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THE NORTHERN STAR v * SATDBDAY, JUNE 9, 1838.
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TO KSADESS & CORRESPONDENTS.
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LEEDS AND ^VVEST-RIDING NEWS.
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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The Northern Star V * Satdbday, June 9, 1838.
THE NORTHERN STAR v SATDBDAY , JUNE 9 , 1838 .
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THE MEETINGS . - «» Hunger ¦ rdUbreakthrough stone iraUs . " ISothing can more felly prove the tratli of the above old adage than the avidity frith which the caged paupers take advantage of the hour of relief , said tare it to a general conference . One would natnrally suppose that the few holidays -allowed to our working slaves would he directed to amusement and pleasure ; hut no sooner is the prison holt shot , and its inmates set at liberty , than they seize the opportunity fbrholding public meetings to proclaim their wrongs and register their united determination to he free . In our last number we noticed
¦ Jhe move of the 'brave Scotch , in favour of a full measure of justice , and we now direct attention to the response which this appeal has met from the men of Lancashire and Yorkshire . At each and every one of those meetings to which we refer , it will he seen that Universal Suffrage is no longer equivocally hinted at ; hut forms , as it should , the tody and the essence of toasts , pledges , and resolutions . At the MaBchester Dinner , the first glorious demonstration which we shall notice , from Mr . Fielden , our representative , to Smith ,
the operative , who closed the scene , each and every speaker dealt fairly with questions of detail ,, and honestly with the question of the Suffrage , which one and all declared to he the onlyjirinciple worth contending for . As to . the mode to he relied upon for ensuring its attainment , experiment was to he hazarded ; hut in the event of f « olu e , the alternative was nndisguisedly urged . "We shall quote the opinions of the several speakers who addressed the company , to show what that alternative is . " We are resolved , said the
Chairman , te stand up for your rights , using our hearts and our hands if necessary . ( Immense cheering . ) Mr .-Fieldex ~ _ said , ^ One of two things they must do , either repeal the Poor Law Act , or revolution will do it for them . " ( Tremendous cheering . ) Mr . O'Connor said that "he could not suppose that the chairman meant when he spoie of using our hands , that we should he . armed with a goose quill , but witli something- of a more warlike ^ nature , " ( Cheers ^ Mr . Stephens declared " that Wood was hateful in the sight of God and man , hut
should the point of suffering to which Mr . O . C . alluded arise , there was 5000 stand of arms in the ' neighbonrhood of Ashton , and he could wish that fifty times five thousand were there , if , by their presence , without the necessity of their use , peace , prosperity , and happiness could he restored to the country , the cot , and the people . " ( Cheers ) Mr . J . Cobbett said , ¦ " When petitions-fail , he is a hold manwio would prcrnounc-e the next word . " Mr . "Whittle could not join Mr . Stephens in his recommendation of physical force , hut this he knew , that " had it not been for the jiist vengeance which the Irish people took of their cruel
oppressors , by dooming many of them to death , that Ireland would not now enjoy even that ' semblance of liberty which the English may suppose them to possess . " ( Cheers , and well , what ' s that' ?) Mr . J . P . Cobbett " would -combat Mr . Stephen ' s notions with regard to physical force , though true the constitution guaranteed the right of every man to hold arms for his protection , and the constitution giving the right , he must presume that nature and reason will direct us in the use of them . " ( Great cheering . ] Such were the opinions expressed , by the several speakers at the Manchester dinner , and yet
it 13 CurioUS how Sflmfi mm flnir T-mfrrt-D + V ~ - it is curious now some men float before they are aware that , their feet have left the ground . Mr . Stephens , who merely spoke hypoxhetieally , was censured by those who followed , one and all of whom spoke positively of the necessity of physical force .. The speech of Mr . Eieldex was able and masterly . We recognise in this extraordinary man , more of calculating and rea = onine powers than in any individual of the present day ; uid the natural conclusion to which we must come , is , that there is no danger to he apprehended from Universal
Suffrage , if Mr . Fieldes " s position be right , and if he considers that measure as the onlv real guarantee for the preservation of his justly acquired property . The speeches wtre all of the first order of eloquence and patriotism ; - but that of our champion , Stephens , was the electric shock of the night ; it was one mild stream of harmony , flowing gracefully from the lips of the most accomplished speaker in Europe , and only now and then interrupted in its course by the vibrations of those hearts upon which it flowed with irresistible force : the
dinner to Fieldex trillie long xemembered . And now for a trora npon -our Bradford friends . The meeting at Bradford , on Tuesday , will prove to the Government the folly of opposing bayonets to sentiments , the ridiculousness of governing by force rather than by jus ^;; for a ] fhongh anotherhattle was threatened by ibs' J&ercury and his dupes , yet the good Bxtssey and his followers resolved to test their theory by their practice , defied all opposition , and have thus read another great moral lesson to our tyrannical bludgeon rulers . The speeches of
Stephens and Btjssey will he read " with delight , nor can we withhold our just measure o \ praise from the working men who took part . The meeting was tie result of tie battle of Bradford , and thus the Government begin to find that insult now a-days is met by retaliation . { Now ^ aword for our Leeds friends and their demonstration . In Leeds ( where so many powerful engines are at work
to subjugate the working classes ) , we had nearly despaired , hut the triumph ci Tuesday has taught us to live in hope . We oerer shall forget the response with which the Birmingham petition was met by the thousands present ; nor shall we hastily forget the deep impression made upon the meeting by tiie powerful address of Mr . Collins , for a poor report of which we must refer to our ei ghth page . Much credit is due to George White
and the working men , for the manner "in which the arrangements were made ; and , upon the whole , Leeds should now he ranked amongst thezoremost in the regenerating armv .
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SIR W . COTTRTEIsAY . We liad prepared a Ter y long article Bpon the law of this case , but withhold it to make room for Bronterre ' s admirable letter . If Cotjrtexay was not mad , what comes f Lord John Russell ' s version of the transactioa ? If Cotjbtexat was mad , how woeful must be the condition of those men ^ ho will even follow a mad man in the hope of change . We have rather a disinclination to state the law critically with regard to the " right of 6 elf defence in cases , of false arrest ^ nor are we called upon to do so , as the two unfortunate actors in
this part of the tragedy are 50 more . * But we must observe that in l ine subsequent affair those under the command of Mr . B . snnett were the aggressors , for they had a sufficient force to have captured those . against whom the law had say charge , and that the ille ^ aLstabbing of one of Cotjbtexay s party by a solder Je * aer the command of Bexkett , maoe Benxstt tie ringleader in a riot aniirmrder , and the l % w cbnstitut ^ Co ^ rtenait one of the pottecomkatuB , without even being eelka upon fey the Sheriff , or the authorities , as the murder tooi ylacein their presence ; wnict constituted every man
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a peace officer , and if became the duty of every person present to seize upon the offenders ; and if they offered resistance , the posse comitatus were justified in using force to compel a surrender . In fact , neither Magistrates nor the soldiery seem to understand that , in such eases , they are as amenable to the law as civilians , and ; merely owe their protection to the power of corruptionists , to whom their aid becomes necessary , even in an -unconstitu-^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^ - ¦ —^^^^ —^~^^^^ v . ¦ . ¦ ¦ _ I
tional manner- This is a second Rathcormae affair , and in that case we succeeded in getting a verdict of " Wilful murder" from a Coroner ' s Jury , against the Magistrates who ordered the soldiers to fire ; and from the evidence in this , case , we have no hesitation in saying ( without prejudging ) that there is ample grounds for investigation , at all events . " The right to repel force by force , " is a maxim of the British Constitution . It will be seen , By the account of the funeral , that the enmity of the authorities , and the spleen of the Law Church followed poor Cotjrtena y to the grave . " O death ! where is thv sting ? O grave ! where is thy victory ?"
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TO THE PROPRIETOR OK THE NORTHERN STAR . London , June 6 th , 1838 . My dear Feargtjs , —Ebr mercy ' s sake , if you and your friends have the influence ^ rhich I hope and believe you have , make haste with your Northern Union ! An event has occurred , since my last communication , which has filled aH virtuous minds with horror , and which makes me look with dismal
forebodings to the future . 2 ? eed I say that I allude to the recent hloody tragedy enacted in Bosenden wood , near Canterbury ? l ! sow , I say that while this tragedy is before my sight , I can think of no other subject . Nine of cur countrymen have been assassinated , basely and cruelly assassinated , and there is to be neither vengeance nor redress ! Redress , did I say ? Alas ! it is the murderers who have
taken cognizance of the crime , and the murdered men are at this moment branded as murderers ! Not all the waters of ocean will ever wipe thi 3 stain from our country ' s annals . You will not , my dear friend , expect me to enter into the details of this tragedy . What has occupied upwards of forty closely-printed columns of some of the daily papers , and will probabl y occupy forty more , is not a subject that can have justice done to it in the brief space allowed for such matters in- a weekly newspaper , much less in the column or two
which you are kind enough to appropriate to me . It is only a daily Press which can afford adequate scope for the due investigation of subjects involving such a multiplicity of conflicting evidences and misrepresentations , as the case before us ; and to you it need not be told that the whole of the existing daily Press is in the hands of the enemies of God and man . I have watched this Press closely since the first intelligence arrived of the massacre ; and with all my past experience of what corruption is capable of , I was not prepared for such fiendish and
coldblooded atrocity as the daily Press has exhibited in this affair . From first to last , it has taken the part of the assassins : from first to last , it has laboured with Satanic indefatigablt-ness and consistency to blacken and vilify the murdered victims . If there be a God in heaven , and a place of punishment beyond the grave , I would not stand in the shoes of the conductors of that Press for all the treasures of
Europe , Asia , and America . Believing , as I do , in a Supreme Being of infinite goodness and justice , I cannot bring myself to imagine how these wretches can escape punishment in the next world , unless God ' s mercy be infinitely gTeater than his justice . Leaving them to that mercy , let me proceed to do the little I can towards effacing from the public mind the impressions made on it by their atrocious perversions of fatts and reason .
What are those impressions : The impressions are that Courtenat was amadman , and an impostor , —that his friends and followers , the agricultural labourers , were the dupes of his imposture , and a s mad as himself , —that Cotjrtenay and bis followers went about the country prowling , and armed like a banditti , endangering the Queen ' s peace , or filling her Majesty ' s subjects with terror , —that if they did not com mit any specific crimes , they were preparing to commit them , —that they were "tinnultuously and rwtously assembled , " -that in the case
of the eonstableMEARs , seat to arrest Cottrtenay , on the morning of the massacre , Cotjrtenay committed a murder on the constable ' s cousin , or friend , —thatCocRTENAY and his followers , did afterwards commit , or attempt a riot , —that the civil power was insufficient to quell the said riot , and the magistrates obliged , in consequence to call out the military , —that the military acted under the strict orders of the magistrates , which were to quell the
riot , " without the effusion of blood if possible , " that in their attempt to do this , they were all attacked by the rioters , and their lives being endangered were obliged to fire upon the " mob" in self-defence —that consequently all who fell by their fire were killed by "justifiable homicide , "—that Cgurtenay shot Lieut . Bennett in the execution of his duty , and was , therefore , a murderer as well as a rebel , — that by the law of England , the crime of
Cotjrtenay , as principal , became the crime of all his followers as accessories , —and that , consequently the entire party , or " mob , " as the daily press terms them , were guilty of murder , as well as of rioting and rebellion . Such are the chief impressions sought to be conveyed b y the daily press . Now , my dear Feargtjs , all , or nearly all of these impressions are directly in the teeth of facts . —They are , every one of them , rank and wicked impostions on the public . To you , who are a barrister , I appeal , and I ask you whether after a careful perusal of the
proceedings in the inquest , and before the magistrates , at Feversham , —I ask you whether , in the midst of all the studied perversions , suppressions , and discolouring of the evidence as given by the servile reporters of the Press , —is it possible to arrive at the convictions sought to be established in favour of the authorities , and against their assassi-Tinted victims ? I call them assassinated ; for whatever may be your impressions , I hesitate not to avow mine . I cannot , for the reasons stated , enter here into all the details of the evidence , but I will
do the next best thing-I will denounce , and I do hereby denounce , the Magistrates who ordered the military to fire on Cotjrtenay and his followers , as murderers . I arrai gn them before the tribunal of public opinion , as the murderers of Cotjrtenay and his slain friends . I accuse them of having wickedly , designedly , feloniously , and with malice prepense , perpetrated one of the blackest murders that ever disgraced the annals of crime . I accuse them of being the only violators of the law throughout the whole of the murderous proceedings ; and I demand either their justification or their blood at the hands of a Kentish Jury , empanelled to sitjnpon
them according to the laws of England . I man this demand not rashly and unreflectingly , but solemnly and delibe rately , and after a careful perusal of the evidence , and with all the appalling anxiety of a British subject who deems his own life and the lives of all that are dear to him , to he put in peril by the conduct of the daily Press , in re ? pect of the Magisterial murderers of Bosenden wood . If CotJRTENAY and his followers were justly and Legally putto death , -. that u . to say , if the Magistrates had the right to order , and the military the right to execute their doom , you , Sir , and yonr friends , Oastler and Stephens , and all who hare taken part with vcu in
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your late crusades against the , New Poor Law Act , have not a moment's security for your lives . But I deny that the victims were either justly ax legally put to death , and it is because I think I am able to demonstrate this to any twelve honest men in the world , that I accuse the Magistrates of murder , and demand either their justification or their blood at the hands of an English Jury . : Just follow me a moment through a few prominent facts of the ease . Courtenay is described as a maniac by all the papers . "What is the feet ? ; The fact is , that up to the period of his murder he continued to enjoy the respect and confidence not only
of " his wretched deluded followers , " but of all who knew him in the town and neighbourhood of Canterbury . He was in daily and close habits of intimacy with thousands of persons , many of whom are admitted to be men of education and wealth ., or what the world calls respectable ; and amongst all of them he inspired but one feeling—that of unqualified affection for his person , and of admiration for his virtues and commanding talents . Is this the character of a maniac ? But if further evidence be wanting , look to his published papers—look to his writings as . a political and religious Reformer . I have read several of his papers , and I hesitate ^ iOt to
say , that they are immeasurably superior to the writings of the daily Press , or to what 600 out of our 658 " representatives ' would be capable of producing . Do , my dear Fearotjs , ( if you possibly can ) , make room for some extracts from his publications , that your ten thousand subscribers , and , your one hundred thousand readerS j may know' •' what the Press of the upper and middle classes call a maniac . Above all , copy what he wrote about the Church , the Parliament , and the Poor . Do this my dear friend , and you will have done
more towards opening the eyes of the country , as to the real causes why Courtenay was so persecuted by the Church and Corporation of Canterbury , and at last cruelly murdered , by Parson Poore than could be done by forty columns of leading articles . — The passages touching the Church and Clergy , ought more especially to be widely circulated . —A few of them will shew at once why Dr . Poore the Parson-Magistrate , ordered the military to" TAKE Courtenay dead or ahy e ! " The following amongst others cannotfail to have a good effect .
THE CHURCH . " In the course of our advancement on the universal personality of the first cause of creation , and in following the church establishment of the difii-rent nations Hince the foundation of the world , do not think that we desire to support bricks and mortar at the expense of an impoverished and groaning population , or to keep ourselves like the priestcraft of all ugea , merel y to terrify the consciences of our feUowcreatures , that thexr bodies and purses become the easier prey . No , we take our stand in argument and Christian philosophy
npon the rights of man , that all living beings have the undeniable right to exercise the * will of their own heart , as directed by the consciousness of doing what ia to the best of their belief justin the sight of God and man . The poor are the great sufferers in every age of the world , bnt does poverty abrogate the libt rty of the subject ? God forbid ! " ft is to this class * from which all blessings flow to those above them—it is to the poor labourer and working mechanic , who are the real riches of a country , and never more so than when virtue and morality are the companions of their daily toil . " .
RICH AND POOR . "To save England from blood and revolution is an object worthy her children , and whin we come forward to support , by our humble efforts , as Englishmen , the true interests and ¦ w elfare of the different clashes into which she is most unfu . r < ttuiately divided—when we respectfull y but firmly open her real causes _ of complaint , uf thf lower orders most especially , we maintain that by this line of open argument and public investigation that we are . the true adherents of our Monarch , our liberties , and our future prosperity . Is it not far better to come before the public in lime , to save the unprotected and
innocent female ! : ' Is it not better for those who have so long had the riches and overflowing tables of a bountiful Providence to remit a portion of those blessinga to the suQ ' ering poor which meet their eve at every corner of Canterbury streets ? Rather say that this position of our review is the only truth of pUilo 3 » l > Uy , which , instead of real injury or eX ] K > sure of the upper ranks , would save them , from that inevitable" *» in , which their own ignorance of the state to which the population of the United Kingdom are now reduced , and which their own imbecility and short-sightedness brine upon themselves . "
THE PRESS . " The Press , by pursuing the paths of party spirit , colouring every positive tact to suit their own s&rdid and selfish views , willbring down destruction upou their own heads , and ruin to their establishments ; and we would here advise that press , which have now so much , power over a brave people , never to deviate from their object . Let them direct all their native genius and talent to Ac truth alone , study to exalt in their columns measures and not men ; then , by divesting thKmselvesof selfish and party motives , the truth of Knglishmen ' s liberty , and Britons' rights ,, will soon be the reward oi a united press . ' '
THE PARLIAMENTS . "Haying no demand for hb production , the farmer's capital u daily going from him , and never can any Ministry or Government retrieve their unfortunate state , unless they can create a'demand for labour , the poor of the land being the real strength of a nation ; thus the farmer , tradesman ^ and all those who hold in their hands the representation of the nation of their country , if they would but only hear in time the voice of a powerful people , speaking a long time patiently , and represent them instead of the landlord and titneholder
England ^ would ag _ ain be herself . Better would it "be for the United Kingdom if twelve honest tradesmen , twelve honest farmers , and twelve poor labourers were elected to serve their country , rather than the present ignorant House of Commons , which is a mock Parliament , not being the voice of the peov pie . Whatever Whig or Tory may say , the present gtate-of the country fully shows the truth ot our argument—that unless the tithes are wholly given up , the rents brought down to a standard value , taxation borne by those wholiave the property to pay it , England must go to a revolution : then Sir William Conitenay will in his relative value be credited . "
What think you , good reader of these specimens of " raving insanity ? " Let Oastler and STEPHENS look sharp ! -Let Tearqus O'Connor look sharp !—Let James Bronterre O'Brien , and all who think with them look sharp !—If Sir W . Courtenay , or John Thoms was justly and legally dubhed a maniac , and shot like a mad dog , for uttering sentiments like these , there is not one of the aforesaid persons , whose reputation and life are worth a week ' s purchase . —But let me proceed .
All the papers admit that , though stark raving mad , Cotjrtenay did not commit any act of violence , or in any way -violate the law , "Mpto the time of shooting the person icho went simply in the character of a constable ( though not being one ) to arrest him upon a Magistrate ' s warrant . " The words in italics are by the Herald , who , immediaftely after , admits that there was no evidence whatever to show for what offence against the laxo , or upon whose information the alleged warrant was issued . Now , Sir , who was the violator of the law in this case ? A man . who is not a constable , but calls himself one—a man who appears from the evidence
to have had neither a Magistrate ' s warrant , nor any other legal , authority , attempts to arrest Cour ^ tenay by force , and Gourtenay shoots his assailant in self-defence—Is this , Sir , murder ? Murder , too , on the part of . a man whom Magistrates , Coroner's Jury , Reporters , and all declare to have been mad , and , therefore , incapable in law of committing murder ? How , I should like to know , will the teal murderers get over this ? "Warrants are algo said to have been issued against "Wills and Newman , two of Courtenay ' s folr lowers , hut not a particle of legal evidence has been adduced to show upon what charge , or even to prove that they were issued at all . An obscure intimation is indeed given in some of the papers , that the warrants against Courtenay , Wills ,
and Newman were "for having seduced the labourers from their work . " If this be so , it ia the first time I have ever heard of its being a crime for labourers to refuse to work r if they * do not work , they get no wages , and the want of wages is generally thought to be adequate punishment enough . But that could not have been the motive of the warrants , for we find Dr . Poore , in his charge to some of the prisoners , after th « "ir " liberation on bail at Feversham , expressing a hope that the farmers would again -take them into employment . " This the Reverend murderer thought or pretended would be a rery great favour to them ; but how does it square with the alleged motive of the warrant ? If it was a favour to give employment to the labourers , why should warrants be issued against them to make them work ? The tru th is , there
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Vrete ' no watrants at all ; iti the case , hecause there could be no legal ones for such k purpose . The fellow calling hitnseif a . cdnstable , who attempted to arrest Gourtenay and his friends , had no legal authority for so doing ; This was the same as admitted by P 00 KE and hishrothef Magistrates , for when , in a subsequent stage ¦ '' of the inquiry it was stated in eridencej that it was a civil writ , not a crithinal warrant , upon which it was sought to arrest
CpuBTENAY , their worships , who must have known lie whole affair , uttered not a word of denial in objection . Thus , then , it was the constable's friend , not CotrRTENAy , who was the aggressor and violator pf the law , and to you , Sir , I need not say , that the laws of England ( infamous as they are ) allow a man to use force in protecting himself against lawless aggression . Couktbnay was therefore , I hold , an innocent man up to the period of the massacre of Bosenden Wood .
Now with respect to what happened then . the whole of the illegality , as well as of the brutality and blood-thirstinesss was upon the side of the Magistrates and Military . I know , the villains had got parties to swear that Courtenay shot Lieutenant Ben we tt before any violence had been offered to him or his party . But look to the evidence of Mr . Church and of Mr . Ashbec and mark the reluctance of the Coroner to admit the farmer ' s testimony . These parties shew dearly that BennETT was the aggressor , and one of them swore that he saw Bennett run one of
Courtenay'p men through the body , before Courtenay fired his pistol . A Reporter of the Morning Herald states tbat he heard one of the soldiers state the same thing . But assuming that Courtesay was the aggressor , did this justify the massacre of niutunfortunate labourers who had injured nuboiiy , irud whose only crime was that of . following-a man-who was generous and kind to them , and who had frequently relieved their physical as well as their moral and intellectual v \ rants . Observe too that the only order givento the military was the one by Dr . Poore directing them to "take Couwtenay dead or alive "
r-Observe too ; that while the victims were shot for a riot , there was no Eiot committed , neither was the Riot Act read , and Dr . Poore himself admits that there wa 3 110 magisterial order given to the soldiers to fire . In . fact the Magistrates had no authority to give any such orders without first reading the Riot Act , and as they did not do that , they are consequently the illegal and guilty parties ; for without their apparent sanction , the soldiers would not have assassinated the " mob" at all . Finding it impossible to defend the massacre on the score of its necessity to quell a riot ( which did not take place ) the plea now set up for the
Magistrates is—that the soldiers' lives were endangered by the violence of Courtenay ' s party and they fired in self-defence . But will it be believed that 100 soldiers , besides officers , all well armed and assisted by at least as many more civilians equally well armed could have any real ground of apprehension from less than forty unarmed labourers , most of them above 40 years old , and some of them boys and aged men ? No , it never will be believed . Not all the sophistry and rhetoric in the world will persuade men of sober sense that there was any just cause or reason whatever for the inhuman butchery of so many of our unhappy fellow countrymen .
Do and pay- what the villains will , the true causes of this massacre will be known to the people of England . Indeed the villains themselves have alreadv all 'but proclaimed tbem . They are boasting ( through the daily pres ?) of the salutary effects the massacre has already had on the deluded peasantry . Look , Sir , to what passed in the village of Boughton some days antecedently to the massacre . See the victims of the New Poor Law Act driven almost to madness by the workhouse system , and see them hailing poor Courtenay amongst them , as their friend and saviour , because they knew he had bowels of compassion . Look to these things , and I doubt not Sir , that you will lose no time in undeceiving the public as to the murderous intentions , as well as the murderous conduct , of the bloody-minded enactors of the Bosenden Wood tragedy . Yours , &c ., JAMES BRONTERRE O'BRIEN .
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THE MERCURY . The u uulicked cub" who gave us the lie in the Mercury of Saturday last , relative to the Circulation of the Star shall receive such chastisement at our hands as his insolence ^ -merit ' s ; for the present we have'not space , Mr . Clapham . ^ - /« answer to our numerous enquirers , tee beg to inform them , that notice of action has been served upon Mr . Clapham and that a summons has been granted for the attendance of Policeman Burwcll , for the assault upon Bridget Cone . The matter shall 110 I drop . Clapham Fund . — We beg to acknowledge the receipt of 21 s . from twenty gentlemen : and also
£ \ 8 s . 3 d . from a fevo enemies of tyranny at Gateshead ; and 2 s . Gd . from Mr . Curruthers , News Agent , Newcastle . The state of our columns this week has prevented the \ possibility of our inserting any part of the large inass of valuable correspondence whichnhas reached us . Even Mr . Finch ' s letter , which we promised last week , we have been reluctantly compelled again to postpone . We hope to be ableto bring ' upsome arrears shortly . ' Bradford News . —The long report' oj the meeting at Bradford has necessarily shut out the greater portion of our local intelligence from that town . The Magazines . — - We have received the Magazines , but must delay otir notice of them till next week
ThePoets . — We reconimend ' our' poetical friends to take a six or seven weeks' holiday at least . We have a large stock on hand . Birmingham Petition . —This excellent petition is in type ) but we are competed to defer its insertion until next week . Poor Law Discussion . —Mr . Acland has returned the following answer to Mr . O'Connor's Challenge : — Carlisle , June 7 , 1838 . Sir , —I have « o < finished my " tour ; " but I will endeavour so to d isengage myself from prior arrangements as speedily to afford you the opportunity you so ardently desjre of discussing with me the merits or demerits of the Poor Law Amendment Act .
To such end , I hope by Wednesday next to forward you a counter-challenge , better calculated to secure a full investigation of the important subject at issue , qm fair terms , than that which you promulgated in your paper of last Saturday . / I delay doing so until the day named , that I may not act with discourtesy to another redoubtable champion of error , and opponent of the law ; and that I may be enabled to make such a proposition as shall really conduce to the attainment of your avowed object . Meanwhile I beg to subscribe myself , Sir , your obedient servant , 1
JAMES ACLAND Feargus O'Connor , Esq ., Northern Star Office , Leeds ;
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IlGliSSi - Brutal Assault , upon Mrs . Fitzjames , the Wife of thb PROMisiNo and Gentle ^ manlike Actor , now bpon the Leeds Stage . —On moiiday night Ia 8 tj as the above lady was returning from the theatre , two ruffians attacked her and ill treated her in a most brutal manner , striking her and abasing her till they literally tore the clothes from her back , and had not her husband , who ; was close ; at hand , rushed to her rescue , she might , and probably would , have suffered still more severely . What were those gentlemen doing who ( when we lose the gas light ) should be particularly lipon the alert ? We regret to find that . Mr . Fitzjames' attention was so much occupied in the protection of his wife , that though inclined , he was prevented from securing either of the vagabondsi
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Optician . —We are proud to ^ say the greatest mechanical district in the world we can give the biographical account of thu life of our great Optician , T . M . Boweri , ; He served a legal apprenticeship to the greatest Optician in London , and served as a . journeyman fourteen years after in the same firhi ; he is no hird of flight , —we have had him in Man- ? Chester for the last twenty years . His unequalled Camera Obseura will be , exhibited at the Suspension Bridge , Broughtpn , during the season , —a good treat for artists and scholars , —and an excellent opportunity for them to learn to draw in the darkened chamber ^ .. - ¦¦ ' ..
Independent Order of Odd Fellows , Manchester Unity . —The members of the . King William the Fourth Lodge , No . 461 , held their anniversaryj on Whit-Monday , at the house of-Host Willans , Hanover Arms * Hanover-streetj - New Road End , Leeds , when ninety-one members sat down to a sumptuous dinner , and spent the evening with the greatest harmony and conviviality .
Deaf , Dumb , and Blind . —The pitiable condition of such of our unfortunate fellow-creatures as are deprived of speech and hearing—especially if to these calamities that of blindness be added ^ is a matter of most painful and harrowing reflection to the mind , and every feeling heart must hail with gratitude any means whereby the monotonous misery of such a life can be alleviated . We have the greatest pleasure , therefore , in directing the attention of our readers to the advertisement of Mr . CoUyer , in another part of our present paper , announcing a course of lectures on the means of effectuating this benevolent object . We have heard Mr . C . a lectures very highly spoken of .
Phrenology . —Mr . Bridges' Lectures .-Our readers will perceive that this able phrenologist commences his lectures at the Music Saloon oa Monday evening next . This is a most .. important science , and seems to be exciting rery general attention . Mr . B . is well calculated to bring this useful . portion of philosophy before the working classes ; and with a liberality that does him great credit , his prices are as well adapted to their circumstances as his style is co tiair upurehension .
'I he Circus . —This really popular place of amusement- keeps up its attraction , and amply sustains its character and pretensions . We have 'twice visited it during the week j and were amply gratified : The feats of horsemanship and of -tiirht rope dancing exhibited by the surprising children , Masters Newsome , and Pablo , and Miss O'Donnell surpass everything of which we could have formed the most distant conception . Monsieur Massotta , the great French rider , appeared to us to realize everything that can be supposed possible to be done on a single horse . The Swiss Acrobats are perfectly indescribable , for excellence in their gymnastic exploits . In fact , the whole performances are of-such a character that they cannot be described . No
person who has not seen them can be made to understand to what an extent the agility of these performers has been carried out by long practice and great physical advantages . We-perceive , from advertisement , that the performaaces are entirely ' changed for next week , and that the proceeds' of Thursday are benevolentl y devoted , by the . spirited proprietor , to the funds of the Infirmary . We sincerely hope that this mark of Mr . Batty ' s kindly disposition will be rightly appreciated . It contrasts weiF with the selfish ill-nature of the vagabond Italian fidler , who , after drawing thousands of pounds from British folly and generosity , refused to scrape his fiddle for a single hour for the benefit of Englishmen in distress .
Cheap Shoes . —We beg to refer our readers to Mr . Marsden ' . " advertisement . We believe his stock to be such as will fully equal any or all of the expectations therein held forth . Inquest . —On Tuesday last , an inquest was held the sign of the Seven Stars , Dock Street , Leeds , before J . Blackburn , Esq ., Coroner , on the body of Benjamin Gledhill , found drowned in the river Aire , when it appeared he had been missing nearly three weeks , and is supposed to have been in the water nearly that period . Verdict found drowned .
The Sabbath . ^ — -Mr . Hill ' s sermon on this subject , delivered in Bethel chapel , Hull , is now in the press , and will be published in a few days . We anticipate much good from the universal dissemination ot this little wact , in which the important Sabbath controversy is placed in a rational common sense view before the reader . ' Odd Fellows .- Sir William Molesworth ' s Lodge , No . 392 , of the Grand United Order of Odd
Fellows , held their anniversary at the Foundry Inn , Little Holbeck , when a sumptuous dinner was provided by their worthy host T . Cope , and between GO and 70 members spent the evening in the greatest hilarity and good humour , being entertained with songs , glees , and recitations , Every member departed peaceably , and was greatly rejoiced at the prosperity of his Lodge . On the evening following their wives and sweethearts took their tea together , and kept up their fete till a late hour .
Leeds United- Order of Odd Fellows . — On Monday last , the members of the Hope Lodge , No .. 2 , celebrated their fifth anniversary at the Waterloo Inn , Bank , Leeds . A good substantial dinner was provided which was worthy of the liberality of the worthy Host and Hostess , after the cloth was drawn a vote of thanks was given to them for the truly splendid dinner they had provided . The evening was spent in harmony and social intercourse , at a late hour ( query , early ) , and the company broke up highly gratified with the days diversion . — On the following day a new Lodge was . opened at the Woodman Inn , Ley lands , by the officers ' -of
No . 4 Lodge , under the title of " The Lily of the Valley . " Fifty gentlemen were initiated , the officers appointed , aud the Lodge was opened in due form , after which there was lots of conviviality and pleasure . This Lodge promises fai r to be a strong and powerful society . An erroneous opinion having got abroad , that if a man held one particular religious faith he could not be admitted into this order , we beg distinctly to state that the order recognises no difference between Catholic or Protestant ,. Jew or Gentile ; that a man ' s political or religious principles are not inquired into when he is proposed . They take good men of all denominations , and so far as they can judge refuse bad ones .
Animal Sagacity . —A short time ago a gentleman at Whitworth , Robert Hardmanj Esq ., had a dog of remarkable sagacity . As an instance of his sagaciousness the following is told as a . faet . About four years ago in the winter a lad who had been for some milk in a can , set down his charge to pelt the dog with snow-balls . The dog seizing his opportunity snatched up the can in his mouth and decamped as rapidly as he could scamper to his master ' s house , leaving the lad t ® get it again as beet he could .
Bridget Cone v . Burwell . —On Thursday last , Mr . Feargus O'Connor appeared before the magistrates , Messrs . Snell and Musgrave , for the purpose of obtaining a summons against Burwell , who assaulted the plaintiff . The summons was granted without any demur , save that the magistrates thought it might have been applied for sooner . Mr . O'Connor assigned as his reason for not making an earlier application , that he did not feel disposed to apply to the magistrates who had adjudicate ^ on a case in which both parties were concerned . W ^ ith this explanation the summons was immediately granted , and the case will come on this morniug at the Court House .
Curious Coincidence . —A meeting was convened on Monday evening last , at the Seven Stats Inn , kept by Mr . Henry Kinder , for the purpose of examining ; the apparatus of that gentleman ^ of his own . invention , tor the purpose Of assisting persona in danger of drowning , akd also for restoring to life those who are within the reach of cure ; and , curious to relate , upon the morning of the same day , the body of Benjamin Gledhill , who had been missing for a fortnight , was found ^ n the rive , r , opposite the stores of the Ayre and Calder Comr pany , and was lying in the room where the apparatus was exhibited during the meeting / We mustin
, justice to Mr . Kinder , say , that , having minutel y examine ^ : the entire machinery , we never saw anything more simple and complete . Much credit is due to that gentleman for the noble opportunity he has afforded to the many pious individuals in our town , of evincing their real love of the human species , and no doubt they will prove that all has not bewi theory . The whole concern is well worth y the inspection of the mechanic and the humane . Mr . Kinder must have been at considerable expense in the completion of his maebinery .-and as it affords
the very greatest practical proof of real good feeling , we trust that the public will amply requite hinvfor his trouble and expense . We have much pleasure ia directing the attention of our readers to pur advertising columns , for further information upon this interesting subject . Mr ; Ripiler has pur best thanks , at all events ; and the only danger in the exhibition of his apparatus is , that it may induce some persons to take ah hazardous plunge , for the pleasure of being restored in Mr . Kinder ' s resusoitating hospital . The man mentioned above , as being in the river , had a £ 5 note in his pocket .
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¦ Foot Race ^ -Oh Monday Afternoonilash a fW race . was ran hetweett tw ^ persons named' $ 2 Ibbetson , of Woodhpuse , ; anft ; JSrfc ^ f fe hou « Carr for £ 20 a-side . The distance wS yards . Ibbetspn took the leady was never £ 2 and won the race by sixyarcfc ¦ eaa % _ Assa ^ s .- ^^ onday , William ^ Priestley and Henry Marshall ^ rere charged at the Court ££ with haying assaulted two watchmen in the exW taon of their duty , by beating and kicking S They werefined 40 s . an 4 cost * ; and in defeS ^ f ^ V * te y ^ erVcommitted for one month : £ WakefieR House of Correction . -
^ Stealing STiCKS . ^ On Sa turday , Thornton Garth was brought up at the Court Honk , chareed mtbhav ^ g stolen a hun dl e of sticky the propS of Mr . Grayson , a barber , who resides in Wa& Lane . They had been placed at the door for sff and the prisoner being observed to steal thein fc £ was apprehended with them in his possession ' fife was committed for trial to Wakefield House nf Correction . : ¦ :-. ¦ " . --. .- . ^ . Robbery . — On Monday , Amelia : Eay ^ aa Charged at the Court House , with having , on Satu > fi ^ fiJ ^ ^ > he ><*»* ° t * Toung man of 6 s . 6 d ^ who had given her 3 d .: A watchman came up , who toot her into custod y , and she having denied that she had any silver upon her , be found 5 s 6 d . m her mouth , she 1 having swallowed the rest . She was committed for trial to Wakefifeld House of Correction . . ,
^ Highway Robbery . —On Monday , John Gott Wm . Ayrton , and Daniel Pickard , were brought uo at the Court House , charged with having , on Tues ^ day night week , robbed Joseph Hard y , on his road home from Leeds market , of three sovereigns and a tobacco-box . They were seen * by some boyg fo throw the ptosecntor ; down , and commit the offence after which they threw the hox over a wall on the ( reldred road , at Wortley , where it has since been found , and all the parties have been fully identified They were all committed for trial to Wakefield House of Correction .
Cruelty to Animals . —On : Monday , John Howin , of Oulton , was brought up at the Court House , charged with having cruelly treated a horse which he was breaking at the North Town End-He drove the spurs into the sides of the horse in a very unmerciful manner , and when requested to desist by a policeman , he struck the officer . The case was clearly proved by disinterested parties who witnesstd the transaction . He wag fined £ 4 and costs , and in default of payment he was committed for two months to Wakefield House of Cor .
rection . The Voluntary Principle . — On Tuesdaj and Wednesday last , the annual religious servicW of the Baptist Association were performed at South Parade chapel . The attendance both days was unusually good ; and on the latter day , the astonishing sum of £ 1 , 250 were 1 collected for the assistance of poor churches in the West Riding . Was there ever a more striking proof of the efficacy of the voluntary principle ? £ 1 , 250 collected in one day ! ! .
Roguery Detected . —On Saturday last , two persons named Thomas Hammond , and John Gledhill , werecharged with having taken furniture from the house where the former way residing . The charge was fully proved and Gledhill was fined 10 s . and costs , and Hammond 20 s . They had taken the furniture and disposed of it . The prisoners in addition to the fine were to restore the price of the furniture . Stealing a Candlestick . — -On Thursday last , two young men named John Clough and James
Green , were committed for stealing a brass candlestick , the property of a Mr . Watts , a beer-house keeper , at New Road End . It appeared that the two persons had been drinking at the house above mentioned , and that they had taken' the candlestick for the purpose of selling it . When they had ltft the house , the landlady discovered the robbery , and went after them charging them with the felony . They offered to pay for the . candlestick , which they had broken in two , if the party would not appear against them .
Ancient Forresters . —On Monday last , the members and visiting friends of Courtj ; No . 276 , held at the house of Mr . William Hodgson , Shakspeare Tavern , York-street , Leeds , celebrated their anniversary . The dinner was sumptuous , and re ^ fleeted great credit upon the wortny host . ' and hostess . Several appropriate toasts were drunk , and the con * vivial pleasures of the evening otherwise promoted . On the following day the wives and female friends of
the members took tea together . Ling Bob Witch . —Died , on Tuesday last , aged sixty years , Mrs . Hannah Spence , eldest and last surviving daughter of the late Hannah' Green , better known as the Ling Bob Witch . She followed the lucrative , but now almost exploded trade of a fortune teller , till witbinjabout six months of her decease , by which she has amassed a smalt independency from the fears or follies of the
ignorant
Independent Order of Odd Fellows . — The Benignity Lodge , No . 970 , of the above Order held their anniversary on Whit-Monday , when upwards of sixty members sat . down to a sumptuou * dinner of the old English kind ; which reflected great credit on the worthy hostess , Mrs . ; Hall , Parisb Field House , Dewsbury-road . When the cloth was drawn , loyal and appropriate toasts were drunk , — songs and recitations were the order of the evening , —and , to crown the whole , Mr . Bullivent , the veutriloquist , a member of the Order , exercised his pleasing abilities , to the gratification of all present . At a late hour the Lodge closed in peace .
Factory Information . ——A person named John Wilkinson , a slubber , in the emplovment of Mr . Jackson , of Hunslet , was fined ten ' shillings ana costs for having employed a girl under the age of thirteen beyond the hours allowed by law . He had been a long time out of work , and was desiroas of making up lost time . He had been freqn » ntly warned of the consequences of an information , but he still persisted in his practice . The fine was mitigated .
The THEATRE .-r-Mr . Downe , the talented and indefatigable caterer for public amusement , has this week introduced to the acquaintance of the good people of Leeds the most inimitable of all actresses ^ Mrs . Nisbett , who , in her various characters of " . Con 8 tance , ' " Lady Teazle , " « Juliana , " &c . &c . has fascinated the play-going public in such a manner as hasnot been previeusly practised upon them in Leeds . The company , as a whole , is very respectable in talent . On Tuesday evening , the play was the " School for Scandal " when ; Mr . Downe ,
, as Sir Peter Teazle , was every thing that Sir Peter ought to be . IMts . Nisbett's Lady Teazle yms . absolute histrionic perfection . Mr . Johnson j as Sir Oliver Surface , was very goodj ; but not sufficiently pointed in some of the side speeches to be so effective as the part might he made . Mr . Fitzjames , as Charles Swr / ace , pourtrayed the free , jolly , careless , but yet generous and kind-hearted spendthrift , to the very life . It wasan excellent piece of aqtirig . Mr . Creswick , as Joseph Surface , made some good points , but did not read well .
Factory Informations . ——Yesterday , Mr-Crpysdalej of Holbeckj was charged with having violated the provisions of the Factory Act in two instances ; first in not keeping a time register , aud secondly , for not being able to produce certificates of his children ' s attendance at school . The charges being proved , he was fined £ 5 on each of the informations . Mr . Blackburn of the same place was also charged with not being able to produce certificates , and with not having registered their names in the time register ^ He stated that he had no interest in thd wages of the / children ; inasmuch as they were employed by his men . The charges were , therefore , directed to be laid against the workmen employing the children . :
Death of Jonathan Martin .--Martin , the man who set fire to X ° rt Minster some years ago , and for which he was tried aad acquitted oh the , ground of insanity , died on Sunday last in the Betbr lehem Hospital for Lunatics , in which asylum he had been confined almost ever since his trial . His death was very , sudden , and it appeared from a j ^ mortem examination of hig body that it .-. was pecasioned bya disease of the heart . Forthe last two or three years he had been very quiet in his demeanour , and spent a g ^ eat portion of his time in reading Fox ' s Book of Martyrs ,: % . work to which he was particularly partial . ; When he was first admitted
into the hospital he was allowed the use of paper and pencil , but the governors finding that whenever this indulgence was extended to him he invariably cccupie'd his time in drawing sketches of York Minister , and that his doing ao threw hitn into . stajte of considerable excitement , they prPhibited bw being su pplied with those articles in future , of ffWeh prohibition he fiequently and bitterly covafitiQ *"' Although very quiet while in his cell , yet whenever he was allowed to walk in the garden it was almost always found necessary to handcuff him , he being very mischievous ; when allewed his liber ^ f . He ^ between fifty and sixty years of age .
FiREyroRks ^ -Mr . Gyngell ' s entertainments are announced for the last time on Monday ^ We-nao not the pleasure of seeing ; his performance last Monday , but have been : told that they were excessively splendid * ;
To Ksadess & Correspondents.
TO KSADESS & CORRESPONDENTS .
Leeds And ^Vvest-Riding News.
LEEDS AND ^ VVEST-RIDING NEWS .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 9, 1838, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1009/page/4/
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