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eves have teen opened to their characters in the rears that have since elapsed ; one must live to learn . But this wasnot the most discreditable part of Sir G . Grey ' s attack . He insinuated that 3 Ir Keogh had given the Government ressf" to suppose that he would be a supporter of it . while he had an election petition hanging over his head , but that since that was withdrawn , he had gone over to the Conservative side , because no place was given him . Mr Keosh ' s instant and indignant repudiation of this " charge may settle the matter so far as he is conceited , but what does Sir G . Grey mean bv the insinuation as to the Election
Committee ? Are we to understand distinctly what is so often whispered out of doors by other parties , that Government have it in their power so to form these Committees , as to render the throning out of an inconvenientlopponent , a ^ d the seating of an obsequious supporter , a matter of certainty ? If so , we can congratulate Sir G-. Grey as little upon his discretion as his temper . Such things , he may depend upon it . are better
left in the shade , as far as the " Government" ' are concerned . The people ' s interest in the matter is another thing . With respect to the subject of the debate , the Home Secretary ' s own statement fully betrs out the allegations of Mr Mitchel at the trial . It was carefully and basely packed , for the express purpose of procuring a verdict against him , and there is an pnd of the matter . All the official
conventionalisms and p hrases coined in the Jlint of the Treasury and law offices , cannot disguise that fact . ga , ^ Several other important topics have been discussed during the week , to which we can , at present , merely advert , reserving comment until a future opportunity . The Encumbered Estates ( Ireland ) Bill has passed the third reading in the Commons , but so emasculated that , like the Irish Poor-law , it is valuable merely for the principle it affirms . Practi . cally / it is to be feared that it will be almost nugatory as a remedy for the evils it is
intended to meet . An important change in the law of marriage in Scotland has passed the Lorfe . In future no marriages will be considered legal , should this bill pass into a law , except where parties have reiided in the parish fourteen days and given that notice . At present , no notice or preliminary formalities are required , thus offering facilities for clandestine marriages , which the far-faireJ Gretna Green , and other less celebrated places prove , are extensively taken advantage of . Mr C Butter , the new President of the Poor-law Board , has brought in a batch of bills to amend
the administrative operation of the Poor-law . The first of these has reference to the mode of assessing certain charges , -which he is of opinion ouzht to he borne equally by the whole union—by an equitable rate on the property of each rate-payer . At present , they fall "' OS t unequKlly on " certain parishes and classes The charges which he thus proposes to * make general , are the cost of the Union Officers , the Clerk , ; the Medical men , the Master of the "Workhouse , and generally what are termed establishment charges . Secondlythe support of vagrants ; and ,
, thirdly , " the maintenance of what are called the irremovable poor . In the course of his speech , the Eight Hon . Gentleman dealt out some blows at the former administration of the Poor Law , which must , we imagine , have been rather unpalatable to Mr Cornewall Lewis , who sat near him on the Treasury Bench . On Wednesday , the O'Connell farce of a motion on Hepeal ' was played out by the discharge of the motion . Justice was done to the moral courage and determination evinced by Mr
O'Connor in bringing the question forward at an early period of the Session , and the way in which he fairly tested the feeling of the House upon it , was praised by Sir B . Hall , as affording an honourable contrast to the sneaking policy of the Young " Liberator ! " The management of our Colonial empire formed the subject of an admirable speech by Sir W . Moiesworth , which , together with the lame reply of Air Hawes , will furnish ample matter for a future article .
Amon g the bills which have been introduced and read a first time , we mar notice one for preventing night work by journeymen bakers in the metropolis . The bill prohibits any m ? iter baker to employ his men in the manufacture of any kind " of bread between the hours of six in the evening and four in the morning , under a penalty for the first offence of not more than forty shillings , or imprisonfor not more than a month , and for every subsequent offence a penalty of not less than five pounds , or imprisonment for not more than three months . The second reading of the
bill stands for next Wednesday , when we trust that the manifest evils of the practice which it is intended to prevent , will secure sufficient support to ensure its passing into law . ^ It is wholly unnecessary for the accommodation of the public , is not ' required by the respectable masters , and is only perpetuated by a minority of poor and selfish ' employers , who care not what evil they inflict on society at large , so that they can grow speedily rich .
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? g- Press ol matter hss coHipeiled us to withheld the Defence Facd list this week . We are sorry to state that the sum recefred by Mr Rider , since car Irst , amounts only to £ U and a few ehillineB . J . Suaet , Aberdcen .-Press of matter compels the postpcnement of your letter . It stall appear in our nest .
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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY . My Friends , I dare say that it will not require much eloquence to convince you of the state of excitement that I was in for some time previous to the 10 th of April , till Chartism , upon that day , proclaimed its triumph over despotism ; and yet , great as that excitement naturally was , when a single incautious step upon my part might have led to the sacrifice « f thousands of lives , and jeopardised the cause of Chartism ; nevertheless , I assure you , that tint excitement was as nothing compared with the state of madness I have been in since the Committee was appointed to inquire into the affairs of the National Land Company .
To have jeopardised a political movement by rashness or folly might be set down to enthusiasm , or want of judgment ; but to rob the poor—or the bare suspicion of it—would be a crime , nay , a sin , which repentance could never obliterate . You are aware of the ferocious manner that I have been attacked by every newspaper in England , with the exception of the " Times , " the " Post , " the " Herald , " and the " Wakefield Journal : " and you are aware how those
uncontradicted slanders must have militated against my character as a gentleman , and one elected to represent your order in Parliament . I was aware that these representations had no great weight with those who have long known me , and faithfully confided in me but you are aware that thousands who read the accusation never saw the defence ; and this is the Press mode of destroying a gentleman ' s character .
When that Committee was appointed , the Judge Advocate of England , with a salary of 2 , 000 / . a year , was elected as the Chairman ; and I now unhesitatingly declare , that Judge Jefferies never evinced a more reckless or disgraceful partiality than that gentleman has evinced as Chairman of the Land Committee . He appeared to hold a brief ,, in which the evidence of every witness was detailed , and he would ooly allow such witnesses to be
examined as he presumed would damage the Company , j ^ nd , as I told you before , although I brought an Occupant from 0 Connorville , and three Occupants from Gloucestershire , at my own expense , considering them the best witnesses , as being longest located , yet they went as they came ; the Chairman would not allow them to be examined , although one would naturally presume that they were the very witnesses who ought to be examined .
The first question gone into was the application of the funds the hope and the object being at once to damn the Flan by damning the man ; and with this view , the whole accounts of the Bank and of the Land Company were submitted to an accountant , appointed by the Chairman , who , I presume , following his instructions , conducted the investigation , not as if I was an insolvent , but as if I was a fraudulent insolvent . This gentleman , as a matter of course , entered upon his duty with suspicion , as he , like the Committee , from report , entertained serious doubts as to the integrity of the management . For more than three weeks this investigation lasted , and you can well imagine the difficult position in which 1 was placed .
I think I hear some banker ' s clerk , who has nothing todo but to attend to his books , saying — " From whence could arise your difficulty if you had kept proper accounts ? " My answer j s _« That , multifarious as the work is , it would be impossible to keep more honest accounts , although they may be somewhat puzzling to a regular accountant , who is only accustomed to a certain description of accounts ; and Still more difficult , when I inform you that there is not one word of mine written in any book connected with the Company—and this fact will prove as creditable to those empleyed under me as to myself- ' '
The accountant has now made his report , and you may judge of its magnitude when I tell you that he went over the accounts from the first day the operations were commenced at O'Connorville , down to Saturday , the 15 th of July . And , as a set of hired scribblers have attempted to arraign my balance sheets as fraudulent , it may be some satisfaction to the Members to know , that the accountant compared the balance sheets with the original documents and receipts from which they were taken , and that there was not a difference of
two fshillings- And while I am prepared to admit that the accounts have not been what a merchant would term strictly kept , yet my only wonder is , that , having furnished those balance sheets after the strictest investigation by seven auditors for each , that I had retained receipts for sums as low as 2 s . Od . I was satisfied , and you were satisfied , with a faithful expenditure of your monies ; but if I had not been &ble equally to satisfy Parliament and the country , I feel thoroughly convinced that the Land Company would have been my
death . But I think I may now boastfully assert , that I can lay such a balance sheet before the world , as neither individual or corporation has ever before submitted ; for , you must bear the fact'in mind , that , with scarcely an exception , director ? , managers , committeemen , and lawyers , eke a livelihood out of their confiding but gullable dupes ; but because they are not tinged with the odium of Chartism , but belong to some recognised faction , they pass un scathed , and are considered devil ish clever fellows .
With so much of a preface , I shall now proceed to lay before you the evidence of the accountant , as submitted to the Committee , and then it will be for you to judge whether or not I have established this Land Plan for your benefit or my own . Here follows the evidence of the accountant : — Mr William He . vet Gkst called up and examined ;— . . You gay it was impOJSJDle for you to examine all the vouchers and receipts ?—Ysj . Wa 3 I prepared with a Bofa full ?—Yea . I belles you want into the accounts very critically , more so thin I then thought necessary , or than I now think was neces 3 try , however , you went back to O'Connorville from the very beginning ?—I
did . , . I belie ? e I showed yea vouchers , as far as we went , for sums lifre 2 * 61 , 6 ) ., and 7 s ., and bo forth ? - There were very many small vonchera ; some 1 did not think it necessary to notice . . I think i explained the impossibility in all oases o separating the particular items ss to tbe iHdividufJ costs ; as , for instance , tfeere might be fifty or sixty horses sometimes workisg half a day at the houses , and sometimf s half a day plonghiDg ?—So I understood from jou ; I did not attempt to go into that . Did I not tell yon that you should have every facility in mj power to enable you to make anabstract ' acconnt of the several estates ?—Yes . . And you ha > edoEethatparticularIyandcritically f —As far as it was possible in the time , and with the materials .
You have been over all the balance-sheets ; yon have been over my balance sheet , and yen compared the gums charged in my balance sheet with the sums stated to hate been paid in fee labour-book kept by the overseer , who has that iahour-book ?—IeB . Did you find any difference between the amount that was taken frem that n&tement and my balancesheet ?—None . Did you go over the Lowbands balance sheet , tnat is the large balance ?—Yes . Did 30 U take tee iabour-book and compare it 2—Te 3 Was there any difference between the snas stated to be paid in the overseer ' s book by him , and that which appeared in my balaaee sheet ?—None .
Frem the e xafiiination of the Youohera , »» far aa we went through them , you have subjected them to the most critical esamination , you having been fifteen and Bisteen hours a day at work upon them , and you having come to a rocga estimate , leaving to a subsequent period a moTe ainute distinction to be made of the different estates ; have yon any doubt upon your mind that the company is in debt to me i —None whatever ; that balance sheet ia a proof of that Did lgivfj you ay back books . ! -Yes . # Did 1 sb-ow the balance I took credit for m the London Joint Stock Bank , as Btated in my Iwt
ba-^ Whr was tn / difcrence belweta the balauoe I toQ * . credit for wd the real susa ? -Noae ,
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I think there was a slight difference between a balance of £ 21 , 320 , and abaiar . ee of , £ 21 , 310 ?—That wa 3 explained by two £ 5 rank notes . Did you see the balance 1 took credit for as ia tv . e Gloucester Bank in my balacoe Bheet cf £ 6000 odd ? —Yes . Had I a surplua balance in the Gloucester B 3 :. k whan I gave that ? -Yes . Were the accounts produced to van down to las ' ; Saturday !—Yes . All that had teen received on behalf of the company ?—Yes , all that was announced in the Northern Stab . I bslieve I gave you all my chique bo ? ks , sho wing what the money was for ?—Yeg
And you and I went over the cheque bookB , and all that was down for fly hire and so on , 3 nd nothing was charged except what there was a receipt for ; there was nothing charged as wages ?—Nothing was charged except what was charged in ths bank book . There may have been some eatriea for which there 13 no receipt ; I did notgo so closely into it as ^ that . Yon found , receipts for cows bought at feha ?—Yes . Have you had the receipt of their sale afterward } by auction ?—Yea . some cowa were Bold afterwards . I believe you had the auctioneer that sold them , Mr Weaver ?—Yes . And the amount he says I received is that which I gavo credit for in the Gloucester account to a farthmg ?—Yes .
And an amount that I had no receipt / or , for a crop purchased , £ 437 8 s . Id , that you found to be correct to a farthing ?—Yes . As to everything that I took credit for in my balanca sheet at Lowbands and at O'Connorville . I believe I satisfied you as far as it was in the power ot man to do so ?—Yes . Did my balanoe sheata aaree with the accounts of what had been expended ?—I analysed both those balance sheets , and I have no doubt ef the correctnesi of both of them . Did I submit every man to yon , carpenter , overseers , and all f . T tb . 9 moat rigid examination f—Yes .
Did you go over their books five times , if yon found that you cou' . d not balance them to a farthing . Was there an account of £ 2 12 s . to Mr Lord ?—Yes . Did you find that ont ?—Yes , £ 2 12 ' . paid him in addition to the cheque . Wherever I found there was a difference of th =. t sort ; I searched it out . Supposing you bad been going to make up an account fr r myself , do you think that any person osuld hare been more anxious , or lould have given you more infermation that you required than I did ? - No ; you seemed very anxious to give me every informatifn , and every facility was given me . Now the difficulty you have , is in taking out tbe suai 9 applicable to each estate ?—Yes ; yon assit ted me there . I could not have dona it without assistance .
Even to dividing one sum inio two?—Yea ; you went through the bankers' bf oks , which I have in my pocket ; the booh which belonged tneach estate . { The Witness produced the several bankers ' boofa . ) 1 produced the timber merchant , who received £ 9 , 048 edd ?—Yeg he brought me his accounts , which were very nicely drawn up ; I neveif saw accounts kept better . This is a question that I am tender upon . Patting on one side the question of legality , I ask you , after that very close and critical examination of the accounts , both upon my part and upon your part , what 13 the real result that yon have arr- ' vtd at ? Have yeu any doubt that a large sum of money is du 8 to me ?—None whatever , or I should rot have put a balance steet forward showing that to be bo . I believe I nas more anxious in the matter , if possible , than you were ? - 'Yon were very anxious ; it was a very laborious task .
Sir B . Hall ] You Btated that you went over some balance sheets . Will yon tell me what those balance sheets were , whether they were the original balance sheet ? , which had been audited by persons stated to have been auditors of the Company or not ?—They were net ; I hare not seen any of those balance sheets . When I make use of the word balance sheets , I mean the balance sheets of Mr O'Connor ' s accounts , as well as the balance sheets of the National Land Company . Do you mean to eay that you have not seen any of the original balance Bheets of Mr O'Connor , or of the National Land Company , wJjich are stated to have been audited , and fligned by Mr Cuffay and Mr Knight ?—I nave not seen any of them .
At yoar laBt examination you said that the observation you had made with reference to the destruction of tho ? e accounts , applied t « the accounts of Mr O'Connor ?—It applied to one single account of Mr O Connor'St I asked for the originals of the two preceding accounts to the one that was placed in my hands as tbo final account . Those two preceding ac counts were published in the' Northern Stab ; ' < f one , I believe , the date is the 19 th December , and of the other in August , 1847 . I wished to see the originals of thesi , in order to form a connecting link from tbe commencement of the affaira of the Company np to the point at which I was to complete them . I was to ' . d by Mr Hewitt , the clerk to Mr O'Connor , those others had been destroyed . Mr M'Grath stocd bv and doubted the truth of that assertion , and they both agreed that they did not koow where they were , and I have never had them .
Wi ) l you look te the evidence which wbs given by yourgalt at questions 421 S and 4249 , which contain the observation made by Mr Feargus O'Connor , and will you read that observation ?— ' And which accounts I tell you you can have . ' Have you bad those accounts ?—I bave aot . Mr F . O'Connor . ] Did you take your account from the originals from which those balance sheets were made , and from the labour book , and the receipts I showed you ?— -Yes . Did they agree to a penny ?—Yes . That was tbe original from which the manuscript W 3 B taken ?—Ye 3 . You took it from the original ?—From the original books . The original books kept by the overseer ?—Yes .
Sir B . Hall . ] Have you ever had the account promised to you by Mr Feargus O'Connor in answer to that question , which account was Btated to be destroyed by the auditor of the company ?—No . I asked again for it , and have not obtained it . Have you read the evidence which was givea by Mr M'Grath ?—I havo not . It was stated in evidence given by him in answer to . question 707 i and subsequently , that Mr O'Connor has regularly produced his balance shee * 9 , and
hey were audited by persons appointed by the Conference , and that those accounts had been produced , and were kept in the possession of Mr O'Connor himself . Am I to understand that those accounts havo not been produced ?—They bave not been produced to me . Mr F . O'Cosnob , ] Be critical in this . Were the books frnm which the only written balance sheet was taken produced . Did you go over the original documents from which those two printed balance sheets were taken f—I can hardly answer that .
Did they correspond ?—The books corresponded with the printed cnpie 3 placed in my hands . Sir B . Hall-1 Had yon any balance sheets which had been audited by the auditors of the company and signed by them ?—None whatever . Mr M'Grath farther says in answer to quea tion 746 , that he can produce the original account from which the balanca sheet is made up , and that they ware signed by the auditors , MessrB Cuffay and Knight . Have you seen these original accounts sb signed ?—No , I have not . He further state * in answer to question 1761 , that
Mr Cuffay was a most precise and particular man ; that the last balance Bheet took him tbreo days to audit ; that thera were about 29 , 000 itenas ; and that he Compared every one of them , and that vouchers were produced in the office for every farthing of expe diture except what he booked for postage , and that until the vouchers were produced MrCoffay would not have put his name to tbe balance sheet . Have jou seen anything like vouchers to that extent for the one balance sbeet to which he alludes ?—Not to the extent of 29 , 000 ; I have seen a large bundle of vouchers applying to the balance Bheet which i imagice is meant there .
In anawer to question 1670 , it is slated tkat at the Lowbands Conference , held in December , the balance sheets were produced by Mr O'Connor , aa treasurer Of the Land Company , and that John Shaw and others were appointed auditors ; have you seen the balance sheet which wa 3 so signed by John Shaw and others . ' " ~ Mr F . O'Connor . ] You held both the printed balance sheets in your hand ?—Yes . And yon went over the books from which they were taken ?—Yes . And the vouchers?—Yes . _ ...
Then it was from them that the written one was printed ; the written one goes to tbe printer , ana is cut up into fragments ?— , Sir B . IIau . 1 flow do yon know that they weve so taken ? -I just now begged to eay that I could not tell that it was so , but the items in the books eorrespond with those printed in those copies . Have you . or ha 70 you not , ever ««¦ . «* o- ™ balance sheets which have been signed by Messrs Cuffay and Knight , the auditors of the Company , or that balance sheet which was handed in oy * "r O'Connor at the 1 -owbands Owrf «*» e * . stated to have been signed by John Shaw and others 1—No , I nave BC Stated , at your last examination , that a . better arrangement of accounts has been adopted ut iud Land Office ; will you atats when that new arrange , men * was first adopted ?—ln July , 1847 . Mr O'Co ] Ia it perfect now?—No
nnor . . . Is it in good form , and are those booksi containing the names of the several shareholders ?—I bave not counted them ; bnt there are four l « g ° ™ lam , *' hir which I should think there were about that num&or ofnameB . Sir B . Hall . ] Ia answer to question 2400 , put on the 2 nd of June last , Mr O'Connor stated . / That from £ 40 , 000 to £ 50 , 000 hsd been isvetted in ** . chequer bills . Mr Allgop sent in an acoount oi £ 29500 , and I think the manager has £ 10 , uuu mabws ? e n ?» r £ 40 , 000 w possible , and I bare W 5 M
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before that , that have boen fxch&ni-eu ! from the beginnicg to the end perhaoa £ 60 , 000 . ' How much was thrre invested in Exehequ . v bills on the 27 ch of Juno , 1 S 4 S ? -T ! : e sum invested was £ 6 , 000 . I took this from tho account of Mr Allsop , which ehow-i that between February 1847 , and June 1848 , £ 37 . 000 had bean bought and £ 31 000 told , leaving £ 6 , 000 in hand . I have ascertained to-day at Mr Ajlsop ' s that those £ 0 , 000 remain in his hands . I did nofe sea ihem , because Mr Allsop was out of town . The clerk ahowcl me the accounts , in which it appeared that £ 6 , 000 remained in Mr AliBop ' a handa belongins to Mr O'Connor .
Mr F . O'Connor J Did you see Mr Price ' s Exchequer bills belonging to the Bank ?—Yes . Mr Mo . vsEti ,. ] Supposing money to 6 fl wanted for carrying on the affairs of the company , I could quite understand that Mr O'Connor , from the great intorest he lakes in the matter , might advance money with ths intention of lepayinp ; himself . But a 3 it appears from your statement of accounts that there is a balance in favour of the company greater than the amount due by the company to Mr O'Connor , what object could he bavo had in making advances to tho company ?—( Mr F . O'Connor ) The object I had
in making tbe advances v . as this : my own money come ? in quarterly ; there were hnrvy demands upon the company , and I wan determined nnt to Bell aDy of the Bank money until I saw bow the House of Commons dealt with it . I was determined to keep all the bank money in Exchequer bills , and advance ray own mor . ey as it came in quarterly . —( To the Witness ) II thoBe accounts bad been accurately kept , in whoso favour do you think , epeaking after your examination of them , the great strictness , the balance would have been ?—I think you have been a aufferer frem inaccuracy with which the accounts had been kept .
Arid from not having made charges which I might havemade ?—If you had eo charged , itwouldhavo increased the aum in your favour . I * thvre one single fraction of a charge for any expense I have beoa at from the beginning ?—No , nothing whatfcver . Nor for premiums to allottees !—No ; thai account shows even thins . Now , my friends , I have submitted to you the evidence , not of the interested Feargus O'Connor , but of the disinterested accountant , with whom I have never had ten words of
conversation , except in connexion with those accounts ; and it is but justice to him to state , notwithstanding- the annoyance to which he has put me , that I think he was born with a ready reckoner in his hand , and a pen behind his ear . I thought I was pretty quick at accounts , but he beats me hollow . I shall now make an observation or two , not upon the evidence , but upon the facts . Firstly , —Mr M'Grath did produce the ori ginal balance sheets , signed by Cuffay and Knight , to the Chairman . Secondly , —No auditors ever signed my balance sheets , they signed the resolutions which the auditors submitted to the Conferences : and
Thirdly , —The accountant has charged me with very nearly 1 , 500 / . as interest and profit upon Exchequer Bills . Now , this was the item about which the drunken prostitute of the " Dispatch , " who panders to the worst passions of man ' s nature was inquiring about . You will observe from the questions , that Sir Benjamin has been very critical , although he sickens one , and reminds me of along pump with the sucker out of order , his eloquence , hke the water , comes out in such dribbles . Tbe result of tbe accountant ' s inquiry is given in these words and in these figures , " Balance , overpaid by Mr O'Connor , £ -3 / 298 5 s-. 3 id .
Now , you whj honour me by calling yourselves my children , what do you say to that ? I know what your answer will be , but what will you say to this ? Until you are all located I never will ask foi' . i farthing of that back , but I will go on adding to it ; and if I bad ten millions to morrow , and if I never expected one single farthing of it to be returned , I declare to you , " upon tbe true faith of a Christian , " that I would expend every farthing of it in locating the pnor in theiro wn sentry boxes , upon their own Labour field . And I tell you now , despise it as you may , that I am not for blood , nor for dimiiushinggthe human family by a unit , butjjtbat I proposed my plan and IT SHALL SUCCEED , to make the rich richer
and the poor rich , to destroy that revolting misery which an evil system has created , and that my motto is " to live honestly and usefully and die a pauper / ' I live upon one meal a day ; I am a frugal man , and a sober man ; and I now tell you that I would not have bestowed my time upon any plan , that was not congenial to my feelings as I have bestowed rov time upon this Land Plan , for twenty . thousa nd pounds . Nay , my time is never to be measured by money ; and much as I have suffered from slander and villany , I am more than repaid by tbe fact that it has not disturbed your confidence . In my own expenses alone this plan has cost me over £ 3 , 000 , and there is no such charge in my balance sbeet .
My friends , let me not be thought vain when I meet unfounded charges by facts . In mv own country I have conducted more contested elections than , I believe , any man in that country ; as a barrister , and from my influence , I was entitled to large fees for each , but I never accepted even my travelling expenses . During the time of your apathy , I have supported the whole cause and the victims out of my own purse . I never allowed H mnn to go to trial for a political offence ,
without the best advocate that the English bar could furnish , and yet there are idiots who call me an interested demagogue . If I am an interested demagogue , my every aspiration , and my every thought , is directed towards the amelioration of the condition of the working classes ; and tbe reason I am hated is because I will not allow the traffickers in human blood , and in infant gristle , to preserve an idle competitive reserve , in order that they may fall back upon them ^ and make their profits out of a reduction of wages , and the destitution of
the poor . Now , my friends , I give you the evidence of Mr Sullivan , Member for Kilkenny , and also a member of the Committee , in answer to the snivelling curs who have been writing fvom Snig ' s End to Manchester , as to the performance of the work . And let me tell you , that there is not a more critical or better judge of agriculture and buildings in England , than tbe lion , member ., for Kilkenny . Here is his evidence .- — Michael Suixivan , Esq ., a Member of the Committee , examined . Mr F . O'Ci nnoh ] You have visited the estates of Snig's End and Lowbands ?—I was there on Saturday last .
Did you viaifc many of the allotments at Lowbands , and had you couveraaticn with any allottees there ? —A great number of them ; I sheuld say that we visited very nearly halt of them . Acd passed through all ?—Yes , and passed through all . And you saw the crops ?—We examined all tbe crops , and we -went into tho houaep , into the badrcoms and kitchens and piggeries , and we saw every appointment that was in connexion with tho houaei for effectually carrying out the management ef tho farms . When you say , ' half of them , ' you mean half of the occupiers you spoke to ?~ Yea . Did you examine tha crops minutely ?—Wb examined the crops minutely .
What was your opinion as to the contrast beiween the crops of wheat that you saw there , and tho crops that jou had seen la traveling fr ., m London to Gloucester , or theory ia the immediate neighbourhood ?—I was particularly observant of all the crops 281 went along from London to Gloucester ,. a 3 far aB a railroad tiow would give an opportunity of judging , and I observed the crops of wheat to . be particularly light ; then from Gloucester we weat about Beven or eight miles in an open carriage through the country , till we arrived at the estato of Snife ' a End , and from that we went to Lowhands .
Upon an inspection of the crops of wheat at Lowbanda , what comparison would you say they bore to ths crops in the neighbourhood , Otf to the Other Crops that you had seen ?—The average cropB of Wheat , particularly in Lowbands , are deoidedly the best 1 had aeon in journejing from London to that place . Or in tho neighourhood round about ?—Or m tne neighbourhood round about . I had seen Bome few tielda of some few farmers that c ; ima nearly up to thorn . That is , I should aay there were a few that came up ta the average crops of Lowbaads ; but that it was aot the case , generally speaking . Taking tbe average of the cropsof wheat at Lowbaads ^ aking evevy allotment , would you Bay it was a middling , or a gGod > or an indifferent crop ?—Ifchoulu " say it was a prims crop as an average . Um did U&pojto $ < M look ? -Tlw potato IcQkcd
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JSoWhi ™' ^ 80011 ' other , not quite so nor Da- « r iZit gOt In i () tn . oat ? * in a 5 » Ps » or tnan " asa&ji ; resarded th ° ° tment ° f the You went into his house ?—TeB w « MA And remained there some time ^ Yes and re mamed there some time . " Ies ' ana re From the condition in which you saw the wbo ' e estate there , wouW vou m H > «™ crojje ° e and that the produce would be lar ^ e . o'WS say that it was indifferently and poorly cropped » -I should say , takiag the whole estate a'tozetrer that there is an enormous amount of produce of eveiv description upon it ; that is , speaking of the Low . band : ) e 3 tate .
fl iP ™* * ° *^ ^ oueea i of w ^ description did you and them ?—The houses were of a very superior character , in my opinion ; probably a little too much so ; they are in fact too pood for a four acre farm . Did you see tbe gated that had been put up in the eeveriJ places ?—I did . Did you go into the schoolhouceB ?—I did . In what style was the work that jou examined performed ?—Iq the most permanent and complete
manner . What was the fealing of the allottees , a 3 far as you could ascertain it ., of their present condition , and of their future prospects ?—I was vary enrjoua to ascertain how pariieH brougafc from nil directions of the country , entirely unacquainted with agricultural pursuits , located in a place like that , could be crntent , and how far they would be abla to carry on tboso agricultural pursuits . &nd I mustsitate trat in particular I vras struck with one old man who had been a cotton oversoer . lie appeared to me to be
as fully acquainted with agricultural pursuits , and to have all his farm in aa complete a system of crop ping as if he had been there many years . I do not . know the names of tbe parties ; I merely inquired their trades and occupations , and I found » framework knitter , I found a tallow chandler , I found a stocking msker , and I found every description oi trade almost located there ; I found a cabinet makov , I found a ahoeaial-er , &n& I found a cotton spinner ; but I did not find one agricultural labourer there ; every one had been a tradesman .
Mr Langston . ] How maty cows did you see upon the estate ?—1 saw but one . Mr F . O'Connor 1 How many pigs did you see ?—I observed that the majority were turning tbeir attention to the feeding ef pigs , aa being mora profitable than that of cows , I now give you a letter that I Lave received from the Minster Lovel Estate , and my answer : —
TO THE EDITOB OF TOE NOBTHEEN STAB . Chartervillk , July , 18 th , Sm . —In reply to Mr O'Connor ' s letter , contained in the Nqmuekm Star of tha lSt ' -unat ., you will obligethaiillottees on this eBtate by inserting the following in your next : —
TO THE MEMBER 3 OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANX " . Fellow Countbtmen , We , the allottees of Charterville , beg respectfully to Bllbmib to you the following brief observations ^ n a paragraph of Mr O'Connor ' s letter , contained in the last NoRTaeiw Star , viz : — ' That if there is any obstacle in the way of carrying this plan , it originates with the located members , because , if there wns a million of money subscribed , and a thousand located , tho fortunate thousand would imagine that they had the best title to the remainder of the funds , and this has always been my grf atost difficulty . ' This paragraph appears to be absolute in its expression . If ,
therefore , Mr O'Connor intends to include us therein , we beg emphatically to dissent with him en that as-Beriirtn . Because wo have not yet received fin ( quivaient , towhattheallottee 8 en previous estates haveveceived—neither have we asked it of the directors . The only request which we have made of them ib , that they would grant us the loan withiu three months instead of driving it off for bix monthe . This was in their power , inasmuch aa that the last Conference ( eft it in their hands to determine ths time at which the loan should be granted . This we think they ought to havo done—this we think they ought to do yet , as early as possible , otherwise the result will be inevitably an entire failure on thia estate . For out of our aid money we have had to buy seed , pay for labourers , to prepare the ground for ,
and bow and plant it—whilethe allottees on previous keafced estates have had the whole of their aid money paid to them , clear of the expenses of putting in a great portion of tbeir f esd , which the directors have done for them . Hence it is evident that we have not had the same privileges allowed us which they have had . Nor can we be justly charged with jaaking any demand , claim , or request , of or for any assistance which is n-. it in accordance with the rules of the Company , or with the regulations of the Conference . If we have done so let Mr O'Connor , as the principal director of the Company , publish all our correspondence with them in the Northern Star . In the work of human redemption , fellow labourers , OabehatfoftbeAHotises , I am , very truly yours , Henry Grimshaw , See
My Friends , — r cur comparison is not just , nor are your facts correct . At Lowbands , the occupants were not located till the 23 rd of August , a very great disadvantage . You were located in March , a very great advantage . The expense of the agricultural operations at Lowbnnds will be added to the purchase money as capital , and rent will be charged for it . Your rent will be comparatively less . At Snig ' s End they were located in June , and received aid money at the rate of bl . per awe . You were located in March , and received aid money at the rate of 71 . 10 s . per acre . Your land was ploughed , most of it twice , and no deduction was made from the aid money , whereas the rule of the Conference is that the expense of ALL agricultural operations are to he deducted
from the aid money ; and if it was not so , the effect would be that I would perform no agricultural operations . And again , I repeat—and you must remember that " a little leaven leaveneth the whole lump "—that those located do think that enough never can be done for them ; while a funny fellow , who signs himself , "Thomas Shartin , of No . 12 , Bsgot-street ; Birmingham , " writes a long rigmarole for insertion in the " Northern Star , " deprecating thepurchase of horses , and of cows jjjthe making of roads and gates '; and proposes that the houses should be built by contract at 651 . a house , and of a mean description ; while my object is to make every man £ proud | of his sentry box . So that you see , like the man'in the fable , in pndeavouring to please everybody I may please nobody , and lose my ass into the bargain .
Next week I will gite you the report as delivered to the Committee by the accountant , and the next number of the " Labourer" will contain the evidence of the witnesses called by the Chairman , and from it you will learn the animus of that gentleman ; and I especially beg to call your attention to the evidence of the RAVEN , the Poor Law Commissioner , and then I think you will understand that the necessary qualification for such an official is ignorance , infatuation , and folly . This poor fellow was obliged to drink water all the time be was under examination , but I assure you he looked like anything but a p 001 * -law paapGl ' , Il 8 more reminded me of the Fat Boy in Pickwick . However , where ^ there ' s a demand there ' s a supply , and the government invariably evinces great tact in the selection of such officials .
I now give you * the resolution , unanimously passed by the Committee upon the Land Company : — " Resolved—That it be an instruction to the Chairman , in drawing up his Report , to state , that , in consequence of Mr Feargus O'Connor having expressed an opinion that an impression had gone abroad that the monies subscribed by the National Land Company had been applied to his own benefit , this Committee are clearly of opinion that , although the accounts have not been kept with strict regularity , yet that irregularity has been against Mr Feargus O'Connor , instead of in his favour . "
Now , such is the resolution passed unanimously , after the Report and . balance sheet of the Accountant—the gentleman who was appointed by Government to investigate the accounts of the Drainage and Sewerage Com . pany—and I think you will say it ia pretty satisfactory ; while 1 must also remind you that not a shilling of the money deposited in the Bar . k , has been touched , and that still J am going on , and will go on , with the operations , as I cun either sell or mortgage the estates that I have purchased , without detriment to the occupants , as every occupant shall bave his iease or conveyance before I raise a farthing of money upon them , and then it will be immaterial to them whether they pay the rent to A or to B ; their title will be the same , and their rent will be th& same .
Now , my fsLeiids ,-Sir Benjamin Hall stated that much o £ the funds of the Land Company had been applied to political purposes , and I tell you . that not one fraction of a farthing das b «« a aoulied to such purposes , nor to any
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other purposes than that for which it was sub . scribed . You will also bear , in mind that at every Conference it was not onl y proposed , hut curried unanimously , and insisted upon , that i should be paid all my expenses—and I tell you the reason why I mention this fact here—it is to prove to you the ungenerous treatment that honest men may sometimes receive from artful and designing people . I un . derstciml that , emanating from a Committee
sitting in London , an appeal has gone to the country to ask for an account of the Election Fund raised for the defence of my seat , and those gentlemen in London applied for that Fund to be handed over to them , and for its appropriation to other purposes , and now they are asking for an accoant of ltj an ( j tjjev sjmji jjave it roughl y here . and if they wish for it , or whether they do or not , they shall have it in a detailed shape hereafter .
The sum subscribed was between 400 / . and 500 / . It has been mixed up wuh the fund fer the prosecution of the "Manchester Examiner , which they also demand an account ot , and of iirc \ Vi 11 treat sel ) arately- I believe about half of what was subscribed for the defence of my Seat has been expended , as the Petition was not given up till the last moment ; over 1 OOZ , went to the Convention and the National Assembly , not speaking of the dtmonstratioa at Kennington Common ; and those gentlemen seem to forget that a large balance is still due to me upon the several expense funds .
But there is a great nicety in their arithmetic . When I pay money out of my own pocket it should only be returned by funds strictly subscribed for that purpose , but when a fund te subscribed for another purpose , and is not all used for that purpose , then it is fair to apply the residue to any purpose that a few individuals may suggest . However , my security is in the good sense of the public ; and I ask them , whether an individual , who has spent and ig spending his all in their cause , is to be
continually thwarted with these wranglings and underhand complaints ? Show me one fund that ever has been raised that is not in debt to me , and point me out one single farthing of any fund—whether Victim Fund , Defence Fund , Travelling Fund , Liberty Fund , Convention Fund , or Conference Fund , —that has ever been applied to my use . The fact is , my friends—and you know it—that one of the banes of our cause has been the attempt to dutch every fund the moment it was raised , and then to leave the payment to
me-Now for the "Manchester Examiner . " That prosecution is not over yet , and next week I will publish for you the dilatory pleas that have been put in by the Defendant , in order to postpone the hearing of the case ; while upon my part not a single obstruction has been offered . Now , it is very painful for me to be obliged to mix up those private matters with public business . It was only yesterday , I paid 149 / . 10 s . for a libel , and last week I had to pay money into court in
another libel case of a political nature connected with poor Fussell ; and lnst week I received a bill of costs , in poor Vernon s case alone , of 1 ( J 9 / . 15 s . 6 d ., consisting of twentyfive sheets of foolscap paper , with an application to me for a balance of 80 Z . ; and yesterday , after having made several fruitless attempts to see the victims in Tothill-fields , I gaveordera to pay weekly , out of my own pocket , the sum necessary for releasing them from picking oakum , and which sum has been paid in advance for the ensuing month .
Now , I tell you candidly , and I tell you . truly , that , were it not for my fixed determination to brave danger in every shape rather than abandon the Charter and the Land Plan , I would pitch the whole concern to the devil , and with what money I could scrape together of my own , without the interference of the law , or the insolence of complainants , | would , as my own master , and with my own money , go on buying land , building houses , and locating" the poor ; but when breakers are a-head , danger threatens , and the hurricane is blowing , I will brave insolence rather than
abandon the ship . As soon as the Land Committee has reported , notice of the meeting of Conference will be given , and then , not my accounts , but the accountant ' s accounts , shaft be submitted to the delegates . And I tell you again—and in conclusion—that so certain was I that vny life would have fallen a sacri * fice to the fury of the Government on the lOih of April , that I made my will on the 9 th , and left every farthing belonging to me to two of th « most honourable men in England ; a 9 trustees for faithfully carrying out the objects of the Land Company . And I tell you more , that on Friday last , when a proposition was made in the Committee to wind up the affairs of the National
Land Company , it was rejected by a majority of nearly two to one , the majority declaring that , as the affairs were managed with perfect good faith , it would be unjust to those not located that those located should have the plum . However , my friends , it invariably happens that when a squall comes all expect me to be the trumpet , the artillery , the cavalry , the infantry , and the Exchequer . There is always £ re » t danger in being- the paid servant of the public , and I will maintain the security of being Your faithful friend and unpaid bailiff , Feargus O'Connor .
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THE CHARTIST TRIALS . YORK ASSIZES . J . Johnson , F . Vicory ( 30 ) , fl . Walton ( 35 ) , W : Smilh ( 10 ) , 11 . Whitcombe ( 21 ) , J . Dcwne ( lJ )) , I . Henton ( 22 ) . W . Connor ( 31 ) , W . WiB ^ r burn ( 20 ) , and W . Sagar ( 41 ) , were charged for that they , on the 29 : hof May last , at Horton , together with divers other eviJ-disposed pewons , did riotously assemble to disturb the peace . —Mr KnowleB , Q .. C , tbe lion . Mr Phipps , and Mr OTerend , were for the prosecutioD ; the prisoners were defended by Mr Follock , instructed by Mr Roberts , the miner . - ) ' attomey-penera ! —Mr Knowles baving made several preJimicary observations , stated that od tbe 29 ch of May the m 3 gi » . crates entrusted with the [ . fc « ce of Bradford mot together . There had been a charge against a poraon
named Jefferson , commonly known by too name of ' Wat Tyler '—perhaps from his profession of a blackaroith—for illegal ttainirg and drilling , and the magistrates haJ thought no to take necessary . tuea-Burea to procure hia apprehension ; and accordingly , on the 29 th May , various officers , accompanied by a body of npecial constable ? , went to Adelaide-street for tbe purpose of apprehending him . They were not successful . They were assailed with shaven ol brick bats and other mus ' ika , and hi the end they retired without effecting their objsct . Tho magis-; rate 9 , having reason to believe there would be an illegal assting , is 9 ueda hill calling upon the well-dis * posed inhabitants not to assemble . Between threa and four in the afternoon the magistrates went to
Adelaide-street , attended by a Strong body of police and special constables , and military in the rear ready ti > act . The special constables were in advance , and they arrived first at the place , whare there was a great number of psoplsasannbled . An attempt was thta made to capture Jefferson , ths psrsou known by tbo namoofWat Tyler . Stones ware again thrown at the police , ar . d DewhursS rnd Brcwu were very seriously injured , The tint sufeial constable as » eaalted was Mr HaiJst .-ne , aa attorney , and ho ire * , mediately went forward and seized the prisoner Smith , it > v the purposo of apprehending bun ., He was surrounded on avery aide , but notwithstanding tho violence o * the mob , euccsefled , in handing over Smith to iha custody of a policeman . Several other of tto defendants were alsa taken into 0 U 9 tcdy . Smith , Wititerburn , Vicory , Heaton , and Cenr . or , thjew Etonea and fciicHbata ;
Whitcomb Incited ethers ; Downs was using a hot boldmng ir « n a * a weapon ; Johnson -saa inciting by words and violence ; nnd Sagar pt $ ed ft t ' agger out of his pooket . Several witnesses were thea examined , and proved these facts . —Mr Pollock then addressed the Jary oa behalf of ths prisoners , lie did not know why this , which ni a mere case of oommon riot , had not teen taken to the quarter sessions . He ( Mr Pollaok ) wa $ no £ a friesd of disorder , but he claimed for herMijeBty ' ssubjeota the right to meet to discuss politics . The learned gentleman then prooeeded to dissect » he evidence , from which he awd that there was Dot adequate . proof of the violence alleged , a = d a <> agsinat tne prisoner wStoJEIntend ! d that there ™ not thaahght . eat evidence—Mr Juetica Erie Bummed «» P »«»* } J » jury , after an abwnce of a quarter-p . an * ° » . £ « £ all the priaonera guiltf rawpiw Wafe ? . -Senteow deferred ,
Co £Easer£ & Carresponimtts *
Co £ easer £ & carresponimtts *
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L'igh Hot . Church-stbeit , Mils Esd , New Tow —Mr Brown will lectors in this locality on Sunday , ( to-morrow ) , at eight o'clock . Uighley Ghees , Sokkebt , sear Halifax —A cimp metting will be fceld at this place , to-morrow . ¦ j ftercooD , commencing at two o ' clock , when Messrs Rushton and Saowdon , of Halifax , atd other f ; iends are expected to address the meeting . —A district delegate meeticg will be heHin the forenoon , com-Eencinz at ten o ' clock , at tbe house of John Hall . Haldtbwk Ilead , near the place of meeting , when it is hoped every locality in tbe district will send a de ' . egste to receive a balance-sheet of the last quarter ' s account , and elect a district secretary m tho place of Joseph RLfey , who retires from the office .
Halifax . —A district delegate meeting will be he id t < -morrow afternoon , in Bullclose-lane , csmne ecins at one o'clock , for the purpose of complei-. 'c ^ tue " ]^* P ^ an of Or ganisation thronghoot the ' ^ lo ' . e district . All localities are requested to send a J pipjr'fcp U Brad .-haw Lwe . —Mr Clisseti will lecture in this place to-morrow afternoon acd evening , to commeHce atba'f-ostttwo and biz o ' eicrk . 0 u » HiH .-0 a Sunday last , MrsTtwbald rfeuvered 3 spirited lecture in the Working Man ' s Hall .
The Chabtist Localities and Land Branches , who have i-taed Ebares for the ' Daily Paper , are r £ queued to send delegates to the Dispatch Ale and C-6 V House , Bride-Isn p , Fleet-Street , on Sunday , Ac = uM : 13 th , at three o ' clock , to bring the paper out& 5 BO < m & 3 po » ib ! e .-The Paper Committee . for fas ^ hitUE gton and Cat , are requested to meet on Wfcdcc-daj evening next , at eightfor mneoclotk . — Themembsra of the Land Company are reqnested to atunda general meeticg , on Tuesday , AuguBt 1 st , aud to bring their cards and books . NotnsoHAU—Mr Harrison will lecture on Mondav , Ju . ' y 31 < = t , at Arnold ; Tnesday . Angu-fc 1 st , Lu . weH ; Wedne 33 ay , 2 od , Hucknall Torkard New Ba » £ 0 RD . —A public mee : ingw «) i & ? teU at eight o ' cl . - : ek , on Thursday evening , AHgust 3 rd , wfcen Mr Roberts and others will attend .
jJSoniseHAH —A public meeting will be held in tie large room , Seren Stars , Barker & * te , at eight o ' cxek , on Monday eveniBg . —The district council will meet at the Jolly Angler , at Carlton , on Sonda ? next , at three o clock , Losdds . —A geuetal meeting will be held on Sunday evening , July 30 th , in the Temperance Hali , Siaoket-row . A Gbksbal Meeiiss of thsNatioHal Land Company will ba held in the Wilbsrforcs RoomB , oa Tuesday evening , Augast 1 st . _ Pallet . — A delegate meeting will be held in Walter Smart's Half , St-: itfcfis ] d-3 treet , on Saturday , Juiy 29 ih , at one o'clock . Gbekkwich Dbteict . —A special general meetingof ths abote district will bs held on Tuesday even-; August 1 st , at the Druid ' s Aras , Straight « ¦ s , Ion 'h for the forwarding tiie organisation of tne
^ Tu ' Suhbszd ™ ll address a mesting at tne Albion " corner of ffillmot- . street . Bethnal-green , on Sttttfoy eTening Best * at « ght o clws .
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July 39 , 1-48 THE NORTHERN STAR _„___ 5
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 29, 1848, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1481/page/5/
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