were merely published with a viuw to their coming unde » , discussion at the approaching National Convention , aud it' was the duty of the people to discuss the
programme in the meantime . ( Hear . ) With respect to the condition of the country the Whigs had contrived to make themselves indispensable . TheSjPories had declined office as well as the Peelites , while the financial reformers had not been tried , because they were known to be too weak to maintain their positionif chosen . He regretted this ; he wished to see them in power , that the country might be disabused of the idea that those men would do something to elevate the social and political condition of the people . Afterghiricing . it the state of the government at home aud the position of the French republic , which he was assured could not be overthrown , and the position of continental affairs generally , Mr ; Harney resumed his seat amidst the applause of the meeting . ;
Mr . D . O'Connor moved an addition to the resolution , to the effect that it was impolitic and unwise to call a Convention ' together at the time proposed by the Chartist Executive j alleging as » reason , the presentapathetic condition bf the working classes . Moreover Mr . F . O'Connor , by his influence would swamp the Convention and annihilate the movement altogether . The speaker then condemned the programme recently published by the Executive Committee . Mr . Wilson seconded the ammendment , Mr . Harnbt explained the reasons which had decided the Executive Committee to call a Convention together on the 31 st of March .
Mr , J , B , 0 JJKIKs , whose . appearance called forth applause , said that he was glad to perceive by the reception given by the' meeting to the programme of the Executive Committee , that all the people were not tote humbugged any longer . ( Hear , hear . ) He should not have spoken had he not been called for . He was compelled to say that the cloven foot of the old Anti-Corn Law League peeped out in every proposition itcontained ( Hear , hear . ) It was a . very different thing to what he expected—it was a farrago of unadulterated humbug , and he could not imagine how it had been put forward . It made no mention of the
nationalization of land , or laws of public credit although they had repeatedly declared in favour of those objects . If tuey objected to mention them , they should have confined themselves to the Charter alone , and left men to advocate it their own way . ( Hear , hear . ) He wished to get the names of the Executive Committee to the doctrines which he and they had long taught , that the Financial Reformers might see the people were not to be sold . ( Cheers . ) The present Executive was able and talented , and be highly respected its members personally , but he wished them to withdraw their programme . ' . The question was then put , and the original mo « iion wai-carried by an overwhelming majority .
National A Ssociation Ofl United Trades....
NATIONAL A SSOCIATION Ofl UNITED TRADES . T , B . Duhcombe , Esq ., M . P ., President . ¦ Established 1845 . ' ¦ ¦ " rut JTJSTITU . " "If it were possible for tho working classes , by combining among themselves , to raise , or keep up the general rate of wages , it need hardly be said that this would be a thing . not to bo punished , but to be welcomed and rejoiced at" . Stdabt Aim ,.
We have again this week the pleasure of reporting additional evidence of the steady progress which the National Association i ? making in public estimation . Notwithstanding the long and pain / nl contest which the obstinacy of Mr . Edward Perry lias entailed upon us , and tbe defection from our ranks which such a protracted struggle was sure to occasion , it is a source of satisfaction and pride to the Central Committee to find that their'defermined and uncompromising resistance to that litigious gentleman ' s pretensions , has earned for them the confidence aad approval of a wide circuit of their fellow workmen , who have hitherto stood aloof from this and all similar movements .
Although we cannot yet congratulate ourselves upon the submission of Mr , E . Perry and his brother , to the principles of justice and common sense ; yet having succeeded in obtaining emplovment at remunerative wages , for the whole of our members , who were compelled to withdraw themselves from these gentlemen ' s employment , the strike is virtually terminated , and the extra lew which the great bulk of our members have so long and so cheerfully contributed is discontinued from the 25 th of February , There never , perhaps , in the history Of labour , was a more striking illustration of the immense power which the apathy and ignorance ol the working classes permit to lie dormant and
unheeded . For more than seven months has a contest been carried on against a combination of wealthy capitalists , rendered bold and impracticable from their previous success , in every struggle iu which they were engaged with tbeir workpeople . " Emboldened , as we may say , by their previous success , they laughed to scorn all our first attempts to arrange the difference upon principles of mutual concession , They dared us to a-contest , which , from past experience , they anticipated could only terminate td their advantage . "I have hoisted my colours , " quoth Edward Perry , " and nailed them to tbe mast ; " and , certainly , a more determined
opponent never waged war with right and justice ; but if it were possible to estimate the costs of this contest to each of the belligerent parties , what a lesson would it teach to the covetous , unprincipled capitalist on the one hand , and the poor , tame slaves of labour on the other . How immeasurably superion in powerful resources is labour over capital , whenever the working classes choose that those resources shall be concentrated , and made applicable for their protection . What a frightful waste of wealth and eHergy does the past history of labour open to us ! What painful sacrifices have usually attended all labours' contests , aud how unsatisfactorily have they generally terminated !
Let us , fellow-workmen , make a wise use of our past sad , bitter experience . Let us , for the future , thoroughly understand that our safety depends not upon large masses of capital , accumulated by long and painful sacrifices , to be certainly absorbed in unavailing contests , but upon a thorough well-orga nised confederation of labour , where the poor man ' s penny shall more than weigh down the rich man's pound . Let us , as Mr . Parry says , " Hoist our colours and hail them to the mast , " and defy proud capitalists to continue their unprincipled encroachments upon the rights ofindustry . After a contest of seven months , what member of the National Association can say that he is one sixpence poorer than
he would have been badhe never been called upon to contribute bis mite for the Wolverhampton strike ? What real sacrifice bas he made through this tedious struggle , and yet what a victory has been achieved ; we say a victory has been achievedj because we are morally certain that the Perrya last move of importing German labour will terminate as miserably as his French speculation . He will find foreign labour a very dear commodity in a trade requiring severe and protracted toil . Your Frenchmen and your German are not so fond of hard work ; and we know that nothing but . downright hard work is the lot of the poor wretches who accept Mr . Perry ' s prices .
We have this week had application from a large body of Bobbin Turners , of Stavely , Windermere , Westmoreland ; from the Brush and Tile Makers of New Holland , Lincolnshire ; and from the Boiler Makers of Crewe , whom we rejoice to find determined themselves to carry out the resolution passed by an unanimous vote of their Conference in 1847 , but which , for some inexplicable reason , the officers of that body have never thought proper to act upon , We fancy the Boiler Makers are not the only body of working men whose best interests have been betrayed by the selfish ambition of leaders . We have ever met with a hea / ty , and ( as we believe ) sincere
mponse , to our appeals from the members of most grades , whenever we can get an opportunity of ex-Ijiffining the principles and practical workings of kffiAssociatiou . We have constantly bad resolutions Ijflsed by bodies and conferences , approving of the pincipies of National Union , as the only effective ¦^ niedy for the wrongs of labour ; but we have as ; copstantly had the mortification of finding the jaonest opinions and . aspirations of the masses counteracted and overridden by interested officials . We hail then , with great pleasure , tbe evidences which reach us , of a thorough awakening of our fellow workmen to the folly ef any longer submission to this system of official dictation .
If the pomp and circumstance of leadership pre . sents such dazzling attractions , surely the leadership of a National Army of Labour if not so profitable , is , at least , more glorious than the small dignity of local pre-eminence , especially when the maintenance of such pre-eminence involves the sacrifice of all honest principle . This movement , as it deveiopes itself , will present a wide field for the honourable ambition of the highest talent which can be found in the ranks of Labour . The men , whoever they may be , who succeed in raising a rampart strong enough to protect labour from the assaults of capital , will earn for themselves a deathless renown ; and we should be proud to share , or surrender , our pretentions to any parties who are prepared to bring to this movement greater zeal and perseverance .
We have received information of a very important meeting , held by Mr . Green , in St , Mary ' s Hall , Coventry , of the silk and ribbon trades of that city , where resolutions in favour of National Union wen : unanimously adopted . The Wolverhampton conspiracy case comes on for trial at Stafford , on Wednesday ( this day ) or Thursday , and we hope we shall be able to report the defeat of this last disgraceful move of the litigious Perry , We must
again remind our members that these prosecutions involve a serious expense , and we are sorry to say tbe subscriptions which have already come to hand are not near adequate for the unavoidable expenses of tbe trial . There will be a heavy attorney ' s bill to pay , besides other expenses ; we hope , therefore , that all will contribute a trifle according to their means , on behalf of their thrice persecuted brethren . 259 , Tbttenham-court-road . W & t . Peel , Sec . March 12 th .
TO THE ENGINE DRIVERS AND FIREMEN OF THE UNITED KINGDOM . " Fellow Men , —In taking a review of our past proceedings , we feel constrained to make this appeal to your common sense , believing that it is highly important that some steps should be immediately taken , to stay the progress of the giant monopoly , which has commenced with rapid strides to make a very serious inroad into our industrial rights , ' " we assure you we are not taking this stop vvilh the view of personal aggrandisement , but truly in the spirit of unity and fraternity ; believing it to he impossible to maintain ourselves in our present position , unless we legally combine togetherfor our mutual benefit and welfare .
" Under whatever cloak the railway capitalists may disguise their views , still it is very evident to us all that it is their intention , as soon as they conveniently can to reduce our wages , and which we must confess we are not in a position at present to withstand ; for although at the present day wo are the only body of labourers who are receiving what may . he termed remunerative wages ; yet at the same time we are the most isolated body of men in the kingdom ; in witness of which we refer you to the newspaper report of the disputes on tho mna Western , where , when the subject matter was brought forward , the men on the other portions of the line were not acquainted with any preconcerted plan or arrangement , by which they might have acted in concert .
" Again to prore that we cannot exist much longer in our present state ; if you refer to the Eastern Counties , where the men had grievances far mora intolerable than any which ever came before our notice ; yet , notwithstanding the loss of life and limb , and the immense sacrifice Of the company ' s
National A Ssociation Ofl United Trades....
rolling stock , ( though the incompetency of the new drivers ) , the directors have the unanimous voico of the proprietors , and at least the passive acquiescence of the public . n hope this will not always be the case ; hut until the engine drivers and firemen of the United Kingdom combine together in an alliance to defend their industrial right ; no attempt they can make a , f w nSfc tne'roPPressors will ever succeed . We therefore make bold to call your most serious attention to this fact ; that by combining together we may yet save ourselves ; on the contrary , if we do not wo are sure to fall . Let us therefore unite , and prove to the railway capitalists , and the world at targe , that while doing our duty as such valuable public servants should do , wo arc determined to be treated as such valuable public servants deserve
Believing wo are making this appeal to a body of men who see the urgent necessity of combining together for our mutual welfare , we beg leave to suggest t \\ vi "National Association op United Trades , " as a fit society for the furtherance of our views . It is founded upon the 6 th George IV ., cap . 129 , which expressly states , " that it is lawful for any body of men to combine together to keep their wages up , provided they do not use threat or intimidation to others , to induce them to do so . " T , S . Buncombe , Esq ,, M . P ., is chairman of the aforesaid society , a gentleman of known honour and integrity . The expense of joining , contribution , & c , are so trifling , as to come within the means of the poorest of us ; the allowance to be received in case of strike , wo believe will be found quite satisfactory ; in fact the men on this line have nearly to a man joined it , and hope the whole of you will see the necessity of joining heart and hand in this noble cause .
Th secretary , Mr . William Peel , 259 , Tottenham Court Road , London , will feel pleasure in forwarding any information you may require , ui-on application . Hoping you will take this into your most serious consideration , We remain , yours in unity and fraternity , The Enoinembn and Firemen In connexion with the "National Association of United Trades . "
Meeting Of Coal-Miners. A Meeting Of The...
MEETING OF COAL-MINERS . A meeting of the miners of Halshaw Mow * and tho surrounding neighbourhood was held last week in tho yard of the Black Horse public-house , ia Halshaw Iloor ; tho meeting was well attended , as there could not be less than 1 , 000 present ; the miners from Lever and Radcliffe were accompanied by a band of Music and a banner with appropriate inscriptions . George Lomax , a collier from Radcliffe , was called upon to preside . He opened the business of the meeting by stating that their object in meeting was to lay their grievances before the public , and to adopt such measures as might seem best calculated to improve their condition .
Mr . CiKAwoircn proposed and John Lyon seconded the first resolution : — " That this meeting is convinced by dear-bought experience , that most of tho evils under which the miners are now suffering , have been brought on by the divisions and dissentions so prevalent amongst themselves . This meeting cannot too strongly deprecate the practice of colliers contracting to get coals at less than the regular field price ; the underbidding of each other in the taking of pits to sink , driving of tunnels , & c , have also proved very injurious to the interests of the miners generally in these districts : the miners now present , therefore , pledge themselves to refrain from such injurious practices for the future , and hope that all miners will follow their example . " The second and third resolutions wore also moved and seconded by working miners , as
follows : second , " That this meeting is of opinion that while almost everything is improving , tho condition of the miners is getting worse ; and being convinced that they cannot protect tbeir labour , which is their only capital , unless they are united together and cultivate a spirit of friendship and lovo towards each other : therefore this meeting pledges itself to support tho Miners' Association , being convinced that that society , if properly carried out , has a tendency to benefit both masters and men , and will injure no one . We are the more determined to support that society as one of its objects is to settle all differences between masters and men by fair argument , instead of having recourse to disastrous strikes , which are alike injurious to both masters and men . " The third resolution merel y fixed the rate of payment to the society for the next twelve months .
Mr . Swallow , tho miners' agent for three districts , proposed the fourth resolution : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that engine coals are soiling at such low prices at the present time , that if tbe present system of underselling each other in the market is not abandoned , a great many of the coal masters will be ruined thereby . As there is no class of capitalists who deserve " to receive a better interest for their capital than the coal masters should do , and no class of workmen deserve to be better remunerated for their toil than the miners do , and as it is at the present moment the large consumers of coal who are deriving those gains from the present cheapness of engine coals which ought to be the masters' profits and the
workmen s wages , this meeting , after mature deliberation , is also of opinion that all engine coals ought to be immediately advanced one penny per cwt , ; and it is furthermore of opinion that this very desirable object may he accomplished by a unity of action of the two parties who are so very deeply interested in this matter . " Mr . Swallow spoke at considerable length on the miners' sufferings , and tho many dangers they had to encounter , lie said that the miners' wages , one with another , had not for the last twelve months averaged 15 s . per week , and that many were working twelve hours a day for that scanty pittance ; whereas , he remarked , the miners demand 4 s . per day for eight hours' labour , lie then referred to
tho efforts tho workmen had made with the view of inducing the masters to advance their wages . They had sent in statements to the masters on tho 18 th November last , soliciting an advance of 25 , per cent ., which would have averaged about 4 d . per ton ; but the roasters did not nppear wishful to give such advance ; so that they ( the miners ) sent a deputation of two men to visit each employer , to ascertain which of them were willing to give the required advance . After a great deal of trouble tho masters at some places gavo an advance of about l * d , per ton , instead of 4 d . On the 1 st of January a circular was sent to the masters soliciting the remainder , hut without any good effect ; consequently another deputation was sent to visit all the
employers . The deputation was very kindly received in every instance except one . All the masters admitted the necessity of advancing the men ' s wages , and every one expressed their wil . lingness to advance if the others did so ; but they could not unless others did so first : so that where a commencement was to be made was the next question , As no one appeared to be willing to take a lead in the matter , they were left in exactly the same position as at the latter end of December last . To remedy this state of things the next stop was to issue a circular convening a meeting of masters , to be held on the 10 th of January , at tho
Three Crowns , Deansgate , Bolton . —A number of the employers attended the meeting , hut , after mature deliberation , they unanimously agreed that they could not do anything in the matter ; they expressed a strong feeling of sympathy for the men , and admitted that at the present time there was a great demand for coals ; but thought that , if anything were to bo done , it must be by the men . Mr . Swallow then , at some length , showed that the present state of tbe markets , and tho increased and increasing consumption of coals , warranted them in demanding an increase of wages . To prove this he adduced the following statement of the number of tons of coals exported in the years mentioned : —1833 , 615 , 255 ; 1842 , 1 , 996 , 506 ; 1848 ,
2 , 785 , 300 ; 184 D , 2 , 828 , 039 ; 1850 , 3 , 347 , 607 . The shipment of coals for home consumption has progressed in the same ratio ; during . the last forty years the coals shipped in one circuit alone have increased from 2 , 612 , 388 to 7 , 838 , 380 . The fuel used for tho working of railways and the increased number of steam-engines for manufacutring purposes have also swelled the demand for coals . Those facts ho thought sufficiently disproved the old cuckoo song of" when the consumption increased , as a matter of course wages would be advanced ; for it was here seen that the demand for coals was daily and hourly increasing , yet wages were being reduced . At the conclusion of his address Mr . Swallow WaB . presented with a beautiful and valuable silver medal and chain as a token of respect for his past services to the miners of these districts .
The resolution was seconded , and then unanimously adopted . The other resolutions were alio agreed upon ; one to the effect that their agent be instructed to draw up a memorial to the masters , on the subject of tho meeting ; the other , " That they were determined to resist any further reduction on their present rate of wages . Any master , therefore attempting to reduce wages , the men are to send up a statement for an advance of Is . per load , and after using all reasonable means to get such masters to « ive tho desired advance , if ho still re fuse , then the men will cease working at such colliery until he does , give the advance required ; and the miners now present pledge themselves to support such men during their struggle . " Mr . Matthew Suaw , the weavers' agent , next addressed the meeting , pointing out the advantages to be derived by the miners being firmly united together . . B '
After a vote-of thanks had been given to the Chairman , the two agents , and three cheers for the Union , the meeting separated . A delegate meeting was afterwards held to carry out the resolutions « the meeting .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 15, 1851, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_15031851/page/5/
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