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TEE SOETHEE.N STAB. SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 1843.
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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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Tee Soethee.N Stab. Saturday, January 21, 1843.
TEE SOETHEE . N STAB . SATURDAY , JANUARY 21 , 1843 .
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THE LAND ! THE OSLT KEASS OF SiXVAXlOti 10 THE STABTI 3 G "WOBXKBS . ABTICLE H . Is last -week ' s Northern Star we discussed , at onsiderable length , the general question of the occupancy asd employment of thb land , as a means of removing the dire poverty . and destitution which has now become the lot of the labourers of England . 'We&en attempted to show that there is no other ¦ way of again profitably employing the machinerydisplaced atfuZ / labourer , bat by placing him once more upon the soil , and enabling him to direct "h is energies to the production of food , and raiment , and shelter , for himself .
In the course of that article we explained the grounds npon which we accord onr meed of praise to aU who endeavour to form and direct public opinion in favour of this cheap , available , and really practicable remedial measure . Cm this qnesiien we are truly catholic Whatever tends to advance the general question in public estimation , we . bail with satisfaction , and are happy to co-operate with every cue , do matter what may be his peculiar political or sectarian opinion , who endeavours to eilist pnblio opinion in its favour .
In this spirit we accorded praise to Mr . J . G . yrRKwira . for n&ving been the first to introduce amongst the Leeds operatives the small allotments , as a means of enabling them to raise their millwageB to something like a living-point ; explaining iowever , thai that praise was not for the mode Mr . ftTA-RRTTtu- has adopted in his employment of ths xjluDj but rather because his exertions and example are likely to lead , ultimately , to a mu * ch better application of the soil . At the conclusion of that article we intimated that we should return to a consideration of the question , and show what other parties , besides Mr . ftT i-gcrr m ^ $ re doing on xsz -xakd .
In accordance with that intimation we resume the subject ; and the parlies to whose exertions we at present wish to point pnblio attention , in connection ¦ with the occupancy and employment of thb land as a remedy for poverty and starvation , are the Socialists . In the first place , we must prsmise that the mode adopted and practised by theUocialists in their occupancy and application of the soil , differs entirely and essentially from the mode adopted and practised
iy Mr . Mi-bphmx and bia brother AHotere . The principle of action amongst the Socialists is " common and entire occupancy of enough of isxd to prodnce ji ^ ktt for eomman enjoyment" : the principle of aciien which guides Mr . M ^ -rshht . t . and bis brethren is io allot a small piece of ground , under strict and stringent regulations , to the underpaid labouring man , to enable him , by working over and above bis regular daily hours of toil , to eke out his scanty wages to something like the pfcint of uvisg sustentation .
"With the Socialists tw ^ uusd is the ground-work of all their contemplated improvements . It stands foremost is . their list of requisites to extricate the labourers from poverty , and the fear of poverty . To get vros xhb lakd , is their first and main object . Possession of the soil , on which to employ their own energies , for their men benefit , is , with them , a sine qua non .
It is trne they have peculiar notions respecting ¦ &e distribution of the wealth they may thus create . It is true that they hold to the principle of u com munity jDf property f that they hold that " alPsb stuff rth world belongs to aU th'fowk i'th world . " It is true that they hold that every man on the soO ought to do something towards the production of wealth ; and that every man ought to have his share of the plenty so produced .
into the truth or falsehood , the propriety or impropriety , of this principle , we are not now going to inquire . It is to what they are doing with respect to thb i ^ xd question , that we . wish to direct attention ; and this on-general , not particular , grounds . The Socialists bold , then , with us , that the iasd is the only means of salvation for the starving writers Entertaining this opinion , they have begun to act upon it . They have organized themselves into a compact , for the purpose of obtaining land , so as to employ it for their own benefit . They have obtained possession of a considerable amount of surface ; and they are at ibis moment actively engaged in " an experiment , " in ihe issue of which the labouring classes are deeply interested .
Last week , we gave parficulars of the doings of Mr . Mahshhtj . in the town of Leeds , which doings have excited mo small amount of public curiosity and attention . But those doing 3 , in the aggregate , amount only to the allotment of some eleven acres of land amongst a cumber of operatives in small parcels often or twenty rods each . The doings-we sow direct attention to , amount , in the aggregate , to the possession and application of more than one thousand acres of land , and the expending of scores of thousands of pounds , if the one be thought worthy of public attention , surely the other is no less so !
It must be remembered , toe , that Mr . Mabshaix ias had no opposition to brook , no powerful interests arrayed against him to prevent ids progress , or discourage him in his endeavours : while the Socialists have bad a most powerful , unscrnpulcus , and unremitting oppesuion to face and beat down . Palsehoods ihe most vile ; actuations the most outrageons ; calumnies "the most bitter , have been industriously circulated respecting them ; and the worst passions of human nature have been Btdrredup , by appeals to blind prejndice , and set to work destruction to the " new-fangled sect" who preached up labour for all ; and enjoyment of the fruits of labour oy aOP
In epite of all this , however , the " new-fangled sect" have gone on in the even tenour of their way ; and nave obtained possession of one thousand acres of land , and laid out some £ 40 , 000 , for the purpose of proving to the labouring classes of England that it ib possible to bo combine Lamj , Capital , -and Labotjb , as to prodnce vvesiy of all the first necessaries of life toe ail . Their operations are , avowedly , " an experiment . " It is an experiment deeply interesting to aU ; bat doubly » o to that class who are at present doomed to almost unremitting toil and inadequate , remuneration .
What , then , are the Socialists doing ! is the very natural question that suggests itself . " How does the experiment" progress 1 "What are the indications of success or failure that present themselves , as far as they nave gone * In answer to these queries we are about to give the statement of a gentleman who has visited their establishment , and reported as to the condition in which he iasfonnd their afiairs . The reader must -nnderetand , howeTer , that this testimony is not from
» Socialist , It is not a report drawn up by themselves , to serve their own purposes . It is the evidenee of a stranger wbo has visited their establishment casually ; one who is politically opposed to them . We say opposed to them ; for ths -writer of the account which we are about to grra is a Fret-Trader , according to the present definition of ihe term ; and , as far as we are able io understand the Socialists , their principles and actions necessaril y oppose and supersede the doctrines and plans of the Malthusian Economists .
It was in the Morning Chronicle that the following account appeared . Por some mouths past-* a number of papers bearing the signature of " ( hie vho has whistled at the Plough" have been regularly inserted in that journal . The writer of them has shown thai ie is practically acquainted with the operadon of fanning j and he has also proved himself to be do mean wielder of a pen . Many of his articles iive evinced great shrewedness , and common-sense jndgmeiii ; 5 in 3 'ii » iescriptionB are generally gra * pile Md Interesting
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He seems latterly to have been engaged in a tour throughout the agricultural counties of England , to no& the degree of perfection or imperfection obEervable to apasser-by in their several modes of cultivation . Under the head , " Notes from ihe Farming Districts , " has hacommunicated his observations to the readers of the Chronicle ; and the papsr we now give in answer to the question w What are tho Socialists doing ! " form No . XVII of the Series : — a jotrasrr to habhoht hall , in hahpsbihe , with SOUB PABI 1 CBXABS OP THE SOCIALIST COKKUHITY , TO WHICH THE ATTENTION OP THE S 0 B 1 LITT , GEKTEY , AND CLERGY , IS EARNESTLY BEQCESTED .
Having heard a remark made at the inn where I was staying for a few days in Salisbury , that two travellers , who had left behind them two cloaks and two walking-Bticks while they attended to some business in the market * were supposed to belong to the Socialist community at Tytherly , in Hampshire , from the circumstance of their walking-sticks having engraved on the heads the resemblancfrof a beehive , and the words , " the working bees , " 1 was induced to make some inquiry about the distance to and situation of their Beehive . The correct information to be gathered in Salisbury was extremely scanty , and accordingly , on being told that the distance was only twelve miles to the village of Broughton , and that the community were located near that village , I procured a oonveyanoe , and , in company of another gentleman , set off for Hampshire . . _
This was two or three daysafter the visit of the two members of the Beehive to Salisbury . It was a lovely day . If a-country wkb , so good * soil , and bo poorly cultivaUd , could have afforded pleasure to a traveller at any time , it weuld have done so on such a day as this . Bat the road lay through a section « f that bare country formerly described as visible from Old Saram , and there was nothing to be satisfied with but the excellent -roads , which , being of flint on a hard bottom are maintainftd at little expense . Leaving Salisbury , we had the seat of W . Wyndham , Esq % one of the members of Parliament for the borough , en our left ; and , for the next twelve miles , the entire distance , I saw nothing worth mentioning , save that a field of good turnips , and another of beautiful young wheat , would be seen as spots on a- wide uncultivated common , much of the soil of which was quite as good as that sending up the joung wheat and the respectable
turnips ; which tnraips again might have been of a much better quality but for the neglect which characterized their cultivation- I have said nothing more was seen worth mentioning . Bnt , at an inn called the Win \ erslow Hut , 1 received information that the wages of labouring men had been reduced to seven shiUingB a week by the largest farmer in that district , and that the other farmers were expected to follow immediately with a similar reduotion ; and the common expression of those who were present , some of whom were tradesmen from Salisbury , and one the respectable landlady of the house , was to this effect : " God above only knows how the poor creatures are to be fed ! What matters it to them that fionr and bread be cheaper this year than last ! They could buy little of either last year , and they can bny as little this . They mnst buy potatoes , not bread , and potatoes are but a middling crop this year ; they are good , but small . "
We arrived at the village of Bronghton abont one o ' clock , and having pat up our horse at the inn , we proceeded on foot to Harmony Hall . Broughton is but a poor looking village , irregularly built , and surrounded by farmers which indicated that the Working Bees Community would have no difficult task to compete with them . The soil all around is quite deep enough for common cultivation . It is deeper than many of those parts in the Lothians , or Roxbnrgh or Berwick shires , where a rent of from £ 2 IQs . to £ 3 10 s . an acre is paid for a middling soil . The sub-soil is chalk ; and I believe that
wherever there is a sufficient depth of soil above chalk , that soil is , generally speaking , fertile . It might be shallow on some of the higher districts ; bnt all that I saw , and I examined it in several situations , varied from twelve to twenty-seven inches in depth . The chalk was a variety well adapted for lime , but , saving the Socialist community , little advantage was derived from it ; their lime-kiln was the only one I saw during the day ' s journey . The rent of the land abont Bronghton is from ten to fifteen shillings an acre . With other burdens , not borne by the Scotch farmers , it would amount to 20 b . or 25 s . an acre . But while the tenants of the
Marquess of Tweeddale , the Earl of Wemyss , the Earl of Haddington , Sir George Clark , the Duke of Roxburgh , and other landlords , whose land I happen to be acquainted with , wonld pay from £ 2 IDs . to £ Z 10 s . for such soils , and make a profit , the farmers of that of Hampshire find they have a hard bargain with the moderate rents they now pay . When I saw their style of fanning , their wastefulness of fertilizing agencies , their insufficiency of manual labour , their want of economy in horse power , and the unconquered foulness of weeds , which seemed to wage perpetual war with their crops and prove victorious , I was not surprised to hear them murmur and tell of hard times .
Leaving tbe village , we proceeded southward . For nearly a mile the lane in which we walked , hedged by coarse bushes ; - gradually ascended , and the soil on each side seemed wearing thinner and thinner . Having fortunately met a woman who directed us through a field towards the left , we followed a waggon ' a track , and in five minutes I was standing in a field of turnips which grew in drills , showing a balk of crop and robnBtnesB of health quite refreshing to the eye , after the poor specimens of turnip culture i had seen is that and adjoining counties . I observed to my companion that if these were Socialist turnipB" they promise well . But before going 'further , I should remark that I knew nothing of the Socialist property , nor of any
individual connected with it . I had , like others , been reading wandering paragraphs in the newspapers about this community , some of which had not long before stated that the whole establishment was brosea up , that the members were dispersed , the property seized by creditors , and so on . My companion knew nothing of them bnt by hearsay . In fact , though living within twelve miles , he knew as much of China as he did of Harmony Hall , and that was not much . He was one of those jolly countrymen vrfU to do in tbe world , who believe the British army and navy can , and ought to , thrash all the world , if the werld needs a thrashing ; who grumble when the tax-gatherer comes round ; who take In a paper which they seldom read , but who still crumble
at the goverBment—no matter what , party ib in power ; who think no times are so hard as the present times ; but who forget all grievances when the next hot joint comes on the table . Such was my companion . Little as I knew of the Socialists , I had been able to inform him that they did not wear clawB , nor horns , nor wings , nor tails ; that though they were human in shape they were not cannibals ; neither did they steal little children and put them in boiling cauldrons just for the love of the thing . But though able to tell Mm all this , I was not able to obliterate the opinion which he had imbibed from the hearsay common in Salisbury , that the Socialists were an assemblage of the greatest vagabonds that a-too-lenient law had left upon the
face of the earth . In short , some of the stories I heard in Salisbury are too ridieuleus , I might say criminally libellouB , to be mentioned , Yet by many they were believed . My companion had never read for himself on any subject , and I was much amused with his account of what he had heard of the Socialists . He had a friend in Broughton , on whom we called , and who gave us the firet information of their property and personal repntatios : it surprised both of us considerably . u Their property , " said he , •* consists at present of one thousand acres of land , and they are now in treaty for the purchase of another estate ; they have paid down £ 500 of a deposit on it , and it will be theirs next year . " To this I rejoined , that I was completely astonished ; that I had never dreamed of their having such a property ; and begged to know how it was cultivated , compared with the farms I
had seen m the neighbourhood . To this the gentleman replied { and I may state he is a man of property and respectability iu the village ) , that , so far as he eoald judge , they were cultivating it Tery well . "But , " inquired my companion somewhat eagerly , " What sort of people are they ? We hpve heard such strange tales about them , over our way , that 1 have been quite at a loss what to think of such people being allowed to live among you . " " Why , " replied the other , " all that I have seen of them , or have heard , amounts to this , that it would be a high honour to this parish if ono half our inhabitants were as decent in their behaviour as they are—it would in ^ deed . And more , it would be a credit to our gentry if they would employ people in as great numbert and to as much advantage on the land as they do . "
w Lord bless me ! yon don't say so V exclaimed my friend from Salisbury , " and suoh stories as we hay e heard of them ! Do you say all this of them in sober earnest V "I do , " replied the Bronghton gentleman . "Ab for their peculiar notions about properly , I don't agree with them ; but , bo far as saying they are well behaved people , setting a good example to this naghbourhood , I say it moBt '^ inoerely . " ' Bnt , " interrogated my companion , are they not all 2 > ri * fa that believe there ia neither a God nor a devil f '
If I understand the term Deist , " replied the other , » it means a believer in God . As to their » jL wli&on I suppose they are like other people , or different opinions . Oue thing I know isthat they come to our church , and some to the chapeL They st and hear the sermons , and go away again as others do . Theyneverintroducereli ^ ionaorpolitics into any conversation with us in tfce village ; but Ionce talked to two of them on the subject of religion , of my own accord , and they told me they had the same opinions of religion now as formerly ; that there were no pecnliar opinions asaoBg the Jsoeialists , save
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that each man might eDJoy his ov opinion without molestation ; that they , the two . Deing believers in the Cnristian doctrine of salv 4 tion tnrough Jegug Christ , attended a place of - Motsb . i and that nft attempt wasi made by any me > aber of the community to dissuade themfor gomg to cnnrcb " *• Lord bless me ! " exclair ied my companion ; " you don ' t Bay bo m earnest , do' , Oii \» «?« " «« . jfvu " Bn ^ I inqnired , for fhad not been pTmred to hear this favourable account of their tolerance , " what do the clergy * , of them th d ( m , » them , 1 should suppose e * *
"The Methodists ^ d Baptists , and such like , make an outcry agat ^ st them , " replied the gentleman , "but our cle » . gyman of the parish churoh says nothing about , hem # All of us hereabouts were much alarmed whf jj we heard of their coming at first ; but we look on them now as very good neighbours ; and as tb 6 y set a good moral example to our population , and employ a good many of our poor , and as t jiey never attempt to impose any opinion on us , -we naYe no reason to dislike them . One of them married the daughter of a farmer in this neighbo jrhood , a short while ago ; the bannB were put up in the parish church , and our parson married tb /> Q ) . Oh , depend upon it , they are doing good here in a moral point of view . " " Lord bless me ! " exclaimed my Salisbury friend onc « more , on hearing th > 8 ; ' ** did the father of the young vroman give bis daughter to a Socialist 1 " ** Certainly , " returned the other , " Why should fee not V
" Because , " Baid my companion , they have anew wife whenever they tire of the old one . " " Nonsense ! " returned the Brougbton gentleman ; ** ridioulous nonsense . They have no such practices , and , so far as I ever heard , no such doctrines in theory . They propose , when they can get an act of Parliament for the purpose , to simplify tbe law of divorce , by allowing married persons to separate by mutual consent , after several repeated notices and repeated trials on them to try once more , and once more again , for certain periods of time , for some months each period , to agree ; if after those trials they are still desirous of being parted they may be divorced . As for any other laxity of principle I know none . The most delicate and well-bred
conduct characterizes them so far as I know ; and nobody hereabout , however opposed to them , attempts to say a word against their moral character : that , as I said before , might be an example worthy of imitation to many in this parish . In short , the Socialists are very well but on one point , which concerns themselves more than anybody else ; on that point I believe them to be fatally in error ; and more , that sooner or later they will split and fall to pieces on it—I mean the community of property . There will always be idle men willing to talk and to live at the expense of the industrious . Your talking men are not commonly the best workmen , and seldomer still are they willing workmen . In fact , those of them that are really industrious men are pretty well tired of the numbers who come visit ! ug and living idly from distant parts of the country .
Besides that , if thoy were all willing alike , they are not able alike , nor used alike to such works as cultivating a farm ; and 1 have heard that several of their carpenters , bricklayers , and such like , are but indifferent workmen when put to a job . In fact , the ignorance of most of those who came here at first of practical matters has led them into extravagant expenses . They have been imposed upon on every hand . Then , again , oonsider the folly of expending thirty thousand pounds , and upwards , on a bailding before improving their land . Instead of beginning like working bees , they have done quite the reverse . Toe bees begin by making honey , using any place for a retreat that may fall most readily in their way . There we have the working bees and the drones living alike on the common store ; building and building , and leaving the honey-making to the last . "
Such was the ascount I received of the Socialist community in the village of Broughton , and it is given at full length , because of the opinions of others in the neighbourhood , wbo spoke to tbe same effdot . When we reached the turnip field , as already said , I remarked to my friend that if these were " Sooialist turnips , " they promised well . They were Sooialist turnips , and we soon after found seven hundred Socialist sheep , which made my frimd exclaim , u Lord bless me ! who would have thought it 1 " Winding down a gentle declivity , we saw a red three-storied brick building near some large forest trees . These trees seemed the commencement of a
¦ wooded district , which contrasted pleasantly with the naked country we had travelled over from Salisbury . Ab we approached the red-brick house we could observe that its outward form was tasteful and all its proportions substantial . It stood at about fifty yards to our right , while on the left was a farmyard , old and uncomfortable looking , with some rickB of wheat , waggons , pigs , and cattle . Adjoining the farm-yard was a new house , which might have been taken at first view for the respectable residence of a substantial farmer . This we found was built as a temporary residence for thoBe members who arrived previous to the large house being built .
On every side of ub we saw unfinished work ; heaps of bricks , piles of mortar , logB of timber , half-built walls , and broken ground as if in process of being laid out into gardens . No person being visible , we looked around ua for some time ; at last I saw three dogs approaching , which I proceeded to meet , supposing that , as it was Harmony Hall , there could bo no harm in meeting the dogs . They did not deceive me ; but one of them belied the reputation of the place by EHarliug at the other two . They growled in concert , and then departed on some errand of their own to a dust-heap , where one of them finding a bone , produced a contention much in the same way as dogs do in the old world .
We advanced to the open door , which showed a spacious lobby , from which stairs went down , and stairs went up . I met % middle-aged female who politely told me some one would speak with us presently . Following her were three younger women , plainly , but tidily and respectably , dressed . My eye was following them up stairs , when I perceived a man befors me . He wore a cloth cap , and a respectable suit of clothes . After the preliminary courtesies , I told him that we had come to see the establishment , aad any information he choose to give as would be received as a kindness . Wfl were then conducted into an office , where two men were fitting , one as if posting a ledger , the other writing a letter . Allthe London daily papers , and several others , were on the table . A book lay open , in which we were requested to write oar names , which done , our guide , whose name I afterwards understood to be Atkins , or Atkinson , told us to walk M this way . " :
We descended to the basement floor , which , on tse other side of the house , looked out on a level with a lawn partly in process of formation . On this floor there were several large apartments ; one of them a dining room . Dinner was just over , and as a finale to it , the members were singing a beautiful piece of solemn music . We were not asked to go into their presence , but we went to the kitchen , after examining an excellent piece of machinery , which , through a tunnel , conveyed the dishes and the dinner from the kitcben to the door of the dining hall . A boy , who was passing , showed us how it worked , and presently several other boys appeared . All of them were bo clean and neat in their clothes , bo healthy in their appearance , and at the same time so respectful in their manners to us and to each other , that I could not help staying behind to talk with and look at them .
In the kitchen there were three or four women , with a very large assortment of dishes to wash . J did not know what the dinner had been , but judging from the refuse of bits and scraps , whioh seemed to me to tell more of abundance than economy , 1 supposed thev had all got enough of it . Tne women in the kitchen were like all the others , tidy and respectable in appearance . The only thing that puzzled me was , how th * y should be bo * well as they were , with such prodigious piles of plates , washed and unwashed , around them . I can eay nothing adequately descriptive of the fittings of this kitchen . At Brighton I was told that the London architect who superintended the erection of the whole , said that there were very Jew kitchens so completely and expensively fitted up in London . 1 am sorry to say that such is to all appearance , and by all accounts the case .
Omsitie the kitchen there were commodious washhouses , cellarage , baths , and a well-arranged place for each member to wash himself as be comes from his work bbfore going to meals . Ascending again to the next floor we entered a ball room , and going upBtairswe saw tbe sleeping room ? , all as conveniently arranged as can be under one roof . Upon the whole the hoase is commodious , but I was much disappointed at seeing such a house . A village of cottageB , each with a garden , would have surely been more appropriate for a working community , and much cheaper ; the sum expended on this building , not yet half furnished , is said to exceed £ 30 , 1 ) 00 . Such extravagance previous to cultivating tbe land would Btagger most people on the question of the Bagaeity of the workiue bees .
Mr . Atkinson conducted us to the new garden , whioh contains twenty-seven acres . I was then introduced to a Mr . Scott , the chief gardener , whom 1 found to be an intelligent and thoroughly practical man . His operations of trenching and planting , and indeed gardening in every department , were ' extensive . Brickmakers were making bricks ; builders were building ; lime-burners were burning lime ; road makers were making roads ; the shepherds were with the sheep ; nine ploughs were at work ; a hundred acreB of wheat were already sown , and more wheat land was being prepared ; a reservoir was being constructed to save allthe liquid manure ; and in short , everything was being dene to improve the land which industry and capital could accomplish acd skill direct .
Mr . Scott was having portions of some of the fields trenched with the spade . He paid the labourers £ o per aero for it , and expected them to work so as to make two shillings & day . I remarked that this was more wages than cos ^ son . He said it was ; they only gave the ploughmen ^ nd other day labourers nine shillings a week ; bui aa it wa ^ scarcely
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possible to get a good workman in that part of the country , ho allowed a higher rate of wages to" get them to work with some spirit . In answer to a remark I made about proselytizing their workmen to Socialism , he replied that they never made any attempt ; but if they did attempt it , he believed anything might be accomplished , any change might be effected , but a change in the old slovenly style of working : on that point he believed the present generation of Hampshire labourers to be incurable .
It will be perceived by this that the members of the community do not themselves cultivate the land . Some of them work in the garden , bat few of them I suspect , are fitted for out-door work . Their number was at the time I was there sixty ; thirty more were expected soon after . The quantity of land is 1 , 000 acres , held on a lease of ninety-nine years , at a rent of fifteen shillings an acre . They have the power of purchasing it within that time at a certain price ; and they have paid down a deposit on a neighbouring estate of three hundred acre ? . Taeir landlord ib Sir Isaac Lyon Goldsmid . There is Borne fine wood on tho
ground , and an avenue of fine old yews , which for beauty and extent is perhaps not equalled in any other part of England . The community intend cosverting a portion of that avenue into a summer ballroom . Adjoining , aro large numbers of full grown trees , resembling the size and shape of the mainmast of a man-of-war . I saw in several parts of the woodlands that the vegetable mould was gathered into heaps to be carried and used as manure . Oa almost tvery estate in the kingdom there is a nob . soil of this kind that might be colleoted and carried away without any injury to the trees . Mixed with lime it
is an excellent compost . I did not see the agriculturist , but Mr . Scott , the gardener , was conducting several experiments in the fields with the spade on alternate ridges with the plough . His manner of trenching was this : —¦ The earth was lifted two spadesful in width , and tb the depth of about a foot . This was taken in wheelbarrows to the place where trenching was to cease , there to fill up the last opening . A piok was taken , and the bottom of the trench loosened to the depth of eight or ten inches . This loosened subsoil was allowed to remain . The adjoining soil , two
spadesful in breadth , was then turned over , taking care to bury the weeds in the bottom . A second working with the spade in the same trench , turned up a fresh soil to form the surface of the new seed soil . The bottom of this second trench was loosened with the pick as that of the first , and the next was begun by again burying the top mould . They had a subsoil plough on its way from Smith , of Deanstone ' s factory , in Scotland . They were gradually introducing improved implements , bnt the greatest difficulty they found was to get the Hampshire labourers to work With them . Tiiey had thirty of these labourers at work .
1 was told at Broaghton that about one-half of the members ate no butcher-meat , but lived entirely on vegetable diet . They at first brewed beer , but now they have curtailed that expense . One shilling a week ia allowed for pocket money , but few of them are ever Been to spend even that iu the neighbourhood . To conclude , I may remark that I believe their land to be well worth £ 3 per acre of rent , and they only pay 15 s . They have an excellent bargain , if they manage it well ; and whatever may be said of their Social crotchets , it must be said of them that their style of farming is of a superior kind . Those noblemen , gentlemen , clergy and others who dislike the Socialists would do well to show the working population that good farming is not necessarily an
adjunct of Socialism ; else , perhaps , the working population will think the doctrines of those who pay beet , employ most , and produce the greatest abundance of crops , are the best doctrines . This is no light subject . Missionaries of all religions in all parts of tho world , in all ages , have succeeded in proselytising moro by introducing arts and sciences , by teaching new means of acquiring wealth , than by preaohing abstract theories . We have an eminent instance of this in New Zealand , at the present time ; and unless the landed gentry take a step in advance , or at least side by Bide in the samo road with the Socialists , they will find the labourers of Hampshire voluntarily converted to the new doctrine . Again I say this is no light subject . Let the gentry and clergy look to it .
One who has Whistled at the Plough . Such is the account given by the writer in the Morning Chronicle . He truly Bays " this is no light subject ! " " A thousand acres of land ; " " a treaty for another estate ; " " £ 500 paid on it as a deposit ; " a field of turnips , refreshing to the eye ;" " seven hundred sheep eating them ; " " building , said to cost £ 30 , 000 ; " " a dinner , judging from the refuse of bits and scraps , which seemed to tell more of abunbance than economy f " a garden of twentyseven acres ; " " brickmakers making bricks ;'» " builders building ; " road-makers making roads ;" " nine ploughs at work ; " " a hundred acres of wheat sown , and more wheat land preparing : " I'faith , it is " no light subject I "
All this land , these turnips , these sheep , this garden , these ploughs , and this wheat , are used for the purpose of providing A DINNER for the members of the bee-hive , which tells more of ABUNDANCE than economy ! Truly it is " no light subject !" " Dinner was just over ; and , as a finale to it , the members were singing a beautiful piece of solemn music " ! We have often heard the saying " no song , no supper . " Recent experience has taught the labouring people , that the correct reading is " no dinner , no song ! " ! Here , however , was to be found both dinner and sons ! The reason why these were so found is " no light subject" i
We advise the labouring people generally to endeavour to find out that reason ; so that they may again eat and sing ! We suspect that an attentive inquiry will show that reason to be in the fact that the land is occupied by , and worked by , those . who eat the dinner and sing the song ! The Governor of the Establishment where thia ABUNDANT DINNER , ( with a song after it !) was found , has deemed it necessary to oorreot one or two trifling inaccuracies in the writer ' s statement . He explains : —
" Firstly , tbe regulations of the establishment do not permit of persons coming ' visiting and living My from all parts of the country , ' Secondly , a very large sum was expended in farm-stock and improvements of various kinds ere any buttings were erected . These latter have not cost mote than half tbe sum stated ; and it must be understood that a large proportion of them are intended for tbe accommodation of pupils in infant , elementary , and polytechnic schools , which are now forming . Thirdly , vet ; many of the members are at present occupied on the land ; and it is intended that all shall be partially so occupied . There are other inaccuracies of a minor kind , which it is not deemed necessary to notice . On the , , whole , however , the account is the most correct and Impartial yet given to the world by a stranger . "
This , then , is what the Socialists are doing . They are occupying land , building dwellings , growing turnips , feeding sheep , sowing wheat , eating abundant dinners , employing labour , paying better wages , and introducing amongst their neighbours an improved system of farming : while their moral example ia such as to win golden opinions even from those who have been taught to regard them as the vilest of the vile . At this result of their endeavours so far we must express our most unbounded satisfaction ; with a fervent hope that entire success will attend their future exertions .
In this expression of satisfaction , however , let us not be mistaken , We do not identify ourselves with the peculiarities of the Socialists . We know that they have some crotchets about" external circumstances ;" and about men being " the creatures of them . " We know also that they have some notions out of the common way , on the questions of Marriage and Divorce . With these , however , we have nothing to do . It is with the occupation and employment of the Land to the production and enjoyment of an ABUNDANT DINNER that we wish to direct attention . Ab
abundant dinnet is an " external circumstance" that we can understand ; and we . can also understand that that " circumstance" has a good deal to do in " forming the human character . " To obtain that abundant DiNNMt for the labouring man is an object of the first importance with us : and it ia because that abundant dinner has flowed to the Socialists from their having the power to grow their own wheat ^ and feed their own sheep , and eat both when grown and fed , that we ask the labouring people to look on at what they are doing !
The labouring poor must bear in mind that it is not necessary that they all turn Socialists to enable them te do as the Socialists are doing with thb land . They can-obtain possession of ihe land , and use it , too , to the propuction of an abcndant dinneb , for themselves without embracing all the peculiarities of Socialism .
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We do not ] know that the turnips at Harmony are any bigger , ] or the sheep more fat , or the dinner more abundant , because , and only because , the inmates of ^ Harmony Hall hold the doctrine that " man is the creature of circumstances . " We suspect that manure and labour had more to do with the " eyerefreshing" crop of turnips ; and that the turnips had more to do with the fatiing of the sheep , tbaa the bare doctrine of " external circum stances . " Land and labour will produce food : if
these be in the possession of the labouring people , and if they use them so as to prodnce an " abundant dinner" and have sense enough to eat the dinner when it is produced , depend upon it it ! will not be necessary for them to become sectarians of any denomination to enjoy it ! If they produce for themselves a good dinner , and eat it , they may sing after it , without being Socialists ; unless , indeed , Socialism consists in producing , eating , and singing !
Tie above \ account is cheering to the labourers . By it they may see what can be done under most discouraging ' circumstances . No single sect of men have had a tithe of the opposition to contend with that the Socialists have had . In spite of all , they have secured for themselves " an abundant dinnee . " That" abundant dinner" will the labourers generally
secure to themselves , whenever they get upon the land ! They will get upon the land whenever they have so operated upon public opinion , as to have it iu favour of euch an employment of the productive energies of the soil , and the physical energies of the labourer , as shall end in the production of a good dinner for himself first , and a " biting-on ' for whoever may come afterwards .
To the formation of that public opinion , then , should a portion of their time be devoted ! The question , as we said last week , is making rapid advances . The publication of the above account by the Morning Chronicle is abundant evidence of that fact . It is our ! duty , and the duty of the poor themselves , to help ; it onwards . To the Socialists we say , Go on ! Produce more turnips , more sheep , and more wheat ! Show what can be done with thb land . Introduce the moat improved modes of cultivation . Make the most of your bargain ! You are engaged in " an experiment "
whioh , in its issue , may advance or retard the cause of the poor very materially . It is an important problem you have set yourselves to solve . Its solution may have effect upon the world at large . It behoves you , therefore , to be circumspect and mindful . Be so ! The world will now watch you 1 The public eye is opened upon you ; and if you are not careful , rancour will seize upon some false step of yours , aad prevent public confidence being reposed in you . Your card ia a thousand-fold more difficult to play now than before I Look well , therefore , before every leap you take !
We had intended , before closing thia article , to have indulged in a friendly remonstrance with some of the Socialists , respecting their " insane" and unaccountable policy towards the Chartists ; and to have addressed some recommendations to both parties as to a future course of conduct towards each other . Time and space , however will not permit us to enter into this branoh of our subject . It must be reserved for another opportunity ; when we hope to be able to shew that both greatly mistake their true interests when
they suppose that their proper position is m antagonism to each ! other . Tne end sought by both is the same : there is only a difference as to the means : and while the Chartists ought to have no objection to the Socialists iusing the means they are doing to give to the world a practical example of what can be done for thifj | $ ople on the land ; so ought there , on the other hand , to be no objection , bat , on the contrary , aid , from the Socialist to the Chartist , in the obtaining of that power which will enable both to accomplish their end , the Salvation of the starving workers by means of THE L 4 . ND !
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THE" SUCKING PIGS , " AND THEIR DESIRE FOR "UNION . " There is matter in the speeches and discussions of this Conference with whioh we might yet occupy many columns more than we are disposed to devote to it , in confirmation of the correctness of the views we have always taken , and the justness of the suspicions we have always expressed of the motives and purposes of the Sturge-men and their adherents . Indeed , we might begin and go through everyone of the speeches made by them on the motion of Mr . Lovett ' s , at which we laid down the subject last week , and through ] the whole of their proceedings afterwards ; and every single squeak of every single
" piggy" might be j seen to furnish evidence of the same truth ; the truth , that their " talk" of union was mere hypocritic cant , and that their purpose was , as it is , and has ever been , to sever the working classes into two bodies ; carrying away the weak-minded , the short-sighted , and the bad-principled , after the free trade phantasy ; and leaving , as they hoped , the remainder too . weak to effect any useful purpose . We say that evidence of this shines through all their Conference acts and speeches , and all that they have done and written since . But the
task of analysing suoh amass of ill-covered sophistry , plain contradictions , and clumsily concealed personal malignity as showed itself at the Conference , is one for which we- have little stomach ; it is rather too extensive a piece of dirtines ? . We take , therefore , a sample from the sack ; and that the sack may be well judged : of we take the best sample , the speech of the Rev . Mr . Spencer upon Loveit ' s motion for making the Charter the basis of discussion in the preparation of the Bill which they were met to prepare . Mr . Bpenceh said : —
"He saw no reason why they should be bound to a particular document , because it happened to have been introduced five yearsj ago—( hear , bear . ) He wished that every delegate bad read another document , which be would call tbe " People's Bill of Rights , '' and he thought they would find it an improvement upon the Charter ; more liberal , more generous , more for the people ' s good , and more for the protection of their rights , than the Charter—( hear , bear , and < l No , no . " ) He contended that they had as much light to a name as any body else—( hear , hear . ) It was said that there was a prejudice on jthe part of tbe association in favour of a name—( hear , bear . ) He certainly did not see why any person should be compelled to call himself a Chartist—( bear , hear . ) He was in favour of
Complete Suffrage , and be would do his utmost to cany out tbe details necessary for its enactment , but he objected to a body of men coming there and saying , that they should not consider the principle under any other name than the People ' s Charter . ( Hisses . ) He was present at tbe last Conference , and tbe members of the Complete Suffrage Association conceded almost every thing to tbe advocates of 1 tbe Chatter which could be asked of them , but nothing was eonceded in return . ( Cries of no , no . ) He repeated the truth of the assertion . But did they repent what they had done ? N » . They thought that what they bad done was right . He trusted that he bad the interest of the working classes , at heart as much as any man living , and kia hope fox them in this movement was tbe union of their own
body with the electoral body ; the infusion of fresh energy , fresh life , and ] fresh blood from another class . ( Cheers . ) Let the working classes have their own field . He thought the members of tbe Complete Suffrage Association could render them much service in working separately ; but if they remained one party , and that a divided one , ! the effect of tbe new movement would be lust for ever . ; ( Hear , hear , and no , no . ) He had heard the Bill to which so many allusions had been made , read over , accompanied with tbe explanation of the accomplished banister who had drawn it up , and he waa surprised at the ' opinion expressed by one gentleman who advocated the Charter , who could not have seen much of the Bill , ! that it was bad in the preamble and in Ub clauses . ( Hear , hear , hear , from Mr . O'Connor ) . He ( Mr . Spencer ) had brought
bia common cense to bear in judging ; of the bill ; and he muBt say that be did ] not think tbe opinion he had alluded to , was a aorrect one . He bad read the Chatter , too . He bad heard it iexplained , and if gentlemen would only consent to have the Bill © f the Association , which had been drawn jnp with great care and at a great expence—if they , weuld consent to have it discussed , then , at the end they would be able to say whether they thought the bill or the Charter the most valuable —( hear , hear , bear ) . He could not understand wfay it was contended that the Charter should be the basis of discussion . Eve ' ry body knew what the Charter was , but every body did not know what the bill of tbe Complete Suffrage Association was—( hear , hear ) . If they condemned a measure about which they knew nothing , he would ask- whether they would not ba blindly following blind ! leaders , and whether they
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would not fce roting in the dark f—ihear , hear , *** disapprobation ) . If the Conference were detenaj ^ to act in this way . he felt beund as an Engtishni ^ and claiming a right to tbink and act for himself ^ say that rather than he would give up his indepen . dence , he should henceforward recommend tw there should be two parties , and that they shcmM carry on their Conference under different aa ^ J —( bear , hear , hear , and much disapprobation ) , n ought to be borne ia mind that the Charter was only J outline ef the proposed Bill , and that it wanted ate , np . On tbe other hand , the Bill had been fiuea ^ w
with very great care , ana u adopted , it would be tii glory of tbe land—( b . ear , Jhear , and no , no ) . Wby ^ allow the members of the Association the same priyjw which tbe advocates of the Charter demanded for them selves ' —( heat , hear ) . If it to to be said , « you m , J come to ua first , " be must Bay no —( hisses ) . As a det « J man of the Church of England , he could converse « j $ a Dissenter on the principles of Christianity , witw any sacrifice of bis ewn convictions ; bat if the DuseatM asked him to turn to bis way ef thinking , he would iw do so . Neither on tbe other band would be ask tfw Dissenter to coma to him . He wanted liberality t » reli well elseaud
gion as as everything , he rejoiced to say that with respect to the brethren in the Church there was a disposition , when they saw a man deter . mined to tbink for himself , to allow him to do so . gj wanted to lower the taxes ; but he would do it in , fair way . He wanted to reform the Church ; bat fe wished to do it in accordance with scriptural rsaioa . He wished to extend the elective franchise , and m every man in possession of his civil rights ; but h& sought to do that by peaceable and legitimate mean , and be weuld be no party to anything that conld Ia 2 t <* disorder or to destruction of the national institatfom —( hissing and much confusion ) . "
If any man can vrish for more evidence of % insincerity of the Sturge party , when they talk of " union between the middle and working cla sses * than is afforded by this speech , we wish him joy of his stupidity . As an attempt at argument we hat * seldom read or heard a speech which was more saccessfnl in tbe answering of itself . As a cover for the deep designs of the Sturge men , it is , though the best effort of the party , a perfect failure , Th a Rev . Gentleman " saw no reason why they should be bound to a paticutar document , because it happened to havabeen introduced fi ? e years ago "
Did this very eentiment furnish to the Rev . Gen tleman no argument against their being" bound to a particular document , because it happened to hyts been introduced , " the previous evening ! Surely & five years acquaintance with a document should , 4 least , even in the estimation of a Sturge man , be as geod a reason for adhering to it as a firs minutes accjuaintance ! How futile , then , is the argument (!) which so overturns itself > But look ti tbe dishonest perversion of facts contained in these few words . It was not becaase the Charter had been five years before the publio that the supporters
of the amendment wished it to be made the basis of discussion ; but because ita provisions were familiar to them . They knew all about them ; they knew that they did contain an embodiment of the great principles for the success of which Mr , Spencer , and the rest of the Sturge men professed anxiety ; they knew that it had obtained the confU deuce of tbe working classes favourable'to those principles ; they knew also that it had obtained tbe confidence of many among the more honest of the middle classes favourable to those principles ; they
were sincere and earnest in their desire for a unioa of all those among the middle and working classes wbo do hold them , for the furtherance of those principles ; and thoy concluded naturally and rightly , as all parties honestly seeking- union must have concluded , that they were more likely to effect that union by taking , as their basis , a common ground , over which both had travelled and were familiar with , than by taking a new ground . of which neither knew anything at all but what Mr . Biggs and Mr . Spencer might be pleased to tell them about it .
This course must have been approved and adopted by all parties desiring to effect a union between tie middle and working classes for the legislative establishment of the great principles contained in iig Charter ; but this course was not approved vd adopted by the Sturgemeo ia the late Conferenoe therefore the Sturgemen in the late Conference had no desire to promote such a union . In his laudation of the " five hour monster , " Mr . Spencer expressed his wish that every delegate had read it . If it had been the wish of his party for the delegates to be acquainted with the
contents of the Bill , they had the means of gratifying their own wish . The Bill was printed , and might have been put into the hands of every delegate , at the same time with his card of admission . And , considering the stand which the Stnrgemen intended to take npon the Bill , it ought to have been so presented to each delegate . Each delegate would then have had an opportunity ^ -a very indifferent one to be sore—but still some opportunity of reading it , of acquainting himself with its details , and of noting its great superiority over the Charter , so maea dilated on by the Rev Speaker . But this didn't
suit the Stargemen at all . Their object from ( lie first was to avoid everything upon which a real union for principle could be effected . And we verily believe that if they had thus furnished each delegate with a copy of their Bill , and if , upon examination , the Bill had been actually found to provide honestly and fairly for the enforcement of the great principles , and it had therefore been cordially and unanimously adopted by the delegates to the exclusion of the Charter , they would have been filled with disappointment and consternation ; they wool ! have been agonized with fear lest the delegates
should be able to bring the people into like modes of thinking , and bo effect that " union" which ia their very hearts we believe they dread . We have no doubt that if this had been so , or if the Chartist delegates , determined on " union" had even swallowed the " pig in a poke , " and taken the monster as it was , we should have had the Sturgitea themselreB the very loudest of all parties ia denouncing theM delegates for inconsistency , for fioklenessof mindt and for bad faith to their constituents , in the hope that by this means they might split up the people into sections , and so prevent the" onion . "
" He contended that they had as much right to a name as any body else . He did not see why any person / should be compelled to call himself a Char tot ' Here again , the perversien and the sophistry which form the cloven foot of party peeps oat from under the Rev . speaker ' s argument The question of the " name" was not at all before the Conference . It was the thing they were talking of ; the documentthe embodiment of principles . About names there had been , as yet , no discussion ; nor had they bees at all introduced , except as the Reverend speaker and a few of his " Sucking Pig" friends had logged them in , nolens volens , to form a cover for ftflk policy .
But , if it had even been a question of names * thfr argument of the Reverend Gentleman is again ft two-edged one . If he objected to the name of tho Charter , surely hi 3 Christian prinoiple should h » T 8 taught him that others had an equal right to object to any other name . And since he must know that union can be obtained only by one of two courseS j sameness of view , or concession , his Christian principle should have again taught him , tbat ^ honestly desiring union , the minority should bo prepared at all times to concede to the majority " every thing which might not involve a sacrifice of the thing to be united for . Now it was admitted by Mr . Spencer , and by all the Sturge men , that tho Charter does contain an embodiment of their
principles . It was admitted by Mr . Sto&qb In his opening speech , that the only prejudice and objeo * tion was against the name ; that the thing was tbo very thing which they desired { that they considered " a union with the working classeB" necessary for its attainment ; and that they had , therefore , invited them to this Conference for the purpose of obtaining such a union . We say that under such circumstances had it been a question about names , theit Christian principle should have instructed them , that inasmuch as the name was not the prinoiptef and that the principle might be as well recognized under one name as another , it was their dnty » rather than to jeopardise the union , to concede the point to the majority . So that if it •»* even been a question about names , the o bstinacy
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 21, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1196/page/4/
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