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Northern Star (1837-1852), 31st March 1838, Edition 1 of 3, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      'THE TRADES' COMBINATION COM-3 HTTEE TO THE TTOBKIISG CLAi—ZS . ¦ - " : — ° - * : — ' "Fellott-Womxex , —It -would seem that every kittle cessation from the daily toil , to which corrupt .-and partial institutions have doomed ns , is . Tequired io be-occupied in riiigant-watchiblness ^ leirt-wefali rsijll lower in the scale of poverty , and lose-those few trifling advantages our united energies have justly preserved , despite of cupidity , avarice , and exclnsivepower . We nave , through all past tunes , been a persecuted and calumniated class ; our oppressors have bowed us to the earth , and scorned us because we 'were "down—they have kept knowledge from our reach , and taunted us -with our ignorance—they iave goaded some to violence by their injustice , and sweepiugly condemned all as * "participators in the ; gn 3 t .-Within these few months , the corrupt pens of the

      jnvueged , and aspeaous tongues of the idle and the wealthy , have been industriously engaged in villifv"ing and condemning the sons of labour ; they have ^ aagnined isolated acts of violence into crimes of the slackest atrocity ; theyhave sought to prevent justice , ?) _ y slander ; and -what they , failed to substantiate by ferts , thev have depicted in words of deadly meaning . They have not hesitated to condemn all our unions , because guilty individuals have been ¦ detected in same— as reasonably m % ht the nobilitr -of England be generally condemned as criminals , tecaus ? the most dishonourable crimes have been Irought home to individual members . But , fellow-countrymen , while -we solemnlT condemn all acts of violence , "we greatly question whether t&eviolent proceedings of unionists -were the originating motives for this parliamenfciryinvestiffation .

      Yi e rather suspect them ta be the anxious desire for ¦ cheapened labour , and for- disuniting the people Unions of the people are the weakness of their oppressors , and the cheap labour of the industrious is the gain of the privileged orders of society—do we "want any ether reason to account for the " enquirv ? "We have been told that Trades * Unions are mischievous monopolies . Weil , so are the exclusive monopolies of law-making between peers and tenpounders—so are the Trades' Unions amonc lawyers —Ihe chartered monopolies of the East and Westthe agricultural monopoly is also lughlvmisehisvons —so are guzzling and useless corporations , and a multitude of others that might be named . - Therefore , why begin by condemning , us ? ¦ Simply , ihends , because our combinations may endanger the existence of all the rest . - ' .- ¦ ' '

      We are gravely condemned for charring larje stuns for admission into our unions ; thosiT who make the charge forget , we presume , their own union fees . Thry also forget that the capital wehave honestly accumulated for the purpose of snpporting . onr members when out of employment ; when sick , acci--dentaTIy wounded , or unfortunate ; or for bnryiug liem when < lead ^ canno t bs Justly shared with those ¦ w ho keep irom us at their pleasure * or join us at shtdr convenience . - _ - '¦ - ' Our , so called , ^ insolent" dictation to employers lias been _ denounced in the strongest urms ; " the

      presumption that working men should dare refuse lobow sabmission to their master ' s terms , or work * witn those who will , is indeed intolerable to men of ¦ wealth and power . They choose not to remember our toilsome condition from youth to age- ; the threats and taunts t > winch we are daily subject ; the proscriptions aiid persecutions we meet with in -oureSEbrts to sustain our wages ; the documentary iermsol base senility often -proposed as the" alternative of « work or starve ; " -and , with all our care and 2 rnga ] ity , the end of our industrious career too often "the union workliouss .

      We "have been recently assured by certain new « - ipaper writers , that all our combinations are ineffectual and mischievous , as we cannot raise our wage * ¦ above ; the natural level . Let us hear what professors ¦ of . political economy say on this subject . The nature ! rate of wages , according to Dr . Smith , "is xot only the commodities that are indispensably necessary far ihe support of life , but whatever il : c custom of the country renders it indecent for credltsile people of the lorcest order to be viUiout : ' You -win perceive , therefore , if the working classes of England are contentJfeh low diet , bad clothing and mud cabins , they will continue to compete with one another , till the natural rate of wages is so reduced as only to procure such miserable sn

      Terence , instead of those superior comforts which th « ir increasing knowledge and industrial powers have established as the " custom" of their country . But , then , weshallbe told that the amount bf wae .-s must be governed by the supply of labourers with th " demand for their labour , and , therefore , it is a folly to combine to endeavour to force the price of labour m opposition to this law . We reply , that trade unions 4 a . to a great extent , resulate the number of labourers in the labour matket ^ : If , ibx instance ^ the ¦ present demand for labour is only equal to 100 tobourers , raid if there be 120 competins for this -demand , without any union or understanding amon <* ta « m , thay will -continue to undersell one another tffl their wages are brought down to the lowest point of subsistence . But , if they -unite in a trade society , and , by subscribing their means , agree to take the twenty surplus hands out of the market ( by paying them so much weekly . ) they cut off the competition

      , keep up their wages * and are in a situation to take advantage of any increased demand , and tocetemploymentfor their twenty surplus labourers . ^ Kow . Ais is no fanciful theory—it is the mode adopted by many trade societies in " town and country . \ Ve will Jiere pass over other advantages , such as support in -sickness and old age , and aiding fhrar surplus numbers to emigrate , which many societies embrace , and -confine ourselves more immediately to the question -BntweshaD be told that there is a point beyond yfeich we cannot force our wages ; granted—hut" that as no reason why-we should nof try to keep onr present position , and maintain , as far ' aswe-are able a respectable class of workmen in the country , as ¦ w ell as shopkeepers and tradesmen who depend on them , who will contend for comfortable subsistence , and , rattier than be content tcith less , will take refuse an other countr ies , if they cannot improve the condition of their own . ¦

      But then it will be said , " that if we insist en ln > h ¦ wages we cannotmeet foreign competition . " Ihrepfv , Jte would urge them not to forget the superior advantage of a profitable home consumption . For if wa » ps are to be continually reduced to meet foreign competition , there will be a gradual lessening of our home trade ; the respectable class of shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are somewhat prosperously reasons oi toe present wages of the . working classes—if these yages were reduced down , or any ways a ' pproximat-3 ng , to those of onr unfortunate Irish brethren—would ¦ s be

      oon driven from the country , or sink into the sane degraded class we should all be reduced toihe mere starving conductors of the splendid machi-^ rr of J ^ ngJand ; manufacturing to clothe the naked eff tne world and be in rags ourselves . Nav , as low Traces tend to perpetuate ignorance , and ' de ^ rade aadbrntahze a people , it is questionable whether the capital now employed in our extensive manufac tures tcould have any security for its existence ; for as snnilar causes have prevented capital from takin ^ Toot in Ireland , so might the boast of England be -onven to other climes . -

      Bnt it has been said that we should retain the ^ me amount of wages if we had no combinations . -urH J ^* ? -M'Culloch ( no bad judge by the ¦• rajM- ^ o master , " - says he , " ever willm ^™ « mts to nuw . ^ m ; and the claim either of STSr < tf a few ^ indiyiduals , for an advance of wages ! is Hkely to be disregarded as long as their feUow ? S > n-4 mue to work at the old rates . It is only when the ^ rhole or the greater part of the workmen combine or act m a amultaneous manner Twhich is equivalent toa combmatron ) , and refuse to work \ rithout ? S r ^ mCTeaEe of Ti « ' tiat it becomes the interest of themaster to complywith their demand »

      vnrownexpenence proves the truth of this . With-- « Bt combination , we should rapidly be reduced to 4 fce . starvation point ; and , even with the advantages ¦ of nmon ^ mare o ^ ntanually b ^ ng calfed ^ ponto a ^ - oa ^ he ^ enave against our employers , individually or collectively , who cannot resist the temptation tf reducing oar wages in order to add to their profits , ^ t , even -when they are most successful in their ^ qect , their benefits are fleeting , as the competition X - ^ ^ emselves soonl ) rings down their profits to ineir lormer leveL The immense curillxa nf />< imfoi ^«^^^ « j -u _ 1 / W VW f # 4 \

      ^^ - ^ —**^ vn * M * A ^ IAAKIUUCU U « = ises nas been greatly lamented by some persons , ^ T ^ S ^ ? k * Sedupon to our prejudire . BuH -If » St ^ ' ^ strikes ** *** originate with -us f 7 rZ- \ TL ^ ^ Kmembered , wMle those of our ^? SSS 5 SiS « w ^ M £ ?! 8 £ i 5 i , 'S £ s SS «| S ^ « i % to ns , but to society at large , in Dres-rr ^ a *> : , aeritaJMeresuttiow ei 1

      ^ wages-dearVdemonrtrated ^ raryC ? i 3 ltry ^^! ? ^ W P ^ d for aS Jaionr . Ifnocomteaation existed among us , " and employers could freely select the over-burthenedand ^ mMpprtion of their , -worfanento propose their own selfish or servile tenns , tiae ; . ransequenees vould be . ^^ apparent amonj qs— hypoa % ,. cunning , and ^ servility would be generated—and -a bindred ^ aai m one emp % wotS afford a- hundred instru-^^ i ^ fe ^ cingjdl to the same degraded leveL 5 n ^ Svi ? of ^ « d- a day junong tha labour-££ ^ 3 S * £ SS ? S

      r f > bnt « Sir ^«; A iXT ^* arcojateam wages amrajg SSt ^ ipiS

      Untitled Article

      forced to compete with him for a subsistence . We presume , therefore , fliat the loss occasionedby strikes is trifiingi when contrasted with the greater evil . But we shall be told that the amount of capital will not be lost . True : neither is the capital produced b y the half-starvedpeasantry of Ireland ; but it might as well be lost , as far as their comforts are concerned , as it leaves their hearths and homes in desolation , and goes where greater security is fqnnd for its employment . We are charged with ^ drunken , dissipated habits the consequence of receiving too high wages . We deny the charge so sweepingly made , especially against the members of our unions ; ai ) d more so do we deny that high wages promote the evil . With few exceptions , our unions are composed of men who willingly make present sacrifices to seenre distant benefit * , habits seldom blen Jed with dissipation . But , admitting that the vice of drunkenness is st ill too prevalent among working men , what wholesome meang have been taken to check its

      progress ? H as any consideration of the protracted hours of labour in unwholesome atmospheres , devised any rational enjoyments in which they could share , apart from intoxication ? Have any means been taken to raise up those whom poverty has prostrated , or to prevent others from falling ? Has wholesome knowledge been freely circulated among them , to supersede vicious excitement : Has nny encouragement ( or even legal security ) been given them to build their own places of meeting , and share in those advantages other clashes enjoy : Ko ; on the contrary , they have been treated like mere machines ; to toil in youth , and starve in age .

      rellow-workmen , we have deemed it advisable thus to notice the charges that have been recently re-echoed against our unions . We do not contend that they are the most perfect arrangements that could be ' devised ; but we feel confident that without them we should soon be reduced to a state of misery of which we can form little conception . At present those who are not in union have their wages protected by those who are . But if any new enactment is to result from the forthcoming inquiry which will endanger the existence of our / unions , we may well cast to the winds of

      as our hopes progressive improvement and brighter prospects ; for , with the poverty and degra ^ r-ikm that will inevitably ensui-, will return the ignorance and brutality of the people , and the riot ings and burning which characterized former days . Brethren , if we have in any way succeeded in convincing you of the great importance of union , and the necessity of bringing all your powers asd energies together to resist any new infringement on your must sacred rights , we shall not deem our aLour altogether vaiu .

      We remain , in the cause of union , your Fellow workmen , the London Trades" Committee . Signed on . their behalf . W . LOVETT , Secretary . Commiiiee Rooms . March 19 // 5 , 4 , Uriike-sirect . / fesiminsfer .

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      MEETING OF BEER SELLERS . ^ On -Monday evening last , a meeting of the Beer S > ellers in Leeds and the surrounding towns , was convened in the Music Hall , pursuant " to advertisement . Shortly after the time ( for our Leeds friends are never very punctual , ) there was a full attendance of Beer Sellers , who seemed to feel a deep interest in the proceedings about to be taken . Mr . RovsToSE was unanimously called to fill the ch ; :: r . He int . oduced the business of the meeting by reading the advertisement , which , he stated , was an imitation to all who felt an interest in the success of the tnu ! e He hoped there would be no opposition to tlieir proceedings , as it certainly was not their intention to entertainany question except such

      as related to the furtherance of the obiect of their meeting . He hopi-d , therefore , it would " be unnecessary for him to say anything by way of exhorting them to keep order . They would" fed the importance of tins without any advice , seeing it was their own interest which was immediately at stake . Having made these observations , he should not further trespass upon their time ; but would " call upon Mr . Bvssey to move the first resolution . Mr . Bur . sey said it was well known among , the Beer Sellers , whether it was known among other classes or not , that their only object in thus meeting together was for the protection of their own immediate interests . They wished to be distinctly understood as having no ill-feeling towards any other class of tradesmen ; on the contrary , thev * desired

      that all might be blessed with the greatest prosperity . All that the Be ^ r Sellers desired was a tair opportunity of retailing the article in-which" they deal upon the same footing as others who sell the same commodity . They were Eot met to discuss the propriety of others enjoying greater privileges than themselves . They were met for the immediate protection of their own interests against monopoly of the worst , the most oppressive , and most vexatious kind . ( Hear , hear . ) All they desired was an equality of competition , and he saw no reason why the Beer Seller ^ who paid for all Ms privileges as well as the Publican , and frequently at a rate much higher , should be deprived of the same legal protection . ( Applause . ) With these sentiments he most cordially moved the resolution , which he had no doubt would merit their approbation .

      Mr . Richard Senior seconded the resolution , wlrch chiefly adverted to the iujuvtice of the distinction made by law between the Beer Seller and the Licensed Victualler . It was carried unanimously . Mr . "Bluxt rose to move the second resolution . After reading it , he said it was in itself so expressive , and so highly calculated to gain the approval of every good man , that he would not attempt to say anything more in its favour than that it contained his sentiments , that he fully concurred in

      every clause , and that it did meet with his most cordial and unqualified approbation . ( Loud applause . ) The resolution chiefly related to the inconvenience of the widows of Beer Sellers , in not being allowed to continue in the business after the death of their husbands , except upon very fixations conditions ; and also to the inducement which was hell out to common informers to press every little fault against them , inasmuch as the law directed that one-half of all penalties should be given to the informer .

      Mr . Stextox seconded the resolution , which was also carried unanimously . Mr . Bluxt , from Sheffield , then rose and said , that before presenting the third resolution to their notice , he wished , in a few words , to present to them the peculiar predicament in which , in many respects , they stood as Beer Sellers . " ( Hear , hear . ) He considered , then , that they were outlaws in the strictest sense of the word , for &e law enacted that they should suffer their houses to be entered bv whoever may demand admittance in the name of a policeman . _ This class of men were invested with almost unlimited power a « oinst them ; they could not only demand admittance at any hour of the night , but they could proceed to break down tlieir

      doors , if they did not open them when they ( the policemen ) thought sufficient time had been given . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) It was the glory of an Englishmen that his house was his castle , —( hear)—into which no man darel enter except under very ^ peculiar circumstances . It was not so with Beer Sellers . Robbers might come in the name of policemen and they would be eblitred to admit them . ( Hear , hear . ) Besides he saw no reason why every man should not have equal rights . ( Hear , hear . ) The law was sufficiently powerful- and .-nifficiently stringent to compel every one to pay taxes ( uproarious cheers ) ; in this there was no respect oi

      persons ( cheers ) , all must pay ; the Beer Seller as well as any others ; and he " demanded , therefore , that upon that principle they should have equal justice and equalprotection . Besides it w ' as worthy of remark that - since the beer act came into operation , that articlehad decreased Is . 3 d . in value , which was certainly an advantage to the publi ?* ii it was moderatel y used . He was a Beer Seller ; but still he never wished men to make fools of themselves by abusing beer ; it was like every thing else , good m its place , and bad if out of its place . ( Hear , hear . ) With these feelings , then , he begged leave to move the third resolution .

      Mr-. Duce , from Bradford , seconded the resoluuoii .- He said it was unnecessary for "him to say any thing to the meeting to impress its importance upon then- minds , that they already felt . He could very consc ^ ntiou .-iy second this resolution , which commended the principle o * Mr . Warburton ' s bill now m the House of Commons , being aware that tiiey deserved nothing from Government , except that they should enjoy the same privileges which were already enjoyed by others who had no greater interest in the trade . More than this they did not ask , and with less they ^ ould never be " content . ( Lroud cneers . ) The resolution was earned unanimouslr .

      Mr . Thob . Tatwr moved , and Mr . Hvghes seconded the fourth resolution which related chiefly to the importance and necessity of enjoying equal rights . Mr . P . O'CpsxoBthen rose and was received with loud cheers . He said that before putting that resolution perhaps he might say a few words to the meeting . Perhaps by some it might be considered requisite that he should make an apology for being there .. This , however , he thought would be admitted to be unnecessary when he stated that he was not a voluntary witness of their proceedings , but that he had been pressinelv invited to atttnd their

      meeting . ( Hear , hear . } He had been : much astonished at several-circumstances that had taken place an attempting to pass their resolutions . It appeared that upon introducing himself to the meeting , tfce Chairman expected something like oppoauou to their proceedings . He knew not ' how any person could have the hardihood to come there to oppose them when they-had met for the sole purpose of askine Government for those rights which had already been extended to others who were certainlv noi more worthy . ( Hear , heas , hear . ) Upon taking the show of hands for the last motion , tfcare appeared to be a few at the other end of the room w ^ io ha d entirely lost sight of their own interest

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      for the question embodied in that resolution was not whether beer ^ asmore wholesome than water ; but whether a man , shouldhe protected / in the sale of an article for wiictv he paid Hpense and taxes . 'V ( Loud cheers , ) He camejaot . there to advocate the interests of the Beer sellers exclusively ; but merely to show that he wished ' a nhiTcrsal extension and adoption of the valuable principle , " That men should do others as they wished others should do to them . " ( Loud applause . ) He could not help saying , however , that in some respects the Beersellers deserved the insonveniences to which-they were subjected by the law , when they «> far forgot the dignity that was due ; to themselves and then fellow-tradesmen as to laugh at the misfortunes of their brethren in the trade . He

      had heard one poor fellow , since he came into the room . state thathe had been fined 40 s . and coststhat very day , and he was sorrj'to see that the only effect this statement had " upon them was to excite thpir laughter . ( Hear , hear . )• That , however , was iiot the way to gain respect for their cause ; for until they respected themselves and Aiewcd their own interests in a proper light ; in short , until they were cpmbiued to preserve their own interests from the grasp of oppression , neither he nor any other man , nor the legislature itself would ever respect them . ( Hear , hear . ) If , thi ? n , thiy wished their interests to be respected , they must learn to respect themselves . He fully concurred in all the resolutions that hud been proposed : he thought they did credit to their

      committee , and he would support them because he thought they sought for nothing more than equal justice . II the licensed victuallers were to meet toseek a -redress of their grievances , he should be equally ready to lend them every aid in his power to obtain their redress . ^ They laboured under two distinct grievances—the one the responsibility of the landlord or hostfor goods left in the care of his servants ; and the other , that he could not sue for more than a certain amount , if j my debt is contracted with him by any of his customers . These he thought hard laws , aud he would endeayoui to obtain their repivil so far as his influence went . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor

      proceeded to address the meeting at great length . He adduced a great variety of argument to shew the Beer sellers the importance of organization amongst themselves , and ot-establishing a society for the mutual protection of their interests . His address was listened to with the greetest-. attention , frequently ^ calling forth the loudest applause . Alter he had finished , a resolution was passed to petition Parliament for a redress of their grievances . A vote of thanks was then given to Mr ; O'Connor for his able and his kind services , which was passed with acclamation . A vote of thanks was also given to the gentlemen who attended from Sheffield and Bradford ; after which the meeting dispersed .

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      MEETING OE THE WORKING MEN . 'S ASSOCIATION AT BIESTAL . V On Tuesday evening last , the usual weekly meeting of the Working Men of Birstal and its neighbourhood , was held at the Greyhound Inn , for the purpose of discussing political questions , involving the interests of the working classes . Mr . O'Connor was particularly requested to attend and address the audience . At the time appointed for the commencement of the proceedings , the large room , which is computed to hold several hundred persons , was crowded almost to suffocation ; and shortl y afterwards several hundred persons surrounded the house , anxious to hear what was going on , but without thu possibility of gaining admission .

      Mr . Geo . Crowthek was unanimously called to the chair . He said he was exceedingly happy to mee » t such an assembly as was then convened , arid for suoh a good purpose ; and he . was still more happy at being able to state , that there was a gentleman there , of whose patriotism they had often heard , and who would then tell them his sentiments '' ori various political questions which immediately affected the interests of all working mon , and which it was equally the advantage and the duty of all fully to comprehend . . They were already acquainted withliis sentimeuts , and it would be unneefssarv , therefore , for him to reiterate them on the present occasion . _ The subject which it was their intention more particularly to discuss was the Poor Law

      Amendment Act , and he was exceedingly glad that he should have no occasion to say much upon the subject , as there was a . gentleman , present , . who would say a great deal more on the question than he was able to say , and , he doubted not , would say it to much better purpose . That gentleman had come there especially as the advocate of the rights of the people . It was true their acquaintance with him thus far was but very short ; he hoped , however , that they would be better known to each other in fnture - ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) There was nothing more conducive to the enlightenment of the people than that they should hear a great variety of opinious , and though much had not yet been dono in the way of instructing " , the inhabitants of that village , he ' could assure Mr . O'Connor

      tliathe would that evening address an-audience tliat wnnld understand Kim , and that feli earnest and hearty in the cause which they were met to advocate . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) They might be told that "' the men of-Birstal were sluggish and sleepy , and 'indifferent to the progress of Radicalism : perhaps such a charge six months ngo might have been true ; but now they had arisen from their drowsiness ; now they were awake ; now they tnew what was their duty , and they were determined to perform it independent of every consideration less important than the sense of imperative duty . ( Loud cheers . ) Having said so much he would " not longer trespass upon the patience of the meetiug , biit would at once introduce to them the gentleman whom he was sure they were all anxious to hear . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . )

      Mr . O'Connor then rose amid loud cheers and said , that after the character that had been given of the inhabitants of that sweet little village , in the simple and unaffected language of the Chairman , he had not the slightest doubt tha t any person advoca Cirjc the same principles which he ha-l advocated through life , and which he was still determined to advocate , would be received amongst them with the heartiest welcome . ( Sev « ral voices welcome ! welcome !) He was proud that the question selected for discussion on that occasion was one on which he had bestowed much attention both in the House of Commons ( where he represented thelargest . coiistituency in the United Kiugdom , at the same time considering himself a citizen of the world equally devoted to the

      permanent interests of every class of the community ) , and out of that house ; and he was equally proud to state that , though he had represented ah Irish constituency he had never lost sight of the interests of EngHshmen which were likely to be fearfully compromised by that bill : and that lie hud in consequence voted against every clause of it whii »? passing through the House of * Commons . ( Loud cheers . ) He doubted not that there were many old men amongst them who had ip part travelled the path of the immortal Cobbett ; sknd who would perhaps recollect the letter of that renowed patriot to him , complimenting him on the support whichhe had given him in his staunch opposition to that disgraceful measure , and stating thathad every Irish Member

      given it the same opposition which he ( Mr . O'C . ) had done , that bill , would never havepassed into a law . ( Hear ^ hear . ) He was glad , thep , that they had selected this question , which he had attempted to nipin its very bud , before it had been possible that it should blast the hopes of the working men of this country , —deprive them of their last miserable aud only recourse , and compel them when subjected to iiaisfortunes which no human foresight could perceive nor any human skill avert , either to enter a bastilt > w be deprived of their liberty and every comfort which could render " . life worth enjoying , or starving to death amidst abundance . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) Now he ventured to assert that the legislature had no more right to-pa * w that bill than he had

      to go upon the highway , and commit a robbery ; ( Hear , hear . ) Nay he was sure that the conduct of an * open highwayman , who went at once to the traveller and demanded hismoney without any mask , was in its degree much more commendable than the conduct which the legislature had ^ pursued in passih <* this measure under the guise of being flie repfesenta ^ tives of the people . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) That bill was passed as a mortgage upon the labour of the people ; it interfered at once with every settlement tnat had been made for the provision of the poor , and consigned them and their whole right , and property to the sole dominion of th 3 three tyrants who sit in Somerset House . ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) Those who were acquainted with

      tne history of the country would well snough remember the general state of the laws which , at the time of Henry VIII ., related to the poor . They would remember that ample provision was made for them , until that infernaf fiend divided the property amongst the pimps , slanderers , and mock representatives of his day . ( Hear ,, hear . ) Jn the first place , he tried a few convents ( as it was never the policy of a Government to aim , in the most direct manner , at plunder ); and having succeeded with these , like murdering the sentinels around a camp while the body of the army is sleeping , the remainder fell an eauy prey to the " greedy group of that msatiable usurper . Henry the . Eighth sent his commissioners , who , of course ; made manvinauiries . the

      ana ^ iike Whig commissioners under the Poor Law Amendment Act , reported a great deal about the " abuses " : of the old system , and thus the monasteries and their revenues , which belonged to the people , were seized by ; that grasping fiend , and applied to his own purposes , and the purposes of those whom he favoured about his infamous court ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Bnt leaving theold history of the poor kws , he Siould be sorry ^ to base taeir rights upon any . prindple acknowled ged so far back as the bmeof Henry VI 1 L : it was his opinion that the rights of the people should be annually based , opon the annual prosperity of the country ; and that as luxury advanced in -progress through the , renttement and extension of ^ scieace , the comforts of the industrious classes of the communify should at least share an equal , if not a greater , progress : ( Uproarious applause , ) He was not one of those who considered

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      that the people ought to be f'ien ^ ers of , wood aiid drawers of waiei \ ' \ for tU ^ coi ^ cftt rivLi cpnvenienc of the luxurious , while they themselves cquld neitherwarm themselves withthat wood when cold , nor slake their thirst with that water when almost parched to deaths ( Hear , hear , and cheers . ) He ¦ wiis not one of those who - would advpoa'te the doctrine of passive obetlience and nori-resistaiice , nad of abiding by _ the strict letter of the-law , while improvements in , legislation were going on for the pcotectioh of the Arisitocracy , and there was nothing done for the advancement of the comfort of the poor ; . but he asked tliat the science of legislation , in all its branches , should b / tf . rapidly hurried on to the goal of perfection ; ( Hear , and loud

      cheers . ) He fieed liot tell : the men . of Birstal that when this law was introduced into the House pf Commons ^ it was _ done at the instance of the capitalists , who said that the poor rates were eating up the laud . ( Hear , hear , ); They had not the honesty to toll the Government that it was not . the poor rates that was eating up the country , but the taxes . ( Continued cheering . ) When Lord Brougham introduced this bill into the House , he left the debt of £ 800 , 000 , 000 untouched ; he left the army ,: the , navy , the church , and the privy councillors uhmeiitibued , he saw iiot the great beam in the eye of those drones who fatten upon the people ' s : industry ; but . be saw die mob that was in the eye of the poor , and : he , forsooth , must pluck it out

      ( Continued ; " cheers " . );; . He ; ( Mr , O'Connor ) never dreamed of the poor rates being detrimental to the Aristocrac )' , for had it not been for the Act of Elizabeth , by which a provision was made for the poor , of which they had been deprived by Henry the Eighth , the Aristocracy- . would at this time hav , e had no more title to tlieir lands than the title of tyrants : arid . it was therefore a favour to the Aristocracy , to pass the 43 d of Elizabeth , if merely-tor the means of preventing those aggressions which " poverty must aud ever will commit . ( Loud cheers . ) No act had ever been passed with the sole-view Of benefittiiig the poor -r-- ( l 6 ud cries of hear , hear , )—and if might be saidwith the strictest regard for truth , that wherever such was profosed to-be flie case , that profession was niade "the mere clqak : to hide its hideousdefonnities . ( Loud and continued -applause ' . )

      Mr . O'Connor jiroceoded to address the meeting at greatlength , in which he adverted to a great variety ' of grievances of which . the peopkvhad to complain " ; and proved to the entire s : iustuctioii of all pvnseut , that Universal Suffrage wus the omly real , cure that could ever bo adopted with certainty and safety to the interests of every class of the coininumty . There ; was , perhaps v nevdr in any village ( lisplayed so much intelligence and "¦ enthusiasm' amongst .-the people .-as . at Birstal . They sueined to appreciate every scuitiment . to its full value , and . to have their eye alone on the one great -object ^ r-iiiversal Suffrage , as that which can alone prevent the enactment of bad laws , and procure a due arid proportionate res ' pec ' jt to the comforts and well-being of the industrious " classes of the : community . After the addross : was finished , a vote of thanks \ vas given to ; Mr . O'Connor ,, accoin" pained " . " .. witli- -tliree hearty cheers , and " one cheer

      more . Mr . ' . Heai-ky , ' one of our agents for Dewshury , clo . « ed the meeting in a skort address , in . winch lie announced the dinner and meeting at Dewsburv , on MondayFthe , Kith of April . On Mr .-O'Connor ' s leaving the placu , a . great body of the audience , requested to accompany lum a short distance on the road ; whicli , however , ' Mr .. O ' Connor declined .

      Untitled Article

      THE REPRESENTATI-v : e OF ALMONDBURY AND HIS CONSTITUENTS . John ; Buckley , Esq ., M . P . and ( J . G ., begs leave to ' announce , through your ¦ ¦ periodical , to his constituents and the public in general , that he has not been able to take his ' seat ainong tlm j / wc / c representatives of his : injured . coTintry , in consequence of a seyere fit of sicknes-i , at a time when he ought to have been preparing for his Parliainentary duties , but he hopes to be able to do as much good , ( being uo \ y partiaily restored to health , ) in these districts , wliicb are now so much disturbed by the iigitation whicli the Poor Law Amendment Act occasions , until a future session shall give him the ' opportunity

      of jbeing associated with more honourable and more ' disinterested men ; m _ en who are anxious for the happiness ancVwell-being of all classes ; men who are not met to bestow patrpnage on their relatives and dependents , but nieii who are riict to assist in the great Avork . of national regeriwration . ¦ '" --. I do assure my worthy ; cbn . stituents that no good will ever be done in the Commpn ' s House of Parliament until , all men ; have an equal power to elect reprpsiuitatiyes such ns will foarlessly aud h 6 i > estly legislate , upt only for ¦ -. themselves , but for every portion of the community . The enemies of liberty have ever urged , ris a powerful nrgument against an

      equauty ot political rights , the lgnomuce ofthe mass , and at the same time have . u ? ireruittingly obstructed the cultivation of their thiukihg faculties . This may Appear paradoxical ; it is , ueyertheltrss , in strict accordance with tl >« spirit of despotisnii for the strength of bad goyeriiinent rests in the depravity of their subjects . 1 proiiiise my worthy constituents that lhy energies shall be directed to the vital question of national instructioii , which , to be useful , must be widely . diffennit' from any mode that has hitherto been pursued , it will then-lie found that knowledge iapow&K v .

      I am now decidedly in favour bfUnivensal Suffrage , as I can see no reasDii why any one should ni ) t have a voice in electing whoriitsoever he may think best qualified to be his representative . ' .-1 am happy ; that this principle is . getting , exclusively diffused throughout the productive classes . It gives ' -me no small degree of pleasure to hear that the ancient borough for which I have the honour to be a Member , will no longer coiifiiie itscif to Household Suffrage . Until the Suffrage , shall beconie generally universal , it will be futile to declaim against the corroding monopolies whiclt have been erected by a spurious currency . —Believe me to be your devoted sen ant , JOHN BUCKLEY , M . P . ¦ Jlmoiidbunt' March 22 . 1838 .

      Untitled Article

      I POOR LAW * COMMITTEE . Our readers have not forgotten that , during the elections , when their ' * sweet voices" were matter of some consideration to the rival robber chieftains , the "Whi g and Tory candidates were alike rife with protestations of a desire to reform the Poor Law , so far as its applicability--to ¦ ¦ the Northern and manufacturing districts was concerned . They will recoliect Mr . Baines ' s , promise , being a rceinber of the Poor La \ v Committee , to take care that persons from Leeds should be examined before that Committee , with a view to the exhibition of the excellence of thp

      Poor Relief system practised in Leeds . Well , the Thirteenth Report of the Poor Law-Committee has been published , and we find some very important evidence from Matthew Johnson , Esq . Our space is . this week so fully occupied , that' we can only direct the . attention of our readers to the portion of this gentleman ' s evidence , which we have selected ; premising that the examiniDg member , when not otherwise , stated , ; is -Mr . Baines . ; Next vytek , if it please God , we shall return to the subjecry and have some little talk with Messrs . Bakes , \ Johnson , Power , and Gulsony on this interesting topic of

      discussion . ; - ¦; "¦ ¦ ' - . ¦ ¦ ¦ ' :. . "¦ ' ¦ " . .- . ¦; '"¦ ' ' ¦ :- . : 4046 . You have , of course * a workhouse at Leeds ? —We have ... '"' . ' . ¦' . ' . '¦ : ; '' , ' ; ' . ' "¦ ' ¦¦¦ - . ' : ¦ . . ' , ; ' . . ¦¦¦ "¦ . ¦;¦¦¦ .- '¦ ' Wtf . That it i ^ managed , I believe , under the Qld system ? : —itis ; ' ;; - ' "; ; . " '" '"' . ¦¦"' '¦;•¦" . - ¦ " - . ¦ ' !¦! . ' ¦' - ' 40481 Is the workhouse generally considered as weU conducted under that system ^ It is well conducted , so far as the providing of food and ciothirig are concerned ; and I may add also , with respect to the instruction of the children in readirig , and writing , arid accounts ; so far , I think ! in reference to those matters * the workhouse may be" said to

      be well conducted , that is , there is a very h'beral provision , of those things .. ; ' ; ; ' . ?'„ ¦ ¦ . : . 405 ( 3 . Is there : any classificatiQn of the inmates of the workhouse ? There is a . classificatiori to the extent that , the nature of the . premises -will allow ; for : ' . ins |^ ce ^ -th ' eTemaIes . ' - . KyeO ., iia . orie . part ' .--Qf the building , the men in another parti the cliildren also are separate , and . the sick part of the ; establishment have wards for their accommodation- ; but there is no separatidn , in point of fact , for the ; yard is common to all , arid ; the access to the prices is the " same . ¦¦"" :. ¦• • : ¦ v v . .- " '; . ¦¦ ¦ ' ' .,.-.. ' r' - . ¦¦ ¦ " ; : ¦¦ " - - .

      403 / . Mr . ; Hodges ,-T-The sleepingapartmer itsonly are separate ?—Their day-rooms are separate . , ; . 4058 .. Mr . Lister . —Do they take their meals together ?—Yes . ; . ' . -:, .: ; ; ' : ; . ¦¦ ' . ¦ , " ¦ - - . " ¦¦ '¦ ; .- "' ^ .. '" 4059 . Mr . Baines . —Do you thirik abetter classification desirable ?—Very desirable indeed . 40 ( i 0 i ^ Chairman . —What are the . incouveiiiences which you have observed or heard of as resulting from : thei present imperfect . ' classification ? - — The ^ conveniences relate to almost every class of persons in the establishmerit : for instance , the aged people

      are frequentl y annoyed more than they ought to tie by the intrusion of youfiger . personis ; they are iiot so detached : and separate as is requisite for . their epinfort ; but the ^ eri test -iricbrivenierice arising froirithe state of thiug ^ Jn that eatablishmerit is the immorality that prevails , ! ! fear to a very alarming extent , from a , variety of facts and circumstances which have eome to my knowledge ; I hate reason to fear that the adult inMates of that house are in the constant habit of sexual iatercdurse ; but the greatest evil is in refererice to'thfe children ; thmr morals . I am afraid , nre greatly corrupted br that

      Untitled Article

      4061 ^^ Baines .--Tb : en , is the < 3 omnilttee ; to collecif'Voin your answer , that a better classification would bei advantageous to the Old ; to the ! young , jgarticnlarljr to the children , and to the inmates ofthe workhouse generally?—Yes ; I think that I should not do justice to this subject , if I did hot state that the immorality which-prevails among the girls , for instance , is ¦ such as to lead one to believe that the immorality is greater than could generally be . supposed . From , information which has been brought before the workhouse board from lime to time , and which the members individually haye obtained from their connection with the workhouse , I am of opinion that a considerable number of girls , even , are so far depraved as I have referred to in , reference ; to the adults . " . ¦ . ¦ . ¦ ' ¦ ' - ' ¦ ¦ ¦ ' : ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦¦' .. "¦ ¦ /• ' '' . ' ¦ ' . ' . ¦ ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ "" - - ¦ ' , "¦ - ¦ -

      ; 4062 . Do you meaii the girls that have been brought into the workhoTise as paupers , or those that have grown up in the house r— -I mean those who ha , ye . grown : rip in . the hoUsiBi V : ; . , 4063 . Then do you think that , the classification according ; to the system of the union workhouses would be an essential improvement upon the system that exists in the workhouse in Leeds ? I do indeed . ¦ ' ¦' . " " "; ¦¦ ¦ . '¦ ¦ ¦' ; . / ¦ - - ' . . ¦ ¦¦ " . " ... ¦ " / -. - ¦ ' ¦¦ ¦ - . • ¦; . ' - " 4064 . Have you a , dietary there ?^ -Yes , I have a copy of what the inmates have . every . day . 4 U 65 . Will you state it ? : On the Sunday , at breakfast , there is a pint and ii half of milk porridge and eight ounces of bread ; for dinner on that day there are six ounces of boiled mutton , six ounces of potatoes , four ounces of bread and a pint of beer ; for the snpper of that day , a pint and a half of milk porridge arid eight ounces of bread .

      Now-thebreak-Tast and supper are the same bri every day of the week , the dinners only varying . On the Monday there is a pint and a half of soup , eight >) unces of bread and a pint of beer . On the-Tuesday ; , six ourices of beef and pork , six ounces of potatoes , four ounces of bread and a pint of beer . Wednesday the dinner is the same as on Monday . Thursday the same as Tuesday . Friday the same as Monday , arid on Saturday there are six ourices of puddingi , witli treacle , eight ounces of bread , two ounces of cheese , and . n , pint of beer . ^ ' . . ;¦ , 40 CG . Is tiie lodging as good ( vrid the food as plentiful in that workhouse as iu the families of the . labouring poor generally , who support themselves by iiKleperident labbur ? . —1 should say much better . : ^ QG / i Do you think it dH . sirable tliat persons in the workhouse should be suuported better than an independent labourer subsisting by his own industry out of the workhouse ?—Certainly not .

      41 / 8 . Then , on the whole , is it your opinion , having had a great deal of experience : iu parochicil matters ^ that it would be desirable to iritroduce the New Poor Law into the manufacturing districts , of the north?—It is my decided opinion that that would be the case . 4179 . Will you state why you think it would be an improvement upon the present system ?—In the first place , I think that there would be a considerable reduction in the amount of poor ' - " rate . ; but : I shouldriot think tliatail . . " advantage " ., if it was attained at the expense ofthe comforts of the really '

      necessitous poor ; but the system winch is connected with the Poor Law Amendment-Act . is that which I think would really be beneficial to . the deserving' poor ; there would be a better arid closer , and more correct knowledge of their state and " circumstances , and their cases would be met inore justly and adequately ; and , on the other hand , a consiili'iable number of p . ersons v who are paupers , from generation to generation ^ would : be brou ght under such a system as-must , I think , inevitabl y lead to the introduction of better habits , iiidustrious , sober , and proper habits ; : ; '" ¦ . ' ¦" . •• :

      Untitled Article

      TO THE WORKING MEJf OF THE . NORTH . Committee Rooyn , Turk ' s Head , King Street , Hoiborn London , March 21 ., 1838 . You are no doubt aware , that in June , 1837 , George Loveless ( one of the ill-used Dorchester Labourers ) returned to this country . I am now happy to inform you , that four niore of these persecuted men arrived in England on the 17 th instVmt ; and that the sixth is expected to follow in a few weeks . You are also aw . ar . ey that a Committee of Working Men lias existed for three years in London , who were appointed by the working classes , for the purpose of raising subscriptions to support the fanu-Iies during the exile of their natural protectors ; and to form a fund ^ from which the men themselves , bri their return , might receive some pecuniary compensation for their sufferings in the cause of industry .

      That the Committee , through the support afibrded by their fellow-workmen , has been : enabled to alloW the faniihes a weekly sum sufficient for their decent : maintenar ice during the above period ; and have now about £ 600 in hand . This sum , however , isriotv in their opinion , and that of the working men of London , sufficient to place them in that situation by whicli they would be removed from the power of their oppressors . It is proposed ( though nothing definite w ^ l be decided apon , without the consent of ithe subscribers to' the Iuirilf ftudcOtSouitnigthefeelS ings of tlie _ men themselves , ) to place them in small farni 3 ; which would at once serve as moriuments to perpetuate the infamy of their Whig oppressors , aiid the sympathy and respect bf their feuow-yrbrkmeti . To assist in aj : once raising a sum sufficient for fb . fi above , or a simnaxnurpose , the London Central Douc wester CpjmiTTEE , have adopted the following Resolution : '¦ : ¦ . : . .::

      "That we enmestly recommend to pur fellowwprkinen in every townj village ^ and hamlet , throughout the United Kingdom , the propriety of their immediately entering into a Penny Subscriptifin , to be called The Dorchester Tribute ^ ' for ; the purpose of testifying to the six Dorchester Labourers our sympathy with their sufferings , and detestation of their persecutors . " ¦ .- "; ... " : ; The Committee , therefore , respectfully suggest to you , the propriety of getting this Resolution acted

      upon m .. your district , in whatever mariner you inay deeni most suitable ; and to forward the money so collected , either to the Honorary Secretary , at the Cbmiuittee Room , or to the Treasurer , W . D . Saul , Esq ., 15 , Aldersgate-street , City . It is desirable that not a moment should be lost , as the Central Committee are anxious to close the business ; at the earliest possible period . Any communication requesting infonriation or otherwise , will be immediately attended to , by .- ' , ' ¦ YoMx , i , respectfully , ROBERT HAIITWELL , Hon . Secretary .

      COMMITTEE . W . D . SAUL , Treasurer . . . '• ¦ Mr . G . Tomey , Smith . . J . Gardineb , Smith . G . Lake , Carpenter . J , BiRKiNGYbuNG , Coppersm . J . Barnes , Bricklayer . " J . Woottox , Carpenter . W . Isaacs , Typefounder . J . DAY ,: Ropemaker . J . Bi ' sn , Carpenter .. W . WAtKER , VVheelwright . T . WiNjf , Shipwright . ' J . Pbice , Corawaiuer . "J , » P . A " ss > iOBE ,-Carp ' en ter . ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦" . ' J . JonesV Smith ; : J . Simpson , Cooper . R . Loveless and W . AVenioce , Agents for families . R . Hartwell , Coropositorj Honorary Secretary . In furtherance of the above object , Penny Subscriptions will be received at the Northern SferOfficte i Leeds . ¦ ¦ "• ¦ ¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ - -. " . '¦ ' ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ ¦¦ ¦ ' . ;¦ ¦ ¦ '¦ .-. .. - ¦ •¦ ¦¦ "•

      Untitled Article

      CHARACTER OF 6 cbNNELL . v We give the fofl ^ wing true character of D , O'Connell from the pjSaphlet entitled " Letters from F . O'Connor toTa ^ Cpririelt V ; \ ¦ il Yaa are * thV gr ^ t p olitical ¦ Leviathan of the day , and many an hpriest , but unsuspecting man has been wrecked against your wiles and sophistries . I shall first give what I consider a fair character of you . You have , by attending public meedngs , and . conversing withmen , ( well versed in subjects to which your attention has been drawn i amassed a wonderful store of information upon passing events . You have become so complete a political mechanic that your inind is the iudexof

      . your words rather than your feefirigs ; your passions are only strong when accused personally for- personalities , and then you defend yottfself by beW scurrilous , in order to prove that you act under excitement . From these practices you have a , cquired so complete a cbmmiancl of countenancej that tlie novice would suppose your feelings wounded , while you were literally calcula , tirig upon the profit arid loss of even the most rash expression . Youbave the advantage over most men , of hastily abandoning a weak or unpalatable a rguinenti and flying ' at once to ; another . Your speeches are more remarkable for their boldness of assertion , than for their arraflfr ement , their point , or connection with the ari ^ sh rtn

      m debate . You are a good historian , and principally deal in those cabals , both civil and rebgious , by which different courts haye been occasionally distracted . You bring your historical facts , in general j tb bear well uyon y 6 ur subject . When complMnmg , your voicia is well calcTilated to inspire your hearers with pity . When inveighing ; your solo object is to iritimidate others from attacking you , and instead of defending yourself , you heap reproach upon your 'opponents . ' . In addressing" an assemblyy your first object is to feel the pulse ^ of

      your audience , aqd then , with amazing tact , and the rapidity ; bf lightning , rou suit the speech to your : hearers . Youbave a happy knack of finding out the soft part of your audience , arid dien : yori laugh or cry as the case requires . In matters of detail yoa are . jsadly deficient , and eren . ^ ith your own party become tiresome ; yon-reqairft more backing up , as a srieaker , than any public man ; yoii are timid to a degree when ; your audienceVis not completely with yorij but your pliancy 6 f principle ; soon ^^ nlbnidiiVott to their : shape , ^ and thos you generally cpntriw to ensare . & ft . xourable heanng * Your - voice is of a mbflt pecuUar kind , for 4 tbougK roii ^ nV yet it is

      Untitled Article

      ¦ - ¦ - ¦ ¦ ' - ¦? ' - ¦ :- ¦¦ -. ¦ : ¦ r ., . .. ; .,.. - ; - ¦ ,. :--w , - .,: ¦» .: ¦ ..- , .: ¦? - ; -v « W . .. HBBHlHHBSMflHiiM | liiiHBHi ^ VlHHHHiBi ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ !! , i " - ^ sometimes harmbniou 3 | and -calcnlate'd' ^ tb nST ~ even the most refinedean Your words are geae ^ Mrell chosen , but your sentences are almost inv »? ably incomplete . Your memory is astonishinff lf ? under excellent control . Yonr attitude , when' V think you haveagbodcase , is bold and coomiarid ^^ when you atand upon doubtful grpunds , itis criDDlS crouching , and even supplicating . Your dreadnf * bold antagonist ate indescribable . The uie irMch you make of a triumph over a weak and mere nv tizan opDpnent , ia masterly , and follbwed ud m ^ with a view to deter others , than to defend youwpTf Your principal object through life has been to ^ brimulate power , and on © man has ever fo « tered v resources , for that purpose , with more cunnihg i ^ lessvirrue . " : : ¦ ¦ : -: ¦"¦ 5 mx

      Untitled Article

      Convicts and their LABbirB .-. __ By tvrri reports of ^ r . Capper , the superintendent of shiD , and vessels employed for the confinement of of fenders under sentence of transportation , relating fa ^ he c onvict establishments at Portsmouth , Chatha ^ arid Woolwich , and at Bermuda ^ we find that tK ^ are six hulks at the stations in England , viz . i— . two at Chatham , two at ;\ Voolwich , orie at Pbrtsih 6 u ^ arid ; one at Gbsport ; and three convict hulks ai Bermuda , viz .: —two . ' at Ireland Island and one at Sit George ' s . The expense of the hulks in this coui . try for the half year ending 30 th June , 183 ? Wm £ 19 , 808 ; and for that ending 3 ist December , 1837 mm ^ ' &i m ^ MyM ' m valueof labour in

      performed the first half-year of 1837 , was £ 12 . 088 ; and ; in the latter half of tHat year £ 9 , 461 total , ¦ £ 21 , 549 . ; - This would reduce thecost of the year of the English hulks to £ 17 5 gg Of the hulks at Bermuda the experisefor the ' fitgi half year was £ 8 , 336 ; for the latter , £ 8 046-together £ 16 , 382 for the year : : The value of &r labour performed was £ 14 , 619 during the first , and £ 13 , ^ 1 during the second half year , making £ 28 , 200 for the year j or a surplus of £ 11 , 818 o 7 | the expenses . The latter report , dated Eehruary l 1838 , states that- the public works carrying on a ( Bermuda , are so far drawing to a close as to admit in the Course of the year , of a reductionin the ebui viet labour .. On the lst ^ of January , 1837 , there were 1 , 935 prisoners on board the hulks in-En ^ land

      since wmen time 3 , 970 convicts have been receivei During the year ^ 3 , 662 have been transported to the Australian settlements 226 have been discharged ' and 103 transferred to the general Penitentiary- s have escaped ; 120 have died ; and 1 789 con vitfs remained on board the hulks on the 1 st Januarr last . Of . the number received during the year 1 , 366 are known tp have been previously convicted . 742 have been in prison before ; aad the remainine 1 , 862 cases arir supposed to be first offences , ( ft the whole number , 836 were above 30 years of age .

      i ; 897 were between v 20 and : 30 years ; H 3 ( J between 15 and 20 years ; 116 between 10 arid 15 years ; and one ^ prisoner has been received under lp years of age . . Of 116 military prisoners , 77 w ^ received from British colonies , arid 33 from rim . mental depots in England ; 69 prisoners ; . Were afeo received under sentence of the civil authorities in the English colonies . Oi the total number received 3 , 341 were natives of England ; 59 natives of Wales ; 271 were Scotch ; 214 Jrish ; 54 natives ot British ^^ colonies , and 31 were foreigners . . :

      The Amendment Agt . ^—On Wednesday wei the Overseers of Fixby were sammoned to appeai before John Bhodes Ralph , and Wm . Briggs Esqn , to show cause why that Toyrnshi p refused . 'to obey m order made by the Board bf Guardians for the par . ment of £ 9 . lSs ^ d . as the first instalment due from the Township orFixby , for the general expenses oi the Halifax Union . The Overseer , Mr , ScholefieH alleged that he had no funds wherewith to

      pay haying . . . laid ho rate during the year , the poor o Fixby being : paid by a voluntary cbntributioii amongst the inhabitants ,, and that the Board of Guar dians for . the Union could riot niake such an order as the same was not legally constituted . Mr . Schole ' field was conyicted iii the penalty of 10 » : and 8 s . costs , and the Magistrates gave hjiri till Saturday to pay the same , but Mr . S . would make -no " promise ai to its then being paid . : ; ;

      ' _ Counterfeit Half-Sovereigns . —The pnV lie would do well to be . on their guard In giving change for half-spvereignsj : as a set of persons a « going about ; to shops and public-houses for the pw . pose of putting off a spuribuH coin , purporting to le a half-soyerejgn of the date of 1817 , litfle more ibaa half the weight of a good one j ; they are of a pdi yellojr , and when rubbed ^ show ; white .: One of & gang ^ nfimed John Gape , ^ oiemaker , of ^ Leeds , iiat been apprehended in Bradford , on various cha ^ rges ^ putting off the said coin , ; andifully committed for & ofience . ' - S ' - > " .- '¦; ' - -: " :- ' - ¦ - "¦; .. - ' ... " ... : ' -- ..-: ¦ - ¦ . ' - ' -.. ¦"

      Important to Constables and Policemen . — -Puring the trial of the action "Liimbf , Walker ^ at the Yorkshir e > zzizes , last we tk ^ Mi ; Justice Patteson , in summing up the case , mai some observations on the duties of constables , whicS we have omitted in the report of the trial in order to insert them here .: His Lordshi p observed that there appeared to be some misconception in this county as ; to the . duties ; of constables " and policemen , and tderefore he would say a few words on the subject A police-officer who turns a man out of another !

      premises , where he has no right to be , : or froia whifh he has been desired to retire , lias no official right to do that of any kind or sort whatever . If a man is intruding in my house and I desire him to gp out , if he will not go outj I have a righttopti him out , using no more force than may be necessaj to attain that object j arid J have a right to astaiifbody near me to assist me . / No man I may ask is bound to assist riie ; but if he thinks proper " he maj do so . In putting a person out of my house at mj request , he acts ! as ; my servant , and in doing so policeman is not different from any of the Qaeai ' subjecta ; but if a breach of the peace is committeJ he

      in the presence of the constable ^ then may apptti herid the party : causing it . It seems to me from this case and from : what occurred the other day ( alluding to a former action against a constable for exces of authority ) that the policemen in this countr H » fe taken it into their heads that , they have a right to interfere when they thint fit ; That , however , is » great mistake and a great iriisappreherision of their duty . The law is this ! - —when a policeman is . » formed , by any person , Jthat a felony has been emmitted , and his informant charges any person wft having committed that felony , and desires the policeman to take him into custody on that charge , if ie ppliceman ^ beliep ^ f it is kbonajide charge it i »; to

      dutyto >; tu } t upoq . the information j and to apprebem * & * ^ arty : . ohar ^ ed } but lif the chargeJdpea «* amount to felony ^ . if , it"feonly assault , or any otto misdemeanour wbicii ' - ^ teperson says hasbeen o" *" mitted , the policemen [ have no right to interfere ^ and they ought to know it . ¦ , No : constable has uj " . gbt to interfere iri . anyease rfan affray , uBless )*?' himsejtfpre 8 £ nrt , and seea that ^ afe ay ^ ith bisowney ?) or has the warfantof a magistrate . They seeffl » t » fancy that ifu niari come * fini ^ FfV ^ I bayejH *? assaulted ^ ' tiiey haye ^ , r i ( gflii : g ^ 4 a * e info « $# the person mentioned as Ae assaiUOfe . '• it . » VW * 8 W lour flia « r tin * -A- * «_ \* Z 3- ? C' - ^ : ll i li ; : i : _ i il ^ h / ihditf

      not tnjfefp , for if they ( should attempt it , aUjHQ shouiirakfeiiany resistance , and life should te , J « the cbn ? equenc € s , w 6 iCila- | 4 » eTery ^ different fromw ¥ they would be , if they had that 'right : 'It is ferm clear .-. tihia ' t / any person ^^ halsi a right ; tb : torianyo # ? person pfiF his premises who is making adisturbaii ^ and whorii he may have desired 1 ® go away ,,-m who did riot go ; but ev ^ n then , if there be a P " turbarice on the premises , arid * the policeman : $ & : it , though there is a desire to go ^ and the partf ^ not go , he : has , neyertheless , no right to inter ©* as a pplicenian in' such a case , and to take so <* . to "

      person prison . There was a case af e * y ^* ago , pf this very sort , where a man came int 0 ^| house of another in order to demand a . deb ^ : W some , very angry words having passed between ? ft and the : owner of the ' house , he . desired . him . togW " nis premises , and the person would not , npon . * ^ the party yrhpae house itwas sent for a policeiaan . r put him off bis premises ^ and take him to pn ^ r He did so , and an action was brought , and it ^ - , held thai ; though it might be very justifiable to W the party off the premises , not by reason of beii ^ constable , but as assisting the party whose P ^ ^ were invaded , still there was no justincati pn «» offered with regard to the taking to p rison . 'Ag is not to be t aVf > Yitn nnonn -uriioDu thprtt be tb 9 ? :.

      rant of a ^ magistrate ; or the pbliceman or con ^ sees a breaisih of the peace committed . J m ^ SL this because r wish it to be fully understbooV ^^ distinction is very easy for constables to makfe information is given of a disturbance , the F £ j officers haye a right to go to the place and see ^ is going on arid if aKeacb of ihe peaee , oc <^ the ppresence of a constable , then : te mij . Wgparty into custpd y but hehas no rig httb actW that which he does not himself see , unless iW , charge ; of felony . I ii $ M > because" p »| S seem to understand it If ^ tne law , Jtf }* %£ down , were acted on- a little more clopeW-tng rv bas been for some time \ a good deal 6 f ««¦ ¦) " * , of thft public would : be-sated in the h ?^^ of petty charges before * the l 5 ^ istrafe 3 J ' >^/^ not come regularly befc-t tnem . — Leeds W i * ncer . :: ' ¦ : ¦ " ¦ ¦ •¦ ' " : ' - ¦""¦ -xv " :- . ¦ ' ¦¦ "; - - .

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 31, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct999/page/6/