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THE GOVERNMENT VICTIMS
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THE IS T OETHERN STAE. SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 5, 1842.
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C£a Beatrerg attir govve$$(mijent&>
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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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An additional demenstratian against that Tils sp © cies of Government tyranny , which has , within tin last few months , filled the prisons o ? England witl virtuous and skilful Ecglhh artisans , fci seekiDg , ii public meeting , to make known their grievances , am to discuss the most legitimate means . of procuring < redress of' U : em , together -with the mean * of bread to their " starring wives and families , " took place 01 Thursday night , in the shape of a public meeting , a ' the Hall of Science , High-street , WhiiecbapeL Tin object cf the meeting was to express the public de testation of a Government that could thus act , and t < mark that detestation the more strongly by enterini into a subscription in aid of the " victims' to so despotic and atrocioua a policy . Oil the motion of Mr Drake .
Mr . Mante was called to the chair . He said be regretted the Chartista were not doiug th- ? ir duty tc fhemselTes , otherwise tie Hall in which the meeting OTer which he had the honour ta preside , was held , ¦ would , at that late hour , haTe been crowded to inconvenience . They had met on the present occasion , no : merely as matter of form—not merely to breathe the feelings of indignation against a Government that conid aet so tyrannically us the present was acting ; but upon a question which concerned them el ! , involviD . 1 M it did the proposition , whether a man" was to " tlrnk freely , " or whether tyranDv was to say , in this -esKghlened land , " Thns far shc ' : t thou go and no isrth ^ r . " The Government that would dare attempt to restrict a people from the free expression of -. heir grievances , and who would say U them they must think only as they ( the Government ; thoneht , ira ? the greatest of all tyrannies —( hear , hear )—but all would
not do ; the mind of man would still be free . — ( hear and land cheers- ) Man wss , by his Creator , endowed with the power to think , and to express his thoughts ; and it was not for tyrant man to dare to stop him in the erercisa and expression of the mind thus given—( hear , hear . ) The enemies cT tha people ' s rights might say , that they ( fts people ) lived in " a free country . " and might do this tt that . Bat in this they reminded him of the * ' French" press , which said , " you xiay print this or that ; but yon must not say anything against the Ministry , " or State "—( laughter . ) Aiid so with xtre present tyrannical Government of England—( he * r , hear . ) Tha people might say 01 think what they pleased ; but as soon as they said anything against them , they ( the Ministry ) , wonld bc- ' zj upun , drag , ana cast them into pf . son— 'hear , tear . ) He ( Mr . Mantz ) , might i !! nrtratc this base intolerance , bj a quotation , of wi ie' k it reminded him , from the poet , namely : —
'' A subject's faults , a snbject may proclaim , A monarch ' s errors are for&iddenjg&me . ' \ Ca 6 crB . ) The people , undismayed by such proceedings , should follow th « advice of their tried and valued friend , O'Connor , should not RhrinV from danger , but like him , be prepared to " brave the battle and the breeze , " and , as becomes Esglishmen , determine to be free —( hear , hear , and cheers ) . They had a duty to perform to the excellent . " and patriotic men who are now incarcerated , for no other crime than that of petceabiy and constitutionally mee : ing to demand a redress 9 f their grievance *—' vhear , hear , ancl " shame . " ) He was sure they would do that —( hear;—he was sure they would not be content with the present state c f things—( hear , he-r ) . Why should they not suiter in
th ; ir moral strength , and set like men who wtre determined to bring tyranny down to the dust ?—( Hear , hear , and cheers ) . They wtre too long the dnpeaof those men—( hear)—they had too l : ng allowed themselves to be oppressed by them—( bear , bear ) . — They should , he repeated , show themselves determined , aud make their tyrants kno-a that they were Eng '' 5 hmen —( he ?* , hear , and loud cheers ) . The tyrants knew very well , in incarcerating their leaders , that they were insulting the people at large ; but had the people the right aort of spirit in ih ? m-E ; lves , those leaders wonld never have been seized ; and it was because they ( the people ) were apathetic and had neglected to perform their duty , that the Government had proceeded in the tyrannical course they were pursuing—( hear , hear ) . Herearef . ed he did
not see that hall crowded with men who had ie : irts to f ; el for , and pockets at the service sf the " Government Yictfirs" * —( hear ) . Those victims , had th * y been corrupt , might have revelled in the lap of luxu ; y , ans \ in the smiles of the base aristocrats who epprc * s them ; bnt no , they were men of nobler fetJings—( ccee : s ) . Hs lamented the apathy of the people towards the ** higbmiaded and noble-hearted ibpu , whose virtuous sympathies liad led them to offer themselves up as " victims , " in their ( the people *) cause ; but he hoped they would , ere too late , show themselTes worthy of the sufferings of those men—( hear , he 3 r ) . After some further remarks , Mr . Mantz apologised tot having < f < . uiued the meeting for so long a time , and concluded , atrddst loud cheers , by r * m"g on Mr . Brown \ a talented optative ; . , to move the first resolution .
3 Ir . Brown , who is a decided £ ivocr : ta with his brother workmen , wis greeted , on presenting himself , with marked plaudits , and after a few rrtliminrry observations , proceeded to read the resolution to the following eficct : — " That this meeting views with feelings of indignation the conduct of the ftcticn TsbicO nor sways the Government of th ^ se realm " , which has , In opposition to right , law , and justice , invidcd the liberty of conscience , seized up . n honest and unoffending individuals , and immurid thtm inrunger-. is f « no other crime than tint tf promulgating tee truth and advocating the rights of their enslaved and oppressed brethren . "
He deeply sympathised , he said , with the victims to whom tint resolution referred , r > nd be called upon tie meeting to consider well the solemn obligation which rested on th ^ m them , in pledging themselves to it , to carry it out in all its spirit and meaning—thair , bear . ) They should weigh weil the solemnity of plt ? d ^ ir . g themselves to a resolution , and when pledged to it , nothing should prevail upon or actnata them not to carry it out—ibear . ) For his own part , he duly pledged himself , on the present most solemn occasion , to the resolution wiich he had just read , and nothing could indnce b m to be unmindful or neglectful of the obligation into which he had entered—( hear , hear . ) Ha wai not diBConrased when be saw small meetings on the subject vrhich bad then brought them
together ; for , M " aft ^ r a storm come 9 a calm , " so afcer " great ' meetings , they might expect " Enia ! l" ones on t&e same subject 5 and of great meetings be rejoiced to say they had had many in favour of the victims in whose behalf he w * s at that moment appealing 1 bear , hear . ) In that respect he would most particularly , and is a marked manner , coDgrata : ate the meeting on tfcs splendid demonstration and bumper they had witnessed on the previous night , in a benefit in favour of the victims , at tha Pavilion Toeatra ( cheers . ) The friendsof liberty and of injured worth b = d come from the most distant parts of the metropolis to that benefit , not , let it be said , for amusement , ( for tfce working classes , ground do'Rn as they are , have neither heart , inclination , nor means to 20 long distances at the present time
for jHnusmenfs sake alone ) but . to their great credit and honour , for the sake of alleviating , by tieir sympathy and contributions , toe sufferings of the victims , with whose cause they identify themselves , and with whose wrongs they sympathise— , bear , bfAr . i And , fcs it remarked , that all their nie ^ ings vrould be crowded , but that the working classes are so poor that they cannot afford even a penny on every night —( hear , hear . ) They -saw the victim to the cause in which they were embarked , pining in bis gloomy , unhealthy , &i > d solitary dungeon ; end they , like men and Christians , pressed forward vrith their mite to assist him- —( isppLiuse . ) Who , looking at the present state of Bociety , wonld ray . thv . t there was sot something rottmat the core of the British nation . '—ihtsrw The
wealth-producing c ? aBS of British industry was sunk in circumstances of the deepest povercy . —i . aear , hear . i Distress was pictured In their countenances , found in their dwellings ; its deepest anguish had taken possesof their minds ; and day and night they were kept in perpetual anxiety how to get bread to live , —( hear , hear , and sensations of pity . ) He ( lur . Brown ) looked upon the Chartist as a man who would go for the cure of so great aa evil , and as one who would stand up for his country , and for the starving wives and children of it 3 suffering sons . —( cheers . ) The country had now its " victims " to look to ; men who were torn aw ay from their wives and children , and cast into dungeons , and for no other offence than standing up to plead tbsir Buffering fellow-countrymen ' s wrongs . —( shame . }
Threatened with all that could make man miserable , they yield not to tyrjuny . —( cboer ? )—Justice was denied them , and because they dared to say so , they were pounced upon by an iniquitous stretch of arbitrary power ; but their rights they were determined- to have . —( hear , haar and chxers . ) Amongst those victims he would mention with heart full of regret the name-, of Geerge Julian Harney—( hear , )—but that excellent patriot ' s pure spirit wonld come " like refined gold" out of the fiery furnace into which Tory persecution and Tory infamy had cxaelly cast it !—( hear , hear . ) ' Oh ! poor Ellis ! a m <* n of 1 he greatest worth , with whom be ( ilr . Brown ) had frequently acted in fortberarce of the glorious canse—that good and virtuous-minded manthat man who would get out of his bed at any hour of
the night to benefit a fellow-creature —( hear , hear )—that good man was , aiss . ' at that moment doomed to one-and-twenty-yeers' transportation for his attachment to bia country —( load cries of "shame" rung tarongh all parts of the reverberating Hall ) And his wife . ' O Exost amiable woman ! she , too , was sacrificed ! for her tender aensibUitieB ,. her great attachment , he ( Mr . Brown ) feared could not survive the shock of having the most attached and tenderest of husbands thus anally and unjustly torn away from her , and condemned to what might be regarded as banishment for life , or consignment to a ' living tomb "—( shame , » bami . ) The people , however , undismayed by such
tyranny , were determined to pursue the Charter , and never to rest unfcii they obtain it —( hear , and cheers- / Yes , thsy are determined on this , regardless cf the threata of a few selfish and mercenary Lords , who threaten thsm with imprisonment , transportation , and even death , for looking for their right 3 —; Hear and cheers i They despised those hzj , good for nothing drones—( hear , hear )—those leechss , who suck and fatten on the life-blood of the people—( hear , heat ) Tbe talented Epesker concluded by assuring the meeting and through it tbe country , of his fidelity to tba Chartist cause , and that while he knew the value of heiDg on the " right side , " in other wor ^ s , the outside o ~ f the strong walls of a priaon , yet that the inside of it
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had no terrors for him in connection with the pursuit of such a cause—( cheers )—a cause in which he invoked ihMu to apply themselves with energy to breaking np tbe stubborn ground , and sowing the " good Beads of Chartism , " by which he promised them a glorious harvest , and the gathering up of the fruits —( loud and long continued cheers . ) Jlr . Abtl Cooke felt great pleasure In seconding the resolution , because it referred to those klndied spirits who were suffering in the glorious straggle of " might against right . " The association of kindred spirits was one of the greatest and moBt desirable things that could be for the attainment of the great objtxt which the people had in view . Associating together , they
wera strong ; but divided , they were weafc . ( Hear , hear . ) It to awful in a country like England , thai men for standing up against tuch a system of tyranny shonld be seized npen as the victims to whom the resolution referred were , and deprived of their rights and liberties—( hear , hear ) . He ( . Mr . Abel Cooke ) felt as if he could " at one ftll swoop , " level tbe tyrants who thns bastly , unjustly , and wantonly oppressed his fellow countrymen —( Cheers ) . Mr . Cooke then alluded , in a felicitous manner , to the great aid and impulse which tbe Ctarier must derive from " the women of England , " coining out , as thty were , in its favour , and coBcluded amid the plaudits of the meftticg , by econdicg the resolction .
Jlr . D . ivenp ^ . 't , a veteran Reformer , moved the second resolution , to the following effect : — " Ttat this meeting deeply sympathise and eoaaole with those brave and virtuous patriots , who , in defiance of the tyranny of despots , have nobly stood forward as the champions of tbe rights and liberties of millions , to obtain for the mass of tte population cf this country a protection for labonr , a voice in the State , and a fair division of polit-cal power ; and pledges itself to use its best exertions by way of subscriptions and collections , and all other » tons in its power , to defray the expences of those victims who are awaiting their trials , and to support the wives and families of those who are now patiently enduring in their bretbren ' i behalf , incarceration , and all the sufferings which inhumanity has inflicted , and still threatens to inflict with her werciless and iron hand , and thas save them from seeking the tender mercies of the Commissioners of the Poor Law Bistiles . "
In moving that resolution , it wonld be superfluous indeed , in hm , be lilT . D ^ veapori ) observed , to address any lengthened remarks to the meeting . He strongly advecited a union between the middle and working classes , as the must likely means by- which they cou ' . d hope to achieve tbe great and glorious measure of "The People ' s Charter . " He regretted that the meeting was not moro crowded , and would . impress on the Chartists , that if even two millions out of the" three millions" of th-. m who had signed the Churttr , would but Rive one penny each person towards " tbe Victim Fund , " tha sum which would be thus real ^ Kd would be ample for the support of the victims—( hear . ) Why , then , he would ask , are they , ( and on , an occasion , caliing upon them fcr their sympathies and assistance ) , so apathetic and remiss in the disckarge of a duty so much within the command of even the poorest of them—( bear . ) He wonld Bot longer detain them , but would propose the resolution—( cheers . )
Mr . Lucas , of St Pancras , seconded the resolution , and availed himself of the opportunity thus afforded him of calling on the meeting , and through it , on tbe public at large , to give their most strenuous support to their faithful and invalnable advocate the Evening Star newspaper—( cheers ) . They had been hitherto without a journal of purely Democratic principles to support their cause , w . 1 advocate their rights— . 'hear , hear . ) And now that they had got one in the Evening Starnow that a gentleman had embarked his capital in their interest , he ( Mr . Lucas ) was sorry to 3 ay , they were not by any meanB supporting tha paper he had started for them —( hear , htar ) . The Tories had go : their papers , with the Times at the head of them , in their interest ; the Whigs had got their papers ; and even thu sham
Radicals had got their papers ; bnt the Cb . irtists—tbe working men—were witkout any p&p ^ i —( shame ) . And why , then , he would repeat , when one was started fcr their support , did they not prove themselves worthy of the favour , by giving it their moat zealous and efficient support ?— ( hear , hear . ) The working classes , to their shame ba it spoken , b . id no Press—( hear . ) Taey had made fortunes for those whose papers were opposed to them , even for Government newspaper proprietors , and yet they -would not support one in their own behalf *—( bear . ) Tbe Government blushed not to make use of " machinery" to crush " the people ; " but tbe people will not . even when it offers , make use ( by
supporting ) of a paper which comes out to protect them against the Government ;—( hear , bear , i If , for instance , they were to give but a " eiub" snpport , and that twenty f ^ ur of them -were to subscribe but one penny p * r week , they would have ' . he paper every day—' . hear bear . ) He would , in conclusion , Bay , that it becomes the duty of the working cl ^ -sses to force the paper into all their places of resort—( hear , hear )—that they ought not to rest until they would run it up to a circulation that would pay ; and that if they should not , in a word , support the Evening Star , they would deserve to be for ever fallen—( bear , bear , and ebeers . ) The resolution was then put and carrieU unanimously , after which thanks -weie voted to tte cbuirmwa , and the meeting separated .
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TO AGENTS . —Those Agexts who have not got theib . Plates are requested to send in their- Orders for them immediately , as the Parcels ¦ will be forwarded earlt > ext Week .
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THE VICTIM ELLIS . We were just sitting down to call attention to this ali-important matter , when Wednesday Evenin ^' 3 Star arrived ; in which we 2 nd it so vrell done that we give the entire article , in preference to any thipg we could onrselves say : — To those persons who have followed the course of Chartist politics , the name of Ellis is familiar ; and they will require no farther appeal to their sympathies , than the announcement that prompt exertion npon their pars may yet save him from the horrors of transportation , save his wife from the sorrow of
separation , and save bis little children from the cold bastile , and tender mercies of an overseer . To those who do not know Mr . Ellis , it will be only necessary to appeal to their professed love of justice , and simply to lay his ca ^ e before ihem , which is as follows : —Counsel for Mr . Ellis raised an objection on his . trial , wiiicb , however , was over-roled by the Judge , pretty much upon tbe same technical ground that the point raised by the present Attorney General , in Frost ' s case , was orer-rnled by the same Judge . The Judge , however , pointed out to the connsel the mc-da by which his object- could
be effected , which is this ;—The point made by Counsel was , " That wheveas the Act of Parliament bearing upon Ellis ' s case makes it penal to demolish , or to begin to demolish , any building , and requires proof of such demolition or COIDineilcementj and the indictment charged him with the offence 03 complete , while Ellis was not proved to have been at the place , when the attack was commenced , and also that the buildiig x $ qg not demolished . " The reader will see the thing , then , plainly . That an Act of Parliament declares certain things , if done in violation of that Act , tp be
punishable with transportation ; and Counsel for Mr . Ellis argues that the things sworn to be done by Ellis were not complete , or so complete within the meaning of the Act as to warrant his conviction under it . There is a legal and a moral way , however , of disposing of conjecture . Tho legal way is by appeal to a higher tribunal than that before which the case has been tried . The moral way is , — " Oh no matter whether the Act of Parliament critioally embraced bis case , damn him , he deserved it . " The latter mode of argument may satisfy ' . he village coterie , or a section of anti-monopolists , but it will
not satisfy the publicj nor would it , we are convinced , satisfy Chief Justice Tindal , the Judge who presided . In arguing this point , then , we are not to be understood as approving the crime of arson , or so much of it as does not come within tho statute above referred to , nor yet any part of it . We are to be understood as dealing with the act and the crime as Judges invariably do , which is thus \— Iflhe Act isfaulfy or bad , repeal or amend it ; but so long as it is law , abide by it , and as it is a penal law , construe it mildly , and give the pri ~
soner the advantage of its every defect . Such is tbe language of a Judge when he regrets the obligation under which a faulty Act places him . Even magistrates not unfreqaently say to cnlprits , I admit yonrs is a hard case , and that the Act of Parliament is Tery severe , but ihere it is , and what , can I do \ The only course now open to Mr . Ellis is this : —He can present a petition to the Secretaby cf State for the Home Department , setting forth the objection , and prajingUhat it may be argued before the lifteen Judges . We have no reason whoever to suppose that Sir James Graham
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will refuse to comply 'with Ellis ' s request , and for this reason : —It would b& ^ ery inhuman , very indecent , and very improper , to send a poor creature out of his country , leaving ulmhi his mind , and upon the public mind , an impression . that any single loophole of justice , or even of legal . escape , was closed against him . Again , there would be no reasonable grounds for refusal , and all precedent is in favour of th practice . Especially in eases of forgery it has beO n d ° ne over and over again . In Frost's case - >* baa been done ; but to oite oases in point would bo en ( *"
lees , therefore we shall presume that the Chk ' Secretary ' s decision will follow precedent . This » the Erst day of Term , and we are in the knowledge of the fact , that the necessary steps have been already taken to make the necessary appeal on behalf of the man whose opposition to the village tyrant , and support of Chartist principles , has called down upon him the vengeance of the law . But what of this \ The foundation is but an unimportant part of tbe work , if not bnilt upon ; and where are the means to prosecute it ! This then , is our appeal , for the means to be collected and
forthwith forwarded to our office , to prosecute the good work . Counsel ' s fees in such cases , are heavy , and the ablest must be employed-The transports are being prepared . The gin palaces and beer Bbops are full . The cry of injustice and shame is long and loud ; but the injustice and the shame belong to those who Bee the chance , and will not aid in taming it to account . Let it be borne in mind that by perseverance the Dorchester labourers were restored to their homes ; the Glasgow cotton spinners were saved from
transportation ; and Frost , Williams , and Jones from death ; and that the same aotive individual who was mainly instrumental in produoing those result ^ and , in consequence , has become an object of unmitigated and unrelenting persecution , is now engaged in forwarding this appeal upon behalf of poor Eilis . Let us , at all events , have the refusal , and gratify ourselves with this glorious reflection that we did our part , and we were ready to save our friend . Much may be done in London at variance with what the local miad approves . As an instance , we give the following note received thia
morning >— THE QUEEN » . WHITE . " Mr . Justice Cress well has made an order to-day on each indictment , to admit White in bail , himself in £ 200 , and four sureties in £ 50 each ; be would not reduce it below this . " The above is from Mr . O'Connoh's solicitor ; and by it , it will be found that the Judges have reduced the Justice ' s bail to exactly one-nfih of the amount required by those worthies , aad for want of which poor Gkorqs White , as honest a man as breathes , has been incarcerated for nearly two months ; and
for which , with God ' s blessing , the Brummagem scamps shall answer before the justice . Wo rejoice to congratulate Mr . Fellows and his brave followers upon their recent triumph over the rascally League , and their Bright importation from Rochdale . The impudence of theae scoundrels , iu their endeavours to seduce the Chartists from their allegiauoo to principle , in the hope of advancing their plundering views , is beyond all bearing , and can only be equalled by the sound thrashing in store for them , whenever and wherever they presume to obtrude their particularly awkward and disgusting persons .
We shall look anxiously for a response to our appeal on behalf of Ellis , his wife and children ; for the foundation must remain in statu quo , until the means are supplied for prosecuting the good work . Every MINUTB IS AN HOUR , AND NOT A MINUTE SHOULD BK LOST . Bear in mind that the worldly prospects of a whole familv are involved in this experiment .
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THE STURGE CONFERENCE AGAIN . The Stlrqk men are most persevering fellows ; as tae satellites of Jaction always are . They are determined te have their ** talk" on the 27 th of Dec . and to caU it a " Conference . " We are happy , however , to perceive that the : ut . ima * ions of the people that they were not to be humbugged , have forced them to be at least a little less impudent in their obtrusion of their real purposes on observation . The mode of electing this " National" Conference announced in their last circular upon the subject baa been discovered during
the recent flat-catching expeditions of their great men to be " a little too bad" ; and hence they don't hazard an adherence to it . There is never anything of the bold manliness of honesty about bafled faction ; and , therefore , we are not surprised to note the absence of it in the circular now issued from "the Complete Suffrage Council . " Honest and good men , genuine democrats in heart , may make mistakes as well as other mtn ; their judgments are not infallible ; they may be led into a false position ; but , when they find that they are thus circumstanced , they never hesitate , openly and candidly ,
to acknowledge it , admit their error , and fcive credit to those by whom thoy have baen enlightened . There is always in honesty a frankness of disposition which repudiates a false position , when seen , as cheerfully and heartily as it maintains a true one . Bafflrd roguery can seldom imitate this beautiful and amiabie virtue . If foiled in an attempt to blind the eves of parties , it will give up a position which it sees no means of hoMiug , but it ncv .-r admits that it has been wrong ; on the contrary , it invariably keeps its eyes steadfastly upon the baffled point , diverges from it no further than it is compelled , and looks out for some circuit whereby , if
an end , it may come back to it , and , if a means , it may either do so or substitute it by some other means which may subserve the same end . Now this is just the conduct of the Sturge Council upon this occasion . Wnat they now say npon the mode of elociion wears certainly a much greater , air of fairness than their former proposition , and it is tantamount—if honestly meant and acted on—to an entire repudiation of that proposition ; but it is not a repudiation . It still leaves the former plan open to bo acted on if parties choose , although a different course is recommended , at least apparently . The circular now says : —
" The meetings to elect delegates must be of a strictly legal character . Wherever it ia practicable and usual , let a requisition be sent to the local authorities , requesting them to convene the meetings . If tbis cannot Id done , let the Complete Suffrage UDion of each district convene Us o « n mf-tinsc . In both cases the meetings must be public to all the inhabitants in the town or district .
" It is highly desirable that all the delegates should be elected in tbiB way . The Council have concluded not to encourage the appointment of delegates by nomination Itets , ' except In cr ^ es where the authorities absolutely prohibit or disperse the meetings . In such ca * eB the nomination sheets mast be forwarded , together m Itk a statement of all the circumstances , to the Council , at leest ten days before the meeting of tbe Conference .
"The Council have reason to rejoice in being able to announce , that they have not yet kcard of any instances in which there will be any difficulty in appointing , at the same meeting , delegates to represent both electors and non-electors . Tbis course the Council earnestly recommend , a 8 it will display a united energy that will augur well for our future success . " We have no faith in the honesty of these men , and , therefore , cannot tniBfc them a Bingle inch . Our readers will observe , however , that the people have it now in their own power to make this Conference what it ought to be^—a truly national one .
In every case the meetings are to be publio and open to all tbe inhabitants ; without tbis the Conference would have been illegal , aad every member of it liable to heavy punishments . Let tbe pe ople then see that all these meetings be well attended ; that honest and fair-dealing chairmen be appointed ; and that delegates of the right sort be returned . By " delegates of the right sort , " we mean not blustering , ranting , mouthers—but men of sense , firmness , discrimination , and cautionmen , who whether they can " make a speeoh" or not , can judge of the merits of a speech , and are not to be either persuaded or outwitted , from a steta ad-
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herence to the interests and weal of their constituents . Let them be men who well understand the character and tho position of the middle olasseB , Let them , above all , be men who thoroughly know the " free trade" question and all its sophistries ; and who are prepared to maintain the interests and rights of Jabour as a first matter of national legislation , and not to barter them for any class crotchet . We warn them that the objeot of this conference is to hand over the Complete Suffrage and Chartist movements to tho free traders ; to "bid" for the assistance of the " extension " men by promising that the first efforts of our newborn liberties shall be devoted to the enabling of them to take from us all tbe good thereof .
We watn the people that this is the purpose of the Conference ; while , at the same time , we tell them thav' it is in their own power not only to frustrate this purpose ,- but to make this Conference an effeotu * 1 means of sifting the " Complete Suffrage Union , " » f driving out of it all the wolves , and of gathering the sheep into the proper fold , bo as to consolidate * h a people ' s strength by unitting their exertk % n 9 « We recommend , therefore , that the pet'Pk take up this Conference . Bnt if they purpi lae to make it a nationally
beneficial one they mua ' « ° " spiritedly and cautiou-ly . No means will be le / t untried by the Siubok men to secure for its deliberations the result we advert to . Tho people may and tiust prevent ibis . And for this purpose they must be on the alert . Every public meeting to elect delegates must be well attended—the pt > ple must take care to be early that the chairman be not un fairly chosen . Almost all the good of a public meetit'g may be frustrated by the chairman , if he bt \ disposed to do so . Let the people Bee to this therefore ; let no Chairman be allowed to act who has not been
eleoted by the meeting . If any attempt be madeas in all probability there will—to call meetings at an hour when the working people can not attend , and when , therefore , the middle men can have it all their own way ; let a representation be instantly made to tbe Complete Suffrage Committee , or whoever else have the " getting up" of tbe meeting , and if this be unheeded , let a publio meeting on some other evening be called to elect delegates ; let the delegates be elected ; and let a letter stating the whole faotB , be forthwith transmitted to the Complete Suffrage council at Birmingham . Let this letter be written in the most inoffensive possible
manner ; short and precise , merely stating facts , but yet so full as to give every necessary information ; and let a copy of it be given not merely to the delegate elected by tbe people at the fair " public meeting , " but also to some honest delegate whose eleotion is undisputed , and let him bring the matter before the Conference at its meeting , if the council shall not have previously done justice in the matter . In every case the-eligibility to sit of every candidate elected at an unfair meetingshould be protested against ; the protest should be transmitted to the Council at
Birmingham , with the same letter containing a statement of the facts on which it is grounded . The Bame plan must be adopted if any dishonest means are resorted to for smuggling a Chairman at any publio meeting for the election of delegates . This may be done , either by obtruding a Chairman without election , or by electing him before the time announced for the meeting . To all these and many other " dodges , " the " shoy-hoys" are well " up . " They will need watching ; but with care they may bo so watched as to be utterly unable to avoid doing some good whether they like it or not .
AH that the people have a right to require is that every meeting to eleot delegates shall be a fair , honestly conducted , public meeting . And if any delegates be received who have not been thus eleoted or any excluded who have been thus elected , it will be the duty of every other honest delegate at once to protest against the whole thing at ) a fraud upon the public , and come away aud leave it . It is all the more necessary that the delegates Bhould be fairly elected , and that they should
represent fairly the feelings of the people , because the Sturgemen ^ having been driven from their pet point of having half the delegates electors elected by eleotora , they have managed to contrive another by which they evidently hope to effect the same purpose of subberving the " free trade" crotchet . This is cunningly concealod under the guise of a most useful aud necessary arrangement , aud cloaked over with muoh apparent fairness in the following paragraph from their new circular : —
" With a view to prevent Ios 3 of time , and In the hope that all the business of the Conference may be terminated in four days , the Council will bo prepared with a programme of tho business uudei discussion . They propose that the Conference , at its first sitting , shall eleot a committee , to whom the programme shall be referred , and that such committee ebull decide npon the order in which all business shall be introduced . It is conceived that there will be no disposition to attribute tbis arrangement to improper motives , as it is not intended that any member of the Council should have a vote , either ia the Committee or the Conference ( by virtue of his otf . ce as Councillor ) , unless elected as a reprV sentative for some constituency . They are , however , desirous of being present , to give aa opinion or supp \ y infeimation .
" Copies of tbe programme of the proposed business may bo obtained by each delegate upon arrival . " Now , why not submit this programme of business to tbe whole Conference for adoption or amendment ? The reason is just here . The committee is to be appointed the first thing . The Council hope that at the beginning of the proceedings the attendance may not be full , and they » ay get a committee of their own choosing ; which committee having power to determine upon what business shall come before tho meeting , and how it Rhall be conducted , will , if not watched well , effectually destroy the deliberative character of the Conference ; just ai was done at
the Clerical Conference of Manchester . Having experienced the effeefc of ¦ " the Committee dodge ' there we know how to anticipate it . There the " Programme Committee" drew up the resolutions and put down the names of those who should speak to them , and no other parties were allowed to speak at all . This will be attempted at Birmingham , we expect ; but if the people do their duty in the choice of delegates , and the delegates do their duty to the people , it will not succeed—or if it even should—if the people have sent such delegates as
they ought to send—every proposition containing a single expression calculated to harm or jeopardize tha cause of straightforward , bold democracy will at once be negatived . The clause of the former circular about binding the people to uphold the "Free Traders" is sure to be in the programme . Let the delegates be well instructed on this matter . We give from the Nonconformist , the Sturge oracle , the following excellent remarks from an Address of the Cirenc 68 ter Chartist Association , to the Council of the National Complete Suffrage Union : —
" You propose to ascertain how far the non-electors may be induced to pledge themselves to use the franchise , when obtained , in favour of free trade . "No delegate , in our opinion , could give such a pledge on behalf of his constituents . We cannot say at what period complete or universal suffrage ; will be established . It may be law tbis day twelve months , or a whole generation may pass away , and a new one spring up before it is obtained . How , then , can any assembly of men ( whatever their representative character ) pledge an electoral body , not yet existing , to a particular exercise of the franchise , at some future but indefinite time ? We must receive the suffrage unclogged by conditions . Wo must not barter the free exercise of the franchise , even for the franchise itself . "
This is the right tone to tike , and must be followed up by the whole people in their instructions tp their delegates . Meantime , as proof of the necessity of caution in dealing with these gentry , we just note that the quasi organ of the Sturgites in labouring to defend tho iniquitous clause of the last circular , now abandoned , rested its argument on the assumption that this was not to a decisive but a deliberative body—not a Convention to adopt measures—but a Conference to discuss them ; while the circular before us assures as that the Conference is called : —
" To prepare a bill to b « submitted t » Parliament , eKibudjing the principles nnd necessary details of representation , agreed to at the Conferoncu held in April last and to determine who shall be requested to introd ' uee such bill into the Houaa of Commons , and also to dispose of the other buslneos alluded to ia the addresa already issued . " Purposing to return to this subject , we now call attention ia the way of close to tlw following extract
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from the Sturge circular , to which we think no objection can be offered ;—" It is absolutely necessary that the names and addresses of tbe delegates who are appointed to attend the Conference , accompanied by a copy of the minutes of the meeting at which they were elected , under the clgnatare of the chairman * f the meeting , shonld be transmitted to tbe council on or before Friday the 23 rd day of December , in order that the extent of accommodation required may be known , tickets prepared , and other arrangements made . "Each delegate is requested to call at the office as soon as possible after his arrival in Birmingham . " This with what we have given above places all the provisions of this document before the people , whom we now advise to begin at once to prepare for the work .
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Saving a Venav . —A farmer , in the neighbourhood of- . B& ' tiron , sent his servant girl last week U * that village with five pounds' weight of butter to sell . Having " learned that in Campsic , about fifteen miles off , a certain price could be obtained—onepsuuy a pou ad more tliau he expected in Balfron—the girl W ' , is ordered , if she did not obtaiu the higher price in the village , to walk to Campsie with her basket . " The- result was , that the girl had to trudge to Campsie and back , about thirty milea , to gain five pence for her money-making master . It is needless to Bay that her master did not agree to keep tho servant in shoe 3 . —Dundee Herald .
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John Hall , Ouseburn . —We have no recollection 0 / the report to which he alludes , though ii is just . possible it map have escaped vs . Ant Lecturer intending to visit Mansfield must communicate to them seven days previous to visiting them , i f not their services will not be accepted . " An Ode to LiBBBTr" shall appear . Will Messes . W . Bainbridge , Darlington ; C . Lane , now or late of 10 , Fumival's Inn Court London ; and T . Orb , of Northampton , write to this office , and send their exact addresses i It is requested by a friend in Ireland . " The Charter—an Ode . " shallamaear .
. " A Watchman" must excuse us . His long letter to the middle classes contains nothing that our readers are not familiar with ; and we have not room for its insertion . John Bukland , of Barnsley , if he be not that which he describes the subject of his letter to be , must be an egregious fool . William Lindsay . —Too sadly is his dream realised , W . E . H— We guess Prince Albert to be of thai kidney " toot never does nothing for nothing for nobody . " We have not just now time to refer to the proper document for the amount of payment for the nominal duties of the places named by our correspondent , but it is considerable . Two Reapebs of Dundee ask .- —** /* it consistent with the House of Lords thai a father and son
map sit and legislate at the same hme ? If so , could you point out an instance ? " Yes : the Crown might , for some national serviceperformed % confer a separate peerage upon a peer expectant during his father ' s lifetime ; or the Crown might confer a peerage upon a pounger son of a peer ; or a son might succeed to a peerage holden by his mother in her own rif / ht , independent of her hus ~ band ' s peerage . Of this we have an instance in the present Earl of Wilton , who is a pounger son of the Marquis of Westminster , and who has succeeded ie his mother ' s peerage ; while his elder brother , Lord Grotvenor , is still a commoner ^ awaiting the death of his father . The Earl of Wilton , second son of the Marquis ofWestmin *
ster , inherits the earldom by virtue of his father ' s marriage with Lady Eleanor Egerton , only a « rviving daughter and heiress of Thomas , first Earl of Wilton , so created , with remainder to the second and all other pounger sons of his daughter . W . P ., in answer to S . K ., of Glasgow , arrived too late for this week ; it shall appear in our nest . Grc « 96 E Tweddell , Stokeslet . — We have stated some forty times already , that we acknowledge no sums for public funds but what are received here . We know nothing whatever about what Mr . O'Connor receives . W . B . —Yes .
Matthew Limbert , DoimoaTH , fwgot to send cash with his advertisement . W . Coofeb , Weldon . —His last week ' s letter was reevived , but mislaid . In the Star of the 22 nd ult . the name Weldon was written " Weedon " by mistake . D . E . L ., Long Buckby . — We see no necessity for : insisting on his withdrawal from either . The professed object is the same . If the man be a good and a honest man , the position he has taken can do no harm , while it may da 1 good . Bacdp Chajitists . —Memorialise the Home Secretart / . W . H ., of Heywood , writes in riddles . We . cannot understand his letter ; but it seems to have reference to some matters which in any . ease we should not publish on anonymous authority .
William Poole , Collumpton . —Any bookseller who gets a London parcel can get him all Mr . Hill s works from John Cleave , \ Shoe-lane ^ . Fleetstreet , London . W . Fairburn , Websesbbby . —Our copy- of the Evening Star of the date he mentions w so cut that we cannot find the report he alludes to . He ought to have sent us one . Some other cor-. respondents may ascribe the non-appearance of their reports to the same cause . Will Me . Beesley have the goodness to communicate his address to the Hull suk ^ Secretary , No . 10 , Owen-square , New George-street 2 Middle-class Rapacity . —G . A . N ., of Sheffield , writes us thus : — , ¦ .
" A landlord of this town has some property consisting , amongst the rest , of a hole fit only foe a dog , and a small bakehouse , which has been in the occupation of several who have in yain endeavoured to make it answer . They have been obliged to give up , leaving Mr . Landlord minus , in most instances , his rent . The premises became void , and were likely to remain so , when a young man , who had 9 erved an honourable apprenticeship In the town , and being well known , took the premises at 4 s . 3 d . pee , week—an exorbitant rent for such a kennel—wi ?* i ' - not a particle of custom connected with the place . Well , Sir , by indefatigable exertions and persevering industry , he has established a very decent connection , and been enabled to get a plain yet
comfortable livelihood , regularly paying the proprietor his rent , not being indebted to his landlord one farthing . With these facts before us ,- —and they are facts , for I have not only heard it from the man ' s own lips , but fully attested by others knowing the circumstances , —one would suppoas Mr . would feel proud of his ttnant , and feel a pleasure in doingdPhat be could to promote success . No , no , not so : avarice—greedy , grasping avarice—the characteristic of tbe sordid crew , had cast an eye upon him , and Mr . very kindly told him , this week , he must pay the trifling addition of £ 1 19 s . per annum—ninepence a week extra , making a total of £ 13 per year for a bole scarcely fit ( as I said before ) for a dog . This
is not all : is the gentleman a Tory ? No—can you believe it ?—a member of the National Complete Suffrage Union , a professed admirer and follower , I presume , of the philanthropic and generous Joseph Sturge , Esq ., of Birmingham ! This is not an iao « Iated case , but one that shows the natural disposition of these middle-class brawlers for union . I can tell the working class they may as well ask the wolf and lamb to unite to destroy despotism aa to expect the middle class to do so until compelled . Still I have beard it said bow yety friendly they are in Sheffield , and how they sympathise with the working class ; and many that I have met wi ! l believe it Certainly there are exceptions to the general rule , and may be the middle class of
Sheffield are so . As I know but Httlo of them I will not gainsay it , but give them the benefit of the good opinion . Still actions speak louder than words ; therefore , I say , test them : the proof of the pudding will then be in the eating ; and I feel assured never was a better opportunity . Harney and others have to be tried , although out on bail It is certain , without legal assistance they can have no chance , and counsellors will not woik for nothing ; on tho contrary , they are expensive gentlemen , therefore I say to the working men of Sheffield , try how far they pity and are ready to assist you . Call upon them individually , and most respectfully—for they are fond of homage . Solicit
a trifle for the defence of your sincere friends ; if thby refuse , why you will have nothing to thank them for ; and then , without a word , go about your business . It will show at once their real disposition and intentions . And , my friends ; not only will you be convinced , but remember funds—aye , ample funds—are and wiil be wanted to defend the victims of that hydra-headed monster , ¦ clits legislation . Be the Bum . got from th « m © verso small , ifc will be of nsa . Wait upon the Complete Suffrage gentry for the same laudable purpose : they can but refuse , and , as in White's case , write " No . " Let this be done instantly : 'twill prove beyond the power of dispute what is to be expected from the middle class . "
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THE Portrait of T . Duncombe . will be driven to all our Subscribers on November 19 th . 7 : hey will be in the Bands of all the Agents by November 16 th ; The charge for the Star on the day the Portrait of Buneombe is distiiby . ted will be the same as the charge for it on thp . day the Petition Plate was delivered . The 8 s . 6 d . noticed on the 22 nd , as from a few friend ! , DeptforJ , should have been Dartford . Mr . ARTFiUR omitted to say how an answer could be : Bent . Joseph Newbold , Carlisle . —Mr . Hudson , of Cal « dew-gat « , gets a parcel of Stars . Call upon hiu , . and enter year name . The Plate of the Peittion , due to you , will be enclosed in his next parcel of Duncomba .
FOR THE NATIONAL DEFENCE FUND . £ . b . d From *; tr . Ellis , Finsbury 0 1 ~ a pure republican , Mellor ... ... 0 1 0 ~ Cardiff , per B . Jones ... ... ... 0 8 6 ~ J . F ., Dunfermline ... 0 0 8 ^ a friend , Goole ... 0 0 2 ~ D . B ., Horsforth 0 1 8 ~ a few friends in the village of larihall near Glasgow ... 0 13 9 - ~ the Chaitists of Holme-lane , near
• Bradford ... ... ... ... 0 3 3 „ T . H . Bangor ... ... ... lit 0 3 0 „ Kingstown , Cumberland 0 10 0 « . Mrs . Hartness , Brown ' s-row , Carlisle 0 5 0 ~ Doncaater , per G . B . Coomers ... 0 3 6 „ Halifax and neighbourhood ... ... i 0 I ~ a friend , Tillicoultry ... ... ... . 0 1 0 „ the Chartista of Honley 0 5 6 „ a few Printers at Stansfleld Mill , near Littieborough ... ... ... 6 5 0 „ a few friends at Preston , per G . Halton ... 0 3 0
FOR THE EXECUTIVE . From a pure republican , Mellor ... ... 0 1 6 % „ the Cbaitists of Newport , Iale of Wight ... 0 S 0
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_ 4 THE NORTHERN STAR .
The Government Victims
THE GOVERNMENT VICTIMS
The Is T Oethern Stae. Saturday, November 5, 1842.
THE IS OETHERN STAE . SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 5 , 1842 .
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THE EXECUTIVE . We have not received the returns from elections of the persons nominated to fill up the vaoanoies in the Executive . The reason will probably be found in the following extract of a letter from the General Secretary reoeived , this day—Thursday : — " I almost imagine the election at present will have to be abandoned , because there has not been time enough given . I have had a letter from Bairstow , and he says there will be much dissatisfaction ia consequence of the shortness of the time , and Leach and myseif expected , there Would have again been placed on the list those good and noble minds who have taken bo active a part in our movement Very tew localities , as iyet , have sent in their approval or disapproval
You see there are only twelve names on the list . Mr . WatkinB has declined . Messrs , Ross , West , and Clayton cannot be balloted for , on account of the informality , Morlingjthere is an objection raised against ; so that there are only seven candidates remaining . Taking all the circumstances of the case Into consideration , perhaps it will be as well to postpone tbe election until the time in settled by the plan of organisation . See the great number of honest and talented men who are virtually deprived of having votes tendered for them ; and I am afraid at thia juncture the vote * wenld be far lew in number than they were at the last time . Give this letter yeur consideration , and if it meets your approbation , write a short article stating the reasons I have given for the alteration . "
To this we can only add that Mr . Clancy as may be seen from his letter in to-day ' s Star , cannot be ballotted for , and that rednoes the number of candidates one more . We hare already given ow opinion that the election is unnecessary , and need aofc , therefore , repeat it . But the matter is for the people , and not for us to determine on .
Untitled Article
THE " ANTI-MONOPOLISTS . " We call attention to a correspondence elsewhere inserted , between the Hull Chartist Councillors and the Corresponding Secretary to the Anti-Monopolist Association of that town . We guess the Corresponding Secretary will wish he had let the Chartists alone . 'Tis not the first time he has " burnt his fingers" with them .
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REGISTERING OF CHARTIST MEETINGHOUSES . We have frequently been applied to for infbrmationjupon this subject , especially since an infamous fellow , who alike disgraces the priesthood and the magistracy , prosecuted , and caused to be imprisoned , a good Chartist for preaching in an unlicensed room . There is certainly no meanness to which faction will not Btoop for the attainment of its ends ; and hence the necessity , which we hare so often inculcated , of our paying the most strict and punctilious attention to even those forms of law which , from oar having no power over them , cannot command our respect . Hence , therefore , we gi re , with great pleasure , for the guidance of oar friends , the following instructions for registering places of worship , from the 22 nd George III . c . 155 .
This act requires " that the place where worship is intended to be performed , shall be certified to the bishop of the diocese , or to the archdeacon of the axehdeoconry ; or to the justices of the peace at the general or quarter sessions of the peace for the county , riding , division , city , town or place in which such meeting shall be held . " —Application may therefore be made to either of these tribunals for " a certificate" of registry , addressed to the tribunal , from which the certificate is intended to be obtained , as follows : —
" To the Right Reverend the Lord Bishop of ( here Jill up the name of the diocese J and to his Registrar ; or . To the Archdeacon of the Archdeaconry of ( here Jill up the name of the Archdeaconry ) in the diocese of ( here Jill up the name of the diocese ) or , To Her Majesty ' s Justices of the Peace for the ( here JUI up theblank with thecountp , riding division , 8 fc ) at the General or Quarter Sessions of the Peace assembled .
I ( Jill up the name ) of ( fill up the place of residence in the county of do hereby certify that ( here Jill up the description of building , such as a dwelling house ) and premises situate at in the parish of in the county of end now in the holding and occupation of ( here fill up person ' s name ) ate intended to be used aa a place of religions worship , by an assembly or congregation of protestants ; and I hereby request you to register and record the same , according to the provisions of an act
passed in the 52 nd year of the reign of his Majesty King George { the Third , intituled , " An Act to repeal certain Acts , and amend other Acts , relating to religious worship and assemblies , and persons teaching and preaching therein ; and I hereby request a certificate thereof , for which I am willing to pay two shillings and sixpence in pursuance of tba said Act of Parliament . Witness my hand this day of in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and . "
The blanks in the above form must bei filled up to meat the circumstances of the case , copied oh the second side of a sheet of paper , and Bigned by the person applying for the licence . A like copy to be made on the third side of the sheet , and underneath the following form : — I ( here leave three lines for the name and description of the person signing the certificate ) do hereby certify , that a certificate , of which tb » above is a true copy , was this day delivered to me to be registered and recorded pursuant to the Act of Parliament therein mentioned . Dated this— ¦ day of——
18— . " a Upon the above document being delivered , or forwarded , free , of expense , to the perton who is required to sign the certificate , with two shillings and sixpence , he will fill up and Bign the . certificate , tear ofi and return the second half sheet , and then , the place intended for worship will bo duly certified . Should any rules be laid down by the persons authorised to grant such certificates , of course they must be followed , the instructions above given are in conformity to the practice of several dieeases .
Attention to thia subjeot will save from eevere penalties the occupier of the place where worship is performed—the person teaching or preaching therein—and the persons forming the congregation The persona assembling ia fiuch places will then be protected by law , as by the same Act it is enacted , " That if any person or persons , at any time after the passing of thia Act [ 29 th July , 1812 ] , do and shall wilfully aiid maliciously , or contemptuously , disquiet or disturb any meeting , assembly , or congregation of persons assembled for religious worship , permitted or authorized by this Act . or any former Act or Acts of Parliament , or shall in any way
disturb , molest , or misuse any preacher , teg . cb . er , or person officiating at such meetiBg , assembly , or congregation , or any person or persons there assembled , such person or persons so offendiDg , upon proof thereof beforo any Justice of tbe Peace by two or more credible witnesses , shall find two sureties to be bound by recognizances , ia the penal sum of fifty pounds , to answer fi \ r such offence , and in default of such sureties , sh'Jl be committed to prison , there to remain till the next General Quarter Sessions ; and upon convection of the said offence at the said General or Quarter Sessions , shall suffer the pain aud penalty ' of Forty Pounds . "
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 5, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct778/page/4/
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