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SEmpm'al parliament.
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-nTHE P RODUCERS OF WEALTH. AND ALL THOSE WHO LITE BY INDUSTRY ON THE LAND.
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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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} St Feiksib , —When yon learn that I have been . gi and confined to the honse for three days of Afcweek , that I hare written nearly a whole book , tatt « r for Clean ' s Circular , attended two pnblic V jj ^ g ^ » ad had daily consultation with onr ^ j jjr . Roberts , upon the proceedings to take j , ee on Friday , in the Queen ' s Bench , yon will 'T expect * letter upon the Land , in the present ii-jaber . However , I rejoice io see that the subject . fepong itself on the attention of all classes . 1 iD the Times
wfe been reading of this morning , the aeeeh rf Mr . Hcngbton , recently made at an aericn ] - ; ? Ujldinner , and from that I learn that the minds of j av gtos farmers are being turned to the consideration j j gone means by which a market may be opened for j gp emp loyment of labour ; which , if not done , will j g , t up the profits of the big men , in the shape of ; -par rates . Tbns is the monitor now speaking-who I jrill com pel * hearing . j 3 trust that the London reporter of the Star will j Kgnd a gw > d report of my lecture upon the Land , : fleered on Tuesday night , to the most attentive ; md enl ightened audience it has ever been my good kjjmieto address . ; —¦
jgpuuv I think I may with truth say , that my fondest ! jjpettitions are more than a hundred-fold realized ; j j 3 I had no reason to expect that men who never ' age a ^ r een field , and who only know that meat is : ^ jjjd in tniccers' shops , and vegetables in . green ¦ i -peas ' , vrculd be so anxiously alive to this all- J jspcrt ^ Bt subject ; however so it was . The question fcjs tek « root , and grow , and nourish , and maturs , it . « medlT wiiL
On JJ « hUj , the 12 th of June , I Ehall have the gjs * inmber of a practical work on small farms ready ^ publication . Each n umber will contai n fo rty-«^ pages of original matter , with plates , illustrat-2 gp iM ? of pablie buildings , cottages , and grounds , * d setting forth &e plan by which I hope to see jjtt preset carried out , price sixpence ; and I have fe reqaest ihat timely orders may be sent to Beywood , Oldham-street , Manchester ; Cleave , 1 , Shoe-lane , Fleet-street , London ; and Hobson , Jivrthern Star Office , Leeds ; as I have no desire to tor e t ^ r ^ 'woTih of pamphlets left upon my hands , js I had of portraits , which were ordered but not paid for .
i have strong hope that in my next I may fee able to congratulate you upon the successful ^ endnaon of the Lancaster trials . I the more long flj such a result , as I feel assured that an nnfarourjble termination would have a very prejudicial effect ipon the health of Mr . Roberts , who has really become a monomaniac npon this , to him , all-absorbing snbject . : test " cold Ireland * doing her work- -well ? Jsdnt I tell you that when Paddy became in ( truest he would be an awkward customer ? Harrah for the Rspeal I bat no ; of the Corn Iaits . Your faithful servant , Feabgcs U'Coxnob .
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XiONDOK . —A public lecture was delivered on Tnesdav evening , at the City of London Political and Scientific Institut ' on , by Feargus O'Connor , Esq . upon the land , admission twopence . Shortly previous to eight o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor arrived , and vae greeted with loud approbation . On the motion of Mr . CuSay , Mr . Shaw was called to the chair , and in an appropriate manner introduced the business of the evening . Mr . O'Connor commenced by aOnding to the numbers present , and expressed his snprise that fo uninteresting » subject as the land should have drawn so many together . The land by the artifices of wily statesmen and glib philosophers had been artfully shrouded from the view of workins men , ye * , there was not a single person present
who , in the shape of bread , butter , milk , beef , &c ¦¦ as not interested in is . The land was the grand source from whence was procured everything they consumed , wore , or lived by ; and what more was accessary to show it in its most fascinating form Eie land was at the bottom of every national que ? - &m . If it was a question of national taxation , the lind was at the bouom ; ii it was a State Church question , or ons of demand and supply , of exportation or importation , the land was at the bottom . What were all questions of improvement , though cloaked nnder tiiie ? of eaelosnre bills , drainage bills , &c but questions of the land ! What was that subject which was low driving fane men mad and jukug fools laugh—the subject of the Corn
Lots , bnt a question of the land ?—( Hear , hear . ) Did they suppose that the House of Commons had sat so many hours on the previous sight to discuss & question of Canadian rights ? itosaeh thing ; it was shonld corn be grown on British or . American lard . Cobbett , ths' / great writer on all questions dear to working men , had established the fan that Britain had four times more land than was necessary to grow food for her population . "What gave power to the army and the uavy!—What produced the Income and other taxes 1— What supported the Special Commission , by which he and others had been tried , bnt" the malsppropriation of &e land ? It was the evil of political power being Ktaehed to the land , which he was anxious to
de-Bonjrrate ; deprive th « land of its enfraEcbismg m alices , and it would then be brought into the rehH market ; then would the cation become gra&t tod powerful . It might be assorted , because they trere surrounded by splendour , and because foreigners put their capital in our funds , that the nation was rich m ! powerful ; bu ; that only showed the wealth oftbeiew and the poverty of the " many . For a nation to be great , every mm must be sombody ; a man with no self-respect was like a weed in a corn field ; and he had no hesitation in assertins that bj miking men indiviuuaUy powerful , by giving then the soil of the country , they would be more respected as a nation , botn at home and abroad , than they were now , even if they had not * guinea
a the national coffers . So long as land gave votes , » long would the landlords let it to those whose votes they could command , and would keep it out « f the rrtail market . The moment % man comsiecced labouring for the benefit of another , that BomeDi slavery commenced ; and . when he fhonld work f&r fcis own individual bentfiv , then would essential freedom commence . The present administntMs , wiih the exception of the Duxe of Bneekueh and a few others , might be rightly termed the Pauper Administration ; they had all sacrificed flieir estates for political power . A man who did not BndersiaEd the question might say , if land wonld bring them so mseh more in the retail market why do they keep it in the wholesale one I ft was
because if ibey could make five or ten millions more of their estates in the retail market , they could make one hundred millions by retaining political power . This Mr . O'Connor illustrated by several examples . W « not tbt Plate Church a land question ? T ^ e bolder ef ore thousand acres being bound up in the system , reeoffi zed tithes , &c , as a national tax , bet if the one thousand acres was divided « uoDg two hundred aJ 3 £ flftT small proprietors he believed it -would be a difficult matter for my Lord YYharntHffe or svy other man to persuade such a rural population that tbev onght to pay for the support , of a church oppo ? ed ^ perhaps , to their principles , or to a J * rson who damned their souls once a week . The Chamr was essentially a land question . What did
thejwan ! but the power of applying their labour to the raw material for their own benefit ! and until &ej got possession of the raw mat « rial of the and they would never be a-ble to compete with the Leviathan manufacturer . What was the new * ptation that was now buzzing about the ears of Sir fioben ! he ( Mr . O * Ccnnor ) bad predicted that the » ext tarricane that passed over Sir Robert would be something more than a Chartist breeze , that it would he one which would spring frcm hi 3 own atmosphere * Bd be nursed in his owe cradle . He saw the Bucks Meeting ; he saw the Berks meeting ; he saw tha * &ose -who halloed on Sir Robert to power as the ° nlj pilot who could guide the vessel , the Buck-PStams and the Blackstones , were arrayed against
Jia , and possessed mere power on the P ***; , « " » than Peel on the rostrnm ; the warfare had , *» w commenced between the agriculturist who ; * &sikd at Downing street , and the agriculturist , who whistled at the plough . What was the new : * ° ation of Ireland—( hear , bear , and cheer ? , ) the ; Position of the most industrious men that the sun j ** & shone on ! Did they demand for themselves-* ahh or luxury ! No ; bat they demanded that ) ^ haien Ebould be allow ed to cultivate the soil ofj « or native land . The landlord and the parson were ; **» at variance , though the former had got five per j **« . taken oS , yet he tfionght the parsongot seventy- ? Te per cent , more than he onght . What was the ,
2 * areh of Scotland question ! it was not one of gas , « ttoonsbine , or of shadow ; the Cfcurek never fonght «* diadowi ; to the devil might go the spiritualities JfOTiiJed she grasped the substance . It was naught . £ r t * question of the land . What was the Repeal of wfcCornLaws ! It wm not one of the moon or stars , * " ° ngh these might have so influence on the weather , ™» it was a question of wheat , and though ; «* J had cloaked the subject over * nd hidden " BEdET a heap of metaphysics , yet sober-mmdea * mkkg men argued that land produced wheat , and *™ J » came the question of how to get the land ! ^ Pon this subject , he had thought much , and writ- ; fco BBeb ; but he never conld dmue why men
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kenffr ^ r ** & W * & * PP 1 &use who Kept from them the land—the means of obtaining their subsistence . He had heard the weeping poor mans friend wailing that his bread should beso v * f ? i 6 ^^ he&r 4 the dissenting and the bieoellied parson weeping and sympathizing , and still coining Um poor man ' s sweat into gold ; and when ne heard and read in the press of their sympathy , was u not natural that Vne working man shonld suppose that they only wanted their eyes opened to the true remedy immediately to adopt it ? but the fact was , that the manufacturer equally with the aristo-^
crat was interested in depriving the poor man of political power , and of keeping the land in the wholesale market—( lond cries of hear , hear ) He challenged all the glib philosophers of the day to overturn his position . With six hours notice he won -jd meet any Oxonian cantab , political economist , orMalthusian philosopher , and prove the correctness of his views on the land . That man waa entitled to his freedom was allowed by politicians of all parties , but an artificial barrier was placed between him and rhe natjal door by which to acquire that freedom . The maDnfacturing market was overloaded with labourers . Many of his poor countrymen were compelled by dire necessity to come to the land of the stranger for that sustenance denied to them in the land of thf ir birth , and thereby constituted a reserve for the employers to fall back upon . He would open for them the natnral market , the land , which would regulate the price of the artificial market : and all
who were ured of the rattle box—all those mothers whose children where carried to the manufacturing eharnel house—all those fathers who by the glimmering of the Rases , by the light of the moon , dragged their offspring to unnatural toil—all those men who were tired ol living on the labour of their wives and children , would flock to this natural opening for their exertions . He wished not to iimit machinery , he proposed that machinery fhonld be man ' s holiday and not his curse . Ho would alleviate their toil not by abolishing machinery , but by
subjecting it to fair competition with the natural ] market ; then instead of all the wealth bebag in the ' hands of the idle , and want and misery being the j portion of the industrious , the manufacturers would ] be compelled to do one of two things , either to j dose their shops or to give as good a price for labour as it would fetch in the natural market . Why they ] did not do this was because they were afraid of one \ another . Peel was trying to juggle the anti-Corn Law League , and the League were trying to juggle i Peel , and they well knew that both parties we ' re j juggling them . ( An Irkhmanhere asserted that Cob '
< len was not trying to juggle . ) He would try Cobden ; by that test , dearer to him as an Irishman than all j others . Would Cobden vote for the Repeal of the Union ! When that question was discussed in the ' House , and spite of the frothy declamation of Peel : , and Wellington , thou&h they might fill the House fuller than it would hold with denunciations of Re ! peal ; yet they must discuss it—( cheers ) . He asked , aeain , would Cobden vote for it ! The question tofi Repeal was entwined with that of the land ; they ' were told they had not land enough to grow food , ! but must call in the aid of scientific legislatian . j Lei them look at Ireland—let the Irish , instead ofi
emigrating from the land of their birth , be allowed ! to remain and cultivate it ; and , after they had sup-. plied their ewn population with bread , beef , butter , i and all the good things of the land , they would have surplns enough to supply the whole English popula-, tion . The question of Repeal was indeed a question ' of the land . Mr . O'Connor then related , in a ' humourous manner , an anecdote of an Irishman he ; hsd met the previous evening , who had left bis em- ! ployment , because he thought so much of Repeal ;! and , after giving him Isl , asked him to what purpose he would apply it ! * He would send it to the I * rint' to be sure ; " when Mr . O'Connor gave him another for himself . Mr . Cobbett had taid that a
quarter of an acre of land woula keep a cow all the y < ar , and that its prodnee would be , with seventeen day « labour , £ 57 per annum . Mr . Cobbett , they must recollect , was not a theoretical man ; he boasted that he dug the ground , sowed the seed , and reaped the harvest . Mr . O'Connor then went into the minute detail ? of the land question , and most feelingly described the miseries endured by the mass of the population , and the comparative paradise the enjoyment of the land would place within their Teach . They were told he was not loyal—that he wa = guilty or sedition , routs , riots , tumults , rebellion , and the devil knew what beside ; he had been found guilty of doiDg nothing . Now her ? , he had done nothing , and done it wrong—( laughter ) . They
woui Q £ > e loyal when tbey had something to be lojal to—when they had something in Teturn for it ; could they be loyal to a rattle-bpx , to a * : eam engine , a railroad , a Stock Exchange , or a palace ! iherewas more loyalty in sitting under the riven oak where tkeir fathers bad sat ; there was more loyalty in treading the grassy path still fresh with the footsteps of their forefathers , and in milking the cow which their mothers had milked ; there was more loyalty in living in the house where their fathers had lived and in being buried in the same place ; there waa more loyalty in going to the parish school , to the parish church or chapel—in viewiBg those beauties of nature , than there was in toiling in a rattle-box or gawng at a splendid review ,
—there was patriotism , a higher word than loyalty , in those feelings—there was love of country . When these times again returned there would be no fear of disaffection . A contented rural population , if threatened with foes or invasion , woald run with greater alacrity to the sound of their cottage beiDg in danger , than rouse to ithe cry of the church is a tumbling . He was scarcely sorry things were come to the present pass , if out of them the regeneration of his country should Epring ; he could Ecarce complain of persecution , of being almost bani&hed from his native land , if out of his struggling , good should arise . He had struggled long and well to attain the mighty object of achieving freedom for both nations , and he
thanked God that the day had arrived , when the English working classes could testify their love for Ireland . —( great cheering . ) Their injuries and their resentments were . buried in oblivion ; the party spirit encouraged by their oppressors had given way before the generous manliness of their disposition ; all angry thoughts were banished now that his country was assailed by the common enemy . Mr . O'Connor then again reverted to the capabilities of the land , and ridiculed the idea of a 8 upers . bnndant population ; if there was not something wrong and perverted in man ' s character , could he with feelings of aught but indignation look on the troopers fatted horse and view also a starving population ! could he see the splendid equipages of the great
with their fatted horses tended like babes , while the children of working men were deprived of food ! Why should his countrymen be sent to foreign shores to la * their bones in a foriegn grave , while the trooper's horse employed for slaughter and destruction , was consuming the corn of their fatherland ! Hewouid see the throats of every fatted horse , of every dog , cat ; and of every animal which lived upon man's food ; he would would see the stately forest rooted up and planted with green corn ere he would give way to their Malthusian doctrines ; and then , if God in hismeicy did not send a EnfBcent supply of food , hewouid draw lo ? s with his fellow men who should go to foreign lands in search of food , but until then , said Mr . O'Connor , let us hear no more of tbeiwailing advocates of Malthus , and their tricks of trade . Until man was placed upon the soil to support himself by his own labour it was idle ta talk that the land would
not support the population . Mr . O'Connor then alluded to the embarrassed state of the Government , and to the stand hi ? countrymen were making for Repeal , and concluded by stating that his doctor had adv . sed him not to attend meetings in his present delicate health ; but he felt more invigorated and refreshed now than when he entered the room , he believed they had done him more good iba * if he had taken all the drugs in a doctor ' s shop ; it uos the sittiDg too close to the desk and attending les ? at e eetings , which had lately injured his health . Mr . O'Connor iben exemplified the advantages of union , by referring to the profits of the meeting which were devoted to the paying a portion of the debt off the ball , and = at down amid great applause . Mr . Parkes moved , and Mr . Railton seconded a vote of thanks to Mr . O'Connor , which was carried by acclamation . Mr . O'Connor briefly replied . Mr . W heeler moved , and Mr . Wales seconded a vote of thanks to the chairman , and the meeting adjourned .
A Mbbtisg ef the Council resident in London , waa held on Sunday afternoon , si the Political and Scientific Institution , Turnagain-lane , Mr . Knight in the chair . Mr . Wheeler was appointed Secretary pro iem . Corresposdene * -waa read from Cegglesball , Oldh&m , Greenwich and other places . Mr . Wheeler stated that in coMtquence of the majority of the country mtmben haviag left London , and the paucity of communication from the country , it mi advisable that the idea , of a Delegate meeting being held « b the following Tuesday , thoatf be abandoned . Mr . Page moved and Mr . Mall&rd seeoaded that the subject should be adjourned one mcnlh , m order that the important districts in the country might have an opportunity of expressing their opinions on the best time and place of holding a Delegate Meeting . Mr . Simpson supported the motion and uwed the necessity of immediate steps being taken to cafi a Conference , that some tffiYient organization might he adopted Mr . Thorpe was of opinion that the meeting shonld be held on the Tuesday , it would serve as a
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preparatory conference . Mr . Mills moved as an amendment that it be deferred a fortnight ; the amendment was not seconded and the original motion was carried without a dissentient The Council then adjourned fox one month . Thb Metropolitan Delegate Meeting vr&s held on Sunday , Mr . Knight in the chair . 2 ? . 6 a . was received from Ciockhouse atd Is . 6 d . from B . oemsbury . The meeting then adjourned to make room for the au « uiccbuig kuou uiyiHUMieu M > EUoKo Jijum jur i . un
General Council . Political and Scientific Institution , Turnagain-Lane —Mr . Parkes preached here on Suuday morning , and was much applauded . On Sunday evening , Mr . Parkes addressed a large audience on the fate of Frost and other political martyrs , and was listened to with great attention . Mr . Brown occupied the chair . Messrs . Mee , Brown , Spurr , Benbow , Munta , Cowan , and Rath bone , took part in a discussion which ensued .
SOUTH SHIELDS . —Mr . Beesley lectured bere on Tuesday evening , . it Mr . Dajlea's , Scarbro' Spa , on the land question . After the lecture the following rfsolution , proposed by Wm . GilflUan , seconded by Thomas Rontledge , and ably supported by Mr . Samuel Ky < 1 d , bookseller , was unanimously agreed to : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that the letters of Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., on the land , and the lectures of Mr . Beetley , on the same subject , are well worthy of the seriouB attention of the people of this country , as the best means of obtaining the People ' s Charter-, also the surest method of securing their permanent happiness when that great measure becomes the law of the land . "
YSOVIU , Somersetshire . —A Mr . Brown , a Corn Law Repealer , lectured here ou the Corn Laws , a few days ago . He was opposed by Mr . C . Maunder , who sought to obtain from him a distinct avowal that the repeal of the Corn Laws , under existing circumstances , would benefit tke people . The lecturer , however , fought shy , and left the town without effecting the object for which he came . The " lads" taught him a lesson , and convinced him that he coulJ not have all his own way .
ARNOLD , near Nottingham . —In our laBt paper we gave an account of tho proceedings consequent upon the election of a person to the office of poorrate collector . We have now to state that the poll , which had been demanded by the Whig 9 , took place on Monday last , whsn the Chartists rallied in all their strength , and by a determined effort plaoed their man at the head of the poll , the numbers being —For Mr . Mellow . Chartist , 228 ; for Mr . Thomas , the Churchman , 203 ; majority , 25 . The announcement was received with tremendous cheering .
BURY . —On Suuday two sermons were preached by Mr . Hill , in the Garden-street Room , on behalf of the funns of the Sunday school connected therewith . The congregations were numerous and attentive . The collections amounted to i' 7 4 s . 5 d . ROCHDAtE . —On Tuesday evening Mr . Hill lectured ia the Theatre to a full house . After the lecture he called the attention of the audience to the condition of poor Cooper and Richards in Stafford hell hole . A committee was appointed to draw up a petition forthwith and to send it to Mr . Crawford for presentation . Both there and at Belton a number of the new Chartist Hymn Books were bought by the people ; the trade profit upon which Mr . H . gives to thedefende fund , in the name of the respective towns .
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HOUSE OF COMMONS—Friday , May 19 . j ' Several notices of motion were given and questions asked . After which ; Lord Stanley brought forward his resolutions ' relating to the importation of Canadian wheat and wheat flour . The Noble Lord moved that , in lieu j of the duties now payable t ^> ou wheat and wheat flour imported into the United Kingdom from I Canada , the duty for every quarter of wheat should j be Is ., and for every barrel of wheat , meal , or j flour , being 196 pounds , a duty equal in amount to the duty payable on 38 J gallons of wheat . I Mr . Labocchbre opposed the motion , and moved ' as an amendment , an address to the Crown to with- ' hold the Royal Assent from the Bill passed by the Canadian Legislature . j Mr . Thornely seconded the amendment . i A debate eni-ued , in the course of which several | members gave utterance to their sentiments , and at i midnight , the debate was adjourned until Monday . :
MONDAY , May 22 . In answer to a question from Sir Andrew Leith Hat , relative to the Secession from the Scotch Church , Sir James Graham said that ninety-three endowed Ministers of the Established Church had ecceded , a great number of lay members , and an additional number of quoad sacra ministers had also gone with them , and that her Majesty ' s Government , wonld watch the proceedings of the General As-einbly with regard to any measure that legally constituted body might adopt . The debate on the Canadian Corn question was then resumed and carried with some ppirit . On a division , ministers had a majority of 188 , the numbers being , for Lord Stanley ' s proposition , 344 ; for the amendment , 156 .
TUESDAY , May 23 . A great number of petitions on various questions were presented . Mr . H awls brought on his motion , for an address to the Queen on the subject of Danish Claims . The motion was withdrawn on a point of form .
KNUTSFORD GAOL . Mr . T . DUNCOMBE said that . in rising to call the attention of the Hon « e to the motion of which he had given notice , he might be allowed to explain how one so totally unconnected with thj Counly of Chester , came to be mixed up in a question apparently of a local character . When , on the 22 nd of February , ho rose to call the attention of the House to the conduct of the Lord Chief Baron ( Lord Abinger ) , at the special commission , held last October , while be ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) found fault with Borne of the sentences passed by that Noble and Learned Lord , he said that the severity of those sentences was much aggravated by the severity with which the prisoners were treated in the gaol of Koutsford . On the following day the
Honourable Member for Cheshire asked ¦ why he ( Mr . T . Duncombei bad not given bim notice of bis intention to allude to the discipline enforced at Knutsford , and at the Bame time said that he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) had been altogether misinformed on the subject . He immediately wrote to bis informant to say that his statements were likely to be disputed . The statements which he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) had wade relative to the treatment of the prisoners at Knutsford , amounted to this ; that the Chartist prisoners complained that on their arrival at the prison , they bad been add : eased in very violent and insolent language by the gaoler ; secondly , that some of those prisoners were put upon the treadmill out of their turn for the amusement of some ladies and gentlemen who visited the prison ; thirdly , that the overseer of
those prisoners was himslf a felon , and that these prisoners were tins compelled to associate with a felon ; and fourthly , tbat their food was insufficient both in quantity and quality . On the following Monday , the Honourable Member for Cheshire gave a most unqualified contradiction to the statement which he ( Mr . T . Duncorabe ) bad made on tbe authority of his informant , a gentleman resident in Stockport , aud the testimony of one of the prisoners was produced in Hzpportof the contradiction . He ( Mr . T . Dancombe ) immediately observed that such contradictions coining frein prisoners , under tbe control of the magistrates , ought to be received with extreme caution , and therefore be begged leave to adhere to the statement be bad originally made . After that contradiction , be thought
the House might fairJy complain of tbe attempt that bad been made to mislead tbe House . If be bad bimstlf given way on that occasion , perhaps not one of the iniquities connected with this prison would ever have come toHgbt . In consequence , however , of his peno veranco in adhering to hia statement , the Right Hon . Baronet opposite announced his intentioa to send down an inspector to investigate the circumstances connected with tbe case , if he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) wonld furnish bim with the information which he waa possessed of . Mr . Williams , the inspector of prisons , accordingly proceeded to institute an investigation into tbe case , and among other witnesses examined the Chaplain of the prifon ; and if Hon . Gentlemen would take the
trouble to read the report of Captain Williams , tney would find that every statement made by him ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) was fully proved and substantiated by that report With respect to the charge against the governor of having used to the prisoners violent and insulting language , the Inspector said that , npon the concurrent testimony of the priaenen themselves , corroborated in a considerable degree by the evidence of Mr . Tracey , an officer of the county gaol , it appeared that the words addressed to prisoners by the governor , on their arrival , were to tbe following effect : — " Now , you special commission men , you were sent here to be punished , and you shall be punished . The discipline of this prison is so rigorously enforced , and tbe laws bo strict , that if I have to pooisb » ny
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y ° 5 » Ml will have such an effdet upon your constitutions , *" tBat even » under the most favourable oircumstaaees , the strongest man among you won't have a constitution that I would give twopence for when your stnteaoe shall expire . " Mr . Tracey described this as " haiah language , " but he ( Mr . Duncombe ) believed the house would agree with him that it ; was a most brutal speech :- Tbe report afterwards proceeded : — "The chaplain also deposes , that on the 5 tb of December the governor ' met him ia the prison yard , and , apparently under considerable irritation , addressed him in these wordB : Fan-hurst , and some of these Chartists , have been complaining about their beef ; 'and further said , ' Damn theBe Chartists . I'll give them thair belly-full before : I have done with them . '" It appeared , whan
this speech was made , no third person was present . ( Hear , bear , from Mr . Egetton . ) From that cheer it waa evident that the Hon . Member iuter . ded to give credence to the teatimouy of the governor in p eferonce to a man of respectability like tbe Rev . Chaplain of the gauL If the governor denied the accuracy of the charge , why had he not cross-examined tbe Chaplain on that point ? In consequence of what had tnkon place , be ( Mr . ' -T . Duncombe ) had other testimony respecting the language Mr . Burgess , the governor , waa in tbe habit of uaing with respect to bis prisoners . It was a letter from a tradesman of Knutsford , who was quite ready to ceme before a committee of the House , if a committee should he granted . The letter ran thns : —
V . " Knutsford , Maroh 1 ? , 1843 . " Bir , —After perusing your remarks lately made in tbe £ foase of Commons relative to the House of Correction at Kautsford , I beg leave to state that Burgess , who is tbe bead gaoler , has in tbe most unfeeling manner publicly boasted , in the midst of a promiscuous company , in the bir of the George Inn , where he occasi ^ naHy goes to pass his evenings , ' of the short time in which by his prisop discipline be can break down ( as be expressed himself ) the constitutions of prisoners , ' who unfortunately by their misdeeds placed themselves under his tender mercies ; such is this nun ' s boast , bi » favourite theme ; no person of any respectability will in the most distant manner associate with bim . He bad or . lers from the hostess of the George Inn to take a room whenever he came there , aa people who frequent tbe inn retire with horror from bis presence on account of the merciless remarks be habitually indulces in , relative to tbe treatment of bis
prisoners . For his part he ( Mr . Dtmcomhe ) believed Mr . Brown , and he did not believe Mr . Burgess ; and ho thought there would be gteat difficulty in finding any one out uf that Hoube t . i believe that Mr . Burgess did not us « tbe words attributed to him by Mr BroWD . The report went on to say— " It is alleged tbat certain of the prisoners were , on Thursday , the 20 th of October , in tbe sessions week , placed upon tbe tread wheel , out of their regular torn , for the purpose of shewing it working to strangers visiting the house of correction . It appears to be customary for the grand jury , at every sessions and adjourned sessions , to go through the house of correction previous to their discharge , and that tbey are occasionally accompanied by females ; that at such
¦ times , if the tread wheel is not at work , prisoners are called out frmu their wards and placed upon it for a short time , to show the manner of ita working . The complaint made by the prisoners of having on one occasion been placed on tho wheel for such purpose in the sessions week , is , I consider , just , and tbat tbe practice is at all times objections ] . " Here again the inspector f » iijr v . n « o ki ™ ( 11 - p-uu"muci ouc in the charge he had made . At the General Quarter Sessions , held on the 17 th of last month , tbe magistrates there assembled agreed to a' report to tho Secretary of State , in reply to the report cf the inspector . In speaking of the practice of placing prisoners ou the trea 4-wheel , for the purpose of showing its working to visitors , the report of the mugistrates said , " It appears to the
Court tbat the practice has prevailed upon the occasions of the visits of the grand jury , and , as Captain Williams alleges , on some other occasions ; but , as the latter instances appear to have occurred always in the presence of a magistrate , this Court cousiders the governor to be exonerated . " He was ready to prove that the statement tbat this was never done except iu presence of a magistrate was f ;« lse . Ho could prove that lajt summer a party , between four ana five in the afternoon , went to see the prison , and th . it some prisoners were called out , for the amusement of the visitors , to show tbe working of the wheel , and that neither tbe governor nor a magistrate wa 3 present . The employment of a felon waa admitted . Tbe magistrates add , " It appears to the court that n prisoner convicted of felony
has been appointed by tho governor to instruct misdemeanants in tbe weaving , but he had no authority over them , and was never wvtu them , unless he was called for by them to fetch materials or to instruct them . This court have givtn directions that such practice shall not oecur for the fmure . " Tbe insufficiency of food was also admitted , and thus was each of bis ( Mr . Thomas Duneome's ) charges fully borne out by the report of the inspsctor . it appeared ttmt tbe magistrates called tbe chaplain buforo them on the 17 th of March . lj and sutyecKd him to an examination , requesting him to state what hail passed between him and the inspector . The nudist rates know very well what bad occurred , for many cf them bad been present at the examination of tho chaplain by Captain
Williams . It would have been better , cc-rtainly , under tbcs'j circumstances , if tbe chaplain bad answered at ones , and had said , " Yes , I did say so ind so ; I did give this information ; I was on my oath , and bound to speak the truth . " He was asked why be bad not informed tho magistrates at the time the words were used by tho governor t He said he had received orders , several years ago , to confine himself to his spintual dutieB . He ha « l , however , repeatedly entered on the journal cases of irregularity en the part of tbe governor , tuch as non-attendance at prayers , or divine Berviee , which , according to the rules , he was bouad to attend . The result of all this had been tbe dismissal if Mr . Brown , tbe chaplain . One charge brought aguinst Mr . Brown was , that he was in tho habit of corresponding
with him ( Mr . Duncombe )—( a laugh . ) He had not been aware that there was any very serious wrong in a man ' s corresponding with him , but , if there wan it waa nn offence Mr . Brown was wholly innocent of ; for until he ( Mr . Duucombe ) heard of hU dismissal , tits had never known of Mr . Brown's existence . The Right Hon . Baronet the Secretary of State for tho Home Department , in a letter addressed to the Chairman of tha General Quarter Sessions for the county of Chester had pronounced his opinion o ; i the couduct of tbe governor in these wotds : — " I have ? ho honour to transmit to you a copy of the report of the inspector of prisons for tbe northern district , on aa inquiry into tbe treatment of prisoners in the KnuUford House of Correction . It is unnecessary for me to
encloee a cpy of tbe report which I received from the visiting justices soon after tbe termination of tbe inquiry , as they will doubtless already have transmitted to ycu a copy for the information of tbe magistntes ; but I enclose a copy of the inspector's remarks on tbe . latter pirt of that report , relating to certain particulars which wer « not connected with the inquiry , but which the inspector deemed necessary to bring before tho attention of tbe visiting justices . I have to request tbat you will sufmit these several statements to the magistrates of tho connty , at their first general meeting in quarter s- 'sshns , and request their attention most especially to those which relate to the conduct of the governor , that they may determine whether , after what has occurred , tbey can , with confidence and with safety ,
continue him in an office of such responsibility . I forbear pointing out the various particulars which show indiscretion in tbe governor and inattention to his duties ; but I cannot omit to mention one instance in which be appears to me to have been guilty of very great misconduct . ; I refer to a certain case in which , after the express directions of the surgeon that corperal punishment should cease , he insisted that it should be continued , and it was continued accordingly . Tbe magistrates are fully aware that if , on that occasion , life had been endangered and death had ensued , tbe governor must have been tried on a charge no less than of homicide . And I am persuaded the magistrates will be sensible of the great responsibility which must be
incurred i by them , from subjecting prisoners any longer to the custody of one who could bo misconduct himself . " The magistrates , however , had addressed the secretary in these terms : — " This court remarks that it would be very convenient and couducivu to the discipline of the prison , if the inspector would report to the visiting magistrates any misconduct in the officers or any other matter re quiring their notice , as soon as it came to his knowledge , to which the magistrates will pay immediate attention . This court concludes by saying , that after a careful investigation of the charges referred toits consideration , it Ib of opinion that with
the exception of the case of the boy Trainer ( which has already been adjudicated upon ) , such charges are in themselves not of much importance , and their recurrence provided against , and ate not such as to deprive the governor ol the confidence which the magistrates have hitherto reposed in him , and which his general good conduct and the discipline which he hu maintained in the prison have appeared to deserve . " He ( Mr . T . Duncombe ; would maintain again tbat all his charges bad been folly borne out by the inspector's report , and if the correctness of thatrepott was doubted , that was an additional reason why this committee , for which be was about to move , ought to be granted .
Among other charges against the governor was , tbat he bad neglected to affix the rules in a proper part of the prison . Tbis was treated aa a matter of little importance , but belMr . T . Daacombe ) thought thsro was no part of the prison regulations of i
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more importance to tbe unfortunato prisoners , to whom it was of the highest importance to know the rules by which they were governed , and the nature of the rights of which they were not deprived . It was found that the gaoler had employed thq- prisoners , coutrary to law , in mending his gig ; the iron was said to be only worth sixpence , but he ( Mr . t . Dancombe ) believed it to be really worth three shillings and sixpence . But suppose it be only worth sixpence , they saw men committed every day for stealing a few halfpence worth of apples or turnip-tops . Then as to tbe circumstances connected with tbe whipping of the boy Edward Trainer , the case was said to have been adjudicated upon ; but the fact was , that he had been merely reprimanded by the magistrates . There was another am
in which a boy , named Bs& .-roft , Ii ; . d been nagged previously to his removal to Parkburst prison ; and be was flogged so carelessly , that bis eye was severely injured by the thong . Ho understood that when a person was to be flogged in this giol , the town crier of Knutsford was called in to itflict tbe punishment at the rate of two shillings for each person . It was often the case that ro Rurgeon , or assistant-surgeon , attended to witness the flogging administered , but merely an apprentice . The report of the surgeon , Mr . Dsane , on tbe state of the gael , prison diet , dec , stated that since his appointment to tbe office he bad noticed tbe failing away of tbe meu employed in labour ; that bis conviction was , that after an experience of fifteen years , it waa impossible to keep men undergoing a long sentence
of imprisonment , in ordinary health , on a reduced allowance of food , and he , therefore , recommended that tbe allowance ( hould be increased . Instead , however , of the gaoler giviug tad prisoners an increase of food , as recommended by tbe Buraeoa , tho punishment continually resorted to was a stoppage of their food . Dming tbe three months ending tbe 10 th of March , 1843 , the stoppages of diet bad been on tbe average 3 Q 2 daily [ an Hon . Member oa tbe Ministeral benches exclaimed "No ; that was tfle number of prisoners . ' ] Stoppage of diet was the only description of punishment resorted to , and it fell frequently on the same individual . The magistrates , however , seemed to think that all these matters were cf no consequence ; they retained
the gaoler but dismissed tbe chaplain . If they thought tbe chaplain an improper person , why had tbey given bim all those testimonials when applying for the chaplaincy of the Penfconvilie prison . In July 1842 , the magistrates spoke of tbe asijidiou 3 manner in which he bad performed his duties as chiplaiti—of his upright and moral character as a clergyman and a Christian , although ia their report to the Secretory of State they said ho was not entitled to their conlidenco , and had not been so for the last three years . The gaoler , the surgeon , the schoolmaster , tbe task-master , and the matron all added tbeir testimony to tbu exemplary conduct of tho chaplain , as would be seen by tbe following documents : —
" Knutsford House of Correction Committee-room , July 28 , 1842 . " We , the undersigned magistrates , constituting the gaol committee of the House of Correction , Knutsford , in the county of CheBter , and others , have great satisfaction in bearing our testimony to the aval , assiduity , and faithfulness with which the Rav . VV . It . Browne , M . A ., our chaplain , baa performed hia onerous duties during two years and a half , and also to his upright and moral character , as a clergyman and a Christian . ( Signed ) " E ? erton Leigh , Hyde Jno . Ciarfc , x . i-. TuituDucuii i vj- »» iturauttm , E J . Loyd , J . H . Harper , Jos . F . France , RDbt . Hollingworth , John Howard , Chairman , Harry Maiuwaring . " " The Rev . W . Browne has beid the situation of chaplain to the House of Correction bere , for near three years ; and having had , dnring that period , almost daily communication with him , I have great pleasure in bearing testimony to tho zeal and assiduity with which he bas discharged the duties of his office . Hd has shown himself sincerely auxious for the moral improvement of the prisoners , and has spared no pains to accomplish his object . ( Signed ) " Richard Dean , " Surgeon to the House of Correction , " Kuuteford , Cheshire . " July 28 , 18 ^ 2 . " " House of Correction , Knutsford , July 28 , 1842 .
" TneRev . W . Browne having officiated as chaplain here now two and a half years , and having been in daily communication , in my official capacity , with him for that period , I beg to add my testimony , along with several magistrates who have signed a testimonial in bis favour , to the efficient manner in which he has discharged his duties , and the active seal displayed by him to make himself useful in bis ministerial vocation . His private character will bear strict investigation . ( Signed ) " ( VeoL Burgess , Governor . "
Thomas Hayes , schoolmaster and clerk , Bays , " The chaplain has been very attentive to the boys , both as to religion and other matters . He teaches them himself . He is tho first chaplain ; who ra ^ done aa ; always examines the boys as to the chapter that bos been read ; teaches them spelling ; lectures daily . Chaplain bos always strove very much to do good by lectures . Chaplain catechises tbe boys regularly on a Saturday , when they repeat the collect . That was never done before Mr . Browne's time . 'lie haa dune his duty to the boya , you may depend upon ii . ' "
Greaves , task-master , siya , " Chaplain never neglected his duty , he has seen Lim take prisoners to his room repeatedly . He never heard a complaint of the chaplain at tbe hospital . Hospital men attend chapel lectures every day after prayers . He i Greaves ) has been much edified by thaae lectures . He explains the Scripture in a clear and sensible way , so as tbe humblest capacity may understand . Never heard a prisoner complain of chaplain ' s neglect . Constantly more or less , chaplain takes prisoners to his private room . Tbis bos been hie usual habit . Has taken ihtm particularly before the sacrament . "
Mrs . Qasktll , matron , sayo , " Tcse chaplain has been very attentive . The women never were much instructed before his time . She always requires the chaplain when prisoners are ill . Ho has always- attended , immediately . Always bos prayed with prisoners when requested by them . She ( tbe matron ) bad accompanies ! him ou these occasions . Chaplain bos asked ihtm wa&ther they wished to be prayed to very frt q icntly . Juvenile femak-8 were never instructed before nearly so wull . She never heard of the chaplain neglecting his duty . She ( matron ) never omits taking tfc ' . ' governor ' s order . Tbe chaplain's conversation with prisoners when siek , religious , and good . She basalTc . vys attended during these conversations . Chaplain has alw . ijs bad converotition with the prisoners previous to their taking the sacrament . "
Mr . Brown might , indeed , be well proud of forfeiting tho confidence of such magistrates , They , however , had made up their minds six wee ! ' -: bctbm to dismiss the chaplain , aud they did not co ; : des ( vu < i io argue the matt' r ivich thoss who defend > d Iris interns !? , Mr . G . Wilbraham , Mr . E . Stank v , u <> d Mr . Davenport . One of tho magistrates asktxl , " Is toitf ^ aol to be governed by the Secretary ot i » t » te or the magistrates of tho county ?"—( hear , hear ) . The Secretary of State wrote to the visitin ; : justices , stating hi . H regret that the governor of iho gao ! sh- > ul have been considered fit to be continued in his p ! tce , and expressing an opinion that the conduct h « had followed should have led to his imnvediato dismissal . That letter , he thought , reflected the grea ' esr . credit
on the Right Honourable Baronet—( hear , hear . ) It was a bold and true statement of tbe case—a bold j and true censure on those for whom he might be ' supposed to have had some predilection . The Right i Honourable Baronet had proved that he wa 3 above J political feeling on this important occasion , and had passed a censure on the magistrates , to which he ' was satisfied the whole public would respond . But j now that the Secretary of State had done his duiy , \ he main ' -ained that it was for Parliamen t to do theirs , j It was impossible ) that th question < ouid stop where it was . The responsibility , p aid tbe Right Honourable Baronet , lay on the magistrate-, but he ( Mr . T . Duncombe ) maintained that it ' .-y on Parliament . He did not think iho Right . Hou Baronet could 1
carry the matter furiher than he had done . He j might certainly luvo cancelled tho commission , and remodelled it ; bnt that would lay a responsibility on the Right Hon . Baronet , which no man had a right to impose . It was now for Parliament to interfere . He did not think they had yet probed to the bottom the iniquities and corruuiiun * of this gaol ;' he believed that Btill greater rxi .-ue < J than appeared ' on the face of the document , und for this reason he : asked for a committee . He was prepared to prove ' that within these few'days ,. Bur ^ ss , the gaoler , had collected some of the prison officers , and told them 1 that the magistrates were determined to stand no I mere of this nonsense , and that if any of the officers
were found divulging anything that passed in the ' prison , ther would be immediately dismissed . This was lately made by this man , who possessed the confidence ofthe mojority of the Cheshire magistrate ? . ! It ought not to be forgotten that from 2 , 000 to 3 , 000 individuals passed annually through this gaol , and therefore the administration waa of some importance . ' If nothing further were to be divul-ed respecting it , the inspectors of prisons wou ! J never be able to arrive at the truth . Iftheruagi . ' -tratr's doubted the ' accuracy of the inspector's report ii > his instance , and thought he had misled the Secretary of State , ' that was an additional reason for ura'itirjg tho com- j mittee . But , at All events , he thought tha ; Parliament wpuld see the necessity of strengthening the hands '
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of the Sectetary of State , nd granting fu- 'hef powers for the regulation a sys : em so " dc j < , \ ot justiceaDd humanity , as had prevailed withref ; Tie to this prison . The Honourable Member concluded by moving the following resolution : — " That it appearing to this House that the Secretary of S ' . m for the Home Department , after inquiry made umW his authority into certain . circumstances connected with the discipline and management of the Knutsford House of Correction , ia the county ; of Chester , has thought it ri * ^ t , to advise that the governor of the said House of
Correction should be removed ; and it also appearing that , the magistrates , in sessions assembled , ii ^ ve , after an alleged careful examination , deemeJ tha charges referred to them by the Scoretary of State , with one exception , not of much importance , nor such as to deprive the governor of the coufiJ ace opposed in him , and which , as they allege , his ^ enural good conduct , and the discipline ho had maituuicd , appeared to deserve ; and , therefore , that such governor , contrary to the recommendation of the Secretary of State , has been continued in his oF . ce ; and it being alleged by the Rev . William Br < « 'ae , in his petition , presented to tJm House , that h has been dismissed by the magistrates , after givL' , > : - ridetice against the governor before the insp . ee :-. r of prison ? , upon the examination instituted by such inspector , under the authority of the Secrerary of
State ; and this House , considering that the due and proper management of the said gaol must be . » : importan , co to the public , and that the samamun - osfc materially depend upon the character and coaduct ot the governor thereof , and upon due prct ^ v ion being afforded to persons who may from t ; i to time be called upon to give evidence before t .. - » inspector of prisons in respect thereof : it is re-- 0 , 3 d , that a select committee be appointed , to inquire Mito the conduct and management of the said Ho ^ : of Correction , in respect to the matters referred to the roportof the magistrates , and also into the ci' - instances connected with the dismisEal of ti . lev . William Browne , the late chaplain of 4 K- : ud House of Correction ; the said committee u > . ~ : > ort tho evidence taken , and their opiflion thereo / j , •• die Iioase . "
Mr . W . O . Stanley seconded the motion . Mr . Tatton Egerton as one of tho Cheshire Magistrates implicated , denied that the governor < ,: the prison poF ^ ssed his confidence , and expm = < \ his regret at thu course which they had adoptci ; iat even admitting that they had erred in judj . innt , misled by feelings of attachment to an oid ad faithful servant , still a body of thirty-four gentk ^ ea residiug iu and well acquainted with the lo- ty , must be better judgos of all the circumstance- than the House . The chaplain had attributed his dismissal fo political motives , which was a libel on the magistrates , for a large portioa of those who concurred in it wore liberal in their political principle ? , and he h-xA been treated leniently , considerin / r his conduct . Ho opposed the motion .
Sir Geoege Strickland said investigation was absolutely necessary . He had defended th * " s ' -eafc unpaid' in periods when they were not very potu ' ar ; but the allegations against the Governor of Knutsiord gaol were too serious to be passed ovex , aeing the manner in which the magistrate had screened him . Mr . HkRUERT CuRTEiswa' 3 also convince -hat there should be inquiry . H 13 prejudices , as a : >¦ ¦ = dsfrate , had been enlisted against the motion , bo' he speech of Mr . T . Duncombe had satisfied him t :.-t a strong ca 3 e had been made out , to which no suS -enfc answer had been given .
Sir J . Gbaham said that it was not his intent : * . a to enter at length into the question which the lion . Member for Finsbury had that evening brought before the House . In the first place , it was hia duty to acknowledge that the Hon . Member was fully justified in bringing that matter under the coji ^ i ieracion of the House . He must also compliment the Hon . Member for the dispassionate manner iu v . 'f . ich ho had stated tho casa to the House . He ( Sir J . Graham ) would at once direct his attention to the real point involved in the motion of the Hon . Mamber for a committee to inquire into the conduct . tnd management of the House of Correction He < -oncurredinwhat had fallen from Jfch « Him 3 V"T"i * u ~ «— p-- x- ^ .-oiiuu . rie ^ niougnt with that Hon . Baronet that this question ought to be
carefully , sifted . If ho ( Sir J . Graham ) considered That any additional inquiry would bring to liglit any new facts in connexion with this case—if he . cou : < J be induced to believe that the investigation askea for by the Hon . Member would be productive of goodhe would not resist the motion for a conttnitu-e of , inquiry . It had been affirmed that the Prison Inspectors had no power to investigate . A special inquiry had been made and was before the H » u 3 e . He diffsred from the view which the Honour > bla Member for Chester had taken . He thought that the matter which had reference to the chap ain had been quite settled . With refereHce to tho conduct of that gentleman he was not prepared to pronounce an opinion . He had no knowiede j of
the leadirjg facts . The Hon . Member for Finsbury complained that he ( Sir J . Graham ) had no laid upon the table of the House all the reports mad- by the Prison Inspectors . Under certain circnmstiu . ces reports of this kind ought to bo considered as of a a confidential character . Communications -. bo which were made between the Secretary of Stato and the bench of magistrates should be viewt 1 as confidential . Under the particular circumbt .: nc 3 of the <; ase he ( Sir James Graham ) should have thought that he bad acted wisely if he had refused publicity to the letters to which allusion had been uude . Whilst on this subject , he was bound to slate hat the most difficult part in the admistration of hia office was the management of the gaols of thi 3 c-Min .-
try . ( Cheers . ) But he was bound also to say ihat from the magistracy in general he had receive .:, in the discharge of his official duties , the most effi -ient assistance . ( Cheers . ) He , therefore , though ' , hat any change of tho law in that respect woulc : not be conducive to the public good . If the visiting magistrates were to be allowed to continue ia tbe xercise of control , the pawer of the officers of tbt / aol must be vc =, ted in them . That power of cr-i ^ rol would be very intfScient if they had not the p ^ wer of removal in certain cases . He felt himseif ju .- 3 ed in Btating , that the majority of the magistrate ? of tho county of Chester were in favour of the gaoler remaining in office . The majority was overwhelming—ho did not say unanimous—but it waa
certainly overwhelming . The majority was composed of gentlemen entertaining the most op ; >? ita political opinions . He adopted the opinion t * the Hon . Member who had recently addressed the H . < i * e , and regretted that any feeling of jealousy . si . mid have arisen in consequence of his ( Sir J . GrahL-.: j ' s ) interference . He v . as unwilling to speak v . ^ th harshness of the decision to which the magistr ^ tea had come respecting tho dismissal of the chap ; rin . He could not regard it as a judicious exercise of discretionary power . Having made this admission he must say , that he could not consent to the proposition of the Hon . Member for a committee . He was strongly of opinion that the appointment of the different official personages connected with
the gaols , as well as the power of dismissal , should be vested in the hands of the magistracy . Without pledging the Government to any ulterior measures ho trusted the House would give the Stcretary of State concurrent power of dismissal with tho magistrates . He again asserted , that judging from his past experience , ho was disposed to consider t ^ . at it . would bo conducive to the public good tha ^ tha Secretary of State should have that power . He waa sorry to detaiu the Hoise , but he must again repeat * that he did not think there was any good grounri for inquiry . He , however , was prepared to admit 1 hat the question could not stand in its present poss . ion . He did think that legislative interference would be better than the inquiry which tho Honourable Member for Finsbury solicited . Tho magistracy m-nt
have tho power of appointment and dismissal , subject to public opinion . He was an advocate for retaining the power in the local authorities ; but some control was necessary . The Secretary of State should , he thought , have concurrent jurisdictioa with the magistratt ^ s . In conclusion ha would strongly impress on the Hon . Gentleman the expediency of not forcing this question to a division . If he did persist it would be clearly his ( Sir J . Graham ' s ) daty to divide against him ; but whether there was a division or not he would promise that the matter should be carefelly consid r ^ d by Her Mnjasty ' s Government , and ho conld further say , tbat aa at present advised , lie was disposed ia the cuurfeu- of the present session to offer 8 omo legislative remedy for the evila compiained of . ( Cheers . )
Sir T . Wilde next addressed the House , but in consequence of a severe cold the Hon . and Learned Gentleman ' s tona was so low that it wa 3 utterly impossible to distinguish his sentences in the gallery . As far as we could uuderstand , he severely censured tho conduct of the gaoler and reproved , iho magistrates for not tak / ug earlier notice of the abuses . If the House did not interfere when Buch a case of neglect was presented to their notice , it wag cli-ar they would never interfere at all . He expressed his rear , that bad as the facts were , the House did not even yet know ail . Aa they stood theso facts
presented an overwhelming case , aad unless the Government would dtstiacdy promise to take the case into ibeir own hands , he thought the motion for the committee ought moat decidedly to be granted . There wa 3 a precedent for such a proceeding in the case of a warden of the Fleet Prison , who wag charged some years back with gross misconduct , and whose case was strictly investigated by a committee of the House . However , if tho Government would take the subject up , thon the Hon . Member for Finabury might leave the matter in their bands , and » division would be unnecessary .
Mr . W . O . Stanley disapproved of the oondaofc of the Cheshire Justices , both in the retention of the gaoler and in the dismissal of the chaplain . Mr . Legh said a few words in justification of the magistrates for the dismissal of the chaplain . After a few words from Mr . Hbnley , who expressed an opinion tjat cho whole subject of prison discipline must shortly be revised , Mr . Duncombe replied , consenting to withdraw his motion .
-Nthe P Roducers Of Wealth. And All Those Who Lite By Industry On The Land.
-nTHE P RODUCERS OF WEALTH . AND ALL THOSE WHO LITE BY INDUSTRY ON THE LAND .
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¦ AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER .
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I Y 0 L L Yff ° - 289 - SATURDAY , MAX . ^ 7 , 1843 . : ""~ " PR 1 ° P ^^ S ^ p y ^ gT
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 27, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct970/page/1/
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