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Northern Star (1837-1852), 24th January 1846, Edition 4 of 4, Page 7, -Mtsteriocs Occi-bbexce. —Sfspiciocs Cas...

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      Prussia The Ftvst Jakpary 24, J1 846. _ ...

      Jakpary 24 , J _1 846 . __ THE NORTHERN STAR . 7

      3fomgn $Toimnente

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      «' And I Wfll War, At Least In Words, (A...

      « ' And I wfll war , at least in words , ( And—should my _chante so happen—deeds , ) With all who war with Thought !" «« I think I hear a little bird , who sings The people bvand by will be the stronger . "— _-Btaca

      ME PROVINCIAL ESTATES OF FUUSSU . It affords us great pleasure to be able to announce to our readers that Chartism is at length beginning to be understood on the European Continent , _because represented in the Coutincutal journals . Our readers had proof of this iu the highly-important article which lately appeared in the Northern Scar and Times , copied from the _Augsburgh Gazette . The principal contents of the Nortiicrn Star now appear regularly in several of the iuo > t influential of the _GiTHHtn ' papers . Thus , the " Fraternal Meetings " held in tue past year , the "Message" of the Chartist Executive , the " . Resolutions * " adopted by the late Chartist Conference , and the " Death of the Engluh Oligarchy , " ate some of the articles which have recenUy been republished in several German journals , carrying our principles and the name of this paper over the Continent .

      We take the fvl ' owing article from the limes , addressed as a letter to the editor of that journal . If some of the sentiments contained therein do not accord with , or fail to express our own views , still the facts contained therein make the article valuable , particularly at this moment , when the greatest _agitation pervades Germany , aud all natior-s arc anxiously awaiting tlie _stt-usj-le which the insolence and imhecility of the Prussian King are so well calculated to precipitate : — "Theprovincialestates were called into activity in 1 S 23 , but even at that moment the institution was

      considered , or at least expressly _announced , by ihe Government itself , as only a partial and intro ductory fulfilment ofa far more serious promise—the grantof a national representation to all Prussia . It cannot be said that in this promise the King and his Cabinet were urged on hy any _expressed desire or wishes on the part of the Prussian nation . In the month of November , l _? l _* 8 . when in the whole of Germany not a soul dared to breathe a loud wort ' _, _abjut freedom , the famous _Minister Von Stein issued a _c-ircular _, from which , the following passages arc extracts : —

      A national representation is necessary ; thc Royal power is , nnd will always be , _sacredJto mc ; hut in order that this power may produce all the good it can , it appears to me iudisptnsable tliat we procure a means of knowing the _wishes of . he people , and giving strength aud life to its resolutions . If all participation in the operations of the State is denied to the people , thty _quicldy begin to look on the _government with indifference , or even place themselves in _opposition to it ; thence an aversion to all sacrifices , or at least the utter want of selfdevotion for the existence of the State . The _represeatationof the people in _countries where it has existed until the present is imperfect . My intention is , therefore , that every man invested with the rig hts of citizenship should enjoy the right of fce _. iig repr _. seated , whether he possess a

      hundred acres of laud or none , whether he he a cultivator of land or a manufacturer , whether he exercise a tradt or be only by iuteliectnal bonds conne cted with the State . Several plans luve been presented by tne ; on their adoption or rejection will depend the welfare or misfortune of onr country ; for it is only by such means that the national spirit can be strengthened and prosper . "It cannot be pretended that little was promisednay , offered , here—the constitutions in force , then , amongst which , certainly , the English occupied thc f rst place , were considered to " be imperfect '—nor that tke thing to be offered was not described in such precise terms as _srarctVy to permit of any doubt . But at that time Prussian statesmen were not satisfied with mere promises—they really meant what

      they said . After Stein had , on the express demand of Sapoleon , been removed from thc Ministry , hi- * successor , Uardenberg , remained faithful to the same system ; not only had he , iu the many liberal law * he introduced , always a national representation in ¦ view—in February , 1611 , he actually realised thc Idea by assembling at Berlin a provisional national representation , under whose co-operation several laws of the highest importance were discussed and sanctioned . So there we see Berlin has actually witnessed within its precincts a national representa tion , and at what moment < In 1 S 11 , when the powerof Napoleon was unimpaired , and before tiie Prussian nation had ever asked for it , the national representation was granted by the King on his own free impulsion . " But the King did not even stop there ; not satis-£ ed to endow his own p _< ople with a constitution ,

      hewished to extend the same benefit to all the othci German States . After the termination of the war , durinc the negotiation of 1814 and 1 S 15 , Prussia insisteii ' in all her _diphiantieal notes on the necessity of granting constitutions , and of empowering the German _peoploeverywhcrc with the rightof voting the supplies and taxes . If thc greater portion of Germany at this Moment has constituti < ais , itis chiefly owing to the efforts of _Prussia ; and if those constitutions are deprived at this moment- ef all their value aud efficicnev , it is again chiefly owing to thc subsequent efforts of thc same I ' _ru-sia , at the Diet . Was this not cruel t Better they had never been given , than only as a means of causing constant heart-burnings and wide-spread popular _dissatisfaction ! It does not appear , however , that tlie King at tliat period entertained less _benevol-nit intentions towards his own subjects .

      " On thc 22 nd of May , 1815 , the King promulgates his famous ordinance , which contaiutd the following short paragraphs : — 1 . A representation of the people shall he organized . l _' . To that end the Provincial Estates shall be convoked , ic . 3 . Vrom amongst those _Provincial Estates shall be elected the representatives ofthe country , which will sit at Berlin . 4 . The sphere of action ofthe national representation will extend to all tliat concerns legislation and public taxation . 5 . A _commission , composed of public functionaries , and inhabitants of _proviucts , shall , without loss of time , be convoked to Berlin .

      6 . This commission will cccupy themselves— first ,, with the organisation ofthe Provincial Estates ; sc-condly 5 with the _organisation of the national _represeutatiou thirdly , with drawing up a constitution ou these base * . 7 . They will assemble on tlie 1 st of September . "Tins 1 st of September of the year lSlo has still to come , to the present day ! The promises , however , did cease less quick than the expectation raised bv ti em . In a Cabinet order , dated from the 17 th of January , 1820 , respecting the regulation of the national debt , it was said , that from thence no loan l

      should he contracted without the co-operation and sanction of the future National Representation . ' _lastly , in the ordinance itself of tbeoth of June , 1823 , by which the Frovincia ] Estates were created at _last / it was added to a passage , in which the laws to be presented to them were enumerated— 'As long as a general representation had not been called into existence ; ' so that these Provincial Estates were generally considered as only an instalment to the accomplishment of the more important promise of a General National _Itepracntatudi .

      "In the third paragraph ofthe general law just quoted , of _the-iith of June , _1 S 2-J , where the sphere of action of the Provincial Estates was defined , it

      was said—The provincial estates are the legal organ of the different clasif s of our subjects in each proviuce . According to this destination , we order—1 . That ail projects O ' law which concern one province alone be _suhini-ted to its deliberation : 2 . As long as a _jeneral representation dees not « xi t we shall also submit to tlieir deliberation all projects of general laws lespecting the rights of persons _andpropertv _. and taxation , in as far as these law . conceru the _province ; 3 . We shidl accept from the _Estates their petitions or complaints referring to the special _twlfare o r interests of the whole of the province , or part ef it- we shall examine thein , and decide upon their _merits- 4 . The local affairs ofthe province will _besubinitted ' to their derision under a rest-nation of our approbation and in « pr « ion .

      "Thesewere all the matters on which the Provincial Estates were to be consulted _am . asked their advice , further could give no decision . But nttle as this was , even this little was taken away by _stlSnentexpIanatoiylaws . The right of petit ., i , _wassunounded with so many forms and _uifm-uities as to be reduced to _almost nothing : f _« ' _* f _^' the nroiccts of _lawswhich wcre to be submittedto the £ S " of the Estates , the government did not eveSethe trouble to hear their aonee on an v of them Thus , until thcyear 1 S 37 , the reprc , ei . fitiyes of the richest _proriaceuf Prussia , mm * contain * neaxlv two _inillions and a half of inhabitants _thriUienish provinces , had only been convoked during tho * seventeen years to give their advice on the building and regulations of a niauhouse ( at Sieburb ) , sonic _iranie laws , and the mode of putting W „ _Nation in their province some laws already

      _dejided and promulsaied without them . 1 he saint Estates adop _t ed , in their sitting ofthe Mth of June , 1 SS 7 a memorable address to tlie king , couched in th * most respectful terms , in which nothing was said about a general representation , m which they expressed themselves _hishlv satisfied with the institution of the Provincial Estates , only \ , n \ iv . _ tlie king to execute and observe tlie e ' ear laws by whieh then action was defined aud regulated . The former much raster promises br . d been already forgotten at that time , and this sentirnriit was genera } in the nation ; whose fault , then , was it that the air of Prussia rings

      again with those cries for a _scneral representation : The nation was already sati .-Hcd with their lot , when , _bekoldj the present king again raised their expectations bv holding out new promises to thtm , which he made , as , it had been done by his father , on his own impulse alone . . . . " Considered under this point of view thc Loyal poliev of Prussia appears both cruel and dangerous . 1 heve in the preceding liucs done nothing but mcrelv _tramst-ribed documents and generally known facts { but what a heavy accusation do tliey imply ;

      «' And I Wfll War, At Least In Words, (A...

      Prussia was the _ftvst , on her own free impulse to start the cry for constitutional government all over Germany ; the constitutions in the smaller states chiefly owe their existence to the powerful efforts of Prussia in 1 SU and 1 S 15 , and tlie same Prussia was also the foremost to stifle them , and deprive them of all power ] In the same mode she has _deliberately fostered the same expectations amongst her own subjects only in order to disappoint them . Indeed , Prussia has rendered as bad services to the Absolutists as to the Liberals of German v . Andthispolicy aud system is not limited tt » the constitutional question . We have recently seen quite similar proin the

      _ceedings religious movement : it was through the protection and secret encouragement of Prussia that llonge acquired the _greaterportion of his influence ; awl when this niau was near destroyiug the influence of the Catholic Church ia Germany , when the movement had already become too strong to master it , in steps again Prussia at the eleventh hour to thwart aud oppose it , thus bequeathing to Piussia a ? id Germany tke fruitful germs both of political and religiousrevo . ' utions , of her own making and creation . It is the governments , in my opinion _, which have the greatest interest in discouraging and putting a stop to such a perfidious policy whick can lead to nothing but turmoil and confusion . " London , Jan . 15 . " A _Foreigseb . "

      Tlle Order Of Tue Garter. Ty"Isi>Sos, Mo...

      TllE ORDER OF TUE GARTER . _Ty _" isi > sos , Mosdat . —The Queen held a court this afternoon at the Castle . Earl Grey had an audience of her Majesty , and delivered the Ensigns of the Order ofthe Garter worn by his late father . Her Majesty held a Chapter of the Most Xoble Order of the Garter . The Knights Companions having been robed in the Armoury in their mantles and collars , passed into St- _George ' s-hall _, where they were called over by Garter _Kiiijr of Arms . The Knights Coinpanions preseut were his Koyal _Highness Prince Albert , his K _<> yal Highness the Duke of Cambridce , his Koyal Highness Prince George , the Bake of Butland , Date of Wellington , Marquis of Exeter , Duke of Richmond , Dukeof iiuccleuch , Marquis of Lansdowne , Dake of Beaufort , Ouke of Cleveland , Marquis of Abtrcorn , Earl Talbot , and the Earl of Powis .

      The officers of the Order attended in their mantles , chains , and badges . There were present—the Pielate , the Bishop of Winchester ; the Chancellor , the _Bishop of Oiford ; the Itegistrar , the Hon . and Very _Ksv . the Dean of Windsor ; Garter Principal King of Aims , Sir Charks Young ; and Gentleman Ushtr of the Biaek Rod . Sir _Augustus ; Vf . J . Clifford , Bart The Queen and Prince Albert were conducted from the private apartments to the Garter-room by the Lord Steward , the Lord Chamberlain , the Master of ihe Horse , the Tics Chamberlain , the Treasurer of the Household , and the Comptroller of the Household . Her Majesty being seated oh a chair of state , the Knights , attended by the _offict-rK of the Order , proceeded iuto the presence of the Sovereign ; the Chancellor remaining at the door , not having betn sworn .

      The Knights Companions being seat « d , the Registrar signified : o the Sovereign tha : the Sight Rer . Dr . _Samut-1 Wiiberlorce , Lord Bishop of Oxford , attended at the door of thc Chapter-room , and _hurui-ly prayed to be admitted to take the oath of _i-fflceas Chancellor of the Most Xoble Order ; whereujKin , by her Majesty's command , the Chancellor , wearing his mantle of purple velvet over his _eyircopal habit , was introduced between Garter and Black Bod , the former carrying on a velvet cushion the purse , gold chain , and badge . The Chancellor knelt on the left hand oftbe Sovereign , and the oath wa * administered to him by thc Registrar . His Lordship wae thtu invtstrd by the Queen with the gold _ci-ain aud badge , and liavinc received from her Majesty the purse , had the honour to kits hands , and retired to his place on tlie left hand of the _Sovereign .

      The Chancellor signified to the Chapter her Majesty ' s Royal _pleasure , that the two vacant stalls in the Royal Chapel of St . Giorge , at Windsor , should bi tilled , and as by Ihe $ ! a ; u ; cs none but knights car . be elected , the Most Hon . _GeoT £ _i Charles Marquis C .: mdeu was introduced by Garttr King if Anns and Black Bod . The sword of State , home by Sir William Martins , Gentleman Csher , having betn _handed to the _Q-teen by the Lord Chamberlain , her Majesty was pleased to confer the honour of kidghthood therewith . His Lordship , baring kissed the Sovereign ' s ban < f , retired . The Most Hon . Richr . rd Marquis of Hertford was introduced , and knighted with the same ceremony .

      The Knights Companions proceeded to the election , and _tin-suffrages having been _collected by the Chancellor and presented by him to the Queen , her _Mijetty commanded him to declare tliat the Most Hon . Geoige Charles Marquis Camden had been duly elected a Knight Companiouof tbe Most Xuble Order ofthe Garter . Then , by the Sovereign ' s command , his Lordship was received at the door of the Chapttr-rooni by Earl Talbot and tlie Earl of Powis , she two junior Knights Companions present , and Vas conducted between them to her Majesty , preceded by Garter ( bearing the ensigns of tne order upon a crimson velvet cushion ; and by Black Rod . The M .-. rquis Camden ki . elt near the Queen , and _Garter King of Anns presenting on his k .- ; c-e the Gartir , the noble Marquis was _invented therewith by the Queen , assisted by the two senior Knights present , the Chancellor pronouncing the usual _a-. ' monition .

      The Queen having received the Riband and George from Garter King of Anns , put : he same over liis Lordship ' s left shoulder , the Chancellor pronouncing the customary admonition . The Marquis again kissed her Majesty ' s baud , and having received the congratulations of each ofthe Knights _Cvii'l ' _-nums _, _retirc-d . The _Chapter proceeded , to a second ekction , and the suffrages having been collected by the Chancellor , were presented to tlie Queen , when the Most Hon . Riclmrd Marquis of Hertford was declared duiy elected a Knight of tlie Most Noble Order of the Garter ; the noble Marquis was introduced , and was invested by her Majesty with the Giiiter , and the Riband aud George with the like cer * monies . The Chapter beiug ended , the Knights Coinpanions were called ov » r by Garter , aud , together with the cnicers of the Order , retired from the presence ol ' her Majesty .

      The Queen wore the mantle and collar of the Order at the Investiture . The Prelate stood on the right of the Queen , the Chancellor on the left , the other officers ofthe _oidi-r _remaiuine at the bottom of the table . The _liaehess of Baccleuch , Mi .-tiess of the _Bol-es , and the Visuuntess Jocelyu _^ Lady in Waiting , were behind her _Majesty on the left , and tlie Lord _Chamberiaiii , with tlie Sword of State , on the opposite side . The officers of the Royal household in waiting occupied Uieir usual stations . Sir Rol ert _Teel and Sir James Graham were present at the august ceremony . After the investiture , the Duke of Richmond had an audience of her _Majesty to present addresses .

      The Cturt was attended by the Marquis of _Anglesey , Gold Stick in Waiting ; Marquis of Ormonde , Lord in Waiting ; Admiral Sir Robert Otway , Groom in Waiting ; _Colonel Cav »« di » h , Silver Slick in Waiting ; Coloml Buckley , Equenyin Waiting ; Colonel Bouveiie , Equerry iu Waiting to Ptiuce Albert ; the Groom of the Robes , Mr . Stuart Wortley , and the Hop . Jir . Forbes , Pages of Honour in Waiting , mid the Field Officer in Waiting . The Yeomen Guard , in their _Coronation coxtume _, were on duty in St . Ge « rge ' s Hail , the Armoury , and theGuitrd Chamber . Sir Geoige Lie , the Lieutenant , Mr . EUerthorp , tlie Adjutant , and Sir Samuel Hancock , Exon iu Watiiig , _xttended . A guard of honour of the Grenadier Guards , commanded by Colonel : _> _pf-tti « woode , attended during the Court iu the graud quadrangle with the baud of the regiment .

      The Queen gave a grand dinner m the evening , to which ali the Knights of the Order of the Garter present at the Chapter were _honoured with invitations , and were present , with the exceptions of his Royal Highness the l ) i : ke of Cambridge , who left the Castle in the _afternoon for Kew , and of the Marquis of Anglesey , who was prevented by indisposition from being preseut . and who also took his departure from tlie Castle in the afternoon . Her Koyal II _glmess the _Ducheis of Kent , the Duchess of Iiuccleuch , the Marchion-. ss of Camden , the Marquis uf Gninbv _. tbe Earls o : Liverpool , Deiawarr , aud Jersey ,

      Lady Fanny Howaid , Baroness de _apefti , the Bishop ot Winchester , the Bishop of Oiford , the Hon . and Very Rev . the Bean of Windsor , the Bight Hon . S > Robert Peel , the Right Hon . Sir James Graham , Jlajor-Geaerai Sir Henry _Whtatiey _, the Provost of Eton , the Rev . Lord Wriothe ley Bu _?< eii , the Rev . Br . Hawtrey _, Major-General and Lady Isabella _Yi _' rmjss , Mr . and Mrs . W . Ilarcourt , Sir Geoige aud _LaCy Confer , Hon and Kev . C . LtsJieCourtciiay , Mr . Ralph _>' e _« ille , Sir John M . _Purg-HTBe _iGreuadiir G : i : id _>) , _hkutetiant-Coloue } Williams ( "id Lite Guards ) , and Mr . Glover were also present at the banquet .

      Binncr was served in the Waterloo Gallery , the candelabrum of S :. _Geoige , tiie patron saint of the Most Noble Order of the Garter , ani the most magnificent in the Royal Treasury , forming the principal ornament in the centre table , uhich was covered with _numerous vasi-s _, ice pails , and pine stand ? , and was brilliantly illuminated witli numcrou * ; andehibrs ( filled with wax lights ) , the whole of silver gilt The beautiful lustres in this gallery were also _liglite-. ! on this occasion . The band of the Grenadier Guards was in . attendance iu oaeof the galleries _during dinner .

      -Mtsteriocs Occi-Bbexce. —Sfspiciocs Cas...

      -Mtsteriocs _Occi-bbexce . _—Sfspiciocs Case . —Oil Wednesday evening , or _i-arly on Thursday morning , a murder is supposed io have been _committed , in a barn belonging to -Mr . _Cliarlwwcrtl :, at l / _ms-nor . On some of the servant * gotu » am , the barn on Thursday morning , they discovered a female ' s cap upon the _giv-iu-d , saturated nith blood . The cap was trimmed with pink ribbon , and appeared to be one that had belonged to a respectable person . We do not hear that _tiieic were any indications of a _strusglc having

      taken p : acc in thc barn , but there were considerable quaiititks of bleed on different parts of the floor , aud ii' ar to the cap an open razor was found likewise deeply stained with blood . A long track of blood wm traced for a considerable distance on the road which leads from the br . rn . Diligent search has beeu made by the poiice and the inhabitants of Uiedustrict , without success . What _rcndci-s the afiair most mysterious is , tiie fact that no iomalccr other person in the i ; C ) glitoiirl . ofjd is missing . — Mwcchvfitid Chronicle .

      The "Moral Lessoiv Of The Gallows. (From...

      THE "MORAL LESSOiV OF THE GALLOWS . ( From _Puiiefi . ) Thousands of breasts beat horrid hope ; Thousands of eye balls , lit with hell , Burnt ' .-ne nay all , to see the rope _Umlacken as the platform fell . COVEXTOT PatMORB . Within these few days , the majesty of the law—as the Moloch is called—has on two occasions asserted itself hy the hands of the hangman . A great moral lesson has been preached to the multitude—the preachers a dead , law-slaughtered man and woman . -Martha Urowning and Samuel Quennell—suffocated carcass s!—have been hung to a beam to illustrate

      the sacrcdness of human life . The law , to show its horror ofthe _bloodshedder _, has shed blood . The rope and the knife were tbe death-dealing instruments of the murderers : but tlie homicides themselves were killed with all thc solemnity ofa statute . Thc first victims wcre smitten suddenly , secretly : but the bloodshedders , to expiate their _' crime , were strangled for a national sight . Lessons of Christian love aud charity were thought to issue from the dead , distorted mouths of the law-killed malefactors . The hangman was made the schoolmaster ; and the priest preached the loving-kindness andforgiveness of Christ to miserable creatures , to be in an instant slain by the law ' s revenge .

      And there is no mockery in this—none ! In many loolish phases , under many wicked forms , appears the wonderful knowledge of the legislature ; but it the great Enemy and Mocker of man wiuld show tlie hends the _greatest and foulest example of human fully and wickedness in the guise of justice , surely he would point to the hanging carcase of a man , killed according to law , and , with a chuckle , cry , " Behold , the Wisdom of Parliament _!'" " True ; he may mourn the good old ff . ggot times , when he snuffed the sweet odour of roasting flesh—of kw-burncd men and wonieu in Smitlificld ; nevertheless , there still remaius for him neighbouring Newgate ; and still Sir James Graham sits paramount—Justice in granite—at the llonie Office ! What double lessons of morality did the wisdom of tiic Secretary set the contemplative populace of Lombn last Mouday _' wcek ! How cunningly , too , were the practical themes ordered—that the half-taught of the Old Bailey might , following thc

      hangman , be completely edified iu _Hotscmongerlanc 1 Should Parliament , in its growing tenderness for the multitude , some day appoint a national Master of thc Revels , Sir James Graham , above ail other claimants , must fill the post . His willingness to deny the mob the execution of Mary Furlcy must ever be gratefully remembered by the visitors of the Old Bailey . And there again , thoughtful Sir James did all he could : he at least whetted the appetite of the multitude with the sweet death-warrant ; though ouly _eight-and-forty hours afterwards it was recalled , —the woman having suffered only eight-and-forty hours of needless agony . Nevertheless , it was a fine thought to threaten her , just in solemn sport , with thc hangman—even it may be at thc time it was determined only to expatriate her . Now and then a wise , benevolent statesman may permit himself to _plav with heart-strings , even as _Xero played upon the fiddle .

      But a great reform has taken place . The press is excluded li om the inti riorof a prison on killing days . This tremendous sagacity of Sir James will very soon render turnkeys reporters ; for somehow anecdotes of the condemned cell will find their way into print . We have lull evidence of this . For instance , we gather the subjoined glad tidings from the newspapers : " In the course of some conver « ation she ( Martha Browning ) had i _» ith the _chapiin , she has expressed an opinion that the spectacle of her being publicly executed would be calculated to have the effect of preventing others from committinf ; a similar crime , and there is very little doubt she will meet her dreadful fate with the utmost firmness . "

      Now , did the reverend Mr . Davis himself furnish our brethren with this intelligence ? On the oiher hand , did the enlightened chaplain—the mouth-piece of mercy , as the preacher ofthe New Testament—did he himself first _suggest such an opinion tothe eulirit , to be afterwards blazoned as her own penitent conviction ? Wc more _thi'ii suspect this of Mr . Davis ; and for this shrewd reason : wc well remember bis funeral discourse to Ilcckcr ; in which the chaplain took it upon himself to answer the opponents of legal mansuiying , by dilatlug on the great moral example afforded by public hanging ; it was so awful , so tremendous altssmi to the depraved and thoughtless . * And can this really and truly be the solemn conviction of Mr . Davis , minister of the Gospel ? And if it be , we ask of the man , is he blind—is he deaf ? lias he no perception ? Whatin the acting cf his dreadful functions , when he issues from Newgate door , what does he sec—what

      hear ? Docs iie behold an awe-strit ken multitude ; a mass ofashy human faces , smitten with terror—eyes flowing with tears , lips moving with prayer against temptation ? Dees he liitcn to a low yet fervent murmur of devotion ? No—no . lie sees around him horrid looks—cannibal eyes , whetted with a foul appetite , nurtured by the gallows . And he hears a cry of "Hats off ! " thatthe public killing ofa manor woman _isay be as fairly seen by all , as by the expectant gazers of an opening pantomime . And yet with these sights and sounds—things , wc should think , apt to disturb the rest of holy men—with these horrors acted about hiin , Mr . Davis translates h _.-. _miiiig into a moral example . The dreadful , curious looks of the Old Bailey , are the looks of penitence —and the savage oaths of blasphemy are muttered prayers . litit to return to thc double horror of Monday week —to a consideration of its moral efficacy . What was the scene in the Old Bailey on the previous Sunday Let the ' . lobe answer : —

      • ' During the whole ofthe day , a vast number of idle and dissolute girls and boys continued loitering iu front ofthe prison , uttering the most disgusting and ribald jests . " Hanging , however , imparts advantages to some people--namely , to the householders of the Old Bailey ; for on the Sunday evt-r . iug" If any respectable person w « s passing , his cars were assailed with the following questions by the persons above noticed : — ' Do jou want a room , sir ! A fiuc view of the _sct-ne _, sir . You ean have every accommodation and plenty of _rt-freibmeiit already provided ; a good tire , sir , so that you v _> _ill not feel tlie cold . '" And so pass the night with brandy and cigars , awaiting the advent of the great moral teacher , hangman Calcraft . At an early hour the mob assembled , aud , according to the papers , brawled and fought . The killing at the Old Bailey perpetrated , thc Chronicle tells

      us" Soon aft < r th < - great bulk of the crowd litiran to disperse , a great portion of whom , we _regr * t to say , procKcdcd with grtat . » peed to the next sad leene of action at _llorsenicnger-hme . " And thus had the benefit cf a twofold moral lesson—a lesson whose efficacy was shown in fights at the gallows' foot , and was most ' mpressivcly declared by the subjoined paragraph in the same copy of the Tm . cs that narrated the two acted moralities ! " _Gcilviiall . —John Asbury and Henry Lie , two lads , were committed to Uriduwell for a month for attempting "o pick pockets at the execution in the Old llailey . " What say * the Reverend Ordinary to this ? Is it not clear that the Old Bailey allows is too often the half-way post to Bridewell—the seein *; a Newgate exhibition merely preparatory to an abiding in Newgate walls ?

      And now , a final word to Mr . Davis . Wc doubt not that he , and every other gaol chaplain appointed to preach Jove and mercy to the culprit while the law waits to kill him , do conscientiously fulfil their duties : we make no question that they can reconcile together the function of a minister " of the Gospel , who preaches forgiveness , with the duty of the heathen priest who _awdsted at the slaying ot' the victim . We cannot . To hear the peaceful words of the Redeemer breaiktd iu the ear of a man about to be strangled , is , to our mind , to listen to a most awful State hypocrisy—a most appalling mockery of the greatest attribute ol Josus . > Ye speak as the ignorant laity ; but we speak our honest thinking . According to our view ; of Christianity , it ought to be as difficult in a Christian State to find a Christian clergyman to assist at the deprivation of human life , as , thanks to the humane instincts of tiie common mass , it seems difficult to obtain a wretched mercenarv to do the

      killing . Is it to expect too much , lo hope that some clay the chaplains of thc gaols will vindicate their Christianity ; and , as one man , petition I ' ariiameiit against dcatn-puiuVliiiU'nt ? We throw out this _sugsestiw : to Mr . Davis ; id Newgate begin the work . Let the chaplains learn the loson set them by the excellent Lord Nugent at Aylesbury , nnd show with him , tnat even the Bible , whicl . * is now made their great argumcui for the hangman , does not , truly translated , command .-nan-slaying . Wo . spy again , lei the caol chaplains , with one accord , lift their voices in sou luu eor . _iH-nmatkii ! of the barbarous , the ~ i _** nrrant practice of judicial man-killing ; nor will their appeal to the wisdom of Parliament lie iess benevolent , less Ci _ristianlikc _, if assisted by thc dulcet accent * of , here and tlicri _* a bishop .

      , . Still , hare we this comfort : whether the men of God assist' the goodly work or no , the gallows is doomed , is crumbling , and must down—overthrown by no greater instruments than a few _goosc-quills .

      \\Oiir.X Convicts Ion V.\X Dikman's Laxd...

      \\ oiir . x Convicts ion V . \ x _Dikman ' s Laxd . —Thc Fairy steam-packet , belonging to the Woolwich Company , brought down 72 female convicts on _Mt-mlay irom Aiiilbank _lVwitcnriary , and put them on bwuil the Emma Eugenia hired * _iv-iivict ship , moored ofi the Royal Arsenal . 100 additional were expected at Woolwieii ou Wednesday for embarkation for conveyance to Van Dieman ' s Land . Wc hope that these tinfoi-. ui . ate women will have a better fate than those who preceded them some time back .

      # Iu A Plea for the Abolition of Capital [' unhhtneut . by the Kev . Mr . I ' _jne , of Hook , Surrey , he Mates , on tUe authority ottle Utv . Mr . KuWrts , that in one imvtnm' _» it was proved that " outof Ii > 7 critiihials , Hi- ) had been themselves spectators of executions ! ' Vet the Ordinary of Xc » gate _ai-pui-sfur the benefit _ufhaiigiHg _, as _tlioiish it were to the Oi dinaiy a dear mid " vested interest . "

      No Vote! No Musket!!

      NO VOTE ! NO MUSKET !!

      MEETING IN THE CITY OF LONDON . __ An overflowing and most enthusiastic public mcetmgwas held at the City Chartist Hall , 1 , Turnagain-lane , harringdon-strcet , to protest against the embodiment of the militia , on Sunday evening , January 18 th . at eight o'clock . Mr . William Dear , an old militia man , was unanimously called to the c , " . . "c sai < 1 * IC C 0 lud » ot agree with the idea of embodying the militia at the present time , as it did appear to him to be done for no other purpose than that of putting down democracy in America—( hear ,

      hear )—and he did not like the idea at any time of taiting away the son , the prop , and oven support , of an aged lather or mother —( hear , hear)—or the new married husband irom the young wife ol his early and best affections ; or the honest industrious man irom his home , breaking up his business , and sending him forth to be , at least , a wandering vagabond ou the fac e of the earth , dressed in the _disgustinu habilimentsof a Government slave . ( Loud cheers . " ) f iii T" M * _Waeeler came forward , and read the ¦ oilowing resolution ,, the reading of which was received with great cheering : —

      That in the opinion of this meeting the contemplated embodiment of the militia force in an act of tyranny towards the unrepresented classes of the community , violating the first principles of iuBtice , and that it would stamp the working clasi . es of this country with eternal infamy if they allowed it to be carried into effect without protesting against it b y tho strongest efi ' ort the law and constitution allows ; and that this meeting further believes tliat the alleged cause for this tyrannic act , viz ., the prospect of a war with America relative to the Oregon toiritory , is one in which their best interests are perilled , which can only tend to throw into confusion the dearest interests ofthe empire , and that they will not allow their family ties to be torn asunder , their domestic comforti to be invaded , and their liberty sacrificed , in order that their brethren in America may be slaughtered , and a freah im pulse given to despotism and misrule .

      In moving the adoption of the resolution , he said , it was an approve : ! maxim "that taxation without representation was tyranny , and ought to be resisted . " If this be true , by what stronger nnine shall we designate the compelling of the unenfranchised to serve in the militia —( hear , hear)—in an ensanguined livery ? and where was the man that would not blush , aye , even deeper than the scarlet coat he would be compelled to wear , to be placed in such a disgraceful predicament ? ( Loud cheers . ) There was no necessity for going to war with America abuut the Oregon territory . If land was wanted , there was plenty to be had at home . ( Great cheering . ) At any rate , he was resolved not to be a

      militia man ; and if the giving vent to that assertion was treason , " he was proud to be a traitor , aye , and prouder still to be surrounded by so many hundreds of such "traitors . " ( Tremendous cheering . ) Mr . D . W . Ruffy seconded the resolution , eloquently desci ibing the militia force as a snare , designed to fill the regular army ( which enlistment had failed to do ) with tools of tyranny , leaving wives to become widows , children to become orphans , converting our youths into debauchees and bloodshedders , taking them from their virtuous homes and callings , and sending them forth to spread desolation , rapine , and murder far and wide . ( Great cheering . ) The resolution was put and carried _unanimously amid tlie loudest applause .

      Mr . Stallwood rose to move-That a committee of five persons be elected by that meeting to aid and assist in getting up a demonstration against the proposed embodiment ofthe militia , and take such other steps as may be deemed necessary . He said Lord John Russell had stated , in his recent Glasgow oration , that there was no nicess _' tv for a a war with America , that there wcre other and ' better means of settling such disputes , and that thc interests of the two nations were too much bound up together to make such a circumstance imminent . ( Hear , hear . ) Lord Morpeth had echoed these sentiments . After the able and eloquent speeches of the preceding orators , it would ill become him to descant on the evils nnd horrors of war . However , he trusted thev

      would do something move than meet and hold up their hands fur _ic-olutions ; he would not counsel violent resistance fo the Jaw , but nothing was ever obtaim-d worth the _having , except by moral daring . He remembered during the struggle for a free press , that his friend , Henry Hetherington , was charged with violating the law . "No , " responded Hetherington , " 1 do not violate the law ; 1 only give it the alternative , I must either have my paper stamped , pay a fine , or go to prison , and 1 prefer going to prison . '" ( Laughter and cheers . ) Now the result would bo , that should any of his family be drawn , he sliouid advise them to give the _alterative ; that was neither to serve , find a substitute , nor pay the line in money—( loud cheers );—for he did think

      tht man who disliked to become a man-butcher himself , yet would tempt another map through the means of his poverty to de so , was a mean , despicable scoundrel indeed . ( Groat cheering . ) It _niiuht be said your family exempts you . Yes , but some of that family would soon be of the age that the law set down for the period at which liability commenced , and his parental affection naturally made liim desirous of protecting iiis children . He had _instilled into their young breasts a natural hatred of bloodshedding , and he had no hesitation in saying that they would be found equally resolved with ' himself ; and were it otherwise , he would _db-cardthem , disown them , wcre they ever to don the scarlet _liverv of a hired murderer . Far better , and much more

      honourable was itcven to suffer the prison gloom than to have the crime of murder on their souls . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . Brown , iu seconding the motion , sa'd that although the _niiijor portion of the press should smother their opinions on this matter , yet . the Northern Star would proclaim aloud their _tcn ' tinients to their American brethren on this subject . ( Loud cheers . ) He should like to know if the persons composing that great meeting wcre ready to don the scarlet livery and become the willing tools of despotism . ( Loud shouts of "No , no . " ) Surely those who would find a substitute , or pay a fine iii cash , were greater slaves than those who carried the musket without being first in' possession of the vote . ( Loud chceis . ) Weli , he should much like to have

      their _unmistnkcable opinion on the subject ; and would , therefore , take a show of hands of all sueh who had , like himself , determined never lo incur such an indelible disgrace . ( Here every hand was held up , amid the most enthusiastic cheering . ) Mr . William Beribow said , he thought this delicate ground to tread on , be must say that lie would rather fight with the Americans than against them . ( Loud chceis . ) A Militia Law was essentially British , and he held that every man should have ' the vote , and have arms iu his hands , and also be taught the use ol them ; so that he might be enabled to protect that vote and tin ir homes . ( Loud cheers . ) The law had been much distorted , and men had now been talight that they had " nothing to do with the laws but to

      obey them . " He was of opinion that the people should act individually in this matter , to prevent their being taken hoid of as conspirators against the law . ( lle . tr , hear . ) lie was beyond the age himself , but he had sons that were liable , and if the siiiiragc was universal , and the war a just one , he would say to those sons , take your parts honestly , light like Britons , and die , if needs be , like Grecians . ( Loud cheers . ) He was proud to see such meetings , and hoped that every man would act as became him in his individual capacity against the present iniquitous system . ( Loud ckers . ) ' lie was of opinion that no faith could be placed in either Peel , Russell , or Morpeth . _Ifyon want your _ivoik well done you must do it yourselves . ( Much cheering . )

      Mr . Tat low , of Leicester ,, said , veiy probably his sou might be drawn , and as be very cordially agreed witli the last speaker , he should feel it his duty as a father , to say , don't serve nor find a substitute , nor pay a fine in cash ; far better would it be to have all your chairs , tables , sheets , and bedding taken from you . ( Great cheering . ) Mr . Stallwood said that these meetings were called at a very fitting time , seeing that the matter will be brought before Parliament , and a short bill passed before tha embodiment took place ; it would , therefore , be their duty to _memorialise the Premier , petition the House , ami bother the Parliamentary represcntatives to support tlieir memorials and pet it ions . ( Chceis . ) The resolution was unanimously adopted , and Messrs . Dear , Gover , j « n ., Dunn , Overton , and 1 ' . M . » V heeler , were elected thc committee . A vote of thanks was then passed lo the chairman , ami the meenj . g separated , cxidmlly pleased with its deliberations ami the prclimiiiarv steps taken .

      (Meat Meeting At The South London Charti...

      ( MEAT _MEETING AT THE SOUTH LONDON CHARTIST HALL On Monday evening , January 19 th , a public meeting was held , pursuant to public notice . Before the time fer commencement arrived the hall was literally crammed , and was at furnace heat ; so oppressive was it , that loud shouts of " Open the windows" were raised , some of them being already unclosed . Mr . John Gathard was unanimously elected to the cbair _, and called on Mr . T . Clark to move the first resolution . He said : We have met here to pledge ourselves to support our glorious institutions . We are asked to raise a niilitiu force for that purpose , and , of _ceursc , we will raise an awkward squad from tke Andovcr Union , which shall he led by the Windsor Mate-paying Field-Marshal . ( Ldiul humhter . l

      _1 'iiit . badinage apart , he would he happy to fight for his land and his home , if thc Government would be kind enough to show liim where that land and home were . ( Cheers . ) When he had a vote , and was pro-• _eetfd under the constitution , he should be iinlned to fight for the constitution , and not before . ( Loud cheers . ) Let the _nr-jstocraay who _moiiDpuliscil the land _fiyiit in its defence . Let those who want kings fight for them ; and , after the rule of the immaculate Georges , he had no doubt they were very loud ol kings . ( Laughter . ) Ho said , if the militia was to be embodied , let them select men who had an intwest in fighting , lie thought it would be gooi * policy for niiy working man , wi . en asked to serve , t < _- say , ' 1 am a dangerous ma : ;—1 am a Chartist . " Ii would be very dangerous , he thought , to put a _Jiittskct iu the hands of the poor _htiudloom weavers

      (Meat Meeting At The South London Charti...

      who only received eight shillings each for a hard week ' s work . ( Hear , hear . ) Place a musket in sueh a man ' s hands , and tell liim he is to shoot his enemies with it , and , egad , many a member of Parliament would be found gcampering off . ( Loud laughter and groat applause . ) First let us feel we are men ; give us a vote , and then the musket to protect it ; but , as it is , he roiut and would shout , ' No vote ! no musket ! " ( Tremendous cheering . ) Mr . Feargus O'Connor , in rising U second flic resolution , waa greeted with loud and long continued applause . He said he was glad to find thc fear of the bayonet could draw such meetings together . We have frequently been denounced as physical force Chartists , but surely when wc meet to the

      repudiate bayonet , we must \> o moral force men . I perceive , too , that the bayonet has also brought two gentlemen from the press hero . Well , he was glad to see them , and if the press only thundered as loudly against the musket as he had in favour of the vote , he had no doubt that knowledge would triumph over the cannon ' s roar . ( Loud cheering . ) Mr . Clark had well said , show him where his land was , he would be ready to fight for it . ( Hear , hear . ) We heard much of loyalty , but immediately tho smallest privilege of tlie aristocracy was touched , their loyalty oozed out , like Bob Acre ' s courage , at tlieir finger ends . ( Dear , hear . ) For his part , he was like the _iiirl who wanted something to love—he was seeking fer something to be loyal to . ( Hearhear . ) lie

      , looked on this movement as an attempt to put down democracy in America . Were thoy prepared to go to war against thoir own principles ? ( Loud shouts of No . no !) He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had predicted this movement long ago ; he had shown that the league and visits of kings and queens was to suppress the rising liberties of the people . Had that attention , which was then due , been given to his warning , such a moment as the present would have never taken place —( hear , hear)—but , alas ! the people were apathetic until something like the present pieco of attempted despotism roused them to action . _Perhans it was well that they should be scourged a little up to their own affairs ; __ they had __ too __ long boen scourged up to serve tho interest of their

      oppressors . ( Hear , hear . ) Thank God , they dare not raise a militia force in Ireland . Mr . O'Connor then eloquently described the horror the Irish people had of such a force , and forcibly depicted the ruthless scenes enacted by a militia cores in that unfortunate country about fifty years ago . Of their brutal _ravishings of Irish maidens—of their disgraceful advertisements for maidens of sixteen as camp followers , and the compelling them so to act under pain of death . Aye ( said Mr . O'Connor ) , for justly denouncing such brutal scenes of carnage and rapine my venerable uncle , Arthur , is now in the fortyninth year of his bauisnment ; but , notwithstanding this , I am here still to denounce , still to call for retribution for the past wrongs committed , and to

      demand justice for my much injured country . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Now ( said Mr . O'Connor ) 1 will imagine that I am in France , aud Jemmy Graham ' s spies will please to mind that Isay Fiance . ( Laughter . ) Well , just imagine that forty thousand men are raised , and f _* ent from that kingdom to America ; think you the Americans would receive them as enemies ? No , certainly not ; but as brethren , with , " Oh ! in your country population treads on the heels of subsistence ; but here we have plenty o ! land ; cultivate , then , and enjoy for yourselves . " The men would reply , " Wo were sent here for the purpose of despotism , but we will now remain here for our own purpose , and extend the glorious principles of brotherhood and democracy . " ( Itumenseapplause . ) Mind , I do not say this would be the case with

      Englishmen or Irishmen . I speak of Frenchmen . ( Roars of laughter and great applause . ) Well , but should a large army bo sent to America from even tills country , perhaps some honest member might be found in the House of Commons to propose , as the economists have told us , that we have a surplus population , and , acting on thc principles of free trade , move that the men should be allowed to remain in that country , the Americans taking the labour of the Englishmen in exchange for their laud —( hear , bear );—such a philanthropist wmld assuredly receive the thanks of his country . ( Loud cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor next reviewed the anti-social bearing ofthe militia question , as evinced in dragging the newl y _, married man from his bridal bed and the affectionate

      arras of the woman lie has sworn to love and to cherish : in the bereavement of the widow or the helpless infirm father , by taking from thorn the prop of their declining years , their only son . ( Great sensation . ) Here , said he , is a glaring instance of there being " One law for the rich and another for the poor . " The rich man pays a fine of £ 10 and is excused , or finds a substitute at a much less cost , while thc poor man , who has not thc means to do either , is compelled to leave his business , and break up his humbic but happy home , and become an unwilling soldier . ( Loud cheers . ) No wonder that such things caused dissatisfaction in thc breasts of working menno wonder that men were found who preferred being fined , who preferred having tlieir goods seized , or

      their bodies incarcerated ; " sure was lie , that were he placed in similar circumstances—that rather than serve in the militia , or find a substitute , he should submit to the alternative . ( Tremendous cheering . ) Now was the time for spcakin _* . '—we are not yet at war ; a bill must he brought before the House before an embodiment can take place , and , tlicrefove , ifc was ri g ht your sentiments should be known—his own opinion was greatly in favour of the xo vote xo jii's kkt _enjxcii'LE . ( Immense applause . ) Parliament is about to meet , and the "League" expects "fieo trade" on Thursday next ; but mark my words , no men wcre evermore disappointed than they will be , than even the " mighty 'i hunderer , " the Times , will be . _lookinir about for a snot on which to cast anchor ;

      and , _depend on it , they " will ultimately land on our tight little island , the People ' s Charter , and then none will shout louder than the Times and the "League , " " No vote , no musket J" ( Cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor then passed a warm eulogy on Mr . Cooper , the Chartist poet , and said that two others of our great literary men , Douglas Jerrold and Charles Dickens , have connected themselves with a daily newspaper , which makes its appearance on Wednesday next , under the title of the Daily News , and which , he trusted , would prove an advocate of the rights of the millions . ( Hear , hear . ) He never puffed or endeavoured to push his own paper , but lie recommended them to see the Daily News , and if tiicy found it a good one , let than take care it wits found in every coffee-house , chop-house , ale-house , or cook shop thoy wcre in the habit of using ; and

      ifthey only did their duty in this respect , the pennies of thc working men will be found to have more weight than thc pounds of the-rich . ( Dear . ) Yon now know your duty , go and do it ; let not this night pass without forming a committee to carry out the doctrine of xo vou : xo _mtjskkt ; pour in your petitions , respectfully asking what you are to iiglit fur ; whether it is to uphold Poor Law Unions , to support a standing army in timeof peace , a cormorant church , a rapacious clergy , Coercion Bill 3 for Ireland , rapine and _slaughter " abroad , and despotism athome ; and if their honourable House will only show jou that you havo something worth fightiug for , you will light like an Irishman . Mr . O'Connor resumed his scat amid thunders of applause . The resolution was supported in fervid speeches by Messrs . T . Cooper , Doyle , and I ) , W . Rutty , and carried unanimously .

      Mi-. T . M . Wheeler , in one of thc most eloquent and manly speeches it was ever our fortune to near , moved the adoption of the following petition : — To the Honourable the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled . The petition of the _niulcrsisjncd inhabitants of the boroughs of Lambeth and _SoutiiivorJc respectfully showeth , That they have learned with alarm , commingled with feelings of indignation , that tbe Executive Government eontemphites the embodiment of the militia force . That your petitioners presume to tell your honourable House , that in their judgment sueh an act wouid be one of palpable injustice to tlie unrepresented classes of this empire , inasmuch as it will eventuate in taxing thousands of them to find substitutes , in mulcting them in fines of ten pounds each , or in coercing thtm to pursue , for seven shillings per week , a vocation i ' rotti whicli their souls recoil with horror and disgust .

      That your petitioners are . solemnly impressed with thc conviction that it is the very essi nee of tyranny , and in direct contravention of tlie spirit of the constitution to compel men to sucriri . 'i : their time and money for the uphoJiling of institutions in the formation of which they are forbidden to take any part . That in the opinion of your petitioners it would accord more with reason aud justice to draw the militia from that seetion of thc community from which your honourable House emanates . As they possess a monopoly of legislative power , as well as a monopoly of the nation ' s wealth , it appears but equitable to your petitioners that they should likewise possess u monopoly of its cares .

      That your petitioners think that circumstaiiccspresent or prospective do not call for the embodiment of the militia at this time , serins that profound tranquillity prevails at home , and that we hav , at a most enormous expense , a numerous and well-disciplined army , and a powerful and well-equipped navy , to assert the rights cf the privileged orders when assailed abroad . That your petitioners , _therefore , cali on your honour _, able Ifoiise to throw the shield of your protection over ihe voteless outcasts of England ' s constitution , by preventing the raising of the militia , or , if it must be embodied , to cause it to be drawn from the privileged ordirs , as tliey Mime will be benefited by its existence . And your petitioners will ever pray .

      Mr . P . _M-Orath , in an eloquent , impressive , and excellent speech , supported the petition , whi h was adopted by acclamation . It was unanimously resolved that- the _petttio he . ¦ _* i » neil bv the chairman on behalf of the meeting and forwarded to T . S . _Dimi-ambi ' , M . P ., for presentation ; and tliat the members for the borough .-d Lambeth and Southwark be requested to suppon its prayer , ll was also ' resolved , "That Messrs . J . CJathard , Knight , M'Grath , Clark , and Doylo , be a committee to carry out the objects of tke meeting . ' ' A vote of thank ' s was then given to the _eliaim-an . and the meeting was dissolved .

      (Meat Meeting At The South London Charti...

      _Carusle . —A meeting ofthe friends of liberty will be held at No . 6 , John-rtreefc , Caldcwgate , on Monday evening next , at eight o ' clock , to take into consideration the propriety of having a public meeting to- petition Parliament against thc attempt to make an oppressed people serve _unwMiugly in the mdttia .

      To Feargus O'Connor, Esq. Sir,—For Your ...

      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ . Sir , —For your able letter on the projected embodiment of the _rallitisi in the Star of last Saturday you arc eminently entitled to the thanks ofthe working _clashes of tbis country . Like a t _> _usty _sentinel on labour's watch tower , you have sounded thc alarm , and thus prepared the people for the approach of their enemies , for which I here tender you my gratitude , and trust that the Star , in connection with other agencies , will he the means of evoking a spirit iu the country which will show our Tory rulers the wisdom of relinnuishinL' tlieir militia project .

      The Executive of the National Ch . trter Association arc , to their credit , at their posts , endeavouring to arouse the people from quiescence , to stem the torrent of tyranny which threatens to overwhelm them , and witli a success which augurs well for the result of the agitation , as the enthusiastic and crowded meetings in the City and Lambeth Chartist Halls * on Sunday aud Monday evenings last amply testify . Let every borough in Britain perform its duty as did Lambeth on Monday night , and the _discornfiture of the tyrannical , mulcting , and plundering military scheme is inevitable .

      With your _permistion , sir , I would subjoin a few _observations on the cruelty and injustice of constraining the peacefully disposed people of this country to pursue the horrific vocation of plundering and _throat-cutting for thc benefit of England ' s _Cfirlttian ' aristocracy . I will supposeacase , the reality of which will ocimr in hundreds of instances if the militia are drawn . In this ideal case , the nefariousness of the scheme will be clearly seen . Let us suppose the lot to fall upon a young machaniu , earning £ 110 s . a week ; he is the _solwcc , the mainstay ofthe tottering ' existence of parents who are rapidly hastening to the end of life ' s journey . Making what is called a respectable appearance in society , the demands upon his earnings prevent his accumulating any savings ; he has _neither the means of providing a substitute or paying

      ten pounds to exempt him from service ; if he refuses to serve , imprisonment is his doom , He submits to the fate to which injustice consigns hira , enters the militia , and mark the consequences . His aged parents deprived of their support , seek an asylum from starvation in the gloomy workhouse , and there , attired in the degrading garb of pauperism , fed on felon ' s fare , immured in separate cells , they spend life ' s winter in wretchedness and sorrow , while their _> on , torn from them , shoulders his muikct and marches to uphold the very _system that degrades and starves bis old parents , and enslaves and robs himself . Tbis militia law is unequal Ir operation , and therefore unjust . The wealthy man purchases exemption from service for ten pounds , thc poor man must serve at a very great loss . A man who can earn thirty

      shillings a week serves his Queen and country in the militia _forfivcyears at seven shillings a week . At his avocation he would in these five years earn £ 380 , at that which law forces him to follow he obtained but £ 00 . lie is therefore robbed , in the Queen ' s service , for the benefit of his country , of the sum of £ 2 S 0 . _rsuch is the justiee which the class-made laws of England mete out to the working classes . There is no necessity for raising a militia , for peace holds dominion at home . But , it may be said , that war menaces abroad . Well , the militia , by law , cannot be sent out of the country : and I believe no one contemplates the landing of the belli gerent Yankees on our shores . Then the services of the militia will never be required . Hence thc fatuity of embodying , at an enormous expense , a large military force , for the exercise of whose prowess an opportunity will never occur . But it will be urged by the hoary reverers of " things as tliey are , " that the army may be required to assert Britain ' s honour abroad , and that the presence ofa military

      force at home is indispensable to keep the people in order ; to preserve intact our time-halloived institutions from thu assaults of the babble . But has not Sir Kobert a resource in the armed peelers ? And , again , there are the Chelsea pensioners always available . These arepaid by government with the people ' s money , and available in every emergency for government purposes , H is a sound principle in tho philosophy of politics , " that allegiance is due only where protection is rendered . " In Great Britain the working man is denied protection ; the fences of labour ' s vineyard have been levelled , and its fruits fall a prey to the hungry cupidity of landlords , fundlords , and profifiords . And jet men are compelled to peril tlieir lives to uphold a system fraught with such destructive consequences to their interests . Oppression is attaining its culminating point , in that country where the people are not ' only constrained to minister tothe aggrandisement of the oppressor , but to become the rod in his hands to scourge themselves .

      If a militia must be embodied , reason and justice proclaim miff voce , let it be from those of the community who enjoy a monopoly ofthe good things ofthe land . If the glorious Constitution is menaced , let its admirers defend it ; if our time-hallowed institutions—those relics of ancestral wisdom—are endangered , let the cost of their conservation fall on those who profit by their existence ; if British uorninion is to be extended over Oregon , let It be hy those who will be advantaged by territorial acquisition ; if our holy Church , so prolific of blessings to its votaries , is in danger , let its thousands of ministers , officered by the bishops , form themselves into reverend 1 rigndes , and rally to its support : but , in the name of reason , justice , and common sense , let the working men of Britain , who have no predilection for thc vocation of murder , who desire to earn bread by honest industry , who yearn for the reign of liberty and truth , be allowed to live in " peace ou earth , and _ijood will towards men . " Vindex .

      A Serious Accident To A Solitary. —On Mo...

      A Serious Accident to a Solitary . —On Monday evening week , shortly after six o ' clock , a fire was discovered in one of thc bedrooms of Bellcvue Villa , Bath wick-hill , Bath , the residence of flic lion . Mrs . Southwell . An alarm being given , Captain Carroll and the police brigade were almost immediately on the spot . Inspector Smith having procured a ladder , ascended and reached thc window of the room , where he perceived the curtains of the bed to be on fire . Having broken the window , Smith and another policeman entered , and found the Hon . Mrs . Southwell on the floor insensible , both of her arms being a little burned , The flames of the curtains were speedily extinguished , and Mr . Kilvert _, surgeon , attended the lady , and dressed the parts which ? had b « en scorched . But for the aid of the police , there is little doubt the house would have fallen a prey to

      the fire , aud its owner ( who is very eccentric , ar . d resides alone ) would have perished in it . The peculiarity of the habits of this old lady has for a long time attracted tho notice of the police and others who have had occasion to call at the house . It appears that for upwards of ten years no domestic of any kind has been permitted to reside with her , so that tke _eausc of the aecident cannot be stated . The method by which she has lieen supplied with the necessaries of life has been from a plan of her own contrivancetaking them in at her . drawing-room window by means ofa string and basket , her orders having been previously given through the kindly offices of some parties in her confidence . During this long period the residence has undergone no cleansing ; and the person of the old woman presented a most filthy spectacle , and had apparently been as great a stranger to auy ablutions .

      Man Burnt to Death in a Chimney . —On Tuesday morning week , a man named James llorrox , a coal miner , was found-burnt to death in a chimney , at Mr . Deardcn ' s colliery , _l-lirtle-eum-Bamibrd , Lancashire . It appeared he had called for assistance , when the workmen proceeded to pull down the chimney ; but lie was dead when they extricated him , and his " body burned almost to a _ cinder . He had been seen in a state of intoxication the previous evening , and it is thought lie wont to sleep in thc cabin , and that finding the door was fastened , and supposing thc fire inside had been raked out , he attempted " to get down the chimney , but got fast and was burned .

      _ExTRAonniXARY Suicide . —An occurrence ofa very painful nature took place on the Great Western Railway , at Twerton _, on Monday week . John Chambers , a labourer in the employ of Messrs . Stothertand Co ., left his work about nine o ' clock in the morning of that day , as was supposed to go to breakfast . " Nothing , however , was heard of him at home . About twelve o'clock he was seen sitting , apparently in a desponding mood , on a stile adjoining a path which crosses the line at the rear of the ltoval Oak Inn

      Twcrlou . On the approach of the twelve o ' clock up train he rushed forward and threw himself down in front of the engine , and was in a moment deprived of life , his b dy being left on the rails a Mangled and bleedii'g spectacle shocking to humanity . The legs arc described as completely severed from tl-. e trunk , and other injuries are visible in various paiis of the body . It appears that the poor follow , whose untimely death we have thus to record , has been for some time in a low and melancholy slate , attributable f o the pressure of poverty , heightened by a recent illness . " *

      . _" _nik-hie of a LicK . vsEii _vicTi-Axi . EK . —On Monday evening Mv . Wakley , M . l \ , held an inquest at the Yorkshire Grey , London-street , Fjtzroy-snuare , on the body of Mr . John Henry Lovridgc ! landlord of that house . Charlotte Parker , a nursery-maid , proved finding deceased hanging from the bed-post in his bed-room , at half-past six on Friday evening . She had heard him go up stairs about one hour pre . _viotisly . She instantly raised an alarm . Mr . Thomas Oolborne , architect and railway surveyor , said lie had lodged with deceased sitv . _te the 4 th of December , and _lind knoirn him about five years ago living ns a pi > vate gentleman at Lymiim ' ton . He had altered in

      his appearance since he had become a licensed victualler . Witness saw him last alive on Thursday night , when ho appeared in good spiriti , though he complained of pain iu the head . When the last witness raised the alarm , he hastened into deceased ' s bed-room , found him hanging as she described , and cut him down . lie had been " dead some time . Mr . Derbvshire _, deceased ' s medical attendant , proved that he laboured under determination of blood to the head , vertigo , and perspective delirium tremens . Ilo treated him to obviate the latter . \ erdiet , __ Lhat deceased hanged himself , sua wan of unsound mimUt the time . "

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 24, 1846, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns4_24011846/page/7/