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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th February 1848, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, Dear Vyolly,— I thought that the example...

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    • '* Onward, and we coEqner! Backward, and we fall"'..tEEPEOPLE'S CHARTER AXD SO SURRENDER!"
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      '* Onward, And We Coeqner! Backward, And We Fall"'..Teepeople's Charter Axd So Surrender!"

      ' * Onward , and we coEqner ! Backward , and we fall "' .. tEEPEOPLE'S CHARTER AXD SO SURRENDER !"

      To The Old Guards. Faitbfcl Friends And ...

      TO THE OLD GUARDS . Faitbfcl Friends and Comrades , — At no period of England ' s history was ^ jjere a more important crisis than that which has now arrived j and if by the past policy by which our own movement has been ' governed I am enabled to show that , in spite of the most persevering , powerful , and united opposition . , we have been enabled , not only to maintain the position in which we originally stood , but to fortify , improve , and advance that position , then ~ I may confidently appeal to you , men who have suffered privations , incarceration , and persecution , for the maintenance of that position .

      The scenes which are now taking place throughout the continent of Europe , and especially in France , would at other times have attracted a greater amount of English attention , and even now their importance cannot be overlooked or under-rated . You must critically understand the position of France , and the cause of disturbance in that country , to be able to estimate the value of those privileges which you have secured in spite of oppression . How often have I told neither stab sentiment

      you , that tyranny can , nor shoot public opinion!—that moral power is the deliberative quality in each man ' s mind , which teaches him how " to reason , how to endure , and when forbearance becomes a crime ! and should it fail to secure for man all those privileffes to which he is justly entitled , and should physical force be found necessary ( which- God forbid !) that it would come to man ' s aid like an electric shock , while those who marshal it would be the first to desert it , sad were invariably traitors or fools .

      By the dread of increasing moral powerbacked by the oppressor ' s belief in its determined resolution—more may be done than by any physical outbreak ; and the reason of my present address is to preserve you within the bounds of moral discipline , in spite of any agency that may be used in the midst of passing excitement " to force you from your fastness and stronghold into looseness and weakness . The French peop le nowjn arms—and , mayhap , now being slaughtered—have been roused to madness by the with-holdingof just rights , and by the desertion of their leaders in the hour of struggle .

      Old Guards , this is their position . The people ' s representatives and leaders contended for the right of meeting together , eating together , and conferring together j and in their several sentiments and speeches they gave their followers directly to understand , and reason to believe , that when the struggle be Iween Democracy and Despotism came—as come it must—that they , the men seeking the transfer of power from the bands of their political opponents to their own , would be foremost in the danger .

      Their rejection of the toast of the King s Health at the Reform Banquets , was an imp lied assurance that the next struggle should be between Democracy and what is called Legitimacy . Sixty of those Reform Banquets were held , and the promoters , strengthened by increasing confidence , assumed a bolder attitude , and one of defiance , and resolved upon holding a grand Reform Banquet , within the city of Paris , during the sitting of the Chambers , and under the nose of the King .

      This Banquet > as originally to have been held on Sunday , " ; the 20 th ; but , fearing the popular support which they had previously courted , they abandoned their " orig inal intention , and postponed the Banquet to Tuesday the 22 nd . This was the first false step ; because the leaders of the people must have been aware of any danger that the day presented , and there is nothing more fatal to " the character and _ position of a leader than the slightest indecision er wavering .

      The holding of this Banquet was to have constituted the grounds of an indictment against the leaders , and thus the right of the people to meet and discuss was to have been adjudicated upon in a Court of Justice . During the ' night of the 21 st the Reform leaders issued a proclamation , inviting the presence of the National Guard , which is supposed to be a citizen corps , centra-distinguished from the Troops of the Line , who are mercenaries , and the Municipal Guards , who are spies . Now , this postponement and invitation very naturally led to increased excitement , increased preparation , and increased reliancebut , behold , tyranny trembles , but the oppressor gains nerve and resolves upon opposition .

      ' " This change is provoked by the proclamation of the Democratic leaders , -andthough peace and good order was enjoined , and though their lives may be the s acrifice , I contend for it that it was * the duty of those leaders to have placed themselves in the foreground , and as they looked for the lion ' s share of popularity , ' that they should have taken the lion ' s share of responsibility and danger . Their presence would have been eminently successful in quieting the angry multitudein subduing angry passions—and in inspiring renewed confidence ; and by their presence slaughter would have been spared , or the Officers would have partici p a ted in the stru « rin £ -

      Old Guards , as I have taught you to look suspiciously upon the cold effusions of the cold blooded hireling who writes philosophy for pay , you may , perhaps , judge me by the same standard . But to qualify myself for the task that 1 have undertaken , let us go through our wars , our struggles , and our conquests ; and when you have read the long catalogue of dangers , of daring , and of triumphs , you will say that thev are pertinent , and s t ric tly

      analog ous , nor will you consider ther repetition egotism . ^ In i S 39 the magistrates of the West Riding of Yorkshire prohibited our Peep Green meeting by proclamation . I was 200 miles off—I repaired to the spot , and issued a counter proclamation signed by myself , bidding defiance to the magistrates in their usurpation of a power that did not belong to them , stating that I would lead you in person to the conflict . I did lead you , a nd w e triump hed .

      In the same year my presence at a meeting in Sheffield was announced , though I had not permitted it ; the magistrates of the'district met —they continaed in conclave—they had cannon ready , and the troops in a state of preparedness . When . I heard this , I came amongst You—held our meeting in the princip al square—paraded the town in procession with you , and was ; obliged to depart in the middle of the night , no one daring to give nie lodging .

      In the same year I was denounced as a traitor st Carlisle and dared to appear . 1 travelled from Edinburgh that day—made my way single handed through a scoffing , insulting crowd . I stood alone on a stage in a crowded theatre . I rose in the midst of insulting shouts , and concluded amidst most affectionate applause , and was conducted iri triumj > h to my hotel , my prosecutor not daring to appear . In the same vear , when I was dared to attend

      the torch-light meeting at Bury , I arose from my sick bed . travelled from Leeds , a nd met the conspiracy of parson Stephens , the Cobbetts , the Fletchers , the Richardsons , * and others , and saved the people from their machinations . In 1840 the men of Dewsbury , i n the W est Ridin-r , led to madness by Bussey and other traitors , denounced me , and I instantl y "repaired to the scene of action , met my revilers , and received their contrition .

      In 18-10 , when oared to appear in Birmingham , I w'ent single-handed to the great meetin f in the Town Hall , and dissolved the Council "' la J 839 , when a revolution had broken out in

      To The Old Guards. Faitbfcl Friends And ...

      Birmingham , when I was safe at Rochdale , and due the next day at Blackburn , I asked permission of the meeting to allow me to return to the scene of danger , and I started after the meeting—travelled through the whole night—drove with Dr M'Douall to the gaol of Warwick through the drunken and infuriated yeomanry cavalry—would not leave the gaol till I had my prisoner liberated , and in the dead of night drove back again with him to Birmingham . In 19 ± 2 , when the Free Traders hired my ,...... —

      countrymen to kill me in Manchester , knowing the danger , I went alone to the meeting , and after the triumph of ruffianism on the first night , and after Sir Charles Shaw , the commandant of the police , had called upon me to tell mehe wouldholdmerespensibleforthe peace of the town , we had printers up all night announcing our determination to hold a meeting in the same place on-the following night , and defying our opponents ; and , although the money of the League was profusely spent , and although the Irish in Manchester were maddened by placards posted iu every part of the town , inviting them to come and defend O'Connell against his enemies , I refused all protection , and went single handed to that meeting , and our resolution intimidated the

      assassins . In 1842 , when the revolution raged , I was amongst you in Manchester—the last to desert you—and defended our position for eight days in Lancashire . In 1842 I fought the battle of Nottingham with you . iln 1842 , I faced the Town Hall of Birmingham , full of Freetrade ruffians j and , although ' . nine of them sought to assassinate me , I defended your cause against the enemv .

      Well , I have fought your battle twice in the Court-house of York , once in Liverpool , once at Lancaster , and twice in the Queen ' s Bench . I have endured sixteen months' solitary confinement in the condemned cell at York ; and these things I mention , Old Guards , in order to qualify myself for tendering you advice in the present state of affairs . Now , what is really the question at issue between the French / people and theFrench crown ?

      It is not a question of parliamentary reform , but itis whether or not men shallhave the power of meeting together and discussing their grievances . And always bear the one GREAT FACT in mind , that the onl y superiority that your constitution p ossesses over all others is , that we have the power to meet , and that having the power to meet , by our courage we have destroyed the oppressors' power to prosecute if we express sentiments at variance with his will .

      See the conclusion that I draw from this GREAT FACT . It is that—with this guaranteed right—this right defended , protected , and upheld by our courage and our sufferingyou are the framers , the perpetuators , of every single grievance of which you comp lain ; inasmuch as a simultaneous move upon the part of the whole people must inevitably and irresistibly crush the power of the oppressor . This is the right which I have ever sought to preserve inviolate ; the right which Abinger attempted to destroy and which Graham attempted to place in the keeping of the police .

      Well now , this is the real right—the initiative privilege—for which the French people are contending ; presuming , ana naturally , that all other legitimate rights will spring from this great source . But , see how the French despot can quote English precedent for his bloody attack upon those from whose sweat the pauper monarch has amassed millions of treasure . Sixty of those banquets were allowed to establish the right—but the crowning banquetthe appearance of the provincial actors upon the Metropolitan stage was prevented—precisely as the Clontarf meeting , wh i ch was in t ended as the crowning monster of the provincial gatherings , was prevented by Whig brute force in

      Dublin . That false step upon the part of the Irish leaders gave the first check to Repeal , as the cowardice of the French leaders threatens to mar the prospects of the French Democracy . It is useless to talk to me of their prudence . If submission was necessary , their presence was indispensable to insure it ; if vigour was required , their presence was indispensable to enforce it ; if danger was apprehended , their presence was indispensable to share it . But they have secured a change of Ministry , —a transfer of p ower f ron \ gl utted t o n eed y officials—while , by their resolution , their courage , jand presence , they might have secured the Charter of the People's Rights .

      Old Guards , that s just what they don t require ; and you , who have so long placed implicit confidence in your General , believe him , when he tells you that the Labourer alone can justly represent the rights of Labour . And , however we may yet be able to eke good out of this cowardice and imbecility of the French opposition , and however we may , and do , sympathise with the " Fustian Jackets , the Blistered Hands , and Unshorn Chins , " who have been the sufferers in this contest , let me beg of you , let me implore of you , and beseech you , not to allow any foreign question—however its results may enlist your sympathies—to operate on our great domestic movements .

      When the struggle between pure Democracy and Despotism shall take place in France , then we will not be slo ? r to communicate our sympathy for the stragglers ; but I tell you that as long as I live , the Charter and the Land shall never be lost sight of , nor placed in abeyance hy any foreign excitement or movement , however we may use events for the furtherance of those great objects . Old Guards , the mind of England is now astir—and although mine is absorbed in the

      consideration of those means by which I can insure happy homes , and protection for allthe release of women from slave labour , and the release of little children from the abodes of pestilence , disease , immorality , and death—yet if a greater sphere of action should open upon us , I pledge myself that I shall not be found backward in moulding passing events to future advantage . * I am , Old Guards , Your faithful General , Feargus O'Connou .

      Dear Vyolly,— I Thought That The Example...

      Dear Vyolly , — I thought that the example made of your clansman , " TV . C , " would have saved you and others from his fate . However , Wolly , if you will be drowned , and nobod y shall help you , you shall be drowned . With more justice than my opponents observe towards me , I give your production at full length , together with the editorial introduction , in which I am announced as an impracticable man—that is , not a practical agriculturist—although I have devoted the major part of my life to the pursuit ' of agriculture ; attending to its varied operations from six o'clock in the morning till six at night , when length of day permitted , and working myself as hard as an y m an . In the editorial introduction , the writer very fairly gives to Mr Carroll , the editor of the Farmers' Gazette , that high character for practical knowledge which he so eminently deserves , having obtained the warm approbation of Dr Lindley , a very scientific agriculturist . Thus , Wolly , you are dealing with the extravagances of Mr Carroll , Dr Lindley , and Mr Quin , who gave his evidence before the Land Commission , and not with the extravagancies of Feargus O'Connor . However , here follows your letter , and its editorial introduction : —

      Mr P . O'Connor And His Three Acre Livin...

      MR P O'CONNOR AND HIS THREE ACRE LIVINGS . In last MisCELLANr we published a statement by Mr O'Connor , with calculations , designed to show that threu acres of land are amply sufficient for the subsistence of a man and h < s family . We would certainly have placed small reliance on Mr O'Connor ' s own authority , he not being a practical man ; but tben he gave his estimates at length , and he was backed by the editor of the Dublin Farheee'Gizettk , who is a shrewd working farmer , and who has obtained the warm approbation of Dr Lindley . The following letter is devoted to a refutation of Mr O'Connor ' s calculations . We are not avrare whether the writer lias made any allowance for the superior results of spade labour ; we believe that it is upon these that Mr Carroll , of the Gazette , founds his imprimatur . Cer . tainly , if the allegation is erroneous , the sooner it is exploded the better , for in Mr O'Connor ' s hands it is not a mere theory , but an actual practice , which is settling down crowds every year on snch holdings as these .

      TO THE EDITOR 05 THE WEEKLY KEOISTER . Sir , —In the supplement to the Weekly Register , I observe an article , quoted from the Doblik Fabhers ' Gazette , headed * What may be done with three Acres of Land . ' A statement follows , written by no less a per . sonage than Mr Feargus O'Connor , M . P ., being an answer to a request made to him by a person in Ply . mouth , desiring information on that subject . I cannot help warning him . or any other , not to be led away by itotherwisehe wil ) , likeSir Marmaduke Travers , intheO'Donohue , or Martin Cbuzzlewit in Eden , be victimised . If Mr O'Connor is no better legislator than agriculturist , his constituents will have no reason to brag of their representative . It may be deemed audacious in a humble farmer to gainsay what a member of Parliament has surmised ; but' it is my avocation Hal ' , and as the public are

      challenged to answerj his letter , itis their duty to try and prevent such a letter being again foisted upon them . The queriest asks how it is possible for an occupant to live and pay rent upon four acres !—and he is told by the M . P . that three is more than sufficient for a family to live upon , and make a fortune . He says that his state , ment is one which the most ignorant could desire ; that is almost the only part ofit that is correct ; because those only who are ignorant will receive such for truth . First , he gives us the produce of one acre nf potatoes ; fifteen tons per acre ; even with good land and a good climate , and an Irish acre , that is one third above an average crop . Next , 200 stones of wheatfrom one acre . What an Irish stone is 1 know not ; but , from the price he puts upon it , it must be fully one-fifth above the average , or £ 3 per acre . The half is for family ute ; from the third acre two and a half roods are employed in growing green crops—and , at a distance from a vegetable market town , it is better to give them to stock , for which I shall allow

      £ 10 that is at the rate of £ 10 per acre , and double the value of the best acre of turnips in Scotland , and equal to a good grazing . Haifa rood of flax , spun , worth Kit Hie . at his estimate , and one rood of garden ground worth £ 3—he calls it £ 5 . The manner in which he disposes of the crop is by giving to two cows one and a half stoneS of potatoes per day , from November till March , which even in the Green Isle , is two months before they can have grass , or winter-BOwn tares ; and he does not reflect that cows in general do not give milk for more than ten months of the year . Instead of the farmer keeping six pigs , he cannot keep more than four—two of these to be sold at his own valuation , wUl be worth £ 10 ; two he allows for family u * e . Those pigs are to be allowed two stones of potatoes per day from November to March , so that the cows and p ' gs will eat up about nine tons of potatoes , leaving onlyone ton to feed the family by my estimate . Now , having given the explanation , I shall make up my statement of the p- oduce : —

      PBODCCE or THREE ACRES . Acre of potatoes , and two and a half rood * green crop , to be converted into the milk of two cows , viz ., sixteen quarts per day at £ s . d . IJd ., for ten months .. .. .. 30 0 0 One acre of wheat , half of which is equal to 6 0 0 Two bacon pigs in March .. .. .. 10 0 0 Quaiter of an acre of flax , spun by the family 12 10 o Vegetables from garden .. .. .. 8 0 0 61 16 0 Annual Expenditure .. .. 49 19 0 12 o o '''"""" rTrn

      Kates , taxes , and rent .. .. £ 13 10 0 Two tons of hay at £ * .. .. 8 0 0 Clothing man , wife , and three chil . j dren .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Fuel soap , and candies .. .. 8 0 0 Repairing implements .. .. 10 0 Four pigs in May .. .. .. 4 0 0 £ 19 i o 0

      Now , instead of £ 44 remaining , as he s a ys , all that the poor farmer has left is £ !;> , for seed to sow and plant the ground , which is a considerable item , educate his family , keep up bouses and fences , the loss of sitKk , and sometimes , as lately , the whole crop . In the sequel , Mr O'Connor says—* Well , all the riches he has in the world , and payment of interest for his capital , & c , all come out of these men ' s labour , ' without having taken any notice , in the account of expenditure , of any money having been given to those men ; and he concludes this misrepresentation of his with these words , How ridiculous for those te think of talking about the land that know no more about it than the crow that flies ovep it . ' Truly , if these are the ideas entertained by the aristocracy of Ireland in general , can it be wondered at that tlw poor people are discontented and driven to desperation ? Edinburgh , Jan . 31 , 1818 . W . S .

      Now , dear Wolly , if it was not for the deep and sincere interest 1 take in the well-being of all who have committed their fate to my keeping , I should treat your effusion as the ravings of a lunatic , the devices of a hypocrite-, or the conjectures of a fool . However , as you have rushed into print , and as I am always able to deal with those who give me figures instead of sentiments to grapple with , I will take your figures , and from the result produced by them I will deduce the altered condition of the working man . Firstly , —I will take your table of profit , set down at 611 . 10 s ., and then I will take your table of expenditure , and from it deduce the results to be realised even from y our own showing , allowing that the calculation stopped there . Your expenditure is as follows : —

      £ s . d . Rates , Taxes , and Rent .. .. .. 13 10 0 Two Tons of Hay ai i' 4 8 0 0 Repairing Implements 10 0 Four Pigs , in May .. .. .. ... 4 0 0 a ? 26 Kt o

      Now , I have left out the 15 / . for clothing man , wife , and three children ; and I have left out 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles , because those items belong to the general account of a poor man ' s expenditure ; and J am adopting your table of profit and loss , the difference constituting the amount which the poor man has to rely upon , whether expended in articles of clothing , fuel , soap , and candies ; and I am going to show , from your own table , what he lias to live upon , expend it as he may : — £ s d . Tour Profir , then , is .. , 61 10 0 And your Expenditure . ' '" * " ofi 10 0 Leaving , upon your Calculation .. 35 0 0

      over and above the highest figure of expendit ure , for 157 days' work . Now , Wolly , if youare an arithmetician , and if you will multi ply 35 / . b y 20 to bring it into shillings , it will give you 700 shillings ; and if you divide the 700 by 157 , the number of days wor k , it will leave Jycu within a fraction of

      _ 4 s . 6 d . ps * day ; or 27 s . per week , out of which the labourer has not to pay rent , rates , or taxes , or the repair of agricultural implements whereas , Wolly , under the present system , the agricultural labourers of England have to pay rent , rates , and tuxes , to find implements , and to live upon ten shillings a week : and nght joyous and thankful will he be if he can get four days work in the week throughout the year , Now , my friend , I might stop my calculation here , as the controversy is wholly and entirely between your own figures , as stated in your tables , but the whole result is not given from your incidental calculations as I will now show .

      , For instance in your table of profit you bare deducted half an acre of wheat , 61 ., for the use of the famil y ; and you have deducted two bacon pigs from the larder , bec a use in your table of expenditure you charge me with four pigs bought in May , and you give me credit but for two sold ; and now , Wolly , according to Cocker , two bacon pigs at 10 / ., are just equal to two other bacon pigs at 10 * . ; so that in the-two .. admitted items , of 61 for half an acre of wheat , Mo wing the other half for consumption of famil y—for there is an acre of wheat , and you allow bufc . half an acre—and the 102 . for the two pigs with ' which you charge me , will make 162 ., which Ift-tfiilelHo 35 / . in

      your own table , Woll y , will make 511 , for 157 days' labour , or nearly 6 s . 8 d . a day , or 21 . a week , and exclusive of rent , rates , and taxes , and agricultural implements , Wolly . Now , Wolly , I will still refer to your desultory statistics , and I will adopt your production of potatoes at ten tons , instead of fifteen ; and after giving the nine tons to cows and pigs , you allow the remaining ton for the use of the family—and that remaining ton at 4 d . per stone , will amount to 11 . 13 s . 4 d ., thus leaving the husbandman 53 / 13 s . 4 d . for his 157 days ' work—always buttering the cake on both sides , Wolly .

      Now , Wolly , we will go on by degrees , and I ask the reader to refer , s entence b y sentence , to your written statistics , and to use them , and them only , as proof of the deductions that I draw from them . We have , then , disposed of the two first items , potatoes and wheat , adopting your own amount of produce , application , and price , in both cases . We next come to the 2 roods employed in growing green crops , and there , also , I sink my own calculation , and adopt yours ; and , funny enough , Wolly , you ,

      who profess to be a practical agriculturist , would estimate the value of three crops , produced b y spade labour , of the most valuable and seasonable produce , by the standard value of one crop of turnips , the very most unprofitable of all crops . And , Wolly ,. you forgot that in estimating the valueof these Q ^ roods , I allowed seventy days' labour , or nearly the one-half of the whole , to be expended upon that quantity of ground , while you appear to forget that it is not the land , but the labour that is applied to it , which yields its multiplied fruits .

      Now , Wolly , there are 4 , 840 square yards iu an acre—and , consequently , 2430 in half an acre ; and in a half rood 605 . That is , in round numbersi in 2 $ roods there are 3 , 000 sqaare yards . Now , Wolly , allowing one cabbage to a square yard , and that cabbage to be worth but one penny for feeding purposes , when it arrives at its full growth , you have 12 / . 10 s . for that one crop alone , Avhereas I allow too much ground , and you will have three crops . The flax we are agreed upon .

      The garden vegetables and fruit you reduce from 51 . -to 3 / ., and . we shan't quarrel about that . Then , Wolly , you are in a puzzle about the means of sustaining the cows from March till May , relying , as you do , upon winter vetches for that season ; while , Wolly , you appear to forget things called carrots , parsni ps , cab b ag e s , Swede turnips , hay , and straw . Now , don ' t you think that all those eatables come in good season , from March till May , and that any one of them is much preferable to a mouthful of tares ?

      But , Wolly , let us see what I do allow for the support of two cows for the year . Here is the table : —Two tons of potatoes ; two tons of hay ; an acre ol wheat straw , if necessary ; and the produce of nearly an acre cropped three ? " times—as you appear to forget the clover , wh ich succeeds the fla x , in your calculation of produce . Now , Wolly , not to run into extremities , let us see , in gross n umb e rs , the quantity of land that I assign for the support of two cows , and we will sink the labour applied to it altogether . An Acre must be jood to produce Two Tons of Hay .. .. ' .. .. .. 1 Acre

      Straw .. .. l „ Roots , cultivated in the best way , with Clover " after Flax .. .. .. .. J „ Potatoes , Two Tons nearly , by your calculation i ,, 8 Acres

      BCW . TIM'IWnilfl Now , Wolly , ' there is the produce of an acre of the best hay / drawn to the farm to enrich it , and for which ' I allow 4 f . a ton , instead of 3 £ ; so that you see , with all the labour , I assign the produce of three acres to the keeping of two cows , quite ' . enough to maintain them in grass without any labour at all ; while Cobbett has proved that a quarter of an acre , with a sufficiency of labour , is quite sufficient for a cow . Thus showing that three acres will maintain twelve cows—and if two cows realise a profit of 30 ? ., twelve will realise a profit of 180 / . But , Wolly , I prefer dealing with the rudest system of agriculture in . the first instance .

      Now , let me give you a table that I have this moment received from a practical agriculturist , of the amount of food allowed by the largest dairyman in the neighbourhood of London for the maintenance of his cows during the winter ; and the average value of his -stock is from 18 / . to 361 . per head , —while my calculation is made for a smaller breed—while , by his table , you will see he does not allow as much food as I dp . One of the largest cowkeepers in the neiehbourheod of London allows his cows for winter food . — One Truss of Hay 1 One Bushel of Roots ) Betweea Three Cows .

      The weight of hay , 56 lbs . and roots , GOlbs ., making llo'lbs , per day , or about 39 lbs . each ; being a little over 2 ^ stone each . The cows are of the very largest breed , and cost generally from 18 / . to 36 / . per head . Now , Wolly , from one of your items namely , the milk produced by two cows , you have got into a sad blunder . You were not aware of my mode of calculating the produce of a cow ; and in order to knock 6 / . 10 s . off the price of the milk , you estimate their milk at J 6 quarts a day for ten months—that is , from May till Februaryiboth inclusive ; while I made my calculation from May tiil October , both inclusive , at 32 quarts a day , or 16 quarts acow

      allowing them to be wholly dry from October till May , thus estimating ' the produce of the year in months—to make the calculation more simple , as 16 quarts a day for twelve months , is exactly equal , to 32 quarts a day for six months ; while I would like to see your two cows ' . that are to give 16 quarts in February , when they should be dry , as we calculate upon their calving in May . However , as 1 don ' t think you know whether a cow gives milk from her udder or her horns , and as your calculation was made for the mere purpose of knocking off the 6 / , 10 s ., I make you a present of the deduction ; and now , Wolly , adopting every one of your calculations from beginning

      to end—even taking the 15 / . for clothing , and 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles , I will make a table of your own figures . You allow profit , then upon £ s . d . The 157 days' Labour .. .. .. 12 0 0 HalfanAcreofWhe . it .. .. .. 6 0 0 Two Racon Pigs , ,, 10 0 0 One Ton of Potatoes .. .. .. 2 13 i Mating a Total of .. .. £ 20 IS i

      Now , Wolly , multipl y th a t b y 20 , and ^ you have 613 s . 4 d ., and divide that ^ by 157 days labour , and you have within a fraction of 4 s . a day , or 24 s . a week , without any allowance for rent , rates , taxes , fuel , soap , candles , agricultural implements , while , my sweet Wolly , you have omitted the honey and the ducks . * Now , Wolly , 24 s . for half the year is equal to 12 s . for the whole year ; so that you see from half a year ' s labour—and IS ? days are more than half the working year—your

      agriculturist may remain idle for one half the year , have 12 s . a week for the whole year , after paying rent , rates , and taxes , spending 23 / . upon clothes , fuel , soap , and . candles ; a pound for implements ; 8 / . worth of hay drawn to the farm , with that added to his manure ; and , Wolly , the grand item that you have omitted is , the annual permanent income derived from the improved state of his farm , which constitutes his Savings Bank , returning him compound interest for every drop of " sweat he spends , while you have knocked the wind out of two of my pigs altogether .

      Wolly , I have put down rent , rates , and taxes at 13 / . 10 s ., whereas 10 / . would be nearer the mark . I have put down hay at 4 / . a ton , while I am buying it at dl ; and I have allowed seventy days' labour of a man and his family to be expended upon one acre of ground , while I have taken the produce at the lowest amount , and the lowest price ; and after all your deductions , Wolly , you have arrived at the cosclusion that a man can earn within

      a fnictioh of 24 s . a week ; 131 10 s . for rent , rates , and taxes ; 15 / . for clothing ; 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles ; 8 l . for hay , and 1 / . for implements . And now , Wolly , the thing that puzzles me" is , how a Northern could be such an ass , ' . for there are your figures , —there are your calculations—there are your results , — and , henceforth , you . must do battle with your own ghosts—and very substantial ones they are—but when next you write , for the honour of your country , don t publish your figures in a Scotch Newspaper . 1 re ma in , dear Wolly , Youv very thankful and obliged Servant , Feahgus O'Connor .

      1 ' . S . — Wolly , see how easily I make a month's wages of an agricultural labourer at 10 s . a week , out of an item of which I have made no mention—namely , two calves at 1 / . a head , 2 / . Wolly , these were animals which I should not have forgotten while you were in question , and , therefore , I ask your pardon , F . O'C

      ^ 2^^- ^^^7?^^^L_ & /- Y * ¦* /? —S^ —^—...

      ^ 2 ^^ - ^^^ 7 ?^^^ L _ & / - y * ¦* /? —S ^ —^— ~~^ r / 4 y ^ y ^^^^ W *^ JZuU , j Cff a ^* 0 * 2 ^ 2 % /& 4 ^ " //^ L ^ t ^^^

      /4 Y^ " Y^^ L^^ W /& 4^ //^^T^^^ And Nat...

      AND NATIONAL TRADES ' - JOURNAL . . VOL- XL N ? 540- LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY gfc 1 B 4 B . ~ ' ^ T ^^< ST ^ " ^* Five MMEliiig * and Hixpeuce pev Quarter 1 — ¦ « - ¦' - w *^— * ¦ ¦¦¦¦¦¦ ¦¦ — i ii » ^ i ¦¦« ¦ i ——¦——¦——aw ,

      Bravlet.—The Members Of The Branch No. 1...

      BravLET . —The members of the Branch No . 1 . are requested to attend at the Chartist-room on Saturday , the 4 th of March , at half-past seven o ' clock in the evening , to pay their local levies . There will he a general meeting of the Land members and the Chartist body in the same place , on Tuesday , the 27 th of February . To commence at half-past seven o ' clock in the evening . _ Basbchy . —The shareholders of this branch are r equested to attend the tnontb . ' y meeting to beheJd at the Butchers' Arms Inn , on Monday evening , February 23 tb . Chair to be taken at half-past seven o ' clock . Kewtos Heath . — The members of this branch of the Land Company are requested to attend a genera ) meeting oa Sunday , February 27-b , at the honsuof Mr Joseph Fletcher , opposite the Manor Inn , Newton Ueath .

      Rochester . —The members of this branch are requested to attend at the usual place of meeting on M-. mday eveniiig . March GUi . It is expected ever ; member , who desires to remain on tbe-books of this b ranch , will attend and pay up his loc a l expenses an d ltiVlo ^ . Cahrikgi m . —The members of tins branch will meet at t : ie New Inn , en Sunday evening nest , at seven o ' clock . Manchester . —A special meeting of toe members of the Manchester branch will be held in the People ' s Institute , Ileyrod-Btifet , on Sunday , the 27 th inst . Chair to be taken at cine o ' clock in the morning .

      To «W. S.," Who Writes A Letter To The E...

      TO « W . S ., " Who writes a Letter to the Editor of the Weekly Register , an Edinburgh Paper , and whom I shall take the Liberty , from his Initials , of christening " Wolly Scribble . "

      To Poor Tom Bailey. Poor Tom, — Having D...

      TO POOR TOM BAILEY . Poor Tom , — Having disposed of the " Scribbler , " I now turn to you for a bit , as you went to the expense of sending an inquisitor to Lowbands , and have , as I understand , published his discoveries . Tom , I have not read his lucubrations , ventilated through your puzzle-pate , but I assure you he afforded the sensible allottees a good deal of amusement at your expense , when they discovered , from your

      * Mercury , ' that the "fule "—• as the Scotch call a fellow without brains—was sent by you . rle went to a manjwho was digging , and asked ' If he always dug with that end of the spade / and ' If digging didn ' t hurt hisfoot . ' lie saw one man digging a drain , and asked him ' If there was a death in his family , ' as he thought he was di gg ing a grave . He saw another man putting pipes into a drain , and asked him ' If that was the way they planted carrots . '

      Now , Tom , such is the qualification of your land commissioner , and , as one fact is worth a ship-load of the ravings of such noodles , allow me to describe the forlorn situation and disappointment of my dupes . Tom , on Sunday fortnight two men waited upon me ; the one a Mr Parker , from Birmingham , the other Mr Wallis , a two acre occupant from Lowbands : the object of their visit was to conclude a bargain for the purchase of Wallis ' s allotment , by Parker . The stipulated price was 40 / . 1 gi ve names , Tom , and now I will give you , not the substance of our conversation , but the conversation itself , verbatim .

      Mr Of Connor . —Wallis , why do you sell ? Is your wife dissatisfied ? or does the place disagree with' your family ? Wallis . —No , sir ; for three years before we came to Lowbands my wife never enjoyed good health , and now she is healthy and happy . My three children were poorly , and one-1 feared would lose the use of her sight , but now they are all well ; and we are all grieved to the heart at the thoughts of leaving . Mr O ' Connor . —Then why do you leave ? Wallis- —Because , having purchased and not being entitled to the loan , and having given all my spare capital for the allotment , I am not able to go on with the work as I could wish .

      Mr O ' Connor . —Well now , Wallis , how much money would place you in a situation to m ; ike you comfortable , and induce you to reject the 40 ? . ? Wallis . —Why , sir , if I had 10 / . to go on with , I would not take 100 ? . for it . Mr O'Connor . —Wallis , I'll test your sincerity , as your love for the land , and your wife ' s and children ' s attachment to it , makes me grieve at the thought of your losing it ; and as you are not entitled to the loan , and as , by the wheel of fortune and by my own frugality , I have a 10 ? . note above the worldyou shall have it from me , but not from the Company—I ask no security beyond your industry and excellent character . Now choose between my 10 ? . er Mr Parker's 40 ? .

      Wallis —God bless you , sir , and thank you . I wouldn ' t take 100 ? . now ; and won ' t my wife and children jump with joy , as her family are highly respectable , but wouldn't assist me because they are-opposed to the Land Plan . Mr Parker — Well , sir , I assure you , although I have had my journey for nothing , I am very glad it has ended so . Mr O'Connor . —Well , Parker , ! like bothjyour look and your zeal in the cause , and go to Aclam , a four acre allottee at Lowbands ; 1 have a commission to sell his allotment , and come to me if you can agree .

      Well , Tom ; on Sunday last—yea , Sunday ; for , God forgive me ! even my Sundays are devoted to the cause of the poor—Mr Parker again called upon me , and told me that he had agreed with Aclam for the purchase of his allotment , and that the price was 1 C 0 ? ., which he came to pay me . I replied , that I was only Adam ' s agent , and that , unless he was present , 1 would not undertake to ratify any agreement on his behalf , and that he should go for Aclam . He went , and in due time returned , accompanied by Aclam ; and now , Tom , you shall have our conversation verbatim ;—Mr O'Connor . —Aclam , I didn ' t feel justified in ratifying any agreementjietween . younnd

      To Poor Tom Bailey. Poor Tom, — Having D...

      Mr Parker . Are you a willing seller ? an < S are you prepared to receive the money and transfer your allotment ? Mr Aclam—Well , sir , the whole wnyheres something has been pulling at my skirts andl cautioning me not to sell , and my son is wild ] about the place . It doesn't , agree with my wife or daughter : but I had rather be nz any expense to make them comfortable arid well , than part with the land ; so I'll let them go to Barnsley till the weather gets fine , and then I know they'll be glad to come back .

      Mr O'Connor . —Well , Parker , you must excuse me j but I am glad you have been disappointed a second time . And now what I shall tell every allottee who feels inclined to sell is , that when May-day comes they'll sit before their sm o k y door , in the town or village , and sorrow over their lost territory . Mr Parker . —Oh . sir , I like to see the men so wedded to it . This is two journeys I ' ve had , and now , I suppose , I . must wait for my chance in the ballot .

      Mr Aclam . —Well , Mr Parker , I think its very unfair that you should be put to this expense for nothing , so I'll pay you your expenses h er e a nd back , as I have changed my mind , and I would ' nt take any money you could offer me for my allotment now . Mr O'Connor . —Well , Parker , as I am afraid I have stood in your way in both bargains ^ and as you appear so good tempered about it , and so determined to be duped , I'll sell you

      my allotment that adjoins Adam ' s . There is'nt a house upon it , and there has ' nt been a * penny expended upon it ; so you see I didn ' t take care of Number One first . I gave 45 ? . for it . I was offered 100 / . —you shall have it for 80 / ., and the 35 / . profit that I make , I shall place in the Bank to the credit of the man 1 bought it from , so that the poor fellow , in these bad times , will have a jump when he receives bis additional 35 ? .

      Mr Parker . —Well , I'll take it ; and I'll pay down forty sovereigns , and I ' ll come next week with the balance . Now , T om , on Tuesday morning the man from whom I bought the allotment , received an acknowledgment from the manager for 35 ? ., paid to his credit ; and , Tom , don ' t you think that that 35 ? . would be a better item to cover a deficiency to that amount in the balance sheet , than more " Tripos , " more " Goatmans , " or more " Bolders .

      Now , Tom , mark ; the man who sold to Wallis might have had 60 ? . for his 21 . 12 s . 4 d . in May next ; Aclam might have } had , after paying the Directors , 130 ? . for his 51 . 4 s . ; for mind , Tom , the purchaser pays for outgoings , acts of husbandry , and seed , and pays for all the implements ; this covers labour—and the du pe who sold to me has received 801 ., without a farthing of deduction , for his 5 ? . 4 s . Well , Tom , you shall have another dose , and you see I give names . My old squire , Mr Lee , has four acres at Lowbands . He has two

      sons , both able to work , and willing , which is better ; and there are not three more noble , more valuable , more industrious mon i » Europe . I asked him what he would take for his four acre allotment , and you shall have his answer . He said— "Well , there ' s no use asking me , for I wouldn ' t take any money . The cotton trade in Manchester is gone , and my money would only be melting ; besides , we are all so happy and independent here . Come aid see my cow . ' ' Mr O'Connor . —Well , but Lee , surely you would sell if you were tempted , wouldn't you take 400 ? ., and be paid for your outgoings ?

      Lee . —No , that I wouldn't ; and I tell you there ' s no use offering anything , as I wouldn't part with it ever so . Now , Tom , from this you will learn that when one channel was closed against Lee ,. I opened another channel for him ; but now , Tom , I have the money test to give you . Mr Reay , who purchased his allotment , has been occasionally employed by meat l ? . a-week . His business latterlv has been to see to the

      proper loading of the bricks at the wharf ; and on Saturday week , he came to me to resign that easy job at !?• a-week , saying that he must work for himself on his land . Now , Tom , when your friends next visit Lowbands , tell them to inquire for Mr Reay ' s house , and I will undertake to pledge myself that there is not a neater habitation in Europe , and that he will see such a man , such a woman , and five such lovely children—I offered him 1000 ? . for one—as he will not see in one case in a

      hundred thousand in this kingdom . I think , Tom , even your hard heart—and I am told its very flinty towards the poor—would soften if you saw that family . Well , Tom , ' now we will go to the knife and fork . I have an Irish Orangeman—a four acre child—his name is Addison ; he was a block-printer out of work , and consequently out of food , when he came to me . He said to me , on Monday week , as I was measuring the drains for tiles , " Daddy , come in here and see my portraits . '' I went in , and he showed me ' Frost / ' that was a large gammon of bacon . "There ' s Duncombe , " says he , pointing to a flitch , and " there ' s Feargus , " pointing to a ham . Well , I thought they were capital portraits , " and realised critically the objects of the Charter .

      Now , Tom , this man was a block-printer , and I am told that your commissioner was struck with the incapacity of my children . And now , I'll tell vou what I'll do with you ; I'll bet you £ 100 that thirty of the newlycreated agriculturists at Lowbands , shall do a day ' s work with any thirty agricultural labourers in the nei g hbourhood . Well , Tom , we'll go on . It was a very wet day when I was measuring the drains , and I was obliged to take shelter in the house of Mr Kershaw ; and not having breakfasted , J l began to feel hungry . He treated me to some rashers from one of his portraits , and s o me eggs from his hens , and a mug of water from his pump , and I never partook of a more

      delicious meal . But , Tom , that ' s not the most interesting part of my visit to Kershaw . He had his aged father and mother living with him , Tom ; and , still more Tom , to prove how impossible it is for tyranny to eradicate the true feelings of generosity from the hearts of the truly good , this excellent young man , and this excellent old couple , had a child of ten or eleven years old—an orphan , Tom , who bad lost her parents , but no relation whatever—and , Tom , go and look at that child , and tell me if you ever saw a straighter , more healthy looking , more beautiful , or more neatly attired girl in your life . Thus , you see , Tom , I have opened Nature ' s pores for one class , and I have rewarded those who have struggled , from natural goodness , against most unnatural circumstances .

      Now , Tom , I take my leave for the present , with a bit of advice . Stick to the goose-quill , it ' s the fitting instrument for a goose : and be satisfied when you see a leg of mutton and turnips , without asking whether they grow upon trees , or are produced by labour . Yours , dear Tom , as ever , and for ever , Fear g us O'Connou .

      Halifax.—A District Delegate Meeting Wil...

      Halifax . —A district delegate meeting will ha held in the Working Man's Hall , on Sunday , Feb , 27 ch , at tivdvo o ' clock at noon , when Elland , Warley , Midgley , Qaeenshead , BradshaW-lane . and Halifax are requtsted to send delegates , as a delegate will bo elected to represent the district io the West Riding Delegate Meeting , to be held at Wakefield . Bilbton . —A . general aiecting of ™ e Chartists ot Bilston is appointed to ba held at Mr Jos . Linneys , Malt Shovel Inn . Ns-w Town , 15 bton , on Sun d ay

      evening next , February 27 th . when a lecture will be delivered bv Mr Inslcy , of Dadley . ple ' s Charter and Politics insemral . taken at half-past six o ' clock in the Leigh— On Monday next , Febru a James Leach , of Manchester , will deliver in the Pollv Field Chapel . Chair to eight o ' clock in the evening . Mr J . Shaw , of L-. eds , will deliver Peopled Institute , fleyrod-street , on 27 tli . Chair to be taken at six o evening . South London Chartist Hah , 115 , road . —A meeting of the members and Land Company will beheld on Sunday February 27 tbt «* ' ' x o ' clock precisely

      On Iho Peo-Chair Tobe ^ Evening, G ^ Ry ...

      on Iho Peo-Chair tobe ^ evening , g ^ ry 2 bfo \ Mt ; a P « r « fc ; be ta & rjj ;;^ £ . . O ^ alecture-irethe ?? Sund aJC ffebi / ' clock ^ nfthe . . li . " BlacEftftr ' A ¦ friends-o \ ' fh 4 evening nwtf ? an' The Peo-Chair to be ning . £ * , kT ry 23 { g .: Mr > rer a tj & uu & r ba tafefnSitK < t " n ?>" lecture-itither ' SundaJC ffeb ; , " ' clock ^ n W $ •• j K- " Blaclprtor !^' friends -c- \ fhe evening nVtf ?

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 26, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_26021848/page/1/