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rttjyrRTJCTIONS FOR REMITTING MONE y ON ACCOUNT OF SH ARE-' - h^JDERS OF THE LpD COMfa Ni/ i
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All monies mnstbe remitted in Post Offic...
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THE LAND. TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST...
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/£ 1^1 ?^**^
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MI) 1^^ ; /£ 1^1 ?^*
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X D J J' at yOL. . NO. 478. LONDON, SATU...
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IRELAND. - NARRATIVE OP MALCOLM M'GREGOR...
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be welcome to this house: and iBk here—t...
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next paper, ™ ^ ~$j.-. . 0-^ ¦. ->..- - ...
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Rttjyrrtjctions For Remitting Mone Y On Account Of Sh Are-' - H^Jders Of The Lpd Comfa Ni/ I
rttjyrRTJCTIONS FOR REMITTING MONE ON ACCOUNT OF SH ARE- ' - h ^ JDERS OF THE LpD COMfa Ni / i
All Monies Mnstbe Remitted In Post Offic...
All monies mnstbe remitted in Post Office Oilers , or by Bank Order payable on dead l 0 Feargus O'Couuor . All Post Office Orders must be made payable at the r neral Post Office , St Martin ' s-le-Gratid ,
t nclon , none ot ^ acknowledged . rfi , e person ' s name applying to the local post ffi ce for tne or ^ mnst be written at full I nfill at the top of the order , and who l gee the order properl y stamped , and the order ninst be made payable to Feargus O'Connor- All letters containing " money mast he addressed as follows , for « The Directors ,
Land Office , 83 , Dean Street , Soho , London . " jfofe—The local post master is bound to make all onlere payable where the applicant wishes ; the jeputy Treasurer has now £ 172 in Post Office Orders made payable at the London Office , Charing Otoss , Strand , Oxford Street , Piccadilly , Old Cavendish Street , Bloomsbury , Oxford , Manchester , and
j / eds ; many of them not stamped at the local office , and therefore refused payment by the London jianch ; many of them made payable to the parties vhomay apply for them ; many of them not payable jo Mr- Roberts , Mr . O'Connor , or Mr . "Wheeler ; jnany of them advised indifferent names to those jepiesented to have obtained them , whereas there ought not to be a mistake of a shilling in ten years , ill jgrsons receiving Post Office Orders at the local office will see that the order is stamped by the Local Postmaster before he accepts it as satisfaction for cash , and he will then write the name of the person
who has applied for and taken out the order , at the top of the order . Now nothing can be more simple than this . John White goes with £ A to the Leeds Post Office , and asks for an order in the name of John "White , payable to Feargus O'Connor at the london branch . John "White then writes his name in full at the top of the order , and transmits it as directed to the ' office;—for "The Directors , Land Office , 83 , Dean Street , Soho . London . "
The Land. To The Members Of The Chartist...
THE LAND . TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST COOPERATIVE LAND COMPANY . Mr Dear Friends , The struggle that I am now making is to secure a nest for every one of the human family , of which the strong cannot dispossess the weak , as well as a field for the parent and yonng brood to work in for their own subsistence . This letter will necessarily be a long one , because my purpose is to explain to yon all that has been done by the late Land Conference ; but before I proceed to the analysis I must be permitted to offer a few observations upon our present position and no distant coming prospects .
firefly , —I caB your attention to the stunning incontrovertible fact , " that , in the midst of circumstances which formerly would have aroused agitation throughout the land , there is but one party existing , active and organised , in the state—and that party is the Chartist party . The Tories are paralysedby the treachery , as they call it , of their leader , but for whose sagacity they would be now In open rebellion . The "Whi gs are struck dumb by the incompetency of their party to deal with a calamity , arising in part out of their awn inefficiency . The tree traders are bringing odium upon their own measure by being foremost in the ranks of oppression , daily reducing
the hours of labour as a first step towards reducing wages . The Socialists have been wrecked upon a rock for want of a proper lighthouse ; they committed the egregious blunder of supposing that a spacious and well-furnished house was to pay the rent of land , instead of the land paying the rent of the house . Poor Sturge and his party have vanished into tbin air , while the London management finds it nther difficult to keep the Holborn theatre open during the short season before Christmas . So much for England ; and then look to the present state of Ireland 5 a country that one short year ago presented a confederation , -which , if properly directed , might lave bid defiance to Europe .
Thus I show yon that Chartism is now the only Bring principle , while I must remind you , that formeily , in the season of calm , Chartism was always & e most apathetic , and its apathy was an invitation to some crotchet-monger to bid for popular support . I had no objection to admit that Chartism was a huniry howl , but I feel indignant that the howl should instantly cease upon the sli ghtest improvement of circumstances , thus afiirming the fact , that wot was necessary to elicit principle . "When the Jffld plan wasjfirst introduced , those who had lived in idleness upon popular excitement denounced it as
calculated to injure Chartism . They knew that ftey were ignorant of the subject , and they dreaded tte addition of the social principle to the ' political Soestion . But I think I may now ask you where Gartism would be but for the Land ? I may ask P > u where it was from 1842 to 1845 , when the Wth of Landism was breathed into its nostrils afl gave it fresh vitality ? I must remind you of another fact , that our association now numbers about twelve thousand members , and that in its ftals are to be found the very best of the old Charfist body . Again , but for the land where would n » w 1 ) 6 the Chartist Executive or Chartist staff ? The
Feat advantage of the Land movement is thisflat it supplies food for sensible agitation in good tones and in bsd times . Good times have always ken destructive of Chartism , but now assist it , bemuse it is then that the working classes have the •* 3 t opportunit y ot subscribing to the Land plan ; * h 3 e lad times compel them to think about the land 25 only means of escape . Having made those few observations , I shall now P ^ ceed to a consideration of the business done by ^ Conference , and shall commence with the propamine . Firstl y—A . Finance Committee was appointed to ^ mine ray accounts from the formation of the
^ ety to the day on which we met , and you will ^ th eir report appended to the balance sheet with e "ecessary observations in their proper place . & cs > % . _ We resolved that the company ' s lands "" H neither be sold nor mortgaged , but that a jjp of deposit should be established , the machinery which will appear in a simple form in next s Slur . This was a most wise resolution , ^ se I still adhere to my original declaration , the redemption department , which will be a of the
j ^* establishment , will enable every occu-^ Purchase his allotment in less than five years ^ ! incon * emence . I Snaii here mereiy sketch toto ? f ° y 0 U " WeDro P ° se t 0 "I thousand fed to upoa eveiy £ b 0 payable t 0 thecom P y > ^« ke the land and houses of the company % > n " ! . , ' iede P osilors ; and we propose to pay te ^ monies deposited interest at the rate of 3 i d ^ ° " ~~ , 1 , at is , wehand over as security to the * fc to * iD reDt f ° CVery £ 31 Qs ' that we are 5 and Ave propose that the additional 1 * per
The Land. To The Members Of The Chartist...
cent shall become a sinking fund to merge into the redemption fund , and to be applied to the purchase of the occupant ' s property when the affairs of the section are closed . The redemption department will be for receiving amounts paid by the shareholders , whether in possession ^ or not , towards the purchase of their allotments , or the fining down of their rent , —for instance , suppose John White to have paid up £ 25 to the redemption fund before he I received his allotment , and suppose his rent to be £ 10 a vear , he would receive his land for £ 9
a - year , and be allowed one pound a year reduction for the £ 25 he had paid , or in other words , his land would then become his own bank at £ 4 per cent ., that is , he would be allowed to purchase his property for ever at 25 years ' purchase , while the company would he enabled to give 33 years purchase , and while , as an individual , he would not be able to secure his allotment at 50 years' purchase ; firstly , because there is no market open for him ; secondly , because individuals would lease their property at the retail price , while the company leases
it at the wholesale . price in the retail market ; and thirdly , if he purchased , the weight of title , legal expenses , and conveyance , would break his back : while , upon the pother band , the company , upon the principle of co-operation , not only does those things for him , but further gives to their tenants respectively , £ 15 , £ 22 10 s , and £ 30 capital to commence with . Upon this subject 1 will give you a simple , comprehensive , mercantile prospectus next week , for the present consoling myself that no profit-monger is , thank God , to
make political property or money profit of your labour and mine . Indeed , if I had mortgaged or sold I could have gone to a certain extent much faster than I have gone , but , then , I know the heart-burning that would be caused to every occupant when he discovered his ability to buy the land and the impossibility of inducing the purchaser to sell it . Now , for instance , an occupant paying £ 10 a-yearrent , and having saved £ 400 , would cheerfully give it all , that is forty years' purchase , to be the proprietor instead of the tenant of bis allotment ,
while we allow him to purchase his allotment for ever for £ 250 , or twenty-five years' purchase , and always observe that , when an occupant purchases , he is his own banker and his allotment is his ledger . Now I . would ask you if any working man in the world , who has saved £ 250 , can apply it so profitably , so comfortably , so respectably to any other purpose as to the purchase of £ 10 a-year for ever , in land and a house ; while you must bear in mind that , as an individual , he could not purchase the same property for £ 400 , nor yet for £ 500 ; and you must also bear another fact in mind , that the capital he receives from the company goes in part payment of the purchase which would reduce it to
twenty-three years' purchase , and something under . For instance , a man draws a three acre share in an estate , the price of which would make his rent come to £ 10 a-year , the £ 22 10 s . capital is included in the rent and , therefore , if he choses to pay £ 227 10 s . to the Redemption Fund , he at once becomes the proprietor instead of the tenant of his allotment , with the title made out and the conveyance costing him nothing . Now this we never could do if we mortgaged or sold , while the operations of the company will proceed with tenfold vigour and speed . Sale or mortgage would entail fresh expence , the Bank guarantees a profit of 3 i per cent . Upon this subject I shall be very explicit next week . ¦ ,
Thirdly .- The Conference has decided , that the maximum sized Cottage shall not exceed four rooms of twelve feet square each . This is a wise and wholesome resolution , and a just one , because it inflicts injury upon none . It is wise , because it preserves a larger amount of land value than of house value , which is not as valuable as land value . It is just , because the occupants will pay rent in proportion , that is , if a four roomed house cost £ 30 less
than a five roomed house , the occupant will pay 30 s . a-year less for his holding . It is equitable , because it enables the company to locate more members and more speedily . It is no hardshi p , because the ballot for preference will take place after the general ballot , before the houses are built . And when the allotments are marked out and each occupant's share is known , then the corresponding secretary will write to the several members and ask them if
they wished for a four roomed house , a five roomed house , or a castle with stabling and a court yard , and for the additional expence above the four rooms they must lodge the money before the work is commenced . Upon the other hand , if a single man , who has drawn a three acre or a four acre allotment , shall consider a comfortable three roomed house , each room twelve feet square , sufficiently large , he will notify to the directors , through the secretary , that he willonlv have a three roomed house huilt and he
will have a reduction in his rent at the rate of five per cent upon the diminished expenditure . Now I will shew you that this is a necessary resolution . We are bound to legislate for the general good , and although some working men may say , that they took four acre shares for the express purpose of having the larger honse , yet , as the land is the field for industry and the thing that is to support the house , many of the industrious poor became shareholders for four acres who considered the over-size of the house a grievous tax upon them . I always was in
favour of the smallest description of houses , my principal object tsing to get possession of as much land as possible , convinced that untrammelled industry weald soon enable every man to build a house to bis taste ; and , even now , I would implore the three acre and four acre shareholders to remember that five per cent will be deducted from , or added to , the rent in proportion to the size of the house , and , that they ought to be able , when they have the security of the land , to raise money at 3 } per cent As Mr . Smyth , the delegate for Bradford , observed
and than whom there was not a more attentive , shrewd , and business-like delegate in the Conference , the poor woolcombers in Bradford huddled together in one room , ventilated with a charcoal stove , would think themselves in a palace in a three roomed cottage , and would consider it a hardship to have their release from those hells postponed for the gratification of those who wished for large houses . However , I may conclude this head with a simple observation , that nine in every ten who will be entitled to a good four roomed cottage , are now pining in cellars or existing in garrets .
Fourthly . In order to prevent a monopoly of the land by any one person , we have decided that in all cases where an aggregate of persons to the number of four , wish to hazard their chauce upon one ticket in the same ballot , that each of the four shall have attained his eighteenth year at least . It was contended that fathers should have the power of placing their infant children ' s names upon this aggregate ticket , but this , it was clearly shown , would lead to a monopoly , of , perhaps , 16 acres out of an estate of onahundred , or one sixth of the whole amount , and mig ht lead to the dilapidation of the cottages upon the three allotments of the infants , and must introduce the MID-
The Land. To The Members Of The Chartist...
DLEMAN SYSTEM ; and for this reason the leases should be made to the infants , for I did not , as reported in the Northern Star , say , that the Company could not make leases to infants , but what I said was that the infants could not make leases . However , 1 am quite ready to admit the general accuracy and excellence of the report in the Star . But then to the subject , you must lease to the infants , and the father as they ; trustee must either place three undertenants in the three cottages during their minority , which three undertenants would present the eyesore of slave labourers working amongst freemen ; and , if
he did not place tenants there , the cottages would go to ruin , and , if he did place tenants there , he might demand what rent he pleased ; and as a minor cannot lie bound , it would be optional upon attaining his majority , whether he would take to the land or not ; and if the middleman , or the father , suffered it to deteriorate in value , it would be an injury to the whole company . ' Moreover , the minors could not purchase except by trustees , and that would impose an amount of complicated duty which a hundred directors could not discharge . Again , it must be borne in mind , that minors now stand precisely in
the same situation as they always did ; they may enter the ballot singly , and if they are drawn singly , whether in Cumberland or Cornwall , the father , or some of the family , will be sure to go with the minor , so that in no case will the house become dilapidated or the land neglected . The mode of dealing with the aggregate number is this . Suppose a ballot for fifty to take place , and an aggregate ticket containing four names to be in the box—if that ticket is not drawn within forty-seven , it must be a blank ; if it
is drawn forty-seven , it is a prize , because 47 , 48 , 49 > and 50 are four allotments , which will satisfy the four upon the aggregate ticket ; but if it is drawn 48 , 49 , or 50 , it is laid by as a blank , because there will be only three allotments left to satisfy four shareholders . Now , this is no hardship , even if the rule was more stringent , because it is optional with the individual members whether or no they will risk their chance upon the aggregate ticket ; and as the rule stands , it is now incalculably in favour of the aggregate shareholders .
Fifthly—We have decided that all incidental expenses shall be paid out of the two shillings a share , while the directors' salaries , stationery , & c , shall be paid out of a fund raised by a levy of one shilling per year , or a farthing a week upon each share . This fund also to furnish poor occupants , who are recommended by their localities , with the means of transmission to their respective allotments—the amount to be paid back in easy and convenient instalments , and to merge into the Redemption fund , so that it will be a savings bank for the purchase of the allotments by members . Sixthly . —This question has been decided by the adoption of the above rule .
Seventhly . —It has been decided that the Directors shall be empowered to build school-houses under such circumstances as render the ' r erection necessary , and that the school-houses shall be the property of the Company and not of the allottees upon the estate , because the expense of the erection and the land should then be added to the rent of the occupants . Eighthly . —It has been decided , that the schoolmasters and schoolmistresses shall be appointed by the Directors , with power vested in two-thirds of the occupants to dismiss them upon proper cause .
In treating upon this subject , I trust that no schoolmaster will lie elected except he is also an agriculturist , as the ground allotted to the schoolhouse should be a model farm , entirely cultivated by the children , according to their strength , who should work upon it three hours a day , from six till ei g ht In the morning , and such other hour in the day as shall be approved of by a majority of the occupants .
Ninthly . —It has beta decided that discretionary power shall be vested in the Directors to expend monies in the improvement of land from purchase to occupation , in manure , draining , and other such operations as will be more cheaply done by cooperation than by individual labour , and not to be deducted from the amount of capital to be respectively given to the occupants . Tenthly . —lthas been decided that the Directors shall have the power of increasing the Funds of the Company by the sale of estates . Elevently . —The Conference have elected Thomas Slingsby Buncombe , Esq . M . P ., John Sewell , Philip M'Grath , Ernest Jones , and Feargus O'Connor , trustees .
Twelfthly . —The Conference has elected \ Y . P . Roberts , Esq ., as the Company ' s Treasurer , with a vote of thanks for his past services . Thirteenthly . —The Directors have elected Feargus O'Connor as their Deputy Treasurer . Fourteenthly . —The Finance Committee did report , for which see resolution at foot of Balance Sheet . Ftfteenthly . — The Conference elected William Cuffay and James Knight , auditors to the Company .
The sixteenth proposition in the programme was withdrawn;—and thus 1 have gone through the several propositions contained in the programme , and I shall now draw your attention to the several collateral questions not contained in the programme . Firstly . —The Conference has very wisely conferred the power upon four of the Directors to dismiss one of their own body for misconduct or neglect of duty . This is a most wholesome rule , and is a power which the four objecting Directors would
not dare to exercise capriciously , while it will make all more vi gilant in the discharge of their duties , and no member of the Company will believe that four Directors would dare to conspire against one , while no member of the Company will contend that four should be subject to the neglect or improper conduct of one during twelvemonths . The mode of filling up the vacancy is this , —the Directors elect a person in the place of the dismissed officer , and then appeal to the Shareholders to elect , not the person appointed pro . tern , by the Directors , but whomsoever they please .
Secondly . —The Conference decided that there should be two Secretaries , a Corresponding Secretary and a Finance Secretary , and the Directors have elected Mr . M'Grath as corresponding Secretary , and Mr . Wheeler as Finance Secretary . Thirdly . —The Conference decided that henceforth only one list should appear in the " Northern Star , " and that that List should be a report of all the monies SENT TO ME—that is , that henceforth all monies must be made payable to me , and remitted according to the instructions at the head of this letter , and no money will appear in the " Star " except money that is made payable to me by post-office order , and sent as directed in instructions , and received by me before insertion .
Fourthly . —The Conference decided that the allottees of Herringsgate should not be located till the 1 st of May . As a matter of course this will be some disappointment , though I doubt it , to a few , but then it must be borne ! in mind that the Con-
The Land. To The Members Of The Chartist...
ference was ; bound' to legislate for the benefit of all , andVrlotifor tbe ^ onvenience of a few . ; Moreover ;' " if ^ " a . just -rule , and ' was urged upon the st ronges |||^ ieni g well acqutthte & wftb ; the subject , convincing me of the propiKty of the step . I moved the 25 th of March ; Mr . Donovan moved the 1 st of July , and Mr . Smyth moved the 1 st of May . They contended that fromafter Ohristmastill May was the spring trade and ' the best trade ; that February would be the coldest and most disheartening month for those coming from the heated atmosphere of factories , and that it would be a comparatively idle month upon the land . This alteration was made upon the understanding that the whole available season
from February to May , should be taken advantage of in the cultivation of the several allotments , and let it be understood that a transition from the artificial to the natural state will be much more cheering "when the ground is covered with the budding ; Crops than if covered with snow . It is a bad season for removing , it is a bad season for going into a new house ; it is an inappropriate season for agricultural pursuits , add to which , the postponement will be a great saving to the occupants , inasmuch as . ' cheaper and better labour can be performed upon the principle of co-operation than by individuals ^ Another , and no small consideration , is , that our immigrants must feel cheerful and happy upon the very first day they take possession .
Some people who are not shareholders say , that Mr . O'Connor promised to locate a hundred within the first year from June last—Mr . O'Connor did promise it and will accomplish it , and more . When Mr . O'Connor promised it , the standard size of farms was two acres , and we have now 264 acres of ground which , according to Cocker , would locate 132 persons at two acres each , and that was the rule in the first instance . But Mr . O'Connor has
now a complete answer for those who assert that a section cannot be located in less than fifty-seven years , three months , three weeks , five days , and two hours . Mr . O'Connor now undertakes to say , that , not only a section of 6 , 000 , hut a bodylof 20 , 000 , will be located in less than five years , with the as . sistance of the Bank . Mr . O'Connor always said , and still repeats it , that he would rathei have a loan of a hundred thousand pounds to be repaid with
five per cent interest than £ 20 , 000 raised by small shares , and that the operations of the Company would go on quicker , and the Bank will afford that . Further , I could by this time have secured the location of 500 members if I had mortgaged the land as I bought it , hut , then , that process should have an end , each repetition of it would lessen our available capital , and I hold it to be unjust that the interests of 5 , 500 should be injured for the benefit of 500 .
As to the postponement of the time of taking possession , then I have no hesitation in saying , that the step will meet with the approval of four fifths of the occupants themselves '; while , upon behalf of the 5965 shareholders , whose interests would have been injured by an earlier occupation , I am prepared to take all the responsibility . Fifthly . —All ballots , till the meeting of the next Conference , are to take place in London . Sixthly . —The next Conference will he held at Nottingham on the first Monday in January , 1848 .
I think I have now given you a very fair analysis of the business performed at Conference , and a better Conference of any class I would not desire to sit in . You will see that I have made myself acquainted with every thing that has been done , and that I took one man ' s share in doing it , Now , my friends , I cannot dismiss this subject without drawing your serious attention to the fact , that the Land question is the one tp ; u ' c now interesting all Europe ; and that , after the several crotchet-mongers had tried their hand at patching the o'd system , all have been obliged to come to the plan established by that "COMICAL GENIUS , " Feargus O'Connor . Every newspaper in the kingdom is now adopting the plan , in one shape or other , as its own
concoction . Every Irish resolution tends to the same point , while the Nation newspaper is advocating the system , though for the present lamely , because leaning upon a very rotten crutch—one Mr . G . Ramsay , who contends for the substitution of the plough for the spade , as a means of improving agriculture . This notion is so thoroughly ridiculous and childish , that none but a child would waste his time in combating it . It cuts at the very root of the system contended for by the Nation , inasmuch as it would be impossible to carry out the principle of a small proprietary , without first renouncing the plough . I wish , from my soul , that every plough and every harrow in England was turned into ashes for manure , and the plough shares into spades to dig the ground .
By the Star of this week you will see that I have not been idle since the Conference , and , besides the industry that its columns develope , I have had several conferences with some of the ablest merchants in London upon the Banking question , and all appear uiore than delighted with it , as an auxiliary to aid in the purchase of Land . I have also had conferences with the directors . I have gone attentively through the whole Deed of Settlement with the solicitor , and from it I learn that there is only one great change made—a change which I believe will be
hailed by all who feared that the Land plan would hurt Chartism . It is this : that our members are not to be tenants , but proprietors . That upon receiving possession they are not to get a lease , but the conveyance of their allotment in fee , with a rentcharge reserved , amounting to what the rent would have been . One of the brawlers may ask , what is the difference between rent and rent charge , between lease and conveyance ? Why just this—that in the one case the man is a tenant—in the other case he is a proprietor ; in the one case he is apolitical serf without a vote , in the other case he is a
FREEMAN , WITH THE VOTE , Now , is this no difference ? Did Chartism , without the question of the laud , ever effect this ? It is a subject to which I am bound to say our solicitor , Mr . Roberts , was the first to direct my attention more than a year ago ; but I hesitated even to hint at it until I was convinced of its practicability so that now the thirty-five occupants at Herringsgate will have conveyances and net leases made to them , and they will he proprietor and voters as soon as they are in possession . This circumstance will considerably assist our banking operations , as every shareholder will save , beg ,
borrow , or steal the means of reducing the rent charge at four per cent . In conclusion , I have only to add , that the responsibility and labour imposed upon me by the Land Plan would frighten any other man in Europe , while the more extensive its operations and ramifications , the better I feel myself equal to the task . If I had all the money that will smoke and stink in the kennels and poison the air during the Christmas month , I would convert every Poor Law Bastile in England into hospitals for the friendless ^ the old , and the infirm-, I would convince Uve Archbishop of Canterbury that famine in Britain is the dispensation of man , and not of God ; and I would prove to the Free Traders that domestic freemen are
The Land. To The Members Of The Chartist...
better customers than foreign slaves . Just ^ look th subscriptions , even for this Christmas week , when our class of shareholders are all pushed to make up their rent and pay their shop accounts ; in fact , I didn ' t expect £ 10 this week . The greatest pleasure that I derive from the Land Plan is , the belief that in our exchequer will be found some THOUSANDS THAT HAVE BEEN SNATCHED FROM THE GIN PALACE AND THE BEER-SHOP . Again promising you a clear and simple prospectus of our Banking Plan in next week's Star , ' I remain , Your faithful . friend and bailiff , Feargus O'Connor . P . S . —LABOURERS ! BE SOBER ; BUY LAND
INSTEAD OF GIN ; AND YOU WILL HAVE A GOVERNMENT OF YOUR OWN CHOICE -THAT'S MY CHRISTMAS BOX TO YOU .
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X D J J' At Yol. . No. 478. London, Satu...
X D J J ' at yOL . . NO . 478 . LONDON , SATURDAY , ECEMiptg , 1846 jtf ; f ¦ ^ - ^ BSgS ? - o- ^ - - ¦ ¦ " ' ••"
Ireland. - Narrative Op Malcolm M'Gregor...
IRELAND . - NARRATIVE OP MALCOLM M'GREGOR . NO . VII . As the task I have undertaken is to familiarise the English reader with the manners , customs , habits , opinions , peculiarities , character , and grievances of the Irish , I should consider it injudicious to clog my narrative with any romantic feelings , which should be confined to my own breast , and , therefore , all thought of Kathleen shall sleep for the present , nor shall her simple charms in any way influence me in the discharge of my duty . I have been a very earnest reader of novels in mv time , and am willing to confess
a great debt of gratitude to many of our authors , both living and dead , for the amusement and instruction they have afforded me . Fielding , Goldsmith , Lytton Bulwer , have drawn many a tear from my eye ; Smollett , ; Scott , and D'Israeli , have afforded me refreshing laughter , and many of ourfair writers have seasoned a moment of doubtful mood with a welcome momentary excitement ; but for the most part novelists commence with the autumnal tint and rising or setting sun , and the effects of the waking or slumbering luminary upon imaginary scenery , and then select an imaginary being for their hero and
their heroine . The silvery spray of the briny deep , and all about it , may be matter of absorbing interest to Olivia , while her Charles is wafted from her weeping watchful eye upon its bosom to some distant shore , perchance to hazard his precious life in defence of his country ' s liberty ; and Constantia may be interested in the hue , delicate texture , and smiling appearance of the expanding bud , as her Cardenio is engaged on some mission of love , which reminds her of his purity ; or Fidelia ' s guitar may be inspired and refuse response to her angelic touch , if her Edwin ' s absence should chill her heart , and forebode some teasing misgiving . All these passionate touches may do very well for those who can afford to pay £ 1 12 s . Gd ., for three volumes about the sun , moon ,
and stars , rosebuds and spray , and the exactitude with which the sun rises and sets , and sheds his slanting rays upon all around ; and the inconstancy or jeopardy of the false hero , and the devotion and hair breadth ' scapes of the daring and reckless heroine ; but it is a branch of literature , if literature it can be styled—out of the peasants reach , and a portion of that course from which I fear many social errors have been imbibed . The hero or heroine is for the moment the world of the excited reader , and many a broken heart and pale face has been the sflcrifice at the shrine of susceptibility , imagination , and conceit . Rejecting , therefore , the jumble of ghosts , bleeding hearts , and romantic vows , which have been now brought to my recollection , I shall proceed with my narrative .
The morning after I had heard the O'Donnell ' s history—mind , I abstain from troubling the reader with my night ' s reflections and dreams—I started , with Pheliuieen , for the residence of my friend , Father O'Farrell , at ten o ' clock , having taken a cordial farewell of " The O'Donnell" and Kathleen . We had not proceeded more than some half a mile upon our journey when we overtook a middle-aged mountaineer , trudging his way to the market of Skibbereen with a pig , who , king an acquaintance of my fellow traveller , after saluting him , asked him where he was going ; and , having learnt his mission , and that I was a friend of Father O'Farrell's , he at once threw off all reserve , and , wishing to know something of the opinion of his class of our rulers , I asked him , —
" Well , my friend , which of the Ministers do you like best for Ireland ?" " Wisha , " he replied , " there's neither of them any great things ; but , of the two , I believe Parson Preachlove has the advantage over Parson Grabum . " " No , no , " said I ; " I mean Sir Robert Peel or Lord John ?" " Wisha , " said he , " but who are they , your honour ? I never hear of them . " " Why , " said I , " the Whig and Tory leaders . " " Wisha , " he responded , " I'm sure the divil a laider we ever heard of in these parts , barring Phelimeen here , and Shamus O'Niel , that heads the factions when we has a ruction at fair or market . "
" What ! " I observed , " Do you not read the Times ?" " Ogh ! then , indeed I do ; " he answered . " Well , " I said , " have you not read of those names in that newspaper ?" "What newspaper ? " said he . " Why the Times ; you say you read it ?" " Wisha , " said he , " but I don't understand you . I can ' t read ; only I does be always minding the times as they passes ; and , upon my word , I never see worse times for a poor man nor the present . " I shall not weary the reader with a repetition of our conversation , in which this peasant , a large farmer , appeared to be totally ignorant of everything passing in the world .
As we reached a turn in the mountain pass , I observed Phelim and the peasant take off their hats and bless themselves , when , turning to me , the former observed , — " "There , your honour ; ther ' s the blessed cave where my father tould you of . " We had now crept and scrambled over about five miles of a rugged mountain pass ; and were in sight of a small green valley , that seemed to have been carved out of the surrounding hills , and , pointing to which , Phelim said , — " There , your honour , you see that green opening , there ; and just back of the trees is his reverence ' s house . "
This intelligence was rather welcome , after so rugged a tramp ; and in a few minutes we found ourselves at the door of " mine host , " and which , upon knocking , was opened by a neat , motherlylooking person of about sixty years of age , who accosted me with— " What ' s your honour ' s will ?" - and Phcliui with a welcome . " Why , " said I , " 1 am a traveller , and have brought some letters of introduction to the Rev . Mr . O'Farrell from Captain Burford . "
" From Captain Burford ! " exclaimed the good dame , in an ccstacy of delight ; " and wisha , then , and how is his honour ? and won ' t you walk in ? and I'll engage but a dog belonging to him would
Be Welcome To This House: And Ibk Here—T...
be welcome to this house : and iBk here—taking a very nice pocket-book out of ' laHBekpt—it wa the Captain's honour that gave me thU ; and but I loves it for his sake . Wisha , come in ; you ' re starved with the cowld , and I'll soon make you a good fire in the parlour , jand get you something toeat ; " adding— ' " " Wisha , Phelim , I wonder where we could send ! for the priest , for I'm sure he'll long to see your honour ; but he has so many calls it's a chance if we could find him : but come in and tell me alt "
about the Captain .- My God , then , is he weU ? and but that ' s the good man I'll engage when tliey ' de ; have him out with the troopers , and tell lii . ia to bid ; them fire , hut Us in bis pocket he'de put his hand / and not on his sword , and pay what would be on ' them , and but the poor loved him ? But tho devils never stopped till they routed him away , that they "' may shoot the people—Wisha , then , when did your honour . see him ? and how did he look ? , and where is he ? and what did he say ? and did he ever mention my name , and speak of father O'Farrell?—Come in , come in ; and a thousmtf . wel- \ comes : for sure I ' m keeping you in the cow id all the time . "
This salutation was poured forth with such unbroken volubility that I hadn't an -opportunity of : saying a word until I found myself in a very snug little parlour , with the Dame still making tha most anxious inquiries about her dear friend the Giptain , , until at length , in a moment of truce , I sai . ! , " The •' Captain is well , and does not forget your kindness , and hospitality ; and often speaks of you ami the Rev . Mr . O'Farrell , and desired his best lovrs to him and Mrs , Mahony , who , I presume , I have now the honour of addressine . "
" Wisha , " she responded , " the dear geni-teinan , that ' s my name sure enough , and but I thought he'd forget me . O my dear , he and the priest used to be great friends , he'd walk over and dine here , and he'de he as simple as a poor body , and but he'de listen to the Priest while he'de be telling him all about ould times , and about the Irish , and its often I'd be dropping with the sleep until it would
be almost daylight , and being rich , and youns , and handsome , the quality and Parson Preachlove used to be out of their wits with him coming here , as they'd like to have him for one of their daughters , but he'd rather be here , as he often said , hearkening to the good man of the house . But , my goodness , you ' re cowld all the time I'm talking , I'll soon inake you a good fire , we let's it out here when the Priest takes his breakfast , to spare the turf . "
" Spare it , " said I , " surely I saw a heap .-marly half a mile long—you must keep a great man ; ' tires if you burn all that . " " Why , thanks be to God , we has a good rick indeed , but then , God help you , there wont bo a sod of that agin Ladyday , we'll be buying from that out : my dear , that would last us many a long year , but sure all does be pulling at it . " " What , " said I , " and do they steal from the Priest ?"
" Steal , is it , " she retorted , rather impetuously , " no , nor a sod , if it rotted there , but then the poor craythurs hadn ' t the praties to cut it in the summer , and the Priest gives them lave to come , and but I'll engage they ' re as sparing and more than they'd be with their own . Steal indeed , no , no , i ' i ! be bail but they'd ait the praties raw first . Indeed I'll tell your honour what happened only yesterday at Sessions , before the Justices at Skibbereen . There was a poor omidhawn of a fool of a half-witted
craythur , a poor lone widow ' s daughter , and iiuieed her only support , God help us , and her ould mother being taken poorly , at nightfall she run over to Parson Preachlove ' s rick and was taking a handful of turf to make a fire when the steward caught her , and gave her up to the polis , and kept her a !! aighfc from her poor ould sick mother , and took her off to Skibbereen , and fined her a pound , or to go to gaol for a month ; and sure if they'd taken her life she
hadn't a pound , nor a halfpenny , and when the Priest came home at night , my jewel , I never see that man in such a passion : he sends the lioy off on the marc to Skibbereen and pays the pound . , and had Molly Murphy ( that was her name ) brought up here , and indeed you'd think her life was fri ghtened out of her , he stamped and axed how she dared go there for turf , while he had a sod in his rick ? But now stop , and I'll get you something to ait , for you must be hungry . "
I thanked the dame , but assured her that 1 would prefer waiting till the return of Mr . O'Farrell , when she replied , " God help you , may he it would be midnight before you'de see him ; being there ' s so much sickness and fever now on account of the bad praties and cowld ; he ' ll no sooner be done in one place than he'll have a score of calls to go to , and the first question he'll ax me , is , Well , did you take care of the Captain ' s friend ; so you must ait . and I won't be a minute making you a good fire . " The dame was as good as her word , and in less
than ten minutes I was sealed to a sul , skntia \ luncheon , over a cheerful turf fire , Mrs . Mahony overpowering me with attention and civilities , all in honour of Captain Burford , while she gave me no little information as to the state of the country and the character of the people , who could not possibly have a more zealous and powerful advocate . now had a moment to enquire for my companion , who , Mrs . Mahony assured me , was very comfortable in the kitchen and not forgotten , as she said there was not an honester boy in the parish , or one that came from a decenter stock .
When Phelim had refreshed himself , he came te take leave , and thank my honour for my condescension in partaking of his humble hospitality . I offered him a small token of the compliment I thought I was under ; but he refused it in so peremptory a manner that I feared to press its acceptance , lest I should offend him , and when he left 1 asked Mrs . Mahony if she thought my remaining for a fov ? days would be any inconvenience , if his reverence invited me , and if they had a spare bed for that night .
"Inconvenience , " she replied ; "then I'll engage the longer you stop the more welcome you'll be , and as for the bed , we have three of them for strangers , and sometimes we has two in every one of them , and but if you'll come with me , you'll sec your sheets before a rousing fire ; wisha , this is ns house to get a damp bed , I'll be bound , and , indeed , my poor dear Captain had a very severe fit of sickness from a damp bed , he tould us he got at Parson Preachlove ' s one wet night he slept there .
I spent a few hours in walking about the little sequestered valley , and was indulging in another conversation with the worthy housekeeper , when starting at the sound of horses , she said , " Here ' s the priest now , and you'll soon have your dinner . " In a few minutes Father O'Farrell and his curate made their appearance , and having learnt all about me from Mrs . Mahony , who was gifted with almost superhuman volubility , and before I presented my letters of introduction , he welcomed me most cordially , and , as if by magic , I found myself quite at
home . He read my friend ' s letter , and , like Mrs . Mahony , made many enquiries after the writer , bestowed well merited praise upon his several excellent qualities and the generosity of his nature , when we sat down to a good substantial dinner , and spent a long evening and a part of the night in instructive conversation , from which I learned more of the Irish character in a single night than is likely to be acquired by tourists who become the guests of the wealthy and prrjudiccd in a long life , and which I propose making the subject of my ( To be continued . )
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 19, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_19121846/page/1/
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