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Northern Star (1837-1852), 12th May 1838, Edition 1 of 3, Page 4, TO READERS & CORRESPONDENTS

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      Untitled Article

      BLACK AND ^ WfilTE SLAVERY . From the raprSy pr ogressive move which the middle classes are making in the Negro question , ire we induced to test their sincerity hy their domestic conduct The white slave asks for his political rights in older to protect himself ; " bat is met hy the emancip ator with a taunt of ignorance , which -onfit » iiin > for the exercise of that , to which knowledg e alone can entitle him . "While he thus asks -the « ppressed at home to join in giving freedom to fiie not more oppressed abroad , he seems dissatisfied

      ¦ wi th the tardiness of the progressive improvement , and approaching emancipation of the hlack ; while at home he -would allow all to stand still , till his standard of knowledge has prepared the public mind for even the slightest change . "We have no objection to a nop-step-and-a-jump for the hlaek slave ; "but "we have a decided objection to the backward march of the irhite slaves , while his aid is courted in Jniiberance of the cause of liberty . The voice of one

      slave in support of the rights of another slave is feeble and unconvincing ; whereas the voice of the free white man would soon confer the fullest measure of liberty upon his sable brother . The public will at one glance see through the farce . In this country , but more especially in Ireland , the public mind in the presentbalanced state of parties must he amused , and there the strolling government have one section ¦ of them got up the anti-slavery cry , ' while Lord Johs and the remainder of the partv gather unto

      themselves the monied support by tntir opposition . But let us mark the consistency of these jugglers , and see whether their discord be not got up" for the purpose of quelling the people , and of producing a general concord . Lord John says " the Heform Bill must he considered final . " The strollers shoulder their scenery , get up exhibitions , denounce Lord John ; but yet support his Government " against ike Tories . " That's all . Lord John declares against " tie Ballot . " The jugglers get up another farce ; execrate Lord Joirx , hut support his

      government " against the Tories . " Lord John will not emancipate the Negroes . Away start the strollers once more ; but pack , to the lash of the Tirhipper-in , to support Lord Johk and his government " against the Tories . '" Thus do we iind for the first time in the history of this , or anv other eountry , a party diametrically opposed to a minister , and yet supporting his government , le . - ? t they should lose the reward of their corruption . "What boots it to us whether " vVhigs or Tories are in ofBce , if having made up our miuds to the

      attainment of a certain object , both parties are equally opposed to its accomplishment ? Xnowledce , thev say , we want ; while we declare that it is our knowledge they dread . In advocating < he abolition of . flogging in the army , a number of members who ojppose Universal Suffrage argue thus . " Substitute reward for punishment , and you make the military service honourable ; you at once do awav ¦ with the necessity of flogging . " By a parity o reasoning , then we say , give us the inducement to exercise our knowledge , and all complaint of

      ignorance will speedily vanish . Give tht people the vote , and they will have an inducemecuto instruct themselves in its value and its application . But they well knowthat ignorance is the tyrant ' s best guarantee of power . "We knowthat it is out knowledge and not our ignorance which they dread . The vote is withheld , because ( say the economists ) the people have not sufficient knowledge to guide them in the exercise of it . Let us illustrate the argument bv a short anecdote . One JiiniY Leahy hired , as a man of all work , with one Major C . The major was a great miser . Jin left his service , and went 10 live ¦ with a country gentleman , a hospitable soul , and a

      spendthrift . Upon one occaaon the major dined with Jim ' s master , and , upon observing his old friend in gorgeous livery , he exclaimed , ' "What ' does Jim live with you ? " "Yes , " was the answer "did he live with ) ou ? " "Ye- ;/ " " "Whv ¦ did yon part wfth him ? '' u Ob , pon my honour , I had no reason , except that he could never pat two dishes decently upon the table . " To which J . r > i , who was present , ( scratching his head , ) replied , By dad , then , for a very good reason , for you never tried me at all ; you never had but one ! " Now , let the factions take a moral from the story , and first try whether we would mate a proper use of the vote , "before thev taunt us with imorance . Give to men

      an inducement to improve themselves , and they are -untiring in their studies ; but withhold the inducement , and ignorance is bliss . How variously those well-informed persons see cause and effect ] It is not many days since Sir H . Vivian rose , in the "House of Commons , to move the Ordnance Estimates , giving the recent appointment , and consequent ignorance , of the proper officer as a reason for the dnty devolving upon him ( Sir . ' H . T . ) Xow "feere was ignorance apologised for , -while the possession of a situation was held to be a sufficient inducement for the attainment of the necessary information . The difference between the Ordnance

      Clerk zi a ft voter under Universal Suffrage is this the clerk was ignorant before he eot the office , for which the Government is highly reprehensible , whereas the voter is falsely charged with ignorance , "because he would know how to make a proper use of his right ; but it would not be nsed for the promotion of a fool , in the hope that he may sometime "become capable of discharging the duties " of the office 5 but , whether or no , that the emolument of ffi . ee may insure his vote to his party . The Suffrage is withheld , therefore , lest the knowledge of the people should prevent the appointment of ignorant Ixwibies to important situations .

      Untitled Article

      FACTORY LEGISLATION . - The Government have not ventured to bring their new Factory Bill to the trial , acc-ording to their promise . Lord Johk Hcssell announced , on Friday evening , in answer to a question from Lord Ashley , that it would not be proceeded with so early as Monday , and that it was intended to keep to the education clauses of the present Act So far , then , the bold front of the Factory "Workers lias had its effect . "We imagine that if the Operatives do but continue to manifest their strength and unison a little longer , by large and numerous meetings , and strong but respectful remonstrances , we shall near

      no more of the Bill at all . Let not our friends , however , slacken in their exertions . Let them remember the enemy is in the f eld . The "Bit of a Parliament" is probably even now sitting ; and if the slightest slackness , on the part of the Factory Workers and the friends of humanity , be observed , they will not fail to seize the luck y moment for doing mischief , which would be much better and more easily prevented than remedied . Let the Short Time Committees , and all other real friends of the Factory child , keep still on the alert , and let their enemies perceive that they are not to be thrown off their guard .

      Untitled Article

      DEBATE" ON THE THIRD BEADING OF THE IRISH POOR LAW BILX .

      TO THE EDITORS OF THE NORTHERS STAR . - - ¦ ' ... London , May 9 tn , 1838 . . fiEXTi / E ^ EN ' , —The " debate" ( as the newspaper * call it ) was in every respect worthy of the . debaters ^ and ofthe Bill itself . If tne . Daanesa of the House was to spout contradictory stuff and npn-• ense ' into our mjnd ' seye ; and at the ' same time to enwrap the question itself in a dense fog , -so as to interpose ' arHouble barrier between our vision and

      Untitled Article

      ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ w—^^^^^^^^^^^^ M ^ v oh ^•»———^ ^ —^ the merits of the subject , it could not have more effectually hit its object than by the " debate" in question . I defy Old Nick himself to mak ^ heid or tail of it . For ignorance , stolidity , blundering misstatements , staring contradictions , and palpable falsehoods—contempt of common sense and plain reason , and still greater contempt of common honesty and common decency , —not to say . anything of charity or humanity ; for these and the like characteristics , it would be vain to look for the match of this debate in the proceedings of any other

      Legislative assembly in the world . It is impossible to peruse it without feeling deeply mortified at the contempt it manifests ( in every part of it ) for public opinion and for the understandings of the poor . Under no absolnte monarchy in Europe or Asia , ceuld such an exhibition have taken place . The most arbitrary autocrat or despot finds it necessary to assume the appearances of honesty and plain dealing towards the parties whose allegiance he counts upon . u It is not necessary ( says Machiayex ) that a ruler should be an honest man , but he ought and must take great care to appear such . " This

      care is rarely neglected by tyrants . The most arbitrary Sovereigns are obliged to appear honest , in order to be able to act dishonestly with impunity . But let any man of common reason peruse the " delate" in question , and then say whether our House of Commons does not deem itself omnipotent enough to dispense with the appearances of honesty as well as with honesty itself . In other words , let him , after perusing the debate , confess , what in justice he must needs confess—that in England our rulers have brought despotism to such perfection , that they no longer need to disguise it .

      To make this evident let us briefly advert to what transpired on the occasion . The speakers in opposition to the bill were Sir "W . Brabazon , Sir F . Trench , Lord Castlereagh , ( ominous name !) Mr . Dakiel O'Cokkell , Mr . M . J . O'Con-¦ kell , SirE . Hates , Mr . Cobby , Col . Conolw , Col . Terxer , Sir G . Sugden , and Mr . Shiel . The speakers , in favour of the bill , were Lord Morpeth , Lord Powerscotjrt , Mr . Young , Mr . Pellew , Mr . "W . Roche , Lord Clements , Lord Stanley , and Mr . Poulett Thomson .

      Most of the former list of speakers opposed the bill on the ground that it went too far !— that is to say , that it promised to give too much relief !!! Sir "W . Brabazok and SirF . Tbench for instance , had no objection to provide relief for " extreme cases of old age and sichicss , and those other infirmities which disqualify persons from earning a livelihood for themselves , —but such a sweeping measure as the present , would steep Ireland still deeper in poverty and destitution . " Mr . Corry

      " did not consider the measure sufficiently circumscribed . " It promised to relieve too i ? iany ! ! Sir E . Hayes "had an insuperable objection to the amended bill on account-vf tike clauses to prevent vagrancy and mendicancy having been struck out . " The bill would in consequence impost " an unbearable burden upon the land . " Thus , the grand objection from Hayes was the ouly redeeming feature in the measure 1 Mr . Shiel said that be represented the middle classes of a great agricultural district , and that the feeling of his

      constituents was unanimous against any and every Poor Law till the Tithe question was settled ; he wished therefore , for delay . Lord Castlereagh , and Colonels Conolly and Vernos deprecated the bill , as tending to " the confiscation of properly , " and to saddle the land with charges it could not bear . The remaining opponents viewed the matter in the same li ght . All agreed that the land was already overburdened , —that it could bear no additional charges—that the bill would take away the means of employing the people from the farmers

      and gentry , —that it " would pqralyze Ireland ' s resources , " ( Mr . M . J . CTConnell ' s phrase , ) and that " it icould greatly add to the spread of idleness a ? id destitution . To prove the unanimity of public opinion against it , in Ireland , it was shown or rathpr n *« er ; pH , that both tho Prot < Mtax ^ and Dissenter were all united in opposition to it . In a word the Irish Members , both orange * nd green anticipated nothing but mischief , turmoil and augmented misery , and all this , mind , —because the bill promised or proposed to do too much for the Poor !

      But the beauty of the thing is , that whilst all these fellows repudiated the measure as-too sweeping—as threatening to take too much from the rich , ( to be given to the poor , ) they were equally unanimous in condemning it , on the ground that it would afferd no adequate relief at all ! They were all against the Bill , but they were all in favour of Poor Laws I "What they wanted ¦ was time , in order " to mature a sound and discreet measure . " But not a man of them would give an idea of what he meant by soundness . AU # bu could infer was that the

      degree of soundness would be estimated by the smallness of the burden to he put in the law , that is to say , on the landlords . The Ministerial Bill was a had one , because it threatened to give the poor some sort of insipient claim to a share of the land ' s produce ; butthe measure wanted was a " sound and discreet one " which would relieve the poor in some mysterious manner that would not interfere with landlords' rents or farmers' profits . " To lake nothing from the rich and give it to the poor , " was , according to Hazlitt , the drift of all modern schemes of reformation in his ( Hazlitt ' s ) time

      What would Hazlitt say if he had heard the debate on the Irish Poor Law Bill ? What would he have thought of men who , professing to be all anxious for " a sound and well-di gested measure of relief , commensurate with the distress to be remedied , " would , at the same time , oppose the only measure of relief that has ever been proposed ; and this , on the ground that it proposed to do too much for the poor when the faci is notorious that it would not relieve one in twenty of the destitute population Terily , Machiavel would not own these bunglers for disciples , seeing that they are as deficient in the appearance of honesty as in honestv itself .

      But what part did King Dan play cm the occasion ? Ah ! it would be a nice point to determine that . The Devil himself could not decide whether Das was for the poor or against them , if he had only his speech to go by . But any one might see , with half an eye , that Dam was working strenuously for himself . He praised the Government-he praised the landlords—hepraised the Catholic priests—he praised

      ( wiUitbe believed ?) thsProtestantparsuu-YtB ^ the Dissenters , he praised the middle classes of Ireland generally , for their "boundless charity to the Poor , —he pjaised the Irish labourers for their filial and parental .-virtues , their religions and spiritual feelings , bat above all for their wonderful industry and lore of independence , that lore of independence inducing them , as he said , to travel from

      CunnemaratoJLeat , ( 700 Tnites , ) inqnest of employment ; and to crown the whole ,, ie praised the beggars and vagrants of Ireland , *> r the devout resignation with which-they hose 6 » eir , ufchappy fat Is fact , all parties recdred akinrl word from Dah , who , ona this occasion , sesmwL" to lite Varied all

      his antipathies in the tide of universal charity , and to see hut one object in the world deserving of censure , namely , ti « Ministerial Poor Law Bill for Ireland . This Bill did sot , in his «* ht , pfiBess one redeeming virtue . He attacked it BBCd | r , poli tically , and statisticall y . MoffJly by-jtflhuing that it would sever all tie ties w 2 oc | t Tqjfr * rich and poor , and dry up the charities of thecuaalw : —

      Untitled Article

      ¦—^^ M^^— ¦ ¦ -- " — — — ¦ politicall y , ; "b y declaring that it wboM Excite a fcf * mentTsfi over Ireland , which would drive the people to agitate "Repeal" again : and statistically ) by' ¦ presenting an arithmeticalSynopsiKofIreland ' 8 resources which he contended were inadequate to hear such an additional burden a » the Bill would impose on her . But let us see if we can make head or tail of Dan ' s Statistics . According to the learned Statistician , Ireland has J" 5 , 000 more agricultural labourers than England , the numbers being I 131 , 7 l 6 in Ireland ,

      1 , 055 , 982 , ( not very accurate , by the way , ) and if it were not for the want of Capital to purchase proper manure for the land and to cultivate it well , the land in Ireland , would produce four times as touch as that of England . "—Yet despite of these advantages in favour of Ireland , the average annual value of the agricultural produce of England , was £ 150 , 000 , 000 , whilst that of Ireland was only £ 36 , 000 , 000 , being more than four to one in favour of England . Again , the gross rental of Ireland was estimated at £ lQ , OOO , OOd , that is to say , between

      a third and a fourth of the value of her entire agricultural produce . Now , assuming Dan ' s Statistics to be correct , what are the legitimate inferences ? "Wh y , of course , that the agricultural labourers of Ireland , are not kalf employed in the land ; and why are they not employed ? Because says O'Connell there is no Capital to employ them . But how the plague can there b « capital to employ them , if they be not allowed to produce the capital P And if , of the capital they do produce , there be , upon his own showing , ten parts out of thirty-six absorbed

      annually by the landlords , who are not one in one thousand ofthe population ? The landlord he knows right well , are not producers , and but rarely employers ; consequently no additional capital cap . come from them . Is it right then that these fellows should get nearly a third of the entire produce , whilst the producers are left to scramble for what the farmers and profit-mongers choose to leave them out of the other two thirds ? If , as O'Connell says , the produce of England be four times greater than that of Ireland , and if Ireland , when pr . / perly cultivated , yield four times as much as England , it follows that

      the produce of Ireland could be multi plied sixteen fold , or made sixteen times greater than it is now . But how can the labourers make it yield this increase , if the landlords will neither give them lands to cultivate for themselves , nor give the farmers the means of employing them on the farmers' land ? In other words , if rente and profits in Ireland were so large a proportion to the annual produce that the portion reserved for wages is insufficient to maintain the producers during the process of reproduction , how can the soil be properly cultivated , and how can real capital accumulate in the country ? But O'Connell and his " tail" talk as if the landlords were the

      producers , and as if all the burden fell upo'i them . They always assume that the landlords support the producers , instead of the producers supporting the landlords . " The land , " say they , " cannot bear any additional produce , &c . " "Wh y , the vagabonds ! they and the usurers are the only burden the land has to hear , for while they consume more than half of the annual capital , they replace none of what ttiey consume or destroy . Hear what Mr . Powlett Thomson says—no great friend of the labourers , by the way .

      " He had himself witnessed in a town in Ireland misr » ry to an extent he believed altogether unequalled in any countryhuman beings living in miserable hovels , for whicu . they paid a rent of 30 s . or so , without a bed even of straw to lie upun ; and yet the proprietor of the estate derived an income troni it of about _* 20 , 000 a year . Well , did he contribute to the charitable institutions of the town ? Did he do what even the meanest peasant in the country was in the habit of doing —give , a bit and a » up to his furnishing neig-ibonr ? -No such thing . He ( Mr . Th-unison ) could find but one solitary instance in which the owners of that large estate had contributed to that institution . ( Hear , hear . ) Housf s of Industry and other charitable institutions , therefore , were ineffectual and insufficient to relieve the distress which prevailed , owing to the absence of any compulsory ' law . "

      Here is the real cause of poverty in Ireland . But what says O'Connell ? " Rents , wages , and profits " he says are the source of capital . If you impose additional burdens on the landholders and farmers , you take away the means of employing labourers , and consequently diminish wages , as well as " Tents and profits . " What trash this is ! No ! O'Connell . Rents , wages , and capital are not the source of capital , but labour is the source of capital , and capital is the source of r

      away , or otherwise the former parties could not exist at all . The interests of society do therefore clearly require that the portion of capital called wages should he partly augmented b y deduction made from rents and profits . The former is productive capital , the latter is not . The consumers of wages are always adding to the aggregate capital of a country , the consumer of rents and profits are always subtracting from it . To subtract from the two latter in order to add to the former , is therefore not ( as O'Connell and Co . pretend ) to diminish the resources of the country , but to add to them b y augmenting the means of reproduction . If instead of a third or

      or fourth , the landlords took away one half of the produce , whilst the farmera , shopkeepers , &c ., continue , as now , to take the greater part of the remainder , there would be scarcely anything at all fo r the producers , and the result would be , that the land would go out of cultivation altogether , and society would be dissolved . So much for G'Connell and his statistics ;—and so much for the opponents of the Ministerial Bill .

      . Now what shall we say of its supporters ? I know not b y what terms it is possible to suitably describe their folly or their wickedness . They admitted all O'Connell ' s statistics . They admitted that Ireland -was neither a manufacturing nor a commercial country . They admitted that , as a purely agricultural country , it had no other means of augmenting its capital than by an improved cultivation of the soil . They admitted th at its produce might be augmented sixteen fold bv fully employing 1 , 131 , 715 agriculturista . Yet , in the teeth of all

      these admissions , they are preparing to lock the people up in workhouses , where it is manifest they can add nothing to tha land ' , pr odooe , and wberej nolens volens they must be * dead burden ^ upon their out-of-door nei ghbours ! What can you db with such Legislators as these ? Is there even the appearance of honesty about them ? But the theme is too sickening to dwell on . I can only say-God pity the objects of their Legislative bounty ! Excepting O'CoNNBLt , Shiel , and the Devil , the Irish . Poor could not be in worse hands . Toure , &c . BRONTERRE .

      To Readers & Correspondents

      TO READERS & CORRESPONDENTS

      Untitled Article

      John Fletcher , Leigh . He will perceive thai we ¦ have corrected the misconception ; to which hit ¦¦ l er r y ^ ' Wet ^ him for teHing us tight We believe the misconception to be very general - The paragraph which called forth his letter was copied from a contemporary paper , and though we noticed the exprtssidn to which he objects , tee conxuiered it father more of a pTayftti than an ojfuioe churacfer ; amihaScertain % b > m that ttwuldhurt any one ' s feeling s . ^^ A large mass of poetical and other correspondence has com > to hand , under a variety of' s&nature * read . It shall all reutoe < fce Ultmtma & dne

      ^ gSK ^ i ^ J ^^ clereceived ^ . ' ¦ V 11 " *¦¦»««> tote for msertiQntXim-ui&L -it ManclMter Universal Suffrage Association Their addresswa * too late ^ S ^ his ^ ek ^

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      '¦' ' . - ¦ - . ¦' . - ' . . ' . - XiEEX > 8 . . ';¦; : . . . - . ¦ .. ¦' / : - . J \ v A Polish Refugee appeared before the magistrates on Tuesday laat , charging a ^ Mr . Whiteley , r ^ i ' dent ' in ' ft ^ . SQatli . Markej ^ '' . ; WiA-: kmiilting '' Mit i . ' It appeared that : Mr . Newaman , the complainant , was lodging with Mr * Whiteley , and that on Saturday night last i . dispute arose between them as to the sum of Is . 4 d , for shoe-cleaning , whicK the com-, plainant had paid to the servant , and which Mr * Whiceley still demanded , and refused to settle his bill till it was paid . During' the dispute the defendant turned the complainant out of his room , and h « had to seek lodgings at two o ' clock on Sunday morning . Whiteley was fined 5 s . and costs for the assault .

      LEEDS AND WEST-RIDING NEWS

      Hawking Tea . — On Wednesday last , two persons , the one an Irishman named Merrion , and the other named Charles King , a butciier , in Meadowlane , were placed at the bar , charged with having offered tea for sale under suspicious c rcumstances , and for the sale of which they had no license . King was discharged , there being no proof whatever to implicate him ; but several witnesses proved that Merripn had offered tea for sale in packets of about " 4 oz ., two of which he offered to sell for Is . 4 d . He said in his defence that he came from Hull , where he had h . wife , in a delicate state of health , and four small children . He had bought and paid for the tea , and thought there was no harm in selling it . He was committed to Wakefield for fourteen days , for selling tea without a license .

      Stealing a Horse and Saddle , and Bridle . —On Tuesday last , an old offender , named James Fox , who resided in Camp Field , Holbeck , was brought before Messrs . Clapham and Cadman , charged with having , on Saturday evening , about seven o ' clock , stolen a black pony , a saddle , and bridle , the property of Mr . Wm . Chadwick farmer , of Hooley Mill , near Batley . It appeared , that the prosecutor had put his pony up in a shed at Matthew Kitchen ' s , London Tavern , Vicar ' s Croft , Leeds , while he went into the hoi He to take a glass of ale . He came out again in about twenty minutes , when he found the pony missing . He made enquiries ot the ostlers , hut could receive no information . He

      next went to a friend ' s house , in Meadow-Lane , Leeds , and remained there during the night . On the following morning , he returned to the London Tavern , but could still receive no tidings of his property ; he then went to the police office and gave information . On Tuesday morning , in consequence of Sergeant Hepworth having received some intelligence that the prisoner had been offering a saddle for sale ^ he went to the house of the prisoner ' s mother , in , Camp Field , and apprehended him in bed , on the charge of horse stealing . On the road to prison , the accused stated that he was done , and admitted that he had stolen the property , and had sold the horse to Benjamin Sugdeny an extensive herring-dealer , at Hunslet Hall , near Leeds . The

      policeman went to that place and aseerttd ltd that he had sold it to a neighbour of the name of Frederick Rodley . From the test many of Sudden , it appeared , that he bought the horse for 32 a \ 6 d . on the Saturday night , and on the ; Monday sold it for £ 3 . 5 s . to Rodley . The prisoner had disposed of the horse and bridle in the name of Joseph Bell , stating that he had been bound for an individual in £ 30 ; that he had to pay the money , and was obliged to raise that iimount , or his property wou'd be seized . The saddle-, the prisoner had offered for one shilling , to a neighbour of the name of Scott . The prosecutor had since clearly identified the horee , saddle , and bridle , as hii property , he having had them for a number of yearn . . The prisoner was fully committed for trial to York Castle .

      The Rev . Richard Knill , the zealous agent of the London Missionary Society , preached on Sunday week , and during the week in all the Independent Chapels in Leeds ; and ou Thursday , he attended a public meeting in Rehbboth Chapel , ¦ Mor'ley . Mr . Knill stated that the society had , during the last year , sent out no less than 61 individuals to its Mission Stations—a greater number than in any former year , Its expenditure , however , had considerably over-balanced its income , and the treasurer was now in advance upwards of fojrtcen thousand pounds . The income of the last year was about £ 63 , 000 , including upwards £ 4 , 000 collected for the Missionary ship , and £ 4 , 500 granted by

      Government for the erection of schools in the West Indies . . 'Mi . Knill gave a ' thrilling , and dreadful account of a superstition which has been lately discovered to prevail in a part of the Madras presi dency , India , where the farmers are in the habit of fattening and killing boys , and cutting their flesh from their bones ' . 'whilst-they are yet alive , and sending a piece of their flesh to each of their fields or plantations , that the blood may be squeezed out of it on the soil before the child dies—this being done with the view of making the soil more fertile

      Twenty-five boys , among the finest that could be found , were discovered by the British soldiery in one place , under the care of the priests , fattening for . slaughter ; and , in another place fifteen were . found ! They were of course rescued , and put under the care of the collector ^ and it was believed that the Missionaries would take charge of the poor infants , and bring them up in the Christian religion . This is one of the many facts which show the incalculable benefits of a secular and social kind , as well as religious , conferred by the Missionaries on the heathen world .

      Pocket Picking Extraordinary—On Tuesday morning , as Mr . Josh . Scrivniger , butcher , of Aberford , was oil his road to attend Leeds markte , in Lowerhead-row , at the latter place he observed an individual lose a glove , which he took up and presented . From the respectable appearance and the good address of the individual , he supposed that he was , a real gentleman , and the glove-dropper having received back the article , would not be satisfied without the butcher took aglass of ale at his expense , which offer was accepted , and they entered a

      publichouse in that street . While there the individual who had received the glove kept in conversation with his companion , but v by some means manoeuvred to abstract from his breeches pocket a purse containing forty sovereigns , drunk off his glass of ale , and left the house unsuspected . He has , however , been traced to Sheffield , whither he and his companion immediately started for in a post chaise . It is hoped that by the diligence and activity of our police , the vagabond will be arrested and brought to justice . The butcher will not soon forget picking up the glove .

      Caution to Beer-Shop Keepers . —On Tuesday , Wm . Jenningsj of Waterloo-street , was brought up by summons , at the Court House , charged with having company in his house , with liquor before them , on Sunday last , previous to the period allowed bylaw . The defendant brought two witnesses to prove that two of the individuals were lodgers , and the other a neighbour , a friend of theirs , and that the liquor had been filled on the previous evening , and had been bottled by the parties out of their daily allowance . He was fined 40 s . and costs . Hunslet Florists' Society . —Oft Monday last , this society held their first show for this season , consisting of Auriculas , Aipines , and Polyanthoses , at the house of Mr . James Smith , White Horse Inn , Hunslet . The exhibition was considered to be a

      very splendid one , considering the recent inclemeucy of the weather . The room was decorated by a number of beautiful Calceolarias , Geraniums , and other greenhouse plants , furnished by Mr . J . Kearsley , of Woddhouse Hill , Hunslet , which produced a lively contrast with the other flowers . The following persons were appointed Judges—Mr . Jackson j of Huddersfield ; Mr . Josh . Marshall , Roth well Haigh ; Mr . Jas . Heesom , of Altofts , near Waliofield ; and Mr . George Wood , of Beeston . The following prizes were awarded : —Green-Edged Auriculas—1 , Robin Hood , Mr , Wm . Chadvvick ; 2 , Colonel Taylor , Mr . Ripley ; 3 , ^ Waterloo ; 4 , Standard , Mr . Wm . Chadwick ; 5 , Jubilee , Mr . J .

      Taylor ; 6 , Seedling , Mr , J . Kearaley . —G rey-Edged Auriculas—1 , Ringleader ; 2 ^ Warris Union 3 , Lancashire Hero , Mr . Wm . Chadwick ; 4 , Privateer , Mr . J . Ripley ; 5 , Seedling ; 6 , Sykes Complete , Mr . Wm- Chadwick . —China-Edged Auriculas --1 , Venus ; 2 , Pott ' s Regulator , Mr . Wm . Chadwick ; 3 , Lord of HaliamFhire , Mr . B . Ely ; 4 , Chancellor , Mr ^ Vfm . Chadwick ; 5 , Miller ' s Reform i Mr . R JEly ; 6 , Taylor ' s Incomparable , Mr . W . Chadwick . —Self-Coloured Auriculas— -1 Flora ' s Flag , Mr . Wm . Chadwick ; ?> True Blue , Mr . J . Kearaley ; 3 , Primate , Mr . J . Taylor ; 4 ; Othello , Mr . Wm , Chadwick ; 5 , Slatehplder , Mr . Ripley ; 6 , William the Fourth , Mr . J . Kearsley . —Alpines —Emersal ' s ; Favourite , Mri J . Taylor ; 2 ,

      Seedlinghis Mr . Kipley ; 3 ^^^ Fair Rosamond , Mr . Wm . Chad-, w . ick ' ; 4 , Taylor's Favourite , Mr . Ripley ; 5 ^ Rising Sun ,-Mr . J ; Taylor ; 6 , Seedling , Mr . Ripley . — Dark-Ground Polyanthoses— 1 , Beauty of England , Mr . J . Kearsley : 2 , Seedling ; 3 , - Alexander ; 4 , Seedling , Mr . B . Ely j 5 , Cox s . Eegentj Mr . Taylor ; '; , Seedling , Mr . B . Ely . ^ -Rcd-Ground Pol yanihoses 1 , ;; Buct ' s : G ( Borge the Fourth . ' . ¦; 2 , Trafalgar , Mr . J . Kearsley ; 3 , Farfoso , Qlr ; B . Ely ^; 4 , JSeedlirig ; 5 j Invincible ; 6 , Beauty of Over , Mr . J , Kearsley ^ The company were h . umerous and iighW resppctahle ; in consequer . ee of the room heing'too-anau , it is in contemplation to renicv . these exhibitions to a more convenient place .

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      FlOHtlNp . —On WedqieWay last a yeuog man , named Marmaduke Styan , was charged before the magi 8 trat'ee with fighting and creati « g a , distuibanee in Lady-laDe on the previous eveniog . It waa stated that the brother of the prisoner had lost ; his life in a pugilistic encounter . In consideration , perhaps , of this circumstance , and the promise of the prisoner to conduct himself in a more orderly mj ^ nnw for the time to come , he was discharged . ¦ : ; Pocket PjdKiN o . ^ -Joseph Smith , Joseph Schofield , and Geprge Emery , were placed at the bar on Wednesday lastj charged with picking the pocket of a man at a public-house known by the sign of

      '' The Coach and Horses ; " It appeared . that on the day before the complainant was at the above public-house taking a pint of ale with a friend , who left him at the place . Shortly afterwards he fell asleep , when the prisoners entered the room where he was and Smith abstracted from his pocket some pawn tickets . The complainant was also minus 6 s . lOd . in cash which be had in his pocket when he fell asleep . Two of the pawn tickets were found to have been disposed of by Smith who was committed to take his trial for the theft . The pother two prisonerH were discharged . No trace could be found ofthe cash which it would be easy for them to dispose of ; nor ofthe other two pawn tickets *

      Family Disturbances . —On Wednesday last , a person named Isaac Clark , a flax dresser , at Tetley , Tatham and Walker ' s , was brought before , the magistrates by warrant , charged with having assaulted and beaten his wife . The defendant : > seemed to treat the charge with the utmost levity ; and to think it was a matter of entire indifference . He affected a contemptuous laugh durii g the , time of the examination , and turning to the reporter for this paper , said , " -If a word of this goes into the Star , there shall never another Star come into our shop . " His impertinent threat was answered with a nod of

      indifference . At length the magistrate , Mr . Clapham , was so exasperated at his conduct that" he suffered himself to get into a violent passion . His face was immediately like a fire , and turning to Clark , he said with such rapidity as indicated the state of his feelings , " Young man , I'll make you pay . for that : you are fined £ 4 . 10 s . arid cbats , and in default of payment you are committed to Wakefield for two months . The court seemed electrified at the sudden decision ; for in less than half a minute before , the worthy magistrate seemed deliberating how he should best reconcile the parties .

      Not PREPAB . BD .-TT-At a late Whi g meeting , a spouter was called upon to move a resolution . He began his harrangue by informing the meeting that he was altogether unprepared to say anything on the question , and he . would simply move the resolu tion ,-making one or two 6 bservations before he did so . He then delivered an addres ? of about three hours in length ; and concluded by saying that as he came altogether unprepared to speak , he hoped the meeting would excuse him enlarging on the question .

      Assaults . —On Wednesday last , a man named George Hoist , a butcher , in Meadow-lane , was brought before the magistrates , charged with haviDg assaulted a man of weak mind on the day previous , at the White Horse , Hunslet . The complainants upper lip was completely split with the force of the blow , so that he had to apply to a doctor to have it sewed . The prisoner was fined 20 s . and costs , and in default of payment was sent to Wakefield for one month . George Brown , a stonemason was charged with assaulting a man named Joseph Goldthorpe , atthesame place . He threw him down , by which he received a violent blow on tb . e head , apparently almost enough to have caused his death . He was fined 40 s . and costs , or in default of payment to be committed for one month . Both the a-saults were committed without any provocation being offered .

      Caution to Beers ell ERS . —^ On Wednesday last , a beer-house keeper- , named ¦ William Hudson , resident near "Woodhouse Church , was charged with having persons drinking in his house at twenty-five minutes past ten o ' clock on Saturday evening last . Bullock laid the information . It appeared that there were three or four persons in the house after ten o ' clock . They had been working ajt the manufactory of a Mr . Brown , near the place ;\ arid had not been able to leave their work till nine o ' clock in the evening . They then repaired to Hudson ' s to get each a {* lass of ale , It was" proved that no beer was filled after twenty minutes to ten

      o ' clock ; and Mr . Hudson positively declared that it was not more than nine minutes past ten o ' clock when Bullock entered . Several witnesses testified it as their decided opinion , that the time was not later than what Hudson stated it to be . They also gave him an excellent character for keeping a quiet and orderly house . The magistrates , Messrs . Clapham arid Musgrave , said . they had no'discretion , but to convict ; and he was mulcted in the penalty of 40 s , and costs . [ The gentlemen of the bench are very consistent . One . says he has no discretion in such case , but must inflict the penalty : the

      other exercises the fullest discretion , and' entirely does away with the penalty . Every beerseller should meet that humbug about " no ' discretion , " with the case reported in one of our numbers , when Messrs . Holdforth and Hebden convicted a beerst'ller in the costs only , and not in any penalty . It was only on "Wednesday last , that a man who . had been guilty of a petty felony , besought throu £ h the influence of bis brother and his employer , that he might be liberated ; but Mr . Clapham said he had no discretion in the case ; whereas not ten minutes before , he had sentenced a man to be fined 19 s . lOd .

      who was proved guilty of a theft ; and on the day previously be had ordered a woman to be discharged who had stolen a quantity of cheese . The lastmentioned case was of course with the sanction of the prosecutor . But Mr . Clapham has ' no discretion ! !] Great Northern Union . —Persons desirous of becoming members of the great Northern Union may do so by applying any Monday or Wednesday evening at the Working Man ' s Association Room , Kirkgate , or on any working day at the Nortuern Star office , No . 5 , Market Street .

      Stealino a Sack , —On Saturday , Benja " min Whiteley , Edward Craven , and Thomas Brayshaw , were brought up for further examination , at the Court House , charged with having , on the Wednesday previous , stolen a sack , the property of Thomas Benson Pease , Esq ., of Chapel Allerton . It appeared from the evidence , that the three prisoners were observed to steal the sack out of the brewhouse through an apeture in the wall j made for the purpose of causing the steam to evaporate . The article was afterwards found by the constable in their possession , and has since been most clearly identified by the marks upon it . The prisoners were committed for trial to Wakefield House of Correction .

      Drunkenness . —On Wednesday , a man named James Baldwin , was brought before the magistrates , charged with being drunk , and creating adisturbarice at the Turk ' s Head Inn , Briggate , on the night previous . Baldwin was the person who appeared ^ at the Music Hall a few evenings before , and who cut such a ludicrous figure in questioning Mr . Rjgb y , the lecturer on Socialism . He was discharged on promise of being more orderly in future . Intended Procession . —On the day of her Majesty ' s coronation , the Independent Order of Odd Fellows , in the Manchester Unity , arid Leeds District , contemplate having a public procession ; They are making arrangements for dining together on the occasion , in one of the most spacious rooms in the town , in testimony of their loyalty andpatriotism towards her Majesty . ¦

      Seuious Accident . —On Monday , as Francis St-aton , in the employ of Messrs . Eyres , clothmanufiicturers , of Armley , was attending to a horse arid cart , the animal took fright and run away , near the Satyr Inn , Wortley , by which the unfortunate man was crushed against a wall with such violence as-to break several of his ribs . Medical aid was promptly pj-ocured but there were no hopes of his recovery and report states that he is since dead . ^ Stealing Barrels . —A young mari , riamed Iredenc Richardson , was committed on Tuesday last , to take his trial at the ensuing sessions for stealing two barrels , the property of a person named Mark Ball , of High-street . Th ? prisoner was taken in the act of rolling away the barrels . ¦

      Socialists . —These persons are disseminating their principles with great industry . They have engaged the splendid Music Saloon of Mr . Walton , at a very expensive rate , for the delivery of Sunday lectures , in which their doctrines are to be propounded and explained . Mr . J . Green , from Manchester , has been announced for two lectures on Sunday next . : Temperanoe SociETY . ^ -Theanniversary of tht

      Leeds Temperance Society was celebrated in the MusitvHall , by public meetings holdenin the evenings of Monday , Tuesday , arid Wednesday last . Spirited and animated speeches were made by a variety of advocates for this great and good cause , having for their object the placing before the meeting , in a variety of different lights , the evils resulting fiorh the use of intoxicating drinks , and the benefits which would accrue to society from their abolition The audiences were numerous , and seemed to he much interested .

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      •; S ?***»<» Mbn ' s Association .-, Aji S i £ , SgS ^^^ f «^ A | % J *? N » i ^ IME ^ a TueaSay last . £ ^ L named ThoniasJBirch ;; formerly * rigidStotalfe ? was brought before ; John Claphajn , Esq ; , one offi * y ™ S magistrates for the ptesentSth , chaSS with being druBk apd-disorderly , and Withusing"S proper language . It Was prbyed that he had swoh te ^ f ° 8 t ^ J ^ ^ ^ w ^ r « ipori Mr . ClapC said he should be fined 10 s .-i a shilling for each oaft or in default of payment to he committed for sixteen

      Attemp ted Robbery . —On Tuesday last « two boys named William Burke and James Sowd ^ were placed before the magistrates charged wU ^ attempting to rob the till of a sbopkeepef k , £ S Stnckland , in ; Swinegate . A polfcenan ?' " 2 S Stubbs , being aware of the character of S-S ? ers , suspected their intentions when ; he Bavr ih ~ hanging about the . shop ; be - watched them fe ^ sidera ^ etime , anaatlength saw ^ tte prisorier fiSe putoff his shoes , and go slily into the shop . The DohW man saw him get behind the counter , and irnmeSw ran into the shop , where he seized him in the act 5 reaching towards the till . Mrs . Strickland heari ^ the noise came out * of aaother part of the hon « tt " !§

      seeing what was ^ going on in the shop , told the police man that she had caught a boy in the act of attemnL ing fc ) draw out the till not above two hours before Sowden , and another of his comrades , who w «» watching about the door ^ eeingthe policeman ^ seize Burke , ^ immediately decamped with his shoes which were bft out side . Burke in bJs defence saidS he had ^ pone into the shop fora pennyworth of breadami in answer to a question which was put bv the pohceman as to how he could go for a pennyworth of bread ^ witbout a penny ( because the policeman had searched him and found nothing on him ) he replied tha ^ Mrs . Stricklan d got him down behind the coun ter and took the penny out of his pocket I ( Laughter Ys They were sent to Wakefield for three months as rogues and vagabonds . . " . -: ' .:. •• . *•

      Assaclt . —On Saturday , David Preston was brought up before the Magistrate * at the Court House , charged with having , on the previous evening , in Lady-Lane , assaulted a watchman , when acting in the execution of his dufy , by heating and kicking him . The defendant was drunk , and the watchman had previousl y conveyed him home the same evening . He was fined 40 a . and costs , mi ia default of payment wa >< committed for one month to Wakefield House of CdrrectibnL ^

      BRADFORD . ^ Incurables . - —On Monday last , Marr Hall and Sarah Normihgton , both ' . of Bradford were brought up at the Court-House , charged with ' beinc ewd and disorderl y . They are both well-kriowi ladies ot the town , whom no authority can ~ tame ' ' The magistrates committed ' them to the House of Correction for three months each . r Water Works . —The share list of this undertaking was closed on Monday last , as 1700 shares had been taken , which were more than sufficient to defray the expense . None of the schemes prb- ^ posed by Mr . J . G . Jlorsfall , Mr . Billington , ^ nd Mr . Peacock , were estimated to cost £ 22 , 000 to carry them out . The shares taken will amount to

      Ineirmary and Dispensary . — The general annual meeting of the subscribers to these Institutions , was held at the Exchange Buildings , on Monday last , when the proposition V the house committee to separate the Infirmary and Dispensary practice , and to appoipt three medical officers to assist in , the latter was' adopted . The meeting for the election of these officers is to be held on the 21 st inst ., at the Exchange Buildings . The candidates for the appointments have , since it has been determined the change shall take place , been again actively engaged in canvassing .

      Short v . Long Courtship . —A female , living in the neighbourhood of George-street , had been courted some dozen years by a jolly vender of cabbagts , of the Green Market . Oft was the promise of marriage kept to the ear , but not in the performance . ;¦ and several times the spurrings had been pot in and withdrawn . At last , another suitor presented himself ; she discarded the old one , and haying had sufficient trial of long courtshi p , she was determined to try . " a short one , and was married within the month . ' . ¦ ' ¦ '

      Mechanics' Institute . —It is intended to lay the first stone of this edifice , on Whit Monday , with all the usual honours . The Rev . Mr . Ackwortb , president of the Institution , will deliver an address on the occasion . Messrs . W . Murgatroyd , Joshua Lupton , Joseph Smith , Joseph : Earrar and Bootli IUingworth , are appointed a committee to , superini tend the carrying forward of the work , and plans and specifications are lying at the office of iMtt . calfe , architect , tor the iqspectiori of contractors . . '

      Juvenile Conserv atives . —Tbese Lilliputian politicians had their dinner , at the Nag ' s Head Inn , on Friday week . Previous to dining , about fi % . of therri walked in processiba through the streets , preceded by a band of musicj and accoriipanied by Mr . Robert Gamble , as their political mentor ; most of them were extremely young , so much so , that we perceived that one batch had the family footman with them as their conservator . Those who haw seen a herd of Scotch sheep defile through a

      mountain pass , will have a very adequate notion of this juvenile parading through the streets . About 70 sit down to dinner , which , we understand , was a very good one . After the cloth was drawn > several of the young masters recited pretty well the speeches which their papas had taken riiiieh pains to draw up for them . They had a small quantity of wine each . The latter end of the proceedings was garnishei with the speeches of some adult Tories , so that the whole formed a compound ,

      " Where hot and cold , and wet and dry , And beef and broth , asd apple pie , ' ¦ ¦ ¦ = . Most slovenly aaBembled . ' '' . : -.. Radical Association . —in the Leeds Mercury of Saturday last , it was insinuated that this Association was all but defunct , —that it was supposed it could barely survive the expenditure of its funds , which now amounted to : something under twentj ' shillings . The trath of the matter , we understend is , the members of the association have , to a ^ con *

      siderahle extent , formed themselves into a bfanck of the Socialists , who ; not only require , to be emu * cipated from political disabilities , but seek also to free themselves frqni those disadvaritages which attach to their dependence op , and servitude pf landlords and capitalists . THey iseek to annihilate those appalling contrasts wHch , { every where present themselves in societ y , —of extreme iridigence and extreme affluence , —of superfluity on the one hind , and destitution of the common necssaries of life on

      the other ; and , orit of these inequalities of p hysical condition , - political preferences and partiality arise . The Socialists , thereforey proclaim . themsel « rto be the true Radicals ; they strike at the root of oK the evils , political and otherwise . The drooping state of the Radical ( so called ) Association , there fore , cannot be regarded as any indication of W indifference , on the . part of the people , to the attaiament of their political rights , ' . Fatal Accident . —Yesterday week , as JaJ » a H ^ rrispn , of MaDriingnamj aged seventy years , wtf returning from ! Odey market ) albng widi his son and two carts , and as he was in the act of getting

      off from the cart , about forty or fifty yard ? ° njhe Bradford side of the Fleece Inn , Baildon , he M ea his back . Before hia situation was discovferwi the wheel of the second cart had " passed over va sinall of his body and the top of his hip . H e-waf immediately taken upi and put on the cart . At ; Slupley he was examined by a surgeon , who * was . c » opinion that he could not reach home alive . * deceaeedj however , who was perfectly sensible . ff » s desirous of getting home , which he reached at about half-past six m the evening , and ? bbntniDe the same evening he died . The deceased was » sober , steady , cai-eful man , and was ¦¦ & *>* & SDeeted . The nansp nf hia fallinar was sufipos edw

      be numbness from the cold . Qn the latter ; dr . tw two carts , Mrs . Singsby , of Heaton , was rt ( M& and i as the wheel passed over the old man * «» was thrown off , —the cap of her knee was kno ^ eo pf ^ her : sh oulder was dislocated , and shewas otne 1-wise severely bruised . V Ignorance is Bliss . —A short time ago , &J certain debating club in Bradford , it wasrdew ^ mined ) by-.: a large majority of its ™^ }' ? l i 7 ignorance was' mor « conducive to hi » ppine «« J . kripwledge . The chief advocate on the ; Aie ^^ norancej we understand , was a young anaaspBU * T ^^ y ^ :. ; - ' /; -:., - - ¦; . / r -., ^ : - : -:.-,: i : : ^

      Hand LdbM WEAVEBiB . —It is ejqpe ?*** . " ^ Mr ^ Moggrige , / the comswrwioner iapp 0 *^? ^ ,, inquire into the corriplaipts and g" 6781 ? 1168 ^ ^* , ^ . hand loom weavers , will shortly he in -Bw *! ^ We hope the weaveW wfll be folly P ^ Jftow meet , the comtnlMiaBi ^ r ' and take every * ^ " * , of the ^ opportunity rfoWed them of m «»^/ S their complaints , and seeking a redre ^ o > grieTarices . ¦ .- ; - ' -r ^ - ' .:: ? :- \ - : : ¦ : ' . 1- ^ Accident . —On Monday last , a » Ahrw ^ . * : tony of flSmrton , ww whiteWMbi « gcd > e "Sa dwelling-liotae , hefell from the » caffbHi » & * * £ > arm and Woiged te ^ d were tiw drwana c «^ quences . ¦ v , " -:- r ' - - -X ^ ' " " '¦ ' ' - ¦ ¦' '"' r " ''; \ . '" ' : ' ¦ ' ' ¦¦'

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      a .. . ' ¦ . .. . ' . , ¦ ¦ - ¦ ¦ r ^ Ko ^ mm mm . .. . ,.. .. ; ¦ , . ¦ ..... ¦ ¦ .: '¦ o :,. /¦ : * & *** &m

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 12, 1838, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1005/page/4/