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Northern Star (1837-1852), 11th May 1844, Edition 1 of 1, Page 3, Untitled Article

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    • MARKET INTELLIGENCE.
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      T^Onro.

      t ^ onro .

      Untitled Article

      TRUE DIGNITY . TH 2 BE is an ontranl . splendor , -which Deceives the simple—oft the vnss , Who dream that * neath a covering rich , The dignity of Manhood lies , Fergetting that the onVsrard Btate Hay clock both foolishness and sin , While all that maketh Manhood great , Gleams like a polished gem vrithin > The love for troth—the -will to do—Ad aim nEbending though it seems Unto the multitude untrue , Or bat the madness of a dream , Tffhich fears bo force , nor scorn , nor jest , Bat rushes onward to the goal , — He -who thus bears "with dauntless breast , Does wear that jewel on his soul ! Ee ¦ who , self-irise , at Wisdom frowns ,

      And scorns the Thong&fc be ne'er possessed , Though men shoirer on him fav * ring crowns , Is bnt a foolish slave at best—A elave to error—captive bound , "RTio groping in the shades of night , Looks on the darkness mid arcunci , And calls the rayless Slackness light I Oar being is an endless strife—A ceaseless search for hidden things ; And he best knows the ends cf life , Who spreads on high the boldest wings ! "Who breaks the chain vrk-ch custom binds Aronnd the straggling limbs cf Man , And for ths future , labonr flads In reaping what his Thonght began ! ! Ehe men of Action—they ' who toil While Hinliinides around them play , And bj their isztoracce despoil

      The free gifts of the blessed day—These are the men whose earnest Thought , Tolled with the greatness of their strife , And of the blessings dearly bought Baar the true dignity of life I Before them spreads a rayless ni ^ ht , "And shadows mocking S 31 their way ; Behind them gleams a flashing light , Which brings the fullness of -the day ! Old thoughts , long worn as trusty chains , Before the bright-winged Spirit fly , While songs of Heps fill all tho plains , And cheers of gladness reach the sky 3 The health of life—the sun—the air , Are free gifts untoall mankind ; 2 Jnt who to win a gift more

      rare—The treasured fullness of the Hind—JTnst -a-atch and toil and struggle long , "With sackcloth gird his restlees sonl , And dare , though ' gainst him rise the strong , To rush where ' er the strife-waTes roll J TmihjTalonr , Firmness , make the Man ; Wilh these , the weakest shall ba strong ; Por since the changing woria began , TM 3 truth lath triumphed full and long : Where ' er thy F-rtnne casts thy

      waj—If thon hast learned , and fearless fought , Thontt in thee bear the light of day , And triumph in & noble tfcoiub . t ! 2 ieie Tori Subterranean

      Untitled Article

      TBE GALLOWS-GOERS . TT ? an * make ready , ye loTers of fan ! On with your holiday-dress , and be gay ! Ifow that the Sheriff has work to be done , Basnes 3 with pleasHreie mingles to day . Some msy go hosting with guns 1 and a few , Bods in their hands , little fish msy pursue ; Ours is the sport which is sanctioned by law , — y ? e go a hanging . —a hanging ! Hurrah I Two months ago , on a rare , drunken bout , Billy , his comrade , the criminal slew ; Hmca ' i a deed that is Tile , without doubt , Ergo—the law will turn murderer too . As to the place where the Tfacr fee got—Iiqaor ¦ shtch maddened him—jonfiet ' s the spot . S -mmy , who keeps it approTes of tfee law—Ee goes for ^ hanging—for hanging ! Hurrah !

      Brigbt fck'nes the sun , on the pl ^ ce wtere you see Tcadtr tall gallows , substantial and bare ; Wail a few hours , and a fellow will bo Dieting fandangoes of fun in the air . Gathered in groups at the gallows , behold Parents and children , maids , wifes , young an old , Waiting the tim 9 when the baiter shall draw—Ihey go for hanging—fer hanging ! Enrrah ! Pickpockets , plenty are—mark how they go Slyly and coolly to work at their trade ! Buckets is business , and people must know Too much attention to that cant be paid . Sweating , and fighting , and kickiDg , thB crowd "Utter their blasphemous curses aloud—Righteous example is Eti by the law ; ¦ Gaod comes from hanging—from hanging ! Hurrah ) ZrXtk at the criminal . ' please ye to look I

      S ^ ndingbesidehim , the hangman you see ; There is the priest , with Mb gown and his book—Galloping raUy , they go to the tree . Thasks to the priests , who the hangman befriend , Choking surh knaves as 'twere labour to mend . Hanging , they say , is Levitical law—Cheers for the clergy , they ' re Carisfians I Hurrah Firmly and prondly , the culprit looks round , Euldicg his head with a satisfied air ; Hnrmurs applauding go over the ground—Down pops the priest with the felon to prayer . ' How interesting his looks are V says Ann . •* Tea ! " answers Sal , * ' and bell die liie a man 1 " Elegant talk for young maidens , but—pshaw ! Shont for the hanging—the banging 3 Hurrah ! Prayer * are all finished , and now for the fun ; Over his features the cap has been drawn ; ' Ketch , and kis comrade , the preacher , get down ;

      Crack 1 goes the whip , ard the carriage moves on . Wonderful sight for the Christian to tee ; HerrDy dancing on nothing is lie . Though there ' s no fiddler a hornpipe to saw , light are his leaps—lie ' s hanging \ Enrrah 1 After the rope has been severed in twain , Home go ths people , and talk ol it all , Heaven will receive whom the gallows has slain—Does not the clergyman settle the thing ? Eonte go the people , and talk of it all , Children in nursery , servants in hall , Bob hangs the cat , in the manner he saw Hung at the gallows , God ' s ImEjje—hurrah . ' 3 Scrse ye , good clergymen , serraEtsof God I

      Siind by rey side while 1 fight for your fan ; Hanging preserves us from shedding of blood ; Etmedy like it , there never was one . Bally your forces , thump pulpits , a ^ d be Cerictl gnards ef th&good gallows-tree ! What if our Saviour denounces the law ? Xou go for hanging—for banging . Hnnah ! The Irish Citizen . —/ UJ . )

      35ebi?H≫0.

      35 ebi ? h > 0 .

      Untitled Article

      TAIT'S MAGAZINE .-May . Tait in his political article ranges himself on the sde of lie " feelosophers" against tie advocates of the Ten Hours' BUI , reiterating the arguments of Peel . Graham , Roebuck & Co ., Tail gravely argues that bicanse the agricultural labourers , and many classes of aitizans axe worse off , or are employed at more noxions labonr tban tie factory-workers , thEifefcTB tiie Factories Regulation Bill ia nncalled for ! The ten horns advocates are by no means blind to thesniiering&of other classes : on the contrary are most anxious that prelection Ehonld be extended to alU They look to a Ten Hours' Bill as bat the " beginning of lie end f and Jet Tail fear not , that end Trill come . Tee reign ofisiszes-faire is fast drawing to a dose . Its doom is iixed

      and inevitable . The " men of the progress * ' axe pledged to change present social arrangements ; and the Factory agitation jb a "sign of the times , " neither more nor leas telling of the ideas now-agiiatiBg the mass , —the precursor of a new and hetter era , when man , box gold , shall be the olject of legislation , and labour be rtleased from the grasp of heartless , merciless , murderous profit . Strange , "but troe , vrhile Tait fiercely Denounces the Ten Hours' Bui men , and adduces the worn-ont arguments of the Morning Chronicle and Leeds Mercury in support of his position , he at the same time bears unmistakable evidence to the truth and righteousness ef the principles advocated by those ie opposes , and even predicts their coming triumph } Yes , it is so . as the following extract will show : —

      Since the date of onr last "writing , the " new Radicalism" of phHantfcropby , of which we then spoken one of the most hopeful signs of the times , baa been more than ordinarily busy ; breaking op parties , dislo cating , pro hoc vice , all party relations , and for the jsoatsi abating the Cabinet itself ; not without making anple exhibition , by the way , of the blenders and pervcrsitiet—together with a strong dash of Ike fectior and hypocrisy—which we have taken the liberty oi eharging on this iEOTanent . By tie time these pagw we in the reader's hards , things "will probably have fallen back into the usual parliamentary train ; the Government wDl have recovered itself from the concussion , by a handsome majority , and the Factory question -will tie set at re » t—for this session only . But the lutataa-Sal interest of this gsestioB is permanent and growisj ; K& we take tfc » cpporlnnily afforded by the recai ¦ gftatjoa , to record o « r opinion on a matter which ii tvidently destined to come op again sad again for par-&mtntary kdjostaest , and any real settlement oi which ¦ &eiDi to beasfar effaj ever .

      The trinmph of Lord Ashley and the advocate ! of the % ai Hcuis" Bill , brief and ^ recarioBS as it will , iiail lid ; hocd , turn onttohave been , belongs , nndonbtedly , to tbe class of " great facts ; " fects significanji of the feth acd growth of new ideas . There were the Whig feadfcts forsaking the traditions ol their party , and votfc ? BgEinst their foricfcr selves , with a mett courageouj fit £ a ^ ce t ; f the charge of inconsistency ; and th ere were Kffie of the best and ablest of the more advanced Liber-

      Untitled Article

      alB repudiating what , by Liberals , are commonly regarded as ihe best established doctrines of orthodox political economy . When men like Lord Howick and Mr . Charles Bulier begin to talk , in the dialect of Pmt and Present , abont tbe " organizjticn of industry , " and " bjbw eras of society needing ntw principles and modes of legislation ; " and when Lord John Russell himself meddles with them that are given to change , abandons his past emphatically-expressed opinions , and hampers bis future official position with a vote that wDl hereafter be brought against him as a pledge—it i ^ plain that a real change of opinion is in progress , on some of the deepest principles of social policy and legislation . That Lord Ashley happened to get a majority on his Ten Hours' Clause , is not , in itself , a thing of any great

      moment ; bnt that he was able to carry with him so many of the representatives of Whiggism and political economy , is a fact of very considerable significance . The true meaning of it we take to be , that a conviction is practically gaining ground among oar public men tf all parties and opinions , thai the sympathies and hurna * nities are net to be ignored by the legislator ; that tbe working man is to be treated by the State , not only as a worker , but also and chit fly as a man ; that tie moral well-being and domestic comfort of the men , women , and children , that maie what we call " the masses , " are of more worth than any commercial and scientific abstraction named National Wealth ; * and that the dogmas of political ecoDcmy—the Bacred Laissezfaire itself not excelled—must be tried by their fruits m the actual , ev&ry-day life of concrete human beings .

      u Episcopacy in Scotland , " and " Common Lav ? and Special Jury , " may be very entertaining subjects , bnt their titles have been all-sufficient to frighten us from a perusal of their contents . From a lengthy criticism on " Laine's Translation of the Chronic l e of the Kings of Norway"' vre anticipate mneh vhat vriil be gratifying , but iave not had time to pernsa h as yet ; probably we shall hereafter give onr readers a few extracts . There is an interesting paper entitled " The Overlander" under the head of " Australian Sketches , " which gives a further insight into one of tbe many curious modes of Ire pursued in the l > infant empire" of Australia . We close this notice with the following extracts from a racy and excellent criticism oh the life aad plays of Athens' greaies ; comic dramatist : —

      JLB . 1 STROPHA > ES . " When non ^ ht I did could Doily pl ease I langhed with Aristophanes . —Dr . Syntoi . And well might the worthy Dr . Syntax laugh with Aristophanes , for he was a very comical knave , perhaps the most comic that ever lived . Tbere ia even a comic property in his name , which is composed of two Greek worus , signifying the best showman ; and this does not seem a name conferred after his right to it was established , but , from all we can discover , was actually , by a curious coincidence , his own name ; or , a " : least , one bestowed -on him « hen very ynung , in tukeu of his imitative powers : as we know Plate derived his name frvm the breadth of his head . The Greeks were an ingenious people , with a very pliant language , and such patronymical transmutions were by no means uncommon , Aristophanes , let us rem rk in passing , was a great crony of the Philosopher , who gave him a distinguished place at his symposium , and designated his

      soul a temple for the Graces ; but all his log c could nst induce the comedian to leave Athens and join him at ths court of the old tyrant of Sicily . He was too free in his ctusure , and democratic in his notions for that . The birih o ! Aristophanes may be dated B c . Hi . and he died about his grand climacteric , B C 380 . He was the son of one Phillippus : the name of his mother is not preserved , nor that ol Ms wile ; fur be married one who turned «> ut amiss , led h : m a sorry life , and of whom he was heartily ashamed ; although there is no doubt he had himself to blame in many respects . He left- three prcfligste sons , ail of whom attempted comedy , but were by no means so successful in their tffjrts as their site had been- That he was famous as a bon vivwal , partial to good liquor , and of a joyous calibre , is easily observed from the tenor of his writings ; but he was himself free from those very gross vices which he censures on the stage in no very delicate terms .

      Whether he was a true-born Athenian or not is a point undetermined : in his " Acharnians" he hints himself an iEginttan . Be this as it may , when taxed as an alien one day in a court of justice , he ia reported to have quoted two lines from Homer , quaintly conveying our own proverb touching the wisdom of that child which can distinguish its own pspa ; and this so tickled the Tbesmothe ° ; a , his judges , that they unanimously gave"him the benefit of tbe doubt , and be still retains it The census cf Athens , at this period , exclusive of thore demi , or boroughs , within six cr eight miles , miklit be about twenty thousand inhabitants . Tbe theatre could contain within its area fifty thousand persons ; a pretty considerable allowance for strangers ; which , however , might be nececessary , as plays

      were only performed on festive occasions , when tbe whoie rural population tocied to the capital It was built on the s . uth-eastern slope of the Acropolis , approached by ths street of Tripods , looking towards the sea ; bo that ocean , earth , and sky , vere all within view . The seats hewn from the hard rock are yet dhticctly visible ; and some columns are still standing at the back of the Btage , a relitf to the eye in viewing tnat , the more rninoui side of the AcropolU , from the terrace of the temple of Jupiter OJympiui . There was no roof to the building : a narrow coping only pn jeettd from the top of the exterior wall over the uppermost round of stats ; but the fair climate of Greece , and the forenoon performance , r « . nflfcrtd a

      covgnug tbe Jess necessary . The chief Archon presided over the amusements , and selected the candidates for the pr ! z- ; s ; no doubt with the aid and advice of his eight colleagues in the ATchonship . A play which hid once gained a prfza was not hackneyed by repetition ; in some few extraordinary cases it might be exhibited twice ; the expense in all cases was undertaken by the State . Tne Athenian people somewhat resembled the French of the present day : fond of fetes , theatres , wit , fun , folly , and democracy ; grandiloquent about their successes in war ; and , if they had not a Louis Philippe , they had , at least , one like him to keep them all right , an unswerving Pericles .

      Aristophanes , a tall , stoat youth for his age , though he lired and wrote till be was decrepit and bald , very booq found out his forte ; became a candidate for the comic > t « 3 ; and , at the early age cf seventeen , presented to tke judges his " D » italeis , " or " Revellers , " an appropriate subject for a young man in hia firat draught of tbe convivialities of Athens . Tbe author being under age , it appeared in tbe name of a friend and brother comedian , Philonides : net the fleet runnel of Alexander the Great , who did the distance from Sicyon to Elia in nine hours and returned in fifteen , though with more down hill , —a distance which , as the crow flres » is as least sixty miles . Of this production

      only about forty-two lines are extant , so that we have not much means of judging of its excellence ; hewever , it carried the second praa , be it a skin of wine , chaplet , goat , calf , fenll , or good heavy drachmas ; and this gave wondtrful promise in one so young . We would iiot place much confidence in tbe opinion of the Archons , for all that ; as tfce old comedy , technically so termed , then in vogue , was little else than rampant satire in the form of dialogue , where ths nnfortunate subjects were severely handled , and that too nndei their , real mmes . It msy thus be easily imagined how the minds cf the judges might be awayed by priTate prejudice .

      We maintain that there ia more wit in the small finger of A . rUtopb . waes than in all the " rare Ben Jouson , " Sheridan , Colman , or even the mighty Joseph Miller himself . Eulwer defines him as " matchless alike in delicacy and Btrengtb , in powers the most ¦ giijantje , in purpose tbe most dariag ; with the invention of Sbakspere , the playfulceEs of Rabelais , and the malignity of Swift . " Be this as it may , wit , beffjonery , satire , and a vividly-elegant power of language and versification—pervaded by a strain of sterling patriotism throughout—we hold to be the leading character istics of his writings . * * * Tbe ntxt production of Aristophanes , of which also only fragments exist , comprised in some twenty lines , was " The Babylonians . " It was represented tbe following year , B . C . 426 , at the summtr DionyBian festival : of tbe tnccesB there ia no record .

      The author having , by hia " Revellers , " acquired much pojuLit favour , was now grown bolder ; freely jested at the msgiatracy , and even attacked Cleon himself ; a man who , after the death of Pericles and the rustication of Alcibiades , aspired to be the popular leader , tbongfc without the courage or talents of either : of low origin ; bred to his fathtrt business of a tanner ; " but of very considerable oratorical powers ; and , what waa then of more consequence , moat unabashed effrontery . This involved our author in much trouble and State prosecution , wticb , however , hia popularity and wit carried him successfully threngh . It waa in this prosecution that the qnesUon of bis being an alien was brought forward ; and his ieady wit in quoting from Homer the words of Telemacbus : —

      To prove a gennine birlh , the prince replies , On female truth assenting faia relies , procured him advantage ; as tbe Greeks were a people of impulae , on whom ingenuity and appeals to the feelings and passions had much mcreix-nueiice than tbe stern realities of truth ; aB Sophocles well knew , when , to prove his sanity , he recited his CE 5 ipua at Colonua , in place of s formal negatory oration . * * Tbe " Proagon , " contest , * klnnlah , or " the lists " u vre may call It , was another of the early comedies of Aristophanes ; bnt the date of ita appearance ia uncertain . It -was levelled at Euripides , and written in a style of bHrieique tragedy ; parodying many of hia verses , aa nay be gathered from the dcasn existing li » es of it . Ten little can b * made out of these ,

      The play next in ord er of date ia " The Achamiana , " which we happily have in a complete form ; bnt before entering on as analysis of it , it-will be proper to notice s few particulars connected with the constitutional assemblies of Athens . TceEccleaa , or assembly , was & general meeting of the citizxnB of Athens , thatiB , of all who were of age , and not branded by dishonour or convicted of crime It was held ordinarily four times in each Prytany , or period during which each triba exercised tbe efflce of PrytancB , n&mely , thirty-five or thirty-aix days . Assemblies , in case cf emergency , could also be convened by tbePryt&nesj and in times Jof extreme Importance the

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      whole Attic conntry was warned . At the time of Ariatophanes , these meetings were held in tbe Pnyx , a large aemiclrcular building on tie slope of Mount Lycabettas , westward of the Areopagus , comprising an area of twelve thousand eqmra yards . It was seated round ; and on the aide towards the sea was a rostrum for the speakers , cut out of the rock , ten feet in height , with a flight of atepa leading up to it . The Prytanes were presidents of the council of five hundred , which was composed of citizens chosen by lot : fifty from each of the ten parishes , or demi , or Athena * This senate waa subdivided into ten sections of fifty each ; themembers of which were styled Prytanes , and were all of the same demos . They acted aa presidents of the eouncil &ni assemblies , each in turn , some thirty-five or thirty-aix

      days , so as to complete the lunar year of 364 days . Tie turn of each demos waa determined by let , and the four supernumerary days were given to the party last in order . To obviate the difficulty of too many heads , each fifty was Bnbdivided again into five bodies of ten each , ita Prytany being also portioned oat into five periods of seven dayB each ; ao that , o « ly ten senators presided for a week over the reBt A chairman , again , waa cheaen from these , for each day . The Prytanes received & drachma , abbot eightpence-halfpenny , for each day they sat . They had also a building for their private meetings , called the Pry taneam : a refectory , in which they were entertained at the public expense during the term of office , and feasted ambassadors and other distinguished personages . .

      The office of Archon , or chief magistrate of Athena , was at that period an annual one . He had eight associates : one over the religious establishment , another over the war department , and six councillors or assessors . As a mark of . cffice , they wore chaplets of myrtle ; and there were very stringent laws against any one who offered them insult . Their power was not very great , and principally of a municipal nature . At the expiration of their year of service , the Archons were admitted to the upper , more aristocratic and important council of the Areopagus , whose powers were much more extensive ^—extending eveii to life and death . Tiie comedy of " The Acharnians , " the earliest complete piece of Aristophanes which bas come down to us , was represented at the Lei a in festival In the Bixtb year of the Peloponnesian war , which corresponds to the third year of the 88 th Olympiad , or b c . 426 , while Euthydemus waa Archon , and three years after the death of Pericles .

      Tie Lei se \ n festival was one of the four feasts of Bacchus , bo called from lenus , a wine-press , and waa celebrated abent the shortest day . The subject of " Tbe AcharmanB" is as follows : — Some young Athenians , in a drunken frolic , went to Megara , and carried eff a famous courtesan , by name Sinuate . The Megarians , irritated in their turn , carried off two inmates from the establishment of Aspasia , the mutress of Pericles , and latteriy his wife , and this , according to Aristophanes , Plutarch , and Athetseia , strange though it may appear , waa tbe chief occasion of the Peloponnesian war . Prriclea decreed the penalty of death against any Tdegarian who should be found in the Attic territory . Archidamup , King of the Lacefjomoniana , aent deputies to tbe Athenians , to request a revocation of this decree ; but Pericles opposed this strongly , and carried it his own way . Other causes , besides , having conspired to rendtr the inhabitants of

      the Peloponnesus hostile to tbe Athenians , war waa declared . The rural population retreated , with what tff-cts they could cany with them , to tbe capital , and sent their fljeks to Eutoai . The Lace <'» inonian 3 , with their allies , among whom were the Pcejtians , invaded Attica , led on by King Arcbidaruua , and ravaged tbe territory ; cutting down the vines , and penetrating aa far as Acharise a village about six miles from Athens . Tbeir intention in thus devastating the country was to bring tbe Athenians to a general action , which would decide the fate of Athens ; or to rouse tbe Acharniana to revolt , when they saw Ibeir lands ia the power of the enemy and their own government giving them no aW . Pericles , according to Plutarch , considered it too dangerous to hsaird Athena in a battle against sixty thousand , tor to numerous waa the army ol the Peloponnesus and B « jtia ; and consoled the native . 8 by telling them , " That plants would grow again after being cut down , but men once down were gone for ever . "

      Pcnciea firmly kept hia purpose , without being influenced by the clamour of party . The Acharniana loudly instated on battle , backed by the turbulent Cleon , who , from tbe rostrum , incited the people against Periclea , at that time absent at the head of the army at Slegsra . At tbe aame time the Athenians sought tbe friendship of some of tbe barbarous princes . lNymphodorus of Abdera , having come to Athena , had negociated an alliance between the Republic and Sitaclea , king of Thrace , hia brother-in-law ; and Sadoc , son of King Sitaclea , received from the Athenians the right of citizenship . They also hoped to gain the alliance of the Kings of Macedonia and Persia ; and aent , accordingly , ambassadors to tbeBe monarcba .

      Whilst in expectation of these auxlllnnes , the war ati ) l went on ; and those who were weary of Buffering , loudly declared for peace . Amongst this number waa Aristophanes ; and too aim of this comedy , aa well as of many others of hia , waa to show tbe advantages of peace , and cause a reconciliation between Athens and Lacc-Tntion . The fate of Socrates proves what a powerful tDglLe was the Athenian comic muse .

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      From the appearance of the 4 th No . ( for May ) we are glad to find that our very entertaining Compamen is not likely to die yet ; on the contrary It I 5 ? $ ^ emal promise of lengthy and prosperous days for him . This is as it should be . The presB , next to tho pu / pit , has beea the great engine of tyranny m keeping the mass of the people in civiliz-d Europe m a state of bondage and degradation , lhat which should , have been , —and whioh y * X be »~ the moat powerful instrument in ele-VAting the masses , has been employed by the middle classes first to break the chains of that feudalism which kept them under , and then used to prevent the millions obtaining a share of that power whioh the profitmongers had achieved , and the recognition of

      those rights which belong to all men without distinction . But the press is not to blamo for this . The art of printing , like maohinery , may have been foully abased ; but tho evil lies not in the thing fA , W . he abuscrs . Is there no remedy for tais ? Xnere is . Let the working classes refuso any longer to support directly or indirectly the newspapers and other publications of their enemies , and support those only who advocate the cause of universal equality . But such publications aro far too few . We should rejoice to ^ see publications similarto the Cordwainers Companion , Miners Advocate , &c , the property of every trade ; aad cheap political publicanons flourishing in every town of the kingdom . 1 his is what is wanted . This must be done . The press , to be free , must be in the hands of the people ; and , that accomplished , the day of retribution to oppressors , and of salvation to the oppressed , will come with tho speed of thought .

      We are happy to reoognise in the Cordwainers ' Companion a most zj&lous coadjutor in resisting tho now defunct and annihilated Masters and Servants ' BMl ; but how much more < ffioient might it have been had it appeared weekly instead of monthly . Let our friends of the " gentle craft" look to it , and so strengthen the hands of the Editor , aa to make the Companion every way worthy of the trade , whose interests it so ably advocates .

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      The Late Mchdeb and Suicide at Bklpbb . —On Thursday , the inquiry was resumed , when three witnauseas were heard in . proof of insanity ; but tne evidence was by no means conclusive , as to that point . The jury stated that it had confirmed their opinion of the day before , and they rettufned ^ theloUowing verdict : —•* That William Yeomaris killed hiawife while labouring under a fit of temporary insanity , and afterwards , during , the continuance of the same fit of insanity , destroyed himself by cutting his throat . " The coroner , on receiving the verdict , said , that his opinion remained iindianged ; that the verdict was the jury ' s , and inot his ; and lhat V thought nothing like satisfactory proof of ius& ' jity had been Riven , —Nottingham \ Review ,

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      Destruction of the Ship Palestine by Firs , —The melancholy intelligence of this disastrous event , and of the truly miraculous escape of tbe master , Captain M'Lean , and the crew of the unfortunate vessel , forty-two in number , was received at Lloyd ' s on Friday last . The subjoined particulars are extracted fr , om letters received by tbe underwriters and relatives of the crew , most of whom reside in . tho metropolis . Tho ship Palestine it appears , waa the property of Messrs Ashley , Brothers , and Co ., extensive shi at Liverpool

      powners one was almost nev ? , having been launched at Quebec in 1841 , and was a very fine vessel of her class , her tonnage being between 700 and . 800 tone . The vessel sailed from Gravesend in September , bound to Aden , Bombay , and Calcutta , with a cargo of several hundreds tons of coals , tar , titch , and Pine deals , which was taken on board at Newcastle The voyage was very favourable , and all went on well until the 4 th of Feb ., when , about half-past two fiiS ^ a « v morning the ship being jn lat . 26 15 S , long . 58 35 E ., the watch on deck were alarmed at

      ODs * rvipg a strong smell of fire . The master , Captain M'Lean , was immediately aroused , and &Uo the remainder of the crew , when diligent examination was made as to the cause . No appearance of fire being found in the cabin or forecastle , they became convinecd that it musfc exist somewhere amongst the cargo in the ship ' hold , whereupon the hatchways were removed , and Captain M'Lean ordered somo of the men to force an iron tod through the coals to the bottom of tbe ship , There it was allowed to remain some minutss , and upon its being withdrawn , a portion of it was found

      to bo red hot , clearly indicating thut thore was & large" mass of fire raging about six or eight feet from the bottom . The discovery , as it may be supposed , caused the utmost consternation and dismay amongst all on board , more particularly on account of there not being any place of refuge that they could run for Iwithin several hundred miles . Having fired , several rockets and siguals of distress , in the hope of their being seen by some vessels at a distaDce » Captain M'Lean cheered his men up to attempt to reach the fire , and bo time waa lost by them in heaving the cargo on deck and throwing it overboard , in order , if possible , to get at the fire . Alas !

      it was not to be accomplished ; for after working about an hour , the men in the hold were obliged to be relieved every ten miuutes , on account of the smoke and heat , and it afterwards became so powerfully intense , that no one could remain below at all . It was then determined to pump water into tho hold , so as to swamp the burning cargo , for which purpose all the pumps were put into active operation , and powerful streams were poured down . This , however , appeared to have not the least effect , for the smoke , instead of diminishing , rapidly increased , and at about six o ' clock the fire burst up out of the main hatchway with terrific force , its violence evidently showing that a large mass of the cargo of . tar and pitch was in an ignited condition as well as

      the coals , for the smoke that kept ascending hovered over the ship like a dense black eioud . Captain M'Lean and bis men still continued their exeriions t in the faint hope of ultimately checking the conflagration , but they were at length forced to quit the pumps , the deck becoming so hot , and to take to the boats , which had previously been provided with provisions and water , and lauuehed overboard . Capt . M'Lean took charge of tbe longboat , and the chief-mate the cutter , with twenty men in each of them . They remained by the burning wreck for seme time , and then pulled off to within a short distance , beyond reach of danger should an explosion occur , where they determined to remain as long as the fire lasted , hoping that some vessel would bear down to their

      preservation . For hours the ill-fated ship continued to burn with great fury , presenting to the view of the unfortunate mariners a sight that will for ever be borne in their recollection . In a short time after the boats leaving her she waa completely involved in one mass of flame , which rose above the mast-head to a great altitude , and continued in that imposing state till the masts were burnt through , and fell overboard . The destructive element increased , and continued raging until four o ' clock , when the ship suddenly gave a heavy lurch , and then disappeared headforemost . After a lengthened pause , no vessel of any description being discerned , Captain M'Lean determined to make for the Mauritins , with an understanding from tbe chief mate that the boats were to keep together as

      close as possible . On the morning of the 5 ; h , however , ' Captaiu M'Lean was astonished to see the cutter keep away and before dark it was completely out of sight . How to account for such a proceeding he was perfectly at a loss , but as they had calm weather , , with six oars in the boat , he did not follow their course , which was evidently for Bourbon . After enduring the most severe privations , Captain M'Lean and his party of men were on the seventh day picked up by the brig Solway , which landed them subsequently at the Cape of Gsod Hope . It was sadly feared that the remainder in the cutter had met with a watery grave ; but we aro happy to state , from letters received from the Mauritius , dated February 12 , they had all arrived safe there . The Palestine was partly insured .

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      London Corn Exchange , Monday , Mat 6 . — Fresh up , we received a fair supply of JsngiiBli Wheat from Essex a ; =. d Kent . The finest parcels sold readily at prices quite equal to those obtained on Monday last . The middling and inferior kinds at late rales . For fine foreign Wheat last week's prices were supported in every instance . In Grain under lock the rates are nominal . Barley at prices quite equal to those obtained last week . The best potato qualities of Oats were held at 6 d . per quarter more money , the value of other kinds being firmly maintained . Beans and Peas had an upward tendency * Flour produced very full prices .

      London Smithfield Cattle Market . —Mondat Mat 6 . —Prime Scots , homebreds , runts , &o ., at an advance in the currencies obtained on Monday last of 2 i per 8 lbs—the highest figure being 4 j per 81 bs , while the value of all other breeds was supported without difficulty . The Mutton trade was somewhat steady , at last week ' s prices , the best old Downs selling at 3 i 8 i per 8 ! bs . The Lamb trade was very steady , at prices fully equal to those obtained on this day se ' nnight , viz ., from Si to 6 s 4 s per 8 lbs . Calves at full quotations . The value of Pigs was supported without difficulty . Bobough Ho ? Makket . —Thtf accounts from the plantations are by no means favourable to the young bine , yet tbe trade here for all kinds of Hops is in a sluggish state , at last week's prices .

      Tallow . —The market continues in that earn * dull state as it has been for some time past , with little variation in prices , there being no speculative business doing , and the trade buying sparingly . The Hamburgh mail arrived this morning , but the letters were not delivered sufficiently early for our report . Borough and Spitalfields . —The arrivals of Potatoes having exceeded the demand since our last ; holders have in some instances been compelled to submit to lower rates to effect sales , while most of the inferior qualities have been housed . From Belgium , Holland , and Ireland , nearly 700 tons have been received , and held at from 40 d to 45 s per ton * their quality being very inferior .

      Wool Market . —During the past weeE the imports of Foreign and Colonial Wool have not exceeded 800 packages . By private contract very little business is doing , yet prices may be considered about stationary . Richmond Corn Market , Mat 4 . —We had a tolerable supply of Grain in our market to-day . Wheat sold from 7 d Od to 8 * 3 d ; Oats , 2 s 9 d to 3 * 8 dj Barley , to 4 a 3 d ; Beans 4 s 9 d to 53 per bushel . Ma *? cbester Corn Market , Satukdat , May 4 . —A better feeling has been apparent in the trade throughput the week , and the supplies of Flour having at the same time continued extremely scanty , consumption has been directed towards tne

      granaried stocks , which are in consequence becoming reduced to a moderate compass , and for such parcels as have been preserved in good condition a lair demand has been experienced , at fully the previous currency . Both oats and oatmeal have likewise met an improved inquiry at full prices . At our market this morning all descriptions of Wheat met a steady sale at fully the quotations of thia day se'nnight . A more active business was likewise transacted in Flour , and for good middling and choice superfine qualities rather higher rates were obtainable . Oata . continuing scarce , must be notod Id . per 451 ba . dearer ; and oatmeal , being in fair request for consumption , realised a slight advaace on the late

      currenoy . Liverpool Cattkl Market , Mokdat , Mat 6 . —• There wasa good supply of cf 4 tlo » at _ market to-day being rather larges than last r veek , with prices about the same . Beef 5 £ d to 6 d ; Pdntton 6 ^ d to 7 d per lb . Cattle Imported into Liverr . ool , from the 29 th April to the 6 th May . Cows 720 , Sheep 1390 , Lambs 473 , Pigs' 5420 , Horses 22 . Liverpool Corn Maf . ket , Monday , May 6 . — The arrivals of Grain , F lour , and Oatmeal , to this port from any quarter-during the past week , have been very light . We- cannot yet report any thing like-activity in tha trade ; but a few parcels of Wheat have beea takes for the interior and for Ireland , and with > moderate sale to the town ' s and

      neighbouring mil ' iew and dealers , prices for that article have bee / i fully sustained , flour has told more- readily , and on rather ' better ternu . Tha smallheBsof the supply of Oats has put up their value fully Id per bushel ; 2 i 9 Ad per 451 bs has been paid for mealing qnalities . We have alsor to quote Oatmeal 6 d f , load dearer , the best shelling at 21 § 6 d per 240 lb ? ,. Barley has met little inquiry . Beans , upott aiiuleinoreaBe of demand , are the turn dealer . No change as regards Peas . About 4000 quarters of Egyptian Beans have changed hands at 17 s 6 d ,, and , and a parcel or two , just arrived , at 28 j P ?* J J >}™' I in bond . From 2000 to 3000 brla . United btates Flour are also reported to have been sold m bond at 21 s por barrel .

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      Publications Received , and whioh will be noticed at our earliest convenience : — The Illuminated Magazine "} " 4 Letter to Sir R . Peel "; ' * Trial of Thomas Paterson "; " Law Breaking Justified '; " Why am I an Infidel ' ? " Tracts for the Times "; 41 Misrepresentations of the Anti-Corn Law League " &c . &o .

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      THE NEW AGK , AND CONCORD 1 UM GAZETTE . —May . From the usual monthly report of tha progress of ths Concordists , we learn that—A ne-w Society haB been formed , "which ia Darned " The Universal Concordian Society , " whose central effice is at tbe Concordinm . Its declared object is to assist the mtmbeTB of it in a three-fold submission to the Universe Triune Law in all its required conditions ; and to aid in effecting this object , tbe Society is regulated by principles in strict accordance with the oaid law .

      Tbe parties commencing the Society make the follow * ing tffirmation , which will be required to be agreed to and signed by each member on joiniDg it , and admitted as a principle , until a higher development takes place , and % different declaration is agreed to by the inmost or first circle of the Society : ^ - tk That one spirit ii eternally manifesttd throughout the universe in a three-fold order of love , light , and life—or goodness , wisdom , power—or benevolence , Intelligence , energy ; and that this spirit is iod welling in every existence , and acts in accordance with its particular nature or organised form and the conditiors presented to it , which spirit creates and sustains all things throughout the universe . " A number of regulations and rules for the guidance and extension of the new Society are given , for which we must refer our readers to the New Age . The report states

      that—We have again commenced to receive candidates , and shall be happy to ester into communication with any who are desirous of joining us ; and the officers of the Universal Concordian Society will also be happy to give any assistance or advice to persons wishing to form Concord i urns in other parts of the country , or npon any other progressive measures . We have had numerous visitors daring the past month , some of whom have taken their abode with us , for the purpose of ascertaining more clearly how far they approve of the mode of life we are adopting . Among ethers vee are happy to say we have had a visit from Mr . I . A . Ziz ^ er , tbeanthor of "Paradise within the reach of all Mtn , " and the " Mechanical System , " and that be , with Mrs . E' ^ j ' tr , is now residing with ub .

      Mr . and Mrs . Stollmeyer and family aleo are resident with ns , having reBolved on trying the experiment of a Concordian life for some time . Mr . E'z ' er has &t length a prospect of briDgiDg his discoveries fairly before the people of the Eastern hemisphere , as he has two engines for cultivating the land now preparing of npwards of twenty-five herse-power each , one of whicl * is intended for Citeaux , whither Mr . E . proposes geing to superintend its first operations . We hail with pleasure this step in progress , beiDg well assured that each movemen t that tends to abridge the necessity for subjugating . tbe inferior animals o * the creation by man , will aid him in conditionating for the spirit ' s development in love , which is now all that is rt quired .

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      ATROCIOUS CRUELTY IN NEWGATE . There ia nothing in the whole annals of Newgate barbarity—no act of atrocity of the Press-yard of bygone days—more barbarous , more atrocious , more caprickmsly wicked in Us recklessness of tinman suffering , than the " painful duty performed by Mr . Sheriff Mnsgrove" yesterday week in Newgate prison , under the especial direction of tbe Home Minister . Our readers know tbe case of Mary Furley ; the public

      heart had sympathised with tbe terrible sorrows ef that agonised woman ; public feeling had revolted alike at the verdict of the jury that cast her guilty of murder , as at the sentence of Mr . Judge , Maule—that " Erostatua of tbe Temple "—who held out no hope of mercy to the offender . Nevertheless ,: no man for a moment believed that the sentence would be carried into effect . The address of tbe Judge was considered as on > y another of the ghastly mockeries acted by the judicial mummer in erraiue , in tbe name of the lawa needless agonising ceremony , bat no more .

      However , yesterday week , Mr . Sheriff Musgroveto the astonishment and indignation of all men—was ordered to appoint tbe day of death . "He appointed Monday , the Oth of May , at eight o'clock , ah . He afterwards visited tbe unhappy woman , in company with the Rev . John Davis , Ordinary , and Mr . Cope , the Governor . The prisoner received the announcement in the greatest agony of mind , arid in a few minutes became almost insensible from grief . " What , in four-and-twenty hours , follows ?—" On Saturday afternoon , about four o ' clock , the Sheriffs received a communication from the Secretary of State for the Home Department , stating that her Majesty had been pleased to respite the sentence of death passed at the lam assizes of tbe Central Criminal Court on Mary Furley during her Majesty ' s Rcyal pleasure . "

      In the name of outraged humanity , in the name of a most miserable woman , scourged to agony and madness by the cruelty of unmerited ill-fortune—we ask Sir James Graham wherefore this atrocity was comruitted ? Is human life held so cheap at the Home-Office that a culprit is ordered for execution iefore a full consideration of all the circumstances bearing on tbe case ? Is it only after the criminal is thrown into the " greatest agony of mind , " and " because several humane gentlemen interest themselves in her bebalf . " that tbe Home Minister ponders seriously on the subject ? If there be aught solemn in the human heart—aught sacred in its woes and sufferings—the public have a right to demand of Sir James Graham what were the circumstances which induced hi m to order Mary Furley to prepare for death , and then , in less than four-andtwenty hours , respited her drying pleasure ? Had not

      her case been sufficiently considered ? Waa the Home Minister ignorant of all the complicated woes , the maddening miseries that b ad urged the frantic woman to escape with her child from the crashing calamities around her ? Did he not know the , wretchedness , more complete in its horror than any laboured tale of action , that step by step had scourged the woman from the workhouse to ; r ' ne river's brisk T Was it needful that she sbonld be . still further schooled in misery by the mock visit oC the sheriff—was sot her heart bruised enough , poor 8 f , ult that it should again be smitten , under the Pharisaic plea of a- great moral warning f Yesterday thr . woman is worthy of death as a mmrderess —to-day he .- sentence ia respited , and " it is expected that ahe . - will andergo a verj ahtrt iffiprUonmint !" What A "difference is here between th « gallowa and the Penlter / tlary I And again we ask , wherefore ?

      V ? Vi Sir James Graham so much occupied by Mb own reputatien—menaced aa it waa by the Member for Knareaborongh—was he ao busily employed cleans-Ir . g the fly-spots from his own white name , cast upon it by a Ferrand—that he was not sufficiently acquainted with the case of Mars Farley * and therefore the needless torture of the Sheriff ' s visit was inflicted ? Any way , public feeling demands on explanation ; and we trust that , ere this Bbull appear , some Member in the Commons will have put Mr James Graham to I his answer . At present , a heart-broken woman seems

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      THE CORDWAINER'S COMPANION . Nos . 3 and 4 . London : Strange , Paternoster Row . We are sorry to see from an Editorial notiee in the third number , that this ably conducted and truly tfficient advocate of labour's rightB has not met with that Enpport which would , under present circumstances , warrant its weekly publication : hence the last two numbers have appeared in the character of a monthly periodical . But we will let our friend CsiiPiN speak for himself : — In our notice to tbe second number it was stated that , from the expectations we had been led to form , in constqnence of the support which had already been awarded us . we should try again , and print a Third

      Number , and that we hoped we should then be able to aay whether we were to proceed further and regularly , £ B was onr wush ; and now onr answer must be a sort of divided one—or , as it otherwise may be named—conditional . It ia this , that we will continue our attempt , bnt at Ibbs risk of & heavy positive Iobs . Onr support has not been at all equal to our outlay ; tboogb " , at the esme time , it has been sufficiently encouraging to make us look foiwatd to a better reward . We feel that our or some , other Journal ia much needed ; but we find likewise that the endeavour ia altogether bo novel—bo difficult to puah into notice—as well as to create a taste for , that we aie now quite confident that success ia onl j to be attained by allowing loneer internda of time , from number to

      numher , than was at first contemplated . In sewing o « pelimisary abeet torach quarters aa we thought neoeaaary , aa a means to make It known , and in request of soppoit , the returns have not been equal , either in amount or quickness , to the wants and rapidity of onr dreumstanceaand wiahea . It waa our desire to know ¦ what to do at once—to know what we had to rely on —and what quantity it wonld be pruftent to print ; for , in speculative printing , probably , more than in anything beside , the greatest prudence is required . To die io any way , \ shtn cte is in fall searck of life , is br . d enough ; but to die ¦ with a beavy burthen on the Bbouldera is truly eaith-cruthrug ! Thtre is scarcely time , undtr such ciicuuiJtsnccB , to look about fo choice for even ft grave J

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      CHINESE OLIO , AND TEA TALK . What next ? This is a weekly publication started by Capt . Pidding , of Howqua ' s mixture notoriety , which is to instruct us in all things relating to the " Celestial Empire , " from the creation of tho world down to the present moment ! The following is a nut for the " cheap sugar" men to crack : — China in its commercial and industrial aspect cmnot be an object of indifference with the swarming hive of mercantile and manufacturing enterprise in this country or elsewhere , in the old world and the new . For , directly and indirectly , she is in communication , more or less active , with almost all known States of the civilised world ; and if Grfiat Britain so far absorb the lion ' s share in the interchange of values and commodities

      with her , so much the more strenuous and vigilant tbs exertions , so much the more liberal the policy , by which we should labour to maintain the superiority already achieved . And this becomes of more imperative necessity , seeing that never was that supremacy more seriously threatened with encroachment than at tbe present time , when foreign rivals are crowding to the scene of action from every clime , with an open field prepared for them by wars and victories of which we have borne all the brunt and the charge , and by treaties , in which we have magnanimously stipulated no advantages for ourselves beyond what we have rendered common to all comers . There are our competitors in all our industrial arts and enterprise hasteniug with all speed , or on the oiouud of the new El Dorado

      already , from France , from Germany , from Austria , from Russia , from the Unitud States , iio ., with argosies richly freighted , to dispute with us tbe quasi monopoly of a trade so ancient of date . May we reasonably look for success in a contest so arduous and so unequal ; El ay we hope to prosper in progress ; ought we not rather to despair even ef supporting our actual position , whilst with the iron hand of fiscal rigours we oppress and repulse the import and consumption of those Chinese products on whose consumption alone must depend the proportionate demand for British products and manufactures , whether for increase or decline . Whilst China opens her ports to this and to all nations at a liberal average rate of five per ceqtage duties , our custom-houses are unlooked only for the

      entrance of Chinese products on payment of duties ranging from scores to hundreds per cent . Yet , surely the great outlet of China should be of far moro worth than the stinted tax laden marts of Java or Manilla , or than Brazil and Cuba to boot . D . iy by day , however , we see the table of tbe Commons' House loaded with petitions for the remission of duties on foreign sugar and coffee ; day by day legislators gravely debating on the vital importance of lowering tbe tuxes which would cheapen foreign sugar by only one fartbing , and coffee by one penny or twopence per pound , whilst not one solitary T » iu in raised , scarcely one petition heard of , protesting against tb © enuiwcms burdens which press upon the teas of China , and demanding such a moderate reduction only as would save the consumer from sixpence to one shilling per pound .

      A word to Captain Pidding . Help us to get the Charter , and we'll soon settle the tea duty , — Boston fashion ! Till then—till the public cormorants are driven from the high places , Captain Pidding may as well " whistle jigs to milestones " as attempt to free the poor man ' d beverage from the plunder of the tax-eaters .

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      THE CHARTIST PILOT . Thia is an attempt to carry out the advice given above , and seeing that the present week ' s No . is the 25 th . ; the attempt bids fair to be successful . The Pilot is published weekly at Leicester , and as its tide betokens , advocates ultra-democracy . Its conductors appear to be no way mealy-mouthed in calling things by their right names . We perceive it can bo had of the newsagents at Manchester and Nottingham .

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      IMPORTANT . —TO TH . G LADIES . The great success whioh the tSfcrong Wind" has met with in the lottery of wedlock ' * has induced his companions in . arms and paint—the Ojibbeway Indians—to advertise for English wivt ^; and as Ihe said Indians are very shortly about to leave the country , eariy applications on the part of thaJadieaaredeairable . The Indians have already at least one wife ; but they promise , even as " Strong Wind" promised , to remain constant to their new helpmates ; s promise which , upon their return tp the back woods they will doubtless most honourably perform . We subjoin the advertisements : — !

      HO . I . f Ah-que-we-zintts—the Boy Chief . The advertiser is in his seventy-fifth year , and shall be happy to form a matrimonial engagement with any English lady of known property . The Boy Chief , in his admiration of the martial character of England , will have no objection to the widow of a general , if under forty . Her property must not be secured upon herself . Siie must know ] how to cure flash , to hoe , and rake , and reap . Sho must also be ablo to skin rabbits , and clean pipes . Principals only treated with . Apply from 10 to 12 . \ " N . B . —The squaw must have been vaccinated . "

      NO . II . ; " Pa-tan-na Q . UET-A-WER BE-M . he Driving Cloud . The advertizor is the War Chief , aged fifty-one , of a remarkably placable and humorous disposition . He has no objection to treat i with a young English lady ; and will , on a marriage settlement , secure to her his scalps . The young lady must have been tenderly and affectionately brought up , aa eb . 9 will have to carry the wigwam poles of the Driving Cload upon all journeys . She must bring ] a sufficient income to keep her husband ia , tobacco , rum , and laziness . English securities preferred : no holder of Pennsylvanian bonds will be treated with . "

      MO . III . ; 11 We-nish-ka wea-be—Fly Gull and Hereditary Chief , is open to the offers of the ladies of England . Having inherited his dignity , not won it by any deeds or virtues of his own , ) advertisers aro confidently referred to the Ojibbeway Peerage , 4 to . The birth of the Flying Gull ; will not allow him to treat with anybody below a baronet ' s daughter . " Gisii-E-GOSH-E < s « ee—the Moonlight Night , and Sah-ha , Tobacco , in tho most unblushing manner , also forwarded their advertisements ; bnt as Punch discovered them to be both married men , with their wives here with them , he , with his known devotion to the proprieties , has , of course , xefused to insert any such invitations to the connubial state . —Punch .

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      to have been unnecessari ' 7 tortured . Unless Sir Jimea Graham can give a good reason for the visit of the Sheriff , and the quick re ^ irieve that followed it—tha sword and balance of Net ' ? 't 0 justice will become in the public eye no other than the knife and scales of a Shyloclc . , We shall again return to tl ) e case of Mary Farley . Poor , broken-hearted creature ! : God help her !—Punch .

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      DRESSMAKERS AND MILLINERS . The first annual meeting of the members and friends of the association fur the aid and benefit of dressmakers and milliners was held on Saturday at the Hanover-square Rooms . jThe President , Lord Ashley , M , P ., was in the chair ; and among the parties present our reporter recognised Lord Dudley Stuart , Lord Lovaitie , Hon . W . Ashley , Hon . W , Cowper , Hon . Captain Knox , Mr . G . Finchley , Mr . J . Labouchere , Lady Ashley , and several ladies of distinction , besides the principals of several extensive West End establishments . ¦ On assuming the rpesidential chair ,

      Lord Ashley briefly addressed the meeting , dwelling principally upon tho objects of the association . They were , he said—1 st , to induce the principals of dressmaking and millinery establishments to limit the . hours of work to 12 per diem , and to abolish working on Sundays ; 2 d , to promote an improved system of ventilation ; 3 d , to induce ladies to allow sufficient time for the execution of orders , and to encourage those establishments whioh co-operate in carrying out tho objects of the association , * 4 " . b , to register at the office , free of cost , the names and addresses of young persons of good character and capacity , and to meet the inquiries of employers seeking additional assistance to deserving young persons in cases of

      temporary distress or difficulty ; 6 th , to afford to such young persons as require it medical advice , change of air , and other assistance , in oases of sickness ; and , lastly , to form a provident fund in connexion with the association . In their endeavours to carry out this laudable design , the Committee had already received great assistance from some of the most influential ladies in the land , and also from the heads of many of the most extensivo metropolitan establishments . There could be no doubt that to a great extent they had in their own hands the remedy for the evils whioh existed , and he concluded by declaring , that by onorgy and combination that remedy might be speedily applied . I

      Tho Hon . Secretary then read the report . It appeared , that mnco the formation of the Association last year £ 575 had been received in donations and subscriptions , of which sum £ 3 * 0 had been invosted , and £ 100 remained in tho Treasurer ' s hands . Some cases were reported in which ; the Association had been able to secure etnpioTujuut for youpx persons labouring under great difficulties ; but it did not appear , upon the whole , that ! any very important general results bad been yet effected . The medical relief afforded cost nine guineas , and the pecuniary

      relief two guineas . Tho provident fund branch appeared to have been most useful , a sum of £ 50 having been invested , and not a single account withdrawn . The committee recommended , ' among other things , that , for the better protection of apprentices and improvers , an indenture or agreement should be entered into in every case ; arid , in order that this might be done where possible , they had caused a document of the sort to be prepared under legal advice , copies of which might be procured at the office free of cost . ; The report having been adopted ,

      Lord Dudley Stuart moved ! 'the formal adoption of the rules and regulations of the association . He dwelc upon the tendency of this association to diminish that gulf which absolutely yawned between those who made dresses and those who wore them . The former would feel that they were cared for ; the latter would see how usefully they could exert their influence on behalf of their own eox . It was dreadful to nfleet that those jwho ministered most to female luxury vme , from want of consideration , most exposed to female misery . He trusted tbe operations of this association would open the eyes of the ladies of the land , and induce them to use their power for the benefit of the poor milliner .

      Mr . G . Redinayne ( of Bond-street ) seconded the resolution , and spoke from practical knowledge of tho evils of the long-hoar system both to employer and worker . A girl with whom he was acquainted had given him an account of a fortnight ' s experience in a house at the west end , which the members of the association probably would not recognise , for it was known in the trade as a " quiet house . " She had gone into the work-room of that house under the agreement that she was only to work twelve hours a-day , except in extreme cases . For the first week she only worked twelve hours ; on the Thursday in the second week she was roused at half-part four in the morning and worked till ten at night ; on the Friday she was roused at four and worked till

      the sam 6 hour ; on the Saturday she was roused at half-past three , and worked till two o ' clock on the Sunday morning following . ( Hear , hear . ) On the next Tuesday she was obliged to leave her work . ( Hear , bear . ) Now that occurred not many weeks back in a " quiet house , " the owners of which were respectable and well known to himself . When the poor girl left that house , her legs were bo much swollen from standing at her [ work that she could not walk . That waa the result of her fortnight's experience . ( Hear , hear . ) The system was as absurd as it was cruel . It was absurd in the first place , as regarded the ladies themselves . Could they expeot to have their dresses properly made by poor girls standing to their work ! with half closed eyes and stiffened fingers ? What economy did they think there was in purchasing dresses out out and put together in this hasty manner ! ( Hear , hear . )

      The system was absurd , too , as regarded the employer . He had seen that morning the husband of a first-rate milliner , who formerly worked almost night and dav—a house in which he ;( Mr . Red may ue ) was assured that there w&s , on one pressing occasion , work for twelve days and nights without iatermission . That house only worked now from eight in the morning tilt ten at night , and the manager assured him , that his experience of the two systems satisfactorily proved that , besides the saving in gas and candles , the same number of dresses could be made by fourteen bands doing ] twelve hours' work a day which formerly occupied twenty-four hands working the long hours . ( Loud cheers . ) He earnestly prayed for the success of this association in the laudable objects it was endeavouring to effeot , and he expressed his belief that in time the evils of this vicious system would become so well understood that it would be universally condemned .

      The resolution was carried , and Lord Ashley having been re-appointed president on the motion of the Hon . W . F . Cowper , the other routine business was gone through , and the meeting broke up .

      Market Intelligence.

      MARKET INTELLIGENCE .

      Untitled Article

      May 11 , 1844 , THE NOBTHigRN STAR . I 3

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), May 11, 1844, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1263/page/3/