Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 31st October 1846, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1

Page 1
Page 1
1 of 8

On this page

  • Departments (2)
    • q THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST C O-OPERATIVE LAKD COMPANY.
    • IlrSOJf GltEKN, NEAR iNoTTISGIUM, — FkAME-WOKK
  • Text (12)
  • Transcript

    • 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.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Q The Members Of The Chartist C O-Operative Lakd Company.

      q THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST C O-OPERATIVE LAKD COMPANY .

      My Peas Feiesbs, Rhe Old Song Says " Tha...

      My Peas Feiesbs , rhe old song says " that misfortunes but seldom De ang le , 'tis plain , " I pr esume , when yon J the Star of this week , that you will say that A fortune has not come single . I am now about mswersome scores of most insolent , offensive I impertinent letter that I have recently received , ut the purchase of land , and to not one of whicn flve replied , and not one of which has had any bluebottle

      )! e effect upon me than the buzz of a - . indeed , I often think that it is very fortunate P \ on that I can bear some months abuse without i ^ 5 ruffled or driven into a course which the Hies would be the loudest to condemn . I shall sttfp lain my position to you with respect to the HDianv , and , wiihont condescending to gratify or LThiy hspertinent correspondents , they , as well ' ^ 11 perhaps see the difference between pnr-- ir land to let to a tenant as a safe investment r the purchaser ' s money , and the purchase of ad EVER * ACRE OF WHICH I shall

      consi-, - ' safe investment for the poor man ' s labonr and - « al If I had been more anxious to secure a Serous popularity than to insure the certainty of re member ' s " success , my conduct mig ht have ' , ' more acceptable , until YOUR failure proved it inefficiency , and then , instead of calmly bearing ^„ tc of fools , I ' should have bent under the [ C ta oa-s " » ' " ¦ htof vour just reproach and my own consumer reflections . Yon , my friends , will bear in mind that when

      BCe i nan is located upon his little estate , that he no mere experimentalist , hut that he has ijopted his new profession upon confidence in my istoi and knowledge . And again , I tell you that . fa ther who ever lived in this world ever had a , ltnder solicitude for the success . and comfort of is chOdren than I have for the success and comfort 4 every member of the Chartist Co-operative L . YND ^ jlPANT . It is very easy to keep continuall y awfig out BUY ! BUY !! BUY !!!

      at it is not so easy to find estates so circumstanced « to justify me in purchasing as other people purbase . An estate of two hundred acres of varied ¦} S row wy well suit the purpose of a purchaser or i tenant , while the inequality and variety would enaider eternal strife , jealousy and animosity in our inks , Now , in Herringsgate farm I positively jioiHa not know which allotment to choose , and I m commissioned to offer £ 30 , £ 50 and £ 70 for a so , thiee , or four acre farm upon that estate ; so ith the one hundred and sixty acres which I have

      st purchased . It is one of the most heavenly spots i creation , situated in Worcestershire , within nine ales of Gloucester , nine of Tewkesbury , less than « from the thriving market town of Ledbury , selve of Cheltenham , within two of the Malvern nils , and four miles and a half from a canal , and 3 st £ 8100 ; the rent pa ! d b y the former tenant , for wire years , was £ 336 a-year , or £ 2 2 s . an acre , liich will tell you whether the land is good or not 3 T own opinion is , that this day two years Lvrill hi worth 4 * 5 an acre . The roads to it are atendid , the country is beautiful , it is well

      Btered ; the very best stone is to he had within 5 than two nines , all dressed and squared for snldiag at Is . fid . per ton ; a ton of stone will do Kriselv as much as ' 200 juf bricks which " cost 8 s . Lime'isabout half the price thatit is at Herringsgate , ad , the best sand , is within a mile and a half for stbing , and there is plenty of the best material for sarins roads , and a vast quantity of excellent maaials upon the farm . The labour in the parish is is . a week , I will certainly raise it to 10 s ., as the nproreaient of the labourer is part of our principle ad thus yon find that building trill not be more JaiM the expense at Herringsgate , jf so much ,

      ad the materials as good as any in the world . Sow for the advantages of this Estate . When re bought Herringsgate there was a large amount a crops in the ground , which compelled us to forego aerations until they were reaped ; andjsuch must * be & e case in ninety-nine out of every hundred farms iaat we bay , while upon Lowbands and Applehurst faira , the one I have just purchased , there is not a pin of anything sowed , so that the whole land is Et once convertible to our use . The possession is to J g iven on the 12 th of December , and then 1 set to Qrk , and no time will be lost in erecting the aaldines , and doing all the necessary work . Now , 'hit a Terr different situation this is to be in than

      i ' l had purchased some low , unhealthy , or mounsaoas iad inaccessible farm , or one for subdivision s ' uhieh we should have waited till September st , ell the crops were off . I have inspected * aitr-as farms before I met with one that entirely flaed . If I had got the other farm in Worcesterfee for which I bid , we could not have had possessor nrnil February next , and the land was £ 60 an toe-this is better land , though the other was pae , and is only £ 50 an acre . Now attend to the

      arms that I have inspected—one near Carlisle , a ^^ Eft out of the way , bad roads , and tenanted ; Jie near Broughton , on the borders of Lincolnshire fl ^ o 4 shire , wild , out of the way , too dear , and aani ed ; four in Kent , £ 70 an acre ; two at Bagto , a portion of one heath , eighty acres of the Jtier heath ; one at Wokingham , miserably out of aaoition , cropped , tenanted , and dear ; one in teonshire , on the top of a mountain ; two at Little & sffinden , Jn Hertfordshire , tenanted , no water ^ Ufced ; Bonner ' s Farm , in Hertfordshire , all j ^ MS ; Marsh Gibbon , in Bucks , flooded , no maters * no house , part common ; two near Ipswich , ^» Ik , one £ 70 an acre , the other £ 22 an acre , HI would not take at a gift ; Esses , Colliers Farm

      ~ aiff day ; another farm at the river Blackwater , fy acres of ' slob /' with eternal stink , and the p lants afflicted with ague ; Witney , near Ox-*\ 108 acres , sold by private contract before the -3 i 0 a . With regard to this , I may observe , that * fcn the person who sent the advertisement had ^ notice of the sale which appeared in the . faring week ' s paper , but which he never sent . ^ iFann , confused title ; Bowers Farm , Herts , fted , cropped , and one-fourth under beech timf' aades Farm , Worcestershire , in treaty with J 4 er before I heard of it , bid £ 500 over him , but ^ proprietors under contract to sell . , -9 ff % n , in the Haiing heat of summer , or in " Pelting rain of autumn , I have dug every field jujoseseveral farms . I never tvIII he drawn into so

      ^ Explanation again and , once for a , no Ihing ^ » all the men in the world , shall either dra-; ** ae or force me to make a purchase that I ** * : satisfied with through all time . I am not ' ^ satisfi ed hut gratified with the present purt _^ and f or this reason—it is worth more to us - « i any other person living , and Mr . MDes , of Bris-£ W AOSO for it . So I can ' t be much wrong . HsT * mortgage of £ 7 , 500 upon it , and mort' r * dotft lend to the full amount , and , above all , J . *» offered 9000 guineas for it after I pur-W' * lTV 3 S veiynear keing late ; I returned ^ fann after having dug in several parts of 5 j * . ' * having ascertained every necessary ^^ ° - aU < 1 Wt up t 0 my knees ; and tbe auc " L . 5 goin § on as I entered the rnnm- and whpn

      Sag ' aFast , after making the purchase , a ^*" * apposed he would he in time , ar-^ - - » d offered 9000 guineas . The mort' * 2 , Vas ob ! i Sed to sell , assured me , that , if 1 ^ 0 ° *^ ° P 2 rt lrith U ' he WOUld gCt m 8 ten •^ a l 0 ui u ! s ' ^ 'i now s " y ° usomeinfor " ^ to kf n a S ab 1 Lat 1 have dwys been try-5 % J ^ - u P » n—namely , the value of land iz ***« - k ^ ^ of auction being huiiied on at the stated was this : the same auctioneer

      My Peas Feiesbs, Rhe Old Song Says " Tha...

      had afterwards to sell the Prinknash-park estate , in the same room , in sixty-six lots ; and now observe what 1 have to tell you . Those lots varied from less than a quarter of an acre to eighteen acres , and for the most part , though inferior land , brought from £ 100 to £ 150 an acre . One lot of less than a quarter of an acre , was let for 15 s . a-year , and bought for £ 28 ; another lot of five acres was bought iu at £ 675 . During the auction , I observed a labouringlooking man with a long white greatcoat ,

      occasionally bidding for a small allotment , in a fine loud tone , and amidst a good deal of laughter , and I was anxious to know his business . While I was getting ready to start by the train , he came down stairs , and I said , "Well , my man ; did you buy anything ?" " Yes , " said he ; " I bought an acre and a little bit . " " And what did you give ? " " £ 105 . " " Now , " I said , " what ' s your occupation ? " He answered , " At the time of Mr . Guise ' s election , about eighteen years ago , I was in service , and I purchased a bit of land with what monev I had . " "Well , and

      how much have you now ? " " Why , I had six acres before this bit ; and I always keep adding a bit to it . I gave £ 275 for three acres . " "Well , and what family have your'' "Only my wife and a friendless child . I have no one to hel p me . I hire men to work . " " Well ; how much would you have bought to-day if you had got it to your liking . " " Why , I'd buy £ 1000 worth . " "Why , have you got one thousand pounds saved after purchasing the land ? " "Tes ; I could manage that and a bit more too !"

      Isovr , the reader may suppose this to be a Free Trader ' s steam-boat conversation ; but I asked more : I asked him his name and his place of residence ; and his name is Henry Bolton , of Upton St . Leonards ; so that those who take the Slar in that neighbourhood may ascertain the critical accuracy of every word I state ; and , besides the £ 105 , he has to pay his share of expense of making out title , and the whole expense of conveyance . Now , what will the growlers , who say that a man must starve upon two acres , say to that ? To this branch of my subject I have only to add , that but for the bother created

      by a fevr , perhaps non-subscribers , about making £ 1 , 350 by Calender ' s farm , that 1 couid have added £ 10 , 000 audmore to the capital of thesociety . if 1 had used my own judgment in buying land that would not suit us to sell again ; but the peculiarity of my position is this , that I must not only satisfy the good men , but I must avoid as much as possible dissatisfying the bad ones . However , as the next piece of intelligence which I have to communicate is of much more importance than the purchase of 50 estates , I now announce for the consideration of the several constituencies , that thev may instruct their delegates ,

      that at the next Conference I shall ask for the power to use my own judgment to increase the capital of the company , by the purchase and sale of estates-6 , 000 single shareholders pay £ 15 , 000 , and I would undertake to make £ 50 , 000 , and perhaps more , within the six years that it may take to locate a section . Of all the speculations that are now presented to the money grubber , there is no such speculation as the buying and selling of land ; and if a man has capital to buy in the wholesale market , and sell in the retail market , in less than six years he

      will be a second Rothschild , and without a particle of risk . There ' s not a day in the year that I would not undertake to make my £ 100 . Now observe , there ' s an estate to be sold , a man who wants it bids £ 10 , 000—1 buy it for £ 10 , 100 ; he'll scratch his head , and wLen he finds he ' s lost it , he will think no more of g iving me a £ 100 or £ 500 for my bargain , than of walking out of the room . He pays the deposit instead of me , and the purchase is made in his name instead of mine . So that you see I have always some resource whenever 1 wish to turn

      money-grubber . I now turn to the consideration of my second subject—PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION OF THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY . The non-enrolment of our society has been another subject of great ansiety with the non-members , and if they were anxious for protection against me and the Directors , I assure you I was much more anxious for protection against them . You are not to suppose that it was matter of lig ht consideration to be obliged to publish every single act , and every single step taken by the . directing body ; a thing that never

      was heard of before , but of course rendered necessary by the lucubrations of ignorant inflated boobies , who were cunning enough to remain out of sight , while they got their poor tools to fire their arrows . Application was made to the Attorney General to certify our rules for enrolment , as the new act required , but which he refused . There was no course open then , but the more stringent and expensive process of Registration . Determined to surround my offspring with all the protection that the law could afford , 1 , with the concurrence of the Directors , resolved upon furnishing that protection , and we are now provisionally registered as a Joint Stock Company , under the designation of

      THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY . The deed for complete enrolment is now before counsel for perfection , and when we obtain the licence for complete registration , which is the next step , the members and their property are much more stringently protected than they would be by enrolment . The enrolment punishes officers for fraud , but registration not only punishes them for fraud , hut fines them £ 20 for the most trifling neglect of

      duty . When the registration is complete , every member ' s name must be entered in the book containing the deed—the deed-book is made up like a large account-book , and every ten folios requires an additional stamp of £ 1—the book is to he open for the inspection , not only of the members , but of the public , at office hours , and notice must be given of every fresh act or alteration in the rules to the proper authorities , and a balance sheet with the expenditure of the Society ' s funds , together with the receipts , must also be furnished to the same authorities , and anv change of Directors , Trustees ,

      Auditors , or other officers , must be duly notified . The solicitor to the Society is liable to a fine of £ 20 for every act of neglect , and therefore I have received notice this week from the solicitor not to ptf-lbb the usual weekly places of meeting , until a correct list is furnished to him next week throug h the secretary , of which he can g ive proper notice , and then they may afterwards appear -weekly in the Slar . He must give notice of any purchase of land , and all properties belonging to the Society must be vested in the Trustees for the benefit of the shareholdersso that my liabilities are not likely to affect Herringsgate now .

      At the Conference I shall press for the appointment of Trustees of undoubted character and integrity—in short , I am determined that no squeamishness or delicacy shall induce me to screen cue single act of impropriety or to sanction a single act of injustice . The registration of our Company not not only gives the shareholders a power and controul over their officers , hut it also , thank God 1

      My Peas Feiesbs, Rhe Old Song Says " Tha...

      gives the officers the power of compelling the shareholders to perform their contracts—that is , to make them pay up their shares as stipulated , whether at threepence a week , sixpence a week , or a shilling a week ; and you will see thedesirableness of this , when I tell you that there are many members who have paid Is . 4 d . as their licence to create dissension , and still stand in the way of those who would gladly enter . For instance , if there are a lot of these beggars in Section No . 1 , we can oust them to make room for veritable members in that section . This , I assure you , is very desirable . The

      shareholders themselves will now see the indispensable necessity of compelling the local secretary to furnish the General Secretary , ; forthwith , with the name , place of abode , and calling of every shareholder , and notice of every new branch opened must be sent at once to the General Secretary , iu order that the solicitor may furnish the proper authority with it . The expense will be considerable , perhaps £ 150 ; but then it is my intention to move at the Conference that that is a proper item to be paid out of the expense fund , so that it will not diminish the capital of the Society .

      I don ' t think I have anything more to add , further than that I would rather pay the expenci of Registration out of my own pocket , than be longer without Us protection . And , now , iu conclusion , let it once for all be understood , that I will purchase no land for the COMPANY except what pleases myself . I have travelled fully five thousand miles , and more , in search of different estates , and I will not have sleepless nights , wet feet , a hungry belly , and abuse , as my wages any longer . I will purchase no land upon two acres of which a man and

      his family cannot live comfortably , and purchase it for ever in less than five years . And , thank God , I shall have a little rest till the 12 th of December , the day upon which we get possession ; and upon the 14 th , as Sunday is the 13 th , the stones will he walking from the quarry , and the 8 s . paupers of Worcestershire will be throwing up their hats for the Land and the Charter . I would publish some of the letters I have received , if the cowards had put their names to them , that the Chartists in the neig hbourhood might pull their ears , but cowards always take care of Number One . Your faithful friend and bailiff , Feargus O'Cojtnor .

      - / R Inmel^ #6*^&R &J& Jl

      - / r InMel ^ # 6 *^& r & J & JL

      ^N^W; ^R^^Ik. ' "^" ^ - / R Rz^^Z^ Fsmw ...

      ^ n ^ w ; ^ r ^^ ik . ' " ^ " ^ rZ ^^ Z ^ fsmW * Jml 1 h JM— W 4 l \^ s A AND NATIONAL TRADES JOURNAL .

      Vol. Ix. No. 47l London, Saturday, Octob...

      VOL . IX . NO . 47 L LONDON , SATURDAY , OCTOBER 31 1846 ~~ ^ m ^ r ^ i ^^ ¦ — . " F , re Shiliimsfn and S' -cpence ner Oimrior '

      The Small Farm System On The Continent ,...

      THE SMALL FARM SYSTEM ON THE CONTINENT , 10 THE £ D 1 I 0 R OF THK SOUTHERN STAR . Basle , Switzerland , Oct . 10 , 1816 . Dear Sir , Having been over that part of Belgium traversed -by Mr . O'Connor last yenr , and having , this rear , passed through other portions not visited by that gentleman , I think it right to give my testimony , not only to the general but the particular accuracy of the statements made public through your journal . As I tnke a great interest in the subject of small holdings , cultivated by spade , or rather hand l ; i hour , I have nlshed , during the toi' ? I am now making , to acquire as much information on the subject as my opportunities would afford , and in submitting them to your consideration and that of your readers , indulge a hope that they may tend in some degree to assist in the groat work to which Mr . O'Connor has -devoted the leisure which the late lull in public affairs has placed at his disposal .

      In the centre and north of Belgium the system of small farras chiefly obtains , and here , as well as in France , is exposed tog * eat and severe drawbacks . In both these countries to the feudal system in its worst form was superadded frequent invasions , Irhich rendered it especia " y hazardous to the villein or" serf to reside in the open country , so that to whatever dig * ince cultivution might extend , the cultivator everresided in the fortified town , immediately adjacent to the castle of hU lurd . This system no longer obtains , but the habit of residing in towns or large villages iJ almost universal . This alone is an evil which countervails the advantages of small holdings , as tho residence is usui ' Uy from one ti > two miles from the land . Added to this the greater expenses of ? ivingin towns , and the greatei temptation to espsnee from the greater laxury which exists where members congregate . Nothing but the love of imlependance and the inestimable advantiigc of hand labour , could sustain a smwU farmer under such circuin stances .

      In Ireland a different system prevails , and there , from tbe system of subletting , the wonder is , not that a small holder is worse off than a common labourer , hut that he can exist at all . From these evils the very interesting experiment at ITerringsgato is safe , and though exposed to some dangers irom within is protected irom any without . In Belgium , and more particularly in France ( with the exception of Alsace , which , though at present forming part of France , is German in language , thought , and feeling , and in the universal want and aspiration of its people again to revert to its " fader laud" ) , the villagers produce an immense amount of vegetables for food , which by very simple cookery is rendeveil wholesome and palatable , a system which has yet to he naturalized amongst us . In Belgium , and still more iu Germany , nearly every cultivator has one or more cmvs .

      which are used in the cultivation of the land and even to conveyits produce to market , as well as in the conveyance of merchandize . I have this day seen nearly as many cows as oxen iu Strasbourg , and quite as many oxen ahi cows as horses . It is quite delightful to witness the kindness and attention with which not only the women and children , but even the men , almost invariably show to this most doci'e and gentle , as well as most valuable , of animals . It is the veritable bread-winner , and seems to be regarded with gratitude as well as with affection . May not this have been the origin of the worship of which the cow has been and is yet the object , I have further observed , that whenever the labour is voluntary , that is , where the action of all is not governed by each , as in factory labour , or handicraft , where the negligence , unskilfulness , or weakness of one hinders all ,

      the spirit of kindness and courtesy prevails nearly universally . I have often noticed with great pleasrre the kind ! y , the affectionate greeting of the peasant to bis wife or daughter who has brought his food or come to share his labour ; and with scarcely less pleasure the : odhumuured , expression in their comely face . * . In England , the one sole object of existence is to get rich , to obtain social position , as the end , not as a means , of existence , and this , in spite of the evils which it entails , insured alike to those who succeed and to those who fail , is , X regret to say , become contagious in France . In proportion as men lose their simplicity of thought and action , so have thaj entered in a sea of troubles , where ease and safety arc never found . Ou this ground , if on no other , the experiment now in progress at TIerringsga te is deserving of all support , and will , ia any case , ensure a certain success , and furnish valuable experience . The only apprehension I entertain is from the miscellaneous character of its first inhabitants , in their unreasonable anticipations , in their want of familiarity with labour of

      the kind required , and , I must speak all or hold my peace , in the character and condition of the wives and daughters of the first inhabitants . I will frankly confess that I could have wished the first occupants of the first colony had been all agriculturists , but this was not passible , and I anticipate that it will require all Mr . O'Connoi ' s skill and discretion to guide this infant colony aright . It will be viewed with jealousy by the neighbouring land holders , and will have to pass through much of obloquy , and to resist , finally , the blandishments of the betrayer , and , for this , the agriculturist would hare been better adapted . I entertain much hope , but 1 am earnestly desirous that the dangers to which it is exposed should be rightly apprehended from the outset , knowing , as I do , that every apparent failure will be visited upon Mr . O'Connor , who , more than any man © f our time , deserves the gratitude , affection , and respect of the great body of tbe people , to whom he has devoted great powers of body and mind , with a perseverance , disinterestedness , and self-sacrifico beyond all pruisc .

      It may interest you to know that the crop of this year iu Germany , Italy , France , and Belgium is an average one , the only decrease having been in rye . It is not the less true , however , that the consumption , owing to the great amount of labour required throughout central Europe has greatly increased , and this it is which has led to the apprehension of scarcity . " See , " said once a rational communist , " How the tender mercies of the present system become cruel . In this enhanced value of labou- which , however , Benefits not the labourer , being furnished when away from his home , the workman has more meat , more wine , and these in tbe first instance he obtains easily and uses abundantly , often to his o « n injury . Nov / see the reaction . The enhanced price consequent on this state of thin S leaves him without benefit and becomes to all others a great evil . Yet , seeing this , the governments of the day are at once enabled to provide for the evil , or to stop its progress . A war is au evil to each government ,

      The Small Farm System On The Continent ,...

      yet found special to each , and this has enabled Louis Philippe to carry his long-cherished project with regard to Spain into execution . I ^ is not knewn how « r wh en he acts , but it is known that he is safe with respect to England this is sufficient , ? It may be indifferent to those who have no ri ght but that of death , hardly that of burial , whether Spain belongs to Louis Philippe or to Christina , but it does concern Englishmen to know that their policy is directed by the traitor of the Barrieadocs , and that he has more than one English statesman in his pay . I am , sir , Your ' a , respectfully "A MinntB Cl 4 sb Chartist . "

      Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'Gregor. ...

      IRELAND . NARRATIVE OF MALCOLM M'GREGOR . NO . III . At twelve o clock precisel y , I entered an Irish Court-house for the first time , and as every circumstance connected with the administration ot justice must be considered as of paramount impoitance , the reader who may not have witnessed such a scene will naturally expect a lucid and comprehensive description of the source from which the national character must mainly receive its formation and tone .

      At the entrance to the Court-house were to be seen anxious groups of litigants all gabbling together with remarkable volubility and for the most part in the native language , leaving me little to understand , except from the gestures and earnestne-s of the speakers . I asked a respectable-looking person what their conversation was about / and he informed me , that some were stating their case to friends , and others were offering to submit the question in dispute to arbitration , while those charged with assault were endeavouring to raise the necessary funds among their friends to fee an attorney . The interior of the court was literally wedged with country people , where also a continuous buz was kept up in

      a suppressed tone of voice , while here and there , where a corner could be secured , were to be seen groups in the most anxious consultation with their attorney , the most ready instructing him as to the merits of the case , and all occasionally , and with ! , reat energy , throwing something fresh into the voluminous cxp ' anation . The judge of Quarter Sessions is called assistant barrister , and is addre « scd as' Your worship . ' He has the sole power of admitting or rejecting applicants for registration . In all civil bill actions his judgment is law , with an appeal to the judge of assize ngainst his decision . He grants decrees , for the distress and recovery of debts or dismisses the case . Criminal and assault cases

      are tried by a jury , the magistrates of the district dividing the power with him in assault cases , each having a voice in awarding of punishment . I had not long taken my seat when a soldier , as 1 thought , thrust his bayonet into my face , and , with a shove , said , 'Make way for the magistrates / and on looking round I recognised my fellow-passenger , uaptain Squeezetenant , very importantly hustling his way to the bench , f remarked to a gentleman who sat next me that the appearance of so large a

      military force or indeed , any military , in a court ol justice , was a veryunusu . il occurrence . " Where are the soldiers f" he asked . " Why there , " said 1 pointing to what I supposed to bs one of the Rifle corps , from his dress and equipments . " O !* ' he replied ; " Those are the police . " " The police , " I exclaimed , " Why , they have a complete military appearance , dressed precisely like the Rifles , and similarly equipped . "Yes , " said he , "but they are the police . "

      The hour for commencing business had now arrived , and the first operation was the registration of voters ; and perhaps the best mode of instructing the reader upon this subject will be to give him a verbatim account of one or two cases . The first applicant who presented himself was Darby , or , as he styled himself , otherwise Jeremiah Hoolihane , who was ushered upon the table , and placed in the wit . ness ' s chair , and who , being duly sworn , was exa " mined in the following manner , by a counsellor who I recognised as one of the inside passengers with whom

      I had travelled , and who , I was informed , was re taintel by the Liberal interest ;—" Hoolihane , what do you claim as V " As a ten-pounder , yer honour . " "No , no ; I mean as a . freeholder or a lease holder ?" " Ogh ! as a laisholder , to to sure . " " What ' s that in your hand ?" " My instrucraent , yer honour . " " O ! your lease , I presume ?" " Tes , my Jais , to be sure !"

      " Who do you hold under , and what term have you , and what do you pay ?" " Wh y , I houlds under the Captain there , now / pointing to Captain Squeezetenant ; " but my lais is signed by the ould Lord . I took it for thirty-one years , and I have nine of it to run yet . " " How much land have you , and how much do you pay ?" "Wisha , I can't rightly say ; maybe two score acres or something more . I took it in tho rough and be the lump , and but I never had it rnisured , and I pays thirty for it . " " Thirty pounds , you mean ?" " Yes , then , thirty pounds . "

      " Now , Hoolihane , answer me one question—Is tho farm worth ten pounds a year more than you pay according to your lease ?" Here poor Darby scratched his head , looked up and down , scratched his head again , and then looked slily towards the Captain , whose eye met his , and iippcared to strike him dumb . The question was again repeated , when Darby , appearing to gain courage , replied , — " Why , to be sure , I wouldn't like to have therint viz upon me ; but , rather than lave it , File thrie to pay it one way or other . " " In fact , you would rather give ten pounds a-year more rent than leave it V

      • ' Ogh , then , indeed then I would ; for , ' pen my word , there ' s a power of my sweat there and of the gossoons . " " Your worship , you ' ll admit this applicant . " Here my fellow-traveller started up on the opposite side with a knowing leer and a nod , and said , " stop , stop , not so fast , let me have a word . Now , Darby , attend to me , —I ask ' you , sir , by virtue ot the solemn oath you have just taken , whether or not you have recently applied to your landlord for an abatement , upon the grounds that your farm was too dear , Come , come , yes or no , it ' s a simple question , and does ' nt require much consideration , and remember , you ' re on your oath , and ] that your landlord is present ?"

      "Well , what if I did , what differ does that make ?" " Come , sir , no fencing ; answer my question , yes or no ?" "Well , supposing 1 did ?" " Did you , sir ? yes or no ?" " Well , to be sure I did , but it was becays the praties failed on mf , but I has my last recait for the Michaelmas gale here , and I did ' nt get the batement I axed for ?" " But you did ask for tho reduction ? * " To be sure I did , and why should ' nt I , why should I stand all the loss ?"

      " Now , sir , never mind what you would give as a { ancy price , but I ask you , sir , on your solemn oath , would a solvent tenant give ten pounds a year for the farm more than . yOU pay v >

      Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'Gregor. ...

      Why how does I know what another would do , but I'de do it , and pay it too , rather nor quit the spot . My God , has ' nt I been a score and two yeara at it , and is ' nt it likely I should have something in it for my trouble ?" Now , sir , you say you have been 22 years there , and I'll ask you one question . —have you saved over and above your rent £ 220 , for" that ' s ten pounds a year for that time ?" " My God , then , is ' nt that a foolish question ? to be sure I has ' nt , but then did ' nt I lave it in the ground as I'de make it . "

      " Now , sir , do you mean to say that after paying your rent , supporting and educating your family , paying your servants' wages , and tithes , and taxes , and rates , and all other charges , that the farm is worth ten pounds a year more than you pay ?" "I do then , and I tell you , I'de give it for it tomorrow , and more rather nor give it up . " "Show me that lease ? Oho , why I find several covenants here by which you are bound to make so many perches of fencing , to put out so much lime , to pay so many duty-fowl , and to send so many men and horses each year to work for your landlord ?" " Why , what ' s that to do with it ? ' *

      " What ' s that ' s to dp with it ? why there ' s a covenant in your lease that failing to perform any of those conditions , an equivalent , in the shape of rent shal' be payable , and the landlord is empowered to distrain for it as rent . " " Ogh , God ble « s you , and give me my lais , the ould lord , God rest Lis sowl , never nxed me for them , give me my lais . " Stop , stop , a minute . " Here I observed a person who had sat next to counsel very busily engaged in scanning over the lease , and taking notes , and upon closer observation I discovered that it was Mr . Grubb , the captains solicitor . Counsel

      continued"Now , sir , if you were called upon to fulfil ail those conditions would you give ten pounds a year above the present rent , for the farm ?" " Ogh yay God bless you now , and give me my lais , and let me be going away home , " "Now , your worship , I'll just examine this man ' s landlord . " Captain Squeezetenant , remain where you nre , I shall not trouble you to get on the table . The Captain was sworn— "Now , Captain Squeezetenant , I ask you ou your oath as a conscientious landlord , do you think the farm in question , and out of which the applicant seeks to register a ten pound vote , ia worth ten pounds a year above the reserved rent ?"

      " Upon my oath it is not , and if out of lease tomorrow I could not conscientiously nsk a farthing more than the present rent , if so much , and that man has frequently called upon me , of late , to ask for a reduction ; saying the land was too dear , and that he could not hold it at the rent . " That ' s all I shall trouble you with , Captain . " Now , your worship , I call upon you to reject this applicant . " Liberal counsel— " Your worship , the application for a reduction in the rent , is not sufficient grounds for rejecting applicant . "

      Judge— "No , Mr . Gripe , certain ! v not , nor should I reject any applicant upon those grounds ; but , mark what his landlord says , and tho non-pcrfurforniance of the covenants in the lease . REJECT

      APPLICANT . " The next applicant wai William Smith , who , upon being sworn , said , that he held thirty acres under Lord Bandon , on lease for thirty-one years , and for which he paid £ 45 a year . Smith appeared to be a client ot the Conservative counsel , who merely asked him the term of his lease , the number of acres , and the amount of rent ; and then put the usual question — " Mr . Smith , you are a Protestant , I believe ? " " 1 am , sir . " " Now , Mr . Smith , would a solvent tenant , in your opinion , give £ 10 a year above the rent reserved in your lease for the farm ?"

      ** He would , sir , and more ; there ' s his lordship on the bench , and you can ask him . " His lordship nodded assent to counsel , and muttered , " O yes , certainly , and much more . " " Thank your lordship ; Smith I shan't trouble you any more . Your worship will admit applicant . " Mr . Gripe— " Stop , notso fast ; now , Mr . Smith ?" Judge- " Surely , Mr . Giipe , you could ' nt have heard the observation of -hi « lordship in answer to Mr . Shearer , or you never could think of wasting the public time in this case . " Mr . Gripe— "Ye ?; but your worship . " Judge— " Pooh , pooh ; pray Ictus proceed with the public business . ADMIT APPLICANT . "

      Such is a fair specimen of the mode of administering political justice in Ireland , not doubting that in other districts the current runs in a completely opposite direction , varying in its course according to the politics of him who is entrusted with the anomalou power ofliniiting or extending the constituency , not according to law , but according to caprice and bias . The first day was occupfcd with tho registration of electors , and , judging from what I had seen and heard , that the administration of law must be regulated by something like the same system , I resolved upon remaining forwnother day . When I returned to my hotel . I was about to order dinner , when the

      waiter informed me that till the private rooms were engaged , but that there was an ordinary at six , where I would find myself very comfortable . I ashed what description of persona would be likely to dine there > and he replied , " Why , some of tho Grand Jury and attorneys , and some of the country gentlemen . '' " Will the barristers dine there , " I asked . " No , " he re ; lied , " Mr . Sheaivr and tho assistant Ivuvister dine with Irs Inrdsl . 'ip at the c ; utle , and the Liberals are giving Mr . Gripe a grand public dinner . " The certainty of much amusement , and a fair prospect of acquiring some useful information , at once decided me , and 1 resolved upon dining at the ordinary . ( To be continued iveeicly . )

      1 He Poet Burns,—The Elgin Courant Says:...

      1 he Poet Burns , —The Elgin Courant says : —A very interesting document , relating to the Excise services of Bums , has been kindly handed to us by James Melville , Esq ., collector of excise in this district . It is the diary ofthe Dumfries collection and district from the 7 th of January to the 5 th of March , 1790—the district in which Mr . Findlater , the friend of Burns , was supervisor . The entries , which are very numerous , relate to the routine duties of an excise officer , in the performance of which Burns was always higblyj . coinniended by his supervisor . Indeed , from the humblest officer to the head Jof -tho local department in the Dumfries collection , testimony is borne to his efficiency and mild deportment . Burns is recorded as being indefatigable in the performance of his duties . The diary , however , reports

      Burns on duty , but that from October , 1705 , to the January following he was confined to his houso . He is shortly after ( March 5 ) represented in declining health . Rheumatism and loss of appetite , deprived of refreshing sleep , and in dejected spirits , forma summary of the imprints of death on this neglected luminary . Writing under this impression to Thomson , he states , " I close my eyes in misery , and open then without hope . " Only lour months from the date of Collector Melville ' s diary—days and nUhcs , weeks of serious reflection—earth was restored to earth—the eyes of Burns having closed on this world the 21 st of July 17 'Jo . " A spirit of independence . " says Wilson " reigned alike iu the genius and character of Burns , " a meet finale to our brief relie ol his laborious manhood . —EdMnrqli Witness .

      Dr . Arnold ! , the Archbishop of Trievrs , so famous for his part ill tho "holy coat" affair , has addressed a circular to all ecclesiastics of his diccese , recommending them , in the most pressing terms , to employ all their influence to discourage the faithful ' 'from making further pilgrimage to Treves .

      1 He Poet Burns,—The Elgin Courant Says:...

      Later NEWS FHOM INDIA , J ^ JT' i ? ' ? ' October SO .-Despatche ? havtf vhM . iu * n nd i . anticipation of the overland mail , which let Bombay on the 1 st inst . h » t « iii "oreevel , ytl » ing remained qnist- Lall Singb . t'HSf aDxiL ^ the tim e for the departure trieup ^ ; J there ^ » as U 8 » al . rumours of intrigues and insurrections l out

      J » M ^ ^ ^ t , on' ^ broken in Cashmere , fo-CtlnJ m , 7 „ T" «? ' ^ Lah 0 re Dl , rbar 5 and a WhSMf " * i . V nsurSents by Gliolab Singh had been defeated with some loss . Several English officers who were visiting the country had been seized , and would be detained as hostages , though no fears were entertained for their safety . Cholera was still raging in Sclnde , and provision were so enormously scarce and dear that an absolute famine was apprehended .

      Later And Important News From The United...

      LATER AND IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE UNITED'STATES AND MEXICO . SEVEftE BATLLE AND CAPTURE OP MONTEREY . We have received , by the arrival of the steamship Hiberniain the the Mersey on Thursday morning , our despatches from tho V »; ted States to-the 16 th instant inclusive . The contents ef these despatches are most important . The city of Monterey had , on the 24 th of September , capitulated to the American arms , after a severe struggle of three days . Ampudia was , as is supposed , securely intrenched in the strongly fortified town of Monterey , with from 9 , 000 to 11 . 000 men . General Tavlor

      stormed the place with about G . 000 men . After three days' fighting , a part of the time in the streets , and the Americans , at the point of the bavonet , carrying every rampart or other defence that they assaulted , General Ampudia sent a flag of truce to General Taylor , proposing to evacuate and surrender the city on certain conditions , which proposition resulted in the appointment of commissioners , who agreed upon the following conditions , substantially : — ~ \ General Ampudia , with his whole army , was allowed seven days to evacuate , the officers with )

      their side-arms , the men with their muskets , and a battery of 6 field pieces with 21 rounds of , " ammunition . All oilier public property to be left in the garrison , subject to the orders of General Taylor . It was further agreed that there should bean armistice of 8 weeks , subject co the approbation or rejection of either Government . As soon as the official despatches reached Waaliineton , the American Government , without loss of time , despatched orders to General Taylor to annual the armistice , and forthwith commence active operations against the Mexicans .

      The slaughter during tbe three days siege was great , particularly among the American officere . their loss , it is understood , being much greater than that of the enemy . The officials detail of killed and wounded have not yet been received at Washington , but are estimated at 500 . It is due to the Mexicans to admit that they behaved gallantly .

      Later News From Ireland. An Outbreak Of ...

      LATER NEWS FROM IRELAND . An outbreak of the populace at Templemore ia thus described by the Neuagli paper : — " On Monday last , as the steward employed under the Board of Works was about to place 15 men , iu accord with his list of instructions , on works at Carrig ' oughmore , near Templemore , in this county , a body of ab . / ut 150 p . rs ) ns assembled , and prevented the others being employed , unless work was given to them all . The steward consequently wag obliged to abandon his post , and left them there . The police from Templemore , under the command of head-constable Pattarson , were on the spot , and no breach of the peace occurred . During the absence of the police from the town , a mob of about

      100 persons plundered a bread cart of Mr . Joseph O'Keefe , a baker . Shortly alter this , the police returned to their barracks win n another attempt was madeon a bread cart from C onakenny , when the men , who had just returned trom a fatiguing and harrassing dufy , rushed out half dressed , and succeeded in briiujina in the cart of bread to their barrack yard . The mob amounted by this timeta nearly 300 persons , anil commenced flinging stones at the constabulary , whusc forbearance was very praise * worthy , oneof them being struck with a stone , which inflicted a severe wound on his head . The head-constable then sent word of the riot to tbe next magistrate , who ordered out six companies of military , but before their arrival , the mob , whic h had increased to upwards of 500 , rushed to the shop of a man named Ryan , where they were aqain met by the live gallant policemen ( tho entire force of that town ) , under

      head-constable rattaison , aim succeeded in forcing them from their position , at the point ofthe bayonet . Stones wove also thrown at the police , but no injury indicted , the greatest coolness , intrepidity , and forbearance being shown on this occasion . The mob then went to the house of Ellen Ryan , wh ° rer they broke four panes of glass . Here again the gallant constables were to be seen , and , having gained an entrance into the shop , expelled the intruders and clo cd the door . A young woman minthv . ; this ^ hop received a blow of a stone in the head , but was not much injured . On the appearance of the military , accompanied by Sir Henry Garden , Ciptaing . Hartford and Webb , magistrates of the county , peace was restored , but not before one of the soldiers received a blow of a stone which cut him . This riot lasted for about two hours . Six of the ringleaders have been arrested , and will not be liberated without giving good and sufficient bail . "

      ( Yi'palling Distress is tu County of Couk . —The Reporter of Tuesday contains a communication from the Protestant rector of Cahei-. igh . in which the writer says : — " More deaths , throu > , h non-pnyment ot wages and delajs have just occurred , one on a road a few miles outside Skibbercen . and two or three more in Sherkin island . " The Cork Reporter states that ; on Monday sonic £ > 00 unemployed labourers paraded the streets of Cork , and nfterwnrdsproccrdcd to the county grand jury room , where a jury was sitting under a precept , to value the grounds ou which the District Lunatic Asylum is to be erected . There they ranged themselves outside the bar , and n-ked un- work , saying that they were worn out with luuisvr , and could wait no longer . Ultimately the poor fellows retired . The police anestcd three of the most turbulent .

      Ilrsojf Gltekn, Near Inottisgium, — Fkame-Wokk

      IlrSOJf GltEKN , NEAR iNoTTISGIUM , — FkAME-WOKK

      Knittkks.—L'Liis Oppressed Body Of Men H...

      Knittkks . —l'liis oppressed body of men have joined the Rational Association of United Trades , and appeal to their fellow-workmen to imitate their example . MiLiTAttv Riot at Wi . n-dsou Fair . —On Monday evenimr , a serious disturbance was created in Iliahstrect by a large body of tho 1 st Regimental' Life Guards , in consequence , as it was stated , of a man named Cliippenfield , the proprietor of one o ' " the booth * containing wonderful pigs , boa-constrictor ? , crocodiles , & c , having " insulted" one if their coiuraucs in ihe afternoon by telling him , when lie had paid his 2 d . for admission , that he would have to r . 0 without "bacca" for a week . Shortly after nine o ' clock , alarsre bodv « f the soldiers came into ! ho

      fair , between 100 and 200 , although not more than about twenty were engaged in the riot , thunsti merely looking on . They commenced by dragging away the Hight of wooden steps lead ins : into the booth , which they entirely demolished . The soldiers next dragged away the whole of : h « phittonu in front ofthe booth ; in d"ing which the wife or the proprietor , Mrs . Chippeiilield , fell ihroti . uh upon the sioiies beneath , and " was considerably ii-jnrcd . Mr . Ciiippeiifield addressea the soldiers from . a projecting piiTC remainim : of th : ; platform , beg .-ing them to desist , a .- > ho had a wife and large family dependant upon him for support , and humbly apnlouisnr , ; for anything he might have siid to have a ' tvesi tin in offence in tho early part of the day . 'I he work of

      destruction , however , still procceUcu ; the iarneean .. vass painting on the outside beiiiL turn , after an attempt isad been made tu upset the van . Tho learned pin « ot loose , and that the crocodile had a very narrow esrapy during the mdce . which last-d for nearly half an hour . Many persons , some of whom were women , who were siaudtttu in the llivhstrert at the time , g '* t knocked about and seven ly injnrrd . The proprietor of the exhibition had ins h : i : ; tl- stvuivly scalded by the upaettinjt ofthe boiling oil which was burning in jars on the platform at tho time of the attack ! Mr . Blunt , one of the h < rough . magistrates , was in the !! igli ! -treet ( hiring a i-ivafc p-irt of the riot : 'but in-iii the largo boily of the

      Lifo Guards who were present , it w .-i * judu-ed inexpedient fur the police to interfere , who v . " o .: ! . l rt .- ? - Miredly have been overpowered . A picket arrived from the cavalry barracks a little before ten o ' clock , but not until the afi ' air was at an end and the ringleaders had dispersed . As soon as t he work of demolition had been completed , the inoni-ietor f tho booth , addressing the soldiers , said , " N"W . 1 hnpe , gentlemen , ymi are all satisfied . " To which the loader of the d-. ueute replud , " O yes . wo are ' ; iiitc satisfied , you shan ' t have any more ' tuppences' tonight , that wo have- tnlun d—ijood care of ; so good night , ul-. i fi . i ^ iw . " The mob then left , and ihe exhibition closed .

      l , mcEST ! -it . —The Chartists of this ancient horou <; h having obtained from the mayor the v . s ^ ot the Town Hall , are making the necessary preparations for a public meeting on Monday evening next , November 2 nd , for the adoption of the National ^ eihimi . Several friends will attend , on th e occasion , nndnddres < themcetine . The chair will bo ui-or at , ci « ut o ' clock . Mr . Ernest Jones , horn Mau-n , will tnke a part iu the proceedings . lord Chun-hill has returned to each of his allot J ; t nJuts in Oxfordshire , half the v « it due toe ho ire 1 P > tions of the land they occupy over hisesS ' n conscienceottue hdu ye ot the p <* tntoe crop .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 31, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_31101846/page/1/