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THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, MARCH 24, I£i3.
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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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TO THE CHABHSTS OP T . Trans ' AM > ITS ViClNlTTMl Fbtekds , —The trials have terminated and 1 am acquitted . This isB = > ttbaiot o ? all , and in . eonse , qii £ nee a -eolann duty de-rolves tipou * s- T * families of some , who fcaTaieen on some paltry pretence found Snilty , win suffer much unless proper funds be at . once provided , ihank God , I need not to bag for myself , sol can do » o the more boldly . I shall deem Jt my dnty , and I think It the dnty of all who have been acquitted , to aid Uje defence fond as much as possible . On Saturday -week I shall be in Xeeds , and shall be most happy to deliver one or tnro JectarbS at any place within five miles . The "whole proceeds of such lectures to go to the defence fund , providing that the application to me be made throngh the » ub-SecretarieB during th £ flret two weeks of April . . -
let tib-op and Iw doing 1 The cause most not sufler , and the eoemia 3 of rig ht must coV boast that the people fcsTfi left tteii friends to suffer and their families to starve . lam , yours , In the good cause , T . B . Smith . "London , MaxeiSl , 18 i 3 .
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SXTB 10 BDINABY CASE . BpjgHjoh , Mas . 17- —An inquest was held this moinnig , before Mr . Gall , coroner for East Sussex , at the Sussex County Hospital , on the body of Hannah D ; le , a servant at the synagogue in Devonshire-place , vbost : death took place by poison yesterday morning . Thd first 'witness called 'was Sarah Rentel , wife of JItyer Rental , -who lives in London . She deposed that she lives -with her son , Moses Bents ! , reader of the synagogue , -and the deceased was their servant . - © n Wadn&day evening the deceased talked about a treed that grew in the hedges and was known locally by the aszneoi "lords and ladies , " -wliicli-w ^ B poiso n . She vent to bed at half-past nine o ' clock , taking 4 he cat as usual , - with her . She slept down stairs is the kitcben .
In the morning , Tier son came to her room and told her the fire -was sot lighted , and that the deceased -was not up . He then vent into the synagogue and she got up and called deceased ,- and , obHining no answer , she made the fire herself and prepared coffee . On her son returning from the synagogue and finding teat the Bex-rant -was stfll in bed , he went to the door and called , and receiving no answer forced the door open , and then ran for a doctor . Witness , her son , and the girl were the only persons living at the synagogue . There'was so poison in the hsn&s , nor any medicine which could have poisoned hex . She vent out to see her parents on Tuesday evening , and did sot return tin half-past
nine o ' clock . She had never stayed ont so late before . Moses Rentel , the reader , deposed to calling the girl ¦ without getting an answer both before and after he vent Into the syaagofUB , and to forcing the kitchen door open . He Sren saw the girt In bedywith her face Tery red , and her south discoloured . He ran to Ecfirard-street and fetched Mr . Candle , a surgeon who returned with him , snd said the girl appeared to have taken poison . He Oxen sav the 4 a ! t lying dead on the floor . A short time afterwards Mr . Whitehouse came in , aud by his advice the girl vss at once taken to the hospital . He had 210 parHeabcr animosity against ihe sat , and had no poison about the house .
3 It . E a W . Whitehouse , surgeon , deposed to finding the girl at the synagogue with the pupils of the eye very much dilated , the" countenance and the eyes suffused , and respiration and circulation hurried . Around the mouth was a white mark , which arose from some chalk and water administered as an antidote by Mr . Candle . After her removal to the hospital he examined the room thoroughly . He first saw a de&d cat , -which had -vomited . 33 iere were also marks of vomiting on the girl ' s pillow . He examined her clothes , and found uot' -rrr except a small pieca of meist cake in her p-ci £ -- Mo could ses no paper , or botUs , 01 anything r } m =, iodicatiog the presence of poison . The t > oller was open , and be ordered come of the -water to be taken
oat for examination . He made aposf mortem examination of the cat , but discovered no morbid appearance In the stomach , nor any inflammation which could lead to a supposition that poison had Ireen taken—at least any alnersJ poison . He had since had a portion of the ¦ c « s < J the stomach , brought np by the stomachj ^^ i > , sent to him from the hospital ; and he produced the contents of the stomach from &post morion fganncafion -which he had just made . He had analysed five different substances—the contents of tbe stomach of the eat , the vomiting on the girl ' s pillow ., the contents of \\ pt stomach brought up -by the pump , the contents of the stomach post mortem , and the water in the boiler , and could find so trace of any corrosive or mineral poison . All she results vere negative .
Coroner—Now , let us go to the post mortem eTvninatkm of the body . TYlmnnn' Wn - first examined fbe brain , file Teaela ¦ d VbMl WS » eangeited , file l&ooa being more fluid \ bz-n usual , and a small quantity of serum infused b ® - oeath ihe membranes . The cinuses vere also gorged viih blood . The ( Esophagus an * stemacb presented no onsanal feature . The contents of the stomach are here . There is a considerable quantity of dirty vhrtiaa sedljseat in Siem , vhich would require further analysis feefare ~ he could give an opinion -upon It . The condition of the brain indicated that there had bten a narcstic poison , if there had teen poison at alL Coroner—Have yon formed an opinion as to the cause e ? death ?
Witness—No ; I have not even satisfied myself that poison has been taken , although the circumstances lead that -way . I have applied tests for all the mineral poisons . The . Tegetable poisons are difficult to detect The Jury agreed to adjourn , ia order to allow time for a further analysis to take place , and Mr . "Whitefeonse said is Aonjd lie to ciH is tbe aaaustaoca of Dz . SehvMtaat , o £ the Gaanaa 8 j >» , - » bo had devoted much attention to vegetable analyse * . lir . George Jjovdell , honse-surgeon to the hospital , deposed to the deceased having died in an hour and a E « ir after bar admission to the hospital , and to hiS'Oon * surrence in the evidence of Mr . Whltehoose as to the result of tbe post morten examination .
Charlotte Relder , a girl eleven years of sge , deposed , Shat on Monday lart she saw the deceased , vhq cried ; to her , and nid "they had just had a dreadful row , 1 and that the son ( the reader ) had knocked her about . " She said h » had knocked her down on the stairs , wben ¦ he ought hold of the rails to save herself , and he said the deserved to be poisoned . She bad . heard deceased complain several times before of being Ill-treated by her master iN mlalrea . Witness did mot mention anything about the threat to poison deceased till she beard she was dead , .. . . - Tfce mother of deceased , tvo of her sisters , a companion , and some neighbours , all deposed to having beard the-deceased frequently complain that her master and mistress had either ill-naed "her in vnzions -ways or threatened to do so . One of thantivore that deceased had told her that her master had threatsned to " do " for her , for shielding the eat in question from Ms ill ' T 1 B 3 CB .
The jury deliberated with closed doors for about half an hour , whsn an adjournment took place to Sunday ; and the coroner issued his warrant for the apprehension of Moses Rentel , the reader , and his mother , to wait the result of the inquest . They are sov in custody .
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ADDBESS TO THE WORKING MEN OF . ENGIAND , ANJ > MOKB PAKTICTJLABLY THE MAStTFACTUBINe OPEBATITES .
Ml DisiXESSKp Bbethsbh , —To reKeve the dejrtssioD on facade effectually , yon must become fanners aSi& proAm&z * ollooA for yc / axaebrea . - You zunsi unite in co-opsratiTe communiUes and be located oa hitherto uncultivated , unreclaimed , and osappropiated , or on the uselessly occupied and unprodcctively appropriated soils of the land . They vko now monopolize the soil must be compelled by law , sot to disgorge their unhallowed illgotten prey , hut to let to you a part of their immense domains at rec-Mnable rent charges , to be under the guidance , management , and direction of efficient committees , . treasurers and secretaries , selected from amongst yourselves antljouz more vealihy friends , aoeerding to a plan to t 3 propoeed and approved .
Heed not the professions of argnments of the humsnity-mongering over-gorged capitalists and the other to&ckers and traders , and unholy approprlators of the fruits of jour toil and genius , tfig Tree Tnda tribe . 11 their favourite nostrum , the further extension of commerce , means the farther extension of the accursed , the horrible , depraving : and emaciating factory Blave system , I entreat yon to spurn it Tbe vorking of mKhinery for the equal benefit oy xxs . -woBtD bo ¦ wziA ; bnt the system as it is in * BaS * j , voTiingonly for ttelwnefit of , a mere crafty » cbopoKa ! ns section of the community , prodncing Ojam princely fortunes ; enabling them to erect superb mansions and Tn ^ ^ ta ^ costly estahlishmenta ; and all tt die price of your nberty , yonr morals , your health , say , your . vary existence—It is bad .
Trust no mow to this system for your daily * ie » d , Jot endeavour to vork for yourselves in convenient bodies . Ton may , indeed , use machinery { Jf neceBsaryj ^^^ ^^ A ^ A ^ Iu -osb ; bat turn , J » y , toaye to the land-the land , . from whence your forefkthers came , a noble and " a bold psasantry , their country ' s 1 prida" I—tarn ye to the Bpade and the plough « nd gain by 70 m- industry and care , sufficient of food andMiment ! you vill then , like them , become healthy and athletic and in time , Independent , and not coafciBne ss you are , poor , started in itttJure , sicklv balf-fed ,: half-clad , houseless , homeless , hetoeai ! emadated beings ; the mere apolegles of men and * s * aiJ ^ Afafei JB » Individual competiBTd ayitem , nut of B « eei | £ |» destroyed . Tbe reasons are obvious , and by aeilSglon tiie principle * of this address , you vill Bost rf ^ ctuaUy . rBpeal the ^ Com l avs , « you -wju need no eotn of foreign grovai . *
The furBier extension of ourpreBent foreign commerce meanfl tte forther increase of profit to the proflt-mongea i not : H »^ further Jnerease of flie comfcrts of the worKes ; or even relief from Vheii present destltntiou * nd vretchedness . BnrJhg ttie last thirty years , 01 more . ^ Bj » , forei 2 n commerce , or exports have been Jncrea ^ ft , -whilst the wages of the operatives hxve been ^^^ Bally decreasing ; sad , at present , improve BWB& ' ta machinery are © regressing at railway speed ,
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on Cie self-acting principle , so that , shortly , as regards manufacturing operations and prooeeaes , a&d even those of the mechanics , manual labour vill be in a great measure annihilated and superceeded ; therefore , you see , your easels without a remedy , except from the land , tbe land . ; ¦ 3- Tour teue friend , A REFORMER GROWING GREY IN ; THE , CAUSE . Kendal , Feb . 6 th , 184 &
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TO THE CHARTISTS OF BOLTON AND ITS NEIGHBOURHOOD . Brother Chabtists , —Owing to the depressed state of trade in this town , together vith the low rate of wages xeceiT&d by the operatives , tte funds Of the Association have been materially injund . The Conncil have therefore determined to coannenoe selling tbe Northern Star , and other Chartist publications , the profits upon which "will be soMy appropriated to the spreadlna of ChsrtiBm . They therefore respectfully call upon their brother Chartists to assist them ia an undertaking vrblch , -while it will incur no additional expenditure , vill be the means of considerably augmenting the income .
There are , ve bslieve , about five hundred copies of ihe Northern Star circulat&d in tbe neighbourhood , the profits upon vhich , if devoted exclusively to the parpurposes of tbe Association , vould enable us to push the agitation into the surrounding villages , as veil as defraying the incidental expences connected vith the room we nov occupy aa a place of meeting ; but if two hundred copies vere taken from tbe Association , the proceeds arising from them would enable us to push the movement in this town without being necessitated to appeal to the starving band-loom weavers and factory operatives to contribute ont of the scanty pittance vhich they receive , in the shape of wages , to carry on a movement -which can alone elevat » their moral , soda ! , and political condition ,
We hope , therefore , that those Chartists who do take in the Star will favour Mr . J . Sullivan , boot and shoe-maker , Moor-street , Great Bolton , vith their orders , that gentleman having kindly undertaken the trouble connected with their delivery free of expenee , and will most religiously appropriate the profits to fcbe purposes before mentioned . Bt Oxdeb , £ > TBS Council .
The Northern Star Saturday, March 24, I£I3.
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , MARCH 24 , I £ i 3 .
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THE GOVERNMENT FACTORY BILL . Etebt general principle of misrule produces ID operation , particular effects , "whieb press heavily on those against whose interests the role operates This pressure induces frequently an effort , by tbe superficial , to deal with the effects , and core them , as if they were the malady of which they are bat the symptoms . The experienced and akalfol physician does not thus waste his energies . He directs bis efforts to tbe extirpation of the eanse which gives birth to them ; while at the same time be omits no necessary attention to such measures-of amelioration as may alleviate tbe present sufferings of kis patient while the core is going on . So-, tbe
experienced , skilful , and deep t >» nlp *> g politician who finds the whole system of Society so oat of all natural course and order thai its several parts groan with agony , stops not io battle seriously with each particular grievance , but appfies bis active powers , in all ways which can sender them effective , to tbe removal of tbe grand-produciBg cause . But though his aw be laid to the root onlj of the foul tree of corruption , he Jet seizes eveij opportunity which may present itself , during tbe process , of removing excrescences from the surface , or of alleviating the injurious operations of the system in any given asd particular direction—provided that such alleviation of symptoms do not tend to the actual increase of the malady .
Upon this principle we have through oar entire career pointed the people to the fact that to-grapple , as £ substantive grievance and ground of agitation , with the respective evils of the system as exhibited in Faatoiy Labour , in Poor Law BastUes , in PriBon Discipline , in Currency Frauds , or in any other of its many forms , wa 3 idle , while the grand principle the cause of all these mischiefs—class legislation , was still in operation . Hence , that united spirit of resistance to all crotchet agitations which the people now exhibit , and in which is our hope of their political redemption . But while we would carefully
foster this looking to first principles for the Radical cure of our evils we would by all means lay hold of every help thereto in tbe auape of tbe smallest alleviation of present suffering which does not in operation strengthen the bonds of evil . Hence our advocacy of temperance ; by which the little thai is left to the labourer may be so husbanded as io afford him aa much of comfort aa oan be extracted from it . Hence our advocacy of extended education and intellectual culture ; by which the working man comes to know something of the frame
work of society , and to understand what are bis rights , as a first step towards the assertion of them , and from which be also gathers , even in his poverty , many hours of precious enjoyment which the oppressor cannot take from him . These are alleviations of present suffering which , while they in some degree obviate suffering , give no increased power to tyranny . And for tbe same reason that we rejoice in these , we rejoice also in the enactments which public opinion has wrung from the Legislature on the subject of infant labour in factories . Every step taken for the abatement of tbiB horrid nuisance is a
step in the right direction— -a Btep towards regaining the natural position of society , in which men , not women and children , should be ita labourers . We care sot , if even tbe result threatened by our neigh * boor Mercury should follow ; that protection to the infant slaves induce the masters to discard them altogether and substitute them by machinery . That in tbe end will be a good : for it will give an
additional and mighty impetus to that power , by tbe exercise of which machinery will be yet made what it ought to be , a general blessing , because working for the general benefit , not as now for individual aggrandizement . Eagerly , therefore , and thankfully do we receive from whatever quarter any extension of the protection of the law to factory workers ; &ad that not less upon political than moral and humane considerations . The present
Factory Act—though conceived in fraud and brought forth by villany—though intended to be a failure , and to sicken the people of factory legislationthough riddled through and through with loopholes for the escape of delinquents—and though purposely made as vexatious as possible in its operation—has yet been a great good . It has relieved much suffering and prevented much cruelty to the helpless ones over whom its authors were compelled , unwillingly , to stretoh it as a shield . The Government Bill now before the House of
Commons is , in many respectsj an improvement on it . We Bay nothing of tbe motives which may have induced the bringing ont of this Bill just now . We think we have a shrewd guess at them ; but let them pass ; there are good points in tbe Sill and iroitope the enemies of labour may not be able either to defeat or cripple it . The have taken the alarm j their trusty watchman "Neddy" has sounded the war-cry . His " pal" of the Nonconformist , whi ch we have just received , eohoes it in a most piously mendacious strain of fustian , appeals
franttcly to all the worst feelings of raving fanati cism , and declares that" the operation of this Bill , " wiU , " within one generation , " *• extinguish civil and religions liberty ; Great Britain will be ridden over from end to end , by Nobles , 'Squires and Priests ; and darkness , worse than Egyptian , will supervene" ! Tbe creatures of dissenting and millocrat power and piety in tbe "House" will of eonrse follow in the train . Some signs of opposition have been already manifested j and it may be expected that the Bin will be contested .
We gave a detail of tbe leading provisions of this Bill in our paper of the 4 th instant * The best part of tbe Bill is the strictness * amounting almost to stringency , with which it provides for the practical enforcement of its several ' clauses . The hours of labour for children und ' er thirteen are reduced to six hours and a-half daily , with three hours foi schooling ; to be takr ^ n between eight in the morning and one at nooo or between that and seven in the evenwg , AU work for children and
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young persons to cease on Saturday , at half-past four p . m . One hour and a-half to be had- for meal times , of which an hour must be before three , p , m . Eight half day holidays to b « had in every year , besides Christmas-day and Good Friday , No machinery to be cleansed while in motion . All machinery to be properly fenced off . The surgeon ' s certificate of age , &c , to be given upon personal inspection only at the factory . The penalties provided for tbe violation of these several matters , are as follow : —against the master—for employing children under the legal age ; or for employing
children more than six and a half hours in any one day or for employing children after OHO O ' olook pji , who may have been employed in that or any factory before twelve of the same dayjor forem * ploying children or young persons after haif ? nast four on Saturday afternoon ; or for employing young persons more than twelve hours ; or for employing children , or young persons , without tbe proper certificates from surgeon and sohoolmaster , or with a false doctor ' s certificate , knowing it to be so ; or for not allowing proper times for meals , or proper holidays : for each and everyone
of these offences the penalty is to be not less than twenty shillings , nor more than three pounds for each child , or young person , so treated . For employing any child or yonng person during mealtime , or for aUowing any child or young person to remain in any room , during meal-time , in which any machinery is . in motioa , or any kind of work carried on , not lesB than Tea Shillings , and net more than Ten Pounds , for each ehild and young person so employed or allowed to remain in any room .
And for each of thpse offences tbe parent of the child is abe-liable to a peaalty of not less-than ten shillings , aor more than twenty shiUings , if privy or a consenting party to the offence . Parents who neglect to make their children attend Bchool without some valid excuse , admitted by tbe act , become liable to pay sot less than on& shilling nor more than ten shillingB for every day bo neglected . The- master is also * liable to penalties of sot less than twenty Bhillings r nor more than fiVepoands for neglecting to pay the school master ' s-or
surgeon s fees . For cot cleansing or lime washing Ms- factory within the proper period prescribed by the act , not less than three pooand& aor more than ten - with an additional penalty of not less than two pounds for every month that it has been so neglected . For allowing machinery to be cleaned while going ; or for allowiag any child or young person to work between the fixed and traversing partB of a self-acting machine , not less than ten shillings , nor more than-five pounds * . For not pro . perly fencing off machinery ; or for not giving notice to the certifying surgeon of an accident in the factory , not leas than five pounds , nor more than twenty pounds . K an acoideat eecur in consequence of unguarded machinery , of which the
owner may have reseived notice from the inspector , he becomes liable to a- fine of not lesa than ( en , or more than one hundred pounds ; a part » r the whole of which may , under the direction of tbe Secretary of State , \* appropriated for the benefit of the injured person-. For divers other offienoes various penalties are apportioned , ranging from two to twenty pounds ; tbe magistrates to have power to compel the attendance of witnesses before them , on pain of one month ' s imprisonment ; abo to compel the production of registers , accounts , or other papers , necessary for evidence ; and no appeal from the decision of tbe justices to any k-igher authority .. The one- hundred and seventh clause is important ; we giv » it in full : —
" And be ; ii enacted , That every person who shall be convicted Twice within Twelve Months for an offence of the same kind against this Act , shall pay for bis second offence any Bum * not IefiS than Onehalf ot the highest penalty for that offence ; and if convicted Three times within Twehe Months for an offence of the same kind , he shall pay not less than TiDo-thirdsvt the highest penaltyj and if convicted more lhan Three times for an offenoe of the same kind , be shall pay the highest penalty ; but a repetition of tbe same kind of offence shall not be considered as the second or subsequent offences
referred to in thiB enactment , unless suoh second or subsequent offences have been committed after notice baa been given of the intention to prefer a complaint tor the previous offences ; and in any cate in which a person shall be convicted at any time for offences against this Act , so that the p enalties amount in the whole to more than One Hundred Ponnds , tbe sum of One Hundred Pounds , together with all the reasonable costs and charges of such proceedings and coniiotions , may be paid instead of tbe penalties for all tbe offences committed bf him before the day on which the last summons was taken out against him . "
These are the really valuable parts of the Bill . They are fel t to be so by the mill owners . The efficiency of tbe protection which they afford , is unbearable ; and every effort will be made to thwart and frustrate the Bill . The knaves , however , go cunningly to work . They do not openly and honestly rebel against the mantle of protection thrown overlabouring infancy . They have already bandied this weapon till it has wounded them . Galled human feeling , chafed into indignation , wreBted it from their bands , and boxed their lugs with it . They will not try it again . They go upon another tack now . They seta upon the education clauses , which provide that under
certain circumstaneea religious education , according io tbe dogmas of the Church of England , Shall be given in the factory schools to those children whose parents do not object to it . They seize upon this handle , and calling in the aid of their ready tools , the sleek-haired Dissenting Parsons , they raise a mighty cry about Priestcraft , Ohurch domination , Jesuitry , and other balderdash of that sort . According to the
Nonconformist"Noiselessly , deliberately , certainly , and with the approval of the three political parties , aristocracy is about to throw tbe noose over the neck of a betrayed and deserted people . Tbe mandate of our modern Pharoah li on the eve of going forth—and , after the date of its i&sne , every masculine mini born in thia kingdom is to be destroyed . " " Tbe BUpar&cription of this measure might justly W 'Tyranny unto tyranny . ' It is a real scorpion—completely formed , although , &s yet , only in the egg . There are claws to it—venom—a sting , aye ! a sting . "
" There is the barbed and poisoned weapon with wAfeA British liberty is to be thrtat through . The poor children , doomed to pay ont of the scanty wages which legalise ( monopoly leaves to them the possibility of earning , n , lesa a sum than threepence a week to the aohoolmt jte appointed to cram them with maxims of slavish mo rality , extracted from priestly superstition—for' M& t observe tbe saint-days of the church , and to-subw' lt to tn educational ) management of a clergy , satow teg wiy frivolous traditions of popery—released frow the toil o earning wages « nly to undergo the toil y teaaibea b men who seem to have got up this meaaiv e ^ a piaujsi ' We pretence for sharing these earnings - ^[^ them . "
"WitWnone generation , toImb , W leeii government is made io ^ rest upon the broadest r , rinciples of democracy-c . vil and religious liberty w , nnder the operations of this act , be extinct . feat Brftaiu wM be ridden over , from end to end . V . y nobles , spires , and priests ; and darkness , wow , than Egyptian . wiU supervene . "I ! I —o * f » " There , reader 1 look .- that I Must not thie bill for educating the poor factory workers be a
monstrosity !! Was Wer anything half so horrible since the day of Tacks , thumbscrews , firea and each other devilmeirt f ! Is it wonderful that piety turns up ita eyes aghaBt , and that the children oi Dissent gather in their conventicles to oppose the progress of this awful pageant ?! This they are doing , and in right earnest , too . Even while writing this , we have > jeen interrupted by the first etep in the pious drjice . The conventiclers of Leeds issued this
Thursioay morning , small circulars , addressed pers sonaJ ' iy to the "brethren , " of which one happening t faJL into our hands we give it here : " Leeds , March 32 nd , 1843 .
" oovbnnmbjji p 1 an of education . : "the kew factory bill . " Sib , —You are earnestly requestad to attend i meeting , to he held in the large room of the . Com merclal Buildings , Tomorrow , ( Thurac \ ay . ) a Twelts o'Clock precisely , to consider the Govern mentPian of Education , contained in the Nev Fa story Bill , es it affects the liberties * nd interests o the country at large , and ol Dissenters of all denomi natiorv and especially in its bearing on exlstinj Sunday Schools and Day Schools ; and to adopt sue ! measures as may appear neo ^ asary at this importan crisis .
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"As the Second Reading of the Siil is fixed for Friday naeti there is no time to ba lost . " Punctual attendance Is requestad . * ' ire . Sir , " Yours Respectfully , " THOMAS SCALES . " Jambs MtisoRAVE . " James Richardson . " Edwabd baines , Jun . " Of these four parties , the first is an Independent Minister ; the second ia a Methodist Alderman ; tbe third is a Baptist Attorney ; and , the fourth is , every body knows , " Young Neddy " , of the Mercury . We
happen to know that some time ago , when the Rev . Thomas Scales was reqassted to affix bis signature to a petition on this samp BaBjeot—Factory Legislation , ( the object of thepetition being favourable to the children , ) he objected to do so , his objections being purely pious ones . w It was not for him , a Minister of the Gospel , to interfere with politics I" We were ouriouB to hear what new light had broken in upon Mr . Scales that he should now be the first of the conveners of a meeting on this sinful subject . For this and other reasons we laid down our pen and went to the" exhibition " , and truly a
pretty exhibition it was . Brother Noncon . had sounded the key note ; and tbe choir of holy orators kept admirable time and chord . Indepedency , Baptism , Methodism , Unitarianism , Quakerism , and almost every other form of Mammonism chaunted their staves respectively ; and through each octave of tbe long-drawn pseon , "chBrcbism , " " priestcraft , " " tyranny" and " robbery , " was still the burden of the song ! The . people were all damned now and ever-[ lastingly ! "" There was no hope for factory workers , if this Bill should pass * England would Boon , " poor country , " be
" Afraid to know itself , " All the enlightenment of modern times—all the blaze of science , and tho glare of gospel—all , the benefits of intellectual culture and tbe march of mind—all that makes England proudly to be looked to as the land of learning and of freedom ;—all ; all was to be engulphed ; all trampled under foot , by this "huge , horrid , Unfavoured monster , " the Education of the factory-workers under the provisions of this Bill 1 They pray , therefore-,-most pioaely , that ib may not paas ! and they implore , by their resolutions , that congregational petitions may be forthwith got up by every shepherd of * Dissenting fold , against the enaction of these provisions for fcne education of factory workers . True , they profess themselves to bein tbe abstractfavourablto the ¦¦ ¦ ¦¦
, ,, e " " * - - w ** ww " * i **• "" W WV » Y * WV » ji IdlVUiMVlU W VUV education of the poor ; but think the absence o £ such education to be infinitely better , than its accompaniment to those children , whose parents do not objeit to it , by religiose instruction from a elergyman ! How very consistent and how- very reasonable are these pious gentlemen ! At this very meeting it was-a favourite topic of enlargement with the Reverend speakers , that the general ignorance and brutaliaed habits of the lower classes of society was lamentable ^ and was disgraceful , to the ministers of the Established Church , whose duty it was to instruct and teach them- ; : and yet , with the same breath they deolare determined hostility to this measure , simply , and for no other reason ,, than bcoause it provides that those ministers- shall instruct and teach as many
We have no doubt that these zeal&ta will appeal to * the people i » furious hanangues , in the hope of damaging , through a mistaken religious feelmg , this really useful , measure ^ useful to the poor , and necessary for them , though not , perhaps , the most palatable to the " pillars ot the churches , " woo occupy green pews in the chapels . We think it therefore right to lay fairly and simply before them the provisions ef this bill in regard to education , that they may be able to estimate the honesty of the appeals made to their prejudices .
Wo presvme that none will controvert tbe opinion that factory workers ought to be educated ; that means for acquiring at least the ordinary branohea of elementary education ought to > be afforded them ; and that whatever system or wrenmstances nay leave them destitute of these is bad , and ought to be amended . Such is our opinion . Suoh , we doubt not , is the opinion of all , save thos / j who may be directly interested ia the slavery of factory workers , ( to which ignorance and brutali ty always oonduoes ) ; and those who , like the Lfc'jds conventiolers , may be indbrecHy interested the rein by being dependant upon theis oppressors . Even these
will not demur openly ; and we presume that no nebttt these will demur covertly to . the doctrine that eduoatioa in itself ia a good thing , and that ever y opportunity of extending it t » those who . are d estitute of it , thould be embraced and improved . The experience and observation of the Inspector a appointed under tbe present Factory Act ,, has demonstrated that the operative population of fact 1 Jry districts is most lamentably destitute of the v teans of getting even the commonest rudiments of education . Mr . Leonard Horkkb , in his lastiep' jrlBj draws the following picture of tbe condidior f ai to the means of education , of the extensive factory districts of Ashton-under-Lyne and Oidb' am —
"The populition of th * t' aree adjoining towas of Ashton , Dukinfield , and Sfcalybrktee , included within an area of a mUo and a half Hiding from the most central part of the district , is considered to be not less than 55 , 000 ; aa' j the proportion of the working population , thai ) s tnose below the rank of shopkeepers , has bee' estimated at 80 per cent , in Ashton , 9 ft in StaJy bridge , and 94 in Dakinfield . rromtowoito atas-evident , that there must be fSffl . ^? " *^ onl laren- ^ i ^ vSMBnw ^ Muwt . aford to
pay mv , e than a very sm ^ um Tot ^ Viot 3 fl D i f there are probably very many who smff hL" diffiouh t 0 Pft y Ari . however mo « f \ f 7 i ?^ kittle the moral and religious improvewL ^ wif Iar ff ° number of the humbler classes Sg facts r . < nertoan obiC 3 tof solicitude , the follow-*• Tn i \ t Bll 0 W « ; 9 soni » 1 ? e borough of Ashton , with a population of RrituS aer 9 is no National School , no School of the ii- an ^ Foreign School Society , uor any other P » Wir i day-SChool for the children of the working Y ^ f es . The same is tho case in Stalybridge and in " ysinfleld , with tho slight exceptions I shall now ** xte .
" I mentioned in my April report that a National School had been recently built at Stalybridge ; but I regret to say that it is not yet in operation . The Rev . W . W , Hoace , the iucutubent of tbe new Church of St . Paul , with which the school is connected , and to whose activity the establishment of it is mainly to be ascribed , on the 28 th of September wrote to me as follows : — "' I am very Eorry to inform you that we still continue iu difficulties , and are not yet opened as a National School . We are still in need of funds to complete the school , and require an expenditure of ai least £ 150 before we can be fit to commence as we ought .
" 1 visited tbe school last weeek , and saw with regret so excellent a building untenanted , with the exception of a small number of children taught by a private master , who has been allowed to occupy the unfinished room for the present , when » moderate sum would make it fit for the reception of 630 scholars . " I also mentioned in my report of tbe 6 th of April last , that a National School bad been begun at Dukinfield ; but , at present , it is no more than this ; that by means of a grant from the National Society , about 100 boys are taught in a hired room ; there are no girls in this school . f * A school-room is attached to the Roman Catholic Chapels at Staiybridge and Dukinfield : the former
is open as a day-school , which is attended by about 100 children ; and as aa evening school , at which the average attendance is about 200 : at the latter place , there is only an evening Bohool , attended by about 100 children . At Ashton , a room is rented for an evening school for the Catholic population , at which the average attendance is about 200 . " With these exceptions , how inadequate to the wants tif the district I need not say , no other public day school exists ; and ; thus the education which tbe oaTWren of the working classee reeeiye . must be in a frreat degree confiaed to the Sunday-aohools , and en * tirely so in all those cases where the parents cannot afford to pay ithefees of private sohoois , which are never , Ibelieve , lower than three-pence a-week for the most elementary branch .
" Unless the case of tbia neglected district be taken up by tbe Government , and a large Bum be expended in tbe establisfamen / ti and support of schools * it must continue to be , what it is at present in ihia respect , a reproach t <) the nation Thework * ing people themselves cannot supply the means { it cannot be reasonably , expected that they will be raised by voluntary ByAsoriptionB among those who are above the working classes ; nor could aa adequate sum be assessed in the district with any
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justice , seeing that the proportion of those in easy circumstances is so small . " The foregoing | is from the Factory Inspector's Report of October last . In the Report for January of the present year he returns to the subject , and says : — M adjoining town of Oldham is quite as destitute of day-schoola as tbe Ashton district was represented to bei in my April and October Reports of last yean This town , including , within a circle of a mile and a-half radius from the centre ( which comprises all the populous portion of the township ) , a DODniation of 45 , 000 , and considered so important
as to have had since 1831 , two representatives in Parliament , is at this moment witnont one pubiio day-school , for the children of the working classes ; for tbe' Grammar-school and Bluecoatsohool cannot be considered practically as available to the labouring ! population ; the former has an endowment of £ 30 a-year , is a building of one story , eighteen yards by ] six , without any play-ground , and teaching seventy scholars , principally the eons of the shopkeepers jithe latter ia an endowed school for boarding , educating , &c , boyB from the parishes of Oldham , Manchester , Ecoles , Ashton , Middleton , Rochdale and Saddleworth . and there are at present
100 scholars . There is also an infant school connected with the St . Peter ' s district Church , attended usually by about 100 . But these three , are the only Eublio schools within the township : hitherto there as been neither a National School , nor a school of the British and Foreign School Society ; but a National School ^ to which the Education Committee of the Privy Council have made a grant of £ 700 , and the National Society one of £ 300 , ia connexion with the parish church , i » now building , " Taking the population of the Ashten district , within a circle off a mile and a half radius from the centre of Ashton district , at 55 , 000 , together with
the above population of Oldham , and allowing 5000 for the population of the space between the two districts , we have aq area of about eight mile 3 by four , containing a population of 105 , 000 , of which , according to the most correct estimate I have been able- to obtain , at least ] 90 , 000 earn their sabetstence by weekly wages , and in whieh . at the date of my last Quarterly Report ^ there did not exist one public day-school for tbe children of the humbler ranks ; and in which there is not , at this moment , one medical charity , for ia this respect Oldham ia as des-IHute as Asfaton . i Iheie maybeeqaaUy deplorable
caees in other parts of Great Britain , —I hope there are not ; but in so fair as schools are concerned , as education bas been so much an < object of attention for a long , period ( in Ireland , it is-net probable such a one couidbe found i » that country : aud I question vary much whether , In may part of tho civilized trbrld , out of Great Britain , & parallel ease ooald be met with to that which I have now described . I cannot help * wishing that ] while vast sums have been of late yearfr sent out of the country to convert the heathen in distant lands-, m ore consideration had been given to the conversion Of the heathen in this portion of oar own land . 1
" It is hopeless to expect that funds- can be raiEed in the-district itself , to establish and maintain * an adequate numberjof efficient schools- for this population , among whom the number of persons in easy oircumetances is | comparatively so small . Unless extraneous aid be affbrded ^ it will remain io > its present state of barbarism . ?' To meet this ! proven and palpable want of tbe necessary , means of Education , the Bill'provider that there shall be schools in every faotory district ^ that to these schools shall be efficient masters and mistresses ,. property Qualified to . instruottbe children ; that they shall be properly provided with books and other necessary apparatus of learning j . and th&t to seouretiiis , the schools shall be severally managed
by a committee of seven , persons , to . consist of one olergsman , two churchwardens , and four other parties nominated by the Magistrates—two of them beings if practicable , factory masters . Ia these schools tbe children , are to . learn steading , writing , sewing ,, knitting , and snolh other brauohes of elementary instruction as- may be suitable to their age end circomstanoes . They are all . ko learn to read the Holy Scriptures ; and the school is- to be opened aud
dosed by prayer ; th& Lord ' s Pmyer being used fo ^ that purpose *; , that and some select text of'HolyScriptore being tbe only , words usad . The ehildren aaa to attend these schools three hours every day ; aad < oat of these throe , hours tbei clergyman may , if he choose , d » vote aa ? period not exceeding one hour , to the religious- 1 instruction , in the Catechism and liturgy of the , thurob , o £ all those > children wiiose p ^ irenta do net object to it . Bua it is expeessly © rovidedr— j
" That if tbe parent ofi any scholar shall notify to the Master or' Trustees-that fee desires that such sch » lar oa the ground of religious objection , may not be present at the periods when such Catedhisn or portions of the Litugy axe taught aa aforesaid , it shall not be lawful foe any person to compel sseh ehild to be present ; and it shall not be-lawful for the Trostess or | Mastee of the said eohool , or any ether persen , to give or permit to bo given in tbe said school a » y religioas instruction t » SttOh scholar , except the reading « f the Holy Scriptures as hereinbefore appointed ; and such child shall at tuch periods be instructed in some other branch of knowledge taught in the school . "
It is also provided— " That tbe Master shall cause the Eoholars of every such school to attend under hisoare the Divine Service of the Church of England as by law established , at least once on every Sunday , in the Church or Chapel of the Parish , or Ecclesiastioal District ] wherein such sohool is situated , except any scholar in respect of whom the Master is satisfied that he will attend such worship in that or some other Churob or Chapel , or that he is prevented from attending by any reasonable impediment , or in respect of whem his parent shall notify to the Master that , on the ground of religious objec turn , he desires tuc \ scholar not to attend ( he worship of the Church of England . "
The 7 ' 2 ad , 73 rd , and 74 th clauses provide that wherever there may be within two miles of any factory a National School , or a school of the British and Foreign School Society , efficiently conducted ; or mkerwer . * . IkototjHna ^ r > mt ^^ iMS 0 to have a sobool Of Vis own , efficiently conducted , the children may not attend' the appointed factory sohool at all ; a certificate of attendance at one of these schools being deemed quite sufficient ; and every Roman Catholic child may attend the Roman Catholic school , —the certificate of the Catholic schoolmaster being quite enough . So that the sum of the whole is jtist this ! thd Bill provides that there shall be
schools which -the children eha ^ fptood , and in which they shall be properly instructed ^ That if a faotory-master choose to have a school of his own , it shall be a sohool , and not a mockery ; that he shall not assemble the children in the firehole , with the firer-up for the schoolmaster and old scraps of newspapers for books ; and call that educating tbem ; that as many parents as shall choose to have their children instructed in the catechism and liturgy of the Church of England , may have them so instructed ; that those who ! object to this have nothing to do but say so , and it will not then be forced on them : their ohildren will then receive no religious
instruction save the mere reading of the Bible , and the repeating of the Lord ' s prayer ; and the time which others spend in learning the catechism and liturgy , will be spent by tbem in reading or writing , or some other useful occupation of the school . Those parents who choose for their ohildren to attend Church may have them taken there ;; those who do not may . take them to chapel , or where else they please . Now , this is really the whole sum and substance of the education clauses of this bill , about which the milllords , and their co-mates , the Dissenting Parson ? , are making such a hubbub ! We leave the peo pi , to exercise tbeir own common sense as to wh » jthei this be the real or ostensible ground of objeoV ! on t <
tbe Bill ; we believe the latter . Wo Relieve the real grievance with these parties to be , that the bill provides for the further shorte * / ing of tbe children ' s hours of labour ; that it r / iakes it imperative upon [ their masters to see > their being educated ; and that it provides more / effectaally than the present law for the punishment of those who violate or tamper with its provi j siona ; and wo trust to the goed sense of the people to keep them from rendering any j help to th < v opposition which we believe to be thoroughly kypooritical . We are the more strengthened in thU belief , from the fact , that while * the brawlers affect to desire universal eduoation , they vaise a clamorous outcry , not for the mvd ' tfication , but the absolute withdrawal , of this , legal pjrovision for a oase which
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they dare not contend not to have been satisfactoril y made out as one of paramount necessity . They do not ask that the influence of the clergy should be withdrawn from these schools , and that they should be placed upon the footing of the Irish National Schools;—they do not ask that the constitution o ? the trusteeship may be altered so as to give tho ratepayers a control over the schools;—this might have borne something like sincerity upon the face of it . But they ask that the whole thing may be
withdrawn , and the matter of education remain in the disgraceful state in which it now exists , as shown in Ashton-under-Lyue and Oldfiam and in the newspaper school- books of thePudsey millowners 1 Let it be remembered that the question with these pious gentlemen is not between the Government scheme of education and a better ; but between that and none : and that they prefer rime at all I So muoh for pious dissenting liberalism !
The Short Time Committees , at the instance of Lord Ashley , are getting up petitions praying for a clause to be introduced into the Bill limiting the labour of all factory workers between thirteen and twenty-one years of age , io ten hours per day for five days in tbe week , and eight hours oa Saturdays . This is a rational proposal ; a step in the right direction ; and the following paragraphs from the petition furnish for it irrefragable
arguments : — " That yomr petitioners beg most respectfully to remind yonr honourable House that the most eminent medical practitioners in the kingdom have declared , that twelve hours of actual labour per day is more than can be endured , without serioua injury to the most healthy and robust adult , and that ten hours of actual laboar per day , is aa much as can be performed , with impunity , by young persons under twenty-one years of age .
"That your Honourable Honso must be aware that youog females above the age of thirteen years are now subjected to twelve hoars of actual labour per day , to which inducting proper time for meals and going to and from their work , will engross fifteen hours out of the twenty-four , which must deprive them of all opportunity of acquiring that domestic knowledge which is so absolutely necessary for young females to possess * before they become wives ,. and mothers of families * ""That you * Petitioners are further of opinion ,.
that no necessity whatever exists forsuch , long hours of labour ia- factories , and that the continuance thereof ( while-tbey seriously Idjare thoseyoung persona ) will be unattended by any beaefit to their employers , or to- our commercial interests generally ; > ut , on tbe contrary , a limitation of labonr to ten hours per day would have the salutary and beneficial eflect of equally distributing : labour to the artisan , and of adding stability to oar manufacturing interests . " "
We are amazed ,, however , that the Short Time-Committees , should- overlook the really most objectionable part of the whole-Bill ; the part so objectionable < as even to have elicited the praise of " Neddy . " We mean , of course , the proposal to-admit children into « those moral pest-houses * the factories , at eight yeara-of age . This alone will do moohto obviate the good which might result from otbec portions of tflO > Bill ; We do-think that some effort should be made
to prevent thia retrograde movementirom nine years of age to eight . With tbisalterationpro Bbould be very wary of counselling opposition to the BilL Many of itsclauses are- very good .. The educational provision is ? not , certainly , all that might have been desbed- ^ but it is at least a step towards it * It is at all events infinitely preferable to ; none at all—infinitely preferable to-the newspaper-Bcraps-of the forty-gentlemen at Pttdsey . We cannot ,, therefore , jout in the opposition set up by the sleek-fooed conventielers , and demand the simple negation of these clauses We doubt not that if tha > people let them , the clergy
of the Establishment will turn-this educational provision to * their own purposes . But they may be pievented ' . The Bill itself provides sufficient means for the pMvention ; and , as ii is the people's business , we think the people may . be safely left to see to it . Barring this—tae « igbi years of age- claase—with out by any meaas according our entire approbation to . this Bill , w « - do feel inolined to regard it , even in ite present shape * as oae of those asefoi palliatires by which a superficial evil of great magnitude , and
most painfui obaiaeter may be , to some extent * alleviated . While we still point tbe people to thaonly true remedy—the extinction of class legislation —out of which this foul evU first grew , and by which it is sustained I It would be still more efficient for its purpose if tbe rate-payers hai the appointment of the trustees j and if tbe conYeatioIera are sincere in the line of opposition tbey have taken , they will turn their attention forthwith to that point , instead of continuing to oppose the measure aa ft whole .
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COOPER'S AND WEST'S TRIALS . Elsewherb we give a full report of the trial of John West . Oar readers will peruse it with interest . They will see that Baron Aidbbsow , like Baron Rolfs , took a very different view of the matter from the petty Dogberry ' s of the Magisterial bench . The Lord save us from the wisdom (!) and clemency of tbe Great Unpaid ! We Bad purposed writing something on tbe matter of West ' s trial but are spared tbe trouble by the foUowinj ^ i ^ p ^ iunv ^ self ;— ' " * i ^
" TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAB . « Sib , —Tbe Derby trials have termlnatad , t a& Chartism has received another triumph . The Face f 0 Ns fondly imagined that the strong arm of tbe Law tt 0 Bja be laid heavily on our devoted heads , and that tk jongh its leaders a heavy blow and great diacourar emeutr would be given to our glorious cause . The revew j however , has boen the case , Baron Alderson declar ing from the ' judgment seat' thatjfhe Charter was a peTfcotly Ieg 3 l document , and that the people were jastMedia seeking its enactment by peaceable , and--or ^ nstitutiottal means . Many of the magistracy , the T dla ^ e King 8 >' aye , and Tyrants too , were taught useful lessons
as to how they should exercise thei' power ^ ^ in attempting- to Hnppreas public meeting * , j the discus Bion of the people ' s grievances . CP Attism must now bisk tbiumphant , bat there musi be no more mistakes ^¦ no more strikes — no mare rising 1 ^ jf Oj Wq j YfobWQ had enough of them , too much / praieg cannot bo givan to Biron Alderson ; he was t * upright , though fitero judge . In my oase , in his s- cmsdng up to the Jury he acted with the greatest ' impartiality ; and when the verdict of acquittal * ^ pronounced , he said—• Gentlemen , I perfectly agr / ee with ybat verdict , ' and
am informed , on good an * / iortty . ' that in private he bat given it as hla opinion , ' / yiat a more unjust or paltry charge was never broity , Dt in { o a court of justice Throughout the whole trf ^ i ne treated me with the greatest courtesy . The obligations bit tha Chartist body to iMr , Roberts is great' iy increased for his laborious and untiring exertions on behalf of the tJKossep prisoners ; any advice that he c auidgive , even to those who w «« not Cbartiste , was cheerfully given ; in toot no laboai seemed too great tor him . LthWpuiliay thank bun for bia assistance to me .
" Yours , respectfnlly , " John West . " We have © o yet Been the result of the trial of Coor-EB . T jhe evidence of the first day agaifl * him is of t , very paltry character . This (^ i'hursdsiy ' 8 ) evening ' s post has brought us the ser ^ nd da y ' s proceedings ; which are alika unimp- ortant . The trial seems likely to last seven ! days , ; and wo 8 nau probably be able to ^ to » &ty isi of the whole in our next . Mr . Coofeb « at e osa-examihiBg each witness at great length . Up ' che end of the second day the testimony of only eight witnesses had been taken .
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MR . O'CONNOR AND THE RECENT TRIALS . We are happy to be able to point attention to the Advertisement of Mr . O ' Connor , announcing the first number of the State Trials for Monday next . Each number will be given aa formerly advertised , and we therefore have less reason to regret tbfl omission of tfre speeches of many of the defenda in the Star , as they will ^^ be presented veri < tfiiti t iii& every word spoken for the whole eight days will 1 » faithfully recorded . This va ) uable work will - M completed in about four numbers , which , with a beau tiful portrait of the " Just judge" will consiftote a beautiful volume , and commemorate the triumph of right over might .
Upon consulting the several agents , Mr . O'Co »« nob has discovered the necessity of having eaob number bound in a wrapper , the additional expence of which will be one penny , making the price 7 < L
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4 , __^ THE NORTHERylpl ^ B , ¦ ; ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 25, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct474/page/4/
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