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Northern Star (1837-1852), 4th September 1852, Edition 2 of 2, Page 11, ggp TgBEB 4,1852. THE STAR OF FRgEDOM. 5...

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      Ggp Tgbeb 4,1852. The Star Of Frgedom. 5...

      ggp TgBEB 4 , 1852 . THE STAR OF FRgEDOM . 59

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      Otkited .Patriots' National Benefit, And...

      OTKITED . PATRIOTS' NATIONAL BENEFIT , AND Fl FREEHOLD LAND AND BUILDING SOCIETY . ^ ThThc columns of the Star hav e from time to time reported cc pc progress of this valuable and ably-managed Institution . iTonvom the statement of its affaire on the occasion of the eemlemhers celebrating their ninth anniversary , we learn that in iae ie Benefit Society there have been registered 2 , 680 members ruriuring the last year 617 members joined the society , 177 locmcmbers left , and twenty-one died , making the increase 419 .

      Thefhere has been expended to April , 1852 , tor sickness , £ 9 , 544 55 r & ty d . ; superannuation , £ 94 Od . 9 d . ; accouchmehts , £ 2 , 147 ; iinejnerals , £ 2 , 274 8 s . lid . ; loss by fire , £ 102 7 s . % d . In iMno-ht years , £ 14 , 161 17 s . 3 d . The actual stock is £ 4 , 064 ( OsOs . ljd ., being an increase sinee January , 1852 , o f £ 391 lis . Is . 4 £ d . Invested on land and houses , £ 3 , 723 ; at five per tcnicnt . 3 l 07 3 s . 8 d . ; hi shares in building society , £ 57 17 s . ; mi Bank of England , £ 100 ; in banker ' s hands , £ 76 9 s . 6 \ d . nianaking a total of £ 4 , 064 10 s . l | d . There has been invested bbyby benefit society , taken from stock , £ 3 , 480 , of which there liliahas been repaid , £ 250 , reducing the amount to £ 2 , 230 . From

      Italic repayments received m the building society on accounts mfof i nvestments made , £ 493 has been advanced , making the iiiiin vcstments £ 3 , 723 , extending over a period of thirteen years j aiand a half . Originally invested by benefit society , £ 3 480 ; deleaving a profit of £ 243 , besides the incidental expenses ; ^( solicitors ' and surveyors' fees , & c , being paid . The monthly r < re-payments on the money adduced , amount to £ 37 9 s . ild !; tithe quarterly payments to £ 109 % . 2 d . ; the repayments are a again invested , and the stock increased thereby . In the 1 building society , since February , 1852 , to July , 1852 , £ 817 1 has been invested , making a total of £ 2 , 518 10 s . 6 d . The 1 monthly income averages £ 160 .

      These figures indicate the safe character and flourishing position of this popular society . We have now to notice another step in its onward march . Lately the Society has taken new offices at the corner of George Street , New Road , St . Pancras , and on Saturday last , was laid the foundation stone of what will be a large and handsome building in-the rear of and attached to the dwelling-house & c , of the

      Secretary . The new building itself contains a large hall calculated to hold some five hundred persons , together with a number o offices , committee-rooms & c . The building which promises to do great credit , both in design and execution , to tho contractors Messrs . Randall and Young ( members of the society ) will be bulit of stone—partly Bath , partly Portland . The front , including a handsome portico , will face on to George-street , and will greatly improve and embellish that neighbourhood . On Saturday last was laid the

      foundationstone , with me usual formalities , by Mr . Benjamin Bond Cabbell , M . P ., in presence of the Secretary and other officers of the Society , together with a number of friends and neighbours . Mr . Beale of Piccadilly , surveyor , delivered an appropriate address , in the course of which he detailed the society ' s progress ; and elucidated its merits and claims upon the support of the public . Mr . Cobbell , responded in an excellent speech . Subsequently , a silver medal , bearing an inscription setting forth the Society ' s esteem for , and

      admiration of , the philanthropic character of Mr . Cabbell , was presented to that gentleman , and drew from him another feeling address , in the . course of which he expressed the warm interest he took in the society ' s progress , and his earnest desire for the multiplication of such admirable institutions . Having other engagements , the worthy M . P . then retired . Immediately afterwards , the company sat down to an excellent dinner provided by the esteemed and hospitable secretary , Mr . W . D . Ruftv * . The viands were of the best , and in

      abundance . Mr . Linton , of the New-road , right nobly filled the chair , supported by Messrs . Ruiry , Beal , Morgan , Davis , Hutchings , Harney , & c ., & c The duties of Vice-chairman was ably performed by Mr . Dyke . On the cloth being removed , toasts , speeches , and songs followed each other in rapid succession . Mr . John Hamey spoke to the good old sentiment— "The people , tliQ source of all power . " Mr . Mr . Beal spoke several times in the course of the evening with much force and eloquence , especially to the principal

      toast— " Success to the United Patriots' Benefit and Freehold Land and Building Society ; also the health of its indef atigable founder and secretary , Mr . D . W . Runy . " Several other toasts were done full justice to . At a late hour the company retired , delighted with then * worthy host ' s entertainment , and united it one cordial aspiration for the onward and unceasing progress of the United Patriots . It is expected that the new hall will be opened to the . public in j ^ ovember or December next .

      The National Land Company. Last Week An ...

      THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . Last week an important inquiry was made at Sickmansworth , under the direction of the Court of Chancery and 14 th and loth Victoria , for dissolving the National Land Company and Chartist Co-operative Land Society , and for disposing of its lands , properties , and buildings , the principal estates connected with which are situated at Oconnorville , or Herringgate , three miles from Pvickmansworth ; at Minster Lovell , near Witney ; at Redmarley , near Tewkesbury ; and at Lowlands and Snig ' s End , near Gloucester .

      The sittings to inquire into the subject have been held here at the Swan Hotel , before Mr . W . Goodchap , one of the official assignees of the Court of Chancery , assisted by Mr . Roxburgh , as counsel and assessor ; Mr . John Tucker , of the firm of Tucker and Sons , and Mr . Woodthorpe , surveyor and architect ; Mr . C . Roche , of the firm of Synions and Roche , representing the allottees or occupants , who attended very numerously .

      The report of the official assignee set forth that the inquiry was instituted under the direction of the Court of Chancery , to incpiire into the cases of all those persons to whom lands had been allotted , but who had relinquished title or claimed compensation for loss or expenditure in respect of them , and to ascertain , by the best and most economical means , to what amount the value of the capital and labour expended by the allottees had exceeded the value of the occupation , and the advances of aid-money , seed , and stock made by the company ; and to determine the sum hy way of rent to be paid for past

      The National Land Company. Last Week An ...

      occupation by each allottee , who should prove his title , making all just allowances . The report , which went very fully into the origin and constitution of the National Land Company , as regarded the purchase and allotment of lands and the balloting for members by Mr . Feargus O'Connor , as trustee , further stated that on the 11 th of April , 1848 , it was notified to the shareholders by Mr . Feargus O'Connor , that he had purchased the Oconnorville estate , consisting of 180 acres for 2 , 344 L , subject to an annunity of 001 . per annum , conveyed by T . Ayres and J . Margetson , but the title deed of which is now retained by Mr . W . P . Koberts , solicitor , of Manchester , on the ground oi

      alleged lien . Soon after a ballot for 2 , 3 , and 4 acres , respectively , took place among those members of the company who had paid 21 . 10 s . deposit , being the value of one share in the company . The members who became located were principally mechanics or weavers , totally unacquainted with agricultural pursuits , from Stockport , Bradford , Manchester , Leeds , and Wigan . The two-acre ballotted members , holding one share , had allotted them a house , two acres of land , and 151 . ; the threeacre members , a house , three acres , and 221 . 10 s . ; and the fouracre members of two shares , a house , four acres , and SOI . In this way the estate was parcelled out—two acres being set apart for the school at the head of the estate . The members entered

      on their locations on the 1 st of May , 1847 . Some are still in possession , others have underlet . During the period they remained they received aid-money , cultivation money , and bushels of wheat . Some sold their right of location , which latter was of the average value of from 4 QI . to 100 / . In some cases distresses were levied on the goods , chattels , and growing crops ; ancl this state of things continued until the act of Parliament for winding up this and other estates in a similar position was obtained , and which , among other things , it is the object of the inquiry to determine and adjust . The allotees , with some exceptions , have proved their titles to the allotments ; and the amount of back rent to be paid by them will have to be determined .

      Another mam object of the inquiry has been to pay a visit to the estate and estimate its value and the present position of its occupants . O'Connorville is reached by a ride of about three miles from the Watford station of the London and North-Western Railway . The approach to it from the high road is by a long and remarkably narrow lane , running along one side of the estate for a mile up , with a tavern at its extremity . It is flanked on the other side by Newland Wood , either end of the estate standing high and exposed , and sinking into a valley in the centre , but presenting that bleak and unprotected position in winter such as would

      be thought good only for a run over the country with foxhounds . Here and there , at intervals of five or six acres , arc comfortable looking white cottages , surrounded by outhouses for husbandry , and small patches of wheat , potato , mangold-wurtzel , turnip , tare , clover , and cabbage crops , all the produce of spade husbandry , the exclusive features of the O'Connorville system of cultivation . This was the general disposition of things upon each of the three and four acre allotments . The produce , when hi comparison with neighbouring farms , off the estate , where of course the plough is used , looked rude and ragged ; but this state of things may be accounted for by the very sterile nature of the land and the almost total want of the means of obtaining manure . It was upon allotments of two and three acres , thus

      laid out , that the experiment of the capability of the occupants living and paying rent proceeded , and the result is now looked upon , even by its original promoters , as conclusive of the impracticability of the land plan . The cost of each of the cottages , consisting of four and five roomed houses , is estimated at 100 L , but the value of them at this moment is considerably under that mark , the occupants of many stating that they are much in want of repair and that the rain enters the roofs . The expectation of the promoters originally was that the land might be made to produce three times as much by spade husbandry as by plough husbandry ; but without inquiry into the question as to whether this was a mere speculative theory , other causes seeming to have conspired to prevent anything like its realization .

      Observing strangers driving over the estate on the occasion in question , the various occupants were naturally curious to know the object of their visit , and this furnished an opportunity for collecting from themselves information as to their position and prospects . A group of some twenty of them holding allotments assembled , and showed no disinclination to be communicative . The majority were dressed like farm labourers , and others not working on but holding allotments , and some living in" London , were dressed like respectable tradesmen . These latter , it appears , having found it a hopeless case to live and pay rent on three acres of land , had betahen themselves to

      pursuits in the neighbouring towns and London , and by this means supported themselves and families , some of whom lived on the allotments . A considerable difference of opinion was developed by these people in the expression of their opinion after five years' experience of the land plan . Some declared that it was totally impossible for a man to maintain his wife and family and pay rent out of three or four acre allotments , while others as strenuously contended for its feasibility . Some asserted that they had been played upon and duped , under the captivating idea of enjoying a bit of land and communion of labour . Others appeared to be of opinion that they had only

      themselves to thank for the deception , if any existed , in not using their own common sense when entering on the experiment , the generality declaring that Mr . Feargus O'Connor had held out preposterous expectations , and had broken faith with them , but that they " would not believe him to be a rogue until it had been proved . " They attributed much of their want of success to the extremely isolated position of the settlement , being three or four miles distant from any market town or railway to which to take their produce , and to the difficulty that existed in obtaining manure for that produce , the fact being that the soil , instead of being a virgin , was an exhausted soil ,

      having been cropped for forty years without having its fertile properties renewed . Manure could only be carted at great expense to the spot , and in some cases had cost as much as a guinea a load . Latterly the feeling that previously existed against the political opinions of these people having undergone alteration , several of them , it was stated , keep up a small interchange of trade with persons at Rickinanswortu and Watford , in the shape of exchanging farm produce for groceries and other articles ; but this is on a very limited scale . The

      neighbouring farmers will not employ them , and , indeed , almost make a laughing-stock of an O'Connorville agriculturist , saying , " They know too much for us ; we want men who whistle at the plough , not think ; " and ridicule the idea of mechanics and cotton spinners ever succeedingin agricultural pursuits , - and it is an ordinary thing with the farm labourer , when meeting an O'Connorville man on the road , to remark to his companion , " There goes a Charter . " The population of O'Connorville was estimated by those present to be about 170 persons . They stated that although they worked hard and lived hard they could not live on' their allotments , but that combining their spade

      The National Land Company. Last Week An ...

      husbandry on the estate with pursuits off it they were much better off thou the allottess on the other estates , but had the most unproductive soil to deal with—the average depth of it being from four to eleven inches deep and of a hard gravelly description . It is a curious fact that most of the allottees upon the laud have been pay nig no rent for some years ; in fact , living on it and cultivating it rent free , and this arises from the circumstance of no formal lease of the holdings ever having been made to them . Out of the thirty-six allottees only nine original ones remain , but there is only one allotment untenanted .

      The occupants state that if under the present inquiry they obtain their leases and have their back rents allowed , they will remain on the estate rather than emigrate ; but as the act of Parliament contemplates a disposal of the property , the matter , as with the other estates , unless they are allowed to stay , is likely to end in a general " exodus" or ejectment of the occupiers . The total rent paid at the commencement of the experiment was about £ 1 , 000 . A similar process of inquiry is to be appliecj to the other estates in rotation , under the order of the Court of Chancery and the act of Parliament . —From the Times .

      Londom .- —One of the Ladies' Shoemakers' Trades Society have resolved upon forming a working association as soon as their funds amount to £ 50 ; their object being to "work together to manufacture for wholesale purposes , believing that they can do much good for themselves without at present being burdened with a shop for retail purposes . Bradford . —A new co-operative store is forming at Bradford ; the parties engaged in getting it up are merely waiting for a copy of the model laws for the formation of co-operative stores , which are now in the course of being drawn up . Newton Montgomeryshire . —A number of friends in the

      town are establishing a co-operative store , and have written to the Central Agency for rules and and instructions , which have been sent . We are glad to find the men of Newton alive to this principle , for this town being the birth-place of Robert Owen , should not , by any means be behind the large towns of England in co-operative pursuits . Yeapon , Yorkshire . —The Working Man ' s Co-operative Association of Ycadon have commenced manufacturing the f ollowing goods : superfine woollen cloth , fancv tweeds .

      marble streaks , scarfs , shawls , and handkerchiefs , which they warrant to be honest and good . The various co-operative stores over the country should patronize this and other associations , especially when the articles manufactured arc of such general use as the necessarily are . If this were done , full employment be given to a number of men in different parts of the country , and consumers might depend upon obtaining genuine articles o f use ; at the same time they would promote the principle of co-operation in all its phases .

      Metropolitan Police. From The Fdindurgh ...

      METROPOLITAN POLICE . From the Fdindurgh Review . ( Concluded from our last Saturday ' s Star of Freedom . ) We now come to the Holford House Burglary . Mr . Holford having gone to America , left his house in the Regent ' s-park under the care of servants . About two o ' clock in the morning of the 14 th of October , 1850 , the butler heard some persons effecting an entrance into the dining-room . He awakened the other servants , and , having armed themselves , they went out on opposite sides of the house and suddenly attacked the four robbers , one of whom was knocked down and secured , the other three escaped .

      Several shots had been fired ; one servant , armed with pistol with a spring bayonet , had discharged it across a small bush at one of the robbers , at so short a distance that the bayonet actually touched him , Traces of blood were found , and it was supposed that the man had been mortally wounded , and having run some way had been unable to go further , and had been thrown into the Regent ' s-canal . The fact , however , was , that in the darkness and confusion , the burglar had tripped and fallen just as the trigger was pulled , and had received no injury , except that his hand , striking the end of the bayonet , bad been

      slightly cut , as well as grazed by a couple of shot and blackened by the powder , and the blood came from another of the robbers , who had been severely wounded in the head and neck by a random discharge of small shot . The third man was unhurt ; and nothing was found on the premises but a hat with some very small holes in it . The mode in which the police detected and arrested these three men , will illustrate our previous remarks , ancl show the working of a system which gleans information over a wide area , and combines it for practical application .

      Next morning the prisoner was brought up for examination he gave his name as William Dyson but among the criminal population names are assumed one day to be discarded the next , and afford no clue to the identity of the individual . The first step taken was to place among the crowd some keen observers to watch , not the case , but the spectators . As the examination proceeded , and the feelings of the listeners became excited by the dramatic way in which the story unfolded itself , and their varying emotions were more openly manifested , it was noticed by the police that two women were watching the

      proceedings with an intensity of anxiety which betrayed a personal interest in the issue . Slight as the chance was , it was not neglected , and they were immediately marked for observation . After the examination , one of these women went to a beer-shop , the other to see Dyson in the House of Detention where he had been remanded . She soon rejoined her companion , and both were tracked across the river to Southwark there they separated ; but from house to house the persevering detectives followed the trail of each , until they reached their respective homes . Local knowledge being now wantedthe

      South-, wark , or M division was called into action . The woman wh 0 had gone to the prison was recognized by them as the mistress of a house-breaker , commonly known by the soubriquet of " the Doctor . " The other was soon after ascertained to be living with , and the active assistant of , a notorious ruffian of the name of James Mahon . This of course directed suspicion towards Mahon , and now was felt the power gained by a systematic watch over the criminal population . All the prisons within the metropolitan police district are visited each week hy an intelligent constable

      from every division : besides which it is the custom , whenever an offender is arrested and taken to the police station , that he should be brought out of his cell , and placed in such a position that every man of the division as he went on duty , had a good view of him , so that in time their faces became perfectly well known . Moreover , a patrol visits the thieves' houses of resort every night , and records in detail all those whom they find there . When it was circulated through the division that one of the Holford House gang , probably " the Doctor , " Jiad been arrested

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 4, 1852, page 11, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_04091852/page/11/