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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th March 1845, Edition 3 of 3, Page 8, " . HOUSE OF COMMONS, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

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      Bugmal Fmiam-Tnt

      _Bugmal _fmiam-tnt

      -. House Of Loitds, Friday , March 14......

      -. HOUSE OF LOItDS , Friday , March 14 . .. The ' _JewidiDlauiMes Bill , and the Stamp Acts Assimilation ( Ireland ) Bill , were severally read a third time and passed .

      " . House Of Commons, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

      " . HOUSE OF COMMONS , _Tcssiur , Mabch 11 . - ¦ _"' ' Sir R . Pkel gave notice that he would move , on a _^• future day , that the House should adjourn for the ~ - "Easter recess on Thursday , the 22 d , and meet again " _| on Monday , the 31 st inst . ' _.: ' < ' SEW ZEALAND AITA 1 B 3 . - /'" Mr . Somes moved for copies of correspondence r -respecting the issue of debentures as a legal tender r in New . Zealand ; of all correspondence respecting ! - taxes proposed in tbe Legislative Council ; of all ~ correspondenoe relating to the measures taken by the '' n — « . F 4 _** in * - onlnnT . in fnlfil _T- _ J C-..-1 I . Ul _buaw uj _AMIII _AJVltl & UlcV

      - { _jmVCJTiiOI . _w * v _*»^ _. OU a agreement of the 12 th of May , 1843 , respecting the grant of a conditional title to the lands of the New Zealand Company ; and also of correspondence relating to theaffairs of that company , their purchases of lands , Ac . Mr . _Aguoxbt < _vimplained ofthe course pursued-by the Colonial _Oiiiee towards the New Zealand Coni-San y , and - _* ircsi ** sl for the production of thc documents . ! he colo ; : y . _L- _ * contended , was brought to the verge of ruin by same and local mismanagement , instead of being , as it ought to be , underproper management , one of the sust flourishing colonics under the British Crown .

      Mr . G . W . Hope said that the Secretary for the Colonies and the Governor of New Zealand were exposed to attacks by insinuations rattier than by any direct charges , while , oii the other hand , the documents "before the House were altogether overlooked by those who made those insinuations . With respect to the debentures , they liad been disallowed by the Government at home , and had therefore been withdrawn . No inform ;; tiou had been received on the subject of local taxr . t : o : i , nor ofthe recent oeearrenees arising from the conduct of the natives . _Witu-r _^ _pect to the sale of lands , flic necessity for altering the instructions sprung from the increasing knowledge Of the natives , which prevented the possibility * of dealing with them under the same circumstances as heretofore .

      Mr . C . BuiiEH took a review ofthe history ofthe colony , condemning in severe terms the whole policy of Captain Fitzroy , who had , he said , taken advantage of the death of Captain Wakefield in order to traduce lis memory . As governor ofthe colony ha bad given all his sympathy to the natives , and had contrived to lose thc confidence of all the _European inhabitants of the islands in thc short period of six months . He wished to pass no severer censure on Captain Fitzroy , than that he was a most foolish and incompetent governor , unfit to be intrusted with the management of the most ordinary affairs , and whose recall was absolutely requisite for thc interests and safety of the _coloiiv .

      _Calonel il . _Txsvoa deprecated the language that Jiad been used towards Capt . Fitzroy , who could not even hear of the charges now made against him until after thc lapse of five months , and could not defend himself from them at an earlier period than the next session of Parliament . Sir K , Peel regretted that Mr . Aglionby , knowing Ihat the motion was not to be opposed , had not followed the example of Mr . _Sonies , and refrained from discussi : _;*; r . -natter in which charges must necessarily be _pn-iaafc-ated against Captain Fitzroy , without the requisite _intormation to enable his conduct to appear in a proper and just light to the House . The Hon .

      Gentleman , upon the mere authority of a newspaper ieport , had made serious charges , against an absent individual whose friends had no means to defend him . The Right Hon . Baronet then observed , thatthe New Zealand Company were at first quite -satisfied with the appointment of Gap-tain Fitzroy , and contended that in eoiumon justice they should hear from that gallant officer an account of those transactions before they attempted precipitately to condemn him , or the Colonial Secretary by whomhehadbeen appointed . Lord IIowick rose to defend Mr . C . Buller . He imputed no blame to the motives of Captain Fitzroy , but he had a right , and so had Mr . Buller , to condemn the judgment of that officer .

      After somefurther conversation , the motion , slightly altered , was agreed to . RESISTANCE TO TH 2 POOR _1 AW AT ROCHDALE . Mr . S . Crawford , in bringing before the House the allegations contained in the petition of the ratepayers and inhabitants of Rochdale , observed that the subject which he was then about to introduce to ' its consideration was not merely local , but one of ! general and national policy . It involved this ques- j tion—whether the authority of the Poor Law Com- ' _-missioncrs should be forced into that remnant of Eng- i land which still refused to submit to it ? It also raised" the question , whether the New Poor Law ! should continue in its present state , or whether it ' should bo changed so as to make it more consistent !

      ¦ with sound policy and the ancient constitution of England ? The affairs of the poor in the parish of j Rochdale had "been managed for the last twenty-five ' years under the Select Vestry Act , and no fault had ' ever Sieen found with the mode of their management . - In the year 1837 a union was formed of . Rochdale and nine other parishes , for the purposes of registra- ' tion ; but the guardians elected were instructed to ' refrain from interfering with the relief of the poor . Rochdale remained in this position till the 25 th of ' October , 13-14 , when an order was issued to the guar- ] dians by the Poor Law Commissioners , directing them to take upon themselves the administration of the relief of tlic poor in that union . Now , this order , " in point of fact , commanded them , though they had long administered the relief j

      of the poor in their own way , to administer . * it in that way no longer- Notwithstanding this order , it was found impossible to obtain a meet- j ing either ofthe elected or thc ex-ofncio guardians to i cany it into effect ; for they had determined that j they would not do that which in their opinion would ! prove injurious to thc poor in their district . In November , _ISil , the Poor Law Commissioners moved for a mandamus against the board of guardians , and , 35 he was informed , not in tiie usual form , for the common practice was to move for a rule to show cause why a mandamus should not issue ; but in this case the rule was made absolute at once , on the allegation that the poor at Rochdale were actually starving . Now , it -was strange that such an allegation should

      have been made , as the poor were then receiving relief in _^ the usual way to which they had been accustomed . * He charged " thc Conimissionera with something approaching to a deception when , they gained a mandamus on such grounds , as they thereby deprived the paiish of Rochdale of the opportunity of disputing the truth of thc harsh imputation cast upon its character for humanity . On ihe _legality of ihe mandamus he would not say a word , as that would be decided at the next assizes for Lancaster . The ratepayers of Rochdale -wished to avoid this litigation , and they addressed in consequence a memorial to Sir James Graham , as did also the board of guardians , requesting that thc New Poor Law should not be inflicted _in-on them . Those memorials were signed by

      11 , 415 rate-payers , whieh was within fifty-three of the -whole number ; and on their presentation to Sir James Graham lie declared that he had no authority to interfere with thc operation of an Act of Parliament . Under such circumstances , le asked whether it was right to allow the Poor Law Commissioners to force their authority on the rate-payers of Rochdalo ? He thought it was not ; for his _eongtituents had never been guilty of any -misconduct in their mode of administering relief to thc poor ; on the contrary , their management of the poor had been highly eulogized by several ofthe _Assistant-Commissioners . They , therefore , appealed to the Souse against the power of the Poor Law Commissioners , and prayed to be heard at the bar of the

      House in support ofthe allegations contained in their j petition . He then proceeded to state and to enforce j the allegations of the petitioners , that the Poor Law was unconstitutional , destructive of the principle of _Belf-goveniment , inhuman in theory , cruel in practice , injurious to the morals , and detrimental to the industry and comforts of the poor . After pointing out various other defects in the Poor Law , he said that he asked for inquiry into these allegations at their liar ; but he would not insist on that part of Mb -motion , if Sir James Graham would give him inquiry in any otherway—for instance , if he would send down a Commissioner to Rochdale and institute . apublic examination into the complaints of the petitioners . He -warned the House that if tho prayer of

      { he petitioners were not granted , the guardians of Rochdale would suffer all the penalties of an attachment rather than yield that which in their conscience they believed would be injurious to the poor and to the ratepayers conjointly—he meant obedience to the - mandates ofthe Poor Law Commissioners . He concluded by making a motion ih conformity with the terms of his speech . Mr . _Febrasd . —I rejoice , sir , that I have caught your eye , for I am anxious to bear my testimony to the unanimity of that vast meeting at which this petition was agreed to , and the determined _^ spirit which the inhabitants of Rochdale then exhibited to standby the principles which they were met to assert . J also rejoice to have the opportunity of calling the attention of the House to the solemn pledges given _Ijy those who introduced this law , ahd the manner in which those _nledees have been broken , as well as the

      fearful results which have accrued to the country . I fill prove that the inhabitants of Rochdale are justified in resisting the extension of the system into their neighbourhood ; and that obedience , on _their ; part , would be a crime , while resistance is a virtue . ( Hear . ) There were the most solemn pledges given ' when tliis law was introduced ; this House was deceived by those pledges , and so was the country ; and what can Parliament say now , -when I prove that those pledges have been mostunblushingly broken ? "Will it assert that ' the people of Rochdale are not justified in _rcsistiiigalawwhich was carriedby unjust and unconstitutional means' ? ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , -when this measure was first introduced bv Lord Al-• _fliorp , he distinctly said , on the l _* 7 th of April , 1834 : — '' As . to-the _observatien ofthe Hon . Member for _"Maiylebone , who hoped thatthe commissioners would not interfere with parishes that werc well regulated ,

      " . House Of Commons, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

      behad to say , that he hoped they would not ; the oidy mode in whichhe trusted they would deal with such parishes would be by following their example . When a parish was really well regulated , it need not entertain the slightest apprehension of interference upon the part of the commissioners . " Upon this pledge , given by the mouthpiece of the Government of this House , this House gave its consent to the bill , and the eountry did not offer that opposition to it , which it would otherwise have done . Afterwards , on the same day , Lord Althorp said , " he need not say that an immense advantage would be obtained by a unifoi _* mity of system throughout the countiy ; " and on the _Sfth of June , he observed , " The proposed amendment would destroy one of the

      principal advantages of the measr . ro , namely , uniformity of practice . " The Right Hon . Baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) said , on a latter occasion , on the 20 th of My , 1839 , "that "the law contemplated that , on a given day , the refusal of out-door relief throughout England and "Wales should be general . " Lord Althorp said , on the 1 st of July , 1834 , " the object of the bill was to put a stop to the allowance system . " On the 12 th of June , 1834 , the same Noble Lord stated "that it was not intended as a general rule , that a man _Bhould be separated from his wife , or clnldren from their mother , or that paupers should have their hair shaved , or be compelled to wear badges . " On the 9 th of-June , 1834 , Lord Althorp said , "it would prove of the greatest possible benefit to the labourer ;"

      and on the 27 th of that month , " the farmer and his labourer would both be benefited ; the latter being made independent by increased wages , and the former , in consequence of that increase , woidd have his work much more effectually and zealously done and performed . " He asserted that the average rate of wages in the north of Nottinghamshire was 13 s . a week ; in Northamptonshire , 9 s . But there was a statement made by a Noble Lord , who has been quoted to-night . I allude to Lord Brougham . In moving the second reading , his Lordship said , " Such a system ( that is the old Poor Law ) deadens all sense of shame , all sense of real dignity ; erases from the mind every feeling of honourable independence , and fits its victims only for acts of

      outrage or of fraud . Look at that volume ( the Poor Law Commissioners' Report ) , the record of idleness and her sister guilt which now stalk over the land . Look at the calendar which they have filled to _oversowing , notwithstanding the improvement of our jurisprudence , and the progress of education . " He then called the attention of the House of Lords to the slate of the countiy , and spoke of it as "that which I could not bear to think of . did I not know thatthe same hand which lays it bare to your eyes , and makes its naked deformity horrible in your sight , will be enabled by your assistance to apply to the foul disease a sate and effectual remedy ; restoring to industry its due reward , and visiting idleness with its appropriate punishment ; reinstating property in

      security , and luting up once more—God be praised —the character of that noble English peasantry to the proud eminence , where , but for the Poor Laws , it would still have shown untarnished , the admiration of mankind and the glory of the country which boasts it as its brightest ornament ! " Now , I ask the House of Commons—I ask England—havo these pledges been redeemed ? ( Cheers . ) What has been the conduct of the Poor Law Commissioners in defiance of those solemn pledges ? Have they refused to enforce this law in "well regulated parishes ?" Have they taken well-regulated parishes as " their example" in enforcing the law elsewhere ? No ; but they haTe trampled under foot the rights , the liberties , and the _privileges ef the people of England .

      ( Hear , hear . ) How has your " uniformity of pract ice" been earned out ? Has that been enforced throughout the countiy ? Why , I want no other evidence than that ol the Hon . Baronet himself ( Sir J . Graham ) , who , in this House , after this law had been five years in existence , was obliged to bear testimony to its utter failure , and to the breaking down of all" uniformity of practice" in the granting of out-door relief , and in the allowance system _, whatsaid Sir R . Peel on the 8 th of February , 1841 ? He said . "It was in tho hope and in the belief that a new test would improve the condition ofthe labourer himself , and that it would teach him the happiness aud pride of an independent position , that he had consented to the alterationinthelaw . " The

      "independent position" of the labourer of the present day ( Cheers . ) I see in the House the Noble Lord , the Member for London ( Lord J . Russell ) , and I wish to bear to his face the testimony which I have borne behind his back , that itwas a manly way in which he adhered to the New Poor Law , previous to the last general election . No doubt the Right Hon . Baronet at the head of the Government sits on that bench , placed there by the New-Poor-Law cry throughout the country . ( Hear , hear . ) Ay , it waa fanned into a blaze by the Conservative party at the last general election ( cheers ) , and fanned by the Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary for the Home Department . ( Hear , hear . ) I have not forgotten reading the speech of that Right Hon . Baronet , and the First Lord

      of the Treasury when they abused the Poor Law Commissioners fbr their disgraceful' language , when they had declared that the New Poor Law was to put a stop to alms-giving in this country . ( Cheers . ) The First Lord of the Treasury raised his hands , ana appealed to Heaven if such language ought to have been used . ( Renewed cheers . ) ' But what said the Noble Lord the Member for London , when he saw these Right Hon . Gentlemen breaking the pledges whicli they had privately given , to stand by the New Poor Law , which ever party was in power . On the motion of the Hon . Member for Sussex ( Mr . Darby ) to allow out-door relief to persons who had married before the passing of the Act , and had families , the Noble Lord ( Lord J . Russell ) said , "he considered it to

      be at variance with every other clause in tho New Poor Law Act . It was a renewal of the worst part of tho old system—the allowance system . It would expose the new law to universal relaxation , and would in that respect alone be productive of the most pernicious consequences . It would cicate great dissatisfaction among'the labourers , as it would divide them into two distinct classes , ono of which would be entitled to relief out of the workhouse , and the other not , and that too without thc _slightest reference either to the goodness or the worthlessnoss of their character . B y the cogency of such arguments , and by the want of uniformity thus created in the system of Poor Laws , the House would be compelled to break down by degrees all the efficiency of the present law . "

      Sir , the House has by degrees broken down all the _elficiency" of that law . The New Poor Law is a dead letter ; there is not such a thing in existence . ( Hear , hear . ) There , is one law in the north , another law in the south , another in the east , and another in the west . There is one law earned out in one union by Lord This , and another in the next uniou by the Duke of That ; and the practice varies with the extent to which the Commissioners have ground the guardians into submission . The whole law is a farce . ( Cheers . ) The Noble Lordl the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster ( Lord G _^ Somerset ) , hearing that speech ofthe Noble . Mcmber for London , jumped up and " expressed his intention to support the clause . So far was he from being willing to extend

      the authority ofthe Commissioners , that he had every desire to abridge it ; for he would tell the Noble Lord that he had no confidence whatever in the Poor Law Commissioners . " Cabinet Ministers within these walls have expressed themsolvcs to be adverse to this law ; and I remember being in this House , when there were either eight or nine gentlemen sitting on the Treasury bench , who had cither obtained their seats by violently abusing this law upon thc hustings , or had spoken violenM _^ gainst it in this House . ( Hear , hear . ) I ash _flBp light Hon , Baronet ( Sir J . Graham ) whether _bSM Althorp ' s solemn pledge has been kept , that as a general rule a man was not to be separated from his wife , or a child from its mother , nor paupers to have their heads shaved , or be compelled to wear badges ? And I know that those indi g nities and insults have done more to arouse the spirit oi disloyalty and disaffection among the masses in this

      country , than all other evils put together . ( Hear . ) Have " you not continued the allowance system ?—Tou have ; in the north of England you havo been compelled to do it . Tou are enforcing the rule at Bradford ; but the day will come when you will bitterly repent it ; and you are not enforcing it at Leeds , a few miles off . ( Hear , hear . ) Well did the Noble Lord ( Lord J . Russell ) say , that it would " create great dissatisfaction among the labourer ! - . " Is it not disgusting , that a law is now in force in England , which on one side of a brook treats the labourer with apparent consideration , and on the other with inhumanity ! ( Hear , hear . ) But Lord Althorp assured the country , when he introduced the measure , that wages would rise . What are the wages in the country now ? Why , your labouring man in the agricultural districts is well off if he obtain 7 s . a week ! Has the Poor Law raised wages , and redeemed that pledge ? ( Hear . ) But I come to more startling facts . We were told that thc New Poor Law was to

      eradicate poverty , and reduce the poor-rates ! I find by a return I hold in my hand ( the Poor Law Commissioners' tenth report ) that the population of England and Wales in 1841 was 15 , 906 , 829 . And now let the House listen to the following returns , remembering that 1842 and 1843 have been good years in the manufactm _* ing districts . The numbers relieved were—In 1843 , in-door , 223 , 642 ; out-door , 1 , 204 , 545 . Total , 1 , 427 , 187 . The cost-Of thc in-door , £ 934 , 158 ; of the outdoor , £ 3 , 090 , 884 . Total , £ 4 , 025 , 042 . In 1843—In-door , 238 , 560 ; out-door , 1 , 300 , 930 . Total , 1 , 339 , 490 . Cost—In-door , £ 958 , 057 ; out-door , £ 3 , 321 , 508 . Total , £ 4 , 279 , 56-5 . The increase of 1843 over 1844 belng , in _** door , 15 , 918 in number , and 423 , 899

      in cost ; out-door , 96 , 385 in number , and £ 230 , 624 in cost . Total , 112 , 303 in number , and £ 254 , 523 in cost . Again , the parochial rates levied were—In 1834 , £ -3 , 338 , 079 ; in 1 S 37 , £ 5 , 094 , 566 ; in 1843 , 7 , 085 , 595 ; showing an increase in 1843 over 1837 , of £ 1 , 891 , 029 , and a decrease of 1843 as compared with 1834 , ot £ 1 , 252 , 484 . There was expended in reliefin 1 S 34 , £ 6 , 317 , 255 ; in 1837 , £ 4 , 044 , 741 ; in 1843 , £ 5 , 208 , 027 ; showing an" increase in 1843 over 1837 of £ 1 , 163 , 286 , and a decrease of 1 S 43 , as compared with 1834 , of £ 1 , 109 , 228 . I now wish to call the attention of the llouse to the expenditure of parochial rates otherwise-than for the relief of the poor . In 1 S 34 the expenditure otherwise than for the relief of the poor was £ 2 , 020 , 714 ; in 1837 , it

      " . House Of Commons, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

      was £ 1 , 249 , 852 ; in 1843 , it was £ 1 , 877 , 568 , giving an increase of such expenditure in 1843 over 1837 of £ 627 , 716 . That is the result of your attempt to save the poor-rates of this country ! Sir , I call the attention ofthe House to the price at whicli you have obtained this result . Lord Brougham , in moving the second reading of the Poor Law Amendment Bill in the House of Lords , gave a picture ofthe blessings which were to flow from this law . It would eradicate crime , it would put down poverty and pau-Eerism , and prevent the Noble Lord himself-from ecoinihg a Cumberland pauper . What is now the state of crime in England and Wales ? I will read to the House an extract from the statistics compiled by Mr . Redgrave , from the records ef the

      Home-oflicc , where the Right Hon . Baronet may see them to-morrpw if he pleases . I have extracted them from _' the British Almanack for 1845 , of the Society for the Diffusion of Useful Knowledge , Lord Brougham chairman of the com mittee . The amount of crime as evidenced by the commitments in 1836 was 20 , 984 ; in 1837 it was 23 , 613 ; in 1838 , 23 , 094 ; in 1839 , 24 , 443 ; in . 1840 , 27 , 187 ; in 1841 , 27 , 760 ; in 1842 , 31 , 309 ; in 1843 , 29 , 591 . The result is , that the increase of crime in 1842 over 1836 is 10 , 835 , being years after tho New Poor Law came into operation . The increase in 1843 over 1836 is 8 , 607 . I ask , has the New Poor Law diminished crime ? This is a startling result , and must enforce conviction . But is that all that has

      occurred undor the operation of the law ? Why , instead of a decrease , there is a frightful increase of crime , so much so , that you are obliged to have an extra winter assize to sweep off from the face of the public the monstrous mass . At the last York winter assizes , last year , hear what Judge Coleridge said in his charge to the grand jury : — " Another cause for a winter assize , he lamented to say , must be considered to be the steady increase of crime throughout the country , and in their own county , that increase , too , being not so much observable in crimes of a petty nature as in those of a more serious character . Within the last eight years the number of prisoners had nearly doubled in their own county ; and , though it was true that the population " had

      increased , thatthe police were more efficient than formerly , and that capital punishment had in a great measure been removed , yet he did not think that it was possible , by the application of those facts , satisfactorily to explain away the great incubus which seamed to hang over them . " Here , then , we have this fact , that crime in the county of York has doubled during the last eight years . That is the period at which the New Poor Law came into operation in Yorkshire . That is the result which the law which was to put a stop to crime has produced in my native county . Good God ! what can tho Right Hon , Baronet say in justification of that ? Have you one word to say ? You have rebellion in the north , you have incendiarism in the south , and rebellion again in Wales staring you in the face ; and how are you to justify this to the people of Rochdale ? They

      will say that if in spite of all this you will persist in forcing on them this law , you will have to take the same course as you adopted in Bradford ; you will have to draw the bayonet and cut down thc populace ; but the feeling of the people of England , depend upon it , will be raised against any attempt to force this law upon thc people of Rochdale in the face of every high principle , and in defiance of justice . The Right Hon . Baronet declared the other night that there are 1 , 500 , 000 paupers in England and Wales existing on the poor rates . The Right Hon . Baronet also declared the other night , that the agricultural labourers are in a state of poverty which we can no longer neglect . Sir , Lord Brougham said , in th _# speech to which I have alluded , that the time was when the English peasant dreaded the word '' pauper " next to tho word "felon . " Sir , now the time is come when the British peasant dies , exclaiming " No

      workhouse" A gaol , a gaol for me ! ( Hear , hear . ) I told you a short time ' ago that you had wrapped the south in [ flames ; that you had produced a rebellion in the north ; that you had produced a rebellion in Wales ; but this is not all ; there is scarcely a week passes but the Hon . Gentleman opposite , as Coroner for Middlesex , has to hold an inquest on some poor victim of the system who has died of famine . That crime is steadily on the increase you have the evidence of a judge on the bench ; and the extra winter assize which you have established shows that you admit that to be the case . I would quote the language of Lords Brougham and Grey in defence of the people of Rochdale , but that I am unwilling to detain tho House ; but if the House

      will permit me I will read to . them from a speech of the First Lord of the Treasury _ what he said on the attempts to introduce this law into well-regulated parishes . This was just before a . general election , when the Right Hon . Baronet was courting popular favour . On the 26 th of March , 1841 , the Right , Hon . Baronot said he had always thought that where there werc immense masses of population well governed under local Acts , it would not be found expedient to place them under the control ofthe commissioners . That was just before the general election ; but now that he is firmly seated on the Treasury bench , with his majority at his back , what must he say te justify his present course ? Sir , he must eao his words . It will not be the first time he has done

      so . I will also read to the House thc opinion entertained of this law by Lord Chief Baron Pollock , who waa an ornament to this House whilst he was in it , and now graces the bench on-which he sits . I hope , therefore , the House will allow mc to repeat to them what Lord Chief Baron Pollock has said on this subject ; and I must say that he was a man whom all the inducements of thc Government could not drag up to the table to say a word in favour of this law . He said at the same time as the speech of the Right Hon . Baronet , " Great complaints had been made of the Poor Law generally . " " A bill which might be good for the north , might be injurious to tho south . Thc evil which he and others complained of was the attempt made by the commissioners to introduce the same law into every parish in the kingdom without

      reference to local circumstances , whicli might act in modifying the operation of that law . " That was the opinion ef Sir F . Pollock . You must prove what I have said to be incorrect ; if you do not . how can you dare to introduce this law into Rochdale ? You have sown thc wind and more than _onco you have reaped thc whirlwind . A foreign foe may come—if you appeal to thc people of England , will they answer you ? At the bidding of their Sovereign they heretofore rose in one mighty phalanx , uristling with bayonets ready to be turned against the foe . Appeal again to them , and you will find them disaffected and disloyal . ( "No , no . " ) You have made them so . I repeat , —appeal to them in your perils , and you will find them disaffected and disloyal . Are the agricultural labourers distressed ? What makes thom so

      but your tyranny ? Treat thom as your forefathers did , and so raise them to what they were before ihe introduction of thc New Poor Law , and they will return to their ancient nature ; they will easily forget and forgive , and be again a loyal people . Sir J . GnAHAusaid , that he had listened with great respect to the elaborate speech of . Mr . S . Crawford , but had not heard one novel argument in it . He had said that this question was a general and a national question ; but he ( Sir J . Graham ) maintained that it was a purely local one ; that it was already before the tribunals ; and that he must in consequence meet the motion with the most decided opposition . Mr . Crawford had asked him whether he would grant an inouirv into the ODeration of the New Poor Law

      at Rochdale . To that question he would reply , that the Poor Law Commissioners had determined to introduce the New Poor Law into Rochdale . Thoy had power by law to carry that determination into effect . He did not enjoy any power to dispense with the law ; and as a mandamus had been issued in consequence of the opposition made by the guardians of Rochdale to the orders of thc Commissioners , aa tho guardians had made a return to that mandamis , as the Crown had traversed that return , and as an issue had been joined which would be tried at Liverpool on the 27 th of this month , he thought that it would be indecorous in him to order that inquiry which the Hon . Member called for . At that lato hour of the night , he hoped

      that the House would not expect him to follow Mr . S . Crawford through his elaborate argument , which he had met and refuted on several previous occasions . Mr . Bbioht approved tho attachment ofthe people of Rochdale to their local institutions , and their hostility to the law administered by tho Poor Law Commissioners . He thought it right to say this , although he was one of those at Rochdale who had refused to sign the memorial to Sir J . Graham . Captain Pechcll , Colonel Sibthorp , General Johnson , Mr . Borthwick , and Mr . _Entwisle , briefly expressed their dislike of the New Poor Law , and their determination to support Mr . S . Crawford ' s motion . Tho House then divided , when there

      appeared—For the motion 16 Against it ... 59 Majority against it —43 The House then adjourned .

      _Wbunssdat , March 12 . Reports from Committees on Petitions for Private Bills were brought up , from wluch it appeared that in the cases of the petitions for the London and Southwestern Railway ; the Lambeth and Hungerford Suspension Bridge ; the Midland Railway ; the Manchester , Bury , and Rochdale Railway ; the Newcastle-upon-Tyne and North-Shields Railway ; the Manchester , Leeds , and Hull Associated Railway ; and thc London , Bedford , and Birmingham Railway , the standing orders had been complied with . —Leave was then given to the petitioners to bring in the bills prayed _fqr . The Blackburn and Preston Railway Bill , the Newark and Sheffield Railway Bill , the London and Greenwich Railway Bill , and thc York and North-Midland Railway Bill , were brought in and severally read a first time , and ordered to be read a second time .

      VENTILATION OF COLLIERIES . Mr . T . Duncombe would beg to put a question to the Right Hon . Baronet the Home Secretary , having reference to a petition which he had presented not long ago , signed by 3 , 000 persons engaged in mines and collieries in the county of Durham , complaining ofthe want of ventilation in collieries , by which the

      " . House Of Commons, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

      security of human life was greatly endangered . Petitions to the same effect had been presented from miners in other districts . It was well known that , owing to want of sufficient ventilation , adroadfnl explosion , accompanied by great loss of life , had not long ago taken place in Haswell Colliery , with respect to which an inquiry was instituted by Government . What he now wanted to know was , whether it was the intention of Government to introduce any _legislative measure with the view to a bettor system of ventilation of mines and to a greater security of the lives of those employed in them ? and , failing any such intention , he would ask whether Government would object to tho appointment of a committee to take the subject into consideration ? .

      Sir J . Graham said , that the case of the Haswell Colliery did appear to her Majesty ' s Government to require special investigation ; and * two scientific gentlemen , Mr . Faradayand Mr . Lyell , had been sentdown to inquire into the cause of that accident . The Hon . Member was probably aware that they had made a report upon the subject , entering into great detail with reference to the cause , and also suggesting certain remedies to prevent the recurrence of such accidents . That report he ( Sir J . Graham ) had forwarded to thc lord-lieutenant of each county in which any coal mines existed , requesting that it might be sent to the coalowners , with an intimation that any information or suggestion from them would be gladly

      received by the Government . A report had since been sent in from the coalowners of the Tyno and Wear , stating several objections to the remedies suggested , and pointing Out reasons why the plan would not be either practical or efficient . lie ( Sir J . Graham ) had forwarded that report to Messrs . Faraday and Lyell , requesting them to direct their attention to these points , and transmit tlieir rejoinder to him . The attention of Government would be directed to the subject ; and if the Hon . Member would repeat his question later in the session , ho ( Sir J . Graham ) should be happy to answer it . In the meantime the inquiry could not be in better hands than those of the two gentlemen he had just named .

      Mr . Duncombe hoped that these documents would be laid on the table . Sir J . Gbaham intimated that there would be no objection to that course . Mr . Maokinnon moved the second reading of the Smoke Prohibition Bill . Several g entlemen , however , expressed their dissent from its proposed enactment , and at the suggestion of Lord Lincoln the motion was deferred until Wednesday , the 2 nd of April next . The Chancellor of tho Exchequer then moved the third reading ofthe Property Tax Bill . Mr . Wakley referred to the case of Mr . Fielden , whieh had been mentioned on a former night by Mr . Hawes . He had since received a letter from Mr . Fielden , stating that , though in a former year , when he had made no profits , the Commissioners had assessed his income at £ 12 . 000 , and had

      compelled him , by distress , to pay the per centago upon that sum , they had assessed him this year at double the former sum , viz ., at £ 24 , 000 . Mr . Fielden appealed against that assessment in November last , and sent in to the Commissioners a written statement , showing that his firm had sustained a loss on an average ofthe last three years . The Commissioners then desired Mr . Fielden to let the case stand over till Easter , but they had since demanded from Mr . Fielden payment of half the tax on the £ 24 , 000 . He hoped that the Government would take measures to prevent the recurrence of such a proceeding in future . The , Chancellor of the Exchequer could not explain how this case had arisen , but suggested that if Mr . Fielden had brought his appeal before the Commissioners at Somerset-house , he might have corrected the error of the local Commissioners , if error had been committed .

      The bill was then read a third time . Tho Sugar Duties Bill and the' Customs Export Duties Bill were both read a second time , and the first was ordered to be committed on Friday next . . Sir J . Graham then moved the second reading of the Justices' Clerks and Clerks of the Peace Bill . He said the objections which had been made to the bill were rather to its details than to its principles ; but the two were so blended that they could scarcely be separated . Now , this was the occasion for discussing the principles of the bill , and the chief one' was , that justice was better administered by public servants receiving salaries than by public servants receiving fees . lie then proceeded to show that tho ends of justice would be better answered , and tha interests ofthe rate-payers would

      be better advanced , by the details of this bill than they were by the law at present . As to the difficulty which , it had been suggested , would arise from the magistrates having no longer any power to remit the fees to which parties were liable who came before them , because those fees were to be carried in future to tho county stock , lie had only to observe that he had no objection to consider in committee a proposition for giving the magistrates the power or remitting such fees . The bill would not occasion any additional expense to the counties * . but even if it did , it would be better that such wero the case , than that the monstrous injustice should continue of levying fees from innocent persons unjustly accused of crime on their discharge from custody before a magistrate .

      After a few words from Mr . Turner aud Captain Pechell , Mr . B . Escoit said he was sure that his friends who had objected to the details ofthe bill could not be aware of the enormities which it removed . He showed that clerks to the magistrates had taken many fees to whicli they had no legal title , and to which parties had been rendered liable for no other purpose than to expose them to annoyance and oppression , and concluded by warning the House not to measure the amount of compensation to be granted to these officers in the shape ot salary by the amount of their peculations . Mr . _WAKLT-. Y . gave Mr . B . _Escott high credit for the labour and assiduity with which he had ferretted out all the enormities connected with the fee system

      in our subordinate courts , and trusted that he would turn his attention to the fee system in the superior courts at Westminster . A magistrate sometime ago had filed a criminal information against him . He was served in consequence with a piece of paper which told him nothing . Wishing to _knovg what he was accused of , he applied to his legal adviser , who informed him that he could not learn the nature of the accusation against him until he had paid a fee of £ 3 or £ 4 to some officer ofthe court for the affidavits filed against him . Ho afterwards found that he had to pay a still heavier fee before he he could file the affidavits necessary to his own defence . He denounced such a system as obnoxious to the free and impartial administration of justice . The bill was then read a second time .

      The Bastardy BUI went through committee , and the House then adjourned . Thursday , March 13 . The House resumed at five o ' clock . The Bedford , Birmingham , and London Railway Bill was read a first time . It was reported to the House , on behalf of the committee on the Waterford and Kilkenny Railway , that the standing orders might be dispensed with . POST-OFFICE ESPIONAGE . Mr . Sheil presented a petition from Signor Palliotti , in reference to the transactions connected with the Government opening of letters addressed to foreigners resident in London . The petitioners declared that they had found it impossible to reconcile the treatment ofthe Bandieras with the declarations

      of her Majesty ' s Government . Mr . Wakley presented a petition from the electors of the Borough of Finsbury , praying that the House " will forthwith institute such a full inquiry as shall satisfy the public at large , and the electors of Finsbury in particular , whether any , and what warrant existed for the opening of Mr . Duncombe ' s letters , and whether any suspicion justly attached to his character , so that they may judge if that gentleman is any longer fitted to continue the representative of a freo and independent constituency , and that you will enact a full and sufficient remedy , so as to prevent thc recurrence of such abuses as are now complained of . " The Hon . Mbmber then gave notice that he should , to-morrow , move that the petition be printed , with the votes .

      NOTICES OP MOTION . Mr . Sheil gave notice that he should , on Tuesday next , bring -forward the motion of which he had given notice on Tuesday last , on the _subjeefc of the opening of letters of foreigners at the Post-office . Mr . S . _Craw-tord gave notice that if the Government did not propose any measure for the amendment of the law of landlord and tenant in Ireland , he should liimself , after Easter , move for leave to bring in a bill to enable the tenant , if ejected , to recover compensation from his landlordfor any improvement he might have made xipon the land , and also to amend the laws regulating the value of property in Ireland . Mr . Wyse gave notice that , after Easter , he should renew the motion which he had made last session on the subject of national education .

      agricultural distress , in the hands of the league . Mr . Cobden rose to move for a " select committee to inquire into the extent and nature of the alleged existing agricultural distress , and into the effects of legislative protection upon thc interests of landowners , tenant-farmers , and tenant-labourers . " His object was , he said , to decide a long disputed question , between the agricultural and manufacturing interests . In doing this he would e ndeavour to show that the interests of neither landowner , farmer , nor labourer , in with the

      were harmony protective policy of the gentlemen on the opposite side ofthe House ; but rather in favour of the principles of Free Trade . This he could show , not only from facts collected from the manufacturing districts of the kingdom , but from the admissions aud reasonings of tenant-farmers themselves , many of whom had become members of the Anti-Corn-Law League . One great effect of tho protective policy might be seen in the present state of the agricultural districts ; in tho absence of improvements—in the inferiority of implementsand in the general debasement of the labouring po-

      " . House Of Commons, Tcssiur, Mabch 11....

      pulation . Nothing could ' more _strikingly display the evil effects of the policy pursued in agricultural matters , than the general condition ofthe rural districts , as compared with the manufacturing portions of the kingdom . Iu the former , everything was nearly stationary ; few improvements were to be found cither in mechanical contrivances or in scientific skill ; while in the latter , tho most gigantic results had been brought about within a very limited period-of time . The Hon . Gentleman then went into a long statement of facts in support ofthe general position wliich he had laid down ; showing up , in Ins peculiar manner , the " evil effects" of the tenantat-will system , the slavery to which the tenant farmers had been reduced by tho landowners , and tho

      deplorable state into which thelabourers nail been brought by a system of neglect , of ignorance , and of oppression . Thcso evils , ho maintained , ought to be inquired into , so as they might learn how far they had their origin in the system of protection , or the contrary . It the House would only consent to let him have such aa inquiry , he would send forth such evidence into the country as should effectually put an end to the Corn Law monoply before the passing of two years over their heads . Why did they cling to tho '' tattered rag" of protection ? He believed it was only to maintain their political influence ; but ho was happy to say that a new and better state of things had arrived , which would , ere long ; seal the doom of monoply aud protection . Mr . Sidney . Herbert ( Secretary to the Treasury ) was deoidedly against the motion ; as all previous inquiries of ' tAat kind had led to no useful result . He denied that improvements were not frequently

      taking placo in agricultural matters ; and would caution the House against listening to the desires of such gentlemen as the Hon . Member for Stockport . It was hia ( Mr . Herbert ' s ) opinion that if such inquiries were allowed to take place , they would lead to the greatest uncertainty throughout the country , and very much _inci-ease the existing agricultural distress . Mr . S . O'BniKH moved an amendment to Mr . Cobden ' s motion , that " a Select Committee be appointed to inquire into the extent and causes of thc existing agricultural _distress . " Itwas his opinion that this a committee would be materially for the advantage of both , the farmers ahd labourers , while such a committee as that required by Mr . Cobden would be merely one for the discussion of questions in political economy . __ He ( Mr . O'Brien ) was returned upon protective principles to thc House of Commons , which principles he believed to be true , ai he had never yet seen any reason to doubt them . At the suggestion of Sir Robert ' Peel the amendment was afterwards

      withdrawn . Lord _Howick supported the-motion . He thought the statement of Mr . Sidney Herbert was incomprehensible . The Members on the Conservative side of the House were sent there for the protection of agricultural interests , but instead of improving the condition ofthe farmers and their labourers they obstructed their progress . He admitted the truth of a remark made by Lord John Russell , tliat " protection was the bane of agriculture . " Improvements in the arts , sciences , and _manufactm-es , which were unprotected , wero so vast that they could scarcely be chronicled : but what was thc case with agriculture ? why in every part of the country was to be seen large tracts of land uncultivated and unproductive , from want of proper draining ?

      Mr . Bright , in . a long-winded address , supported the motion . He said the time was coming when Sir Robert Peel would have to announce in one of his long financial statements that he was a convert to absolute Free Trade principles . Mr . _Woosnouss opposed the motion in a rambling and excited speech . Mr . Villiers supported the motion in a veiy clever address , and intimated that whether the motion were granted or not , he should persist in bringing forward liis annual motion for the total repeal of the Corn Laws . Mr . Bankes opposed the motion , and aaid the present agricultural distress was occasioned by the Government breaking protective principles . Lord _Worslby also opposed the motion . He did not think the labours of any Select Committee could settle the question .

      Mr . Cobden briefly replied , when the House divided , and there appeared—For the motion 121 Against it _.-. 213 Majority against the motion 92 The orders of _ejhe day were then disposed of , and the Houso adjourned . Friday , March 14 . On the motion that the Speaker should leave the chair for going into committee on the Sugar Duties Bill ,

      Mr . Hawes moved , as an amendment , " That provision be mado in the bill for the drawback of the amount of duty reduced , on such duty-paid sugar as now remains in the Queen ' s warehouse . " This drawback , he contended , could in no way create an opening for the perpetration of fraud , while it would afford great relief to parties who must otherwise be exposed to very heavyand very unmerited losses . After some discussion the amendment was withdrawn . The House then went into committee on the bill . After a short discussion , the clause relating to : classification was agreed to without a division . On the clause which provided that duty should be paid on the quantity of sugar originally warehoused ,

      Mr . Hawes objected to there being no allowance made for loss or waste , and expressed his determination to divide the committee against the clause . On a division the clause was agreed to bv 104 to li . The remaining clauses wore-then agreed to , and tho bill ordered to be reported on Monday .

      Craned - ^ Tobemente

      _Craned - _^ _tobemente

      The Trades Coatere-Vce.—-The Preliminary...

      The Trades _Coatere-vce . — -The Preliminary Committee held its weekly meeting at the Bell Inn , Old Bailey , on Wednesday evening , March 12 th ; Mr . Reid ( Stcam-enginc-niaker ) in the chair . The room was crowded with delegates , anxiously looking forward to Easter Monday , and zealously co-operating in the preliminaries necessary to give eclat to the forthcoming Conference . Two bodies of Steamengine-makers were represented on the committee for the first time . A body of Plasterers likewise had their delegates present , as had two of the most-important houses of Tailors at the West-end . Tho secretary ( Mr . T . Barratt ) read between thirty and forty letters from the provincial trades . Many of them had already elected their delegates to the

      Conference , and thc remainder had taken the necessary steps for that purpose . The sub-committee brought up their report for the guidance ofthe Conference , with sundry important suggestions to that body . The report embodied the points contained in the letters of Messrs . Drury and Duncombe . It was unanimously adopted . " Messrs . Barrett and Wartnaby were deputed to wait on Mr . Duncombe , to request his attendance at the opening ofthe Conference . " " Messrs . Bush , Wartnaby , Dunning , Robertson , Allen , Cox , and Wilson were appointed a sub-committee , in conjunction with the secretary , to receive the delegates on their arrival . " The sub-committee to bo in waiting at the Bell Inn , Old Bailey , from nine o ' clock in

      the morning for that purpose . The delegates are expected to bring their credentials with them . The committee then adjourned . Trades Conference . — In consequence of the London press ( with the exception of the Northern Star ) entirely suppressing every movement connected with the better organisation of the Trades , thc Directors ofthe City Chartist Hall , Turnagain-lane , Skinner-street , have determined to open the above place to discuss any question affecting the working classes . The following subject is named for Sunday evening , March 16 th— "Is the projected Trades Conference calculated to benefit the working classes ?" Delegates from the countiy will attend . ' Chair taken at seven o ' clock precisely .

      Shoemakers . — Tho en masse meeting of City men ' a men was held in the Hall , 1 , Turnagain-lane , on Tuesday evening , March llth , for the purpose of electing a delegate to the forthcoming " National ConferonGo of Trades . " The meeting was most numerously attended . The greatest enthusiasm was displayed on thc occasion . Mr . M'Fredericks was called to the chair . Messrs . James , M'Carthy , and Ditthon were duly nominated as candidates , and , after a sharp contest , Mr . James was declared duly elected . A vote of thanks was given to the chairman , and the meeting separated .

      Bury . —Case of Assault . —It will be remembered by the readers of the Star , that thero has been a strike on the part ofthe iron trades of Bury for some time past , and the following case arose out of this dispute . As is _too-often the case , three of the Boilermakers turned traitors to tlieir fellow-workmen , and one of the traitors was the defendant in this case . The Boiler-makers' club is held at tho Boar ' s Head Inn ; at their meeting night on Saturday , March 1 st , the defendant , George Lomax , with his father and two brothers , went into the above-named house , evidently with the intention of kicking up a row with the Boiler-inakers on strike . The complainant , Wm . Riley , is also a BoUcr-makcr , aud was at the clubhouse on tho night in . question . When the Lomax ' s came in , the complainant good-naturedly said to

      Wm . Lomax , " Come in , and sit down , no one will harm thee . " George Lomax replied , " He was on wait , and was not afraid of any b of them . " RUey and Wm . Lomax got into conversation concerning the strike . At this timo George came out ofthe bar , and Riley remarked that he would not have done as ho had done , if he had to beg his bread from door to door . Upon this George Lomax , a verv powerful man , struck the complainant and knocked him down . This was the assault complaineu of . The complainant Riley took out a summons against George Lomax , upon which the four Lomax ' s took out nine summonses against parties on strike . Tho case was brought before the magistrates 911 Friday , March 1 th , when Mr . Gill , on the part of W . ' P . Roberts , Esq ., applied to the bench to have

      The Trades Coatere-Vce.—-The Preliminary...

      _£ w _S _^ before that time . This was gr _^ _St _g _^ _fig * morning the case was brought up again , when Mr Roberts appeared on the part of the men on strike ' and Mr . S . Woodcock tor the " knobsticks . '' -1 _^ Roberts applied for the ease of Riley v . Geo . _LomS to be entered into first , inasmuch as it was the ftW summons taken out , and therefo re had theprioi % of _claim .-Mr . Woodcock ob jected to this , and laid claim to having his case heard first The _bennh decided that the cases of the Lomax ' s against others should be heard first-Mr , Woodcock called Geor _" Lomax a great coarse-looking fellow . He of _cohmp f r _^ _K _^ _?^ « _My ; he _hadiuEci but he had been beat

      body , , and _kieM and much abused himself . However , in the cross-examination which Mr Roberts put hhn through , he admitted hat ho did just lay his hand _gentfy on poor Riley ( who is a mere dwarf to lum ) , and he did defend him self against James Pollard * , he did strike him The next witness called was D . Horracks , another ' " 'knob tick" of course . He did not see tho Lomax's strike anv one ; he saw no Wow struck . — Cross-examined by Mr . Roberts : He came out of "" the fi <* ht , lest he should catch it himself . lie did ° not sec auy of the Lomax ' s stripped . He only saw George Lomax give Riley a gentle pat . — "William Lomax and George Green supported the credence of the other witnesses . After which , two yo \ in » lads were called to prove that five weeks ago one of the turn-outs named Brook ( a very small man ) said that he would warm G . Lomax's ear-hole for _knobstiekiim _

      Mr . Roberts then applied for the evidence of Riley to be taken for the other defendants ; upon which a long argument took * place betwixt him and Mr . Woodcock ! Mr . Roberts cited the case of Cartledge at the Lancaster trials , that , notwithstanding he was a defendant , he was allowed to give evidence . The bench overruled the application , and refused to hear Riley , upon which Mr . Roberts _requested that their refusal should be entered on the books of the court . —Mr . Roberts then applied for leave to calLthe defendants ' wives as evidence ' , not to prove anything favourable for their own husbands / but for the other defendants . —Mr . Woodcock never heard of sneh a thing as bringing men ' s wives forward as evidence . — Mr . Roberts said it was time his friend on the opposite

      side was going to school again , for it appeared he did not know what law was yet . —The magistrates granted Mr . Roberts' request . —Mi' . Robei * ts then called several witnesses unconnected with the Boiler-makers . One of the witnesses heard the Lomax ' s say in the street , " ( It is the Boiler-makers' club-night—let ' s go to old Joe ' s , and have a b- ~— row . " And , also that they commenced the fight by George Lo ' . max giving Riley , not " a gentle pat , " but a blow which knocked him off the foini on which lie sat . ' This concluded the case . The magistrates then retired for about a quarter of an hour , when thev returned into court . The magistrates said , after givingthe case their due * consideration , they considered it to be an ale-house row , and therefore their decision was , that both parties be bound in tlieir own recognizances to keep the peace for six months . — There was also a case of intimidation brought before

      the bench . Mr , Grundy appeared for the prosecution , and W . P . Roberts , Esq ., for the defence . The case was ono of those which frequently occur in times of differences betwixt masters and workmen . The facts of the caso are simply these . Some of the " knobsticks" were coming up King-street , when the women and children commenced calling them "knobsticks , " " black sheep , " & c , and one or two of the turn-outs being in the street , it was now sought to make thom the victims ofthe " knobsticks '" vengeance . The case liaving been heard , Mr . Roberts addressed the court for nearl y an hour , in a speech of thrilling eloquence , maintaining that no case had been made out against his clients . . The magistrate- * sentenced the men to two months' imprisonment and hard labour . But Mr . Roberts appealed against their decision , and the case will consequently lie taken into a higher court .

      " Prosperity" at Cullomptok . — On Saturday fortnight the Woolcombers in tho employ of Messrs . Tyscott werc informed by ( Mr . John Tyscott , son of the elder Tyscott ) that they were to work fbr one farthing per lb . less from that day forward . The men consulted their brother workmen in the western district on this attempt , and came to the conclusion of striking work , rather than submit to the proposed reduction . Accordingly they struck , and have stood out , being supported by their fellow workmen , over a district of nearly 200 miles . The workmen seem sanguino of ultimate success , as no men can

      be obtained , although every means has been triedanother proof of the utility of a General Union . It is rather a " curious coincidence , " that , on the same day that your paper arrived with the news of tho Premier's " Financial Plan , " with Mr . O'Connor ' s comment tliereon , the worthy who informed the workmen of the proposed reduction , had the audacity to talk of the men " affording" to work for less , as sugar would be cheaper ! And this is another of those _benoxohnt gen is , who wish for " cheap food " for the Labourers ! His sympathetic nature seeks for this , that the men "may work for less !"

      Royal Olympic Theatre.—We Attended Tliis...

      Royal Olympic Theatre . —We attended tliis little theatre , and san- Mr . _Alfi-ed Onnond as Othello also Miss Davenport as Vesdemona .. Both were passable , Imt can only he considered second-rate . It was Miss Davenport ' s first appearance in the character . Altogether the play went off well . Mr . Flexmore appears to grow more lle . xi ble ; and his little pupil , Miss Parkes , will soon "be as good as her master . " The after-piece was Perfection , or the Lady of Munster . Mr . Binge , as Charles Porn-ion , ilia pink of young bachelors , introduced a favouritc ' bullail Mr . Binge is a pretty singer , but wants power of voice ; and however he may confine himself to plaintive ballails , this defect will at' times be apparent . However , lie _sink's sweetly , und with taste . Miss 1 ,. Melville , as Kate O'Brien , suns- the " Cross Old Bachelor * " and " Gome dwell with me" beautifully . Her voice is good , but not under com . plete control .

      - Victoiua _TnEATRE . —We visited this popular theatre oa Wednesday evening , and witnessed the performance of _Shakspeare ' s Othello . The part of the Moor was performed by Mr . Henry Howard with much ability , and elicited tlic warm applause of the audience . The part of _la-io was ereditably sustained hy Mr . Dale . Mr . Iliggie also well pourtrayed the character Roderigo . Of Miss Vincent ' s Dudcmona we cannot say much : she was most natural in die closing scenes , but the character is evidently one in which she is not fitted to shine . Miss Richardson ' s Emilia was very good , and she was deservedly and warmly

      applauded . The house was crowded , and the curtain descended amidst unanimous and loud applause . Mr . Henry Howard was called' before the curtain , and experienced a most flattering reception . Tho like honour was paid to Miss Hichardson and Mr . Dale . The after pieces were Hercules , King of Clubs ; and Oiiw Twist , In the former Mr . Jolm Herbert , as 2 'hn _, kept the audience in a continual roar of laughter . But , with re spect to Oliver Twist , no acting : could possibly niako pleasing such a farrago of slang and brutality . The piece is a . wretched burlesque of Boz ' s book , and au utter nuisance to witness .

      The _RoYAi Polytechnic _In-stitction . —We have again availed ourselves of the opportunity of visiting this concentration _jOf skiU—this focus of art—this combination of instruction and delight . Our time was not misspent ; as this is not an arena designed for the gay and thoughtless to wile away an idle or a heavy hour . On the contrary , it is one for tho exercise of the mind , which may be profitably employed , not only while within the walls of the institution , but also in after-time ; as more food is supplied for the mind than can he digested at once , by the excellent arrangement made for the purpose of combining p leasure with the diffusion of knowledge , thus chasing awav mono _, tony without creating unbridled levity . To comment on the excellency of tho many works of ' science and art collected within the extensive building is more than can lie expected , and more than wc are disposed to perforin , seeing that the whole may be inspected for a trilling

      charge . The machinery used in the manufacture of " _iotWu yarn appeared to attract the curiosity of the principal part of the audience , wliich was pretty numerous : but to us who have been many years conversant with mamitai - - i tures , it merely recalled to our recollection the niultWu _. I umous sufferings which , through the abuse of such _descrip- ' tion of machinery , have been entailed upon the- ten ; of j thousands whom poverty has doomed to be the slaves of the ' " cotton lords . " The skill displayed by the mechanist is $ certainly firstrate : we only regret that the _sconos u ! have witnessed in the manufacturing districts Tuive been 5 such as to mar our pleasure while inspecting these useful i but much-abused machines . The lecture on- efectricitj S served much to drive off the melancholy produced from f . the last-mentioned cause . The lecturer has a happy mode of simplifying his experiments , and : very wisely [[

      abstains from mystifying his subject bv a vain repetition j of technical phrases , not understood by one-tenth of . any * ¦ ,. _, auditory , yet too generally adopted bv scientific lecturer * , _jjji However sueh is not the case at this Institute , and we are p [ glad of it . On a late occasion when wc visited this p _lart | t we were a little concerned to find exposed for sale anion' ft * " the scientific apparatus , " that" universal panacea for all § f the ills flesh is heir to **—that piece of arrant cpiackcry . d _* 4 _fe "Galvanic ring . " Wc had seen in many shop-windows fe . the "Galvanic ring ; " the "Galvanic * thimble : t _^ P ' Galvanic shield ; " and much more Galvanic _non-p sense ; but we were not prepared to find an _InstihU' _- _* Jf ' like the one under notice , so far pandering to a _ritia' _** _fc : public opinion , as to favour a belief in the efficacy of ¦ A " " * * p We were , however , not a little pleased to hear _IVofesi" . F _*; ; Bachhoffner , while explaining the various modificat ions * _fe- . _- apparatus for developing galvanic-electricity , handle IB ** p unmercifully tins little emblem of the eullibllitv of Eng 1 - . M unmercuuiiy tins Uttle _emhlom ofthe gullibllitv of _W'S' - '• m

      men and women . Knowing , as we do , _that-hundreds * OS " eases of cure' ! -by the " Galvauic ling" can be pvocur * ' J S * _- any day : cures of all diseases ; thc ear-ache ; thc too ** a * "" ache ; the head-ache ; the itch ; the stitch ; the choW _; § _g the gout ; madness ; insanity ; and even idiotc ? its *' M knowing these things , we were pleased to hear the _P _** M fessor take high ground , and boldly announce that * f _™ _M ring had any effect it was from the fancy of the individu _* U . _HJ for as far as its galvanic action was concerned , he nilg W j * y , well wear the handle of the street-door key . " It _« * 1 ' 0 ?! - \ difficult to tell what is to be the next gull , but as the _jjull- * - ones have got the Galvanic shield , which as the cards f can be applied to any part of the body conveniently- * , _^ would suggest that they get a coKar at onco . If men * " * be slaves to their _wUimsies , let them at least wear temblem . 1 he dissolving views still _maincain their » ttt * - _nye powers ; they are among the best we have everfy , l he Chromatropc , or Ezekiel _' s wheels withiu wheels , ¦ "• " admirable specimen of art . its beauties as the siio _^\ . says , " must he seen to be believed . " We advise our fr «» - to visit and see for themselves .

      Printed By Bougal M'Gowan , Of 17, Great...

      Printed by BOUGAL M'GOWAN , of 17 , Great _Vb _& i * street , Haymarket , in the City of Westminster , _¦»' J Oincoin tha same Street and Parish , for tl _' v ! _l prietor _, FEARGUS O'CONNOR , _Eaq _^ _andpoW" _**?;!' William Hewitt , of No . 18 , Charles-street , _« r «>* f street , Walworth , ia the Parish of St . Mary , _S _^ ' | ton , in the County of Surrey , at the Office , S _^ f Strand , iu tho Parish of St . _MaryJe-Strand '' ' '"' I City of _Westminster f Saturday , Mavoh 15 , 1815 f

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 15, 1845, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_15031845/page/8/