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THE NOBTHESN STAB, SA'JL'IJISDAY, FEBBPAStir H6, ¦ 1S5CV
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BOOK S PUBLISHED AND SOLDby J. "WATSON, 3, Queen's Head-passagei Paternoster-row.
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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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Just published ; 2 nd Edition for the Million , in . Bmo , 313 pages , closely printed , price 2 a ., bound in cloth : AMERICA COMPARED WITH ENG-1 AKD . The respective social effects of the American aud English systems of Government and Ie < nslation , and the Mission of Democracy . By R . yf . llnssEtb , of Cincinati , United States , councillor law . This work explains the Institutions and the Laws of the United States—shows the actual condition of jUl classes of the people , whether natives or emigrants , and contains an Abstract and Review of the principal English works on that country . This is an admirable lwok . —Weekly Dispatch . It contaius elaborate matter of practical value . — Spirit Of the Age . This is an admirably written and excellently well-timed toot—Tic Standard of Freedom .
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. CBEArEST SHlON ETEB rDBUSBED . Price Is . 6 d ., ¦ : A new and ehgant edition ^ with Steel Plate of the Author , of ' ¦ ¦ PAltiE'S POLITICAL WORKS . - ' Now Ready , a New Edition of MB . O'CONNOR ' S WORK ON SMALL FARMS Sold by J . Watson , Queen ' s Head Passage , Paternoster row , London ; A . Ileywood , Oldham-strcct , Manchester , : nd Love and Co ., 5 , Nelson-street , Glasgow . Aud bv all Booksellers in Tows and Country . IMPORTANT TO THE CHARTISTS OF SOUTH LANCASHIRE . . ¦ _ A SOUTH LANCASHIE DELEGATE XX MEETING will be held in the CHARTIST ASSOCIATION ROOM , STOC 1 CPORT , . back of . Waterloo-Inn , Waterloo-road , on Sunday morning , February 21 th , precisely at ten o ' clock , when the following part ofapro-(¦ Tamme of business will be submitted for their considera-Ut-To consider the validity of the objections to tho general and local rules of the Chartist Association , referret to by the Chartists of Stoc kport , in the Northern Stan of Jan . 19 th . and Feb . 9 th , 185 <> . 2 nd . —The propriety of raising a Local Lecturers plan . 3 rd . —To consider the best _ means of concentrating tha energy of Chartism in this division of Lancashire , giving an impetuous to the movement , and promoting the success of its olgeck- Delegates from the following places are particularly expected : —Hyde , Staleybridge , Ashton , Mottram , Oldham , Rochdale . Manchester , Burr , Bolton , Middleton Liverpool , Macclesfield , and other places . N . B . —All communications to be addressed to W . Benfold , No . 3 , Cooper-street , llillgate .
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THE GENERAL COMMITTEE OF THE FUND FOR THE WIDOWS OF SHARP AND WILLIAMS . THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE beg to give notice that the General Committee will meet at Asleiitos ' s Hotel , on Monday Evening , March 11 th , instead of March 4 th , as originally proposed . The Executive Committee likewise give notice that they propose to hold A TEA MEETING , ( To be followed by a Pcbmc Meetixg , ) On Wednesday , the 10 th of April , for the benefit of the Fund . The Committee have fixed upon the Tenth of Apkil—that being the second anniversary ' of the memorable day when the Chartists held their Grand Demonstration in spite of the tremendous endeavours inade by the Government to excite the middle-class ag . iinst the working-cluss , and suppress the legal , constitutional , and moral manifestation of the sentiments of the masses . The Executive Committee take leave to recommend their Chariist friends throughout the provinces to hold similar festivals in their respective localities , and for the benefit of the Fund . The Committee earnestly hope that this suggestion trill be acted upon , inasmuch as it will soon be necessary to close the subscription-books and appropriate the amount to its destined-purpose . V Farther particulars relative to the Metropolitan Tea Meeting above announced , will be given at an early day . Signed , on behalf of the Executive Committee , William DAvis , ! Chairman-
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PROCEEDINGS IX PARLIAMENT . A PUBLIC MEETING , ¦ £ * Convened bv the Provisional Committee of the NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION , will be held at the LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTE , JOHNSTREET . TOTTEXHAM-COUItT-UOAD , on TUESDAY EVENING NEXT , Febukakt 10 m , 1850 , for the purpose of Kevieiviiig the 1 ' j ; oceedi . ng 3 in Parliament during the past week . Feargus O'Connor , Esq .. M . P ., G . W . M . Reynolds , Esq ., G . Julian Hnrney , Philip U'Grath , William Dixon , Ambrose Tomlinson ( recently liberated from Iiis dungeon at Wal » cfield , ) and others are expected to address the mooting . Chair to be taken at eight o ' clock . ADMISSION FREE .
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RUPTURES PERMANENTLY AND EFFECTUALLY CURED WITHOUT A TRUSS !! A PUBLIC BLESSING !! DR . HENRY GUTHREY'S amazing success in the treatment of all varieties of Single and Double Ruptures , is without a parallel in the history of medicine . In every case , however bad or long standing , a cure is guaranteed . The rensedyis quite easy and perfectly painless in application , ' causing no incouve- ' nience or confinement whatever , and isequally applicable to both sexes , of whatever age . Sent ( post-free ) with full instructions , renderiiiij failure impossible , on receipt of six shillings by post-office-order , or cash , by Dr . Hevkv GcTiiKEr , 6 , Ampton-strc-et , Gray ' s-inn-r ' oad , London , lundreds of testimonials and trusses have been left behind by persons cured , as trophies of the success of this remedy , which Dr . GcranEr will willingly give to those who require to wear them after a trial of it . Post-office orders must fee made payable at the Grav ' s-inn-road Office . Dr . GtmmEv respecttully requests those persons writing to him to make inquiries relative to the treatment of ruptures , and to inclose two postage stamps to pre-pay his reply . Hours of consultation , daily from one till four o ' clock , ( the Sabbath excepted . ) Iu every case a pertect cure is guaranteed .
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GRAPHIOLOGICAL DELINEATION OF CHARACTER . ' See yourself as others see you . '—Hebee . MIS S GRAHAM continues with extraordinary success to delineate persons' characters from their handwriting , pointing out gifts , defects , talents , tastes , affections , &c , and many other things hitherto unsuspected . Persons desirous of knowing themselves must address a . letter stating sex and age , and enclosing thirteen Postage Stamps , to MISS ELLEN GKAnAM , 6 , Amptonstreet . Gray ' s-inn-road , London . The thousands of Testimonials iliss G . has received since she first commenced tho practice of GUAl'IIIOLOGY three years ago , establishes the accuracy of her system beyond all doubt . The following Testimonials appeared in the British Banner , No . 10 ( i , January I ) , 1 S 50 , page 31 , in an article on - Jiss Graham ' s skill in Graphiology : — ' There is , after all . something in the handwriting , on which people of a certain gcuius , ami people of a good deal of experience , may say things cm-ions andinteresfing . ' ' 'Ve have read Miss Graham ' s reply to several specimens of writing that have been sent to her for examination ; and we must , in justice , say they are singularly correct , and display an extraordinary amout of talent . We wish this gifted lad y every success in her novel profession , ' —Lady ' s newspaper . Every lady and gentleman are invited to send two Postage Stamps , and thrir address , to MISS GRAHAM . 0 . AMPTOX-STRBET , GltAY's-IXN-ROAD , LOXDO . V , and they wiU receive , post-free , a mass of most valuable and interesting matter connected with the Science of Graphiology , sufficient to convince tlie most sceptical of its truth and value . All letters must enclose a directed en velope .
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BExiUTIFUL HAM , WUISKEltS , &c . BALDNESS AND WEAK HAIlt CURED . H 1 HE EXTRAORDINARY SUCCESS i MISS EMILY DEAN'S CRINILENE has met with is a sufficient guarantee of its efficacy and superiority above all other preparations offered to the public for tlie Human Hair . It is pre-eminently successful hi nourishing , curling , and beautifying the hair , and preventing ^ reyness in every stage , by its absorption into the roots of the hair , it nourishes it in its embryo state , accelerates its growth , cleanses it from all scurf , < fcc , sustains it in maturity , and continues its luxuriance to the latest period of life . For the reprodaetiun of the hair in baldness from whatever cause , and tha production ofmoustadrios , whiskers , eyebrows , < tc , it stands unrivalled . It isnn elegantly scented , preparation , sufficient for three months' , will be sent , post free , on receipt of twenty-four postage stamps , by Miss DEAN , 106 , Great Russell-street , Bloomsbury-square , London .
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PA 1 SS IN THE BACK , GRAVEL , LUMBAGO , RHEUMATISM , STRICTURES , DEBILITY , < fcc . DR . DE ROOS' COMPOUND RENAL PILLS are the onlt certain cure for the above distressing complaints , as also all diseases of the kidneys and irinary organs generally , whether resulting from impralenee uv frtliwuiso , which , if noglected , so frequently eadin stone iu the bladder , and a lingering , agonising death ! t is an established fact that most cases of gout and Rheumatism occurring in middle age , are combined ' with diseased mine , how-necessary is it then , thatpersons so afflicted should at once attend to these , important matters . l ! y the salutary action , of these pills , on acidity of the stomach , they correct bile and indigestion , purify and promote the renal secretions , thereby preventing the formation of calculi , and establishing for life a healthy performance of the functions of all these organs . They have never been known to fail , and may be obtained through all Medicine Vendors . Price Is . ljd ,, 2 s . 0 d .. and 4 s . ( id . per box ., or will be seut free , with full instructions for use , on receipt ot the price in postage stamps , by . Dr . DE K 00 S . A considerable saving effected by purchasing the larger boxes .
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RUL'TURES EFFECTUALLY AND PERMANENTLY CURED WITHOUT A TRUSS !! DR . DE BOOS' amazing success in the treatment of every variety « f RUPTURE is ample proof of tlie unfailing efficacy of his remedy . Thousands in all parts of the world are availing themselves of his discovery , which must ere long entirely banish a complaint hitherto so prevalemt . All persons so afflicted should , without delay , write , or pay a . visit to Dr . DE ROOS , who may bo consulted daily from 10 till 1 ; and 4 till 8 . —( Sundays excepted . ) This remedy is perfectly painless , free from inconvenieuce or danger , applicable to male and female , of any age , and will be sent free , with full instructions , tsb ., &c ,, rendering failure impossible / on receipt of Gs . Gd . in cash , op by Post Office orders , payable at the Holbora office , A great number of Trusses have ieen left behind by persons cured , as trophies of ; the immense success of this remedy , which willbe readily given to . any one requirtait them after one trial of it . ' - ' contain two
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MR G . W . M . REYNOLDS' 8 POPULAR PUBLICATIONS . The following Works are published every SATURDAY MORNING , atMr . Reynolds ' s Establishment , 7 , Welling' ton-street North , Strand , and may he . procured of his Agents , and may bo procured ot all Dealers in Olieap Publications in Town and Country . I . REYNOLDS'S MISCELLANY of Romance , General Literature , Science , and Art . This periodical consists of sixteen largo quarto pages , beautifully printed , on good paper , and each number containing at least three , and sometimes more , beautiful wood engravings . ¦ . Its contents are varied , and therefore calculated to suit all classes of readers , and all tastes . Amongst the prominent features the following may be specified : — I . THE SLAVES OF ENGLAND .-No . 1 . "TUB NEEDLEWOMAN . " A Domestic Tale . ByGEor . CE W . M . Refolds . ( To he commenced next week . ) II . TUE MYSTERIES OP THE PEOPLE ; or The History of a Proletai Jan Family , from the Earliest Ages to the Present Day . Translated from the French of Eugene Sue . I 1 L THE DRUNKARD'S PROGRESS . A Tale for Teetotallers . IV . LIVES OF REMARKABLE WOMEN , and the Beauties of the Court of Charles II . V . THE HISTORY OF THE GIRONDISTS , From the French of Alphonse Lainariine , late Member of the Provisional Government . of Trance . The best and most exciting narrative of the First Revolution ever pub lished . In addition to these striking features , the Miscellany contains short Tales , Scientific Papers , Poetry , Useful Receipts , Valuable Information on an infinite variety of subjects , Moral Essays , and Copious Notices to Correspondents ( this information being gratuitously given to ever } applicant by pre-paid letter . ) VuDlished Weekly at One Penny , and in Monthly Sixpenny Parts . REYNOLDS'S POLITICAL INSTRUCTOR . -L This publication is established to advocate the political rights ot the masses in the most liberal sense of the term , and to inculcate , that sound political knowledge which will teach the proper use and worthy exerciso of those rights when once thoy shall have been obtained . For this purpose Mr . Reynolds has ensured the assistance of firstrate talent iu the several departments of the Instructok ; and he trusts that his own sentiments upon the leading topics of the day are too weft known to render it necessary to enter into elaborate details concerning tho spirit in which the publication is conducted . He may however observe that amongst the numerous features of value and interest characterising the Lnstkuctok , the following are the principal : 1 . A History « f England , popularly written . 2 . Biographical Sketches of Eminent Living Liberals . With portraits . 3 . Articles upon the various Trades and Branches of Industrv . . . ¦ ¦ : . 4 . Aristocratic Genealogies , Rapacity , Plunder , Pensions and Crimes . ' . 5 . Sketches of Ecclesiastical Abuses . G . Papers on Home Colonisation , Freehold Land Societies , and Emigration . 7 . Articles on Mechanics' Institutions , Benefit Societies , ifce . ¦ . ' . 8 . Exposures of the Scandalous Abuses and Inequalities of the Laws . 9 . Essays upon the Condition of the Working Classes . In addition to these features , the Instiiuctoh contains copious Reviews of Books , calculated to amuse and instruct the people generally ; and a vast amount of miscellaneous information upon the subjects coining within the scope of the periodical . . . Published weekly at One Penny ; and in monthly Fivepenny or Sixpenny parts . III . THE MYSTERIES OF THE COURT OF LONDON . ' This extraordinary work gives the fullest and most fearless exposure of tho Amours of the Family of George til ., and contaius the mo = t- startling revelations in connexion with the-profligate and voluptuous . career of George IV . It is illustrated with'the most beautiful specimens of wood engravings we have ever seen ; and the sentiments in those passages where the author indulges in politics , are those of stern and uncompromising republicanism . Thus , through the medium of one of the most interesting tales ever penned , is Mr . Reynolds disseminating his thoughts upon the political and social condition of tho British people . — Weekly Dispatch . V Published in Weekly Penny Numbers ; and Monthly Fircpenny or Sixpenny Parts . IV . rpi-IE DAYS OF HOGARTH ; A- OR , THE MYSTERIES OF OLD LONDON . Ti . is work is illustrated by faithful wood-cut representations of all Hogarth ' s best pictures , namely—The Rnkn's Progress , the Harlot ' s Progress , tho Marriage a hi Mode , Industry and Idleness , ( the Two Apprentices ) , the Last Stroke , the Strolling Actresses , Dressing in a Barn , the Stages of Cruelty , < ic ., &c . V Published in Weekly Penny Numbers , and Monthly Sixpenny Parts . DOMESTIC TALE BY MRS . REYNOLDS . p R E T N A G R E E Nj ALL FOR * LOVE . . BY SUSANNAH FR&KCES REYNOLDS . ( MRS . G . Vf . M . HEY . NOLDS . ) This work has been written with a high moral purpose , and will convey the most useful lesson through the medium of a Tale of deep and absorbing interest . Families where there are young marriageable ladies , will welcome this work as a great boon , and mothers will cheerfully place it in their daughters'hands . General readers will admire it for its never flagging interest , the multiplicity and variety of its incidents , and the scenes of deep pathos which it contains . V Published in Weekly Penny Numbers , and Monthly Sixpenny Parts .
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WEEKLY TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER . This day is published , iu a greatly enlarged and improved form , the WEEKLY TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER . Price Firepence ; or , Five Shillings and Fivepence per quarter . Divotcd to the most advanced principles of Democratic and Social Reformers . ALSO PUBLISHING , THE : MYSTERIES OF THE PEOPLE , i- 'J- the most extraordinary work of the day . Devoted to the interests of Democracy and Labour , by Eugene Sue . This work is issued in an' unabridged form . ' being the only English edition so published ; in Weekly Penny Numbers . Nos . 1 . to V . are now out ; No . VI . will be ready next Wednesday . Part I ., price Sixpence , is also ready .
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pOOPKB'S JOURNAL . \ J The purchasers of this Journal are respectfully in formed , that with No . 9 ( the first week in March ) will be GIVEN AWA-JT No . 1 . of " CAPTAIN COBLER ; on , the LINCOLNSHIRE INSURRECTION : " An Historical Romance of the Reign of Henry VIII . By Tiiomas Cooper , Author of " The Purgatory of Suicides . " The remaining numbers of the Romance will be issued at One Pennv , weekly , until it is complete .
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DR . M'DOUALL'S FAMILY . The M'Douall Committee beg to tender their thanks to Mr . Nonuan , Ventnor , hie of Wight , foi his contribution in aid of the distressed family of Dr . M'Douall , and . at the same time , to call the attention of all local secretaries to the suggestion iu last week's f Star '—viz ., -to assist ahe family of Dr . M'Douall , who , we are sorry to state , are in actual starvation . We find that the people professing the principles , and who liave cheered on the advocates of reform , are now comparatively comfortable and
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A Good Example . —Robert Arkwright , Esq ., of Sutton-hall , ' intimated to his tenantry / last week , that he wished them on no account to force the sales of any of their produce in order to meet their rents , and when they came to pay those rents to putfifteen per cent less than the | respective amounts in their pockets . The same , excellent landlord on some occasion lately gave considerable assistance to his tenantry in wintorTood for ¦ their cattle , and does much good to -all the : countryiarqund :-by constahtlf •;« mpfoying 'manyi . Jabourers ; ba ^ improvements and other works ,-which require a number of haHds'COnstantly engaged oa them . -
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TnB West-End Boot and Shoemakem . — On tha 26 th ; of December laat , a subscription was got up and supported by the Boot and Shoemakers of the West-End of London ,-for two pieces of prize work ( a prize boot and prize brogue }; the proceeds to be devoted to the wives and families of the imprisoned Chartists . ' . The distribution took place at the Two Chairman , Wardour-street , boho . The amount realised was £ G lus . 6 d ., and expended ' in the following manner : —December 27 th , for Victim Fund , £ ' i ; January 1 st , ditto , £ 2 ; January 7 th , ditto , jgl ; To William Pool , Gs . ; Thomas Harburt , Gs . ; Thos . Irons , 10 s . ; Mrs . Crowe , 7 s . ; Four Hundred Tickets , 6 s . ; Fire Sheets of Paper , 5 d . ; Expended , £ 6 15 s . 5 d . ; ' Balance in hand , Id . —The £ 5 for the Victim Fund has ali'iadv been acknowledged in the Star . —On behalf ot tha Committee . Secretary , Thomas Dickens : Treasurer ,
Cliarles Jlarris , 81 , lVardour-street . Charles Ernest , York . —Send your full address to Mr . Ilarney . Malmsbury , —M .. W . Z . Bowley will find a letter addressed to him o , t tbo Post officG , Malmsbury . MBRTiiYtt Ttdvil . —Mr , J , Jones ( who fonvardednn account of the Paine festival } will find a letter addressed to him at the Post-office , Merthjr Tydvil . Loughbokough . —Mr . John Harrop will find a letter addressed to him at the Post-office , Loughborough . J . Vf . S ., Weymouth . —Many thanks . Send the lines of poetry . . tour . —IT . Coleman , bricklayer ' s labourer , will . find a letter addressed to him at th » Post-office , Derby . J . C , I ' arkhcad ; and Y . II ., Kentish Town . The lines will not do . Mai / ton Cand Memdehs . —Your letter has been forwarded
to Mr . 0 Connor . Afr . GiiEEiV , Gainsborough . —Your present quarter expires on the 23 rd iust . Mr . NontE , Ilartlepool . —You should have remitted is . along with your advertisement . J . SwitET , Nottingham , acknowledges the receipt of the following sums , sent herewith : — For Macnamaiu's Action . —From Ilucknall Torkard , 8 s . W . Lindsay , Aberdeen . —Address a line to Messrs Sutherland and Knox , publishers , successors to Mr . Tait , Edinburgh . J . a . Massey , longright , suggests that if it is thought desirable that a national petition for the Charter be got up , that every person should contribute one penny before signing , which will not only test their sincerity , but guard against fraudulent signatures , and aid in furthering the object of the petition . The Monument of Williams and Sharp . —We are requested to state that persons holding subscription cards for the above object are requested to return the same at their earliest convenience . Subscriptions may be sent to Mr . Rider ; to the Land Office , per Mr . Boonhani ; or to 02 , Golden-lane .
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TIMID LA . W MAKERS AND POWERFUL LAW BREAKERS . The struggle for a Ten Hours Bill has to be renewed . After years of agitation , and large sacrifices of time , money , and health , on the part of its advocates , the Legislaturesthree years ago , at length recognised the justice of the priiicipio they contended for , arid embodied it in an Act of Parliament . Never was there a law more fullv or maturely discussed ,
or more deliberately decided upon . Its objects were distinctly avowed , and its opponents argued the qaestion uponitsmerits . There was no deception , reserve , or equivocation on the matter . It was well understood by all parties , both in and out of Parliament , that the simple question for decision was , whether women and children under a given age , should be restricted to ten hours labour a day—counting from the time the mill commenced working until they left off work .
Any one who will take the trouble to refer to the debates of the time , will find that this is the case . There cannot , therefore , be the slightest ground for saying that there was any misunderstanding as to the object and intention of the law . No sooner , however , was it put in force , than the millowners—who had resisted its enactment with all the strength of their party , while under discussion—determined to evade its provisions by means of a technical quibble .
Remembering tho old saying , that there neyer was an Act of Parliament yet passed , through which a coach and six might not he driven by those who had sufficient wealth and influence , they sot to work to find , or make , the loop-holes which the legal verbiage always offers to the rich law breakers . They scon discovered one . The act did not . specifically and definitely express the intention of its framers , lhat the day of ten hours was to be computed continuously from the hour that the women and children commenced till the hour of
their dropping work at night . The millowners , therefore , introduced what is now known as the . " shift system , " by means of which , instead of ten hours , they can command the attendance of every woman and child they employ for fifteen hours out of the twentyfour . This is effected by means of relays . After the first set of women and children have been a certain number of hours at work , they
are succeeded by a second , for a limited number of hours , ( say two or three ) ; the first set of hands are then again called into work , and again relieved , and none of them are in actual work for more than ten hours daily . The millowners say , that this is a compliance with the Act , though , including the intervals they are in waiting to relieve the relays , the workpeople are really in attendance at the mill fifteen hours .
The Government Inspectors , andthefactory operatives , alike opposed this flagrant violation of the spirit and meaning of the Act ; but the magistrates in the manufacturing districtseither factory masters themselves , « r connected with the class by relationship and sympathy— -decided in favour of this new interpretation of a Ten (!) Hours Act , and refused to levy the penalties laid down in the law for its infraction . The Government was
appealed to , and gave an opinion in favour of the operatives ; but with the usual temporizing and equivocating policy of Whigs , shrunk from taking the decided course of either coinpelljug obedience to their own law , or , if that was impossible , from the defective construction of a particular clause ) of passing a short declaratory Act , distinctly and authoritatively declaring the precise meaning and intent of the Legislature on the subject .
So the matter stood until , by agreement , a single case was referred to the Court of Exchequer , in order that the question of law , so far as it depended upon the verbal construction of the Act , might be determined by the Judges of the land . On Friday last Mr . Baron Pauke delivered the judgment of the Court , and it was adverse to the operatives . The Ten-Hours Act is a nullity . The millowners may carry on their " shift system , ' and keep every woman and child they employ at their beck , from halfpast five in the morning until half-past eight at night : or , indeed , keep thejr factories going twenty-two hours of the twentyfour , if they please . Mammon and Competition are triumphant !
With respect to this judgment , we think that a littlo more common sense , and less of critical acumen and philological knowledge ,, would have added to its weight with tho community atlarge , and to tho respect with which we are accustomed to look up to the Judicial Bench . It may be true , as Baron Parke said , that " the Court could not act upon a conjecture , however strong , that the Legislature intended to prohibit the ' shift system ; ' " but we contend , that the Court was not reduced to the alternative of acting upon " a conjecture . " If tho Statute had been two or three hundred years old—if all the documents which could have thrown light upon the intentions of its framers had perished , and the judges had
been left to construe the Act strictly , according to its literal construction , in the absence of all correlative information , then we could have understood this excessive judicial delicacy . But it is only two or three years since the Act was passed . The debates in Parliament upon the subject have not yet faded from recollection , and if his Lordship had any doubt as to the intentions of the Legislature , Hansard would have convinced him in ten minutes , even if his power of doubting is ten times as strong as that of . the late Lord Elboh of blessed memory . It appears to ug ; thai in disregarding the collateral and- corroborative evidence te . bedrawn from fliis source iu favour of the opposite view , jbhe Judge "lias " " strained at a gnat aad swallowed a , -camel , " --It may
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be all very well to' tell us , ; that " the Act was a penal one , and as such ought to be stnctly construed , for a man was not to be punished except upon : plain enactments ; " and it may also be speciousl y fair for legal puriutB to exhibit such hypercritical refinement in construing sentences ; but neither Judges nor purists can ignore the cardinal fact , that the Legislature hadan intention when it enacted that law—that the penalties were intended to be T ^ aii wa ^ ^ l fr , ^ T » fl ^ at"the Actwas
imposed upon those who violated the law , or evaded Us enactments—and , therefore , that in administering that or any other Statute , reference must in all cases be had to the object for which it was passed . Once give up this animating and guiding principle , and darkness would fall upon the whole of our Statutes . The soul would be taken out of our junsprudence ; it would become a mere cuput mortuum —a mass of dead words , from which the living
spirit had departed . . . Such judgments are the severest blows that can be dealt against theexisting system . They tend to spread wideiv and to sink more deeply in the minds of the masses , the impression that , in this countiy , there is no justice nor protection for the industrious classes , as against the wealthy and powerful part of the community . Even when—by years of toil
and suffering , in the face of gigantic obstacles they have at last succeeded in extorting from a reluctant Legislature a recognition of their claims , and a consequent protection against the inroads of all-grasping capital ; they are robbed of the substantial fruits of their exertions , by the wealth of their masters , the cunning of lawyers , and the super-refinement and delicacy of judges , when poverty has to Avithstand the power of wealth .
What course will Lord Ashley and the Short Time Committees adopt in this emergency ? ' If thoy trust to the present Government to act up to their former professions , the result will ; be , that this decision of Baron Parke will render the Act a dead letter . It will be remembered that Sir Gr . Grey , the Ciunceiaor of the Exchequer , and several members of the Government , were amongst the most earnest opponents of the measure . Mr . Macaulay , its most eloquent and philosophical supporter , is now neither in the Cabinet nor in Parliament . The Peclites , to a man , arc
opposed to any regulations which , as they say , interfere between the employer and employed ; and , of course , the Factory interest entertain as deep-rooted and active an hostility as ever , to any measure which may tend to curtail their power of rapidly growing rich . The Premikr consistently and firmly upheld the Bill when it Avas last before Parliament ; but , dependent as he now is upon the support of the Peelites and the " Manchester School , " and , having the prospect of a division in his own Cabinet should he take any decided steps to remedy the defect in the law , it may be doubted whether he will voluntarily move in the matter .
What is required—and what should be insisted upon is—the passing of a short declaratory Act , explaining the real objects of . the Factory Act , and stating , definitively , that the ten hours labour for women and children are to be reckoned continuotisly , from the hour when they first commence work in the morning . The factory operatives , and their leaders , should lose not a moment in bestirring themselves vigorously and universally , to get such an Act passed . If they do so , the Premier may be forced into acquiescence . If not , the millocracy will triumph , and wring from the workmen their hard-won victory , despite tho deliberate decision of the Imperial Parliament .
It may be observed , that all the experience that has been had of the practical operation of the Act , has been such as to give the lie to the predictions of its adversaries , and to realise , to ; he fullest extent , the anticipations of its supporters . Even in tho Morning Chronicle itself , that most rabid of all the organs of . the " laissez f ' aire" policy—abundant evidence , of the most incontrovertible nature , is to be found in favour of short time and regulated labour . The correspondent of that paper , who was sent into
the manufacturing districts , was evidently deeply imbued with the doctrines of the Political Economists , and saw most things through the spectacles of the employers . All his generalisations were coloured by his preconceptions on the subject ; and even where the stern realities of actual life shocked and appalled . him , the heartless and blending theories ¦ with which he was indoctrinated , induced him to find out , or invent , palliatives for the misery they produce .
The perverting influence of these prejudices , is , perhaps , in none of his letters more clearly exhibited , than in that which is specially devoted to an exposition of the results of the Ten Hours Act . A spirit of petty cavils is displayed throughout . Upon very unsatisfactory data , the fall of wages is pronounced to be from sixteen to twenty per cent . ; while the specific evidence on the contrary , " proves beyond cavil , " to use his own words , that in consequence of the ' . increased speed of machinery , and the greater strength and activity of operatives employed , during a reasonable number of hours per day—" the quantity of work per hour has been increased since the Ten Hours Bill . '' If wages have fallen , therefore , the rnillowners have robbed the operatives .
But whatever may have been the result in a mere money point of view , there can be no doubt as to the moral and social benefits conferred by the measure . The writer in the Morning Chronicle states , that . he took opportunities of interrogating the work-people in every mill he visited in Manchester , Bolton , Ashton , and Oldhan-i , in order to learn their opinions from their own lips . He also
conversed with the cotton operatives at their own homes , in the streets , and in the taverns , and in his own apartments . What was tho result of this examination ? Why , "that with two exceptions , that of a young woman , a winder , in Manchester , and that of a spinner , in a coarse mill , at Oldham , I was told , by one and ali i that they preferred the ten hours system to the twelve hours , even if they only got ten hours instead of twelve hours wages . " .
If , therefore , the feelings of the operatives themselves—and their decided adhesion to a system which enables them to enjoy , to a limited degree , the comforts of a home , and leisure for cultivating the intellectual and moral faculties of their nature—are of any weight , either with the Legislature or the Government , the defective wording of the law ought to be immediately remedied by a declaratory act . ; We shall now have an opportunity of testing the sincerity of those who go about making loud professions of regard for the social and moral welfare of the masses . If their lament
tations over their physical wretchedness , and consequent moral depravation , mean anything more than the prayera of the Pharisees at the corners of streets—in order that they may be seen of men , and get credit for a philanthropy which is not real , but spurious—we shall witness such a vigorous and united movement on the part of all who profess themselves desirous to elevate and improve the condition of the
labouring classes , as will compel even Whigs to act in a just and intrepid manner , and the allgrasping disciples of Mammon to relax their cruel and deadly hold upon the bodies and souls of tho unfortunate beiugs whom poverty and competition have bound hand and foot , and delivered up to tho slavery of commercialism . In the first instance , however , the operatives must ' show that they are in earnest . " , God helps those who help themselves . '' .
Since the preceding observations were written ,, yr . e ,. have . been highly gratified to ; -learn that thetfactory hands have commenced a vi gorous ; agitation—that theWhole cotton fl ^ rict has been stirred into action , b y the intelligence of the adverse decklon of . the Court of Ex-
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chequer , and- has assumed * a determined and uncompromising attitudempon the subject . ; ' The necessity for their continuing to main . tain this attitude , is further shown by the answer given to Lord Ashley ' s question b y Sir G . Grey , on Tuesday night , in Parliam ent . As we anticipated , the Government will shirk its obvious duty , if it possibly can . Lord Ashley asked if it was intended to bring in a declaratory act to remedy the defect in tho law ? and the Home Secretary parried the chequer , and : has assume *« determined and
question by saying , he had not had time to read the short-hand writer ' s notes , and therefore could not say what he would do in the matter . He , however , very clearly intimated his desire , that a Whig , course should be adopted , and " a compromise become to of eleven hours—a course which would neither satisf y the capitalists ; who repudiate all legislative interference , nor the operatives , who feel that ten hours' actual labour are all that are compatible , either with bodily health or domestic
comfort . The Short Time party must , therefore , dopend on their own energies , and not upon the Government . Fortunately the Whigs are made of " squeezable"' materials . "To your tents , 0 Israel ! " Now is the time for action . One united and vigorous effort will secure the object in view .
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" Great cry and little wool . " colomaTpolicy . At the commencement of tho Session the Pbemier—in a speech of two hours and a half —has expounded , to a full and attentive House , the views of the Government as to Colonial Policy , both' in the abstract , and with reference to particular measures intended for various Colonies . The mere statement of the fact , is sufficient to indicate what an immense change has taken place in public opinion within the last few years upon this question . The Colonies were , in effect , handed over to the irresponsible Government of a bureaucracy , snugly installed in Downing-street . All that they had to do was to suffer , silently and
unredressed , the infliction of the most grievous injuries—all that we had to do , was to pay handsomely the officials appointed by the Imperial and Imperious Colonial Office to inflict these grievances and curse the Colonies by their ignorance and their aristocratic misgovernment . But " Every dog has its day ;' and oven Downing-street can no longer sin with impunity . The harness has galled the ill-used Colonies so deeply and so painfully that they have turned restive . Their grievances haYO found mouth-pieces in and out of Par . liar aent . Colonial Eeform has become one of the great questions of the day . .. - ''
It is one in which the people of th ' e-Mother Country are deepl y and intimately interested , In order to keep the Colonies in subjection to a most odious and oppressive system of misgovernment , we have yearly to raise millions for the support of the army , navy , and ordnance , which would otherwise not be required . These troops and ships are sent to the Colonies professedly for the purpose of guarding them against foreign attack . In reality , they are
kept up for the purpose of repressing the discontent of the misgoverned and oppressed Colonists . If they were empowered and permitted to manage their own affairs , the y would now , in the majority of cases , be fully equal to the duty of protecting themselves from any possible danger of foreign aggression . The removal of our baneful Protection (?) would speedily enable the others to attain that strength and independence in which they may now be deficient .
Lord John ' s speech was eminently Whiggish . He laid down broad and liberal principles of Government as its basis , and ended by constructing a few small mouse-traps upon the magnificent foundation . To have listened to his opening declarations , one would have imagined that every one of our Colonies that was at all capable of undertaking the responsibility , was forthwith to be invested with the power of managing its own local and internal affairs . Again and again his lordship repeated that the ancient maxim of British Colonial government was that , " wherever Englishmen were sent , or repaired to settle , they carried with them the freedom of the institutions of the mother country . '' '' Wherever
Englishmen went to settle , there should be introduced English freedom and English institutions . It therefore become sour duty , as far as possible , to act upon the principle of introducing and maintaining political freedom in our dependencies . " These emphatic and highsounding declarations , were of course received with great applause ; but we confess , that having had some former experience of the manner in which Whig principles and Whig practices disagree , and how the latter fall off , and " grow small by degrees , and beautifully less , " indulged in a discreet scepticism . The result demonstrated the correctness of our doubts . The exordium , and the conclusion of the speech , were typified by the solemn cry of the Mussulman hawker— " In the name " of the Prophet .
—figs { »» Instead of honestly carrying out the comprehensive and just principles enunciated as those which should be the foundation of our Colonial policy , the Premier propounded various new-faugled , and ingeniously contrived schemes , for placing the Australian Colonies , the Cape , Malta , Guiana , Trinidad , and the Mauritius , under the continued rule of Downing-street and its employees , while they were to be cheated with a delusive appearance of representative and self-elected governments .
As yet , we have not the details of the respective measures before us , but the course proposed to be adopted in New South Wales aud the other Australian Colonies , may bo taken as the key-note to the whole scheme . There is to be only one Legislative Chamber , composed of thirty-six members , of whom one-third are to be nominated by the Government , and the remaining two-thirds elected by ( we presume ) a constituency " more select than numerous . "
Now just let us imagine the practical working of such a Chamber as this . The one then appointed by the Government , will be generally permanent members ; and necessarily-, from that cause alone , gain that ascendancy over the fluctuating portion of the Chamber , which accompanies the possession of a definite pdsition , and practised habits of business . But besides this power , on the part of the nominees of the Government , we must also take into account the direct and indirect influence which it will be able to bring to bear upon the election of the other two-thirds . We can
understand—if not approve—of the admission of ex qfficio members into a Legislative Assembly , where the presence of these parties is rendered necessary by their official position , and the information that may be required from them ; but , in that case , such persons should have no voto in tho Assembly . Lord John ' s scheme swamps the Australian Legislative Chamber , with a list of Government nominees , whose polioy and endeavours will naturally and inevitably be directed to uphold the policy of the Imperial Government , as against local in « terests and public feeling , and to secure the
due payment of their own salaries , and the continued predominance of their own class over the Colonists at large . If ' they succeed in . this , the scheme will be " a delusion , a mockery , and a snare . " . If they do not , tho Chamber will be divided into two parties—the paid nominees of the Crown , and the unpaid representatives of ' the ,, electoral body—who will , spend , much" more time and energy in squabbling , with , each other , : than in legislating for the benefit of the community , whose interests , the ; are supposed to represent and watch ; over . ; in . either , case , the egg whidx-ftia Whigs haVe been so long hatching wHLtuxa out to be ^ u addled one ,
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THE NOBTHESN STAB , SA'JL'IJISDAY , FEBBPAStir H 6 , ¦ 1 S 5 CV
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Book S Published And Soldby J. "Watson, 3, Queen's Head-Passagei Paternoster-Row.
BOOK S PUBLISHED AND SOLDby J . "WATSON , 3 , Queen ' s Head-passagei Paternoster-row .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 16, 1850, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1561/page/4/
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