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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st November 1846, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      \ tv Dear Fkjbjjbs , Jl is the tenth anniversary of the "NORTHk STAR "—the birthday of the only stamped 5 i ™ Europe , tntboat one solitary exception , Kjesenis the interests of the LABOURING 1 14 SS ES from a sense of justice . I have , through attached the greatest importance to the value ^ he newspaper press , from a knowledge of its a for good or evil , and when I ventured upon *** -jpgninent of breaking through all the conven-* , jjjjgs of that most powerful estate , I anticia . jrt > ward from a successful skirmish with cor-- ' on and venality ; : bnt I never calculated upon ^ e reat victory I have achieved , as well over its * i ea omnipotence as over your own prejudices . S ffliist now remind yon of the time I started an 10 pposition to the present representative system . 0 P ffas wnen » * ter ftree years" P £ Iienctl » I fllsC ° - j the hopelessness and impossibility of bringing Dresen tedinflaencetobearuponrepresented power - the tionseof Commons . When I saw a national relU * u

      - * . * _ rt 5 entation of Ireland , sufficiently strong and power-L to wei . eh down all opposition , fade into corrupjion uef ° re tne flighting influence of the worst de--a iption of patronage—a patronage which was so ij ^ onoura ble to the patron , and the patronized , to g , e giver and the receiver , that it was accepted and anted upon the condition that the Ministerial ally s hould hold a patent for abusing his patrons ; pre-« ami » B' ^ x 6 r ? ^ to ^ tyjlthat open support would ptlier damage than serve their cause , and the result of which has been a twelve years rule of the most -Ej ^ nsting / ast-and-loose policy , making representa

      tion a force , the constitution a mockery , and the law 8 snare ; and so enamoured were the people themes with the juggle , that they received the juggler as a conqueror , feasted him as a friend , and Ivied him as a patriot , while in Halifax , ' . in 1835 , they received me suspiciously , and still , full oi thankfulness for reform , asked me " NOT TO

      SEPARATE THEM FROM THE WHIGS . " Such was the inauspicious time at which I essayed to collect the heterogeneous elements of which public opinion was then composed into one GREAT JATIOXAL MIND ; and let us now consider what the res ult of my labours has been . At the time to which I refer , no union whatever , or even sympathy , existed between the Scotch and the Eng lish people ; but , on the contrary , upon my first visit to Scotland , I discovered the elements of

      antagonism . Lord Durham , Lord Brougham , and Daniel O'Connell , had evidently looked to the calm and calculating mind of Scotland , as a safety-valve against the disappointment created in England by fte Reform BilL Sure of juggling Ireland , they hoped to hem English opinion between an incipient Irish revolution and Scotch calm philosophy . Now , the union between England and Scotland is as complete as between Manchester and Ashton ; while I think I may flatter you with the prospect of a not verr distant union with your Irish brethren .

      I have often told yon that there are three great stages in a national movement—namely , the creation of public opinion , the organisation of public opinion , and the direction of public opinion ; and without vanity I think I may say , that the " Northern Star " has done more in nine years towards creating , organising , and directing a sound public opinion , than any or all the journals that have ever preceded it I have so recently published a manifesto , referiug to the period since the passing of the Reform Bill , that I am spared the labour of recapitulating the several straggles that Chartism has had with its several

      enemies . Butthereare some subjects so large , and at the jarae time so unheeded by you , of which I have not previously treated , and t ^ which I sh all now call your attention . It is a very difficult task to point out the triumphs of a movement party struggling for power , their reverses , failures , and defeats , are chronicled as the fun , the ridicule , and the triumph of . authority ; and many have been puzzled when asked to point out the single good that Chartism had done , while the supposed evils are prominently paraded . Upon the other hand , the two parties struggling for authority may manifest their power in skirmishes where success mav he indicative of future

      triumph , while no such course has been open to us ; Ini , on the contrary , our skirmishes with the enemy lave always appeared lo be on the defensive , no prospect of good presenting itself even as the reward of success . This has always been a sore subject with me , because 1 have felt the difficulty of combating this erery day observation ; but now the time is come when you are prepared to receive , what to me appear legitimate indications of the triumph of deffiocracv , and the first to which I shall refer is to

      * hat appears to have faded from your memories , —I mean the successful assault that we have made upon society and prejudices by law . Law in all other Jaiations was a thing only known to the movement party for the vengeance it was sure to inflict . Here was seldom , indeed never , any defence for tee charged- with political offences—the bar , the lushest portion of the bar , was always engaged by the faction in power , and the press , as its organ , was Ever ready and willing to proclaim the law ' s legiti-Batetriumph over its UNDEFENDED VICTIM .

      legal ingenuity was employed to magnify the mildest political act into something short of high treason , and the press called the law's vengeance its clemency ; if a poor man who should be applauded * as transported , the law was called humane for not murdering hira . Hence we learn the severe and revolting punishment inflicted upon political offenflosfrom 1793 to 1839 , when , for the first time , % the pence of the poor and my own pounds , we * itnessed the every-day novelty of the flower of the Opposition bar combating the tyranny of faction's law , and not only defending Chartist prisoners , but

      actually advocating Chartist principles . So long as toe discussion of alow principle eould be confined to low minds , authority felt no dread , hut when it found every law court turned into a Chartist meeti ^ iouse , with , a Judge presiding as Chairman and a bar defending the accused , with an audience , if rot influencing the Jury , at least controlling the Jud ge , then , the principles liecame dangerous , because an extended legal license was g iven to their discussion . The newspapers , though reluctantly , were compelled to give a glimpse of our defence , while the Honse of Commons itself exercised a

      wholesome censorship over the cruel and unjust judge and the vindictive and partial magistrate . Here , then , was our first , our greatest , onr most remarkable end valuable ^ triumph . "We SuVdued the law , we crushed the law , because authority would not now dare to rely upon legal granny as a means of crushing public opinion . It ^ a novelty to the Judge , to the Jury , to the &T , and to the world , to see a mere pauper defended by tie ablest counsel . Well , then , was not this a & " eat and a glorious triumph ? Was it not a triumph to see Feargus O'Connor and fifty-eight forking men , for eight long days , with six able

      barflstes to defend them , struggling against the law of Re faction in power ? Is it not something to re-Joicein , to remember , that faction ' s assault upon * ne poorest man was our summons to the legal K scne ? In olden times , Frost , "Williams and Jones , and every man connected with the Newport ^ air , would Lave been hung , and the Queen ' s f feoency in having been graciously pleased to remit ^ einbowelling and quarterings would have been Pompousl y paraded by blood-thirsty faction . Again , ^ k another triumph . "We have been charged as « e physical force party , while , if we count heads , Je have been many more innocent victims to ae morai force - c -. V of Mr o'Connell than to

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      he physical force principle of Chartism ; but the difference lies here , the ABOMINATIONS of physical force Chartism are paraded to the world , while those of moral force repeal are buried , unhononred and unheeded . "We clamour , we sorrow , and we complain , if the most insignificant individual of our party is oppressed—while in Ireland , sympathy is only for the high . The next triumph to which I shall refer is , the unacknowledged influence that the "Northern Star" has had upon the press of the empire , from the highest to the lowest—from the "Times" to the " Kelso Chronicle . " Newspapers now-a-day are not what newspapers were ; and while thev will not confess their advance in literaturei

      civilization , and liberality , to be a consequence of the "Northern Star , "they must confess that their progress in improvement is a consequence of the public opinion and mind created by the " Northern Star . " There is not a paper printed in the British dominions , that does not now more or less feel itself , and acknowledge itself , to be tributary to public opinion , and the "Northern Star" bas created that public opinion . Newspapers are established for various purposes and from various motives , but all tending to an individual result—namely , remuneration to the proprietors- Some establish a paper from reliance upon a large advertising connection , some to advocate the principles of a knot or faction , some are

      established by wealthy communities to advance a remunerating system , some to recommend railways , some to enable the hypochondriac to kill time and destroy ennui , some to aid governments and some to oppose them , some to build up and some to pull down , but all in the hope of remunerating the speculator ; while it is upon record that I made a proposal to the proprietor of the " Leeds Times , " which would have entailed a heavy expense upon me , before I established the " Northern Star ; " and when 1 did establish it , it was more with the viewto encourage some wealthy individual in the belief that a democratic paper could live than with the hope of pecuniary recompense , or with a notion that so democratic a paper could hold its ground .

      In the first view I have not been disappointed , because after all my time and all my exertion , I am a poorer man now than when I established the " Star ; " but in the second view I have teen agreeably disappointed , because it has nobly held its ground ; although it has stood in imminent and frequent danger from within { and without ; from without it has been assailed by legal persecution heretofore unknown , or at all events not tolerated since the passing of the Reform Bill , and within by parties that had all but devoured me , presuming that the

      property was theirs , and that I was but an instrumeut in their bands to gratify their ambition and realize their fortunes . There is this anomaly connected with the" Star / 'that many have thriven upon my industry , while I have been the only sufferer . When the " Star '' was wealthy , realising a profit of nearly . £ 13 , 00 Q a year , I was poorer than when the profit became less—my purse was open to all—I was the milch cow , and , when the udder was dry , those who bad been nourished would have killed the cow . Since the ' establishment of the " Star ' 1 have been its editor , others taking credit and establishing fame upon mv works and their own liberality , bv

      subjecting roe to heavy costs and penalties for libels . Since the 17 th of October , 1845 , 1 have written every leader in the " Northern Star , " with perhaps one or two exceptions , and during the time that I have thus managed my own affairs , I have not heard one single complaint . I have no hesitation in telling you that the "Northern Star" has had many struggles , but it has , thank God , survived alL Independently of the law and my staff , just reflect upon the number of papers that have been established for the purpose of destroying the " Northern Star , " the number of papers that have tilted against the rock and been smashed in the encounter— " The Chartist—the Champion —the Statesman—the Southern Star—the Western

      Vindicator—the Dundee Chronicle—the Northern Liberator the True Scotsman , " and a whole host of Glasgow pop-guns , have one and all ventured upon the conflict , but perished in the encounter . The next triumph to which I may direct your attention is , that of having secured a fund for the protection of our victims . Tyranny has ever relied more upon the horrible consequences of persecution of the innocent than the law ' s satisfaction upon the guilty , and . by this unjust mode of vengeance has the law been enabled to work the destruction of all democratic movements . The starving family of each victim was , as it were , a scarecrow to affright the sensitive female mind , which was sure to result in

      its exercise over the husband and father ; and hence it became almost impossible to get up public meet * ings , lest families should be robbed of their protectors ; until we established a victim fund , and until it came into full operation the burthen of this department fell exclusively upon me , and , I may say , legitimately upon me , for I have ever held to the principle that what a gentleman makes of a political organ , he is bound to expend to the last farthing in supporting the political movement . However , the effect of a victim fund was to extract another tooth from the viper , and to give confidence to Chartist waaen . True , I have a right to complain of the smartness of this national fund , as well as its plunder by some .

      Before I enter upon the consideration of general matters , allow me to advert to some particular circumstances cf which you appear to have lost sight . A mere demagogne is compelled to go with the rushing stream , not of opinion , but of imagination ; and our cause has stood more than once in danger from this necessity imposed upon the poor gentleman , of pandering to passion and excitement , while I risked all my popularity upon three several occasions by resisting the hurricane of unnatural elements .

      Firstly , —I denounced and succeeded in stopping the diseussion of physical force principles in the convention , at a time when the IDLE GENTLEMEN , beer-shop keepers , and speculators in enthusiasm , used it as a means of recommending themselves to the excited mind of the country . Secondly , —I successfully resisted the dangerous , illegal , partial , and unjust ulterior measures of Mr . Lovett and his supporters , which , if carried , would have made us parties to every act of violence committed in the opposition to the payment of rents and taxes .

      Thirdly—At the expense of my popularity , and of even danger to my person , I averted all that suffering and calamity which must have resulted from the observance of the sacred holiday ; a question which the poor gentlemen had lived upon for some time . Fourthly , —Throughout the whole of our agitation I have saved you from all the horrors of secret associations , secret letter writing , and proscription ; which had been carried on to an extent that will appal you , when the time conies for writing the history of Chartism . Fifthly , —And what I am almost proudest of is , that 1 have written a book for labour which is

      unanswered aud unanswerable ; I mean my OLD ItOBIN , or refutation of Chambers' Philosophy , of which I am more vain than of any other act-

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      Now all those things are a part of your movement . They were concoctions of weak and cowardly minds , but minds that had a' cbntroul of the excited imagination of the day , ahd , if not resisted . must have proved the ruin of Chartism . I now turn to a consideration of the progress we have made in a-social point of view , and the absence of which from all antecedent agitations has been the cause of popular failure . America , with its republic , is at this moment as much convulsed and excited by the

      electioneering frenzy , as England is upon similar occasions ; while , notwithstanding the protection which t republican form of government is supposed to give , we find the anomaly of class ascendancy and inequality as great in America as in the Austrian States of Italy . We find pauperism frightfully upon the increase , while the government is mortgaging and selling the land , the national property , to sustain a most unjust war of aggression ; and we find moneymongers fattening upon that war , upon traffic in the volunteered blood of landless slaves . Now ,

      why is this ? It is because America rose , as a man , to throw off the galling yoke of British tyranny , without having previo usly agreed upon what was to have been the social result of conquest . And , hence , vre find the absence of social reliance yielding to angry contest for party ascendancy . Upon the other hand , see France , with a population of nearly forty millions , more satisfied with the representation of a constituency of two hundred thousand , than England , with a population of thirteen millions , is with a constituency of one million . And why ? Because the French people had prepared themselves with the g reat social result—the possession of the land , before they destroyed ' the tyranny that withheld it from

      them . Now , working men , herein consists the value , the great value , nay , the only value , of agitation , namely , that when a system which is too oppressive to live under , is denounced and doomed , that the majority of the thinking mind of the country should be tutored and instructed in the value of a system which is proposed as a substitute . The Irish got emancipation , which substituted tyrants of one sect for tyrants of another sect . The English won reform , which in the heat of excitement transferred

      power from the hands of one faction to the hands of another , but where was your triumph ? And if you had gained the Charter when you had gained the Reform Bill you would have been as much at the mercy of your representatives as you are now , and if disappointment had forced you into a physical revolution , you would have been more than ever at the mercy of money and class legislation . Every country loses by the triumph of a mere . physical revolution , unless the conquerors , who are always the industrious , are prepared with an instantaneous

      substitute ; and this brings me to the consideration of your present position . You are prepared with a social substitute so convincing , so endearing , and so certain to bring domestic happiness , that in a very short time , without a blow being struck , the only alternative of the landlord class will be , whether they will allow the industrious to cultivate their estates FOR THEIR OWN BENEFIT at a fair rent , at a high rent , nay , AT ANY RENT , or whether they will surrender them without rent . Now , mv friends , believe me tbat this is the present

      position of parties . Machinery has displaced man from his natural position , while I "have performed the Herculean labour of attaching the whole national industrious mind to the only substitute that can be relied upon when the present system is destroyed . The science of agriculture was one wholly foreign to your minds in the prosperity produced by infant manufactures ; was it nothing to have trained the whole mind of the country in one

      ihought ; to have so enamoured it with one project ^ that it is now acting as a monitor to the usurpers of the soil ? The land plan , in itself embracing thousands as it does , is but a bubble , but the spray of the ocean , while as a question it is becoming the all-absorbing topic . Eleven years ago I told you that if the land was locked up I would not give you three straws for the Charter , and I now tell you that the great triumph of Chartism has been , that in the fire of the national mind I have been enabled

      to forge the key which will unlock the land , and I have created a love for it , which tells the landlords that even a physical revolution cannot crush , and will soon convince them that the land doctrines and principles are becoming so' powerful and irresistible , that they will have but the option of surrendering all to a revolution which I eould not successfully resist , or of yielding them to the national demand by bringing them into the retail market . Here then is the great value of our movement—it tells the aristocracy what they are to

      expect as the result of longer resistance to the national demand . It has taken me nine years to instruct the nation in this science . I stood alone , gibbeted for the jeers of the press , the scoff of fools , and the laughing stock of knaves , not a journal in England , or in the world , to sustain me , but , on the contrary , all hired to proclaim me as a madman ; but now , how changed the scene ; even the " Morning Chronicle " sees in my plan the only protection for society and the state , while all are beginning to

      nibble at it , giving mutilated extracts from my works and writings , as if the pirates were the originators and pioneers . Well , then , I never could have accomplished this without the " Northern Star . " From 1831 to 1837 I spent a fortune , a large fortune , which I have not recovered from 1837 to ] 846 , and yet in the previous period I could effect but little by travelling , and talking , and bribing the press . What I did was local , partial , insignificant , but now it has becomenational and therefore powerful .

      We are told " there is nothing new under the sun , " but I contend for it that my Land plan is a novelty , and that the " Star" has been the means of nourishing it into nationality—the " Star " has brought you together in Labour Conferences ; it lias brought England , Ireland , and Scotland together in London , at Birmingham , and Manchester ; it has enabled Patrick O'Higgins to disseminate principles and sentiments which the press of his own country had not the courage to publish ; it has allowed me the high gratification of associating with working men ,

      and at the same tune preserve their respect , as it is my pride to boast that I have never heard an unbecoming , obscene , indecent , or immoral sentence escape a working man ' s lips during the whole time of my agitation . Well , then , is not this a triumph ? And , however scoffed at by fools , is not mine a position tbat mouarchs may envy ? Is it not worth being poor for ? And should I not righteously boast of poverty while I can turn to the richness of

      my works ; a patriot should live usefull y , frugally , and honestly , and should die a pauper ; but I am not poor , there is great wealth in store for me , for I will be abundantly rich when in August next I go from Worcester to Hertfordshire , from the two lips of labour ' s smiling mouth , through the barren estates of feudal lords , that press heavil y upon population , and when I reap ray reward in the smiling countenance of the happy housewife and the contented peasant , when I receive more than payment in the

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      healthful and . peering appearance of their little children , and when I am a welcome and honoured guest at every freeman ' s board , and when , like the proud Peruvian , I can look around upon that domestic happiness and say , "THIS , THIS IS MY JiVORK , " then I shall be rich , then I shall receive a reward which raonarehs could not bestow , and the "Northern Star " has done this .

      Iremain , Your ever faithful friend , Feargus O'Connor .

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      THE FALL OF THREE IIOUSES AT OLD BROMPTON . On Wednesday , Mr . Mills resumed the inquest at the Hoop and Toy Tavern , Old Brompton-road , on the body of James Casey , whose death was occasioned by the fall of three houses in course of erection in Alfred-place West ,, Thurlow-square , Old Brompton , on Thursday last . John Collins , labourer , said : I was engaged on Thursday last , with deceased , on a scaffold round some chimneys . We were about to come down , and had got on the ladder for that purpose , when the whole of the scaffolding gave way , and we were thrown to the ground . I became insensible , and know nothing more until I found myself at home .

      By the Coroner : Can you assign any reason for the scaffolding giving way?—Witness : I cannot ; I am sure it was put up securely , as I assisted to do it . Did you ever notice the bricks that were used in the building ?—Witness : I have , and also the mortar . I have seen better , ami also worse . Have you eve * heard persona complain of the quality of the materials used ' —Witness : Never . There were certainly a great many bats among the bricks , Do you think the houses were run up faster than necessary ?—Witness : No .

      Mr . Ernest Jones , a barrister of the Middle Temple , who said he was instructed to watch the proceedings on behalf of the friends of the deceased , wished to ask witness what he considered the fair proportion of lime and sand for making mortar ?—Witness Four bushels of sand and one of lime . What sand do you consider most proper to be used ? —Witness : Thames sand . What sand was used on this occasion ?—Witness Very good sand . That is not my question . Where did the sand come from ?—Witness : From Mr . Holmea ' s brickfield . Do you consider that very good sand ?—Witness lam no judge . Coroner : Did you make the mortar?—Witness Yes

      Is not bad mortar made sometimes for the sake ot cheapness?—Witness : I believe it is . When mortar is made up , can a person acquainted with building matters tell by the look if it is good ? —Witness : Yes . Who gave you directions about making the mortar ?—Witness : No one . Were you told to make it cheaply ?—Witness : No . If you had been going to live in the house , would you have made any difference in the materials ?—Witness : Yes , I should certainly . What difference would you have made?—Witness : Well , I can't say , You said you would make a difference , and you mustknow what that difference would be . —Witness : I should put an extra half-bushel of lime to every four bushels of siml .

      Mr . L . Jones : Did you ever make mortar for Mr . Freeke?—Witness : Yes . Mr . E . Jones : Would you have used different proportions of liine and sand at Mr . Frcek ' s ?—Witness : Perhaps I might . Mr . E . JoneB : Would you have put more sand ?—Witness : No . Mr . E . Jones : Then , how much more lime would you have put ?—Witness : Half a bushel .

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      Did you think yeu would please Mr . Holmes b putting less lime ' —Witness : No . Then why did you use less lime for Mr . Holmes ; than you were always in the habit of using for Mr . Freek?—Witness : Don't know . Did Mr . Holmes tell you to put less lime ?—The Witness , when pressed upon the subject , complained of being weak , and withdrew . The Coroner said he was sorry lie sheltered himself nnder the p lea af weakness , as he ( the coroner ) was very certain the witness could tell more if he pleased . Thomas Stockwell , bricklayer : I was employed by Messrs . Emraens in building the house in Alfredplace . I have examined the materials used . I think they were quite good enough . I never objected to the bricks or mortar . If I bad been building a bouse for myself , I should have used similar materials . I did not see the mortar mixed .

      Coroner : —What proportions of lime and sand were used?—Witness : I believe three barrows of sand to one of lime . Mr . E . Jones : Do you consk '« r the proportions of 4 to 1 would make good mortar ?—Witness : No ! It woul < l not bo good . Coroner : It has been sworn here thai there were four barrows to one , instead of three . Patrick Morra : Was never told how to mix mortar . ¦ Br Mr . Jones Thinks the proportions he used were four to one . Mr . E . Jones : Did you ever work on any public works?—Witness : YeB . On the Great Western Railway . Mr . E . Jones : Did you mix mortar there ?—Witness : Yes .

      How much more lime did you use m proportion ? —Witness : —Dont ' t know . One bushel . Were you told how to make it by an overlooker ? —Witness : No . The overlooker sometimes came , but it was left to me . Did you always , while there , make it in the same proportions?—Witness : —Yea . Were you long employed on the Great Western ? —Witness : Yes . Is it usual for a workman , using his own discretion , who has made mortar in one way during a long period , to make it differently afterwards without a reason ?— "Witness : No . As you had been so long in the habit of using one barrow of lime to three of the sand on the Great Western , why did you use one barrow of sand more at Mr . Ilolmes ' s ?—Don't know .

      Did you think that you would please your employers by so doing ?—Witness : No . A juror : Did you ever complain of the bouses being run up too fast f—Witness : No . It was very wet at first , but still I think sufficient time was allowed . Coroner : How do you account for the accident ? Witness : I cannot form an opinion . The scaffolding was built in an ordinary way . I consider the cliimneys were quite safe . Thero were eleven labourers engaged on the work .

      By a Juror : You have worked at a number of bui'dings ; have you ever seen tie-bonds ?— Witness : I have , and had them on this occasion . There weve iron ones also , which were bound over . Juror : Do you think they are as safe as the old system ?—Witness : Certainly not . Coroner ; Do you suppose the want of wood in the walls caused the fall ? — Witness : I cannot say that ; but I think they ought to allow us to use more wood . Ceroner : Did Mr . Biore ever order you to take down any park of the wall ' —Witness : Yes ; and it was taken down and rebuilt . Coroner : Did you ever see Mr . Donaldson , the district surveyor , at the works giving directions ?—Witness : I have seen him there , but he never gave me any directions . He inspected the houses , but never made any complaint .

      Mr . E . Jones : Mr . Donaldson stated on the previous investigation that he did complain . Thomas Stanelins , a carpenter , residing ' at King ' s-HeaH How . Old . Brompton , said : I was in the third liniifc nil Thursday evening . I was in the kitchen at the time . I made my escape aa fast as possible , and had scarcely got out of the house before it fell . Coroner : What , in your opinion , caused the accident?— Witness : I consider in consequence of the wet . weather that prevailed when they were commenced , that they had been run up too quick . The underwork had not sufficiently set to bear the weight of the upper part . Mr . E . Jones . How long dn you consider the houses ought to have taken building ? Witness : two months . How Ions did they take ? Witness : Five weeks .

      Coroner : Do you suppose the chimneys were teo heavy , and by their faljing the rest of the buildings were forced down ?—Witness : No , I think the party wall bulged in the middle , about the second floor ; the scaffolding was asufficicnt support to prevent the chimneys from toppling . Do you consider that there is any deficiency in the bonds used ?—Witness : I do . We are not allowed to put wood in the party walls , and iron will not stand so weH as wood . This is my own as well as the opinion of erery person with whom I have ever worked . Do yo think bond timber would have been more secure ?—Witness : Moat decidedly .

      The Coroner here stated , that , aa sufficient evi . dence appeared to have been gone into , the Jury would be prepared to consider their verdict , but was interrupted by the announcement that another witness was ready to be examined . Who is he ? Parish Officer : —A bricklayer's labourer . Coroner : We need not hear him ; we have heard suflicient evidence from them . Mr . E . Jones : I Rhould wish a competent surveyor to be appointed to examine the fallen buildings , and to pass his opinion on the materials used . Coroner ; 1 cann ot consent to that ; I think the materials may have deteriorated by the fall , and that would be unfair evidence . Mr . E . Jones : The quality of the mortar used could be ascertain ed ,

      The Coroner still objected , and was about to call upon the Jury to consider their verdict , when , amidst much confusion in the body of the hall Mr . Jones insisted upon being permitted to ask a few questions of Mr . Blore , the landlord's surveyor . Coroner : What is the nature of the questions you would ask ? Mr . E . Jones : Relative to the nature of the materials . Mr . Blore : I think the mortar was not good . There ought to have been more lime . Mr . E . Jones : What is your opinion of the sand uged j Witness : I think it was bad sand . I told them not to use it , but I cannot be answerable for what is done behind my back . What proportion of lime and sand is necessary for making good mortar ?—Witness : 3 tol . ^ Were those proportions used in this instance ?—Witness : No ! I tear there was not so much lime .

      Mr . Holmes ' s solicitor here asked Mr . Blore whether Mr . Ilolmes ' a houfea were not as good aa Mr . Richardson ' s . Mr . TCrneBt Jones objected to this question being put . The question was not whose houses were the best , but by whose fault a poor working man met his death . The Coroner : Certainly , the question cannot be entertained . Mr . E . Jones : Did you approve of the bricks used ?—Witness : The bricks used were not good enough for town houses . I objected repeatedly to Mr . Chappie and to the foreman about their use , and Mr . Holmes assured mo they should not be used .

      They were used notwithstanding . Too many bats were used . Bats were used in the footling . Coroner : What do you consider was thu immediate cause of the houses falling ?—Witness : The rapidity with which they were run up—the men running up the ladder , which was three stories high must have produced oscillation , which caused them to topple over . There cannot be anything gained in working up a wall more than i or 5 feet at a time as the first part will shrink , causing a crack , which will become more evident as the work proceeds . Nothing can justify the work being raised higher in any particular part than one scaffold , and where it comes down the workmen are certainly answerable for all the evils which result from such palpable oversight .

      Coroner ; Have you the power to compel the buildings to be erected according to your order , or stop the works ?—Witness : No : I cannot stop tho works , but I can withhold the certificate for the lease . Coroner : Mr . Donaldson has the power by the act of Parliament to see that the materials are good , or stop the works , has he not ? Witness : If he objected he should give the builder notice , and he would have to take them down , aud there is a penalty upon the builder for not complying with the provisions ol the act . Mr . Ernest Jones here requested the Coroner to si'der Mi . Holmes to produce his agreement with Messrs . Enimens . The Coroner ' . objected , amidst a general outcry from the jurors , ' among whom were several builders , against its production ,

      Mr . E . Jones : It is an important point in the evidence . Coroner : I do not see what it has to do with ifc . Mr . E . Jones : I understan d that Mr . Holmes igreed with . Mr . JEmiuens for the building of the

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      f - ' _ . _ ^ . ,.. ,,.- .,. bouses at 60 s . per rod : of brickwork , he finding the pricks . I am prepared to . shew , that , at the lowest computation , the cost of lime , sand , and labour , and erection of scaffolding , would come to far m r £ than 60 s . per rod , ' if fair ' materials were used . ij "oroner < ani ' d much confusion , stated that he could not consent to the production of the agreement , or enter into further evidence .

      Mr . Jones here rose to offer a few observations , but was prevented by the Coroner , the room was then cleared of strangers , and after ? u r , , ? S « - nearly two hours , the Jury returned the following special verdict :- " That tho deceased ; m a" 7 a ? kl | l « j by ,. the falling of certain houses in Alfred-place West , Old Brompton , and that the houses so fell because they were not securely built . And in returning this verdict the Jury express their conviction ( founded upon the evidence produced before them ) , that the said houses were built more - rapidly than they ought to have been , considering the <

      dampness of the weather , the height of the houses , and the directions of the Act of Parliament , which compelled the builder to construct the party-wall without bond timbers . At the same time , the Jury hope , that next year the erection of party-walls , with an-i without bond timbers , will be made a subject for leg- ' slative investigation , through the evidence of practical working builders , carpenters , and bricklayers , with a view to ensure safer modes of erecting places chiefly constructed of bricks . The Jury ,, moreover , cannot separate without stating their conviction , that the more effectual revision of f lie work

      in all its divisions was not exercised by the persons having authority over it all the time when the houses n question were being built . "—The inquiry lasted everal hours , and excited great interest .

      /Ottlkomma $Imuujs*

      / ottlKomma $ imuujs *

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      BKTjitfAL GrRKEy . —A friend will lecture at the Whittington and Cat , Church Row , on Sunday evening , November the 22 nd , at eight o ' clock . Subject—The Land and Commerce ; their relative capabilities of producing independence . —On Tuesday evening , a special meeting of the Land branch will bo held at 8 o'clock . Bolton . —The Chartists at Bolton inform their friends , that they have taken a large meeting room in Market Street , entrance at the Commercial Iua 1 ard . Open evety Sunday from 10 o ' clock in the forenoon until 9 at night . On Monday evening from half-past seven o ' clock to 10 ; also on Thursday and Saturday evenings . All letters for the Chartists of Bolton must be directed to William Woodiiead Pick * vance , IS , Duncan street , Bo'ton . Citt of London . —A special general meeting wil be held in the hall , Turuagain Lane , on Sunday evening , Nov . 22 at 6 o ' clock .

      Staly Bridge . —A public meeting of the Power Loom weavers will be he held in their meeting room , No . 55 King Street , on Tuesday the 24 th of Nov . Brighton—Artichoke Ijm Locality . —A special meeting of members of the Chartist Co-operative Land Company , will be held on Monday evening , Nov . 23 . Manchester—On next Sunday evening , Nov . 22 , 1840 , Mr . Thos . Clarke of the Executive Council , will lecture in the People's Institute . Chair to be taken at half-past six . Sheffield . —On Sunday , Nov . 22 nd , a discussion will take place in the Democratic Temperance Room , 83 , Queen Street . Subject—whether man was more happy before the introduction of theology , or since its introduction . " Chair to be taken at eight o ' clock .

      Huddersfield . —The members in this district will meet on Tuesday evening next , the 24 th inst ., at Turner ' s Temperance Hotel , when the election for the delegate to the Birmingham Conference will take place . Birmingham . —A general meeting of the shareholders of the Chartist Co-operative Land Company will take place on Mondiiy evening next , Nov . 23 rd , at No . Ill , llea-street , to elect a delegate to the Conference , at 8 , o ' clock . Mottbam . —On Sunday , November 22 nd , at two o ' clock , will be held a public meeting'of the shareholders ill the Land Company in tho Lecture Room , opposite the Bulls-head , Mottram . At a meeting of our Land members , held on the 15 th inst ., it was unanimously agreed : — " That Mr . Robert Wild should be put in nominnation , to represent the district branches in Cheshire at the forthcoming Land Conference .

      Nottingham—The members of the Chartist Cooperative Land Company in Branch No . 1 , paying Mr . J . Sweet in both sections , will meet in the large room at the Seven Stare , in Baker Gate , on Monday evening next , November 23 rd , at seven o ' clock . Oldiiam . —On Sunday ( to-morrow ) Mr . M'Grath , one of the Executive committee , will lecture in the School-room of the Working Man ' s Hall , Subject : —" The Charter and the Land . " Chair to be taken at six o ' cluck in the evening . The members of the Land Company , will meet in the above room a two o ' clock in tue afternoon for the purpose of electing a delegate to tho Land Conference , to be held in Bir « mingham on the 7 th of December .

      Halifax . —Mr . Bawden will lecture on Sunday ( to-morrow ) evening , at half-past six o ' clock , in the Working Man ' s Hall . The Library committee will meet this ( Saturday ) evening at seven o ' clock , the room will also be open at eight o ' clock , for reading the Northern Star and other papers . Tower Hamlets . —Dr . M'Douall will lecture . Subject : — " The Charter and the Land , " at tho Pewter Platter , White Lion-street , Norton Folgate , on Tuesday evening , November 24 th at eight o ' clock precisely .

      Metropolitan Committee . —This body will hold its ' next meeting at 83 , Dean-street , Soho , on Tuesday evening next , November 24 th , ' at eight o ' clock precisely . The Patriots ' , Victims ' , Widows ' , » nd Orphan's Relief Committee will also meet at tho same place and same hour , for the transaction of important business . Makylebonb Working Man ' s Hall . —A general meetiF . g of shareholders will be held at the Coach Painter ' s Arms , Circus-street , on Sunday evening next , November 22 nd , at seven o'clock precisely .

      Newcastle-on-Ttne . —The members of the Ch * rtist Cooperative Land Company are respectfully informed , that Mr . Martin Jude was nominated as delegate for this district , by this branch , on Sunday evening , November 16 th , and the members are requested to attend the meeting at Martin Judo ' s on Sunday evening , November 22 nd , and at six o ' clock to proceed with the election , and settle other important business . The members of the National Charter Association are particularly requested to attend at the same time and place , to nominate a new portion of the genei'al c 6 Uneil of the National Charter Association .

      Chartist Assembly and Reading Rooms , 83 , Deanstreet , Soho . —On Saturday evening next , November the 21 st , and two succeeding Saturday evenings , at half-past eight o ' clock precisely , a grand harmonic meeting will be held under the direction of the " Whitehorn Family , " admission threepence each . On Sunday evening next , November the 22 nd , at half-past seven , Mr . John Sewell will-lecture . —On . Monday evening next , November the 23 rd , a plain dress ball will be held under the direction of Messrs . Whitmore and Buckley , to commence at half-past eight precisely—and on Tuesday evening , December the 8 th , a dramatic benefit in aid of the tumU , under the patronage of T . S . Duncombe , M . P ., will be held at the Royal Marylehone Theatre . Tickets to be obtained at all places of meeting of tho Chartist trades , or Land Company's bodies , throughout the metropolis .

      Dewsbury .-oate .--A meeting of tho members of the Chartist Co-operative Land Company in this district , will beheld in the Chartist-room , Bond-street , ai 2 o ' clock in the afternoon , when all shaieliolders will have an opportunity to record their votes fora can dill ate tor tue Birmingham Conference . Mijjkrs Intelligence . —The next general delegate meeting of Lancashire Miners , will be held at the Bull ' s Head , Lamberhead-green , Pemberton , near Wigan , on Monday , tho 30 t . li November . Chair to be taken at 11 o ' clock in the foren » on . There will also be a public meeting , which will be addressed by W . P . Roberts , Esq ., and several of the accredited agents of the Miners' Association . Lkickstkr The shareholders of the Chartist

      Cooperative Land Company , are requested to meet at 87 » Church-gftte , to elect a delegate for the Land Conference , and to nominate a local Secretary and . Treasurer , also the Co-operative Provision Company meet in the afternoon at two o ' clock , at the same place , to elect their directors . Working men thac wish to take the advantage of co-operation , will do well by attending , as there is a few more shares to dispose of . Stockpom . —A general meeting of the shareholders ol . the Land Compan , will be held injtho committee-room of the Chartist fnatitution , Bomber ' s Brow , on Monday evening , at 8 o'clock , to elect a delegate to the Land Conference , to bo held at Birmingham . Mr . William Dixon will lecture here on Sunday Best , at C o ' clock in the evening .

      Hull . —The shareholders of the Chartist Co-operativo Laud Company are requested to attend a general meeting next Sunday evening , Nov . 22 nd , at the Ship Inn , Church-lane , for the purpose of electing a delegate to the Birmingham Conference , and otner important business connected with this branch . City Localitv . — On Sunday morning next , the reading Society will lucet- and discuss several artioles from Cobbett ' s Cottage Companion , to commence at eleven o ' clock . On Sunday evening at six o'clock , the National Charter Association will meet , when every member is requested to attend , the meetings will take vlace in the coffee-room . Mr . J ™ t Jones' lectures will not take place until further notice in consequdnce of various alterations m the hall .

      BAUNSLEY .-The forthcoming Conference . - The candidates for the forthcoming Conference Peter lloey and John Vallance of Barnsie ?; George Bariiett oHlull , and George Cavill of Shefhcld . SiioitKDiTCit . —A lecture will be delivered next Tuesday evening , at 122 , Brick-lane , Railway Engine " Coffee House , By J . 11 . Shepherd . Sub . ject : " The Laud ; " to commence at six o ' clock .

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      THE COLLIERS AND THEIR DETRACTORS . T » THE EDITOB . OP THE NOttTHERN BTaB . Deaii Sir , —I hope yon will do us the justice to insert the inclosed resolution in your next papar , and also give up the name of the person styling himself a Chartist collier , who , I can assure you , has been palming upon ? your good nature , and writing the most gross falsehoods respecting our lecturers and other officials for some base purpose . At any rate

      the seeds of dissension have been sown , and unless something is done to counteract its growth , you will be , I must say it , . and I say it fearlessly , the main cause of the evil through your credulity in giving publicity . to letters calculated to do injury , without making aBj ^ fliquir ; as to the facts . Allow me , therefore /' again'to request you to give up the name of your correspondent , and also publish my solemn asseveration that his letter is one continued tissue of malignant falsehood , and slanderous libels upon the officials and lecturers , which I shall be prepared to prove ns soon as I know with whom I have to deal . As regards the lecturers striving to injure the Northern Star , I have on a former occasion stated , and I again reiterate the statement—' tis a base lie .

      Yours respectfully , Wm . Grocott , Secretary to the miners of Larcashire . Copy of resolution passed nan . eon . & £ a meeting of the delegates at Rugby , representing the Lancashire miners , on Monday last , the 16 th of November , 1846 : — "That this county delegate meeting consider the article inserted in the last number of the Northern Star to be a eross and wilful libel upon our lecturers and ether officials , and we agree for the officials to answer it if they think proper , as we have the greatest confidence in our lecturers and leaders ; nor do we thank the Editor of the Star or any other person for interfering with the affairs of the

      Miners Association , as we consider oursidves fully competent to manage our own business . We also request the Editor of the Star to give up the name of the Chartist collier , who is evidently doing all he can to cause disunion in our ranks , and who is manly enough to stab in the dark , but who has not courage to give his name or address . " Signed on behalf of the miners of Lanchashire , " Wm . Meadow , General Treasurer ;' John Hall , General Secretary ; Robert Marsh , Edmund Kershaw and Wm . Cheetham , Execute Committee ; Wm . Meadowcrbft , County Treasurer ; and Wm . Grocott , County Secretary . " P . S . —We trust yon will do us the justice to insert this as publicly as you did the charge against

      us . [ We freely give insertion to the above , and only wish that the Colliers had evinced a more timely objection to our interference in their concerns ; that is . before we incurred a heavy loss rather than withhold news from them , which was published ONLY IN THE " STAR . " We have received many votes of thanks for our previous interference from those who now command our non-interference , but in reply to th ' s portion of the appeal , we beg to assure the parties that we shall still continue to exercise our judgment , and to criticize without further interference upon their part than the right to reply , which "hall be at all times afforded . We have frequently

      been requested to publish communications signed " A Working Miner , &c , &c , " and it is rather too hard for those who sought anonymous protection for themselves , now to chastise us for according it to others ; it is rather too hard upon the other hand , to saddle upon our credulity a result which but for our interference , may otherwise have occurred . This mode of dealing with the . question , very forcibly reminds us of Mr . O'Connell ' s tactics , resorted to , to break up the Repeal movement , and then saddling it Hpon the physical force men . In Mn Grocott ' 8 integrity , zeal , and ability , we have the most unbounded confidence , and instead of bristling up in a body at our comment , those who have appended their name to th » resolution should have borne in mind , that w

      flock . " We never doubted , as we stated , the sincerity of the lecturers or the managing body . We said that our comment was to be so read , and therefore we find nothing to apologise for , while at the same time , we beg most respectfully to decline furnishing the name of our correspondent , which the requisionists themselves would be the first to censure us for j and they should bear in mind that we stopped a correspondence upon the same subject some months ago , which bore the name of the writer . In conclusion , we beg to assure the requisionists that we have received other letters , not intended for publication , from workingminers . siating their perfect satfsf ' action at the manner in which the affairs of the Bociety have been conducted . Honest and straightforward lecturers and managers stand in no danger from criticism , while we would strongly recommend those who have objections to urge to state them openly , instead of SLYLY IN PUBLIC HOUSES . —Ed . N . S . ]

      ; Ne Bustered Hands,Rthefustian

      ; nE BUSTERED HANDS , rTHEfUSTIAN

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      VOL T NO A 7 A TONTXVN SATURDAY , NOVEMBER 21 ; 1846 . ¦ pbice fitmpknce or » Uli . A , JS \ J . 4 , 4 4 b- . LAALN . UUl . X , OAJ . KJ XtX / -O- x ., ¦»¦ : !? .+. * ' - * .. . . . . Five Shillings and Sixpence per Quarter ,

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      - r- ., / - : . ' yd , < £ ** * & ¦ AND NATIONAL TRADIB * JQtJRNAL .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 21, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1393/page/1/