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§5ijtvtt of ti)e 39ve00,
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fTarktte*.
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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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T \ ot Gttiltt , tpo 5 kt HosocR . —As » personage , whose fout ~ en * emble bore the stamp of aristocracy , ¦ w * s the other d * y lounging down Band-street , he VU closely followed and beset i > y a little r * gged urchin . The great man appeared to fancy this sprig © f canaille wished to abstract the cambric from his pocket , and , turning to the young scapegrace , thus addressed him :- "Sd yon are trying to pick my pocket , you young ragamuffin , are you 1 " ** Don t know what you mean , Sir , " was the boy ' 3 reply . And tell me , before 1-band yon oTer to the police , continued he , " are you guilty or not V Here the nrehiB , laying bis band upon his breast , and bowing profoundly , emphatically pronounced the following words : " Not guilty , upon my honour . " Something is it . — ' There is something in that , " as the gal said to her stocking Ten she put her foot in it .
A Careful Scot . —A careful Scot , after taking his mother ' s corpse for bnrial into the Highlands , brought back the hearse well filled with smuggled whisky ! " Being jobed aboEt it by a friend , be replied * Hoot , m * n , what ' s the harm ! I only took aw& ' tfee bodt and brought back the speebit . " SodETT . —It has bean told of a late nobleman , equity distinguished by % is abilities and absence of mini , that haviap talked to himself in his travelling carriage the whole way fr « m Brighton to Loadon , he ended , at Hyde Park corner , by inviting kimself to diener , as the plft&santest companion , he % . id ever travelled witk ^— Cecil- <« r ihe Adventures -of a Cvi-~ amb . THERE are Slothing b « t quadrupeds at Drsrj Lune , < bis year , even a Bucfcelets thft boxes , a& 4 a Tally prints the bSls .
Is Flacostst ' s HisrotT of Madagascar there is * ae following sublime peayer , said t » be used by the -peeple we « all savages— " 0 Eternal ! hvre mercy ^ upon me , because I ant passing away . G Infinite ! ^ because I « n weak . Q Sovereign of Life ! because 1 draw near to the gr * re . O Omniscient 1 , because I mh in atTVnwts . 0 All Sufficient , because I am ; l » thins- -Rffe ^ fonsciBSCES asd Boards . —It 13 related of Judge ^ SJgjlfaes , tfeat taking a dislike to an evidence who 3 h £ 3 » long beard , he teld him " that if his conscience "were as laeg as hiB beatrd , he had a swingen one : "to which the counteymaa replied— "My Lord , if you measure consciences by boards , you hare none at * SL " Thbb « t Jokes is supposed to have entered the xarden ? of Bnckingha * : Palace by scaling the walls . - if be ^ K » id consent t » , go to sea , he will have an cpponuBitj ot practwiag his ingenuity in other ¦ ciimls .
Theo » 9 RB Hook dedaxes it was an act of perfectly fuperfluons liberality to bestow upon the lousy Germans a iice-ence . There s sot a mas licing who says so many incomprehensible ; things as Mister Joseph H \ une . The other evening , far instance , he presented a petition in the House of Commons , which he said was signed •* by every medical man residing in the county of Kilkenny , except three , wlwj didn't live there !" Two bailors were one day sitting on the guntrale of their ship drinking grog , when one said to iheothtr , "This b meat and drink , Jack . " He happened at that moment to fall " overboard , when M 3 facetious companion coolly said , " And now joa ' re got washing and lodging , Tern . " ¦
It is calculated thai at the present time there HeJhirly thoutand Germans in London , and more tBaa fifty thousand domiciled throughout England . Assuming now that each abstracts but £ 108 per annum from the pockets of John Bail—aHd "we kuOW thit four out of the number receive , in one ¦ way or the other , something like half a million—we have thus Five Millions Sterling yearly taken from the industrions classes of England . to feed and fatten a parcel of loathsome foreigners . Let the people of England ponder on this .
A Liberal Offeb . —A Hist to the Cloth . —A clergyman was presented to a lirinj * in the vicinity of Glasgow , who had k protuberance between , his -shoulders , arising from diseased spine and a corresponding protrusion of the chest . The parishioners were opposed to a person of such ungainly appearance occupying their pulpit . The presentee heard of the dissatisfaetioD , and , being a pttsonage of some humour and tact , convened a meeting of the malcontent * , in e-rdtr to ascertain their objections . " I have heard , " said he , " that my settlement amongst jou is not likely to be agreeable . Now , as I am not xwsre » f any objection to my opinions or
practicetoy slender abilities for sach a charge I a ^ mu—I should just like , as we are all friends and brethren , and have only one object to serve , that you would etate your objections . " One glanced to another , ¦ which was significantly returned almost round the ¦ ve touts , and silence prevailed for some time . " Speak out , " na ^ d the presentee , "don t be afraid ; I am not ready to take offence , " when one stammered oaf , " Sir , you see , tve—you see—Sir—3 in' I maun speak for my brethren here—dinna like your bodily appearance . " u Neither do I , " was the reply , " and if you can get it repaired , I ' ll be at half the expense xnyBelY' —Laird of Logon .
The Prince ' s Hcvtehs . —One of the last hunters purchased by the Prince , say the newspaper ? , ha * btoen called the Pawnbroker . This elegant appellation has been given , it is understood , in compliment to the pledge of sffection lately brought into the world , and to whom there attaches , of course , the greatest interest . Sixes the accidstt which occurred to Prince Albert at ( he . jock pond in the rear of Buckingham Palace , strict orders have been given by thu Queen that his Royal Highness must not be permitted , upon any account , to be alone , lira . Norton says if the Prisce were a loan , there is not the least apprehension ot his being borrowed *
Ose of ths Finest Pisastht is the World . — A pure rpecimen of the "finest pisantry in the world , " who has joined the railroad at Troon , accosUd a waggish , friend of ours a few -days ago , whom he had seen noting down" something in bis tablets . " I see , zur , " gaid he , " that yon can write ?" Oar friend gave an afnrmatory nod . " Wou'd yei lave any objections to write a lethcr for me to send homeP None were started ; and Pat was invited to our friend ' s lodging * , as soon as bnsiness permitted his attendance . Accordingly he came ; . and the materials being at band , the iclhcr was be £ un . " Now , wh&s do you wish , to be said ! ' " Why /' says Pat , say bad luck to yez , Baliysjawlv , that
ever ycz bred me , er rear'd me , to have me come over here to work like a slave , for-a dirty ten saillin ' a week . Tell Molly Carnachan it ' s dyin' I am on my feet , an' I ' m heart-scalded to death , thr * Ogh want of work , bekase of the frost . Tell Dory that X wouldn ' t be the worse of havin' my ould brogues "here for a change . Say to my father that I'll never l > e home in the worl '; but give Bory , my sister , a hint that 111 be home by midsummer . Your affectionv-e son and brother , Patrick M'Clownan . "The lelher was folded , sealed , and addre-sed , " To Ovrld Joe li'Clownan , at the end of Tim M'Cabe ' s whisky-shap , Ballygawly , or Molly Carnachan , whichever of them most convanient . " * The above is a true copy , verbatim et literatim . —Ayr Advertiser
Up TO ts . vrjTJ . —An American editor remarks that "hs saw a man the other day with a nose so thin that small print could be read through h distinctly . It wonid ba a good place to publish a snuff advertisement in . Petrarch ' s Opi . mos op Moset . — He who expends it properly , is its master ; he who lays it up , its keeper ; he who lovea it , a fool ; ha who fears it , a slave ; and he who adores it , an idolator . Go . n-e off . — " My gun went off last night , " said Tim Trap lately to an old acquaintance . " Were yon siarmsd v a-ked he . " No , bat much injured , " replied Trap . vi Ah ! how did i ; go off , at halfcock , " "No , " said Trap , "it went off at half-past eleven , in company with a tarnation scoundrel , who begged for supper , and a night ' s lodging . "
Expense of the Wa Systex . — Give me the Honey that has been pa . d in war , aud 1 will purchass every foot of land npon the globs ; I will clptbe every mm , wobji and child in an attire that king * and ( Reens would ba praad-of ; I will build a schoollouse npon every hill-side , and in every valley , over the whole habitable earth ; I will build an academy in every town , aad endow it ; a college in every state , and fill it wrth able professors ; I will crown every hi'l with a cb * rch consecrated to the promulgation of the gospel of peace ; I will support in its jFulpit an able teacher of righteousness , so that oe ¦ every Sabbath morning fixe chime on one hill should answer to & chiiae oa another , round the earth ' s broad cirenmference , asd the voice of prayer anc the song of praise should ascend like a universal ieloc&ust to heaven *—P * -Subbing .
Coutor and Baeaister were dining one day witi Lord iirrkine , the € X-ckaneelior , who , in conversatiaa on rural a ^ iirB , boaetoi that he kept on his pasture land nearly a tboosaad iheep . " I perceive ¦ t itso ., " said Coli na ^ ** your Jotdeuip has still an eyt io tie woolsack ' * A Csetul I . NSTitciiESft . —A . ewTespondent of the Moatpeiier Patriot ( Americas £ » per ) Btates that Mr . Jokn Demerett , cutler , « f tiat town , has made ft jack-knife for himself , which he * ses t » cut ebony whalebsne , horn , and at the p » me time makes his peas and shaves himself with it wich * nt grinding or honing 1
A Yaxkee EDrroa ' s Aceoxrsr op Himsely . —I ' m * real ca-tastrophe ^ -a smal l creation : llouai Vesa"Tius ia tho lop , with red-hot lava pouring out of the < rater , and ron ^«« y | ations below . 3 Iy fists ai * e rocky mountaiin » - ^ iy ^ rmij liberty poles , with iron soriags- Erety cLep Jfeke i 3 an earthquake—every blow I strike is a cUpof fijunder— and every breath I wreathe is a tornado . ' -5 Q disposition is Djpoat ' s Beat gffijponrder } - ^ nd gw ^ pff at a flash—when I y » w , Uterall be nnlhia * &A but a hole , three feet m » taC bo eod to it . * W-.
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baton , Neddy ; go fcomt and get tby dinner , Neddy . " [ Hera Um meetlmg teemed animsted by universal consent to make all manner of Imaginable and unimaginable noises , cat-eallB , whistlings , groanlngs , hissings , &c &c Erery individaii seemed lo feel bifflsdf called upoa to do bis beat in bU particular line to excel bis neighbour in vocal music ] The Chairman ( to Mr . Baiues)—this is my place , Sir , and I aball keep it , The Mayo a tried his hand at a " spoke" again , but it was of no use . Mr . Joun Goodman made a-similar attempt , with the same result The Chairman—Does any . gentleman ofg » r himself to Bpeak ? Mr . Alderman Sta . nsfeld again presented himself , and continued to vociferate most energetically to the meeting for some time , bat wo heard not a syllable of what he said .
An attempt was now made to thrust the Chairman and his friends fr « in the railing , when the former said the Chartists bad been accused of attempting to use physical force , but what would they call that—pointing to the parties who were rushing up the steps on the side nearest the Leaguers . A brief colloquy next ensued between Mr . Hobson and the Leaguers , after which Mr . Hill moved the following resolutions , which he put in the Chairman ' s hands : — " That this meeting , looking to the manner in which former petitions and motions , upon the subject of the Corn Laws , and upon other subjects involving the interests of the working elasses , have been dealt with by the present House of Commons , deems it inexpedient to petition that body for a repeal of the Corn Laws . "
" That , in the opinion of this meeting , no partial measure of legislation can pennauently benefit the ptoplu ; and that , therefore , this meeting disclaims all participation in any movement or agitation of a political character , which does notreeognise the right of Suffrage by the people , to at least the full extent of the principle contained in the People ' s Chwter . " Mr . Aid . Stansfeld also put some pipers in Mr . Goodman ' s hands , as the resolutions of the Leaguers , which have been furnished to us . The following is * copy : — . " 1 . That the Corn Laws , being based on the immoral principle of benefiting the landowners , at the expencs of all the other classts of the community , tend to dissolve the bonds of society , aatl endanger the peace and Bafety of the empire .
" 2 . That the most sovere and extensive distress has ' been produced by these laws during the lost three years in this country , involving an immense destruction ot mercantile and manufacturing capital , cruel privations to the working classes , and a derangement of the currency , which has endangered both public and private credit That the Corn Laws are yearly giving new extension aud stability to rival manufactures in other countries—are confirming the commercial hostility of the Governments of those countries , and are likely to lead to the very early establishment of still more unfriendly tarift'a on the part of our two best customers , Germany and the United Slates of America ; and tha- thus the commercial ascendancy , and even the maritime superiority , of this country ¦ will be put to hazird . 3 . " That this meeting believes perfect freedom of trade and industry to be the most conducive to the prosperity of nations , and it seeks the abolition' of all restrictions , miscalled protections , on manufactures , as well as on the produce of agriculture . "
4 . " That a petition , founded on the foregoing resolutions , be prepared and signed by the inhabitants , and that it be forwarded to the Right Honourable Earl Fitzwilliam , for presentation t « the House of Peers , and to Edward Biines , Esq ., and Sir William Molesworth , Bart ., for presentation to the House of Commons . " 5 . That a deputation be eent to London , to watch the proceedings when the question conies before Parliament , and that the following gentlemen ke requested to afford thoir services , viz Mr . J . Q . Marshall , Mr . Alderman Stansfeld , Mr . E . Baine » , jun ., Mr . John Goodman , Mr . John Waddingham , Mr . Peter Fairbairn , Mr . Joseph Bateson , and Mr . Thomas Plint . " Mr . Pljnt followed , but the meeting could not distinguish any thing he said . Various voices shouted out " Whiggery is falling , " " D jwn with him , " " Dawn with him , " &c * c .
Mr . Goodman then called T > r a show of hands for the motion be held in his band . The CiJAiKMA . v put the Chartist resolutions at the same moment , when , as a matter of course all ¦ amis were held up , and he declared that they were carried unanimously . A vote of thanks having been passed to the Chairman , on the motion of Mr . Baizes , secondtd by Mr . West , and carried by the wholo of the meeting , Mr . H 01 S 03 acknowledged the compliment in a few n-marks , politely tendering his personal obligations to Mr . Baine-s , remarking that he did not expect as much from him . T .. ree cheers were then gtren for the Charter , and for Feargus O Connor and the incarcerated victims .. Mr . Goosua ?) , Mr . Bai . njss , and the Chairman , at this time , declared the meeting dissolved , and the Lfaguers at one * left the steps , followed in a short time by Vha Chairman , and one or two friends .
Toe great built of the meeting , however , remained fixed to the spot , seemingly determined ootto leatu ike place , until they were assured thattho Leaguers would not rtturn and attempt a" snuggery" ef . their own . The absence of the obstructives bad produced a calm , and the . assembled multitude called out for the appointment of another chairman , and they would hold & Chartist meeting ; observing that it was not ofttn th ^ ey had a chance of doing so in the Ciotfa-IteU Ytml T the liberal trustees of the property exhibiting their partl ») ity for every thing like fiii dealing by refusing its use tut any purpose with which they are not politically connected . Accordingly , Mr . Joseph Jokes was then almost unanimously called to the chair , when
Mr . T . B . Smith came forward to address the meeting . If he had never seen enough before , what ho had seen that day had convinced him of the necessity . for Universal Suffrage . He had seen tbe people insulted by the middle classes of this town . He would only refer them to that , which it was notorious to them all was an understood thing , ' that the people of England possessed the liberty , if such a thing existed more than in name , of choosing their own president at public meetings . Tliat bad betn done to-day . The Chief Magistrate , however , bad betn so ill-advised , as to think that he had k right to preside at all their meetings . He bad a right to preside at the Court House at the trial of prisoners , and in the Cuuncil Chamber , but when they met to discuss public grievances , o * to tnter into tbe consideration of public questions , then their
Chief Magistrate was present only ivj an inhabitant of Leeds ; and unless they pleased to put him in the cbair , he had no right to be there . ( Cheer ? . ) It was nut bis ( Mr . Smith ' s ; intention to appear that day in boTToTred plumage . He was a most inveterate opponent of tbe Corn Laws , ( partial applause , ) and was prepared to support a motion that they eught to be abolished , but that the House * t Commons must tirbt be reformed . He bad , however , seen enough today to sati&fy him the repealers loved the Corn Laws . ( Cries of " IS ' o , no , " and repeated hisses . ) They were determined to do nothing for the working men unless tht-y could make it subservient for their own purposes . What was their pretence , however ? They said that unless the employer could give good wages the poor man -would starve . He had watched thttin for two
years , and they had convinced him there was no truth in the pretensions they put forth . It was an attempt on the part of the niillowners and middle class men , to drag tho people iuto their net , that their machinery and their capital might bring profit out of the blood and bones of the working classes . ( Loud cheers , with slight interruption . Sonio person having shouted to the speaker , he said , If there waa anybody present who would not hear reason , let them ( the meeting ) mark them and placard them through the town . ) They had already seen enough of that that day . If those who had advocated the repeal of the Cum Laws had been sincere in their endeavours , they would know that there was no hope of obtaining relief for the poor families who were starving for want , in the present
House of Incurables—Ihey would be well satisfied they would not Rive the remedy . ( Loud applause . ) They had petitioned the House vf Commons on this subject In I 83 y , again in 1840 , and aguin in 1841 , without success . Had they Hot had sufficient evidence in tbe last two years that it was useless looking for n * tme < 3 y from the House of commons , as lit present constituted ? What was the House of Commons composed of ? Landed aristocrats , chosen by capitalists , and middle men . There w » s either an understanding amongst them that the Corn Laws should not be repealed , or there was not . lf they ( the capitalists ) were fairly represented , and there was an understanding With the Housa that the Corn Laws should not be repealed , their cry for the rrptal ot the Corn Laws was
humbug , for they had the power t » gain their object , but did not choose to effect it through their representatives . If there -was a private understanding that the law would not be repealed , then they were men entirely unworthy of confidence or credit . He believed , whilst they were ptayliig for the repeal of the Corn Laws , they were privately instructing tbe Members of the House not to ropeal them . ( Cries of " >* o , no , " and slight interruption . ) Supposing that they < tbe miliomiera ) wer « represented , and that the House accorded with their sentiments , what bat ] they ( the meeting ) or he to do with the House of Commons ? They had nothing to do with it—they ^ ete mere nonentities—they wero nothing . They had no voice in their election , aad therefore they
were mere ciphers . ( Loud applause . ) What had thoy ( the Chartists ) said to the Corn Law Repealers—what did they ask them ? Why , "Help ub to get the Suffrage and . we will help you to get the Corn Laws repe » led . We helped you in 1831 and 1832 to get the Housa of Commons reformed , when we were promised that we should , have what we are now seeking for ; and we only ask now what was then promised . " One argument was , that they could not get the Cora Laws repealed by a Bvroughmongering Pjrlianitnt , and therefore Parliament must be reformed . He would take the Whig * on that ground . They well kcew that the question cf the Corn Laws was etiil further off the point pf sun ess iliac it was hetore the House of Commons was reformed . They must therefore tmn them out again , —( loud cheett ) : —there waa no chance but
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that now . If they bad needed any evidence upon the subject , they baft bad plenty that day , that they must have an extension of the franchise—that they must not only h »» e the power to" make a bread loaf > bat a key to loA it ttp ^ th . Isi iM M » imn 8 in& that he ( the speaker } was in favour of the Com Lnws , because he advocated Universal Suffrage . It waa , because he knew that if the present House of Commons repealed the Corn Laws to day , they could , if they thought fit , as the Hoos * was new constituted , put them on again tomorrow , . ( toud cheers , and cries of " hear , hear , " " TheeV right , lad . "l Let them first get Universal Suffrage , and then the BaUot , to secure themselves , and tbea they would not only get » cheap loaf , but good w * g « a too . It might be asked him " How do you know that you would be better off withtfjB Suffrage ? " Be would answer because he saw the Whigs were better off . Let them get these things and take
care for themselves . ( Here an interruption from behind the speaker took place . ) A friend there had said be was pouring paison into their minds . If it were poison , he hoped the " poiaon"he had been giving them would sink deep into their mindr . He was not the enemy of any man , and he could assure them he wished the powers those gentlemen had exorcised to day for evil might be exercised for good . He had been at many scores of public meetings in his life before , but never saw a meeting bullied as it bad been that day by the middle classes . It showed that they only wanted to treat toe working classes like ciphers , and just get their names for their own purposes . Let any of the anti-Corn Law Leaguers meet him in any riom in Leeds , and ) he would prove to them that instead of a Repeal of the Corn Laws doing any good , under the existing state of things , it would only prove subversive of the remaining liberties of the people . ( Cheers . )
Mr . Jervis CiCAiK here made an ineffectual attempt to be beard . Mr . Smith concluded in a few more remarks , and by moving a resolution strongly condemnatory of the New Poor Law , which he Bald would test the sincerity of tbe middle classes in all their asseverations of desire for the increased comforts of the poor ; affirming , at the same time , that the Poor Law , infamous as it was , would sever be repealed any more than the Corn Law , UDtil the people had the Suffrage . Dr . Smiles , having appealed to tbe Chairman for a hearing , next presented himself , and , In the course of his observations , called upon the meeting to unite for a
repeal of the Corn Law * , as they were all agreed that they ought to be abolished , whatever opinions they might hold on other questions . He movad an amendment on the motion , to the effect that file Poor Law , unless accompanied with a- repeal of the Corn Laws , was an inhuman and unjust law . He was of opinion that the man -who refused to petition for a repeal of tbe C « rn Laws , because he could not get the Suffrage , was like a man who would not eat- . bis supper , because be could not get his breakfast next morning . He appealed to them as rational honest men to petition against the Corn Laws . ( Considerable confusion prevailed throughout the speaker ' s address . )
Mr . Wm . Hick was next Introduced to the meeting by toe Chairman , and said that he had nothing to do With the Corn Laws on the present occasion . They had already shown that they bad no confidence in the parties who had come forward to procure their repeal—nor had they any right to put confidence in them . He would ask them what had Edward Baines , jun . done for them ? And what bad Edward Biines , senior , done for them , with all his talk , since he came to Leeds ? And now they were to have a second edition in the shape of Edward Baines , junior . ( Laughter and loud cheering . ) They ( the meeting ) could have no confidence in their agitation for the abolition of
the # orn Law ? . He ( the speaker ) detested the poor man ' s tax , but it must be abolished by the power of the people , or they would not have any repeal at all . Now for their confidence in the middle classes . Hamui Stansfeld had told them in bis Letters to the Editors of the Leeds Mercury , that when he and hia friends the members of the Anti-Corn Law League waited upon Lord Melbourne in London , tears stood in the eyes of many of them when speaking about the distresses of the working classes , which proved their sincere desire to improve the condition of the working people . There was something sincere in their tears , no doubt Tears were often a test of sincerity , for
" Too oft is a smile But the hypocrite's wile To denote detestation or fear ; Give me the soft sigh When the soul telling eye Is dimmed for a time with a tear . " ( Cheers . ) But he would remind them that all tears were not sincere . He had beard of the crocodile sheddimg tears , and he bod heard t > f other animals shedding tears ; but when a man came forward who was linns out of tbe blood and bones of the working classes , who was enriching himself out of their labour , —when he came forward and said that their tears and bis tears were sincere , he ( the speaker ) would burl the lie back in his teeth . —( Cheers . ) Their sorrow was only manifested because they felt that their trade was departing from
them , because they feared their own destruction was coming , and because their ill-gotten gain was about to leave-them . They pulled long faces , and , in the name ef . religion ,: they bad expressed a good deal of humanity for the blacks , for whom they had voted twenty millions ; but who did they get it'from ? From tho labour of the ' working classes , and from tbe poor factory children at home , who wtre oppressed far more than the blacks were . They backed up all their proceedings with texts from Scripture , just as Hsraer Stanafel ' d had # ono in his letters . It rcmiuded , him of King Richard inj&ie play , ¦ who'Says : — But th « n I nigh and with a piece of Scripture Tell thtm God bids me do good for evil j And thus 1 clothe my naked viJlany , With old odd ends stolen forth of Holy Writ . — I seem a saint when most I play the Ii ^ vil l
( Ljuci cheers . ) They said they wanted to give the working man a cheap loaf , bat they only wanted a little more elbow room to extend theuse of their machinery and to obtain greater profits on their capital . Had nut tUe working men ' s labour increased and the fruits of it decreased ? They wanted to make the working classeB of England do the work of the whole world . He had now said sufficient to show that tue working classes should not place any confidence in the League , and he appealed to them' to stand by their own order . ( CJeers . ) In Leeds they formed three to one of the other classes . If they were united they were quite able to carry out their principles in spite of the opposition of all the other classes . Aftor stating that illness prevented him fruui addressiug them at greater length , Mr . Hick concluded by seconding the motion .
Mr . UicUAiiDSON came before tbe meeting . He bad for some time manifested morbid symptoms of a desire to unburthen himself of a long speech , which he bad apparently Concocted , and which was ready cut and dried for delivery . In the course of a rambling , incoherent , and inconclusive address , wherein he introduced a pointless illustration about big cats and little cats , which nobody about him comprehended , he supported the , motion of Dr . Smiles , and conoluded by seconding it-Mr . Parker said Mr . Richardson had stated a deal
about the cats , but ho had hoard of serpents which changed tlieir colours , and which uttered a pleasing sound that lured travellers near to their own destruction . They had had sufficient experience of the consequence of listening to those who might be compared to serpents , already . They had been charmed with their colours long ago , and in this yard too—( crieB of " aye , lad , its truo , we have , " )—and with their music loo , but they had had enough of them . Let them listen to thuir music no more , lest they be again made their victims—ltit them depend no more on those who had already deceived them , aud made them their victims . They had presented the National petition—did
the Whigs and middle classes support it ? ( Cries of " no . '') Did they treat it with any respect ? ( " iVo . " ) Did they attempt to redreBs the grievances of the working classes ? ( "No . ") Look at their conduct only last week , when the question of a property tax was brought forward . What was the consequence ? They turned it neck and crop out of doors . Let them ( the working lasses ) depend upon it , do what , they might , their case could not be worse than it was . He concluded , by advising them to do their best to get the purse strings ef tbe nation , by wishing that every man would keep sober , and before long they would all have their own Way , and by supporting the motion of Mr . Siuitt ) .
Mr . Anduew Gardner said , his friend Mr . Richardson had talked a good deal about the big cats and tbe little cats , and the big holes and the little holes ; but all they wanted was to open the hole wide enough to get themselves in , and as soon as they could do this , they would repeal the Corn Laws , and all tke other bad laws . ( Cheers . ) The chairman here called to an individual , who was creating a little disturbance , to come forward , like a ^ nan , and if had anything to say , let him say it This nuule the noisy fellow a little more quiet
Mr . Gardner went on to say that Mr . Richardson must know that they could not repeal the Corn Laws , until the people obtained the power . He moved as an amendment upon both the preceding motions , tliat the meeting was of opinion it w : ia useless petitioning Parliament for a Repeal of the Cora LawB , or any othe * Vad i » wa , until the whole people was fairly and fully represented in tue Commons' House of Parliament The Editors of the Leeds Mercury said that all parties were now fairly represented , but they knew this was false . If the people obtained Universal Suffrage , they could afterwards get all they wished . The anti-Corn Law league pretended they wanted discussion , but from their conduct that day , it was very evident they didn't want it , and that their saying so vas all gammon . He concluded by repea ting his motion .
Mr . Oeokgb Sheridan nusset next presented himself , and was received with eheers . He said that tbe Corn Law was a bud , a wicked , and a cruel law—a law revolting to every species of humanity , tbe organ of immense mischief , diabolical in every Bbape aud form . Such , a law ought to be repealed—nay , It ought to be torn from the statute-book ; but V repeal of it would be entirely useless unless accompanied with a very wide extension of the franchise , and otW sweeping reforms—reforms whlcli would make the Interests of the representatives identical and coincident with the interests of a majority of the community . The speaker
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then referred to the manner in which foreign nations had already superseded us in our manufactures , and' to the results which must ensue . One thug , however ; ( he remarked , ) was certain—namely , that we wore 4 t the present moment in a most deplorable condition . The people of England never were in so forlem a state as at the present moment . A national bankruptcy waa in the prospective ; our trade and commerce were nearly annihilated ; the factories were closed ; the principal part of our manufacturers were insolvent ; the streets were filled with beggars ; and the lamentations of children crying for bread resounded from one part of the empire to the other . Skilful artisans were unable to find employment—unable to earn their bread by the sweat of their brow ; and obliged ; by stern necessity , to cross the briny deep , and bid farewell , along farewell , to tho green meadows of their native country , or else consign themselves to all the horrors of a hostile . The Corn Law ( be said ) was blamed for all tbe misery , the destitution , and the ruin in which the country
was now involved ; and so the great capitalists said , " Come ,, and help us to get this mischievous law repealed ; then we shall be able to Sod you constant work , and you will be again in a flourishing condition . " The Corn Law might be tbe origin of immense mischief , but it did not produce one-half of the evils which the capitalists said that it did . Class legislation , bad government , and . unjust taxation , -were the cause . ( A voice in the ; crowd— " Aye , that ' s it" ) The speaker went on , at great length , to contend that it was not a monopoly of . the article of food , but a monopoly of the representation , which was the cause of all the evils the nation was afflicted with . He deprecated the system pursued by the advocates of progressive reform , and would go at once to the root of the evil , and pass the Charter , by which alone would be done away with tbe humbug of anti-Corn Law agitation , and ail other causes of poverty , bad trade , and no food . The speaker was repeatedly cheered during the whole of his long address , which we are obliged to curtail . Mr . Sm ith having withdrawn hia motion ,
The Chairman put that of Mr . Gardner , and the amendment by Dr . Smiles to the meeting , when the former was carried by an immense majority . Three cheers were then given for the Charter . ; three for Feargus O'Connor , Esq , and the incarcerated victims ; three for Frost , Williams , and Jonea ; three dismal groans for the League ; three cheers ibr the Chairman ; and the meeting then peaceably broke up , at three o ' clock in the afternoon .
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THE " ABUSES" OF THE NEW POOR LAW .-Let us take one of the latest . It is the case of a poor wretch , a female , who had a bastard child , and who being prevented by this wise law from making her seducer pay for the maintenance of the offspring , was necessitated to apply to the parish for relief . The relief she got was to be imprisoned , as a vagrant , in Maidstone gaol . At the expiration of this term , she and her baby were turned forth from the gates * of the prison , where it would have been a charity to have kept her—turned forth upon the wide world to'perish or to live as chance might determine . The miserable wretch shall tell her own story as to what became of her after this : — >
" When I was coming from Maidstone I was taken ill , within eight miles of Chatham , and a policeman employed a person to carry my child to tho workhouse ; that was on Saturday , and I slept at the workhouse on Saturday night with an order from the relieving officer of Chatham , and I was turned out with my child / at seven o clock » n Sunday morninjj . I was very ill , and unable to proceed on my journey , and I received another order from Mr . Farrell , and was admitted again , and they kept me there until Wednesday morning , when I came out and walked as far as Stroud , and then I sat down on the step of a door , when a woman named Smith gave me a night ' s lodging , and in tho morning she persuaded me to go to Stroud workhouse , and I went and told them what distress I was in , but not that I came from Maidstone gaol , and they gave
me 2 s ., and I walked part of the way to Gravesend . when a . cab took me to Gravesend . Tbe money was givon to p * y my passage to London by steam . At Gravesend I took the steamer and came to London , and arrived on Thursday last , but had only 6 d . in my pocket . It was dusk , and with the money I bought some food for my child , and wandered about the streets all night , and on the next morning ( Friday ) I went to Marylebone workhouse and saw the relieving officer , who told mo that I should see the board . I stated my case to him , but omitted everything about Maulstone gaol . I saw the board , and they searched the books to aee if I belonged to that parish or not , wh « n they found thu name of my mother , but not mine . They said I did not belong to them , and they turned vie out without either money or food . "
They turned her out without either money or food ! This is tbo system under the New Poor Law . Under the old they would hare taken her in and passed her to her * own pariah . ¦ , ¦ - It was shown afterwards that the poor wretch hod no milk to give her c ' lild—how could she , when she had no nutriment for her own sustenance ? Thus they were turned \\\ % a the streets together , hungry , cold , and almost naked—turned into the streets to wander and to die . " The fiq &t a ' tio'ifttnt w « have of what became of Harriet Longley and her Infant is derived , as might have been expected , from a coroner ' s inquest ; but it was an in-. qu « st notopon the mother , but upon ker baby . During her stey in Matdstone gaol the girl ' s conduct had been frreproaghabla . She bad been employed as a -nurse , ' and she bad been remarkable for the attachment which she had shows forher child- —Poor thing ! she had nothing else that sh could love ; nothing else that she csuld even hope would ever love her . Hear the sequel from the mouth of the policeman : —
" Thomas Hobbs King , a sergeant , No . 22 , N division , having been sw » rn , stated , that on Friday night lost , about a quarter past ten o ' clock , he was on duty at Islington station-house , when , the prisoner knocked at the door , and on its being opened , she said that she bad come there to give information that the had murdered her own child . He inquired in what way ? and she replied , " I have thrown it into the . New River ; it Was three weeks old . " Witness accompanied her to Owen ' s-row , near Sadler ' s Wells Theatre , and on arriving opposite tho house No . 11 , she said , " / had been sitting down on thai step for hu' f an hour before I threw the efiild into the water opposite . " Witness asked her
how long it was since she committed the act , and she replied , " Just before I called at the station-house . " Witness caused the river to be dragged immediately , and the body of the child was discovered . It appeared to be about a month old , and was dressed as such infants usually are . She informed witness that her name was Harriet Longley , but that the child was registered in the name of Eliza Harris , in Maidstone gaol , where she had given birth to it . After the body had been found , the prisoner said that Tier child had been crying for many hours for wint of food . She was in great distress , and had no food nor milk for her child . Her breast , she said , waa dried up for want of nourishment , and that caused her to murder the child . "
The wretched mother wits committed , of course i Pand will probably be hanged— -but who was the murderer ? Waa it the poor frenzied creature who sat upon the cold stones with an empty breast and a foodless body , listening to her baby crying / or hours for food ? , or wasfit the agents of the New Poor Law , who thrust her forth into the streets , With the moral certainty that she must perish there ? Who was the teal niurderer ,, we ask ? the nieu who doomed the child to die of starvation , or the mother who terminated its sufferings a little before they would have been terminated by the natural operation of the New Poor Law ?
Pho , this is a common case ; one of those numerous clap-trap stories which those damned newspapers make such a fuss about . Serve tbe b—h right , 8 he shouldn't get bastard children . The Poor Law is an excellent law—it reduced the poor-rates of the parish of Grueleu-the-Wash eighteenpence in ih » poumd last year . of course we shall voto for it . Very well , gentlemen , vote away , but— Hie time will come . —Satirist . A Female HrGHWAV Robber . —ElizabethLoveall , a tall dirty woman in a very ragged condition , who has been frequently in custody for theft , was brought before Mr . Ballantine , at the Thames P o lice-office , on Saturday , charged with stopping a Polish refugee , named CassimJr Janikowskj , and stealing a bag and twenty-fire shillings in money from his person . The Polo , who is an elderly man , and a nobleman of high rank , was on his way home ou Friday nightabout
, elevea o'clock , and was met in Cornwall-street , St . George ' s east , by the prisoner , who took his arm against his will , and wanted him to go home with her . To get rid of her he said ho had no money , and attempted to get away * on which she began pulling him about , and put her hand in his pocket , from which she took out a bag containing twentyfive shillings ; and to which a valuable ring and two keys were attached . The woman then endeavoured to runaway , but wag prevented by the Pole , who seized her by the hair of her head , and twisted it in his hands . The prisoner shook the bag , and some of the money fell out . A scuffle ensued between the parties , and the woman screamed out for help , which brought a policeman , named Cook , 174 K , to the spot , who apprehended her , and caused her to be searched , when part of the property was found upon her . She was committed for trial .
Greenwich Police , Satukday . —Hoebible Attempt to Murdeu . —A married wom > n , named-Elizabeth Brown , was charged with attempting to murder her two children . The husband , a workicgmau bsing questioned as t <\ the cause of the occurrence , * aad that some words took place between him and hia wife about her having pledged some of the thin ^ e , and after some quarrelling she seised the carving-knife , declaring that sho would cut the throats of the children and then her own , They had been married about six years . She was a very passionate woman . The prisoner being asked what ahe had to say for herself , acknowledged that she had , as stated , threatened the lives of herself and children , ' but it was in her passion , caused by the words she bad had with her husband . The magistrate told her that he would take care ehe should hay © ample time to get cool , for lie should commit her to prison , in default of baii , tbr three months .
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¦ --f ^ — - 1 in 1 .. __ , ^^ ¦ The total value of the monies coined at th * " wi- » from 1837 to 1840 , bothindufliYe ; wwaVfoW *? gold , co in ^ e , ^ 4 , 612 , 762 3 { in 1840 , h 9 ntia ^ ih ^ ^ 7 o ° « n COUia ^ gold wh » te ^>; silver coiSS £ 847 , 981 ; and copper coinage , £ 14 , 330 . nftSS altogether the sum of £ 5 , 475 , 079 . ' ' Wf * Re , spect-a . bility . —At Bow-street Police offlte a shoemaker of the namo of Richard SandalLwiZ charged with assaulting one of the sate-keeno * T ! S St . James ' s Park . The % ate-kee ^ K ? M Sandall enter the enclosure , as his dress n * sufficiently respectable , and the latter resisted "W no violence was alleged , the point in litigation S the question of right . The Magistrate : ilrTW ford , thought Sandall ' B coat quite decent ehonX and was persuaded that the Commissioners of WoS and Forests had no wish to exclude persons / wr » £ ,
description from the enclosure . Neither was tW anything in the manner of the defendant at « n objectionable . At all events , the law ' was one whS it was tiimcuU for amaRistrate to enforce ; andM ? Twyford objected strongly ' to being called uponto decide what was or was not " respectable" in a * . dress of decently-behaved people . Sandall »« discharged . •»« A Peep into the Templb . —Mother Ctfurch * a doubt , gives her children some very saluta ™ adnM * but , like many more spoiled urchins , tWimawin , ? that they have a right to chalk out their own com * f and do things in their Own way . She Mh tW to come out from the world , but some of the ? dS branches of her family think it right to take alittff of the world . into the temple , in order to ornan ,= _?
the same , as appears from the following fact - £ . (>» Ash Wednesday , as per custom , the bell suspend *! in the steeple of Old Washington Church , WmonM the church-going parishioners to their ' detotW exereises . Mr . Amen was awake to the well-ino , — call , and instanter threw aside his lapstone , leatW last , and awl , and proceeded to the ' tother shoo 5 discharge the duties of his more sacrwi calBn ? But having , in the earlier part of the d » f * been transacting a little business at ' t&I shop of a neighbour , who is in the spiritual line U was unable to keep time , or shoot the amen atiha word of command . This enraged his revmneek the upper-tub , who reminded his brother of ihl " er r of . llis . W . '' b . y If ?™** A few powerfulin «
Dy uie hair 01 nis Head ; WusonJy served to bewilder the sacerdotal snob the more , and he completely lost his lesson . The ire " at " the other chap" now Mfe to ungovernable heighi , and he commenced anittMk on poor amen ' s heid with the Prayer Book ^ which the devout little man sung but , " You BOB't do that again , will you |»» This insult and aKidt the man of mortal sole could not brook ; therefore , after struggling through the service , they retird into the vestry , when and where the ' hula m demanded satibfaction , as any other genUeiwa would dothi 3 his
; reverence refused to give , t Hefece amen brought his antagonist before "his bettera ** but the magistrates having heard the eviue . ua adduced , pro and con , decided that the little mu could have no just cause to complain , he having beea unable to discharge the duties of his important office , by his having previously come in too close contact with the * ' spirits" ~ o f his heighbour . ' Of course , the case was dismissed ; their Worshijwpro * nounoing his reverence justified in - openiBg the attack on " ' tother chap ' s" upper leather .
The Devil ' s Law a « . us !—An investjgatwn hag recently taken place into the case of the poof woman named Longley , who drowned her infant , in consequence of her destitution . Marylebone workhbusa was one of those at which Longley said * hi » irti refused admittance . At a meeting of the Parish Board , on Friday , the 26 thn . lt ., a 4 etter ¦ vras iead from Mr . Chad wick , the Secretary to the Poor JUr Commissioners , requesting information as t <> the correctness of Longley ' s account . Mr . Messer , . the relieving overseer , attended at the Board , and stated that when Longiey applied she Baid that she W born in the parish . On reference to the : records , however , it appeared that her account was incorrect : and that she had the
finding slept , on previous : night , in West Lane , Smithfield , he referred ufil'fOf relief to the West London Union . Mr . MffiSMTlajJ ; that Longley did not tell him thai she was starri ng ; i and had he relieved her , she would have become i chargeable to the parish . Thomas Read , an inspe « - ' \ tor of out-door poor , who was by when Langley made the application , says that she looked yerj ' i weak , and the child seemed dying for want of nourishment . A resolution was moved , and affirmed by J the Board , that there was nothing uuusttal in- ' thr [¦ case , as it came before the relieving officer ; a- proj 6-sition , moved 48 an amendment , simply to forward the explanation to the Commissioners , btin&rtjected . [ There is something tolerably cool and exoeedirid ?
numane , either in the law or the officer . A ptar woman is evidently looking very weak , » ndA « child dying for want of nourishment , when ti » relieving officer refers her elsewhere , to be baudied about from place to place , because she did ' 111 tell Ami slie was starving , and she would have become chdrgable to the parish , had he relieved her . So a forlorn , destitute woman , on the verge of seeing her child die of want , is thu 3 to be driven to murder her child , because she does not tell & relieving officer she is starving , and because she will beoijmt chargeable to the parish . No matter about moider and suicide , so long as a relieving officer dowTnot pay a few pence away more-than heongbt , ' or » B " additional burden " , is not placed upon the backs ef the parishioners 11 ; ;
Shameful and Unfeeling Fraud . —A few days since an advertisement was s « nt by post from Lpn » don , for insertion in the Manchester Guurdiafi aii& , being paid for by means of a post-office order , wia of course inserted on that day . It was to thefoN lowing effect : — . ¦ ¦ -., " To engineers , Engravers on Copperplate , JottfnV and Cabinet-makers . —Wanted , go « d hands , to Woceed to New York and Philadelphia . A . tree p * e * M and mess , with capital wages . Parties must forth *! age , particulars of family , if any , present rate of ««* dec . —^ 98 t free , with a stump , to Washington Perctja ^ r 11 , S-juthampton-street , Euston-square , London , wJK » - will communicate all particulars . " ¦ ' "; ¦ .
In consequence of this advertisement , so tempting at a time when employment is generally scares * , many persons made application by leUer , as directed in the advertisement ; and ^ in the course of a go » or two , each applicant received a reply , infonani ^ him that his services would be accepted , at a v « T ; . handsome rate of wages ; but re ^ uiring from each . * remittance of £ 1 , " to insure registration , and prevent disappointment . " The general character or these answers may be gathered from the fouowmg copy of one addressed to a mechanic , who had-mart ^ application : — " 2 , Oxford-street , London , March 16 , 1841 .
* ' Sir , —In reply to yours , I beg to say that yon Trill be required to enter . into an agreement toferve Mesa * . Grafle and ToinkinB , of New YorK , for tnree ? ew » » the weekly sum of 60 s . English moneyt-- 'week W hours , including two hours per day for meals . >«« two sons shall also be engaged , and receive proportionate wages . Your and their passage , with beamnl and provisions of the best kind will bs free . Yoni wife will be charged £ 10 , and your youngest son *»; the child under two years of age ¦ will not bo cnwg «« .
You hiust remit £ l by return of post , to Jnsura r ^ tration on board , and prevent disappointment , wn » J will be returned t « you on your arrival up here , togy tber with £ l 153 . for your expenses . Tbe V ^ fm money for your wife , &c , £ 15 , you will have ^ . "Wi by instalments of Ws . per w * k , ou your """ 'J ?; America . You must be in town on the oth of Anru . As your application has been so late , you bad wner remit the registration money to the above addre » ( No . 2 , Oxford-street ) by return of post , P ° « you make up your mind to go , as our list u n » n /
complete . - " I am &c ' " 'Washington PERCiVAi * . "Thomas a "On receipt of the £ 1 , you will ba ciJsileria engaged . " - Several of the parties who received these letters had the prudence to make . a little inquiry at uw Weekly Dispatch office before **^^*] 8 lr Sff and were advised to have nothing to do ww m * Washington Percival . Others , however , were no * so carerul , and we have reason to believotBM | number of sums were forwarded as ^ " ~ V * t fw » some of them , no doubt , fell into the bands ot m scoundrels who had devised this nefarious scMb ? of Dlunder . Amongst others , the party 10 " »«
the preceding letter was addressed , who naa ««» sometime out of employment , and was in * " * ££ - circumstances , pledged hia watch to raise the neora * eary sum , and sent it by post aa directed . »• " 2 g also have incurred the further expence of c 0 »* ^ himself and his family to London if he *« . r ? fortunately , bad his suspicions awakenedJv ^ rj he heard from another applicant , who , » n »« w g Bending the money required , took the preflMg ^ g writing to a friend in London , and requested lno g make some inquiries about Mr . W ^ bwKtoo Per ^ at the place indicated - . in . hisJfttter . 'WJr-i entrusted with this inquiry fo ™* Xl& \ vi 5 Oxford-street , was a puDhc-house . tfie «™ £ ^ which knew nothing ef Mr . P «^ ' £ gffi 8 « he cam * there occasionally for letters . t > nrc » inquiry , it was found that there ^ VoniW mechanic in the house , wbo bad come from »^ Chester with the view of procuring ongageniCT * ^ third person in waiting at the same P ' ^'" . ^ tijjt to bo a policeman in plain rfothes , who vtas ' < ^ for Mr . Washington Percival , with the 1 $ **™ $ giving him an opportunity of ex P lainl ^^^ W before a magistrate . Mr . Perctval , * 2 $ V * 6 » , / . [ , > « . nv .. ki ., »< wu > iir «<) < mm « intimation vn »> "" „ .
were abroad ; " and he did not m ^^ StfJ thou / jb a number oflettere , some of ih ^^ Sk containing money and money-ordere , ^ er » ^ j for him . We hope the P ^^^ es W ^ ° * will operate asa warning to w ^ Vl ^ do ^ any similar attempts at ^^ JlSot tro * after . No honest man wanting . 8 « T Jf » . atf men will ever require them to ^ 1 ™™ * °$ ] H whenever any demand of the kind f * $ fc <» applicant may be quite sure Out there m * . W » foot to defraud him .
Ftarktte*.
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THE " LAST KICK" 01 THE LEAGUE : . DEFEAT AT LEEDS . On T aeadsy last , a public meeting of the inhabitants of this korough , convened by requisition to the Mayor , ¦ was h ( id in the yard of the Coloured Cloth Hall , " to consid er the propriety of petitioning Parliament for the reptal of the Corn Laws . " Th 3 meeting was one of the most nuaeroua ever asser jbletl within the walls of the yard , and could not i joropriae leu than from ten to fifteen thousand pert dbb .
1 he original intention of the " League" was to have had the meeting in the Court-house , but finding that the Chartists bai their eyes open—that thsy -were , in fac t , -wide avrake to all their proceedings , it was dete- .-mined , it tbe eleventh boor , to issue s notice , alterin g the place of meeting , inder the prudent idea , that Id . the open air the Chutists wonid have no chance , on a seount ef the extra number of the cheap-labour men ' rhica they would be there able to accommodate , and # ith whom , being market day , the town waa literally » warming , not only from the Tillages Tonnd Leeds , but - from Bradford , Huddcrsfield , Halifax , Dawgbury , Wakefield , Heckmondwike , and all parts o ( tbe Riding , by which means they hoped to swamp any opposition ¦ which micht be offered to them .
The CnartisU , however , were not behind in tbeir arrangements ; they knew with ¦ whom they had to deal ; they remembered all ihefaiGiful promises of the middle-class men in former dsys ; and being now determined to be no longer gulled by a tricky faction , they resolved to come boldly out , in imitation of their bretlir « n at London , Manchester , Glasgow , Birmingham , and other places , and to carry the war at once iuto the enemy ' s camp . The League issued a bill on the morning of the meeting , calling on the " working men , " if they wanted " good wages and cheap bread , " to attend the meeting and support the Leaguers . But all their efforts were of no use : " good wages and cheap bread" —at
least the promise of these— failed in their interest , and the working men were de » f to the voice of the charmer . And 'vsvitiould like to know vrhat had become of all the requisitors . on tbe faith-of whom the Mayor had called the iuetting . Beyond half a dozen , they were no where to be found . Had the " cheap bread" cry lost its influence bo suddenly , on them ? or is it that the ' most intense interest , " which the Mercury teld its readers had been excited by the meeting , had fallen drad at their doors , and stopped thrm on the threshhold ? To whatever cause , certain it is , that beyond Mr . TSrtwaril Baines , Jun ., and three or fonr others , there were none of the " 150 of the most respectable gentlemen and firms in the town" present at the hour for commencing business .
I \ o , no , the " most respectable gentlemen" have found ont that the " fustian jackets , blistered hands , and nnshoni chins , " are the real men of business , and may )» e " reasonably deemed" csbable of being en trusted ¦ with tbe management of their own affairs . They are perfectly right in this ; Mr . Baines , Jun ., saw itfor himself , and in thlB day's iffrcury the fact must be publisted to the world , except Mr . Baints is still determined to enjoy the title conferred upon him by his fr iend Cobbett Honour to the honest workies by whom be has b « en thus convinced !
It was cleaT from the first that the League felt the ground slipping from them . They knew that all they hid to depend npon was to gull the na-iirra after their old fashioned easy w ; iy ; and when thi-y were obliged to rub theiT eyis open , and compelled to acknowledge their own miserable minority , rage took possession of their breasts , and , & ; some periods of the meeting , it was doubtful whether thty would not have assarted their runt to the title of " physical-force men "—even the meek Edward Bivnes seemed almost tempted to use his fists . The " ragged regiment" at kia right hand seemed inclined to m&rcti up thu steps , and forcibly eject tbe Chartists from them . Bu * thi 3 move would not do . The Chartists were awake again , and met this movement by a counter movement of their own , executed in the most quiet and best tempered manner
possible-But - we are running away from the details of the meeting , which it is our object to lay before the intelligent working men of the empire in as clear a manner U the circumstances will admit of ; and then , if they do not agree with us that the middle classes have lost all respect for themselves , we shall be very much mistaken . We proceed , tben , to detail the circumstances as they transpired . About three minutf s past twelve o ' clock , the time advertised for the commencement of proceedings , Mr . JOSEPH J 0 > "ES proposed " That Mr . Joshua Hohson do take the Chair . " This proposition wts seconded by Air . Robekts , and , when put to tbe meeting , was carried alnio&t unanimously , only one cr two dissentients holdimg np their hands sgaiBSt it . Previous to the motion being put , Mr . E . Ba ikes , Jun . said tbat he believed the Mayor was coming , and would take the Chair . The Mayor , however , was not present ; and Mr . Baines moved no amendment , though requested by Mr . Stansfeld and others of his friends to do so .
Mr . Hobson thtn advarcjd to the fror . t of the steps , the position usually occupied by the Chairmen of meetings held in the Cloth Hall Yard , and fc&M , that Laving been elected to the chair by a large number of tne inhabitants of Leeds , lie had grtat pleasure in acceding to their request , and he would promise that every speaker who offered himself to their notice , should be heard with attention . ( Here the Leaguers and their friends broke out into hisses , which were speedily drowned in Chartist cheers . ) That meeting was called for the purpose of considering the propriety of petitioning for a Kepeal of the Corn Laws , and called by the Mayor iu pursuance of a requisition presented to that gentleman . ( Here the interruption , accompanied by criea of " Go on , go On , " &C ., weTO BO great we could hear no further . )
Th # M ^ tob came forward , in front of the iron railing on the iteps , and was received with various phrase * and noises , expressive of the not very slight disinclination ( f a large portion of the meeting not te hear him , nflC varying in intensity from a hiss to a
groan . The ChaJRMaS ( between whom and the Mayor a roost livery dumb show was going on for some time , ) here said , " Gentlemen , 1 believe the Mayor is going to propose a resolution . " ' The Mator—As Mayor , I assert my right to preside on the present occasion . The Chaib . ma > " said that having been proposed and seconded as Chairman , and that resolution having been sanctioned by the meeting , he should insist on holding his office . ; Hisses , accompanied with loud applause from the " lads" on b « ih sides . ) Mr . EDWARD BaJNES , Jun-, here came forward , and Insisted , but quite ineffectually , oa being heatd .
31 r . Alderman Staxsfeld appeared at the iron railing , and was received ¦ with partial cheers , proceeding from the " cheap labour" men at the lower end of the yard ; but met with more wide and prolonged greetings from the " lads , " of " Millocrats , " " Fox Stansfeld , " 4 c , &c The MaIOR then cime forward again to speak , when Tbe Chairman said tbat the Mayor had asserted that he hid aright to preside . ( Cries of "" So , he hasn't . '; He did not think he had . Tfce Mayor—Iin here by right of —/ The confusion prevented the remainder of the sentence being heard . ) Cries of " S : ick to thy piacs , lad , " were addressed to
I The Chaibxa . v , who proceeded—He had been ¦ elected by a majority cf the meeting to tne chair , and , heshoald therefore consider himself as fairly in the ! chair . The Mayor said that ha considered himself in i the chair by right of hi $ office : he ( the Chairman ) did ¦ not think he was . The Mayor and his party always I professed themselves to be friends to the free-\ dom of election ; and ihe the Chairman ) considered : himself in the cbair l > y the election cf the meeting , : but the Mayor was net . iHear . ) He begged to tell the Mayor that he ha ; i obtained his office by means of 1 a swindle , and he . held it by a swindle ; and it was ; rather too much for V i ^ rn after thai to want to swindle , them ( the meeting ) again . iCheers , mingled witZi ' hisses , and confusion followed . ) Ho would again call , upon any speaker wh » had any resolution to move , to : come forward . If any gentleman ifforeii himself to I ipeak , he would endeavour to procure him a fair ' , hearing .
The Mayor here came forward again , but could not be heard for some time . At last he retired , and -we heani him distinctly say , " I beg to close tha business of tie meetJEg . " ( Cries of Hofcson is Chairman " immediately followed this announcement . ) Mr . Edward Baines , Jun ., again presented himself , and endeavoured to secure a hearin ? , by tho most strenuous exertion of his pulmonary powers , and the most frantic gesticulation . He was received with cries of "Three groans for the Queen , >' eddy ; " "The Crown upside down ; " " Red herring soup , " tc . What was tbe purport or his remarks could not be heard an inch beyond the steps . The Rev . Mr . Hill ( EdiUr of the Sorthem Star ) ntxt appealed to the Chairman for a hearing . Ail that could be heard waJs , that the meeting should hold by tbeir own .
An attempt at a division followed , the oVject of which could not be gleaned , except that the ltadsrs of tbe League beckoned to their adherents to separate , and go to the lower end of the yard ; the Chairman Cllling npon the meeting to ttiad still . Mr . Jobs Goodman essayed to address the meeting . Mr . Edward Baines , Mr . Bobsos , and the Mayor held a parley together , which lasted forsoae time , and which was a complete dumb show . Cheers and counter cheers followed from the Chartist * and the Leaguers .
Mr . Edward Bai . nes , Jur _ , then did his best , by " physical force , " to thrust the Chairman aside , and by the most pertinacious and obstinate continuance in this gentlemanly line of argument , drew upon Mmself the jeers and laughter of the meeting , until he had completely exhausted himself by Ms indulgence in this unusual , but ineffective muscukvr exercise . Various speaken in the crowd strenuously brightened np Mr . Baines ' s recollection of hia proposing three gioans for the Queen , and of hU very economical recipe for a ¦ iinner in the sh * pe of 5 savoury dish called " red berr . ' og BOUp , " above noticed . Others , in reference to his bx . "successful attempt to push the Chairman aside , said " X ^ u cant do it , Neddy ; jon can't doit . " " Put tby
Untitled Article
% THE NOBTHEBIf STAR .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), April 3, 1841, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1103/page/6/
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