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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st December 1844, Edition 4 of 4, Page 6

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    • Sltttaint0, <S5ffrn«0, £ugucgt{S, &c
    • THE CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED-
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      LABOVR PLEADIXG ITS OTTS CArSE . TEE KMPLOTER ASS EMPLOYED . A T 2 MHIAB DIALOGUE . —PABT II . 2 ir . SadQi , and J / r . Jacob Quill Tcceivt Old Robin and Richard Jackson in a private room in tlii- " Stranoar ' s JJotne" pubtit-Tiousz . "Mr . Smith- —Well , Jackson , you see I am not iHUnindftQ of my appointment . 3 am glad to see Ton ; bow Is Robin to-dav I "Robin . —Thankye , thankyp , Maister Smith , I be ' s a jogging on for ninety years come Martinmas . I haTe nothing to complain of , on health account , thank God . QnilL— "Well Robin , and how do do ?

      Robin . —At , dear life , Maister Jacob Quill , 1 am not so strong as when I and thy . father used to go to Sunday school four score years sin ' , long enough before thon Trert born or thought of . QuHL—Hem , hem . Robin , I'm told that you and our good friend Jackson here , and some other of the town-folk , hare taken it into your heads to think Tim machinery is a very injurious thing to theworkmg classes . Bobin . —E ' cod then , Maister Quill , that ' s a notion I have had this many a year . QuilL— "Well now , Robin , mv time is precious but

      always anxious to confer any service in my power on the working classes . I haTe consented , at the request of Mr . Smith , to forego the most pressing and important engagements for the purpose of destroying this hobgoblin that you have got in yonr head about machinery ; and as I know that all the young : chaps look to your -opinions on the subject , f think it a dutyihat I owe to you , to myself , to society at large , and especially jto my misguided townsmen , to con-Tey to them , through you 7 my notions -on this allimportant subject , at any sacrifice to" myself . So bow , Robin , let us berin . ' .

      Robin . —WeB , Mr . Quill , that ' s just what I want . Ton may be sure though , that though my time is not as Taluable as thine , ninety years isn ' t iond of long "winded speeches . So go on : we be ' s here 'to hear -what thon hast to say in favour of thy client . Smith . — "Nay , nay , Robin , you are Mr . Quill ' s client . He has come here to plead your cause . Robin . —E ' cod , I thank him . Lawyers don ' t often plead for poor iblk for nowt . So I'll hear what

      Maister Quill lias to sax for me . Smith . — "Well , come , shan ' t we haTe a drop of something to cheer us before Tre begin ? VThat will you haTe , Mr . Quill ? Mr . QoilL— "Well , a glass of brandy and water" cold without . " Smith- —Robin , ¦ what ¦ will you take -. Robin . —1 ' U haTe nowt , ihankye , Mr . Smith . Quill . —0 , come , Robin , 1 hear you ' re fond of a glass of ale .

      Robin . —Are , I could take my glass after a days , ¦ wo rk when 1 coald "brew it myself ; but 1 have no fancy for that there stuff they froth with " fettlins . " 3 t always gives me th ? gripes . Smith . — "Well , Jackson , what will you haTe ? Jackson- —Thankye , sir , I ' m a teetotaller . QnilL—0 , damn your teetotalism—that ' s another of the crotchets thai yon working men haTe got into your heads . Robin . —^ ow , then , Maister Quill , as they say in the law conrts , "' just open thv case . "

      QnilL—Well now , Robin , what 1 say is this : — Though I am not as old a mim as you , 1 can well recollect the state of society in the Tillage of Devil ' s Dust before the introduction of machinery ; and every man who has had eyes to see , and brains to understand the rapid progress that this Tillage has made , eTen within the last fifteen years , when ProTidenee put it into the head of Mr . Smith to settle amongst ns , must , if he is a candid man , admit that we have progressed rapidly in-wealth and civilization ; and you , as the father of a family , must haTe partaken , to a considerable extent , of the general advantage . For instance ; things that were wholly out of your reach when you were a working man , are now articles in

      common use-srith the working classes generally . The produce of machinery , from the facility of producing so much more goods than could be produced by manual labour , has so increased the supply of that description ofproduee as to compel the masters who vest then- capital in ihpse descriptions of fabrics , actually to be obliged , as it were , to invite the purchaser to take them at any p rice . And then , again ,-see the extent to which this mnch-reTiled machinery gives employment to the whole family of the working classes . Surely , Robin , you remember the time , —for I am younger than you , and 1 remember the time myself—when all those new streets behind Mr . Smith ' s , and Mr . Twist ' s , and Mr . Gobb ' s , and Mr . Grab ' s , and Mr . Screw's , and Mr . Baif s , and Mr . Thimble ' s ,

      and Mr . Rice ' s , were all open fields , and children used toie there of eight , nine , ten ,, eleven , ayp , and twelve years of are , idling their time at play at cricket , and trap , and marbles , and ball , and " hopstep-and-jump ; and running , and leap-frog , and doinL all sorts of mischief from morning till night : now , all those , eTen to the Terr youngest , are employed in the TriiTt ^ instead of passing their time in idleness and -riciousness , and wickedness , that brings them tu the gallows at last . Robin . —^ E ' cod , stop ; not sofast , mai * ter . "We hadn ' t a lawyer i * those days nearer than York , twentythree miles from Devil ' s Dust ; so folk wasn ' t very ¦ picked : now -sr « iave twenty-seven in - "Devil ' s Du ^ t alon » .

      Qu 2 L— "Well , well , Robin , that has nothing to do "with it . ; if yon haTe twenty-seTen in Devil ' Dust they spend their money there . Robin . —^ ay , they spend other folks ' s . We could xnanase to do -trithont them . QnilL— - "Well come , Robin , we won ' t dispute ihat ? aint ; but to return to machinery . Had you a own-hall sixty years ago ' ¦ Had you a Mechanics ' . Institute ? Had you three banks i Had you a railway coining np to your Terr dour to eonvey your produce . to all pans of the world ' ¦ Had you such hosoitaK , infirmaries , and cemeteries as tou can boast of now < Had you such a refuge as stand ' s on yonder hill , the ¦ onion workhouse , Fihere the unemployed may live at ease , aye , and in luxury too—1 say in luxury * , not-¦ withstanding all xbe fbnl-raotithed denunciation of demagogues ? Has not the occupant of every £ 10 house a Tote i and is . not that within the -reach of

      every man ol good character and common industry r Have you not shops with fronts fine enough to dazzle the passenger , especially when lit up at night ? Don't they look like fairy palaces ? HaTe you not now "fourteen churches built by all denominations of Christians , instead of the one miserable little parish church that stands prominently conspicuous as a memento of otrr former poTerty , when compared with the splendour of those grand edifices which mark the

      progress of civilisation ? HaTe tou not all these thingsand are they not one and all the result of machinery ? Then again , see the amount of capital that it annually circulates among the working classes . See the number of foreigners that frequent this formerly almost "unknown , out-of-the-way Tillage ; and think , that after bestowing all this ^ randenr and these improvements at home , it enables us to export the surplus to all the countries of the world ; and further , that if our mad rulers would untrammel it of those

      resfaactrve laws which limit "ite produce , and thereby necessarily Uniite the employment of the "working classes , it would be an unalloyed , unmixed , and undeniable—aye , I repeat it , wndenuMe source of profit to all classes of the community , and to the working classes in particular . Those restrictive laws , Robin , once removed , would open every pore of industry ; would create an amount of competition among the masters , that would lead to the employment of thousands and tens of thousands of unemployed hands that are now competitors against their own class , or obliged to be supported on the industry of those at work ; and thus could we make the whole population one united , happy family , all units in the social circle , instead of , " as now , " setting labourer against master and master against labourer , Robin , what was England before the introdnt-rirm of

      Tiinchi-Eeiy , and what is she now ? "Not to draw our conclusion from this one isolated spot , let us cast a glanee at the great national improvements that have taken place . See , then , the creat improvement in * z ™ g ? & ° n , thereby you apply the steam ensrine , — the mainspring , to may call it , of machinery , —to the transmission of the prodnce of British industry to the remotest part of the habitable globe . See the " substitution of gas for tallow ; and the printing machine for the old dull system of printing by hand . See the stupendous railways , annihilating both " time and space "—passing , as it were , through the bowels of the earth , levelling mountains , and flying with an astounding exactitude over a mere line , as it were , running between two terrible precipices , conveying a . moving village by fhre mainspring , as I before called it ;—thisinovingpower of machinery—the triumphant steam ensine , that neTertires .

      Robin . —Haa't done , or nearly done , Maister Quill }? for , e ' cod , thou ' st spun such a long yarn that 1 can scaree'keep the tale in my old head . QnilL—Done , Robin ! 2 * 0 ; it is a theme upon which I could expatiate for hours , days , weeks , aye months , together . "What man of common feeling can xeflect on this national boon "without feeEng a meritorious desire to explain to those who are too dull to comprehend its advantages ? and" surely a . sensible man likeyou , Robin—the Tery mind and organ of the JForiiflgieiasses ( i say it without flatten- )—cannot be

      TpcntF < ypprA « the vast advantages that machinery has eoniiafed ' jjipon the working classes . Aj all events , you ,-shi ^ e ^ eral other different trades , such as Carpenters , Builders , Ironmongers , Potters , Cutlers , Gabinet-makers , and so forth , can haTe nothing to complain of , as it hasn ' t interfered with your labour : and yet , strange to say , those-Tery parties- are most Tenement deelaimers against the present system , and loudlr complain of their present poverty . Robin . —Well now , Mr . Quill , -when so many folks complain , as they say , " there ' s never smoke without fre ; " soihere can't be somnch" complaint without

      cause . Smith . — "Well , but stop , Robin : don ' t interrupt Mr . Quill : he hasn't finished ; and I am sure if vou came here to learn , yon must be equaDv delighted as myself—and I think I may say as our friend Jackson appears to be— "with thelucld , clear , candid , and 1

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      inU add unanswerable , exposition of our friend . 1 thought that you came to hear , ind to be convinced ; and surely it would be a waste of your time and mine to attempt to urge anything against the philosophical and philanthropic reasoning of our friend . Robin . —Maister Smith , Maister Quill knows that if one side had all the talk , there would be but little call for judges or juries ; and , as I am an old man , 1 have got in my head now as much as I can think on for a bit . So , with your leave , I'll just have a word . Quill . —Well , come , let us hear what Robin has to say . Smith . — "Well , if you wish it , with all my heart . I merely intei-posed for Robin's own benefit , and for the benefit of his class . Now ^ go on , Robin ; but be brief , for its twenty minutes after eleven now , and 1 have ordered mv carriage to be at the door at one .

      Robin . —Well , Maister Quill , 1 se'ed a blind man many a year sin' a taking notes , as they call it , of what folks said , by knotting a piece of string ; and 1 haTe tied down what thou hast said on this here ; and , e ' cod thou seest its full . Now I'll begin where thon began ; and all thou ' st done Maister Quill , is just to show me all the changes that have taken place sin' machinery was introduced ; and thou hast put them all down to machinery . Why , Maister Quill , I reads a bit of history now and then , and i reads of the time when the poor was " serfs ; " and 1 read of the revolutions ; and 1 read xvf the kind of house . * that folks and kings lived in , and of our rude and uncivilised manners and customs ; and 1 have lived to see what the liistorians call the improvements in

      the arts and sciences , and in lmng , and in civilisation , and these sroing on year after year , before the world ever thought of the steam engine . I si- ' ed them , and noticed them , aye , and felt them myself too , Maister Quill ; but now thou would put down all the improvements that have taken place within the last fifty years , and twenty-nine of them in peace too , to machinery . Now , Maister Quill , what 1 say is this : In them there old times , when folks felt that they were born with fingers to do sommnt for one and another , we hadn't so many classes ; and whenever any improTcment took place , aye , even at the top , in the palace , another would take place in the poor man ' s house . 3 remember the times that thou call'st the wicked times , when young folk used to run about

      the fields ; when faither and the older children used to do the work , and when the mother used to tend all , and had all under her own eye- If a call come" for one of the young ones to bear a hand , he was always ready and willing ; and now , Maister < iuill , I'll tell you the change I ' ve seen in my time , ami all has been brought about by them there flying devils doing the work of young and old . I remember when there was—say a population of about 20 W in this par ish . There would be about twelve maisters , big and little , and about 200 Hand-Loom Weavers . Then there was Shoemakers , and all the other trades . There was no cotton-niill always running by steam ; there was no banker in the parish ; there wa .- > n '

      lawyer , Maister Quill , nearer than York ; there was no Town-haD then , no Mechanics' Institute , no hospital , no infirmary , no union bastile . No , nor no police , Maister Quill , except Bumble , the beadle , and me , and the like of me , that all had an interest in the peace of the parish . Then , Maister Quill , Bumble ' s staif carried authority with it , and he never hnd to use it ; for he knew everv man in the parish , and knew where to find him in his own housiit" the justice wanted him . At that time there was only the little parish church , and old parson Flower , to preach in it , and the Catholic chapel , that the Rev . 3 Ir . Faithful used to attend . V > e hadn ' t the fourteen churches then , MaisUr Uuill .

      Mr . Smith . —Robin , what has all this to do with machinery ? Machinery didn ' t build the churches . Robin . — "Ecod . ' it did though—and made the parsons too . Smith . —Well , Robin , what is it you are driving at f Politics , 1 am afraid , Robin . Robin . —Noa , Maister Smith , nor at religion nei » ther . We can talk of churches and parsons now-adays without thinking of religion . 1 am an old man ; you must give me my own way ; Maister Quill h . i . * drawn a picture of what Devil ' s Dust was , and what it is now , and he says machinery made all the difference ; and I am going to shew him that all thwn there things , aye , ' ccod , even- oik- of them , that he calls "improvements , " is all t ' other way for the working classes . Smith . —Ah ' . ah I ah ' . Quill . —He : he : he !

      Robin . — "Well , wait a bit . 1 was saying , that at that time , there were the two churches , ; uul fwu religions ; and Master Flower , and Master Faithful would go down and preach ; and thev'd meet after in thestrepi and shake hands , and all folks would see them and think that howsomer they differed in the pulpit , they met like friends outside , and that other folk should do the same . But now e ' cod , we have the Wejleyan * . the Unitarian * , the Methodists , the New Connection , the Old Connection , the Baptists , the Anna-Uajitist-. the Ranters , the Puseyin-s and the Infidels . KV < .. 1 . its no wonder that folks' brains should lx- Wheiv . l when there ' s fourteen diiferent parsons all at work toi . ether , every one telling folk that there ' s only one road to heaven , and that ' s their own . Quill . —Come , conic , Robin , let us not enter iiilo questions of religion ; those are subjects between man and his Maker ; and , no doubt , those fourteen pious men are , one and all , in uue * t of truth .

      Robm . —In quest of the devil' . They are in qws-l of the brass , Maister Quill . Smith . —Robin , my time i > too precious to listen t <> Mich inf 3 Je ] Jty . If you have anything to say to the point , 1 am ready to hear you . Robin . —Then come to the point . Maister Quill says as how machinery has been a blessing to the poor : and Maistor Jackson axed me here to shew what cifect it had upon them there trades thai it didn't do the work of yet . Smith . — Now , that ' s it—that ' s coming to the

      point . Robin . —Well then , now let us see what was thu condition of the ]> eoj > le of i ) evil ' t > Dust before all these blessings , and what it is now . 'Ecod , but you have roused " me , Master Smith . In those days 1 was a . shoemaker , and 1 had a wife and live children ; ami all the affairs of the parish were so nicely balanwii that I could calculate within a trifle of what the Saturday neet would bring . Then .- was no " fluctuations" then to rive us a good week , a bad week , and no week at all . My eldest son , Robin , was }> ut to the loom , and the wife and children , when they wen growin £ r , would card and spin , and wind , and reel , and get bobbins ready , and all that ; and I'd work at my trade , and all at home . Well , if Robin ' s Maister got a fresh order , or wanted a piece finishing in time , he'd come to the lad and say , " Well , Robin , how does ' t get on , lad ; can'st finish thv piece bv Sat-urdav neet ' . "

      and if Robin would say " Noa , Maister Fairplay , not without a few extra hours ; " then Maister Fairplay would tap him on the shoulder , and , giving him five shillings , would say , " "Well , come , Robin , there ' s extra tor thee : " and Robin would finish the piece , and _ -whistle and sing all the after hours , all the family lending a cheerful hand , because the five shillings went into mothe / s purse on Saturday neet . And when Robin took the work home on Saturday neet there was no batinys , nor fines , nor damning his eyes , but a glass of home-brewed ale , and a shake o' the hands , and a " Thankee , Robin , thou art a good lad . " And so it was with all the men : if there was brisk demand they had their share , and if it was slack they never were the ones to murmur . In that way Robin would brine home , the wages of himself and the help the little ones would give him , from JOs . to 35 s . per week .

      Smith . — "Well , but Robin , what can they all earn now—five of them . Robin ( weeping ) . —Nowt now , master Smith . Robin will never earn no more . Quill . —Well but , Robin , I ' m told that was his own fault—that he died from the effects of drink , a confirmed drunkard . Surely that wasn't the fault of machinery t Robin . —Damned , it was machinery killed him . Smith . —Why , how do you make that out , Robin < Robin . — "Well , up to twenty-five years he worked at home , under my roof , and for that time no man ever see'd Robin the worse for drink . He'd rather make the weeks wage more , and laugh when he'd tell Parson Flower , on Sunday , what he made for faither and mother . But machinery took the loom from Robin , and forced him into a damned '' rattle box , " to work sixteen Lours a dav : and then at the end of the week .

      with fines , andbatings , and reductions , he was brought down , and down , and down , in health , in body , and inspirits , with only sometimes Os ., sometimes 8 s ., and sometimes 6 s . 6 d . a week , till at last he got ashamed of coming home at all . He got into company with others that were broken-hearted like himself ; and he'd drink a day , and work a day , and play a day , till he broke his mother's hear t . He died sunenough , but it was the damned " rattle-box" that killed my lad . I could well afford to make twelve pair of shoes a year for my own faniilv , out of Robin ' s pay put along ' with theirs ; but I lost that housetrade ; and according as them there " rattle boxes " < ame here , 1 lost all my old customers , one after the yther , until at last them there cast-iron men of Maister Smith ' s , that works without shoes orstwkings , e ' cod , drove my old feet to these here clo ^ s : f-r 1 couldn ' t afford to make shoes for Bivself .

      Smith . —Come , come , Robin , you are going a litthtoo fast . Surely there are more " shoes sold in JX-vilV Dust now , fifty to one , than there were in your timt . So somebody has got the trade . ' Robin . —' " Ecod , I wish tueni joy of it . Its like your calico , Maister Smith : they are obliged to make them " cheap , " to tempt folk to buy them . They make them by dozens , and paste and peg them together anyhow ; and after all , " cheap" as they are , poor folk can ' t buy them . Well now , at the time that 1 speak of , it was ' a rare thing to see an idle man whthe oil

      in the parish ; and if wages were too low , y Poor Law came in and made it up : so that one could spend with another . I had a brother , a tailor , and he had his customers ; and he would nearly guess what Ah wa ? e would be eTery Saturday neet ; for , somehow or other , the old Poor Law and the parish interest levelled those things all through . "Well , in those days the working classes could support one another . * They had a share of all that was jroing . They'd brew a bit , and givethe cooper work . Toung folk . " when thev went a courting , or company-keeping ,

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      liked to be as smart as they could afford—and some would have a -watch . Then every man ' s house was well-stocked with plenty of provisions . We'd have a bit of cutlery , and the cutler would have a pair oi shoes . And we'd have a dresser and delph-case with crockery ; and meal-kest , and all other furniture fitting for poor folk . Smith . —Well , but Robin , surely you can get all those things now for less than a third of their former price . ¦ Robin . —E ' cod , I know it ; but I can ' t get the money to buy them ; and when I get them they ' re not worth a tenth part of the things that I gave more money for . So you see , Maister Smith , if you get machinery to do man's labour , the man wont be worth as much :

      he won't have as much to spend in the market . And now mark me : Richard Jackson tells me that if you and vour men made a fair division of your profits for the last fifteen years , the men would have £ 34 , 000 more than they have got ; and if they had that , they'd have better houses , the building of which would employ Stonemasons , and Bricklayers , and Tilers , and Plasterers , and Joiners , and Plumbers , and Painters , and Glaziers , and Labourers ,, and Naflniakers , and Brickmnkers , and Qiiarryinen , and Limeburners , and Colliers , and Iron Miners , and Smelters , and , in short , doing every thing for the seTenty families , that Jackson tells me that you say your £ 80 , 000 spent in that way dul so much good , to . Vow the people employed in all those works would be

      better customers to the Grocer , and the Tobacconist , and the Chandler , and the Shoemaker , and the Ilatter , and the Tailor , and the Hosier , and all the rest of them : and then , if the seventy men . —mind , only your seventy , Maister Smith—and although they be bin few , their case applies to the whole system ; well , if the whole of the poor devils who have" been robbed of £ 300 a . piece had better houses , they'd have more furniture , a little education for their children , a few books , and so on : they'd be customers to one another : and , Maister Smith , its the pence of thu many going through the hands of the many , and not the pounds of the few going into banks , and rail wavs .

      and mortgages , and all those sort of speculations , that makes a full till and a cheerful face on a Saturday neet for the Shopkeeper , and a good exchequer for the Government too . Now there isn ' t one of them there trades that 1 have mentioned as works Lty machinery , and they are one and all crying out and coiuplitinihg . Smith . —Pooh , pooh . ' They are always complaining—and they liave -nothing to complain of . Kobin .- ^ E ' cod , when men complain , and are able to give a . £ 100 , 000 to relieve themselves , and able to pay ^ as they say ) the national debt if they liked , poor folk needn ' t be blamed ; for they wouldn't complain if they liad ' nt some reason . Quill . —Well , and what is the reason , Robin ?

      Robin . — Why machinery is the reason , Maister Quill—machinery that does the work of man , and eats nothing , and wears nothing , and uses nothing while it ' s at work , but a drop of oil . > Quill . — "Well , but Robin , the landlords and the farmers , and the pareons . and the agricultural labourers complain as well as you , and surely machinery doesn't affect them . Robin . —By gow , but it does ! Aye , and it will make them lads squeal out yet . Why , Maister Quill , if if you reduce the value of labour you reduc-e the value of every thing—I beg pardon ; except the national dtbt lUid ntorfrmoct , and fixed salaries , and " < itad weight" pensioners . Master Quill . 'Ecod , these are like the leech ; they'll fasten somewhere : and if machinery leaves nowt for them in the working man ' s carcase , they'll fasten on to the landlords and the fanners , " and the parson , —aye , ' ami on the Queen too , or on the devil himself , -Maister Quill , before they'll go without . As toAu

      AS THET HAVE THE BAY 0 . YET 8 T 1 IKT LL SCKEW IT OIT , SO MATTER WUEBE IT COMES FROM ' . So that you see , -Maister Quill , rather than let folks starve , Sir Robert Peel was obliged to set his wits to work to see how lie could get " cheap" provisions to square with the " cheap" wages ; and the landlords are beginning to h ' nd out that the inanimate non-consuming producing power , —them there cast iron men , and wooden boys , and littlej wire girls , that Maister Smith is so fond of ; they are beginning to find out that them there eats nothing ; and that those whose work the cast iron men do , must get their , fbod as " cheap" as possible . So the landlords and the

      parsons , that measured the v : un « oi" their estates by the ! it ; cvssity of putting " Boney" and the "Jacobins " down , mutt cmiit dvwn themselves in turn . That {• uzzk-r , the great Wizard of the - North , would be puzzled to pay the £ 50 , 000 , 000 a year , and all them Utnv gambling debts and money Wing to the Jews , vu of uhai iiv . ic / iiiiery lc < ives to the workinq classes ¦ n ' t-. r livin-j- - . and , Maister Uuill , the £ 50 , 000 , 000 a }« ir must be paid . That ml . \ uo , itmunuo , Maister ^ uill ; or thou , and them like thee—them folk that has U"t all the produce of labour , —mi . n 1 'ay it . Aye , thou may look , and thou may laugh , and thou may" wink at MuisUr Smith , but thou mun pay it , or the folk that ^ -. l > it on quarter day mun do without it .

      t ^ udl . — . So , Robin , 1 was only laughing at the idea <> i" twi Ix'ing Mipporloil by labour , when 1 a . v * ure you , <> n my honour , 1 have never had a working man in my ottiw , except to do him a service , in the way of n-ioninicniling him to settle any dispute he might have with his mister ; 1 never got a guinea from labour . Robin . —The devil you didn ' t ' . liuill . —No , not a farthing . Itoliin . —And who are your customers , Maister Quill . yuilJ . —Why landed proprietors , master manufacturers , and some of the parsons , Robin . Robin . — . " Well , and how do the landlords pay you , MaisU-r Wuill .

      i ^ uilL—O , in money to be sure . Roiii . i . — - " Would ye take it in grass , Maistcr t ^ uill . Uuill . —0 , n «> , no , no . Not in grass—not in grass , Robin ; 1 am not a Nebuchadnezzar . I'll tell you what , Robin—if there was necessity for it I'd take it in hay . Rfi ' bhh— 'Ecod , that ' s lalvrr , Maister Quill . Quill . —Well come , Robin , I'd take a good fat pig that ' s nut labour surely . Robin . —Ecod then , it must be grass-bacon . Quill . —Why , how < what do you mean ? Robin . —Why musn ' t the pig have suinm ;\ t | to eat , — JiK * al , or barley , or ' taters , or sununat of that sort < UuilJ . — Yes to be sure , but then they can be bought . Robin . —Aye ; but they must be prwiitctd before thev arc bought , Maister U »

      iM-> smith ( ai-idc to Quill j . You had better not go into ili-tail . Keep him to the question of the improvement in Devil ' s Dust , anil the increased wealth of the country . Quill . —Well , but Robin ; to come from the 'taters to the public buildings and the present appearance of Devil ' s Dust , and the improvement in the condition of tiie working classes . Robin . — <) , very well . In the tiiues that I speak of , every family was liappy , and every man in the parish "was known to one another . 1 had five children , all of different ages ; and although all , thank God , healthy , ^—of different constitutions . The mother watched them ; and if they were careless about playing with other children , or if they did their work negligently ; she'd give them their supper a bit earlier , and let them lie-a-bed a bit-longer . All were treated according to their health and constitution . No scrambling for a candle then ; no rushing and crushing about the house when the big bell rung at five

      o'clock of a winter ' s morning , to rouse all folks , old and young , sick and well , weak and strong , to get up at the same minute . No running of the poor mother to the bed full of children , shaking all of them out of sleep , dealing the most tired a box on the ear and a "damn thee , thou lazy baggage , " or "thou skulkingrascaJ ; " and then saluting the father and the husband , with a " get up with thee , and be damned to thee ; doesn ' t ta hear t' factory bell ? Give me that there child ; " and then taking the child in her amis , " come here with thee , —take thy suck , before I go—ay , what a bitch thou art ; this is three mornings I was five minutes late , —and lined threepence for thee . " Then hurrying off , with the little suckling child , to the factory door , and the husband with a half awake child upon his back , to bring back the baby , fhe goes to work , and he to the beer-shop all day , while Maister Smith's strangers' is doing his work . Smith . —0 yon exaggerate : you talk nonsense .

      Robin . —No , Master Smith , I don't ! I see it every day of my life . Well then , I say , we had nowt of that sor t when paid more money for everything that we used ix ? cause they \ rere good ; and when , after we had paid more for everything we wanted , we had more at the end of the week . In those times good character vas the best fortune a poor man could have ; and if a man or a lad in-the whole parish was seen drunk , or did a bad thing , or said owt wrong of a neighbour , I'll warrant me he'd be marked , anil he'd have a visit from 1 'avson Flower . Sunday was a day of rest , and a welcome day . Folk would put on the best they had j : ood , decent , Avarm covering , and go to the parish church with bible and prayer-lwok , to thank God , and hear-rood old Parson Flower . When the parson came "

      out of the pulpit , he'd shake hands with the old folk , and kindly inquire after them and their families . lie was as keen as a shepherd : if he missed the littlest one ufhisnockthatoughttobeinthefold , he'dsay , "Well , Robin , where ' s Will to-day ; why wasnt he at church ? " or " where ' s your dame , Robin ? " And then I'd say , " why , please ' you , parson , little Pill is but poorly , " and mother set up with him last night . " And then Parson Flower would say , "Ay , dearee me , dearee me ; poor little Will—poor little Will ; I must go and see bun , and see what ' s the matter with him Wore I gotodine with Farmer Jones . " Well , Maister Quill , that ' s the way we lived when the row came down to Devil ' s Dust about " Bonev and the

      Jacobins , " and " Church and King , " and the " Church in danger . " Well , we met among ourselves , though we had no Town-hall then , Mr . Quill , ; and * we heard what was wanted . Parson Flower and the Rev . Mr . Faithful came together to the churchyard , and they axed us if we " would defend our Church and our King . " We had good wages , and we thought that the King had something to do with giving them ; and Parson Flower , to us , represented the Church , and he was a good man ; and we loved the little church where we used all to meet in on Sundays ; and so we shouted " Hurrah for Church and King' !" and ' We'U fight , we'll fight and die for King George

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      and Parson Flower . " Word went off , and down came waggon loads of muskets , and swords , and pikes , and drill serjeante , to teach us how to shoot and stick the French . We gave a whole day in every week , and a bit of every day , to learn this new trade of butchering ; but we minded nowt about it , but stiil pulled up the lost time by working , later and earlier ; and cheerfully ; but , by Gow , if we had known what we were working for then , and hoiv dear we ' ve had to pay for it since , much as we loved Parson Flower , we would have left fighting to King George and his soldiers .

      U , mll . —what , Rabin , wouldn ' t you fight now for the Queen and the Church ? Robin . ^ Fight for Queen and Church ! Noa , noa , Master Quill ; you know better than that . The Queen ? wli . . its King still , Master Quill . Quill . —King ! King . ! what do you mean , Robin ? I . ' mean Queen Victoria and the Church . Robin . —I mean , that the Steam-engine i . t Kixo now . ' and folk wouldn ' t know which of the churches to fight for . Quill . —Which of the churches ? Why the right church—the Church of England , to be sure .

      . Robin . —Maister Quill ; its because so many says that this church is reet , and that church is reet and because the Church of England hasn ' t done ' what ' s reet , that we hear of so many infidels that ' s gone away from all churches . Quill . —What , Robin , arc you an infidel ? Kobin . —Noa , Maister Quill , but I ' m going to shew you how infidels arc made . If I was a traveller , making my way to Devil ' s Dust , and if 1 came to a pass where there was another road , and if there was a finger-post saying— , " this is the roail to Devil ' s Dust , " and "this is the road to Shoddy Hall , " 1

      should be all reet then ; but if I came on to forty or fifty different turns off the one road ; and if there was a finger-post to even- one ; and if all said— " this is the road to Devil ' s Dust , " then I should be regularly bewildered ; I shouldn't know which road to take , so I might get lost and go astray . And so it is with them there infidels . They hear all the p . ireons saying that this road , and that road , ' and t ' other road is the only road to heaven , and , like me , on the road to Devil ' s Dust , they get bewildered . Quill . —Well but , Robin , suppose that arms were sent down now to fight for the Queen and the Church , do you mean to say that the people wouldn ' t take them ?

      Robin . —Noa , I say nowt at sort . They'd take them fast enough : but they'd fight for onuB and cottaoe , instead ot Church and Queen . Hut , don't you fear , Maister Quill ; Government will never try that scheme again . So now you see , vour fourteen churches are only wrong finger-posts , leading us all astray : your Town-hall is never open , except fov the masters and free traders to put dowh wages , though we built it . Youv banks are only to discount your paper flimsies , your speculations on our labour ; your railroads , steam-navigation , and all those things are but machinery for cheapening our labour in all parts of the world ; your hospitals and infirmaries are buUt for fear that your sort should take the infection from our sort , since you huddled scores of filthy starving

      paupers into garrets and cellars ; and your big bastile is a grinding machine to grind the faces of the poor , and to make them work for owt rather than go into one of them ; your Mechanics' Institute is only to enable you to fight "genteel" labouh against poverty ; and your cemetery is your Free Trade b ' urying-grouiul , by which you get as much as you can from poor folk when they are dead . It never will be looked on with the veneration , reverence , and respect , Master Quill , that attaches to yon little old church-yard , where rich and poor lie buried togetheralongside , as they lived together in harmony and fellowship . There used to be no doubly sanctified grave , here and there , railed in and beautified , making one man better than another . And as for that Parson Barebones , that has £ 2 , 000 a year for preaching sermons all about the "improvidence" of the poor , and for flattering up them that

      gives him | good dinners ,-and all that sort of stuff , —ay , my God Almighty , when I sees him slapping through the street , not minding to ride over poor folk , and when sees his wife and family turning up their noses when poor folks pass ; and when I think of poor 1 'arson Flower upon £ 200 a vear , praying for the poor , I no longer wonder that there should be a . " high" and a "tow" church . I tell thee what , Maister Quill , if a rich man has a shepherd he'll run from Jils dinner or his bed if he Item's there ' s a sheep on his back in a furrow ; and the herdsman will sit up all night with a sick cow . We are told that Parson Barebones is our shepherd ; and 1 should like to see him leave his bottle at the " Squire's , " to take one of the poor Hock of Devil's Dust off his back ; or see him sitting up . with one of his sick flock all neet . Maister Quill , when poor folk sec more respect paid to the dumb animals of the rich than to the flesh and blood of

      beings with souls to save , thev don ' t like it , Maister Quill . " Smith . —Well now , Robin , it's my time—I must be off ; and as you have appealed to me as one of the jury to decide between you and Mr . Quill , I think I shall convince you that I am neither prejudiced nor partial . I confess that I did think mv friendI Quill ' s arguments were unanswerable ; but 1 also candidly confess that many of the points you have so shrewdly urged have presented a new view of the case to my mind , especially what you have stated as to the likelihood of the land being compelled to satisfy those

      demands which have heretofore been supplied to the Government by labour i and now , Robin , as I have still a hankering after the old spot , if you will meet me here after the market on Tuesday next , —Mr . Quill and Jackson , 1 ' im sure , will attend , —I'll have great pleasure in hearing the conclusion of your reply . Robin . —Well , I'll meet you : I'm told thou ' st purchased "Shoddv Hall" and the estate from Squire Gambler . Ecod , what " conies over the devil ' s back goes under his belly ; " and thou'lt find that the tuxsuck ing-folk will lie after " 'Shoddy Mall " when the panic conies : and it ' s a-cooming !

      Smith . —Well , well , . Robin , don't suppose me so sordid as to have made the appointment from , an interested motive ; but be punctual , and I'll attend . Robin . —I'll he here : and when I've done thou'lt hear Jackson about machinery , for 1 can only speak to one point . Smith . —Yes , yes . 1 think its quite right to hear what even ' man has to say on his own behalf . It ' s what 1 should like to have myself . M y motto has always been , " Do as you would be done bv , " Jackson . —Then I am sure , Mr . Smith , as you'd like to get £ 500 from me if 1 had it , oft / uur / , perhaps , according to vour maxim , you will give me back mine . Smith . —Good morning , Jackson . Good bye , Robin—sluiko hands : Vou are a wonderful man oi ' your age . ( , ' ome , QuiU .

      Robin . —Kcod , I remember when there were many men betwixt four and five score in the parish of Devil ' s Dust before the machinery came here : but now a man of forty is almost a wonder . Good bye to ye . ( To be continued . )

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      Death of a Chelsea Pensioner . —An inquest was held on Tuesday evening , at the King ' s Head , Kniphtsbridge , before Mr . Iliggs , on the body of Mr . Glassbroke , aged 50 , formerly a private in the 2 nd Life Guards , and latterly an out-pensioner of Chelsea Hospital . Sarah Glassbroke said that she lived with the deceased , her husband , in Rose and Crown-yard , Knightsbridge . He left the army six years ago , and since then had nothing to depend upon but a pension of Is . per day , of which sum 2 s . ftd , per week was paid away for rent . He was much addicted to drinking , and was the worse for what he had drunk on Thursday night . On Friday * lie quitted , home , and

      witnesses searched all over the neighbourhood for him , but without success , and it was not until the following evening , when he was brought home in a state of utter insensibility , that she knew where he had been . She was informed that he had been found in Wapping . Having taken care that his neckerchief was loose , she left him lying on the floor , and on visiting him the next morning , found him dead . The jury consisted of fifteen persons , twelve of whom were for a verdict of "Died by the visitation of Gpd , " and three for one of "Died from excessive drinking . " Twelve being a sufficient number to constitue a jury , the coroner received the first-mentioned verdict .

      Daring and Impudent Robbery . —On Monday evening about seven o'clock , a carter in the employ of iMr . West , town carman , brought nine chests of tea to the house of Messrs . W . Marshall and Co ., tea dealers , in the Strand , and whilst in the act of delivering the last chest but one , which did not occupy him more than a minute , two men in a light cart drove up alongside of that containing the tea , took the last chest , placed it in their cart , and drove off . The tea was fine gunpowder , valued at between £ 21 and £ 22 .

      Extraordinary Death . —On Friday last William Mann , aged sixteen , died suddenly at Kidderminster , in a boat called the Sarah and Jane , which was on its way from Tipton to Gloucester by the Worcestershire and Staffordshire Canal , before medical assistance could be obtained . At the inquest held on the body at the Pheasant Inn , on Saturday , before Mr . Wl S . P . Hughes , coroner , it appeared from the evidence of Mr . Cornelius James Philbrick , surgeon , that he was called to attend the boy on Friday , about a quarter before 1 p . m ., and that before he could arrive the lad had expired . Mr . Philbrick made a post mortem examination of the body , and found the abdomen filled with fluid that had escaped from a hole in the stomach , about two inches from the gullet , on the left-hand side . lie found in the stomach a large

      round worm , about a foot long . The stomach throughout its entire surface presented appearances of inflammation . He gave it as his opinion that death had resulted from the perforation , which Was the effect of inflammation , probably produced by the presence of the worm . The father of the boy stated that he was taken ill with violent vomiting on the Snnday night previous , and that on Monday he applied to a druggist at Wolverhampton , who furnished medicine , which gave no relief . The boat was on its journey frotfl Sunday till Friday , so that there was no opportunity of obtaining medical advice till it reached Kidderminster , where the fatal event took place . The jury returned a verdict of " Died by the visitation of God . "— Wth-cester Herald .

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      Dreadful Fibes at Lyme Regis . —Intelligence was received in the course of Wednesday at the several fire insurance-offices in the metropolis of two most destructive fires having taken place at Lyme Regis on Sunday night , occasioning a serious loss of property . The Outbreak happened between liana 12 o ' clock , when , [ on the alarm being raised , it was found to have originated in an uninhabited house in Churchstreet , and , from circumstances which have since transpired , itisjtoo sadly feared that it must have been the work of some incendiary . Owing to the roof of the building being thatched , like most of the other in the town , and a strong S . E . wind blowing at the time ,

      the flames raged with extreme fury , and fired the adjoining houses four of which fell a sacrifice . Scarcely had the inhabitants recovered from their alarm before they were again startled by the bursting forth of another tire in the same street , about ( 50 yards higher up , on the opposite side of the way , at a house in the occupation of a ! Mr . Garland . The firemen and their engines were almost immediately in attendance , and , notwithstanding the most strenuous exertions on their part , theviwere unable to stay the progress of the flames , until tuj'ee buildings , in addition to the one tenanted by Mr . | Garland , were destroyed . This second calamity lis also said to have been caused by some misereantiintentionallv .

      Another Incjendiary Fire in Herts . —On Wednesday night ai very large straw rick on Ilightieklfariii , Ilemel Ilempstead , in the occupation of Mr . Thomas Woodman , farmer and auctioneer , was discovered to be oil fire , and no doubt the contents of an extensive and valuable farm would have bc-en destroyed , had not ] the burning rick been a considerable distance from t ( . ie others , and also from the buildings , sheds , out-houses , &c . York . —The ( Condemned Criminals . —We understand that the j execution of Win , L ' otter and Wm . Kendrew , the former for setting tire to the dwellinghouse of Wm . Neville , at Wistow , near Seiby , and the latter for the murder of Mr . Wm . Inchbald , at Low Dun 8 forth , j near Boroughbridge , will take place ( should no reprieve be received ) on Saturday week , the 28 th inst . i

      Death ? rom Destitution i . v tue City . —On \\ ednesday afternoon an inquest was held in the City Bridewell , before Mr . Payne , the coroner , on the body of Sarah Henley , a native of Inverness , aged thirtynine , a prisoner , committed on the 29 th uft . for breaking windows at the Mansion-house . Mr . John Crooks , the assistant surgeon , said that lie saw the deceased on the } 30 th ult ., the day after her admission , and found her in an extremely low and enfeebled condition , apparently from the effects of want and exposure to the cold , without any ' marked signs of disease . ! Fever of a low typhoid character f ; radually came on , and she was treated for it until ler death , on Monday last . When he first saw , her she was suffering from great depression , both mentally and bodily . Mary Anne Simpson , a prisoner , committed at the same time and for the same offence as the deceased , said she first met her

      at Bishopsgate I workhouse , where they both had a night ' s lodging | and left in the morning . The next time she saw her sitting on the steps at the Mansionhouse . Deceased told her that she was in want , that she hail nowhere to go , and that she was about . to break a window ! at the Mansion-house , to get taken before the Lord Mayor , that something might be done for her , for slip had been told there was no other w ; iy of getting to see him . Witness told her she was going to do the same , and so they then went together and threw stones at the windows and broke . them . They were told that if they broke windows , the Lord Mayor would doj something for them ; did not say she had sought relief at the union . The coroner and jury made some feeling remarks upon the dreadful state . to which the deceased and her companion must have been reduced before they took such a strange mode of obtaining relief . Verdict—Natural death .

      Dangerous Effects of Burning Charcoal . — Three Persons Suffocated . —Chat bam , Dec . 16 . —On Sunday morning last , considerable sensation was created in the village of Luton , near Chatham , in consequence of three husbandmen in the employ of John Oakley , Esq ., farmer , at Darling , having been found dead in their bedroom . It appears that the men , whose names are John Stcdmau , 25 years ; Thomas Webb , IS ; and George Wright , 17 , lodged at the bailiff ' s cottage , which stands on the opposite side of the road to the farmhouse ; and in consequence of the severity of the cold , they had for the last few nights begged ofjthe bailiffs wife to warm their room . On Saturday night last , the night being very cold , she yielded to their wishes , and as the bedroom had not ; i tire-place , j she procured a stable lantern , and filled it with charcoal , and placed it in the centre of the room , so that the tire should do no mischief . About eight o'clock on Saturday night Stedman retired to rest , and he was followed about an hour

      afterwards by the other two , Webb and Wright , closing the bedroom door after them . Nothing was heard i > t them until next morning , when , not coining down down stairs at the usual hour of a Sunday morning , the bailiff , about seven o ' clock , went up stairs to rouse them , and on his opening the door of the room the most melancholy sight of three dead bodies presented themselves . Wright was found lying on the floor behind the-door , having evidently dropped duwn dead the instant jie entered the room , which must have been filled with ; carbonic acid gas . Webb was lying on his back on the bed , with his hand to his handkerchief , as if ho was , when . seized with death ,, in the act of untying it . Stedman had his jacket off , and had partly pulled off his trousers , and had fallen back on the bed . > iedical assistance , which was immediately procured ! was unavailing , as the poor fellows must have died a few minutes after entering the room . Stedman has left a widowed mother , who partly depended on him for support .

      Destructive Fire in Spitalfielub . — On Sunday cvenin '' , shortlyilx'forc five o'clock ,, a tire broke out upon the extensive premises belonging to and in the occupation of Mri CJ . Leslie , oil and colourman , No . 51 » , Brick-lane , Kpitalfields . The fire originated in the lower part of the premises , immediately iK'hjiid the shop , which was stocked with inflammable articles , and the flames Upread with extraordinary rapidity , destroying the partition between the shop and parlour , and setting tire ( to the stairs . At this juncture an elderly female , deaf and dumb , appeared at one of the back windows , and finding all hopes of escape from the burning building cut off , she signified by agonising gesticulation that she was in danger of beinsr burned to death . One of the men in the-

      employ ot' Messrs . Truman and llanbury , whose brewliouse is close by the spot where the outbreak occurred , observing her perilous position , instantly procured a ladder , and rescued the affrighted creature from a horrible death . Notwithstanding the utmost exertions of the firemen , the house is burned through , and the valuable ^ contents ge nerally destroyed . Frightful Aqcident at Whitechafel . —Shortly before nine o ' cleck on Monday night , a dreadful accident occurred ( opposite Aldgate Church , close by the junction of iUdgate with the Whitechapel-road " . About tbjiv o ' clock in the afternoon Mr . Dagget , a commercial traveller , in the oil and colour business , left Romford for the metropolis in a gig with a spirited horse . On arriving near Whiteehapel Church the

      animal shied , and immediately afterwards started off at a rapid pace , i By the rattling of the vehicle over the stones he \ yas much frightened , and , notwithstanding the utmost exertions of the driver , it was impossible to hold him in . At a frightful speed he reached the corner leading to the Minories , close by a pile of new building , where , unfortunately , two omnibuses were passing each other . Mr . Dagget , to escape a collision , pulled one of the reins , uut 'the road being narrowed at that spot , and there being a temporary platform for foot passengers , the horse ran upon it , amongst ; the people who were there crowding the pathway . The scene was frightful ; no less than

      nine or ten persons were knocked down , and tlie policeman , Goodman , 591 , city , who was passing along his beat , was dashed to the ground with great violence . The gig was instantly overturned , and the driver thrown out upon the pavement . A gentleman , who we have since ascertained is seventy years of age , was knocked down and severely injured . Mr . Dagget is much cut about the head , and bruised all over the body . A gentleman of the name of Wincklow was also much injured . Six persons were conveved to the London Hospital . Goodman , the constable , it is feared has received a concussion of the brain , which renders his recovery very doubtful .

      Alleged Confession of a Murder . —Some years ago , a man named Thomas Willey was tried in Exeter for the murder of a person named Cropp , a tailor , who was found j drowned below Trew ' s Weir . He was , however , acquitted , from some defect in the evidence . On Friday last he died , in a state of great misery , in the Exeter Workhouse , and it has been reported that , previous to his death , he confessed to the chaplain of the workhouse that he was really the murderer , and that two other men were implicated with him in the foul transaction , i This is not exactly correet . That he saw the chaplain very shortly indeed before his death , is quite true , and it is also

      true that he appeared most anxious to make some communication to him , but his condition was such that he was notjable to articulate more than a word or two . It was ) the chaplain ' s impression , from his -manner and from all that lie saw at the time , that he was really about jto make a confession of the crime of which the rev . gentleman was aware he had been accused , and he addressed him accordingly ; but , as there was certainly no confession in express words , and as the man tjeeame insensible almost immediately afterwards , and ! remained so until the time-of his death , it is right that so much at least should be stated . —fievonport Independent .

      The fnippiNAGH Abduction Case . — Arrest op Thbxe of the JPbincipals . —Killamey , Monday . — In a few hours after information wa& received , head constable Thorrihill , with a strong j .. irty of police from this station , proceeded to the lands oflnclimore , beyond Kenmare ( a distance of thirty miles ) , and succeeded in taking , in bed , Jeremiah and Patrick Hburan , brothers to the principal aggressor , and Dennis Prindeville , his cousin , and lodged them iii Bridewell this day . The fugitives had a watch night and day until they could effect their escape to America ,

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      Discovery of a long-concealed Murderer . - * Chester , Satordat . —A considerable sensation was produced here this morning by the arrival of two police-officers , one from Parnell , in Warwickshire , and the other from Alcester , who severally represented to Mr . Hill , the superintendent of the Chester police , that they were in search of a man named James Crowley , of Parnell , charged with the wilful murder of William Tilsey , also of that place , as far back aa the 25 th of December , 1842 . In consequence of in * formation supplied by the officers in pursuit , Mr . Hill sent some of his men to the Black Dog publichouse , where the party in question had been staying for some time . He had , however , removed to a lodging in the Eaton-road , leading to the seat of the

      Marquis of Westminster ; but it was ascertained that his trunks and other moveables had recently been taken to the Castle and Falcon , a small public-house in Watergate-street , kept by a person named Mary Jones , at wliich place he occasionally called for re « freshments , and , on inquiry , Mr . Hill was given to understand that lie ( CrowLey ) -was expected there at about noon to ^ lay . Accordingly two officers from Parnell and Alcester , accompanied by two of the Chester police , repaired to the house at the time specified , and there found Crowley seated with a glass of ale before him . It was known that he was always provided with pistols , and , therefore , due precaution was used in apprehending him . He was seized by each arm before he was at all aware

      of the presence of the officers , who then informed him of the nature of the heavy charge alleged * against him . " I admit it ! " he at once exclaimed ; and , subsequently , as they were placing the handcuffs upon him , he added , "I am a dead man . " He was forthwith taken before the mayor and magistrates ; and , on being searched , thirty-six sovereigns were found upon him , together with a double-barrelled pistol . The weapon was not loaded ; but a paper , containing a number of balls , and a flask of powder , were found in one of his pockets . It appeared by the statement made before the magistrates , that the prisoner had formerly resided with his parents at Parnell ; but , in consequence of his violent conduct , his father had forbidden him the house , at the same time providing for

      him a small cottage in the neighbourhood , and allowing him £ 1 per week , and a horse to ride on . Notwithstanding this arrangement , however , the father having still reason to dread some fatal act of violence on the part of his son , had one of his farmservants , named William Tilsley , sworn in as a special constable for his ( the father's ) protection ; and on Christmas-day , 1842 , the family and a party of friends having just taken their seats at the dinnertable , the prisoner ' s mother suddenly started up , and said to her husband , "For God ' s sake go up _ stairs ; there's James coming across the field with his gun to shoot some of us . " The old man accordingly hurried from the apartment , and the prisoner , who had been seen by his mother through the window advancing in

      the way she described , went round to the back of the house , and thrust the muzzle of his double-barrelled gun through a pane of glass . In the meantime Tilsfey went out to expostulate with the prisoner , who , on seeing him , retreated a few paces , exclaiming , " It ' s you , is it ? " and at the same instant fired at the unfortunate man , and shot him . dead upon the spot . He then shouldered the gun , and was heard to say as he walked away , "I've another charge for somebody else . " JN ' o one ventured to stop him . lie went home , saddled his horse , rode to Tring , and there left his horse at an inn , took the train , but stopped at the first station , where he bought a pair of spectacles to disguise his person , and was heard of no more until a few days since . He has , it appears , been in the United States in the interim , but has resided ever since March last in Chester . A woman with whom he lias recently cohabited , in a fit of jealousy betrayed

      him . The prisoner , after having been duly cautioned , signed the following declaration : — " I have to say I am guilty of what I should do again to-morrow , I did shoot the man in open day . I think I did my duty . " He was ordered to be taken to Warwick , where he will undergo further examination . -Fatal- ' Accident at Wakefield . — On the evening of Friday last , an accident , fatal in its results , occurred to a man of the naane of Broadhead , of Primrosehill , Wakefield , through falling into the river in Thornes-lane . The poor man was walking down a plank laid from the shore to a vessel in the river , and from its slippery state oceasionc . . by the frost , he fell into the water unobserved . Tho . water was but three feet in depth , yet from the intense coldness he was unable to get out . He was discovered on Saturday afternoon , and removed to his house on Primrose hill , where an inquest has since been held , and a verdict returned according to the facts of the case .

      EXTRAOHMNARY CaSE OF A M . VRRIEn WoMAX Concealing tue Birth or her Child . —Within thx last week the body of a new-born infant was discovered in a privy at Leytonstone , and it was ultimately traced to belong to a young woman who was only married about seven weeks ago , and resides at the above place . A warrant has ljeen issued for her apprehension , but not having recovered from her confinement , two of the police arc in custody of the house till she is well enough to be removed to undergo an examination before the county magistrates . —Essex Standard .

      Destructive Fire i > - the Commercial Road . — On Tuesday forenoon a fire broke out in the marine signal light manufactory , in the occupation of Messrs . Robeson and Highams , the patentees , situate in the Commercial-road East , near the Regent's Canal . The progress of the fare was unusuall y rapid , and in the course of a few minutes the building became one complete flaming mass . Notwithstanding that the firemen exerted theniselves to the utmost , they were unable to extinguish the fire before the stockin-trade and the building were nearly destroyed . Five 1 ' lusons Drowned . —Letters were received yesterday , at Woolwich , announcing the death of Sergeant Skinner and four other persons , belonging to the Ijjcdalus , by the boat upsetting . The body of Serjeant Skinner , who belonged to the Woolwich division of Royal Marines , is the only one yet found , . I'm ! Jife was not totally extinct at the time , but he died in about half-an-hour , on board the Firebrand .

      Fatal Accident is Threadseedle-street . —On Tuesday evening , . about halfVpast five o ' clock , a van belonging to a "Sir . Maynard , earner , of Barking , was proceeding up Threadneedle-street , towards Bishops gate-street , when the right wheel came in contact with a quantity of paving stones . At the same moment a truck , drawn by a poor man , in the employ oi Mr . Stevens , of Minerva-street , ilackney-rqad , was passing the vehicle on the other side , . and , in consequence of the wheel passing over the stones , the van was completely canted over on to the unfortunate

      man , throwing out at the same time , a lad , named Chalk , with much violence into the road , who was seated with the driver . Gn the cart being lifted up , the ill-fated man was found dreadfully mutilated about the head . He was promptly removed on a stretcher , as also the lad , to St . Barthomolew ' s Hospital , but on arriving there he was found to have breathed his last . As regards the boy , it is sadly feared that he has sustained some serious internal hurt . The driver of the van was immediately taken into custody by the police .

      The late Case op Suffocation near Chatham . — On Monday afternoon an inquest was held by Mr . Hinde , on the bodies of the three unfortunate farm labourers , who died at Linton in tlie course of Saturday night , in consequence of charcoal having been used to warm the room in which they *! ejvt . After hearing the evidence , the coroner , in summing up , remarked that it was most lamentable that three young men should have been thus cut off in the prime of their lives , through the unfortunate ignorance of Chapman and his wife , to whom there was much blame to be attached , although they pleaded their ignorance of the dangerous tendency of charcoal . After a short deliberation , the jury returned a verdict" That the deaths of the yonng men were accidental caused by suifocation by charcoal being burnt in the room . "

      Murder in the County of Clare . — Another murder has been commitcd in Clare . On Friday afteraoon Thomas llefferman , a farmer , residing near Ennis , the assize town of the county , was fired at by some miscreants who lay in wait . He died instantly . The murder was committed about three o ' clock , and it is stated that some of the neighbours of the victim were quite near at the time . This murder , like almost all the crimes perpetrated in the south , was connected with disputes about land . Dreadful Mubdeb in Ireland . — Last Friday a murder of a most atrocious nature was committed on a female , respectably dressed , and far advanced in

      pregnancy , but whose name could not be ascertained . On the following day an inquest was held before Messrs . Duckett and Gamble ; It appeared by the evidence of persons examined on the inquest , that the deceased and supposed murderer were travelling on the road from Tramore to Annstown , at one o ' clock on Friday ; and at two o ' clock on the same day the poor woman was found on the road about 100 yards from a cabin into which the murderer went to lighta pipe , with her head completely smashed . — Correspon dent of the Carlow Sentinel . [ The Waterford Chronich states that the supposed murderer has been arrested and fully committed for trial . ]

      Walbs- ^ Explosion of Fire-Damp . —Another of these accidents , of too common occurrence in tins mineral district , took place on Friday last , at the Edwards Colliery , Pontypridd , when five persons were severely burnt . It appears that the exp losion took place iii consequence of Simon Davies ( the manager ) and his son going into an old stall , which had been discontinued working , with a naked candle . — Cambrian . Fibe at Polstead . —On Saturday morning last , between seven and eight o'clock , a fire broke out in a who deals

      stable belonging to a widow , named King , in fowls and eggs , and had just previously started lor Colchester market . The flames soon communicated with a bam adjoining , in which were the produce ol two and a half acres of wheat in the straw , and a considerable quantity of barley straw , the whole of whico was consumed , together with the barn , stable , ana a shed . The neighbours were soon at the spot , whose exertions saved the dwelling-housa from destruction . The fire was occasioned by the servant boy going into the stable with a candle and lantern , which lie by some means let fall amongst the fodder ,

      Untitled Article

      6 - THE NORTHERN STAR . j Decembeji 21 , Iai 4 .

      The Chambers' Philosophy Refuted-

      THE CHAMBERS' PHILOSOPHY REFUTED-

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 21, 1844, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct838/page/6/