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Northern Star (1837-1852), 6th September 1845, Edition 4 of 4, Page 6, TO THE EDITOR OF l'UE NORTHERN STAR. Sir...

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      -. ^ Ttinw Am A T> September 6, 1845. 6 ...

      _-. _^ _TTinw am a t > September 6 , 1845 . 6 THE NORTJ _^ ER _^ _^ _STAR rr

      Ccmspmfinice

      _Ccmspmfinice

      The Letters Of A Sexagenarian. Utter 11 ...

      THE LETTERS OF A _SEXAGENARIAN . UTTER 11 77 * past and lite present . Some things worth knowing . 3 Iv l _* -sr Son , —la your letter to me , 1 perceive an odd _aiiii ; :. » lure of buoyancy and dejection , cf _hopefulness * nd ( U _.-aiijitilulnieut . I can very well _understand tliis . It _pr-i-..-:-- _! -- from the arJour of youth , without the materials V- ' - ' - _' - » _esiicritnee _supplies to _eoi-rtct aud check it . - £ > . u _t-iaau f _*» r tiie _"<•

      is that of ihe steam and tlic rail ; but you cannot apply the _iiuMiii-. s ol physical princi ples in politics—you cannot _SUtvSiUee ; isiEiiiuniii . ai _> j _Jiajie , or for suiy object , or urge cr . lava-. ' . " -cs of iaw mid lcgUlathm wilh ihe propulsive speed of _lii-Si * new powers . Nay , I am unsure if they are sot Is lie meantime a cause of abated progress in these-i ! _iir- £ r . -, although , of course , thej- are destined to becoii . c ilie agents of irresistible progress , even in a _politiwii pinut of view Irresistible ; aiid with respect to Hie _( .. _birnicnous cleared , the _olgecis embraced _, and the geoiucrif _. -il reach of stini , of inconceivable change iu the future .

      Ai' ~> : _K-r oi the failings of youth , which however is one " dial leans to virtue ' s side , " is very in-irked iu your chaiT . c : _« . r : " you wear your heart-on your coat-sleeve , " jou bcii _^ vs * _everything tliat everybody says , aud you take every man at his own valuation . If an individual _proieS't- _? : a _sympathy for the pcple , you at once give hint cre . ! : t for sincerity ; and tliis disposition leads jou to _givv- aJi sorts of people the merit of good intention _, and t «* _siit _^ ch _imiiorfciiice to tlieir own representations of the ili " tci- *> io be produced hy their measures . Neither their motives , tlieir character , their position , their capacity , go for much with you , provided thcr professions are 3 _,- _irg-.- awl liberal . You must question , investigate , and think more . I ivas much uf the saa'e _disposition

      at your a ? . -, and tlie consequence was , I found , as years rolled on , that main- men whom I believed disinterested , and inspired hy tlie loftiest thoughts and principles , were- hoilow at heart , and had all along heen animated liy motives of the most sordid and grovelling cha-• _xactver—itiea who mouthed phrases and ali _' ected patriotism merely to acquire tlie _popularity wliich was _illdispensnble to tlieir selfish purposes . But 1 must not be unjust : nor do 1 wish you to be unnecessarily wary or incredulous . If my experience suggests to my thoughts file names of some men who have _practised on public credulity , it refers me to others whose conduct through Efe proved them all that they professed to be—men who _*» rere animated h y the purest motives aud the loftiest aspirations .

      _Atunher of your failings I must notice . You indulge too _frc-iv hi sell-gratuiations . You have been bitten bj tlie eurreut caut of the daj- . You arrogate for your generation a _larger measure of wisdom , and all the other high qualities of being than fell to the lot of any ihat have preceded it This is the iutellec-• faal sin of youth , and more or less the characteristic Of all young generations in their incipiput stages , sometimes _accompanying them iuto their middle age ; but it s _« _. i _^ rculiariy distinguishes the present time as to mate tin- . uiiteiiiplative man wonder , and the charitable anile . This vauutiiur has become au absolute vice , and like everything pushed to a limit , it has produced its opposite extreme—au undue and extravagant admiration of tilings old and obsolete . A half-bantering , half-serious dem . - < _ixi lias even l . een made to restore the heptarchy and lhe correlative stale of things ou which time has set Iris seal , and which haTe disappeared in the natural order of events .

      On what has the young generation to plume itself , and what is the nature of the advancement claimed for the age 1 There are two views in which , for the sake of simplicity and clearness , this Subject may he considered—tlie political and the social . Let us take the last , though -scarcely tlie least important view of the subject , first . "What social advantages are enjoyed by tlie young generation whicli were unknown , or but partiaUy known , to that which immediately preceded it ! There are some of an educational character , or in one way or anollier relating to intellectual progress , which are uot to be

      despisru . Mechanics' institutes , reading-rooms , lecturerooms , cheap publications , and so _fotth ; these are the things of which young intelligent people boast , and -whicli uaiurally present themselves to my thoughts here . Ihave nothing disparaging to say in reference to these things . They cannot be too highly estimated . They are among the tilings whieh connected themselves mediately with tiie struggles with which the great names who led file people iu the past are associated . We looked forward to these tilings in my daysof hope and vigour , audiudulged - » ery flattering notions of the benefits which we expected onr children to derive from them—those times when Pitt

      ¦ was umnstei-, when Wilkes was an agitator , and every year _ai-ought fresh accessions of talent to light in an apparently boneless cause—when Hunt became a patriot , and Cobbett liaving ended his _campaigns in regimentals catered upon and evinced a giant ' s capacity to work n a field of nobler exertion . In these things you enjoy some of the fruits of the labours of men of huge hearts , generous sympathies , and worthy aspirations among your fathers . You have a right to estimate these _things highly , and let ine trust you have profited by _feem- hut you must uot forget the share which the men of the past generation had in the achievement of these advantages . And in proportion as _J'ou estimate tliem aright such will be the measure of your zeal and sincerity In _endeavouring in whatever capacity you may be serviceable . ac

      But _> .: » estimation of the _simple power of these tilings Is _qtijilirit-d . I am not sure tliat there is mure _inielligeiu-e amuiigtlie young people , who were intended to _bechielly benetited by tliese things , than was possessed by those of s former generation . Has their general effect upon -Society _bi-eu what was prognosticated ! What has become of thc _nigh-toned morality which was to flow from these things ? " Educate tlie people , " was the cry ofthe Whigs , sad one ofthe boons the promise ofwhich helped them to office— " educate the people , aud you wiU have no need of Four Laws , for they will become * provident in their habits—your prisons will have fewer inmates—there will be less work for jour judges—and less occasion for the serrices of a large police force "—and so on . Now , though this scandalous aud mean party had not enough . of the leaven of sincerity among them—though they had

      not tlic heart to _contemplate , or the nerve to propose or accomplish any one object , even allied to greatness , education : _*^ not so difficult a matter as itwas within my _resnemm-.-iuce ; facilities of instruction exist now , whieh were aot heretofore available—the press is not now trammelled iritb -= « many of those petty provisions bj- which _legislators _i-h _.-ii to deem It ought to be restricted to be com . _pstibk- with public tranquillity , and the _mechauics'histitntes , and reading-rooms , and lectures have all had time _andr _. 'on . - ( o operate a measure of theproguosticated goad . "Where , then , is it to be found—and echo answers where ? late parliamentary reports , with tbe contents of which you are iw d _. _inltt ; acquainted , furnisli painful evidence that

      i « morality—the varied good effects which should flow fiomiacreased facilities of instruction of every kind , are set realised ; aud why ? Because something has been _Beglect-. d . Thc physical requirements of the people have received no corresponding degree of attention . How can -A high state ol public morality be co-existent with a phj-Sical condition , which throws people of all ages , aud both sexes , promiscuously together , in numbers of six or seven , ; w » one confined sleeping apartment , —ns I have -with my -i = n eyes lately seen , —particularly in England ? . AH right _lioliug is outraged ; all the decencies—all the ostrucri * . /? proprieties of life are set aside in these places . Ibis is tiie dark side of the picture . There is litilu jR-oun _.- l for toasting of advancement here .

      If the purely intellectual wants of the people have received a measure of attention aud concession , how much of either has heen accorded to those wants , ofa not less mporiant . and certainly a more imperative character , which 4 < ii < e out of physical necessities , anil which are connected with the means of _supporting life ! Alas J ti . is « r ie » - of th .- suLject has heen altogether _overlooked in the engroi . _-iiii ; attention which lias heen given , by design more _<} ia ; i accident , I am inclined lo think , to matters of _nferior interest and importance S If society is really advancing , there ought to be a visible improvement in the social condition of the people , for human happiness is the object of society .

      The j . hysical condition ox tlie people is very much _teorse uoxv than at auy period within iny remembrance . Suffering from want of employment : deprivation , to a greater orle ? s extent , of _fliecouveiiteiic _' u-s , comforts , and absolute necessaries of life ; have been of late jears more general , and extensively permanent , than at any period within my knowledge . Wages have been lower—einplojineni of every kino more _jrrcedily sought after , more difficult to procure , more thankfully received , aud more precarious when obtained . I have witnessed the _recurrence of periodical distress- —for a periodicity of genera !

      gloom and suffering appears to he the inseparable and _contingent cause of avast aud complicated _roauufacturiog system ; but I do not allude to distress of tliis _iiaturu —ta that suffering produced by the action of tangible causes , such as currency derangements ; the failure , " _niisdfceclion , or m 8 tpplication of _nation-jl schemes of finance ; to commercial embarrassments , or to distress _zesultiug from any ordinary causes ; but to an amount and intensify of suffering amazingly _jrent-ral among a class er portion of the people at all _tiiaes , and possessing , in mv judgment , au alarming character of

      penna-. Travelling at stated periods in England , Scotland , and Ireland all my life time , conversing with all sorts of people , nnd having always taken a _d-up interest in tincondition of those forming the _undsr stratum , so to speak of society , 1 have liad unequalled opportunities of foi ining just _judgments , ily knowledge is urcuratt- aud _uiinulc , and iit . i got at _stcon-. _' -hand . lVoni casual and superficial observations , or for interested purposes , as a gre : l astou :: ? csfihe information is procured winch goes to the C * 7 _Hnjv . ~ _ition of statistical tables , aud which iorms the fca _^ is f parliamentary reports—those curious legislativeftt » _yi , ¦ which never get beyond a certain sia _^ c of vegetation , and y . k * c _* . i _fm-ni-h materials for _legislali-. n meant to i » _over-ii ci ; : i . _s t or never _actuallj ar . ea . _pttd , until th . people—mn the sections—nro _ln-i p .. _rft _' oi . ; ,. turn tin . " .. Jrnov .: _^ - -. ; - -., aavaiitase , and a _reiio . is _i- _'ii _^ . _i-se . _Wi-1 : the * - . _.-vv' _-Ttnnnus ana this _csp-rie-acc / l c .- _*> c * ive l :, _> . * ct ., r . _« wm , : m , l 1 deem it _rij-r ... t -: ! v . u .., . _„ „ . tilings wMrhyu wiil not find in l « .. k * =. with tlic view « i _adimiustcinig , with u gentle hand aud a good intention ,

      The Letters Of A Sexagenarian. Utter 11 ...

      a corrective to that disposition which you have , in common with many intelligent persons of your own age , of taking too one-sided , or at least not a sufficiently dis T criminating view of the past and the present . . I assert then , that the social condition ofthe peoplein the physical aspect I have referred to—is worse now than at any period within my remembrance , and has been oflate years getting worse gradually . My mind wanders over several periods of public depression for a parallel to something like the present condition of the masses of the people , uuder a state of things which has existed for years , which at the present moment is deemed prosperous , and which the abolition oftlie Corn Laws will not improve—hut I can recall nothing resembling it . One particular period of suffering occurs to me _earlj-in the present century . The distress of this period was very

      general and unusually severe . It was , as far as may be , unconnected with political causes , and the ministers of the daj- were not presumed to be taxable with unusual want of wisdom or -sympathy for the people . Of course , « - !* . e legislation could , as it can at all times—or of what earthly use is it ?—have provided a remedy , or prevented the _mischief , by being prepared for the evil ; but thc acts of ministers were not immediately chargeable with lhe distress . The harvests in many parts of the world liad been deficient , and the doings ot Napoleon—then the imperial idol ofthe French people , whom , in their extravagance and vanity , they would have clothed with the attributes of Deity , and then done sacrifice to him—this man ' s doings on the continent in his career of empire , for he was theu ' tfe Emperor , had their share in producing the distress I allude to . I was travelling in the north of England at that time , and it was appalling to see the food

      that was eaten aud the price at which it was sold . A palpable doom seemed to hang over all the country ; everywhere its influence was visible ; a great grief had taken possession of men ' s hearts , and gave a universal espres _* rion of sadness to tl . eir countenances . I witnessed much and intense suffering at this time ; but it passed awaj- like a morning mist—men became cheerful once more—the bad _uuwholesome food was not so generally seen , aud at last it . seemed to have totally disappeared . Years passed away , and I can recollect the timo wheu the precise description of food , detihcd bad at a time of dearth and scarcity , appeared to h _^ becoming the chief consumption of a considerable portion of oi . e class of the people , uutil at last I hare seen it become so common as to attract uo particular notice , while everything relating , to household comforts and personal clothing among the class referred to , has been for years , aud is now in process of rapid and nernumciit deterioration .

      If in certain places , in mj- young _daj-s , I witnessed in my jourueyings distress during one visit , it had disappeared when my visit was paid a second time . But latterly , when I visited a place this _j'ear , as it were , and found a number of people iu circumstances of hardship ami suffering , I found the same people , with additions to theirnumber , as bad thenextyear ; and from year to year they grew gradually worse , and their numbers increased apace . They were growing old in reality , but they looked older for their wretchedness . Years and natural causes alone did not give men of forty thelooks and appearances of extreme age , aud impress a hue ofsicklj- squalor on the faccsof theyoungofboth sexes . It was the daily straggle with difficulties unknown to former times and classes ; the daily endurance of misery which had become an abiding evil , a permanent oppression , and an uiJierituiicc .

      T have , however , exceeded my limits , and must break off abruptly , promising to return to the subject . I am , he , Jacob Tedstt .

      Major Beni0wsk1 And The Polish Cause. In...

      MAJOR BENI 0 WSK 1 AND THE POLISH CAUSE . Injustice to Major Beniowski , we insert the foi lowing letter : —

      TO THE XD 1 T 0 K OF THE _NOBTUEBN STAB . 8 , Bow-street , Sept . 1 , 1815 . Sir , —Iii answer to an article of tlie last number of the Northern Star , headed , "The Democratic Supper and Major Ueniowski , " allow me to state , that I shall treat with utter contempt the anonymous attacks on my character ou all occasions ; but most particularly so in the case of " A Democrat , —a Polish Democrat . " A Polish _tlemocrat , in London , besides mj-self , is a curiosity—a being scarcely imaginable . Until a Polish Sir James Grabam-pensioned-democrat gives his _oion , name , aud the name of the party who refused to shake hands witli me , on account of my having turned a Polish aristocrat , I shall treat the matter with contempt . But when he publishes these names , I shall give to the English democracy a categoric , full , explicit , democratic answer . Ihave the honour tobe , Your obedient servant , JB . Beniowski .

      The reader will judge whether this he an answer to tlie averments of "a Polish Democrat . " Surely the alleged facts could have been denied , had they not heen true , without the implicated Major waiting for the name of the party who quotes the Major ' s own language , and narrates the Major ' s own acts . It is the fact as to whether the statement of facts be true or not , that the public have to do with , more tlian witli the name of the narrator of them . As we explained last week , when inserting the letter of " a Polish Democrat , " the writer communicated liis name to us : aud we believe liim to be , from his

      public acts , a sincere "Polish Democrat . " Major lieniowski will , of course , take his own course ; but wa venture to tell liim that the matters of fact contained in the letter of a Polish Democrat will not afford of his treating them " witli utter contempt . " if" he would retain his own modest designation— "the only Polish Democrat in London ! " Indeed this letter of the Major ' s is a proof that lie himself knows that " utter contempt" will not do . "Utter eontempt" would have taken no notice of the matter it despised : the Major Las been obliged to talce some sort of notice and lie has , in our opinion , attempted to _j-et outof a " decided fix" in a not very creditable manner .

      To The Edit0s Of The Nobtherk Staf. Sib,...

      TO THE EDIT 0 _S OF THE _NOBTHERK STAF . Sib , —Do me the favour to insert the copy of a letter , in reply to an objection made to my name being retained on the list of voters for members of Parliament , and thereby endeavour to stem that abandonment of principle which is now so prevalent . " When bad men couspire to injuro those who advocate Christian doctrines , good men ought to unite in support of each other . At auy rate , when m in become so debased as to aspire to , and boast of beiii ] :, common informers , it is time for tliose who admire the good old principles of honest John Bull to look about them . Should you comply with my request , I shall feel grateful to you , and remain very respectfully , sir , Your most obedient servant , Leadenhall-street . James Wilkinson .

      138 , Leadenhall-street , August 25 th , 1815 . To Mr . William Endell Luckett , Ko . 220 , _Betltnal-green-road . _Sta , —On Saturday evening last , at six o ' clock , the postman delivered to me an open paper , of which the following is a copy , viz .:

      —" ( SfcBVICE ) . "Xotice of objection to parties inserted in the list of the Livery . " To Mr . James Wlkinson , 1 S 8 , Leadenhall-street . " I hereby give you notice , that I object to _j-our name being retained in the list of persons entitled to vote , as freemen ofthe City of London and liverymen of the company of Upholders' in lhe election of members for the said City . "Dated the twelfth daj- of August , one thousand eight honored aud forty-five . " _IViiliam _En-deil Luckett , " 220 , Befkual-gieen-road . " On thc list of voters for the company of Loriners . "

      Aud pray , sir , who are you . that dares thus to take such a liberty with a Liveryman of nearly forty years ' standing ! I say again , _xcho are you ? _HTiat are jou t Or , what havo I done to you ( a perfect stranger to me ) that calls for such a penalty as will render me unfit to vote for a Member of Parliament 1 If I have injured you in any way whatever , it is more tlian I either know or intended _, for I never saw your person to my knowledge , aud certainly never heard of your name or existence before ; then why attempt to deprive me of my long-enjoyed and _paid-for right ? At any rate you might have stated why you object to my name being placed on the list of voters —nay , the murderer or thief are charged with the acts committed , and proof adduced before conviction ; but you go boldly to pass sentence on me before trial , and

      pror . ounce sue _unqualified to vote for a Member of Parliament . I have exhibited your " Notice" to me to several of my friends , and am informed by some of them that they have also received notices ; so that , it appears , you are a Common Infobmeb , an agent of tlie enemy of mankind . That , possibly , you may have found my name ( iu all past elections ) in favour of those candidates who have professed those principles which I profess , namely , equal rights and equal justice to all my fellow _couutrjinen , and that , you being opposed to those principles , think it j-our duty to oppose all who advocate them . However , should I he alive and in health at the next election , I will exercise my bight , regardless of your objection ; and Loeines as you call yourself ( which , I am told , means bridle-bit maker ) , you will find some difficulty in forging a Cobb strong enough to restrain me from doing my duty .

      What a lamentable state society must have arrived at , when persons recklessly persecute tlieir ncighbuurs with . out shame or remorse , and that too , regardless of the DlviscLiW which tiny profess a belief in , and wliich forbids persecution—to see them make a mockery of that Religion which teaches kindness and goodwill towards each other—u ; iy , to see them bold and willing imitatois of lhe _wiekvd _Juzeiic / _., Auab , and the Soks of Belial , who persecuted the Patbi 6 t Nabath , merely for refusing to sell his inheritance—to see them imitate the infamous Judas IscauioT , and _Cojimos Isfobmeks , shows how much the character of England has fiillcu in this merccnarv age from what it was in olden times .

      However , it is never too late to repent , therefore let me implore you to _ren-. ct on what you have done—then alien .- } the morning worship iu St . Paul's Cathedral , and ; : s * . - -n atteiitivclj- to ' ihe sublime prayers and thanksgivings to the _Almichtt Ckeatob—and then open your ' _"" . iiii . E and read attentively the twenty-first chapter in the : if =- b . _iok of Kings , and sec whatbefel Jezebel aud her C _. j _..- > _Ji-To' : s—then turn to the New Testament , to the _i .-o _« _tel _accordin _**; to St . Matthew , chapter the twenty--ix ! ii , _vevses fourteen to sixteen , forty-seven and forty _, eight , and llien look at chapter _twenty-seven , verses three to eight , and jou will see what bcfel Jcd _^ . s _, and when jou

      To The Edit0s Of The Nobtherk Staf. Sib,...

      have seen all that , - _j-ou will _thankime ' for directing your attention to such valuable information . , That , you may profit by this , and become a true penitent and a practical Christian , is the sincere wish of ; Your . intended victiin , . James Wilrisson .

      Odd Fellowship

      ODD FELLOWSHIP

      To The Editor Of The N0etuebk Stab. Ratc...

      TO THE EDITOR OF THE N 0 _ETUEBK STAB . Ratcl iffe ' s Plate _-dj-atH . ' Meeting at Gray ' s once more . Tradesmen ' s dinner repeated . The " unmitigated lie " about the "JRcformed lawc ffunncr" proved to be "too tnie . " Dear Sib , —The "Old Odd Fellow" was at a lodge in Eccles , near Manchester , last night , August 30 th , and there he was informed that the London Journal of that date contained a letter from Director Ashdown , the Stepney diuner orator , denying the assertion made in in your paper by the " Old'Odd Fellow" relative to

      BatclihVs being at Newton races betting with all around him ; and the comment on Asbdown ' s foolish talk at Stepney , about his friend "having left off betting for ever . " By mere chance the " Old Odd Fellow" got tlie loan of the London Journal for less than five minutes , in the lodge-room , and saw the said letter , wherein Ashdown avers that the assertion alluded to is an ' _unmiiigatedlie . lie also says something abeut a correspondence he had passed with Ratcliffe , whicli gave him authority lor so saying , with a long tirade of froth , amounting to nothing , except to show the gullibility of Ashdown when . imposed upon by so artful a dodger as Itatcliffe .

      And now , without caring what Ashdown may say about unmitigated lying , the " Old Odd Fellow" will go to proving . He once moro begs to re-assert that his letter was true , and Ratcliffe knows , it ; so do tens of thousands that live nearer to Ratcliffe than either Stratford crStepney . Grceii . The plate affair was a complete humbug . Will Mr . Ashdown mitigate his wrath , and tell us how that presentation was got up ? Will he tell us whether there were eight or ten subscribers ? Will he give us a list of their names and amount of subscrip tions ? Will he enlighten us as to whether they were "tradesmen to the Order" or not ? And , if so , how much Ratcliffe had . paid each of them for goods supplied to the Order for the last seven years ?

      WiU Ashdown deny that there ever were . " Tradesmen ' s dinners" held at Gray ' s , to which the Executive were invited , and whereat the most shameful scenes ol debauchery ensued , leading to corruption ? Perhaps Ashdown will deny these things , especially if Ratcliffe send him another letter . But , unfortunately for Ashdown , he lives to . > far from the nest of infamy for his denials to go far ; and not all the Ashdowns nor London Journals that ever existed , can have any effect upon thousands of Odd Fellows in Manchester aud Saiford , before whose eyes , and upon whose very thresholds , these disgraceful things have and do take place .

      And now we come to the gist of the matter , viz . — What Ashdown really did say at Stepney . green . To begin then : Ashdown said , at a dinner at Stepney , on the 28 th of July , 1845 , according to the London Journal of August 2 nd , 1845 : " C . S . Ratcliffe had made many enemies by his attention to the interests of the Order as a body , in preference to a mere section of its members . As a consequence , unfounded calumnies , emanating from that nest of iniquity , the betting ring , had heen industriously circulated to ruin him , if possible ; in the estimation ef tliose who knew little of him , except through the

      office he held , and consequently had no opportunity ot judging the truth or falsehood of the assertions . Mr Ratcliffe had narrowly escaped from ruin , through the instrumentidity of men purposely bribed to entrap him ; but , acting under the advice of his friends , he had long since studiously withdrawn himself from all connection with the turf or its transactions . He had-inviolably adhered to this resolution ; and it was too bad , after these things had been canvassed , explained , and consigned to oblivion years since , to have them again raked <« ut and brought forward . " ' " v

      That ' s what Ashdown said at Stepney , according to the _Zontfon Journal ; and now for what the "Old Odd Fellow" said relative to it in the Northern Star : — Last week hut oue , the _isiidon Journal gave an account of a dinner at Stepney , whereat a speech was made by a Mr . Ashdown , one of the Board of Directors , and subeditor oftlie Journal . He is there made to say that 'friend Ratcliffe has left off betting for ever ; he has buried all his turf transactions in oblivion , and become quile moral . ' Will it be credited , that while Ashdown was spouting this balderdash at Stepney , Ratcliffe was actually on Newton race-course , with a roll of notes in his hand , calliug and betting with everybody around him , as can be proved by scores of witnesses . So much for Asbdown's _veracitj- and his reformed friend ' s ' improved morality !'"

      There , now , wo have both accounts ; and Ashdown says min * is an " unmitigated lie . " Of that the reader will judge . As for friend Ratcliffe _bein-, injured in the estimation of those who know little of him , it was well put that ; for " thousands upon thousands who know a great deal of him are the persons I appeal to as my witnesses . As for those Odd Fellows who know "little of him , " the sooner they find him out the better for the preservation of their own interests and the interests of the Order . Again , I assert that " Ratcliffe was at Newton , with a roll of notes in his hands , culling and betting with all around him . " To the proof . On the 30 th of August , at the Humanity Lodge , in Eccles , a place between Manchester and Newton race-course , and within a mile from Monton , where Ratcliffe has phrchased a country seat ,

      Ashdown ' s tale in the _ZoiK _^ oit _Journal about the " unmitigated lie" was told , amid laughter at his credulity and indignation at Ratcliffe ' s impudent audacity ; and' tliere , among upwards of fifty Odd Fellows , an individual stated tbat he himself had lost several pounds on Newton race-course with' Ratcliffe ; and scores in Manchester can be found who saw him not only thero , but heard him hooted off the railway train when it stopped at the station , hear his house . Before a room full of Odd Fellows on the above occasion , several letters were road in Ratcliffe ' s own hand-writing , negotiating bets _, to a large amount with an Individual in Manchester , one ol whieh letters Ratcliffe wrote while at Carlisle , offering to bet £ 60 to £ 15 against Idas for the last Derby ; und in that letter he states that " he stood to lose a heavy amount if the horse won . " This letter was actually penned when he was on his way to the Glasgow A . M . C ,

      where he met friend Ashdown . Another letter was written a day or two after he returned from Glasgow , offering another large bet ; and his messenger on this occasion was his own brother Henry . Curious enough , Henry ' s signature is written on the tack as witness to the transaction . In addition to all this , plenty of stories were narrated , which Ratcliffe understands well , and which will , ere long , come fully to light . Now , these statements were made , and _thetse letters fend , before a very large room full of his nearest neighbours ; and let liim deny them if he can . He is shamefully deceiving Ashdown ; for not only was he at Newton race-course , but at Liverpool also : aud he who wants proof of that , let him enquire of the present G , M . of the Order , John Dickenson ; he was there with liim 1 Yours truly , Am Old Odd _Fellcw .

      To The Editor Of L'Ue Northern Star. Sir...

      TO THE EDITOR OF _l'UE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —Iii your last week ' s Star , you very kindly stated j-our intention of allowing the Board of Directors of the Manchester Unity an opportunity of speaking for themselves ; may I , therefore , as a member of that bod } -, intrude upon your columns , and possibly upon your patience , with some few observations upon a letter from an anonymous correspondent in your paper , who signs himself " Au Old Odd Fellow . " Thank Heaven he is not a young one . ' as it affords some ground for hoping the rising generation may be wiser nnd better tlian the preceding one . In reference to that portioii of your correspondent ' s letter personal to myself , I have only to observe , that from beginning to ending it is neither more nor less thau an " unmitigated lie ; " tliat I never made use of the expressions he imputes to me ;

      and I further defy him even to find the words . he has chosen to place in mj- mouth in any portion of the printed report of what I did say ab the anniversary of the Stepney district . As regards my being sub-editor of a newspaper , I am not aware whether he intended it for a compliment , a stroke of wit past finding out , or a charge of offence ; but , in either case , a more barefaced fabrication , for a dishonest purpose , was never attempted to be palmed upon an unsuspecting tradesman at his counter . I have for years followed a business demanding imperatively my own personal labour , both of head aud hand , in conducting it as a means of livelihood for a large family . The only pretension I have for any grade in a printing establishment is my connection witli my present colleagues in the directory which it would appear has elevated us to the rank of " devils . " . At all

      events , I here publicly deny having any interest whatever , either directly or indirectly , in any newspaper , or other publication ; that I have never received one sixpence in any shape for any "balderdash" I may have contributed ; and that my only connection with the paper to which your correspondent alludes is the lucrative one of stamp-office security for freedom of onintoii and _expression in its columns . I need , I am suie , say no more upon this head , as you are well aware of the pleasant contingencies thereto . belonging . As to iny veracity , perhaps your nameless correspondent will amend his own . Those who know me best have better reasoiui for confidence thau _anonymous _dialt'lllcs l and to those who know me not , it can be of small consequence whether 1 outvie " Ferdinand Mender Pinto" or no . So far from being " made to say" anything in defence of Mr .

      Ratcliffe , I would assure your correspondent that it was a _spontaneous effusion , called forth by a remark of the chairman ; and all the "Old Odd Fellows" that ever had , or may have existence , shall never prevent me from defending even a bitter enemy from unjust , revengeful , and anonymous calumny . My knowledge at " Mr . Ratcliffe is confined entirely to those matters which have come under my own personal observation , iu connection with the business of the society , to wluch ( I was going to say ) . I have the honour (?) to belong ; but let ihat pass . I here unhesitatingly affirm—and let his scoundrel traducefs disprove the affirmation—a more correct , indefatigable , and uncompromising public servant no body of men ever possessed , I neither know , or desire to know , mere than this ; for other matters , "let him without bin throw the first stone . " Three

      days after my *¦ _baldei dash" hail been uttered , I r . ceivcd a letter from Mr . R ., thanking me for so " un . expected" a coiupliuieut _, This letter enclosed another ,

      To The Editor Of L'Ue Northern Star. Sir...

      t ldressed to the ' . ' editors" of those " sporting " papers , *¦ - which , the calumnies of anouy tnous _corresuoudentB had } " 7 ; 'published' to the world . It contained a denial of tl ° ch arges , and challenged his opponents to meet him ie ,.. " honestly , and fairly , and prove the truth of their ° ' " ' tioL , s * was green enough ' to imagine that the ass . god-like press , would be as prompt to cure as l _??' fi . ct . _ . a wound : but no ; Mr . Ratcliffe's reputation t 0 m . , be salved by payment for the letter as an adwasony _, _^^ accordin g to the scale of payment vertIS ¦ _" *' ¦ . d for the beastly notifications of quack US _mMderou * compounds , fifteen _shillings or a pound l ' -have been sufficient compensation : but , as I am woulo . a guineas was the price demanded , aye , a 11 "" * ,, t 'V _^ V-. sertion of a lettcr of some twenty and paid for . the h n for justice and fair lines' containing a sit _i" .,-., ,. _jiues *•*• . o ( . an Hidividual whose accusers hearin g , ou the part o . _neaiiofa . r manliness or honesty to avow have ' never , yet had . the . ,, „„„„„ * , „' * , _„„ _„ , „„„ na * o »* -. * . . j - "tions have onltaken place

      _, y tlieir names . These transa * . *• * _vhhiW he a . t month , and _, ' _•« . _*• Jour unknown _corrcs p _lut _eoollv asks us to _believV , _» P ° » _*» _« _" _*»'« score of witnesses as unknown a » l _™«* f _^ _**¦ _**? eliftW whilst his letter was being set « J type , was openly calling upon « everybody around hi . n '< m Newton racecourse tb bet with him . It wont go ctown . Jl ou cannot call him fool as well as villain . " Ag ain , the" Old Odd Fellow" charges the executive witfi . meeting nt a tavern to hear appeal cases ; he says , they * have motives for it , or rather he imputes motives of the most unworthy kind . I agree with hiin tliat the practice is highly objectionable—' tis a great pity , with lus long standing in the Order , ' he has but just awakened to a sense of its enormity—because it is not tvue that the board room will afford anything like accommodation for witnesses or parties waiting ; the greater part of the premises being occupied as ware-rooms for goods , for which Mr . Ratcliffe is personally responsible . So far as my

      own personal observation has gone , it appears necessarj to meet at some otlier spot for the hearing of appeals . Perhaps " the Meal-house might he found more eligible than Mr . 'Gray ' s , and the , penny charged at the door to defray expenses , as it is allowable to gain instruction even from an enemy . However , this evil , together with some others adverted to by your correspondent , are certainly not chargeable iipon the present directors ; they have but just commenced to tread the flowery maze of office , and this system has been in operation long , very long , without any attempt , on the part of our Manchester friends , for its rectification , although they have had possession for _twentj-. five years ; and it may be as well to observe that a large proportion of the present board are individuals who have long been foremost in contending for a change . It would be useless tb burden youv columns with financial or statistical details to prove the

      necessity for a proper apportionment of contribution to an anticipated and prospective expenditure . Your labours have been ever directed to tlie one great , end of teaching the working classes their absolute _dependence upon their own exertions alone , for the realisation of any ultimate good , and , therefore , 1 feel assured you can have ho sympathy with Mr . Probe ' s illogical attempt at pltfcing charity aud independence in the same category . The sooner charity and such like phrases are discontinued as inapplicable to the working roan , either in relation to his own or any other class , the sooner will he approximate to something like a just estimate of his own importance ; and tlie Manchester Unity , so far from a positive good , is , to my mind , a positive nuisance and au obstruction in the path of the working nian if it be used as a means for fostering the vile and degrading notion , that charity

      should usurp the place of that ennobling feeling of high independence which takes as a right its fair and _legitimate proportion of those accumulations of prudence and forethought which it has been instrumental in procuring . The great vice , in my opinion , and a very serious drawback it is upon the utility of secret societies generally , is the enormous expenses of their government . I will be bound to prove that every annual committee costs our Order thousands of pounds ; and I should muchlike to sec an equivalent for this enormous outlay in legislation . How much better would Mr . Probe and his coadjutors be employed in devising some practical remedy for tliis evil , than in coining nicknames for men seeking the same objects , but employing more reasonable means for their accomplishment . I believe the best means ever suggested for fair representative government tobe but a bungling

      contrivance at the most , and merely a round-about way of _arriving at that which might be more cheaply and effectively obtained from the fountain head at once . I have always maintained that every member of a community has a right to a fair voice either in making or altering thc laws by which that community is governed .. I do not contend that every individual ought to be consulted in questions of government , because he is bound to use proper discretion in the choice of members for the government ; but nothing , I am certain , can give ouch weight to laws as the consenting voices of those who are called upon to submit to tliem . I can speak confidently as to the excellent working of this system , because I have two years _' sineeintroduced it in my own district—every member uses his own discretion freely , and unbiased by any other influence ; and , I believe , most men , when a fair

      and dispassionate statement is clearly placed betore them , can much better speak their own sentiments than any representative can do for them . I am truly sorry to find my working brethren have not yet hnd sufficient experience of the evils arising from dissension among themselves—like the Spartan boy , they will cherish and conceal the fox' that is tearing out their vitals ; but so far as division amongst the members of secret societies is conderned , I apprehend only good results can follow . Any change must be for tho better ; but I see no benefit likely to arise from substituting one iorm of tyranny for another . The Manchester Odd Fellows have made out as pretty a case against themselves as need be wished ; they have demonstrated their total unfitness to be entrusted with the government . Manchester has now the sole power of sending candidates for tlie highest offices of the Order ; and , will it be credited , out of their boas _eil nine thousand members , they could not furnish the Uniiy with ' a choice ; every Lodge of eighty had the privilege of sending a candidate : the whole number sent one , and

      now they blackguard him iri pamphlets by Probe , and songs hy some otlier gentleman , with an expressive " alias , " although I dare maintain a more estimable man never existed either in his public or private relations . There can be no question that the sooner the government of the Odd Fellows is removed from Manchester , the sooner will peace ensue in all their borders , and useful and effective reforms be carried out ; for as to the necessity of reform all ' parties are agreed ; but I do not conceive any good end cau be attained by anonymous slanders , unfounded assumptions of bad motives , exaggerated statements , or senseless nicknames ; such things bring discredit upon a " good cauBe , and when employed to bolster up a bad one , are indications of a bitter malignancy of feeling in : the party using them ; and a separation under such circumstances is far the better course for securing the peace and welfare of the opposing sections of a body which nature intended , but man has prevented , becoming one flesh . I remain , yours respectfully , Stratford , Essex . C . Ashdown .

      Cfiattfet Intelligence

      _Cfiattfet _intelligence

      London. City Locality.—Mr. Cooper's Lect...

      LONDON . City Locality . —Mr . Cooper ' s lecture on history , last Sunday night , beinc : the fourth of the course , was well attended , and was lieard with very great interest . The crimes of Constantino , —the eelobvatcd parent of modern State-religions , —were unflinchingly depictured ; and the changeable views of liis no less murderous successors were amply detailed . The incursions of Alaric , Attila , and other . Gothic , ¦ Vandal , and Ilunnisli conquerors , — -the legislation oi Justinian , and his ingrateful cruelty to the heroic Belisarius , with the achievements of Nurses , the eunuch , were next set forth ; and then the picture received its most attractive tints from a rapid sketch of the career of Mahomet . Mr . C . defended the position of the philosophic Gibbon—that tho Arabian

      impostor was , in tlie outset , a sincere enthusiast , and only became hypocritical , like Cromwell and others , by the seductions of power . The Saracen conquests , their dominion in Spain , and overthrow in France , by Charles Martel , or "the Hammer , " wero lucidly narrated , * and then Charlemagne , the great marvel of the middle ages—the munificent encourager of infant literature , who could not himself either write or read—was graphically drawn . Curious Monkish stories , _—linmiugs of the Popes , and especially of the energetic llildebrand or Gregory VII ., —tlieir contests with the emperors , —the armies of the Crusaders , —thc persecution of the Albigenses _, —and otlier subjects of high interest , which formed portions of the lecture , we cannot dilate upon . The lectures should be lieard to be properly estimated .

      Metropolitan District Council . —Sunday , August 30 th * , Mr . Mills in the chair . The Council , having fallen into some littlo arrears in the prosecution of its resistance to the Masters aud Servants Bill , appeal to their brother Chartists of the metropolitan district for the means of liquidatingthe same . It -was resolved that an _aggregate meeting of the Chartists of London should be held in the Hal ) , 1 , Turaagaiii . lane , Farringdon-street , on Monday evening , September 22 nd , at eight o ' clock . _Vicijm Committee . —Chartist Hall , 1 ,

      Turnagainlane , Sunday , August _Slst ; Mr . Stallwood in tho chair . —The secretary read a letter from Mr . O'Connor , . announcing tiie receipt of the statements of the present condition of the Victim , Fund , but stating that he ( Mr . 'O'Connor ) , waa just about to leave town at tlie time he received it ; and , consequently , he had not time to compare it _with the vouchers , but would do so , and submit it tc , the next meeting . A resolution was passed that the matters stand adjourned until Sunday next ,, when the whole of the members are desired to , attend at five o ' clock precisely .

      SHEFFIELD . Lectubb by Mr . _M'CiRATii . —On Tuesday even ing week , Mr . M'Graih lectured to a numerous audience in the 11 aU of Science , upon that aU _engrossing and vitally important subject " thc Land , its capabilities , and tho people ' s right to it . " In the course of his address , Mr . M'Grath entered into a full exposition of the Chartist Land Co-operative plan for enabling tlic people to possess themselves of the Land . At the conclusion of the lecture a discussion commenced , which was prolonged . tiU a very late hour . Several frivolous objections ur » ett by the partizaiis of O'Brien , such as the impossibility of purchasing land ; thc inabilit y of any but practical

      London. City Locality.—Mr. Cooper's Lect...

      agriculturist !? to cultivate the land with advantage ; the ; _possibility of an aristocratic confederacy being formed to buy up aU land offered for sale _j . theiikelyhood ofa special law * being passed for the _suppression of the society , " were dealt with by the lecturer to thfi entire satisfaction of the great '" majority of the meeting . A number of the rules were disposed ot , and several members enrolled . The society here is progressing steadily in popular estimation , and weekly receiving accessions to its numbers . ¦

      ROTHERHAM . Tiie Land . —Mr . M'Gratli addressed a large meeting of the inhabitants of this town in the marketplace , on Wednesday- evening week , on "the Land , and tlie way to get It . " The lecturer ' s views were received by the meeting With unqualified approbation . An adjournment to a large School Room then took place for the transaction of business , when a number ofthe rules were called for , and some members were added to the society . Thc people here , from experience , seem fully to apreciate the value of the land , * they look upon its possession as the only means of social redemption for the working population .

      BARNSLEY . . " . The Land . —On Thursday evening week , we had a crowded and spirited meeting in the Odd Fellows ' Hall , to hear a lecture from Mr . M'Grath in elucidation of the Chartist plan for obtaining land . Mr . Roberson was appointed chairman , who introduced the subject for the evening ' s enquiry in a speech rejniarkable for the conclusiveness and cogency of its _reasoning . Mr . M'Grath ' s address elicited frequent bti ' _i'stsof enthusiastic applause . Barnsley k going a-head well iu the glorious labour-redeeming movement . .,

      Tke Pious and Pmjndemxg Profitocracy . — On Monday last we hada great gathering of * the " pious , " to lay the foundation stone of a new chapel , belonging to what is called the " Old Connection Methodists , " , and verily they are both an old , cunning , aiid unholy , connection . One contributor to the new edifice came an apprentice to Barnsley as a warehouseman , and got married to his master's daughter . The master and son are both dead , and he ( tlie sonin-law ) is now carrying on the business himself , He has amassed a fortune out of the blood and bones of the poor Handloom Weavers , but lie has given £ 500 to the new chapel . A fortnight ago , his daughter was married to the son of a Methodist parson , and he had thc Church-yard covered with damask carpet

      for his daughter ' s and the parson ' s son s delicate feet to walk on ; and this week , to crown his piety , he proposes to plunder his ; poor half-starved skeleton Weavers' of ten per cent , ofthe miserable pittance they arc at present receiving for their toil ; but , he may rely upon it , tlie Weavers will not submit quietly to be plundered . If the Weavers were to break into his warehouse and take every tenth web of cloth , he would seek thc police officers to bring the thievesto punishment ; but no officers can be forced to seize him for his robbery of his . workmen ' s wages , for the reason , that the crew that make the law belongs to his plundering , heartless class . The Weavers' Union Committee meet nightly to take measures to prevent the success of this pious robber .

      j LEEDS . TnE Land . _—Notwithstanding the adverse circumstance of Halton feast , we had a most respectable audience in the spacious Bazaar on Sunday evening , to investigate the practicability of the plan for obtaining land , and the benefits likely to accrue to the people from its adoption . Mr . Farrar being appointed chairman , Mr . M'Grath , of the Directory , addressed tlie meeting for upwards of an hour and a half , much to their satisfaction . At the conclusion ofthe lecture , several persons were enrolled as shareholders in the Society .

      MANCHESTER . The Laxd . —Owing to the unprecedented and idiotic opposition offered to the Land plan by J . B . 0 ' Brien and his partisans , the Council deemed it necessary to have their sophisms exposed , for which purpose Mr . Thomas Clark , one of the Board of Directors , lectured at Carpenters' Hall on Sunday evening last . Mr . Clark took the objections _ of O'Brien seriatim , and replied to them to the entire satisfaction of tlie audience . O'Brien has asserted that , even if we had the money , we could not purchase the land , as the aristocracy would unite to prevent it . The fallacy of this objection is so apparent , that

      it carries its own refutation with it . Is it not a wellknown fact that the aristocracy never sell the land as a matter of choice , but as a matter of necessity , in which case Chartist money would be as welcome to the ruined aristocrat as'the cash of any Whig or Tory in the kingdom . O'Brien contended that we have no right to purchase the land , whilst lie himself has asseited to Mr . Clark that , if he had money to spare , he would lay it out in the purchase of land Now , if O'Brien has a right individually to buy the land , surely the society has the same right co-opera tively . The thanks of the meeting to the lecturer closed the proceedings . "

      ROCHDALE . Co-orEBATio _* M . —On Sunday evening last Mr . C . Doyle lectured to a numerous and respectable audience , in the Association-room . The lecturer , in his usual happy and eloquent strain , pointed out the advantages of co-operation ; and gave it as his opinion that until the working men were prepared to carry out the plans laid down by thc Convention , there was little hope for the success of the cause . Mr . Boyle ' s lecture gave much satisfaction . 11 EBDEN BRIDGE . The Charter and the Land . —On Tuesday evening last , Mr . Thomas Clark , of the Executive Committee , attended here , and delivered an energetic and interesting lecture on the Charter and the Land . He reviewed past political agitations , and contended that , though tho ultimatum of sueh

      agitations had not yet been achieved , yet they had produced that improved state of public opinion which , at no distant period , would force from the merciless grasp of tyranny tiiose rights to whicli the working classes were so justly entitled . He conjured them , in the sacred name of truth , to remain banded together , even though they were few , as the time was rapidly approaching when those gallant bands of brave and sterling ' democrats who had so lone fought in the ranks of " freedom . would find all their energies needed in the guidance of that movement to which the anticipated panic would undoubtedly give rise . Mr . Clark was listened to throughout with the most marked attention , and at the conclusion invited discussion , but no one taking up thc gauntlet , after the usual compliments to the chairman and lecturer , the meeting broke up .

      SOWERBY HELM . The Land . —Mr . _Tlios . Clark addresred a Kneeling in the Association Room , on Thursday evening last , on the question ofthe day—the Land . The lecturer , having laid down cleverly and distinctly the leading features of the plan , afterwards entered into an exposition ofthe benefits to be derived from tlio adoption of the plan . The superiority of the rural over the hell-begotten , factory system was lengthily dilated upon by the . lecturer , to the ' satisfaction of the meeting . At the conclusion , several persons came forward and enrolled themselves as members of the Land Society , being already members of the National Charter Association .

      YORKSHIRE . The Land . —This question is causing a great sensation throughout the county . On Sunday last , a most important meeting was held at the New Holland Small Farms , Wiksden , where there are lour farms cultivated on Mr . O'Connor ' s principles , and a striking contrast is apparent between the old and new mode of cultivation . The land in . question is the . worst of any in Wilsdcn , the original soil not being more thaii tliree inches thick , and the opinion of the old farmers in the neighbourhood was , that no person could make it grow turnips or anything else . There are four farms , of four acres each , and each four acres is divided into four equal parts , and these are planted with Swede turnips , potatoes , cabbages , big , and oats , which will bear comparison both in

      quantity and quality with any on the best lands in Wilsdcn . The produce of one acre of lentils , which were cut and taken away , tliey told ns was worth twenty pounds . Early in the day , groups of persons might be seen in every part of the farms , examining the crops and inquiring into the mode of cultivation . The general question was , if such inferior land as this can be made to yield such a crep as this through the means of spade cultivation , what would good land produce under a similar mode ? Precisely at two o clock , Mr . B . Rushton waa ealled to the chair- . ! who commenced the proceedings- by giving out that beautiful hymn " Britannia ' s Sons , " which was sung with _grrat enthusiasm . After some remarks from the chairman , the _mecAavff was further

      _addressed by Messrs . Alderson , of Bradford ; Baldwin , Cropland , and Gledhill , of Halifax ; and Mr . Firth , of Keighiey . A quantity , of rules were sold ani tlic following resolutions were- carried : — " That this meeting adjourn to this day three weeks , to he , held at the same time and place , and that Messrs . M'Grath , Boyle , and Clark be invited to attend . " " That the West Riding delegates be requested , at their next meeting , 'to make arrangements for holding a general camp meeting for the West'Riding , on Wibsoy Slack , being thc most central _plaee , and thai Mr . O'Connor and others of the Exe _*}\\ tive be requcstedto attend . " The thanks of the meeting were given to the chairman , and the meeting _dispersed highly delighted with the proceedings ot * the day .

      ASHTON-UKDER-LTNE . The Land plan has been taken up -with eice spirit in this town . More than ninety shares hav been taken , and one hundred pounds r _^ id to th society from this town only . HASLINGDEN . Tire Land—Mr .. TatterH . il . of Burnley , deliver * a lecture on lhursday , August 28 th , in the Charti room _Hioh-strcet j Haslingden , on the _Co-operati ' Land Society , which gave general satisfaction , i tho conclusion of the lecture six entered their nam for the Co-opcrative'Socioty , The following Mondi evening the entrance money was paid , when ti members appointed a secretary , steward , and pre dent ; and it was resolved to meet every Mond evening to enrol jnew members and receive th _^ monies .

      Muwtt M&Mtm

      _MuWtt M & _mtm

      Losdon Corn Exchange, Monday, Sept. 1.—....

      Losdon Corn Exchange , Monday , Sept . 1 . — . With a _continuance of extremely fine weather , rapid progress is being made with the harvest , and should this week prove as firie as the past , a very large pioport . ' o . 'i ofthe crops ' would be got in by Saturday next , In EsseA ' . Kent , and Suffolk , a great breadth is cut , but probably not much above a fifth has at present been carted in the counties named , whilst further north , tlie propoi'tioVi ' stiJl abroad is , of course greater . The reports as to the . yield and quality ofthe wheat are of a more satisfactory character than from the extreme wetness of the summer might have been expected . Still it is the general opinion that tlio former will barely prove an average , and that the wef ght per bushel will be 21 b . less than tiie produce of last year . Tlte lino weather has , nevertheless , had its usual

      influence , and the trade has recently become very depressed . At most of the markets held on Friday and Saturday , prices of wheat gave way Is to 2 s per qr ., though , owing to farmers being busy in the fields , comparatively small supplies were brought forward . The complaints respecting the potato crop have rather increased than diminished . To-day very unfavourable reports on the subject liave reached us from Suffolk , from whicli it would appear thatthe epidemic ia spreading to the eastward . Up to the present time tlie accounts from Scotland and Ireland are , however , we are happy to say , of a satisfactory nature . Tho arrivals of wheat coastwise into London were tolerably >; ood during the past week , but the quantity fresh up for to-day ' s market was only moderate . A considerable portion of the samples exhibited on tho

      Essex stands was of this year ' s growth ; part of the Kent supply was also new ; and on the whole there were at least 1000 qrs . The quality was verv various , but the condition was better than expected . Good runs sold at 48 s to 55 s per qr ., and one or two selected samples 5 Ss and even _GOs per qr . Old wheat went with comparatively little alteration , and the trifling business done in the same was at an abatement on the currency of Monday Jast of Is to 2 s per qr . In free foreign wheat there was scarcely anything passing ; to have made sales of importance less money must have been taken- . Bonded parcels were wholly neglected , and quotations have become quite nominal . Thc arrivals from abroad exceeded l _^ OOu " qrs last week , but nearly the whole of what has re _« eently come to hand lias been landed under lock . Elour was very unsaleable to-day , and ship ' samples

      were obtainable at . slightly reduced rates . The receipts of English barley were trifling ; one or two small lots of new were exhibited of coarse quality ; tliese sold at 82 s to 33 s per quarter . In foreign sorts there was too Jittle doing to warrant alteration in quotations , but the turn was against the buyer . Malt was taken off in retail quantities at previous terms . English and Scotch oats were very scarce , and commaiuicd fully former terms . Tlie best descriptions of Irish were also quite as dear , as on this day se ' nnight , but inferior kinds of the latter and almost all sorts of ; fine foreign oats were Od per quarter lower . Beans were more plentiful than last week , and certainly easier to buy . There were several parcels of new maple grey and white peas at market . Thc best boilers sold at 39 s and 40 s , maples at _SSs to 39 s and hog peas at 3 Gs to 37 s per quarter .

      CURRENT PRICES OF GRAIN , TER IMPERIAL QUARTER . —Br itish . s s s s Wheat , Essex , & Kent , new h old red 46 5 G "White 50 60 — Norfolk and Lincoln . . . . do 4 D & u Ditto 57 59 — — JNorthum . and Scotch white -111 56 l'ine 50 57 Irish red old 0 0 Red 48 51 White 52 56 Rye Old 29 32 Kcw 2 » 30 Brank 34 35 Barley Grinding . . 26 27 Distil . 28 30 Malt . 3133 Malt Brown .... 52 54 Pale 55 50 Ware 60 62 Beans -Ticks old & new 37 38 Harrow 38 40 Pigeon 41 42 _I'eas Grey 35 3 S llajile 37 3 S White *} 8 40 Oats Lincohis & Yorkshire Feed 22 21 Poland 24 2 G Scotch Angus 23 25 Potato 26 2 g Irish "White 20 23 Black 20 22 Per 2 S 01 b . nct . s s | Per 2 S 01 b . net . s i Town-made Flour ... 51 53 | Norfolk h Stockton 36 38 Essex and Kent .... 38 42 I Irish S 7 39

      Free . Bund , Foreign . s b s s Wheat , Dantsic , Konigsburg , ho 59 G 3 43 4 S Marks , Mecklenburg 5 G 58 33 3 C Danish , Holstein , and Friesland red 48 52 28 31 Russian , Hard 4 S 52 Soft ... 48 52 2 S 30 Italian , Red . . 00 52 "White ... 54 58 32 29 Spanish , Hard . 50 52 Soft . . . . 5- > 52 81 35 Rye , Baltic , Dried , ... 28 30 Undricd . . 25 30 22 ot Barley , Grinding . 24 26 _Slalting . . 28 30 VJ U Beans , Ticks . . 34 3 G Egyptian . 34 35 28 24 Peas , White . . 37 39 Maple . . 36 37 28 32 Oats , Dutch , Brew and Thick 23 25 20 30 Russian feed . 20 22 14 22 Danish , Friesland feed 20 22 14 IS Flour , per barrel 28 30 2127

      AVERAGE PRICES Of the last six weeks , which regulate the Duties from the 28 th of August to the 3 rd of September .

      wheat Barley . Outs . liyc . Beans I ' eas . Week ending s * d * s ' d * s * d- s * d * s * d ' s * d _* July 19 , 1845 .. 50 0 29 G 22 1 82 8 39 9 40 i Week ending July 2 G _, 1815 .. 51 7 29 2 22 5 31 7 40 0 38 10 Week ending Aug . 2 _. 1 S 45 .. ; 53 S 29 8 22 5 34 G 40 5 41 0 Week ending ! Aug . 0 , 1 _SI 3 .. | 55 3 29 7 22 S 33 10 41 0 39 0 Week ending ! Aug . 16 , 1845 .. J 57 0 29 4 22 2 34 4 41 2 39 T Week eiuliiijcl Aug . 23 , 1845 .. 57 0 29 9 22 S 33 4 41 8 38 11

      Aggregate average of the last ' six weeks .. 54 0 29 9 22 5 33 5 -10 8 39 T London aver- j ages ( endiugl Aug . 26 , 1815 ) I GO 11 29 111 21 10 3 D 8 42 10 40 3 Duties .. .. IS 0 9 Oi 0 0 9 6 2 G 3 G

      _ Imports PiioM August 25 to August 31 , inclusive . ENGLISH SCOTCH . HIISH . _FOIIEIGN TOTAL . Wheat .. .. 11 , 1 , 17 50 0 3 , 861 15 , 558 Barley .. .. 7 G 0 1 _. G 20 1 , 350 S _. UjI Oats .. .. 14 0 20 , 034 11 , 9 , 11 31 , 979 Rye .... 0 0 0 0 0 Beans ,. 304 0 0 0 8 C 4 Peas .. .. 308 0 0 08 ' 416 Malt .. .. 5 , 3-19 0 1 « 0 3 , 559 Tares .... 0 0 0 0 0 Linseed .. 0 0 50 1 , 855 1 , 905 llapeseetl .. 20 0 0 27 47 Flour , sacks 5 , 540 0 100 _« 5 , 010 Ditto oris . o 0 0 0 0

      London _Smithfiki-d Cattle Markkt , Monday , Sept . 1 . —Since Monday last the imports of live stock for this market have been extensive , they having amounted to 22 oxeu and cows from _Hanibiu'y , h _, and 200 oxen and cows , together with 76 sheep from Rotterdam . To-day we had on offer 190 Dutch beasts in excellent condition , indeed they were somo of tlie best animals we have seen for some weeks past . At thc outports the arrivals of stock from tiie Continent have proved large , viz ., 220 beasts and sheep , all at ilull . _^ From our own grazing districts the bullock supplies received fresh up this morning were very extensive for the time of year , while a decided improvement was noticed in tlieir quality and condition . Although the attendance of buyers was rather numerous , tlic beef trade was in a very depressed shite , _, at a _decline in the currencies obtained last week of quite 2 d . per 81 b ., thc hiyhest fieure lor the best Scots

      not exceeding 4 ( 1 . per 81 b ., and a clearance wasnot effected . From Norfolk , Suffolk , Essex , und Cambridgeshire , we received COO short-horns , Scots . m _* home-breds ; from tlie northern counties , 800 shorthorns , Ac . ; from the western and midland counties , 900 Uerefovtls . runts , Dcvons , he . ; from other pnvt * ot England , 700 of various breeds ; and from Scotland , 200 horned and yolled Scots . The number of sheep were somewhat on tho ineroasc , though by no means large for the season . Prime old Downs supported previous rates , but all other breeds wove 2 d . per 81 b . lower , with a heavy _deiaand . Lambs were in fair average supjly , and sluggish inquiry , at a decline in thc quotations of 2 d . per 81 b . The veal trade was in a " sluggish state , vet prices were _'iio stly supported . The i ; ,. iinbcr of pigs—182 of which came _frofii Ireland—was moderate . The pork tiade ruled steady , at full prim .

      By the quantities of 81 b . » sinking tlio offal . s . d . s- d . Inferior coarse beasts . . . i i > - _*» Second quality . , , . 3 0 8 * Prime large oaen .... 3 15 _S S Prime Scots ,. & c . . . . . 8 10 * _{) Coarse inferior sheep .. . . 3 2 8 >» Second quaJaty 8 8 \ Prime _cosiase woolled . . . 4 1 * * ¦ Prime _Southdown , , , 4 8 5 _" I / _iimhs .... .. i i 5 I large cearse calves . ... 36 * * Prime ssiall . . . . . 4 4 * 8 Sucklbg calves , eash . . . 18 0 30 0 Larger hogs . . . ... 3 0 3 _» IS eat small porkers , , . 3 10 * t _Quiatcr-old store pigs , each . . lfi 0 20 •*

      H _2 AD OF CATTU ! ON SAIE . ( From tho Books oftlie Clerk ofthe Market . ) Beasts , 3 , 650-Sheep and Lambs , 28 , H 0-Calves , _J-8-Pigs 309 . Manchester Corn Market , Satuiida y . _August 30 . —During the week , the weather having nssimicu * more favourable and settled appearance , the *!'¦• '' has been of an inactive character , and s ' ,,. ' | l 0 articles were limited tothe immediate need ot t dealer , with little , if any , variation in prices . 1 ' market this morning exhibited a slender _atten dai of buyers , and wheat was offered 2 d . to 3 d . per _> . cheaper , with _littic disposition to purchase . _< au exceeding ly languid demand for dour a , .. ( . of fully Is . per sack was made . There was bat"u inquiry for outs and oatmeal , and a decline * . * _**'• I . 451 bx . on the former and Cd . to Is . per load on latter article must be . noted .

      Richmond Corn Market , August 30 . — - ' t _jlfl ply of corn in our market to-day was £ % | J (; St , season . Inferior samples were lower , but . maintained their prices . Wheat sold Irom ' _^^ Ss . 3 d .. ; outs , 3 s .. to is . ; barley , 4 s . to -Is . oi . . )] t ! l 0 5 s . to 5 s . Oil . per bushel . Tic favourable * _'l :: ' _»* 7 , ,. ; ts weather has had ii _coi-respomVuig clict _* t «» - _•; , . off of the . _imucvs ; nevertheless the ilu ! " _c' '; " J .,,. ; .. . _'u . . s and wet lauds especially , still assert tliat m * . are in j tired beyond recovery .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 6, 1845, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_06091845/page/6/