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Northern Star (1837-1852), 28th February 1846, Edition 1 of 4, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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  • Departments (3)
    • ^orrtp ' afflafaf* -
    • Cfcartfet Jntelltgeme*
    • of To¥HE*fji£lfiiit?Gi&RTISTS.
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      Untitled Article

      Mr Ba » rri > , Famqi ^ If i life consafeH j fflJd ^ eKetaaMe ' eaa eatit $ meto ^ tlie respoct of a ptieofandH consiflteate hearing ,-IfW > V «* peal « fora pafiCT ^ aad ' eonsldetsAKHii - When the battle tf J ^ t a £ ajpt > mightrageJ ' hottiErt , . ! tos inMta ^ rembst xani ^ wien ^ yer ^ ed foi ' iteTictu ^ I . cteo&Hy , bat ^ inot' o ^ y . my own , Siarei biit that

      whkhihe foHy / ttte indiscretion , and ; treachery ; of Jtltereinipweaqponine ' : ¦ When ' the fe « r was Over , aiit ti&Siffibii . relipsjd ' iiitd qt&ax ^ Istood al- most alone in the cahn ; 1 rejoiced juw'if were jps political apathy , that ap ^ ji ^ . can ^^ by' ^ q ^ a-, panlive improvement in your : social condition ., - ' My gi ^ aim and object , Ihro ' ugh life , has been to break domi the cwtchet barriets that ° sectionatised the la . boor , class , andto amalgamate tHo , national mind inonein «^ tibk ; orenTndnung&odo ' ftnooght . ' .

      I earlyforesawthatthecentraiisationof the wealthy could only be resisted by the centralisation of the poor ; and to prove that my missioa has not been abortive , and my undertaking fruitless , I must again ask yon to take a retrospective glance at the position of your order previously to the establishment , of the Korean Star , and to contrast it with your preseni position . First , ' see our progress from . lS $ to 1842 . In 184 » , it : oost ns £ 9 , 000 to get op twelve hiffidred thousand signatures on behalf of our principles " ; in 18 * 1 , our petition numbered 2 , 300 , 000 , arid

      wst ( Ds ; Dut £ S 7 ; in 1842 , bur petition numbered three millions and a half , and cost us not afiraefeon . In 1835 , we had not a working man who would venture to-do more than propose or second a resolution "U p id that period , ' there were fewi ' if any , public meetings consisting exclusively of , / the working Classes . When their sham le ^ eis-vrlsted to inake a display , they were obliged ( o . have recourse to the patronage , the countenance ,- and the pockets of those JLP . ' s who were most squeezable , and'who possessed the greatest amount of sham liberality .

      From that period to the present , I defy you to show me a single instance in which we were upon the eye of one victory or another , that our . triumpb . was not marred by the " treacfiery « f professing'ffienda . WE

      NEVER HAVE BEEN BEATEN BY OUR OPTOXENTS . Sow , behold the difference . Every town is fortified with legions of eloquent propounded of your own principles . Discussion is invoked , but denied . The press hears but to revile—reports but to damn . The Crown is opposed to you—the Lords are opposed to you—the Commons are opposed ' to you—the press is opposed to you—the army is opposed to you—the navy is opposed to yon—the police force is opposed to you—the Church is opposed to you—the landed aristocracy is opposed to yon—capi

      talists of all shades are opposed to yon—machinery is opposed to you—corporate power is opposed to you —the law is opposed to you—the judges are opposed toyou—the jury class is opposed to you—the bar is opposed to you , : > ud gives you but an equivocal , hired support—the middle classes are opposed to you—the officers of trades' societies are opposed to you—the aristocracy of labour is opposed to you—the comparatively comfortable of your own class are opposed to you—and not only are those several classes respectively opposed to you , but a union of them can only be effected when the object is your oppression .

      Jiow , bear with me when I ask you to give a moment ' s calm reflection to such an undeniable array offsets ; and when you hare reflected , then ask yourselves whether or no there must not have been some charm to have protected the Chartist body from such a combination of adverse elements ? It is because we have withstood the combination , of so many powers , when they were united upon common grounds , that I now ask yen—that I now implore of you—that I now beseech you to be prepared for that day , which is JUST AT HAND , when our combined strength can be effectively directed against the disorganised tacks of faction .

      In 1839 , and in 1842 , 1 traversed the country by sight and by day , to eaution you against the . snares and the traps that the manufacturers had laid for you . I told yon , everywhere , to fold your arms while factions fought their own battles , but you were deaf ; nevertheless I did not desert you , but again stood xny trial at Lancaster , and defended even your indis-• retion . Since then , a culpable apathy has invited every gnat to sting , every snarling cur to bite at me .

      I have stood all—I CAN STAND MORE ; and now the time has arrived when I may be called upon to stand the more powerful shock of powerful faction . But I am ready for that , whether you are prepared Or no . The measures of Sir Robert Peel wilWery Bpeedily force you into defensive action . They are but the means to an end , and the end will be in stritt accordance to the means you use : it will be your talvation or your undoing .

      When Peel ' s policy was submitted to the country , I was charmed with it ; but , nevertheless , from the subordinate position that I hold in the movement , I did not feel myself justified in submitting it to the country with a stamp of my own conviction and approval alone . I felt it to be my duty to take the opinion of our recognised leader , and for that purpose iteld many conferences with him . Without knowing my mind , he argued every question like a far-seeing

      statesman , like a wise politician , and real philanthropist . He resolved that the measure should be taken as a whole , eulogised as a whole , and not lessened in importance by a niggardly carping at those portions which may appear at first sight to threaten Injury to particular sections of the labour class ; trhile he would use his every endeavour , while in eomrai uee , so to amend those portions of the mea sure as would lessen the hardships on the respective branches whose interests they were supposed to

      Not only had I his acquiescence in the measure , but I had his mo 3 t unqualified approval , with the understanding that he would resist to the last any attempt to fritter away those portions which must ultimately , lead to the regulation of machinery , and file more equitable distribution of its produce . Mr . Duncombe ' s speech on Thursday night last , more than ever convinced me of his fitness as a leader , his power as a legislator , and his courage as a man , I leard that speech delivered , and it was gall and

      wormwood to those who hoped yet to throw out the five years' RETROSPECTIVE industrial residence . Mark , the difference between prospeetive and retro-^ ective is this : —Retrospective means , that every man who h asresided in the parish in which he has worked for the last five years , shall be entitled to a settlement : prospective means , that if a man comes now to reside , heshall live there five years to come before he is entitle ? , to a settlement . I have strong reason to believe anihope that an amendment will be moved and carried « br a THREE TEARS'

      RESIDENCE . Let me now ask you when there has been an instance in this country before , of one of the leaders of the people , outside , so cordially co-operating with a leader inside , and w devoted to him , personally and publiely , as to be ready to sacrifice Ms own life , cheerfully , in defence of iis leader ? Is not this an advantage that the working Masses never posseued before—and one to which they ratst mainly

      ascribe , their present proud position ? While others would vainly attempt to pull me down , there ia no sacrifice that I would think too great to elevate Mr . Buncombe in popular estimation . I now come toVhe burthen of my letter . I have told yon , times out tf number , that the repeal of the Corn Law 3 was not a thing of such easy accomplishment . I have ever told you , that the landlords and farmers at the plough would beat the farmers that whistle at

      Powning-street ,. and would risk a revolution rather than abandon their political privileges , and surrender S portion of their preperty ! Stanley ' s speech , upon Lord Beaumont ' s motioD , convinces me that the present tactics of that party are to turn every pulpit in the country into an aeitatjag stage , in favonr , not so much of protection to agriculture , as in behalf of rank Protestantism and b— -y Toryism . The object of his speech was to . putthe Church upon itsm . talby alarming it into

      "" TT v V" * " * * " * ^ " ** Improved of Peel s measures , in the assertion that they would not be so easily carried , lioldyou . when last in Lancashire , that the next step taken by Stanley and Richmond would be , not the mere formation of a Protectionist government , but the formation of a lijh Tory government . The several contests that bave since taken place , and especially in South Nottinghamshire , prove to me that something more thaa the mere pledge of protection will be required at the next general election from Tory candidates .

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      was a mere fallacy , a piece on » part of the League to attempt to convince the people that a large number of the rural constituencies were with them . I tell them that they will lose even the West Riding of Yorkshire in the next struggle , and that that : struggle is now at hand , and that my object is to prepare you for it . Well , then , when it comes , we must look well to what we do , and while we seek to destroy one faction , we must take care that we do not elevate a more cruel , irresistible , and dangerous one upon its rains . We must not fight under the banners of free trade , we must fight under the Chartist banners , remaining wholly and entirely distinct from the . mere ' cheap bread faction ; we must rally under Duncombe as our leader , and in all things obey his righteous commands . .. __

      Now , should the Lords throw out the measure , the League , with millions at its back , will endeavour to hurry the country into a senseless revolution . WE WILL NOT HAVE IT THIS TIME , and , therefore ,, what I propose on my . own responsibility is this ; that fifty delegates shall be elected by the fifty towns or districts , to which the Executive shall issue their writs next week , and that they shall hold themselves in readiness at an hour ' s notice to itart for , London , there to sit as a Chartist Convention , governing the movement , ' taking advantageof all circumstances ihatmay-conduce . toour triumph , and obeying the commands of their constituents . ' Over this

      Convention I make no doubt that Mr . Duncombe would cheerfully accept the office of chairman , which would give the country unmixed pleasure , and compel the corrupt pressto convey Chartiststrength to all cornerB of the globe . The expense of this delegation not to be borne by the towns from which delegates are sent only , but by the country at large ; while , again , I undertake that no delegate shall want his six shillings on each night , as I ' could not lay the crime to my conscience of having a second coat , while I saw that power was jeopardised for want of timely representations . I invite you to think well upon this project , and to bear in mind , that if we are out of the

      struggle , or forced . into it thoughtlessly , that we shall be absent upon the day when the spoils of triumph are divided . Let us have an answer from every town in England upon this policy as speedily as possible , so that writs may be issued to the several towns without delay , and that we may not be taken by surprise . la conclusion , I tell you again that I would rather-live under a military despotism than under a united government of League and Whigs , and if you want further proof than that furnished seven days in the week , read the two beastly letten

      of Thomas Babington Macauley , one of the Whig Cabinet , and them ask yourselves what you have to expect from such a tribe . If you are not ready NOW , and if , for want of your preparedness , the League cajoles the country , then blame yourselves , and not me . I am prepared to face the dungeon , the dock , or the scaffold on behalf of Labour , but I am not prepared to advocate Labours cause after Labour shall have handed itself over , bound neck and heels , to its greatest , its bitterest , its most cruel , griping , ana unrelenting foe .

      I told you when in York Castle that the test of patriotism was to live honestly and die a pauper . Whether I have lived honestly you can tell , and that I shall die a pauper no rational mau can entertain a doubt . However , 1 can , thank God , yet subscribe myself Your uncompromising , unpurchaseable , and faithful friend and servant , Feargbs O'Cosxor .

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      ¦— ? TO THOMAS BABINGTON MACAULEY , WHIG NOMINEE FOR EDINBURGH . Sib , —If any communication that I have , to make to you was to be confined to mere letter-writing , I should abstain from the task for two reasons . Firstly , as regards yourself , your mind is not in a fit state to receive knowledge ; and , secondly , all who may have read your very foolish letters are not very likely to receive my answer . I therefore write this letter more for the defence of my own party , than from any hope

      of making any impression upon you . My answer to you , sir , is this : I will meet you on the hustings at Edinburgh when the next opportunity presents itself , and I will there arraign you of folly , falsehood , ignorance , and incompeteney . I have no hope , sir , that my triumph will go beyond the mere exhibition of blistered hands , while , be lie result what it may in the polling-booths , I hereby pledge myself most solemnly to fight the battle to its close , by polling as long as the law allows .

      Allow me to remind you that a previous colleague of yours , now anexptctant pensioner , once boasted at Edinburgh that he had killed Chartism . No doubt you believed his assertion , but it shall be my task to show you such a resurrection , as will convince you of his error . I shall now select a few passages from your letters for very brief comment . Upon the subject of Universal Suffrage , you write thus : — My reasons for objecting to Universal Suffrage are vert different . I believe that the non-electois are as deeply interested as I am in the security of property and the maintenance of order ; but I believe that a very large portion of them do not understand their own interest , aud might easily be induced , by the pressure of immediate distress , to act in opposition to their own interest .

      Now , sir , allow me U > ask what emergency could have induced you to write so senseless , so foolish , so ignorant , so contradictory a passage ? You admit that the BODY of the non-electors have an equal interest with yourself in the preservation of order , but that a PORTION of them may be influenced " by the pressure of immediate distress to act in opposition to their own interest . " So then , sir , you rely upon the " pressijreof immediate distress" upon a portion of the non-electors as a reason for withholding the franchise from the body ? Why , most foolish man , that is the very uucontroverted and incontrovertible principle upon which we demand the enfranchisement of the BODY , in order that no PORTION may be INDUCED TO ACT UNDER THE

      PRESSURE OF IMMEDIATE DISTRESS . Now , I am aware thatarguing with you , until I have an Edinburgh jury , is "throwing pearls before Bwine , " nevertheless , I must proceed with ray extracts and comments . You go on , and in speaking of the objects avowed in tin national petition , you say , — They avowed that their objects were national bankruptcy , confiscation of the soil , of canals , of railroads , of machinery—In short , the destruction of all property .

      Now , sir , you are aware that that was a gross , a gratuitous , a wilful and palpable falsehood . They avowed neither one or other of those objects . They avowed that if you were an Indian pensioner , receiving a large salary for insulting the natives , that you should be paid out of taxes , imposed upon tho&e who required your service . The petitioners required aot national bankruptcy , but that the parties who o * ed the debt should pay it ; Sir Robert Peel has suus carried a large per centage of this policy into

      practical operation by diminishing the interest upon funded property , and imposing a property-tax to pay another portion of the interest , and you supported him . The petitioners did not require the " confiscation of either land , railroads , canals , or machinery ;" what they required , and justly , was , that they should be made amenable to national , and not to class purpeses ; and that is what they and 1 still maintain . So much far the politicalportions of your letter ; and now for a word upon the constitutional principles You sav , —

      I hold iefmitt war to be lawful and necmary . I conceue that the state has a right to call ou every citizen to bear a part in protecting his native soil against assailants . Why , sir , the petitioners hold precisely the same views , but they also hold that they must possess the soil , or some more right in it than you have left in your Poor Law Amendment Act , before they can enter into a DEFENSIVE WAR fer its protection . I need not remind you of the lexcellent advice of Mrs . Glasse— "FIRST CATCH YOUR HARE , AND THEN COOK IT '

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      and I assure you that when the petitioners C ATCtt THE LAND they will protect it against Wh £ plunderers or foreign invaders , whether they appew as a nsval squadron in the Forth , or ac glib philoso ? phers , Malthmians , or sophiste on . the hustingsf You proceed thus , and Iicannot forWreprintiofi your opinions on the voluntary principle at length > M Now if pou may lawfully Wrfr ^^ , ^ j ^ j kivd 0 / / ore * which Uas been and rnty be emfed-il offensive war , surely you may , . w . ttout i toiM ?^^ Kimce , contribute to the support of V force *«» § its uature , strictly defensive , aalwhich is not likrij erfii to shed a dron of blnnd nnio . o •!»* " ;;„ «* i ; : ^ * " # _ i 1 unugviui 3 T . lL . 1 h . 1 .. ^ ai ' ' . _ .: i' - ' * - i . f Si

      * —• "v »» - me moil icariiu kind should come near to our ^ feheirths . I panmac e myself that your « e « iontfir ! BJ ^ 8 of arms does not go to such height that you ' woMdnofd youmlf mor all * bound to i « e Edinburgh ^ sacked , bj inTaaeietSiftioni unking a blow for your home and family ; Now , tA * mihtia is meant to be peculiarly ' a swurity . against fmi den . It it not an instrument of aggression : K > Tou « wife therefore admit it to be , as compared with the > egnlifc army , an innoceit institution . "• : If , then y 6 u refuse ti > pay anything towards the militia , while jett' WB ' paying , the soldiers and sailers who have just been , fighting ) at Bueaos Ayr eg , I mur tiay that you strain at a . ' gnattiuid swallow a camel . ... ; ; . ^ . ! : Hi ^ v . ^ fi ^ j What then , sir , you see "' no distinction , betw « n voluntary contribution for thei maintenance of w 3 uy and a compukory tax ., levied at the point ., ( $ ||! e bayonet ? You argue as if . the people not only ' ;«| ljL tarily , but cheerfully paid those taxes by wliioh g ^ j are carried on . You don't seem to unaerstandTtiie |

      difference between the voluntary and compulsory principle . Really , sir , your illustration is most laughable ; it is you who appear to swallow the camel and strain at the gnat ; and verily , if hitherto you have preserved a character for eloquence in modern Athens , I think you have now entitled yourself to the distinction of P . N . L ., Professor of New Logic . I now dismiss the constitutional portion of your letters , and ihall qffera comment or two uponyeur notions of justice . Your lamentations over the great destruction committed at Newport are very characteristic , coming from a " turbulent and designing "

      Malthusian Whig , whose party have committed more destruction upon the rights of the working classe * than all other parties put together , who created turbulence through famine , and nearly a national Bankruptcy through jobbing and peculation . The magistrate who was wounded in the discharge of his duty was a petty-fogging lawyer , one Thomas Phillips , now Sir Thomas . " An if it please ye , " he wai not wounded in the discharge of his duty , he wounded himself with a broken pane of glass in the attempt to put up a shutter to screen himself from his townsmen , to whom he had rendered himself odious ; and report says , and I believe it , that the room smelled

      very unsavoury while engaged IN THE DISCHARGE OF HIS DUTY—this was the only discharge th » t 1 have heard of . You say , " what has been their punishment ? Transportation for about five years ? " Now , that was not their punishmenttheir punishment was sentence of death commuted to transportation for life . Five years' transportation ig the limit we-wish to put . to the punishment ; and really , sir , for a professor of new logic , a barrister , a member of Parliament , ex-king , ex-cabinet minister , and to be ex-M . P . for Edinburgh , the people havo a right to expect better reasoning . You close your brutal epistle thus : — "I cannot hold out any hope that I shall vote for an address in favour of these

      GREAT CRIMINALS . " Now , sir , I tell you here , as I shall tell you to your tteth in Edinburgh , that you are a GREATER CRIMINAL . Your master , Lord John Russell , and your party , led to the commission of that crime , and perpetrated more crimes against the nation , than in the longest life they could obliterate . You robbed the poor , and fattened upon the plunder , lou Mi erced Ireland—you transported the mest enthusiastic of your friends , and hung the most serviceable of your allies . You entered into league and covenant with the Political Union of Birmingham , and then you attempted to frame an act for the annihilation of all unions . You stretched the law in favour of tyranny , and withheld its protection from those

      whom you induced to violate its provisions . Your many crimes and delinquencies , however , shall receive the fitting chastisement when the fitting time arrives . The public has long marked you as & heartless pensioner , and I will brand you as a consistent j uggler . You boast of eloquence , but you are a mere bladder-full « f wordy nothings . You are a glib philosopher , a stern Malthusian . You hate mankind , because you look more like a stall-fed , shared ape , than like a human creature . You are everything that's bad , nothing that ' s good . You are an awkward pedant , an ugly fop , a GREAT CRIMINAL . Pray be consistent , and don't insult our friends by voting for their release . I am , your enemy , Feargus O'Coxxor .

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      The catch of sprats on the North Lincolnshire coast lias been so prodigious , that they have been removed by waggon loads and sold to farmers as manure . Accident . —Sheebness , Fbh . 24 . —We are sorry to have to record an accident of an alarming character , which occurred on Monday afternoon to Mr . Woodger , master of the Electra , corvette , fitting out at Sheerness , and which had also well nigh proved destructive to several others of the party engaged in the particular duty at the time . It appears that Mr , Woodger was superintending a party of seamen and marines in stocking the anchor ; and whilo doing so , by some means or other ( we have heard that unfortunately there was no shank-painter . attached ) the flukes slipped from thu forecastle , dragging Mr .

      Woodger by the legs against the gunwhale , and so overboard into the basin . While in the act of sinking , the first lieutenant , Mr . A . D . Gordon , rushed on the forecastle and leaped into the water in an instant , and supported the unfortunate gentleman till the arrival of one of the caulker ' s boats , which was fortunately moored by the stern of the Eleetra . Having got both gentlemen inboard , they proceeded to land tnem by the accommodation afforded by the ladder of the Tartarus steamer relitting iu the basin . Mr . Woodger was then conveyed to the surgery , when his right leg , three or four inches above the ancle , was found to be very severely fractured , and by a large wound exposing the bone for several inches in length .

      Mtstehious Dbam op a Gentleman ' s Boiler . — On Wednesday , Mr . Bedford held an inquest at St . George ' s Hospital , Hyde Park-corner , on the body of James Morgan , aged forty-four , late butler in the service of — Sanderson , Esq ., M . P ., of No . 46 , Belgrave-square . Robert Brown , a mechanic , deposed that about halt-past six o ' clock on Saturday morning last , he was going to his employ in Grosvenor-crescent , Bolgrare-square , when lie found the deceased lying on the pavement at the end of the crescent , in a state of total insensibility . Hib hat was lying a few feet from him , and the lower part of his dress was disordered . There were no marks of external violence , beyond a sli ght bruise on the left side of his face . A man who was putting out the gas lights in the crescent came by , and recognised the

      deceased , and shortly afterwards , with the assistance of two of the deceased ' s fcllow-scrvants , he was removed to the above hospital . Frederick Waters steward to Mr . Sanderson , stated that the deceased had lived upwards often years iu the family , and he was a yery sober , steady man , and had not had a days illness during the whole of that time . After waiting at dinner , on Friday evening last , he went out for an hour , as was his usual custom ; well and hearty . Mr . Mason , landlord of the Triumphant Chariot , Pembroke-mews , Grosvenor-place , said that the deceased was m his company lor two hours on Friday night , and left the house about half-past ten , return home

      to , quite well and sober . Police-constable Moore , 119 B , stated that he was on duty in Belgrave-square on Friday night , and passed the spot where the deceased was found every twenty-five minutes dunng the night , and he was not there fl few minutes before six o ' clock , when he went . off duty . The coroner- said , that in addition to tbc mystery in which the case was already involved , it had been intimated to him that the deceased ' s watch and some money was missing from his person . He should , therefore , advise the adjournment of the inquiry , to obtain further evidence ; which the jury agreed to . ' ' . .. .

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      KFiret in importance is the intelligence of the prograsiof «•¦ ; ¦ THE WAR IN INDIA . A full account of the sanguinary battles of Moodkec and Ferozeshah . will be found in our fifth and sixth pages . ¦ : -Press of matter compels us to po » tpone our observations on the origin of the war , which we purpose in oar next to elucidate for the information ot our readers . The news of the intended insurrection in

      POLAND , ; . which was to have commenced on the , 9 th instant , ' has not been confirmed , but there can be no doubt that the insurrection was fully expected , as is proved by the despotic measures employed to nip it . , in the bud . ; We give in another column some . details of the arrasta , of the suspected . . , The Univerial Gerfmn Gazette states that the , police had seized the treasury of the " conspirators , ' . ' pontaining , 60 . 000 thalers . This , if true , i » a heavy misfortune . Terror reignu throughout unhappy Poland , but the terroristi

      thornmvestremble , doubting , as they do , the fidylity of their armed forces . A letter ^ from ! .. Leinberg lin Galicia ( that part of Poland under the tyranny of 'Austria ) , - describe * the ariny ' as being " compromised" as well as the people . The government "distrusts the political dispositions of the troops . " Although the priBons art full , the arrests continue on a large'scale . j ; ¦ ; Sinco the abore was written we have seen it stated Sn > tiuV ^ German journals , that an insurrection hat broJcenout in the Polish province of Volhynia , one of the provinces annexed to Russia in the finst partition of Poland . The news this week from

      - FRANCE is not very interesting . On Saturday a renewal of the struggle on the question of Public Instruction took place in the Chamber of Deputies , in which M . Berrtek and the Legitimists supported the Ministry against tho motion of M . Barrot and M . Thierb , which was rejected by a majority of 07 . On Monday M . Guizot formally declared , in one of the bureaux of the Chamber of Deputies , that the government had completely abandoned all idea of sending an expedition to Madagascar , and that it would content itaelt with reinforcing the garrisons of Bourbon and Mayotte . He added , that the English government would follow the example of France , and not chastise the Hovas upon this matter . The two government * evidently see , that under present circumstances , " discretion is the better part of valour . " The Arabs and the Sikhs are cutting out more than sufficient

      work for both governments . The Chamber of Deputies assembled on Monday to examine the project of lawrclatiyetocertainextraordinnrycreditsdemanded by the Minister of War for defraying the expenses incurred in Algeria . These credits amount to 25 , 403 , 841 f . The increase sought is 34 , 000 men , and 3 , 317 horses . " Civilising" the Arabs appears to be rather an expensive amusement . The National publishes a circular , addressed by the committee ot the " Extreme Left , " composed of M . Dupont ( de l'Eure ) , M . Arago , General Thiard , MM . Marie Le-Kendre Carnot , and Gamier Pages , to their friends throughout the provinces , apprising them , that as the term of the existence of the present Chamber of Deputies will expire in the year 1847 , it is almost certain that a general election will take place during the present year , and that the electors should prepare for that event . The week's intelligence from

      GERMANY is but of little account . Wo announced in our last the dissolution of the Chambers in the Grand Duchy of Baden . The government of Baden , like all the powerless sovereignties of the smaller States of Germany , is obliged to submit to the dictates of its powerful allies , and from them it received an order to dissolve the Chmnber of Deputies . A revolutionary agitation is tho result . The 'Opposition having had a constant majority during the last session , is almost sure to re-enter the Chamber . Its leaders , Itatein , Plathy , Basserman , Welcker , and Hecker , reckon with certainty on resuming their Beats . The political ferment in Germany constantly increases , besides the troubles so rifs in Western' Prussia explosions are apprehended in Silesia and other parts . The news from

      SWITZERLAND is more interesting . The Grand Council of Berne , on the 14 th , passed a decree , regulating the formation ot the Constituent Assembly . The election of the deputies is to be held on March 7 th . There is to be one deputy for every 300 citizens , making 139 deputies for the whole canton . The qualifying age for Toting has hitherto been twenty-three years , but on this uccasion those who have attained twenty are to be admitted to give their suffrages . The only exception * are men of unsound mind , bankrupt , those who lsave received charitable relief , and convicts condemned to infamous punishments . To be eli gible to become a deputy , the candidate must be a citizen ol Berne , be qualified to vote , and be of 25 years of age

      and upwards . The constituent body is to meet on March 16 th . The democrats are carrying all before them . The / Va « e ( Parispuper ) states , that— " There has just occurred lathe Grand Council of Berae a scene which recalls the most stormy periods of the national convention . It is already known , that in consequence of a resolution moved in that assembly , the nine members of the Council of State who were opposed to the revolution were summoned to promise officially by a public declaration their earnest assistance to the new order of things . This motion wan placed amongst the orders of the day for the loth The discussion commenced by a coup d ' etat . It was decided that the nine members accused should not be present at the debate . M . Neuhaus , who a year since

      was the supreme chief and the oracle of the Radical party , was expelled from the Chamber by the Radicals . This fact Bays more than all our comment * . It is all proportions , observed a new edition of the Girondins and the Mmitagnards . After this decision , a committee was forthwith appointed to prepaie resolutions . The committee was composed of the movers of the resolution , and they elected M . Ochsenbein , chief of the tree corps , for their president . It prepared the following resolutions : •— ' Considering that the nine members of the Executive Council who signed the declaration of the 27 th of January last expressed an opinion thatthey regarded thccstabllslmicnt oi ' a constituent assembly as a violation of the constitution , and that thoy never could assist in its

      formation ; considering that , in consequence of the popular vote of the lit of February , the Grand Council has decreed that a constituent assembly should be appointed to revise the constitution ; considering likewise that the interests of tranquillity and ot publio order require imperiously that the nine membersof the Council of State from whom the declaration of the 27 th of January emanated should dnclaro how they propose to reconcile the opinion which thev enounced with thoir position of members of the elevated executive authority , of which they compose the majority , —the Grand Council decrees , ' That

      the nine councillors of state above alluded to be summoned within an hour and a half , to swear that they will assist in the execution of the resolution of the Grand Council , which has confided the revision of the constitution to a constituent assembly . ' An amendment , timidly presented in favour of " the accused , was rejected with indignation , and by an immense majority . " It was finally determined bv a majority of seventy-five } against twenty-nine , " that the nine members of the executive couneil Bh ' ould give an explanation on the 20 th of February at eight in the morning at the latest . ' We have no news from

      ITALY , but we request the attention of our readers to the ftrst ot a senes of articles under the head of " Revelations of Rome , " which will be found in our seventh page . The Ministerial crisis in

      • - Jt , SPAIN 19 said to be terminated by the appointment of M . Fkna AouAvo as Minister of Finance , in the room of M . Mon , resigned . The explanation of the new ministers took place in botli houses on the 16 th . The new title of Commander-in-Chief of the army , conferred on Narvacz by the new ministers , has been explained by them as merely honorary . The order of the day , signed by the governor of Madrid , would , however , indicate that it was originally viewed in another light , for it directs that , conformabl y to her Majesty ' s command , a guard ot honour and an escort of cavalry be placed at the disposal of General Narvaez . The accounts from

      ALGERIA continue to be extremely unfavourable to the French . So great is the alarm produced by the rapid movements of Abd-el-Kader , that Marshal Bugeaud has removed the whole of the regular troops from the cit y of Algiers to the points threatened by his indefatigable adversary , leaving the civic guard to do duty within the capital of the colony , aided by tho military convicts , who have also been armed . ' The Paris papers arc filled with complaints of the condition of tins much-vaunted conquest of France—Algeriathat coiKiuest which it is confessed has cost already £ 40 , 000 , 000 sterling , and—we state it with regretthe lives of more than 300 . 000 Frenchmen . Tho

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      state of alarm which pervades the French govern ment is known to be extreme . b" » " «

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      THE POLISH " CONSPIRACY . " GRAND DUCHY OF P 0 SEH PosKif , Fbbrcaht It-This morning / between the hours of one and halt-past two , p . m ., the whole garrison wag on foot , and in a few moments all the gates of the town and the bridges on the Wartha were occupied by numerous detachments . Cannons were levelled on the great square De 1 'Artillerie ; the great square Guillaumewas occupied by detachment ! of cavalry and infantry , with two pieces of ordnaiice detachments walked the streets , escorting the heads ot the police . The bazaar was equally occupied by the troops and various hotels were entered and •"" g- o . nehour afterwards the authoritiei pub-Iwhed the following proclamation : — '

      The extraordinary measures taken this day are comraanded by necessity . The occupation by the military and ' the closing of the gates of the town and of the bridges , are requiBire for the maintenance Of order and taumiuUIUy . The p : rson B who have been arrestod aro accused of conspmuf against the government , and by criminal projects of endangering the safety of penons und of ; property , , as i well in the town itself , us in tho province of Posen . As it is our duty to guard the town and country from menacing danger and grave consequences , we truBt that all well-intentioned inhabitant ! will place in us their entire confidence , and the cine for their safety : that by their conduct thej will prove themselves good citizens and worthy and loyal subjects of our well-beloved king and master , and that they will peacefully acquiesce' in the disposition we have thought fit to adopt .

      Nevertheless , should any one endeavour , either through folly or through bod intent , to render oppoiition and cause disorder , he may expect to be visited with the full rigours of the law . —Posen , ' this 14 th Feb ., 1846 . Signed , LWutenant-tieiieral De Steinaccher , nr « t commandant , and De Minutoli , President of Police , The pfcrgbns who have been arrested are principally young men of the provinces ; many ot them belong to families of distinction ( they amount to forty ) . The general in command of the fifth dWiwon of the army has ordered various detachment * into the provinces to assure the maintenance of tranquillity . The Frankfort Post Gazette contains the following , dated Posen , 10 th inst . : —

      -. For the laist few days it was remarked that the Polish noblcmea , who , contrary to their habit , kail kept » way from Po « en this winter , were congregating here in largo numbers . Te 6 terday they amounted to upwards of 000 , * tid at the hour when most of them were sitting down to dinner in their hotels , tho William-squnre was of a sudden occupied by troops , as well as the avenues leading to it . Immediately afterwards domiciliary visits and arrests commenced . 100 Polish noblemen were taken into custody in the bazaar , and conveyed to the Governor's residence , when those who could not account in a satisfactory manner for their pretence in Posen ware seat

      to prison . Ninsonly of the thirty-nine reputed chiefs of the con&pirncy were amstedlast evening . Th » others h » d absconded , but as they are proprietori they will « oou be discovered . Couriers were despatched in yarious directions ; the gates were then opened , » . tid strong bodies of Boldicrs continued to patrol the streets during tht whole night . A great quantity of gunpowder and consider » bl » suras of monoy were seized in the possession of two of the conspirators and carried to the police . All the persona arrested in Posen and in other towns of the Grand Duchy on the ltth inBt . had been removed to the citadel of Posen .

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      LONDON . National Victim Committee . —This body met on Sunday evening , February 22 ud , at the Hall , 1 , Turnagain-lane—Mr . Shaw in the chair . Letters were read from Mr . John Richards , acknowledging the receipt of £ 2 , voted at the last meeting ; and from Mr . Robert Brook , of Todmorden , making an anneal for assistance on behalf of My . Javues M « oney ; of Millwood , Todraorden . Mr . Milne moved , " That the sum of £ 2 be awarded to Mr . James Mooney , " which was seconded by Mr . G . II . Tucker , and carried .

      Hammersmith . — Fkost , Williams , and Jones . — The friends of the above martyrs are informed that petitions on their behalf lie for signature ni Mr . Cullingham ' s , builder , King-street , Hammersmith ; Mr . Newell , boot and shoemaker , 5 , Providenceplace , Brook Green-lane ; and at Mr . E . Stallwood ' a , 2 , Little Vale-placc , Hammersmith-road . Friends of humanity , attach your names immediately , as the petition must shortly be forwarded to the members lor the county for presentation .

      MERTHYR TYDVIL . The members of branch No . 1 of the Land Society met in their Reading-room on Sunday morning , Feb . !> 9 nd . After reading the Star , we started to see an estate that is for sale , within five miles of Mertliyr . We have sent the full description of it to Mr . O'Connor . After our return a portion of Mr . O'Connor ' s work on "Small Farms" was read . NORWICH . On Monday evening , at a meeting of the Chartists of this town , the following resolution was unanimously agreed to : — " That it is the opinion of this meeting that an address should be published to the country , showing the injustice of war , the horrors of war in India , and the tyranny of the embodiment of the militia ; that our secretary be instructed to request the Executive to publish such an address , and that we pledge ourselves to give it every circulation . "

      OLDHAM . On Sunday last , Mr . Edward Clark lectured in tho school-room of the Working Man ' s Hall . SUTTON-IN-ASHFIELD . A branch of the Land Society has been established h <» re . The members will meet at Mr . Charles Mwkiu ' s , next Sunday evening , at five o ' clock . All f Tsons wishing to become members are requested to < utend .

      SUDBURY . The weekly meeting of the members of the Chartist Co-operative Land Society was held at J . Goody ' s Coffee and News-room , Cross-street . A fresh committee was elected , and it was decided to call a general meeting of the members on Tmifsday , the 26 th , for the purpose of explaining to the members who have only paid just the Is . 4 d \ , that they could not tie considered members till they had paid 2 s . 4 . A ., and .-omething on each share . These members have been waiting for the enrolment . Enrolled or not , the members of Sudb ' ury arc determined to stand by the society . After the business of the meeting was concluded , tho health of Mr . O'Connor was drank . A . meeting of the friends of liberty takes place every . Sunday evening , at seven o ' clock , I ' or discussion , and reading the Northern Star , at J . Goody ' s Cofiee and News-room , Cross-street . All persons are at liberty to attend . The members of the Chartist Co-operativo Land Society will meet every Monday night .

      ALVA . Mr . Abraham Duncan delivered a lecture here , in the People ' s Hall , on Thursday evening , upon "The comparative merits of Free Trade and the People ' s Charter as a means to elevate the condition of tlie working classes . " The hall was crowded to the door , and _ when Mr . Dunoan made his appearance he was received with a loud burst of applause , it being the first time he h : id been in Alva for the last two years . Mr . Andrew M'Kenzie was called to the chair , and , with a lew trords of preface , introduced the lecturer . Mr . Duncan briefly traced the rise and progress of commerce , showing its barrenness of influences to save or elevate the nations that were engaged in trading . He then entered into an analysis of the

      morality of " buy cheap and sell dear , " and by a few quaint illustrations called the attention of hi » audience to the bad effects ol' that principle upon the community . He then stated , with great force , the elevating influences of the principles of political equality , as they inspire the mind with heroic thoughts lending to the most digniGed actions . Mr . Duncan vindicated the past movement fur the attainment , of she People ' s Charter , with all its delects , as one of the most noble efforts ever made by a people in any age for tho attainment of freedom . The audience throughout was very attentive , and the repeated bursts of applause that interrupted the speaker ahowod how much those present sympathised with the pciitinieiits ol tbe lecturer .

      GLASGOW . No . 1 Branch of the Glasgow Chartist Co-operative Land Society held their usual meeting in Mr . Murdock ' sSchool-room , No . 27 , St . Andrew ' s-iquare , on Tuesday evening , Feb . 24 th ; Mr . James Mann in the chair . After Mr . O'Connor ' s letter in last week ' s Star had been read , Mr . Sherrington read the " Preliminary remarks" in Mr . O'Connor ' s work on Small Farms , which gave great satisfaction to the mumber * . A club m \» formed for the purchase oi the work , and fourteen copies were subscribed for .

      DALKEITH . A public meeting \ mb held in the Masons' Hall , to petition the House of Commons to memorialise her Majesty to extend her mercy to John Frost , Zephaniah Willhims , and William Jones . At tho time appointed , Mr . Daniel Potter was called to the chair , who opened the business of the meeting by a few ap-

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      nropriate remarks . The resolutions ( three in number ) were moved , leconded , and supported -, by the following gentlemen : —Messrs . William Taylor , ^ amuet Clark , James MTheraon , James Mann , Alexander Munroe , James Taylor , and Sicel . A pe-? 1 ' i . l ned tho chairman , wag agreed to , and wnt to Shannon Crawford , M . P ., for presentation . ¦—

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      Hawick , February 23 . —The petitions for the liberation of Fiost , William , Jenes , and Ellis , which were agreed to at the public meeting held in tho Town Hall , on the second instant , were on Saturday last sent to Mr . Ewatt for presentation , with fri ) signatures each .

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      East Suffolk Elkctiox . —The election for a representative for the eastern division of this county , in the room of Lord Ilenniker , ; vacated , took place on Thursday , at Ipswich , when Mr . Edward Shirlock Gooche was nominated , and there being no other candidate , ho was declared duly elected . The East India Company have received information of tha total loss of the Company ' s war sloop , Coote , Lieut . J . S . Grieve , on a reef of rocks opposite Calicut , on the 3 rd of November last . ¦ . . Drkapful Explosion and Lobs of Life on tiie SUAKSPEARK CUFP TUNNEL . —DoYER , FbB . 24 , 1 S 46 .

      —It has never been our painful task to record a more melancholy catastrophe than has happened on the South Eastern line this day . Upwards of twenty labourers took refuse from the hea \ y rain at dinner lime in a cave , excavated just beyond the Shakspeare tunnel , and , as is their custom , smoked their pipes ; some embers were scattered about , and set fire to a considerable quantity of gunpowder , which had been most incautiously suffered to remain , which exploded , and caused a fearful loss of life . Eleven bodies have been brought in dead and horribly mangled . No pen can describe the dreadful cries of the survivors . Many are still expected hourly to breathe their last .

      Gkeat Fire at Livebj-ool . —A most destructive fire broke out about ten minutes past ono o ' clock on Tuesday afternoon , in a large warehouse in the vicinity of St . George's Dock , and in what is called the Back Goree , at the rear of a large pile of warehouses which , about twenty years ago , were destroyed by a similar conflagration . The flames spread with amazing rapidity . The warehouse in which the fire commenced was the property of tho Itev . Jtr . Monk , and was heavily stored with cotton , corn , and flour . In the cellar was a large quantity of tallow and rum , which wore saved by flooding them . At seven o ' clock the names burst forth iu tho adjoining warehouse with great fury , ignition having been communicated , it is supposed , by the ends of the beams from one building to

      the other , in the upper stories , the rooniB of which were covered » ix or eight feet deep with corn . The fire continued burning all night uud Wednesday morning ; In a single story of one of the warehouses there was East India and Mauritius sugar to the value of £ 10 , 000 , the property of a respectable firm , named Crosfield , of which not a single bag was saved . The destruction » f other merchandise has beeu equally great , but tho ownors fortunately are insured . The amount of property destroyed , including buildings and merchandise , is estiniatod at £ 150 , 000 . At four o'clock on Wednesday a tremendous txplosion took place , which brought down a large portion of the building ; from this time the lirt ^ slackenod until it gradually , w « utor / t . . .. . ... . .....

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      . i — MEETINGS IN BEHALF OF THE CHARTIST EXILES . [ Continued from our Third Page . ] IMPORTANT MBETING AT . GREENWICH . ' A public meeting took place . in the . splendid Lecture Hall , Royal-hill , Greenwich , on Wednesday evening , when not less than 700 persons were present .

      Mr . Ellis , an opment tradesman of Deptford , was unanimously called to the chair , and in a few appropriate remarks , he concluded by reading a letter from Admiral W , J , D . Duudas , one of the members for the Borough , in which the writer said he should be engaged on the 18 th , but , nevertheless , he should be most happy to present and support any petition the meeting misht entrust to his care . ( Cheers . ) Mr . 'f . Clark then moved the first resolution as follows : — "That this meeting is of opinion , considering that mercy has been extended to Tapineau and other Canadians , who were arrested with arms in their hands , that the time has lulJy arrived when a measure of equal mercy should be meted out to John Frost , Zcphaniah Williams , and William Jones ,

      the victims of the Newport outbreak of 1839 .. Resolved , therefore , that a petition to the House of Commons be adopted for an address to her Majesty , praying her to restore them to their country , families , and . friends . ' ? Mr . Clark said—He was well pleased to see so many present , it spoke well for the cause in which they were engaged , that of mercy and justice . ( Hear , hear ) Frost , Williams , and Jonea belonged to a class rather above that of working men . but they , nevertheless , sympathised , deeply with the working classes ; they saw that the middle and upper classes were represented in Pavliument , and , conaequentiy , that their iMerests were prou-otd , but that the working classics , beiiig u .. i- ' jr ^ c « d , their interests . wens unprofcisted , and thay were v . ^ U . -i-li | iP miserable , \ u-e tched outcasts ; .

      theyaccordiiiKlvdv-, , mandeu for them tho same rights , privileges , and immunities whicLwere enjoyed by the other classes , and which they , as the producers of all wealth , eo justly merited- (! oiid cuecrs ) - « yet for the advocacy ot such pure and . holy principles they had been banished . ( Hear , hear . ) ( Mr . * FeorguB O'Connor now . entered the hall , and was greeted with great cheering . ) Those much eateemed and highly honourable men were now in the sixth year of their exile , and he had no doubt the meeting agreed witii him , that the sufferings , endured by these men . and their bereaved wives and families had been more than a sufficient expiation for any crime they had committed . ( Loud cheers . ) , Mr . O'Connor rose amid great cheering to second

      tno resolution , and said—Whatever might be , the result of this petition they had met to propose and support , the meeting reflected great credit on the Chartist body of Greenwich and Deptford , who had got it up , and must tend to advance the great cause of public liberty . ( Loud cheers . ) Ten years ago he had the honour to be invited by the Greenwich Chartists to a feast given to tbe members for the borough , and the great principles he advocated were then thought nonsense by the middle classes . How gratifying was it , therefore , to see so many of that class present to-night , mixing with the working class . ( Loud chaers . ) Mr . O'Connor here entered into a lucid exposition of the principles of the People ' s Charter , which he stated were part and parcel ot the British

      constitution , and these also wire the real and good principles enunciated by Frost , Williams , and Jones , and for thus advocating the equal rights ot all , had they been persecuted and prosecuted . ( Hear , hear . ) He had the sanction of Chief Baron Pollock and Solicitov-General Sir Fitzroy Kelly , for saying that they were not only illegally tried but illegally convicted—( hear , hear ); yet , strange aa it may appear , royal marriages , royal births , royal christenings had taken plice , the hulks had been ransacked for persons on whom to exercise the royal clemency , whilst men of high moral reputation had been allowed to rot and perish in prisons , or drag on a miserable

      existence ln . penal settlements , whose only crime had been that of feeling intensely for the wrongs and sufferings of their fellow men . ( Shame , shame ! and great applause . ) Mr . O'Connor next alluded forcibly to the peculiar circumstances attending the trial of the Welsh martyrs . Their patriotic friend Duncombe had given notice of a motion on the subject for which they had met , and let the people only give him their cordial and hearty support—let each individual only have the vanity to believe that on his efforts success depended , and victory would be theirs . Mr . O'Connor resumed his seat amid great cheering . . ¦ The resolution was then unanimously adopted .

      Mr . Doyle rose and submitted a petition , embodying the spirit of the foregoing vesolution , and said our martyred brethren were the victims of spies employed by government , and paid out of the hard earnings of the industrious people . ( Hear , hear . ) He well remembered that Lord Liverpool justified the employment of such base nefarious means , on the plea that it had been adopted by all former governments , and he presumed that Russell and Melbourne had no better excuse for continuing the same dastardly practice . ( Heav , hear . ) Mr . Doyle next prc eented a graphic sketch of the misery , wretchedness , and destitution of the people , especially in the manufacturing districts , and asked , under such circumstances , was it wonderful that they should hold

      such meetings as those for which the Welch martyrs were so unjustifiably banished ? ( Loud cheers . ) It was for enlightening the people that Frost , Williams , and Jones had sacrificed their liberties , and , until the people possessod what they justly demanded —equal rights and equal laws—pencu , prosperity , and happiness would never prevail . ( Great cheering . ) ~ Mr . Philip M'Grath rose , loudly applauded , to second the adoption of the petition , " aad said—They had met to do an act of justice—to ask , in tho name of humanity , a grave assemblage to do an act of morey to Jehu Frost and his brave , but perhaps erring compatriots . ( Loud cheers . ) Frost was the

      advocate ot tuo rights of all ; he saw one man in seven only enfranchised , and the remainder without the pale of the constitution , hence hia exertions in favour of the People ' s Charter . John Frost only enunciated the great truth , that all mankind were equal . He ( Mr . M'Grath ) called on all the daughters , sons , matrons , and fathers present , to make the cause of the Welsh martyrs their cause ; then would they be enabled to get up such a breeze of public feeling as shall waft them from the land of their captivity to the bosoms of th « ir wires , families , and Mends . ( Loud cheers . ) The petition was unanimously adopted .

      Mr . J . Morgan moved , and Mr . Walter Flyer seconded— "That Admiral J . W . Dundas be requested to present the petition just adopted ; and that E . G . Barnard , the other member for the borough , be requested to support its prayer . " Carried unanimously . A vote of thanks was carried by acclamation to the chairman , who suitably acknowled g ed tlie bonOUI done him , and the meeting dissolved .

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 28, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1356/page/1/