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With the exception of the new Solicitor-General for Ireland the members of the Derby Administration hare walked over the course . Mr . Whitebide had a bare majority of nine at Enniskillen , and the metropolitan Ministerial journal headed it * Triumphant Heturn ! ' It will not occasion surpr ise therefore to find that the same organ gravely records the fact of no opposition being offered to the New Ministers as a proof that the feeling of the country is with them ! How delighted they would he if that were true ! But no amount of self-deception can enable them to shut theireyes tothefact that there are no contests just now , because their political opponents are reserving their strength for the General Election , which must , under
any circumstances , be close at hand . The speeches at the hustings maintain the character we gave th em last week , with the exception of that of Mr . Chbisto-PHElt . They say nothing . Inuendoes are not wanting , but itii doubtful if the agricultural mind is quick atcomprehending ministerial and diplomatic hints . They would prefer something moreplain-spoien , and it must be rather a trying task to keep them in due order to suit the convenience of the men in office . Their greatest danger will arise from their own supporters . The farmers are not transcendental enough to be content with a Protectionist Ministry in power , merely for the show of the thing . It will have to redeem , or attempt to Tedeem , Us former pledgea . Then will come the tug of war .
Meanwhile the Free Traders are mustering their forces for the coming contest . Mr . Cobden has had a monster meeting at Leeds , and announced his intention of standing for the West Biding , as a test of the largest county constituency in the kingdom . On Thursday the Ex-Premier collected a large number of Tv * hi g 8 , Whig Kadicals , and Free Traders at Chesham-place , and organised an opposition to his successors . What the terms of the compact between leader and followers were , does not appear in the report of the prooceedidgs . If it is merely to restore liordJora and the Family Party to the Treasury Benches , the meeting was thrown away .
If a liberal and really progressive party is to be organised , it must be upon a broader and a firmer basis than mere Whiggery . The time has come when Ministers mast he more than the representatives of cliques and coteries . Political power must no longer be bandid from one set of aristocratic families to another . Lord Debby may become King Stork , but that is no reason why we should return to Busseix King Log- The country desiderates something better than either , and will have it too , despite the intrigues of hereditary or adventurous statemen , * who want to keep ' Cabinet making' a close monopoly . The first Council of the new Cabinet was held on
Saturday last , and eince then others have been held . The sittings have been somewhat protracted in each case . It now appears that the Ministerial programme is deferred to Monday , when the Premier in the Upper , and the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Lower , House , willj develope , as far as they think prudent , the results of these deliberations . Pending this official anunciation of their plans , it it not a little amusing to sea the desperate and unscrupulous methods employed by the Free Trade journalists , to damage the new Ministers with the commercial classes . The 'Daily News' tells its readers that ' we are now under the rule of men who
are Anarchists in Social science . ' The same jonrnal continues : — ' We have read as thorough Socialism in the amusing works of the Chancellor of the Exchequer , as in those of Owen or Loras Blanc ;—not that he was aware of it , any more than the " Bourgeois Gentilhomme" was aware that he had all his days been talking prose . But it is Socialism , nevertheless , in as far as that term embraces a hostility to capitnl and competition , and the principle that the working classes ought to be under general organisation , and remunerated , not according to their productiveness and value in the labour market , hut on some more equitable Social system . '
If the writer understood the words he uses , we might pause to ask what he means by remunerating th 9 working classes according to their productiveness and value ? But this is not the place for such questions ; and we shall , therefore , merely pass on , giving the following glimpse of Socialism in high places , from the same authority : —* The general tendency of the novel of ' Sybil , ' for instance , which might be supposed to haye been written from a celebrated aphorism of Peoudiioit about , robbery and property , iiinthe direction we have indicated . The workhouse
system is there spoken of only to he supported by the hateful man of the hook who finds in it features congenial to ~) ub selfish and cruel nature . The author ' s tendencies and sympathies are seen in the eloquent denunciations of the philosophical workmen , who assail capital , machinery , and competition . Thus an aged man , who had seen better days , announces in this manner the causes of the fate of the hand-loom
weavers : — * " It is that the capitalist has found a slave that has supplanted the labour and ingenuity of man . Once he was an artisan—at the best he now only watches machines—and eren that occupation slips from his grasp , to the woman and the child . The capitalist flourishes—he amasses immense wealth ; we sink lower and lower—lower than the beasts of burthen—for they are fed better than we are , and cared for more . And it is just , for according to the preient system , they are more precious . And jet they tell us that the interests of Capital and Lubour are identical . '"
This is certainly a shocking sentence to be penned by a Chancellor of the Exchequer . It is still mora shocking to see the paper which is understood to be the recognised organ of the New Ministry , writing in the following Etyle of Messrs . Cobden and his friendj : — ' They have pursued exclusively their own aggrandisement ; and with vast and loud professions of their care for the working classes , they have utterly neglected all means of improving or ameliorate
ing the condition of the workmen—of removing the difficulties under which they were labouring , of adjusting their disputes with their masters . Kay , more , they have turned a cold and contemptuous look upon all attempts made by others . We tell Mr . Cobden that his conduct on Mr . Sidney ' s motion will not aoon be forgotten ; and that when he and others of his party return to their constituents they will find a very different welcome from what they once received , and from what they expect . . . .
• How many questions are there affecting the Eocial condition of the people at large , and still more of the manufacturing classes , for whom these men have loudly professed their sympathy , which they hare ntterly neglected ; the more shamelessly as they were raised into power by the very men for whom they care not a jot , except to secure their own political importance ? How many questions are there even at this present moment imperiously demanding the attention of the legislature , and all its study and foresight , which these men would throw overboard merely for the sake of factious agitation ?'
Of course our readers will take for what they are worth the warm protestations of interest in their welfare , made by both parties . We merely note them in passing , because it is something to know that the unwholesome stagnation which pervaded the political world , has been at length stirred , and politicians of f U parties begin to court the ' support' of the * working classes , * With the exception of the speculations as to the probable course of affairs on the re-assembliug of Parliament , there is scarcely anything to note in tho home news of the week . It has ' been one of comparatively suspended animation .
Approaches have been made towards a settlement ° f the dispute between the Operative Engineers and their Employers . A temperate , and , at the same time , a courageous explanation , on the part of tho m , has been made , which must materially 5 mooth ^ e path to a reconciliation . They do not want a JJctory in mere words . Enough if the thing asked for be conceded . There are symptoms of yielding on ihe other side . It is said that the Masters have at ] ast discovered the folly of being Jed by a person who * s a mere doctrinaire , and much more anxioui to Maintain his own superiority aud opinions , than consult the interests of either Masters or Men in a
practical way . They have , it is Etatcd , thrown overb ! £ rd their Secretary ; aud the « Weekly Dispatch , ' ^ nich , since the commencement of the Strike , has , Under his inspiration , been a strenuous advocate of J * e Masters , last week turned round , and spoke in *« natural voice . It is alleged that a loss of ten inousand in its weekly circulation has brought it to «• right senses , and excluded from its columns the "cabrations of the clever litterateur , who was much wo intent upon victory to care for anything else . A «
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we have a very cordial dislike to all hired agitators and professional Dugald Dalgettt ' s , either with sword or pen , we shall rejoice to find these statements confirmed , as being the preliminary to a restoration of amity between Masters and Men . The Society of the Friends of Italy had a meeting in Lambeth , to draw attention to the march of military despotism on the Continent , and its threatening aspeot towards England , at which Mr . Masbon and Mr . Stahbfield told some home truths , that ought
to he kept in remembrance by all classes . It would seem , however , that Kossuth had exhautted that view . Public attention is languid , and if the statement of the * Times' correspondent be true , it is the same in the United States , where the immense excitement and enthusiasm rapidly kindles before him , and dies out as quickly behind him . There seems , besides , to he two Bichmonds in the field . Professor KDfKEL was on the ground first , soliciting help for Germany ; and it may he that the two causes have jostled each other .
From the Cape the news is somewhat more reassuring , though no material change had taken place in the relative position of the belligerent parties , with the exception of the ' rumour' that Sahdiixi was about to abandon his hostile position , and the statement that the Fingoes had rallied round the British troops . There will he a nice little bill brought in for that job . by and bye .
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[ As the columns under this head are open for the free expression of all opinions , the Editor is not responsible for , or committed to , any . ] A MINIMUM BATE OP WAGES FOR UNSKILLED LABOUR .
10 IBB EDITOR OF THE HOBTHERN STAR . TJjub Sir , —As I am desirous of seeing the working daises acting upon the true principles of political economy , m laid down by the best and most approved writers on that science , I showed your readers , by copious extracts from the writings of the great Dr . Adam Smith , " That labour , alone , as it never varies in its value , is alone the real standard of value , by which the value of all commodities can , at all times , and in all places , be estimated and compared . " And for the purpose of reducing this principle to practice , recommended that working men of all trades should unite and organise themselves , for the purpose of obtaining from Parliament "The labourer ' s real and best charter , " an act to fix , by law , the minimum rate of wages for unskilled labour .
But let me not be misunderstood . I do not propose that a law should be passed to compel a master to give to every unskilled labourer he employs 203 . per week , on the ono hand , nor every unskilled man to accept of 20 s . per weak on the other . Nor do I propose that the price of any kind of piecework , or the price of any kind of produce , material , or manufactured article , should be fixed by law . Such a statute could not work—the variety of ingenuity , talent , and character , among workmen , and the law tf supply and demand , would at once defeat it . But I propose that an act of parliament should be passed , abolishing the law that makes gold and silver the standard of value , and the only legal tenders , and to make them simply commodities , to be sold by weight , at market prices , like as iron , lead , copper ,
&c ., are at present . The government still continuing to coin gold , silver , and copper money , or tokens for small change as usual . Gold and silver coins , sold by weight , at market prices , as advertised from time to time by the national bank , to continue to be legal tendere , as well as the national bank notes . The denominations of our money might also remain as they are—viz ., pounds , shillings , and pence . But the only standard of value ( which these names might express , as well as any other ) in future to be ( what Dr . Adam Smith says , always was , and always must be ) labour . One pound being , by law , the wages for six days labour of ten hours par day , for a working man , at any kind of unskilled labour , payable in tho logal tender paper money of the national bank .
The way I would propose for the law to operate would be this : —Every master , who set a man to work , at any kind of unskilled labour , without first making a bargain with km , about his wages , should be compelled , by law , to pay him at the rate of 20 s . per week ; and no unskilled labourer should be allowed to charge more than 20 s ., unless he bargained for it before he began his work—thus enabling the clover and industrious man to make the best use of his talents , without compelling the master to overpay the idler or bungler . The wages of unskilled labour being fixed , the wage * of skilled labour would naturally fix itself , no portion of it , of course , would be less ; but , owing to there being too
many hands in many skilled trades , arising from improvements In machinery , or falling off in the demand for the article , and other causes , their wages might possiblv be no higher than the unskilled labourers ; probably the building and iron trades would retain much tho same rato of wages that they obtain at present ; but one great advantage from it , to both masters and workmen , in all trades , would be that it would equalise the rate of wages all over the kingdom , and thus causean emulation to make the best article , and prevent , in a great measure , that foolish and ruinous competition , in making and selling cheap and nasty work , so injurious to both men and masters , and the public everywhere .
No articlo can be sold below its prime cost , for a long time , without bringing ruin upon the employer , or compelling him bo to reduce their wages as to bring poverty and distress upon his workmen ; and there is at present no law of the state , and neither conscience , Christian principle , nor the common feelings of humanity , have hitherto been found powerful enough , under the present system of unlimited competition , and what is falsely called freedom for employers and the employed , in settling the rates of wages , to prevent the employers of the weavers , agricultural labourers , nail makers , sweated tailors , and distressed needlewomen—besides many others in England—from reducing their earnings from time to time , till their food and raiment is so coarse and scanty , and their habitations so miserable , that every people in the world cry , " Shame on our inhumanity . " But their condition , bad as it ib , is far
preferable to that of the large majority of the labouring population of Ireland . By a return placed in the hands of members of the House of Commons , at tho commencement of this Session , it appears that 1 , 225 persons died of kunper , m the Iulrush Union alone , in the year ending March , 1851 . That there have , on the average , been about 760 , 000 paupers in the workhouses in Ireland each year , for the last four years , and out of these about one in fourteen have died in each year ; thus , four out of every fourteen paupers in Ireland have died within the last four years—many from starvation in the workhouse , and many from starvation they endured before they would resign their liberty , and go to the union . If such be the mortality in the workhouse , what must it be out of it , in the West of Ireland particulariy , where thousands of families aro living upon little miserable patches of land , or working for sixpence , and even fourpence per day .
Ib it not high time , then , that something was done to t-ut a stop to this frightful state of things ? We aro told , also , that there is a great increase in crime , and more especially in juvenile crime j and can we wonder at this amidst ail this misery ?—and why and how has this state of things arisen ? It is because there has been no Organisation , of Labour , no Trades' Unions , no Amalgamated Societies , to protect the wages of these poor people ; hut more especially it is because there ia no minimum rate of wages , paid in a national Paper Currenoy , and because labour is not practically made the standard of value .
Th e above dreadful state of the labouring poor has been time after time made known , in all its horrors , to government , to parliament , and to all the wealthy and influential classes , clerical and secular , by incontrovertible evidence and testimony ; but , hitherto , either a deaf ear has been turned to their complaints , or they have been put off with - We are sorry to hear it ; but it cannot be helped ; it is a necessary consequence of a high state of civilisatioh ; a SSri MISC ? froia "" townee , imprudent and early niamagcs vice , and intemperance . Government and lcgis-HV ^ r ° " *? . " more for them 5 there ' iS a P ' h for their relief , and charitable institutions innumerable ; what more can he done for them ? There aro rich and poor now , and there always have been rich andnoor in all countries •"
anuthe professedly religious add , '" Does not Scripture say ' The poor ye have , always with you , ' and that 'The poor shall never cease m the land ; ' it is the dispensation of lrovidence , to which we must all patientl y and piously submit , as it is the natural and inevitable state and conditum of the larger portion of society . " But tbis twaddle will no longer satisf y the starving poor . They have inquired , and they will inquire still more , whether their horrible condition be the natural state of societv . On this fJ'W ^ v'l- " 2 ^ consult Dr . Adam Smith . See " Wealth of Nations , " book I ., chap . C and 8 . "In the early and rude stateof society whieh pvocedesboth the accumulation of stock , and the appropriation of land , the whole prod uce of labour belongs to the labourer ; and the quantity of labour commonl y applied in acquiring or producing any commodity , is the only circurastanco which can regulate the quantity of labour which it oucht
commonly to purcnase , command , or exchange for . If among a nation of hunters , for example , it usually costs twice the labour to kill a beavtr which it does to kill a deer , one beaver should naturally exchange for , or be worth two deer . It is natural that the produce of two days' or two
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hours' labour , should be worth ( usually ) double of what ii the produce of ono day ' s or one hour ' s labour . But if the one species of labour be more severe than the other some allowance will naturally be made for this superior ' hardship ; or if the one species of labour requires an uncommon degree of dexterity and ingenuity , acquir ed in consequenoe of long application , the esteem which men have for such talents will naturally give to their produce a value superior to what would be due to the time employed about it Tho whole produce of labour , therefore , consti tutes the natural recompense or wages of the labourer . He has neither landlord nor master to share with him . "
Now , my working brethren , this is the natural atate of the labourer , when justice is done to him ; and this is exaotly the state of the emigrant labourers who settle on tha ild lands in Canada , and the Western States of America ; they have neither landlords nor masters ; and thus they enjoy the whole fruits of their labour ; and hence there are neither beggars , nor paupers , nor children crying for broad , among them . But let us see how it is with thorn naturally as they progress onwards . Chap . VIIL— " Had this stata continued , tho wneei of labour would have augmented , with all those improvements in its productive powers to which the division of labour ( employments ) gives occasion . All things would have become ( in nominal price ) gradually cheaper ; They would have been produoed by a smaller quantity of labour ; aud
ai the commodities produced by equal quantities of labour would naturally in this state of things , bo exohanged for one another , they would have been purchased likewise with the produce of a smaller quantity of labour . " " But though all things would have become cheaper in reality , in appearance , many things might have become dearer than before , or have been exchanged for a greater quantity of other goods . Let us suppose , for example , that in the greater part of employments the productive powers of labour had been improved to tenfold , or that a day s labour could produoe ten times tho quantity of goods which it had done originally ; but that in some other employment they had been inoreased by improvements only to
double , or that a day ' s labour could produce only toioa the quantity of work ( goods ) which it had done before . In exohanging the produce of a day's labour in the greater part of employments , for that of a day ' s labour in this particular one , ten times the original quantity of work ( goods ) in them would purohase only twice the original quantity in it . Any particular quantity in it , therefore , a pound weight , for example , would appear to befivetimai dearer than before . la reality , however , it would be twice as cheap . Though it required five times the quantity of other goods to purchase it , it would require only half the quantity of labour either to purchase , or to produce it . The acquisition , therefore , would bo twice as easy as before . " '
Having thuB so beautifully stated the Natural State of Society , and the natural condition of the labourer , he leavei the subject altogether , although it is the most important in the whole work , and comeB abruptly to the following lame and impotent conclusion : — " But this original state of things , in which the labourer enjoyed the whole produce of his own labour , could not last beyond the first introduction of the appropriation of land and the accumulation of stock . Ifc was at an end . therefore , long before the most considerable improvements were made in the productive powers of labour , and it would be to no purpose to trace further what might have been it * effects upon the recompense or wages of labour . " But I maintain that it would have been to great purpose tO dO SO , and that I shall attempt it in my next letter . I am , < fcc , Jonif Fiscn . Liverpool , March 6 th ,
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ENGLISH COMMUNISM . 10 THE EDITOR OF THE NOBTHEBN 8 MB . Sir , —Will you permit me through your valuable apaoe to offer my view of Communism , and as I believe it is generally understood by the members of the Redemption Society , in opposition to the strictures of N . V . E ., in the "Journal of Association" of February 26 th , 1852 , which , as I conceive , though very logical in form , are built upon error throughout . He says , " the whole of the selfishness and consequent injustice of ( a certain Phalantterie , which he sets up for Communism ) lie in its being enforced ™ a law . " His italics—not mino . Now , then , if an opponent proves that his premise , thus emphatically given , is incorrect , on his own admission , his card house tumbles about his ears . I meet , then , his position by affirming ifc simply untrue , and invite him to show that Communists in Britain , openly
or covertly fieek for law ; enforcement for their dogmas are law-enforced opinions , so popular that wo need them to shield U 8 from the soornful arrows of prejudice or ignorance . Wo believe , as well as N . V . E ., that to enforce the abandonment of individual property while the desire for it remains , would be tyrannical selfishness . But if N . T . E . desires metaphysical discussion , 1 beg to decline it in journals devoted to Economics , and though N . V , E . may demur to Communistic views , proved any way till Robert Owen ' s theory of character is proved . Also I hold that they are independent , unconnected fields of human inquiry , and that this , insisting on their connexion , is not only unfavourable to the elimination of truth , but also indicates a carelessness or wrongheadness about distinctions , real and tangible , that in such a writer as N . V . E . is . utterly unacoountablo . ^ Onoe more , then , let it be plainly stated , that the only Communistic experiment in Britain that the deluge of hopelessness has not submerged , ia not based or dependant , on any view of human character , no farther , at
least , than is every movement that pretends to be concerned about our social condition—sanitary , educational , or theological—no more than does a recent able pamphlet about the Operative Engineers and their Employers . I appeal to N . V . E . ' s memory on this head . Communism , as we here in England understand , means simply , "the most economical way of living happily ; " and I challenge N . V . E . in your broader columns to disprove this , and I will undertake to show that , if the Stores are basod on SOUUd economics , they conduct this word either this way , oi to fiercer competition . I decline to discuss Owen ' s , or any ones , view of human character , simply because it is irrelevant . I dcolino two inquiries at once , becauso it prevents the settlement of either ; but though I hold Communism on economic grouuds , as opposed to sentimental ones , I cannot see how the founders of Stores , | more than I , can ignore , or consistently oppose , Owen ' s view of character . Yours , R . Jones , Secretary of Redemption Society . Leeds , March 9 th .
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J 2 ENTKAL CO-OPERATIVE AGENCY , 76 , Charlotte-street , Fitzroy Square . "Weekly Report , March 2 nd to March 9 th . The Agency transacted business with the following stores ; —Galashiels , Laeds , Hawiclt , Barrhead , Banbnry , Braintree » Brighton , Rochdale , Uilesthorp , Birmingham , Woolwich , Halifax , Swindon , Middlesboro ' , Burnley , Bradford , Bacup , &C . We hear from Cardiff that the Co-operalWe Store in course of formation there is in an adTancnd state of organisation . An application was received from the Co-operative Store at Norwich , to have their rules certified .
We take this opportunity of staling that all customers not sending in their purchase books for the la . t quarter by the 20 th of March , will forfeit their bonus . The partners of the Central Co-operative Agency have resolved to send a copy of their Weekly Report to the editors of the principal London papers , and to a certain number of persons likely to take interest in its proceedings , with the following circular : — " The Partners of the Central Co-operative Agency present their compliments to Mr . , and beg to enclose a Weekly Report of the business of the establishment , either for his own perusal , or for the information of the public , il ke thinks it proper . " Sucb Reports have been published for ssme time , and they are to he continued regularly .
" The claims of the Co-operative Agency to be conaidered as a public institution , are as follows : —Although a commercial firm , the Agency is conducted under the supervision of Trustees ; a Public Report is to be made half yearly j the books are to be audited by a public accountant , and half the profits are carried to a common fund devoted to purposes of public benefit . " The objects of the Agency are : —1 st . To remedy one of the greatest evils of the present mode of trading , by counteracting the system of adulteration now prevailing in tradft , and which includes nearly every article of consumption , in food or raiment . 2 nd . To promote the principle of COOPERATIVE Association as a method of business , the word CO-OPERATIVE expressing that Association , as it is underitood by the Partners of the Agency , implies an equitable arbitration between Labour and Capital , and as complete a conciliation as possible of the conflicting interests of the present competitive system . "
LEEDS REDEMPTION SOCIETY , Mr . Henderson lectured on Sunday last on the duly and necessity of the tetnl destruction of adulteration , and exhorted his hearers to assist in the good work . We urged upon our branches the desirability of their having shares in connexion with them , aud are glad to announce that several approve , and they will be begun in the Potteries shortly . — Monies received this week . —Leeds subscriptions , £ 19 d . 5 d . j Candidates and Members , Is . 6 d . ; Huddersfield , France , 10 s . ; Hyde , Bradly , £ 1 Is . 6 d . ; Manchester , Bloomer , 4 s . 4 d . ; Hanley , WilbrahamV 9 s . ; Building Fund , 2 s . 9 d . ; Propagandist Fund , 4 s . 8 Jd . —R . Jones . Sec—March 9 th .
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THE O'CONNOR FUND . The numerous communications we have received this -week from various parts of the country , show that a general and an earnest desire exists to promote the objects in view , if the matter is set about in a right spirit , and under such guarantees as will give proper seourity for a judicious and effective application of the subscription for the immediate and permanent benefit of Mr . O'Connor . We cannot find room for all the communications in extenso , and therefore condense their substance . W . Bbofh writing for the Chartists of Pudsey , states that they concur in the views expressed in the Star , ' by Mr Brown , of Preston , and hope that an efficient com '
raittee will be formed in London , including if possible Me » gra . Duncombe , Wakley , and S . Crawford . Thoy regrot , that in common with ma ny Chartists of other places , they are not in an organised state ; a fact which they attribute to the discussions among the leaders of the party , and they believe that if Mr . O'Connor had retained his health and energies , the disruption and diiorganisation would not have existed , at all events to the same extent . They have a sum of money ready to send as soon as responsible parties are appointed to ; receive subscriptions ,, but decline talanswerkppealst of private individuals , of whom they have never heard before . They believe that the Land Plan would have been successful if the members themselves had done
their duty ; and they now suggest that the directors of the Land Company should give all the assistance they can to an efficient and responsible committee , by collecting all books and papers belonging to the Company , and otherwise assisting , by their personal knowledge , a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the accounts , so far as Mr . O'Connor is concerned . They are farther of opinion that all the members of the Company are hound to come forward with money , and give every facility in their power for bringing these affairs to an honourable close , and that the general subscriptions for Mr . O'Connor ought not to be applied to prolonging proceedings in the Court of
Chancery , if there is no probability of the result being satisfactory . The Chartists of the Manchester Locality have formed a committee . At a meeting held on the 4 th instant an address was agreed upon to the inhabitants , and on Saturday last it was placarded , and read with avidity . The subject was discussed at the usual meeting in the People ' s Institute , on Sunday night , and a resolution was passed , expressive of sympathy for Mr . O'Connor and a determination to assist him in a pecuniary way or otherwise , as circumstances may require . A
liberal collection was made at the meeting , and the committee have resolved to meet every night , at the Northern Star , Heyrod-street , to receive s ubscriptions . Mr . W . Qroeott , sGeretavy to the committee , Mr . C . Willis informs us that the allottees of Charterville are nobly responding to the appeal on behalf of Mr . O'Connor , and that Mr . J . Hayes , has collected about 15 s ., which will b e sent next week . The allottees hope that the great exertions of Mr . O'Connor in the cause of the people will not be forgotten .
Mr . A . Loudon of Auchtermuchty , Scotland , states that a few friends are getting up a subscription for the above purpose . Mr . James Brown , of Preston , suggests that two funds should bs raised ; one for the purpose of appointing a counsel and accountant to look after Mr . O'Connor ' s affairs in the Land Company , and the other for the purpose of purchasing him an annuity , or any other permanent plan of assistance which the committee may decide upon . He also thinks that the land members should subscribe from their own bod the necessary funds for bringing the affairs of the Company and Mr . O'Connor ' s accounts to a
satisfactory settlement . To command success , Mr . Brown suggests the names of Mr . Duncombe , Mr , Oastler , and Mr . Samuel Fielden , of Todmorden ; and for Ireland , Mr . Patrick O'Higgins and Mr . Sharman Crawford , to take partjin the movement ; and concludes by saying that " if the subscriptions intended for the personal use of Mr . O'Connor be not separate and distinct from that intended to appl y to his affairs with the Land Company , the assistance will be circumscribed and inefficient for the purpose intended ; but if the affair can be inaugurated with the proper influences , and be rightly directed , it will be everything that is needful . "
At a public meeting held in the Working Man ' s Hall , Heckraondwicke , on Sunday last , a Committee was formed to receive subscriptions , and £ 1 2 s . collected . A resolution was also passed , appointing Mr . Duncombe and Mr . Wakley as trustees .
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Received at tiie Star' Office . —G . J ., Is . ; O . W ., 5 s . ; A Pew Friends , Nottingham , per J . Sweet , 9 s .: From the Seven Stars , per ditto , 10 a . Received by Mr . It . O Connor . —Mr . Peltham , 6 d ; Mr . Reynard , Hackney , Cd . ; Mr . Paton , Is . ; Mr . Loean , Barrhead , Is . ; Mr . Means , Bristol , 5 s . ; Pocklington , 2 a . J . Lewis , Lanturt Varden , 2 s . 6 d . ; A Jones , Cardiff , Is .
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MEETING OF LIBERAL MEMBERS AT LORD J . HUSSELL'S On Thursday a meeting of Liberal Members of Parliament was held at Lord John RusBell ' s residence in Cheshamplace . Although the meeting was called for twelve , the proceedings « id not commence until one o'clock . A great number of persons assembled in front of the noble Lord ' s residence , to see the members arrive . One hundred and sixty-seven members were present , including , of course , the leaders of the Liberal party . Sir Alexander Cotkbum was prevented from attending the meeting by Bevere indisposition . Lord John Russell urged upon the meeting the expediency of bringing the government to an immediate issue on the question of Free Trade . It is understood that Lord John Russell ' s course was not adopted without previous consultation with the most eminent members of the present Opposition .
The noble Lord was throughout received most warmly , and the only discussion arose on the expediency of simultaneously pressing the Cabinet to declare its viewa on Par . liar aentary Reform . We believe that the prevailing feeling of the meeting was in favour of in the first instance concentrating the efforts of the Liberal party on the preservation of Free Trade . We hear that Mr . Villiers will invite the government to explain their intentions on this momentous subject on Monday evening . —Evening Paper .
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CAPTURE OF THE SEA SERPENT . The " New York Tribune" contains a lengthy and somewhat graphic account of the capture , after a terrific stmcule ofthis . 8 ea monster . The account ib written by Ci . arle Seabury , the master of the whale ship Monongahela , and dated at sen , February 6 th- It says : — "A vessel has been reported from my mast-head , and ss she is apparently bound into some of the northern ports , I intend to speak her , purposely to acquaint , through your widilv ,-iif . fused journal , the people of the Unit' -d States , of the fuci of the exiiten . ee and capture of the Sfia S « rpent--a monster deemed fabulous by , many—but the truth of whose existence . j" for ; ever settled , and I trust I shall be excused in saying ty Yankee intrepidity . " It then proceeds to slate thai on the morning of January 13 t ! i , when in latitude 3 deg 10 HHn . aou . tb , and longitude 131 dee . 50 rain . theserpsnt
, wai discover ed by a Marqunaan Islander , who was much n « v \ appenrance « It was afterwards seen by the crew . ¦ . volunteers were called for , and the rattterotfrt ** - --i , ei me say to their credit , every American in the ship stepped out at once , followed by all but one native m . ) two Englishmen . . After a considerable chase , the sen ^ t SSy" ? fa ? 8 for a fRW «« i »« 'e » , aud Ihen risl .-j a Sv " K ;? V ¦ 8 l ! ip ' crew got aion $ . ide of his e « ake-S i f fS described :- " [ came to « i ; h the A >! £% , ' . V ° haveabett « control of all the skip , and told the ship-keeper to keep clt ! se to us , and bv no mem to loose aight of us for aninstant . We owererf . ' my . self taking the lead , and in a few sirokea-the * ind and sea carrying , us to leeward-I told the boatstearer , James VYMt . tenmore , of Vermont to ' stand up . ' wuh cool nnd caim intrepidity he laid hold of his iron ( harpoon ) , and , vln-n I befikoned with a movemerit of my hand , quick as thwght both of his weapon ' s were buried to the socket in the *
UI-, sivebody before us .. I sbeuted ' stern , ' but there vnsno visible motion of bis snakeship . I shifted ends with . ha boatsteerer , and cleared away a lance as quickly as possible , beckoning them to pull up , that I might get a lance , -.-lei a movement of the body was visible , and the head wj . ail of the monster rushed as it were to touch the wound . ' The frightfulness of the head , as it approached the boat , \\ led the crew with terror , and three of them jumped overbiurd . I instinctively held out ray lance , and its sharp point enured ^ tbe eye f I was knocKed ^ y ^ and ; felt a deep churnm-x of the water around me , IirbYe to the surface " * and cangWa glimpse of the writhing body , and was again struck and carried down . I partly lost my consciousness under water , but recovered it ; when I rose again in the bloody km , tbe snake had disappeared , and I shouted , ' Pick up the line . The third mate , Mr . Benson , caught a bite at my line near the end , and bent on hia , which in an initam began to be taken out rapidly . The mate picked me ;;<> as
soon as I rose to the surface , and in a few minutes all vvere picked up-ona was severely bruised and another insensible , but he recovered and both are now well . The snak * : had taken my line , the third mate's , and was taking the second mate s , when I ordered the mate to bend on and give his line to the ship . The Bnake was aruindiu ' and I cautioned the officers not to hold on too hard for fear of drawing the irons . At first the line went out rapidly , but decreased gradually , nevertheless [ was obliged to get up a spare line out of the fore-hold and ^ end on . For fear that the ship would by its weight on the . line draw the irons , I put on several draes and gave the \\ w to the mate , when it became stationary . There wen ; now ? u- i * boata'lines ' 225 fath ° ms in a boat , and Uothirds of another line , 100 fathoms more-in all , 1 , 000 fathoms , six feet in a fathom-6 , 000 feet-better than one mile and an eight , an enormous depth , and the pvessuve at tnat distance is inconceivable .
iv ' . t 4 a : '» of tQo 14 th , sixteen hours aftor he wenfc d :. wn , the line began to alack . I had it taken to the ^ huiiass , when wo got noarly two lines * hand over hand , ' then there oame a strain again . This strain continuing I told ovary , body to boar a band and get breakfast , and just before wo were through , the cook cried out , ' Here ho is . ' In no hroe all ware on dock , and sure enough he had risen ; bufi all that was visible was a bunch , apparently the bit b of the snake , where he had been fastened to . I lownred three boats , and we lancod the body repeatedly without eliciting any sign of life . While we wore at work ho gradually rose to the surface , and around him floated what I took to be pieces of his lungs , which wo had cut with our lances . To make our work sure we continued to lance , eagerly seeking for his life , when he drew himself up and
we pulled away , and then witnessed the terrific dying struggles of the monster . None of the crow who witnessed thai ; terrible scone will ever forget it ; the evolutions of the body were rapid as lightning , seeming like the revolving of a thousand enormous black wheels . Tho tail ami head would occasionally appear in tho surging bloody foam , and a sound was heard , so dead , unearthly , and expressive of acute agony , that a thrill of horror ran through our veins . Tho convulsive efforts lasted ton or futeen minutes , when they suddenly stopped , tho head was partly raised—it fell—the body partly turned , and lay still . I took off my hat , and nine terrific cheers brok 9 simultaneously from our throats . Our prey was dead . We now held a consultation as to what we should do , and I had requested all hands to offer thciv opinions , After a short t * lk , all of us felt convinced that it would 1 ) 0 impossible to get him into port , and then wo concluded to try and save his okin , head , and bones , if possiblo . In the first
place I requested a Scotchman , who could ' . draw tolerably , to take a sketch of him as he lay , and the mate to mc : i > ure him . As I nm preparing a minute description of the serpent , I will merely give you a few general point ? . Ifc w * s a male ; tho length 103 feot finches ; 19 foet 1 inch arouml the nook ; 24 feet 0 inches around the shoulders ; and the iM ^ esfc part ; of the body , which appeared somewhat distomied , 49 feet ; i inches . The head wa 3 long and flAt , with viiigos —the bones of the lower jaw separate ; the tongue had its end like the bead of a heart . Tho tail ran nearly to a point , on the end of which was a flat firm cartilage . The back was black , turning brown on tho sides : then yellow * and on tho centre of the bolly a narrow white streak twothirds of it ' s length ; there were also scattered over tho body dark spots . On examining the skin we found to our surprise thut the body was covered with blubber liko th : ifc of the whalo , but it was only four inches thick . Trm oil was oloar as water , and burnt nearly as fast as spirits of turpentine .
"We cut the snake up , but found great difficulty , and had to ' flense' him , tho body would not roll , and the blubber was so very elastic that when stretched twenty feet by the blocks it would , when cutoff , shrink to fivo or six feet . We took in the head , a frightful ohjeot , aud are ondeavouring to preserve ifc with salt . " We have saved all the bones , which the men are not done cleaning yet . One of the serpent ' s lungs wi » 3 three feet longer than the other . I should have obsorved that there were ninety-four teoth in tho iaws . verv sharo . all
pointing backward and as large as one ' s thumb at tho gum , but deeply and firmly set . We found ifc had two spoutholes or spiracles , so it must breatho like a whalo ; it ulso had four swimming paws , or imitations of paws , for they were like , hard , loose flesh . The joints of the back wero loose , and it seemed as if , when it was swimming tbat . it moved two ribs and a joint at a time , almost liko feet . The muscular movement of the serpont after it was dead made the body look as if it were encircled by longitudinal ridg ? 8 . AVe were noarly three dayB in getting the bones in , but they are now very clean , and are very porous and dark coloured
. " The heart I was enabled to preserve in liquor and one of the oyes , but the head , notwithstanding it is cool , begins to emit an offensive odour ; but I am so n ? ar the coast now that I shall hold on to it us it is , unless it is likely to breed a distemper , Every man in the ship participates in my anxiety . " 2 p . m . —I have just spoken tho vossel ; she proves to be tho brig Gipsy , Captain Stuvgns , eight days from Ponce , P . R ., with oranges and merchandise , bound to Bridjrport . He has kiudly offered to put these sheets ia tho Post-offioQ when he . arrives . As soon as I get in I shall bo enabled to furnish you a more detailed account . "
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Rodbiko A Bisuof . —One niirht last week a couple of expert but profane thieves " directed « n ontr ;» nco into Auckland pjlaco , whilst its inmates Sjwcre all in ; iied . After scouring the culinary nnd reception apartmonts , without profit to themselves or loss to episcopacy , they ascended to the next story . There the irreverent scamps found their way into the room where the Bishop of Durham and Mrs . Maltby slept ; and thence , notwithstanding tho very natural inquiry from Mrs . Maltby , " wlio wns there , " they managed to retire , carrying off with thorn the bishop ' s purge . The contents , however , probably diiap . pointed the rogues , as they are reported not to have exceeded £ 3 . Next day the bishop entertained the j udges on circuit . —Nonconformist .
Bomber ob De ? ositor 8 is Siyisos Basks . —A parliamentary paper has been printed which shows that on the 20 th . November , 1850 , there were 1 , 092 , 581 individual depositors in savings banks , whose deposits , with interest , amounted to £ 27 , 198 , 503 . There were 12 , 912 oharitablo instimions which had deposits with savings banks amounting to £ 655 , 093 , and 7 , 506 friendly societies to £ 1 , 077 , 326 . The total depositors numbered 1 , 112 , 090 , and the amount with interest £ 28 , 930 , 982 . There wero beiidoi 5 S 6 friendly
societies in direct account with the commissioners of the Nationial Debt , nnd the amount deposited was £ 2 , 277 , 340 . Joist Stock Companies . —On Wednesday a paper was printed , by order of the House of Lords , allotting tha numbor of liconses granted by the Board of Tra < ie , from tho 20 th of February , 1851 , tothe 2 ith ult ., to joint stock companies to hold ' lands , tenements , < fcc . There are twenty-eight companies mentioned ia the document , to each of which a grant for thirtr-ono yean has been uiaii * to hold hands .
A young female , who has the monomania of homicide , hns just been arrested and sent , to the Prefect urn . She had attempted , but fortunately 'Titbout effect , to murder her father , her mothc »\ » er sister , and several females of her acquaintance , declaring that she wished to drink their blood . —Galigncmi . _ Tub Sisters of Mercy . —A recently published r »! fo ^! tEvHr 7 N v gives astounding disclosures cf the degree to whichjJBapmn ^ Vl vN . practices obtain in Miss Sellon ' a sisterhood . Tli ^) J ^ S ^ 5 ^ y \ of Exeter has directed that lady to ntplyto ov es&iiWmost fit \ & 1 allegations . ^ mti& ; S : & W ; An extraordinary plank r . « s j ,, B i been receiTOiWiMW ^ i' ^ f Afl Diemcnafcnd . . It w harder than East India Z * i 3 lcMi ?> *)^ £ & inches thick , Wvthout a knot to be seen ; on t ® && ?!]§ $ t- ? : f * j $
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Fire-damp Explosion . —The Belgian journals contain an account of a deplorable accident neav Mons , On Saturday , about ten o ' clook in tho morning , whilst tho miners , seven ty-seven in numbor , were at work in the coal-pit called Longtorne Ferrand , at Blouges , an explosion of firedamp Si ^ J ! " ^' m followed by an extensive falling in of coal and earth . Two miners were killed instantaneously ; mwii' f ? l ° ° u x ln J urei 3 » succeeded in roachintr the mouth of the pit , but one of them died shortly after f it is not known what became of tho others . All day on Saturday nnl ^ l ? ^ i tlOT 9 were mado t <> "ach t he unfortu-II 1 ^>\ u - lth 0 \ succes 3 - Th ° explosion was caused KJ ? fc . " » ™ ** fog imprudently opened his lamp . tho SliT ' « vf- w , SU 9 pend operations in the mino on the very day on which the accident occurred . STII Fo
™»^ "T ^ ™ * Authors a « d Artists . ~ A new Booiety under this name is projected . The object is XJA ' f b 6 t tO f aff ° !' t 0 aut » ors ana artists the advantages an ing from extensive co-operation . To effect this object it is proposed that tbe institute shall consist of four branches-namel y a protective Gociety , a philanthropic « i ?^ I £ ? | ft ? " oational association , and a life p" 3 SufX Sy . R * ' ° - B ' ni , S , NTI-CoRN L * ; IiBAow .-Tho subscription-list in-K 2 ™ th 5 i nft ™ ° £ ight Bootable tt » Eart of Radnor , £ 100 ; Thomaa Thowiely , Esq ., M . P ., £ 100 ; tr ' -R ov , v ^ T ngt 0 H > ¥ ; n - ^ kbuvn gives ' £ 1 , 000 Sin . i ? nn . ^ ndon | ^' 00 ° 5 Mr- GW Andrew and RfcSS ' iiSlS !;^ M * ' - ^ up r , S , i . f ° T MINI TT A , deilcend 8 nt of ° ne of the great Guelphic families of Italy , the Piocolomini of SiSiim maamoiseue
u ementini-Plccolomini , recently made her JrStVnKSm n LaPer * ola ' ^ orence , andeioited fuccesffwn ? " Gr 8 Ucoes 8 is 8 aid t 0 iDCrM 3 e at eaon S ? £° ma nc ° ; *>>¦<* sbo hns only appeared in Comarf » n ' ^ * , P ° P u ] ar buffil called " Orispmo e
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AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL . ?
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TOL XV . P . 749 . LOMON , SATURDAY , MARCH 13 J 852 . 1 i * .,. ¦ SS'JagS ^ U—
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 13, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1669/page/1/
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