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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th February 1843, Edition 3 of 4, Page 5, TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR.

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      * :== ^~ 1 $£ BEH OF MACHINERY . gj ^ jfl « 2 ! BW INTENTIONS- ON THE ^^ ' BTE OF INXR 0 D ¥ CTION . jfjjeboves the manufacturing operatives , te be on j ^ - oni ! They hare been Mcked about in the ^ y jnbst BEJBerdfoDy . in consequence of maohin-^ L-ffEg pariiaHj superseded their labour in the Auction of manufactured iabrics ; and what they been forced to submit to and bear , in the shape jUrdship and suffering from this cause , seems to u tnt ii * beginning of what they -will haTe to snb-.. jjjjjdbear , unless a rue direction be given to ? -prodcciiTe energies of the people , accompanied aistntninve

      m alteration m ow arrangemrais . \ be question of machinery is a puzzler and a _ . jtfc&s already worked some most astonishff ^ erolnfions ; changing the whole aspect of ^ Lt , and the relative position of entire classes ^ lL&s each other ; and it seems to be destined to If ^ T jcjuj more , It baffles the efforts of the ^ L gnan ; sets at nought the calculations and r ^ Scns of the Legislator j renders l&w abortive j ^ galaies custom ; interferes with habit ; and * \ Qgj sdQ -DJifixes all that is " settled" and J ^ v ^ s it b the innoTator of the age ; the ^ ^ jjgj W -jrfcich the " constitutionalist * ' aSeots to j ^ 2- fte destroyer of institutions ; and &e intro-^ Zc of JJW habit 3 and new feelings amongst all j sodEiJ scbjected to its inflnence .

      Tts marci Bpon us has been sudden and rapid , re-HijTelj spaking- It is but as yesterday ,-when the ^ le-CTGEniEg wheel stood in the chimney-nook , * lii 5 -bnsy hum was heard in the home of the laf jfjj ^ -insii . It is but -as yesterday when the cardfe £ jjeek ocrapied aplaoe by the side of the spinning-* Xgg ; aufi feeg ^ housewife , aided occasionally by w pro : » : tor , prepared the fleecy wool for the ^^^^ ^^ A _ — - ^ b ^_ . ^^ ^ h _ - ^^^ b ^ ^ t a ^*^ * J ^_~ ^_ A . * J _ A ^ L and aade the

      Bd iLe spajnmg-jezmy came pnt -gjasJEg-mieeL Ine mule followed , and superseded gjj jpmifflig-jeniij . The carding-engine came , and aB * csr £ E R-5 W ^ disappeared . These threa new -jjjans -srori ^ * complete revolution in the old nroces of preJ 31 ™^ an < ^ spinning wool into warp ^ 3 ynft ia-shs use of the weaver . So also ia tie cloth ihusMfig department . It is - ^ jijji ti e memory of thousands now existing when B—isBg" if * 3 done by hand , with " handles" and

      « esrds DpoD the " nelly" ; and when all the crop-« jg tns done bj hand , with the" shear" worked by ftj ^ BCg" ^ P tbe " sheai-board" . Bnt the " r&is-• . pj g W and the " shear-frame" were introduced ; ^ a ; e xelly " ajid the " shears" soon "hid their gjmiAed heads . " The " Lewis-machine" followed , jjeompsaied by the "Perpetual "; and then the s ^ bar-frame" ihaxed the fate of the " hand-shears . " in sore revolution in the mode of finishing was fa& eSetted ; asd . tbat too in a very short space of JII& 2 . "Wewgki describe a similar sort of operation in bjet oiher walks of industry , if it were needful to be verj precise . "We might look at the calico and fenaa weaver , throwing the shuttle by hand , wi&oat " picking-peg" ^ and then look at the steambom , working by means of inanimate power . We Eghi eves instance the mechanic himself , chipping jsH frmg by hand ; and then look at the planing Bjehine and ths self-acting turning lathe , doing iBTrcrfHiih scarcely ary attendance- Nay , we E £ ht histsnee scores of other cases , and show that complete rcrolu&ons in the mode of working up raw Ejieriala imo manufactured fabrics and articles of Estiva been effected by means of the introduction of new and improved machines .

      Bis eDongli has been said for our present purpose . It is oeIj our aim to call up the recollection of psrfJesziojFliving in lie several trades enumerated , a to vhcl has been already effected in the icag of mange i s wans of Machinery . Tla ¦ progress of machinery , however , is not at an end . The eliaages that haTe been effected by its mesas , are but as ant-hills compared to mountains , frhen contrasted with the changes that circumstances warrant es to espeel from its future operations . Indeed , the zge of inventioB and improvement may fee said to hare only dawned . The morning has not era yet set in I

      ^ RfflTBtakaig man knows but too well the effects wfckli the introduction of this new machinery , and liu application of the new improvements , have ilracj had upon his veil-being and physical cod-Man , Prom that knowledge he may infer what fhe efbets of future improvements and new inTen-&ms iriD be npon hi 3 present deteriorated position , Eilsslia can by some means or other change his cramste&ees , so that these ihing 3 shall work to his beaent instead of his injury : and it is that he may be aware of what there is in store for him , and thus beJDdneeStowork heart and soal to remove him-« lf Jroa under the terrible load of accnmulated xai ffinaccamnlatiug evils , lhat we tell him of the &ets which thh article will shortly disclose .

      1 $ is oBrpurpose that the working-manEhallbe duly farenrjrned of what there is in immediate preparation fcr him , that he may be on the look out ; and prepare limself to meet thB circumstances which will shortly overtake him ; and which , if they find him unprepared , will hi all probability overwhelm T"Tn in uuer wafnaon and ruin . "We have spoken of entire revolutions having been Netted in proceses of manufacture by the means of sew aad improved machinery . Tv " e believe that a £ « &t branch of our present manufacture is doomed

      to experience a greater , more sweeping , and more entire revolution , than any yet effected in any branch . We believe that the present mode of pro 4 nnng woollen doth , from and up to certain points , » as sure to be entirel y superseded , and done away ¦ " 5 & , as it is certain that the spinning Jenny and fids have supplanted the single-spindled gpiiming-T&etL "We finaly and sincerely believe that this * ffl shortly bs the case ; not from a desire thai it wndB le a ; bnt from facts and evidences which *« 5 heea seen with our own eyes and heard '; with ° « n «»

      -Ssse facts and evidences shall be detailed as &Jfy % and fully as it is possible ; and then the *» to can jndge for himself , as far as an imper-« relatera will enable him to do so . Jk * P eople have heard of the •* new Felting ^ ees : " bnt Tery few people know what has been tee in relation to it . It ia only some four ^ snee a mode of applying the principle » 4 e maBufacture of Woollen Cloths was diswas

      ^ erea . T ^ discovery made by a gentlef a Aaerica of the name of Wells . Be found |» lsnrer his expectations ; and he came over . " ^ d to seenre to himself the benefit of his f * a « ioD ia this country . A company was formed arnr ma" his project : and that company have ™>* workmg establishment in Leeds , producing *™« qaantities of cloth by means of the maeaaeiJ iiTenied by Mr . Wells .

      fc ? kTaiti 011 SDcceeded so far , as to demon-¦ & » J > 0 S ^ i >^ tJ of producing oioths at a P rate , The first application of a new ° P- » e—{ new ^ applied to thi 3 manufacture )—^ J « this most conclusively . It is true that the ™ ** not all that ceuld be desired . It is tree p ** > d defects and imperfections ; but the j ^ TT ^ fj of the new process was at once estabfeatbT ^ ^ ^ Teflectio 11 yras weD satis " ^ - tone , and experience , and ingenuity would ^ 4 ^** ^ S « ulties that presented themselves , culties

      ^ efe ^^^^ heenatwork . The diffi and fx ngctstn ^^ P ° n ^ ere d upon , and plans and tB&areA . " K > IDe ^ em i-&Te been formed and fzi rn ^ . ^ txv vwcTiine to perform the process of j ^ ^ wnsegnenee . ygygj , ^^ hine-B-e have seen in operation . We jf si ^^ Portion of wool , composed of a nnmber . yeii " froia the * £ cribbBngmachine , "andmak-^^ r tof ^^ loose woo ] j with ^ g SbT ^ dism , IjJp ' si ^^ ened , aiid laid parallel to each other . JLa jasj iang t ^ eihti -. tat a whiff of wine ^^ we trirn u asunder . The wool , in this " **> ¦*! aw Placed bet eec tw ieces of linen

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      slightly wetted-, and then submitted to the action of th& machine , which is exceedingly simple , being mainly composed of two boxes of iron , with their planed- surfaces placed parallel to each other , and a slight tremHlons , rubbinftronnd-about sort of motion communicated to them by means of the requisite pullies , wheels , and pinions . These boxes axe heated by means of steam" admitted to their interiors ; and between them was placed the wool in the condition we hare before described . In one minute and a-half that wool teas converted into a piece of woellen cloih , ready fer the Milling Stocks J And it was cloth 2 It would bear pulling , and handling , and washing , and wringing , as soon as it loft the machine . It was a faster and firmer fabric than any " raw-thread" we aver saw .

      That the general reader may the more easily comprehend the nature of this new process , and judge of the effect which its extensive introduction and use must have upon the class now engaged in the production of woollen cloths , we shall endeavour to describe the several processes that have to be used in the ordinary method ; and show how many of these processes the new one entirely dispenses with .

      We will suppose , then , that a Clothier —( a race of men fast passing away from off the stage of manufacturing and commercial life)—wishes to make four Ends of broad-cloth , of a middling quality . To do this , he will require about thirteen stones of wool , at ISlbs . to the stone . Before the wool comes to his bands , it has been sorted by the wool-sorter . It has then to be scoured , to rid it of the grease and dirt it contains when bought from the grower . When dry , it goes to the willeying-machine , which tears it open , and dears it from extraneous substances that may be mixed with and adhere to the fibres- There is an improved " willey , " which some manufacturers

      use , called a Devil . The woollen manufacture has its Devil , as well as the cotton mannfacture . When willied twice over , it is spread npon the floor ; and Olive or Gallipoli Oil applied to it , by means of a sort of watering-can . The thirteen stones will require 54 gallons of oil . This application is necessary , or the wool could not he " worked" through the remaining processes . When the oil has been applied , the wool is again subjected to the action of the willey . From this machine it goes to the scribbling machine , which lays the fibres of the wool straight and open , and forms it into a sort of sheet , or " bat . " In this state it hangs loosely together .

      The operations hitherto described , are required t be performed for both modes of making cloth , excepting the application of the oil , which is not required for the felting process . In the ordinary process the nexi operation is to stibmit the scribbled wool to the action of the carding engine , which finishes into a sort of loose roll like a rope , technically termed a " carding . " From this machine it goes to the slubbing billy , where all these " cardinss" are pieced together , andspnn into a continuous thread of some little firmer texture than the cardiDgs . From the slabber it goes into the hands of

      the spinner , who , as the name implies , spins the slubbings into threads for warp and wefi . From the spinner , one portion ef it goes to the warping-mill , where it is made into a warp . Then it has to be " sized , " that is , thoroughly wetted in animal size * When dried , it-goes to the weaver , who has to " wind it on" the beam of his loom , and " tye it in ;" that is , each thread has to be tied to another passed tbrongh" the " healdf , " and also through the " slay " or reed . " Then it has to be woven ; and when it leaves the weaver ' s hands , it is a piece of cloth , in that state of progress known technically by the name

      " raw thread . " It is then scoured to rid it of the oil it was neesssary to apply to it , to enable it to " work" up to this stage . When " scoured" it is called a " scoured thread f aad while in this state , the little bits of shives , and straws , and cotton or linen threads , or double threads , which have been woven in with it , are picked ont , by means of a pair of burling-irons , made something like a pair of tweexsrs ; only , that thB burling-irons are pointed . This operation is called " buriin / r . " It is now ready for the "fuller , ' or " miller . " The cloth is submitted to the action of a machine , called the " fulling stocks . " There is a sort of box , into which the piece of cloth is put , and a certain quantity of liquid soap is

      "lecked on " -to it . Then two pieces of heavy wood are alternately raised by the machinery connected with the stocks , and let fall npon the cloth in the box . Thi 3 process " fulls" or ** mills-up" the cloth ; altering or changing the character of the texture altogether . Indeed , this milling is nothing more uor less than a felting process . The fibres of the wool are interlaced the one amongst and in the other ; so that that which was an open woTen texture is now a close * and firm felted fabric * This process eauses the peioe to " ran up , " as it is termed : lhat is , it becomes narrower , and shorter . When it leaves the loom , a BToa > b \" iataelvequartern or three yards wide ; when milled or failed , it is only some fifty-eight inches wide .

      The cloth , when " tentered , " is ready for the hands of the " Finisher" . Now let us see the expence of this process , as near as we " can in time and labour , from the moment it leaves the scribbling machine to the time it is ready for the faller . . The carding and slubbing , then , wi' 1-occnpy some twD-sod-half days ; and will employ one carder " ( an infant ) , who " fills " the carding engine . There are three M piecener e" Cinfants of course ) connected with-the slabbing billy ; and one man to

      work the machine . He is cwled a slnbber . The carder will be paid a shilling a day ; the " pieceners " eight-pence a day each ; and the slubber will earn four-and-sixpence if he be a workman . ( He is paid by the weight of wool he slubs . ) The spinning will occupy about two day 3 . Tnis process employs also two " pieceners" and the spinner . Of course the " pieceners" are children ; and they will earn about eleven pence a-day each , and the spinner about iourand-sixpence a day j for he too is paid by the weight .

      The time required for waxping depends upon citeumstances ; cut the expense will be from a shillinjj to eighteen pence a warp . The " sizing" and " beaming " . and ** tying-in , " are paid for in the price of the weaviDg : and to perform these several operations , will take the weaver better than four weeks ; and he will earn about 153 . per week . The scouring will perhaps cost some eighteea pence an " End , " and will employ » man some nalf-a-day . These different processes , then , will take Bome five-and-a-half weeks to perfect ; and the co 3 t in labour will "be about £ 5 . hi .

      To this must be added the cost of the oil , which is necessary in the one process , and entirely dispensed with in the other . Gallipoli Oil is 4 s . Sd . per gallon . Five-snd-half gallons are needed ; so the total cost of the old process , in labour and oil , will be about £ 5 10 s . THB PELTING JLiCHIKE . Now for the New Process . The sheet of wool is taken from the scribbling machine , without oU , and senv-at once to the " Felting Machine" wherein two minutes it . is converted into cloth ready for the

      Fuller ! Not the entire fonx " Ends" certainly ; but as much as can be submitted te the action of the Machine at » nce ; which is about two yards . Two yards , then , can be made in two minutes ; without the intervention of " carder'" " pie « eners , " slubber /* " spinner , " " warper , " *» sking-boiler , " " sizsr , " " weaver , " or Bconrer . " Two yards in two minutes is s yard a-minute ; or 60 yarda per hour . But £ &y it only does half this quantity ; oi 30 jardsper hoax : is does this with the attendance of one iwa and a boy !

      Thirty yards - per Bour , at ten horns per day , is 310 yards a-day 2 J But say the machine can only produce Ao // , even , ofthis quantity . Eventhenit would produce as the rate of more than oss husdbkd jlnh tdtt TAiDS a dat ! Here is a revolution ! Here is an " improved" process 1 Here is a monstrous addition to our producing means I

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      And what will be the cost of labour in attending upon this new machine , while it prodaoes more than three " Ends" of cloth a-day ! One man and a youth will be all , if not more , than the machine will require . Say the man is paid five shillings per day and the youth two and sixpence , making the cost of attendance bnt seven and sixpence per day . Let the * carder , the piecener , the slubber , the spinner , the warper , and the weaver look out ! What is to become of them 1 ! What are they to do ? O' " turn

      to the new means of employment" I Bah ! If every man and child now engaged in the several old processes , "betake themselves" to the working of the new machines , why we should be obliged to " etack " woollen cloths in the open air for want of warehouse room ! and where the deuce is a market to be found for them when produced , seeing that even with our present means of production , every market in the world is glutted with our manufactures ? 1

      Bat we hare not yet seen the whole of the revolution which this new process is SURE TO EFFECT . Look at the number of machines it will supersede . There will be no use for the carding engine , the slubbing-billy , the spinning-mule , the warping-mill , or the loom , either hand-loom or steam-loom . These all cost money ; and themaking and repairing of them employ many " hands . " The ' cost of them will be saved in the production of cloths ; and the expense of the room they occupy in the mills , and the power to work them , will be saved also ! Why here , in these partionlars alone , is a revolution in itself .

      Tne expence of the new machine will be very trifling , comparatively speaking . The Bpace it will occupy , and the power to work it , will also be but inconsiderable . The cloth , as it is manufactured , will go at once from the machine into the fullingmill , which is to ba placed just by its side . As fast as it 1 b made it is fulled , and ready for the hands of the finisher ! Tell us not that this machine will not succeed ! This was the cry when the idea of employing

      steam as a motive power was first started . Tbid was the cry when the spinning jenny was first announced . This was the cry when the power-loom was introduced . Tnis was the cry when the shear-frame first raised its head . And thi 3 has been the cry upon the introduction of every new invention and * " improvement . " Aye , and this cry , too , has been fostered and encouraged amongst the labouring men by their employers : because it disarmed opposition to the introduction and use of the machines I

      Not succeed , indeed ! The very day we saw this new machine at work , we saw a great-coat on the back of an American gentleman of some celebrity , made of cloth manufactured by the process discovered by Mr . Wells . This coat the gentleman bad worn for three years . He travels incessantly . The coat bad been pnt to hard service . // scarcely looked any the worse for wear . It certainly was not thread- bare . ' Not a sthch had given way . There are many more years wear in that same coat .

      Not succeed , indeed ! That same American gentleman told us that he had a . dress-coat , made of superfine blue cloth manufactured by the same process ; and he declared he had never been able to procure a coat of cloth manufactured in the old manner , that wore anything near 60 well , or preserved anything like so good a face . And these cloths were manufactured by the first discovered process ! We believe the new machine to be calcnlated to produce clothB of a much more satisfactory character .

      The process is sure to succeed ! Only look cloth by it can be produced at a leBS co 3 t than the C 03 t of the oil necessary to be used in the old method ! to say nothing of the amount of time , and labour , and expensive machines , with which it entirely dispenses . Its success is certain ! We would implore of the labouring people not to hug themselves up in fancied security , uttering the senseless jargon of " it cannot be done " ! They will find to their cost that it can be done , and will be done ; and we wish them to be prepared for their altered position . Bat this Felting Moohino is not the only aovr invention on the eve of introduction into active use . On the same day that we saw that machine in operation as above described , we also saw a new

      BBJCE . MAKING 1 UCHIWB which will work a complete revolution in that department . A description of the arrangement , and a statement of the effects the inventor states it is calculated to produce , will enable the public to judge how far this opinion is warranted by the facts of the case . We cannot better describe the form of the machine than to request the reader to suppose that be sees before him as immense coffee mill , with two hoppers attached to it ; the one placed over the other ; and that the necessary motion is communicated to the machine by a shaft which passes over and across the upper hopper .

      Tha clay is wheeled into this uppermost hopper , omt of which it passes between two rollers , which crush it and makes it adhere together , into the lower hopper , down the centre of which a shaft revolves , to which are affixed a quantity of cutters , which work the clay throughly , and make it ready for the moulds . As it is thus prepared , it is forced out at the bottom of the hopper , in lumps , ready for the moulds , which are afiixed round the circumference of two large rollers or drums , and which revolve in opposite directions , and respectively press the clay into the moulds with a- very heavy

      compression . A boy stands at each side of the machine , to take the moulded bricks as they are delivered from the revolving cylinders , and lay them upon , barrows to be taken to tho dryingground , and prepared for the kiln . This preparation does not take as much time , as in the ordinary mode ; for the clay can be worked with much less water . The less , the better ; and if warm water , or water from the condenser of a steam-engine can be used , the drying procesa ' occapies very little time indeed . This machine will require fourhorse power to work it ; and , at the very least

      12 , 005 bricks can be moulded by it in one day ; in many cases , more could be produced . The expence of labour with the machine will be 2 s . 8 d . per 1000 ; while the present * xpence is 7 s . . 6 d . per 1000 . In tbe ordinary mode of making bricks , the clay must be dug , and allowed to lay for some six months , before it can be used . With the machine it is best when used as soon as it is dug . The brick made by the machine is much superior to the one made by hand . The heavy pressure to which it is subjected ,

      makes it closer in grain ; more compact . A brick made by the machine will weigh from two to three pounds heavier than one made from the same clay by ha . id ; and the advantage derived from this on the score of durabilitjj and resistance to wet and damp is immense . A common ordinary brick will absorb some two or three pounds of water ; the compressed brick will absorb very little . The face of the machine-made brick is much finer than tbe face of the hand-made brick .

      One of these Machines has bsen ordered by the Government , fm the purpose of moulding an artifioial fuel , which is made by the convicts at Gosport , for the usa of the Government Steamers . It is made of small « oal , tar , and some other substances ; boiled together , and then made into blocks , like bricks . This , too , is an " improvement . " Three tons of it will go as far as four tons of coal ; and it can be afforded for 23 a . a tou ; about the price of coal at Portsmouth .

      In additionjto this" monster machine" , the inventor has another to be worked by h&nd . With the handmachine two youths and two boys will mould 4 , 800 bricks a-day : two to work the maobine , and two to carry them off as soon as they are moulded . One great advantage attending this machine is , that the brick is . Teady for the kiln aa soon as it leaves the hands of the moulder . Each brick has four tons of pressure applied to it ; and this makes it so compact , and drives out the moi&ture so effectually that it is Toady for the fire immediately . With this

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      maffhiae , too , tiles for draining can be made , by its means , better than it is possible to make them by hand ; and in quantities quite equal to the superiority , the " monster machine" possesses over the hand-process . in the making of bricks . Draining tiles , too , of a certain and useful shape can be made by the great machine . Hire , then , is another "improvement" which will have its effect upon a pretty numerous class of labouring , men ; for it also is sure to bo successfully introduced . Indeed , it is already at work in several places .

      But these machines are not all . On . the same day we saw another , which will have some effect upon the bakers employed in biscuit-making . A machine has been made , and is now in operation , which will reduce their work to a bare attendance upon the oren and mixing of tha dough . The BISCUIT-HAKIKG MACHINE performs the labo * of rolling out the paste , and stamping out the c kes . The dough is put io at the upper end of the maobine , where it Basses between

      two rollers whioh compress it to the required thickness ; and the sheet of thin paste then travels beneath two stampers , which are continually rising and faling , cutting oat twooakes at each fall ; these cakes pass away ( on the rising of the stamper ) by means of an endless cloth , to the boy who takes them at the low end of the machine as they are delivered , and places them upon the oven plates ready for baking . By means of this machine four stones of biscuits can be made in ten minutes I Let tha Bakers look out '

      While engaged in penning this article the Post brought us a communication from our Manchester Correspondent , whioh details some most important facts bearing on the very question we are discussing . From it we give the following : — " Improvement ia still going on in this town and neighbourhood . In one of the largest mills In the neighbourhood of Great Ancoats , ths number of bands employed have been reduced to less than oneJialf within the last ten years ; and yet , at the same time , there are more goods made in the establishment than there evei were at any former period ! The wages of the few that are employed at present , have , during the same time ,

      been reduced nearly onb third ! At the time we write ibis , the mechanics are fixing up in the same mill a number of new frames , by the use of which six ont of every ten now employed wi . l ba thrown out of employment t These frames are expected to be in operation at tbe beginning of next week . In another mill in the same neighbourhood , they are putting up frames whereby the whole of the Stretcheus will be dispensed with ! Tbe wages of tbe Stretcher would average about £ 1 12 a . p r week ; but with these new frames the same amount of work will be dene by a young woman for about nine shillings , or nine andsixpence ! Knowing the above to be facts , we

      would be much obliged to the advocates for & Repeal of tbe Corn Laws , who are constantly bawling that " o Repeal would find employment for all those that are at the present time walking the streets unemployed , to show us bow a Repeal will operate so fis to reinstate the Stretcher in his employment , and give him his thirty-two shillings a-week again ! Tho master manufacturers say that they cannot compete with the continental manufacturer even now , that they are getting about the same amount of work done by a female for less iban one-third of the

      money recently paid ! There is another knotty point we could also like them to loose . It is this- Tbey arc continually ringing in our ears that " when bread is cheap work , is plentiful , and wages high . " And when asked to give us something like * a proof of their statement that a low price of food raises wages : — " Oh , " say they , * ' Look back to the years 1835-6 ; food was cheap thtn j and the cousequence was that all were employed , and wages advanced . Now , if this be a criterion to go by , we would call the attention of these gentlemen to one or two facts that cannot be denied . In 1843 bread ifl

      as " cheap" aa it was in 1835—6 . Bat have wages advanced 1 Not a bit of it l Trade has increased . Is employment more plentiful ? No ! On the contrary , in the town of Manchester alone there are at the present time 20 , 000 persons out of employment ! And instead of wages advancing , the following will , show that a low price of bread ia Dot a raiser of wagea . The bancMoom weavers in the quilting dtpattment . were , last week only , reduced one shilling in seven , OR nearly fifteen per . cent 1 The

      Dyers h * ve bad , very recently , to submit to a reduction of 25 per ceot . ; and tbey are now bid to prepare for a furlhei reduction of fifteen per cent . At the present tbere is not one-half of tbe usual number of hands employed in many | dyeing establishments . The same rule of reductions in wages and number holds good in almost all the foundries and machine shops in Manchester . We should be much obliged to the Corn Law Repealers to make these facts barmoniza with the doctrines they bare been in the habit of BpeaUitg to tbe people . " . . - ;

      Ought not the operatives to be on the look out ?! Yes ! and ought they not to ba preparing to meet the additional evils evidently coming upon them !! They may ask " what are we to do V We answer " get upon the LAND ! " A wise application of the physical energies of ibe worker to the cultivation of the productive energies of the soil ib the only means of escape out of the trouble , misery and want which the progress of machinery hitherto has produced ; and , from the tenfold amount of both which its future progress bids fair to bring in its train , if the present system be maintained . How on earth is it possible to give benefio'al and permanent employment to the labourer , but by the means here pointed out ?

      THE LAND ia the only remedy for the evils with whioh we are afflicted ; and the only escape from the evils with which we are threatened . To get upon the land should therefore be the object of the displaced and superseded labourer . To secure a wise application of tbe soil , the only remedial measure worth attention , should be the aim of every man who loves his kind and his country . By a proper combination on the land , all

      " improvements' * may be made to work to the ad vantage of all the producers and consu mers of wealth This general advantage will be secured , whenever we have sense enough to cause machinery to be worked FOR the people , instead of being worked against thum . Then , every " improvement" will be an additional blessing . Then , every new invention will be hailed with delight , instead of being dreaded as a bitter curse !

      Tbe first step to enable us to attain this desirable object , is the obtainment of the soil , whereon to employ the unemployed people . That step gained , all the rest will follow : for the Maucu of Machinery itself will drive us on , whether we be inclined to go or not . ' Let the cry , then , be : " the Land I the Land the Land S " " The Land is the only possible means of Salvation ! !

      Untitled Article

      Mb . Wu , Djxon would be obliged to Mr . P . M . Brophy if he would correspond with him as soon as possible . Mr . Brophy ' s children have cume from Dublin , and are now with Mr . Dixon ; and , as neither he nor they knmo where to write to him , 'they hope he will see this , and write directly . They have been in Manchester since the Indinsl . Mr . Con M urray wishes us to state , for the information of his friends , that he will be in Campsie on Monday next , in Glasgow on Tuesday , and

      the Vale of Leven on Wednesday . Charles Taylor . —No . C . Fell . — His very excelle it letter is received . He may rely on eur keeping prominent the subject matter of it , in such way as our best judgment shall dictate . Erratum . —In the letter of Air . Thomas Davies , in ~ serled in our last , Mr . Neesom ' s name was printed instead of that of Mr . Hemmings . Ann Vates , Shelton . —Mr . Hill ' s books are pub lished by Mr . John Cleave , 1 , Shoe lane ,

      Fleetstreet , and nay be had through any bookseller . James Heaton , Clitheroe . —His request is complied with . There is no expence attendant on it , as the letter was not in type . John Copp , Bristol , says the Bristol Chartists are very anxious to see Mr . O'Connor . Robert Allen , Edinburgh . —His letter is received . He has our thanks for his honest expression of opinion . He may rely on our continuing to go on , striving te merit the approbation of good men and reckless , as fearless , of the rage of bad ones . Notice . —All communicationsfor Mrs . Roberts '* Committee in future must be addressed to Mr . John Newhouse . secretary * No . 11 Court , Tipper

      Tower-street , Birmingham . Vebi'EAS . —fits letter is received . Thanks for his friendly information . Nothing is more necessary , and for the very reason he assigns ^ than that we should know all these little things . John Brown , Sunderland . — We have received several communications on both sides . We shall qive none of them . Sheffield Chartists . Fig-tree-lane , must excuse vs : tee cannot insert their resolutions tin the Executive . The Northern -Star has done with the "Matter . The same answer must be taken by seveiul other parties . Bichabd RiMSDfiN , —His lellev is fencarfted .

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      C . J . ShIth . —We have no room for his comments though we may make some use . of them hereafter . : JOHN Durham . —Mr . Roberts , solicitor , of Bath , will do . D . Swallotv . —All pass-words amd ieeret signs are illegal . ' Lakby Tw > v& . —Thanks for his letter J , They are not likely to get O'Connor till after the ttial . S . J ., Bristol . —Thanks . } Bath . —The Bath Chartists write to correct an error in our Paper of the 28 th . It wat there stated that Bath had given assent to Mr . Cooper ' s plan of organization . Such was' not the case' j Thel 4 th clause was objected to . TheyrecommeM ! to the notice of the Chartist world Napier ' s pam- ! phlet on the Corn Laws ) John Brown , Carlisle . — We cannot interfere . R , T . Morrison . —Next week . '¦ Charles Cloderay , Holbeck— The ? money is received , and the advertisement . i

      J . D . L . —So much depends on the precise local circumstances , which can only be knoum byaclual observance , thai we can give no opinion . Our friend must be guided 6 y his own judgment . '• P . OHiggins — His letter is very long . We can often find room for a short one ; when a very long one is necessarily shut out . We will try next week . B . FirroN , Middleton . —He is quite mistaken . We had no purpose in the matter ; nor have we had a syllable of information on it , save his own letter . We very often use those adhesive labels , and were quite ignorant of the contents of the one in question till informed by his letter . We doubt not that he will admil the sentiment to be a just one ; and we trmt he will now see that we had no purpose lo , affront him . F . R . S . — We shall reserve his communication , and make use of it sane day in an article respecting th * futility of the sort of conduct and reasoning heldeseribes . Philantsopus , Sussex . —Perhaps nextteeek .

      Bernard M'Cartney—Yes . W . 8 . and J . H ., Belfast—The Plates of Duncombe were delivered to Mr . Cleave in September last , at the same time as those of the Petition . They were to be sent to Mr . M . Clarke , to be enclosed to Mr . Henderson ; and this is all that is known about them at tbe Office , except their non-arrival at Mr . Henderson's . T . Smith , Pltmouth —The letter received here on the 9 th was not post paid .

      Untitled Article

      for the national defence ? cnd . £ s . d . From M . A . Kiddlesden , Morley ... ... 0 5 0 „ a friend near Wakefleld ... ... 0 7 10 ^ ^ Countesthorpe , near Leicester , proceeds of Mr . P . Rigby ' s lecture ... 0 2 6 ,. Wm . Thompson , Saltcoats «» ... 0 0 6 FOR MRS , ELLIS . From Mr . T . Roper , Nottingham ... ... 0 i 3

      To The Editor Of The Northern Star.

      TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR .

      Sir , '—Will yon allow me to lay before your readers the following exposure of , and comments upon , the report of tbe discussion held at Sunderland , between Mr . Kidd and myself . I acquit you of any desire to favour eitheT one party or another by the report . That ifc is inserted exactly as you received it , I fully believe . Mr . Con . Murray , I believe , avows himself the author of it . How far he has fulfilled his declared intention to discharge his duty impartially must be known to all who were present . This I can say , that I know several of the " whole hog brigade" who admit that it contains much that was never spoken at all , and anppresses if hat

      was . ; I shall dismiss , as a piece of the * ' whole hog rant , " the heading of the report— " Glorious Defeat of all the Robber factions . " To ask what is meant by this bombast would be a piece of folly . : The report makes it appear that I , without any just cause , or from some improper motive , refused to make the admission free . The following facts will shew my conduct in its proper light : —About 8 or 9 o ' clock on Sunday evening , having gone out to take a short walk , I was stopped in the streets by two lads , who represented themselves as a deputation from tbe Brigade , to request that I would muke the admission free ,

      on which condition the Brigade would pay one-half the expences of the room , but not the printing . I replied the deputation were too late , tbe meeting having to take place the following evening , tbe chunge would not be fully known unions other bills were published ; that I had not then an opportunity of consulting my friends —that I could not personally afford to pay the bills and one-half the othtT expeases myself— tuat tbey might also see it would be a physical impossibility to accommodate more than 500 , and therefore , whether it was free or not free , hundreds must of necessity be excluded who perhaps would have come if more accommodation could be afforded .

      In the report of my second speech it is stated that I shewed by my " evasive and shuffi og attempts / ' that I was " writhing under tbe first speech of Mr . Kidd . " Now I believe the shuffling and evasion was all on the other side . Mr . Kidd had laid it down as a broad rule , apparently without'exception , that the majority ought always to bind the minority—taut by acting In "Oppetitfon - to -tW » ~ tu 1 « 1 bid "violated everyjprinciple of the Charter . In reply , I required him to state whether he really meant to contend for this without exceptions , or if be did admit exceptions to it , to state distinctly the general character of such exceptions . I stated , if he meant the former , I was prepared to prove its absurdity ; if be admitted the latter , I would show that my conduct at the Conference was one of those exceptions in the conduct of a minority which did not violate tbe principles and spirit of democracy . '

      My arguments in the second speech are : reported in a bungling and erroneous style , but I do not on that ground accuse Mr . Murray of wilfully misrepresenting me . It must be recollected that he ia not a short-band writer , that he can only take rough notes , and has to fill up from memory ; every intelligent ; person most know , that with the best intentions , a man may greatly err on such a question , while , when he has strong prejudices a particular way , he ia almost sure te to do so . But I do accuse Mr . Murray , or the reporter , of knowingly giving an unfair report , by reporting what was never uttered at all . Matter ot this kind jwill be found in the second speech of Mr . Kidd , where , replying to my observations on slavery in America , 'the whole of the plausible arguments reported between the 8 th and 21 st line of this speech were neicr uttered at all . No one reason was given by the speaker for slavery

      in democratic America , except that it was class legislation that caused it In the same speech Mr . Kidd is reported to have been interrupted by my friends , the respectables—this is most unfair . Very few respectable men were present , tbe bnlk of the audience were working men . In the third speech of Mr . Kidd , the reporter appears to have divested himself of all regard for truth , for not one word of the portion repotted , between the 5 th and 20 th line , was ever uttered by tho speaker . During the course of the whole debate he never uttered a wonl about the non-insertion of my letter . So much for the report * -r ' s impartiality . Tbe reporter has also forgot to report , that he had no wish ) to press his censure upon me , and intimated his readiness to withdraw it if I would withdraw my resolution . This I rejected with scorn , demanding if they , the audience , believed me guilty , that they tbould declare it by their

      vote . With respect to the number , I may be allowed to observe that all tbe local papers represent tbe division to have been equal but one , that one gives it in my favour . ' . I am , Sir , Respectfully , yours , " J . WltLiAMS .

      Untitled Article

      TO THE EDITOR OP TUB NORTHERN S 1 AJL . Sir , —In consequence of the parties who engaged the Amphitheatre not being able to pay for tha eao . e , a new arrangement has been entered into between tv . e and tbe Cbartisjts here , to tbe effect that I am to Ieofure for the benefit" of Messrs . West and Janet ' s * " ¦ Defence Funds" on Sunday evening next , at six lo ' eloek , in the " All Saints Open , ' instead of the Amphitheatre . I beg leave most respectfully to inform you that no meetings were got ap in Nottingham ea th >; SOth , nor in Derby on the 82 nd ult , which are the ] reasons « f me making no returns to you for tbe General Defence . Yours , in tbe canse , Petek Rigbt . Leicester , February 8 , 1843 . N . B . —I hope the Chartist friends will get up at many meetings as they can for ma to lecture for to < benefit of tbe Gentral Defence , as the time . of defence is nigh at bamd . I should Ike to . fled some ot the basi districts for the above object , :

      Untitled Article

      : r ^ -, ¦ "'" ' ' THE SCOTCH COLLIERS . . TO THS EDITOR OP THB NORTHERN STAB . Sir , —Will you have the goodness to allow me apace in the Star , ( the only poor man ' s advocate ) to the purpose of exposing to the indignation of the whol country , t " ie bstse-unfeeling conduct of certain , Pluius worahippin , ? coal masters in Scotland , than which nothing can bt' more cruel- or antichriatian . It appears that for somv i time past there has been a strike among the colliers of Lanarkshire , and the masters finding that neither wkeedLing or threats , bribes or promises , had any effect in in ducing the men to comply with their terms , in fact , finding that tbe colliers stood their ground like men knowing their rights , and that they were likely to bt defeated in their unholy crusade

      against the workmi n ' s wage , they have now as a ( fernier resort , commented to tarn the poor colliers out of their houses , houselaiss an £ friendless to the cold winds of heaven ! Yea , hundreds » f men , women , and children , are now being turned cwt to the wide world afe this inclement season ot the year , in cyder to gratify the revenge , or tbe cursed thirst for gold , ot a few black-hearted coal masters . ' Truly we are a Chriatiaapeople r Are we not a civilized nation ? In former articles which I have sent to the Star , I have charac * terised the people aa ill-used men ^ and their employer * as a set of merciless oppressors ; torsnow a proof of this ,, beyond my bare assertion , take the following paragraph which I copy verbatim ei Literatim ; from the Glasqour Chronicle ot last week : —

      " The colliers of Lanarkshire . —T&e ejectment of the colliers and miners of this county ftoa their houses , with the view of bringing them to the terms of their employers , goes on vigorously . We are informed that od Thursday last , about thirty colliers , with their wives and children , bedding , furniture , &c , were turned out at a colliery above Hamilton ; to day a number more < will be similarly ejected ; and on Monday and the early part of next week , about 250 more . " Really Sir , I can scarcely trust my feelings- to makeany comment on this . The idea of turning out whole families from their houses , in the middle of winter , is sorepugnant to ones better feelings that it appears more like a dream than sober reality , did not the damning

      fact stare ns in tbe face . It will be seen that the aboveparagraph speaks of the coal master ' s terms . What ar » those terms ? Those terms are a miserable pittance for their labour—not sufficient l to keep soul and body together ; not to be allowed to join any society without the masters' consent ; to submit to heavy fines for the most trivial offences ; and to deal exclusively at the masters' truck-shopa . The men , very properly , I think , resolved not to submit to this tyranny ; hence the resolution to turn them out of " their houses . These ooalmasters are professors of Christianity too—these archhypocrites attend their churches and chapels , and pray to God to forgive them their sins , as they forgive then * that trespass against them f—O I ' . mpora—O moree-i

      I do hope that the English colliers will stand by and support their unfortunate Scottish brethren , and not allow these coal-mastera to ride rampant over the poor colliers ; indeed , it is a question that affects every trade , because , should tbe experiment of turning the colliers out of their houses , succeed in reducing them to tha masters' terms , there can be no doubt but that masters in other trades will adopt the same plan in like circumstances . It will be thought by some that these coal masters wo «; d feel some remorse ot conscience . Not tbey

      indeed ! Tbey could retire to their comfortable homes , after committing these cruel acts , and there see their well-fed well-clad children , without a thought of thepoor colliers' children who were exposed to the storm without They could see their wives and children reclining on sofas in warm carpeted rooms , and know at the same time that the colliers' wives wsre houseless in the bitter frost and snow—huddled together in some stable , or outhouse , with perhaps a stone for their pillow 1 But what was this to them ? Had they not a right to do as they liked with their own ?

      I intend to return to this subject ; in the meantime , I do truut that this statement of facts will obtain for the houseless colliers the sympathy and support of all who have a heart to feel for other's woes . I am , dear Bir , Truly yturs , William Danielle . Lasswade , near Edinburgh , Feb . 4 , 1813 . . -. w

      Untitled Article

      DREADFUL OCCURRENCE AT LEDBURY . A MOTHER KILLED BY HER SON . ( From the Hereford Times . ) On Tuesday last an inquest was held in the town of Ledeury , at the house of Mr . Charles Roberts , before Nicholas Liinwarne , E « q , one of the coroners for this county , and a highly respectable jury , on the body of Eiizibtsth Webb , aged 79 , who resided in a yard in Homend street , and who died on the previous Saturday , in consequence of blows inflicted upo . ¦ her by her son , John Webb , a thatchtr , in a fit of insanity , on the night of the lGth

      alt-Sarah Taylor , who baa been a neighbour of tbe deceased between five and six years , deposed that John Webb had been considered occasionally deranged for the last four years , and at this season of the year was worse than at other periods . She never knew him to commit any violence , and he always appearea Kind to bis mother . When insane be frequently talked about one Hannah Slater , with whom be bad a love affair . His sister , Milborough Webb , is of a melancholy turn , and eccentric in her habits .- On Monday night , tbe 17 th alt , witness and her son were called up . to go to John Webb . They found him in tbe garden , undressed , in his shirt , and with tbe handle of an axe in bis band . Her son called to him , and be replied , " George Taylor , I like yon very

      well , but don ' t come near to me , or else I will take your head off . " Directly after this be went into the house and proceeded up stairs , and immediately dreadful cries and screams were beard . He cams down stairs without the slick , and went to the fire , and , -whilst there , bis sister , Milborongh Webb , came down and ran out of tbe house in her night dress , * and blood was running from her bead at the time . John Webb ran ont after ^ har crying your eyes , Dime Jukes , I have given yon Berne , and I give will you more . " [ A person of the name of Jakes lives in Ledbary , who was very kind to him ] Three men seized him , and secured him with cords ; witness then went into the house and found a variety of things on the

      fire , which she pulled off , and afterwards called to deceased to come down aa her house wonld be on fire ; receiving no answer , witness went np stairs , and found deceased squat in her bed half-dressed , with her hand against , her bead , bleeding ; in reply to a question aa to who gave the blows she said , ¦ < " ber undutiful son" or " boy . " On the previous night ( Sunday ) witness had been called up to go to John Webb ; be appeared much excited and outrageous , and said that people were after him to murder him , and that Hannah Slater and another were under bis bed . He was praying , acd very much afraid . Whilst witness was there , be got into bed , and remained quiet , not manifesting any wish to commit violence on any one . Witness understood that at times be drank

      hard . William Partridge , another neighbour , deposed thatbe was called to John Webb on the night of the 16 tb . He saw him in the garden as described by the last witness . Webb said to bim " William Partridge , your eyes , you are the worst enemy I have . Yon stole half a bushel of potatoes of me , an * if you come near I will slat your brains clean out . " Witness ran away , and Webb followed him a short distance , and then returned into the bouse , and shortly afterwards witness heard the deceased and ber daughter cry " Murder I ''

      In a few minutes the daughter ran out , and witness lifted her over the stile . There was blood on Webb's shirt , but he dipped tbe piece off before be was secured . About Christmas , 1811 , he went to church on Sunday , and said he was sent by the Lord to preaeh a sermon on that day . He was evidently deranged at the time . In New Year ' s week , 1842 , witness was asked to watch him , as be was coasidered in a state of derangement and dangerous . He occasionally drunk to excess , but witness did not consider him a man out of his mind .

      Caroline , the wife of William Evans , another neighbour , deposed that on the night of the I 6 tb she beard a dreadful noise in deceased ' s house . Milborough Webb cried " murder , " and her mother cried , God bless you , come in . for he is killing Miliey . " Samuel Purnell , constable , Ledbury , deposed that oa the morning of the 16 th he was sent for to the house of deceased , where he saw George Webb , who said his brother had-murdered his mother . Witness said , " I hope not , " when John Webb said , " O yea , she is dead , and I done it : I came down from London on purpose . "'

      William Griffin , Esq ,, surgeon , Ledbury , deposed that he was sent for to the hoase of the deceased about half-past one o ' clock on the morning of the I 7 th , and found ber and ber daughter lying in bed covered with , blood . There was an extensive contused wound or the ? left side the deceased ' s head , opposite the eye , producing a fracture of" the skull ; there was also a compound fracture of the lower jaw on tbe same side ; the eje was also coatused , [ A . piece of wood found under the deceased ' s bed was produced , and identified by the witnesses aa the one which the unfortunate man was seen to have id his hand !

      Such a stick as that produced would cause the woands on the deceased ' s head . Witness considered deceased's life to be in imminent danger . Tbere was blood on the stick . John Webb stated to witness in an incoherent manner , that he had bit his mother twice and his sister once ; he appeared very much excited os £ labouring uuder abberrativm of intellect . Witness continued to attend deceased until the day of ber death- She was quite sensible until the previous day , but never told witness who gave her the blows , alihongh he asked her several times ; The blows on the head , or either of them , were sufficient io ciuse death . Baeeased was & thin spare woman , and during fch . e time witness a ^ tended her ho saw bo other cause of death excepting the fiactureB and wounds meatfoned . The inquiry being closed , the Coroner observed npon the evidence . Tha Jury , after aome consideration , re- » tamed a verdict . —¦

      " That deceased came to fcer dea * b from blows infllet ^ a by her eon , John Wel > P , > fbiUt labouring Hndgr raeRw deiJUgemunt "

      2to Me#Tiev0 &Nu &Lt;Gotve0vovfoent0.

      2 To Me # tiev 0 &nu < gotve 0 vovfoent 0 .

      Untitled Article

      TRIAL BY SPECIAL JURY . TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —On Monday last , I received two lists of Special Jurors , who , I am informed , have been selected to try me at the ensuing assizes . Each Hat contains tbe names of forty eight persons , chie-fly landed proprieters , with a sprinkling of baronets , bankers , and merchants . How the selecting business was managed I don't know , but tbe public may judge of it from the fact , that several magistrates , who had previously committed me to Warwick , were on tbe list , and also some of tbe parties engaged as witnesses on behalf ot the ReV . — Ansty , In the Rugby libel case . ]

      Tbey have done it well . They have taken good care that I shan't have a shadow of a chance . 'They may say "Had you not the privilege of striking off twelve from each list 1 ^ Yery true ! But tben , the remaining thirty-eix are no better than the twelve struck off , and as Home Tooke remarked , it is like expecting a man to select a Bound orange from a basket full of rotten ones . i I protest against the whole lot , and ean see clearly that it is the determination of the Government to deprive me of tbe means of a fair trial , f The offences with which I am charged took place in Birmingham , and in justice to me , the Jury eught to have beea selected from this town where the circumstances as » beat understood . Fours truly , Geobge Whis& .

      Untitled Article

      THE NORTHERN STAR , 5

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 11, 1843, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct637/page/5/