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    • national ?lanu grompai?!?
    • --^g^F tfSTUIfc JACKETS,. THB « DAMN THE FACTOilt BELL." I
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      \ te CHffDB ^ . - ¦ , 1 Although I *« i BiRBlMOBEiaB truly tnithat one man can do you more harm I 6 ^ T ; thousand can do you good , yet the in-**^ fhat interested ruffians seek to inflict ' ° ** me is more * counterbalanced % ** " * j UP * " tba letters that I have received af ^ from all parts of the kingdom . And KrUtsmay seek to oppress , and the f ° to overpower me » I vrill neTerthelessperaeainst all obstacles and obstructions ; fffiSa road of progress ; and I will * o ^ Ae mind of this country , and of my own Shinate conquered province , as to shake

      nv till it crumbles in tne dust . And oh ! f ^ long for that day . The day when I shall Labourrepresentedhy the labourer , instead iJbv the griping capitalist . Mv children , can you point out one single lin that has been devised for the benefit of or order , that has not been reviled by th& Lonents of your order ?—and can you point " nta angle propounder of any such plan , who w not ° been persecuted with as much acri-« nrmv as t&e perpetrator of the most atrocious

      murder ? And can you collect from the history of b ygonetimes , or from the period within TOnr own recollection , any instance of any man W persecuted as I have been ? And why ? Because neither threat , bribe , nor inthnida * tion ever has been able—or ever shall be able _ i o turn me from my-ebnrss . You , will see by ihis Tree k' ^« 8 ^ that- ^ wari ^ fo ^ n amount hi the House of Commons , on Tuesday night , for having tafeen a petition , presented to the House of Commons from the occupants

      at Minster Lovel , for the purpose of giving my revileis an opportunity of pnblishing then * slander ; and upon Friday night the noted FRIEND of the Land Company , the member for Marylehorie—Sir Benjamx Hall—is to present another petition from HIS friends at Sing ' s End . And perhaps you will look anxiously for my reply t » his charges , and I am sure you will read it with as much pleasure as I shall mate it But if you are in any doubt asto the capability of man living by his own labour on the soiL let me draw your

      strictest attention to the minute description given of the Talne of land when cultivated by Spade Husbandry , appended to the able and . admirable letter of Duxcan Sherrujgton , and extracted from the Perthshire Advertiser , and { hen you will discern the value that capitalists set upon land , when it is to he cultivated to that extent which will reduce the amount of their poor rates ; and the value that they set npou it when it is to be cultivated to that extent which will INCREASE YOUR WAGES . And now hear my oft-repeated

      tale—that you never will possess the Land to that extent , until youfirst possess the Charter ; and the Charter you never will possess until yeur order is thoroughly united ; and with a new of creating that thorough union , it is my intention to attend the first -great Democratic meeting' that has ever been held in Ireland , on Tuesday next ; and there I hope , without ihry , folly or violence , to be able to destroy that disunion and antagonism which has so long enabled your rulers to oppress both countries , and a report of which you -will read in next week ' s Northern Star .

      My children , if Poland , or Hungary , or the Italian States of Austria , or if the people of any conquered province attached to any conquer ing kingdom , had been oppressed , famished , starved , and persecuted as the Irish people have been ,. the Honse of Commons , and every newspaper , would have denounced the barbarism of the oppressor ; bat as the snbjngation of Ireland has been the prime object of the British ministry , and as that ministry has for thirty years based its power Bpon Irish deception ,. you hear only of the weeping , the wailing , and gnashing of teeth , of those who , through their own tyranny , have been the founders of Irish misery . But

      however a presumptions ministry may base its hope upon temporary good trade , and upon Irish subserviency , you may rest assured that the Irish landlords—whom the shoe is now beginning to pinch—will be compelled to join the Irish people for the establishment of such a representative system , as will enable them to legislate for their own country , and that that legislation must be based upon the will of the people of that country .

      My children , the columns of the Star are so much occupied this week , that I have not space to address yon at greater length ; and I shall conclude , by merely apologising for the non-publication of the Lord Chief Baroit ' s summing np , upon the very substantial grounds , that the short-hand writer has not yet famished me with it . And again assuring you that neither poverty , slander , nor persecution , shall ever induce or compel me , to abandon yonr cause , because it is the cause of justice , and the cause of justice is the cause of God , I remain , Tour Faithful and Unchangeable Friend . Feargus O'Connor .

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      TO THE READERS OF THE "X 0 HTHER 2 * STAR . " I lave read with astonishment and disgust the late Trial for Libel . A more fonl desecration of the functions and office of a Judge wa 3 neTer perpetrated . There are some men who ever act from perverse motives ; and the remembrance of Mr . O'Connor's generous and self-denying devotion to Frost , Williams , and Joxes , to which I can bear ample witness from my own personal knowledge , a conrse hardl y conceivable , and not palatable to the hired advocate , has much to do with this hideous perversion of justice .

      It is not , however , to waste time in speculating upon the motives of an old lawyer that I now address you . I am satisfied that no man in our time has been the means of disseminating so many tam able truths , of awaking in the public mind glimpses of better , purer , and higher practical modes of life : and I , for one , am not content that this great and good man—for he is both—> should be overborne , and crushed , for uis one great crime hi the eyes of our common oppress ors—his constant , underrating , and « nceasttuy advocacy of the rights of the poor and oppressed .

      If Mr . O'Connor had been content , like so ^ any others , to fatten upon the wants and Vices of the poor ; had he been mercenary or Corrupt , his talents and energy -would , must nave secured him a very high rank at the Bar , or in any wordly pursuit And should this man , so constituted , so endowed , for having devoted his great powers to the advocacy of our ri ghts—the redress of our wrongs—and for showing us the means of redemption from the moral and physical sleuth ia ^ tech to Effe engulpheu , 1 » crashed ,

      -without our aid , sympathy , and PROTECTION —ay , our protection ; for , apart from all other motives , the most common and -wexdl y principle of self , must show us , that if we Mffer our great advocate to be crushed , we ^ y neither expect nor deserve help in our Own straits . "Bain him with Expenses , " ^* 8 the hellish advice of Lord Melbourne , to

      "Wse who complained of a local agitator ; and ***¦ have the enemies of Mr . O'Connor—^ nues , mind you , through his advocacy of £ "" " da uns—bettered this instruction . Not Jg tent vifo twice ageing to j bm O'Connor , - most degradingmotives—not satisfied with ana ^^ ¦ " # » % &iled in their purposes , « with having too , elicited ^ aumjssionof il ^^^ a ^ tif lmcoiantA frma ' «» ton «! tnbunals > after protracted examinaa &dn ^ tares are at their dirty work " ^ and m the present case , they have

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      enlisteditttheirservice : the congenial Benjamin Hall , -who i has' perpetrated the very act with which Mr . O'Connor has been charged , and from which he has so triumphantly defended himself . .: r . ¦ ; ' If any proof were , or could be wanting , of the sincerity , of the devotion of Mr . O'Connor , or his value to our cause , it must be found in this inveterate persecution . Thank God , however , they have signally failed ; and , by your aid , will ever fail . They have , aided by personal enemies , thrown much mud ; hut , contrary to the proverb , it has not stuck . Still . they are at their dirty work , warmed by the knowledge that , if they can ruin him with expenses , your cause will be injured , if not destroyed .

      Let then , each reader of the " Northern Star bear in mind , that the great benefactor—the public enlightener—is now suffering jnost grieviously in their canse , aid theyw ^ atp » ni > m& ^ erlfr ^^ te ^ e ^ eic ^^ Iiis ^ no feme for sloth—for 6 n < £ Q * aMftMngJof another , who may never come—for objecting to this or that mode of expressing that sympathy in act for Mr . O'Connor , which he has shown by every deed—by the devotion of every moment of bis life to their service .

      Every man must act for himself , and at once . This is a great emergency ; it will not do at this crisis , to stand with folded arms , and to see the event-ot must be averted . If the hundreds of thousands who yearn with cheap benevolence , and who will but say and feel , when the blow has fallen , that , had they known , and thought the danger had been so near , they would have sacrificed half their means to avert it , will now repay some portion of the vast debt they owe to their benefactor . Let , then , contributions be quick and incessant . Let us —the flunking , the labouring portion of the people—show to our oppressors that they , at least , shall never crush our friend , our advocate , whilst we can protect him ; and that his devotion to us merits at least this return at

      such a moment . As a proof that this is not idle profession , I , though a poor man , send £ 5 to the Fund ; and I promise , as soon as £ 990 is subscribed , to send £ lOmore : and if £ 4 , 950 is subscribed , I promise to contribute £ § 0 more , even if I Bell my two cows to make Up the money . I look npon this cause as my own , seeing that my advocate is , in this case , my other self ; and that a man who allows his friend and advocate to suffer loss and fonl wrong , solely on account of his generous aid , is not worthy of service .. T . Harding .

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      THE HONESTY FUND . TO FEABGBS O ' CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Dear and Honoured Sir—I am just returned from a visit to my four acre allotment at Minster Lovel . " Where every prospect pleases , " And only man is Tile . " I was a successful member in the ballot which took place at Birmingham , in Dec . 1846 , and as I have now been in possession of my allotment nearly two years , I think I am in a position to speak positively as to the capabilities of the soil . I care not what any of your enemies—whether amoDgat ungrateful allottees , or others—may say ; for myself , I am perfectly satisfied , and beg most heartily to return voa my grateful thanks for the almost superhuman exertions you . have made in the face of slander and persecution of the most revolting and disgraceful kind , on behalf of the working classes .

      Believing , also , with Mr . Reynolds , " That the time has now really and truly come "when the working classes of these islands should testify their sense of the great obligation which they owe to yourself , and of the abhorrence which they entertain for the persecution to which you have been subjected . " I enclose my mite towards the expenses of the late trial , in the shape of a Post-Office order for £ 1 , payable to yourself at the General Post-Office , London . I wish it was in my power to do more ; and sincerely hoping that those Kir ¦ whom you have suffered so much injustice and indignity will " Rally around you again , and again" at the present crisis , and manifest their sympathy for is the

      you , not only in words but deeds , sincere desire of Tour grateful and obedient servant , Jaues Price , A contented occupant of a four-acre farm , on one of the National Land Company ' s estates , - at Minster Lovel . Oxfordshire . Pershore , Feb . 27 th , 1850 . P . S . I have a quarter of an acre of my allotment laid out in asparagus beds , which now look very promising for a good crop ; and as I hope to cut some of the best and earliest in the county this season , I shall make bold to send you a specimen of my first fruits . J » **•

      TO PEAEGUS O ' CONNOR ESQ . ., M . F . Most Honoured akd Pbrskcdied Fbiend , — Having seen , through the medium of the newspapers , an account of your trial with the proprietor of tbe Nottingham Journal , for libel , we , a few Chartists of Pudsey , feel , after a long time of lethargy , that it is our duty to arouse ourselves when we see men like you , who have , all your life , laboured , not / or yourself , but for the good of the public , branded by the corrupt press , and then by your own friends , as a juggler , an impostor , as one wishing to defraud the public and the operatives . We feel it a blow aimed at you for the purpose ot destroying the cause you advocate , but we are confident that their efforts will be in vain . Sir , we have known you , and

      read from you for a number of years , and we can say , without fear of oppositipn , that we never knew yon deviate irom your principles , or charge one penny for the advocacy of those principles , and no one has had yet the fiardihood to charge you , in your private dealings , with dishonesty . We hope that the time has come when the people will be able to discern betwixt real and designing menwhen tbe men of Sheffield will learn to know that there is very little veracity to be placed in such men —holding the profession that Mr . Koebuck doesthey should be rarely or ever trusted to represent them in Parliament ; for , as Mr . Cobbetfc said of a certain professional gentlemen , " That he would prostitute himself to any dirty business . " We , the Chartists of Pudsey , however , have no desire to be governed by such men as Mr . Koebuck . We have formed a Charter Association in this town , and are issuing cards of membership to as many as will join

      us . We have more hope for the Charter than we ever had at any time previous ; there is a greater thirst for knowledge ; there are more political pamphlets read in the town than at any time previous . We now tender you our heartfelt sympathy , and hope you may live down your persecutors , and see in operation the Charter as a means , and the labouring men upon the land as the end . We have made a subscription , which amounts to £ 13 a ., which we cheerfully band over to you , as a small mite for the obligations we owe you , hoping that every town and village in the country will do their duty . We feel that your weakness arises from onr apathy ; and we hope that , for the future , we shall not only be Chartists in name , but in deed . We shall continue to subscribe to tbe Defence Fund . We hare enrolled thirty members in the Association , and a deal of the money is paid already . We are now waiting for more cards . William Booth , For the Charter Association ,

      TO FEABOCS O COKSOB , ESQ . , M . P . Honourable Sib , —Having seen an account of the action brought b y you , against Bradshaw of the Nottingham Journal , for libel , in the Express as well as per - Star , we are not at all surprised at the result , excepting the latter part of the verdict , where jour personal honour stands unimpeached ; this , however , somewhat surprises us knowing as we do the amount of slander and vituperation which is continually hurled at you , by that class of beings fiom which the twelve immaculate men , called a jury , were selected . Such a verdict , -we should suppose , is nowhere to be found—so contradictory in itself , that no man ( or set of men ) with an unbiassed mind , would return it for a moment , But enough . You , noble sir , have lost the trial ; but have won a far greater prize—a prize , we trust , which will cause your name and actions to stand forth as resplendent as the noonday sun . You have struggled , long and vigorously , for the down

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      tend that all the evidence has gone to prove a plain and simple facfc ,, namely , that the government officials were , and are determined | not to legalise the Land £ cheme . jWe do think that if the Sheffield blade had got his finger into the bank , his honesty might have : flown ' , away , as his patriotism did , when he entered the base oppressor ' s house , miscalled the House ofiCommons ; and we also think that all tne _ facts of the case have simply gone to prove Mr . 0 Connor what we always took him to be—an honest disinterested advocate of the rights of the " fustian jackets , the unshorn chins ,-and blistered hands . '' Once more . w ^\ request that gentleman to U 8 e his endeavoura tq ( arouse the country , and soon may we hear . the ' qryjreverberate through theland . ' striking terror into the hearts of his and our enemies . ; HuMah ? fifl K O'Connor aiia-ibe OHarter . ¦ ;¦ ; . . ;¦ : >¦ . V ^ iip-hi ¦¦ ¦ > % ; ¦ .-: \ . ; ¦ ; ^ jfours < fcc ; , ¦ ¦ :. 29 % rWmgate Grartge . , WiluamNoriun . ., P , S . ^ Perhaps you could forward a few collecting books tOjUjj , . as ; we intend to raise further sub . scnptwng ^;; . ., . , .. . ... .

      ¦ Jr- ' - 'i ' - Vu .- ^ . * V , „ ¦ . ; , ; . - ~ v : <; . ; ; . ' : ¦ ' . /¦¦ ; : # oiai £ f& > i 3 s ., tow * di , defraying-W ^ Woli nor ! s law expenses . ' The / * following ' p ^ 4 on ?? sub scribed the amount sent : —G ; vIIellings l ' s . i Ribhard Hellings Is ., Cyrus Brooka ls ;; vjonn Blight IB ., John Rogersjlsi , Peter Nieolod ., Simon Col well Is ., Elizabeth Carne Is ., Thomas Earl 6 d ., Kenneth Petrie ? 6 d . , John . Cumming 6 d ., E . Bolitho Is . S . Tucker Is ., T . Step 6 d ; , Jacob Is ., J . Catford la ., J » Newton 6 d . —Total _ 14 a . Now those are about the numbers who have supported tho Democratic cause in this town , and ,-they feel annoyed , and justly too , by Mr . T . Clark ' s sneer about the limited number . It is certainly no fault of those who meet and support the cause , that the many cannot bo brought to do their duty . Yours respectfully , 30 . Bilbury-street , Plymouth . J . Rogers .

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      will succeed in getting agoing a similar scheme amongst ourselves . If it Bucceeda , which , under proper management it is sure to do , we will not only be enabled to maintain and educate our juvenile vagrants at a small expense , ' but , by setting another example of a self-supporting institution for paupers , it may eventually induce the public to multiply such institutions , and thus effect a diminution of our poor-rates —a consummation devoutedly to be wished . — Perthshire Advertiser . . '

      If Feargus O'Connor had put forth the above to theworld , the press would have raised an outcry , and declared him fit fov a madhouse ; but , respected sir , take courage . However much you may be dehrer by the enemies of the working men , and they assisted by those who pretended to be your friends , to denounce and put you down , you hare lived long enough to see those glorious principles , which you are thepropounder of , taking root , and spreading in quarters you least expected to see them m ; -and which , m myiopinion , is , the ohIV-reaotfree that this b ankruitt ^ aM *^ be revered , as the , Bayiodr of your ' -countryTwhen necessity compels ; them to * adopt what you have developed to tneni . f

      I am , respected sir , yours truly , ; Duncan SnBBBiNGTOir . Glasgow , February 25 th . P . S . —I have repeatedly heard Alexander Clcland state that he did not average the sura of 8 s . per week , per year , in Scotland . How does this square with his statement of from £ 1 Is . to 10 s . and 12 s . per week ? The condition of his family , when they arrived at Snig ' s End , is a decided proof of what I here state to be correct , as will bo seen in the way his Aid Money was expended after their arrival . — D . S . . * -

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      . . . .,., ^ , , . MR . O'CONNOR'S LAND COMPANY . [ We have been favoured with a copy of the following letter , which will appear in the forthcoming number of Reynolds ' s Political Instructor . J . TO THE EHIIOR OF THE " INSTRUCTOR . " My . Dear Sir , —The trial of the case in tho Court of Exchequer , " O'Connor against Bradshaw , " induces me to make a'few remarks on the Land Society generally ; - \ : .- ¦ : - .. . ¦ ¦ . "It : ocour 3 to me that tho ability of a family to insure a comfortable maintenance on two , three , or four acres of land does not rest on the opinion of John Arthur Roebuck , Judge Pollock , or any allottee of Snig ' s End , or elsewhere . The Eastbourne experiment of Mrs . Gilbert puts that point beyond discussion . The late William Cobbett , a better authority than any witness brought into court , has

      given his opinion to the world , which opinion is favourable to small farms . Robert Chambers , in his tour through Switzerland , assures us of the advantages to be derived from a state of society in which agriculture and manufactures are conjoint interests of the same families . Mr . O'Connor ' s Land-Scheme is neither Utopian nor foolish ; it is sound in principle , and , if carried fully out , would be sound in practice . Carried out —ay , there ' s tho rub ; and whose fault is it that it is not carried out ? I say chiefly the fault of those who became members of the society , and promised to pay up their shares , and havo failud in their eontract . We are assured that Mr . O'Connor has made extravagant statements : it may be so ; but have not others had extravacant hopes ? And now .

      ¦ when these hopes are not realised , Mr . O'Connor must be held up as the scape-goat for the ignorance of others . If a man came into my house , and said tbe moon was made of green cheose , what would be thought of me if I entered the witness-box to give evidence to the effect that I believed the statement to be true ? It might be , proved that the statement was made ; but my ignorance in believing sucb . a statement , would be a fact patent to tho world . Now , admitting that Mr . O'Connor may have made extravagant statements , it is not at all to be reasoned therefrom that such statements were made with a criminal intention . How happens it that if Mr . O'Connor ' s object was fortune-making , that he did not at once becomo land-broker ? If he had dene so , he might have bought land , and by his influence , and the confidence the working classes had in his integrity and ability , ho might

      have enriched himself without difficulty . The fact is , that Mr . O'Connor propounded a plan , which was eagerly adopted ; and a society of obscure birth grew to giant dimensions . The press and the law opposed its success . Mr . O'Connor , although beloved by thousands of one order , is hated by thousands of others . Those hating him look to all his actions with a jaundiced eye ; and they are the parties who were the first and the most bitter enimies of the National Land Company ; not that they understood the objects of the society , or had even , in many cases , read the rules of the society : they opposed the O'Connor Land Plan because Mr . O'Connor was its propounded They did not like Mi * . O'Connor , and they , for that reason , opposed his plans . Why they did not like Mr . O ' Connor was another question , and one they could not so easily answer .

      " We do not like thee , Dr . Fell , The reason why , we cannot tell ; But this much we know full well , We do not like thee , Dr . Fell . " I have said that Mr . O'Connor may have made extravagant statements , but he never said thai man could live without labour . "Earn thy bread by the sweat of thy brow , " is an old law of nature , older than the Land Plan of Mr . O'Connor , and it was for those who joined the L- \ nd Society to remember it . Asto pictures of rural bliss , and a kind of paradise happiness , those sxtravacancies arc common to many men who have the misfortune to

      mistake the meaning of happiness , and mistake words for things . A fact or two , however , may be of value , illustrative of life and death ; and if it be proved that those who live in agricultural districts are , on the average , longer lived than those , who live in manufacturing districts , the inference is not illogical , if we say that those who live longest are , on the average , happiest . Now for the figures . Manchester . Itutlandsh . Average age at death . Gentry and tbeir families .. 31 — 52 Tradesmen and their families .. 20 — 41 Mechanics , labourers , and their families 17 — 38

      . Those figures do not prove that if a labourer sows tares he will reap wheat ; that if his land lay waste he will be rich ; but they do prove that , on the average , those who live a rural life do enjoy better health and more physical happiness than those who live in crowded manufacturing distriots . Mr . O'Connor was justified in speaking in even glowing language in favour of a rural life . But if I remember rightly , Mr . O'Connor ' s letters were not particularly poetical , but were rather prosaic , and illed with statistics about pigs , potatoes , manure ,

      and cattle ; and it was for those interested in the Land Society , to carefully examine the statements made * and compare such statements with other authorities , and test all of them by their practical experience . It is not unusual'for 'men who know but little of the Land Society , and iess of land , to speak of Mr . O'Connor . as a cheat , adeceirer , an impostor , and a demagogue . On , whom has ho imposed , ? . What has he gained Ijy his imposition ? I think faotsjell a different tale . If he has cheated , hehas himself been the loser ; arid as ' to his being a demagogue , he is beyond a doubt aileader of thepeople , and- wxll

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      probably continue " to " influence the minds of som « portion of the ¦ working * classes ^ for ^ years to come . Mr . O'Connor is not'perfection ; and pray tell me who is ? but his faults have been magnified as with a powerful magnifying glass , and his virtues have been hidden as under a bushel . One ; tbing . ne has done , and that alone is of no easy accomplishment ; he has cast his shadow over this country , and his Land Society has influenced the minds of thousands . Travel in England , north and south , ( but moreun the north than the south ) and in every parish you will hoar of local land societies , sometimes originating with trades' unionsat otker times with land

      , associations . Trace all- of these -societies to their fountain head , and you will find in them the impress of the mind of Mr . O'Connor . This is a work , great and useful , and its acknowledgement' at this time will help to take the sting out of oven the venom ; of the learned member for Sheffield . Add to that fact , the admitted personal honesty of Mr . O'Connor , and say , if you can , if he really deserves this hatred , this malice , this insult . I think differently , and I have watched him narrowly , and have from a very early period been a paid-up shareholder of the National Land Company , and am " . An TJnlocated Member .

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      Batii . —On Monday evening last a meeting of tho Land members of the Bath branch of the National Land Company took place at Mr . Chappel ' s , Cornstreet , in this city , which was , considering the great distance at whicli many of the members reside , and tho shortness of the notice , well attended ; and after a very animated conversation on the state of the Company ' s affairs , and the disgraceful conduct of many of the allottees , Mr . Coomls was , on the motion of Mr . Bolwelli called to the chair . —Mr . Hillier rose , and after a speech of some length in defence of the Land Scheme and the character of Mr . O'Connor 7-its projector , concluded by moving the following resolution i ^ itTJhat in the opinion of this meeting the , goneraii ^ nftjoirdf ^ jfi'r O'Connor ; in reference to the Land Company ,, has beeii of a character

      to caH' forth ' the gratitude of every " honest member of that Company ; and further , that this meeting has tho most unbounded " confidence in the ability and integrity of that gentleman , "—The resolution was seconded in a few appropriate remarks , by Mr . Cornish , and carried unanimously . —Mr . Bolwell then rose , arid in a speech of considerable length entered into the subject of the Land Scheme from its commencement , pointing out to those present the difficulties to which the scheme and its propounded had been subjected : first , by a corrupt and hireling press ; second , by the government ; arid lasl , though not least , by the ingratitude and apathy of that class for whose benefit the master mind of Mr . O'Connor ushered it into existence . Mr . B . then animadverted upon the disgraceful conduct of many

      of the allottees , and also the partial conduct of the court in reference to the late trial for libel , in the case of O'Connors . Bradshaw , and his triumphant victory , and concluded by moving the following resolution : " That this meeting sincerely sympathises with Mr . O'Connor in the persecution to which he has from time to time been subjected , in his endeavour to improve the condition of the working classes , and more particularly with regard to the late trial , O'Connor v . Bradshaw , for libel and that we pledge ourselves individually to subscribe and procure funds towards defraying the expenses of that trial . "—The resolution was seconded by Mr . Cottle , and ! carried unanimously . —A committee of five persons was then ohooon to oollooti fur . do for the above object ; Mr . Coombs , of Corn-street , to

      act as secretary ; and Mr . Bolwell , of Galloway ' sbuildings , as treasurer—to whom sums may be forwarded . A collection was then made in the meeting , when the sum of twenty shillings was collected . A vote of thanks was given to the chairman , and the meeting separated . Ashion . —At the weekly meeting of the members , held in the Company's room , corner of York-street , Charlestown , on Sunday afternoon , Feb . 24 th . Mr . Price having been appointed chairman , the following resolution was passed unanimously ; " That we , the Land members of the Ashton branch , assembled this day , deem it our duty , and the duty of every Land member and Chartist in the country , to come forward and rescue our cause from ruin and diaerace . and also to show our enemies that we will the vin

      not allow our noble chief to be sacrificed to - dictive malice of a base and brutal government , who seek to ruin him , in the hope of being able to prevent the people from carrying out tho Land Plan , or gaining their political -independence : we therefore call on the members ot the Ashton branch , and all others , to come forward at once , and commence paying the sum of threepence per week , until the whole of the expenses are paid off , and thus show to our enemies that we are determined not to be crushed , nor will we allow our noble benefactor to be so . " A committee was then appointed to carry out the above resolution ; after which every member present gave-ene shilling towards the fund , in'tha hope that all their brother members will attend next Sunday and do likewise , which they will , ; if

      they are not enemies to themselves and their order . Let shame rest upon the heads of . those who refuse to defend the founder of our much reviled Land Plan , when even his enemies havu been compelled to acknowledge his honesty , and to declare his character to be unimpeachable . Hull . —At the weekly meeting of the Land Company at their rooms , Malt Shovel , North Churchside , the case of O'Connor v , Bradshaw was discussed , and' the following resolution was unanimously adopted : " That we , the members of the Land Company , having implicit confidence in tbe honesty and honour of Mr . Teargus O'Connor , do recommend a subscription to ' be set on foot towards defraying the expenses incurred by that gentleman in defending : his character against the attack of the

      vile Nottingham Journal . " Seven shillings and sixpencc was collected , and one member informed the meeting that he should forward a sovereign , and repeat it if necessary again and again , rather than that gentleman should be allowed to be ruined with expenses . —It was also resolved to adjourn the meeting to next Monday evening , to allow every member an opportunity of contributing his mite . ' Norwich . —At a meeting of members on Monday the 25 th of February , the following resolution waa adopted unanimously : — " That this meeting is of opinion that the honesty and integrity ot Mr . O'Connor is unimpeachable . This meeting is a / so of opinion that the cost for the action belongs to the members of the Company , and we pledge ourselves individually and . collectively to do our part

      towards paying . Furthermore , we tell Bradshaw and Co ., notwithstanding their lies , and the villanous conduct of the base press-gang , that it is not in their power to damage that gentleman ' s character in the eyes of the public . We have the same confidence in him we always had , and trust . the members and the working classes generally , will show their gratitude by aischsirging all the pecuniary liabilities to which he has subjected himself , by taking up tho cause of the people . Limkhouse , Bru !« swick Hall . —At a meeting pf members of this branch of the Land Company , held on Monday February 25 th—Mr . Lamb in the chairthe following resolution was unanimously agreed to : — " That in the opinion of this meeting , seeing the determination of government not to legalise the Company , and the powerful influence of the Press in support of the government , we consider it absolutely nocessary that the affairs of the Company

      be immo . iiately wound up , seeing the impossibility of prosecuting it further with any hope of success . We , therefore , call on the members throughout the country , to express their opinions firmly , but , at the same time with temperance and moderation . We also call on Mr . O'Connor to dispense , as soon as possible , with the services of the following gentlemen , namely : Messrs . Clark , M'Gratb , Doyle , and Dixon , as we cannot see in what way , they can . longer bo beneficially employed . "—The meeting was then adjourned , after expressing great dissatisfaction on account of the secretary not having received a balance sheet of the Company since January , 1848 . Manchester . —At a meeting of the Committee of the Land members , holden on Sunday evening last , in the People ' s Institute , it was resolved to torm a Committee for collecting subscriptions in aid of the Honesty Fund . The meeting was adjourned to Sunday morning , March 3 rd , for the purpose of carrying out the above named object .

      Untitled Article

      THE LAND SCHEME . Mr . Feargus O'Connor has for many years past devoted his energies to , a project to enable tho industrious humbler classes to obtain such a portion of land as would enable them , by their labour , to support themselves and families out of its produce . That it would ba desirable for many of pur citizens to support themselves in this way will not , we imagine , ue denied by any , though great difference of opinion may exist as to the mode by which ib is to be accomplished . Upon Mr . Feargus O Connor ' s plan we shall offer no op inion , but wait till its practical operation is mor 6 fully developed than at present . But we may observe that for many years a svstem has been in operation , the effect of which

      has been to drive the poorer portion of tho population out of the rural parishes into tho towns , and this , among other causes , is ono reason why all our towns have so rapidly increased in size and population . We shall not discuss the question of largo farms v . small farms , as that , we think , is more a question as to the amount of capital a cultivator possesses than a national one ; but this . is certain , that , for the hist century at least , thousands of small farms have been thrown together ; or been added to some previously existing large farm . Tho consequence haa been , that littlo fnimers became first labourers , andffEettj ^ S ^ as times grew worse throughout tho ^ y £ rei ? wffsSf French . wars , paupers , most labourers g SfiB ^ MiW ^^ least partly out of the poor-rates , ? Jj $ ) £ ^ j 3 l ^; > ij '' ¦ ' ¦¦ ' Y Concbtdtfl Hi the' eiffhth ^ pdg ^)^ f 0 ^ &M Ig WMf > $ W JGwf ^ iS i lfeiS

      Untitled Article

      trodden sons of toil , and what has been your ; reward Ir ^ sbuse , slander , and ingratitude .- Abuse and slander from your own order , and base ; ingratitude from those whom you strove to elevate in the social scale of society . Sorry are we to see such a spirit manifested by some of the allottees towards you ; but we trust they will see the error of their ways , and once more resume their duties as men determined to overcome all obstacles , whether placed in their way by'professing friends , or open and . Avowed enemies .- ' We say , let them unite-as one man , and go on harmoniously together , then will their difficulties vanish ; and then they will lie enabled to look . back with pleasure upon their labours , and exclaim , tliank God we have done our duty to ourselves and fellow men ; and may the time soon arive when , as the inim 6 s * - tal poet Burn says— ' ' - " Man to man the warl'd o ' er ' " Shall brithers be , an a- that ; " ¦'¦¦> '

      i Enclosed you will find a Post Office Order for five shillings , made payable to Feargus : O'Connor , at the Branch Post-Office , . 180 , Strand , London . The Order was drawn by TV . H . Jago , Trpolcomber . It ia toJielpto defray ; the expeuse of' ^ cf'I ^^ iUH tMajtgamst-tHat ' r ^^ yStfwill , acjrepHhwiMflrkrapresent , but' asa debf , due by us to you on account of the manifold service * rendered by you to us . ' Trusting' that all will act in accordance with the spirit of Mr . ( S . W . M . Beynolds ' s letter , in the Star of the 23 rd ult ., we beg to subscribe ourselves your very humble servants , and well-wishers , E . Brown , John Pehuy , 6 . Howard , woolcombers , and members of the National Land Company ; W . H . Jaoo , woolcomber ; and A Friend . Camelford ,

      10 FEAUOUS O CONNOR ESQ . Dear and esteemed Fathbk —I take the opportunity of addressing you , hoping you will accept the small mite which a few friends have contributed towards defraying the expenses which your and our enemies have unnecessarily thrown npon you at the late trial , or mock examination , for defaming your character . I have been a class made victim , having been under locks , bolts , and bars , for twelve months and three weeks ; but still I continue to keep to the good old principles of Democracy , and Republicanism . They made me a Republican by sending me to prison , for under the silent system I had time for thought and reflection . We shall use our utmost endeavours towards defraying the expenses needlessly thrown upon you . I remain , your affectionate child , and co-partner in ' persecution , Nathaxiel Frith . Broomfields , Bradford .

      P . S . —The sum is eight subscribers—3 s . lOd . TO FBAROUS O ' CONNOB , ESQ ., M . P . Deab Sir , —Afew friends having read your letter of the 23 rd ult ., have subscribed five shillings , towards defraying the expenses of the action brought by you against the proprietor of the Nottingham Journal , on account of the unjust and shameful termination of the proceedings . Keep heart , brave general ! you shall beat them yet , despite the unjust administrators of the law , and the calumnies of Bradshaw—the would-be stabber of democracy . Keep heart , brave oak ! you will be more than a match for that little , uncomfortable , waspish fellow , Roebuck . Yours truly , in the cause of democracy , Stalybridge , Feb . 25 th . John Zitzka .

      TO FEARGUS O ' CONNOB , ESQ ., M . P . Deak Sir , —I am impelled to write this by feelings of indignation and disgust , at the baseness and ingratitude of one of the allottees of the Minster Lovel , estate , whose name ( B . Jackson ) was appended to the infamous petition presented to the House of Commons a short time ago . B . Jackson has been in this part of the country , from whence he was balloted , ( and where upwards of £ 1 was raised for him to assist him to commence with . ) I wa 3 present when he stated that he was . doing very well ; that had he capital he could certainly do better ; but he was sure , that by perseverance and industry ^ he' ^ otild do'woll , and be soon independent , which he had no chance of doing here ; and that no amount of money would induce him to return to the ' state he was previously placed in ,

      and forego the * advantages he then possessed . He said that he had left in his cottage plenty of good provisions , and he was sure if any man choose to strive he could do well . He has sent letters in the same strain since , and I think it the height of baseness and ingratitude for any individual to sign such an infamous document as the petition above alluded to . I defy him to contradict these statements , as I can bring forward a dozen or more witnesses , ( friends of his , ) who heard him speak the same words . It is disgusting to contemplate such villany and ingratitude ; and I am sorry that your generous nature should be so frequently subject to such cruel stabs from one of the class for whose benefit you are striving so arduously . My hope is , that you will , if possible , drive such scorpions forth from the homes you have made them , and make them return to the toil and slavery they so richly

      merit . Hoping you will find space in the next week ' s Star for this letter , I remain , < fcc , James Coopjcb . Yorkshire-street , Oldham , Feb . 24 th , 1850 . P . S . —Enclosed you will receive 5 s . 6 d . in postage stamps , which you will acknowledge as follows : — From T . Tristram , 4 s . ; James Cooper , Is . ; John Milhench , 6 d . Send me a collecting book for the Nottingham , libel case , for which the enclosed stamps are to go towards paying expenses . J . C .

      TO THE EDITOB OP THE KORTHKBN STAB . Sib , —Enclosed I send ten shillings worth of stamps , and hope you will be kind enough to hand it over to the proper party , for the Honesty Fundas Mr . Reynolds suggests it should be called . The amount is but small , but I hope to have some more te send , as the few who have given this , have promised to use their best endeavours to obtain more from their friends : We think the time has come , when all true democrats should show by their actions , whether or not they are worthy of such a

      noble , brave , and good man ; for if they wiBh to keep him , they must begin to bear a little of the burthen themselves . " We used to sing , " We ' ll rally round him again and again . " Then let us do it , not in empty words , but in coin , if ever so small . The work to be done must be done by all—let us then , ia the name of justice , set about the good work at once . The debt is ours , the cause is ours , and Mr . O'Connor is ours . Let every man do his duty . I remain , sir , yours in the cause of Right against Might , Motiram . John Campbell .

      TO THE EDITOR OF TBE NOBTHERN STAB . Sib , —Will you be kind enough to find room in next Saturday's Star , for the folio wing-suggestion . As the case of libel is decided against Mr . O'Connor , I would propose that a public meeting be called , at which delegates should be elected to form a committee in London , which committee shall be chosen from the Chartists and land members , or trades favourable to the cause , each locality or body to tend one or more delegates . The object of the committee would be to raise funds to pay the law expenses ; and , I think to save expense , the committee might be chosen after the meeting next Tuesday evening , at the John-street Institution . By such a public proceeding we should give stability to the said committee which no self-elected body can expect . I remain , dear sir , yours sincerely , A Frathbnal ' Democrat .

      TO MB . W . RIDER , Sir , —Enclosed you will receive 5 s . 6 d . worth of postage stamps , the subscriptions of five Land members , at Is . each , and fid . for my wife ' s subscription , towards the expenses of tho Notting ham Journal action ; and if Mr . O'Connor gets a new trial , we will subscribe the same again . Yours truly , H . Fink . Ho . 1 , Oakhampton-terrace , Exeter .

      TO WILLIAM RIDER . Dear Sir , —I expect that the Chartists will rally to the rescue of the noble and unflinching advocate of the right of labour . The sum of £ 1 3 s . 10 d ., which I previously sent , must be handed over to the Honesty Fund , being half of the remittance I sent to Mr . Clark , and I likewise send you an order for the amount of £ 1 7 s . to tho said fund , as a further proof of confidence in Mr . Feargus O'Connor ; I forbear giving the names of the parties who subscribed , with the exception of two paid-up shareholders , viz ., George Brown , and John Grey , who , as a proof that they hold that gentleman's honesty unimpeachable , have each subscribed 2 s . Od . towards the sum 1 | ere send you , the remaining sum we got in at a shilling , and sixpence each . We , the Chartists of Wingate , expect that the manner in which the jury deivered their verdict will not be lost sight of by the Land Members , arid Chartists ; and we also think differently from that rgegade Roebuck ^ andcon-

      Untitled Article

      TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , ESQ ., M . P . Respected Sir , —I read in the Star of Saturday last the evidence of Alexander Cleland , in tho libel case between you and the proprietor of the Nottingham Journal , with astonishment , and was certainly sorry to see that he endeavoured to make it appear to the jury that his circumstances , when in Scotland , were so much superior to what they had been at Snig ' s End ; and from that evidence I have been led to the conclusion of making known , not only his circumstances here , but also how his Aid Money

      was expended , whieh , 4 n my opinion , will in . a great measure account for his present circumstances . It must be evident to every man that unless the money be applied to the purposes for which it was intended that no one could succeed . You will see from ah account , which I here give , that out of the whole of his Aid Money not more than £ 2 7 s , Gel . was put into the soil , and if any persons calculate that the above sum will return sufficient to place them in comfortable and independent circumstances , it is no wonder they have been deceived . „ '¦

      Passage from Glasgow and earrings of luggage .... £ 3 18 . 0 Potatoes , turnip , cabbage , carrot , and onion seeds , and cabbage plants ................ 2 7 6 Implements of labour and repairing the same 0 12 C When my son came he was almost barefoot ; shoes for him , and pinafores for the other children 0 10 6 Kitchen utensils « 14 10 } Heaping hook , tread saw , plane , and extra labour ... 0 13 S Subscription 0 0 6 Left to live upon for nine . weeks 6 7 7 J Total ... £ 15 5 0

      From the above it will , be seen whether his circumstances were of that comfortable nature , previous to his going to Snig ' s End , which he endeavoured to make appear on the trial ; and also , in my opinion , it will at once account for the entire failure . Now , sir , * all that I have yet seen does not convince me that the people cannot live upon the yland . Indeed , the allottees of some orthe eatateslwonld Have the world to believer " tbaf rtEoy * are the first

      experimenters to develope the principle of whether the people could subsist upon the land or not . But it is a blessing to mankind that they were not , or we might give up the idea of remaining in this world at all ; because , from their showing , no man can get a livelihood from his labour , far less raise a surplus to assist in maintaining the other portions of the community who may be engaged in producing the other necessaries that man requires . I here insert a paragraph from the Perthshire Advertiser which ought to put them to the blush .

      WHAT CAN BE GOT OUT OF LAND . Our readers will doubtless recollect that , at the annual meeting of the friends of the House of Refuge , a remit was made to Mr . Maiben , the secretary to the Refuge , to ascertain the practicability of adding to the institution a school farm for boys similar to that of Quait , alluded to in the report . Since that time , Mr . Maiben has received a letter from Mr . Cook , the master of the Deaf and Dumb Institution , in answer to one from him , giving a detailed account of the experiment he has made in cultivating a piece of ground by means of the labour of the boys under his charge . This

      experiment , Mr . Cook mentions , has been attended with a very remarkable degree of success . The ground brought under cultivation consisted principally of a bank so very steep that it was a favourite amusement of the boys to slide down from the top of it to the bottom , seated upon apiece of board . This barren piece of ground was broken up by means of picks and spades , and the bank was cut into terraces , having walls of turf or stone in front , and these planted with potatoes and other vegetables . One-third of tho bank was composed of good ground and the remainder of bad gravel , and the whole extent of the place was only about an acre and a-half ; and yet within these narrow limits Mr . Cook has managed to raise a sufficient quantity of vegetables to

      supply the whole of his pupils—sixty-five in number—besides a large quantity of potatoes , and food sufficient for two cows arid nine pigs . The saving thus effected to the institution has been very considerable . In speaking upon this subject , Mr . ; € ook says— "It is difficult to state the annual value of our produce , though some items which have actually been saved 1 can mention . First , formerly our ; vegetables for the house exclusive of potatoes , cost 4 s . Gd . a-week ; which , since 1 st May , 1848 , has been quite saved . SirWe Sept ., 1847 , we have also saved Is . 4 d , a-cUy-for milk—as butter , which we have had , and milk sold , would fully pay for what we have had to lay out for the cows . During the year 1848 we had potatoes-two months ( eight pecks daily ) , and during 1849 do . four months . This

      makes—Vegetables—1 st May , 1848 , to let Jan . I 860 , at 4 s . 6 d . a week ^ 19 12 0 Milk—1 st Sept ., 1817 , to 1 st Jan ., 1850 , at 9 s . 4 d . aweek 56 16 0 Potatoes—1848—nine weeks , at fid . a peck —28 s , 1212 0 Ditto —18 * 9—eighteen weeks , at ditto .. 25 4 0 rflH 4 ~

      In this estimate I make no allowance for the much more abundant supply of vegetables which we had , in the summer time frequently enabling us to give the children cabbages when we could not have potatoes ; nor have I reckoned anything for the refuse vegetables we have had for the pigs , and a still more important item to be taken into the account Is the value of the land now , which before was valueless . " It will be seen from the above extracts , and from the case of Quatt , to which we for-.

      merly referred , that there can be no doubt of the possibility of a similar farm being cultivated successfully , by means of boys . In the Deaf and Dumb Institution they are now effecting an annual saving of 50 / . or QQl . by cultivating an acre and a half of very indifferent ground ; and at Quatt they not only succeeded in supporting forty-nine children , by causing them to " cultivate four * at id » a-half . acres , but were able ; after paying a rent of 19 / ., to realise a profit " of 60 / . ror 70 / . towards defraying salaries , &c . We tru » t , therefore , that the managers and friends of the Refuge

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      THE LAND PLaN . The science of agriculture is only in its infancy . —Pekl . TO THE EDITOR OT THE NORTnEKN STAB . Deak Sib , —It is the desire of overy good man to endeavour to "leave the world better than he found it . " Upon this maxim F « argus O'Connor , Esq ., M . F ., started his glorious Land Plan . I look upon anything , brought forward for the elevation of mankind as glorious . The Land Plan was started for the sole object of elevating the condition ot the working classes . 16 has been stated to the world , that the scheme is a failure ; I , for one , deny it . It haa not had a sufficient trial . I have resided at O'Connorville for some months , and during that time 1 have found out thatgreat difficulties have to be overcome : and that several of the allottees have had to undergo great hardships , owing to their want of experience in agricultural pursuits , and likewise to the failure of the potato - crop . But , I think that the object of the allottees should be to overcome their difficulties , and to struggle on for the purpose of showing to the world that the system of Small Farms , as propounded by Mr . O'Connor , is a glorious system , and ought to be adopted throughout Great Britain and Ireland . I think it would prove a sovereign remedy for the distress now existing in the British dominions . It would speedily abolish poverty from the land . Emigration sinks into utter insignificance when compared with this God-like Plan of Hi : O'Connor ' s . A Young Bachelor . O'Connorville .

      National ?Lanu Grompai?!?

      national ? lanu grompai ?!?

      --^G^F Tfstuifc Jackets,. Thb « Damn The Factoilt Bell." I

      -- ^ g ^ F tfSTUIfc JACKETS ,. THB « DAMN THE FACTOilt BELL . " I

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      roL M m M ; lo ^^ ' ^ j&jsi gstt * - *

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 2, 1850, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1563/page/1/