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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th November 1845, Edition 2 of 4, Page 1, THE STATE OF GERMANY.: V : LETTER II. TO...

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      Thbr Land: - _

      THBr LAND : - _

      ; VOL . Yin . NO . 417 , LONDON . SATURDAY , N 0 Vll | p J S " | l 8 i £ ; £ ;;; : j , . 8 ^^ ?|^ . ¦ * ' .... : __^_^—— - ' " "<'"' - - ¦ ' . ' ' ' . - ¦ . — ' ' ' ¦ ' "'" . '' T" ! " ¦ ' - ' — ' — ¦ —¦ ¦ " ¦ ¦ '¦ * ¦¦ ' *'¦'—« I

      To The Working Classes: M, *« ' Fbb-^-Th...

      TO THE WORKING CLASSES : M , *« ' FBB- ^ -Thcre never was a t tune - ?? n L memory of the oldest man , more fitting rZZ ourttiB to , the consideration of the-Land ^ £ SS » present A portion of each letter five addressed to you , and a portion of every hluave madcto you about the Land , has cons . jauparison between the value of free jjsted in ^^ labour , and I have pointed out to labour ^ ^ y ^ faefaet , that whilemillions of people J ° * % $ . instructed in one . single calling , all have 316 I aiiDW 5 d to remain in a state of terrible ignorance ^ a question which , in itself , involves , if not a Iw ^ e . a command over all other trades in the 3-f-eaa a ^ cnl ^ ___ that while in part :

      T h re shown you you are com-J _ , ^ jQ ) , that while the Land supplies every-£ flat yea «* t « TCtytain S that you . wear , every-77 ^ that von consume , and everything that minis-? toyoo cojnfort—nay , that keeps you alive , yet , t wa are wholly ignorant : of these fusts . God t ^ Ti ral undertook no small task when I essayed to - ^ toici you upon so heavy , so foreign , and so com-^ ied a subject . It was , to yon , not only a new ^ " ence but what is veiymueh worse , itwasonemade eri repulsive ; in consequence of the great ignorance of tie " fanning classes , by whose slovenly operations the T . toTess of the science . was very much , retarded . Tiis is , then , not only a fitting time , but the very ? ime , to mallet the value of the Land into your heads . We are now threatened with famine . The

      jgtent spurious mode of living of the butterfly class , and the possession of a sufficient portion of food for a short period , by the industrious class , may reerentyon , & r the present , from taking the whole ancsiion into consideration ; but , as the railway babble bursts , and as the scanty supply of food grows ka and less , and when that scanty reserve is raised jjv speculators in price , then the sad reality will stand before yon . It is utterly impossible to compute the number of idlers zliat are now engaged in the several bubble spejalitions that are afloat , and all of whom will be cast back upon society as soon as the bubble bursts .

      These parties , likeyourseives , are now living from Land to mouth , an evil which I have ever described a * the greatest that canbefal a people—an evil which must continue to exist as long as you work for money wages ; an evil which must be considerably augmented by the circumstance of the idlers who c-wn the soil having an interest in purchasing your labour cheap , and the power to make laws to compel yon to sell it at what price they choose to offer you , or to make jyou starve . If I could bring myself to lejoice in so great a national calamity as that which must lead to famine , or to war , I would say , welcome plague , pestilence , or famine ; welcome war , welcome anything that will open the eyes of the survivors , xii tffich them how to prevent a recurrence of those visitations which affect the industrious alone .

      5 o monarch who reigns for OUR GOOD , and fIiqsc tide to reign is by " right divine : " no prince , no peer , no squire , no bishop , no parson , nolabourinonger , no soldier , no sailor , no pensioner , no placeioan , no policeman , will starve , however short the aniountofprovisionmay be . Why , then , should those vko pay them all , and upon whoie labour they grow rich , slave and starve ? Let that question be answered and the answer would be found to be , because the people have no control over that which produces

      food , and no voice m the making of those laws which regulate the price of labour . No man with two acres of land , or with one acre of land for the fair value , will starve , however great the famine maybe ; and for this reason , that the failure of the potatoe crop , or any other crop , would be diminished by the substitution of other food . And few men put all their eg ? into one basket , or devote all their land to one purpose ; although I shall , presently , furnish you vith such an example .

      The reason of this is , that if the failure of any crop should render his produce of the year insufficient for his support for the year , Disposition as a free labourer will allow him to spread the calamity of one season over more extensive time , l ) y enabling him to receive such credit as will make up for the deficiency . licnto we find , that if a man pays £ 5 a-year for the occupation of two acres of land , he is in better circum-fcaces , in trying times , than the man who , when employed , may earn ± 2 or £ 3 a-week , but vkose employment depends upon the caprice of another . The Laud , then , is our legitimate

      speculation at the present time , and is , I think , distinguishedin its character from all other speculations by the fact , that while thousands who have been , lured by the hope of gain are now trembling upon the very brink of destruction , our funds are up-husbanded , and bearing an interest « f 2 J per cent ., ready , when fitting opportunity presents itself , to be appropriated , vfflautdiduction , to the purposes for which it was raised . In one of my letters from abroad , I stated that the English labouring classes could now devote themselves to agricultural pursuits under more favourable auspices than the people of any other country in the world ; and now I'll tell you why .

      firstly—Grass Land , that is , Land that has not been taken up for many yeais , i 9 the most valuable description of Land , not that grass is the most valuable crap , bat because the longer land is kept in grass the Wronger , the richer , the more productive , and valuable it becomes . It is its time of rest ; and old grass land is to land that has been constantly cultivated , what the able-bodied vigorous man , in the prime . of life , is to the helpless veteran , who has been trokea down by hard toil and bad usage . There is tlien more of this maiden rich soil in England than i :-to be found in any country in Europe according to their respective dimensions . This anomaly is a consequence of the landlords imposing a condition upon freir tenants that they shall only cultivate so many acres , leaving the remainder in grass .

      The second reason is , that in all other countries in Europe the surplus of produce after consumption sells mucii cheaper , and is worth much less than the same prouueeis worth in England . This arises from our sjstcm of fixation , Vrhich raises every article , even Jalwnriiself , to a fictitious standard , thus—if English labourers receive a large amount of money wages , it is regulated by that scale of taxation which compels them to give more money for everything they consume . The produce , then , after consumption , of two acres ia England , would be worth more than double

      the amount that the same quantity of produce would fetch in mostother countries . Yes , says the political economist , but the value of that surplus also has but a fictitious value , and must be reduced to the proper standard by the fiction scale . It is no such thing , and now fora " greatiact " —a greater fact than the Corn Law League—thefact that an Englishman paying £ S a-year for two acres of Land and a house IS KOT TAXED AT ALL-that is , he is not taxed except by himself , while , at the same time , in consequence oi our system of taxation , those who deal with him give him the taxed pricefor his produce .

      Let me be perfectly understood . I may be asked if tithe and poor-rates are not to be paid by the holder 01 two acres . They are , but are a mere fleabite—an amount which would be more than made up by the additional taxed price of a sack of potatoes , a quarter of wheat , or a small pig . Furthermore , the tithe , poor-rates , and all other taxes paid upon Land in addition to the rent , will not bring it up to one half the amount paid in other countries for Land oot near as good . Now , I beg my readers to understand me clearly , as I mean precisel y what I have been preaching to them for thirteen years , namely ,

      that if they were wise , and did their own work , they may turn the follies and injustice of their rulers to profit . Here , then , I show them that the folly of landlords in keeping their Land in grass , while population daily presses upon the means of support , and even the injustice of taxation , may be turned to profit . In a word , then , the man in England who has two acres of Land for ever need only pay a very trifling amount of taxation ( simply what I have stated ) , sum the small duty Ou leather ; wnile , in consequence of taxation , he will get double the amount for his surplus that those of the same class abroad can get .

      I am very particular in thus contrasting English agriculturists with those of other countries , and for this very simple reason , because the Honourable and Reverend Baptist Noel , and the other ilalthusians , have told ns that manufacturing is the natural work

      To The Working Classes: M, *« ' Fbb-^-Th...

      of Englishmen , and agriculture the natural work of the people of all other countries . How irreverent ! how blasphemous ! Behold , the picture that I have often presented to you is now fully before you—a famine in England ! the natural consequence of which is that Englishmen are / to a frightful extent , at the mercy of the governments of foreign countries , whereas , if allowed to cultivate 4 heir own resources , she would be independent of their caprice . I will now state for you a still greater advantage that Englishmen , who sow become , small farmers , have over the same class in other countries . Firstly , we learn thousands of instances daily where the small

      possessor furnishes a practical example of improvement to the slugglish old farmer , while none of them tread in his beaten plough-track . The Land abroad is subdivided and tilled , but without any science . Enormous rents arc paid by great drudgery , and bad tenure is provided against by great economy , which ends in purchase . Our 'Association , then , will have the advantage of certainty of tenure , and the light of new science ; but yet agreater advantage remains to be told . Throughout the whole Continent of Europe , except upon the side or summit of the towering Alps , where each little cottager appears to be the direct inheritor from God himself of what is necessary to supply all his humble wants , there is

      scarcely such a thing as a resident farming class . The holders of acres , of half acres , of two acres , three acres , four acres , or five- „ acres , seldom have habitations contiguous to thcir-holdings . They live in villages , and even in large towns—some at a distance of three , four , and even five miles from the Land they cultivate . Even in Belgium , where the small farm system exists to a great extent , the cottager , for the most part , lives at a considerable distance from his Land . This , as I stated in one of my letters from that country , is a consequence of a greater desire to possess a habitation from which the occupant cannot be ousted , than even the Land in the first instance .

      Now , in our Association , the cottage would be on the Land ; and 1 would rather give £ 8 a year for two acres of Land with a cottage upon it , than have it for nothing , if I was obliged to live even one mile from it , for bear in mind that not only the residence , but the farm buildings , are three , four , and five miles distant from the Land . This is the greatest advantage of all ; and now I will mention to you the case of a general failure where one of our members put all his eggs in one basket . John Milward , who holds two shares in our Association , recently bought four acres of good Land , within twenty-three miles of London , for which he paid £ 75 . Now , mark , £ 1815 s . is the purchase price at which I stated good Land could be bought , and I was laughed at . But

      if you will take the trouble to calculate you will find that £ 75 for four acres is exactly £ 18 15 s . an acre . He planted the whole four acres with potatoes this year , and was offered £ 100 for them when planted , from which deduct £ 25 for expense , ( and mind that the manure and labour , which constituted nearly all the expense , were still in the ground , and of which he would have the future benefit , ) but deduct £ 25 from the £ 100 , and you find that he would have the ground for ever for NOTHING after one crop . The potatoes . have all failed , and are now not worth a pound ; but that proves nothing , as such a failure is not upon record ; while , upon the other 1 hand , if the crop had not failed the produce would have been worth £ 200 .

      For the present I need say no more than to refer you to the glorious position in which our National Regeneration Association stands , and to my account , as Deputy-Treasurer from the time I last settled up , to the period that the Post-office orders have been signed by the Treasurer . My friends , —! have never deceived you- ; and now , mark my words , the day ' ofour power is fast approaching ; keep your eyei fixed steadily upon the thing that feeds you ; the thing that will give you a vote ; the thing that will give you a constitution and institutions , under which I hope and trust in God to see you one day happy , flourishing , contented , and at rest . Ever your faithful friend and servant , Fbabgus O'Connor .

      P . S . I wish most sincerely that every man whois in doubt upon the subject , or who wishes to receive practical knowledge , would read my practical work on Small Farms . I have the more pleasure in recommending it , because I have sold the copyright , and have no earthly interest in its sale beyond that of serving you . Agents may be supplied through Mr . Heywood , Mr . Cleave , Mr . Hetherington , or by sending their orders to the Northern ' . Star office , 16 , Great Windmill-street , London . Since the above was written , I offered John Milward £ 130 for his four acres , but he refused it . It was not for the Association , but formyself . F . O'C .

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      :¦: . ¦ : 'And National - '3^Jj^Bb^ : - ...

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      Fatal Railway Accidents.—About Five O'Cl...

      Fatal Railway Accidents . —About five o ' clock on Friday morning week a melancholy accident ' occurred at the Kilwilling station of the Ayrshire Railway , whereby , we regret to add , a porter , named Henry Murray , lost his life . The . deceased , who had been assisting in pushing forward two trucks , to attach them to the luggage train from Ayr , incautiously attempted to do so when they were still in motion , whereby he was so severely bruised that he died about one o ' clock in the afternoon . He was a sober , industrious man , and has left a widow and small family . —About tffo o ' clock on the same day a boy , named Morrison , belonging to Irvine , had , without the knowledge of the servants of the company , and contrary to their rules , got upon a luggage-truck , from whence he . was removed by one of the porters ; but , having again climbed up unperceived by the servants , who were pushing forward the trucks with their heads down at the time , fell between the two trucks , and was killed on the spot . '

      Extraordinary Suicide by a Totoo Girl . —On Monday Mr . Bedford held an inquest at the Rising Sun , Charles-street , Grosvenor-square , on the body of Ann Goundry , aged twelve years . Mrs . Ann North , of 22 , Lisson-street , Edgeware-road , said that the diseased was her grand-daughter . ' She had lived with witness during the past two months , and been seen by her mother during that period , every day . On Wednesday last she took some lump sugar which she ought not , for which witness scolded her , but did not atriko her . She went to bed the same night about the usual hour , and got up between seven and eightthe following morning . Shortlyafter dressing herself , she went out , and was not seen afterwards by witness . She has a father , who is a steam engine maker , but he has absconded from his

      family , and has not been seen during the last two years . The deceased was very sullen and unforgiving . EmmaNorth , a daughter of the last witness , said that on thenight of Wednesday last the deceased slept with witness . She had retired to bed previous to witness , and on her awaking the following morning she appeared very cheerful , and conversed . with her brother , who slept in the same room , about the performance at one . of the theatres . About half an hour after she got up , witness saw her standing on the step of the street door , arid shortly afterwards she missed her . James Gulliver , one of the gatekeepers of Kensington Gardens , said that on tho morning of Thursday last he received information that the deceased had thrown herself into the water . He immediately despatched intelligence to the Royal Humane " SocietvV receiving house . A man told witness that he ' had seen the deceased walk ' some distance into the river , then return , and afterwards

      walk back again , and fall into the water and disappear . ' Charles Pulleri , one of the boatmen to the Royal Humane Society , was on the Serpentine River , in a boat , on Thursday morning last , when he saw the deceased sitting on a seat , without a bonnet or shawl . He asked her what she did there ; and she replied thatshe was lookingfor her bonnet andshawl , which she had lost . She afterwards walked away very ouickly , In the direction of Kensington . About ten o clock the same morning , Mr . Superintendent Williams , and witness , from information they received , went and dragged the river , and after a search ot twenty minutes they found the body , which was taken to the receiving-house , and placed in a warm bath , and everything done that could be devised , but without avail , life being extinct . The coroner remarked upon the extraordinary nature of the case , and the jury returned a verdict of " Temporary mental derangement . " . .

      The State Of Germany.: V : Letter Ii. To...

      THE STATE OF GERMANY .: V : LETTER II . TO TUB EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN . STAR . . ; Dear Sir , —^ Having , in my first letter described the state of Ge rmany before and during the French Revolution , as well as during the reign of Napoleon ; having relatedihow ' the great conqueror was overthrown ,: and by what parties , " I -now resume the thread of my narrative to show what Germany made of herself after this " glorous restoration of national independence . - The view I took of all these events was diametrically opposed to that in which they generally are represented ; but my view is , to a letter , confirmed by . the events of the following period of German history . Had the war against Napoleon really been a war of liberty against despotism , the consequence would have been , that all those nations which

      Napoleon has subdued , would , after his downfall , have proclaimed the principles and enjoyed the blessings of equality . , But quite the contrary was the case . With England , the' war had been commenced by the frightened aristocracy , and supported by the moneyocracy , who found a source of immense profit an the repeated loans , and the swelling . of the National Debt ; in the opportunity afforded them to enter into the South American markets , to cram them with their own manufactures , and to conquer such French , Spanish , and Dutch colonies as they thought proper , for the better filling of their purees ; to make "Britannia rule the waves" despotic , that they , might harass to their heart ' s pleasure the trade of any-other nation , whose competition threatened to endanger the progress of their own

      enrichment ; and lastly , to assert their right of makingenormous profits , by providing the European markets , in opposition to Napoleon's continental system . Such were the real causes of the long war on the part of those classes in whose hands the Government of England was then deposited ; and as to thepretext , that the fundamental principles of the English Constitution were endangered by the French Revolution , it only shows what a precious piece of workmanship this "perfection of human reason" must have been . As to Spain , the war had commenced in defenceof the principle of legitimate succession , and of the inquisitorial despotism of the priesthood . The principles of the constitution of 1812 , was introduced later , in order to give the people some inducement to con - tinue'the struggle , being themselves of French origin .

      Italy never was opposed to Napoleon , having received nothing but benefits from his hands , and having to thank him forhervery existence as a nation . The same was the case with Poland . What Germany was indebted for to Napoleon I have related in my first letter . By all and each of the victorious powers thedownfal of Napoleon was considered as the destruction ^ of the French Revolution , and the triumph of legitimacy . The consequences were , of course , the restoration of this principle at home , first under the disguise of such sentimentalities as " holy alliance , " "eternal peace , " " pulic weal , " " confidence between prince and subject , " & c , & c , afterwards undisguised by the bayonet and the dungeon . The impotency of the conquerors was sufficiently shown

      by this one fact , that , after all , the vanquished French people , with a hated dynasty forced upon thorn , and maintained by 150 , 000 foreign muskets , yet inspired such awe in the breasts of their victorious enemies , that they got a tolerably liberal constitution , while the other nations , with all their exertions , and all their boasting of liberty , got nothing but fine words first , and hard bullets afterwards . The putting down of the French Revolution was celebrated by the massacres of Republicans in the south of France ; by the blaze of the inquisitorial pile and the restoration of native despotism in Spain and Italy , and by the gagging-bills and " Peterloo " in England . We shall now see that in Germany things took a similar course . ¦ The Kingdom of Prussia was the first of all

      German states to declare war against Napoleon . It was then governed by Frederick William III ., nicknamed " The Just , " . one of the greatest blockheads that ever graced a throne . Born to be a corporal and to inspect the buttons of an army ; dissolute , without passion , and a morality-monger at the same time , unable to speak otherwise but in the infinite tenso , surpassed only by his son as a writer . of proclamations ; he knew only two feelings—fear and corporal-like iinperiousriess . During the first half of Ms reign his predominating : state of mind was the fear of-Napoleon , who treated him with the generosity , of contempt . . m giving him back half , his , kingdom , which

      he did not think worth the keeping ; It was this fear which led him to allow a party of half-and-half reformers to govern in his stead , Hardenberg , Strein , Schon , Scharnhorst , & c , who introduced a more liberal organisation of municipalities , abolition of servitude , commutation of feudal services into rent , or a fixed sum of twenty-five years purchase , and above all , the military organisation , which gives the people a tremendous power , and which some time or other will , be used against the Government . They also " prepared" a constitution which , however , has not yet made its appearance . We shall soon see what turn the affairs of Prussia took after

      the putting down of the French Revolution . The "Gorsican monster" being got into safe custody , there was immediately a great congress of great and petty despots held at Vienna , in order to divide the booty and the prize-money , and to see how far the anti-revolutionary state of things could be restored . Nations w ; re bought and sold , divided and united , just as it best suited the interests and purposes of their rulers . There were only three States present who knew what they were about—England , intending to keep up and extend her commercial supremacy , ' to retain the lion ' s shave out of the colonial plunder , and to weaken all the remainder—France , not to suffer too much , and weaken all others—Russia , to get increase of strength and territory , and to weaken all others ; the remainder were directed by

      sentimentalities , petty egotism , and some of them even by a sort of ridiculous disinterestedness . The consequence was , that France spoiled the job for the great German States ; that Russia got the best part of Poland ; and England extended her maritime power more by the peace than by the war , and obtained the superiority in all continental markets « -oi no use for the . English people , but means of enormous enrichment to the English middle classes . The German states , who thought of notliing but of their darling principle of legitimacy , were cheated once more , and lost by the peace every thing they had won by the war . Germany remained split up into thirty-eight states , whose divisions hinders all internal progress , and makes France more than a match for her ; and who continuing the best market for

      English manufactures , served only to enrich the English middle classes . It is all well for this section of the English people to boast of the generosity which prompted them to send enormous sums of money to keep up the war against Napoleon ; but , if we even suppose that it was them , and not the working people , who in reality had to pay these subsidies— - they only intended , by their generosity , to re-open the continental markets , and in this they succeeded so well that ' the profits they have drawn since the peace , from Germany alone , would repay those sums at least six times over . It is really middk class generosity which first makes you a present in the shape of subsidies , and afterwards makes you repay it six-fold in the shape of profits . Would they have been so eager to pay those subsidies , if at the end of the

      war , the reverse had been likely to be the case , and England been inundated with German manufactures , instead of Germany being kept in manufacturing bondage by a few English capitalists ? However , Germany was cheated on all hands , and mostly by her own so called friends and allies . This I should not much care for myself , as I know very well that we are approaching to a rc-organ zation of European society , which will prevent such tricks on the one hand , and such imbecilities on the other ; what I want to show is , first , that neither the English people , nor any other people profitted by cheating the German despots , but that it all was ' for the benefit of other despots ; or of one particular class , whose interest is opposed to the people ; and second , that the very first act of the German restored

      despots showed their thorough incapacity . We now turn to the home affairs of Germany . m We have seen who were the parties that , with the aid of English money and Russian barbarism , put down the FrcnchRevoJution . They were divided into two sections ; first , the violent partisans of old " Christian Germanic" society , the peasantry and the enthusiastic youth , who were impelled . by the fanaticism of servitude , of nationality , or legitimacy and religion ; and second , the more sober middle class men , who " wished . to be let-alone , to make money and to spend it without being bothered with the impudent interference of great

      historical events . The latter party were satisfied as soon as they had obtained the peace , the right to buy in the cheapest market , to drink coffee without admixture of chicory , and to be excluded from all politicalaffairs . The * ' Christian Germanics , " however , now became the active supporters of the restored governments , and did everything in their power to screw history back to 1789 . As to those who wished to see the people enjoy some of the fruits of their exertions , they had been strong enough to make their watchwords the battle-MT of 1813 , but not the practice of 1815 . They got some fine promises ; of constitutions , free press , ' Ad and that ¦ was all ; in practice everything was

      The State Of Germany.: V : Letter Ii. To...

      carrfuUy .. left . fait » j | ta'i ified - : parts- ; . tf >( 3 iM ! J ^^ sible , froHfcthellpoi ! " mmn $ Mmfl ; at & those provinces ^^ ich ^^ St ^ tWmf thb ^ MI of the . Rhine ^ pmedtthwr , FreneK' -a ^ ftuition The Elector ot Stee went : so far ' as to * restore even the pig-tailt of-Mfijoldien ; which had been cut off by the impious handa ^ the French . In short , Germany ... as we ^ s ^ eryi ' other : countiy , offered- the picture of a shj & nelessv reaction which was only ; distinguishedby fcoharacte * of timidity and . weakness ; it did not evenfelevate itself to : that degree of energy with which , revolutionary principles were combated m Italy , & pain ,. FranceVand : EngIand . The cheating system to which Germany had been

      subjected , at the ^ Gongress : of Vienna , now commenced to bc p ^ cUcga between the difterent ' Gerinan states themselv ^ . Prussia ' arid Austria , in order to weaken the power ' of , "the different states , forced th . , .. give -. eonie " sort ' of mongrel constitutions , which weakened- ; tJie government s , and without imparting any po | er" % '; the people , or even the middle classes . & ermfcn yf being . ' , constituted a confederacy of states , who * embassies ' , sent by the . governments alone , formedflie'diet ; there was no risk that-the people might income too strong , as every state was bound by theresoliitio ' ns of the diet , which ^ werelaw for all Germany , ' without being subject to . the . approval of ahy ^ eprtisehtative assembly . In this diet it was a matter of ^ ourse that Prussia and Austria ruled absolutely }; they , only had to ' threaten'the lesser princesSto ; abandon them in ! their struggle with their representative assembliesin order to

      , frighten then ^^ in ^ implicit obedience , By these means , by ^»^ overAvhelmihg power , and by / their being the trae . i $ presenta tives of that principle from which every German prince derives ' his power , they have made themselves the absolute rulers of Germany . : Whatever may be done in the small states is without any effect in practice . The straggles of the Liberal middle classes of Gemianv . remained fruitless as long as they were confined to the smaller southern states ; they became important as soon as the middle classes of Prussia were aroused from their lethargy . And as the Austrian people can hardly be said to belong to the civilised world , and , in consequence , submit quietly to their paternal despotism , the state which may be taken as the centre of German modern history , as the barometer of the movements of public opinion , is Prussia .

      After the downfall of Napoleon , the King of Prussia spent some of his happiest years . He was cheated , it is true , on every hand . England cheated him ; France cheated him ; his own dear friends , the Emperors of Austria and Russia , cheated him over and over again ; but he , in the fulness of his heart , did not even find it out ; he could not think of the possibility of there being any such scoundrels in the world who could cheat Frederick William HI ., "the Just . " He was happy . Napoleon was overthrown . He had no fear . He pressed the Article 13 th of the Fundamental Federative Act of Germany , which promised a constitution for every state , lie pressed the other article about the liberty of the press . Nay , on the 22 nd of May , 1815 , he issued a proclamation commencing with these words—words

      in which his benevolent happiness was beautifully blended with his corporal-like imperiousness— "There shall lea rejmsentation of the people ! " He went on to order that a commission should be named to prepare a constituion for his people ; and even in 1819 , when there had been revolutionary symptoms in Prussia , when re-action was rifest all over Europe , and when the glorious fruit of the Congresses was in its full ! blossom , even then he declared that , in future , no public loan should be contracted without the assent , of the future representative assemblies of the kingdom . Alas ' , this happy time did not last . The fear of Napoleou was but too soon replaced- in the king's mind . by the fear of the revolution . But of that in my next . I have only one word to add . Whenever , in English democratic meetings , the " patriots of all countries" are toasted , Andreas Hofer is sure to be amongst them . Now , after what I have said on the enemies of Napoleon in Germany , is Hofer ' a name worthy to be

      cheered by'democrats ? Hofer was a stupid , ignorant , bigotted , fanatical peasant , whose enthusiasm was that of La Vended that ' . of . " Church and Emperor . " He foughtbravely- ^ but so didthe Vendeans against the Republicans . He fought for the paternal despotism of Vienna and Rome .. Democrats of England , for the sake of the honoutoti . the Germanpeople , leave that bigot out ' of the question in future . Germany has bett ^ patriots'thaffhim .: "Why sot ' mention Thomas Mukzbr , the glorious chief of the peasantry insurrection of 1545 , who was a real democrat , as far as possible , at that time ? Why not glorify George Forster , the German Thomas Paine , who supported the French Revolution in Paris up to the last , in opposition to all his countrymen , and died on the scaffold ? Why not a host of others , who fought for realities , and not for delusions ? I am , dear Sir , yours respectfully , Your German Correspondent .

      Jftotgit Intelligence*

      Jftotgit intelligence *

      FRANCE . A letter from Marseilles , of the 27 th , states that the Herculaneum has disembarked in that city 34 individuals implicated in the last troubles in Romagna . The whole number that had arrived there wag , the letter states , 08 .

      -. ¦ SPAIN . The following is from the correspondent of the Times : — . Madrid , Oct . 26 . —I mentioned some time since the probability there was , that at the approach of the elections , municipal and for the Cortes , more than one conspiracy would be discovered by some very sharp-sighted Political Chiefs , or a few acute Captains-General : -My , anticipations have been in part realised . The Captain-General of Valencia ( Roneali ) hag , it seems , discovered a formidable conspiracy in that city , and has ' coirimenced by arresting a few dozen unhappy Progresistas . It is a curious coincidence that these were persons who , it is supposed ,

      would have taken a leading part in the elections . The coincidence must , of course , have been accidental ; but it is fortunate , nevertheless , as it removes a number of troublesome persons . Two persons were discharged , and are now at liberty ; the others still remain in close custody , and are even not allowed to communicate with any one notwithstanding that after the declarations being taken in the usual way , and the evidence against them examined , the Judge of First Instance presented himself to the Political Chief , and informed that zealous functionary that the charge of conspiracy should not be followed up , as there was no proof against the prisoners , and that consequently he ( the Political Chief ) was responsible for their detention .

      Barcelona , Oct . 27 . —Ihenews from the mountain districts is of an alarming character . I am creditably informed that many of the "Alcaldes " ( local magistrates ) of the principal towns have made ofiicial reports . of their inability to carry into effect the orders of Government for carrying out the conscript system , and ' the levying of the new ^ contributions . The young men are reported to be again abandoning the towns , - and are flying to the mountains . The second in command , General Folgosio , whom I mentioned in my last , went yesterday to Mataro , returned this morning , and immediately after his arrival the Captain-General , General Breton , ordered a strong column to be organised ,

      consisting of 2 , 000 infantry , a squadron of cavalry , and six pieces of light mountain artillery , and he himself , accompanied by his staff , set out with this column for the mountain district . The departure of the Captain-General at such a critical juncture from the capital has increased tenfold the excited state of the public mind , and everybody says that it must be very serious indications in the mountain districts that could have induced him , at this moment , toleave Barcelonajland ^ weakenso considerably the garrison here . Several families are , it is said , preparing to leave the city , not thinking themselves secure from outbreaks with so small a garrison as scarcely 4 , 000 men , to which it is now reduced .

      • . GERMANY . The Religious Movements . —The SCeele publishes a letter from Berlin of the 25 th of October which asserts that" The Prussian Government is about to direct against the new Catholic schism the measures enforced against the 'friends of Protestant reform . ' Not only is it certain that the AbbeRonge will be handed over to the superior tribunal of Breslaw , but it is known that the presumptive heir to the throne is actively engaged in arresting the development of the doctrines taught by the German Catholics , It is expected that this may be accomplished by means of

      the censorship on the press ; but it is not probable that the Government will succeed . As vet , at least , the followers of the new Catholic church appear not to doubt of their right , and proceed with an air of assurance . On the 23 rd the deputies from the German Catholic communes of the provinces of Saxony , of Brandenburg , and of Pomerania , who were deputed to the synod of Berlin , held a preparatory meeting . . Nineteen communes were represented —viz . Berlin , Potsdam , Spandau , Brandenburg , Hauen , Halle , Rugpin , Genetien , Stettin , Frankforton-the-Oder , Stolpe , Cottbus , Neurugpin , Mersebourg , Salzvedel , and Mulhausen . ' The deputies ' are twenty . seven in number , of whom fiveare clergymen .

      Jftotgit Intelligence*

      1 . ^ rejjhonial , of the most simple . character , hav->™ y ^ n , arranged at the preparatory ; meeting , the ra ^ P ^ ofth ' e 7 synod took place at . nine o ' clock , on m ^^ i ^ ag ofthe 2 ith . The parish priest ( Brauner ) pr ^ o ^ eed ' tfie opening discourse . The orator applied' himself to the examination ^ . of whether our period was prepared for a religious reform . He declared in . the , affirmative . ' f ' . The aspiration for a better ' religious form Has been - awakened in us , ' said the orator , ' and we bave assembled here in order that this tendency sliould bear its fruits . . The reform has been represented as ah ephemeral idea , produced

      in the brains of some young people , but there are too many grey hairs' to be seen in this assembly for any one to doubt that reform is a serious and well considered movement . '' M . " Brauner terminated his discourse by inviting all his colleagues to inculcate the principles of concord and moderation . After a few words from M . Galled the president indicated the order in which the debates should proceed . The statutes of the synods of Leipsic and Breslau were adopted as the base' of the synod of Berlin . The debate was grave , and all accounts agree in stating that the assembly proved itself to be penetrated with the importance of its mission ;"

      ITALY . The Augsburg Gazette of the 28 tliult . contains letters from Rome of the 18 th , which state that the revolutionary party in Italy has not'by any means abandoned its schemes , although the recent failure at Rimini had in some degree discomfitted them . On the 12 th an aimed vessel appeared , late in the evening , at tlit mouth of the river Tronto , in the Adriatic , which is the . boundary between the Papal and Neapolitan states , and came so close to the shore that the crew could be distinctly seen on deck . The persons

      on board appear to have . expected to find partizaris oh shore , for they fired- two guns as a signal . No answer was , however , returned ; and after lyinc to till near morning took its departure without having had any communication with the shore . The vessel was supposed to have come from Corfu . Troops had been sent from Ascoli to prevent future attempts to disembark in the same quarter . Letters from Rome , of the 21 st , give a report that another attempt was made to land below the port ot Fermo , near St . Benedetto , by two powerfully armed vessels .

      ALGERIA . The Paris Moniteur of Monday contains a series of despatches from the French Generals commanding in Algeria , Fiom these despatches it appears that the indomitable Emir was as active , energetic , and ubiquitous as at any former period of his career . With a formidable body of Swift cavalry he is able to set at defiance the regular troops opposed to him , and to raise the population in nearly * every direction , contriving when menaced by a superior force of the French to effect , in every instance , a safe and brilliant retreat . Thus , Abd-el-Kader is truly represented in the despatches of the French officers as flying before them , while in reality his great object is gained by causing to them immense loss , not merely by the yatagan

      ( and he never declines an engagement when not outnumbered ) , but by disease . A letter from Paris says , " It is impossible to withhold admiration from this chivalrous Arab . Neither would it be possible to withhold sympathy from the brave troops opposed to him , who perish by hundreds of disease , were their course not marked by a degree of ferocity that should not characterire the soldiers of a civilised nation . General Lamoriciere appears , by his despatch , to wait instructions . He had carried war and death into the revolted tribes , but had not yet been able to inflict upon the Emir himself any serious injury . The Semaphore of Marseilles publishes the following fresh details of the campaign of General Lamoriciere in the mountains ot the Travas , communicated by an eye witness : —

      " The troops in pursuit of Abd-el-Kader proceeded with extreme activity towards the mountainous defiles in which the indefatigable Emir was encamped ; but as soon as the latter was informed that the French troops were approaching , he retreated , and left the tribes , whose fanaticism he had excited , to the mercy of our soldiers . We advanced under the excitement produced by the butchery of Djemma Ghazaout , and of , the lamentable event of Ain Temeucheu . During our bivouac , oi * when we halted , we constantly referred to those events , determined to take such a satisfaction as would long be remembered by the Arabs . The army reached a mass of Arabs , who , surprised in a ravine and struck with terror , made sigss that they would surrender but our soldiers charged them , and 300 dead bodies speedily filled the ravine . "

      And yet the writer has just referred to the lamentable event of Ain Temoucheu , where 200 French soldiers surrendered to the Arabs , and of whom not a man was even insulted . " The report of this first and necessary chastisement caused the presumption of the Arabs to give place to fear ; Having afterwards arrived at the small town of Nedroma , of which the inhabitants considered they were doomed to destruction , the chiefs appeared on the feeble ramparts of their town and raised the cry of Aman . The General entered into communication with them , when they declared that the Emir had taken advantage of their inability to resist , and had compelled them to furnish him with recruits . General Lamoriciere , who was

      preparing to carry the town by assault , suffered himself to be persuaded , and Nedroma was spared . On the 13 th a serious battle was fought , and the results are already known . "We quitted Nedroma at nine o ' clock in the morning , and we shortly afterwards observed , posted on two small hills , 2 , 000 Kabyles , who appeared disposed to resist vigorously , relying on the strength of their position . Our advanced guard charged under a shower of musket-balls from the Kabyles . Having reached the summit , there was a determined engagement fought hand to hand . In the meantime Colonel M'Mahon arrived at the scene of action with two battalions of the 41 st

      regiment , and one of Zouaves , and the epemy ' s position was carried . The Arabs lost 400 of their part } ' . This brilliant affair cost us the loss of Colonel Monier , of the 41 st . M . Carondelet , the Major of the same regiment , was severely wounded , a ball having struck his head . The remainder of our loss amounted to eight men killed and fifteen wounded . The column subsequently marched to Djemma Ghazaout , and on the 17 th General Lamoriciere marched towards Tlemceu , whence he intended to proceed to Bel-Ales , in order to effect a junction with the troops under the command of Marshal Bugeaud . "

      Mysterious Disappearance Of Ladv Adela V...

      Mysterious Disappearance of Ladv Adela Villiers . —Brighton , Nov . 6 . —Considerable excitement has been caused in this town by the sudden and mysterious disappearance of Lady Adela Corisanda Maria Villiers , youngest daughter of the Earl of Jersey , who has been missing since yesterday afternoon . His lordship and family are at present residing at East Lodge , Upper Rock Gardens , It appears that at five o ' cloek . yesterday afternoon her ladyship retired to her room , with the avowed intention of dressing for dinner ; but as she did not make her appearance at table , inquiries

      wera made , and she was not to be found ia the house . On further investigation it was ascertained that her ladyship passed through the lodge gate , at a quarter-past five o'clock , with a small bundle in her hand , and turned down St . Jaines ' sstreot ; but nothing further could be learned of her . Inquiries have been made since at the railway station , but no person employed about it remember any person answering her ladyship ' s description going by either of the trains which , left last night after five o ' clock . Every means has been resorted to to trace the fugitive , but hitherto without the slightest success . Lady Adela is only 17 years of age .

      Murder is Mato . —About eight o ' clock on last Saturday night , as a man named Peter Gibbons was leaving Westport for his residence near Kilboyne , ho was waylaid opposite the court-house here , and received a blow of a loaded stick which broke his skull . He lived but two hours after receiving the blow . An inquest was held , when a verdict , of wilful murder was returned against some person unknown . Gibbons had some dispute with some persons at the last fair of Ballyhane , and they got him set on by his murderer . The ruffian lay near a wall until he saw his victim .

      Meetings of the Cabinet Council . — The Cabinet Council , which met yesterday at Sir Robert Peel ' s private residence , broke up , after an unusually long sitting , without arriving at any decisive resolution respecting the course to be taken in the present alarming condition of the country . " No Order in Council for the admission of foreign corn , free of dutv , or at any reduced rate , was issued . The Coup . * oil met again at two o clock this afternoon , at the private residence of Sir Robert Peel , in Whitehallgardens . The Lord Chancellor , the Duke of Wellington , and all the Ministers in town attended the meeting . A " very few days will disclose what ia now , necessarily , a secret . The public may not know accurately ( though they may surmise ) the cause of the delay ; but the result of the ' deliberations of Ministers , already arrived at , or to be shortly resumed and concluded , will be in their possession in a few days—possibly in a few hours . '

      .„.„..-. V : .. .The-Potatoe^ A^Ss^^—~. ...

      . „ . „ ..-. v .. . THE-poTATOE ^ A ^ SS ^^—~ . .. . - ~ r-rs , k && i »* fc < t : ' * - ' ^ ' " - "' . : , : : rcW / mwi / w w ^ f ^^ . ToRKBHiRB .-r-We ' have thoughftitWf » W l ; stitu'fe nither a search ! jg . iriquaoTtfitf * the sta * Mt the . potatoe crop in this part - ofetheiWest ? RiamB ^ w Yorkshire ; ' and though thatinqw ^ aafcpreSBnt : m « , complete , . wo ' are sorry to ' say } tJiat » ^» fw , ^ ' i ^ proceeded , it ' leads to a resulHe ^^ rourable ^ tnap : we had anticipated . Ihmany places ^ venupon . dry * no sound land , thenumheroflinted & Si poTafiiea amwinM to at cent

      least zo per , or tae ^ noie . ? wopi fuy ^ r some low and damp situations , t # a ' m ^ portion . We are still pursumgtour ^ wsiWS ^^ RT shaU not M to-report vtfie ^ ^ time , we may state , that the prtCAM § ojffl ^ BW » = for the'ireigh- " qfIMbs :, has advajflc & d M ^& fsZ market considerably this year , onicdmparwonjwS the last , the relative proportibn 3 ^ mg . J ^ . ^ ejffwgxi * this year Is . 3 d . As an indicatloji . 6 X , t ^* PJKgBf !& v . shut that is entertained , that ' a large pari' of \ h ^ m $ ! stock of potatoes will not keep ; tul : tke ' apprpapfli ^ S spring , it may be mentioned that many samp les ar ^ - offered in . . theLeeds markeCat ' . Gd . br 7 u . ' a . weigu > . which wjould last . ' year > have' sold aVlOd . ' orlsr- ^ Geetff-Mercury . ' ;' . ' * ' . ' ' ' . ' ' . ;

      The Islk of : Ma » . —Several cargoes , of potatoes * ,, which have . ' . been shipped at . the Isle of Man for Liverpool , have become so much diseased that the ? : ; are unsaleable , and , consequently , lost , to the © importers . ' ¦¦ Dundee . —A Dundee vessel , laden with potatoes , / took refuge . in the Tyne a few days ago ;„ and hec cargo , on examination , was found to be worthless ,, owing to the rot . The whole of the potatoes were , thrown out , and destroyed . The Newcastle author . rities have also condemned to destruction consider-. able quantites exposed for sale in the ' market . ' . Wales . —The Carnarvon-Herald , oi Saturday last , in noticing the disease in the potatoe crop , says , ' "We sincerely regret to state that the most serious" ; complaints have reached us from the districts ovec ' which we range , and our own personal observations ' in the various counties of North Wales fully justify ' the statements . that have been sent , us . " :. ¦ : '

      Nottinghamshire . —Pop miles round Nottingham , ) not a single acre has escaped the potatoe . disease , and . > the crops of some portions of clay land cannot be ; made use of in any way , or sold at any mice .

      IRELAND . Dublin . —Nov . L—The Freeman ' s Journal of this day publishes accounts from the counties of Meathi Kildare , Roscommon , Sligo , Mayo , and Galway all of a cheerless description , and quite _ unanimous in the opinion that the epidemic or distemper in the potatoe crop is general in those districts . A letter from Mayo statss that while Lord Kilmaineis forgiving his tenantry a year ' s rent , other landlords ia the _ neighbourhood of Ballinrobe " are rigorously exacting their rents , not even granting the customary delay for the advantage of improving markets , lest the proceedings of the authorities , or the generosity of gentlemen like Lord Iulmaine , should compel or shame them into humanity . " One of the most remarkable features in the " provincial accounts is , the exhibition of the disease in a new form in tha county of Cork . It is thus described by the Cork Reporter ;—

      " One soecies of the tuber has a mere cutaneous attack , another is honey-combed , and another is full of dark rings , one within the other . But we saw yesterday , for the first time , a tuber in which neither of these indications could be traced , but which waa still unsound and worthless . It was part of the crop of Mr . Delay , of this city , and was grown at Bally volane . The external part was wholly free from the infection . A shell was left white end pure , but the very heart was black and fetid , and it was only when it was cut that the existence of the injury could be perceived . We had an opportunity of . seeing how rapidly the infection completes the destruction of the root ; or rather , how quickly this peculiar kind of rot devours all that is sound and good in the potatoe . In the course of three or four hours , and even after

      cutting away the black bad heart , the two divisions of the root showed signs of decomposition . They first assumed a sable circular tinge , the colour , by degrees , grew deep , at the end of the time Ave state , the rot had made decided progress , apd , while we write , we are certain it has spread . like a gangrene through the entire . We are really alarmed by this new phase of the distemper . If it be general , ne calculation is safe . " " A medical friend has forwarded us the following letter , on which he remarks— ' The enclosed is from a source you may rely on . The glow-worm tribe are not natives of this country , which makes the matter the more curious . Possibly there may be an importation of a new tribe of insects , and the fact is well deserving of attention . Grange is within four miles of Balbriggau : '—

      " Grange , Nov . 2 , 1845 . "I take this opportunity of letting you know something of the potatoe rot in this locality . The rot is universal , and . I . think is caused by a very small maggot . I went out last , night , at eleven , o ' clock , to the land , with a . spade , and dug potatoes in several places , and , to my great surprise ,. ! found the clay spangled with sparks of fire , very brilliant , and about the size of the head of a small pin . I found it , on bringing it to the light , to be an exceedingly small white worm ,, with several legs , in fact , a sort of glow-worm . It was attached , in many cases to the potatoe . I found it in great numbers , in all kinds of land , I mean grass land , die , but not in land freshly limed . I found ifcalso in potatoes which I bad housed in the evening , which were damp , but not in any that were quite dry , which I am not surprised at , as all died on my hand , and lost the glow as soon as they got dry .. Kill those ( if you can ) and you put an end , to the rot . ' '

      Landlords And Tenants.-Tyrants Turning T...

      LANDLORDS AND TENANTS .-TYRANTS TURNING TENANTS OUT . We are indebted to our excellent friend , Patrick O'Higgins , for the following Land Catechism , and we cannot avoid giving the concluding paragraph of his letter . It is so- entirely in unison with our own opinions and feelings : —¦ " Tyrant landlords ,, and base , cruel , and brutal rack-renters , have reduced the people to this state . But God has blessed the land by cursing the potatoe , and bless ed be God for this great boon . " Patrick O'Hiogiks . " Question . —Has a landlord the right to turn a tenant out of his holding or farm ? Answer . —He has , when the land is let . on fair and reasonable terms , and the tenant neglects his farm , or does not pay the rent . Question . —Has the landlord the right to turn out the tenant without first paying him in full for all his outlay in building , reclaiming , manuring , enclosing , draining , & o . dec . ?

      Answer . —No : the landlord has no such ri ght . It would be robbing the tenant to take the land from him without first having paid him the full value of these improvements , and also compensation for the cost and loss incurred by removing to another place , even to a settlement in America , if he choose to go there . Because , when a Jenant is deprived of his land , whether by the cupidity , whim , or tyranny of his landlord , he has nothing to live on , and consequently becomes either a burthen to society , or he , his wife and children , die of want , which is too often the case ; and , therefore , the landlord is to all intents and purposes guilty of causing the death of unoffending men , women , and children .

      Question . —When a tenant increases the value of the land , by reclaiming , building , enclosing , manuring , draining , < fcc ., has the landlord a right to charge the tenant a higher rent on the expiration of the lease , inconsequence of the increased value of the land by the labour bestowed upon it by the tenant ? Answer . —No , most certainly not : because the increased value of the land was caused entirely and exclusively by the labour , toil , care , skill , industry , and outlay of the tenant , and not by any act or thing done to the land by the landlord ; therefore , he who charges an increased rent robs the tenant of the reward of his labour . And it is written that such conduct cries to Heaven for vengeance !

      Question . —What would be said of the man who would give a rough block of mahogany to a Cabinetmaker to make a chest of drawers , and when he had made them , the owner of the block charged him for making them instead of paying him ? Answer . —The owner of the block would be called * rogue , and the cabinet-maker could make liim pay . Question . —What is the difference between the conduct of the landlord who charges an additional rent , mostly double the amount , to a tenant for rough land which he has reclaimed and made fair and fruitful , and the man who charged the cabinet-maker for making the drawers , instead of paying him ? Answer . —The conduct of the landlord is worse by

      far than that ot the owner of tne block ; because the poor tenant cannot go to law with his landlord ; he must either submit to the fraud or be turned out and die . He cannot carry the land with him . It is stationary ; there it remains . The cabinet-maker can carry his trade and his tools with him anywhere ; and can also keep the ctest of drawers till he is paid . Lanalords , kneel down , and pray to God to fill your hearts with a sense of justice . Ask of Him to inspire you with the feeling . and desire to "do unto others as you would be done by . " Bear in mind the fate of the Hungarian tyrants , and how Moses slew the Egyptian oppressor and buried him in the sand . Ask yourselves , on bended knees , how you would like to live on ROTTEN POTATOES for the next three months . ¦ - X Lanmlobb who loves Justice . ,

      Wuales. —On Tuesday Last, 130 Whales Wer...

      Wuales . —On Tuesday last , 130 whales were caught at Sandwich parish , ( Zetland ) , and were sold next day at excellent prices . Another lot of 80 was captured at Spriggi , in the parish of Dunrossnesa , 6 a Ihursday last , and on the following day about 100 were slain at Bigtown . Several thousands are now coursing round our seagirt islands . On Saturday night a large bod y cam » iu at the north entrv of «« i harbour , but the water being too deen ««^ W could be effected . ^**

      Fc &G^N^^. ': \ \

      fc & g ^ N ^^ . ' : \ \

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 8, 1845, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_08111845/page/1/