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THE JSOETHERN STAR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1843.
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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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JJSEDS TOWN COUNCIL . The adjourned quarter ] j meetiijjj of this body was Ijeld on Wednesday last . There were present : — 3 "he Jlsyor , Aldermen Willsns , O&tes , Smith , Musg . -ave , Hebdin , Gaunt , Maclea , Bateson , GoodmaD , Pawfon , Lnpion , Luccock , and Jackson ; Councillors Win . Smith , Atkinson , Moorhouse , Watson , Seisali , liewsam , Craven Bramley , Jackson , Carbutt , J . W . Smnh , White , Heaps , Holmes , Hornby , Brnmfitt , Weddffl , 43 awood , Barrstt , Barlow , Sel-2 ers , "DIckinscD , France , Broadhesd , Bower , Walker , Hall , Marshall , Cliff , Whitebead , Hobson , Ingham , lister , Farrar , WilBon , Butler , Strotner , and Prince .
Ai £ he opening of the proceedings , a letter was lead by the Town Clerk , signed by most ^> f the Tory Councillors , setting forth the grounds on which they declined to act on the Committees to which they had "been appointed at a private meeting before the list meeting of the Council , and declaring and justifying their determination not to serre on such committees , inasmuch as their appointments to them tad been made contrary to all propriety or precedent . They expressed their "willingness to Berve if ihfi fiommiUee& were remodelled on the principle oa which they had been before . XXTBKSES Oy BOBOUGH PAJOJAXEKTABY BBVISION .
In accordance with the first notice on the paper , sn account of all the expenses incurred by the Town Clerk , in carrying into effect within the borough of Leed 3 the prcmsaons of the BUtnte 6 th Victoria , c » p . 18 , mtitulad " An Act to amend the law for the registration of persons entitled to vote , and to define certain rights of voting , and to regulate certain proceedings In the election of Members to serre in Parliament for England and "Wales , " -and also an account of the sum to be contribnted for defraying Jhe same by each township within the borough , was read by Mr . Alderman Luccock * -who moved that tiie amount , which was £ 150 , be paid : Mr . Lnecock Elated that the account had been handed by the Town Clerk to him : he had carefully examined every item , and was of opinion that they were extremely moderate , as although the list contained an increase of 30 G Jiamw , the charges were less than h&d been previously r .-aid .
Mr . Gaunt wished the Council clearly to nnderstand "under Trhat circumstance s the charges they Were now discussing were made , and whether they did not form part of the official duties of the Town Clerk . Mi . J . Atktxson thoaght the doties of the Town OezkTrere safficiently defined ; and that it was clear that he had Tight to claim for all statntable labour over and above his salary . Mr . LrccocE read abstracts of the clauses of the Registration Act , to show that there were duties apart from those which devolved upon him as Town C 3 srk .
Mr . Grates said that had the money to be paid out of the Borough Pond , instead of by Uhe Overseers of the several townships of the borough , he should certainly have opposed it . He did not admire these extra charges . He should prefer the Town Clerk having a fixed salary Eufficient to remunerate him , and thai the fees of ids office should go to the Borough Fond . At the next meeting of Council it was his intention to bring this subject before them , and then he should deem it to be his doty to make the present charges also a matter of their considera tion—( hear , hear ) . On the suggestion of Mr . Newsam , the Report of the Council HftfiniT > p the duties of the Town Clerk
wasreferred to ; and from th&t report it appeared ifcai it had not been deemed neoessary to specify the duties now detailed , as the expensesinenrred thereby ¦ were defrayed by the Overseers . Mr . Joseph Cliffs thought that the question had not l > een fnlly examined ; he thought the Council should see that these charges were regular before they passed them , as they had the power and were to be called upon , to issue certificates ordering the overseers to pay them —( hear , kear ) . He s hould , therefore , agreei ; hat they be referred to the Finance Committee for revision , and that they should report thereon at the next meeting of Council . M . Hobsos seconded the amendment .
Mr . Luccock , after some other discnsaoB , withdrew the proposition for the issuing the certificates for the payment of the charges , and the amendment having assumed the shape of a substantive proposition , was carried unanimously .
XPP 01 NTHENT 02 PUBLIC PBOSECCTOBS . Tie motion on this subject was withdrawn " oil the ground of the _ magistrates not recognizing the Tight of the Council to make the appointment , and there being no authority in the Municipal Act empowering them to proceed therein .
¦ APPOIffXXEfT Or rEIXTKS . AHD STATIOXEB . In compliance with the recommendation of a Committee appointed on the 9 ih of November , Mr . Henry Woodhead Walker , of Briggate , was appointed printer of the Municipal-list , and the mls > esllaiieoas work for the year ending Nov . Sib , 1844 ; and Mr . Joseph Buckton , of Brig £ ate , was appointed stationer for the same , period . Mr . Kklsaix , in moving the appointment of printer , said that he . highly approved of the system , of estimating , and instanced as a proof of its economical working , that in the year 1841 fee cost of printing the Municipal list was £ 315 2 s Id ; in 1842 , £ 272183 Id ^ and in 1843 , £ 185 Os 3 d—making , as compared with the year preceding , a saving in the last year of £ 87 17 s lOd .
TUKK 7 IES 20 AS BILL . Mr . Johs ATEntson proposed that the charges of Mr . B&yldon , road { surveyor , of Hunsler , amounting to £ 6912 s 6 d . for services Tendered bj ' -him in connexion with tfce turnpike road bill , introduced into Parliament during the list session by Mr . Manners Satton , and undertaken by Mm at the request of the Committed of Council appointed , to watch bills in Parliament affecting the Borough of Leeds be paid . Mr . J . -W . \ SmxH seconded the proposition . Mr . Mabshall proposed , as an amendment that the Council should only defray the expenses which ME . Ba . yldonn » d acttmHy incarred , -which amounted
to , £ 57 12 a 6 d , wikhoni paying him anything for hiB own services , inasmuch as Mr . Bayldon had , without the consent of the Committee , printed for the use of ether parties interested in Turnpike roads , the information which he had collected from and at the expense of lbs Committee , and it was reasonable to suppose that he had derived some benefit in so doip ? . Mr . I / dccocs seconded the amendment , and opposed the motion on the same grounds , and in addi * iion stated that it was the impression of himself and other members of the Committee , that Mr . Bayldon had intimated that he should not make any charge for Ms ownserviees .
Mr . Cawood said the impression on his mind was that Mr . Bayldon had made no such iatimation to the Committee . Mr . Atktssox justified the charged made by" Mr . Bayldon , and stated that he bad not charged anything except what jhe had actually paid to parties whom lie had found it necessary to assist him in obtaining the information , with the exception of £ 12 for his own labour in reducing the information to a
tabular form , a work for which it was a most economical charge . He was not aware that Mr . Bayldon had ever said that he would render his own services er&inilonsly , and he thought they ought to have better evidence than th » mere impresson of two or three members of the CounciL js On the question { being pnt , the atnendmentwas negatived by 23 to 20 ; the original motion wa 3 therefore put and carried , and the amount ordered to Jbe paid to llr . Bayldon .
WATCH SATE . On flie proposition of Mr . LrccocK , seconded by Mr , Pawson , a committee was appointed to enquire into the mode of assessing and levying the Watcj Bate , and to report thereon to the Council .
OPESISG OF THB COMJdlTTEES . Mr . Jacksoh proposed that ill committee meetings be open , to the public on the Bame conditions that strangers are admitted to the Council meetings . In introducing the question , he contended that were the press admitted to the meetings of committees , there would be a greater absence of the mistakes which had occurred ; and he instanced the labours of the Streets Commiiies and others , b ; whom large sums of onr public money had been Toted away , and over these a very salutary controul would be exercised by the press . The Committees which he wished to have thrown open were the Watch Committee , the Gaol Commilte * - thfi Strpehn
Committee , the Lamp Committee , and the Bnrial tw ^ ? ? ^ ' t 0 the meetings of which were litS ? » dnutted ' the members would feel them-ESl ^ « of responsibmty . For K tST ^ ZS ***™** <*»» && >¦ o ? wMch M ^ SZlhei ™^ tlie Proposition . He did 5 haStSnS « HS S ^ by ^ Jacks <« . that Sw S ^ S ^ " ^ ! Republic hadTright BS £ S ££ ® gi light not only tokww tWc « S ? ^ * ? ffw bo ^ were properly att aSS ^ teg ?*^ tbat ^ rthejndicioiu . expenditure ^ thtLrge ^ nm abonteightihoasand pounds , he bdievedwvrMc ? Sev had at their disposal " mey _ Mr . LtrPros thonghtit would be a most unfortn .
case wung w open toe watcn Committee , and that it was often necessary to the end 3 oT jostica that ite JTOesedings should be kept as close as possible It was erroneous to say that the Watch Committee was the only place where complaints against policemen were disposed of . Complaints could be heard before the magistrates , particularly in cases of assault and then the magistrates not only -decided On the , caseSj JbnS the pnhlie were made acquainted ¦ Snfll tnHrjfBDeeediDgs threngh the press . ¦ J ! 3 r . Joseph Cutf thonght that it would eoI prozoote the intereft of the public iQ open the committeeSj Deeanselhey had often negotiations to make which would be frustrated were the information to ketome prematurely pnblic ,
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Mr . Babbeti condemned the avowal made by Mr . Jackson that be woul . d divulge whatever occurred in the committees op . which ne sat , and said that if he carried that principle out , he ( Mr . Barrett ) Ehould feel it to be his duty to vote against Mr . Jackson being up _ on any of the committees . Mr . Jackson , in reply said it did seem to him very ^ illiberal to exclude the Tfttepayera from the meetings where their own money was voted away . At the same lame when any bargain was making or any point of law was being discussed , he would be as secret as any man ; and he challenged any one to say that he had ever made any disclosures injurious to the public interests . He should persevere in Ms motion , although it might lead to his expulsion from every committee of the Council .
The question waB then put , it having been moved that the votes be recorded . The motion was negatived by 29 to 7 . The following are the votes : — For the Motion . —Councillors JackBon , WMte , Hornby , Brnmfitt , BobsoD , Farcer , and Wilson . Against if—Aldermen Oates , Smith , Musgrave , Gaunt , Maclea , Bateson , Goodman , Pawson , Lupton , Lnecock , and Jackson ; and Councillors W , Smith , Moorhouse , Kelsall , Carbntt , Weddill , Barrett , Barlow , Sellers , Dickinson , France , Broadhead , Bower , Walker , Hall , Marshall , Cliff , Whitehead , and Ingham . Mr . Jackson then inquired of the Ton a Clerk whether the Committees , on which he was not appointed , had the power to exclude him from their meetings .
The Town Clesk was of opinion that that power was in the hands of tie separate committees .
IMPROVEMENT AND BURIAL GROUNDS ACTS . VALUATION OP THE BOROUGH . Mr . Lxjccock proposed ** That in pursuance of the st&iaie in that behalf , Messrs . Richard Hey and Samuel Sharp , the adjusters of the valuation of the borough , de make and subscribe a solemn declaration to make such valuation fairly and impartially , and according to the best of their judgment . " Mr . Lvpiox seconded the motion , which was carr ied .
PBINTEB AKD STATIONER . Mr . Walker was appointed printer , * and Mr . Buckton , stationer , under the Improvement Act . M 0 RTGAGS 8 UHDSB THE IMPROVEMENT ACT . On the motion of Mr , Lucccck , seconded by Mr . Gaukt , it was resolved that the . Borough Seal should be affixed to the following mortgages on the Improvement Rates : —For £ 4 , 000 to Joseph JanBon , Esq . ; £ 3 , 000 to Messrs . Wm . Wainman and Son , on the Leeds Improvement Rates ; and for £ 4 , 000 to W . Wms . Brown , Esq ., on the Hunslet Improvement rate . The rate of interest at which the money was borrowed was stated to be 4 A per cent .
SALARIES OF OFFICERS , &C . On the motion of Mr . Lccccck , seconded by Mr . Oates , it was resolved that the Finance Committee be empowered to pay the salaries of officers , wages of servants , rent of offices , and rates and expences connected With the offices under the ImproTement Act j together with the interest of the money borrowed , as that became due . guinnr . r ^ jij' » r - — - - ¦» ^ h^^^^^^^— 'rf' ^ sj- i j-n ^ f ^^^ ftrr j Jfc m ^
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NOTTINGHAJO . —TMS week our dear Queen having passed near the town of Nottingham , th « Whigs and Tories have been too much engaged in drinfeinfl loyal toasts to pay attention to anything else . Perhaps a little sober reflection , may have restored them to their senses , and caused them to consider that they ** pay too dear for their whistle . " The money which has been squandered away in this foolish parade—this idol worshipping—might have comfortably clothed and fed thousands of our destitute fellow creatures . It is fair to presume that her Majesty would consider , from the display made on the occasion , that her people were all happy , and had no grjev&noea of whiohto complain . One Bide oftao picture only met her eye . All was glitter
and show , as far as she could see . Englishmen ought , to begin to count the cost of all this tomfoolery ; and it will be well to remind them that the annual cost of her Majesty ' s household is upwards of £ 500 , 000 . This is not all , for the people have to find £ 300 , 000 more for foreign kings , the Queen Dowager , the Queen ' s mother and the princesses Surely it is high time that some economy were used in these matters , unless they mean to starve the people to death . How much longer will the middle classes and the shopkeepers perpetuate such a state of things 1 Have they not enough to do to pay rent and rates , without fooling their own or other people ' s money away in this senseless manner Yerily , Jchn Bull is a great calf ; or he would have tossed the system overhead long since . In order to uphold this brutal and demoralizing system , and
keep the poor from demanding redress , we are further taxed / or the army £ 9 , 000 , 000 ; for the navy upwards of £ 6 , 000 , 000 ; for the police in London and Dublin alone £ 700 , 000 : but what the total cost of this unconstitutional and spy force is all over the . Kingdom cannot be ascertained . The amount must be frightful' and , when added to £ 1 , 053 . 762 , the oost for building prisons and transporting con-rids , it proves Bodeniably that England is the " enTy of surrounding nations , " and must be the H admiration of the world . " With the exception ol a Email knot of sycophants , who tried to raise their ¦ voices , in the Station House Yard , not a single cheer greeted , her Majesty . The poor miserable and dejected workies had nothing to cheer for , and ob-Berved in the wealth and splendour which sur-I rounded them , are of the causes of their own misery and degradation .
The Jsoethern Star Saturday, December 9, 1843.
THE JSOETHERN STAR SATURDAY , DECEMBER 9 , 1843 .
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THE TARIFF TRADE . The effects of the Tariff , on the Provision Trade are beginning to manifest themselves . American chtaxed cheese , and butter , and bacon , and hams , and lard , and beef are being brought into England , to compete with the English farmer's TAXED cheese , bacon , and beef ! Rate way to pay the debt , is not it ? 1 It is much if : it will not in the end be found so !
And yet the farmers / ' we are told , are become converts to the doctrines of free trade . " They have been represented as attending the meetings of Oobdes and Co ., and giving them their " sweet voices" in favour , of measures to bring xjstaxed corn and xjxtaxzd beef , into open and active competition with English TAXED corn ; haying been persuaded thai to do so trill be of advantage to the tax-payer I
Well ! it t « a queer world that we live in : but of aH queer things surely this is the most queer . It is true that the representations of Cobden and Co ., in the agricultural districts , have been totally different from what they hare been in the manufacturing districts ; it is irae that there another song than tie " Cheap bread" one , had to be sung , to charm the poor clod-poles ; it is true that ihere the key-note of the harangues was , that corn would be no cheaper than it now is : it is true all this . ; but even then , taking all this into account , one can hardly see how the uniaxed corn of American growth ; how the employment of American labour is to pay OUR debt !
It seems , however , that we are to try ; at least as far as cheese , bacon , and beef are concerned . Whether the Americans , in bringing their M produce" to our market , and taking away for it our gold , know that they are paying our taxes or not , is a questionable matter : but one thin ? iB certain , that they are determined to try what our market is worth . They have visited it ; and with some degree of success ; enough we should suppose to induce them to come
again . Let the English farmer read the following account , taken from the Liverpool Times of Tuesday last . It relates to a new trade ; one lively to be very profitable to them ! They ought to be grateful to their " friend , " Free-trading Peel , for so arranging it that the Americans have to aid them in paying the taxes ! Of course , they know that "Freetrade" is a R benefit" So at least Cobden and Co . say . Here is the oeginmng ! How will they like it 1
On Thursday last , a largd sale of American and Canadian provisions took place in Liverpool , and as this is altogether a new trade , and one chiefty created by the new Tariff , it will be interesting to many of oar readers to know the result . Of American cheese there were offered 7160 cases , weighing together about 260 tons . The quality of this cheese was in general good , but it was most of it out of condition , and did not bring- more than 34 s . to 383 . per cwt . Not more than the eighth part was sold in the sale room .
Of Bait butter , principally Canadian , 240 casks were offered .--It fetched 53 s . to 553 . per cwt . The quality was good ; superior to any Irish butter to ^ . ^ ght at the same price . Of hams there were 1500 offered . They sold at «? * v s ' - toC 03 - ihe cwt- The quality was good , ^ . ^ Pnees the game . soldi tierce ^ were offered , but none were jtS ^^^ ajajsiassa ss ? if » s ^ ,: is & * sftjssssfi
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hamB , 7650 ; lard , 3337 barrels « 1378 kegs ; batten 776 ca * k 3 j cheese , 974 caakB ; 2486 boxes ; wheat , 5261 quarters ; and flour , 36 , 608 . This is independent of the supplies from Canada ^ Since the commencement of the present month the supplies have also been large . The American ships Virginian and Republic , which arrived here yeBterday . and the ComptOn , from Canada , which arrived on Sunday , are almost full of provisions . The two American vessels are said to bring 1000 tierces of Beef , besides other kinds of provisions .
We have always been led to understand that a large foreign trade" was necessary to us , to enable us io pay our own taxes ; that it was not only requisite that we should employ our own labour and capital to produce what we needed for ourselves ^ as far as we are capable , but also that it was requisite to work over and beside to produce manufactures to sell abroad , to get money wherewith to pay the "National Creditor . " It seems , however , that we have hitherto been wrosg . We should not have employed our oxen labour to any suoh end . The proper way was , to let the M foreigner" wobk for us , and thus pay our taxes ! We are , therefore about to turn over a new leaf . We shall
soon haye no cause to complain of the burden of taxation . It can be taken off our shoulders , and put upon those of others ! But if this new discovery be at all valuable , will it not teach us one or two other lessons \ If it be unwise to wo ) k for ourselves , and thus burden ourselves with our own taxation , is it not more on-¦ WliE STILL TO WOBK FOB OTHERS , and thUS take theib burdens upon our backs ? If we are to cease producing for the Home-market , and get the Americans to grow bacon , beef , and cheese for us , and thus pay our taxes , ought we not to cease producing for the foreign market , and ease ourselves of the taxation of the worldi" These are queries which we ought deeply to consider upon .
There seems to us to be but one more requirement to perfect this scheme of ease : ease from labour , and ease from taxes : and that requirement is , the adoption of Tom . Attwood's inconvertible papermoney-scheme . That alone is wanted ; and then we shall be the happiest nation under the sun . At all events if we are not , we ought to be : and that will satisfy every reasonable mind . We confess that we do see difficulties in the way of working this new easy scheme of " profound political economy , " with our present monetary arrangements . It will be very inconvenient and diffioult to find gold to pay
the Americans for their beef and bacon , and pay the renter and tax-gatherer too . But with Tom ' s scheme ; with an inconvertible paper-money ; with a " medium" that we can " expand " at will . ; with a w currency" that we can increase ad libitum ; with just this addition to the Free Trade scheme , we see no end to our wealth , onr power , our greatness , and our ease ! Only think of a papor-money , inconvertible into gold ] Why everything must go on swimmingly 1 How could it be otherwise ! Just imagine how convenvenient a mere " PEOMisE i to-pay " -on-paper will be in satisfaction of a demand , with a provision that tee never shall be called upon , or compelled , to pay ] Is there not greatness and power in that ?
Can we not , under such circumstances do as we like ? What would there be to binder us ! The Ameileans would bring their beef : pay them in incqnvebtibles ' The tax-gatherer calls for Prince Albert ' s " allowance" and the Debt-holder ' s dividend : pay him in inconvebtibles ! Do you owe a mortgage , or a bond debt , or a book debt , or even a debt of ** honour" : pay them in inconvertibles t Should you run short of them ; should it appear difficult to imagine how they are to come back again from America iwhen once taken ?!/!); should any difficulty of this sort occur , how easy to make morel How easy to make them abound 2 What folly it would be to be short of " money" ! Why , we could make enough to bny up the world itself , if the world would let us 1
Now this , we think , would be the perfection of the 11 Free-Trade-ease-from-labour-at-home-system . " It is all that is required to make it work , after we have induced the foreigners to take our " money" as money . Then for ease ! Then for plenty ! Then tor hawiness ! Then for a total and unconditional Repeal of the Cora Laws ; for then we could do without even the Times s fixed ddtv 1 What fools we have been to "toil and moil" for the whole world , as we have done , when we could get on better without working at all ! But then Englishmen are as blind as bats . Were it not so , they would have seen this long since . They had only to open their eyes , and look upon what is passing beneath their noses on every hand , and they
would have seen this EASY-system in full practice They would have seen that tho men who do not work are invariably the best to do I u What is true individually , is true nationally . " There the whole thing is ! The nation has only to learn the secret of the easy ones , and the nation is " well to do" alsoJ That seceet is , to make others work for you , instead of being ;> uoh fools as to work yourselves ! This we can now accomplish Peel has got the Americans ready to Bupply us with beep , bacon , land cheese ; Cobden has them ready to supply us with co&u ; and Atiwood is able to supply us with untold heaps of C cheap" ) INCONVERTIBLE-promise-to-pay-money to buy the beef and bacon , the ,-, encase and corn , with . What more can we want ?
We ought to have a jubilee : for the days of humbnggery and quackistn are ended !
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nave been made upon bis own person ; more tban one effort has been made to take bis life ; and it requires the utmost / vigilance of the arm ; over the dis-armed people , to keep up even the appearance of submission to present rule . And it is no common people that the bloody Narvaez and his crew of cut-throats have to deal with ! They are a brave and enduring people , as the ; " Legitimists" have proved iofiheir cost at Barcelona . Let the reader ponder well over the following ; and ask himself if it be likely that mon possessing spirit and patriotism euoh as ia here evinced , will long permit the destinies of their country to remain in the hands of the monsters who are now paramount .
Private advices from Perpignan of the 24 th ult ., mention , that when the Junta of Barcelona agreed to capitulate , the insurgents had hot more than 14 Q / 6 s . of gunpowder laft , and were reduced to their last 300 dollars . Having 15 , 000 paupers , aud upwards of 6 , 000 combatants to support , they deemed it impossible to prolong the defence of the city , which , from the strength of the works they had erected , would have required 50 , 000 men to carry it b y storm . The insurgents shut up in the castle of FiRueras were determined to hold out to the lasst moment .
These are the sort of men thatfare to be feared ; men who hold out to the last shot , and the last penny : and who even then , when all their means are exhausted , have firm bearing enough to make an honourable capitulation , and effect their escape out of the hands of the faithless crew vrho set Conventions at nought . Rely on it , suoh spirits as these are not to be quieted by ? the means resorted to by Narvaez . M | They will meet again at Phillipi "; and possibly the result of that meeting may be the reverse of the result now .
The correspondent of : the Morning Chronicle gives the following interesting account of the state , appearance , and condition of the City of Barcelona when re-entered by the Government troops . From it , it will be learned that the brave defenders of the City against the assaults of the " Legitimists , " knew what they were about . M The measures they took to repel an attack weiie perfect ; and the troops , as they entered , universally agreed , that if properly defended , they could never havo carried the barricades , save at an immense loss of life /> " All those streets that opened on the oitadel were defended with triple barricades , cannon proof ;
arid between them deep trenches were dug , and the sewers opened . " " The ground floors of the houses were all filled with earth and stones , so as to resist cannon shot ; and the soldiery , exposed in the streets , and unable to protect themselves in the houses , would , in a very short time have been cut to pieces . " Let the reader bear in mind that these " works" ; these " defences" ; these w preparations" were made by an " Insurgent " p eople ; by the citizens of Barcelona ; by the middling and working classes . It is not of the doings of sn organized army that he will read of in the following account ; but' the doings of "
Insurrectionists . " We always expect that those whose trade is war , will , on all necessary occasions , take the proper means to defend themselTes ; and when we hear of their forming defences within defences ; erecting barricades and forts ; making loop-boles in Barrack walls , —( as they are now doing in Ireland ) , —we do not wonder at the " works" themselves , though we may ( as in the case « f Ireland ) wonder what they are all for : but when we find a people erecting " defences" against the aggressions of tyranny ; when we find them triplebarricading'' their streets , and opening trenches
between the barricades ; when we find them filling the lower rooms of their houses with earth aud stones , so as to resist cannon shot ; when we find them erecting forts , that could hardly ever be taken by storm : when we find all this on THE part OF A peoplb against their despotic and murdering mlera , and find them , too , maintaining thb contest while they have any means of continuing it left :. when we fiud all this , we do find something to excite , not only wonder , but great admiration ! We cannot bat admiro the spirit of a people that leads them to resist tyranny , even though it be with tho musket and the cannon . We cannot but
admire the bravery of a people , that enables them to set the tyrant at defiance , and keep him at bay . And when to this we can add many instances of cool prudence and wise preparation" ; the taking of measures to ensure Buceess and prevent defeat ; our admiration must be great indeed . All this the reader will find in the subjoined account . To Mb attention we commend it : — At length , after an absence of seven weeks from Barcelona , and of nearly three months of revolution , I have been enabled , in conjunction with the world at large , to re-enter it .: This happy event ccourred on the evening of the 21 st , when the gate of
Barcelottetta was opened to the thousands who had congregated there from an early hour . The scenes which then presented themselves were of a joyous yet affecting nature ; for families long separated were at last again united , and many were the embraces given , and tears of joy shed . With all this however , I had nothing to do , so I pushed through the crowd , and hastened to feast my eyes witk the curious aspect which the Plaza del Palacio ( on which the gate of Baroelonetta immediately opened ) presented ; this square , it may be remembered , was the principal scene of action , being close to the citadel , and of course had suffered the most ; the pavement was mostly
pulled up in order to form barricades , and the square was now filled with remnants of houses fallen down , broken pillars , and rubbish of every description ; the square is very large , and is decidedly the handsomest part of Barcelona , the Castom-house , the Exchange , tho Palace of the Captain General , and the magnificent range of buildings of Senor Kifre being situated round it ; all these had more or less been injured , the Custom house but Blightly , the Exchange severely , upwards of 200 shot and shell having completely defaeed the exterior and damaged the interior . Luckily the buildingbeing modern and entirely built of large masses
, of Btone , resisted the peppering , and remains Btanding , but it will [ require many thousand dollars to repair it . The Palace is much knocked about , and a breach formed through which six men could maich abreast ; but the chief damage has been reserved for the houses [ of Senor . Kifre , which present a melancholly appearance indeed—several are entirely down , others gutted and riddled through and through ; the English consulate forms one , and has had for its share some 30 cannon balls and grenades , while the musket balls leave scarcely the space of a shilling unmarked ; of the lamp posts and trees , nothing but the stumps remain . Turning to the right towards
the citadel , you come upon a deep trench , extending from the Palace to the Csstom-house , several feet wide , and formed by ] opening the sewer : this would have formed a severe obstacle to the assault of the troops if they had attacked , and had not brought planks with them to cross it . A large Market-place here , aud extensive rope-walks , retain but their names , being confounded with and levelled to the ground . A fine statue of Neptune , decorating a public fountain , has been eutjin two by a shot . Tery fine gardens ( decorated with fountain .,, marble statues , avenues , &c , and which formed a favourite promenade with the Barcelonese )
connected the city with the citadel . Here the Patnlea greatly annoyed the sentinels on the walls and the cannoneers with musketry ; in consequence orders were given to cannonade them out , and the gardens have been destroyed ; the statues are now lying broken in pieces in the waters of the fountains , the aviaries perforated have afforded an exit for their tenants , and the trees and shrubs look as if a hurricane had swept over them : the destruction is complete . It is a great pity , for the gardens were a decided and pleasant ornament to the city . The measures taken in thisj portion of the city to repel an attack from the citadel were perfect , and the
troops , as they entered , universally agreed that , if properly defended , they could never have carried the barricades , save at an immense sacrifice of life . All those streets that opened on the citadel were defended with triple barricades , cannon proof , and between them deep trenches were dug and the sewers opened . The ground floors of the . Souses were all filled up with earth and stones , so as to resist cannon shot ; and the soldiery , thusexposoa in the streets and unable to protect themselves in the houses , through inability to enter them , would , in a very short time , have been cut to pieoeB . AH the
dwellings in this part bear evident traces of the handicraft of the oitadel . Turning to the left from the PJaza del Palacio , you proceed along the Calle Isabel and the Muralia ( or sea walls ) , to the fort of Atarazanas , m the Calle Isabel . The city had a battery , called the battery of the Lions , from two Jarge statues of these animals gracing the Bteps on mounting the sea walls . This battery was repeatediy destroyed by the fire of MoMtjuich and the citadel , but was as often repaired . The lions i ? ave long disappeared , which may be also said of the trt < ss and lampposts , which now show nothing but their stumps ; the houses , which form a part of tthose of
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Kifre , facing the square , are greatly scarred and injured , and the windows broken by the discharges of the artillery , i The " Muralia , " a fine promenade on the walls facing the harbour , is literally ploughed up with shot ; the stone seats and sentry-boxes and the houses { fronting the sea greatly injured . The extensive barracks on the " Baluarte Medea" are all down . At length we reach the celebrated fort of the Atarazanas , which still exists , and shews but little external damage , notwithstanding the thousands of shot burled at it by Moiitjuich ; bad the troops ! ever attacked the city , not their least task would have been to take this foit , " which
is immensely strong , and has defences within defences ; the houses and barracks around are much injured , and the Mint , an especial object of bate , from its never having ceased coining copper money throughout the ! insurrection , has several shot and shell in it . I have now detailed the damage displayed by tho city externally . As you enter the narrow streets ^ towards the 'Plaza St . Jaime' but little destruction is perceptible—not but what it is great : bat the nouses must be entered in order to
view the effects of the shells , which fell in- this vicinity in great ; numbers . The cathedral , several of the churches , and factories , haye been struck ; bnt it would require a week to examine { he city and form an estimate of [ the damage . One factory I baie entered , that of Greenhelge and Co ., has received SOme [ thirty shots and shells , some weighing sixty and eighty pounds' weight ; luckily the machinery is uninjured , so that the loss may be repaired with £ 250 . Other factories , I conclude , Bave where the machinery is destroyed , have met with equal losses .
All the junta have effected choir escape , Mazanet ineluded , jwho was imprisoned by his colleagues for robbery . The principal chiefs of the Patulea aud National Guards , the military and ' eivil employes of the government ! who were compromised , either have left , or are daily leaving for France and England , not considering their persons safe here , In spite of the convention ] with Sanz , which has beea , and is being hourly broken aud disregarded . Domiciliary visits are nightly made , and persons arrested by the " mixos de esguadron" ( thief-catchers , and mountain police , employed to suppress smuggling , ; and who , till now , have not been seen in Barcelona for years , owing to an agreement made with Mina , I believe ) , who prowl about every where . The convention with General Sanz has been entirely broken by the
disarming of the National Guards ; it is true they created a disturbance in the night of the 21 st , by assembling and shouting for the Central Junta , death to Prim , and other cries ; but I have good reason to believe that the disturbance was purposely originated , and created through the instrumentality of General Sohelly and other officers , who were openly opposed to tbe article of the Convention which guaranteed retention of their arms by the militia , aud hit upon this scheme in order to induce General S&nz to break it . I do not know whether Sanz was a party to it , but one thing is clear that the Convention has been entirely broken , and was intended to be so from the first . I am promised some more particular information on this head , which I will convey in my nest . j
"The French vessels received on board the Junta and other emigrants in the first instance ; the Belvidera afterwards received from them some thirty individuals who wished to proceed io England , and sailed for Gibraltar on the evening of the 21 st ; the Phonicien took thirty , and the Cameleon about Bixty , to Port Yendres the same evening . " It was well that the Junta effected their escape . Had they not done so , the treatment they would have received at the hands of Sans and Prim is hot difficult to be guessed at . The " Convention entered into by Sahz with the people of Barcelona , is hourly broken ! ! " "i Domieilary visits are nightly made , and persons arrested . " " The National Guards have been disarmed . ? ' All this shows what Sanz and his
cut-throats would have done , had the Junta put themselves within his power . They have , however , acted wisely . They have got out of his reach . They are where they can " arrange" together again : and we may confidently expect that we have not aeea the last revolution in Spain .
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Richard Oastleb has been useful . Ha has done much to ameliorate the condition of suffering human * ity . He has been an imj ^ ortant wheel in the compli , cated machine of human progression . He has contributed nmch to the "onward" march , of mind . He has done society service ; and society has now a duty to perform towards him , vhich , we trust , will be faithfully discharged . Richard Oastler , in what he has done , has beea honest . He has bad no interested ends to serve . Self , with him , has been no consideration . He was convinced ; and he spoke . He pelt ; and he acted . He did not considerately weigh the pro ' s and the con ' s oa his own interests ; bat be threw himself inte the gap , bodily , —ready for the sacrifice , U sacrifice was needed .
The immolation was demanded ! Tbe " pound of flesh , "' was insisted on . The " Bond" was exacted ; and the penalty has surely been paid I It is the firm conviction on the minds of all parties , of Oastleb ' s sterling integrity and truthfulness of purpose , that has obtained for him the high moral standing in the land which the present movement proves him to bold ; and the fact ik&t men of all ereeds , and of all politics , can , for the time being , sink their several differences , and unite to do honour to moral wobth , puts one in love with human nature itself , thus shown to be &w » n # , and sound , and heabtt at bottom , when fairly appealed to , and occasions arise which thrust aside the faetitiousness and conventionalisms of society .
Yes ! in this case men of all parties do unite the political friend , and the political opponent ; the churchman and the dissenter ; the workman and the employer ; the master and the sextant . All take'their stand on the common ground of humanity and tender the warm-hearted hand of fellowship and aid to suffering uprightness . The movement is indeed general . Meetings have already beea hold en at Huddersfield , Bradford , Bingley , Leeds , Barnsley , Keighley , and Wakefield . Connected with this movement in Leeds , there is one circumstance that has gratified the immediate acting friends of Mr . Oastlee in no small degree . With pleasure do we accede to the request
contained in tbe following note , and give publicity to the letter that accompanies it . The tribute therein so generously paid to the integrity of a political foe , is indeed honourable to the heart of the writer . The case between the two men , was aot an every day one . Tbe " war of words , " and sometimes ol actions too ,, has [ been bitter and almost unceasing . Still all natural kindliness could not be smothered in political contest ; and Mr . Bainbs has shewn that he possessed strength of mind sufficient to throw paltry revenge to the winds , and aot the part of one man towards another in time of need . The conduct he bas parsued is highly creditable to him , as the following will abundantly prove : —
To the Editor of the Notthern Star . Sir , —You will greatly oblige the Leeia Operative Committee for promoting Oastleb's Iibebtt Fund , If you will insert the following communication in youi next journal . They seek for its publication , not only at a tribute to the high moral standing of Mr . Oastler , aa evidenced in the aid thus freely and generously tendered him by a political opponent , but also for the justifica tion of Mr . Bainef , whose explanations ought to be known to prevent misconception . We are , Sir , yours respectfully , John Huxton , Chairman . Wh . Rider , Secretary Leeds , Nov . 29 , 1843 .
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THE { OASTLER FUND , LIBERTY TO THE CAPTIVE . It is with heartfelt pleasure that we refer to the general and earnest movement , now being made to effect the liberation of one of tbe best men this land has in it , —the truly great and good Richabd Oastler . | His long incarceration in a prison for debt has been a national disgrace . It is indeed high time that the stain was wiped out .
Our readers ] will not need reminding , that we have ever set forth his many claims to public support , and continually called upon all classes to perform their duty toward him who has served them ^ by not only procuring bis release , but also placing him in a situation , when out of captivity , far above want , or even the fear of it . It is , therefore , with much gratification that we witness the matter , at last , taken ] up with becoming spirit , and every indication given that the long-desired object will be fully accomplished .
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REPUBLICANISM IN SPAIN . CAPITULATION OF THE BRA . VE BA . RCELONESE . For a time the brave Republicans of Barcelona have had to Euspend the " fight" with Legitimacy . They have had to lay down their arms , and give up the City and defences which theyihave bo long and eo bravely kept out of the bands of the crew of the bloody Narvaez . " Legitimacy" has , therefore , [ for the moment " triumphed . " Its sway is now all but universal throughout unsuccessful Spain .
There are but the few heroic " Insurgents , * shut up in the Castle of Figueras , who wa&e open war against the " established" ( 1 ) Government . Kingcraft and Priestcraft are , . thereforeXonce more in the ascendant . The efforts of the Republicans to cause the Governmental recognition of the " Rights of Man , " by the establishment of a Central "Junta , " chosen by the people , to draw up a Constitution , have received a check ; and it is possible that the slender flame of liberty , still nickering , may be sought to be quenched in the blood of the brave made to now , in defiance of express Convention , by the heartless assertors of " Right Divine "
But the " song of triumph" over the Republicans need not be very loud ; for it will not be very long ! "Legitimacy" has not made secure its foothold 1 The power of the Priests is not yet all-powerful . Revolutions in Spain are not at an end . It is pos-Bible , very possible , that the a" established" Government , Priesthood and all , may be blown into nothingness at no very distant day . It is certain that the devotion and heroism of the Spanish Republicans is not subdued . They have had to deliver the City of
Barcelona ; into the handtf of Sank , * but it was not because it had been won from them by the power of the sword . They have maintained it against all the efforts of the " Legitimist" array , until want and sheer necessity compelled them t , o capitulate . They have not Seen sobdubd . Their spirits are unbroken : and we may rest satitfied that tho love of country which prompted them to take arms jn the assertion of their country ' s rights against brutal faction , will again lead to acts and deeds , which , cinder more favourable circumstances , may lead to a successful
result 1 The Spanish Monarchy is far from being secure ! Nabvaez , with all the power of tbe army and police ac hia hack , will find it difficult to prop up the throne , though it bo adorned with a young Queen . " He' treads on volcanic ground . The fire , though covered orer , is not extinguished . ; . Attempts
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THE PRESENT FATE OF FROST , WILIJIAMS AND JONES . The following paragraphs are going the round . " The first is extracted from the rimes ; and the second from the Sun .
It must be giatifying to all to hear that Frost is released from the Penal Gang , " and is in a situation as clerk ., The paragraph from the Sun says that he is comfortably situated . Probably this " comfort" is only so by comparison with his late position . Be that as it may however , all must feel pleasure that be has experienced any alleviation of suffering . He never ought to have been transported at all . Those who concocted" the . " mess '» that sent him over the seas to a Penal colony , are those that ought to bave gone ; and not the kindhearted victim to their rascality .
Williams , it seems , " still wears £ tbe log on his leg , " He has not yet satisfied for the crime of seeking to escape from the Penal Hell . Let as hope that he soon will have done so . Surely it will not be much to expect from the Home Office , that the whole wiJl be put oa an equal footiDg as regards •? comfort . " j Here are the paragraphs : — Convicts . —Geach , the step-son of John Frost , the Chanist Chief in the attack upon Newport in 1839 , who is a solicitor , and was about two years since transported for twenty years for forgery , bas been , after working twenty months upon the roads ,
allowed " a ticket of leave , " and has been hired as a free servant to hia wife , who followed him out . Frost , who , as j has been already stated , is released from the penal ' gang , and is in a situation as clerk , has sent a letter to Mrs . Frost and his daughters , desiring them to go oat also , in the hope that Mrs Frost will be allowed to hire him as a free servant . The Governor having informed Frost , Williams , and Joues , that the Home-office has finally determined never to at low them to return to their native land , they have resigned themselves to their fate , with a determination to secure to themselves kind treatment by their future good oonduot .
The Welsh ] Convicts of 1840 . —Mr . Swain , of Fleet-street , who was instrumental in getting up petitions in favour of . the Chartist leaders , sentenced to be hanged in 1840 , for high treason , has received a communication from Mr . John Frost , the leader of the Chartists who attacked Newport , in which ho thanks Mr . Swain for the interest he took in his fate , and also states that he and Williams have been brought back from the penal settlement , whither they had been ! sent for having attempted to make their escape . Frost is comfortably situated as clerk , and is most anxious that is family should go . out to him . Williams still wears tbe log on his leg , and Jones continues to hold the situation he got shortly after his arrival in the colony .
" The Governor has informed Frost , Williams , and Jones that the Hosie-Office has finally determined NEVER to allow them to return to their native land . " ; NEVER ! Rather an inconclusive " determination ; , " is it not \ Perhaps Sir James Graham will not always be in the Home-Office ! It is possible that both himself and his " NEVER " may get kicked out 5 Then where will the * ' determination" be v | We know that Fbost , Williams , and Jones will ; be kept away as long as faction can compass it ; but , as surely as the Dorchester
Labourers were sent for "back again , " so surely will a vessel be despatched to fetch tbe Welsh' convicts , if they should be spared in tbe land of the living . Time Works many changes ; and the " determination" of the Home-Office bave had to give way before now , and will have to do again . Let but Chartists the iget twenty Members into "the House , " and the Secretary of State , even should it be Sir James Graham , will be very polite , and very yielding ; ready to give up twenty Frosts to propitiate and appease the Chartist Opposition ! He would soon forget hia " NEVER . "
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FA THE NORTHERN STAR . j ,
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economical subjects on which we . have hitherto differed . " You must permit me also to add , fiom recent allusions that have been made to my acquaintance with Mr . Oastler ' s late excellent father , that , though I bad a great respect for that gentleman , and had tbe pleasure to enjoy bis friendship for many years , I never received from him ( aa Mr . Ostler seemed at one time to suppose ! any obligations , or any assistance towards my establishment in business ; and that in uniting with bis son ' s Mentis in serving him in his present exigency , I am wholly uninfluenced by an / considerations of that nature .
"Xeedf , 27 Nov . 1843 . " Gentlemen—In compliance with the solicitations of a deputation from the Committee for promoting a subscription to effect the liberation of Mr . Oastler from tbe confinement under which be has so long suffered , and to make some prorimon fox hia future wants , wish to cast into the ' Subscriptions' my contribution of Five Pounds which they conceive may have an influence beyond tbe mere amount of that sabacxiption , " In taking this step I wish to guard myself against any misconstruction ; you will therefore allow me to say that my views are as much opposed as they ever have been to Mr . Oastlex ' a upon the political and
" With my best wishes for tbe speedy attainment of your humane object , "I am , gentlemen , ' Very faithfully yours , " Ewd . Baxnes . " To the Committee for promoting Mr . Oastlert Subscription . " It is , indeed , refreshing to find that the burning
contests of party do not entirely obliterate human feeling . They have done , and still do , much mischief in the world : but such instances as the one now recorded , go far to show us the utter folly of continuing them ; and give a foretaste of tbe kindly feeling , true consideration , and even happiness that might universally exist , and of which this world is capable , could we but learn common sense enough to bear and forbear with one another .
The reference to " recent allusions" concerning Mr . Baines and Mr . Oasiler ' s father , in the last paragraph of Mr . Baines ' s letter , we are somewhat concerned with . That " recent allusion '' was made by us . It was reported in last week's Star . Concerning the matter , we are glad to be set right . We deem it necessary however , just to observe , that in making such " allusion" we were not without
authority . Mr . Baines knows that the statement has been often made ; and by those too , whom it might be presumed , had reason for what they said-It has , up to this period , been uncoatradioted . Now , however , we have Mr . Baines ' s negation to the statement ; and for having made the " recent allusion" which has drawn forth Mr . Baines ' s explanation , Mr . Hobson thus publicly expresses his regret if it has caused Mr . Baines the least annoy
ance . Turning from Yorkshire to Lancashire , we fiud a similar spirit , in connection with the " Libert j Fund , " existing ; there . From Manchester we have the following : — M Within the last week the Central Committee of Lancashire , Cheshire , and Derbyshire , for raising a fund for theliberationof Mr . Oastler , have held several
meetings , and made the necessary arrangements foi appealing to the public on behalf of that truly honest and patriotic man . In a few days a public meeting will be called for this purpose in the largest place that can be procured in Manchester . At a meeting of the Central Committee , held at the Old Swan Inu lasfc night , Mr . Thomas Daniel ia the chair , & » address to the working people and their friends w » unanimously adopted . "
A copy of that address we have been favoured witn We regret that we cannot find room for ft . It- *** fair and candid setting-forth , of Mr . Oastieb ' s w »' and will , we trust , bave the effect of rousing nptto entire Factory Population of the Great CoWfl District to " come to the rescue" of their fbi © 1 and unswerving advocate . Liverpool is also on the move . Nay , London , w * wen ; the social excresoeHce ; the sink of corrupt *^ itself , feels called upou to take part in afford * freedom to the captive patriot .
In conclusion i we call upon the FiCSjtf Wobkebs of England , TO DO THEIR DU * J on this occasion I Mr . Oastleb has done mor f ^ his towards you . You have bemewttet , dire « jJ and palpably , from his labours . Whatever ameuo * tioa in the working of the stern , i * on , realiW « , the Factory System may have taken pla * * ""** muohin that way has been done , —to OasH-eb J are indebted for it . You owe him * w
bebt iir betubj * . We now want yon » P » it I We know that be has your P'rfj L hearty thanks ; but in ms hour of need *>• ¦»» JJ have some little of your cash . He did not # ** ^ cash in your service . He was , wheu &e ufco uli work for you , in as happy a position as _ a *"' . . possibly wish to be . He lived in a most low ? ^ He had an income of £ 500 a-year , or just W » a-week . He wasrevered a , n&belovedby all ^^ if happiness ever found anlabiding plw » « W » " ^ surely it was on hit heartfe . He wrongs . The tale sunk into bis heart . * ^ himself that what he had . <> een told \ j » ^ . then he boldly cam * to tbe » - s 8 ne ' flfgpBnt . 6 » ' fort was with him , no question . uJTajoped B ? Nay , the yery debt fox which he h" » **
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 9, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct511/page/4/
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