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Northern Star (1837-1852), 24th November 1838, Edition 1 of 1, Page 6, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      li ^^ Ett'nX 8 UT 0 BS Q * JPHE saBTUJSKB STAR . . ¦? ' p ; : - ¦ ? £ ' ¦ : ¦ Waterside , Nov . 5 th lS 3 B . - GiarrutMES , —I beg to enclose yw fw pnblie | fiicai fctHEBS ** - atetter addre *« al tome 1 * the . A * . T . B . Moms , of : 0 a * m Wop . As the enjriecturn tHt * ft treats is a grave ana important raSSPyM' " hity ^ lmttaiT > been . ttuch discnKsed . " Mr . J&rri * * * -newt onit ' appear to me to be deserving of th $ most lerima consideratioE of the people . - ' ^ S- —^'" : — "— I UQ i GcuurUicii ) " " j .,.- Yoorobdt . Servant , JM ]; . JOHN FiEIJDEN . ^

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      them fit to cobe with tegular iidop ^; how utterly useless must the amusement recommended by Mrv Oastler prove , ebould circumstances bring it to the te « t anticipated by him . ; . But , evenif thebodyof operativeaBhouWbe able to cope with the . musket * of the infantry , and the sabres of the cavalry -whicn , would be brought against them , what nope ran Mr . Oa $ tier reasonably entertain that they would stand a second discharge from a couple of field piece ? . I doubt whether a single operative has ever witnessed the effect of cannon : andThave no doubt that the first sight of their effect , and of the dreadful carnage which the discharge of grape from a couple of pieces of artillery- woald produce in a dense body , would strike

      such terror into the mob , for the congregated operatives would in reality be nothing else , that they wonld instantly throw away their arms , abandon all attempts at resistance , and . despondingly await the punishment which is always inflicted on conquered rebels ; while the chains of the Poor law would be bound round the necks of the poor throughout the kingdom faster than ever . . ¦ " ¦ - ¦ '"" . "; v J ? I do not mean to say that a determined inob occupying the houses on each side of narrow streets , and availing themselves ef all the advantages which their position would afford , might not be able to baffle the attack of a considerable body of troops ; but then there must be a degree of military skill and experience , which I do not believe that any

      portion of the people in the manufacturing districts if Yorkshire and Lancashire possess ; the insurgents must be provided with other arms than those bright weapons with which Mr . Oastler advises the operatives to decorate their houses ; and they must be led by a chief having sufficient authority to direct and controul them . But , if they did possess these rexraLdtes for defence , any town where such means wereTesorted to would resemble abisiegedcity ; and the evils to which thelnsurrectionary body would be subjected , would , independentl y of the Ios 3 of life , far exceed the suffering and privation which would attend those peaceable means b y which the abominable orders and regulations of the Poor Law Commissioners may bg effectually resisted .

      Let sot Mr . Oastler , be deceived by the events which have taken place in France . When the citizens of Paris attacked the Bastile , they were asastedand _ directed by old soldiers ; and , if my recollection is correct , they got possession of some cannon , -which artillerymen worked for them : besides , the fortress was badly provisioned , and ill supplied / with ammunition ? : while the garrison was weak , and rendered still more feeble by intestine divisions . During the three glorious days , as they are called , of 1830 , the barricades were formed by men who had seen service ; while there existed a , want or decision .: eu the part of the Ministers , and some of the marshals , not to be expected from ptr Government , or from the Duke of Wellington and

      Lord Hill ; and which paralysed the troops . Besides the populace of Paris , and , indeed , the whole French nation is decidedly military , which I maintain that our population is not . , . The armed resistance to what is now the law of the land , contemplated by Mr . Oastler , is , therefore , eminently deficient in one of those accessories , viz ^ a reasonable probability of a bappv termination , which , according to Sir James Mackintosh , are indispensably necessary to render insurrection an act of public virtue ; and , according to the same eminent publicist and moralist , Mr . Oastler , if he should stand forward as the chief of an inconsiderable and ill-concerted revolt , wonld incur the most formidable re-fponsibflity to his followers and his

      conntiy . Most sincerely do I hope that Mr . © astler may see , and be prevailed upon to acknowledge , his error : and that he will employ his talents and his influence to prevent the mischief which his letter of the 27 th of Jul y will infallibly prodnce , should it induce his followers to believe that they can successfully oppose the Poor Law by open force . But there is another consideration which makes me deeply regret that Mr . Oastler should have advised aia adherents to provide arms , and to adopt as an amusement what , as he thinks , would enable them to use those anus with greater-effect . Mr . Oasdi-r has repeatedly stated , that the soldiers are disinclined to lire upon the people when assembled to express their disapprobation of the Poor Law .

      1 think it probable that the soldiers do feel that disinclination , and that the feeling will increase , if nothing is done to check it , or te counteract it b y other motives . A brave man , and our soldiers are undoubtedly brave , must always be reluctant to use a deadly weapon against an opponent who , from bemg destitute of similar means of attack , is not upon an equality with him . The British troops will , I have no doubt , always do their duty , whether abroad against a foreign foe , or at home against a mob whose object is plunder or treason . But they are not now such mere' soacMnes as they were formerly , when they were ever read y to pull the trigger at the _ command of thpir officer ^ whatever was the cause in which their services were required .

      Now they do not forget that , in becoming sol-iiers , they have not ceased to be citizens . ; and , if called out to disperse a tumultuous assembly , the cause of the assemblage forms , I have no doubt , a subject of conversation amongst them , and its justice is discussed . That man must , indeed , have paid very little attention to the progress of political knowledge and political feeling during the last half-century , who supposes that British soldiers will show the same readiness to coerce the lo * er orders when they consider them to be only contending for their just rights , as they would to pat down rebellion , or to stop i-obhery and murder . He must be an idiot or a madman who imagines that Englishmen will not hesitate to imbrue their hands in the

      blood of their fellow subjects who are struggling to obtain , in return for their labour , the food necessary to keep themselves and their families from starving ; who are resisting the attempt to deprive them of their inalienable rights , and to reduce them to worse than negro slavery ; and who deny that their poverty gives any three men a right to separate them from their wives and children . Besides , so many of our troops have been recruits from the manufacturing districts , that many soldiers must know that , if they poll the trigger , the ball may reach the heart of a father , a mother , or a sister . The dread of becoming a parricide ; of murdering the mother who had given him birth , upon whose breast he had hung ; or of incurring the guilt of Cain , by taking the life of the

      aster who had been the companion of his childhood , will paralyze the arm of every soldier ordered to fire npoa a crowd of men , and women , and children . Foolish as the ancestors , and administrators , of the odious Poor Law are , I do not believe them to be so thoroughly idiotic , as to call frequently upon the soldiers to slaughter the people in Buch a cause ; and thus compel them to set the feelings of human nature in array against their military duties . If they do yenture upon acts of such egregious folly , it will not require the spirit of prophecy to foretel the consequences . That old almanac , the page of history , will enable any one to predict the political storm . How injudicious then is it in Air . Oastler to raise m the minds of the soldiers a feeling which would unteract their

      co unwillingness to become the murderers of their fellow-citizens . B y ostentatiously providing ^ arms , and learning to march in line , or column , the neople would be saying to the soldiers , " if you attack us , we will see whether we cannot beat yon . With the pugnacious spirit of Englishmeiuthesoldiers would , probably , reply - " we are unwilling to hurt yon , and if you had appealed to us as friends , you would have found us brethren : but , if you defy u * , if you dare us to the combat , we will showyou that we are not to be fri ghtened into forbearance . - Thus a hostile feelLg between the soldie r * an ± the people wonld be engendered : au event to be deprecated not only by every enemy to ^^ itZ ^^ JT * 2 berty Mr

      V ^ H < ,. Oastler has intimated that the feeling of thesoldiers on the subject of the Poor Law are with the people ; and that they would be more inclined to use " the flat of the * abre than the edge . Why then make it a point of honour with them to put forth thenwhole strength r Mr . Oasder told the people , when ™« w ] Si ° n £ ground ' to P& fte soldiers with snow balk , as they would irritate them more than a shower of stones . Why then now irritate them by , « aying ; " come far , we are ready to fight to ?' Why does he enlist the esprit du corps , the military pnde ofthe trqppMmthscauae-ofthoM who would cram the Poor Law dowrxtheir throats at the point of the bayonet ? I entreat him no longer to ulav the game of the Whigs , And the PoorXaw ( S missionens

      . ^ . ^ l' Oastiermay say , "I do not w ^ h ^ e people to j arm against the ^ ldiers . but against the feohce . " I believe that the policemen ; would be . more ready / tools in the hands or Government than the soldiers ; - and ' that ih ^ the people must not trust to fWforbfiarance , But . wit lo © ppoteajHjore or twc of constable ^ armed , « nlyowafli fcmdgeon * , or cutlasses , - which , ma crowd , wonMbe lere ^ efficacious weapons than bludgeons , that . ' Mr ..: Qastler advises one or two hundred Jhonsand men to provide . airf « ? -Wnnw

      die police venture to attack guch numberi of men , ( who alspinayhaviebludgeons m their hands , ) unless supported' by a miKtary force ? Or , if ithey did , | wouldthey nbtbe" beaten ? Will ihe soldiers like 16 be made 'thelacqueys of the police ? WiD they protect the poKce in dbmg ^ thai ., which they would ^ t . ao -themselves ? ( Hear , hear < anachefersO Will ithey nidan sending their fefeersjmbiheri , ' brothers ; ^ erg ^ to gpme penal settlement in Awtralia , for 8 ^ 5 $ * 9 ^ pence ? All these are questions TSl ^^ - 0881161 to well consider ^ Again . i ^ SJ drawingtruction- from the events of

      M ^^^ sssffssssss ra ^ teifsaa ^ gfiai Mr . OastTer yenfore to assert , that ^ te i « « n ¦ iltfli Poor Law without a demoiistratibn oT Dnvsibal force , that it is necessary to call upon itoopKS

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      § TO JOHN FIELDER ESQ ., M . P . " ; \ - ^ Jab-Sib ^ -I have read with great regret-Mr . OaiBer's letter of the 527 th of July , inserted in the Nmhern Star of the' 25 th of August , in which Be scKses the opponents of the "New Poor Law to prot «^ themsplves with-arms . I acknowledge the great afeot displayed by Mr . Oastler in most of his pub-J «» edlettere which have met my eye : I admire the Std ^ sand energy , and fearlessness with which he has ¦ mbunced the evils of the factory system , and the | Knm ; ri « . H » T . a of the PowLaw Amendment Act j tdtd I revere himforhisphilaiitliropy . His-esertions

      sn . the cause ot humanity , andm defence of the rights ^ the ^ peraiives and labourers , have given him a fiAinfiuence over the minds of the working class j bBt , \ tiSjf greater his influence is , the more important % &E € § lha welfare of that cla&s th ; -t the advice vhicfcfiie gives them should lie ; dictated by the jbundest Judgment . While thousands and hundreds 4 if t&bjfeStds repose , implicii ^ nfidence in him , and are xeany to follow , without examination , whatever Tina of conduct he may point but , any incautious advice given hj Mr . Qas&er—an ; injudicious step recou&nended by him , may be productive of the most disastrous consequences to those persons whom he ismostanxious to serve , and may tend to rivet those

      ehaijis fr om ^ hichitishis object toreheve them . Tb ^ se considerations made me read with alarm the * £ tdvice given by Mr . OastJer to the operatives , to pro ( Eide themselves with arms , and to adopt ' as an ansuBementwhat , I have no doubt , the magistrates ird ^ d . consider to b& a military training . You are ogiell acquainted with my uncompromising hostiiity tOkfhe New Poor Law , that you "will not , I am sure , aj ^ bute my . strong disapprobation of Mr . Oastler ' s jpebyininenda ^ on to-aziy iukewaxmness in the cause of-the poor , or to any wish to retain them , in subjection to the grinding , and despotic , and unconstitutional sower with which the Poor Law Commis

      sioners have been armed . Ko , my disapprobation j ^ eceeds from a strong conviction that the adoption gf _ Mr . Oastler ' * advice , the vain show of resistance ? hich he recommends , would lead to an useless effioaon of blood j would subject his misguided followers to all the sufferings which a riotous and un-* uccessful opposition to the constituted authorities always draws down : upon the inferior actors who &a * e engaged in it ; and would throw , insuperable obstacles In the way of those who are now endea-: ) wuring , wiflijevery -piospect of success , to procure , By peaceable means , the repeal , * or an alteration amounting nearly to repeat , of the odious Poor -Law . " - ;• : . -- ¦ . " - ¦ - . " . . ' ' -.. -- ' .

      . " ,: -The right of the people to resist any unconstitutional attack , whether . made by the Monarch or tiie Legislature , upon their , liberties or privileges , and to refuse submisidon to any law subversive of ihe social compact by which the difEerent classes of Ae community are " bound together , has been laid down for so many eminent / writers , and is indeed , sd evidenrly an inherent and imperishable prerogative © f the nation at large , that it is no longer openly denied , even by those whose predilections in favour of arbitxary power are the strongest . But thouah ^ teright of resistance ou Jhe part of the people ~ is indisputable , the exercise of it mnst necassariJv be cenfined to those extraordinary cases which admit of na other remedy ; and , moreover , these who eosase

      m insurrection ought , beadea having justice ' and reason on their side , to have also probable grounds fer expecting success . The limitations 'which prudential considerations ought to , throw' around the exercise of the moral right of insurrection , are so admirably jaid down in an extract from Sir James ^ Mackintosh ' s Historical Fragment , which I have lately read in ihelEdinlvrgh Review for July last , that I wish to recommend the passage to Alt . Oastler ' s perusal and most serious consideration . - ?* When the rulers of anation , " says that moderate and dispassionate inquirer , Sir James Mackintosh , . ^ are required , to determine ] a question of peace ¦ fa war , the bare justice of their case against the wrong doer never can be the sole , and is - not

      always the chief , matter , in which they are morally Bound bo exercise a conscientious declaration . " Prodenceinpofiducfing the affairs of their subjects , 13 iajthem a part of justice ; " and applying these principles to a war made by the people against their own gOTernment , he goes on to say , the ehiefs of a justl y disaffected party are unjust to their fellows and their folioweis , as well as to all the rest of their countrymen , if they-take np arms in a case ¦ where the evils of submisaon are not more intolerable ^ lie impossibility of reparation by pacific means more apparent , and the chances of obtaining it by arms greater than are necessary to jnstify the rulers ef a nation towards their own subjects , for nndertaims a foreign war . A wanton rebellion , when

      considered with the aggravation of its ordinary con-« eouences , is one of the greatest of crimes . The chiefs of an inconsiderable and ill concerted revolt , however provoked , incur the most formidable re-• Sponsbihty to their foUowers and their conntry . An inanrer-tion rendered necessary by oppression , and ¦ warranted hj a reasonable probability of a : happy termination , is an act of public virtue , always environed with so much peril as to merit admiration " . * _ It is not conastent wifli my objectin addressing jbu , xo enterinto discusiionas to whetherthe nature oTfhe Poor Law A ^ nendment Act does , or does r ioU rnnord a just ground for resistance to it , now that it ban become part of the statute law of the land . I win , - thereforej assume with Mr . Oastlerthat its

      , -UBconstimtional and antisocial character is a snffitdent jeasonSor oppeangitTjy physical force . ; and -fetus bring it within the indispensable condition , necessary to justify revolt * namely , that the cause 38-a just one .- ETenthen , taking the principles laid idownby Sir James Mackintosh for my guide , I contend , that the demonstration of insurrectionarj Intentions recommeBafed by Mr .. Oastler would be highly mexpedieni j becanse the chance of a snecessfol termioaSon-ifould be gmall , while there is » hope of reanovinj die evil by pacific means , which hope would - be rented more feeble by a resort to ^ , nnl ^ tMd dangerj ^§ jneasure of Tevolt . _ I hare saM that « ny insurrectionary opposinon to « e New Poor La » wouSih » re Uttle chance of

      success ; and my reasaa-fer ^ tina opinion is , that the Kugnsh arei are notrnftb ? fin 31 y , aad frominclination , amiHtary natibni > 3 iBar feelmgB are all navaL It B true , that ¦ when trained " and disciplined , they aake the best troops in the world . - When ted out By daring and gallant officers , there is no danger our soldiers will not face ; no attack , however im-T > ejtuons , which they win not stand , scarcely any odds ' which they win not encounter . Their physical powers , combined with sturdy and inffinchine coinage , have rendered them mortformidable oppol » ente to all the continental armies which have taken f&e field against them . But , if I was called upon ¦ h > pqmt ont fiie pecuEar eaauie which has made our aroufis ^^ most invincible , I should at once mention tte confidence

      which each individual soldier has in fcuj » moanions . When the charge is ordered , each maafeels confident mat his sides will be guarded as fimfca * his right and feft hand men can . keep their feetj-jmaVinspired by this confidence , ike whole a » sVnndauatedJyl adrance upon their opponent * Bat , bow wre are the instances in yrhich the contmental troops have dared to cross bayonetsjwith our men . And yet the Tr ench are undoubtedlv couTageous . ^ I imagine thai fiieir inferiority to our sojdiersm « lose fighting , where the bayonet can be resorted to , is ^ mainly to be attributed to their not navmgikat confidence in each other which our men torn . Now , I would ask Mr . Oasflef , whether he can suppose for a moment that , if he had assembled 109 , 000 operatires , and each of them armed , any one of these men would feel confident of the opport of onelnaividual in fiieCTowd , ff any smele

      weopof cavalry , or a angle x > ompany of infeBtry " as prepunng to charee them ? I am sure that not one of . them would . The consequence would be t ^ tenwmentiiie troops advanced upon them , eachmdmdaal would think only , of Ms own- jsafety , MJL meDevfl teke the hindmost would be thewoS ^^ M ^ fw ? C ^ flie other . BBr ; p « r : te ^ of . tjn ^ Tbeen traiaed and disdpS Seer aeir feshioo ., Their training had feT ^ r ^ lJr - ifluck ^ Oast ^ -s am ^ emenT ^^ iltf tl& 2 ^ " " -B *^ manrr were ordered [ to ^ StrSaf ^ > . ? Tbeym « o--theirlm 6 wa in ^ ayDl | g ¦ onTm fire minutes « very ^ man would hiwrS Trolled off iiB horse , and trampled under , fan * VfTT ^ fco * ed headTh / ma ^ ds trafeS ^

      ^ ^ ,, Manser , and called to the officer eommandin ? tt » regi ^ cwralry , « fer God ' ssake Colonel L ^ E straaee ! sw-flie yeomanry . " In obedienc « to flie call ^ t « to » el ordered Ms hussars to charge ; and tbJCmol ) ^ anuy dispersed , eachindividuaT consultinTonly 1 » owb Mfety . The mob knew that they cbSdde % pend ^ pon each other against the yeomanry . ' They Aadnosuch confidence when charged by tbi rem-W ^^ M ppf # siSii ¦» oMiteers and yeomaiuy received ^ ul ^; to SEr

      • ^ dinlraTgli Eeview , No . 136 , Art . 7 .

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      | to arm openly , and at all risks ? --Nay , inll he even ; take apon himself to say , that there > is-notraatroni . probability that Grovernment ^ rill soon be compelled i-tq abandon the law ? from the utter imposnbmty of continuing to enforce-the execution of the obnoxions clauses . ' I am convinced that such & probability e ^ sts . I will speak first ; of the rural districts ; When the Poor Xa ^ r Amendment Act was first brought info operation , the rformer , were delighted with the prospect which it opened to their view . Diminution of . Ppor ' s-rateS ; the low « ringof' the rate of wagesj the power of ^ compellihg - such labourera as < theyj did not choose to employ to rely upon their own resources , i . e . to live upon this most scanty pittance withbut troubling the parish ; the

      putting into their ^ own pockeu all the additional income which this diminution oi expenditure would give them ; the gratification of reducing the labourers to slavery , ind of exercising a ^ ^ de spotic ^^ control Over them ; and the delight or seeing -those who uwi claimed parish allowance as a nght v and had des ! - pised the threats of their masters ,-crouch at their feet Hke beaten hounds , formed pait of the golden vision which the Poor Law presented to their gladdened eyes . But , hy this time , the farmers have found , that ' all ia not gold that glitters . The landlords have in some instances claimed theliqn ' g share of the spoil . Diminished rates and wages are counterbalanced : by the demand of increased rente . The farmers who hoped to make the

      workmen slaves , find themselves the slaves—slaves to the three commissioners . " The labourers , becoming discontented , and dogged , and sullen , and reckless , have exhibited strontj marks of . ah intention to oppose the tyranny under which they at first quailed ; while amongst the farmers the . fears of 1830 have revived ; while the labourers hoped to bear up , by diligence and frugality , under the . pressure of the New Poor Law , and by submission to propitiate their masters j and while the dread of the Union House was so strong as to make them unhesitatingly reject the test of destitution , all went on according to the farmers wishes ; and nothing but exultation and praise of the . Poor Law was heard , among them . N&w , that the dread of the Union House

      has , in , some degree , given way to the dread of starvation , and that the misery produced by privation of every kind is felt to be intolerable ^ while the hope of _ amelioration becomes , every day , fainter and fainter , labourers with large faimilies , and widows with two . or three children , have evinced a determination to accept the offer of the House . This has opened the eyes of the farmers ; an d many of them are now as loud in their disapprobation of the repeal of out door reh ' ef , as as some time ago they were warm in their praise of the measure . The fact is , that the adherence to the workhonsetest would now touch their pockets 5 and though they long turned deaf ears to the complaints of the labourers , they can clearly enough tee the

      egregious folly of maintaining a family in idleness inthehouse , at an expense ot from 20 to 30 shilling * weekly , when the gift of a stoue or two oi flour , or an allowance of 5 s . or 6 s . a week in addition to their ordinary earnings , would enable the family to continue at their work . The consequence is , that s 6 me of the Boards of Guardians in this district have declared their determination to give out-door relief at their discretion , . until deterred by a peremptory order to the contrary froin the Poor Law Comruisxigners . At a late meeting of ih « Guardians in a Union near me , a proposition was made to give out-door relief in a case before the Board . The Assistant CommiAsioner was presmt , and exclairnea strongly against the proposal , declaring it to fie

      contrary to the wishes and regulations of the Commissioners . Some of the Guardians , however , maintained the . right to give out-door relief , as no order prohibiting it had been received : aiid a motion to grant it in the case before the Board was ' made and carried , in spite of the opposition of the Assistant Commissioners . The Commissioners are , therefore , aware , and from more sources than one , that the Boards of Guardians are , notwithstanding their former subserviency , becoming rebellious subjects ; and it will suon be seen , whether the Commissioners will , or will not , venture to i > sue peremptory orders to every board of Guardians , 10 refuse all out-door relief to the able-bodied . If they do not issue such orders , and endeavour to enforce them , what Lord John Russell called the principle ol the bill though

      it is not to be found in any section of it > and which his Lordship declared that he would not sutler to be touched or even inquired into , must be given up ; the act must really , as well as virtually , be abandoned ; and we shall gain the object for which we contend , without bloodshed . If on the other hand , the Commissioners venture toissue peremptory orders for the refusal of all out-door relief to the able-bodied they will raise snek dissatisfaction and clamour amongst thefarmerf , as will compel the county Members to vote for a modification of the act . Indeed , I doubt whether the rural Boards of Guardiaus , composed as they are principally of farmers , would obey the orders of the Commissioners ; and any attempt to enforce the penalties for disobedience prodded by the act , would , in a few months , leave the rural unions without elected Guardians .

      If we turn from the rural to the manufacturing districts , and to the towns , the working classes have in their own hands the power of utterly annihilating the Poor Law Amendment Act ; and that . without baring recourse to arms , or exposing themselves , or their country , to the horrors of civil war . We have all of us heard of passive resistance to tithes in Ir eland . The different political parties have all -acknowledged ^ that in consequence of this passive resistance , it is impossible to gather tithes in that couutry , and that it is absolately necessary to substitute some other mode of collecting the revenues of the Established Church . The collection of tithes in Ireland _ is even now . . virtually abandoned . Let the operatives in the manufacturing . districts profit

      by the example . Let them oppose passive resistance to the Poor Law , and that , like Irish tithes , must be abolished . The Whigs framers and supporters of the Poor Law will certainly have no ' . right to complain , after the course they have pursued with regard to tithes in Ireland . As soon as the operatives find that their earnings are insufficient for the support of themselves and families , and that they and their wives and children will be subjected to privations which they ought not to . endure , let them agree amongst themselves to apply for relief ^ and that each of them will accept the offer of the Union house . No house will he large enough to hold them ; the rate-payers will soon be tired of maintaining large numbers « f them in idleness ; and

      cne 1 necessity lor aljuwing out-door relief will , before long , be made apparent to the Comniissioriers , as well a * to the Guardians . But , perhaps , the Board of Guardians will not offer the house , but will tell-the applicants' to havei recourse ¦ ' -.- ¦ to their own resources ; or will set weayers and spinners to breakicg stones at lower wages than are given to day labourers . If they should be such irreclaimable idiots as to do this , the next step on the part of the workmen should be a decisive one . Let such of tiiem as are in debt sell their furniture ; and with the proceeds pay their landlords « r their creditors . Let such as are not in debt get some friends to kike care of their furniture for them . On themorhing of the Board day let allwith one accordtake the

      , , keys of then-rooms to their Iaudlo ^ ds ; tell them that they have hot any longer the means of paying them , and that a sense of honesty prevents them from incurring debts which they Lave neither the means nor a prospect of discharging ; and then let them give up their rooms . As soon as this is donei let them go to the Board of Guardians , and quietly , peaceably , and orderly , but firndy , demand relief ; 1 should like to see the countenances of the Guardians with five or six thousand men , women , and children before them , telling them that they bad not a , roof to shelter them , a bed to lie on , or a morsel of bread to eat ; and requiring , under the provisions of the Poor Law Amendment Act , shelter and food for that very night . What could the Guardians do ? Would

      they send such an assembly ^ without food , to lie in the streets all night ? I fancy that , they . would not . venture upon such an ; act of madness : but would remember that self-preseryation is the first law of nature . Would they endeavo&r to prevail "Pon the magistrates to ; commit then * to prison ? Where would they find pri 8 dng to contain them ? And for what offence could the ' magistrates commit them ? I suppose that there haveT ) eeiino riotous or disorderly proceedings : no violence ; Isit a crime to be honest ? Is it a crime for a man to pay hiu debts , even-though he should make himself a pauper by . doing so ? Is it a : crime for / aman who ; is d 4 titute to apply for relief te the constituted authorities who are appomted exuresslv for the nnrhosfi of nrp .

      venUngdesbtutioh ? Will the Guardians accuse the men of refusing to work ? The men will say , " we are wilhng and , ready to work ; but we * annbt Work without we have a room to sleep ' inV arid we cannbt earn enough to pay for one ; and , therefofei will not ^ hire one . ' ^ And v- ' ifC -the magistrates should , commit 4 hem upon' the - plea of vagrancy , or some other ; equally falseiand ftivolous' pretence ^ what could : they afterwards do with them ? / -Ooti door rehef must , therefore , be given to the appUcants- Th ^ furniture which , has , been Bold must be I ^ P lwed . The jents of aU must be paid , or guaran-^ i ' ^ ^^ H ? 9 « 4 v PC Guardians . t&T Ixample iwould spreadthrough ev ^ ry pari sh in the k ingdom ; ^ k ^ tjT 011 ^ ^ m ^ so apparent that what ^ Lori i ^ l ^ S ^ lL ^^ P' ^ Ple ^ f tbe A ^ Ybut f traad in the

      SSH ° ^^ tuleB ^ nd ^ 11 ¦ l h Gommiflsiqners , ) could nof be carried j ia ^ xeOTtion , in opposition * d the' will of the bS ^ S'S ? J ****™* *^ thkt'it would necessarily f be abandonedt and ,: as Lord John . RusseU has re-. peatery mtimaed that , if tl » prin « So ! £ efSg iSSortht ^?^ S ^ i r ^ ^ i « S jt £ e ;««* : of Uie 1 B 4 ) Lwpuld not . be , worth defending , ime PoorLa * AiMndnientActwOTUbe so ^ modinel BsS ^ SSSBS ^^ j aWrnwijetsaid- that , ^ a- ^ osiiion of th * atipti-{ cant * Sir relief : ^ ould . be ^ taken . | nto ^ m-Son ihouses j ^ they , wpnjd have to enduije ; much sufferinjE ' ^^^ g ^ g ^ . ofthose ^ prigon ^ -by beingiseparateoTfrom their wives and chUdrenf and" by being fed with the scanty and unwholesome food

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      which formsthe ^ Allowed . But , as the legislature has been so forgetful of its duties to the community as to lodge a . despotic . power in' the oana 8 bf the three' Commissioner , ' and refuses to recal it , that power cannot ¦ be wrested otit ^ of their ^ hands without suffering of sonie ; kindi " ¦ Mr * Oastler cannot expect ' that 1 his plan of aimed resistance would , be unattended with suffering . - A contest with the military , if it lasted onlyten minutes , a few ' . rounds of grape shot ; from a couple of pieces of artillery , not -to mention ? he imprisonmenta and transportation , the sure con * sequences of an unsuccessful ' revolt , would produce misery gTeater by a hundred fold in extent , and

      intensity , and duration ,. than the suffering which a residence in the union iouses brought on by adopting my recbmmendatipn » would : pccasion . So firmly am I impressed with the belief , that the course of : pasisiye resistance which I have pointed outTffoulu annihilate the ; New Poor Law , that 1 have strongl y recommended it to the labourers in my parish . But there is sp ^ a a want of bnion amongst them , as to prevent that general agreement which is necessary to render the measure effectual . Incrnased suffering will , howeverj I ain certain j produce the requisite union throughout the rural districts ; aud I shall not be surprised if its eiffects are seen during the approaching winter and ¦¦

      spnng . ;•; . ; But it is howalmost ; time to finish this long letter . The Edinburgh reviewer , coinmenting on thepassage from- Sir James Mackintosh , quoted in the beginning of this letter , observes , * ' Mackintosh assumes there has been jusi [ cause for ' - ' revolt ; and even in that case , he regards it to be ; the duty of the disaffected party to consider ^ e ; ll the chances of success , and to take into account not only the immediate evils of civil warfare , but to weigh the consequences of failure , not merely to theniselyes , buti to their country . " I feel myself , therefore , to be borne out by thelanguagft of Sir James Mackintosh and the reviewer .

      in considering tour conditions as lndispehsably necessary to justify an armed opposition to the governing power ot the country : 1 st , that the cause of revolt should be a . just one j 2 nd , that the evils of submission should be more intolerable than those that would result from resistance ; 3 rd , that there should be a probability of obtaining redress by force of arms ; and 4 th , that there sho _ uld be little or no prbspeot of removing the oppression complained of , by pacific means . Even if we assume with Mr . Oastler , that the punishment of poverty as a crime-r-the unconstitutional power granted to the Commissioners , and the separation ot man and wife , under the Pom Law Amendment Act j are just grounds for resisting the liw by force ; of arms , we shall still have to inquire

      whether tlie other cpttditions necessary to justify revolt are to b ^ i found in the case which is before us . The : suftering which would result from an appeal to arms would undeubtedly be great ; but , looking at the moral and political character of the New Poor Law , and taking into account the consequences which might ensue from permitting such a daring inroad upon the principles of the Constitution , and upon the rights and privileges of Englishmen ; such a barefaced attempt to render the ^ great mass of the people slaves to , their employers ; such a violation of the commands of the Great Author of thiV religion upon which the Established Church of this country is founded : and such a

      severance of the moral bonds b y which the community is held together , to remain unresisted , I rim inclined to ! say , though not without hesitation , that the evils of submission are greater than those which would result from resistance . But , though I speak doubtingly upon this point , I feel confid « nt that the other two conditions ^ uecessary to justify insurrection , are wantirg . The object of this lettei has been to show , that there are no just grounds for expecting that an attemptto resist the Poor Law by force of arms would be successful ; and that there are pacific means , at least measures which do not require weapons for their support , by which the repeal of the obnoxious , unjust , and oppressive law may be

      ensured . It is for you to sajr , whether I have suc ^ ceeded . If you are of opinion that I have established my position * you would , I think , be rendering a great service to our cause , by endeavouring to impfsss the same conviction upon Mr . Oastler ' s mind . If you could prevail upon that gentleman to recommend passive , instead of active , resistance to the Poor Law , I should have little doubt of seeing that odious act erased from the statute book . Earnestly and sincerely hoping that you will use your influence to counteract the ill effects which , I apprehend , Mr . Oastler ' s advice to arm is lik « ly to produce ; and requesting you to use this letter in any way which you consider best calculated to assist you in attaining that object , I remain , dear sir , Yours truly , T . B . MORRIS , Shelfanger , near Diss , Norfol k , October 19 th , 1 S 3 &

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      ¦ -:, . . ; ; - . • ¦• ; ' . TH ? - DINNER , : ; .: ;; " : ; - ' . ' " . ' ¦ ; : AtfiveoVlockabouy 250 of the leading Radicals » at down to dinner in the TQwn HaU , Mr . Skevington , ' of Loughborough , presiding . ; Maiiypatri 6 tic toasts iW ^ re " givenV apa apfy resppifded to . ' In the'outset , and while the chairman was fetuming ttank ^ for \ the ! hofaout ednferTea-upon-hiniy one Satisoxnei a tttolof"the Whigs . >' &Utiit ^ : te ^^ 't 6 r ^ atd ' . % () miB' ^ - ifuBiqn / but the ^ ollectedhess and firmness of ; the ! premdent 4 and the feeling ofthemeetin ^^ eoen ? put ' mmT lown . ; ) This ; gentleman has latel y received-jeift frQni ; the ^ ig « 4 s £ 5 from each qif theJMessre ; iBiggs ^ } fpr thfe services rendered t < i theiJRefQrm cause . ; , ; pMr ^ Swain ? ably re ^ itold | he ' meeting ' that he had more than once heard him say that he would use the sword in . the attempt to procure ids rights . Upon Mr . O'Connor ' s

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      health . bemgrprQ ^^» the : buflding , " wbich tteii containedmore than 500 persons , ( the number being increased by after dinner tickets , ) shook again ; with , sheers ., ^ He spoke for more than an hpur andahalf r but anyatteinpt to deiJcribe would ^ yijes ^ oyltbe ^ fl ect of a speech ao ^^ d ^ by alf ito h ^ v ^ been the ablest and ; most J eloquent ever delireretd in iLeicester .. He / explained the several instances in which the constitution had been violated ^ and the method of redress pointed out by the ablest constitutionalwriters in such cases . ( Hear , hear . ; He so completely ^^ analysed the | former and present policy of Mr . O'Connell , as to disgust the meeting witi that gentleman . He expounded the whole bearing , meaning , and working of the N » w Poor Law Act , the law pf Primogeniture ; and entail , the National

      Debt , the Corn Laws , Pension . . hat , and other institutions as causes of distress , and shewed them to be anti-constitutipiiaL The whole speech was full bf novelty , especially that portion which referred to the former and present state of Ireland'and Mr . O'Connell's threat of invading the country with a monarchical army . To which army ,. said he , I would advance with open heart and say , come , come , come , and fight with the fervency of real Catholics , and the courage of true-bom Irbhmeaj against the betrayers of your country and the dominion of the shooting church law establishment . He explained his several electioneering struggles in the county of Cork , and sat down most enthusiastically cheered , renewing every pledge which six years ago he had volantarily given to his constituents , namely .

      Repeal of the Union —( great cheering ) -r-the total extinction of tithes -- ( loud cheers)—and ' all law establishments , appointment of the magistrates by the people , and the five great principles . We never witnessed so great a sensation as . that , produced by Mr . O'Connor ' s speech . Several other Crentlemen responded to the toasts , which were afterwards given , and Mr . O'Connor agaiii rose to respond to the toast of the Leicester Mercury . He said , to the Mercury he attributed their state and forwardness , and told them not to mind other ! papers —r-tosupporttheir own friend , or itcomld not support them : and he congratulated the infant journal upon being , by 96 a-weekv at the head of both Whig and Tory papers of the same town . ( Great cheering . ) We have here given but a mere outline of the proceedings ^ and cannot conclude without paying a just tribute of praise to M essrs . Seal . M ark ham .

      an « others , who were forembst in getting up the proceedings ; nor can we omi t that which is due to the excellent Mr . Woodhbuse and his colleagues , from Nottingham . To the pretfidentand his coadjutpr 8 , front Loughborough , where five unions have been established ; and also to Mr . Oram , solicitor , and his seventeen brave * coinpanions of Nuneaton , who came a distance of several . miles- ' to testify their approval of the proceedings ; ( Hear , and cheers . ) The wb <^ e was a day ot happiness and rejoicing , and was most aptly concluded by the Radicals cutting the Whig painter , declaring , that as they could not show any positive . Parliamentary strength , that they would show their negative power , b y allowing the Whigs in future to fight the enemy alone and single handed . We insert the excellent letter of Rev ; J . P . Mursell , successor to the late Rev . Robert Hallj in answer to the invitation of the committee : —

      TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE UNION OF THE WORKING CLASSES OF LEICESTER AND ITS VICINITY . GENTLEMEN , —I beg very respectfully to acknowledge the reception of your letter , signed b y your Secretary , reque 8 tin ({ my assistance at the meeting ot the operatives of Leicester and its vicinity appointed to bo held on Monday next . In declining to accejpt yoor invitation , I am not inflaenced by any change of opinion or of feeling on the great question of pobular rights , or by any vyant of interest in the strugtrle for which the working classes of Great Britain have ein ^ barked , but » oiely by a dread of the responsibility which my acquiescence would entail . 1 could not do justice to the enterprise in which are

      you engaged , or to my own very decided opuiions , and very earnest seutmienta respecting it—and that too at its very oneet- ^ without a surrender of time , of energy , and ofstrHiigth , which would be altogether incompatible with higher and . still holier claims , without wntrenching on the obligation */ of an office which it is at once my happiness and honour to sustain f riot that I have the slightest sympathy with those who teach that to . advocate civil rights , arid alleviate popular burdens , lies without the province of Christianity , and derogates from the dignity of its ministers . This permcious doctrine may answer the purpose of priestl y domination , or serve as the guise of pusilanimoua spirit ; but so faT from deserving countenance from reason or from revelation , insults the one , and brings the other into : contempt .

      I entreat , therefore , you will exonerate me from the guilt arid the obloquy of excusing mysellfronv advancing the present interests of men under the pretence of . zeal for their future welfare But there must be a hiiiit to exertibn soine where , aiid that limit in my own case , I cannot possibly extend . l i in common with thousands , nave observed , with , the deepest regret , the gradual disunion of interest and of feeling which has been going on . between the great body of the people and the enfranchised part of the community , since the passing of . the two great important measures of Parliamentary and of Municipal Reform . The- very slender claima which the existing government has exerted to popular " co ' ivfiienco and respe _ ct— the incliiiation of a largei body of active reformers to full into their tardy and compromising course the self-Complacent quiescence with which liberal men have settled down in their places of power and of trust—the glaring

      eontrast between past pretentioris and present exertionsj the obvious determination to restrtet , rather than extend the rights and liberties of the peoples-are amongst the causes which , induced this separation—causes which it must be plain to all but the flippant talker and the superficial-thinker , will goon to produce such effects , as long as unfaithfulness has any tendency to destroy confidence , or insult has power to awakenindignation . Without preterjding to approve in detail of every measure which you , and those with whom you act , may propound , much less of the language uttered by some of . the less judicious of your advocates , I believe you are ri ght in principle ; andinorethan justified in your aim . In contending for civil pririleges and lor a removal of the frightful sources of national corruption , you are not only beneiitting yourselves , but are struggling for your children , and are fighting the battles of the world . The peaceful but aggressive effort in which you are employed , will rouse your rulers from their slumbers , and preserve vour

      Country from Degenemcv . It is like thembving tide which , while it keeps the ; water from stagnation , bears inert substances triumphantly on ita bosom . Von need no iidyice of mine—else I would uVge you to be fearless yet courteous- ^ to be peaceable yet deterniiried—^ to becautious yet confident—to think separately yet to act unitedly . In the absence of leaders lead yourselves . Learn , and thendevelope the secret of your moral strerigth ^ tul thoue who would despise , respeot you—till those who would oppresi , stand in awe of ybu- ^ till those who would calumniate , blush before you . Agitate ! Bullet it be theagitation of thought , not ot passion—and then do notdesut till you have stirred the mighty masses' all around arid about you—till you have arrested the ear of the Senate , and influenced the Councils of the Nation . . ' : ¦ . ¦ Wishing every legitimate effort which you make ( to improve your condition , whether politically or socially , may be rewarded with success , .

      1 remain , Your * very respectfully , J . P . MURSELL , Thursday , November 15 , 1838 . ..: ¦ .-.: The working dlasses expressed a desire to accompany Mr . O'Connor ^ ^ on ; his d « pirturefrbiri'Leicester , but he was obliged to startfpr Birminghani at seven o ' clock on Tuesday morning . [ We are gonyto deprive our readers of the pleasure wnich would have been afforded them by the speeches at'this glorious meeting , but otr reporter cannot attend all meetings . ' We therefore for the present takes this brief description of the proceftdings from , our ; Leicester correspondent , and j as there is a go « d Radical Paper in Leicester , the Mercury , we shall probably in our next give this important meeting at full from the Leicester Merentry . It will be ; cheering to the hearts of our Northern brethren .- ^ -ED . ] .

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      RADICAL MEETING IN DORSETSHIRE ; The movement amongst tbe masses of this country is -evidently progressing at accelerated -spetd . Even in the Tory county of Dorset in the ^ very sanct nm of oligarchical rule , the active missionaries of the Working Men ' s Association have' convened , in spite of the most strenuous opposition , a great meeting of the agricultural workmen .: At Charlton IJowriy near Blandford , the ( first bQdy ? , of VVesfc . country agriculturistfi gave ; in its adhesion to the sound and " constitutional" principles of the " r People ' s Charter . " The 1 folio wing extractsfrbm the report of the Mortiinif j 4 dvertizeriwi } icpu \ eyto our readers , : be their opinions wtit-tbej , may , , the . best means of judging otthe progress of agita . Uon . "On VVednesday last , a pubUc meeting was . held

      on Charlton Down , near Blandford , for the purpose of adopting the People ' s Charter andv-NatdpnaliPer titibn . The meeting was convened by Mr . ^ R . Hartwell , the delegate ^ from the London Working : Jylen ' s As 8 bciatibn . Great excitement prevailed throughout ; the district for sbnie days previous : to the meeting , 'in consequence of the farmers in the surrounding villages threatening to turn off from employment any of their labourersw-ho " dared ¦ ' to attend . the meeting . 3 Dlie farmers were ably assisted , l » y , the clergy , who denounced the Association i and the meeting from the pulpit ; and the . Mayp . r of Blandford added his mite to the opposition ,, by not , J allpwing the bill-sticker to post the bills convening tn « tne&tine . This AtteniDt to stitte public opinion

      did not succeed ; for Mr ; flartwellf k *™^ borrpwed a paste can j proceeded round the town « riTueisday morning , and well placarded the ; waill ^ i in defiance of the Mayor , and amid the cheers of the inhabitants . On Tuesday eveningV Mr ; Henryiyincisnt arrived in Blandford from ¦ London , together ; with : ¦ . Messrs , Roberts ; and PhiUpsv from the Working Men ' s-Absociation of Bath . . ¦ ¦ .,, ¦¦; .- / : •¦ : . " . ,-V \ - /¦ - ; , - . - ' C- ¦ ' . ' -y' - ' \ , On ^ Wednesday morning , at an early lour , _ pe « ple were proceeding in j a \ l directions ; , tp \ \ fliei , place . of meeting , " aiid as the dme ^^ , fpr : taking t % r ctair 6 ^ ew niih ; 'the' nills snrrotindint the plain on which the a :

      hustirigi were ereibte ^ presented very animated appearance , front the . ndmber of . persons 'thai could ¦ %£ seen making towards bne point . Abdul © ne ^ o ^ kJck ^ idp

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      ^ rri ^^ ^^^^ dl ^ alvin ^ i ^ « onn < ij an ^ qn presenting ^ ^ theni ^ ftfciotaddte «« t igB&mm y ^ ?• R pB ^ Sj Esq . of Bafl » i w ^ called to iha ; , The . following ; resolutions were proposed iriri earned unammonsly : — - ; ; , ; ., * - v > IO 8 e tt « no ' ; ^ Resolved—That this meetinfc beU ^» ^ i . principlei of representation , and ^ tfii other eSfnt ^ to cheap and good Gpvennneht , SSS People , ^ Cb ^ terand . th e N ation ^ P ^ S ^ ^ just and reasonable , and calculated ^ m th ^ WnL tion , to increase the moraL mteUectual . and tE "

      cai nappiness of the ^ people at large , hereby piedg e themsetves to use all legal and peaceable 4 S to carry ^ ^ Aose prmciples into full effect . : ; ^ . ^ hi meeting , Relieving it to hft just ; as set for&m the Scriptures , that the laborjrer is wSflS of his Jure , ; new with alarm and regret the low rate : of wages paid for labour in thu district , ks te to , renderproperty insecure , to impoverish and degrade the labourer , and , considering the pri-? ent hig ^ pnee of the necessaries of life , declare it-to / be ^ their bpmwn that an immediate advance should take place in the wages paid to agricultural

      "That , in the 1 opinion of this meetine , Mr Geo « r « Loveless , late of ^ Tolptiddle , is th ? -mS fit aid proper person to represent the working men of Dorsetm the fortkeoming General Convention of tha Industnous Classes .- ' ; - : .-In- thelastresphition , we have a striking ^ instance of theiu » t retribution which oppression seldom faus to calLdown ^ (« r the headslot the oppressors , ^ q Dorsetshire the Squirefl most wantonly enforced » n unjust and obsolete law against a few feeble la bourers ; and it is clearly no rash bredictiori tn Qa .

      that from Dorsetshire will spring soihe of the most energetic labourers in the comuig political movement against aristocratic supremacy ^ la the even lflg , anoflier meeting was ^ held in the town of Bfondford , at which , says Oxe Morninfr Advertizer , A great number of highly respectable femalei were present , who ^ eemed . to take great interest in the proceedings . Thwwas the first public meetinir for Radicalism ever held in Blandferd , The dele gates are now visiting the neighbouring villages , and the organizations spreading rapidly . 'N- / f ' ec / t / yVr « e aUll . ¦ - ' - . •' .

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      RAPICAL DEMONSTRATION AT STIRLING . ,. & ^^ P ^ ic mee ting of the Reformers of Stirling and iU neighbourhood was held in the vallev , on Monday the 12 th instant , to adopt the National Petition and the People ' s Charter , and for appSw a-Delegate to the Conveution , in connection with Alloa , l > unfermline , &c . The day was beautiful , barhng and its neighbourhood was all in comrhotion There were , four bands of music oai nineteen banners . 1 he Radicals walked inprocession to the valley . In froutof the procession the word "Order " was exhibited in large characters . There were Delegates from Campsie , Kilmh , Falkirk , Punfermline , Uackmannari , Alloa , Tillicoultry , Alva , Dumblarie ! Lallander , St . Nmians , Milton , arid Bannockburn Muir . The following inscriptions were on the banners : — ^ ; ¦ " **

      The Stirling Working Men ' s Association , "United we ^ stand , divided we fall . " Reverse— "Universal buffrage , Vote by Ballot , and Annual Parliaments " "The Goddess of Liberty . " » Reform , for the peop le wills it . " "If we are too igaorant to ^ make laws , ve are too ignorant to obey them : if we are too ignorant to make taxes , we are too ignorant to nay them . " « The monopoly loaf and the free trade loaf . ^ "Abolish all monopolies ; " accompanied with the model of a plough . "For truth and for justice we will stand to the last . " The Weavers ' Flag— " We will tread down corruption . " " United to protect , but not to oppress . " "Truth and justice on our side , we will conquer , " &c .

      The meeting was highly orderly . The speakers took their position on the top of the rocks fronting the battery . The people , to the numbei-bf 2 , 000 , stood underneath . The proceedings were opened by a very solemn prayer , given by Mr . Bruce . I < r invoked the blessing of God on the cause of the people and of the oppressed - that the arm Of the tyrant might be broken ^ and that all classes might be united in interest and affection . One could not help being impressed with the solemn seen * . It

      reminded us of the Umes when the Covenanters Of old proclaimed the doctrines of the Reformation frbia the . hill sides , the mountain tops-and the covert glens . The present meeting was only carrying out the noble principles which were then begun—civil and religious liberty . Splendid speeches were made by a number of speakers , the Petition and Charter were unanimously adopted , and Mr . Halley , of Dunfermline , was appointed Delegate to the National Convention . —Trtie Scotsman .

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      The late Military Outrage at Chatham . —On Saturday , an inquest was taken before Mr . Richard Hinde and a respectable Jury , in the operation-room of Melville Hospital , : Chatham , on the body of Charles Jeffeott , another ? f the rnarines , who fell a sacrifice to the savage attack of a party of the 67 th and 74 th- regiments upon the mariners , on Saturday evening , tbe 27 th ult . Jeffcptt , as has been already stated , was bludgeonediu the open streets of the tpwn after the . fatal beating of the

      unfortunate marine , Ross , in the Navy Arms . The Jury found a verdict of « WilfuV murder against all the soldiers present in the disturbance on the night of the 27 th of October , whose names are at pfesent unknown to the Jury , and that Joshua Sykes was present , - aiding and abetting . " The committal of the / . prisoner to Maidstohe gaol was then made out , and the witnesses bound over to appear at the next assizes . The investi gation lasted hove five hours .

      URPNTCEN Suicide , —A shipowner of Treport , named Le Vilain , having remained drinking till a late hour , a few nights since , at a public-house in that placej was sought "by his mother , and entreated to come home . He at the : moment rudely refused her , and she withdrew to wait his arrival . He returned at- lengthi and was let in , but , instead of retiring to bed , got his gun , loadedit , went into ti » yard , and blew his brains out . Tame Wolf . —A ¦ genilemau at "Marseilles has succeeded in taniing a wolf , which he reared from a cubi The anirnal is so gentle that it feeds from hU hand , and at dinner goes round to : his guests , and . solicits their attention like a favourite dog . /

      Xm ^ tjpent- IIobbe ? 1 ^ - ^—A fellow named ^ ^ Brown vsras yesterday week sentenced to two months' imprisonment by the sitting magistrate at Guildhall , for . having , pn the previous ¦ Wednesday . ' -night , about ten o ' clock ^ snatehed a geitleman ' s hat from his head while passing along Cheapside , and attempting to make off with it . . : . . ; 1 ^ El , A > fCHOLj , Af ^ aiiu—— -Thomas Walker ^ mayorJs Serjeant , aiid who was lately made

      collector of rates under ^ ^ the New Poor Law Guardian ^ , owing to : the Overseer , pressing ¦ him to : cpllect a rate which was pronounced illegal by the Cbairman . Of the Board of Guardians , : he felt hiniself very awkwardl y placed , ' and being a very hoheat and upright individual , felt sbrUpulous how to act under the circumstarices ^ : ' tJnder this ^ unsettled state of mind , he hanged himself in his own hpuse ^ yes * terdav . T '' " - '' -. : ; ¦ .- ¦ : ''¦ ¦ " ¦ ¦

      y FATAirAccpENTBY TiRE ^ On Frid ay ^ morning , rbetvreen eight and nine , a girl named Priestly , ajged eight years , the daughter of a labouring man , living at No . 3 Eagle-place , James-street , Kent Road , aeeidentally set her clothes on fife while preparing her pArents '! breakfast , ^ aud was burnt ia saeh a shocking manner that she expired in about ten ^ minutea 1 afterwards . : . - V ¦ ^ ¦ PRBADP y AcciD ^^ T ^ On Friday afterno on , kJ ^ K ?^! . ' - ^ W ^ f !^ p 1 » B . rt King , in the ^^ service of

      m- rldger , JWiiHer , Ald g ate Hi ^ ireefc was io the act of gettiii g down ; fromfthe front of ' a waggon , when his foot caught and he fell between the shafts aud the herse . ; Perceiving , theI ' , fore wheel close . to his head , the riiaa . with , extraordinary presence : of mind changed hia-position , and it passed over- hit left foot while the aindyheel iwent over the risht' thigh , cruahjng it in- * manner not to be described . ^^ He was irisi ^ tty ^ nvjByed to St . Thor flag ' a Hospital A khife ; whieh he had in his trowaers' pocket *' vrM mashed to piecea . - ^ : t : ' -: ~ ^ _ r ' ;^ -- * -vS ^ . Vv " : . : ' '

      PAEra 0 ^ ffioHV ! r ^ Y RpBBBKfvriOnc ^ hursdari a « one ot tewards of the ^ atl ^ Cawaot was ridipg home with about ^ QOp / rer ^ he had ^^ b ^ ing a ^ b j ^^ ed -put ^^ hed ^ near CarmoHhen , andiknewskmg MnRee 8 off hi * hprsi ^ . ¦ ¦ : mounted ft , ^ an ^ i&te p ^^' A thateher sair t ^ e rohbery : as ^^ -i& §^ b ^ e ^ ioxtM-mit the epotj . andibUowed ; ; ttC ^ C >^? oiah ^ iaVtake ; & « Talise ; from ; off Jte ^ 6 t ^^ nX ie « injr the anuJial . take ; to th £ : fiela >;^ f 5 t , vjne &aMriollorf him ; at full speed . ; caUing out , »' kop rttief ! " and diteh came ^ p

      W * mte ow ^ hed ^^ dv ;^ wiUi W ^ ¥ f > W ^ 99 »; rh ^ vsehJ 8 Q : jindvtri ea to take int ^ mtfidfi * ai ^ e ^^ pw 8 e « te 4 ^ pistol to hishevV and . * reafcened te Moirljisiljrains ^ utif lie did Ml tethimgo . Fortnri » tely . the ial * nni , waflgiven , 3 iW Mfflstauiee iitiyingi «? tneK Mtoneri ( ra 8 iable ; todwanit t *« Vtiian > irMtttkviWni 4 irtdiwatoay ; = > The thfeW nike ; is ; Job *; Owt ^ kaici $ eF liyes ^ it ^ Newcarfe EmIJrh . \ He / hasi been examinedbjefbire thecpon'r ; ma ^ tTates 5 : ; and ; jremanded . > Mr ;; Bees ia iesrlf eighty years of age .-rrfl « c / or « f Journal , . W

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      . . i ^ i ^—^ - . LEICESTER GHEAT RADICAL DEMONSTRATION . .-. Ori Monday 'lasts the largest meeting ever known in this town was held by the working classes-in the Market-place .. ; and iiptwithstanding that the day was the most unpropitipus one we have had for the season , the wind being cold and piercing , and . the fain falling in abundance yet ^ did several thousands brave all in search . of liberty ; not only was the day unfavourable , but the great enemies of the working millions had a ] s ' o offeredeverypppositiorj , 't o the constitutional right of meeting . The Mayor , an anticorporation act Radical , had been applied to for the use of a building ; , capable of holding about 3 , 000 ,

      (' which , however , would not have held one-sixth of the meeting , ) but this constitutional ofheer pre- ^ ferred the luxury of seeing his iiellow townsmen subjected to the pelting elements , to the reflection that a room which was ; built exclusiyel y for the purpose of kidnapping the poor Radicals , should be polluted by the Tesolution ' . of separating from the Whigs and Sham-Radicals for ever , which nevertheless we accomplished under the canopy of the broad blue sky . Delegates from Nottingham , Ldughborough , Mount Sorrel , Nuneaton , and other places , attended and joined in the vast procession , which was enlivened by the music of several bands , and numerous banners , bearing mottos

      emblematical of thepresent feeling and determination . Mr . M arkham , the Chairman ( after a suitable hymn had b ^ entsung ) opened the meeting in a splendid speech , and was followed by Mr . Woodhouse , of Nottingham , the mover of the first resolution , in one not less splendid , in the couree of which he ably explained the six great points ot Radicalism , and denounced the policy of O'Connell , as False , traiterqus , and bloody , the meeting execrating , and crying "Down With him !¦ " " , After the resolution had been seconded by Mr . Oram , Mr . Feargus O'Connor presented himself , and was cheered for seyerhl rainuteSi He ' commenced : by challenging the great burgomaster , the artiliery man , and gunner of the VVhig garrison , Mr . Briggs , and the whole

      Council , of which he was the mouth-piecej to argue the principles of Radicalism with'him .. If knowledge : was . their object ^ they should be there , instead of fulminating anathemas aKains * t the rhe ignorance of an eiilightened people through the columns of a servile press . He said that the Weekly Chronicle had lost thirty-siix thousand of its weekly circulation ^ by abusing him and denouncing his principles . He explained and defended the motives of Oastler and : Stephens for recommending the people to arm . ; * He snid . that those gentlemen had learned from patriots arid not from ^ p ies , that in the agricultural districts ' . the people were secretly procuring armsi which secret possession would . lead

      to violence , assassination , and murder , and then , but not : tiH . thehv did they turn assassin ' s iniiplements into constitutional weapons , and that . which in merfcy they intended as a ^ ^ defencevagamst tyrant ^ had been b y hypberitds turned into ti , charge Of of bloodshed ; arid a wish to civil war , ^ whereas ^ they had gone far to prevent it ; < Long contintted cheering followed this ex ]) lanation . ) He never woald ; abandon his old'Mends . Mr . O'Connoryspoke ' .- ' . at ; great length , chastizirig , Mr . O . 'Connell , with / a bitterness . of ; sarcasm we never heard equalled , arid pointed out his . desertion of the \ people so clearly , that all acknowledged the truth 01 his every * |( psition ; He- explained the poSitionandfeelingot the Northerns , and laid down

      the wholeprmciples otHadicaliim in a long arid powerful speech , whichwaa 1 . loudly cheered all .: through Several ; other Hpeakers addressed the ; meeting in an animated s . tylej . 8 . hewing Jae union of sentiment which prevails among the , ^^ work ^ g cl asses . VVhe ri Mr . p'Coimbrwaaretu rn ^^ whilej alone by a joa ^ y , of Jhe yoiing ' gentteihefi bf ihfe ! town , who ^ after most lmpertiriently folio wing arid looking QM ¦ U ^ yft ^ t tittles irihis ^ cer said ' that'khe , 'Tarid ' then'beganitp Mss jmd shout , Upon whiclx Mr . i&'Cdriribr turned tourid'arid ^ , addtestiing to them afew fiharp ' wbrdjjvof : censure ,. caused- even flxemtbfeeriri ^ me rfort theirowtt degradatwny thb whole -party slinkinf and hanging their ears like beaten nennds . On the coming up of the people the braVe ^ gentlemeriy peaceaibly retired .

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      mmi v ^ : ^

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 24, 1838, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1033/page/6/