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THE NORTHERN "STAIR. April 29, 1848 O _„...
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Sourn Lokdon Chartist Hall.—On Sunday, t...
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DEATH OF LIBERTY. It is this week our pa...
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'It THE NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE ^ FRI...
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NATIONAL CONVENTION. This bony »&t in co...
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1 ! ? * ^ ! ! ! I s ! ^ ^ - I TO THE FRA...
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,- ABRIDGED NOTICES OF CHARTIST MEETINGS...
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I Stockport.—On Sunday next, Mr John Wei...
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(From our Fourth Edition of last week.) ...
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I The German papers state that the Pruss...
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Printed feyDOUGAL M'GOW AN, of 16, Great Wmdail> street, Haymarket, in the City of Westminster, at the vincein oireet
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, mo aume ana rarish. for tho Proprietor...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Great Chartist Demonstration On Sklftcoa...
i ^^ s ^ s ^ ff ^^^^^ xi ^ ''^^ ' ' ' " ' "V : pirHnr ^ i irmfl i i •< <> > „ „ tne £ e . and decay in their » entininife » tinit th « r we ^«« 6 BCe ^ tbe ^ Gating Bill . . W ^^ tl whfc h they were to bj poser *»*»* £ ? £ ? would endeavour to remedy r ^ -f'i wWct the nation groaned . Such a fi - -rfinonirV bad gone forth , that no power on W J JSff the advancement and triumphof this " TffiSi ^ f ^ atq fe ^ JHHfe * *&»• " 3 hand when every gaar « ' no one asa lord ] jorth a ? a man . J £ * ^ 8 Uch anima n duke , or marquis , beMWJ KC 8 gniBed „ J in ^' " ^ " ^ ; JSrty orweBlth , butonlyaJ man on acwunu of h »| " ^^ worth . The man ^ S " or the purpose of enslaving his f ^ l hP rSraed only as a ferocious savage , glow- man he regard ^ rf fa ; m « 1 The ? Sre upon the eve of a great change in ( H * ar . ) . ^ S- oV society . The present movement
^ SwjsrrsJ ^ ^ £ » « ££ Jb of the L countries is essencn between * * dje Qne coajnlon S ^ rSS abSment orthat degree of freedom which both so earnestly desire . MfWM E « uEiT , of Keighley , seconded the reso .. Intta He asked whether this wae . the last meeting SR ^^ V ^ Mffi H g ^ s ^ i ttey were not prepared for the Charter ' _ He hoped Stevery working man that spokeat their meetings wmld resolve that where bespoke once before the ftwoinsr Bill oassed . he weald now speak twice or | | |
fame . ( Cheers . ) If they sat down with the bagging Bill , and allowed Lord John Russell to put it into operation , their liberties ware drowned and their slavery was fixed for ever . The resolution expressed gympathy with the Irish people , and the meeting no doabt sympathised with the whole people of Ireland and tbe whole world , in the endeavour to effect their emancipation . They were going to memorialise the Queen to dismiss her ministers . The people of Ireland were starving in thousands ; and the people of England were in a miserable and distressed condition . He thought it was the duty of the people of England to unite firmlv with the labouring clashes of Ireland ; and . if they did so , they might rely upon it no gc-Ternmsnt wtfd ioxgbs able to withstand their demand ; and the People ' s Charter would become the law of the land .
Mr J . Shaw , of Leeds , supported the resolution , There jolution he said spoke of the sympathy they had for the Irish oeaple . It was true they did sympathise with tbe sufferings of the Irish people , but whatever sympathy they might have for those sufferings or whatever svmpathy the Irish peeple might have for the English working classes , they would never be EafScientiy strong to put down the injustice that was thecauseof thosesefferings , without they wereunited and determined as one man to put down the wrong system which existed in this natien . If they inquired why so much snfferin ? , poverty , and starvation existed in the nation , they were told by some that it was the will of God that it should be so . It was bis belief that the will of God had nothing to do with it .
( Hear , hear . ) « No , man is the cause of it . ' If they told him tbat it was caused by the extravagance of the aristocracy-and the base , brutal , and bloody Whig government—or by tbe whole of the idlers that consumed the nation's wealth without giving any equivalent in return—then he might agree with them ; for it was by the taxes drained from society by those who lived on the industrious that they were made to suffer and to pine . ( Hear , hear . ) He contended tbat while the upper classes were prepared with physical forae to keep them down , he saw no reason why tbe working classes should not be phvsically prepared to repel and drive back the encroachment upon their liberties . ( Cheers . ) He was aware that he was a marked man , but no matter
for that , he was determined to speak the truth . In Ireland , hundreds of thousands of people had been sent , through want , to a premature grave ; and in our own country thero were thousands wbo were slowly perishing day by day , for want of the common necessaries ot life . He was one that would preserve life and property . He had a great respect fer life and property . He would injure the property of no man . He would be sarry to do so . He wanted to protect the property of all men ; and were he required to be sworn in as a special constable , he would readily join with the higher and middje classes of society in protecting their property against the robbers and plunderers who came to invade it ; but at the same time be would protect his own property , which was his labour . So he would try to protect the property of the labourers of the country . "While , then , they found all parties in society makin ? common cause against the property of the working
classes , he wonld say again , that it was tbe duty ef tfes working c ' asses to ba united for the purpose of repelling and driving back an invasion upon , their property . He had an idea tint the middle classes of society were prepared to assist the working classes to a certain extent . He would receive that assistance gladly ; bnt , at the same time , he did not think the middle c'asses came willingly to their assistance . It was because they could not do otherwise ; it was because while the present system of taxation had reduced the working classes to pauperism , the middle classes were on the verge of bankruptcy * The interests of the middle and working classes in sosiety were the same . If the working man was doing well the middle man wonld do well ; but it was quite clear that if the working man got no wages , the middle man would get no profits . It was the duty of mid .-lle men , then , to come forward to the aid of the working man . Let the middle classes remember that tha working classes had now nothing to lose ; let them remember that fie condition of the working classes eould noibs worse . It had baen said that to
give security to life and property they must yield to the people their rights ; and , if they did so , they would willingly assist to protect the life and property of a'l the other Chartists . _ Mr — Clisset . of Halifax , moved the next resolution . He complimented the meeting on their exhi-Mtifts such moral dignity , and standing up as they did that day , in the proud position of men who ishowed that they were determined to have their political and social rights . After some remarks ( deprecatory of the * corrupt and hireling pres ? , ' he ( concluded by moving the following resolution : — Tbat this meeting , agreeing with the National Conweniion in its general conduct , and particularly as regards the election of a . National Assembly , plsdgea itseli 1 t 9 render tbat body all the support in its power . Mr Jahss Diggles , of Bradford , seconded the resolution .
Mr Joseph Barker , of Wortley , afler some con- ] STatulatory remarks , said that their cause might roe compared to tbe day on which they had met to-Eeiher . The nicht preceded the day , and the dim cda ^ n followed . For some hours they had still had a [ threatening of mist and of rain ; but the day got tbrighter—it had continued to get brighter hourlysand at last the beautiful sun had began to shine out Sbr i ^ htly upon them . And so would it be with the political affairs of tbis chantry . They had outlived iihe dark midnight cf oppression . They had seen tbhe dim dawn of liberty—the day of freedom was ooartial y advancing , and if they proceeded in a pro iier coarse , the snn of freedom would dry up every ;; loud , would pour down its bright warm rays upon tthem , and they would sfo the close of a happy day . IHs was a moral fprce Chartist . ( Cheers . ) He ba
Uieved in the all mighty power of moral force , and ahat truth , and benevolence , and virttze , and ecurrage wonld go hand in hand , and would overturn eevil institutions and annihilate all bad government , and establish righteousness and freedom in tho place oof oppression and despotism . They wished the go wersment *> f tbis country to adopt the People ' s Cbartter , in order to popularise the Hous-. e of Commons . TThe principles of the Charter were perfectly just , rrational , and moderate , and be then proceeded to ddisenss the several points of tha Charter in . proof ol tthis position . He concluded by reading a memorial ttoher Majesty , praying her to dismiss her present aadvisers , and take into her council men who would uniike the People ' s Charter a cabinet measure . The rreading of this memorial was received with loud ccbeering . ,
The adoption of the memorial was seconded by Mr , Xfoas Smyth , of Bradford , who , in the course of hts > rremarks , stated , that the meeting contained 45 , 000 ppeople , as he said it covered two acres of ground , Hwhich , at ei ? ht to the square yard , would give the iibora number . Mr Charles Smith , of Bradford , supported the rtesolutien . The memorial wa ? then adopted amid loud cheers A vote of thanks to the chairman was moved by fiMr T . B . Ward , of Halifax , and seconded by Mr Mygtmv Haksox , of Eland . Three cheers were then given for ' the strangers swhohad come to address them , '— * tor the Charter , ' — « for F . O'Connor , Esq ., —for ' the people , the ioonrce of all legitimate power . ' | |
The procession then re-formed , and marched through the town again . All passing off peiceably , the special constables ™ ere dismissed , and the military and yeomanry were released from the strict guard to which they had joeen liable for six or s ? ven consecutive hours . A correspondent informs us that there wore from 580 to 00 , 000 persons at tbe meeting .
The Northern "Stair. April 29, 1848 O _„...
THE NORTHERN "STAIR . April 29 , 1848 O _„ . » i . m . LUiJ » ii . i . i i i . . ui . . , . 1 .. ... n ^ . JL . il ' . JIH-mj'liimJKH-B ^ WiW . i m . U . l . U . i I I — - ' " - : . ^ . . ... XillU ^ UI . LCT J ' ni itll . U Mai Miro ill U . UI ^
Sourn Lokdon Chartist Hall.—On Sunday, T...
Sourn Lokdon Chartist Hall . —On Sunday , the 3 CO : b , at haii-pasfc ten o ' clock in the morning , a pntaue A » Mi . «; will take place . Subject : « Capitsl sea L . 3 B 0 Br .
Sourn Lokdon Chartist Hall.—On Sunday, T...
TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIN
CONFERENCE IS DUBLIN , Brethren , —I have , for some time past , been turnins over in my mind , and considering what effect a CONFERENCE IN DUBLIN would produce upon * he great aud hely cause which we have so deeply at heart . . On looking over , and taking opinion upon the Irish Convention Act , 83 Geo . 3 , cap . 29 , I find and am well-advised that under that act or any other act in existence , a Conference such as that held in Birmingham , in Dacember , 1842 , cannot be prevented or
interfered with . , , . Brother Chartists , on whose good faith and chivalrous sense of justice , I have often sta ked my life , and if * ose summons I have always obeyed , will you respr to my summons now ? Will you place me , wb / jsked my life for you and tbe . principles wo hold de T thaullife-place me in a positiontranscendently s ' . ^ ve that which was ever occupied by any man IN IRELAND before my time ? Let mo be the first to occupy the proud position . Let me be tae man who recommended a Conference , a Cenvention , ot English delegates in Ireland to promote Irish interests . To save my country from utter and
inevi-. table rum ! . . Let me then implore and beseech you by the principles of that Charter , which you hold so dearly , and for which you hsve suffered so much , to abandon the notion for holding a National Assembly in London . And instead thereof , return FIVE HUNDRED
iOELEGATES TO HOLD A CHARTIST CONFE RENCE IN DUBLIN . This CoBterenee held in Dab ' . in . will win to our Iholy cause all the Catholic clergy of Ireland , and the Soreat body ef the middle classes . Do this , my friends , and you will place your hunted ^ persecuted br o ther in a prouder , a loftier , and la holier position than any Irish politician ever oc-Icupied . Patrick O Higgins ^ m , ^ President of the Iri sh Universal SuffrageAssociation . I Dublin 22 ad April , 1848 .
, [ Mr O'fliggios will perceive that we have struck out a paragraph of his letter . The entire letter was laid before the members of the Convention , but that body having subsequently determined that the Assembly shall commence its sittings on Monday next , we considered that the paragraph we have omitted , would , if published , havo an injurious effect . Doubtless Mr O'fliggins will comprehend our meaning , and understand why we bave taken the liberty we have done with his letter . —Ed . N . S . }
Death Of Liberty. It Is This Week Our Pa...
DEATH OF LIBERTY . It is this week our painful duty to record one of the most melancholy events of ancient or modern times—namel y , the death of an old and valued friend . The loss of a friend is deeply felt in the family circle , or at the social board ; but how much more poignant must suffering be when the grief applies to the whole human family
land the more especially , when it will be seen | by the evidence adduced upon the inquest , Ithat the death of deceased was the result of lone of the most dastardly conspiracies that has Ibeen hatched in the most hellish mind—a con-Ispiracy of so wide-spread and determined a Inature as to preclude the possibility of detection until too late . 1 The friends of the deceased have been in a Istate of constant alarm since the year 1832 , I when the faculty announced a great change ] | in deceased's constitution , consequent upon ! Iseveral reforms professed . to be made in hisj ahousehold , from whose dissensions andj Isquabbles his health was in the habit of re-j Iceiving sudden and violent shocks , and from ! Ithat period to the present , the constitution of j Ideceased manifested progressive decline in re-i apeated attacks of spleen , occasioned by thej iinjurious restraints imposed upon him in-Ibis old age , and which resulted in his demise j | at two o ' clock , on Saturday last , the 22 nd of
April , in the year of our Lord 1848 , and thej first of the Reign of Terror . The remains of the deceased were brought up in triumph from ! the House of Lords , and laid on a table in the ) House of Commons , and were carried thencej to the tomb of one of his ancestors , the Lord ] William Russell , where the slaughtered parentj and the murdered offspring now lie . j ] On the Saturday and Sunday subsequent to * the interment , a rumour that deceased came-i tn his dpnth bv foul means was extensivelvs
[ circulated ; whereupon T . Wakley , Esq ., ? jM . P ., and Coroner , gave immediate direction ^ ifor the disinterment of the remains , and [ summoned ajury to hold an inquest at Ches- ; | ham House , the residence of Lord John ^ [ Russell . _ ^ I In accordance with the instructions of thej j Coroner , a highly respectable jury was swornj at two o ' clock , on Monday , the 24 th , and , 1 ; after a post mortem examination by Dr ] Charter , assisted by the most eminent of the ; medical profession , the following evidence ; was submitted to the jury : — Dr Charter was the first witness called ,: and gave the following evidence;—" I have known the deceased from my in- ; fancy , hut was not his medical adviser ; hevertheless , we were upon terms of close inti- i macv , and , since the year 1832 , he has fre-l
quently consulted me as a friend as to the ; medical treatment he had been in the habit : of receiving from Drs . Grey , Melbourne , and ; Russell , who had been appointed physician ^ in ordinary to the deceased , in the year 1832 . " Coroner—Pray Doctor are you aware of the age of deceased ? "Witness—Not from any parish register or local record , but from tradition ( which had not | been contradicted , ) it appears that deceased was horn in 168 S . Coroner—What , then , he must have been in his hundred and sixtieth year ?
Witness—Yes , for he had a noble constitution up to the period of which I speak , and iwas one of those phenomena for which there is no accounting . ! Coroner—Well , Doctor , and to what do you attribute his death ? Witness—Why , after the most minute examination I have discovered marks of several external wounds upon the body , as well as symptoms of organic disorder , which appeared to be the result of repeated fits of spleen anil Jep ilepsy . Coroner—But to what circumstance do you ascribe the immediate death of deceased ?
Witness—Decidedly to the stab which he received on the evening of the 10 th of April . Coroner . —You consider that stab to have been the immediate cause of death ? Witness . —Certainly ; for the other wounds , of which I have spoken , „ were healed , and must have been inflicted at different times ; and although the internal circumstances showed the disordered state of the heart and lungs , yet there is no reason to suppose that they were the immediate cause of death . |
, '• 'Several other witnesses belonging to the medical profession corroborated the evidence , Iwhen Mr Equality , a chemist , who was in the habit of suppl ying drugs to the deceased , and [ with whom he was upon the closest terms ol intimacy , was called . ~~ Z Coroner , to the Witness . — Pray , Mr Equality , were you acquainted with deceased ? Witness . —Yes ; I was in the habit of preparing all his medicines ; besides which , I was his nearest relative , and we were upon the most intimate terms .
Coroner . —Then , Witness , " > ill you havec athe kindness to detail to the Jury any circumsstance connected with this important inquiry ! | from your private knowled ge , or your profes-1 Ssional engagements ? Witness—About the year ' 1794 , Dr Grey , 3 au eminent member of the faculty , and a near ! | relative of the deceased , attempted to alter hisl i * treatment according to the new system preascribed by | the French medical school , in 1793 , 1 land deceased being of a most sanguine andl
excitable temperament , began to take more { $ exercise , from that period , than he had beenfe previously accustomed to . Up to that time ! deceased was of a melancholy and sedative ! temperament , and the sudden changes froml the habits thus contracted , to the most gay and ! dissipated life , appeared to accord best with ! his disposition ^ j Coroner . —Well , but Dr Grey was ' not his p hysician in those days ? I Witness , —Not always ; but when Dib . Pitt ,
Death Of Liberty. It Is This Week Our Pa...
Castlereagh , or Liverpool , were OUT , Dr Grey was occasionally called IN . . .,-Coroner . —Well , upon those occasions , did the treatment of Dr Grey materially differ front that ef Drs Pitt , Castlereagh , and Liverpool ? Witness—Onl y to this extent—that , I think , they were more stringent ; but , being a relative , he had great influence over the
deceased , and has frequently told him , in my presence , that the remedies administered were intended as a corrective to : those applied by Drs Pitt , Castlereagh , and Liverpool ; and that , in order to effect a complete cure , and tn restore the patient to perfect health , it wasr necessary that he should ho entrusted with the entire responsibility .
! Coroner , —From your evidence , it would ap pear that deceased was afflicted with sonu serious malady as long ago as 1794 . Pray ! what was that malady ? j Witness . —I did not consider that he had any malady . He was treated for monomania , resulting from an ever-ceasing solicitude as to the welfare of his numerous family , who , he ; was in the habit of saying , were ever ill-uped by the trustees appointed b y his ancestor in the year 1688 . I ' Coroner . —Witness , confine your evidence [ to what you consider to have been the immediate cause of death .
Witness . —Well , as I stated before , deceased teok a very lively interest in all public matters , and especially in the bustle of General Elections . Coroner . —What had deceased to do with elections ? Witness . —A great deal . The result constituted a board , which had the power of appoint-[ ing his physicians and trustees ; and , in July [ last , deceased became very much excited , and j \ vas in high spirits till the 23 rd of November , ¦ ' when the physicians appointed were called [ upon to prescribe for his eldest sister , MR ' ' IRELAND-, who was then in a most exhausted
[ state from continuous purging and bleeding [ and to whom Dr Russell and the faculty ad ' ' ministered , in his ( Witness ' s ) opinion , a dose [ of rank poison , known to the faculty as powdei ; of ropes and bullets ; and this treatment having caused the death of his sister , deceased continued in a state of violent agitation until the ; 10 th of the present month , when Dr Russell called in Drs Peel and Wellington , when the ' previous treatment of deceased was completely altered—those practitioners having decided upon administering a bolus of sulp hate of iron and steel filings , mixed with a black powder , to be administered by Dr Wellington on the morning of the 10 th- , . .
j Coroner . —Well , was this bolus admmis tgred ? r Witness . —No , it was not . ( Dr Charter , having received intimation of the intent , paid de ceased a private visit late on Sunday night and cautioned him against the consp irators . ' Coroner .-Where did deceased live fat the time ? , ¦ ¦ , Witness . —On Eennington Common ; and the bolus , I should say , was proposed > r SPECIAL remedy . Coroner . —Well , if the bolus was not taken you cannot attribute death to that . Witness . —Certainly , not directly ; but when the deceased refused to take the bolus , Drs Russell , Peel , and Wellington decided that he should be placed in an asylum , and the result af which was , that on the night of the 10 th iie was placed in St Stephen's Mad-house , ind , " unable to hear the ravings and bowlings > f the maniacs , he became daily weaker until Fhursday , the 20 th , when , being despaired of , -i sent to the House of Incurableswhere sent / iu nviua « . ^^« u > v « i ^ v
e was , e was mc ^ uu > ..... e remained till two o'clock on Saturday , the 2 nd , when he expired . Coroner . —Witness , did decease make a will , nd if so , to whom did he leave his property ? Witness . —Yes , he made a will and lam one F the witnesses . He left his property , share nd share alike , between his sister , Mrs Ire md , and the descendants of his other favourite ster , Mrs Chartist ; and he appointed a perw called PEOPLE'S VOICE as his ustee , and ; his last , ' words were , though ttered very
feebly" LAND AND CHARTER . " Coroner . —Then , witness , to what do you lttribute the death of the deceased ? Witness . —To a conspiracy to take away hi * life , as the bolus would have done , if administered , as I have taken the precaution to have it analysed by the ablest chemists , and the resuit was that they came to the conclusion that it would kill an ox . We did administer a very small portion of it to a horse , and he instantly died ; but the immediate cause ol death was the stab under the blade bone , which effected the lungs , and the subsequent uneasiness , occasioned by the ravings and the bel-Wingsof the maniacs in St Stephen ' s , and to the dying groans of tbe Incurables . James Fraternity , a reporter , was next
examined . —He stated that on Monday , the 10 th , lie was sent to St Stephen ' s Mad-house , to furnish a correct report of the state of that establishment ; and persons belonging to his department , being fearful of coming into collision with the inmates , usually took up their position in a gallery , from w hicli there was an escape by a back door upon hearing a term , in general use , WITHDRAW WITHDRAW ! ! WITHDRAW ! !
'Witness was in the gallery when the deceased was lying on the floor ; and when he heard I ' DO LIE UPON THE TABLE * profnounced by the keeper , he saw Dr Russell stab { deceased " under -the blade bone , when , in a | state of exhaustion , he was dragged along the jfloor by two mutes ; further he cannot state | from his own knowledge , but from what helms jheard , he is inclined to believe that deceased fingered from the 10 th to the 22 nd of April , j when he saw the undertaker come into St iStephen ' s , and he heard him tell the mutes to igo up to the Hospital of Incurables for the restrains of deceased . j Coroner . —What further did you see oi ! * ear ?
Witness . —Nothing more . Deceased being | an old and dear friend , I wept bitterly , and re-1 turned home to caution my family and friends lagainst taking any of the special bolus in « | tended to be admistered to our relative . ( This fwitness appeared to be much affected , and swept bitterly . ) 1 The next witness called was Mrs Justice , ^ housekeeper to the deceased . She was in gdeep mourning , and much affected . She cor-| roborated all that had been stated b y Mr
Equality ; and upon being asked by the Coroner , 1 whether the disobedience of numerous mem-1 hers of deceased ' s numerous family had not ! occasioned him trouble , which impaired hisl health , and injured his constitution , she replied , with a deep sigh— "No ; never ! " Hel always relied upon the wisdom of the sensible ? to correct the follies of the foolish , and he oftenl said tome - - I think I hear him now , Mrs !
| Justice ; he used to say : " If you attempt to check the ardour and spirit of those of my family , who think they have cause of com--plaint , by violence or coercion , you will only wed them the more fondly to error and mistake ; whereas , if you leave them to the good sense of my wiser children , they'll presently laugh at themselves , and thank their instruc tors as their friends , their benefactors and
sa-| | | ! viours . " () h dear ! oh dear ! 1 see him sitting opposite to me now over the fire , when he used to take his bread and milk at night , and he'd say : ' Mrs Justice , I ' m too old to work hard jnow , but I ' ve earned in youth the frugal comf orts I enjoy in old age ; ' and then he'd start : [ Oh , bless me ! how he'd start , and look wild around , and say , ' Mrs Justice , is it [ true that some of my children , who work hard [ all day , have not enough to eat , or a bed to lie ( upon ; and is it true , as I hear , that the trustees of my ancestors' property may , one day . fallow me in my old use to be sent to a place—^ they call the " Bastile , " and just before he died [—tor 1 watched him ta the last—he clasped fmy hand , && said : loved life once , but "I
Death Of Liberty. It Is This Week Our Pa...
love death better now , as some one Has whispered in my ear that my children are to be transported , if henceforth they are not satisfied to die without a murmur , and suffer famine without a complaint . '" ( At this point Oi . her evidence , the witness fainted away , and the Coroner , the Jury , and the Public , were affected with intense grief . ) The evidence being closed , the Coroner addressed the Jury as follows : — " Gentlemen of the Jury;—However important the present inquiry may be , my duty , is rendered comparatively easy by the close and praiseworthy attention , which throughout you have devoted to the case .
• " Gentlemen , according to the spirit of our laws , the preservation of life , or the punishment of those who take it , constitute the chief duty of the cicizen j and so considerate , and indeed just , is the law upon this subject , that it is held to be murder in as high a degree to shorten the duration of the life of a baby , whose existence would in all human probability be terminated in the course of a few minutes , as to take away the life of the first personage in tine realm , though that person may be in the vigour of life and of constitution .
" Thus I show you that the declining state of the health of deceased is no palliation whatever ! for the destruction of that life ; and , Gentle-1 men , your own good sense will at once point out the impossibility of establishing any line ofg demarcation , by which the living could be con- | stituted as judges of the probable duration of jjj life , as , ; were it otherwise , each wonld establish ! his own capricious standard of possible , or even '
I probable , existence , and the law , instead , or being made the avenger of guilt , would be made the abettor of crime . ; = " Gentlemen , I have thought it my dutyto direct your minds to this branch of the subject , lest the declining state of deceased ' s health , if coupled with a verdict which may not implicate any one in the guilt of his destruction , should lead to an erroneous conclusion .
" Gentlemen , in my opinion , the evidence of Mr Equality , the chemist , and of Mv Fraternity , the reporter , is conclusive as to the fact that a conspiracy against the deceased did exist , and that the fatal blow was struck by one of the conspirators ; but , gentlemen , another , though not so important a question must be decided by vour verdict ; because , from the evidence of Equality , the chemist , it appears that deceased made a will and appointed trustees , and there-J fore you will have to decide as to his competency or incompetency to perform that act . J That is , whether at the time of making his will , the deceased was in that state of mind which
would lead you to the conclusion that he was capable of discharging so important a duty , but , in my opinion , the evidence throughout , and especially the evidence of Mrs Justice , can leave no doubt upon your minds as to the ! sanity of deceased . j " Gentlemen , I wish to be explicit upon this i point , because , if the life of deceased was taken ] by any of the conspirators , who , under the im-i pression that he had not made a will , took his fife , in the hope of enjoying his property as aext of kin , this fact would considerably augment the crime of the guilty party .
" Gentlemen , as there is much and justifiable excitement throughout the whole country upon j this subject , it behoves you to be particular in ' vonr verdict ; meanwhile , I cannot withhold from you the fact that , in my mind , the ] mere circumstance of committing deceased to ] the lunatic asylum of St Stephen ' s furnishes ; strong ground for suspicion , and for this rea-j son , gentlemen , because , it being frequently my duty to visit that house , I unhesitatingly i leclare that , at times , the confusion is enough to drive a sane mind mad . I
" Gentlemen , the inmates have each a monomania—money , religion , patronage , neglect , * railways , peerage , profession , the army , thej navy , and what they call the " civil list , " toge-s ther with numberless other crotchets , possess the unfortunate inmates of that House ; and , I therefore , 1 say , that the very fact of con- ^ signing the deceased to such an asylum , whilej in a state of exhaustion and debility , is strong evidence of a conspiracy—a fact which is * uonobovated by the attempt of the same par- % ties to administer the SPECIAL BOLUS de- !
posed to by the medical practitioner , and to the effect of which , when administered to a liorse , he has deposed ; and then the evidence is wound up by the testimony of the reporter , who swears positively to having seen the fatal blow struck , thus providentially warning the guilty assassin that no crime can be hidden from Him whose privilege alone it is to give life and take it away . 11 Gentlemen , I shall now leave this important case in your hands , confidently trusting in your sense of justice , and relying upon Vou to return such a verdict as will satisfy your own consciences , the ends of justice , and the feelings of the friends of the deceased j lAnvino- nvmn * lioii « min / lo rm / tflinw imm-acoinm >\ l £ Uilft Illl 4 \ 7
..,.. « U J ""» ^ .. « .. a JJUVIigt UHLM CJOQIUU than that a criminal act , whether committed in the dark , or the result of ' OPEN AND ADVISED' deliberation and recommendatioc will be promptly met and speedily avenged by the laws of England —the laws of the country whose people are justly proud of theii LOVE OP LIBERTY . " The Jury immediately retired , and , after an absence of two hours and eleven minutes , returned into court , when the foreman , amid a breathless silence , returned the following special verdict : — " We find , that for a length of time there has existed a deep conspiracy against the life of the deceased , LIBERTY ; the seeds of which were sown as early as the year 1 / 94 , and continued to increase to the year 1832 , when deceased was placed under the medical superintendance of Drs Grey , Melbourne , and Russell ; and that the object of the conspirators was , so to overawe deceased as to compel him to leave the management and government of his vast estates , at home and abroad , to
those parties . "We further find , that on the 23 rd of November , 1847 , Drs Russell and Peel , being possessed of the devil , and not having the fear of God in their hearts , did upon that day conspire against tbe life of the deceased , and we further find , that on the morning of the 10 th of April , aid when the deceased was of sound mind , the said Drs Peel and Russell communicated their evil intentions to Dr Wellington ,
and that thej ' , together with the said Dr Wellington , did attempt to administer a dose of deadly poison to the deceased , and that upon the refusal of deceased to take the said poison , and while in a state of perfect sanity , the deceased was committed to St James ' s Lunatic Asylum , and that while lying there in ia state of insensibility , caused by previous ' excitement , he received a stab under the bkdehone , and which PENETRATED TO |
HIS LUNGS , * and we find that the deceased lingered till two o ' clock on Saturday last , and tbat the blow fo struck by the said Dr Russell was the immediate cause of death ; and we further find , that Drs Peel , Wellington , Grey , Hobhouse , Palmerston , Labouchere , Macaulay , Campbell , Lansdowne , as accessories before wid after the fact , and consequently principals in murder , together with the said Dr Russell , milty of the wilful murder of
IMMORTAL CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERTY . " The verdict was received with loud shouts ! rom a densely-crowded court , and were reslonded to by the cheers of thousands from vithout . . fa The Coroner immediatel y issued his warrant For the apprehension of the culprits , who , we mderstand , have been arrested , and will be ; ried at the approaching Special Commission at the Old Bailey , and whose fate we shall not ittempt to prejudge , as it is the boast of the h-nghsh Constitution that the accused shall ae presumed innocent until he is found guiltvl oy a jury of his Peers , J When the proceedings had concluded , the remains of deceased were deposited in a coffin Miinglish-oak , and the mournful procession in the order xegxesented hehw , and in sad and | | |
Death Of Liberty. It Is This Week Our Pa...
sullen silence , accompanied the remains of their oldest , best , and dearest friend , to his last home . They laid the corpse alongside the remains of the Lord William Russell , and placed the following inscription upon the tomb : — Here Iyeth the body of LORD WILLIAM RUSSELL , Who was basely murdered for his devotioa to hbbbtt : And hero lies LIB E RTY , Who was basely murdered By his own Guardian , The Lobd John Russilli |
Pc00814
'It The National Convention To The ^ Fri...
'It THE NATIONAL CONVENTION TO THE FRIENDS OF FREEDOM IN GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND . Fbliow Men , — p Incompliance with the geeneral feeling of tho I country , expressed through trie mudium of their delegates , a National Assembly will meet in London 3 ' ou Monday , May 1 st . Each district will make arvangementa far tbe payment of their own represenitatives , but the general expenses of tbat body , forf ' place of meeting , printing , stationary , & c , will be , V
as previous experience h « s demonstrated , very considerable ; we bave a government to contend with , possessing an unlimited command of funds' which they lavishly expend in misrepresenting and endeavouring to destroy the influence of our movement ; tbe preparations to put down our peaceful demonstration on Monday , April l ( kh , in London alone , cost upwards of £ 100 , 000 , thus proving that every means will be resorted to by our unprincipled rulers [ to put down the present agitation . To enable the [ National Assembly to meet and baffle this hostile ¦ array , we call upon yeu to supply your peausiary said . It is imperative that this should be done , and '* 4 /\« rt nHAmn ^ lir f \ .. ~ _! . — . . 1 _ I _ . " 1 P _ done promptlyOur struggle is for hemefor
; . , com-. fort , and for liberty ; surely a pecuniary sacrifice will . not be denied in aid of such a glorious object . We ' are aware that many towns bave to contribute hea-Ivily towards tho support of their delegates , but we : are also aware that in every town there are many j frienda ^ not enrolled in the C & artist ranks , who 1 would , if properly applied to , contribute towards the ^ upport of the movement- Let steps bo immediately taken , by issuing subscription books or otherw ise , to insure this desirable result . Many towns , and branches are not in a position to elect delegates , but they are as deeply interested as other portions [ of tbe empire in the success of our principles , and [ we have no doubt that they will cheerfully respond to this call and that a mighty effirt for the regeneration of the working millions of this empire , and the classes dependent upon their support for maintenance , [ shall not fail for want of pecuniary means to meet any exaences that a despotic government ' may entail upon them . All subscriptions to be r \> rwardedto Mr T . Clark , for the Treasurer of the National Assembly , 144 , High Hoi born , London . : By order of the Convention , Philip M'Grath , Chairman .
National Convention. This Bony »&T In Co...
NATIONAL CONVENTION . This bony »& t in committee at the Land Office , 144 , Hick Holboru , on Tuesday evening , April 25 ih . Mr William Cuff ay in the chair . The Finance Committee was ordered to report progress on Wednesday evening . RE-ORGANISATION OF THB CHARTER ASSOCIATION . A deputation from Marjieuone , consisting ol Messrs Godwin and Packer , waited on the Convention to ascertain when and how the e / ection for an Executive Committee was to be chosen ? when the following answer waa returned : — ' That the deputation from Marylebone , be hereby infermed tbat the Convention will , at the narliest moment , take into consideration tke present ttat 3 of the National Chatter Association , witti a view to pro pose a better Chartist organisation for the adoption of the people .
I I _ mr o connor ' s letter . I I A discussion in which all the delegates took part , ' ^ ensued on this matter , and wps ultiraat . ly concluded | by the dispatching of Messrs Child and Donovan , ' gas a deputation t > Mr O'Connor , to confer with ' | that gentleman . j I The following resolution waa adopted , moved bv ; § Mr Shirron and seconded by Mr M'Carthy : — ' That | the Convention immediately transmit intelligence to | every town and district sending delegates to the SNatiOjia ! Asseably , that it is the determination of | this Convention , to abide by tbo resolution of conbvenme- the National Assembly on the 1 st of May , ^ notwithstanding Mr O'Connor ' s letter in the Star ? of Saturday last , recommending ita further postponement . ' The Convention then adjnurned .
1 ! ? * ^ ! ! ! I S ! ^ ^ - I To The Fra...
1 ! ? * ^ ! ! ! I s ! ^ ^ - I TO THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS , a ' rQUimr . LiBKRiY , fraternity , ' j BrtoTHERs , —It . is at this moment more than ever f ' necesswy that the men who in this metropolis have f , been foremost in propagating the principles of Damocr-tcy and _ Fraternity should prove themselves rfaithtul totkeir mission . Kings may abdicate their | thrones , but it is not possible for true Democrats to | desert their principles , The persecution of our contemptible enemies deprived us of a place of meeting at the very moment Ithat our association wai acquiring the strength of pnumbers , and therewith increased public utility . | The want of a rallying place has disorganised the ssociety . Its reorganisation is indispensable . For such reorganisation , and for the adoption of a manifesto , settinsj forth tha viewa of the ^ as 306 i » tiott ou fhe atrocious' Jaw just enacted
1 ! ? * ^ ! ! ! I S ! ^ ^ - I To The Fra...
. Which has made truth-speaking 'felony . ' the Conm , f mittee invite you to a meeting on THURSDA 11 ^ EVENING NEJr , MAT 4 th , AT CARTT IWRIGHT'S COFFEE ROOMS , ' RED CROSSE { STREET , BARBICAN . J / em 6 er \ only will mm gat half-past seven o ' clock for the discussion of thee ^ business of the association . I Tke public will be admitted at nine o ' efocifc , whenn | the following members of the association will address ifthe meeting : —Ernest Jonbs , Delegate for Hali-i-| fax ; Samobl Kydd , Delegate for Oldham ; Johns West , Delegate for Stockport ; and John M'Chab r ^ Del egate for Dundee . Other Delegates to the NaA ^ Stional Assembly will be invited . I . GEORGE JULIAN HARNEY , See ; M $ 8 r BRIGHTON , ^ request a second list of thee fton Brighton Members , together with the address off gsome one to whom cards may be forwarded , IV - _ G . J . K
,- Abridged Notices Of Chartist Meetings...
,- ABRIDGED NOTICES OF CHARTIST MEETINGS . * Press of matter has compelled the cutting downt of a mass of reports of Chartist meetings . We cah only state that meeting bave been held at A 8 ? embl T ' WheraM , f Peacoek * <« el 8 cted to the . iJEbK' * bere ^ ' Crae waa elected to the * Ls ? emb ?/' anfe Mr M ' . f WJW eIe ° k d to the . T JS . ^ racraoriol to t be Queen adopted . ' o'Conno ^ wher 8 - raaoIlltio D 3 of confidence in Mr : 0 Oonnerwere unanimously adopted . 5 ??"" A" ?««« ' •» of ? Plend meetings 3
L « w ° :.. <« * wZ « S nf K , J °£ have **«» addressed by Messrw g Weat and Clark of the Executive . it > ^ uu ~ TAn open-air meeting wa * held on Goodl pridar , when Mr Stephens was elected to the Ass embly , and the memorial to the Queen adopted .. : j . Mr Stephens has been deprived of employment for * fsifctinjsr as delegate in the Convention !] * ^"" J 1011 ASD JD * piforo , —A large meeting wasi [ held on Blackheath , on Sunday morning . Recently , j ' a fraternal meeting of Chartists and Repealers waa : 'held at the Druid ' s Arms , Greenwich , when a joint ; ' association wasforaied , and officers appointed , j Keiohlkt . —At an open air meeting Mr R . Whit- ¦ . field waa appointed delegate to the assembly .
£ Moitram , where Mr Wild addressed a large i ^ meeting . A camp meeting will be held at 1 o ' clock . ft , on Sunday , on Wedensough Green . S Walsall . —An open air meeting was held oa fihaster Monday , which was addressed by Mr Mason | of Birmingham , and other speakers . | Oamv -The anniversary of opening the Work . | irg Men s Hall , was celebrated on Sunday last . ^ Messrs Cooper , of Manchester , and Tatteraall , of i Burnley , delivered splendid addresses . 9 Braistree , Essex , —An open-air meeting was [ held on Good-Friday . Mr Donovan , of the Convention , delivered an excellent speech . Resolutions in isuppart of the Convention and the Charter were [ adopted .
§ Wakefield . —Mr J . Shaw lectured here on the p Oth inst ., and gave great satisfaction . Heckmondwickb . —Several , meetings have been j- held here . The movement is advancing . | j Norwich—An open-air meeting was held here on H'the 24 th , when Mr D . ' xon was elected to the National Ij Assembly . The memorial to the Queen was Sad opted . H Rochdale . —At a great open-air meeting held near ¦ k Rochdale , the memorial to the Queen was adopted , = { aBd Mr Mitehell was elected delegate to the | Assembly . I The National Assembly . —Cemmunications con .
Kdemning the postponement of the meeting of the i Assembly , as suggested by Mr O'Connor k last IJ wetk ' sSiAS , bave been received from Barnsley I Wolverhampton , and Glasgow . p . In addition to adhesions published in other | columns , communications applauding MrO' € onnor ' s | conduct , and approving of tho suggested postpone-Iraentofthe Assembly , have been received from XjUulI and Warrington .
I Stockport.—On Sunday Next, Mr John Wei...
I Stockport . —On Sunday next , Mr John Weit Iwill lecture at six o ' clock p . m . Maschbstbr . —Mr E . C . Clark will deliver a lee ^ ture in the Peaple's Institute on Sanday , April 30 . | Chair to be taken at six o ' clock , p m . 1 JStwcASTLK-ON-TYNE . —The members of this branch | of the Land Company are requested to meet in the phouae of M . Jude , on Sunday evening , April 30 . Mr I Japes Watson will deliver a lecture in the house of | M . " Jude , on Sunday evening , April 30 , at seven j o ' clock .
^ g jjj Stratford . —A meeting of the members will be | held at Morley'a Coffee House , on Monday eveaiag , gMay 1 st ., at ei * ht o'clock . | j LezcEsruB . —The members of the National Land § Company belonging to Mr Goodby ' s branch are requettsd to meet at their room , Hill-street , on Monday | evening next , at eight o ' clock . Birmingham—The members of the Natisnal Chargter Association ate requested to meet in the People ' s j Hal ) , on Sunday evening , at six o ' clock . % Nottingham— The next meeting of the Land Imembers will be held at the Poplar Tree , on Sunday levenins , at seven o ' clock .
| The West Riding Delegate Meeting will be held n Sunday , May fah , at Butterworth-buildings , Jradford . Business to commence at half-past welve precisely . A South Lanesahwe Delegate Meetins v » i \\ be held it Mr Whitaker's , Temperance Hotel , 93 , Ancoatstreet , Snndiy , April 30 . Chair te ba taken at nine I ' clsck . The following localities are requested to ead the levy of one halfpenny per head to liquidatexpensea incurred at Oldham Edge—Manehester , Vlottram , Stalybridge , Stockport , Ashton , Rochdale , lyde , Failsworth , Oldham , Warrington , St Helens , Liverpool , Ecples , Newton Heath , and Middleton . Heckmosdwike . —A lecture will be delivered in be Red Chapel , on Monday ever . ine . May 1 st , at
half-past seven o ' clock , by Mr Wm . Newsome . Leeds . —The members of the National Land Company are requested b bring in their contribution cards on Sunday , April 30 th , at two o ' cieck in the afternoon ; on Wednesday evening , May 3 'd , and Thursday evening , May 4 th , from seven to nine o'clock ; and on Sunday afternoon , May 7 'h , at twa o ' clock in the afternoon , in the back end of the Bazaar . Braiktrek , Essex —A public meeting of the inhabitants of Braictree and its neighbourhood is invited to be held at the C «; rn Exchange , Braintree , on Wednesday , May the 3 rd , for the full , fair , and free discussion of tho principles of the People ' s Cnarter .
(From Our Fourth Edition Of Last Week.) ...
( From our Fourth Edition of last week . ) IRISH CONFEDERATION . A public meeting of the members of this body was held on Friday night in the theatre in Milton-street , City . The theatre was completely filled . Mr Kenny presided , and at some length addressed the meeting upon the state of Ireland , and the pasition in which the repeal question is at present placed . Mr Daly moved the first resolution , congratulating ifae friends of repeal upon . the formation of a Protestant Association in the town of Drogheda for the furtherance of the repeal cause . The motion having been seconded , was unanimously agreed to . Mr Peter Hublsy moved the next resolution , which related to the Gagging Bill He could not forget reminding the meeting that Lord John Russell had ejected Peel from office on the Arms Bill
which was then proposed , and yet the noble lord was th ? man to introduce the present bill , notwithstanding all that he had said against Peel's Arms Act . But it was the old story , as the poet bad said' When the devil was sick , the devil a saint wonld ba ; But when the devil was well , the devil a saint was he . ' ( Laughter , ? Out of offiw he was one thln ^ , but when he goG in , he turned round upaa those who had assisted him to office . The union that had taken place between the Repealers and the English Democrats , waa wormwood to Lord John . The speaker concluded an address of some length by moving a , resolution , denouncing in strong terms the passing jfthe Gagging Bill . lYi
r . oTORQioN , wno was introduced by the chairman as a Protestant of the North of Ireland , seconded the resolution , which was unanimously agreed to . MrM * LKAN , in moving the third resolution , alluded to the declaration mada by Lord John Russell a few nights ago , on the Repeal question , and said he did not think it was of much vaiue , for , in point of fact , all great measures had been opposed up to the laid moment—Roman Catholic iemanoipaticn and Parliamentary reform , for instance . For bis own part , be would say , that he ( would never rest till Ireland had a parliament of her > own . ( Loud cheers . ) * IIe concluded by moving a resolution congratulating tbe people of Kilkenny [ upon their spirited conduct in electing four delegates jto represent them in tho National Council , as such ^ conduct , they thought , was deserving of their deep jar . d lasting gratitude .
Mr James Barry seconded the resolution , wbkb jwas agreed to . j Several other speeches were delivered . Thanks ( were voted to tbe Chairman for hia conduct in the jchair , and tho meeting separated .
I The German Papers State That The Pruss...
I The German papers state that the Prussians haw at length crossed the Scheswig frontiers , and that consequently the wa * between Denmark and the Uermanic Confederacy has commenced ,
Printed Feydougal M'Gow An, Of 16, Great Wmdail≫ Street, Haymarket, In The City Of Westminster, At The Vincein Oireet
Printed feyDOUGAL M'GOW AN , of 16 , Great Wmdail > street , Haymarket , in the City of Westminster , at the vincein oireet
, Mo Aume Ana Rarish. For Tho Proprietor...
, mo aume ana rarish . for tho Proprietor , j FBA . H 6 US O'CONNOR Esq ., M . ^ and pffi * by Wiixiam Hewitt , of Ko . 18 , Charles-street , Brau . don-street , Walworth , in the parish of St . Mary , NV . v itiston , in the County of Surrey , at tha Office , So . lfi . Great WmdmiU-straet , Haymarket , in the Cityol'Wettminster . —Saturday April , 29 th , 1818 .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 29, 1848, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_29041848/page/8/
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