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WATKTnW'S LEGACY TO THE CHABTISTS . iectitre n . coscLrDED . Bat thelrafh'is , there Bre none of ns that do as we would be done by , for , if so , should we see such sights , would -there be such Bcenea aa appear—as are acted without intermission on this great stve of knaves % b& fools—in this threatre of the world ? "We need not ascend or distend into garrets , or cellars , or dog-holes , tfeose cfc&rnel honses of the dying and the dead , where tJagce . - pestilence , and famine huddle their 'victims together ; we need not explore prisons , bastllea ,- or penitentaries ; nor need we seek in factories or coal laines , —we have only to walk the open streets , at midday , and at every step we take we shall meet objects to convince us that we do not do unto others as we
TKrald be done by . I wiU pass along one of the principal thoroughfares of this mighty metropolis—the capital of England—the emporium of the world—great inwealtk , little in worth , magnificent in outward appearance , mean in real character—in a word—London ! 2 see two extremes of wealth and poverty that absolutely meet : they not only co-exist , bat they commingle ; Mid the wealth is more shameful , more disgusting , more abominable than the poverty ; for there is something very unjust , very revolting , very insulting in luxury when it exists—when it parades itself—when it triumphs in the very presence of the necessity which it contrasts with . If such wealth , allow of such poverty , the poverty should not allow of the wealth . There is St . Paul ' s Calhedral—snrrounded and almost smothered
with shops and warehouses—an emblem of religion , befouled and burthened with the traffic of Mammon ; you are shown the Monument ; and look at the shipping in the Thames—the carriages in the streets— -yes , and I point you to the miserable beings you meet there . See a human creature , a few dirty rags scarcely hide his shrivelled nakedness , his emaciated anas are folded across his skeleton farm to give it warmth , he is bent with cramps , he shivers with agues—the keen pangs of hanger glare fiercely in his eyes—his appetite is reduced to that of a very dog—he sseks in the gutters , for scraps of refuse—he is fnH of sores , and shames—why is this " ? Answer it ye who have the making of the laws , who govern the country , who leave us not a will of our ewn—answer it , ye lords and bishops , who profess to
reverenee the very name of God—who tell us that man was created in the likeness of God 2 Is this the condition in which yen would behold the image of Gsd ? Yon say t *>» E God gave dominion to man over all things—that all things were made for him , and given to him . True , my lords and bishops , but such as yea have robbed him of all ; and we now frequently behold God ' s image pass along—a pale spectre of reproach to man—perishing with cold and hunger , and with no place of rest , not even a pillow for his drooping , his dying head , except the stony step of the door of same Taunted charitable institution barred against him . That man is our brother , and is this doing to our brother as we would he should be done to 1 Is it doing u we wonld be done by ?—fer we ought to put
ourselves in his place—to identify ourselves with hiia , to sympathise with him , to succour him—for , as we would not wish to suffer this , we should resolve that neither should one of like nature with ourselves be made to suffer so . How many do we meet doing penance for the crime of poverty , walking barefoot , and howling as they hobble along , " God help me , I am starving . ** Hundreds pass them every minute , hundreds full-fed , fulldressed , and with their pockets fall , but they beed not their suffering , perishing brethren . Unsophisticated strangers from the country will stop , wUl enquire , will wonder , will be softened by pity , will be flred with indignation ; but the town passengers are bent on bnsiness ; on pleasure , on wastefulness , on wantonness , and suffer not their attention to be diverted for a
iBoment to those who have no business , no pleasure , nothing to waste , who are in want of alL What a prize a penfcy "would be to them ; but no man gives them anything . There is the Lascar who has been broczed by the best of a torrid sun—ha finds our climate cold , but our hearts are colder ; a few tatters of his native costume yet flap in the wind , and tells too plainly , shews too clearly , that be has not been clothed since be left his far , his foreign soil , and came a stranger to a strange land . Bo we do unto him as we would be done by , supposing that we were thus destitute in his country ? I might go on adducing other instances of individual wretchedness in every yariety of formnumbers of deformed , crippled , mutilated objects whom we see in public , but who ought to be nowhere seen
bat in almsbouses , hospitals , or asylums . But I will not weary your patience or render your compassion callous by a vain recital of the wants and woes which are caused by tyrants , who punish us if we pity and seek to relieve them . I will merely cite a few domestic cases , which nature itself prompts ns to relieve—such as of mothers carrying their infants through the streets , » nd followed by their little ones with naked fee ^ driven from an empty home , and imploring with hopeless eyes , a little food to keep them alive . Is this the fate we wonld wish for our fathers and mothers ? Fathers , who in spite of the Duke ' s declaration , that all may eat who work , find that those -who do no work eat allfor , enable to procure "work , they have been obliged to to pawn their very tools for bread , and
yet lack food—mothers who with aching hearts , aft » parting with every comfort , every convenience , every accommodation for the necessaries of Bfe , after stripping themselves and their homes of all the graces of life , of its very decencies , have been compelled to strip their little ones , and sell their tiny articles of wearing apparel for food—then as a last resource , have gone forth sot with the pride of a mother ' s joy , the pleasure of a mother ' s love , when she takes her children forth to walk or play : but with the degrading , the distressing , the despairing feelings of a mendicant who most exhibit her ofisprine as spectacles of painful pity to excite the compassien of those whose hearts have been hardened by avarice , who rejoice at the wretchedness which Ib the foil and food of their
splendour . Alas I such children are tamed up not in the way they should go ; but in a way which they . would fMn not go—in a way which they are forced to go . Ah , necessity is a vile thing , and makes villains of us alL Many mothers wish their daughters may die and not grow up to become the -victims of the suffering life of sin that awaits them . Many fathers wish their sons had not been born to be a burthen on them which they" cannot support How many little sinless ones innocently wonder why they are made te suffer so much cold and hunger , and with the voice of first nature implore their parents to get them food from the abundance which they see every where around them ? How many parents commit suicide , or destroy their children , or sit in sullen impotency , unaffected by the cries of want
whieh they cannot relieve ? How many groan m spirit under the grinding despotism of the present cursed system— % system made by and for the benefit of the rich , who do not feel any of these things , and therefore , care for none of them ? It is very well for them , sitting at ease in their possessions , and Baying to themselves , " Soul , thou hast much goods laid up for many years , eat , ^ rink , and be merry /'—it is yery well for them , net pressed by poverty , not tempted by sin—for them to PTfifa " " against the vices of the poor ; but let the rick do as they would be done by , and the vices , the ignorance , they so eloquently denounce , would cease , would be known no more . Many hcHest men are balancing the horrors of starvation on the one band with the degradation of dishonesty on the other , and
in hopeless helplessness wish for seme swift disease to come and carry them off . Many put themselves into the way of death ; many plnnge into it from a life that has robbed death of all its terrors , a life of pain and frantic woe . The verdict -on such victims is self murder ! A lie—a . cruel lie ; for it is the system that murders them , and none but the supporters of snch a system—the supported by it—would dare to pronounce such a sentence on the d&y-cold corpse that sleep 3 sound , that smiles for the first time ; a sentence that should waken the sleeper , that should make the bloed of the murdered flow afresh , that should recoil on those who would torment the soul after killing the body . Ah , the grave ! that is the fane place of rest for thosrwhom the wicked has made weary ; the grave is the only refuge fer the destitute !
Now the knowledge of these things , the knowledge that so many instances of this kind have taken place , that so many are now taking place , that so many will take place in future , the knowledge of all thia ought to make our blood boll ; ought to fire us with virtuouB indignation ; ought to fin us with fury ; we should burn ; we should be all a flame to redress these things , to stop them , to alter the enrsed system that causes them . If we would not have rach things happen to us , we should resolve that they shall not happen to others ; we should resolve that they shall rot be ; for while such things are , while they are suffered to continue , who shall say , whieh of ns can tell that he will not be the next victim ? Save them , then , to save ourselves .
I frequently see in the street of this proud city—and shame on it for showing such sights ; old men and old ¦ women , worn to premature age by ill-requited toil , j whose blood ifl chilled by time , who ought to have some quiet nook , some comfortable fireside to rest their ; age * and shelter their infirmities in : yet they must wander forth , and with voice that falters in unissn j with . their tottering steps , sing , or rather attempt to sing , —for in London it is ' no song , no supper . '' They ; must sing for alms , though alms ought to be given to prevent them being put to the pain of singing ; bnt thsy urnst sing or the ever-open hand wQl remain outstretched in vain . How can they sing ? how unfeeling " it is to expect them to mock their own miseries by ' merriment Is this the fate we wish for our grandsires asd grandmothers ? Bnt , alas J the very commonness of ttete things , a commonness that makes them only more mournful , more shocking , makes them be uncon-Eidered . unheeded .
And if these be the every-day sights , what are the every-nlght ' . scenes ? when misery comes out of its hiding-place , and seeks relief by sin—when the fairest daughters of our isle , who have been scared by the gsUDt aspect of famine into the smiling embrace of voluptuousness—when ruined loveliness seeks a respite from thought in beastly intoxication or brutal lustwho feel every remaining spark of lost virtue a pain to them , and strive to extinguish it by unwomanising themselves , so to speak ; and yet these poor , demoralised , brntalised , demonised creatures miglit have been the help of mothers , the comfort of fathers , the pride of brothers , the Bolace of husbands , the ornaments of domestic mefulness , bnt they fell into snss that ought to have been stretched to save and not to sink , and now their portion is guilty woe—the abomination of deso-
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lation . Surely , thia is the last way of life that women would walk in ; but what other way is left to thousands , except the path that leads to the grave ? what escape is for them ?—what means of return ? The penitentiaries open not to the voice of penitence , but te the voice of interest , and when open there are painful penances to be performed within ; no home and no house will take them back to virtue ; it is too late , and the poor victims are constrained to sell themselves , body and soul , to disease and despair . These are oar sisters , and is this the way we would have our sisters done by ?
Parliament instituted to inqnire into and to correct national evils , never inquired into these things , will not suffer them to be inquired into . Committees are appointed to inquire into the condition of felons in prison—of paupers in workhouses—of children in factories aud mines , and all this is well worth isquiring intd ; butno committee site to inquire into the condition of the outcasts in the streets . Oh , what a tale each one could tell ; but a tale that our Government would not listen to , because in it they would hear their own condemnation . But let us get the Charter , and all these evils will be inquired into and remedied—we must not expect it till then . Therefore I call on all who have fathers , who have mothers , who have brothers , who have sisters—I call upon all whe are
themselves fathers , mothers , brothers , er sisters —upon all who are men , who have the common feelings of humanity—I call upon you for the sake of others , for the sake of yourselves—for the sake of our fellow-creatures , not only those who wear the human form , but also for the sake of the poor dumb animals that toil in torture , that are driven to death by hard taskmasters for wh « m they work till they die , running till they drop with burrten hearts ; I call on you for the sake of every Irving thing , for everything that has life , may rue life under the present system ; for life , the blessing of God , is turned into a curse by man—I call on all , for the Bake ef all , to strive for the Charter , that these things may pass away , and a newer , a better order of things may come in their stead .
And now I conclude—conclude as I began with the text—it is the first and the last , and if there had been no other rule given in the Bible than this golden one , it were enough ; it is a Bible in itself ; a precept moat worthy te be given by God to man , far if we followed it- ^ if we strictly exemplified it , we should have all happiness that our nature is capable of , we should be what God intended us to be , we should all be happy here-and happy hereafter , if only we did unto each other as we would be done by . J . W . Battersea .
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Emigration to America . —On Wednesday morning week , the Ontario , one of the regular New York liners , left the north quay of the St . Katherine's Dock , with nearly 300 passengers on board . The emigrants were principally persons from the country , who had been engaged in agricultural pursuits , and who , in the hope ot bettering their condition in another and distant country , have" left their father land .
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10 THE EDITOR OP THE NOBTHEBN STAB . Sis , —By giving insertion to the following cones pondence in answer to a memorial from the Brighton Chartists , praying for the release of Samuel Holberry from York Castle , you will oblige the friends of that persecuted victim of Whig despotism in Brighton . Tour ' s , truly , N . Moblikg , Sub-Secretary . Brighton , May 22 nd , 1842 . " London , May 9 , 1842 . Sib , —I did not receive your letter of the 7 th inst until my arrival in town this evening , and I beg you
will assure the Association , that I will not lose a moment in forwarding their Memorial to the Secretary of State , on behalf of Samuel Holberry , and to urge Sir James Graham to comply with the prayer thereof . I shall have the honour of advising you of the result as Boon as I can obtain an official reply to my application . I am , sir , Your very obedient servant , Geo . R . Pechrli . Mr . Robt . Colling , Brighton . " London , May 13 th , 1842 .
" Sir , —Herewith I have the honour to forward a copy of the reply from the Secretary ef State to the memorial which I placed in his bauds on behalf of Samuel Holberry , now a prisoner in York Castle , and I much regret to send you a communication of so unsatisfactory a nature . "I remain , Sir , " Your very faithful Bervant , "Geo . R . P £ chell . " "Mr . R . Colling , Brighton , "
BEPLY TO I HE MEMORIAL . " Whitehall , 12 th May , 1842 . " Sia , —Secretary Sir James Graham having carefully considered your application in behalf of Samuel Holberry , I am directed to express to you his regret that there is no sufficient ground to justify him , consistenly with his public duty , in advising her Majesty to comply with the prayer thereof . "I am , Sir , " Your most obedient humble servant , "S . M . Phillipps . " Capt Pcchell , R . N ., M . P . " At a meeting ef the members of the National Charter Association , on Wednesday evening week , the foregoing having been read , a vote of thanks was unanimously passed to tBe Gallant Captain for hia exertions in behalf of poor H&lberry .
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AN ADDRESS ADOPTED BY THE DELEGATES ASSEMBLED AT DARLINGTON , ON SUNDAY , MAY 22 , 1842 . Brother Chartists and Working Men , —We are now arrived at a crisis in the history of our country which will in after ages characterize us as a nation of tame , submitting slaves , or a society of men determined to exhaust every means within our power to shake off the yoke of slavery . We have now gained a position which depends on onr own exertions to maintain . We have proved to the world the possibility of instituting a national organization of the working classes . We have done mnch ; we have rallied in thousands , oay mil . ions ; wa have already concentrated a power in itself irresistable . But much as we have accomplished we have more to achieve .
Think not , working men , that the gigantic pyramid of wrongs which it has taken a thousand years to erect can be overwhelmed instantly . Through endeavours prolonged , through difficulties immense , through perils innumerabls , you must work out your emancipation . This is no time to relax our exertions for liberty , when thousands of our fellow creatures are dying for want of the common comforts and necessaries of life . Where is the man styling himself a Christian , that has perused the debate on tide National Petition in the House . ef Commons on the 3 rd of May ; where we find statements made by Mr . Thomas Doncombe , M . P . for FinBbury , of
human beings eating a cow that had died by disease to satisfy the cravings of nature ? Good God ! that statement alone ought to raise every patriot band , and bring a burst of execration from every patriot tongue . Where is the Englishman that has recognized the insults and libels that were put forth by Mr . Thomas Babington Macaulay , on the above mentioned debate , that is not determined to shew to the world that we will not bear insulte without shewing at least a spirit of resentment by redoubling our exertions to gain Universal Suffrage , which that gentleman so much dreads ?
Fellow-men and fellow-slaves , do we not behold on the summit of our social system , or rather unsocial system , a gorgeeus court and a grinding and grasping aristocracy fixing their deadly and merciless fangs on the sinews of industry , and coining the blood of labour into gold far their own selfish pleasures and their unscrupulous debaucheries ; and beneath them will we not see the great mercantile capitalists , whose enormous fortunes enable them to command the commerce of the world , vie in splendour and magnificence with those whose
bosoms glitter with the stars of nobility ? Descending a step farther we will perceive the middle class man , and amongst them many of the learned professions shine conspicuously , fluttering about in all the extravagance of riches . Proceeding further we will observe a multitude of petty speculators , all pressing forward on the track of avarice ; and at the bottom of this we will behold the great industrious community on whose labour all these diadems and stars , all the princely establishments , aad all this fashionable luxory , extravagance , waste , and money gathering depends .
But here reader pause ; the scene is sadly changed , for the millions who produce all , and consequently give value to all by their labonr , wear the threadbare robe of poverty . Destitution speaks too plainly in their aspects ; their homes are embittered by domestic cares and embarassments ; the fond glow of love iB chilled by the frozen breath of adversity , and the parent love is appalled by the contemplation of the future . The benevolent spirit of nature is counteracted here , for the cheek of youth is mad « pale by labour , it being -unprotected , and consequently not rewarded . The vigour of manhood is destroyed by excessive toil , and tbo white head of venerable old age is bowed down to the grave with poverty and neglect . But does the evil rest here ? No , no ; poverty , like a desolating plague , la shedding its contaminating inflaence around us , and multitudes of those who seem to flourish in the higher circles of society are becoming its victims .
Those would-be wise Corn Law Repealers wish to give us eheap bread ; at the same time , they are reducing our wages , depriving us of purchasing , no matter how cheap it may be . Working men , always bear In mind the cheapness of any article at all times consists in the means we have at our command to purchase ; therefore , we want Universal' Suffrage first . And also recollect that , while the landlords rob us of 120 millions , the profit-mongers take from us 454 millions : therefore it la only a struggle between them both which party will take the whole ; and as long as thieves in common take all they can seize , it matters not to us ( the working classes ) who shares the booty , how they share it , or in what proportion .
Let it be pur object to annihilate the gang , and destroy the system that perpetuates the robbery . We can only destroy the system by struggling for the power ; that power is the Charter . That obtained It would be the means of not only doing away with the high rents of landlords , but in s great measure put a check on the tyranny of the master manufacturers , by throwing the mantle of the law around the working man , by making laws to protect his property , which is his labour , from the rapacious grasp of human vampires .
Fellow-men and fellow-slaves , come forward in the majesty of your strength , and be determined , on your part , to act like men and like Ch&rtista , Let us have
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a county lecturer , in conjunction with other parts of England : when poor North Lancashire , where there is some of the bravest but nnfortanately the poores operatives ia England , can afford to pay a lecturer , their wages not averaging four shillings a week , aurely Durham County , and the ' .-Borders of Yorkshire united , at least , can have one also . ; Brother Chartists , the delegates assembled at Darhngton , on Snnday , the 224 May , have laid a plan down whereby the money can be raised , and have empowered Mr . Charles Connor , who acted as Secretary to correspond with the different places ; and the delegates nope that the Chartists in all the localities will immediately commence , if they approve of the plan , to set about collecting the money , aa we came to the conclusion unanimously not to employ a lecturer , until we had a month ' s pay in oand . The . lollewing la the plan the delegatesproposed : — Sunderland
to raise fia . a-week , Darlington 4 s ., Stockton 4 a .. Richmond 8 s ., Barnard Castle 3 a ., Bishop AuokUwd 3 a ., NorthaUertbn and Brompion 3 a , west Auckland la . 6 d ., Stokesly 29 . 6 d ., Dwiten 2 s . 6 d ., South Shields 3 s ., Wingate Grange Colliery 2 a . 63 ., Hartlepool i 8 , 6 d . * hich will amount to the aum required in a month . The delegates conclude this address by making an earnest appeal to the working men of the above-mentioned places to have , if possible , the monlea forthcoming by the next delegate meeting , which will be held at Darlington , on Sunday , the 20 th June , at Mr . Braggs large room , Prieatgate , to commence at ten o clock . Mr . Robert Davidson , chemist and grocer , Bishop Auckland , Waa appointed treasurer ; and Mr . Charlea Connor , Back Bongate , Bishop Auckland , secretary . Also tie delegate from Stockton was empowered to write to Feargos O'Connor , Esq * . requesting that gentleman to fulfil his promise he made to him at York to viaifc the County of Durham .
The letter from Newcaatle Was deferred till the next delegate meeting ; also Brook ' s case , the Chartist confined in Northallerton prison . Sighed , on behalf of the meeting , W . Bragg , Chairman . Charles Connor , Sec .
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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . My Dear Friends , —Mr . Ridley and myself were appointed te attend to thai business of the Convention which the members left us to do on their leaving the metropolis . One part of our duty waa to procure the aid of the Members of Parliament and others in behalf of our incarcerated brethren , and to procure the return of Frost , Williams , and Jones . With the view of effecting these desirable results , we waited on Mr . Doncombe , who , with his usual earnestness and honesty , at once expressed his readiness to serve ns In any way ; at the same time stating his feara that hia and our labours would end in disappointment . Mr . Duncombe , to prove to us that hia doubts were not unfounded , handed to us an answer he had received from the Home Secretary , in reply to the prayer of a memorial be had forwarded . I looked at the document , and instantly remarked , V . Why this is a printed answer ,
or rather a lithographed edition of the usual Governm « nt answer to our memorial . " «« To be sure it is , " said Mr . Duncombe , .- ' - ' an < l I have no doubt they have prepared them as answers expressly for the Chartist memorials which the Government imagine will be -very numerous , and would take up the time of the clerks in answering them . You see blanks ard left to be filled up with the name of the person in whose favour you may memorialise , and Mr . Phillips has no more trouble than to pat in Frost , Holberry , or any other name mentioned by you . " "That beats Whiggery altogether , " said both Ridley and myself . I carried the document with me , and will exhibit it as a curiosity at every public meeting , until the universal burst of honest indignation shall arouse the present flinty-hearted Ministers , if not to the practice of justice , at least to a sense of burning shame .
Fellow-countrymen , are you disposed to submit te this brazen-faced insult ? Know all of you that the Government have not time to answer your memorial , far less . - 'to listen to your complaints . It follows in proper order , after the ' refusal of the House to hear your wrongs explained to them and to the world ., The answer which is prepared for you * and which , like the laws of the Medes and Persians , Is to be unalterable , runs thus . Ten millions of memoria l s Would have the same reply : — 11 SIR , —Secretary Sir James Graham , having carefully censidered your application in behalf of — - ^ , I am directed to express to you his regret that there is no sufficient ground to justify him , consistently with his public duty , in advising her Majesty to comply with the prayer thereof . > Iam , Sir , " Your obedient humble servant , "S . M . Phillips . "
Thia precious morsel of outrageous and unblushing tyranny la directed to nay one who may be fool enough after thiB uncalled-for insult , to approach the Lithograph-office , at Whitehall . What they will do next I cannot pretend to say , but I should Imagine the next improvement in the science of despotism , will be to cast an iron man foif the purpose of answering the people's prayers , and I really believe the mockery would not be much leas than it is , whilst the trifling expence of the machine wonld be something to recommend it to the people ' s notice .
I would advise some ofr the Chartists to forward their memorials for the mere purpose of having one of these lithograph evidences brought up in evidence against a callous and desperate faction , which may rest assured that our complaints , our wrongs , and our rights will have in every Chartist mouth , a machine which will lithograph our grievances with ten-fold energy and perseverance thronghout the length and breadth of thenatlon . : I am , my dear friends . Your uncompromising Fellow labourer In the cause of Chartism , 1 P . M . M'DOCall . P . S . I shall be in Birmingham on Monday ; Manchester on Tuesday ; and Bury on Wednesday . My other promises shall be fulfilled as soon as possible , of which I shall give due notice .
The memorial and remonstrance have been slightly altered by the request of Mr . Duncombe , and the corrected edition will appear in the next Siai :
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An old lady named Dosson , is now living in Bridgewater , who is in her hundredth year ; Bhe has all her faculties about her , and can see to read and sew without the aid of spectacles . — Western Luminary . Trick of a Member of Parliament to Elude the Income TAx .- ^ Itia Stated , on the authority of an Irish Ministerial paper , that Mr * Quintin Dick , the Member for Maldon , has transferred a sum of £ 95 , 000 from the British to the Irish funds , as a preparatory step to that of transferring himself from this land of his adoption to that land of his birth . We kn o w not , of course what foundation there may be in truth for such a story { but it wants not verisimilitude to make it current . Tories are in
general disposed to back their friends and stand by their principles , in the way ia which thia Hon . Gentleman is described to do so ; that is , with the least possible detriment to themselves . Having agreed in Parliament , as member for an English borough , to lay a heavy impost upon his constituents he is here exhibited as avoiding to lessen their bur * then / or to share it ^ by so much as bis little finger . This—whether , the representation be correct or wholly imaginative—is the very beau idea ! of the public virtue at present in vogue . The patriot first of all helps his party at a dead lift , by establishing a tax for them , and his next care is to secure himself by running away from its operation , We wish Mr . Roebuck would interrogate the Hon . Member for Maldon , as to the truth of this rumoured movement to elude the Income Tax . If it be true , we presume there must be a compromise of the seat .
Ireland . —The Irish papers teem with accounts of " outrages , " mostly of an agrarian kind . We enumerate some of the number of instances . Tipperary has been so disordered , that the High Sheriff convened the magistrates of the disturbed districts , to make representations to Government . The proceedings did not transpire . The Magistrates of King's County likewise assembled ; but the promptitude of their combination had much effect in pacifying the neighbourhood , and several rioters returned to tEeir work . The meeting therefore broke ho without resorting to ulterior measures . The Nenagh poBt-ofnce was the channel for a threatening notice to Mr . Uniack Bayly , of Ballihaclough . The Nenagh Guardian recounts riotous attacks on Mrs . Gleeson ,
of Grange , and her care-taker . At first Mrs . Gleeson was ordered to discharge him on pain of death ; another day a pistol was presented to her breast , as she was riding out , and she was ordered to retain the man ; and finally , the cottage of the man himself was entered by an armed and disguised party , who told him that the second order was not the genuine jmandate of " Captain Starlight , " beat him , threw thatch upon his fire , and drove him . out of the cottage , threatening death if he returned . They said that they come from a great distance . Three policemen were attacked near Michelstown ; one of them was bo beaten as to be past hope of recovery and the second was killed with a bayonet ; the third escaped . The Government have found it necessary to station an additional Stipendiary Magistrate at Portum n a , to prevent as much as possible the
systematic ruffians from crossing the Shannon from the adjoining border of Tipperary . The Newry Exa ~ miner attributes a fatal outrage to Orangeism ; one Madden had his skull cleft with a spade , while at work , by Meighan , a noted rioter ; and the murderer was suffered to walk off . TheLeinsler Express ; eaya that . James Kebgh was arrested near Moueygall , while posting a notice threatening a Mrs , Ryan with death if she did hot give ted acres of land to the poor people in the neighbourhood , for the purpose of potatoe-setting . The Dublin Evening Mail ^ mentions that the house of Michael Gleeson , at Curraghglass . was visited by an armed party of four , who struck him , and told him that he would be killed if he did not give up tho land which he took from widow Maher ; to whom he had paid a Bum of money for her interest .
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The Cottage Garden Plan . —There are now in the neighbourhood of Nottingham fourteen auxiliaries of the Labourers' and Artizans' Friend Society , and applications are being made to the society in Nottingham from many places to form others . U pwards of one hundred and thirty acres in this neighbourhood have been broken up into about 800 allotments , aud seed has been found oo loan for many of them . The Town Council of Nottingham passed a resolution in January last in favour of the cottage garden plan , but the lands intended to be granted cannot be appropriated until an Act of Parliament has been obtained . Mr . Orange , ' who is the active and persevering agent of the society , proposes to form auxiliary societies through the Northern and Midland counties ; arid ^ contemplates that the funds raised should be appropriated to loans with bonus or interest , and part be applied to the erection of cottases , almshouses for the aged ; and agricultural 8 o . hoo . ls . ;
Billinqshdrst . —Strange Delusion and Consummate Cruelty . —A womiin named Barns , the wife of a labouring man residing at New Pound Common , in the parish of Wisborough-green , having been ill for a long time , and being unable to account for her lengthened indisposition , supposed , a < > did her neighbours also , that she was bewitched , and looking about them for the cause of the evil , their suspicions fell on a woman of about forty years of age , said to be a very decent , ittoffensiye creature ; this idea had been entertained for a long time and many sohemes were put into operation to destroy her influence , but all had failed up to the latter end of last April , when by some means they became possessed with the notion that if they got some
pigeons and burned them alive , keeping every part of the room stopped up close , and pot speaking while the operation was going on , they would effectually destroy the witch ' s power . In order to re * duce this soheme to practice they procured pigeons and tied them in pairs back to back by their wings , and lighted a large fire , and stopped up the roem as close as possible ; some of the poor pigeons they opened at the breast in order that the fire might burn their hearts while alive . How many were burned the writer cannot say , but he heard a neighbour itate that he himself burned four , and he thought they should have destroyed the witch if the house had been closer . It is supposed by the neigliboura that from a dozen to sixteen pigeons
were destroyed in this cruel manner . r—Sussex Express . ¦' . - . ¦ : - . " . ¦ ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ . ¦ ' . ¦ . ' ¦ : ¦ : ' ¦ : ¦ : : ¦¦ ' ¦¦ ¦ . ¦ ' ..- / : ¦ Extbaordinaey Trial . —The following singular case , which , we believe , is the first of the kind that has ever been tried in a Court of Justice , either in this country or America , has been heard before Judges Baldwin and Randall , in the United States Circuit Court , at Philadelphia . The prisoner , A . W . Holmes ^ one of the brew of the William Brown , etood charged with manslaughter on the high seas . The vessel sailed from this port for Philadelphia on the 12 th of March , 1841 . On the night of the 19 ; h of April , when about 250 miles from Newfoundland , she struck , as is supposed , on an island of ice , and sank in about an hour . Thirty-one persons , who had remained on board , perished . Of the remainder of
the passengers and sailors , forty-two had got into the long-boat , and the captain , with eight of his crew and a passenger , were in the jolly-boat . On the following morning the boats separated to make the best of their way to land , and so crowded was the long-boat ; that the mate , at parting , said to the captain that ho saw no alternative for them but to cast lots who should go over . Although the sea was calm , baling was constantly necessary \ but at night the wind freshed and the rain was violent ; the boat leaked , and the waves were dashed into it , so t h at , according to the witnesses for the defence , the danger was great arid inevitable , alhough those for the prosecution did not believe it to be imminent . It Beems to have been admitted on all hands ( at
least it was not denied by the witnesses for the prosecution ) that the boat was sinking , and that the gunwale was within two inches of the water ' s edge . In this extremity , the expedient of lightening the boat by throwing over of passengers was resorted to , and on the following morning ; two others were thrown over , but by whom does not appear to have boen satisfactorily proved , sonie swearing that it was one individual , some another . Tha case was warmly argued oh both sides , the prosecution contending that no case of inevitable necessity had been made out , and that the law applied only to cases much more extreme than this . The defence allged , that they had fully established a case of inevitable
neoessity , and there was every presumption to believe , that if they had not resorted to the melancholy alternative of throwing some overboard , they would all have inevitably perisheo . Here the case rested , when the Judge charged the Jury that the obligation of the captain and crew to carry the passengers safe extended even to a case of such imminent peril , aad they were bound to sacrifice their own lives , if necessary , for the preservation of the rest . The Jury , after a consultation of twenty hours , found Holmes guilty , but unanimously recommended him to the mercy of the Court . Judge Baldwin said ^ that their recommendation should have the most respectful consideration .
The Poor and the Grave . —If any additional proof could be required to establish the fact that the poor in this country are less cared for than brute animals , we might iind it in the following disgusting realities : —It seems that for a cdnsiderable time past a serious mortality has raged among the labouring classes in the little town of Sutton-in-Ashfield , Nottinghamshire , through a species of low fever , produced by want of necessary food . This , one would think , is sad enough for the survivors , and it is not only most lamentable , but most disgraceful also , to us : that we must add to this calamity * among families the inhuman treatment to which the bodies of . the poor victims are subjected . For want of space in the churchyard of this place , graves have
been opened—remains exhumed—the human bones , and even portions of sculls , with hair yet on , havo been thrown at random about the desecrated precinct , that a few shovels full of earth mighty for form sake , be thrown Over the last inmate of a parish grave . This , then , being the way in which we treat the remains of our poor brethren , can we wonder at the following companion picture , as it regards our humanity ; : arid decency towards foreigners ,:-if poor ! tt appears that the unfortunate Lascars , who are , from time to time , brought to'this blessed la >} d of cant and cruelty by the agents of the East India Company , are not only abandoned to partial starvation upon their arriTal , but , if they should siuk under the united hardships of our climate and their sufferings
they are left to do as they may . No couEolation is afforded them—no pious , forty-horse power tongued spouter of Oriental literature addresses them—no inan cares for either their souls er bodies ! and , if they die , they are buried like rotten cattle at Bow Common 1 Is not this horrible ! Can our Exeter Hall saints—our missionaries—our guides to heaven look in each other ' s faces without blushing I If they can , they are bronzed indeed—and pitiable is the condition of those who look to them for an example of Christianity . —London paper . . DisTHiBUTiNG Bills against the Army in Birmingham . —Birmingham , Saturday Evening . —This morning , at the Police-office , the magistrates were engaged investigating a charge against a man named
Samuel times , which caused oonsiderable interest . Tho room was quite full , and ' amongst those : present were Mir . Joseph Sturge , some of the ofiicers of the sta ff , and many of the Society of Friends . Serjeant Walter Cronen , of the 1 st Royal Foot Guards , apjpeared to prefer tho complaint ; and stated that he was on duty in Smfthfield the day before , beating up for recruits , when he was interrupted by a great crowd , who ^ collected around him and his party . Jle saw the prisbher delivering a great quantity of bills among the pepple , who \ rere using , violent language . He heard the mob say , "To hell with the Queen , " " To hell with the Gdvernment , " * ' To hell with the soldiers . " He applied to one of the , head ofiicers of police to know what he should do , and was told that
n . e must apprehend the prisoner , or any man who obstructed him in the exercise of his duty . He then proceeded through the fair , and the prisoner came close to him delivering his bills , and he ( witness ) took one of them out of his hands , and found it was an advice to the people not to enlist . It was headed Hints to the Arm ^^ and all through was against enlisting . When he saw the nature of the bill , and fouud his passage obstructed by the people , he took hold of the prisoner and brought - "him . into the ranks of his party , " and then called ¦ a police officer , and gave him into custody . He could not swear the ; prisoner was with the mob when he made use of the language against th e g ov e rnm e nt an d the sol d iersThe p r i soner d i d
, obstruct him by causing a crowd to assemble around him . He ( the sergeant ) was nOt a police-officer , but he considered that it was his bounden duty , as a soldier , to protect the government ; and when he found the nature of the bills which were being delivered out , he thought he ought to take the prisoner up . Mr . Morgan , the prisoner ' s attorney , drossexamined the sergeant , who said he should not have interfered with the prisoner had it not been for the bills which he waa delivering . He caused a great crowd to assemble about him , and the people ob struoted him in his passage . Mr . Gem , the magistrate ' s clerk , said there ' was quite ) sufficient against the prisoner to warrant the magistrate in remanding him , until they could learn from the Crown what
was to be done with him . They must take the opinion of the Attorney and Solicitor-Generala upon the subject . Polica constable 173 then produced a large bundle of hand-bills , which he took out of the prisoner's apron . One of them was headed , " Rhymes for the army ; blood , battle , and plunder . " The second was the case of a poor woman , named Crassman , a soldier ' s w-ife , who applied some time ago for relief to the magistrates of London , having been left in a state of groat distress by her husband , and who lately left this country for India . Mr . Gem said the prisoner could be admitted to bail to appear to answer any charge which might be preferred against him , on the receipt of the government instructions . Mr . Morgan said Mr . Sturge would be bail for the prisoner's appearance . Mr . Joseph Sturge then rose and entered into £ 20 surety for the prisoner ' s appearance , Hines also bound himself in tho same sum , and left the office . —London Paper .
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Wondebful Escapb . —On Wednesday evei » 2 jg one of the moat frightful becurrehces we ever remember to have seen , occurred in Bridlesmith-g * te , in . this town . The procession conducting Mr . Sturge , was turning the corner of Middle-pavement , and many Hundreds lined Bridlesmith-gate , wben a cry was raised of " clear ont , " and in the distance a horse and light cart in which sat a farmer icaino tearing along the street at a furious pace . T-The farmer kept his seat well—he pulled with , all his might at tke reins , but to no purpose-r-the animal still tore on at full gallop ^ in spite of the waviog ^ of hands arid hats to stop him . At the end of Bridles ' mi th-gate , the driver tried to turn him to the left , but without avail , as be darted with his head and tho shafts with immense "force against the front of Mr . Johnsons ' , the : Postern-gate . The crash
seemed as if it would dash the cart to pieces , but in the most wonderful manner the driver kept his seat —the horse turEed himself round and walked very gently , and the cart was uninjured . Id turning round , the horse knocked a woman down into the gutter ^ and drew the cart over ; her , before he could be stopped . Accidently , however , she had a thick cloak on , which saved her from a broken limb . The horse seemed quite stunned with striking his head with such force , and to that may be attributed his quietness afterwards . Never did we see or hear of an accident evidently so appalling , ending so well . "The course of the cart lay amougst hundreas of people , thiokly collected , . and yet only one was hurt . Had he turned into Middle-pavement no doubt many lives - would have been lost . Tho cart had on it James Martin , farmer . Burton . —rNotting ham Review . ¦ x . * :
Distressing Occurrence .- —Two Lives Xqst . — Chatham , May 19 . — -This day a Jury assembled at the Duncan ' s Head public house , New Road » Chatham , to investigate the circumstances attendant upon the death of two men , named Thomas Turner and William Taylor ; whose lives were lost on Monday night last , whil&t emptying a cesspool in Beststreet . The first witness examined was / Robert Taylor ,, brother of the deceased , William Taylor . He stated that his brother was a bricklayer , and had been employed in making a cesspool adjoining to another cesspool , on the premises of Mr . Farmor , Best-street . The new cesspool was nineteen feet deep , and the old one nine feet . A stage was erected
in the new one , about nine feet below the surface of the earth . On Monday night the deceased , Wm . Taylor and Thomas Turner , went down into the hole and made an aperture , and the slough run through . Witness remained abqye . After which witnes 3 ! s brother , with a crowbar , enlarged the hole , and the stuff run out faster ; very Soon afterwards witness heard his brother cry out , ** Dear me , I can hardly breathe , " when almost in ah instant he fell into tha soil . Witness called to Turner , and said , ** For God's sake , put the rope down and fetch him up . " Turner . did so ; he , however , fell in also . Mr . Dunstall , who was then on the stage , sang out for the rope , and before it could be brought up he fell and fainted . " He did not fall into the soil . Witness and
a person named Farmer pulled out Mr . Dunstall . Mr . Dunstall was the master . Every precaution , was taken : a candle was kept burning down in the hold ; they therefore considered there was no danger . Assistance : was procured . Witness ' s brother and Turner were got out , but they were quite dead . Witness can speak positively that both the men understood their work . Deceased ' s brother is thirty ^ five years of ' age , and Turner thirty-four . Mr . Benjamin Tribe , surgeon , said he was sent for on Monday evening , a quarter before ten o ' clock . Saw the deceased , Taylor , i m m er s e d i n the sewer with his head out of the fluid . The body having been brought up , witness . found the deceased was dead . Turner , when brought up , was also dead " . ' , Their deaths were produced by suffocation , by inhaling a quantity of gas . The Jury , after some little consideration , returned a verdict— - '' Accidentally suffocated . " ~
The Grbat Western steam-ship , Lieutenant Hosken , R ; N ., sailed on Saturday aftfrrnoen , from Liverpool for New York . She carried sixty ^ five passengers , amongst whom was Mr . H . Palmer . She had a fair quantity of fine goods on freight .
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From , the London Gazette of Friday , May' 20 . Thomas Brettell , Rupert-street , Haymarket , printer , to surrender May 27 , at 1 o ' clock , July 1 , at 12 , at the Baiikrupta Court . Solicitor , Mr . Arden , Bed Lion Square . Official assignee , Mr , Belcher . William Smith , Curtain-road , Shoreditch , timbermerchant , May 27 , at 11 o ' clock , July i , at 1 > at the Bankrupts' Court . Solicitor , Mr . Surman , Newsquare , iincoln ' s-inn . Official assignee , Mr . Belcher . : ' .- ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ "' - '' .. '¦ '¦' . . ' .. -- . " . ¦ . - '¦¦ Alexander Duncan j Cowper's-conrt , Corn-hill , merchant , May 31 , at half-past 1 o ' clock , July 1 , at 2 , at the Bankrupts' Court . Solicitor , Mr . Ki rkman , King . William-street . Official assignee , Mr . Pennell .
John Stewart , Hampton-street , Walworth , linendraper , May 31 , at 1 o ' clock , July 1 , at 11 , at the Bankrupts' Court- Solicitor , Mr . Reynolds , Adamatreet , Adelphl , Official assignee , Mr . Graham , Basinghall-street . '¦ . ' ' . ' •"¦ ¦ ¦ ' : : : - : : ; '¦ ¦ . ' : ' . ' : - ¦ - ' - - " ' ¦ . ¦'• ¦ . . " " ¦¦ : ¦ William HoopeT , Reading , tobacco maaufectnYer , May 27 , July I / at II o ' clock , at the Bankrupts' Court . SoJicitors , Messrs . Adllngton , Fflulfcner , and FoJlett , Bedfprd-rbw , Official asaignee , Mr . Edwards , Frederick ' s-placej Old Jewry . ¦ John Bpwiey , senior , Wolverhampton , curry-cemh maker , May 31 , July 1 , at 11 o ' clock , at the Swan Hotel , Wolyerhampton . Solicitors , Messrs . Hicks and Matriss , and Mr . Chaplin , Gray's-inn-Bquare ; and Messra Turner and Coreer , Wolverhampton .
William Thorpe , Goole , iBtone-mason and builder , May 31 , July 1 , at 12 p'clock , at the Guildhall , Doncaater . Solicitors , Messrs . ; Galsworthy , and Nicholla , Cook's-cour t , Lincoln ' s-lnn ; and Mr . Wilson , GooJe . . ¦; .::.-: ; : ,:.- . : ¦ ' . r ' : ' ...- ¦ ¦ , , "' / :- ¦ ¦ : ' ¦ ' - - ¦ '¦ '¦ ¦ ¦ John Smith , Huddersfield , wine and Apirit merchant , June 10 , July 1 , at 2 o ' clock , at the P ack Horse ' Inn , Huddersaeld . Sollcitora * Messrs . Battye , Fisher , and Sudlow , Chancery-lane ; and Mr . Scholeay Dewsbury ; . ' . ¦ ' . ' - ¦ ¦ . ' . : ¦¦ :-. ¦ . ; ¦ ¦ : : ¦ ,: •¦• • ¦ ' ¦ . .: ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ' ¦ '""[ '¦• •" . '¦ : * : James Irvine , Liverpool , Balt-broker i June 6 , July 1 , at 1 ' .- ' . ¦ o ' clock , at the Clareudon-rooms , Liverpool . Solicitors , Messrs . Vincent and Sherwood , Temple ; and Messrs . Littledale and Birdswell , Bank-buildings , Liverpool . ¦¦'¦' : ¦ ' - "'¦¦ .. '¦ '¦¦ - ¦¦
Moses . New , Great Malvern , Worcestershire , innkeeper ,. May ^ 27 , July 1 , at 12 o ' clock , at the Orownlnn , Worcester , Solicitors , Messrs . White and Eyre , Bedford-row j and : Messrs . Finch and Jones , Worcester . '¦¦ •¦ ¦ ' " ¦• - ¦' . .:: -.. ' '¦ ' ¦ " ' ¦
PARTNERSHIPS DtSSOLVED . J . Walker and Son , Leeds , timber-merchanta . —Manley , Pari-y , and Co . Manchester , linen thread-mannfacturers , —Williamson and Thiatleton , Kingaton-upon-Hull , ginger-beer manirfacturerE . ^ -Black , Sleigh , and Co ., Liverpool , brokers .--Cochraue and Gittins , Manchester , nianufactuters . —J . Briggs , sen . and C . Horseman , Blackbura ,: Lancashire , cheese-dealers . — -Buckley , Bamsley , and Co ., Manchester , engravers to calico printers ; as far as regards J . Buckiey .--Grflham and Son , Liverpool , tailors . ; :
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From I&e Gazette of Tuesday , May 2 A . Adam Telfer , smith , Praed-street , Paddington , to surrender June 3 , and July 5 , at half-past 11 , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Alsagar , oftcial assignee , Basinghall-atreet ; Yirge , EsseXrStreet , Strand . William Finden and Edward Francis Fiiiden , engravers ; Southaaiptoii-place , M ' ew . road , Pancr 8 £ r , Middlesex , June 3 , at 1 , and July 5 , at 11 , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Johnson , official assignee , Baslngball-street ; Johnson , Cannon-st . ;; .--v . Mary Quick , baker , Compton-street , Burton-Crescent , June 3 ; at 12 , and Jnly 5 , at 11 , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Turqnand , official assignee ; Drake , Bouveriestreet , Fleet-street . / . / : ; ; . ' - ¦ : "' .:: '/ ¦; ¦ ¦
John ! Kadford , upholsterer , Tiverton , June 21 , and July 5 , at 12 , at the Old London Inn , Exeter . Fox , Finabury-drcius , London . Tanner , Crediton , Devon . ' . ¦• . " ¦ :- - ' ¦ " - : . - ' . '' ¦ . ' ¦ ' ¦ '¦' ¦ ¦ ¦'¦ ' ' ¦¦ ' ¦ ¦ " ' - ' . ' Robert Attriee , hMler , Brighton , June 3 , and July 5 , at 2 , at the Town Hall , Brighton . Freeman , BothatQley , and BentaU , Coleman-atreet , London . Chalk ^ Brighton . - ::: "¦ . ¦'' . :- ; - " - ¦ :- .- . C-v ' ' ' \ ¦ :- - ' . ¦' - [ . ¦ ¦ James Smith , wine merchant , Hertford , June 3 , at 2 , and July 5 , at 12 , at the Court of Bankruptcy , Lackington , official assignee , Coleman-street-buildtngs . Everitt , Haydon . square , Minbries . . - John Berry , grocer , Rugby , Warwickshire , June 8 , and July ' - ' 5 , at 11 , at the Grazier ' * Arms , Rugby . Wratislaw , Rugby . Fuller and Saltwell , Carlton-chambers , Kegent-street > London . ¦' ¦¦¦ ' " - '
_ _ Robert Biass , wine merchant , Liverpool , June 3 , and July 5 , at 12 , at the Clarendon-rooms , LiverpooL Dimmock , Sise-lane , Bucklerabury , London . Fairclongh , Liverpool . _ ::,. ¦¦ _ ^ John TattersaU , coal merchant , Heath Carnocfc , Lancashire , June 15 , and July 3 , at eleven at the Town Hall , Preston . Adlington , Gregory , Faulkner , and Follett , Bedford-row , London . Stringfellow , WiUiam Goyer Gray , dentist , Bath , June 6 , and July 5 , at 12 , at the Christopher Inn , Bathv Sheppard , Castle-streets Holborn , London . William Donald , furrier , Brighton , ; May 28 , and July 5 at 12 . at the Town Hall , Brighton . Bennett , Brighton . Richards and Walker , Lincoln ' B . lnn-fleidg , London . " ... ' - .: : -.. ¦' : ' ;; >' . " .- -: ' - ;¦ ' - : ¦ ' "_ ¦ ~ _\_^ ::- - _ r " v ¦
James SimmonB , John SimmonB , and John Pine , manufacturers of prussiate of potash , Battersea , May 31 , at 1 , and Jnly 5 , at 12 , at the Court of Bankruptcy . Green , official assignee , Aldermanbury . ; Lind « Bay and Mason , Cateaton-street . jjrt'tt'f i % JtKi * James Fuller , coal-merchant , MBcKSmctn , % | inL- ¦ shira , June 7 , at 2 , and July 5 , at livS ^ V ^ Q '" ' *^ of Bankruptcy . Edwards , FrederW ^ . m ^ sr pif »^\ Jewry , official assignee . Fry ^ -L ^ jr ^^ dr-fg !^ A Cheapaide . ^ v '; . ¦ ;¦ ¦ . -itf * ^ & ^ ~ ~ ' 7 ^* X' } Jane Jones , woollen-draper , Carwfon , Jotrt JJ f W ^ i . ^ ^ r ?\ July 5 , at 11 , at the Eajzlea Ttovtf&dP&mi : ' ^ W ^ ' % J ^ Carnarvon . Jones , Parliament-Btie ^ tr / Loriiioiv , '' J ^ f ^ ' ^ Vl Joseph Cotterell , hinge m&ket , ^ SSg ^ ie **^^^^ ' shire , Jime 15 , and July 5 , at 12 , aT OftSwrso ^^^ , - ' Wolyerbampton . Chaplin , Qray * W * fipmi ^ Wffv * | g Bpurriev and Chaplin , BirmioghaB . m i . -i *¦ ai *» * ^ v
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MB . ROEBUCK AND THE BATH CHARTISTS . Tho following correspondence will be read , no doubt , wish interest by the Charti&ta throughout the country : — "TO JOHN ARTHUR BOEBrCK , ESQ ., HP , " 19 , Gloucester-road Buildings , Swans wick , Bath . " Sib ., —I am requested by the Council of the Bath Chartist Society to forward the fellowing resolution to you , with a request that you would answer the Bame . The resolution \ ras passed unanimously . They take this step previous to their calling a public meeting to take the sense of the inhabitants respecting the matter to which this letter refers . It is as follows : —
" That we , the Councillors of the Bath Chartist Society , being a portion of those who elected Mr . itoebnck , feel called upon te state , that while we approve of and sxe pleased "with Mr . Roebuck ' s general remarks Biade in defence of our principles , we denounce hiB attack on the supposed author of the National Petition as malignant and cowardly , and as an insult to all -who signed that document ; we , therefore , call upon Mr . R . to apologias for his conduct , to prove the charge of malignancy and cowardice , or to retract thia assertion . ' " am , Sir , Yours most respectfully , " G . M . Baetlett . " IS H £ PLT , MR . ROEBUCK SAYS : — "Londay , May 13 , 1812 . « ' Sir , —Before I can pay the slightest attention to your unseemly letter , I desire to know the names of the electors * who passed the resolution .
" I am , Sir , " Yoar obedient servant , " J . A . Roebuck " Mr . G . M . Bartlett . "
TO MR . ROEBUCK , H . P . SIR , —On receiving yonr letter , I thought proper to lay . it before the ConncD . Feeling , &s they do , a kindred regard for you as an avowed democrat They regret you should have raised any quibble , or doubted the veracity of the person who forwarded yon their resolution respecting your attack on the supposed author of the National Petition—an attack which they considered to be an insult to themselves , and all others whs signed that document . They asked you to apologise for your conduct , to prove the charge of malignancy and cowardice , or to retract your assertion . For reply yon say you mnst know the names of the " electors "
vho passed the resolution , before you can pay the slightest attention to my unseemly letter . This they consider to he an evasion of a plain question , which , whether pnt by elector * or non-electors , you ought in justice to have answered . However , I overlook the anaeemly' attack yon have made on my veracity , and here jive the names yen require . But permit me to Btate one or two things . At a late meeting you advised us , if dipleased with anything yen may have done , to ask you to explain . We do aak you to explain -why you attacked the supposed author of the National Petition ? You also , on the occasion in question , advised us ' to bear and lorbear' ; but is your conduct an example of such ?
We consider your attack to be unwarrantable and uncalled for . We are pained that it should have been made to undo that good which your speech wonld otherwise have effected . Had yon attacked , by fair argument , the very foolish petition , ' we sheuld have applauded toot candour and straightforwardness ; but , instead of doing this—instead of pointing out the 1 foolishness' of tbe petition , you conjured np a supposed author for the purpose , it would appear , of maligning his motives , and misrepresenting the character of the Chartists generally . Your attack was -evidently made in the same spirit as that which you condemned . What proof had you that the author of the petition was ' & malignant and cowardly demagogue V
The petition affords no such proof . It was drawn up by the Executive of the National Charter Association . It expressed our sentiments ; though if we had had the drawing of it up , in the first place , we might have differently worded it , thinking it best to give no pretext for the enemy to cavil about the principles . Bat wh&terer petition may be presented in the Commons , it would be sure to displease some . Wishing an answer as soon as convenient , I am respectfuDy yours , G . M . Babtlett . Bath , May 17 , 1842 . P . S . I enclose the names and resolution . The above is -written at the request of the National Charter Asso ciation .
SIB . EOEBCCK ' S REPLY . London , May 20 , 1842 , " . Sib ., —The resolution you sent me purported to be of the electors . I desired to know who those electors were . In asking that question I did not question the right of the non-electors in any way ; but when a man assumes a character it is but right that he should be entitled to it . I desired to know the electors who had passed the resolution , and as you have sent me the names of five persons ( six ) who were so , I answer them as snch . Had you not claimed the character of electors and demanded on that ground an answer , I should have said nothing on the subject of electors .
" Firstly , —I beg to say that I deem it of absolute necessity th » t every member of the House of Commons have perfect liberty of speech—and I "Will not , by any act of mine , by way of explanation , diminish that right { . ' . ' )¦ When , however , I can remove mistake , "without prejudice to the perfect liberty of speech which I deem essential , 1 will do so . And therefore , " Secondly , —1 beg to say , that I took great care to express every proper regard for the petitioners who signed the National Petition . I cast no inBult upon them , intended to cast none , but of the petition itself I spoke in the way I thought fitting , and shall do so again if the occasion requires it . I thought it foolish , I think so still , and my opinion thereof is not altered by your comment on my speech .
" Thirdly . —I am told that the persons who really did -write the National Petition -were Mr . Philp and Mr . M'Douall . I have told them that as neither of them was in the slightest degree alluded to by me , I waa glad to have the opportunity of saying so to them ; but that any further explanation I would not give . To them , as to yen , I expressed strongly that I never did ssy , never -wished to Boy , one word that could be construed into an insult of the petitioners ; but to them , as to you , I did say that I had the same opinion of the petition itself . "I will not now remark on the language of yonr resolution . You may deem it proper to abuse me , but of this I am sure , my constituents , my country men generally will not join in that abuse . I answer you because I would not have it said that I neglected to notice a remonstrance because it came from persons not powerful " I beg further to say that I have received the thanks of certain Chartists of Bath who signed the petition . I thought I had done good service to their cause , on the occasion of 'which you complain . " I am , your obedient servant , "J . A . KOEBUCK . "
Untitled Article
u To the Right Hon . Sir James Graham , Secretary of State for the Home Department . " The memorial of the members of the National Chartea Association residing in Brighton , agreed to at a General Meeting of the Association , April 27 th , 1841 . " Hbmbly Sho-weth , —That at the York Spring Assizes , in 1810 , Samuel Holberry -was convicted of conspiracy and sedition , and sentenced to four years ' imprisonment in the House of Correction at Northallerton . "That the effect of this imprisonment , —the rigours of the silent system having been 8 trictly enforced ,- —became alarmingly injurious to the health and future Bafety of the Baid prisoner ' s life .
" That subsequently , under your administration as Home Secretary of State , the said prisoner was removed from the Northallerton House of Correction to York Castle , where it was hoped—nay , gratefully believed by your memorialists and other friends of the said Samuel Holberry—was lesB injoriouB , and that he would there recover from the effeets of his former severe treatment . " That it is now become too manifest that the prison discipline at York Castle is fast destroying the said prisoner ' s health , and that unless timely mercy be shewn him , his life must be endangered ; for , ' to use his own werds , ' his debility has so rapidly increased that he can hardly crawl , and death itself must be the consequence of continued impriaonmenL '
" That whatever opinions may be entertained as to the enormity of the offence for whieh the said S . Holberry was convicted , it cannot be disputed that he has , during the two years of his confinement most severely paid the penalty of his conviction , that if to punish was the object of the sentence passed on him he has endured punishment in one of its worst and host DESTRUCTIVE F 6 RMS . '' That , therefore , your petitioners earnestly solicit yoar interference on his behalf , and that , under the consideration of the punishment he has endured , and of the precarious state of his health , you will intercede for hii release from confinement , and by timely restoring him to freedom and to the bosom of society , confer a benefit on him for which not only he , but thousands ef his fellow men will be deeply grateful . "And your memorialists , as in duty bound , && < fcc .
" Signed on behalf of the meeting , " John Page , ChairmaD "Brighton , April 57 th , 1842 .-
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Untitled Article
_ THE NORTHERN STAE . ¦ ' : . : : ;¦ ; : ¦ -r- ' t
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 28, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1163/page/7/
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