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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th January 1848, Edition 3 of 3, Page 7

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    • Colonial ano .irorngn
    • Corosponoewt*
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      ¦ J Attoaw 29, 1848- The Northern Star 7

      ¦ _J _attoaw 29 , 1848- THE NORTHERN STAR 7

      Colonial Ano .Irorngn

      Colonial ano _. _irorngn

      India, Intelligence Has Been Received Fr...

      INDIA , Intelligence has been received from Calcutta to the Sth , Madras to the 18 th , and Bombay to the 15 _ih December . The Governor-General quitted Lucfcnow onthe 22 ad of November . ? after five days spent in the capital of Oude . At Calcutta several commercial firms _^ have suspended payment . The political sews is unimportant .

      CAPE OE GOOD HOPE . __ Erom the Graham ' s Tows Joorkai ,, Nov . 20 : — E 0 SB 1 BLE DEATH OF FIVE BRITISH OFFICERS—DEFEAT OP THE KAFFIRS . ¦ Wedxesda t . Nov . 17 . —Information has reached town from Kaffir-and of the death by tbe Kafirs of five British officers , namely—Capt . W . L . Y . Baker , Lieut . Faunt , and Ensign Burnop , _«> f the 13 rd Regiment , Dr N- S . _Campball _, sureeon of the corpa . and Assistant-Surgeon Loch , of the 7 th Dra . goon Guards . The unfortunate officers had ventured by themselves , and unarmed , ' ou a pleasure jaunt , fiom-3 distance frem the British camp . "They ap . pear to have been surprised , overwhelmed , and savagely murdered . Their bodies , when found ,

      pretented a frightful spectacle . Mr Burnop had three balls in his head ; Capt . Baker was stabbed and mutilai _* d in several places : poor Dr Campbell must hive suffeicd greatly , the n ? sh being _actually pared from his body ; the naked body ef Lieut . Faunt bad been apparently fligged with chains—their eyes bad been scooped out—their teeth extracted , and the bead " of assistant-surgeon Lech had been severed from the body and carried away- The latter , it is 6 ! i _:-po ?

      tWO Klifirs lay at no _ejeat distance , billed , as assumed , by thefe offic ers , at the first moment of attack A day or two _subsequently a considerable force so-mred ' the country , and discovered a lar « e _boilvof _Kaffir * , who , though they fought with great determination , were driven before their assailants . The resnl ' . B of the eDg- ' _gOT . ent were , twenty-three Kaffirs killed , and at least double that number _woupdrd , _wiile the only casualties on the English Bide , was one of the Provisionals killed , and one troop horse . Upwards of 300 head of cattle , and sever ol _gnns , were captured from the K . afnrs , also * iwo of the horses _belwsin <> to the deceased officers .

      FRANCE . The _National and some provincial democratic papers allude to the pr eparations in progress for plaein _? the detached forts round Paris in a state to control tho discontented of the metropolis . Cannon , howitz rs . and mortars only are required to complete them , and of these there is a redundance in Tinccnnes , _s- > that the whole chain of forts could be armed on the first appearance of danger . A _nos- republican paper , entitled L'Avante Garde , edited ' by 'the students , ' has appeared in the district of * the schools '—the _Pajs Latin , Paris .

      On Friday the Chamber of Deputies was the scent of a verr stormy and _agitating _debatccaused by the exposure of one of those acts of corruption in tbe French Government which have acquired European notoriety , under the name of scandales _, but which within the last eighteen months , have become bo common in Franee that they have ceased to be considered _noTplties- This last exposure was the celebrated 'Affaire Petit , '' which has been already explained _ in these columns by our Paris correspondent . A rich scene was witnessed in the Chamber . M . _Guizit admitted the facts while he condemned them , and

      _efTere-i no justification for being party to a transaction which he himself declared to be reprehensible in the highest degree , but that his predecessors did the same sort of thing . A whole host of ex-Ministers then rose amidst much confusion , to deny their participation in any such practises as M- Guizot had acknowledged , during their tenure of office . M . Dupin _. M . Thiers , M . Dafanre , M . Billault , each in hi 3 turn expressed his abhorrence of such practice ? . Several motions were submitted ; ultimately M . Peryamont ' s amendment was carried . 'Thar ; the Chsmber relying on ths wish expressed by the Government , and on the efficacy of the measures to be taken to pnt an end to a long-standing and _objactionable abuse , passes to the order of tbe day . Thus the ' satisfied majority' have again declared their determination to back up M . Guizot under all circumstance ? .

      The opposition to M . Guizot was hourly becoming more violent . The reform dinner in Paris , prohibited by the police , will , at all _riskfj take place Best Sunday . SPAIN . "We learn from Madrid , that in the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies on tbe 16 th instant , the application of the ministry , for authority to collect the taxes for the six months ending in June , was carried by a majority of 143 to 37- The Queen is seriously ill . The ii-. flnensa is _rasins in the capital .

      DEATH OF THE KING OF _DENMARK . Christian VIII , Kin ? of Denmark , and Dike ofSch'eswig _, _Holstein , and Lauenburg , died on tbe 19 th instant , at Copenhagen . King Christian VIII . vas born on the 18 ch Sept . 17 S 6 . and succeeded to the throne on Dec . 3 , 1839 . He was married in 1 S 06 , to the Princess charlotte Frederika of Mecklenburg Schwerin , from whntn he was divorced in 1812 ; and afterwards to the Princess Caroline of _Schleswig-Holstein- _S-.-nderburg- A ueustenbnrc .

      SWITZERLAND . Letters from Berne have brought copies of two important documents . Tbe first is the new note addressed by M . Bois Ie Comte to the _president of the Diet , dated Neufchatel , the 18 th January , and the s _? coEd 13 the reportof the Federal commiss ' _ioners sent to ths canton of the Valais , addressed to tke Vorort . and dated the 12 : h January . The contents of the former _present nothing new to those who have heard or read the late debate on the Swiss question in the Chamber of Peers . The latter is a document of a very important nature . The facts and documents which itdiscloses establish , beyond the

      possibility of doubt , the _eff-rts made by the French government to protract the civil war in Switzerland by the most lavish promises of aid and intervention made to the _insurgent cantons . It is proved that , about the end of Novcmb ? r . M . Guizot sent an agent to tbe president of the council pf war of the Sonderbund to urge on that body the importance of maintaining the struggle , on the part of the separate league , as Jod £ as possible , and _promising in that case the support of the great powers . M . Guizot neglected i . _othing which was likely to ferment tbe i eve-It of the Catholic cantons against the Federal government .

      Tne governments of Au-tria , Prussia , and France , have agreed upon a new note menacing the Swis _? with intervention . The Jesuits are pursued unrelentingly everywhere . Orders have _bsen _issued by the government of Bavaria to forbid those driven cut of Switzerland to remain more than two or three days in that kingdom .

      GERMANY . Viesxa . January 17 : h . —The ominous situation of Italy exclusively occupies the public mind atth _s moment . The upper aristocracy , the eminent _offi _cersnt the army , as well as the persons attached to the Chancery of State , have their attention fixed on that dantercus _country , which in ail probability will _kflict the fin-t b ' ow on this old monarchy , menaced already on _evtu side by the increasing discontent ol its provinces at its _pers-. verance in a svstem of

      immobility and hatred for modern reforms . The Supreme Council of State met six times during the last week , a fact which is held to indicate serious apprehensions onthepart of our rulers . I learned from an _nr-. _quei-tior . able source that the debates in tbe _-4 a » t _shticsjs were more animated than ever , and that Prince Mtttcmich , whose calm _couotenince seldom betrays an ' -mown , re-entered his apartments in a state of » : e « _ai-itatiou . For the fir 3 t time he _experienc- d _i-ome opposition in the Council of State . Bis accursed despotism is totiering to its fall .

      ITALY . Letters from Milan of January 9 : h have at length brought some de finite information respecting the atrocious proceedings of fhe Austrian police and soldiervon the 3 rd and 4 th . The atrocities committed by the Austrians were _frijjhtfu _' . The use of tobacco has be :-n t _staljy abandoned throughout Lombardy and tbe Venetian territories . The revenue produced by the sale of tobacco produced in 1 S 43 in Lombardy alone 0 T 25 . S 32 Austrian _livres , equivalent to about a quarter of a million _iter'ing . The lotteries , which have al .-o been abandoned by the people , produced in the tame year S , 200 . 05 _GJivres , or about £ 270 , 000 .

      A _setter from Rome of the 15 th instant , announces that the massacre committed at Milan by the Austrians had created a deep sensation in Rome . . Another letter from the same capital says : — * The cigar revolution at Milan has created the deepest sensation _h-jre . At the various guardhouses it was resolved at onte to . eiercise the right to petition par . lismenr , and accordingly to-day tbat deliberative assembly has been bombarded wdth constitutional addresses demanding a _furthf-rsupply of arms , _stores " of ammunition , and 'that officers of old standing from the service of Piedmont should be forthwith invited flown here io uree forward the drill and manceavre . ' Also , that an additional park of aitMery should be ordered from the foundry of Turin . They have all _swern that the Austrians shall not reach Naples by this route , whether government allow them or other-* _fi"i 5 e . Accounts from Florence represent the excitement there as quite equal to our own .

      Itwas an ill-advised step for the expelled Swiss Jesuits to have fled straight to Vienna and placed themselves under the mantle of old Metternieh . _Aothing -wi : ' SYer get it out of the head of the Romans and Italians generally thatthey are become the mere tools of that _soul-and-bodv-rotting despotism _, lfley have got themselves too deeply entangled with tne exploded system of misrule to hope for _extricatisn , and the Tablet correspondent ( Lord Clifford ) is only wasting paper here by seeking to _disi-arage the onward movement of thiB peninsula and of Rome . Bis letter published on New Tear ' s Day , in which he Btands up for the * Obscurantist party , ' was read bere wi * * V . _wnimat * an old wig can never plug

      India, Intelligence Has Been Received Fr...

      up the arche 3 of Ponte Molle , or stay the down-rush iag Tiber . __

      INSURRECTION IN SICILY . The catastrophe which has been so long foreboded ' in Sicily , by numerous prognostics , has at length taken p laoe . The island has risen , as one man . in revo lt against the grinding despotism of King Ferdinand . The Nodvelliste ot Marseille ? , of the 20 th inst ., publishes in a supplement the following letter from Naple 8 , dated the 15 th inst .: — A s earl y sb the Sih inst ., the Sicilians had acquired the conviction that nothing would be done to relieve them of t'n ir _hnrdrns . but the period fixed upon them for a demonstration , viz ., the 12 th inst ., was not anticipated ,

      As the movement wss to he spontaneous , every man held himself ready for action , waiting for the signal from Palermo . Without knowing precisely the natHre _andextm ' t of the manifestations , the police foresaw the events by the calm and decided attitude of the population , and irritated it the more it possible by effecting on the night of the 9 : h iast . tbe arrest of some of the first persons in Palermo . _Amonest the persons arrested the fol . lowing arementioned : —Prince _Piorenza _, the Chancellor Amari and his brothers , _Franeig Ferrari , ond twenty others , all equally respectable . Count Aceto had been denounced , but when the _police went to hu house t _« arrest him they found thedoors barricaded , and they began to besiege the hanse , the first floor of which is occupied by the English Consul . In the _courie of their proceed _, _inss the arms of England got detached , and , falling upon dread

      the ground , were broken to piece * . Tbe police , - ing the intervention of the representative of England , withdrew , amidBtthe hootings of tbe populace ; M . Aceto vras thus saved , and the Consul sent off a communication ef the Insult which his flag had received to the British Ambassador at Naples ' , who bas demanded prompt reparation . Manif- _stoes were secretly sent off from Palermo in all direction * of the island . Every thing had been provided for , and the part which each was to tafce bad been arranged . In the morning of the 12 th , en hearing the salvos of artillery snnouncln the anniversary of tho King ' s birthday , tbe population spread in masses through tbe city , and barricades were formed at several points , nnder the protection of armed men . The police totally gave way before _ihis imposing movement ; a part of the troops marched out of the town , and tu'k up a position

      at the foot of the Monte _PeUegrino , the rest remaining in the forts . All remained in thi 3 state until eleven o ' clock , but a few minutes after that hour a strong detachment of cavalry _dtboucbed by the gate of St Antonio , to disperse an assemblage collected in front at the palace of the _Intendant . The cavalry were hailed with crie 6 of friendship and fraternity , but they fired , and killed one man , wounding many others , whose cries of pain were re-echoed by loud cries of vengeance from the infuriated people , who rushed upon the _detuchmea :, -brought many to the ground , and compelled the rest to sound a retreat . The attitude of the populace became so menacing that the f ? w troops leftin the city retired leaving the insurgents masters of it , ' who occupied themselves in strengthening their _pesitions . One remarkable fact attended this insurrection , and proves tbe accord which reigns

      between all the classes of tbe people . The clergy mingled themselves among the _sr-aed _parties incessantly preaching to them sentiments of patriotism . At night the city was entirely illurainated , and fires were _iiRhted on the tops of all the surrounding eminences . Some hours later , between 7 , and 8 , 000 mountaineers , well armed , entered _Talermoin good order . _TheVesuve returned to Naples at ' five in ' the afternoon of tbel 8 tb , with _deipatcae * from the King ' s Lieutenant . On the following day troops arrived _, by the riilroad from Capua _anrJNocera to the amount ef 8 , 000 men , and were em . barked in nine steam-frigates , which immediately steered for Sicily . Placards posted duriDg the night , at every

      corner , called upon the Neapolitans , in energetic terms , to imitate the Sicilians . The rising of the pubple of Trapini has not beea less decisive that that of Palermo ; they hare repelled the Royal Troops , and gained possession of the Castle . The packet _G'glio del Onde , which w & i in the port , has been seized by the insurgents , and detdned for their own purposes . At _Mesiina tbe people appear to have had ths _sasae advantages . The _idrts which surround the town are in their bends . The troops occupy the citadel . Catania , Syracuse , and He _azza have not been less fortunate . Everywhere fuccess has crowned the efforts of the insurgents . It is reported , also , that there is an insurrection in the Abmzri and Poglia , but this requires confirmation .

      The Semaphore of Marseilles has the following from Naples dated the 14 th;— j The Yesuve steam packet , whieh left Palermo _yester- ] day , brings accounts of a general insurrection , on the ] 12 t b , in _idl the principal towns of Sicily . At Palermo I the exasperation was so great that ladies threw from j their windows boiling water and furniture upon -he dra- j goons who were charging upon the people . 30 . 600 citi- j zens of Palermo , all armed , drove the troops out of the j town , after having caused them great losses . The j troops succeeded in reaching Monte-Heale . We are as- ;

      sured that the infantry of the line would not take part in the combat . The King of _HapleB , on receiving tbis news , was so much agitated tbat _immediate bleeding was _nec-ssary ; but in tha evening he sent off 5 , 000 soldiers of tbe line in nine steamers for Sicily . On the 12 th , the King ' s fete-day , his Majesty went to tho theatre of S an Ca r los , where so me app lause having been commenced bythe friends ot the Court it was responded to hy hisses from the b _^ zts and pit . Ano _'her letter states that at Messina the tri-coloured flag washeisted , and tbe people , afur their victory organised a civic guard .

      POLAND . _Warsaw , Jan . 13 .- —The principal events of tbe day consist in the _racing of the recruit ? , which took place at the end of last month , in the midst of frightful scenes . The recruitment took place during tho night , and to possess themselves of the persons destined for the Russian service , the houses were surrounded : tbe bridegroom , the husband , were _dragged from their beds , without any regard , to become soldiers for twenty years . Any one that wished to escape from the recruitment could only have re _ceurae to emigration , for if he remained in bis own country he was exposed to the greatest dangers .

      French Views Of Chartism. (From The Atem...

      FRENCH VIEWS OF CHARTISM . ( From the _Atembr . a Farts journal conducted by Working Hen . ) The English Democratic agitation again occupies public thought , and assumes more than its original importance on the other side of the Channel . The Chartists ( unlike the Free-traders ) do not concern themselves with the export of a few additional pieces of cotton , or tons of iron ; their aim is to ascertain whether tbe English people , oppressed for centuries by an insatiable aristocracy , " will be able to free themselves from tbe state of misery and degradation to which their masters have condemned them . It is to obtain this result that the Chartists have f-rmed that vast association , which aims at obtaining all those ameliorations , all those _rightfe , all that freedom , proclaimed sixty years ago by the Fieneh nation .

      Petition ? , signed by many millions of persons , have already beeu presented to Parliament ; but hitherto the government would not entertain them . The aristocracy of rank and wealth have opposed all improvement in the social condition of the people . But far from being _discouraged , the Chartist party have increased _abkeinnumtersand In _weight , and anxious to try all conciliatory means before appealing to force , continue to demand a constitution , a _chabteb , which giving to all the adult population the right of _suftrage , shall be the first grand step in the march of social reform .

      Thanks to the power of Union , they have constant meetings in all important places- They bave an executive committee , an official journal ( the Northern Stab ) , lecturers who traverse the length and breadth of tbe land , popular orators whose eloquence convinces ad minds of the eternal justice of their principles , and even representatives in tbe Commons ' House of Parliament . T » ameliorate the present condition of the people , and to pave the way for their admission to social and political rights , the Land Company has been established _, _flone can doubt that the Chartists , thus made proprietors of a part of the soil , will be in a position to carry out all the reforms tbey may desire . This conviction animates the Chartists themselves ,

      who have just addressed to _theuommoDS two petitions , praying for the exemption of the transactions of the Company from the oppression of the stamp duties , and the materials from the heavy taxes imposed on such articles—the other , praying that tbe waste lands , the property of the public , and hitherto disposed of in bulk to large landholders , should b : sold in small fields , with facility of payment , to the poor . Thus the Chartists neglect _nothing that can forward their grand aim—the Emancipation of the People , and they have become a body whose power must be respected by the old parties of the state . That which gives so much strength and power to their association is , not only that their demands are founded on truth and justice , but that they have learnt pract ically to appJy the old maxim , ' Help yourselfand heaven will help you . '

      , ( The notice of the Chartists winds up with a long extract from a speech of Julian Harney on the Church , the Ilouse of Commons , < fcc , the Queen ' s speech , < tc . ) ——The Refohme of the 19 th of January , gives long extracts from the speeches of Julian Harney aHd Ernest Jones at a recent meeting , prefacing their quotations by these remarks : — ' We have already drawn the attention of our readers to the Chartist agitation . Up to the present time , the _Repohme is the only French journal which has noticed this vast organisation , whose moral as well as numerical force increases daily ; and which must , in a certain period , overturn the monstrous edifice of the English oligarchy .

      ' To-dav we publish the speeches of two of the leading Chartist orators ; in reading them , we learn to what a point of excitement and irritation the masses have arrived . We shall understand , too , the feeling of discouragement which induced Sir Robert Peel to resign the premiership , notwithstanding he had attempted more measures for the relief of the labouring classes than any other man or administration would b & Te dared .

      French Views Of Chartism. (From The Atem...

      ' To enter into the spirit of tho Chartist orators , we must understand that the higher classes seek to draw the attention of the people from the state of the internal affairs , by propagating the idea of foreign invasion . They do not yet propose to fortify London , but a great increase in the standing army is spoken of . In short , the English government would treat its subjects aa the Parisians have been treated by their chief . The speeches show how the English people receive these insinuations . '

      Corosponoewt*

      _Corosponoewt *

      North Lancashire. 'Cheap Bread .'High Wa...

      NORTH LANCASHIRE . 'CHEAP BREAD . ' HIGH WAGES ! AND PLENTY TO DO !' Sib . — A camp meeting was he'd on Sunday week , near Blackburn , the object of which was to show the strong feeliBg which existed on tbe _prestnt threatened reduction in the _wagos of the mill operatives . The _Bpinners _an-1 weavers are to be reduced ten per cent ., and tbe card-room hands seven and a half per sent . A month's notice has been given to the bands in Blackburn , but to those of Lower and Over _Dariren only a _fortnijht . The notice for the two latter places exp ired

      on Friday , January 2 _lst , and at BLickburn a fortnight after vhr » t date . Tho notices of reduction wore all given at one time ; thus proving that the millowners acted in concert . The numbers attending the meeting were variously estimated at from five , to ten thousand , and when a show of hands was called for , on tbe question as to how many _irctild prefer to strike work rather than accept the manufacturers' tirms , nearly every band in the vsst assembly appeared to rise . Two gentlemen , from Manchester , had been named on the bills convening the meeting , as speakers , but owing to some cause or other failed to attend , and tbat duty , in consequence , devolved upon Mr Wm . Beesley _, and myself ; Daniel Duckworth presiding as chairman .

      The weavers will not be able , when this reduction comes into operation , along _with the ten hours enactment , to earn raoro than e i ght shllings per week ; with tte card-room bands the case will bo similar , and with the spinners it will also make a most grievous alteration _. The latter branch of operatives have struggled hard for years to maintain their wageB , so far as the weekly amount was concerned . Amidst all the _redue-. _ionn _effected in tbe mills they have preserved , to a wonderful degree , that amount ; and yet thtrj Is not a class of workmen , neither in tbo mills nor ont , whose case presents , at this moment , a more gloomy aspect , Tbe increased breadth of the wheels , and the self-acting machines , have rendered tlieir employment precarious and uncertain . If a spinner is forty years of age , and should _heppen from any cause to b _« discharged , it is a _hundred to one if be ever gets work again . What manufacturer wilt employ a man whom he knows is incapable owing to his age , from being able to manifest tho necessary

      activity ; at least , if bis appearance bespeaks that age the millowner will invariably prefer employing a younger person . It is to tbis class ef operatives that we are p-lncipally indebted for the success of the ten hours bill , The manufacturers are silently set-king to effect an-peal of the measure , and you will bo apt to think that with the dark prospect before the Workmen , of having to work _fvr less wages , _thc-y will he likely to acquiesce . You are , however , mistaken ; the feeling in Us favour is stronger than ever , and tbefollowing resolution was carried with acclamation at the above _meeting : — ' That having eeen the termination of a struggle of more than twenty years' duration , attended with the expenditure of many _thousands of pounds , to procure the enactment of a ten hours bill , this meeting pledges itself never to allow that act to be quietly repealed , or any of its pro-Visions evaded , whilst one penny can be raised in its support , or one man be found who has the courage or humanity publicly to defend it . ' _^ Richabd Mahsden .

      N . B . —The annexed handbill has been extensively circulated in Blackburn , and its vicinity ;—

      _Cat'EL Attempt to Reduce the Pbice or Ladodb . — Cabd-Roou Hands _Sivek and a Half ; _Spinkebs and ¦ _WeaVESS TEH FEB CENT _—MltLOWNEfiB _. YOU hnve agreed to take £ 300 per week from tbe weavers in Blackburn alone 1 when will you show the same unanimity to advance an iqual sum 1 This is not the first reduction : do you intend it to be tho last ! Why not meet to fit a limit to reduction , and let us know the worst ? What is the cause , or wherein will be the advantage to _yonrselveB , any more than to your workmen ? Cotton has latterly reduced greatly in price ; _tbedepression in trade appears at its lowest ebb ; and shows symptoms of again rising . Does tke merchant _rtfuae to give more than a certain sum . thus rendering the

      present reduction BeceBBary ? Show but the 6 ame unanimity which you now evince to effect this reduction in _refuaing to sell , and the merchant will soon be compelled to _cive way . Do yon tell us that he will then supply himself with goods from other towns where the _manufacturers are already paying more than you are ? Have you any security that when you have reduced these other towns will not make a still further reduelion 1 Ashton and its vicinity reduced , pleading tbe low wages of North Lancashire in justification of . their reduction . When we in North Lancashire have also reduced , must _A-shton again follow t To what result will this accursed ' round robin ' system , tend ? To what frightful region will this villanous competition tend ?

      Do not , gentlemen , insult our understandings , by telling us that foreign competition requires this sacrifice of our wages . You knew of this foreign rivalry before the Corn Laws were repealed , did you therefore calculate beforehand of makiDg this reduction ? If bo , first see that we have the cheap bread you promised us ; 1 st the tax on tea and ciffte be reduced , and let the rents of our cottages be lowered in proportion to the decrease in our wages . We call on the Rev . Francis Skinner to verify this promise ef cheap bread , He assured a deputation of ours tbat we should have high wages too if we could but obtain this repeal . The repeal has been obtained ; as yet we have got no cheap bread , surely then we may at least hope to retain our preBent wages .

      Gentlemen , do not flatter yourselves with the belief that tbe _fundholder , the salaried official , those in the recei pt of fixed Incomes , er even yon yourselves can continue to receive the same yearly amount in moDcy value whilst our wages ate ever on the decline . Cottages and all other buildings can be erected at twenty per cent , less than they could have been twenty-five years ago . Silks , satins , and all other articles of wearing apparel , can be had at a little taore than half tho price , and yet , though our wages have keen reduced in equal proportion , and our employment , owing to your multiplied inventions , far more irregular and uncertain ; taxes on all the first necessaries of life remain _nearly tiie same , and the rental of our _cottages hath increased rather than diminished , whilst land in the vicinity o £ our towns is greatly

      enhanced in value , and you , the manufacturers , cannotbear the thought of having to receive a less per centage upon your capital . This , gentlemen , will not do . Ton must show to the world that it you can _eipect us to make sacrifices , you can willir / gly share . thoso sacrifices with us . Let Sir Wm . Fieldtn , _whohasal « o proposed alike reductii . n to his _bande , amounting to morj than one shilling per w _> _-ck . from the earnings of his long unemployed and famishing weavers , reduce the rental of hia cottages at least sixpence ptr week . By so doing , he will take off nearly half tbe hurden which the reduction entails from tho backs of the weakest , and place himself thereby so much the more nearly on a level with those manufac _. turcra who hava no _cottages to let In like manner to their hands . He will still possess a fearful _advantage over these other ? , but we have this censolation to offer , tbat

      we believe Sir Wm . Fielden would prefer devoting bis surplus wealth to the acquisition of a nobler title , rather than use it for the mean purpose of underselling bis brother manufacturers . The only sacrifice which wo require from these latter manufacturers is , thatthey will content themselves with a less per _centago . We appeal to the public , and ask if there is anything unreasonable in onr request * If , like the swine , we must 'feed uj . cn husks—the mere refuse , the garbage , denied-, even the plaiu necessaries of life—surely we may r quire that those in whose behalf we labour should give up their superfluities . Let them descend from their mansions to a plain humble dwelling : ¦ and tbeir wives attend { as is a mother ' s _dutj ) , their own households , no longer _requir . ing the daughters of the poor to become tbeir slaves , with the fair proRpect before them ot _bjing made prostitutes of by their profligate sons .

      Manufacturers , we are loth to believe that you are serious in this reduction . It must be a hoax , or a mere trial of our wdrtb as men ; for we should deem ourselves the veriest slaves , unworthy to rank In _intelligence with tho weakest of the Negro tribes , were we to even dream of submitting to your _preposed reduction for a moment Do not imagine that you have sufficiently tamed us for it , by tbe last biz months' discipline which you have given ns . You have only taught us , we _assure yon , tbe _better to resist , by learning through the kindness of the over . seer to live on water gruel and air . A little more _patb-nt endurance Is all the force we think requisite to conquer . Believe U 9 , if you like , to be stupid as asses , but provided we have to enduro no additional cudgelling we shall never think of kicking . Do not , however , _stek— - as has beeen done heretofore , to trepan us into crime with tbe view of punishing , for remember wo make no promises .

      We ara , _Gentlsmen , yours most respectfully , The amalgamated bodies ( thanks to your present insane attempts to redueous ) of _Caedees , Spinners , and Wea . veb . 9 .

      The New Land Company . To The Editor Of ...

      THE NEW LAND COMPANY . TO THE EDITOR OF TBE HOBTnE & K STAB . Deab Sia , —I have seen with much pleasure In the Stab of laBt Saturday , that the directors have deter _, mined to open a new Land Company , thereby giving the newly converted _ditciplee to a landed democracy an opportunity of joining the glorious movement . 1 wa 9 myself , together with many of my friends , grieved at the _spiiit of exclHBlveness which manifested itself at the late Conftrenee . It forcibly reminded mo of a certain gentleman , who having climbed up the precipice _ofpswer , drew up the ladder to prevent any other _ptreon from attaining tbe same height . They having found themselves in the straight path leading to an independent competency , carefully closed the gate , thereby preventing others , who sought the same goal , from attaining it by the _s a a _e / _o ad ,. — -Now . suppose Mr O'Connor and

      The New Land Company . To The Editor Of ...

      his bretUer direetars ba 1 found themselves bound by the resolution of the late Conference , to complete the lec . i tion of the whole of tho present company , before taking auy other Btep in the Land Movement , ( for I feel sure the resolution originated in that spirit , ) what would have been the result ? The _succosb of the present Company would have induced others to have commenced Land Companies ; tome for self aggrandisement—others for politics * , purposes opposed to ; the present Companysome tbnugU spleen , as the « lucky boy and his pal' fer instance , with whom the new disciples would be compelled to connect _Ibt-mBelves , and instead of exhibiting

      one strong phalani ol demoeraoy , we should be divided into sections each sectional leader moving Heaven and earth to obtain support for his own particular acheme , Then , in all probability , would follow the complete failure of one or more of the sections . _Ercn supposing each leader to be strictly honest , and possessing _suffieieat talent and energy to carry the scheme into full and complete _opsi-alion , still I _contend that It would be nn uvil , for the leaders of each Company must obtain Land for tho shareholders , which would bring them into competition with each other in the Land market , and thus tho pnee of Land would be enhanced to the manifest injury of the whole bod y of shareholders . R _. _'spectfully yours , Nottingham . _Saaidei , Etches .

      Co-Operation. To Tne Editor Of The Nobtb...

      CO-OPERATION . TO TnE EDITOR OF THE nobtbebn stab . _IpiB , —Th « anniversary of the Rochdale Equitable Pioneers , waa held at tho Store , on _Tuosday , January 11 th , to ccltbrato the third jeor of the society ' s _eilstence , when obout 150 members , their wives and families partook of the ' eup wl ich exliiliiates , but inebriates not . In December , 1814 , the society under the sanction of Tidd Pratt commenced co-oporative shop-keep i n g w i th a Bcanty stonk costing £ 24 ., whioh was no doubt a « laughing stock , ' to those who winktd , nodded their h _^ _ads and said ' wait a while , a few months will innate tho bubblo , and thefe—Puff . ' Well , a few years have gone thoir round , the bubble has _swellod into a balloon of . £ 28 _S , 5 s . 8 _jl „ being the society stock in December last ; and ' _Wto'd ha' thought it , ' ne explosion yet .

      How wo have managed to keep our bubble from bursting , contrary to tbe predictions of those who said ' leave _thoBo-things to us , mind your work , n d allo w u s to mannge ' yonr business , ' I will , ' with your _permission , state , for the benefit of _partios who may be disposed to follow the advico of tho late Sir Robert Peel , tbat is to take the management of their own _affiirs Into tbeir own bands , Our first department is the dispensing of provisions and clothing . All _bssinesB is done on the ready . money system , neither give nor tako trust . Our purchasers , therefore , can go where they are best served , take or reject _ub they _pleaso , and draw discount for the _bentflt of the society .

      We have no storekeeper doing all the business during the week , aud ( as lias been too often tho case , ) doing the society ia the meantime ; the store being open on each evening during the week . The _treasurer takes the contents of the till , afterwords a trustee locking up the keys of the store each night . Our division of profits is conducted on tho principles of assisting those who most need it . Fivo per cent interest is paid on money invested j tho remaining profit being divided _amongst purchasers in proportion to the money expended during the quart' r ; thus capital has its fair requital , whilst the maker of profits , ho who expends his weekly income in the _purcl' . a _60 of _necceaaries , receives interest on his purchase money—the dividend or profit returned to pur . chdBerB last quarter was 7 _£ d . per pound sterling , being at the rate of 124 per cent .

      _Mimberg are to have £ 4 , each in tbe society ; their profits and subscriptions from 3 d . per week snd upwards , or any sum they can afford , going to form them ; but to answer tbe purpose of a saving * bank , a member , in case of distress , < fcc , can by applying to tho board , receive a portion of his money , although his shares may not ba paid up , _JAHE 8 Daly , Sec , Rochdale . P . S . From a move now making the society will most likely hold the tea party of 1819 in their store . J . D

      Mutual Instruction. To Inn Emtob Or The ...

      MUTUAL INSTRUCTION . to inn emtob or the _nobthsbk stab _. Sib , —I am instructed by the committee _ofthe'Detrosif-r Mutual Instruction and Dobatincr Society , ' t . _^ solicit a spare , corner of your invaluable journnl , in giving publicity to the following notice , illustrative of the objects and Intention of this society . The _DotroBler Debating Club has been called into existence , for the ezprees purpose of enabling the -work . iuc classes to acquire a Bound _knowledge of all tbat ap . pertains to their welfare in political or social science , and will not flinch from the discussion of all and every of those great political and social questions as they arise before them "; being fully persuaded tbat to _dispri that slavish fear , which deters the great body of the working men from taking any part in politics , and the social relation of society , they will have achieved something worthy of nit tbe toil which it may c » st them in their efforts to realise such objects . The members who have been instrumental in bringing into boing thia society in Newcastle-upon-T yne , beg t o _stito that from reading an article in the Nobthebn Stab on the meeting of the recent short session of Parliament , and observing the general apathy , even at tbe late _electtcn for members of Parliament for this borough , among the working men , fondly _hopo that this . society will meet with such support , as to _ploca this town second to . none in public spirit , at any future election for _represen tativea to the CommoBB _Houbb of Parliament . Already there have been discussions on the Irish Coercion Bill , and the State of the Currency , as regards the welfare e > f tho working classes , and other questions of a similar character will follow in succession . The committee beg to state that any parties desiring more information on the above subject , will have all their inquiries answered by application to M . Jude , _eign of the Cock , Newcastle , where the society meet every Monday evening , at eight o ' clock . A grammar class is'being formed , and will meet in tbe same place . Yours , & c ., for T . Stoker , the secretary , M . Jdde .

      The New Land Cjmpany. Mb Editob,—Tiie Wa...

      THE NEW LAND CJMPANY . Mb Editob , —Tiie Warwick resolution having achieved its object in awakciing the attunion of our intellectual friends , to the importance of our Land Company maintaining ' the glorious _privlhge of being independent' and free from tho trammels of an irresponsible government , I deem it unnecessary to combat Mr Robertson ' s mistaken views at present , but I must , by permission , offera few brief remarks on another suhjoet sf _paramount _importunco , 1 deeply regret that our good friends in Birmingham nnd Manchester hare arrived at the hasty conclusion , to oppose tho formntionof a New Land C . impany , under the auspices of the Chartists of _England , because the _ancecss of the first _undertaking demonstrates tho fact , that the _working classes ; from their numerical strength , _possenB within themselves

      a mine of wealth , which only requires a confidential , skilful engineor , like Mr O'Connor , for its developement , and to accomplish tha moat stupendous bencnV ''< _tl results ' The opening of one vein of this unexplored mine , has shed a brilliant gleam of ligbtand hope over the gloomy prospects of millions of the toiling slaves of _capital , and if through any selfish _motivusthe Chartist proprietors close thia vein and rofuse to open another , they will not eDly lose tho benefit of the _valuable machinery now in operation , but they will optn tbu door , and hold a light to _s _^ mo ' hostile speculators , ' who will gladly Beizc our standard if wo desert our post , and before whom the Chartist party , in a short timo will shrink into comparative _insignifiennce , instead of maintaining

      their present glorious position , as 'the national pioneers of social progression . ' But , Sir , I have better hopes of our respected brother Chartists ; I trust that on mature reflection they will rescind tbeir hasty resolutionstheir present _vIcwb _appf-ar selfish and untenable . There ia ample talent yet in our ranks to supply a New _Ext-cutivo Committee for a New Company . With M r O'Connor'as generalissimo of our nllicd army , we can easily provide for ( til contingencies , and secure to the Chartists of England , tho honour and glory of emancipating tho working classes . 1 remain , yours faithfully , H , A . DONAU > £ 0 N , Warwick , Jan , 21 st . 18-18 .

      Mr Fields And The Land Company. [In Givi...

      MR FIELDS AND THE LAND COMPANY . [ In giving publicity tithe following letter , we muBt hint to Mr Fields that had _h-j been attacked in his favourite paper , the Weekly . Dispatch , he would not have heen permitted to defend himself in the columns of that impartial journal . The only liberty we have taken with Mr Field ' s letter , bas been to expunge a gross insult directed against _Dt M'Douall , and somo libellous _master in referencu to another person , Mr Fields , who is _Vcrj sensitive as regards his own character , _alioald be cautious how he _a'snils other people 1

      TO THE EniTOR eP THE _WOBTBEBN STAB , Sib , —As you allowed one of your anonymous correspondents In the Nobthebw Stab of the 8 th inst ,, to make a most base and false attack on my _chor & oter , J , in justice , wtptct through the _Barae medium , to reply to tbe same , I do not forget attending two lectures delivered by Dr M'Douall on the Lind Company at Crewe—tho first , I believe , on the 29 th t , f November last , when I ( alter leave had been given me ) askf d the doctor two or three questions , Btating at the same timo , that I was a paid up four-acre _flhwrc ' ioldir sf tho Land Company , when the doctor stopped me by asking me if I was dissatisfied . 1 said * YW— when he said Did I want my money buok ?'

      Thinking this a very unfair question { as he was like to know tbat ho bad not the power to give mc my money , ond that I lind not tho power to sell my scrip , as there had been very recent orders that there could be no trans fer of Enures until tho Company waa _complutoly registered , and that Mr O'Connor would be allowed to return any meney to any one ) , I said ' I did want my money . ' He { the doctor ) then said , ' Had I my acrip V I Baid Yes . ' "When the doctor said for the first lime , that he was obliged te go to Chester that night , but he would meet me on the 21 st of December , and discuss the peint with , me until twelve o ' clock at night . I met the doctor on the 21 _at , when , instead of discussing , he met me with all kinds of _abuso _, and allowed a person in the meeting to read a letter he said he bod receircd from Manchester ,

      Mr Fields And The Land Company. [In Givi...

      charging me wish having been a a rural policeman in the south , and killing two or three man with my _traneheon ; with engaging myself to employ knobsticks at Manchesti r _, London , and Ayr ( in Scotland ) , _i . nd that a votoof censuro was passed on me by n . meeting of 2 , 000 members of the Land Company , for my conduct as a member _. As regards ever doing a day ' s duty as a rural policeman in any part of tha kingdom , I po . iiively deny it . As regards employing _knobstx-ksat Manchester , I refery > ur correspondent to the Shoemakers' Club there , and they will tell him that before I ever put on a man , I went to the president ef the club , and asked him to supply me with men from the club , _telliBg him that I should give the club _wagoB , and conform to all their , rulea . And they will tell him that I strictly kept my word .

      I did the same in London ; for the truth of whioh I refer your correspondent to Mr Greensladc , who was the president of » he City Shoemakers' Club at the time , and who is as good a Chartist , and as good a flint as any man in tbe kingdom—and for whose _addresB I refer your correspondent to on address of a committee of the London shoemakers in the _Nobtuern Stab of the 2 nd inBt . As regards the town of Ayr , there was no club when I went , and _tnejourheymen shoemakers wero in as complete a state of slavery , as it is possible to conceive . I gave twopenco per pair more than any shop In the town , whieh so altered the position of the men , that in less than twelve months after I went , thoy formed a club—sent in a Hot of wages to every master in the town ( except

      myself ) , giving tho men four _ponco per pair advance . A Strike took place . The masters for the first timo acknowledged me as one of them j invited me to their meeting ; _proftvred to enter iuto a bend of £ 100 . each to stand out , and break up the new club , making the men Bign a document ts that effect . 1 refused to have anything to do with them , aHd took the mpn into my employ tbat loft tho other shops on strike , and in ten days the men beat the musters—indted , it was the completest victory in the annals of trades' strikes . I went to their moctings—gave them the advance wages for which they had struck « _Rain » t the other _shopx _, to be twopence iu advance of my _sbep , For the truth of which I refer j our correspondent to the Shoemakers' olub at Ayr .

      And now , sir , leaving nil Billingsgate slang to your correspondent , I think that however much I may aspire to be o fool , all reasonable men will admit that he has made himself look very _fooliih . I bave rested nothing on my own assertion except being a . policeman . I havo g iven him names , dates , and places , and they are aU the most unlikely men in the woild . to screen me if I had been tbe least guilty of the crimes he charges me with . I shall conclude my long letter by recommending the working men of Crewe , and all other men , to mrot their opponents with arguments rather than _abnse ; for , until they 0 * 0 , they remain in the gripe of the tyrant , for no man has a right to justice that will not grant justice to _ano-her , Nantwieh _, _Jannsry 11 , 1848 . John Fieids .

      To The Editor Of The Weekly Dispatch. Si...

      TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY DISPATCH . Sib , —la looking over your journal oftho 2 ud inst ., I perceive that you have published a portion of a communication from a person named John _Fields , who is at present residing at Nantwich in Cheshire , and who _stylca himself ' One who bas been victimised to the tune of £ 5 ., by being a member of the National Land Scheme ; ' and you , Mr Editor , afterwards made a few remarks in . your own peculiar ( and Iraaysayl remarkably fine stylo . How , sir , I think that before you passed any such remarks on Fields '' statement , yau should first have ascertained that his statement was correct , aud consistent with truth , And in this respect I am of oplaion that , enemy as you are to . the wholo scheme ( er _rathir to F . O'Connor ) , jou would find that he has completely imposed on you in the present instance ; aa a proof of which , I shall g ' ve you a ftw fuctB : —On the 29 n of November , 1847 , a meeting wiis held in Crowe to _ljear Dr U'Dauall lecture on the objects of the Laud Cnmpany .. This same Fields at

      tended this meeting , and after the doctor had delivered his lecture , Fields addressed the meeting at considerable length , his object being to show that although he was a member , he had no confidence in the present Land Flan , as laid down by F . O'Connor , and on this occasion he was very anxious to withdraw bis shares , Again , on the 21 st of _December , another public meeting was heldin the same place , and Fields aUo addressed the meeting , his object bung tbe same ae on the previous © ccasien . But , sir , you may judge of our astonishment when be was pressed on the matter , he con _/ _essed that he would not part with hiB 6 hnres for a less sum than _10- > , premium . This , sir . In my opinion , is a splendid idea of a victim ( md want of confidenre . ) But to mend the matter , he _gavo the meeting to understand that he would not part with his shares on any account , or if he did , he would again tnke out other ' _shart-s . _Tkia statement was made inconsequence of a person present offering him fivo per cent , more for hi ) shares than he bad paid for tbem _.

      So that you see , M _> - Edi ' or , want of _coufidencshaB conpelled htm still to remain a member . With regard to his Btatement respecting the price of land ( not being a ' member , of the Land Company ) I cannot take it upon me to answer , but no doubt other partieB are well qualified to do so . - But , sir , taking it for granted ( for the Bake of argument ) that the Company has been ' robbed' by Mr F . O'Connor , to the amount of £ 5 , 000 , according to his own showing when in Crewe , he could not bo victimised £ 6 . db hastate ; , seeing that there are 50 , 000 shareholders Wh y , sir , in that ce \ ge his _ehare of the loss would be 2 s . in plaee of £ 5 . as he represents . In conclusion , sir , I can assure you tbat no respectable journeyman shoemaker in either Nantwich or Manchester ( so far as I can learn ] would pay tbeleset attention to anything be might state . So much for the ' want of confidence gentleman . ' Sincerely trusting that John Fields will in f iturc vie . timise less over the poor Ion paid shoemakers , tbat he _haa the misfortune lo be placed over , I remain , sir , yours reepcctfully , WlHIAM . ' - LLAH ,

      TO THE EOITOB OF THE _HOBTHEBM STAR . Sir—I forwarded the copy of the _above lett . r to the DisrATcn , but the editor haa not _thought _proper to publish it . By publishing it in the _Nobtijebn _Stab yoa will oblige , Yours reBpectfully _, W . A . P . S . —Dr M'Douall can corroborate tbe above letter as being nothing but the truth ,

      Mr O'Connor And The Land Plan. To The Ed...

      MR O'CONNOR AND THE LAND PLAN . TO THE EDIT . 1 E OF THE _NOETHIHN STAB . Sib , —1 was very much pleased by reading in your laat week's Stab , the answer which one of the Chartist _thiiler horpei' gave to the ' Chelthenham ass ; ' and I beg to Bay that I was n- > moro pleased than what I was astonished , to think that such a slothful , dull thing as nn * bs _, Cffulfl have tbe assumption to offer any romarks on tbe destiny of bo n > ble a creature as the horse ; for I am given to understand by the writers arid philosophers of natural history , tbat there is a total difference j n the species of horses and _nnses : consequently the ass can have no _knowledge _whatever of the nature and _qualifwations of the _horse—tlurefore , Sir , I think it would b . ' wisdom of the asses , to kefp within the bounds of their

      _ownsphcre , instead of _IraytHg about that of which they are toialiy ignorant . These horses bave been purchased by tlieir noble ranster for the purpose of dragging loads of human beings from misery and slavery , to a state of prosperity and _independence ; and therefore we slaves will not allow them to be _frightened by iko braying cf stupid asses , I could now wish to invite tbe attention of all partus tit Mr O'CoKnor ' s letter to the Land members , whieh ib in last week ' s Stab ; where thoy will sec a 8 pfcimen of the friendly arid fatherly _feeliBgs which that gentleman entertains lor his fellow men . The case that I allude to , Is that of two brothers who applied for work from Mr O'Couuor , and it appears that they _belonged to a branch which Mr O ' Connor did not superintend ; ho accordingly referred them to _, jhe manager of that department . But , however , it seems that

      tbey did not succeed , and on that account they went away veit _, and with a view of _avenging themselves , _Ihoy sold their shares f < r little or nothing . But mark , my dear friends , how Mr O'Connor ha 6 dealt with this rashness . He , knowing the frailties ef nature , [ knew tbat thcue men bad in their passion made a sacrifice that they would ere losg repent of , accordingly he has without » n > solicitation redeemed then-certificates , and will , if _tht-y think proper , guarantee them in a verv short time £ 100 . each for their allotments . Hon then , in the name oi common 6 ense , cun any man , after reading or healing of such nobleness , attempt to deride the characti r or actions of him from whom such pur ty » r , d _honeatyofpurposeBpringeth ? JonN Howabth , Manchester , Jan . 21 ih , 1818 .

      Tiie Irish Confederates And Mr . Mitchel...

      TIIE IRISH CONFEDERATES AND MR . MITCHEL . TO THE EniTOE OT THE _NOETHEBN STAB . _Diab Sir , —The last Stab contains a summary of the proceedings that took place in the lecture room of the D » _vls Club , which—if I permitted it to remain unexplained—would stamp mo as a _cravtn _, and a falsifier of the truth ; and having no _duairt to _figure in the character of either , I will be mush obliged by your inserting this letter . 1 ktUeve tbat the person who furnished the report never Intended to misrepresent me ; but us those who know the facts therein alluded tw , are _aure to see the rep ort , it is necessary that I _should briefly explain . What I sal * * , ns lo my differing with Mr Mitchel , _wsb thie _, Alter hav _. _ini ; asked Mr Mitehel if bo intended putting an amendment Vn its entirety , nnd receiving an answer in the affirmative , I was constrained to vote against him . But In negativing Mr Mitchel ' s amendment , I did f _not adopt the ' report on ways nnd _mttuns , ' which was on Mr R , _O'Qcrmnn ' _ii . motion—and not on niinfl . —postponed for a fortnight .

      I did not state that the ' _Council of the Confederation had come- to the wise determination of throwing overboard the Irish landlords . ' For I knew the contrary ., And I did not Bay that ' I should like to see a declaration signed by the Irish Catholics repudiating _ascendancy . ' But 1 said that the forthcoming report on ' ways and nitauV _viiselj contained a paragraph to that effect . There are other _inaccsraoies , which I will not trespass upon your time by noticing ; but in order that no future mistake may ) o made as to my differing with Messrs Mitchel _ani Reilly , I wi'l , with your permission ,-pl » oe . my opinions before mybrother confederates .

      Mr Mitchel haa , in a prospectus—which will be _adver _tised in the noxt Stub—put his opinions fairly before the public , to all of which I fully ond _fearlessly subsorlbe , yea , even to the _dottings of the l ' a _aau tha crossing * of the t ' e ,

      Tiie Irish Confederates And Mr . Mitchel...

      Sir , the word ' United Irubman has a charm for m 8 _i 8 unknown to many others . Tne principles of the 'United Irishmen * bave been myiy principles from my infancy ; they are my _principle ? till , l _, and with Qod't help , shall abide with me to tbe _Jasimo . ) . _racnt of my existence . For many years , my fondest hope and moat ardent it wish bas been to play a humble part in smashing thatit power whicii crushes greedily , wilfully , and _witaoutit mercy , the heart's blood out of tbe people of _Ireland , I , and on i s ruins to establish those principles , fer n _54 ert _>« ting which the men whose memories are _cns' . irin-dini my inmost heart , have been butchered or _banished . . Holding . _thoso opinions , mid knowing as I do , tha' tha J blood-hounds of the government are already _upur . his i track , I would hold myself the veriest coward that _everr lived , if I did not at one ? , with all my heart and all my r soul , roar 'Amen' to the principle" ! put forward by John l Mitchel in his prospectus of the ' United Irishman '

      Wishing , sinceroly , that there existed in this country , , now , oa the part of the Democracy , as honest a _dircoai- tion to 6 tand by _Ireland's cause as existed in the days of "' Arthur O'Connor and the Rev . J Crigley , I remain , faithfully yours , Tbohas Da t , 7 . Mechanics' Institution , Southampton _, buildings , January 24 , 1848 .

      U&Tiujnaij De Fences , To Thb Editor Of ...

      _U _& TIUJNAIj DE FENCES , TO THB EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAB . 23 , _Carburton-street , _Fitzroy-squara , 24 th January , 1848 , Sin , —It is a general practice among _pickpocksti at ; fairs ond other places of public resort , to start some I exciting affair to attract tho attention of the people _,, while they c . ury out their object . Now I am very mucb disposed to view the bugbear ' about the French invasion aB something of that sort invented by our rulers to attract the attention of tho neo _» _pl & _tbnttheymiiy QuietlyiDflict somefurtherrobbery upon them . _^ Or _bb an excuse to augment the physical _forca . at their command , thatthey may feel more _securitv in resisting the just demands of industry , and maintain . tbo rights oi property with all its _present privileges of ' robbinff the workman while he is able to labour , and pu . > nisbing bim in a _bastilo _, when old age and _infirmity overtake him .

      Now tbcre is not much doubt but that this cry about National _Defence will bave a considerable share of support from interested men and old women ia breeches ; and I think it hi ghly necessary tbat any pre . _posal from the government fur increasing the army , or embodying the militia , should be met with something more than opposition . The plan I consider best to adopt in opposing the augmentation of our standing army , or tbo embodiment oftho militia , would be thia—to ba prepared with an efficient plan for the defence of tbe nation under any emergency , such plan to be much mors economical , . ind not such an instrument of despotism as a _standing army , and _avoidim ; the evils attendant npon a militia enrolment . In my opinion , tl 10 rough outline of Bt ; _- _; h a plan ia to be found in a letter on National Defence , ia the Mobnikc _Chbokiclk ot the 10 th instant , by a _ioTd respondent , in reply to the letter of the Iron Duke upon the same subject .

      I think that a national guard , established after the plan laid devn in that letter , would benefit tbe _politijalj m oral , intellectual , and physical _nondition of eur _or-. ler , I think wo should be prepared with a plan of act : on , raady to meet any insidious movemeat of the _gov- ; rntnont _upon tbis subject . I remain , Sir , Yours truly , in the cause of freedom , J . R . Webb .

      An Orderly And Respectable Meeting. It I...

      AN ORDERLY AND RESPECTABLE MEETING . It is not unusual for the snobs of the press to ridicule the meetings of the working classes and attempt to show them up as characterised by vulgarity—ths following , taken from the report of the Times ot the proceedings of a meeting of tbe governors of ihe German Hospital , Dalston , held at the _Londoa Tavern , and at which His Royal Highness the Duke of _CambrMRe presided , will show how the respectable classes conduct themselves upon such occasions . The immediate cause of dispute was a motion for the confirmation of the minutes of the previons meeting , _re taining Dr Freund in his position of house physician , to which the ilouse Committee were opposed : A warm and desultory _discusrion followed . The Rev .

      L . J . Bebnavs contended that Dr Freund bad received great provocation , and that , by some strange fatality , almost every one connected with the management of the hospital had , nt one time or other , lost his tamper . It was clear enough that the ill-feeling was . such that either Dr Freund or the committee must resign , but tbo queBtion wns which party could best be « r to do so , a foreigner who had his way to make , or a body of rich meu ? On the other hand , Mr _Kcpeb remarked that twenty . ono merabers of the committeo , out of twenty three , agreed _upoa Dr Freund ' _s conduct ; if he had ex . pressed his regret for using the word 'lie _. 'or withdrawn it , they would have thought no more of it , but even since the report of the committee of inquiry , ho had merely _eubBtituted for that word the term ' false '

      Mr Alderman Sidnit . M . P ,, denied the right of that Special Court to rescind any part of the proceedings of a previous Special Court , though it might be competent to the present meeting to correct' any error mads in recording the proceedings of tbe former . As to this particular iHstitution _, tbe seventh of its laws ran . — 'At Special General Courts the particular business only for which they bave been called is to be entered into . ' Dr Fbeond observed lhat In coriscquence of the terms of tho advertisement he did not consider that he had nny occasion t « come to the meeting at all , aB * tii _> resignation ef the House Committee' * was not a in _& fter concerning himself . If the committee wanted to rescind the former resolution they ought to have stated so in the advertisement , and then he should have prepared himself accordingly . '

      His Royal Highness tha _Cnaibmak . —It Ib an unpleasant thing to have to decide between yon _. bat I ' underst ; ind the course at other meetings is to read the minutes , and _therefore I must put the question of confirmation to tha vote . Mr Alderman Sidney . —Bat will your Royal HighnoBB receive an amendm-nt upen those minutes ? Mr Cabbeli , . —No ; Mr Coebrane ' s amendment is not admitted . Mr Alderman Sidnet . —But there is an amendment to the question that tho proceedings be _confirmed . Mr Sievfking ' s motion te expunge part of the minutes is an amendment , nnd I say it cannot be enterta ' ned .

      His Royal Highness tbe Chairman . — Tnu may call it an _arasBument _, hut it is not bo aspwt into my _ha-ds ; it is tbat tbe minutes just read be confirmed , with a cer _* ta _' n exception , Mr Cabbeli ,. — It is the original motion . Mr Alderman _Bidnet . —But it will garble ths proceedings of the former mooting —( cries of OS , ' and ' _cbnir ' _, ) —if you allow an amendment t _« bo _made—Mi-Cabbell , —There ib ne amendinentbeforethe chair , Mr Alderman _Sidnet . —The minutes of a former meeting require neither proposer nor seconder . ( Chair , chair . ' ) His Royal Highness the Chaibman . — Ab chairman 1 bavo done what I believed to bo my duty , and decided the point according to the best of my judgment , and therefore , it is now over ; you cannot say any more about it . ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr Alderman Sidsbt . —I can he no party lo this , and I protest against your Royal Highness being made tbe tool of any party . ( Great confusiou . ) Hia Royal Highness the _Cdaikjias ( with much warmth ) . —I tell tbe alderman to bis face that I should bo _nshnmed if I could really be supposed capable of being the tool of any party . ( Cheers and uproar . ) I defy any man to say that I have net _alwaj-B tried ; at all public meetings , to act with justice to all _parties ; ( Much cheering . ) I was obliged , as the president , to decide , and I bavo done it according to my conviction , I defy any man to Bay that I have not ever triea to act with _fairneBS where I have presided ( renewed cheering ) , and no niaB ought to suspect tbat I could do such a shabby thing as to be the tool of a party . ( Great cheering . ) We must now go to the vote ,

      _HIsRoial _Hiohnfss then directed that thoso who were against Mr Sievi king ' s motion Bhould go into the next room in order to be counted as tbey went out , While this was being done , Mr Alderman _Sidkbt , who declined to go out , rose and paid—I must again say that , I de not _understand—( hisses , and cries of' Apologise to bis Royal Highness . ' ) Mr CochbAne . —I will be no party to an arbitrary proceeding . ( _HlBseB . ) Yon have _aot divided . His Rosal Highness . — Tho division is taking place , and I cannot allow you to speak now , ( Hear , hear . )

      Mr Cocubank . — I Btand upon my right as a British _Bubjuct . ( Latighttr . ) My amendment is—that thia meeting protests against the _presint propositien ( renewed laughter ) , to mutilate- the minutes , as an unprece . dented act , opposed to the constitution of 811 English institutions , as well as to the ends of justice and _irapartlollty . ( Uproar , and cries of ' Turnhim out . ' ) I cars not bow you hiss ; you will Eee an account of your arbitrary and despotic proceedings in tho papei'B . ( Loud laughter . ) His RoiAt niQH . SE 6 S—You have no right to interrupt tho division . You only create confusion . This is not the time for you to jpeak . (• Turn him out . ' ) I hare told jou how the matter stands , and it is your duty to so quiet when I c » ll you to _ordt-r , ( Cheers . ) "The Prlnoo' and the Committee ultimately carried their point , and Dr Freund has resigned .

      Ofrsiho Of A Pkorw' ? }«? M °*%"[£ * J£?...

      Ofrsiho of a PKorw ' }«? ° * % " _[ _£ * j _£ ? S _ieVse r _vcKith _^ . Messr 8 John Petrie . of Roch , Llo _Stansfield of Todmorden , and several other _ft « m «? iddresscd the meeting . About eight S Ss _jSKrW , « < ' V -3- : r _s _? > was glad to see such a small village as Facifc beginnine to have institutions of this kind , lie showed that it Was of tho greatest importance to have a hews room to get instruction in politics , and to take newspapers ' of various creeds , and particularly the Norihbbn Stab , when we gave a tremendous cheer . IIe advi 6 ed the working classes to act independentlys and not crouch to any one . After having spoken n » rfy an hour , be concluded , warmly applauded .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 29, 1848, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_29011848/page/7/