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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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OJT THE PROPRIETY OF THE WORKING CLASSES AIDING THE CORN-LAW REPEALERS : IN REPLY TO S . K . OF
GLASGOW . Six , —As it ia evident from the composition of your letter that you are Bot in the habit of putting your thoughts nwm paper , I stall make no captioua or TOW criticism ; but where your meaning appears dear , or can be gathered from what you say , I shall take such meaning , without regard to the phraseology , and comment upon it accordingly . It will be evident to all who have read my first letter that from the motto prefixed to it and from the composition of the first paragraph , I appeared to donbt the justice or propriety of resorting to any but strictly honourable means for the attaining of any great object But , I concluded , " if the parties with whom we have to do keep no measure of faith ; if they resort te anything or everything , no matter how tricky or base , to ends think the end
prevent us obtaining our just ; I would sanctify the means , eTen if we did return the contents of the poisoned chalice to their own lips , and fcMst them from their uDjust position by meanj of their c-wn petard . " Now , sir , this was one of the positions which yon ought to have either endeavoured to contro-Tert or to have acknowledged . If yon had controverted It , the wiole ol the subsequent reasoning -would necessarily have fallen to the ground ; and if you had acknowledged it , the wkjle matter in dispute would have resolveJ iuelf into the question , whether the repeal of the Com Lavs teould have a tendency to cause tht middle doses to become alarmed for their otcn situation , and toTiStqutni ' y cause them to join the people to oliain that povtr in the legislature ichich , AND ONLY 'WHICH , can prevent them from being swallowed up by the gulf of fired payments
Here the whole thing would have been in a nutshell , asd if you had taken these two , either jointly or singly , ¦ Wi should not have been is danger of losing the main object in a labyrinth of , at thebest , ¥ ut secondary conseqnencrs . But as you have not taken this course I must follow you in the best way I can . Your first attempt at reasoning is in the following words : — " Now I contend that the interest of the retail merchant and the labourer are the same . If the laboarer receives no wages , the retailer receives no profits : if Email wages , the retailer small profits .
Thus their interests are co-extensive , and this , according to his own showing , necessity being tbe basis of nnioH , it was never so likely as how . " Now , Sir , suppose I grant the whqje of this , what would it be but reasoning , to the best of your pawer , for my position ? If necessity be tbe basis of union , the more you ^ increase that necessity , the gra&te * the ikine * ol union , and , therefore , it hrinjs you round to my position , that the more they are alarmed for their own position the sooner they will join the people to prevent their own complete rain .
Bat if yon meant to include the whole of the manufacturing' and trading class when you said that " the interests of the retail merchant and the labouring class are co-extensive , " I must beg most respectfully to dissent from the opinion . Is it true that the interest of the merchant and manufacturer , whose dealings are abroad , can be " co-extensive with those of the labourer ? " By co-extensive I suppose you mean identical . And bow , pray , are the interests ol these parties " identical" with those of the labourer 7 Their interest is to purchase cheap and to sell dear ; and , therefore , it is their interest for things to be in that state in this country whch wiM compel the labourer to work for the least possible amount of remuneration , and then it is their intfcreet to aell the produce of th . it lsbonr for the highest possible amount on the other side of the water ; and , therefore , if they have any interests " identical" with those of any body , it is with those of their foreign purchaser .
Nor ia it quite so evident that , the interest of that miserable slave , the shopkeeper , and that of the working man is so completely identical as it would appear at the first glance to be . Let us just examine for a moment whether the interest of those who deal in heavily taxed articles is so very identical with that of the working man . Let us , then , take as an instance one of theflish "TEA WAREHOUSES" in ons of the principal streets of Glasgow . And , let us also premise here that tbe tax npon tea will amount to , at the least , one half of its cost to the consumer . Now , then , let us suppose that thii shop has the whole of its establishment based upon the sale of £ 100 per week , and that by that sale be gets ten per cent , or £ 10 per week . Now , then , let us suppose that his gas , his servants , his rent , his taxes , in short , all the miscellaneous expeaces , which are based upon this £ 18 per week , amount to five pounds per week , leaving the proprietor a net profit of the remaining five pounds .
Now , then , let us suppose the tax on tea abolished ; and let us suppose that this flssh shop of yonrs continues to retail the same weight of tea ¦ which it did brfore the abolition ef the duty . No one need be told tiat the same weight of tea which before the abolition of the daty raised £ 100 , will , after the abolition of the duty , it being ona half only , raise £ 50 per week Now , then , suppose him to get ten per cent npon his turn over as before , it will be evident , that aa hi « torn over is only £ 50 pet week , tbe profit upon that will be only five pound per week ; and , as we have supposed his expences of all kinds to amount to five pounds per week , it will leave the proprietor fat hiB share just nothing at all !! What think you now , S . K ., about the interest of the retail merchant and that of . the labourer being co-extensive ? Will it be likely , thiak you , that tbe retail merchant will be anxious for the abolition of the tax upon tea ?
But you will tell me that m consequence of the reduction in price hi » sala "will be douWed , and therefore he will gain aa much in nominal amount as he did before tbe abolition of the tax . Let us try this . Let ca suppose for a moment the absurdity that his sale would be doubled , ( which mind I do not , only for the sake of illustrating the argument , ! what would be the consequence ? Would he not want double warehouse rocm , double the number of hands , ia sh > rt would not his expence be , if not quite , nearly doubled if he had to do double the amount of business ? This must inevitably follow , or elae we must suppose that the " canny " fia&h shopman is such a good soul that he has been willing to pay for double the amount of warthouseroom which he wanted ; double the amount of hands ¦ whieb he stood in need of ; in short , that he has been wiiliBg to pay double the amount of expenee which he had any occasion for , and that too out of pare good will , rather than put the amount in his own pocket
io » S . K have you any retail merchant of this kind ? Are the " canny Scotch" famed for doing things in this manner ? But , however , admitting sll thesa absurdities , ii it not evident that the " retail merchant " ard his asiiitants would h ^ ve double the amount of labour to perform ? And will they be anxious to do this . ' Thiok you that thsir interests are so co-extensive ? But yen observe that tbe poor workiefl "would be the first to suffer , and then what are they do ? I grant you that ia peat social changes the workey is the first great suffrrer . Bat what is his state under this system of " goeial order" ? Docs he come in for the lion ' s share of the comforts ? and if he does why is he disaffected ? Lord John Russell said that he had arrived at such a state cf wretchedness that he bad " eaten his bed . " alderman Kershaw , cf iJanebester , corroborated
this by faying that in one small district 10 , 000 were withont bed to He on . The ex-Mayor of LeeSa said that part cf the people of Leeds were living upon rotten potatoes picked up from the ¦ wharf . The Irish Etole sea wetd vhich bad been laid on to the land as manure , and eat it to preserve a miserable existence And . Mr Ald&rn , M . P . for Leeds , said that the workita must be starved down to tbe required quantity ; and hundreds of things more horrible and awfal , whieh e'en to name would be unlawful . But in England this has no occasion to be to aoy great extent if the working classes would act with spirit and be dete : mined to go in shoals to tbe poor hr-use . You have the same right to relief from the land as the landlord bas to own it Do this and you will quickly alarm them , for their situation , and then they will quickly look about for a remedy .
Bat yen wi 1 tell me about the independance of men , cf the degraded name of pauper , and all the other cant whieh is put into the mouth of tha working man , to make him struggle with an hungry belly and a naked back . I know all about the afikir . I can see the b / jstst , industrious , and too patient working man go w ' . th his wife and famishing children to " ask some tratttr of the earth to give him leave to toil , '' and I can enter itto all tbe anguish which wrings a father ' s bosom * feen he hears his " Lordly fellow worm , the poor petition spurn ;" I can accompany him to the bastile's portal , and I can tear , " annd the pulses maddening play , " the order to » = pwat £ him from his wife and cbilcren . I Con hear the aether ' s shriek of agony ; I can hear the father exclaim in iEgoish , " what all my little ones ! " I > amn them ! BeaTeBsi " what all ?"'—yes all .
This is horrible ! most htrrible ! But S . K . must cot forget , at the time be is contemplating this scene . the hundreds of good men and true who have to rot in congeons , under the present " mild paternal sway . " Be mcst not forget Frost , Williams and Jones ; ke niost noi forget the scores which have been transported from S ; tfbrd ; be must not endeavour to disguise from hinuelf that the unprotected , heart-broken wife and fonuhing children have all the previously described horrible scenes to undergo , in addition to the harrowing rtfieetion that the partner cf her sorrows is pining in the dungeon , or clanking hia chain as a felon , because he h * endeavoured to wring from capital a fair remunerate ? & * bi « labour . ¦ abides , y oH say . " let even martyrdom come , and it be
*^ welcome . " Now if this be not all unmeaning an *; if it be not a stringing together of words which Me » fnli of fury but signify nothing , " yon cannot aespiii , even though your employer andfyonrself should ttart the "hungryrace together . " For although the much fesred harassing of capital may involve the sp ^ ra fr 0 In ^ iQTd , felloe . wonn ; although It may k"clTe the separation for a time from hi * wife and cnuaren , sail he must remember that " mabttbdom ' l 33 TO Te « tbita all ; and more , mrch more ; und I would p anictlsrly impress this fact upon your mind , aat the who ) b of the struggle is nearly exclusively for wJe benefit of xhe -working-man . In proportion as he Runs , aici ^ ^ jj da ^ g -win lose . And , thereljTe > * ki - he has to suffer luriDg the ttruggle is the
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price which he pays for tbe good he expects from hii emancipation . And this I would say farther , that if ever he expects to have a voice in the making of tbe laws until the other classes become alarmed for their situation , he is one of the most mistaken ef men ; and , therefore , the great consideration for him is this , how can 1 the most easily alarm ( hem for their own situation and I contend that a repeal would alarm them to the fitfck . I think , if you read the quotation from my letter again , you will see that it is not quite void of common sense ; and that there cannot be any great mystery in our aiding the c « rn law repealers , and at the tame time eontinninr our own agitation .
In paragraph 5 , you say— " Nothing is plainer than this ; to aid in repealing the Corn Laws is to lend oorselvej into the hands of our oppressors ,-enabling tbe capitalist to east labour prostrate at the feet of capital , and rivet the chains of middle class despotism more firmly round the neck of the people . " This is the sort of declamation used by all those who write and speak upon this question , without knowing anything abont what they are talking about Lay labour prostrate at the feet of capital 1 What . ' more prostrate than it is ? And , pray , how is it to effect this ! Do tell me how it is to give capital more power than it has J I shall die if you do not tell me . But if you know that it would effect this , bow happens it that you did not prove to us how it was to work all these miracles 1 You p-ere bound to show that I was wrong in the position I bad taken , instead of cavilling about the minor details .
But I am still sick to know how this . ' 'laying prostrate " is to come about . But , however , the thing can only be brought about one ef two ways—either it would cause us to have such an extension of commerce that we should " have prosperity for ages ; " or its tendency would "be such as I have described it to be . Now , in my first letter arguments ara used , which , if I had space for their full developement , would completely prove that the repeal would not cause an ultimate extension of oar commerce . If yea thought the reasoning there was false , why did yon not expose - it , instead of assuming the whole
question at issue . And if you think that it will cause us such an extension of our commerce , if yon think that it will give us prosperity for ages , why do you oppose the repeal ? It can be on no other ground , if you think this , than that on which I advocate the repeal , that is , to keep the country in a state of distress on purpose to obtain a political purpose . Ah , sir , what think you now of your employer and you " runing the hungry race together ? And if ysu prevent a measure which will be franght -with , good to every clasSi do you not certainly come up to the picture drawn of you by every Whig and Tory scribe in the land ?"
But , even admitting that the " repeal would cause us ta have prosperity for ages , " how , in the name of all thatiB good , could that tend to " lay labour prostrate at thefeet of capital ? " Are we not everlastingly told that the wages of labour depend upon " demand and supply ; " that there is no other way of bettering the cendition of the labourer but either by bringing the labour up to the quantity of hands , or reducing the quantity of Bands to the labour ; that the labour market is over-Btocked -, and that the labourers must be starved down to the quantity which the capitalist can employ ; and now , whtn a measure is proposed which has a tendency to canse ns to have prosperity for ages , which promises to bring the demand up to the supply , we are gravely told that it would have a tendency " to lay labour prostrate at tie feet of capital ! ' This is most admirable reasoning ! and a most singular way of causing tbe labourer to . have to run tha hungry race by himself !
But ia order to escape the dilemma in which you are involved , you . are bound to turn round and say that you do not think that repeal will produce any of the wonderful results promised by its advocates ; in short , yea are bound to say that you believe it would produce the results I described in my first letter . Ah , Sir ! this shall not serve your turn . If you think this , how is it that . yon do not oppose repeal ? Why do you permit your employer and yourself to " run the hungry race together" without an endeavour to prevent it ? Is it for some political purpose ? And if you do not prevent a measure-which " will be franght with mischief to every claBs , " do you not certainly come up to the picture drawn of you by evary Whig and Tory writer in the land '
In paragraph seven you say , " convince the middle class of their interast , by argument , and the day is our own . " Lord help us I what a task you have set us . Ho * are we to convince the recipients of the interest of the - unjust debt that it would be for their interest not to receive their dividends ? How are we to go about to convince the recipients of the sinecures and pensions that it would be for their interest that those pensions should go to clothe the nakedness of those who had prodnced them ? By what process of reasoning are we to convince the half-pay and fall-pay cficers
and dead weight that it would for their interest that a standing army should bo disbanded ? Convince all the swarm of poor-law commissioner * , police commissioners , police magistrates , fco ., that it would be for their interest to work for their bread instead of devouring the substance of the widow and the fatherless ! Coavisce tbe merchant and manufacturer that it would be for their interest that you should have a voice in the making of those laws which would insure you a day ' s wage for a fair day ' s work ! Convince ail these fairly of these things . '
Truly , Sir , but you have se-t us an herculean task . Don Quixote ' s most extravagant of projects was a complete einbodyment of wisdom compared to this . No , no , Sir , you cannot convince them of these things because they are fuily convinced of exactly the contrary already . Nothing bat being alarmed for their Own safety will . ever convince the middle classes of the necessity of taking part with the labourer ; and they must be convinced , too , that nothing but taking part with the labourer can savd them from the gulf of fixed payments . Repeal of the Corn Laws would lay capital prostrate at the feet of the fixed payments , nor conld it escape without the aid of the labourer . Then hurrah for the repeal of the Corn Laws ! W . P .
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THE EXECUTIVE . TO THE EDITOB OF TUB NORIHKKN STAR . Dear Sib , —The call of our country should be as religiously obeyed as the call cf God . Impressed with this opinion , I held myself in readiness , cheerfully to attend the wishes of the people whenever they think I can be of any service to them . Bat I would not accept an office of national trust exespt by Universal Suffrage and npon honour . The call of the Executive pro tern , to elect a new Executive was not responded ta by the country and for these lufiacient reasons . The pro tern was a self-elected body—at least , elected by a council of which the pro tern were themselves members . No appeal was made to the country at large—not even to
the localities in London . There was more haste than good speed in this , and the affairs of the Cbariist body did not require such an undeliberate proceeding . It looked too much like waiting for dead men ' s shoes , or rather , snatching up their shoes without waiting for them . Let Chartism run not like an eccentric comet , oat of its course—never let it in '' frightened from its propriety" —but still let it shine on all occasions steady and fixed as the Northern Star , I remain , Dear Sir , Yours respectfully , Manor House , Battersea . John Watkins .
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TG THE EDITOE OF JUS KOBTHEEN STAB . Warwick County Gaol , November 6 , 1842 . DeaB Mb . Hill , —By the time your next paper is pnblifhed I shall have be ^ n elevert weekt in solitary confinement , and , although Mr . Justice Cresswell has ordered bail to be taken for my appearance at the Assizta , and that nine sufficient persons have tendered their names , still the Birmingham Authorities persist in their r-fqsal to accept them . I received a letter on Thursday morning from Mr . W . Chilton , of Birmingham , informing Kie that he had received tbe Judge's order , and that Mr . Griffiths , tbe proseuting attorney , required eitjht sureties in fifty pounds each , whilst a letter which I received from mj worthy friend , W . P . Roberta , of Bath , stated that only four sureties in fifty pounds each wtre required .
I am unable to say wiiicn statement is correct ; but this I know , that the names and residences of nine sufficient persons were handed to Mr . Griffiihs on Wednesday last , and on Friday he delivered bis decision to my friends to tbe following effect : —Messrs . Nurse and Hemming were accepted ; and Messrs . Taylor , Watts , Corbfctt , Follows , Wright and Moule were rejected Another geatleman , named Grattan , who is a press-tool maker , is not yet decided on . From the conduct of tbe Birmingham Authorities , it is quite clear that they are determined to keep me here until the Assizes . From tbe time of my arrest to the
present moment they have acted base towards me . At the conclusion of my examination I applied for bail , which was granted , tbe Mayor informing me that he shanld require two sureties in one hundred pounds each , which , he said , would do for all three indictments . I had tl « en two respectable freeholders in court , who were well known to be worth ten times tbe amount , waiting for the purpese of offering themselves as my sureties , and-informed the magistrates that I was then prepared ; upon which they said they mast have fortyeight hours notice , although the two persons were as well known as any in the town .
In ten minutes after , I was hurried off to this place , a distance of twenty-one miles from Birmingham , and for some reasons , best known to the magistrates , the men who came unsolicited to tender bail for me , afterwards declined . The next time that my friends applied they were told that four sureties , in £ 100 each , would be required , and the Governor cf this prison afterwards informed me , that from the manner in which the commitments were signed , he should require Six sureties in one hundred pounds each , and that the Mayor must have kr . oxin it from the first , he being the person that signed two of them . They have since then refused about fourteen shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are worth a vast deal more than tbe amount required ; acd I am informed that the policeman who was sent to inquire into the qualification of some of those who gave their names as willing to become sureties , threatened an bullied them about being ChartLts .
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Notwithstanding the Judge ' s order , my case is now in staiu quo . They seem determined to keep me here , and feere I suppose I must remain . I don't see anything else that can be done in the matter . My Birmingham friends have done their part well | and 80 bos Mr . O'Connor , and 1 therefore thank them as mnch as if I was liberated . The poor , miserable Whigs are In a doleful plight , when they are so terrified about one man being liberated . I trust that my other friends have had better lock , and that I am like " The last ioae of tummer , left blooming alone . " I am glad to bear that you keep " going a-head , " and watching the " pedlars , " And am , Your brother Chartist , George White .
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THOMAS M . WHEELER , TO MR . L T . CLANCF Sra—I , in common with my brother CbAtdsts , feel greatly surprise * at the tone of a letter addressed by yoa on Saturday last , to the Editor of the Northern Star , regarding you * nomination to the Provisional Committee , In that letter you state , " That the election of such a body was very unnecessary , and to say the least of it , a very unbecoming proceeding ; that it reflected neither credit on tbe judgment or foresight of its originators ; that the country generally was not In favour of the scheme ; that you believe it is altogether tbe trick of some enemy ; that it is too bad that the whole Chartist body should be set in motion to please the whim of any one who thonght proper to send a line to the Star , and that yon oppose any power being taken from tbe present Executive , and will never be a tool ia the hands of the enemy to disarm them . "
This , sir , is tbe substance of your attack upon a body of men , who , in the hour of danger , volunteered , at considerable loss and risk to themselves , to brave the common enemy , and prevent , if possible , any advantage being taken of our party , either by open foe or pretended friend . I , as an individual , could well afford to let such idle charges , such unjust imputations , pass unnoticed , considering the approbation of the great majority of tbe Chartist public to far outweigh the calumny of one individual ; but in justification of the body with whom I acted , I will endeavour to convince you , not by bitter invectives , but by a plain statement of facts , that your charge or its being a trick of the enemy is unjust and unfounded .
The address of which you complain was issued on the Monday after the arrest of the secretary of the Executive . From the amoant ot ball , * c ., demanded , it was not reasonable to suppose that the charge was of such a trumped up nature as it has since proved to be ; and your faculties must be very obtuse indeed , or your brain clouded with envy and jealousy , if you discovered in tbe line of conduct which we laid down , any wish or design of throwing off oar allegiance to the Executive , or in any way depriving them of their justly acquired station . Our object was to
consolidate and preserve , and not to destroy . The policy which we adapted met with the approbation of Mr . Bairstow &mUr . Williams , the only members of the Executive with whom we conld correspond , and was sanctioned by the great majority of tbe Chartist body , upon whom your attack tells with equal efficacy as upon ourselves . It is also approved of and acted upon by Messrs . Campbell and Leach , who now propose that tbe machinery which we created to meet tbe emergency , should fee adopted and made part and parcel of our organization .
In conclusion , when y » u are again attacked by a fit of the spleen or a pugnacious desire of showing that you possess the organ ef combativeness largely developed , I trust that your attack will be made upon the common enemy and not upon men equally honest , equally active with yourself . In the words of the poet" Lst your guns so unerring such vengeance forego , What mark is so fair as the breast of a foe ?" I remain , Yours respectfully , T . M . Wheeler .
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TALES WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE " NORTHERN STAR . " BY CHARTlUS . THE FOUNDLING OF AYR , IGENISHED BT A MASON CHARTIST . NO . V . " Good lack , an't be tby will l what have we here f Mercy on ' s , a barne ; a very pretty barne . " Winter ' s Tales . It was a cold November morning—tho night bad been stormy , but bad settled into a dull black frost more perishing than windy weather . Tbe birds were huddling themselves together upon the leaf-dropping trees , without paying their accustomed matins . The cattle had not risen to gTazs , and their breath was steaming in the stagnant air . Daylight came heavily forth . No smoke from the chimneys yet indicated that any of the cottage fires were lit—the shatters were unclosed , and the town looked like a deserted village .
James Wilson , stone mason , was the first to cross his threshold that morning , to begin tbe customary day ' s avocations , and as he did so , he stumbled upon what appeared to him a feundle of clothes , but on taking it up judge of his astoni&hment to find a mals infant . He thought at first that it tm dead ; piobably it was benumbed with cold , bat it presently opened its eyes and stared in his face with the penetrating gazs of a physionomist , for little children , like dogs , judge by a person ' s looks—they are guided by unerring instinct , so much surer and quicker than reason . Apparently what this poor half-starved infaBt saw in James's face did not give it any high opinion of his humanity , for it immediately begaa to cry lustily , and James himself raised his voice to the top of its pitch , calling on his
good dame to get up and come down stairs instantly . The good wife , loath to leave her warm bed at that early time of the morning , enquired what was the matter ? to which James briefly replied , " Come and see . " Startled at this early summons , and at tbe loud and earnest tone in which it was uttered , she came as Boon as sbo could make herself ready . " Here , " said James , giving to her the screaming infant , " what think you of this ? " The good wife took the child mechanically , but seemed equally at a loss ¦ with James what to think of it . The babe , however , seemed to relish its new quarters better , for it was no sooner laid upon her bosom than it bushed its screams , and rested with its eyes looking quietly and repoaingly into those of the good dame , who wos regarding it with that maternal fondness which helpless
innocence seldom fails to draw from its best protector —woman . James now related tbe circumstance of finding the child , and concluded with saying he should like to know who had laid their sins at his door , he would punish them for it His good dame was not joalous , nor , to do James justice , had be ever given her cause . She , therefore , said , " It ia some poor creature that could not take care of it herself , and thought that it would be care taken of here—we roust take pity on it" " See , "' said Janus , " if there be any maik on it , or any money left with it" Looking into the flinntl petticoat Jn which it was wrapped , " no , " said she , "here ' s nothing bnt its poor naked self , half perbhed with cold , poor thing ! " " We are not bound to take it in , " said James , " we have enough of cur ownwithout being burdened with other fo'ks' .
James bad a son and a daughter . " Let me Bee , he continued , going to the door , and looking up and down the street , " there ' s nobody stirring yet ; I'll go and lay it at the minister ' s door—h 9 ' s better able to keep it than we are . " -f he good dame clasped it closer to her breast while she said ; " No , poor thing I it will die of cold and banger ; providence has placed it here , and we must take it in ; besides , if anybody should see you , what a thing that would be " This last intimation seemed to weigh most with James . He stood considering for a moment , and then broke out in a fit of vexation , "Which made him do all bnt swear , and tbat be would not do for the world . " Dan ? it ! I sheuld like to know who laid it here ; I would willingly lose a day ' s work , if only I could find them . It is a shame and a sin tbat honest folks should be plagued this way
with beggars'brats . " ' Nay , come , says she , " you shan't be troubled with it I'll take take care on't ; leave it to me ; go away to your work ; I'll manage with it" James , after casting a rueful look at tho child , sulkily obeyed ; but he did not do mneh work that day . His mind was troabied with the occurrence of the morning , and he several times left bis work to make inquiries , but could find no trace of the parent or person who bad laid such a stumbling block in his way . All the towspeople began to talk of tbe circumstance ; many went to see tb « child , and James , for his own credit's sake , was obliged to make a virtue of necessity , and to maintain tbe little charge which had been so mysteriously entrusted ta him . He gave it his own name of James , as the findtr , and tho name of Ayr , after the town in which it was found .
James was an austere man , who was reaping where be had never sown . He was a member of the Scotch Kirk , indeed one of its elders , stern in his' morals , strict in all his dealings . Whenever he was out of temper or oat of health , he vented his spleen on the additional charge to bis family which circumstances bad constrained him to keep—he begrudged everything It got , and could not bear to be put out of tbe way by its cries or even by its playfulness . He used to exclaim vehemently against tbe sin of bastardy—especially against those who were guilty ef having children they conld not keep—and seemed ever disposed to visit tbe sin of
the parents on the poor innocent fruit of it Not so the good dame ^—she regarded little Jemmy as ber own —nay the circumstance of his deserted condition awakeDed in ber breast something more than maternal softness for him , and she never let him feel the want of the mother who , Hagar-like , had exposed him to charity or to fate . What articles sb . 3 procured for him , she got when ber husband Was abBent at work , and woald represent that the things were gifts from charitably disposed neighbours . At other times she soothed him by telling him that no doubt the child ' s parents would turn up some day and recompense them for all tLey bad done
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for It . Her daughter , a girl about sevan years old , used to nurse and dress the little foundling as though be were her doll ; bat her son , a boy about twelve , imbibed too much of his father ' s dislike . TbQB while the come-by-chanca was treated like a pet-Iamb by one ball of the fam ly _ he was kept 89 much ia awe by the other thafc it was only neoessary to threaten him that they should take him , to quiet him when disposed to be refractory . Time passed , and little Jemmy grew up a fine healthy bay In spite of the frowns of his foster-rather and brother—for his . foster-mother and sister took care that they should not affect him . James h& 4 not sent bis own son to school-he was in the habit of teaching him himself after work ; bnt he left the adopted one
_ untaught The foundling , however , was naturally quick , and learnt from hearing his brother ' s lessens . Whenever any of the neighbours presented him with a token oflheir compassion , he bought little books or pencils with it , and sometimes bribad bis brother to lend him his . But no sooner had he told eight years , than he was taken by fats futher to assist him at his work , in order , as James expressed it , that he might do something for bis keep . At first , Indeed , hla tasks were light enough—being employed in carrying "the dinner , " and if any object by tne way tempted him to loiter , he bad the rule applied to hU shouldere , for James was determined to keep square with him . He soon
put hjm to other jobs , a-, d was not always careful to proportion them to his strength or his skill , though ho never foiled to punish him for any default in either . He afterwards bonnd him his apprentice , and then he was still more severe upon him , because he considered that the law gave him a right to be so . Often In a winter ' s morning has Jemrny been near fainting at his work before breakfast , but what cut deeper than the cold winda were tbe tannts respecting his birth and condition fiom old James , and his son , who , released from being a slave to his father , now tyrannised in hia turn overShe foundling . All these things sunk deep upon his spirits , and made him thoughtful beyond his years . .
But tbongh James did not care much for the mind or body of his foster-son , be cared greatly for his soul , and was very strict in enforcing his attendance at kirk He even paid oat of his own pocket for a " Sunday Bark" for him , that he might appear decently there . If the boy ever broke the Sabbath , be was sure to have hiB head broken in retaliation—and tbe devil himself could not be ntr . re severe in punishing his sins than James was , who said such severity was neeessary lost the child should become a scape-grace as his parents had been . All tbe while that little Jemmy w&a In the place of woranip , old James kept his eye on him—and while hia lipa moved in prayer or song he
has frequently administered a smart blow on the hoad of his pupil with his Bacred hymn-book to admonish him of some inattention or inadvertence . The terror imparted by all this , forced the boy , to assnme a demure aspect—to Imitate the reverend elder bis foster-father—smd to become as great a hypocrite . But in secret he often mused on the great contrast between the character and conduct of the gentle Jesus and that of his " humble follower" the stern Jimes , and he saw bow little forms and ceremonies have , to do with true religion—how often they mook or mask it ; but it might be said of James that ke assumed true holiness , if he had It not .
More were tbe conflicts at home between James and bis wife respecting the treatment of their foundling ( the only thing they ever quanelled about ) , ard many a blow haa the good dame intercepted from the poor fellow . Whether it proceeded from his sufferings , or that his own nature was kindly , I know not ; tut young James was a remarkably considerate lad , and never saw anyone in want withont being himself in woe . He often meditated upon the secrets told him by his foster-mother . Who had his parents been ?—his mother especially ? Had she been Borne unfortunate deceived one—betrayed and deserted—or a mendicant ? Wasahe living now ? Was there no way of ascertaining this ?—no clue t » find her out 1 How gladly would he work to keep her ! These thoughts
softened his temper and made him inclinable to melancholy . He was a great sympathiser with any one in distress , and often gave romantic proofs of it , by relieving every poor beggar-woman that he eculd , for he said to himself , she maybe my hiotb * r , and many were tbe questions that be asked them to discover if it was so or not . A still greater proof of his sensibility he gave by falling in lovo out of pity to a poor girl named SusaB , because , like himself , she was a cast upon the world and bad a hard place in it . This did not please bis foster-father , who rated James soundly npon it—but the young man ( he had now grown up ) was near tbe close of his servitude , had become a good band , waa sensible of the value of his work , had lately joined a mechanics' debating society in the town where
be had learnt much of the rights of man , and waa less disposed than formerly to submit in helpless acquiesence to the tyranny of his foster-father and master . He maintained the light to think for himself , and : to act for himself , at least on such a point as choosing a partner , but old JanitB told him if he did not leave her he should leave his bouse . This young James would long since have done had it not been for his filial attachment to his foster-mother , but it wan that very attachment which at last brought about bis depnrtnre , for on one occasion when she had received a severe blow aimed at James he stood up in her defence , and , not able any longer to contain biB rage , struck at bis master , who forthwith banished him outright James Immediately went and married Susan , then with bis heavy tools across bis back tramped southward in search of work . ( To be concluded in our next . )
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CONTINUATION OF AN ESSAY ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM , INTENDED AS A COMPANION TO DR . CHANNING'S ESSAY ENTITLED "THE PRESENT AGE . " There are two great interests In England—the agricultural and the manufacturing interests—tbe former is identified with the upper classes , the latter with the middle classes . The working-men or lower classes , as they are called , have no interest at all ; it is deemed suffident for them to labour for tho interests of others , of those above them . But besides the landlord and the mill-lord , there is tbe funaJord and tbe shfplord—all lords together ; but I do not enumerate the two latter as having separate interests , because they have not . Indeed tho true interests of all is for each to consider
the interest of the other ; to blend harmoniously ; to unite as one But tbe manufacturers are struggling for ascendancy over the agriculturists , or rather to supplant them . Tbe manufacturers wish tbat foreign landlords should sell us all the corn we want , and buy of us all the goods they want ; but they forget that the foreigner can manufacture for himaclf , aye , and for us too , as well as grow corn . " Perfsh commerce , live the land !" is an agricultural maxim ; but the cry of the manufacturers ia , " Live commerce , perish the landlords and the land too ! " Both forgut the equitable maxim—live and let live . The shiplords say that formgncra are already too much encouraged ; that foreigners are runnine us off tbe seas . But tbe fundlbrds and the sboplerds side witb the manufacturers , because , say . they , trade , not agriculture , brings wealth to a nation . Yes , but it brings vice and corruption too . Such wealth ia
weakness . All overlook tho main point , that is , home trade , or home consumption . If tho waste lands in Great Britain were cultivated ; or if the cultivati d lands were improved , bot only would there be no need to import foreign corn , but we could export as we formerly did—nor would there be that need of a foreign market for our own manufactured goods , becanse Englishmen at home could take them . Home colonigition , therefore , is the grand remedial measure for tbe distresses and crimes of the country . The land that is suffered to lie waste where employment and food la wanted—is a reproach to our rulers—is an insult to Providence ; for God said , let the earth bring forth ita fruits in due season—bring forth what it ia capable of producing—but the aristocracy say no , let it breed nothing but game for our sport , wo will not be barred our diversions , though the people have to cast lots , and kill each other for food .
Not only would the cultivation of the waste lands give employment to all whom machinery has driven out of work , but it would enable the employed in their turn to enip ' oy all the manufacturers aud tradesmen whose warehouses and shops are at present filled with all kinds of goods for which there is no vender , for how soon would they be emptied , and how often might they be refilled and rc-umptied , if ail who now wander the streets and highways without food , without clothing , and without habitations—if all the unemployed were put in a condition to maintain themselves aud families , to procure all the comforts and conveniences of life , and bow much more creditable would this be to the creation—bow much more conducive to the interests of virtue and humanity than as now ,
when we everywhere see British artizins and mechanics more like scarecrows than men—ragged , attenuatedwith wives more like mummies than women , living skeletons , and children nothing but skin and bone , shadows , spectres . It was trade that took men frem the land , and now tbat machinery is doing man ' s woik—is reducing men to mendicants , they must go back te the land—tho land ia the true refuge for the destitute . But Government refuses them their natural right to live by the soil—to live by tbe labour of their bands , by tbe sweat of their brow—the curse pronounced on Adam ' s posterity would be deemed a blessing now , if Government would allow it , but Government transports the
working man if he does bnt take of the wild creatures for food , that are no man's property , but God ' a gift to all men—Government ships him off to cultivate the lands in other hemispheres , to fish and hunt there , or shuts him up in a bastile . Now that Government ia unworthy the name which , with ample resources to feed , and clothe , and teach the peeple , leaves one man unfed , unclothed , untaught—tbat Government is nothing but an usurpation which denies any man his right to the soil , or to a voice in the making of tbose laws by wbich he is bound and governed . A member of society should suffer nothing thafc society can relieve . All that perish of hunger ( nnd more die of that than of any other disease ) are cruelly murdered by our usurpers —our wanton tyrants .
Under such a government and with such a system of Bociety how could it be otherwise thau that the people sUould degenerate—tbat ^ England should become the scorn of all nations ^ O \ j - r legislators have filled huge volumes with criminal lawa—each law a libel on the people , for every law- presupposes that tbe people need
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prohibition , need prevention , need punishment , when the fact is , the people are degraded by oppression , their very nature is changed—they are uneducated , then taunted with ignorance—r they are encouraged to deprave themselves with drink , then taunted with crime—and they are driven mad with hanger , then taanted with coveting food . Instead of being wholesome preventatives of the passions of men , our laws are for tbe most part provocatives , or rather they are licenses , royal HesnBes to the vanity , the selfishness , the avarice and the ambition of ear law-makers themselves . Such is class-legislation I It encourages that close competition which as its circle is gradually more and more narrowed by monopoly is fast making England like the black hole of Calcutta , where every man was heated to the nuisance , the enemy the death of his fellow-man , his neighbour , bis brother . ( To he continued J
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ADDRESS TO THE WATKINS TESTIMONIALISTS . ( ContXuaed . ) " Strange , unusual bload ! When man ' s worst sin is , he does too much good . " Timon of Athens . Tbe country Chartists in London ( such of them as have not been cockneyfied , ) and all the cockney-Chartists , who are actuated by the spirit of the country , intending to testify their respect publicly for Borue Chartist whom they deemed worthy of it , and deeming me worthy of that honour , formed themselves into a Committee for this purpose , and the Editors of the Northern Star and Mritish Statesman , though disagreeing with ea ; h other in other re&pects , agreed to recommend tbe objects of this Committee ; but their unbought praise renewed the ire , awakened the envy and malice of my uncharitable detractors , who again " cooled my friends , heated mine enemies ; " and , by all
those petty personal tricks which long practice ha < 1 made them perfect in , attempted to frustrate or to divert tbe purposes of tbe Committee ; for , said they . " a young man and a stranger should not be suffered to bear away tbe palm from old . and known Radicals . " I name no names ; I descend to no details ; I did not intend to mention these things ; I have hitherto forborne to notice them ; but there is a time when forbearance becomes culpable to one ' s-self , when forgiveness is a crime to society , whan , for the honour of human nature , we should resent ; an injury , and , for the interests of society , should punish tbe doers of it . If my brother Chartists deem me not an unworthy or ill-duserving member of their body , they will rejoice to see me assert myself with becoming spirit—to see me stand at bay , and repel the foul insinuations of the yelping pack that bark their baffled spite at me . There is not one of them who is reputable either in public or private life , not one but would be hissed and hooted out of society in tbe country .
" Let them do their spite . The services that I have done to Churtism Shall out-tongue their complaints . " Ba it known then that I do not regret the malevolence of these curs , on tbe contrary I feel proud of it , for I take comfort from the words of Swift , whe says , " Yea may know a man of genius by the confederacy of all the dunces against him , " and again , "You may know the best fruit by its being most pecked at" Moreover I know that were I a fool or a knave , I sbould not be feared , I should not be bated , I should be flattered , I should be favoured by foots or knaves . It ia the honest man they dislike .
The much-abused sermon was again brought up and cast Into my teath—it was again made a bugbear of . Now to « very word of the sermon I stand as I would to my gun while there was a shot in the locker . I am ready to discuss it word by word with one , with all , who may dislike it ; and I solemnly avow it as my most seiiouB conviction that Chartism in London will be like Jonah ' s gourd , spring up lone day to wither the next , or like a wave that rises and falls in mere noise and froth , the " tale of an idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing "—a mere maygame until the men ef London screw their principles up to the pitch of that sermon . Have not the people and thsir rival leaders united to pronounce it good ? Are not its prophetic truths daily proving themselves , yea , hourly making themselves manifest ? Had the warnings in that sermon been properly heeded , we should not have beard of the Sturges , the Treadwells , ox the Griffins . Let those who have not
read it , read it ; and those who have read it , read it again . Let them look at tbose who denounce it—seek them and you will find them to be a mere cabal , a clique that follow the cause aa sharks follow a ship at sea , not from principle , but from interest—carrioncrows , who gather where the carcase ia—they would have left the cause long aga could they have decoyed the people after them—they do not suffer , nor will they serve , for nothing—they make themselves all thinga to all men , that by any means they may get money—hollow , rotten , slimy things are they , whose flngera are lime-twigs—whose tongues are forked—they are the political pedlars , the Chartist cheats , who scruple not to rob even the poor victims that suffer for their fidelity to the causa— " London lice" as O'Connor aptly termed them—leeches , who should be treated to a little Attic salt to make them disgorge tbeir plunder , or at least to force them to quit their bold of their prey .
We are told that Pharaoh held out against all the plagues except tbe plague of lice ; he held out against darkness , against locusts , against frogs , ice ., but ha could not stand tbe lice . So it is with Chartism—we have been tried with famine , tempted by disunion , proved by persecution , and now what can prevent the good ship from arriving at the harbour—what but the barnacles tbat stick to her bottom f—what can binder the good cow from thrivingT—the lice upon her back ! It is for the people to see that tbe cause be not eternally disgraced , be not eternally lost , by tho intrusion of things possessing neither talent nor honesty— - clap-trap Chartists , mere mouthers , decoy-birds for fowlers , second band retailers of other men ' s cast-off
thoughts—things who degrade the dignity of tbe cause , whs make it lose its imposing attitude , its moral influence ; who draw upon tbe cause tbe contempt due only to themselves , who make a byeword of Chartism . Men of Belf-respect will not have their names associated with the insects that fritter away the public time and money—lions will not stay to be annoyed by gnats—drive these out and their betters will come in . But hew are they to be driven out?—by satire ! they are impassive to reason—the toads sbould be touched by Itburiel' 8 spear—the rats Bhould be smoked out , and nothing less strong than brimstone can do it The Autolycuees and the Momuaes are not wanted , and must be weeded before tbe seed can bring forth fruit ,
I know that many sincere Chartists have withdrawn from the association—that many others have refused to join—that the tradeB keep aloof from the fountain because ita watere are troubled—becauso something ails the cause—because it is cursed by the ratai and the lice . Men get ashamed of Chartism when sueb things can call themselves ChartiBts—things that can only subserve sinister ends or make a fool of Chattiam . Falstaff was ashamed of his followers , but our followers have more reason to be ashamed of some of their leaders . These things are entitled to the most serious consideration of all true Chartists , for it is owing to these things that tho cause does not progress as it
ought to do and would do . I have no personal enmity to indulge in these remarks —the provocation I have received would justify the severest retaliation ; but not for myself but for the sake of the cause do I speak—not for my suit but for the sake of all who may nave Buffered similarly with myself . I own no man jjb my enemy who ia a friend of his country ; nor no enemy of biB country as a personal friend . Had I an enemy I should forgive him were he a friend of tbe cause ; but this is paradoxical . I had rather put up with private wrongs then suffer ray aposure of them to retard public rights , for I am of tbe mind of Scylla in tbia
respect"He who did subdue Hia country ' s foes , ere he would pause to feel The \ rrath of his own wronga . " Nor have I any disappointed ambition to gratify—quite the contrary . Ever since I came to London I have had to fcteer through ehoals and quicksands , and if I have escaped the rocks on which some older and more promising barks have split—if I have weatheTed out the storm by keeping out at sea and not tunning with a trade-wind for any onug but dishonourable harbour on the lee , it ia beciuse I have ever kept the cause in view—the cause has been my Northern Star .
In conclusion . I have made tbia statement of facts upon principle , that the people may have an opportunity of forming a just judgment for the benefit of the cause . I havo Btated these facts gleaned from personal experience and observation to give our brethren in the country a ttue idea of the ordeal which any young aspirant of probity and talent may expect to be subjected to in London . I have made this statement in writing , because by the machinations of my vulgir and venomous traducera I am prevented from doing it personally—I have made it because unless a better understanding takes place the people ' s friends cannot do all tbe service they would wish to the people's cause . Tbia paper will not be written in vain if it prove from example that after aU there is nothing profitable but honesty—nothing expedient bat what is just and tbat " there is no time so miserable but a man may be true . " When I was confined to my bed by the dangerous
illness which my tsal or enthusiasm ( though I was denounotd for it ) had brought upon me , then were my maligners most active—that was the time the earwigs , the ¦ " nest of unclean birds" took to spread their principles which are misrepresentations and abuse , bnt thank God I am spared to be an Instrument in bis bands for the furtherance of this moat righteous cause—thank God I have regained my health and spirits—thank God I am independent ; and now I find my backbiters like the Jews of whom Christ said , when he went about dally teaching in the Temple and SynogORues , they shrunk from questioning him . Yes , it is not in open places—in broad daylight—and by fair means j . ' . but ; it ia behind back , underhand , and by treachery that such men work . Like Elfrkla , they give the eup of friendship with one hand , and , while you are drinking it , th 9 y stab yeu in the back with the other .
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But London j after all , would b 8 a good Chartist place—it would be tbe best , as it is tbe most important , were it not for the " lice . " Let not tha country be innoculated by the virus of tbe town ; but let tbe town be made healthy-by an infusion of country blood . JOHN WATKIMS . Manor House , Battersea .
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THE EXECUTIVE . TO THE CHARTISTS OF GBEAT BRITAIN . I cordially agree with the sentiment of onr General Secretary , that tbe election of individuals to fill np vacancies in the Extcntive will have to be abandoned * I think , in fact , it ought to be ; the period of time it would have to sit before the annual election is so short , tbat no injury can arrive in the mean time sufficient to justify the trouble and inconveniense that would be occasioned by adopting the proposition . ThU is my individual opinion , but as the Editor of the Star truly observes , it is for the people to determire .
I embrace this opportunity to return my thanks notwithstanding , to the Chartists of Nottingham , Car rington , and * tbeir respective localities for their confidence , evinced as it has been by their requisition for me to allow my nama to be placed on the nomination list , and to assure them tbat ray cheerful consent was spontaneously given at the crisis from a conviction that it is tbe duty , of every man who really wishes to promote his country ' s freedom to stand firm by bis principles in tbe hoar of danger , as well as a desire that onr oppressors may see , howev t "hey may vainly endeavour to thin eur ranks of oar acknowledged leaders , by tyrannical persecution—that there is no lack of patriotism to supply the vacuum thus momentarily occasioned .
Should the election be proceeded with I shall be found at tbe post assigned to me whatever it may be , but for the reasons before stated , I think the better coarse is to abandon it for the present . Richard Hankins . New Inn Yard , Carrington , near Nottingham , Nov . 7 , 18 i 2 .
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TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAR . SIR , —The town of Hanley and the Potteries generally are at the present time quiet and peaceable , and are likely to remain so for pome time , considering tbe authorities of these townships are backed by the physical power of the Government . There are , however , bow very few specials on duty , as some of them have become discontented with receiving no lie for their labour ; but to make up this deficiency , the county Quarter Sessions have come to tbe decision of putting tbe whole of the' Pottery district under tbe new Constabulary Act , and discharging the whole of our local police . It is very likely the Act will be adopted for the whole of the county of Stafford .
The system of centralising the new police feroe pat in operation by mj Lord John Russell and otker pseudo Liberals of tbe lata Government , baa been wellrecommended at the above sessions , and , no donbt , will be carried out most stringently in this neighbourhood , at least . ' The Whigs of these townships have , nevertheless , taken great offence at this step , as it bas taken away the power of tbe township commissioners and vested it solely in tbe Bitting magistrates of the Potteries . The Whiga say , they will only have the privilege of paying for this new power , ' without having the chance of selecting the officers , &c . &c . ; hat these Whi « s forget to tell us that the commissioners were before a perfectly irresponsible body . The screw then will be driven tighter for tbe Whigs in future , as well as for the poor deluded Chartists . '
Tho colliers at Mr . Sparrow ' B coal works bare again this week struck against a reduction of four shillings in the pound . This will plainly show tbat the masters , even with physical force at their back , will not be able to compel tbe miners to submit to the iron-banded despotism of tbe coal-mastera . Mr . Sparrow is the same master who first reduced tbe men previous to the late disturbances , and which was considered the cause of the late outbreaks . The principal leaders of the Chartists have been seized and lodged in prison . Some have taken tbeir trial , and some are about to be bailed oat , consequently cannot be charged with having turned out the miners afresh . Thus the- causes are still removed , viz , class legislation . Wfcen will the eyes cf the Government be opened to the interests of the working classes ? We say never , till tbe people are ready to force themselves upon its notice .
Bail has be « n offered by two respectable gentlemen of this neighbourhood for John Richards , and probably will be accepted . Let every Chartist look out and claim bis privileges , and let them render , their support more than ever at this very critical period , and allow not tbeir enemies to triumph over them , by seeing tbeir friends immured and then neglected , Let the Chartists thieughout the Staffordshire Potteries bring up the means to forward William Ellis ' s case to the Queen ' s Bench , which remains at present in stain quo . Up and be doing , for there is no time , to lose . I will here just mention that the same week as the sentence was passed upen Ellis , his poor old mother ' s parish relief was taken from her , while her husband lies ill in the house and not expected to live . Will Mr . Allbutt , the Christian Editor , enquire into this ? Let us see .
A tea party is expected to take place soon , of which due notice will be given . - Yours ., Moses Simpson . Hanley , Staffordshire Potteries , November 8 th , 1842 .
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Singular Accident . —Last week , Mr . Beeding residing at Pennis Rocks , Sus ? ex , had been out during the day shooting , and on bis return took off bis jacket and threw it across a chair . Mr . Beeding ' a do ^ r went to the -pocket and took out the powderflask aud dropped it into the fire ; it immediately exploded , biew out the window and damaged the furniture ; but although Mr . Beeding waa in the room at the time , he fortunately escaped unhurt .
The Trial op Suisse . —Some notion may be formed of the heavy expenses attending the defence of Suisse , the late Marquis of Hertford ' s valet , from the subjoined tavern bill sent in to Suisse ' s solicitor for the refreshments , < fco , supplied to his witnesses during three days only . The account- commences , 1842 , August 24 . " and runs thus : — " Dinners and dessert , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 4 ; teas and coffees , £ 3 ; Sherry , ( iced ) £ 10 15- ! . : Port , £ 8 8 i . ; Champange , £ 16 10 s . 6 d . ; Hock , £ 8 183 . 6 d . ; Claret , £ 4 16 s . ; soda water , lemonade , and ginger beer , £ \ 5 s . 6 d . ; cigars , £ 1 2 s . ; malt and spirits , £ 3 17 s . 6 d . ; rooms as engaged , £ 3 3 j . " The items for the second day are : — " August 25 ih . Dinners and dessert , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 3 10 j . ; . teas and coffees , £ 2 15 s . ; Sherry , ( iced ) £ 11 15 ; . ; . Port , £ 6 15 s . ; Champagne , £ 15 10 s . 6 d . ; Hock , £ 6 15 s . 6 d . ; Claret , £ 5 103 . 6 d . ; soda water . £ 3 10 s . : Cigars , £ 1 7 s . 6 d . ; malt liquor and
spirits , £ 4 3 ^ . 7 d . ; rooms as engaged , £ 3 3 i" On the third day , the 26 th of August : —Dinners and desserts , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 2 53 , ; teas and coffees , £ 2 7 a . 6 d . ; Sherry and Port , £ 17 0 s . 6 d . ; Champagne , £ 15 10 s . 6 d . ; Hock and Claret , £ 15 93 . ; soda water , lemonade , &c , £ 3 ; malt liquor , spirits , and cigars , ££ 193 . fid . ; refreshments at the court three days , £ 2 6 s . 9 d . ; rooms as engaged , £ 3 33 . " Total for the three days'refreshment , £ 257 1 3 * 4 d . To which is added , £ 7 10 s . for " waiters , chambermaid , and messenger ; £ 2 10 s . per diem aa desired ; " and for " sundry broken glasses , £ 19 * . 9 d . ; " making the whole amount £ 2 G 6 13 ? . Id . It has been already stated that Mr .. Thesiger had 300 guineas for his brief , and Messrs . Clarkson , Chambers , and James , fifty guineas eaeh . Suisso is at present residing ia Paris , and the whole amount of his fortune is stated to be little short of £ 400 , 000 .
Cheap Fish . —The take of cod-fish at Brighton haslatcly been unusually large , fine fish selling at less than one penny a , pound . On Monday the mar « ket was completely glutted , and seven fish , weighing from twenty-five pounds to thirty pounds each , were sold for eight shillings . The fiah are fresh from the water , and the i « sh is firm and good . Loss of Three Pilots . — On Tuesday evening last three pilots , Richard M'Ureevey , and two men of the name of M'Keown , went down to the Lough on the look out for vessels . Yesterday morning , tha boat in which they went out was picked up near Bangor with her stern out . It is supposed that either the boat had . been ran down by a steamboat , or had been capsized in a squall ; the former supposition , it is to be hoped , Will prove correct , as there will bs then a greater probability of the men having been rescued from a watery grave . — Ulster Times .
The Completion of the Tunnel . —Thia stupendous work is finished , and Wapping has reason to be proud of such a truly wapping undertaking . Perhaps no enterprise ever had so much cold water thrown upon it , and never waa there a project which it seemed at one time so difficult to go through with . Tbe engineer has worked like a horse , and hat scarcely ever been out of the ehatt . The original shareholders , whose pockets were well drained in . fruitless effortB to drain the tunnel , have now the satisfaction of oncejnore running through their property . For sometime the aTdour of the projector * waa damped by the works going on too swimmingly When accidents were every-day occurrences the Tunnel waB a matter of interest : but , since the water has
been effectually kept out , it bas been a dr 7 JltfMjCT& .. On more than one occasion , the companyjtfoflnjniig ^" ^ been swamped , in spite of all hands bein ^ fij ^ ggElMySfffr \ , pumps , if government had not lent thenai v ^ RnlfeejiJLw" ^ 5 fk The funds , in foot , were at low-watet < ° * £ fH 3 | ro " n 29 £ ffi GO S fore the works reached the same Am ^ Bamga 0 y $ m ~ g l ^ Q and the more the tunnel was set afloat , tb ^ MnWrepf ^ Sy TSq ^ 3 the shareholders aground in their underUkfiaCT Bat ? frff ! ^ 8 the perils are now past , and the Tumwl tmijM ttBIf m M monument to British enterprise . We m&Tfflim& wL jfl perhaps , a pillar to the fame of the IPfS £ | P ^|! n \ 5 were not that a pillar is incomplet « WltMuW ( J 4 1 } C ^ V * things , one of which , the shaft , has been take ^ waju ^^ r while the proprietors have long since lost sightoWW" ^^ capital . —Cruikshank's Comic Almanack for 1848 ,
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 12, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1186/page/7/
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