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Northern Star (1837-1852), 30th January 1847, Edition 2 of 3, Page 1, My My dear Friends , A pei A person who ...

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    • 00 TI1E0 THE MEMBERS OF THS CHARTIST CO-( OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY.
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      00 Ti1e0 The Members Of Ths Chartist Co-( Operative Land Company.

      00 TI 1 E 0 THE MEMBERS OF THS CHARTIST CO-( OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY .

      My My Dear Friends , A Pei A Person Who ...

      My My dear Friends , A pei A person who si gns himself a " Well-wisher and a itoopketbopkeeper of Plymouth , " writes me a very respectsal tndal and encouraging letter , in which he states , " that Ml thatdl that is required to convince him , and many of his cHmi , class , of the practicability of the Land Plan , is the want cwant of some clear and simple information , as to the ccapabicapability of occupants of so small a quantity as « ev en , even four acres to live and pay rent ; and he adds " if tl" if this subject is not beneath your consideration jfortoiortoo complicated for dissection , your answer will 1 km I know , be hailed by thousands , who are now doubtful u ful upon this point only . " !

      TI The subject is neither beneath my consideration jior j > or is it too complicated for dissection , and the < jue ; question being put , I will write you a letter that neii neither the Whistler , the Devil , nor Doctor Faustus can . can , or ever will , answer . I will take three acres fcn fcr consideration , that being the mean ; and what I slat slate three acres will do , two will do , as I am going to J to place it before you in the roughest aspect of has husbandry , stating the lowest price for produce to be be sold , and the most extravagant for outgoings Mj My statement shall be just as simple as my friend , or or the most i gnorant of the subject , could desire or ha have : —

      nisrasiTioR of three acbes . Potatoes ... ... i " o wheat ... . ;; ;;; J J Cropped with cabbages , mangel wurtiel , turnips , tares , clover , and flax 0 3 } Kitchen-garden . ... ... o o > Acres ... ... ... 3 0 Produce of acre of potatoes 15 tons . „ „ Wheat 200 stones . For crowing stuff for Cows ... 2 j roods . For Flax 1 rood . For Kitchen-garden ... ... la rood .

      DISPOSAL OF PRODUCE . For Cows—from November to March , 2 tons of potatoes , or nearly one and a halt stone each , per dry . For Family—1 and a half ton of potatoes , or about 9 lbs . per day . For six fatting pigs , from November to March , 8 tons of potatoes , or nearly 2 stone each , per day .

      For sale—3 } tons of potatoes . Do . Milk of two Cows . Do . 100 stone of Wheat . Do . Produce of t of an acre of flax , pounded , scutched , heckled , and spun by the family , during the winter . For sale— - * Bacon pigs in March . PRICES OF PRODUCE . £ . s . d . Milk of 2 Cows , at S quarts aday each , 16 quarts , at l * d . per quart ... ... 36 10 0 4 Bacou Pigs iu March ... 20 0 0 100 st . of Wheat , at Is . 6 d .

      perstone ... ... 7 10 0 3 and a half tons of potatoes , at 6 d . per stone U 0 0 Price of k of an acre of flax , spun 12 10 0 Fruit and Vegetables ... 5 0 0 £ 95 10 0 Produce reserved for family ' s consumption : — 2 Baeon Pigs , 3 cwt . each ... 6 cwt . 1 § ton of Potatoes . 100 stone of Wheat . Produce of 6 Ducks . Fruit and Vegetables . 2 llives of Honey . Annual allowance reduced to weekly consumption : 14 pounds of Bacon . 11 stone of Flour . 4 i stone of Potatoes . 2 <) Duck Eggs . 2 pounds of Honey . Fruit and Vegetables . ASXt'AL EXP £ 5 D 1 IEB £ . Rent . Bates , and Taxes ... £ 13 10 0 Two Tons of best Hay for Cows from December to . March ... S 0 0 Clothing Man , Wife , and 3 Children ... ... ... 15 0 0 Fuel , Soap , and Candles ... S 0 0 Repairing Implements ... 10 0 Six Pigs iu May G 0 Q 51 10 0 £ . s . d . From price of produce ... 95 10 0 Deduct expenditure ... ... 51 10 0 And there remains , after consumption , £ 44 per annum , after the best of good living . I will now estimate lowly the value of the allowances for living weekly— s . d . 14 lb . of bacon , the best at 6 d . per lb ... ... ... 7 0 1 £ stone of flour at 2 * . 6 d . ... 3 9 4 stone of potatoes at 6 d . per stone ... ... ... 2 3 20 Duck eggs ... ... I 6 21 b . of honey ... ... 1 6 Fruit and vegetables ... 1 0 17 0 This does not include rent , fuel , soap , candles , and clothing . EUPLOTMEST OF TIME . Planting acre of potatoes ... 24 days Digging , do .... ... ... 24 " Dibbling wheat with family ... S " Reaping do .... ... ... 4 , c Threshiegdo 13 " Putting out manure ... ... 2 " Cleaning wheat and taking to market 2 " Preparing ground and sowing flax ... 10 " Engaged on acre , not under wheat or potatoes , but producing flax , and mangel wurtzel , cabbages , tares and turnips , and in kitchen garden 70 " Total number of days employed ... 157 " Total amount received in living , clothing , fuel , candles and hay , and not including rent of house , for 157 days work , . £ 75 12 s ., or nearly 10 s . per day , and net allowing for each year ' s improvement in the

      - _ 7 /^ 1 He Jittern Mw, : And National...

      _ 1 He Jittern Mw , : AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL . ¦ rr -r '

      , X ! Vol. . No. 484- London, Saturday, ...

      , X ! VOL . . NO . 484- LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUlRY 30 , 1847 . v »«*^ JF *™™ - / i . . . . * yyc onimugw atl < | Sixpence per Quinter

      Land. Now, I Have Laid Down The Meanest ...

      land . Now , I have laid down the meanest and rudest system of cultivation . I have allowed ei ght tons of potatoes , worth £ 32 , only to produce £ 24 when given to pigs . I have allowed £ 8 worth of hay , and £ 8 worth of potatoes , for two cows , besides the produce of nearly an acre , cropped and recropped in spring and rummer , for , observe , the flax is sown in Feb and pulled in June , and clover is sown with it and is fit to cut in a month after the flax is drawn . So

      that you have two tons of hay , two tons of potatoes , and the produce of nearly an acre , to feed two cows , while Cobbett has proved , that a quarter of an acre will feed a cow the whole year round . I hare taken the milk at the price of butter , so cheap that you cannot fail to get that price in butter or pork . 1 have said fifteen tons of potatoes , but it is no crop . Mr . Baines , of the " Leeds Mercury" states , I think , over fifty tons as a fair crop , but he exaggerates , twenty tons is no great crop . I have stated 200 stones of wheat , while , on middling land , and , without care , I have had 240 stones ; vou will have 300

      stones and more , when you watch every plant and never allow a weed to grow in it . I have allowed nothing for seed , as every man will save bis own , and sell some . I have recommended ducks , because a wall a foot high will keep them in , and because hens are very bad farmers and ducks are very good ones , they will follow you out to the field and will gobble up the slugs and worms and never require more . You will have all the small wheat , after you clean your wheat ( or sale , to finish off YOUR OWN TWO PIGS , and you will have twenty stones of bran from the 100 stone you grind to give those for sale besides milk , if vou make butter . You

      must buy six young pigs in May when milk , cab bage , tares , and refuse is plenty , and feed them that way , and from the offal of the house till November , when you shut them up . You will give £ 1 each in May and get £ 5 each in March , when fat . You will make much more than £ 12 of your flax

      Land. Now, I Have Laid Down The Meanest ...

      besides the seed , which is the finest thing you could have for your new calved cows . I allow your hives of honey to weigh 52 pounds each , and your ducks to lay 3 days in the . week , SUNDAYS INCLUDED , as my ducks never made any difference , and my cows gave milk , but my horses DID'NT WORK AND ATE . I allow each man to keep a donkey , which he would find useful , and could easily feed upon what the cows left , and pickings about the door , and he fat ; he would earn two rents if vou fed him well . 1 leave 2 cows , 6

      pigs , a donkey , 6 ducks , and a drake , with the family , to supply manure ; and two ton of hay brought to the farm , and an acre of wheat straw , and the reasor why f give the potatoes to cows and pigs , and lose by them is , becanse . only for the cows and pigs , I could not have them at all . You should consume all you could upon the farm . Of all things you must bear in mind that not a weed will ever be seen in the Land , and that every plant will have the OWNER'S

      watchful eye over it ; and that the usual mode of culture bears no more comparison to what your's will be , than an uneducated person does to a good scholar . Now , I have shown you 17 shillings worth of food at wholesale price and good , and for which you would pay 22 shillings and more , and not so good , vo . the retail market , besides going for it ; and I have shown you a profit of £ 44 after THAT LIVING and house rent , for 157 days work .

      And now I will show you how much I am under the mark , even according to the old system . For instance , a farmer rents , say 100 acres , and employs three men , and more in harvest . Well , all the riches he has in the world , and payment of interest for his capital , and losses , and risk , and amusement , and support , and education of family , all comes out of these three workmen's labour—nothing else . If I had not been asked to deal rudely with the subject , 1 should have shown the facility with which more , much more , than twice as much , may be made of 3

      acres . With th « means I propose of making manure , together with parings of walks and a trench , here and there burned for ashes , your 3 acres would be like a dung-hill . Now to make all simple , I will deduct £ 14 from the £ 44 profit , and leave it at £ 30 a year after living , and we come to the conclusion that in seven years , a man from 157 days * work a year , would realize £ 210 ; and we presume his rent of 3 acres and a house to be £ 10 a year , and that the company is bound to sell at 20 years' purchase ; and

      thus I show that , without stmt , the occupant can purchase his allotment for ever , and £ 10 over in seven years . Now until he purchases his allotment , he will not expend £ 31 a year on clothes , hay , and fuel ; nor will he consume what I have allowed ; so that I now repeat what I have many times stated , that in four years from the day of taking possession—allowing the first year for thought and shaking down—that the merest fool will pay for 2 , 3 , or 4 acres of ground on the company ' s terms , but not IF DEALING IN

      THE RETAIL MARKET , NOR YET IN 10 YEARSThe poet says - — " Fools till they grow sager , Back their opinions with a wager . " However , I now offer to bet John Bright , the Whistler , or any man living , £ 500 , and to stake the CASH , that in the next four years I will do what I have here written , with three acres of this land or of Herringsgate , at the Company ' s rent , and the same with any estate 1 purchase . That is , I will stake , at a week ' s notice , £ 500 , with any man or men ,

      that , in four years from taking possession of three acres of the Land Company ' s land , I will support five people , or give to a family precisely the weekly allowance I have stated , and will , from the profits on labour , after such deductions for living , clothing , fuel , soap , candles , and other things , pay in four years the whole purchase money of the said three acres ; and I will take £ 1000 to £ 500 , that I do it ^ in three years , and even less . But , to put all beyond dispute , I will try , and all who are

      neighbours shall bear witness of the fair mode of dealing ; and , as I mean to purchase an allotment , I will keep a critical and exact account , and will purchase it out in less than three years , and what I can do in three , others may do in seven . However , it is worth Brightfs consideration to win £ 500 these bad times , and it that is not enough , I will get a few friends to hack me for as many thousands . But how ridiculous to think of fellows talking about the land that know no more about it than the crow that flies over it . Your answer to them must alwavs

      be—WELL , WHO MAKES FORTUNES FOR FAR . MERS . AND PAYS ALL THEIR RENTS , AND ALL THE REST OF IT . I NEVER EXPECTED THE BLOOD-SUCKERS WOULD LIKE THE NATURAL STATE OF MAN . Your faithful friend and bailiff , Feargus O'Connor .

      Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'Gregoh. ...

      IRELAND . NARRATIVE OF MALCOLM M'GREGOH . so . XI . About dusk we arrived at the door of a miserable cottage , standing alone in the midst of steep and inaccessible hills ; a spot that appeared to have been selected for deeds of darkness . My guide unlocked the door , observing , the women have been sent to the neighbours , and now , pointing to a heap of flax on a hurdle , over a dark room , you must bide there , behind the flax , and lor your life and sowl don ' t sneeze , or stir , or it would be as much as our lives would be worth , if they found you out .

      The reader will easily imagine that this injunction , added to the appearance of the place , had considerably allayed my curiosity ; however , there was no retreat , and my guide having lighted a splinter , as he termed it—a piece of thin dried bog wood —he showed a very fragile step ladder , by which I mounted to my " cock-loft , " and underwent the ceremony of being covered up , all but a small

      aperture for my mouth , with the bundles of flax . was not long in my new situation , when , to the horror and consternation of my guide , who was busily engaged in preparing for the jury , I gave a loud sneeze , at which he bounced , and exclaimed" My God , but we're gone men , af you don't keep quiet . " " The flax , " I replied , " tickles mv nose . "

      " Wisha , " he returned , " for God's sake stop it , as you can't get out now , as they ' ll be here in a minute ; but af you can't hould , but must sneeze see af you can't sneeze like a cat . This way , " . say , he , sneezing precisely like a cat , and which , to his great satisfaction , I imitated most critically . In a very few minutes the jury began to arrives when candles , bought for the occasion , and stuck in balls of clay , were placed upon the table iu the middle of the room , the parties seating themselves round , home on kishes ( high baskets ) , and others on stools .

      My guide , from being next of kin , was appointed judge , and his first business was that of calling out the names of those summoned for the occasion , when , all having answered , he addressed them as follows : — " Are yees all blood relations to Phelimeen O'Donnell , God rest bis sowl ? " to which all responded—

      Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'Gregoh. ...

      "Amen , and yes . " . " Are yees , any of you , married , or is father or mother depending on your labour ? ' ' " No , " " Are yees all willing to be drawn , to see who shall shoot the murderer ; af in case he should be doomed to die ?" "Yes , yes , yes . "

      " Are you willing to pay the lawful debts and just demands of any that may suffer for the deed ?" " Yes . " " Have you all made your sowls and made open confession of all your sins ?" " Yes . " "Do you all pledge yourselves never to split or inform ?"

      " YES , YES , YES . " " Are you prepared now , to hear the evidence of the uncle of the deceased , that see the act , and cau tell whether the witness swore true before the crowner , and whether Phelimeen owed the money that he was shot for , and whether he was likely to kill them that took his life , af they did kill him , and whether the law would take bjs life af he was tried for what he done . " ' " Yes , we're ready . " " Do yees swear , before your God that hears you > to do justice between man and man , according to what yees hear ?" " Yes . "

      The uncle of the deceased was then called , and , having blessed himself » and declared that he would tell but the honest truth , he proceeded to narrate the circumstances connected with the transaction , precisely as detailed to Mr . O'Farrell and me , and of the merits of which the reader is already in

      possession . He was then asked , if , on his oath , Phelimeen threatened to takeaway any man ' s life , or attempted to harm or hurt any one ? and to all of which interrogatories he answered , " No . " He was then asked if he knew whether deceased had paid the money he was sued for , and to which he replied , that he was present on one occasion , when Catchpole acknowledged to the whole being paid up . Having heard the whole of the evidence , the judge spoke as follows .

      " Brothers , you have now heard how our dear departed kinsman , Phelimeen O'Donnell , came by his death , and what he done to cause them to shoot him ; and yees will consider that yees must answer in the last day to your God , when all is called upon for an account of his actions , to answer for the verdict yees come to to night , and if yees think that deceased would have killed them that took his life , af they didn ' t kill him , yees will say no ; but af yees believe that he was killed from a wish to get his

      houldin ? , and because them that killed him knew the law wouldn ' t touch them , then yees will say so , and yees are not to suffer yourselves to be led astray because our kinsman died with his sins upon him , ( the Lord have mercy upon his sowl ) , but yees will do justice between man and man , as yees hope one day to expect Justice to be done to yourselves . " An awful pause , of at least five minutes , followed this injunction ; and in the midst of which , to the great horror of my guide and host , I sneezed , but so like a cat , that he was able to lay it on pass . ,

      The judge now proceeded to ask them if they had agreed to their verdict ? commencing on his left and going through , and upon being answered in theaffirmative he then proceeded to put the question in the same form , " Is any one guilty of the murder of the deceased , if so , who ; or did he come by his death lawfully ? " And to which all answered , " Yes , Captain Squeezetenant is guilty of the murder , and deceased did not come by his death lawfully . "

      The judge then asked , " Do you all say that Captain Squeezetenant unlawfully took away the life of Phelimeen O'Donnell ?" " Yes . " " And do you doom him to die ?" " Yes , be the laws of God and man . " The judge then proceeded to break some straws into pieces of unequal length as lots , and having arranged them in his hand , he walked round the table , each drawing a straw and laying it before him , until all were drawn , when the judge

      proceeded to inspect them , and declared that the lot had fallen upon Tim O'Donnell , a first cousin and bosom friend of Phelimeen , he having drawn the Captain , or longest straw . As soon as the announcement was made , Tim jumped on his legs , and said , " Blessed be God it has fallen to my lot to avenge the blood of my friend and cousin , and hut I'll be no ways afeared to meet my Maker when I dies , for Phelimeen was an honest boy as ever lived , and done his duty to the ould people , and never wronged or injured man or baist . "

      " Tim , said a person on the other side of the table , " but I'll give you a two-year old heifer and a collop of sheep , — - ( six sheep , )—af you'll only give me the privilege of shooting the villain , that turned my poor ould father out of his house and home and then transported him , " " No , " responded Tim , " it never shall be thrown in the teeth of an O'Donnell , that an O'Donnell sould an O'Donnell's blood for all the heifers and

      sheep in the parish . The ceremony now being over , all took leave ol Tim O'Donnell , kissing and shaking hands with him , and reminding him that the Olympus sailed for America that day fortnight , and . that he should have plenty of means to clear him out of the country , when there came a sudden knocking at the door , followed by the most piteous howling . " Whose there , " asked the man of the house ? . " Ogh , for the love of God , open the door , " responded the howl . " What ' s the matter , " continued my host ? " Ogh , wisha , come down , there's murder at the cross below . "

      " What V ejaculated the voices inside . "Ogh , " rejoined those outside , " come , run , come down to the cross , —sure the polis has took ould O'Donnell . The Lord be merciful to us , —sure he lay in wait behind a ditch , just opposite the polis barracks , and but he shot the Captain as he was going home from the sessions of Skibbereen , and sure the ould man was ' nt able to run , and but , instead of trving to make off , its what he came and

      stood over the body , calling and bawling out' Phelimeen , it was your father that revenged your blood on the murderer , and but he'll soon be with you in heaven , * and but sure , a mob collected when the polis came up , and when they were for rescuing O'Donnell , but they fired , and the Lord save us , but they says they made a riddle of his body , and there ' s all the Crieff boys and the polis fighting at the cross , and but af you don ' t run , but they'll get the better of them . "

      The last announcement had the effect of clearing the house as if by magic , when I descend ed from my hiding place , and escaping from the hovel , I followed the howl of the women , with many others who rushed down the mountain side , until we reached the cross where the mangled body of " The

      Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'Gregoh. ...

      ODonnell'May , surrounded by screaming women and children , with scarcely a tatter of clothes upon them . In the ditch hard by lay the dead body of Captain Squeezetenant , while shots , responded to by terrific cheers and yells , were heard from the adjoining hills where the police barrack was situated , and whither the men had repaired in pursuit of the police , —shot followed shot , and cheer succeeded cheer , until at length the work of demolition being completed , the edifice fell with a terrific crash , burying the inmates and many of the infuriated actors beneath the ruins -, a momentary silence followed the crash , when , as if by magic , a blaze of brilliant li ght burst around the dismal scene and presented the most appalling

      spectacle of myriads of half-naked people dragging the wounded from under the ruins , and , as a friend or relative was discovered , the yell was horrifying and heart-rending . As I approached the ruins , my former guide , the brother of Mrs . Mahoney , recognized me , and clapping me on the shoulder , said , " Come , follow me , this is no place for you ; the soldier * will be here in a bit , come , come with me , as , maybe , if you are found here , Mr . O'Farrell might be brought to trouble . " I thought the advice seasonable and discreet , and followed my guide , who led me in safety to the house of my host , who had not yet returned from his day's labour . I communicated all that I had seen and heard to Mrs .

      Mahoney , who begged of me not to say a word about it to the priest , or to pretend to know any thing of the matter . I promised secrecy , and lest my manner should evince a suspicious excitement , I retired to rest before the worthy pastor ' s return , ( To be continued . )

      Flmperwu Iiantsmtttf.

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      House Of Lords, Fbiday, 22nd Jan. Lord L...

      HOUSE OF LORDS , Fbiday , 22 nd Jan . Lord Lansdown laid on the table copies of the correspondence relative to the Spanish marriages . Their Lordships meet to-day ( Saturday ) for the purpose of receiving Lord John Russell ' s Bills from the Commons . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Friday , 22 nd Jan . The Hon . Cecil Lawless took his seat for Clonmel , in the room of the Right Hon . David Pigot , appointed one of the Barons of Her Majesty's Exchequer in Ireland . A new writ was ordered fur the city of Chester , vacant by Lord Robert Grosvenor ' ij acceptance ol the Cbilteru Hundreds .

      THE CORN IMPORTATION BILL went through its various stages . The last clause was struck out in committee , THE NAVIGATION BILL was read a second time in Committee . Mr . MrtcnEU . proposed that the period of suspension should be extended beyuund the 1 st September . Lord John Russell considered the proposal inexpedient . An animated debate , in which Lord George Bentinck , Dr . Bonring , and Mr . Duncombe took part , ensued . Mr . Mitchell replied . The Committee then divided , when the numbers were— For the amendment ..,. 50 Against it 1 S 8 Majority for Ministers 138 The House having resolved into Committee on

      THE CUSTOMS AND EXCISE ACT , The Chancellor of the Excuequbu entered into a general statement of the financial changes which the Government contemplated regarding the duties at present leviable on the three articles of sugar , molasses , and rum . He proposed that sugar be admitted free of duty into breweries and distilleries , but a similar permission is not to be extended to molasses , for various reasons , founded chiefly upon the evidence given before a Committee of the House . In ths employment of sugar in distillation , the practice to be pursued is , for the distiller to take it out of bond in the usual manner , and to receive an allowance or drawback when the produce becomes

      chargeable with duty . The principle upon whicb this is to proceed was laid down as follows : — " An equal quantity of spirit produced from sugar ought to pay the same spirit duty as that produced from malt , together with a sum equal to the amount ot duty payable on the quantity of malt required to produce the same amount and strength of spirit . " The drawback amounts to 12 s , lOd , on every eleven gallons and a half of spirits , With regard to rum , the differential duty of Is . Gd . in favour of English spirit as against colonial , is to be reduced to Is . ; so that the duty on English spirit will still remain at 7 s . 10 J ., while that on colonial will be changed from 9 a . 4 d . to 8 s . lOd .

      Lord G . Be . vti . vck hoped that the Chancellor of the Exchequer did not mean to make this law a permanent one , for , in such event , he would meet considerable opposition . Mr . S . O'BniEN said that the condition of Irclanti demanded that the grain requisite for their support , should not be used , if possible , in distilleries or breweries . Mr . Goulburn said he entirely approved of the measure brought forward by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in his clear and able statement , the more particularly as it only redeemed the pledge which be gave last session , to consider the case of the West Indian colonies . Air . D . Barclay said the colonies had a right to claim the measure as an act of simple justice .

      Lord G . Bentinck expressed his intention to support the measure as one of the remedies proposed by Government , but it would be the duty of the agricultural interest to inquire whether it ought to be of a temporary or a permanent nature . Lord John Russell said the sense of the House could be taken on this subject at a future stage . After some remarks from Mr . B . Escott , Mr . Brotbcrton , and Mr . Ferrand , the resolutions were agreed to , and a Bill ordered to be brought in accordingly . The Corn Importation Bill , and the Navigation Bill were then read a third time and passed .

      THE LAW OF SETTLEMENT . Lord John Russell moved for the appointment of a select committee to inquire into the operation of the Poor Removal Bill and the Law of Settlement , with an instruction to inquire first , and report specially , upon the Poor Removal Bill . The Noble Lord took that opportunity to announce the intentions of the Government with respect to the Andover inquiry , and to the Poor Law Commission itself . It was not their intention to take iiny steps in reference to the Andover resolutions , unless some private Member of Parliamentshould think fit to introduce the question . But , having considered the constitution of the Poor Law Commission , they had come to the resolution of remodelling it entirely . They believed that it was absolutely necessary to have a central body , having the means of local inspection . It was their belief that the present commission had exercised their authority to the best of their judgment , and with

      an earnest desire to assist the poor , and that the principles upon which they acted were sound . But it was apparent that in some cases brought before Parliament they did not appear to have exercised their discretion wisely ; and it was concluded , therefore , that some one connected with the board should have a seat in Parliament . The intention of the Government therefore , was to constitute a superior board , with a president and two secretaries / , the president and one of the secretaries to be eligible to sit in the House of Commons . The " general rules" to be revised and confirmed or abrogated by the new board , and finally sanctioned by the Queen herself . The government likewise proposed to separate entirely the administiation of the Poor Law in Ireland from that in England ; the Irish board to have a president and two secretaries , The bill to carry into effect these changes , Lord John Russell promised to bring forward at an early period of the session .

      After a lengthened con rersation , in which several members took part , the select committee , with ohc instruction , was agreed to . The house adjourned at half-past twelve .

      HOUSE OF LORDS , Saturday , Jan . 23 rd . Lord SiiiFrusiicrr cook his seat on the woolsack shortly before five .

      CORN AND NAVIGATION LAWS SUSPENSIGN BILLS . Mr . Greene and other Members of the House of Commons , brought up the Corn Duties ( Temporary Suspension ) Bill , and the Navigation Laws ( Temporary suspension ) Bill , which On the motion of the Marquis of Laxdsdowsb , were severally read a first time , and ordered to be printed . Lord Stanley inquired whether it was the determination of the Government to introduce another

      House Of Lords, Fbiday, 22nd Jan. Lord L...

      T . T . o f t rl B , Ilf 0 , ? eaIlnff CCTtai « Penalties in the use of sugar and molasses in browing and distilling , as a permanent measure ; and also whether that B . was to be passed as hastily as the other two Bills . He suggested that the proposed measure be referred to a select committee . The Marquis of Landsdowne in answer , stated that it was thought more advisable to make the proposed Bill of a permanent nature at once , than leave it for discussion later in the session . With regard to the suggestion thrown out by Lord Stanley , it would depend upon the support the Bill met with in the other House , and the form in which it was sent up , whether it should be referred to a select committee .

      Some conversation then ensued on the pr posed alterations in the poor law , which Lord Brougham denounced as the fruit of personal spleen and political agitation out of doors , and as inconsistent with the spirit of the original law , an opinion in which Earl Fitzwilliam concurred , and gave it as his opinion that the appointment of a Poor Law Minister would be desirable . Their Lordships then adjourned . HOUSE OF LORDS , Monday , Jan . 25 . On the motion of the Earl of Clarendon the Corn Duties and the Navigation Laws Suspension Bills passed through all their stages without opposition .

      DISTRESS IN IRELAND . The Marquis of Landsdowne moved for the production of papers relative to the condition of Ireland and entered into a lengthened statement descriptive of the famine , and its attending circumstances , of the measures of relief taken by the Government during the recess ot Parliament , andaf the Bills which it was the intention of Government to propose as well for the resuscitation as for the permanent improvement of Ireland , The substance ol the Noble Marquis ' s speech was identical with that delivered by Lord John Russell in the House of Commons . Lord Stanley freely admitted that the measures which had been shadowed forth by the Government appeared to be both fair and judicious : but he was of opinion that to attempt to discuss them in detail , without having an opportunity of fully considering

      their bearings in reference to each other , and also their bearings in reference to the state of society existing in Ireland , would be worse than useless . lie would not , however , hesitate to recommend to the Government to throw aside some of their principles of political economy , and he would suggest to them the propriety of encouraging the introductionof capital into Ireland by affording advances to railway companies for the promotion of those great productive public works , upon safe and proper security . The construction of such works would give very extensive employment to the labourers under the best possible supervision , that of the parties themselves interested in the projects . Lord Brougham inquired if an estimate had been made of the sum that would be required to answer the loans proposed by the Government in carrying out their measures .

      The Marquis of Lansbowne could not give an estimate of the probable amount that would be required . Lord Brougham said he had heard it would require fifteen millions sterling ; and if so , he felt convinced that tlie property tax must be immediately increased . But if the property tax must be inereaied then he saw no reason why it should not be extended to Ireland , nor could he imagine why a man with £ 140 a year could not pay for the protection of the laws afforded him as well as the man with £ 160 a year . From the number of paupers passing from Irelaud to Liverpool , Manchester , and Glasgow , it became absolutely necessary to adopt some mode of throwing the maintenance of the poor of Ireland upon the resources of Ireland . The Earl of Devon spoke in defence of the Labour Kate Act , which , though he admitted it had failed in very many instances , he thought had failed only because it had not been efficiently carried out .

      After a few observations from Lord Robes in disapprobation of the Labour Rate Act , . Earl Fitzwilliam defended the Irish landlords , and deprecated the application of the Poor Law to Ireland without proper limitations . Lord Mountcasuel made a statement showing that the Irish landlords had only £ 3 , 000 , 000 out of 13 , 000 , 000 per annum , to live on . Earl Ghey defended the Labour Rate Act as being the best measure that could have been adopted at the time it was passed , though unforeseen circumstances had combined to render it nugatory . Ue considered the condemnation of that measure implied a grave censure on the present Government . After remarks from Lord Mo . nteagle and the Marquis of Clanricarde , The papers were ordered te be produced , and their Lordships adjourned at One o ' elwk .

      HOUSE OF COMMONS .-Monday , Jan . 25 The sneaker took the chair at four o'clock .-

      TEN HOURS' BILL . Sir G . Strickland presented a petition from cotton spinners and others , in Lancashire in favour of a . Ten Hours' Bill for young persons and children . USE OF MOLASSES IN DISTILLERIES . Mr . Hume gave notice that upon the same day he would move the copies of any reports showing the reason why molasses should not be introduced into the country and used in distilleries upon the same footing as sugar . ANNEXATION OF CRACOW . Mr , Hume said that he would postpone the motion of which he had given notice upon this subject to a future day , in consequence of the papers promised by the Government not having been laid upon the table of the House .

      Lord J . Russell observed , that the reason the papers were not yet laid on the table was , that it was enly since Parliament met that a paper had been presented to her Majesty , embodying the defence of the Three Powers for the measure adopted with respect to Cracow .

      CORPORAL PUNISHMENT IN HONG-KONG . Dr . Bowiung asked whether any answer had been received to the communications made from the Colonial Office , as to the infliction of corporal punishments by the Police Courts at Hong-Kong ? Mr . Hawks said last session his lion , friend drew his attention to the case of the Chinese on whom it was alleged corporal punishment had been inflicted , and he had told him in reply , that all the circumstances connected with that case would be inquired into . An explanation had been received from ihe authorities of the island , which was to the following effect : —The Chinese in question had been guilty of

      felony , and had been arrested . A rescue was attempted by a large number of the Chinese , which was attended with considerable violence . They were , however , all arrested , and carried to the police office , where the question was heard , and others were convicted and fined five dollars , or to receive twenty strokes of a " rattan . " He must confess , however , that this punishment was accompanied with the loss of their tails . ( "Hear , hear , " and a laugh , ) The seas there were infested by gangs of lawless persons , and it was found very difficult to devise any punishment at all commensurate tvith their offences . ( Hear , hear . )

      THE NEW POOR LAW . Mr . Ferrand gave notice that on an early day he would move "That a select committee be appointed to inquire into the mode adopted by the Poor Law Commissioners and their Assistant Commissioners , in drawing up reports , and their treatment of boards of guardians ; and what coiuroul the right lion . Sir James Graham , Bart ,, exercised over the Poor Law Commissioners and their Assistant Commissioners during the time he held the office of her Majesty ' s

      Secretary of state for the Home Department . Also , whether , under the enforcement of the new Poor Law , wages have not been reduced ; whether crime has not increased ; whether a system of terror , instead of a system of kinuness , has not been adopted towards the poor ; whether the favourable anticipations expressed in Parliament by the promoters of the new Poor Law have not entirely failed ; and , whether the principle upon which the new Poor Law is founded is not a direct violation of the constitution of England . "

      SERIOUS ACCUSATIONS AGAINST SIR J . GRAHAM , Mr . Ferrand gave notice that on Thursday next he would bring forward some charges against Sir J . Graham , seriously affecting UU character and conduct as a Minister of the Crown and also a Member of Parliament .

      THE STATE OF IRELAND . Lord John Russell then rose to bring under the attention of the House the state of Ireland , and said that he had never felt the necessity go strongly of calling for the indulgence of the House as on the present occasion ; but he felt assured of obtaining it in an ample degree , after the sympathy manifested by the House on this subject a few nights ago and the forbearance which it had shown to the Government ; he would therefore at once go into the subject , lie would first state the order which he should follow in his statement . In the first place , he proposed te show what was the actual state of that part of the United Kingdom in which the great calamity of fa-

      House Of Lords, Fbiday, 22nd Jan. Lord L...

      neral statement as to what had occurred during the recess of Parliament , and as to what had been done in pursuance of the a ^ ts of Parliament of last year , and how far these measures had been successful ! He should then proceed to state what were the recommendations of the Government on the present emergency . After this he should ca'l the attention of the house to other measures , which , in the opinion of her Majesty ' s ministers , would tend to improve the state of Ireland , and to lay the foundation for permanent improvement . He should also mention some other subjects , which , although they had been under consideration , had not been so fully nnnsirfnred that measures could be at onr . o

      introduced with respect to them . He should now ask leave of the House to introduce two Bills , one to render valid certain acts which had been doneundcr the order of the Lord-Lieutenant , and the second a Bill for the improvement of private estates in Ireland , in conformity with the principle laid down in the Treasury Minute of the 1 st of December last . The noble lord then read extracts from the Report of the Commissioners as to the state of distress in Ireland , The calamity which had fallen on Ireland was almost without a parallel in modern times , operating as it did on a population of nearly eight millions , and which was like a famine of the thirteenth century falling upon a population of the nineteenth century . But last year the quantity of

      food in Ireland was not so much deficient , yet notwithstanding this Parliament determined to make provi-ion by affording the means of labour on roads and public works , by means of loans . Several sums of money had been advanced for that purpose , and towards the end ot the session , Parliament passed an act for presentments for public works . After soma time , when this act was brought into operation . com * plaints were made that the roads made under it were not wanted , and that the other works were useless . He did not think that the objection as to the nature of the labour not being so productive as it ought to be was one of a very serious character , for the object wan to give wages for Jabour , instead of indiscriminate charity . Still it was most desirable

      that they should have the co-operation of the landed gentry of Ireland , and the Lord-Lieutenant , with the assent of the . Cabinet , made further arrangements for public works . Shortly afterwards the Lord-Lieutenant was called upon to allow presentments to be made for townships . There were strong objections to this , as many of those townships were very small , and the average of them was not above 352 acres . The owner of a townland would be only liable for the amount required for that spot , and there would be no general sympathy ; therefore that could not be beneficially adopted . He admittcd that there was no danger in the present state of employing labour in Ireland , and if care was not taken , permanent injury might be inflicted on the unfortunate class to which the labourers belonged . As the destitution increased , the difficulty of finding means of employing labour increased . Great difficulties were found to exist in getting proper persons

      to superintend the labourers , and in some districts , in consequence of the adoption ef task work , the labourers had refused to perform the work allotted to them . It Has also found that one public board could not effectually superintend such an extensive scheme of labour . It appeared that the number of persons now employed by the Board of Works in Ireland as officers tor the superintendance of labour was 11 , 587 , The amount of money advanced in loans , and advances up to the present time , was £ 2 , 410 , 216 . The number of labourers employed on the Public Worksin September last was 30 , 130 , while last month the number had increased to 480 , 000 , and at the present time the muraber was no ddubt upwards ot half a million . Itjwas calculated that five persons were dependent oncack man so employed ; but supposing that there were only four persons in each case , the numberdependent on such employment would be two millions . The expenditure had been enormous . He had before him the returns of the weekly

      expenditure since the commencement of December . In the month of December the expenditure was £ -565 , 000 , and for the first three weeks of January it amounted to £ 485 , 000 , and it was estimated that for the whole month the amount would be between £ 700 , 000 and £ 800 , 000 . It was impossible to view this state of things without being aware that it must bo accompanied with many evils . In many places where task work had been adopted , it appeared that wages had risen to Is . lOd . a-day , and the farmer could not get labourers to till the soil . Great abuses had also grown up by farmers occupying twenty , thirty , forty , and fity acres of land , placing themselves and their sons on these public works , while the really destitute

      could not get employment . The Lord-Lieutenant had taken steps to lessen this evil . On deliberation it was determined to form in the various districts relief committees which would receive subscriptions and levy rates , and obtain grants from the government . These committees would have to purchase food , to establish soup kitchens , and furnish food for the famished population . The labourers would be allowed to work on their own grounds or for the farmers , so that there might be due preparation for the next harvest . He was happy to state that that distinguished officer , Sir John Burgoyne , had undertaken the task of superintending the plan which would be adopted with regard to tho relief committees . This officer would be in

      communication with the Lord Lieutenant , and would act either wither without a board , and would co-operate with the Board of Works , with the commissariat department , and with the officers of the poor-law unions and the constabulary . Care would be taken that in the proposed change the transition from public works to other employment should be as gradual as possible , so that no extensive dismissal of labourers should not take place at one time . With respect to the money which had already been expended in public works , the question had been asked whether the whole burden should fall upon Ireland . The extent of misfortune bad been so great that he thought that the whole of the burden should not fall upon the Irish people , lie therefore should propose on a

      future day that a new arrangement should be made , so that each year an instalment of the advances becoming due , that only one-half should be paid , and the other half should be remitted . With regard to the money hitherto issued , it had been advanced from the consolidated fund , and there had been no issue of new Exchequer Bills , He did not consider that it would be proper to impose the whole burden on tho finances of the country . He did not think that any step of that kind should be adopted by the govern , ment or Parliament without the most serious consideration , or that such large amounts should be taken from the laborious people of this country , on this point his lordship said when I make such a proposition as that which has now been laid before tho house ,

      it is one which places a very considerable burden upon the finances of this country ( hear , hear ); and that placing tint burden upon the finances of this country , 1 do feel myself disabled from making some propositions 1 should otherwise have made , but which considering the very heavy burdens arising trom the destitution this present year , I should think it hardly fair to the people of this country to bring forward . It may be said , " Let the burden be borne by the Consolidated Fund ; let it be borne by the Imperial Treasury and Exchequer . " I trust always that those sums are not to be granted by Government or Parliament without most serious consideration ( hear , hear ); that these are sums derived from payments by the people of this country . ( Hear ,

      hear . ) It is what they pay on their SOap , their sugar , rheir tea , their coffee . ( Hear , hear . ) It is that which forms the surplus by which we are able to come ' to the assistance ot Ireland ; snd while I believe there i is every disposition to do all that is liberal , I do » think that we must , in justice to the peo- pie of this country , consider their diflioul- - ties and their privations , and how by hard 1 labour they are earning their dailj bread . . Cheers . ) ) With respect to the advances made to proprietors s who hud expressed a desire to make improvement on n their estates , under the authority of the Lord Lieu- itenant ' s order , Government thought that the terms is contained in the Treasury minute of the 1 st of last st December should be extended to them , and that the le

      time for there-payment of the advances which they sy had received should be extended from 10 to 22 years , "S , as in the Drainage Act of last session . Having thus us stated what the Government intended to propose to to meet the evil of the present year , he proceeded to to observe that there was another proposal , of which , sh , though of doubtful tendency , he was inclined to try try the experiment , lie proposed to advance £ 50 , 000 , 00 , to bo repaid on or before the 31 st of December , 1347 , ) 47 , to the proprietors ot Ireland to furnish seed for sow- owing their lands . He did not intend to advance any any part of it to the small cottier-tenants , as it might igbt not be used for the purposes for which it was in- i intended * , but he thought that if the advances were vero made to the proprietors of the soil , the measure sure

      might be sate and useful . In stating these proposi- > ositions to the House , he felt bound to state that Go- Government could not , and did not , expect to be able able to ward off entirely the effects of the awful visita- sitation under which Ireland was now labouring . It was t was not in the power of man to do away with the ordina- dinations of Providence , and it was a knowledge ot that that fact which led him to express his astonishment that , that two such eminent and respectable individuals as the is the Marquis of Sligo and Mr . Moore should have called jailed upon their countrymen to meet at Castlebar , for the ar the purpose of petitioning Parliament to take steps to in- to insure " an immediate cheap and constant supply of ply of food" during the famine which surrounded them and m and

      was still impending , That was a task beyoncUyondl all human power to accomplish . All that any hu-ay hu-¦ man Government could do was to alleviate some- somewhat the present dreadful calamity , and to swe thev & thea great bulk of the people ; and it must not benot bee imagined that it could turn scarcity into pleuty . plcuty . . What , however , astonished him the most was , thats , thatt a meeting for such a purpose as that which hehadhehadd just described should have been called at Castleb » r ^ tlebar , r , where there was an union workhouse capable of con < of con * taining 000 persons , but not containing at pvesenlpvesenW more than 130 persons , the doors of it being closed ; closed ! and / . thc guardians alleging that they could' nwuld ; not ) levy " the rates necessary to support the worWouserkiousee ( Continued in the Last mg « , a

      Mine Had Arisen, Secondly, He Should Ina...

      mine had arisen , Secondly , he should inakeageCV 7 /^ i mine had arisen , Secondly , he should make a eeCV ^ 2

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 30, 1847, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns2_30011847/page/1/