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«nTHE PRODUCERS OF WEALTH. AND - ALL THOSE WHO LITE BY INDUSTRY nX THE LAND.
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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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jIt Tsssxm , —When yon learn thai I hare been . fll Mid confined to the house for three days of aft week , that I hare written nearly a whole book , jlger for Qeave ' s Circular , attended two public ^ gn ^ s , and had daily consultation with onr Sd Ur . Roberts , upon the proceedings to take 2 je on Friday , in the Qneen ' 8 Bench , yon will * T « ynect a letter upon the Land , in the present
itober . However , I rejoice to see that the Bubject jjtoreing itself on the attention of all classes . 1 WTO been reading in the Times of this morning , the ^ geefc of Mr . Honghton , recently made at an aericul-Z ^ diimer , and from that I learn that the minds of jvg fcj £ fanners are being tnrned to the consideration jivbb means by which a market may be opened for jjaen ploynient of labour ; which , if not done , will gg ap the profits of the big men , in the shape of PBU j&tes . Tfc 115 is the monitor now speaking-who -ul ecmpei abesriEg .
I trust that the London reporter of the Star will cgm ! a good report of my lecture upon the Land , jeered on Tuesday night , to the most attentive ujd eati& Untd audience it has ever been my good ^ jjniie to address . I think I may with truth say , that my fondest jj pjcrstions are more than a hundred-fold realized ; j 3 1 had eo reason to expect ihafc men who never ge t green field , and who only know that meat is fanl in bnichers' steps , and vegetables in . green po cers ' , -trrold be so anxiously alive to this all-^ pcri ^ Bt sEcject ; however so it was . The question fcs t ? kea root , and grow , and flourish , and mature , it ^ medlv irilL
On SfMHkj , the 12 th of June , I Ehall have the gjs * j-meber of a practical work on small farms ready ^ publication . Each number will contain forty-^ pages of origin *! matter , with plates , illustrat-2 gp ! acs of public buildings , cottages , and grounds , ad setting forth the plan by which I hope to see Ihe project carried out , price sixpence ; and I hare jo request ihat timely orders may be sent to Heyw ood , Oldham-street , Manchester ; Cleave , 1 , < 3 » eJanp , Fleet-street , London ; and Hobson , yuibern Star Offise , Leeds ; as I hare no desire to let £ 1 , 500 worth of pamphlets Mt upon my hands , & I bad oi poriraits , which were ordered but not said for .
i have strong hope that in my next I may fee able to congratulate you upon the successful jendoaon of the Lancaster trials . I the more long ftr men a result , as I feel assured that an unfavourite termination would haTe a very prejudicial effect ipon the health of Mr . Roberts , who has really fecome a monomaniac upon this , to him , all-absorbing subject . : imH * onld Ireland * doing her work- Treli 3 JJidnt I tell you that when Paddy became in earnest he would be an awkward customer ? Harrah for the Rspeal I bat no ; of the Corn Iays . Your faithful servant , Fexbgcs U'Cosyo * .
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I . OKDOK . —A public lecture was delivered on Taescsv evening , at the City of London Political and Sdentinc Institui on , by Feargus O'Connor , Esq . spon the land , admission twopence . Shortly previous to eight o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor arrived , and was greeted with loud approbation . On the motion of Mr . Cuffay , Mr . Shaw was called to the chair , sad in an appropriate manner introduced the business of the evening . Mr . O'Connor commenced by aOnding to the numbers present , and expressed his surprise that fo uninteresting a subject a 3 the land diould have drawn so many together . The land by the artifices of wily statesmen and glib philosophers hid been artfully shrouded from the Tiew of working men , ye * , there was not a single person present
who , in the shape of bread , butter , milk , beef , &c was not interested in is . The land was the grand source from whence was procured everything they consumed , wore , or lived by ; and what more was secessary to show it in its most fascinating form ! The land was at the bottom of every national question . If it was a question of national taxation-, the l&nd was at the bousm ; ii it was a State Church question , or ons of demand and supply , of exportation or importation , the land was at the bottom . Tbat were all questions of improvement , though cloaked under titles of enclosure bills , drainage bills , &c but questions of ihe land ! Wha : was ihat subject which was low driving fane men mad and jQikiag fools laugh—the subject of tee Corn
Laws , but a question of the land ?—( Hear , hear . ) Did they suppose that the House of Commons had sat so many hours on the previous sight to discuss & question of Canadian rights ? SoEaeh thing ; it was shonld corn be grewa on British or . American land . Cobbett , the' / great writer en all quesiicns dear to working men , had established me faei that Britain had four times more land than was necessary to grow food for her population . "What gave power to the army and the navy J—What produced the Income and other taxes 1— What supported the Special Commission , by which he and others tad been tried , but" the malsppropriatioa of fee land ! It was the evil of politics ] power being stwhed to the land , which he was anxious to
de-Boanrate ; deprive the land of its enfranchising pslices . and it would then be brought into the refail market ; then would the cation become great and powerful . It might be asserted , beeacoe they Were surrounded by splendour , and because foreigners pot their capital in our funds , that the nation was » ch ajd powerful ; but that only showed the wealth oftbtlew and the poverty of the many . For a nation to be great , every mm must be sombody ; a nan with no self-respect was like a weed in a corn field ; and he had no hesitation in asserting that bj making men individually powerful , by giving theo thesml of the country , they would be more respected as a nation , botn at home and abroad , than they were now , even if they had not * gninea
a the national coffers . So long as land gave votes , a > long would the landlords let it to those whose votes they could command , and wonld keep it out ef the retail market . The moment a man comasecced labouring for the benefit of another , that ^ oa em slavery commenced ; and . when be fhonld work for Li 3 own individual benefit , then would essential freedom commence . The present administafcoB , wiih the exception of the Duse of Bucekueb and a fsw others , might be rightly termed the Panper Administration ; they bad all sacrificed flieir eatares for political power . A man who did not mHtersiaEd ihe question might say , if land wonl d bring them so mseh more in the retail market why do they keep it in the wholesale one 1 ft was
because if ihey could make fire or ten millions more of their estates in the retail market , they could make cme fcnndr ^ d millions by retaining political power . This Mr . O'Connor illustrated by several examples . Was Eot the State Church a land question ? The holder ef ore thousand acres being bonnd up ic the system , recogi zed tithes , &c , as a national tax , fet if the one tbonssud acres was divided » mong twotuEdred acd fifty Email proprietors he believed it would be a difficult matter for my Lord V . harnt ^ e or Buy oiher man to persuade such a rural population that tbev onght to pay for the support , of * einreh opposed ' , perhaps , to their principles , or to a jarsoD who damned iheir souls once a week . The Giamr was essentially a land question . "What did
tbey wanr but the power of applying their labour to tte raw material for their own benefit ! and until * hev got possession of the raw material of the lad thej wonid never be able to compete with tbe Leviathan manufacturer . What was the new * jntation that was bow buzzing about the ears of Sir fioben ! he ( Mr . OTtEnoi ) had predicted that the ssxt tarricaiie that passed over Sir Robert would be something more than a Chartist breeze , that it would be one which would spring frcm hi 3 own atmosphere tod be nursed in his cwb cradle . He saw the Bucks aeeting ; he saw the Berks meeting ; he saw tha * those who halloed on Sir Robert to power as the * "& ? pilot who could guide the vessel , the Buck-J ^ gaams and the Blackstones . were arrayed against
™ a , and possessed mere power on tne P »* -, « " *» tian Peel on the rostrum ; the warfare had , * wr commenced between the agriculturist who * kisikd at Downing street , and the agriculturist , who whistled at the plough . What was the new Position of Ireland—( hear , bear , and cheers , ) the ; P ° ation of the most industrious men that the sun ; " » shone oni Did they demand for themselves-» ealth or luxury ! No ; but they demanded that * B ? siaen Ehooid be » jjowed to cultivate the soil of j we * native land . The landlord and Ihe parson were ; *•» * t variance , though the former had got five per j ?** . taken off , yet he thought the parson got seventy-: 5 fe per cent , more than he onriit . What was tbe ,
** mreh of Scotland question ! it was » ot one of gas , *¦ oonabine , or of shadow ; the Church nerer fought «* shadows ; to the devil sight go the spiritualities P ^ ed she grasped the substance . It was mwgh * . *« * question of the lmd . What was the Repeal of J ae CoraLaws ! It was not one of the moon or stars , ' poofi . these might have an influence on tbe weather , «« it was a question of wheat , and though , «* J had cloaked ihe subject over and hidden Bunder a heap of metaphysics , yet Bober-nanded » oiktt g men argued that land produced wheat , and *« b came the question of how to get the land ! £ pon this subject , he had thonght much , and writ-»*» ttBeh ; but be never could dmne why men j
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ken ? fr ^ r ^ s ™»* J *** « PPJ * nse who kept from them the l » nd-the means of obtaining their Bubastence . Hehad heard the weeping poor man s fnend wailing that his bread should oHo v ^ , e had he&rd tho dissenting and the bie-^ ££ l 1 ftrSOn Weepin , &Dd ^ PatKzhg , and BtUl coining the poor man ' s sweat into gold ; and when he heard and read in the press of their sympathy , ^ " ^ n » tu » l that the working man shoul d suppose that they only wanted their eyes opened to the true remedy immediately to adopt it ? but the fact was , that the manufacturer equally with the aristocrat was interested in depriving the poor man of political power , and of keeping the land in the wholesale market—( lond cries of hear , hear ) He challenged all the glib philosophers of the day
to overturn his position . With six hours notice he wonld meet any Oxonian cantab , political economist , orMalthusian philosopher , and prove the correctness of his views on the land . That man was entitled to his freedom was allowed by politicians of all parties , but an artificial barrier was placed between him and rb . enat . jal door by which to acquire that freedom . The manufacturing market was overloaded with labourers . Many of his poor countrymen were compelled by dire necessity to come to the land of the stranger for that sustenance denied to them in the land of thfir birth , and thereby constituted a reserve for the employers to fall back upon . He would open for them the natural market , the land , which would regulate the price of the artificial market : and all
who were tired of the rattle box—all those mothers whose children where carried to the manufactur ing charnel house—* 11 those fathers who by the glimmering of the gases , by the light of the moon , dragged tbeir offspring to unnatural toil—all those men who were tired ot living on the labour of their wives and children , wonld flock to this natural opening for their exertions . He wished not to limit machinery , he proposed that machinery should be man ' s holiday and not his curse . He would alleviate their toil not by abolishing machinery , but by subjecting it to fair competition with the natural market ; then instead of all the wealth being in the hands of the idle , and want and misery being the portion of the industrious , the manufacturers would
be compelled to do one of two things , either to dose their shops or to give as good a price for labour as it would fetch in the natural market . Why they did not do this was because they were afraid of one another . . Peel was trying to juggle the anti-Corn Law League , and the League were trying to juggle Peel , and they well knew that both parties were juggling them . ( An Irkhmanhere asserted that Cob den was not trying to juggle . ) He would try Cobden by that test , dearer to him as an Irishman than all otherp . Would Cobden vote for the Repeal of the TJnion ? When that question was discussed in the House , and spite of the frothy declamation of Peel and Wellington , though they might fill the House fuller than it wonld hold with denunciations of Re
peal ; yet they mnst discuss it —( cheers ) . He asked , asain , would Cobden vote for it ! The question . of Repeal was entwined with that of the land ; they were told they had not land enough to grow food , but must call in the aid of scientific legislation . Let them look at Ireland—let the Irish , instead of emigrating from the land of their birth , be allowed to remain and cultivate it ; and , after they had supplied their ewn population with bread , beef , butter , and all the good things of the land , they would have surplus enough to supply the whole English population . The question of Repeal was indeed a question of the land . Mr . O'Connor then related , in a humourous manner , an anecdote of an Irishman he hsdmet the previous evening , who had left his
employment , because he thought so much of Repeal ; and , after giving him Is ., asked him to what purpose he would apply it ! " He would send it to the ' rint' to bo sure ? ' when Mr . O'Connor gave him another for himself . Mr . Cobbett had taid that a quarter of an acre of land would keep a cow all the ytar , and that its produce would be , with seventeen day * labour , £ 57 per annum . Mr . Cobbett , they must recollect , was not a theoretical man ; he boasted that he dug the ground , sowed the seed , and reaped the harvest . Mr . O'Connor then went into the minute detail ? of the land question , and most feelingly described the miseries endured by the mass of the population , and tke comparative paradise the cDJoymeut of the land would place within their
-reach . They were told he was not loyal—that he wa ? guilty or sedition , routs , riots , tumults , rebellion , and the devil knew what beside ; he had been found guilty of doing nothing . Now here , he had done nothing , and done it wrong—daughter ) . They would » e loyal when they had something to be lojal to—when they had something in return for it ; could they be loyal to a rattlo-bex , to a * team engine , a railroad , a Stock Exchange , or a palace ! there was more loyally in sitting under the riven onk where tkeir fathers bad sat ; there was more loyalty in treading the grassy path still fresh with the footsteps of their forefathers , and in milking the cow which their mothers had milked ; there was more loyalty in living in the house where their
fathers had lived and in being buried in tbe fame place ; there waa more loyalty in going to the parish school , to the parish church or chapel—in viewing those beauties of nature , than there was in toiling in a rattle-box or gazing at a splendid review , —there was patriotism , a higher word than loyalty , in those feelings—there was love of country . When these times again returned there would be no fear of disaffection . A contented rural population , if threatened with foes or invasion , would run with greater alacrity to the fcound of their cottage being in danger , then rouse to -the cry of the church is a tumbling . He was scarcel y sorry things were come to the present pass , if ont of them the regeneration of his country
should Epring ; he could scarce complain of persecution , of being almost banished from his native land , if out of his struggling , good should arise . He had struggled long and well to attain the mighty object of achieving freedom for both nations , and he thanked God that the day had arrived , when the English working classes could testify their love for Ireland . —( great cheering- ) Their injuries and their resentments werejwiried in oblivion ; the party spirit eDCOuraged by their oppressors had given way before the generous manliness of their disposition ; all angry thoughts were banished now that his country was assailed by the common enemy . Mr . O'Connor then again reverted to the capabilities of the land , and ridiculed the idea of a superabundant population ; if
there was not something wrong and perverted in man ' s character , could he with feelings of aught but indignation look on the troopers fatted horse and view also a starving population ? could he see the splendid equipages of the great with their fatted horses ten Jed like babes , while the children of working m 6 n were deprived of food 1 Why should his countTyn ? en be sent to foreign shores to lav their bones in a foriegn grave , while the trooper's horse employed for slaughter and destruction , was consumicg the corn of their fatherland 1 Hewould see tbe ihroats of every fatted horse , of every dog , cut ; and of every animal which lived upon man's food ; he would would see the stately forest rooted up and planted with green
corn ere be would give way to their Malthusian doctrines ; and then , if Gcd in his mercy did not send a snfficent supply of food , hewould draw lofs with his fellow men who should go to foreign lands in search of food , but until then , said Mr . O'Connor , let us hear no more of the Jwailine advocates of Malthus , and their tricks of trade . Until man was placed upon the soil to support himself by his own labour it was idle to talk that the land would not support the population . Mr . O'Connor then alluded to the embarrassed state of the Government , and to tbe stand hi ? countrymen were making for Repeal , and concluded by stating that hid doctor bad advised him not to attend meetings iu his
present delicate health ; but he felt more inrigorared and refreshed now than when he entered the room , he believed they had done him more good iha * if he had taken all the drugs in a doctor ' s shop ; it was the sitting too close to the desk and attending les ? at meetings , which had lately injured his health . Mr . O'Connor tben exemplified the advantages of union , by referring to the profits of the meeting which were devoted to tbe paying a portion of tbe debt off the hall , and sat down amid great applause . Mr . Parkes moved , and Mr . Railton seconded a vote of thanks to Mr . O'Connor , which was carried by acclamation . Mr . O'Connor briefly replied . Mr . Wheeler moved , and Mr . Wales seconded a vote of thanks Co the chairman , and tbe meeting adjourned .
A Mkbtikg « f the Council resident in London , waa held on Sunday afternoon , at the Political and Scientific Institution , TunuLgain-lwoe , Mr . Knight in the chair . Mr . Wheeler was appointed Secretary pro Urn . CorrespondeDC * -waa read from Cegglesb&U , Oldbam , Greenwich and other places . Mr . Wheeler stated that in coBMquoioe of the majority of tbe country mtmben fesriac left Ixradoa , and the paucity of communication fan the country , it m advisable that the idea , of a DdegMto meeting being held m tbe following Taead&x thooM be abandoned . Mr . Page moved and Mr . Mailard aeeoaded that tbe subject should be adjourned one mcnlh , m order that the important dietricta in the eonnrry might have an opportunity of expressing theii opinioEB on the best time and place of holding a Delegate Meeting . Mr . Simpaon supported the motion and urged the necessity of iomefiiate steps being taken to call a Conference , that acme tffiiient organization might he adopted Mr . Thorpe was of opinion that the meeting Bhonld he held on the Tuesday , it would serve as a
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preparatory conference . Mr . Mills moved as an amendment that it be deferred a fortnight ; the amendment was not seconded and the original motion was carried without a dissentient . The Council then adjourned for one mouth . Thb Metropolitan Dklegatk Meeting was held on Sunday , Mr . Knight in the chair . 2 ? . 6 a . waa received from Ciockhouse aud Is . 6 d . from B . oevusbury . The meeting then adjourned to make room for the
General Council . Political and Scientific Institution , Tchnagain-Lajje —Mr . Parkes preached here on Suuday morning , and was much applauded . On Sunday evening , Mr . Parkes addressed a large audience on the fate of Frost and other political martyrs , and was listened to with great attention . Mr . Brown occupied the chair . Messrs . Mee , Brown , Spurr , Benbow , Muntz , Cowan , and Ratbbooe , teak part in a discussion which ensued . A collection was wade at the dose .
SOUTH SHIELDS . —Mr . Beesley lectured here on Tuesday evening , . it Mr . Daglea's , Scarbro' Spa , on the land question . After the lecture the following resolution , proposed by Win . Gilflllan , seconded by Thomas Routledge , and ably supported by Mr . Samuel K > ' 1 d , bookseller , was unanimously ajrreed to : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the letters of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., on the land , and the leotures of Mr . Beesley , on the same subject , are well worthy of the serious attention of the people of this coontry , as tho best means of obtaining the People ' s Charter-, alBothe sorest method of set-wing their permanent happiness when that great measure becomes the law of the
l and . " YEOVIU ., Somersetshire . —A Mr . Brown , a Corn Law Repealer , lectured here on the Corn Laws , a few days ago . He was opposed by Mr . C . Maunder , who sought to obtain from him a distinct avowal that the repeal of the Corn Laws , under existing circumstances , would benefit the people . The lecturer , however , fought shy , and left the town without effecting the object for which he came . The " lads" taught him a lesson , and convinced him that he could not have all his own way .
ARNOLD , near Nottingham . —In our last paper we gave an account of tho proceedings consequent upon the election of a person to the office of poorrate collector . We have now to state that the poll , which had been demanded by the Whigs , took place on Monday last , when the Chartists rallied in all their strength , and by a determined effort plaoed their man at the head of the poll , the numbers being —For Mr . Mellow . Chartist , 228 ; for Mr . Thomas , tho Churchman , 203 ; majority , ' 25 . The announcement was received with tremendous cheering . BURY . —On Sunday two sermons were preached by Mr . Hill , in the Garden-street Room , on behalf of the fuuus of the Sunday Bchool connected therewith . The congregations were numerous and attentive . The collections amounted to i' 7 4 s . 5 d .
ROCHDALE— On Tuesday eveniDg Mr . Hill lectured ia the Theatre to a full house . After the lecture he called the attention of the audience to the condition of poor Cooper aud Richards in Stafford hell hole . A committee was appointed to draw up a petition forthwith and to send it to Mr . Crawford for presentation . Both there and at Belton a number of the new Chartist Hymn Books were bought by the people ; the trade profit upon which Mr . H . gives to the defende fund , in the name of the respective towns .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS—Friday , May 19 . Several notices of motion were given and questions asked . After which Lord Stanley brought forward his resolutions relating to the importation of Canadian wheat and wheat flour . The Noble Lord moved that , in lieu of the duties now payable irpou wheat and wheat flour imported into the United Kingdom from Canada , the duty for every quarter of wheat should be Is ., and for every barrel of wheat , meal , or flour , being 196 pounds , a duty equal in amount to tbe duty payable on 38 i gallons of wheat .
Mr . Laboccbbre opposed the motion , and moved as an amendment , an address to the Crown to withhold the Royal Assent from the Bill passed by the Canadian Legislature . Mr . Tbornely seconded the amendment . A debate endued , in the course of which several members gave utterance to their sentiments , and at midnight , the debate was adjourned until Monday .
MONDAY , May 22 . In answer to a question from Sir Andrew Leith Hat , relative to the Secession from the Scotch Church , Sir James Graham said that ninety-three endowed Miui » ter 9 of the Established Church had ecceded , a great number of lay members , and an additional number of quoad sacra ministers had also gone with them , and that her Majesty ' s Government wonld watch the proceedings of the General Assembly with regard to any measure that legally constituted body might adopt . The debate on the Canadian Corn question was then resumed and carried with some ppirit . On a division , ministers had a majority of 188 , the numbers being , for Lord Stanley ' s proposition , 344 ; for the amendment , 156 .
TUESDAY , May 28 . A great number of petitions on various questions were presented . Mr . H awes brought on his motion , for an address to the Queen on the subject of Danish Claims . The motion was withdrawn on a point of form .
KNUTSFORD GAOL . Mr . T . DUNCOMBE said that . in rising to call the attention of the Honse to the motion of which he bad gi ? en notice , he might be allowed to explain how one so totally unconneeted with th 3 Counly of Chester , came to be mixed up In a question apparently of a local character . When , on the 22 nd of February , ho rose to call tbe attention of the House to the conduct of the Lord Chief Baton ( Lord Abinger ) , at the special commission , litid last October , wUile he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) found fault with some of the sentences passed by that Noble and Learned Lord , he said that tbe severity of those sentences was much aggravated by tbe severity with which the prisoners were treated in the gaol of Knutsford . On the following day the
Honourable Member for Cheshire asked » hy he ( Mr . T . Duncombej bad not given bim notice of his intention to allude to the discipline enforced at Knutsford , and at tbe same time said that he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) bad been altogether misinformed on the subject . He immediately wrote to his informant to say that his statements were likely to be disputed . The statements which he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) had wade rtlative to the treatment of the prisoners at Knutsford , amounted to this ; that the Chartist prisoners complained that on their arrival at the prison , they had been arid : eased in very violent and insolent language by the gaoler ; secondly , that some of those prisoners were put upon the treadmill out of their turn for the amusement of some ladies and gentlemen who visited the prison ; thirdly , that the overseer of
those prisoners was bimslf a felop , and that these prisoners were tins compelled to associate with a felon ; and fourthly , that tbeir fv > od was insufficient both in quantity and quality . On the following Monday , the Honourable Member for Cheshire gave a most unqualified contradiction to the statement which he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) bad made on the authority of his informant , a gentleman resident in Stockport , a ; id the testimony of one of the prisoners was produced in support of the contradiction . He ( Mr . T . Dancombe ) immediately observed that such contradictions coming frem prisoners , under the control of the magistrates , ought to be r « ceived with extreme caution , and therefore lie begged leave to adhere to the statement be bad originally made . After that contradiction , be thought
the House might fairly complain of tbe attempt that had been made to mislead the House . If he bad bimstlf given way on that occasion , perhaps not one of tbe iniquities connected with this prison would ever have come to light In consequence , however , of his perso verance in adhering to hia statement , the Right Hon . Baronet opposite announced bis intention to send down an inspector to investigate tbe circumstances connected with the case , if he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) would furnish him with the information which he was possessed of . Mr . Williams , tbe inspector of prisons , accordingly proceeded to institute an investigation into the case , and among other witnesses examined the Chaplain of the prUon ; and if Hon . Gentlemen would take tbe
trouble to read the report of Captain Williams , tney would find that every aUtement made by bim ( Mr . T . l > nocombe ) was fully proved and substantiated by that report With respect to the charge agamst the governor of haTing used to the prUonera violent and insulting language , the Inspector said that , npon the concurrent testimony of the priaenera themaelTeB , corroborated in a considerable degree by we evidence of Mr . Tracey , an officer of the county gaol , it appeared that the words addressed to prisoners by the governor , on their arrival , were to the following effect : — " Now , you apodal commission men , you were sent here to be punished , andyoushall be punished . The discipline of this prison ia so rigorously enforced , and the laws so strict , that if I hare tP punish , any
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of yon , ijj wjll have such an effdet upon your constitutions , ; ,, UHt , eyetfi . Under the most favourable oircumstanete , the strongest man among you won't have a constitution that I would give twopence for when your stntesoe shall expire . " Mr . Tracey described this as " harah language , " but he ( Mr . Duncombe ) believed the house would agree with Win that id was a most brutal speeoh :- The report afterwards proceeded : — " The chaplain also depoaea , that on the 5 th of December the governor met him in the prison yard , and , apparently under considerable irritation , addressed him in these words : Faiiharsfc , and some of these Chartists , have been complaining about their beef ;' and fnrtner said , ' Diiun these Cbartl « 8 . I'll give them thair belly-full before ! have done with them . " It appeared , when
this speech was made , no third person was present . ( Hear , hear , from Mr . E ^ exton . ) From that cbeur it was evident that the Hon . Member iuter . ded to give credence to the testimouy of the governor iu preference to a man of respectability like the Rev . Chaplain of the gaoL If the governor denied the accuracy of the charge , why had he not cross-examined the Chaplain on that point ? In consequence of what had t > kon place , he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) bad other testimony respecting tho language Mr . Burgess , the governor , was in the habit of uaing with respect to his prisoners . It was a letter from a tradesman of Knutsford , who was quite ready to ceme before a committee of the Hou 3 « , if a committee should he granted . The letter ran thus : —
v . " Knutsford , Maa-oh 17 , 1843 . " Blr , —After perusing yonr remarks lately made in tbe H ' otise of Commons relative to the House of Correction at Knutsford , I beg leave to state that Burgess , who is the head gaoler , has in the most unfeeling manner publicly boasted , in the midst of a promiscuous company , in the bir of the George Inn , where he occasionally goes to pass his evenings , ' of the short time in which by his prison discipline he can break down
( as be expressed himself ) the constitutions of prisoners , ' who unfortunately by their misdeeds placed themselves under his tender mercies ; such is this nun's boast , his favourite theme ; no person of any respectability will in the most distant manner associate with bim . He bad orders from the bostesa of the Gaorge Inn to taka a room whenever he came there , as people who frequent tbe inn retire with horror from bis presence on account of the merciless remarks he habitually indulges in , relative to the treatment of bis prisoners . "
For his part he ( Mr . Dnncombe ) believed Mr . Brown , and he did not believe Mr . Burgess ; and ho thought there would be gteat difficulty in finding any ono out of that Hous . et . 1 believe that Mr . Burgess did not us « tbe words attributed to him by Mr BroWD . The report went on to say— " It is alleged that certain of the prisoners were , on Thursday , the 20 th of October , in the sessions week , placed upon tbe tread wheel , out of their regular turn , for tbe purpose of shewing it working to strangers visiting tbe house of correction . It appears to be customary for the grand jury , at every sessions and adjourned sessions , to go througb the house of correction previous to their discharge , and that they are occasionally accompanied by females ; that at such times , if the tread wheel is not at work , prisoners are
called out frmu their wards and placed upon it for a short time , to show the manner of its working . The complaint ma < le by the prisoners of having on one occasion been placed on tho wheel for such purpose in tbe sessions week , is , I consider , just , and that the practice is at all times fbjec'ional . " Here again the inspector fniip v > n » vi ~ i - > i- x >~ uiaiiuub / ouc iq the charge he had made . At the General Quarter Sessions , held on tbe 17 th of last month , the magistrates there assembled agreed to at report to tbo Secretary of State , in reply to the report ot the inspector . In speaking of the practice of placing prisoners on the trea 4-wheel , for the purpose of showing its working to visitors , the report of tbe migistrates said , " It appears to the Court that tbe practice has prevailed upon the occasions
of the visits of the grand jury , and , as Captain Williams alleges , on somo other occasions ; but , as the tatter instances appear to have occurred always in tbe presence of a magistrate , this Court ciusiders the governor to be exonerated . " He was ready to prove that the statement tbat this was never done except in presence of a magistrate was filse . Ho could prove that lodt summer a party , between four ana five in the afternoon , went to see the prison , and th . it sumo prisoners were called out , for the amusement of tbe visitors , to show the working of the wheel , aud that neither tbe governor nor a magistrate waa present . Tbe employment of a felon was admitted . Tbe magistrates add , " It appears to the ceurt that n prisoner convicted of felony has been appointed by tho governor to instruct
misdemeanants m the weaving , but he had no authority ov 6 r them , and was never with them , unless be was called for by them to fetch materials or to instruct them . This court have given directions that such practice shall not oecnr for the fmure . " The inefficiency of food was also admitted , and thus was each of bis ( Air . Thotna . 3 Daneomes ) charges fully borne out by the report of the inspector . It appeared thtt the magistrates called the chaplain buforo them on the 17 th of March . lj and BubjecKd him to an examination , requesting bim to state \ tbat hail passed between him and the inspector . Tbe nudist rates know very Wfll what had occurred , for many ci them had beeu present at the examination of tbo chaplain by Captain Williams . It would have been better , certainly , under
the ; , j circumstances , if the chaplain bad answered at ones , and had said , " Yes , I did say so ind so ; I did give this information ; I wtia on my oath , and bound to speak the truth . " He was asked why be had not informed the magistrates at the time the words were used by tho governor 7 He said he had received orders , several years ago , to confine himself to bis sphitual duties . He ha « i , however , repeatedly entered on the journal cases of irregularity en the part of tbe governor , tucb as non-attendance at prayers , o * divine Berviee , which , according to tbe rules , he wes bound to attend . The result of all this bad been the dismissal if Mr . Brown , the chaplain . One charge brought against Mr . Brown was , that he waa in tbo habit of corresponding with him ( Mr . Duncombe )—( a laugh . ) He bad not
been a wo re that there was any very serious wrong in a man ' s corresponding with him , but , if there wan it waa nn offence Mr . Brown was wholly innocent of ; for until he ( Mr . Duucombe ) heard of his dismissal , he bad never known of Mr . Brown's existence . The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State fer tho Home Department , in a letter address id to the Chairman of the General Quarter Sessions for tho county of Chester had pronounced his opinion o ; i the conduct of tbe governor in these words ;— " I have tho honour to transmit to you a copy of the report of the icsprctor of prisons for tbe northern district , on an inquiry into tbe treatment of prisoners in the KnuUford House of Currection . It iB unnecessary for me to encIofo a cpy of tbe report which I received from the visiting justices soon after the termination of the inquiry , as they will doubtless already have transmitted to ycu a copy for the information of the magiatmtes ; bnt I enclose a copy of the inspector's remarks on the
latter pirt of that report , relating to certain particulars which were not connected with the inquiry , but which the inspector deemed necessary to bring before tho attention of the visiting justices . I have to request that you will sufmit these several statements to the magistrates of the county , at their first general meeting in quarter sessions , and request their attention most especially to those which relate to the conduct of the governor , tbat they may determine whether , after what hr . s occurred , they can , with confidence and with safety , continue him in an office of such responsibility . I forbear pointing out the various particulars which show indiscretion in tbe governor and inattention to bis duties ; but I cannot omit to mention one instance in which be appears to me to have been guilty of very great misconduct . I refer to a certain case in which , after the express directions of the surgeon that corperal punishment should cease , he insisted that it should be continued ,
and it was continued accordingly . The magistrates are fully aware that if , on that occasion , life had been endangered and death had ensued , the governor must have been tried on a charge n © less than of homicide . And I am persuaded tbe magistrates will be sensible of the great responsibility wfcicb must be incurred , by them , from subjecting prisoners any longer to the custody of one wbo could bo misconduct himself . " The magistrates , however , had addressed the secretary in these terms : — " This court remarks that it would be very convenient and conducive to the discipline of the prison , if the inspector would report to the visiting magistrates any misconduct in the officers or any other matter requiring their notice , as soon as it came te his knowledge , to which the magistrates will pay immediate attention . This court concludes by saying , that after a careful investigation of the charges referred to its consideration , it is of opinion that With
the exception of the case of the boy Trainer ( which has already been adjudicated npon ) , such charges are in themselves not of much importance , and their recurrence provided against , and are not such as to deprive the governor of the confidence which the magistrates have hitherto reposed in him , and which his general good conduct and tbe discipline which he has maintained in the prison have appeared to deserve . " He ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) would maintain again tbat all bis charges bad been fully borne out by the inspector's report , and if the correctness of that report was doubted , that was an additional reason wby this committee , for which be waa about to move , ought to be granted . Among other charges against the governor was , tbat he cad neglected to affix the rules ill a proper part of the prison . This was treated as a matter of little importunes , but he ( ftfr . T . Duncombe ) thought th » ro wan po part of the prison regulations of i
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more importance to the unfortunato prisoners , to whom it was of the highest importance to know the rules by which they were governed , and the nature of the rights of which they were not deprived . It was found that the gaoler had employed the prisoners , eoutrary to law , in mtmding his gig ; the iron was said to be only worth sixpence , but he ( Mr . t . Dancombe ) believed It to be realty worth three shillings and sixpence . But suppose it be only worth sixpence , they saw men committed etery day for stealing a few halfpence worth of apples or turnip-tops . Then as to tho circumstances connected with the whipping of the boy Edward Trainer , the case was said to have been adjudicated upon ; but the fact was , that he had been merely reprimanded by the magistrates . There was another case
in which a boy , named Ban-raft , h ^ d been flagged previously to his removal to Parkhurst prison ; and he was flogged so carelessly , that bis eye was severely injured by the thong . Ho understood thai when a person was to be flogged in this gaol , the town crier of Knutsford was called in to ltflict the punishment at the rate of two shillings for each person . It was often the case that ro surgeon , or assistant-surgeon , attended to witness the flogging administered , but merely an apprentice . The report of the surgeon , Mr . Dsane , on the state of the gael , prison diet , dec , stated that since his appointment to the office he had noticed the falling away of the mea employed in labour ; tbat his conviction was , that after an experience of fifteen years , it was impossible to keep men undergoing a long sentence
of imprisonment , iu ordinary health , on a reduced allowance of food , and he , therefore , recommended that tbe allowance chould be increased . Instead , however , of the gaoler giviug tha prisoners an increase of food , as recommended by tbe suraeon , tbo punishment continually resorted to was a stoppage of their food . During the three months ending tbe 10 th of March , 1843 , the stoppages of diet bad been on the average 302 daily [ an Hon . Member on the Ministoral benches exclaimed "No ; tbat was the number of prisoners . ' ] Stoppage of diet was the only description of punishment resorted to , and it fell frequently on the same individual . The magistrates , however , seemed to think that all these matters were of no consequence ; they retained
tbe gaoler but dismissed tbe chaplain . If they thought the chaplain tin improper person , why had they given him all those testimonials when applying for tbe chaplaincy of the Pentonville prison . In July 1842 , the magistrates spoke of the asstidious manner in which he had performed his duties as chaplaiu—of his upright and moral character as a clergyman and a Christian , although ia their report to the Secretary of State they said ho waa not entitled to their confidence , and had not been so for the last three years . The gaoler , the surgeon , tho schoolmaster , the task-master , and tbe matron all added their testimony to tbe exemplary conduct of the chaplain , as would be seen by the following documents : —
" Knutsford House of Correction Committee-room , July 23 , 1842 . " We , tbe undersigned magistrates , constituting the gaol committee of the House of Correction , Ki ; utsford , in the county of Chester , and others , have great satisfaction in beariDg our testimeny to the a al , assiduity , and faithfulness with which the Ruv . W . R . Browne , M . A ., our chaplain , has performed hia onerous duties during two years and a half , and also to his upright and moral character , as a clergyman and a Christian .
( Signed ) " E ? erton Leigh , Hyde Jno . Clark , l r . tumuuduu , . U . »» uvraumu , E J . Loyd , J . H . Harper , Jos . F . France , Rabt . Holllngworth , John Howard , Chairman , Harry Malnwaring . " " The Rev . W . Browne has held the situation of chaplain to the House of Correction here , for near throe years ; and having had , daring that period , almost daily communication with bim , I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to tbo zeal and assiduity with which he r-as diicharsied the duties of his office . Hfl has shown himself sincerely auxious for the moral improvement of the prisoners , and has spared no pains to accomplish his object . ( Signed ) " Richard Dean , " Suigeon to the House of Correction , " Kuuteford , Cheshire . " July 28 , 184 2 . "
" House of Correction , Knutsford , July 28 , 1842 . " TaeRev . W . Browne having officiated as chaplain here now two and a half years , and having been in daily communication , in my official capacity , with him for that period , I btg to add my testimony , along with several magistrates who have signed a testimonial in his favour , to the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties , and the active * 3 al displayed by htm to make himself useful in his ministerial vocation . His private character will bear strict investigation . ( Signed ) " Oeo . Burgess , Governor . "
Thomas Hayes , schooluinsttir and clerk , « aya , " The chaplain has bean very attentive to the boys , both as to religion and other matters . He teaches them himself . He is tho first chaplain : who t ~ a ^ done so ; always txamines the boys as to the cbapter that has been read ; teaches them spelling ; lectures daily . Chaplain has always strove very much to do good by lectures . Chaplain catechises the boys- regularly on a Saturday , when they repeat the collect . That waa never done before Mr . Browne ' s time . 'lie ha 3 dune his duty to the boys , you may depend upon ii . ' "
Greaves , task-master , siya , " Chaplain never neglected his duty , he has seen Lim take prisoners to his room repeatedly . He never beard a complaint of the chaplain at the hospital . Hospital men attend chapel lectures every day after prayers . He ( Greaves ) has been much edified by thuse lectures . He explains the Scripture in a clear and sensible way , so as the humblest capacity may understand . Never heard a prisoner complain of chaplain ' s neglect . Constantly more or less , chaplain takes prisoners to his private room . This has been his usual habit . Has taken them particularly before the sacrament . "
Mre . Gaskell , matron , sayo , "Toe chaplain has been very attentive . The women never wtro much instructed before his time . She always requires too chaplain when prisoners are ill . Ho has always attended immediately . Always has prayed with prisoners when requested by them . She ( tbe matron ) bad accompanied him on these occasions . Chaplain has asked Utc-m whether they wished to be prayed to very frt q icntly . Juvenile females were never instructed before nearly so well . She never heard of the chaplain nugitcting his doty . . She ( matron ) never omits ^ firing tb ' . ' governor ' s order . Tbe chaplain's conversation . with prisoners when siek , religious , and good . She hasalirjys attended during these conversations . Chaplain baa alw . ijs had converoation with the prisoners previous to thtir toxing the sacrament . "
Mr . Brown might , indeed , be well proud of forfeiting the confidence of such magistrate , They , however , had made up their minds six week-: before to dismiss the chaplain , and they did not co :: d « . 'sc Liid to argue the matt ' r with those who defend -d iris inffires ?? , Mr . G . Wilbraham , Mr . E . Stank y , aud Mr . Davenport . One of tho magistrates asked , " Is taia k'aol to be governed by the Secretary ot State or the magistrates of the county ? " —( hear , hear ) . The Secretary of State wrote to the visiting justices , stating his regret that the governor of iho gao ! should lia ^ been considered fit to be continued in his p ! tee , and expressing an opinion that the conduct , im had followed should hare led to his iinnrediaio dismiss . - )) . That letter , he thought , reflected the grea ' esr . credit
on the Right Honourable Baronet—( hear , hear . ) It was a bold and true statement of tbe case—a bold and true censure on those for whom he might be supposed to have hat ) some predilection . The Right i Honourable Baronet had proved that he wa 3 above ' political feeling on thi- important occasion , and had passed a ocisure on the magistrates , to which he wa . ° satisfied the whole public would respond . But \ now that the Secretary of State had done his duiy , he main ' -ained that it whs for Parliament to do theirs , j It was impossible that th ? question < ouid stop where it was . The responsibility , said tsc Right Honourable Baronet , lay on the magistrate-, but he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) maintained that it i-y on Parliament . Ho did not think liio Right Hou Baronet could '
carry the matter runner than he had done . He i might certainly luvo cancelled tho commission , and remodelled it ; bnt that would lay a responsibility on the Right Hon . Baronet , which no man had a right to impose . It was now for Parliament to interfere . He did not think they ha , J yet probed to the j bottom the iniquities and corruuiiun * of this gaol ; he believed that still greater rxi . « ieii than appeared on the face of the document , and for this reason he asked for a committee . Ho was prepared to prove ' that within these few days , Bur ^ w :, the gaoler , had collected some of the prison officers , and told them ' that the magistrates were determined to stand no ! mere of this nonaense , and that it' any of the officers
were found divulging anything that passed in the prison , they would be immediately dismissed . This was lately made by this man , who possessed the confidence of the Bojority of the Cheshire magistrate ? . It ought not to be forgotten that from 2 , 000 to 3 , 000 individuals passed annually through this gaol , and therefore the administration was of some importance-If nothing further were to bo divided respeoiing it , the inspectors of prisons wou ! J never be able to arrive at the truth . If the magistrates doubted the accuracy of the inspector's report ii ' . his instance , and thought ho had misled the Stcr < -. iary of State , that was an additional reason for ura'iting tho committee . But , at all events , he thought tha- Parliament would see the necessity of strengthening the hands
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of the Secretary of State , nd granting iu ^ het powers for the regulation a system so " d > . y-i of justice and humanity , as had prevailed withref ¦ ^ 3 e to this prison . The Honourable Member couch , Jed by moving the following resolution : — " That ^ appearing to this House that the Secretary of S' . at- > for the Home Department , after inquiry made muW his authority into certain . circumstances con . . nected with the discipline and management of the Knntsford House , of Correction , ia the county of Chester , has thought itrij ^ t , to advise that the governor of the said House of
Correction should be removed ; and it also appomi ng that , the magistrates , in sessions assembled , ii * ve , after an alleged careful examination , deem ?> J the charges referred to them by the Secretary of ^ taie , with one exception , not of much importance , nor such as to deprive the governor of the coutiJ-nee opposed in him , and which , as they allege , his "enural good conduct , and the discipline ho had maicLaiiied , appeared to deserve ; and , therefore , that such governor , contrary to the recommendation of the Secretary of State , has been continued in his oflce ; and it being alleged by the Rev . William Br .-ue , m his petition , presented to thi 3 House , that h has been dismissed by the magistrates , after givL- ,, . ' ~ vidence against the governor before the inspec . r of prison ? , upon the examination instituted by such inspector , under the authority of the Secrecy of
State ; and this House , considering that the due and proper management of tha said gaol must be . > : importance to the public , and that the samamu ^ t - osfe materially depend upon the character and conduct ot the governor thereof , and upon due prct ^ ion being afforded to persons who may from t ; i to time be called upon to give evidence before tho inspector of prisons in respect thereof : it is re-- > : \ , d , that a select committee be appointed , to inquire ; uto the conduct and management of the said Ho » .-. ¦ -. of Correction , in respect to the matters referred to the roportof the magistrates , and also into the ei- instances connected with the dismissal of ii . lev . William Browne , the late chaplain of t ! -: ¦ . ud House of Correction ; the said committee ! ' - .- r-ort the evidence taken , and their opiflion thereon , che House . "
Mr . W . O . Stanley seconded the motion . Mr . i ' AiTON Egertok as ono of tho Cheshir . . Magistrates implicated , denied that the governor <¦ : the prison pos ^ ssed his confidence , and exprp-= < 4 hi 3 regret at thu course which they had adoptc . i iafc eveh admitting that they had erred in jiid ^ i nt , mislea ^ by feelings of attachment to an ohi a < l iaitnful servant , still a body of thirty-four gcntk ' . iea residing iu and well acquainted with the io- ty must be better judgos of all the circumstance- than the House . The chaplain had attributed his dismissal to political motives , which was a libel on the magistrates , for a large portioa of those who concurred in it wore liberal in their political principle ? , and he had been treated leniently , considering hia conduct . Ho opro « ed the motion .
Sir George Strickland said investigation waa absolutely necessary . He had defended the " -- . oat unpaid m periods when they were not very poir ^ ar ; but the allegations against the Governor of Ki . utstord gaol were too serioua to be passed ovei , aelug the manner in which the magistrate ' iad screened him . Mr . HtRnERT CuRTEiswa ? also convince -hafc there should be inquiry . His prejudices , as a :: ¦ ¦ * isfrate , had been enlisted against the motion , b > he speech of Mr . T . Duncombe had satisfied him t ; t a strong ca 3 e had been made out , to which no suiTi ent answer had been given .
Sir J . Gbaium said that it was not his iutentn . n to enter at length into the question which the I ion . Member for Finsbury had that evening brought before the House . In the first place , it was h ; j duty to acknowledge that the Hon . Member wa . s tally justified in bringing that matter under the cons-i Jeration of the House . He musS also complimen t the Hon . Member for the dispassionate manner iu v . ' tdch he had stated the casa to the House . He ( Sir J . Graham ) would at once direct his attention to the real point involved in the motion of the Hon . Member for a committee to inquire into the conduct ind management of the House of Correctioa . Ho concurred in what had fallen from th « Hr « . A-. « r-t * u _ «— « -. r ... o « tiu . Aw thought with that Hon . Baronet that this question ought to be
carefully , sifted . If ho ( Sir J . Graham ) considered that any additional inquiry would bring to liglit any -iew facts in connexion with this case—if he cou : < J be induced to believe that the investigation askea for by the Hon . Member would be productive of goodhe would not resist the motion for a conitnitu-e of inquiry . It had been affirmed that the Prison Inspectors had no power to investigate . A ep .-cial inquiry had been made and was before the h » u 3 e . He differed from the view which the Honourable Member for Chester had taken . He thought that the matter which had reference to the chap ain had been quite settled . With refereHce to ' the conduct of that gentleman he was not prepared to proaounce an opinion . He had no knuwieds i of
the leading facts . The Hon . Member for Finsbury complained that he ( Sir J . Graham ) had no laid upon the table of the House all the reports twri- by the Prison Inspectors . Under certain circnmstiu . ces reports of this kind ought to bo considered as of a a confidential character . Communications -. bo which were made between the Secretary of Siato and the bench of magistrates should be viewt \ as confidential . Under the particular circums > t .: nc 3 of the « &se he ( Sir James Graham ) should have thought that he had acted wisely if he had refused publicity to the letters to which allusion had been made . Whilst on this subject , he was bound to slate hat the most difficult part in the admistration of hia office Ws . 3 tho management of the gaols of thi 3
country . ( Cheers . ) But he was bound also to say that from tho magistracy in general he had receive .:, in the discharge of his official duties , the most fffi -knt assistance . ( Cheers ) He , therefore , though ' , hat any change of tho law in that respect would not be conducive to the p ' . 'blio good . If the visiting magisirates were to be allowed to continue iu tbe xercise of control , the power of the officers of the -aol must be ve 3 ted in them . That power of cr-i ^ crol would be very imfScient if they had not the p ^ wer of removal in certain cases . He felt himself ju .- Sed m etating , that the majority of the magistrate of tho county of Chester were in favour of the gaoler remaining in office . The majority was overwhelming—ho did not say unanimous—but it was
certainly overwhelming . The majority was composed of gentlemen entertaining the most op ; Hta political opinions . He adopted the opinion « . - ? the Hon . Member who had recently addressed the H <> i- * e , and regretted that any feeling of jealousy . si ,,. ild have arisen in consequence of his ( Sir J . Gra . hu : i ' s ) interference . He was unwilling to speak v .- . th harshness of the decision to which the magistm t . es had come respecting the dismissal of the chap ' iin . He could not regard it as a judicious exercise oi" discretionary power . Having made this admission he must say , that he could not consent to the proposition of the Hon . Member for a committee . He wag strongly of opinion that the appointment of the different official personages connected with
the gaols , as well as tho power of dismissal , should be vested in the hands of the magistracy . Without pledging the Government to any ulterior measures ho trusted the House would give tho Secretary of State concurrent power of dismissal with the magistrates . He again asserted , that judging from his past experience , ho was disposed to consider tKat it would be conducive to the public good thav the Secretary of State should have that power . He vraa sorry to detaiu the Ho ise , but he must again repsat , that he did not think there was any good grounri for inquiry . lie , however , was prepared to admit that the question cculd not stand i p its present poss . ion . He did think that legislative interference would be better than the inquiry winch the Honourable Member for Finsbury solicited . Tho magistracy nvi 3 fc
have the power of appointment and dismissal , subject ; to public opinion . He was an advocate for retaining the power in the local authorities ; but some control was liect-ssary . The Secretary of State should , he thought , have concurrent jurisdictioa with the magistrates . In conclusion ha wouU strongly impro 33 on tho Hon . Gentleman the expediency of riot forcing this question to a division . If he did persist it would be clearly his ( Sir J . Graham ' s ) daty to divide against him ; but whether there was a division or not ho would promise that the matter shouid be carefelly conaid r « d by Her Majesty ' s Government , and he could further say , tbat as at present advised , he waa disposed in the cuar ^ c of the present esssiou to offer some legislative remedy for the evils compiaiaed of . ( Cheers . )
Sir T . Wilde next addressed the House , but in consequence of a severe cold the Hon . and Learned Gentleman ' s tone was so low that it wa 3 utterly impossible to distinguish hia sentences in the gaUery . As tar as we could understand , he severely ceDsarod tho conduct of the gaoler and reproved , tho ma g istrates for not takiug earlier notice of the abuses . If the House did not , interfere when such a case of neglect was presented to their notice , it was ch-ar they would never interfere at all . He expressed his fear , that bad as the facts were , the House did not even yet know ail . Aa . they stood theso facts
presented an overwhelming case , and unless the Government would distinctly promise to take the case into iheir own bands , he thoagfat the motion for the committee ought most decidedly to be granted . . There wa 3 a precedent for such a proceeding in the case of a warden of the Fleet Prison , who was charged some years back with gross misconduct , and whose case was strictly investigated by a committee of the House . However , if tho Government would take the subject up , thon the Hon . Member for Finsbnry might leave the matter in their hands , and a division would be unnecessary .
Mr . W . O . Stanlet disapproved of the conduct ; of the Cheshire Justices , both in the retention of tha gaoler and in the dismissal of the chaplain . Mr . Lech said a few words in justification of the magistrates for the dismissal of the chaplain . After a few words from Mr . Henley , who expressed an opinion tiiat tho whole subject of prison discipline must shortly be revised , Mr . DuiVcombb replied , consenting to withdraw his motion .
«Nthe Producers Of Wealth. And - All Those Who Lite By Industry Nx The Land.
« nTHE PRODUCERS OF WEALTH . AND - ALL THOSE WHO LITE BY INDUSTRY nX THE LAND .
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VOL- VI- WO . 289 . SATURDAY , MAY AW , 1843 . " ™"«^ 2 SS ~ SSSS ! "
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AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 27, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1214/page/1/
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