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Northern Star (1837-1852), 9th October 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, The document entitled • An appeal to the...

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    • \ THE CIIAfiTIST LAND AND . LABOUR SANK* , ;._
    • Rat ional Mix tonpau^
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      \ The Ciiafitist Land And . Labour Sank* , ;._

      \ THE CIIAfiTIST LAND AND . LABOUR SANK * , ; . _

      The Document Entitled • An Appeal To The...

      The document entitled An appeal to the Memfee bers of the Journeymen Steam Engine , Mad chine Maker and Millwrights' FriendW Society , ft fiom the Executive Council . ' which is " circulated it in the trade , complaining that the funds of the J ! jbnchester fourth branch had been transferred tj to Feargns O'Connor ' s Bank without the gesi aeral consent—and of which a croy appeared

      ii in the * Examiner * of Tuesday last—has once more to faought the Land Scheme and the Land and Labour S Bank before the public . I have a few remarks to 0 snake on these subjects , and shall now make them . In the months of December , 1846 , and January , 1 1 S 47 , nVe letters were published in the « Manchester 2 Examiner , ' showing | the shareholders of the Chartist £ Land scheme that their property was not protected J l > y law ; showing what the law is as applicable to t them and to all joint stock companies , and showisg t that the pretence set forth in theba ' anee sheet of t- the Company in September , 1 S 46 , that the society * was registered and put under the protection of the 1 law , was a false pretence . Here are the words of 4 ^ bat false pretence : —

      'Toar officer ! cannot conclude without expressing their gratification , that , notwitb « tanflin » tht many obstacles placed in the way of procuring the enrolment of lha society , thej iisve at length succeeded in placing it under the protectioa of the law by procn ' iing the registration of the society under the Joint Stock Companies Act . This will gire increased confidence to persona . about joining the society , and strove due diligence and honesty on the part of the officers . ' If doe diligence and honesty , on the part of the society ' s officers , were to be secured by this act of iplacing the society under the ' protection of thelaw , ' in September , 1848 , those business-like virtues are

      not secured yet though we are now more than half through the month of September , 1 S 4 ? . The society Is not even yet registered sa as te be under the proiectionofthelaw . lHthelettersaHudedtoitwafthown ^ hythesodetywasnotregistered . On the appearance Of those letters the fact was at once ' admitted by its -promoters , that it was not , as stated by them in September . 1 S 46 , placed under theprotection of the law ; but , said they . ateps have been taken to have it so placed . Now . I repeat thatwMeb was said ia answer to this promise in January of the present year , that the society , orcompaayasitianowislled , willnever be registered . It cannot now be done .

      The banking department of the scheme being in tie same nnsafe predicament , it is equally dangerous to the shareholders as to the depositors . Section 23 of the Joint Stock Company ' s Act , enacted for the protection of the public from fraudulent ficheraes , provides that it shall not . be lawful for a company , until completely registered—« To make callt , aar to purchase , contract for , or hold lands , nor to enter into contracts for any stores , or for ft 9 execution ofanywerks , ' £ e . It provides penalties for the infringement of its danses , the penalties varying from £ 5 to £ 25 each ; every one of which clauses the Chartist Land Company has already violated ; to every one of which

      penalties they are already liable , amounting in the aggregate to severalthonsand pounds . The penalties may be recovered if as ; person chooses to take out summonses against them and sue them before the magistrates as soon as registered ; but not sooner ; as it is not until then a company . The Land scheme and the Bank scheme are in the same precarious position . ' The Journeymen Steam Engine , Machine Maker , and Millwrights' Friendly Society , * Manchester 4 th branch , who have transferred £ 620 from Heywood ' s Bank , and placed it in the Land and Labour Bank of the Chartist Land Company , will probably ask themselves a few questions when ihev see the law to stand thus .

      But , apart from that view of the Bank question , there are other considerations sufficiently weighty , more than weighty enough , to deter prudent men from risking good cash in a bank like that of Mr Feargns O'Connor ' s . First , as to the security . The landed property of the company is to be the security for the bank deposits . Bnt the land is already burthened to its utmost real value , and considerably beyond its market value , by the debts to the shareholders . Moreover , landed property has not for many years past been accepted among commercial men as bank security . It was once so accepted , hat was found , when necessity came , to be irredeemable , _ cr atleast to be greatly depredated . Money deposited in the bank , and by the banker sunk in the purchase of land , as Mr O'Connor proposes to do , cannot be withdrawn when the depositor requires it . To raise the money , the land must he first sold or mortgaged . In either case loss must be submitted to .

      Moreover , Mr O'Connor ' s system of buying an estate with valuable timber upon it , payin ? , say £ 7 , 000 for the estate ; cutting down all the timber and selling it for £ 2 , 000 ; this , instead of making the property worth £ 9 , 000 , as he has represented the transaction , makes it ( in the market , in which respect we can only view it as security for the bank ) worth no more than £ 5 . 000 . He points to this property in reckoning up his accounts , and says— 'for that land I save £ 7 . 000 ; from that land I hare taken £ 2 . 000 worth of timber i yon have the land Etni , andyon have £ 2 , 000 for timber sold ; consequently , in these few months , under ay management , you have £ 9 . 000 instead of £ 7 , 000 . ' They who never reckon themselves may believe in this

      way of reckoning ; but let the estate which cost £ 7 . 000 , and which is now woodless , come into the market as a bank security , and it will be found to be only worth £ 5 , 000 . There are enough of land buyers , always on the look out for land , to prevent Mr O'Connor from getting all the great bargains . Ee , however , makes , the shareholders think otherwise . They seem to think that he alone knows a good bargain in land when it turns np . But this brings as to another paint . Mr O'Connor buys land , asd buys in it his own name . And he doss so , because by the clause 23 rd of the Joint Stock Company ' s Act , already quoted , it is declared illegal for him , or any officer of the company U ' purchase , contract for , or hold lands / until the

      company is completely registered ; and it does not seem to be agreeable to him to have the company completely registered , so as to put ft , in reality , under the' protection , of the law ;* though he endeavoured , by publishing that which was not true , in September , 1846 , to make the public believe that it was put under the protection of the law . 'Thi ? , ' said he and the secretary , when putting forth that assurance , ' will g ive increased confidence to persons joining the society . ' That / indeed , was the object of thenntrae pretence . When it was published through the Uwnchetter Examiner that the society was not placed under the protection of

      the law , Mr O'Connor promised that it should be immediately so placed . This has not been done ; so that the purchases of property are all made in lis own name , conveyed to him individually , and held by him individually . He ia not even provisionally registered as a trustee for other parties . Mr Ttomss Duncombe , M . P . is the registered trustee ; bat as the Land Company is only provisionally registered , he is not legally the trustee . If he were , he could only be so by first becoming a shareholder ; 3 nd the moment he becomes a shareholder , he is , like a-l the others—liable for their debts , and they liable for his .

      All the shareholders of the Land Company are not j Willicg . however , that the land should he made seenrity lor the bank , and Mr O'Connoi-oSersseetirity of another kind . In addressing the Land Company , so the executive of the Steam Engine , Machine Maker , and Millwrights' Friendly Society informs na , bespoke thus : — ' I dare say yon trill derive no little gratification from the announcement that tbe Manchester mechanics have deposited £ 630 of their funds in the National Land and labour Bank ; and that many societies are about to follow their wise and patriotic example ; and to them as to all others I shall only say , not that I may perish , or that my right hand may fall from body , or that my tant , ua may cease to wag , if I deceive them ; but I do say that I am sot a pleasure man , a drinking man , a drnaken , a gluttonous , or a luxurious man ; and , if they have not 20 } . in the pound and four per cant , interest ( or their money , I must he a rtfohia man . '

      This does not follow . Mr O'Connor may be free of all the vices he absolves himself from , and not be a roioiwr man , yet still a very unsafe man to entrust with the management of large sums of money in complicated and doubtful investments . Moreover , he may not be a solvent man . He baa family connexions in Ireland who would not have allowed him to go unmolested , if unmolested he has gone , for &> long a time , if they thought he had property wiihin the reach of thelaw . Mr Mannix , thechan-Cery barrister , who had the Cork election case in hand when Mr O'Connor was disqualified and resigLed his seat , told me , when I was recently in Ireland , that there were parties there acting for Mr O'Connor ' s nearest female relatives , who only seeded to see clearly that he held any property which was accessible by law , and the attempt to reach it would soon be made .

      Ishall not here relate what that chancery hamster , so intimately acquainted with Mr O'Connoi ' s personal and family aftairs , told me . If I dealt u » * 2 ie same pointed matter in a controversy as Mr O Connor does , substituting peisonalabuse for argument , there might be enough of it hurled upon mm from the county of Cork , and from his nearest relatives . They and their legal advisers placed enough of it at my service . But such a style of controversy » net mine . 1 allude to those personal affairs now only to show shareholders is the land , and depositors in tiie bank , the dangerous security they have . _ lie says he is not a rolling man . But the presidflrt and secretary i . f the Steam Engite , Machinemaker , and Millwrights' Benefit Society , rejoin to toa comfortabler . ssurance

      that—To know by dear-bou ; ht txperience that Jfr O'Connor is a rotting man , if he does not perform what he frottise * , may afford satisfaction to some , but we think something more substantial will be rtqaired by the ma JOrh y of . ar members as security for their money , «* fore th & y consent to allow it to be deposited in his hands . Mf O'Connor saya he has mads his will , ioiica-

      The Document Entitled • An Appeal To The...

      ? 1 ? e """ Hineement that all the property purt iTi ? ° ?* M ra ° neyofthe shareholders , and now held by him in his own name , is devised by him to lira shareholders . Now , here is the law on that business of the will . "If the Land Company were completely and legally registered , Mr O'Connor might devise his own property to the company in its corporate capacity ; and in that capacity the company would administer . But the land would not be his to devise if the company were completely registered . It would be the company ' s own . On the other hand , the land and buildings being legally his own ' property now , because legally there is no Land Company in existence , the shareholders could not administer as a body , supsose

      he were to die before they are registered , and suppose it to be true that he has made his will and devised the land to them . In order that they might administer , and each receive his share , the will must devise each share separately to each individual byname . If there be fifty thousand shareholders , fifty thousand persons must be named in the will ; and ia tbe event of his death , they must proceed to administer as legatees who are not related in blooda rather expensive process . The first proceeding would be to throw all the propert' into the Courtof Chancery , where proceedings are both expensive and dilatory . The next of kin would do this . The Chancery Court being a court of equity , we mightsuppose that if the testator ' s will

      was doubtful , or the law of the ease was doubtful , the equity judge . hearing that the shareholders of the Chartist estate were the parties who had made the testator so rich as to have landed property to leave to them , would decide for them ; equity being on their side . But on the other hand there would be the next of kin , who in equity are always regarded before the aliens in blood ' . And , moreover , those next of kin would be the sisters , or representatives of the sisters , of the testator , strengthening their suit in equity with such a plea as this , that the testator had originally made use of their property in the outset of that political life which had ended by his devising legacies in landed property , to some fifty thousand legatees .

      I do not see in what possible way the shareholders are to be protected but in getting themselves legally registered as a company . Bnt the moment they do this , they declare every thing which has already been done in their name by Mr O'Connor to be null and void . All contracts , by the law already quoted , become illegal , and lapse . The original owners of the estates may resume ownership as if they bad not been sold ; and penalties to the amount of nearly £ 4 , 000 may be enforced . It would have been as easy at the outset of this Company to have conformed to the law as to avoid it , and set it at defiance . The Joint Stock Company ' s law is enacted specially to protectshareholdera and the general public from joint stock schemers .

      its very preamble makes it compulsory for the promoters of all companies to be registered , and it proceeds to prohibit them from doing business in the way of raising funds and acquiring property until they are registered . So that , instead of there having been difficulties p laced in the way of the Land Company ' s registration , as Mr O'Connor and his codirectors have so frequently alleged as an excuse . they are solely to blame . The law throws no obstacles in their way ; it invites them to be registered ; keeps an office for them , and books in the office , and clerks to do the work for them ; it calls upon them to come and register themselves ; and when they , or others like them , do not go willingly to he registered , it commands them with the threat of heavy penalties to come . 'For , ' says the law , ' you are launching

      upen the werld a joint stock scheme ; and the world must knew who yen are , and what your scheme is . ' 'If you be honest men . ' continues the law , ' yon have nothing to fear from your names being written here , to be looked upon by the public eye . If yon be not honest men , it is right that the public should know that you are getting up a Joint Stock Company . If your scheme be a seund one . it will bear inspection in this registration office ; if it be unsound , the sooner its faults are known beyond the registration office the better . ' Thus speaks thelaw concerning all schemes for Joint Stock Companies . I see only three suppositions which can suggest a reason for Mr O'Connor not registering his scheme at the outset . These

      are—__ First : That , though a barrister-st-law , ho was ignorant that such an act of Parliament had been passed for the protection of the public , as the Joint Stock Companies' Registration Act . Or . _ « Second : That , though assuming to . be a correct business mac , he thought himself able to carry on the business of the Company satisfactorily to himself , and safely to the shareholders , without reference to the law or the ordinary precautions of business men . Or , Third : _ That he purposely withheld the Company from registration that the shareholders might not be placed under the protection of the law .

      The only thing that is inexplicable , allowing any oneof those three suppositions jto be correct , or allowing them all to be incorrect , is this , that twelve months ago he should hare published that they ( himself and secretary ) 'had at length succeeded in placing the shareholders under the protection of the law , by procuring the registration of the Society under the Joint Stock Company ' s Act ; ' and that ' this will give increased confidence to persons about joining the Society . ' This is inexplicable ; because if bis object really was to get members into the Society by giving them increased confidence , and nothing more , it would have been not less ^ effectually done by getting the Society registered in reality , instead of in pretence only .

      The executive of the Friendly Society who complain of the transfer of their money to Mr O'Connor , intimate in their circular to the trade that they have little hope of his dealing candidly with them . The person who . without consulting the general body , transferred the sum of £ 620 to him , wrote a letter which was published in the Northern Star with comments . The secretary of the Executive Council , on seeing this , wrote a letter , of which tbe following is a copy , requesting Mr O'Connor to publish it ; but he gave them no answer , and did not publish it . 6 t , Dale-street , Manchester , Aug . 24 th , 1847 .

      Bear Sir , —In looking over the Northern Star of Satur . day last , I perceive , in the course of your address to the raembtra of the Land Company , yon make allusions to the circumstance of the mechanics of Manchester having deposited £ 620 in the National Land and Laboor Bank ; and in the same papsr there ii also a letter signed' George Samuel OffonJ . ' upon the gams subject lly object in writing to you is to prevent a false impres . sion being made upon the misds of the public , but more especially upon those of the mechanics throughout the country . A stranger to the facts of the case , in pernsing your remarks and the letter of Ofiord , would bn led to infer that the £ 620 had been voted into the National Land and Labour Bank with the unanimous consent of the persons to whom it belongs . But such is far from

      being the fact . Our society is composed of between seven and eight thousand msmbers , extending over Great Britain and Ireland , and holding ona general fund ; the funds of any one branch belonging equally to tbe members of any othsr branch , so that in the event of any im > portaat change in the mode of banking or investing its lands , especially in an experiment where doubts as to its security may exist , it is not only essential , bnt Jast , that those interested should be consulted ; and ia this view of the matter I feel convinced that I shall meet with your concurrence . The facts are , instead of the members being consulted , twenty . five individuals have decided upon the removal of the money from Sir Benjamin Heywood's Bank to the National Land and Labour Bank , they having composed a majority of those who voted at a meeting of their branch . And I bsg further to inform

      you that this act has been done in direct defiance of instructions given by the only acknowledged authority in the society , viz ., our Executive Council . And tbe parties so acting have rendered themselves liable to be brought up to account for tbe same . The instructions of the Executive Council were , that the opinions of the members throughout th « society should be taken upon the propriety of allowing branches to deposit the funds in the National Land and Labour Bank ; and any person wishing to do justice to all could not raise onesonnd objection to such a course . Ton will oblige by inserting this letter in your paper of Saturday next . Wishing yon every success in your attempts to ameliorate the cobdition of ths people , believe me , dear sir , yours truly . Hixsy Sblsbt . Secretary to ths Journeymen Steam Engine , Machine

      Maker , and Millwrights * Friendly Society . To Feargos O'Connor , Esq . The executive council of the Friendly Society proceed to make the following remarks : — 'Mr O'Connor has npt thought proper , as yet , to publish tbe above letter , although two of his papers have been issued sines it was sent , nor do ] we expect that any notice willbetsken of it by him , and for reasons which we think must be apparent to all who have read his remarks on the letter of OSrard . Bat we say , if ho is an honest maa , as he professes himself to be , and professes a desire to do justice to all , he will publish it , If he decs not do so , we ask what confidence can be placed in a roan who is afraid of the truth being brought to light . We consider that the public have a right to be undeceived and to tfiVet that las been the sole object of the , abovslctter . It has bsea deemed advisable by the Execa . tive CoaacUta lay the . whole cf these facte before . ytho

      The Document Entitled • An Appeal To The...

      members , so that they may be enabled to judge fairly npon ths sabject . ' In conclusion , I hate only to remark to those of the shareholders of tbe Land Scheme , or those of the depositors in the Land and Labour Bank , who may read this , that whatever personal abuse Mr O'Connor may meet the legal facts of this letter with , as he met the facts of the previous five letters in December and January last , such abuse is no answer to the shareholders and depositors . It is for them that these letters are written . I njoice to see working men acquiring propertyby their savings . But I have myself dropped too much sweat on the ground inearning wages at ill-paid toil , to be willing to see the

      hard-earned wages of working men given to spoiled lawvers and noipy adventurers , who , because they can talk all other men dumb , are , in the simplicity of the industrious workers , voted to be men of business and honest . I repeat , that if Mr O'Connor ' s death occurs at any time before the complete registration of the ahareholders as a company , the entire property in the Land and in the Bank goes by law to blsnextefkin . for ha cannot leave it bywilto the company , since the company does not legally exist . And further , that if comp leted in the registration the entire proceedings np to this time become null and veid , having been carried on . contrary to law . Ore who has Whistleo at ihk , Plough .

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      And National Trades' Journal. Vo^X^O ^Q....

      AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL . VO ^ X ^ o ^ Q . "iMJD ^ SATU ^^ ~~ Z ^^^^

      "My Good Ruffians, What Is Your Demand F...

      "My good Ruffians , what is your demand for killing two SMALL children V ~ Baba rh the Wood . TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY .

      My Friends,— .> ¦¦ I Now Address You Fro...

      My Friends , — . > ¦¦ I now address you from the frontier town of the Swiss Republic , and my location , and what I have seen on my journey here , inspire me , if possible / with greater zeal and confidence in your cause . I have always told you that I considered my character your property , ' and I have invested you , the working classes , with full and ample power to investigate my . every act , and I have willingly constituted you the public tribunal , before which arraignment and defence should take place , and before which I would always p lead . Now , this is a guarantee which no ether public man has ever ventured to give , but which those who demand public confidence are bound to give .

      U pon the other hand , I demand the protection of the good English rule , that 'the accused shall be presumed to be innocent until he is convicted upon clear and unimpeachable evidence . ' Above I have given you tbe indictment , in full , against me , and now hear my defence . My friends , —If ever accused would be justified in resting bis whole case , . not only upon the infamous character of his accuser , but upon the folly , the ' absurdity , and futility of the charges brought against him , I am now placed in that position ; but as' tbe Lord has delivered mine enemy into my hands , ' I shall spare him from his well-merited punishment until I have first cleansed myself .

      M y friends , — -Before 1 reply to those charges which are of a legal and general nature , I will app ly myself to that which affects me personally , and which you will find in the following COUNTS of the INDICTMENT : — ; This does not fellow . Mr O'Connor may be free of all the vices he absolves himself from , and not be a rolling man , yet still a very nnsafe man to intrust with the management of large sums of money in complicated and doubtfnl investments . Moreover , he may not be a solvent man . He has family

      connexions in Ireland who wouM not nave allowed him to go unmolested , if unmolested he has gone , for so tonga time , if they thought he had property within the reach of the law . Mr Mannix , the chancery barrister , wh <> had the Cork election case in hand when . Mr O'Connor was disqualified and resigned his seat , told me , when I was recently in Ireland , that there were parties there acting for Mr O'Connor ' s nearest female relatives , who only needed to see clearly that he held any property which was accessible bylaw , and the attempt to reach it would soon be made .

      I shall not here relate what that chancery barrister , so intimately acquainted with Mr O'Connor ' s personal and family affairs , told me . If I dealt in the same pointed matter in a controversy as Mr O'Connor does , substituting personal abuse for argument , there might be enough of it hurled upon him from the county of Cork , and from his nearest relatives . They and their legal advisers placed enough of it at my service . But such a style of controversy is not mine . I allude to those personal affairs now only to show shareholders in the Land , and depositors in the Bank , the dangerous security they have . Now , gentlemen , hear my unreserved reply to the above charge , and which I give without qualification , equivocation , or mental reservation .

      I never HEARD of a barrister of the name of Mannix from the day I was born , and I never KNEW one of that name . Not one of my family , MALE OR FEMALE , have ever had LEGAL OR EQUITABLE demand upon me for a farthing . I never was plaintiff or defendant in suit or action with any relative of mine , MALE or FEMALE ; and , although I lived in a most litigious country , I never summonsed a man or woman , or was summonsed by a man or

      woman . I never processed man or woman , or was ever processed by a man or woman ; I never was plaintiff or defendant in suit or action , in Ireland , during the whole of my life . The name of the solicitors of our famil y are John Drew Atkin and Henry Nohlelt , both of the South Mall , Cork , and to those gentlemen I refer you , and my accuser , for my character as a gentleman and a man of honour . I relinquished a very large claim upon the family estate , rather than seek its recovery by law .

      My name is not to bill , bond , or note , for one single fraction , and I now announce to those female relatives , through their agent , the Whistler , that I am worth several thousand Iiounds , which are immediately come-atable b y aw . I further invest the curious with full and ample power ( to traverse the whole county of Cork , and all Ireland , and I defy the most ingenious or subtle to learn one single dishonest or dishonourable act I have ever committed .

      Gentlemen—not one of my relatives would hold converse with this disreputable beast ; but , as I cannot answer for Lawyers , I am resolved upon giving my accuser the most extensive opportunity of at once affirming those charges , which , if true , you should be acquainted with ; and to that end I have directed that an action shall be brought against the proprietor of the Manchester Examine }' , to whom I shall give the greatest latitude , and every assistance in my power ; and I dare him—I challenge him—1 def y him to prove one single one of his allegations . Gentlemen , I defy the press , of Cork , the press of Ireland , the press of this world , to charge me , upon the most slender evidence , with a single act of meanness , dishonesty , or

      inconsistency ; and I further undertake , at my own expense , to . produce as witnesses any female relative , w ^ ose evidence may be necessary to substantiate the charge of my accuser . But , Gentle men , that is not all . Immediately upon r ., return , I shall proceed to Manchester , or . Tuesday the 20 th of October , and " avin o " jus given my accuser ample time to prepay his ca 8 e and tne benefit of my absence to circulate the slander , I shall face him in tV . e HALL OF SCIENCE , single banded an d alone , to answer any charge that he or any 'Alter man may bring against me , and all I require is , that notice may be given him , and proper arrangements for the public investigations may be made , and if the evidence of Mr

      My Friends,— .> ¦¦ I Now Address You Fro...

      Mannix , or any other Lawyer , is necessary , will pay their expenses ^ Gentlemen—permit me now to offer a few comments upon the nature of t & e charge , the circumstances under which it is made , and the character of my accuser . When I had demolished the rubbish- of this , base feBow in December and January last , he was sent to the ) cotmty of Cork b y John Bright , hisemolover

      to see what evidence of my baseness he couKE g lean in my native * county- He tells you distinctly that he has been upon this REPUTABLE Mission , that he has seen the Chancery Barrister Mannix , the Solicitors of my family and my nearest relatives ; and although a volunteer in this HONOURABLE mission , and after being in LABOUR for now SOME MONTHS , beholds the abortion he hasbrought forth .

      • Gentlemen—Englishmen—Working Menhere was an HONOURABLE MISSION , A CREDITABLE COMMISSIONER , and a VIRTUOUS EMPLOYER , and yet , though thus importantly charged , behold tha weak , the slender production . Oh I gentlemen—If I were assailable , what a RACK , what a TORTURE ; , what an INQUISITION , what a SECRET CONSPIRACY to be subjected to . Gentdemeri , in ancient or modern times , has this baseness , this perfidy , been equalled ? And then , mark the circumstances under which these charges are made . A band of working men having the good of their fellow men at heart , very properly apply their spare funds to

      the improvement of their own and fellows condition ; and the employer of this base slave , dreading the result of such an application , puts his manageable machinery in order for the purpose of alarming the confiding with falsehoods and ignorant constructions of what the creature pleases to write about law ; and then , as to the wretch's character , -if it is not sufficiently developed in his multifarious and ignominious callings , I must refer you , not to Mr Mannix , nor yet to his famil y solicitors , nor female friends and relatives , but to your townsman , Mr Townley , who gave him house and hospitality when the world frowned upon him , and yet this degraded thing / after having dealt in the worst of slander and the lowest of

      abuse , because covered , cloaked , and concealed , cries out . " NOT TO SUBSTITUTE

      ABUSE FOR ARGUMENT . " He resembles the FLOGGED SOLDIER , who , whether hit hig h or low , could not be pleased , as I flatter myself I have already [ demolisbed all the things he called arguments in his five previous letters . Gentlemen—if , however , you see cause to despise the GOOD RUFFIAN , what must be your feelings towards the real MURDERER who employed him ? and whose tool has the

      insolence to ask for a refutation through his columns , and tell you that the letter is ' an able and an interesting one ; ' but , naturally expecting the coin in which I would repay the attack , this tool says he ' is quite prepared for such an infliction . ' But he too asks for civility' An ounce of civet , good apothecary . ' Marry come up , indeed ; but it is an extensive license , first . to charge a gentlemen with wholesale plunder , and then ask for a civil refutation .

      Many of my friends have felt dissatisfied , from time to time , with the notice I have taken of those attacks , but you may rest assured that my plan of meeting them is ri ght . The good men of Nottingham asked me to bring-an actioniSagainst the Times . I did so , and it cost me about £ 120 ; however , it was worth more to your cause , and for that simple reason I am ' resolved upon putting the Whistler s witnesses into the box , and I am determined to meet him in Manchester on the day I name , but it must be in the HALL of SCIENCE . I shall be in London on

      Saturday , the 16 th—a week after you read this—as I found it was dangerous for me to travel in Italy , and in next week ' s Star I shall utterl y demolish the legal fictions , the folly , the absurd and ridiculous nonsense , which J . Bri ght ' s editor calls ABLE and INTERESTING ; and mind , my friends , when cold-blooded murderers enlist GOOD RUFFIANS to do their work , it is the murderer , and not the POOR STARVING RUFFIANS who is to be blamed , but the flogging the BLACK DRUMMER gave this person is nothing to the walloping I ll give him . You must view this matter very seriously and in its proper light . You must ask yourselves , ' who would be safe

      from such assassins ? ' and you must further ask yourselves , ' what tbe danger tyrants see in our Land Plan must be , when they resort to such means to destroy it ? ' for mark , my friends , this GOOD RUFFIAN did not spend NINE MONTHS in the county of Cork for nothing . When I return I will give you the benefit of my tour , and of a few conversations I have REALLY had on board steam boats about FREE TRADE . Just a taste here . I got into conversation with a Belgian merchant on board the Antwerp boat , and as we passed Uatts , a Dutch fortress , on the river , about twenty miles from Antwerp , he saw the Dutch fishermen at work . ' There now , ' said lie , ' if we had Free Trade we mi g ht come down here

      and TAKE the FISH FROM THE DUTCH . ' I have not seen a beggar since I left the nation of centralised wealth , and I have seen the happiest peasants , living under systems which our virtuous press denounces as despotisms , when it serves their purpose . You can form i no conception whatever ol the rapid strides democracy is making on the continent of Europe , thanks to English Chartism . l I am , my friends , Your uncompromising and unimpeachable Friend and Representative , Fbaugus O'Connor . P . S . —Of course the Examiner will give my repl y to his GOOD RUFFIAN .

      Rat Ional Mix Tonpau^

      Rat ional Mix tonpau ^

      Ashrox-Nsdbr-Ltme.--At A Quarterly Meeti...

      AsHrox-nsDBR-LTME .--At a quarterly meeting of the Land members held in tho Chartist room , Bentinck-street , on Sunday tne 3 rd of October , Mr Samuel Blackwell in tho chair , the auditors read over tho balance sheets , which , were found correct . We hope that those members who are in arrears with their local and general levies will come forward and pay them . Any member in arrears on the 18 th ef October will not be returned to the next ballot . The scrutineer , treasurer , and secretary were re-elected . A resolution sympathising with the widow of the lateMrDodson , and requesting each member to pay a contribution of one penny , was adopted . Biuios . —On Wednesday night Dr M'Douall delivered a most spirited lecture on ' Tbe Land . ' A branch of the National Benefit Society has been started , which is likely to be very successful . Buckbuiw . —At our Weekly meeting on Sunday , at the Temperance Hotel , it was resolved : —

      That a levy of one penny be laid upon each member in aid of the Sleaford case , the subscription to stand OTer till next quarter day , when it will be taken along with the quarters levy . William Andcrton was chosen scrutineer for the next three months . The books were audited and found correct . Bomon . —The monthly meeting of this branch was held onJSunday last . After the Land and local accounts had been wad and passed , tlie following resolutions were carried : —

      That wo have 1 , 500 copies of Mr O'Connor ' s Letter on tbe capabilities of a three a « 9 farm ' , printed , and that ne recommend our committee to send half a dozen cop ies to each of the different trades and other soeletits , . That Manchester ought to call a South Lancash ' . ro dulegate meeting of tho Land Company to be hrAd in Sfancbester as early as possible , in or £ er to ascertain the op inions of the district upon the conduct ot tho' Whist , ler * and others , but more especially , that partym Loa-

      Ashrox-Nsdbr-Ltme.--At A Quarterly Meeti...

      dos who » ro endeavouring to deprlw the directors of the high estimation . in which they are befd by ' the memb & ri of tho company . BRi 8 roL .--On Monday eyenimr , the members of this branch met at Mr Nicols' Coffee house , Rosemary , when tho following officers were reelected : — Mr F . W . Simeon , secretary ; Mr Nichols , treasurer ; Mr Still , scrutineer . A resolution was passed , that ho monies be received except on Monday evening , between the hours of half-past seven and half-past nine o ' clock .. Membersare requested ito bring their oards when they come to pay money . AH in arrears of local and general expenses will remember the Ballot in November . All letters for Bristol branch to be forwarded to F . W . Simeon , printer , Templestreet , Bristol .

      # City and F nsbtov EoeAtiTT . —A crowded meetragofthis locality , took place at the Good Intent Uoffee-house , Back-Hill ,. Ilatton Garden , on Sunday evening last , Mr AHnutt in the chair , when it was agreed unanimously .- — That we form a cluMo * the purpose ef auppertinf WeBsmoerat newspaper on Its appearance , and that we consider It the duty of every Land an & Chattht lotalitj to follow our example . To show that we are in earnest tweety-mur subscribers immediately handed in their contributions after which Mr M'Grath delivered an admirable lee . tureon the rise and progress of the National Land Company , and dwelt at great length on the capabilities of the soil—answered tbe many objections urged against the small allotment system , took a

      review of the articles in the Ditputth , and concluded a most eloquent discourse by inviting the working classes to act upon the advice of Sir R . Peel to take their affairs into their own hands . Seven shillings was collected towards the case of poor Dodaon . A vote of thanks was voted to the lecturer , and chairman , and the meeting separated . Clapham . —A meeting was held on Tuesday evening at the Jolly Sailor , Dorset-street , Clapham read , when Mr M'Grath ably explained the principles and objects of the Land Company . A vote of thanks w : ; s given to the chairman ; three cheers for Feargns O'Connor , and three for the democrats of Philadelphia . Covbhtry . —At a meeting of the Coventry branch

      of the Land Company , held on Tuesday evening , Oct . 5 th , thefoll » wing resolutions were unanimously passed — 'That the decision of Mr Thomas Clark , that a man and his wife can hold four shares each , is unjust , and contrary to the principles of equality . ' * That an Agitating Committee , composed of the following persons :- Messrs Smith , Gilbert , Fritobard , Eaves , Hosier , Freeman , and Pickard . with power to add to their number , be appointed to prepare for Mr O'Connor ' s visit to the Midland counties . ' GLoucESTBR—Dr M'Donall lectured on Saturday evening last , to a numerous meeting in the British School-room . The lecture gave complete satisfaction , and a vote of thanks to the lecturer testified tho approbation of the meeting .

      Hull . —On Sunday evening Mr Joha West delivered a lecture in tbe large room of the White Hart Inn ; his subject was , ' The Lmd and the Charter . ' Mr West gave a most lucid and novel exposition of the duty of Chartists generally at the next general election . The manner in which he handled the ques . tion of the Land , gave the greatest satisfaction to his old friends , by whom he was received with the greatest enthusiasm . After the usual vote of thanks to the chairman , Mr Stevens , and to the lecturer , this great meeting separated , highly delighted with the intellectual treat which they enjoyed . On Monday evening a great meeting was held in the Townhall , which had been kindly granted by the Mayor ; Mr George Stevens was called to tho chair , who briefly

      introduced Mr West to the meeting . The subject of the lecture was , the Land Plan , and the Land and Labour Bank , in connexion with the Na ttonal Land Company . Mr West spoke nearly two hours , elucidating the principles of the National Land Plan , in so clear , simple , and convincing a manner , as to bring conviction home to the most obtuse intellect . His exposure of the present system of banking was loudly applauded ; and the superior advantages afforded by the Land and Labour Bank gave general satisfaction . After replying to the objections raised by the * Whistler at the Plough , ' and others , and inviting discussion , Mr West sat down amid the greatest applause . After a gentleman in the

      meeting had made some observations on the question of banking , Mr Weat replied , and though several persons came to put questions , so completely had all objections been anticipated and answered , that not one present disputed the lecturer ' s positions . This meeting has been one of the most important held i » Hull for a long time , and is calculated to do a vast amount ef good . The fact of the mayor having granted the use of the hall to working men , without any solicitation from the middle classes , is a wonderful proof of our progress . The Chartist body meet every Sunday night , and the Land members every Monday night , at the Ship Inn , Church-iane , to receive subscriptions and enrol members .

      Hydb . —Thb Land asd LabitjbBank .- On Sunday evening last the members of the 'Philanthropic Sick and Burial Society , 'together with the committee of management , met for the transaction of their usual business , Mr W . Candilet officiating as president , assisted by Mr C . Bedson , as secretary . A desultory conversation arose upon their banked funds , upon which Mr G . Candilet entered into an explanation of the security they possessed for their deposits in the Manchester and Liverpool Bank , acd ail other banking establishments ; the amount of interest obtained , and tbe purposes to which the funds of benefit societies were applied by those banks . After which he called their attention to the Land and Labour Bank , and advised tho propriety of inves'ing

      their funds in that Bank , inasmuch as they would not only obtain better security , but a greater amount of pecuniary profit . He then compared the application of deposits in the Land and Labour Bank with the application of deposits in other banking establishments , showing them that not onl ) might they assist by investing funds in this Bank without diverting them from their legitimate purpose in the labour market . Mr Candilet was ably supported by Mr Isaac Mottam , who contended the Land was the very best security ; and even if Mr O'Connor was inclined to run away with that security by shiploads , he could not effect his purpose . It was decided unanimously that £ 100 be immediately transmitted to the Land and Labour

      Bank-Hydb . —This branch of the National Land Company now numbers 413 members , holding 1 , 587 shares . The following officers have been appointed for the ensuing three months' committee : —Joseph M'Callam , James Hoyle , John Derbyshire , Jo & iah Collins , "Alexander Henderson , Edwin Sutchffe , George Candilet ; chairman , William BayJey ^ treasurer , William Ilenning ; scrutineer , Ralph llodgkinson ; John Gaskell , secretary . It has been resolved to print two thousand tracts explaining the objects , ( fee ., of tho Land Company , and Labour Bank , for distribution amongst the various sick

      societies . . Lower Waklsy . —Tho members of this branch met in their room on Friday , Oct . 1 st ., when officers were elected for the ensuing six months , and the following resolution was carried unanimously : — That we , the members ef the Lower Warley branch of the Land Company , do hereby agree to pay one farthing par week each , to the executive committee of th National Charter Association , towards tbe attainment O j that great measure , the People ' s Charter ,

      Macclesfield . —A tea party , in honour of the Land Company , was held in the Chartist room , Hanley-street , on Tuesday evening last , which was numerously and respectably attended . Mr Rieley presided on the occasion . After the removal of the cloth , Mr Thomas Clark , ona of the directors of the Company , who was present , delivered an address , defending the Company from some attacks which had been made upon it by some of the local journals . Harmony and amusements were kept up till midniRht . _ . _ . ....

      Romfobd . —Tho indefatigable men comprising tho Squirrel ' s-heath branch being desirous of extending the Company to Romford , and the Rev Mr Carlisle having most handsomely placed that spacious edifice , the Independent Chapel , at their disposal for one night , on Monday evening October the 4 th , the first public meeting ever held ia Romford in support of the National Land Company , took place , and was addressed by Mr Stallwood in a vory effective manner . He was enthusiastically cheered . The Rev Mr Carlisle presided , and delivered a truly patriotic and philanthropic address , which was warmly responded to . Great gosd has resulted from this meeting . Salisbury . —Mr Sidaway lectured hero on the 29 th ult ., on tho JL ' indPlan . The audience were highly gratified with Mr Sidaway ' s able discourse .

      Sheffield . —Ac the usual weekly meeting of this branch , it was . resolved , ' That all members not paying their levies before tho 25 th inst ., will not be eligible for , the next ballot . ' TiiBLinouRBAsn . —At the quarterly meeting of iSo . 13 , district of the loyal order of Druids , held at the nouseof . Mr Jonathan Garside , New Church Inni , it was agreed that £ 15 should be deposited in tho National Land and Labour Bank , as a first deposit . Stockport .-On Sunday evening last , the Hall of Lyceum was crowded to hoar a lecture from Air T . Clark , on the aubjectof the Notional Land and Labour Bank . Mr E . Clark of Manchester , apd W . , P . Roberts , Esq ., were present , and addressed vfce

      Ashrox-Nsdbr-Ltme.--At A Quarterly Meeti...

      meeting . Mr T 0 arfeantered into a lengthy 0 pjanation of the banking-system , and at the cenckt sipnofhHliaddress , answered several questions that were put to him , to ; ths , entire satisfaction of the guests . . ' '' ¦ - - ¦ ° TiLLioouLTnr ,--At the quarterly meetin ? of this branch , the following officers were elected : —John Drumtnocd and James Buchen , auditors ; John Marchel , treasurer ; George Brown , scrutineer Walter Brown , secretary .

      J ! Walbs . —Having . received information from thtf [ friends at Newport , stating their inability to hare » mseting on Saturday evening , Dr M'Douall ' s route front Dowlais must be changed ; we have resolved , therefore , that he should Oliver two lectures at Merth Z , ose on Agricultura l Chemistry , and tha other ore the Land and Labour Bank ; then proceed to'Fredegar , on Saturday ; and Newport on Sunday , where he may deliver a lecture , if . he can arrive in time ,, but Monday is the day appointed for Newpert - Chepstow on Tuesday , and Monmouth 00 Wednesday . The friends in Monmosth locality must an ange the Doctor ' s tour for the remain ing portion of the week . Davw R ; Moroax , Milt- Riiiksquaw , Merthyr Tydvit , ,

      Whio timoiok Afcn- CaT . —At the ' usual ' weekly * meeting of the members of the above brancib , Mr * Hutchena in the chair the new rules were read and also a letter from the directors in respect of iha agents ' payments , which , beingicontrary to the 40 tfe rule as laid down , the members expressed soma ' dissatisfaction that laws are made and not abided ) 7 ' , M & £ e 8 S of tb * Land Company having concluded , Mr Gumming reported from metropoiitaK delegate meeting . Report received . Mr Tapp brought forward the fallowing motion >—That tliis locality considering the financial atats o £ tho Chanter Association , propose the payment of one shilling pep annum in preference to the present mode of . snpportlng the A »« ociatlon .

      Messsr * Drake , Darifsori , Lawrence , and' other * spoke on the question , which stands adjourned for afortnight . A deputation was received from the fcrkbe and Friends , respecting the intended meeting in behalf of Italy , at the Eastern'Xhstituti-n , Commercial road , on Wednesday , October 13 th . Mr Gumming , and Fiarweather were appointed to assist tho above friends . Mr Tapp brought before tha members of the-locality the charges that had beeav preferred against him , and claimed the appointment of a committee of enquiry . Mr Mathews moved , seconded by Mr Reynolds : — That a committee of enquiry V e appointed , three from the Whittington and Oat , two from iho Slobs am } Friends , two-from Shoreditob , two from Limehouse andt two froB » the Grown and Anchor . The secretary protested against the conslitutw » of the said committee .

      Forthcoming Meetings. Biisnw.—A General ...

      FORTHCOMING MEETINGS . Biisnw . —A general meeting of tbe members ef the Land Company will take place at Mr Linney ' s , the Malt Shovel Inn , on Thursday evening next . Birmingham . —Ill , Rea-strkxt . —In consequence ! of thesupperin honour of the return of Mr O'Connor , for Nottingham , taking place on Monday evening , next , the meeting for receiring ' subscriptions , & c . will be held on the following evening ( Tuesday ) . N . B . —No . 3 Money Club will commence en the soma evening . CnoRLEr—A monthl y meeting of shareholders will be held at No 9 , Princess-street , on tho 10 th inst . at five o ' clock , when all members in arrears for local levies must pay up tbe same . Cur and Finsboby . —On Sunday evening next , Mr W . Dixon will lecture . Subject : ' Trades' unions as they are—Trades' unions as they ought to be . '

      Comukrcial-roas East . —The members of the > Globe and Friends branch are requested to meet on Tuesday , October 12 th . Comma . —All parties requiring information , or wishing to take shares in tho National Land Com ' pany , can do so every Tuesday evening , at the Infant School Boom , bottom of Groy Friar ' s-lane . A public meeting will be held at the above place on Tuesday evening , October 19 th . Cripplbgate . —A lecture will be delivered to this branch on Tuesday evening , October 12 th , at Cartwright ' s Coffee-house , RoJcross-street , City , by Mr P . M'Grath , on the 'National Land Company . ' Chair to be taken at eight o ' clock .

      Di'KEsriBLD . —Next Sunday , October 10 th , Mr Harkin will d-Hver a lecture on' English Grammar , ' and will continue for several successive Sundays , when all the members , the young men especially , will do well not to let this golden opportunity slip . Mr Harkin presented to thememberslastSunday . thirtyfive different styles of small handwriting , and they were very much admired . N . B . —Branch business to commence at two o ' clock , and the lecture at threo o ' clock in the afternoon precisely . Finkburt . —This branch will , in future , meet afc the Mechanics' Institute , Frederick ' s-place , Goswellroad , on Monday , October 11 th .

      Gassiown , near Dumfries . —A quarterly meeting of the members of this branch willbo held on Friday evening , October 15 th , at eight o ' clnck , when all those who have been members three months previous to that date , arc requested to attend and pay their : levies . A scrutineer will be elected for the ensuing three months ; Didk . —Tho members of this branch will meet afc the house of Mr William Ilenning , on Sunday next , at two o clock , p . m . Members to bo eligible to the ballet , must have paid up all local levies , by the 24 tb , of the present month . Ivbstoh . — The members of this branch are requested to attend the meeting , to be held in tho schoolroom , at Iveston , on Monday , the 11 th inst , Leeds . —An operative mechanic will lecture in tha Chartist room , on Sunday evening , October 10 th , on the ' Land and Labour Bank . ' The mechanics of Leeds are respectfully requested toattund .

      Lincoln . —A branch ot the National Land Company has been opened in Lincoln , and will meet on Monday evenings , at eight o ' clock , at the Manvera Arms , Danes Gate . Manchester —Mr Thomas Clark , of London , wil deliver a lecture in the People ' s In-titnte , Hcyrodstreet , Ancoats , on Sunday , October 10 th , at two > o'clock in the afternoon . Subject : ' The Principles of the Land and Labour Bank . ' At half-past sis : o ' clock , there will be a public discussion , by Mr T . Clark of London , and Mr Degless of Pcndelton , on the Land Plan propounded ty Feargus O'Connor Esq ,, M . P .

      Mr West ' s Route for tub next Fortnight . — ? Sunday , October 10 th , Braraut ; Monday , 11 th , Leeds ; Tuesday , 12 ch , Haworth ; Wednesday , 13 th , Silsden ; Thursday , lltb , Bradford ; Friday , 15 th , Idle ; Monday , ISih , Sheffield ; Tuesday , 19 th , Doncaster ; Wednesday , 20 th , Dewsbury ; Thursday , 21 * t , Todvnorden ; Friday , 22 nd , Uebden Bridge ; and , Sunday , 24 th , Macclesfield . Martmbokk—The members of this branch will meet , on Sunday , the 10 th instant , at the

      Coachpainters Arms , Circus-street , Ncw . road , at six o ' clock . The local expenses will be decided on , Newcastle-upon-Tyne . — The members of this branch of the Land Company are informed that a public discussion amongst the members will take place at Mr Jude ' s , Cock Inn , Head-nfthe-Side , on Sunday evening , October 10 th , at six o ' clock . Subject : The merits of the plan or principle on which the Land Company is founded , more especially ' as regards tho redemption of each member ' ^ allotment . "

      Noribampiok . —A gener . il meeting of the shareholders will take place on Monday evening , at halfpast seven o ' clock , at Mr N . Girr ' s , the Temperance-Hoiel , King-street , to elect officers for the ensuing quarter . NoiTiaoHAsi . —A meeting of tbe members oftke National Land Company will be held at the Eagle-Tavern , Garner ' s Hill , on Sunday evening , October 10 th , at beven o ' clock , when the deputation appointed to wait upon the editor of the ' Mercury , * will give in their report . Oldham . —On Sunday , ( to-moirow ) Mr T . Tattersall , of Burnley , dehgate to the late Lind Conference at Lowbauds , will deliver two lectures in tha schoolroom of the Working Man ' s Hall . First lecture—subject : ' The Land . ' Second lecture—subject : ' The Charter , and the Best Means of obtaining it . ' Chair to be taken at two o ' clock ia tha afternoon , and six o ' clock in the evening .

      Salfobd . —A shareholder ' s meeting will take place on Sunday ( to-morrow ) , the 10 th of October , at two o'clock In the afternoon , in the large room . Bank-street , Great George street . Stockpobt . —A meeting of the aembess of this branch will take place in the Hall of tha L \ ceum Wellington-street , at two o ' clock , on Sunday afternoon , the tenth of October . WoiraBHAMPios—A special general meeting will be held in tho shareholders' room , Bath-street , near the True Briton , on Monday evening . next » at seven , o ' clock .

      Later Foreign News * -Important From Spa...

      LATER FOREIGN NEWS * -IMPORTANT FROM SPAIN , KARYAEZ PBIME , MINISTER . The Timea says-. Wo have * received by extraordinary express from Paris the MomUur Parisien ot Wednesday night , which contain the following telegraphic despatch : — Too French government has received , by a telegraphic despatch dated Madiid , Oct . 4 , the news 1 that her Majesty Queen Isabella has appointed a now ministry , of which the following is the composition : President of the Counsil and Minister for b oreign Affairs , General Narvaez ; Minister of tha Interior , M . Sartorius ; Minister ot Finance , M , Orlando ; Minister of Pubhc Instruction , M Rob &» Olano ; Minister of War , M . Cordova . 'J ho ©* hnanco which constitutes tho new Ministry was , published in the Gaxetto of the 4 th . Madrid is f ^ iox * i ? ttmUU ' SWITZERLAND . By tho advices from Switzerland ^ ] CaVn that tbe canton of Schaffhausen had Voided , by a majority of 46 against 28 votes , * . o ' support , by ioice cf arms if necessary , the dc- ; 0 n of tho Pit t against the Sonderbund . Th ^ canton of Zurich has organised its military contingent to support the Diet . -

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 9, 1847, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_09101847/page/1/