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    NqyjmwK" 20, 1852.] THE LEADER,, HOP. __...

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    ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS. Letter from an Offic...

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    Progress Of Association. Eepoet Of The S...

    • 4-Ti rhe Amalgamated Working Engineers . It is thus luted , pages 13 and 14 of the Report :-« One portion of the labours of the Society which cannot erlooked , has reference to its relations with Trade 1 ) 0 -Hos Trade Societies , the legal recognition of which i ° f T from the Act for the Repeal of the Combination rZa and the utility of which Is proclaimed by modern Sal economists , are the only real organization yet pouw amon £ st the working-classes since the downfall r fCSulds of the middle ages . It had been one of the nlt anxious wishes of many members of the Society , f the earliest period of its existence , to convert this Station to the purpose of co-operation , so as to nress the Tery possibility of strikes , by leading the + de societies to devote to the employment of productive i hnur the sums which are now « pent by them , for the A fpnce of the class-interest of the worker , in maintaining jn unwilling idleness . Several efforts were made J ^ . time to time by various members of the Society ,

    ciallv by Mr . Lloyd Jones and Mr . Walter i Cooper , and e « j ^ Lards by the Central Co-operative Agency , to effect tlI is end in particular cases . The now well-known < Amalated Society , '—the most important trade society of the kingdom , was amongst those that were conferred with 7 3 ia this instance , by its own seeking ) on the subject , r did any other similar body show greater inclination towards Co-operative views . " There were ' not wanting those amongst us upon this ccasion who sought to impress upon the working engineers the need of immediate surrender , as the most useful , the reatest , the most solemn protest against the dictation of fhpir employers—that of avowed weakness yielding to witii small luckbe it

    brute force . Others tried hard , , confessed to obtain friendly mediation between the two belligerent parties , and received full gladly , side by side with the working-men , the insults of the newspaper press . One and all we believe , are fully prepared to justify their conduct and know well that even where accused of stirring up war , they were in reality ' seekingpeace and ensuring it'by every means in their power . But the Society , we repeat it , as such , did not and could not engage in the C " The success of the Masters' Strike' has been the triumph of Co-operation . A hundred thousand pounds may have been wasted , or the opportunity of earning them foregone , by the working-men . But we have every reason to hope that it is for the last time that such an expenditure will take place . The Amalgamated Society of labourand revised

    has declared in favour co-operative , its laws so as to make the reproductive employment of its members the very hinge of its proceedings . The National Association of United Trades has proclaimed that ' the time has come for the entire abandonment ^ strikes and turn-outs as a means of protecting labour / and that ' the only thing left' is , in . future , ' to organize and carry out a 6 elf > supporting co-operative reproductive system of employment . ' Out of the strike in the engineering trade itself , many associations of working-engineers , including the flourishing ' East London Iron Works' and ' Atlas Company * in London , have sprung up ; and throughout the country many and many a trade society is engaged in discussing the propriety of entering upon co-operative labour , and availing itself of the provisions of the new let . "

    In the pages of the Eeport we notice an exact and circumstantial statement of all tho proceedings of the Society , exhibiting the ordinary routine of business in institutions of the kind , such as publication of tracts , commissions in tho provinces , delivering of lectures , meetings , & c . & c . Tho names of the members of the council of the Society are given for the first time ; the ordinary and extraordinary members making up tho number of thirty-four . The Central Co-operative Agency is mentioned a « follows :

    "Wo cannot closo this Roport without noticing one establishment connected with , though not strictly a part of tho Society for promoting Working Mcn ' H Associations —tho Central Co-oporativo' Agency , ostabliHhod at 70 , Charlotte-street , ITitzroy-square . *> " Tho Central Agency originated in tho dea iro of enabling the working population of ' London to obtain the artiolos of their ordinary consumption , euch as groceries , & c , of a quality on which rolianco could be placed , and at prices as low as tho necessary expenses of tho business admitted . It aoon appeared that Una object would bo most surely oflecled , and a further valuablo object bo attained , by forming , in place of the retail establishments at firHt contemplated , a centre , which should furnish at wholesalo set either

    prices tho goods requirod to establishments up hy working men or others , for the purpose of supplying their own consumption . Scores of establishments of this nature existed , aH it appeared , already , under ( he name of ' Co-oporativo Stores , ' in tho north . A disposition to form them existed everywhere . A central house of business , provid e d with sufficient funds , conducted by persona well Acquainted -with tho business they undertook ; carried on under tiuch supervision m should guarantee tho honesty of tho management , would , it scorned , bo of grout value , both in guarding tho existing Stores againHt tho frauds often praoliHod upon them , and in making i - oftH . y io form n " stores . Tlu > Control Agency was established .. to dischargo this function , and wo nro glad to say that it has hitherto done-ho to the HatiMfnetmn of its foundW It * business

    transactions witli the Stores of England and ( Scotland arc already TO ry considerable , and are steadily increasing . Wow storoa havo cmrunir into oxislwico in various placed through its means . At the same time it jh quiet y l » ocominif tho instrument of a yet more valuable end-- tho ° nd of bringing tho widely scuttored olemontH oi co-oporfttivo action into direct oonnoxion with each othor . " The Report concludes us follows : — " We muatoautiou all our readers who ore unacquamtod

    with the subject , not to think that they know the extent to which Co-operation has gone in England when they have read this Report . We are only a very small stream of the great flood ; there are , as we have just said , hundreds of Co-operative Stores already working , and hundreds of others springing up through the length and breadth of the land , and Working Associations also , although the growth of these . in England is more slow . There are in London itself many bodies of working men either in association already or preparing for it , who are in no connexion with us—such as plumbers , weavers , carpenters , and hardware-men . Some of these are on the eve of starting , others have enrolled members , and opened subscription lists ,

    while others again are as yet inorganic , having an existence in talk only . But we need say no more , for any one who has been living at all with working men during the last three years , must have been astonished at the wonderful spread of this idea of fellow-work—by people in general called Socialism—amongst them within that time , and above all at the progress it has made within the last nine months . He , will be as sure as we are , that great results of one kind or another must soon follow this steady gathering together of the forces of labour , for mutual help in productive and distributive industry . We hope he will also agree with us , that the part of every honest man just now is to throw himself heart and soul into the movement , and to teach

    by words and deeds , that men do not come together in associations to divide profits individually , and heap up capital , but to learn to live and work together like brothers , to see justice done to the weak , and to preach the trade gospel of the duty to labour and the right to live thereby . There is indeed much need at this moment that educated men . should come forward , to guide the movement if possible , at any rate to share in it ; for the number of thesenever enough to do the work which they had to do , wellhas of late fallen off , several of the most active members of the Society having gone abroad , and others having left London . Meantime the number of working men become larger every day . "

    The last " balance-sheet" ( as we find it called ) , which seems to be a mere statement of the transactions of the Society , shows that they have received as donations , loans , re-payments of loans , deposits from working men , eale of tracts , & c . & c , 1695 Z . 16 * . 10 \ d ., and have employed in advances to the Associations , reimbursement of deposits , expenses of central office , the same amount , leaving a nett sum of cash in hand , of 221 . 6 s . 2 \ d . The total sum of deposits contributed by the working men amounts to—151 . in three years .

    The present financial condition of the Associations , conducted under the patronage of the Society , is exhibited in a tabular statement , from which it appears that , of 13 . 827 Z . 6 s . capital employed by the " Associations of Working Men , " the working men have supplied only 461 ? . 9 s . If d . In consequence of such a state of things , the Society has come to a resolution which wo cannot but consider of tho simplest expediency : —¦ " The Society has for some time past determined to discourage advances of money to bodies of working men about to start in association , unless they havo first shown some sign of preparedness for tho change from their old life , and

    have subscribed some funds of their own . This has been done , because it haa been found very necessary toliavo Bomo proof that men have foresight and self-denial beioro they should be encouraged to associate . Working men in general are not fit for association . They come into it with the idea that it is to fill tlioir pockets and lighten thenwork at once , and that every man in an association is to bo his own master . They find their mistake in the first month or two , and then set to quarrelling with everybody connected with tho association , but more especially with their manager , and after much bad blood has been roused tho association breaks up insolvent , or ban to be re-formed under very stringent rules , and after the expulsion of the refractory members . "

    . As wo have stated , tho publication containing the Report gives also a more complete account of the proceedings of the Co-operative Conference than wo have yet obtained . We shall have to notice some facts relating to that Conference before we come to express our own views with respect to what is called the " Cooporative Movement" in Kngland .

    Nqyjmwk" 20, 1852.] The Leader,, Hop. __...

    NqyjmwK" 20 , 1852 . ] THE LEADER ,, HOP . __^ , - ¦ . ¦ i . ¦ . _ ,. — ¦ ¦ — ., . . ... ¦ ¦ ¦¦ « i ¦ ¦¦ i ¦ . ¦¦ ¦ ¦ » , i - — - i i n i _ -j ^ ^ i —¦— m

    Arctic Expeditions. Letter From An Offic...

    ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS . Letter from an Officer of the Franklin Discovery schooner , " Isabel , " to a Friend in England . Isabel Discovery Schooner , oil'Capo Wrath , November ' 1 th , 1 H 52 . Di ^ tt FnifiNi ) , —I can cusily imagine to myBolf that you , upon reading of the arrival oi tho Isabol , will bo very apt to rub your none , and my , " Oh d « ar mo ! what tho Isabel orrivod-nli lioro is another Arctic expedition failuror 'Returned , of course , without doing anything . > ou will bo ant to raise all sorts of conjecture oh to whore we roachod , and when wo found it prudent to como back . Lot your fancy run riot for a short period , and then return

    to nober reality . « ,. Now you are awnre , we left . Kngland at an unusually Into period of the Heason , the fith of . July hiHt , proposing to search Wolstonholmo , Whale , Smith ' s and Jones s Hound * communicate with Sir 10 . Holchor ' s squadron in Lancaster Sound , then return by the west coast of Davis ' Straits , along tjie Labrador coast , to England . J will now proceed to detail what wo havo done , and I lion L am inclinod to think you will alter your opinion of uh . We made Capo Farewell on tho JJOI . h of . July , alter a pleasant run across tho Atlantic : immediately upon doing so we woro escorted for a lew days on our trip by a deputation of the lartroet and most powerful inhabitantii of Duvia '

    Straits , in tho shape of some immense icebergs , who would have gladly hugged us in their fond embrace had we not repelled then : advances . On the 8 th of August , we , from stress of weather , put into the Danish settlement of Fis Kenesk , leaving it again on the 9 th , with the intention of running into Holstemberg , to obtain Adam Beck aa interpreter ; but it blowing a very heavy gale of wind upon our passing that place , we ran on to Lievely , where we arrived at six p . m . on the 12 th of August , leaving it again the game evening . On the 17 th , arrived at TJpperhavick , where we obtained dogs and other supplies : remaining there twelve hours , we again started . On the evening of the 19 th approached the entrance of Melville Bay ; on passing , paid our obeisance to his Satanic Majesty , or at

    least that point of land called the Devil ' s Thumb . On the 21 st made Cape York , where our search commenced in earnest ; and never was one conducted with more unwearied diligence and perseverance than Commander Inglefield bestowed upon this . During the day we picked up several articles floating about , that told us unmistakably of shipwreck . We passed along the celebrated Crimson or Beverley Cliffs of Sir John Ross ; rounded Cape Dudley Diggs the next day , where we observed several natives . A party landed , headed by the Commander , and communicated with them ; obtained no information from them ; then bore up for Wolstenholme Sound , reaching it on the following morning ; ran along its south side until we came to the bottom of it , where we found the Esquimaux

    settlement of Omanak , the scene of Adam Beck ' s tale . A party consisting of the Commander , Icemaster , Surgeon , and Engineer , and boat ' s crew , landed , and made a most diligent search in every hut and building , pulling down a very large pile of stones which had been heaped together by the Esquimaux . Every spot was overhauled ; after which the party returned to the vessel , feeling convinced that there was not the least foundation for Adam Beck ' s statement . We then bore away for Whale Sound , which we reached on the evening of the 25 th . Some natives were observed on jthe S . E . point of the bay . A party landed , and communicated with them , but returned to the vessel without any information ; found that instead of the Sound being : a small one , as laid down in the charts , that it was

    to all appearance the entrance to a large inland sea of great depth and magnitude , bending away to the N . JE ., the lateness of the season alone preventing our exploring it . We now bore away for Smith ' s Sound , which we entered on the next evening , passing Cape Alexander about ten p . m ., and in the course of two hours found ourselves steaming away where no vessel had ever preceded us . The entrance of the Sound from Cape Alexander on the east and Cape Isabella on the west , is from thirtyfive to forty miles broad , the two sides of it fowning a very striking contrast to each other on the east side . We could observe signs of vegetation , particularly near Cape Alexander . On the opposite side , nothing was seen but Bnow-canced mountains , with huge glaciers running down

    between them , everything denoting desolation and death to the unfortunate mariner who might be shipwrecked on that coast . We ran up the Souna until we attained tho latitude of 78 ° 28 ' 21 " N . Then , from stress of weather , a strong gale having sprung up from tho N . E . dead in our teeth , we were obliged to retrace our steps , observing nothing but ice ahead , with the exception of a small span , of open water running away to tho N . E ., everything indicating that a very large unexplored sea was beyond . Wo now ran along the west coast to Jones ' s Sound , which wo entered on the 31 st of August ; ran up as far as the commander deemed prudent , far beyond the route of any other vessel . Open water being seen ahead to the N . W . during the whole of this period , the commander was making a

    most attentive survey of the whole coast , taking tho bearings of every prominent bay , headland , and island , also conducting the magnetic observations , taking _ sketches of tho coast in every direction , never allowing himself to bo in bed four hours together , and sometimes not at all for thirty-six hours together , every act evincing how absorbed the -whole of his faculties woro in tho object , in view . Each duty here enumerated lie conducted in his own person , delegating to no other any part of it . Tho consequenco is , ho has added much to our geographical knowledge of all tho land to tho north of Wolstenhohno Sound , on the east , and of Lancaster Sound on the west . We now ran into Lancaster Sound , communicated with the . NorHi Star at JJeechey Island , found that Kir . Edward . "Belcher had

    proceeded up the Wellington Channel , Captain kellott to Melville Island , without , up to . the time of leaving tho North Star , obtaining the leant eluo to the whereabouts of Sir John Franklin . Remaining at Beeehey Island about sixteen hours , we made for the nouth side of Lancaster Sound , run along the west , count of Davis' Straits , passed Pond ' s bay , found no natives there ; ran along tho ennui , searching it most , minutely with glasses , and occasionally landing . Ran south until wo cuinu to II eel a and 0 riper Hank , where we fell in with a very heavy pack of ice , from which canst ) we > were obliged to

    strike oil" from tho coast on the 10 th of September , and got into a gale of wind , and worn driven north ; were afterwards obliged to put into Dog Island for water and to refit ., then made another attempt to reach tho west const by the way of Capo Walsinghnm ; iriado most strenuous ollbrts to roach it , until tho l . 'ith of October ; then tho commander , acting under the adfice o his two ico-inaHtors , who represented to him tho ejclremo danger of a furtlwr attempt at reaching l . ho west coast at « o lato a period of the year , felt himself compelled , with treat regret , to hnw up for Kiighinil .

    I have now made you acquainted with what wo havo done leaving you to glean from the despatchoH of tho commander all tho details , contenting mymlf with tf ivinfp a general summary . I can assure you that we have lost no time in anyway since we left Krigliuid ; the commander has never allowed tho vessel to be becalmed an hour without having "'« '" » ' I » - Wo llllv " »<« ' *»» «" upwards of «( K ) hours and a distance of between 1 < MM ) and 1600 milesreturning , ' re ^ rol . t <> Nft . y , without the least information an to the late- or position of tho miuumg ujuoditiou , but

• Citation
  • Leader (1850-1860), Nov. 20, 1852, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_20111852/page/9/