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BELGIUM
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(fbOH OUR OWS 1AHD COHHBSIONKR.) Letter ...
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_ VOL. VIII. NO. 411. LONDON, ' SATURDAY...
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dforetgn' IntelKgente*
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SPAIN. Barcelona, Sept. 13.—The city con...
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ODD FELLOWSHIP. (Concluded from our eigM...
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TO THB EDITOR OF THE NORTHERS STAR. Sin,...
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CSartfet |n^tt£^
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MESSRS. DOYLE. M'GRATH, AND CLARK S T0TJ...
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Death of the Bishop of Batk AW WeIAS.—Tl...
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s 1 \ \
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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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Belgium
BELGIUM
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(Fboh Our Ows 1ahd Cohhbsionkr.) Letter ...
( fbOH OUR OWS 1 AHD COHHBSIONKR . ) Letter IL TO THE WORKING CLASSES OF GREAT
BRITAIN AND IRELAND . Mr Dsab Fkibots , —In my last letter you found rae at Brussels , tie capital of Belgium , a very splendid town , surrounded with beautiful walks called Boulevards , planted with trees at either side , and ^ itn seats placed at Intervals for those who wish to sit down . At the end of this walk is a long avenue , more than a mile long , running a l ongside of the canal , with a row of very closely planted trees on either side of it . It would be impossible to describe the beauty of this avenue and the beauty of the park to you -. and as I lire in the confident anticipation of lavinc an " excursion trip" of some thousand or two ^
th ousand from Londoa-bndge to Antwerp next year , I shall leave many of the gorgeous sights here undcscribed , and allow yon to judge for yourselves when toa see them . Some of the buildings here are truly ^ sp lendid . The Town Hall is very much longer and much more beautiful than Westminster Abbey ; and the hotels , which are numerous , are like palaces ; and all from the land . On Tuesday morning I went to the plain of Waterloo , twelve miles from Brussels : and all the way the country was a perfect garden . The main roads are all payed , and for the most part p lanted on either side . As I did not coma to discourse of battles , I shall not trouble you with much
upon that subject . Suffice it to say that the country all around is very beautiful , and highly cultivated . They have erected a very large mound to commemorate the battle , where the Prince of Orange was wounded . To effect this , they dug the land in the . neighbourhood to the depth of about nine feet , and made a mound 200 feet high , and 16 S 0 feet in cirenmference at the base . Oq the top , IS the lion Of Belgium , just like all other lions . It cost about £ 10 , 000 English money . There are two hundred very rude steps to mount to the top ; and from it the view is superb . I had for my guide the person who cava
Captain Siborne ( who constructed the celebrated model of the battle ) much , information . He was with him for five months ; and is a most intelligent man . He saw all the battle , as far as the smoke would allow him , from an adjoiniDfi hill . I asked him , and many others , which the people wished to win the battle , Napoleon or "Wellington ? and the answer of one and all was , " O , Wellington , Wellington ; for 2 f apoleon -would make us all pay de tribute . " Tie Belgians , like Other people , lave a great hatred of " tribute . " It would appear from the information of all the guides , that the last day's fight was for the possession of the celebrated { arm-house
LA HATE SATNTE , as all the walls , and roofs , and doors are perfectly riddled with balls . My guide was son of the woman who now occupies this celebrated farm-house ; so I went over every bit of it ; and every inch , from the well where the Jrench soldier was found drowned , to the meanest corner , has its own history . The yard and garden around was strewn thick with dead men . The heat of the battle was there . The only monument erected to anything English , is one ; in a garden , at the Brussels side of Waterloo , to theJeccascd leg of the Marquis of Anglesey . In the cottage they show you Ms boot that the ball went
through , and the table on which the leg was cat off . That is all that I mean to tell you now about the battle . I asked my guide what wages men could earn at agricultural work in that neighbourhood . He told me " a franc a day and their diet , by the year , for good men" : —a franc is lOd . English : —two and a half francs "—that is , 2 s . Id . — " in busy times , without diet ; and at piece or job-work as much as six , seven , and even eight francs "—that is 6 s . Sd . a flay . He said , "When working job or piece-work they were np at daybreak and worked till dark . " I then questioned him upon the subject of Poor Laws , and I give yon the mode of providing for the poor of
Belgium . " The peasants , " said he , " elect the mayor : " the mayor then nominates two , who are called second men ; and also five other persons . Those five , with the priest , take charge of the poor . The poor have lands which belong to themselves ; and { he mayor and the second men receive tenders from persons who wish to become tenants to the poor ' s land . In winter Vte priest and five peasants arc obliged to visit the sick , asd to provide tuem with in . things xecbssabt , if sick at home . They must gire all that the doctor orders , and blankets to thOSC vri «> require them . I wiD now detail for you a con veisatlon that passed between ua on the subject of Poor Laws : —
O'Connor : 2 fow , are the poor , when old , or out of work , or sick , -well cared for ? Guide ; Oyes ; very well . O'Connor : As well as if they could work f Guide : Tes , yes ; and much better . 0 yes , better . O'Connor : How is that ? Guide : llow . ls that ? why , the people see to it . O'Connor : Well , suppose the priest and the peasants don't do iheir duty ? Guide : O , but they must .
O ' Connor : Well , but suppose a man is neglected ? Guide : Well then he or his friends get a second man , and the second man will go and see the doctor , to inquire if he is sick ; or go and visit the house if he is old or has no work ; and if he is neglected , they will tell the mayor ; and . then the mayor will send for the priest and say to him , " Come now , Mr . Priest , you have not done your duly to this man ;" and then if it is done again , they will be all sent about their business , and the mayor will elect more in their place .
O'Connorj : WelL , suppose anything remains over , after supporting the poor , what isjdone with it ? Guide : It goes on always to make more for the poer . O'Connor : Does a man ever ' starve here with yon ? ~ Guide ; starve ? wantfood ? 0 no , no—no ; never ; that could not be . O'Connor : Has ^ here ever been anything wrong about the funds ? ^ Guide : JN o ; not in my village : but over there , in that village , the priest neglected the poor , and kept all the money ; and the mayor and the peasants sent him off . O'Connor : How do the labourers live here ?
Guide : Well , they all have a pig , and they make that do for week days ; and then on Sunday they will buy two pounds of beef , and make soup with peas and beans , and vegetables , and potatoes ; and they live very well I'll assure you . O'Connor : How are they clothed ? Guide : Well , as you see ; well and warm . The shopkeepers buy the wool from the farmers , and make cloth of it ; and the labourers buy it from the shopkeepers . O'Connor : Well , and when the people are sick ? Guide : 0 you saw one great hospital at one side , as you came into the village , for that side of the country ; and another on ours there , for this side of the country .
O'Connor : Suppose they were to take the lands from the poor ? Guide : 0 that is nonsense : how could ihey take the land when I tell you it is the poor's own ? Nobody coidd take it . Ho , no ; the mayor would not let ihm . Now , what think you of that , my friends , who are subjected te the tender mercies of a Poor Law Bastile ?—you whose lands have been all stolen . Aye , but you had no mayor , elected byyourselves !
On Tuesday I went to the country within about ten miles of Brussels , to see the small farms . Hal is tie nearest town to the farms I saw , and Lambeg is the nearest village . In Lambeg there is a large gin ffistaiery and a largo sugar manufactory . 'Ihewalk Was splendid , alongthe banks of a canal , with double tows of trees on each side . Here the peasants all speak Flemish ; anct my guide was an egregious ass . He (» uld speak nothing . The first small farm that I visited was held by a young man . It consisted of what they term " bundle of land . " Imeasuredit ,
and it is about 200 perches . La an English acre there are 160 perches . For this he paid 120 francs , Or £ 416 s . 8 d . a year , without the house . Thehouse ** s his own . He built , or bought it—a practice which I find very general in the country districts . Tie land he esteemed very good : itwassome distance « om his house . He had twogood cows ; and worked fciMeKatthesug ttinanufactoryafl spare in winter . He got one franc 8 day . His pota-™« , and all in that neighbourhood , had utterly faded . Tie next person I visited was a woman , who
(Fboh Our Ows 1ahd Cohhbsionkr.) Letter ...
managed an estaminet ( public-house ) . She was very intelligent . She lived more by the sale of beer than by the land . She showed me a basket of potatoes , the best she had , about the size of very large marbles , and all totally gone . All in the neighbourhood were alike . The land , she said , wa what all ' around looked to and depended on . I next visited a cottage where two sisters had a bundle and a half of land between them . The man of the house had been sick for seven months . They paid 120 francs for their land , or £ A 16 s . 8 d . a bundle . I next visited the house of a most intelligent woman . She held li bundles—not quite two acres . It
wants twenty perches of being two acres . She had three cows and two pigs , and was making cheese . All was beautifully clean and neat . She also paid about £ A 16 s . 8 d . an acre . Her husband had built the house . Her potatoes also were all gone . I next went to a field , where a man and his son and two daughters were preparing the ground for wheat . He had If bundles . For 1 bundle of good he paid 160 francs , or £ 6 6 s . 8 d . a bundle ; and for the § of bad land , 26 francs a bundle . Always bear in mind that a bundle is an English acre and % quarter . This was a fine fellow . He had eight children . The wife was at home ; and four children , two sons and two daughters , always worked in the field ; and the youngsters were all playing about them . In winter
he dresses flax and threshes his corn . The young ones go to school from eight till four o'clock ; aud the eldest son works in the sugar manufactory ; but he had plesit OF WORK TOR IHE WHOLE FIVE ON the two acres DURING summer . The women work in the fields in summer without shoes or stockings but , going to market , they are remarkably neat about the feet ; and at all times keep their hair as neat as possible . I asked this man " if many of the peasants purchased their holdings ? " and he told me they did , many of them : and that it sold as high as 5000 , 6000 , and 7000 francs a bundle ; that is , £ 200 , £ 240 , and £ 280 a bundle : or , from £ 160 an acre up to £ 244 an acre . And mark ; this is bad land , wretched land , compared with what I purpose purchasing for . £ 18 15 s . an acre in England .
I must now say a word or two about the management and appearance of those farms . The Belgians never lose a morsel of anytJdng tltat can by possibility be converted into manure . Each has got his liquid manure tank : some covered ; some not . They esteem the urine of the cows as best for forcing one crop ; but the solid manure for remaining longer in the ground . This is in a great measure owing to the fact of their ground being very light and porous : the liquid running quickly through , while the heavier substance remains nearer the surface . The appearance of every one of the cottages that I sawwas picturesque and beautiful : each surrounded by
trees , and a rivulet generally runs hard by . All the domestic animals are as tame and friendly as they are in Ireland . The young children in the neighbourhood are to be seen lying in groups under the trees for shelter , or playing in the field : and I have seen many , not more than seven years of age , leading cows with halters on their heads to pick up grass where they could not be safely trusted if loose-One circumstance which makes the peasantry anxious to purchase their plot of ground at a high price in this country is , that the " tenure" is lad and uncertain . A nine years' lease is the usual tenure ; and the landlord at the end of that time has
the benefit of all the labour that has been expended . This is also a reason for the great anxiety of the people to possess a house of their own , from ivhich they cannot be removed . Besides the great number of small farms in Belgium , there are also many large ones , as the population is not sufficiently large to occupy the whole country in small farms . Here also the allotment system is carried out properly . Those who work at other trades than that of cultivating the ground have all small gardens to grow food of different kinds ; but in all cases care of the manure , and constant work ins of the ground , are the two great objects .
In my next letter I shall give you an account of an immense colliery district , stretching from Mons to Genappe , and from thence to the frontiers of France , a distance of more than thirteen miles , where nothing but collieries meet the eye ; butswefcathing as one ? plosion is never heard of . A colliery inspector lives here and there , amid the huge piles of long chimneys ; and in many instances the mines are a mile and a quarter deep ; some coal and some iron . The houses of the peasants are very different from those of the colliers of Northumberland and Durham . Inmost districts the small farmers work their cows for about four hours a-day . They are harnessed precisely like
horses , with bits in their mouths . They plough , harrow , and draw waggons ; and they say that those at work give more milk than those r . ot worked ; but tins is easily accounted for , from the fact of their being better fed . They are kinder at work than horses , and are as gentle as lambs : the object of the farmer being to teach them gentleness from the first . The ploughs and harrows , and especially the carts and waggons , as well as all agricultural implements , are of the rudest kind , but managed with great skill and dexterity . The wheat throughout Belgium has received a partial blight , and is by no means an average crop : so that upon the whole the people are in very
great tribulation . One thing that must strike a stranger coming to this country very forcibly is , the perfect union of all classes ; that is , in the country districts . Every one appears to be interested in every other person ' s affairs ; and indeed the motto upon their coin is " union is strength . " In Ghent , a very large town between Ostend and Brussels , the devn-chinmeys are beginning to spread enormously : and I am told that several capitalists are now to be found in that town worth from a million to two millions of money . My hope is , that they never will be able to entice the virtuous peasantry from their peaceful homes . The people appear to love the country and agricultural pursuits .
On my return from Hal , I went to Antwerp that night , a distance of 29 miles . All along the line the country presented the same enchanting appearance of men and women working , children playing , crops growing , and all appearing thriving and happy and gay . Every one grows as much tobacco as he thinks he will require for the winter ' s smoking ; and the people are very generous with " the weed . " To-day the peasants are all in their holiday clothes , and look remarkably well Such a thing as sickness in the country districts is rarely heard of : the children are so much in the open air . I am going to Liege to-morrow , which is a kind of highland district ; and in my next I shall tell you more of the small farms , of the manner in which the colliers are treated ,
and what they can earn ; and about the quarry men , of which there are large numbers in this country ; and of the hospitals and institutions for the destitute . I went over a very extensive quarry yesterday , where 650 men are constantly engaged ; and I was also over the farm of the overseer . One remarkable circumstance which struck me very forcibly , was the difference between an Irish sad a Belgian farmer . If you question an Irishman closely , he supposes , and naturally , that you want to take advantage of him ; and he looks upon you as an enemy , while the . unsuspicious Belgian puts it down to interest in his concerns , and becomes communicative . This proceeds from the fact of the Irish being brought up under oppression , and the Belgian under kindness .
On the whole , the more I see of this country the more I am in love with it , and the more anxious I become to see the foundation-stone of like happiness laid in old England and ould Ireland . I would implore yoa , then , to go on putting your farthings together for the purchase of land , that you and your children may be happy . I remain , your faithful friend and servant , Fbabgus O'Connor .
_ Vol. Viii. No. 411. London, ' Saturday...
_ VOL . VIII . NO . 411 . LONDON , ' SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 27 , 1845 . ^ mSSSVSSS ^^ T ' " ¦ — ¦ ¦¦ ¦¦ -- i . — . .,, _—¦ i , .. — ,.,..,., _— .. t i « . »¦¦ - i" ¦¦¦ ,, . ' ¦— —
Dforetgn' Intelkgente*
dforetgn' IntelKgente *
Spain. Barcelona, Sept. 13.—The City Con...
SPAIN . Barcelona , Sept . 13 . —The city continues tram quil , but still a deep excitement pervades the public mind , and everybody asks how long is this violent state of things to last ? The Captain-General , in the general order of to-day , again reminds the army of its duty to their sovereign , and forbids officers joining any " casinos , " convivial clubs formed for the sole object of amusement . It would appear his Excel lency entertains some apprehensions from the contact of the officers with civilians , even in a social way . Such repeated exhortations to the army induce matay people to think that the Captain-General doubts their fidelity . The city continues , as I mentioned in a fornier ' letter , occupied in a military way , every post having by them eight days' rations , and 200 round reserve ammunition per man . At the moment
of post hour , a bando . of the Captain-General has been posted in all public places , directing that everybody shall immediately retire to their houses on the slightest symptoms of alarm , or if found in the streets shall be treated as if implicated . in disturbances . This is a renewal of the bando of the Baron dcMeer last winter , which directed that all lookers-on in any outbreak should be fired on as well as the actual rioters , as their presence in the street should be considered as a connivance at least to the breach of the peace takingplace . Madrid , Sept 15 . —The Moderado papers talk of a conspiracy having been discovered at Alicant on the 10 th , and say that several arrests had taken place , and that a Colonel Ripoll , a relative of Zurbano ' s , was to have put himself at the head of the movement . The troops were all underarms at Saragossaon the 7 th and subsequent days , and large detachments were stationed in the principal streets , and three pieces of
artillery , with two companies of infantry and some cavalry , occupied Torrero on the 9 th . Some disturbance took place on the night of the 7 th , and stones were thrown at the troops , but it does not appear that anything more serious has OCCUrredi The Castellano publishes an extract from a Lisbon paper , which states that the S p anish Gen . Iriarte had landed at a small place in the neighbourhood of Oporto on the 1 st of August , where he put himself in communication with the Spanish emigrants in the quarter , among whom he distributed money and arms . He endeavoured to procure a passport for the Spanish frontiers , but failed . His arrival having come to the knowledge of the authorities , steps were taken to arrest him , but he succeeded in getting away , and is supposed to have embarked on board a packet bound for England . Some people supposed , however , that he was still concealed in the neighbourhood of Oporto ..
GERMANY . The religious excitement in Germany continues at its height . The progress of M . Ronge , notwithstanding the attempts of the Government to put down all demonstrations of enthusiasm , is a species of triumph . On the 19 th he left Stutgard for Ulm , and he was accompanied out of the city by a vast crowd of inhabitants . Some of the most enthusiastic of his admirers accompanied him all the way to Ulm . Letters from Vienna state that the religious excitement has extended to that capital . A German Catholic congregation has been formed , and at its first meeting upwards of 3 , 000 persons attended . The meeting having been called without the leave of the authorities , it was dispersed by a battalion of infantry .
TOUNG GERMANY IN SWITZERLAND . CONSPIRACY AOAIXST CncnCH ATSD STATE 1 ( From . our German Correspondent . ) The Constitutional Ncufchatelqis gives a long , apparently official , report on a " vast conspiracy of atheists spread all over Switzerland . " We take from it the following extracts : — "After the discovery made some time ago of the Communistseeret society , in the canton of JSfeufchatel , another far more dangerous association has been discovered—an asociation extending its nets all over the Swiss confederacy , and purposing to overthrow , by means of Atheism , the fundamental principles of morality , aud to revolutionize Germany by any means , Regicide not excepted . ¦ The members of this Association , which is known by the name of Young Germany , or the Ionian Confederacy , are almost
without exception German working men , with some of the old political refugees . In consequence of some information at the head-quarters of the conspiracy Lausanne , the chiefs of the great club of La Chaux de Fonds were apprehended , and a commission of inquiry appointed , the results of which are the following disclosures . This secret society exists since 1838 , and has at its head Messrs . Standau and Doclecke , professors of the German language , Win . Marr , editor of their paper ; and Hoffman , druggist . Dr . Fein and Dr . Rauschenplatt , German refugees ; the first imprisoned at Lucerne on account of his having taken part in the late civil war—the second at Strasburg appear also to be connected with this society . The rules of the association contain the following articles : —The society is essentially and necessarily a secret
one , its end being political propaganda . Every member obliges himself to remain within the association until forty years of age , to devote all his powers to the attainment of its aims , and not to stand in fear of any sacrifice . Every member engages himself to destroy all written documents , by which the association or its members might be traced . In Switzerland a central office is formed , corresponding with all those members that are returned to Germany , and leading the whole of the operations .. None to be admitted as members who do not profess themselves atheists and revolutionists . By the incredible activity of its members among the German workingmen— of whom there is a floating population of about 25 , 000 in Switzerland—this society has succeeded in establishins its branch-clubs in 26 towns in Switzerland , viz .
—Carouge , Nyon , Rolle , Aubonne , Merges , Lausanno , Aigle , Vevay , Yverdon , Moudon , Payerne , Chaux de Fonds , Fleuricr , Berne , Blel , St . Imer , Porentruy , Burgdorf , Chur , Zug , Zurich , Winterthur , Basel , Lucerne , Friburg , and Geneva , besides two clubs in France , in Strasburg and Marseilles . Every six months the deputies of these clubs assemble in one of the localities , which for the next six months is then charged with the management of the general business . The incredible activity , and the really diabolic means brought into bearingbythesepropagandistsforattracting the Germans , are frightful indeed , One of them , writing from Zurich to the central office , says : — " We are obliged to use great caution , on account of most of the newly arriving men being frightened by the ordinances and intimidations of the German
governments . They will never enter a club unless they are told that it is not a political one . Thus we are obliged to treat them very cautiously , to bring them bit by bit into the right road , and the principal thing in this respect is to show them that religion is nothing but a pile of rubbish and dung . The only thing we can do is to prepare them here for the clubs in French Switzerland , and there we send those who intend leaving Zurich . " When the Merges club wanted to get into connection with the whitesmiths of that town , none of whom was a member , they instantl y wrote to the central office , to send them a whitesmith who might be clever enough to bring those workmen into the society . The clubs were all in correspondence with each other , as well as with the central office . This correspondence has been
partly seized , and shows by its contents how much the whole conspiracy was pervaded by a revolutionary spirit . Every club had a committee for preparing the subjects of discussion . The debates extended over all political , social , and religious questions . Some clubs were comparatively rich , and possessed libraries , newsrooms , pianos , < fcc . ; they were furnished with everything which might attract the workmen . The most powerful clubs were those of Geneva , Berne , Zurich , Lausanne , and La Chaux de Fonds ; thelast named club numbered ( in a very small town ) 200 members ; and if we consider that in this same town , besides Young Germany , there existed a very numerous Communist club , we may think ourselves entitled to say , that Atheists and Communists in Switzerland are to be numbered by thousands . The
association had a secret agitation committee , which was generally not known to the members at large ; but every club contained one or two of those " Propagandists , " whose business it was to keep up the steam , to direct the proceedings , and to develope the spirit of Atheism and revolutionism , Unfortunately , they succeeded but too well in this , as is proved by the fact , that the "infernal" periodical of Young Germany , published by Marr , numbered above _ 500 subscribers among the working people only . This paper openly proclaims Atheism as its principle . — " Germany , " says this paper , " wants apolitical , religious and social revolution ; and if religion and politics should , during the course of this revolution
end in smoke , so much the better ; socialised man will come forth purer and better from this purgatory . " Thus far the report , which is altogether written in an infamous and calumniatory style , Young Germany had existedin Switzerland since 1831 , when , in consequence of the many insurrections in Germany , great numbers of young men , students , workmen , & e ., were obliged to leave their country . After a period of considerable activity this association collapsed towards 1837 , when the general Bourgeoisie Government throughout Europe succeeded in suppressing the spirit of political agitation . Soon afterwards , however , the Communist clubs commenced to form themselves in the old home of
Spain. Barcelona, Sept. 13.—The City Con...
\ oung Germany , on the shores of the Leman Lake , and to commence an animated debate with that merely political association . This debate ended in a settled quarrel , and decided enmity of the two parties ; the main result , however , was , that Young Germany was obliged to extend its field of action , and not only to better define their political principles , as those of Radical , Republic , and Democratic , but also to take up social questions . While the middle classes of Germany kill their time ; with German Catholicity" and "Protestant Reforms " while they ran after RongC ) and play the „ Friends ot Light ; thus making it their chief business to
enect some very little , almost invisible , good-fornothing ( but a , Bourgeois ) reform in religious matters , the working people of our country read and digest the writings of the greatest German philosophers , such as Feuerbach , < fcc , and embrace the result ot their inquiries , as radical as this result may appear , Ihe people of Germany have no religion . How else ; would it have been possible to convert masses of them , not only in Switzerland , but in . trance , England , and at home , within the short space of a year ? I refer to what I said last week but one on Bourgeoise movements and working-class movements ; 1 think these disclosures are a full confirmation of my statement .
SWITZERLAND . Communism in Switzerland . —In a late number of th & ConMMsnist Chronicle we find the following : —In political movement , the canton Vaud is more interesting than any other canton in Switzerland . A collision between the adherents and adversaries of the principles of Communism in that canton seems to be near at hand . Communism has enrolled two battalions in Vaud , united in principle , but divided by station . The first is composed of the Radical members of government , some with the deliberative and others with executive power ; the second contains those societies of German workmen , founded by Weitling , and scattered over the country . These societies have latterly gained more influence than could have been
expected in a French population " like the VaudOJSC , Some weeks ago , the Algelmeinc Zeitung said— " It is proved by judicial acts , from the discovery of Communist plots , that Western Switzerland is filled with Communist , 01 ubs , having their centre of propagandise , at Lausanne . The result of the judicial inquiry in the canton of Nurcnburg will bo published next , and will form a continuation of the inquiry that took place in the canton of Zurich in 1843 . "—This Nurenburg inquiry has consequented the arbitrary dissolution of all the German Communist societies in that canton , and the imprisonment and banishment of
their principal members . The persecution began by the arrest of fourteen Germans who were assembled in a village public-house for the purpose of forming a > Communist society . After this example had been given by the aristocratic government of Nurenburg , the aristocrats of Vaud , whose government had been succombed by the result of the last election , were anxious to do the same in their canton , and particularly to get back the reins of government . They went so far as to present a petition , signed by 1800 , asking—1 st , the dissolution of all German Communists ocie ties throughout the canton ; 2 nd , the banishment of theirprincipal leaders ;
3 rd , the dismissal of the Communistmembersof the Council of State ; 4 th , the submission to re-election of all the Communist members of the Grand Council . One member only spoke in favour of this petition . The president of state proposed an examination Of the Communist societies , and protection for them if they were found progressive ; this , fortunately , was ] agreed to . The aristocrats of Switzerland , in fear of this Coniniunistically inclined g overnment of the canton Vaud , make use of all possible means to excite public opinion against it . Wc have now to introduce to our readers an important communication bearing on the subject above treated of : —
GREECE . It appears that the illustrious General Kalergi has thought it prudent to escape the dangers by which he was surrounded , from the gross and violent conduct of the Ministry , by constituting himself a voluntary exile . He embarked at Athens on board an English steamer , in which Sir Edmund Lyons gave him a passage to Zante , and from thelatter place he will probably take a passage to Italy or England . Akii-Rbniism in Greece . — The Courtier de V Orient me & an account of a dreadful murder
committed in the province of Lividia . A great proprietor of the name of Agalides had gained a process against the inhabitants of a village , and the court ordered the villagers to pay eight years' rent , which they were in arrear . This the villagers refused todof and M . Agalides , 'determined to take possession of his property , but the villagers turned out with guns , and when M . Agalides approached , accompanied by the officers of justice , and some servants , they separated him from his attendants , saying they did not wish to shed blood unnecessarily , and then deliberately shot him .
UNITED STATES . The Anti-Rent Agitation has assumed such an important aspect that Governor Wright has officially proclaimed Delaware county to be in a state of insurrection . So the first step towards a social revolution has been taken ! In a week or two we shall give a full history of the Anti-Rent movement , and the particulars of the events which have led to Governor Wright ' s extraordinary proclamation . The war between man and property m the States has begun . THE RIVER PLATE .
The Petrel packet , Lieut . Creser , arrived at Falmouth on Monday afternoon last with the Brazil mails . This packet brings dates from Buenos Ayres to the 11 th July , when all the British and French ships of war were preparing for action in consequence of the British and French ministers having given Rosas only forty-eight hours to return an answer to therequirements . Be had given a reply to their former communication , but they declined accepting it , and therefore they gave Rosas forty-eight hours as a further time for coHsidering what conclusion he would come to in giving his reply . The plenipotentiaries appear determined to settlejthe dispute between Buenos Ayres and Monte Video .
Odd Fellowship. (Concluded From Our Eigm...
ODD FELLOWSHIP . ( Concluded from our eigMhpage . J TO THE EDITOR OF THE NOBTHEBN STAB . Sir , —Having seen in your paper of Saturday last letter from Mr . Ratcliffe , in which he has thought letter ironi mr . ixaiciine , m wnicn ne has thought
a proper to mention my name , and in such a manner as might have a tendency to mislead those who are unacquainted with me , I trust you will allow me a small space to reply . I shall pass over the first part of his letter , and the resolution of the auditors as to the gentlemanly way in which he discharges the duties of ids office ; and proceed to his remarks with regard to the Resolution of the Bradford A . M . C . In respect to his betting transactions , Mr . Ratcliffe says , "I do not deny being at Newton Races , and by the resolution of the Bradford A . M . C , am not prevented attending such places , if I think proper . " Certainly that resolution dees not prevent him attending such places : but pray what was the
reason it was passed ? Was it not thought by his frequenting race-grounds , and betting such tremendous sums of money there and elsewhere , that he could not attend to the duties of his office in the manner he ought to do ? Was not that the reason why they wished him to discontinue the practice ? The construction Mr . Ratcliffe puts on the wording of that resolution is not an honest one . I think it very clearly expresses the opinion of the A . M . C . as to his conduct at that time not being in accordance with their wishes . The resolution in question is as follows : — That this committee disapprove of the C . S . of tho order taking any part in general betting transactions , being of opinion that such transactions are inconsistent with the duties to be
performed by the corresponding secretary ; and C . S . Ratcliffe , having intimated his intention of discontinuing them , so long as he may hold the office of Corresponding Secretary , this committee therefore most explicitly state that the confidence of the order is still continued in him . And furthermore , that the person holding the office of Corresponding Secretary to the order ought to devote the whole of his time to the business connected with the institution . " Now , does Mr . Ratcliffe devote the " whole of his time " to the business of the institution , when he is attending the different races in the country ? It appears that Mr . Ratcliffe found that he could not adhere to the " intimation" he gave at Bradford , and conseauentlv
attempts to defend his conduct by assertions which he knows are not correct . For instance , he says that more than one half of those who were formerly members of the Manchester District are gamblers on horse racing . I shall let this assertion pass for what it 13 worth , but I would ask him , even supposing it to be true , whether it justifies himin violating his promises t lie is quite conscious he promised to leave off betting : and that he left Bradford and went to London for the purpose ( as one of his friends there asserted on his behalt ) , to make such arrangements as would enable Jr , nm , a ?« , i . aCCOrdallCe ™ tft the wishes of the annual m eeting . The result of that visit has been strongly commented oa in the public papers , and is weUknown to almost every one in Manchester : but I do not wwh . here to repeat their o ? inion of his
conduct on that occasion . In concluding his letter , ho treats his readers to a few remarks , again trying to justify his gambling propensities , by stating that the first bet he ever made on a horse race was at » iy instigation . The statement , puerile as it is , requires a few words from me , as it might possibly cause some parties to think that I am in the habit of gambling . I can state without fear of contradiction , that no person can say that I ever hot twenty shillings on horse racing in my life . I believe I once did bet with Mr . R . half a crown , or a crown ; but that was all : ' and if Ac . had never bet more , there never would
have been this commotion in Odd Fellowship . Perhaps 2 fr . RoMiffe will inform your readers at whose instigation he betted upwards of £ 850 ' against one horse for the Derby THIS YEAR ? Assuredly it was not at mine . If he had always been so willing to adopt my advice , as he says he was in respect te his first bet , lie would certainly have now occupied a more enviable position in the Ordef .-than he now does , in the office lie professes to fill in 30 " genth > manlike" a manner . I remain your obedient servant , Josnru Hardy . 9 , Tkude Hill , Manchester .
To Thb Editor Of The Northers Star. Sin,...
TO THB EDITOR OF THE NORTHERS STAR . Sin , —In your paper of the 30 th ult . there is a letter signed " Henry Balmforth i" intended as a reply to some remarks of mine which appeared in a previous number ; but , like all that have appeared on the same side of the question , it loses sight of the real points at issue . In his first paragraph , he mentions the fact of the Board of Directors having suspended somehdges for not furnishing them with an account of their private funds , and calls this " an illegal assumption of power ; " and yet , he says , the A . M . C . did not censure , but justified them . The A . M . C . is the highest tribunal of the order ; and as the twentysixth resolution of the Newcastle A . M . C . ( page 7 of Annual Report ) made it imperative upon every lodge
in the unity to furnish such information , to be laid before the Glasgow A . M . 0 ., it was a glaring violation of the aforesaid resolution in not doing . so . The number of lodges which refused to comply were very few j and the readiness with which an overwhelming majority oi' the order complied with the resolution of the Newcastle A . M . C , shows that they were right in demanding such information : and the fact of the Glasgow A . M . C . justifying the Board of Directors in suspending the non-complying lodges . shows that there was an '' illegal assumption of power" in having done so—but , on the contrary , that they were acting in conformity with the opinion of the highest tribunal of the order , and which tribunal every lodge at its opening pledges itself to obey and abide by . .
„ , . With regard to the meetings held for considering the changes made in the scale of payments and benefits , a great deal more may be said than I am at present disposed to say . Suffice it , for the present , to state that the conduct pursued by the opponents of the Board of Directors has been altogether illegal and unconstitutioaal , and of such an extraordinary kind that it was quite necessary the Board of Directors should take some immediate and decisive steps to put a stop to such proceedings . If they had not done so , they would have proved themselves unequal to the task of governing the affairs of the institution . This society has laws and rules for the government of its affairs , and which for nearly half a century have Droved auite efficient for that purpose : but the
proceedings of the members of the ^ Manchester and oalford districts were calculated , ifsufferedtopass unnoticed , to subvert the laws andusages of the institution , and consequently , peril its existence . Its laws afford ample means for remedying any grievance that may arise ; but in this disgraceful affair all law and order was set at defiance , and the walls of Manchester disgraced with scurrilous songs and placards denouncing the Executive of the order , in a manner that reflects anything but credit upon the parties so doing . Sir , 1 am a hater of tyranny in any shape , come from whence it may ; and I cannot but look unon the whole proceedings of those who are such zealous declaimers against what they call the ' * tvrannv of the board , " as an attempt at tyranny
of the worst kind , because calculated to create distrust and dissention among the whole body , and in a short time to have overturn the labour of years , and reduce to a state of chaos the whole society . "H . B . " says , "thejdircctors are determined , at all hazards ^ to enforce the obnoxious resolutions ; " but if a MAJoniir of the order disapproved of them , and could show by facts that the alterations were unnecessary , I have no doubt but that the Board of Directors would suspend the operation of the " obnoxious resolutions" until the next A . M . C , when the question could bo settled upon its merits . But no ! this would be too tedious and slow a process , and the " tyrants" could not be so easily denounced . It sometimes happens that the principles of liberty are
sullied and retarded by the imprudence and folly of its advocates . The fact of two lodges in the Liverpool district , " having pronounced in favour of separation , " need not be wondered at , when we know the potency of bad example , but I am glad to find that out of upwards of one hundred lodges only two have been misled . ,,,. ¦ , I have read attentively all that has appeared in the Star , and need not" re-read It : " and I again say that the points at issue are overlooked , and that the controversy is a personal one , ancJ not one of principle . The question is , was it necessary to conw to some regular and uniform method of conducting the financial affairs of the order , or not ? On turning to
the quarterly report for July , 1844 , page 4 , 1 find the alarming fact that , during the year 1843 , Two Hundred and Twenty-five Lodges were closed for want of funds ; and in addition to this , a great number of lodges applied for relief . This conviuced the directors that something must be done to procure the stability of the order . Hence the resolution of the Newcastle A . M .-C . making it imperative upon every lodge in the Unity to furnish the board with a statement of their financial affairs , blank forms being sent to every lodge for that purpose . Could all this be done without the members supposing some great change was at hand ? And what change ? Why , to make the income and expenditure not only equal , but to have something in reserve to prevent the
recurrence of the above-named calamities ; and also that large promises should not be held out , without a good prospect of their being realized . As to the representation , I need say little on that head : for noildng can be more perfectly a representation of the u'holc order than it is . _ As to the "tradesmen becoming raging despots , " it is all nonsense : -for the lodges can elect tuhom they please for the quarterly tommiities i and the quarterly committees elect the deputies to the A . M . C .: therefore the lodges have full power to keep the tradesmen out of both committees , if they think proper . But one word upon this . During my experience in the order about nine years , I have almost invariably found the most important offices in lodees ( secretary , for instance ) filled by tradesmen :
the working classes , I am sorry to say , as a body , not being prepared for keeping complicated accounts , or conducting the continual correspondence arising between the lodges . In my capacity of C . S . of this district I have had abundant opportunities of seeing the difficulties under which the order laboured in this respect ; and when I came to Ireland , I rejoined the order , and accepted laborious duties—laborious , because they interfered with my business and private pursuits , simply because 1 knew I could be ot use to them in such matters . The statements in the quarlerly reports may be slanders for aught I know . I have not a copy by me : but if my memory serves me aright , it is there stated that the election of Mr . Ratcliffe as C . S . of
the order was one cause of offence , he not being at the time a member of the Manchester district . This was under the old system , when the Manchester district had far more than its proper influence in the A . M . C . I therefore take itforgranted that hiselectionwasaeonsequenceofbissuperior qualifications for the office . Since he has been in office he has detected , and prevented from imposing upon the order ( by giving goods of an inferior description to samples estimated for ) , several of the leading persons in the " new move . " This is a serious charge , if true-:: and puts the parties against whom they are made in a position not to be envied . I know nothing of the matter . The thing is stated in the report of the Executive ; and if untrue , it is easy for the parties concerned to exonerate themselves from such odium If this can be done , let it be done at once ,, instead of making assertions ; and then the charges would stand
as false accusations , and we should know the degree of credit to give the parties making thoni- As I may expect to have the " cudgels * again applied , it might perhaps have been better , as far as I am concerned , to have been silent ; but I feel it a matter et Importance , and as I have long been accustomed to differ with the majority of mankind in opinion , 1 am very indifferent as to a cudgelling occasionaUv--however , as my time is very scarce , I do not wish to prolong this controversy , unless absolutel y necessary for the cause of truth and the interest of the order ; and I would advise " H . B . " to keep the same object in view , and do what he can to restore unity in the order , and thus enable it to maintain that proud position it baa so long held over all other benefit societiw < , Yours truly , : W . S-, G , M . and P , Prov , 0 , S . 1 Belfast , Sept . 8 th , 1845 .
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: ^ mi ) MTIQNAL TEADES JOUENAL . —^——»^—^^^ — - .
Messrs. Doyle. M'Grath, And Clark S T0tj...
MESSRS . DOYLE . M'GRATH , AND CLARK S T 0 TJR- „ ™ i Hebden Bridoe .-Pudlic MEEiiNo .-On Monday , Sept . 15 th , one of the largest public meetings that have taken place here since 1842 , was held in the Democratic Chapel , when Messrs . P . M Grath , A . Clark , and C . Doyle attended and delivered instructive and entertaining addresses on the Gnawer , ano the Land . The meeting was not as noisy as those ot a previous date , but much more attention was paid to what feU . from the several speakers than has been usual in popular assemblies . The three gentlemen acquitted themselves to the satisfaction of the meeting , and much good is expected to result from their exertions .
colse . , Public Meeting . —The new chapel , a large and commodious building , was well filled on Thursday evening last ,- notwithstanding that the rain poured down in torrents , to hear the Chartist Land scheme propounded by three of the directors , Messrs . M'Grath , Doyle , and Clark . Mr . Smith occupied the chair , and after a lew preparatory observations introduced the speakers to the meeting . ' The addresses were well received , and seemed to give satisj faction . TOD . VOBDEV .
Camp Meetixc-.-tOn Sunday last , in the afternoon , a camp meeting was holden about a mile from the town , and had it not been for the very unfavourable state of the weather , the muster would have been immense . At the time for commencing business the rain descended rapidly , yet there was a great number of persons present—some from Bacup , Hebde ' h-briclge , and So > Yerby . A number of friends from Rochdale were at the meeting , and lent their vocal assistance , which was by-no means contemptible . -Messrs . " Clark , - M'Grath , . and Doyle
were announced on the bill , but the former was obliged to go to Leeds to lecture there in the evening ; The two latter gentlemen were present , and addressed the people for some time in the open air , but the rain falling heavier , the meeting adjourned to a barn in the neighbourhood , where speeches were delivered , and a collection made in aid of the Dixon fund . Ik . the evening Mr . M'Grath lectured in the Odd Fellows' Hall , to . a numerous audience , on the "Prospects of tho People ' s Cause . " The leoture sore much satisfaction .
LEEDS . Mr . J . R . H . Baibsiow and Mr . Thomas Qhvk addressed the people of this place in the bazaar , on Sunday evening last . Both gentlemen were attentively listened to—their addresses were warmly applauded . SAUORD . The Land : —On Monday evening last a public meeting was held in the large room of the Association , to hear the Land scheme expounded by Messrs . Loach , Doyle , and M'Grath . All three gentlemen were present , and delivered eloquent and argumentative addresses . HEYWOOD .
Lecture . —Mi ' . Bell delivered two public lectures on Sunday , the 21 st inst ., in the Chartist School room , Hartley-street ; the first lecture at half-past two in tho afternoon—subject , " The Constitution and resources of the British empire ; " whichhe treated in a masterly style . Mr . O'Connor ' s letter was read , and gave great satisfaction , The subject of the second lecture , at half-past six in the evening , was " The Land . " The manner in which Mr . Bell treated this , it being his first lecture on the subject , astonished all who heard him . His arguments were powerful and unanswerable . A collection was made after each lecture in behalf of Mr . Dixon . Although but few persons were present , 19 s . Sid- was collected .
MANCHESTER , Lecture . —Mr . J . Leach lectured on Sunday evening last , on the Land question , to the instruction and amid the plaudits of those assemblcdi OLDHAM . Lecture . —On Sunday last , Mr . Daniel Donovan delivered a very energetic address on the Land and the Charter , in the Working Man ' s Hall , Horsedgestreefc .
HALIFAX . A Public Tea Partv , in honour of the Executive Committee of the National Charter Association , was held in the Association Room , Bnllclose-lane , on Tuesday evening last . Three members of that body —Messrs . Doyle , M'Grath , and Clark were present . After discussing the good things of this life , the company adjourned to the Odd Fellows' Hall , where a public meeting had been convened , and was addressed by Messrs . Clark , Doyle , and M'Grath . The Land plan was ably expounded by them , and the People ' s Charter pointed out as the only means of securing happiness to the King and Priest-ridden people .
KEIGHLET . Messrs . Clark , M'Grath , and Dovle visited this place onWednesday , 17 th inst ., to propound the Land , scheme , promulgated by the late Convention held in . London . A meeting , held in the Working Man ' s Hall , and presided over by Mr . Wetherhead , was addressed by the above persons . The capabilities o £ the soil was shown in a clear and forcible manner . The benefits accruing to members joining the Land Society was ably put forward , and the objections to the plan met and successfully refuted . A branch of the Co-operative Society has been es $ 8 * Wished here .
SALFORD . Public Meeting . —On Monday night last a public meeting took place in the large room of the National Charter Association , to hear addresses from Messrs . M'Grath , Doyle , and Leach , on the all-absorbing question of the Land , Mr . James Hoylc was callea to the chair , wlio , after a few remarks , introduced tho speakers . The speeches of Messrs . Doyle and Leach were excellent , which told well upon the meeting . Several persons enrolled their names , and took up shares in the Land Society . The committee meets every Sunday afternoon for the purpose of enrolling members and receiving instalments , from halfpast two till four o'clock .
LONDON . Sowers Town . —On Sunday evening last , at a members' meeting of this locality , on the motion of Messrs . Edwards and Tucker , it was agreed that fourteen shillings be sent to the veteran patriot John Richards .
Death Of The Bishop Of Batk Aw Weias.—Tl...
Death of the Bishop of Batk AW WeIAS . —Tllfe venerable bishop died on Monday , at Weston-super-Mare , Somersetshire , at the advanced age of 85 years . His episcopal duties , on account of his infirmities , have for some time past been performed by the Bishop of Salisbury . His lordship was a doctor of divinity , a visitor of Wadham , College , Oxford , F . R . A . S ., « fcc , and uncle to the Earl of Ellcnborough . Dr . Law was consecrated Bishop of Chester in . lSi : ? , and translated to Bath and Wells in lS 2 i . Though not of brilliant talents , he was of highly respoctable acquirement , of sound judgment , and through life devoted to the interests of the church , of which he , was an ornament . —Standard .
West Bromwich—Explosion or Fire-damp . —On Thursday morning week , about seven o ' clock , a dreadful explosion of sulphur took place at Crook Hay Colliery , Heatley-heath , in a pit belonging to Mr . Davis . The way the sulphur became ignited was from the fire drawing down to it , and- the explosion shook the whole of tho neighbourhood for a mile round , and was felt by several persons in Wcdnesbury quite distinctly . It exploded five distinct times , and the flames blazed above the top Of the pit for about thirty yards . The pit is . 1 S 7 yards
deep , so that the fire rose about 217 yards in height . At the time the explosion took place twenty-seven men and boys were in the pit ; and hearing one explosion after another , the poor fellows thought all hopes of safety at an end . Forfcufrtciy they were in a part of the pit whore the fir # did not enter » which escaped , by tho shaft instead . Frightful as this explosion was , we are happy to state that only one poor man is burnt , and he was employed at the bottom of the . shaft . It is stated that it is many years since there was so serious an explosion in this neighbourhood .
Disfase . AjioxosT Cattle .- ^ -Wc regret hear that a disease , epidemic in its nature , and fatal in its results , has broken out amongst cattle in the vicinity of Fcnritfl . Inflammation is its nrincipai characteristic , and its progress is so rapid as in most cases to render impotent the skill of the veterinary . It has made fearful ravages among the stock of several agriculturists . . Mr . Boustead of Hackthorpe Hall , and Mr . Hill of Eden Hall , being amongst the p rincipal sufferers of whom we have heard , —Carlisle Jtvm & l .
Fise at Hoxton . — On Thursday morning an alarming fire broke out , shortly before one o ' clock , upon the premises belonging to Mr . Grafter , chemist and druggist , situate at 171 , High-street , Hoxton Old Town . It originated in the back parlour , which it completely destroyed , and passed from thence into the shop , which contained a valuable stock in trade . The inmates had a narrow escape , being compelled te get out of one of the windows , with only their nightclothes on . The fire was subdued by the engines , but not until nearly the whole of the stock was consumed .
Esrtosios . —Loss ov Two Lives . —Between eleven , and twelve o ' clock on Thursday forenoon an explosion , took place at Harlow West Marsh , in a house situated in the " back row . " It occurred in a room . on . the second story , carrying away the greater portion of the roof and demolishing the wall separating the two rooms of which the floor cons isted . TJietwa rooms presented a scene of complete destruction , the furniture and other fittings being shattered into innumerable fragments . Doubled up in the . corner of the room lay the body of a youth dreadfully crushed and quite dead . It appears that the entire housa was rented by a man named Jackson , whose rem aina were discovered on the outside of the ' premises ^ and . who , assisted by his son ( the youth whose body was found in the room ) , carried on the " business of a firework manufacturer . - ^ . , .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 27, 1845, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_27091845/page/1/
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