Current:

Northern Star (1837-1852), 25th July 1846, Edition 3 of 3, Page 5, .-- _^ m —— maaMHtoft. a—^—— r^— j_*_mm ...

Page 5
Page 5
5 of 8

On this page

  • Text (3)
  • Transcript

    • Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.

      Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.

      Jolian Harnet Has Received For Mr. Frost...

      MANCHESTER . THE CHARTER . _Snndaj last was indeed a great day for _Mauchesx- Tor many years Manchester bas furnished more r _tan its fair share of victims to persecution . When _vSjcssness or apathy in other districts threatened he destruction of Chartism , when good "wages upon _flj 8 one hand , or terror of the capitalists npon the _njher _, were making ravages in onr party , Manchester _, 'ill held fast to tbe good old principle . Manchester never throughout the calm lost its staff or abandoned jts colours , and , however deserters and traitors may _jjjve succeeded in gulling the outposts , even the niequcts of Manchester were more than a match for

      th eir united jugglery , ihe _Uhartist children ol _Jfanckester have shown themselves capable of defeating a very strong combination of dissatisfied elements . Perhaps one of the most curious circumstances connected with Chartism , is tiie fact that throughout the long calm , and whatever foreign or internal dissensions threatened danger to onr cause , _Manchester was never without its council , its ruling body and wise directing power . It-was not wonderful that the bees who had thus laboured in the political vineyard , as well as in the industrious hive , should have sought that protection and certainty for the expression of their own opinions and the extension of their own principles in the independent pos session of a PLACE OF WORSHIP of their own "Nor is it to be lost sight of that execution promptly followed the design—that

      THEIR OWN HALL , ihe foundation stone of which was only laid on the 10 th of April , should have been ready for consecration on the 19 th of July . Such , however , was the case . On Sunday last a magnificent Chartist Hall was consecrated to the reli _g ious principles of Chartism—to the Christian doctrines of truth . Such an event as the opening _^ of a Chartist place of peetiBg anywhere wonld be looked npon with great interest , bnt in Manchester it absorbed all other thoughts .

      CONSECRATION OF THE HALL . Long before Hie hour of meeting ( two o ' clock ) the doors were beset by gronjs of persons from the country , who had arrived thos early for the purpose of insuring accommodation . Mr . Wheeler , president of the managing power , occupied the chair ex officio , and after having briefly announced the circumstances which led to the undertaking , and having shown the interest tbat thc working classes had in maintaining the edifice now that it was erected , he introduced Mr . R . Sheldon Chadwick , a mere youth , who read the following opening address , composed . bJ himself for the occasion : —

      Brethren and Friends—thrice welcome to this Dili , "Where friendship beckons , and where pleasures call ; "Where the bright fag of Liberty shall shed , lis heavenly signal o ' er the Patriot ' s head : Shield its defenders from the scathe of wrong , And guard this dome of _tfASOs , and of song , "While ye , whose hearts respond to aid onr cause , " _? And love the sacred splendour of our laws , Shall proudly see its glorious robes unfurl'd , lo crush the tjrant ' s power and humanize the world , $ Still . ' then , my friends , this Temple is to save , The humble poor from misery ' s loathsome grave : Beneath its roof applauding crowds shall hear The voice of tbdth , and give their grateful cheer , j And from the snares of tempting Bacchus tura _.

      To hear her dictates , and while hearing , bum > That snch a cause , with such a humble name , If ay win the path of glory unto fame ; £ aze on this _lonrl v _iabrlc ihen , and smile j So gift of princes here , bct MEN who think and toil "What is the object of our great design ? "What are the precepts of this hallowed shrine ! Is not its aim to elevate _manlond _, — Are the ; not choicest proverbs ofthe mind ; Is not the wise suggestion of its plan , To help fhe poor—protect fhe Bights of Man 1 Give then jour favours , and with smiles confest , Tou , too , shall share tbe transports of our breast , Join in the chorus which onr hearts shall rise , And to our ends and aims ascribe immortal praise _.

      Oft have they tried to frustrate and to end , Those rights divine , for which we all contend ; Oft hare they tried to crush the Patriots' _Same , Sack to the heart from whence its vigour came , Bnt they have fail'd- for principles so great , God has design _ed snail share a better fate . They stop our struggles 1 Say , they might as soon _Blindfold fhe snn , or darken the bright moon ; Than lower tiie flag , now to the witids unfurl'd , High : one small dew-drop quench a burning world Shall we refuse to shield the poor opprest , And baniih pity from the human breast , "When sucb as Cobbett , _Cartwright _, and Carlisle , "Whose pensive shades their vigils keep and smile ? "When such as these contended in their might ,

      To _spread abroad truth , liberty , and light , Shall we forsake the glorious end in view ? So . Bather will we still their works puisne ; Puisne them here , npon no tropbied stage , Bat where the noblest troths shall every heart engage . Upon this platform , Phoenix like shall rise , "Earth's proudest sons , to glad your eager eyes ; Proud ofthe system which they spread along , This land uf vile oppression , and of wrong : "Men , like O'Connor , Duncombe , and the rest , Who loves the cause which pities the distrest ; And others , too , of note , wbo think and toil , S'iii , still shall cheer yoa with their sweetest smile , Still shall behold your progress and adore , Those noble thoughts and deeds whicb help the suffering poor .

      Long may they flourish , since then God-like plan , Is still to love and help their fellow man . And shall I here forget , exiled from home _^ The tri p le _band o ' er ocean ' s _farzhestfoam , — Far from their wives and children , in a land "Where thraldom , _xnasacles , and despots stand ; The noble three whose hearts still beat and yearn , To know your efforts , meet a just return ; Oh ! may your hearts respond the Patriots'groans , And bring back to their homes , both "Williams , Frost , and Jones .

      Our chiefest aim is to protect the poor , And from _oppression shield each humble door ; Hence this fair fabric of industrious worth , "Wliere thought _maj give its zxoblesi actions "birlK . Are we not living in an age and clime , "Where knowledge makes its progress with fhe time , "Where fhe mechanic and the artizan , Con claim the highest designation , MA' S I Hear songs of freedom echo on the air , The antidote of grief , and sorrow , and despair . Let hope be yours , ye unassuming few , Great truths have conquerM , yours shall conquer too ; Bepatient , peaceful , in your lowly vale , _Bemember , truth must triumph and prevail , Think , think , nnd toil , and then amid yon woes , Perceived shall be the region of repose . That cause , those rights , a Hunt declared should win , Are still our minds , —your hearts enshrined within ; Go on and prosper , and you yet shall see , That God will help the weak , and freedom help the free

      Thus shall we learn as we creation scan , The worth of sou ' , the dignity of man , Aid the great precepts of our bumble cause , Protect our rights , and still defend our laws ; Xet the great watchword of our votaries be , Go on , and struggle , till mankind be free ! Free from the despot ' s dungeon , and his thrall , Till universal freedom waits on all , And like _EzefcieTs , reason ' s voice reveals , Thatmau discerns the spirit in its wheels . The reading of this address _£ _was received with deserved applause , after which the Chairman intro ueed

      Mr . Daxiel Ooxovax , who was received with warm and hearty cheering—lie said , that those who bad predicted the death of Chartism , would find themselves rather astonished had they the good fortune to witness its revival that day . The fact was that Chartism never was dead , and never intended to die —{ loud _cheersj- _^ until it had accomplished for the people , tbat which no other party would accord to them . There was one thing connected with Char & _JB , that no other ism could boast of—it was this , that at all times , and in all seasons , and all emergencies , it "knew which side ofthe house to sit . ( Loud cheers and laughter . ) Well , sure , that was something , when our only Champion in the House of Commons , Mr . Duncombe —( great cheering)—was obliged to

      ask Lord John which side of thc house he was to sit Bpon —( laughter )—as he , Mr . Duncombe , was in total ignorance ofthe principles which he might be called upon to support by the Whig leaders . There might be iome persons there who felt astonished at Mr . O'Connor ' s over-readiness to participate in Labour ' s endeavour to , emancipate itself from the thraldom ol eapital , and the inferiority imposed upon our class hy class legislation , but he was ( Mr . D . ) not astonished when he looked overthe pageof his country ' s history , and found that tbe ancestors of that gentleman were persecuted like wild beasts for their devotion to the same principles . ( Loud cheers . ) Yes , he had heard of tuck struggle from his father , and from old Irishmen of those days , and if they wanted confirmation ° f his statement , let them read Hone ' s political _fifgii'ter , and there they would find tbe torture , the

      persecution , and cruelty to which his ( Mr . O'Connor's ) neble father was exposed under the Reign of Terror of the bloody tyrant Castlereagh —( groans)—and let them _l-ead his [ Mr . O'Connor ' s ) father ' s ownlettere m defence of the very principles they were now advocating , when it was not only treason , but death to do so . From these authorities they would learn that Cnsttereagh permitted Mr . O'Connor ' s father tbe boon tf being brought from bis dungeon upon a handbarrow , for an hour into the gaol yard to see his wife , when tyranny had deprived him of the use of his limbs , bnt not ofthe nse of his senses . ( Lond cheers . ) More than that , he wonld find tbe name of tbat gentleman ' s father amongst the struggling Patriots of that dav ; he attended the Convention of United Irishmen held at Belfast , and declared himself in favour of every one of oar principles , except the ballot , observing that he would think himself de-

      Jolian Harnet Has Received For Mr. Frost...

      graded aa an Irishmany if he thought it possible that ; his countrymen in _possession of the other points , would require the ballot to protect them against tyranny . He thought his countrymen would consider ita greater honour to be allowed the free and open exercise of their political rights . ( _Lrnid cheers . ) lie was no eulogist of Mr . O'Connor , or any other man , bat he would ask that meeting if it could be considered man worship , or even flattery to speak the truth of his onuntrvman and their friend , when others wh <> were wholly ignorant ef those facts , bad entered into a foul conspiracy to malign him , and through him to injure our cause . ( Loud cheers . ) Ile owed a debt of gratitude to the O'Connor family , for bo well | remembered that when he was a child , he had frequently indulged himself by walking through their

      vast and beautiful dcmains , while it he had beeu found trespassing upon those of the neighbouring gentry , he might have been transported or perhaps _sh-, t . ( Gheers . ) He ( Mr . Donovan ) felt that he had but discharged his duty as a Chartist and a working man , bv proclaiming these facts , and he would now tell the meeting that there was but little ose in their cheers and huszabs for the . P _-j _* ssionofthat edifice , if they were not determined by their co-operation to support and defend its _^ possession . ( Cheers . ) It was working men solely tbat had reared that edifice , and while poverty _" _» _" *» f f { ° f the erection of such buildings as theFrce tradeIlall surely labour ought tohave some _^ pndem dnect . ng attention to itsown refuge What was there Labour

      . conidnot do if unanimous ? _Louk to thegumtscbe e proposed by - Mr . O'Connor for locating the working _claLs upon the land . ( Great cheering . ) See , notwithstanding tbat some differences ot opinion may exist , even between the best friends ol that institution , how the working classes were rallying round t > . e hope and resolved tbat it should succeed . ( Cheers . ) In conclusion , he had merely to observe that when the working classes were united , then it wonld be impossible for tyranny longer to resist their just demands . ( Cheers . ) Let tuem then begin to show their union by taking out shares in our new Hailthus securing for their principles and their order , a refuge and retreat from which their oppressurs could not dislodge them . ( Loud cheers . )

      Mr . O'Connor was next introduced , and was received with tremendous applause . lie said , —Mr . Chairman and brother ChartistB of Manehestir ; if _ris *! it ruled instead of might , it would bave fallen to the lot , to tbe proud lot , of soma right reverend father in God to have consecrated this holy edifice to the sacred principles of Faith , Hope , and Charity . ( Loud cheers . ) Can they deny that the principles of Chartism are such as would become a bishop to preach—or are they sucb as are calculated to dishonour the preacher ? For himself , ht- had always felt that it but required the working classes to understand that Charter was the fire , and the Land was the leg of mutton , in order to insure the co-operation of all in its accomplishment . ( Cheers . ) They must bear in mind , that with him the doctrines now accepted by millions were not of novel conception , but that he had advocated tbem at a time that their

      principles were little understood , and when the boon to be achieved by their success was a novelty . Those who heard and read his speeches iu 1835 , when he first established the present movement , would bear in mind , that he had told tbe working classes that tbe day of auction would come when Peel and Russell would respectively bid for popular support . Well _, was it not true , although these two _competitors bad only thonght it worth tkeir while to bid for the fa . vourof the constituent body . Tbe Anti-Corn Law League had marshalled its collective power , and straightway Peel went from monopoly to the sliding scale , when Russell came down to an 8 s . fixed duty . Peel then bid progressive Repeal , and Russell offered the total and immediate abolition . ( Loud cheers . ) Now , then , was it to be doubted tbat when

      the movement party was in an equal state of preparedness , that the rival statesmen would respectively bid the several point * of the Charter for popular support . ( Cheers . ) The people must also bear in mind , that from the outset he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had invariably told them , that if the land was locked up to-day , he would not give them a straw for thc Charter . ( Cheers , and" Yuu did ! " ) He then , at all events , could not be charged with inconsistency for having so blended the means and the end so as to insure the realisation of the one by the possession of the other , while he entertained but little respect for those who were amongst its most ardent coucoctors , and now that their opinions had changed , masters went about the country procl . iniing the fallacy ofthe Land plan , and the assertiontiiat it would take

      fifty-eight years , four months , three weeks , five days , seven hours , thirty-eight minutes , and thirtysix seconds , to locate even one section . ( Great laughter and cheers . ) He would ask those new apostles to protection bow it was that tbey sat in Convention and allowed the people to be juggled with a knowledge of this arithmetical precision . ( Loud cheers . ) He would now lead their minds to a course of reasoning npon the nresent position of affairs , which , he felt convinced , would at once lead tbem to the conclusion that he had been right in bis every prediction relative to the ulterior objects and duplicity of the Free Traders and the duty of the Chartists . He must bring them back to 1 S 40 , when the League members not only advocated free trade , but used it as a means of suppressing Chartism . They must bear in mind , that the only course allowed us to preserve our principles from total

      annihilation , and to keep them before the world , was by snowing that Chartism had not merged into Free _TraJism—the one grand object ihat the Free Traders had in view . And thus I show that our opposition was based upon the necessity of keeping the Charter movement in the ascendant , and that our neutrality was only secured when it might have been death to the Irish and starvation to the English to have persevered in our opposition . I have now proved to demonstration tbat that opposition was justifiable inasmuch as it involved the very existence of the movement party . ( Loud cheers . ) And I shall now show you that after circumstances have proved our wisdom , and established my character as a prophet . ( Cheers . ) It must be borne in mind , that in the hottest of our opposition we never swerved from principle ; we were the first to declare the Corn Laws to benotonly impolitic , but UNJUST IN PRINCIPLE —( loud cheers)—accompanying it with the belief

      that UNDER EXISTING CIRCUMSTANCES , and until the people were represented , the working classes would not equally participate in the change . ( Cheers . ) So far I have brought yon from the reason of our original opposition to the reasoning upon the principles . And now bear the fact in mind that the only speeches made by the Protectionists in the House of Commons werea mere clumsy reiteration ofthe Chartist speeches made out of the House of Commons—thus showing you that your most enlightened representatives are now but approaching the ground that yon firmly occupied seven years ago—are but now feeling their way towards principles upon which for years your minds have been matured ( cheers ) . Then we come from the sack to tbe sample , and we find thatthe Prime Minister himself is compelled to strengthen his position in tbe eleventh hour , by adopting tbe very terms of our reiterated revolution—THAT TIIE CORN

      LAWS WERE _UNJUST IN PRINCIPLE ( loud cheers ) . I shall now hring you to the consideration of those reasons of a political character , which I assigned for opposing the repeal of the Corn Laws by those men who contended for the change ( cheers ) , and believe me , my friends , that there is no small pride and vanity in a very much abused gentleman being able to stand before a very much abused party , and to snatch the honor of triumph from the enemy at the same time that I and those who have acted with me in preserving yonr movement through the calm , are able to establish our title to your future respect by recurrence to our past policy ( cheers ) . I distinctly told you then that if the repeal of the Corn Laws was effected by the capitalists wholeagued themselves together to accomplish the measure , that

      its social result , whatever it may be as regards food and its price , would be altogether lost in the horrors of this country being governed by the Malthusian economists whose ultimate objects are the reduction of wages to the starvation point , and tbe enactment of laws to coerce the refractory into subjection . Now let us see whether or no I was right . Cobden was offered a seat in the cabinet . Milner Gibson is in power with the cabinet . Earl Grey and Mr . Laboucliere are both Malthusians of the blackest school , and are in the cabinet . Mr . Ward ( hisses ) is a part of the administration , so that I think I show you tbat the freetraders inside , backed as they will be by the freetraders outside , bave , on the very outset , secured . ' the pernicious ascendancy whicb I so much _dreadi'd _^ - ( cheers)—an ascendancy whicli I bave often

      told you will not be able , under any commercial arrangement , to regulate the retail price _^ of the loaf relatively to the price of labour , when it is placed upon the table of the operative , who must first sell his labour at the lowest rate that political powerthe power of money and the influence of a competitive reserve will compel him , before he ean buy the loaf at any price ( loud cheers ) . So that every working man may , independently of that commercial policy by which the speculations of the monied interests are regulated , be his own producer , bis own consumer , and bis own representative through his vote , to insure the advantages of his own labour for himself and his own family fereat cheering ) . 1 have how ( continued Mr . O'Connor ) given you not one but three texts from which , like _theparsons _, I will preach

      my sermon under three heads this evening , lou must not impose too much labour upon me , while I think thatthe fact of my having worked all day yesterday upon your farm , having travelled here last night , making my two speeches to-day , returning tonight , being at work for you again to-morrow at six o ' clock , and meeting an opponent of the land plan in discussion to-morrow night at Rickmansworth—( loud cheers )—this double agitation , I say , for the land and the Charter , is the best answer to the malcontents who supposed that your political and local rights could not march forward hand in hand , and together—which have I neglected ? ( Renewed cheers and "Neither . " ) Now , my friends , although the former part of my discourse may be unlike that of a state church parson , yet there is one portion of

      Jolian Harnet Has Received For Mr. Frost...

      their practice never forgotten , which I think it right to observe just now ; it is * " Pray rememberthe poor . " [ laughter . ) Bear in mind that this hall has been erected by the zeal , the confidence , and tlio pence of working men alone ; and that unless you atreugthen their confidence by contributing your quota , to add to their exertions , and to your own comfort , tbat you will not have done your duty . I observe that many are put to the inconvenience of standing , while a few are accommodated with seats . Now , the directors cannot , and do not , approve of this inequality ; and what I have to request of you is , tbat all who

      feel an interest in receiving a largo return for a small capital , may take out shares in this noble building ; while those who can conveniently afford it will leave their mite in the Chartist poor-box , in order to enable the directors to afford that comfort to all , which they have baen able to administer but to a few to day—and I make my appeal especially to those gentlemen who have had the advantage of a seat . Farewell , till evening service , when I hope to meet a congregation equally numerous , equally respectable , equally valuable , and equally industrious . —Mr . O'Connor then retired amid continued cheering . EVENING MEETING .

      At half-past 6 o clock the spacious hall was literally crammed to suffocation in every part , when Mr . Wheeler again occupied the chair . Mr . Dixo . v was the first " speaker introduced , and was received by his townsmen with that warm acclamation which honest and consistent service in their cause is ever sure to command . He said , that one ofthe greatest objects of their oppressors was to destroy Chartism by depriving its advocates of any place to meet in , but in that they would be grossly deceived . In 1842 , when they had serious cause of complaint , and when they met to discuss their grievances , they were told by an upstart Justice at the head of the mercenaries , that he admitted the objects of their meeting to be perfectly legal , but that their numbers

      made it illegal . ( Oh , oh , and laughter . ) Now he , Mr . Dixon , thought it a very novel doctrine , that the number of persons seeking a redress of grievances , should constitute the illegality of a meeting ; while they were told that a majority of English feeling should always constitute the dominant power in the state . There was no man present who felt a deeper , or a greater pride in that day's proceedings than him , Mr . Dixon . However , as he would have frequent opportunities of addressing his townsmen in their own hall , and as Mr . O'Connorhad two sermons to preach , and was limited as to time , he would now make way for that gentleman , ( Chi ers , and go on . ) Mr . O'Connor—Yes , go on , I will give you one of tbe sermons with pleasure . ( Laughter . )

      Mr . Dixox—No , no . I see that others are anxious to say a few words before Mr . O'Connor rises to address you , and therefore I shall sit down , thanking you for your indulgence and your kind reception . Mr . Dixon than sat down amid loud cheers , when the Rev . Mr . Scholepield stepped to the front of the platiorm , and was received with loud cheers and waving of hats . He said , Mr . President , and my friends , I come amongst you this evening to pay a debt and discharge a great _obligation to your chief . I am come to tender my thanks and . ' gratitude to that gentleman for his noble , his patriotic , eloquent and manly defence of you and your principles at Nottingham . ( Loud cheers- ) Yes , my friends , it is a duty that every man in the kingdom owes to Mr .

      O'Connor for his transcendant speech ; a speech which , although we are told is imperfectly reported in the Star , was sufficient to warm the blood in the veins of every working man and every lover of liberty who read it . ( Great cheering . ) A speech , sir , which we are told is to be published at great length —a speech that every one of my children shall have , a speech tbat every working man , and every working man ' s child in the kingdom should possess , and hand down to posterity as the title-deed of the labourer ' s social and political rights . ( Loud cheering . ) I have now discharged tbat obligation , Sir , and I have a debt to pay to the respected _gentleman . 1 am not ashamed to confesss _, sir , tbat 1 felt sore , and not unnaturally , at the manner in which I was

      treated at the Lancaster trial . I felt , sir , that the inconvenience sustained by myself and family , and which we are at all times ready to endure , was quite a sufficient sacrifice for us . ( Hear , bear . ) But , sir , when tbe authorities of the town took advantage of our peaceful demonstration to turn the law against us , 1 did think it too hard that I , who had furnished the Chartist party with countenance and shelter which they could not secure elsewhere , should have been made the greatest victim . ( Cheers . ) Yes , sir , I am not afraid to confess that I did feel sore at £ 150 of my own earnings being taken from my

      young family to defend myself and support my witnesses at Lancaster ; but , sir , when I learn from Mr . O'Connor for the first time , in his letter upon the subject , that the defence fund was appropriated not only to the defence ofthe Lancaster men , but to ihe defence of the Stafford , the Warwick , the Chester , and the Liverpool Chartists , and that the fund was debtor to bim ; then , sir , my bitterness of feeling turned into regret for having done him a moment's injustice —( Loud cheers)—and now , sir , thc onlyhonour tbat I desire io achieve is , that besides my three or or four pounds personal subscription , that I should be entered as a subscriber of £ 150 to the

      National Defence Fund . ( Loud cheers . ) Now , sir , I have discharged a sacred obligation and a debt to Mr . O'Connor , and I shall settle accounts with the directors of this splendid hall . I shall also discharge my obligation to those gentlemen . Upon various occasions , when they sought my services I was otherwise engaged , but nevertheless I felt an anxious desire in their praiseworthy undertaking . ( Cheers . ) My friends , you have yet much land contiguous to this hall tbat may be turned to profitable account . Build shops upon it , and houses upon it , and you may depend upon it that the more you possess yourselves of those emblems of respectabilityhouses and land—the more your opponents will respect you and attend to your demands . Look to the

      land plan established by Mr . O'Connor and see what benefit that promises . But there is no thing I would say to our respected friend , although he has no great partiality for parsons , I would remind him that it would be wise to procure a substitute for some of their expensive services—it would be wise to appoint a still and lonely sacred spot to each location , where , without the interference of the parson , we may bury our families , where their bones may mingle with their own dust , and where in the calm and stillness of the surrounding quiet , they may hear the trumpet sound , if ever it does sound —( great laughter and cheers)—and thus as their comfort Will be more secure , they will have a better chance of hearing the last summons than the poor factory operative living in the rattle-box and amid the Babel of their own

      confusion . ( Renewed laughter and cheers . ) Now , my friends , I will turn to another subject . Mr . Dixon bas adverted to the questions put by me to Mr . Milner Gibson . ( Cheers . ) My friends , I did no more than my duty . I thought when a right hon . gentleman whose name we were likely to iorget in his titles came amongst us to seek our support , that we should not allow him to forget our principles , or at least to suppose that wc had forgotten them . ( Loud cheers . ) I putthose questions to him

      in perfect sincerity , and I believe that if it bad not been for the fog around him tbat he would have answered them with moro sincerity than he did . I tell you , my friends , . that he and his class will only represent you when they are compelled to do so by the strength of your principles , instead of being awed by those who now possess a monopoly of thc franchise . Now , my friends , I have discharged my several debts , and 1 shall retire to make way for my friend Mr . O'Connor . The rev . gentleman sat down amid repeated cheers , when

      Mr . O'Connor rose and said , sir , can anything be more delightful to my mind than the illustration of the great fact presented to us in the return of our esteemed and __ rev . friend ( Loud cheers . ) Have I not always said that Chartism required but the appearance of a foe worth fighting to ensure the reunion of its own disciples —( cheers )—and if my speech at Nott ' s bad no other result than that oi inspiring the rev . gentleman with renewed confidence in my resolution , I am more than amply paid . ( Cheers . ) I am always pleased at having an opportunity to explain myself upon money matters . In these respects I differ from the usual class of treasurers . When I bave a balance in hand I proudly

      announce the fact in honour to your devotion , but _vhen the exchequer is my debtor , I sorrow in silence over your apathy , and bear the infliction rather than announce your indifference to the world . ( Cheers . ) Such is now the case—such were the circumstances irhich led to the mistake of my rev . and excellent friend . A balance in hand was published immediately after the trial , and long before all the obligations were discharged , and the result of the several defence funds is , they owe me a balance of more than £ 200 . ( Shame . ) Well , now I have done with that subject , and I turn to what is more cheering . Mr . Scholefield is amongst us once more , and Dr . M ' _"Douall has also buckled on his Chartist

      armour—( loud and long continued cheering and waving of hats)—and every particle of difference that did exist between us and those wbo struggled with us before , must perish and be for ever forgotten . ( Loud cheers . ) The enemy is in the field , and we can only he beaten by our own disunion . I shall now , my friends , justify another portion of my own conduct . I have been frequently charged as an obstructive , for not taking the free traders at their word and joining them in the _itruggle for free trade upon the solemn pledge and __ assurance that , that object achieved , they would join us for the charter . 1 knew mv men ,

      I knew the anticipated result from free trade . I was aware of its contemplated effect upon Chartist principles and the rights of labour , and I refused tbe proposition unless they would place the Charter in its legitimate position in the foreground . ( Cheers . ) Well , our systematic opposition , our deadly hostility , and above all , our physical force propensities , were held as reasons for holding aloof . Circumstances justified our neutrality , and by our neutrality , more than by their own power , they were enabled to succeed ; whereas , had we longer resisted their progress , all the anticipated , and , indeed , all the hoped for horrors , would have been placed to our account .

      Jolian Harnet Has Received For Mr. Frost...

      However , there hag been a total abandonment ° f physical force proceedings by the treacherous wh " alone preached them . There has been a total sucession of our opposition-the measure has been earned , and where now is the promised advocacy of Chartist principles when the corn laws were _reoealed ? lo _£ _t a _^ _TVnu ? . ( i _Peering . ) What now becomes _^ _DS-V _^ nt _^ _rSS _' _- _^ 0 NE THING AT A TIME . ?§ _-ppd TB _£ ? F 1 RST AND TIlE : CUARTErl Abik . a . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Upon the contrary , so tar from any advance being made by that section , glutted by their presumed triumph , do we not find every shade of the Press , in every county , and every shadow of political faction , combining in more deadly hostility than ever to suppress the progress of our movement . ( Loud cheers . ) The policy

      of stand alone is not onl y ours , but that of our opponents . They are determined that we shall stand alone , and with God ' s blessing WE WILL STAND ALONE . ( Great cheering . ) Look to the coalition that has been formed—think of the Liberator , the Times , the Finalty Hero , every section of liberalism , and what is called the advocates of _things-as-lheyare , being obliged to combine to resist a party which is said , to have no existence . ( Great cheering . ) Why there Is no threatened opposition in the _House of Commons , and the fusion and amalgamation of parties is merely , intended as a resistance to Chartism . [ Mr . O'Connor was proceeding to analvse the power of the several parties , when Mr . Roberts entered the hall , and was received with tlie most rapturous

      applause , and which was renewed upon his mounting the platform . When it had subsided Mr . O'Connor continued : —] This is the only Attorney-General I ever desired to see—( cheers and laughter , )—labour's Attorney-General ; the Attorney-General who has gained more triumphs for your order than you have achieved by the millions expended in fruitless _struggles against the power of capital . ( Loud cheers , and " it ' _s true . " ) Here he is , not bolted yet . ( Great laughter . ) Not gone to America with the funds , but hero before you , to tell you what he thinks of your position , and what he thinks of the plan , at which he has now had a . partial glance , I , like yourselves , am anxious to hear him , and as my time is limited I shall now make way . ( Loud cheering . )

      Mr . Roberts then presented himself , and was most enthusiastically applauded . lie said , that , his presence there receiving the hearty plaudits of the people , was another proof of the fact that honest men had nothing to fear from , criticism or censure . ( Loudcheers . ) They had only to continue in thatcourse which their _own'heartB told them was right , and the people were _skren-ed enough to form a just estimate of tbeir intentions , whether honest or dishonest . ( Cheers , ) He was not one of those who had ever pandered to existing opinions , to court popularity , but on the contrary , when he conscientiously difiered from the _prevailing dogmas of the day , he came in for his share of that censure , which is always sure to follow resistance to those questions of immediate excitement . ( Cheers . ) Neither was ho in tbe babit of ascribing an undue

      value to new nostrums propounded for the benefit of the working classes . He was ready to admit that when the land plan was first propounded , he may have thrown a damper upon the hopes of many who had consulted hira ; because , as with other projects so with it , he had heard of so many projects that promised largely , and that afterwards disappointed , that he was determined to have no share of the blame in tbe new failure . However , upon the occasion of Mr . O'Connor having sold Carpenders' Farm , his ( Mr . Roberts' ) professional duty required that he sheuld goto Mr , O'Connor , as Mr . O'Connor could not come to him , and in speaking ofthe profit made upon that sale , he should only remark that 9 , 009 in every 10 , 000 honest men in England would say that the profit realised by that sale properly , justly , and rightfully belonged to Mr . O'Connor himself . ( Cheers . )

      However , as it appears , he has gratified his vanity by giving it to you , I confess to you that when 1 arrived at Herringsgate , I to expected see a mud hovel here , and to stumble upon a _fwivndatlon there , and perhaps to see some ploughs at work ; but when I walked a mile upon a gravelled road with houses , that deserve the name , upon either side * when I saw the state they were in , and the sum they had cost , I was literally astounded . ( Great cheering . ) All my prejudices left me , and if my astonishment before was that dny one should be gulled by the project , my astonishment now is tbat there are not 10 , 000 members for every one . ( Lord cheers ) And my conviction is that if the working classes could see it , and understand it , _thty would require not one O'Connor , but a hundred O'Connors to carry it out to the extent that might be realised . ( Great cheering . ) As the time had now arrived for Mr . O'Connor ' s

      departure , Mr . Roberts was obliged to break off in that part of his speech so interesting to the meeting , and the two gentlemen took their departure amid cheering and waving of hats that shook the new Chartist Sanctuary , and thus ended the ceremony ol opening and consecrating the new Chartist Tabernacle .

      .-- _^ M —— Maamhtoft. A—^—— R^— J_*_Mm ...

      .-- __^ _—— _maaMHtoft . _a—^—— r _^— _j __*_ mm _«^—^^— nm ' ' ' * ' ' : _* n" ; i * iiii-- '"~ - ' - — - ' ¦ — ¦ - - ' — ¦•¦¦——— - — - _^— : ¦ — . - . ¦ - ¦ _- _¦•>¦ - _¦¦ -, _¦ - _¦¦ . . ¦ . .-- .. ¦ .. ¦ _; : _» -.,- ¦ . -: ¦ . - ¦ _-. ¦ _¦ _.. ¦ _¦»¦*¦ . - .. _.- ¦ -

      The Land. Discussion Between Mr. O'Conno...

      THE LAND . DISCUSSION BETWEEN MR . O'CONNOR AND MR . GAY AT RICKMANSWORTH . Monday last being the day appointed for the above discussion , the Fortune ( a piece of waste ground near llickmansworth ) , where the meeting was held , presented a scene of unusual bustle in that peaceful spot . The farmers and little squires in the neighbourhood who keep donkey carts undertook to pay Mr . Gay's expences to enable liim to throw cold water upon the increasing pride of the labouring classes , who are now beginning to learn their own value . Shortly after seven o ' cloek the several roads and paths began to contribute tbeir share , and at about half-past seven , when thc proceedings commenced , there was an immense concourse of persons , partly owing , no doubt , to the fact of its being " fair day" at Rickmansworth .

      Mr . Henrt Ross was called to the chair , and having demanded an impartial hearing for the speakers , he introduced Mr , Gay . Mr . Gat said he had come tbere in consequence of being dared to meet the managers of tbe land plan in discussion , The gentleman connected with it had offered to pay his expences , but he declined that offer and had come at his own expence . ( Hear , hear . ) He was a native of Rickmansworth , and he thought he owed it to his fellow-townsmen who were likely to be seduced by thc promised benefits , to caution them against the delusion , lie held the rules in his hand , and he would prove the impracticability of carrying out the plan according to those rules . He found that the plan promised two acres of land , a cottage ,

      and £ 15 , for £ 5 a-year , and be asserted that what was to be given for that £ 5 a-year could not cost less than £ 117 . Suppose £ 40 for two acres of land , £ 50 for a cottage , £ 15 for stock , seed and implements and £ 7 for a lease . Now , if he was right in his calculations , it was clear that the whole sum of £ 15 , 000 paid by one section of 6 , 000 would not lo cate more than about 128 members ; so that the remaining 5872 must be wholly disappointed . This was what he found by the rules , and it was an explanation of thoso rules , especially of the 22 nd , that he required . He asked Mr . O'Connor how he could hope to carry out the promised benefit , when he showed that the whole capital of one section would be absorbed in locating 128 of its members . He

      thought it his duty to open the eyes of bis fellowmen , and to prevent them from falling into the precipice or the hole while their eyes were blindfolded . Mr . O'Connor said , Really Mr . Chairman and my friends , I was not aware of the description of opposition the land plan would have to encounter from this new opponent of the measure . Firstly , allow me to observe the strong proof of our own belief that this meeting and the manner in which it is got up exhibits . One would suppose tbat a party opposed to all and anything having authority , would be satisfied with tbat amount of opposition ; but as our principles ever thrive best upon discussion , we have actually offered to pay the expenses of our new opponent —( cheers)—and don't you think we have shown

      our wisdom . ( Laughter . ) It Mr . Gay ' s opposition does not confer the anticipated benefit upon you , I trust that my reply will be of benefit to him—and now I shall proceed to take the bandage off his eyes , lest in his blindness he may tumble over the precipice _, or fall into the hole , which his imagination has dug . ( Cheers and laughter . ) Now . did any man ever witness such an exhibition ? When you and I were anxiously looking for an exposure of errors which prudence would require the correction of , we find a gentleman full of ignorance , and as wholly destitute of knowledge of the plan as a sucking pig is of divinity —( Cheers and laughter)—telling us that if we do this , and if we do that , and if we do the other thing , we cannot do the right thing —( laughter)—but

      he has never once told you that neither we nor yet the rules propose doing any one thing that he conjectures . If , says he , the land and cottage cost £ 00 , and you give £ lo , and the lease costs £ 7 , and if you get but £ 5 a-year for that , how can you locate all the members , and will not our capital be wasting instead of improving . I wish Mr . Gay would write a newarithmetic . ( Laughter . ) Why ifallthisdocshappen _. then , instead of £ 5 a-year , the society will charge £ C 15 s . a-ycar , or at the rate of 5 per cent , upon the additional capital over £ 82 10 s . ( Cheers . ) If the lease costs £ 7 ! what nonsense , when it will not cost more than 10 s . If you give £ 110 worth instead of £ 82 10 s . worth—if you do this , and if you do that , and if you

      do the other thins—one would suppose that the 128 first occupants were to hold their tenements for nothing * why , did not Mr . Gay know that when located , we could mortgage or sell the land subject to the conditions of our leases , and so go on buying , sub-dividing , and locating , until all were provided for ? ( Cheers . ) The fact is , that the charm of our plan _consists in the fact , that while we secure comfort and independence for the members , we also secure the success of the project by demanding rather a high than a low rent for what we do give . ( Cheers . ) Now , for instance , we give two acres of land that cost £ 3710 s ., ahouse _thatcosts £ 30 , and £ 15 capital , that is , £ 82 10 s . worth for £ 5 a year , and we get £ 210 s for a share ; and for all that such allotments and buildings cost over £ 82 10 s ., we charge 5 per cent , upon the surplus . Now , what can be more simple , and

      The Land. Discussion Between Mr. O'Conno...

      who but a blockhead can ever pretehd to misunderstand it ? ( Cheers . ) 'We were obliged to establish some standard of price for land and cottage , and it would have been precisely the same if we had adopted £ 18 or £ G 0 ah acre . No member joined m the expectation that , if we gave £ 60 an acre for land , and £ 50 upon a cottage , that he was to get two acres ot timt land and a cottage , and £ 15 , for £ 5 a-year ( Cheers . ) Nor are we bound to the capricious price of £ 1815 s . an acre , or to £ 30 for a house ; what we are bound to is , the honest , prudent , and profitable expenditure of the funds . ( Cheers . ) Now , I trust that I have taken the bandage off Mr . Gay ' seyes , and that he will be saved from tho precipice , and not fall into the hole on his way home . ( Cheers . )

      Mr . Gay _asain came forward and said , —It ' s all very wcL for Mr . O'Connor to expose my ignorance and amuse the meeting . ( A voice : "Aye , and at your expense , too ; " laughter . ) Well , at my expense ; but I did not think Mr . O'Connor would condescend to answer me by mere abuse —( he didn't ) or that he could afford to deal in personalities . ( Mr . O'Connor : Nonsense , I did hot . ) Well , then , I am not convinced . ( Laughter . ) Mr . O'Connor is obliged to confess that the rules cannot be adhered to . ( Mr . O'Connor : lam not . ) Does he not now say , that if the land and house and £ 15 costs more than £ 82 10 s ., that thc occupant must pay an increase of five per cent , upon the surplus . ( A . voice : And so do the rules . ) Well , well ; can he do what he has promised—give a house , £ 15 , and two acres of ground , for £ 5 a year ? ( Mr . O'Connor : Yes , at the stipulated price . ) It is because Mr . O'Connoi' has admitted that many poor persons have pawned their all that I consider it my duly to caution them ; and now again I ask Mr .

      O ' _U ' nner where thc means are to come from to locate all ? for , observe , when the land is once leased tor ever , the purchaser cannot raise the rent —( " •' ear , hear , " from Mr . O'Connor )—and he won't sure whether your holding is worth £ 10 , or only £ _l . ( Oh , oh I ) And at thc scale of price and rent that 1 have exhibited , it will take rather better than forty- seven years to complete one location . ( Laughter . ) Now , I have not yet been satisfied upon these . points , and Mr . O'Connor has admitted that others as well as myself have been doubtful .

      Mr . O'Connor : Really , I never heard such nonsense . ( Cheers . ) Mr . Gay has put three most absurd questions to me , or rather he has repeated three most ubsiird notions , and asked me to answer them . Firstly , he says that it will take 47 years to locate one section ; secondly , that it will cost £ 117 to bring in £ 5 a year ; and thirdly , that we shall be nothing the better for the increased improvement by labour . I will go backwards with him—he knows nothing whatever of land , or of the question . ( Hear , hear . ) He says that it makes no difference to the purchaser whether the holding is worth £ 1 or £ 5 , after he has bought it at a certain rent . Now , observe , for this is the very question—suppose that house and garden is worth , and barely worth , £ B a year , a purchaser

      will not give more than 20 years purchase , or £ 100 for it , * but suppose the rent forever is £ 5 a year , and the tenant has made it worth £ 8 , a purchaser Mill give 25 years' purchase , or £ 125 for the £ 5 secured by £ 8 value , and suppose he has made it worth £ 10 a year , and that £ 5 a year of that only is to be sold , a purchaser will give" 33 years' purchase , or & 165 for the £ 5 a year secured like the funds by the increased value . ( Loud cheers . ) Now , there is an answer to the foolish observation that industry gives no benefit to the society . Then again with Mr . Gay ' s calculation of 47 years , will he tell U 9 where he finds his data . ( Laughter . ) Why _doeshenot propose a plan ? Now , I can but answer that by the simple undertaking to locate every memberof section No . 1 within

      C y ears , or to bave insured their location within that period . ( Loud cheers . ) Now for the last absurdity , which I answered before . Of course , if we give all this and that and thc other , and give £ 20 instead of £ 15 . and £ 7 for a lease instead of 10 s ., wa should fail , but then here is just the hitch . The rules say nothing of the kind , though Mr . Gay does . Nor do we intend to do anything of the kind . ( Cheers . ) Has Mr . Gay ever heard of Insurance Companies , Canal companies , mining companies , Joint Stock Banking Companies , Railway Companies , and Steam Navigation companies ; and does he not know that they all make fortunes by co-operation of non-productive labour , while we will presume that a co-operation ol productive labour must fail . ( Cheers . ) The

      cultivation of the soil is productive labour , _making Sovereigns is non-productive labour . I have admitted that we charge £ 5 a year for what costs £ 82 10 s ., and of that we get £ 2 10 s ., but then here is the value . In this very neighbourhood labourers pay £ 610 s . for two rooms , without £ 15 or an inch of ground , or a lease . ( Cheers and * more . ') Well , then , does it damage a man to get the two acres of land , £ 15 , and a lease for ever of the kind of land we stipulate , for £ 110 s . less . Thefactis _, that nothing can be done for the poor man . ( Cheers . ) There was a time when estates iu Scotland was valued according to the number of men upon them , but now they are valued by the clearance system . Here , take Herringsgate , formerly worked by perhaps two men , and now the labour of 35 will be applied to it every day

      in the year , better than 70 hired labourers , as every one will work for himself . Now in two years the reserved rents of those holdings would sell like quit rents for 40 years' purchase , as such holdings will be worth three times as much as the rent , and the rent only can be sold . ( Great cheering . ) Although we charge £ 5 a year for what costs £ 80 in reality , yet it * a poor man has £ 80 , or £ 180 , he could not get such a thing ; there is no market for such a thing . Mr . O'Coni . or then showed how many gentlemen , and especially parsons , had sub-divided land worth £ 2 an acre into allotments , and got at the rate of £ 20 and £ 30 an acre for it , and that not one of the holders would give his allotment for even double that great rent . ( Cheers . ) Well now what I say is this , that what we give for £ 5 a year is worth , well worth , £ 10 a year ,

      and in a short time it will be seen—not one man in 6000 will or can fail , and if all should fail others will pay to try the experiment —( laughter)—so the market is there . Mr . O'Connor then gave the oppressive parsons or farmers a woeful scourging , which many present seemed to feel , and said , what 1 want is to have five masters looking after one man instead of 40 men looking after one master . ( Cheers . ) I tell Mr . Gay that he would not dare to offer this ridiculous opposition to the men in the north who understood the plan , and as we havemany thousands , I will pit their wisdom and capability of judging how to lay out their pence against Mr . Gay ' s judgment—( Cheers )—A working man who has earned his money hardly , thinks well before he parts with it , and all those conundruns have been mooted and refuted . I

      did not say that others of his class were doubtful about the success , what I said was that some free traders who dread comfortable labour had expressed some misgiving but that was the greatest compliment to the plan . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Gay . —lam not convinced yet . ( Laughter . ) Mr . O'Connor has said that a section will be located in six years but that is only assertion . I say fortyseven years . ( Laughter . ) He asks me why 1 don't propose a plan myself . —1 HA"VE A PLAN —( roars of laughter , and 'now its all out' )—but I am not going to propound my plan until thc data is all arranged , and until it is matured . ( Laughter . ) I don't know whether Mr . O'Connor has convinced you , but he has not convinced me , and if you hold up your hands for

      his plan it will not prove that you believe it practicable , but because he has more eloquence than I have . Still I don't see how with only £ 15 , 000 paid up , Mr . O'Connor can locate 6000 at £ 127 each . I should not have come here at all if I had not been dared , I am willing to stop till tomorrow night to eontinuc the discussion . ( Cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor . —Now really it is too bad to hear this thrice repeated nonsense repeated again and again . If mine is mere assertion that I will locate them in s ' x years , what is Mr . Gay ' s but assertion . Suppose I say that I will go to London to-morrow by Watford , it is but assertion till it is done , but I hare woithed it and 1 will now astonish Mr . Gay . If I had a loan of £ 20 , 000 instead of raising it in shares , I could locate 1 , 000 or any number , and repay the capital with interest when all were located —( great cheering)—and I will tell him now that in less than two years , an

      allotment will sell for over £ 200 above the rent , and more than that . ( Cheers . ) Still he goes on in the dark as if we were going to give tbe whole £ 15 , 000 among the first 128 occupants , while the fact is that the plan depends upon selling as well as buying , and then he says , that I can only build on one location in the year , lean on 24 _^ - ( cheers)—and will —( cheers)—and he appears to forget that the first is always thc most difficult . That is the rule to guide us , that done and nothing can stop us ; one thing however is certain that the funds will be applied to their legitimate purpose . ( Cheers . ) Now I hope I have taken tbe band age oif Mr . Gay ' s eyes , and that be will not tumble in the precipice or into the hole on his way back —( Cheers)—and in order to satisfy him ] shall propose a very sweeping resolution , first observing that to you this is but the A . B . C . ofthe plan . It would require many lessons to make you understand it thoroughly , my resolution is ,

      Resolved , That this meeting , having heard the principles of tho Land Plan explained by Mr . O'Connor , is of opinion that the plan is feasible , nnd may be successfully carried out , as laid down in the rules ; but wc are further of opinion , that it is the very best plan ever proposed for securing comfort and independence to the working classes . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Gay . —Well , I willsecond that with great pleasure . ( Roars of laughter . ) Mr . Swannkll , butcher , of Rickmansworth , a highly respectable and intelligent person , who , with others of the same class , paid the greatest attention throughout , asked Mr . O'Connor how a man could support himself and his family upon two acres oi ground t

      Mr . O'Cohnor said he waa glad to have such questions put to him by such persons , and proceeded lo show how in many instances it had been tried and succeed ed ; and further , that he would rather pay £ 10 a year for _arouse and two acres of his own , than be insured £ 1 a week at full employment every day in the year . He fnrther said , that tradespeople , having a few thousand pounds , may , by bringing land

      The Land. Discussion Between Mr. O'Conno...

      into the retailmarket to suit thc labouring classes make ten per cent , of their money , while they would be rendering incalculable benefit to the people . If Mr . Swannell was a sincere teetotaller , he would be glad to learn that out of nearly £ 12 , 000 paid up . wily £ 8 , 000 , or _threc-fourths had been snatched from the gin palace and the beer-shop- ( loud cheers ) —as , the moment the market was opened , the drunkard saw his hope of redemption . The first-principle gentlemen said it was wrong to buy what of right belonged to the people ; but he ( Mr . O'Connor ) begged to remind thera , that if the common land belonged to them and was stolenthe house " the

      , , £ 15 , the gravel road , the well , the improved state , the co-operation , and the school , had not been stolen from tbem ; and all those things the plan proposed to give them in an improved state , ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Gay . then essayed to speak againat tho _reso . lution which he had seconded , amidst some confusion , and cries of " Your plan , " and " your ' e done . " Atllength it was put by the chairman , when every hand in the meeting appeare I to be in its favour , which , however , was not the case , as upon the contrary being put , three hands were held up against it . The show was followed by loud cheers and

      clapping of hands . T T - . Mr . O ' Connor then said—Now I move a vote of thanks to Mr . Gay , for having served the land plan in this district more by his opposition than I could hope to do by his support ( laughter ) . Mr . Gar—No , I will not accept the compliment . I propose , as an amendment , a vote of thanks to the chairman for his very praiseworthy and impartial conduct , seconded by Mr . O'Connor , and carricd unanimously . After which the meeting broke up , giving three cheers for the Land , * and all retired about ten o ' clock , highly delighted with the tr iumph achieved by Mr . O'Connor over his opponent , and nothing ia now spoken of in the district but the Land plan and thc Chartists .

      Finsbury Literary And Scientific Institu...

      FINSBURY LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTION . The opening of this Institution , in Frederick street , Goswell-road , was on Tuesday night celebrated by a soiree , at whicb about 250 persons ofboth sexes were present . -. - ' . The Chair was to have been taken by T . Wakley , Esq ., one of the Members tor the borough ; but in consequence ofthe pressure of professional and parliamentary duties , he was unavoidably absent , and W _> D , Saull , Esq ., occupied his place . A letter was received from T . S . Duncombe , Esq ., the other Member for the borough , stating his concurrence in the objects ofthe institution , bat regretting that important business in the House of Commons prevented his personal attendance . After tea and coffee had been abundantly supplied to the comoany _,

      The _CttiTKMAN in a brief address expressed his pleasure at witnessing so numerous and respectable an assembly congregated for so noble and useful an object as the diffusion of literary and scientific knowledge . He was happy to assist at the opening of such an Institution , and hoped that similar establishments would rapidly multiply . He regretted that their expected Chairman , Mr . Wakley , was not pre . 9 ent , but though not so able in his advocacy ofthe duty and benefits to be derived from the extension of popular instruction , he was not less sincere . — ( Cheers . ) The SfiCKETARr read the report of the Committee , explanatory « f the terms on which the institution had been procured , and the objects contemplated by its founders , which were , to secure to the working classes a place wherein they may be enabled to act for themselves in carrying ont tliose principles which the present age of progress requires at their hands .

      Secondly , to render the approach to the privileges of tho _institution accessible to all , by pressing as little as possible upon their present limited resources . And thirdly , by strictly keeping aloof lrom sect and party , political or religious—to endeavour to shun these great impediments , whicb bave ever been found in the road to improvement—to allow freedom of thought and opinion on all matters , without identifying themselves with any particular party , dogma , or doctrine—to tread the paths of science , seeking diligently for truth , wherever it may be found demonstrated by experience and sound evidence , and by the possession of such acquirement , endeavour to lead out the human faculties moral , intellectual , and physical , to an improved state of existence . To eftect this by the formation of classes for affording instruction , elementary as well as thc more advanced stages of education—by lectures on moral , philoso phical , and scientific subjects—by the establishment ofa libiaryand reading-room .

      Dr . Epps , in ah able and eloquent address , proposed the first sentiment , which was , " The Finsbury Literary and Mechanics' Institution , may it be instrumental in educating and elevating the character of the working classes , by making them familiar with the facts of sience , by affording them facilities for the acquisition of knowledge , and by the cultivation of a taste for superior , and intellectual enjoyments . May its success ( and that ofall similar institutions ) be proportioned to its usefulness and just claim to public support . " He trusted that having adopted so large a title , their arrangements for imparting instruction , and advancing the eauaeof popular education , would be commensurate with it . He rejoiced to sec such institutions multiplying on many grounds . It was a matter of complaint that the people were

      liable to be imposed upon by _pretenderg to scientific knowledge . The only way to cure that evil was to give them sound instruction , they would then be able to detect at once all impostors , of whatever class they might be . —( Cheers . ) The ignorance of thc masses at present constituted their stronghold . —( Dear , hear . ) That ignorance had also been the most formidable obstacle to the reception of great truths and the advance of works of public utility . There was scarcely a single discovery which had for its object _, the physical , social , and intellectual improvement of our race which had not been bitterly opposed , and their authors persecuted—many of them to death , either by neglect or positive martyrdom . —( Hear , hear , ) By the general diffusion of sound scientific knowledge that great obstruction to progress could alone be removed . Let them only think how many years the present generation were behind what they might have been had such obstructions not existed ;

      and the same would apply to tbe coming generation , who would inherit from them the legacy of ignorance and evil bequeathed to the past . The Learned Doctor illustrated this position by reference to the opposition experienced by Dr . Jenner the author of vaccination—Winsor the inventor of gas , and various other examples of a similar character . Another reason was , that the scientific knowledge among the working classes would react upon the professionally scientific classes , and urge them to make greater efforts t keep a-head of the masses ; thus establishing a- 'high general standard of knowledge ; so that actually i learning themselves the labouring classes were foicin those above them to learn also . —( Hear . ) Th speaker , after ably illustrating the various point e mooted in his address , concluded by expressing hi regret at being compelled to leave before the conclu sion of their proceedings , and left as a substitute fo " his presence " The Journal of Health nndD isease" a a present to the library . »

      Mr . W . _FARRun _. jun ., proposed the next sentiment , — " The Friends of Nation Education and Popular Progress . May they be encouraged in their efforts by the sympathy and hearty co-operation ofthe people—the success of past exertions—and by the certainty of the ultimate establishment of these principles ; " which was supported by Mr . Thome in an animated speech . Charles _Mackav , Esq ., LL . D ., was received with great applause . At that late hour of the night , and being a stranger among them , he wouid best discharge the duty committed to him by being brief in his observations , though the _sontiment he had to propose was a tempting and an important one . H e was delighted with all he had witnessed of their proceedings and anticipated great benefits from the

      growth and increase of such institutions . ( Hear , hear . ) The sentiment he had to submit was , '' The mission ot the Press , may it be fully _accomplished by protecting the weak and defenceless , agaiust un . just power and inhumanity , by advocating tho great principles ol truth , justice and liberty , in everv portion of the habitable globe . " ( Great cheering . ' ) Such sentiment could not be dismissed without some observations , however brief . The press and its mission was one of thegrandestsubjects for human _voite or pen . For the last 400 years , since the press had started into life , more progress bad been made than in all the thousands of years which had piecedcd them in the history of our race —( cheers )—and it was not Utopian to believe that the golden age which poets in olden times had sung of , and the philanthropists of tbe present so ardently desired , wouid

      yet be realised through its instrumentality . ( Cheers . ) Look at a small State in the centre of Europe which had no press . It had neither gas nor railroads , * it was without most of those appliances for social , domestic , and industrial enjovment and greatness which were the peculiar characteristics of the age . He meant the Papal States . ( Cheers . ) Let them contrast the state of that territory with England , and that would at once give them a vivid idea of the value and importance of the press . ( Cheers . ) Th * sentiment expressed a hope that the press would ever advocate the great principles of truth , jiutiee , and liberty . Such was its mission , and however individual instances of abuse might have marred its great and holy work , as a whole it had nobly pertormed it , and would continue to do so . ( Load applause . ) Mr . G . _Barubt supported tiie sentiment , which _, like its predecessorswas unanimously adopted .

      , Mr . F . Barton , B . A ., in a short address , " \ _™^ tbe adoption of the next and last sentiment , " The principles of universal peace , " which was also spoken to by Mr . _Holyoake . The proceedings of the evening were enlivened by the services of a corps of vocalists , comprising Messrs Roberts , Fortcscue , May . Daniels , and Sherwood and thc whole appeared to give great satisfaction tbe numerous audience _.

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), July 25, 1846, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_25071846/page/5/