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THE NORTHERN- STAR. SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1842.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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PUBLIC MEETING . AT BATH , -IN ' BEFERENCE T-0 THE CONFERENCE . i Elsewhere , we hare given an account of what ; tr&nspiied at the Conference held on Monday afternoon last , at Bath , by some Chartists , and a nxajtxity of those who cannot be called such , in regard to the declaration of Mr . Siarge , in favour of complete Eufr age , bat not the Charter . In the evening , such was the aaxietj felt in this matter by the Chartists generally , and otters , that the room of the National ChaTter Assooifction was crowded to suffocation by persons expecting to hear something ^ boat the result of the Conference , and the course pursued on that occasion by the Chartist leaders .
Mr . Bocwsix was called to the chair , and opened £ he business « f the meeting in a short , -speech . He sti-tid soare of the particulars of wk&t took place at the Conference , and said no man oculd be opposed to , or refuse , signing , lhe declaratiei of Mr . Sturge , though he { Mx . B . ) woold not adrise any person t » give ap one principle of the Charter . Mr . Bassistr was called upon to address tke meeting . He said he never had fell more warmly Haa . be-did that night on the subject which they tad arefcte discuss . There was no man more demoted , or « et « sincerely attached to the Peop le ' s Chart zr tbu . he was ; and ne had proved that devotion and Sfflcerity by having suffered for a dvocating-the prin-« r ies which that document-sets forth—( hear , hear ) .
fit © tad said that time 3 were at hand , which would tey men ' s souls ; that the time had come for the Chartists calmly and deliberately to consider what is ¦ fee proper coarse they now should pursue . He "wanted to see a reconciliation take place between the Widdle class and the Chartists ; he wanted to see a powerful movement made in favour of principlesseme defined objects . And he wonld fay the experience of the past—the state of English parties for many years , and the conduct of the middle classes , earned ns against turning from the straightforward path of Tight and justice—( cheers ) . The destiny of ages , the welfare of our specie 3 depended upon the issue of the present struggles ; revolutions were £ oine on in the world : they have successfully and
been made in Spain and Poitagil ^ in Yucatan the . glorious principles of democratic Government had been established —( cheers . ) Wby ? Because the people there stood honestly by their principles ^ they fough t the battle of jus tice , they touched to eo party , they were Bet misled by elass interests- ; they stood firmly to their principles —( immense cheering . ) And if the leaders of the Chartists act in this way ; if they be honest to their principles , and endeavour by calm * nd rational discussion to make converts to them , * no less important revolution will speedily take place in this country—( cheers . ) We had arrived at an important crisis , a crisis that he Had foretold , * crisis he had endeavoured to bring about—( hear ,
iear}—a crisis , the nature , of which must impress the Chartists with a conviction of standing firm as a rock . They had no doubt read the speeches made lately by Mr . Ferrand , speeches -which " contained mach truth in regard to the motives which actuated the Corn Law Repealers ; but these speeches it East be understood , did not advasee any argument against the justice of Corn Law Repeal ; they ¦ did not prove that the country was in no distress , nor that class legislation was no evil— ( hear , bear . ) These were evils ; and the declaration of Mr . Stur ^ e did not set forth by what means thesa evils "were to be got lid of . It denounced class legislation , * ad recognised TJ ^ vers&l Suffrage to be a right , at least the instructions did , which those who
carry the memorial round the city to get it signed ¦ were requested to read to those who signed it . Why not give such instmction 3 in the memorial ? Why so Taguely word the memorial as to need instructions to explain what that memorial means ! It is a coybird designed to delude the unwary—( cheers , and cries of ** We won ' t have it . ") But it was said that if we agreed to the principle of complete Suffrage , x conference would meet in Birmingham for the pnrpofw of agreeing to details necessary to carry that principle into effect . Now , there were certain yjrntsin tae Charter—one was a right , the others were mattera of expediency , founded upon the opinion of their being necessary to give effect , permanency , and consistency to the principle of
tlni-Tersal Suffrage—( hear , hear , hear . ) The details were in facJ as important as the principle , the one was indispensably necessary to the other . ( Hear , hear , ' and loud cheers . ) He had said that the middle classes would be driven by neeessity ' into the Chaitist ranks ; and he now cautioned the working classes against b : ' mg misled—he advised them to pursue the same honest course now as they have done all along . We were asked whether we would join the middle classes ! and his reply was , no , unless it be upon honourable terms . It would be wrong in bs to sink down-to the standard of those classes , because they entertain certain prejudices towards us , and certain absurd opinions in reference to our Charter . Would it not be bett-er to endeavour , by
¦ argument , by discussion , to bring up , or wait until eirennv-tances had forced them to come up to our standard!— < ' hear , hear , " and cheers . ) He was aot opposed to any class of people—he considered all men to "be his brothers ; but , permit him to say , that it was their duty—a duty they owed themselves and their conntry—to be upon the watch , to trust none hat themselves , and to unite witb . none but such aa are willing to make common cause with us in the struggle for the Charter—( cheers . ) Let no . party have the power of altering the details of the Charter—( eheer 3 ) If a conference be appointed , let too delegates represent you— ( hear , hear)—Jet them go according to your ins t ructions , » nd noi damn the principles , by laying down their -own details . Mr . B . spoke for same time oa this
. subject ; he went on to point out what is meant by « onstitntio&al justice ; and next observed , that-the issue of the pending revolution dfpanded entirely upon ibe steps the people took at this crisis . He advised them to bs jealous and watchful of the middle classes ; and take care that they ( tin Chartists . ) be not defeated in their object . ^ Cheers . ) He wanted to see both classes united , bat wanted also the nnioa to bo one of principle , and for nothing else . Let ns keep that in view , and justice must ultimately prevail . ( . Cheers . ' ) Mr . B . ' s speech was listened to with marked and solemn a :: ention , . and it appeared to have produced a powerful impression . The above is but an outline . Mr . R . K . Philp m&de a long spsech in the usual -Strain , and proposed the following resolution : —
** That this mestin ? hails , iclih satisfaction , the declaration of Mr . Srur ^ e ; but , at the same iiae , i : will Bot cease agitaiing Tor the "whole " of fee People's Charter . " Mr . Clarke , in seconding the motion , " followed in -the strain of tne preceding speaker . He said that . he could not agree wi'h Mr . Bartlett that Mr . Sturge ' s decLuauon sti forth nothing definite : it did ; it recognised an important principle . JLr . Baktlett € xclaimed _ that he had stated that the '" instructions" recognised an important right ; 3 > at . taai Mr . Starve was indefinite a 3 to the details . necessary to g , vs t ' lzt right effect .
Mr . Clarke continued—01 he did not understand ihat : yet lie did think we should no : be jealous of the middle classes ; we should receive the overtures : ihey had made us , as bsing a , great advance to the Charter . He was not fur persons forcing their opinions upon others ; but he agreed with Mr . Bartleit when he said that all revolutions had been effettsd by independence of action . ( Hear , hear , iear . ) Air . Roberts suppoiisd the resolution in a speech of . great itngth , but he advanced uoz a tittle of an argument in favour of tile position £ e and his party had taken up . He here applauiitd Mr . Bartlett ' s
speech made at the Conference , wcicn he said was excellent , and delivered in a manner that-produced a powerful impression upon all present . Ha ( ilr . R . ) said , yre ought lo be jealuiu—to be wa : chful of the middle classes ; but he wa * not to 62 ied bj Feurgas O'Cou&or nor the Star ; he was no ; to be tyrannised over by z , dictator , aa % i he was afraid ih . 11 too many Would fee led a way by the Star . ( The sarcastic manner 13 which liiis was uttered was evidently not approved « f by the meeting . ) He thought that the Conference about to meet in Birmingham could ~ be made to do anything , if the people were true to themselves .
Mr . Hcfkiss , a sterling Cnartist . asked whether the Conference was not designed to injure and defeat 4 fae objects of the National Convention I And vrheiher isiurge hzd not put forth hi 3 memorial with a riew of injuring the . National Petition ? Tnat Conference would ^ ant support . Mr . Roberts said ilr . Sturge , he had no doubt , ¦ would pay the delegates to the Conf . -rence . Mr . BAKfLECTsaid he thought that was an improper fct-ep , the paeple should pay t ' aeir ovrn servants and no : Mr . Starga—( hear , hecr . ) Mr . Robekts explained—he had made a mistake . Tie CKAiaJiA > - was requested by ilr . Birtlett to rea 4 taa resolution . a ^ ain ; when he had done so , Hr . Barilett suggested that the" words' with inuch pleasure' should be introduced into the , motion instead of * with satisfaction , ' as ke vras sure no Cdartisis could be satisSed with S : urge ' s declaration .
Tnc suggestion having been attended _ to , th 2 motion in . the amended form was put and carried " . Mr . Phillips made some few observations . Mr . Bjlbsxett now proposed the former motion he joade at the Conferenoe . It was seconded in a neat speech by Mr . Twite . Mi . Yincett rose to suppor ; it , notwithstanding ha opporiiion to it at the Comerenee , and that too after he ha-d called the motion a cap ita ; one . He treat on in ihe Hams strain as did Mr ; Roberts , aud " with BiucO . warmth ; iu a rage of piition he contended for the right of thinking for hiniself ; he would ast as he thought proper , no man suould controul him j he would cot be controuled ( so i " , appeared ) eveji by public opinion . When fee wrnt to jfae Conlerence he would take care that the derails cf the Charier should not o « set aside . (?> lr . Vmcent iefased to a « t . on ib . 9 National Convention—how is iiiiB 1 ) Mrr Vineent went on for some time , but a ^ ysneed nothing jnpre ihau what bad been before
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The nw ' sion was put and carried unanimously amid much cheering * Mr . Alderman Cbisp thought cert&in parties were going too fast } all they had been saying abtut the middle classes coming over to the Chartists was mere moonshine . He did think that there were many at the conference who "were more in favour of Corn Law Repeal than any thing else—( cheers . ) Tne workifig "classes should beea their guard—bat they should sign Sturge ' s memorial . This speech does not place Mr . Crisp ' s oolleagnes ia a very plausible light , it makes their whole conductappear strange , passing strange . The Chaibman after making a few remarks disserved the meeting . The Chartists of Bath are not to 1 » e humbugged , they know their duty , and they will perform it , whatever tbeir leaders may do .
The Northern- Star. Saturday, March 12, 1842.
THE NORTHERN- STAR . SATURDAY , MARCH 12 , 1842 .
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THE " PASTE" DAUBERS AND THE " DEVIL'S DUST" MANUFACTURERS . Last week we inserted as fall a report as we could procure of Mr . Busfield Ferrand's second speech expository oi the tricks and frauds resorted to and committed by the " great" manufacturers , both in the cotton and woollen districts . We did so , because wa wish the readers « f the Northern Star to be in possession of the revealments made by the member for Knaresbro * as to the practices which are ruining the character of the nation in the estimation of the foreigner to whom we offer our trashy goods for sale . We have heard a great deal
said about "foreign competition , " and about the necessity of so " cheapening production" as to enable us to maintain our " foreign trade ; " we have heard a great deal more in the way of complaint , that , spite of all our efforts so to " cheapen production , " our " foreign trade" is leaving us ; that we are being beaten out of the continental markets ; that we are being followed into distant neutral markets ; and that even , in some casesj we have been successfully competed with in our own home markets . We have heard a great deal said on this head ; and tho world is now made acquainted with one of the causes why " ouh present productions , " " cheap '
though they be , are rejected by those who have once tried them . Is it likely that either the foreigner or the home dealer will take from us oar " pasted calicos " . or our" devil ' s dusf" woollens , if they can either make better for themselves or purchase from others good and substantial productions 1 Is it likely that they will consume our calicos , made up with " stiffening" and " paste ; " or our woollens made up with " mun-go" and flour , after they have once put the one into the wash-tub , or had the other in a shower of rain ? Are these the sort of productions that are to ensure to us the markets of the world !
That our readers may be able to know the full extent and nature of the revealments made by Mr . Febbasd , as to these aud similar practices on the part of our " great" manufacturers , we have given all that has been said in " the House" relative to them , both by Mr . Fksrasd himself , and those of the organs of the " great" manufacturers who have tried to rebut his statements . Oar present sheet contains a report of a rather curious " debate" or " talk" about Mr . Fbrrasd ' 3 charges ; a " talk " led-off by Cobden , the Stevenson's-square bludgeonman . This u talk" we have given , as well as
the reply by Mr . Fkrkajd , on Monday evening , to Mr . Cobd £ N , and to the averments of the document read to " the House" from " the Plague" manufacturers by Mr . Yilliees . To the report of these proceedings , we beg to call the especial attention of our readers . In that report , they will find much to amuse—much to instruct ; and much of which to be ashamed . They cannot but be amused at the adroitness of Cobden ' s manufacturing a charge of crutlty ; and indignantly rebutting thai , while he left the real charge untouched ] They cannot fail to be further amused at the barefaced attempt of the Manchester " Plague" Manufacturers to rid themselves of the
whole of Mr . Febrasd ' s charges , " PASTE" and all , by simply denying that they practice the truck system 1 These adroit attempts cannot but amuse , while they also instruct as to the tactics of the " Plague" men , and the meannesses they will descend to to serve themselves , or gain a point . But while these things thus amuse and instruct , the revelations made to the whole world , as to the means of deception and fraud practised by the English trader for the " taking-in" of the stranger aud imposing upon the unwary , mu 3 t make the car 3 of every Englishman who values his own character and that of his conntry to burn with shame !
The charge against Bludgeon Cobdes was , that ho was constantly in the habit of representing himself and the " great" manufacturers whose mouth-piece he was , as being RUINED by the operations of the Corn Laws ; that they were losing money constantly " by carrying on their concerns ; " that they wer « on the verge of bankruptcy—all but in the Gazelle ; and ; hat , while ho was making these representations ; while he was describing himself a 3 being RUINED in his trade , and as sacrificing his " capital" daily by employing "his hands "; the charge against him was , ' . hat , while he was doing
this , he found his business of calico printer so profitable , and his love of money-making so great , that he run his works at Chorley bo : h day and night ' . and that , spite of the operations of the Cora Laws , immense fortunes had been made by other manufacturers , who were notoriously known to have had nothing when they began business ; that the Messrs . Maeshall , of Leeds , had accumulated more than two millions of money ; and that - the Manchester League-men actually boasted that they were able to buy up the aristocracy of England . Tnis was the charge maie by Mt . Febua . nd against Cobde . n . How did
Cobden meet it ! By trumping up a charge of cruelty against his workmen , and rebutting that ! Not a word doe 3 he Eay about his former representations of RUIN 1 Not a word does he say about the " large" fortunes ! Not a word doss he venture in explanation of the fact , that those who so loudly bawl for a Repeal of the Corn Laws to enable them to stave off RUIN , also publicly boasted that they were able rb buy up the aristocracy of-England ! Not % word doe 3 he drop about the " two -millions" of money said to belong to the Messrs . Makshall ] Not a word on these matters ; but a charge is replied to which was never made—only by himself ::
The charges made against the manufacturers as a body , and against ihe " Plague" portion of them in particular , were , that they are in the habit of "BATING" the wages of their workmen , ' especially combers and weavers , ) when they tike their work in to the warehouse ; that overlookers are appointed for that especial purpose ; that these overlookers have a per-centage upon the amount they thus rob from the worker ; and that the labouring poor have no alternative but to submit to these robberies ) or starve . It was also alleged that the " truck system" is greatly practised ; that the
manufacturers do not do this openly ; that they do not , of themselves , pay wages in goods ; that they pay their workmen in money , but that thesa same workmen have to depart out of the counting house by a door which leads to the room where the " shopkeeper" is stationed ; and that the workman well knows that if he does not spend his wages with this same " shop-keeper" ( who in most instances is related to the proprietor of the " works ") , he would be discharged from his employment . It was also alleged that many of the mill-masters
have built cottages near to their mills or work 3 ; that when a workman applies for work , if one of these dwellings is empty , a key is given to him , if the manager decides to " set him on ? ' that the workman well ^ nows that this means he must live in the empty house , and pay the rent demanded , or have no work ; and that that rent is so excessively exorbitant as to amount to ten per cent . Hpon the outlay ! It was also charged against these same manufactures , that they are extensive users of flour for disreproble and fraudulent purposes j that they
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expose their woven fabrics to a stretching process , and while so atretched fill the interstioes with "stiffening , " or flour paste , and dry the whole by passing them between two large heated rollers , which give to the calicos sopperated on , a deceptive . / misA , a stiff 1 , thick , and heavy feel , all of which "vanish ; the moment the fabric comes into the wash-tub ; and that nothing but a light , thin , open , flabby inferior calico is left in the place of what appeared to be a piece of wellmade cloth . It was also alleged that the manufacturers of woollens are in the habit of using filth of the worst description to mix up with ;* the wools out of which they manufacture their cloths ; that woollen rags of every description are sought up from
all quarters , torn to pieces by a maohine appropriately termed a " Devil , " and reduced to Stuff something like wool in appearance ; that this " Devil ' s dust , ' as it is called , is extensively used in the making of blankets and other woollen s ; that it is mixed with the new wool used in manufacturing cloths ; that this disgraceful and infamous practice deteriorates the cloth so produced ; that it involves the national character , making us appear to those we impose it upon as a nation of cheats and rascals ; and that it is to these practices mainly , and not to the operation of the Corn Laws , or to "foreign competition , " that we are to ascribe the loss of our " foreign trade . "
Such were the charges made against the " great " manufacturers , and against the " * Plague" portion of them especially . How have these charges been met ? By the denial on the part of some hundred of the "large" cotton manufacturers ia the " large" towns in the cotton district , that " THEY practice the truck system ; but that they pay their wages in money ! " ( And this is trumpetted forth as a complete answer to the " slanders , " as they are called , of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough ! The denial of one of these charges , ( that relating to
" truck , " ) is held by the organs of . the " great " manufacturers as a denial of ALL ! Not a word do theso satne virtuous cotton-lords say about the " paste" ! Not a word about the " batemenis" ! Not a word about the " devil's dust" I And not a Bingle syllable about the cottages and the ten per cent- ! And yet they have successfully rebutted the " slanderous" charges made against them by the foulmouthed Mr . Ferrand !! At least , so say the Whig papers , from the Chronicle downwards . The people of England , however , will think otherwise !
It will be seen that Mr . Villiers , when bringing the denial of the cotton lords respecting the truck system before "the House , " endeavoured to fix upon Mr . Ferhand the charging of this particular charge , the " truck" system , upon Ait- the manufacturers who are members of the Anti-Corn Law League , This is also attempted by the Whig press ; and the Chronicle quoted , most dishonestly , a portion from Mr . Febrand ' s speeoh in support of this position . The faot is , that the portion quoted was spoken after ALL the charges had been made ! and ' of course included them all . What is true of one man may not be true of another man . A manufacturer who " bates" aooording to the system
exposed by Mr . Ferrand ( and it is a system , we well know ) , may not adopt and practice the " truck " system . Another who " trucks , " may not exact ten per cent , in rent for his cottages . . Another who uses the " stiffening" process in his calico making , may not , and most likely doe 3 not , use the " devil ' s dust , " because he does not make woollens . And yet it would be ju 3 t as honest and as near the truth to affirm , that every one of these practices were charged upon every single manufacturer , whether in the cotton or woollen district , as it is to say that the truck system was so charged !! Ah ! Mr . Villiers , and Messrs . the cotton lords , the people of England will see through and appreciate your artful dodge I
We have said that the "BATEMENT" system desoribed by Mr Ferrand is a system . We repeat it . We know it to be so . Thousands of pounds of the hard-earned money of the labouring people have been robbed , niched from them by its means ! The " cottage" system is truly described too . We know of many instances where it ia in full operation . Let the " great" manufacturers get a Committee of Inquiry appointed , if they dare ! and some strange evidence will be adduced as to their practices on this head . Let them get the Committee by all means !
All that has been charged upon the cotton-lords respecting the PASTE is true , and a great deal more . There is scarcely a piece of calico manufactured now-a-day 3 without " stiffening" being used upon it . It is a roguish fraudulent practice . It is cheating in its worst form . By its means the cot ton-lords are able to impose upon their customers what appears to be a well-made and really good article of manufactured produce , which in the wear turns out to be the veriest trash . A remarkable instance of this practice , and the way in which parties may be deceived , and are deceived by it , came to our knowledge
this very day ( Wednesday ) . Calicos are finished by the Paste and Callender process , so as to imitate Irish Linens . It will take a judge of fabrics to distinguish the one from the other ; or rather , he must be a good judge who is able to say that the prepared calico is not linen when it is placed ih'bis . hands alone . It is thoroughly deceptive m appearance . It is made up into rolls in the manner and of tha lengths of Irish clotb . 3 . In the instance we speak of , a piece of this description was offered for sale by a " hawker" f > a person in Leeds , a warehouseman in a woollen establishment . It was
represented to be *• Irish Lin ., " and the sum of 2 . 3 . 2 d . per yard was asked for it ; and after some haggling , Is . per yard was bidden for it , and taken ! The purchaser took his cloth home to his wife , cingra' . ulasing her on the bargain he had made . Enough for a shirt was cut off . As is usual with all good sempstresses , it muat first be subja cted to tho wash-tub process ; for " it will sew much better when the stiffening is taken out . " To the wash-tub it went : and , sure enough ! the " stiffening" did come out ! Nothing remained of the " Irish Lin . /' when it left the fvash-tub , but a piece of cilicq
that would be dear at sixpence a-yard !! For thi 3 fact we can vouch . Lying before us at this moment on our table are samples of this very cloth , botn before washing and after . We know the man who boughc it ; and we know there is not a man in Leeds , gentle or simple , whose word would be sooner bsliered either by his employer ( who Is in ' an extensive way of business , ) or by others who know him . The man who sJd the cloth we do not know , or we would soc-n try to have him laid by the heels
as a cheating vagabond We advise all into whose hands this Northern Star may fall , to beware of this practice ; and if any person , either hawker or anytning else , offers for sale such stuff as that wo have been describing , and represents it to be " Irish Lin , " we advise them to give him into custody at once , and appear against him with a charge of obtaining money under false pretences . We are sure such a charge , under Euch circumstances , would hold zood , or justice has departed out of the land along with national trading honour .
The samples of cloth we have spoken of as being in our possession , both in its " stiffened" and usstiffened state , we shall be happy to Bhew to any one who may feel curiosity enough to wish to see them . They are fully illustrative of the practice of " pasted" calicos , as described by Mr-Ferrand . Immense quantities of flour are used by the cotton lords in tbis cheating and roguish process . Now mind : flour has always been used in the
manufacture of cotton cloths . In fustian and calico weaving , before the warp is ready it must be dressed . In dressing , flour paste is applied to the stretched warp by means of brushes ; and then a red-hot iron is quickly passed over it , or other speedy means of dr / ing resorted to . Thi 3 process has always been adopted and in use : and it is not to this that we object . This is necessary to enable theTvarps to be woven . It is to the practice of using more paste , after the fabrics are woven , that we apply the terms
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cheating and rascality ; aad it is agai ast this waste of the best product of the ^ ibhetitenjburt that we enter our protest . It is a complete and unmitigated waste . Hundreds of thousands of bags of flour are ¦ thus annually thrown away ! and the parties who pursue these practices are continually bawling out for " cheap ' . -bread , for the labouring poor" ! Ah ! ihejyrant Jour paste cheaper than it now is !! The charge regpeoti-og the iise of «* DEVIL'S DUST , " and the detail of the practices resorted to by the manufacturers who use it , as detailed by Mr- Feiirand , foil far short of actual truth ! The
" doings" on this head are absolutelj ; incredible 1 There is scarcely a single Blanket , or ftViow * priced Carpet , or a " . 'Padding /* ' , or a low /• vPeieraham , " or a low "Pilot cloth , " or a " Kersey , " manufactured throughout the whole West Riding of Yorkshire , in the making of which this horrible filth is not used ! And this is n » secret . It is eponly boasted of . Go amongst the manufacturers mix with them at their inns on the market days ; enter into conversation with them on these heads ; and you will learn from them that : tho practice
is almost universal ! Fancy goods , too , as they are called ; especially those made for trowsers-wear , are hot free from this infamous " raw material . " In the manufacture of the lower qualities of them , it is extensively used . Indeed , there is hardly a piece of woollen cloth manufactured nojv-a-days , into the composition of whioh this filthy " poucement , " does not , more or less , enter , excepting the fine qualities . And even in the manufacture of some of these , things are used up which iii the days when cloth was made to wear and not to sell , was never used at all !
And what is this "DEVIL'S DUST" 1 Filth of the most abominable description . Rags of ail sorts , and after being used for all purposes , are submitted to the action of the "Devil , ? which tears them up completely , and produces a sort of stuff , something like light or open , flocks . This ^ is mixed with the wool in various proportions ; and the mixing of the two is technically called " a blend . " Go into Dewabury , and ask any clothier " what is the proportion of wool for a five-pack blend ! " and he will instantly give for answer an anecdote respecting a manufacturer , who took the wool in his pocket when he went tV make a blend of that quantity ; but who forgot to put in the wool , and carried it home again , remarking that the wool would do
for another time , and that he would only hate to use a little more flour to enable his " blend" to do without it . This , no doubt , is an exaggeration ; but the statement so unblushiiigly and instantly made in reply to the query above given , proves that the practice is universally known ; and that the proportion of " devil's dust" is far greater than the wooliti many of the articles manufactured from it . And it is true that flour has to be used ia this manufacture . When cloths are made , in which a great portion of this stuff is used , flour is flung into the fulling stocks to enable the piece to hang together , and to mill I Unless this flour was eo used , the filthy stuff , devoid of staple and thoroughly rotten as it is , would fall to pieces in the " stocks , " and wash away with the water !
Rotten and dirty worn oat rags , however , arej not the only things used for this purpose . Strange and incredible as it may appear , it is a fact that in the manufacture of blankets , cow-hair is most extensively used ! It ia used in the making of all the lower and middling qualities . It is " blended" with the" Devil's dust " and the wool . Let any one make inquiries at Dewsbury and Heckmondwike , tho West Riding blanket manufacturing district , and he will find that what we have stated is the fact .
" Fud" or the waste from the ordinary processes of making woollens , is also used . This is of different degrees of quality , according to the process by which it is made . The best sort of it is collected by dealers who g « round to tho different manufactories , and who , after some slight dressings up , offer it again for sale under the name of " Shoddy . " In Leeds we hare a building called this "Shoddy Hall , " where
nothing else . is offered for sale . It is open on Market days , just the same as the Piece Halls ; and the dealings in the article have become bo important , that the business done there is weekly set forth in the newspapers , under the head " Shoddy Hall , ' just the same as they give accounts of the business done inthe two old established ntarket-places , the two Leeds Cloth Halls I
By far the greater proportion of the waste made in the manufacture of woollens has been deemed of no value Whatever , except latterly for manure . Hundreds of thousands of cart-load ? of it have been fiuffored to wash down our rivers , not being deemed of sufficient value to incur the expence of removing to place it upon the land . Some little time ago it was found that the great quantity of oil which it imbibes by lying under the machines , and from being used to wipe away the superfluous oil occasionally , rendered it very serviceable as a manure for some purposes . It is much used for the growing of hops in Kent and the other
hopgrowing counties . We presume it is mainly obtained from Wiltshire for those place 3 . Of late years it has been extensively used in the West-Riding as manure , both for grass land aud for cultivation , when mixed with soil and other materials . And it is a fact , strange as it may sound , that after it has been soused ; cr / Vcrithas laid upon the land for a whdlo season ; after it h » 3 beon used to grow a crop of potatoes , or-turnips ; after it has grown a crop of hops 1 it- " is a fact that AFTER it has served these purposes , it has ; heen gathered from the land AGAIN , TAKEN ErEN FROM KENT TO DeWSBURY , SUBMITTED TO THE ACTION OF THE " DEVIL "—
AND MADE INTO WOOLLEN CLOTHS !! Every field in tho -neighbourhood of DewEbury has been raked over and over again ! When this part of the dirty business was first started , parties have been known to go by night into their ¦ neighbours ' fields ^ aud rake up all the waste laying on the surface , and carry it a'tvay '! :. These facts we are in a condition to prove . We shall ho glad * if the " Plague" manufacturers dare to call for a Committee of Inquiry ! I 0 ! yes , let us by all means have the Inquiry ¦!'!* ¦ . * ¦ . *; . ¦
We know a person , not long ago an- inhabitant of Dewabury , who went up into the neighbourhood of Sowerby Bridge , and induced the occupiers of the land tfapre to rako up all the woollen waste of this description from their fields . They did so , for the price ho offered for it was a sufficient inducement ; He got aB much as loaded three boats . Ho took the dirt down the canal to Dewsbury , sold it there to the " Devil '' -men , and . -pocketed above £ 50-by the transaction !
Not ; long-ago a person whom we- know was in one of the Market Inns at Bradford , AmoBgst the company present , iii tJie " Commercial Room , " was an aged man from Ossott , a village in the neighbourhood o Dewsbury ; He was a clothier ; and had beside a small bit of laud . The conversation happening to turn upon this . uifampus cbeatery , the Ossett clothier detailed , \ a open company , many oi ' their practices . He- ' bore testimony to the truth of tho flour - ; 1 » . ei . ng necessary to " make their pieces mill . " He also bore testimony to the use of rags and wai > te of every abominable description . He also told t hat he had himself sold
woollen waste to be "devniea'V after he had used iM «> grow a crop of potatoes onhis ^ and ! 1 And , amongst other thingSjhe eaid , that they h"ad a kcw plan now for the very coarse " paddings * ' ^ " Paddings , " at best hand , are a very coarse description of manufacture . They are used , ampnist other icings , for the inside stiffening for coat-collars . ; Now i \ S > j are made ; almost entirely of " Devil ' s Dust ;; " and instead of j the flour , or sometimes in addition to it , th ^ parties making them use animal size * GLUE , to makt them hang together aud feel stiff ! I They boil the gK ^ en put of horses arid cows' feet , and apply the Bize v'O obtained to the cloth . It is put on by means of a
common watering can , and allowed to set . Oi course , it " stiffens" the : fabric much ; for animal gluten is-much stronger than the starch con-
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tained inl wheaten flour . But , as the Ossett clothier naively said , with a knowing wink , "the wearer must tak care that the etaflF dns not ' wicken [ quickeii ] and cteep abt o * th koit kollor ' !! The old man Baid truly . The wearer must take this care . The animal size applied to the diTty woollen stuff used as before detailed , will quicken ; will breed maggots ; and , as ibe Ossett mad said , wfll creep down the badkof the coat ! 11
Now , we aver that these practices are al most general ! We aver that the Cotton Pasting is to be found in all parts of the cotton distriot \ and this ¦ f Devil's" muck manufacture in all parts of the Yorkshire olothing district . We aver that the practices are common to men of all parties ; while we are also free to say , that the Anti-Corn Repealing portion of the manufactarora have led the way in them . Indeed , their principles inevitably lead to such practiees . They eschew pr » - teclion . They will neither let their workman nor their customer be protected from them and their doings . They are for free trade . They fare also much in love with cheap productions . To produce
cheaper than others , is , with them , the first virtue . The race in cheapness boou finds a level when the wages can be no more reduced , and profits cannot be made . Other means must now be resorted to . Inferior raw material must be used . And thus the system goes on , until the entire character of our manufacture is changed . This system of . cheating spreads over all other praft 3 and occupations . What article of commerce or trade is there now in England , at all capable of adulteration , that is not adulterated ? What article oF manufacture have we , that is not inferior to what it used to be , before the " no protection" principles were so much in vogue ?
Our forefathers did not so conduct themselves . They were far more jealous and anxious for the honour of England , than we , their degenerate offspring . Practices such as we have detailed in this article would , on their attempted introduction , have called forth the interference of the legislature ; . The parties pursuing them would have been subjected to heavy pains and penalties . The purchasers Of manufactured produce would have been protected against the cheats .
That we are not speaking at random on this head , we here give from the Statute Book a whole Act of Parliament , interfering , [ aye interfering ! J with the manufacturers of woollens , in the year 1389 ; and prohibiting : certain mal-practices , of which some of them were then -guilty . Let the free-trader ponder over it well . Let him look at the reasons assigned by . the act itself for the interference . Let him com . pare the practices there prohibited with those which he every day pursues 11 Let him do this , and then let him say which is better fob the PEOPLE , his free trade and "devil ' s dust , " or the sysUm of protection ! Here is the act entire : —
Copy of Act' Parliament . 1389 . Richard II . Chapter XL ' "Item . —Forasmuch as divers plain cloths , thathe wrought in the counties of Somerset , Dorset , Bristol j and Gloucester , be tacked and folded together , and set to sale , of the which cloths a great part be broken , broused , and not agreeing in the colour , neither be according in breadth , nor in no manner to tha part of the same cloths shewed outwards , but be falsely wrought with divers wools , to the great
deceit , loss , and damage of the people ; insomuch that the merchants that buy the same cloths , and carry them out of the realm to sell to strangers , be many times in danger to be slain , and sometimes imprisoned , and put to fine and ransome , by the same strangers , and their said cloths burnt or forfeit , because of the great deceit and falshood that is found in the same cloths when they be untacked and opened , to the grtat slander of the 'Realm . of England . * ¦ ' .. ¦ " ¦ - ¦ ¦ ' -. '¦ ¦ . ¦ ' - ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ¦ -. ' : : ' . •¦ ¦ ' "¦;¦' . ' ¦ .
" 2 nd . It is ordained and assented , that no plain cloth , tacked nor folded , shall be set to sale within the said counties , but that they be opened , upon pain to forfeit them , so that the buyers may see them , and know them , as it is used in the county of Essex . " : ¦'¦' : ¦ ¦ ' - . ' : . ... ' " ' .. . ' - . ' ¦ ¦ " ¦ ¦ *• 3 rd . And that the workers , weavers , and fullers shall put their seals to every cloth that they may work , upon a certain pain to be limited by the Justices of the Peace , and that this ordinance begin to hold place at the Feast of St . John the Baptist next following . . "' ; . ' ;¦ - ' ¦;¦ ¦ : ¦; .
" 4 th . Provided always , that after the merchants have bought the same cloths to carry , and do carry them , out of the realm , they may tack them and fold them at their pleasure , for the more easy carriage of them . " ¦ . ¦ ¦ There ! that was the way our ignorant and deluded forefathers went to work in the DARK AGES , to protect the people from the cheating of the free-traders ! That was the way they did it Dare ! . th . a " great" manufacturers call for a Committee of Inquiry as to their practioes ^ npw-a-days ? Dare they challenge the Parliament to do by them , as the Annual Universal Suffrage Parliament did by their brethren in the year 1389 ?
Of one thing we are certain , that unless the practices that now obtain amongst our manufacturers are speedily put a stop , to , either by an Act of Parliament or something else , we shall very soon have to give up manufacturing ; and if the practices are to continue , the sooner the better I ! We shall have a turn or two amongst some other "Old Acts" of our ignorant ancestors . respecting protection tola bqur . We must contrast their doings in the "DARK AGES" with our doings in these " enlightened" times ! We must know which of the
two systems is the best , free-trade or protection , These short old pithy Acts of Parliament , are very instructive ; and wo have one or two of thorn which will be worth reprinting . From them we shall see Whether our ancestors or WE in our day and generation are the Fools . ' . '
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" '" . - " r T ' - ¦¦¦' . " . - . ¦ .- . '¦ - . "' : --offering a handle to "Extension" men in the shape of a fresolution for a repeal of the Corn Laws , to be adopted along with a resolution for the Charter at all public meetings . With all possible respect for the Executive , we must dissent entirely from this policy , and repeat our conviction , that the only safe method for the people is that which we have before advised , and which we here repeat in our o wu words , as quoted by an enemy : — ¦
"Once more we exhort you to be vigilant . Suffer not a meeting to be beld witbout you ; and suffer not a single resolution , petition , or memorial to pass at any meeting where you are , for any object BUT THE CHARTER , u Let the peop le ^ then beware ! Let them go ri g ht on witk their own agitation for the Charter ^ peacefully bu t d et ermin e dl y , as they have hitherto done- Let them take care that no other agitation shall be carried on in . their name . Let the charter— -the whole
charter—and nothing but the charter , until that be obtained ^ be their reiterated cry at all public meetings and in : alt petitions . '' * * * " Let them adopt this p l a n in every thing . Let them quietly , bu t sur e l y— -peacefully , but unmi s t a k e abl y- —chuck overboard ev e rythi n g but the Charter . " ' an " Extension" man in the last week ' s Manchester Times , quotes ibis portion of pur advice and calls ft
" an insufferable insult to the intelligenee of the people . " He raves strangely about ^ outrage upoa popular independence , perpetrated under the mask of liberty ! " and asks *'' what right of opinion or of action the 6 'CosNOKiXES possess which does not also belong to the people at large 1 " The Jesuitical knave 1 Who contended for any such Jright ? Wa have surely a ( right to give the piople our opinioa and advice ; and we make no effort to deprive Mr . Edwabd Watkin of the same right .
W « tell the people that the "League " men seek to " use" them for the effecting of their own purposes , and that in those purposes they do not at all contemplate the people ' s benefit . We tell them that all public m eetings are holden in their name ; that tha opinions expressed at , and the proceedings adopted by those meetings , are
carried to Parliament or wherever they may be wanted , as their opinions and proceadings ; and we repeat therefore , that it is their duty to attend all public meetings , and to see that no resolution or memorial bo there passed but such as accord with their judgment and convictions . We tell them that in in our opinion THE CHARTER IS THE ONLY
THING TO WHICH THEY OUGHT NOW TO LOOK OR LISTEN , They will , of coarse , treat thatopinion as they please ; but we warn them that , if they do not thus act , they will have abundant reason for repentance , and abundant leisure foe repentance , hereaffcer . ; We now refer to Mr . O'Connor ' s letter , and to
the proceedings of the friends and associates of this same " League '' scribbler—we refer to the speech of Mr . Busfield FiRBANi ) , in the House of Commons and to every fact and circumstance of recent times to show the people , if they need yet showiBg , how tendeily their inteiests and weal are oared for bj tbe League" men . ;
To conclude : we shall do our duty . We shall reiterate our warning weekly while the straggle lasts . If the people bo sold , they shall sell themselves with their eyes open ; and we , at all events , shall feel neither pity nor sympathy for whatever they may suffer afterwards .
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YORKSHIRE LENT ASSIZES , WEDNESDAYi March 2 . The Yorkshire Spring Assizes commenced on Wednesday last , when the Courts for the county and the city respectively were opened by ^ the Honourable Sir Robert Monsey Rolfe , Knight , one of the Barons of her Majesty ' s Court of Exchequer . The Learned Baron came to the city by railwa y from Darlington , on his retarn from the Assizes at Newcastle . At five o ' clock the High Sheriff , ; William St . Q , uintin , Esq > and the City Sheriff , Robert Tonga Horsley , Esq , together with their respective retinues , met at the High Sheriff ' s lodgings , Coney-street ,
where they shortly afterwards went in procession to the Railway Station , Tanner Row , to meet Mr Baron Rolf 0 , who was expected by the North train , which arrives in the city at half-past . five . Upou this oocasion the ceremony consequent upon the escorting of the Judges to the different Courts was of a much less imposing character than has heretofore been the case . In cobsequence of the resolution some time ago passed by the . magistrates at a Court of Gaol Sessions , certain forms hitherto observed were this day altogether dispensed with , andthenumber of the High Sheriff ' s offioial attendants was somewhat diminished .
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THE HUMBUG TRAP . —THE BATH CONFERENCE . —THE POLICY OF THE EXECUTIVE .
All the powers of ingenuity and plausibility were nevermore severely tasked than they now are by the despairing corps of Mammon in their effort to again yoke the people to their car . Hence we conceive it to be a duty imperative on us to see that our cautions be not less constant and earnest in their iteration than the efforts of the enemy . The people will of course use their own judgment in the matter ; we presume not to dictate ; but our honest opinion and advice they are entitled to and shall have . We tell them , then , as we have again and again told them , that if they abate one jot
of their demand for the whole Charter , they are sold , and their virtuous straggles through all the years of agitation past are thrown away . We tell them agah v that they are not less surely lost , if they suffer their agitation to be mixed up in any manner with the Corn Law repealing cry of the ^ Extension" men . This is not our opinion merely ; we are supported in it by O'Connor and O'Brien , and by all , or nearly allj those whom the people have known as their oldest , best , and most experienced advocates and counsellors . ¦ ..:. ¦
We refer with great pain to the procGedings of the conference at Bath , between the Stubge Declaration men and some leading Chartists of that city . We respect Vincent for his zeal , his talent , and his suffering in the cause , as highly as we respect any man ; we believe him ta be thoroughly honest and well-intentioned , but we cannot but regrot the position he has taken in this businesg . Still more do we regret to see joined with him Mr . ' Philp , a member of the Peor
pie ' s Executive , Doubtless these gentlemen give the new converts to Complete Suffrage credit for a large amount of honesty and sincerity . We cannot do so ; and we fear , if the people should be led into any general countenance of the steps taken by these gentlemen , that the er « or will not bo found to be less fatal for having been an amiable one . Once more wetell the people they must keep right on , swerving neither to the right hand nor tothe left , or they will be [ " used , " , left , aud laughed at .
Elsewhere our readers will find a document ifram the Executive ; counselling the people ^ VC 7 properly , to keep the Charter , whole and - . ' . JButire , as the pole star of agitation , but still
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CITY ASSIZES , Thursday , March 3 . On Thursday morning , about nine O'clock , the Right Honourable Sir James Parke , Knight , one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer , attended by the City Sheriff , the Kacorder , tho magistrateg , and the aldermen of the city , entered the Guildhall , and took his seat upon the bench . The clerk of the Coait then called over the names of the magistrates , coroners , constables , &c , after which the Grand Jury were sworn and charged . v The Grand Jury then retired , and the Court wa 3 adjourned forthwith to the Mansion House , and thereafter to Wednesday week , the 23 rd instant .
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CROWN COURT , Thursday , Mabch 3 . Shortly before twelve o ' clocki Mr . Baron Rolfe entered the Crown Court and took his seat on the Bench . The names of the acting Justices of the three jaidihgs , the Coroners , Chief Constables , &c . j having been called over , the following Gentlemea were empannelled as
THE GRAND JTJRY . Sit Gt . Strickland , Batt , of Newton , M . P . Foreman Sir Henry JSoynton , Bart ., of Burton Agnes . Robert Bower , Esq ., Welham . Dlgby Cayley , Esq ., Ripon . William Currer , Esq ., of Clifton House . Henry Brewster Darley , Esq ., of Hultm Hall . Charles Fairfax , Esq . * of Brandabyi Francis Hawfceswortri Fawkea , Esq ; , of Farnley . Mark Fonlis , Esq ; , of Heslertoa Hall . Jamss Hall , Esq ., of Scorbro' ; Richard Hill , Esq ., of Thornton . HearyWickham Hird , E ^ q , of Low Moor Hoose .
JohnHutton / Kiqi , of Sober HilJ . George Lloyd , Esq ., of Stockton HalL Wm . Markbarn , Esq ., of Becca HalL ' Wrn . Rutsbni Esq ., of Newby Wiske . Philip jSaltmarshe , Esq ; , of SaltmaraLe . Jbhn Plumbe Tempest , Esq ., of Ton ? Hall . James Warlker , Esq ., of Sand Huttbn . ; Godfrey We'ntworth , Eiq .: of WoolUy Park . Henry Willou ^ iby , Esq ., of BirUsaU . Her Majesty ' s ^ iroolamition against vice , i mxao ^ rality , and profane . nes 3 , and for the ericourageinenj of virtue , having bt ^ en read , silence was enj ^ ineo and the Learned Barc ^ h proceeded to deliver
: THE CHARGE ; ; .. He said—He was extrtTnely sorry tohayetos » w to them , what they were a . U probably aware of ,-. »* the numbers of cases to be submitted to them ior their consideration were both numerous , and he was sorry to say in most cases diet . ' oguished by ciroumr
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THE SUFFRAGE . Qua neighbour the Mercury . "has published two long diatribes on the Suffrage , in which he denies the right of every inan to have it . When his series is concluded , we purpose having a turn with him , and promise a full exposure of his pitiable ignorance .
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Boyv Missing . —Joseph Kenwortby left Leeds in November , and is supposed tohave been taken awaj with some of the show people . He has a light complexion , and full eyes , and carries a deal of colour Had on when he left a blue jacket , blaok waistcoat , aud cotton trousers . He is thirteen years old Whatever informatioacan be given to his father , Hugh Kenworthy , No ; 6 , Bread-street , Leeds , will be thankfully received . : Pinder's BLACKiNG . ^ The money due this week to the Executive from the sale of R . Piuder ' s blacking is as follows : — ' ¦ : ' -. ¦ } : ' . ' - .. ' '"¦ ¦ : ' - . . ¦' . ' : ' . ' s . d . " . ¦ ¦ . Mr . Sale ' s , Sutton-in-Aflhfield ... 1 4 . j Mr . Ackroyd , Halifax ; .... > ...... 1 10
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a . ¦ . ¦¦¦ .-. the % ' -o ^^ & ^ i ^ : ^ % h ^ - ' 'y- .. " . ¦ - . ' : ¦ y : -c . ¦ ' '" -y ..,.. ' " : ' - : - - ^' . ' .. ' ;;¦^¦^¦ : ^ : ^ vv - i ; v ^ v ^ r ^ - " " ^ :- ^
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), March 12, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct881/page/4/
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