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" €ty CmMtion $f (^nglcmti "lavs grind the poer, and rich men rnle the law.
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C^av«0t; 3Ent?Utgencc. C Excluded from our last for want of room. )
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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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" €Ty Cmmtion $F (^Nglcmti "Lavs Grind The Poer, And Rich Men Rnle The Law.
" € ty CmMtion $ f (^ nglcmti "lavs grind the poer , and rich men rnle the law .
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IHS CLOSE OF THE 15 QUIET J . T IH £ BIRMINGHAM HTOKKHOrSE . On Thursday -west , tbe ABiBtant Poor Law Commisrioner commenced Ms inquiry into tbe mode adopted at ths "Wottiioase on the application of destitute persons far admission and reliet He aid he would flrsi examine & feirof the Polloe Officers "Ritli respect to the state of destitution in "wMch Ihey found peraonB in tbr town , and the difficulty , if any , which they experienced in procuring relief for them * or their admission into the Workfeoosa James Bradley , Patrick Kelly , George ICrfc , sne James Turner , Police Officers , were severally examined ! Tbes 6 witnesses . deposed to havine found a number oi persons in the streets in a state of destitution ; thai they took tkem to the Worihonse , and were refnsec admission for them ; and that they -were compelled tc lock them up in the Stations and take them belon ibfc Magistrates .
There were some other Police Officers in attendane to depose to facts of the aboTe navnra , but the Com missioner said be bad heard ( juite sufficient to sboi the nature of the system . The existence of a defec tive system -was clearly proTed in reference to th mode of admitting destitute persona . The system o fcandyiBg about of the pu > r ought not U be cod tinned . Mr . Shaciel said the Members of the Committee ap pointed to inquire into the duties an < 3 salaries of th Clerks of the Establishment , summoned together t meet the Commissioner , had arriTed , and - were in loom btlow stales . Tbe GommissioEer forih-srithattended this Committet Vhich "sras quite private .
^ After an absence of about two honrs , the Commi B ' - nsr lelurned , and said he should close the ingnir but that he should again visit Birmingham the - -wet after Christmas . He baa received sufficient informati ( to show the working vl the present parochial system Birmingham , ¦ which be bslieved would lead to Bon SBcfal alterat ions . The Learned Gentleman then le the house * THE AeBlG"CLTTJBAI , 3 AB 0 TTREBS AND TH
NEW POOR LAW . That something 3 ttst bb dosb tor the agricnl tnr&l laboni era is now being admitted cm all bands , eTei those " < ftnnb dogs" tbe parsons are beginning to speal out . A new li ght has broken in upon these faithles shepherds , and their eyes are being opened to the iurn » jy wrongs about which , heretofore , they have beei altogether silent . Ala late agricultural meeting in Somcretshire , th « " Buy , Mi . 2 * ewbolt came ont with the following . — * That , as 3 clergyman , he confessed he should wish tc see more done lor the poor . He had waited a lonj fee to sea something done for the poor ; be b * d read tbe speeches of Lord Ashley , Ms Mend , Mr- Yeatnwn , and others , and there was no disguise about the matter .
The fact was , their show for fat stock was a humbug . Ibe grea : beanty was what they did for the Bgricultura laix-urer , and he confessed that was whal had bronght ilia there that day . The agricultural labourer was the poirt now . That perhaps was jiot the opportunity tc sptok on such subjects , and h& should be the last man to interrupt theii barmony ; but he feared they were all to bla ^ ae . " There was no donbt that great distress tsisted ; and they should set to work , heart and soul , in tieirendeavonrs to ameliorate the condition of the peasantry of this fertile country . Until tbey did that , all their breeding of cattle and speculation in IQAEnrea was of little -use ; tor , until tfeat blot _ ¦ wi ped out , they could not expect the blessing of heaven np-n their undertakings . " Vpoa which the Times has the following
COin-IEfcnU : — - " Tfeere ia not a word of this—not a single word ¦ whi ch we should wish to take away j not a syllable th&i -sre wonld wjih to add to it ; not a letter of it 'in ¦ whi ch we do not heartily concur , and wh ch we do not takenp and echo with all the strength and emphasis that we can give . Yes , * the agricuitnral fcibenrer u the p « jat , * as Mr . : Newbolt says ; and with him , we , too , very much fear that all , all" society-moncera , fa ' .-tock-Bbow-inongETs , - pria beast and prze labour deaVrs , distributors , not of wages given as of rijht , bnt of -ioles Tns . de necessary solely iy the withholding of those wsses ; political economists , workbonse-test disciplinarians , men who pnnish becanse people ask for leli-f , and ask it of them—yea , aii . are indeed renrh , VET- mnch * to blaice . * Work—employment , as Mi . Somerriile says— fiis is what is wanted . This , and this alone , * is calculated to mike the labourer a moral , a religions , " and , therefore , we wIlJ add , a happy * man . '"
Eat , instead of this , what has in fact been given ? And wfcy is it that the people have not work , 3 nd therefore have not wa 2 es ? la it becanse they , as a body , trill not work ? No snch thing . It is not even pretended , we believe , tfeat if " a fair day ' s wnaes" be offered , in any single part of tbe conutry . " a fair daj " s work , " and that , too , well and skilfully done , jnisLit not be -obtained . Is it , then , or is it not , the people ' s fault , that tbsy are ont of work ? If there bo any men wto dcubta which way to answer -this question , we say ~ to him—only take care that wurk and fair wares sre offered to the able-bodied poor , and ws will answer for it , that there will be donbt no longer which it 3 i the people want , whose fault it is that they have not tnsploymert .
Jievr . tins being tbs case , what is tbe ani-wer of the Whig Poor Law to the demand for employment ? Jt is tb s—? 1 " 51 IH , notthose who ougM to sive the poor * rotk , bnv < lo not , —no , but punish Sit poor fhemstlvei , because thiey , not having work , do not do it , because they do not obiajn ' what Ciey cannot get Is fhis a right ansTex to the complaint , that " employment" is the thing needful ? Work , -we eontend , is Hit thing , an ^ the first thing , which is to be provided , and to which tbe poor have an ludefeSBible right . Employment is their right , and If not that , then , bnt not till then , gratuitous public support .
This , ws Bsy , is the ancient constitutional principle of the Poor Law of Elizsbeth , and it is jn * t the overthrow of this principle by the Whig law , and nothing else , which has caused all the mischief deplored by onr cor temporary . Give the poor man work . Give him work , and give him fair wages , and depend npon it , he will not refuse It , nor come upon the parish for help . If work be fduad th * re needle no " supplementary "wate »; " thB parish may enjploy it 3 own poor at fair wages at its own work , and if work cannot at first be found , t » if the employer lower bis wages in the hope ihst ? be parish "will be -ncible to find -work without Mm , and so will be ob liged t& give in and pay him the difference , —then let the parish , if it can find eo other work , pay the labourer bis accustomed wages , not
allowing him to work for bis selfish employer , and tbs late of wages will very soon rise again to its former lereL Thus fair wages will be insured and we are sure , that if only thi 3 be done , tbsre ¦ will be no lack of -materials for work . Every farmer , ever ? landowner , has abundance of work to be done , whieh would improve his land and increase ita produce ; and tbe real qaesticn is , whether he will ipend his capital in givicg fair wages to those who could do this , or whether in supporting the same people idle In a union workhouse . This is tbe real alternative , —if he Eheuld try to get the work done at unfair wages , here should be the Poor law to step in and prevent him , and to protect the poor . Anyhow ,
there is plenty of work ; the question is to secure it , triih good wages , to the ablebo 3 ied poor , and not to let the capital , which otherwise « onld and would secure-it , go to support the workhouse . That capital should be secured for working the land , by a labour-Tate ,- which should keep up the price of labour , and compel a fair employment of the poor , by obliging all those who Would other ^ rise shrink from the bnrden , either to give fair wages themselves for work of their own , or to contribute towards a fund for employing the poor , at good wages , upon other work , to the exclusion of their own . Surely either of these alternatives would be much better for the employer than keeping the poor in a onion workhouse .
Wi : t a picture does this present to theTnnnd's eye DesUtutisn in London ! Dastitntion in the ccnnlry ! Thfi poverty of the country jostling the poverty of tbe metropolis in ita scramble far nightly shelter _ and morning bread ! Men , women , and children wander . Jag wearily to London to snatch tbe morsel from the jaws of the metropolitan poor ! 6 . § 81 ssuls relieved at » ne tsyinm in Playhouse-yard , by casual charity , independent of local asd Pi > or Jjaw assistance , and this found to be moekingly insufficient ! Another liBes to « operate—both still unequal to the weight of indigence—and now a third is created in the west .
May it be—we dare not say , -we dnre -not hope that It can be , sumdeiA to do all that jb wanted—but may it do away with that feu , blot which snliies -with hifleons contrast the palatial magnificence of London ! Let ns n > longer Jsee the Regal quarter of our metropolis defllfcd with a combination of iqualid famine , rauged Tice , and loathsome disease . L-t-us no longer witness tbe painful contact of thB ilmi luxurious indulgence and the most utter indigence . We have borne the contemptuoua sneers ef strangers and visiters too long ; let us at last do something to rid ourselves of a merited reproach .
THE CARLISLE TTEAVEas . According to a statement in one of the Carlisle papers ; tbe average day ' s labour of twelve handloqm weavers , amounts to fifteen and a third hours ; while their clear ¦ weekly «^ rni"g't do not amount to five shilling ? pgj week ! Anotker specimen -of tb » " Condition ofEngliafi , - vfcssvixsn prBB * . { From the Stamford Mercury . ) HavenBT . —tiwftw of those agrarian outrages , showing the deep-seated discontent of the labonring classes which is bursting forth on all hands into a demoniacal near against property , occurred at ^ favenby on Friday morning last The snfferer by this incendiary fotflagration was Mr . Clarke Hales , farmer , who resides close upon that extensive viCage : the fire was perceived bout f euro'douk in the morning , and . notwithstanding immediate-aid was procured to arrest the progress ^ Jf the devastiBj ehment , -aheit itaciaiconfjaLdng ten
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quarters , and a stack containing thirty quarters of barley , were wholly consumed before the fire could be subdued . Most providentially the wind was blowing in a direction that carried the flames from one pea and two barley stacks ; had tho wind blown in an opposite direction , and these ignited , the flimes would have eomnjnniested to the town itself ; and it is calculated that no exertion could have prevented the destruction of half the large village . Mr . Hales is stated to be insured In tbe Hand- ' n-Hand Fire-office . After the fire , it was airrni'y rumoured in Linco l n thai he had pre sided at a mteling of farmers for ike purpose of reducing the vxiges of the labourers of the village . This report is utterly without foundation ; and Mr . Hales is deeply and widely respected as a generous and humane man to the labouring classes .
¦ E * rye—On Tuesday evening , the 12 th inst ., a fire was discovered in the stack-yard of Mr . Robert Storey , butcher . It first made ita appearance between two stacks in the centre of tbe yard , and , an alarm having been immediately given , a large number of the inhabitants were soon on the spot , who prevented the fire from spreading . It was got under at about one o'clock , but , had tho wind been high , it is probable that the less wonld have been very great , as the premise * are contiguous to another stackyard belonging to Mr . Bourne , and also to a range of buildings -where a number of horses and fat atock are kept . There is no donbt that the fire was the work of an incendiary , aa it appeared in several different places at once , and a strong sulphurous smell wbs perceptible .
BlM&OOX . —On Saturday , the lGth inst , about seven o ' clock in the evening , a large barley-stack belonging to Mr . JohnBon , farmer , was discovered enveloped in flames , but by the prompt exertions of the neighbour * the fire was happily put ont before the stack was entirely destroyed , or bad ignited the adjoining property . No donbt exists of its being the act of an incendiary , but the perpetrator has eluded detection . On Friday , the ISth , some malijiouB pereon again set fire to a stack of straw in tte yard of Mr . Rhodes , of the Fortescne Arms , Tattershall , -with an evident intention of doing much damage , the stack being placed near a range of buildings composed principally of wood , and had not the wind providentially ceased at the moment , and prompt assistance been rendered by the neighbours , tbe incendiary -would undoubtedly have succeeded in his diabolical attempt
The incendiary who set fire to Mr . Rawson ' s corn-Btacks at Scrivebby , near Horncastle , on the 14 th inst ., has not yet been discovered . A reward of £ 225 is effered on conviction of the incendiary . We are Forry to state that an incendiary fire took place at Cnrfe Castle , on the premises ef Mr . Waters , of Bollington Farm , last Saturday , by which a wheat rick , containing twelve or thirteen loads of sheaves , was completely destroyed . Tfeis has been the a > .-cond fire of this description in our neighbourhood within the last munth ; but , fortunately for the owners , both properties were insnred . —She ^ borne Journal .
We regret to ^ tate that these abominable fires occurred last week in the pariah of Speen , The first W 38 discovered about eleven o ' clock on Tuesday night , in a field near Speen Church , which totally destroyed a pea rick ; and the other broke out about seven o ' clock on the following morning , about half & mile distant from the above , at Speen Moor , in a hay rick ; but by the prompt arrival of the engines the fire was / sooB extinguished and part of the rick saved . The whole was the property of Mr . T . Price , of Speen , and was insured in the Royal Exchange-office . —Hevizes Gaztlie .
Fjbe at Hjbiow . —On Monday Jiight a dariog act of incendiarism -was committed upon Campions Farm , a short distance from the town of fiarlow , in tbe occupation cf Mr . Mathews . Inspector Low and constable 98 of the constabulary fore * were in conversation with Mr . Mathews about half-past eleven o ' clock , when cne of two men , who had been set to watch the premises , shouted thit the buildings were on fire . Mr . Mathews instantly despatched a messenger for an engine , which promptly arrived , and , with the aid of a plentiful supply of water , confined the ravages of ine flames to
the destrnctien of an eut-b « ilding about forty feet in length , and some implements of small value , inspector Low bnrnt his arm , and experienced a Bevtre fall from off the houBe , in his exertions to eut off all communications with the flames , whith were rapidly approaching it . One of the men on the watch says he saw 3 stranger run from the place whence the flimes first issued , about eight o ' clock , and it 1 b bn ^ pbstd that the same party left some combustible material , which , as be designed , did not effect his diabolical purpose for three hours and a half , giving him an opportunity to escrpe . — Chdmsford Chronide .
More Incesciabiwi al Fsitchley . a fortnight a ? o -we staled tfcat a sack of -wneat , and also 3 stack of straw , belonging to Mr . Frilchley , of Fritubley , near Crich , were destroyed by tire . Wq regret to add , that some diabolical villain set fire to anotbtr wheat stack early on Snndsy morning last . The fire was discovered by some labourers who were proceeding to their work , and though the whole of the wbe ; it waa not destroyed , it was rendered unfit for us-.-. The villain mns ! have crept nnd « -r the stick frame and set fire to it in the centre . —Derby Reporter .
FlKE AT DaRTI £ 1 . D . —Abont four o'clock en Sunday morning last , some people were alarmed by seeing a wb « -at stack on fire in the stack-yard belonging to Mr . Thomas Inchbold , Cross Kejs Inn , Darfleld ; and ¦ which , there is no doubt , has been the act of an incendiary . Tilfcre -were three stacks , two of - wheat and one of hay , standing near to each other close behind the barn ; tha middle one beii-e mnch larger than the others ; and as the fire was put to it there is ro doubt that it was the intention of tbe viliaiu to destroy the whole of tee premises . The whole lvsa is estimated at nearly 4100 , and we are sorry to say the stacks were not insured . —JDoncasler Gazette . Fire at Ibciiester . —A rick of beans , standing in a stack-yard at this place , in the occupation of Mr . J . "Ward , cf Grendon , 2 Jortbamptonsbire , was destroyed by fire on the 7 th instant . A stack of Barley adjoining was much damaged . A reward is tffered . —Derby Reporter .
DESTITUTION IS TUB METROPOLIS . The Times says—A meeting waa held on Wednesday last at the Mansion-house for the purpose of receiving Additions to the members of tbe committee which bad been appointed to manage the subscriptions , " for giving nigbtly sbeiteT to the bonseless . " Tbe account , though short , is not without interest , nor nnsnggestive of nflections . It appears that the number of inmates received at the central Asjlum in Playhouse-yard between the 3 r < l of JaruaTy anS the ¦ 4 th of April last was 6 , 681 ; the nightly legging provided , 41 , 308 ; and tbe Tations of bread distributed , 96 , 141 . Notwithstanding the large amount of persons relieved , we are told that
11 before the Central Asylum had been opened a fortnight , applies t ens foradmifsionbad become so numerous as to endanger the health of tbe oScers and inmates ; and it was not until tee Eastern Asylcm had been opened , that anything like an adequate provisien was afforded for the daily increasing number of applicante . " Couple this with the declaration of Mr . Pownall , that " the Committee had encountered great difficulties -in allowing their generosity co outstrip their means . Yery little encouragement was required to induce poor peopie to Iea 7 e distant parts of tbe country to make experiment of London , for very little souoded largely in the ears of those who encountered hardships in procuring the means ef subsistence . "
STATE OF THE WELSH TEASANTRT . A writer in tbe Welshman says" It is utterly impossible to convey to the distant reader a just description of the dreadful distress pervading a principal part of Carmarthenshire , without exciting that kind of incredulous BstoniBhment which seeks for relief in the belief that tfee account is exaggerated , and that things cannot ^ be so bad as they are represented . ? ? •» The common rate of wages in this part of the country for able-bodied labourers is sixpence a-day and their food , and at this rate of wages many of them do not get constant -work . There
are farmtrs—aye , farmers , in this neighbourhood , who are literally without tbe common necessaries of lifewithout even clothes to cover their own or their children ' s nakedness . * * * The condition cf the poor farmers near Carmarthen , we repeat , and of the poor people in the town itself , ia Urrible , heart-ienaing , and—wt add , disgraceful to any country—disgraceful to the governing class in it we mean . Talk of the Irish the poor in this part of Wales—aye , in this very town , are a hundred times worse eff than the Irish peasant , er evtn the Hibernian denizens of St . Giles . " — Welshman .
DEATH TROJt NEGLECT . An inqnest was held last week at tbe Bluecoat Boy , Brewer ' s Green , Westminster , before Mr . Higgs , the Deputy Corona , on the body of Catherine Smart , the wife of a bricklayer ^ labourer , named William Smnrt , residing at No . 14 , Goodman ' s Green , Palmer ' s Field , -srhoBe death , -was alleged to have tafcen place from uterine hemorrhage , resulting , as was supposed , from want of proper medical attendance duriiig her confintment .
It appeared that the deceased , Catherine Smart , had been recommended to the R » yal Beigrave Lying-in Institution , Sloane Square , of which Dr . Lock , of Chapel-street , Grosvenor Square , is the manager , and which professes t « have thirteen experienced midwivbs The way the poor woman was treated may be gathered from the following extracts from the evidence adduced ; the report in full is too lengthy to give . This case is another specimen of the heartless cruelty "with which the poor of this " Christian '' England are treated : —
Anne Barnes , No . 8 , Goodman s-green , was Bent for by the deceased on Saturday morning , who complained that the could net procure medical assistance , though » ne had been HI from the Thursday at dinner-time . The deceased said she had a letter to the Belgrave Inititufion , and tha * ner messenger returned from there on Friday with a list of mid wives . The deceased said she Eect to two of them , but the answer returned was that they would net do Dt . Lock ' s business without beuig paid , and the poor woman added , "O , I ' m lost , I * m lost , rm ^ one , I ' m done . " she tbtn fainied away several times , and said she had gone beyond tbe time when her labour should have taken place . Witness advised fcer to send for the parish doctor , . for the woman was in snch a way as quite frightened her , and as & restumtive she bathed htx temples with vinegar . At tleven o ' clock tn Saturday memirg the
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parish surgeon came from Tothill-flelds Prison , on which witness said to the deceased , " You need not be afraid now , you have medical attendance , " but the answer was , " Tis too late now . " That was all the witness conld get from her . Mr . Simpkins here obseived , that the deceased was very nervous in her confinements , as on one occasion she had three children at a birth , all of whom were living , and were extremely healthy . Mary Dodd , the mother of fourteen children , was then called , and stated , that on Friday the deceased said she had sent for two mid wives , one of whom , named Brown , said she would not attend , at Dr . Lock had not paid her . She then said , "Oil shall be lost ; I shall be lost ; " but witness said , " Yon can't be lost in a Christian country , for if one doctor won't come anether will be found . " Tbe Jeceased was then in a stats of 1 » aiorrhage . Witness advised her to have some castor oil , and was sure that if 8 he bad bad some medicine then her life would have been prolonged .
A Juror—What is the institution to which the woman was referred ? A person , who seemed to accompany Dr . Lock , replied , " You can have the prospectus lot your amusement . Here it is . " The Juror—Sir , there is nothing amusing in this case . The inquiry is a very solemn one , and as you are here a stranger you have no right thus to interfere with the proceedings . Several of the jurors expressed their coincidence in this observation . Dr . Lock said , he could furnish the jury with a vote of thanks to hinreelf from the directors . A Jaror—That might be useful ; bat the interference of your friend to-night is not calculated to do you much good .
Mrs . Dod 3 , in anBwerto a juror , said that with her experience , she considered the case a very extreme one . The deceased was parched up with fever and much in need of castor oil , which was administered the next day . Mary Bailey , the midwife who attended the poor creature when too late , was next examined . Mr . Blandford , a surgeon , of Chester-sqnare , Pimlico , here int « i posed , and said the midwife was utterly unfit for her business who , when hemorrhage intervened , did not at once resign her charge into the bands of a medical man . Mrs . Bailey said she did not think there was any serious bsaiorrhage . Mr . Blandford . —No serious bamorrbage ? Why there was tstmorrhage before and after the birth . What did you do ? Mrs . Bailey . —I applied cold lotions . Mr . Blandford . —In what quantity ?
Mrs . Baifcy . —I applied a quart of vinegar with a quart ef water . Mr . Blandford . —A quart of vinegar , woman , to -a poor creature in such a state , in a close room , near a hot fire ? Why , she should have had buckets , and if ics or snow was to be had anywhere they should have been procured . She should have been put into damp sheets , and all the windows and doors thrown epen . The Jury having considered for half an hour returned a verdict , that " The deceased' Catherine Smart , died of rjirnorrage during child-birth , being in wont of proper medical attendance at the proper period . " The foreman ( Mr . Bott . of York-street , Westminster ) , at tho request of the jury , wished to add , that the thanks of tbe jurots were dne , and by bis mouth conveyed to Mr . Blandford , for his attendance at the inquest , and the assistance he had afforded .
Immediately af ter tha the poor widower was introduced , with tbe three children of the deceated , who were bom at one birth . They were very flue-looking little creatures , apparently about two years and a half old , and much grown for their years . Genteelly but plainly clad in full" mourning , their appearance as thoy clung rc-und their father , whom with a sort of instinctive sympathy they embraced , as if feeling he was their ouly support , excited general comiuisseration amongst the jururs , who instantly set on foot a shilling subscription to meet his immediate wants .
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THE OASTLER LIBERTY FUND . The press of matter occasioned by the great length ef the nil-important Thornley Collery ca « e ; reports of the Yorksbiie Assize , ic ic . completely prevented us even noticing the important meetings , to raise subscriptions for the release of Mr . Oastler , whieh have been hdd , since the meeting in tbe Leeds Court House . We now rrport progress , though m c ^ n only give an abstract of what has b * en done in tbe noble work of philanthropy and too-long delayed justice .
TilE MAXCBESTER . MEET 1 KG . On Thursday evening , Dec . 14 th , a public meeting of the friends of Mr . Oastler , convened by advertisement , " for the purpose of considering the best means to be adopted to raise funds to procure his immediate release from prison , " was held at the Corn Exchange , Hanging Ditch . Though one of the League ' s " Ticket ' gatherings took place at the Free Trade Hall at the same hour , there wasn most crowded attendance , every teat being occupied a full half-hour before tho time appointed for the commencement of tbe proceedings . Crowds subsequently poured in , aDd before tho chair was taken , the room was filled to oveiflowing . The chair was taken by Mr . Fieiden , 51 . P ., at a liUlu after eight , the meeting having , for some time previously , manifested considerable impatience for the speakers to come forward . Tbey were loudly cheered on their appearance on tbe platform .
The Chairman delivered a lengthy and excellent speech , in the course of which be was warmly applauded , and conoluded by introducing Mr . Gregory . Mr . Gkewrt moved and spike to the following resolution : — " That this meeting views with regret and Indignation the l « Bg and nnjust imprisonment of Mr . Oastler , iclxted upon him as a punishment for his able and disinterested advocacy of tbe rights of the poor , and persevered in with tho hope that the suffering of imprisonment and poverty may weaken , if not de-Btroy , the powerful advocate of their cause in future . That it is tbe imperative duty of every man to assist in obtaining tbe release of ilr . Oastler from prison , and in providirg for his future security , by aiding , with all tb . 6 means in bis power , a subscription for that purpose . "
Mr . XV . J . EODGETTS seconded , and Mr . J . P . Cob-BETT supported the resolution ; which was put and carried unanimously , amidst the most enthusiastic cheering . Mr . THoMaS Fielden moved— " That a subscription be raised within vhe counties of Lancashire , Cheshire , and Derbyshire , for tho purpose of obtaining the release of Mr . Oaotier , and of providing for his future security ; and that a treasurer and a central committee be appointed for carrying the resolutions of this meeting inio tffect within the said counties " Mr . James Leach , who was received with mncb applause , seconded the resolution . Mr . Ferrand , MP . was received with tbe most deafening cheers , the whole of the company risiDg and waving their hats . We give the following extracts from that gentleman ' s speech , all we can find room for , requesting the attention of our readers to
" THE GREAT FACT " of Mr . Alderman Brooks admission , that , " WE'RE ALL FOR OURSELVES IN THIS WORLD . " Mr . Ferranrt said , Ulr . Chairman and inhabitants of the town of Manchester , in rising to address you tonight , for the purpose of supporting the resolution which has been moved and seconded by tbe two preceding speakers , I can fearlessly say that never public man in thi 3 country , under the same circumstances , addressed a public meeting witb so much credit to himself—( applaue *) . For , in the part which 1 have considered it my duty to perform , as a Member of the House of Commons , I was led to believe , if I could have believed the assertion of those who gave
utterance to the expressions , that here , in the town of Manchester , if 1 dared to Bhow my face —( loud and prolonged chef-rs , and cries of " Long live Ferrand !")—that if I dared to appear before a public assembly in this town , a verdict of utter annihilation would await me —( " Never , never !")—that 1 should be driven from the town of Manchester with ignominy and disgrace—( " nfcver , neverj" )—for having brought charges against certain individuate which were false and unfounded—( applause ) . But here , my friends , in an open tueetiDg —( hear , hear ) , —without any tickets , for you to be driven to the counting-houBes for —( loud and prolonged cheers ) , —you have come here , clothed in the garb of true-born independent Englishmen—vapplause)—determined to stand by those who have stood by
you—( applause)—ai . d to preve to England and the world thai gratitude is yet a bright feature in the breaet of the labourer or England—( loud and long applause ) . Mr . Ferrand then proceeded to eulogise Mr . Oastler , and at sc-me length reviewed the services of that gentleman in his endeavours to obtain justice for tbe working dosses againbt the tyranny and grinding selfishness of the miliociacy . In illustration of tbe selfishness of tbe loud-mouthed " anti-monopolists , " (?) he introduced the folloiring ttkin § anecdotes j—In attempting to describe to you what I mean by selfish interest , I cannot do better than relate to you a short anecdote . During tbe period that the tariff was under discussion in tbe House of Commons , it happened that the subject of the diminution of the duty on coffee was to be brought forward on & particular night . I went down , Mr . Chahman , to the House of Commons , for the purpose of being present during tbe -debate . Ab I passed through the lobby of the Hotue , Mr . Croucher , the
parliamentary agent , whom I have no doubt you know , tapped me on the shoulder , and said— " Mr . Ferrand , I am extremely anxious to introduce to you a deputation from Manchester . " I turned round and said I should be most happy to meet any gentlemen from Manchester on any question . He said they wished to speak to me about the one now befote the bouse . " Allow me ( he said ) to introduce to yon Mr . Alderman Brooks . "—( Great laughter . ) I made a low bow to Mr . Alderman Brooks , and be did the same to me . — ( Laughter . ) " 0 , ( he eays ) Mr . Ferrand , I am glad to shake hands with you ; you ' ve given us some hard raps . "— { L 3 n ? bter ) •» 1 replied , I hope nothing bnt what is true , Mr . B . ooks . " " Why , { he said ) IinustBay . BoiDe of them are , some of them ar'n't" He then Baid—II Mr . Feiiand , I and Ihe gentlomen you see around me , ( and there were five or six along with him ) wish to ask you t <> "fvte oitainBX tha diminution of the duty on coff , - - _( i ; rtariaugfcter , and "There ' s free trade "; . I raiied my Lands : n astonishment . He saye— " I'll tell
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you how it ic You Bee there ' s myself and these gentlemen have been speculating very largely in coffee '—( great laughter ) . And my reply was— " And I hope , Mr . Brooks , you faave been taken in ' —( laughter ) . " Ay , ( he says ) you see , If Sir Robert Feel reduces tbe duty on coffee to tbe extent which he proposes to do we shall lose a very great sum of money . " "What ! ( I said ) this from Mr . Alderman Brooks , the great champion of the Anti-Corn Law Leage—( applause ) the apostle of free trade—( applause ) who is for doing away with every protective duty in the country I Impossible ! " "O , God love you , ( he said ) we're all for ourselves in this world ''—( Roars of laughter , the mirth being not a little heightened by the close imitation which the Hon . Member gave of the worthy
alderman ' s voice and manner ) . His ( Mr . Ferrand ' a ) reply was , that he saw before him the best sample of the Anti-Corn Law League , for be bad the honesty to speak truth , and liad admitted ft to be self-interest • But , my friends , I am addressing yon in the town where monopoly bos also raised its head in another way duriDg the last twelve months . It waa only last year that a grand dinner was given here to Mr . Emerson Tennant , by the calico-printers of Lancashire and tbe country at large . Amongst the subscribers to that splendid service of plate which was given to Mr . Emerson Tennant on that occasion , was Mr . Cobden —( bear , hear )—and that service of plate was given to Mr . Emerson Tennant for his successful exertions in obtaining an act of parliament which gives an unlimited
protection to the calico-printers of this country—( applause ) . Then , if such be the case , let me ask these men to met e out the same justice to you as they have given to themselves : if their property is to be protected , it is high time yours was—( loud applause ); And if you will stand true to the principles which I profess , and which your worthy Chairman and numerous other manufacturer ; are professing at this moment , we will , legally , peaceably , and constitutionally , obtain for you your just rights and privileges —( great applause ) . My friends , I'll give yuu another instance of self-interest . Mr . Williams , the member for Coventry , is a . great free-trader—( laughter ) . Last year a person c : une over from the continent for tbe purpose of obtaining
an act of parliament which should give him the power of manufacturing cheap watches in England ; be was applauded to tbe skies ; bat the free-trade watch and clock makers of Coventry sent word up to Mr . Williams— " If you vote for the destruction of onr trade we will vote you out of Coventry "—( Applause ) . And ao , fearing that he should be " seat to Coventry " a different way from what be had been heretofore , he went down to the House , voted against the act for cheap watches , calling it " a monopoly , ' and the man , who came from Switzerland , a " Swiss adventurer . " Mr . Ferrand continued at great length , interrupted only by repeated bursts of enthusiastic applause , and finally sat down amidst load and prolonged cheering .
The resolution was then put and unanimously carried . The Rev . J . ' Schoibfield , whs was received with much applause , moved— " That Mr . Thomas Fielden be the treasurer of ibis fund . " Mr . Daties seconded the resolution . The Rev . Mr . Stephens spoke in support of the resolution , which was carried unanimously . Mr . R . S . SoWLER moved tbe appointment of the committee , and Mr . R . B . B . Cobbeit seconded the motion .
The Chairman was about to put tha resolution , when some sensation was created in the meeting by the appearance of Mr . Alderman Brooks on the platform . He looked : about him , apparently a little bewildered , as though be bad got to tbe wrong meeting , but some few persons in the body of the room having called ont his name , he thrust forward to the front of the platform , and essayed to address the audience . At first it was all'dumb show , great confusion being caused by such an unexpected intrusion ; but the Chairman having stated that Mr . Brooks had been invited by the committee to attend , and that he wished to have an opportunity of addressing the meeting , he waa allowed t >> proceed .
Mr . Brooks then , evidently very much excited , said , I have been al another meeting , and I beard there waa a charge made against ma hero ( locking ut Mr . Ferruud , near to whom be stood ); so 1 thought I would come and see him face to fao?—( applause ) . Now , gentlemen , don't you think that is straight-forward ? Therefore , I do hope you'll give me a hearing . Yuu have heard , I suppose , from Mr . Ferruml , that I was one of a deputation in London who called upon him to get him to vote against the lowering of the duty on coffee ?—( "Yes . " ) And now you shall hear all tbe truth . He told you that , didn ' t he?— ( " Yes , yes . ') Is it true what he said , think you ?~ - ( loud cries of " Yes , " » nd " It ' s true . " ) Then I say there ' s not a word of truth in it —( groans and uproar , during which the speaker
was for some time inaudible ) . You see , I won't charge him with stating that which be did nut believe , murk you ; because people are often mistaken about matters —( laughter );—and I am quite sure he must have so understood me , or be vrould not have made the charge —( hear , hear ) . Now , I'll tell you how tLis coffee matter was —( groans and other niurkB of disapprobation ) . You shall bear every word , or else I'll wait while y « ai < 1 o . I say you are all suffrage people , as well as I ; but Von must learn better manners , fur its only fair that we should all be heard . Well , gentlemen , if you recollect , when Sir Robert Peel ' s tariff came out he made a difference in the coffees : I'll tell you what it was . The duty before the alteration was for Britiah plantation , 8 tl a poumi—( A voice : " No ;
sixpence . " ) : For British plantation , 8 d —( " Sixpence . " ) Here Sir . Brooks seemed to be trying to recollect himself , and after a shott consideration , said—0 , yes , I beg the gentleman ' s paidon ; it was sixpence ; he ' s right . — ( Liu ^ hter , and great confusion , which led tbe Chairman to interfote iii behalf of Mr . Brooks , who , after a pause , proceeded with his statement . ) Now , gentlemen , on British plantation it was 6 d ., and on foreign , that is , that which has gone round the Cape , 9 d . Now , they toot one-third of tho duty off the British , and made it 4 d . ; but instead of taking onethird , or 3 d ., off tbe foreign , they only took off 1 ( 3 . Now , what I went to London with the deputation for was to get then , to take tbe same proportion of duty off the foreign coffee , as they were taking off the British plantation . They took 3 d . off the British , but
only Id . off tbe foreign , thereby robbing the people of this country , who used foreign coffne , of 21 . in the pound . Now , why I went to London on the depntation was to get the foreign coffee reduced one-third , to Sd . And ! will tell you wby I went ; the flrafc thing was my own interest ; for 1 lost £ 3 , 000 , and a friend of mine lost a similar sum . —( A burst of ironical cheers and laughter , which was Kept up some minutes . ) I see you'll understand it ; if you'll wait , I'll bring it to your senate . —( Continued uproar . ) Now , gentl « men , the government robbed the people that day of £ 300 , 000 , in consequence of the differential duties . If it had not been for this , I should have been able to sell my foreign coffee 2 d . a pound cheaper . It was a dead robbery ^ on the men who held foreign ceffee . —( Irouical cheers . ) Mr . Brooks having paused till the noise should subside ,
Mr . FERRAND lose , and was greeted with niest deafening cheers . He said—That is not the charge which I made against you , Mr . Brooks— - ( Cheers . ) Mr . Brooks— -What was it then?—( laughter ) . Mr . Ferrand—Mr . Brooks was going to make a long speech about the different duties on coffee : I said to him that was not the charge , and he turned round and asked what it was . Now , he came into the room , and said every word I had uttered against him was untrue . I sisk yeu if he has not proved it out of hia own mouth?—( loud cheers , and " He has ) " ) . And I now , in his presence , repeat what I stated before , and what I should not have repeated this evening had I not known that the gentlemen below were reporting it , and that it would meet his eye—tapplause ) . I stated
that I was passing through the lobby of the House of Commons , to take my place in that House , during the debate on the reduction of the duty on coffeeB . As I passed through it Mr . Croucher , the parliamentary agent , tapped me on the back , and he said , " Allow me , Mr . Ferrand , to introduce you U > a deputation of gentlemen from Manchester . ' Mr . Alderman Brooks came up , and Mr . Croucher said , " Mr . Ferrand , Mr . Alderman Brooks . " I said , " How do you do , Mr . Alderman Brooks ? I am happy to bo introduced to you , or to any deputation from Manchester "—( applause ) . He said , " I am B « ppy to be introduced to you Mr . Ferrand . You have said some strong things against us . " I said , " I hope I have said nothing but what is true '—( applause ) . He said , "Aye , there ' s some 1
bard bits , and some of them ' s perhaps true '—( great applause ) . He seemed ail in a hurry to tell me about this coffee : for I have no hesitation , as I said this evening , in saying that he is one of the honestest in the lot But Mr . Croucher said , " You bad better let me state tbe case to Mr . Ferrand ; " and before he got half way through , Mr . Brooks could not be quiet , but he began himself , and said , " Ay , and this gentleman , along with myself , has been speculating in coffee ; and if Sir Robert Peel reduces the duty to the extent be proposks , we shall be great losers . " Now , he telis you to-night that he baa lost £ 3 , 000 —( Applause ) . I held up my bands in amazement , and I s . iid , " What ! Mr . Alderman Brooks , the chahman of the Anti-Corn Law League ! tbe man who supports it with
his pocket to the extent he does ! he who proclaims himself the advocate of free trade and no protective duties 1 What ! you oppose the reduction of duty on coffee , by which the poor man could have his cup of coffee reduced in price !"— ( Applause ) . " 01 the says ) you see we are all for eutselves in this world ''—( loud cheers and laughter ) . ( Here the Hon . Member fixed a steady gaze upon poor Mr . Brooks , who was seated cl « se beside , looking dreadfully agitated ) . New , then , let Mr . Brooks deny that , and I will produce witnesses who heard it—( cheers )—at tbe doox of the House of Commons , in the presence of tbe door-keepers , in the presence of Mr . Croucher , in the presence of other gentlemen , as well as of the deputation who surrounded him ; and what I have Bald , I will stand by to the last boor of my life—( loud cbeen ) .
Mr . Brooks again attempted to speak , bnt the aolse was ao great that only a few unconnected words could be heard . We understood him to allege that Mr . Ferrand had varied tbe terms of the charge against him , and to state that the deputation had gone to London , not to keep up the duty , but to get it reduced , and that Mr . Croucher , the parliamentary agent , was specially employed by them for that purpose . * At the close of this scene , Mr . R . Sovcler moved a vote of thanks to Mr . Ferrand , for bis attendance at the meeting , and his able aud consistent advocacy of
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the interests of the working classes . The motion , being seconded , was carried amidst enthusiastic cheering . The thanks of tbe meeting were then voted to tbe Chairman by acclamation ! The proceedings terminated with three cheers for MrJ Ferrand , three cbeers for Mr . Oastler , three for Mr . O'Connor , three for Frost , Williams , and Jones , three for the Northern Star and three for the Manchetter Courier , and tbtee groans for tbe Manchester Guardian , j Oldeam . — A meeting was held in the Town Hall , on Friday evening , the 15-th Inst The room was filled to overflowing . Mr . Wm . Taylor , manufacturer was called to the cbair . Thejusual resolutions were adopted unanimously , and a committee was appointed to carry out the objects of the meeting . Mr . Ferrand was present and was most enthusiastically received .
Bolton . —On Saturday evening , Dec . 16 th , a meeting was held in the Temperance Hall . The usual resold tions were meved and ipofcun to by Messrs . Myerscough , Fisbwick , Ferrand , and ethers . A committee was appointed to carry the object of the meeting into effect ; and after a vote jof thanks to Mr . Forr&nd and tbe chairman , tho meeting separated . Stockport . —On Monday , Dae . 18 th , a large and enthusiastic meeting was holden in the Hall of Science . Mr . Ferrand delivered d lengthy and able address , in the course of which he was enthusiastically applauded . A committee was appointed to raise subscriptions .
Preston . — A crowded and enthusiastic meeting was held in the Theatre , on ; Wednesday evening , Dec 20 . Mr . T . Swinglehurst was called to the cbair . Mr . Ferrand , M . P ., speke at great length in support of the objects of the meeting , ; almost every sentence of his speech elicited unbounded enthusiasm . A committee was appointed , and the meeting bTeke up .
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NEW ( ZEALAND . We have been requested to give the following extracts from a letter received at Hull from the undersigned parties . The husband , Jonas , is a native of Holbeck ( Leeds *) . The' writers' descriptions of life in New Zealand will be found interesting . Nelson , New Sealand , Feb . 14 th , 1843 . Dear Parents , —We sailed from Gravesend on the 1 st of AugUBt with abouttwo hundred persons on board , including men , women , and children . We met with contrary winds and bad weather for three weeks , and had a great deal of sea sickness on board . We came in sight of Madeira on the 23 rd August , and have had five deaths up to this time . We have had three deaths during the last five weeks , and have had four births during the same time , and ali the women have done well , but only one of tbe children has lived .
On the 82 nd November we had a most awful stormthe thunder and lightning was terrible . We thought the ship was on fire for sbme time ; the captain and several of tho sailors were blinded for a few minutes ; ene of the sailors lost the use of his limbs altogether . There was not one adult died during the voyage , box any children above five years old . We suffered a good deal from sea sickness , but the children ailed very little . We arrived here on the 21 &t of December , and we need scarcely say we were a > l rwell pleased to get safe on land once more—tbe natives : erowded round ub to welcome us in their usual way . The men and women all wear a blanket to cover them , ; except a few who adopt the
English dri-ss , which we think vviUbecome more general amongst them . They are a line race of people , kind and hospitablo in the extreme They are perfectly harmless , and much attached to tbe white people . Some few of thorn can understand a good deal of English , all of them a little ; they are remarkably honest , but like to have things given to them , such a % pipes , tobacco , neerfl ; a , cotton , o biscuit . Weihave frequently six or eight of th < -m in the house together ; tbey walk in ono after another without any ceremony , and seat themselves on the floor . We have not seen a house with windowshutters , bolts , or locks to the door ; every one thinks themselves safe without . !
The country is one of | the finest in the world , such a one as we never beheld—it is very mountainwus : some of the mountains are three jmiles bigb—many covered with suow all the year round , j and several with evergreensthere aro beautiful flowers growing wild . We have not seen a bit of fruit of al » y description . There is none but a few young plants that have been brought from England lately . There i « fish of almost every kind in abundance—tbe natives fwill sell one that weighs twelve or fourteen pounds for a shilling . There are plenty of vegetables , but they are rather dear . The land will produce anything you like to grow upon it in a very remarkably short time , i Land is letting at a low rent in some parts of tbe colony !; Clothing is very dear ; there art > several large stores ; where they sell all kinds of
things , both eatables , drinkables , and wearables . We can buy some things as cheap aa in England . Porter is 8 'Japfnt ; bread is 6 d ; per two pound loaf ; bntter 2 s Gd to 3 s « d per pound ; cheese 2 s Cd per pound ; cjinriles Is 6 A perpoend ; mutton and beef from 1 b to Is 2 d per pound ; fl > ur , best quality , 24 * p « r cwt , coffee Is per ponnd ; tei , good , 4 s to 5 i ; milk 6 d per pint ; fresh pork 9 d per pound ; Bait pork 7 d pet pound ; salt 2 <\ per pound ; potatoes Id per pound ; starch Is 4 d per pound ; loaf sugar lOd per pound ; raw sugar 4 > l to 6 d per pound ; eggs 3 d each ; soap 6 < J per pound ; rice 5 d pe * pound ; wines cheap . There are plenty of curious shells , plenty of wild pigeons , plenty of wild ducka and pigs , besides a variety of small birds . f
Trade is not very brisk here at present , but there is every prospect of an improvement . We have ten ships here at present ; two from England . When any of the emigrants are sick , the company ' s surgeon attends ! them gratis . If the husband is sick , they give him the best of attendance , and medicine , and keep him and his family until he is better—and keep them ! well too . The doctor is the kindest man we ever met with as a surgeon . We can wish for nothing better ' than the arrangements of the country . Tbe houses are mostly built of wood , a few of bricks , and some thatched . i Jonas and Mary Rider .
C^Av«0t; 3ent?Utgencc. C Excluded From Our Last For Want Of Room. )
C ^ av « 0 t ; 3 Ent ? Utgencc . C Excluded from our last for want of room . )
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SOUTH LONDON . Chartist Hall . —The Chartists of this locality have fixed the 1 st of January , 1844 , for the collecting ! and receiving subscriptions for the National Tribute . { A Donai ion of five shillings has been received from Mr . Enaor , Tunbtidge Wells , for the above Hall . Marylebone . —At a meeting of the members of this locality of the National Charter Association , held on Wednesday evening , ; Dec . 20 tb , at the Mechanics Institution , Circus-street , New Road , the following resolutions were agreed ; to : — " That we agree with the
proposition to pay Id . per month to the National Victim Fund , and earnestly impress upon our Chartist brethren throughout the country the propriety of their adopting similar means [ to support the wives and families of our unjustly persecuted brethren . That the first cellection take place on Sunday , Jan . 7 th , 1844 , and that the council be instructed to forward the proceeds immediately to the National Victim Committee with a request that they take [ into their immediate consideration the case of Mrs . Ellis , with the view of giving her every assistance in their ; power .
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FRANCE . —The ( Legitimists . —Louis Philippe has dismissed eight Mayors of communes for attendnsj the levees of the Duke of Bordeux at Belgrave-Fquare . j The Fortifications—Another guardhouse , says La Reforme . ia about I to be erected and fortified at the pavilion of the institute on the Quai Malaquais . According to the proposed plan , this fortress will present twenty loopholes on the side of the river Seine , ten on each side , and ten in the Rue de Seine , making altogether fifty . The guardhouse which exists near the same situation is condemned as not { sufficiently formidable .
Prince Louis Napoleon has instituted a suit against the publio treasury of France , and the case was called on Thursday , in the Chamber of First Instance of Paris . The Prince claims the payment of au annuity ( in perpetuity ) of 1 , 800 , 000 francs , granted to him by a senatus-consullum of 1810 , ' constitutive of the appanage of King Louis and Queen Hortense . He adduces likewise , in support of his pretensions , an ordinance of King Louis XYIIL , conferring the estate of St . Leu on Queen Hortense , who Was known ever } afterwards under the title of Duchess de St . Leu . j The Treasury opposes to the demand of Prince Louis a plea of incompetency . The affair has been , ipostnonod until a future dav .
when M . Nogant St . ] Laurent is to plead for tbe Prince , and M . Poug ^ t for the Treasury . SPAiN .- ^ Intelligence from Madrid of the Utti jns t * nt , state that Olozaga continued to absent him-Bolf from the sitting ^ of the Cortes . Ho does not sleep in his own house , bHt , is said to be concealed in . the house of one of Wb friends . A great number of Opposition members had also absented themselves , and , about thirty off them , according to some accounts , had left the capital to rouse the provinces against the Bravo Ministry . Tbe discussion in the Cortes , on the Queen ' s declaration , continued , but the interest in the affair waa subsiding . The Deputies who spoke last were Alconand Cortina .
, Bayonne , Dec . 20 . 4-In the sitting of the 17 th , the Congress adopted , by a majority of 101 to 48 , the proposition of a message to the Queen . The Times Correspondent , writing from Madrid , on the 17 th , says : —The Gazette teems with dismissals aud promotions j by the new Ministry . Gefes PoliticoB , Coutadores ; and Inteudeutes of Customs
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and Taxes in various provinces figure in the daily list of changes along with judges and magistrates . The Camarilla is undoing all that the Provisional Government did at such cost to the conn try during its short and troubled reign , and preparations for civil war are evidently once more on foot . Indications are already apparent at Saragossa , where . the townspeople paraded the city in crowds , playing their famous national air , " La Jota Arraffonesa , and giving vivas for the constitution , and mueras fat traitors ! These crowds were dispersed , on the night of the 10 th instant , by the bayonet ; but the citizens continuing to promenade , shout , and play tbetjota , and matters growibg worse , a bando was published by the Gefe Politico , on the 13 th , pro * hjbiting its performance , and placing the disobedient under the operation of martial law .
Here , in Madrid , all is sympathetic alarm and military precaution . Sentinels , with loaded musketr , are placed at the corners of cross streets . The Princeaa Regiment is kept ready in its barrack , untroubled by garrison duties of an ordinary character and ready at a moments warning to be let loose on the turbulent . Narvaez drives about with a sergeant ' s guard of Hussars in front and rear , and au aide-de-camp at each of his carriage windows armed with a carbine " ready" to deal with anybody who looks like an assassin .
Catalonia . —A letter from the frontiers of Catalonia , iu the Phare of Bayonne , informs us that the fort of Figueras continued to fire on the 14 th on the fortifications thrown up by Prim . That person , ia the hope of deterring Amettler from firing upon the town , had resorted to the extraordinary proceeding of sending detachments into the country to arrest ell the relations of the insurgents who could be found , and bring them into Figueras . This barbarous measure , however , appears to have had no effect upon the insurgent chief , whose fire has rather increased than diminished since his own family and three of his friends and partisans have been dragged into the town to sustain the horrors of a bombardment .
GREECE . —A Trieste letter of the 13 sh states , that some disagreeable scenes had taken place ia Athens , on December 6 , on account of a motion by M . Packos , oue of the members of the National Assembly , for pecuniary relief to be given to distressed foreigners . Tne people when they heard of this , collected before tbe house of the deputy , and broke his windows . Another riot took place in consequence of a satirical article on the Greek nation , inserted in a journal published by M . Soatjos . The Ministry had been compelled , in order to quiet the people , to order M . Soatjos to quit the country .
Prepahations of the Russian Government . — The Cologne Gazette having stated that the Russian Government had sent strong reinforcements to the army of the South , and this having been contradicted by other German journals , the Gazette repeats its statement . It adus , on the authority of letters from Bessarabia , that the reinforcement amounts to fifteen thousand men , aad that the evident motive for it is to keep down the agitation that reigns in the provinces bordering on Turkey , and also to be prepared for any insurrection of tbe Greek population in Turkey .
CANADA . —The disruption of the French minictry produced a prodigious excitement in Kingston , which continued till iate in the evening of Tuesday the 28 th ult ., the date of our last advices . No explanation had been given for this explosion , but Lalontaine , who is the master-spirit of the French party in United Canada , has promised the Assembly to give it in a few days . In the meantime , he and his adherents remain with the governor , but in an inactive state till he forms a new ministry . It is impossible to tell what has been the chief cause of this difficulty . It will shake Canada to >
pieces , unless Sir Charles Metcalfe acts with tacfc and decision . Ever since the coalition of the French and British interests , or rather siuce tbe French were placed in power over the British , the pot of trouble has been boiling till the steam has forced the top off and brought on a crisis . Kingston was full of rumours as to what course the governor wonld pursue , but the most probable was , that he would call Draper , formerly Attorney-General of Canada , and Morris , aa independent member of the Legislative Council , to bis aid . These men have just influence enough with the French , it is said , to give the administration a working majority .
We find in the jXiagtra Chronicle accounts of disturbances which had taken place amongst the Irish employed on the Welland canal . Fire-arms were used , and the result waB the death of two or three men and a number wounded . The same journal states t hat it was given iu evidence at the investigation , that the men employed in the quarries were ia possession of no less than one hundred stand of arms —a fact which , the writer considered , should induce the Government to consider whether tho country is not iu want of an arms bill .
FOREIGN MISCELLANY . The Dead Alive . —ia Presse publishes the following statement : —During the night of the 7 th instant , a man was supposed to die in the hospital of Gex . On the following morning he was placed in a cofRn . At eieven o ' clock the same day preparations were made for his funeral , when suddenly a noise was heard from within the coffin . The lid , which had been nailed down , was then raised , and the man was removed alive . He had only fallen into a lethargic sleep . . Mount Etna- —The Auqshurg Gazette states , that the late eruption of Mount Etna had been most fatal —130 persons have perished , and the hospitals are filled with wounded . The small town of Bronte has hitherto escaped uninjured ; but letters of the 4 th in . sfc . annnnnfie fresh disustera .
The Eruphon of Mount Etna . —Aderno , Nov 26 . —I wrote to you yesterday in great haste ( as an opportunity for Catania and Messina was just offering ) from a place which people have agreed to call a convent , but which at the present moment scarcely offers a miserable shelter to the traveller caught by bad weather , —where , before a sparing fire of dearly bought brushwood , he may dry his garments a little and warm himself . During the time I was writing my letter the top of the mountain had commenced , with reuewed vehemence , and with tremendous noiso , to throw out , at first thick black clouds of smoke and vapour , and soon afterwards a mass of water , ashes , sand , and enormous stones , which flew away in every direction , and probably , at feast to leeward
, to a great distance . We did not think ourselves any longer secure in our place of refuge , and we left it to get nearer to the road leading to Aderno , as it now had become impossible , without much circuitous travelling , to reach Bronte , where I origina . Uy intended to proceed . Wo had , however , scarcely come into the open air , when we became aware that the present new volcano , in half height of the north-western declivity of the mountain , had also recommenced to rage , and to throw out a mass of fiery lava , which , as every unevenness of the ground has been filled up by the effluxions going en since the 18 th , poured down with immense velocity into the valley in a southern direction from Bronte . The vapour which this efilux from hell emitted , and the
gas which developed itself , made breathing difficult . Being so near , we began to feel rather uneasy and retired therefore towards Aderno , without , however , losing sight of the firestream . It had pursued , in the meantime , the direction tasen up before , and roiled itself with a roaring noise over the road , already destroyed and covered thirty feet high with dross and rubbish , and over the descent , cultivated with great industry , towards the sloping banks of the Simeto . On this descent a great number of men and women , inhabitants of Bronte and its vicinity , were busy trying to save from this universal devastation the fruits of hard and uninterrupted toil of many years , at least the wood of the olive , and other fruit trees , for firewood . When the firestream surprised them , many of them , some thirty persons , were completely surrounded and burned to death , and several others could only be saved with great
difficulty , and not without dangerous wounds . Last night the new crater and the lava-stream presented a sight which can only be speechlessly looked upon , but cannot be described . The moon came coldly piercing through the gloomy clouds and hung her pale light over the country , bloodred illuminated by the fire oi the eruption and of the liquid Java . Here and there , when the stream threw itself over a declivity or a craggy rock , a new awful noise arose ; when the laya reached trees or shrubs , clear flames were flickering up suddenly , but only for momenta , and also the distant trees were seen toblazaandfall . The highest cone of the giaat mount did not keep quiet all this time , but continued with tbe same violence to throw out , although without fire . During the night the imposing sight was heightened by vivid lightning forking through the darkness of the black clouds of smoke . —Augsburg Gazette .
Duelling— Fbankfobt , Dec . 15—We have just learned that at eleven o ' clock yesterday morning a duel , with pistols , took place at Oggersheim , ia Rhenish Bavaria , between Moritz von Haber and Von Sorachaga , in which the latter was shot . Von Haber returned yesterday to Menta . Von Sarachaga was killed on the spot . This is the third victim which this ^ melancholy affair has caused—Frankfort Zeilung : The Tomb as Napoleon— " It is now four years " says the Corsaire . " since the Chambers voted the
funds accessory for the erection of the Emperors tomb . To-day , after a lapse of four years , not a stone ef the Imperial monument has yet been laid . Bnt next June it will be four years since the Chambers had the weakness to vote the embaslUlement of Paris—a work worthy of the Titans . Well I nofc only hate the bastilles been constructed , but extensive works have been added to the Castle of Vincennes , and another fort has been erected at Aubervilliers , of which no mention is made in the law . Compare , and draw the inference . "
Hurricane at Buenos Ayhes—A violent humcane occurred in tha River Plate , on the 8 th of October , when seventeen vessels where driven on shore ; the water suddenly rose unusually high , and washed down feeveral houses at Buenos Ayres , and property to a considerable" extent wa » damaged ,
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6 THE NORTHERN STAR . 1 ¦ ' ., _ -. ., — _
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• Mr . Broofcs baa since tbe above meeting again denied the truth of Mr . Ferrand ' s statement A friend of Mr . Brook ' s , who Ins volunteered a letter in his defence in the Momivg Chronicle , aJmits that the words « ' We ' re all for ourselves j in this world , " wete spoken by Mr . Brooks , but he asserts that they were applied in another sense to that alleged by Mr . Ferrand . Our readers may decide for jthenaselves . They know Mr . Ferrand , and they know something of the blustering Lsaguer , Mr . Alderman Brooks , ( at least our Manchester readers do , I tbey will have no difficulty in deciding which man to believe . :
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 30, 1843, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct834/page/6/
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