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¦ Umm, 20. 1852. THE S,f AR. 3
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- Tfll THE ROEBUCK ASD GOPPOCE CONTROVER...
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TiiTiie Hosier Engineers and their Workm...
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.The Bookcase. Vol. I, AcCTOSS the Rooky...
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Brodshaw's Railway Guide. London: Adams ...
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The Home. Part IX. Edited by Richard Oas...
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Tub Amazon Fund.—Southampton, March 10th...
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Cons.—Why are the crows the most sensibl...
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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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¦ Umm, 20. 1852. The S,F Ar. 3
¦ Umm , 20 . 1852 . THE S , f AR . 3
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- Tfll The Roebuck Asd Goppoce Controver...
- Tfll THE ROEBUCK ASD GOPPOCE CONTROVERSY Air— " Oh ! no , me never mention him . " Oh no , I never mention him , ifis name is never heard ; I quite forgot the money , though ; I did . upon my word . From Club to C lub they hurry me , To join some festive set ; And thoug h I dine at the Reform , The fact I do forget They bid me recollect ; the cash . That Cotoock paid to me : They say my speech was rather rash Bnt Wh at is that to me ? 'Tis trne that I no longer need The aid of such a set ; And when I ' ve had all that I sought , Of course I may forget .
They tell me I ' m confuted now , Or was the other day ; They hint I was mistaken—but I heed not what they say ; Perchance ' tis hard to struggle with A fact that can't be met ; But those who talk as I have talked . Must now and . then forget . —Punch
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Tiitiie Hosier Engineers And Their Workm...
TiiTiie Hosier Engineers and their Workmen , By J . M , ' . Ludlow , Esq . London : Bezer , Fleet Street . AiAi tbe request of the Society for Promoting Workiojiog Men ' s Associations , Mr . Ludlow delivered three leclectures on the 'Relations of Capital and Labour , ' at at the Marylebone Literary Institute . Those lectures co constitute the neat and compact little volume before ui us , and deserve commendation as a valuable contrib' butlon to the literature of social science . Though tbe it immediate questions discussed are those arising out of ii the dispute still pending between the Master and C Operative Engineers , the scope of the lectures
em-V braces , in fact , all the points which are so frequentl y a at issue between Masters and Workmen in every dep partment of industry . It is generally assumed by t the propertied and the educated classes , that in such d disputes the men are almost invariably in error in c consequence of their ignorance of the great fmadai mental principles of political economy ; and , further , t that that ignorance constantly leads tfaem to contrai vene the operation of the great natural laws which j regulate profits and wages . Mr . Ludlow has analysed this assumption with < sveat skill and acnteness . Taking the political econoi mists on their o \ vn ] gronnd , he shows that the principles of political economy , as developed by Dr . Adam Smith ( the acknowledged father of the modern school of political economy ) are in reality in favour of tho
men . He proves in the most convincing and conclusive manner , that so far from considering the desire to keep wages as a thing to be discouraged , or a natural , but ignorant resistance to the operation of irresistible tendencies in the contrary direction , Adam Smith is decidedly in favour of high wages , as the cause of general prosperity to all classes of the community . * 2 Jo society , ' says he , ' can surely be flourishing and happy of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable . It is but equity besides , that they who feed , clothe , and lodge the whole people , should have such a share of the produce of their own labour as to be themselves tolerably well fed , clothed , and lodged . ' Malthus , Eicardo , J . S . Mill , and other authorities , are cited to the same effect , and in support of tbe general proposition that : —
High wages for the labouring classes are admitted to be beneficial to the community ; and any endeavour of those classes to keep or to raise up wages , tends , at least prima fade , to the social goad ; is , at least prima facie , to be looked upon with favour and not with hostility , to be encouraged and not to be put down . By the aid of these great authorities in economical science , Mr . Ludlow demonstrates that , ' the great and inexorable laws of social and political economy , '
which the masters , in the pamphlet containing a statement of their ' case , ' cited against the employed , are iu reality opposed to the position takes Up by the employers . Having disposed of this point , the author nest proceeds to expose the gross inconsistency of the masters in speaking of the relations between Capital and Labour as a ' lawful bargain , ' of the independent privileges of labour ; and yet at the same time claiming to he 'Masters . 'To talk , ' says Mr . Ludlow : — .
In the same breath of mastership and a bargain , that is a very different matter . If between buyer and seller the one is to be master to the other , the other is no longer servant , bnt slave . You cannot talk of buying and selling between two men of whom one claims to he master . There id no free nor fair bargain possibly between those two ; by the very way in which the master speaks , you see that he does not mean to buy any but slave-labour . The employers' pamphlet brings tbe whole question to an issue of brute force .- If the masters of labour are to be nothing more than the buyers of it , woe be to that nation which
kelps to deliver over the sellers of it into their power ! If , the relations between employer and employed being treated as a bargain , the one class claims openly the advantage of such bargain , in avowing the determination to be masters , —the other class , all other classes , must endeavour to meet sach determination by an opposite one , must try to prevent such men from being masters in their own sense . To let them alone , —to give them their own way , is simply to accept or foster slavery . And has not Adam Smith told a * that , even on the score of cheapness , this should not Ise , since " the work done by freemen comes cheaper iu the end than that performed by slaves ?"
If therefore soience only establishes aprimd / octe case in favour of the working man ' s attempt to keep up his own w ages , if its favourable presumptions are liable to be rebatted in each particular instance by the particular circaaistances , one thing is clear henceforth , that the case against the masters in this instance is , on their own showing ; not prima facie , bat complete . They pretend to be cl timing freedom of contract , and from their own claims it appears that tha freedom is to be all on one side . There is to be such freedom of contract as that they shall be and remain the masters in the bargain . A pleasant bargain , think you not , is this of labour , in which the buyer begins jj laying down that it is his "fixed determination" to ieep the upper-hand of the seller J The lecturer gives a graphic and striking picture of the district in which the offices of the Executive of the Operatives are situated : —
' Little AUe-street" is situate in tbe immediate neight-onriiood of the great East-end thorouehfare ot Whitecsapel , and runs into that of the Commercial-road . I know not wh y the Amalgamated Society placed here their omses ; perhaps by reason of the proximity of two or tiiree engineering firms ; perhaps for no reason definite to themselves . But however this may be , I cannot contrive of any spot better chosen for lie head-quarters of a Trade-society ; one better fitted to remind the working Juan at every step , at every hour , of those evils against which such Societies ate instituted to contend . To the
West , within a few minutes' walk , towers the huge Aidgate palace of the king of slop-sellers , whilst many of his brethren , Jew and Gentile , whether in the clothing , the shoe-trade , or indeed any other " cutting " trade , display : iieir plate-glass fronts in tho chief thoroughfares , and the back streets swarm with the dens of the sweaters , chamberinasters , & c . , by whom their ticketted rubbish is supplied , imaiediatel y behind He to the south the ^ Docks , —those huge asvlnmsofthe " casuallabour" of London , —where hundreds of unemployed " hands" of all descriptions , the pickpocket seeking to be honest , the starved-out Spitalaelds weaver , the agricultural labourer turned adrift , wait and scuffle for the privilege of a day ' s hard work . Further on towards the river-side be might find some of those
pub--ic-nouses , "where the power of capital exhibits itself in the - lest shape perhaps that it has ever put on towards the f ~ i " rer ' * here , asthecoal-whippers of old , bo tbe ballastt ?«/ S ow can onI earn employment throug h intoxica-ZT ; ? bere aH tbe usual privileges of labour are reversed , ? « , u s £ < L ady ' honest , sober man is invariably passed * £ ™* % - the C 0 ! > t « cting publican , and the reckless 7 ™™ Q is sure of a job . Eastward are thickly scattered tbe wlm e * stew " of tho cheaP cabinet-trade , tbe men ' ., rn -, er toiliD 5 day and night to makeup some piece of thm "J * V aT C to Bta S § er f « r ^ with it on their backs wrooga the streets in search of a purchaser . Somewhat f
2 V S be * ou , d find ^ Spitalfields' weavers , £ , ies " and timidest , perhaps , of London operatives , s " ° f tbe competition of machinery has deprived suceesaiirt « v . tbe mo 3 t P art of their high educational , musical , w 7 i ' < Mcal acquirements , their tastes , their com-W 1 . health t 0 ° often « ano has now reduced to the ' r e Pittance of some 6 s . to 9 s . a-weefe . Whilst all t « BM lies the hugest field of what may bo called , alas ! oaa Hi ory Prostitution of London . Courts and alleys ¦ e ^ in * i '* bere not tne aoode of ° P eD » unblushing , proslunTi i " ? ' are fiUed witfa tho 3 e wr * tohed women , the 'w ani 3 nd ue sweaters * slaves , who must often toil f <* fn ! j S <> earn 2 s . 6 d . or 3 s . a-week , enough , perhaps ,
teller j nrink , —and what are they to do besides for " tion of ° -f aiment ? Wh : lt . with the vast floating popu-D ^ L £ a » prs , swaying about in boisterous idleness , with 'litre i W , if ful 1 tbey cannot drain t 0 ° ? ' ckiy ? Scleral ! % bour « market there , in which the devil ' s work ' -ast tol - 3 a more willing purchaser , and often , at t ' - « ou- { Uf f ly * ^ aier one , than the terrible foreman at wr , i j r ~ * » whose eve is so quick to detect imperfect Sne f 0 r ^ , k the minutes over the appointed hour , to tiire whn * T' / veraun > « r impertinence , the poor create life-blood perhaps , is in the garment ..
Tiitiie Hosier Engineers And Their Workm...
Make up the picture with the low lodging-houses-and their vagrant denizens , with tho " fences " of Petticoat-lane and tho thieves who resort to them , with tho outcast children , trouping on all sides in rags and filth , striving generally to keep up , even to themselves , a semblance of industry , with a handfull of lucifer-boxes , with half-a-dozen oranges or as many onions , and on these the last outskirts , so to speak , of the labour-market , competing keenly , as I saw , not a month ago , three sellers to one purchaser , for the sale of an onion I say that if ever there was a place in which there seemed to rise from every housetop the cry of 7 a victis to the conquered workman ' in the strug ; le of competition , it " *!**' east-end of London , in which " Little AUe-street , Whitechapel" is situateSeverely as the master may teel tne
, . loss of interest on his capital , and of profit on his business , " the working man sees there accumulated round him in af « severer form all the evils arising from or connected with low wages , irregular emp loyment , superabundance of labour . " Keep up your wages ! keep all at worn , or if not , keep off the competition of the unemployed . Overtime for some is the loss of employ ment for others . is the first and universal lesson . Low wages there , m its most naked f orm , seems at least clearly to mean , tor tne man , intellectual debasement , recklessness , starvation ; tor the woman , starvation or vice ; the unsexing V the one , the un-humanising of both . I do not say that these lessons are to be gathered from
the rules or re ports of the Amalgamated Society ; still less , that the peculiar wretchedness of the East-end of London has had any appreciable effect upon this vast combination of 12 , 000 skilled workmen in the best paid trades , throughout the length and breadth of the country . But tbe picture contains within itself the summary as it wer » and concentration of all those influences , unheeded mostly bv us who have not to earn the weekly rewards of manual labour , which , in all parts of the country , are perpetually warning the working-man of the terrible consequences of a fall in wages , perpetually inciting him to resist , by every means in his power , any the slightest diminution of his weekly pittance , to p lace his chief point of honour , and almost his main law of duty , in that resistance .
The question at issue is thus narrowed to two points : — 1 st , that of tbe method by which their object is sought to be carried out ; 2 nd . that of tbe particular measures adopted in order to obtain it . Tbe method in this case is simply , —combination . " Union is strength , " says the proverb . If working-men wish not to see their wages lowered , or to raise them , they must agree for that purpose . Such mere agreement constitutes tbe simplest form of a trade combination . Bnt soon it is found that mere agreement is not efficient to effect the object . Twenty men working at £ 1 per week may be quite resolute to-day in refusing a reduction to 18 * . ; but tomorrow ? and the next day ? if the master holds out and keeps his door shut . . . The young , the strong ,
the childless man , the batchelor , above all the provident man , who has a nest-egg at home , may persist ; but what of the old , tbe weak , the husband , the father , the improvident ? What was resolution yesterday becomes heroism to day ; desperation to-morrow , —sheer madness the next day for these ; the unemployed from outside begin to clamour for the work at any price , —halt-a-loaf is better than no bread , —the neediest go in , the barrier is broken , and a permanent reduction is effected . It is to provide against this contingency that the Trade-Society has been established , in order , by tbe subscriptions of men who are in full work , to form a fund for the relief of those who are out of work in the same trade . The first effect of this is to place a check upon tbe competition of surplus labour in the trade . Where a man has nothing to
depend upon but bis daily exertions , sheer necessity may make him often accept work at 10 s . where £ 1 has been paid to a brother worker , whatever may seem to be the treachery of such an act amongst working men . But let bis trade society offer that ; man 7 s . a-week , or even 5 a ., and in all probability the 10 s . will no longer be to bim a sufficient lure to make him an instrument in the intended reduction , For not only is there the same point of honour as before at work upon bim , and in addition to it the offer of present relief , though to only half the amount of the wages earnable : but he knows well that the 10 s . are offered by one whose interest is adverse to bis own , who would willingly pay him less if he could , whilst tbe 5 s . are offered by those whose interest is in accordance with his own , who would eladly pay him more ; he knows well that the duration of the 10 s . employment is wholly uncertain , that he will be turned adrift as soon as he is no longer
wanted ; whilst the 5 s . will be forthcoming , provided tbe trade subsists , as often as he shall be thrown out of employment again . I can hardly express to you my sense of the benefits which have been conferred on our country by trade-societies , through at least this negative working of theirs , the relief of the unemployed . The sums so laid out are in fact a trade poor ' s-rate , dispensed upon quite the opposite principles to the national one . It is a poor ' s-rate , the receipt of which casts no shame upon the recipient , for he has earned a title to it by bis own exertions , and bis equal contributions while in work have gone to swell the fund out of which he- is relieved , and may again restore to it the COSt of his present maintenance . It is a poor ' s-rate , doled out in no niggardly spirit by tho distributors , for they feel that they may be claimants upon it at any time , and in the meanwhile , that they are actually benefitting themselves in maintaining their feiiow-tradesman , by keeping up the wages in their trade .
Further on Mr . Ludlow says : — Ifow I do not fear to say . that so long as the relation between the employer and the employed remains that of payer and receiver of wages , so far as it is considered merely as a bargain , in which each party seeks to get . tbe advantage , the method of a trade-society is not the best , but almost the only method which the working man can employ to guarantee his own interests—in tbe present generation , whatever might be the effects of Mr . Malthns ' s preventive check upon the next . We who move inoiher walks of life , know scarcely of Trade Societies but through their evils and their excesses . We only learn of them through strikes which paralyse trade , through the violence committed by unionists on knobsticks , or men who choose to work at less wages than the rate sanctioned by
the society ; and they appear to us something , monstrous disorderly , conspiracy-like . But to the working-man they appear in a very different light . Be looks around him , and he sees that , as a general rule , those handicrafts alone are flourishing , in which strong Trade Societies exist , because there alone is there that organised point of honour among large classes of men , not to accept of insufficient remuneration for their labour . He sees that the downfal of an influential Trade Society is almost invariably the ruin of the trade itself ; as for instance in the tailoring trade , that crucial experiment of tbe competitive system amongst working men . He joins such a society if be can ; and behold ! be is struggling no more alone ; there
are hands stretched out to hel p him whenever he is in need . It is through its regular working that he knows the society However severely he may reprobate an occasional outrage by a fellow unionist , he knows that those outrages are only occasional ; the body whose feuds with competitors from without- may be just now convulsing the town where he lives is for him the same that has maintained him through many long and weary weeks of forced idleness , when he might have starved otherwise a hundred times : the very criminals are those who have week after week contributed to his maintenance out of their not excessive earnings ; barbarous though their acts may be , he knows that there is a right aud true feeling at bottom .
Feeling so strongl y the advantages of such societies , Mr . Ludlow expresses his conviction that Trade Societies should henceforth be legalised in the same manner as Friendly Societies , as being one of the veiy chiefest means of developing the forethought , thrift , and well-being of the working men under the Competitive System . " In subsequent portions of the volume , Mr . Ludlow examines vary fully the measures of the Amalgamated Society , and proves that political economy is
as much in favour of the abolition of overtime , aud to a certain extent of piecework , as he has previousl y shown it to be on tho general question of high wages . He contrasts also with great force the difference between the high moral line of the arguments adduced by the men in support of their proposals with the purel y selfish and class-arguments relied upon b y the masters ; whose rejection of arbitration he considers as self-condemnatory—a conclusion in which every impartial person will readily concur . After adverting to the demand made at Oldham for the substitution
of mechanics in the place of unskilled labourers , Mr . Ludlow grapples with the usual argument , that improvements in machinery do not , in the long run , injure the working classes , and that they are not even temporarily injurious to them in the aggregate . It is not , ' says Mr . Ludlow : — With aggregates we have here nothing to do , but with individuals . "What right have I to say to a man , who is thrown out of work b y the machine which his own skill has just or might have constructed , that two or three others whom he has never known perhaps , or at best cares little for , will be benefitted to the same extent as he suffers ? What right have jou , especially , who take your
stand upon the lawful bargain" of labour , who erect self-interest into the mainspring of action , and sneer at all those great ideas of human brotherhood , mutual dependence and helpfulness , upon which Christianity relies ? A man must be a very good Christian indeed , who should find sufficient comfort for his own death in the thought that bis dead body will afford a good meal to balf-a-dozen of his fellow-creatures . Our preachments about the blessings of machinery to the very working-men who are being ruined for the time being by its introduction , must sound to them very like the speech of some high-priest of a Feejee Island Devil-god , on the social advantages of cannibalism . * 'We must face , ' he proceeds : — .
Sooner or later , —I trust it may make us face all the sooner , —that most important social inquiry , How are , the disp lacements of labour effected by machinery to be conducted for tbe greatest benefit of society at large ? Are there any limits to its wise introduction ? Are there any decrees to be observed in that cheapening of production which is its necessary effect ? To whom should the benefits of it belong ? or what compensation should be procured to those who are injured by it , and from what source ? I do not pretend to have solved these queries ; but 1 believe that they may be solved every one of them . I believe
Tiitiie Hosier Engineers And Their Workm...
firmly that tho principle of compensation for social changes effected for the benefit of the many , but to the serious injury of the few , is one which will have to be developed and applied to an extent which would appear to us now almost inconceivable . I rejoice to think that in no country has it ever been applied so constantly and systematically as in our own . What if Mr . Deputy Chaff-wax should claim compensation on the abolition of his office , however beneficial the measure may be to all the rest of her Majesty ' s subjects ? Give it him by all means ; surel y it is better to buy perfect justice , even though somewhat dearl y , than to do injustice gratis . But Mr . Deputy Chaff-wax only claims
compensation on the ground of his faithful service in that ( to him ) important office . What if you had required him first to frame the measure providing for the new order of things ; next , to instruct the officers who aro to carry it out , on the clear understanding that he was to have mo compensation whatsoever when discharged ? Do you not think Mr . Deputy Chaff-wax would murmur , would refuse to do your behests ? Durst you be surprised if he were to knock you down ? Would it not be altogether a Christian thing in him not to do so ? And is not every skilled Oldham mechanic , displaced by a self-acting machine which he has constructed or could construct himself , of more value than a hundred Mr . Deputy Chaff-waxes .
"We must return to this valuable and suggestive volume for an excellent description of tbe ° French Tribunals , for the settlement of trade ' s disputes , and the practical results upon society . In the meantime we cannot refrain from quoting the following passage , with which we earnestly commend the work to every class of the community , as an argumentative , temperate , bnt , at the same time , earnest and eloquent exposition of tho great questions treated Of by tho author ;—It is not a class-victory that I seek , but the cessation ot % war between classes . And if , to restore as it were the balance of argument , I have been forced to seeming partizansbip on behalf of tbe men , it is only for this purpose , that seeing how much can be said on both sides of this
important question , every one here present may feel how great is the need of seeking a solution of it which shall harmonize the interests of both contending parties . And I stand here to proclaim , that on the ground of the competitive plutonomy of the day , on the ground of the lawful following of self-interest , of the lawful bargain between capital and labour , that solution never can be found . Look at the facts before you . Here is a trade , as I have said , peculiarly national ; , one in which our manufacturers have acknowledged supremacy throughout the world in almost every department of their industry ; in which their establishments are , many of them , the pride and boast of our country , and the names of tho firms owning them " familiar as household words " in our mouths . And it is in like manner , and naturall y so , a trade in which our artisans are skilled above all others ; provident , intelligent , self-denying ; capable , by the employers' own admission .
of banding themselves together in an oganisation the most powerful and complete ; ablo to act well ni gh as one man through long weeks of want of employment . And yet , whilst these two sets of men , each the flower of their respective classes , act only from the ground of their respective interests , the result is simply , —a dead lock or at least seemingly a drawn battle ,-the disarrangement of our commerce , tbe possible Joss of foreign markets —hard words , hard deeds , —the misery of 20 , 000 industrious English families . These , I say , are the results of your competitive system ; these the fruits of your self-worship . A terrible , protracted battle , in which the only Issue asyot visible is , either the humbling of the employer class , or the enslavement of the worker ; the subjection of capital , or the prostration of labour as its feet , with all those ulterior miseries which such prostration brings with it . Surely , in either case , an awful issue ! one which © very honest man should seek to avert !
.The Bookcase. Vol. I, Acctoss The Rooky...
. The Bookcase . Vol . I , AcCTOSS the Rooky Mourn-, tainsfrom New York to California . B y W . Kelly , Esq . London : Simms and M'Intyre . Mr . Kelly ' s animated and powerful description of the perils and dangers of the overland route to California obtained a wide celebrity when it first made its appearance , and was noticed favourabl y in this journal . The enterprising publishers of the ' . Parlour Library'have chosen wisel y in making it the first volume of a new series of cheap and popular works , though whether the new series is to supersede the old , or be published contemporaneously , we are not given to understand . In preparing the second edition for the press , the author has carefull y revised it ; and though the overland journey to the American El Dorado is now divested o f many of tbe dangers and difficulties he encountered , the record of these dangers and difficulties will continue to excite the breathless
interest which such stones of daring adventure , hair breath'scapes , and brave endurance of hardship and Buffering , never fail to produce . Since Air . Kell y and his small party first traversed the almost trackless depert , ' replenishing depots have been established at convenient points in the wilderness : the faint Indian trail has become a beaten thorou ghfare ; the morasses no longer threaten to engulph the traveller ; the rapid rivers are ferried over ; the thicket is pierced ; the forests felled j the rugged pass smoothed over ;—there is a well in the desert , and the terror of retribution keeps the savage Indian in awe . ' But the journey , with all these ameliorations , is still both toilsome and dangerous .
As the Mormons are reported to be preparing for the establishment of . an independent republic in the valley of the Great Salt Lake , perhaps our readers will feel interested in the following glimpse of their settlement in 1849 , shortly after it was established . It is , of course , now much more populous and powerful . As wo entered the precincts of the town the inhabitants came to the front of their houses , but showed no disposition to open an acquaintance account , apparency believing us to be an exclusively American caravan . So soon , however , as they were undeceived , they came about us in great numbers , inquiring what wo had to dispose of . They were neatly and well clad , their children tidy , the rosy glow of health and robustness mantling on the cheek of all , while the softer tints ot female loveliness prevailed to a degree that goes far to prove those "Latter-Day Saints " have very correct notions of angelic perfecfcability .
We politely declined several courteous offers of gratuitous lodging , selecting our quarters in a luxuriant meadow at the north end of the city . Before we had our tents well pitched we bad loads of presents : butter , milk , small cheeses , eggs , and vegetables , which we received reluctantly , not having any equivalent returns to make , except in money , which they altogether declined ; in fact , the only things wo had in superabundance were preserved apples and poaches , a portion of which we presented to ono of the elders , who gave a delightful party in the evening , at which all our folk were present . "We found a very large and joyous throng assembled ; the house turned inside out to make move room on tho occasion , with gaiety , unembarrassed by ceremony , animating the whole ; making me almost fancy I was spending the evening a t ongst the crowded haunts of the old world , instead of a sequestered valley lying between the Utah and Timpanago mountains . After tea was
served—There were the sounds of dancing feet Mingling with tones of music sweet ; or , as Dermot MacFig would say— VTe shook a loose toe , While lie humoured the'bow ;" keeping it up to a lato hour , perfectly enraptured with the Mormon ladies and Mormon hospitality . I was not aware , before , that polygamy was sanctioned by their creed , beyond a species of etherial Platonism which accords to its especial saints chosen partners , called " spiritual wives ; " but I now found that these , contrary
to one s ordinary notions of spiritualism , give birth to cherubs and unfledged aneels . When our party arrived we were introduced to a staid , matronly-looking lady as Mrs . ; and as we proceeded up the room , to a blooming young creature , a fitting mother for a celestial progeny , as the other Mrs . —— , without any worldly or spiritual distinction whatsoever . At first , I thought it a misconception , but inquiry confirmed the fact of there being two mistresses in the same establishment , both with terrestrial habits and duties to perform , which I found afterwards to be the case in other instances , where the parties could lay no claim to any particular saintliness .
On Saturday morning we had a very early levee at our tents , with fresh milk , butter , fowls , and eggs , and a light waggon in attendance , with a side of beef , a carcase of mutton and one of veal , all of superior quality ; the latter articles for sale commercially , but certainly on moat moderate terms , the prime joints not averaging over one penny per pound . The other matters we were forced to accept , and gave to tho donors what we could afford of coffee , sugar , and tobacco , which wore not to be had in tbe city for tbe last two months . In addition to those timely presents , we got all our washing done io . the very best style of art . After breakfast wo went out returning visits , and were roost graciously received in every quarter . The houses aro small , principally of brick , built up only as
temporary abodes , until the more urgent and important matters of enclosure and cultivation are attended to , ' but I never saw anything to surpass the ingenuity of arrangement with which they are fitted up , and the scrupulous cleanliness with which they are kept . There were tradesmen and artisans of all descriptions , but no regular stores , or workshops , except forges . Still , , frorn thetireing of a waggon to the mending of a watch ,,. there was no , difficulty experienced in getting it done aij cheaply , and as well put out of hand , as in any other city in America . Notwithstanding the oppressive temperature , they were all hard at work at their trades , and abroad in tho fields
weeding , moulding , and irrigating ; and it certainly speaks volumes for their energy and industry to see the quantity of land they have fenced in , and the breadth under cultivation , considering the very short time since they have founded the settlement in 1 S 4 T . There was ample promise of an abundant harvest , in magnificent crops of wheat , maize , potatoes , and every description of garden vegetable , all of which require irrigation , as there is little or no rain in this region ; a Salt Lake shower being estimated at a drop to each inhabitant . They have numerous herds of the finest cattle , droves of excellent sheep , with horses and mules enough and to spate , but very few pigs persona
.The Bookcase. Vol. I, Acctoss The Rooky...
having them be \ S obliged to keep them chained as the fences are nofcOh ™ enough to prevent their dmtinl he crops . However , they have egions of superior Sffi so thattheyliveinthe ™ "j plentiful manner possible Wo exchanged and purchased some mules and horses on veir favourable terms , knowing we would stand in need of strong teams in crossing the Sierra . Nevada . ' s On Sunday morning early we ivent to the hot springs x mile beyond the town , where the authorities were erecting a handsome and commodious building , and had a glorious bath , in sulphur water , at a temperature just as high as could be comfortably endured ; drinking , too , of the stream as it gushed from the hill side in a thick volume , being told it possessed certain medicinal properties of whioh we all stood in need . The Mormons make a boast of their good health , and attribute it to bathing in those springs : *
mny that I met declaring they came to the valley perfect cripples , and were restored to their health and agility bv frequenting them . ' ' After bathing , we dressed in our best attire and prepared to attend the Mormon service , held for the present in the large space adjoining the intended temple , which is only just above the foundations , but will be a structure of stupendous proportions , and if finished accordin g to the plan , of surpassing elegance . I went earl y , and found a rostrum , in front of which there were rows of stools and chairs for tho townsfolk ; those from the country who ar rived in gteat numbers in light waggons , sitting on chairs took up their stations in their vehicles in tho background ' nfter unharnessing their horses . There was a very large and most respectable congregation ; the ladies were attired in rich and becoming costume , each with a parasol and I
hope I may say , without any imputation of profanity a more bewitching assemblage of the sex it has rarel y been my lot to look upon . Before tho relig ious ceremony commenced , five men mounted the rostrum , who were , as I learned , the weekly committee of inspection . The chairman read his general report of the prospects and proceedings of the colony , and then read a list of those deserving of particular commendation for their superior husbandry the extent of their fencing , and other improvements , which was followed by the black list , enumerating the idle , slothful , and unimproving portion of the community , who were held up to reprobation , and threatened , in default of certain tasks allotted to them being finished at the next visit , to be deprived of their lots , and expelled the community .
The reading of these lists produced an evident sensation , and , 1 am satisfied , stimulates the industrious to extra exertion , and goads the lazy to work in self-defence . This over , another , " the gentleman in black , " got up , and without any form of service or prefatory prayer , read aloud a text from the Book of Mormom , and commenced a sermon , or discourse , "demultis rebus etquibusdam aliis ; " taking a fling at the various other religions , showing them up by invidious comparison with the creed of the valley , lie then pointed out thew & y to arrive at Mormon sanctity , in which there was nothing objectionable as laid down , and exhorted the congregation , not only as they valued their salvation , but their corps , so to demean themselves , and endeavour to propitiate tbe favour and . indulgence of the Supreme
Being ; calling to mind that , . in the year-of righteousness ( last year ) , he sent sea-gulls , a bird never finown to visit the valley , to devour the crickets , which would otherwise , from their numbers , have annihilated all vegetation . He then adverted to the barbarous treatment tbey received at the hands of the Americans , forgetting to avow his charitable forgiveness ; and expressed a belief that their avarice would yet induce them to covet their possessions at Salt Lake ; but he entertained a hope that tho Mormons by that time would be strong enough to guard and maintain their rights and independence . He talked of the gold of California , which he said was discovered by Mormon energy ; but they freely abandoned it to American cupidity , as they ( the Mormons ) did not desire such worldly aggrandisement .
With this ended the entire ceremony ; and then began a simultaneous series of greetings and salutations amongst town and country folk , which led to luncheons , and dinners , and all manner of civilities , and tender tete-a-tcfes , until evening , when another sermon was delivered , which ended the religious duties of the day , 1 can't say I was much impressed with the sanctity or sincerity of the preachers ; nor did it appeir to me , from the deportment of the con - gregation , that any very devotional feeling pervaded them ; for , with all their affected contempt for worldly wealth and pleasure , they appear to me to pursue the one with as active a zeal , and enjoy the other with as little restraint , as any other sect of professing religionists I have ever become acquainted with . The affairs of church and state here go strictly hand-in-hand ; the elders of the church being the magistrates and functionaries in all civil and criminal matters , the framers of the law , and chancellors of the
exchequer , with whom it is expected that every member of the community will lodge whatever wealth he may acquire beyond his immediate wants , taking treasury notes of acknowledgment . This the law strictly requires , on pain of expulsion and forfeiture ; but I have heard several grumble at it ; and I understand it has led to numerous secessions , if not from the Mormon faith , at least from the Mormon valley , to get beyond Mormon authority . A Scotchman , fi-osh from the Old country , who with his sister lately joined the sect , complained to me of the grievance , stating that on his arrival he lodged a considerable sum with the treasurer , part of which he lately required to try his fortune in California , but was peremptorily refused , with a rebuke for bis lust of gain . "He didna see whar' this wad lead- to , or how it wad end ; " but notwithstanding his strong dialect , I question if he is clean-bred Scotch , after so simple an act as he avowed himself guilty of .
There were no written laws amongst them ; but trespasses , outrages , and such matters , are taken cagnizance of by the elders , and adjudicated on summarily , according to conscience ; fines and public flogging ; being the punishments most in vogue . The authorities have a mint , from which they issue gold coin only : it is plain , but massive , without any alloy . I only saw two issues , five and ten dollar pieces , with the amount on one side and the date of issue on the other , without any emblem or device whatsoever . 1 got every information I believe tbey possessed
relative to tho new route to California ; but , to make assurance doubly sure . I was anxious to procure a guide who had travelled over the line , and engaged a man , wirh the consent and approval of my party . However , when it came to the ears of the rulers , they forbade his leaving ; for I believe they are apprehensive that the golden inducements of that rich country might empty the valley of its population if they came to be particularly disseminated : a reason , too , why they deprecate the travelling of emigrants by their city , which they say ( and , I believe , with truth ) is two hundred miles of a round .
There are as far as I could learn or judge , about five thousand inhabitants in the town , and seren thousand moro in the settlements , whichextend forty miles each way , north to the Weber , and south towards Utah Lake . The valley , at its greatest width , is not over fifteen miles , and I think seven would be a fair average : its soil is a rich black loam , and is irrigated by innumerable springs of good water and streamlets flowing from the snowy mountains , besides the Jordan , which flows through its centre from Utah to Salt Lake ; but it has a naked , bleak look , for want of timber , which renders the effects of the sun next thing to intolerable . The city is situated on the south-east end of the lake , about nine miles from its shores ; but I think a much more eligible site might have been chosen , where t e land would have been equally fertile , the climate fully aa salubrious , and timber , which they exclusively hum , much more convenient , for at present they have to bring it from twelve to fifteen miles over a bad road .
Brodshaw's Railway Guide. London: Adams ...
Brodshaw ' s Railway Guide . London : Adams , Fleet Street , The distinctive and ' new feature of this well-known publication is a large map , upon which , by means of red figures , the page in which the Time Tables of each particular Railway and at each Station , is to be found . Those who recollect the loss of time and temper occasioned by hunting through the mass of Tables comprised in ' The Guide , ' will readily understand and appreciate the advantages of this arrangement .
The Home. Part Ix. Edited By Richard Oas...
The Home . Part IX . Edited by Richard Oastler A more than usually instructive , varied , and inte resting part of this valuable periodical .
Tub Amazon Fund.—Southampton, March 10th...
Tub Amazon Fund . —Southampton , March 10 th . — The aggregate amount of subscriptions to the Amazon Fund for the relief of the sufferers bv that distressing catastrophe is between £ 11 , 000 and £ 12 , 000 . It is fully expected that the latter sum will be reached when the whole of the foreign subscriptions shall have been received . Pending the report of a sub-committee , appointed to investigate into and report to the general committee upon the oxact position of each sufferer , temporary relief has been administered to the most necessitous cases—such as widows and orphans , who have been left without moans of support by the loss of their relatives . In this way a vast amount of good has been done , Tho general committee will shortly meet in Southampton to receive a report from the sub-committee , when it is expected a scheme will be presented for disnosine
ot tbe funds , and for distributing the subscriptions so as to secure the best and most permanent method of relief for the numerous persons who have been cast into such deep affliction and distress by this calamitous event The London committee will amal gamate with the Southampton Committee for the consideration of these measures . It is in contemplations relieve several of the sufferers by granting them sums in full , amounting to from £ 5 to £ 200 each . To the Rev . Mr . TSlood and Miss Smith it is proposed to present the latter amount , The Kev . Mr . Blood has recently received the presentation of a living , while Miss Smith has received from £ 200 to £ o 00 by private subscriptions , totally irrespective of tbe Amazon fund proper . It is probable that the widows will be divided into three classes , to receive annuities of £ 20 , £ 15 , and £ 12 a year respectively , and tho children will be allowed similar sums in
the shape of annuities , with which to place them at school , apprentice them , & c . A good number of the children will be placed in orphan asylums . Trustees will be appointed in the usual form to receive the income derived from the funds , and to pay the annuities and allowances , under due restrictions for their proper application . It is stated that the sub-committee are prepared to recommend that the crew oUhe first boat which is supposed to have left the Amazon , and which landed at Plymouth , should be excluded from all benefit from the subscriptions , for first deserting the vessel . The . patient and protracted investigations undertaken by the Royal Mail Steampacket Company , and by the Board of 1 ' rado have not resulted in affixing any censure upon this particular boat-load of unfortunate human beings , and why the sub-committee should seek to force any opinion upon the matter appears to be in the last degree mcemprehenaible and Superfluous . '
Ufaxittm
Ufaxittm
Cons.—Why Are The Crows The Most Sensibl...
Cons . —Why are the crows the most sensible of birds ?—Because they never complain without caws . Why are the members of tbe new Administration liko raoing ' men ?—Because they are all in for a " Derby . " Trub liberty allows each individual to do all the good he can for himself , without injuring his neighbour , The New Ministry . —Some say that the Derby Ministry is Protectionist , others say that it is not ; for my part ( said a g ) I believe neither one nor t other . rwm is more frequently coveted with a view to tho correction of the faults of others than our own .
Oonfidencr The whole court calendar does not contain a title conferring so much real dignity , and so many substan-% alPrivileges , as that of "a person to be trusted . "—Home Truths for Home Peace . A Grinder at Sheffield bowt a lot a ale barrils at a ocksban sale , an findin a cloaze line stufft inta wun on em when he got hoam , he sed to his wife , " Well , ah do declare , lass , it t ale at s beenethis barril hezinfc turnedroapij . "—fogmoor Almanack . Cuke for HiSTERics—Dr . March says the best cur © tor hysterics is to discharge the servant-girl . In his opinion , here is nothing like brisk exercise and useful occupation to keep the nervous system from becoming unstrung . Somewomen think they want a physician , he 8 ayS , when they only need a scrubbing-brush .
1 Enr Coor .. —One of the drollest instances of Yankee borrowing we ever heard ef is told by Mrs . Moodie , in ber new \ york , entitled Roughing it in the Busk , or Life in Canada . A maid-servant asked her mistress to go out on a particular afternoon , as she was going to have a party of her friends , and ivanted the loan of the drawing-room . A Witty Cocknky . —Everything has its ludicrous point of view , and funny incidents occur even on such grave occasions as funerals . * A certain Cockney Blue Beard , ov reome by his sensibilities , fainted at the grave of his fourth suouw . " What shall we do with him ? " asked a perplexed friend of his . " Let him alone , " cried a waggish bystander , " he'll soon rewive . ' "
A Discovery of considerable importance to ironmasters has been communicated by Dr . Penny to the Philosophical Society of Glasgow . It appears that the soot which collects in the flues of blast iron furnaces , yields forty-three pec cent , of pure potash . A substance which has not hitherto been applied to any practical use will henceforth become a marketable article , and be turned to good account . Two iron vessels , of 500 ions each , are being built by Messrs . Vernon and Son , of Liverpool , for a London coal company , to compete with the railways , which have latterly diminished the coasting trade in coals . If they succeed , aa trial ships , twenty moro of a similar kind will be built for
the same company . Tbey are to be propelled by the screw , in addition to sales , and are to be so masted and rigged as to go under the bridges on the Thames . An ignorant fellow , who was about to get married , resolved to make himself perfect in the resuonses of the marriage service ; but b y mistake he learned the office of baptism for those of riper years ; so when the clergyman asked hitn m the church , " Wilt thou have this woman to be thy wedded wife ? " the bridegroom answered , in a very solerou tone , "I renounce them all . ' '—The astonished minister said , '' I think you are a fool . "—To which he replied , " All this I steadfastly believe . "
A g ood prosy minister , of the old Scotch stock , used to catechise privately even the adults of his flock . Adata B—— , long a respected elder , was suffering from afallio the darkafter his tenth " toddy , " but this was to be a profound secret from all but Adam and his newly-married young wife . " "What do you think , " said the minister to his wife , " caused the fall of Adam ? " The wife , thinking only of her ain gude man , answered innocently , " Deed , sir , just the drink . "
dkfinitiohs . Slave . —One of God ' s children , kept out of his property by a brother . Lovb . —The sun ot life ; nio . 't beautiful in morning and ia evening , but warmest and steadiest at noon . Bank . —A gilt barge on the river Credit , in which grandees are carried forward by the labour of the horses on the towing-paths . Sincerity . —An ill-used child of humanity , continually flogged , and kept in a dark cellar on bread and water . Wins . —The solvent in which minds effervesce and melt down . Faith . —A strong arm to work for us in health and youth ; a firm shoulder to lean upon in sickness and age . Lawyer . —A brass-headed nail to keep things together . Power . —A wild horse ; difficult to seize , but more difficult to ride .
Music—The winds caught and tamed . —Council of Four . Neiv Edition . Master and Man . —If a gintleman brakes a horse ' s heart , he ' s only a " bowld rider , '' while a poor servant is a " careless blackguard" for only taking a sweat out of him . If a gintleman dhrinks till he can't see a hole in a ladder , he ' s only " fresh , " but "dhrunk" is the word for the poor roan . And if a gintleman kicks up a row , he ' s a "fine-Spirited fellow , " whiles poor man is a " disordherly vagabond" for the same ; and the justice axes the one to dinner , and sends th' t ' other to gaol . Oh , faix , the law is a dainty lady ; she takes people by the hand who can afford to wear gloves , but people with brown fists must keep their distance . —Handy Andy , by S . Lovbk .
extracts from " punch . ' The Long Vacation . —The Throne of France . " England ' s Weakness . "—The strongest proof of this is the present Ministry . T w o or a Trade Nevkr Agree . —The Autocrat of Russia and Monsieur Louis Napoleon aro already quarrelling . , Rather Infra Dig . —The government in refusing to incur the expense of bringing home Cleopatra ' s Needle , has been guided by a praiseworthy disinclination to stick it into us . A Firm Foundation . —In case of an invasion , tho walls of Old England would be formed by every man turning out a brick , and by the Ordnance supplying all that might be necessary in the way of mortar . A Colonial Misnomhr . —In consequence of the nature of the intellicence that has lor some time past arrived from the Cape of Good Hope , it is in contemplation to alter the name of the Colony to the Abode of Despair .
A Joke Craftily Qualified . —The danger of abolishing the property qualification lor Members of Parliament is this , —that if some of our legislators were to be without their property qualification , they would have no other qualification whatever . Gus ( who is always so full of his nonsense . )— "Dash my Buttons , Ellen . ' that ' s a Stunning Waistcoat . I wish you'd give us your Tailor ' s Address 1 " Ellen . — " Don ' t you be rude , Sir—and take your arms off the piano . " A Parochial Autocrat . —What is Louis Napoleon to call himself , when heshall have consummated his despotism ? Not Emperor , if he is wise , fov that will confirm the common accusation that he is the mere plagiarist of his Uncle . We can help him in his difficulty . He rules the French . peop le as if they were children : let him then take tho ap- - propriate title of Beadle of France .
A Shaky Condition . —It is not to be wondered at that : the Pope feels his position to be anything but firm ; for , in- - stead of his bavin s heen fixed in Ma place by real Roman , i Cement , be has been merely dabbed down where he is with x a little Plaster of Paris . Money Market and City Nonsense . —Monied men say , jr r that considering the present state of affairs in France , it is-ist a comfort to them to sec that the French funds exert a a favourable influence on our Three Per Cents . ; but surelyly this is a deceitful consol—ation . Nav vl Irtelligence . —We are informed by the Germaoiia papers , that the "German Fleet is for Sale . " Searles , thehe eminent boat-builders of Lambeth , have sent in a liberated tender for the purchase of it . We may shortly expect ^ fc , therefore , to see the German Fleet safely anchored off IVest-stminster Bridge . With this strong reinforcement , our van-rious rowing clubs may be able to get up a Thames Regattatta i next year .
A Present for KossuTH .-The Mrs . Rev . J . T . Dawhue , of Ohio , has presented Kossuth with her grandiose ,, aged eleven months ; "to be so trained" for Hungary' -as as i to raise his little hat in honour to God and liberty . Ihebei Magyar asks for muskets , but hardly for children in arrases .. But Mrs . Donahue has . doubtless , a shrewd eye for at onceice i profit and glory ; and thinks it " smart" to turn an olivetsbranch into a laurel branch ; the more so , as laurels niayiayr be cultivated from suckers . "Pa y for your Breakages . "—Wo should like to seesee the same law carried out in the Naval , as is generally en-enforced in the Domestic Service ; namely , to make theser-aervants of the public pay for everything they break . If thifthif < law had been in operation , we do not think the late Lordordi s of the Admiralty would have had to receive much , at thi thu end of any one vear they were in office , out of their year : ar salary . In fact , ' taking the iron ships into calculation , wi , w ? think that they ( instead of the nation ) would have been conconn siderably out of pocket every year they remained in thi thi public service at the Admiralty .
nonvHM > M « ion . —Tbe Bishop of Gloucester has coi coiii veyed the whole of his propery to trustees , for the benefenett of small livings in his diocese . Tithes . —The Archbishop of York and Mr . R ., a BajBaji ] list minister , whilst one day conversing on the lawfulnessi iess 11 tithes , the archbishop remarked , " Mr . R ., I do not see the thi in the same light as you do . " Mr . R . ( without replymlym j took a pencil and wrote " God" in small characters . 1 U you see that ? " said Mr . R . "Yes , " replied the archbi shoishoQ Mr . R . then took a Sovereign and placed it over them worn " God , " and then ' asked tbe prelate if he could sec ' liotliou then ? The archbishop replied that he could not . "Then heni said Mr . R ., " now you perceive why you consider tub tithb lawful . Before the gold intervened , you had God in viei vw but when the gold came in view , you lost sight of God . a .
Respect Due to Wives . —Do not jest with your wir wivi upon a subject in which there is danger of wounding hng in feelings . Remember that she treasures every word yrd yy utter . Do not speak of some virtues in another man ' s wi ' s wv to remind your own of a fault . Do not reproach your ttur * vs * with personal defects , for if . she has sensibility , you infli inflfl a wound difficult to heal . Do not treat your wife with vith i attention in company ; it touches her pride , and she Vibe vv not respect you more or love you better for it . Do iDo 11 upbraid your wife in the presence of a third party ; Ity ; H sense of your disregard for her feelings will prevent lent 11 from acknowledging her fault . Do . not entertain your tout v » v by praising the beauty and accomplishments of other wom < wonnoi If you wou \ d have a p \ easant home and a cheerful wife , pife , pp your evenings under your own roof , Do not be stern aern a a silent in your own koug « , and remaruablo for sociahibiahili elsewhere .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 20, 1852, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_20031852/page/3/
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