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Northern Star (1837-1852), 26th February 1848, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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    • TO THE OLD GUARDS.
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      Untitled Article

      jUithful Friends and Comrades , — At no period of England ' s history was tiers a more important eriQis than thai which li as now arrived ; and if b y the past policy by ffhich our own movement has been ' governed I am enabled to show that , in spite of the jnqst persevering , powerful , and united opposition , we have been enabled , not only to maint ain the position in which we originally stood , but to fortify , improve , and advance that posi tion , then I may confidently appeal to you , men who have suffered privations , incarceration , and persecution , for the maintenance of that position .

      The scenes which are now taking place throughout the continent of Europe , and especially in France ,-would at other times have attracted a greater amount of English atten iion , and even now their importance cannot be overlooked or under-rated . You must criticall y understand the position of France , and the cause of disturbance in that country , to be able to estimate the value of those privileges which you have secured in sp ite of oppression . How often have I told

      you , that tyranny can neither stab sentiment , jjor shoot public opinion !—that moral power is the deliberative quality in each man ' s mind , which teaches him how to reason . , how to endure , and when forbearance becomes a crime ! gnd should it fail to secure for man all those privileges to which he is justly entitled , and should physical force be found necessary ( which God forbid !) that it would come to man ' s aid like an electric shock , while those who marshal it would be the first to desert it , and were invariably traitors or fools .

      By the dread of increasing moral powerb acked by the oppressor ' s belief in its determined resolution—more may be done than by any physical outbreak ; and the reason of my present address is to preserve you within the bounds of moral discipline , in spite of any egency that may he used ^ n the midst of passing excitement to force you from your fastness and stronghold into looseness and weakness . The French people now in arms—and , mayhap , now being slaughtered—have been roused to madness by the withholding of just rights , and by the ^ desertion of their leaders in the Lour of struggle .

      Old Guards , this is their position . The people ' s representatives and leaders contended for the right of meeting together , eating together , and conferring together ; and in their several sentiments and speeches they gave their followers directly to understand , and " reason to believe , that when the struggle b « - fcreen Democracy and Despotism came—as come it must—that they , the men seeking the transfer of power from the bands of their political opponents to their own , would be foremost in the danger .

      Their rejection of the toast of the King s He alth at the Reform Banquets , was an imp lied assurance that the next struggle should be between Democracy and what is called Legitimacy . Sixty of those Reform Banquets were held , and the promoter ; , strengthened by increasing confidence , assumed a bolder attitude , and one of defi-2 ECP , and resolved upon holding a grand Reform Banquet , within the city of Paris , during the sitting of the Chambers , and under the nose of the Kine .

      This Banquet ] was originally to have been held on Sunday , ; the 20 th ; but , fearing the popular support which they had previously conrte < l , they abandoned their original intention , and postponed the Banquet to Tuesday the 22 nd . This was the first false step "; because the leaders of the people must have been awarej of any danger that the day presented , and there is nothing more fatal to the character and position of a leader than the slightest indecision or wavering ' .

      The holding of this Banquet was to have constituted the grounds of an indictment ssainst the leaders , and thus the right of the people to meet and discuss was to have been adjudicated upon in a Court of Justice . During the night of the 21 st the Reform leaders issued a proclamation , inviting the presence of the National Guard , which is supposed to be a citizen corps , centra-distinguished from tlie Troops of the Line , who are mercenaries , and the Municipal Guards , who are spies . Now , this postponement and invitation vgry naturally led to increased excitement , increased preparation , and increased reliance-rbut , behold , tyranny trembles , but the oppressor gains nerve and resolves upon

      I opposition . {' ' This change is provoked by the proelama-] tion of the Democratic leaders , and tho ugh ; peace and good order was enjoined , and though \ their lives may be the sacrifice , I contend for I it that it was * the duty of those leaders to ] have placed themselves in the foreground , and I as they looked for the lion ' s share of popufkrity " that they should have taken the lion ' s 1 share of responsibility and danger .

      Their presence would have been eminently successful in quietinsr the an ^ ry multitudein subduing angry passions—and in inspiring renewed confidence ; and by their presence slaughter would have been spared , or the officers xvould Lave participated in the £ tr ; i ^ g ] e . Old Guards , as I have taught you to look suspiciou ? lv upon the cold effusions of the cold

      blooded hireling who writes philosophy for pay , you may . perhaps , judge me by the same standard . But to qualify myself for the task that 1 have undertaken , let us go through our wars , our struggles , and our conquests ; and when you have read the long catalogue of 'Lingers , of daring , and of triumphs , you will say that they are pertinent , and strictly analogous , nor will vou consider ther repetition

      egotism . In 1839 the magistrates of the West Riding of Yorkshire prohibited our Peep Green meeting by proclamation . I was 200 miles off—I repaired to the spot , and issued a counter proclamation signed by myself , bidding defiance to the magistrates in their usurpation of a power that did not belong to them , stating that I would lead you in person to the conflict . I did lead you , and we triumphed .

      f | In the same year my presence at a meeting in Sheffield was annouaced , though I had not permitted it ; the magistrates of thedistrict met—they continued in conclave—they had cannon ready , and . the troops in a state of preparedness ! When . I heard this , I came amongst you—held our meeting in the principal square—paraded the town in procession with von . and was ; obliged to depart in the middle of the sight , no one daring to give me lodging .

      In the same year I was denounced as a traitor st Carlisle and dared to appear . I travelled from Edinburgh that day—made my way single handed through a scoffing , insulting crowd . I stood alone on a stage in a crowded theatre . I rose in the midst of insulting shouts , and concluded amidst most affectionate applause , and was conducted in triumph to my hotel , my prosecutor not daring to appear . In the same vear , when 1 was dared to attend

      itUtiirdj-Viit ' nieeting at Bury , 1 arose from | iiiy sick Le . L travelled from Leeds , and met the j § conspiracy of parson Stephens , the Cobbetts , | the Fletchers , the ' Richardsons , fand others , I and saved the people from their machinations . f In 1 S 40 the men of Dewsbury , in the West % Hiding , led to madness by Bussey and other [ J traitors , denounced me , and I instantly repaired \ M the scene of action , met my revilers , andre-¦ i ttrived their contrition .

      [ j in 1 S 4 O when dared to appear in Birmingi ? ; ia :. i 31 went single-handed to the great meet-P'filT in the Town Hall , and dissolved the k ^ ouncip £ ^ 5839 , when a revolution had broken out in

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      Birmingham , when I was safe at Rochdale , and due the next day at Blackburn , I asked permissio n of the meeting to allow me to return to the scene of danger , and I started after the meeting—travelled through the whole night-drove with Dr M'Douall to the gaol of Warwick through the drunken and infuriated yeomanry cavalry—would not leave the gaol till I had my prisoner liberated , and In the dead of night drove back again with him to Birmingham . Birmingham , when I was c&fA nt . Pnni ^ nin .

      In 1842 , when the Free Traders hired my countrymen to kill me in Manchester , knowing the danger , I went alone to the meeting , and after the triumph of ruffianism on the first night , and after Sir Charles Shaw , the commandant of the police , had called upon me to telimehewouldholdmeresponsibleforthe peace of the town , we had printers up all night announcing our determination to hold a meeting

      in the same plaee on the following night , and defying our opponents ; and , although the money of the League was profusely spent , and although the Irish in Manchester were maddened by placards posted in every part of the town , inviting them to come and defend O'Connell against his enemies , I refused all protection , and went single handed to that meeting , and eur resolution intimidated the

      assassins . In 1842 , when the revolution raged , I was amongst you in Manchester—the last to desert you—and defended our position for eight days in Lancashire . In 1842 I fought the battle oFNottingham with you , iln 1842 , 1 faced the Town Hall of Birmingham , full of Freetrade ruffians ; and , although nine of them sou ght to assassinate me , I defended your cause against ; the enemy .

      Well , I have fought your battle twice in the Court-house of York , once in Liverpool , once at Lancaster , and twice in , the Queen ' s Bench . I have endured sixteen months' solitary confinement in the condemned cell at York , and these things I mention , Old Guards , in order to qualify myself for tendering you advice in the present state of affairs . Now , what is really the question at issue between the Frcnch ' people and theFrench crown ?

      It is not a question of parliamentary reform , but it is whether or not men shallhave the power of meeting together and discussing their grievances . And always bear the one GREAT FACT in mind , that the only superiority that your constitution possesses over all others is , that we have the power to meet , and that having the power to meet , by our courage we have destroyed the oppressors * power to pro * swute if we express sentiments at variance rnth his will .

      See the conclusion that I draw from this GREAT FACT . It is that—with this guaranteed right—this right defended , protected , and upheld by our courage and our sufferingyou are the framers , the perpetuators , | of every single grievance of which you complain ; inasmuch as a simultaneous move upon the part of the whole people must ineyitably and irresistibly crush the power of the oppressor . This is the right which I have ever sought to preserve inviolate ; the right which Atn ' nger attempted to destroy and which Graham attempted to place in the keeping of the police .

      Well now , this is the real right—the initiative privilege—for which the French people are contending ; presuming , and naturally , that all other legitimate rights will spring from this great source . But , see how the French despot can quote English precedent for his bloody attack upon those from whose sweat the pauper monarch has amassed millions of treasure . Sixty of those banquets were allowed to establish the right—but the crowning banquetthe appearance of the provincial actors upon the Metropolitan stage was prevented—precisely as the Clontarf meeting , which was intended as the crowning monster of the provincial gatherings , was prevented by Whig brute force in

      Dublin . That false step upon the part of the Irish leaders gave the first check to Repeal , ae the cowardice of the French leaders threatens to mar the prospects of the French Democracy . It is useless to talk to me of their prudence . If submission was necessary , their presence was indispensable to insure it if vi g our was required , their presence was indispensable to enforce it ; if danger was apprehended , their presence was indispensable to share it . But they have secured a change of Ministry , —a transfer of power from , glutted to needy officials—while , by their resolution , their courage , iand presence , they might have secured the Charter of the People ' s Ri g hts ,

      Old Guards , that s just what they don t require ; and you , who have so long placed implicit confidence in your General , believe him , when he tells you that the Labourer alone can justly represent the rights of Labour . And , however we may yet be able to eke good oat of this cowardice and imbecility of the French opposition , and however we may , and do , sympathise with the " Fustian Jackets , the Blistered Hands , and Unshorn Chins , " who have been the sufferers in this contest , let me beg of vou , let me implore of you , and beseech you , not to allow any foreign question—however its results may enlist your sympathies—to operate on our great domestic movements .

      When the struggle between pure Democracy and Despotism shall takeplace in France , then we will not be sloar to communicate our sympathy for the strugglers ; but I tell you that as long as I Jive , the Charter and the Land shall never be lost sight of , nor placed in abeyance by any foreign excitement or movement , however we may use events for the furtherance of those great objects . Old Guards , the mind of England is now astir—and although mine is absorbed in the consideration of those means by which * I can insure happy homes , and protection for allthe release of women from slave labour , and the release of little children from the abodes of

      pestilence , disease , immorality , and death—yet if a greater sphere of action should open upon us , I pledge myself that I shall not be found backward in moulding passing events to future advantage . I am , Old Guards , Your faithful General , " g Fkargds O'Connok .

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      ( From tbe Gazette of Tuesday , Feb . 22 . ) BANKRUPTS . Jolm Goddard , Outwell , Norfolk , carpenter—William Bullmore , V 8 , Clerkenwell-stone , and 17 , Bedford-street , Covent-giirden , gold and silver wire drawer—William Tanner and John Ward , Leadenhall-pl ace , and Leaden , hall-market , leather factors—William Davis , Lock'sbottom , Kent , breivi-r—William Champ ' on Streatfeild , SO CornfailJ , underwriter—William Batten and Alexan . der Marshall , Sfcip Tavern-passage , Graceclmrcli-Etreet , cheeEemeiifc -ers—Josiah Goodwin , Birmingham , news , paper proprietor - Samuel Eeddoo , West Bromwich , linen dra ' r-James Peter Oldfleld , Liverpool ,

      commisp siou merchant-William Hannah , Liverpool , apothecary —Thomas Simon Jones , Wrexham , grocer-William Mavlor , formerly of Chester , but turn- of Liverpool , _ hcen = ed victualler-Thomas Holland , Bury , provision dealer— Wi . 'liam Atkinson . Colnc , Waterside , and Manchester , cotton manufacturer—William Turpin , late 01 MethJev , Yorkshire , builder—George Oddy , jun ., UUdlev . hili ; Yorkshire , innliccper—William Darnel Ewens , Broad . vindsor , Dorsetshire , butter mercnant-Tristram Walrond Wliitter , Cullumpton and Sampford Peverell , Devonsi . ire , lime burner-Robert Dunn , Devonport , draper—William Skemp , Bidefor . i , draper .

      SCOTCH SEQUESTRATIONS . James Macartliur , Glasgow , merchant—William Dicjf , Dr * Lur"h Mains , banker—Robert Dick aad George Dick , Edinburgh , merchants—Thomas Wright , Dlasgow , fruit merchant-William Hunter , Glasgow , merchant .

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      TO « W . S ., " Who writes a Letter to the Editor of the Weekly Register , an Edinburgh Paper , and whom I shall take the Liberty , from his Initials , of christening " Wolly Scribble . " , , rrr \ , t wt c >»

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      4 s . 6 d per day , or 27 s . per week , out of which the labourer fyia -feat to pay rent , rates , or taxes , or the repair < # agricultural implements whereas , Wolly , under the present system the agricultural l ^ ouxers of England have to pay rent , rates , an <| taxes ) to find implements , and to live upon ' ten shillings a week ; and right joyous and thankful will he be if he can get four days work in the week throughout the year , r a ~ ca a _ x _ .

      Now , my friend , Knight stop my calculation here , as the controversy m wholly and entirely between , your own ' fibres , as stated in your tables , but the whole-result is not given from your incidental calculations , as I will now show . For instance , in your table of profit ; you have deducted half an acre of wheat , 61 , for the use of the family and you have deducted two bacon pigs from the larder , because in your table of expenditure you charge me with four pigs bought in May , and you give me credit but for two sold and now , Woliy , according to Cocker , two bacon pigs at 10 Z ., are just equal to two other bacon pigs at 1 OZ . ; so that in the two admitted items , of 61 . for half an acre of wheat , allqfeJDff the ojher . half % consumption of family' ^ -ior there is an acre of wheat , and you allow but half an acre—and

      the 10 ? , for the two pigs with which you charge me , will make 16 Z ., which 16 ? . added to 35 / . in your own table , Wolly , will make 51 J . for 157 days' labour , or nearly 6 s . 8 d . a day , or 21 . a week , and exclusive of rent , rates , and taxes , and agricultural implements , Wolly . Now , Wolly , I will still refer to your desultory statistics , and I will adopt your production of potatoes atten tons , instead of fifteen ; and after giving the nine tons to cows and pigs , you allow the remaining ton for the use of the family—and that remaining ton at 4 d . per stone , will amount to 21 . 13 s . 4 d ., thus leaving the husbandman 53 ? 13 s , 4 & for his 157 days '

      work—always buttering the cake on both sides , Wolly . Now , Wolly , we will go on by degrees , and I ask the reader to refer , sentence by sentence , to your written Statistics , and to use them , and them only , as proof of the deductions that J draw from them . We have , then , disposed of the two first items , potatoes and wheat , adopting your own amount of produce , application , and price , in both cases . We next come to the 2 £ roods employed in growing green cropi ^ and there , also , I sink my own calculation , and

      adopt yours ; and , funny enough , Wolly , you , who profess to be a practical agriculturist , would estimate the value of three crops , produced by spade labour , of the most valuable and seasonable produce , by the standard value of one crop of turnips , the very most unprofitable of all crops . And , Wolly 3 you forgot that in estimating the valueof these 2 | jroods , I allowed seventy days'labour , or nearly the one-half of the whole , to be expended upon thar quantity of ground , while you appear to forget that it is not the land , but the labour that is applied to itj which yields its multiplied fruits .

      Now , Wolly , there are 4 , 840 square yards in an acre—and , consequently , 2420 in half an acre ; and in a half reod 605 . That is , in round numbers , in 2 £ roods there are 3 , 000 sqaare yards . Now , Wolly , allowing one cabbage to a square yard , and that cabbage to be worth but one penny for feeding purposes , when it arrives at its full growth , you have 12 / . 10 s . for that one crop alone , whereas 1 allow too much ground , and you will have three crops . The flax we are agreed upon .

      The garden vegetables and fruit you reduce from 51 . to 3 / ., and we shan't quarrel about that . Then , 1 Wolly , you are in a puzzle about the means of sustaining the cows from March till May , relying , 08 you do , upoa winter vetches for that season ; while , Wolly , you appear to forget things called carrots , parsnips , cabbages , Swede turnips , hay , and straw . Now , don ' t you think that all those eatables come in good season , from March till May , and that any one of them is mtich preferable to a mouthful of tares ?

      But , Wolly , let us eee what 1 do allow for the support of two cows for the year . Here is the table : —Two tons of potatoes ; two tons of hayj an acre of wheat straw , if necessary ; and the produce of nearly an acre cropped threef times—as you appear to forget the clover , which succeeds the flax , in your calculation of produce . Now , Wolly , not to run into extremitieB , let us see , in gross numbers , the quantity of land that I assign for the support of two cows , and we will sink the labour applied to it altogether . l > An Acre canst be good to produce Two Tbna of Hay .. .. .. .. " .. 1 Acre Straw .. i . .. . > 1 i , Roots , cultivated in the beet way , with Clover after Flax .. .. .. .. £ „ Potatoes , Two Tons neatJy , by j / oui- ealntlalton J ,, 8 Acres

      Now , "Wolly , " there is the produce of an acre of the best hay , drawn to the farm to enrich it , and for which I allow 41 . a ton , instead of 3 / . ; so that you see , with all the labour , I assign the produce of three hcres to the keeping of two cows , quite ' enough to maintain them in grass without any labour at all ; while'Cobbett has proved that a quarter of an acre , with a sufBciency of labour , is quite sufficient for a cow . Thus showing that three acres will maintain twelve cows—and if two cows realise a profit of 30 ? ., twelve will realise a profit oF 180 ? . But , Wolly , I prefer dealing with the rudest system of agriculture in ; the first

      instance . Now , let me give you a table that I have this moment received from a practical agriculturist , of the amount of food allowed by the largest dairyman in the neighbourhood of London for the maintenance of his cows during the winter ; and the average value of his , stock is ^ from 18 ? . to 36 ? . per head , —while my calculation is made for a smaller breed—while , by his table , ) r ou will see he does not allow as much food as I do . One of the largest cowkeepers in the neighbourheod of London allows his cows for winter food . — S ^ SSSSA bS u J . Betweeu Three Cows .

      ^ The weight of hay , 56 lbs . and roots , 60 lbs . making 116 lbs , per day , or about 39 lbs . each ; being » little over 2 ^ stone each . The cows are of the very largest breed , and cost generally from 18 ? . to 36 ? . per head . Now , Wolly , from one of your items , namely , the milk produced by two cows , you have got into a sad blunder . You were not aware of my mode of calculating the produce of a cow ; and in ^ order to knock 6 / . los . off the price of thejnilk , you estimate their milk at 16 quarts a ^ day for ten months—that is , from May till Febraary / both inclusive ; while I made my calculation from | May till October , both inclusive , at 32 quarts a day , or 16 « uavts acow ,

      allowing them to be wholly chy from October till May , thus estimating the produce of the year in months—to make the calculation more simple , as 16 Jquarts a day for twelve months , is exactly equal to 32 quarts a day for six months ; while I would like to see your two co \ vs | that are to give 16 quarts in February , when they should be dry , aa we calculate upon their calving , in May . However , as 1 don't think you know whether a cow gives milk from her udder or her horns , and as your calculation was made for the mere purpose of knocking off the 6 ? . 10 s ,, I make you a present of the deduction ; and now , Wolly , adopting every ' one of your calculations from beginning

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      to end—even taking the 15 ? . for clothing , and 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles , I will make a table of your own fi gures . You allow profit , then upon £ b . d . The IJ 7 day 8 'Labour .. .. .. 12 0 0 Half an Acre of Wheat .. .. S 0 0 Tito Bacon Pigs 10 0 0 One Ton of Potatoes 8 18 1 Mating a Total of ., .. £ 30 18 i

      Now , Wolly , multi ply that by 20 , and you have 613 s . 4 d ., and divide that ^ by 157 days labour , and you have within a fraction of 4 s . a day , or 24 s . a week , without any allowance for rent , rates , taxes , fuel , soap , candles , agricultural implements , while , my sweet Wolly , you have omitted the honey and the ducks . Now , Wolly , 24 s . for half the year is equal to 12 s . for the whole year ; so that vou see from half a year ' s labour—and 157 d ' ays

      are more than half the working year—your agriculturist may remain idle for one half , the year , have 12 s . a week for the whole year , after paying rent t rates , and taxes , spending 23 / . upon clothes , fuel , soap , and candles ; a pound for implements ; Ql , worth of hay drawn to the farm , with that added to his manure ; and , Wolly , the grand item that you have omitted is , the annual permanent income derived from the improved state of his farm , which constitutes his Savings Bank , return - in ?; him compound interest for every drop of sweat he spends , while you have knocked the wind out of two of my pigs altogether .

      Wolly , I have put down rent , rates , and taxes at 13 / . 10 s ., whereas 10 / . would be nearer the mark . J have put down hay at 4 / . a ton , while I am buying it at Zl ; and I have allowed seventy days' labour of a man and his family to be expended upon one acre of ground , while I have taken the produce at the lowest amount , and the lowest price ; and after all your deductions , Wolly , you have arrived at the conclusion that a man can earn within

      a fraction of 24 s . a week ; 13 ? . 10 s . jor rent , rates , and taxes ; 151 , for clothing- ; 8 / . for fufe ] , soap , and candles ; 8 ? . for hay , and 1 ? . for implements . And now , Wolly , the thing that puzzles me'is , how a Northern could be such an ass , ' for there are your figures , —there are your calculations—there are your results , — and , henceforth , you must do battle with your own ghosts—and very substantial ones they are—but when n ' ext you write , for the honour of your country , dont publish your figures in a Scotch Newspaper . I remain , dear Wolly , Your very thankful and obliged Servant , Feargbb O'Connob . f 1

      l . S . — Wollv . see how easily T maka a I . S . — Wolly , see how easily I make a month ' s wages of an agricultural labourer at 10 s . a week , out of an item of which I have made no mention—namel y * two calves at 1 / . a head , 21 . Wolly , these were animals which I should not have forgotten while you were in question , and , therefore , I ask vour pardon . f . o'c :

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      -aSSEIffl— St Pancras Working Man's Library . —On Monday evening week a meeting was held at Mr Duddriuge ' s , Tonbridgo-strect . Mr Turner in the chair . Mr John Arnott , the secretary , read letters from Lord Dudley Stuart , Sir B . Hail , Col . Thompson , &c , and volea of thanks were passed to L , ord Stuart , Sir B . Hall , Mr Churchirarden YVa ^ staff , and Mr Duddridge , tor tiieir liberal donations , ana also to Lord Stuart for forty-eight books , pamphlets reports , &o . ; Col . Thompson for six volumes ; and tho Chartist Executive and Land Directors for two volumes . It is said that it haa lately been a common practice to hiss while ' God save the Queen is boug performed in tho theatres of Dublin . The Dublin F « ekman contradicts the reportihat Mr Daniel O Conncll has been appointed to a

      consulship en the continent . . . . It has been stat . d that 600 , 000 quarters of wheat aro waiting shipment in the Baltic ports for this country , on tho breaking up of the trost . The Cumbrian states that several , gentlemen , employed by tbegovei-Bnieiii ; , are now engaged in tMns » lating into Welsh the reports of tho WeUh education commissionefa ,

      £Antapt£, &T.

      £ antapt £ , &t .

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      Dear Wolly , — I thought that the example made of your clansman , " W . C , " would have saved you and others from his fate . However , Wolly , if you will be drowned , and nobody shall help you , you shall be drowned . With more justice than my opponents , observe towards me , I give your production at full length , together with the editorial introduction , in which I am announced as an impracticable man—that is , not a practical agriculturist—although I have devoted the major part of my life to the pursuit ' of agriculture ; attending to its varied operations from six o'clock in the morning till six at night , when length of day permitted , and working myself as hard as any man . In the editorial introduction , the writer very fairly gives to Mr Carroll , the editor of the Farmers' Gaeette , that high character for practical knowled ge which he so eminently deserves , having obtained the warm approbation of Dr Lindley , a very scientific agriculturist . Thus , Wolly , you are dealing with the extravagances of Mr Carroll , Dr Lindley , and Mr Quin , who gave his evidence before the Land Commissioni and not with the extravagancies of Feargus O'Connor . However , here follows your letter , and its editorial introduction : — MR F . O'CONNOR AND HIS THREE ACRE LIVINGS .

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      In last MiBCiLtAhT we published a statement br Mr O'Connor , with calculations , designed to show that three acres of land are amply sufficient for tbe subsistence of a man and his family . We would certainly have placed small reliance on Mr O'Connor's own authority , he not being a practical man ; but then ho gava Ms astimates at length , and he was backed by the editor of tbe Dublin FasueRs'Gazette , who is a shrewd working farmer , and who has obtained the warm approbation of Dr Lindley . The following letter is devoted to a refutation of Mr O'Connor's calculations . Ws are not aware whether the writer has made any allowance for the superior results of spade labour ; we beliere that it is upon these that Mr Carroll , of the Ga 2 _ btte , founds his imprimatur . Cer . tainly , if the allegation is erroneous , the sooner it is exploded the better , for in Mr O'Connor ' s hands it i& not a mare theory , but an actual practice , which is settling down crowds every year on Bucb . holdings as these . TO THE EDITOS OP THE WBEKIX BEQISTEB . Sir , —In the supplement to the Weiklt Registeb , I observe an article , quoted from the Dublin Fabhees ' Gazette , headed ' What may be done with three Acres of Land . ' A statement follows , written by no less a pergonage than Mr Feargus O'Connor , M . P ., being an answer to a request made to him by a person in Ply . mouth , desiring information on that subject . I cannot help warning him , or any other , not to be led away by itotherwisehe will . likeSir Marmaduke Travers , in the O'Donohue , or Martin Chnzzlewit in Eden , be Tictimised . If Mr O'Connor is no better legislator than agriculturist , his constituents will have no reason to brag of their representatire . It may be deemed audacious in a humble farmer to gainsay what a member of Parliament has Bur . mised ; hut His my avocation Hal ' , and as the public are challenged to answer } his letter , itis their duty to try and prevent such a letter being again foisted upon them . The queriest asks how it is possible for an occupant to live and pay rent upon four acres '—and he is told by the M . P . that three is more than sufficient for a family to live upon , and make a fortuHe . He sajs that his statement is one which tbe most ignorant could desire ; that is almost the only part ofit thatis correct ; because those only who are ignorant will receive such for truth . First , he gives us the produce of one acre of potatoes ; fifteen tone per acre ; eren with good land and a good climate , and an Irish acre , that is one third above an average crop . Next , 200 stones of wheat from one acre . What an I rish stone is I kuow not ; but , from the price he puts upoa it , it must be fully one-fifth above the average , or ti per acre . The half is for family uas ; from the third acre two and a half roods are employed in growing grejn crops—and , at a distance from a vegetable market town , it is better to give them to stock , for which I shall allow £ 10 that is at the rate of £ 10 per acre , and double the value of the best acre of turnips in Scotland , and equal to a good grazing . Half a rood of flax , Epun , worth £ 12 10 s . at hi « estimato , andoneroodof garden ground worth £ Zhe calls it £ 5 . The manner in which he disposes of the crop is by giving to two cows one and a half stoses of potatoes per day , from November till March , which even in the Green Isle , is two months before they can have grass , or winter-gown tares ; and he does not reflect that cows in general do not give milk for more than ten months of the year . Instead of the farmer keeping sis pigs . hs cannot keep more than four—two of these to be sold at his own valuation , will be worth £ 10 ; two he al . lows for family use . Those pigs are to be allowed two stones of potatoes per day from November to March , bo that the cows aad pigs will eat up about nine tons of potatoes , leaving only one ton to feed the family by my estiraato . Now , having given the explanRtioR , I shall make up my statement of the produce : — FSODUCE 01 THBEE ACBES . Acre of potatoes , and two and a half roods green crop , to be converted into the milk of two cows , viz ., sixteen quarts per day at £ s . d . l ^ d ., for ten months 3 D 0 0 One acre of wheat , half of which ia equal to 6 0 0 Two bacon pigs in March ,. ., .. 10 0 0 Quaiter of an acre of flax , spun by the family 12 10 0 Vegetables from garden .. .. .. 3 0 6 61 16 0 Annual Expenditure .. .. 49 19 0 12 0 0

      Rates , taxes , » nd rent .. .. £ 13 10 0 Two tons of hay at £ i .. .. 8 0 0 Clothing man , wife . ) and three children 15 0 0 Fuel , soap , and candles .. .. 8 0 0 Repairing implements .. .. 10 0 Four pigs in May .. .. .. 4 0 0 m 10 0 Xow , instead of £ 44 remaining , as he says , all that the poor farmer hasleft is £ ii , for seed to sow and plant the ground , which is a considerable item , educate his family , Xeep up houses and fences , the loss of stoik , andBomctimei , as lately , tbe whole crop . In the sequel , Mr O'Connor says— ' Well , all the riches he has in the world , and payment of interest for his capital , < fcc , all come outofthesa men ' s labour , ' without having taken any notice , in the account of expenditure-, of any money having been given to those men ; and he concludes this misrepresentation of his with these words , How ridiculous for those te think of talking about the land that know no more about it than the crow that flies Truly , If these are the ideas entertained by the aristocracy of Ireland in general , can it be wondered at that tha poor people are discontented and driven to desperation ? Edinburgh , Jan . 31 , 1848 . W . S . Now , dear Wolly , if it was not for the deep and sincere interest I take in the well-being of all who have committed their fate to my keeping , I should treat your effusion as the ravings of a lunatic , the devices of a hypocrite , or the conjectures of a fool . However , as . you have rushed into print , and as I am always ahle to deal with those who give me figures instead of sentiments to grapple with , I will take your figures , and from the result produced by them I will deduce the altered condition of the working man . First ly ~ l will take your table of profit , set down at 611 10 s ., and " then I will take your table of expenditure , and from it deduce the results to be realised even from your own showing , allowing that the calculation stopped there . Your expenditure is as follows : — £ s . a . Rates , Tare * , and Rent 18 10 0 Two Tons of Hay at £ t ., .. .. 8 0 0 Repairing Implements 10 0 Four Pigs , in May .. .. .. .. 4 0 0 £ i 6 10 0

      Now , I have left out the 152 . for clothing man , wife , and three children ; and I have left out 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles , because those items belong to the general account of a poor man ' s expenditure ; and 1 am adopting your table of profit and loss , the difference constituting the amount which the poor man has to rely upon , whether expended in articles of clothing , fuel , soap , and candles ; and I am going to show , from your own table , what he has to live upon , expend it as he may ;—£ . « . a . Tour Profit , then , is " 61 10 0 And your Expenditure 26 10 6 Leaving , upoa your Calculation .. 35 0 0 over and above the highest figure of expenditure , for 157 days' work . No w Wolly , if you are an arithmetician , and if you will multiply 35 / . by 20 to bring it into shillings , it will give you 7 00 shillings _ ; and if vou divide the 700 by 157 , ; the numberof days work , it will leave youj within a fraction > f

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      TO POOR TOM BAILEY . Poor Tom , — Having disposed of the " Scribbler , " I now turn to you for a bit , as you went to the expense of sending an inquisitor to Lowbands , and have , as I understand , published his discoveries . Tom , I have not read his lucubrations , ventilated through your puzzle-pate , but I assure you he' afforded the sensible allottees a good deal of amusement at your expense , when they discovered , from your 1 Mercury , 1 that the "fule "—as the Scotch call

      a fellow without brains—was sent by you . He went to a manjwho was digging , and asked ' If he always dug with that end of the spade , ' and < lf digging didn ' t hurt hisfoot / He saw one man digging a drain , and asked him ' If there was a death in his family / as he thought he was digging a grave . He saw another man putting pipes into a drain , and asked him f If that was the way they planted carrots . ' Now , Tom , such is the qualification of your land commissioner , and , as one fact is worth a ship-load of the ravings of such noodles , allow me to describe the forlorn situation and disappointment of my dupes .

      Tom , on Sunday fortnight two men waited upon me ; the one a Mr Parker , from Birmingham , the other Mr Wallis , a two acre occupant from Lowbands : tbe object of their visit was to conclude a bargain for the purchase of Wallis ' s allotment , by Parker . The stipulated price was 40 / . I give names , Tomj and now I will give you , not the substance of our conversation , but the conversation itself , verbatim . Mr O Connor . —Wallis , why do you sell ? Is your wife dissatisfied ? or does the place disagree with your family ?

      Wallis . —No , sir ; for three years before we came to Lowbands my wife never enjoyed good health , and now she is healthy and happy . My three children were poorly , and one I feared would lose the use of her sight , but now they are all well ; and we are all grieved to the heart at the thoughts of leaving . $ Ir O ' Connor . —Than why do you leave ? Waffis . —Because , having purchased and not being entitled to the loan , and having given all my spare capital for the allotment , I am ' not able to go on with the work as I could wish .

      Mr O ' Connor . —Well now , Wallis , how much money would place you in a situation to make you comfortable , and induce you to reject the 40 i ? Wallis . — "Why , sir , if I had 10 / . to go on with , I would not take IQOl . for it . Mr O'Connor . — 'Wallis , I'll test your sincerity , as your love for the land , and your wife ' s . and children ' s attachment to it , makes me grieve at the thought of your losing it ; and as you are not entitled to the loan , and as , by the wheel of fortune and by my own frugality , I have a 102 . note above the worldyou shall have it from me , but not from the Company—I ask no security beyond your industry and excellent character . Now choose between my 10 / . « r Mr Parker's 40 / .

      Wallis . —God bless you , sir , and thank you . I wouldn ' t take 100 ? . now ; and won ' t my wife and children jump with joy , as her family are highly respectable , but wouldn't assist me because ' they are opposed to the Land Plan . Mr Parker . —Well , sir , I assure you , although I have had my journey for nothing-, I am very glad it has ended so . Mr O ' Connor . — Well , Parker , ! like both . ' your look and your zeal in the cause , and go to Aclam , a four acre allottee at Lowbands ; I have a commission to sell his allotment , and come to me if you can agree .

      Well , Tom ; on Sunday last—yea , Sunday ; for , God forgive me ! even my Sundays are devoted to the cause of the poor—Mr P . irker again called upon me , and told me that hejiad agreed with Aclam for the purchase of his allotment , and that the price was 160 L , which he came to pay me , I replied , that I was only Adam ' s agent , and that , unless he was present , 1 would not undertake to ratif y any agreement on his behalf , and that he should go for Aclam . He went , and in due time returned , accompanied by Aclam ; and now , Tom , you shall have our conversation verbatim ;—Mr \ O'Connor . —Aclam , I didn ' t feel justified ia ratifying any agreement betweenfyou and

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      Mr Parker . Are you a willing ' seller ? and are you prepared to receive the money and transfer your allotment ? Mr Adam—Well , sir , the whole way here something has been pulling at my skirts and cautioning me not to sell , and my son is wild about the place . It doesn't agree with my wife or daughter : but I had rather be ut any " » iu vi UtlucjlbCl « UUU ^ ii » u Attwiv * mw uu i » a « v

      expense to make them comfortable and well , than part with the land ; so I'll let them go to Barnsley till the weather gets fine , and then I know they'll be glad to come back . Mr O'Connor . —Well , Parker , you must excuse me ; but I am glad you haye been disappointed a second time . And now what I shall tell every allottee who feels inclined to sell is , that when May-day comes they'll sit before their smoky door , in the town or village , and sorrow over their lost territory .

      Mr Parker . ~ Oh . sir , I like to see the men so wedded to it . This is two journeys I ' ve had , and now , I suppose , I must wait for my chance in the ballot . Mr Aclam . —Well , Mr Parker , I think its very unfair that you should be put to this expense for nothing , so I'll pay you your expenses here &nd back , as I have changed my mind ,, and I would ' nt take any money you could offer me for my allotment now .

      Mr O'Connor . —^ Well , Parker , as I am afraid I have stood in your way in both bargains , and as you appear so good tempered about it , and so determined to be duped ,. I'll sell you my allotment that adjoins Adam ' s . There is ' nt a house upon it , and there has ' nt been a penny expended upon it ; so you see I didn ' t take care of Number One first . I gave 45 / . for it . I was offered 100 / . —you shall have it for 807 ., and the 35 ? . profit that I make , I shall place in the Bank to the credit of the man I bought it from , so that the poor fellow , in ' these bad times , will have a jump when he receives his additional 35 / . v

      Mr Parfar .-Well , I'll take it and I'll pay down forty sovereigns , and I'll come next week with the balance . Now , Tom , on Tuesday morning the man from whom I bought the allotment , received an acknowledgment from the manager for 35 / ,, paid to his credit j and , Tom , don't you think that that 35 / . would be a better item to cover a deficiency to that amount in the balance sheet , than more "Tripps , " more "Goatmans , " or more " Bolders . Now , Tom , mark ; the man who sold to Wallis might have had 601 . for his 21 . 12 s . 4 d .

      in May next ; Aclam might havel bad , after paying the Directors , 130 / . for his 5 / . 4 s . ; for mind , Tom , the purchaser pays for outgoings , acts of husbandry , and seed , and pays for all the implements ; this covers labour—and the dupe Who sold to me , has received SO * without a farthing of deduction , for his 5 J . 4 s . Well , Tom , you shall have another dose , and you see I give names , My old squire , Mr Lee , has four acres at Lowbands . He has two

      sons , both able to work , and willing , which is better ; and there are not three more noble , more Valuable , Winro inrhiatriovic : m « i Jn Europe . I asked him what he would take for his four acre allotment , and you shall have his answer . He said— "Well , there ' s no use asking me , for I wouldn ' t take any money . The cotton trade in Manchester is gone , and my money would only be melting ; besides , we are all so happy and independent here . Come aad see my cow . ' '

      Mr O'Connor . —Well , tut Lee , surely you would sell if you were tempted , wouldn't you take 400 ? ., and be paid for your outgoings ? Lee . —No , that I wouldn't ; and I tell you there ' s no use offering anything , as I wouldn't part with it ever so . Now , Tom , from this you ¦ will learn that when one channel was closed against Lee , I opened another channel for him ; but now , Tom , I have the money test to give

      you-Mr Reay , who purchased his allotment , has been occasionally employed by me at 1 ? . a-week . His business latterly has been to see to the proper loading of the bricks at the wharf ; and on Saturday week , he came to me to resign that easy job at 1 / - a-week , sRyingthat he must work for himself on his land . Now , Tom , when your friends next visit Lowbands , , tell them to inquire for Mr Reay ' s house , ; md I will undertake to pledge myself that there is not a neater habitation in Europe , and that , he will see such a man , such a woman , and five such lovely children—I offered him 1000 / . for one—as he will not see in one case in a

      hundred thousand in this kingdom . I think , Tom , even your hard heart—and I am told its very flinty towards the poor—would soften if you saw that family . ¦ * • Well , Tom , " now we will go to the knife and fork . I have an Irish Orangeman—a four acre child—his name is Addison ; he was a block-printer out of work , and consequently out of food , when he came to me . He said to

      me , on Monday week , ss I was measuring the drains for tiles , " Daddy , come in here and see my portraits / ' I went in , and he showed me ' Frost / ' that was a large gammon of liiicun . "There ' s Duncombe , " says he , pointing to a flitch , and " there ' s Feargus , " pointing to a ham . Well , I thought they were capital portraits , ' and realised critically the objects of the Charter .

      Now , Tom , this man was a block-printer , and I am told that your commissioner was struck with the incapacit y of my children . And now , I'll tell you what I'll do with you ; I'll bet you £ 100 that thirty of the newlycreated agriculturists at Lowbands , shall clo a day ' s work with any thirty agricultural labourers in the neighbourhood . Welf , Tom , we'll-go on . It was a very wet day when I was measuring the drains , and I was obliged to take shelter in the house of Mr Kershaw ; and not having bveakfasted , U

      began to feel hungry . He treated me to some rashers from one of bis portraits , and some eggs from his hens , and a mug of water from his pump , and I never partook of a more delicious meal . But , Tom , that's not the most interesting part of my visit to Kershaw . He had his aged father and mother living with him , Tom ; and , still more , Tom , to prove how impossible it is for tyranny to eradicate the true feelings of generosity from the hearts of the

      truly good , this excellent young man , and this excellent old couple , had a child of ten or eleven years old—an orphan , Tom , who had lost her parents , but no relation whatever- —and , Tom , go and look at that child , and tell me if you ever saw a straighter , more healthy looking , more beautiful , or more neatly attired girl in your life . Thus , you see , Tom , I have opened Nature ' s pores for one class , and I have rewarded those who have struggled , from natural goodness , against most unnatural circumstances .

      Now , Tom , I take my leave for the present , with a bit of advice . Stick to the goose-quill , it ' s the fitting instrument for a goose : and be satisfied when you see a leg of' mutton and turnips , without asking whether they grow upon trees , or aro produced by labour . Yours , dear Tom , as ever , and for ever , Feargus O'Connor .

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      " Onwird . and we conquer » Beckir&rd , and we fall !" , ilHSPS ° ' s CHASTER AXD NO SUERENDER !"

      To The Old Guards.

      TO THE OLD GUARDS .

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      ¦¦¦ ' / fy & ¦ &U , * e »~ j 6 T ;

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      VOL- XL NQ 540- LONDONSATURDAYFEBRDAR ] Fi 6 ri 848 ' . ™ m ^ ei ^ Z y * rive 8 hiJHng * i and Sixpence per Quarter " '' .. ' ' ¦—

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 26, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1459/page/1/