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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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THB BBIEN PRESS FUND COMMITTEE OF LONDON . jO THE RADICALS OF GREAT BRITAIN , ¦ priTHOtTT DISTINCTION OF SECT , PABTY , OB OPINION . ! ¦ chained , eabin'd , cribb'd , confined , j ^ est too much light should bunt on the etherial niind . " .-- " . BynjB PELLO ^ -Men , —Imprested -with a sincere desire to -fojoote the political freedom uid social happiness of jHr eoniitry , and to witness the extirpation of ail sya-^ jjj md yices -which impede our moral and political -regress , tritb a belief , that the chief impediments in Sgtrsy of onr political and social progression would vg reaoved by the spread of knowledge , and with a -onviciion that a goood press , advocating sound demo-—tic p rinciples , and conducted by the hand of a longjjjgd and talented friend of the people , would go far towards the diffusion of that knowledge , the want of « hieh we , & present , so much deplore .
ffe are , therefore , led to addresi ourselves to yon , in —jct ta impress upon your minds the necessity of comij , forward and exercising your utmost energies to assist , jf in the establishment of a press , for that noble patriot , BroBterre O'Brien , whose pen so boldly and indefati--jbly defended the rights of labour in the Poor Man ' s fraardiax , the London Dispaich , the Operative , &c , » ho has suffered both persecution and prosecution , and ^ o has but lately broie forth from the bonds of the Boit accursed and brutal faction ( calling themselTes gberali that ever disgraced the annals of our country ; ^ with the name of liberty upon their lips , perse -aea the best friends of freedom , and imprisoned the jobless of patriots Need we thea to wonder that the peai mass of the people are dissatisfied with the Legisthe Executive with the
vtare—with — nay , even Crown itself ? ^ hen we seethe working men—the prodneerj of all wealth—labouring under a distress unparalleled in the history of our country , while assumed representatives are wasting the time of the pnblic in gjjcossing questions in which the maw of the people have no interest , or in voting sway , with a reckless and extravagant profusion , that wealth which has been aateted from the Wood and sinews of those who are ( because unrepresented ) famishing unheeded . A line cf demarcation has been drawn by class legislation , fcejweeB the upper and middle , and the working classes . IB feeling has been engendered , and who but the partisan Whig , Tory , and sham-Radical press , have t » wd csirunBy upcn calumny on the iDjurad people , aid " nattered and caressed their oppressors !
Feiiow ceuctrymen , let us take a brief leaf from our enemies' book , let us at once resolre to have a press u Their press , " they maintain , even at a great pecuniary loss . Ltt us , being sensible how great the iiflnence of jfce press is in the direction ( or rather the mis-direction of pnblic opinion ; and that no system of gOTernment on long exist in opposition to so formidable a fee , 1 st M withdraw our support from the interested thick and thin supporters of those factions who rob the protasis of all wealth of their comforts , trample on their njh 3 , and scorn their petitions , and at once rallying
iwmd a press which will remoTe ignorance and correct ti » misdirection of public opinion by spreading political information and right principles among the mass of the jaqple , which will assist us in hewing down the huge apas tree of corruption , and enable us to replace it with i icion from the sacred plant of liberty . Let that press be to the Southern counties of England what the Star is to the North , a faithful sentinel , xo watch the motions and expose the deformities cf the present file and ae fiah lystem , which has hitherto existed , but by the culpable and apathetic sufferance of the working class .
shall we then longer allow ourselves to be led blindfold , as it were , as sacrincers to the great Moloch of OppresEJoa ? Snail we allow the few to wallow in vesfth and idlenes , to gratify their ambition and lust of power , at the expeRce of the many ? Shall we quiescently allow the misrepresentations of the press to " bolster up a system , which has its ramifications in the pulpit , and among the members of the law , the irmy , and the navy , and to disseminate its poison rmrmg the masses of the people , perpetuating ignorance , mperstition . and corrnption , at the same time precluding than from that knowledge both political and religious , rfckfe would open their eyes to their condition ? No . ' if we are men and Britons , we shall at once energetically exclaim ; and that such may fee the response to this humble address is the most sincere wish of enr
We remain , Tour sincere Brother Democrats , J . Watis , Jas . Smith , The Members of the O'Brien Press Fund Committee , London . WllLlAH BOGG , Dispatch Coffee House , Secretary . Bride-lane , London .
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10 THE RIGHT HONOROUBLE THE LORD ilAYOR OF DUBLIN . Ml Loed , —As your Lordship has doubtless perused 2 se Star newspaper of the 27 th nit , and in so doing lave perhaps seen in its columns a letter addressed to jour lordship , of which I am the humble author , aaha . Ting by thin time , perhaps , considered the nature d the questions therein asked , ana the objects for which ifwas written , and not having seen in any of the publx pints , an attempt to answer or object to its contents , Itoleitfor granted , thSt the hiits therein contained , erried conviction to your Lordship ' s heait . I siiall Mir beg to remind your Lordship that it is many years ctw » my countrymen , stimulated by your Lordship ' s sample , commenced their great system of moral ictaticn , and long as that period tas been , and much it they have been opposed by the many and mighty
am , my Lord , not a little surprised that the sober" T ^^ g men of Ireland cannot see that the prejndieies « country and sect are passing sway , and that Englishmen "e capable of being their friends , and are woitby w ^ - ^ f" eon&deaee > aad that the » aliciouB reports "Cieh have been circulated in reference te Chartism , are •^ founded as they are vile and contemptible . It is * « the hope that my countrymen will be led to in-* J aire for themselves , and to adopt a more certain and * P eedy mats of obtaining their lonr-lost rigtts and Privileges th&t I thus trespass on jour Lordship ' s iwlnabie time , and trusting that my bumble effoits will nisoae measure lead them to do bo is the sincere wish My Lord , * cm Lordship ' s most obedient humble servant , W . H . Clifto >" .
eaeniks of their country , they have still resolntely naintained their position in the ranks of political war . hre—they hive withstood the multitudinous attacks of IoTjian znd bigctry , and have outiived the fury of £ s contest , and are still resolutely determined to obtain £ s : lifcerry wSich they are so devotedly attached to . Having thus given them credit for perseverance and eansir . eacy , it , may be Liktd how much have thty jsirtd by the struggle , and what is Eiill to be sought is ' Without entering into a detail of their many TiKoiies , or tie conseqtseuc = s resulting from them , < as £ ij Eust be fanaliar to < = v < = ry Iiishmxn , I will only Bj , ihit it has ever bees stated by your Lordship , that
"it tji ' wtuig for Catholic i Euancipation , you had ulterior measures in view , the principle of ¦ which was a Brpeal of tiie Legiilaiire Union . " This , then , may be Bii to be tile r ^ : T " of my com-trymen ' s hLpes—this tis msin-spriEg " of all their political actica ? , and the tSil-JcTed orject of their UDCeasinc pursuit . Here , th-a m ses 3 question , Which is the brst method to t- ' Air : i :, cr are life ptopie of Irtlacd conviEce'J that Jirirz , -Ue of seeking Repeal is the surest as well as t- i .,., -1 -p- := t ifccj cuuid acv . pt . ' To the latter part of tir ciirstl-. n 1 win simply ^ ay , if it is the surest , it is C £ lI _ = _ 1 t ihu slowccl they cvuld adopt ; for , aecordiri ? * y-. r L :- diL : p " s nzt , " tttj will have to trai : uhiil tts ¦ . . u ^ rPri- te of Wal es-will ot < n the Irlih
Pdrlia-E-ri .: si V : crr > -y uf Ireland , " , in otcer "wcros , a " t -if . si of . ¦ x- -: y Tears , befurt there will ! e a chance cf o :: ir : r ^ : •_ Vwriiy , ray Lori , your measure of Repeal ^ - ' - ' - ~ i : r - . dctd ; or &j much valuabw time "would not ^¦ -xv- .= ^ riuli : Eg ^ c ou : a question whkh miijht y : or -f- ' ? it ij-iit in atvion : >' ; - " » , Lv Lvrd . tu a man like your Lerdship , who ks !¦; i- ~ inrsi ' . T of ways becoaie possessed cf cut oniy ^ = i-- ~ t .-. si-T : is , tux the Juxun .-s of life , a pencil cf ^ tn" yaLT 5 may not appear long , but to the many j-isdrtj ih ^ iiin-i cf your countrymen , "who &re even E starving c-j ; .. f existence , it will be a long and t ^ ii-is ir . * .-n-jl . Hv"K niiEy tli ^ usaiids oi i . Tavt spiiits c' Irtlinj vvi . i te quer . cbtd before tte tXjiration of ^ - iciniie i-crioi ' : Xur can your Lonlaidp be certain HL ' vi ;> i 5 : ani : ii ? venr manv cc-mfwrts and honours
_ « -i " . \~ jLg bef-. r-c : Lat period has expired , your itLiy not fc EZi . bc : ~ ij viih ibe " ttnants of another worla , " ps st ,: fc-tn " ilke Mcs = s "be blessed with a sigh * of ~ -= I- . ^ litd la nd . "' How wise -uch a course of proe = * " ^^; := I ivr-aTe : o the world to surpjse , but for e ; t y * pirt , 1 h * id i : \ ioujd b = a greater part of wisdom 21 —7 ti ^ ntry ^ ec , did ttey take the trouble to thick ^¦ - -C " J f . r thtiE-se . Tes , inEteai of yi ^ idirig feiind and ^"• -cr . t > . ra ; eiiCB to the will of a nun , who , under > 5 l ^ " ^^ i - . aicci , c ^ niidcrs his own interest btfore ail cl' jn .
, "the- : Rit-eal of tie U = ion" is so desirable an ^• - to irisLaitn , I Ete lot why they should refuse ^ f co-operation of their Ecglbh frienGs , the Chartists , * ij Er = to a Tr . vn dtsirctis to aEsist tbem id tbctr efioita * j ottE ^ Tii :, cr if your Lordship is sincerely a Kepealer , Ca ^ fciy . i : jca wish to obtain Repeal in the most * Pttj ard ifactual manner , you unght to join issue ^ "i t he Chanlsts , for jour Lordship fcas ofitn siid , " The gTci .: cT tte iroial power is , the ereater the terrain : y of success . " u 53 i LjTiih : p fcaows that Chartists are not -tha ' liyscai furee " men" ycu would make it appear , and I ^ "eTtiy hope , tha ; the UECiiaritable assertion that
1 . > oui L . rdihip is dtferriDg the repeal to continue the ? t '"^ " ' u ^ cunded . Be that as it may , it is certain ^ t nine years have passed since the last " premature " w « a&aon cf the qutsdon , aid twenty are to come ^ ecre there will be anoibeT , aid during that time there *^ I * a cvntinual drawing from the pockets of the P / p-r to swell the coffers and the dignity of your Lord-* t : p , whilst by embracing the principles of the Charter , ^ peepie of Ireland and England would , by their tuarts , be in a very Efeort ptiiod able to obtain their ^ J « 7 object I 37 legal and constitutional means and with rarely a nominal txpexce .
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Wolverhampton , 1 st Dec . 1841 . Mt Deab Sir , —In reply to your second letter , d have net received your first ) I beg to say , that awing to the precarious state of my health , I cannot pledge myself to visit Aberdeen , or even the south of Scotland , before next summer , lest 1 should be obliged to disappoint my Scottish friends , as I have already been to the men of Oldham . I have undergone a deal of fatigue since my liberation , having attended not less than-slrty meetings , since the 24 th September , at each of which , I spoke on the average , not leas than three hrnirs
I am now on my way to Manchester , where my family are residing temporarily , and should a week's quiet have the effect of recruiting my health , so as to enable me to resume the agitation , 1 shall most likely proceed northward , to Edinburgh and Glasgow , and If the weather be not very inclement , »>»« . n endeavour to visit Dundee , Aberdeen , < kc , ic ., before my return to England . But as already observed , I don't like to pledge myself , lest I should be compelled , by ill health , to disappoint my friends , after putting them to the trouble and expense of preparing for my reception . I am now nearly two ywira away from Hiy family , who havs suffered many inconveniences and privations on my account , I must therefore think well on it befare I leave tbem again , and especially for a tour in the north of Scotland , which at this season of the year , might prove fstil to me , owing to my state of health .
Under these circumstances , all I can promise is to comply Kith the kind invitation of my Aberdeen friends as soon as my heaith and circumstances will permit , and to give timely notice when they may expect me , either thronsh the XorihrTa Star or by private letter . If I visit Scotland before Christmas or soon after , I £ b » ll have to take Mrs . O'Brien with me , ( which would make the journey more expensive , ) an-1 I dare not leave her for a long absence at this season of the year , —1 am therefore desirous to put off my Scottish tour till next
spring or summer ; but nevertheless , should health and circumstances permit , I shall be in Scotland before Christinas , accompanied by my wife , rather than have my Scottish friends suppose for one instant , that I make light cf their invitations , or entertain any other feelings than tLo = e of respect and gratitude , for the many disinterested proofs they have given in my absence of their sympathy and goad will towards , Their and your very obedient servant , And fellow-labourer in the good cause , James Bromebre O'Erje . n . Duncan Nicholson , 37 , East North-street , Aberdeen .
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TRIBUTE TO WHOM TRIBUTE IS DUE . TO THE EDITOR OP THE . \ 0 BTUER . N STAR . SiE , —in anti-Corn Law tea party , was held on Tuesday the 7 th inst , at Strond , after the baby meeting ; it took place at the Victoria Ccffte Rooms . I was anxious to hear the arguments of the speakers and went to the meeting . I assure you , sir , not one of the sptakersprodnced a question to prove the good or evil of the present Corn Laws . Afrer tea , the Rev . W . Yates was appointed chairman . After a few remarks upon the need of union , Le sat down , after calling upon the
J ' ev . B . Persons , trbo ruse and said . Sir , I am here this * -vening to hear and cot to sptak , ! know not vrhat to say on the occasion . If I had been left until some one had spoken up * . n the q ^ tbtion , I could have picked up a speech . Aftvra timt he spek-j ; the argumc-nts of the speaker went to prove that of all monopolies , class monopo'y was the most cruel , urjnst , and severe , in its operations , aid contended tiuit -without the destruction of clisa monopoly , fcYtiry otlifcr monopoly would still tsiit . Scripture said , " Put not your hope in prir . c-ss . " And if we io'k to Kings , Qa-ens . Dukes , Marqtiisscs Earli , L r J .-:, Nullc 3 , or the Commons House of m . > r . tp : lies , ^ e shall in all be r ^ appointed . I contend , raid the rpiaker , tf-at Property Qualification is quite as u : jast , as to feint n . party of cotters , who protected t > be shoemaker ? , yet cvuld not in ^ m' a shoe ; and the patefcijg of our ruiers shows the want of fcnowiedge on th » -ir parts , and until the people put the questi'in to theii-.-elves , "who njuft do the work , and demand their li" ! t % nothing would be doue .
TV . Hepsen , E q , r . esl addressed tbe meetin ; , and dL =: ii : c ly laid duwn the plan of Mr . O'Connor , as to smail farms being ltt to the poor . He could by li . annal labour produce thirty busheis of com p ^ r acre , znd that upon land ^ hich jeves years ago , would yield < -nly fifteen . O . -. e thiu . ^ nd are hundred acres of land -were cw lyir . g waste in the borough tf Stroud . and if we put one family to cultivate an acre , p . jur Law Comnii&siurjers . Assistant Cuumiissioners , and K te Co : lectors woul-i cot be needed . I maintain that t . e ; and of England con . ' . " ., by } -r : 'per cultivation produce C'jrn for irere than treble its iiiL : ibitants , and if put into use , England could , in a few years , esDurt iusiead of
ITUi" > T * . This ser-tence diu not meet the apprcbi ' . icn of the Plague , who ^? gan to cry ' We do n ^ t -want to txport- " ' The Speaker said , If you do zA wish to expert , why do i ou ati ' . ate for fits trade ? The cry of " Impoit , Import , " drowned the voice of the Speaker , and he left the room . Mr ! Ferritee thtn tsplaiued the pLin of obtaining mtrebsr ? by -way of collect . rs e&ing to tne factories trith books , and moved " That a meeting be called at the Sub-5 cr : p :: on Ror-ms , to hear the opinion of the Jl P . ' s of the Borough upon the question v , f the Corn Laws , anu if ni t in Eccurdance with a m ^ jurity of voters and rate paytrs , to cemEnd their resitnatioD . " A long debate ensned as to the plan best to be adopted to ixclude the Chartists mm tha meeting . It \> as at last carried to admit all persons . Charters , will you go ?
The JUv . Mr . Mound , represented the monopolies to be ss pernicious as the Upas tree , snd urged upon the meeting a netd of union , to destroy the power of all monopolies . Mr . Paris , Secretary to tie Association , was called upon . He thought as he hid to work he ought not to speak , and tendered his service in the way of wark , and sat down . Bev . H . Griffith rose , and after reviewing the government plan of electing barracks and transporting the poor , " under cover of emigration , he stated that much had been said against a class of persons called Chartists , s . nd he thought if he was placed in the same situation as the Chartists , he should act upon the same plan they did with regard to public meetings . If we look at the difficulties under which they labour , and consider the opposition against which they have to contend , we ought rather to give
tbem an opportunity to be beard in public , than Bhut the doors of public meetings against them . Do we go to their meetings to bear the question of the Charter explained ? No ; nor do we ask ourselves what the Charter is ; and I therefore think the Chartists are justified in their coming to all pnblic meetings , and urging their questions upon the public attention , persecuted as they have been , and still are , but witheut whom the monopoly of corn , nor any other monopoly , cannot be destroyed ; and I hope , at your meetings , you will give an opportunity for them to explain toe question , as to the grievance under which they ( the Chartists , i have long had to labour . Ajx individual once , or twice interrupted the speaker , by exclaiming aloud i " Draw me out , draw me out" This person is an i individual of very mean principles , and of smaller un-| derstar-ding ; his name is John Lewis . The Rev . Geitiuiian proceeded to ¦? r sark , that the person before
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him « w a true erldenee « f the opposition the Chartists bad to contend against ; and , la hopes of a onion , in place of opposition , the Ret . Gentleman sat down much applauded . The Chairman urged upon all present to bring all they could to the meeting , and show their strength by numbers : and , after singing two verses of the anti-Corn . Law Rhyme , the meeting was dissolved , and your humble ¦ errant iaft for his home . ? * # *
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? TO HAMER STANSFELD , ESQ . " All classes will prey upon all other classes just as much as they can and dare . " —Homer Siansfeld . Sib ., —I endeavoured in my last letter to 70 a to draw the inference from the words which I bad chosen as my motto , ( and which words I have taken fairly from your pamphlet , entitled " Monopoly or Machinery , **} that , as all classes would prey upon all other classes just as much as they can and dare , supposing that all the benefits would flow from a repeal of the Corn Laws which you talk as if you anticipate , still
those who had the power would , as you say in another part of your pamphlet , " work underneath , and reap even more than all the advantages" which could be derived from the measure . I also endeavoured to impress upon your mind , and the minds of my readers , that if you were an honest and consistent man—that if you really wished to destroy all monopolies and their effects , you would at once strike at the master monopoly , the root from whence all other monopolies spring , the very fountain whence they have their being , the monopoly of
leeislation-Takmg this view of the matter , and I cannot conceive how , after your declaration as above , you can come to any other , it would appear to be entirely useless to say more upon the matter ; but as you , and those who act with you , tell ub what great effects would flow from a repeal of the Corn Laws , it perhaps may not be altogether unnecessary to give the subject a further consideration . There is such a discrepancy in the statements of the advocates of Repeal , that it is almost dangerous to fix upon any one . M'Gregor says , in his official examination , the difference which the labourer pays in money is from forty to sixty per cent , more than the ' foreign consumer . A pretty decent range this , one would think , for men who deal in figures . Dr . Bowring
appears to estimate the rise in price for all kinds of grain at 5 s . per quarter . The two statements appear ao preposterous , when placed side by side , that one is almost ready to conclude , that , at the least , one of the parties did net know what he was talking about But , however , as M'Gregor seems to speak more positively than Bowring , I will take his estimate ; and , as put together and divided , they would make the average difference paid by the English consumer over the foreign one , to be sixty per cent , I , for the Bake of roundness of numbers , will take the average difference to be fifty per cent , and then see what it amounts to , as compared with the taxes ; and then see if it would be possible to carry it into effect under the existing circumstances Of the country .
I will only take a few of the leading taxes of the country . Then say gross revenue 60 , 000 , 000 ; tithes , &c . 10 , 006 , 000 ; poor rate , county rate , rural police , &c , saylO 000 , 000 more ; which would , in the gross , amount to 80 , 000 , 000 . Now then suppose that we consume 16 million quarters of wheat , say at an average of 60 s . per quarter , 50 per cent of which would be 24 millions ; and if we consume 30 million quarters of other kind of grain nt an average of 25 s . per quarter , 50 per cent of which would be about 19 millions ; these together would amount to 43 millions ; and suppose that the amount of labour , after paying for the raw material contained in all our exported manufacturers , should amount to
35 , 000 , 000 ; both being put together , 50 percent , upon all the corn consumedand the whole of the labour contained in our exported manufactures would be less by £ 2 , 000 , 000 than the amount of taxes . And if we take the average price of grain for the last twelve years , before the deficient harvests , the 16 millions quarters of -wheat at 56 s per quarter would be about . £ 45 . . 00 e ; and the 30 millions quarters of other grain at 25 s per quarter , would be about £ 37 , 000 , 000 ; or both together , say £ » 2 , 000 , OUO ; or the whole cost price of all the grain consumed in the country about 2 , 000 , 00 t more than the taxes of the country . And yet these men tell us that the taxes are nothing , and that the Corn'Lawa are every thing !
But now as to the practicability of Repeal with tbiB amount of taxation ; and according to the statements put forward by the leaders of your class . It will be necessary , perhaps , bef&re I proceed farther , to state that tho taxes are a fixed monetary amount , and that in none of the plans put forward by Corn Law Repealers is it ever purposed to reduce them . Indeed so far from proposing to reduce them , Lord John Russell said , in his speech to the electors of London , that " it is as absolutely requisite to preserve the public faith as it is to preserve the power of the country . " And Lord Mcrpeth said , in his West Riding address , that '' the
safety of the nation required that the revenue should be raised . '' It must bo borne in mind that these men are lotked up to as leaders of their paity ; and therefore , it is completely fair to say , that there is no reduction of our fixed monetary payments in the least contemplated . Nay , Lord Morpetb t ' .-lla us that the " gafety" of the nation requires the present gross amount ; and Lord John Ku ^ sell says that it is as absolutely necessary to preserve the public faith as it is to preserve the power of the country ; and the public faith cannot be kept without the present pross amount of taxes .
It will also be requisite to state , in the onset , that the price of wheat and all other agricultural produce , is made up of rent , profit , and wages of labour in its production and conveyance to market . The wages of labour are made up partly of the amount of remuneration necessary tj procure the absolute necessaries of existence during such production ; and partly of the taxes which are " required by the safety of the nation . " The taxes of all description amount at least to one-third of the sum expended in the wages of labour at the present prices of labour ; and the taxes , being fixed monetary amounts , would not be reduced in consequence of the fall of corn . It is granted en all hands , by the most sanguine of thoie in favour of Repeal , that the farmer and labourer do not receive too much remuneration ; therefore , the only available resource in the price of corn appears to Le in the rent .
Let us then , Sir , endeavour to trace " , if we can , what would be the effect of a Repeal of the Corn Laws upon the fanti « r end labourer , if thfse consequences followed Wr-ich are so pertinaciously assserttd would be tbe resuit , allowing our fixed monetary payments to remain r . s th . y are . I shall not pretend to any very gTpat accuracy in quantity , and will take tbe load of wheat a 5 one p ' . uim per load , instead of by the quarter , in order that the calculation mr . y be more easily followed , jast prenri-r . g that the result would have appeared Worse if I La-l taken the higher price , and by the quarter , J > ut the calculation would have been rather more ' . iiili .-uit to follow .
S'ippjEC-, th ' . ' n . tint an cere of laud produces ten loads of whtat , at time bushels to the load ; and suppose tliat the whtat sells at one pound per load , the jM-O'iuce of an acre will thus raise £ 10 . Tv ' ow , Ibtn , ltt tih suppose the rental ( if the land to be one P ' jiund , to be . of course , taken from the £ 10 raised by the * ile of the whta :. There will thtn be £ i ) left , to be i . iriik'i httwtsn the farmer and the labourer , for prcfit , purchasing tbe necestarits of life , and paying their taxes . Well , then , let us takd from the £ !> the i ! 3 which will be rtquired as their share of taxta ; thus U-aviig £ 0 > , or tte value of six . loads of ¦ wheat , an the net share- if the farmer aud his labourer , for preflt and ¦ wages . And let us always bear in mind that the id , left after the rent and tixes are paid , will purchase 24 uibi . of American ci t ' . on at sixpence per pound .
Supj ; .- > se then , now , that the Corn laws are repealed , and tiuit . in consequence , the price of wheat is reductd tne half , or from 20 s . per load to 10 s . per load , ia :. d th ; t is only a trifle compared with what some of the lecturers talk about' ; and , to make the best of it , kt us suppose that the landlord has reduced his rent from 20 s . p = r cere to ioi . per acre . Well , then , as the acre produces ten loads , and as the price is 103 per acre , tbe ^ ross nuiount raised by the acre will be £ 5 ; from ¦ which take the 10 s . reit , and it will leave £ 4 18 s . as the gross amount to be divided between the farmer ana his labourer for profit , wages , and the payment of taxes , instead of the £ 1 ) , -which they had before the repeal . A pretty decent pull this one would think ; and it would appear scarcely possible , even for a political economist , to enable the farmer and his labourer to have as much out of £ 0 10 s . as thty had of the £ 9 before .
But this is not quire T the worst of the matter . It will be recollected that I Etated , at the outset , that the taxes were a £ xed monetary amount , « nci that they will not lower -with the price of corn ; and if we are to take the authority of the leaders of the corn repeal party , it is impossible for them to lower . You , Sir , well remember that Lord John Russell said , that "it is as absolutely requisite to preserve the public faith as it is to preserve tbe power [ by which I suppose he means the independence ] of tbe country ,- "' and you will also remember that , Lord Morpeth said , that " the safety of the nation required that the revenue should be raised . " These names , with you , will be high authority ; and if their opinions be correct , will prove that the " taxes are a fixed monetary paymei-t , that will not lower in consequence of the fall in tbe price of corn ; in short , the full amount of the bond must be raised , or Shylock
will have the pound of flesh from our bosoms . Therefore , as we suppesed the amount of taxes to be paid by the farmer and his labourer to be £ 3 ; and as that amount is a fixed one , and will not lower with tbe price of corn ; that £ S taken from the £ 4 10 s which , after the repeal of the corn laws , the produce of tbe acre , deducting rent , would amount to , will leave only £ l 148 , or tho value of three loads of wheat , init 9 ad of £ 6 , or the value of six loads , which the farmer had before the repeal , for prefit and the wages of labour . But , Sir , you must bear in mind that although the £ 1 19 s will purchase half ss much wheat as the £ 6 , it will purchase only one-fourth as much American cotton ; or as was shewn before , he can now purchase 2401 bs of cotton after he has paid his rent and taxes ; but after the repeal he could only purchase with his £ l 10 s , 601 bs of cotton . A very enviable situation truly .
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1 dare not trespass further upon tbe apace of a weekly journal which hu raci heavy demands upon ita columns ; but by tho kind penniseion of the Editor 1 will resume the subject at another time . Youn , tte . \ James P * nht . Mfllbridm , December 6 , 1841 .
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TO THE CHARTISTS OP GREAT BRITAIN . Brother Democrats , —The Executive hare come to the conclusion to publish weekly in the Star , Vindicator , and Chartist Circular , tbe weekly receipts , and by this means tbe country will be more satisfied aa regard * those place * that pay and those that do not . I am glad to find that the suggestions I have thrown out last Saturday , are being acted on ; letters now sent to me have the proper address to them , besides I have received several papers from Scotland as well as England , when sneers have been thrown out against us Two copies of the Staffordshire Advertiser have been sent me by some kind friend , in both of which we are attacked . Tola betokens something good—it clearly proves that our numbers are making tbe venal and corrupt press of England begin to quake . Look to the two important meetings and triumph for our cause
that have lately taken place in the great metropolis , viz the one at Southwark , and the other at Lambeth . Observe how Spurr , Ridley , Maynard , and others made tbe immutable principles of truth triumph over cant and humbug . Reie was a meeting called to inquire into the present distress , the returning officer in the chair ; everything was right enough until Mr . Maynard moved the two members be requested to support the Petition , when Alderman Humphrey said that he would not support the Petition , because there were statements in it , with which he did not agree . Then came the storm from the toil-worn , til-treated working men , aye , and because it is mentioned that Prince Albert has £ 104 per day , he would not support it . Why really the Alderraaa might not be afraid of the country , knowing how much per diem the Prince
However , the Alderman may rest assured that all England , Scotland , Ireland , and Wales shall know how much per diem Prince AUert has , and not only shall the Chartists take steps in letting the country know this matter alone , but also to inform the people that Queen Adelaide has £ 273 per diem , that the Queen has as much for pocket money in one year , as would pay the entire salary of the President of America for twelve years . Aye , aye , Mr . Alderman , we will ere we end this sort of information , let the people know all these things , and I am sure it will require more logic than Alderman Humphrey possesses , to convince tbe people that such intolerable grievances ought not to be mentioned . Every praise is due to Messrs . Maynard and Rogers , for tbe exertions they have been at , to get up the above meeting .
The Doctor made an excellent address but the dailies would not report him . The other meeting at Lambeth was called to pass congratulatory addresses to the Queen , Prince Albert , and the Duchess of Kent , on the auspicious event of a Prince of Wales being born , ( what a sublime happiness to the Spltalfields weavers !) Dr . Bedford in tie chair . Addresses were moved and seconded for the above purpose , which were met by counter resolutions , that the addresses be discussed that day nine months . The Charti&t amendmeets were triumphantly carried . I have received letters from London , speaking in very high terms of Dr . Bedford and the High Bailiff of Southwark .
One of the best features in our agitation u , that the London Trades are beginning to move ; the masons , the tailors , the shoemakers , and tbe batters are at tbe good work in their respective trades . Let the trades but come out for the Charter , and we are sure of suecess ; let us be united amongst ourselves , and I defy the united power of Whig and Tory to arrest our progress . It is now past five o'cloek , and I have to be in Todmordon at half-past seven ; so I bid you good night , by again pressing on you the necessity of union . I remain ,, Your brother democrat , John Campbell , Secretary .
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Amidst some kind and sympathising individuals there were some who—• " Like the rade Corinthian boer , Against toe houseless stranger shut the door . " One man of this sort , a parson , living at a village net many miles frsm Mansfield , actually slammed his door In the face ef five highly respectable working men whilst they were respectfully at iting their case ; aud these men actually retnroed home with twopeace each , after a day ' s exposure to the most inclement weather : they were all married men . Working men are often taunted with their immoralities and their ignorance . I should like to know how many of those bewailers of oar moral aberations , were they in like circumstances , would be better specimens of human greatness ?
There has been an immense amount of unseen suffering and out-of-slght misery endured in this neighbourhood , and when the thousand little sympathies that bind a man to his own fireside , and make life -worth living , are broken ; when the ruddy glow of health forsakes the cheeks of his half-starved children , when he has to meet tbe mournful eye of her wbo has pinched herself in order that her children might know somewhat less of want ; aud when tbe many discomforts of his wretched cellar-house , where ragB and filth and poverty are bis lot , instead of the joyous smiles of happy children , and the kindly sympathies of an affectionate wife , With tbe plenty that nature sent for all , is it surprising under these circumstances that he should resort to the pot-house to drown all remembrance ef bis woes , in the most vicious and criminal pursuits .
And yet the distress that now obtains in ail our manufacturing districts , does but display the sufferings of tbe useful classes in a little bolder relief . We have been for years but just vegetating , and coU and selfish calculations about how we should get over the next day have
" Rcpress'd our noble rage , And froze the genial current of the soul . " The higher ends of our existence have been forgotten amidst the crime and turmoil that society has forced us Into ; but notwithstanding the degradation in which what are called the higher classes have plunged us , we have been visited by some glimmerings of the great and good , and , despite our distresses , nothing can divert us from the pursuit of our full rights . In answer to the crotchets of expediency-mongers , tbe people , in a voice of thunder , demand their Charter , as the first , the only thing they will contend for : and the wrongs that crush us , though they are keen to bear , yet even they point out tha ephemeral character of the horrid system that entails them ; and they clearly foreshow tbe coining—tbe speedily coming time when the present barbaric state of society shall be matter of history , until historians shall refuse to record its crimes .
; I am , Sir , Tear obedient servant , ; J . W . SMITH . Ratcliffe-gate , Mansfield .
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ADDRESS OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL COVSC 1 L TO THE CHARTISTS OF SHEFFIELD .
" Awake I arise 1 or be for ever fallen ' . " Bhother Democrats , —Appointed by the National Charter Association to watch over the safety , and do all that in our power lies to promote the success , of the democratic canse in this district , we deem it our doty t « briefly address you , shewing tbe necessity of immediate exertion on your part to place Sheffield in that position which , as one of the principal hives of British industry , it ought to occupy in the glorious movement now extending through the length and breadth of tho land—a movement for tbe establishment of the lights of our order , and the restoration of national greatness and prosperity , based upon the equal rights and equal enjoyments of all .
Brothers , the lata General Election saw the wretched Whig faction driven from power , and for ever destroyed as a party . Their end was just—their doom well-merited : they had betrayed and insulted tho people ; and when , in the hour of their need , fie miserable hypocrites appealed for bolp to those whom in the plenitude of their power they had trampled upon , the derisive laugh of a nation ' s scorn ww the only answer given : the tricksters of 1831 perished , and one national shout of exultation hailed their fall . Then was restored to power tbe Tory faction , the conservators of , because the proflters by , every a&use . If the Tories imagined that because the people rejected
the Whigs they ( the people ) bad any love for the rival faction , miserably have they deceived themselves , as the future will show . No ; had tho people possessed legislative power they would have driven both factions to destruction . Not possessing that power , they destroyed the traitor parts , leaving . enly the avowed supporters of tyranny to battle with" ; the party with whom there can be no compromise , wbo will themselves be crushed striving to uphold the present canibal system : or , conquering us will being the now aroused millions under a military despotism , from whicb there will be no eBcape but by and through a struggle , such as the heart anil the mind sickens to contemplate , and instinctively prayetb may never come .
Are we mistaken as to the character of the ruling faction ?—No . Without reverting to their former deeds , without rehearsing tbe bloody records of the past , a glance at one or two of the leading members of the cabinet , will show the real character of the present Government . Who ia the Duke of Wellington ? Who ? Let the tans of thousands of victims of kingcraft and aristocracy who sleep ' neath the blood-stained sod of Europe ' s fields , and Asia ' s plains , answer . Who is Sir Robort Peel ? " One ( to quote a certain writer ) of the most Jesuitical and of heartless men . Ho hates and despises the people , more cordially tiiin even the vilest ef the vile Whigs . He is a man without heart , without human sympathy , without any political affoction in common with the masses of humanity around him . He way be said to embody al ! the bad qualities of both factions , and the good of neither . " We nted proceed no further with our description of the present Government , save but to remind
you of the Duke of W eUington's ignorant awl heartless j assertion , that there was no distress in the country ! ; And that every man who chose to labour might warn | a sufficiency of the necessaries and comforts of life i , Tho very reverse of this being aa notorious as the tan ; at noonday . To which weinay add the arrogant declara- tion of the Duke of Richmond , to the fefl ' ect . th : t the power that made should unmake the present Govern- ment , unless that Government did the work of tiia landed aristocracy ! Are ye Englishmen , and Mush not to hear this aristocratic insult , that it is nut yy , the . people , that make the Gjverninent , hut your lordly op- pressors ? And told thia , tou , by one who o < vt ' ahis ! titles aud wealth , the power to starve En ^ iish p ; u : [ ju \) , , and grind Highland serfs , to tho fact of ihf £ jV , w-Aih mutter of his liiw hairing been t : ie accommod iting mis- ' tress of a royal debauchee ; to the arrogant t ; ras : iiy of suck shall wo patiently su ' miit ? Forbid it , Heaven ! Forbid it , every remembrance of our siiea' deeds . ' '
" We have too long Knelt at « ur proud lords' feet ; we have too long Obeyed thtir orders , bov / ed totht'ii' caprices—Sweat 3 d for them the ¦ wearying summer ' s day , VV ' iibtfcd for tht'iH tLo wagea of our toil ; Fought for them , conquered for them , ble . . Cor them , Still to be trampled ou , and still despised ! But wo will burbt our chains . " From such a Government can ^ e expect ougl . t of good ? No , wo turn wit ' . i loathing disgint from th liberal knaves , who tjll uat ) give SirK . bi . it P ^ el a fair trial . We cull upon jou tibeup aial (;<; ii . g , anil be ready t > oppose V . 10 mtvasurea of tae Qoverntin j t if
when bron ^ Lt beforo the couitry , tat * y are found u be as rumoured " national emigration , an < l tbe building of more barracks , " that is , transposition fur thoau wh « may be driven from homa at : d kindred nnd buikt
We deeply regrtt the necessity we are under of t ; lling you'plainly , that hitherto , the Executive Council have not found that support on the part of th 9 Cln'rtists of Sheffield they bad a right to expect . Kemember , brothers , 'tis uot ia the power of leaders , no matter how talented , courageous , and incorruptible to accomplish of themselves a . nation ' s regeneration . It is toe uuverreign people , the mighty masses who must will by their apathy or energy , the slavery or freedom of our country . We have to complain that" a considerable nnmber of the association have fallen into arrears with tjeir contributions . We know that this may , in a great measure , be attributed to the want of employment in the ' , '
town . But , as it is necessary for the carrying on of the agitation with vigour , aa well as to ascertain tbe real strength of the association , that the said arrears should be obtained , we have resolved to send a circular to each member ifldebted to th © association , stating tbe amoutt by him due , and fixing a limited time f » r the payment of tbe same ; where , owing to the want of employment or other causes , inability to pay may be shewn , we shall be ready to extend the time specified in the circular . If there is any man whose name is enrolled on our Hit , who will neither make good his arrears , ner state -why " he is unable to do so , we shall consider that man to be no real Chartist , and as such unworthy to nave his name longer on our roll
We now turn to those wbo , professing tbe principles of Chartism , bave not as yet joined the ranks of the National Association . Brothers , we appeal to you to shako off your apathy , and at onca enlist under our banner . He who is not for us is ag-Jnst us . In your countless thousands ye thronged the streets to welcome , and hailed with rapture every word from the lips of your champion , O'Connor ; that undaunted advocate of the poor man ' s rights will shortly again visit your town . Come , then , join the Association , and provo to O'Connor that his gast labours bave not been in vain .
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During the weak of tha Cbrictnuw holidays , weabatl take active and energetic measures for obtaining signatures to the National Petition . In the meantime , the names of parsons holding sheets fox signature * will be found in another column of the Story Lectures are delivered every Sunday evening at halfpast six o ' clock , in the Asssociation Room , Fig Treelane . Meetings are also held in tbe same place eve j Monday and Tuesday evening ^ when aew members are enrolled , 'and every information as to the rules of the Association given . Upon the necessity of signing the National Petition and supporting tbe forthcoming Convention , we Bhall hereafter address you . By order of the Committee , George Julian Haeney , Sub-Secretory . Sheffield , Dec 13 , 18 U .
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BRUTAL MURDER AT ST . HELEN'S . It is our painful duty to record tbe facts of a most diabolical and barbarous murder which baa been committed on a highly-respectable farmer residing at Rainford , about two miles from St . Helen ' s , whose name was Henry Grayson . About five o ' clock on Sunday morning , a man , employed as ostler by the Denton ' s-green Brewery Company , was proceeding to his stables , when he discovered tbe body of a man lying in tbe centre of the highway , and his suspicion was that he was drunk and asleep . He , however , raised him up ; and , finding him incapable of either speaking or helping himself , carried him into % barn immediately adjoining , which belongs to the landlord of the Gerard ' s Anns public-house , Denton ' sgreen , There the man left him , supposing heiwas still
asleep , but returned some time after with a lanthern , when he found that be had been dreadfully wounded in his head aud other parts of bis body , and if not then dead , was utterly Insensible . He immediately gave the alarm , and assistance was procured ; but tbe unfortunate gentleman was dead before it could be of any avail . A report of the transaction was speedily conveyed to Captain Woodford , tbe Commander of the County Constabulary Force , whose head quarters are at Preston , and who lost no time in repairing to the scene of murder and outrage , for the purpose of tendering advice and direction . The result of bis - ezettlona , together with those of Superintendent Storey , of the St . Helen's division , is , that six persons , who are supposed to be implicated in tbe inhuman and bloodthirsty deed , are in custody .
The following are tbe particulars of this dreadful deed : —The deceased , Mr . Henry Grayson , was a highly respectable farmer , residing atRalnford . a TiHageabout four miles from St . Helen ' s . He was about sixty-four years of age , and was reputed te be worth considerable property , some say to the amount of £ 200 a year . Part of this property consisted of cottages in St Helen ' s , the rents of which be was in tbe habit of collecting weekly , and for that purpose he generally attended every Saturday On Saturday be was in St . Helen ' s , and had called on several of his tenants , but so far as it is at present ascertained he bad only received , in the course of the day , tbe sum of 12 s . 4 d . Between eight and nine o ' clock he was seen in a beer house in tha town , and in the course of conversation with some persons who were
aware of his residence and the rood he bad to traverue , knowing also of a gang ot poachers , reputed bad characters , wh . 0 were in the habit of frequenting that part of the country , he was cautioned to desist from his common practice of returning home at such late hours , as , in all probability , on some occasion the " long company , " as the gang in question are generally designated , would alt \ ck &nd rob him ; but so little suspicion had he of such an occurrence taking place , that , in reply to the caution , hia observation was , " Oh , no ; I know tbem all ; they'll not meddle with me . " He left the beer-bouse between eight and nine o ' clock , and called on a respectable tradesman , with whoso family he remained until about midnight , and partook of supper with them . He was seen about one o ' clock at the
door of the King ' s Head public house , in the company of a friend , knocking for admission , by a policeman on bis beat . The policeman went to tbe place , but , seeing wbo they were , lelt them , without addressing tbem atalL As he was geing away he heard Borne one belonging to the house say that unless they wished to stay all night they could not be admitted . Shortly afterwards he was observed on the highway , leading towards Rainford , apparently sober . This is supposed to bave been the last time he was seen alive , except , perhaps , by the assassin or assassins ; for , about half-past four in the morning , the body was found lying in the middle of the road , in such a dreadfully mangled state that it could not be recognised , even by those who knew him . The place , where the horrid crime was committed is
called Dentjn's Green , about a mile from St Helen ' s , almost in the centre of the village , and within fifty yards of the Gerard's Arms Ins . It is evident that either the deceased had been instantaneonsly deprived of utt : ranee , or the storm , which was raging at the time , had prevented his cries fr * m being heard , for no one in the neighbourhood was disturbed until the corpse was , discovered . It was found that on the forehead , immediately above the nose , a wound was inflicted with some blunt instrument , which had broken the skull and penetrated the brain . On tbe back part of the head 'Was another wound which , had also broken the bone of'tbe skull and penetrated the brain , and tbe right eye was burst and forced from its position by another blow of the assassin . But as if the demons in human shape , for less one could hardly suppose them , were not satisfied with taking away the life of their victim , they proceeded to further violence , for his
| right sheukter was dislocated , and six of his riba on the right side , and four on the left side ,, were broken , and forced into tha lungs . The deceased , it would appear , from the state of the road , and the filth which covered him , must have had a fearful struggle with his murderers , and it is supposed was acquainted wita all er some of them . His pockets were all rifled , and the right hand breeches pocket was turned inside out , and the lower part o ( it cut off , but it is known that they could not have obtained more than 10 s or 12 s . booty , in silver and copper , and this is all the property that was takea away , so that there is nothing which can bo identified as belonging to him . So exceedingly cautious had the murderers been iu thejr conduct t <> tho dead , that his pocket-handkerchief , which probably might have been recognised , was found thrown into the ditch at the road aide , a few yards from where the body was found .
• , j . , 1 , J | \ j , > Iu the course of Sunday morning , Mr . Storey succeeded in apprending two men on suspicion , named Tiiouias Meadowcroft and Isaac Jacques , within a short distance of deceased ' s residence . On the small clothes of the former were marks of blood abeut tlie knees , which had evidently own attempted to bebbliterated by scraping with a knife or some such instrument , and in his pocket was found 1 lar ^ o clasp knife on which we ' ve marks of !) louvi . Waen they were about to bn conveyed to prison , Jacques was about to cannnunic . te something , but was prevented by his coir . paniun . and lie afterwards declined waking any" slat iintnt at present , o . itLuugli fr « 3 g uid he bad something important to communicate Siiice then , four other persons have beea apprehended , who-o names are Robert VVpti ' . ! ., Charies Wood , Wiiluim Jacques , and 1 ' atnek M'C-Kulon , all p ; irt of tha gang of poachers abave icu rr ' - il to . Tli .-y havfe all been idt-rtliucd as'ufein ;; in the neighbourhood within a short time of the murda .
As a proof of th ' - psrftctly reckless character of the gang mentioned above , the following particulars , which i-isive since come to our knowledge , are given , and will : iffjrd a melancholy illustration . Ou Sunday evening yuperintamient Stjrey met three of them on tho road between St . Helen's , and the place where the murder was conimitt ^ rl , whom he atcppevi ami searciied , but Sailing nothing On tjera except souie gins , which they uiuiiiied they were going to set for harts , he allowed th . in to dtpart . Within tvo hours after tais a yoor labourer wiis'linooked down on tbe road by three men , rohbeii of his little all—half a sovtsrei ^ n—' , vbic ; ' . he waa conveying home to hia family , and thrown into the ditch . It happened , however , tb . at the party robbed waa wtil acquainted witii one of the robbers , whom ha has silica idtntitiwi , and who proves to be part of the same gang—a person named Peter Woods , brother to tne of ths prisoners iu custody , on suspicion of tha murder .
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! ! TO THE OPERATIVE MASONS OP LONDON . Fellow Cocntbtmen , —Haring read the parties-\ Ian respecting your straggle against a combined system . of tyranny , and believing yon to be actuated by really 1 honest motivw , both to yourselves and your fellow men , ; is my reason tor offariDg yon my opinion aa to the steps . to be adopted iu order to secure a victory on the aide of ! right against might Happy am I that you bare main' tained your position Hie honourable aad brave aen , I and hare given no reason to be pounced upon by tbe [ servants of tbe law . From my knowledge of sober , ¦ honest , and industrious men , I am certain that they j would sooner be employod than Been walking the streets . ! My object then in this communication is to lay down a ' plan by which you all might be set to work . Suppose
I then , that yon were to make a call upon your friends in 1 tbe other trades for a loan of rxoney towards your sup-¦ port , and I sm Tery glad to hear they come forward i liberally ; r&iae , s&y » thousand pounds , to purchase a plot o ? land ,- after which yon might borrow aeTen or ¦ eight thousand pounds more on interest , with whicb j you may set to work immediately ; and build a large :-working-Eian ' s hall : and , by bo deing , you would be ! enabled to pay your men wages for working for themselves , instead of , as now , walking about doing nothing . i You would then have a commodious building wherein ; to meet for the mutual improvement of each other , without being dependant on other parties at times for a . room . When erected , it ¦ would pay good interest ; it
would tend to insure victory over yonr oppressors by opening a market for labour . The working men and trades would be relieved of their subscriptions , and would willicgly give a loan for such a laudable purpose ; because the men , instead of receiving money for doing nothing , would be creating wealth for what they received . Then what man -would sooner work for an oppressor than himself ? I merely throw out this hint to remind you of what might be done . Having had some experience with Etrikes , I am afraid that tbe trades will fall off in their subscriptions , unless they see & chance of snecess . If you could accomplish tbe above object y « u would give tyranny a mighty shake ; and that you may do so is the sincere Wish of Yours , faithfully , Wh . Griffin .
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MEETING OF THE DISTRESSED SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS . Last Saturday night , a numerous meeting of the distressed Spitalfields weavers was held at the Crown and Anchor , Waterloo-town , Bethnal-green , by adjournment from the previous Saturday , to receive the report of the deputation which waited upon the Lord Mayor , for the purpose of hearing from his Lordship his intentions as to the appropriation of the funds in his hands for the relief of the Spitalfhlds weavers . Mr . Boddington having , about nine o ' clock , been appointed to preside ,
Mr . FOX , on the part of tbe committee , said , that he and two of the committee waited upon the Lord Mayor , on Thursday last . The committee were aware that a meeting had been held in the vestry-room of tbe church , at which meeting several clergymen of the district , and some gentlemen connected With the Adelaide Society , attended . The committee were informed that an intention was then expressed to devote the monies raised for the relief of the Spitalfields weavers to theeupporfof all persons in distress , of whatever trade . The committee recoYved , in consequence , that a deputation should wait upon the Lord Mayor . The deputation saw his Lordship at the Mansiou-honse , and his Lordship expressed bis surprise that there should be an attempt to appropriate money in any other way than the donors intended . They observed , that they called to express their desire that the money should not be
parted with by the Loid Mayor until a proper committee bad been appointed . His Lordship said that such was his intention . While they were in conversation , Mr . Wen wood , from tho Adelaide Committee , and Mr . Brydges , entered the room , when they stated what had been done at the vestry , and what were their intentions as to the disposition of the funds . Tho Lord Mayor having stated his objections , recommended the deputation to get up a district meeting , when , if they had a responsible chairman and an efficient committee , who would apply the funds judiciously , be would then give tbe money out of his hands . He stated that he had about £ 1 , 000 ., but which , be observed , he knew was not near sufficient to supply their urgent necessities . The committee had since waited on Mr . R . Hanbury , who had declared his willingness to become their chairman at the district meeting . ( Hear , hear . )
Mr . CLAISSE , the Secretary , said , that he was happy to find that they were in a course to obtain some assistance for the starving SpitalGeUis' weavers . It was n .. . w out of the hands of the Committee . He assured them , that in the City and at the West-end the best disposition was evinced on their behalf by all parties , and he believed that now tiiat the opinion of the Leni Mayor was known , that many of tho gentlemen who nitt at tho church bad fallen in with his views . Tha distress , he waa sorry to fray , was increasing to an alarming extent .
Since tlieirlast meetin ? , the Committee bad had above 300 personal applications ; whilo tho landlord of the Knave of Clubs , where the Committee meet , is called upon all day to know when the money wili ba distributed A few days ago he saw Mr . Brutton , thu vestry c ' . erk , who stated that there were about 1 , 01 ) 0 in tho house , and 1 , 300 who receive out-door relief . ( Several exclaimed , " Nearly 3 , 000 ; " ) and a weaver said that Barton , the relieving officer , informed him a few wceli 3 ago ( hat there were above 2 , 000 receiving out-deor relief .
Mr . Fox said , that a fortnight ago there were sr > i in the house . He believed t ' i « out-door relief was about 3 , 000 . Several weavers addreseed the chair , after which the report waa unanimously received ; when , thanks hiring passed to the Chairman , who replied , the meeting broke up . _„ _^— , — i
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^ 1 STATE OF THE COUNTRY . I Gentlemen , —Since I latt wrote about the distress at Mansfield , some of tho operatives have returned to work or rather half employment . Others are still employed at the Bas tile whither their necesaitiesplaced them . And now 1 will glance at the sufferings endured by my fellow townsmen during the last seven or eight months . : * The Guardians as I before asserted refused to allow out door relief to any but married men with families , and the relief allowed was utterly insufficient for the support of their families . Very many refused to go j at all , and endured all the miseries of their fate at- j home .
Some have cultivated small plots of Forest ground and have grown crops of potatoes , and this has been the fare of many families to every meal for many a day . I shall never forget a scene tfiat I was made the spectator of : —A family of six persons bad had the swinish fare above noticed , for four days successively when one day they were at dinner ; after the meal , the mother fetched the remnant of a small loaf out and shared it amongst her children , reserving the smallest share for herself . I am personally acquainted with a man and his wife , who have had only v . quarter of a stone of flour per week , for a many weeks past .
Begging has been the order of the day ; scores of parties of from two to six , or seven , have distributed themselves up and down the country , humbly asking for a trifle to just spin out life , upon whom , if brigand laws bad not interposed betwixt them and nature's ordinations , themselves aud their starving families might be living in health and plenty upon the uneultivated park , and thinly-manned farms , through which they passed in their amateur mendicant excursions . I cannot refrain from expressing my surprise at the
almost entire absence of sympathy on the part of the wealthier portion of our towns people . At a meeting of a few benevolent and influential gentlemen , ( last noticed ) a deputation from themselves waited upon those public functionaries whose especial duty it is 10 manage towns' meetings , and wished to call a public meeting for the purpose of devising some means for meeting the exigencies of the case ; but they refused to call the meeting . A requisition , got up by some working men , and signed by i Magistrate , for the same purpose , had no better SUCCtBS .
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THE NOR THE BN STAR . 7 _
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TO THE EDITOR OF THE K 0 RTHEB . N STA . KS 12 ., —As no doubt many of our friends in Scotland are awaiting in anxious suspense , for communications from Mr . O'Brien , he being unable in consequence of the bad state of his health , to write them , you * ill greatly oblige the above gentleman and his Scottish friends , by inserting the following letter in the Northern Star . Tours , very sincerely . Diwcan Nicholson . Aberdeen , December 3 d . 1841 . P . S . The following is a eopy of th » letter received by me , from J . B . O'Brien . D . N .
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Voracious Pike . —A singular instance of- tho voracity of the pike occurred ou the sul ?\ diug of the fiooa from tho footpath adjoining Mr . Oldham ' s mill , a few ays since . Some lads were engaged in play , and dabbling with their naked feet in ih 3 waters oveiflowing the banks of the Learn , when one of the juvenile party was seized by the foot by a pike of about 4 lt > . weight ; and such was the tenacity with which this tyrant of the watery element kept its hold , that it was with no little difficulty the boy succeeded iu shaking it eff , which having at length , accomplished ,-he carried it to the domicile ot" his parents , where it formed part of the family meal a tew hours afterwards . —Manchester paper .
i Coming to the Point . —A joung gentleman , I whose extreme bashfulnesa might otherwise causo serious embarrassment to the i ' air , takes the following very modest means of breathing hia sighs through the columns of the Carmarthen Journal : — I " Open to all South Wales . —Wanted , by a hand [ some young gentleman of nineteen ( whose bashfulness has caused him to adopt this mode of courtship ) , an object . of affection . She must be pretty , not very tall , accomplished , fond of music , and have a good voice of her own ; her age from Baventeen to I twenty-five . Money of no consideration . Address ( postpaid ) to ....... The utmost secrecy observed . F . S . —Any lady wishing to embrace the present opportunity-will meet with an affectionate lover , and , perhaps , wealthy husband . "
Melancholy akd Fatal Accident . —On Thursday evening the master of the Kirkcaldy packet , sailing between LeUh and that place , fell into Kirkcaldy harbour , between eight and nine o ' clock , and as the night was very dark , 110 one s&w the accident , but his cries for assistance brought David Hogg , one of the men belonging to the flory boat , to the spot , whose endeavours , we regret to say , in rendering assistance , terminated in both being drowned . The captain's body was found the same evening , and that of Hogg the next morning . The captain , whose name is Robert Graham , perished within 200 yards of his own house , and we understand has life a widow and three children to deplore his loss . Hogg has left a widow and eight children 'Caledonian Mercury .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 18, 1841, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct409/page/7/
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