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whole timeI took out the intestinal cana...
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THE CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED. I.AB0U...
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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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Whole Timei Took Out The Intestinal Cana...
_ , „ January 18 , ik . i * 0 THE NORTHERN STAR . - ¦ - • ' -i * - -
The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. I.Ab0u...
THE CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED . I . AB 0 UR PLEADING ITS OWS CAUSE . THE EMPLOYER AND EMPLOYED . a ramus , dialogue . —part v . Old Holm and Richard Jackson visit Shoddy Hall by special invitation , and are received ly Mr . Smith in Ids study . ( Concluded from last meek ' s paper . ) Smith . —Well but now , Robin , how could all the poor people possibly make laws ? Surely they cannot understand the complexity , the intricacies , and tue Biceties of law-maMmr ?
- . Robin . —Ecod , they ' re too nice , intricate , and complicated ; but I'll tell thee what old John of Greenfield , Yorkshire prophet , said , when Milton asfd him atnoinination : "John , " said fold Lord ; ¦" John" says he , " what ' s thou know about making tore ?' " " ISowt , " sal * -John ; " nowt about maMng Bhoes either ; but I know when a chap makes a pair that pinches my toes—and damn'd if he shall make any more for me . " Now , that ' s just the thing , maister Smith ; { poor folk isn't all going up to't "hojle , " to Lunnon , to make laws , but they want to send chaps there that would ' nt make laws to pinch their toes , as the old prophet said . And , ecod , if they did , poor folk would tell than at the end of the year , when't account came in , to go about their
business , as laws wer ' nt worth poor folk's money , as pinched poor folk ' s toes . Smith . —Well but , Robin , what would you have the representatives do ? Robin . —Why Lord Milton axed old John same question . ! He said— " John , " says he , " what ' s thou know about making laws ? " " I know nowt , " says John , " about making Laws ; but I know this—I know that all the stuff i' the world were made for all the folk i' the world , and I aint my share of it ; andlwantlawstogivememyshai'e . " Now , maister Smith , weren't that more sense than all Chambers ' rubbish ? And as working folk can't get their share ffitkoutlaw , ecod , they must onlv combine together , and see if they can't change the law , and keep up't wage like , by "Trades Unions , " and
"combinations , " until they get law to do it for them . Smith . —Well but , Robin , now how could laws possibly interfere with tlie rate of wages ? Robin . —Aye , dearee me , what rubbish you do talk . Don't law interfere with , evei-ything ? Doesn't inow tiiat there was a time Avhen King and Parlia ment combined to keep up wages and keep down price of food . See here , see all Acts of Parliament I lave here for seven hundred years gone . See here whenall Kings—Edward ' s , Harry ' s , James ' s , Rich ard ' s , old Bess—ecod , all had Laws to keep down prices of food and keep up price of wage . See here , maister Smith ; see old . Acts , commanding justices of the peace , sheriffs , and , all officers of the county to meet , and declare the price of food , and to punish
all as shall refuse to sell at that rate . Ecod , but I remember , —aye , its four score year now sin' old Samuel Dodge was put in the pillory ; and what for think , maister Smith ? Smith . —Well , I really don't know , Kobin , but it must be some dreadful crime , as the pillory was a degrading and shocking punishment . Kobin . —Eh , thou ' rt right , maister Smith : it were a dreadful crime ; itwercatbegmning of a hard summer , and provisions were getting scarce ; and Samuel gore out and buys ' taturs , and com , and things as was coming into market ; and when market opened there was but little choice for poor folks that wanted to buy , as they were obliged to go to Samuel , as he had bought stock up . Well , Samuel thought to rise the
price a-bit ; and folk went for beadle , and beadle went for justice , and justice com'd down , and all poor folk flocked round Mm ; I never seed such a sight ; and justice told beadle to bring Samuel before him , and , ecod , lie was put in the pillory , and justice ordered that all the stuff should be sold at the rated price . Uow , maister Smith , in them old times the law called this "forestalling , " and it had great deal about " engrossing , " " forestalling , " and " rcgrating ;" and , ecod , all them laws meant that folk should be punished if they speculated in prices of poor folks lood ; andwhatdoyoathink , maister Smith , ecod , for third offence it was death . Wellnow , just see here ; now look down at the big warehouses , full of wheat and oafe , and folks starving , and owners busing and
piling up , and , ecod , trying to make a scarcity togetabigpricefortheloaf ; and , ecod , they are called •' anti-monopolists . " Why , good God of heaven , if SamuelDodge deserved pillory , eightyycarsago , before our common was stolen , and when we hadn't . onethirdof our present population to feed , ecod , everyone of them , there rascals with big corn-stores " regrating , " " engrossing , " and forestalling " poor font ' s food , should be sent to work in the chain gang , instead of poor Frost , that felt for poor folk . Why , maister Smith , ain't it a common thing now to hear men , them there patriots , free traders ; them there chaps as is for cheap food—ain't it a common thing to licar them in coffee-shop , aye , and ia < ypeu street too , speak this way loikc : "Well , maister Grudge
, bad prospect of harvest this year : now ' s the time to buy wheat , it ' s sure to be dear ; " and so with 'tatuis and beasts , and flour ; and , ecod , if there's two or three cloudy days , baker will put sixpence or happen ten-pence a stone on to poor folk ' s flour . Now , maister Smith , in olden times some of them there patriots would have been putin the pillory , andmore on them would be hung ; and , ecod , now thcni very chaps does it in open day ; and , ecod , folk are to send them into parliament , to keep down wage , and keep up price of food . Ecod , but they call themselves poor folk ' s best friends ; while they ' ve got , as old John would say , all the stuff of the country that
belongs to all the folk in the country . Now , maister Smith , doesn't know that in reign of Henry IV ., when landlords were feeding sheep on land , because wool was very dear , and folic could not sret food , eeod , Hal come down to Parliament and told Commons how folk must be fed first , and Commons made law that squires and landlords shouldn't feedsomany Eheep as " woltdj-kess habm-v etc-x the sieaxs of sdbsistexce . " Baint that one of the free trade gammons , maister Smith , low population presses too hardly upon the means of subsistence 1 Smith . —Yes , Robin , certainly thatis one of their sayings ; and don't you think there is much wisdom init ?
Rohm . —Wisdom , yea , great wisdom , in making philosophyfirst , and then giving it good name . But , maister Smith , was there muck wisdom in taking three thousand acres of " ould common" from all folk i't parish and giving it all to one man ? Ecod , Maister Smith , it ' s the only big man with big throat that swallows up all , and not poor folk that presses Jiardly "upon themcans of subsistence . " Smith . —Well but , Robin , just see what the wage Of a working man was in those times , when the law protected it . We read oi four-pence a day with food , and five-pence a day without food , and just see what a difference now-a-days .
Robin . —Wellnow , Maister Smith , I'll tackle thee upon that . A man would get four-pence a day , and iisfood , good food , for the odd pennv . Now then , Maister Smith , that ' s a day ' s wage in olden time , feeding five able bodied workmen ; and , ecod , I'd like to see the men now , single men , that did live as folk did them times , and save fourshillings out of every five of hiswage . And , ecod , the four shillings saved would do as much as four pound now . Sow then , Maister Smith , there ' s difference of time ; and then see mat was all done by combination . Lookat all
, them there Jaws , and then there guilds—the Tailors ' giuld , the Goldsmiths ' guild , ths Clothwoikcrs ' guild , the Saddlers' guild , and all them there "uilds for regulating wages , for building alms-houses , and Supportmgfolk—wasn't that combination ? And now , eeod , folk is obliged to combine to support one another when they are sick or out of work , and to bury one another when thev are dead ; aye , ecod , they'll let poor folk " combine" fast enough when it's to screw pence out of poor folk ' s selves to do what law ought to do for them .
Smith . —Well , uponmy honour , Robin , there is certainly no resisting the overpowering strength of your argument ; but yet sec liow different the appearance of the working classes and their mode of living now is , when compared with their former condition and habits . Robin . —Former condition and habits ! why where did ' sU & vn that stuff ? ^ j . —Why we read daily of the vast-improvc-^ de by the working classes . I take my iufor-Tithe newspaper press , and from the great aits made in every direction—better cloth-* cottages , better furniture than they could lovein -those barbarous times .
a . —Barbarous you call them . Ecod , Pd conito-morrow to make us all such barbarians . again . I thought I'd hear summat of that sort , and Ibrougkt up with me what the King ' s Lord Chancellor , Sir John Fortescue , wrote to the King ' sson , in the reign of Henry the Sixth ; and now , maister Smith , here it is . Good authority , I think , coining from the King ' s Lord Chancellor ; better nor all that rubbish in the press of middle-folk , and Chambers ' tracts . The old English Chancellor says : — The King cannot despoil the subject , without making ample satisfaction for the same ; he cannot , hy himself or his ministry , lay taxes , subsidies , or any imposition whatever , upon tlie subject ; he cannot alter the laws , or make sew ones . WITHOUT THE EXPItESS CONSENT
OF THE WHOLE KINGDOM EJ PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED : every inhahiiant is ai his liberty fully to use and enjoy whatever his farm producetb , the fruits of the irth , the increase of his fioek , and the like : aU tlie improvements he inakes , whether hy his own proper industry or of those lie retains in his service , are Ms own to use and enjoy , vdihout the let * , interrupt ion , or denial of any . If he be . in any Arise injured , he shall have his amends and satisfaction against tlie party- offending : HENCE it is that tlie inhahitants q £ Eiigl-n-I arc rich hi gold , sflwr , aud all the necessaries and eou-- £ -. uencos of life . ^ They drbikr . o water , unless at certain tunes , upon a religious score , and hy way of doing penance . They are fed in great abundance with aU sorts of jlesli anifsh , of which they have plenty everywhere ; they are clothed , throughout , in good woolkr . s ; their hc-ddiiig and other furniture in tlseir houses are of wool , and that in great store , * ^ they are also mil prc-cided with all sots Of Irjuicholdgood ,
The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. I.Ab0u...
wAneecssarg implements for husbandry ; every one accord ine to his rankfhath aU things which induce to " make life easy and happy . " And after tins lie observes , that these are the effects of laws which are founiled upon the rinclple , that" a king U given for tlie sake of tlie kingdom , „ n 4 no ' kingdom for the sake of a king . " Now , what doest say to that style of barbarism , maister Smith ? Smith . —Well , upon my honour , Robin , I really don't know what to say . One hen's and reads so much stuff iu Chcunlers' Journal , and newspapers that I declare I thought the English were barbarians , and all prowling beggars and vagabonds before the introduction of machinerv .
Robin . —Introduction of the devil ! Ecod , I'll tell thee , maister Smith , when I was born , —that's now near hand ninety years sin ' , the King of England hadn't such a carpet as that , nor King of England hadn't such cloth in his coat as thou hast now , nor such boots , nor gold chain ; nor , eeod , carriage or horses . Smith ( smiling ) . —Ah , ah , ah ! Why perhaps not , Robhr . but see \ rt \ at a p & la < je ths Qawsu has got , awl what furniture she has . ltobin—Eh , ecod , that ' s not the thing ; but feather lied and bedstead that the old folk kept , and that I were born in , is the only bit of good furniture in my house now ; and , ecod , I can't live aa well as l ' aithcr , nor as well as I did before machinery came up . Now , maister Smith , I'll tell thee how things were with
Eoor folk before they were compelled to live from and to mouth , and when there were very little money in the country : when faitber d ' eed I were twenty-five years of age , and I got a cottage aud acre of lanfi for nine shilling a year . Well , I had grass for a cow , and'appen a heifer on common , if it weren't overstocked . And when I had work at my trade , I'd work ; and when trade was slack , I go into 't field , and I'd work there ; and , eh ! what a Devil ' s Dust it were then , compared to now ! There weren't a better labourer in the parish ; and when poor Robin grew up to be alad , and afterhe bad done schooling , mother bought a loom for him out of milk , butter , and vegetables . Mother would say to Robin , "Now , Robin , there's agoodlad , finish thv task earlv , and thou mun make hay , or
weed with faithcr "—and eh , my God , but the shuttle would fly like lightning , and Robin would whistle , and all young folk would set to reeling and winding to come out at same time wi' Robin . 0 , butit was a beautiful sight to see poor folk coming out of a spring morning to sec the garden after a shower : and then to see them at three o ' clock , when the day ' s work were done inside , running like mad to the spade , and the hoe , and the rake ; and mother , with ' t baby hi her arms , looking at faitber and children working , and the birds on the wall in cages that wopld sing as if they thanked God . Aye , dearee me , how the news would go thro' 't village that Will this , or Ben that , or Jack so and so , had first early lettuce , or first bunch of radishes , or first dish of 'taturs . Eh , to see them
looking at first dish . ' and then to see flowers growing , and see all folk with nosegays , picking and choosing to see which old parson Flower liked best on Sundays . Eh , maister Smith , instead of lashing the flesh off back of poor babies of nine years of age , mother then need only say , "Now , Bess , if thou baint a good girl for the rest of the week ,-thou shan't have a nosegay for parson Flower on 'Sunday ; " and the child would be good I'll warrant me . Well now , maister Smith , what if votes got money to keep French out , took common from ns , and machinery took acre of laud from me ? Smith . —Machinerv take the acre of land from you —why how did machinery do that ? Robin . —How did machinery do it ? Why , God
bless my life , when mill after mill were built , all the land in Devil ' s Dust were wanted for banks and churches , and police barracks , and station houses , and lock-ups , and warehouses , and lawyers' offices , and shops , and cottages for poor devils to starve in ; and , ecod , down comes lawyer Grind and gives me notice to quit , and slides up big bills all over my acre of ground that grandfather held , and faithorheld , and I held under 'tsquirc : but , eeod , Grind bought it , and then were all them bills with " This eligible plot of ground to be let or sold for building on , * " and , eeod , all the gardens in Devil ' s Dust were served alike ; lawyer Grind , and lawyer Squeeze , and lawyer Quill , and all the whole bunch of devils , bundled poor folk out ; and now , maister Smith , there ' s police
barrack , bank , church , lock-up , session house , bcershop , billiard table , and brothel , all standing on my acre of ground ; and , ecod , if Shoddy Hall , and them there buildings , don't press hard upon my means of subsistence , I wonder at it : and then who'll tell me that all the money that I hear of being in the country now , and that forces me to live from hand to mouth , is as good for me as " common" and "acre of ground ? " Altho ' rich folk like it best , ' cause poor folk can never learn the value in their labour when machinery docs their work , and it allows rich folk to gamble in their labour , without knowing what profit is made of it . Doesn't that press harder on poor folk ' y Devil ' s Dust than all Corn Laws ever Parliament made ? Eeod , maister Smith , hut we have queer laming
now-a-days . Ecod , but thoy sell poor folk ' s land by yard to build on , and steal poor folk's common ; then , eeoil , when they ' ve took all , they tell us that poor folks is too many for land . Ecod , it ' s rich folic is too many for land ; and they tell tis to go all the way all over the world for produce of other folk ' s land . Now , maister Smith , the more folks comes into the world , the more land they want ; and , ecod , the more they wanted , the more rent they must pay for it . So , do you see , maister Smith , somehow or another , poor folk be taxed when they come into the world—they be taxed all the days that they live in the world ; and , ecod , as old Jem Tot told Parson Barebouos at vestry , t ' other day , they bo taxed going out of the world too . Smith . —How ' s that , Robin ?
Robin . —Well , I'll tell you . Parson and Jem had some words over church-rates , and Jem says to parson , " Why , " says he , " ecod , that thou hast richest farm of ground ' y Devil ' s Dust . " " Why , " says he , " parson , " says he , "there's acre in church-yard , and there ' s four thousand eight hundred square yards in acre , and ecod , large and small , thou pack ' st poor folks into about square yard , anil makes them pay ten shillings for 'hoyle , ' and ecod , there ' s £ 2 , 100 an acre . " " Pooh , pooh , " says the parson . ' " Gammon , " says Jem , " you puts 'em two deep too ; ecod , two crops like , and four if be . " Now , habit that a tax , maister Smith \ Smith . —Yes , Robin ; but then the working classes have burial societies though .
Rohm . —Aye , aye , there it is , eeod ; the law let them do that , and barrister'ill certify that , and niaisters will tell them it ' s all reet . Is that combination ? Smith . —Well now , Robin , you are hinting a good deal about the land , but surely you don't mean to turn poor operatives from the warm atmosphere of a cotton mill to work in the open air . I am sure , Robin , your heart's too tender for that : and then how could you expect them , some of thcin stricken in years , to learn the science of agriculture ? Robin . —Ecod , but thou makest me laugh , maister Smith . Thou thought very little of turning poor folk from field and fresh air into hot oven , and , ecod , thexe was no difficulty at all in the way of clodpoles learning new trade whenmaistera wanted them , but now ,
ecod , folks are thought to forget all about spade and land . Now just look here , maister Smith , if farming were to turn up best for making money , eeod , but we'd hear of nowt but the healthy labour of a farmer , the honourable occupation of a farmer , and all newspapers would bo crammed full of that like ; but now , maister Smith , Avhen rich folk can speculate on poor folk labour without land , and make thirty , and forty , and " fifty per cent , on it , then , ecod , you'd think that a spade was a mariner ' s compass , and that hoo and rake were like freemason ' s square and compass Why , look here , maister Smith , it took me seven years to learn to make a pair of shoes , and I prick my finger wi' awl and hit thumb wi' hammer as often
as leather , and burn my hands up when end would miss wax , and cut my hands when I'd be closing , before I knew how to work elbow , and other man should cutfor me , but , ecod , maister Smith , somehow or another natur seems to have cut man out for land , for , ecod , tlie veryjfirst cabbage I ever stuck in ground , it grew just as well as if I'd sawed my apprenticeship . I'd go and sec farmer Stretch a bit , and go and look at Squire ' s gardener , that used to come down 'y season and shew folk what to do , and then , in short time , when all folk 'y Devil's Dust do grow a bit for pot themselses , eeod but there come six gardeners , and but they had all enough to do . I'd have one a day , and another would have one a day , and so on ; they were better combination nor lawyers , maister Smith .
Smith . —Well , upon my honour , Robin , I believe you ; and now , Robin , just a single word about early marriages , temperance , early education , a good system of emigration , better ventilation , and cheerful parks for the working class to exercise in , with mechanics ' institutes as a mental resource , and , as cleanliness is next to godliness—baths for the working classes , versus the land and combination ; and , upon my honour , Robin , I'll be bound by the conscientioife impression that your reasoning shall make upon my judgment ; and now , Robin , be brief , and then we'll have a chop and glass of old English ale , and you must drink my toast , or I'll drink yours .
Robin . —Ecod , that ' s fair , and spoke like a man , maister Smith , and I'll be short . Early marriages . Now , maister Smith , when I was a young man , old folic were always trying to marry young folic before they got too set like , so that they might grow lip to one another ' s ways , and would luve one another , and help one another , and that woidd keep young folk out of harm ' s way , and make lads and lasses tasty like , and thrifty ; lass would learn housekeeping , sewing , and cook a hit , and neighbours woidd all know it , for
mother would tell it , and lad would be ncet like in his dress , and work a bit extra to treat lass , and he'd learn to dance in evenings , and happen have watch , and bit o' trinket like ; and then , young folk woidd grow up together , and children would grow up together , and young married folk would be sound and hearty to earn for childrcd , not to work ' em too young ; tfien , maister Smith , marriage state were a happy one , and , as Chambers says , was a sacred and proper institution , " but now , ecod , its like cattle market ; old men wheedle young lasses and marry to get then * wage , and young lads marry
The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. I.Ab0u...
old wives to get bit of brass , then , ecod , the old man ' s young wife , and the old wife ' s young husband come together , and tbey makes what they calls a moral marriage , and see what a sacred and proper institution that is . See Queen , how folk praised her for marrying so young , and see how folk ring bells and pray , and thank God for all her "bairns . " Maister Smith , believe me , that there ' s nowt like folk that ' s to live all their lives together , being welded while they ' re both hot : for , ccoa , thou'll see that a red iron and a cold bar won ' t unite , maister Smith . Smith . —Well , Robin , we'll go on step by step , and I candidly confess that you have justified the early marriages , and now for temperance .
Robin . —Temperance . Give a man ft comfortable home , maister Smith , let wife keep key of cock , and then see how soon beer-shops and gin palaces will close shutters , and how folk ' 11 open their eyes and stare , and point finger , when they see a full drunk instead of working for HIMSELF , maister Smith , — mind , for HIMSELF . Smith . —Well , Robin , you have completely satisfied me upon that subject : and now for early education . Robin . —Well , maister Smith , let folk marry when they are young , work for themselves , or , if they work for others , let their wage be regulated by what they coidd earn for themselves , and then folk would educate their own children . Aye , and take a pride in it too , maister Smith . Smith . —Capital , Robin , capital , you ' re a perfect philosopher , you haven't lived for nothing , Robin ; and now for emigration , aro you friendly to that , Robin ?
Robin . —Tea , maister Smith , that ' sthebestscheme I hear yet , but , ecod , I'd let parsons , bishops , lawyers , and all three of them idlers go ¦ over and consecrate ground first ; and then , ecod , when shepherds and wolves went , folk would be looking for more hands to come aud till soil . Maister Smith , if I had my way , no man that could work , and was willing to work , should quit ould spot as long as there was a bit of ground to be cultivated . ' Smith . —Well , upon my honour , Robin , I think I ' m in favour of your cargo , but where would you send them to ?
Robin . —Why , to hell , and give ' em Devil for pilot . Smith . —Ah ! ah ! ah ! upon my honour , Robin , it's only turn about , that ' s where they tell poor folk they'll go . And now , Robin , what do you say to ventilation , baths , parks , and mechanics' institutes ? Robin . —Ecod , I says gammon to all them ; never you fear when man bo paid for his labour but he'll have exercise enough , and he'll have good air too , and I'll warrant me he wont want water to wash , and he can make an institute of his own house . Smith . —Very good , very good , Robin—very good indeed ; but what do you want the land for ? I have told you over and over again that it is not the price of commodities , but the supply of hands that regulates wage .
Robin . —Well , maister Smith , now that ' s just coming to a point—that ' s just whole question of combination . Trades cntes into union , and pays their subscriptions into fund , to supportthe trade when on strike , or to keep the surplus hands , rather than allow them to compete . Some keep them on tramp , sonic give them standing wage , some pay them so much a mile and bed and supper money , and so much a Sundays ; now that ' s taxing poor honest folk that work , to pay honest folk that can't get work , and the fund is to support the surplus when restriction fails to give all work . Well now , thou ' st admitted that fifty hands , in a thousand being idle will reduce wage of all thousand , and the trade that they belong to must either support them in idleness out of the " box , " and they'll drink then , maister Smith , or ,
that channel of industry being closed against them , they must open another , and the only one they have capital for is the land . And now , maister Smith , I'll make a sum for thee . Suppose fifty in the thousand to be out of work , and suppose ten shillings a week each satisfies them , and keeps them off competing with them at work ; now , maister Smith , that ' s £ 25 a week , and that's £ 1300 a year going out of the " box , " and if trade , instead of spending money in that fashion , took land for them and paid a good man to manage it for them , he'd be worth his hire , it would pay the fifty thirty shillings a week each and put thirty shillings a week for each into "box " as well . Now , maister Smith , that would be making £ 3 , 900 a year , and giving folic thirty shilling a week instead often , instead of losing thirteen hundred a year , and only giving folic ten shillings a week to live
upon . Smith . —What ' s that ! What ' s that , Robin ? Do you mean that only fifty in a thousand , or one in twenty , is to go on the land—merely those that can't get work at then * own trade without reducing thewage of others by competition ? Upon my honour , if that ' s what you mean , I know nothing that could be more just ; but I always thought that the cry about the land meant the destruction of . machinery , and a wholesale return to agricultural pursuits . Robin . —Ecod , you ' ll always hear stuff enough about owt that ' s just to benefit poor folic ; but that ' s just what I mean—I mean just what maisters mean . They want to open markets for their capital , and I want to open markcls for the poor folk's labour . Let their markets he all over world in big ships , and
let poor folks that can ' t skill all those questions , have market that'll fill belly at home , and clothe back , and lodge folk , and furnish house ; and then , maister Smith—ecod , thou'lt find , when poor folk have land , aud they'll bless the man that'll invent machines for digging and raking , and sowing and reaping , and planting ; for then , maister Smith , machinery would be man ' s holiday , and he'd love it ; but now it's man ' s curse , and he hates it . Why , see here , maister Smith , whore's the use in nibbling and scraping with bits of old sayings , like , * 'population presses too hardly on the means of subsistence , " and " competition , " and " buying in the cheapest , and selling in the dearest market , " and the injustice of putl ing any restriction or interfering with thewage of
working man . All such things is all gammon ; tor , in spite of all , we see the owners of machinery piling up millions day after day , in all seasons , all harvests , all fluctuations , in good and bad trade ; while poor folk in Devil's Dust , and elsewhere , baint able to stand out agin a single week ' s idleness . I'll tell thee , maister Smith , when I sec rich folk subscribe money to try the experiment of what labour on the land is worth—ecod ! I'll believe they ' re the poor man ' s friend . But when I see them dolcing out charity , and subscribing thousands for paries , and baths , and ventilation , and emigration , to keep idle folk quiet like , ecod ! that's all fear and no justice ; and when I see rich folic combining to pay seven millions a year poor-rates to support poor folk , rather
than spend a guinea in teaching them the value of their own labour , ecod ! then , Maister Smith , I think it's time that poor folk should combine to defend themselves . And as thou admits the surplus of hands is the thing that regulates price of wage , then I say that every man of every trade i' England should turn his mind to provide for the surplus ; and I defy all the writers in the world to point out any other channel for the employment of the surplus but the land ; and give poor folk land , maister Smith , and then thou'll have no poorrates to pay , then thou'll have no police , no parish litigation , no strikes or turn-outs , no soldiers , in a short time , and thou'll see whether Englishmen employed at home wouldn't be better customers to
manufacturers at their own door than them there Chinese aud Indians , aud South Americans , and all the rest of them . Maister Smith , there ' s more good than bad in every man . The present brings out the bad ; let's try our hands at bringing out good , and then , here it is , maister Smith , you sec as long as Queen and rich folic live on dissipation , they'll never put it down : and as long as idle sons of rich folk can getjobinarmyor navy , or police , or law courts , or church , ecod , thou'll always find ministers and their friends telling poor folk that their own depravity and immorality make all them like necessary . And now , maister Smith , hast shown thee all about combination , and land , and free-trade , and what poor folic mean by protection for labour—by tho law .
Smith . —Why , Robin , not exactly the applicability of present laws to the settlement of wage ; but I quite agree with you that God , in his wisdom , intended that there should be a sufficiency of food for all those he was pleased to bring into the world . ¦ Rohm . —Well , maister Smith , thou don't understand the meaning of the law , and I ' ll tell thee all about it in one word , but first I'll tell thee a story about a shoemaker that lived in Chester , and a bit of a sprte he had with bishop . Daniel , for that was chap ' s name , was working one day , when in comes bishop . " Well , Daniel , " says bishop , " I hear thou bee ' s a great agitator . " " I s ' poso I be , " says Daniel . "Well , Daniel , " says bishop , "I hear that thou puts down all want and bad things happen to bad laws and aristocracy . " " Thou hear"st reet enough , " says Daniel . " Why , Daniel , " says bishop , " doesn't
know that all suficrin" ol poor lone is curse of God for their sins and wickedness , and immorality ?" "Nowt the sort , " says Daniel , " it ' s all a damned lee . " " Why , Daniel , " says bishop , stamping , " doesn't know that God Almighty never sent a mouth into the world without sending enough to put into it . " Well , maister Smith , now mind what Daniel said . Daniel heard that bishop was queer like , when he was at college , and used to be out at neet wi , lasses , and bishop had no children , and Daniel was always a regular hard-working honest man , and he has ten children , and "Yea , " says Daniel , nutting down the " last , " and looking in bishop ' s face , - * yea , " says he , " I know that as well as thou , but I'll tell thee where all the differ is . " " Where ? " says bishop . " Here , " says Dan , " God Almighty sent all mouths to my shop , and the Parliament all meat to thine . " Eh , bishop cut . Smith ( roaring with laughter . ) A capital answer , Robin . And now about law in one word . Robin ?
Robin . —Vote , maister Smith . Vote—that ' s the ticket ; and land's the soup , maister Smith . So vote and land be ticket for soup . Smith . —Give me your hand , Robin , give me your hand . You have hit the nail upon the head—I was wondering how you'd wind up your argument . Come now , Robin , fill to my toast , a bumper , Rohm , a
The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted. I.Ab0u...
bumper of good old English ale , that every man that wishes ought to have at home . Come , Jackson , i oin ns . . _ , . , . ., Jackson .-Thank you , sir . I m a tee-totaller . Smith . —Come then , Robin , you and I for it . Here ' s that we may live to see the restoration ot old English times , old English fare , old English holidays and old English justice , and every man live by the sweat of his brow ; when the gaol was a terror to the wicked instead of a refuge for the destitute , when her hardy honest peasantry were their country s pride , when the weaver worked at his own loom , and stretched his limbs in his own field , when the laws rpcnrmized the poor man ' s right to an abundance ot
every tiling , when he was willing to work as the first " lion" upon the land of tho country ; and as the corrupt votes of others conferred the people s land upon an idle aristocracy , may we soon see the day when an enfranchised community shall regain those rio-hts and property of which they have been robbed by an idle usurping oligarchy . Come , Robin , tkee cheers , fill your glass and cheer . Robin .-Ecod , but I'll do that . Take off wig tod . Here ' s to the aforesaid , and sooner the better . Jackson . —Hold , hold . My word , if I never took another drop , I'll pledge the Squire's toast . Robin . —Eh , he's real Squire now .
Smith . —Come , hands around . Here's to the aforesaid , and the vote to accomplish it . Robin . —With three times three . Smith . —Nine times nine . Robin and Jackson . —With all my heart , with all my heart , and one cheer more . . . t Smith . —Well now , Robin , there ' s no use m talking without acting , how much land woidd you say was enough to occupy a man ' s labour fully ? Robin . —Well , four acres is over much , but man could manage it . . „ , ..,-, ¦ j i Smith . —Four acres ! Well , Jackson , do you and every man that worked for me , and can't get employment at their own job , and that wishes to go on the land , come up to-morrow , and , upon my honour , I'll
divide the sheep walk into farms oi four acres each , and I'll try tho experiment . Jackson . —Thank you , sir , but we ' ve no money to build cottages , or to live till crops come round . Smith . —Pooh , pooh , I'll do all that , and charge you fair interest for the outlay . Jackson . —Only give us the cottage and land , sir , and charge what interest you please , and take my head off my shoulders , if ever you are disappointed when you call for the rent . Smith . —Well , come , now we'll have a chop ; poor Robin is tired , I'll send him home in the gig , and I must go up to the sheep walk to make my arrangements .
Robin . — -Ecod , I ' m not tired now , I'll walk home , and , ecod , 1 wont look so blue at ould common any more , though , ecod , I can't forget cow when I had it for nowt . Smith . —Well , come , Robin , here ' s some satisfaction for you . Here goes all the League ' s tracts , and all the rest of the rubbish into the fire together . Robin . —Ecod , that will do , and now thou mun do what thou like wi' common . Good bye , maister Smith . God of heaven bless thee . Come along , Jackson , stvighten thy back , and hold up thy head , man , thou'll soon make another five hundred now . Smith . —Good bye , Robin ; good bye , Jackson , * Robin , I mustn't forget you . You'll come and bring up your traps to the porter ' s lodge , and you shall have acre for less than nine shillings , and let Jackson and his friends "COMBINE" to till it for you .
Robin . —Thank ye , maister Smith . Thank ye . Ecod , that ' s something like " COMBINATION , " but , thanking thee all the same , I'll live and dee' in ould spot , where faither andgrandfaithei * lived and dee'd before me . Smith . —Well , Robin , if you prefer that , I shan't interfere with your choice , but I'll take care that you shan't want for anything for the remaining years of your life . Robin . —Eh , but I can say nowt . My ould heart's so full . God bless thee ! God bless thee ! God Almighty bless thee ! Coome along , Jackson , or I shall make fool of old eyes , ecod .
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Horhible Case Of Fratricide, Akd Committ...
Horhible Case of Fratricide , akd Committal or tee . Brother for Trial . —Staffordshire lias become the scene of another shocking murder , and there is too much reason to fear that the diabolical crime was perpetrated by a brother . The murder was committed on the night of Friday week , at a place called Biddulph , in the Moorlands , about six miles from Congleton . The condition of the unfortunate parties was that of small fanners . Thomas Brough , the deceased , lived at the New Brent Farm , in the parish of Biddulph . It would appear that he was a man who , by parsimonious habit , had succeeded in accumulating some little property , and was the owner of Whiteficld Farm , which is situate near Ms own house . Whitcfield Farm had been in tho occupation of his widowed mother and his brother John Brough , for a little more than twelve months . Tho mother was the
recognised tenant , though- it would seem that the brother John managed the farm , and-was applied to for the rent when due . On Friday afternoon last , the 3 rd inst / ., about dusk , a distress was put in by the direction of Thos . Brough , at Whiteficld Farm , for rent due to him , amounting to £ 29 12 s . In consequence of some conversation which one of tho bailiffs had with the mother and John Brough , the bailiff sent for Thomas Brough , in order to an amicable settlement , if possible , without enforcing the distress . Tho deceased Thomas Brough shortly afterwards came to Whiteficld , and had ' some conversation with his mother and brother as to the rent duo . There does not appear to have been any quarrel between the two brothers in the house , but the deceased complained very much about his rent not being paid , and intimated that he must have it ; he also refused to return two boxes , whicli had been removed by the bailiffs to his house , until the
following morning . 'Hie two bailifts left tbe bouse , and the brothers remained in conversation . Shortly afterwards Thomas Brough went into the fold , where some further conversation ensued . He was about to leave , when his brother John said " Stop a bit , I will go and' kin ( kindle ) my lanthorn , and will go with you as far as tho barn , and sweep two or three oats up . " According to the evidence of his nephew , who lived at Whiteficld , John Brough then returned to the house , lighted the candle in the lanthorn , and went towards the barn : and his brother Thomas walked down the meadow towards Lis own house . Thomas Brough was not afterwards seen alive . As ho did not return home , his wife became alarmed , and , assisted by other persons , made various inquiries after him until a late hour that night , but nothing was heard of him until Saturday , abouinoon , when his body was accidentally found in a sand pit on Biddulph Moor . He was quite dead .
The Inquest . —The inquiry as to the cause of death , which was commenced on Tuesday , terminated on Friday , at the Talbot Anns , in the parish of Biddulph , before Mr . C . Harding , the coroner , Mr , John Harrison , surgeon , of Barsham , who made a post mortem examination , said he found the head on the left side was much fractured , and several pieces of bone were found driven completely in , which were sufficient to cause death . It was the result of . some Severe blow with a heavy instrument , such as a hammer . After the evidence of the constable and the two men who were sent by the deceased to make the distress before alluded to , the prisoner , James Brough , was brought before the coroner , by whom he was informed that he would be discharged from
custody , as there was no evidence adduceu to show that he was implicated in the murder of his brother . He was then called on to give evidence . Before doing so , however , the coroner told him that he was not bound to say anything to criminate himself . James Brough examined : I live at Blackwood-hill farm , and am servant to Mr . Challinor , to whom the farm belongs . On Friday night , between eight and nine o ' clock , while I was supping-up my horses , my brother John and Ishmacl Lancaster came to roe . They opened the door and came into tho stable . Ishmael Lancaster then said , " I am come to kill thee . " My brother John said that Thomas had taken my box and his , and was going to sell him up , and he wanted me to go with him to settle it . I
said " It is so near the weekend , it ' s no ksc my going with thee to-night ; ho wont sell thee up this week . " He said "Bed them down , and come with me now . " I said "Sit you down while I clean them ; if I must go with you I will go . " John said "Never mind cleaning them , bed them down and go with us now . " I said , " I'll clean this mare . I ' ve been to Leek with her ; she is all of a sweat . " As soon as I had cleaned her down I went with them out , and locked the door . After I had locked the door I went to look after the cows , to see if they were all right . We all three then went into the house . John Brown , another servant , got them bread and cheese , while I got ready to go with them I said to John Brown , "I shall not be hm hpfavi * T
come back again . " On my way they both kept telling me I must do what I could to settle it . We all three went on until we got to Ishmael Lancaster ' s house , where Ishmacl stopped . I and mv brother came on . Just before we got to my brother Thomas ' s house , John said , " I -will tell thee what thou must say when thou goes in . Thou must sav , ' What is my box doing here ? Where is Tom ?' " " I did go into Thomas ' s , and saw tlie hox . 1 mv my brother Thomas ' s wife . She said , in answer to mv question that she did not know ; she was at Tmistall when they were brought there . I said to her , it was a strange thing they could not be quiet . I would go to mother
over my 's , and would call as I came bade again . As I was going along the lane from my brother Thomas ' s house , I overtook mv brother John He said , "Is ho in ? " I said , "No , " he has never been seen since ho came from the Whitcfield " Thomas ' s wife had told me this . John bowi cryin ' o * and said ho did not know what he mustdo ; aWl asked him what for . He said he reckoned he should be hung . I said , ^ What for ? " He said ho had hit my brother Thomas on the back of the head with a hammer , and he reckoned he had killed h Jm I said , " Oh dear John , you should not have done so you re sure to behung . " I then said , " Where is he «'
Horhible Case Of Fratricide, Akd Committ...
[ The prisoner John Brough was here sent for , and , on being brought into the room , the coroner told him that the witness who was then being examined was be <> inning to give evidence which affected him ( Jolin Brough ) « s being implicated in the murder ofhis brother , Thomas Brough . It was therefore his ( the coroner's ) duty to have him brought into the room , in order that he might listen to what was said . Ihe Coroner then read over to the prisoner those parts ot James Brough ' s evidence which affected lnm . Hie examination " of tho witness was then resumed . J He said that he was at the bottom of the meadow , and
that I must help him to do something with him . I said , " Oh dear , John , I cannot go near lum . He kept begging of me to help him to take him somewhere . I told him it was no use asking me , I could not go near him . I went into my mother ' s house , and he kept following after me to ask me . My mother asked what she must get for our suppers ; I said " Notliing , I had had mine . " She then warmed some milk , and whilst she was doing so John went out milking . Wheu the milk was warmed she gave me mine , and I drank a few spoonfuls , tho romamdei-I sot down for tlie dog . She asked me if I was gomg to stop all night ; I said " No , I was going back surnm . " She bescred of me to stop all night , when
John came in , I told him I was going ; lie said " Don't go to-night , start early in tho morning . " I said '' I am obliged to go to-night . If anything happens at Blackwood-hill , and me here , Mr . James will lay it all on me . " I set off to Blackwood-hill . John came out with me and followed me to Thomas's house . ' I did not go in ; there was a lock on the outside ofthe door , I came out of the yard , and John begged of me to help him to do something with my brother Thomas . I said , " Ah , John , it ' s no use asking me ; I can't go near him . " He then began crying , and I said " Goodnight , " and I started . Up the lane I met Ishmael Lancaster and Thomas ' s wife . She asked mo whether I had seen my brother Thomas ? I said " No . " She said she doubted but that he was made away , as he had never been home . I said if he was he would be found . I said if I could
have seen him I could have settled the matter . She went down towards homo , and I went to Blackwood-Jiill . When I got there John Brown was gone to bed , but ho got up to let me in . It was then a little more than half-past eleven o ' clock . We then went to bed . After the Coroner had recapitulated the evidence , he addressed the prisoner , asking him if he had anything to say with respect to the charge contained in the depositions ? The prisoner burst into tears , and uttered some expressions which were not distinctly audible ; but he was understood to say that he " must suffer for other folks . " He also said something in reference to transportation , or being sent out of the country . The j ury then returned a verdict of Wilful Murder against John Brough , for the murder of his brother , Thomas Brough . Brough was committed for trial at the next assizes .
Execution of Mary Shemlvg for the Murder of her Grandchild . —Ipswich , Saturday Evening . — This wretched woman , condemned to death at the late assizes , by Mr . Justice Williams , at Bury St . Edmund's , underwent the extreme sentence of the law on a new drop erected in front of the county gaol in this town , at noon , in the presence of a vast concourse of people . The crime for whicli she suffered was the murder of John Sheming , the illegitimate child of Caroline , her daughter , by administering to it a quantity of arsenic in its " pap , " at a small village called Martlcsham , on the Woodbridge-road , on the 30 th of July , and the manner in which the shocking act was brought to light is somewhat remarkable . The unhappv woman , it seems , in consequence of the
father ofthe child not allowing its mother any money for its support , and this being the second illegitimate child of her daughter , for some time previous to its death meditated its destruction . A few days prior to the 30 th of July , she waited upon the village undertaker , and stated " that he would soon have to make a job for her grandchild . " She also said , " Thai If its father-did not allow it anything , they would have to go into the union workhouse , " a proceeding which she utterly abhorred . It should be mentioned that at the time she gave vent to these expressions , which evidently showed her intentions , the child was in perfect health . Tilings went on till the 30 th , and during the daughter's absence she went into a neighbour ' s cottage with her grandchild in her lap , and expressed her fears that the child was dying , but no
medical man was called in , although the neighbour strongly recommended it . Fatal results happened , and , in a short space of time , three or four days , the unfortunate little victim was interred in a burying-ground attached to a neighbouring dissenting chapel , the registrar ' s certificate being gained on being assured that the deceased had died naturally wliilst in convulsions . After its interment , however , suspicious rumours got afloat , and after the lapse of two months tho body was disinterred , and on the contents of the stomach being carefully analysed , the presence of sufficient arsenic was discovered as to cause death , and which induced the coroner ' s jury to return a verdict of wilful murder against her , on which charge she was found guilty on
her trial , and which ended in her condemnation . Since that period her conduct has been resigned . She has made several admissions—first , that the arsenic was in a cup which she kept for the purpose of poisoning the rats , and which she accidentally made the pap in . Then she lias given a story respecting it quite of a different description . It is , however , possible that she has made a lull confession . During the last few days of her existence she seemed contritcrand showed not the least ill-feeling against her daughter , the principal witness against her on her trial . On Friday she had a last farewell with her husband , a poor hard-working labourer , and some of her children , tho scene being , as may be imagined , deeply affecting . She underwent a restless night on Friday , and rose at an early hour on Saturday morning , and partook ol ' a slight breakfast , 'Die chaplain of the gaol was early in attendance upon her , and about eleven o ' clock administered the sacrament . Shortly before
noon the ceremony of handing her over to the sheriffs of the county for execution took place , and on a procession being formed to the pinioning room , Calcraft , the Old Bailey hangman , who was specially retained , secured her hands . At twelve o ' clock the wretched culprit was led to tlie drop , tho prison bell tolling and the rev . pastor of the prison reading tho burial service . On gaining the platform , there was a slight disapprobation amongst the multitude below , but it was not general . The executioner performed his task with much dexterity , and the miserable creature could not have been said to have been on the drop scarcclv a minute before the bolt was drawn , and she was launched into eternity . Her death was , however , a severe one , her struggles were long , and she gave some convulsive heaves two or three minutes afterwards . The body , after hanging the usual time , was cut clown , and interred in the prison . She was in her fifty-fourth year , and has left six children .
• The Somersetshire MuKDEns . —Shapwick , Saturday Evening . —In consequence of information received by the magistrates , the coroner issued his warrant forthe disinterment of the body of James Strong , the illegitimate child ofthe accused , Sarah Freeman , aged 7 , and interred on tlie 10 th of November , 1 S 43 , and that of Henry Freeman , her husband , aged 24 , and interred on the 2 nd of January , 1814 . The disinterments having been effected , the coffins , which wore quite perfect , were conveyed into the chui'chporch , and there opened in the presence of the coroner and the jury sworn to investigate , the cause oi their deaths . Upon tho coffins being opened , the intestinal canal and the liver and spleen of each of the bodies were takenput , placed hi stone jars , and having
been tied over with bladder , and properly labelled they were delivered to Mr . Herapath , in order that he might make a chemical analysis of their contents . The coroner and jury having returned to the village school-room , at once p roceeded to hold tho inquest on the body j of Mary Dimond ( mother of the accused , Sarah Freeman ) , aged 71 , who died on tho loth of December , 1814 , and whoso body had been exhumed , and the contents of her stomach and intestines submitted to chemical analysis . The following evidence was given : —Mr . Edward England Philli ps sworn : I am a surgeon , and reside at Chilton-supor-Polden . On Thursday , the 12 th of December last , I was in the parish of Shapwick , and as I passed the door of Charles Dimond I was called into to see Mary Dimond , the deceased ; it was after dinner ; I went in , and iound her sitting by the fireside . I asked her
what was the matter , and she replied that she had been taken casting ( vomiting ) , and that she had a pain all round her , and that she thought that she had the bile on her stomach . Her tongue was verv foul , and the taste in her mouth , she said , was very disagreeable . She said that her bowels Lad been opened during the day ; her pulse was natural . Sarah Freeman , her daughter , stood beside me while I asked questions . I told her to give her mother some gruel frequently , to apply warmth to the region of the stomach , and to send to my house as soon as she could that evening for medicine . She did not , however , send cither that evening or the following day for any medicine . On the Saturday afternoon , about four o elock ^ I was again driving through Shapwick , and was again called m to see deceased ; she was then upstairs m bed ; Sarah Freeman , her daughter went upstairs with me . I found Mary Dimond , the deceased , complaining of the same svmntnms . is ou
Ihursday , but that they were more severe . I felt her pulse and found it smaU and frequent . I then tola her that she could not expect to get better , unless she used the necessary means ; and left her with that observation . " Sarah Freeman came down stairs with mo and said , " What do you think of mother ?" 1 replied that she was in a very , dangerous state , and toM her that I would proceed to Ashcottas quickly as I could , in order that she might have her medicines from my house snccdUy . The medicines were subsequently fetched by one of the sons , and when I gave him the medicines , I said , if she became worse in the but that at all events I would come and seehor in the morning . In the morning I accidentall y heard that she was dead , and conscouentlv did not ™ n „
\\ e nesday last I was present in Shapwiclc churchjaul , and saw the exhumation of a body , and the comn opened ; it was identified before the jury in my presence as the body of the deceased , Mary Dimond . 1 then proceeded to make a post mortem examination ot the body . Mr . Herapath was . present during the
Horhible Case Of Fratricide, Akd Committ...
whole time . I took out the intestinal canal entiw . with the liver and the spleen , and delivered them r ' Mr . Herapath . The deceased was sevent y-one w ^ of age . The heart was healthy ; there were som old adhesions of the lungs , but not such as would » my opinion occasion death . I saw nothino * thS Struck me as the immediate cause of dcatht 'IV symptoms which I observed on visiting the decease , ! were those which mi ght or would result fro m the ad ministration of arsenic , but they did not at the time attract my particular notice , nor had I any idea tW she was labouring under the effects of poison . Upon being asked by the registrar to assign a cause of death , I told him that I really could not , that it was very mysterious , for they had been very inattentive ^
but that from ficr age , ana knowing her to have been weakly , 1 supposed it might be called decay of natuve Mr . W . Herapath sworn ; I am an analytical chemist ' On the 9 th of January inst . I attended at the parish church of Shapwick , and witnessed the exh umation of a body . I found the coffin perfect , the elothinc perfect , and the body also perfect . Mr . Phillinng surgeon , ol * GMUon-supei ^ Poldon , opened the body in ray presence ; ho applied ligatures round the extremities ofthe oesophagus and rectum , and removed the entire alimentary canal , together with the liver and the spleen ; it was immediately placed in a vessel , and covered down in my presence . I took it away with me , and without losing sight oi' it conveyed it to my residence at Bristol . Upon cxamininrr the
stomach I lound a moderate quantity of contents pea-soup , containing two whole yellow peas , and a few fibres of undigested meat . There were also upon the inner surface of the stomach a few Small detached white particles . The surface of the stomach had a pale blush of inflammation covering it , and in two portions that inflammation was more strongly marked . Upon detaching those white particles , and collecting those which had subsided to the bottom of the vessel into which I had poured the contents of the stomach , I subjected them to chemical examination , and found them to be white arsenious acid { common white arsenic of the shops ) . I produce a specimen of metallic arsenic produced from them by sublimation with charcoal and carbonate of soda .
1 produce another specimen sublimed from them with cyanide of potassium . Another specimen from them as precipitated upon metallic copper , by Itiensche ' s method . I also produce a specimen of Schccle ' s green , made from it with the ammoniacal sul phate of copper , and a specimen of arsenite of silver , niado from it with the ammmoniacal nitrate of silver , and a specimen of sulphuret of arsenic made from it with hydro-sulphuric acid . These experiments leave no doubt on my mind that arsenious acid was present in the stomach ofthe dead body , and although the inflamed surface was not so strongly marked as I have sometimes seen it , I believe it to have been the cause of death . The fluid in the intestines had the appearance of pea-soup . Other witnesses were examined , and the jury , after half-an-houv ' a deliberation , returned a verdict—That the deceased , Mary Dimond , died of poison , by arsenic administered to her , but by whom administered was to the jurors unknown .
The inquests on the other bodies were then adjourned . Extensive Fire at Newcastle . —A fire broke out on Saturday morning last , shortly after one o ' clock , in an extensive steam Hour-mill , situate in Gallowgate , near the barracks , at Newcastle-upon-Tyne , the property of Mr . Laws , and in the occupation of Mr . Anderson . The premises are nearly new ; and had been fitted up at great expense with all the recent improvements , the model being supplied by one recently erected in the United States . The lire originated in the upper part ofthe building , it is supposed from the heating of the flues , whence it had communicated with some of the beams in the vicinity . It was fortunately confined to the upper stories of the building , but much damage was done to the flour i n the lower departments by the immense quantity of water thrown in , as well as from the hasty manner in which the sacks of flour were removed . * The damage done is estimated at £ 2 , 000 .
Mukdek axd Highway Robbery xeaii Liverpool . — On Monday information was received at Bow-street , and thence circulated throughout the metropolitan police force , that on New Year ' s-eve Mr . Thomas Peacop , a corn and flour dealer , was , whilst oa liig return from his shop , in ltookferry-lano , to his residence , near the New Ferry-turnpike , in the township of Higher Bebington , in the county of Chester , attacked by three men and robbed . Tlie villains beat Mr . Peacop to such an extent about the head , and other parts of tho body , that he died on the 4 th inst , None of the offenders are known , but a reward of £ 200 has been offered ( £ 100 by tlie Government ) for the apprehension and conviction of the offenders . Her Majesty ' s gracious pardon will be extended to any accomplice ( not being-the person who gave the mortal blow ) who will give evidence that will lead to the same result .
Fire in * the City-road . —On Tuesday night , about half-past ten o ' clock , a fire broke out on tlie premises of Mr . Gorton , patent firc-wood manufacturer . City Canal Basin , City-road , which for a time threatened disastrous consequences . It was discovered by Mr . Gorton , who was accidentally near the spot at the tunc , who observed a body of flame in the steamengine room , and which adjoins the room which contained the composition of liquid resin in which tho firc-wood is dipped . Adjoining the resin-room is the warehouse , in which were above forty loads of firewood , which soon ignited . The engines being promptly at work , an immense volume of water was poured on the devouring element , which very shortly overpowered its progress and prevented a vast destruction of property . The workshops , which were li'dited with gas , were destroyed with the machinery .
Teeatmf . xt of Italian Boys is Exgi . axd . —On Monday forenoon , at ten o'clock , an inquiry , adjourned from Friday last , was resumed and concluded before Mr . Waklcy , M . P ., at the Horse and Groonij King-street , Seven Dials , on the body of Joseph Leonardi , an Italian boy , aged 15 , who was found dying in the streets iu a state of destitution , and cxpii » Ai on Wednesday last in St . Giles's workhouse , to which place he was removed , The deceased was one of those unfortunate creatures who are brought over in shoals to this country from their native land , to preambulate tiie streets with hand organ ? , and to solicit charity from the inhabitants of those neighbourhoods they infest . The object of tlie inquiry was in tho employ of an Italian named Rabbiaotti , : vnd with
several other boys of the same class resided in a miserable hovel , pregnant with filth and disease , in Short ' s-gardcns , Drury-lanc . Two Italians , in the employ of Rabbiaotti , were first called , and concurred in stating that he was a kind and considerate master ; that they were comfortably lodged , well supplied with food , and by no means hard worked . A lad named Fortunate was next examined at considerable length . Ho said he had formerly been in tbe service of Uabbiaottiand knew the deceased . He- had lived with deceased ' s master for some time , but was obliged to quit his service on account of the atrocious cruelties practised upon him . Their time for parading tho streets was from nine in the morning till eleven at night . Tlicy then returned homo and went to bod ,
throe of them sleeping together . From what lie knew of deceased ho considered his death was mainly attributable to the cruelties he systematically experienced , and to a violent beating given him by his master . This beating the witness described as follows : ¦ —One evening the deceased came home , and his return was represented to his master . " Is he by , " exclaimed Rabbiaotti , and forthwith went to the boy , who had by that time got into bed . Kabbiaotti took the lad by one arm and one leg , and dragging him from his bod , struck him violently against the wail , and beat his head against the table which was standing iu the middle of the room . Deceased exclaimed at the time , "O , lam done for , " but still the master continued beating him . Deceased was
labouring under severe disease of the chest at the time , and constantly complained . Notwithstanding this he was " compelled to go for the usual time into the streets every day with his organ . — -By a Juror : There was no written agreement between Rabbiaotti and those he employed , but the term for which they were engaged on being brought from Italy was two years and a half . Whatever money abo ' v brought home at night he had to divide with the master for the use of the organ . A gentleman who was present , said that the amount of cruelty practised upon these poor defenceless boys by their rapacious masters was inconceivable . A number of Italian gentlemen have become alive to the subject , and a societv had been
formed with a determination of protecting them , and of procuring convictions against harsh employers . —Mr . Bennett , surgeon , deposed to having maile a post mortem examination of the body . The lungs were one mass of disease , and exposure to cold would greatly accelerate it . There were no marks of violence on the external surface of the bodv , and he was of opinion that a natural cause produced death . — The Coroner summed up the evidence , and the jurj . returned a verdict of Natural Death , but accompanied it with a severe censure on the conduct of Rabbiaotti for allowing the deceased to be exposed to the inclemency ofthe weather whilst labouring under such a dreadful illness .
Love akd Suicide . —The festival of Christmas at Glogan has been marked by a tragic event . A young man named Pflicger , clerk in the office of aM . Wachseler , had fallen in love with his master ' s daughter , and his affection being returned , thev WCtfS secretly affianced . Pfliegcr had a passion for gambling , and being unable to satisfy it , had robbed his master of G , 000 thalers ( £ 1 , 000 ) and fled . On Christ-™ s h-ve he returned , and had an interview with Mademoiselle Wachseler , and both seeing their union impossible , resolved to commit suicide next morning .
Accordingly they met in a neiahbourine : wood , and he having a brace of double-barrelled pistols , loaded each barrel with a double charge and two bullets . Each were to discharge both barrels into the mouth . The young girl fired , and expired immediately ; hut Pfliegcr , at the moment of piulins : the trigger , was seized with a trembling , and fainted . Tbe report of the girl ' s pistol attracted a crowd , anil Tilieger was arrested , and conducted to prison . The next morning , when the gaoler entered his cell with his breakfast , he found hhv . a corpse , for , during tlie night , Pflicger had hung himself to the bars of His cell with his silk handkerchief , — -Gasettc des Tri ' oanaux .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 18, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_18011845/page/6/
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