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FOR VICTIM Fl/NB
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TO MR. J. HOBSON, EDITOR OF THE 11 NORTHERN STAR."
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®ttiti*tti& <©ffim*f& 3EnQit*0t& fre.
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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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population there can be no doubt ; wfcfla the crowded state of every room , window , and bonse ^ top , in the Terr heart of the townj and throughout the line of march , testified to the curiosity , if not to thesraPA-3 ET , of the middle classes . The enthusiasm exhibited was not the least pleasing feature of the day ' s proceedings ; and must have been exceedingly gratifying to the object thereof . One other fact deserTeB mention . Hitherto all ^ reat meetings have been hsldenin the most central and by far the most con-Tenient . if not the largest ,
open-space—Paradises qtjjole . Bnt this famed square iras wholly inadequate for Monday ' s proceedings . The meeting iherefore took place in the Hajmarket , in front of ihe Corn Exchange . This immense plot of gronnd iras crammed with the swarming and crashing ma 3 s ; while every avenue leading thereto , as far as the eye eonld reach , was filled to overflowing . The proceedings at the public meeting were brief , butuna-Eimou 3 and enthusiastic . The resolution adopted by this monster" gathering we consider so important « to justify its insertion here : —
Resolved— " That we , the inbabitaBts of Sheffisld and gnrronnding district , in public meeting assembled , do hereby declare and proclaim our most unqualified censore and condemnation , of the attempts recently made in : Englana and Ireland , to overcome thB people fey legal ihreat and illegal persecution ? and that notwifii-Btaadicg tbe forced construction and CTJust application ol the law for the suppression of public oplnien , we are resolTed to preserve the right of free expression , and She zight to meet in public , at all risks and hazard . That we further declare the right of Irishmen to a domestic legislature elected by themselves , and are determined to assist our Irish brethren In obtaining & Bsp » l of the xVegwlaSve Union , by an legal and constitutional means , and we pledge ourselves never to abandon the agitation lor the People ' s Charter until its principles are made the basis of the constitution . *'
The above declaration to maintain the rights of boib XngBshmen and Irishmen deserves to be remembered . We shall be curious to see whether ihiB " monster" expression of sympathy with Ireland and Ireland ' s darling object , will meet with any better fate at the hand 3 of the Nation gentry , and other would-be thought red-hot Repealers , than did ihe "Westminster meeting and its gallant manifesto ^ If the Sheffisld declaration shall also be burked , we leave it to Irishmen to say who are Ireland's enemies , and the real , the deadly , because treacherous , foes of Hepeal .
We cannot pass over the evening meeting at the Theatre without some few words of comment . While the stage , pit , and gallery was , from floor to ceiling , in every nook and corner , crowded with hundreds of beaniiful women , and their honest , iard-toiling , patriotic husbands , sons , and brothers , iha boxes were eqaaliy crammed , chieflj with the zaiddle class , and hundreds on the ontside were doomed to disappointment , for whom room could not be found . Mr . Dcscombe , we venture to say , will mrsi forget his reception , when rising to return fottnV ;* for the addresses presented to him from ihe Trades and Chartist "bodies . The House ro 3 e ,
en masse , and cheer succeeded cheer , formirjg a perfect hurricane of applause . It was the Vox PopuTi doing homage to the man of the people . Mr . O'Coksob ' s reception wa 3 not less enthusiastic . 3 ir . Duscombb ' s speech was all that could be wished for : scathing to the oppressor and the intriguer ; and heart-inspiring to the oppressed and the patriot . He will never forget the multitudinous roar of enthnsiasm with which hi 3 advice to ihe wording men to make the Charier the only object of their agitation , and on so accox ^ jt to abasdos eves its same , was received apparently from all present . It told how safely and securely Chartism is established in the hearts of the men of
Sheffield ; and how fruitless must ever be the efforts of infcrigner 3 to dislodge jJ from their breasts . We hare heard Mr . O'Cosaob more times than we should care to numberj but never did we hear him jnore heartDy enthusiastic , more sublimely elcquent than on this occasion , when laying down bis well-won honours at the feet of the member / or all England , iehaflea ItascoiCBEasthepeople ' scblef , andsppealed . io bis hearers to s&netioa » iib iheir soffiragesj the choice he then proclaimed . The "universal , almost terrific , response of the excited multitude must have convinced the enemies of Mr . O'Coksob , if any were present , of the unprecedented confidence reposed in him by the masses , and thB undiminished popalarity be enjoys throughout their ranks .
Perhaps the moit important feature of the evenlog's proceedings was the presentation of the DcscoxBz addresses , four of which were from the Associated Trades , the United Grinders , the Duncombe Perseverance Sick Society , and another Trades body , AD these addressea were able and eloquent productions ; honourable to the talent of the operatives from whom they emanated , and the best possible proof of the high degree of intellect and intelligence io be fonnd cnrrent with the working clssses . Copies of ihfise addresses , we regret to say , hare not reached ns . Bad they done so ,, we should gladly have jjiTen them publicity . The addre £ 3 from the Chartist body is before us , and we think we cannot do better iian present ii here to our readers : —
IO TE 0 MA 5 SLISG 5 BI DITSCOHBB , MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT . Representative o ? the Peopib , —We , the Id ; habitants of Sheffield and its neighbourhood , itqaBst your acceptance of oui address ef congratulation , on ihia yonr visit to an ancient and once honourable seat of British industry . "We say onct honourable ; for of late "the bright gold feas becoms om , " and the once untainted lame ef the SiifcSJd artzzm , is , to b great extent , exchanged for misery aad reproach—misery arising from the wretched
leamEeratioii of late years doled out in return . for our toa—and reproach , the natural consequence of that onhiilo'sFed cospatition which has compelled us , the Abound slaves of capital , to prodnce ware 3 for the market uf the -world , the -very essence of whose composition has beai fraud and forgery , occasioning not only the loss of oar good name , bat also the transfer to other nations of that trade whish , while Sheffield ware was " iciide to be used" and not simply ( as now ) " to l > s Bold , ** made the name of our town famous throughout the . globe , and gave to us a proud position among all languages and pfcoples .
Sesldes the mammon-seeldiig spirit of unscrupulous competition on the part of the master-class , to which we have Jast adverted , as one o ! the prime causes ol our downward progress , there ate two other causes which we believe toliave had no imall share in producing present evils . These arel 2 t X ) ur exclusion from the Land;—2 ad Oar deprivation of thsrights of citizsnship . That the land is the people's j that the Land belongs of right to the human race without distinction , we hold to be a inzlh undeniable and incontrovertible . Centniies of continued wrong cannot transform robbery into
right . Justice is immutable , and the rights of Britens are as universal and well- founded row as in the days of Alfred or Caractucus . Hew suicidal , then , ifl the copduct of those who , having for ages menopolised the soil , naw compel us , by their snperlatiTe oppression , to enquire into the merits of tkeir very Questionable Cfle-deeds . Sa long as the Boil waB practically in the bands of the many , ratter Vhwi the lew j before the common lands were robbed from the people , and while ths small farms yet existed , these erquiries were nnthongbt of , and we dreamed not of the rights long ago wrested from our sires .
But now , when in addition to the evil always and s&cessuily existing from the ownership of the soD being vested in a caste , we find that caste depopulating the agricultural districts , reducing farmers to labourers , ynfl labourers to pznpers , and driving both into out overgrown manufacturing towns to compete wiHa the hereditary artizw population ; the which immigration enables the capitalist to imitate tbej rapacity of the landlord , by compelling ub to toil for any pittance he pleases ; when these things are ; when our once bold peasantry is being rapidly annihilated , —and " bad trade" or " good trade , "—the manufacturing labourers ai » year by year brought lower in the secaal scale , we are ccmpfelled to ascertain tie cause andif possible find file remed ^ .
y _ _ , 0 = e means of semedy 1 b tie nnlocMng o ! the land ; & 9 placing upon the soil the " surplus population" o ! oa ? tfrwns , made " surplus" by the rofcbsry ef the land and tha operation of competiticn unregulated , and ^ nchinery unwisely directed . But we confess , we Bee Kttle prospect of obtaining lib or any o&er means of remedy , so long as the mass o ! the community is abut out from the pale of the Con-BUfcatiou , and consequently their interests disregarded by the Legislature
We are men . We feel that we are the bonB and BTnew of society . We know that tiiB -vaunted ac-SLSb tfSwcdlrt _ -Mgh « «*» * L ! " £ * « dastmthe balance compared with our ufahty to the Commonwealth . In past times , lack of politicalknowle ! ge made us the dupes of designing politicians , and tlu sportofeTery political quackery ; but we have now sotterond the era of faction ' s watchwords and party lemmas . We estimate at aeir proper 'oitt the nostrum mongers who w . mia repeal this law , cr
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amend that We know that our evils are not to be cured by anys&cn patching and tinkering . We know that the bulwark of the existing system is the political privileges eojoyed by castes and classes t * the exclusion at the great body of tha people ; and that the means of our elevation Ernst be through a restoration of ear rights wdfizsns . As a class unrepresented in the senate , we Ime looked about us to find , if not a representative , at least an advocate , wltbin its walls . We found ttotj , Sir , not simply an advocate of out claims , but also ( though sot elected by us ) the representative of our interests . Immortal honour to the electors of Finabnry , who , to you , delegated the power to serre us . We bail you , Sir , as ¦ " The Member for all England ' : and all England , we doubt not , will respond to our ; ac-Alaim .
We have not forgotten that it was you , Sir , who presented the national demand for equal political rights , signed by nearly three and a half millions of the people of this country ; and on the floor of the Commons Honsa did defend the justice of those demands . That , when an unprincipled Judge abused the power confided in him by the law , and used that power for the oppression of the Innocent and the defenceless , it was you , Sir , that exposed that giant wrong , and called forth for the wrong-doer the execration of public opinion .
That when a tune-serriDg and unprincipled senate , mocked the woes of the factory child , and violated the promise previously given of jostice to the factory slave ; you , Sir , stood firm and unwavering , and remained steifast to the cause of the slave of the loom and the spindle . That to yoa we are mainly indebted for the strangling and destroying of that incarnate " spirit of despotism , ' the Masters and Servants Bill , intended for the destruction of our highly necessary trades' unions , and for the utter prostration of the labouring classes .
That the Coal . Miners of England have found in yon an wnflinfthlhg champion . Battling , aye , successfully too , on the side of our brothers of the mine against local oppressors , we are at tha same time not unmindful of the gigantic struggle now raging in Northumberland and Durham . And heartily sympathising with our oppressed brethren , and protesting before heaven and earth , against the villainies and cruelties of their oppressors , we appeal to you Sir , to continue your Legislative advocacy of their cause . Lastly , Sir , we have not forgotten that in the Commozu House , you have represented the interests , and defended the views of the Tbades of Sheffield . That during the past seven mouths you have been unremittingly attentive to your legislative duties ; and ever at your post to battle for right against might
We are aware that vie have omitted much that is worthy of applause , but the necessary limits of this address renders that unavoidable . On this occasion we Are proud to associate with your name that of Feanjus O'Connor , who has bo long and faithfully advocated the interests and battled for the rights of the people . It promises happily for the future , that patriots so extensively admired , should be bo heartily united in the great work of Labour ' s emancipation .
In conclusion , Sir , we respectfully request your acceptance of our homage , an homage paid not to yonr birih or your station , but to your worth as a man , your fidelity as a patriot , and your talents as a legislator . That which we would refuse to monarchs we accord to you , — -the homage of the heart . May you live , Sir , t « see ihe triumph of justice and freedom , and have for your labours the proud recompense of a nation's award , — " He has deserved well of his coustet . !"
We commend the above address to the special notice of the Marquis of Losdosderby . We promised to investigate into the rights of the power he holds to trample upon his fellow-men : to rob , to threaten , and pnnish , u his pitmen , " "Ats shopkeepers , " and the rest of " his slaves" : but Io , the working men are before us ! The tyranny of the aristocracy is already producing its fruits . Men are already beginning to investigate pibst pbisciplss , and to en quire why they are landless and voieless , while fools and tyrants , like LosixjUDEauv , usurp the -possession of the soil * and have the power , the class , the hereditary power to make laws to vex , plunder , and enslave the mas 3 of the community ! Let Losdondebbt and " his order" look to it ! This Sheffield addresa xaay yet prove " the beginning of the end . "
To the American Reformers we also commend this address . It will show them that the men of the time , for the time , are at work in England . It may serve to spirit them on to the carrying out of those principles which can alone secare the freedom and happiness of their conntry , and make of Republicanism a reality , and not , as now , merely a name . All honour to the Sheffield Artizans I Their gallant support of the Miners ; their glorious and unmatched demonstration in honour ef the People ' s chief ; and last , not least , their adoption and vindication of the natural rights of man contained in the above memorable manifesto , will ensure them a place on the portals of the temple of fame , which ihe future shall look upon with admiration , and which time will be powerless to efface or destroy .
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demonstrate that if interference is to be toleratedif side is to be taken—if one party is to be aided , —that party ur the labourers ; those who are resisting the most monstrous aggreBBion upon their rights as men ; those who have maintained inviolate the sacred principle ; " fcboae who have ever evineed their readiness to submit their disputes to arbitration : he will demonstrate , that if interference is to be made at all , it must , in common justice be made on the Bide of the men ; and he will call on the Ronse of Commons so to interfere . We say that Mr . Ddncombe will do this : for we are sure that he will never permit such a flagrant act of injustice to be perpetrated against labour without raising the cry and acting in the manner we hare indicated .
But this interference with the *» SACRED rRinciplb of freedom of contract , " on the part of Government , is not confined to the efforts of the " subordinated of the Poor Law Commission . Another method of letting the Miners know the feelings and intentioss of Government towards them has been adopted : and a method more discreditable it would hardly be possible to name . The Miners have a Trade Society . Under the protection of the law , they have combined together for mutual protection . Their society is purely one of Miners , for Trade purposes only . They
engage in no political discussions ; canvass no subjects , bnt those that intimately concern themselves , as Miners . As a medium of communication for the different members of their body , they have established an organ , called the Miners ' Advocate . ThiB is a small paper , published at Newcastle every fortnight , and sold to the members of the body at l £ d . a number . This paper has now exibted some twelvemonths ; and the Govrbkmekt HATS JCST FOUND OUT THAT IT 18 UNSTAMPED , and a prosecution is commenced against the printer I The matter of this paper only concerns the Miners . No general news is given In it ; no " observations on matters connected with Church or State ; " but all it gives is matter affecting the Trade as
a Trade . It does not infringe on the Stamp Laws half a tithe as much as some scores of publications now extant , and known to almost every body . Still the Miners are to be read a lesson ! They have dared to withstand the unholy efforts of the masters to bind their necks to the slavish yoke ; they have evinced a determination and devotedness hitherto unheard of ; and their example , if successful , will be very inconvenient to other classes of employers : therefore the Government must interfere—spite t > f the " SACRED principle" scarecrow—and prevent such success ! They do what they can to aid the masters through the Poor Law " subordinates " : and , as an unmistakeable evidence of their feeling and intention , they institute this disgraceful stampoffice prosecution !
Still let the men not despond . Still let them battle onward ! Though the Government should be able to obtaia a conviction against the Advocate , and thus put it down , they will not by that means have closed the press ! Though the H-pop-gun may be silenced , yet the 4 ^ -pounder will remain ! and it shall be freely at the service of the gallant men ef the North ; and indeed of the Miners generally .
It is true that ths stamp law , as it stands , specially exempts all publications from Us scope that have for their object the promotion of religious and charitable objects only ; and this may be pleaded by the conductors of the Advocate when the case comes on for hearing : for it would be diffiouli to conceive of a kobe charitable object , than that for which the Society of whioh the Advocate is the organ is banded together . Yet it is possible that the Magistrates may decide against them ; and it will behove the Miners to be prepared for
such an emergency . Of course the cube to this petty mode of annoyance on the part of the Government , will be to have the Advocate stamped ; but , as in the present position of the body , difficulties almost insurmountable may present themselves , —for there are sureties to find ; and wb know something of the pains that are required to please the stamp-office in that particular ; and as it is important that the Miners should not be a day without an official organ , we beg tD offer them such use of our columns as will enable them to defeat the intentions of the promoters and insti gators of this stamp prosecution .
Should the Advocate be held to be an unstamped newspaper , within the meaning of the Act , and should the Executive of the Miners find a difficulty in getting their paper stamped , either from want of sureties , or money means , they can use the Star as their organ , on the following conditions : — 1 st . —A page of the paper shall be exclusively devoted to their use and behoof . We print weekly : two pages of the Star will be more than equal to their fortnightly Advocate ; and thus for space they
will be in a better position than now . 2 nd—The articles Bhall appear under their own head ; the Miners' Advocate they can be from the pen of their own Editor , and will Dave no other controul exercised over them , than their exclusion , if deemed libellous . This is the only power the Editor of the Star will reserve ; and this he deems just both to himself and the Proprietor of the paper , who is liable to be made answerable for libellous matter .
The Miners , therefore , need not , shall not , be without mouth-piece in the Press . Their wrongs shall be trumpeted forth ; and the measures they deem necessary for ttoir own well-being Advocated . Should the Government compel the Miners to take advantage of this offer , perhaps they will have little to thank themselves for , in so doing : for ono of its effeCtB will be to give additional publicity to the Miners' grievances ; and also put into the hands
of the Miners themE ^ lves general information on the doings of this very immaculate Government itself ! " It is an ill wind that blows nobody good : " and it would be hard indeed if the " ill winds" of governors could not be turned to some account . It they can be made to contribute to the conducting of the good ship Labour into the harbour of protection and plenty , they will not have been without their use !
THE WINGATB WIBE-BOPB CASE . By the report it will be seen , that this case ha 3 at last , been heard ; and that a verdict is given for the defendants ; that i 9 , against the men . Let the reader look over the names of the Jury ; let him note the E > g . at tha end of each name ; let him be told of the fact , that the msjor portion are interested in Coal Mines , and in Rope questions ; let bin also reflect , that a verdict for the men would have been a perfeot triumph for Labour against Capital , and that these interested men had the power to prevent that : let all these things bo called to mind , and borne in mind , and then wonder ceases why such a verdict should be given in the teeth of such direot " evidence" to the contrary !
We must not omit the duty of publicly thanking Mr . Grangxb for his great attention to the case , and his able labours to let its real merits be known . We have it from a friend that his reply was most crushing- Sound in matter and eloquent in delivery , it carried conviction home to all in Court , save the Jubt 1 They , —discriminating dogs , —did not need his labours to enable them to come to a decision ! He might have spared his wind .
We learn also from the same friend , that the "Durham Justice case" ib also "settled . " Tbe Magistrates have agreed to pay £ 200 for the expenses incurred in teaching them a little law . And very cheap the lesson has been too ! 'Tis a pity but the ** Sfeciai" Esquires who sat in the box on Saturday , could have one of the same sort !
THE IRISH NICHOLAS , Thb peppering which this vain coxcomb has received from the press for his *• paternal" epistles , has been tremendous indeed ! Our good friend Punch has been at him in good style , as may be learned from an extract in our usual weekly n Bowl , " and from the following , which we gite here : — " Lord Londonderry's Second Ukase . —Londonderry has issued another tremendous ukase , warning all the shopkeepers of Seaham against giving credit to his rebellions pitmen . We have not room for the document , which appeared in the Chronicle , but its literature , without any signature , ahowetb its origin . The egg declares the bird . If the inhabitants of Seaham continue to truai tbe pitmen , Lord Londonderry
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threatens that * he will immediately go down , and , carrying the oceapfirt m the place , in some bucket made for the occasion , tvbxl the town for ever . "— -Punch . What effect tbi ^ niase haa had on the general public let the following fact testify . —After Vain Londonderry ' * audacious threat to "HIS shopkeepers" of ; " Afe town . of Seaham , " had appeared in the newspapers Mr . O'Cwsoa m » t Mr . Alsop , an extensive and hi ghly respsotable mid as highly cultivated city broker ; one of whose jadgment Mr . O'Connor has a very high op . in&n . Mr . O'Coiwor
said : " Alsop , I wish you would answer Lon&onderbt ' s insolent decree . " To whioh Mr . Also ? replied : "I have my answer ready writtsa , in my pocket ; and perhaps you will take ths trouble of transmitting it to the Miners" s whereujwn he took a five pound note from Ms parsey and handed it to Mr . O'Connor , saying ; "If all fejlas I do on the subject , all will answer it as I do , according to their means : and ifl was a 3 hop-keep » of Seaham , the autocrat Bhould find tha * I' had some English blood in me notwithstanding his vulgar Isisb THREAT . "
Like Punch ' pictorial representations , the above would be weakened by comment ; but we cannot withhold our thanks . Let all act with a like spirit , and the Irish Nicholas must take " his-slaves" t » some other market .
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The Victih Fond Committee ' s Address we are compelled to postpone till next week . Thomas Winters , Leicbsiteb , Secretary to the Frame Work Knitters , acknowledges the receipt of ten ! shillings from the Ribb Top Branoh , Nottingham . •' Cheap Pleasure Trip . *'—In reference to a most disgraceful affair , under this name , which was euaoted by the Direotors of the Manchester and Leeds Railway , on Thursday week , we have received the following from a correspondent in the neighbourhood of Hudderafield : — " Nothing that has taken place in this neighbourhood for a series of years past , bas given more general
dissatisfaction than the late Bo-called 'pleasure trip' oa the Manchester and Leeds Railway , from Dewsbury , Huddersfield , and Brighouse to Liverpool . The bad arrangement for entering the carriages , such as they were ; the disgusting manner in which thousands of males and females were indiscriminately packed and crammed into those carriages ; the disappointment and unpleasantness caused by the long delays at Liverpool , Manchester , and on tbe road ; the keeping of hundreds of people for an hour and more together soaking in the rain ; the treatment many of the females received at Liverpool , from those whose duty it was to have assisted them in re-entering the sheep-pens : all , all , was truly disgraceful to even this most miserable management , and whicti , together with other complaints ] not here set forth , will not soon be forgotten .
A number of poor men sacrificed tha money' they had paid for thoir tiokets , rather than allow themselves and wives , to quote their own words , 'to be packed in dirty , stinking sheep pens , like lucifer matches in a box . ' If it be true that the design of the originators of the * cheap trip , ' was to try how far they could degrade a portion of the productive classes , and how large a sum of money they could pocket for so degrading them , the design has succeeded admirably . But then , what matters ; they were only the labouring classes . They were only those who toil excessively through a weary life , to feed , olothe , and support the daily * pleasure tripa' of tbeir superiors , tbe idle , the useless , and the cumbersome . Sheep-pens and pig carriages were good enough for them . What would the swineish multitude have else t
To Correspondents and Readers generally . — The great demand on our space this week by the exciting and important news from America , and other general public matters , baa compelled us to withhold many communications , reports of progress , and articles of news of minor import . Of these wti shall use next week such as ate worth notice . Those whoso queries are not replied to , or communications noticed , will know the reason . To our Sheffield Friends . —Wo must apqlgize
for the meagre report we are only able to give of their roost splendid demonstration . We fully expected to have been able to do full justice to it : but ciroumstanoes have conspired to prevent us . Tho week was one of great interest ; much " news " in the newspaper world ; particularly from America . This we were compelled to give . Then it was late when we received the Sheffield report —at a time when we were obliged to curtail it to get it * set" in time for Press , We regret this ; but it was unavoidable .
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To Mr. J. Hobson, Editor Of The 11 Northern Star."
TO MR . J . HOBSON , EDITOR OF THE 11 NORTHERN STAR . "
My dear Hobson , —I did intend to say a word or two upon the Sheffield , or rather the Yorkshire Demonstration ; but in making the attempt I find two difficulties . — Firstly , —Any description , even the moat glowing , would be an insult to those who witnessed tho spectacle ; and
Secondly , —No words could convey the reality to thos 9 who did not see it . Suffice it , therefore , to say , that it never will b ^ forgotten as l ong as Sheffield is Sheffield . The fact whioh gave me most pleasure , was , that every hand was held up for the Charter and a Repeal of the Union . There was indeed a " Monster Meeting" of the inhabitants of the most iraimportant town in England : a resolution in favour of Repeal was unanimously passed . The Repealers have been complaining of the absence of English
sympathy : will their organs gtve the intelligence to the world that Sheffield has " pronounced" ? I have Bent a copy of the resolution myself to the Nation and the Freeman , in time for insertion this week . Shall we see it in those papers 1 I hope so . On Sunday night I addressed the people in the immense Circus , which was crammed ; proof of which is best established by a statement of the receipts , whioh amounted to nearly £ 9 , of which I received for the National Fund my fair half , after expences were paid .
On Monday night the Theatre presented a most cheering appearance ; filled to tho ceiling : and when Duncombe rose , I never witnessed such a sight . He made a most excellent and lucid speech , graphically describing what had been done , and what had been " obstructed" this session ; and con * trasting those things with what might have been dona by a Charter Parliament : for he does not mince the matter . His speech gave the most unmixed satisfaction . I need not say much about Sheffield , as our friend Harney was in the carriage with us , and eaw it all ; thai ; is , all that the eye could see : but no eye , on the longest reach of the road , could see it all .
Don ' t forget that Hibernians marched under their own green Banner ; and it was the grandest of all . Poor fellows , I enrolled many of them as Chartists . So much for Sheffield ; and now a word about Birmingham . The body ef the large hall , and the side galleries were full . The music gallery was not quite full , and the end gallery was thin ; and yet I attach almost as much importance to the Birmingham Meeting as I do to the Sheffield Demonstration ; and for this reason . No other man in England could have brought 5 , 000 of the working men of Birmingham together just now , but Mr . Duncombe . This week is their Wakes . We had only two days
notice , and not in time even for an announcement in last week's Star . There were many of the most wealthy men in Birmingham , and a large number of the middle classes , present ; and the Mayor , who was Chairman , declared himself a Chartist , and reoommended the people never to abandon tho pursuit of their Charter , the priuoiples of which he said were based upon hump . aity , justice , and Christianity . Mr . Duncombe ' s speeoh was stern but most conciliatory . He a , dvi ? , ed all to Bhake hands over ihe Charter j and declared , that as a member of the National Charter Association , he would never abandon its tj ame . I never heard such applause aj followed this announcement—the
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Mayor ' s voice the loudest ^ The Mayor a noble fellow , and a splendid speaker , with a voice of thunder . : At the tea party in the ] evening Mr . Duncombe explained the nature of the celebrated Crown and Anchor meeting , and Mr . Sturge ' s own party , many of whom were present , and wbo were invited to discussion , appeared perfectly astounded upon hearing that Mr . Dnncombe bad tested the Crown and Anchor meeting , not for th ' e purpose of creating confusion , but in compliance jwhh Mb . Sturge ' s own be « ue 3 t , who invited him , to * put the question . "
Mr . Dancombe ' s two tpeeches have laid the foundation for a solid union upon the Charter and its principles , if the professors- are really nncere : if not , we- mast go on " ob 9 * ructing . " So Much for Mr . Duncorabe ' s traly splendid tonr , and the good he has accomplished % and now for Cobdew . On Monday next ,, the Sth of Augast , we meet in the Market-square of Northampton . I go , a stranger , to meet tho HUNDRED THOUSAND POUNDER T and whatever may be the result , let tb . 036 who have so long confined in me rest assured that I will maintain tbe ground of principle , and that no apparently adverse ! circumstances-shall force me a hair ' s breadth from jthe straight and denned
road . I know that the step fa- a bold ose . I am aware that Northamptonshire is the eeafc of Earl Spencer ' s strength , and that he is one of the League . But what man dares—I dare , when I have ri ^ ht upon my side . Whatever the issue may be , you shall have a verbatim report ofj the whole . I learn that the enemy are using all stratagems to secure victory n-r a-nt keans ; Some men write to me to " remember the Hall of Soieiice , Manchester "; others remind me of "the Birmingham ruffians , who sought my life in the organ gallery . " ; . while others point to " Stevenson ' s Square . " But there ia no terror for me , in the hints sind feara of one and all TO THE GROUND I GO , if aHve-UOWETER
I MAY LEAVE IT . [ in the midst ef all these important questions , I cannot conclude without congratulating you upon your splendid forensic defence of the rights of the people to meet in their own market . I never read a more able speech , or a more clever reply . Who in God ' s name , or ratherj in the Devil ' s name , is that antideluvian fellow , i Ycwdall ? and through what crevice of remaining prejudice did he cseep into the Council Cbamberi ? As to old Totfcie , he is an ass . That ' sallthat can be said of him . The Council
is , upon the whole , really better than I thought ; and some of them are a credit ; to Leeds . So , you see , my dear Hobson , after all , that leaders are not buch bad things , when they a ? e honest . Apropos , a word to tbe anti-leader folks : I should like to see a party without a leader i As one of the people , accept my warmest thanks for the able and successful manner in which you have defended our very dearest right ; and if the people of Leeds know how to appreciate the value of tbeir triumph , gained through your courage , skill , and activity , they will thank you , as I do from my heart .
Ever , dear Hobson , your sincere friend , „ , . . Feargus O'Connor . Birmingham , Wednesday . P . S . I am off to Coventry , for a meeting ; and to-morrow I lecture in London for three distressed young Spaniards , who fought against the bloody Narvaez at Barcelona . Duncombe has set Chartism upou new lega , and now we walk on . Harrah ! for Northampton , and its home hade boots and shoes ! F . O'C .
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Dreadful Murder i « Liverpool—At an early hour on Sunday morning last an appnling murder is alleged to have been perpetrated In Peter-street , in this town , by a tailor , of tha nanio of Owen Leonard , upon the person of his wife . Thie parties occupied the house No . 35 , Peter-street , which is a narrow but denselypopulated place , in the rear ; of St . Thomas ' s Buildings , leading , by a circuitous route , from Wbitechapel into the lower parfc of Dale-street . They kept a sort Of lodging-bouse , occupying themselves the ground and upper floors , and letting bS the second floor to some poor men who gained a precarious livelihood by working about tbe town . Leonard himself occasionally followed hia employment of a journeyman tailor , but , from his
dissipated and vicious habits , he appears to have been seldom successful in getting any work . Their principal means of support were derived from the rents paid by tbe lodgers , and also from the wages of their two daughters , grown-up young women , who were in service at respectable geDtlemen ' s houses , one in Rodneystreet , and the other , we believe , in Everfcon . They bad two sons , who lived with them in Peter-street , one a young man , who was following the bad example « f la is father , and tbe other , a boy about twelve or thirteen years of age , who witnessed the murder of his mother on Sunday imorning . It seenm that far a lorg time past Leonard and bis wffe had lived upon the woiBt possible terms , and that , particularly upon Sunday evenings , they kept the neighbourhood in
a constant state of turmoil by fighting with each other , and smashing the chairs and tables of tbe house . Somb of the inhabitants allege that both were in fault Upon those occasions , for that they b » th drank ; end they further state that their quarrels were of such fnqaent occurrence , that few people took the trouble of interfering between them . He ; it appears , wat jealous of her deportment towards one of the lodgers , and she , in like manner entortained her suspicions that he was not altogether what a husband ought to be out of doors . There is every reason to suppose , therefore , that thongh they were both somewhat stricken in years , tka quarrel which led to this fatal result , as well as many of their previous bickerings , originated in their mutual Bfcs of jealousy . It was about half-past one o ' clock yesterday
rooming when the dreadful occurrence took place . The lodgers were singing and carousing ia their apartment at tbe time , when suddenly ; Leonard rushed into their room , and accused one of them , a lame man , with having been on terms of more than ordinary intimacy with his wife . The lame iman indignantly denied the charge , and Mrs . Leonard offered to restore him a small balance of lodging money , which was to his credit , provided he left the house immediately , and thus terminated the dispute . An altercation between the parties ensued , which for a tinie ended by Leonard striking his wife , and the lame man striking Leonard in return . Leonard subsequently fastened the street door , and , in tho presence of his son , the lad of thirteen years of age mentioned before , deliberately took ont his razor
and commenced to sharpen the edge , muttering some threats at the same time as to what he intended to do to bis wife . In a short time Mrs . Leonard came down stairs , and , almost Immediately upon entering her apartment where he was , he struck her a blow on the head with his ! clinched fist , which felled her to the ground . He then caught hold of her by the hair , and , with the rczor , partially cut her throat , first on one side , and then on the other . After be bad mangled her in this brutal manner , he suddenly raised the razor and cut off a part of her nose . She being a powerful , muscular woman , made a desperate effort to release herself from bis grasp , and , in tbe straggle , he gave her another deep cut with the tizit upon the fleshy part of her left lee , and also two other gashes npon her
arms . The woman screamed terrifically ; so also did the lad , who , as we have before stated , was present during the transaction ; and in a short time the house was surrounded by the people of tbe neighbourhood . Tbe door was speedily opened , but before an entrance could be effected , the crowd was horrified at seeing the unfortunate woman , from whose neck , leg , and arms , blood was flowing profusely , either kicked or pushed by her brutal husband down the steps and into the street . Here she lay upon ; the pavement fora short time in tbe greatest agony ; but at length a stretcher was brought , and she was j removed to the infirmary , where death speedily terminated her sufferings . Officer 18 arrested Leonard almost upon the instant . He fonnd
him in the act of washing the blood from bis hands , and he discovered the razor under the table . He was immediately conveyed to Bridewell , but , during tbe whole of yesterday , we understand that he betrayed but few symptoms of concern at the ^ awful situation in which he has placed himself . He is sixty years of age , of rather diminutive stature , and an Irishman by birth . Hia wife , also a native of the sister country , was about the same age , and extremely ^ corpulent . It is said that Leonard had before made several attempts to cut her throat . The Coroner briefly addressed the jury , and toey , after a few minutes * consideration , returned a verdict of Wilful murder against the prisoner , wbo will be tried at tha forthcoming assizes .
Determined Suicide .- —On Tuesday Mr . Wakley , M . P ., held an inquest at tbe Camden Head , Camdenstreet , Islington , on the body of John Bradley , aged 24 , late an artist , residing at 2 , jCumberiand Row , Islington . Me . Green , the deoeaaed ' a landlord , stated that at hulf . pcBt three o ' clock on Sunday evening , his attention was attracted to the kitchen by a noise resembling the coughing of a horse . As he went towards the kitchen , he waa met by deceased ' s imotber franticly calling for a surgeon to assist her son , who bad , she said , burst a blood-vessel . He immediately sent for a surgeon , and then went to tbe kitchen , } where be fonnd deceased sitting on the kitchen floor , with bis head resting against his brother ' s legs , and quite dead . It appeared that he had . cut hiB throat in the jpreEence of his mother . He bad been many months eut of mploy , which greatly aSeoted his mind , and in ! consequence of which his mother kept bis razors from him . It waa with his brother ' s razor that ha cut hla throat . Verdict— - " Temporary insanity . "
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Destruction of the Robert Napier Irish Steam Ship . —A most painful sensation prevailedo * Saturday in the City , in consequence of a report i slot r circulated that the Irish steam sbip , theRobert Napier trading between Liverpool and Londonderry , h jq totally lost by fire , and that many of tbe crew and passengers bad perished with her , which on inquiry has tamed ent to be too true as regards the destruction of the vessel , bnt happily unattended with fatal consequences , all the crew and passengers being saved . The vessel was a fine steamer of five hundred toss burthen , and was tbe property of the North West of Ireland Union Steam Navigation Company at Londonderry . Respecting the disaster very few particulars have as yeb been received . The Robert Napier , it appeared , left
Londonderry on Wednesday forenoon tor Liverpool , with a heavy cargo aboard , and about thirty passengers . Nothing particularly worthy of notice seems to have taken place until about half-past ten o ' clock at nfghfc , when- she arrived off a place called "Woo&sontnmi , between Portrush and Bally castle . Sho was a considerable distance off the land , there being little or no wind , and the night exceedingly clear . The discovery was made by one of the crew , Who observed amdka issuing np the main hatchway , bat whether it emanated from the cargo or the boilers it was impossible to say , for no sooner were the hatchway * removed than ths flames burst forth with alarming violence , and the consternation that instantly ensued amongst the passengers and all on board was of a description painful in tha
extreme . The pomps were speedily got to work , and lengths of leather hose screwed on , and streams of water brought to bear on tha fire , but very little effect was apparent , for shortly afterwards the destructive element shot forth with Increased fury . Captain Forrester , the commander , perceivir > g the imminent danger of his crew and passengers , determined to run ashore ; accordingly , the steamer's head was brought round for the desired object , while the boats ( three in number ) were got ready to be launched for their preservation . The distance from the shore being several miles , it was nearly an hoar before she struck , the spot being B&llycafltle Bay , near Belfast . By that time tbe af terpart of the- ' ship presented a vivid aheet of fire—the flames reaching far above the deck . Before tbe vessel went ashore the passengers were got safely into tbe boats .
and : were conveyed to the beach , without sustaining the slightest injury , but their luggage was left on board , aad was afterwards burnt . The light being seen by tha coast-guard stationed along that part of the coast , some time before she reached the bay , by ihe time aha struck a powerful body of them Were ia attendance to render assistance . The flimea , however , had too strong a bold of the ship , and , notwithstanding all exertions used , she continued to burn for several hours , and according to tbe letter received by the underwriters at Lloyd ' s , from their agent at Belfast , "was burnt to the water's edge . " Another account , however , states that , although the steamer is a complete wreck , she being burnt from the quarter-deck aft , her machinery and put of the cargo will be saved . The steamer is reported to be partly insured .
Frightful Steamboat Accident and Loss of Life . —On Saturday morning a melarcholy occurrence took place on board the Newcastle , a steam tag-boat , tbe property of tbe Shipewners' Society , by which a young man named John Crafter , aged about twenty yeara , unfortunately lost bis life , and another man , tbe engineer on board , whose name we could not learn , was so seriously injured that little hope is entertained of his recovery . It appears that tbe Newcastle was proceeding down the river , for the purpose of meeting the homeward bound vessels . She arrived between Hern © Bay and Margate , when one of tbe paddle wheels ceased to revolve , having " bung , " as It ia called , on the centre . Grafter , wbo was the second mate of tbe vessel , accompanied by the engineer ,
immediately jumped upon the paddle-box , and opening the trap-door on the top , endeavoured with their feet to force round the wheel in its proper direction , as s propelling power , when , by some nnacconntable cause it became reversed , and by its contrary motion , caught the feet of both , and they were drawn through the aperture , and jammed with great violence between the paddle-box and tbe floats of tbe wheel . The Captain of the steamer , who witnessed tbe transaction ! caused the ) engine to be stopped , and they were most promptly extricated by taking up the planking of the paddle-box ^ Upon being taken to tbe cabin they presented a most shocking appearance , having been most dreadfully lacerated and crushed , although there was no appearance of any bones being broken . At this moment an homeward-bound Indiman , tbe True Briton , was observed to be approaching , when the captain of the steamer , with great presence of mind , ran alongside , in the hope of a surgeon being on board . Such fortunately , proved to be the case , and tho sufferers were transferred to the True Britou , where tbe medical man bled them and paid every attention to tbeir case ; and aa the ship was making for Gravesend , the captain kindly consented to take them thither . Although the distance to run was but short , Crafter who appeared at first to be the least injured of the two , died on the passage . Both were landed on the ship ' s arrival at Gravesend , and from tbe last acconnts it would seem that the engineer ' s life is also despaired of . Crafter Waa a highly respect * able young man , and his father holds a situation under Government at the port of Gravesend .
Steam boat Accident . —Seventy lives lost . — The following melancholy account is extracted from the Bio de Janeiro papers : — " At five o ' clock in the afternoon of tbe 25 th inst ( May ) , about 200 persons had taken their passage by the Especuladora steam-boat , which plies between this city and Nitheropy ( a pleasaai village on the opposite side of the harbour ) . Tbe next day being Whit Sunday , and this the last boat for that evening , was crowded by respectable persona and parties intent on and anticipating a day ' s pleasure on the morrow , consequently were full of mirth and good humour . The clock bad just struck five , and the captain given the order ' to cast off ; ' but the moment the paddle-wheels began te move round , a terrible hissing noise was heard , tbe precursor of several explosions- .
which succeeded each other like flashes of lightning ; and claps of thunder—the boiler bad bcTst : at first nothing could be seen for a dense cloud of steam that covered tbe vessel , from whence issued the most dreadful gioanB and piercing cries . On the Bteam clearing off , a most horror striking eJght presented itself to view , tbe middle part of the deck had been blown away , and a great number of human beings were discovered—men , women , children , old and young , blacks and whites , struggling in the hold , amidst the / boiling water from the exploded boiler . Some died instantaneously , and these were , perhaps , the moat fortunate ; others , in their endeavours to extricate themselves from the horrid cauldron caught hold of tbe not bars and fragments ; but , obliged to let go >
thbir hold , fell backwards into it again . No words can describe accurately the horrifying scene of desolation . Blacks became white , and white people red . Amidst the uproar one was calling out for a father , anether for a brother , a third for a husband or wife , and a fourth for a son or daughter—the sea was covered with the dead and dying , or those endeavouring to escape from the devouring elements—a few were so fortunate as to reach tbe shore , and many were picked up by the boats , which promptly rendered every assistance ; but notwithstanding all exertions to saver them several were drowned . Ah ! who can describe the agonies or imagine the pangs of so many ; unfortunate fellow creatures , boiled , as it were , alive : with pieces of flesh banging from their .
bodies , literally scalded from head to foot s Butviving a few hours in this state , and suffering the most excruciating torments . Soon after the explosion , the chimney and main-mast fell on the awning , and buried beneath it a number of the passengers , who were thus placed in the greatest jeopardy , as the boiling liquid was fuBt approaching them ; but they were rescued by great exertions made—knives , razor ? * swords , were instantly used ta extricate them . No praise can be considered too great for the assistance ao > promptly rendered . The Ministers of Justfce and of the War Department , with the head of the police , and a sreat many medical men , immediately repaired to the
hospital , where forty-one sufferers had been taken , and : were indefatigable in rendering them assistance and alleviation . The number of sfctims could not be ascertained , but from more recent information , the deaths exceeded seventy , and several of the thirty wounded were still in a very dangerous state . Tha cause of tbe explosion had not been exactly ascertained . From the report , however , of the engineers who examined the machinery after the accident , 16 clearly appears tost great neglect moat have occurred ! with respect to tba safety valve , the wire of which was ao corroded that the pleasure must have been lOOlbs . to the square inch when the exploaion took place—it ought not to have exceeded 501 bs !
Fire in the London Docks —Tuesday morning ' , between one and two o ' clock , the ship Colonist , of Whitehaven , a merchant vessel , lying at the south side of the main dock , took fire In the cook-house galley , owing to the stove being placed over the wood work . The dock firemen , with the aid of the police and ship ' s crew , got to work most vigorously ; and there being plenty of water at hand they got the fire extinguished * and without calling the engines into requisition ; but not before the cook-house was all but destroyed , and tbe deck scorched .
Dadd , the Parricide—Rochester , jolt 29 . — This morning the unhappy man , Richard Dadd , the supposed parricide , was brought up before the Bench of ^ Magistrates , having just arrived in England , fn custod y , on tbe charge of murder . He was taken charge of by our authorities at a lunatic asylum at Claremonr , about thirty miles from Beauvais , on Friday last . Th prisoner , who was pinioned , wore a considerable quaa tity of moustache , and had a vary wild appearance Mr . Hay ward , the clerk , having prepared an informal tion against the prisoner , exhibited by Thomas Copper Bines , a constable of Chatham , charging the prisoner with the murder of Robert Dadd , the prisoner ' s father , at Cobham-park , the Beat of the Earl of Damley , on
the evening of the 28 th of August , 1813 . Bines , the : officer , prayed for a remand , to enable him to procure the several vritneBsea to establish the case against the ; prisoner . The information was read over to the prU , soner , who , with an expression of wUdness , said , « , » YoW say I am the murderer , you villain . " The Rev . Geos > Davies , chairman—Have , you anything to say , pr ' soie * , ; why you Bhould not stand remanded ? Priaoner—Nov nothing . The magistrates then remanded the prisoner for one week , and to be brought up again next ; Monday , On the prisoner leaving the office , he turned to tha Courts- " 1 % ia true , and I have got the money . " T&o prisoner Wft 3 conveyed away in custody to Waidstone g » oL ¦ ¦ . '¦
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THE MINERS' STRUGGLE . Still are the men " ont . " S-ill no dispasition on the part of their " Lords and Masters" to listen to the voice of reason , or to try to arrange the differences on amicable grounds . Still a firm determination on the one side not to yield to tbe unjust demands of wealth ; and still on the other all the superciUion 3 stnpid pride that has prevented the Coal Kings from condescending" to meet their men on equal gronnd , althongb . that pride is coBting them dearly , in de preciation of property , and in want of commodity wherewith to go to market . Bat there is now another element brought in to
the aid of the masters , and against the men . The GoT £ RNM £ : rr are iNTKRFBBiifG : and interfering too , in the mo 3 t cowardly and nnjustifiable manner . It will be remembered , that when the Factory " hands " demanded from Parliament the benefit of a thricevoted resolve to give the female and infantile portion a protectios against the murderous toil of twehe hours , the two Baronets , who now have all pq-5 V £ B in their hands , —Legislative aDd Executive it will be remembered , what homilies the symp athising Peel and the letter opening Graham read the House of Commans on the heniousnes 3 of violating the sjcbed principle
of freedom of labopbJ Erery labourer ought to be permitted to make his own contract ; and it was unbearable tyranny for any power to interfere between the employer and the employed , or in aid of either . " How the House of Commons waa made to ring again , with this uJine sentiment , " when a reversal of a vote in favour of the weak portion of onr factory population was required ! Now , how stands the matter . The men of Northumberland and Durham are in treaty with their employers . Contracts have to be made between them . They disagree on the terms . The parties are standing aloof , in the hope that time and reflection may cause one or other to see the unreasonableness of the demands made .
It is a question in which the ** sacred principle of TjtEEBOM of Labour" is pre-eminently at Btake . And who ara the first to interfere ? Who the first to aid the rich employer against the poor employed ? Who the first to teach the labonrer that the "SACSED prineipb"' is an insuliiag faree , and the mouthers of it dastardly mockera of the poor ! Who 1 The very Government that dared to set np the " principle" as a reason why the House of Commons shonld reverse its vote , when once it had erred on humanity ' s side 1 These are the parties to side with the Coal-Kings , in their attempt to bisd the pitmen slaves to their will I These are the parries who first decry alt . interference ; and then are the first to interfere I
A correspondent writes , that at eleven o ' clock on Tuesday night , some 204 men and women arrived in Newcastle by the train , from Wales , intended for the mines of Northumberland and Durham , and sxkt bt Sir John Walsham , the Poor Law Assista > -t Cohmissionzr . The writer states that he has seen a letter from this Poor Law official , in which be offers to send 1000 men from "WaleB at a week ' s notice , sheold they be required to aid the employers in breaking the spirits of the men , and in reducing them toHHbmisaion ! And thus is the machinery of
tbe hateful Poor Law made to utterfere on the side of Capital , to subjugate Labour I Will this be borne ! "Will this be tamely ; submitted to ? "Will no one tell thB Government that this nndisgnised imteeferekce is not to be endured , after the solemn preachments made about ihe M sacred principle of freedom of contract" ! Yes , there will 1 There iB Dra combe in the House ! Ha will beard the officials . He will tell them to their teeth , of their solemn mockerie 3^—their base , their immeasurably base proceedings . Hb will bring the whole case of the Miners before ihe Bouse : and
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AvGmi 3 , 1844 ; NORTHERN STA R ; 5
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 3, 1844, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1274/page/5/
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