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    fT* 1 * e ' m1 ' - ¦¦ *" ^ ¦"^ '-r - iT ...

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    The Following Description 0* The Meeting...

    jfe ^ 3 bmtry ^^^ ehu ^ is ch * eer ^^ As to the Land Plan , if the laud is purchased ia the pane of trustees until I assign it over to the share iold en , if there ia any illega'ity or penaltv attached io it , I should like to see the Whistler * or Mr goteon go to the Attorroy General , and ask to re-WTsr tkesrated penalties . Ishouldlike to seethe - Weaver Boy '—the- 'Pot Boy *—dare to prosecute ihe Land members , or prosecute me . ( Cheers . ) Then , like the coble lord , who resisted the out taw actions } n a sporting case , I would go te Parliament fur a 'Q 0 ASHER' for their several suits . But the - « Whistler' and Josh , never told yon , that , besides the troublesome parti of the act being repealed , the icformer must get the consent of the Attorney

    General b efore he could sue for penalties . ( Cheers ) The -jiex tssbjeet ; is Jffh . ' a vaunted challenge to meet me in London in discussfen upon the legality of the XaudPhm—published in this day'i Examiner , and triosp hantly placarded throuch Manchester . He gives you fifteen frothy propositions to be discussed , and as many more conditions for the arrangement of the discussion . He says that I am not to have it all py own way , while , laughably enough , he contends for bavin ? it all Lis way . ( Cheers and laughter . ) He objects to meet mt here , asd says I named the place . What place so fit as the place where the -sUnder has been circulated , and where his witnesses aw upon the spot . ( Cheers . ) What place so meet as the place where my blood has been shed before in

    defence of our nautical principles —{ tremendous applause}—and where the Leazue ruffians , attempted to be hired to-day , can the more easily do the bidding of their employers—for , maikme , youhaTeit upou tbe assurance of one of the mast respectable gentlemen in Manchester , and also of a lad , that at the Manthattr -Ermwuer Office they were in treatv with carries to sssasaisate me . ( Groans , and * Oh ~ ! the villains . ' ) Well , but this disputant propsses , modestly proposes , that he should have the power to empanel one half of the jury by tickets . {* Oh ! Ob ty Saw , don't you think you we a balance jury of one half leaguers coming to an honest and deliberate ver dict upon the legality of a plan which is calculated and intended to take the working classes oat of

    their grasp ? Don ' t you think yon see those impartial jurors reticg their devil an angel , while the more perfect and secure I prove the plan to he the greater would be their hostility , and the more unanimous their verdict ? ( Loud cheers , and ' True . ' ) And then , this mtlter down of men ' * consciences proposes to melt down his jury , whom he knows will be unanimous to a man upon his side , that is hispack—he proposes that they should become smaller by degrees , twtil , at last , they are dwindled down to the chairman and the umpire , who are to decide upon Josh ' s interpretation of the law , about which he and they are as hopelessly ignorant as the unborn babe . ( Cheer * and laughter . ) But , yethe'll meet rae .

    , and 1 tell him that I'll meet him too . ( Tremendous cheers that made the ballding rin ? . ) Ay , and 111 meet him in London too , or in Hnddersfield ; but it shall be before an unpacked jury , freely admitted to the jury-box , too namerons to be purchased and too honest to be partial . ( Renewed cheering . ) And , whoso fit to hearths law expounded as those who are interested ia its exposition , or who so likely to give judgment against me if I have juggled , cheated , or deceived them , as the members of the Land Company themselves * ( Loud cheers . ) But , another modest condition is , that this gentle dove prays for abstinence from all other questions but the legality of the Land

    Plan"Aa ounce ofcivet , good apothecary . " What ! charge a man with murder , and invite him to meat yon , send you a perfumed note to mart you , to discuss the breed of a calf . ( Great cheers and laughter . ) Charge s man with perjury , fraud , and deception I with having lived upon the parings from the poor man's board ! and then invite him te discuss the relative value and property of two tulips . ( He . newed cheers and laughter . ) Ho , no , friend Josh , you are fond of walking into men behind their backs ; you built upon my absence , and I'd walk into you as well as discussing ^ the Laud Plan . { Cheers . ) Was ever such a proposition made to the accused by his accuser ? Firs-tlr , to nominate half the jury and net touch upon the qcesti-n of the

    character ot his accuser . I am to j practised a common-law lawyer for that . If I am the bad man , and if ha fs the good man , ha can stand in no danger from the test of character . If he is pure , he has nothing to fear from the sincerity of motive . ( Cheers . ) Now , then , these are my conditions—the conditions upon ¦ whien I always told you that I would meet my every accuser—tha tribunal before which , and which alone , I shall always be ready to plead . ( Loud and long continual cheering . ) The next question to which this virtuous editor applies himself is the establish ment , management , and conduct of the Nortltern -jS / ar newspaper . He has told yon how Ardill found the money to pay the first week ' s wages ; how the people have been jnjrgled ontof their money and not

    paid any interest upon their shares ; aud with characteristic simplicity , and an accuracy peculiar to this logician , he corrects the ' Whistler' in his assertion that it was he who paid the first week's wages . 'No , * he says / you are wronp , allow me to correct you , it was from John Ardill , and not frwn me , that Mr O'Connor borrowed the money . ' Now , my friends , contrary to all rule , to all precedent , and all license , 1 will go iu to the whole , question of the Northern Star newspaper , its resources and its management , the shareholders and theur treatment , and die conduct and attention of my staff . That paper is . perhaps , a monument of the greatest fidelity cf a portion of the press of any country . Seeing that we required an organ , I undertook to establish that

    paper in November , 1837 , upoa condition that those fer whose especial advancement it was intended should take up SCO shares at £ 1 . a share , and for which the enormous interest of ten per cent . shonld fee paid , besides receiving back their principal on three months' notice . The 800 shares were not taken np . . "Bat now prepare your ears for a commercial pnzslo—that paper , so often endangered by fee rascality of my representative ? , has paid off nearly every share with ft stipulated interest of ten per cent , op to the day of withdrawal , and my clerk is now hereto give an arciant of what he understands much better than I do , namely , the treatment of those shareholders . ( Loud cheers . ) Well , Mr Hobsou tells von that the machine was taken out of

    pawn , and he has told the arbitrator , in Cleave ' s case , that he was always finding ; money for me ; now observe , dates are stubborn facts , and I beg the reporter of the Examiner to be accurate in his figures , an April , 1 S 36 . 1 sold one estate to Mr Barrington , ihe agent of Lord Monteagle , for £ 3 , 600 ; Isold £ 2 . 000 . worth of timber for a thousand pounds , on condition that it should not be cut during bit life time , and ray answer to this charge of the ' WiriV lerV is , 'that I never sold a stick off my estate ; I received £ 500 . that was due to me , and in that year received for hones , cattle , stock , and harvest , about £ 1 , 009 . Now there is £ 6 . 100 . I paid a Mr Large a mortgage of £ 1 , 000 . 1 owed no money , and I should he glad to know if I expended the balance , £ 5 , 100 .

    from April . 1836 . to November , 1837- ( Loud cheers . ) Or I should be glad to know if any man living would he feci enough to establish a newspaper , not having where nth to pay the first week ' s wages . ( Laughter and cheers . ) But suppose it was so ? What then ? J > id it Basically convert paupers into capitalists ? 3 ? or Mr Rider will tell ynn . better than I can , -the emditionof Ardill and Hobson when they entered -jny service—neither of them had a second coat to his fraek—while , during the time Hobson was doing bis own business at Hnddersfield , he was receiving a salary of £ 520 . a year from the Star . (« Oh ! ohrand shame /) Yes , £ 6 a week from me , and £ 4 . a week profit upon the labour of his apprentices , forced upon llr M'Gowan by contract , as journeymen , hy this

    ¦ s ticklerfor the independence of labour . . ( Groans . ) Now these are the men who , failing to ruin the Northern Star , hire become the champions of the people . Well then , I ask yon , if ever paper withstood the assaults thai have been made upon that journal by its trusted conductors , and I ask vou if it is not a commercial phenomenon , that in the admitted distress of its proprietor ,. for mind , I neverydenied it , —( cheers and ' never . ' ^ -isit n » t a commercial phenomenon to withstand the assaults of tb , s rabid rascal and to have paid £ 10 per cent , opor , theshares and to have repaid the principal . I hVrenot done with this Star account yet-HobsoncaTj-. etomewitb . outa sixpence , and although this inflated foolwoaldhavethrown disreputeupoa weavers

    Acd . " tailors as my associates m the directory , he was * * Tot boy * at the howling green of the 'George Inn , BuddersSeld— ( roars ef laughter )—and , to show you that in my estimation that was no disparagement , to a man . *! made him first publisher , and then editor , of the Northern Star , and to show von what there-productive system really is , when under gsod management like Messrs Ardill and Houson , I . shall how draw jonr attention to tbe luc-. brutibns of Mr John Ardill , as correspondent of the Gardener Jloritt , sai upon wh « ise calculations the 'Whisthr * so implicitly relies ns proof of the impossibility of locatlog all the members of the society , basing his argument-upon the fact , that land becomes deteriorated in proportion as labour is expended upas it . " (« Oh , oh , ' and lao » hter . ) "Well , but so it is ; an estate bought for £ 7 , 000 , with thirty , forty , or fifty labourers placed upon it will only sell for £ 5 , 000 . —( laoghter ) -asd then the estate bought for . ; £ 5 , 000 . only sells for

    £ 4 . 0 eo , andsoon , until , after a few transfers , the last becomes less than nothing . ( Laughter and cheers . ) He strokes it away as the Irish poacher stroked the woodcock till it became a snipe , ( Cheers and laughter . ) Well , , but . that's only the theory of this political economist . I'd- s £ » w . j on bis practice , as proof of the reproductive system .-. He came to me in November , 1 S 37 . ' without a guinea in Ma pocket , upon a salary of £ 100 a year , and in September . 1840-as my books ' will show yen—I owed John Ardill , by this cash bonk , in September , 1840 , ttesmallitem—as well" as lean decipher figures , which the reporters and bsok-keepers on the platform will oblige mo by aiding ' ihe Jb—I then owed thisreprodnctive political' economist the small sum of £ 2 , 345 . 6 s . 6 d . ( Shoutsof Shame , shame / and immesse sensation : ) No , no , don't cry' shame , ' I am notcbaron-i'Mr Ardill , I am onlyproving the value of the reproductive system . But voii haven't heard one half of itspowwa jet . Ia 1339 I irasftg , tried

    The Following Description 0* The Meeting...

    inxork :: bT MTAirdiU ' s ! books ' ( ' hew th ^~? i * then ' owedmeabtlaneeof fW ' tWJS and convictcd-the Convention £ SZ % SJ £ A Mo ^ gs ^ e ^^ S ^^ fXnmonS ?^ ' th & "M ** « **«• JK « wS ° tm , » . Pereecati 0 D » »*> iuearcera a ? £ ' £ ? i ° ? ,. clerk "J ™ * wk'J t f * M ° rrreruindous sensation and cries of « Shame . ' ) Again , € tih k ^ iS ^** * ' M IalB mentioning these ^ i ^ . ; Whis tler * says I would be afraid to TvnrS * t l m * Unei » b ** . but 1 * 11 give the IrhistJer a hundred pounds if be would put him

    there . But it so happens that I have had him there once before , and now . mark , I pray yon , the result of his examination . He swears before Baron Rolfe and aspeeial jury , at Lancaster , that—so far from having received any money frpm the Northern Star—that I paidimonej out of my awn property—property , mind , t- 't which I had none , to support this very Northern star , upon the shares of which I was paying ten per cent , interest , and aobody chimed kindred with it then . ( Gseers , and shouts of 'bravo . ' ) . But that ' s not all the value of the reproductive system . Jihu Ardill , before he was with me five years , upon a £ 100 a year , had built ten or twelve splendid cottages , had purchased some heuses , had taken a farm , at £ 4 an acre , from Mr W . Becket . had stocked it with twelve

    or fourteen of the very best cows , had styes full of pigs , a horse , mule , and all the best of implements , had furoi > hed a bouse—which I couldn ' t do—bad become a shareholder in many railway lines , lad built a factory for his brother—who was a mechanic on strike when Ardill came to me—and who , in feur years alter , ea ^ loyed ioo mechanics as a master . Ardi'i became acard manufacturer himst-lf . purcbased several expensive machines , and bnilt himself a factory . H « had a large backing account , and a considerable sum of money at interest , while in April , 1845 . he preferred the security ef the pauper Hob ? on to the security of the pauperised O'Connor—preferred the clerk to the preprieter—and at that time bringing ^ me in debt another lareo sura , he insisted

    upon Hobson joining in a bond for £ 500 . ( Here followed a scene that is indescribable , shouts of ' ah ! ah ! ah ! ' and ' shame . ' ) No , my friesds , I am only describing to you the value of the reproductive system , and having instanced it in the economical management of Mr Ardill , 1 how turn to the science of Hob son . This man came te me without a fraction , borrowed the money to come to Leeds ; here are two letters from John Ardill , the one dated the 7 th oi December , 1842 , and the other , the , 14 A of Decernber , 1812 , ia which he describes Hobson ' s cha > racier as a servant , showing—which I don't believe mind , ( bnchterJ—that he is systematically cheating me out of £ 3 . a week in one department , and that Hobson had then property insured to the

    amount of £ 1 . 500 . ( 'Oh ! oh !*) Yes , and you shall have these twa letters when Cleave ' s arbitration is over , and then the 'Whistler' will have John Ardill in the witness box convicting J-sbua Hobson of weekly fraud , and telling yon what his income is . In one of these letters he dictates cne for me to copy andadiiress to him at Leeds . He says , ' post it on Saturday , Hobson will receive it on Sunday , and then 1 'U answer it , ' and then he goes on to write the most insidious , the most cunning , the most artful and treacherous letter that ever was written by one servant as an accusation against another . In one passage of one of these letters there is a most curious sentence , coming from a leader of the Socialist party ; he says , * lam not for community when all

    the payments are upon one side , like insurance , coals , wages ; and gas , or partially so like rent , ' and then he goes on to describe how Hobson has secured his own premises at a diminisied rent , by an understand in ? with the landlord that nvy rent should be raised , which it has been , he says , three times ; and then he tells me of the injustice of giving mere boys ( Hobson ' s apprentices ) sixpence an hour while . working in the machine room . ( Shouts of * Shame , shame . ' ) Oh . but I asrare you this is bat . a sample of the sack , for I have scores of more curious letters which I will not now hint at , and one especially which I think will be a reason for Mr John Ardiil not offering himself a witness in Mr Cleare ' scase . And cow I turn to that case—tbe strongest case of libel against

    every paper that has published it . The 'Whistler * says > , upon the authority ef Joshua Hobson , that I made a demand of £ 2 . 000 . against John Cleave , and then reduced it to £ 1200 ., and when a Mr Barry and the solicitors of Mr Cleave discovered that the books bad been falsified , made fraudulent , and altered , andwhen ]! discovered that swearing , bullying , and storming wonld not save rae from the heavy re sponsibility of the result , that I then reduced my demand to a less amount , and that finally dreading the consequences of a prosecution for fraud and perjury , mind —( shoots of 'Shame , shame , ' )—that thenl offered £ 250 . to be let off . Now , I claim a large ba-Iancoifrom Mr Clsave , who wasindebted to everybody , while Hobson , as the manager of his accounts , with

    the aid of my clerk . Mr John Ardill ( and who is Cleave ' s only witness , )—this Hobson , my editor , is Cleave ' s accountant and his only teif » e » , and he has sworn that I am indebted to Cleave in a sum exceeding £ 600 . ( 'Shame , shame . ' ) But mark the anomaly ; Cleave is indebted te everybody ; to papermakers and stationers ; and his shop boy , at 10 ) . a week wages , produces a note from Cleave to the meeting ef his creditors for £ S 2 . 103 . or 265 weeks ' wages . ( Shouts of * Shame , shame . ' ) Well , but while this said Cleave is running iu debt with parties upon whose good opinion of him his whole business depends , Hobson swears that he has over paid Dr M ' Doua'l £ 80 , the Defence Fund £ 12 . Bis book accounts with meto another amount , and he is

    charging me £ 40 . which he says he paid Dr M'Douall on my account , while Dr M'Douall is now upon this platform , and I have paid his expenses three times to London and bach , to be examiaed as a witness ; and his oath was that he never heard of it before , that be sever received a farthing of it from Cleave , but that ; on the contrary , Cleave is largely in bis debt . 'Am I right or am I not Dr M'Douall ? ' said Mr O'Connor . ( Dr M'Donall : Yea , perfectly right . ) ( ' Shame , sham ? , shame . ' ) Well , bat that ' s not the worst or half the worst ; You remember , in 1842 and 1843 . Cleave received the majorities of the monies for the Defence Fund , and published them weekly in a separate list , under the head of * Monies received by John Cleave . ' Well , these monies , amounting to

    £ 718 ., Joshua Hobson , as tbe representative of John Cleave , sits by night after night , and denies the receipt of ose fraction of these monies by Cleave . ( Shoutsjof horror , anda voice ' We senthim several sums . ' ) Well , but ths * Whistler * tells yea , how many sittings of the arbitrator it has taken to- settle this account , and that it is not yet ceneloded , and that' 1 falsified the Sroeks which baa protracted the hearing of the case . Now , my friends , here are the books . I admit they are falsified ,: altered , and made fradclent , in nearly every I column ; bnt what is a curious circumstance , the . frauds and alterations are eae asd all against me , and one and all brought into the general account in their al tend state , to bring this balance against me . ( Shouts of

    'Shame , Miase , shame . ) * Kow , here-are the books , ' said Mr O'Connor , 'I invite the closest inspection of the reporters and themercantilegenllemen . ( They were exhibited upon the table , when several ef the reporters and the gentlemen who looked at them , declared that they never saw so shamefaced and seasdalousa fraud . ) 'Well , but , * Mr O'Coinor centmued , * these frauds may be mine ; but mark the curious fact / not a figure , not a letrsr of mine , in these books , from November , 1837 , uptethe present moment , so help me God . ( Tre » andous cheering and waving of hats . ) Ton must understand that an arbitration is not like a court ofjustice , its sittings are not continuous . We have met , I think , seven times , and we were to have met yesterday , but a

    -domestio afit . ction . m the family of the arbitrator , pre . vented us , and I took the opportunity of reading the article of Mr Hobson , upon Cleave ' s case , to Mr Cree , of the firm of * Vandercom , ' , Cree , Law , and Comyn , ' than which there is not a more respectable legal firm in London ; and that gentleman ' s indignation was , if possible , greater than my own : I have given you thenaine " of the firm , Mr * Examiner , ' and tbe name of thcacting agent , and now I'll ' give you the conversation ; ' I said , ' Mr Cree , was this published with your consent or with yonr knowledge V Certainly riofc . Mr O'Connor , ' Iw replied , j' and you cannot feel'more indignant at it than I do , and . 1 shall tell Mr Hobsoa what I think of him , when 1 see him . ' ' Sir / 1 said ; * is there one word of truth

    ia it V 'Not a word / he replied . « Sir , ' I said , ¦ * has' anything occurred during , this protracted inquiry to danwg ' e or lessen my character as a gentle-- man in tour eves «*'' « Certainly not , ' ha replied , ¦ ' on the contrary . ' - ( Lctid and Jong continuedcheer ' ing . ) Now , my friendsVIhave gives you the name , and Mr Turnery my solicitor , of 24 ,. Gr 8 at Georgestreet , Westminster . was also . pr ' esent : So much for my connexion with'fneftbrtforn Star , and the . fraud committed on the shareholders , of whose forlorn condition Mr Riderwillgive ^ you a furthersccouni . And now allow me tb „ ask you , what would be , the feelings of the depositors in the Royal Bank of Liverpool , in Scboles' Bank , , of Manchester , ' in Beid Irvins ' .-and other banks , ahdiri railway and building bubbles andjugglesVif ' thej- w ' eregladdenedwith the news that thej should receiveback their priheipa ' , twen in

    ty shillings the pound , and ten perlcent . interest ? ( Cheers , and "That ' sit' ) . Ah ^ bht tbe Star is' your paper- ( loud cheers ) -iand the land is your salvation ^ , and the rascals , who live upon your labour : arid dependence , cannot stomach the one or the other . ( Load cheers . ) . . No ; but the villains whe quaff J ?* sweat , gnaw your . flesh , and drink tbe Wood of infants , suppose that I , top , would crush their little boxes , lap up their yeimg blood , luxuriate ob wenian ' smfcery , and grow tat upon the labourer ' s toil . ( Shouts of * No , never , * and - waving of hats and handkerchiefs . ) No | I could go to bad supperless , but such a meal would give me the nightmare--nay , an apoplexy . ( Loud cheers , and « God Almighty bless thee- *) I now turn to . Hobson ' s revelation—as tomy modeofkeepirg my accounts of public money , subscribed for political purpopcs ., I have given you hismodst to tfcc aswunt ; . of £ 7 J 8 , repudiated by hit

    The Following Description 0* The Meeting...

    eh ^ Jbbn ClearB-. tatnawrilput ihim' into the Wtoess-box , and prepare for a little astonishment . Zrg : }*** w . ToA Castle , the League-not the onactBts ^ -demandedmy balance sheetof theDefenoe * innih . it was settled ^ Manchester , be & re auditors of MaBches ter-Joshna Hobion ,. yea , verily , this said Josnaa , furnishiag tbe accounts and receipts ; they araall published ia the Star oiMy , 1841 , every item . Six years has Josh , bad to ponder over them , and whaftwas the result ? Why , dESSOi , due to me , and Joshv writing me this letter : — "I nerewouJdhare thought yonwassuchan accountant the dearBSH-of your figures and arrangement actually , astouadei both Ardill and ae , and cave the most unqualified satisiactioa to the auditors »

    ( Load and long continued cheering . ) Now , what do yonsay to my mode of keeping my accounts of public money ? Oh t but I keep no accounts , this fellow says that I keep them upun scraps of paper . Now what ' s the fact as regards the Land . Plan ? Why , that my nephew , who served you gratuitously for a year and a-half , and my secretary , took an account , and entered in a book every fraction of a farthing that came in every morning addressed to me , the first business done , all other t * eing laid aside ; and that book corresponds to a fraction with the entries in the star , and when entered , my nephew , whether raining or shining , tock those letters each day to the Land Company ' s office , and deposited them in the hands of the secretary , a duty that was

    never once omitted during the whole time of my receiving the mraies directly , and a fact , which is proved by the fact of the secretary making out his list of my receipts , and entering them in his book from these very letters , and fo . * which he had no other vouchers , and which wer never repudiated to the amount of a farthing . And you will see , by reference tothe Star , that if an error of fourpence , « r a penny , is made in one week , it is corrected in the following number . ( Loud cheers , and ' True . ' ) Now , Mr Hobson , Mr Ardill , asd the 'Wkiatlcr' say , 4 How is it if a man only pays £ 4 ., and it takes £ 300 . to locate one , how are tbr-y all to be located V There is nothing more easy . It is upon tbe rspro . ductive principle . How is a man who buys a

    begshead of sugar , and sells it out by pounds , to realise a fortune ? 1 would have dene it by mortgage and sale of the estate , but James Leach said it shou'd be kept to enable the shareholders to purchase out their own allotments and to redeem them , and then they would be theirs for ever . ( Hoar , hear . ) Well , now , my friends , what is easier than this ? I told yon the value of this plan of . co-operation two years ago , and have I not shown you that the interest is more than the shareholder paja for his shan \ to sutvey the land , and to make out the title andcimve-anceof the land ? Then , how is it re-productive ? Why in this way . If I get enough of money in the bank to aecnreland enough for all the mem * bora , that land becorp . es security to the depositors in

    the bsnk—so matter aow many they may be , whether 10 , 000 cr 1 . 000 , 000 , they have the security of the land , the land paying it back five per cent ., and the bank four per cent . But'how , says the 'Whistler , ' are the depositors to ect the land as security ? Why , by depositing the title deeds . ( Cheers . ) As to the question , whether the land , would be convertible to meet any demand upon the Land and Labour Bank , that is the reason why I require so much notice before withdrawal , in order that I might be afforded the opportunity of mortgaging the land , or . if necessary , of selling the land . ' Well , suppose I sell the land , what damage ? Suppose I lease the land to Grocott , and sell it to another man , who loses by the transaction ? The man who buys it , steps iato my shoes , and he can only recover the

    amount of rent at which it is leased , as I could . So it would be precisely with the shareholders , if the mortgage was leased fer ever at a rent-charge tothe occupants . and . ifneceasary . theestatewonldbe charged to the mortgagee , no occupants being liable to more than their respective rent-charge . How do the railways get on ? How do building societies get on ? How do men build houses , mortgaging the first story to build the second ? [ A voice : ' And mills . ' ] Bnt the cavillers did not suggest tbe plan : here lies the fore . ( Hear , hear . ) How would Lord George Bentinck . or Lord John Manners have been lauded to the skies , and held out as the patterns of philanthropy , if they had been the authors of it . ( Loud cheers . ) How would the fame of these men

    bs trumpeted forth if they could show you the poor cnttagen placed on the laud as I caa ? ( Cheers . ) If you have four acres , they say you must scary . upon them ; but bow many pale faces do I see here who would be glad to get upon the land ? ( Hear , hear . ) And , my friends , as to starving , how many of my children havo you seen coming from tbe country , made by God , tothe town , made by the Devil , who had less money in their pockets than when they went away ? Why , talk of less money—when there are some of them who hare had the respective sums of £ 50 . and £ 80 . bonus for their allotments : ( Hear , hear . ) Ia there a man among you , in this hall , that would not like to go there now ? ( ' No . ' ) Butif there is any man among vou who thinks he has been deceived

    by me , I am htre to answer for it ; and if there is any one here believes what these fellows say—that it has been a juggle—and would like to hare their money back , I am hero to pay it them . I now tell you that if any man , woman , or child regrets having become a member of the Land Company , or who would wish to have their money returned—by the same principle upon which the government has repealed the Bank Act of 1844—by an order in Coaneil , relying upon Parliament for indemnity—upon the same principle I am now prepared to relax the fundamental rule of tbe system , to rely upon my brother directors for indemnity , and 1 have now brought money with me to repay every shareholder in Manchester . ( Shouts of ' Nay , but we wont

    have it . ') Well , then , I ' ll spend it all ; ( Laughter , and cries of ' Do , and welcome . ' ) Those who have been juggled by the railway managers and joint stock baska wemd bo too happy if the managers would come in this way and say , ' We'll pay your money V ( Cheers . ) Wonld they not be glad to get a farthing back from the building-societies , who have talked of building for years , bnt have never tern a house yet ? Ob , bat says the 'Whistler , ' O'Connor shows us that it would take so much to do this , that , and the other , and then he sees on , having got hold ef a copy of our first rules instead of the seaond , to argue upoa wrong data as to whether the scheme can answer , without seeing , that , owing to the prosperity of it , the directors-have reduced tbe interest from six-and-a

    quarter to five per cent . And then it is asked , 'Why not look to the book at the bank ? ' Why , it is rogues , in general , who knotting their own propensities , would be so exact , so minute in these matters ! They know the invulnerability of the Land Planthey know that they cannot break it down , and , failing in this , these reprobates-, these scapegraces , this Ireland a & d Ballaotyne . seniout the 'Whistler * to the county of Cork , there to ferret out evidence against the private character of feargus O'ConTJer ! : Was ever gentleman treated in this way before by the press ? What do you think ot ' a ruffian like that t Bnt I am glad to be able to meet these people with evidence of their own kind . , I have a letter here wbieh I will read . from Mr Townley , showinghowlthe 'Whistler , '

    when he was turned oat of the army , after gentlemen bad sympathised with him , and relieved him , plundered the house ef one , and stole a book from the house of another , which he sold , asd then cot his acquaintance—here is this man , who is the rabst degraded : wretch , ( and I believe there will be no lack of evidence to prove that he had bis finger in the knapsack of an cScer in Spain )—and this man asks you tor argumant . in bland words ! 'Ah ounce of sivet , good-apothecary ! ' ( Cheers and laughter . ) And this man * who cannot read a column of a n « wspaper correctly , tells me he will not meet me here , bat he will ' meet me in figures or on paper ! ' Why does he dc , this ? Because he knows the paper cannot see him blusi—ho knows the paper eannot

    detect a he in his face , as this audience could ! ( Cheers . ) Why is a man , giving evidence in open court , examined openly , viva voce , but that you may have the opportunity of seeing his face , and judging by that ' , and by his bearing and manner , how far his werds are worthy of credit ? If the . 'Whistler ' wants fair argument , if he wishes for the truth , and is not afraid , let him come hera , asd if he has a blush in his sallow face , if he has a drop of blood in hisheele , I'll make it ' jump into his nose ! ( Cries of' Good , lad , ' and cheers . ) But , my 'friends , if this man is a villain , Ballantyne and Ireland are greater villains for hiring him ! The poor , but honest man , is hired for honest . purposes ; but the rufliaa is hired for base purposes ! : only look at the men th « . ? have got for their

    purposes—John Ardill , John Cleave , Joshua ^ Hobson , Alexander Somerville , and Ce . —here is a . league tor you ! They find they cannot destroy the Land FlaE—they find that their nonsenEe has no effect upon the working classes , and that- the Land Plan brings In more money every week , and the next thing they do is to attack my private character . flow a comment upon the financial concerns of the Northern Star , and I will then call ^ our attention to the private affairs of my whole family , and bad ihe villain assassins met me"here to-night , for my own honour and year pride I would have secured for them as patient and ' asimpartiala hearing asyoulhavc given me , ' as fmy strength consists in my ability to annihilate tbrir crerv . charge .. { Lcud and continued cheering ;) What think ' you , then—when tb * Star htd 43 , 700 of a ' weekly .. circulation and ; w « s making

    £ 13 ; 000 . a year profit , ! was becoming monthly more and more in debt ! While I was in Yoik Castle it had a circulation of from 10 , 000 to 18 , 000 , and in thirteen months the scale turns from £ 120 . in my favour / to £ 2345 . 0 s . Cd . of a balance against me :: white now , under my own management and control , all the monies received by that honest working man , William Rider , I am able to pay ready money for everything , arid the . Star is making from £ 60 . to £ 80 . a week profit , —( loud and long " continued cheering , waving of hate arid clapping of barids , ) -and , thank God , while the ' DispatcA arid my revilera are making smoke amid the jeers of their insulted readers , —( renewed cheers )—and all that ,: '¦¦ the c opyright of the Star , and my bed , and my property—for I have some yet-r-is all security to . the depositors in tbe National Land and Labour / Bank . ( Loud chears ) But while I am upon my commercial character ,, let m unou & ce a fed niieh no untleiaan . And few

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    traders can boast ' of ; after such a life of turmoil , vexation , ' and persecution—I never had a bill protested in my life , except one for £ 25 / and that was given as air-accommodation bill and I paid it . —( Loud cheers . ) Arid now ,. Mr 4 Examiner , ' write to tbe rrovineial Bank of Cork—there Ihad a largo account ; ask the manager what my habits were , and advertise in' England for my dishonoured engagements , and IS tell you that no man in England , no man m the world , holds bill , bond , or note with the . name of Feargus O'Connor to it - ( tremendous eneering ) -and yet I am not to be trusted . I am so luxurious , ! suppose ; or such a spendthrift , or such a drunkard . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Now , for my relations . I am charged with havinc defrauded

    my nncle , Arthur CConnor , in his exile . No v bere "g am , Mr 'Examiner , ' take down names and facts . 1 never had a dispute with Arthur O'Connor in all my life . I never had an angry word with him . I never had an an ^ ry letter from hira , or an angry WP * T Bufc raark the fact . The very property of which I am Mid to have defrauded Arthur U Connor , the said Arthur O'Connor recovered upon my evidence . ( Loud and lung continued cheering . It was my father ' s property ; made over in trust to my sister , for the benefit of his children-I being one ot them—and in case of Arthur O'Connor ' s being detrauded , I would hare had a child ' s share ; but justice compelled meto giveevidencefer Arthur O'Connor . and from that hour to tbe present mv sister ' s

    nushand-my brother-ia-law-and myself have never exchanged words ; and his name and address . Mr txamincr , » ' Standiah Sraifhwick , Esq ., Phale llsuse , tnniskeane . county of Cork , Ireland . ' ( Loud and Jong continued cheering and clapping ot hanils . ) bo that the injury sustained by Arthur 0 Connor , was having received the property and sold the property . Now . my friends . I ask , < , „ , ^ heth « or no any other man living but myseif .-mixsd un as 1 have been m' the public affairs of two countries ; watched as I am by the nation at large ; dreaded as I am by tyrants ; with my every act pryed into and misrepresented by spies a nd informers , and paraded to the world by a blackguard , family . prying , lifedestroying , and degraded arid polluted press—I ask

    you if , under those circumstances , any man but myself wouM be pure enough , bold enough , and iunocsnt enough , to meet them thus upon the public platform , refute their every most insignificant charge , and convict them , one and all , of the basest treachery and villainy ? ( Loud and long continued cheering . ) But that ' s my strength and your protection . Nor shall I ever think that I degrade the dignity of the senator by defending the honour of the man . ( Cheers and waving of hats , which lasted fer several minutes . ) Mr O'Connor resnmed : As to having defrauded my nephews and my female relatives , and all that I was concerned with , I never , in all my life , bad dispute or quarrel , litigation or controversy , with any relative , male or female , with the single exception that I hare stated—with my brother-in-law ; nor was I ryei in an Irish court of justice , as plaintiff or defendant , except at the suit of William the Fourth , ' for trying to rid the country of tithes . ( Cheers . ) I never

    wrote to a relative to answer those attacks , but I will furnish the Examiner with the name and address of every male and female relative I have in the world , and with the addresses of noblemen , mauistrates , chrgy , grand-jurors , landed proprietors , and Roman Catholic clergymen , within 15 miles of my residence in Ireland , and not a man or woman of them would say that I have ever committed a mean , or dishonourable , or ungentleraanly act during the whole of my life ; and I am not going to exchange a life ' s character thus earned , for the stain of having robbed the men , women , and children who accepted mo as a present , and have repaid my exertions with their trust , their confidence , and their hearts ' -blood affvotion . ( Great sensation and cheers . ) But it so happens that , unasked for , I have two letters here ; the one from my nephew Roger , whom the * whistler * says I robbedand the other from his mother , my sister-in-law , whom the ruffian says I also plundered . Now what says tbe nephew ? It is to Rider . He says : —

    Dear RiObr , —I will thank you to give the enclosed into Mr O'Connor's own hand upon his return to England . I see hy the Star that he is to be in London on Saturday next , and it is important that he should vtceivo it atonce . What does this ruffian of a ' Whistler * mean by charging my uncle with fraud , and lugging my mother ' s and our relatives' names bsfore tlia public . Yours truly , Booeb O'Coknob . ( Loud cheers . ) Now here ' s Mrs O'Connor ' s : — Toft Robei'tTfouae . Mr Dbab J ? sixavs , —I eannot express my horror at the manner ia which your relations' names have been

    used ss the means of injuring your character . You say , truly , that you never processed , or was processed by , any person in Ireland , nor had you ever any litigation or dispute with rel tive , male or female , during your life . My children are naturally indignant with those persons who have darad to take such liberties , and I write under feelings of the greatest excitement lest you should class me or toy children amongst your enemies . I remain , my dear Foarxua , With my children ' s fondest affections , Your confiding , fond , and affectionate sister , Mast JjoxoriKLD O'Conhob .

    ( Another , burst of applause followed the reading of this Jctter . ) _ New , said Mr O'Connor , I have done with ray private afiVrs . and I proceed to walk into Mr Mannix and his' Whistler . ' Now , my friends , the law , if I was not very fastidious about character , wonld furnish me at once with a statute ' of limitation , at least against Irish slander . And why ? ' Because I eamejto you , returned for mj native county , in 1832 , afersuch a tritmpa as no mortal man ever achieved before . A eounty in which the power of Toryism could not be shaken by money ; a county nearly the eighth part of Ireland in population and extent ; a county with'thirty-six resident noblemen : with & battalion of parsons whose right to tbe tithe I had been invading ; with the wealthiest aristocracy whose

    privileges 1 had been assailing ; with the magistrates all opposed to meeand the press all : opposed to me , and yet although watchful , living on the spot , and over ready to damn an enemy in a country where private character is of the highest value , not a sentience of those revelations of the 'Whistler , ' not a single line reflecting upon my character , was ever published by a newspaper in that county . ( Great cheering . ) No , the press there was conducted by gentlemen . Well , from 1832 to 1835 , I certainly did not win the aristocracy of the county to nay views , and yet agafn at the election of 1835 , 1 was returned by another triumphant majority , and y . $ t neither then ) nor ever since , has that press , or the press of Ireland , though a portioa ef it is ready tod & mn me ,

    vet no Irish newspaper baa published a sentence reflecting upon my character . ( Loud cbears . ) No , i t has been left fer the press of the money-mongers and the League , for the press of the spies and informers , for the press of the devils who are sure-to hate me in the same proportion that yon love me-. ( Cheers , and Wer heed them Feargus . ' ) Yes , 1 love thsir slander , it ismy life ' s bleed ; the censure of slaves '»« adulation . Now fer my qualification . This Mr Maraaix of whom I never heard before , and of whom not one' of my family ever heasd before , told the Whistler , 'it appears , that my qualification was made out by a roll of bank notes ,, one end being held by Mannix and ethers , as they wouldn't trust me with them , while I held the other end . Now my

    friends , were not Valentino an < H ) rsoE—( great laughter)—great fools to have pinned their faith to sach an ass as this ? Why , just think if money passed , it is the man buy ing the qualifiofttipn ; who sboald give the money and not receive ii ; and yet the- blunder ' buss talks about holding ' tha notes , fearful of trusting me ; whereas if is I who should pay t & e noies . ( Great cheers and laughter ;) Naw then , what da you think of this fellow ? But my friends I needi no secrecy ; you shall have the whale conundrum & f my qualification explained to yoa , and from it you will learn a wholesome lesson , as to the absurdiity of this principle which we seek to destroy . W / aen I went into Parliament , my property was as follows : I hast about £ 400 . n-year for my life , which wan

    the worst property 1 had . 1 made every year ajrout £ 000 . a year by my domain ; bat that domain was only mine for 0980 years , and therefore , not fer my life . - ( Great laughter . ) New that was the law » f property qualification—if I had ten millions a-jear in landed property for nine million years , it would not qualify me to sit in Parliament , whereas £ 600 a-year for my own life , and whieh I had not the power of leaving , would qualify me for a county , and il 300 ayear for my own life wesld qualify mo for a borough ; so that I had £ 400 a-year of bad property , £ 100 . ayear more than John Brigktis required to have , and yet that with £ 006- ; a-yearmadeby my domain , and £ 2000 . a-year mat ' e by my profession , not owing a man a guinea , and'having-some spare cash , was not

    sufficient to qualify roe , although the meaning of qnaliiicatien is the proiumptioa that £ 300 . a year makes a borough member able to live independently , whilst £ 600 . a-year is required for a county member . ( Laughter . ) However , aware that I should swear to my qualification , I went to a friend of mine , and here the Examiner shall havo his address , 'Robert Hartnett , £ * q ., Bsrrister-nt-Law , Macrooro , county of Cork , ' and I told him that I wanted to purchase a life interest on his e . ^ ate for £ 300 . a-year , and for which I would pay hira £ 3 , 000 . by a bill nt six months , and give hira the reversion of Fort Robert , and the timber growing upon it after my death . This gentleman , of the highest character and honour , didn't hesitate a moment ; the deed was prepared , he assigned me the £ 500 . a-year , the deed was registered , and cost me £ 95 . Air Hartnett came to

    London , when I was petitioned against , to prove the validity of the transaction , and the value of the property upon which the annuity was granted ; but four gentlemen , four rabid Tories , from the county of Cork , came to London , and : swore that tbey valued the estate of Air Hartnett in sections ; one valuing cne quarter , another another , and so on , and that on horseback : these four honourable men swore that . one wrote his valuation on his nail , another on a bit of slato and put it under a stone , and another on a stone , and thoy swore that they came within- ' a few farthings ' of each other in the valuation . COh / oli , ' and groans . ) New I was unseated , and , contrary to all rule and precedent , m ' yopponent was seated , although in such cases there is invariably a new" election ; and upon tbe fair principle that the electors should not be deprived of their franohiae , ( Groans , ) Now sji i

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    know aborit this Mr Mannix jis , that a friend of mini writes me . as follows : — Mt Bba * ffBABSOT ,- ! commit the 'Whistler' to year tender reercfeirj ^ nd as to Mr Mannix , I ' m sure you never hsard of him- Hois the natural son of Sir George Man . nix , who-.-wasthorMnjor Sirr of the county of Cork , in the year ' 98 , amd > would hare tamed hangman to bang jour father and ' your undo Arthur . He is not remsrtablator anythingrhut his political asperity , and used bis best exertions to induce Bobby Nettles to get up a Tory opposition for theeonnty-of Cork , at the last general election . I don't know that hv ' was ever called to the bar ; but I know that he-never- held a brief in a court of low or equity , yet I believe lie wa » on » of the valuers of your property—a pretty occupation , forsooth , for a Chancery barrister . Yours , my deanEeargus-, most faithfully , M . Babrt .

    ( Tremendous cheering . ) Now , my friends , I have dealt with the question of qualification , and I ask you . il ever gentleman or culprit gave a more clear or simple narrative of the several incidents connected with his whole oase- ? But yet , there is another charge , and a heinous ene—the charge of cowardice . My friends , when danger was thickest I was nearest at hand . Did I run away from Birmingham when the battle raged ? ( Cheers , and' No . ' ) No . 11 was addressing a meeting at Rochdale , and was to have had a procession in Blackburn the next day ; a fair excuse for absenting myself ,, but I put it to the meeting , if my fit place was not in the midst ; of the conflict ? I urged the meeting to pass a resolution that I should return to Birmingham , instead of

    going to Blackburn , I started in the middle of the niiilit from Rochdale—arrived ^ Birmingham—drove with Dr M'Douall , in a ooach and four , through the infuriated yeomanry cavalry—went to tho gaol of Warwick , and wouldn't stir from the gaol until Dr 'lVjlor . was liberated , at twelve o ' clock at night , and brouuht him back in the carriage with me , in'triumph . ( Tremendous applause . )! When nine ruffians lay upon my breast in tbo Townball , Birmingham , and swore that I shouldn't address the meeting , and asked for a rope to hang me , I extricated myself , single handed , jumped over tho Mayor's head-who was in the chair—and addressed the meeting upon the principles of Chartism . ( Loud cheers , and 'You did . ' ) Was that running away ? ( Cheers , . and' No . ')

    When the Tories hired their blue lambs to murder me in Nottingham I wounded thirty-Bine—( tremeRdouschecrs and laughter )—at least they swore to it before the magistrates ; and I drove 23 , 000 people before mo like a fioc ^ t of sheep . ( Great cheering-, ) I received many wounds , but none in my back , 'Whistler . ' ( Roars of laughter . ) I took nossession of the enemy ' s ship , lashed it to the Chartist barge , and sailed through the ttiwn in triumph . Did I run away when the League hired a band ef assassins to murder mo in this room ? ( Loud cheers , and 'No . ' ) No l I was knocked down five times—my blood was shed—bat all my wounds were in the head , the chest , the body , and the limbs in front . ( Loud cheers . ) Did I run away at Rathcormao , when 1

    preached the funeral oration over the bodies of my murdered countrymen , in the midst of two regiments of S'ddiers , and whom I denounced as murderers and butchers ? ( Lirad cheers . ) Did I run away at Henrv Grattan ' s election for tbe county of Meath , in 1831 , when 1 was trampled under foot by the dragoon horses ? No ! I sacked their committee rooms—carried their crimped voters upon my backand Henry Grattan said to me , ' By God , you are more than Hercules . ' ( Tremendous cheering . ) Did I run away from Dungarvan , when I received two stabs of a bayonet from policemen , and had my clothes literally torn oil my back ? No ! I dissolved the committee , and against all hope secured tho election of the repeal member . ( Great oheering . ) 'Did I

    run r . way from Youghall , at _ John O'Connell ' s election , when the town was literally crammed with military men to return the son of Baron Smith , against Joha O'Connellt No ! When we were pressed bard I dashed through a double file of soldiers , with fixed bayonets , knocked the sub-sheriff downwho wanted to take possession of a voter's house , te disqualify him—I smashed in the back door with my shoulder , ran out of the front door with him upon my back , and polled him before the sub-sheriff could g « t possession . ( Tremendous lanehter and cheers . } Talk of courage , Sir , I have been four times on tbe field of conflict ; I have been fired at , but never returned my adrers & rt ' s fire . Tbe last man I was oat

    with was a Captain Coughlan . Take that down , Mr ' Examiner . ' He bad the credit of having shot three men , but he didn't cow me ; ha fired at me . and grazed my nose . I fired in the air , and askod my second , Mr Longfield , for another pistol , to give him another shot , but my adversary threw his pistol away , came up , and embraced me , and said— 'By G—d , I couldn't bring myself tofire again at so brave a taan ;'—( great cheering and > aving of hats , ) and he and I , who went out to fight , returned in the same carriage . Is that , then , any progf of cowardice ? or have I quailed or evinced moral cowardice when before my judges and packed juries ? No ! When the dungeon was before me , I told them that if I wont in a Chartist I would come out a

    Republican , and that the sternness of purpose should triumph over the oppression of the law . ( Tremendous and long-continued cheering . ) Well , my children , has not my path been chequered ( ' Ay , that it has . ' ) And when did leader ever before in the midst of such trials preserve such consistency ? ( Cheers . ) Mr O'Connor went on to refer to the character of the estate he had bought and resided at for the people , and no man , he said , could have been more careful , or penari ins , sn faras their money was concerned , than he had been of the money of the poor weavers , lie had gene about the estate at all hours of the night , just as if it were bis own , when there was any fear of anything being taken away ; not a horse could kick in tbestable but he heard it . ( Applause . ) He had not squandered £ 10 . since the Land Plan was established that couldi be avoided . There was

    security to the depesitorsin the bank oa that property atone if other security were wanting , And when he- handed it over to trustees , he would not part with it till he had made it all security to tli » depositors in the bank , as he was resolvedSthat he wsuld not bo made tbe instrument of enriching ene set of working men , at the expense ef another sec . If he bad gambled with the money , if he had lent it to the rogues to buy grain from abroad—then they might say his bank was unsafe ; but when he had £ 5 . in rent for © very £ 4 . paid upon tbe shares to exhibit ,, his banli could not bs very unsafe . ( Cheers . ) He had lived too long an honest life to make it worth his while to turn rogue now . He did not say these things to soften the asperity or vituperation of his

    enemies , who were the hired hanks or tools of the Anti-Corn Law League . They had failed in th & ery , and tbey dared not meet IRjargus O'Connor-in Parliament , for when the single-breasted blackguard , the ' member for- Manchester—when he should'get up i and talk his stibbiah about the Game Laws ,, ho Mr I O'Connor , would set up . and say , ' Let ' s have none of your nonsense ! ' ( Loud cheers . ) Or let him say that the League represented tbe working elasses and he ( Mr GJConnbr ) would |« ay it was . not true . ( Cheers . ) Let Mr Bright soy he represented Manchester , sad he ( Mr © ''Connor ) would say ., ' Not you ; you go ia at the nontb , and 1 'U go in at the south , and see- which will find ' the mwt adherents !' ( Cheers . ) He would say the samo to . Bowring , and

    if there was anoth * election , as in a couple ot ye * rs there- would be , ho would have alonger 'tail' than ever- 0 'Connell had , ( Cheers : * They wore told that Chartism was dead—that it was eraasculated—tkat it was not equal te waking a polseeman ; but if it was not equal to making a policeman it waseqmal to , asking a lord , f * r Sir Johu Cam Hobbouse was only member fer Nottingham till he ( Mr O'Connoi' ) rai < cd him to the peerage . ( Cheers and laughter . ) lie pledged himself to use every f ffurt to advance their interests in the estates , beiagabouA to add $ H ) votes already by the purchase of another plot of land in Oxfordshire . So far from thers beins any fear of a loss , if a man got an Allotment next Monday , ho would have

    a bonus of £ 100 . offered for it . Some had as much as £ 1 ^ 0 . offend . [ A woman :. We have had £ J 30 offered foroura , ' and- applause . ] He was asked when by tlsis system he should be n-blo to loeate al ) the members ? His aaswer was— ' Just as fast as they enabled me to bay tho land . ' ( Laughter . ) Thers was nothing ho gloried in more than knocking the roafsoffthe ho » ses of the old debauchees and spendthrifts who had lived in idleness , to put in their places the honest hard-wovkingman . It was related nf the Queen , that when she was visiting at th » Duke of Argylc ' * , in Scotland , she took up tho youna Maiquisof Lorn and actually gave him a kiss , and this was mentioned as a fine trait in her character ! Why he ( Mr O'Connor ) took up forty or fifty children

    a day , and wiped their eoscs and hn ? ged them ! ( Oheera , and expressions of sympathy from the femivlas in tho gallery . ) When down in his old fam house with them , lie gathered them round liim wi . 'h their cats and dogs , fighting for hi * hand , and listened to their stories ; and did tbey think he wsa the man to wrong their little children—did they think he was the man to wring a single morsel from their board or to prevent their parents from educating and bringing them up properly ? No , ho was not ; he loved the children—ana their mothers also , too much for that . [ A female in the gallery ; ' Lawk ! —bless the man . ' ] He appealed to tho manner of his life when he was on tho estates , if be was not msst careful and pemmmis in his'h & bha as to their money , and said , ' I will tell you an anecdote about your bailiff ' s turn out . During my absence at the

    Nottingham election the oat » for the horses ran low ; I ordered my trap , which cost £ ? . 10 s ., to go to Glo ' ucoster to purchase oats ; I took forty empty sacks on the dash board , two model three-prong forks , ami two model spades standing up behind , and on the seat with me two peasants in their working jackets , who wanted to buy cabbage plants . In passing by the Court-houso I met a jolly farmer ef my acquaintance . Hove the farmers . We' had some chat ; When I passed on , a limb of the law , with whom he was conversing , asked him who that was ? That ' s Feargus O'Connor , ' said he , « the member for Nottingham . ' 'O'Connor , ' exclaimed the legal man , ' well , I ' m d-d if that isn't tho jmmmt turnout 1 ever saw for . ft m ember of parimnwnt . 'Well , now . ' wspondedtlw farmer , 'do you know but that ' s the very kind ef ehap we want i the Marouw of Worcester , our jueiflbor , dined tore the other

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    day ; he came here in a gilded coadbj with four * horses , and dined here . and I went to hear him , and suchad—d . pack of rubbish I never heard . I'd rather have half an hour with O'Connor than a week with him . ( Tr emendous cheering and waving of hats . ) Now-that amy turn out , and that ' s what I pride myself in , and what I glory in-t ' vafc is what . gives me strength—it is my disregard of conventionalism , and my . zeal , not : my s-rainod or affected feeling for your class . ' ( Loud cheers . ) And uowhe would ask the meeting , finally , if they ever heard such a thing before as the pre ? sof England —a free press—not content with attacking the private character of a gentleman , but actually raking up all his private affairs and his family ? ( Expres * Bat it calculated

    ' w ' onsofindianatioa . ) they upon destroying bis character before ha entered Parliament , ' in that way , they made a miscalculation . Her might be indifferent , he might be apathetic , at times , but seleng as they goaded , so long would he kick . The Whistler'charged him with having fallen out with Dr M'Douall , but what had this contemptible rnSan to do with him or Dr M'Douall ; ho did fall out with Dr M'Douall—the doclor wasyovtne , en * thusiastic , and exciteable , and probably thought that I was rather sluggish ; but I'll say this of Tie M'Dauall , that be is the only man who left our ranks ; who remained out of them for a considerable time , and who , though under the most trying and disadvantageous circumstances , never wrote a word or

    spoke a word hostile to- our cause , our principles , or our leaders . ( Loud cheer * , and 'True ; he never did . *) Well , then , was-that a man , younp , talented , enthusiastic , and devoted , to be shut out from a national cause , in the advocacy of which he gIoiies > I have shaken hands with Dr M'Douall , and with God ' s blessing , though I failed once , I will make liim tbe Chartist doctor of Manchester yet . ( Loud cheering , and 'That ' s right /) Having gone through all tho charges—and he hoped if he had omittad anything they would tell him of it—he wquld ask if they thought he had not done it as a uentlemnn ? ( Ciitsof 4 Yes' and cheers . ) He asked if it was not mora dignified in him toeome to Manchester to meet his enemies boldly to the face , and to go to Nottingham , as he

    meant to do on the morrow , than to sit at home or waste words on paper ? Did they think it was any lessening of the dignity of a gentleman , and a member of parliament , to dofend hi * character ! ( Criesf of' No' amUpphuse . ) As tor the attacks of the * papers , it was only fun for him . He had only nino upon him , and be wanted nine and twenty ! ( Cheers . } It would kill many a man , but when he lay down on his pillow , he devoted half-an-hour to ; laughing at them—it was only like fielding him withsujtar-sticlisr and he answered them occasionally with a tap of hi » bamboo , which made them quake agair—and he * slept none the less soundly for it afterwards . ( Cheers ' and laughter . ) Novr I have made a clean breakout if I have left anything unanswered , mysteriously an *

    swered , or unexplained , it is your duty to me , your duty to yourselves , to your families , to your country , and the mighty cause / in which you are engaged , to nsk for the fullest and most satisfactory explanation . My habits are frugal , my life is simple , my resolution is nerved , and I am resolved , come weal , come woe , that the league of people shall break down tie leaeue of oppressors . ( Tremendous cheering ;) Aroyou all satisfied with my explanations ? ( Shouts of' AH , all , ' and efceers . ) Does any m » n or woman wish to receive back with interest tbe monies they have paid for shares ia the Land Company , or the monies they have deposited in the Bank ? ( Cries of 1 , no ; we have bass more for you . ' J Mr O'Connor then resumed his seat amid a perfect storm of ap * - plauso that mado the building ring .

    Mr Ridkb , ( Mr O'Connor's present clerk ) , came forward and said : My friend * , do you wish to put mo on . my Oath ? for , if joudo , I ' m ready to be sworn . ( Cries of'Ne , no , lad . we'll believe ihoe . ' i Well , then , I'll tell you the whole truth and nothing but the truth , and I'll begin by saying , that until I heard Mr O'Connor ' s speech , 1 had no more notion than any man iu this meeting the course that be meant to pursue , nor had I one word of conversation with him upon the subject—not a word . ( Cheers . ) And , my friends , I ' m no toolof Mr O'Connor ' s . I ' m a work ' ihg man , like yourselves , but there am a great many afraid to tell the truth , for fear they might bu thought to .-h ; but as Mr O'Connor has appaaiedto mo . I'll answer everything to the best of my ability . And a »

    he asks for my opinion of him as a master , isay , that a working man nover had a bettor master or a , more indulgent master in England , or ia the world . If he wan's a favour , he ha * only to ask for if , and its sure to be granted , and if he's sick and not able to vtorU , no waiter forhow Jsbjt , hia wagrs area ) way * there for him on Saturday night , and he ' s no man to listen to stories from his servants . And , now , I turnto Joah . Hobson , and the Nohtdbpn Star first . In reading after Mr O'Connor , I found that ho said that he was determined to step in the shoes of the lamented Henry Hunt , and' when he cameto Leed « I was one of those that welcomed him . At that time Leeds was the very hotbed of Whiggery and corruption , and when I heard of Mr O'Connor going

    tostart ' the Siab , there , I didn't like that a man for wham Ihad a respect should be sacrificed , as others were who tried the experiment at Leeds , and I told Hobson that I was afraid il : e gentleman would be sacrified . His answer was , ' You d d fool , if be i » tool tnovgh to come here and spend a couple of thousand , amongst us , why should we be tho feoU to frighten him V ( Tr » racndoua , groans and . hissiing . } Well , niy friends , he has Aid tn : it he fowl some ot * the monoy l ' ortheiSTAB ,. Uui 1 should like tn know how he could when I tell you what took him to Leeds . He asked Richard Oastler to lend him £ 10 , Imfc Richard Oastler knew his man and he wouldn't li n 1 it iiim ; andho « aid , 'Ka'der , I'll lend yoti the £ 10 ., and mind , if you don ' t pay it , I ' ll have tbo . shirt off

    \ our bark . ' ( Great lr . ug . htor , and cbe « rs for the 'Old King . ' ) So yoiisae , friends , that it was I who > went security for . £ 10 ) for the man who lost to much money by tbe Stab . Mr © "Connor has told you tl » 6 he was pot-boy at the George , but he hasn't told you that he was night scavenger to a IVsoh and Judy exhibition . ( Great laughter , and' That ' s tho fittest joh for him . ' ) Well , he tells yen now , how the shareholders in tho NoHTiffius Stau havo been cheated and juggled—but I'll tell you bow bo commenced his political career . He was the printer ef a naner published at Huddcrsfield ; called l The Voice of the West Riding' and got up by tho working men in five shilling shares ,. and Hnhson devoted it to ballads , and the publication of "Last words and dying

    speeches . ' - Well ,, it soon came to its end , and how did the shareholders tare ? Why , Josh , took all the type , the pressos , and the printing materials ,, and I believe sold one of the presses to . Mr O'Connor . ( Groans and roars of laughter . ) Now , that ' s tho man that aceusts Mr O'Connor of cheating the shareholders iu tho Stau , while 1 am here to tell ynu that it is my orders to pay every shareholder that applies the full amount that he holds scrip for , and ten per cent' up to the day of payment ,, and no man has over applied to me without getting bis interest and his shares paid eif , it he desired it , and I now hold tho book in my hand , which will prove to you that John Ardill , notwithstanding his-reeling l » r the shareholders , never paid a farthing of interexf , except to himself ; and that last month I paid iff the Keighey shares £ 25 .

    in fuUj . and £ IQ » interest at ten per cent . m * kinj » ^ ' 35 .. ( Cries of' Shame , shame . ' ) Well now , that ' s . one of the men thai was supporting the Stab ; the tnaa that has challenged Mr O'Connor to discuss th » Land Plan with him : but it ' you know as much of his character as I do , you would ' nt only n » t let . VJr O ' Connor meet him , but the poorest man in the meeting wouldn ' t consent to stand on the same platform with him . I hold in my hand now a letter from one of his apprentices , that will give ; you Josh , ll & bjon ' s character , tbo man that has assailed Mr O'Connor ,, and if it ' s your will i'JI read it : ( Shouts of' Read , road . ' ) If you wish it I will , but I am sorry to soe so many feni .-il-as present , as it may offend them , tllere Mr O'Connor rose , took the latter out of his hand , ami said ' Then > ou shan ' t read it . ' J And noa for J » hn Ardill . Ha was oae of the

    mechanics on strike , when . Mr O'Connor established tha NwiinE ? .: * Siab . ( . \ voice from the platform : — ' You ' re wrong ; ho was a knobstick , I kne \ v the ciiap wel ! . ' ^ Well , whatever he was he wr-nt to the landlord oi' tho 'Leeds Arms' to borrotriilO . thinking that if ha held ten shares he might be eroploytd upon , the Ssar . Well , he was employed , and 1 am here t »> tell jou that for fifteen weeks to ^ tjihor . l and tho working men in Mr O'Conuev ' s cropiaymcnt . lmve gono home on Saturday n ights without a full settlement of ; ourwa * es , and Ardiil ' s brother usid : to cone to < the Stau Office on Saturday nights , and in my presence take away every farthing of the money to pay his workmen . ( Groans , and cries of' Shame , shamo . ' > Well , we all saw the way that Mr O'Curih . or ' s nicnev

    was ooing , and there was a roan © f th $ name o £ Robert liannatu ,, who owed Ardill some money , nn obi man of .. ho carihly use , ' iamb . Ardill put him over the hooka atydpaUlibim £ l . a week tut of Mr O ' Connor ' s pocket . ! ' ( Trcrooiiduussensation and groami . ) Well , though Ardill got his salary , the office was shut up'thre ' tt and sometimes four < i » ys a week . ( Shouts of , "'» . Shame . ' ) ' Ardill .- « as at bis farm- doing his -. own business ,. .. and the old maa ' . ' wasn ' t ' allowed even to eater payments "in tho cash bo > k , . wl I'll-tell you wkathacDched : An agent came ono day and pasd some money , and Robert entered it in tho cash book , asd when Ardillsaw ho entered it he got into a rage with tho old man , ami ' told him that he didn ' t allow ' > nv one to interfere with those books , though ho was

    paid a pound a week for it w c . i , i told itobert that he'd bo discharged . 'No / says Robert , * ke dare not discharec iu « . I know tod much about ingoings ou here . H « k ,, 0 W 3 - know a 3 mucl ) a * wogid bang a nan * ' And he then told roe that every parcel that was chnr » ed two shillings , his orders were to lovk it half-a-crown to Mr O'Connor , and every parcel that was charged three shillings to baok it t ' ourjshiliii'gs .. ( Groans and crits of 'Horrible . ') Well-iKow , ray ' friends , remcriilier that I ana ready to swear to every fford I am stating ia a court of justice . . Wei ) , when the Stab was brought to London , Ardill had a partner in a card manufactory , and the lotto-. ;; f & iii his partner used to come into my hands and they used to run thus : — ' 1 must have cash to . buy leather , ' and I used to post the answers with . cash the eame evening , while tbe printer of the Noj ^

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• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 6, 1847, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_06111847/page/3/