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    USITED SOCIETY OF JOUBHEYSIEN BASKET MAKERS . TO THE PUBLIC IM THE SEIGHBODBHOOD OF WOLVERHiHFTOH , BremHGHAM , &C . We , the Executive Committee , of the above society bavin ; read a paragraph which appeared in the Birmixg . lam Journal of the 14 th alt ., which is so far atvarinnce ¦ wi th the truth , that we feel called upon to get the public right , by laving facts before them , which we dare the writer in the Birmingham Journal to refute . We are full y aware of the unequal contest in which we hare enga £ «< l , owing to the fact , that the columns of those newspapers , which the emplojers select * for the promulgation of their ialsehoadr , are mostly closed against the workmen , and , therefore , they have to adopt the only course left , viz ., "To appeal to the only paper thatjrill da justice to the wot king classes , the JSorthtrn Star , " Or the more expensive one of p rinting placards . Let the masters however , rest assured , that we will spare neither labour nor expense in the course of " Uifibt against Might . " We will now call the attention of the public to the statements contained in the paragraphs alluded to . The writer of which states , that the journeymen basket makers wanted an advance of 25 per cent on the recent prices . If he knew anything of the matter , he was well aware that this was a gross and malicious falseheoa , and published it for the purpose of leading the public into error , and to injure the men on strike , by depriving them Of public sympathy through misrepresentation , or , if he did not know the facts , did it to gratify the tyrannical will of the masters , and , iu either case is justly intitkd the indigGutiun of an impartial and discerning public , and we boldly assert , that the advance asked for by the men is only 121 per cent .

    Tha journeymen bi ^ ket makers , of Wolrerhatnpton , Birmingham , and their vicinities , have for a" length of time been working for wages , which are inadequate to the demands of their families , and , seeing an advance take place in almost every other branch of trades , they felt confident that they were justly entitled to the same treatment , from their employers , that other men were receiving . They , therefore , made the request for the above-mentioned advance in their wages , and as a convincing proof that their demands were both just and reasonable , we are proud to state , that a portion of the employers at Birmingham are giving the advanced price ,

    We cannot refrain from calling the attention of the public to the grass ignorance of the writer of that paragraph when he states , " the employers are not able to pay the advance owing to the competition of the box case and crate makers a greater proof than this . " A greater proof than this cannot be prodnced , that the writer in the jBimungham Journal understands nothing of the business of the basket making . And this specimen of his abilities make him look very rediculons in the eves of the trade , in fact , the intelligence of that man is at a low ebb , who is not aware that neither boxes or crates will answer the same purpose as baskets . We would , therefore , seriously advise him , when he again takes upom himself to enlighten the public , to select a subject that he perfectly understands and at the same time to stick to the truth .

    We can scarcely refrain ourselves whilst reading the following , which has eratnanated from this " man of the Journal . We give in entire so that it will not lose any of its beauties : — " The masters were forced to refuse employment to any person belonging to the General Union , in consequence of the dictatorial conduct of committees located in dis'ant parts of the kingdom , and who were totally , ignorant of the peculiar character of the trade in the towns which they attempted to bring under arbitrary rules . " In answer to this we beg to Btate , that only about eight of the employers in the whole of the kingdom have taken this unwarrantable advantage of the men fur belonging to the General Union , We are also told that , "there is dictatorial committees in distant parts of the country . " We are notawareof nny committees with the exception of one sad the seat of government of the society , and as for being "ignorant of the peculiar character of the trade " , we are notaware of any peculiar character , whatever , in basket making that the trade in general is not aware of .

    But then , forsooth , we wish to place them under " arbitrary law * . " In order to shew the public the nature of our arbitrary conduct towards the employers , -we copy the 77 th Law of the basket maker ' s Society and leave them to judge for themselves , whether we wish to act in an arbitrary manner or not . 77 th law— " That no member shall be entitled to his trampcard unless he has finished all the work he may lave commenced or reckoned for at the shop which he is leaving , or working up all the stuff he ma ; have wet or prepared , or some other person undertakes to work it np fer him with the employers consent . " We now call the at ' ention of the public to another portion of this production , which says ;— " That the empliy-» a uave no objection to the workmen forming a Society i- Cjion in their own locality for regulating the rate of Wjges ana the hours of labour . "

    Of what use we would ask is " Local Unions ! " They are altogether powerless in effectually resisting the encroachments which unprincipled employers are ever making upon their workmen . This has befen proved b y sad experience in all branches of industry , but how much more in the Basket making trade ! where the numbers are so small that there wa « no assistance rendered them but what they could render themselves in time of needin ihsir own localities they wonlj ever fall a prey to the grinding and over-reaching practices of those who are desirous of robbing them of the rights of their industry , — andthii the employers are perfectly aware of . Hence ' their willingness for the men in their employ to be in the possession of a power they could crush at any moment . They are convinced that if the influence of the whole trade is brought to bear cpon any locality , the men have the power of demanding a "fair days wages for a fair davs work . "

    This , therefore , and not the " dictatorial conduct" of he Committee , is what makes the employers wish to break up the General Union , what , we ask , would be the condition of tbe men when either the want of work , or ths tyrannical conduct of their employers , compels them to go on tramp . If the Unions were local , where would tiny get that assistance so necessary to a man on tramp ? 2 fo , no . Mr . Scribbler , we have learnt by sad experience , that if our Union must be useful , it must be national , in orde : to enable us to counteract those evils resulting from the fluctuation in trade , and , if you will , to prevent employers dictating their own terms to the workmen . Therefore every reasonable man will see the ruinous consequences which would inevitably follow the adoption of merely Local Unions .

    n e are treatea to a precious rigmarole about" Travel ling Committees , Ac . / 'living upon the industrious , and bringing misery and distress on hundreds of families . But why trouble onrselves with such falsehoods ? the whole trade belonging to the Unions in the kingdom , is only about € 00 . so much for the truthfulness of the writer in the BirmingJiam Journal . We will now take leave by calling attention to what the masters , in their circulars , states about the Bee-hire shop . They say this shop is not occupied by Wblverhampton men but strangers .

    They know perfectly well this statement is false , and that the men employed at lhat shop , are the men late in the employment of the masters of that town , and from ths neighbouihood . But we eugbt not be surprised at He ravings and weak inventions of the employers , when they see the workmen of this country are adopting the plan of working for themselves in cases of s trikes , instead of walking the streets in idleness as heretofore . This is , indeed , galling to them , and beating them with their own rods . And we trust that the public of Wolverhampton and the neighbourhood , ' will see their interest in purchasing baskets from those who are enemies to oppression wherever it is found , and who are now proving the great fact , th 3 t workmen can work for themselves as vreil as fur employers who get rich and consequently arrogaai out of the workmens industry . Signedfor , andon behalf of the Executive Committee of the United Society of Basket-makers , J . A . PjtLHEB , General Secretary . TERMINATION OF TUE STRUGGLE BE TW 1 XTTIIE WOOLCOMBERSOF KEIG 1 I LEI AND THEIR EMPLOYERS .

    TO IHB POBUC AT LAItGE . Most Respected Friends , —The strong and protracted struggle in which we have lately been engaged with our employers having been brought to a sudden and unexpected termination , we consider ourselves bound in d-jty to lay the cause before you , hoping our conduct will meet the approbation of all our friends and supporters . You are aware that our struggle commenced under peculiar circumstances , and that we were driven into our position against oar with . Tbe fact of three influential manufacturers having given us the advance of a farthing per pound on combed wool , induced us , in justice to both them and onrselves , to endeavour te bring others to that standard , and in the prosecution of this object we wtre turned from our employment . Being thus deprived not

    only of the means of prosecuting our object of procuring the advance from the manufacturers sectionally , but of the means of existence itself , the only alternative left us ires either to humble ourselves to our employers bv asking their forgiveness for trying to better our miserable condition , or to appeal to the public , and trust to their Support . To the first of these alternatives we were determined never to submit , and decided , upon the latter through necessity . How far this appeal to a humane and generous British public succeeded , may be best explained by the feet that twelve or fifteen hundred woolcombers without work , funds , or other ordinary means of existence , have maintained a straggle with their employers for fourteen weeks , without being beholden to them daring that time for one stroke of work .

    As our object has always been the improvement of our condition , and not the boast of victory over our employers , we have given them every opportunity of settling the dispute upon fair and honourable terms , and have omitted no chance of waiting upon them when the ; seemed indined for an interview . For this purpose we waited upon them a few days ago with several propositions , on the rejection of which we had almost decided upon making no more overtures , but of trusting entirely to the chance of carrying our point through the strength Of publicsupport , Whilst deliberating upon this , a me-

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    diator , in the person of Frederick Greenwoo < V , ? v J . P ., of Ryshworth Hall , presented himself amongst us , and , after expressing his sympathy for our sufferings , and the sincerity of his wibhw for the settlement of the dispute , he proposed terms of a compromise which we considered equal , if no t , perhap ., supenor to some of those we ouLlve . had proposed . One of the last we had presen ted to our employers was , "Would ttey give ustheadvanee tiathefirst day of January ¦ next ! " while Mr Greenwood proposed that we should resume our work at the present wages , and be assured of a permanent adrance from that day and forward , unless some very severe depression in trade prevented it . Our long dependence upon the Public and their noble conduct towards us , induced us to lay the case before some of our best Friends and Supporters , who on giving their approval of the measure , and the confidence we had in the influence and respectability of the Gentlemen who had proposed it , produced our present decision .

    In bringing this long and hard-fought battle to a close , the Committee return their most sincere thanks to all individuals and bodies who have contributed towards thiirsupport . This struggle has convinced them that a determination exists amongst the British Public both Hich aud Poor , that the condition of the Labouring Man shall be improved . Our true condition has gone forth to this Public , and although we have not yet received the small advance for which we have been contending , we now feel confident of both that and something more . We believe that on no previous contest for wages has any body of men met with more generous sympathy or support , and we believe that few have ever felt more grateful for i t . We trust that our owh ' conduct during this extraordinary struggle has been such as to meet the approbation ef all who have lent us a helping hand . Although

    surrounded by circumstances of the most aggravating nature we are happy to say we have notbeeu provoked to one single outrage or breach of the peace . We have had working men coming in bodies to our town , from the surrounding towns and villages , to take away our werk , and prevent us from realizing the small benefit we required for both them and ourselves , while in the very town of Bradford , tbe seat and centre of the worsted trade , which should have set the example of supporting wages , hundreds of miserable beings in our own line of business , nave been ready to fight with one another for our work carried there by our employer , yet in the midst of these terrible disadvantages we have contended for our right in perfect cor . fidence of the justice of our cause , and the support of a kind and intelligent Public . We are now convinced that had one half of our courage , resolution , ( and we may add ) good conduct ' been exhibited by the woolcombers of Bradford and surrounding distriets , not only aa advance of one farthing , but of one penny per pound might have been added to their miserable

    wages . Returning you again our most sincere thanks for your unexampled support and kindness , and trusting that although our dispute is settled for the present , you will not forget our still miserable condition . Believe us to remain , " . Yours most truly and sincerely , The Committee of the Keighlet WootCOMBEBS , The following resolutions along with this address , were all passed unanimously , at a public meeting of woolcombers and others , on the evening of Monday last , November 23 , 184 G . 1 st . That we the woolcombers of Keigbley and its vicinity in public meeting assembled , do hereby return our most sincere thanks to Lord George Bentinck , M . P ., W . B . Ferrand , Esq . H . P ., and all other Noblemen end Gentlemen who have supported us by pecuniary and other means during our long and protracted struggle .

    2 nd . That a vote of thanks is due and is hereby given to the Grocers , Drapers , Publicans , Butchers , und the rest of the tradespeople of Keighley , for their unexampled and cheerful support . ' 3 rd . That our best thanks are due to the poor-loom weavers , shoemakers , joiners , stonemasons , workmen of the various iron trades , with all others of every other trade , who have so honourably and so powerfully assisted us . - 4 th . That we return our best thanks to all the inhabitants of the surrounding towns and villages , as well as those of other towns throughout the country who have kindly responded to our call for assistance . 5 th . That our best thanks are due and are hereby given to the Metropolitan and Provincial Press , who have advocated our cause ; more especially the Daily Times , tbe Morning Pott , the Northern Star , and the Halifax Guardian .

    6 th . That the thanks of this meeting are due and are hereby given to the workpeople of Mr . William Lund , for their generous conduct on behalf of the woolcombers , and also to Mr . Lund himself , for hi 3 impartial and honourable conduct in taking back bis workpeople and woolcombers . . . 7 th . That the thanks of this meeting are due to the committee for their steady and persevering conduct in conducting and guiding the struggle . Keighly , Nov . 24 th , 1846 . TO THE MEMBERS OF THE GENERAL UNION OF CARPENTERS OF GREAT BRITAIN . Bbothebs . —We , the Members of the London Lodge , in now addressing you , wish to call jour serious atten lion to our present position as a Trade . We have been united as one trade throughout the country for fourteen years this tune ; and we have only hern able to maintain the defensive position . Witness the movement that has been made in Manchester , Birkenhead , &c , this summer , and judge for yourselves wfty that step wag unsuccessful . Was it because we , as a trade , were not united , or that we were not united with all other trades , so that there might be one unity of feeling and action , one common cause for . the sons of labour to aim at , so as to destroy that jealous feeling that unfortunately has too long existed between the different sections of labour , the high and low paid trades ?

    We readily admit "the labourer is worthy of his hire , " and whether he be a hand-loom weaver or a mill-wright , he ougut to receive " a fair day ' s wage for a fair day's work . " But how is it that they who produce everything have no command over what they produce ! and that they who produce nothing , and have nothing but capital , ( accumulated labour ) , have the power in their hands to crush your labour and yourselves , whenever the demon , avarice , may prompt them to do so ? The reason is plain to us ; they only rule by your sufferance ; they gain all their power by your apathy . Were we all united ia me common cause , " each for all , and all for each , " and to know no grade or class , aud for labour to support laboar , as capital does capital , then we might expect a brighter day to dawn on the sous of toil ; but t ill then we are creating a monster ( capita . ) that is not only robbing us of our share of the fruits of our labour , but is Using our labour to defeat us in every way , " and cur like bites the kand that feeds it . "

    3 ut , . Brothers , is it not time that we should look for a better system to work on , in maintaining what little ire have , or in endeavouring to gain what we are justly entitled to ? Past experience has too plainly told us that , individually , we are helpless ; sectionally , we have failed ; but nationally , we must gain cur object , and to gain that great object , ( which ought to be the aim of every working man ) the rights of labour , we call on you , with us , to join the National Association of Trades for the Protection of Industry , and thereby concentrate your power with your fellow man ' s , so that when you or any other producer is attacked , we shall feel his cause as our own , and rise as one man to resist it ; not by the old , now almost obsolete , method of subscribing our pence to enable them to walkabout the streets producing nothing , but to fight capital with capital , aud by creating a capital of our own , place the working man in such a position that be may be independent of those that have nothing but their capital to depend on .

    We have watched the progress of tbe above Association from its birth ; we have ever been ready with our mite ; we believe it to be the best and surest stop that could be taken in our present position to gain our rights , and tbe rights of all others ; and having hud a better opportunity of judging of its capabilities than many of you have had , we rail on you to aid us in carrying out the grand object it has in view , viz . —tbe emancipation of labour . By referring to the Balance Sheets of the Association , you will perceive that nearly all the towns where we have a . large number of members , our trade belongs to it ; Scotland and Ireland ( though of late they have been separated from us ) belong to it ; and by our Union belunging to it , en majse , we shall generate and cultivate that brotherly feeling which ought at all times to exist between man and his fellowjman , without any distinction ot trade , creed , country , or colour .

    Brothers , we wish you seriousl jt creflect on this . We should deeply regret being obliged to withdraw from that Union ef our Trade which we have so long adhered to ; and we are convinced that the majority of our members will not continue to belong to our Union as it is at present constituted , with only a portion ef our lodges in the Association . It is-our wish to hold out the hand of friendship to all that circumstances has obliged to leave their homes to seek for labour with us ; but we would ask you , would it not be better for us all to belong to the National Association for Mutual Protection ,- whereby we might avail ourselvts of the assistance of all , and thereby employ our men in case of a turn-out ( which all must admit is far superior to paying them for producing nothing ) , and keep our owa Union for relieving our tramps , the making good losses of tools by fire , the burial of our dead , and the sharing the expense of sending away those individuals who are ever too ready in all strikes to encroach on the pecuniary resources of their fellow man when he is struggling for his rights .

    Should the whole of our lodges throughout the country join the Association , it will greatly reduce the expease of our Union for the support of turn-outs , as , by belonging to both , an allowance of one-fourth tbe average wages in case of a turn-out , in addition to the as . sistance from ths National Association , would place the men in ; uch a position as the employers would soon conic to terms ; and we will endeavour to show you the evil that wculd ensue if osly a portion of the lodges belonged to it , as by that ( us it is at present constituted ) a lodge at 24 s . per week turning out against a reduction , or ior un advance of wages , would receive ( if not employed ) from the Association-Its ., and from our Union 12 s . per week , thereby receiving more wages thau if in actual employ . We will briefly state a few of the benefits conferred by tbe Association on the working man . The documunt was presented to a number of shoemakers in London last February ; tbe Association took up the case , and have employed the men ever since . I t materially assisted in causing tbe document to be withdrawn from the builders of Lancashire , Cheshire , and Yorkshire , last summer ; it

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    nabled the shoemakers of Denbigh and Holy well , in North Wales , to gain an advance in their miserable wages ; it has employed the horse-nail makers of Worcestershire , that their masters attempted to reduce , thi-» ilk glovers of Duffield , and framework-knitters of Nottingham and other places , that the masters have attempted to sacrifice for taking a prominent part during trade disputes ; and later still , have gained an advance at Cumelin , and prevented a reduction at St . Ninians , Scotland , among the nail . makers , at ft trifling coBt . We have great pleasure in stating , thot , in every case where they are employing the men , they find a profit instead of a sacrifice .

    We wish to impress as forcibly as possible on your minds , that our object is to create union , not to destroy it ; and , by placing our Union ou a firmbaBis , to do the gran test possible amount of good to our trade , and all others . We hope you will seriously consider the points set forth in this address , and favour us with the opinion of your lodges as soon as you can . ¦ ... { signed , by order of the body , Jebehiah Cassidi , President . John Bosn , Corresponding Seeretary , 1 , York-street , Lambeth , London , : ± & £ iFw < 25 th , 18 * 6 ., ; : ;™

    THE SPITALPIELDS' WEAVERS . On Saturday night , at nine o ' clock , a meeting of the Broad Silk Handloom Weavers Union of SpUalfields , was held at the Crown and Anchor , Waterloo Town , Bethnal-green , to consider the expediency of adopting the principles of the " National Association of United Trades for . the Protection of Native Industry . " Deputations attended from that Association , and from a branch one in Spitalfields , consisting of Mr . Robson , Mr . Sully , Mr . Cutter , < &c , who explained the principles of their plan at a previous meeting , from which this was an adjournment , tui&j Mr . G . Ferdinando in the chair . The meeting was addressed by Messrs . T . Ferdinando , Berry , Rob 3 on , Branchflower , De la Force , and Poyton . The following resolution was adopted : —

    That we , the members of the Broad Silk Handloom Weavers ' Union , of Spitalfields , do fully apprecia te the views of the National Association of Trades , aud are deeply sensible that the Association is capable to produce avastamountof benefit to the working classes of this country ; but seeing that the eilk trade of this country ie severely injured in the superior branches by foreign importation , we are therefore of opinion that the National Association of Trades cannot work out the redemption of the Bilk trade of this country without Governmentalinterference , bj securing the home market for British producers ; and we are also of opinion that some restrictions should be placed on machinery , seeing that manual labour has been superseded without producing a corresponding benefit to the entire community , and we are also of opinion that the National Association of Trades cannot emancipate tbe working men of England while foreign importations are allowed to paralyse tbe British market . Finally , we adopt aa our motto , " Protection to British Industry , Agriculture , and Manufactures . "

    THE MINERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM , It appears , are once more awaking from the dormant and lethargic state . The largest meeting that has taken place in either of these ceunties since the termination of the strike in August , 1844 , was holden on the 19 th ult ., at Readwell Hills , in the county of Durham , at which such a glorious revival was displayed as has not been witnessed since the Monster Meetings of that erer memorable period in this district . For many months past scarcely a pay day has gone by without producing and inflicting its manifold grievances more severely than those of the previous one;—stoppages of wages earnedhardly and . honestly earned—were become of common occurrence ; and fines , unduly and unjustly levied , . were the discouraging expectations , of ho workman on ^ is approach to the pay table . This system , generally speaking , has not been a stationary , but a progressive one , until at length "the lust straw has broken the camel's back : " the circumstance alluded to , we will

    britfly relate : — THE DEB WENT MINING COMPANY ( and let them enjoy the whole of the unenviable distinction which our CAPITALS can give them , ) insisted that three boys should be " put" upon a trum road in the pit that was so broken up with wear and teur , as to be totally unfit any longer to be used for its original purpose , in fact , the boys had not sufficient strength to move the loaded waggons of coal along the inequalities of the broken rails . The three " putters " stated to tbe deputy overman their inability to perform the work required until the rails were put into a proper state of repair ; this demi-efficial insisted they should do so whether strong enough or not ; the rails did well enough last mouth , why not this one , they were something the worse for wear , but what of

    that . The result was , the boys ascended from the pit , and on the next day they refused to descend again until the tram road , was properly repaired . In this dilemma , the overman alluded to insisted upon five of the coal hewers "putting" their own coals along the broken rails ;—this mandate the hewers did not refuse to obey in words , but with that sulleuness , oppression is wont to produce , retired silently from the performance of the unusual task assigned them . Irritated at the very idea of its command ? being unobeyed , though not tangibly disobeyed , was intolerable and unbearable . The strong arm of tbe IiAvr must be put in requisition , aud so it was — the five men and the three boys were aroused Irons their rest at near midnight and taken into custody ; they were subsequently conveyed to Lanchester , and charged before one magistrate with a breach of that clause of their bond , which binds the men to labour during certain terms , but does not bind ihe employer to supply that employment , or make recompense to the employed for

    the loss they have to sustain by being laid idle . In vaiu the men—unassisted by professional talent—contended that they were not bound men , they had signed no bond , had . never been required , or even asked , to siga one : — equally vain for the boys to assert that being minors as well as miners , they could not become legally bound without the consent and participation of their parents , or guardians in the act . No . No . All this amounted to nothing in tbe estimation of tbe Justice , (?) he had patiently heard the statement of Mr . Joshua Whitfield , the viewer , that a bond was in , the colliery office , —that the uffairs of the colliery , and all employed on and in the works , muttaecessarily be regulated by that bond , —that they considered every man so employed to be bound by that document , whether he knew of its existence ! or not , and that the very fact of his entering the service of the company was prima facie evidence of hit ; duty to obey the conditions of THE BOND IN THE OFFICE , whether it had been specifically pointed out to him or not .

    This specimen of the task-master ' s logic from so perfectly undoubted an authority as Mr . Whitfield , Wae supported with ardour by Mr . Marshall , of Durham , solicitor ; in fact , it was thought by some that his fee on this occasion had been more weighty than usual , his hasty , bouacing , and unmeaning noise seemed to indicate this to have been the case : but to be brief , and draw this part of the narrative to a close , it is sufficient to state that the Justice (? J , the only one on the bench to hear the case , took upon himself—single-handed—to exercise an authority , the legality of which we not merely doubt , but confidently DENY . He , the said Justice , took upon himself the responsibility of sentencing the five men and the three bays to various terms of imprisonment in the county gaol of Durham ; they were committed accordingly , and at the time we write are still languishing in the cells of the dungeon—we hesitate not to say — both improperly and illegally .

    There , reader ; now you have a clue to the cause why the long smothered flame of freedom has again burst forth—thanks to the tyranny that has produced it , notwithstanding the decided preference we should have given , had principle produced the like effect . Good will arise from evil . These tyrannical acts aroused the entire district as magically as the mandate of the tyrant Gesler emboldened William Tell , and aroused the brave to a just sense of their DUTY TO THEMSELVES . An attempt at re-union was simultaneously made , and a deputation- sent to Mr , William Kolk , Newc&stle-upon-Tyne , the assistant of Mr . W . P . Roberts , the miners'

    attorney-general , with instructions for him to request the attendance of the latter gentleman on the scene of tyranny as speedily as possible . No time was lost iu making the necessary arrangements for his visit , and as soon as these were completed , Mr . Price , one of the accredited agents of the Miners' Association , left Newcastle , and held a preliminary meeting on the evening of Wednesday , the 18 th , at the spacious rooms of Mr . Michael Walker , Reed well Hills . In thr . course of his well received address on tbe necessity and benefit of Union . He was frequently interrupted by the loud cheers of his delighted audience .

    Ou Thursday , the 19 th instant , the morn broke forth with unusual splendour for this period of the year . Early in the forenoon , a pbieton , from Newcastle , conveying Messrs . Kolk , Hammond , Embleton , &c ., &c , to the place of meeting , was recognised passing through Shotley Bridge , and was greeted with h earty cheers , which echoed from one body of men te another , as they contiuu « d their route along Black Hill , Lead Gate , Bury Edge , < kc , to the appointed place of meeting , Readwell Hills , on their arrival at which they were received with thundering cheers . Shortly afterwards the music and cheers in the distance announced the near approach of

    W . P . ROBERTS , ESQ ., accompanied in his vehicle from Durham , by Mr . Michael Walker , the worthy host of tbe inn near whieh the meeting was to be held . Tiiis had the effect of causing the vast multitude assembled almost instantaneously to form in procession , aud march out to meet their friend . The scene that ensued was truly an exciting and glorious one . The loud and long-continued cheers of such an immense body of workmen of various grades and occupations , the incessent congratulations of their wives mingling in sweet concert to the tune of

    " See , the conquering hero comes !" which the Bury Edge baud played with great spirit and precision , aud the banners floating in the breeze , in the sunbeams o ' er his head , must have given to Mr . Roberts a reception on his re . appe » rance in the north he cannot but be proud of , however conscious he may feel that his former services and present devotion t » the cause of labour , eminently deserve the distinction voluntarily uwarded to him . On his arrival at Ecadwell Hill , he alighted under deafening salutes—not of the murderous cannou , but of the spontaneous cheers of the groat assemblage . Public AIeeting was held at 1 , p . m . On the motion of Mr . James Price , that old veteran in the cause of the miners , Mr . William Hammond , was called and most enthusiastically elected to tbe chair ,

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    Mr HAMKOIfD , who , in a neat and concise speech , opened the business of the day ; on ruing , hf was loudij greeted . He stated the honour he felt to be conferred upon him by the meeting unanimously calling bimtothe Chair He hoped the miners would soon confer a higher honour on themsdves by again uniting . He trusted ; the good senkelof the meeting would enftrce impartiality , riv ^ everj speakerhlruninteruptedhearlng . andinretuni t invited each one who desired so to do , to require an explanation from any speaker at the close of h . s observations . He dwelt feelingly on the duty , of both speakers and hewers , and trusted the day was near at hand when the latter would cheerfully adopt the advice of the former . With these few remarks , he begged leave smidst loud cheers , to sit down , and introduce to the notice of the meeting . ' ... ..

    Mr . BENJiMtK Ehblwok , who , on presenting himself , was also loudly , cheered , and advised the meetiug in the words of Milton — " Awake , arise , or be for ever fallen ; " The old " man of wars man" made an excellent apeech , ond was loudly cheered . Mr . JAMES Pbicb , Of Lancashire , who was equally received , went into a very lengthy detail of the almost innamerabla advantages which the miners of Lancashire had derived Jrom their union . , Mr . Kelk , on presenting himself , was received with the hearty plaudits of the immense assemblage . He congratulated the meeting on the improved aspect of the affairs of the miners of the North , and exhorted them boldly and fearlessly to Imitate , individually , and collectively , the phn adopted , with success unexampled in the struggles of labour ngainst the undue influence of capital , by their brethren of Lancashire , and thereby extend to the North a continuation of the train of blessings which union—well based and well managed union—had

    conferred apon that district . Mr . Price had truty observed the employers of the miners in Lancashire would employ none but unionists . Wby would the * not ? Because the men had the management of their own affairs , were united , and would strike at any colliery in a body as one man , should the employment of one not belonging to their body be attempted . Mr . Kelk then drew the at . tention of the meeting to the undue operation of superabundant wealth , over all labour , and kindly explained that , whenever production exceeded the required consumption , all the excess found its way into the hands of wealthy speculators , and added greater weight to the iron scourge that oppressed them » U . To remedy this growing evil , he advinedall producers of wealth to produce no more in any department than the actual consumption required therein , and adopt a restriction of their hours of labour as a means , —combined with union to that end , and concluded a well . received speech amid the hearty cheers of his hearew .

    W . P . Roberts , Esq ., who , on presenting himself , was received with rapturous plaudits , commenced somewhat humourously by stating that he scarcely knew what he had come there fur , or what he had to say . He thought the principal thing he had to inform them , was , that he w » s there and gave occular demonstration of that fact , aud that he was now quite ready as he ever had been to come among ' them , redress their wrongs , and preserve inviolate their rights ; but , to enable him to do this , they must give him strength , and . that strength could only rise from their UNION ; and that without it he was weak and powerless for their good ; but with it , he had no doubt he could soon emancipate the miners of these two countries from the gross ar-diinjust oppressions they writhed under . The speaker here burst into one of those eloquent and inspiring strains , for which he is proverbial , and concluded amidst shouts of applause . ,, . . .. .. . _ ¦ - ... — - ¦¦¦ . , '

    It had become quite dark before this important meeting concluded . Thanks were voted to the , chairman , Mr . P , Roberts , and the others , and the meeting terminated . Soon after which , Mr . Roberts accompanied by Mr . Price , left Reedwell Hills ] for Durham , and Messrs . Kelk and friends on their way for Newcastle .

    GRAND MOVEMENT OF THE OPERATIVE BAKERS FOR A DIMINUTION OF THE HOURS OF LABOUR AND THE ABOLITION OF NIGHT WORK . A public meeting in favour of the above objects , was held in the BeJgrave Assembly Rooms , Ebury-street , Pimlico , [ on Saturday evening , November 28 . . The large room was filled with anxious and attentive men , just freed from their almost incessant toil , with whom mingled a few of those benevolent employers who deeply sympathise with the overwrought operatives , and evince a desire to see the projected change effected aB speedily aB possible . Mr . Wallace was unanhnonsly called to the chair , and introduced Mr . George Read , author of the " Practical Baker , " « fcc , &c , secretary to the Operative Bakers Society , aud & member of the deputation from that body , to explain- the object of the movement .

    Mr , Read , rose amid the most hearty and cordial welcome , and said—Brethren , there was a time when we were called and classed as gentlemen by Act of Parliament , being rated with writers , attorneys , dec . ; but that time must have passed away , for now we are the most overwrought of all slaves . No class was so badly treated as the journeymen bakers—( hear , hearj—or worked so hard as they were , both night and day , and consequently allotted no time to relax their bodies or improve their minds . ( Loud cheers . ) The Society to which he had the honour to be secretary , conceived that the present system by which master bakers conduct their business , was tbe principal cause of the degraded condition of the journeymen ; that the number of hours men were compelled to labour precluded the possibility of

    their obtaining any mental or moral improvement , domestic enjoyment , or recreation , which all men have a right to expect when their toil is done , and which both their bodily and mental health demanded ! ( Loud cheers . ) Night work was a great evil , as it enabled masters to exact more labour from their men then they otherwise could , and that too for a small remuneration , placing masters in an unequal corapetion , enabling the larger master to ruin the smaller —( loud cheers)—this state of things keeps many men unemployed , whilst those in employment ; have frequently to work from eighteen to twenty hours per day , thus rendering men eld and infirm before they have reached what otherwise would be the prime of life . ( Great applause . ) Philau thropists had searched all quarters of the globe for

    objects on whom to bestow their sympathy , they had even hunted up the African , and expended twenty millions of our money in effecting his emancipation , whilst they had overlookail the white slave , the poor oppressed overwrought operative baker . ( Loud cheers . ) True they did not ask for charity , they only sought for a redressal of those crying evils—overtaxed labour and high work , and then would the baker ba independent , living by his own industry , enjoying domestic felicity , and using his improved mental culture in the advancement of general liberty and univeral happiness . ( Immense applause . ) Would the fact be credited , that a felloiv-being had recently at the East-end of this metropolis been compelled to work from eight o ' clock on a Thursday night until eleven o'clock on the ensuing Friday night , and this

    to with only an hour and a half rest , and that on the boards , and that others with only two hours' intermission did the same from Monday morning until Saturday night —( Hear , hear)—yet such was the case . Many a poor baker at the end of his week ' s toil found nature so exhausted that he was compelled to crawl to bed on his hands and knees—( hear , hear)—and was it not high time that they united and devoted' this their only evening in the emancipation of themselves athl fellow-men from such a state of mental , moral and physical bondage and di'gredation . ( Loud cheers . ) Their salvation was in their own hands . Let the journeymen unite together with as many masters as they could prevail on to join them , and demand twelve hours as the maximum day ' s work , two hours to be allowed their men for taking their

    meals , and the abolition of night-work . ( Grtat chering . ) He thonght twelve hours quite long enough , and daywork far preferable to night-work . ( Loud cheers . ) He was happy to meet such a numerous assemblage and to find his fellow-men embued with Buch a determination to effect their object , and he hoped to see th « m persevere until their great object was obtained , lie found from Parliamentary documents , that in 1801 masters paid their men nineteen shillings per week , and found them in bread , flour , und lodging , and two men and a boy were employed in making up twelve sacks of Hour , and now with this accursed uigut work , they were not satisfied if a man made up thirty-two sacks'in the same time . He had much pleasure in moving the folioiv . ing rasolution : —

    " That this meeting considers the measures proposed by the Operative Baker Society practicable and wellcalculated to improve the moral , mental , aud physical condition of the journeymen bakers . " Mr . Read resumed bis seat amid shouts of applause . — The resolution was seconded and carried unanimousl y . Mr . Ives , another member of the deputation said , he never knew any question submitted to them of such intense interest as the one now under discussion . ( Hear , hear . ) The object was perfectly practicable and could he worked out by nil the musters in London , ( Hear , hear . ) It was not right that a man should be compelled to commence work at eleven o ' clock one right , end be kept constantly at it until fire the next . ( Hear , hear . ) fie thought it positively necessary that a limit should be

    placed to the hours of labour . ( Loud cheers . ) Other trades had a limited number of hours to work , and why should not they . ( Loud cheers . ) The only results of this excess of labour was injury to health , to morals , and a sacrifice of domestic happiness . ( Great cheering . ) The 8 trongestconstitution must break down under such an unnatural pressure , and the Bakers life was usually some ten or fifteen years shorter than other trades . ( Hear , hear . ) We are sometimes told journeymen bakers are not . such good moral men us they mifbt be . He asked was the immorality not to be traced to tbe system ! Was a man after many long and severe hours of labour , capa * ble of seeking out rational and soul elevating enjoyments ! ( Great applause . ) On the contrary , disabled bv excessive fatiime . he seeks the nearest , and easiest , and

    most artificial mode of excitement , the public house—( . loud cheers)—but blame not altogether the man , it is the system . ( Great cheering . ) However they had now commenced an agitation with a view to the reform of that system . The Drupirs' Assistants had commenced , and been successful . The Factor ; Ten Hours Bill Agitation had gone on , and he thought he might say was now on the very verge of success . ( Vehement cheering . ) Let tlu-m proceed , the public would sympathise with them ; nine-tenth of the masters were already with them ; the Northern Star , and a portion of daily prens was with thera . and with perseverance they must ultimately succeed . ( Loud applause . ) He had much pleasure in moving- the following resolution : — " That this meeting considers the present system of night work and ualimited hours of labour , to be destructive to the moral Jfeelingp , and mental

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    developsmentoftUe menwhoare employed in the bu » ineii , and ruinous to many of the masters , who are by such means placed in an unequal state of competition . " Mr . Hood seconded the . motion , which was carried unanimously . , " . '¦¦ ¦ : Mr . M'Clsrre said , before moving tbe next resolution , he would read a letter from a Master Baker , and thus show them how favorable was a number of the masters to their movement-7-it was as follows : — , ... . . f "P » mlico , Nev . 26 , 1846 , " Sir , —I should have been proud of the honour you did me In soliciting me to take the chair at the Belgrave

    Assembly Rooms , on Saturday , but although illness prevents my doing so , I am nevertheless favourable to your cause , and satisfied the more the employers and the employed are united together , as far as the two positions will nllow , the better it will be for both , and that it will have a tendency to elevate the moral character of master and man , under these impressions I am the advocate of measures which will have for their object the amelioration the condition of any of my fellow-creatures , particularly those I am more immediately identified with ; entertaining these views , Insincerely wish you every success in your present undertaking . " I remain . Sir , &c ,

    "Henet Ellis . " Such he believed were the sentiments not only of Mr . Ellis , but many other well disposed masters— ( hear , hear ) To remedy the preset wretched state of things is the aim and object of this society , and we this evening claim your support and Co-operation ia promoting and forwarding this great cause . ( Loud applause . ) JMr . M'Clarre ended by moving the formation of a committee for carrying out the objects of the society in this district . ' Mr . Mentob , a master baker , seconded the motion . Mr . Littlemobe , a member of the Metropolitan Earlyclosing Association , rose loudly applauded to address the meeting , and said that the feeling that the people was

    overworked happily seemed to pervade the whole of 10-ciety . He was very happy to see sueh a large meeting of bakers assembled for such an important object . ( Loud cheersi ) The Drapers Association had commenced and gone on until at length they had go far extended their society as to become not the Drapers , but the Metropolitan Early-closing Association . ( Loud cheers . ) He was perfectly satisfied it only required'perseverance on the part of the bakers to insure success . ( Loud cb&ers . ) The resolution was adopted by acclamation , the com * mittee men duly elected , " and the place and time of meeting were named as the Sloahe-square Coffee-house , Sloane-aquare , on Saturday evenings at eight o ' clock .

    Mr . Gioboe Read rose to move " a vote of thanks to the Northern Star , and such other Journals as had noticed their movement . " lie had the pleasure of seeing his . and their friend the reporter of the Northern Star present —( Loud cheers)—and as tbe press , and consequently the public , took up their cause and sympathised with them , he had no doubt of a speedy and triumphant success . ( Great cheering . ) Mr . M'CiriRBiON seconded tbe motion , which was adopted unanimously . : Members were now invited to come forward and enrol their naracB , and so great was the rush that three persons ; were fully occupied for more than an hour in enrolling members . . . A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman by acclamation , and the meeting was dissolved .

    THE NATIONAL TYPOGRAPHICAL ASSOCIATION . After the appearance of the article in the -Time * a few dajs ago respecting the differences between the master printers and journeyman of Edinburgh , it appears that another member ( though an imiguifieent one ) of the newspaper press , has thought fit to publish to the world it * peculiar complaint of the "tyraDnous and dictatorial" behaviour of the above body , this is the Bull Packet , a paper not over popular , for its proprietor's conduct , in reference to the trade . The : grievance complained of by the editor of that publication , is the fact of his men having refused to work any longer for him , because he had made arrangements for introducing two lads into the place in the room of one who was about leaving . Tbe editor puts the case thug : —Havine three

    lads who would have completed' their apprenticeship within tbe year ; he found it necessary to introduce two to fill their places — but only one of these was to be brought up to the business . This appears not'very creditable according to his otfW confession ; foroneoffiae to turn out three lads in a twelvemonth is a fact that no reasonable individual could approve of . But he alleges in excuse that he had three youths turned over from a defunct paper . The facts are simply these . The paper last referred to died—the apprentices upon it were thrown out—the Packet proprietor eagerly accepted the services of these lads , who came to him to ascertain if he would take them on , without any turning over taking place , until after a considerable time had elapsed , and the overseer found that the printers' union was going on

    so prosperously as to threaten hit masters' wholesale employment of apprentice labour ; that ' at the first expiration of an apprenticeship after the association rules came into force , the Packet had no less than eight lads , seven journeymen , that two additional ones were brought in soon after the young men above referred to became "loose" , and that in these introductions the piecemen struck , leaving only two creatures of the overseer in the place . Under these circumstances , there would hare been no less than nine apprentices and eight journeymen . It requires little explanation to show that these numbers are so utterly beyond tbe bounds of reason , tbatuo wonder need be expressed at the turn-out , The trade know the proprietor ' s answer too well to trust any assurance that these two very boy 3 were the only substi >

    tutes for the three who were shortly to finish their time . In a very boasting spirit the editor concludes his paragraph by assuring the public that the publication is carried on quite satisfactorily to all parties . The trade in Hull know full well that the satisfaction rests exclusively with himself . Were it not that such matters as these ore of two local a nature to need lengthened remark , it would not be difficult to exhibit to the world as five specimens of a proprietor ' s cool effrontery , an overseer ' s object to adisim , workmen ' s lamentable incapacity , and editorial ingratitude , as the whole of the thrte kingdom's could produce . ^ ' . Hull Branch . H . White , Secretary . 6 , Portland-street-West , Spring-street , Hull . THE OLD "TIMES" VEltSUS THE NEW .

    • ' The machinery of the Association of United Trades fur the Protection of Industry , " affords too strong a temptation to club orators and pothouse politicians , and too favourable an opportunity for ths exercise of their powers of mischief . This monster combination is a signal example of the dangers of centralization . "—Vide Times , Monday , November 16 . Mb . Editor . —In olden times , the years just past , it was the old practice of the " trades , " acting by the direction of the old schooliiands to enter into " strikes" offensive and defensive , without calculating the odds of the encounter , whether they were strong enough to enforce their terms , or the market good enough to enable the employers to give the price they

    demanded for their labour . The employers , on the other hand , without studying either their own interest or the men ' s ; without calculating their ability to give or resist the demands of the labourer , have adhered to a dogged determination of resistance or encroachment . Thus through weeks and months of idleness , have both parties stubbornly persisted in ( to say the least ) a very unwise course , seeking not , but rather avoiding , all intermediate means of acoomodation . This mode of procedure , " all time honoured as it is , " though sometimes costlyvictorious to the "trades , " and oftener ending expensive conquests to the employers , is , at length , discovered to bein every sense unprofitable . The narrow views and maudlin plans of former days ( sometimes erroneously termed the " wisdom of our ancestors ") have , in the past

    struggles between employers and employed , been " tried and found wanting . " Yet , " out of evil cometh good . ) Truth is being poured forth ; from out the mist of error , that has too long'tortured and confused the human race , a new era is breaking upon us ; the last piece on the stage of old time , is dragging its lingering , lengthened parts to a sure end ; the dark curtain of her last night is descending , and will presently hide her deformed dramas from our view ; and such of the actors as can shake off the prejudice of caste , and can make common cause with the people , may take an important part in the new age of philosophy , truth , and general happiness . The trades are boning to this mighty change of feeling and opinion , that is affecting ' more or'less , every class of the community . Even the Times itself , which some

    say always was a changeling ' ¦ moderates the rancour of her pon . Then , wherefore , abuse the " trades " for changing their mode of operation f Does the Timet think that uone should change but itself , lest the price of change should be reduced ! Tbe trades have long tried local societies , and found thsm powerless for good . They next tried general unions of particular trades , and found that these could not successfully resist the encroachments of the task-masters , who , like those of Egypt , were continually seeking to increase toil , and reduce wages . They then attempted to form a National Trades'Union ; but it was broken to pieces through mismanageuior . t , befbreitliad grown into a " monster combiuation . " I thank God that the N&tioual Association of United Trades has arrived at that state . I thank the

    Timet also for trumpeting forth our fame ; and , to prove the sincerity « f my thanks , I can assure the Times th&t I have taken the extract at the head of this epistle for a text to that part of my lectures , entitled , "The Virtues of a National Association , and the immense advantages of centralisation , aa instanced in the powers of Church and State . " All former unions of the trades having failed them , in the attempt to " hold their own ; " the trades have determined to " spread their wing wider , " and , by uniting all trades together , on the condition of mutual assistance and protection , to form a trul y National Association ; and , by moderate subscriptions , raise a iund sufficient to meet ever y case of oppression , and ultimately , by the influence of our numbers , wealth , and

    mediations , to put an end to strikes at once and for ever . And , in the interim , when strikes are unavoidable , to employ tbe turn-outs at their own occupations , preventing idleness and riot , or any other inconvenience to the workmen or the public . This'is our view , and our " signal examples of the dangers of centralization , " for the Times has shown none other , and our rulss warrant none othtrl What ! does the Times condemn " centralisation , as dangerous ? " Then is the Times guilty of sedition , for it condemns the " powers that be "—that rule this mighty nation . It condemns the church , the stnte , and the army , for these are the three great " centralisations , " three " mighty combinations . '; Or will it make these exceptions to the " dangers of centralisation !" Will the Times say it is good to centralise the local and

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    national government in the crown , or in the Minister ^ that it is good to levy taxeir and . rates , and centrali se the accumulated funds in the coffer * of the government—that it is good to centralise the relil gion , the clergy , the bishops , the patronage , in eba Crown and last , to say it is good to centralise our an it in their generals , and all in the Crown—that I js good to send them forth to battle , and fight out the qiT . rels of kings—that it is good to set army against arm ; t at the bidding of one on either side ; to thrust ; and ci and hack each other , converting the fair fields of natnb ' into a pandemonium of hellish passions , yells , shruk , groans , and torture ; trampling wounded , dying , uni | dead , in one common slough , fit feast for fiends anj car . rion crows . Will the Times say that these centralism . tioos are good , but that centralisations of the

    workingclass for protection to industry are bad ! If so , 1 st it enjoy its opinion , and with it the contempt of the j ; ' »> d and intelligent of every class . The- Times has creatsj a phantom for the National Association , wherewith > haunt its own pages and the public mind : it affcr-. is a " temptation to club orators and pothouse politician , and facilities to erercise their powers of misiMef / Thij " mischief" must be lurking in his own brain , ;'«• he has not jet found it in the Association . The Tvma stigmatises " club . orators , " This is rich I There m Conservative clubs , and Reform Clubs , and these hgvs thtir orators ; but have they " powers of mischief ? " Ths Times has said it , and the orators , in their next orations . will return thanks , with great pleasure . Well , these sai <} political parties do frequently—particularly at election

    times—get up dinners and meetings in taverns , in most parts of the country , and these club orator 3 ° . hold forth thereat on political topics ; and , as a tavern is vulgarly called a pothouse , I suppoee that th « Tines assumes thru they are , therefore , " pothouse politicians . " How thoEf ! gentlemen will like the compliment . I know not , an ? shall , therefore , leave them to return it in their own fashion . Yet , notwithstanding the asseverations of the Times to the contrary , I cannot help thinking , thatif these gentlemen do join the Association—and they may do bo , for our honourable president , T , S , Duncombe , Esq ., hai set them a noble example—they will thereby augment their powers for good . I am , Mr . Editor with all due deference to the Times , A centralized for good , ¦ -.. ¦ Saxcei ; Jacobs ,

    P . S . —With respect to the Times' denunciation of tut Typographical Association , I am disposed to think , fron , its unfair attack on the united trades , that it has also dealt unfairly with that Association , and misrepresented the case . - The intelligent portion of its readers will ire through its clumsy and moan attempt to entail their acts upon a body quite distinct therefrom , and wholly unconnected with it .

    TICTIM OF CAPITAL . TO TBE EDITOI Of THE KOftTHEBH flTitt . I had expected that some one ot the many thousands employed in the building trades of this metropolis , would not have allowed the recent catastrophe at Bromp . ton to pass into forgetfulness without an effort to expose the system of rapacity and murdet to which as bri « klayers , carpenters , masons , < be ., they are victimised . That all of the above trades should be silent does sur . priso me . The death of the bricklayer ' s labourer at Alfred place , Old Brompton , was a clear case of man-killing . Jai . Casey was killed , in other words murdered : the instru .

    ruent used to murder the deceased , being inefficient bricks and mortar , and the object gained by the murder , is a saving of a few barrowfuls of lime , or in effect tbe taviug of a few pounds to tha capitalist . Suppose , I place the case as a question in the rule of three , for it is essentially one of calculation . It is not supposed , . of course , that the builder of the house designed the murder of the deceased James Casey ; the builder would , no doubt shrink back with horror at the idea of the bleody deed . But he did undertake to build houses for a given sum , which amount was insufficient to provide such materials as in the using of which no hazard to life would follow . With such preface I place the case thus ;•—

    " If the building of brick-work at 80 s . per rod , gives 4 s . per rod profit , providing good materials , and incurring no risk of life to the parties employed , at what price can I build bad houses , use inefficient sand and lime , endangering the lives of all parties concerned ! Answer , 60 s . per rod . Whether is sand and lime most valuable ? Answer , Sand and lime . Jnmes Casey is dead —killed— murdered—sand and lime saved—houses built cheap I " Such , I conceive to be a fair and honest statement of the case , and unfortunately for working man oa the case of James Caaey is not a solitary one . It is impossible to caleulate the numbers murdered annually by coal-pit explosions , railway accidents , shipwrecks , dec . ; to say nothing of the countless thousands that die by inches , whose liv « s are living deaths by being stewed up in filthy workshops and factories , insufficiently fed and clothed , < fcc . ¦ ¦

    But what matter as capital increases , railways are made , houses built , fortune accumulated ; King Hudson drinks bis wine , the Messrs , Cotton and Cash ride in their carriages , the master builder enjoys his brandy , all goes well ; everything is very cheap , it only causes a few millions of murders annually I Such a state ot things is the result of tbe present system . What a hollow mockery of right and morality is this boasted England ! It is vniten on the walls of our churches , "Thou ; shalt not steal , "— " Thou shalt not hill , " and if a beggar steals an apple , be is punished ;

    we will be moral ! Ifamancut the threat of his fellew-mau , the murderer shall be hanged : we will bejust ! Yet , we live under a system that murders many - and steals from all . Ca pital must have its due ; dogs and herses must be protected ; labourers raurdsred . Ths ignorant Bavage knows no such horrors ; his uncultivated lands are free , his wants grow with his ability tosupply them , bis existence is rude and precarious , but never refined and cruel , such cannot be the true object of government and civilization , and calls loudly foragreat political and social change .

    But the present system seems to engender all that is opposed to truth , justice and humanity ; a reference to the inquest on the body ' of Casey will prove my case—and here it may not D 3 out of place to state—that I know for a fact , that the friends of the deceased . Casey collected £ 2 , and offered the sura to a certain liberal ^ lawyer ia London to attend the inquest , but no , tbe said liberal lawyer required his full tee— £ 1 . E . Jones , Esq ., was next asked , and to his credit and honour be it written , he immediately consented without asking or expecting reward . I hope such circumstance will be remembered by

    all , who in poverty , are subjected to the hardship of employing a barrister to defend the rights and exposo thewrongs of labour . On the inquest the Coroner did not a little to burke the inquiry . He had always an overbearing objection" ready cut and dried the moment Mr * Jones opened his mouth ; and he refused to bear the evidence of a bricklayer's labourer—because he had " heard evidence sufficient from them . " The jurors too were worthy of the Coroner . Mr . Jones requested the Coroner to order Mr . Holmes to produce his agreement with Messrs . Emmcns ,

    but" The Coroner objected , amidst a general outcry from , thejurors , amongst whom were several builders , against its production . " How worthless after all in some cases is trial by jury . A jury raising " a general outcry" against a reasonablequestion . Had such an occurrence taken place at a promiscous gathering of thousands , it would have shotvn ig * norance and bed taste , but coming from a jury ^ sitting Ott the corpse of a man , it seems almost inaccountuble . Itcertainly adds nothing to the respectability of the gentlemen concerned , but reduces them beneath the dignity of a mob .

    I have already said that the case of Casey is not a soli * tary one , but suppose the deceased leaves a wife and children to mourn his loss . Their provider and protector is no more . Capital has been enhanced by his labour , and what does capital do for those who are bereaved and left alone ! Sends them to a workhouse to be starved and insulted , or leaves them the alternative of stealing and being punished as criminals . Am IJtold enterprise and trade requira such sacrifices , I answer , if so , enterprise and trade reap the benefit , andshould fcy law be compelled to provide for the dependants of those so sacrificed . Things are managed differently in France , tho provisions of the code Napoleon proride an indemnification for till injury sustained by labourers when at work , resulting from carelessness or other causes on the part of the employer . Some idsa of the law now existing iu France , may be formed from the following case which appeared in the Times of October the 20 th : — " One instance will

    probably give our readers some idea of the way they manage these things as well as others in France . The workmen on the line were blasting a rock in the taunel ; they dug the hole , loaded it , and primed it ; « s it did not explode quite so quickly rb they expected , a lftDO tirer , whose birthplace our readers will easily conjecture , went up to it , knelt down , and b ' ew the match . He lost his eyes and his arms by this not unnatural accidentiyet the company were glad ts ship him off again to the Emerald Isle , with £ 200 in his pocket , rather than risk the award of the court . " How lucky was the poor Hibernian labourer who , bj sheer want of forethought , was injured when at work ID France , compared with what would have been his fa * had his unfortunate accident befallen him in England . An efficient and stringent law of deodand is required in this country—such a law a 3 will seeure a pension for all the wounded soldiers in our industrious army , a » d P "

    vide for the wivea , families , uud dependants of all men killed when employed in producing cap ital ; and in a cases where death or accideut Is caused by the ne e avarice of the employer—he to pay the sum settled OJ law as damages ; and in all cases , where death is cau B * . by the carelessness of the labourer , the dependantsi o the deceased should be provided for by the sute . A sow in our fighting army if disabled in the serviciyi « Illltle 0 a pension ; and surely shooting men is no more l > o * or ' or necessary than building houses , or inaking ^ railway ^ . Such a measure would prove a protection to tlio live ' limbs of our fellow norldug men , and con trasts w * vantage alongside trumpery recommendation ot tnon Brompton Jury , about party walls " with and w « nu bond timber . " The party walls of our leg islature" ^ superstructure are already too secure , they " > . shaken , and the working man ' s labour be rc prfse and protected , us well us the landowner ' s ha ro ot

    capitalist's pocket . . , A Leaf from the Annals or a ShoesU " Gabbexx .

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    Wants a Place—The Wellington Statute . Can have a two months character from the omnibus P- " and Sir Erederick Trench , -mm a £ & »

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    Zxti&tff- jBouemems *

    Untitled Article

    - ¦ . .. _ . __ . _ .. ; . ¦ - .-,, ¦ , a ¦ mn-VL MOWTWiSttW RTAR . DECEMBER p , 1846 .

• Citation
  • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 5, 1846, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1395/page/6/