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Tn THE BLISTERED HANDS, ' THE FUSTIAN JACKETS, AND UNSHORN CHINS.
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jlr Deau Fbikstjs, ^his is the tenth ann...
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THE COLLIERS AND THEIR DETRACTORS. TO TH...
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THE FALL OF T1IREE HOUSES AT OLD BROMPTO...
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M < LS ""' '' houses at 60s. rod of bric...
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- , '* ts "^-SKlfe/. k --' . .-- . -- . ...
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TOL. X. NO. 474- L0ND0N7SATURDAY, "' N0Y...
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mi
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Bethjul Green.—A friend will lecture at ...
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— HBH ¦! LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. ...
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MURDEROUS OUTRAGE AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY ...
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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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Tn The Blistered Hands, ' The Fustian Jackets, And Unshorn Chins.
Tn THE BLISTERED HANDS , ' THE FUSTIAN JACKETS , AND UNSHORN CHINS .
Jlr Deau Fbikstjs, ^His Is The Tenth Ann...
jlr _Deau _Fbikstjs , _^ _his is the tenth anniversary of the " NORTHvpS STAR "—the birthday of the only stamped rnal in Europe , without one solitary exception , _Represents the interests of the LABOURING fI _^ sSES from a sense of justice . I bave , _tlirous _'* Vli attached tbe grea test importance to the value f the newspaper press , from a knowledge of its wer for good or evil , and when 1 -ventured upon r thrh all the \
? hp esp - ment ° _* Drea _^ S oug conventional rules of that most powerful estate , I anticited reward from a successful skirmish with corn ion and venality : hut 1 never calculated upon _ang-creat victory I have achieved , as well over its -apposed omnipotence as over yonr own prejudices _, j m u ; t now remind you of the lime I started an nnen opposition to the present representative system . It was when , after three years' experience , I _discovered the hopelessness and impossibility of hringing _jmr enresentediufluence tobear upon represented power
in _theHonse of Commons . When I saw a national representation of Ireland , sufficiently strong and _powerfrl to w _eij-h down all oppositiou , fade into corruption before the bbghting influence of the worst descrip tion of patronage—a patronage which was so _ufshonon rable to the patron and the patronized , to the g iver and the receiver , that it was accepted and granted upon the condition that tbe Ministerial ally s hould hold a patent for abusing his patrons ; presuming , and very naturally _/ that open support would ra ther damage than serve their cause and tbe result of which has heen a twelve "fears' rule of the most
disgusting fast-and-loose policy , making representation a farce , the constitution a mockery , and the law a snare ; and so enamoured were the people themselves with the juggle , that they received the juggler as a conqueror , feasted him as a friend , ' and hailed him as a patriot , while in Halifax , ; in 1 S 35 , they received me suspiciously , and still , full of thankfulness for reform , asked me "NOT TO
SEPARATE THEM FROM THE WHIGS . " Such was the inauspicious time at which I essayed io collect the heterogeneous elements of wbich public opinion was then composed into one GREAT _NATIONAL MIND ; and let us now consider what the result of my labours bas been . At the time to which I refer , no union whatever , or even sympathy , existed between the Scotch aud fhe English people ; but , on the contrary , upon my first visit to Scotland , I discovered the elements of
antagonism . Lord Durham , Lord Brougham , and Daniel O'Connell , had evidently looked to the calm and calculating mind of Scotland , as a safety-valve against the disappointment created in England by the Reform Bill . Sure of juggling Ireland , they hoped to hem English opinion between an incipient Irish revolution and Scotch calm philosophy . Now , the union between England aud Scotland is as comp lete as hetween Manchester and Ashton ; while I think I may flatter you with the prospect of a not Terv distant union with your Irish brethren .
I have often told you that there are three great stages in a national movement—namely , the creation of public oph 69 , ihe organisation of public opinion , and the direction of public opinion ; and without vanity I think I may say , that the " Northern Star " has done more in nine years towards creating , organising , and directing a sound public opinion , than any or ali the journals that have ever preceded it-I have so recently published a manifesto , referring to the period since the passing of the Reform Bill , that I am spared the labour of recapitulating the several struggles that Chartism has had with its several enemies . But there are some subjects so large , and atthe same time so unheeded by you , of which I have not previously treated , and to which I shall now call your
attention . Itis a veiy difficult task to point ont the triumphs of a movement party struggling for power , their reverses , failures , and defeats , are chronicled as the fun , the ridicule , and the triumph of authority ; and many have been puzzled when asked to point oat the-single good that Chartism had done , while the supposed evils are prominently paraded . Upon the other hand , the two parties struggling for authority may manifest their power in skirmishes where success may he indicative of future triumph , while no such course has been open to us hut , on the contrary , our skirmishes with the enemy have always appeared to he on the defensive , no prospect of good presenting itself even as the reward of success .
This has always been a sore subject with me , because 1 have felt the difficulty of combating this every day observation ; hut now the time is come when you are prepared to receive , what to me appear legitimate indications of the triumph of democracy , and the first to which I shall refer is to what appears to have faded from your memories , —I mean the successful assault that we have made upon society and prejudices by law . Law in all other agnations was a thing only known to the movement party for the vengeance it was sure to inflict . There was seldom , indeed never , any defence for
those charged with p olitical offences—the bar , the highest portion of the bar , was always engaged hy the faction in power , and the press , as its organ , was ever read y and willing to proclaim the law ' s legitimate triumph over its UNDEFENDED YICTLAI Legal ingenuity was employed to magnify the mildest political act into something short of . hig h treason , and the press called the law ' s vengeance its demency ; if a poor man who should be applauded was transported , the law was called humane for not murdering him . Hence we learn the severe and revolting punishment inflicted upon political offenders from 1793 to 1839 , when , for the first tune , by the pence of the poor and my own pounds , we
witnessed the every-day novelty of the flower of the opposition bar combating the tyranny of faction ' s law , and not only defending Chartist prisoners , but actually advocating Chartist principles . So long as the discussion of alow principle could be confiued to low minds , authority felt no dread , but when it found every law court turned into a Chartist meeting-house , with a Judge presiding as Chairman and a bar defending the accused , with an audience , if tot influencing the Jury , at least controlling the Judge , then , the principles became dangerous , because an extended legal license was given to their discussion . The newspapers , though reluctantly , were compelled to give a glimpse of our defence , while the Ilouse of Commons itself exercised a
wholesome censorship over the cruel and unjust judge and the vindictive and partial magistrate . Here , then , was our first , our greatest , onr most remarkable end valuable triumph . We subdued the law , we crushed the law , because authority would not now dare to rely upon legal tyranny as a means of crushing public opinion . It was a novelty to the Judge , to the Jury , to the 'ar , and to the world , to see a mere pauper defended b y the ablest counsel . "Well , then , was not this a great and a glorious triumph ? Was it not a _tfumph to see Feargus O'Connor and fifty-eig ht working men , for eight long days , with six able
_barttaters to defend them , struggling against the law of " _- efaction in power ? Is it not something to rejoice in , to remember , that faction ' s assault upon he poorest man was our summons to tbe legal rescu e ? T . n olden times , Frost , Williams and Jones , and every man connected with the Newport afiair i would have been hung , and the Queen ' s -leniency in having been graciously pleased to remit _* he embowelling and quarterings would have been Pompousl y paraded by blood-thirsty faction . Again , _-sark another triumph . We have been charged as the physical force party , while , if we count heads , there have been many more innocent victims to the moral force principle of Mr . O'Connell than to
Jlr Deau Fbikstjs, ^His Is The Tenth Ann...
fhe physical force principle of Chartism ; but the difference lies here , the ABOMINATIONS of physical force Chartism are paraded to the world , while those of moral force repeal are buried , unhonoured and uuheeded . We clamour , we sorrow , and we complain , if the most insignificant individual of our party is oppressed—while in Ireland , sympathy is only for the hig h . The nest triumph to which I shall refer is , the unacknowledged influence that the " Northern Star" has had upon the press of the empire , from the highest to the lowest—from the " Times" to the " Kelso Chronicle . " Newspapers
now-a-day are not what newspapers were ; and while they will not confess their advance in literature * civilization , and liberality , to be a consequence of the" Northern Star , " they must confess that their progress in improvement is a consequence of the public opinion and mind created by the " Northern Star . " There is not a paper printed in the British dominions , tbat does not now more or less feel itself , and acknowledge itself , to be tributary to public opinion , and the " Northern Star" has created that public opinion . Newspapers are established for various purposes and from various motives , but all tending to an individual result—namely , remuneration to the
proprietors . Some establish a paper from reliance upon a large advertising connection , some to advocate the principles of a knot or faction , some are established bv wealthv communities to advance a remunerating system , some to recommend railways , some to enable the hypochondriac to kill time and destroy ennui , some to aid governments and some to oppose them , some to build up and some to pull down , but all in the hope of remunerating the speculator ; while itis upon record that I made a proposal to the proprietor of the "Leeds Times , " which would have entailed a heavy expense upon me , before I established the "Northern Star ; " and when I did establish it , it was more with the view
to encourage some wealthy individual in the oehef that a democratic paper could live than with the hope of pecuniary recompense , or with a notion that so democratic a paper could hold its ground . In the first view I have not been disappointed , because after all my time and all my exertion , I am a poorer man now than when I established the " Star ; ' * but in the second view I have been agreeably disappointed , because it has nobly held its ground ; although it has stood in imminent and frequent danger from within _[ and without ; from without it has been assailed bv legal persecution
heretofore unknown , or at all events not tolerated since the passing of the Reform Bill , and within by parties that had all but devoured me , presuming tbat the property was theirs , and that I was but an instrument in their hands to gratify their ambition and realize their fortunes . There is this anomaly connected with the" Star , " thatmany have thriven upon my industry , while I have been the only sufferer . When the " Star" was wealthy , realising a profit of nearly _£ 13 , 000 a year , I was poorer than when the profit became less—my purse was open to all—I was tbe milch cow , and , when the udder was dry , those
who had been nourished would have killed the cow . Since tbe establishment of the " Star" I bave been its editor , others taking credit and establishing fame upon my works and their own liberality , by subjecting me to heavy costs and penalties for libels . Since the 17 th of October , 1845 , 1 have written every leader in the "Northern Star , " with perhaps one or two exceptions , and during the time that I have thus managed my own affairs , I have not heard one single complaint . I have no hesitation in telling you that the " Northern Star" has had many struggles , but it has ,
thank God , survived all . Independently oftlie law and my staff , just reflect upon the number of papers that bave been established for the purpose of destroying the " Northern Star , " the number of papers that have tilted against the rock and been smashed in the encounter— " The Charter— the Champion —the Statesman—the Southern Star—the Western Vindicator—the Dundee Chronicle—the Northern Liberator the True Scotsman , " and a whole host of Glasgow pop-guns , have one and all ventured upon the conflict , but perished in tbe encounter .
The next triumph to which I may direct your attention is , that of having secured a fund for the protection of our victims . Tyranny has ever relied more upon the horrible consequences of persecution ofthe innocent than the law ' s satisfaction upon the guilty , and . by this unjust mode of vengeance has the law been enabled to work the destruction of all democratic movements . The starving family of each victim was , as it were , a scarecrow to affright the sensitive female mind , which was sure to result in
its exercise over the husband and father ; and hence it became almost impossible to get up public meetings , lest families should be robbed of their protectors ; until we established a victim fund , and until it came into full operation the burthen of this department fell exclusively upon me , and _. I may say , legitimately upon me , for I have ever held to the principle that what a gentleman makes of a political organ , he is bound to expend to the last farthing in supporting the political movement . However , the effect of a victim fund was to extract auother tooth
from the viper , and to give confidence to Chartist wojien . True , I have a right to complain of the smallness of this national fuud , as well as its plunder by some . Before I enter upon the consideration of general matters , allow me to advert to some particular circumstances cf which you appear to have lost sight . A mere demagogue is compelled to go with tbe rushing stream not of opinion , but of imagination * and our cause has stood more than once in danger from this necessity imposed upon the poor gentleman , of pandering to passion and excitement , while I risked all my popularity upon three several occasions _unresisting the hurricane of unnatural elements .
Firstly , —I denounced and succeeded in stopping the diseussion of physical force principles in the convention , at a time when the IDLE GENTLEMEN , beer-shop keepers , and speculators in enthusiasm , used it as a means of recommending themselves to the excited mind of the country . Secomlly , —I successfully resisted the dangerous , illegal , partial , and unjust ulterior measures of Mr . Lovett and his supporters , which , if carried , would have made us parties to every act of violence committed in the opposition to the payment of rents aud taxes .
Thirdly ,- —At the expense of my popularity , and of even danger to my person , I averted all that suffering and calamity which must have resulted from the observance of the sacred holiday ; a question which the poor gentlemen had lived upon for some time-Fourthly , —Throughout the whole of our agitation I have saved you from all the horrors of secret associations , secret letter writing , and proscription ; which had been carried on to an extent that will appal you , when the time comes for writing the historv of Chartism .
Fifthly , —And what I am almost proudest of is , that I have written a book for labour which is unanswered aud unanswerable ; I mean my OLD ROBIN , or refutation of Chambers' Philosophy , of which I am more vain than of any other act .
Jlr Deau Fbikstjs, ^His Is The Tenth Ann...
Now all those things are a part of your movement _. They were concoctions of weak and cowardly minds , but minds that had a controul of the excited imagination of the day , and , if not resisted , must have proved the ruin of Chartism . I now turn to a consideration of the progress we have made in a social point of view , and the absence of which from all antecedent agitations has been the cause of popular failure . America , with its republic , is . at this moment as much convulsed and excited by the
electioneering frenzy , as England is upon similar occasions ; while , notwithstanding the _protection which a republican form of government is supposed to give , we find the anomaly of class ascendancy and inequality as great in America as in the Austrian States of Italy . We find pauperism frightfully upon the increase , while the government is mortgaging and selling the land , the national property , to sustain a most unjust war of aggression ; and we find moneymongers fattening upon that war , upon traffic in the volunteered blood of landless slaves . Now ,
why is this ? It is because America rose , as a man , to throw off the galling yoke of British tyranny , without having previously agreed upon what was to have been the social result of conquest . And , hence , we find the absence of social reliance yielding to angry contest for party ascendancy . Upon the other hand , see France , with a population of nearly forty millions , more satisfied with the representation of a constituency of two hundred thousand , than England , with a population of thirteen millions , is with a constituency of one million . And why ? Because the French people had prepared themselves with the g reat social result—the possession of the land , before they destroyed . the tyranny that withheld it from them .
Now , working men , herein consists the value , the great value , nay , the only value , of agitation , namely , that when a system which is too oppressive to live under , is denounced and doomed , that the majority of the thinking mind of the country should be tutored and instructed in the value of a system which is proposed as a substitute . The Irish got emancipation , which substituted tyrants of one sect for tyrants of another sect . The English won reform , which in the heat of excitement transferred power from the bands of one faction to the hands of another , but where was your triumph ? And if you had gained the Charter when you had gained the Reform Bill vou would have been as much at
the mercy of your representatives as you are now , and if disappointment had forced you into a physical revolution , you would have been more than ever at the mercy of money and class legislation . Every country loses by the triumph of a mere physical revolution , unless the conquerors , who are always the industrious , are prepared with an instantaneous substitute ; and this brings me to the consideration of your present position . You are prepared with a social substitute so convincing , so endearing , and so certain to bring domestic happiness , that in a very short time , without a blow being struck , the only
alternative of tbe landlord class will be , whether they will allow the industrious to cultivate their estates FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT at a fair rent , at a high rent , nay , AT ANY RENT , or whether they will surrender them without rent . Now , my friends , believe me that tbis is tbe present position of parties . Machinery has displaced man from his natural position , while I "have performed the Herculean labour of attaching the whole national industrious mind to the only substitute that can be relied upon when the present system is destroyed . The science of agriculture was one
wholly foreign to your minds in the prosperity produced by infant manufactures ; was it nothing to have trained tbe whole mind of the country in one thought ; to have so enamoured it with one project , that it is now acting as a monitor to the usurpers of the soil ? The land plan , in itself embracing thousands as it does , is but a bubble , hut the spray of the ocean , while as a question it is becoming the all-absorbing topic . Eleven years ago I told you that if the land was locked up I would not give you three straws for the Charter , and I now tell you that the great triumph of Chartism has been , that in the fire of the national mind I have been enabled
to forge the key which will unlock the land , and I have created a love for it , which tells the landlords that even a physical revolution cannot crush , and will soon convince them that the land doctrines and principles are becoming so _^ powerful and irresistible , that they will have hut the option of surrendering all to a revolution which I could not successfully resist , or of yielding them to the national demand by bringiug them into the retail market . Here then is the great value of our movement—it tells the aristocracy what they are to expect , as the result of longer resistance to the
national demand . It has taken me nine years to instruct the nation in this science . I stood alone , gibbeted for the jeers of the press , the scoff of fools , and the laughing stock of knaves , not a journal in England , or in the world , to sustain me , but , on the contrary , all hired to proclaim me as a madman ; but now , how changed the scene ; even the " Morning Chronicle " sees in my plan the only protection for society and the state , while all are beginning to nibble at it , giving mutilated extracts from my
works and writings , as if the pirates were the originators and pioneers . Well , then , I never could have accomplished this without the " Northern Star . " From 1831 to 1837 I spent a fortune , a large fortune , which I have not recovered from 1837 to 1846 , and yet in the previous period I could effect but little by travelling , and talking , and bribing the press . What I did was local , partial , insignificant , but now it has become _' national and therefore powerful .
We are told "there is nothing new under the sun , " but I contend for it that my Land plan is a novelty , and that the "Star" has been the means of nourishing it into nationah ' ty—the "Star" has brought you together in Labour Conferences ; it has brought England , Ireland , and Scotland together in London , at Birmingham , and Manchester ; it has enabled Patrick O'Higgins to disseminate principles and sentiments which the press of his own country bad not the courage to publish ; it has allowed me the high gratification of associating with working men , and at the same time preserve their respect , as it is my pride to boast that I have never heard an unbecoming , obscene , indecent , or immoral sentence escape a working man ' s lips during the whole time
of my agitation . Well , then , is not this a triumph ? And , however scoffed at by fools , is not mine a position that monarchs may envy ? Is it not worth being poor for ? And should I not righteously boast of poverty while I can turn to the richness of my works ; a patriot should live usefully , frugally , and honestly , and should die a pauper ; but I am not poor , there is great wealth in store for me , for 1 will be abundantly rich when in August next I go from Worcester to Hertfordshire , from the two lips of labour ' s smiling mouth , through the barren estates of feudal lords , that press heavily upon population , and when I reap my reward in the smiling countenance of the happy housewife and the contented peasaut , when I receive more than payment in the
Jlr Deau Fbikstjs, ^His Is The Tenth Ann...
health / ill and cheering- appearance of their little chil ( fren ,, aiid when I am a welcome and honoured guest at every freeman ' s board , and when , like the proud Peruvian , I can look around upon that domestic happiness and say , " THIS , THIS IS MY WORK , " then I shall be rich , then I shall receive a reward which monarchs could not bestow , and the " Northern Star " has done tbis . I remain , Your ever faithful friend , Feargus O'Connor .
The Colliers And Their Detractors. To Th...
THE COLLIERS AND THEIR DETRACTORS . TO THE EDITOR OP THE N _01 _THEBN BIAS . Dear Sir , -- I hope you will do us the justice to insert the inclosed resolution in your next paper , and also give up the name ofthe person styling himself a Chartist collier , who , I can assure you , has been palming upon _f your good nature , and writing the most gross falsehoods respecting our lecturers and other officials for some base purpose . At any rate the seeds of dissension have been sown , and unless
something is done to counteract its growth , you will be , I must say it , and I say it fearlessly , the main cause ofthe evil through your credulity in giving publicity to letters calculated to d _« injury , without making any inquiry as to the facts . Allow me , therefore , again to request you to give up the name of your correspondent , and also publish my solemn asseveration that his letter is one continued tissue of malignant falsehood , and slanderous libels upon the officials and lecturers , which I shall be prepared to prove ns soon as I know with whom I have to deal . As regards the lecturers striving to injure the Northern Star , I bave on a former occasion stated , and I again reiterate the statement— 'tis a base lie .
Yours respectfully , VVm . Gkocott , Secretary to the miners of Lancashire . Copy of lesolutlon passed nem . con . at a meeting of the delegates at Rugby , representing the Lancashire miners , on Monday last , the 16 th of November , 1 _S-16 : — "That this county delegate meeting consider the article inserted in the last number ol the Northern Star to be a cross and wilful libel upon our lecturers and ether officials , and we agree for the officials to answer it if they think proper , as we have the greatest _conlidence in our lecturers and leaders ; nor do we ihank the Editor of the Star or any other person for interfering with the affairs of the
Miners Association , as we consider ourselves fully competent to manage our own business . We also request the Editor of the Star to give up the name ofthe Chartist collier , who is evidently doing all he can to _caus _** disunion in our ranks , and who is manly enough to stab in the dark , but who has not courage to give his name or address . " Signed on behalf of the miners of Lanchashire , " \ Vm . Meadow , General Treasurer ; John Ilall , General Secretary ; Robert Marsh , Edmund Kershaw and Wm . Cheetham , _Executiie Committee ; Wm . Meadowcroft , County _Treisiner ; and Wm . Grocott , County _Secretary . " P . S . —We trust you will do us the justice to insert this as publicly as you did the charge against
us . | We freely ? ive insertion to tlie above , and only wish that the Colliers had evinced a more timely objection to our interference in their concerns ; that is , before we incurred a heavy loss rather than withhold news from them , which was published ONLY IN THE " STA R . " We have received many votes of thanks for our previous interference from those who now command our non-interference , but in reply to this portion of the appeal , we beg to assure the parties that we shall still continue to exercise our judgment , and to criticize without further interference upon their part than the right to reply , which shall be at all times afforded . We havc _^ frequently been requested to publish communications signed
" A Working Miner , & c , & o ., " and it is rather too hard for those who sought anonymous protection for themselves , now to chastise us for according it to others ; it is rather too hard upon the other hand , to saddle upon our credulity a result which but for our interference , may otherwise have occurred . This mode of dealing with the question , very forcibly reminds us of Mr . O'Connell ' s tactics , resorted to , to break up the Re , eal movement , and then _saddling it upon the physical force men . In Mr . Grocott ' s integrity , zeal , and ability , we have the most __ unbounded confidence , and instead of bristling up in a body at our comment , those who have appended their name to the resolution should have borne in mind , that we referred to private slander more than to publie observation , which is justifiable , and that we observed that "one scabby sheep infects a whole
nock . We never doubted , as we stated , the sincerity of the lecturers or the managing body . We said that our comment was to be so read , and therefore we find nothing to apologise for , while at the same time , wo beg most respectfully to decline furnishing the name of our correspondent , which the requisionists themselves would be the first to censure us for ; and they should bear in mind that we stopped a correspondence upon the same subject some months ago , which bore the name of the writer . In conclusion , we beg to assure the requisionists that we have received other letters , not intended for publication , from workingminers , s ! ating their perfect satisfaction at the manner in which the affairs ofthe society have been conducted . Honest and straightforward leeturers and managers stand in no danger from critici _** m , while we would strongly recommend those who have objections to urge to state them openly , instead of SLYLY IN PUBLIC IIOUSES .-En . N . S . ]
The Fall Of T1iree Houses At Old Brompto...
THE FALL OF T 1 IREE HOUSES AT OLD BROMPTON . On Wednesday , Mr . Mills resumed the inquest atthe Hoop and Toy Tavern , Old Brompton-road , on the body of James Casey , whose death was occasioned by tho fall of three houses in course of erection in Alfred-place West ,: Thurlow-square , Old Brampton , on Thursday last . John Collins , labourer , said : I was engaged on Thursday last , with deceased , on a scaffold round some chimneys . We were about to come clown , and had got on the ladder for that purpose , when the whole of the scaffolding gave way , and we were thrown to the ground . I became insen-iblo , and know nothing more until I found myseli _' at home . By the Coroner : Can you assign any reason for the scaffolding giving way ?—Witness ; I cannot ; 1 am sure it was put up securely , as I assisted to do it . Did you ever notice the bricks that were used in the building ?—Witness : I have , and also the mortar . I have seen better , and also worse .
Have you ever heard persons complain of tbe quality of the materials used ?—Witness : Never . There were certainly a great many bats among the bricks . Do you think the houses were run up faster than necessary ?—Witness : No . Mr . Ernest Jones , a barrister ofthe Middle Temple , who said he was instructed to watch the proceedings on behalf ot the friends of the deceased , wished to ask witness what he considered the fair proportion of lime and sand for making mortar?—Witness ; Foiir bushels of sand and one ot lime . What sand do you consider most proper to be used —Witness t Thames sand . What sand was used on this occasion ?—Witness Very good sand . That is not my question . Where did the sand come from ?—Witness : Fr : m Mr . Holmes ' s
brickfield . Do you consider that very good sand ?—Witness : I am no judge . Coroner : Did you make the mortar ?—Witness : Yes Is not bad mortar made sometimes for the sake of cheapness ?—Witness ; I believe it is , When mortar is made up , can a person acquainted with building matters tell by the look if it is good ? —Witness : Yes . Who gave you directions about making the mortar ?—Witness : No one . Were you toid to make it cheaply ?—Witness No . If you had been going to livein the house , __ would you have made any difference in the materials ?—Witness : Yes , I should certr inly . What difference would you have made ?—Witness Well , I can ' t say ,
You said you would make a difference , and you must know what that difference would be . —Witness : I should put an extra half-bushel of lime to every four bushels of _siiid . Mr . E . Jones : Did vou ever make nwtar for Mr . Freeke?—Witness : Yes . Mr . E . Jones : Would you have used different proportions of lime and sand at Mr . Freek's ?—Witness : Peitaps I might . Mr . E . Jones : Would you have put more sand ?—¦ Witness -. No . Mr . E . Jones : Then , how much more lime would you have put I—Witness ; Half a bushel .
The Fall Of T1iree Houses At Old Brompto...
Did you think yon would please Mr . Holmes by putting less lime ?—Witness : No . Then why did you use less lime for Mr . Holmes . than you were always in the habit of using for Mr ' Freek ?—Witness : Don ' t know . Did Mr . Holmes tell you to put less lime?—The Witness , when pressed upon the subject , complained of being weak , and withdrew . The Coroner said he was sorry he sheltered himself under , tbe plea af weakness , as he ( tbe coroner ) was very certain the witness could tell more if he pleased . Thomas Stock well , bricklayer : I was employed by Messrs . Emmens in building the house in Alfredplace . I have examined the materials used , I think they were _quib good enough . I never objected to the bricks or mortar . If I had been building a house for myself , I should have used similar materials . I did not ' see tbe mortar mixed .
Coroner : —What proportions of lime and sand were used ?—Witness : I believe three barrows of sand to one of lime . Mr . E . Jones : Do you _consider the proportions of 4 to 1 would mako good mortar ?—Witness : No ! It would not be good . Coroner : It has been sworn here that there were four barrows to one , instead of , three . Patrick Morra : Was never told * how to mix mortar . ' By Mr . _Jonei : Thinks the proportions he used were four to one .
Mr . E . Jones : Did you ever work on any public works ? --Witness : Yes . On the Great Western Railway . Mr . E . Jones : Did you mix mortar there ?—Witness : Yes . How much more lime did you use in proportion ? —Witn 2 _ss : —Dont ' t know . One bushel . Were you told how to make it by an overlooker ? —Witness : No . The overlooker sometimes came , but it was left to me . Did you always , while there , make it in the same proportions ?—Witness : —Yes . Were you long employed on the Great Western ? —Witness : Yes . Is it usual for a workman , using his own discretion , who has made mortar in one way during a long period , to make it differently afterwards without a reason ?—Witness : No .
As you had been so long in the habit of using one barrow of lime to three of the sand on the Great Western , why did you use one barrow of sand more at Mr . Holmes ' s ?—Don't know . Did you think that you would please your employers by so doing ?—Witness : No . A juror : Did you ever complain of the houses being run up too fr . st ?—Witness : No . It was very wet at first , but still I think sufficient time was allowed . Coroner : How do you account for the accident ? : —Witness : I cannot foi oi an opinion . The scaffolding was built in an ordinary way . I consider the chimneys were qi , ; . te safe . There were eleven _labourer engaged on the work . By a Juror ; You have worked at a number of br _** 'dings ; have you ever seen tie-bonds?—Witness : I have , ana had them on tbis occasion . There were iron ones ? lso , which were bound over .
Juror ; Do you think they arc as sale as the old system?—Witness : Cmtainlynot . Coroner : Do you suppose the want of wood in tbe _wal _' s cnused the fall ? — Witness : I cannot say that ; but I think they ought to allow us to use more _wcocl . Coroner : Did Mr . Blore ever order you to take down any pai _» of the wall ?—Witness : Yes ; and it was taken down and rebuilt . Coroner : Did you ever sea Mr . Donaldson , the distiictsurveyor , atthe works giving directions?—Witness : I have seen him there , but he never * gave me any directiors . He inspected the houses , but never made any complaint .
Mr . E . Jones : Mr . Donaldson stated on tbe previous investigation that he did fomplain . Thomas Standing , a _r-trpenter , residing at King's-Ilead Row . Old Brompton , said : I . va < - in . the third house on Thursday evening . I was in the kitchen atthe time . I made my escapees fast as possible , and had scarcely got out of the house before it fell . Coroner : What , in your opinion , caused the accident?— Witness : I consider inconsequence of the wet weather that prevailed when tiiey -were commenced , that they had _taen'run up too . quick . The underwork had not sufficiently set to boar-ihe weight of the upper-pait . Mr . E . Jones . How long do you . consider . the houses ought to have taken building ?• Witness two months . How long did they - "ike ? Witness _i Five weeks .
Coroner : Do you suppose the chimneys were too heavy , and by their fall : is the rest of the buildings were forced down _?—Witness : No ,. I think the narty wall bulged in * he middle , about the second floor ; the scaffolding was a sufficient support to prevent the chimneys from toppling . Do yon consider that there is any deficiency in the bonds used _?—Witness : I do . We are not allowed to put wood in the party walls , and iron will not stand so well as wood . This is my own as well as tho _^ opinion of every person with whom 1 have ever worked . Do yo think bo nd timber would have been more secure ?—Witness : Most decidedly .
The Coroner here stated , that , as sufficient evidence appeared to have been gone into , the Jury would _bs prepared to consider their verdict , but was intet .. upted hy the announcement that another witness was ready to 13 examined . Who is he ? _Paiish Olliur : —A bricklayer ' s labourer . Coroner : We need not hear him ; we have heard sufficient evidence from them . Mr . E . Jones : I should wish a competent sui veyor to be appointed to examine tho fallen buildings , aud to pass his opinion on tbe materials used . Coroner : 1 cannot consent t _> that ; I think the materials may have deteriorated by the fall , and that would be unfair evidence . Mr . E . Jones : The quality ofthe mortar used could be ascertained .
The Coionor still objected , and was about to call upon the Jury to consider their verdict , when , amidst much confusion in the body of the hall Mr . Jones insisted upon being permitted to ask a few questions of Mr . Blore , the landlord ' s surveyor . Coroner : What is the nature of the questions you would ask ? Mr . E . Jones : Relative to the nature of the materials . Mr . Blore : I think the mortar was not good , There ought to have been more lime . Mr . E . Jones : What is your opinion of the sand used I—Witness : I think it was bail sand . 1 told them not to use it , but I cannot be answerable foi what is done behind my back . What proportion of lime and sand is necessary foi making good mortar ?—Witness : 3 to 1 .
Were those proportions used in this instance ?—Witness : No ! I fear there was not so much lime . Mr . _Uolmes ' ssolicitor here asked Mr . Blore wlr thcr Mi * . Holmes ' s hou * gs were not as good as M .. Richardson ' s . Mr . Ernest Jones objected to this question being put . The question was not whose houses were the best , but by whose fault a poor working man met his death . The Coroner : Certainly , the question cannot be entertained . Mr . E . Jones : Did you approve of the bricks used ?—Witness : The bricks used were not good uniAuh for town houses . I objected repeatedly to Mr . Chnpplo and to the foieman about their use , and Mr . Holmes assured me they should not be used . They wero used notwithstanding ! Too many bats were used . Bats were used in the footlings .
Coroner : What do you consider was thonimediate cause of the houses falling ?•—Witness : The rapidity with which they were run up—the men running up the ladder , which was three stories high must have produced oscillation , which caused tbem to topple over . There cannot be anything gained in working up a wall more than i or 5 feet at a time as tho first part will shrink , causing a crack , which will become more evident as the work proceeds . Nothing can justify the work being raised higher in any particular part than one scaffold , and where it comes down the workmen are certainly answerable for all . the evils which result from such palpable oversight . Coroner : Have you the power to compel the buildings to be erected according to your order , or stop the works ?—Witness : No : I cannot stop the works _. but 1 can withhold the certificate for the lease .
Coroner : Mr . Donaldson has tho power by the act of Parliament to see that the materials are good , ov stop tho works , has he not ? Witness : If he objected he should give the builder notice , and he would have to take them down , and there is a penalty upon the builder for not complying with tho provisions of the act . Mr . Ernest Jones here requested the Coroner to order Mr . Holmes to produce hia agreement with Messrs . Emmens . The Coroner . objected , amidst a general outcry from the jurors , among whom wore several builders , against its production , Mr . E , Jones ; It is an important point in the evidence .
Coroner : I do not see what it has to do with it . Mr . E . Jones : I understand that Mr . _llolmoa agreed with Mrt Eminem" for tho building of tho
The Fall Of T1iree Houses At Old Brompto...
houses at 60 s . per rod of brickwork , he finding the bricks . 1 am prepared to shew , that , at the lowest _computation the- _' cost of lime , sand , ' and labour , and erection of scaffolding , would come to far ? more than _flOs . per rod , if fair materials were used . . Ihe Coroner , amid much confusion ; stated that he could not consent to the production of the agreement , or enter into further evidence . Mr . Jones here rose to offer a few observations , bufc was prevented by the Coroner . houses at 60 s . ner rod of _rirl _^ kwm ir 1 >« n ' mli ' _iur th «
aI _^ r < J ? m _^ aa then cleared ' of strangers , and after ; deliberating for nearly two hours , the Jury returned the following _speeiai Terdict - •« That the deceased ¦ man was killed by the falling of certain houses in Alfred-place West .. Old Brompton , and that tbe . houses so fell because they were not securely built . And in returning this verdiot the Jury express their conviction ( founded upon the evidence produced befoie them ) , that the said houses were built-more rapidly than they ought to have been , consideringthe dampness of the weather , the height of the houses / and the directions _ofi the Act of Parliament , which compclle I ihe builder to construct the party-wall
without ' noiul Limbers . At the same time , the Jury hope , time next year the erection of party-walls , with and without bond timbers , will be made a subject for leg slativc investigation , through the evidence of practical working outklers , carpenters , and bricklayers-, wjth a view to easnre safer medes of erecting places chit fly constructed of bricks . The Jury , moreover , cannot separate without stating their co : t ~ yictiou . ihat the more effectual revision of the work in all Sis divisions wa 3 not exercised by the persons having authority over it all the time when the houses n question were being built . "—The in quiry lasted everal hours , and excited great interest .
M < Ls ""' '' Houses At 60s. Rod Of Bric...
~ - - — _^_ * - •' -v-. —~ - ~ ' - " i _^ to , . _M _^^^ _<^^^ y _& L & S £ _ZJ \„ "" ' '' " _^ _-SKlfe / _. k -: ' ' ¦ ¦ - ¦ '
- , '* Ts "^-Sklfe/. K --' . .-- . -- . ...
-- ' . _.-- . _-- . _-Vy _" . _" ' - " "V .: ' " . ' . AM ) NATIONAL TM | # _JJUMAL .
Tol. X. No. 474- L0nd0n7saturday, "' N0y...
_TOL . X . NO . 474- L 0 ND 0 N 7 SATURDAY , "' N 0 YEMBER _gl , 1846 . _^ SS _jSSSSL _^
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Bethjul Green.—A Friend Will Lecture At ...
_Bethjul Green . —A friend will lecture at the Whittington and Cat , Church Row , on Sunday evening , November the 22 nd , at eight o ' clock . Subject—The Land and Commerce ; their relative-capabilities of producing independence . —On Tuesday evening , a special meeting of the Land branch will be held at 8 o ' clock . City or _Lor-no ** :. —A . special general meeting wil be held in the hall , Turnagain Lane , on Sunday evening , Nov . 22 at 6 o ' clock . Tower Hamlets . —Dr . M'Douall will lecture . Subject * . — " The Chorter and the Lrnd , " at the Piwter Platter , White Lion-street , Norton Folgate , on Tuesday evening , November 21 th at eight o ' clock preoisely .
Metropolitan Cojehttee . —Tbis body will hold its ' next _meeting at S 3 , Dean-street , Soho , on Tuesday evening next , November 24 th , at eight o ' clock precisely . The Patriots ' . Victims ' , Widows' ; and Orphan ' s Relief Committee will also meet at the same place and same hour , for the transaction of important business . _Maryleboni- _WoRttJxo Man ' s Hall . —A general meeting of shareholders will be held at the Coach Painter ' s Arms , Circus street , on Sunday evening nes . , November 22 nd , at seven o ' clock precisely . _Cuartist Assembly , and Reading Rooms , 83 ) Dean street , Soho . —On Saturday evening next , November the 21 st , and two succeeding Saturday evenings , at
half-past eight o ' clock precisely , a grand harmonic meeting will be held under the direction of the " White-horn Family , " admission threepence each . On Sunday evening next , November the 22 nd , at half-past seven , Mr „ John Sewell will lecture . —On Monday evening next , November the 23 rd , a plain dress ball will be held under the direction of _Messsia . Whitmore and Buckley , to commence at half-pa _? t _eijjhc precisely—and on Tuesday evening , DecemI ; r the 8 th , a dramatic benefit in aid ofthe fund * ,, under the patronage of T . S . Duncombe , M . P ., wil' be held at the Royal Marylebone Theatre . Tickets to be obtained at all places of meeting of the Onanist trades , or Land Company ' s bjdies , throughout the metropolis .
City Locality . — On Sunday morning next , the rend in if Soeiety will meet and discussseveral articles from Cobbett ' s Cottage Companion , t : i commence at eleven o ' clock . On Sunday evening at sis o'clock , the National Charter Association will meet , when every member ia requested to _attend , the meetings will take "dace in the coffee-room . Mr .. Ernest Jones' lectures will not take place until further notice in consequdnce of various alterations in the hall . Shokeditch .. —A lecture will be delivered next Tuesday evening , at 122 , Brick-lane , _Railway Engine Coffee Ilouse , By J . 11 . Shepherd Subject : " The Land ; " to commence at sis o ' clock . _Allex _Davem-out . —A Ball for the benefit of Mr . Davenport will take place next Monday evening , November 23 rd . at the Hall of Science , Sitv-road .
Dr . P . M . M'Douall will lecture- on Tuesday evening next , _November the 24 th , at the Hell « f Zcthus , Old Pewter Platter Tavern , White Linn * street , Norton Folgate , to _commenceafcei-jht o ' clock . Subject— " The Charter and the Land . " South . London Chartist Hall— -Dr . M'Douall will lecture here next Sunday evening , at _eiulifc o ' clock . Subject— "Existing scarcity , causes , and remedy . '" _Lectuues os SnAKESPKARE at . -isjie Assemblyrooms S _& , Dean-street , on Tuesday , evenim _: next . November the 24 th .. Mr . C . Westertun , of the Golden-square Institute , will deliver a lecture on Richard III ., to commence at eight o ' clock precisely ... Mr- Samuel _Kyod will lecture at the Chartist Assembly Room , Dean-street , _t-n . Sunday evening , the 32 nd of November . _Subject—**' To whom does property belong , and who possess it . "
Tub Veteraxs , Orphans , _axu . Victims Committee will meet at the office , S 3 , Dean-street , Soho , on Tuesday evening next , at eight o ' clock . Boltos . —The Chartists at Bollou inform their friends , that they have taken a large meeting room in Market Street , entrance at the Commercial Inn _JTard . Open every Sunday from 10 o ' _clesk in the forenoon until 9 at _niaht . On Monday evening from half-past seven o'clock to 10 >; . also on Tkursi ' _uy and Saturday evenings . All _lettsi-- * for the Chartists of Bolton must be directed to Wilijam Woodhead Pickvance , IS , Duncan Street , Bo ton .
Stau * Bridge . —A _publis meeting of the Power Loom weavers will be lie held in their meeting room , No . 55 King Street , on Tuesday the 24 tn of Nov .
— Hbh ¦! London And Birmingham Railway. ...
— _HBH ¦! LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY . — MIRACULOUS AND PROVIDENTIAL ESCAPE . On Sunday night last , tho passengers by the mail train to Manchester had a most miraculous and providential escape—that train leaves Euston-iquaivat a quarter to nine o ' clock , and is followed by the Leeds and York which leaves Kuslon square at uine , or lil ' teen minutes alter the Manchester train , bo-h . trains stopping at Watford .- On Sunday night , however , the Leeds train passed the Wat lord station ac the rate of lorty miles an hour , iu twelve minutes after the . Manchester train had _lofo and continuing its speed until it arrived at Tring , fourteen miles from Watford , and just two minutes alter the Manchester train had left , when it was discovered that the
engine was on fire , and that the stoker and eimine men were in a state of beastly intoxication . Tlie consequence was that the _passenuGiy for Watford were compelled to romain at Trim ; I ' or the nkht—Ihe engine _sustained damage to the amount of £ 100 . and the train was _dctaiiiPtl two and-a-hiilf hours beyond its usual hour for _arriving . Upon the arrival of tho train at Tring , the sinker and _enuincmoii wero lc _ijicd in gaol , but we have heard nothing more of a mishap which might have been the cause of fri _.- _'li _* - ful loss of life , as no one can contemplate the amount ol injury if the Leeds had run into ( ho lManeiii'stei train . Woe tn Mi * . Hudson , orto the Great . Western , if such an accident happened upon their lines .
Murderous Outrage And Attempted Robbery ...
MURDEROUS OUTRAGE AND ATTEMPTED ROBBERY NEAR PRESTON . Preston , Wednesday , N , v . IS . Last night , one of tbe most cl : u * inir outrages which ever occurred in this _neighbourhood , took place at Broughton , about three miles . from this town , at t ! e residence of W . Miller , K * _"q . surveyor and hind steward . Mr . Miller ' s house is at some distance from any other residence . About six o ' clock in the evening , Mr . Miller _iiiitl his daughter _beini : in _tlieliou _** e , and no other neisou there but a female servant , a smart knock was given at . the frontdoor , on which Mr . Miller observed , " ' It is some gentlemen from Preston , who wishes to see me on business . " Tho door was opened by Miss Miller , when six men , armed with pistols , made a rush into the
house , two of them subsequently retreating lack , and remaining in front of tho house . Miss Miller _, terrified by the villians , cried out '' Thieves , thieves , " making at . the same time a rush _towa'i . s the lawn in front of the house , when one of the men outside shouted out " Grab her . " Atthe same moment a , pistol was fired at her , whieh was immediately followed by the firing of another . Mi * _-s Miller than ran to the house of a neighboui screaming out , Murder . " In the meantime the villains had gained full access to the house , _iiiutonc of them , presenting a pistol at Mr . Miller , _smid , "We want your money . " Mr . Miller told ih « n he had none ; upon which the men said , "We know you have . " Mr , Miller again denied bavins ; ""iy * **»' _eMad to the servantwhom the robbers had forced into an
, adjoining room , to ring the bell .. The bell alluded to is as an alarm bell , situated at the top ot tho house , from whieh I hews is a _eommuciiU'uii with the room into which , fortunately , the robbers had forced , tho attendant ,. At her master ' s call , the servant commenced ringing _Oio bell , on which the men looked one at nnothw in amazement , and then ran uvav Krom the cool determina tion evinced by tho . " whole eamr , _thwo can bo little doubt that the lives of the whole _fomily would have been sneriheed , had it not been for the escape of _kxw Ml lor uiul _tllB _ir-noin- of the alarm bell . It is said that Mr . Mirier " had a few days previously , . been receiving I certain rents , nnd the . presumption is , that the _dg- » linnuents w ere aware of flint lacL
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 21, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_21111846/page/1/
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