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Northern Star (1837-1852), 15th December 1849, Edition 1 of 3, Page unpag, Untitled Article

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  • Departments (2)
    • TO THE UKLOOATED MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY
    • National Hairo arompany.
  • Text (9)
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      Untitled Article

      My Friexds , -w ^ a Wh * Managers of Railways , of ass&wrfc

      £ L ~ ^ of a ? Y Property . The difference bet ween the poSlt 5 on of those gentlemen and 2 ^ ' « t ^ s : that not only have aeir imqnifaea been pennitted to continue with fte knowled ge of the Government and parties Jhose duty at was to make close inspection , *?• ^! P ] maerers have heen encouraged in then- fraud : even the Press has not # 11 recentty exposed them , and then in very mild

      Now observe my position . A ^ ; r f plan was revaed by all wh dreaded the elevation of the working man . Secondly , -Many Memhers of Parliament * e «> g jugglers themselves in several oS frauds , acted upon the

      principle-Set a thief to catch a thief and presuming that the several reports in the several newspapers were hased upon sustain-- ^ SSSSSSKS With the hope of acsto ^ g tba Land Com-VSOZZ * ' *"'**** "TP *

      WorHng men , let me asfc you if any indi-2 S ?!?* & * »«*«»*«* * « y project that has heen undertaken , has had to contend against the same amount of slander persecution , falsehood , and ingratitude that I tare i No matter , whether jsodal . or political . And again , let me ask yon , whether any other man—mixed up as I have heen in every turmoil—hated as I have heenby every Government and their lickspittles—has so successfully defied the slander of all ?

      ^ You working men , who know me , are con-¦ nnced that to me character is dearer than life ; and you are also aware , after many years ' exper ience , that the value—the only value -that I attach to money , is the service that it enahles me to render to your order . Do you think that tixelaw ' s treachery would Baveheen enforcedagainst any other Company , as it has heen against the Land Company ? think that

      Do you Her Majesty ' s Attorney-General would have dared to arrest the law ' s progress , if the firnds of rich men were at stake ? While he has thrown every obstacle in tbe way of the registration of a Company established for your "benefit . Is it not clear , that if he had solid ground to stand upon , that he would have pressed for the final decision of the Queen ' s Bench as regards registration ?

      So much of my address merel y refers to genereralities ; and now to particulars more affecting myself , and also affecting you . It appears that the located members look upon themselves as proprietors , and not as tenants located hyyour hard savings . They do not ¦ wish to have me as a landlord , or the Directors ; they wish to have no landlord at all . But let me ask you , if they had the selection of one , whether they would have received so much indulgence at his hands ? or whether yon would have so tamel y tolerated the indulgence that I have shovmthem , was it not for the k indliness of your deposition , and the frequent representations I had made as to the

      craeltyofpresangthem ? My desire was that they should receive such indul gence at my own expense , as would put it out of the power of our enemies to base then- opposition to the Land Plan npon the poverty , or even dissatisfaction of the located memhers , and , therefore , they have not till now heen called upon to pay one single fraction ; while yon remember the grateful addresses presented to me for my foolish indulgence .

      Every newspaper in the kingdom is now at their command , to publish what they consider their grievances and my injustice ; and as only one paper is open tome , you will consider it no easy task for an individual to contendnot against the Press of England only , hut against the Press of Ireland and Scotland as ¦ well . However , I will do it , and successfully , by a short hut irrefutable narrative of the money transactions connected with the Land Company .

      When operations were going on faster than funds came in I borrowed from one gentleman nearly £ 2 , 000 Yet unpaid . From another ... 600 Yet unpaid . From another ... 900 Part unpaid . 5 Total £ 3 , 500 Every fraction of that—together with the whole of the profits of the Northern Star for four years—has gone into the Land Company . Mr . Rider , my clerk , paying as much as 370 / . some weeks , to enahle me to meet the demand *

      upon the Company , while I was giving bills at an enormous interest for paper and stamps . la 184 G , ' 47 , and ' 48 , it frequently cost me over 20 / . a week in visiting estates to be sold in Devonshire , Cumberland , and many distant counties in England , and in attending auctions to hid for them . I kave taken Mr . Doyle , Mr . Wheeler , and Mr . Clark at my own expense , to assist in . examining some of thoso estates I have not , from the day the Land Company . was established , to the present moment , * expended 10 / ., or 5 / .. or 1 / ., except upon the most simple necessaries of life . The Land Company has heen in connexion with the Land Bauk-i-thsjnouev belonging to

      the Bank has been deposited m my name in theLondon Joint Stock Bank , and 1 Tefer my numerous enemies and spiesto the manager of that hank whether I have drawn a cheque for one shilling . When the appointment of the Parliamentary Committee had shaken—and naturally—the confidence of unpaid members , 2 , 0007 . was transferred from the National Land and Labour Bank to the credit of the Company , as every tradesman pressed me for that

      payment of bills . 1 , 8067 . of sum I repaid to the Land and Lahour Bank out of mv own money ; I have heen the largest depositor in that hank , but never took a farthing of interest for my money ; aud while f have heen paying over 10 Z . per cent , for money on my own account , I refer my enemies to the manager of the National Land and Labour Bank , to ask him if I have ever drawn one fraction from that Bank ?

      Now as to the accounts : A halance-sheet was annually rendered . Sfot one fraction of the money has ever come into my hands since I vas treasurer ; every farthing has gone thronfhthe Directors to the Bank—that is , to the several tanks nearest to theEstates , where operations were going on-and every one of those hankers' hooks were produced to the Government auditor , andtotheParhamemary C The ^ ount accounted for in the balance sheet beforethe auditor examinedthe accounts t& pSmentary Com mittee , wa 946 , 000 ^ S IUItono tionthatanyotherinvesfagabon

      o -thattalaneeB heet wouldtafcepiace ; u ™«« , I was fortunate enough to have preserved the ^ sassss

      ^ SSSSriSs m ^ BWZ vl ^ rfU be as tonished when I if you SS ^ ot oneline or one figare of mine " ^? &e , Mr . C , r ~ Ut one *^ I ^ t at another . IpaxdtL

      Untitled Article

      money on Saturday nights , and he entered name and amount in the book . At Lowhands , Mr . Culukgham kept the Tradesmen's hook , and Mr . King tha Labourer s book . ^ At MiusterLovel , Mr . Doyle , and Mr . CuLLixGHAir , and Mr . King kept the books . At Smg s End , Mr . Cullingham and Mr . King kept the books . AtBromsgrove , Mr . CuLUNdHAM and Mr . Doyle kept the booksand not a lineor ™ °° ! _ ° , RuhnA "T -T ^ nnriT fi n

      , , figure of mine is in one of them ; and from those books the accounts were made out . And now l et me ask you , if I might not , without the power of detection , have juggled the company out of thousands had I been so inclined ? Butlet menow show you my disregard of money when character is concerned , and how I preferred serving the poor occupants who could not get securities for . loans out of my own pocke ^ in preference to drawing upon the Company s funds : — (

      To One Occupant * gave ; ? V ^ ss * ^ & , i . - \ .: ¦* . 1 * ^^^^^ i ^ - ^^^^^ f ^ w To Three ' 67 . each ' " * -ik To One ... '" . 2 { To Another ... "' . Z Premium to the O'Connorviile

      Occapants ..., j 5 To Howarth , Manchester , 35 ?! Profit made upon a Four Acre Allotment that I had purchased from-him , and which he was astonished at receiving 35 Present of an Allotment of Two Acres and House to a devoted Chartist , and one of the most charitable , benevolent , and kind-hearted men I ever

      met 200 Sacrifice of Interest on Money in the Bank , about 3 Q Total £ 339

      And to show you the different value that I attach to the money of the poor man and my own , one of the allottees at Lowbands was agent for the Star , he owes me Ql . or % , but I never pressed him for that , and he has paid no rent r Now , bear in mind that the Auditor Reported to the Parliamentary Committee that the Company owed me 3 , 400 That the last Financial Committee reported , after seeing recei pts for everything , and after being previousl y submitted to the Government Auditor an extra 1 , 200

      Making £ 4 , 600 And , also hear in mind , that the Committee urged the necessity of a prompt and itnmedi * ate balance-sheet being furnished ; that I was nearly night aud day , for three weeks , furnishing those voluminous documents , while any other man would have b een granted at least six months , and in this case , also Mr . Cuixingham , Mr . Dotib , Mr . M'GRATH Mr . Wheeler , and Mr . King— and their hooks and receipts , were Bearchingl y and critically examined by the Auditor , who , as he admitted from report , had entertained the strongest prejudice against me .

      Since that . audit I have discovered receipts for large amounts that I did not then get credit for , or claim credit for , not having the receipts then by me ; and in the account furnished to the Financial Committee last July , I made a mistake against myself of 1361 . Now , working men , consider my case , and the case of the Rochdale Savings Bank , of the Woods and Forests , the Ecclesiastical Revenue , and Railway Managers , and ask yourselves whether in my case such a continuous scene of plunder would have heen tolerated for years ; and , above all , bear in mind , that my expenses in connexion with this Company have been much over 2 , 000 / . —that , up to the present time , as a paid Director , I would have

      been entitled to 474 / . ; and further , hear in mind , that I made a profit of 1 , 3503 . of a Small Farm that I purchased and Bold next day , and to which , as Mr . Roberts stated , at a public meeting at Manchester , I was fully entitled , and which no other man , in a Bimilar position , would have handed over to the Company ; and , in addition , bear in mind , that I have paid large interest upon bills due upon my own account , while I have never given a bill on account of the Land Company , hut on the contrary , I have invested my own funds to save the Company from legal expenses ; and although I have been offered presents by tradesmen with whom I dealt largely , I have invariably declined them .

      Then as to Mathon Estate , I might have patched up accounts by drawing upon that ; while , as regards that fund , my bankers book is open to inspection , and not a fraction of it ha 3 been touched . Now , working men , further observe that I have paid 500 / . deposit upon Mathon out of my own pocket , and that every depositor —if I eannot complete the purchase—will receive 20 s . in the pound , and I will lose that . Thus I show you that I have borrowed 3 , 500 / ., and given the whole of the profits of the " Northern Star , " and the whole of my time for four years and nine months to the promotion of this Land Plan , while now I am most brutally and unscrupously assailed by those who have been located with your money .

      Working men , let me now show you my legal difficulties for two years . I have paid to Mr . Cleave and legal expenses , nearly 700 Mr . Hobson ' s verdict , 781 ., a quarter ' s salary with coats 500 Mr . Ardillmy clerk , for libel ... 150

      , Mr . Fowler , for libel *— 60

      Mr . Macnamara ... 242 Oakum picking , about 100 My own Solicitors' costs 387 Total £ 2 , 139 Not counting various sums that I have given away . Now , do not you think that I am a finished juggler ? while , had I devoted my time and intellect to money-grubbing , I might have been wallowing in wealth , instead of as now living in the most simple , frugal , and economical manner . I fear that you will consider this letter long and tedious , while you must bear in mind that it comes from an individual

      who has no other channel through which he can defend himself , while the whole battery of the Press , provincial and metropolitan , are opened upon him . Now , unlocated members , let me ask you to read the following letter of Mr . Oddy—* three acre occupant at O'Connorville—to the Bradford members , and also the genuine , the straightforward , and unanswerable letter of Dtjxcau Shermngtou , one of the moit upright and steadfast Chartist in the Kingdom , to the occupants at Snig ' s End , and read the secretary ' s letter accompanying Mr . Oddy's , and my reply to Mr . Oddt . Here is Mr . Oddy's letter : — O'Connorv'lle , Dec . 5 th , 1819 . My Dear Fbiekd , —You may think it very strange 9 of m not writing to you according to promise , lmt the truth i

      Untitled Article

      IS . * ¥ f her « now " Wriy three year , and could get no 0 £ . £ rt . "V Uohnent , ° <> ly promises of them , all broken ?""• ^"" Pe tat juggling and fraud ; aud if I was to write & ™ w ^ ° i l ° ° - ' e truth ' x know * e tcrew would « 3 ™? T * ? ? at tiEhtly teo : and since l could not n ^ l « t n £ stet , ement thought it move honest not to write at all . Therefore , dear friend , be so good as to lay 1 il ^™ J b . ' f my brother members , and tel ! them Ow ?^ ' must act - *«¦ * will not stand « n ? i « T " £ theD | rect » t ' sshuffling , noMneiv falsehood I « m wnr " " ? e statement » underneath are correct , which f . ' ^ r ^ S to pro re before any magistrate , to all your ' Thi i T i , ,,

      2 ™ , r tr ' one of the Erectors , has been 1 T £ , « t ^ e weeks demanding their rentB , and th « , w ^ ' ° P wd some Pi " , andsome cannot pay j nS'JVPffn v = «» * 810 *« . three acres JEU . four wres £ 13 Wj . Now , with such rents , andlevjingratoi and K frn CannOt fy iive ' * & "V wife weight with Sn , 'J ^ KT- rnin 5 dawntilI ^ ark at "ifM « " <» oft *" with empty belhe . ; for , I assure you , many a day w . ^ Lfiri n ? *" " - ' ? * * *»»* » nd cold water , with * » KTt "if * " ! tnec ° W water to make it paWle , and yet I could not keep out of debt , for I tUnd in my book thu 'J- £ dd .

      .... . Two and a half yean ' rent .. .. 27 10 0 Loan from the Company .. .. ,, 15 < j q Due to provUion shop for pigi meat and onrulrai . 810 0

      S . 51 0 0 Jfowi myold * rfa « d , I paid Dixon «« , ud the r «» t mvnt ^^ fe ^^ v ^^*^ ° ^ J * a ^ rae' ^*^ a )' Q 9 $ ' ftFK'J'i f ? raft » pl » n | ps * l ' poi itlTeiy declare to you , tha ' t tte Land Scheme is nothing more than an humbmr , a delu-Hon , a mockery , and a mare . For I assert , without lear H C < £ * * ° n - «»» t the Land memhert nerer willbt benefited by thw bubWe icheme ; he promised to put bonus member * on when a Tacancy would occur : and here , on thi « estate , he hat put people on that paid the read jr money down , although the bonus memberi were paid in , and higher in amount than this man , and yet the ? tak % ttntman's money andletthe bonui memhers stand

      ? V , « t . ? W &Tend , lftho country or the puttie knew only half their carrying on , they would be hurled out of office , and O'Connor scouted from socigty—which he richly deserres—and all such swindlers . You may think I sp . ai harsh , but i do not draw the picture near the real like nesi , nor could I t « U half the truth . Now , my friends and brother * , my business is nearly brought to a close , nndl beg of you to send me your adrice , and make what use you Uke of this letter , for I defy contradiction . My lire itock is as follows : — £ t . d . Oneia-pigKow 210 6 One hog : 1 10 0 Nine store pigs at 9 i 110

      „ . t , , Cropi . ic . &c . Nine bushel ! of wheat , at 5 » 2 6 o Eight ditto barley , at 3 b . .. ,. 14 0 Thirty ditto potatoes , at 2 s 3 0 0 One donkey 0 15 0 Six fowls , at 2 s ; 0 12 0 £ 15 17 0

      It is intimated to us that if we ( the balloted members , ) wish to leave we may do bo , and take our crops with us ; but I will not until I hear from you how 1 am to act . Till then farewell , for I cannet « pr « ss half my feelings to you by letter , but when I i « e you all I will then relate what win surprise jou , concerning our glorious Land Plan , I remain , with respect , &c ., WULUH OdDXT . Here follows the accompanying letter from the Branch Secretary : — Bradford , Yorkshire , Dec . 9 .

      Dear Sir , —I am directed by the memhers of the lana Company that held a meeting this day ( Sunday , ) at our room , to send you a letter that came into my hands fromja rascal that is at O'Conuorville , and we hope that you will put the screw on him , and send him back to Bradford again . This fellow has often stated , when he was here , that he could not earn above six sliillings a week , on an average , and he has got , from the Society twenty-two pounds Aid money ; fifteen pounds' Loan money ; And two pounds from us to send him off . 1 remain your humble servant , James Conneix . Secretary of this Branch .

      Now , hear my reply to Mr . Oddy . What were the promises hroken except those of the occupants "who have paid no rent ; and marlc his present rigour and that of his wife , now that they are ahle to toil from morning till night , as compared with their condition when they were located . More than once , hoth Oddt and his wife have told me , that when she was at Bradford , she was reduced to such a state of weakness , that for weeks together she Mas not ahle to work , and waB obliged to He in bed , and could not eat a hit , and that it took ah * she could earn to pav for medicine : but now , she

      aa \ d , "Look at me , I could eat one of them big loaves there , and can work all day and never felt so well in my life , and so does Oddy . Eh ? butldolikeit , God Almighty bless thee . " But to figures : this man has received 22 / . 10 s . Aid Money , 15 ? . Loan Money , that is 3 ty . 10 b . ; and has one of the most splendid allotments upon the estate , he has had a house rent free for two years and a quarter , he has now 15 / . 17 s . worth of produce , making 53 / . fa ., and has paid 21 . rent , reducing it to 51 / . 7 s ., and if I remember right he had two cowBj however , he is now reduced to a donkey .

      Now divide the 51 Z . 7 s . into weekly wages for two years and a quarter , and you will find that apart from consumption of meat , which he says he has eaten , of bread , sugar , and water , no doubt some vegetables , and rent of house , and you will find that this poor juggled man , without being unemployed for a single day , not excepting holidays , has received 8 s . and a fraction per week . Now , does this require comment , and will those who have been supporting him and his fortunate companions longer tolerate such an iniquity ? Here I take a feeble man and unhealthy wife from an unhealthy factory town , place them in a magnificent cottage , upon three acres of excellent land , they are now healthy and vigorous , had 6 s . a week to live upon , and pay for medicine , when they took possession of their allotment , and now have lived rent free and received 8 s . a week , besides supporting themselves .

      Now , I ask you whether this fellow has been the victim of "a mockery , a delusion , and a snare ? " and I ask you if there is anything more easy than to make a poor mouth and draw up a most piteous appeal , while the duped appellant is living upon the very sweat and blood of many who would be but too happy to receive 6 s . or 5 s . a week . Here follows Mr . Sherbington ' S letter , which , with that ingenuousness of character for which he is distinguished aud honoured , he requests may be published . Here it is : — 48 , Rumford-street , Bridgetow , Glasgow , December Sth . 1849 .

      Sib , —I received a communication from you this week iu name of the allottees of Snig ' s End Estate , complaining , in very unmeasured terms , of Mr . O'Connor ana the rest of the Directors of the Land Company , for the measures they have taken to follow out the instructions of the Unlocated Members , in fact , I do not see what other course could have been adopted by them under the circumstances in which they were placad . When 1 see a number of men letting themselves up in opposition to the regular constituted officers of the Company , anddeclarinptheirdttermination not to comply with the rules that have heen adopted by both the Located and Unlocated Members , Iwouldaskyou what other course they could adopt ? or do you think that they

      would be justified in allowing the Company to be completely nullified , and those who have possession to keep possession in opposition to every former arrangement ? Ko , sir , such is not my opinion of justice between man and man . All those who are now on the different estates must have known the conditions on which they held their allotments , and also that althoughit was got up principally by Chartists , tnat they could not allow injustice to he practised on those that have as just claims on the Company at tho : e that are located have , without having recourse to law for the'purpose of compelling them to fulfil their agreements , and must have been mistaken in what constituted the real duty of those of whom they complain bo very bitterly , and , in my opinion , unjustly .

      So far as your statements regarding the wasteful expenditure of the Directors goes I cannot agree with you , but 1 have no doubt but it will pass current with many who know no better , and those who have not had the sams opportunity of satisfying themselves as I hare on this moet important subject . I having been appointed one of an Auditing Committee by the Conference to examine and report upon the accounts , this has perfectly satisfied my mind upon that portion of your complaints . And for your other grievances you . may have some cause to complain ; but I do think , that whatever your condition maybe , that the course adopted by the allottees is either just or

      politic , as I blame them for being the great cause ot confidence being destroyed , and the operations of the Company suspended . From the first day that a location took place up till the present day , the smallest obstacle was construed into an insurmountable barrier to the progress of the Located Members , and , consequently , the Press , who U neither the friends of the one party or the other , wero always glad to receive the complaints of the dissatufied , and to make the worst of them , so that the good feeling that did exist fora time might bo destroyed , and their end * accomplished . I am , Sir , yours , 6 c , D . SnEBJISTON .

      P . S . —As this is no new formed opinion of mine it -n ill take more evidence than has yet been given to convince me , and for what 1 Uere state I refer you to Ales . Cleland for the truth of it , &c it has often been a . subject between bimandme . —D . S . TO THE BISECTORS . GEmsuis , —I enclose you a letter which I have received

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      rom Snig ' s End Estate , and one which I think I would not ¦ e doing my duty if I did not put you in possession of ; also ? . $ & . * reply which l sent them - wllich J ° are P <* - iect liberty to use us you may think proper . t I am Gentlemen , yours as ever , m . ^ ¦ ' DuUCAH SHE * BINGT «! r . J-be ^ a bove 13 directed to Robort Jnrvis , Sing ' s End . The only observation that I feel it necessary to make upon Mr . Shebmkgton ' s letter is , that could I divest myself of that excitement wnich the ingratitude of the most fortunate » as raised , I might have been able to condense my observations within the same space , as I aery mortal man to give a more graphic , a more . true , or a more understandable picture of the whole affair , than Mr . Siierrington naa , m his concise and able letter ^

      . My friends , all that I have written in the above has reference to my connexion with the i-iand Company , financiall y ; and now to the oase and slanderous accusation preferred against me by the vile ingrates of Snig's End , anq published in numerous papers , They say , that in the audited account there is 1 , 4001 . . « M » d for Aid Money , which is 400 J . or 6001 . rnoid-thfe ^^ paid ^ ftnd-ihey-alBa ^ atalhat the Company owes me nothing . Now mark my reply . Not very far short of the 1 , 400 / . was paid . Mr . Clark , on the 13 th of June , 1848 , received a cheque for 500 / ., to pay Aid Money there ; on the 11 th of July the Government Auditor made up his accounts : I gave

      him the amount that I had paid : Mr . Curk was not present at Bromsgrove when the accounts were audited ; Mr . Cullingham , Mr . M'Gkatii , Mr . Doyle , Mr . Bull—who had for a short time paid the labourers—were present , and it so happened that Mr . Clarke had paid but a portion of the 500 Z ., jind , subsequently returned the balance to the Bank . t But if you were to take things in their entirety , hear what I have to state : the

      occupants of Snig ' s End are stated , in the Government Auditors' account , to have received 1 , 400 ? . Mr . Clark returned 101 Z . 10 s ., which would make their receipts something under 1 , 300 / . In the same Report , the occupants at Minster Lovel are stated to have received 1 , 538 / ., Avhile they received 1 , 710 / .- —leaving a balance of nearly 200 / . in my favour ; which deduct from the 1 , 300 ? . received by the Snig's End occupants , after deducting the 101 J . 10 s . returned by Mr . Clark from the 1 , 400 / . stated to be paid , and you will find that it

      reduces the amount of 1 , 400 / . - , for which I got credit , to 1 , 100 / . And let me further state the foundation of the inaccuracy upon which the Minster Lovel Aid Money was based . The Government Reporter only returned sixty-nine houses as the number built upon that Estate , whereas there are eighty ; and the Aid Money was paid by Mr . Doyle ; and to some , who received it before departing for the Estate , by the Directors , at the office of the Company . Now , am I not a juggler ?

      Now , working men , as regards this Land Company , Parliament will meet in about six wt -k * , when it ia my intention—if it iB not previousl y registered , and it is now set down for hearing next term , which commences upon January tho 11 th— according to tho unanimous recommendation of the Parliamentary Committee—to apply to the HouBe of Commons , for an Act of Parliament to wind up the affairs of the Company , The account ! will be again-audited , and if the Company does not owe me several thousand pounds I will surrender my whole claim ; and I will take care that the legal expenses shall be trifling .

      And how , to provo ray attachment to this Company , I undertake to surrender every fraction due to me , if the unprincipled men located with your money will surrender the property , which may be turned to much better account . Now let me ask you , if there is another instance upon record of such a Company never being put to any legal expense except for registration—if ever there was a trustee discharged his trust more faithfully—if ever there was a treasurer could give so honest an account of the funds placed in his handi ? I think I have a good set off against 400 J . or 500 / ,, or 4 , 000 / . or 5 , 000 / . ; and I believe every man

      who knows me feels confident that I would rather go to bed without my supper than sup upon the poor man' b funds . And , further observe that when this Company is either completely , registered or wound up , as tho case may be , the whole of its accounts from the commencement , will be again Bubmitted to commissioners and auditors appointed by the Government ; and then , my friends at Snig ' a End will find , whether I have a good set-off against 400 ? ., 4 , 0001 ., or 7 , 0002 . ; and there is not an unlocated member who is not fully aware that is was not my intention to press them for the repayment of my services . Bear in mind , that the answer of Mr . Sherrikgton is to Ml . JARYIS , whose letter is published in

      the Manchester Examiner , and several other papers ; and bear in mind , that not one of those papers will publish my reply . In conclusion , let me give you a former instance of the manner in which I was treated . When I was in my dungeon , in York Caetlo , it was rumoured that I had a large balance of Chartist money in my hands . I was sot present to defend myself ; the whole accounts were submitted to a shrewd and searching committee ; and I now give you the result of their inquiry , when I was persecuted and rtandered by many whom I had saved from starvation . Here are the resolutions—which follow a full balance sheet of receipts and diibursements , occupying nearly three columns of the Northern Star .

      In Mr . Clarkson ' s account , his charge for professional service amounts to ^ 150 ; the differtnee wai paid by Mr . O'Counor , through Mr . Clarkson , for traverse fee » , court fees , and counsel fees , at Liverpool . The traverse feej alone amounted to move than one hundred pounds . Mr Clarkson ' s charge is for his own and his head clerk ' s attendance during the whole of the Yorkshire and Lancashire assizes , and his attendance Subsequently at Chester ; for jus services in White and Wilson ' s case , and numerous attendance at the magistrates' courts , and having defended more than one hundred prisoners , separate briefs being required for a great number . Amount due to Mr . O'Connor , for Frost's d « . fence 36 19 2 Amount due to Mr . O'Connorfor National

      ds-, . fen « .. 273 19 7 i Amount due to Mr . O'Connor , by Northern 1 J » ion « o 0 ., 356 18 9 i lhe two amounte paid by HejSrood are j £ 27 and ft ! odd , but the exact Items are not yet known .. ,. .. w ,. .. 7 t 0 0 Which leaves due to Mr . O'Connor m • < £ 282 18 9 . ^ 1 Iemoraw > cm . _ a special meeting of tbe Manchester Mecutire Council , and of the committee , appointed by the Delegate meeting in Manchester to distribute the fund

      subsewbedfor the relief of the wives and families of the imprisoned Chartists , having been called , for thepurposeof examining the balance sheets of the receipts and disbursem ® nt 5 ofthe'Frost Defence Fund , ' and the' National Ueieiice _ iund , in consequence of curtain reports having been raised and circulated to the prejudice of Mr . Teargus O Connor , the holder and disburser of tlwse funds , such Sw . ? i leld this Jl 0 I 1 ( iay evening , October fith , 1840 , i » i' r cavin the several documents read , and the unan f tS havi " been cxamined > ifc ™ s resolved

      t I '—^ h's committee having heard , with deep regret , of uie circulation , by some parties in London , of rumours and V *? LPreJudicial to Mr . O'Connor ' s character , in relation to tne Irostand General Defence Funds , highly approve of « ie steps takehby Mr . O'Connor for their relutation , in having corresponded with Mrs . Frost and obtaining from that iaay a letter denying the charges said to have been made bv r : a , m la . in the whole documents , with full explana " - uons , before this committee for examination and approval , r sa « sfaetory , preparatory tO ' thcir publication for general inspecbon . ' Moved by Jajies Wheelek , seconded by Andkew AIELVILI , ^ 2 . —The balance sheets of the several funds having been ttentivel y and scrutinisingly examined by this committee ,

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      ^*^ A ^^^ y ^^ € ^ Ciirz ^ _ has been exclusivel y established for the I > oi ! ofifc of our own order , \{ lias been maligned ; uid spat upon , and b y nono more ungenerously than by those . whom it has most served . Philip M'Gkath , CmusToriiEu Doi'le . Thomas Clark , William Dixon . [ As an appendix to my letter , let mo call your attention to the following leading article , extracted from the Jurist of the 1 st of December , 1849 ; a paper edited by tho ablest lawyers in the kingdom , and who , you will naturally understand , would not damage their own ;

      character , or that of their organ , by any misrepresentation 6 f the law ; and from it you will unequivocally understand , that but tbv ' tho power , the malignity , and the malice of the Registrar , inspired by the hatred of the Governmen t to the Land Plan , he would not have dared to refuse the complete ree ' tstration of the Company ; but you will understand the old maxim , that « there is one law for the rich and another law for the poor ; " that there is more danger for the peasant who shoots the Squire ' s hare , than to the Squire who shoots the peasant ' s head ; and that " one man may steal a horse , whilo another dare not look over the wall . " —F . O'C . l

      An important question has lately been raised in tMe Court of Common Pleas relating to the office of the Registrar of Joint-stock Companies . It arose in a case of The Barium Iron Company v . Brrmlt . Ihe declaration was for instalments due on shaves , llio defendant pleaded that the companv was within the stat 7 & 8 Viet . c . 110 ; but that , * although it bad been completel y registered , its . deed of settlement did not contain the particulars required by that statute . , ' The above was a case in which the oomplaint was , that a company ' liad boon completely registered winch ought not to have been so . Another case ia ponding m the Court of Queen ' s Bench , in which the complaint is , that the certificate has been refused where it ought to have boon granted . We allmlo to Heg ., on the Prosecution of the National Ixmd Company , ( provisionall y registered . ) v . The Rmhmxr of

      • nwiufoefc vommmtt . " There , a mandamus , getting forth the deed of settlement of the companv , has gone to the Registrar , commanding him to renew the certificate of provisional registration , and grant a certificate of complete registration . Ha lias returned three grounds for non-compliancetet , that the company is not established for profit , &c within the stat . 7 cfc 8 Viet , c . 110 ; secondly tnat , b y the deed , the directors are empowered to 3 Si I . . i' contrn * y t 0 the lottery acts ; and , thirdly , that the company is also a banking company , contrary to the banking acts . To this return the prosecutors have demurred generally , because . they contend that the Registrar lm no right to travel out of the deed , wliich shews the company to be within the Joint-stock Companies Act and does not show that the lottery or banking statutes have been contravened . 6 . Now here , we presume , a nnaatinn . wV »^ -m .

      incidentally raised in The Ba ^ J ^ Co ^ a ^ T Bmnett , will recur ,. namely , whether the Registrar w a ministerial or judicial officer ; and if the latter hi tt . I ta " eve , » 1 » s discretion is not limited themvtlf S 6 ttlmonb ' -y ^* compliance on the part of the company with the express provisions rK n y £ , 78 8 Viot - c ' ' asamendedl * It would appear that the statute has imposed ( as might have been expected ) a limit upon the power of the Registrar in refusing to incorporate a company which appears , by its deed , to be within its meaning and intention . Tims , although he may object to the abstract or index of the deed , and to the insufficiency of thedcod b y reason of omission or incompleteness , or of its containing provisions inconsistent with or repugnant to the stat 7 & 8 X I 0 ti u } > yet U would seem » that if he approve of the abstract or index , and the deed of settlement on the face of it comply with the exnress romiirfi .

      ments of the statute , he has no power to refuse registration on account of matter dehors the deed , buch appears to bo the reasonable construction of tnoaet ; and wide as tho Registrsir ' 3 discretion is under its provisions , it hardly seems advisable to extend it by implication .

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      JioTTixoHAM . —At a public meeting of members , hold af the Seven Stars , Barker-gate , on Monday evening last , which was numorously attended-Mr . James Sweet in the chair—tho following resolution was came t unanimousl y : " That in tbe opinion of tins meeting the success of the Land Company mainly depends upon tho abilit y of the allotteos to pay the rent due : they consider that sufficient time has been given them for that purpose , but they fear them are not actuated by a principle of justice towords their brother shareholders , by whoso united exertions they were placed upon those allotments , and by whoso contributions aid and loan money was advanced to them They therefore demand of the Directors

      to enforce tho payment of tho rent immediately , and to eject all such members , and thereby act justly to the thousands who have paid up their share money , but remain unlocated , and wno are receiving no interest whatever for the money so invested . If the members already located cannot or will not pay rent , tho sooner they are removed the better , that others more descrvine may occupy their places . This meeting is further ot opinion , that unless something similar to the above is acted upon by the Directors , that a widespvead dissatisfaction will exist amongst the members , and however reluctant they might feel , it would become , in that case , their duty to call upon the Directors to wind up the affairs of tho Company forthwith . ' ' J

      Similar resolutions have beea adopted at Hull , Mmburgh , Mottrara , Worcester , Liverpool . Gcorgio Mills , and ffowcastle-upon-Tyne

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      FUNERAL OP THE QUEEN DOWAGER . ( On Thursday , tho mortal remains of Queen Adelaide were removed from Bentley Priory Stanmore , and intend in the Royal mausoleum iu St . Georgo s Chapel , Windsor . In accordance with the last . desire of that illustrious lady , the funeral proceedings were conducted in a comparatively private manner , for . with the exception of the presence of a strong detachment of the Life Guards , there was nothing beyond tho ordinarv display observable at the funeral of a private individual

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      Death of fwo Chhdrkn on board a Steamer . --un Saturday a verv distressing occurrence took place on board the steamer Camilla , while makin " her passage betwixt Belfast and Glasgow . Tho night was very stormy , and a majority of the passengers were in consequence affected by sea sickness . Among them were two women , who , it subsequently appeared , had been deserted by their husbands , and had been induced to believe that they were in Glasgow . They had immediatel y resolved upon coming huher in search of them . They took a Steerage passage for that purpose , and each brought her child along with her . All parties had been extremely sick , and the mothers were rendered incapable of attending to their charge . When betwixt AUsa Craig and the Cumbrae Head , it was discovered that the childreu were dead . No other cause than severe sickness can be ascribed for this lamentable reuslt .- Glasgow Daily Mail .

      AcciDENit on thb Great Northern Rmlwav . - < Jn Monday last tho up train from Linclon , due at Boston at 1115 a . m ., had reached the first semaphore from B . ston , from wliich place there is only one line of rail , until the station-yard at Boston is reach ed , when a luggage train was seen , approaching in tho opposite direction , which the fog iiad before Prevented the driver seeing . The brakes were instantly applied to the Linclon train , but owing to «« shppery state of the wheels they had very little eaect , and in consequence a collision took piaec . i , ? e engine of the down train caught the fifth truck , b . oke the connecting links , and threw the truek ott tho line , and four trucks were smashed to pieces the splinters flying about in all directions . Luckily Ro lives were lost . Several of the passengers were

      more or less bruised by the shock of the collision , Destructive Fire at Croidon , —On Thursday evening a fire of a very alarming and destructive character broke out between eight and nine O ' clock in the linen factory belonging to Messrs . Larking and Co , situate at North-end , Croydon , near the Cro - . vn Inn , and immediately facing the policestation . Whilst one of the P division of police was going his rounds in Kcnt ' s-yard he perceived an unusual body of smoke hovering over Messrs Larking ' s factory , and whilst looking to find out the cause an immense body of flame shot through the side windows , clearly indicating that the factory was doomeu to destruction . The whole of tho

      building was soon burnt to the ground . Messrs . Larking is partiall y insured in the Guardian Fire Office . Tho nro is supposed to have been caused by uc mllme of a li ghted candle among some unfinished in en . "SAWsmim- Prizk Cattle Show , Dec . 11 . —A mealing of this newly-established society was held m our market-place to-day , and attracted fl considerable number of visitors . The stock Of oxen , heifer- , cows , sheep , and pigs exhibited for comUtition vms of first-rate character , and , it being the ft f 5 exhibition of the kind held in Salisbury , may be onsilcred large as to number , - It augurs well for tho future . ° ¦ ii ' j ^^

      To The Uklooated Members Of The Land Company

      TO THE UKLOOATED MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY

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      We , the Directors of the National Land Company , three of whom have filled that office since its establishment , have heard the above letter , written by Mr . O'Coxjfor ., rcad , and we are prepared to vouch our void and our oath , if necessary , for its accuracy . We have had ample opportunity of criticising the actions of Mr . O'Connor in connexion with this Company , and we liavo no hesitation in stating ^ that no man ever more honestly and energeticall y devoted his services to the success of any CoApany ; but , as this Company

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      they beg thus to express their hi gh sense of the admirable manner \\\ wbich the several accounts have been kept and tlie judicious care and management evinced in their dis Dursemsnt . From such examination they find that tho sums Of £ 27319 s . 7 Jd . on the General Defence Pund : and £ « on the Northern Union Medal Account , are due to Mr U Oonnor he having advanced the same ; aud they nve of opinion that the entire oi the money thus advanced , outfit to be immediately subscribed by the country nt large and returned-to Mr . O'Connor . ' Moved by Pezkr Sbohhgcm seconded by W . u . ftcsinwr .

      • J . — This committee ennnot too earnestly deprecate the many attempts made by certain parties in London , to uAiwer and insinuate nwny the character of Mr . O'Connor in the teeth oftho evidence of facts which proves that he has done more in the creation und collecting of the several funds whose particulars wo have just examined into , than any other twenty men put together j and that his purse has ever been open to , and his talents ever been nt the use aud SXTS 5 :- ' a ** BUffwing - pow > These attem Pt * . thw tlnnk spnngfrom any motive but tho one supplied by thb love of Chartism ; and evince either disappointed vanity or contemptible . envy on the part of those who nuke them ' Moved by Wmtuc Madwcsd , seconded by JouV mL

      .. * ; — ' V ! committee cannot separate without registering hdr opinion that the gratitude cl the nation at large is due to Mr . O'Connor , for the almost super-human efforts made bj nun in th « cases of the Dorchester labourers , the Glasgp \ v cotton spinners , the Welsh martyrs , and the Chartist victims , to secure for them the oestdtfenw&elUa couW furmsli , or to procure their liberation utter being sentenced to felon ' s fate ; and they-have witnessed with re grot , tlia ungrateful conduct , in return ; of those who either 17 ° IS 5 * ir ul t 0 , JPPfeciate , or the honesty to acknow . Udge them ... Moved by Andrew Melvhk , seconded by Wm . James Ciiambebmw , Chairman . Peter Showiocks , Secretary . It was afterwards moved and carried unanimously , that Mr . Abel Heywood , of Manchester , be appointed treasurer for the fund for 'the relief of the imprisoned Chartists ' wives and families , ' in con-sequence of Mr . O'Connor de lining to act as treasarcr any longer .

      Now that was my defence , when I was not present to defend myself , relying , as I ahr&yg do , upon tho integrity of the working clasaes , by whom alone—as I have always stated—I will consent to be tried . Now read the evidence of John Audill , my clerk , at the Lancaster trials ; and the evidence of John Farr my bailiff , that I brought from Ireland , to peak to my character with refereuco to my treatment of the poor . Here they are : — John Fabb . examined by Mr . O'Conxoe : —I believe I have been in the habit of standing in the fields with mv workmen , sometimes from 100 to 130 , for nine or ten ntTfcn , r ° 7 T s' Ym Wmt mis my conduct to my labourers and the poor in mneral ? You built hnu » e

      wr your labourers and gave thorn fvec , and ground with them ! Did I knock down mud cabins , and build stone lununfbr them ? Yes . I charged no rent ! No Lid you pay the wages every Saturday night ? Yes ; and you raised the wages when the times got hard . Jous Ardiu ., examined by Mr . O'Connor : —Have vou ever had any communication with me relative to the impossibility of meeting my drafts upon you for the support of poer people ? Yes , several times . You received a general account from Heywood , Cleave , and other large agents ? -And don't you know that I have paid , for Chartist purposes , upwards of twenty pounds a week ' Yes I have received such accounts : I know we have large suras to pay Air . Heywood , running on for weeks . Do vou not know that , on some occasions I have incurred that expense f

      1 Z u \ AT hes of P ° o »' Pwple who were incarcciated ? Yes . And sometimes the prisoners themselves « Yes . ^ ow . have you not written to me sometimes sayinc that , m consequonce of such liberality , you were obliged to dishonour my drafts ? Yes , I have been obliged to dishonour your drafts frequently , and latterly tS stop them altogether , aawe could not pay for stamps else . Durinir the time you were in York Castle , you did not receive , but paid , raoneyto the iVovtdem Star . Have not distressed operatives wishing to start in busiuess called on me , and «™ Vv frS"ently Give them » soverei gn or two at a time ! Yes . Did you ever know , during the last five years a man coming to me for money , that my hand was not in my pocket to give it to him ! I never knew a man to call for some , without your giving it , or ordering me to give him some .

      Working men of England , as character is dearer to me than life itself , let me now remind you that I have been an unpaid delegate at every Conference for ten years , that 1 have given thousands to those who have most reviled me . ; to some more than 100 J , ; that I have travelled for years , 1 > ut always at my own expense ; that I have never allowed a Chartist prisoner to go undefended ; that I advanced a thousand pounds out of my own pocket to feo counsel for the defence of FkoST and others , before a farthing was subscribed , and that I sat under the dock from the

      commencement to the termination of the trial ; that I have spent in one tour as much as 96 / . to pay debts vlue by the Chartist Executive ; that my purse has ever been open to you ; that when the " Star" was making 13 , 000 / . a year , every fraction of it was devoted to the Chartist cause , and that now I am reviled by those professing Chartism , whom I have most served . In conclusion , let me give you the report of the select committee of the House of Commons , unanimously adopted .

      The Selcci Committee have further considered the matters to them referred , and have agreed to the following resolutions , and report : — 1 . —That the proposed additional proTisior . s to the Jrienflly Societies Acts which are incorporated in the bill , entitled a Bill to alter and amend an act of the 8 th and 10 th years of her present Majesty , for tho amendment of the laws relating to Friendl y Societies , ' will not include the jsational Land Company within those acts . 2 . —That the National Land Company is not consistent with the general principles upon which the Friendly Societies arc founded . 3 . —That the National land Company , as nt present con-« Ituted , iB an illegal scheme , and will not fulfil the expectations held out by the Directors to the shareholders .

      * —That it ftppearing to this committee b y the ovidenct of several witnesses , that the books of proceedings of the National Land Company , as well as the accounts of the Company , have been most imperfectly kept , and that the original balance aueets signed by the auditors of the Company have been destroyed , and only three of thoso balance jheets for the quarter ending the iiDth of September , aud the 25 th of December , 1817 , and the 25 th of March 1848 respectively , have been produced ; but Mr . Feargus O'Connor having expressed an opinion that an impression had gone abroad that the monies subscribed by the National Laud Company had been applied to his own benefit , this eoinmittee are clcarlj of opinion that although the accounts have not been kept with strict regularity , yet that irregularity lias been against Mr . O'Connor ' s interest , instead of m his favour ; and that it appears by My . GrcVfs "SS'SS r erc i 9 due t 0 Mr - feargus O'Connor the sum of « 3 . 2 ! ) 8 - 'S . 34 d ., andbyMr . Finlayson ' 6 account the sum Ox £ 3 > 400 i

      5 . —That considering the great number of persons interested in the scheme , and the bona fides with which it appears to have been carried on , it is the opinion of this Committee that powers might be granted to the parties concerned , if they shall so desire , to wind up the undertaking and to relieve them from the penalties to which they may have incautiously subjected themselves . In submitting these resolutions to the consideration of * £ H , ? , ik " ° P imon of your committee that it should be left entirely open to the parties concerned , to propose to Parliament any new measure of carrying out the expectations and objects of tbe promoters of the Company .

      Now there is the Committee ' s report , and I quite agree with tho Committee , that although the accounts were not k « pt with that strict regularity observed by bankers and merchants , " that that irregularity has been against Mr . Feargus O'Connor ' s interest instead of in his favour . " Working men , I am the reviled of all rovilers , so will every man be who attempts to serve your order , but as the censure of slaves

      is adulation , I court it ; I repose confidence in your integrity and on your verdict , I will ever depend , tor the preservation of my name , my honour , and my character . And now to show you the difference between my position and that of Railway jugglers , I defy Banker , Tradesman , Director , Bailiff , Overseer , or any man employed by me , to charge mo with one single dishonest or ungentlemanlike act in connexion with this Land Company . Will any newspaper that has published the slander of your enemies publish ray refutation ? NOT ONE . Your Faithful and Uncompromising Friend , Feargus O'Connor .

      National Hairo Arompany.

      National Hairo arompany .

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      — AND NATIONAL TKIm ^ IQUftNAT '

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      wLmjio . tsi unw . uimaiSgBrii . Mi . T ... .= ? .:. " = »•• ¦ iT ~~ ~

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Dec. 15, 1849, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1552/page/1/