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MR. DUNCOMBE'S MOTION.
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#"ortf)*©minft C^avtfet JglMm^
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TERBATIM REPORT OF THE CHARTIST TRIALS AT LANCASTER.
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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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THIS DAY IS PUBLISHED , No . 2 , OF A VERBATIM REPORT OF THE RECENT TRIALS OP FEARGUS O'CONNOR AND 58 OTHERS , AT LANCASTER , FOB RIOT , SEDITION , TUMULT , AND CONSPIRACY . i HT H E above "Work will bo Published in Weekly Numbers of 64 Pages of Royal Octavo , Edited by X FEARGUS O'CONNOR , E-q ., Barrister ^ at-Law , and to which will bo added A SHOST -aCCOTJM-T OP THE CAUSES OF THE DISTURBANCES OF AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER LAST , With Notes upon the Trial ; also a Dedication , to Baron ROLFE . A SPLENDID FORT&AIT OF THE JUST JUDGE WHO P HE SIDED , WILL BE PRESENTED WITH THE LA . ST NUMBER ( GR&TIS ) To those who have been Subscribers to the Work . The Portrait will be Executed with a view to its being placed as a Frontispiece , and when completed , vrhicbwill be in about four Numbers ; the whole will make a valuable work . Price 7 d . a Number , in . a wrapper . The Portrait gratis . Subscribers and Agents are requested to give their Orders to Cleave , 1 , Shoe Lane , Fleet Street , Loodon j Hetwoob , 60 , Oldham Street , Manchester ; and Hobsok , Northern Star Office , Market Street , Leeds .
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( Conducted from < mr eighth fags , ) iis eraatnde on them if it wished , bat the country fell rery differently . The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for iie Home Department said ifca * noshing eoald be more satisfactory lhan the roeehes , Dot excepting Us own , wHich had ieea j ^ e a ^ aans ^ ihe motion , and seemed io snppose jjj ^ j this question , ihst interested MQions of the yorteng classes , tos to ba disposed of , and that he Oir . Dtjuwanbey- 'sras to be put down by a bad joke pa ihe part of ihe HigHt Him Baronet abons monojaasia . —tA 4 &HJ&- } He might be guilty of monojnsida , hut if ie were it was a monomania which jras parocip&ted in by alaost every individual of
jie House , —CLanghter- ) There were yery few in jie msnBfaeturmg districts wio did not feel that jnoEiry "was neces 3 ary into fhe oriole of these transactions . ( Hear , hear . } ¦ "With regard to the jpeeeb of the Learned Attorney General , any one trodd-laTB supposed from it that the ^ rcsent motion ¦ sns one in approbation of the plae&rd which he read to ihe Honse . It was a speech which possibly be had already delivered at the Lancaster Assizes ; hnt iiis morJoa had nothing to do with the prosecu Jsoa which there took place . He ( Mr . Dancombe ) jnsde no complaint of ihose prosecutions , or " the maBEer in which they had been condncted by the Attorney General and theGoTernnient ; and the trial and cocrirrion of the persons so prosecuted had
nothing whatever to c * o with ihe case before the House . "What he complained of on the part of the people pas tb ? mlseoadaci of Magistrates in refasing bail to indrriGDals on acconnt of iheir political opinions , or reqnirffig an amount of bail impossible , or soexcessive , as to amount io a refusal of bail . He complained that certain persons had been arrested , and put iato the lock-up house of Manchester , and orher places , and there detained for five or six days pmions to bein ^ carried before the Magistrates for Examination , and afterwards detained for three days before they were liberated , tbere being no Charge against them \ that the ilsgistrates kcew at the tune thaV there was do charge against them , and that Mr . Beswick , the superintendent of police , knew that le could not procure the evidence for which "he ransacked the town of Manchester . That
-part of his ease had not been answered bj the Attorney-General , He iiad not told the house why tho « e persons hid not been eilled np for examination . He aid that Leach was convicted on an arrest of thirteen days . Those thirteen days were after ihe first arrest when the case went to Liverpool and was altogether abandoned . At the end of September he was again arrested & £ d kept in prison lor seven days , and then ii was that he was tried and convicted . Bnt whether he was convicted or not had Bolting to do wiifc tha legaliry or illegality of the coadnci of tie Magistrates , it was the wish of the Bight Hon . jSaroaet , and he had himself no doubt , that this morion would be supported by a rerv = m « Tl xainoritT ., ba « he had the satisfaction of inowisS thai ii wonld meet with thf > approbation of a greal msjsrih- of the people of the country . ¦ Tzs Honse then divided , when there appeared , — . por Mr . DuBcombe ' s motion 32 Against it 196 Majority —IS-i
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On this subject the Tinus of Thursday thns lenisxks : — " Wears not gEUEraliy disposed to regard with overdue fa-rom the csnfincl of the Democratic section in the House of ConuDoia ; and . as onr isaders iuow , * we cave tfcongtt It a matter of no Blight felicitation to all wko value either the dignity or the time c-f our Legislators , that this class has of late years become scalier in its numbers asa humblei in its tone . After thiB Taint * tniectsBary preface , we may be aSoired to txr-ress our thanks to Mi . Doncoiabe—• whs
is eo-st the Xhucs dtcus polaroerque Terua' with the faithful -expectants of a Chartist Millennium—foi ha"visf brought before the notice of the House the petition of scTersl pe » onB charged with participation in the iJistarhsnees of last autumn , and their treatment by tha magistrates who examined them . His petitions presented by the Hon Mfimber for rinsbary TFerefrom twenty-two men , principally Datives of the noriiieni ana western counties , and moEt ef them , its believe , connected with tha Chartist A *» ociatL = n . OErra ^ ee will best learn the nature cf the grievances of -wliich they comt > lain from tee foilowine txtracts : —
lie petition cf George White , ntwa-ageal , of Bzx-E&ffcaai , states that he"yrzs arrested on the 25 th day of August last , and ¦ sras brought before Messrs . Spooner , Beale , iJoorscm , and other naagistratas , and was committed to Warwick County Gsol j" " * * that he *¦ thereupon applied lei Itave to put in ball , -which was agreed to by the jE 3 ? i £ lxates , trio dfcxaanded siz sureties in £ 100 each , asd himself in 4600 , -with Jorty-eigbi bours" notice ; that he bad good and rufficient bail then present in court , who were well known to be such by the magistrates ; and B . Speouer , Esq , one cf her Mrjestys
justices of thfi peace , ialvisasi him 'the petitioneri , in oj > € » ecuit , ttat , bfi BiiOxiiQ not accsp : suy person bolding similar political principle to those tif the petitioner , as bail on his behalf . " The pstfuoner then joes on to relate , that , " TJp'srardB of fouitetn rssptctabie tradesmen and shopkeepers tendered tbtmsstlvts as bail on btcalfef the petitioner , and were refused ; ? * thst he was , in consequence , confused in coM and BDlisnde for tbe space eJcTea weefcs ; and * * thai be was Tiiimattly obiiced to mile spplic ^ tion to Ihs Court of Queen ' s Bench , and thit his bail was ai Icsiacxptod bv an order from . Mr . Justice CraswelL '
" The petition of aaothcr , John Wett bj . name , a baad-oom weaver , of D-rby , shows that tSe peutioner ' ¦ eis crrested en the 28 Lh day of September isst npon s etsrge cf seditiGn . and 'was brought fetfuK Sir J . K Cave , a maiifitnite iut the county of De .-by ; ttat he Tas Ttquired to firjd fcaii to the amount of , £ 400 , which ccESGerii !^ the ststioa in life of your petitioner , is , in the opinion of your petitioner , excessive and unconstihiSoBsl ; and that , for the -Brsut of such ball , lie was conanittea to thB ComJ-7 Gaol cf Derby , wher * he yras phced in solitary cimSneinent . *** "The petSaon of Roban Brook , a schoolmaster , of Todmordtn , contains fimsugst other declarations the Mlo-sing : —that he wss * arrested at bis own bouse trpaa a chaise of sedition , conspiracy , and riot , snd was feocgia before J-jsh CroESley , E ? q ., and James Taylor , £ ?§^ -when the former addressed Dim in sucll terms as these
" * I haTe got V 9 u at last , and I am glad of it , aad 2 tjiI 3 take care to punish you . Ton have given me a deal cf trouble with writing to that rascsUy SorfMrn s-sr - that ie -srss rtqinred te fiud bail , himself in the sisn of , £ 200 and two sureties in £ 100 each ; ai ) d when two persons of good and nnbiemisbtd character , both ma of property , both vottrs of the West Biding of Torishire , offered as baa , the said magistrates told them , ' He would not take their bail , because they were Chartists ; and he weuld not take a Chartist as a bonds * SiSi , ior tt > -nras ^ sferrotna ? to pot dctcn the Chartists
in Tc / dHiordoj- * TinaUy these boudHBcn -were accepted ; . . . tbfc petitioner was sgain arrested and bronglt befcre cetain magistrates at idancl ester , . and requested to find otherbsil , biinseif to the amount of £ 400 , acd trre suretifcS of £ 200 etch ; bnt not bcirg able to do M , he was sent svsy to Kiikdalt =, sta eTtntually fcroogtt cp su lArerpool before Lord Abinger ; . . . that he irss iept in piison on account of such exten-Eve hail being required , ustil the trials carne on at Lrrerpoel , tchen Lord Abisyer reduced his bail usjdlloics ~ fnm himself £ 60 u osd sureiieiiD Vitaxwiail oj" £ 606 , iohimself ££ « 0 nzdstudies £ 10 % -
To these we Trili add bui one case more , that of & a Jitter , bei Stoke-upon-TreEt , - who complains that ic -sres coffiicifesd by a magistrate of Us-wcastle-ttnderijna ta a cbzrge of idozj ; that " the magistrate , -shea aisd Trbat hsO w < n 3 d be raffirieBt , replied that lehad mute sp bis miid not to aLme bail" " . • • o ^ efriEg that "bs" itbt pctincEtr ) would be iarkvig ciaix f that the petitioter was itv ; in gp . ol for tight ¦* £ tfc a , tried at Su = Surd by Special " ( k , niicis = k > n , - - S 23 ficojiittjrd , because Lht Jsry cocM new . believe ibe ¦¦ an ^ s tm aia oath . ^* pinpc «! y abstain from referring to the other ^ -et ecEuined in thta pttiiions -, snid vthta we look ilrf ^ Sp ^ iEaccurades with which tbej term , * £ (! tte sejacaious ipirii which tfety cr ^ the towards au ¦* io trere C 0 Dc = « icd in pntting do-srn iba liots , tre * ZBzm bnt regret lMt the motitn of Mr . Daacombe
• as » ot imtiten to an h-gairy into the one m : an and «^ D ls grievance Trhich was so scversly felt by msiiy ^ ^ J ^^^ tn— "vre me ^ n the uu ^ arrantable refusal KU by the nsaciuaies ia some cases , and tLeir ^ psdy BB-HT , rs : nt 3 b' # ceirsnd of exetssive bail in ttten . Bad thfe pe * kionB been curfined to this unr *^^ ^^^^^ ed , a £ fi most ureoBstitiirioiLd Etreteh v * % ^' KfflB S 006 mi 6 ht i ** * come ot them - FoT ^ -ugh aje rot gj ^ tj . ^ jgp j ^ magistrates of » anri ^ tlr ^ SinfTanJijiiie , cr LsEeashire " crncifl = d " & ^ f ^ DE * f ae H- ^ Bie— and in the present consntnwuic-rite House Eucb . a torritle catjs * . » opte iB not ^ 7 probable—jet do ^ ee btdiere thai the exposure of " ^ giariEg abuse bcuiq tavt been at the samfe time its ?* louert pcriihniait , and the best preventive of 13 rtcEErecce . upon
_~ 5 Ter * JDEtead of presenting a decent and moderate ^^^ nt on = dcinite and intelligible grvund , the g ^ n -sbcK ; prfiyer Tras preferred by Mr . Duncombe ^^ p ^ J diverged into a vague snd rambling Btate-^^ ¦ wrcags , real and imaginary ; unsupported and ^^ K ^ ed ; aud , evtn where confirmed , by testimony , ^ ^ qgeiber cajastififea i , y the peculiar cucumBtancss ^^ S the onU > rea 3 o IThat , therefore , mi the ^*^ K > ce , the natural consequence , of such am im-* £ f « « mwfe ? Why , tts&t tte real sist of the comg ££ » a * lost right of , and the attention of the house ^^^( l * " » ay in ^ ' ¦ " BmTnglh" ftriroinaiity of parHcnlar £ P « lti aid the good intenUona of particular msgis-. ^^^ Eie rnaja point—the Teal pievance , namely , ^^ B ^ Bea -wen brought before certain magfatrfctes , r *™ Sea •» ith Mobj and jnlsdemeanours , lot which the ^^» ejomi the admiaaion of bail , and Sat the tt ^ k ^ ies of thMi oirn accord refused proper bail—^ " s * safftred to glide out of Tiew altogether mtm
. - ^ pr nw ^ ^ UUV ^ f »* W V * IMII * WWgVHlwa , ' *> we have no whb . to justify tht > language nBed ** *« taiartirt or&torB : it -was violent , illegal , and ^ eoxs&aJioEal . But we » &y 1 h&t tte acts ef tiie f ^^ tes were egxoBy Tiolent , tgually illegal , tqually ^ CEititBBoBa ] . The Ch&rtistB had no right to assem-** ^ eUrer , to ttop miUs , impede work , and to make
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inflammatory speeches . Tliis -was riot , sedition , nay , according to the Attorney General , it was tresaon . But be it remembered , none of the prisoners were charged with treason ; they were charged with riot and sedition ; and for these the law allows men to be bailed ; ana to Lave refused bail under Bucb eirenmstances convicts the magistrates either of the most monstrous ignorance on points upon which the commonest textbooks might have illumed them , or of the most flagrant and culpable indifference to the duties of their station . It is no excuse to say they meant well in what they did ; we believe thry did mean well ; bnt they onght to have known * be law better , and to have administered it more temperately .
Only conceive for a moment any men oF such edugation and intelligence as it is only fair to suppose ihe generality of country magistrates passesss-s . —only conceive thess men , with the acts 60 tb GroTge III ., c . i ,, sect 2 , and 7 th Gsorge IV ., c 64 , staring them in the fac e , rtfnsing to accept as bail men who were of the same political opinions as the pmouer ! Or fancy a man in the commission of the peace declaring that be . " would not take a Chartist as a bondsman , for he trsa determined to put down the Cbartista . " Ii was not without Ttasen that Mr . Baron Roife , inhiB admirable charge at LiBcavter , Ttnrinded the Jury that it was not the olject of the commission to put dowu Chartism , bnt to punish those who supported it in an illegal way . But , however igrorant we might have presupposed a justice of the peace to bs on every point of constitutional law—and we certainly were not disposed
to stint our autidpatiopB on this head—yet we -were uot prepared to find any men bo deluded as to etpect—and not only to expect , bat to publish abroad their expectations—that they sheuW be able to pnt down any political party , or erusk any political opinion , by dealing harshly with those who supported it- And this in England , too , -where , under all Cir--cumst&nces , and in every fortune , men » re ready and glad to appreciate fair play in their opponents , and where there is a fixed popular reverence for the idea of Law—that htre men , acting in a judicial capacity , should avail themselves of ita facilities for injuring an obnoxious clasB , should psrvtrt justice into hostility , and juugment into oppression !—why , it is a thing only one degree less Wicked than it is silly , and is only saved from being laughable for iia absurdity by btinj pitiabls for the infatuation -which it betrays .
•• But we trust that the magistrates will profit by this pnbliclty . Lord Decmnn has pronounced hiB opinion upon them ; the pcopla . will form theirs ; the House of Commons baa no » censured them , th&nka to the superfluous matter of the petitions . We would only express a parting wish that they will , with decent and medest diligence , resume the p * rusal of' their forgotten Burnses Bad Biackstonps , and stt about leamirjg what they profess to dictate—the laws of England . "
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Cotton , & lawyer , who ¦ wrote on the subject of enclosing , said— " In the carriage of this business there must be much caution to prevent commotion , " and he recommended , " that plots shall be devised to tbe inhabitant ? at and under easy values . " Lord Chancellor Bacon strenuously urged the' enclosure of waste lands , with
this condition , *• so that the poor commoners may txwo no injury by such enclosures . " A report ( dTa-wn up by Sir J . Sinclair ) rf a select committee of the House of Commons appointed for the purpose of considering tbe subject , was in these words— " If a general bill were to be passed , every possible attention to the rightts of the conirnoners would necessarily be paid . The poor wonld then evidently stand a better chance of having their full share uudiminisbed . " But was any Hon . Member of that House prepared to deny that the public bad a right to these waste lands ? Why ¦ wbat meant tbe standing order on tbe table of tbe house ? " That in every bill for enclosing lands , provision b « made for leaving an open space in the most appropriate
situation , sufficient for purposes of exercise and recreation of the neighbouring population ; and that the committee on the bill have before tbem tbe number of acres proposed to be enclosed , as also of the population in the parishes or places in which the land to be enclosed is situate ; and also do see that provision is made for the efficient fencing of tbe allotment , for the investment of the same in the church wardens and overseers of the parish in -which such open space it > reserved , and for the efficient making and permanent maintenance of tbe fences by such parish ; and that ic any case where the information hereby required is nt > t
given , and the required provinunB are not made i n t be bill , tbe committee on tbe same do report specially to the House the reasons for not complying with such order . " The poor man had ft right to call on the House to recognize this principle . In many parts of Eugl&nd the poor for centuries had cut turf and peat for their consumption daring winter ; but he regretted to ssy in many parts of England the landed proprietors had taken advantage of the poor ceaBiug to practice their rights for a certain number of years , and bad then prohibited tbem from doing so for ever . It was said in an old
distitch—•• Great is the crime in man or woman To steal a goose from off a common ; But suTely he's without excuse Who steals the common from the goose . " In many pnrts of the country the working classes , more particularly the poorer portion of them—and he spoke positively with regard to many of tbe fiand ' ooni ¦ weavers in bis own neighbourhood—bad been enabled to live comfortably through the erjeymnnt of these rights , which ot late years had thus been taken away from tbem . If every Hon . Member in that House would declare ftis conscieutious conviction , after a duu consideration of this subject , he would certainly avo * iimseif to be in favour of the allotment system . H ^
knew ttoat Borne Hon . Members , even during the present system , bad declared that tbe system had not worked well where it had been put in practice ; but he was prepared to prove quite the reverse , and that it proved the gieateBt blessing wherever it had been adopted . He was butb that be should convince the House tha * if the allotment system of waste lands were adopted , it would prove , to a great extent , the salvation of the country ; for it must be clear to all , that if something were not done for tbe working classes , and that speedily , the consequences would be moat serious . ( Hear , hear . ) The Government -crers sitting on the verge of a volcano at the present moment , which mi ght burst forth with mischievous efftct , unless
precautionary measures were taken . Thousands were m want and suffering , aud had borne their distress and privation with patience and humility , that had been praised by almost every member of her Majesty ' s Government ; but praise would not fill their empty bellies—( hear , bt ^ . j T hose poor people bad waited with earnest anxiety to eee what would be done for tbem in the present session , which was nearly half over—( hear , aad no . ) At all events , Hon . Gentlemen were about to « yoy the Eaater festivities ; but what had they to say to tie people ? What bad they done?—( hear , hear . ) There bad been a great deal of talk , bnt not ene practical measure which would give relief to tbe poor —{ hear , hear ) Tbe working
classes laughed at the idea of foreign colonization ; they would never sanction it ; for it had been tried , and not & ship came home from the colonies which did not bring some disappointed wretches wbo had suffered more abroad than at home , and would rather die o ! starvation at home than be transported again to a distant colony . But , he would proceed to state some other important facts . In the parish cf Long Newton , in the county of Gloucester , tbe tffects of the system were these : — " The late Mr . Estcourt stated , that out of 1 S 6 persons there were 32 families , consisting of 140 persons , in the depth of extreme poverty . The poorrates amuunted to £ . 324 13 s . 6 < i . in 18 > n . The result of the aJiotmeDt system was an immediate abatement
in the misery of the poor ; tht most gratifying improvement in their character and morals ; and a progre&smdiminution in the poor-rates down to £ 135 , in 1829 ( the last year reported ) . ( Hear , hear ) . In Siiptonmoyne , an adjoining parish , toe same results Wi N fcXperieneed . Id the small parish ef Ashley , where the same plan was pursued by tbe Hen . Member for Oxford , the same results followed . In ibe parish of Lyndon , in Rutlandshire , where the cottagers bad been allowed tbese privileges for at least 200 years , an encIosuto took place , and au allotment was reserved for the use of the pool , and to be let to-the cottagers at moderate rents . Tbe happy results of tbe ayshsm were described in a letter written by the E irl of Winchilsea ,
on the 4 th of January , 1796 , to Sir John Sinclair , the President ef toe Board of Agriculture . " Lord Winchilsea in that letter said he bad made inquiries ints the effect of giving email allotments of land , and that be was more and more convinced that nothing couid be of greater benefit to the labourers aud the landowners . The working people were enabled to better their condition , and to make their homes comfortable , and to keep a cow or a pir , as 1 thus they became bitter ab ] e to do their wort , -w . ze more contented in tht-ir station , and acquired a sort of independence acd self-respect which prevented thein fiOm becoming burdensome to others ; the . effect was ber . tficially felt upon the poor-rates .
Lord WinchUsea also wished thai , Parliament woulti never make an eno osnre without sotting asitie a portion of land-for the use of tbe poor ; aud he mentioned tile case of one family which enjoyed the privilege during 200 years , and rjuver did one of them receive relief from the pariah . After quoting ether extracts from this letter to the Bame effect , the Hon . Member said he thought be had read sufficient , be was sure , from that letter , to show the advantages of tbe system he was now advocating , proving , as the letter did , that for 208 years it had worfeed beneficially to the lower orders . But be held in his hand the report of a gentleman whose opinion he supposed would bave great influence with the Bight Hon . the Secretary for the Home Department It was that of Mr . Power , . respecting the county of Cambridge , as stated in the Poor
Law Commissioners' Report for 1834 , pag 8 103 : — " Allotment of * mall portions of land to labourers for tbe purpese of employ ing their leisure hours , giving tbem a feeling of dependence on their own exertions , and bettering their condition by increased nuteoance and comforts , is beginning , much to tbe credit of tbe landowners , to be very generally adopted in this oounty . Of the excellent effects of this practice I am provided with testimony from many quarters . At Wells fifty acres are now granted by the Bishop of Bath and Wells to two hundred and three persons , in quantities varying from one-twelfth to half an ac r e , at a rent of 12 shillings and sixpence tbe quarter of an * acre . Of these persons not above ten are unmarried , and many are widows . The average of each family being taken at five , upwards of 1 , 000 persons are thus benetiU&d . No stipulation is made against the receipt
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of parochial relief , but the result baa been to the same t ffect , as only three of the number receive parochial relief , two of whom are infirm persons wLo would otherwise be in the workhouse , and the third , also infirm , belongs to Bristol . Twenty-nine names were pointed 6 Ut of persona who formerly bad received r e lief , but had discontinued it since they hud got land . Many Dissenteia have allotments . The following is an account , on an average of &ix years , of tbe profits of a quarter of an acre : —
£ . s . d . Rent for a quarter of an acre o 12 6 Digging ... 0 8 0 Manure 0 10 0 Seed 0 3 0 Planting 0 4 0 Hoeing , < Sce , , 0 8 0 Di gging and hawiing „ 0 10 0 i Suppose the man to hire and pay for everything „ _ 2 15 6
PRODUCE . rwenty sacks of potatoes , 4 10 0 Other vegetable l o 0 0 10 0 Less labour , ( to ., as above 2 15 6 Clear profit , supposing the man to hire and pay for everything ... ... ... 2 14 6 If all done by the man 4 4 b The opinion expressed by tbe agent was , that the man who work * for a farmer fi . r twelve hours , from six to « ix , with the help of bis wife a : ; d family , can manage half an acre , supposing it half potatoes , keep a pig , and support bis family , and that a mechanic can do
more . The continued increase in the demand fur allotments is the best proof of tbe advantage derived from thorn . There is a general improvement in tbe character of tbe occupiers , who are represented as becoming more industrious and diligent , and as never frequenting those pests , the beer-houses . Frequently they have bfen known to work by can die light . Not a Ringle instance has occurred in which any one thus holding land has been takeu before a uia ^ istratejfor any coiuplaiuf' —| Hear , hear . ) Was not that an instance worthy of the consideration of the House ? Was it not ene over which they should rejoice , at > ' * time when the working-clnasfs were eo much distressed , which fact net
one of any patty denied , and when there was so much difficulty in keeping the peace of tbe country , aiid to prevent the scenes of last year being re-enacted ? He knew that any such di&tuvbances could and would be put down by the stroug arm of the law ; but would it not bo more gratifying to be able to any that they had done justice to the poor , by restoring to tbbTU their Tights , and placing them beyond the reach of temptation ami want , and making thorn once more happy , and contented , and punct'able subjects—( hear ; ? But lie found that-Mr Power gave a similar account of the work ing of the system at West Looe . " The effect upon the poor-ratw has been a diminution from 10 a . in tha pouiw 1
to 3 a ., but tbe moral efltct upon tbe poor is beyond calculation , the population being principally seafaring men , who in bud weather bad no occupation , and srho idled about , a dead weight upon tbe poor-rate ; but who have now occupation , and are happy , contented , and laborious . —( Hear , hear . ) " I went over the land and found it in excellent condition . " No rtoubt , many Hon . Members had heard of the parish of Tring , where this allotment system waa first carried into effect a f « W years ago , wbeu the whole parish had btcome insolvent , the poor-rates bad broken down uudtr the demands upon them , and rates in aid were received from neighbouring parishes , and things Wore
still growing worse and worse . A society in London took the matter up . A quantity of land was bought at Cholesbury , and the rector of _ the purish , who had act 9 d in a most praiseworthy manner , had in a letter dated November 3 , 1842 , thus reported the i-esult to the Labourers ' a Friend Society ;— " 1 . Tiie land Is still divided into allotments , varying in siz-t from two to five , and in one instance twelve acres . 2 . The laud is still occupied by tbe original tenants , with few « xceptions . ' 3 . The population of tbe parish has slightly decreased . 4 . The estate has passed into private hands . ( Aboutl 50 acres ) 5 . The tenants are
maintaining themselves and their families exclusively by their allotments , and by the casual employment they obtain elsewhere . 6 . The tenants pay their rent punctually—viz 22 s . per acre ( inclusive of tithes ) . This is Ihe full average rest of land in the neighbourhood . 7 . With respect to the question , What was the rent of the land per aero previous to the Agricultural Employment Institution purchasing it ? ' —you probably fiavo forgotten that ,: with the exception of about 16 acres , the whole of the land in the parish at that period was abandoned on account of tbe excessive rates upon it . The last tenant of the estate , before it passed into the bands of the institution , was R . D The result of his
agriement with'his landlady is cutioub , and shows how valueless land in tbe parish then was . He rente *! 85 acres for £ 23 , and stipulated to pay all rates up to a curtain amount , whilst all above , it wns agreed , were to be deducted from tbe rent . Wh < m settling-day came the balance was against the landlady ; her shares of tbe rates having absorbed the whole of the runt , and extracting from ber pocket some few shillings besides . The tenant bad paid rates to the amount of £ 46 7 s . Tiie contrast with tbe state of tbe parish then , with what it ia now , resulting , aa it does , entirely from tbe allotment system . Ia 1833 , just before the Agricultural Employment Institution took the parish iu baud ,
it was almost exclusively a parish of paupers ; since that period it bas not bad an able-bodied pauper belonging to it . In 1832 tbe land was worse than valueless , for it was a source of anxiety and loss to tbe proprietors : it is now largely bought up when offered for sale , and tquals , if it does not exceed , in value aojacent land in tbe surrounding parishes . In 1832 tbe poor consumed tbe profits of all tbe land in tbe parish : tht-y now maintain themselves and tueir families mobt comfortably on only a portion of tbat land . In 1832 tbe vreekly expenditure of the poor , ' at , this pirioii of the yea r , averaged £ 5 ; it now scarcely exceeds as many shillings , if the luaiutainanco of a lunatic in an anylutn
be excepted . In 1832 , tbe pour were supported by rates in and levied on other parishes ; the ; are now themselves contributors to tbe rates , to the amount of about one-eighth of tee whwle parochial expenditure Lastly , for these eight years , no parson resident in the parish has been convicted ut any offence against tiie laws of thu country . To this contrast of tbe past and present : state ef the parish , I beg to add another of the past anthpresent condition of one Of the allotment men . I select purposely tbe most i emarkable case , tha more fully to show what tbo capabilities of tbe allotment system are to bettor tbe condition of tbe agricultural poor . In 1832 , G . S . was almost the only labouring
man belonging to tbe parish who was not a pauper . He was , however , all but reduced to tbe state of one , whilst , as to the actual amount of privation , be was a greater sufferer than most of those receiving parochial relief . Having 8 . wife and four children dependent upon him , tbe institution allotted him four acres . Ho is now the occupier of eighteen acres ; ' ha Is the owner of a cow , a pig , three horses and a colt , a waggon , two carts , % plough , barrows , fce . He sloughs the land for the
other tenants , and is paid either la kind or money , as best suits the parties . He finds at all times profitable employment for bis team in taking up hay and etraw to the London markets , and bringing back soot and other manures for the neighbouring farmers . This last spring be purchased £ 20 worth of wood and turned it to good account by carting it to tbe neighbouring towns , and disposicg of it there . Of the married men who received allotments , only one , an old marina , bud not sufficient energy to make his land answer . He has since left the parish . Tee reasons be assigned for bis want of success
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were that 'he possessed thelworst laad and tb& worst wife of any man in the pkrish . '" daughter . ) The same reverend gentleman had addressed a letter to him that morning , in wbicb hu confirmed all that be bad stated in that just read , but added what he ' . Mr . Ferraud ) wished to call the attention of the ^ R \; ht Hon . tbe Home Secretary to : — "I have at this time tbe Charge of an adjoining parish , the population of which exceeds 600 , three-fourths of whom' are paupers . The parish has for yearB ingloriously j earned t he e pithet of ' Wicked WigeintoD . ' The j poor-rates are rapidly on the increase . There is a large uueoelosed common in the parish of about 200 acres . I would guarantee tbat in three years , if I were pnt into possession of this common , with tha means of bringing it into
cultivation , and of allotting it to tbe poor , there should not be half a dcz ^ n able-bodied paupers in the parish . This may appear to be a presumptuous boast ; but after what I bave witnessed in Cholesbury , I feel tbat I am speaking guardedly ia making the assertion—( h ^ ar , hear ) . I cannot conclude ; without informing you that the conduct of tbe men generally , since they have held their allotments , ! bas been such as to give me very great satisfaction—j ( bear , hear ) . They are very punctual in their j attendance at church , and we bave been obliged to build a gallery in , it for the accommodation jof their children . A 11 the allotment men , with their wives , and every child old enough to attend the Sunday school , ard members of a clothing and fu « I club ; and as much as from £ 30 to £ 40
bas annually been intrusted to cny care , the fruits of their weeklysaviDg 3 . ' Now , was it not the duty of the Government to take this subject into their most serious consideration—( bear ) . Here was an example ef the beneficial effects of tbe { system ; in the course of eight years we see a community of persons restored to industry , comfort , and morality , and from being distressed and discontented made loyal and peaceful subjects , not : one of them during that period over having infringed tbe laws of tbe country . That was tbe character given to them by tbjeir pastor , who declared , tbat although'there were in " Wicked Wigginton ' six hundred paupers . If he could have the 200 or 300 acres of waste land , he -would scon reduce the pauperism and raise that wretched \ place to thn same happy
state as Tring—( hear ) , Th # r « was another point to which be begged the attention of the House—tbe state of tbe cottages of tbe poor , which , in fact did not desei've the name of cottages . They were wretched hovels , in which fevers were generated , and where that scourge of the human race—the cholera—which snatched away in an instant ; tbe highest as well as tbe lowest , played alarming havoc . Medical meu had declared that it was as much the interest as tbe duty of the rich to remove from theipoor the causes of these dise a se s , which were increasing in malignancy every year—( hear ) . Mr . Biggins , ¦ cbairman of tbe Bsdferd Union , had thus described the advantages wbicb bad arisen from an improved description of cottages in bis vicinity , in bis report to the Poor Law
Commissioners : — fhe man sees his wife and family more comfortable than formerly . He has a bttter cottage and garden . He is stimulated to industry , and as be rises in respectability of station he becomes a ^ are that he bas a character to lose . Thus an important point is gained . Having acquired certain advantages , be is anxious to retain aud improve them : be strives more to preserve his independence , and becomes a member of benefit , medical , and clothing societies ; and frequently besides this ; lays up a certain sum , quarterly or half- > early , in the savings-bank . Almost always attendant upon these advantages , we find the man sending his children to be regularly instructed on a Sunday , and , where possible , in a day-school , and himself and family more consta&t in their attendance at some place of worship on ; the Lord's day . A n \ an who comes homa to a poor , comfortless hovel after hia
day ' s labour , and sees all miserable around him , has bis spirits more often depressed j tban excited by it . He feels that , to do his best he shall be miserable still , and is too apt to fly fur . a temporary refuge to tbe alehouse or bcershop ; but give bim the means of making himself comfortable by his own industry , and I am convinced , by experience , that in many cages he will avail himself of it . " But it was '; not only the poor who would be benefited by auuh au arrangement aa be proposed ; the freeholders , he fult convinced , would speedily find all the advantages resulting from it . Why . K > t them take the \ ease of flax . Between £ 26 000 . 006 and £ 30 . , 000 a-year was paid to t . ttei ^ ntTS for ft x , oil-caka ,: Unseed , &o . Societies , howsver , were now rapidly [ forming both in Eogland and in Ireland for tha prosecution of the fl » x cultivation . There was one of thoay societies at North
Walahum , in Norfolk , and anothet at Bcltast . The latter bad succeeded beyond I tUeir most sanguine txpectitior . Mr . S . K . MulUolland , at the society's uibetfm ; in Belfast in November last , stated that the firm with wbich he was connected had sent no less than £ 40 . 000 of reaily cash annually out of tbe country for tbe purchase of fl jx , but that in the present year they bad not spent as many pence , and he calLd upon thw meeting " to take advantage of what God and nature had done for our soil .. '" He had also bean told , tbat " Mr . Bead , of K'llalea , l / it »; ly sold a parcel of fl > x in which thtre were three different qualities ; the highest reached £ 140 the second , £ 133 , and the third , £ 126 per ton ; aud few finer samples had ever been imported into this country . " But he had still better
evidence . There was no member iu the Hourse wbo was not acquainted with the' name aud reputation of tbe firm of Messrs . Marshall , jat Leeds , indubitably the largest flix purchasers in the kingdom . What did they say of our capabilities of producing flax ? In a letter which he jaeid in bis hand they wrote as follows ;—" As we import a considerable quantity of flax yearly from Belgium and Holland for our establishment here , we are , of course , much interested in tbe success of any plan for increasing the quantity grown in England . We believe both the soil and climate are suitable for the plant . At one time the fl * x grown in the east of Yorkshire was of as good a quality as that grown in Balgium . " But ho would now proceed to state howl he promised to allot
the waste lands . According to bis calculation , there were in tbe throe kingdoms no less tban 75 . 000 000 of cultivatable acres of land in state of waste . There were also about 46 , 000 , 000 of i those lands in cultivation , and 30 , 000 . 000 uncultivated . Now , be sh ou ld propose tbat the land at preBent unappropriated should be allotted to those who bad a claim upon the different parishes . Where the lands jwtre already allotted he did not intend that bis measure should apply . He should propose that out of every hundred acres in every parish one-t . entleth , oc five acres out of every hundred , should be allotted to tbt use of tha poor . He considered , that to give th « m tbat quantity was not to give them too mucb , whilst it would be a downright robbery to give them less . He should propose
tbat this laud should be for ever reserved to tbe use of the poor ; and that , with that object , it should be held by trustees for their baneflt , the said trustees being the rector o £ tee parish , the lord of the manor , the cburchwardens , and the overseers . By this arrange aunt he should , he thought ; prevent the slightest chance of jobbing ; bnt , ia order to preclude all suspicion of it , be should also ; propose to enact tbat the trusteta should be bound to make an annual report to the magistrates— ( hear hear . ) He should aUo propose tbat five acres jof these lands should in every parish be laid out as a drying ground . ( A lauyb . > Hon . Members might laugh , for they probably did not know tbe miseries of wet aad tattered clothing : but he could tell the .-n tbat medical men
were almost unanimous in declaring their opinion that nothing was more detrimental to tbe health of the poor than their habit ef drying their clothes in their own confined dwellings . In ; hia own part of the country it waa not uncommon | for a poor man to carry his wet linen three-quarters of a mile , to a hedge , and having hung it out , to remain for the purpose of watching it until it was dried . Another proposal he should make would be to allot a portion—say &vu acrta of land—for tbe purpose ^ of recreation . By t us arrangement he hoped our old national and healthful sports might be revived , to ; tbe benefit as well as the enjoyment of tbe inhabitants of every vicinity . The remainder of the land he should propose to a lot to tho Use of the poor , to be divjoed into lots of such eize
and extent as shall be deemed most useful , no man being apportioned less tban a quarter of a rood . Tbe txpences attending thia allotment he should propose to be paid out of the poor-rates , bit the extent of the enclosures , and consequently the outlay , in apy one year , he should propose to laave for the decision of the ratepayers in public vestry assembled , and convened by public notice . He should also propose that the trustees should bave the power of exchanging allotments of equal or greater value previous to their having been broken up , also of purchasing waste lands , with the consent of tbe tatepayers , if the extent of the original allotments to the poor should hereafter be fonud inadequate . With tbe same sanction he should also propose that tbe trustees might expend oat of the
poor-rates a sum of money not exceeding , he should say , 3 d . in { the pound in any one year , in the erection of cottages on tbe- allotments . ] They should also bave the power of leasing allotments for any term not exceeding twenty-one years , the rent of tbe cottages to be at the fair annual rate of cottage rents within the parish . The waste lands be should propose to be let rent free for tbe first year , at half tbe value for the second year ,, aud at a fair annual value for the third and every uircceeding year . \ ptb respect to tbe products , he should propose , that first of all , the rents should goto remunerate the parishes for the expense of building cottages and enclosing allotments , and that after tbat tbe surplus should ] be annually paid Into the poor ' 8-rate fund—an arrangement under which he felt quite , confident that in a very few years not only
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the poor-rates , but the county and all parochial rates would be paid off . With respect to priority of claim , he should propose tbat tbe poor who bad Obtained settlement in the parish by birth or otherwise should have the first claim on the land originally allotted , as W 'H as 4 D& tbat afterwards purchased ; and with regard to these purchases , be should propose that the trustees , witb tbe consent of the ratepayers might , if they saw fit , purchase waste lands previously allotted , and erect cottages thereon npon the same terms and in tbe same manner as in the parishes where no allotment bad takeu place . The othr-r provisions of his measure would be of comparatively minor importance With regard , however , to the difficult qaesfcion of boundary , he should propose to adjust it
in this manner : that owners of allotments should not be corapalied to enclose them , bufc tbafc any owner deairing to evelO 80 bis own might call npon tbe adjoining owner to erect bis boundary fence , sn 9 if he re fused might build it himself and ompsl payment befo ' n justices of the peaee > Witb respect to the machinery for putting the b 11 into operation , be should propose that for the first three years the ^ Titbe CommiEEioners should be e m p loyed ia making the allotments—their expenses during tbat time to be defrayed by the Government . For tbe second three years ie ehonld propose , that tbeir charges should be paid half by tbe Government and half by the owners , tbe portions of tbe expense attached to tbe poor ' s ullotnitnts to be defrayed by tbe poor rate . After the completion of those six yerrs the
txpense should f&li solely upon the ovpners . Thia was his sche m e , and he ftlt convinced thct if adopted ib would give stimulus to the people which at present tbey sadly and woefally required . Tbe following case occmitd in bis own parish : —A man of the age of BO app lied to tbe board of guardians for relief- In answer t » his appiicatiou the board of guardians said , " Yott bava a son who bas a cottage in Hertfordshire . Hemust aeU that , and with tha proceeds of tbe sale h& uiujt relieve you . '' The son come to bim ( Mr . Per rand > He said tbat be bad built the cottage out of his hardearned savings , and before fie would comply with th » advice of tbe B > ard of Guardians' and sell bis cottage ,
he would become an alien from tbe country . He begged tbe House to listen to bis appeal in behalf of tbe poor man . Give tbe poor a small allotment of land and a spade to cultivate it , and it would have tbe effect of diminishing the number of inmates in the Union Workhousea . ( Cheers . ) The poor man then would not be deprived of tbe privilege of attending at bis usual place of worship . —tHear , bear . ) Give the peor , before they were weighed down-to the dusl , whattbejr bad a light to demand . He maintained it 'was the > right of tbe poor—a right of which tbey had for centuries been plundered . —( Loud cheers . ) The motion having been seconded ,
Colonel Wvndham wished to see Mr . Ferrand ' s Bill introduced . He was all for it , but in the present depressed stattj of agriculture , he wanted to see the lands already iu cultivation kept in it , instead of grubbing about the heaths . He would stand by the Government so long as they stood by agriculture . Tiie Hon . and Gallant Member excited groat laughter by his reference to a letter from a working man * , da ' ed from Chfetham , but bearing the postmark of Manchester . Ho did not know the geographical position of the p lace , biu perhaps the Members for Manchester knew the way to cheal- ' em—a very good moito'for the Anu-Corn-l » w League . TheCheeiham working meu expressed a wish that Colonel Wyndha-ai should favour the House with more of his speeches . Lord Worsley was afraid that the proposed bill would be wholly impractible , but ho would not be so ungracious as to oppose its introduction .
Sir J . \ Mi : s Graham could not see in the proposed scheme any thing else than a project for maintaining the workiusj population at the public expense These waste lands were in general difcticgu-. shed for their sttrility ; a \ id he entertained the greatest doubts or the practicability of a measure for their allotment . While not opposing the introduction of the bill , he wished to guard ; himself from encouraging the expectation of any beat&i being likely to arise from it . Lord John Manners believed that there was a
growing feeling iu the country in favour of some such , measure as that proposed by Mr . Ferrand . He adduced tbe example of the religious brotherhood of Charlevsrood Forest , who are successfully reclaiming a barren and stony moor ; and declared that ho would not 4 , 'ive up the belief that it was possible by careful cultivation , to produce sufficient wheat in this country ior the maintenance of its entire population ; and he thought that in the present entire deadness of the public mind to all party political excitement , tha scheme might be tried .
Mr . Home regarded the project as one of those schemes of home colonization which absorb capital to an extent quite disproportioned to any chance of profitable return . Ic was useless to waste money on cultivating the barren soils of England , when we could more profitably exchange our labour for the corn of other lands . Sir John Hamner believed , that instead of there beirifi an entire absence of political feeling amongst Che people , that there was a growing spirit of discontent , only to be abated by practical measures for theinvlief , of which he considered the present measure to be one , though not a prominent one . Bat freo trade he was certain we must arrive at ; as to taxing or stopping machinery , we might as weU try to stoa the saiellues of Jupiter .
Mr . Bhothkrton wished to know if these waste lands were proposed to be enclosed foe the benefit of the rich or poor . With the Corn-law monopoly , the bill would only serve the purposes of the owners of land , who by enclosure billa have been appropriating every available common . Lord r / oLL ^ GTON believed that the bill would benefit the poor , and therefore he would support it . Mr . Aglignbv was desirous of seeing tho bill introduced , sn oviier that ita provisions might be cavefully considered , though he feared that the project , would not prove practicable or beneficial .
Mr . Shabman Crawfokd denied tbat the waste lauds could not be profitably cultivated . They might not return a productive outlay to the capitalist , but in the bauds of tbe working man they would yield a sufficiency for maintenance , He supported the bili . Leave was given to bring in the bill .
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Newcastle . —In consequence of the rapid and wide ext' -nsion of the Coal Miners Philanthrophical Society , a general delegate meeting will bo held at Mr . Hamlu Booth ' s , the Rose and Crown , Shields New Road , Newcastle upon-Tyne , on the first da j of May , to form another or improve the present Executive , and to alter such rules , or rescind others , as that meeting thinks proper . Delegates from all coal districts in England , Scotland , and Wales , are requested to tatend . Yeotil . —Mr . C . Maunder , of Martock , will lecture here on Monday evening , at the Hall of the Yeovil Improvement Society . London . —Mr . Knight will lecture at the Crown and Anchor , Cheshire-street , Waterloo Town , on Sunday evening-next , at eight o ' clock .
Martlebone . —On Sunday next Mr . Gammage , of Northampton , will lecture at the Mechanics' Institution Circus-street , at haif-past Boven . London . —Mr . Gammage will lecture on Monday evening , at 59 , Tottenham Court-road . A Concert for the benefit ot Mrs . M'DoHall will be htld on Monday evening , at the Feather's Taveru , Warren-street , Tottenham Court-road . Adtnissiou two-penee . Mr . Farrer will lecture on Sanday evening , at the Goldbeaters Arms , Old St . Pancras-road . Mr . WiliiELER will lecture on Sunday evening , at the . Political and Scientific Institution , 1 , Turnagaialanes
A Ball will take place on Easter Monday at the Political and Scientific Institution , 1 , Turnagainlane . Single tickets , one shilling—double , one and sixpence . 1 , China Wa ^ b ., Lambeth—A'general district meeting will take place in this locality next Tuesday evening , for discusssion—the' % ubjeot , the Land , and how to obtain it . LiMEHOtSE . —Mr . Frazer will lecture on Tuesday evening next , at the School Room , at half-past soveD o ' clock .
Chartists Attend !—A public meeting will be held on Monday evening , at the Political and Scientific Institution , Turnagain-lane , to present an address to Thomas Duncombe , E ; q .. thanking him , for his conduct in exposing that political Judge , Lord Abinger . Mr . Daucombe , Feargua O'Connor , aud others will attend . Chair to J ) 6 taken at eight o ' clock . Mr . Wheeler will lecture op Sunday evening at the Political and Scientific ^ Institution , 1 , Tornagain-lane . A lecture will also be delivered here on Good Friday . Chair to l > e taken at seven o'clock . Ashton-itnder-Ltne . —Mr . Clarke , of Stockport , will lecture in the Chartist room , Charles Town , on Sunday .
Siddall . —On Monday evening Mr . Butterly will lecture , in the Association room , Cinder-bills , at eight o'clock . " Mr . Beophy will lecture at ReHoe on this day ( Saturday ) At Coxhoe , Monday , Shinoliffe , Tuesday ; Hoffall , Wednesday ; Framwellgate Moor * Thursday ; New Durham , Friday . Mr . Davies will lecture on Monday , at West Aukland ; Tuesday , Southchutch ; Wedn « aday % Copyorooks ; Thursday , Leasingthorn . A . District Delegate hekcinb -will be held at Seinctiffe Bask Top , on Saturday next . BoiioN . —Mjf . Peter Rigb y will lecture here , on Sunday next , at six o ' clock in the evening . Sheffield . —Mr . G . J . Harney will address tha Chartists of Fig-tree-lane , on Sunday evening ( to-morrow , ) at half-past seven .
On Monday Evening , in the same room , there will be a public discussion on " the land f fce commence at eight o ' clgek precisely .
Mr. Duncombe's Motion.
MR . DUNCOMBE'S MOTION .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS—TnrRSDAT , Mabch SD . Tbe House met at four e'clock , and after some petitions bad been presented , Mr . Brits moved for , acd obtained , tbe issue of the writ for JfottiDsb ^ in , in the room ot Mr . Waiter , WiJO hud been unseated by petition .
ALLOTMENT OF WASTE LANDS . > Ir . Fekbasd roBe , pursuant to notice , "to move for leave to bring in a bill for the allotment t > f waste lands . " Be Faid , in tbe middle of tbe second session of the present Parliament , Ibe middle classes , and more especially the working classes , looieO to tbe First Lord of tbe Treasury for measures -which would conduce to thear comfort and permanent bapp '^ ess . Jt was perfectly trne tbat the measures ¦ which tbe Right Hon . Baronet bai brought forward last session had conduced to tbe comforts o { tbe ¦ working classes ; but this benefit had been 6 b . ort-lr ? c < L Tbe "working classes hadscaTCtly tasted the cup of sweetness vsb ? t : h the Right Hon . Baronet had granted them than it was dashed from their lips by an universal reduction of Wages throughout
the country , far beyond the reductions which had taken place In the price of food ; and , insteail of the -working classes having been in the ltast benefited or relie- » ed by the measures of the Right Hon . Baronet , in both the manufacturing and agricultural districts , they were suffering misery , -want , and privation unparalleled in the history 0 / England . He asted the Right Hon . BjrJ . & 9 V -a-hether he had any remedial measures to bring f onranl lor the purpose of raising this oppressed cla ^ s of people out of their diEtrtss . In preparing the measure which he asked leave to introduce into the Bouse he had been advittd and assutbd by some of Use cleverest men of the ci tratry ; and he was convinced that the measure he was about to propose vonld reitore the -irorfuEg classes of rbe
conr « tTJ in a great , degree V titir former comforts . The distress -which had prevailed in the large njaunfjeturicg towns -was rapidly extending to the smaller towuf and into the agricultural uistricts . With tbe permission of the House , he would give a slight idea of the state of the population of tbe town of Bicgley . H-e remembered when it only contained one mill , now i t hid tea mills ; formerly ii bad been almost a purely agricultural district , now H ^ wa-i equally ajrricultura ? aid manufacturing What bad been the evidence oS the state of Keighley given btfore tbe committee which sat on the Keiihley Union ? [ Sir C . Napier itade some rem 3 rS -winch was inaudible in tbe galltry ] H . 9 hoped the Hon . and Gallant Member for Marjlebone would not interrupt him by personal remarks addressed to him atTLiSS the Souse . He had been
informed by the medical officer of tbat town in cottages of fonr io > ms each as many as twenty-five peoplfi were living , sleeping almost altogether in one loom in the grossest immorality , whilst typhus fever rased amen ^ st them . In this town this fever annually increased in virulence . He held in his band a report m&de to her Majesty ' s Principal Secretary of-State for the Home Department from tbe Poor Law Commissioners on an inquiry into tbe sanatory condition Of the labouring p&julstion of Great Britain , which -was presented to Parliament by the command of Her Majesty in July , 1842 : — " Mr . Chadwici Etates that the annual slaughter in England and Wales , from preventable causes of typhuB , -which attacks persons in the vigonr of life , appears to be double
the amount of wBat was seffered by the allied armies in the fcattle of Waterloo . In Manchester , aineDg tbe labouring classes , more than 57 ont of every 100 die before they aUain the age of five yearg . He states tbat when the ielp manufacture lately ceased on tbe -western coast of Scoilui'i , a vast population uf the Jovrest class of ptop-e were thrown into extreme wsnt ; they suffered from cold , henger , and despair ; Jie-Verbfc ] fcfi 3 , from thfcir scattered habitations being surrounded by pnre air , cases of lever did n&t arise among them . ** Tbe mortality and immorality of the popnlation now crowded in tbe manufacturing districts tta » frightful in the extreme . "Was there no remedy to rescue this portion of the population fjom their misery ? Wae the functions of Parliament at an end , or were
they able to redress tiae grstr-vances of the people ? Tbey -wtie told to look to fureign coloni&tion for » remedy . Were they to send abroad to die unpitied aud unheard-of the peaceable and loyal subjects of this country , « bo bad a right to exist in tbe country where they were born ? What said Mr . Bam in his letters on home colonization : — " If tbt 46 , 000 , 000 acr £ 3 now in cultivation are not sufficient to maintain tbe population , tbere arc miJlions yet uncultivated tbat may be increased in value b , OOi ) -fold . It appears tbat there are 46 , 500 . 000 acres of land in cultivation , ' and nearly 31 . 000 . 000 uncultivated . 16 , 000 , 000 were reported by the F . Eiigration Committee to be profitable lands . Nearly the whole of tbe waste land in Ireland is TeciaimaWe , 3 eeo ^ ooo of wcicb , that are equal to
. 5 . , 000 of English acres , can be brought to produce s rental of £ \ per acre , at an cntlay nor exceeding £ 10 per acre . Thus , in the cultivation of tbe land , Sheffield and Birmingham must send their spades , tbeir pickaxes , and their draining tools ; the wheelwright must fc&d ploughs , barrows , acd caits ; the ironfoun < ler must supply the pleogb-conlters ard theaxJetrees ; the shadier must put on ihe harness ; Wolvrthampton must Fujpiy its chains , Wsisallits bits and crmments ; the carpenter must put up the gates with tools from Sheffield , aui han ? them with the hinges and padlocks of Staffordshire ; the hedgei and ditdur who eDcloses the gTuucd , asd the ploughman "wbo brings it into cultivation , are clothed by Stroud , Manchester , and Leeds ; their bats come from Sewcastle-under-Lbie , tbeir
halfboots from Northampton or Stafford ; thsy take tbeir breakfast out of a basin famished by the Staffordshire Potteries ; Sheffield finds the knife , Birmingham the spoon ; the merchant traverses tbe ocean to bring their ctfifce and sugar ; th e engineer finds a coffee mill , in which tbe tnrner furnishes a handle , " &c /* What be proposed to ask tbe House to de was to restore the poor ag-vin to tieir comforts , and he proposed to do thia by an allotment te tbem of the waste lands . He asked for an sllotmect of tbe -waste lands of England to the poor U an act of justice : he asked for It in tbe name of tbe law of England—a hvw acknowledged fey the greatest writers on the law and constitution of Bngland for
centuries . He also asked for it in furtherance of a principle acknowledged by tbatHouse . Barrington , inhij work on our " Ancient Statutes , " calculated that not many centuries ago ball the lands of England were held upon ihe degrading tenure 0 ! -villeinage ; and that -without bang abdliabed ly itatnte It grftdnally ceased fcy force of longBsage . If a royal f « est were enclosed , tbe contigious proprittors urged their claims on the ground tfr « t they bad depastured txpon it , and those claims -were allowed . Sir A . Piizheibeit , the celtbrated lawjer and judge , and one of tbe earliest legal authorities , in his book of KirveyiBg , tbxus laid down tbe law : — " Every cottager sal bave his portion aBsigntd him , and then Bal not the rych man overpresre the poore man . " Sir R .
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Terbatim Report Of The Chartist Trials At Lancaster.
TERBATIM REPORT OF THE CHARTIST TRIALS AT LANCASTER .
Untitled Article
YOL ^ YL m . 282 . SATURDAY , APRIL 8 , 1843 . PRI % ™^ ° * ^^
Untitled Article
~ Jr V 3 / G / " —^ ) T AND LEEDS GENEBAL ADVERTISES .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 8, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct645/page/1/
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