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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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1 _ - « imed its sittings oa Monday before « tffl * KTte I / ord Mayor , the Recorder , 2 W t fl «» - ^ . Marshall , and Salomons , ^ S ^ fv if' ^? hS * f « s » * j ri ^ Undcr sheriffs , fit , &c—Inecal-5 ^ g , f 5 e 3 Ses of 1 SS prisoners for trial at ^ P ^ fr&EKY .-WiUiam Bradley sur-C 8 * take his t " P ac * " ^ stealing jend ^ 2 < i velvet , and seventeen and a half yards 1 jjr « ef " 7 _ T 0 DSr jY of George Stags and another . ~ ofa 1 ^ ' intorsof the indictment are Messrs . Stagg ^ Pj ^ Ju who carry on an extensive business id ** " * na silk mercers ; in Leicester-square ; ss *?*^ , e 3 red that on the 34 th of Dec the day and ' [ . T ^ e alleged felony was said to have been oa r ^ th e prisoner had been in their service as coffl ^ iT for a period of four years . Upon the day f ta P ^ ijon according to the evidence for the pro-ID SP j ,, ' congequenccof some suspicion tbatwus st ' ZtiLed of the manner la which the prisoner conftlS hunself , awatch -was set upon hisproce . d-- -and he was cb « erved to cut off a portion of a ¦
" ? jj velvet , ana aiso w rase a sun . aregs , ana ne ? placed both the articles between some boxes ? er the ouster . It seemed that among the - emers ofthe prosecutor was a French milliner CD dressmaker , named Madame Routens , whocar-¦ £ on her businessin Charles-street , Soho-square , n ^ this l'dy , it appeared had a credit account with jL fem , and on the morning of the 24 th December a Stile g irl was sent by her to the J-liop for some trifling alftdSi wbiclt were furnished to her by the prisoner , and duly entered . Later in the day a boy , also in rt e serried of Madame Routens , went to the prosecutor ' s shop to fetch two pairs of gloves and some rmwlnv liBingi and the " prisoner served him , and
Twnheliad tieduptnese articles lie was observed Enlace the velvet and the silk into the parcel , and the boy left the shop , ^ appeared to be the custom fttJ presenter ' s business , that the shopman t ain * 5 Wi « d" «? a f Bpoa c Tl ; ? T tomer ' shoaldiimne dwtely cause an entry to be made hraSemployed for that puipose . and itappeared E * te Soner had caused the gloves and the & ¦ to be entered , but made iio mention at the Shtftheotber articles , Immediately upon the boy feavingthe shop , he was followed and brought wfc and die silk and velvet we found in fan pos-Waea . and it appeared tfeat almost , at the same ^ ment the prisoner went a second time to the enter-£ « tek , and required hhn to make anent ^ of ! £ « lk and velvet being sent to Madame Boston s
on approval , and it was alleged on the partot the R ation that the prisoner did not do this * n il he saw that the boy had been brought back with the property . Upon the prisoner being questioned , be Js = erted that he had caused the entry ot the . goods to be properly made , snd also said that Madame Bontens had gKen him the order for the velvet and fie satin on the previous day at her own house ; but the prosecutors not being satisfied with the explanation given to theae , gave the prisoner la-charge , | nd he was examined at llarlboNmgh-street Police -Trait , when the magistrate , upon hearing the
defence set up by the prisoner , directed taatf . iadame Routens should be seat for , and upon her evidence he dismissed the chasge against the prisoner . It appeared that after , this Mr . Humphreys , the solicitor for prisoner , wrote to the prosecutors , and applied on his behalf for soise wages that were due to him , and at the same timeTequired that they should make a written acknowledgment that there was EO foundation for the charge they had preferred against him , and stating that un ! es 3 they did so the only alternative the prisoner would have to clear-his character would be to bring * 11 the facts before ajjury . The only notice taken , of "this letter by the prosecutors was to refer Mr . Humphreys to their solicitor , and it appeared that shortly afterwards the present
indictment was preferred before the grcndjjuiy ; but in reference to this pert of the case Mr- Stagg stated ftat before Mr . Humphreys' letter was received , directions had been given to his solicitor-to proceed with the ease by preferring a bill before * the grand inry , notwithstauciug the charge having been dis missed by the magistrate . The counsel -for the prisoner cross-examined the several witnesses for the prosecution at considerable length , and-endeavoured to show that the prisoner had given -the ; prosecutors warning shortly before the transaction , and that he wa 3 about to setup in business on his owq account in tlie neighbourhood of the prosecutor ' s -shop ; but the evidence did not show either of the allegations to be founded on fact . —Mr . ClarksOD , < in ^ £ ddressing
the jury for the defence , complained of sine manner in which the prosecution had been got up , and urged the unfairness of 3 Jadame Routens noticing called as a witness , whendt was well known that the prisoner had all along-asserted his innocence , and that ( Ms lady bad actudly engaged him to supply her with the articles in question . The learned counsel then commented at considerable length upon- 'the facts of the case , and said teat it appeared perfectly clear that the prosecution ¦ svas only instituted by tie prosecuiors in order to ^ au-ld themselves from the consequences of the legal proceedings with -Which thty were threatened on behalf ot the prisonerP-Madame Bontens , the lady referred to , was then-called as a witness for the prisoner . She stated that she had
been a customer of Messrs . Stagg and Mantle for nearly five years , and as the prisoner spoke French he ' generally served her-with the articles she « required , and Mr . Mantle had himself requested him to pay particular attention toJier ; and during th ej iast year and a half the prisoner had been in the habit of visiting her and her hsshand , and they were on ; friendly tarns . The witness then said that on the Friday be-• fore the 24 th of Desesnber the prisoner was at her iouse . and she requested him to send her the velvet : and silk , the former-being required for the purpose of making some bonnets that were ordered ; but the silk was to be returned if -it -was not approved of . She ¦ also said that the prisoner came again to henhouse ¦ on the Sunday , and she ^ omplained of his nat'hamng -applied the articles in . question . —This testimony was confirmed by two 6 ther witnesses . —Mr . Ballantine iavingreplied upon tlsseyidence , the
Recorder-summed up , and the jury almost immediately returned a Terdict of "Ifot Guilty / " —The prisoner was ordered to be immediately discharged . Robbery bt a CiEHs . —; 5 ohn Macarthy , aged . 40 , clerk , was convicted of stealing the sum of £ 4 $ , the property of his master , Henry Dolan and othees . — The facts * f the case were that the prisoner had been for twelve months in the employment of the prosecutors , who are the army agents , of St . MartiaJsloB 3 , and was sent , on the 4 th of February , witfc . a cheoue for the amount in question to the Commercial Bank , where he got it cashed , and absconded . Nothing more was ieard of him till the 15 th pit , when he came to the police-station in an intosicated state , and gave himself up , alleging that he had lost the motey . —The prisoner made the same ' defenee this day . —The court .-sentenced him to ; eUhteen months' imprisonment aad hard labour , . i
EcftS £ ABr . —T . Cocker , 21 , was indicted for a burglary in the dwelling-house of Mr . James Esdes , aad stealing £ 7 103 . his money- —The robbery imputed to the prisoner was committed under aggravated WCUmstanees . The prosecutor , who is a poor old labouring man , residing at TZsbridge , had saved uptheamosnt in question out < f his hard earnings , and it was . placed in a bos in his bed room , and it appeared that the prisoner Baviug watehed him out of his cottage on the 12 th of February , took the opportunity to creak into the house atxl stole the whole of the old man ' s hoard . He wa 3 taken into custody soon afterwards , when £ 1 12 s . was found in his possession , and zrsongst the coins so found -was a shilling with a hokin it , which the prosecutor positively
identified as having been stolen from him . with the other money . — 'Jiejuryfound the prisoner "fiuilty , " and he wassente ^ ced to be transported for-ten years . ^ li- RBERY , —Marie Scils , 45 , a Frenchwoman , was indicted for stealing twenty-seven sovereign ? ., ^ gold vatch , and other articles , the property of . James Hurst , her master . —The prisoner , it appeared , had introduced herself to the prosecutor , who is a landing-waiter iu the Custom House , and representing -hat she was the widow of a person who had ibrmerley been engaged as an interpreter at Dover , aid that she was ingrest distress , he humanely inte-ested himselfia her behalf and engaged her to act ssais servant until something permanent could be provided fur her . It appeared that while so engaged
sne took advantage of tie prosecutor ' s absence while engaged in his duty to steal iJie money and the other articles mentioned in the indictment , and started fur folkstcne by the railway , but the prosecutor having fortunately discovered bis Ios 3 he employed the electrie telegraph , and the result was that the prisoner was taken into custody at Folkstone with the greater part of the stolen property In her possession . -The jury returned a verdict of 11 Guilty . "—The irosecntor recommended the prisoner to the merciful xns ' iderztion c-f the court , on the ground that she rag a foreigner , and that he bad himself shown some imprudence by allowing her to tee where he debated the money . —The Recorder sentenced the Prisoner to be kept to bard labour for sir months .
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HEDALS OF JAMES MORISOX , THE HTGEIST , 4 XD GREAT aiEDICAi KEFOH 3 IEB , ^ Jtehadof all the Agents ior the sale of MoriiOn ' sPlflF . PKICE OXE SniLLLVC lACH , InBroitte , 10 s . 6 d ; in SUver , 21 ; in Gold , 18 L He immortal Haetet proclaimed the circulation of the 1 ^ MofiBos . Hie Hvgeist proclaimed—«"!• • -That the Tital prindp le is in ihe Wood . g ^ V" —That all diseases arise from impurity of the ¦ Jj ? £ —Iliat such imparity can only be eradicated by a Jjeanve such as ilorison's Vegetable Universal Medicine Iflrt ?? Co ! Ie Se of Health , Sew-road , London . j ^ jy . —ILat the deadly poisons used as medicines by the iuc * JSare totaUy unnecessary in the cure ef diseases .
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SATURDAY March 2 HOTJSE OF COMMONS . -Thb O'Cossor Land CoHFAsr .-Sir B . HAiji rose pursuant to notice to presenttwopetitions , one signed by twenty-eight allottees m the Mmster Lovel estate , and the other by forty-five allottees in the Sni g ' s End estate complaining of the conduct ofilr . O'Connor inrd ference to the Land scheme . He had forwarded a copy of the petitions to the hon . member for Nottingham , to whom he proposed to ask a question on the subject , but beyond that he should refrain from making any comment on the allegation of the petitioners , or to enter at all into the merits of the case , nor did he propose even to state the substance of the petitions , as he was anxious to avoid saying anything which might give rise to angry discussion . He would simply move that ene of the petitions he read by the clerk at the table . Several hbn . members—The praver , what is the prayer ?
Sir B . Hall , would rather leave it to the clerk to read the prayer as well as the allegations of the petitioners . The petitions having been brought up , the clerk proceeded to read the one from Snig ' s End . It stated . " That the petitioners were members of the Land Company of which Mr . F . O'Connor was the chief promoter , and that they were allottees of the estate at Snig ' s End ; that thev had been induced to join , the Company by the alluring ' statements contained in certain letters written by Mr O'Connor , and published by him in his newspaper , the Xorthem Star—the benefits granted to the members of the Company were , to the holders of two shares , for which £ 212 s . -was charged , two acres of good hind , a comfortable house . and £ 15 ; of three shares three acres of land , a houseand £ 2210 s . ; and of four shares four acres of land ,
, a house , and £ 30 ; the house and land to be allotted to them on such conditions as should enable them to become freeholders , and to li ve in comparative comfort and independence on the produce of their own property—that their had confidence in Mr . O'Connor , knowing him to be a barrister and a man ot considerable experience , and in an evil hour allowed themselves to be deluded by his representations , and to leave their employment to setile on ibese ullotments ; that do one of the many promises made to them by Mr . O'Connor had been fulfilled ; tliat the petitioners were informed before they took possession of their allotments that they woald be well tilled and manured , and prepared for cropping , but that the amount of labour bestowed on the land was wholly insufficient , and that the petitioners were charged most exorbitantly for all that had been done ; that , in consequence , their means had
been exhausted ; . that they had been going wrong ever since ; that all their capital was expended on the land , and that the return bad been wholly insufficient to enable them to obtain even the common lircossaries of life ; that , hlthoud ^ as they could prove , no industry had been wanting on their part to till and sow the ground , many of them never tasted animal food or malt liquor , but were compelled to subsist on cabbages , turnips , and such like vegetables , and had been unable to procure a single article of clothing ; that the property was wholly vested in . Mr . O'Connor , and , as they believed , had ieen conveyed to him , and was his absolutely in law ; feat he had never given any conveyance of the allotments to the petitioners , as promised ; but had , on { he contrary , « scrffiseil the power of distress as a landlord , though , as the 5 > eritioners believed , illegally ;' Uiat until the report of the committee of the House of Commons appointed to inquire into the subject , they were not aware that the scheme was illegal ; that without disputing the general accuracy of the accounts of Messrs . Grey and fiulaison , the auditors , there was one item they dkl-not
understand , that was , the amount which was stated by them to have beensdvancedin aid . It was stated in their accounts that Mr . O'Connor had paid £ 1 , 400 to the allottees on the estate , but from inquiries the petitioners had made from'house to house they could not ascertain that more than £ S 35 had been advanced on that account . The peti tion concluded by praying the house to take their case into consideration , and to devise means for relieving them from the-consequences of belonging , through no fault ofth « -iroim ,-to * n illegal society , and by a commission of inquiry or otherwise to obtain information as to the true state of the estate and the occupiers , with the viewof winding up the undertaking . Sir B . Hai-Ti would now put the question of which he had also given the hon . member for Nottingham notice . Tbe ^ juestion he wished to put was whether the hon . and learned member intended to convey to the altettees the title he himself held in his property , or toAabe any steps to wind up the concern , either by means of a bill or otherwise , and what was the amount , he calculated , would be returned to each efihe 7 , 000 shareholders . ( Ilear .. )
Mr . F- O'Coxxon would first answer the hon . baronefs-auestion , and then proceed to reply to the statements contained in the petition , Mr . Boas rose to order—he wished to know whether that house was prepared to enter into any or every -. petition which might be presented respecting all the speculations of past years ? ( Hear . ) If the House of Commons were to become the arbiters in the case of disputed accounts arising out of such speculations , where was to be the limit ? { Gheers . } 'And if questions as to the . private affairs ef hon . members were allowed to be put and answered in -that house , what controversies and difficulties , and what delay in the progress of public business-rrnght not result ? ( Cheers . ) iHe appealed to the chair , therefore , whether tbe-question which
had been -put was a proper one . { Hear , hear . ) There was : an act of parliament to -facilitate the winding up > of joint-stock schemes , which might be made applicable to the present case . ; but , whether or not , it was not for the House of-Commons to become the arbiters between the p .-rriies . : { Hear , he .-ir . ) The Sec ^ SER said it teas the practice when a petition was presented reflecting on the character of any hon . -member , to indulge that member so far as to allow Mm to give any explanation or to make any defence he might think necessary . ( Hear , hear . ) Therefore , a petition having been presented reflecting on » the character of the hon . and learned member for Nottingham , if that hon . and learned member desired to enter into any defence or give any explanation in reference to the matters alleged against himdn the petition , he was , according to
the usage < rf : the house , at liberty to do « o . ( llear . ) But with regard to the questions which had been put by the hon . member for Marjlebone , he had much doubt -whether they were strictly in order—( hear )—inasmuch as they related not to any measure before the hoase , and , strictly speaking , all questions put ia-that house should refer toiome measure before it . ;( Hear . ) Sir B . HiSL would then confine bimself to this , which he submitted would be strictly in -order . It would be recollected that there wasa bill introduced in 18 i 8 on reference to this Land \ Company , which bill was referred to a select committee , but was not afterwards proceeded with . He wished to know if it was the intention of the hon . member to renew any measure of that kind in the present session , or to take anv steps to wind up tbie scheme ( Hear . )
Mr . O'Cossos -eaid that he would first * eply to the queries of t £ e ; hOB . baronet , and then to would call the attention . of the house to the malicious fabrications contained in the petition presented by him . Firstly , thea , < with regard to the winding up of the Company , the hon . baronet was aware that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) was anxious to assign the whole [ property , now vested an him , to trustees , for the benefit of the members . The noble lord , tbe member for Bath ( Lord Aohley , ) was one of those he proposed , and the hon . member for Rochdale < Mr . S . Crawford , ) was the other ; and to prove the great interest that the iron , gentleman feels for his dapes , he would tell the bouse that the hon . baronet told him ( Mr . O'Connor ) exultingly , that Lord AsMey would have nothing to do with it . (
Laughter . ) Then as to the question of winding up , he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had paid moneys eut of his own pocket to insure the complete registration of the Compaay—it was set down for hearing upon the laetdaj- of the last term in the Queen ' s Bench , but by some fatality or other it was postponed , notwithstanding ihe deep interest that was expressed on behalf of the subscribers . ( Hear , tear . ) But to come pertinently to the question , he told the house that it was his intention to have the affairs of the Company wound up , and he would take the advantage of the xery eariiesfc day that the government would grant him . ( Bear , hear . ) The petition , however , was the subject to which he wished to call the attention of the iouse—that petition was confided to the guardianship of the hon . baronet , who had been
counsel for tne government upon the committee . 4 " Order , order . " ) Ay , and there , opposite him , sat the Judge Advocate , who was chairman of that committee , and who stated that he had spent six mortal days in preparing his report , but which report was unanimously rejected by the committee . He was the tool of the government . ( Order , order . " ) Did the right hon . gentleman as critically scrutinize all the juggling of the Commissioners of "Woods and Forests , for he sat upon that committee too ? They had had committees to inouire into the conduct of Ecclesiastical Commissionersthe Woods and Forests Commissioners—into the management of Railways and Savings Banks—but had the affairs connected with those juggles been as minutely criticised as the affairs of the Land STJSrST And would any man , connected with any of them , be able to give such an account of their affiars as he ( Mr . O'Connor ) could rive of th . T * nd
uompany ? . He would now proceed to wad theref ^ rsS T ^^^ s ^ order to defend his character in that house he would briefly state the substance of the Sort which was to the effect , that although the aSts wereuregularly kept , that irregularity told against him ( Mr . O'Connor ) and oofc Si his favour The government auditor who examined those accounts was fully occupied for two or three weeks , and for the last four days , as he stated in his evidence before the court of law , for fifteen hours a day . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) did not profess fo&eep Ms accounts ike a practised banker or merchant , but he produced Ms bankers' books , the cheques given upon each bank , and the block of those cheque books , in a majority of cases , receipted by the parties who received the moneys . The account was submitted to another , though not a more experienced auditor , and he confirmed its accuracy . Those auditors stated tftat the Company owed Mm ( Mr , Q'Connor )
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£ 3 , 400 . Upon the following year , the accounts from that date were submitted to a Finance Committee of . seven ; interested and intelligent men , and were previously submitted to the government accountant ; and that committee reported that the Company owed him ( Mr . O'Connor ) an additional sum of £ 1 , 200 , ' making a total of £ 4 , 600 . In none of those accounts was there a fraction charged for his ( Mr . O'Connor ' s ) expenses , out of pocket , which . frequently amounted to £ 30 a-week , for visiting estates in Devonshire , Cumberland , and various parts of the country , and then attending auctions to . bid for those estates . No interest charged upon the £ 3 , 400 in the last balance-sheet ; and it was his pride , and his boast to say , that he
never gave a bill on behalf of that Company—that he never accepted a presentfroni tradesmen to whom he had paid thousands of pounds , although valuable ones had been offered him . ( Hear . ) And it was his pride tobe able to stand in that house , or in a court of justice , to . be tested as he was , and defy mortal man to charge him with a mean , a . dishonescTw . an ungcntlenianlike act . But , he would now come to the pith and marrow of the petition presented by the honourable baronet , which had been skillfully drawn up by an artful attorney . ( Order , order . ) Well , he would come , to the consideration of the question . The petitioners charge him ( Mr . O'Connor ) with having set down £ 1 , 400 in his balancesheet as Aid Money , given * to the allottees at Sniff ' s
End , while they state that—now , mind now—after going from house to house , and after more than 20 have left—that those , remaining had not received more than £ 835 . Now figures were stubborn things , and he would bring the house to the report of Mr ; Grey , the auditor . Upon that estate he reports that there , are thirty-four four-acre allotments , thirteen three-acre , and thirty-six two-acre . lie reports that four four-acre allotments had been transferred to parties who were not ballotted , one threeacre allotment , and four two-acre allotments , which would leave . thirty four-acres , twelve three-acres , and thirty-two two-acres , making in all two hundred and twenty acres , which , at £ 5 to the acre , would amount to £ 1 . 100 : and , no doubt , the
parties now presenting their petition made no inquiries as to those who left .. ( Hear , hear . ) Biit if nis account was to be taken in its entirety , like all other accounts , and admitting that his accounts had been imperfectly ! though honestly kept , he would call their attention to an important fact—namely , that Mr . Grey gave him credit for £ 1 , 538 Aid Money for the Minster Lovel occupants , while he ( Mr . O'Connor ) held Mr . Doyle ' s balance-sheet in his handone of the directors who zealously and honestly managed the affairs on that estate , and paid all the money—and in that balance-sheet , the honourable baronet would find these items : " For allottees , £ 1 , 400 ; for allottees , £ 347 16 s . 8 id . " These items , including some tradesmen's bills which
were not otherwise charged ; thus showing £ 210 in his ( Mr . O'Connor ' s ) favour ; while Mr . Clarkanother director , to whom he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had given £ 500 to pay to some ef the allottees at Snig ' s End—returned £ 105 , for which the Company got credit £ ind let it be strictly borne in mind , that this government audit was made before Mr . Clark's account of the Aid Money he ; paid could be rendered , now he ( Mr . O'Connor ) thought that these items would show a balance in his ( Miv O'Connor ' s ) favour , while he was now ready again to submit the whole accounts to the strictest and most searching audit . ( Hear , hear . ) "What did he care for money ? If he had a hundred thousand pounds , or a million , he would soend everv fraction of it in rescuing the
slavish labourer from the gripe of the capitalist . ( "Oh , oh . " ) Ay , and ho would tell them more , that he had offered to surrender the whole of the amount due to him , if the ungrateful vipers , who were actually plundering the poor unlocated members , would surrender their miserable hovels and barren soil . Suppose such a fact as this could be urged against him ( Mr . O'Connor ?) Suppose he had induced poor men to invest tlieir hard-saved earnings in a fund of which he ( Mr . . 0 Connor ) was the trustee ? and suppose he had applied those funds tp the erection of a bridge across a brook , and the construction of an avenue from the high road to his bouse ? And suppose be told his juggled dupes that tlieir moneys had been invested in tho
purchase of property—that the deeds were buried under tne foundation stone of that bridge , and that the depositors could-ooly receive interest upen their capital ? Now , did the hon . bart ., who presented the petition , ever hear of such a case as that ? And what would be the manifestation of reprobation against him { Mi . O'Connor ) if he had practised such a juggle | But , to show that one man-will be scoffed at , while another will be eulogised for the same act , let him call their attention to a £ j-eafcfact— "Itis now ascertained , by practical experience , that a man can support himself , wife , and family , upon two acres of land costing £ 28 , including conveyance . Richard Cobdcn , M . P ., Wng . Scholefield , M . P ., patrons . " That was
advertised in several newspapers ; and he ( Mr . © 'Connor ) did not repudiate it , because he believed it . ( Jl laugh . ) Ay , . those landed proprietors might laugh , but let him assure them that they now had but the option of bringing their land into the retail market or being bankrupt . But let them look on that picture and on this— " It is now ascertained , by practical experience , that a man and his family must starveiupon four acres of land , costing £ 50 an acre , highly cultivated , tons of manure put out , £ 50 Aid and Loan Money given , a cottage and out-buildings built of the beet materials , the allotment partially cropped , and no rent paid for tvo years and a half . Feargus O'Connor , patron . " ( Cheers and laughter . ) Kow , in answer
to those dissatisfied allotees , who complained of the condition of their allotments , let him inform the house that in July , 3 S 4 S , while the committee was sitting , he took down two noble lords . ( Lord Talbot , and the noble Lord the member for Dumfrieshire , ) the hen . member for Rochdale , the hon . member for the County of Limerick , and the -hon . member for Kilkenny , to visit and examine two of those estates , the one being Snig ' s End , where they had been but just located , and all expressed their astonishment and delight at what they saw . But , to prove stiil further the value that some set upon the land , some received £ 120 , some £ 100 , and many £ 80 for iheir allotments . He had now explained his sincerity- and he hoped his honesty , with regard to
this Land Plan ; and to show the jealousy with which he managed the funds of the Company , let him inform the house that he gave to one occupant , who was not entitled to any money £ 14 out of his own pocket ; to two £ 10 . each ; to three £ 5 each ; to one £ 3 to ; another £ 7 ; for agricultural premiums atO'Connorville , £ 15 ; and other sums , which he could state to the house , amounting to £ 339 , all of which he might have charged to the Company , ( Hear , hear . ) If he was to estimate the amount that this Land Company had cost him at £ 8 , 000 he would be under the mark , and this was his thinks . But however he might be reviled—by the Press—by the house—or by the most fortunate—after twenty-eight years of continuous
political and social agitation , he threw down the gauntlet , and defied any man in that house , in this country , or in the world to charge him with a mean , a dishonest , or ungentlemanlike act . His principles and hia plan must be dear to him when for that time he had advocated and upheld both against the reviling of the Press and the antagonism of faction , while it was his pride and his boast to say , that he had never eaten a meal or travelled a mile at the expense of any man . And now he told the noble lord opposite , that if be was anxious for the protection of the poor man ' s fund—70 , 000 of whom were interested—he ( Mr . O'Connor ) wouM accept the earliest day that was allowed him to bringin abill to wind up the affairs of tho Company , and would allow the
noble lord to nominate his own trustees . ( Laughter . ) Why laugh at a proposal to give his dupes the benefit of governmental patronage —( 70 , 000 of them)—to protect them against his juggling . It was not tobe wondered at that those who were desirous of keeping down and oppressing the working classes should look upon him with hatred , and that , ae far as they could make it , the Land Company should be the reviled of all revilers . Gross charges were made against him in the committee , and every gentleman who went into the committee went there with tho strongest prejudices against him ; but thank God , they loft the committee with those prejudices removed . Strange as it , might seem , he could assure the house that it was nevertheless
a fact , that not a fraction of the £ 130 , 000 ever came into his hands , it all passed through the directors into the bankers' possession , and every voucher and every book relating to it was produced before the committee . He had recently received a letter from one of the allottees at Snig ' s End stating , that the writer still continued to hold his allotment , that it paid him well , and that if tho others were as industrious as he was they would be equally prosperous . He was ready to give a more extended explanation if the rules of the house would permit , and he should be prepared to-morrow to wind up the Company , and hand over the whole of the property to
governs ment , if the house would give him a bill for the purpose . He had , nevertheless , full confidence in the Plan . He had now made his statement , and given a distinct refutation to the charges preferred againBfchim . He had not been guilty of any dishonourable act , nor had he wheedled the people out of their money , as he had been charged with doing , and God forbid that he should be such a wheedler as he could prove two hon . gentlemen , members of that house , to be (" Oh , oh , " and " Order . " ) The subject then dropped , and the two petitions were ordered to lio on the table .
MONDAY , MiRCH i . HOUSE OF LORDS . — Inqoest on a Soloier ' s Wife and Chiu ) in Cuem'sby . — Lord Brougham had to move for the production of papers of which he had given tho particulars relative to two inquests which had been holden in Alderhey and Guernsey , touching the deathB of an unfortunate woman and her child , the wife of Riley , a private in the 16 th Regiment , The nobje and . learped lord mweded
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to say : I . move for , these papers for the purpose of baying transactions , brought before your lordships into which an imperfect inquiryhas been instituted , and the . matter cannot end . , there . ' . I have the opinion of learned and reverend judges of the land , that manslaughter is to he Imputed to some parties , if not murder ; and if upon the production of these papers , the conduct of any parties should assume an equivocal aspect , or a despicable aspect , or a detestable aspQCt . itwill be their own deeds , and not my words that will cause the slander , and that slander will rebound from them , on the service which they may continue to defile . —Ordered
lUiiwAYAunir . -Earl Granville moved the first reading ot the Government Railway Audit Bill , by which it was proposed to secure ,. with the smallest amount of interference , an independent and continuous audit of railway accounts by means of a permanent central board , composed of dolegates elected by the proprietors of each , company ; these delegates to have one or more votes , in proportion to the capital paid up by the several companies . Ample powers were t 0 be given to this board , who were to Jny their reports before parliament at the beginning of each session . Lord Monteagle expressed , his , satisfaction that the government had at last introduced a bill of this kind on their own responsibility , and the bill was read a first time . ... r . ...
1 VATIONAE EDUCATION .-ThE MANAGEMENT CLAUSES . —Lord Stanley , on presenting the petition from a parish in Monmouthshire , from p ersons , principally laity , connected with the Church of England , interested in the erection of national schools , said he did hot intend to discuss the question , but the petk tioners principally complained : of the insertion of clauses which prevented their submitting any differences which might arise to the arbitration alone of the bishop of the diocese , in consequence of which they could not participate in the grant made by the Committee of Privy Council . .. .. - . ... ; : The Marquis of Lansdowne did not intend . to £ O into any argument on the ; subject ; but he would merely say that the clause referred-to by the
petitioner ? was an exceptional clause , and . whether it should be so or not was matter of argument . The noble lord- had thought it not convenient to enter into a fultdiscussion of the merits of the general question , neither did he wish to do so if no other person entered into it ; but ho must state to the noble lord and the house that a notice having been given by a right rev . prelate , which it was understood would lead to a discussion on this subject , he deemed it highly inconvenient to allow any statements to be made on presenting petitions—he should think it , in fact , delusive to the public to allow any
such statements to be made—without entering into a full discussion of all the erroneous opinions and facts , as they were called , -which had been stated to the public , and which he was prepared to discuss with a view to prove their entire falsehood . ( Hear , hear . ) The Bishop of LosnoN wishing to avoid what he considered the " great calamity of a discussion of the controversy that had occurred with the Committee of the Privy Council , recommended the appointment Of a select committee to inquire into the whole operation of the Education Bill . —<¦ ¦ Th « Archbishop of Canterbuut supported the motion ,. believing that information was wanted , as there had been errors and false suspicions on both
sides . . — ..-:.- ¦ . - Lord Brougham regretted that the constant desire of all parties to promote education , and the efforts made by the legislature for-that purpose , should be in so great a measure frustrated through the anxiety of churchmen and dissenters , respectfully , to obtain the ascendancy . The Bishop of Chichester hoped to see the committee appointed . The Bishop of St . David ' s would bo glad to have information on the subject , but did not believe that any satisfactory result could be expected from the inquiries conducted by a committee . - . The Marquis of Lansdowne , referring to tho late meeting at Willis ' s Rooms , declared that almost every statement there made could be contradicted on unquestionable authority . Tho Church of England , which ' was at that mee ' . ing pronounced to have
been neglected , had in fact received the full proportion of the amount at the disposal of the government . His lordship then stated the amount of benefit that had already resulted from the educational grants . No less than 800 schools had been founded with the assistance of these grants , and remained in close connexion with the Privy Council . With respect to . the motion for a committee , he saw no sufficient reason for its appointment . The investigation would be one of appalling magnitude , and would hardly aid the Privy Council in the execution of the difficult task assigned to them . At all events , he trusted that the present system would not be suspended pending the inquiry . The petition was then laid on the table with some othera of a similar nature . ' Partt Processions ( Ireland ) Bill . —On the motion for tho committal of this Bill ,
The Dulce of WjoukgtoiV said that the measure did not go far enough . At funerals and other occasions of ceremonial or festivity , when crowds-were gathered together , causes of disturbance would inevitably arise , and the only way of securing quiet was to prohibit the possession , or , at all events , tho carrying of arms by any person who could not produce a game eertificate . The Marquis of Lansdowne objected to turn the Processions Bill into an Arms Bill . After some observations from Lord Monteagle and Lord Stanley , the bill went through committee . The Ecclesiastical Commission Bill was read a third time and passed . ¦ Their lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS . — The Speaker announced that the petition presented against the return of one of the members for the City of London ( Baron Itotschild ) had been withdrawn .
Tub Eastee Recess . —Lord John Russell said it was his intention to propose the adjournment of the house from Tuesday in : Passion week until Monday , the 8 th of April . Affairs of Greece . —Mr . Humb asked in what state were our political relations with Greece ? He hoped we mig ht receive speedy accounts of matters being adjusted there . Lord Palmerston said it had been thought necessary to make a peremptory demand there , and that the application had been made without success . That demand having been refused , reprisals were
commenced , which consisted in getting in pledge certain property and to hold it as security for the demands . Meanwhile , tho good offices of the French government had been accepted , but the negotiator had not arrived . The diplomatic relations between this country and Greece had never been suspended . Mr . Wyre had continued in diplomatic communication with the country ; and , as a proof that no courtesy had been omitted on our side , when the anniversary of the Queen of Greece had arrived , our fleet saluted with all the honours . ( " Hear , hear , " and laughter . )
Parliamentary Voters Ireland Bill .- —The house then went into committe on this bill . Sir R . Feuguson moved the omission of the 2 nd or "joint occupancy " clause . ' lord J . Uossem , said the gbVerrimenfc had no objection to omit the clause if the Irish members would consent . A number of Irish representatives spoke in answer to this appeal , but their judgments differed considerably as to the advisability of omitting the clause ; and Lord J . Russell observed that under the circumstances the government would persist in retaining it . .
Lord J . Manners made some sarcastic remarks upon the want of unanimity shown by tho members for Ireland , to whose verdict Lord J . Russell had appealed . -:.. ¦ . The diEcussion was prolonged for some considerable time , and excited much diversity of opinion . Several liberal representatives objected to the clause on the ground that it would tend to enhance the already excessive power of the landlords ; and many opposition members arrived at a similar conclusion , under the belief that it would encourage the manufacture of fictitious voting . Sir R . Peel , \ yho closed the debate on this amendment , characterised the system of fictitious voting as " Abominable , " and attributed many of the social
evils that afflicted the country to the great stimulus to the vote manufacture afforded . by the 40 s . freehold qualification introduced by the Irish Reform Bill , He coincided in wishing to give an extended franchise to Ireland , but only upon such a principle as would secure its being bonafide . On a division , the clause was carried by a majority of IU to 104 ; majority , 40 . On the third clause , Sir P . Tuesiger argued upon the impropriety of allowing parties to enjoy the franchise who had paid no rates , nor even possessed any beneficial interest in the property , of which they were the nominal owners . He proposed an amendment to the clause , so drawn as to render more stringent tho property qualification required under the clause .
lord J . BirasM-L persisted in believing that the £ 5 annual value of property , held in fee for life , as proposed in tho clause , was quite high enough by way of qualification . Lord J . MANNEng , tho Attorney-General , Mr . Hamilton , Mr . Reynolds , and Mr . Sadleib continued the debate , after which the committee divided , when the clause was carried by a majority of 106 to 30 ; majority 76 , Some further amendments were afterwards proposed to the third clause , leading to a very miscellaneous debate , tho contest being principally carried on between Sir Jomr fens and Sir 1 \ TlIESIGXR .
The clause was ultimately adopted with somo alterations . Clauses 4 and 5 were agreed to without a debate . On clause 0 a long and confused discussion arose , in the course of which a declaration was elicited from Sir G . Grey , that tho bill was not designed to interteve with any species of qualification under which
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the franchise . was . aVthe . preuent moment . conferred . Another division took , place on an amendment moved by , Mt . Gbppan , which was , negatived by a majority Ofl 70 : to 83 . : ; .:,. - . i : ¦ : . . : ¦ ¦ Mr . Rewoi-ps nioved . an ; amendment , reducing the rating qualification from £ 6 . to . £ 5 . : He Called on Mr ., Hume , and the English reformers to support his motion , which would much extend the electoral basis , and even , in somo instances , preventthe constituencies being considerably reduced , as they would be if the £ 8 rating wore established . Sir W . SosnsnviLLE felt compelled to oppoBe the amendment . He recapitulated some of the reasons and calculations that had led the government to fix the qualification as it stood in the bill , and declared their intention of adkering to it . Mr . French supported the amendment , as did Sir T . O'Brien and Col . Rawdon .
Mr . Roebuck said that the small borough constituencies in England were the great hot beds of corruption , and that the £ 8 qualification would create a vast number of similarly contracted and corruptible electoral bodies in Ireland . To reduce the £ 8 to £ 5 would so widen the basis as to effect a cure of the evil to a very considerable degree .. ¦ Mr . M . J . O'Connell pronounced the bill under the £ 8 qualification a mockery of justice to Ireland . The amendment was supported by Sir D . Norkets , Mr . Sadleih , Mr . Maurice O'Connkll , and Mr . Scully . . A division was then called for , and the gallery partially cleared , . when ¦¦ Lord-CASTLEKEioii expressed his hope that some member of the government would condescend to give some replyto the arguments that had been adduced by ao many Irish members in favour of the reduced qualification .
Lord J . Russelii briefly explained the reason which had prompted the various changes proposed by the bill ; and supported the £ 8 rating qualification , on the ground that . it was sufficiently moderate , and'that . a slower tariff-would have involved a trouhlosome precedent for England . After ¦ , considerable discussion the committee divided ,, when the proposition was negatived by 142 against 90 . : .-. ¦¦ -, . Mr , GROGAx then moved to add " grand jury cess and police rate" to the poor-rates , which the occupier is required to have paid for the year to entitle him to a vote . , Lord ; 3 . Russkll objected ,, and the amendment was , nega ' tivcd . The sixth clause being agreed to , tho Chairman reported progress , and obtained leave to sit again on Monday .
The Registrar of Metropolitan Public Carriages Bill was read a second time . . The other orders having ; been disposed of , the house adjourned at a quarter-past 1 o ' clock .
TUESDAY , March 5 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —This house sat : about an hour . .. . ¦ Commons Inclosuhe Bill . —On the motion of Earl Grakville . this bill was . read ' .. a second time . . During a brief conversation upon this measure , Lord Portman suggested the propriety of obtaining correct statistical returns on all agricultural subjects . . ,.. , .....-..,. ¦ . .. ., Earl Grantille confessed the importance of the suggestion , and declared that the attention of the government would be directed towards procuring information upon the topics alluded to by the noble lord . ' ¦ - , . ' .-.. .
The Earl of Mountoasiiell , alluding to the recent cases of ill-treatment and mismanagement of . emigrant : ships , moved for papers relating to the Earl Grey emigrant . vessel . Earl Guet consented to the production of the papers , but explained that many of the alleged cases of misconduct charged against the officers of emigrant ships had been disproved , In one instance he confessed , the complaints had been substantiated and the owners fined £ 500 . , Removal op obstructions in the Corn Trade ( Scotland ) Bill , —Lord Brougham moved the second reading of this bill , which was agreed to .
HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Social Improvement of the Working Classes . —Mr . Slanet rose , pursuant to notice , to move for the appointment of a "Standing Committee or unpaid Commission to consider and report on practical plans ( not connected with political changes ) , for the social improvement of the working and poorer classes . " He observed that , in the years 1817 , 1819 , 1824 , and 1830 , the attention of the house had been called to the social condition of the working classes , and all men who investigated the subject united in the opinion that the poorer portion of the community were in a most depressed condition . This would be sufficient to show that some improvement was requisite in the investigation of matters relative to the position of
the working classes . He would ask hon . members opposite , whether a peasant of unblemished character and industrious habits were hot an exception to the general rule if ho had any prospect before him at seventy years of age , except that of becoming an almoner on the parish bounty ? If his wife lived with him , and brought up a family in industry and respectability , had she any chance , on tho death of hev . husband , or on his inability to work , except becoming a recipient of parish relief ? ( Hear . ) Well , was this the condition in which the industrious agricultural classes should remain ? He would now turn to . the large class of persons engaged in towns —in mines—and in great cities—and what was their condition , as it had appeared from reports laid
before the house , and resting upon the evidence of commissioners and of committees appointed by that house , who were fair and impartial witnesses to the facts they related . During the last fifty years the increase of working men in towns had doubled the number of residents in rural districts . In 1838 a Poor Law report drew attention to their condition , which was followed in 1839 by a further account of the sufferings of the poorer classes . In 1840 a commission was granted for the purpose of investigating the condition of the inhabitant ? of great towns . The result of their inquiries showed that evils of the mof-t afflicting , nature prevailed , regarding the health and comfort of the poor in lar : e cities . In 1842 the report of Mr . Chadwick fortified that of
the commission , and in 1843 a commission was appointed by Sir R . Peel to inquire into theso matters . In 18 ii the first report of that commission was issued , and in 1845 a second report appeared , both of which demonstrated gross neglect in large towns of all the regulations for the health and comfort of the working classes . In 1845 further proofs were obtained of the vast injury to the public health arising from causes capable of removal . In 184 . 0 , the Children ' s Employment Commission reported that , in the great majority of instanoes , the places of work were defective in ventilation , in cleanliness , and . that nothing had been done to provide innocent amusement and healthful recreation to the children employed in factories , the consequence being , that
their moral and physical health were alike injured ; they were stunted in growth , pale , and sickly . This state of things remained to the present day . [ The hon . member more than once took occasion to complain of the inattention of the house . ] Ho was glad to find ~ that one hon . member was listening to him , but he saw that hon . gentlemen would turn to almost any subject rather than the one he wns bringing before thorn with so little success . The summary of the Report of the Children ' s Employment Commission was , that in a large portion of the kingdom , tho moral condition of the children was lamentably low , and that no means appeared to exist of effecting any improvement in the physical or moral condition of the young
children employed in factories . That report was made in January , 1843 , and since that period nothing effectual had been done . Another numerous body consisted of nearly 000 , 000 hand-loom weavers , dispersed through different parts of tho country . They were reported to be , as a body , in a state of distress , and the only hope of improving their condition was , that they should betake themselves to other avocations , wherever practicable , ' and use as much economy and forethought as possible , when wages were good . There were also 600 , 000 railway labourers at work , in different parts of the country ; for whose comfort and means of living no provision was made , and who were compelled to live in close and unwholesome dwellings . What had been the
effect of this neglect on the part of the Le gislature ? That there had been an immense increase of crime , pauperism , disease , and discontent , throughout the country , and an excessive mortality among the humbler classes , whose expectation of life was , in some towns , only twenty years , while that of tho upper and middle classes was thirty-seven and twenty-seven years respectively . Tho illness from preventible causes was doubled ; and it was proved that , for every person who died among the working classes , three were ilJ , and their illness extended over a period of six weeks . Crime had increased in a rapid ratio . The committals in England and Wales had increased from 16 , 500 in 1821 , to 30 300 in 1849—so that it appeared crime had increased
six times as fast as the population of this country . The summary convictions in England and Wales had increased from 14 , 800 , in 1837 , to 35 , 700 in 1845 The number of prisoners brought before the iustices in the second seaport of the kingdom , was In 1840 17 , 400 ; in 1848 / 22 , 000 . The immiK " n the district of the metropolitan police had increased from 4 , 000 in 1840 , to o , 900 in 1847 . The number of personsVeused of crime in France was , in 1825 , 7 , 000 ; in 1835 , 6 , 900 ; and in 1845 . about tho same number as in 1835—so that while our criminals were increasing at this rapid rate , crime in a
neigh-Dourmng country was almost stationary . If hon . gentlemen opposite believed that crime was confined principally to our great cities , tho return showed , that from 1806 to 1841 , in six agricultural counties , with an increase in population offifty « five per cent ., the increase of crime was equal to that of six manufacturing towns , where the increase of population had been equal to ninety-two per cent . He now wished to ' call the attention , of the hbuso to the cost to the country of this neglect of the welfare and improvement of these numerous classes . Prom a calculation made by a commission , it appeared that the cost of crime waa £ 11 , 000 , 000 per annum .
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The poor rates , at that time ,,,: amounted to £ 5 , 400 , 000 ; and here he might remark . that the poor rates of 1848 . had increased ten or fifteen per cent , on- the former , year , and had gono on increasing ever since 1834 . _ , The cost of . hospitals , and tho loss from illneBS arising from preventible causes was £ 5 , 400 , 000 .. The cost of police , gaols , transports , and penitentiaries were estimated at £ 1 , 500 , 000 . Altogether the calculation , which was not . in his belief exaggerated , was , that crime , tho poor-rate , hospitals , loss of time , and other causes which would he diminished by the improvement of the condition of the working classes , cost the country £ 27 , 500 , 000 per annum for Eng land and Wales alone . The sum total , including Ireland and Scotland also , was , that there was an . expenditure
and loss of £ 40 , 000 , 000 , which was to be diminished gradually and effectively by taking measures for the improvement of the condition of the working classes . Their condition had never yet been looked into by any government , but tbero were three things it was the duty of the government to do ; first , to give the working classes instruction for their children ; secondly , protection for their health ; and , thirdly , fair play and reasonable facilities to aid their forethought and stimulate their industry . The poor man ' s health was his only property ; but the bouse had only } ust , at the eleventh hour , passed an Act of Public ' Health . He trusted that thig . measure would be found to be of great benefit to the working classes ; but , had we had a council , a dedeliberative stand
partment of state , a body , or a - ing committee or commission , composed of members takeu from both sides of the house , to consider ( hese subjects , there would have been a remedy found for these great evils long before . He asked the houso to . agree to tho appointment of such a standing council or department of state to inquire what practical measure might bo brought forward for the improvement of the condition of the working classes . It had been proved that the wages of the three classes of workmen engaged in the cotton , woollen , and hardware manufactures were amply sufficient for their comfort and support , if these men had the means of spreading them over a given period of seven years . A bill had passed that house Societies Act
for the extension of the Benefit , bui the words of the acfc were liable to technical objection , and the working classes had no power to unite in order to provide against that constant calamityillness . The benefit societies confined theipassis * tance to cases of the illness of the members ,: and could give none in the case of the illness of his family . There were also no means of securing by these ' societies small annuities . / or persons when they were too old to work . It was proved that in those places where the populations of large towns were devoid . of the comforts and decencies of life , and were living in a state of ignorance , there the number of improvident marriages and .. illegitimate children was the greatest . Was it the fault ot the
humbler persons in those districts that such things ghould bo , or . waa it not rather the fault of the great and opulent ? ( Hear , hear . ) He asked that , instead of erecting penitentiaries and workhouses , they should attempt a remedial process ,. and that , instead of being called upon to reform those sunk in crime , they should tvy . the experiment of dealing with the young and docile , and saving them from contamination . ( Hear , hear . ) He asked the houso to give the working classes safe investment for their humble earnings . There were in the rural districts places were savings banks were hardly known ; and , besides , a working man who received a legacy or £ 50 or . £ 60 could not place that sum in the savingsbank , and had often extreme difficulty as to the
mode of investing it . It was for that and such other objects as he . had before mentioned that he nowbrought the present motion before the house . ( Hear , hear . ) Mr . Tbelawny opposed the motion , chiefly on the ground that it would tend to injure the working classes rather than to improve their condition . He must say that the more he knew the working classes the more he was disposed to trust them . and to give them such privileges as they were entitledto possess ; but when a proposal like the present , that could not be realized , was brought forward , hefelt that the house would be guilty of unintentional deception towards them if-it gave that proposal it * sanction . ( Hear . ) The hon . gentleman had not given to the house anything like a plan , or laid
down any feasible scheme for remedying those great social grievances which all so much deplored . He ( Mr Trelawny ) wished to see the working classes , by their , own savings and forethought ; provide for their own improvement , instead of making it the duty of the state , and he did not think that , as ra body , they made any claim of the sort . The hon . gentleman spoke as if it was their duty to pass an set of Parliament to give the working classes forethought . [ Mr . Slaney had made no such proposal . ] Certainly not in so many words , but the hon . gen ^ tleman proposed that the house should do for the working classes what they oualit to doforthemselveat By repealing the corn laws they had no doubt done a great deal to improve tho condition of the people , and he knew no other way in which so much could
be done for Iheir benefit as by relieving their industry , and enabling them successfully to carry out . schemes for their own advancement . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir 6 . CIiiey was justified from all he kenw of ( Mr . Slaney , ) and from the communications he had with him , in testifying to the liberality of his intentions towards the working classes . He had given ample proof of his sincerity in promoting the object he had in view , and on every occasionJie believed he was prepared to give his time , his talents , and his attention for the purposo of promoting their welfare . ( Hear , hear . ) Having said that , however , he must observe that the measure which he had proposed to the house was not of such a practical character as was likely to be of any advantage
in eflectmg the social improvement of the working classes . He was unable to ascertain . what was tha precise nature of the duties he would impose on the commission or standing committee he wished to be appointed , He understood the hon , gentloman to propose that a committee of that house or a com * mission should be appointed to receive during the recess , or at other times , such suggestions and proposals as might be made to itTiem in regard to ths improvement of the working classes , and to con * sider the practicability of any plans that might then be submitted to them . ( Hoar , hear . ) This was , not doubt , an object important in itself , but one which he feared could not be carried out in th&way pro * posed by the hon gentleman . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho
thought that the only effect of such a plan would bo to cause a largo production of blue books and to overwhelm Parliament with information upon many points that it was already in full possession of , and that it would , after all , leave Parliament ashelpnesg as it was now with regard to the removal of many of the evils to which the hon . gentleman had referred . ( Heav , hear , ) When any proposition calcu * lated to promote the improvement of the working classes was clearly and distinctly recognised , there was no necessity for a commission to carry ifc out . Another objection to the motion "was , that indefinite expections of great legislative changes would thereby be produced in the minds of the working classes . And as to measures for promoting the publio health , there already existed a public health estahlishmoiit , which was exercising powers committed to it 6 y parliament with great advantage , so that on that question
a commission was altogether unnecessary . ( Hear . ) The hon . gentleman proposed to exclude from the consideration of the commission or committee all questions connected with political changes , but ? where the line was to be drawn he did not know , unless ho meant to say _ that they were only to be excluded from considering matters connected with reform in parliament . He hoped , in conclusion , that tho hon , gentleman would not press hi 3 motion . Ue gave him full credit for sincerity , but , if he put his motion to the vote , lie should be reluctantly compelled to oppose it . ( Hear . ) Mr . Sotiieron thought the objects aimed at-by Mr . Slaney would bo better accomplished by a combination of gentlemen united together for benevolen . t purposes than by any commission of tha government , though he felt hound to say that his hon . friend deserved credit for the perseverance with which he had continued to bring before tha house the social condition of the working classes , ( Hear , hear . )
Mf . Humb did not think the object of Mr . Slaney could be carried out by any committee that could be proposed ; but for the establishment of a benevolent society an excellent precedent would ba found in the one established by Sir John Barnard , a full explanation of the principles of which was to be had , along with tho rules , in the library . Mr . M . Milnks hoped the present discussion would lead government to consider how far it might be possible for them to give encouragement to tha
improvement of the social condition of the working classes , and to assist those who might be desirous of removing the enormous social evils that pressed upon the country . He did not think the working classes of this country were likely to get into th « habit of looking to government for aid in their undertakings ; but there were several matters in which the Exeeutivo might with propriety interfere , such as in the improvement of large cities , with a view to seeing that proper dwellings were provided for the poor . __ ; had
Mr . II . Herbert said he a petition , which ho should shortly present , from Rochdale , signed by about 3 , 000 persons , who had sustained an enor « mous loss by an institution which they believed to have the security of government . ( Hear , hear . ) If industrious people were thus to have their savings swept away in a day , no greater blow could bo given to habits of frugality and industry . He would call the earnest , attention of the government to the necessity of considering the condition of parties who had suffered so severely , while they made provision for a better regulation of savings banks in future . For a series of years tne government had just interfered so far with these establishments as to lead to the belief that the depositors had tha security of the state ; hence the parties who had suffered had a strong claim for relief . He should ]
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 9, 1850, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1564/page/7/
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