On this page
- Departments (5)
-
Text (14)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
±mi) ittofcrmnrtg
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY, DECEMBER 21, 1344.
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
DISTRESSED iXXKDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IX MIDDLESEX.
-
3To ttraftrr* ana Gomttpoitirntt*
-
acritifnp, $3ffjfncr& £tupte0t0, ' &c
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.
-
-
Transcript
-
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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
A . meeting of the landholders and principal inhabitants of the parish of Rtdslip , Middlesex , convened by U . Dean , Esq ., the Lord of the Manor , -was held this day { Saturday ) in the vestry-room of the church , for jhe purpose ©! adopting means for bettering the con-2 Mon of the labouring poor of the parish . The meettng "was held in consequence of another meeting convened by the churchwardens and over-Seers , and held on " "Wednesday , the ± ih instant , having terminated without any satisfactory result
having been come to . Ralph Dean , Esq ., having been called to the chair , the meeting was addressed by several of the gentlemen present , and the following resolutions -were unanimously agreed to : — "That , certain lands in the parish , of Ruislip , the property of Ralph Dean , Esq ., amounting to about forty acres , be lured for the purpose of spade culti-TStion . " That a person be appointed to live in the house situate on such lands : -which person must be a good accountant , and capable and accustomed to measuring land generally .
" That the lands so hired be held in trust by the said Mr . Dean , the Rev . C . Packe , vicar , and Messrs . Soames , Pearce , Houghton . < fcc , for such poor persons in the parish of Ruislip , desirous of having the same , as tenants'in common , subject nevertheless , to the following conditions : — " That the person appointed to superintend ( as proposed in the second resolution ) be authorised to issue tickets upon the treasurers , Messrs . Hall , Smith , and Co ., bankers ., "Oxbridge , tor all works the tenants shall perform , ai the rate of twopence per pole for the digging , and for the other works in proportion . " That the owners and occupiers of land in the parish of Ruislip be and are hereby requested to come lorwai-d aiidmake up a fund , to be advanced for the cultivation and cropping of such land , such fund to amount to the sum of £ 200 .
¦ " That every pei'soa who advances £ 2 and up-¦ wards shall be constituted a member , and shall be entitled to vote upon any question that the trustees may br ing forward , as to the present or future management of the land . That every person advancing £ o shall have two votes , £ 10 four votes , £ 15 six votes , £ 20 eight votes ; and that the churchwardens , overseers and guardians of the parish bo appointed visitors .-during the term they hold such office * . " That ihe farmers and others in" Ruislip shall give all the assistance in } their power , by occasionally dtaivinjr jnannre , « fcc . to the said land .
"' That a sale of tie whole-of the produce of the said land shall take place annually , by auction , the last week , at the latest , of the mouth of " October , iu each year , after which a division of the proceeds of the crop , and a statement of the Teceipts and expenses , shall be laid before the trustees . " That after paying the rent and taxes on such iaad , and the money advanced for carrying on the work , the halance of the sale of the crops shall be paid over by the trustees to such poor persons who shall Lave so laboured , in equal moieties , according to their re ^> ective shares . * ' That any person havLns a share in the division of such profits , being convicted of felony , shall be excluded from the benefits of such division . "
Messrs . Dean , Houghton , llill , Pearce , and Stone , Soames , ic , immediately put down their names for sums amounting to upwards of £ 100 ; and the above , and several other gentlemen , at the suggestion of Captain Tite , entered into a liberal subscription for the immediate relief of the poor of the parish during the present inclement season . The meeting then adjourned .
Untitled Article
SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE . ^ Lloyd ' s , Saxcbdat , Dec . 1-L—Wind easterly . light breeze , and cloudy . Fuvnrra , Dec . 13 . — Wind E . S . E .. strong gales . Bolivar , Faro , for Newcastle , with bowg stove , damage to bulwarks , stancheons , it ., and sails split , having been la contact with a brig on the night of the 7 th inst ., kt . 49 , long . 10 . W . The Velocity , Blandford , from Hamburgh to F 020 < Newfoundland ) . ruit nine teen days , has put back leaky , decks swept , bulwarks , sails , and stancheona carried away , and with one man waslied overboard , having encountered severe gales from -v to W ., and proceeded as . far as lat . 49 , long . 50 "W . Loth , Dec . 13 . —The sloop Carron , bound to Aberiady . laden with grain , drove ashore , Oth inst ., ¦ Hithia the creek at Aberiady , and fell with the tide ; -cargo saved in a damaged state . The Thomas and James , of Shields , from Leven to Dundee , foundered , Sib . inst .. off Todd ' s Bead : crew saved .
Geimsbt , Dec . 12 . —The Lavinia , of London , got on the Middle Sand to-day , came off , and sank about s mile above ike Ness Buoy . The Sylphide , from Baiavla 10 Amsterdam , has put in here with both pumps going , having struck on the Solar Sand ; crew exhausted with pumping- The Meridian , of South Shields , got on the Middle Sand , came off leaky . The GLenalvon , Gibbs , from Stettin , is in the Itoa&s , -with eight feet water in her hold , and extra hands on board to work the pumps , and will , if possible , be got into the harbour this evening .
±Mi) Ittofcrmnrtg
± mi ) ittofcrmnrtg
Untitled Article
REPEAL ASSOCIATION . —Dlbllx , Dzc . 16 . The weekly meeting of the Repeal Association was held at the Conciliation-hall to-day . Mr . Nicholas Markey , of Walshestown , was called to the thair . The Sechetaet read a communication from Mr . Steele , the head pacificator , who had gone to Leitrim and Cavan for the purpose of putting down the system of Ribbonism , lately established in those counties under the name "" Molly Maguires . " It was accompanied 1 > t an address from Mr . Steele , which he had promulgated among the inhabitants of the disaffected districts . Mr . O'Coxszll moved the most marked thanks ¦ of tbe association to his esteemed friend and companion in every struggle for the liberties of Ireland , - Tom Steele , and also xlie insertion of Tii < letter on The mimm 1 *
Mr . OY-t » - > -Eii again rose , and after abusing the Xraiitcsitr newspaper for . tie alleged * ' ignorance ¦ and insokiire" of its editors , proceeded to comment On the fo ; ii ! i-ial injustice done to Ireland by the Act Of Union , lie concluded a lengthy address by saying that the association would hold but two meetings more in Hat year , but they should commence JS 4-5 as if they were then only realiy beginning to agitate for repeal , aud a ? if all they had hitherto done were as nothing : 1 S 43 was the repeal year for monster meetings , 1 S 44 for patience and for legal triumph , but 1545 should fce marked by the weekly collection of the repeal rent . If it were to be but ; Is . or Id . in any locality , * till it sliould be collected weekly . They solicited from no m ; in more than Is . a year , or onefarthing a-week , with four weeks for nothing ; but if every man snoscribed that sum thev would have £ 50 , 0 w and be would expect even £ PHj , OfMjat the end
of the year . Lord Cloncurry stated eight years ago , and it Lad never since been contradicted , that in 1330 tjie Duke of Weiiinston and his niinsitry had agreed to propose a modification of the union : and what he did then lie could be compelled to do again ; sud wliro they had £ -3 ) , 0 ( H ) hi one year , where was the man who would tell them that they were not in earnest , or that repeal ^ could ]> e any longer delayed \ Mr . u ' L " onnell concluded _ by moving that the Repeilirs throughout Ireland be called upon to demonstrate their persevt-ranc-e in the repeal cause by sending in weekly toniribiidons on and after the 1 st of January , l > 4-5 . The motion was earned unanimously . After the disposal of sonieromine business , Mr . U'Co ^ CTEij , announced the rent for the week ty be £ 179 12 s . 2 d . Mr , Edward Clements , barrister , ¦ was then called to the ciiair , and the meeting ad-> 3 um «? d .
Untitled Article
DUNCOMBE TESTIMONIAL , liitsi Meeting or tile Ieish is Lo > tx > . n i > Aid or the Testimonial to ^ Fixsbukt ' s Pbiu £ . "—A numerous -mm 3 highl y respectable nieetini : " was held in the Tt-nijKjranee llall , Clement Vlane , Lincoln Vinn . on Sunday evening , Dec . 15 . Tbe meeting was con vened in accordance with a vote unaniniouslv passi-d at the Repeal Wardenniote , viz . — " That subscriptions be raised in each Repeal Ward in support of the tes timonial to tliat great and good patriot , Thomas SEngsby Duncombe . " Mr . ATo * Neil , K . W . V ., was unanimously called to the chair . He said that his coxmtrymen had taken up this subject with a free hEart and good -erilL ( Cheers . ) He regretted that the subject had not been taken up at an earlier period , but matters connected with their own 1 Repeal i
movement had occupied their time ; and , come what would , they were determined not to desert their own cause , but stick to it until Repeal was -successful . ( Loudand continued cheers . ) They had however now commenced , and were determined to do their best to raise a testimonial to that good man , Mr . Duncombe . ( Cheers . ) He ( Mr . Duncombe ) had always proved himself a patriot ; and his constituents had good grounds to be proud yf their representative . Let the meeting bear in inind , that at the great dinner given to the " I liberator" in Covent Garden Theatre , while the State Trials were pending , Mr . Duneoiabe honoured them by presiding . ( Cheers ) . Mr . Duncombe , too , had successfully exerted himself to raise the large meeting in Covent Garden Market
to'address her Majesty for the release . of O'Connell and Ms fellow-martyrs from , the Richmond Penitentiary . ( Loud cheers ) . Although Mr . Duneombe yras not yet a Repealer , lie had seen -him divide the House three times in one night in favour of the rights of Irishmen , andie had no doubt but that his ( Mr . Duncombe ' s ) honest principles would induce Vim to follow the excellent example of Mr . Smith O'Brien , imdj-miajnErthat there-was no chance of iustice being done for Ireland , throwing himself , heart and soul , into the ranks , become an uncompromising Repealer . { Cheejs ) . Nothing "would afford hi ™ greater pleasure ihan to see a large united party in England 3 effby Mr . Duncombe . ( Great cheering ) . He was : & 2 y aware the enemies of England werethe enemies
Untitled Article
of Ireland—( hear , bear ) ; and he was quite certain he spoke the sentiments of his countrymen when he said they were always ready to aid and assist the English in obtaining their just rights . Mr . Duncombe ' s great services in exposing and putting a stop to the nefarious proceedings of the miscreant Utter 0 }> ener should never be forgotten . ( Loud cheers . ) Messrs . Cuffay , Thorn , and Stallwood , as a deputation from the Central Committee , briefly addressed the meeting in favour of the object , and were most cordially greeted . Mr . Thomas O'Connor also ably and eloquently addressed the meeting ; after which a collection was * made , a vote of thanks given to the chairman , and the meeting separated . The sums collected will be announced when all the wards have made their returns to the Warden-Mote .
The New Beidoe op Athloxb . — Appalling Mcrdeb . —On Monday last the body of an unfortunate woman was found in the river at Seven Churches , a distance of seven miles from town , with he throat cut from side to side . —Galtvay Paper .
The Northern Star Saturday, December 21, 1344.
THE NORTHERN STAR SATURDAY , DECEMBER 21 , 1344 .
Untitled Article
THE SURPLUS . Thtxe is not now to be found in our language a term more fashionable , or one in more general use , than the word " surplus . " The malcontents have each their peculiar surplus , which is respectively urged by them as the cause of each peculiar jrrievance . If want of employment i 3 complained of , we are met with surplus machinery . Want of prices is met by surplus produce ; popular discouitnt hv surplus population . There is a surplus of
labour iu the markeuand a surplus of money in the market a surplus of labour that cannot be diminished to the safety point : and a surplus of capital that seeks employment with the least possible reference to labour . We hav «> a surplus of paupers , and the Prime Minister has a surplus of money—the only surplus to which tangible -ralue is attached : while vrc fear that the Right Hon . Gentleman will discover , that of all surpluses , his will be the mo-t difficult to deal with .
Having procured a surplus " per /*» et nefai ; " by hook and br crook : hy Chinese-ransom , income-tax , pro perry-tax , and duties on increased importations to supply denciencv caused by commercial apprehension pending thv discussion of the Right Honourable Baronet ' s Tariff ; we sa _ v , having procured a surplus , Sie IIobzbt Peel will £ nd it difficult to persuade his backers that there can be a surplus of parsoDS ; a surplus of sailors , of soldiers , ol placemen , of pt-nsioners . excisemen , custom-house o £ Bcers spies , lackeys , eovernment dependents , hangers on , and
vrraUhj idlers of every description . >' o , no ; howeveT some might imagine that the Reform Bill really meant retrenchment , ret those who have again sprung info existence as representatives of the old system , will not believe in tlie necessity of retrenchment while the Prime ilinisti-r has a larg ^ e surplus revenue ^ on the contrary such a god-send . howeTcr procured , or however looked udoh as cash-in-hand to meet coming exigencies , ever has been considered , and under the present system ever will be considered , as a windfall applicable to the wants and demands of idlers ; in fact , as a patronage fund .
J ' e are drawing the picture of a system , and not of a man : but we are showing that still the system lives , and that it will make the man subservient to its vices . On all q-aestions of chances , speculation , contingencies , and every thln j that is problematical , the supporters of Sir Robebt Pxel yield implicit obedience to the will of their leader . He U an embodiment of their fears , their doubts , and their aj . jn elrciisi-. 'iia , rather than the representative of their ulfection or their confidence : and therefore , in the balancing of the great antagonist interests ; in deferring their day of judgment ; in screening them , pro Um , from the active assaults of the Corn Law League , and in saving them
from the roaring thunder of prim Poverty and the flashing blazv of the agricultural torch , they are pliant , vielding subservient , and obsequious : but the moment the dread of the future is calmed by present prospect , and especially such a prospect as a divisible surplus , then do the bumpkins in their pot-valiancy lose sight of the financial arithmetic , ofnciul calculations , and ministerial schemes , by which the bird in the hand has been caught . It is there : that is , their " men . orui ttchni&i ; " and they will have it "in meal or in malt : " individually in meal , or collectively in malt Each powerful family will look for their share of meal or collectiveh the class will have it in malt .
Heiice the cautious Minister will find no little difficulty in " muching" his surplus . If , as we believe , Sir Robert Peel is too wise to apply it in the shape of individual parronase , the respective parties win squeeze it out of him in the shape of reduced taxation ; and the small surplus , insignificant in comparison with the amount of anticipation , will be found the great difficulty with which the distributor will have to contend . The repeal of the Income-tax will be pressed by industrious capitalists ; the rei > eal of the Propertv-tas by the landlords ; the
repeal of the Mali-lax by the farmers " that whistle at th « plough ; " the repeal of the Corn Laws by the free-traders ; the repeal of tbe duties upon cotton by the manufacturers of that article ; the repeal of the duty upon paper' by the powerful parties that represent that interest : in short each according to his calling , as they find duties pressing on their respective trades , will attempt to have their nibble at the Minister ' s surplus ; and thus will free-trade in the ensuing session diverge into as many points as there are ^ peculaior * , instead of ns heretofore confining its assault to the one general question of the Corn Laws .
There is another question of repeal , and that the most int * = r * - > ting to the working classes . We mean the repeal of the rate-payin * clauses of the Reform Bill : and we have little doubt that that subject « ill be considerably influenced , as well by the prospect of honourable members sburtiy meeting their constituents , a . < by the tone and tcmj > r the Kisrht Honourable Baronet shall assume frith respect to the mode of dealing with that surplus , out of which must spring wofui disappointment . If the sop-in-the-pan was sufficiently large to satisfy the craving hunger of the Right Honourable Gentleman ' s own friends , he might parrfiase peace f or another session ;
but hehiff toosistaU to Mtitfji all , jt is not at all improbable that the disappointed , making a virtue <> f necessity , may turn round and become the most zealous advocates of the Rights of Labour : and thus , with the assistance of the working classes , ensure success for the demand of the Rirfit Honourable the member for Finsbury—the repeal of the rate-pa \ ing clauses . It is only out of party disappoiiiUiu-nt that any , the sh ' gbu-st , ho < m is ever conferred on the industrious poor ; and to that source rather than to the justice of any , do we anticipate a fi-iv partial triumphs for their order during the approaching session . Tin-v have gained one important step in the right load ,
by rejt-ctins : dl the fascinating schemes proposed for thi-ir a : nelior .-. ti <"> n by the several sympathisers and charity-moi . Hers , who . iiuring the rtri > s , have bid t-j liKi-. Jly for their aflWti-jU and support . They have turned a deaf ear to the National Washing system . They have laughed to scorn the idea of parks and pleasure grounds conferring benefit upon pent-up slaves , who work from sunrise i < j sunset , and who , after a long da \" s slavish toil , arc but too happy to seek repose as a means of recruitins strength for another dav of slaver * . Thev
feel that they must be ted and clothed , and less slaved , before they can take advantage of the promised boon . They have rejected the tender mercies and fresh invitations of their friends , the League . They have pondered over the candid and disinterested advice tendered to them by the Messrs . Chambebs , Mr . Wabd , and the noble Earl FiTZTviLLiAJi . They have thought of all , and pondered over all ; and they have come to the conclusion , that all the proffered assistance is at best but a bribe to poverty to be silent under suffering , in the hope that in the cairn a regenerator mav arise .
Anxious to assist Sir Robebt Pezl out of his present dilemma , with a HirpJusthat is too much for one and too little for all , Wv will teD him what a very sagacious gentleman , who lived on his wits , once did under similar circumstances . In the good old times , when visitors were in the habit of conferring lai-ge perquisites on the servants of their host , there lived a man with small pretensions but large appetite . Ilis facetious and agreeable manners made hin ; a welcome guest wherever he went but then the otherwise cheap living was rendered dear bv the *• oSertorv " svstein : and Mr . Ci ofts—for such wa <
the gentleman's name—reluctant to give up the dainties , and ashamed to leave his duties to the menials undischarged , had recourse to the following financial dodge . In passing through a double line of powdered footmen and butlers in livery , he accosted the major-domo thus— " Do all those men expect something ? " "Tes , your honour , " was the reply . " 0 , then , by G— -, " rejoined Mr . Crofts , " 1 have only half a guinea : ik too much for one and too little for all ; so I'll toss you up for it . " What , then , we would recommend Sir Robebt Peil to do is , to toss with the several iiirplu < buntcr ? to seeufeJi sliouM have all .
Untitled Article
CONDITION . OF THE LABOURING POOR , AGRICULTURAL AND MANUFACTURING . Thxbk has , for some time , been a sort of contest raging between the two orders of Capitalists—the landlords and the manufacturers—as to the actual and relative condition of the labourers employed and dependent on the respective occupations of tilling the soil , and working cotton , flax , wool , and silk , into fabrics for clothing purposes . The landlord-class have , whenever they wished to foil the attacks of their mortal enemies , the Free Traders , directed attention to the mass of misery—to the horrible amount of human suffering existing in those large towns whore
the manufacturing system has obtained the greatest head . They have told of the foodless homes ; the comfortless dwellings ; the naked backs ; the want , disease , and death in their most hideous and loathsome forms , constantly met with in the courts , alleys , and back streets of our manufacturing cities : they have , with triumphant manner , pointed to the pallid cheek , the sunken eye , the bloodless veins , and the distorted limbs of the care-worn , toil-worn , factory child -, they have , exhibited the picture of an English mother , forced to leave her baby-ofispring in the care of a drug-applying ttranger while she—the mother and the wife—went to the mill
to earn "the scanty living" for the man , her husband and the father of her babes , —and while he who ought to have be * n the prop of the household , was walking the street , idle , or wasting their little substance in dissipation : the landlord-class have , readily enough , reverted to these but too notorious facts , and tauntingly asked the Millowuers if it was to that condition that they wished to bring ' whole of the population ; if the then actual state of the operatives of Manchester , of Leeds , of Bradford , of Stockport , of Bolton , and of the other " hives" of manufacturing industry , was what they destined for all ; if sucA was the Eh stum tha-t they sought for the workers of all sorts . And the . answer of the Millocrats to the landlords lias
been : Look at home . ' See the condition of your own serfs Look at your "independent labourer ; " your animal iu the shape of man , vegetating on 7 s . a week , when he can get work ; starving or stealing when he cannot . Look at his liome . ' Contrast his miserable hovel with the worst we provide . See him kennelling in a place pervious ti > wind and rain ; no floor but the damp earth ; no light but what enters the d-jor ; no fire ; no furniture ; no clothing ; no anything . . See him there , without the spirit of a man ; without knowledge—his mind a perfect intellectual blank ; aye , see him brooding over his misery forming plans either for the burning of his neighbour's
stock , or for taking and eating " rox-n" hares that run wild at his feet . See him attempt the latter , as one passes across the-. road on the side of which his miserable abode has been thrown together ; and see him committed to prison for the heinous crime , and his family either left to pine alone in his absence , or forced into the Union—a place they dread and hate to loathing . Look at these things , ye proud and lordly landlords of Engiand , and say whether the destiny of the labouring class ought to longer continue in your hands . Have you proved yourselves the ' ¦ Friends and Fathers of the poor ? " Have you been the defenders of their rights ; the upholders of their
privileges ; the pbotectoks of them from wrong ? Have you seen to their being well-fed , well-housed , well-clad , ami well-educated ? Have you done these things » To entitle you to lecture US on the condition of those who have fled from your estates to seek shelter iu our towns , and find employment for their hands to do , denied to them at tome . ' or blame us for evils incident to the locality where they may dwell and not necessarily consequent on Mill-labour . There are crowded streets , —miserable dwellings , —undrained ocalities : and sometimes they are visited by fever , more or less malignant : but then , to alleviate this evil , —not of our making , —« e have provided public Dispensaries , Infirmaries , and Houses of Recovery , which vou have not .
There is little chance of the epidemic in the way-sidi " cottage " reaching the palace in the park ; and so the stricken are left to die off , unnoticed , uuknown , unvisitedi except by the Union doctor , when your " yeoman" guardians will permit . S , ay nothing about our treatment Of the workers' Seek not to interfere between us and our " hands . " Leave us and them to settle what little difference we may have , between ourselves . Look you at home ! Better the condition of your own " serfs , " and don ' t seekto make the privations and inflictions of the mnnufiictur ing operatives an excuse fur your own wrong doing ; nor our conduct to the working people we employ , a rci-sou for the longer continuance of your usurpations and robberies committed on the whole people .
Such have been the criminations and re-criminatioas bandied between those who have the two >; reat divisions of Labour in their clutches ; those , to nhom a just and equitable system of laws and government li-: ne the producers of wealth an open prey . HOTII AUE IN THE RIGHT ; though , like Peach " £ M and Lock it in the play , " both are in the wrong" ( for themselves ) to tell it . Their doing so , however , will go far to produce a universal conviction that both have undue powers which they most scourgingly apply ; and that it will be necessary for the general weal to greatly abridge the one and curb the other .
\> e have been led into this train of thought from reading in the Brighton Herald a " cry from the ranks" Agricultural labour , which it will be for all parties interested to give ear to . It is seldom that the voice of complaint in that quarter is given utterance to , t » words , b } the sufferers themselves . Isolated in position ; denied the benefit of constant intercourse ; enjoying not the advantage of newspaper reading ; with no schoolmaster or teacher , but the parson and the squire's lady : no lesson , but to " fear , honour , and obey" the squire , the shovel-hat , and the fanner—and be contented in the station it hath pleased ( somebodv ) to place
himthe labourer on the soil is in a far worse plight than the dweller in a manufacturing town . 'Jliere , if poverty and misery have been centralized , political and economical information lias been centralized also . There tile wrongs the toilers are subject to are talked of—are detailed—are dwelt on ; and there the cause is sought for and the remedy canvassed . Consequently , e \ cr \ aggression of ram-: > ant Capital is met with opposition : opposition unavailing in too tn : in \ instances , it is true but still an opposition , which , if it does not prevent the onward march of the spoiler , throws difficulties in his path ; causes him to bo wary in his footsteps ; and tells him that those who kno » v xchv thev are wretched ami Poor , will endure not
one moment longer than the combined powers of forte and fraud can make them . Xot so with the labourer on the soil . Ho is plotted ag .-iinst ; lie is defrauded ; he is sunken to the deepest aby-i . s of want and ivo « : hut he kii" « s n <> t the cause ; he sees not the hand that strikes . He discerns only that he lias been hardly dealt with . lie feels thst he lias been wronged : and , unable to give expression to his maddening thoughts in the ordinary language of the tongue or pen , he obeys the promptings of the grim demon of dt-spairim ; recklessness ; and the luriil glare from the jncendiary ' s torch lights to the spot where misery dwells , and reveals to an affrighted world the soul-harrowing suffering that enduring humanity groans under , and rebels against .
In the case to which we bave referred , however , we find there is one of that oppressed and ground down clasi who « aij " spenk out "—one who can , in " u-ords of fire , ' gi \ e utterance to " thoughts that breathe . " He speaks fur himself ami his class . He sends up the bitu > r wail of the sniitten-d « wn . He appeals to the heart of society : maj his appeal not only be heard , but speedily attended to ! May his complaints sink deep into the breasts of the powerful and the unheeding-strong : and may they do their share in causing justice to be done to the entire class oj Labour ^ If not , those interested may rely on it , that that class will soon do justice— " wild justice" it may be—for themselves ; and of that fact the following remarkable production is an evidence : —
Mr FELtow-LABorBEKS , —Dr . Johnson has observed that " the poor look up with stupid malignity at the rich . " But he did not tell us that this bad feeling arises from the . hardships and privations we undergo , and the little comforts we enjoy , in comparison to all sther classes . Let us respectfully ask the three gentlemen whom we maintain in luxury out of our labour—viz ., the landlord , clergyman , and farmer , not to grind our faces as they hitherto have done . Let us pray them to stretch forth their hands to save us from that squalid poverty
towards which we are approaching with gigantic strides . Our condition gets worse every year . The cry of the fanner now is , that we are too numerous : this is a falsehood . TVe must first cultivate every acre of waste land , inaluding the various parks throughout England , ere we can say this . Human pride will try to forbid our cultivating the numerous parks ; but , in the eyes of Him who sent us here to till the land , what has human pride to do with his laws and the natural rights of man ? We are Nature ' s out-door cooks ; and we are the only cooks in this world who are not allowed to tatc a sop in the pan .
There are those who think that bread alone is sufficient to keep a man ' s strength up who has to labour iu the fields . 1 wish those that think thus would accompany me on a cold winter ' s morn , with the bitter biting north wind blowing iu his fuce , with rain , sleet , or snow . Let him work in the fields for five hours , and afterwards sit under a wet cold Indue , and eat for his diuuer a bit of bread dav
Untitled Article
after day . He would , then , like me , and thousands more , in the words of Burns , "find every sad succeeding night and joyous morn the same . " He would wonder why he , of all created beings , should be so wretched . How often have I envied the birds and beasts ! " You , " said I , " have a table spread in the wilderness ; you eat and drink from it without anxiety or care . " When I look around on the providence of God , every tiling I see is conducted with so much benevolent care to every living being , that I am quite convinced that ho never sent a human being to pass through a life of misery . the New Poor Law was a direct robbery of 25 per cent , from the labourer ' s wages . Thn difficulty of bringing up a family at this time is extreme , more especially if the two first-born are females . Boys get to work much sooner than girls .
Surely it is very laudable and kind to send out missionaries abroad to ameliorate the condition of our sable brethren ; and it would be also very laudable to inquire into the condition of our own labourers . And it is very kind of tho gentry to send us religious tracts—to teach the j rustic moralist to die ; and it would also be very kind if our superiors would teach us how to bring up a family upon teu shillings a-week . We beseech the three gentlemen whom we are keeping in luxury , when they make laws for the people , to recollect that we form a part of the community—a low part , certainly , yet we are a link in tho great chain of societv .
'Brethren , our state is worse , much worse , than it was in our fathers ' time ; and I am sorry to-say it will yearly get worse , unless we are allowed to till all the waste land in Britain , or emigrate to some of our colonies—not under the present system , but under a well-organised system of emigration . Leave not your native land to starve on a foreign shore , as thousands have done lately . We often see accounts of the depravity of man , but can there be an instance of greater depravity than the following fact ?—In consequence of the rapid increase of the population , we have not of late years grown corn enough for our consumption ; we are , therefore , obliged to buy many thousand quarters of foreign corn to supply and make up the deficiency . How kind is God to send us a supply from other countries ' . And how wickedly depraved aru those who try every means in their power to starve us by refusing to tnke the gu ' t u kind tiod sends us . '
Tins careless , hard-hearted behaviour to tlit ; labouring people has cre : iiL ' d in us a disgust anil hatred towards the aristocracy , and I am sorry to hrar that this bad feeling is often displayed by the burning uf corn . This is wicked , and indeed very stupid . The gentry do not pii ! y us just wages to enable us to bring up our families ; arid in ordiT to be revenged 011 them we do a very wicked , stupid , mi 1 ina-lu-ioiis act , which injures those people uhu do not injure us , vi / . ; , the people who keep the fireoffices : for every stack and rick is insured . Let us petition Parliament to take up our cause .
I made , some little time sinci * , a calculation . I took the amount of meat consumed by ten of the families of the aristocracy , ai . d I f . mi . d each of the members , including servants ami all , amounted for each member per day to one pound ; mii a half , which i .-i ten pounds and a half to each individual weekly . I also took the amount of in-at consumed by ten families of poor people , and it amounted to only half-aii-ouiice per day , or nearly half-a-pound per week ! So that we see that the idle eat or waste three times as much per day as the poor do in one week . Did they but know the faintness and langour that so often comes over the hard-working labouring man who eats only bread , the gentry would pity us . I am not speaking about those labouring people who have grown-up children and able to work , but those who have to bring up families with only the man's wages to live on .
Some little time since I saw this shameful paragraph in the Agricultural Express ;— " If we look into the beershops on a Saturday night , we shall see the cause of the distress among the agricultural labourers . " A more gross falsehood against a suffering class of the community was never uttered . Perhaps the man that wrote that insinuation against us has read Uurns ' s description of a cotter ' s Saturday night ? If he has let him compare it with my wife ' s description of the English cotters ' ¦ Saturday night : — " Well , James , I have just been to market . I wish you would go yourself , for I really di > not know how to lay the money out . 1 have paid 7 « . for rlour , Is . for coals , 3 d . soap , 3 d . candles , 3 d . yeast , Od . tor butter , Gd . for meat . 2 d . for tea . 1 did mean to save " . 'd . fur \ ou to huv
one pint of beer , because you have been su poorly for the last three days , but I could not spare it ; for you know our little babe cannot eat his sop without a little sugar ; if he has dry bri'ad to eat for two or three days he i » ready to starve , dear little soul . I hate bought one pound oJ mutton , with which I will make you some broth to-night ; it will do your cold good ; what you leave will make a dinner for us to-morrow , 1 wanted to buy some tlannel tor Mary , and some calico for myself . George wants his shoes mended , and Kidiard wants some trousers ; he and all of us are very thin clad for winter . 1 was in hopes this week that I should be able to buy a basin or two , for We have only one for us all . 0 , dear me ! 1 have spent all the money and have forgot to buy some oil for the shoes and boot-laces . Dear me , my head turns round ; I am bewildered when 1 think of our numerous wants . When vou was ill a month since and could not work for a week ,
we should have perished if the shopkeeper had not kindly giveu us credit fur a little grocery , and the miller for a grist . These people expect their money . They do not ask me for it , certainly , but I ilcj hate to look them iu the face , because I uwe them so much . I hope none of my dear children will ever marry , for love is to tin poor the greatest curse . Ah , James , you may look at me ; even my love to you is a curse . How hurtful to my feelings is it when in winter you come hotni ? w . t through , no goud shoes to keep your t ' t ;*» t dry , day after day , in eonse <| Uencrt ; of which you have got the rheumatism in your feet . How do I wish at these times I had got something to nourish you in lieu uf a bit of bread and a little toast and water , a poor reward for u . man who h ; is stood the pelting ol the pitiless storm all day lung . God grant that in the next world we may not be governed by human beings , but by the law of God , which wicked human beings wilfully misconstrue . There we shall no-more hear the voice uf our
oppressors . My fellow-labourers , is not this a true picture of the English labourer ' s Saturday night to eight out of ten ? Nay , I have put down nearly word fur word the speech that my anxious wife has so often made to me . Let us send petitions to our good Queen , stating the truth of our wretched condition . Do not make known our griefs by ince : idiary fires , or sit down brooding and planning schemes of revenge , as did a man at Hye last year , who invented a new crime , which , had it not been nipped in the bud , would have made England oue vast WiLtchhouse .
Mv fellow-labourers , my experience of human life convinces me that the majority of mankind . —notwithstanding their very strict observance of the tuims , rites , and ceremonies of religion—notwithstanding the gluumy countenances they put on , and which they must sillih think looks religious—notwithstanding the repeated admonitions of the still small voice—are but halt" civilised , and bear too close : i resemblance to the finny tribe , which inhabit the deup and prey upon each other . But there is a glorious miuoritj of human beings who possess souls . To those who possess that inestimable Rem let us make an appeal ; let us try to interest them by our respectful and patient behaviour to intercede , fur us , and not let us sink down into a much worse than Egyptian bondage .
I have saui tliat bread alone wiH not l-. ct-p a mans strength up ; nor will it . 13 ut , alas ' . how manj thousands of us are there tluit do . iiot get enough o ( that necessary food ! How many times have I myself been obliged to make up a dinner on raw turnip-., because 1 have - not had bread enough for myself anil Wu bovs ; and how uften luiu- I told my poor boys that my m ; istt-i- ffa v-t . ' me leave tn take them , fearing tu inculcate a bad lesson iu them on their first experience of life . Why is it that fe . \ ev-h always stop ai the poor man ' s dour ? The answer is as plain as the way to the parish church—it is our low living that breeds this miasma . I could say nmi'li on the 'harshness and severity with which we are tivated by guardians , and farmers when we apply ( or work ; but in this ease I shall tit present keep in my mind the motto uf the absent Allan— " I bidu mv time . "
I must now conclude by telling you all , that our condition will yearly get worse if you do not come forward and state your grievances . Therefore , if you love your wives , if you love tlir children whom God has committed tu your care , for purposes best known to Himself , come forward with respectful petitions , and pray for adequate and fair wages . I remain , your well-wishing friend ,
Untitled Article
To Agents . —1 huso agents whose accounts have been forwarded , will find their papers stopped if the amounts are not forthwith transmitted . We must also take-opportunity to remind the agents of Northumberland . and Durham , who were supplied during die strike , that it is now time to think v » f . discharging their debts . The agents say that the men have not paid them . If that be so , we must say that such treatment is not calculated to encourage us in such another experiment . This is another source of emolununtof the great national property—the Xortltern Star . Mr . Roberts . —ffc have already published Mr . Roberts ' * three several addresses ; and had our friends from Birmingham paid attention to the notice , they might have communicated directly with Mr . Roberts , instead of sending to us . We certainly cannot take the liberty of answering for any person , nor can we soothe down the nervous anxiety of the many who have applied to us to Ifimiv if it OAN be true that the Christian Chartists had
Mr . Roberta ' s sanction for inserting liis name as a guest to the Fourth'Anniversary Tea Party of the Christian Chartists under that of Henry Vincent , " the trafficking pedlar , " as more than a score of our correspondents designate that gentleman . Had Mr . Duncombe voted in favour of the Masters and servants Bill , we verily believe the circumstance would not have created greater anxiety than the insertion i / i' Mr . Uoberts ' s name in the place to which we refer . Martha Gibson Joselvn is no poetess . If the would be specimen she has sent is the best she can do , it is time mis-spent for her to try again . We dare wager a trifle that she will . make a pudding better than poetry . At all events she ought to do if . she is unyoked ) andhopes to obtain a mate . Mbs . John Don-tan , of Edinburgh , acknowledges the receipt of £ 2 tt . s . 7 d . from Dundee , per Mr . Kydd ; and ( is . fi-oiv . Uoltou , per Mr . Fulton . W . F ., Little Cohan . —Thanks for the compliment paid to the Nofthiyru Sta , \ His veises-art inadmissible .
Untitled Article
The ^ Land , the Land , the Land . —We are inundated with correspondence from every part of the kingdom , on the all-imp ' ortant subjeet of the and . From many places we have received requests to draw up rules and regulations for the guidance and government of local land associations , to which requests , when time permits , we will devote attention . The Lewisham association appears to be determined to go to work in a right , ! good , efficient , and practical manner . Mr . O'Connor has taken twelve shares in their undertaking ; and has promised to superintend the farm in its infancy . To calm apprehension that we had lost sight of the " land question . " we beg to assure our readers that we consider it to be the question of
questions ; and on ? , only checked for a moment by the ignorance of many who had tongue enough to shout " the Charter , " ! but not brains enough to undestand the value of the land . We have pleasure in -referring our jnumerous correspondents on this subject , to Mr . O'Connor ' s letter in this week's number ; the first of a series of letters to the landlords of England . And it also gives us pleasure to state , for the gratification of Counsellor Parry and tho " Washam" and " Educatam" Chartists , that Mr . O'Connor is about commencing practical operations on twenty-four ) acres of land in the neighbourhod of Harrow ; the results of which will be faithfully submitted to the working classes periodically . This will be another step in the right direction .
Humbugs and Hombgggino . —Intheit-erfs Tbnes of Saturday last , we find the following : — " It is a fact , " said Mr . Perrand , 4 * Knaresborougii , " that England i-s a nation of humbugs ! " We fear there is a great deal . of truth in the charge . Most men in this country , are the doomed vietims ; of " humbug . " They " humbug" themselves , and " humbug " each other . The rich "humbug " the poorjwith fair words , " charity , " and pacronage ; the poor ? humbug" the rich with adulation ' and worship , as if they were a race of superior beings . Bishops of £ 20 , 000 a year " humbug " the people when they preach that ' " money is the root of all evil . " The enfranchised classes " humbug" tho unenfranchised when they say they virtually represent them . The Parliament ' humbugs" the Commons when it assumes to be
their "House . "! The Peers utter gross " humbug" when they say they are responsible tu " God and their own consciences . " 'l ' eel "humbugs" the landowners when he pretends to protect them . Lord Ashley '" hum-bags " tin : operatives [ by pretending to carry a Ten Hours ' Hill for them . ; Feargus O'Connor "humbugs" the Chartists when he pretends to seek the Charter for them . The Bishop of Exeter " humbugs" his priests when he pretends white coverings are better than black for preaehinp in . In short , all 4 i / t « m £ > t < " are . " hum bugged " by tunts . The Knaresborough electors are "humbugs" ft > r choosing such a representative ; and Busfield Ferrand is an extraurdinary " humbug , " as his thousand and one Shoddy and Devil's Dust speeches
abundantly testify . " It is a fact , " truly says Mr . Ferrand , " that England is a nation of humbuss ' . " —[ To this we just mffi , that of all humbugs that ever tried to humbug a humbugged people , the Leeds Times newspaper , the PROPERTY OF A TORY , edited by a . " Liberal " quack ^ doctor)—who sold himself to mill-owner Marshall for a , price—and supporting the best payinjr principles , whether they be "Whig , Tory , Radical , Chartist , High Church , Low- Church , Free Trade , Fixed Duty , or 110 ditty at all , is incomparably the greatest , Ihing or dead—ancient or modern ; and tjie greater humbug , because the worst . T . Wintkbs , Leicester . —We must see what we Can do for him next w ^ eek . At present our space is occupied . A l ' Man , London . —We know nothing , of the Tropical Emigration Society , other than from the reports and
advertisements that have appeared in the A ' ortkem Star . We know nothing of the parties actively engaged in it , other than by public rumour . We therefore are totally unable to answer his questions , " whether it would be safe to take out shares , " or "whether it be merely a scheme to raise money for the promoters ? " There is one mode , however , by which our subscriber may satisfy his own mind . ; The meetings of the society are open ; they are held j at stated periods at the Parthenium , St . Martin ' s-lane ; he can attend with his eyes and ears open , and judge of what he sees and hears . This will be a far better , course than seeking for our opinion that he may act on'it . On all such schemes we are . very re luctant to speak in a manner that would lead a single man to engage iu them , who would . otherwise have remained free . Most of them have in them the seeds of failure : and we are not anxious to be the-cause
of disappointment to any one . As far as the general scheme of Emigration of the society in question is concerned , we at : once confes ' s ourselves opposed to it ; not because of the particular mode taken to accomplish it , or the spot chosen as the future locate ; . but because we are disinclined to Emigration as a remedial measure for the wrongs and evils labour has to endure . As to the practicability of the plans and inventions of Mr . Etzler , whichjare relied on by this society to make the " chosen spot" ( when they get there ) a paradise , we cannot at allispeak ; for we have not even seen the models : but we Can and do say , that an experiment could bu tried here in ) England , the success of which would in some measure justify tho roamers from home in departing to a foreign clime to carry out what is but
plautible theory atithe best as things now stand . The feeling that prompts this suggestion may be selfish on our part ; for as wfi do notinteiid to go to Venezuela—at least with the first batch ; and as we feel some interest in settling of the question as to whether the plans have been exactly hit on that are to make machinery " man ' s holiday , " we should certainly like to have the . inventions tested by practice HEBE , on the spot , where all can see , and wher | e those most interested can judge , before they break up their present homes and connections to try their fortunes in a distant land . Besides , wiiat place jo likely ? In England machinery has attained the highest 'degree of perfection—i . e ., tbied machinery . Hyre are to be found the most able and acute mechanics . Here the peculiar machines
could be best made . Here interest is to some degree excited . Here the lesson , if successful , toottli , he of inestimable value . Here it would teach the " most civilised people on the face of the earth " a new phase of civilisation , tor which they are most fitted . Here , then , jt seems to us most reasonable and most desirable for all parties , especially the intending emigrants , that the experiment should be made . It is true that experience , " far fetched and dearly bought , " is good for some folks : but as we are advocates for home—home in every sense iof the word ; home in the land of our birth ; home-manufacture ; home-colonization— we want our experience of the adopting of all new and strange theories to the business of life to be as much home as possible . It may be that we are not strongly
imbued with ; the enterprising spirit of adventure ; but we certainly [ should not be disposed to leave England for Venezuela or any other clime , tropical , temperate , or frigid , relying mainly on the plans of a machine- - inventor , until we had seen the machines in actual use , and had witnessed that they were equal to the intended purpose . '; An Old iSinscjniBEB , Ipswich . —Much would depend on the form of the note he speaks of , whether an action could be sustained . Let him show it to an Attorney , and take hisjadviee , after detailing thu whole facts uf the case . S John J * mjth , Hincklet . —Jf we lw < l his case to deal with , we should iitick to the cottage , and run all risks . Forty-four years of uninterrupted possession should give the riirht tu ; eontiuu 2 there .
Untitled Article
MONIES RECEIVED I 5 Y Mil . O'CONNOR . ; srB . sci , ii > Tio : » s , : . £ s- JFrom Uastord ; o : j t ; From Cirrington , f > t ; 0 From Arnuld ] ..... .. 0 S 4 From Lamley j . ' . U 2 <> ! \ ICTI . M FIND . From L ' arrriiijjton OHO From Hasfordj . . , . . . y ¦ _> 1 i DfNroMBE TESTIMON 1 VL . From Carringtnii , ilc , per John Ley . . . ' . 'Co I DINCOMBE DEMoSSTltATlON . From , 1 . LunI , ; -Bolton . Oil 1 HECKU'TS PER liENKHAL SECltET . AKY . -i SrUSCBlPTIONS .
1 S . d . S . . 1 . Leicester ( Hampilcu ) o U Harafurd . . . . . ¦ _» ~ 2 Northampton ( Old I , ui a- Crown it Anchorf W . T . ) •_ ' u lit \ j . . . f . . . ' . ' 0 O'Connor lirigade , St . Ditto ( New L . / calit , \) 4 ( i John ' s Ward , Preston : » 0 Culnu . . . ! . . . 58 Burv 40
CARDS . Tavistock ( oinitti ( l ) . 0 y Iiollmwoorl . . , . I ii Mottram .. ; ... 1 t > Ditto , Hand Hooks . U J i'ulne ... ' ... l '< -i Leeds : > 1 ) Marsdeu . . \ . . . ( i 0 Northampton ( New Lo-Bury - i-: » r < ls , Js . Ad . ; cality ) .. ' ... 6 Rule , Id . J ... 2 4 Ditto , Hand Books . 0 4 Ditto , U . m . l Books . 3 ' - ' R . Side , ditto . . . 0 1 i DONATIONS . W . I ) ., liattcrsea . . 0 ti O'Connor Brigade , . St . Christopher I ) .. } lc . 1 0 John ' s Ward , Preston 4 0 ! VICTIM KIND . Christopher Doyle . . 1 0 Crown A- AnchurfW . T . ) i ( J j DL'NC MltK TESTIMONIAL . Ii . P . L . iurv . . . . 1 ti li . . Side , Southwark . 10 W . D ., Uattet ' M-a . . 0 fi ! DR . M ' DOl'ALL . » Fiirt proceeds uf a rallie at the Falcon , Tower Hamlets . . ; 5 D i THOMAS ii . \\ HEELER . EiiRATt .-M . 4 The sum of £ 1 5 s ., acknowledged in last week ' s list from Ashton-under-Lvuc , should htve been £ 1 10 s . ! " .
Untitled Article
Drkadfui ] Accident at Drury-laxe Theatre . — On Saturday night a frightful occurrence took place at this theatre , during the performance of the Revolt of the JJarum , whidi in its consequences has deprived the stage of the best English dancer of tho day . j In the second act of the ballet the ladies of the Ilareiu were discovered bathing , among whom Zuliea , the Royal slave ( Miss Webster ) , was one . During the scenic the gas placed at the bottom of the stage , or under the sunken portion of it , where the water pieces , or waves , arc placed , caught the light drapery of Miss Webster ' s dross , and hi an instant her whole person was enveloped in flames . This frightful event taking place on the stage in sight of the audiencp , the whole house Kva . s in . 1 state ol consternation , and screams issued / com the ladies in the front boxes iuid pit , who were i , e first to nerceive the
Untitled Article
appalling accident . When first the dress of Alisa Webster was discovered to be on fire the whole corps de ballet , who were on the stage with her , closed round her almost simultaneously , as if by instinct , to crush and extinguish the flames , but , terrified at the terrific appearance which almost instantaneously presented itself , they retreated , and she rushed forward towards the front of the stage . Mrs . Plunketfc alone endeavoured to extinguish the flames , and in so doing was herself nearly falling a victim to her intrepidity and good feelings . At this moment a man sprang from the wing of the stage , and throwing himself upon the young lady , threw her down and extinguished the fire by rolling upon her . In so doing , however , he severely cut her upper lip , and
received some slight injury himself from the burning clothes . He is not , however , much hurt , and was on Sunday at the theatre . Miss Webster was immediately taken into the green-room and placed upon a sofa . Her clothes were nearly all consumed , at least all her external garments . Fortunately , Dr . Marsden , of Lincoln's-inn , was in the theatre , and his assistance was rendered without delay . The usual applications of spirits of wine and Water , flour , < kc , were had recourse to , and everything done that , under the immediate circumstanees , could be done . Miss Webster ' s face 'was much blistered , artd in some part scorched , the eye-lashes and eye-brows burnt off ; but the hair of the head was
untouched . The lower extremitie § "were much scorched , and the flesh of the hips was also much burnt . The hands also suffered dreadfully , being burnt almost to the bone . Miss Clara Webster never lost her recollection , but exhibited , notwithstanding the dreadful agony under which she laboured , great physical power and extraordinary moral fortitude . She was conveyed to her home in Upper Nortonstreet in a carriage , attended by Dr . Marsden , who administered fresh applications , and who was afterwards unceasing in his attendance . During the whole of Sunday the inquiries were incessant after her welfare . Mr . Liston , the eminent surgeon , and other medical gentlemen , were called in , but they concurred in all that Dr . Mars ten had done , and his mode of treatment has been adhered to .
Death of Miss Clara Webster . —It is with extreme regret we state that the distressing accident which befell Miss Clara Webster at Drury-laneTheatre on Saturday last has terminated fatally . Miss Webster died on Tuesday morning , shortly after three o'clock , at her apartments in Upper Norton-street , Regent ' s Park . From inquiries that we have made , it appears that the medical attendant of this unfortunate young lady considered that throughout Monday the symptoms were favourable , and that no ultimate danger was to be apprehended . About six o'clock on that day , however , it was apparent that a change for the worse had taken place ; she became delirious , and quite insensible of wnat was passing in the room ; reason never returned—she never rallied
for one moment . She talked incoherently , awl was continually counting one , two , three—one , two , three , until death put a period to her sufferings , which were of the most excruciating character . Shortly before she expired a lady in the room thought she appeared somewhat more sensible , and consequently knelt by the bedside , and said , " Clara , Clara , " several times , to which she replied in a faint voice , " Yes . " She never spoke afterwards ; her breathing : became bad ; and she expired without a struggle at ten minutes past three o ' clock on Tuesday morning . Dr . Marsden was in attendance on the deceased from one o ' clock until nearly two , and when he left Mr . Listdn was immediatel y sent for . and arrived shortly after three .
lie had not been in the room more than a few minutes when Miss Webster ceased to breathe . Miss Webster ' s mother had but a short time left the room , for the purpose of taking a little rest , and when the melancholy intelligence of her daughter ' s death was made known to her , she became almost distracted . Miss Webster was in the twenty-first year of her age . Mr . Webster , of the Haymarket Theatre , is a brother by a former marriage of the late Mr . Webster , the father , who , we understand , was married three times , and had families by each wife . The lamented deceased was the issue of the hast marriage . We understand Mr . Liston stated he was of opinion that the brain had been injured by the dreadful accident which had befallen this accomplished voung lady .
Another Account . — Miss Webster died very tranquilly ; indeed , she went off as if merely sinking into a gentle slumber . She bore her sufferings with great fortitude , and did not appear to shrink from the prospect of death , which we understand , it was intimated , during the evening , awaited her . The following letter appeared in the morning papers of Wednesday : — "Theatre Royal Drury-lane , 11 o ' clock , a . m ., Dec . 17 , 1841 . At the time I despatched the letter which appears in this morning ' s papers , I had the assurance of the mother and another member of Miss Clara Webster ' s family , that she was entirely out of danger ; but 1 deeply regret to say their expectations were too sanguine , for she died this morning . I will only add , on this distressing subject , that the benefit announced for this unfortunate artwte-will be given on Monday next for her family . —J . Cooper , Stage Manager . "
The I . vquest ox Miss Webster . —On Thursday Mr . Wakley held an inquest at the Green Man Tavern , New-road , on the remains of Miss Clara Webster , whose melancholy and shocking death is described above . The jury having gone to 54 , Norton-street , to view the body , returned , and proceeded to examine witnesses , who deposed to the facts above stated , but nothing new was elicited . In the course of the examination of the witnesses , Mr . Wakley remarked on the unfortunate want of presence of mind exhibited bv those whose clothes are seton fire . If they
would drop on the burning clothes they would at once be extinguished ; and the second best mode was for the individual so situated to lie down at length . The whole of the evidence having been heard , Mr . Waklev addrcsssed the jury : —; An occurrence like this might easily be averted if simple and proper precautions were taken . In most of the cases of a similar nature that came before him , he generally found that fatal results might have been prevented if ordinary precaution had been taken immediately after the clothes had taken fire . It had long been known that gauzes of every description could be so pre pared as to prevent their being inflammable . It was done by starching them in a particular way ; and be trusted his mentioning tne circumstanc would be productive of good , and perhaps scrv
to prevent the recurrence of another of thes dreadful occurrences . Cases of fire were reall dreadfully frequent ; within the last ten days ther had been no less than twenty cases of thi character within his district ; and he was sure' he spoke within bounds , when he said that from 130 t 140 cases of burning and scalding occurred yearly in the division of the county to which he was coroner . He held inquests yesterday on two children : both of them were scalded to death from want of proper precautions being taken . The first was at the Free I lospital in Gray ' s lnn-1 ' ane . A child , while undressing herself before the fire , accidentally fell , arid there being no high fender , she knocked down a kettle and scalded her head so severely that she died soon afterwards * . Now accidents of this nature could never occur
to children , if their parents would take the precaution to have wire fenders wfore their fires . In this case . ' however , danger had not been apprehended . Yet the means of avoiding the danger were very simple , for it' a lattice of wire had been extended over the lamps the dresses of the actresses could not possibly have caught fire , and accidents of this character would never happen . The precaution was a very simple oiio , and where the results would be so satisfactory , it would be well at once to put it in practice . Where
the dresses of performers were likely to be exposed to Hanio , the gauzes , as he had already observed , might be so prepared by a solution of alumina , or alum , as to be quite uninflammable . Impressed with this fact , he had yesterday written a note to Mr . Oardiner , a most excellent chemist in the neighbourhood I Great Portland-street ) , . asking him if heknpfl ' juiy person in London who was in the habit of washing muslins , gauzes , or dresses in the solution alluded to . That gentleman returned this answer .- ^/ The Learned coroner then read Mr . Gardiner ' s letterin which it
was stated that muriate of ammonia , or a similar solution of alumina , would have the effect of preventing ignition . ) It was also stated that a Air . Ilodson , ol 406 , Strand , had given much attention to tub matter . How far that gentleman had succeeded , the inclosed pattern of gauze would show ; it would not % ht at the flame of a candle . Mr . Ilodson proposed to ? eU a starch , to be used instead of common starch , which would answer every purpose , and at the same time ol perfectly safe in cases like the present . He would undertake , fora trifling consideration , to keep all theatre '' property , " or dresses , from any danger by fire . u » ( the coroner ) did not know that there had been , such a gentleman in existence as Mr . Ilodson , but where , as in this case , the mention of his name would s orre * double puipose , that of benefitting the public , and , perhaps , doing sood to himself , he ( the coroner )
thought it but common justice to give him publicity-( The gauze was then tested at a candle , and found to verify all that was said of it . ) Mr . Waldey «»"« certain ]} ' no young child of his would be without an outer dress so prepared , and the attention ot families would , he hoped , be directed to it . The wk * ness , Daniel Coylc , whose hands were bandagwi intimated , at the conclusion of the coroner ' s address , that it had been erroneously stated in some ot tne newspapers that he was quite recovered . This wa = not the case , nor was he likelv to be well for sontf time . Mr . Wakley told him the intrep idity he haa displayed on the occasion of the accident was wortnj of the highest praise . He was confident if he were -to take a benefit at some place of entertainment , tne public would not be wanting in their endeavours w support him . A verdict of " Accidental death w * returned .
Mirdkr is Liverpool . — About two o ' clock on Sunday morning last , two police-officers , named ***• dough ( 78 ) , and Price ( SS ) , were on duty , in ToxtetD I ' lu-k , and went into a brothel for the purpose . ol > w pressing a disturbance amonsr the inmates . Aiw they had succeeded in their object , and when they ««* again going on duty on their respective beats , a ieliOFi named William Johcs , followed them from the brotW ' into Wluttiekl-sfret't , where ¦ lie made a fierce » t ««> upon both with a large poker which he brought iro »
Untitled Article
4 THE NORTHERN STAR 1 j December 21 , 1844 .
Distressed Ixxkdition Of The Agricultural Labourers Ix Middlesex.
DISTRESSED iXXKDITION OF THE AGRICULTURAL LABOURERS IX MIDDLESEX .
3to Ttraftrr* Ana Gomttpoitirntt*
3 To ttraftrr * ana Gomttpoitirntt *
Acritifnp, $3ffjfncr& £Tupte0t0, ' &C
acritifnp , $ 3 ffjfncr& £ tupte 0 t 0 , &c
-
-
Citation
-
Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 21, 1844, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct838/page/4/
-