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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th July 1848, Edition 2 of 4, Page 5

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      Mr Keogb's Motion On The Subject Of The ...

      -ds Ireland ;; and , in return for discharg . . ' , this necessary duty . Sir G- Grey jumped nit " and made a personal attack cm the hon . Member , which was mcst discreditable to any m pretending to be a gentleman , and cerl " ; n v most disgraceful as coming from a wh ' Minister of the Crown , who m 0 re th an any other Member of Parliament : bound to observe the conventional ' ur tesies of society . ^ He began by charging ! "Mr KpPgb with having had a good opinion of j Repeal , of O'Connell , and Lord Melbourne ' s Gove-nmeat , which he called a " paternal" one , j

      so me eig ht years ago . Poor fellow 1 he was onlr i ° bis teens when he committed these mist akes , and may be pardoned the sins of Y outh and inexperience . "With respect to the tiro latter—namely , O'Connell and Melbourne and Whigs generally—he may fairl y say thathis eves have been opened to their characters in the vears that have since elapsed ; one must live to learn . But this was not the most discreditable part of Sir G- Grey ' s attack . He insinuated that Mr Keogh had given the Government reason to suppose that he would be a supporter of it while he had an election petition hanging

      over his head , but that since that was withdrawn , he had gone over to the Conservative side , because no place was given him . Mr Keogh's instant and indignant repudiation of this charge may settle the matter so far as he is concerned , but what does Sir G . Grey mean by the insinuation as to the Election Committee ? Are we to understand distinctly what is so often whispered out of doors by other parties , that Government have it in their power so to form these Committees , as to render the throwing out of an inconvenient / opponent , and

      the seating of an obsequious supporter , a matter of certainty ? If so , we can congratulate Sir G . Grey as little upon his discretion as his temper . Such things , he may depend upon it . are better left in the shade , as far as the " Government " are concerned . The people ' s interest in the matter is another thing . With respect to the subject of the debate , the Home Secretary ' s own statement fully beers out the allegations of Mr Mitchel at the trial . It was carefully and basely packed , for the express purpose of procuring a verdict against him , and there is an end of the matter . All the official

      conventionalisms and phrases coined in the Mint of the Treasury and law offices , cannot disguise that fact .

      Jtit 20. 1p4« . The Northern Star. 5

      Jtit 20 . 1 P 4 « . THE NORTHERN STAR . 5

      Several Other Important Topics Nave Been...

      Several other important topics nave been discussed during the week , to which we can , at present , merely advert , reserving comment until a future opportunity . The Encumbered Estates ( Ireland ) Bill has passed the third reading in the Commons , but so emasculated that , like the Irish Poor-law , it is valuable merely for the principle it affirms . Practically / it is to be feared that it will he almost nugatory as a remedy for the evils it is intended to meet . An important change in the law of marriage in Scotland has passed the Lords . In future no marriages will be considered legal , should this bill pass into a law , except where parties have resided in the palish fourteen days and given that notice . At present , no notice or preliminary formalities are required , thus offering facilities for clandestine marriages , which the far-famed Gretna Green , and other less celebrated places prove , are extensively taken advantage of . Mr C . Buller , the new President of the Poor-law Board , has brought in a hatch of bills to amend

      tbe administrative operation of the Poor-law . The first of these has reference to the mode of assessing certain charges , which he is of opinion oujjht to be borne equally hy the whole union—by an equitable rate on the property of each rate-payer . At present , they fall most unequally on certain parishes and classes The charges which he thus proposes tomake general , are the cott of . the Union Officers , the Clerk , ; the Medical men , the Master of the Workhouse , and generally what are termed establishment charges Sec ' ondlv , the support of vagrants ; and ,

      thirdly , " the maintenance of what are called the irremovable poor . In the course of his speech , the Eig ht Hon . Gentleman dealt out some blows at the former administration of the Poor Law , which must , we imagine , have been rather unpalatable to Mr Cornewall Lewis , who sat near him on tbe Treasury Bench . On Wednesday the O'Connell farce of a motion on Repeal was played out by tbe discharge of the motion . Justice was done to the moral courage and determination evinced by Mr

      O'Connor m bringing the question forward at an earlv period of the Session , and the way in which he fairly tested the feeling of the House upon it , was praised by Sir B . Hall , as affording an honourable contrast to the sneaking poHcy of the Young " Liberator ! " The management of our Colonial empire f ormed the subject of an admirable speech by Sir W , Molesworth , which , together with the lame reply of Mr Hawes , will furnish ample matter for a future article .

      Among The Bills Which Have Been Introduc...

      Among the bills which have been introduced and read a first time , we may notice one for preventing night work by journeymen bakers in the metropolis . The bill prohibits any m ? ster baker to employ his men in the manufacture of any kind of bread between the hours of six in the evening and four in the morning , under a penalty for the first offence of not more than forty shillings , or impiisonfor not more than a month , and for every subsequent offence a penalty of not less than five pounds , or imprisonment for not more than three months . The second reading of the hill stands for next Wednesday , when we trust that the manifest evils of the practice which it is intended to prevent , will secure sufficient support to ensure its passing into law . It is whollv unnecessary for the accommodation of the public , is not required by the respectable masters , and is only perpetuated by a minority of poor and selfish employers , who care not what evil they inflict on society at large , so that they can grow speedily rich .

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      2g- Press Of Matter Has Compelled Ns To ...

      2 g- Press of matter has compelled ns to withhold the Defence Fund iiat this week . We are sorry to Btate that the eum receixed by Mr Rider , Eince our last , amounts only to £ U acd a few shillings . J Smabt , Aberdeen . —Press of matter compels tfce postponement of -vonr letter . It shall appear in our next . But . —EoiTOK , —We cannot answer the question you ask . Dr iS'DouiLL ' s Teial . —All monies to be sent to the —Secretary of the Defence Committee , Edw » rd Harroj > , IgGatefield . Oldham-road .

      Leigh Hot. Chcrch Streit, Mile Erd, >Ew ...

      Leigh Hot . Chcrch streit , Mile Erd , > ew Tows —Mr Brown will lecture in this locality on Sunday , ( to-morrow ) , at eight o'clock-UlGHLEY GREtK , SOWERBT , SEiB HALIFAX —A camp rattling will be held at this place , to-mono ^ afternoon , commencing at two o ' clock , when Messrs Rushtcn and SBotrdon , of Halifax , and other fiienda are expected to address the meeting . —A district delegate meeting will be hell in the forenoon , comrrencing at ten o ' clock , at the house of John Hall , Haldebank Head , near the place of meeting , when it U hoped every locality in the district will gend a delegate to receive a balance-sheet of the last qn * r ter ' s account , and elect a district secretary in the place ot Joseph Kilty , who retires from the office . will be

      IlALtfiX . —A district delegate meeting held to-morrow afternoon , in Buliclose-lane , c ? n > mencing at one o ' clock , for the purpose of completing the yew Plan of Organisation throughout the B-iTo . ' e district- -All localities are requested to send s delegate . Bead haw Lass . —Mr Clissett will lecture in this place to-morrow afternoon and evening , to commence at half-pait two and six o ' elotk-Oluhim . —On Sunday last , MrsTheobald delivered a spirited lecture in the Working Man's Hall . Nottingham —Mr Harrison will lecture on Menday , July 31 st . at Arnold ; Tuesday , Augu-. t 1 st , Balwell ; Wednesday , 2 nd , Hucknall Torkard . . New y a- ford . —A public mee * . ing will be held at eight o'clock , on Thursday evening , August 3 rd , when Mr Roberts and others will attend .

      Notiisghah — V public meeting wnl be held in the large rr-pm , Seven Staw , Barker Gate , at eight o ' c ' ock , on Monday evening . —The district council will meet at the Jolv Angler , at Carlton , on Sunday next , at three o ' clock . ^ J . II- Shepherd will address a meeting at the Albion , coner of Willmot-street . Betbnal green , on Sand *? evening next , at eight o ' clock .

      To The Imlmbeits Of The Land Company. M ...

      TO THE iMLMBEItS OF THE LAND COMPANY . M y Friends , I dare say that it will not require much eloquence to convince you of the state of excitement that I was in for some time previous to the 10 th of April , till Chartism , upon that day , proclaimed its triumph over despotism ; and yet , great as that excitement naturally was , when a single incautious step upon my part might have led to the sacrifice of thousands of lives , and jeopardised the cause of Chartism ; nevertheless , I assure you , that that excitement was as nothing compared with the state of madness I have been in since the Committee was appointed to inquire into the affairs of the National Land Company .

      To have jeopardised a political movement hy rashness or folly might be set down to enthusiasm , or want of judgment ; but to rob the poor—or the bare suspicion of it—would be a crime , nay , a sin , which repentance could never obliterate . You are aware of the ferocious manner that I have been attacked by every newspaper in England , with the exception of the " Times , " the " Po st / the " Herald ; ' and the " Wakefield Journal ; " and you are aware how those uncontradicted slanders must have militated against my character as a gentleman , and one elected to represent your order in Parliament .

      I was aware that these representations had no great we i g ht with those who have long known me , and faithfull y confided in me ; but you are aware that thousands who read the accusation never saw the defence ; and this is the Press mode of mlioj inii a { icnthnA character . When that Committee was appointed , the Judge Advocate of England , with a salary of 2 , 000 / . a year , was elected as the Chairman ; and I now unhesitatingly declare , that Judge Jefferies never evinced a more reckless or disgraceful partiality than that gentleman has

      evinced as Chairman of the Land Committee . He appeared to hold a brief , in which the evidence of every witness was detailed , and he would only allow such witnesses to be examined as he presumed would damage the Company . And , as I told you before , although I brought an Occupant from O'Connorville , and three Occupants from Gloucestershire , at my own expense , considering them the best witnesses , as being longest located , yet they went as they came ; the Chairman would not allow them to be examined , although one would naturall y p resume that they were the very witnesses who ought to be examined .

      The first question gone into was the application of the funds ; the hope and the object being at once to damn the Plan by damning the man ; and with this view , the whole accounts of the Bank and of the Land Company were submitted to an accountant , appointed by the Chairman , who , I presume , following his instructions , conducted the investigation , not as if I was an insolvent , but as if I was a fraudulent insolvent . This gentleman , as a matter of course , entered upon his duty with suspicion , as he , like the Committee , from report , entertained serious doubts as to the integrity of the management . For more than three weeks this investigation lasted , and you can well imagine the difficult position in which 1 was placed .

      1 think I hear some banker ' s clerk , who has nothing todo but to attend to his books , saying — " From whence could arise your difficulty if you had kept proper accounts ? My answer is— " That , multifarious as the work is , it would be impossible to keep more honest accounts , although they may he somewhat puzzling to a regular accountant , who is only accustomed to a certain description of accounts ; and still more difficult , when I inform you that there is not one word of mine written in any book connected with the Company—and this fact will prove as creditable to those employed under me as to nvyself . "

      The accountant has now made his report , and you may judge of its magnitude when 1 tell you that he went over the accounts from the first day the operations were commenced at O'Connorville , down to Saturday , the 15 th of July . And , as a set of hired scribblers have attempted to arraign my balance sheets as fraudulent , it may be some satisfaction to the Members to know , that the accountant compared the balance sheets with the original documents and receipts f rom which they were taken , and that there was not a difference of two shillings . And while I am prepared to admit that the accounts have not been what a

      merchant would term strictly kept , yet my only wonder is , that , having furnished those balance sheets after the strictest investigation by seven auditors for each , that I had retained receip ts for sums as low as 2 s . 6 d . I was satisfied , and you were satisfied , with a faithful expenditure of your monies ; but if I had not been able equally to satisfy Parliament and the country , I feel thoroughly convinced that the Land Company would have been my death .

      But I think I may now boastfully assert , that I can lay such a balance sheet before the world , as neither individual or corporation has ever before submitted ; for , you must bear the f act in mind , that , with scarcely an exception , director .-, managers , committeemen , and lawyers , eke a livelihood out of their confiding but gullable dupes ; but because they are not tinged with the odium of Chartism , but belong to some recognised faction , they pas s un scathed , and are considered devilish clever fellows .

      With so much of a preface , I shall now proceed to lay before you the evidence of the accountant , as submitted to the Committee , and then it will be for you to judge whether or not I have established this Land Plan for your benefit or my own . Here follows the evidence of the accountant : — Mr William Henrt Gret called up and examined ;—You say it was impo ? siDle for yoa to examine all the vouchers and receipts ?—Yea . Was I prepared with a sofa full ?—Yes .

      I believe yoa went into the accounts very critically , more bo than I then thought necessary , or than I now think was necessity , however , you " went back to O'Connorville from the very beginning ?—I did . 1 believe I showed yen vouchers , aa far as we went , for sums like 2 * 6 J-, 6-., and 7 « ., and so forth?—There were very many small vouchers ; some I did not think it necessary to notice . I think I explained the impossibility in all cases of

      separating the particular items as to tbe individual costs ; as , for instance , tfeere might be fifty or sixty horees sometimes workiag half a day at the houses , and sometimes half a day ploughing ?—So _ I understood from you ; I did not attempt to go into that . Did I not tell you that you should have every facility in my p & wer to enable yon to make an abstract account of tbe several estates ?—Yes . And you havedocetbat particularly and critically ? —As far as it was f ossible in the time , and with the

      materials-You have been over all the balance-sheefs ; you have been over my balance sheet , and yen compared the sums charged in my balance sheet with tbe sums stated to bare been paid in tbe labour-book kept by the overseer , who has that labour-book ?—Yea . Did yoa find any difference between the amount that was taken from that statement and my balancesheet ?—None . Did you go over tbe Lowbacds balance sheet , that is the large balance ?—Yts . Did jou take the labour-book and compare it ?—Yes . Was there any difference between tbe turns stated to be paid in the overseer ' s baik by him , and that which appeared in my balance sheet ?—None .

      From the examination of the vouchers , as far as we went through them , you have subjected them to the most critical examination , jou having been fifteen and sixteen hours a day at work npon then ? , and you having come to a rough estimate , leaving to a subsequent period a more eainate distinction to bs made of the d ifferent estates ; have you any doubt upon your m ' nd that the company is in debt to me ? —None whatever ; that balance sheet is a presf of that . D . d 1 give you my bask books!—Yes . Did 1 Show the balance I took credit for in the ' . ondoa Joint Stock Bank , as stated in my last balance sheet ?—Yes . What was the difference between the balance I took credit for and the real sum ?—None ,

      To The Imlmbeits Of The Land Company. M ...

      I think there was a slight difference between a balance of £ 21 , 320 , and a balance of £ 21 , 310 ?—That was explained by two £ 5 tank notes . Did you see the balance I took credit for as ifl tf'e Gloucester Bank in my balance sheet of £ 6000 odd ? —Yes . Had I a surplus balance in tke Gloucester Bank when I gave that ? -Yes . Were the accounts produced to you down to last Saturday ?—Yes . All that had been received on behalf of the company ?—Yes , all that was announced in the Northerk Star . I believe I gave yon all my cheque books , showing what tne money was for ?—Yes

      And you and I went over the cheque books , and all that was down for fly hire and so on , and nothing was charged except what there was a receipt for ; there waa nothing charged as wages ?—Nothing was charged except what waa charged in the bank book . There may have been some entries for whioh there is no receipt ; I did notgo so closely into it as ^ that . Yon found receipts for cows bought at fairs ?—Yea . Have you had the receipt of their sale afterwards by auction ?—Yes , some cows were sold afterwards . I believe yon had the auctioneer that sold them , Mr Weaver ?—Yes . And tbe amount he says I received is that which I gave credit for in the Gloucester account to a farthing ?—Yea . And an amount that I had no receipt / or , for a crop purchased . £ 437 8 s . Id ., that you found to be correct to a farthing

      ?—Yes-As to everything that I took credit for in my balance sheet at Lowbands and at O'Connorville . I believe I satisfied you as far as it was in the power of man to do so ?—Yea . Did my balance sheets asree with the accounts of what had been expended ?—I analysed both those balance sheets , and I have no doubt of the correctnest of both of them . Did I submit every man to you , carpenter , overseers , and all fsr the most rigid examination ?—Yes . Did you go over their books five times , if you found that you could not balance them to a farthinq . Was there an account of £ 2 12 s . to Mr Lord ?—Yes . Did you find that out ?—Yes . £ 2 12 * . paid him in addition to the cheque . Wherever I found there was a difference of that sort I searched it out .

      Supposing you bad been going to make up an account fer myself , do you think that any person cenld have been mora anxious , or could have given you more information that yon required than I did ?—No ; you seemed very anxious to give me every informatii'n , and every facility was given me . Now the difficulty you have , is in taking out the sums applicable to each estate ?—Yes ; you assitted me there . I could not have done it without assistance . Even to dividing one snmin ' o two ? -Yes ; yon went through the bankers' becks , whioh I have in my pocket ; the book which belonged to each estate . ( The Witness produced the several bankers' booh . ) 1 produced the timber merchant , who received £ 9 , 048 add ?—Yes he bronght me his accounts , which were very nicely drawn up ; I never saw accounts kept better .

      This is s question that I am tender upon- Putting on one side the question of legality . I aek you , after that very close and critical examination of the accounts , both upon my part and upon your part , what is the real result that you have arrived at ? Have yen any doubt that a large sum of money is due to me ?—None whatever , or I should not have put a balance sheet forward showing that to be eo . I bslieve I was more anxinus in the matter , if possible , than you were ?—You were very anxious ; it was a very laborious task . Sir B . Hall . ) You stated that yon went over some balance sheets . Will you tell me what those balance sheets were , whether they were the original balance sheets , which had been audited by persons stated to have been auditors of the Company or not ?—They were net ; I have not seen any of those balance sheets .

      When I make use of the word balance sheets , I mean the balance sheets of Mr O'Connor ' s accounts , as well as the balance sheets of the National Lind Company . Do you mean to say that you have not seen any of the original balance sheets of Mr O'Connor , or of the National Land Company , which are stated to have been audited and signed by Mr Cuffay and Mr Knight ?—I have not seen any of them . At your last examination you said that the obaervation you had made with reference to the destruction of those accounts , applied to the accounts of Mr O'Connor ?—It applied to one single account of Mr O'Connor ' s . I asked for the originals of the two

      preceding accounts to the one that was placed in my hands as tho final account . Those two preceding accounts were published in the ' Northern Star ; ' of one , I believe , the date is the 19 th December , and of he other in August , 1847- I wished to see the originals oi them , in order to form a connecting link from the commencement of the affairs of the Company op to the pojnt at which I was to complete them . I was told by Mr Hewitt , the clerk to Mr O'Connor , those others had been destroyed . Mr M'Grath stood bv and doubted the truth of that assertion , and vhey both agreed that tbey did not kaow where they were , and I have never had them .

      Will you look te the evidence which was given by yourself at questions 4248 and 4249 , which contain the observation made by Mr Feargus O'Connor , and will you read that observation ?— ' And which accounts I tell you you can have . ' Have yon had those accounts 1—1 have not . Mr F . O'Connor . ] Did you take your account from the originals from which those balance sheets were made , and from the labour-book , and tbe receipts I showed jou ?—Yes . Did they agree toa penny ?—Yes . That was the original from which the manuscript was taken ?—Yes . You took it from the original ?—From the original books .

      The original books kept by the overseer ?—Yes . Sir B . Hall 1 Have you ever had the account promised to you by Mr Feargus O'Connor in answer to that question , which account was stated to be destroyed by the auditor of the company ?—No . I asked again for it , and have not obtained it . Have yon read the evidence which was given by Mr M'Grath ?—I have not . It was sta ' ed in evidence given by him in answer to question 707 , and subsequently , that Mr O'Connor has regularly produced bis balance sheets , and hey were audited by persons appointed by the Conference , and that those accounts bad been produced and were kept in the possession of Mr O'Connor himself . Am I to understand that those accounts have not been produced ?—They bave not been produced tome .

      Mr F . O'Connob . ) Be critical in Ihia . Were the books from which the only written balance sheet was taken produced . Did you go over tbe original documents from which those two printed balance sheets were taken f—I can hardly answer that . D . d they correspond ?—The books corresponded with tha printed copies placed in my hands . Sir B . Hall . " ] Had you any balance sheets which bad been audited by the auditors of the company and signed by them ?—None whatever . Mr M'Grath further says in answer to question 746 , that he can produce the original account from which the balance sheet is made up , and that the ; were signed by the auditors , Messrs Cuffay and Knight . Have you seen those original accounts se sigced ?—No , I have not .

      He further states in answer to question 1761 , that Mr Cuffay was a most precise and particular man ; that the last balance sheet took him three days to audit ; that there were about 29 , 000 items ; and that he compared every one of them , and that vouchers were produced in the office for every farthing of expenditure except what he booked for postage , and that until the vouchers were produced Mr Cuffay would not have put his name to tbe balance sheet . Have von seen anything like vouchers to that extent for the one balance sheet to which he alludes ?—Not to the extent of 29 , 000 ; I have seen a large bundle of vouchers applying to the balance sheet which I imagine is meant there .

      In answer to question 1670 , it ia stated that at the Lowbands Conference , held in December , the balance sheets were produced by Mr O'Connor , as treasurer of tke Land Company , and that John Shaw and others were appointed auditors ; have you seen the balance sheet which was so signed by John Shaw and others ? -No . . , Mr F . O'Cohhor . ] Yon held both the printed balance sheets in your hand ?—Yes . And you went over the books from which they were taken ?—Yes . i \ nd the vouchers ?—Yes .

      Tbes it was from them that the written one was printed ; the written one goes to the printer , and is cut up into fragments ?—Sir B Hall . ] How do you know that tbey were so taken ?—I just now begged to say that I could not tell that it was so , but the items in the books correspond with those printed in those copies . Have you . or have you not , ever seen any of the balance sheets which have been signed by Messrs Cuffay and Knight , the auditors of the Company , or that balance sheet which was handed in by Mr O'Connor at the Lowbands Conference , stated to have been signed by John Shaw and others ?—Nc , I have not . , , , You stated , at your last examination , that ft bet » ter airangement of accounts has been adopted at the Lind Office ; will you state when that new arrangement was first adopted ?—In July , 1847 .

      Mr O'Conhob . ] Is it perfect now?—No . , , Is it in good form , and are those books containing I the names of the several shareholders ?—I have not counted them ; but there are four large volumes , in which I should think there were about that number of names . Sir B . Hail . ] In answer to question 2400 , put on the 2 nd of June last . Mr O'Connor stated , « That from £ 40 , 000 to £ 60 , 000 had been invested in Ex-, chequer bills . Mr Allsop sent in an account of £ 29500 , and I think the manager has £ 10 , 000 , making as near £ 40 , 000 as possible , and I have some

      To The Imlmbeits Of The Land Company. M ...

      before that ^ that have been exchanged ; from the beginning to the end perhaps £ 80 , 000 . ' How much was there invested in Exchequtr bills on the 27 < h of June , 1848 ? -The sum invested was £ 6 , 000 . I took this frata the account of Mr Allsop , which shows that between February 1847 , and June 1848 , £ 37 . 000 had been bought and £ 31 000 fold , leaving £ 6 . 000 in hand . I have ascertained to-day at Mr AlUop ' s that those £ 0 , 000 remain in his hands . I did not see them , because Mr Allsop was out of town . The clerk showed me the accounts , in which it appeared that £ G , 000 remained in Mr Allsop'a hands belonging to Mr O'Connor .

      Mr F . O'Connor J Did you see Mr Price's Exchequer bills belonging to the Bank ?—Yes . Mr Monsell . ] Supposing money to bo wanted for carrying on the affairs of the company , I could quite understand that Mr O'Connor , from tho great interest he fakes in the matter , might advance money with the intention of repaying himself . But as it appears from your statement oi accounts that there is a balance in favour of tbe company greater than tbe amount due by the company to Mr O'Connor , what object could he have had in making advances to the company ? - ( Mr F . O'Connor ) The object I had in the

      making advances was this : my own money conies in quarterly ; there were hervy demands upon the company , and I was determined not to sell any of the Bank money until I saw how the House of Commons dealt with it . I was determined to keep all the bank money in Exchequer bills , and advanae my own money as it cam ? in quartei-ly . —iTo the Witness . ) It those ^ accounts had been accurately kept , in whose favour do you think , speaking after your examination of them , the great strictness , the balance would have been ?—I think you have been a sufferer from inaccuracy with which the accounts had been kept ,

      And from not having made charges which I might have made ?—If you had so charged , it would have increased the sum in your favour . Ia there one single fraction ofaoharge for any expense I have been at from the beginning ?—No , nothing whatever . Nor for premiums to allottees f—No ; that account shows everything . Now , m ) ' friends , I have submitted to you the evidence , not of the interested Feargus O'Connor , but of the disinterested accountant , with whom I have never had ten words of

      conversation , except in connexion with those accounts ; and it is but justice to him to state , notwithstanding the annoyance to which he has put me , that I think he was born with a ready reckoner in his hand , and a pen behind his ear . I thought I was pretty quick at accounts , but he beats me hollow . I shall now make an observation or two , not upon the evidence , hut upon the facts . Firstly , —Mr M ' Grath did produce the ori ginal balance sheets , signed by Cuffay and Knight , to the Chairman . Secondly , —No auditors ever signed my balance sheets , they signed the resolutions which the auditors submitted to the Conferences ; and

      Thirdly , —The accountant has charged me with very nearly l , 500 i . as interest and profit upon Exchequer Bills . Now , this was the item about which the drunken prostitute of the " Dispatch , " who panders to the worst passions of man ' s nature was inquiring about . You will observe from the questions , that Sir Benjamin has been very critical , although he sickens one , and reminds me of along pump with the sucker out of order , his eloquence , like the water , comes out in such dribbles . The result of the accountant ' s inquiry is given in these words and in these figures , " Balance , overpaid by Mr O'Connor , < £ 3 298 5 s . 3 | d .

      Now , you who honour me by calling yourselves my children , what do you say to that ? I know what your answer will he , hut what will you say to this ? Until you are all located I never will ask for a farthing of that back , but I will go on adding to it ; and if I had ten millions to morrow , and if I never expected one single farthing of it to be returned , I declare to you , " upon the true faith of a Christian , ' ' that I would expend every farthing of it in locating the poor in theiro wn sentry boxes , upon their own Labour field . And I tell you now , despise it as you may , that I am not for blood , nor for diminishing the human family by

      a unit , but that I proposed my plan and IT SHALL SUCCEED , to make the rich richer and the poor rich , to destroy that revolting misery which an evil system has created , and that my motto is " to live honestly and usefully and die a pauper / ' I live upon one meal a day ; Iama frugal man , and a -sober man ; and I now tell you that I would not have bestowed my time upon any p lan , that was not congenial to my feelings as I have bestowed my time upon this Land Plan , for twenty ( thousand pounds . Nay , my time is never to be measured by money ; and much as I have suffered from slander and villany , I am more than

      repaid by the f act that it has not disturbed y our confidence . In my own expenses alone this plan has cost me over £ 3 , 000 , and there is no such charge in my balance sheet . My friends , let me not be thought vain when I meet unfounded charges by facts . In my own country I have conducted more contested elections than , I believe , any man in that country ; as a barrister , and from my influence , I was entitled to large fees for each , but I never accepted even my travelling expenses . During the time of your apathy , I have supported the whole cause and the

      victims out of my own purse . I never allowed a man to go to trial for a political offence , without the best advocate that the English bar could furnish , and yet there are idiots who call me an interested demagogue . If I am an interested demagogue , my every aspiration , and my every thought , is directed towards the amelioration of the condition of the working classes ; and the reason I am hated is because I will not allow the traffickers in human blood , and in infant gristle , to preserve an idle competitive reserve , in order that they may fall back upon them , and make their profits out of a reduction of wages , and the destitution of

      the poor . Now , my friends , I give you the evidence of Mr Sullivan , Member for Kilkenny , and also a member of the Committee , in answer to the snivelling curs who have been writing from Snig ' s End to Manchester , as to the performance of the work . And let me tell you , that there is not a more critical or better judge of agriculture and buildings in England , than the hon . member for Kilkenny . Here is his evidence .- — Michael SullItan , Esq ., a Member of the Committee , examined , , Mr F . O'Conwob . ] You have visited the estates of Snig ' s End and Lyvrbande ?—I was there on Saturday last .

      Did you visit many of tbe allotments at Lowbands , and had you conversation with any allottees there ? —A great number of them ; I sheuld say that we visited very nearly halt of them . And passed through all ?—Yes , and passed through all . And you saw the crops ?—We examined all the crops , and we went into the houses , into the bedrooms and kitchens and pi gge ri es , and we saw every appointment that was in connexion with the hawei for effectually carrying out the management ef the farms . When you say , « half of them , ' you mean half of the occupiers you spoke to ?— Yes . Did you examine theoropeminutely ? -We examined the crops minotoly .

      What was your opinion as to the contrast between the crops of wheat that you saw there , and the crops that you had seen in travelling from London to Gloucester , or the crops in the immediate neighbourhood ?—I was particularly observant of all the crops 281 went ftlM ) S from London to Gloucester , as far as a railroad view would give an opportunity of judging , and I observed the crops of wheat to be partisularly light ; then from Gloucester we went about seven or eight miles in an open carnage through the country , till we arrived at the estate of Snig ' s End , and from that we went to Lowbands .

      Upon an inspection of the crops of wheat at Lowbands , what comparison would you Bay they bore to the crops in tbe neighbourhood , or to the other crops that you had seen . '—The average crops of wheat , particularly in Lowbands , are decidedly the best I had seen in journeying from London to that place . Or in the neigbourhood round about ?—Or in the neighbourhood round about , I bad seen some few fields of some few farmers that came nearly up to them . That is , I should say there were a few that came up to the average crops of Lowbands ; buf that it was not the ease , generally speaking . Taking the average of the crop ? of wheat at Low bands , taking every allotment , would you say it was a middling , or a good , or an indifferent crop ?—I should say it was a prime crop aa an average . How did the potatoes look ? -The potatoes lcoked

      To The Imlmbeits Of The Land Company. M ...

      L ™ TT natanceST , r ysnnd . in other * not quite so III « , riSLr ? in 80 me c * Beft in a opener man-? KTS ? U ! resardedthe altoent of the You went into hia house ? -Yes we did and that the ' produc / wouR \™* T ' ' say that it was indifferently andSl / r ^ d £ ? should say , takIRg tbe whole estate a ' to-etlcr that there » an enormous amounS of produce ot every description ^ upon it ; that is , speaking of the Lowbands estate . w

      With regard to the houses , of what description did you find them ?—The houses were of a very superior character , in my opinion ; probably a little too much 80 ! tbey are in fact too good for a four acre farm . Did you see the gates that had been put up in the several places ?—I did . Did you go into the schoolhouses ?—I did . In what style waa the work that you examined performed ?—In the most permanent and complete

      manner . What was the feeling of the allottees , aa far as you could ascertain it , of their present condition , and of their future prospects ?—I was very curious to ascertain how parlies brougat from all directions of the country , entirely unacquainted with agricultural pursuits , located in a place like that , could be content , and how far they would be able to carry on those agricultural pursuits , aud I must state trat in particular I was struck with one old man who had been a cotton overseer . lie appeared to me to be

      as fully acquainted with agricultural pursuits , and to have all his farm in as complete a system of crop ping as if he had been there many years . I do not know the names of the parties ; I merely inquired their trades and occupations , and I found a framework knittftr , I found a tallow chandler , I found a stocking maker , and I found every description u T , m 0 Bt Seated there ; I found a . cabinet msker , I found a shoemaker , and I found a cotton spinner ; but I did not find one agricultural labourer there ; every one had been a tradesman

      , Mr Lakoston . ] How many cows did you see upon the estate ?—I saw but one . Mr F . O'Connor ] How many pigs did you see ?—I observed that the majority were turning their attention to the feeding of pigs , as being more profitable than that of cows . I now give you a letter that I have received from the Minster Lovel Estate , and my answer : —

      TO THE EDITOE OP THE NORTHEBN STAB , Chahtbrvillb , July , 18 th , Sib , —In reply to Mr O'Connor ' s letter , centained in the Northern Star of the 15 th inst ., you will oblige the allottees on this estate by inserting the following in your next : —

      TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . Fellow Countrymen , We , the allottees of Charterville , beg respectfully to submit to you the following brief obsetvations on a paragraph of Mr O'Connor ' s letter , contained in the last Northern Star , viz : — ' That if there ia any obstacle in the way of carrying this plan , it originates with tbe located members , because , if there waa a million of money subacribod , and a thousand located , the fortunate thousand would imagine that they had the best title to the remainder of the funds , and this has always been my greatest difficulty . ' This paragraph appears to be absolute in its expression . If ,

      therefore , Mr O'Connor intends to include us therein , we beg emphatically to dissent with him on that assertion . Because we have not yet received an equivalent , to what the allottees oh previous estates havereceivtd—neither have we asked it of the directors . The only request nhich we have made of them is , that they would grant us the loan within three raonths instead of driving it off for six month ? . This was in their power , inasmuch as that the last Conference left it in their hands to determine the time at whioh the loan should bo granted . This we think they ought to have done—this we think they ought todo yet , as early as possible , otherwise the result will be inevitably an entire failure on this estate . For out of our aid money we have had to buy seed , pay for labourers , to prepare the ground for ,

      and sow and plant it—while the allottees on previous located estates have had the whole of their aid money paid to them , clear oi tho expenses of putting in a great portion of their feed , which the directors have done for them . Hence it is evident that we have not had the same privileges allowed us which they have had . Nor can we be justly charged with making any demand , claim , or request , of or for any assistance which is not in accordance with the rules of tbe Company , or with the regulations of the Conference . If wa have done so let Mr O'Connor , as the principal director of the Company , publish all our correspondence with them in the Northern Star . In the work of human redemption , fellow labourers , On bebalf of the Allottee ? , I am , very truly yours , Henry Grimshaw , Sec .

      My Friends , —Your comparison is not just , nor are your facts correct . At Lowbands , the occupants were not located till the 23 rd of August , a very great disadvantage . You were located in March , a very great advantage . The expense of the agricultural operations at Lowbands will be added to the purchase money as capital , and rent will he charged for it . Your rent will be comparatively less . At Snig ' s End they were located in June , and received aid money at the rate of £ > l . per acre . You were located in March , and received aid money at the rate of 11 , 10 s . per acre . Your land was ploughed , most of it twice , and no deduction was made from the aid money , whereas the rule of the Conference is that the expense of ALL agricultural operations are to be deducted

      from the aid money ; and if it was . not so , the effect would be that I would perform no agricultural operations . And again , I repeat—and you must remember that " a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump "—that those located do think that enough never can he done for them j while a funny fellow , who signs himself , " Thomas Shartin , of No . 12 , Bagot-street , Birmingham , " writes a long rigmarole for in . sertion in the " Northern Star , " deprecating the purchase of horses , and of co ws ;| the making of roads and gates ; and proposes thatthe houses should be built by contract at 65 l . a house , and of a mean description ; while my object is to make every man proud of his sentry box . So that you see , like the man in the fable , in endeavouring to please everybody I may please nobody , and lose my ass into the bargain .

      Next week I will gi ^ e you the * report as delivered to the Committee by the accountant , and the next number of the " Labourer" will contain the evidence of the witnesses called by the Chairman , and from it you will learn the animus of that gentleman ; and I especially beg to call your attention to the evidence of the RAVEN , the Poor Law Commissioner , and then I think you will understand that the necessary qualification for such an official is ignorance , infatuation , and folly . This poor fellow was obliged to drink water all the time he was under examination , but I assure you he looked like anything but a poor-law pauper , he more reminded me of the Fat Boy in Pickwick , However , where there ' s a demand there ' s a supply , and the government invariably evinces great tact in the selection of such officials .

      1 now give you ^ the resolution , unanimousl y passed by the Committee upon the Land Company : — " Resolved— That it be an instruction to the Chairman , in drawing up his Report , to state , that , in consequence of Mr Feargus O'Connor having expressed an opinion that an impression had gone abroad that the monies subscribed b y the National Land Company had been applied to his own benefit , this Committee are clearly of opinion that , although the accounts have not been kept with strict regularity , yet that irregularity has been against Mr Feargus O'Connor , instead of in his favour . "

      Now , such is the resolution passed unanimously , after the Report and balance sheet of the Accountant—the gentleman who was appointed by Government to investigate the accounts of the Drainage and Sewerage Company—and I think you will say it is pretty satisfactory ; while I must also remind you that not a shilling of the money deposited in the Bank , has been touched , and that still I am going on , and will go on , with the operations , \ as I can either sell or mortgage the estates that [ I have purchased , without detriment to the occupants , as every occupant shall have his lease or conveyance before I raise a farthing of money upon them , and then it will be immaterial to them whether they pay the rent to A . or to B . ; their title will he the same , and their rent will be the same .

      Now , my friends , Sir Benjamin Hall stated that much of the funds of the Land Company had been applied to political purposes , and I tell you that not one fraction of a farthing has been applied to such purposes , nor tjyffny

      To The Imlmbeits Of The Land Company. M ...

      other purposes than that fot which it was subscribed . You will also bear in mind that at every Conference it was not onl y proposed hut carried unanimously , and insisted upon , that I should be p ; iid all my expenses—and I tell you the reason why I mention this fact here—it is to prove to you the ungenerous treatment that honest men may sometimes receive from artful and designing people . I understand that , emanating from a Committee sitting in London , an appeal has gone to the counlry to ask for an account of the Election Fund raised for the defence of my seat , and

      those gentlemen in London applied for that Fund to be handed over to them , and for its appropriation to other purposes , and now they are asking for an accmant of it , and they shall have it roughly here . and if they wish for it , or whether they do or not , they shall have it in a detailed shape hereafter . The sum subscribed was between 400 / . and 500 ? , It has been mixed up with the fund for the prosecution of the "Manchester Examiner , " which they also demand an account of , and of which I will treat separatel y . I believe about half of what was subscribed for the defence of

      my Seat has been expended , as the Petition was not given up till the last moment ; over 100 ? , went to the Convention and the National Assembly , not speaking of the demonstration at Kennington Common ; and those gentlemen seem to forget that a large balance is still due to me upon the several expense funds . But there is a great nicety in their arithmetic . When I pay money out of my own pocket it should only be returned b y funds strictly sub . scribed for that purpose , but when a fund is subscribed for another purpose , and is not all ueed for that purpose , then it ia fair to appl y the residue to any purpose that a few individuals may suggest . However , my security is in

      the good sense of the public ; and I ask them , whether an individual , who has spent and is spending his all in their cause , is to be continually thwarted with these wranglings and underhand complaints ? Show me one fund that ever has been raised that is not in debt to me , and point me out one single farthing of any fund—whether Victim Fund , Defence Fund , Travelling Fund , Liberty Fund , Convention Fund , or Conference Fund , —that has ever been applied to my use . The fact is , my friends—and you know it- —that one of the banes of our cause has been the attempt to clutch every fund the moment it was raised , and then to leave the payment to me .

      Now for the " Manchester Examiner . '' That prosecution is not over yet , «; nd next week I will publish for you the dilatory pleas that have been put in by the Defendant , in order to postpone the hearing 01 the ease ; while upon my part not a single obstruction has been offered . Now , it is very painful for me to be obliged to mix up those private matters with public business . It was only yesterday , I paid 149 / . 10 s . for a libel , and last week I had to pay money into court in

      another libel case of a political nature connected with poor Fussell ; and last week I received a bill of costs , in poor Vernon ' s case alone , of 169 / . 15 s . 6 d „ consisting of twenty , five sheets of foolscap paper , with an application to me for a balance of 80 ? . ; and yesterday , after having made several fruitless attempts to see the victims in Tothill-fields , I gave orders to pay weekly , out of my own pocket , the sum necessary for releasing them from picking oakum , and which sum has been paid in advance for the ensuing month .

      Now , I tell you candidly , and I tell you truly , that , were it not for my fixed determination to brave danger in every shape rather than abandon the Charter and the Land Plan , I would pitch the whole concern to the devil , and with what money I could scrape to . gether of my own , without the interference of the law , or the insolence of complainants , I would , as my own master , and with my own money , go on buying land , building houses , and locating the poor ; but when breakers are a-head , danger threatens , and the hurricane is blowing , 1 will brave insolence rather than

      abandon the ship . As soon as the Land Committee has reported , notice of the meeting of Conference will be given , and then , not my accounts , but the accountant ' s accounts , shall be submitted to the delegates . And I tell you again—and in conclusion—that so certain was I that my life would have fallen a sacrifice to the fury of the Government on the 10 th of April , that 1 made my will on the 9 th , and left every farthing belonging to me to two of the most honourable men in England , as trustees for faithfully carrying out the objects of the Land Company . And I tell you more , that on Friday last , when a proposition was made in the

      Committee to wind up the affairs of the National Land Company , it was rejected by a majority of nearly two to one , the majority declaring that , as the affairs were managed with perfect good faith , it would be unjust to those not located that those located should have the plum . However , my friends , it invariably happens that when a squall comes all expect me to be the trumpet , the artillery , the cavalry , the infantry , and the Exchequer . There is always great danger in being the paid servant of the public , and I will maintain the security of being Your faithful friend and unpaid bailiff , Feargus O'Connor .

      The Chartist Trials. York Assizes . J. J...

      THE CHARTIST TRIALS . YORK ASSIZES . J . Johnson , F . Vicory ( 30 ) , H . Walton ( 35 ) . W Smith ( 10 ) , H . Whitcombe ( 21 ) , J . DuwnB ( 19 ) , I Heaton ( 22 ) , W . Connor ( 31 ) , W . Winterburn ( 20 ) , and W . Sagar ( 41 ) , were charged for that they , on the 29 th of May last , at Horton , together with divers other evil-disposed persons , did riotously assemble to disturb the peace . —Mr Kncwles , Q ,. C , the Hon . Mr . Phipps . and Mr Orerond , were for the prosecution ; the prisoners were defended by Mr Pollock , instructed by Mr Roberts , the miners' attorney-genera ! . —Mr

      Kaowles having made several preliminary obaervations , stated that on the 29 ih of May the magistrates entrusted with the peace of Bradford met together . There had been a charge against a peraon named Jefferson , commonly known by the name of * Wat Tyler '—perhaps from his profession of a blacksmith—for illegal training and drilling , and the magistrates had thought fit to take necessary measures to procure his apprehension ; and accordingly , on the 29 th May , various officers , accompanied by a body of special constables , went to Adelaide-street for the purpose of apprehending him . They were not successful . They were assailed with showers ot

      brick bats and other miesilea , and in tbe end they retired without effecting their object . The magis * trates , having reason to believe there would be an illegal meeting :, issued a bill calling Bpon theirelLdig . posed inhabitants not to assemble . Between three and four in the afternoon the magistrates went to Adelaide-street , attended by a utrong body of police and special constables , and military in the rear ready to act . The special constables were in advance , and they arrived first at the place , where there was a great number of people assembled . An attempt was then made to capture Jefferson , the person known by tbe name of Wat Tyler . Stenes were again thrown

      at the police , and Dewhurat and Brown were very seriously injured , The fint special constable assaulted was Mr Hailsbne , an attorney , and he immediately went forward and seized the prisoner Smith , for the purpose of apprehending him . He was surrounded on every side , but notwithstfliidiHc the violence of the mob , succeeded in handing over Smith to the custody of a police , man . Several other of the def-ndants were also taken into custody . Smith , Winterburn , Vioory , Heaton , and Connor , threw stones and bnokbatg ; Whitcomb incited others ; Downs was using a hot soldering iron ai a weapon ; Johnson was inciting by words and violence ; and Sagar pulled a dagger

      out of his pocket . Several witnesses were then examined , and proved these facts . —Mr Pollock then addressed the Jury on behalf of the prisoners . He did not know why this , which waa a mere case oi ' common riot , had not been taken to the quarter Bessions . He ( Mr Pollack ) waa not a friend of disorder , but he claimed for herMajesty ' sBubjeotathe right to meet to discuss politics . The learned gentleman then proceeded to dissect the evidence , from whioh he argued that there was not adequate proof of the violence alleged , and aa againat the . prisoner Waltoa , he contended that there not the alighteat evidenee- ^ Mr Justice Erie jury , after an absence of a 9 all the prisoners guilty escepting deferred . *~ Tl

      Was Summed Up, And The «Rte L Of U^ Jui ...

      was summed up , and the « rtE L u ^ ^ SI « ^ ako ^ -VSint ^ rM ' & : { . rS -- ' :- £ ^ . ) a UCJO OO »« v » , uvu » g-r le summed up , and tbe arte * of anJuJaXtJouwl ins ^ akotfvS ^ trM * b £ * H ** % f ; -j j ^ . ' > J . /*\ fej

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 29, 1848, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_29071848/page/5/