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Northern Star (1837-1852), 5th March 1842, Edition 7 of 7, Page 3, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      NORTHERN CIRCUIT—DUEHAM , Feb . 21 . Before Mr . Justice Wifitmaa . jamas WHiiami , Chartist bookseller , was indicted for gn saoolt on Cnrisippkfer Thomas Potta , on the 4 th of October last , at Sunderland . Mr . Otter conducted the prosecution , sod Mr . Granger ** e defence . jlr . O ttkb stated toe ease to the jury . The defendant Tras veil known in this part of the country as a leader of the party called Chartists . The prosecutor to an jftom&y at Sunderland- On the 4 th of October , the gay on ¦ which this occurrence toek place , a pubHc meeting had % een ea led inthe Amphitheatre for the purpose o { memorializing the Queen on the subject of the distress now existing in the country . At this meeting Mr .

      Binns as veil as Mr . Potts attended , and both took tbeir places on the platform , -which was situate at the lower part of the room , 'with tiers of benches rising up from each side . Mr . Potts was opposed injhis political principles to Mr . Williams , being a ConservaKve . -Mr . Tfyilijsms addressed the meeting and made use of some xery strong language , in ¦ which he reflected upon the party to which Mr . Potts belonged as being guilty of ibe blood of the people . When Mr . Williams had ctjctJnded , Mr . Potts endeavoured to get & hearing , iut for some time in rain . After several attempts , ha called ont "Where is Mr . Williams to get me a hearing , " -when the latter repeated , in a jesting tone , " Oh , giTe Mr , Potts a hearing , " Silence being Tery partially restored , Mr . Potts endeavoured to

      address the meeting , ont the interruption was so great that he spoke only in broken sentences . During this time some one in the crowd handed up to > nm a pamphlet , published by Mr . Williams , entitled " The Englishman's Birthright , "' desiring him to read it . Mr . Potts immediately retorted , -with reference to the terms of sale appearing on the tiUe-page— " Oh' the Englishman's birthright ! They are selling your birthright at fonrpence per dozen . " Mr . Williams immediately street at Mr . Ports , and , bat for the interference of the persons around , -would probably have given him a severe blow ; as it was , it touched his cheek . The great mass of the meeting was precipitated from the benches towards the platform ; and bat fcr the facilities of exit afforded by two doors in the rear , the supporters

      of Potta-a opinions would probably hare been serious sufferers . This was the assault complained of , and though the bodily injury to Mr . Potts was slight , it was 3 gross outrage upon his person , and one which , in the eye of the law , was utterly unjustifiable . Mr . Potts had used no expressions which went beyond the license of a public meeting , and even if he had , Mr . Williams , above all others , Ehould be the las : man in the world to take offence at a freedom of speech , which he advocate ! so strongly in theory and illustrated so well in practice . Personal violence of this kind could not be tolerated without the most serious results to society , and ii was necessary to deter Mr . WilliamB from offering , for the future , to his fellow citizens , such an insnliing violence as that -which he had offered to Mr . "Potts .

      Mr . Petts was called , and gaTe an account of the transaction corresponding to the opening of the learned counsel . On his cress-examination , Mr . Potts stated that he bad been a Conservative for eight or ten years , ever shice he had got discretion . Was a member of the Polities ! Union . Was inveigled into the association . Hade speeches there occasionally , snd was received with great applause . There was an elsction in Snnderland shortly before this meeting . Was not aware that any Chartists had votes . Was agent of the Conserva tive candidate . The meeting was called to address her Majesty , and pray her not to prorogue Parliament until the present distress was considered . The

      requisitioniits were principally Whigs . Hi 3 object in attending the meeting was to prevent misrepresentation . A charge was brought against the Conservatives of having tired working men to disturb the meeting . A person , who was present , a sawyer , came forward to offer proof of the charge . His master was present , and said he was a drunktn reprobate . Witness did not call him so . Bid Esy he was a discarded servant Did not know of any men being hired to disturb the meeting . Williams spoke first . He made a violent speech , it was very violent in its tenor , though he might not ipeak so loud , or so fluently , as the witness . Witness was much interrupted . Was determined Messrs . Williams and Binns should Eot have the last word

      They had alleged that the Conservatives had the blood of the country upon them . Witness called out tauntingly , -a-here is Mr . Williams to get me a hearing ? having perceived that at these meetings a certain movement of his hands was immediately followed by a total sngn «» Williams said , apparently half in jest and Tmif in earnest , " Oh , give Mr . Potts a bearing . '' There was not silence enough to enable ths meeting to hearthe reperters might . Does not know who handed up the pamphlet Thinks it was a Chartist Witness was interrupted in oackisg his joke a > o * t the Englishman ' s birthright . Does not know whether he charged Mr . Williams with having sold the people to thB Whigs Cannot swear what was said . Did not put his band on

      Mr . Williams' shoulder and say " This is the man who » ld your birthright . ' * Had his hat in his right hand , sad Mr . Williams was on that side . The blow made an impression on his cheek . There was then a rush towards the platform . Did not know that this was eaassd by the supposition that the witness had assaulted Sir . Williams . Did not fay he would be torn limb from limb , but he would be heard . Understands that 2 £ z . Williams has been convicted of sedition , and is Trader recognisaoees to keep the peace- He repeatedly declared be Imd bo wish they should be estreated , bnfc the contrary . Doss not know what his future instrec-Utms may be now that he >»»¦« been forced into court . H&sinstracted his counsel to move to estreat the recognizances in case of a conviction ,

      Three other witnesses were called to prove the assault AH saw Williams apparently in the act of striking et the prosecutor , but one only could say that the blow reachtd him . Mr . Guasgee ., for the defence , addressed the Jury £ t some iengih , . submitting , that however tolerant Mr . TraiiaLS should be of violent language , no one onght to be more so than the quondam political unionist and enter . He complained of the spirit with which the prosecution was conducted , and which was so strongly displayed in the evidence of Mr . Potts , whose object was not justice , tut the gratification of Mb malignant feeling in crushing a political opponent He should Inve thought that a person of generous mind wssld have disclaimed with indignation all intention of tsking advantage of the position in which Mr .

      "WilKaiEs -W 23 placed , by calling down on his bead , besides siy punishment which might be inflicted on Mm fat this offence in case of a conviction , a far hea-Tier punishment in the estreating of his recognisancesrecognisances imposed on him for an effenee of a different class , and totally unconnected with the present . He tiojght the Jury would require better evidence than they h 3 d of any assault having been committed-Tbe meetrng was a disturbed and noisy one , there was great coafn-ion , all the witnesses agreed that the blow " * as , at all events , an exceedingly slight one ; two sesEtd t : > coubt whether there any was given at all , and !; •»* = qrite possible that no assault whatever had beeneaiuiM tte *? . He trusted the Jury would give the defendant : i > e benefit of any donbt , and return a verdict of acquittal .

      His LoaiSBiP , in summing up , said a great deal of irrelevant matter had teen introduced into the case , "snth trlrlch they had nothing to do . The state of parties in Suoderiaad—the political opinions of Mr . Williams and l ! r . Pctts , had no bearing upon the mstter . The simple question they had to try was , whether any blow had been struck . They would look a- the evidence as to this fact alone . If they were satiskd thai ilr . Williams struck the prosecutor , or stmci at him at a cistance from which he would probably have reached him . it would be their duty to convict the defendant , without any regard to the cen-Rqneucea of their verdict . If , on the other hand , they thought he £ id not so strike , or had any reasonable doubt on the matter , it weald be equally their duty to acquit tiiB . _ de Jcry retired for np-srards of an hour , and returned sfto court with a verdict of >~ ct Guilty .

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      EXPLOSION OF A FIREWORKS FACTORY . LOSS OF FOUR LIVES , IN LONDON . Oneof the mo ? t appalling and fatally calamitous explosions that has occurred in or near the metropolis , took place on Monday , at Mr . D'Ernst ' s fireworks manufactory , Lambeih-bntts , by which the pr emises have been destroyed , and fonx lives have teen sacrificed . 51 ie following is an accurate statement of the facts collected on the spot , up to a late hour last evening : r ~ At about twenty minutes to twelve o ' clock , the inhabitants of Lambeth , Kennington , TauxhalJj and « b surrounding neighbourhood , were alarmed by a jond report such as is usually produced by the ignition of gunpowder in large q ^ aii titles , or perhaps resembling more strictly the explosion of gas . This

      was rapidly followed by reports of less violence of BJOfld , but sufficiently lond to create serious apprehension , even to persons residing some hundred yards ojstant . The first impression was that the Vauxhall Gas-works had -exploded , and that the successive oisenarges were created by the bursting of the reports . In a very few minutes , however , ths nature w ihe calamity and its situation wtre made manifest by a dense body of smoke which ascended above the houses on the north tide of Lambeih-walk , behind Jttileh the factory had been erected seme few years back by Mr . D'Ernst , when he t ? as engaged as pyrotechnist at Vauxhali-gardens . It was a detached Dnilding , situate in a piece of rraste ground , bot for " » nich circumstance ; it is impossible to speculate on tae havoc that most have ensned .

      The alarm having once gone abroad , thonFands of Persons hurried to the spot . A large body of the ttetropolitan police hastened from the station-house m High-street , and expresses were sent off to the T » notts fire-engine stations , at several of which the "agade men were already prepared for action by toe lond reports which they bad just heard . The js istanee was prompt and ample , bnfc snch was the ^ rror inspired in all those assembled by a report «*> Ting spread that there were some hundreds weight

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      ! of gunpowder under gTonnd , that the most resolute | men of the fire brigade hesitated to approach snffii cieatly near to the fated premises to render their efforts for its preservation effective . ^ An abundant supply of water was speedily obtained from the main pipes , and seven or eight large engines were brougnt to bear oa the south-west angle of the building , which was easiest of access , there being at the other extremity enclosed ground , attached to Email cottages , the inmates of which fled out in the most pitiable consternation , conceiving that the whole place most be blown ap . In less than half an hour , the factory itself was rednced to complete ruin , and the dwelling-house , in front , a slight build-Jng , two stories high , shared the same fate soon

      after . The discharge of fire works having created sufficient apertures , the firemen directed all their attention to the cellarage , with the view of preventing the expected explosion of gunpowder , it having been ascertained , beyond all doubt , that there were on the premises at least six barrels of that terrible combnstible . By great exertion , they were enabled to throw in some thousand tons of water directly overithe cellars , bo that the ground was covered to the depth ofT » o inches , and the rockets and fragments of burning timber , were quenched as they fell . The firemen , perceiving that there was no further danger of the gunpowder exploding , proceeded cautiously to the interior , and , with the hose of

      several engines , deluged the smouldering wood that lay scattered about . Their next duty , and it was one of some peril , was to search among the ruins for the remains of whoever might have suffered . In a few minutes the charred body of a lad , about 17 or 18 years old , was dug out ; the next was that of a man of muscular frame , snpposed to be Wright , the foreman of the factory ; the next was that of a full-grown man , believed to be the unfortunate proprietor , Mr , D . Ernst ; and a fourth , which so horribly burned as to present scarcely any traces of humanity , was the last victim found . The latter was prononneed to bs a woman , and the sister-inlaw oT Mr . D'Ernst , who had charge of the premises . The lad was one of the apprentices .

      The remains of the unhappy female were placed in a shell , and the bodies of the male sufferers , having been secured on broad planks , were removed immediately from the spot , and deposited in the dead heuse of Lambeth Union workhouse , to await the coroner ' s inquest , which will probably be holden to-day , notice of the dreadful occurrence having been sent off to Mr . Carter , th ' e coroner for Surrey . It was supposed at first that both the male adults were workmen employed in the factory , but the identitity of the body of the ilMat « d proprietor was subsequently ascertained by very convincing , though rather curious circumstantial , evidence . Mr . D'Ernst , whose privrte residence is at Laurie-terrace , a new range of houses near Btthlem Hospital , was seen to enter the fictory " about a quarter of an bcur btfore the explosion took place . He was not observed to come out , nor could any tidings of him be obtained up to two o ' clock .

      A messenger was sent to his residence to procure the attendance of some of his family , in consequence of which a female domestic came to the workhouse , and being shown the bodies , declared her inability to identify that of ber master . All were destitute of apparel ; toe-features were -either wholly destroyed , or rendered undistinguiahable . Adhering , however , to one of the bodies , was a fragment of a linen shirt of fine texture , and near the throat was discovered a fillet of flannel . Upon these being pointed out , the girl said at once , " Oh , God , that is my peor master ! " . and she described that he invariably wore shirts of the finest linen , and owing to his having lately suffered from sore throat , he had been in the habit of wearing a piece of flannel under his shirt collar . The body of the other man was xn-t so fully identified , but it is supposed to be that of the foreman . No doubt whatever exists as to those of the lad and the female .

      The fire , which was not considerable , was wholly got under in less than an hour , but immense crowds of idlers of both sexes continned nocking to the Bpot until a late hour last evening . It was stated that there was a very large stock of fireworks on the premises , which had been made up for exportation .

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      HOUSE OF LORDS . — - Monday , Maech 2 . lord Broegham introduced his measure for the establishment of local county courts to which the trial of all personal actions in which the damages sought to be recovered did not exceed £ 50 should be confined ; the judges to be appointed under the proposed bill would also have a voluntary jurisdiction in actions to any amount , if the parties should signify their consent in writing to abide by their decision . The measure had been already favourably entertained by their Lordships , and he hoped that neither the lapse of time , nor the change of circumstances , would be found to have altered their opinion on it . ThB LOKD . CH . A 3 CELL 0 B . announced his intention of laying before the House in the course of a few days , & bill with the same object as that which Lord Brougham had introduced . Including that brought in by Lord ( Tottenham , therefore , there woald then be three bills upon the subject at once before their Lordships . Lord Campbell briefly expressed his hope that the country would not be left much longer without local courts for the adminstration of cheap justice ; and the House then adjourned .

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      ME . FER&ANB'S SPEECH . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Thursday , Feb . 24 . In our last week ' s third edition we gave a very condensed report of the proceedings in the House of Commons on Thursday week ; the excellent speech of Mr . Ferrand , however , compels us to reprint it at length . After the House had been addressed by several HononTable Members , ilr . FERRAND rose , and was greeted with tremendous cheering . He said—It * would be great folly and ingratitude in me were I to take advantage of the kind indulgence which has always been shown me by the House , and inflict a long speech upon yon at this late stage of the debate ; but I truBt you will give me a hearing for a few moments , when you recollect that for the last few days I have been the object at which nearly all the Hon . Gentlemen opposite have hurled their pointless darts—( cheers . ) I am happy to say that , clothed in the mantle ef truth , I have come through the onesided war unscathed and unharmed—( cheers . ) It is

      true the Hon . Baronet the Member for the Tower Hamlets came down the night after I had addressed the House , and said , — Even had I the ability to reply to the speech of the Membar for Knaresborough , I do not think I should have the inclination , for though his speeches may amuse the Honse , they are more calculated to damage the Right Hon . Baronet and the party behind him . I , therefore , make a present of him to the Bight Hon . Baronet . I will leave him in the bands of the Right Hod . Baronet , and wish him joy of him . " ( Laughter . ) Sir , I will support the Bight Hon . Hon . Baronet when I can conscientiously do so , and my support will be given without any hope of reward or expectation of an boncur as high as th&t bestowed upon a gallant officer below me ( Sir H .

      HardingeD , for many years of toil in the service of his country—( cheers . )—ar . d for the loss of limb which be has sustained—( cheers )—an honour which was bestowed upon the Hon . Member for the Tourer Hamlets , for what services I k ^ ow not , by the late self-denying nopatronage Government ( Cheers . ) Then , Sir , r . ext came the attack of the Hon . Member for Sheffield ( Mr . Ward ) . With that blushing modesty—( loud laughter )—for which he iB conspicuous—with that positive authority by which he has become notorious—( roaxa of laughter;—he declared that myspeech was one of scandalous levity . Then followed the Hon . Member for Wycombe ( Mr . Bemal ) , and he told the Hon 2 e that my speech was one of bombastic declamation . ( Laughter . ) Now , I quarrel with neither of the Hon . Members . I shall : eave them

      to settle the dispute as best they may , contenting myself with offering up a fervent prayer that it may be settled amicably . ( Laughter . ) -My next assailant was the Hon . Member for Salford ( Mr . Brotherton ) . I ask the indulgence of the Heuse for a moment , whi'e I defend myself from and expose a most despicable quibble— ( cheers- ) The Hon . Member , speaking of my speech , said , " If I am to judge of the correctness of his speech by what I know te be untrue , I shall not valne it very highly . I know that there are some statements that are entirely destitute of foundation . " It will be remembered that I stated in a former speech , that the Hon . Member for Stockport ( Mr . Cobden ) worked bis mill * night and day . The Hon . Member for Salford said , " he spoke from his own knowledge when he said , the Hon . Member for Stockport never had a mill in his life "— ( cheerB . ) I instantly gave my authority up to the House—( cries of "No , no . ") I placed

      my authority in the hands of the fiousa , and said if the name were demanded I wonJd instantly give it , bntl was met with a general cry of •« No , " from this side of the House , which was most generously responded to from yonrs . In a few minutes after the Hon . Member for Salford left the House I followed him , and offered him the name of my authority , to shew him the letter , and to give him the date and the name of the place from which it came . The Hon . Member laughed in his quiet way , and . Baid , " But we call them printworks in Lancashire , not mills "—( loud cries of " Oh , oh . '" ) Bnt , in justice to my authority , I trust the House will indulge me by allowing me to Tead four lines from a letter I have received from my correspondent since . He says— "I notice in the paper this evening th * t # e Bev . Mr . Brotherton—d&ud laughter )—has eoi&JBjjSefeea youx Btatement of Cobden working his milli ' sighi and day ; but I know they will not deny woridn ^ hfe Frintwwks near Chorley night arid'day , nd'T haWno doubt he is doing so at

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      the present . " Sir , I now come to what fell from the Hon . Member for Westminster ( Mr . Leader ); he said I made on incendiary speech . What , that from the Hon . Member for Westminster , the champion for the liberties of the people ?—( laughter . )—That from the Hon . Member , who asserted that there was nothing but class legislation in this House , and that the working classes are not represented at alL Is it to be borne that I may not here assert as I am Instructed by them to do—that 1 may not assert that the working classes are convinced that the Corn Laws ate not the cause of the distress under which they labour , but that it is tbe persecution which they suffer from their masters . Bat , said tbe Hon . Member for Westminster , if what I asserted were true , then it was my duty to move for a

      Committee . Sir , I say that the House has been in Committee m » ny days—( a laugh)—and I distinctly bring the charge against those manufacturers before those gentlemen , calling themselves of the anti-Corn Law League . Who denies my assertion ? . It is true the Hon . Member for Salford did so ; but who else ? He stands alone . Those gentlemen out of doors say they will treat me with contempt j but have not my statements caused a sensation throughout the length and breadth of the land?—( cheers and laughter . )—Yes , I will tell the Hon . Member for Wycombe that that is true . They have destroyed the anti-Corn Law League—( laughter . ) You may laugh , but my statements have destroyed yon . . I have forced you to join with the Char tiste —( cheers )—it was the only way left you

      by which you could contiuue the unholy and selfish agitation you have earned on for years . ( CheerB . ) You have coalesced with those who hate you in their hearts . ( Cheers . ) I can prove that ; aad if you urge them on to rebellion , as you have been trying to do— ( cheers , laughter , and uproar )—I warn you that their first outburst will be to plunge the knife in the bosoms of their oppressors . ( Cheers . ) Let me assure you that if you goad them on , there is sufficient force and strength in the country to make you quail before it ( Cheers . ) Now , Sir , I would call the attention of the Hon . Member fer Westminster to a letter I have received from a poor working man ; and perhaps the House will oblige me by allowing me to read a few lines from it . (" Read all . ") I shall do so with pleasure . My

      correspondent says— " Sir , —I hope when you have read this you will pardon the liberty I have taken in addressing it to you . The speech which you delivered on Monday has caused more sensation than any that was made during the whole debate ; because we all have witnessed similar transactions to those you then related , and many working men have experienced worse treatment than yon have described . Nobody has ventured here to deny your assertions . The rooms of the Leeds Operative Conservative Society were besieged by strangers anxieus to have a peep at The Times of Tuesday , all of whom confirmed your statements . The " Leaguers" are raging at their exposure . But I should not have troubled you had not Mr . Bernal doubted your statements respecting the Anti-Corn Law

      petitions . Why , in Leeds , on several occasions , tbe Leaguers have been defeated by the ChartiBts at public meetings . The very number of signatures to the petitions proves them to be forgeries . In the township of Leeds , which contains abeut 87 , 000 inhabitants , it is said that no less than 43 , 000 signatures have been obtained , and in the whole borough , ( including the women ' s petition , 23 , 000 ) no less than 66 , 000 signatures , or nearly the half of the population of all ages . Besides this fact ( I have a rather extended circle of acquaintance ) I meet with numbers who are indifferent to , nnmbers who are positively opposed to , the Whig scheme—numbers who are favourable to the repeal , who will not sign any petition whatever . Tbe petitions have been hawked round the machine shops

      and factories . They have been placed in all parts of the town ; men have been engaged to go from house to honse with cheap-bread petitions . One yonngman , by name Robt . "Whitehead , who came to work in the same room as myself the day after the petitions were closed , informed me that from Monday morning to Tuesday noon he procured 850 names , for which he was paid 8 s . 6 d ., atthe rate of Is a 100 . In one yard , which the printed statistics of the borough states to contain thirtyfour houses , this man says he obtiined near 300 names . This man is a repealer , and a pretty fair informed man , and no doubt could tell how hundreds of sham signatures were obtained . I could fill sheets with incidents which have been related to me , but I forbear , merely assuring these are facts which I can prove . " Sir , I

      have another letter from another correspondent . iCries of " name , name . " ) No , I will not give the name new , but I will give it to any Hon . Member who will apply to me-when the Honse is up . He says , "In all the parts of the manufacturing districts in which I have been , I have heard tbe workies" declare that it is truth you have told them in the House , and tbat if you wanted any to corroborate what you have said , you might have hundreds of thousands to affirm I will now put you in possession of a fact the way and manner in which the Corn Law League manufacture their petitions . The other day I called one manufacturer to ask him to sign the petition favour of the Ten Hours' Bill . He was in a room filled with power-looms , and he heard me say ' petition ; ' he instantly Baid Yes , " and went across the yard into his counting-house , and lifted up the lid of

      his desk , took out a petition , and said , ' Now , you see , I think I have done it pretty well . I have varied my hand as much as possible , and I have put them all down , for I have taken them out of the wage-book . '" Now what think you of the manner in which your petitions are got up ? Sir , in detailing the misery , tbe plunder , and the robbery that is committed upon the poor working rnan by the manufacturers belonging to the Anti-Corn Law League , I am prepared to prove tbat they used the truck system as one of tlie engines Of their destruction . I will now read to the house a statement that will make you stand aghast . ( Laughter . ) Yes , it will have that effect upon any Hou . Member who has a heart to feel for the sufferings of the pot > r . I wish the House to remember that I never did charge these crimes upon the -whole manufacturers of the country , but I distinctly charge them upon those manufacturers who are members of the Anti-Corn Law

      League . I know many manufacturers in my own neighbourhood who are men ef the kindest natures , but they tell me that they cannot compete with those manufacturers wh © are connected with the League , because they paid their labourers in money , while the Lsaguers paid theirs upon tbe truck system . I will tell the Hon Member for Manchester , -who defended the manufac ' turers * Mr . M . PuiLiVS rose , mnidst loud uproar and cries of "Order . " He saicl ( across the table , ) tbat he had not denied that some manufacturers were culpable ; they were lilre other clashes , and there were bad ones amongst them .

      Mr . Ferra . nd—I am obliged to the Hon . Gentleman , for it justifies wb"t I was going to say . I will now give him a broad sketch of no isolated cases , but of many of the most flagitious nature which are now occurring throughout Lancashire . " Messrs . blank and Sra" —( loud cries of "Name" ) I again tell Hen . Members that 1 am prepared to prove everything which I assert If any Hon . Member will move for & Committee , I pledge myself to summon witnesses to prove every word of what I am going to read ; but I trust that , under present circumstances , the House will agree with me , that it will not be fair to give to the world the names of the parties . ( Chaers . ) " Messrs and Son , — : — , three milla There is a shop in tLc immediate vicimty of each of these mills , and each shop is kept by a son-in-law for bis own advantage . The workpeople are also supplied with coals by the same

      firm . Mr . , two mills . The workpeople are obliged to procure both food and clothing at a shop in the neighbourhood of the mills , which is kept by bis brother for bis own benefit . Mr . ¦ , one mill , close to which is a shop , over the door of which his son ' s name is placed , who is a minor residing wftii his father . Messrs . ¦ and Co ., one milL They have a shop which is kept for their own benefit Mr . ¦ — , one mill , near which a shop is kept by his son-in-law , for his own benefit , who is also manager of the mil ) . There are five more mills in this very neighbourhood which have cottages attached to tbem , and belonging to the owners , and which are occupied by their workpeople , " ( The reading of this document was interrupted throughout with loud cries of " name , name . " In order to make members awaro of the manner in which these manufacturers

      evaded the penalties of the law , I will state how they arrange matters . On the Saturday night the working people go into tbe counting-house , where they are paid their wages in money , but instead of being allowed to come out the same way , they are obliged to go through a roem , in which is sitting the person who keeps the books at the truck shop belonging to the mill , and there they have to pay every farthing of the food and clothing which they had required during the previous week , and if it could be proved that one man had spent even one halfpenny on any sort of goods out of that shop , he would be instantly , and without one word of explanation , discharged from his employment —( cheers ) . Now I call that a tax upen food—( cheers ) —that I call a tax upon provisions . That is your free

      system—( cheers ) . It is notorious that the masters obtain 25 per cent upon the whole of the goods they sell , and that they make 10 per cent , upon the cottages they obtige their workmen to reside in A key is placed in the bands of any workman who applies for and obtains work at any of these mills , and it is well understood that that is the key of a cottage built by his master , who will not let it to him under 10 per cent , for the outlay of his money , nor give him employment unless he takes it There was a class system—ther « was a system of free trade nnder which the large manufacturers were making fottonea , yet they come forward and say tbe landed interest must yield I now come to the Right Hon . Member for Edinburgh ( laughter ) , who has stated that the members of the

      anti-Corn Law League had not used such violent language out of doors as I have used in this House . The Hon . Member will perhaps permit me to call his attention te the language uttered by an individual at a meeting ' ef the anti-Corn Law delegates , in allusion to the Bight Hon . Baronet atthe bead of her Majesty ' s Government . I am convinced that , however Hon . Members opposite stay differ from the Bigfit Hon . Baronet in political opinions , they will bear record with a generous and manly spirit that he does nbt deserve he slander I am about to Tead to the House—( hear . ) Mr . G . Thompson says , alluding to the Cora Law : — " Cursed law , doubling the primeval curee , turning the warm sweat of industry into the chill damp of starvation —( tremendous eheers . y ( Loud laughter from ail parts of the House . ) "He denounced that law—

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      ( cheers . ) It was an impious law— (' cheer s . ) ' But this wicked man ( Sfr R . Peel ) the law-maker , the landed aristocrat , had virtually monopolised the universal bounty of God , and we starve in consequence of it . " Colonel Thompson says , "Ho should himself cpDscientiously , and with Integrity , advocate the taking a'large retribution on the landlords- how many would follow him depended on them , not on himself . " My opinion is , that if ; the people wait till the Hon . and Gallant Colonel attempts to - take" this retribution , they will have to wait a considerable time . ( Great laughter . ) I will now read to the House a speech delivered at a . meeting of the anti-Corn Law L ? ague by the Hon . Member who has just sat down ; and £ wish the Right Hon . Gentlemanthe Member ? for

      Edin-, burgh ( Mr . Macaulay ) , had been present , " thait lie might hear this language . When J , 00 , o 6 p men threatened to come down from Birmingham to this / iriBtropo-Jis—for which they received the thanks of the Noble Lord the Member for London ( Lord J . Russell )—Lord Grey said to the House of Lords , "Set yout house in order , for the people are coming down upon yoo . " I think I may also say to the Hon . Menibers of this House , " Set your house in order , for the Hon . Member is coming down upon yen . " ( Laughter . ) Tho Hon . Member for Stockport ( Mr . Cobden ) thus appeals to the passions of the people : — "Their metal wouldbe tried in a fortnight or three weefee . He had told them that the aristocracy must be frightened . Were they prepared to make sacrifices and to nndergo suffering to carry this

      question ? ( Cheers , and : loud cries of " Yes * yes . ") The time was not far off when they might be ^ called upon to make sacrifices and to undergo sufferings . The time might soon come when they might be called upon to inquire as Christian men whether an oligarcy which has usurped the government ( cheers ) , placed its foot on the crown —( immense cheering , yrhicb continued some minutes )—and trampled down the people—( continued cheering )—how farsnch an oligarchial usurpation was deserving of their moral and religious support ( Immense cheering . ) If they were prepared for suffering they would soon have an opportunity of autTeting . ( Cheers . ) When the proper time should come , he would be prepared to set them an example of suffering , to suffer with them— ( loud cheer * : ) " ( Laughter . ) When I

      read that speech I trembled from head to foot— ( Great Laughter ) I will now tell tho House how the members of the anti-Corn Law League contrive to enhance the prica of com . Are Hon . ' Members opposite aware that , according to a calculation which has been made , 100 , 000 quarters of wheat are annually consumed by the men of the Anti-Corn Law League , to enable them to defraud the public by daubing their calicoes with flour paste?—( great laughter , which continued for some moments . ) Some Hon . Gentlemen opposite dc not laugh ; they see the mnrder is cut—( renewed laughter . ) I can prove what I have just asserted by the evidence of manufacturers of the highest standing in the country , who are prepared to come forward and bear out my statements , and expose this

      system of robbery and plunder—( hear . ) It was only tho other day that a poor man was transported for seven years for selling to the Noble Lord the Secretary ; for the Colonies ( Lord Stanley ) a few bricks for a ctotedelier—( loud laughter . ) I have received the following statement from an individual who , as well as others , is ready to give evidence on the subject before a ceinniittee of this House , if required to do co : —* ' Immense quantifies of flour are used in fcbo cotton trade to give a falso appearance to thb calico "— ( laughter , and cries < f "Oh ! " ) I * assure the House it is true —( hear . ) ' I assert the face , and I ask Hon . Gentlemen opposite , -who' are acquainted with the cotton ' tritde , whether it is net tru « ? —( hear , hear . ) My informant proceeds— «'• Some manufacturers use from 2 , 000 to , 3 , 000 packs per annum .

      The calicoes are passed through a machine , in which they are stretched in length and breadth . The intefstioes occasioned by stretching are titled up , by paste , which is applied by a brush- Afterwards the calico is passed between two rollers , which press or calender ' -it . It then . comes but apparently a beautiful , fine , stout piece ef culico . Its real quality is discovered in washing , after both the purchase money and the expense of making it into wearing apparel bad proved it to be a dead loss to the confiding purchaser . " I will now , with the permission of the House , read an extract from a letter written by an English merchant , exposing a process which is adopted by certain manufacturers of buying up all the old rags they can obtain , which are torn . iip into pieces by a machine , and converted into a kind of dust , an « t are then mixed with wool , which is eventually manufactured into cloth . This dust , from its nauseous

      nature , and from its engendering numerous ; diseases , has been christened by the workpeople of Yorkshire the " Devil's dust "—( great laughter . ) The ^ antleman to whom I refer writes : — " Things are worse and worse in Huddersfleld , and it seems that all is ov «? r without any hope . The trade is leaving this country most rapidly . S— is paying off nearly 200 of his weavers , because the foreigners are sending the same sorts of goods over ot very Httle more than half the price that he has bean selling them at . I wish you could get a full account of this shoddy trade ; it is monstrous , They now put scarcely any wool into their yarn , only just as much aa -will keep the devil ' s duet together . The rags , as yeu know , are collected from the most filthy boles in London and Dublin , ; and are brought from the most unhealthy regions , infected by tbe plague and every epidemic , and of course they are full of dtadly poison . B- ——— S — has liad a

      boat-load of this rubbish , and also buys a good deal of the Dewsbury people . When his goods are uimie ' up . , the first time they are worn they split up , and then the came begins . Mr . informs me that B———¦

      rr—has sent out a largo quantity of 'doe-Skins , ' charged 5 s . adJ pe- yard , which have proved to be not worth ono fatthing—not worth tailor ' s wages They will all be sent back from America to the manufacturer , with a charge of 5 s . 8 d . a yard upon them for duty , carriage , freight , commission , &c . ; and this ' ,.-of course , besides the loss of the goods , they being worthless . If this won't cure him , I cannot tell what will-Mr . —— has been on the cuntinent recently , and thero he saw a small manufactory of * doeskins , ' all made of wool , no devil ' s dust in them . The man , before this season , he believes , had never made eighteen pieces of goods in one year . lie had then in hand an order fur 1 , 800 pieces , considerably below the price of English devil's dust goods , pretending to be of the same

      quality . Thus the manufacture is leaving us as fast as it can—thanks to tbe knavery of our avaricious , covetous , cheating , canting selves . Nothing can show our baseness and deceit more than this . These things prove clearly , that our ruin is deservedly brought upon us by our own villainy . It is well known that the Shefflelders passed cast-iron cutlery upon the foreigners for steel , until they / would not have it '' . given . ; - and thsy have had to find new countries to send it to , and their former customers have been obliged to manufacture for themselves . Thus our canting , professing Christians , are ruining their own country ; , and cheating the poor pagans , and all the while blubbering about 'trusting in Providence , ' and are trying to make Parliament believe that they care for the poor ! " [ While Mr . Ferrand

      was reading the abeve extract , Colonel Sibthorp , who had been conspicuous in cheering the Hon . Memner in the course of his Bpeech , was observed to leave the House , and soon afterwards returned with a large orange , which he presented to Mr . Ferrand amidst roars of laughter . } I will only detain the House a few moments longer ( the Honourable ) Gentleman continued ) , while I call their attention to a meeting of manufacturers which was held some years ago in New York . An account of it appeared in all the American papers , and the account I will , with the permission of the House , read , is from an eye-witaesf . He says , — " It was my good luck to attend ft meeting of merchants and manufacturers convene . ! in the Town Hall , for the purpose of ' considering the best means of

      protecting the manufacturers of the United states . ' The meeting was composed of manufacturers of all grades , and very numerously attended ; and a spirit of unanimity pervaded the assembly . Specimens of cloth of John Bull's manufacture were held up to the guza of the meeting , all in tatters , and mothcaten by the paste . These were compared with their own honeBt domestic manufacture , and the following resolution was agreed to : — " That it is tho opinion of -this -meeting ; that it is the duty of Congress to protect the manufactures of the United States by an augmentation of the present tariff , to prohibit , as far as possible , the importation of foreign manufactures '"— ( hear , hear !)—1 will just call the attention of the Right Hon . Baronet the Firet Lord of the Treasury to a fact ; which has not

      been brought before the notice of the House , yet a most important fact . It is , that if the Corn Laws were to be repealed tbera would be an immense body of industrious labourers in the North of England hot only thrown out of employ , but ruined for ever . That ruin would result from this cause : —It has been for many years the custom of the chief landed proprietors in the North to let pieces of waste land to -working men en leases of fourteen , twenty-one , or fourteen years , at a small rent , en condition that they shall break up that land , and repay themselves by the : sale of the corn which they may produce from it . Now , if the Corn Laws were to be repealed , all these men must be ruined ; yot they have as ranch right to protection fr « m the country as Hon . Members opposite have , and they look to the Government to protect them , in order that they may reap some slight reward for their labour .

      They never dream that they can possess such wealth as thossgentlemen ; they say , " Live and let live , " that is all they aspire to . Then why refuse them Bnch an offer ? They say "We have-let you live- ^ -we would scorn to rob you of your own ; and it is unjust , cruel , unmanly , nay , dishonourable , and beneath the name of Englishmen , to com * forward and advocate » measure , the object of which is t ? plunder thei poor "—( hear bear . ) The Hon . Member for Manchester , who spoke the night before last , offered his advico to the fanners of England . If the farmers of England look to the political consistency of the Hon . Member for Manchester ( Mr . Gibson ) , they will not , perhaps , think much of hlm- (» laugh ); but this I will say , the farmers of England look to the laws of their country for protection : and when they lose that protection , depend on it , if they fall , you will fall with them— ( cheers . ) ' : ;

      Mr . Brotherton rose to explain . He felt assured that any one who knew him would be satisfied that he never could use any expression which he intended should bear a different meaning from that which he attached to it . When he stated that ho believed that the Hon . Member for Stockport had neve had a mil ! in his life , he faily believed that sach was the fact ; especially as he used the word "mill" in its common acceptation among manufacturers . (" Oh 1 ") He had

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      read in a newspaper an account of the Hon . Member , in which it was stated that he had hada mill , but , as he found it was not profitable , he had sold it He ( Mr . Brotherton ) did : not know where tbe mills of the Hon . Gentleman were , and he thought he was perfectly understood , when speaking of "mills , " as meaning cotton , -woollen , er silk mills , where children were employed . (" On ! " ) The Hon . Gentleman , the Member for Kuaresborougb , himself perfectly well knew the meaning that was generally attached : to the word ' mills . " ('' Oh I" ) He ( Mr . Brotherton ) had entertained no wish to deceive the House , and if he had made use of any expression calculated to convey a wrong idea , he / would have no hesitation in at once retracting it —( hear ; and a laugh . ) He believed at the

      time what he said , and though the Hon . Member ; had used expressions towards himself which ought not to have been lightly used , he had no doubt ¦ whatever , thit if the name of his correspondent , whose communication he had read to them , were given , he would turn out to be one of his own political opponents—one of those who , he would say , were the meanest and the most malignant party that ever man had opposed to him . He did not wish to return railing for railing , or he could have said that he had seen many letters as to the Hon . Member / and the character he had in his own neighbourhood , and the value tbat' was put there upon hisi expre 83 i 6 ii 8 ; and he would , therefore , content himself by merely repeating , that in what bad fallen from him on a former evening he had had no intention to deceive the House .

      Mr . Cobden also rose to explain . He said , onee for all , he considered his position in that House to bo anything but one which called on him , or allowed him , to indulge in gross personalities . And he could assure the Hon . Member opposite , that however be might ingeniously devise partisaii warfare of this very clever kind , he ( Mr . C ) would never enter into personal alternation in that House . Ko held such a course to be disrespectful to tfl 8 country which sent them there , and in two words he would say ; that he did tremble for the dignity of that House when such language as they had heard tbat night could be listened to with complacency . ( "Ob , oh / " "^ Explain . '" "Order ! " ) He repeate ' dth 8 * be did consider the dignity of that House in da gger when he found such language , and such demeanour as they bad witnessd during tho last half-hour , receiv ed as it had been—(" oar ")—received as it had been , with such complacency by the Bight Hon . Gentlemen on the Treasury bench ; and so cheered by Hon . Members behind them—( hear , and laughter . )

      Mr . Hindley , Mr . Gill , and Mr . Fielden , shortly addressed the House . Mr . ViL ' tiE . RS then replied , denying the imputations which bad been thrown upon the manufacturers by the Hon ^ Member for Knaresborough ( Mr . Ferrand ) . The speech which the Hon . Member made had been received with a glee 2 nd satisfaction which he had never before witnessed in that house , ; and this circumstance gave a decided character to the question before the House ; for the division would not know turn on the motion before

      the committee , but it would be a division between those who entertained the same views of the manufacturers of this country as the Hon Member , and these who held different opinions—( bear . ) As no dissentient had been expressed on the opposite side to the statements of the Hon . Member , he conceived that those whoconstituted the majority against his motion would identify themselves with the views of the Hon . Member—( cheers and laughter . ) The Hon . Member bad said that every petition presented against the Corn Laws had baenpaid for—( " No , no . " )

      Mr . Ferrand denied that he had made such a statement . Mr . ViLLiERS contincd . Aa the Hon . Member denied he he had ever used those words , he ( Mr . Villiera ) acknowledged , or at least the Hon . Member acknowledged , that he hail not employed such language , but he repeated again that the Hon . Member eaid , that all the petitions against the Corn Laws had been paid forbear , hear , and cries " no . " ) The Hon . Member made another statement which he ( Mr . Villiers ) denied , viz ., —that the wprkiug classes were not against the Coru Laws . This was a vile calumny on the working classes ; and he ( Mr . Villiers ) should not have mooted this question year after year without having ascertained that the working classes felt intensely -on the subject- — ( hear , hear . ) He presumed the Hon . Member was prepared to prove those charges of plunder , robbery and fraud he had made against the manufacturers . Mr . Ferrand . —Decidedly .

      Mr . Villiers understood that the Hon . Member was prepared to prove these charges against the manufacturers of Englandr-H" No , no" )—at least againafc those who had subscribed to the association against the Corn Laws—( hear , hear . ) These charges could not resi . They were made against certain persona engaged in manufactures whose names and circumstances were known , and it was the duty of those who cheered the Hon . Member to insist on the Hon . Member establishing his charges—( cheers . ) He ( Mr . Viiliers ) considered themselves justified in bringing forward the present motion by the concession which the Right Hon . Baronet opposite had made on the subject , and he felt convinced that if the people continued to discuss and agitate ; the question they would eventually succeed in

      carrying it . He felt himself further justified in proposing the motion by the course pursued on the other side . "No uew thing had been stated . "; no original idea started—( ironical cheerB . ) Nothing but the old stale artrumenta had been used —( renewed cheers . ) The gentlemen on tlto other side could not conceive that -an abundance of food would be a benefit . Another argument against any attempt to lower the price of food was that it would be highly inexpedient to be dependent on other countries . He scarcely believed that any charity boy ia tho country c « uld be found to venture on such an arK « uient . He was charged , in consequence of the motion he had made * with dfsregarding vested interests . He wits not so dishonest as to disregard the rights of property . But when would thia charge

      cease to be made ? When were they to begin to change tb ( j law ? The charge , moreover , was just aa applicable against a moderate fixed duty , and even against the proposition of the 'Right Hon . Baronet , for the Bight Hod . Baronet professed to lower the duty ; and if sonit ) of the present protection were withdrawn from tbe landnd interest , it might be arguad that some of the worst lands would be withdrawn from cultivation . ( Hear , hear . ) Tho argument of the Noble Duke who had loft the Government was the oniy honest one which he had heard from those who opposed his motion . He ( the Duke of Buckingham ) said that the pr ople . had uither a right to a total repeal * or the farmers liud a right to their protection . That was a manly ; iqd tt ^ tightforpcard course , and , however much

      in error , be could not but respect the stern consistency with which the Noble Duke maintained bis opinion . He ( Mr . Villiera ) could understand their saying , " We will compensate every man injured by taking away protection , " but he could not understand lowering the protectwn jnst enough to injure a few , and leaving others uninjured . He contended the people had a right to repeal , and no ground had been shown for ; protection . (•' Divide" and " Order . " ) He could ; not understand the arguments of those on his side the House , who wera not going to vote with him , but who agreed with his views . Th ^ ybegaa the ir speeches by the . most violent tirades against the Corn Laws , and all of a sudden stopped short and said , " Monstrous as this law is , and unjust , and injurious as it is , yet I

      cannot vote with you . I cannot agree to a sudden atoppage of this injustice . " ( Hear , hear , heat . ) He ( Mr ., ' -Villiers ) proposed a resolution declaratory of the injurious effect of the Corn Law , and that the circumstancesi of the country now no longer warranted its continuance . If that resolution were carried , a bill would be founded upon it , and that did not exclude the claims of particular interests to compensation that might be injured by a total : repeal- He was extremely sorry that the Noble Lord below him ( Lord j . Russell ) was going to vote against him ; but he could understand the position of that Noble Lord : he had come forward to act as arbitrator between the people and those who maintained this law . But he believed his

      Noble Friend would find himself completely mistaken , and before another year was out would see more clearly and distinctly thauat present tue justice of the claims of the people thai ; the law should be totally repealed . He contended that the motion he bad made was neither violent nor unreasonable , and he justified it hy the course ; which had been pursued on other measures . Those vested interests which had been urged as an argument now , might with equal reason have been started on other occasions . When the trade with Ireland was opened the people then had vested interests , but the general good of the empire demanded that measure . When the restriction of the currency took place hi 1819 , the same argument of vested interests was raised ^

      Sit K . Peel . —That was not a sudden change in the law ;; .- ;• ¦• - . . ' ;¦ ¦ . : ¦ . ¦ ¦; ..- ; ' .- .. ' .-. - . : . ' ¦ . . .. - ; . /¦ - ¦ : ;¦ ..- , ¦ ¦ ¦¦ '¦ . ¦ - .- ¦ - .. Mr . Villiers could only say , whether sudden or riot * the people were not prepared for it —( '' Questio : ; . " ) They liiid never thought of vested interests then . The Reform Bill might have been resisted on tbe same grounds , for under the old systems boroughs were made the Bubjeet of settlement .. The New Poor Law had been suddenly passed ; the discussion on that law did not last three months , and he ventured to say that that law had made a greater alteration in the condition of the poor since it had been passed than the repeal of the Corn Law would in the saiue time . The fact was the

      Poor Law did more harm than good , and some reform of that law must take place . He urged those charges against vested interests in favour of his motion . " The great mass of the community desired this law to be repealed—( " no , no , ")—and he was sorry that the division of that night would force this reflection on men ' s minds —that what the mass of the community desired the Housetf Commons refused . He was vfilling to compensate classes that might be injured if his proposition should meet with the accord of the House , and declare thai the time had come when the Corn Laws should wase ; the declaration he bad to propose was , tbat the people wished for a total repeal of the Com Lawn . : '¦¦ : '¦ - . .. ¦ :,: ; . V - . "¦ ' ,. " ' ' . ¦¦¦ ' ' . ¦' . •' . ¦ ¦ ¦"' .:.

      . Shortly after one o ' clock , the Committee divided , and about two o'clock the numbers were declared as follows : — ' 'I ¦ ¦ ¦ : ' - ; ,. ' . ¦ •¦ ¦ ¦;¦ ¦;¦ ' ¦ ' : ¦ ¦/ . ¦ , - ¦'¦" : !' " ' "¦ .:: ' ' ¦; ¦' ¦' ' ¦ •• " For Mr . Tillier's motion ......... 9 <) AgalnstU . » , » ........... ^ ... v . .. 323 ^ Majori ^ sr ..:,.,. i ........,. 393 On the motion of Sir R . Peel , The ^ Cbaibman reported progress . ;; The House then adjourned , Immediately after two b * idock « - '; - : ' " ¦ ¦ ¦¦ ' ¦ '' ' ¦ . ¦ ' - "¦;" ''; ; - ¦ - '¦' - ''' ~ - '¦¦' - '' - ; - ' - "" ' - ¦'•'¦ ; ' (¦

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      - . [[ : ' ' - ¦ ¦ ' ., - ¦' , Monday ; Feb . 28 . \ ' -t '¦' ¦ ' \ ' : ~\ ;¦ ' . ' . ;¦ . Aftar going into Comxaittee on the P / esbyterfaB Marriages ( Ireland ) Bill , the House resolved itself again into Committee on the Corn importation measure . ; :-- ; , --V :. ''¦ ; : v ' '"' - : ' :. ";'¦ ' : "' .- ¦ . ¦ ' ,- ¦¦ : ; - .- ¦; - : "' - ; '¦ , ¦ Mr . WoDEHOCSK , representing tbe county of N " orfolk , a district extensively prodncing barley , contended fox the continuance of the existing protection oa that grain , and desired , therefore , that so much of the proposed Kfflolutipns as related to barley should be expunged from the plani ' of the Government . : Sir R , Peel maintained that part of the Government measure which respects barley , as bearing a due proportion to that part which respects wheat He had not expected so extreme an opposition , from thenbtice given from Mr . Wodeflouse , in which that Hon . Member proposed to vary the Government measure only by enacting , under 26 e , per quarter ; a doty of 13 s . instead of a duty of He .

      Mr . Wodehousb , after some discussion as to the form which his' motion ought to assamo fer the purpose of taking a vote on the question he sought to raise , acquiesced In ; the Chairman ' s suggestion of moving that the resolutions already passed should be reported to the House : which would have the effect of closing the deliberations of the Committee -sitJiout the inclusion of any alteration in the duties on barley ; - - ' .- . - - ¦ .,.:. : '¦ ' , :: . ¦;; ' : ; \ ¦; ¦' ; ; ; ¦ . '¦ ' ' . "¦•¦ ' Mr , Cummisg BRUCE contended that the propose ^ protection on : barley would be too low . He

      apptehended that at this dnty foreign barwy wbnldbe imported to an injurious extent . ¦ He / wished that Government would reconsider tbifl part of the subject , but had no hope of forcing them by adverse movements ^ being well aware that they were not made of those squeezable materials of which the late Ministry had been sold by one of its own supppiters to be composed . Indeed , had even a . greater sacrifice been required , he should have had the consolation to know that at ell events it was ^ aked with honest views and by an honest Government . -

      Colonel KUSHBKOOKB , who spoke in a yejy 1 ot » tone , was understood to desire a larger piotectioE foe barley . ' ; ¦ ¦ . ' ¦ ¦ ¦;¦ . /; . ; . -. • . ' -. - ; ¦ ¦ ¦ . ' . : ; . r . ¦ . ¦ ' . ' . ' . ' ' , - Lord WOESLEY thonght the existing duty by no means larger than was requisite for the due protection of the giower . The laniyersal opinion of his county was , that the effect of the proposed reduction would be to add . agricultural to manufacturing distress . ¦ .- ..-. : Mr . Christmas ' feared that the intended reduction of duty on oats would be injurious to the agriculture of Ireland , and argued that it was out of proportion to the reduction proposed resperting wheat . He did not wish , however , to interpose any practical obstruction- . ^ : \

      Mr . Chiiistopheb said , that if he could hope , by a vote on this motion , to obtain a greater protection for the barley-growers , he would support Mr . Wodehouse ; but he did not conceive that such a result could be acconiplisbed by that course : and was therefore of opinion that the sooner tho question could now be brought to a settlement , the better . : . ^ : Mr . Shaw apprehended that foreign oata couKI be imported at or under fifteen shillings , and that therefore the Government duty would be too low to protect the oats of Ireland . The great mass of the Irish labourers were wholly dependent on agriculture , and oflatehad been particularly employed in the cultivation of oats . ' . - ¦ . ' : '¦ ' ; . ¦ ¦ . - ¦ ¦ - . ; : - ;¦ ¦¦ ¦• . ' -: ¦ ¦ - '¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' After v tew words from Sir IX Boche .

      Mr . C . BULtER ridieuled the country gentlemen for not venturing to vote according to their opinions lest they should find themselves in a minority . He exhorted them to follow the courageous example of their great idol , the Dnke of Buckingham . Mr WoDEiiotiSE declared that his object was only to obttiin a reconsideration of the subject from Government , ana that he did not intend pressing his motion to adivision . Mr . Palmer ( Essex ) considered the proposed : duty on oata as inadequate to the protection ot the grower . ¦ , ' . ' ¦ : ' ¦ ' - " ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ - ¦ ' ¦ ' . ¦ ¦ ' ; : ' . . ¦ . ' - .. v- ; . ; ¦ ,. ; ¦ The motion being then withdravra , the resolution of Government as to . the duty < 3 n barley was carried without a division . : The Goverhment resolution as to the duty on oata being next puti ;

      Mr . Smith O'Brien expressed his apprehension that foreign oats might at the proposed duty be imported ia quantities very hurtful to Irish : agriculture . . : : Sir D . RobHE contended for further protection to Irish Oats ; . "• , ' . . ¦ ¦• . ¦' : ¦' - ¦ ¦ : ' - . ' .... / ' " ¦ ¦' ...... ; . And Sir R . Bateson and some other Members said each a . few words to the same effect -V Mr . Redington diverged at some length into the general question between the : sliding scale and a fixedE duty . -- •' . ¦ :.... ' .. ¦ ' ¦'' ;¦ ' : ¦ ¦ ¦ ,. ' ¦• '¦'¦ ¦ ' ¦• ;¦¦ ' ¦¦ : ¦ : ¦ ;¦ - ¦"¦ ' - v - . - "¦ ' : ¦ . ' ¦ :: ' - . > Mr . Gladstone contended , that iu the new med £ - flcation of the sliding scale , the Government [ had preserved the old proportions between wheat , barley , and oats , at each point of the scale , as nearly as was con * sistent with the exclusion of fractional sums ; the

      object in each case having been to impose that duty , and no more than that duty , which would prevent an injurious amount of competition from foreign growers . With a few exceptions , both the barley and the oats of the continent ' were inferior to those of our own country , and of consequence did not compete with our own produce , even when the prices were nominally the same . He entered into calculations , showing the impracticabiiity of obtaining any considerable quantities of either grain , except at prices top large to affect the home market He felt the impossibility of allaying every fear ; but the safest evidence to rely upon was that which . Goyernpient bad had tbe opportunities of collecting from all quartets ; aad this evidence was such as convinced liim that the ; proposed duties -were an ample protection . ' - -. ' ¦ - ' .. '¦ V V

      Mr . M . OConnell urged that the proportions had not been preserved at the extreme points of the scale . He called for a greater protection on oats , though he would admit that , he had voted for repealing all protection on all sorts of groin . , Sir R . Peel animadverted on this inconsistency ; marvelling bow a member could : have voted a few nights ago against all protection to Irish in common with all other produce , who was now so critical about a fractional disproportion at the extreme end of a scale . Members opposite were loud enough about that insult to the country which they alleged to be involved in the continuation of any protection at all ; but they were epually loud on the other side of the question ; aa sooii as any protection of their own constituents was affected . The longer these debates lasted , the more was he convinced that the measure he bad framed was the safe and the just as well as the moderate course .

      Mr . O . Gore was anxious that Government should reconsider their proposal with respect to oats . Dr . Bowrin g thought that pats required protectior still less than wheat . \ ; : Mr . Baring maintained it to be quite consistent t&afc members favourable to the principle of complete free * dpm of import should , when the House had rejected that principle , endeavour to procure protection particular interesta . Mr . Habford said a ' few words ; and then tha House , dividing ; affirmed the Ministerial resolution by a majority of 256 against 53 . : Upon the resolution respecting the duty on fiour , Lord San dom , in behalf of the millers , pleaded for an ampler protection . ' ' r ; . :- ¦ " ; -. ¦ ;; ¦ - ¦ ¦

      Sir R . Peel announced , that after giving the fullest consideration to this subject , he could not consent to alter the proposed irate of duty . H the pjotaction of flour were increased , the foreign groweis ; who would be the most prejudiced would be precisely those , whom every man must admit that it would be most our interest to favour— -namely , those of the United SUtes ; He proceeded to show that the existing protection was substantially iBufficient Mr . Labopciiere expressed hi * satisfaction at the determination of Sir B . Pee ? . The resolution then passed . - ; Mr . Smith O'Brien moved that all Colonhl grain should be admitted ; duty free , for one year , or for some other period , to be limited by Parliaments He urged the claims of our emigrating population upon the mother country ; and expressed his opinion that the colonies ought to be represented in the British Parliament . "' - - ' 'V- ¦ ¦'¦ - ¦¦' ::- ¦ ¦ ' - ' ' .- '¦ ¦"¦ ' ' . ¦ ¦¦¦ ¦'¦ :

      Lord Stanley , desirous as he was , in common with his colleagues , to encourage the intercourse of the colonies with the mother country , could not consent to this proposal . Tbe agricultural interests , ; he believed * would feel iitUe jealousy at the introduction of wheat or flour from the Canadas , if it were really Canadian produce ; but , in fact , it would 6 e chiefly the produce of the United States , conveyed through the Canadaa . If the Canadian law as to importation from the United States should be so altered as to prevent that kind ot transit , then indeedihe question might take a iiSereat aspect . ; .. - . ' . ' .:. .:. ; >; ' - '" . S " ' ;; ¦ '¦" ' ' : ' ' : - . ¦ - ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ¦' , ;' Mr . Labouchere conceived Lord Stanley to oyerestimate the proportlan of wheat imported into the Canadas . He reqaested from Government some explanation of their intsntlona as to tise duty upon sach im-: partitions . " ¦ : '"¦/ ' . ' ¦• - . ' ¦ : . "¦ ¦ . ;¦ ' ; : ¦ : ' "¦' : " :: ¦ ' > : ¦ : ¦

      Mr . Gladstone quoted official returns showing the very large quantities of Americanrcorn ^^ imported into , and ground within , the Canadas . The same thing was true as to Nova Scotia . With respect to the questloa about ttie object of the duty of 2 * per barrel , intended to be proposed on flour imported from the United States into Canada , he would say that it was neither a British nor Canadian object simply , but ah : intercolonial one .- The duty in eTery o ^ r colony wa » 2 s ., and it ought to be of the same amount in th « Canadas , ¦ . ¦ ¦ - ' .- ¦ ¦¦; . .. ' : ¦ ¦' .:. . ¦ ¦' ¦ .. - . ¦ v ¦ : : -:- . ' - ¦// ¦ .: ¦ '' : ' ¦¦ : '¦ . ¦ : . Mr . Labocchere professed himself at a Iosa to understand this pelicy , which he regarded as a mere ceedleas and wanton innovation . : ; Mr . Gladstone referred to a similar arrangement made last year by Mr . Labouchere himself as to East India rum . ::. ' .. ¦' . ;' - ' - .. ; v "; : ' ; •>'¦« ¦¦ - -v . ' .. - . v ' .. '¦ :

      Mr . C . Bpllek ridiculed the attempt at eqaalWng different colonies among each other jby addiUonal duties , likening it te the object of titte beadle , who , being ordered to put one boy in the stocks at one end of the church , put a second boy Into another pair of stocks at the other end "for the sake of , uniformity . " He recommended that Mr . O'Brien , instead of pressing tbe mbject to a drnsion tken , should take the sense of the House upon it in Cwnmittee on the : BUL ,:-is- ;; ' . ' . v-:. v-:: "' - sv- ^ r . iT ;^ : ^ " ¦¦¦ ¦ ¦! Mr . Stuart Wortlet Bupporled the > iewB of ( Jovemment - '¦¦ - .. " - . ; :- ; .- ' ^ -: r .: ¦ .. "• - ¦ . ¦ . . " .. .. "¦ .. ¦'¦ Mr . O'Brien paaisted in dlTldlng theHotise ^ tad waj def € atedbyamajoiityo ! 135 ag » inJrt 38 . <

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      Untitled Article

      A New Theory . — "A new and startling theory as regards the natural duration of human life , appears in a little book , called " The Extraordinary Life and Times of Thomas Parr , " generally called Old Parr : this little work , besides the Eaid theory , contains much , that is instructive and profitable , as regards the means of ensuring good health , and all may be obtained gratuitously of any ageut for Parr ' s Life Piils—a medicine which is rapidly superseding all . others , as it has never yet failed to conquer the most inveterate disorders . "

      Untitled Article

      THE NO R T HER N S T Ait .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 5, 1842, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct974/page/3/