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Rational £an& ^ompa«|)*
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"The hig h" & monkey climbi, Tho moie he iho*s h/.s —!"
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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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¦ TO ALBANY FOSBLANQUE , Plaamn and Brother to a Bankrupt l Commissioner . Ton my soul , if you were my child—which , t hanks be to God , " you are not—anil if you jjad learned multiplication , addition , and division , or any one of them , I would have your bottom whipped with nettles , and put you jnto a hed of pismires , for writing the catal ogue of rubbish that 1 am just going to reprint , "Why , you incorrigible noodle , did you suppose that any attack upon me was so valuable to the profligates you represent , that your readers would overlook the insult you offered to their common understanding , by exhibiting them , as you have in your article of last p-eek , as fools who could neither think nor
reason r Now , Fonblanque , you are perfectly conscious that you are one fof the most reckless and desperate Whig tools that ever that reckless and desperate faction used—but , although figures form no part of your calculation , you shall not say that hard " words constitute my stock of argument . Here is your whole article , beginning , " as the Irish spies say , with the words " the whule of the evidence , " and ending with " so thriving a trade . ' Now , here is the whole indictment , charging you with dishonesty , profligacy , falsehood , and ignorance : —
O'CONNOR LASD SCHEMS . The wnoie Ot the cridence taken by the Committ ee on the Rational Land Company being now pubUsheJ , we are in a condition to state the results of its operations as exactly as its strangely kept accounts permit . Nineteen thousand subscribers have paid ftar shares in roll , and are entitled to stand the ballotfor the pur pose of bting located . Fifty thousand sis hundred and sixtv-nine have paid in part ( the average of their pay . meats is 2 s 2 d each indiridaal . J Two hundred and thirty have been l-c ^ te d . On the lan d already acquired , five hundred ani lorty six , or one thirty-fifth of the number entitled to ttand the ballot , may or can he entitled , on the most favourable calculation , the whole of the subseriberi to the scheme canrot possibly be located in less time than a period intermediate betcvean one hundred and fifty and two hundred and twenty-five years . the
Evea this result canenlf be anticipated on assumption that every person placed upon the laud succeeds in cbtainine for it the Ten nigh returns of produce held ait t > j Mr O ' Connor , and that the Land Scheme and the Banking Scheme are in full operation . The estimated produce appears , from the evidence 01 a practical ? gricul * urist , to be in excess of what can possi . Wy be obtaiurd by at least one-haf . A vast majority of the subscribers have to fcegin their apprenticeship to the trade of asricultura . In order to enable the Bank to plajits part effectively , a capital of ^ 1 , 638 , 312 would os absolutely necessary . But the Bank has only £ 16 , 000 in deposit , and its only apparent capital is the property of the Land Company . This is a fair and telerably exact statenent of what has been gained oy the subscribers , and of what prospects flier have for farther Rain . 1-ei us now sea what they have actually paid , and whatliabilities they have incurred as the priceof these advantages . of the
3 ir O'Connor , who is sole agent Company , end sole manager of the Bank , has received in all £ 103 . 015 Is li . Of this sum £ 550 accrued from the profit on the resale of > purchased farm , an irregular and accidental gain , a windfall ; £ 3 J 6 9 s 3 d from the sale of the Rules of the Society ; £ 1 , 222 7 s 2 d from a tax imposed upon the subscribers to defray the eipense of management ; and j £ 6 , 391 0 s 2 d as a loan from the Land Bank ( i . f . from the Company to the Company out of the monies of its depositors ) In short , the apparent fands of the Company have been irregularly swelled by a sum of £ ll , eC 9 165 7 d , toineEd appearances . The actual receipts of a fair business character are : Subscriptions , £ 9 ii . 7 M ISs Id ; from tne operations of the Lands' Purchase department , £ 1 , 148 10 s ; sales of farm produce , £ 2 , $ 45 lls id ; interest and profits on Exchequer bills , £ 1 , 171 7 s ; interest on Bank balances £ 824 18 s 4 d . Bat for windfalls and extra contributions , the money available for the Company ' s purpose would only hare been j fSSlOtHs Id . " _
. . The expenditure of the Land Company , when Mr O'Connor ha 3 beenpaii £ 8 , 293 5 s 3 d of his 'wn money expended in its name , and when the Lacd Bank has been repaid its loan with interest , will leave on hand onlv £ 242 Is lid . All the rest of its money has been spent . We shall now recount the assets of which it has come into possession in return fjrthis ontlay . In the first place . 1618 acres ot land for which £ « G , 6 i 2 of purchase-Eonev has been paid , and in bringing which into condition , in stocking , and in Eett = ng the occupants at work upon them , ^ 9 ' , 331 16 s 5 d have been expended . Tae land and its stoc-V bare cost the Company this snm ; but thev cannot expect to sell it for n-arly so much . it has cost
The land is sot worth to them the money In the second place , of ^ 6 , 175 held by Mr O'Connor in EscnequerVdls , £ 2 , 673 UeSd appeal * to be the Propert y ; of the Company . Ths Company has further about £ a 00 in smallI remittances ; ^ £ > -5 ISs in hand attbeGloUcest » r Bank ¦ and £ 18 ISs 2 d at the London Joint Stork Bnnk . Xow the Company ' s land and stock , « t » large valuation , would not at this moment bring £ -O , » Oo in the market ; tee utmost value ofiw assets tsere . ore , « £ «* 351 Es lid . Upon tbis sum there are the followingliabilities . Sum required to complete the purchaseaonej of 503 acre ! , £ i 3 , 5 J 5 ; mortgage oh V 97 acres , S * n ? O- mortgage on 25 i acres , £ 5 . 8 uO ; two life an-™ w « m , , 3 icr « . £ 19 j : cost of completing purchase lana
of the 5 c . O acre « , tfsso . The liabilities of tbe are ^ 5 ,-85 , and bj so maeh the value of the a « ets to the parsers n . » t be reduced . The Company has in point of fact only ^ 39 , 266 8 s lid worth of property . _ Out of this it owes in principal and interest , £ s > , 833 10 » 2 d to the Land 1 ' aS ^ SS the whole assets of the Company are Ualle for the pavment of the £ \ 6 , w oof deposits in the Bank . LcS'th * Company possess prorert ^ rtt to i » T £ 32 , 413 i 8 s 9 d , Mid this property is liable for any SFS'Ssff ¥ - S 5 S ? j * 222 7 s 2 d Ofeitra contributions towarcs expenses oj ff a ' naeement ! And the propsrtj is so invested , that had Mr 0 cS died , suddenly any tte « f W or two , his personal creditors mj ht have seized the
\ 4 m ngthat Mr O'Connor deceived himself at the OUtseTby his own estimates and calculations , this is not Sent to exonerate him from a large amount of cnl-Sbiutv f . r leading so many poor men into such a wretcnedlV bad bariin . Common hon&st ? reauired tint ^ e co ^ ench ^ operations he should hare taken the ™ n i ons of experiiBced practical agriculturists and skilfS actuaries " ^ the feasibility of his scheme ; and had he LeT&e * would have told kirn tot nothing could come o * it but what has come of it . He has snown cul-SSe ^ JtaeU to suv the least , in vesting the money ox She DO ^ upon a de-perate hazard-in inducing men with guX ° ^ flatterinipromires , to quit their employment onTdespefate chance of bettering their cond . tion . Mr nSmoreoTer , has ^ rofitted by . the game he has Bills tor
>« Jn rfavin " He holds txchequer me money n « £ S § tohS ' repaid out on account of the Company over » nd above what he received . His printing esUbhshment £ hud fobs to the value ef upwards of fil . -On . f « m the u ^> iiuu j newspaper and its profits ^ SSSSSSbS bl shed and puffed in the most reckless manner , and SShwSs oTito be a gross delusion . He is m the Sact TJOSition Of the eapirie who makes money by puff" gaud veXg a medicine , of whiel ^ e cannot even say irith confidence that "if it does no good , it can do no ^ TiTimpasctbleto read the part which Mr O'Connor took in the proceedings of the Committee of Inquiry , al . ^ SEk witness and examiner , without suspecting
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SfSfeS ^ ^ fi SVj « the brief and lenient statements that the Fn *«< Uj Societies ' Acts -wUl not include toe National Land Complny- Lt His " not consistent with the general pnn ffinpon which the Friendly Societies are founded f that it i =, " as at present constituted , an illegal scheme , and will not fulfil the expectations held out by tne tae £ tors to thK . hireholdc-rs f and that the parties « he « H _ allowed to win ! up the concern , end relieve theD 3- ™ from ten-jliie » To these resolutions is added a fpec . aj pleading one . aslonpasall the rest put together , in ixcnlp -tion or laudation of Mr Feargus O Connor . reminds of nothing so
Mr O'D . nnor ' s land project us much .. that pr .-j . et of Hr O'Connor '* for obtauung CBivers . JS-ffi 4 e . wMch ended im the burning of the buU ring at Birmiucham . In both cases the operations were so conducted that all the henour and glory , and whatever advantage accrued , fell to the share of Mr O'Connor . And in both cases Mr O'Connor tOOi . & pecial care , as soon as it became apparent tnat tue bubble was about to bunt , to back out o » the concern with the le :. » t possible amount of sunenng to himself , and as littlS loss of reputation . that might interfere with his setting up in business agaiD , that was practieabJe in the circumstances . Now , Fonblanque , I charge you upon fifteen counts in this indictment , drawn by ymirselj , of wilful and corrupt perjury , and you snail have them seriatim ' Sa . l _ Tan hundred and thirty have been located .
Now , FonWanque , you knew that was a lie ; because : if you had read the evidence , you would have found that two hundred and fifty houses—including school-houses—had been erected , and that the carpenters' work and the ioiners' work for six others was completed , the timber naid « for , the slates paid for , the ironmongery paid for , and all materials paid for . No . 2-On tLe most favourable calculation the whole of tie subscrib- rs cannot possibly 02 located in less time tLan a period iutc-mediate between 151 ) and 2 : 5 ytars .
Why , Fonblanque , you beat both Grey and Finlayson in the magic ait of dissolving : in * 1 eleast favourable view—that is , if those who fxpect benefit had paid up their shares in full —I would , wjthput any additienal cmtrihu-
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tions , or without the Bank , locate them all in ten years . No . 3—The estimated produce appears from the evidence of a practical agriculturist to be in excess of what can possibly be obtained by at least ono-half . Why . you funny fellow , would you know a cucumbar from a hand-saw ? And what do you call a practical agriculturist ? A Poor Law Commissioner , that starved 103 of his sheep , and all his cattle to death ; reduced his horses to such a state that they could not woik ; fed his p igs upon sawdust till they died ; allowed his land to be covered with couch knee high ; said that the most industrious labourer in England could not live upon
the best three acres of land in England , without paying rent , rates , or taxes ; that the best acre of land in England would not produce more than six tons of potatoes , or three quarters of wheat ; that the best cow would not produce more than a gallon of milk a day ; that it would take the produce of ten gallons to make a pound of butter ; and , to cap the climax , that he saw twenty-eight cottages , and estimated the value of the crops upon twentyeight allotments , through a stupendous hill ; and that the average number of agricultural labourers employed in England , was two to the 100 acres . Now , noodle , what do you think of your doodle ?
jj o , 4—But the Bank has only £ 16 , 006 in deposit , and its only apparent capital is t ' na property of tue Land Company . Why , one Michael Cassio , the arithmetician , was a fool to Jyou . ; Do not you think 16 , 000 sovereigns is very good security for 16 , 0001 without the ^ collateral security of land and houses ? Xo . 5—Of this Bum , £ S 50 accrued'from the profit on the resale or a purchased farm , aa irregular and accidental gain , a windfall .
You , magician , why do you dissolve 500 Z- ? don ' t you ^ know that I made 1 , 350 / ., and not 850 / ., profit of Carpender ' s Farm , and gave it all to the Company ? And when did you hear of any other Company having accidental gains and windfalls placed to their credit ? No . 6—And j 46 , 391 Ps . 2 d . as a loan from the Land Bank ; i . e . from the Company to the Company out of the monies of its depositors .
Now , you hired prostitute , you distorter of facts , if you have read the evidence from which 5 'ou profess to deduce your facts , you have learned that not one single fraction had been advanced from the Bank to the LandCompany , nor has there yet . Now , what do you say to that ? A pretty commissiener of bankrupts you would make ? You don ' t know how to investigate accounts ; and if you did , you don ' t know how to tell the truth about
them . Ko . 7—In the first place 1 , 618 acres of land , for which £ 36 , 672 ol purchase money has been paid , and in bringing which into condition , in stocking and in setting the occupants at work upon them , £ 90 , 33116 s . 5 d . have been expended . Now , how could you , in this dull season , excite me to such laughter . So , here you say that out of 90 , 000 / . paid up , I have expended 36 . 000 Z . for land , and 90 , 000 / . upon the erection of buildings ; although I understand your n ^ aning from your mumping , yet whoever reads the sentence must think it lucky that your brother , and not you , is the commissioner of bankrupts , as you make it appear that out of 90 , 000 / ., I have paid 126 , 000 / .
No . 8—Now the Company ' s land and stock at a large valuation , would not at this moment bring £ 5 ' ) , Ojo in the market . Now , Ponblaaque , I have you on the hip . I will dissolve the legal expense of purchasing the land , and I will take your calculation , and I will show you how the Company stands , and what you value improvements and buildings at . I have in stock , farming implements , money not belonging to the Bank , plots of meadow
which 1 put down at the price I have refused , pollards which I havejput down at the price I was charged for them—value 10 , 000 / . Now , deduct 2 , > 00 Z . from the prime cost of land against the amount which the sale of meadow land is to cover , and you have paid for land 34 , 000 Cash , stock , implements , plots of meadow land to sell , portable buildings 10 , 000 Making . . . £ 44 , 000 Now , Fonblanque , for your 16 , 000 / . to make up the difference between that , and 60 , 000 ? . at which you estimate the property of the Company , f have built 245 cottages , and paid for all the materials for six others . I have built four splendid school houses . 1 have paid for the timber and the joiners' work upon ninety more cottages . I have paid for the building of twelve of those cottages . I have drained nearly 200 acres of land at Bromsgrove , four feet deep , in the best style , and with the best tiles . I have
breast ploughed eighty acres of land at Bromsgrove ; have levelled all the fences , and made three miles of road already . But perhaps you will tell me that draining land upon the best principle , detracts from its value ; bat , however , if we putdown thetimber ' paidfor . the joiners' work paid for , the twelve houses built at Bromsgrove , the eighty acres pared and burned , the 200 acres drained , the fences levelled , and roads made , as fifty houses—I am under the mark—that , then , weuld leave 300 houses built and four school houses , which you put down at 16 . 000 Z . Now , Fonblanque , I
wiJl throw you in the four school houses—and , God knows , it would be of great service if you would go to school to O'Brien at Lowbands for a quarter , than whom there is not a more respectable man , or one better fitted for his situation in England . However , I give you the four school houses , and what do we find ? Why , that you estimate 300 cottages , the labour upon 1 , 100 acres of land , thirteen miles of road , with pumps in every back kitchen except Herrings - gate , gates , paths , and thousands of tons of the best manure , at 53 / . a cottage , with the other work performed . But I have not done with vou vet—that is 23 / . for a four acre cottage , / ___ iti rtsi T « * "l . 30 / 10
for the occupant gets 30 / . aid money ; . s . for a three-sere cottage , for the occupant gets 22 ? . 10 s . for aid money ; and 38 / . for a two acre | cottage , for the occupant gets 15 / . as aid money . Now , you accountant , you actuary , you master builder , you agriculturist , and well-paid p laceman , you enlightener of the public mind , what do you say for yourself ? Don ' t you live in a cloud , and if you have any grace about you , tell your readers next week , that the oppressive state of the weather so mystified your ideas , that you regret the errors into which you fell . Now you know that your friend Revans said that seven percent , upon the outlay was afairrenttocharge
for a house . No . 9-The Company has in point of fact only £ o ° i 6 S 8 s . lid . worth of property . Out of this it owes , in principal and interest , £ 6 , 853 is . 2 d . to the Land Bank - and the whole assets of the Company are liable for the pavmentof the £ 16 , 000 of depesits in the Bank . I ) l ftl'tO the Company possesses property worth , to it , short comings of the Bank in the repayment of £ 16 , 408 . Thisis aU th at the subscribers have got to f-how in return for £ 9 > n ? is- Id- of subscriptions , and £ 1 , 222 7 s . id . of extra contributions towards expenses tt managemeet !
Whv y ° incomprehensible ass , Finlayson with his magnifying glasses could not see th-oueh this mist . Just see what you do-you first reduce the value of property from 90 , 000 ? . to 60 000 / . ; then if I purchase 28 , 000 / . more , vou reduce the 60 , 000 / . to 32 , 000 / ., so that if I parchsse 35 , 000 / . worth more , you will make us 3 000 / . worse than bankrupts , bo that ,
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Fonblanque , in point of fact , every fresh estate purchased diminishes the value of the former property , by . the amount given for the new purchase . Out upon you , you snivelling tool , you are unfit for a ; vCommissioner of anything ; you don ' t know B from a bull ' s foot , and if you saw one of my leading drains , you would think you were in the Atlantic Ocean . JJ » . 10—And the property is so invested that had Mr O Connor died suddenly any time within the last year or two , his personal creditors might have seized the whole
Now , Fonblanque , you profess to be a lawyer , and you knew that that was a lie , a palpable lie , when you wrote it , because you knew , if you read the evidence , that I had made my will , leaving the whole property to two honourable gentlemen as trustees , in trust for the shareholders ; and you also knew that I had no personal creditors , for if I had , the Government , of which you are the tool , would have soon hounded : them upon me .
No . 11—Mr O'Connor , moreover , has profited "by the game he has been playing . He holds Exchequer Bills for the money he is said to have paid out on account of the Company over and above what he received . His printing establishment has had jobs to the value of upwards « f £ 1 , 000 from the Company . The sale of his nowopaper and its profits have been increased by being made the channel of communication to the subscribers . He has in every way benefited by the management of a concern which he established and puffed ia a most reckless manner and which turns out to be a gross delusion .
Now , Mr Commissioner , I have you fast in the noose , and from your own words I will prove you to be the only person who has benefitted by the Land Company and by the Chartist agitation . First , —Just a word about the Exchequer Bills . I hold no Exchequer Bills except what belong to the depositors in the Bank , and what would you flpve said if it had been discovered , that there had been no such available security to meet the demands of depositors ? but now to the question of profit .
You charge me with making profit of the printing establishment of the " Star . " In the first place let me tell you that I have ' no more to do with that printing establishment than I have to do with the printing establishment of the Times newspaper ; but what ^ will the reader say when he hears that 50 , 000 of the Rules of the National Land Company were PRINTED at YOUR OFFICE ; that the whole of " TOM PAINE'S WORKS , " as condensed by the Chartist Executive , were printed at
YOUR OFFICE ; THAT MANY NUMB . ERS OF THE ' LABOURER' WERE PRINTED AT YOUR OFFICE ; what will be said when they learn that I have no more to do with the profits of the Rules than I have to do with the profits of the Examiner ; that I shall one day be probably called upon to make up the loss consequent upon the publication of Paine ' s Works , to which I was opposed in the outset , while you have made the PROFIT ; and what will the reader say , when
he understands that the " LABOURER'' has been a LOSS TO ME and a PROFIT TO YOU . But as to the profits of the " Star , " of course you , generous soul , you give the profits of the Examiner to the poor , as I do the profits of the "Star / ' and , of course , you have given your whole time gratuitously to the service of the distressed , and you have become a poorer instead of a richer man by your connexion with [ the Examiner and the Government !
lou vile sycophant , I never had a printing establishment ; the " Star " has rather lost than gained by the establishment of the Land Company , and whatever its circulation has been , you have never seen that paper puffed like oth « r papers ; and if I have puffed the Land Company , unlike other puffers , the effect of every puff has been to puff something out of my pocket , to increase my labours , and add to my responsibility ; and will you pay me my 3 , 400 / ., or will you return the profit you have made in part payment , and will you pay me my expenses out of pocket for three years and a half , consequent upon the establishment and carrying out of the Land Company ?
No . 1?—It is impossible to read the part which Mr O'Connor took in the proceedings of the Committee of Inquiry , alternately as witness and examiner , without suspecting that he was fully aware of the nature and prospects of the scheme when he moved for the Committee . I really pity the mercenary who is obliged to put such falsehoods upon record , to gain a livelihood . Did not you know , you prostitute , that it was Sir George Grey and Sir Benjamin Hall that concocted the committee ? And do you think that if anything had appeared even
doubtful , as regards the expenditure of the funds , or suspicious as to the management of the affairs of the Company , ' that that committee , strongly prejudiced against me by the Press , and public rumour , would have withheld its censure and condemnation , if the slightest cause for suspicion had been adduced ? Ns , you fool , it was a committee of gentlemen , who were well pleased to have it in their power to exonerate a gentleman from vile calumnies , which you and your tribe had endeavoured to heap upon him .
No . 18—He seeks less to throw light on the nature and tendency of the scheme , than to keep its deff cts in vagueness and obscurity . He directs attention from the main question to irrevlevant cons dtrations . Why , j ou slave , do you' attribute crimes to me which are justly chargeable upon your coadjutor , the chairman ? My desire was to develope the Plan , to elicit facts from the most competent witnesses . His aim and object was to suppress the truth , to falsify the scheme , and to envelope the whole project in mystery , so as to render ought , save vague conclusion , impossible . Are you not aware that it took him seven days to draw up a report which was
unanimously rejected ? And are you not aware that I submitted myself to examination ?—that I brought witnesses over 100 miles at my own expense , who were the best qualified to give evidence , but all of whom were rejected by the impartial chairman ?—are you not aware that it was with great difficulty that I could obtain permission to ask three questions of Mr Sullivan , a member of the committee , and who had visited the Estates ; and that , at the suggestion of the chairman , the committee declined examining Lord Ingestre and Mr Sliarman Crawford , two practical agriculturists , both on the committee , and both of whom had minutely examined Sniff ' s End and Lowbands , two of
the Estates . jf ( jt 14 And to the shame of the Committee be it said , its report looks as if it had lent itself to this game . To the honour of the committee it would not lend itself to the game which you and your masters have been playing ; and , as I assure you that I have not yet done with the subject of the committee , I shall be able to show up some Free Trade Members of Parliament , in connexion with this Land Company , in such a light as would render them unfit Members of the House of Commons , if the conduct of Members of that House was to be measured by any rule of honour .
No . 14 .-It is apparent , from the ^ counts ° f the Sobthesh Star , and from the advances made out oftDe Sot the Land Company to defray the expenses o ! members to the Chartist Convention , that the Newspapel , SeLand Company , the Bank , and the Chartist orgMUSat on . are all of them parts of Mr O'Connor ' s stock-in-fr ade . Toeether , they constitute the business by which he nas for some years maintained himself . He makes the one Sto into the other . That by this means he has madehis ewspaper payhim £ 4 , 000 to £ 5 , 000 p ^ r annum IB ad < mUte P d ; P bnt wl . at any other parties f except lnsimmedint * aeents ) have gamed , is not so obviouB we are S ous to know how Jong tbe gullibility of Mr O'Connor ' s followers and believers will enable him to carry on 80 thriving a trade .
Yes you prostitute . it is apparent from the accounts ef the "Nortfxrn Star , " but from no other accounts , that Mr O'Connor hag sus-
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tained the political movement and Whig victims at his own expense—but it Isnot apparent from the accounts of the Land Company , that one farthing , or one fraction of a fartb ing , has been abstracted for any political purpose ; and it is apparent that Albany Fonblanque , of all the agents of the Land Company , has made the largest profit , while , as tfie political agent of the Chartists , he has been the only gainer . It is apparent that when Mr O'Connor established the " Northern Star , " he was a richer man than he is now . It is apparent that he has never accepted wages from the
people ; that he has never travelled a mile at their expense ; that he has refused munificent offers of mansions , land , and money , from the members of the Land Company ; it is apparent that he has charged not a fraction for his expenses in connexion with that Company ; it is apparent that that Company owes hi ' m 3 , 400 / . ; it is apparent , from the sworn testimony of competent witnesses , examined at the Lancaster trials in 1843 , that , during the whole period of Mr O'Connor's incarceration in York Castle , he was paying money out of his own p ' ttcfet to support the " Northern Star ; " it ia
apparent that , at one period , tbe " Northern Star" was making a profit of 13 , 000 * . a-year , and that , at the same period , Mr O'Connor was maintaining victims , paying lecturers , and sustaining thejwhole Chartist cause , out of his own purse . But is it apparent , that while other newspaper proprietors make [ merchandise and profit of murders , rapes , assassinations , debauchery , and proflicacy , they give a fraction , thus eked out of obscenity and depravity , to any purpose , save the gratification of their own avarice , cupidity , am * lust ? Itishall be apparent that Mr O'Connor would
submit to any of the most harrowing privations rather than allow you or your masters to stop him in his onward coarse of man ' s regeneration . It is apparent that , while you are endeavouring , by falsehood , misrepresentatioa , and slander , to depreciate the value of poor men ' a property , that Mr O'Connor ' s labour is daily giving increased value to it . It is apparent that he has passed through a fiery ordeal , such as the greatest rogue , belonging to any political faction , would not be subjected to . Mark the gradation , hypocrite : i \\ Registrar , a
Government Official , a Barrister , extensively employed by the Government , the Certifying Barrister of the Government , a Poar Law Commissioner of the Government , an Accountant of the Government , an Actuary of the Government , an Official ] of the Government , as Chairman of the Committee—and , after the evidence of those individuals , selected by an Official of the Government , a verdict , a unanimous verdict , not of exculpation or innocence of the charges preferred against him , but a ^ declaration of good faith and honourable management of the affairs of the Company .
And not satisfied with such a verdict , founded upon such evidence , now I am to be handed over to a parasite placeman . What a finish for a Whig defeat . I always said my accounts were examined , not as if I were an insolvent , but as if I were a fraudulent bankrupt ; and the base and contemptible menial to whom your | masters would now submit the case' for a rehearsal , proves that I had formed a correct estimate of Whig honour and what 13 called old English " fair play , " when one who can neither be purchased nor intimidated is to become the victim of Whig vengeance . I am , you slave , An honest man , and the poor man's bailiff , Feargus O'Connor .
Now , Economist , you shall have a leaf from the WHIG BOOK . From the estimates voted on Wednesday , we find the following prudent expenditure of the people ' s money . Now mark it well , write upon it—it is a famous subject for dissection , do not spare the knife . Administration , mind , merely ADMINISTRATION-of the Poor Law , 236 , 000 / . a year . Now that sum , at 250 / . for each location , would locate 944 families . For medical attendance 85 , 0002 . — that would locate 340 families . Auditors 13 , 000 / . a year . What will Cuffay say to that , Economist ? Schoolmasters and
schoolmistresses , 35 , 000 / . a year . Now these two sums would locate 190 families . Then comes the small item for postage , 5 , 684 / . a year ! Then the travelling and incidental expenses of eleven inspectors and their officials , 10 , 667 / . a year ; and those two small items put together would locate sixty-five families , making a total in the year of 1 , 539 families , each located in a good house upon three acres of ground , and with 22 / , 10 s . capital to be ^ in with ; or each year providing for 7 , 695 individuals . But I have not done with the item of
postage yet , for I find that the amount charged —allowing 313 working days in the yearamounts to 5 , 207 letters a day , and their being five secretaries , each secretary must have written 1 , 041 letters a day . Dear Fonny , what plaguy things those figures are ? Suppose I produced such an account for postage and travelling expenses what would tbe world have said ? I tell you , Mr Economist , that however you or your gang may attempt to suppress these facts , that they will be read by millions on Saturday night , and will have their due influence upon the sane mind of your dupes . F . O'C .
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TO F . O ' C NKOK , EEQ , U P . Honoured Sib , —At a meeting of the Salisbury branch of the National Land Company , ou August 7 ih , it was unanimously resolved : — ' Thai we highly approve of your conduct in abataining from attending public meetings for the present , and deeply feeling the Ios 9 that we , in common with the working olaases of this country , should sustain by your appre hecBim , hops you will continue to aot very cautiously while the libei ty of the subject is so much endangered .
I am , dear sir , youra truly , Thimas Soiton , Secretary . Salisbary , August 8 th , 1848 . Moncki h Devkrill . —At a members' meeting of this branch of the National Land Company , Mr Jonathan Brimbel in the chair , it was moved by Mr Stephen Fudgey , and second-sd by Mr Thomaa Garratt : — 'That the members of the Monckton Deverjll branch of the National Land Company do approve of Mr , " , 0 ' Connor ' s newpJan , as laid down in Jast Saturday s Star and agree to carry out the same . ' — Stephen Fddgkt , secretary .
Tribute to O'Connor . —To Ike MensbajBoftbe National Land Company . —It being the wish of ^ veral member * of the Torquay branch of the National Land Company to preaent the redeemer of the working cteses , F . O'Connor , fc ^ q ., M . P ., witheithera handsome snuff box , plate , or goblet , aa & token of their coBfidenca aed reBpeot for his honaity and increasing labours for the benefit ot the working commnnity of this country , we most earnestly appeal to the members of the aaid company throughout the
kingdom to do their duty , by contributing their mite in the good work . Up , then , brothers , and show the world we hare a feeling of gratitude for our noblehearted and sympathising father . The general receives honours for hie ingenuity h ahedding blood . h-it us heap honours on our general for the regeneration of our country . We would recommend tbe secretary of each locality to rencive subaoriptions , and fjrward the same , with the list of subscribers , to th * direotora . We propose leaving to their option which of the above articles shall be presented .
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Lbbds . —A meeting of the land members , will be held on Sunday next , at two a ' cloox in the aftcrnooD , in the Bszaar , Briggato , to take into consideration the propositions of Mr O'Connor , with respect to the Land Company . AsHTON-TODKR-LYMEt — The weekly meetiogB of this branch of the National Land Company will , in future , be held on Saturday eyeBiagB ) from fire to eight o ' clock , by erder of the committee .
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF SCOTLAND . ( From the North British Express . ) More arrests have taken place—the sanguinary desire of the law for vengeance , not justice , is thinning your ranks—Grant and Hamilton have been endungeoned . As to the fate of these victims , out hopes and fears are now at an end . Walker , Ranken , Cumming , and the other two , are charged with the crime of HIGH TREASON , a crime for which bail is never accepted . Thus , we have five prisoners already in jail , and more seizures are daily expected . The whole of these men have wives and families depending upon them for support .
These men , who are now in prison , have done their duty nobly ; they have been true to themselves . , to their cause , and to you . It now remains with the Chartists of Scotland to say what shall be their fate , and the fate of that cause for which they have have been dragged to prison . It is for you to say , whether these men are to be supported now , or made a sacrifice on the altar of cold indifferencewhether by their imprisonment , your cause shall receive an additional impetus , or be crushed and for ever—whether their endungeonment shall add fuel to the fire , and fan the flame which your patience and perseverance hag already kindled , or extinguish that hope of universal emancipation from the galling
fetters of despots and tyrants which you have so long and so fondly cherished—whether the wives and families of these men are to be maintained and comforted , or left unheeded and alone , to eat their bread , with bitter herbs , in sorrow ; and uncared for , except by those whose tender mercies are cruel indeed . No , Chartists , this shall not , must not be . We have great faith in your sense of justice , and we know that the spirit which actuated these men to brave the dangers of the law , and zisk their lives in yourcau 8 e , will induce you to give of your substance , and even to forego some of your usual comforts , for their defence , and the support of their wives and little ones .
In appealing thus to you , we would beg you to tenaehabfci that these men are to be tried for HIGH TREASON i at the same time keep before you the cruel despatism of the Whigs—the bloodthirsty conduct which has ever characterised their policytheir present evident determination to crush your cause , and keep you in submission by oppressive injustice—to make you think by their legislation and by the sword . Recollect that HIGH TREASON , was the crime for which Gerald , Muir , and Palmer were transported for life ; Baird and Hardie hanged , and th « n beheaded ; and Frost , Williams , and Jones , men whom you knew and respected , banished from among you , and branded as felons . ' Verily , the rich man ' s wealth is his strong city ; the destruction of the poor is their poverty . '
Organise then , Chartists , for a Victim Fund ! Your last meeting on the Calton Hill was a glorious display , and showed that you understood your duty . Your hearty cheer as you passed the prison , which rent the air like heaven's artillery , must have been a welcome echo in the lonely cells of your captive brethren . Your voice was all that could reach them—all the sympathy you were allowed to offer— and even this you are now denied . Come forward then , and cheer the firesides rendered desolate by their imprisonment—complete the good
work you have so nobly begun , and energetically pursued ; correspond with the friends of other towns—let each appoint its secretary and treasurer , and let all , according to their circumstances , contribute their raite—twopence , for eight weeks , from each ot the 25 , 000 that met on the Calton Hill a few ni g hts ago , would produce £ 500 , a sum which would go a far way to get proper counsel for the defence , and serve as a nucleus for a sustentation fund for their wives and children , and for contributing a share to which no one will sleep the less souisdly .
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ADDRESS OF THE CENTRAL DEFENCE COM . ( MITTEE TO THE CHARTISTS OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE . BRETHREN , —In June , 1848 , the English government caused the arrest of Mr Ernest Jones and others on a charge of riot , sedition , and illegal assembly . Being thus unexpectedly pounced on by the minions in power , means were immediatel y adopted to meet the emergency . The Executive Council and MetropolitaR Commissioners , on June 8 th , summoned , by the means of trusty messengers , the most active and leading Chartists and all the
local officials in the Metropolis ( about 100 ) together , to devise and adopt some means to defend and support the prisoners and their families . They decided on appointing a committee of eig ht persons far tha purpose . A committee was immediately elected and installed in office , and had their instructions from the assembled body , and in the following week their election was further confirmed by the Chartists of the Metropolis , through the means of a delegate meeting convened for that purpose . The persons chosen to that committee were Mr Allnutt City and Finsburyj Mr Pitt , Marylebone ; Mr Tapp , Finsbury ; Mr Side , Lambeth ; Mr Langar , S ¦ u ' th * wark ; Mr Lacy , Westminster ; . Mr Plume , Tower Hamlets ; Mr Hayman , Bethnal-green .
From the moment of their pppointment to the present , they have been unceasing in their endeavours to rescue the patriot victims from the meshes of the law . Nothing was left undone by the committee . Bail , although of an enormous amount , was procured . Evidence of an important description was collected—witnesses subpoenaed , and the first legal talent in the country secured . Prisoners supported and assisted in and out of prison ; their families attended and assisted with ten shillings per week , from the moment of the prisoner ' s arrest to the present time . And here , let it be known , that Mr O'Connor ' s private purse has been at the service of the committee , to enable them to keep the prisoners from oakum picking , and their families from penury , destitution , and wretchedness !
Men of London and of Britain , why so sullenly stand with folded arras , when duty demonstrates the reverse ? Arouse ye , and rescue our df arest , purest , and best friends , from those pangs of remorse which your apathy engenders . Suffer not those talented , sterh ' ng patriots , whom / action and class laws are persecuting—suffer not their honest hearts to be cankered by your ingratitude , or allow it to bring them to a premature end ; then save , ob , save them from a felon ' s grave ! Suffer not the advocates of your happinsss , the defenders of your
rights , and the promoters of your welfare , to have another pang added to their unjust sufferings by your ingratitude , injustice , or apathy . Let them know you haie made provision for their families , and snatched them from the horrors of a bastile , and it will draw a prayer of gratitude from their sorrowing hearts , and be the balm of consolation to their souls . Let funds come pouring in from every direction , for such a holy and noble cause . Show to the world that you know your duties , and are determined to perform them .
There are at this moment several district Victim Committees in the metropolis , who were appointed to collect monies for the defence of the prisoners , and their families ; but , up to this time , the monies collected have not been paid into the Central Committee , the Executive Council , or to Mr O'Connor . Such conduct demands inquiry on the part of those who contributed the funds . The committee has also reason to believe that the contributors to the several district victim collecting
committees paid' in their monies with the understanding that it was to be placed to one general fund , from which the prisoners and families should each receive an equal share of public sympathy . No greater act of injustice can by any possibility be perpetrated in society , than that of districts withholding monies , or applying it to any sectional purpose , con trary to the intention of the donors ; and a fund so sacred as a victim fund should not , under nny circumstances , be appropriated to other purposes .
The committee feel grieved to be forced publicly to direct attention to the above , but stern justice and necessity demands it ; but being a duty , however painful it is to the feelings , it must be obeyed . Experience has unfolded to man a lesson that one well organised body is more powerful and efficacious than ten equally numerical , if disorganised ; therefore , in future , for the sake of harmony and effect , let all the tributary streams flow into one great reservoir , and its beneficial effects will be speedily realised , and innumerable blessings will flow therefrom .
The committee beg to correct an error of their Bradford friends , who at a public meeting passed a resolution not in accordance with the truth . They desire also to inform them , that Mr O'Connor never intimated in his letter it was the Central Defence and Victim Committee who applied to him about the monies . The committee desire to inform all friends they have never directly or indirectly acted in the manner described , for Ihey know too well to bo mistaken , the purity of that gentleman ' s generous heart , to question for a moment any pecuniary
business in which that noble-minded patriot may be engaged . That some committee has communicated with Mr O'Connor on the subject , there can be no doubt , but justice compels the committee to correct the error which they believe crept unintentionally over the minds of the Bradford public meeting . Christopher Hayman , Sec . Committee room , Windsor Castle , 152 , High Holborn , August 10 , 1848 . P . S . —District committees , branches , divisions , or known friends , will be supplied with collecting books on application to the committee .
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Makchibier . —A special meeting of the membcra of the National Land Company will be held in the People ' s Institute , on Sunday morning , August 29 . Members are requested to attend in the People ' s Inailtute , on Monday and Tuesday evening , ! Augu « t 21 and 22 , when the suggestions of Mr O'Connor , aa they appeared in the Star ef the 12 th inat , will ba considered . Two of the directors will be present . Salfokd . —A 8 peoial meeting of tho members of thia branch of the National Land Company will be JieMoa Monday , August 21 , at Mr Lee ' B , Temperance Hetel , Inwell-street , at two o clock in the afternoon , to take the opinion of the membera . on the propositions of Mr O'Cennor .
0 u > nAM .--0 n Sunday next , August 20 ; h , a general meeting of the members cf tha Land Compiiuy will take place in the echool room , at two o ' oioek in tho afternoon , when the adjourned discussion on Mr O'Connor's nine propositions will be resumed . A good attendance is requested . Bath —The members of tlm branch of the Land Company are requested to attend a nieetug on Monday evening next , the 21 at inat ., at the meeting room of tho Land and Charter Association , N > . 5 , Gallowaj ' s-birildinep , to consider the propositions of Mr Feargus O'Connor , respecting tbe Lsncl Company . Bu » iness to commenoe at eijjht o ' clock . Marylbbonk . —Tbe Land members of j this branch willmeeton Sunday , the 20 th instant , at tbe Coach Painters' Arms , CiiouBSt * eet , New road .
Exbtbb — A meeting of the members of the National Land Company will be held on Saturday evening , at eight o ' clock , at J . W . Ilavil ' a , 91 , Forestreet , Exeter , for the purpose of r < . caving monies duo to the branch , and trnRsaoting other business , prior to tho visit or toe directors , and ' . tha reorganisation of the society . LBAMrKOioN . —A general meetm ? of the National Land Company will be held in their room , Parkstreet , on Monday , August 21 st , al eight o clock in the evening . Mr Wm . Byhnr ' s route for next waek : —Monday , 21 at , Old Shil ' lon ; Tuesday . 22 ad , West Auckland ; Wednesday , 23 rd , Byer ' o Green ; Thursday , 24 th , Counden ; Fridaj , 25 tb , Leasingthomo . Whitti . noton and Cat . —A special general meeting of the members of the Land Ct mpany will be heldon Wednesday , Aoguet 23 , to take into conssderation the propositions of Mr O'Connor , in ace rdance with the wish of the directors .
Shoredhch . —A general raee ' . ing of the Land members of this branch will be held on W ednesday evening next , to take into consideration Mr O'Connor's letter to the Land members , of August 12 . Chair takon at eight o'clock . Nbwcastlb upon-Tine . —Tho ciembors of this branch of the Land Compan y are requested to meet inM . Jude ' a Long-room , on Sunday , August 20 th at four o ' clock , for the discuaBion of tho proposals of Mr F . O'Connor for the alteration of the National Lftad ompattf ,
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AN ADDRESS TO THE PEOPLE OF SCOTLAND . Friends , Brothers , and Countrymen , —We , the Scottish Chartist delegates , assembled at Falkirk , on the 10 th and 11 th of August , feel it our duty to address you at this important crisis of our country ' s history . We believe it to be &n eternal truth that mankind is one common family , consequently all have the same common right . We believe the Almighty has implanted a principle of progress in the minds of all men ; which if rightly applied , will undoubtedly place the human family in that position Providence has assigned them to
occupy ; but when divested from its proper course by an individual or class , he or they are but blots upon the great balance sheet of moral rectitude . We also believe that duty binds us to call forth all the moral energies of the mind , upon which depend the development of the higher qualities of our nature , that must lead to the establishment of that system of harmony in human society , which is so wisely determined in external nature . We , as a country , at present rank high in the scale of civilisation and commercial enterprise . We stand second to none in wealth and knowledge ; we are far advanced in an acquaintanceship with the sciences and literature ; and we have for a series of years been inquiring into
the political institutions of our coantry , and have now arrived at the conclusion , that amidst all the wealth , knowledge , and boasted liberty of this empire , we are , in reality , the most poor , oppressed , and degraded people of any country in the civilised world . We are poor and starve , while we create a superabundance ; we are oppressed by overtoil , and degraded below the level of the brute , by a privileged class , who arrogate to themselves the power of enslaving the working millions ! denying them the right ofa voice in the making of laws which they are compelled to obey . Fellow-men , should such things be ? We opine not . Should a man be punished because he ie possessed of superior talent , virtue , moral courage , sufficiently strong to advocate the cause of his enslaved brethren ? No . We trust , then , your
answer will be—No ; and a response breathing the honest determination of Caledonia ' s children , that they will not look on indifferently , while their brethren are suffering from the blow of the despot , and allow their wives and families to eke out a miserable existence , but will speak with the voice of pounds , shillings , and pence , which brings consolation to the hearts of the oppressed and destitute . We leave every man of heart to make this case his own , and to act upon that splendid , but often neglected precept , ' Do unto others as ye would they should do unto you . ' We have established a Victim and Defence Fund in Edinburgh , where the Committee of Management reside ; and in order to shew you what may be done , we will just state that one penny each from 2 , 400 , 000 people , will actually raise the enormous sum of ten thousand pounds .
Remember , brethren , t ' jat money ig the sinews of war , and no sysrem whatever can work without it . Then do your duty . We are only part of the great whole ; and if you want the holy cause of right to triumph over might , justice over fraud and wrong , contribute generously and amply , and let us have no more cause to appeal to you on this head . Signed on behalf of the delegates , John Gilmour , Chairman .
David Smith , Secretary . I may take this opportunity of stating that bail will not be taken for either Messrs Burrel or Neilson ; their trial is to come on at the next assizes , about the 5 th or 6 th of next month . Mr Burrel intends to advocate his own cause , but Mr Neilson is not fit for that . We cannot see how they will find Mr Burrel guilty , if they have a particle of honesty about them . Yours , in the cause , David Smith . At Mr M'Master ' s , Tailor , Cathcart-street , Greenock ,
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"The hig h" & monkey climbi , Tho moie he iho * s h / . s —!"
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ToDMORDEH . —Mr James Leach of Manchester , will lecture in the Odd Fellows Hall , on Sunday , August 20 tb , at six o ' clook in the evening . Towbr HiiMLBia —The members of the District Committee , are summoned to attend next Tuesday evening , at oight o ' elook , on important business , at the Whittington and Cat , Church-street , iBetbnal Green ; Leigh Hot . —J . H . Shepherd will address a meeting , at the Lei gh Hoy , Churoh-Btreet , Mile End Old Town , on Sunday eyeningi » t eight o ' olofki
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XND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL ,
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V OL- _ XI . No 565- ~ " LONDON , SATURDAY . AU&jjST 1971848 . ~ n » ~ J ^ JaSS £ -,-n .
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NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . A deputation from the directors , conBiBting of Messrs Philip M'Grath and Thomas Clark , will attend meetings of branches at the following places , on the days undermentioned : —Monday and Tuesday , 21 jt and 22 ad , MANcnmBB ; Wodneaday , 23 rd , Abhtoh-ondkr Linb ; Thursday , 24 th , Stuckport ; Friday , 25 th , Oldham ; Monday , 28 Sh , Rochdale and Bacup , at Rochdale ; Tuesday , 29 tb , Bury , Heywood , and Ritcliffe Bridge , at Bury ; Wednesday , 3 < Hh , Bolton and Leigh , at Boltok ; Thursday , 31 st , WiRan , Hindlay , and Lamberhead Green , at Wigik ; Friday , September 1 st , Ciiorlkt . None but members of the Company can ba admitted to any of the meetings , nnd branch secretaries are requested to take such steps &s will . exolude all who are not members .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 19, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1484/page/1/
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