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Northern Star (1837-1852), 22nd May 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 8

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      „ Monday, Mat 17. , House Of L0r"0*5 .I-...

      ahroid ; for if an untaught aad godless population were suffered to grow up amongst us , the security for capital aad rnachinery would be . reduced . It was highly dangerous to trifle with the morals of a nation for the sake of increasing wealth ; the result would he to make the nation poor by debasing the people . Lord _WHiMcx-rrra supported the MIL The Bishop of St . David ' s also delivered a powerful speech in iu fa-• _fonr , in the course of which he said : —It had been said that a greatdegree of uncertainty a ttached to this proposition , but he was sure their lordships wonld remember that , some years ago . when this qu ° stion was madentaUy discussed , that the noble and learned lord ad . _mitted in the fullest manner that a similar measure then proposed was in itself highly desirable , but would not assent to

      Stated that the reason why he any legislative _measore o . _ancn a subject was tha ie looked for the same results from very different xneans-that he looked fer the progress of civdisation ftom the removal of the restrictions on trade . Now . whether or not those expectations had been well founded he would not say ; neither would he venture to assert that the magnitude of the evils which the bill was designed toenre had heen met , bnt he appealed both to what his noble and learned friend had said , and had left unsaid _asaproof that some legislation in this direction was necessary . His noble and learned friend had observed an emphatic silence with respect to the evils which , arose from the state of things which now existed , while his admission that , a labouring man after ten hours' labour was in that state of exhaustion which

      unfitted him for intellectual exertion—if so , it was in ram to expect that with a longer time of labour , females and young people conld hare the strength to partake of the benefits which were said to be open to tbem . ( Hear , hear . ) If this measure was a perilous experiment , the peril was on the side on which the evil was to be feared , aad he contended that by adopting this measure their lordships wonld take the safest and the wisest coursea course which as far as human foresight could extend , would produce the greatest benefit to the greatest number of the population . ( Hear , bear . ) Lord _Ashbdetos said , —If he saw any indication of an intention to make this an eleven boars' hill , when in committee , he should vote for its second reading ; but in the absence of any such indication , be should vote in favour of the amendment of his noble and learned friend , that thebul be read a second time this day six months . Their lordships divided—For second

      reading-Contents 53 Hon contents 11 Majority for second reading ......... —42 The bill was accordingly read a second time ; and the honse adjourned at twenty minutes past twelve o ' clock . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —Food Riots in Enohnd . — Mr Escott , referring to the accounts in the newspapers that large bodies of people in Exeter and Taunton and some other towns in the west of England had _proceeded to the markets , and compelled the dealers in provisions , both corn and meat , to sell them at such prices as those bodies of people chose to fix , asked the Home Secretary whether those accounts were authentic , whether there was _occasion for that alarm which certainly prevailed throughout the western parts of England , and whether there was any information upon the subject which he wa 3 prepared , consistently with his duty , to lay before the bouse f

      Sir G . Gbet had received communications from the Lord Lieutenant of Cornwall , and from the civil authorities of Exeter , giving an account of some disturbances which had occurred in the latter part of the week at Exeter and in its neighbourhood , and in several parts of the east of Cornwall , alleged to be in consequence of the high price of provisions ; from Taunton , however , be had received no official representation ot any such disturbances , although he had seen statements respecting them in the newspapers and in private letters . But he was happy to state , that in consequence of the prompt and judicious measures adopted by the local authorities , order had been restored ( hear , bear ) , and he hoped that there was no cause for alarm with respect to the future . ( Hear , hear . )

      Relief _Comhtttees is Ibeland . —Mr P . Scbopb then asked Mr Labouchere whether he was prepared to lay before the bouse any statement as to tbe progress of tbe system of reUefia Ireland , under the Temporary Relief Act . The honourable gentleman , in putting the question , drew an appalling picture ofthe condition of thepeasantry in some portions of Ireland , where they were dying by hundreds from starvation , mainly owing to the culpable remissness ofthe relief committees , who had in many instances made no provision for the support of the people , in the interim between the breaking' np of tbe relief works and the establishment of the new system of relief .

      Mr _Libouchebe replied to the effect that the government was now in possession of tbe second report of the relief commissioners in Dublin , which contained ample information upon the working of the new act . Tbat report was no w in the hands of the printer , and when laid before the bonie would afford the fullest information upon the question before it . He admitted , however , that many of the landlords had , instead of aiding , thwarted tbe government . Pooa Law _AnMisisiasTioH Bat . —Alter a number of questions put by Mr Ferrand relative to the management of the Poor Law Commission and its unconstitutional nature had been put and answered by varions members of the government—on the question that this bill be read a second time , he moved that it be read a second time

      that day six months . For 13 years the poor aad undefended classes of this country had been subject to the rules of three irresponsible men , who made laws and enforced them as they thought proper , without any control on the part of either the Parliament or the government ; and after they bad thus acted for 13 years , a committee of that house had reported that they had acted with cruel injustice to their Assistant Commissioners—that they had not acted according to the statute which gave them existence—aid that they had shaken the confidence of allclaSes in England and Wales in the administra tion of the law which tbey were appointed to superintend . If they had acted thus to men of talent and influence , who had friends in that house to defend them , it was easy to imagine how they must have acted towards

      the poor , who were without friends to assist and defend them . In tracing the original concoction of this law Mr Ferrand made a bitter attack on the principles advocated . at that time by Mr _Malthus and Lord Brougham ; and alluded with great severity to the "dark document " which the Commissioners under the original Poor Law Commission had drawn up as the basis of thepresent Poor Law . That document was so disgraceful , and scandalous , and wicked , that at first its very existence was denied by the government , by Sir J . Graham in the Honse of Com . moiis , and by the Duke of Wellington in the other house of parliament ; and it was not until Mr Walter , who was now lying on tbe bed of sickness , absolutely produced it to tile honse , that Sir J . Graham began to have a faint recollection of it . The law , however , was passed , though

      5 , 000 , 000 petitioned against it . It was subsequently put iu force at the point ofthe bayonet ; and then the Poor Law Commissioners refused all out-door relief—sold up tens ot thousands of paupers—built _bastiles , gave their inmates a felon ' s dress and worse than a felon ' s diet ; separated husbands from wives and children from their parents , and made unions so wide and extensive that _decrepit men were obliged sometimes to walk 24 miles to obtain relief . Having thus shown the way in which the Poor Law Commissioners commenced to enforce their blood-stained law , he next proceeded to show that that law had been an utter failure by contrasting its -results with Lord Brougham ' s promises . He then traced the operations of the Poor haw Commissioners down to the year 18 t 7 , when Ministers were obliged to

      admit that the Poor Law Commissioners must be dismissed from their officeB , bnt persevered at the same time in defending their proceedings . These Poor Law Commissioners , however , boasted in the defence , by which they bad attempted to avert their destruction , that after 13 years'labour they had saved the country a million a year . But if they had saved , what was the price at which the saving had been made ! It was at the price of an insurrection in Wales , of an outbreak in the north , of incendiarism in the south—it was at the price of a vast increase of infanticides , of a vast increase of the rural police , of enlarged gaols , of more frequent sessions , and of a winter assize . It was at the price of general discontent among the people , and of greater poverty and distress than any which had existed in the

      country since the French revolution . The law , then , being a failure , what was the cure for it ! The same law ins different shape , as he showed by a dissection , clause by clause , of the bill then before tbe Honse . Having given tt / e House a brief sketch of the powers which the Cabinet had taken to itself in this bill , he alked to whom were the poor to appeal in case they suffered oppression under it—to the Cabinet ? No ; for four members of the Cabinet would be their oppressors . To that House ! No ; for the Cabinet must always have a majority in tbat Hoase so long as it remained a Cabinet . To Her Majesty 1 Their memorial must then pass t _' iroogh the hands of the Secretary of State ; and though he did not believe that Sir G . Grey would ever be guilty of such misconduct , there might be a Secretary of State ,

      like the last , who would withhold such a documeutfrom her bands . To whom , then , most they look for protection " ! To the common law of England ; and that led him to the consideration of a point on which he bad already touched that evening , that the Honse of Commons had no right to delegate tbe power of making laws to any other body ; and that position he confirmed by the great authorities of Locke , of Blackstone , of Lord Coke , of Lords Eldon , Abinger , and Wynford , and of Magna Chsxta . He then proceeded to maintain , on the authority of Lord Bacon and Sir W . Blackstone , that the poor had a right to relief ; and that if relief were not given to them , they had a right to take it . If the Government meant to bolster up the old law under a new name , they wonld undoubtedly fall ; andhe warned them that as the present Poor Law lost

      them office at the last election , so would thu bill lose themonice at the next , if they persisted in carrying it . He then entered into an examination of " the defence " ofthe Poor Law Commissioners , and showed that it was fall of statements perfectly destitute of all foundation . He had intended to have made some farther remarks on their conduct , but he abstained . Still , as he saw Sir 3 . Graham in the honse , he must read a letter which he had received from the rector of Bewcaitle , in the union of Lengtown , descriptive of tha proceedings of its board of guardians , of which Sir J . Graham was the chairman . The rev . author of that letter complained of the gross mismanagement ofthe union—of the gross negligence of the Poor Law Commissioners—and of many _cuxumstaricat in its workhouse resembling the atrocities of _Andorer , So wonder , then , that Sir i , _Grahammade an

      „ Monday, Mat 17. , House Of L0r"0*5 .I-...

      attempt to induce Mr Parker to withdraw . hls report lest The Times should be in his ribs for the next fortnight ; no wonder that he should feel considerable anxiety on that point , when in the union of which he was chairman atrocities were occurring similar to those which had givon sueh an unfortunate celebrity to the Andover Union . Mr _Bomock in a speech of nearl y two hours length ™! * I "Tf f attack on Mr *«»»« . * bom he designated by all the choicest terms of his pretty extensive vocabulary . He said that Mr Ferrand was a very fine proof the trnthof the axiom _thsta msnmight doa great deal of mischief with a very slight portion of ability . For tbe last two hours Mr Ferrand bad been descanting on the act of the 43 rd of Elizabethand yet it was quite

      , evident that he was quite ignorant of its contents , and had never re * _d a word of its enactments . Mr Ferrand had spoken of the inalienable right of tbe poor to relief , and bad quoted Vattel , Pnffendorf , and Grotlus—of whose writings he had never read a syllable—in confirmation of the absurdities which he had spouted on that point . Mr Roebuck also attempted a defence ofthe poor Law itself , but his arguments were such monstrous fallacies , despite the ability with which they were urged , that we cannot think of wasting valuable space by giving them . It is only _requisite to soy that he maintained the rights ofthe "industrious poor * ' _sgainst the "lazy poor , " and also ] the principle of _centralization as applied

      to the poor-law—the concentration of the responsibility in certain commissioners in London , as leading to the more facile administration of the law . He was not there to say that tbe workhouse test was the best that could have been devised ; some test was necessary to enable the administrators of the law to distinguish between the honest poormau who required and deserved relief , and the "idle vagabond , " who was too lazy to work . He trusted that the house would maintain in its integrity the existing law . It was a law which gave with a lavish hand to the deserving poor , and justly withheld from the idle that which was only the right of the industrious .

      Mr G . Baskes was surprised that Mr Reebuck had waBted a good hoar aad a half in animadverting on tho speech of Mr Ferrand , if it was so deficient in worth and weight as he had represented it to be . The real ques . _tlou for the house to consider was—would it consent to re-establish under another name the same system of Poor Laws which had already been found so objectionable , aad , along with tbe re-establishment of that system , would it consent to instal in that house the men who had conducted it so ill , with greater honour and dignity than they had ever yet enjoyed ! He entertained a constitutional objection to sucn a proposal , and thongbtthat sufficient attention had not been given to the fact that this bill introduced two new placemen into parliament . Sir G . _Gbev thought that Mr Roebuck had so completely demolished the speech of Mr Ferrand that it was quite unnecessary to reply to the arguments which that gentleman bad directed _. not so much against tbe bill before

      the house , as against tbe law of 1834 . He denied that that act had produced nothing but evil ; and asked Mr Ferrand , who said that before its enactment the people of England were loyal and contented , whether he recollected the fires and rick-burnings which devastated tbesouthern counties of England in 1830 . He denied that the bill was introduced for the sake of increasing the patronage ofthe government . In spite of Mr Perrand ' _s attack on the past exertions and the future intentions of the government , he thought that the maintenance of the principle ofthe act of 1831 was essential to the proper care and maintenance of the poor . He declined to enter into the correctness of the attacks made on the Poor Law Commissioners . All he would say on the report of the Andover Committee was that on a careful perusal of it he had not fonnd one word condemnatory ofthe Poor Law itself , or confirmatory of the statements made that evening by Mr Ferrand .

      After a short speech from Colonel _Sibthorp in support ofthe amendment of Mr Ferrand , the debate was adjourned to Tuesday . The house rose at a quarter to two o ' clock . TUESDAY , Mat 18 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —Abmt Sebvice BttL .-On the question-for recommitting this hill , Tbe Marquis of _Lokdosdebrt re . urged , with great earnestness , most of the objections which had been offered to the measure in the other house , observing that nine-tenths of the army were adverse to it , including officers of great practical knowledge and experience . The Earl of Cabdioak , although he reluctantly opposed a bill involving the interests of the army , which was _supported _^ by the Duke of Wellington , was persuaded , with manj officers of the army , that this was a dangerous and visionary measure . It would entail great expense , difficulty , and confusioH _, and in his opinion destroy the esprit de corps of the army .

      Earl _Gbei stated " a fact which , he thought , would neutralize the arguments of the noble lords . He had in . quired of an officer now in the army , who had risen by moritorious conduct frora the ranks , what was his opinion of this bill ; and be replied that he would not have nlisted for life , and had been himself a seven years ' man ; After a few _obaervationsfromlord Cohbebhebe against the bill , the house went into committee . J Several amendments were proposed which led to lengthened discussions , and ultimately the bill passed through committee . The Irish Poor Relief Bill was read a third time and passed after a protracted discussion , and after undergoing several amendments . Their lordships adjourned to Thursday .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS . —On the motion to consider the report ofthe committee on tbe Birmingham and Oxford Junction and Birmingham , Wolverhampton , and Dudley Railways Amalgamation Bill , Sir F . Tbisioeb moved , as an amendment , that the bill be referred back to the said committee . After a stormy and tumultuous discussion , if discussion it could be called , tbe original motion was carried by 214 against 62 . Hon . members were evidently wbipped-in by tbe great rival railway companies ; and the members present , and the deep interest they evinced in this private bill , contrasted curiously with the empty Benches ofthe preceding evening during the discussion on the Poor Laws' Administration Bill . Loan Lieutenancy or ibeland . —Mr Hcke inquired ofthe Prime Minister if he had taken measures to fill up the vacancy of Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , caused by the death of the Earl of Besborough .

      Lord J . Russell , with tbe deepest emotion , said he hoped the house would permit him to express the grief that he and his colleagues , and the sovereign herself , felt at the melancholy loss they had sustained by the defease of the noble lord , whose intimate knowledge of Ireland , whose clear judgment and conciliating _ii ' _spaai . tlon , were eminently qualified to soften down those animosities which werethe bane of tbat country . Lord J . < Russell having thus given expression to his feelings , proceeded to announce tbat he had advised her Majesty to fill np the vacant office immediately , because whatever

      might be the opinion of the government with regard to the general nature of the office of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , and to the policy of maintaining it for any length of time , they were clearly of opinion that in the present circumstances of Ireland , it would not be expedient to make such changes as would be necessary if the constitution of the Lord Lieutenancy were altered . The noble lord also , in answer to Mr Ferrand , stated that ( it was not the intention of the government , to bring in a bill for the purpose of preventing the use of flour in cotton factories .

      On the motion of Lord G . Bentinck it was ordered that the house , at its rising , should adjourn over the Derby day , Wednesday . National Schools . —MrT . Duhcohbe moved tbat an humble address be presented to her Majesty for annual returns , alphabetically arranged , of every school to which aid had been voted in the preceding year , distinguishing Church of England from dissenting schools , showing the amonnt granted in each case , and specifying the items of the names , date of appointment , and salaries of inspectors ; and of the schools making application , distinguishing those refused , and stating the grounds of refusal . Lord J . _Rossell had no objection to tbe returns if they were limited to the next session of parliament in the first instance . Motion agreed to . Returns ordered .

      Tbades Unions in Shesfield . _—MrDuxcoHBE begged to call the attention ofthe house to a petition from the borough of Sheffield , presented on the 13 th of May , complaining of the conduct of Mr Wilson Overend , a gentleman of the medical profession in extensive practice In that town and neighbourhood . _fwho was frequently called upon as a magistrate to decide in questions between employers and employed . He hoped Mr Overend ' s physic was better for the community than his law ; butitdid so _happan that this gentleman never de . cided in favour of the employed . The people and the trades of Sheffield were particularly attached to the sys tem of trades-unions . The magistrates and others took a different view of them , aad were anxious to put them down . Mr Overend was thought an adept in the

      art of doing so , and was always sent for when a case of combination occurred . A dispute had arisen between tbe owner ofa saw-mill and his men , two of whom were discharged . The owner admitted tbat theBe men conducted themselves most civilly . Mr _Overead , on application , issued a summons . They were called before ths magistrates , wbo waited for Mr Overend ; bnt so soon as the case was disposed of and the accused parties sentenced to three months' imprisonment , with hard labour , Mr Overend left the court . Fortunately an appeal was taken by their counsel from the decision , which was quashed upon the merits . Every man was liable to error , but most of Mr Overend ' s convictions bad been quashed . The first intention ofthe petitioners was to memorializo the Crown to have Mr Overend dismissed ; bnt they had thought it the best course to have public

      attention called to the subjectin the first instance . They asked for iu quiry ; but before an inquiry could be instituted it was necessary to have a list ofthe convictions laid On the table . The petitione _» s stated that under all the circumstances Mr Overend ' s decisions had lost their influence with the community . The best " remedy for such complaints was to have in all manufacturing towns a stipendiary magistrate , who should be a person totally removed beyond the influence of court prejudices , and also of trade prejudices . There were such magistrates in Liverpool and Manchester . If it was legal for the masters to combine , it was legal for the men ; aad there was nothing in the present state ofthe law to prevent the formation of _trades ' _-unions , which , indeed , properly conducted bad often been of great benefit to tbe working classes and protected them from oppression , though those unions must not resort to intimidation or violence ,

      „ Monday, Mat 17. , House Of L0r"0*5 .I-...

      The sentence in the _instanea specified was considered most severe . Mr Overend sentenced the accused parties , who were highly respectable , to the full term of three months'imprisonment with hard labour ; it cost them £ 50 to get the appeal carried through . In conclusion he begged to move for a list of all such convictions in Sheffield , specifying the name of tbe magistrate or magistrates present in each instance . Sir G . Gbet had no objection to the motion ; he could not , however , but regret the observations , with which it bad been accompanied . The representations made to him differed from those which appeared to have been

      made to the honourable gentleman . He was assured that intimidation had been exercised by members of tradesualons , under circumstances which _oscasioncd great difficulty , and Involved the parties themselves in peril . He was bound to say that nothii . g had been stated to him with regard to Mr Overend except in commendation ; no representation had been addressed to the Crown through the Secretary of State , complaining of that gentleman ' s conduct as a magistrate . In one case which occurred in _Sheffi-. ld he was aware that a conviction had been quashed , but he was aware , also , that the decision was pronounced after the best legal advice had been taken .

      Mr B . Denison had no objection to the hon . gentleman ' s motion , but wished appended to that motion of which he had given notice , for an address for " copies of memorials lately forwarded to the right hon . Sir G . Grey , from the mayor and corporation of Sheffield , the cutlers' company of Sheffield , the church burgesses of Sheffield , and the town trustees of Sheffield , respecting the conduct of Mr Wilson Overend , as a magistrate of the west riding of Yorkshire . " He had the honour of Mr Orerend ' s acquaintance ; that gentleman bad onerous duties to perform , the town of Sheffield being afflicted with combinations . The hon . gentleman had been somewhat wrongly informed of the circumstance . . The impression conveyed was that Mr Overend had acted singly in regard to these convictions , but in every case Mr Overend had acted iu concurrence with another magistrate . Tbe Chancellor of the _Excbeqoeb bore testimony to the high character of Mr Overend .

      Mr J . Wobtlet described Mr Overend as one of the most eminent men of his profession in the north of Eng . land , and as one of their ablest , best , most conscientious , and most efficient magistrates . Mr Overend was called upon to act as a magistrate not engaged in trade . The act under which the convictions took place excluded persons connected with trade from acting in a judicial capacity , One conviction was actually quashed _bocauie the colleague of Mr Overend was a merchant exporting _sciBsors , and therefore disqualified as a magistrate under tbe act . " Every one of the convictions quashed had been so on the ground of informality ; in such cases it was not the magistrate who was at fault . He had no intention of entering into details connected with this subject ; but , if he were to do so , he could present a picture of the state

      of things In Sheffield which was actually frightful , and which would be sufficient to shake the opinion of even Mr Duncombe himself . It would be enough to say that a peculiar class of offences had reached such a height there—he alluded to the destruction of property by gunpowder—that it was found necessary by Sir _. J . Qrabam , when Home Secretary , to introduce a specific measure for suppressing the practice . He held in bis hand a placard which had been issued on tbe morning following one of these offences , offering a reward of £ 1 , 000 , for the detection ef the offender , but it produced no effect ; it wai fonnd impossible to obtain any evidence respeting it . In such circum . stances it required a man of vigour and courage to dare to act as a magistrate oa such occasions ; and Mr Overend was a man cf courage , and at the same time a man of moderation . He hoped tho hon , member for Finsbury would repeat the advice which he had given the workmen to-night elsewhere , for he had great

      influence with the people of Shcffield _. and such advice , coming from him , would do great good . ( Hear , hear . ) "He held In his hand a placard in which that hon . member ' s name was mentioned as president of a trade ' s union society ; and tbe hon . member could hardly conceive the countenance which his name gave to such a society . ( Hear , hear . ) He assured the house that the consequence ofthe state of things which existed in Sheffield between masters and workmen was deplorable in the extreme . He knew a case where a gentleman of extensive sapital intended setting up an establishment in Sheffield fer the manufacture of engines for railroads ; but from the terrible state of society which he found existing there , he actually left the town and settled elsewhere . ( Hear , hear . ) It would be doing a great service there _, fore to the workmen , if the hon , member for Finsbury would use his influence wiih them , to show tbem that such conduct as he had referred to was doing not only a great injury to the town ; but to the trade by which they lived , and to themselves and families . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr Henley knew nothing of the merits of this case or of the parties connected with it , beyond what had been then stated to the house ; but he must say he felt rather surprised at the course taken by tbe government in lending their countenance to the introduction of such subjects into that house , The hon , member for Finsbury had made a strong , although a short speech , containing serious insinuations against a gentleman holding the commission of the peace . Now , if there was any ground of _complaint against the magistrate referred to , a court of law was the place to carry it to . Mr Wabd remarked that Mr Henley had somewhat misrepresented the facts of the case ; for although it was true that the hon , member for Finsbury bad made seme strong statements respecting Mr Overend , on the

      other hand an almost unanimous testimony had been borne in bis favour . As one of the members for Sheffield , he ( Mr Ward ) had risen to say that he entirely coLcurred in many of the observations which had fallen from geBtlemen on both sides of the house . The fact was , that the question of trades' unions was one of the most difficult that tbe government or the magistracy could deal with . He knew that in Sheffield there existed a strong feeling on both sides , and that there wero faults on both sides . If ever there was a case in which it was the duty of a magistrate to show exemplary patience and freedom from prepossession on either side , it was a case in which trades' unions were concerned . He ( Mr Ward ) had risked his seat in his attempts to bring home to the working classes of Sheffield the injury which they did to

      themselves by the height to which they carried their trades' union proceedings . He admitted tbat there were cases in which trades' unions were essential to the working classes ; but when they overstepped the limits of moderation , and attempted to carry their resolutions not by moral force , but by influence bordering on threats , which were always followed ( although they could not be traced ! by acts of violence , they inflicted an injury on the working classes generally which it was impossible to estimate . When times of bad trade came the workmen felt this themselves . One of their resolutions , for instance , was that no employerof labour should be alletvcd to make choice of his own workmen , and that no workman should be allowed to choose his own employer . When trade was good they might be able to curry this into effect , but not when trade was bad . He held in his hand an advertisement which had lately been issued by the tableknife grinders of Sheffield , announcing their resolution to abandon this rule iu consequence of the

      present state of trade . lie said here , as he had said in Sheffield , that the practice of any system of f y rce or intimidation was destructive of all proper subordination , and fraught with ruin to the trade of the town . He knew the case to which Mr Wortley had referred , iu which a man intended to invest a large capital in tbe establishment ofa new branch of trade in Sheffield , but was compelled to abandon the idea owing to the spirit of combination which prevailed . He believed that nothing but a bitter lesson would bring the workmen to their senses on this subject , and Bhow tbem the evil which their conduct was calculated to inflict upon themselves . That there were faults on the part of the masters as well as of tbe men be freely admitted ; and he only hoped that both parties would follow out the principle which had been bo properly inculcated by the hon , member for Finsbury , that neither of them had a right to interfere in anything except by moral influence , ( Hear , hear )

      Mr T . Duncombe assured the house that the sentiments he bad uttered that night with respect to trades ' unions , and the conduct of the workmen towards their employers , he invariably inculcated ia their presence . The very placard which the hon . gentleman ( MrS . Wortley ) had exhibited to the house related , he believed , to tbe National Association of United Trades , which was no doubt a concentration of trades' unions , acting by means of a central committee , hut the object of which was to create a good understanding between workmen and tbeir employers , and to obviate the necessity of strikes ; so that if the object of the right hon . _gentloman was to put down strikes , he eould not do better than to encourage that association . ( Hear , hear . ) So far as he ( Mr Duncombe ) was concerned , that association should never hare recourse to any such mischievous practices' as the tight hon . gentleman had described .

      ( Hear , hear . ) He must say that it was not quite right to prejudice the case which he had brought under the notice of the house by referring to the explosions pnd other diabolical ontrages which had occurred in Sheffield , The three men to whom he bad referred were totally unconnected with proceedings of that sort . ( Hear , hear . ) He begged to say also that if tbe house wanted to put down secret conspiracies and dangorous combinations among workmen , they should endeavour to give them confidence in the impartial administration ofthe law . ( Hear , hear . ) The very difficulty which the right hon . gentleman had referred to , of finding magistrates to act in Sheffield , showed the necessity of oppointing a stipendiary magistrate for that town . There should , in fact , be a stipendiary magistrate in every town with a population above a certain amount , say 8 , 000 or 10 , 000 . ( Hear , hear . )

      The motions of Mr Duncombe and of Mr Denison were then respectively agreed to . Railway Bills . — The Chancellor of theExcHEqOEB moved for a select committee to consider tho expediency of adopting _measures for _stispendiug further proceed * _ings in all or any of the Railway Bills in the present session ; and for enabling the parties , ia ler certain condi . tions , to proceed with the same in a future session of Parliament . Also , whether it is advisable to make any further provisions in the standing orders . The committee to report from time to time . After some objection on tho part of Mr HonasON Uinde , the committee was agreed to and nominated .

      _Poob-Laws Administration Bill . —The adjourned debate , on the motion for the second reading of the Poor Laws Administration Bill , and Mr Perrand ' s amendment , that it _aereada second time tba , t _foy " _^ _Ixovonths

      „ Monday, Mat 17. , House Of L0r"0*5 .I-...

      was resumed by Mr Chmitu ; who went over the Andover Inqviry case , _censuredjthe conduct of thepresent commissioners , who _. he hoped , would not be re . appeinted to the new commission , the constitution of which he approved of . He supported the bill . During the hon member ' s speech , which was of wearisome length , and delivered to almost empty benches , the honse was near being counted out ; but the friends of the government _lu the library and in the lobbies saved them from that catastrophe . MrR . _Etwall also travelled over the Andover _uniou inquiry , and declared his intention to support the amendment . Lord Codbtenat assented to the general principle of the bill , in the hope and belief ttut the modification introduced in the commission would give a better guarantee of the regular administration of the Poor Law .

      . Copt . PEcnsLL and Mr Manners Suttox addressed tbe house , confining tbeir observations almost entirely to a re-examination of tbe Andover Committee and its proceedings . On the motion of Mr Henley the debate was again adjourned _. The Chancellor of the Excbeqoeb intimated that he would not go on with the Loan Discount Bill until after the Whitsun holidays . On bringing up the report of the vote for the Ecclesiastical Committee agreed upon in committee of supply , Mr Williams opposed its reception , ind divided the house . There were—For the vote 76 Against it ... 8 * . ¦ 68 The vote was confirmed and received by the house ,

      The Poor Relief ( Ireland ) Bill , with amendments , was brought down from the Lords , and on the motion of Lord John Russell it was ordered to be printed , and the amendments to be taken into consideration on Monday , tbe 31 st instant . The other orders ofthe day were disposed of , and the house adjourned at half . _past twelve to Thursday . THURSDAY , Mai 20 . HOUSE OF LORDS . —The Clergy _Offmoes Bill was after a brie' discussion , read a second time . , The Naval Prisons Bill , and Naval Service of Boys BUI , were severally read a second time . At its rising , tbe house adjourned forthe Whitsuntide holidays until Friday next . HOUSE OF COMMONS—Mr T . Doncowu presented a petition from the '; coal-miners of England and Wales , complaining of tbe truck system , and praying for tbe ap * pointment of government inspectors ..

      Colonial and British _Snans . —Mr Moffatt moved for leave to bring In a bill for assimilating tbe _warehousing privileges on Colenlal and British spirits ,. and another bill to permit British spirits to be rectified in bond for exportation , and to permit rectified spirits and compounds to be warehoused for exportation _. The Chancellor of the Exchequer opposed both motions , on the ground of their interference with the revenue , and on a division both motions were lost , Poob Laws Administration Bill . —The adjourned debate , on the motion for tbe second reading of the Poor Laws Administration Bill , and Mr . Ferrand ' t amendment , was resumed by Mr Henley . A protracted discussion

      followed , in which Lord J . Russell and Mr Disraeli were the principal speakers . The latter gentleman argued tbat parishes should not be under metropolitan control . He , did not object to the proposed new commission on the ground of patronage , or of any supposed increase ofthe power of the Crown , because he was of opinion that the power of the Crown had _deoreaeed _, was decreasing , and should be increased ; aDd he believed that were the power of the Crown greater , the condition of tbe poorer classes would be much better than it is . He , however , objected to the Bill before the House , on the ground tbat it would perpetuate that metropolitan control of which he so much disapproved , and he would , therefore , vote for tho amendment _.

      On the motion of Mr _Bobihwice the debate was again adjourned . The House rose at two o ' clock , ( from our Tliird Edition of lait week , ) FRIDAY M « r 14 . HOUSE OF LORDS . _—Poea Relief ( Ibeland ) Bill , —On the bringing up ef the report on the Poor Relief ( Ireland ) Bill , the Marquis of Lansdowne moved that the amendments made in committee on the motion ef Lord Monteagle , which limited the duration of the Bill , be not agreed to . After some discussion , in which Lord Montesgle and the rest ofthe Irish landlords fought hard for the preservation ofthe ] " amendments" carried in committee , Their lordships divided _, or rejecting Lord _Montengle ' s amendments-Contents ... ... ... 54 Non-contents ,,. ... ... . 42 Majority for the government ... 12

      Tbe amendments limiting the duration ofthe bill were consequently struck out . The report of the bill was -ultimately received , and their lordships adjourned to Monday . HOUSE OF COMMONS . —In the House of Commons , Mr Hche submitted a resolution to the effect that no railway company should in future receive power to raise any additional capital by shares , loan , or mortgage , or to purchase or amalgamate other lines , unless the whole of the capital authorised'by existing Acts shall be realised . After a lengthened discussion , the debate was adjourned till Friday evening next . Loan and Discount Bill . —On the motion that the Speaker leave the chair , to go into committee on . the Loan Discount Bill ,

      The Marquis ofGBANBY reviewed the operations of the Bank restriction Act of 1844 , and demonstrated that it had failed in attaining any ofthe results which its proposers declared it would achieve , and that It had wrought all tho mischiefs prophesied by the bankers , who memorialised the government of the day against it . He read extracts from Free Trade speeches to exhibit bow miserably experience bad falsified all the predictions of Free Trade orators . He expressed a hope that the government wonld listen to the prayers of the manufacturers and merchants , and enable them to carry on their business and give employment to the peoplo by taking off the restrictions imposed oa the Bank , and by expanding the currency .

      The Cbancellob of the Exchequer , at great length , entered into a defence of the Free-Trade policy , and of the Bank Restriction Act , and of himself . After some further discussion tbe bill and the third reading was fixed for Tuesday next , when the discussion on the Bank Act and Currency will be continued , The house then adjourned .

      Ar00808

      Review " Of The British Corn Trade. The ...

      REVIEW " OF THE BRITISH CORN TRADE . The weather has been uninterruptedly fine during the past week , * with just sufficient moisture topromote vegetation , and a decided improvement has been wroughtin the aspect ofthe country . More _auspicious weather thanthat lately experienced could scarcely be desired ; and one cause of uneasiness , namely , the backwardness of the crops , has in some measure been removed . Still it is scarcely possible for the next harvest to be an early one ; and it will , therefore , be the more necessary to husband our resources . What quantity of grain may still remain in tlie hands of , the producers cannot be ascertained with any degree of accuracy , but the more the matter is inquired into , the more general becomes the conviction that the smaller farmers have long ago thrashed out ; and tliough some of the more wealthy agriculturists may yet have a fair proportion of their corn on hand , it is , nevertheless , certain that , as a body , the growers hold much

      loss grain than is usually tho case at the corresponding period ofthe year . With regard to the stocks in warehouse at the different large towns , information is more easily obtained ; and we are convinced that there is hardly a town in the kingdom , excepting Liverpool and Glasgow , at which anything approaching a fair stock is held . We do not , therefore , feel much surprise at the course which the trade has taken , and feel some doubt whether the top price hits yet been touched . —Mark-lane Express . The Season akd the _CbopsI—It is scarcely possible to over-estimate the importance of the present delightful and seasonable weather . Thehay crop , which appeared to be lost , has been rendered quite secure , and thus the principal winter food of cattle is safe . This is ofthe utmost

      consequence , as it will not only enable us to keep more cattle and sheep at less expense , but to economise grain and all descriptions of food , during the winter of the present year . In the pastures the benefit will be immediately felt , in the improved condition ofshcep and cattle , and the great increase of milk , butter , and cheese . Under the reviving influence of moisture and a mild temperature , the spring corn has recovered from the effects of the biting frosts of April , and looks as well as ever it did at this season of the year ; and , though the wheat plant is still thin in this purtof the country , yet the process of tilling or spreading has begun , and will do much to repair the loss of plant . In other parts of the country , the wheat plant looks much better than it does in Lancashire , and will easily fill up at this season ef vigorous growth . —Lieerpool Times , Tuesday .

      Tax _Ahekicav Supplies . —The account ofthe supplies of flour and grain at New York and all the other Atlantic cities speak of them as exceedingl y . small ; and tlie g eat difference of opinion ' exists as to the extent of the supplies which were likely to he received from the interior . — Liverpool Times . ¦ _•?!* ..

      ANOTHER ENORMOUS RISE ! WHEAT AT ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTEEN . SHILLINGS PER QUARTERI Mark-lane , Monday , May 17 . —Fresh up to-day , the supply of wheat from Essex , Kent , Cambridgeshire , ifcc , was extremely small ; hence the show of samples of both red and white was smaller than on many previous market days . This falling off in the arrivals , together with the large attendance of both town and country buyers , caused holders of all kinds of wheat to be very firm , tindthe trade must be considered very brisk , at an advance in the quotations paid on Monday last of from "five to six shillings per quarter , " at which amount the whole of the supply was cleared off . The best samples of English white sold freely , at from "one hundred and nine to one hundred and sixteen shillings per quarter !'' This is the highest point of value reilised for a long scries of years , and there is every prospect oi a further rise in the quotations , The

      trade in foreign wheat was again very brisk , at an improvement on last Monday ' s rates of from " Five to Six Shillings per Quarter , " and very few parcels were unsold at the close of business . We had a large quantity ; of foreign Barley on show , but that of home growth was trifling . All kinds command a very steady inquiry at fully , but at nothing quotable beyond last week ' s currencies . The show of malt was limited , while the demand for that article was very steady , at , in some instances , is per qr . more money . The supply of oats on" offer to-day was good , yet the trade was very steady , at fully the late advance in the quotations . Very few beans were on show . Most kinds sold readily at late rates . Peas moved off freely at extreme prices . Indian corn was held at 2 s per qr . more money . The flour trade was firm . _Bbitish . —

      Wheat : Kent , Essex , and Suffolk , old red 9 cs to 106 s , new red 95 s to 101 s , old white Wits to 112 s , new ditto 104 s to 116 s , Norfolk and Lincoln old _redft / s to 08 s , old white 1003 to 10 _is . —RyefiOsto 63 s . —Barley : grinding 15 s to 48 s , distilling 55 s to 58 s ; malting 58 s to 60 s . —Malt : Brbivn 75 s to 77 s , pale 73 s to 77 s . —Beans : Tick 47 s to 52 s , pigeon 50 s to 5 ls . —Peas : white 08 s to 60 s , grey and maple & 5 s to S 7 s , —Oats : English feed 32 s to 38 s , Poland S 8 s to 40 s-Flour : Town made 75 s to 80 s , Essex and Kent 64 s to 72 s , Norfolk and Stockton 64 s to 70 s . Foreign . —Free Wheat : Dantzic and Kouigsbui-g 94 s to 102 s , Mecklenburg 90 S to 97 s , Russian 89 s to 94 s . —Barley : grinding 47 s to 5 ns , malting 5 _Ua to 57 . —Beans : Egyptian 42 s to 43 s—Oats : Russian 33 s to 31 s . —American flour 45 s to 50 s per 19 ( ilbs .

      Wednesoay , May 19 . —The arrivals of English what for market this week have teen very small , and the show of samples of tbat grain hc _: e to-day was trifling . Although the attendance of buyers was by no menus large , the demand was very firm , and in some instances is per qr . advance was obtained for selected runs of both red and white . Foreign wheat was in active request , and Is pcrqr . more money , with a fair average quantity on offer . Other grains maintained Monday ' s prices . _EXTBAOKqiNAItllY HlQH PRICE OF WUEAT . —At tllO Windsor market , on Saturday last , some singularly fine samples of wheat realized the enormous sum of _^ 31 per load . A similar price was also obtained for wheat at Uxbridge market on the precediuL' Thursday . At Chcrtsey May fair , which was held on Friday last , the price of _wheutranged from _^ 271 0 s to £ W IOs per load .

      LiVEnrooi , Monday , May 17 We have large arrivals of Indian corn , corn meal , and flour from the United States since last Tuesday , but of other articles ofthe grain trade thesuppliesare very light . The demandupon this port has daily increased , and the stock of wheat bus not been at so low a point for a number of years us at tho present time . Prices generally have had an upward tendency . May 18 . —There has been rather more inquiry for yarn to-day , but sales have been effected only at lower rates . Short time is gradually extending . Leeds , May 18 . —Our market continues in the same inanimate condition as we have had to report these lastfew weeks . Huddhisfield , May 18 . — "We havo again had a very flat market ; manufacturers make hitter complaints , and several mills are working half time . Richmond ( Yorkshiee ) , May 15 . —We had a tolerable supply of grain in our market to-day , with a further advance on last week ' s prices . —Wheat sold from 12 s to 15 s , oats 4 s to 5 s Cd , barley Cs to 6 s 6 d , beans 7 s to Ss per bushel . CATTLE , & c .

      KISE OF PRICES . Smithfield , Monday , May 17 . —Notwithstanding the arrivals of beasts from our own districts fresh up this morning were seasonably extensive , aud of excellent quality , great excitement prevailed in the demand for all kinds of fat stock . Tliis must be attributed , in a great measure , to tho large number of buyers in attendance from Manchester , Birmingham , Leeds , Wakefield , Bristol , and elsewhere , the whole of whom purchased largely for those localities . The beef trade was very brisk , and the quotations advanced over those obtained on Monday last of from _sixpevce to eigutpencb per 8 Ibs , and at which amount a total clearance was speedily made . On a comparison of prices , we perceive that beef is now selling at Is 4 ( 1 to Is 6 d , mutton at Is 6 d to 2 s , lamb 3 d , veal Sd , and pork 4 d per 8 lbs ., more money than at the corresponding period in 1846 .

      From Norfolk , Suffolk , Essex , and Cambridgeshire , we received about 1 , 000 Scots , homehreds , and shorthorns ; from the western and midland districts , 800 llcrefords , runts , Devons , < fcc . ; from other parts of England , 500 of various breeds ; and from Scotland , 250 horned and polled Scots ; the remainder ofthe bullock supply being mostly derived from abroad , und the neighbourhood of the metropolis . There were in the market about 700 oxen and cows , 300 sheep , and 30 calve 3 , mostly from Holland , and which met a very active demand at improved currencies . With sheep wo were but moderately supplied . As most of the butchers were very short of supply , the mutton trade was exceedingly brisk , at an advance on last week ' s currencies of fully 4 dper 8 ft > s , _theprimestoid downs in the wool selling freely at 6 s 4 d per albs , those out of the woot producing fs 8 d per 81 bs . At the close of the market a total clearance had been effected . From the Isle of Wight , 230 lambs came fresh to hand , and the

      _receipts from other quarters were tolerably good . Still , however , the lamb trade was brisk _| at iu further riso in value of fully 4 d per 8 tts , the primest down qualities without difficulty _rcalising" | 6 s 8 dper 81 bs . There was a large business doing in calves , the supply of which was moderate , at a rise in value of 4 d per 81 bs . The pork trade was very firm , and the quotations advanced from 2 d to 4 d per 81 bs , with a fair average number of pigs on sale . Coarse and inferior beasts 4 s to 4 s Cd , second quality ditto 4 s 8 d to 4 s ) 0 d , prime large oxen 5 s to 5 s 2 d , prime scots 5 s 2 d to 5 s Ad , coarse and inferior sheep 4 s Cd to 4 s lOd , second quality ditto 5 s to 5 s 4 d » prime coarse _woolled sheep 5 s 6 d to 5 s 1 Od , prime south- down ditto fis to 6 s 4 d , large coarse calves 4 s Sd to 5 s 2 d , prime small ditto 5 s 4 d to _ftsSd , large hogs 4 s to 4 s 8 d , neat small porkers 4 s ltidto 5 s 4 d , lambs 5 s Sd to 6 s 8 _dpei-81 bs . to sink the offal , suckling calves 21 s to 32 s _> aad quarter old store pigs 19 s to 23 s each .

      POTATOES . BononcH and _SpiTAiFivr _. Ds , Monday . —York reds 2 t 0 s to 2608 _^ ditto Regent's 240 s to 280 _s . ditto Sliaws 200 s to 220 s , Lincolnshire and Cambridgeshire Regents 300 s to 280 s , ditto kidueys 20 os to 220 s ,. Dutch 140 s to 180 s pen-ton . WOOL . Lokdok _, Monday . —Since this day so ' nnight the imposts ofiwool have consisted of 936 bales from Port Philip , 1 , 000 ditto from Lnunceston , 334 uiiito . from Odessa , nn _$ 330 ditto from various other quarters . The public snUs , at which about 13 , 000 packages l _« ive been offered , have been brought to a close . Tho best qualities were mosily disposed of at full prices , but the middling and _inferior kinds _decUnedlromldtolidperUy In the private contract market exceedingly little business is doing .

      COTTON . Liverpool , Mondoy , May 17 . —The sales today amount to about 4 , 000 to 5 , 000 bales , but tho ; market is quite firm and steady . Prices Jd . to id higher since Friday last . P Tho accounts from America are still more unfavourable than those brought by the preceding arrivals , as to the extent of the supply of cotton , ' and they are very far from favourable as to the prospect of tho crop now in tbe ground .

      Poor Man's Guardian Society.—The Fundame...

      Poor Man ' s Guardian Society . —The fundamental rule propounded by this really useful and , in the strictest sense of tbe phrase , " Poor Man ' s Society , " we set forth in the terms of the society itself , as follows : — "To aid the poor in their applications for parochial relief , and to secure to them the legal and humane dispensation of the Poor-Law , and by every constitutional means to effect such improvements in the law itself as may be deemed necessary . " The usefulness and very praiseworthy objects ofthe mission of this society must at once suggest itself to the minds of all our readers ; and we may add , that the formidable efforts made by the patrons of this society go to the complete annihilation , or , at any rate , the removal ef the atrocious clauses of the Poor Law Bill . The sympathies , and also the more substantial aid of our readers will , we _truist , be enlisted

      in behoof of the Poor Man ' s Guardian Society . Hitherto the benevolence emanating from 40 , Leicester-square , has been | purely ofa private and highly praiseworthy character ; and we have only to refer to the practical exertions of this society manifested throughout the past trying and more than unusually severe winter , to attest the real usefulness of those who have come forward to aid the poor , and , in truth , help those who cannot help themselves . Truly " Blessed is he who considereth the poor . " And we cordially subscribe to this scriptural axiom . Furthermore , the great combat of the society is—to fix a minimum of subsistence below which the labourer need not fall ; and whilst we invite the active co-operation of all , we think that the reward offered by the society is a guarantee of its good faith . It runs as follows : —

      Persons considering themselves aggrieved by Poor-law authorities are invited to moke their oases ( properly authenticated ) known to the society , by a written communication to the secretary ; and redress or explanation will immediately be sought for them by the society . With a " view to assist parties applying for parish aid , the society has recently printed a "Poor Man ' s Hand-Book of tbe New Poor-law , being a Guide to Parochial Relief ; " - price Threepence , or Fifteen Shillings per hundred , _fon distribution among the poor . Parties desirous of _form-, ing District Auxiliary Societies ure requested to communicate their intentions to the secretary , either _persosaWy , or by letter ,

      _Lmds . —Frightful Coljjery Explosion . , —A . terrific exploBioh of fire-damp occurred at a _oolliery belonging to Messrs Ilarding and Co ., New Hall , BeeBton , about two miles from Leeds , by which seven individuals have lost their lives , and another has received injuries from which he is not expected to recover . The explosion took place p , bout nine o ' clock on Monday morning last . The miners in the course of their labours broke into an old pit , frora which the confined and inflammable gas issued , and this

      communicating withtb . e lights used in the pit oaused an almost instantaneous explosion . Six of the unfortunate persons who were at work in the pit wero killed on the spot and two others were got out alive and conveyed to t ' je Leeds Infirmary . One of them has since died , " ibe names and ages are as follows : — George Bell , IP , ; Aaron Bell , 20 ; George Oddie , 29 ; Wm . _llTestermai ) , 12 ; Joseph _Longstaff , 55 , Charles _DucV ., 14 ; and John Hall , 10 . Mr Blackburn ; coroner for ¦ _'„ ue borough of Leeds , will hold an inquest on the bod _' . es .

      A _dealer in flour at Caen , named Palais , who is also a b ' jker , has just been _seiitened to a month ' s _imprisonment and a fine of 1 , 0001 ' ., for making a _fiotit _' . ous return of the price at which he had sold ttor . r in the market , in order that the tariff price of b / . ead might be raised . We learn , frora Stockholm , that the King of Sweden has , just appointed a commission charged to u- a f new tariff of _cuatonu . _» a _wWqh consider _, awe _reductiona will be made aud many prohibitions ,

      Fflmm.

      fflmm .

      State Op Trade-Alarming Riots. Frightful...

      STATE OP TRADE-ALARMING RIOTS . FRIGHTFUL STATE OF MANCHESTER . The Manchester Courier of Saturday asserts that serious fears may justly be entertained for the public peuco of the borough . " On all sides we hear and tell of suffering , privation , and deep wretchedness , aggravated in many , very many instances , by fever , or low , lingering , wasting sickness , which makes its abiding-place iu the miserable homes of the poor and wretched , clinging with death-like tenacity to the rags in which they are shrouded . Want of employment , and the unparalleled , nay , frightful price of the necessaries of life , have indeed worked a change t and cold

      amongsus , , stony cold must be that man ' s ) henrt , who , knowing it and observing it , does not seek to mitigate such suffering . In ono house to which we _weva taken in the neighbourhood ot Ancoats , the sight wAa indeed sickoniug _, a man , his wife , and four young cnil . dren , all frying to _suosint on ttotniiw ; . ' And such is _uot a solitary case . Hundreds thero are iu _Mauoltester , at this moment , who can tell ' an o ' er truo f tale' of misery , deep and long suffering , and absolute want , which would move the most flinty hearted . The oxhortations _addrof sod by Charles Muckay , to ' wait a little longer , ' is beginning to he disregarded . The very recklessness ot despair soeins to be supplanting _thaso _tiopcp and _expectations Of brighter days , which _lutYt hitherto cheered

      onlour suffering population .- Straggling Rronn , . ' conditioned and _half-starvcd men may be seen di , of "I * ' tbestato of the times , arguing , declaiming , and 2 _' % I ing each other with that fearful quietness , _whic ' i , _>»• Its very calmness , portends a storm . Should hi' _^ H any insane attempt be made to disturb the public eTe V t prompt , vigorous , and ineffectual steps will _lD _» , _£ _" _•<¦» . i niptheoutbrcakinthebud . Without venturing to *» f ' that there exists anything like an organised comb ! a ?! er ' ¦ amongst the unemployed classes , we may state tw _''** J executive committees of many trades ' unions hav t ) la ' frequently , and the result of their deliberations linll * _- _" ! that a general meeting of the trades shall shortlyZ _fr ' On what precise day the meeting is to beheld W » , ¦•* 1 in apositionto say , although rumour , which _asustriD * ' been very busy , fixes the time for Tuesday •' „ thi " i week . The promoters of it , however , socm to \> k r . ? i very warily . " D _» acting < Weregret to find , " says the Manehetter (" Wj- ; "that the number of hands thrown out of employn V ' in Manchester , by the closing of mills , is on the inc _» ' i ( 2 , 0 H 0 more being out of work on the 10 th than there _*» ' on the 1 st inst ) nnd that , consequently , distress _isP I tending more widely amongst our working popula tion J

      Manchester , mondat _hvening —uunng this mom ! ing and part of yesterday considerable alarm liusbee ! felt from a placard which appeared on the walls yesttrda v ' signed "J . C . Clarke . " but without a printer ' s name inviting a meeting of the unemployed operatives , in _gt ! ' i venson ' _s-square this day . The authorities took the bill poster into custody , from whom they learned the name " ' Ac , of the printer . On inquiry he produced tlie manui ' script to which was attached the name stated above but on reference to the person whose name purported t ' o be signed to the placard , he denied all knowled ge of the affair . In the course of the day a placard has made its _>' appearance on the walls from the Chartists , denouncing ' the proposed meeting , and imputing the issuing of the first placard to "the defunct Anti-Corn Law League ! with the view of exciting the people to a re-enactment of the scenes of 1 S 42 . " A seeond cautionary placard has ! just beon issued by Mr Abel _Heytvood , the bookseller , calling upon the people not to attend to any such calls , or to take part in any such meetings . ' The effect of all has been , that no such meeting took place .

      FAMINE RIOTS IN DEVONSHIRE . ' Exeter . —The great scarcity of provisions In this city has at length driven the people to riot . About noon on Friday a general attack was made onthe bakers' and provision shops . The rioters proceeded to the corn market ¦ and made a clamorous attack upon the farmers . Their yells were fearful , and the agriculturists , anticipating the ¦ most awful consequences , made their escape . The women opened the attack , and the men followed them . One yeoman was felled to the _^ ground by a heavy stick , and another had his head cut open . The frenzy ofthe women was terrific . A young female with an infant in her arras was advised to go home . "Go home 1 " she replied with a fierce invective , "better bide here to be killed at once than to go home to starve . " A general cry was raised , " To the quay , " and a rapid movement in that direction ' , ensued , and a shower of stones soon broke the windows of I

      the corn stores of Messrs Sercombe . The women wildly exelaimed that they had children at home crying for * - bread . The residence of Mr J . C . Sercombe , in Colleton _, crescent , was next attacked , and considerable ' havoc took place . Many of the bakers threw the bread in their shops to the infuriated crowd , and the women hurried away with it in their aprons to their starring families . The city authorities adopted measures for the suppression of the riots . A large party of police and special constables , headed by the mayor and town clerk , marched out , and the principal leaders wereapprehendad ; these measures had the effect of somewhat subduing the revolt . In the course ofthe evening the yeomanry cavalry were mustered at the Topsham barracks , and the pen .

      _sioners were assembled and placed under the authorit y ofthe magistrates , who are prepared with strong force at a minute ' s notice . The mayor has culled , i meeting , at the desire ofthe magistrates , to take immediate steps for tho preservation ofthe peace of tlie city . Sati'bdav Evening . —The streets to-day have resumed their usual appearance . An order has been issued by the mayor to closo all the public-houses at nine o ' clock tonight ; tbe special constables are at their posts , where they assembled at dusk , and are patrolling the city to sup . press any appearance of riot which might present itself _. No"further danger in Exeter was , however , apprehended , whatever might happen to the surrounding districts The rioters who were apprehended on Friday evening have been committed for trial .

      Tavistock . —The markot was taken possession of by a body of miners from the neighbourhood , who set about sellingthe corn and butter at their own prices . Torquat . —On Tuesday the mob broke into and plundered the bakers' and butchers' shops , and attacked corn stores , & c . Alarming rtols occurred atHoniton , Ashburton , and Crediton , on Friday and Saturday .

      RIOTS IN SOMERSETSHIRE . Taunton . —On Saturday a serious riot occurred in this town . It being the monthly market a larger number of corn and other provision dealers were _assembled in the market , and very early in the day symptoms of disturb . ! ances manifested themselves among the populace , which I at length broke out furiously . The corn market was _[ taken possession of , and the dealers compelled to sill the f com , flour , & c , at the mob ' s own prices . The bakers' 4 and butchers'shops were attacked , their windows beaten j in , nnd they were compelled to sell the joints of mutton , i beef , & c ., at 5 d per lb ., for which they hnd been previ- il ously asking 9 d . Tlie authorities , seeing the state of _i things , met in the market-hall , and the bailiffs of the town f having sworn in special constables proceeded in front of % the market-house and rend the Riot Act . The Yeomanry ' , Cavalry were then sent for . By eight o ' clock , however , jj through the exertions of the constables and authorities , ' i the town was getting gradually quieter . i

      Further disturbances occurred on Monday evening . , \ Nearly all the shops were closed , and the military pen- '' - sioners were stationed with fixed bayonets on the Parade . ¦• . In the evening a body of men , armed with bludgeons , / marched into the town by the _East-gate ; they were . how . " - ever , soon overpowered , and several of them were com * , mittcd to gaol . _>

      RIOTS IN CORNWALL , _Wadbbridge . —On Wednesday afternoon , about three o ' clock , a body of miners from St Austell , Roche , and Luxulyan , to the number of 200 and _upwartls , entered this t town to prevent corn from being shipped , and declared , their determination to have a supply of . that article at their own prices . There being no corn shipping on that day , they collected round the cellars on the quay , in which there were some 300 or 400 bushels of barley , and threat . ' ened that unless their wants were supplisd , they would I break open the cellars . Edward Stephens , Esq ., of ! Trewornan , a magistrate , was immediately sent for . On ) the arrival of Mr Stephens , he nnd his cempanions were ! fiercely attacked . Previous to the arrival of the magis . }

      trate the cellars had been broken open , and the men were proceeding to fill the sacks with which they were supplied , but no corn was removed . There being serious apprehensions as to the result of these proceedings , it was deemed advisable to organise a force for the purpose of protecting the property that was in danger . About 100 ofthe inhabitants were accordingly sworn in special constables . The rioters sent a messag * towards evening , i stating that if the magistrate would _pledge-himself that i the corn should not be shipped , they would disperse ; but . this he did not feel himself at liberty to do . After sometime , however , they were induced to split the town , aiid _. f they left , apparently with the intention of going to their-1 homes .

      The Plymouth Times of Saturday affords information oi ' _i a further extension of disturbances arising out ofthe dis _» _- tressed condition of the labouring poor nnd the high » prices of food . The miners took possession of all tbe _cora-. brought to Collington market on Wednesday , and sold it ak 29 s per bushel forwheat , and barley : 10 s ., and returned themoney to the owners . A _string military force has beea sent from Plymouth , to Bodmin , to be ready to quell : any riot that may take place ia that neighbourhood . The number of soldiers at Feudeiuiis Cnstlo has been _, trebled . RIOTS ON THE CONTINENT . Prague , May 6 . — Letters of / this date contain report * of disturbances ia consequence of tlie high prices of provisions on the frontiers of Bohemia _fr wards _Saxony and Bavaria , among other places in Kurlibad _; audi Tcplitz .

      _Couenhaoen _, May 7 . —At Kallundberg and _KiusseJ the people haw violently opposed the exportation * of potatoes . Brussels , May 11 . —Serious disturbances occasioned by the high price of provisions , ewnrred this day iu Brussels . About half-post ten the mounted gendarmes _cleared the square of tho- Town Hall und the neighbouring streets , and the mob . dispersed , _without offering any resistance _. The disturbances were _renewed on Wednesday nigl . it , About hal & pnst ten , some hundreds of persons made an attack on tv baker ' s _sho- _} . _s \ the Rue de la Pcmpe , r , eai the Porte de Schaerbeek , and after pillaging ifcofal ' _, th ( bread it contained , proceeded to another _baton ' s ir _, thi Rue Notw Dame aux Jfeiges , where a similar seen e wa enacted .. Several of She- rioters were _arresied . Aboa

      eleven p . m . an immense number of persons _c » ng ) -cated j on iho Grand' Place , opposite the Hotel de Ville : r l 0 twith ? ' standing all the exhortations of the police _tciiidr , . . theni ! toreijre , it was foundinecessary atlast to eall ' ou taconsij \ derahlc force of mounted gendarmes , and . of' _, ] n ; armed I fire-brigade , who after much opposition , and- a' fter having } arrested five individuals who threw stones , s uceecded W i clearing the square- Up to one o ' clock in f he morning i numerous groups . afsembled in various disc / „ _-tions , but nd 3 further excesses were committed . Consid erable excite ! i ment prevailed during the entire dav of . Tr . ursdiiy , _whiclj t being Ascension-day , was a close holiday . Towards night t Jhil a large crowd re-assembled on _tji-d Grand' Place _e but , as on tk _*> preceding night , they , Wore dispersed bj j the gendarmerie about half-past elev en . Several per . r . sons who resisted the authorities . _r _,- ere conducted to ; c

      prison . TouRNAT .-Msturbnnees have air > D taken place in Tour- rnay . Tho windows of no less th ! . twenty DaKer 4 . am > 1 ( j corn . doaters' shops were _broken , and a tumultuous is assemblage of people of the poo _- . classes perainbmatel ; I the niam streets singing the <* _Brabangone ( the nation ;* si airof _Eolgium ) . The windows _oCAhe _Jesuits ' _establishment , it , and of a religious community , -called the "Redemption ' n ' _ists , _" * were almost smashed ' . o pieces . Several persons _ns were arrested . The _Tourrn _^ journals publish accounts its ot disturbances m the towns . of _Leuze and Peruwelz , but ut it appears that no great _dis _Orders were committed . ListE _.-Yerysei-iousdA , _- for (] ershave taken , , _, T _± v * . fl _« vT g T- 1 durin the night of Tuesday , _ty . _S _^ » _»™ _W of persons assembled in UU £ _^ i _™ _li _, 2 _*» n of men , preceded by a _per-er-TtS _^ _lX _*** ' _««*«* first amounted toW S _« m _» _E £ « - \ ' _' m so , n greatly increased , set ontwt _& M P i " * ' _S-Ying , "Work ! bread ! " and _si . _iginpig i „ , L _. . laiSe Tn then defiled into several cccc Wf ? ' l _T _^ d through every part of the city . Ia in less tnan two liov _- every shop in Lisle was given over to to

      CamYa J _' — _serious disturbances broke out on _Wedues-iesaay last at Cj _* _uiibrai . A black flag was paraded through ighi tlie streets , tbe multitude vociferating " Bread at 20 sous ,, us „ or death ! . Every quarter of the town was disturhed . icd .. it was _attempted t 0 disperse the crowd by a display ofr oi'i infantry a _^ _j t . ,. _ali-y , but the military failed in theirieir ™ - . -At six o ' clock in the evening a detachment oft ofi hfty _Nafjonai Guards established a post in the hall of tha tha _Cotunst _jftry , and the firemen , having taken arms , _contrUtributed , to restore order ; Spain . —El Jleraldo announces that riots have _tnkeukeit _plaVa in various parts of Spain , in consequence ot the thu h "'/ n " price of provisions . At Carmona they _lasted two two : O iays , and at Grenada thero was a conflict _between the tlw peoplo and tho troops , when ultimately the t ' jwn was _df-s dc dared in a state of siege . ' _¦ *• — — ' " —'

      Printed By Dougal M'Gowan, Of 16, Great ...

      Printed by DOUGAL M'GOWAN , of 16 , Great Windmillmilll streetHaymarkctin the City of _AVcstmmster at thu thi

      , , , Office, In The Same Street And Pvi...

      , , , Office , in the same Street and Pvirisb , for the Pro Proprietor , FEARGUS O'CO . _N'NOR , JGsq ., aud _piiblisheishe ' by WiuiAM Hewitt , of No . 18 , _rjharles-sirect , Br . injr . -in : _don-street , Walworth , in the paj-ish of St . xMary , Ne « New ington , in the County of _Surrey , at tho Office , So . I *) . I ' Great _NYindmUl-sti-eet , _Hajmm-ket . in _*! " _> City of _Wesiffes minster , _Satod-ay _, May 22 nd , 1 M 7 ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 22, 1847, page 8, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_22051847/page/8/