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July 5, 1845. THE NORTHERN STAR. ¦ ¦ 7
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THE LAND! "Within that land teas many a ...
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THE UIGULASD AUTOCRAT AXD HIS DEPUTY DIC...
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IIoi.L»w.vy'ii 0i.vt.mi:.\' t.»xi> 1'ili...
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Market fcitrilfgattr
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Loxnos Coax Exchange, Moxbay, Jc.ne 30—T...
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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July 5, 1845. The Northern Star. ¦ ¦ 7
July 5 , 1845 . THE NORTHERN STAR . ¦ ¦ 7
The Land! "Within That Land Teas Many A ...
THE LAND ! "Within that land teas many a malcontent , "Who curs'd the tyranny to which Be bent ; The soil full many a wringing despot saw , "Who work'd lus wantonness in fcrm of law . Byron , ' A yeoi-le among whom equality reigned , would p » sscsb everything they wanted where they possessed the jaeans of subsistence . Wliy should they pursue additional wealth o * territory ? So roan caa cultivate jaor » th ; : n a oK-iain portion of land . "— Gedtcm . "So w . e is able to produce a charter frora heaven , or has auv better titk to a i « rt : cnlar possession than his xeighlwnr . "—Palcy . " There coald be uo euch thing as landed property erisimulv . JIan did not make the earth , and , though he had a natural right to cceinwi it , he had no rl / ut to locate at lis property in pCrpttnitg any part of it ; neither did the Creator of the earth open a land office , from whence the first title deeds should issue . "— Thomas Fe . ir . s . Ihe land fhall not be sold for ec « r . —Motes .
" There is no foundation ia nature or in natural law atxy a set of tvopIs upon parchment should convey the deniinioa of hiud . — £ lacistene . a The land or earth , in any country or neighbourhood , ¦ citfc ercrvJ 3 cnjr ia or on the same , orpertamiug thereto , ¦ bel ongs a " t all tiaes to the living inhabitants of the salt ! country or neighbourhood in an c ^ ual manne r . For there is no Eying bat oahrad audits productions ; consequently , what we cannot live without , ivc have the same property iu as in fcur lives . " — Tloauu Spesee . " Thelaadisthepeopls'sinheritancejandlangs , princes , fters , ni . bles , priests , and commoners , who have stolen it from them , hold it upon the title of popular ignorance , rather than upon aay right , bureau or divhte . " —Feargus OCO'iM-r .
"My reason teaches me that land cannot be sold . The Great Spirit gave it tohis children to live npen , and cultivate , as far as is necessary for their subsistence ; ar . d so Jong as Iher occfipy and cultivateit ^ they have the right to the sol—but if they voluntarily leave it , then any other yeoplehsveaTighttosettleTiponit . Xothisgcanbesold , hot such things as can bs carried away . "—Black MaKk . "Every individual poss-rsses , legitimately , Ac ildr . g which his labour , his intelligence ( or more generally ) , wh : ch his edicily has created . " Tliis principle is incontestiWe , and itis well to remarh ihat it coutaiiis expressly an acknowledgment of the right of all to the soiL x « r as the soil has not been created by sissi , it follows from the fundamental principle of property , that it casnot belong to any small portion cf the human race , who have cresicdit by their activity . Let us then conclcde thst the true theory of property is founded en ihe * creation of the thing vxettstd . ' "—Fourier .
" If man has a right to light , air . and water , which so one will attempt to question , he has a right also to the land , which is jttst as necetsavy for the maintenance of his subsistence . If every person had ira equal share cf the soil , poverty would le unknown in tlie world , and crime would disappear with want . "—Miie Welsh . "As the nature and wants of all men are alilte , the waute < i { = 11 mutt fcc equxl ; and as human existence is dependent on the same contingencies , it follows that the great field for all exertion , and the raw material of all wealth , thecsrth , is the common property of idl its inhabitants . ''—John Francis Bray . " "What monopoly inflicts evils of such magnitude as that cf land 1 ItU tiie sole turner to national prosperity . The people , ths only creators of wealili , possess knowledge ; they possess industry ; and if they possessed laud , they could set all ether monopolies at defiance ; they ¦ would then be enabled to employ machinery for their own benefit , aud the world would behold with delight aad astonishment the beneficial effects of this nudity engine , when properly directed . "—Author of Vie " " Jliprooj of Brutus . "
The Uigulasd Autocrat Axd His Deputy Dic...
THE UIGULASD AUTOCRAT AXD HIS DEPUTY DICTATOR-LOCH LOCK-JAWED . Onr readers will remember that in the course of the recent debate on the second reading of the Scottish Poor Law Amendment Bill , allusion was made to the statements of the Times ' correspondent , idescriteng the present state of the Highlands , particularly Sutheriandshire ; thejiith of which statements have been transferred to this paper . In the debate alluded to , the Lord Advocate took upon himself to term the statements of the Times' " commissioner " " great exaggerations . " Sir James Graham , with a lappy affectation of innocence , interrupted Mr . S . Caiwrosd ' s manly and honest denunciation Of the "desolation" which Las been brought about in Snthcr-Jandshirc , with the incredulous ejaculation , "Desolation ! " And Mr . Loon , the chief manager of the
Duke of Sutherland ' s estate—the gentleman who has the whole credit of its present condition—finished the scene by terming the letters in the Times " araaang mis-statements . " Our readers will remember that when commenting on the operations cf the worthy trio Locir , Grmum , and the Lord Advocate , we adduced at the time evidence which left little doubt as to the traih of the statements of the Times ' " Commissioner , " and the " exaggeration" and falsehood of those of his legislative opponents . The Times' " Commissioner" has , however , since then spoken for himself , and produced proofs of tlie truth of his statements , which settle for ever the credibility of those who assailed him . The mass of evidence as to the desolation of Suthcrlandshire , the deplorable state of its fragmentary population , and the Duke ' s Poor Law liberality , produced by the limes' " Coinmiasieser" ia vindication of Ms previous statements , Is crow-helming , and far too extensive to allow us to give it entire , we must therefore content ourselves with extracts .
First , a word on the Glen Calvie " weeding , " —the I # rd Advocate denounced tkeaecount of ilif . tstrocity which appeared iatllC Zi-vic * , as containing " great exaggerations ; " here is Ms answer : —
TO 3 ES E 9 ITOB OF TUE TIHES . Sir , —Having seen the allusions made in the Hotise-of Commons to the limes' Commissioner in the case of Clin Calvie , we fed boaad , from our connexion as ministers for years witii tic late tenants of that Highland strath , and from onr intimate acquaintance wills the facts connected with the ejectment of the ninety inhabitants removal , to declare that Ctat gentleman ' s Statements , SO far from hting exaggerated , are strictly and literally correct . That little community is now broken up , and its famines dispersed far and ntar ; but the poor people did deeply and gratefully appreciate the liberal and disinterested conduct of ihe Tones newspaper in their hapless case , as well as the friendly and humane attentions of its talcatui commissioner . "We are , Sir , respectfully and faithfully yours , llLdoa Alias , Jlinisrcr , Kincardine , Itosssfcire . GcBTAvrs Ai 2 t > , Minister , Bonar-1 ri 3 ge , Jane 23 . Creieh , Sutbc-rfandskire
This we opine is a settler for the Lore Advocate ; feat asthenics' " commissioner" sap , — " Perhaps his test defence is . that he knew nothing about what Be was talking of . " —If so , he mass be a nice man for a Lord Advocate * TTcccw come to Mr . Locn and Ms "amazing misstatements ; " in Ms speech he said . " It Iks hcen said tfeat the coatritefion of the heritor to one Kirk Session for the poor was tot £ -3 . 'Cow , in the tight par ishes which are properly called Sstheriandshire , the amount of tlte contribution of the Dr . se of Sutherland to the Kxk Session is £ 42 a-ycar . Tficrcic-re ( continues 2 Jr . lech ) the ciatcmeats that have been made , so far from bcirg correct , are in every way an exaggeration of ¦ Riat is tilt fact . "
The Times '" ' eommiss : or . er" remarks , " It is not very clear what ihe sentence means , whether ifi-i' 2 is the amonni ^ Iyen incsch . psruh , er in all tbepanshes liniteii . Bus I will iakc it to mean « -. «• : « it is intended to consul to ilc p zlh ' c—thai £± 2 is the sum given to each parish in Sutherland , in co : iir ? . dk-ticii to my statement that £ ticn < * ir was giver . JJy iafi ^ matlon was derived trenerr . Ur froni ihc minister in each parish , and from each cf tl . c three factors . But 1 will not lcly en this . 1 turn to the " evidence tiven on oath before the Pj-o ? Lf tir Cc-airaisaoter ? , "' wli :- ; eI Si : d niv ststemt-nt corroborate .:. " Parish of 'A ^ ue . —The Rer . Hndi Ji'Eav 3 i'Kei ! r ! c cstu-.- hscd or . cata . This rc & iiu-sn . after statin ;! that Is hr . s hea the laiaiatfer of the jarish since l-ijij , pr . « :-cds : — "Tlie poor as th ? roll rt-edro relief irjin ihe church ccllcrticss . Tin £ ahe of Suti > . jlar . d : s the only heritor . Sic sends ~ ' j a j j rr in cl-1 : ¦; ¦ .: <• : s -: ¦ j < ' s fzrd . "— ( foor Law In-< ju " . rv i ' t-cath . r . ii ) , spjtndis , rv . rt 11 , page i'S 5 )
lY . rLh of Duirncss . — i !» Kcv . Viiiiasi HnciJaicr , minister cf Diiiraus for the hsz thirty-one yeais , examined on oath : — "The Tnike of Sutherland is s > " ;! e proprietor of the parish , ur . a so : ; -:-t .=. 'Cc : ; r . lie zr . skts . ia , ^ asssi allowance « £ . - . to tic- poor ' s fsa-J . ' —( loo ? Lz ' . r Inquiry , i'Ad , IKOeb : * .. ) t Pp-tsli of F ? rr , —The Rot . Daniel 3 I'Ivensp . ^'• -wy-cltht y «; rs minister of the Tiariili , c ^ tuniaed « i oath : A . '" fr-c ] ia " , ; . of 8 : ; ::: crl . Tt : d is sole rr . - . vri-tor of the i ¦ - >•• -. .. v rc : ; t > :: ; ut > . s :- ^ :: ;! ::: fv -iv a Vvar hi uiii o : the 0-- . " f > :, ' . ! ra 5 hlS : s .-Tiic Hcv . Gconre Tu-leeb , , IV "" " l ^ - >~ i--h iav i-srclve venrs , esaiakcu o : i OUi ..::
—.. _„ _ ;'~*\' - ' , - ^ aftcria-d is sole i : c-rit < ir . It a <\ cr j . ' . " , * : ri " " - ' - ¦' ¦ ¦¦¦ ¦ if il : v < - ^ : K ::: irv coI ! c-cri-jn =, of whicli - ¦• i 0 =. ;¦ : •„ ; . £ o lh . ? . - ; . ..,.. ;_ r : ..- —rf . s a i :: t , ! tch . ' - "~ -i--i-: - ' i .- I .-i arti-fciaaicdioi' ^ cpj ^ s
J , i , . . ¦ -I' .-. ll-i t . l . i ¦ . — Amvj .. ^ .. . -. ^ .. 1 ° ^ . "' v- - - -s - " : ¦< ? . y . h : z of x ' r . oI ^ ::: ? of S ::: afrLii : d he Sjv .-s n = fh j :: - . ,: „ ic . w- ^ j h , VD aItr , „ iicavu r . s i rf : u „ i ihj , \ ,=: a _ Ee . s » * Tcnrfocs ' -h ^' v tiv ' - rc : ihr ^ , r P =: > : c-r ] . v . fl . or £ i ^ f » r i \ - * *•< : «• , 2 v a ! , the ctii . ii'U . t ::: ;; - ; -fflifh heinn ' : es o :: t oi a « ! : si if ;?« : ?•; - £ : V : /;^ u , vrs ?~ s tho > - ! su " : ori el tuc t ¦¦ f ..- . Every -nilem :::: in Ln-lsi : * } ; ? rnicu tv ^ fiiLi ^ raics ^ r & z : o ii . e ainuu ^ t of his i-rar ; - } - . i . ' -n Knilish mvlietr . rti liito i . rvc mncl ; in vnv ^ - c cV ; :: it . - s . ra ; uy trv two aiKiret things . - ir . j . Wii 13 j ; -, . iij ; jj t 3 j i , - j ;? ihhiid he can make a h * i r .+- - ' .-.-..- * -v .. . ... .: i _ . _ . : - — . ' . i ; . _ « J «^ -i t j r ^ ,. ^ i 3 wrtil tEti
. . ;*; . , e s ;_ a ; ,- VEIffltvj i |«! - -w < -: . ^ :: t :- .. ; -i- ] . -i , i ' . ; i rfvute dai-Itirt t ^; : rc the Vy-j ' - 'C =. s \ - - 2 ^ tcniKl & tksi ic tl . c lct = ; l tiravisiois for t .: e pt-t- ^ . * ~ * - - - L ' . cn . In lr « < r ~ H ^ -j . rfr ^ r-i a ~ r ? ir .-triiicc of "impror isfi-t , '" tlm "illrp . 1 cstllhi ' ^ n had bevn pin ? . n er . d i < : ln f- dtixr ' sii ' -ihlr * . ' The i ' ::.:-y « = n :-aiiss-ositr"' a * iioh ; y : ci ; k-s : jt is well w assar .: e a T : rh : c if yen Lave itiV » t . Di . ^ til-aiion eassof ^ euu Wj iiiout- 1-arlc ;—foi-xerly ihe r-cwde in ihe interior grew barky . " ^ The ylsits v . ^ jc- cukivated , and no csubt a gocd cttil of * ii : o jiarley jrriwn was illegally monufsctared into v ) $ k < ey- " - ¦' ow ; ho pcnplo I . sve not fcarley even for are & i : > ieydo jot hirz cqqwAi
The Uigulasd Autocrat Axd His Deputy Dic...
for food ; they have not money to buy any ; the glen ? are sheep-walks , and whiskey eannot be distilled out of moss and heather . I will presently prove , from the evidence on oath , that their food is potatoesthat they have no barley , and have no money to buy it How , then , should illicit distillation go on ?" The Times' correspondent . then proceeds to show , from the evidence given before the Commissioners oi Poor Law Inquiry , the amount of relief given to the ' pauperised" poor in Sntherlandshire ; the condition cf the poor generally , acd , lastly , the deterioration of the inhabitants of the country in food , clothing :, and comfort , since the commencement of the maiiagementof Mr . Loch , and the adoption of hispet scheme of depopulating the country , and turning it into sheep-walks . We can spare room for only a few extracts . Mr . DuncanRoss , General Assembly ' s teacher in Criech , examined : —
" The usual allowances to people on the roll vary from 2 s . to 5 a . a-ysar . "—( Minutes of Evidence , appendix—part 2 , page 275 J Tliellcv . Alexander JIacpherson , minister of Golspie , examined : — " The average they ( the poor on the roll ) receive is is . or 10 s . a-year . "—( Rid ., page 276 J The Rev . George Mackay , minister of Clyne , examined : — " We have three classes of paupers on the roll . The sums granted tlietu vary according to the amount of the collections . The highest class gets generally about 6 s . or 7 s . « -j' « tr . Old people , blind and bedridden , are included iu this class . The second class gets 5 s . 6 d . They are not confined to bed , althongh unable for much work . The third class receives about 3 s . a-year , and consists oi individuals who are able to do a little work . "—( Ibid ., page 277 J Her . John Mackenzie , minister of the parish of Eoyart . examined : —
" The average allowance to old people on the roll is 4 s . a yea *; and in cases of extraordinary distress , such as blindness , we give an average of 10 s . Bedridden peopl-. recc-i -e about ids . "—( Ibid ., page 278 . ^ Rev . James Campbell , minister of Kiidonon examined : — "Theallowances to the majority ( ofpersonson theroil ) vary from Cs . to 10 s . " —( Ibid ., p . 280 J Sir . George Mackay , schoolmaster and Session Clerk oi Loth , examined : — " The usual allowance to old people ( on theroil ) is about 5 s . or Cs . a-year . " —( Hid ., p . 253 . ) The Bev . Angus Kennedy , minister of Dornoch , examined : — " Tie average allowance ( to poor on theroil ) is from Si . iOfis . a-year . ,, —( n ! d ., p . 20 O . J The Bev . Charles Gordon , minister in Assynt , examined : —
" The allowances ( to the poor on the roll ) are very low indeed ; the very highest is is . 6 d . ; the lowest half-aerown or 2 s . " —{ Ibid ,, p . 291 J The Rev . Hugh H'Eay M'Keczie , Tongue , examined : — "The usual allowances to paupers on the roll are about 3 s . Cd . a-year . "—( Ibid ., page 296 J X \ e pass by the evidence from other places , similar to the abovej and proceed to show how the poor live who have for their yearly allowance 10 s ., 1 $ ., 6 a ., 5 a .. 3 s . Gd ., 2 s . ( 3 d ., and 2 s . a year , ilr . Duncan Ross , teacher , Criech , examined : — " The chief food af ( he paupers is potatoes . Some oi them have meal and milk ; very little fish " —( Ibid , page 275 . ) " I am in the habit of seeing the paupers in their own dwellings . Tie aged and infirm are ntt properly provided for . "— [ Ibid , p . 276 . ) Rer . Gcorje Hat-hay , minister of Clyne , examined : —
" There is begging in my parish among paupers on the roll . Begging is » oi restricted to any one day in thi week . Vie have betrgars from other parishes . " — ( Ibid , p . 278 . ) " I think an assessment necessary for the support ol the aged and iufinn . 2 Iy reason for this is that the poor are decidedly not provided for sufficiently as they ate ai present . "—( Ibid . ) Rev . John M'Kenric , minister of Rojatt , examined : — '" There is a good deal of begging in my parish among the poor on the roll . "We have likewise beggars from adjoining parishes . "We do not restrict begging to any par Scalar day . We give certificates for begging . " —( Ibid , p . 273 . ) The Rev . Hugh 31 'Kay M'Kenzie , Tongue , examined >—" There is no duty more unpleasant than tliat of
distributing money to the applicants for relief in Tongue . The funds are so limited , and the cases of distress are so urgent and so numerous , that it is extremely difficult , ii not impossible , to deal with the cases with satisfaction to one ' s self . I am intimately acquainted with the distress of the people , and yet I have no money to relieve it adequately . There is a good deal of begging in the parish . The poor on the roll go about bagging from place to place . Jfany d < fso tcith difficulty , they are-so old and uml : Hctceecr , they must do it , inasmuch as if ( heytcere debarred froTx JMs means of subsistence , ihey would starts . Tbeii usual diet , when tbey can get it , is porridge and milk , especially in the spring season , when they begin to work : but they cannot always afford meal , especially in winter , and they then lite on potatoes and herrings , if they can gel the herrings . " ( Ibid ., p . 296 . )
TU ? Rev . Charles Gordon , minister of Assynt , examined }—' " The great assistance ihe poor get in my parish is from their poor neighbours , and that makes them all poor together . " " \ fhen the poor are sick and require additional diet , they apply to the neighbours best able to asdstthem . There is not a wealthy individual iu the whole district . " " . FcrpaKpe .-aandaZlioHtu-a In general ( Ite principal food U potatoes and liemngs . Tlisir lodgings are wretched . The cottages are gcncraUy built of stout and turf mixed ; the roof is always turf , with a covering of heather . Those recently built have a lining of clay , and sometimes lime ia the Inside . The old cottages havo nothing but the bare earth for a floor ; ind * ed , there are very few now which have anything else for a floor . The cottages have generally no chimneys ; they have merely a hole in the middle —sometimes , however , at the end . " " We have a good deal of begging in the parish . The people go about among their relations aud friends , but at the same time thev dislike to be considered as common beggars . "—
( Rid . tp . ' 2 ' i 2 . ) We now eonie to tho « eneral deterioration of the people—the "desolation in Suthe . rlandshirc : "The Rev . Mr . M'Kenzie , of Tongue , in bis evidence , says"I am very positive , and have not the slightest doubi that the condition of tlie people has been veiy much deteriorated by the change . There is more money going abotit us now , but there is much more poverty , and not tlie same substantial comforts as formerly . It is true that when they wereiu thcinariw they were badly offin seaswiswlicn their cattle died . Thcyased to subsist principally upon feshi fish , aill ; butter , and curds and cream . They used to cat no vegetables . They had a few spots of oatsavidbsav ( barley ) , bwt tlit-y bought very little rceal .
IVtatoes were only introduced when I Was a child , am vomit isiheir general food . In the years of distress they were thrown upon the resources of the proprietor ; aud I remember an instance of this kind in 1783 , when the propr ietor was asked to supply meal totf & o people , and he made an appeal to Government on tire subject , which was responded to . lie and all the tacksmen contributed ia part , « ttd tho Goreramcut afiitfued assistance in peas meal , which was distributed by the Kirk Session . IIcwever . these years of distress icere by no means of frequent « e « rrc : ; -e , « a « dtey hate , in fact , been tntteft more frequent since the change . I onsidcr that the frequency of the periods of distress nn & tr tin old syslesi has Ian eery mv . clt exaiterated , and has been made improperly an excuse for the cl . al ge . "—( Tt . id ., p . 297 . )
The Rev W . Fiudlatcr , of Dnmess , and the Rev D . ii ' . -i eczie , of Fan-, give similar evidence . Kow for the " isolation "> - j lr . Donald Jl :. cJonah , ofLochiiivc-r , in his evidence , says" I have a f « rm of 33 , 000 acres—one-third of the parish of Assynt . Tiie wliult : is a pasture farm . I have eleven skiSjki-rds ur . dermc . " {/!•« » ., pp . 512-3 . ) Tiie Rev . George il'Kay , Minister of Clyne , in his ev 5 Jcr . ce , sap" A great proportion of the population in my parish eossists of persons who have been located in villages ale : !; , ' the ecast . hiring been prttteetly hiliabiUinls in Ua interior . 37 .- ; Vzd in iii Ulterior luis noio beat conrcrta ! into AcepstuirsJ ' T ! :-i Uav . Ctdi-la * G « '
eriii ' --e , ays ^—•• T .: e sr . eater part cf Assynt is laid otrt in shccp-farms . Iiuifrc-. restM-i'aiiofthe population is coniiniil to tin siiorcv — ( if . ? :, ' ., p . ?! £ - ) I : i eor . tr . ist with the shove , wc qnote the uerc-ript : o : i cf this t ! : < tr . x-l iu former times , as civen in In I- ' o :. ' s - . Ytt-k on Scotland . He is Writing nW . l Sirafhii . - . v-. t , which was then thichly peopled . The ^ rcatoi pari of iliis Strain is now held by the notorious i'AT ? i .. u Sr . u .. ' -ss , w ! : o cleared out the population , and vl-xs irvly i : v . > r < hrot-: s doings in 1311 v , e de-. vcribea ia otir aititie headed "The Autocrat o ; r-fithcrlamishtre Unmasked , " in f he Xteur of . lunc 21 sf This -. s-yrscthan Bithatistd brigand occupies an cst--i ; S r . i' soil of tilciU ti : v : ;'; r- '' r ,-. c tkiIcs ly seventeenin the whole of that extent of eour . tiy thcre ^ is not ; cottage hut wiiat is occupied by Ms skep ' f : ds , o-.: i--. <« in ^ ui , ;;; : r ; whilst he hiiusvlf is r . on-residcnt . !«¦ For . ^ eakhii cf this ( now ) vast dcfcrt , » ys : —
" Th ; i !? hnbitai :: 3 are great hatters , and tle :-piee thos . w 3 : o an r . x , so that veuisju is with them a cu 2 : aiui : Cish . " Speaking of the northern districts generally , he 'Here we found , hffwever mountainous ar . d wild the country atspcared , ' ' in * people extremely well furnislic ; v . ii-i vr < : vi ? iov . s , especially four sorts in pvai plenty , two vf 11 ; . -ra i ^ H . -ieut tor a ew 3 ::: oii tabic , tiie Ot ! : cr two the - -t = k ' . idour u : the p-catest . 1 , V . ry good bread , as wiH - ji :-br . ad--is wht'at , thouth ihe last not fo cl ^ ai » a « the--:: i . . ? . Vi . aL .-oa exceeding pler . iiful , and at all t -cnsiMi :- ,
yjusg or t .:- * , v . htcii they kill willi their guns wii ' - ' t ; -.: y ii :: ; i it , l \ -v there is no rcslraSnr , on which t !< vf > wst aiiihe liislilaadei-shave sirc-avr . - . s , ar . d becono tsc ;! : enr M-rksmta . S . 'Saltavii in siidi plenty as is rcsrcely crtdillc , and consequently so cheap that , to those ^ who have any suVslar . ce to buy with , it is not worth gi ^' Wg ti : en :-tlves U : c trouble to " catch if . This fh * V cat fresh in 'J e season , and at other times cured , by being dncd In thfi .-jia , aad so $ K * iQ & ail the yev . i . They h > re no
The Uigulasd Autocrat Axd His Deputy Dic...
want of cows and sheep ; but the cattle are so wild , thut sometimes , were they not by their own disposition used to flock together , they would be much harder to kill than the deer . " Compare this description with that given above of the present state of the Highland population ; to winch let us append the following addition by the Times' "commissioner " : — "It is not 4 vears ago since the tenantry of the parish of Koyart , on paving their rent , were assembled by Mr . Gunn , the factor , bv order ot Mr . Loch , and told in English , and what he said « as interpreted to the peopled Gaelic by the minister who stood by him , that it was " the law of the estate " that if any of them , or their children , hilled a head of game , they should be immediatel y removed from their holdings , and they would ect none othcr # n the
Sutherland estate . The Game Laws are bad enough without this 'law of the estate . ' The same rule holds with regard to Miing in the rivers . They are all tenants at will , with a ' ground oih ' cer' perpetually prowling about them , and watching them . Imagine their state of dependence . If this is denied , 1 have instances to prove it . " Respecting the astonnding statement made by Mr . Locn , that , lor twenty-ei ght vcara not one farthing of rent had been received from tho Sutherland estate , but that , on the contrary , there had been sent there a sum exceeding £ 69 , 000 , tlie Times' " commissioner" says— "This may be true , but the people of Sntherlandshire have not benefitted b y it . " lie adds— " Mr . Locn for thirty years has managed the estate , which is co-equal with tho county , and he deserves all the credit of the achievement . "
Wc think onv readers will aaree with us , that the Times' " commissioner" has fully vindicated himself from the charges of " exaggeration" and " misstatement , " at the same time turning the tables on his adversaries . Wc regret that it was not possible for us to give his vindication comp lete and entire , for which we must refer our readers to the Times . The pictures we have given of tyranny , rapacity , and selfishness , on the one hand , and slavery , misery , and helplessness , on the other , existing throughout Sutherland , is probably without a parallel in anv country claiming to be civilised . Even in Ireland " , the " wild justice of revenge , " to which the poor hesitate not to appeal , affords them some protection through the fears thereby excited in the breasts of their
jppressors . Not so in the Highlands , there the cottiers : ave not yet been driven to assassination , despite tie wholesale usurpation of a Duke , the tyranny of a Locn , the rapacity of a M'Do . vaid , aod the murders ; f a Seuaiis . IIow long this state of things will i .- . st is another question , * evcu tlie endurance of tin " -retched and tiie helpless sometimes comes to an . nd : humanity will vindicate its claims , even though t be by bullet and torch . Pray heaven that any such Ireadful alternative may be spared the virtuous ¦ eople of the Highlands ; pray heaven that the public . pinion now forming in their behalf may so grow and trengthen as to be found—and that speedily
toonl-sumcient to rescue them from their miserable lot . One thing is certain , the exposures wc Live madeihanks to the JYtom—of the rapacity , cruelty , and tyranny of Highland landlords , their agents , and jhcep-farming tenants , must have the effect of more s-idely opening the eyes of the class wc address , to the enormous injustice aud wrong of the present system of land-holding , and the necessity of the Mifferun ^ classes using all their energies to break down this monstrous usurpation—this prime progenitor and main cause of all other social crinies and sufferings . We have now done with the Highland autocrat and his deputy
dictator" We leave them alone in their glory 1 "
THE SCOTCH POOR LAW * SYSTEM . We resume the consideration of the report of the Commissioners of Poor Law inquiry . We commence s-.-ith their -views aa to the poor of the large towns of Scotland ; they say"It must bo admitted that , in periods of a depressed state of trade and manufactures , the labouring classes are subject , in many instances at least , to severe privations . Iu Scotland , the wants experienced by the working classes during these periodical depressions , hare been hitherto relieved , in as far as relief has been afforded , by voluntary subscriptions and contributions made by the
wealthier portion of the community , sometimes of a more local , and sometimes of a more extended character , according to the supposed urgency of each particular case . The question then , Which we have to resolve is , whether the amount of relief which may be thus obtained , supplemented from such other sources , as iu conformity to the provisions of the existing law may be made available for the purpose , bs sufficient to meet the exigencies of tlie present condition of the manufacturing population , or whether we must substitute some such entirely new system as that of providing ths relief required by means ot assessments , and administering the funds so raised under the checks supplied by a workhouse .
" It must be admitted , & c . —how cautiously , and with what evident reluctance these pleaders tor , and apologists of the aristocracy " admit" the existence ot distress amongst the people . We shall presently show that respecting this same distress , and more than that , frightful , continuous pestilence , the re suit of physical want , tiie commissioners could have had no manner of doubt wh : u they wade out their report . They go on to say— . The deeper depression of the condition of ihc labouring population in the Scotch manufacturing towns , henfounded on , is interred from the large proportion whicli the deaths from fever in these towns bears to the whole
amount of their mortality 4 In some of tlie manufacturing towns of Scotland , as we have elsewhere remarked , tin mortality from fever has been , on an average of sevura ; years , eleven or twelve per cent . ; and in Glasgow , it : 1837 , it amounted to twenty per cent , of the whcU . 2 ? o \\ that the great mortality of some of the large towns o : Scotland , arising from fever or other epidemics , may bi fairly ascribed to the less comfortable condition of th : labouring and pauper population , tec do not presume to dispute . But admitting that the question of the aggravated mortality from fever is thus adequately solved , we apprehend that it is not to be at once inferred from such an admission that the principle of the existing Poor Law is essentially licious ,
TJie principle of the existing Poor Law is not " essentially vicious . " Ou the contrary , that" principle" is essentially just . What we complain of is , thattlmtlawhas not been executed , that its provisions have become a dead letter , and that those who were appointed by the law to enforce its provisions , and to sec that tile poor had " needful sustenance " provided for them , that these false shepherds , the clergy and the magistracy , havo allowed the law to fall into disuse , and have even connived at , and been parties to its practical abrogation , to suit and serve the avarice of the property-holders , in violation oi tlieir own vows and oaths as clergymen and magistrates . These commissioners admit -that the mortality arising from fever in the largo Scotch towns
is immense , and , as compared with English towns , enormous ; they acknowledge that this mortality is caused by the lcis comfortable condition of ths labouring and " pauper" population ; that this Is the aise , they say , ' * we do not presume to dispute . ' " But fearful that they have admitted too much , that they have let too mucin of " daylight into the system , " thev add that " it is not to be at once inferred from such an admission , that the principle of the existing Poor Law is essentially vicious . " What wc do infer is , that the practice , the working of the existing Poor Law is essentially bad and infamous ; and thus it is so we will at once proceed to prove from the evidence iiven on oath before tiie commissioners themselves , relative to th-c state of Edinburgh , tho capital of the
kingdom : — Dr . ILixBrsiDE ( examined ) . —Bo you find the [ Royal Dispacsary ] patients iu a state of destitution ? Sc freqnently , that the medical men aud tho students often lint ! t necessary to draw their purses . Since I began with the dispensary I see an increase of tiiose who apply in destitute circumstances . They have often nothing to boil water in—nothing to put their feet in if ordered to bathe their feet—no bread or w . eal for poultices . It is very usual for the medical men and tho students to payout money for comforts veiiv . ii-cd by pat-cuts . —They don ' t provide diet ? Xo ; but the medical men iie . Tieutly contribute wiue and soup . It is tt cttstomaiy thing for a u-. j'iieiu man to have vane in his house for supplying poor
patients ; and to havo soup ready also , so ti : a ! a patient t =: ay send for a boui , which is given with breiii . The students exhibit the same philanthropic spirit ; ami thej are necessitated io do & C > , otherwise ihe disease [ chronic ] advances apr . ee . —In many c ; -. » c-s would not iiuiriti ' '> us i ! ic-t or wins be almost csst-. itial to their treatment Doubtless , essentia ! , and ! ht « might often avert the future stages of the disease , saii tff .-cv a cave v . ilinw . —And « a . c * ! irnl cfui-ir , when iiu : ri :: V » ts diet was ordered , w « : hl taVrd means aad funds suBu-Uirt I Cic ; a- > . ' so . —V > ' o-. iW i- . ot that bo an advimfasc which the treatment of cases . . i medical officer cotmectcd with the worhhouse woitbi / rocure ? A dvcided u : Av : ; iii ; ve . Ou tl ' . at ^ point 1 ^«> . ibicrve that destitution , as I conceive , is iruiue-iiUy' -hi source of disease Have von ohserved that tvpi' » 3 lever
i . as conic :-. t periodical i-. ircrvi-. ii . :: i .:: < . ' ;; :::: <¦ : iinii : ! Ci" ft--• 5 m :: 3 ! -yox and other cyidc-aue diseases ? Acce ding ^ t .. . ihc predisposition in the system it has . I 3 ii"erod » o ; four successive years fiotn tyj-hus fever ; and there wa ; always predisposition . —Hoes it return at an interval o : two or three years ? Do eases cease fo : a ' . « ' "¦* " l ! 1 , ; return ngr . ia ? It is an olse : ration that .. very three oi live years there is in this ipiarter a very aw « i ' . -.-ted form cf tvpluu fever ; bat I cannot verify tiiat remark . Its i - . -turii is connected with i" c stagnation , of trade , poverty , . ic . it if , indved , never total !; : ausiv . t fror . i the dwelUnp of the poor . —You arc aware that it has attacked the families of ticopla in the h'ghc-r rarJ . -s of iiib , a " ' - £ i : '
best condition as to food and raiment , as v . eii cs that of ( he lower classes ? it has undoubtedly .- ^ eeie-.. tbc higher classes , thou-: U in a fcr inferior d egree to ta « lower ord-rs . —Then , wouid you consider dcs'iiutiyn a ? Ac eause , or as an ajrpv . -r . i ' . ion of the dis :-ase ? l wcvi . « . regard i : as a pi . v . 'enV . l ; , ro .: ir ^ oi inj ? catusc to the typiiu ? fever in afS-t-t-ag the ? y > -: ein ; Ihc opnoyife K-i ' -S u ! " ° ' - veiful prsv . ating cause to th « r iiring infected . - —Have you been led to observe the p : opoi tion in the m ' jrhcr and h" ' . ei cIjssecs who have falica victhiu to typhus fever ? 1 bavc The result is lluit the iowiw clr . sses sufte-r most ; and I ear . explain the- reason . —Can you stat .- tha pro uortloa wit ! - any raixutenoes ? Ko , I cannot , il ; att-. i . t ' . ou lias not becu giv .-a to tbatso & aefi ae 9 Paw i * 2 « S ; iHi * irotiJil satuniM /
The Uigulasd Autocrat Axd His Deputy Dic...
be . —Do you consider tliat destitution is adequat * of itself to generate feyer f " Not of itself usuaUy ; but it is believed that the febrile virus is sometimes generated epontnneously in indi gent persons . —When you answered that question about the higher classes , do you mean the numbers were absolutel y less , or only relatively ? Absolutely less in the higher classes . —Then you stated some time ago that you considered the allowance of tho poor by no means sufficient , vfiiat would you consider a sufficient allowance , taking the age and the number of the children I shall answer it with reference to the lowest state of deslitution , so as to state what would maintain health . — With reference to different degrees ! Then , proceeding from the lowest class , I would , with regard to a father and mother with four children under ten , at ¦ he working period of life , sriy from observation that
2 s . Gd . or 3 s . a woolt might make them comfortable . — When you said that many received nothing at all , did that apply to the number of poor persons who were tinwilling to come for relief from public funds , or to those wlw had applied and been refused . —And only to cases of disease ? You don't speak of those who have applied where there ivas no complaint ? I understood those who applied had a legal claim , and did not get assistance . One general observation is , tliat tho lower the sphere of individuals to whom the application is made , the greater is the liberality displayed . —Till you come to the lowest t In the lowest state half of what is got may be given away to persons in the same condition . I have seen them disregard their own health , and tho fear of contagion , and starve themselves to aid a suffering and sick neighbour . Not only will they do what they can for those in health ,
but to a still greater amount for those who are labouring under disease , and from whom there is no prospect of a return . —You would not wish to put n stop to that benevolence among the poor ? Certainly not . —Would not a large public provision hinder that efflux f I scarcely think it would operate thus , or that tho efflux of charitable feeling would be exhausted . It cannot now overtake one-tenth of the suffering that prevails . I can give three instances of persons starved to death in the course of tbc previous winter . The first was received into one of my wards in the Infirmary ; another was in another ward of the Infirmary ; and the third died in his own lodging . — Did you open ? I opened one , and was present at the examination of the ether two . One was my own patient , and , I have no doubs , died from starvation . I may mention , however , when asked about the lowest poesible sum
to support an adult man , that perhaps Is . might do for a single man . I know a man ( that man is the man Forbes ) with whom we had Constilcrable difficulty with reference to his settlement . He says , "I can do very well with Is . per week ; " he bos a pretty comfortable place with his sister ; he says 6 d . goes for nourishment , — very course imleed , but yet sufficient —For a week ? Oh , yes ; sometimes he has not more than a roll a day . —He looks to other sources ? He has no other sources than tliat one shilling . Mr . Brown , Mr . George Forbes , and Mr . Henry Orahame , aid in thus supporting him . —You mean that a man with a family might be supported for 2 s . Gd . ? I consider flint as the sum far the lowest stage , exclusive of house and clothing . — "When you state that 2 s . fid . would maintain a man , and wife , and four children , do you mean tbut that would be sufficient to maintain them without any other sources of income i Yes .
Mr . wiuiisi Johnston , town-councillor ( examined ) : — The inquiries we instituted led us to some distressing revelations . I have found men , for instance , houest , industrious tradesmen , who , having sold or pawned every article within their dwellings , were at length reduced to ask the smallest pittance of bread or meal . In many instances they assured us ( and we found the statements true ) that they bad not tasted food for twelve , fifteen , twenty-four , and some even twenty-cight hours . I found , in some cases , that the very grates of the parties had been sold or pawned ; and , in numerous instances , when we gave a pittance of meal , they bad not the means of cooking it , nor salt to season it with . There were many who had been in a respecfable way as tradesmen , reduced to perfect destitution , through causes over which they had no control , " We gave a supply only once a week , as our funds were limited ; and wc distributed among the parties thus : —To a single man , we gave three tickets ; to a husband and wife , four tickets ; to a husVand and wife with two children , five tickets ; to all above five children ,
six tickets . Each bread ticket entitled the holder to a half loaf at 4 Jd ., find each meal ticket half a peck of meal at 5 | d ., meal being about lid . the peck at . that time , and the bread 9 d , per loaf , second quality . We did not allow them to purchase for themselves , but wc entered into a contract with a respectable meal-dealer , who divided the rations as wo directed . I may state , that at this time , though the privations of the poor were very great , as 1 have described , I could discover no instance of their having exchanged the meal or bread tickets for spirits . Such a story was indeed got up , that we were dealing out rations to persons who were not making a good use of them ; and as chairman of thex committee I instituted . rigorous , iiiqtiii-y ; and I am glad to say that in no instance was the relief so exchanged . On the contrary , the whole of my experience ltd to the result that tho poor were far more anxious to recover the small articles of clothing and hoasehold stuffs they had pawned , than to indulge in personal indulgence of any kind . That seemed f heir greatest t anxiety .
Captain James TnoMsox , for seven years treasurer ut' the House of Refuge , gave evidence as to the A'stematic opposition pursued towards " paupers" to prevent them making good their claim for relief . The following is a specimen of his evidence : There was a blind woman in the West Church parish : ' or many years . I applied for that woman . I walked rifty miles to get evidence of her claim . Reekie is her name . She is a native of Edinburgh , or of the IVest Church parish , and she got diseased . She lived in Leithstt-eet , in tito common stair near Littlejohn's the baker , for . a period of five years iu different fiats , and she was very respectable aud well conducted generally . She kept her complaint secret till she lost her sight . After being in the Infirmary or lock hospital , she came out . I thought there . would be no difficulty in establishing the claim of a blind young woman . She had lived just ot die particular point where the two parties unite . They would undertake nothing . I went to try and get proof
how long she had lived there . Then the question was disputed about the parish , but I discovered that tho West Church parish was in the habit of charging poor rates for the place . Jlr . Littlcjohn told me so . I told them that as they levied rates , they inust provide for the poor of tlie place . Ultimately we did succeed , but the managers opposed her claim for three or four years . —That was a dispute about the boundary of the parish , and , after all , you succeeded . Ihtt can you point out a case where you did not succeed , and where there was a good claim 1 I recollect a case ( I forget the name ) , a sort of half idiot , whose father and mother were never married , consequently the settlement was the mother's . —These are cases of difficulty ? O , there aro difficulties in every case . This girl's mother died , and was buried by the city parish " ; and ( hey were in the habit of assisting the mother and daughter at times . When the mother died , the girl was sent to the refuge . I applied , and attended meetings of tlie city managers , on this girl ' s account ; and I never could get ths claim established .
Mr . Macadlat , town-councillor ( examined ) : —Are you not a member of the town-council ? I am . —What would vou consider sufficient for a man reduced by sickness , and " coming ou the poor funds ? That is not a very easy question ; but I have inquired what would suffice for u man who had « family . A poor man came last night—he is a furniture polisher—I employed him in my own house , and he is working at this moment . I had an upholsterer in the same way—I had : > . great deal of conversation with hira , and asked him how ho managed : —first , he had two children , himself ; and a wife—he got sixpence a'day from the relief funds given in charity . . I asked him how he managedto live . He said he bought twopence worth of oatmeal wiih . 1 little fat—this was stirred about , and he got one meal always every day from this . Then how e ' o your children fare , I asked—ho said , I leave fourpence
with the wife , and I am obliged to run out of the houses because I cannot stand the screams of my children crying for food , —Would you state , first , what should be given to a single man or woman in a reduced state , refjtiiring aid , and then what should bo given to a party with two or more children ? If ihe intended ease you mean be that of persons who should be making a livelihood if they had einployme . it , the lowest should be 4 s . or 5 s . a week to a single " peKon , if you would ward off disease . Icasmot see how ho can live upon less . —You are making the supposition that he has no other source 1 Yes . That is little more lhan CO . a day ; but I would say , that to prevent stealing , and save from downright starvation , 5 s . a week would be necessary . —Sow , for two persons , a man ami Us wife ? it does not require exactly double , for
there are ways of living . Dr . Alison , iu his work , rccoin- j mends economical coo ' ting . I have been nuiking an cs- , jterimctit , a .-id perhiij 5 nobody is able to speak so we'll , for j I have made dishes , and invited them to dine . I know j eight or ten living together , could live at less expense ; than two or three—But how much for the two ? I should . - . ay is . ot 2 s . more ; say , " s . —Then for three 1 I would ; increase the- amouui to a very small " extent . I ' eru . ips , if . you speak of eight or ten , these can live on one-fourth ] the amount required for single individuals . If they I could buy a rufiicieut quantity of food to make a ] ; -. ; ess of it , they might livo at a very moderate ; 1 ale . Some articles arc very ehe . ii ) in this tcnvii . — 'fhen , ' wlu-n you say the allowance from the workhouse is an in- j . ' •' . ill to the poor , yen proceed upon the supposition that ihc ' viorkhouse has not found out that thev have assistance
. iom other sources ? They often know that fact , and irvant an allowance besides . —And no examples have come under your observation in which you think the allowance -jiil-icieui ? I don't know one single instance , audi know many instances to the contrary . 1 have known a man j a-iii r . 'oninn in this city die of starvation . I perhaps don ' t j know any getting relief from the parish ; but the diliicuSly I of getting that relief is so great , that parties have died j bjfove tiH-yeoiud obtain it . —Gould you mention an ins ' . atiee ? Tin-re was a man of the mime of M'Ge . n-y , who j "• • . 'is reduced fo great destitution . I supported him out of j my own pu-kot till ho « ot work at the Meadows . He kept [
. witliuj ; 011 amidst diitiuuiiics , but was overtaken by disease aud dtiith . Ik died aetuaUy of starvation . —Do you know if parties have the alternative of going into the workhouse 1 Tluy have 11 . 0 opportunity . This man M'Gen-y , ¦ - ¦ ' whom I allude , had no such alternative , and the meu-: ion of his c . isc will feud to o :: o important observation . My convictk-u s , that there will he no good done to tlw ,. ' 101- of Great EWtain till there is one law for tho three i . iugdoms . A law for Scotland might do some good , but it would not be thoroughly effected without a law for tho whole three kingdoms . One reason that leads to this conclusion is suggested by tlio wise I havo now nwntiowud . JI * Ptny ffus hob ia IrvlqtA bn $ tg > U 3 S to , S «( 4 teH
The Uigulasd Autocrat Axd His Deputy Dic...
where he lived many years . He then went to England , and wasted himself In working as a mixer of paint ( a very unhealthy business ) . He returned to Scotland . A question arose with reaped to his parish . "With all the little influence I had , I could not obtain permanent relief for him . I took him to thu charity workhouse , where he got temporary aid ; but they got tired of him , and he was at this time supported by myself . —Was he temperate ? lie Was . —Ilfi COUld uot make out a good legal settlement ? He could not , there was so much dilliculty in showing the residence . —Then yon don't bring that forward as an instance iu which the workhouse lias given a mere illusory allowance to the poor 1 Oh no , because this man never got any aid except temporary ; bat the temporary aid was so trifling , thatjhc actually , in process of time , died fur want of the necessaries of life .
t What a mass of wretchedness docs this evidence disclose 1 According to Dr . Haxdyside " destitution is frequently the source of disease , " typhus lever always rages when trade is bad aud employment scarce ^ indeed , this fell disease is " never totally absent from the dwellings of tho poor . " So wretched is the lot of the Edinburgh poor , that " they havo often nothing to hoil wafer In—nothing- to put their feet in , if ordered to bathe tluir feet—no bread or meal for poultices . " The medical men cannot be insensible to these sufferings , and it appears besides risking their lives , too often sacrificed , they tax themselves to alleviate the misery they aro compelled to witness , but which the law , or rather the law ' s executors , refuse to relieve . This is highly honourable to the medical profession , but still of but little avail in stemming the flood of wretchedness , of which their patients arc the victims . Dr . IIandyside adds ,
that Irom personal experience , he knows of persons having been " starved to death ! " Tlie misery described by Dr . IIasdysidk is corroborated by Mr . Joiixsto . v , Captain Tmnisox , and Mr . Macu-lay ( besides many others , whose evidence wo arc unable to find room even to notice ) . Mr . Macaulay states tint he considers the allowance from the workhouse " an insult to the poor . " Ho knows of " no single instance in which the allowance given has been sufficient . " lie has known individuals to " die of starvation" under the allowance allowed them . Yet after all this , this accumulation of fearful facts , the commissioners reluctantly acknowledge that there is sumo poverty that occasionally tho labouring classes are subject to severe privations—that fever " may be fairly ascribed" to these privationsthese admissions they make , still they cbmpionise the system which has permitted , aud docs permit , these fearful evils .
Wc must reserve ( through want of room ) the conclusion of our remarks on tlie commissioners report till next week . "We cannot leave tho evidence given above , without making special reference to that of Dr . Haxdyside . It will be seen that that gentleman makes oath , that in his opinion as a medical man , the sum of 3 s . Cd ., or 3 s . a-week might make a man , his wife , and four children comfortable ! But he goes lower than that , he adds , that he thinks even 2 s . Gd . a-week might maintain a man , his wife , and four children ! This is not all ; on his oath he names a man who lives " very well" on Is . a-week ; and he asserts that that man can exist on Gd . a-week for nourishment" very coarse indeed , but yet sufficient ! " This
anchorite of Auld Reekie must surely bo a sight worth seeing . Wc wonder if he has an ostrich ' s stomach , and so can dine on a piece of granite , or digest a lump of old iron ? If not , tlie living skeleton must be a veritable Daniel Lambert , compared with this sixpenny Scotchman ! In sober seriousness how could Dr . Hasdyside state such abominable trash , — how could the commissioners receive such fabulous assertions ? "With Dr . IIaxdyside ' s opinion compare that of Mr . Macaulay . This gentleman makes oath that in his opinion the sum of 5 s . a week to a single man or woman is the lowest sum that can be allowed , to save them from disease and death , or prevent them having recourse to stealing . "Vfc detest
personalities : in warring with a bad system , we would fain say as little of individuals as possible ; but a regard for truth and justice compels us to pronounce these views of Dr . Hasdyside as most atrocious—false in themselves , and calculated to perpetuate the injuries the poor have too long borne with . Dr . Handyside—as a medical man—knows well that no human being , can subsist on Gd . a week . To allot such a sum for the sustenance of man , woman , or child , is a cruel mockery , a deliberate scheme of murder . In stating , therefore , that human beings can live on such a sum , and make it sufficient , he was defending the murderous conduct of those who allot such sums to their fellow creatures for their
support ; and at the same time encouraging the commissioners to report in favour of , and to sanction such a murderous system . It is impossible for as to acquit Dr . Handysidk on the ground of ignorance , wc are , therefore , forced to the conclusion , tliat , to prop up an infamous system , to serve the heritors , and aid the clergy , and " better classes" generally , in their frauds on , and murders of , the poor—for these base purposes he gave the evidence ascribed to him . Wc would not for the world ' s wealth , not for any possible consideration , that our name , like that of Dr . IIaxdysidk , shouid—watered with the tears of the wretched , and blighted by the curses of the poor—go down to posterity , as the apologist and supporter of the Sixpenny Scotch Starvation System !
Last Saturday we received tiie following communication from Dundee , which with much pleasure wc give publicity to . We now find tiiat our Dundee friends were really the first in the field . Their example is of great importance , and wo hope that nothing will induce them to relax ia their exertions for the attainment of an efficient and just poor law . The petition is good as far as it goes , but , judging by the description sent us , wo imagine the Aberdeen petition to bo still better , because discussing the bill more fully , and for each evil proposing the requisite remedy . Wc regret , therefore , that our Aberdeen friends did not send us a copy of their petition , as its publication in onv columns might have been of great service to other places . Here is the letter from Dundee . —
Sir , —I observe in your paper of the 21 st inst ., an artide on the Amended Scotch Poor Law Bill , I thank you for tho remarks you have made upon It , but at the same time permit me to say that we have uot allowed the measure to go on without trying all the means in our power to oppose certain of its clauses , which we consider oppressive . We called a public meeting to consider the bill , and agreed to petition both houses of Parliament . A copy of the petition I enclose to you . We likewise sent a delegate to Brechin aud Forfar . At the former place they agreed to petition both houses ; and we have had several communications from Jloutroso , where they are astir in the matter likewise . Wo have also had communications
from Paisley , and I saw iu the .-loerctoi Herald of the 21 st , that they had had an out-door meeting there on the subject . However , there are many of the towns which yet need rousing from their slumbers . We have got our petition sent away , signed by 3000 persons ; ils presentation we have entrusted to Mr . Thos . S . Duncotube . It might have been more numerously signed , but we did not wish to be too late . 1 hope you will take notice of this , and if you would be kind cuough to give our petition that publicity that is in your power to give , so that some of the other towns In Scotland , where your paper is road , mayknow the clauses we' object to , I think good would result . By doing so , you wiUrauch oblige the committee iu Bundee . —I remain , yours respectfully , Chakles Fai . co . neii .
Unto the Honourable the Commons of ( he United Kitigdom of Great Britain and Ireland in i ' lH-litimcn ! astemUed , The humble Petition of tho undersigned Inhabitants of the ltoynl Burgh of Dundee ; Shewcth , That a Bill has been introduced into your Honourable House , entitled , a Bill for the amendment and better Administration of the Laws relating- to the Poor iu Scotland . Thai certain portions of the said Bill are extretnely objectionable , and will , if sanctioned , be proluctivc of great injury to the rights and interests of the wonting classes generally , as well as to the unemployed , the occasional poor , aud tho destitute . Tlftit your petitioners most decidedly object to that part of the forty-first clause which confers powers up > m the Local Boards to assess upon all rents down so 1 > .. « - : is five pounds yearly , without defining any diss to be exempted from assessment ,
Your petitioners further object to that part of the sixtysecond clause which deprives all able-bodied persrns of any claim to relief when unemployed , seeing tliat , from the improvements in machinery , tho fluctuations in trade , & c , together with a rapidly increasing population , great numbers of the labouring classes may be deprived 01 all employment without any fault of their
» wu . Your petitioners further object to the latter part of the sixty-eighth clause , because it substitutes tho opinions of the Board of Supervision in place of the present claim to be litatd , w ' . uw aggrieved , m tlw Court of Session . Your pviitioners therefore humbly pray tiiat the iull may bo altered r . nd amended in so far as mat ilie oijeclioiiable parts may bo struck out altogether , and li-at a clause or clauses bo inserted exempting all labourers , iivth ' . ans , and working men whose sole income is daily or
weekly wage or hire of labour , from all assessment , recognising their rig ht to relief when unemployed an-i ues . titut « , and that the right or privilege of being heard in the Court of Session remain to us as it is ami has been for ages . Your petitioners further pray , that a clause be added to the Bill at tlie end of the sixty-first section , providing that 110 poor person oi' a sane mind si : ; : il be i ' uvced against their will into any Poor House , and that inch refusal sli .-til form no ground for depriving them U v-eiiout-door relief or aliment . And your petitioners will ever pray .
Iioi.L»W.Vy'ii 0i.Vt.Mi:.\' T.»Xi> 1'Ili...
IIoi . L » w . vy ' ii 0 i . vt . mi :. \' t . » xi > 1 ' ili . s . —Debtors i ir-on In-is-mrii-v , 'Whitceross-strcei . —Extraordinary" <> i ; -o of . Scrofula bv tlte usee ! ' one hrze pot of Ointment ami a bos oi' rills . Captain Jarvts , an inmate of tho above prison , had , 'Sir ten ye . iiypast , several dreadful scrofulous Hlcera on his legs r . nd other parts of his body , which resisted every other hind of treatment , Ilk case was s > desperate as to cordine him for several months to tbc infirmary , until lie was miipoukjusly ( -itfxi hy tie uss d ikme ;&&&& %
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Loxnos Coax Exchange, Moxbay, Jc.Ne 30—T...
Loxnos Coax Exchange , Moxbay , Jc . ne 30—The arrival of Eng lish wheat was rather large daring the past week for tlie time of year , and good supplies of flour and malt came to hand , but the receipts of barley , oats , bears and peas froin our own coast and Scotland were extremely email . From 1 reland . 1 part of thclong-iookcd-l ' orilcetofvcswis oat laden arrived , and we had also a good supply of tiiis grain from abroad . Of the 7-100 qrs . foreign wheat reported , more than half is It-om Dantzic ; and above 1000 quarters from Lamicestou . The weather has , since Thursday , been unsettled , and though hitherto productive of no injury , the change has influenced the wheat trade , and at all the markets held on Saturday an advance of Is . to 2 s . perqr . wascsiablished . At Mark-Jane to-day there was a smallshow of samples by land carriage from Essex , Kent , and Suffolk , and though
some improvement has taken place in the weather since Saturday , factors insisted on Is . per quarter move for good qualities , and a fair amount of business was done at the enhancement . Foreign free wheat was not much enquired for , but tlte trifling sales effected were at very full terms . Bonded parcels were held at least 2 s . per qr . higher than ou this day se ' nnight . Fresh-ground Hour , whether of town or country manufacture , broiightquitclast Monday ' s currency . English barley being scarce was held firmly , but the demand was by no means lively , and prices remained nominally unaltered . The factors refusing to give way much , the dealers ptu'cliascl oats cautiously , still the transactions were rather extensive , at a decline of about Gd . per qr . There were not many beans fresh up , and late terms were about supported . Peas were likewise quite as dear as on
tins day week . Canarysced continues to come forward rather freely , and prices had a downward tendency this morning . In other lands of seeds there was little or nothing passing . CUBUEHT MUCKS OF GBAIN , FEB IJU'KBIAL QUABTJ 3 B . —British . s s 3 s Wheat , Essex , & Kent , new eV ; old red 43 49 White 48 36 Sorfc-lk and Lincoln . ... do 44 48 Ditto 49 58 Xort . huiii . and Scotch white 43 48 Vine 49 -53 Irish red old 0 0 Red 43 45 " White 47 49 Rve Old SO 31 2 fcw 28 30 . Bratik Si 35 Biii-ley Grinding .. 25 2 G Distil . 27 SO Malt . 31 S 3 Mult Brown .... 52 54 Palo 55 59 Ware 60 62 Beans Ticks old & new 38 37 Harrow 38 39 Pinonn 41 42 Peas Grey 85 33 Maple 37 33 White 88 40 Oats Liucolns & Yorkshire Peed 22 24 Poland 24 26 Scotch Any us tio 25 1 ' i . tato 26 29 Irish AVhito 21 24 Black 21 28
PerS 80 lb . net . e s rer 2 S 01 b . net . a s Town-mada Flour ... 43 451 Norfolk & Stockton 83 § i Essex and Kent . ... SO 30 | Irish 85 30 Free . Bond . Foreign . s s as Wheat , Dantsic , Kunigsburg , & C ...... fig 58 38 42 Marks , Mecklenburg 51 54 33 £ 8 Danish , Holstein , and Pi-iesland red 43 16 28 82 llu . siii . iii , Hard 44 46 Soft . . . 44 4 S 28 SO Italian , Bed . . 47 48 Wliito . . . 51 r , 2 82 35 Spanish , Hard . 40 48 Soft .... 48 53 81 34 Rye , Baltic , Dried , ... 23 SO Undricd . . 28 30 23 24 Barley , Grinding . 21 2 C Malting . . 28 32 19 24 Deans , Ticks . . 34 30 Egyptian . 34 33 33 32 Peas , White . . 37 39 Maple . . so 37 23 30 Oats , Dutch , Drew and Thick Uu 26 " 1 ^ 2 Russian feed , 'il " ii 15 1 < J ——Danish , Fi-icsland , feed 21 22 15 ft Flour , per barrel « j 4 26 19 21
London- Smmhc tku ) Cmtlr Mamito , Monday , June 80 . —During the past week , ending Saturday evening , tho imports of live stock from abroad into London wcro again extensive—the rTepittnus , from Hamburgh , bringing 3 S oxen ; the Ocean , PA ) caws , 33 oxen , 'J Jambs , and 12 calves : the Uatavier , 89 oxen and cows ; and the Giraffe , 40 oxen and cows from Rotterdam , —being a totai import of 150 head of beasts . At Hull , upwards of AOO oxen and cows have been received in the above period . The number of foreign boasts on sale hero to-day was small , viz , — 48 , a large portion of which was of very middling quality ; nevertheless they were speedily disposed of at extreme currencies . Prom our own grazing districts , the arrivals of beasts fresh up tliis morning were very limited for the time of year ; while there was nothing amongst them remarkable for excellence of quality . The dead markets king tolerably well cleared of their late country supplies , and the
attendance or buyers rather numerous , the beef trade was active , at an advance on Friday ' s quotations of 2 d . per Sib ; while , in some instances , the rates ruled somewhat higher than those obtained on Monday last—tlio primest Scots readily producing -is . 3 d . per 81 b , and at which a good clearance was readily effected . From Norfolk , Suffolk , Essex , and Canibridgshiro , we received 450 Scots and shorthorns ; from the north of Eiiidand—a portion coming per railway from the neighbourhood of Newcastle—300 shorthorns , & c . ; from the western and midland counties 400 Hercfords , runts , Herons , cic . ; from other parts of England , 400 of various breeds ; and from Scotland , 400 horned and polled Scots . The numbers of sheep-were very small . For most breeds the demand was in a sluggish state , at larch- previous figures . The lamb trade was steady , at lull rates of currency in every instance . In calves only a moderate business ivas doing , at barely last week ' s currencies . The same may bs saitt of pigs .
By tlie quantities of 81 b ., sinking the offal . T „ . s . d . s . d Inferior coarse beasts ... 3 2 3 3 Second quality .... 3 10 4 0 Prime large oxen . . . , -1 2 * 4 Prime Scots , ite 4 0 4 8 Coarse inferior sheep ... 3230 Second quality . . . .-38 44 Prime coarse wooiled . . . s C 4 8 Prime Sowthdowu . . . 4 10 30 Lambs , 50 fi 0 Large coarse calves .... 3 8 4 4 Prime small 4 0 4 10 Suckling calves , each , , . 18 0 30 0 Large hogs . . ... , 30 38 Neat small porkers , , , 3 10 4 2 Quarter-old store pigs , each . . lfl 0 20 0
HEAD OP CATTLE ON SALE . ( From the Hooks of the Clerk of the Market . ) Beasts , 2 , 325-Shcep and Lambs , 2 S , 9 iiO—Calves , 220—Pigs , 258 . HlCHMOXD CORS MilKKKT , Satceday , Jcne 2 S . Wo had a tolerable supply of grain in our market today . Wheat sold from 5 s . Od . to Ts . Sd . ; oats 2 s . lOd . to 3 s . Cd . ; barley 4 s . to 4 s . 3 d . ; beans -Is . Cd . to 5 s . per bushel . Liverpool Coks M . uiki ; t , Monday , June 30 . Several cargoes of Canadian produce and manufacture have arrived this week ; up to to-day { hero is reported 423 qrs . ofwlic . it , 14 , 310 barrels of Hour , and 27-17 qrs . peas , but there aro several' cargoes yet unreported . From our own coast the arrivals of grain , meal , and flour arc again moderate . The import duty on barley lias advanced to ite , per quarter ,
which forms the only alteration tin ' s week . During tho last three or four days tiie weather has been variable , —frequent showers , with a changeable temperature . More firmness has consequently been imparted to tho wheat trade , ami though the business of tho week lias not been extensive , the millers ami dealers have taken mow freely of Irish , paying the extreme prices of last Tuesday . Foreign duty-paid wheat has had little attention , but in bond two or three cargoes oi" Uestcck havo qiinnijcd hands , on speculation , at -is . Sd . per 70 ! b . Sack Hour lias met a fair moderate demand ; of the recently imported Canadian no sales of moment transpired tin to to-day . Loth oats mid oatmeal havo been little inquired for —2 s . lid . to Us . ncr 4 f ) ius ., and 2-is . to 2-ls . 0 d . per 2-iOlbs ., may be considered full quotations for the better qualities , in barley , beans , and pens very little has been done , and prices continue as last reported .
MiSCllESTEU CORX MxBRBT , S . VIV . 7 . ' . ttY , J' . rSK ' 2 ? . —Although the weather since onr hist rftpm-t has been somewhat showery , a ; -: d , at time * , cold for the season , it has not been altogether iinfiivouraWo lor the crops until yesterday , when wo had rain without intermission ( hrou-j . ' ioufc the day . There was , consequently , little or no change in ihc trade din-in ? tlie week , tlie transactions of every article havir . ' / bccn wholly confined io tiie operations of neccs- 'ituus buyers , with a view to their immediate wants , in whicli prices were without any materia ! alteration . At ouv market thfis lnoriiuigfaihoi-aiivmerfceiiiiij wis manifested , in consequence of the weather stiil woariu" an unsettled aspect . Thwc was , i . o-vever , only a limited businow . passin ;; in any uvtiele , but the previous currency was maintained .
Leeds Cons Maukkt , Tuesday , Jit . y ] . •—1-Vesh supplies of ail grain are small P > i !; : s dr . - ' s market . Wo had soineheavy rain early in llioniornin . if , and this , together with the noted improvement in . Mavk-lar . e , yesterday , caused our millers to buy moi-e freely than of hue , and an advance ofls . to 2 s . per quarter has been c .-jfaWtslicd ; there its , isowever , / essdolne in chambered wheats , although fi . ey avi ; hd > i lor higher prices . Oats and beans iii-escaree . and rather t ' earor . No material change occurs in the value if oilier articles .
Lkehs Cloth M . irkkts . —I ? t . irim ; the past vvck there has been a i ' sir amount ofbusii-OM ; transacted at the Cloth L ' tills and warchonses . In Ihe lalic :-, both for the home and fm-e ' ui tnuie . Several house .-, havo been rather busily encased insiiippiiiifi / lf . Li ^ ht limey fabrics , suited i ' oi- ihc in . - . ria'tsof India and China , and others wore Tire-parim !; shii'in'onlsoi ' socus ofa heavier description ' lor ihc vnrio ; : s luarkcls of Europe , aitiiOiii : ! i the busy period f"i- the latter initio has scarcely jctarrived . " V . " ceik «[ s u ; . ' , anil prices rtiiiain about the snree .
Mm . tos Cons M . . iiiiMT , June 2 ;? . —We iunwc a lair supply of wheal em-ina to this i . ' ay '; market ; , but short of barley and outs , which sold at h ; s % week ' s rates . —Wheat , red , -lis . Io 5 is . ; white , . ditto . 50 s . to 5-is . per qr . of- 'O Mores , ibrie ; :. 27 s . to SOs . per 32 stone , oats , lid . to ISd , peratouc . : Yokk Con :. ' . Maukkt , S . m-iiUAy , hsr . 28 . —Wc have a modci-.-tte supply ol ' iii-ain at nur !> - > .- ;; l ; c : this morning , and in consequence of the weather being rather unset ' led at present , the fanners are not inclined to soil without t , h « y can obtain a » reiite-r advance than our factors aro inclined ui give , therefore we have but very few sales effected .
lomc l'onraioirr Faik , Ju . ne 20 . —We had onlr a thin supply of fat beasts , making f ' rem 6 b . Cd . to 7 s . pev etona ; aad only a moderate supply oilcan cattfe mii a btiia ( mpweuMit to pieev ' ' „ '' ** *
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), July 5, 1845, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_05071845/page/7/
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