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Northern Star (1837-1852), 19th August 1848, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, TO ALBANY FONBLANQUE , Placeman—and Brot...

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    • •' Ths higher a monkey climbs, The more he shows h":s —— !"
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      •' Ths Higher A Monkey Climbs, The More He Shows H":S —— !"

      • ' Ths higher a monkey climbs , The more he shows h " : s —— !"

      To Albany Fonblanque , Placeman—And Brot...

      TO ALBANY FONBLANQUE , Placeman—and Brother to a Bankrupt Commissioner . Ton my soul , if you were my child—which , thanks be to God , you are not—and if you had learned multi plication , addition , and division , or any one of them , I would have your bottom whipped with nettles , and put you into a bed of pismires , for writing the catalogue of rubbish that I am just going to reprint . Why , you incorrigible noodle , did you suppose that any attack upon me was so valuable to the profligates you represent , that your readers would overlook the insult you offered to their common understanding , by exhibiting them , as you have in your article of last week , as fools who could neither think nor

      reason r Now , Fonblanque , you are perfectly conscious that you are one fof the most reckless and desperate Whig tools that ever that reckless and desperate faction used—hut , although figures form no part of your calculation , you shall not say that hard words constitute my stock of argument . Here is your whole article , beginning , as the Irish spies say , with the words "the whole of the evidence , " and ending with " so thriving a trade . '' Now , here is the whole indictment , charging you with dishonesty , profligacy , falsehood , and

      ignorance : — THE O'CONNOR LAND SCHEME . The whole of the evidence taken by the Committee on the National Land Company being r . ow published , we are tn a condition to state the results of its operations as exactly as its strangely kept accounts permit . Nineteen thousand subscribers have paid their shares in lull , and are entitled to stand the ballot for the purpose of btring located . Fifty thousand six hundred and sixtv-nine have paid in part ( the average of their payments is -Js 2 d each individual . ) . Two hundred and thirty have teen ljc * ted . On the land already acquired , five hundred and tony six , or one thirty-fifth of the nuaber entitled to stand the ballot , may or can be entitled . On the most favourable calculation , the whole of the subscriber * to tbe scheme canrot possibly be located in less time than a period intermediate between one hundred and fifty and t * -o hundred and twenty-five years .

      Evea this result canenly he anticipated on tte assumption that every person placed upon tie land succeeds in obtaining fur it the verj high returns of produce held cut by Mr O ' Connor , and that the Land Scheme and the Banking Scheme are in full operation . The estimated produce appears , from tbe evidence of a pra ? tical -gricul-urist , to be in excess ef what can possibly be obtain- , d by at least one-ha ! f . A vast majority of the subscribers have to begin their apprenticeship to the trade of agriculture . In order to enable the Bank to playits part effectively , a capital of . £ 1 , 633 , 342 would bs absolutely necessary . " But the Bank has only £ 16 , 000 in deposit , and its only apparent capital is the property of the Land Company . This is a fair and tolerably exact statement of what has been gained oy the subscribers , and of what prospects they have for further gain . Let ns now see what they have actually paid , and what liabilities they have incurred as the price of these advantages .

      ilr O Connor , - who ts sole agent of the Company , and sole manager of the Bank , has received in all £ 105 , 015 Is li . Of this sum £ 3 » 0 accrued from the profit on the resale of Ja purchased farm , an irregular and accidental gain , a windfall ; £ S < 6 9 s 3 d from the sale of the Rules of the Society ; £ i ; 222 7 e 2 d from a tax imposed upon the subscribers to defray the expense of management ; and £ S , 29 \ t's 2 d as a loan from the Land Bank ( I . v . from the Company to the Company out of the monies of its depositors ) In short , the apparent funds of tbe Company have been irregularly swelled by a sum of £ ll , ? f 9 l 6 ' 7 d , to mend appearances . The actual receipts of a f » ir business character are : Subscriptions , £ 90 , 714 15 s Id ; from t & e operations of the Lands' Purchase department , £ 1 , 148 IPs ; sales of farm produce , £ 2 , 545 lis id ; interest and profits on Exchequer bills , £ l , l 7 l 7 s ; UterCiton Bank balances £ 324 18 s-id . But for windfalls and extra contributions , the money available for the Company ' s purpose would only have been jf 95 , l 0 tl 4 sld .

      The expenditure of the Land Company , when Mr O'Connor has been paid £ 3 , S 9 S 5 s 3 d of his fwn money expended in its name , and when the Land Bank has been repaid its loan with interest , will leave on hand only £ 2-J- Is lid All the rest of its money has been spent . We shell now recount the assets cfwhichithas come into possession in return for this outlay . In the first place , 161 S acres ol land for which £ ae , 672 of purchase-money has been paid , and ia bringing which into condition , in stocking , and in setting the occupants at work upon them , j £ 9 " , 33 l 16 s 5 d have been expended . The land and its stock have cost the Company this sum ; but they cannot txgeet to sell it for nearly so much . The land is sot worth to them the money it has cost . In the second place , of £ Z , \~ b held by ilr O'Connor ic Exchequer bills , £ 2 , S 7 i 14 s Sd appears to be the property of the Company . The Company has further about £ 500

      in small remittances ; ; sg 55 16 s in band atthe Gloucester Bank ; and £ 18 ISs 2 d at the London Joint Stock Bant . . Voir the Company ' s land and stock , at a large valuation , would not at this moment bring £ ; 0 , r 03 in the market ; the utmost value of its assets , therefore , is £ ? 4 , 35 : fs lid . Upon this sum there are the following liabilities . Sum required to complete the purchasemoney of ;>(!¦< acres , £ i 5 ,-5 < -j ; mortgage oai ' 97 acres , j 5 ? , 0 ' " o ; mortgage on 2 o » acres , £ 5 , Sc 0 ; two life annuities or . 5 ' o acres , £ t' } ' - , cost of completing purchase of the S-. 9 acres , £ ' 35 o . The liabilities of tbe land are - ^ 25 , 095 , and by so much the value of the assets to the partners must be reductd . The Company has in point of

      fact only j £ " 33 , 266 Ss lid worth of property . Out of this it owes , in principal ar . d interest , £ S , 3 s 3 10 s 2 d to the land Bank ; and the whole assets of the Company are liable for the payment of tbe ^ £ " 16 , 005 of deposits in the Bank . Pe facto ' the Company possesses property worth , to it , £ 32 , 412 iSs Sd , and this property is liable for any inoTt-coiiAngs ot the Bank in the repayment of £ 16 , 0 ot . This is all that the subscribers have got to show in return for £ 90 , 714 ISs Id of subscriptions , and £ 4 22 Z 7 s I'd ot extra contributions towards expenses of manacrnifcnt' And the prcp'ttj is so invested , that had Mr O'Connor died suddenly any time within the last year or two , his personal creditors might have seized the whole of it . _ . .

      Assuming that Mr O'Connor deceived himself at the outset by his own estimates and calculations , this is not sufficient to exonerate him from a large amount of culpabilitv f-. r leading so many poor men into such a wretchedlj had bargain . Common honesty required that Before commcac ' S operations he should have taken the opinions of experieBced practical agriculturists and skilful actuaries on the feasibility of his scheme ; and had he done so , they would have told Km that nothing could come of it hut what has come of it . He has shown cul-Tj 30 le rashness , to say the least in vesting the money of the poor upon a desperate hazard—in inducing men with families , by flattering promUes , to quit their employments oh a desperate chance of bettering their condition . Mr

      O'Connor , moreover , has | profitted by the game he has been playing . He holds Exchequer Bills for the money he is said to have paid out on account of the Company over and above what he received . His printing establishment has had jobs to the value ef upwards of £ 1 , 003 fro-u the Company . The sale of his newspaper and its profits have b « ea increased by being made the channel of communication to the subscribers . He is in every way benefitted by the management of a concern which he established and puffid in the most reckless manner , and which turns out to he a gross delusion . He is in the exact position of the empiric who makes money oy puff , ing and vending a medicine , of which he cannot even say with confidence that "if it does no good , it can do no

      harm . " It is impossible to rsad the part which Mr O'Connor took in the proceedings of the Committee of Inquiry , alternated as witness and examiner , without suspecting that he was fully aware of the nature and prospects of the scheme whea he moved for the Committee . He brings forward his own creatures to bear witness that he is the best and moft benevolent oi men and the most punctual of paymasters . He cross-examjnei accountants and actuaries , whenever their evidence bears hard on him and his scheme , after the approved fashion of an Old Bailey Counsel . He seeks less t 9 throw light on the nature and tendtnev of the scheme , than to keep its dtfects in vagueness and obscurity . He dire . ts attention from the main question to irrelevant considerations In short , his whole conduct looks like that t-f a man who labours to

      make the Cammittee instrumental to his own whitewashing—having , in the first instance , obtained it as a mems of enabling him to rid himself of the affair with as little loss of reputation as p . issioie . And , to the shame of the Committee be it said , its Report looks » s if it had lent itself to this same . The project is softly let down with the brief and lenient statements that the Friendly Societies' Acts " will not include the National Land Company ; " that it is " not consistent with the gent-ral prin ciples upon which the Friendly Societies are founded ;" that it is , " as at present constituted , an il-e . ^ al sch eme , and will not fulfil the expectations held out by the directors to the shareholders ; " and that the parties shsmld be allowed to wind up the concern , and relieve themselves from penalties . To the « e resolutions is added a special pleading wie , as losg as all the rest put together , in exculpation or laudation of Mr Feargus O'Connor .

      Mr O'Cvmnor ' e land project reminds us of nothing so much as that projtct of Mr O'Connor ' s for obtaining Universal Suffrage , wi . ich ended im the burning of the bull-ring at Birndusham . In both cases the operations were so conducted that all the honour and glory , and whatever adjutage accrued , fell to the share of Mr O'Connor . Acd in both cases Mr O'Connor took especial care , as soon as it became apparent that the bubble was about to bnr . 't , to back out of Unconcern with the lead possible amount of suffering to himself , and as little loss of reputation that might interfere with his setting up in business again , that was practicable in the circumstances . Now , Fonblanque , I charge you upon fifteen counts in this indictment , drawn by yourself , of wilful and corrupt perjury , and you shall have them seriatim .

      No . l-T \\ o hundred and thirty have teen located . Now , Fonhlanque , you knew tliat was a lie ; because : if you had read the evidence , you would have found that t « o hundred an ? l fifty houses—including school-houses—had been erected , and that the carpenters' work and the joiners' work for six others was completed , the timber paid for , the whites paid for , the ironmor . gerv paid for , and all materials paid for . So . 2- On ' . If most favourable calculation the whole of the subset li . rs cannot possibly ba located in less time tLan a ptriud intermediate between laii and 225 years .

      Why , Funlilanque , you beat both Grey and hirjlajvoii in the nia » ic art of dissolving : in t : ie least favourable view—that is , if th « se who expect benefit had paid up their shares in full —1 would , without anv additional

      contributions , or without the Bank , locate them' all in ten years . No . 3—The estimated produce appears from the evidence of a practical agriculturist to be in excess of what can possibly be obtained by at least one-half . Why , you funny fellow , would you know a cucumber from a hand-saw ? And what do vou call a practical agriculturist ? A . Poor Law Commissioner , that starved 103 of his sheep , and all his cattle to death ; reduced his horses to such a state that they could not work ; fed his p igs upon sawdust till they died ; allowed his land to he covered with couch knee hhih ; said that the most industrious labourer in England could not live upon

      the best three acres of land in England , without paying rent , rates , or taxes ; that the best acre of land in England would not produce more than six tons of potatoes , or three quarters of wheat ; that the best cow would not produce more than a gallon of milk a day ; that it would take the produce of ten gallons to make a pound of butter ; and , to cap the climax , that he saw tweHty-eight cottages , and estimated the value of the crops upon twentyeight allotments , through a stupendous hill ; and that the average number of agricultural labourers employed in England , was two to the 100 acres . Now ,, noodle , what do you think of your doodle ?

      No . 4— But the Bank has only £ 16 , 0 ( 0 in deposit , and its only apparent capital is the propeity of the Land Company . Why , one Michael Cassio , the arithmetician , was a fool to you . Do not you think 16 , 000 sovereigns is very good security for 16 , 000 / without the collateral security of land and houses ? Xo . 5-Ofthis sum , £ S 50 accrued ? from the profit on the resale of a purchased farm , an irregular and accidental gain , a windfall .

      You , magician , why do you dissolve 500 Z- ? don ' t you know that I made 1 , 350 / ., and not 850 ? ., profit of Carpender ' s Farm , and gave it all to the Company ? And when did you hear of any other Company having accidental gains and windfalls placed to their credit ? No . 6—And £ 6 , 391 . 0 s . 2 d . as a loan from the Land Bank ; i . e . from the Company to the Company out of the monies of its depositors . Now , vou hired prostitute , you distorter of

      facts , if you have read the evidence from which you profess to deduce your facts , you have learned that not one single fraction had been advanced from the Bank to theLandCompany , nor has there yet . Now , what do you say to that ? A pretty commissiener of bankrupts you would make ? You don ' t know how to investigate accounts ; and if you did , you don ' t know how to tell the truth about them .

      No . 7—In tbe first place 1 , 618 acres of land , for which £ 3 S , 672 ot purchase money has been paid , and in bringing which into condition , in stocking and in setting the occupants at work upon them , £ 98 , 33116 s . Sd . have been expended . Now , how could you , in this dull season , excite me to such laughter . So , here you say that out of 90 , 000 / . paid up , I have expended 36 , 000 ? . for land , and 90 , 000 ? -. upon the erection of buildings ; and , although I understand your n . eaning from your mumping , yet whoever reads the sentence must think it lucky that your brother , and not you , is the commissioner of bankrupts , as you * make it appear that out of 9 O , 0 C 0 / ., I have " paid 19 . 6 , 000 /!!

      Ne . 8—Now the Company ' s land and stock at a large valuation , would not at this moment bring £ 6 J , 0 jU in the market . Now , FonblaBque , I have you on the hip . J will dissolve the legal expense of purchasing the land , and I will take your calculation , and I will show you how the Company stands , and what you value improvements and buildings at . I have in stock , farming implements , money not belonging to the Bank , plots of meadow

      which 1 put down at the price I have refused , pollards which I have put down at the price 1 was charged for them—value 10 , 000 / . Now , deduct 2 , ) 00 / . from the prime cost of land against the amount which the sale of meadow land is to cover , and you have Paid for land 34 , 000 Cash , stock , implements , plots of meadow land to sell , portable buildings 10 , 000 Making . . . £ 44 , 000

      Now , Fonblanque , for your 16 , 000 / . to make up the difference between that , and 00 , 000 / . at which you estimate the property of the Company , I have built 245 cottages , and paid for all the materials for six others . I have built four splendid school houses . 1 have paid for the timber and the joiners' work upon ninety more cottages . I have paid for the building of twelve of those cottages . I have drained nearly 200 acres of land at Bromsgrove , four feet deep , in the best style , and with the best tiles . I have breast ploughed eighty acres of land at Bromsgrove ; have levelled all the fences , and made three miles of road already . But perhaps

      you will tell me that draining land upon the best principle , detracts from its value ; but , however , if we put down the timber paid for , the joiners' work paid for , the twelve houses built at Bromsgrove , the eighty acres pared and burned , the 200 acres drained , the fences levelled , and roads made , as fifty houses—I am under the mark—that , then , would leave 300 houses built and four school houses , which you put down at 16 , 000 / . Now , Fonblanque , I will throw you in the four school houses—and , God knows , it would be of great service if you would go to school to O'Brien at Lowbands for a quarter , than whom there is not a more

      respectable man , or one better fitted for his situation in England . However , I £ ive you the four school houses , and what do we find ? Why , that you estimate 300 cottages , the labour upon 1 , 100 acres of land , thirteen miles of road , with pumps in every back kitchen except Herringsgate , gates , paths , and thousands of tons of the best manure , at 53 ? . a cottage , with the other work performed . But I have not done with you yet—that is 23 / . for a four acre cottage , for the occupant gets 30 / . aid money ; 30 / . 10 s . for a three-acre cottage , for the occupant gets

      22 / . IDs . for aid money : and S 8 / . for a two acre cottage , fur the occupant gets lo / . as aid money . Now , you accountant , you actuary , you master builder , you agriculturist , you well-paid placeman , you enlightener of the public mind , what do " you say for yourself : Don't you live in a cloud , and if you have any grace about you , tell your readers next week , that the oppressive state of the weather so mystified your ideas , tiiat you regret the frrors into which you fell . Now you know that your friend Kevans said that seven percent , upon the outlay was a fair rent to charge

      for a house . No , 9—The Company has in point of fact only £ - > 9 ,-26 < i Ss . lid . worth of property . Out of this it owes , in principal and interest , £ S , 853 1 s . 2 d . to the Land Bank ; and the whole assets of the Company are liable for the payment of the £ 16 , uu 0 of deposits in the Bank . Defacto , the Company possesses property worth , to it , £ 3 > , i \ 2 18 s . 3 d ., and this property is liable for any short comings of the Bank in the repayment of £ V 6 , 0 < iu . This is all that the subscribers have got to show in return for £ 9 ; i , 7 U is . Id . of subscriptions , and £ 1 , 222 7 s . 2 d . of extra contributions towards expenses of managemeut !

      Why , you incomprehensible ass , Finlayson with his magnify ing g lasses could not see through this mist . Just see what you do—you first reduce the value of property from 90 , 000 / to 00 , 000 / . ; then if I purchase 28 , 000 ? . more , you reduce the 60 , 000 / . to 3 ' 2 , () 0 0 ? ., so that if 1 purchase 35 , 0002 . worth more , you will make US 3 , 000 / . worse than bankrupts . So that ,

      Fonblanque , in point of fact , every fresh estate purchased diminishes the value of the former property , by the amount given for the new purchase . Out upon you , you snivelling tool , you are unfit for a Commissioner of anything ; you don ' t know B from a bull ' s foot , and if you saw one of my leading drains , you would think you were in the Atlantic Ocean . Ne . 10—And the property is so invested that had Mr O'Connor died suddenly any time within the last year or two , his personal creditors mieht have seized the whole ef it . "

      Now , Fonblanque , you protess to be a lawyer , and you knew that that was a lie , a palpable lie , when you wrote it , because you knew , if you read the evidence , that I had made my will , leaving the whole property to two honourable gentlemen as trustees , in trust for the shareholders ; and you also knew that I had no personal creditors , for if I had , the Government , of which yon are the tool , would have soOn hounded ; them upon me .

      No . n—Mr O'Connor , mnreorer , has profited by the game he has been playing . He holds Exchequer Bills for the money he is said to have paid out on account of the Cotnjmny over and above what he received . His printing establishment has had jobs to the value of upwards ° 1 £ 1 , 000 from the Company . The sale of his newspaper and its profits have been increased by being made the channel of eommunication to the subscribers . He has in every way benefitted by the management of a concern which he established and puffed in a most reckless manner and which turns out to be a gross delusion .

      Now , Mr Commissioner , I have you fast in the noose , and from your own words [ will prove you to be the only person who has benefitted by the Land Company and by the Chartist agitation . First , —Just a word about the Exchequer Bills . I hold no Exchequer Bills except what belong to the depositors in the Bank , and what would you h ? ve said if it had been discovered , that there had been no such available security to meet the demands of depositors ? but now to the question of profit .

      \ ou charge me with making profit of the printing establishment of the " Star . " In the first place let me tell you that I have no more to do with that printing establishment than 1 have to do with the printing establishment of the Times newspaper ; but what will the reader say when he hears that 50 , 000 of the Rules of the National Land Company were PRINTED at YOUR OFFICE ! that the whole of « TOM PAINE'S WORKS , " as condensed bv the Chartist Executive , were printed at YOUR OFFICE ! THAT MANY

      NUMBERS OF THE 'LABOURER' WERE PRINTED AT YOUR OFFICE ! what will be said when they learn that I have no more to do with the profits of the Rules than I have to do with the profits of the Examiner j that I shall one day be probably called upon to make up the loss consequent upon the publication of Paine ' s Works , to which I was op posed in the outset , while you have made the PROFIT ! and what will the reader say , when

      he understands that the " LABOURER" has been a LOSS TO ME and a PROFIT TO YOU ! But as to the profits of the " Star , " of course you , generous soul , you give the profits of the Examiner to the poor , as I do the p rofits of the "Star ; " and , of course , you have given your whole time gratuitously to the service of the distressed , and you havebecome a poorer instead of a richer man by your connexion with the Examiner and the Government I

      You vile sycophant , I never had a printing establishment j the " Star " has rather lost than gained by the establishment of the Land Company , and whatever its circulation has been , you have never seen that paper puffed like other papers ; and if I have puffed the Land Company , unlike other puffers , the effect of every puff has been to puff something out of my pocket , to increase my labours , and add to my responsibility ; and will you pay me my 3 , 400 ? ., or will you return the profit you have made in part payment , and will you pay me my expenses out of pocket for three years ' and a half , consequent upon the establishment and carrying out of the Land Company ?

      No . 12—It ia lmpoisibie to read the part which Mr O'Connor took in the proceedings of the Committee of Inquiry , alternately as witness and examiner , without suspecting that he was fully aware of the nature and prospects of the scheme when he moved for the Com . mittee . I really pity the mercenary who is obliged to p ut such falsehoods upon record , to gain a livelihood . Did not you know , you prostitute , that it was Sir George Grey and Sir Benjamin Hall that concocted the committee ? And do you think that if anything had appeared even

      doubtful , as regards the expenditure of the funds , or suspicious as to the management of the affairs of the Company , that that committee , strongly prejudiced against me by the Press and public rumour , would have " withheld its censure and condemnation , if the slightest cause for suspicion had been adduced ? No , you fool , it was a committee of gentlemen , who were well pleased to have it in their power to exonerate a gentleman from vile calumnies , which you and your tribe had endeavoured to heap upon him .

      No . 13—He seeks less to throw light on the nature and tendency of the scheme , than to keep its def . cts in vagueness and obscurity . He directs attention from the ain question to irrelevant considerations . m Why , ) ou slave , do you attribute crimes to rse which are justl y chargeable upon your coadjutor , the chairman ? My desire was to develope the Plan , to elicit facts from the most competent witnesses . His aim and object was to suppress the truth , to falsify the scheme and to envelope the whole project in mystery , so as to render ought , save vague conclusion , impossible . Are you not aware that it took him seven days to draw up a report which was unanimously rejected ? And are you not aware

      that I submitted myself to examination r—that I brought witnesses over 100 miles at my own expense , who were the best qualified to give evidence , but all of whom were rejected by the impartial chairman ?—are you not aware that it was with great difficulty that I could , obtain permission to ask three questions of Mr Sullivan , a member of the committee , and who had visited the Estates ; and that , at the suggestion of the chairman , the committee declined examining Lord Ingestre and Mr Sharman Crawford , two practical agriculturists , both on the committee , and both of whom had minutely examined Snip ' s End and Lowbands , two of the Estates .

      So . It—And to the shame of the Committee be it said , its report looks as if it had lent itself to this game . To the honour of the committee it would not lend itself to the game which you and your masters have been playing ; and , as 1 assure you that I have not yet done with the subject of the committee , I shall be able to show up some Free Trade Members of Parliament , in connexion with this Land Company , in such a lig ht as would render them unfit Members of the House of Commons , it the conduct of Members of that House was to be measured by any rule of honour .

      No 14 . —It is apparent , from the accounts of the Nobthern Star , and from the advances made out of tbe funds of the Land Company to defray the expenses o . members to the Chartist Convention , that the Newspapcv , the Land Company , the Bank , and the Chartist orgamsat ; ., o , are all of them parts of Mr O'Connor's stock-in-trade . Together , they constitute the business by which he has for some years maintained himself . He makes the one play into the other . That by this means he has madehis newspaper p .-iy liim £ 4 , 000 to . £ 5 , 010 per annum is admitted ; but what any other parties (" except his immodi-ite acents ) have gained , is not so obvious We are curious to know how long the gullibility of Mr O'Connor s followers ant 1 believers will enable him to carry on so thriving a ti . < ue .

      Yes , you prostitute , it is apparent from the accounts of the "Northern Star , " but from no other accounts , that Mr O'Connor has

      sustained the political moyfiment and Whig victims at his own expen # f # -but it is not apparent from the accounts of tie Land Company , that one farthing ; , or one fraction of a fartbing , Las been abstracted for aqy political purpose ; and it is apparent that Albany Fonblanque , ' of all the agents of the Land Company , has made the largest profit , while , as the political agent of the Chartists , he has been the only gainer ! It is apparent that when Mr O'Connor established the " Northern Star , " he was a richer man than he is now . It is apparent that he has never accepted wages from the

      people ; that he has ; iiever travelled a mile at their expense ; that he has refused munificent offers of mansions , Jfjnd , and money , from the members of the Lajad Company ; it is apparent that he has charged not a fraction for his expenses in connexion with that Company ; it is apparent that that Company owes him 3 , 400 / . ; it is apparent , from the sworn testimony of competent witnesses , examined at the Lancaster trials u * : l ' 84 ft , that , during the whole period of Mr O'Connor's incarceration in York Castle , he was paying money out of his own pocket to support the " Northern Star ; ' it is

      apparent that , at one period , the " Northern Star" was making a profit of 13 , 000 ? . a-year , and that , at the same period , Mr O'Connor was maintaining victims , paying lecturers , and sustaining the whole Chartist cause , out of his own purse . 35 ut is it apparent , that while other newspaper proprietors make merchandise ] and profit of murders , rapes , assassinations , debauchery , and proflicacy , they give a fraction , thus eked out of obscenity and depravity , to any purpose , save the gratification of their own avarice , cupidity , and lust ? Ifefshall he apparent that Mr O'Connor would

      submit to any of the most harrowing privations rather than allow you or your masters to stop him in his onward coarse of man ' s regeneration . It is apparent that , while you are endeavouring , by falsehood , misrepresentation , and slander , to depreciate the value of poor men ' s property , that Mr O Connor s labour is daily giving increased value to it . It is apparent that he has passed through a fiery ordeal , such as the greatest rogue , belonging to any political faction , would not be subjected to . Mark the gradation , hypocrite : a . Registrar , a

      Government Official , a Barrister , extensively employed by the Government , the Certif ying Barrister of the Government , a Poor Law Commissioner of the Government , an Accountant of the Government , an Actuary of the Government , an OfficialJ of the Government , as Chairman of the Committee—and , after the evidence of those individuals , selected by an Official of the Government , a verdict , a unanimous verdict , not of exculpation or innocence of the charges preferred against him , but a declaration of good faith and honourable management of the affairs of the Company .

      And not satisfied with such a verdict , founded upon such evidence , now I am to be handed over to a parasite placeman . What a finish for a Whig defeat . I always said my accounts were examined , not as if I were an insolvent , but as if I were a fraudulent bankrupt ; and the base and contemptible menial to whom your masters would now submit the case for a rehearsal , proves that I had formed a correct estimate of Whig honour and what is called old English " fair play , " when one who can neither be purchased nor intimidated is to become the victim of Whig vengeance . I am , you slave , An honest man , and the poor man ' s bailiff , Feargus O'Connor .

      NoW j Economist , you shall have a leaf from the WHIG BOOK . From the estimates voted on Wednesday , we find the following prudent expenditure of the people s money . Now mark it well , write upon it—it is a famous subject for dissection , do not spare the knife . Administration , mind , merely ADMINISTRATlON-of the Poor Law , 236 , 000 ^ . a year . Now that sum , at 250 i . for each location , would locate 944 families . For medical attendance 85 , 000 / . —that would locate 340 families . Auditors 13 , 000 Z . a year . What will CufFay say to that , Economist ? Schoolmasters and schoolmistresses , 35 , 000 / . a year . Now these two sums would locate 190 families . Then

      comes the small item for postage , 5 , 684 / . a y ear ! Then the travelling and incidental expenses of eleven inspectors and their officials , 10 , 667 / . a year ; and those two small items put together would locate sixty-five families , making a total in the year of 1 , 539 families , each located in a good house upon three acres of ground , and with 221 . 10 s . capital to begin with ; or each year providing for 7 , 695 individuals . But I have not done with the item of postage yet , for I find that the amount charged —allowing 313 working days in the yearamounts to 5 , 207 letters a day , and their being five secretaries , each secretary must have written 1 , 041 letters a day .

      Dear Fonny , what plaguy things those figures are ? Suppose I produced such an account for postage and travelling expenses what would the world have said ? I tell you , Mr Economist , that however you or your gang may attempt to suppress these facts , that they will be read by millions on Saturday night and will have their due influence upon the sane mind of your dupes , F . O'C .

      ^§H^5es^|) " Tef* Y^T^ &K, J ' L&F' S* =...

      ^§ H ^ 5 ES ^|) " tef * y ^ T ^ & K , J ' l & F' s * ^§ g &^ s ' __ ^ AND NATIONAL TRADES ^ JOURNAL , . __ MJL No _ 565 . LONDON . SATURDAY . AUGUST 19 , 18 k ~ ~" ^ ^^™ - ^ ,

      Rational Tatfe Tffompanyt

      Rational tatfe tffompanyt

      To F. O'Connor , Ee<J , M P. Honoured Si...

      TO F . O ' CONNOR , EE < J , M P . Honoured Sir , — At a meeting of the Salisbury branch of tbe National Land Company , on August 7 ob . it was unanimously resolved : — ' That we highly approve of your conduct in abstaining from attending public meetings for the present , and deeply feeling the loss that we , in common with the working classes of this co . untry , should sustain by your apprehension , hope you will continue to act very cautiously while the libel ty of the subject is somuch endangered .

      I am , dear sir , yours traly , „ ,.. Thimas Sunos , Secretary . Sahabary , August 8 th , 1848 . Mokcktoh Devkrill . —Ai a members' meeting of this braoch of the National Land Company , Mr Jonathan Brimbel in the chair , it waa moved by Mr Scephen Fud gey , and seconded by Mr Thomas Garratt ;— ' That the members of the Monckton Deverill « d A 1 the National Li » nd Coiapany do aporove of Mr *• O'Connor ' s new P > as laid down in last Saturday a Star , and agree to carry out the fiame . ' - Stephen b VDQB 7 , secretary ,

      Fribute to OConnor .-To the Members of the National Land Company . —It being the wish of several members of the Torquay branch of the National Land Company to present the redeemer of the work ing classes , P . O'Connor , b ; q ., MP ., with either a handsome snuff box , plate , or goblet , as a token of their coBudence and respect for his honeity and increasing labours for the benefit ot the working community of this country , we most earnestly appeal to the members of the said company throughout the kingdom to do their duty , by contributing their mite in the good work . Up , then , brothers , and show the world we hare a feeling of gratitude for our noblehearted and sympathising father . Tbe general receives honours for his ingenuity h shedding blood . L ? t us heap honours on our general for the regeneration of our country . We would recommend the

      secretary of eieh locality to receive subscriptions , and forward the same , with the list of subscribers , to tlw directors . We propose leaving to their option which ot the above articles shall be presented .

      Lked3.—A Meeting Of The Land Members, Wi...

      LKED 3 . —A meeting of the land members , will be ktt day DCxt ' at fcwo O ' clock in the a ^ ernoon , in the Bazaar , Bripgate , to take into consideration the propositions of Mr O'Connor , with respect to the Land Company . Ashton-under Lv . ve . — The weekly meetings of this branch ef the National Land Company will , in future , be held on Saturday evenings , from five to eight o ' clock , by order of the committee .

      To The Chartists Of Scotland. (From The ...

      TO THE CHARTISTS OF SCOTLAND . ( From the North British Express . ) More arrests have taken place—the sanguinarj desire of the law for vengeance , not justice , is thinning your ranks—Grant and Hamilton have been endungeoned . As to the fate of these victims , our hopes and fears are now at an end . Walker , Ranken , Gumming , and the other two , are charged with the crime of HIGH TREASON , a crime for . which bail is never accepted . Thus , we have five prisoners already in jail , and more seizures are daily expected . The whole of these men have wives and families depending upon them for support .

      Ihese men , who are now in prison , have done their duty nobly they have been true to themselves , to their cause , and to you . It now remains n ith the Chartists of Scotland to say what shall be their fate , and the fate of that cause for which they have have been dragged to prison . It is for you to say , whether these men are to be supported now , or made a sacrifice on the altar of cold indifference whether by their imprisonment , your cause shall receive an additional impetus , or be crushed and for ever—whether ( heir endungeonraent shall add fuel to the fire , and fan the flame which your patience and perseverance has alread y kindled , or extinguish that hope of universal emancipation from the galling

      fetters of despots and tyrants which you have so long and so fondly cherished—whether the wives and families of these men are to be maintained and comforted , or left unheeded and alone , to eat their bread , with bitter herbs , in sorrow ; and uncared for , except by those whose tender mercies are cruel indeed . No , Chartists , this shall not , must not be . We have great faith in your sense of justice , and we know that the spirit which actuated these men to brave the dangers of the law , and iisk their lives in your cause , will induce you to give of your substance , and even to forego some of your usual comforts , for their defence , and the support of their wives and little ones .

      In appealing thus to you , we would beg you to remember that these men are to be tried for HIGH TREASON ; at the same time keep before you the cruel despatism of the Whigs—the bloodthirsty conduct which has ever characterised their policytheir present evident determination to crush your cause , and keep you in submission by oppressive injustice—to make you think by their legislation and by the sword . Recollect that HIGH TREASON , was the crime for which Gerald , Muir , and Palmer were transported for life ; Baird and Hardie hanged , and thpn beheaded ; and Frost , Williams , and Jones , men whom you knew and respected , banished from among you , and branded as felons . ' Verily , the rich man's wealth is his strong city ; the destruction of the poor is their poverty . '

      Organise then , Chartists , for a Victim Fund ! Your last meeting on the Gallon Hill was a glorious display , and showed that you understood your duty . Your hearty cheer as you passed the prison , which rent ths air like heaven ' s artillery , must have been a welcome echo in the lonely cells of your captive brethren . Your voice was all that could reach them—all the sympathy you were allowed to offer— and even this you are now denied . Come forward then , and cheer the firesides rendered desolate by their imprisonment—complete the good

      work you have so nobly begun , and energetically pursued ; correspond with the friends of other towns-let each appoint its secretary and treasurer , and let all , according to their circumstances , contribute their mite—twopence , for eight weeks , from each of the 25 , 000 that met on the Calton Hill a few ni ghts ago , would produce £ 500 , a sum which would go a far way to get proper counsel for the defence , and serve as a nucleus for a sustentation fund for their wives and children , and for contributing a share to which no one will sleep the less soundlv .

      An Address To The People Of Scotland. Fr...

      AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND . Friends , Brothers , and Countrvmev , —We , the Scottish Chartist delegates , assembled at Falkirk , on the 10 th and 11 th of August , feel it our duty to address yon at this important crisis of our country ' s history . We believe it to be an eternal truth that mankind is one common family , conse . quently all have the same common right . We believe the Almighty has implanted a principle of progress in the minds of all men ; which if rightly applied , will undoubtedly place the human family In that position Providence has assigned them to

      occupy ; but when divested from its proper course by an individual or class , he or they are but blots upon the great balance sheet of moral rectitude . We also believe that duty binds us to call forth all the moral energies of the mind , upon which depend the development of the higher qualities of our nature , that must lead to the establishment of that system of harmony in human society , which is so wisely determined in external nature . Wc . asacoun . try , at present rank high in the scale of civilisation and commercial enterprise . We stand second to none in wealth and knowledge ; we are far advanced in an acquaintanceship with the sciences and literature ; and we have for a series of years been inquiring into

      the political institutions of our country , and have now arrived at the conclusion , that amidst all the wealth , knowledge , and boasted liberty of this empiro , we are , in reality , the most poor , oppressed , and degraded people of any country in the civilised world . We are poor and starve , while we create a superabundance ; we are oppressed by overtoil , and degraded below the level of the brute , by a privileged class , who arrogate to themselves the power of enslaving the working millions , denying thetn the right of a voice in the making of laws which they are compelled to obey . Fellow-men , should such things be ? We opine not . Should a man be punished because he is possessed of superior talent , virtue , moral courage , sufficiently strong to advocate the cause of his enslaved brethren ? No . We trust , then , your

      answer will be—No ; and a response breathing the honest determination of Caledonia ' s children , that they will not look on indifferently , while their brethren are suffering from the blow of the despot , and allow their wives and families to eke out a miserable existence , but will speak with the voice of pounds , shillings , and pence , which brings consolation to the hearts of the oppressed and destitute . We leave every man ot heart to make this case his own , and to act upon that splendid , but often neglected precept , 'Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you . ' We have established a Victim and Defence Fund in Edinburgh , where the Committee of Management reside ; and in order to shew you what may be done , we will just state that one penny each from 2 , 400 , 000 people , will actually raise the enormous sum of ten thousand pounds .

      Remember , brethren , t ' jat money is the sinews of war , and no system whatever can work without it . Then do your duty . We are only part of the great whole j and if you want the hol y cause of ri ght to triumph over might , justice over fraud and wrong , contribute generously and amply , and let us have no more cause to appeal to you on this head . Signed on behalf of the delegates , John Gilmour , Chairman . David Smith , Secretary .

      I may take this opportunity of stating that bail will not be taken for either Messrs Burrel or Neilson ; their trial is to come on at tbe next assizes , about the 5 th or 6 th of next month . Mr Burrel intends to advocate his own cause , but Mr Neilson is not fit for that . We cannot see how they will find Mr Burrel guilty , if they have a particle of hoaesty about them . Yours , in the cause , David Smith . At Mr M'Master's , Tailor , Cathcart-street , Greenock .

      Todmorde.V .—Mr James Leacb Of Mancheste...

      Todmorde . v . —Mr James Leacb of Manchester , will lecture in the Odd Fellows Hall , on Sunday , August 20 th , at six o ' clock in the evening . Towbr Hamlets . —The members of the District Committee , are summoned to attend next Tuesday evening , at eight o ' clock , on important business , at the Whittington and Cat , Church-street , Bethnal Grocn . Leigh Hoy . —J . H . Shepherd will address a meet , ing , at the Leigh Hoy , Church-street , Mile End Old Town , on Sunday evening , at eight o ' olook ,

      Address Of The Central Defence Committee...

      ADDRESS OF THE CENTRAL DEFENCE COMMITTEE TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE . Brethren , —In June , 1848 , the English government caased the arrest of Mr Ernest Jonca and others on a charge of riot , sedition , and illegal assembly . Being thus unexpectedly pounced on . by the minions in power , means were immediately adopted to meet the emergency . The Executive Council and Metropolitan Commissioners , on June 8 th , summoned , by the means of trusty messengers , the most active and leading Chartists and all the local officials in the Metropelis ( about 100 ) together , to devise and adopt some means to defend and

      support the prisoners and their families . They decided on appointing a committee of eight persons for that purpose . A committee was immediately elected and installed in office , and had their instructions from the assembled body , and in the following week their election was further confirmed by the Chartists of the Metropolis , through the means of a delegate meeting convened for that purpose . The persons chosen to that committee were Mr AHn ' utfc City and Finsbury ; Mr Pitt , Marylebone ; Mr Tapp , Finsbury ; Mr Side , Lambeth ; Mr Langar , South * - wark ; Mr Lacy , Westminster ; Mr Plume , Tower Hamlets ; Mr Hayman , Bethnal-green .

      1 ' rom the moment oi their appointment to the present , they have been unceasing in their endeavours to rescue the patriot victims from the mrshes of the law . Nothing was left undone by the committee . Bail , although of an enormous amount , was procured . Evidence of an importantdescription was collected—witnesses subpoenaed , and the first , legal talent in the country secured ; prisoners sup . ported and assisted in and out of prison ; their families attended and assisted with ten shillings per week , from the moment of the prisoner ' s arrest to the present time . And here , let it be known , that Mr O'Connor ' s private purse has been at the service of the committee , to enable them to keep the prisoners from oakum picking , and their families from penury , destitution , and wretchedness !

      Men of London and of Britain , why so sullenly stand with folded arms , when duty demonstrates the reverse ? Arouse ye , and rescue our dearest , purest , and best friends , from those pangs of remorse which your apathy engenders . Suffer not those talented , sterling patriots , whom / action and class laws are persecuting—suffer not their honest hearts to be cankered by your ingratitude , or allow it to bring them to a premature end ; then save , oh , save them from a felon ' s grave ! Suffer not the advocates of your happiness , the defenders of your

      rights , and ihe promoters of your welfare , to have another pang added to their unjust sufferings by your ingratitude , injustice , or apathy . Let them know you have made provision for their families , and snatched them from the horrors of a bastile , and it will draw a prayer of gratitude from their sorrowing hearts , and be the balm of consolation to their souls . Let funds come pouring in from every direction , for such a holy and noble cause . Show to the world that you know your duties , and are determined to perform them .

      There are at this moment several district Victim Committees in the metropolis , who were appointed to collect monies for the defence of tbe prisoners , and their families ; hut , up to this time , the monies collected have not been paid into the Central Committee , the Executive Council , or to Mr O'Connor . Such conduct demands inquiry on the part of those who contributed the funds . The committee has also reason to believe that the contributors to the several district victim collecting

      committees paid in their monies with the understanding that it was to be placed to one general fund , from which the prisoners and families should each receive an equal share of public sympathy . No greater act of injustice can by any possibility be perpetrated in society , than that of districts withholding monies , or applying it to any sectional purpose , contrary to the intention of the donors ; and a fund so sacred as a victim fund should not , under any circumstances , be appropriated to other purposes .

      The comjiittee feel grieved to be forced publicly to direct attention to the above , but stern justice and necessity demands it ; hut being a duty , however painful it is to the feelings , it must be obejed . Experience has unfolded to man a lesson that one well organised body is more powerful and efficacious than ten equally numerical , if disorganised j therefore , in future , for the sake of harmony and effect , let all the tributary streams flow into one great reservoir , and its beneficial effects will be speedily realised , and innumerable blessings will flow there * from .

      The committee beg to correct an error of their Bradford friends , who at a public meeting passed a resolution not in accordance with the truth . They desire also to inform them , that Mr O'Connor never intimated in his letter it was the Central Defence and Victim Committee who applied to him about the monies . The committee desire to inform all friends they have never directly or indirectly acted in the manner described , for they know too well to be mistaken , the purity of tkat gentleman ' s generous heart , to question for a moment any pecuniary

      business in which that noble-minded patriot may be engaged . That some committee has communicated with Mr O'Connor on the subject , there can be no doubt , but justice compels the committee to correct the error which they believe crept unintentionally over the minds of the Bradford public meeting , Christopher Hayman , Sec . Committee room , Windsor Castle , 152 , High Holborn , August 10 , 1848 . P . S . —District committees , branches , divisions , ot known friends , will be supplied with collecting books on application to the committee .

      National Land Company. A Deputation Fron...

      NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . A deputation front the directors , consisting of Messrs Philip M'Grath and Thomas Clark , will attend meetings of branches at the following places , on the days undermentioned ;—Monday and Tuesday , 2 bt and 22 nd , Manchsbibh ; Wedneaday , 23 rd , AsHias-uNUER Lyse ; Thursday , 24 th , Stockport ; Friday , 2 oth , Oldham ; Monday , 28 th , Rochdale and Bacup , at Rochdale ; Tuesday , 29 th , Bury , Heywood , and Ratcliffe Bridge , at Bury ; Wednesday . 3 flth , Bolton and Leigh , at Bolton Thursday . 31 st , Wigan , Ilindley , and Larnberhead Green , at Wioan ; Friday , September Is ^ Chorlky . None but members of the Company can be admitted to any of the meetings , and branoh secretaries are requested to take such steps as wilfexolude all who are not members .

      Manchester.— A Special Meeting Of The Me...

      Manchester . — A special meeting of the members of the National Land Company will be held in the People ' s Institute , on Sunday morning , August 20 . Members are requested to attend in the Peeple ' s Inatitute , on Monday and Tuesday evening , '' . August 21 and 22 , when the suggestions of Mr O'Connor , as they appeared in the Star of the 12 th inst , will boconsidered . Two of the directors will be present . Salford— A special meeting of the members of this branch of the National Land Company will be held on Monday , August 21 , at Mr Lee ' s , Temperasce Hotel , Inwell-street , at two o ' clock in the afternoon , to take the opinion of the members on the propositions of Mr O'Connor .

      Oldham . —On Sunday nest , August 20 th , a general meeting of the members of the Land Company will take place in the school room , at two o ' clock in the afteraoon . whea the adjourned discussion on Mt O'Connor ' s nine propositions will be resumed . A goed attendance is requested . Bath . —The members of thii branch of the Land Company are requested to attend a raeetiag on Monday evening next , the 21 st inst ., at the meeting room of the Land and Charter Association , Na . 5 , Galloway ' a-buildingp , to consider the propositions of Mr F » argu » O'Connor , respecting the Land Company . Business to commence at eiijht o ' clock . Marylebone . —The Land members of j this branch will meet on Sunday , the 20 lh instant , at the Coach Painters' Arms , Circus-street , New-road .

      ExuTKR . —A meeting of the members of the National Land Company will be held on Saturday evening , at eight o ' clock , at J . W . Ilavih ' s . 91 , Forestreet , Exeter , for the purpose ol receiving monies due to the branch , and transacting other business , prior to the visit of the directors , and ^ tbe reorganisation of the society . , I VT . Leamington . —A general meeting of the National Land Company will bo held in their room , Parkstreet , on Monday , August 21 st , at eight o ' clock in the evening . Mr VVm . Byrne ' s route for next week : —Monday , 21 st , Old Shildon ; Tuesday , 22 nd , West Auckland ; Wednesday , 23 rd , Byer ' s Green ; Thursday , 24 th , Counden ; Friday , 25 th , Leasingtuorne .

      WniTTiNGTON and Cat . —A special general meeting of the members of the Land Company will be held on Wednesday , August 23 . to take into consideration the propositions of Mr O'Connor , in ace rdanoo with the wish of the directors . Shorediicm . —A general members of this branch will evening next , to take into nor ' a letter to the Land Chair taken at eight o ' clock . Newcastle itdn-Tyne . —The branch of the Land Company in M . Jude ' s Long-room , on at four t ' cloek , for the discussion Mr F . O'Connor for the alteration Land CoaipaBj ' .

      Meeting Of. Jie~.Land Be Held . Omwedneq...

      meeting of . Jie ~ . Land be held . omWedneqpa ^ -., consideration Mr * O'Con * members ' , . oi ^ Au ^ njit 19 . — j - y ' / ' rriembgre- of thle are requested to meet j Sunday ! August 3 Qtttf of the proposals ? ot / ^ - oMha ' iN ^ pM ' -.- ' , - . " - ^ £ ( fc >\ teeting of . Jha—Land ie held . omWedneqpa ^ sidefation Mr O'Con- \ s abets * , . oi Au ^ t 19 . J f : — I - y ¦ ¦ A Vi ^ l 3 piembsre . of thlB j ^^ ire requested to meet / * J- * undayl August -SOth- / r % on of the proposals of / t-sL . tiofi-oltha ^ M * t Avi ^ V

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 19, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_19081848/page/1/