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TO THE "U XLOCATED MEMBERS OF THE LA.ND COMPANY.
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; Mt Fiuexds, "When the Managers of Rail...
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We, the Directors of the "N ational Land...
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[As. an appendix to my letter, let me ca...
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ia.ittoiml Hatio company
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j Notiixoham.—At a public meeting of mem...
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FUNERAL OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER. On Thursda...
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Dkatii of Two Chimjken o.v uoaud a Steam...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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To The "U Xlocated Members Of The La.Nd Company.
TO THE "U XLOCATED MEMBERS OF THE LA . ND COMPANY .
; Mt Fiuexds, "When The Managers Of Rail...
_Mt _Fiuexds , "When the Managers of Railways , of « oods and Forests , and Ecclesiastical property , are one and all charged , not with irregularity in their accounts , l _> ut with downright andharefaced plunder , itis not wonderful that the suspicion of all should be raised against the trustee of any property . The difference Oetwecn'the position of those gentlemen and mine , however , is this : that not only have their iniquities heen permitted to continue with the knowled ge of the Government and parties "whose duty it was to make close inspection , out the plunderers have heen encouraged in their fraud : even the Tress has not till _recently exposed them , and then in very mild
_Jfow observe mg position . _Ttrstlg . —The plan was reviled by all who dreaded the elevation of the working man . Secondly . —Many Members of Parliament , heing jugglers themselves in several of those frauds , acted upon the
principle—Set a thief to catch a thief ; and presuming that the several reports in the several newspapers were based upon sustainable facts , the ministers proposed to suhmit the accounts to a Select Committee—not so much with the hope of destroy ing the Land Company , as with the hope of destroying my political influence . _^ _VorMug men , let me ask you if any individual
, in any age , in any country , in any project that has been undertaken , has had to contend against the same amount of slander , persecution , falsehood , and ingratitude that I have ? No matter , whether social or political . And again , let me ask you , whether any other man—mixed op as I have been in every turmoil—hated as Ihaveheenhy every Government and their lickspittles—has eo successfully defied the slander of all ?
Yon - working men , who know me , are convinced that to me character is dearer than life ; and you . are also aware , after many years ' experience , that the _vahnj—the only value —that I attach to . money , is the service that it enables me to render to your order . Do you think that the law ' s treachery would havebeen enforcedagainst any other Company , as it has been against the Land Company ? Do you think that Her Majesty ' s Attorney-General wonld have dared to arrest the law ' s
progress , if the funds of rich men were at stake ? "While he has thrown every obstacle in the way of the registration of a Company established for your benefit . Is it not clear , that if he had solid ground to stand npon , that he would have pressed for the final decision of the Queen ' s Bench as regards registration ? So much of my address merely refers to genereralities ; and now to particulars more affecting myself , and also affecting you . It appears that the located members look upon themselves as proprietors , and not as tenants located by your hard savings . They do not wish to have me as a landlord , or Ihe Directors ; they wish to have no landlord at all .
But let me ask you , if they had the selection of one , whether they would have received so much indulgence at his hands ? or whether you would have so tamely tolerated the indulgence that I have shown them , was it not for the kindliness of yonr disposition , and the frequent representations 1 had made as to the cruelty of pressing them ? My desire was that they should receive such indulgence at my own expense , as would put it out of the power of our enemies to base their opposition to the Land Plan upon the poverty , or even dissatisfaction of the located members , and , therefore , they have not till now been called npon te pay one single fraction ; while you remember the grateral addresses presented to me for my foolish indulgence .
Every newspaper in the kingdom is now at their command , to publish what they consider their grievances and my injustice ; and as only one paper is open tome , you will consider it no easy task for an individual to contendnot against the Press of England only , but against tbe Press of Ireland and Scotland as well . However , I will do it , and successfully , by a short hut irrefutoble narrative of the money transactions connected with the Land Company .
"When operations were going on faster than funds came in I borrowed from one gentleman nearly a _£ 2 , 000 Yet unpaid . From another ... COO Yet unpaid . From another ... 900 Part unpaid . Total £ 8 , 500
Every fraction of that—together with the whole of the profits of the Northern Star for four years—has gone into the Land Company . Mr . Rider , my clerk , paying as much as 370 / . some weeks , to enable me to meet the demands upon the Company , while I was giving bills at an enormous interest for paper and stamps . In 1846 , ' 47 , and ' 43 , it frequently cost me over 20 / . a week iu visiting estates to be sold in Devonshire , Cumberland , and many distant counties in England , and in attending auctions t _« bid for them . I have taken Mr . Doyle ,
Mr . "Wheeler , and Mr . Clark at my own expense , to assist iu _exatnining some of those estates I have not , from the day the Land Company was established , to the present moment , expended 10 / ., or 5 / .. or 1 / ., except npon thc most simple necessaries of life . The Land Company has been in connexion with the Land Bank—the money belonging to the Bank has been deposited in my name in the London Joint Stock Bank , and I refer my numerous enemies and spiestothc manager of that bank whether I have drawn a cheque for _onesbillinsr . "Whentheappointraent of the
Parliamentary Committee had shaken—and naturally—the confidence of unpaid members , 2 0001 was transferred from the _National Land and Labour Bank to the credit of the Company , as every tradesman pressed me for payment of bills . 1 , 800 / . of that sum I repaid to the Land and Labour Bank out of mv own monev ; I have been the largest depositor in that bank , but never took a ferthino- of interest for my money ; aud while I havebeen paying overM . percent _, for monev on my own _account , I refer _myene-™; no 4 n th * _manager of the _National Land
and Labour Bank , ~ to ask him if I have ever drawn one fraction from that Bank ? How as to the accounts : A balance-sheet was annually rendered . _Xot one fraction of the money has ever come into my hands since I was treasurer ; every farthing has gone through the Directors tothe Bank—that is , to the several banks nearest totheEstates , where operations were going on-and every one of those bankers' books were produced to the Government auditor , and to the Parliamentary fJnmmitiee . _. . . ., _ ! . _ i - for in the balance
fhr _^ ount accounted - sheet , heforethe auditor _cxammedthe _account _fnrtbPParliamentary Committee , was 40 , 000 / . T was fortunate enoug h to have pieservea tne iSniand documents ; and in minutely _ « mv _receipt « _m « _« , , _i ) ai ance . sheet , the haulmg every item in that _fiance , auditor discovered a mistake P _&™ you ho , r tic _« _g- _« _7 ?! _L _™™ L _ttS , _milikcotta- managers ,
_«„ _^' ¦ " _-nfJJtMddKd _* te * I toll vou b _2 o _£££ _* _* . ™ _s
; Mt Fiuexds, "When The Managers Of Rail...
money on Saturday nights , and he entered name and amount in the book . At Lowbands , Mr . _Cullingiiam kept the Tradesmen's hook , and Mr . King the Labourer ' s book . At Minster Lovel , "Mr . Doyle , and Mr . Cullixgium , and Mr . King kept the hooks . At Snig ' s End , Mr . Cuiuxgham and Mr . Kixg kept the books . At Bromsgrove , Mr . _Culungham and Mr . Doyle kept the hooks , and not a line , or
figure of mine is in one of them ; and from those books the accounts were made out . And now let me ask you , if I might not , without the power of detection , have juggled the company ont of thousands had I been so inclined ? Butletmenow show you my disregard of money when character is concerned , and how I preferred serving the poor occupants who could not get securities for loans out of my own pocket , in preference to drawing upon the Company ' s funds : —
To One Occupant I gave ... ... 14 To Two 10 / . each 20 To Three ol . each 15 To One 3 ToAnother ... 7 Premium to the O'Connorville Occupants Io
To Howarth , Manchester , 35 _U'iBt _> o % i ' _^ _**" made npon a Four Acre Allotment that I had purchased from him , and which he was astonished at receiving 35 Present of an Allotment of Two Acres and House to a devoted Chartist , and one of the most charitable , benevolent , and _Idiid-hearted men I ever met ... ... ... ... ... 200 Sacrifice of Interest on Money in the Bank , about SO Total £ 339
And to show you the different value that I attach to the money ofthe poor man and my own , one of the allottees at Lowbands was agent for the Star , he owes me 07 . or 7 / ., but I never pressed him for that , and he has paid no rent . _~ Now , bear in mind that the Auditor Reported to the Parliamentary Committee that the Company owed me 3 , 400 That the last Financial Committee reported , after seeing receipts for everything , and after being previously submitted to the Government Auditor an extra 1 , 200 Making £ 4 , C 00
And , also bear in mind , that the Committee urged the necessity of a prompt and immediate balance-sheet being furnished ; that I was nearly night and day , for three weeks , furnishing those voluminous documents , while any other man would have heen granted at least six months , and in this case , also Mr . _CULLINGHAM , Mr . DOYLE , Mr . _M'GltATH , Mr . "Wheeler , and Mr . Kixg—and their books and receipts , were searchingly and critically examined by the Auditor , who , as he admitted from report , had entertained thc strongest prejudice against me .
Since that audit I have discovered receipts for large amounts that I did not then get credit for , or claim credit for , not having the receipts then by me ; and in the account furnished to the Financial Committee last July , I made a mistake against myself of 13 GZ . _2 " ow , working men , consider my case , and the case of the Rochdale . Savings Bank , of the "Woods and Forests , the Ecclesiastical Revenue , and Railway Managers , and ask yourselves whether in my case such a continuous scene of plunder would have been tolerated for years ; and , above all , bear in mind , that my expenses in connexion with this Company have been much over 2 , 000 / . —that , up to the present time , as a paid Director , I would have
been entitled to 474 / . ; and further , bear in mind , thatl made a profit of 1 , 350 / . ofa Small Farm that I purchased and sold next day , and to which , as Mr . Roberts stated , at a public meeting at Manchester , I was fully entitled , and which no other man , in a similar position , would have handed over to the Company ; and , in addition , bear in mind , that I have paid large interest upon bills due upon my own account , while I have never given a hill on account ofthe Land Company , but on the contrary , I have invested my own funds to save the Company from legal expenses ; and although I have been offered presents by tradesmen with whom I dealt largely , I have invariably declined tbem .
Then as to _Mathon Estate , I might have patched up accounts by drawing upon that ; while , as regards that fund , my bankers book is open to inspection , and not a fraction ofit has been touched . Xow , working men , further observe that I have paid 500 / . deposit upon Mathon out of my own pocket , and that every depositor —if I eannot complete the purchase—will
receive 20 s . in the pound , and 1 will lose that . Thus I show you that I have boiTowed 3 , 500 / ., and given the whole of the profits of the "Northern Star , '' and the whole of my time for four years and nine months to the promotion of this Land Plan , while now I am most brutally and unscmpously assailed by thoso who have been located with your money .
Working men , let me now show you my legal difficulties for two years . I have paid to Mr . Cleave and legal expenses , nearly 700 Mr . Hobson ' s verdict , 7 3 / ., a quarter ' s salary with costs ... 500 Mr . Ardill , my clerk , for libel ... 150 Mr . Fowler , forlibel GO Mr . Macnamara 242 Oakum picking , about 100 My own Solicitors' costs 337
Total £ 2 , 139 Xot counting various sums that I have given away . > ow , do not you think that I am a finished juggler ? while , had I devoted my time and intellect to money-grubbing , I might have been wallowing in wealth , instead of as now living in the most simple , frugal , and economical manner . I fear that you will consider this letter long and tedious , while you must bear in mind that it _$ > mes from an individual who has no other channel through which he can defend himself , while the whole battery oi the Press , provincial and metropolitan , are ooened upon him .
Now , unlocated members , let me ask you to read the following letter of Mr . _Oddy—a three acre occupant at O'Connorville—to tho Bradford members , and also tho genuine , the straig htforward , and unanswerable letter ot _Duxchv _SiiERRiXGTOJf , one of the most _upright aud steadfast Chartist in the Kingdom to the occupants at Snig ' s End , and read the secretary ' s letter accompanying Mr . Oddy s , and my reply to Mr . OnnY . Here is Mr .
Odd y ' s letter : — O'CoimorYille , Dee . 5 th , 1 S _19 . _« .- _Tinn "FniESD -You W . 15 think it very strange of _ms _niSto _yoTaccordins _toPromise , but the _truths
; Mt Fiuexds, "When The Managers Of Rail...
I have heen here now nearly three years and could get no security of my allotment , only promises of them , all broken ones , nothing but juggling and fraud ; and if I was to write to you , and , to tell you the truth , I know the screw would he put on me , and that tightly t « o ; and since I could not send you a true statement I thought it more honest not to write at all . Therefore , dear friend , be so good as to lay this statement before my brother members , and tell them 1 want their advice how I must act , fori will not stand _0 Connor ' s nor the Director ' s shuffling , nor their falsehood any longer . The statements underneath are correct , which _1 am willing to prove before any magistrate , to all your satisfaction ; Mr . Dixon , one of tiie Directors , has been _downhere these three weeks demanding their rentsand
, wth force too . Some paid some part , andiiome cannot pay ; theydemandf _# rtwo acres £ b 10 s ., three acres £ 11 , four acres £ 1310 s . Now , with such rents , and _leryingnitcs nnd tithes , we cannot pay live ; I and my wife wrought with vigour , from morning dawn till dark at ni ht , and often with empty bellies ; for , I assure you , many a day we both eat no better than dry bread and cold water , with a spoonful of sugar in the cold water to make it palatable , and yet I could not keep out of debt , for I stand in my book tbus J _~ £ d . d . Two and a half years ' rent .. .. 27 10 0 Loan from the Company 15 0 0 Due to provision shop for pigs meat and ursolves .. fi 10 0
£ 51 0 u Xow , my old friend , I paid Dixon £ 2 , and the rest must be paid at Christmas ; now , how to meet the balance , God only knows , for 1 do not ; for after all our toil , labour , starvation , cold and liavdshins , I positively _decltre to you , that the land Scheme is nothing more than an humbug , a delusion , a mockery , and a snare . Fori assert , without lew of contradiction , that the Laud members never will be benefited by this bubble scheme ; he promised to put bonus members on when a vacancy would occur ; and here , on this estate , lie has put people on that paid the ready money down , although the bonus members wero
¦ p * i & in ; and higher in amount than this inan , and yet they take this man's money and let the bonus members stand over . But , old friend , if tlie country or the public knew only half their carrying on , they would be hurled out of office , and O'Connor scouted from society—which he richly deserves—and all such swindlers . You may think I speak harsh , but I do not draw the picture near the veal likeness , nor could I tell half the truth . Now , my friends anu brothers , my business is nearly brought to a close , and I beg of you to send me your advice , and make what use you like of this letter , for I defy contradiction . My live stock is as follows : — . £ s . d . One in-pig sow .. 2 10 0 Onehog : 1 10 0 _"SinestorepissatSs . .. .. .. 4 10
Crops , ic , & c . Nine bushels of wheat , at 5 s 2 5 o Et'lit ditto barley , at 3 s . .. .. 14 0 Thirty ditto potatoes , at 2 s 2 0 0 One donkey 0 15 0 Six fowls , at 28 : .. .. .. .. 0 12 tt
£ 15 17 0 It is intimated to us that if we ( the balloted members , ) wish to leave we may do so , and take our crops with us ; but I will not until I hear from you how 1 am to act . Till then farewell , for I cannot express half my feelings to you by letter , but when I see you nil I will then relate what will surprise you , concerning our glorious Land Plan . I remain , with respect , & c ., Wiluah Oddet . Here follows the accompanying letter from the Branch Secretary : — Bradford , Yorkshire , Dec , & .
Dear Sib . —I am directed by the members of the Land Company that heW » meeting this day ( Sunday , ) at our room , to send you a letter that came into my hands _fromfa rascal that is at O'Connorville , and we hope that you will put _ the screw on him , and send him back to Bradford again . This fellow has often stated , wheu he was here , thathe _coold not earn above six shillings a week , on an average , and he has got , from the Society twenty . _tivo pounds Aid money ; fifteen pounds Loan money ; and tiro pounds from us to send him off . I remain your humble servant , James Connell , Secretary of this Branch .
Now , hear my reply to Mr . _Oddv . What were the promises broken except those of the occupants who have paid no rent ; and mark his present _vigour and that of his wife , now that they arc able to toil from morning till night , as compared with their condition when they were located . More than once , both Oddy and his wife have told me , that when she was at Bradford , she was reduced to such a state of weakness , that for weeks together she was not able to work , and was obliged to lie in bed , and could not eat a hit , and that it took all she could earn to pay for medicine ; but _notv , she
said , "Look at me , I could eat one of them big loaves there , and can -work all day and never felt so well in my life , and bo does _Oddt . Eh ? but I do like it , G od Almighty bless thee . '' But to figures : this man has received 22 / . 10 s . Aid Money , 15 " . Loan Money , that is 37 / . 10 s . ; and has one of the most splendid allotments upon the estate , he has had a house rent free for two years and a quarter , he has now 15 / . 17 s . worth of produce , making 53 / . 7 s ., and has paid 21 . rent , reducing it to 51 / . 7 s ., and if I remember right he had two cows , however , he is now reduced to a donkey .
Now divide the 51 / . 7 s . into weekly wages for two years and a quarter , and you will find that apart from consumption of meat , which he says he has eaten , of bread , sugar , and water , no doubt some vegetables , and-rent of house , and you will find that this poor juggled man , without heing unemployed for a single day , not excepting holidays , has received 8 s . and a fraction per week . Now , does this require comment , and will those who hare been supporting him and his fortunate companions longer tolerate such an iniquity ? Here I take a feeble man and unhealthy wife from an unhealthy factory town , place them in a magnificent cottage , upon three acres of excellent land , they are now healthy and vigorous , had Gs . a week to live upon , and pay for medicine , when they took possession of their allotment , and now have lived rent free and received 8 s . a
week , besides supporting themselves . Now , I ask you whether this fellow has been the victim of " a mockery , a delusion , and a snare ? " and I ask y ou if there is anything more easy than to make a poor mouth and drawup a most piteous appeal , "while the duped appellant is living upon the very sweat and blood of many Avho would be but too happy to receive 6 s . or as . a week . Here follows Mr . Sherrington ' s letter , which , with that ingenuousness of character for which he is distinguished and honoured , he requests may he published . Here it is : — 48 , Rumford-street , Bridgetow , Glasgow , December 8 th , 18 * 9 .
Sik , —I received a communication from you this wccit in name ' of the allottees of Snig ' s End Estate , complaining , in very unmeasured terms , of Air . O'Connor and the rest of the Directors ofthe Land Company , for the measures they have taken to follow out the instructions of the Unlocated Members , in fact , I do not see what , other course could have been adopted by them under the circumstances in wliich thev were placed . When 1 see a number of men settm" themselves up in opposition to tlie regular constituted officers ofthe Company , and dcc ' _arinjrtlii'ii-detenmnation notto comp ly with the rules that have been adopted by both tlie Located and Unlocated Members , Iwouldaskyou what other course they could adopt 1 or do jou think that they would be justified in allowing the Company to be comnlctelv nullified , and those who have possession to keep iH ) sses _« oniii opposition to every former arrangement ? -No , _« ir such is not my opinion of justice between man and man AI those who are now on the different estates must have known tlie conditions on whieh they held their _™ fJZl " ndalsothatalthoughitwas got up principally
by Chartist ' s , tnat they could not allow injustice to _wp _™ _- - tised on those that have as just claims on the _Comjmnj as those that are located have , without . having reeoiire to law for the purpose of compelling them to fulhl Jhen agreements , and must have been mistaken m what constituted the real duty of those of whom they complain so very bitterly , and , in my opinion , unjustly . . , So far as your statements regarding the wasteful expenditure ofthe Directors goes I cannot agree with you , butl have no doubt but it will pass current with many * . o know no better , and those who have not had the Cc _^ ie opportunity of satisfying themselves as I have on this most important subject . 1 having been appointed one of an Auditing Committee by the Conference to examine and report upon the accounts , this has perfectly satisfied my mind upon that portion of your complaints . And for jour other grievances you may have Mine cause to complain _, but I do think , that whatever your condition may be , that ST ,: „„„ ..,, > _... lr . Wd bv the allottees is either just or
polltie " asTblame ' them for being thc greatcauscoi _comment _beme des roved , and the operations ofthe Company _sus-JenldK the first day that a location took place up tl the present dav , the smallest obstacle was construed Ko an _insurmountable barrier to _theji-o _^ ress of the Located Members , ana , consequent _^ , tnt 1 ress , w now neither the friends . of the one _^ _« _^ _toSCd ilwavs clad to receive the _compUimUotUwdissAUtneu , _SiSthe worst of . them , so that the good _£ ehng that did exist for a time might be destroyed , aui their _unls ¦ _Kvnmnliched . 1 am , Sir , yours , ore ., accompusnea . . _^ _SllEKIUSTOS . V S —As this is no new formed opinion of mine it will _tate _niore evhlenee than has yet been h ¦« Jo convince mo and for what I here state 1 refer you to Alex . Lioiana for _' the truth ofit , as it has often been a subject between liimandmc . —D . S . TO THE DIRECTORS . , _Gest _* eh » _v-1 enclose you a letter which I have received
; Mt Fiuexds, "When The Managers Of Rail...
from Sid _^^^^^^ l _^^ b _^^ i : mvdi not * be uoiB _^ _paulyif . T _. dld not piit youih : possession of ; also e ° _? m § _F _*" e P " y which Isent : them , which you are' at perfect hbc | G" to _useas you may think proper . ! $ & _-l am , Gentlemen , yours as ever , _J * _fe- - . ¦ Duncan _Shehringtsn . The lMveU directed to Robovt _Jimis , Snig ' s End . Tn _w " y observation that I feel it necessary to ma _^ iipqn Mr . Sherrington ' s letter is , _* , _^^ . J _^ _yiyest myself of that jexcijk _^ ent whicHlBjfo ingratitude of the m 6 st _.- ; for _^ _ftfe has raijed , I _^ _rnglit hav _& _ieen able to _condense _myobservations wilhmthesanie . space , ; as I _^ _efy'"Iw _^ ma . n ; to ; give a more graphic , a more _ttPs , or a more understandable nicture
ofthefhole affirir , than Mr . Sherrington has , _injhjs concise and able letter . My fi _& nds , . all that I have written in the above fi _^ reference to my connexion with the Land _^ Oihpany , financially ; aud now to tlie base _gnd slanderous accusation preferred _againagp : ; by tho vile ingrates of Snig's End , and p & IBMed in numerous papers , They say , that id _^ _fe" ' audited account there is 1 , 400 * . _chavgddM _^ id Money , which is 400 _J . or 500 " . more fl _$ _^ _# as paid ; and they also state that the C . _ofl _& ahy owes me nothing . Now mark myrei _#£ Not very far short of the 1 , 400 ' .
was pijj _$ | Mr . Clam , on the 13 th _flf June , 1848 , _reived a cheguo for 600 / ., to pay Aid Mone 1 _^ ere |! on theillth of July the Govern--i _^ _nt _«^ i"ior _» m ' ade )' _up-his < accbun _$ ' _^ % ave him the _' amount that I had paid : Mr . Clark was not present at Bromsgrove when the accounts were audited ; Mr . Cullingham , Mr . M'Grath , Mr . Doyle , Mr . Bull—who had for a short time paid the labourers—were present , and it so happened that Mr . Clarke had paid but a portion of the 500 " ., and , subsequently returned the halance to the Bank .
But if you were to talce things in their entirety , hear what I have to state : the occupants of Snig's End are stated , in the Government Auditors' account , to have received 1 , 400 ? . Mr . Clark returned 1012 . 10 s ., which would make their receipts something under 1 _. 300 Z . In the same Report , the occupants at Minster Lovel are stated to have received 1 , 538 / ., while they received l , 710 i . —leaving a balance of nearly 200 * . in my favour ; which deduct from the 1 , 300 ? . received by the Snig ' s End occupants , after deducting the 101 ] . 10 s .
returned by Mr . Clark from the 1 , 400 / . stated to be paid , and you will find that it reduces the amount of 1 , 400 / ., for wliich I got credit , to 1 , 100 / . And let me further state tho foundation of the inaccuracy upon which the Minster Lovel Aid Money was based . The Government Reporter only returned sixty-nine houses as tho number built upon that Estate , whereas there aro eighty ; aud the Aid Money was paid by Mr . Doyle ; and to some , who received it before departing for the Estate , by the Directors , at the office of the Company . Now , am I not a Juggler ?
Now , working men , as regards this Land Company , Parliament will meet in about six weeks , when it is my intention—if it is not previously registered , and it is now set down for hearing next term , which commences upon January the 11 th—according to the unanimous recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee—to apply to the House of Commons , for an Act of Parliament to wind up the affairs of the Company . The accounts will be again audited , and if the Company does not owe me several thousand pounds I will surrender my whole claim ; and I will take cave that the legal expenses shall be trilling .
And now , to prove my attachment to this Company , 1 undertake to surrender every fraction due to me , if the unprincipled men located with your money will surrender the property , which may be turned to muck better account . Now let me ask you , if there is another instance upon record of such a Company never being put to any legal expense except for registration—if ever there was a trustee discharged his trust more faithfully—if ever there was a treasurer could give so honest an account of the funds placed in his hands ? I think I have a good set off against 400 / . or 500 / ., or 4 , 000 / . or 5 , 000 / . ; and I believe every man who knows me feels confident that I would rather go to bed without my supper than sup
upon the poor man's funds . And , further observe that when this Company is either completely registered or wouud up , as the case may bo , the whole of its accounts from the commencement , will be again submitted to commissioners and auditors appointed by the Government ; " and then , my friends at Snig ' s End will find , whether I have a good set-off against 400 / ., 4 , 000 / ., or 7 , 000 / . ; and there is not an unlocated member who is not fully aware that is was not ray intention to press them for the repayment of my services . Bear in mind , thatthe answer of Mr . Sherrington is to Mr . Jarvis , whose letter is published in the Manchester Examiner , and several other papers ; and bear in mind , that not one of those papers will publish my reply .
In conclusion , let me give you a former instance of the manner in which I was treated . When I was in my dungeon , in York Castle , it was rumoured that I had a large balance of Chartist money in my hands . I was uot present to defend myself ; the whole accounts were submitted to a shrewd and searching committee ; and I now give you the result of their inquiry , when I was persecuted and slandered by many whom I had saved from starvation . Here are the resolutions—which follow a full balance sheet of receipts and disbursements , occupying nearly three columns of the Northern Star .
In Mr . Clarkson ' s account , his charge for professional service amounts to £ 1 _W ; the difference was paid by Mr . O'Connor , through Mr . Clarkson , for traverse fees , court fees , and counsel fees , at Liverpool . The traverse fees alone amounted to more than one hundred pounds . Jlr . Clarkson ' s charge is for his own and his head clerk ' s attendance _during tbe whole ofthe Yorkshire and Lancashire assizes , awl his attendance subsequently at Chester ; for his services in White and Wilson ' s ease , and numerous attendance at the magistrates' courts , and having defended more than one hundred prisoners , separate Uriels being required for a great number . £ s . d . Amount due to Mr . O'Connor , for Frost ' s defence 30 19 2 Amount due to Mr . O'Connor , for National deic
f _.-nr-o 0 _"V > 1 ft Tl nce , 273 19 7 li Amount due to Mr . O'Connor , bv Northern " " *' _mmi 4 fl 0 9 _ . _, 356 18 ~ _H The two amounts paid by Heywood are _^ 27 and d . _'il odd , but the exact items are not yet known , w .. .. li 0 0 Which leaves due to Mr . O'Ctoiuor .. .. _& _" _&¦ ' IS _W Memorandum . —A special meeting of tlie Manchester Executive Council , and _f-the committee , appointed by the delegate meeting in Manchester to distribute the fund
subscribed for the relief of the wives and families of the imprisoned Chartists , having been called , for the purpose of examining the balance sheets of the receipts and disbursements of the' Frost Defence Fund , ' and the' National Defence Fund , ' iu consequence of certain reports having been raised and circulated to the prejudice of Mr . Feargus O'Connor , the holder and disburser of those funds , such meeting was held this Monday evening , October 5 th , 18 UI , "hen , after hearing the several documents read , and the balance sheets having been examined , it was resolved unanimnitslv . _
i . —This e _' ommittee having heard , with deep regret , of the circulation , b , v some parties in London , of rumours and reports prejudicial to Mr . O'Connor ' s character , in relation to the Frost and General Defence Funds , highly approve of the steps taken bv Mr . O" Connor for their relut ation , hi _harin « r corresponded wilJi Mrs , Frost and obtaining from that lady a letter denying the charges said to have been made by her : and in laving the whole documents , with full explanations , before tllis committee for examination and approval , if satistactory , preparatory to ilieir publication for general inspection . ' Moved by James Wheeler , seconded by Andrew Melville . 2—The balance sheets ofthe several funds having been tttntively and _scrutinisingly examined by this committee ,
; Mt Fiuexds, "When The Managers Of Rail...
they beg thus to express their high _serialdfitho admirable J" '" . ""** ' * . wbich the several aecouiitsbaVy , been ; kiipt , nnd the judicious care and management ovipcod iu ; their dis bursement . From such examination they find _tjiat the sums of £ 27319 s . 7 Jd . oil tlie General Defence _F . _dnd ; and £ it : on the Northern Union Medal Account , are . due tO . 'Mr . O Connor , lie having advanced the same ; and thejvefc " of opinion that the entire ofthe money thus _advanceds"Mnt to be immediately subscribed by the couhtryiitUiirgo . ' * nd returned to Mr . O'Connor . , _ilbyed ' . by-Peteb _SuobSookk , . seconded by . Wsi . IIosiiton . ? :. > :. . : . I ; - ' ¦ ¦ ' 3 ~ _?¦"""*" _* committee ' _caiiiiot top earnestly deprecate tlie
¦ . > many attempts made by certain parties " in" London , to whispenmii Insinuate away the character _qf Miv O'Connor , in . the _. teeth of tite evidence of facts which proves . that , he Has ddiie m ' ore in the creation and _collecting of the several funds whose particulars weliavo just examined into , than any other ' twenty men put together j and that his purse has ever been open to , and his talents oyer been at the use and command of , the suffering poor . These attempts , they think , spring from any motive but the one supplied by the love of Chartism ; nnd evince cither disappointed vanity or contemptible envy on thc part of those who nuke them . ' Moved by William Maddockb , seconded by John
Mujli . _n-gton . 4 . — 'This committee cannot separate without registering their opinion that the gratitude of the nation at large is due to Mr . _O'Counor , for the almost _super-human efforts made by him in tho cases ' of-the Dorchester labourers , the Glasgow cotton spinners , tlie Welsh . martyrs , and the Chartist victims , to secure for them the best defence the Uab could furnish , or to procure their'liberation after being sentenced to felon ' s fate ; and they have _witnessedHvitn ' -rogret , the ungrateful conduct , in-return , of those who either have not the soul to appreciate , pr the honesty to _acknowledge them . ' Moved by AkdtwwMelv « . le , _secondedfcyiYyM . Hushton . / ' ¦ ' ' ' ¦ ' { _$ _* ' _* ' " ¦ ''' . ' : James _CBAMiBtRtiSji , Cliairmnn . _;? - i " . _- ... PeterShorbooks ; Secretary . ; .- \ !" Itwasaftcnmr " 3 s mpvcd aud ' _oarried _uttauuuously _^ th ' it . Mr . AbelHeywog'd it' _^ 5 _ttachi _^ _terf ; : bo apnbi » ted : tr _^ asur - _$ _* _S _* jej _$ fa _&^^ _wivej _arid'fahiUies _^ _-in _^ oiKequence of Mr . O'Connor delining to act as _treasurer any longer .
Now that was my defence , when I was not present to defend myself , relying , as I always do , upon tho integrity of the working classes , by whom _alono—as I have always stated—I will consent to be tried . Now rcau the evidence of John _Aupill , my clerk , at thc Lancaster trials ; and the evidence of John Farr , my bailiff , that I brought from Ireland , to speak to my character with reference to my treatment of the poor . Here they aro : — John Farr , examined by Mr . O'Connor : —I believe I have been in the habit of standing in the fields with my workmen , sometimes from 100 to ViO , for nine or ten hours a day for years 1 Yes . —What was my conduct to my labourers and the poor in general ? Vou built houses for your labourers and irave them free , and _ground with
them 1 Did I knock down mud cabins , and build stone houses for them 1 Yes . 1 charged no rent ? No . Did you pay the wages every Saturday night ? Yes ; and you raised the wages when the times got hard . Jons Abdill , examined by Mr . O'Consor : —Have you ever had _tmy communication with ma relative to the impossibility of meeting my drafts upon you for the support of poor people ? Yes , several times . You received a general account from Heywood , Cleave , and other large agents ?—And don't you know that I have paid , for Chartist purposes , upwards of twenty pounds a week ? Yes , I have received such accounts : I know we have large sums to pay Mr . Heywood , running on for weeks . Do you not know that , on some occasions I have incurred that expense in relieving the families of poor people who were
incarcerated 1 Yes . And sometimes the prisoners themselves ? Yes . Now , have you not written to me sometimes saying that , in _coiiSCQiloiice of such liberality , you were obliged to dishonour my drafts 1 Yes , I have been obliged to dishonour your drafts frequently , and latterly to stop them altogether , as wc could not pay for stamps else . During the time you were in York Castle , you did not receive , but paid , money to the Northern Star , Have not distressed operatives wishing to start in business called on me , and did I not frequently give them a sovereign or two at a time ] Yes . Did jou ever know , during thc last five years , a man coming to me for money , that my hand was not ill my pocket to give it to him ? I never knew a man to call for some , without your giving it , or ordering me to give him tame ..
Working mon of England , as character is dearer to me than life itself , let me now remind you that I have been an unpaid delegate at every Conference for ten years , that I have given thousands to those who have most reviled me ; to somo more than 100 / .: that I have travelled for years , hut always at my own expense ; that I have never allowed a Chartist prisoner to go undefended ; that I advanced a thousand pounds out of my own pocket to fee counsel for the defence of Frost aud others , before a farthing was subscribed , and that I sat under the dock from the
commencement to the termination of the trial ; that I have spent in one tour as much as 961 . to pay debts due by the Chartist Executive ; that my purse has ever been open to you ; that when the " Star" was makiug 13 , 0001 . a year , every fraction of it was devoted to the Chartist cause , and that now I am reviled b y those professing Chartism , whom I have most served . In conclusion , let me give you the report of the select committee of the House of Commons , unanimously adopted .
The Select Committee have further considered the matters to them referred , and have agreed to the following resolutions , and report : — 1 . —That the proposed additional provisions to the Friendly Societies Acts which are incorporated in tlie bill , entitled ' a Bill to alter and amend an act of the 9 th and 10 th years ol her present Majesty , for the amendment of the laws relating to Friendly Societies , ' will not include the National Land Company within those acts . 2 . —That the National Land Company is not consistent with the general principles upon which thc Friendly Societies are founded . 3 . —That the National Land Company , as at present constituted , is an illegal scheme , and will not fulfil the expectations held out by the Directors to the shareholders . 4 . —That it appearing to Otis committee by the evidence of several witnesses , thatthe books of proceedings of tlie National Land Company , as well as the accounts of the Company , have been most imperfectly kept , and that the original balance sheets signed by the auditors of the Company have been destroyed , and only three of those balance
sheets for the quavtcr ending the -i'Jth of September , and the 25 th of December , 1817 , and the 25 th of March , 1 S 4 S respectively , have been produced j but Mr . Feargus O'Connor having expressed an opinion that an impression had gone abroad that the monies subscribed by the National Laud Company had been applied to his own benefit , this committee are clearly of opinion that although the accounts have not been kept with strict regularity , yet that irregularity has been against Mv . O'Connor ' s interest , instead of in his favour ; and that it appears by Air . Grey ' s account there is due to Mr . Feargus O'Connor the sum of _^ 3 , 29 S 5 s . _U _$ d ., and by Mr , Finlaysun _' s account the sum of AW . 5 . —That considering the great number of persons interested in thc scheme , and the l > o > ui fides with which it appears to have been carried on , it is tho opinion of this Committee that powers might be granted to the parties concerned , if they shall so desire , to wind np the undertaking and to relieve them from the penalties to which they may have incautiously subjected themselves _.
In submitting these resolutions to the consideration of the House , it is the opinion of your committee that it should be left entirely open to the parties concerned , to propose to Parliament any new measure of carrying out the expectations and objects ofthe promoters of thc Company . Now there is the Committee ' s report , and I quite agree with the Committee , that although the accounts wero not kept with that strict regularity observed by bankers and merchants , "that that irregularity has been against Mr . Feakgus _O'Connor ' s _interest instead of iu Mr tavonr . ""
Working _nwa , I am the reviled of all revilers , so will every man be who attempts to serve your o d"r , but as the censure of slaves is adulation , I court it ; I repose confidence in your integrity and on your verdict , I will ever depend , for the preservation of my name , my honour , and my character . And now to show you the difference between my position and that of Railway jugglers , I defy Banker , Tradesman , Director , Bailiff , Oversoor , or any man employed by me , to charge mo with one single dishonest or ungentlemanlike act in connexion with this Land Company . "Will any newspaper that has published the slander of your enemies publish my refutation ?
NOT ONE . Your Faithful and Uncompromising Friend , Feakgus O'Connor .
W <¦ - •«-• \S F \ ^ R Pr- / Has Been Ex...
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F^Dy ^T^ A "*R S=¦¦¦¦;¦ /^ ^^^ Y^I^W^^^ ...
_f _^ _dy _^ _T _^ a " _* r _S = _¦¦¦¦;¦ !_ . AM NATIONAL TRi _§ ES ' JOURNAL .
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; W LP : . _jft Br" _IMH 81 _TM 1 T , « WBI 641 . _kJajBSSJ _^ _.
We, The Directors Of The "N Ational Land...
We , the Directors of the "N ational Land Company , three of whom havo filled that office since its establishment , have heard the above letter , written by Mr . _O'CoNNOit _. read , and we arc prepared to vouch our word and our oath , if necessary , for its accuracy . We have had ample opportunity of criticising the _nfttinns of Mr . _O'OoiHfon in connexion with
this Company , and wc have no hesitation in stating , that uo man ever more honestly and energetically devoted his services to the success of any Company ; but , as this Company
We, The Directors Of The "N Ational Land...
- - _s f _^ r pr- / has been exclusively established for tho benoflt of our . own order , it has been maligned and spat upon , and by none more ungenerously than by those whom it has most served . Philip M'Grath , _CuiusTorai'v . Boyle . Thomas Clark , " William Dixon . _has ooen exclusively established for tho "Jonofit of our . own order , i ' t lias been maligned and
[As. An Appendix To My Letter, Let Me Ca...
[ As . an appendix to my letter , let me call your attention to ihe following leading article , extracted from the Jurist of the 1 st of Decern ber , 1849 ; a paper edited by the ablest _law-, vera in the kingdom , and who , you will naturall y understand , would not damage their own character , or that of their organ , by any misrepresentation of the . law ; and from it you will unequivocall y understand , that but for the power , the malignity , and the malice of the _Rechstrak , inspired hy the hatred ofthe Government to the Land Flan , he would not have dared to refuse tho complete registration of the Company ; but you will understand the old maxim , that " there ia one law for tho rich and another law for the poor ; " that there is more danger for thc peasant who shoots the Squire ' s hare , than to the Squire who shoots the . peasant ' s head ; and that " one man may steal a horse , while another
dare not look over the wall . "—F . _O'C ] An important question has lately been raised in the Court of Common _Tleas relating to tho office of the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies . It arose in a case of The Barwen Iron Company v . Darnett . The declaration was for instalments due on shares . The defendant pleaded that , thc company was within thestat 7 & -8 Vict . c . 110 ; but that , although it had been completely registered , its deed of settlement did not contain the particulars required by that statute . The above was a case in which the complaint was , tliat a- company had been completely registered whioh _ouehtnot to have beon so . Another caso _ie
pending in the . Court of Queen ' s Bench , in which the complaint is , that the certificate has been refused where it ought _^' h * ve been granted . _Weialludo'to _'" Reg ., _onthejfrdsecution of the National'Land Co % J _% _* j _\(^^^' o _^' tt _^« . _ _tsieV «" , j :. v . Tht _Registra-r . of _Joint-ftorii ¦ Companies ' . " - There , a mandamus * ' setting forth the deed of settlement of the company , has gone to thc Registrar , commanding him to renew tho certificate of provisional registration , and grant a certificate of complete registration , lie has returned three grounds for non-compliancefirst , that the companv is not established for profit , & c ,-within tho _stat . 7 & 3 Vict , c . 110 ; secondly , tliat , by the deed , the directors are empowered to sell lands , Ac . by lot , contrary to the lottery acts ; and , thirdly , that thc company is also a blinking
company , contrary to the banking acts . To this return the prosecutors havo demurred generally , _bocause thoy contend that the Registrar has no ri ght to travel out of the deed , which shows the company to be within the Joint-stock Companies Act , and does not shew that the lottery or banking statutes have been contravened . Nowhere , we presume , a question , which _wac incidentally raised in Thc Barwen Iron Company v . Burnett , -will ' recur , namely , whether the Registrar is a ministerial or judicial officer ; and if the latter , whether , at all events , his discretion is not limited by the doed of settlement , aud by a comnliance oa
the part of tlie company with the _' express _' provtsions contained in the 7 & 8 Vict . c . 110 , as ameuded by the 10 All Vict . c . 78 . It would appear that the statute has imposed ( as might have been expected ) a limit upon the power of the Registrar in refusing to incorporate a company which appears , hy its deed , to ho within its meaning and intention . Thus , although he may object to the abstract or index of the deed , and to the insufficiency of the deed hy reason of omission
or incompleteness , or of its containing provisions inconsistent with or repugnant to the stat . 7 & 8 Vict . c . 110 , yet it would seem , that if he approve of the abstract or index , and tho deed of settlement on the face of it comply with thc express requirements of the statute , he has no power to refuse registration on account of matter dehors the deed . Such appears to be the reasonable construction of the act ; and wide as the Registrar ' s discretion is under its provisions , it hardly soems advisable to extend it by implication .
Ia.Ittoiml Hatio Company
_ia _. _ittoiml Hatio company
J Notiixoham.—At A Public Meeting Of Mem...
j _Notiixoham . —At a public meeting of members , held at the Seven Slars , Barker-gate , on Monday evening last , whioh was numerously attended—Mr . James Sweet in tho chair—the following resolution was carrie 1 unanimously : " That in the opinion of this mooting the success of the Land Company mainly depends upon the ability of the allottees to pay the rent due : they consider that sufficient time has been given them for that purpose , but they fear they are not actuated by a pvinciple of justice towords their brother shareholders , by whose united exertions they were placed upon those allotments , and by whose contributions aid and loan money was advanced to them . They therefore demand of the Directors to enforce tho payment of tiio rent
immediately , and to eject all such members , and thereby act justly to the thousands who have paid up their share money , but remain unlocated , and who are receiving no interest whatever for the money so invested . If the members already located cannot or will not pay rent , tlie sootier they are removed the better , that others more deserving may occupy their places . This meeting is further of opinion , that unless something similar to theabove is acted upon by the Directors , that a widespread dissatisfaction will exist amongst the members , and however reluctant they might feel , it would become , in that case , their duty to call upon the Directors to wind up the affairs of the Company forthwith . "
Similar resolutions have bees adopted at Hull , Edinburgh , Mottram , Worcester , Liverpool , Gcorgio Mills , and Xewcastle-upon-Tyne .
Funeral Of The Queen Dowager. On Thursda...
FUNERAL OF THE QUEEN DOWAGER . On Thursday , the mortal remains of ("> ncen Adelaide were removed from Bentley Priory , Stanmove , . and intered in thc Royal mausoleum in St . George ' s Chapel , Windsor . In accordance with the last desire of that illustrious lady , the funeral proceedings were conducted in a comparatively private manner , for . with the exception of the presence of a strong detachment of the Life Guards , there was nothing beyond tho ordinary display observable at the funeral of a private individual .
Dkatii Of Two Chimjken O.V Uoaud A Steam...
_Dkatii of Two _Chimjken o . v _uoaud a Steamer . —On Saturday a very distressing occurrence took place on boi _> rd the steamer Camilla , while making her passage betwixt Belfast and Glasgow . The night was very _stonny , and a majority of the passengers wero in consequence affected by sea sickness . Among them were two women , who , it subsequently appeared , had been deserted by their husbands , and had been induced to believe that they were in Glasgow . They had immediately resolved upou coming hither in search of thorn . They took a steerage passage for that _purpose , and each brought her child _aloui with her . All parties had been extremely sick , and the mothers were rendered incapable of attending to their charge . When betwixt
Ailsa Craig and the Cumbrae Head , it was discovered that the children were dead . No other cause than severe sickness can be ascribed for this lamentable reiislt .- Glasgow Daily Mail . Accident on the Great Northeiix Railway . —On Monday last the up train from Linclon , due at Boston at 11 . 15 a . m ., had reached the first semaphore from Boston , from which place there is only one line of rail , until the station-yard at Boston is reached , when a luggage train was seen approaching in the opposite direction , which the fog had before prevented the driver seeing . The brakes were instantly applied to the Linclon train , but owing to the slippery state of thc wheels they had very little effect , and in a collision took place .
consequence The engine of the down train caught thc fifth truck , _b-. oketlte _connecting links , and threw the truck off th ° line , and four trucks were smashed to pieces the . splinters flying about in all directions . Luchily no lives were lost . Severui of the passengers we : e more or less bruised by the shock of the collision , Salisbury Prizk Cattle Show , _Die . 11 . —A meeting of this newly-established society was held in our market-place to-day , and attracted a considerable number of visitors . The stock of oxen , heifers , cows , sheep , and pigs exhibited for competition was of first-rate character , and , it being the first exhibition of thc kind held in Salisbury , may be considered largo as to number It augurs well or tlm future .
Fem . ua : Emigiutios . —Plymouth , Dec . 11—Tlio Glontanner , Government emigrant ship , which arrived hero to-day for the purpose of taking out a largo body of Irish female emigrants to Sydney , is to bo docked , having touched her bottom on her way down the lliver Thames . Immediately on her arrival she ran up into harbour . A bailiti' named Driny was murdered on Thursday week , while making a distraint for rent on lauds near Macroom belonging to M . Terrier , of Cork . The Manchester Athenieum was last week offered for sale . A mortgage debt of £ 0 , 000 had been secured upon thc freehold property , paying four per cent , interest , the principle rocoveraWo at a twelvemonths' notice ( which has been given ) . Tho building is stited to have cost £ 18 , 000 hi erection , and is subject to a rent-charge ot £ 310 more than covered ' by tho rent paid by thc Bankruptcy Courts . It was sold for £ 5 , 550 .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 15, 1849, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_15121849/page/1/
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