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January 20, 1849. THE NORTHERN STAR. 3
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lirtittog
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AN INQUIRY INTO THE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIG...
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HAYAfARKET. • Hamlet' was revived at thi...
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STANDARD. We visited this neat little th...
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The Atmosphere.—The atmosphere rises abo...
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THE LAND. THE REMARKABLE TRIAL OF THOMAS...
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* Defence. Notv tliis extreme purify- an...
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The El'ox.vfartists axd Odillox Baurot.—...
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Vavittu*
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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January 20, 1849. The Northern Star. 3
January 20 , 1849 . THE NORTHERN STAR . 3
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BEAUTIES OF BYRO > " . Second Series . III . PROMETHEUS . Titan ! to whose immortal eyes The sufferings of mortality , Seen in their sad reality , "Were not as things that gods des pise ; "What -was thy pity ' s recompense ?
A silent suffering and intense ; The rock , the vulture , and the chain , All that the proud can feel of pain , The agony they do not show The suffocating sense of woe , "Which speaks but in its loneliness , And then is jealous lest the sky Should have a listener , nor will sigh Until its voice is echoless . Titan ! to thee the strife was given Between the suffcrins and the will ,
"' ' Which torture where they cannot kill ; . * .- ' . ' - And the inexorable Heaven , fc ¦ And the deaf tyranny of Fate , ~~ j . The ruling principle of Hate , ^ . _ . "Which for its pleasure doth create , * V The tilings it may annihilate , ?;< Refused thee even the boon to die : * - ~ The wretched gift eternity % ri "Was thine—and thou hast borne it well . f * - All that the Thunderer wrung from thee ^ "Was but the menace which flung back " 1 On him the torments of thy rack ; * The fate thou didst so well foresee , f ¦ " Bui would not to appease liim tell ; V-i And in thy Silence was his Sentence , Hi And in his Soul a vain repentance , i-c And evil dread so ill dissembled , ¦ . * Tim in his hand the li ghtnings trembled Thv God-like crime was to be kind
To render with thy precepts less The sum of human wretchedness , And strengthen man with his own mind ; But baffled as thou wert from hi g h , Still in thy patient energy , In the endurauce , aud repulse Of thine impenetrable Spirit , " Which Earth and Heaven could not convulse , A mighty lesson we inherit ; Thou art a symbol and a sign To mortals of their fate and force ; Like thee , Man is iu part divine ,
A troubled stream from a pure source ; And man in portions can foresee His own funereal destiny ; His wretchedness , and his resistance , And his sad uuallied existence : To which his Spirit may oppose Itself—and equal to all woes And a firm will and a deep sense , "Which even in torture can descry Its own concenter'd recompense , Triumphant where it dares defy , And making Death a Victory ' .
IV . WINDSOR POETICS . Lir .-js composed on the occasion of his Royal Uijhncss the Prince Regent being seen standing between the coffins of LTExnr VIIL and Charles I , in the royal vault at "Windsor . Famed for contemptuous breach of sacred ties , By headless Charles see heartless Henry lies ; Between them stands another sceptred thing—Ii moves , it reigns—in all but name , a king :
Charles to his people , Henry to his wife , In him the double tyrant starts to life : Justice and death have mixed their dust in vain , Each royal vampire wakes to life again . Ah , what can tombs avail . '—since these disgorge The blood and dust of both—to mould a George !
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An Inquiry Into The Philosophy And Relig...
AN INQUIRY INTO THE PHILOSOPHY AND RELIGION OF SHAKSPERE . By W . J . Birch , M . A ., New Ian Hall , Oxon , Author of the " Ileal and the Ideal / ' Sec . London ; C . Mitchell , Red Lion-court , Fleet-street . Overwrought praise , though less repulsive than exaggerated censure , is hardly worthy of lig hter condemnation , Egotism is the soil in which flourish the noxious weeds of arrogance , selfishness , and folly , and the deadly work of the sycophant is to foster those iil-vreeds for some selfish or slavish object of his own . Praise of the dead , no matter hew immeasurable or unwarranted , can hardlv be productive of evils at all
corresponding to those produced by flattery of the living ; nevertheless , applause lavished without discrimination upon the tenants of the tomb , may be not altogether harmless . The adorers of a name are usually less anxious for tbe establishment of truth than for the popular acceptance of their theories or fancies . Encouraged by the adhesion of those who have not the time to inquire , or the will to think for them , selves , the self-confident theorists assume that they are right , and that all dissenters from their views must be wrong . Ihe standard of orthodoxy is set up ( for literature , as v ? e \ l as religion , has its orthodoxy ) , . " and all who will not "fall down and worship" are pronounced heretics .
The orthodox admirers of Shakspere are an example of the truth of the above remarks . In ^ his own day the great dramatist was not appreciated at his true worth , nor , indeed , was he for along time subsequent to his death . Gradually a truer estimation of the creations of his master-mind came to be entertained ; and at length , Garrick and Siddons , and subsequently Kemble and Kean , by their matchless personation of the poet ' s " characters" exalted
his name to the pinnacle of popularity . Actors , equal to those above-named , no longer dazzle and delig ht the English people , but what Shakspere has lost in the theatre , has been more than counterbalanced b y his gain in the domestic circle . Where formerl y a few hundreds read the works of the poet of Avon , thousands and tens of thousands now read them . Cheap printing has done as muchperhaps more than the stage , to extend the fame of Shakspere .
Not to be a professed admirer of Shakspere in these days , is to be out of the fashion . Moreover , to be orthodox , one must admire his works according to rule . Woe to the unlucky wight who may presume to judge for himself , and , judging , venture to differ from the orthodox faith as it is in Shakspere . ; % Mr Knight , in giving his views of the life aid character of Shakspere , says : — Doubts have been entertained as to Shafcspere ' s religious belief , because few or no notices of it occur in his works . This ought to be attributed to a tender and d & icatc reserve about holy things , rather than to inattention or neglect .
On this assertion— for which there is no foundation out of the prejudiced or diseased imagination of Mr . ' . Knight—Mr . Birch has founded his " Inquiry- " Our author well says , that after "inquiries into the life » f Shakspere , which have ended in the omission and restoration of a letter in his name , " there ^ is no need to offer an apology "for an inquiry into the religious character of the man from the monuments he has left behind him . *'
The inquiry instituted by Mr . Birch is both elaborate and impartial . He measures Ihe philosophy and religion of Shakspere not by anv arbitrary standard of his own , bat by the poet ' s own works and words . Nor does he confine himself to one or two of the Dramas , be reviews the whole , and shows beyond the possibility of refutation , if not of cavil , that one sentiment runs through , and pervades all —that of hostility to priestcraft , and contempt for spiritual creeds and dogmas .
In the limited space to which we must con * fine these remarks , we cannot do more than indicate the argument , which extends through 3 book of four hundred and fifty pages . After a hasty review of the life of Shakspere in the course of which Mr Birch shows i that ' the great dramatist associated with pro . ; fessed Free-thinkers , such as Marlowe , Ben . Jonson , Raleigh , and Fletcher ; he proceeds 1 to the Plays , prefixing to the full inquiry an , epitSL J & ^ ole . In Titus Adrowcg «« HumaiuHy is opposed to pietr , and humanity -.- . -j- ? * ., !» in Ffpnr ?/ VI * ' the character ] is vindicated , in Henry * i . w » c « - « , of the King is eminently calculated to bnng 1 piety into contempt . He is weak , credulous , L ^ ktintr . and cowardly—without dignity
¦ and withTut sense . " •< He who drew this ew-] racter must have intended to insinuate , by a 1 powerful example , the ^ compatibility' of piety and manliness : or we must suppoBe bun
incapable of understanding the force of words . " In support of this view of the Monarch ' s character , Mr Birch quotes the following striking lines , from Queen Margaret ' s speech to Suffolk , in Part II . — " All his mind is bent to holiness , To number Ave-Maries on his beads ; His champions are tbe prophets and apostles ; His weapons holy sawa of sacred writ ; Ill ' s study is his tilt-yard ; and his loves Are brazen images of canoniz'd saints . I would the college of cardinals Would choose him Pope , and carry him to Rome . And set the triple crown upon his head . That were a state fit for his holiness 1 "
From Mr . Birch ' s remarks on the Merchant of Venice , we quote the following : — " The wittici-ms in this play are nearly all profane . An un isguised raillery is founded upon points of sacred wit . What dramatist , save Shakspere , ever represented the diffusion of the true knowledge of the g > spel , " till it covers the earth , as the waters cover tbe sea" —as tending to " raise tue price of p rk" by the proseljtism of the Jews Neither Rabelais , nor Woolston have displayed more ingenuity in realising the ridiculous upon a serious suhjeet , than our poet h * B in this play . Upon what principle , therefore , are we to recognise in Shakspere a " reverential mind , " and in others who fall below him in the same walk of wit , a profewed
disbelief , it is difficult to de ' . ermine . Shylock is a charaet' r that excites sympathy , while the Christians figuring in the play , only awaken reprehension and disgust . Th « ir scoffi . gibes , and daunts , drive the friendl- ss Jew to desperation , and foment the bad qualities he disphys ; with coarse brutality they triumph at his fall . And when robbed of his daughter , his fortune , and his life , Christianity which , like mercy , should-have dropped as the gentle dew from Heaven , is made still to assail him . Gratiano would sooner bring him ti tbe gallows than show him favour ; and he is hunted into the folds of the church , as though it were a den , and the pcor fallen and trampled Jew a wild beast . Sure ' y , Christiana were never before set by a Christian in SO execrable a light ?"
In Henry ihe Fourth , " Falstaff is the hero of profanity . " " Let , " says our author , " the partisans of Shakspere ' s seriousness spendhalfan-hour with Falstaff f In good truth , Mr . Knig ht must have been wilfully blind , when , with this play before him , he asserted for Shakspere " a tender and delicate reserve about hol y things !' ' Falstaff jokes on Bardolph ' s nose ; and on his replying that it does him no harm , Falstaff says : — " No , I'll be sworn ; I make as sood use of it as many a man doth of a death ' s head , or a metnento tnori : I never see thy face , but I think on hellfire , and Div « s that lived in purple ; for there he is in his robes , burning , burning . "
This play positively teems with similar instances of the poet ' s " tender and delicate 7-eserte about holy things 1 " Much more of the same kind the , reader will find in Henry the Fifth , where the subject of Falstajfs death is made the subject of joke upon joke by his surviving companions . The "tender and delicate " levity throughout the Merry Wives of Windsor , of which Falstaff is the hero , needs no
comment . Mr . Birch ' s review of Measure for Measure , the Tempest , King Lear , Macbeth , Othello , and Hamlet in particular , deserves comment far beyond what the limits of this notice will admit of . In Othello , " Cassio drunk is religious . What reverence could be intended by these contemptible exhibitions of sottish piety ? The Lord ' s Prayer seasons the merriment » f his inebriation- "
Mr . Birch ' s treatment of this play is peculiaily valuable , from the li ght he throws upon the character of Iago . "Thech ! e . ' objecHon to Ibis pkyhasbefin , that Shakspere has cot given sufficient motives to Iago , who weaves the plot , and produces the catastrophe . But Shakspere , particularly in the first act , shows an anxiety to supply such motives , Retaliation for injuries , real or supposed , mixed up with a good deal of envy , and a bad disposition , blindly impel Iajo to schemes of revenge . He had the mortification of seeing his own merit set aaide , and Cassio ' s preferred . Iago was a brave and experienced soldier , with a character for honesty which
could not have been acquired without worth , while Cassio was but a theorist in the art of war , owing his advancement to interest . Causes of this kind , we know , hrve , in modern times , maddened some men into assassins . But Iago thought he had received much greater provocations than those enu » merat-: d . Both Othello , who had been instrument tal in forwarding the views of Cassio , and Cassio , who had wrested ftvm him the objects of his ambition , were thought by him to have profited by the infidelity of hia wi- ' e , * * * Iago , therefore , wished Othello to feel towards his Des « . demona the poison which he said gnawed his vitals at the thought of the relation between Othello and his wife . "
This is only a portion of the critique . The whole should be read and thought over by those who take an interest in the creations of Shakspere , "Had , " says Mr . Birch— "Had Shakspere never drawn but the character of Hamlet , as it now stands , and left his other creations religious , he would have stamped himself as once a sceptic . ' ' "Could he be less than a sceptic who drew Hamlet with the weight of argument in his favour ? His wit so pointed , his objections so subtle , his balances so determined . None could delineate such a character but he who understood it , and none would exalt it ( as Shakspere does ) but he who approved it .
" Of Hamlet ' s scepticism , his famous soliloquy , begining ' To be or not to be , ' is a demonstrative proof . Nowhere in the whole range of literature are thepros and cons of life and death put with such perverse force . That there may be an hereafter is the ancient position of the doubter . The Christian knows that there is a world to come . He is satisfied upon that point . He neither scruples , nor questions it . But Hamlet passes beyond mere doubt . He put the moral disadvantages of the Christian belief .
It ' makes calamity of so long life . It makes us endure the ' proud man ' s contumely '— ' the whips and scorns of time '— ' the oppressor's wrong '—and a thousand evils which the brave would trample under foot . He pursues the disparaging comparison farther . ' It makes cowards of us all '— ' resolution ' loses its ' native hue , ' and ' enterprise is turned away' at its fell glance . Nothing bolder than this has been written on this theme . Language can no farther go in favour of disbelief . "
The review of Hamlet extends through fifty pages , and is the gem of the work . Mr . Birch says : — " In the season of 1 S 45 , when English plays were acted at Paris , the French critics at once recognised Hamlet as a character which they thought peculiarly French . They said Shakspere had anticipated a state of mind produced by the literature of the past and present centuries . " Hallam says , that"Hamlet betraji the workings of the author ' s mind . " As regards the justice and propriety of
determining the opinions of a person from his writings , Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton says ;—" In the mind of man there is always a resemblance to his works . His heroes may not be like himself , but they are like certain qualities which belong to him . The sentiments he utters are his at the moment ; if you find them predominate in all his works , they predominate inhii mind . * * His works alone make not up a man ' s character , but they are the index to that living book . "
This is universally admitted , when the characters of Byron , Burns , Shelly , and others are brought under discussion , but denied in the case of Shakspere . "Why so ? The critics would be puzzled to give a good and sufficient reason for this distinction . Perhaps they adopt as a serious sentiment the satire of Isabella ( in Measure for Measure . ) " Great men may jest with saints ; 'tis wit in them ; But in the less , foul profanation . " This book has fallen like a bombshell amongst the orthodox worshippers of Shakspere . The critics " have ( as the Scotch say ) a' gane wud 1 " One of the unseatle craft declares
that this volume is so full of inconceivable blunders that were there the slighest spark of cleverness in it , we should c onceive it put forth in jest . " Another critic , while repudia ting Mr . Birch ' s conclusions , acknowledges his " ability and research , " and describes his book as " a monument of research and wisdom . '' One critic gracefully speaks of Mr . Birch as " a viper , " on the assumption that he ( the said viper ) is " gnawing" at that old "file" Shak . gpere . But another of the tribe—the prince of the weekly reviewers is fairly puzzled whether to set our author down as a bigot or an atheist . This is the best possible testimony to
Mr . Birch ' s impartiality , and a sufficient answer to the gentleman of the " viper ' ' and the " file . " One critic—the oracle of a superannuated Gazette—has fairly taken the lead of his brethren in their crusade against this work . Most appropriately , he begins and ends with Dogberry , for assuredly he has " writ" himself " down an ass / ' He abuses Mr . Birch as an " over-righteous critic , " and fiercely denounces his " cant" and " intolerant spirit . " Evidently the poor creature either has not read the book he professes to review , or if he has done so he is too great an " ass" to understand what he has read , or too great a knave to write truthfully and impartially . Mr . Birch ' s defence against such critics is best given in his own words : —
" The author wishes to be considered merely as an inquirer , not as a censor . He desires not to judge Shakspere for his sentiments , but only to exhibit them . " This from the preface , and in another paragraph : — " Not less than the most enthusiastic admirers of Shakspere do we admire the versatility of his powers—we rejoice at his genius , and are proud of the reputation he has added to the national character , but these very circumstances make the inquiry more interesting—what were the peculiarities of his philosophy and religion . The late Daniel O'Connell asserted
Shakspere to have been a Roman Catholic . Most if not all the poet's biographers have set him down a Protestant . We say to our readers , read this book , and along therewith read the works of the dramatist in full , and having done so you will hardly be at a loss to determine the peculiar character of the Philosophy and Religion of Shakspere .
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Hayafarket. • Hamlet' Was Revived At Thi...
HAYAfARKET . Hamlet' was revived at this theatre on Monday evening . The pirt of Hamlet is one to which Mr Charles Kean hai devoted long and deep stndy , and one oa which be lavishes a great amount of artistic skill . The character is , indeed , identified with the most brilliant triumphs of his professional career . Hamlet wai the first character in which Mr Kean appeared before a London audience in January , 1838 , when he performed it twenty-one nights . Without losing one jot of the passion , Mr Kean flings over his whole impersonation a dreamy grace which is remarkable in his first entrance , and which is preserved with a thoughtful consistency
throughout . The sceae in which Horatio announces the appearance of the Ghost , Mr . Kean manages with great effect . He is conversational in his tone , without being prosaic—startled , hurried , and shocked , without for a moment falling from the lofty poetical vein which runs through the character . The third act is of course Mr . Kean ' s best triumph , and in the last scene , his fine fencing produced its usual effect . Mrs . Kean made a fascinating Ophelia . Her attitudes , when not speaking , were models of timid grace ; and in the mad scene she kept up the fixed , yet unintelligent stare , which is a symptom of the
malady ; even while crouched . upon the ground , she sings her snatchei of song to herself . Mia Warner made her first appearance at the Haymarket for four years as the Queen ; and pliyed the part with all her accustomed energy and truth . Tilbury was a good Pokx ' ms , making up for the part with great skill ; and Keeley gave the Gravedigsjer with all the hearty unction which he loves to bestow upon humorous Shakiierian' bits . ' Mr . Howe played Horatio care- ) fully and intelligently . At the fall of the curtain , Mr . and Mrs . Charles Kean , and afterwards Mrs . Warner , were summoned by the audience .
Standard. We Visited This Neat Little Th...
STANDARD . We visited this neat little theatre on Wednesday ni g , when The Waits , ' ( a Christmas story ) , and the pantomime were per / orjaed . The Waits' is a domestic drama of deep and thrilling interest , and is too true a picture of the horrible Poor Lawthe cruel and domineering disposition of overseers and other officials—and the biiter sufferings and degradation of its unfortunate victims . Tummins , « who pays rents and taxes and cares for nobody , ' is a good description of a portion of the middle class—of indifference to the
wants of the poor , whilst there is an exception in the character of Twits , « who is frequently doing acts of benevolence , and can ' t resist it . ' It also holds up the ' Squire' to public odium for the coolness with which he orders the destruction of his tenants' cottages , for the making the Grand Marlow Railway , and shows with what ease guilt may be attached to poverty , until the denouement traces it to the aristocracy . We wish this class would visit tbe Standard , not only for the benefit of the manager , but their own . Such pieces are ca t enated
'To mak the warld better yet . ' Thejplot is excellent , the dialogue racy , and full of admirable hits , while the interest never flags . We cannot but , do justice to ( he excellent acting of Messrs . Freer , Gates , Honnor , Herbert , Lewis . Rayner and Kin )? , and Mrs . Honnor , Mrs . Daly and Miss Terry . We strongly recommend all our friends to see ' The Waits . ' The Pantomime is a splendid affair , and the plot has great claim to originality . The scenery is excellent . Harlequin , Columbine and Pantaloon acquitted themselves well , and the inimitable T . Barry ( as Clown ) kept the audience in a roar . We must not forget the Sprites , Messrs . J . and G . Andrew , who are rightly designated' The Flving Wonders . '
The Atmosphere.—The Atmosphere Rises Abo...
The Atmosphere . —The atmosphere rises above us with its cathedral dome arching towards the heaven of which it is the most familiar synonymc and symbol . It floats around us like that grand object which the Apostle John saw in his vision— " a sea of glass like unto crystal . " So massive it is that , when it begins to stir , it tosses about great ships like playthings and sweeps cities and forests like snow flakes to destruction before it . And yet it is so mobile that we have lived years in it before we can be persuaded it exists at all , and the great bulk of mankind never realise tho truth that they are bathed in an ocean of air . Its weight is so enormous that iron shivers before it like glass , yet a soap-ball sails through it with impunity and the tiniest insect waves it with its wings . It ministers
lavishly to all the senses . "We touch it not , but it touches u s : its warm south wind brings back colour to the face of the invalid : its cool west winds refresh the fevered brow , and make the blood mantle in our cheeks : even its north blasts brace into new vigour the hardened children of our rugged clime . The eye is indebted to it for all the magnificence of sunrise , the full brightness of mid-day , tho chastened radiance of the gloaming , and the clouds that cradle near tho setting sun . But for it the rainbow would want its triumphal arch , and the . winds would not send their fleecy messengers on errands round the heavens . The cold ether would not shod its snow feathers on the earth , nor would drops of dew gather on the flowers . The kindly rain would never fallhail , storm , nor fog diversify , the face of the sky .
Our naked g lobe would turn its tanned unshadowed forehead to the sun , and one dreary monotonous blaze of lig ht and heat daizlo and burn up all things . "Were there no atmosphere , the evening sun would in a moment set , and , without warning , plunge the earth in darkness . But the air keeps in her hand a sheaf of his ravs , and lets them slip but slowly through her fingers ; so that the shadows of evening o-athcr by degrees , and the flowers have time to bow their heads , and each creature space to find a place of rest and nestle to repose . In the morning the garish sun would at one bound burst from the bosom of night and blaze above the horizon ; but the air watches for his comin < r , and sends at first but one little ray . to announce bis approach , and then another , and by and by a handful , —and SO gently drawa aside the curtain of night , and slowly lets the ii < rhr . full nu tho free of the sleeping earth , till her
eye-lids open , and , like man , she goeth forth again to her labour until the evening . —Quarterly licmew . Tub Fbicate Bird . —The following is the account given by the Bishop of Norwich at the late meeting of tho Ipswich Museum of Natural History - . —He had sent to the museum that day a specimen ot the frigate bird—which was literally a tenant of the air ; it lived in the air , slept in the air , and never came to the shore except in the broeding ' soason . TltC explanation Of this extraordinary phenomenon was as simple as possible . It was admirably constructed for tho state of its existence . It had an enormous pouch beneath its throat , its skin was loose , its bones and arteries were like air-vessels ; and with an extraordinary expansion of tail and wings , it could by imbibin" a quantity of air , and rarefying it within its body , become , in fact , an air balloon . In this manner it floated in the air even during sleep .
Damiges Recovered aoalvst a Bah-way Com-PASt—J . Addison , Esq ., Judge of tho Lancaster County Court , has decided that the Lancaster and Carlisle Bailway Company were liable for the value of three hampers of herrings , which the person to whom they were consigned had refused to take in , as . they wrc unsaleable , from delay in tlw naasit .
The Land. The Remarkable Trial Of Thomas...
THE LAND . THE REMARKABLE TRIAL OF THOMAS SPEXCE , THE AGRARIAN REFORMER . [ The worth y shopocrats , and the cowardly portion of the working class , who last April gave their services as " specials" to prevent the peaceable manifestation in favour of the Charter , will find matter for reflection in the following letter read ( from " The Restorer of Society to its Natural State , " ) by Mr . S fence , in tho course of his address to the jury . 1
LKTTBR VI . London , September 25 th , 1 S 00 . Citizes , —The other day one of the labourers belonging to the East India Warehouses being in my company , and knowing lie could confide in me , opened his mind pretty freely concerning the present riots , and told me that ' several of their people had been discharged for saying they would bite off the bullets from their cartridges if they were ordered to fire at the mob , for , continues he , wc in general wish the people well , and their cause , and would be sorry to hurt them , but I do not like their breaking of lamps and windows . Besides , adds ho , they are too audacious and provoking . I .
myself , being struck on the head with a stone . You should keep better company , said I . How can they pry into your heart to know whether you mean them well or not ? But they arc at no loss to know that your appearance against them with arms in your hands is to keep them in awe , and encourage the monopolisers and all their oppressors , therefore it you would be thought to mean well to the people , and the redress of grievances , lay down your arms , for that is the best way to manifest to both parties that you will not abet , nor countenance such rapacity . But if you value your place more than vour conscience or humanity , think it but right t ' o be knocked on the head .
t It is thus , citizen , that needy , mercenary , and interested men , though of more than vulgar " knowledge , assist in riveting the chains of their fellow creatures , instead of contributing to break them . He upon it ! that men should show more courage and steadiness in defending the cause of their masters , though ever so bad , than the cause of their fellows and equals , though ever so just , till at length they are depressed to a state below humanity . I have often thought how much superior the condition of reptiles is to that of human nature , in the present perverted state of things . A worm pays no rent ; the earth while he lives is his portion , and he riots in untaxed luxuries . And if perchance a crow or other creature should pick him up , why that is only death , which must come
in some shape or other to us all as well as he . But in this respect he had the advantage of us that whilo he lived he paid no rent ! And herein are all the creatures to be envied . Thus , though one species preys on another , there is no bondage or slavery in the case ; it is only plain death . Could our oppressors free us from death that would be something gained , in the lieu of our liberty . But ours , God help us ! is entirely a losing game . Instead of saving us from destruction , ; they accelerate our deatli a thousand ways . For by their villanous wars and artificial famines they dig millions of untimely graves . Blame me not then , citizen , for so earnestly pressing a system which I firmly believe would entirely abolish all political evils , and render tho state of Man as happy as it ought to be .
I remain , A-c . [ The following letter is replete with wisdom .
LETTER VII . London , October 8 th , 1300 . CrrrzE . v , —Monopoly is injustice , let it he of what kind it will , whether of government , laud , or trade , therefore I cannot help abhorrinar that national thirst of ours after the universal trade of the world to the prejudice of all other nations . But this external monopoly is plainly the offspring of our internal monopoly . For the same covetousness which is nourished at home by the oppression Of fellow eiti & ens expand ? like ambition in its maturity till it grasps at the whole earth . Neither would
the moon or planets elude our harpy claws , could we but find a passage thither , and we should soon have companies established to monopolise this celestial trade also . Ought not , therefore , such avaricious madness to be pitied , and like other madness to bo cured byforce ? I think it possible . And , if so , for tho peace of the world , it certainly should be accomplished . But , be not surprised , citizen , when you see mo again recur to my old specific : for I am full convinced that my simple plan of destroying the impious monopoly of land is the grand panacea that will cure all manner of evils arising from avarice and ambition .
Consider , citizen , whether a nation who had no Public Stocks to traffic in , and whose land , as I propose , should all belong to the parishes , would hunger and thirst after the riches of the world to tho pernicious degree that is now common . For , observe , though they should acquire the riches of Peru , they could only speculate in fair and honest trade and manufactures . For , as I said , the parishes being so well able out of their rents to supply every exigence of the government upon the spur of the occasion , there could not possibly be any National Debt or Funds . Neither could they root or concentrate their acquirements in land to give their names to , as the Psalmist says , and invest them in their worthless heirs . So that men would learn to
moderate their desires , and cease to aspire alter boundless wealth , which they could have no means of consolidating . Neither could such a nation be fond of conquering for the same reasons , because if they wished for the continuance of their own constitution at home ( which I believe they would not willingly part with ) they must be careful how they introduce a sudden inundation of wealth from abroad . So , if they were forced by an implacable enemy to conquer him , they would be systematically compelled to establish in that country their own constitution , as the best means of rendering it in future a pacific and good neighbour .
It would bo'highly dangerous to their system of liberty aud equality " to have their citizens pompously established abroad like princes , under the denomination of prefects , governors , & c , and swelling into unmanageable power on tho spoils of _ foreign provinces . Tho histories of all republics will wofully teach them to beware of such destructive rocks . But , you will perhaps say , tho revenues arising from foreign conquests and provinces , appear very alluring and flattering to any people , and if brought home to the national treasury might , in proportion to their quantity , lessen the land tax of the parishes . But this would be a deceitful and dangerous casement , For a government that draws great riches from sources which do not immediately affect the people , as from loans , mines , foreign tribute , or subsidies , is sure to creep by degrees into absolute power , and overturn every thing . It is for this reason I would not have-flic land
national , nor provincial , but parochial property , that the people mi g ht be as much interested as possible , both hi tho unprovement of their estates , which thus would be always under their eye , and in the expenditure of all public monies , which would be paid strai ght out ot their revenues , even while in their hands , and when just going into their pockets . The government being supplied in this hard but honest way , by the general land tax sent regularly , would neither bo suffered , nor require , to have a rich treasury . Therefore a government so supported , without revenue officers , and very few placemen at homo , and none abroad , would not be very dangerous to liberty . You may bo apt to think this discouragement to
the monopoly of foreign trade and conquest win tend to bring on a national apathy and disgust to labour and business , and that stimulative motives will be wanting to prevent the return of barbarism . No such thing , citizen : such a people will have incentives enough to industry , and to improve , rather than decline , in civilisation . In the first place they will all be well educated , having schools , and libraries , at tho expense of the parishes . Reading promotes refinement and sensibility , and a taste for elegance in cloths , furniture , and every department in life . Now , it is only labour , industry , and ingenuity , that can administer gratification to this multiplication of refined desiros ;
therefore trade , manufactures , and the arts must needs be greatly encouraged . And as all nations , however barbarous or civilised , have naturally a taste for forei gn productions and luxuries , and will do anything they can to acquire them , so may we expect this people . A working and ingenious people can never want wherewith to barter for the produce of other climes , and , if so , will have trade enough without having recourse to the expedient of great , avaricious , monopolising companies like us , who , for their private ends , disturb the peace of the whole world , setting nation against nation , and people against people , till the whole earth and sea is turned into an awldema .
Surely nothing can be wanting to encourage both trade and labour , but open ports , liberty , and security of property . For where are the people so barbarous that will not trade , and be stimulated by it to labour , hunt , fish , and exert their abilities " to the utmost , for articles to traffic with , unless interrupted by some malignant tyrannical power ? So , as nothing can be got without labour , there can be no reason to fear that a pooplo so enli ghtened , and enjoying such unparalleled security , iindcr laws of their own making , can ever degenerate into sloth and all its disgustful consequences . Wherefore to conclude . As mediocrity of wealth lias always been found to be the never-foiling source of taowledge . gc ^ taste , industry , and . happiness ,
The Land. The Remarkable Trial Of Thomas...
and of all the virtues , I can harbour no apprehension for the welfare of my commonwealth . I remain , & c . [ In the following Letter , Spesce shows how traders and seamen would benefit b y the adoption of his system . ]
LETTER Till . London , October Oth , 1800 . Citizen , —I have often amused myself with comparing the superior degrees of happiness which I suppose people of such or such callings and stations in life would enjoy in my commonwealth , above what they may now enjov under the present system of things , and shall at this time take a glance at the Warmers . Ia the first place as mv commonwealth can have no interest in war , as made appear in mv last , so the sailors can have no press-sangs to fear " And in the next place , as the eovernmen ' t is supported by one simple tax which is the land tax , and therefore has no occasion to raise any revenue on trade either on exportation or importation , the manner will be free Irom the plague of Custom House omeers .
He being thus at liberty to fetch and earn- like ¦ * . man on land , from one village or town to another , it may naturall y be expected that every man and boy on board a vessel will turn merchant , and condition with their master for a certain portion of stowage room for their goods . Sailors havin g such liberty and privileges would soon become ° ouite another set of people than what thev are at present , instead of that desperate , careless , reprobate character , which the common men now generally acquire , they would become nrovident and sob ™ ' mil
solicitous to provide- for their families and their own subsistence in their old a <* e . In consequence of suclfimprovemcnt and the desirable commodities conveyed by them from clime to clime , they would always be welcome and respected wherever they came , as a most valuable class of men In short , citizen , their improved condition would be beyond all description . For as all the children of the commonwealth would partake of the education of the country before thev were suffered to go to business of any kind , so would those who went to sea .
As we must abrid ge wc pass over Letters IA .., X ., and XL , tho least interesting of the series . The mere political reformers are properly shown up as humbugs in
lETTEIt XII . London , October 13 th , 1800 . Citizen-, —I am pleased to find that vou coincide with me in my political opinions and plans . You also tell me you have perused mv constitution or' a perfect commonwealth , and mv other little pamphlets on the same subject , and approve of the whole . This is some satisfaction and eucourn « cnient , and I rejoice , not as a vain author , but as a well-wisher to mankind , because if these writings be capable of convincing and animating one man of sense , they may by parity of ( reasoning be supposed in due tune to convince millions . It is natural enough of you to wonder why none of the modern champions for the ri ghts of man should take notice of my scheme in their books and harangues , though I have been diligently publishim * it these rive and twenty years , in aroat variety of shapes , and have sold many thousands of ies !
cop Lut , citizen , though they could not be ignorant ( for I did not , poor as I have been , conceal my ideas under a bushel ) yet your surprise will cease when you reflect on the purity of tho plan and the selfishness and avarice of the human heart . Can any , think you , but real lovers of justice and equality , admire a constitution framed according to tlie exactness of nature i That sutlers no national or confiscated estates or domains to be dealt out in portions amongst the orators , writers , and generals , who may contribute to its establishment ? That
makes no partial distinction of its children into happy elect and rejected reprobates ? That admits the very babes and their mothers , the blind and the lame , the dumb and the eloquent , to an equal participation of the rurhts of nature r ? I sav will such a levelling constitution as this do for proud men of abilities and conceited excellence '*• No , sureiv . Our reformers would have showed themselves Israelites indeed , in whom there was no guile , had thoy heartily paU'onuod , and pressed on mankind so disinterested a scheme *
Then you may say , why trouble myself further about such a crooked race ¦ Let them still 50 on m their old way , changing names without the " substance , and setting up one sot of lords and monopolisers , on the ruins of another , as thev have done from the beginning . Indeed , citizen , with grief I behold the indirect and suspicious modes which the professed reformers of this world take to deliver it from oppression . For instead of striking at the root they onlv aim at the branches , so that like some prolific vegetables the more it is hacked and hewed , the more it spreads ; For the very chips and cuttings take root , and become distinct plants . But yetl hope , that when the
cup of vilkmy is full , and men are fairlv tired out , and have lost conceit of their inconsistent democracies and other forms of government ; When they perceive that mamclukcs and citizens make but an incoherent mass ; and that men , who thousrh under the specious name of citizens , have the estates and power of lords and princes and use them as much to the injury of mankind : When thoy are fairly sick of the wars , the artificial famines ) and all the other evils , springing from this bitter root of landed monopoly , that then they may turn their eyes to my just constitution , as the last , and only remedy agaiust all political evils . I remain , Ac .
Letter XIII . is devoted to tho subject of Public * Hospitals , and contains suggestions , dictated by humanity and common sense , for the reformation of those institutions . Wc quote tho following extracts from Letter XIV ., the last of the series;—When I contemplate the meagre and beggarly appearance of the working people at this deplorable period , and at the same " time hear their deep and desperate exclamations , sighed forth from their broken hearts , I cannot help thinking but that wc are on the eve of some very great " commotion . This is the time then for plans of various sorts to be ready , that the nation may have it in their power to chose one that will prevent the like
misfortunes in future , for it is a melancholy thing to see a people after being compelled to throw their burdens oft' their backs , stand quietly like stupid beasts till they are laid on again , for want of knowing better . * " * * The question is no longer of a lukewarm complexion , or bare curious " investigation , for vain men to show their abilities in debating upon , we must now study for life or death . The question I say is no longer about which form of government is most favourable to liberty , as simply heretofore considered , but which system of society is most favourable to existence , and capable of delivering us from the deadly mischiefs of great accumulations of wealth , which enables a " few rich unfeeling monsters , to starve whole nations , in spite of alfthe fruitful seasons God Almi g hty can send .
After having read the entire pamphlet Irom which wo have quoted the above letters , Mr Spexce proceeded to address the Jury in defence of his doctrines and scheme of reform . His speech and the conclusion of the trial will be given in next Saturday ' s Star .
* Defence. Notv Tliis Extreme Purify- An...
* Defence . Notv tliis extreme purify- and disinterestedness of the scheme , hmug been Hie reason why it has not all these six und twenty years been able to create a powerful party , the government and the rich had no occasion to ha alniinud at it , and accordingly were nor . Hut this I know , it has an odd appearand' , after twenty-six years' forbearance to put a man in danger of a prison for such old opinions . It is something like parricide .
The El'ox.Vfartists Axd Odillox Baurot.—...
The El'ox . vfartists axd Odillox Baurot . —It is about three years and a half since that Jerome Buonaparte paid a visit to Paris , where he had an interview with various personages ; he also endeavoured , through M . Joly , to procure an introduction to some Republicans . I was present with MM . Recurt and Grandmesuil , at an interview which took place at M . Joly ' s . In the course of conversation , Prince Jerome " told us that he had been very well received by M . Marrast of the National , and that he regretted to see the journal La lleform constantly opposed to his cousin Louis . " Do you not think , " lie said , " that if my cousin were to offer his sword to the cause , which the democrats nro preparing to brin g to that arbitrament , it would greatly toiul to bonefit them ? " "The name of your cousin , " I replied , " would have its eifect in the provinces , but it would meet with invincible opposition from the
real and decided democrats ; moreover , his two attempts , at Strasbourg and Boulogne , have deprived him of all consideration as a military leader . " M . Jerome then added , that M . Odillon Barrot , whom he had seen , had said to him , " Tho Orleans dynasty is not liked , it may fall on the death of tho Iviuc . Your cousin has committed * omv errors , but yoiC whose name is unsullied , might have a fair chance , should the opportunity arrive . "—Jfemom of Citizen Causndiere . [ M . Odillon I'arrot , who is reported to have made the above curious overture , is at present at tiie head of the ministry of the Prince Louis Napoleon . ] Moru ov the Clearance System . — The entire population of Toomcvara , we are informed , with the exception of two tenants , are under notice of ejectment , at the hands of Mr . Massoy Dawson , " the o wner of that once populous village . — Tipperaru
indicator . A Lawyer ' s Revexge . —An attorney , who wooed a farmer ' s daughter , having been rejected , sent in a bill of £ 9313 * . 4 d . for 273 attendances , and givinir advice ou family matters ,
Vavittu*
Vavittu *
u , . TitE I - ' it man nas a right on the earth , h" has a right ; to land enough to raise a habitation on . If he has a right to finite has a right to land enough to till for his snlxnsteuee . Deprive him of any one of those rights , and you place him a t the mercv ' of those who possess them . "—Evans ' s lla . Hnil Ao " l « The earth , the air , the water , aiu { all " thVir pro . duce , are the common patrimony of humanity Every one has a right to enjov these common bounties to aucli an extent as shall not he prejudicial to the rest of mankind . "—Same * Napier llxiUu . " What monopoly inflicts evils of suc h magnitudo as that of land ? It id the sole barrie r t <> national
prosperity . The people , the only creators of wealth , possess knowledge ; they possess industrv ; and if thev possessed land , they could set all monopoliea at defiance ; they would then be enabled to employ machinery for their own benefit , and the world would behold with deli ght and astonishment tho beneficial effects of this mighty engine , when properly directed . "—Author o / f / w " Repro > f of limits . " Slavbrt AnoLiaimn . —Slavery has been " abolished at Cayenne . The blacks assembled in thousands , and thanked God and the governor for their libertv .
1 ' oruxATio . v of Tow . vs . —In t . ao reign of Chanes the Second , no provincial town in the kingdom contained 30 , 000 inhabitants ; and onlv four contained ? o many as 10 , 091 ) inhabitants A Comparison . —A clergyman on one occasion stepped into a public garden , in which old Adam , its owner , was diligently engaged in grubbing up % plenteous crop of weeds " , winch had overrun a portion of the ground . Glorious condoled with the old man on the trouble the operation occasioned him : while the latter , after ctawin < r his easttalitv for a moment , said , "When ane thinks on ' t . after a ' , — whatever is , is right ; ' for weeds nre like . sinners : and if it wercna for weeds and sinners , there would 00 nao need for gardeners or ministers ; nae use for you or I , sir . " CiuniTT . —We should give as we would recciva —cheerfully , qxiiekly , and without hesitation ; foe there is no grace iu a benefit that sticks to tho finsrors .
Forg ed Notes . —Some forged notes of the Bank of Ireland , accurately executed bv means of tho daguerreotype , are at present in circuiation . They are marked C . V . No . 57 , 011 ) , and dated July 27 th , 18-ii ? . Paltes Emic'Ratiox . —Five thousand female paupers were to be transmitted , from various unions in Ireland , this week , to Plymouth , preparatory to their being forwarded to Australia . Power op the Punas . —The Ihnt * L , dqyndm says ;— " The press is very powerful—but it can ' t after all induce its correspondents to write only on one side of the paper when they want their letters printed . "
Amuricax Slavkkt . —The . Vt »! i- QrUom I'htma . A has an advertisement of a runawav vounsr slave , almost white , who " talks French , Italian , " Dutch , English , and Spanish . " —What a wretch of a irirl ? to deprive Andre Grasso , her owner , of so valuable a property . Tub Wastb Laxds . — Some agriculturists ara urging tho culture of gorse 0 : 1 waste lauds . It is excellent for the feeding of younsr cattle , and the land on which they are thus turned is gradually improved and rendered fit for cultivation . " A Fly ' s Spehw . — By fair comparison of an ** , what is the swiftness of a race-horse eb'aring ! ih mile a minute to tiie speed of the tiy cutting through its third of the same distance in the saTno time * . And what the speed of our steaming giants , the grand puffers of the n < re , compared with the . swift
ness of our tiny buzzers , of whom a monster train , scenting their game afar , may even follow partridges and pheasants on tho wings of steam in their last flight as friendly offerings . —Epi- # Hk * of Lmf . t Ufa . A MlLMO . YAUlK WITil . 1 Hu . UtT . — til tllO Wl'fl of Edward Siiippen Uurd , recently deceased in Philadelphia , were several legaeie . 1 . such as aiv ' sehlom found in the wills of the wealthy , we apprehend . One is of a house in Locust-street , ' and l , ouo dollars to the nurse of a deceased daughter ; another is of 1 , 300 dollars to the . widow ot a deceased faithful servant , and of 1 , ( 300 dollars to her dau-jhter ; a third is 1 , 500 dollars to an old cook ; aiiotii ' i-r l , 10 O dollars to a chambermaid , and an etjual amount to coachmen , WiiiteiM , ic . — finrn ' ffs <' Mnm Citi . ; m .
Tub Schoolmastkk Wa . \ tk : > . —In St . Giles ' s the following notice was lately posted in tho window of a losing iiuuso , ' Hay * : iek and rloiir to let , cljii-kt-sis and carrot . " The purport of the notice was , "A second floor to let , kitchen , and garret . " JIassixger . — One of the ine ' tiited plays of Massinger , the loss of which has been -so jdeeply deplored by Gilford and all lo \ -er . ~ of tlie English . drama , " Believe as you List , " lias found it . ; way into the possession of Mr . Crofton Croker . Paci'kks . —The number of paupers iu < ii-e . it Britain is about 1 , 000 , 000 , or a seventh of the population of the whole empire—iu Ireland , ¦ i . lJoo . tM ! -. !; England , 1 , 500 , 000 ; Scotland , 200 , 000 . Since 1 M « the people of England have paid £ 200 , 000 , 000 for the relief of the poor .
Tiik Poutku Puzzled . —A porter having a parcel to carry to a student in one of the colleges of ' Cambridge University , upon entering the " simare mei with one of the collegians ; and asked it lie could tell-him where he mi ght meet with Mr . . The son of Euclid replied ( at the same time placing his trencher on one side of his head , and wrapping his gown round him , ) " You must crucify the ijuadrangle , then ascend tho grades , and you'll find lain perambulating in the cubicle near ' the f ' enester . " The porter , not knowing the meaning of all this * , stared ; but recollecting th : > last wunC asked what was a fenester . " A " fenester , my man . is the diaphonous part of an edifice , erected for the introduction of illumination . " Tiie porter walked oil ' , grumbling , and said he would never ask ids way " . '' a Frenchman , airain .
A Cbhtain Cri * . s pon Conss . — Oiu * tea-oxio-. it ' ul of tar , one ditto of coarse brown sugar , ami i . > n <; ditto of saltpetre . The whole to be " warmed together , and spread on kid leather , the size of the corn and in two days they will be drawn our . . Slow Boys . —Alfred the Great learned his alphabet at twelve years old ; Moliterc could barely read or write at fourteen ; Dr . Carter began his stiuiii's at nineteen ; Valerianus learned to read at lift'vn ; and Sir Isaac Newton , according to his owir avowal , was inattentive to study , and ranked low in tlw school till the age of twelve . Americas Literati-bk , —Mr . Forest , the Am .-rii-. m actor , who offered prizes of 3 , 000 and 1 , 000 dollars respectively for the two best p lays by native Americans has declared that amid the loads of MSS . sent to him , there is not a play fit for the stage , ik * lias , however , sent 1 , 000 dollars to Mr . Miles , of Ualtimore , who produced a tolerable dramatic
poem . Divorce . —During the last ten years , 200 couples have been judicially divorced in the island of Jersey . Pi . - . vokni and Patriotic . —A pawnbroker writ .- ' * to inform us , that ho doesn't see why the Tim ; : should make so much fuss about one ball g iven in the year for the distressed Poles , as there are always three balls at the service of the distressed English . I . vdiax Verdict . —John Taison , an Indian native of Connecticut , being found dead , on a winter morning , not iar from a tavern where lie had b : * en drinking freely spirituous liquors the evening before , the Indians immediately assembled a jury of their
own tribe , who , after examining the body of the defunct , tiii ; winiou * ly agreed— ** That the said Taison ' s death was occasioned by the frei * 7 . iu . ir 01 a large Quantity of water in Ins body that bad been imprudently mixed with the rum ho drank . " To Ci . ca . v Kin GtoTB ** . —First , see that your ImiuU . «* - < - ¦ ulcnn , then put on your gloves and wasU them , as thou gh you were wn .-dung your hands , m a basin of spirits of turpentine , until quite clean ; then hang- them up in a warm place , or where there is a current of air , which will carry off all smell ot " the turpentine . This method was brought front Paris , and thousands of pounds have been made by it .
Whore should all charming women be buried ?—In helh- ( jravc- *> p > . ore ( llelgrave Square ) . What lane do the ladies like best to walk in ?—ifou . wiiite do Laine . Ixi / KMIOL'S Msciuxism . —A watchmaker of New Orleans has completed a tiny watch , which is regarded as an extraordinary specimen of workmanship . The Viedtmnc says of it : —This wonderful time-piece is perfect—keeps good time . It is about as thick as three half-dimes laid one upon , another , including case , crystal , and all , and measures in circumference , just the siae of a half-dime . It lias a spring of enamel , gold dial , and steel hands , cylinder escapement , with ten holes jewelled in ruby . It runs twenty-live hours without rewinding . Besides , it is so arranged as lo admit of b'iing worn either in a brooch or " finger-ring .
The cocoa-tree supples the Indians with bread , water , wine , vinegar , brandy , milk , oil , honey , sugar , needles , clothes , thread , cups , spoons , basins , baskets , paper , ship masts , sulk , eord'Age , covering for their nouses , ovc . Awium-ncAi . Concxdrums . —Why is the letter A like the meridian I Because it is the middle of the day . Whv is JJ like a ho ; lire ? Because * it makes oil boii . Why is the letter I ) like a fallen angel ¦ Because by its association with evil it becomes a devil . Why is the letter E like the end of time i Because it is the beginning of eternity . Whv is the letter F like death '< Beeau c it makes
all fall . Why is . the letter fi like wisdom i Because it is the beginning of greatness and gtodness . Why is the letter II like thodving words of-Adams ? " This is the end of earth . " ' Why is the bttei * I like the American Involution 'i Bcea ' uso it is tivs beginning of ' nidependeuee . Why ia tho lotti r J like the end of spi ing ? Becau-e it is the begim . ing of June . Whv is the letter K . like a pig ' s tail ? Because it is the end of For !; . Why is the letter L like a youn « lady giving her sweetheart to another I Eeeausc ' it makca licr over a lover .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 20, 1849, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_20011849/page/3/
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