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THE HOBTHEBH STAB SATIK0AY, AUGUST 3O, 1851,
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ffO tCWtt^OUDfllt*.
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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 , IN NOS . AT ONE PENNY EACH , THE EMIGRANT GUioFfl ) THE BOLOEN LAND , n A L IF OR N I A , yJ ITS PAST HISTORY ; ITS PKESEST POSITION ; ITS EtmiaE PROSPECTS : 1 THH A MIKOTE AND ACTHESTIC ACCOUNT OF THE DISCOVERY OF THE GOLD REGION . AW ) THE SUBSEQUENT IMPORTANT PROCEEDINGS . In the course of the work will be given PUIN BISECTIONS TO E 1 IGM 5 TS
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J 5 » Nos . at One Penny each , splendidly Illustrated A HISTORY OP THE MPfEKEST EXPEDITIONS ENGAGED IN THE SEARCH FOE SIR J . FRANKLIN CONTAINING ALL THE REGEHT VOYAGES TOJTHE POUR REGIONS . Including in particular the Expedition sent out under the command OF SIR JAMES BOSS TO DAVIS' STBAITS AND Of Commander Moore and Captain Kellott , to Behrings Straits . "With an authentic copy of the dispatches received from SIR GEORGE SIMPSON , OF THE HUDSON'S BAY GOMPANY With other important and highly interesting anfonna . tion relative to the Expedition under
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Now Publishing in Nos . at One Penny each . By the Authoress of' The Gipset Gum . ' Each Fesnx Kdhber of this 2 fovel will contain Sixteen Pages of solid print . THE TRIALS ^ OF LOVE OB , WOMAN'S REWARD : Br Mbs . H . U . LOWtfDES , ( Latb HANNAH MARIA JONES , ) Auftoress of 'Emily aioreland , " Rosaline TFoodbridge ' Gipsey Mother , ' ¦ Scottish Chieftains , '' Forced Note ' ' « Wedding Ring , ' Strangers of the Glen ,, 'Victim ' of fashion , ' 'Child of JUjrsterj , ' etc .
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Just published , HE PROSPECTUS OF- THE CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE AGESCY :-Containing the necessary means for obtaining further information . May 2 « had at the following places : —The Central Office , 76 , Charlotte-street , Rtzroy-sqaare ; the Marylebone Bramh , 33 , Creat Marylebone-street , Portland-place ; the Man-Chester Branch , 13 , Swan-street , Manchester ; the Publishing OiHce of the Society for PrqmQtras Woridog Heu ' s Associations , 18-3 , Pleet-street . ^^ Gratis— if by personal application : if by letter , One Postage Stamp .
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^__ Just published , price One Shilling-, fflE APPLICATION OF ASSOCIAPJU TIVE PBDJClPiES AND METSODS TO AGRIfcULTORB : ALectobe , delivered on behalf of the Sooety for promotiag YTorlsing Men ' s Associations , on Wed . XEswr , May 28 , 1851 , by the Bev . Cham-es Kikgsiest , JUn ., Rector of Eversley . « P ^ . ?™ : PaoKsned b y John" James Bczer , at the Office Of the < Chri 3 tian Socialist , 183 Fleet-street .
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CHEAT ANB IMPORTANT BENEFITS 'I'd AM , CLASSES . TpBE U 3 TITED PATRIOTS' NATIONAL BENEFIT SOCIETY , AND BRITISH EMMItE FBEEHOLD LAND AND BUILDIKG SOCIETY . TJnitedin aeUon . Enrolled and Empowered by Act of Parliament to extend over the United Kingdom . AGENTS BEQDI 11 ED TO F 0 BSI LOCALITIES IN ALL PARTS OF CBEAT BB . 1 TABJ . Bmikers . —The Commercial Bank of London ( Branch ) 6 , Henrietta Street , Covent Garden . Society ' s Office . —No . 13 , Tottenham Court , Acw Road , St . Fancras , London . Danei . Wilhah Rcht , Founder , Manager , and Secretary . —Mb . John Smith , Treasurer . Socjeh ' s Meeting HocsE .- 'Lainb and Flag , ' Rose Street , XeW street , Covent Gardetu-MeeW every Tuesday evening at Eight o ' clock . ' BENEFITS ASSURED Eff THIS SOCIETr . The Member being Free to Half the Benefits in Sis Months frem Ms date of entering lstDiv . 2 nd . Dir . Srd . Dir . « h . Div . 5 th . Dit . 6 th . Div . Jn Sickness per Week 0 18 o .... ow 0 ... * f n J J f * * * " <*' tsss ^« sr : ri : :--i : ei i : •« I «« : {»¦;• : m For Medicine , Gift , "Widow and Orphan , Benefits , &c ., see and read the rules . be
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TiTciYSTE PiliCE . The following Eugravinga of tbia unrivalled edifice , are now ready , and may be had at this Office : — I-View of tUe Exterior of the Building ; a magnificent print—two feet long—exquisitely engraved ; from a drawing furnished by Messrs . Fox and Henderson ; and consequently correct in every respect . Pbick onlt Sixpence . II—Proofs of the Same Print , printed on thick ImperiaL Drawing Paper . Price One Shilling . III . —The Same Print , Superbly Coloured ; on extra Drawing Paper , and finished in the most exquisite style . Pbicb Two Shillings and Sixpence . IV . —View of the Interior , as it appeared on one of the most crowded days ; a magnificent Print , twenty-eight inches long , taken from tne centre of the Building , showing the entire length , and containing several hundred figures . Phicb Sixpbkce . V . —The Same Print , on Super Drawing Paper , coloured in the richest style , forming an exact representation of the Building . Pbicb only O-ve Shiming . The usual allowance to the Trade and Dealers . Office , 16 , Great "Windmill Street , Haymarket .
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THE POSTRAIT OF SIR ROBERT PEEL . A iew impressions of Ihis Magnificent Portrait of the late great Statesman are still left , and may be had at this Office .
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NOW PUBLISHING , In Weekly Numbers , Price Oni , t One Pawr Each , and Monthly Parts , Price Fobbknce Each , CHEAP VALUABLE ana POPULAR STANDARD WORKS , Illustrated with BEAUTIFUL STEEL ENGRAVINGS . 1 . —THE ARCTIC KEGlOjfS , or the lost Mariners , being a Search after sir Jolm Franklin , including an account of all the Voyaees la . Search of the Missing Ships , both Instructive and beautifully Illustrated witli Portraits of Sir John Prauklin , Parry , Ross , Beechey , Back ; Views , &c . 2 . —STURil'S MORNING DEVOTIONS , for erery Day in the Year . 3 .-EVENING DEVOTIONS , for every Dar in the Tear . i—SriTlMI'S CONTEMPLATIONS , on the life and tufferings of Jesus Christ , in Instructive and Devotional Exercises . S .-BUNYAN'S PILGRIM'S PROGRESS , with his Divine Emblems . 6 . _ BtTNYAN'S HOLY WAR ., The Losing and Taking again of the Tomn of Mansou ? .
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T BEG TO INFORM TBE SHAREA HOLDERS IK THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY , that I have consented to put myself in nomination as candidate for the office of Official Manager under theWindine up Act of the National Land Company . I feel confident that the business-like manner in which the Bank affairs were proved before the Committee of the House of Commons to have , been conducted under my superintendence , entitle me to the confidence of the Shareholders . .. ¦¦ ¦ ¦
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AN ORGAN FOR THE WORKING MAN !! Men of the Trades ! . ' . ' If you want to find a voice for your grievances , and * medium by which you can communicate every week . witu each otuer—record 3 our moYcments and your weekly rueetiugs —« 'iad define your progress , BEAD NOTES TO THE PEOPLE , A Periodical published every Saturday , containing flirty colttUina Of eloae print { besides wrapper ) tor '• ' ¦ ' ¦ ¦ '¦ Two Pesos .
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NATIONAL CHARTER ASSOCIATION . . Office , U , Southampton-street , Strand . rVHE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE X hereby announce the following meetings •—On Sundaj next , at three o ' clock in the afternoon , the Lambeth locality will meet at the South London Hall , and Mr . Pattinson , the sub-secretary , will be ia attendance to enrol members . On Sunday evening next , the late Crown and Anchor locality will meet at ttrc White Horse , Hare-street , Bethnalgreen . On Sunday evening , at the Literary and Scientific Institution , Johw-stvtet , Mr . Samuel Kydd will lecture . Subject : ' State Persecutions in Naples Florence , nnd Rome . ' On the same evening , at the Literary and Scientific Institutiou , Leicester-place , St . Feter's-tcrrace , Hattongarden , Mr . \ V . Broom will lecture . On the same evening , at the Ship , High-street , Great Garden-street , Whitechapel , a discussion will take place . ' Messrs . Shaw , Davis , and others , will attend . Oa the same evening , the 'Washington . Locality willmeet at the Two Chairmen , Wardour-street , Sohoi to enrol members , and other business , and also far discussion .
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TH OMAS COOPER , Author of 'The Purgatory of Scicides , ' &c , Delivebs Obations on the Following Subjects : — The Genius of Stok&peare , as displayed in his Hamlet ; ' with Headings and Recitations from the Play , the Music of Ophelia ' s Songs , &c . The Life and Genius of Milton ; witaUecitat-KKiaftwa ' . Paradise Loat , ' < l : c . The Life and Genius of Burns ; with the Music of some of his Songs , Recitations of ' Tarn O'Shanter , ' &c . The Life and Genius of Bjron ; with Headings nod Recitations from his Works . The life and genius of Shelley , with Readings and Recitations from his works . Civilisation : What it was in the Past—what it effucts for Man in the present , and the universal Human Happiness it must produce in the Future . The English Commonwealth : Founders of the Struggle—Coke , Selden , Elliot , Pyro , Hampden , < fcc . — Despetism of the King , and Tyranny Of Laud—Civil War—Death of Hampden—Battle 0 / Naseby—Imprison-
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* N . B . —When the distance from London is great , and a special journey ha » to be made from the Metropolis—of course , some allowance for extra travelling expenses will be expected . . . , .. . . £ 1 can only accept Invitations from Yorkshire and Lancashire , to the end of October . My friends may address me , for the next fortnight— Care of Mr . Barlow , bookseller , J , Nelson-street , Newcastle-on-Tyne . ' The week after—' care of Mr . Chaloner , 2 G , Bilton-street , York . ' And for the 15 th . 16 th , and 17 th September-. Gate of Mr . Isaac Ironside , Sheffield . ' - ^ T .. C . J
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SARAH Bahber . —This criminal , who up to a recent date has been : lying . iu Nottingham County Gaol under sentence of Heath , was on Wednesday conveyed to- Milbank prison , prior to removal to one of tho penal colonies , her punishraeut having been commuted to transportation for life . When informed oi ier .-. ' destiny she . tww much affeotfifl . baling oheriBliod hopes of receiving * . fidipardwa ,-
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Itt the matter of " an lotto dissolve ' the National Land Company' and to dispoie of the Lands and property DOlonging to the Company , and to wind up the undertaking , " and of the Joint Stock Companies Winding-up Aets , 1848 and 1849 . T JOSEPH HUMPHRY , ESQ ., 1 j the Master of the High Court of Chancery , charged with thB Winding-up of tnis Company , hereby give notice that I shall , » t mj chambers , Southampton-buildiugs , ChaDcefy-lane , London , on Thursday , the 4 th day of September next , at twelve o ' elo ; k at noon precisely , or at such adiourned time or place as I may then or afterwards fix / appoint an Official Alanager , or Official Managers , ef this Company . Andlgivenotico , that all parties interested are entitled to attend at such time and place and to offer proposals or objections as to any such appointment .
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In the matter © f " an Act to dissolve ' the National LaHd Compa ny' and to dispose of the Land and property belonging to the Company , and to wind up the undertaking " and of the Joint Stock Companies Winthng-up Acts , 1818 aud 1849 . T VTOTICE is hereby given that all parties i \ claiming to be creditors of the above-mentioned Company are to Cime in and prove their debts before Joseph Humphry , Esq ., the Master of the High Court of Chancery , charged with the Windiug-up of the said Company , at his chambers , in Southampton-buildings , Chancerv-lane , London . And that until they shall so come in they will be . precluded from : commencing or prosecuting ttllV prOCesdiDgS fO * fei ! 6 V 6 ry . of their debts .
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W , Ems , Bradford . —The Divorce Bill was not passed , and the price at which alono a complete divorce c » n be obtained is so great as to place it utterly beyond the reach of the poor man . W . Dunn , Netherton , Dudley , Worcestershire . —We are unable to answer the question , as to the Loan Society , but personally wo approve of the principle npon which , it is established , and the object it has in vietv . We are gratified at the expression of Mr . Dunn ' s confidence in Sir . O'Connor , and quite agree with him , that Mr . O'Connor had had one Hundred pa-1 as much support as he lias had opposition the Company would have succeeded . ' TV- Jone 3 , Merthyr . —The notice is not addressed to holders of scrip , but to bom fide creditors of tho Company . Next week we shall give full instructions to holders of serlp . , Enwis O'Doxnell , Hertford . —The Land Company Being wound-up no new director will be appointed . If our . correspondent-means for the situation of Official Mauacer , we believe the gentleman alluded to is not iligible .
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NOTICE ! TO HEADERS , SUBSCRIBERS , AND
FRIENDS . We have this week hsued a circular to all our agents , intimating that , on and after Satuiday , the 30 th . iBBfc ., the publishing arrangements of the ' Star' will be placed on the same footing as those of all other metropolitan weekly journals . From that date no papers will be supplied except for cash . In consequence of not acting upon this general rul&of the trade-,-Mr . O'Connor has suffered heavily in past times , and has nowowing , in small separate sums , an aggregate
debt of some thousands of pounds . We have no doubt , our readers pay for their papers when they receive them ; we only want the agents to do the same when they take them from us ; and to content themselves with their legitimate profitj instead of taking paper , printing , government stamp , and editorial labour from us without making any return . In carrying out this arrangement , it is quite possible that some of our readers may be disappointed in receiving their papers for the
first week or two . If so , they will know where the fault lies , and they can easily remed y it . They have only to give their orders to another news-agent , who is in the habit of observing the trade rule , and sending his money with his orders to his wholesale agent , either in London or in the country . If no such person be available , a quarter's payment in advance , or the remittance of the price of a single . number in postage stamps weekly , will ensure the paper regularly from this office by post .
We hope , however , that tho ample notice we have given of the change will enable all our present agents to make arrangements accordingly ; and that , while the proprietor of the ' Star' will in future be honestly paid for the papers he supplies , the readers of the ' Star' will suffer no inconvenience , but receive our Journal as . usual . ' We may add , that during the vacation , we purpose to use our best efforts to make it second to none , as to the value , variety , and importance of its contents .
'" 'We find that the circular , which , under present circumstances , we felt it our duty to issue , has given offence to some of our agents . It is a pleasing duty to us to state , that we have many of the most honourable men in the trade acting in that capacity , whose payments are prompt , and whose conduct merits not only our respect and esteem , but the confidence of the public in all trade tansactions . In commencing a newarrangementfor the publication of the ' Star , ' however , we were necessarily obliged to announce the causes of that alteration .
without specific reference to individuals ; and we shall deeply regret if that indispensable announcement has either hurt the feelings or , in' the remotest degree , injured any honourable agent . To them we shall look for the same prompt and tradesman-like conduct we have always experienced at thoir hands ; while we must repeat that the circumstances in which we are placed during Mr , O'Connor's absence from England , will compel us imperatively and rigourously to act upon tho arrangement of which we have given notice .
The Hobthebh Stab Satik0ay, August 3o, 1851,
THE HOBTHEBH STAB SATIK 0 AY , AUGUST 3 O , 1851 ,
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THE RECESS . A complete stagnation pervades the political world . Not a single meeting- in any part of the country has taken place since the recess , on political topics , if we except one , at which Mr . F . YOUNG . was the chief performer , and Protection the theme . A meeting of the Parliamentary Reform Association has been held For the election of officers , at which we are told 'the utmost enthusiasm was manifested , ' and promises of what it will do were liberally made ; but as yet it has done nothing . Chartism is not more active than any
other politicalism . True , that the lecturers connected with the Chartist organisation address audiences in various towns and districts ; that other lecturers of long standing and eminence in the Democratic ranks , like Mr THOMAS Cooper , make lecturing tours ; and that Gbajtist localities duly meet and transact their ordinary business ; but there is no national movement—none of that universal upheaving which , precedes great and radical reforms . 'Nothing ia stirring but stagnation . It is somewhat difficult to account for this siipineness and apathy . Certainly it does not
arise from general satisfaction with the government , and the present state of political affairs . We do not believe that if the country could be polled , the present Ministry Would receive a single vote beyond those of their own immediate circle—their official subordinates and on-hangers , and place hunters connected with tha Whig party . Their utter incompetency .. to discharge the duties of a Government has long been notorious to all partieB . They feel themselves that they merely retain their places on sufferance—attempt as little a 9 they can , and make a botch of everything they do meddle with . '
. If the Ministers are thus regarded , either with contempt or indifference bv the great body of the people , the present state of our political institutions is equally opposed to their ? convictions of what is just or ' nationally beneficial . Even in St . Stephen ' s itself it is felt and admitted , jthat under them matters were brought to £ a dead Jock , and that a great change is | necessary . The unenfranchised masses have long demanded ' a Manhood Suffrage as the only equitable and satisfactory settlement of the suffrage question—their political creed is well known and distinctly avowed ; but theyjgive no sign of living faith and sincerity of conviction . Even the promise of a Whig Reform Bill nexi wssi < m has failed to stimulate them te action .
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Perhaps , however , in the midst of this seeming inaction and apathy , opinion and events may be quietly ripening for such a nioTement as we desiderate . The short days and long nights are approaching , when the watering places , the moor , the game preserves , and the well appointed yacht , will no longer absorb the attention of public men in the upper classes ; while the shutting up of the Exhibition , and the . cessation of cheap railway trains , will leave the industrial classes time and means to attend to political questions . By the end of October , or beginning of November , we may have a movement begun which will betoken a healthy state of public opinion , and tell on the Whig bantling in embryo . . '
We confess , however , that we rather hope this will be the case than feel certain of its occurrence . We see on the part of the leaders of the so called popular party , both in and out of Parliament , none _ of that union and mutual co-operation which are the essential pre-requisiteto national organisation , or the production of great uud beneficial reform . Daring the last , few years , almost every one of the eighty members , who vote for Mr . HusiE ' s ' Little Charter' have at all other times
mounted each a separate hobby , and spurred and cantered away thereon , regardless of the principle of concert , and without even dreaming of the formation of any definite policy as a party—the term is indeed as inapplicable to them as it would be to a rope of sand . There is neither cohesion leadership , nor plan to be found among them ; and hence Whig ministers are allowed to indulge in a Tory polioy , and to prevent all rational and progressive reform on the most miserable and flimsy pretexts .
If the' eighty' had acted in concert with each , other , and in good faith on their own professed principles , they would have made the barren sessions of the last few years very different in their character and resultBi They were Bumerous . enough to hold the balance between the factions , who alternately take possession of place and power . If the Whigs would not go on , they ought to have gone Out- — one or the other of these courses should have
been their , only alternative . But the parliamentary ' Liberals' are all leaders ; there is no rank and file—no organisation , no subordination , no acting together . Every man dooth that which is right in his own eyes , and the consequence is , they are powerless , and may be laughed at with impunity by either of the fclCtions , who separately have neither the numbers nor tho influence requisite to ensure the retention of office . Until this grievous defect in Parliamentary tactics is remedied , the cause of popular progress will have no chance within the Legislature . But we believe that the remedy itself must come from without . At the next election earnest men must be sent
into the HonBOJof Commons , who are prepared to tako auy position in the popular party , to act in concert with those professing the same geueral opinions , in furtherance of a clear and decided plan of action , and who are not to be seduced from the manly and independent discharge of their duties , by all the blandishments and seduction of the Treasury ' whipper in' or his masters . We come back , therefore , to the people at last , as the real source from which must
emanate a health y political activity . Limited as the Suffrage is , much might be done at present in the direction we have indicated ; but we trust that the next election will take place with a greatly extended Suffrage ; and to that end we hope before the close of the present year , to see a movement out of doors that shall demonstrate to the Government , in an unmiBtakoable manner , the attachment of the masses to the principles embodied in th « People's Charter .
No personal feeling or paltry ambition should be allowed to stand in the way of such a movement on tho part of those who have hitherto taken an active part in the Chartist agitation . The remarks we have made as to the want of unity on the part of Parliamentary 'Liberals , ' apply to the leaders of the Chartist body also and that fatal disunion has probably more than any other cause tended to produce the disorganisation and apath y which we lament . Thoso who aspire to guide the
people should set an example of earnest devotion to the cause , of self negation , of zeal and determination . In proportion as they do this , and show that they , think habitually moTe of principles than persons—more of the work in which they are engaged than themselves— -will they command the confidence and respect of thepublic , and acquire that influence over the national mind , which must precede the accomplishment of any great beneficial or enduring vefonnmour political and social institutions .
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why did vi'ey risk their Hves ^^*} ^^ open ? AiaS ; .. the evidence showed t , 7 \ i > C 3 had only the alterative of death u " they tion , ' or death by violence . One Ln , *' been discharged for lu ntiV that it T ^ sound , and . nearly , all the witnesses CXaS > stated that they dared not speak twRSf and that they should be turned awav W , * ' they fjaid that day ; ' in other wordZ t ! J ?* owners of the pit : would punish them 1 ° speaking the truth on their oaths bv « W- . ° * them of work and the means ofS ^ Now , we should , like to see a workh i ' jury empaunelled to try this case , and t ,, i ss judge to pronounce sentence upou , i ° persons committed for manslaughter i i as much general sympathy >> ith the J ° , ^ men as judges Ue with the JSjB and ' respeetablo' classes of society & suspect that they would take a very i-i * re ^ ; Jf . ? . e caset ? Y * ffl be tai ^'
aimuuio-eiasg jury and jud ge , under th « j ' minion of the conventional ami u » Co » t prejufcees which necessaril y iafillZ" *' , « views on all questions that come bothm 1 If Ihe case was fairl y tried , it S think , be found one of the deepest atrocties , ?!! much move worthy of the gallows than nlS to which that penalty is adjud ged m ' j , y poor ignorant wretch , un < lw tho m lCnl excitement of passion or drink Altn a " fellow creature of life , CSjJ ? *" , * rt ^ JS * 2 ! •«**? of c %
_ life , by condemning the crimuuU to d-u . But if we look at the ' Malaga Valo ' murd carefully , we shall find that they were attendLl by no such extenuating circumstances as a company nine-tenths of the cases in ^ . ij jj muvder is committed in this couutry n depth of the pit was 1 , 500 feet , or about fouj times the hei ght of St . Paul ' s Cathedral . < nIn
rope was the sole means of raising to tlin 8 urfaco the products of the mine , and ioworiao and bringing up the men employed in it ; buf for the sake of saving a few pounds , the nia ! nager and foreman deliberatel y continued to use the ropo long after it was evident to all that it had ceased to be serviceable . tL cart or basket in which the men went down to their . work , was not guarded by any si pparatn *
whatever agamgt the numerous chances of danger while descending the shaft ; and when the colliers ventured to whisper that it vaa unsafe to trust tlieir lives to this rotten spliced , crazy machinery , dismissal was tho consequence . The killing of the fire men was not , therefore , a misadventure , or manslaughter under extenuating circumstances ;—it was a deliberate and coolly-perpotrated murder with as palpable an object as that of the hi ghwayman or burglar who kill tlieir victims in order to get their purses or their plate .
The occupation of coal miners must , under the best of circumstances , be at all times prosecuted under many inconveniences , and surrounded by dangers ; buf it is the boundon duty of the owners or renters of each pit to take care , not only that all the machinery and processes connected with its working are ' in a sound condition , but that they are the best which the science and the experience of the day can devise . In a country like this , abounding in mechanical , chemical , and engineering skill , the chances of danger ought to be reduced to a minimum : and , iu fact , we
boheve that plaus , patents , and' machinery exist by which all , or nearly all , foreseen causes of injury to life or limb may be provided against . The only reason why thoy are not adopted is the expense . Rather tiian pay the money which it would require to make their pits safe and healthy , the mine owners prefer to sacrifice the lives of their workpeople wholesale , to rob families of their protectors and supporters , and to drive widows and families by the score and the hundred
into beggary or the workhouse . For the obvious and avowed purpose of putting a few pounds in their pockets , they persist in empJoying processes rivalling in rudeness and inadequacy the crudest attempts of the most savage tribes .: That most useful portion of our labouring population who are engaged ia providing us with the material on which the whole of oui manufacturing and
commercial greatness depends , are buried iu the bowels of the earth , exposed to deadly gases , noxious ' after damps , ' aud to untimely . deaths ; and yet the precautions of science , by which their toilsome labours might bo alleviated and their safety insured , are not provided from the most sordid and grovelling motives . What are the lives of a hundred collierscompaved to an extra hundred thousand pounds a year in the pocket of the owner %
It will be recollected that in the session beforelast an act . was passed , in defiance of a determined opposition on the part Of the mas « ters , which was intended to place some check on the numerous and evidently culpable ' accidents ' in coal mines . That act does not by any means seem to be sufficient for the purpose , if we may judge by the frequency of these occurrences of late . At one colliery , near Waken eld , two men were killed by an explosion of
foul air ; at another , seven , were destroyed by the ignition of tho explore gases m the foul . workings ; and , following these , was an awful event at the Washington Colliery , near Newcastle , by which thirty-five poor men were in an inata . at destroyed by an explosion of choke damp , aud their blackened and charred bodies brought up to the surface scarcely recognisable by the frantic wives , mothers , and sisters , whose shrieks of woo rise to heaven against the monstrous cupidity which has caused so many murders .
If we tuvn to other sections of the industrial classes , we find that our bousted prosperity i 8 equally far from protecting them against oppression or improving their condition . In the manufacturing districts abatements and fines are made , by which the nominal wages paid to tho operatives are reduced at the uncontrolled pleasure of the mill owners . Each mill has its black list , ' in which the names of all obnoxious workmen are dul y entered by the conspirators against the independence of
the working classes ; aud whenever one of the proscribed and doomed men who have liad the misfortune to offend any one of the raillocracy asks for work , the first question asked is the name of the : applicant ; tho black list is scanned ; ahd , " wi £ hout any reason assigned , he is told there is no work for him . We wonder whether Mr . Justice Ekjlb aild a special jury would call this a conspiracy to impoverish and starve tod eath thevictims of such an infamous combination ; or is the law onlv made to
ensnare and oppress the working man alone ? Last week " a / Poor Stockinger ' told his piteous tale iu our columns , with a graphic simplicity and pathos which must have aroused the warmest sympathies of , our readers . We need not do more than advert to .. the . leading- facts . . For making' sto ckings he is paid Is . 3 d ; per dozenpairs , or lid . pe « pair . He dare n 6 t work at any other frame than that of his employer ^ who' gives him out just so much work as he pleases .. Having
made seven dozen pair of" stockings , ^ took them into the warehouse , expecting to receive the 7 s . 6 d ., which was their price But the employer deducted in the first p lace 5 s . 9 d . for frame rent , and refused even the remaining Is . 9 d ., on the ground that the stockinger was in arrears . In vain did the man'begfor a single shilling to keep him flOia starving from the wretch who had seized upon the fruits of his . labour ; he was repulsed , and ' with a sad heart and broken mind / almo st
contemplated suicide .: We scarcely wonder at it , when for seventeen weeks together he has never received more than Is . o »« a week for making six dozen pair of stockman and is compelled to eke out » living by apply . h > g to the parish for relief . Thousands ^ me class are in the - same . position , mw'S-J clear that , under . pretence of frame rent , tw ? are robbed of ev . en the nominal price ¦«¦""?*
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"RESPECTABLE ^" MURDER AND ROBBERY . According to the Free Trade journals , England is quite a commercial paradise at present . Competition and cheapness are in the ascendant , and we are almost deafened by the incessant laudation heaped upon the policy which , has produced such glorious results " . Now we do not deny that the said policy has worked very well for the class who live upon the profits of other men's industry , or the class
that live by buying che ^ p and selling dear . The mauufacturerg and the commercialiata may thrive , however , without a co-ordinate prosperity existing among other classes of the community . Nay , their prosperity may be based on the suffering and the oppression of these classes . But unfortunately the oppressed classes have no voice in the fashionable and potential journals . Wealth—which secures the enjoyment of so many other good thingsmonopolizes the ear of the public also , and a depraved public opinion is the consequence .
If this was not true , it would not have been possible for Borne recent occurrences to have been passed over almost without notice—certainly without appropriate censure and condemnation . . In some of the most widely circulated daily papers , we find constant lamentations over the sufferings of the slaves in the United States , and elsewhere ; while they suffer treatment of the wages slaves in England , infinitely worse in character , to pass without comment . .
TaEe for Instance- the late , / Manslaughter ' —as the coroner's jury termed it—at the Malaga Vale Coal Pit , near Bedminster , Bristol . On that occasion the breaking of a rope caused the death of five poor colliers , as thoy were being lowered to their work . The rope snapped at the top when they ' . were far down the shaft , and the loosened IHass of material fell upon , and smashed and mutilated the victims , till they could hardl y be recognised . ; This was nof . aaf accident '—a favourite word-in ' colliery . affairs ; ifc - was a deliberate— --murder we were going to say , but we will not exceed , the moderate verdict of the jury . It was a deliberate manalaughter—if our readers can form an idea of two such terms in conjunction . ,, ,
m 2 ? r % ^^ *^ - dangerous T dlin ^ " ° P « to whichthemen employed in the colliery had twice every day to trust their hves , was well known . It had been PM-In ww * pu ^ : . i ll d -- Oiej ? 2 e ~ LwS y & \ ^ Where tl » e fracture occurred , was . not ihe part that really broke , but a much aounder part . On the very occasion the rope broke , the attention of tile fore-S ™ arf W ^ Mpfcrto by six of themen , who expressed thoir euspicions as to its secu-SSE : - *« % l , atit ' aad said U should be seen to after they had gone down ! They did go down-the rope broke , and all were killed out one , who'havine landed at . a h ?» k « 1 ^ 1
narrowly escaped the : fate of liia doomed compatiioni . ..-,, _ ... . .. , ; . , ¦ -.-. P& ' jk m& Y belaid that . the men were aware wthe dspgew ^ i condition © f the rope ,
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^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ THE NORTHERN STAR . ' r , __ , _ August , 30 , iSoi .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Aug. 30, 1851, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1641/page/4/
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