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Northern Star (1837-1852), 17th February 1849, Edition 3 of 3, Page 5, LETTERS TO THE WORKING CLASSES. XXXV. " ...

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      R Letters Which Enlisted The Enthusiasm ...

      _VMMmW _iim . ,.. __ ,. __ ,. ..,. _ __ _ THE _NoUfHifRlgS _^ R _^ * 1 ~ ; ~ * " " "" ' ' _'"* '" " ''' _' _'•'• _n _TTTT-nMii f- * - _- - - _^ _Pf— --- ' _. n-1 1 ¦ _infinnrmTT-n- _* ¦ 1 _,,, 1 __ , O

      Letters To The Working Classes. Xxxv. " ...

      LETTERS TO THE WORKING CLASSES . XXXV . " Words are things , and a small drop of ink Falling—like den- —upon a thought , produces That which makes thousands , perhaps millions , think . " _uiEOX . - . • : "XETTEBS

      PARLIAMENT AND THE PEOPLE . Brother Proletarians , Thus fer the gentlemen who , with matchless modesty , assume the title of the " Collective Wisdom of the State , " have prosecuted their " labours" after the good old fashionalternating the performance of mischief with the doing of nothing . On Monday last , the " Commons" as good as passed the Bill for the further Suspension of the * Habeas Corpus in Ireland , —the second reading was earned , and the clauses adopted . The Bill now only waits the form of a " third reading . " This evening , the House was

      counted out at 4 o ' clock , to prevent a debate on Major Blackall ' _s motion on the Condition of Ireland . Neither Whigs , Tories , nor Radicals (?) conld be found in sufficient numbers to constitute a House for the purpose of considering the sufferings of the Irish people , with a view to the adoption of measures of amelioration . Already our le gislators suffer from "the fetigues of the Session ! " Fi ghting with shar ftows appears to be no joke , for the task of proriding for the repression of a non-existent rel > elIion has so taxed their p hysical and mental powers , that—poor fellows—they nave alread y l > een compelled to seek relaxation irom tbeir toils !

      It is just one fortni ght since the Session commenced , and already there has been one " count out" Of course , the nation can afford to put up with this loss of time . At any rate there is no probability of a national remonstrance . There is the secret of Parliamentary misdoings . Ministers and Members do as they -please , because ofthe criminal apathy of the people . Were the people of this country resolute in demanding Reform for both England and _Ireland- _^ -Justice for themselves andtheir

      Irish brethren , —there would be no " countings out" But , seeing that the masses are indifferent to their own interests , and careless of the doings of their rulers , what wonder that those rulers prefer their own ease and aggrandisement to the welfare of the many ? Itis not tyrants that make slaves , but slaves that make tyrants . The people conrt oppression , and encourage misgovermnent ; and , I say , they deserve that their masters should ride , spur , and lash them , until haply by suffering they may learn to hate , resist , and

      overcome oppression . "Reproach not the Parliament , denounce not the Whigs ; reproach and denounce yourselves , for you are the perpetuators of your own wrongs . When I look abroad , and behold what other nations have done and suffered for Freedom andthe sacred Rights of Man , and when I contrast therewith tiie miserable movements of my countrymen , I can no more say with the

      poet"England , with all thy faults , I love thee still . " On the contrary , I blush to think that , throughout the old world andthe new , the name of Englishman is a , mark for the scorn and hatred of mankind . In other countries , an English "working man is supposed to he a spiritless slave , who has bnt two desires—to work and to guzzle "whilst the classes above the rank of "workmen , are looked upon as heartless

      grasping traffickers , intent onl y upon the aggrandisement of the big British Money-Power ithe curse and scourge of the world . These views , thongh unjust when made to embrace all Englishmen , are yet just in the main . Our newspapers proclaim the character of the " superior" and " _respectable' _-classes , and tiie slavish apathy of the mass of the working classes justifies the sweeping condemnation pronounced upon us by our brethren of other

      lands . Occasionally , a shout for "Reform" or the "Charter" is heard by neighbouring nations , and then they say , "At last the English are moving . " Yes , * we move ; hut how ? Like the tide . We advance only to recede . A little persecution , a trifling disappointment , or the too sanguine hopes of _immediate success not realised ; these , or either of these , will suffice to send excited masses back to their _garreta , cellars , and hovels , there to grumble , growl and groan ; until excess of suffering provokes another " movement , " fated , in its turn , to give place to another term of popular apathy and despair .

      The lack of perseverance is the curse ofthe working class . I admit exceptions . Individuals , numbering altogether thousands , are ¦ everywhere to be found , who have never wearied in the good work of struggling for the trimnpn of Justice . There is not on this earth a nobler sight than that of a man who , grey with years , and worn down by poverty and the sickness of "hope deferred , " yet clings to the principles of his youth , and , in spite of time and trouble , still holds fast to that belief in Human Progression which first made him a Reformer . Such men are the

      pride of our order , the salt of the earth . . It too often happens , that the enthusiasm of jouth perishes beneath the frosts of advancing years ; but I make bold to say , never when men nave adopted a principle for that _principle ' s own sake . There are men yet living -who , in their youth , toiled with Cartwright and Hardy ; in the strength of their manhood with Hunt and Cobbett ; and who , in their © 14 age , are still faithful to the good old cause . While I write this , I have in my mind ' s eye a friend who , some thirty years ago , -witnessed the judicial murder of poor Wilson at Glasgow , and who is as ardent now a 3 he was then in Ids advocacy ofthe righteous principles for which poor Wilson suffered martyrdom . The

      unceasing sacrifices of time , health , money , And family comfort , made by the men who form the Chartist Councils , Defence and "Victim Committees , & c , cannot be properly described , and their services cannot be too iighly rated . Such men deserve well of their country . Bnt , if the truth mustbe told , snch men are—comparatively speaking few . Their perseverance , their energy , their _undyhtg devotion to Principle , cannot he too _htglgy extolled . Bat th « y are , I repeat , tK few . They set an _txample not followed by the great body of their order ; -were it otherwise , there wouM be no _Par-^ _euneafssry **

      In the spring of last year the Government affected to be alarmed at the Chartist demonstrations . Bnt the alarm was affected , nothing more . The experience of 1839 , and 1812 , had taught the Whigs that popular excitement was but a bubble . It may be asked "Why then did they affect alarm V _Because they desired to secure the support of the bourgeoisie , always to be influenced by the cry 6 f " property hi danger . " Backed by the _yoting and jury class , the Whigs knew they might go any leng th , in coercing the few s _- aunch men who were dangerous , because

      they were in earnest . The result of the " excitement" has justified the calculations ofthe enemies of Chartism . Most of the leaders are in prison , and their followers are — nowhere ! All the reasons which existed twelve months ago for demanding the Charter , stdl hold good . Then , six-sevenths ofthe adult mate population were unrepresented , and sou inat Wantic grievance is unredressed . _™« V multitude of laws cumbered the Statute-BooK , _hostile to the freedom and well-being of the People , and stilt those laws remain , Tnen , the % hts of Labour , and the interests of the m-

      4 , J 5 trions classes , were outragedor unau-earor , J ?* * till the many are sacrificed for the . benefit of ** - /«•* . Wh y then abandon , in 1849 , thecause

      Letters To The Working Classes. Xxxv. " ...

      which enlisted the enthusiasm so strikingl y manifested in the early part of 1848 ? The conduct of the Legislature and Government in the past year , instead of causing popular apathy , should stimulate popular action . The utter destruction of civil liberty in Ireland , the passing of the Gagging Bill , the employment of Spies _^ and the remorseless persecution directed against the defenders of the Rights of Labour , furnish additional reasons for seeking that political power which wiU enable the people to put an end to Class Legislation , and preventfor the future the -orLioL _™ l _*< : t _« _1 + b _0 _AnfW _* i . i _< mi ~ * n _Ri . r \ _hin _^ A

      , , persecution of men whose worst crime is that of preferring the rights of the many to the privileges of the few , Lamenting the sufferings of our incarcerated friends , I have to congratulate you , brethren , on the escape of some of our champions from the clutches of their and your enemies . The mends I allude to are not our countrymen , but they are none the less our brethren . On the 8 th inst ., Dr , Schneider , the newly-elected deputy ( to the Prussian Assembl y ) for Cologne , Dr . Mars , chief Editor of the New Rhenish Gazette , and Citizen Schapper , also connected

      with that excellent journal , were brought to trial in the Court of Assizes , on the charge ' of having incited to . rebellion by publishing a circular urging the people not to pay taxes , in obedience to the orders issued by the late Na _tAonal Assembly in Berlin . A verdict of " Not Guilty" was returned amidst the enthusiastic applause of a densely crowded Court . This is _glorions news . Dr . Schneider is one ofthe most ardent democrats in Germany . Dr . Marx I know personally , and know him to be a man of transceudant talent and the

      niost sterling patriotism . He is one bf the great men of the future . His day is fast coming . When it comes , woe to the enemies of Labour . Carl Schapper is known to more than myself ; personally , to thousands in this metropolis , and by name , to tens of thousands in this country . When in England he was ever ready to give his fraternal aid to the cause of the English Proletarians , and they cannot but rejoice in the triumph of their

      gallant and courageous friend . Carl Schapper ( by marriage and long residence in this country half an Englishman ) is the beau ideal ofademocrat-ithe remorseless and untiring foe of injustice ih every shape . Glory to the acquitted democrats of Cologne , and victory tothe good cause which has been so signally served by their triumph over the dirty tools of the h ypocritical King of Prussia ' .

      My next Letter will be devoted to a special subject ; but , that disposed of , I' hope , the week following , to commence a series of Letters suggesting to the good men and true a course of action , calculated to make the Chartist movement a verity , and hasten the time when the Charter shall be made the law of the land . ' " - . L'Ain du Peuple . February 15 lh , 1849 .

      Draining The Mines 0? Sierra. Morena. An...

      DRAINING THE MINES 0 ? SIERRA . MORENA . An English Company haV & leased ( he celebrated silver mines of Guadalcanal , in Seville , in Spain , which have been under water for a period of 150 years . Before that time tbey produced to the Spanish government _£ 100 , 000 per annum ih duties alone , and from the proceeds of these the Palace of the Escurial was built . They were the * property of the _Fuchars , rich contractors , who , not satisfied with the enormous wealth they derived from them , secretly took away the ores from a-new lode they discovered witbout giving notice to tbe government , and , to prevent imprisonment and confiscation , they let the water into the mine , and for 150 years they have remained in the state in which they were thus left by them . Abont six months azo , however , the

      mines were purchased by an English company on the most advantageous terms , and a capital of . £ 10 , 000 was raised among a tew English adventurers , ia order to work them . Mr . Nicholas Harvey , of Hayle , wbo drained the Lake of Haarlem , in Holland , being one of them , asd an engine of great power having been obtained , and transported under the direction of _Captaia Michell and the engineer , Mr . Duncan Shaw , to the mine , bids fair soon to drain the 120 fathoms , and discover its hidden wealth once more . From advices received since the publication of the following account tbe engine has drained the mine in one month to the thirty-one fathoms level , and some very valuable specimens of silver ore have been taken from the lodes , and are now on their way to England .

      The account which follows is translated from the Madrid paper El Clamor Publico : — - * In the month of September last we furnished onr readers with the history of the silver mines of Guadalcanal ; we related the manner in which those rich veins were discovered by two Spanish peasants , the enormous quantities of ore which they yielded during 140 years ; then bow-in order to free themselves from the proceedings instituted by the Court of Madrid , the proprietors fled , having

      first taken the precaution of flooding the mines . We recounted the oft-repeated , but invariably unsuccessful attempts of the Spanish government and private companies to drain the water trom the mines , and render them fit for working . After having given this history , supported by official documents , we announced the departure from England ofa vessel laden with powerful apparatus , manned by fifteen stout Cornish miners , and commanded by two distinguished engineers , Mr . Duncan Shaw and Captain Michell .

      'Since then all things have smiled on this important undertaking . The' vessel bas made a quick and prosperous passage , landed its craw and machinery on the quay of Seville , and both the men and the apparatus have passed over , witbout inconvenience , and fifty . fonr miles which separated tbat city from the place of their destination . ' The preparatory work ascomplished _, the dwelling and mining habitations in a condition to receive tbeir new inmates and tbe draining implements , it only remained to pnt the latter in order and prepare all things necessary for commencing operations . Ten weeks sufficed for the engineer and his assistants to bring this task to a satisfactory conclusion , and all was ready on the 23 rd D-cember . '

      The gigantic pump might consequently bave en . tered on its subterraneous labours from that day . But , like a thorough Englishman , the engineer determined to give the inauguration of the enterprise a solemn date—that of Christmas Day . He went further ; he assembled some of tbe nobilities of the country , and , like a true son of Albion , collected on the spot a quantity of solids and liquids sufficient to have satisfied the cravings of a thousand famished Irishmen , The results of this step weie advantageous , for _instead of some itty -mi-sous , the entira population of the neig hbouring country flocked to

      the scene of the enterprise . _Alcalde , lawyers , priests , shopkeepers , men , women , and children , deserted the'little town of Guadalcanal , and braved , some on foot , others on mules , the Most abominable of all things—a Span _' _sh road . The undertaking excited in a high degree the curiosity of these peorie aad interested them in other respects . But , however persuaded they might be of the superiority of British skill and perseverance , they were generally doubtful of success ; the oldest among them shrugging their shoulders wbHe they related to surrounding groups tbe traditions bequeathed tothe country of the many _"anfortunate attempts made and

      Atlengththe 8 ignalisg iven , _thesteam _gw bm its iron-bound cage , and the huge nf ™** " * move its formidable valves . _M" _*™ __*"_ _>** darkness the water beholds the light , and flows , stream-like , making Urge f _arcows in the earth , after the manner ofthe torrents of Adas . Ihe enhrfis pf > pulation run from the pump to the well , _*&**»* with feverish anxiety the p lay of the former , and na effects on the Utter . After four hours' labour , which no obstacle could _oiewoae or even _mmuran , the order to desist is given by the engineer . _^ ine water-mark had been lowered five feet , and tms result , which surpassed the most sanguine expectations of the workmen themselves , was received with uproarious acclamations by the assembled multitude

      . . ...... _ .. On the morrow , the dawn had no sooner lightened the Sierra-Morena than cr ies of joy and Bhouts et merriment were yet to be distinguished , together * ith English and Spanish songs commingled and confined . . _

      Public Meetings. . ; , The Wrongs Of Ire...

      _PUBLIC MEETINGS . . ; , THE _WRONGS OF IRELAND .. " A public meeting wan held at the Literary and Scientific Institution , Jom . " -8 treet > Fitzroy-square , on the above subject , on Wednesday evening , February 14 th . Sfr . " Utthiff was _unanu- 10 us 1 y called to the chair . Sir . M ' Grath read and moved the resolution as follows :-- ' « That in the opinion of this meeting , the agricultural , mineral , marine , and othei' resources of Ireland , if properly developed and _directed _, are more than sufficient for the maintenance in plenty , comfort , and independence of her entire population . That the mismanagement of Ireland _is-a frievous source of injury and oppression to the _laouriiM- and artisan classes of England . We'thorefore cafi upon Parliament now assembled , to devise

      practical industrial remedies forthe employment of the population , and to abandon , now and for ever , their perverse , coercive , and unstatesmanlike policy towards that unhappy . country . " Mr M'Grath said the resolution contained some important points . The committee had thought the Irish question a most important one ; and scarce a newspaper in either England , Ireland , or Scotland , was there , but was endeavouring at thc present time to solve the Irish _difficulty , but i _$ was beyond their capability ; and he believed it" must go * to other' heads than those of Sir George Grey , Lord John Russell ;' or Sir John Jervis—he believed it never would be effectually solved until the great mass of English _^ men and Irishmen were represented—in fact it must be a parliament , of the whole ueoDle that must

      solve it . No country on the face of the earth was so badly off as Ireland . Ministers admitted that thousands of her people were daily perishing ; yet waslreland _' peculiarly blessed by providence ? ' She had . the noblest harbours—the most spacious mines and the finest mineral productions—the great ' want was a ministry that could and would . apply those blessings to her children . ( Loud cheers . ) You have had the Queen's Speech , you have had the Minister ' s proposition ; what is it ? Why a miserable dole of £ 50 , 000 . True , it bore a semblance of philanthropy . on ita face , but even this was accompanied by _another measure . A y , Whigs were never in office but they exercised their penchant for coercion . ( Hear , hear . ) Last year we saw them invest Lord Clarendon

      with extraordinary powers , making him complete autocrat of Ireland ; but the ori ginal period of . his autocratie rule having nearly expired , the merciless Whigs proposed . to extend it . Mr . _M'Gi-a ' th here entered into an eloquent , description of the atrocious Whignieasure , showing that the patriot _O'Higgins , or any person else , could be locked up ii will , and when they were pleased to release them , no redress—no rendering any account—no , for they were never brought to trial ; and : the Lord-Lieutenant had exercised this power pretty freely , having arrested not less that one hundred and twenty persons . ( Shame , shame . ) It is astonishing with

      what" celerity such measures are passed , but when a bill is required for the benefit of the people , how slowly does it drag its fength along — how long , before it assumes a shape and form . What occasion for coercive measures exists at the present time ? Ireland is remarkably quiet—perfectly calm . When the hot blood of Young Ireland was pouring : forth its enthusiastic eloquence , it might be feigned as an exeuse , but now the . stillness of death prevails . Yet strange though it may appear , the . Humes , the Colonel Thompsons ,: the _Iawrence Heyworths , '—yes that Lawrence Heyworth , who ' atJDerby , pledged himself to support everything ai

      tn ; was good , liberal , 'anu just , and to offer opposition to all that was dppressive , illiberal-,, and tyrannical—and that Colonel Thompson , who was one ofthe six members who . si ned his name to the People ' s Charter , when it was first propose ,- ! supported the Whigs in their nefarious careerbut the constituency of Bradford would not forget his vote . Joseph Hume made one of the most incongruous and tyrannical speeches ever heard , denying the ri ght of any agitation existing in' Ireland ; out , surely , if agitation was good'for England it must be equally beneficial for Ireland ; and-it wouldbe our duty , when Mr . 'HumO ' appeared at a public - Keeling , -to ask-him -wh y he ao acted ? ( Loud cheers . ) . We-are told the Irish . ire indisposed to labour—that they are idle ; but he looked on this as

      the foulest , blackest calumny : Why you will find Irishmen in this metropolis doing tho heaviest , dir tiest work , in order to obtain a livelihood ; and they Were equally willing in their own native land . Waste lands abounded in Ireland ; it was said they were the property of the aristocracy ; but suppose it was so , was that any reason the people should starve 1 Five million acres of waste land _ would employ at least one million of persons ; and if this five million acres was let at a moderate rental , it would raise a fund sufficient to reclaim the whole waste lands , and ultimately raise such a revenue as would enable the ministers to remit the whole taxation of Ireland . ( Loudcheers . ) Ireland was now . forced down beyond degradation point . ' A wise statesman would endeavour to elevate her by the

      adoption of a system that would ensure prosperity and happiness to the whole of her sons ; but , alas J her aristocratic progenitors were mere adventurers ~ old soldiers—and their sons acted as became the wisdom of their sires . ( Laughter and loud applause . ) He thought the better way would be to repeal the Act of Union , sis this would give the ' absentees an interest in returning and residing on their native soil . Ireland had another curse—her Church Establishment . It was monstrous to make a person pay for a religion which he deemed false ,, but he had no hope of a remedy being found until such time as Englishmen and Irishmen had the means of returning better men to parliament than your class of Humes and Thompsons . The resolution spoke of sending

      labourers over here . Of course , if tbere was a surplus of hands in . Ireland , it was natural that thoy should come here in quest of employ , which must depreciate the value of labour in the English market , and thus was the labourer of England made a sufferer by Irish misery . The remedy was evenhanded justice to all : then would Irishmen be elevated in the scale of society , and Ireland be no longer a mere sea-bound dungeon—a monster penitentiary , with a Clarendon for its gaoler , ( Great applause ; ) Again he said , let justice he done ; then misery and squalid wretchedness shall disappear , serfs be no more known , and the land shall be covered with happy homes , and Ireland be a nation of freemen . ( Great _. applausc . ) Mr . _SStallwoOd , in a neat brief speech , seconded

      the resolution . ' The Chairman said , the resolution which had beep , so very ably moved and seconded , had his full concurrence . Itwas then put , and carried unanimously ? Mr . Thomas Clark came forward amidst considerable applause , and said Ireland had called forth long discussions and-much ability . Sir George Grey had spoken a long time , and managed to saynothing . ( Loud laughter . ) Sir George Grey liijd been all the . way to Sew York for a letter ( M'Ghce ' _s ) , on which letter he had founded' his reason for an extension of the Coercion Bill . He ( Mr . Clark ) thought that he might have found something better at New Tork than a mere letter—their system of government , for instance . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Stallwood had alluded td John O'Connell , but he also was but a miniature of Daniel , and was " used up , " —( Laughter )—and he ( Mr . Clark ) was like Sir Charles Coldstream , for he really could see " _nothing in him : " at best , he only represented the

      bigotry of Ireland . Speaking of the parliamentary session , the letter he should do himself tlie pleasure of reading to them , would . _show that their meetings did not end in mere words . It waa from Lord Dudley Stuart , who had presented the petition agreed to at , our last meeting . It was as follows : — House of Commons , Friday , Feb . 9 th , 1819 , . Sb , —I hare just presented the petition , agreed to at the ' meeting in John-street , which you intrusted to me . It ; f sagainst the rules of the houso to read any part of a petition _, except the prayer ; but I took care to state , very fully , the substance of the views and arguments of the petition ,, and I am enabled to inform you that it created a good dealj of interest amongstthe members present , some of whom , — - particularly the chief commissioner of the Poor Laws , air- ' , Baines , who haa just tAen the - Boater-expressed their _sttasfactiou tliat I had placed the petition so fully befi-re _" theflouse . It is to be printed . . : ¦ ::. . I am , Sir , yours faithfully , To Mr . "W . Dixon . Dudlet _Cootis _Skak .

      Mr . _Ci-ark then read ana moved the foiio-tring _petfcion : — . TO THE _HOI-OUEABIil- THE _COMMONS OF CHEAT BMTAn * A 3 U >

      1 BELAND IN PABLIAMENT ASSEMBLED . . _£ ., The petition of the inhabitants of the parish of St . . iancras , in the borough of Marylebone , iu public meeting assembled , this 13 th day of February , 1849 . ' V Sheweth _, —That your petitioners have heard with _teeiings of alarm and indignation that a bill for the further suspension ofthe Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland , to continue in operation for six months after the expiration of the present aet has passed a second time through your honourable House . . That your petitioners have lon » deplored the coercive character of the legislation which your honourable House has pursued towards the people of that unhappy country , and lament that , although the gross inefliciency of former coercive measures has been fully demonstrated that your honourable House is not yet alive to the folly and wicKeuneas of such a mode of maintaining the " n _* i * d sway ot Britain in what , as in bitter mockery , is called the sister

      island . That vour _petitionere . are of _oiiinioti thatthe reasons •\ _sgfened by her Majes ty-- Ministers for thus infflctan-rjip-. iltffe neoDle of Ireland a longer deprivation of the _righted of Z Sta , are q _* te _JW _*^^ _iQ-iatigfactorvonlv by a House of Commons more suuservfenl to ? K _* l of « . e c ro _«* n than conservative ofthe _^ tt-i _* _Sn « s hare also to comp lain of _thede-¥ ] f , _KTMinisters for ah addi tional advance * hem , for . _ifJ _* n ? _fn-hicli appear to your petitioners to be no sympathy , ami _v . ' _^_^^_ -ix _ _( the . dominant classes _w J _™ , r- _X fora _atrongly recommend to the _SS _^^ h on _ombfe _Housel-le P _^ _SftdS _S toW any krth « sums of mQm ™* * _*¦*

      Public Meetings. . ; , The Wrongs Of Ire...

      _repSe _/^ SJ' P _^ _fs . ' seeing that , its coffers -an be _^ _ah-eS to _^ _ch _'"'" _^ _' _^^^^^^ _"Slnn-J . _^ _ho _Qfyom-houonrett ; 1011 _™ thc tax-imposing spirit _IrelandSS _^? _ f uot _* f * to grant money to of their tusSd ftllow _? V atllJ' with tlie -Nn" **""* empire , burbecau set \ _^ V _«?» ' l ' e « U 1 ? fflt _* m oftlie plied asa _pSf _wU ? f ! n _m 1 aU s , M ; h _^ mts - _andnl > _- _^ V _^ c _^^ F _^^^

      duties of . propert- f" hav * been , performed ta _SSaS 1 our petitaonershave observed at , all times , a _aadtoS ™ the part of your honourable House , to add to tiie Sf and ferocity of the law , in vindication ofthe " rfchtsof nm . perty" m thut oountry , _againsttbe depredations _* of _K but your petitioners have not in a solitary _mstance _Witl nessed the same alacrity to defend the starviw : ' and wretched-pew , fi _* om the . cruel and murderous attacks _wlucli have been nude upon them by the _i-jcb , in their ruinous and desolating management of the land of Ireland -to Much management aud the _mis-government of vour ¦ _wnttUMb le House are traceable , nearly all those social anomalies and evils which make Ireland wretched , and _wnicn reflect shame and dishonour on the name of En"

      t i _^ 001 . Petitioners are of opinion tliat the poor of _n-ejaim do not want the charity of your hoiWurable House , v l ? wc honourable House persists in-regarding _vourseit as the most competent judge in the affairs of another nation , jour pet _* . tio _* Mvs _WH _* la submit to jour honourable House the following facts , upon which thev pray _voiuj _^ y _^ / . _*; House t 0 commence immediate und . practical » mi ™ ~ _7 } s t Ire -andis a country abounding in mineral _„! . L ? S , (' _Pul < " productions , and is intersected bv important 0 p . _v-viiluable navigable rivers . ¦ «; _h , nt ' « TJ hat 1 _™ land . _BeosraphicaUy _, is most admirably Situated tor conducting extensive commercial transactions , _^ nPn _^ tT , _^ , bays a » d _-- _* _rbour S , is . capable . of affording _/^ quailed shelter to a mercantile naw . _t _^' i'iT i , ' eland has immense fisheries , which ought pulation Ut _^ P _- *™ - _* huge numbers of tlie po-4 th . —That the Irish people are proverbial for their genius at Home , and never-tiring industry abroad , and that under circumstances where labour is rewarded at _anytlung like a remunerative rate , Irishmen ' generally distinguish themselves m the van of toilers .

      . _oth . —That the return of the Savings Banks of Ireland Show a large amount of providence and economy , as well as the existence of considerable capital in tliat country , as well as industry to produce it . ¦ _et _) i . —That the foregoing facts prove that what Ireland requires is neither a Suspended Constitution , Coercion Bill , orCharity ; but simply a proper application of her great resources ; -, and a good and . wise government to superintend jnd . protect them ; and shpuld your honourable House not feel yoUr _^ lf included in such description of a government and _ijljeaual _, as ; ypar petitioners believe you to be , to amalgamate the _Ulinritable resources of Ireland , so as to-make

      • tliatpeoi'le . happy , it is the sincere and earnest desire of vour petitioners that your honourable House should forthwith cease to administer the affairs of Ireland altogether and allow the people of that country to possess the government . of themselves ; but should your _honourableHousedisvegiu'd the prayer of your petitioners , and still continue to exercise the _itomiml functions ofa government in Ireland , your petitidhers pray that in any future coercion which the wisdom of your honourable House may devise , the murder of the poor may be made an offence indictable at Law . ' And your petitioners , as in duty bound , will ever pray , & c . ( Signed on behalf ofthe meeting ) , ' Chas . _Utt-sc , Chairman .

      He would not recommend the . petition for the modesty of its tone , but for . the forcibleness , of its _tyuths . ( Loudcheers . ) He . believed that Ireland and . Irishmen were capable .. of improvement , and obly waited for a ministry who were capable of _performing-so desirable an object . Mr . Bateman liad objected to Mr . Bright , as- an improper person to seyvcon a committee connected with Irish . Poor laws , on the .. ground that he was a mere Manchester , delegate ; now he '( Mr . : Clark ) thought thilt as Manchester Was peculiarly _aftected by the ¦ inundation of Irish pauperism , that a Manchester representative was a most , fit and proper person to be on such a committee ,., and for once so thought Sir George Grey ,, and administered a wellmerited castfeation . to the lion , member foi'

      Londonderryaccordin ' gly . ( Hear , hear . ) Ml ' . Poulett Scrope had written several letters to the Morning Chronicle , jn all of which he pointed to the waste lands of Jvcland as a desirable means of employing the poor . _ilr _.-Orattan -had asked Lord John , why lie had uot propounded his remedial measures for Ireland ? He ( Mr . Olark ) replied—because Lord __ John had none . . ( Hear , hear . ) He said , ' . let the union between the two nations ' be a reality or a mllliiy . ' ( Cheers . ) Ho was liapp >* to find that thc minority on the 'Coercion' Bill 1 : had _increased _.- _^ hoar , hear )—and that the name of John Bright appeared amongst them . He did . not think it strange that Ireland was not agitated , when he remembered Where O'Brien , Meagher , and Mitchel were . ( Hear , ' - ' hear . ) Lord John had discovered what Chisholm . Anstey could

      not discover , namely , that Chartism was killed—but ho thought that Lord John woulddiscover before long that Chartism was so robust that it would eome into their honourable House . ( Loudcheers . ) Oh , but Englishmen say tbey owe Ireland nothing . Have not your literature , your arts , and your goienoos been enriched by the sons ofthe emerald isle ' ? Have we . not poured forth our libations , to Liberty ' s shrine ? Witness our Wolfe Tones—our Fitzgeraids —our Enimetts—our imprisoned O'Briens—and our-banished Mitchels . ( -Loud cheering . ) In every way we are . equals ; our rights and liberties are the same—then let us pull together , and secure the rights and freedom for all . ( Great , cheering . ) 'Mr . Gill , in _seconding the adoption of the petition said , he liad traced the history of Ireland , from

      the time the second Henry first placed his foot in that unhappy country .: he had read of pitch-caps in the reign of Elizabeth being placed upon the heads of devoted Catholics , and then set on fire tthtiltho molten pitch destroyed its victims—of the cold-blooded murders and monstrosities of Strafford , aiid of the hardship endured by tho poorer classes ever since this country had had tho rule in Ireland ; but never did he . hear or read of such misery as that wliich prevailed in 1847 , when a million of human beings'perished of starvation . In the spring of last year , when the people were goaded to desperation by tho recollection of the past , the only remedy for her woes was a Coercion Bill ,, Despots in all ages had made a rod for themselves ; and thc Irish landlords , who asked for the Coercion Bill , were now in a condition but little better than those

      for whom they asked it ; there was no one now to till the ground ; instead of paying - their rents , the small Farmers , wore emigrating to America , and the landlords could not dig , though to beg they were not : " ashamed .. It had been truly observed , that 'Irishmen would travel from eid to end of the globe in search of employ , and live iipon the coarsest food . In' Merthyr T y dvil , able bodied Irishmen were offering themselves as labourers for sixpence a day , . but- falling in getting employment , their naked and famishing children would greedily eat on the spot , the diseased potatoes thrown away from the provision stores , which were _luiifit for the pigs . He ' ( Mr . Gill ) , warned the working classes of this country , _thatdreland would bring down England to her

      level . A nation of paupers could not exist . Starvation , was alveady at our doors , and "it was the interest * of every working man to do his utmost to obtain a full measure of justice for that unhappy and misgoverned land . - He ' ¦ fully concurred in the last paragraph of the petition , that the murder of . the poor should be made an-indictable offence . If this were so , andthe rich . were made responsible , we should hear very little more of deaths by famine . ( Loud cheers . ) The " petition was unanimously adopted ; and on the motion of Messrs . Stallwood and Arott , ordered to be signed hy the Chair-nan , and transmitted to Ralph Beriial Osborne , member for the county , for presentation" A vote of thanks was given to the Chairman and tho meeting separated . .

      Universal Sufi'ltauls Tklumi-Hajvt. An I...

      UNIVERSAL SUFi'ltAUlS _TKlUMi-HAJVT . An immense meeting of the inhabitants of St . Luke ' s , Middlesex , took place on Wednesday evening , in . the National School , Cowper-street , Cityroad . Mr . G . Thompson , M . P ., having been called to the chair , observed that he was fully convinced of the necessity of the objects of Financial Reform being parried into effect ; but hs thougkt it chimerical to _lupppsetbat any _reduction of the public expenditure could bo obtained from the present House of Commons . He , however , would exert his most strenuous efforts to obtain the accomplishment _« f their wishes .

      ' ,. A resolution , in _eonformit-f . with the notice convening the meeting , having been agreed to unanimously ,. Mr . D . Wire proposed : — " That although a combined effort throughout the country may and will succeed in effecting a large _rt Jut tion in the public burdens ; yet experience has shown that economy will not become the rule . of government ,, nor the necessity for continued ag itation be done away with , until the taxpayers obtain a more direct and complete control over tho House bf Commons , hy the amendment of our system of representation . This meeting , therefore , p ledges itself to the constant advocacy of the principles of Parliamentary and

      Financial Reform , vifc' ., the Extension of the . Suffrage , Vote by Ballot , Triennial Parliaments , Equal Electoral Districts , founded 09 the basis of population ; the adoption of a simple " and suitable system of taxation ; extensive reduction of the national expenditure " ; ' the abolition of sinecures , and-the abatementof pensions ; andto . supporfc all practiitablc measures for their , . accomplishment , by petition to the , Legislature ,, and otherwise to advance the Reform Movement . "'" _•'" ' ' ' The mover believed there- was aii unanimity-of feeling between the middle and working glasses , which hfr thought would be attended with favourable results .-.,.. _.,. ,, Mr . Palliser seconded the resolution .

      . Mr . Ouitram , a member " of the St . _XufeRefoi'ih Association , and one of the _conftmers of the _meetihgi- than- stood _forward , and said that he could- not * _support the resolution in its present vague and undefined form . He was in . favoiir of toiling the world in plain language _whs _^ t they meant . "He would not _teapWtvtotfce praotice _oftf _& w ' afen . The-people

      Universal Sufi'ltauls Tklumi-Hajvt. An I...

      were disgusted with such-tactics in agitation . If their principles were just , why . shrink from their definition ? Mr . Outtram concluded a brief , but manly and independent speech , by proposing as an amendment , that thc words "Manhood Suffrage " be substituted for the words "Extension ofthe Suffrage . " Mr . Howard seconded the amendment , amid the hearty cheers ofthe immense assemblage . Some altercation here took place among the gentlemen upon tho platform , as to the propriety of the course taken bv Mr . Outtram , ho being a member ofthe committee that drew up the resolutions , when

      Mr . _Oottram said that he submitted the same amendment to the committee , ' when it was lost by a m ajority of one . Mr . _M'Ghath being upon , the platform , was loudly called for from all parts' of tho meeting . Ho said that he thought the amendment , infinitely preferable to . the original resolution , because it set forth in unmistakeable language , t' _-ie opinion of tlie meeting oh the Suffrage question . The time had come -when reformers to be respected and trusted by the people , must eschew reservation and equivocation . Those were devices unworthy the advocates of political justice tb the millions ; and altogether incongruous with the frank and open character ofthe British Doonle . Ever ** ono of the

      speakers that he had heard could support Mr . Outtram ' s amendment ; for they supported the same Suffrage principle therein embodied . The amendment had the superior merit of clearly saying what the resolution vaguely meant , ahd had therefore a stronger claim tothe adoptionof the mooting . , Two other speakers expressed themselves amid much disapprobation in favour of the ambiguous policy . When the chairman put the amendment to the vote a dense mass pf hands was immediately exhibited ; he then put the originalresolution , when some six or seven hands were held up , the members of the committee on the -platform

      even declining to vote . The result was ' hailed with tho warmest _cheoring . . The Chairman then said that he refrained up to that moment from expressing an opinion upon the matter in dispute . Hewoul * _* , however , do so now , and his solemn opinion was that the meeting had done what was ri ht . It was all very well for a few members of parliament to meet . ind agree among themselves to go for a diluted or minor measure of reform , but with the people the case was very different . His advice was , that they should not abate one tittle of their just demands . They should not iowertheir Sag a single inch . They should satisfy their

      consciences as to what wore the demands ' of ., eternal justice , and allow no consideration to divert their attention from them . Whether in or out of Parliament , he should be found the friend of full political justice to the millions . A petition in accordance with the amendment was then adopted , and sent to Mr . Wakley for presentation to Parliament . Thc chairman then recommended to the committee to consider seriously the vote of that immense meeting , which Mr . Palliser promised should be attended to . After an enthusiastic vote of thanks to the chairman , the meeting disolved .

      Violation Op The Ten Hours Factor? Act. ...

      VIOLATION OP THE TEN HOURS FACTOR ? ACT . Asutos-usdbr-IiYxe . —On Thursday week a public meeting of factory operatives was held in the large room , Town Hall , on the subjeet of the relay system , violation ofthe Ten Hours Act by the masters , and in favour ofthe adoption of a uniform system of working ten hours a day . Mr . Richard Oastlerwas presentatthemeeting , which was densely crowded . Many hundreds of persons remained outside , being unable to find standing room in the hall _.

      Edward Darwen ( a factory operative ) was unanimously called to thc chair . \ ± . _- _ . John Hill ( factory Operative ) , moved the first resolution , which was as follows : — " That this meeting expresses its deliberate conviction that the violation of the Factory Act in these districts is _flagrant and notorious , and has been the fruitful cause of evil by disuniting thoso whose interests are identical , and bv creating a feeling , _ofdissatisfaction and discontent which must , ultimately , if persisted in , lead to thc most melancholy and perilous results . " ....

      Joseph _Epwobth ( factory operative ) seconded the resolution . ' , , ,. Mr . Oastler , on rising to support the resolution , was received with loud and long-continued cheers . He was summone to Manchester by his old Inond , their representative in Parliament , Mr . _Ltiarlos Hindlev . ( Hear , hear . ) Ho obeyed that summons . ( Hear , ' hear . ) He heard that the law was violated , and he went to Manchester toinquire if it were so , and if it were' so , why was it so ? He did not find the rebels in Manchester-amongst the operatives , he did not find the rebels amonst the shopkeepers , he did not find the rebels amongst the ministers of religion of any sect or party . No . He did not find _thatthft mill-owners were all of them rebels , but

      he found that the bench of magistrates of Manchester , although headed by a loyal sub j ect of the Queen had , in defiance of his ( Mr . . Maude ' s ) explanation of the law , in defiance of the explanation ofthe law bv the Attorney-General and Solicitor-General—in defiance of the exp _lanation of the law by their ( the _magistrates ) own clerks—that tho magistrates of Manchester had themselves rebelled against the law . ( Hear , hear . ) Whilst he was in Manchester he received a letter from his old friend , Mr . Luke Swallow , telling him that the factory lads of Ashton wanted to mc'et their old king at a tea party , and lie told him ( Mr . ' Swallow ) that if ho would collect them together , he ( Mr . Oastler ) would come and seo them . That , then , was the reason why he

      was there that night at their _ovro hiddmg-mvited from his home to Manchester by their own representative . They had petitioned for years and years again for that law ; at last they had got it , and if they liked it , let them hold-up their hands like men , and if they did not let them keep thein down . ( A forest of hands was immediately displayed , amidst vehement cheering . ) . Sincehe was there last , thev had had strange times . They had , indeed , alarmed them all ih London ; they had had an outbreak . ( Hoar , hear . ) - That outbreak , as he understood , was caused originally by the want of bread —( hear ,. hear)—and the . ministerial office of the magistrate was used to put that outbreak down . Now . all that he wished to remark oil the subject

      at present was , that if there were laws to put the people down when hunger urged them to break thc law , there must be power to put the magistrates down from the bench when they became the breakers of the law . ( Cheers . ) He had had , since he came down to Manchester , conversations with the law gentleman who represented government in the late cases before tlie magistrates at Manchester , and the first suggestion that he ( Mr . O . ) made to him Was—" Why , sir , we must apply to parliament to have a stronger clause inserted than the one which the magistrates now overrate , so that there _taay he no mistake hereafter . " His friend ' s answer was and he hoped this answer would go to the ears of the law-officers of the crown and to her Majesty , —

      •« Mr . Oastler , it is impossible for any wows w ue more explicit than the words ' of that clause—they were put into that act for the express purpose by Sir James Graham , and the English language does not possess words which could make it more demonstrative . ( Hear , hear . ) But . the fact was , the magistrates would not havo it so . " If we were to have a free trade in bones , sinews , and flesh , and U they were to despise the law that protected property , he wondered whether the hands in the mill or the magistrates on the bench would stand the chance of , suffering the greatest loss . But let them see whether there were not other laws broken . The law to which ho referred was the New Poor _. Law—he did not « like it , but it was the law of tho land . He had

      been told that it was the habit now m Ashton to eke out the wages of the people who . _woAftd in factories by payments out of the pockets of the ratepayers . ( Cries of " That ' s true , " that ' s correct . " ) That ' s true , was it % ( Cries of " Yes . " ) Well , it was not so before the introduction of the New Poor law . ( Hear . ) It seemed , then , that th < _'Aotory iDU _, rest itself , a mighty interest which then overruled every other interest in this _csuntry , . could not crawl _alono- without going on its crutches tothe poor-box , and asking the ratepayers to eke out the wages for thc work done in thc mills . ( Hear , hear . ) He should like Lord Brougham to hear that—that would brino- him down in the House of Lords with a vengeance on the factory - " pasters . Well ,

      there was another law which required the factory masters to pay their workpeople what they atrreed for week by week inthe coin ofthe realm . " Now , he would ask them , and let them be careful how they answered . —Did their masters- regularly pay their wages in the coin of the realm to the amount due , on the Saturday night ? Did they or did they not ? - ( Cries . of " No . " ) They kept something back for the rents- ( " Yes , yes ; " a voice , iiiflk" )—and fines —( a voice , " - " yes , and moat , another voice ; " and for cheese *? ' ) Well _. nOW , that -was breaking the law , and it ought not to be . Mr . WW then commented at . great length upon

      Baron Alderson * - * speech at the Chester Assizes , and after having stated the duties of the rich to their poorer ' brethren said , ho should like to _knowhow the poor _labourk-g man , forced to rise long before the sun and to -work long after sun-set , with only brief intervals of rest during the day , and only half food , and part of that eked out of the tills of those for whom he was not' working _. —he should like to know howtha ' _iman could have his body , mind , or soul in a healthy state , to aspire after the worship of his God , to give the first fruits of his life to the Author of hi ? , being—it was utterly impossible . ( Hear , hear . ) The law of man had been laughed to scorn and , trampled upon often ' on'that bench where he

      Violation Op The Ten Hours Factor? Act. ...

      then stood . —Oh j . that he eotiM loach the in-avts of an _tlielactory masters and factory operatives , and d ( ? £ t i M and P ° o" « _-re sunk under tho idea that this world was only a firfd in whieh tn _iT _^^ _Xtl _^* to ea t _' _and ace _,, _, ° - latc . ( Heap . ) At the request of -Mr , Oastler , tho the i / _. V g s Bun ' rfV" f llent _^ _^ it _-o-m _i-. ' jJinn } _"ghani , on the Ton Hours Bill , which was receive" ! with loud _chee rs Mr . Oastler then resumed his address * . He " ™ ' membered when that neighbourhood was no ** like what it was then , and he remetsbered that it was » very happy , decently condueted neighuoiru hood m his boyhood . Since then it had _srown up into what they saw it , and lie *** as about tr

      ask them a few questions , not onl y for his own information , hut aa he saw geivtlemen of the press kindly taking notes of what ho said , hewas about to ask them some very serious * questions ; . Now , had they got comfortable homes ? ( pries of " No , " aud a voice , " Some have no homes ?' - 'j ¦ ' Had ) they got healthy laibour ! ( "No , no . " ) Had they g _« t good wages ? ( "No , no . " ) Had they got regular and certain employment ? ( " No , no . ' ) . Had they got clothes- enough for their wives and ' - children ? ( " No , no i' voices , " There are very many without shirt * j "Tlie clothes are all at _thopop * - sho *>„ " ) Had they food enough ? ( "No , no , " and a voieo , "Some not above a meal a day . " ) Had 1 they decent furniture i ( "No . " ) Had they time to walk about at proper periods in the niorninsrafid

      evening ? ( "No . Had the father timo in tlie morning to assemble tlie wife and the cliildren in order tbat a prayer mi ght _beoifered up to _Almighty-Ood for a blessing on the day ' s Labour * ( " No . " ) Had thoy time and strength in an evening to assemble their families around the family altar to thanks God for tlie blessings ofthe day , and to pray toliim to take care of them during the ni ght ? ( " No , " and ' a voice , "Our hearts are broken with working . " ) .-Then as to the Sundays—how did tlie people generally spend their Sundays in these districts ? ( A voice , " Some cowering at home , some in bed , and some in cleaning the macbinery . ") Well , then , there was another law broken . They had had already three laws broken—the factorv , " the truck and the poor laws , and now thev told him that on

      Sundays some of them were emploved in cleanin _** _- the machinery—was that true ? ( " Cries of " Ye _£ yes . " ] Then was also broken the law against Sabbath breaking , not only the law of man , but the Divmo law . Were they robust and healthv—he did not ask how they looked ? ( ' No , we are sickly consumptive . " ) Was the bond of union , thc svmpathotic feeling of love from heart to heart , and Irom class to class—brotherly love—was that predominant amongst them ? ( " No , no . " ) Were in :-. lice , hatred , and ill-will prevalent among tbem ' _- ! ( " res , _)* es . Wc are full of biid thought . ) What a condition of misery , destitution , and crime ! Such

      then is the result of the absolute dominion of thoso who demand to rule thismi ghtv empire ? Lot them bo careful ere they allowed that dominant faction which now attempted to lord it oyer them to hecomo thc lordsof God ' stieritage . ( Hear . ) Hewouldexhort all to do to others as they would that others should do to them . He would exhort his countrvmeii of every district to weigh the matter well over in their minds before they consented to give the sceptre of authority into thc hands of that power which hy their verdict that night was proved to be unworthy to reign over freemen . ( Loud cheers . ) The resolution was carried unanimously , a 3 was also the folio ' win sr —

      Moved hy Edward Kklly , seconded by Thomas _Jon . _vso . v , and supported by the llcverend J . _R . _Stepiiexs : — " Tliat in the opinion of this meeting it is of thc utmost importance that the executive government should exercise the power with which it is intrusted to vindicate the law , and thereby prove to the rich that they cannot commit injustice with impunity , aud demonstrate to the poor that the laws of England wero intended to afford them protection , security , and contentment ; and that this meeting resolves to give every support and

      _asaistaile- _* . to tue officers appointed by her Majesty s government to carry the Factories " Regulation Act into effect . " Mr . Stephens then addressed thc meoting , after which the following resolution was moved by Thomas Kknwokihy , and seconded by John Owen , factory operatives , and carried unanimously : — " That the best thanks of this meeting aro most earnestly given to Mr . Oastler and Mi : Stephens , for their long services on behalf of the factory operatives , and their continued exertions in the cause of justice and humanity . "

      Moved by Mr . George Johxsos , seconded by Mr . A . Swan * , and passed unanimously : — " That this meeting desires to show ita gratitude to Lord Ashley , Mi' . Hindley , and other gentlemen , who have supported the Ten Hours Bill , and return their public thanks for their long and persevering labours to tho cause of the factory operatives . " Tho meeting continued crowded to its close , at eleven o clock , when tho people quietly retired .

      Axti-State Cnuncit Association.—A Meotin...

      Axti-State _Cnuncit Association . —A meoting of the members of this association was held on Tuesday evening , at the Lecture Koom , -Suffolk-street , Borough , * Apsley Pollatt , Esq ., in tho chair . Tho Rev . W . 11 . Bonner proposed the first resolution : — " That the union between Church and State in this country is productive of almost insuperable obstacles to the diffusion of Christianity " among all classes , and more especially among tKe masses of our working population . " The resolution w . is carried without a dissentient . —Mi * . J . Thwaitos moved the next resolution : — " That in this ,. as in other countries , the endowment of reli gion by tlie Stato is , politically , socially , and financially , an intolerable evil , therefore tliis meeting rejoices in the rapid progress of the principles advocated bv the British

      Anti-State Church Association , and desires to express its unqualified admiration of the courageous , upright , and self-denying course reoently taken by the Hon . Baptist Noel , in seceding from the Church , as by law established in this country . "—Mr . G . Izod seconded tlie resolution , which was passed unanimously ; and thanks having been voted to tho Chairman , the meeting separated . Repeal op the Malt Tax . —Meeting ot AemcuLTURisTS at Battle . —On Tuesday , a . meeting , convened by requisition of a number of the malt and hop growers and leading agriculturists in East Sussex , was held at tho George Inn , Battle , for the pumose of considering the propriety of adopting measures to procure the repeal of the malt duty , and in support ofthe financial reform movement .

      Tlie meeting was numerously attended , and comprised several ofthe landowners ofthe district , but was composed mainly of farmers . On the motion of H . M . Curteis , Esq . M . l \ , J . V . Shelly , Esq . was called to tho chair . —Major Curteis moved tho following resolution , which was seconded by Mr . Selmcs , and carried - . —" That the malt- tax- is unjust in principle and oppressive in operation ; that it possesses all the elements of a bad tax ; and that it is peculiarl y oppressive on the industrious classes , inasmuch as it is a tax on an article of daily consumption * , and that it is unjust to thc -tanners , thc demand for whose produce is greatl _y limited , not only by the decreased consumption of beer but by the re striotionj imposed hy tho malt duty in the feedih-r of cattle . —Mr . T . Smith moved a

      resolution condemnatory of the hop duty ,: which was seconded bv Mr . Noakes , and carried . —Mr . J . Smith stated that he was a free trader ; but when they liad free trade the farmers were entitled to tree trade at home , to grow what they pleased , and use it as they pleased ; and he moved a resolution to that effect . —Mr . Orton seconded , and the Rev . Mr . Image supported the resolution , which was earned . —Mr . Reeves moved , " That this meeting declares their willingness to co-operate with all classes and associations who are friendly to the views expressed inthe foregoing resolutions . "—A resolution was passed tbat a requisition be signed , calling upon tbe nigh sheriff to convene a county meeting , to take the foregoing resolutions into consideration : A vote of thanks to the chairman closed the proceedings :

      DfiOt / _El ' s _CniLD-PARMIAO ESTABLISHMENT . —A . public meeting was held on Wednesday evening , at the Literary _Inr-titutiun _* Edward-street , SurtWHi . « qu- « e , to _con-wter the lamentable d « tre « tion of human life at Drouet ' s ettablishmdnt at footing , and the reprehensible _conduct of thc _boavd-jJif guardians and the Pcor Law board . Mr . A . W : Hoggins in the chair . —The Chairman _eonsidercU that _sufficient evidence had teen adduced at the ift _»* _-test on thechildren who had died at Mr . Droiiet' _3-estabHshment , to show that the _guardians of the unions to which these _chi'dren had belonged were culpable in the _hii-hest dog * eo , ami he thought _thsi some steps should be forthwith taken to prevent tho recumnce of such scenes as those recent y witnessed at Tooting . Mr . Char ' . es Cochian _* moved tlie first resolutu n : —

      " That from the painful disclosures eonnected witn the awful destruction of lite at the _cMld-fa-mini ? establishment at Tooting , from thejtnrj on the inqaest relating to tbe deaths of the innocents in question having returned a verdict of m . i _* aslaughtcr . against Mr .. Broue , and from the circumstances that the system under which the childsen's lives were destroyed has from time to time _ijaet with the approval of the guardians of the poor , and existed under the cognisance » nd sanction of tike Poor Law _fflommisaioners , this meeting _consistora the inhwaau treatment inflicted upon tho _/ e children to be inseparable from the spirit and _essentje of the

      New Poor Law , and that this law being repugnant to every feeliag of humanitv , and a monstrous and _finduriBg _violation , oi the decrees of our holy religion , ought to be utterly and . immediately abolished . " The resolution was secoaded and passed . —Mr . W . Carpenter moved , and Mr . Marsh seconded , a resolution to the effect that petitions should be presented to both Houses . of Parliament _fwr the abolition of tho New . Poor Law . Camed . --The third resolution , which gave the _thanhs of the meeting to Charles Lushington , Esq ., for presenting a petition ia the Houso of Commons respect og the . Tooting catastrophe ., \ % mg _^«» _W _** ' ™ meating separated ,

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 17, 1849, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_17021849/page/5/