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Northern Star (1837-1852), 8th June 1850, Edition 1 of 3, Page 5, Untitled Article

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      T ^ r iod ° f * P resen ' sessi * aBd in so hesi'latiJig » nd timid a manner ty ^ ° r ^ ^ 0 HN » M ' jmost to invite its rejection by the determined * 7 onents of all religious progress and tolera-• ^ Cer fainly , the electors of the City of Lonj n and the members of the Jewish persuaf £ n have little to thank Lord John for in this tier ; and the patience which they have ex-B ? = j ' under the circumstances , is somewhat Sartellous . He has , for the greater period t the present Parliament effectuall y cut off « ne member from the Parliamentary representation of the City , and , being himself incapacitated , D J his official position , from attending Jo the wishes and wants of his constituents—* he citizens may be said to be only half repre-Zentei ty having two members instead of . ^ "ifL ^ fi ^ i ^ ll't

      fw It is all but certain that the City will continue for some time longer thus shorn of its ftir Parliamentary proportions . The bigoted upholders of religions distinctions , through the in strumentality of Mr . Newdegate , have given fair warning that they will contest the Question at every stage . Lord John is lukewarm , and has little stomacb for the fi ght . "We need say no more as to the probable result , especially as the " saiuts" showed their power ^ nd organisation , in a somewhat unexpected manner the same night

      , It will be remembered that , a few months ago , the country was stirred by an organised agitation , under the auspices of the clergy of Tarious denominations , and a number of pious , Trhite-neck-clothed-gentieman , who are always ready to play cafs-paw to them . The ostensible object of their agitation was alteration in the Sunday duties in the Chief Post-Office , London . They averred , that the proposal of

      Mr . Rowland Hill , to forward the letters jbr the provinces through London on the Sunday , instead of keeping them lying for twentyfonr hours—as they did under the former system—was the thin end of the wedge , intended to be driven borne by an infidel , and to throw open , for the collection and delivery of letters , . all the post-offices in the country on Sundays . In vain the Post-Office and the Government

      assured these reverend and pious agitators ihat they meant the very contrary of this , and that the effect of their measures would ^ be to reduce , not increase , the amount of Sunday labour . "With a pertinacity and effrontery in lying which long habit has rendered -matchless , these "holy" persons persisted in telling the same lies , with such additions as their fervid imaginations could suggest ; and the result was , that an enormous number of petitions were sent up by the simple people , who are credulous enough to be gulled by the wolves in sbeeps * clothing , who fatten on the ignorance of the people .

      Lord Ashlet , on the strength of these petitions , made a motion which was originally intended to stop not only the collection of letters , but the transmission of all mails on the Sunday—in fact , to strike off one-seventh of the postal facilities now enjoyed , from the ¦ whole community . The party of fanatics , upon re-consideration , saw that this would be driving the matter too far at once , for the patience of the country ; and , therefore , they omitted the part respecting the transmission of the

      mails , for the present . Sir Charles TVood took the opportunity of explaining what the Government and the Post-office really had done in the matter . By employing for three or four months twenty-five clerks in addition to the twenty-seven formerly engaged in the Chief Office for a few hours each Sunday , they had been already enabled to dispense with the Sunday labour of six thonsand persons in England , and two thousand more in Scotland and Ireland , on that day ; while , in the office of St . Martin ' s-le-C 4 raud—instead

      of keeping the additional twenty-five , or the old number of twenty-seven persons—they had absolutely reduced the whole number * employed on Sunday to fouh ! And , in fact , no one needed now to be absent from public worship on account of Sunday duty at the Post-Office . . One would have thought that such a complete and crushing refutation of all the falsehoods on which these petitions rested , and the whole case of Lord Ashley was got up , would have had the effect either of silencing the

      Bitter-observance of the Sabbath party , or at all events of inducing the House of Commons to give them a signal thrashing . ^ Nothing of the kind . The "Saints" persisted in their endeavour to force on the people of this country the Judaical observance of the Sabbath , and the Housewassoawed by cant and humbug in the disguise of piety , that the resolution was carried ! The only man who really grappled with the question was Colonel Thompson , ¦ who ably and conclusively showed that the Jewish observance of the seventh day , with the strict abstinence from work of all kinds

      whicn J udaism prescribes , was not at all binding upon Christians . 2 * ot a single member on the opposite side ventured to controvert the conclusive argument on _ that point ; as , in fact , they cannot ; but truth , argument , and justice , are feeble obstacles in the way of an organised , active , and unscrupulous minority , who , under the specious pretence of religion , are seeking to acquire a spiritual aud political ascendency , which threatens , if not checked , to be fatal to the civil and social liberties of tlie nation .

      The hypocrites who thus wish to impose fetters on others , drive to church in their carriages , keep cooks and sculleries to dress Magnificent dinners for them , and are waited on by a tribe of flunkeys the same on Sundays as other days . They showed their consistency on the same night by crying out in one breath for the divine authority of the whole decalogue—the fourth commandment inclusive —and by loudly proclaimingthoirdc-tennination to exclude from civil and political equality the people , to whom that Decalogue was originally promulgated , and whose steadfast adherence to the faith of their ancestors constitutes the only ground for that exclusion " These is thy Gods 0 Israel I "

      Another example of the anxiety of this party to exalt the power of the clergy over that of the civil rulers of the country was given in the House of Lords . The Bishop of Loxdox , backed by the whole of the Episcopal Bench , with one or two exceptions , introduced into the House of Lords a Bill for the reference of Questions of Doctrine to a synod of Prelates . There is no doubt that this

      measure originated on the disputes arising out of tlie celebrated Goiuiah case , and the dissatisfaction of the priestly party with the authorit y of the laity in such matters . At present , "ffhen disputes arise they are referred to tlie Queex , as Head of the Church , who is sup posed by , and with the advice of a Judicial Committee of the Privy Council , to hear and 'letc-riiiine thereon . The discussion of the Head of the Church on the Gouuam case has produced much dissatisfaction among the part y who want to make the Church predomia < jnt ; and the real meaning of the Bishop ' s Sill was to withdraw all questions of doctrine ^ d discipline from the control of the civil pow

      Church of Rome—from which the Church of Eng land seceded—has always ; as a Church , claimed infallible and supreme power . Its temporalities arc subordinate to , and flow from its spiritual authority . A Church not connected with the State , or dependent upon it , ^ the Free Church of Scotland , the United Associate Synod , or the Methodist Conference , being independent bodies , may , and £ o legislate on all matters of faith and prac-« ce for their members . But the Church of -England occupies no such position . It is not 411 independent , but a State Church , It has ^ standing as an Established Church , except Jnat the law has given , and the law has , as a ^ ndamental condition of the existence of this "tate Church , placed the Sovereign in gupre-

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      Thi 3 defeat in the Lords on Monday was , however , compensated by an important victory in the Commons on Wednesday , when Mr . Fox ' s Education Bill was rejected by the large majority of 229 , only 58 members voting in its favour . The advocates of ignorance for the masses used nothing but the old stale arguments and devices ; but it is quite clear that the rival sectaries of this country—though numerically inferior to the vast masses opposed to , or unconnected with them—are , by their organisation , as the French say , " the masters of the situation / ' There cannot be a doubt in

      the mind of any one acquainted with the facts , that if the adult male population of Great Britain was polled on this subject , a majority of at least eight-tenths would be in favour of an unsectarian secular system of instruction , leaving to the parents to bring up their children in the religious tenets which they themselves preferred as the soundest exposition of Christian truth . Such a system of education , so far from leading to infidelity ,

      as alleged by its opponents , would—if it had any . decided tendency at all in a religious point of view—be certain to disseminate much more widely a knowledge of doctrinal theology , and to increase the interest taken by the people in such matters , though it might be of a more intellectual character than that which is now manifested by the uninstructed , and , consequently , credulous multitude . If it did not do this—if it tended to

      extend a sceptical spirit throughout society—the inference is plain that , according to the confessions of the-reli gionists themselves , the popular faith will not bear the investigation of an educated people . In order to maintain "theblessings « f our most holy faith , '' must keep the masses ignorant . National ignorance is the price we pay for our national religion . Has any one ever adequately estimated the vastness of that price ? The waste , intemperance , vice , disease , crime , and brutalisation which flow from it ? On all sides the evidences of the baleful operation of these deteriorating and misery-spreading agencies are apparent , and Yet , with a reckless

      disregard of ultimate consequences , doggedly persevere in the old—and now shamelessly avowed —policy , that learning is a very dangerous thing for the masses . That for them , at least , "ignorance" being " bliss , 'tis folly to bo wise . " If there be any truth in thephilosophy that teaches there is inwoven in the universe the principle of inevitable retribution for all infractions of any of its fundamental laws—if the moral , mental , and physical nature of man be really progressive , there can be no doubt but that , in due time , these obstructions to individual improvement and national elevation will be swept away . At what cost and loss to those who

      " Build up a formidable dike Between their own and others intellect , " we sball not pretend to prophecy . Meantime , let the people remember that Lord Johs Russell , and the Whigs , the Protectionists , the Churchmen , and the Dissenters—all who have in Parliament refused their enfranchisement because they were ignorant—have now solemnly determined , as far

      as in them lies , that they sball continue to be ignorant . Let us hope a day will come when we shall be able to balance accounts with those who thus take advantage of their power to insult , oppress , and degrade the masses ; and , above all , let it never be forgotten , that the people of England have been impiously refused secular instruction by zealots and bigots , in the name of religion !

      The question of Protection made its appearance in the Commons , under a somewhat new aspect . With the exception of Mr . Wilsox , of the Economist , and the Board of Control —who has an itch for manufacturing statistical paradoxes—everybody admits that our West Indian Colonies have been most cruelly treated , by the conflicting and inconsistent policy pursued towards them by this country . In the first place , the Anti-Slavery party decreed that they should not produce sugar by auy but free labour , and that , too , under such restrictions as rendered that description of

      labour both scarce and dear . In order to compensate the Coloaists for these restrictions , they were guaranteed the preference in tbe home market , by a differential duty on slave-grown produce ; and to this bargain the Colonists agreed , in . order to carry , out the noble and humane object of extirpating slavery in tbe British dominions . Scarcely , however , had this bargain been fairly and practically struck , when the Free Trade party achieved supremacy iu economical matters ; and as anything liko protective duties is to them an

      abomination , they succeeded in procuring an entry into our ports for slave grown sugar , on the same terms as that from our own colonies , while the planters were still held under the screw of the anti-slavery party , and restricted as to the supply of labour . They . were , in fact , crucified between two opposing parties , and the consequence has been wide spread ruin . They wore fairly entitled to ask from the Leg islature that it would act consistently , either upon one principle or the other . If the suppression of the Slave Trade was really so important as we pretend to believe it , why then we are bound to discourage it in every possible way ,

      and in every quarter . To buy and consume the slave grown sugar of Brazil aud Cuba , is certainly not a discouragement of the Slave Trade , but the contrary , because , by the disadvantageous position in which we place ouij own colonists relatively to them , we , in fact , give the slave owners the command of the market . If , on the other hand , the principle of-buying our sugar in the cheapest market is t > be consistently carried out , then our colonists should have the power of getting their labour where they like , paying for it what they like , and employing it as they like , according to tho recognized doctrines of the Free Trade School .

      Sir Edwabd Button ' s motion on the subject , evidently pointed to the restoration of a differential duty in favour of the West Indian Colonies . Mr . Hume , if it had been carried as a declaratory resolution , would have acted consistently with his principles as a Free Trader , to have moved that the best way to deal with the question was to allow the planters an abundant supply of what is called free labour-while Mr . G . KAKTLT SWSXU

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      ^ — . ¦ " ¦ - ?¦ .... would have distinctl y proposed the re-SPP " sition of Protection in their favour . The arguments in favour of the original resolutions were certainl y the strongest that could be adduced , for a limited and exceptional restoration of Protection to these Colonies at least . But the Free Trade party are at the present moment both powerful and bigoted , Thoy TOJd fo ; edMna % p , op ., ed « . -i . po-

      have determined that on no account shall Protection be again introduced into the commercial policy of this country , and they defeated both the Anti-Slavery and the Protectionist party on the division . The end is , that the West Indian proprietors must be ruined , exposed as they are to the cross firing of conflicting and hostile parties in the Imperial Legislature .

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      RECEIPTS OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . From thb Week Ending Thorsiuy , Feb . 21 si io Juse Gin , 1850 . ' SHARES . £ s . d . £ s d Merthyr , Wil- ITigliTowH .. 015 0 Hams .. .. 0 7 0 Halifax .. .. 3 9 0 Newcastle ... 017 0 Leeds .. .. o 9 8 Wigton .. .. 020 Nottingham .. 1106 £ 7 1 (! 9 Dudley .. - .. 0 C C ¦¦ i

      EXPENSE . Wakefield .. 0 5 0 Nottingham ., 0 19 _ 0 6 9 TOTALS . £ s . d . Land Fund 7 10 9 Expense ditto 0 0 9 New Company , paid by Messrs . Berresford and Pugh 4 3 0 Poles sold by Mr . Hart , Minster ... o 10 0 Lucerne , per Ditto ... " 3 0 0 Rent from Allottees ... ... ... 46 10 0 Mathon , per Mr . Turnbull , of Wigton 74 0 0

      £ 141 6 C TV . Dixon , C . Doyle , ' T . Clark , Cor . Sec . P . M'Gratii , Fin . Sec .

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      NOTICE . lam instructed . to request that all monies subscribed for the ' « Honesty '' ' Macuamara" Funds be sent direct to the "Stab " office , in order to obviate a complication of accounts . "Wai . Hider .

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      SnEEPWALKS AXD BLACKCOCKS IS SOMERSETSHIRE . —Mr . Pusey reports the following as the r esult of his examination of Exmqor : — " 1 was . " says the hon . gentleman , " surprised to find that moors which had formerly appeared to be fitted only for the pursuit of the blackcock and the deer , consist , in greater part , of sound land—not in my opinion merely , but in that of the farmers , one of whom said to me , 'there was land enough idle to employ the surplus population of England . ' The expression , I now believe , would be literally true if applied to tbe country at large . On the F . xmoor wastes you find the heath growing knee-high—a proof that tlie land has strength ; you frequently find tall ferns mixing their bright green or vellow fans with

      these purple bushes ; yet fern is an unfailing sigh that the land has depth as well as goodness , and wherever fern grows , unless , indeed , the elevation lie too great , wheat might be reaped . But in that neighbourhood there is a wonderful indifference in the owners to the use of land , which struck me more because I had noti yet observed it elsewhere . The moors are divided into large sheep-walks for neighbouring farms . The sheep , a dwindled breed , are kept for their wool , and are sometimes left to die on the hills of old age , in the snow . The rent may bo one shilling or two shillings an acre . Sometimes you find large pieces of the best land enclosed with a high fence , and you hope that the owner is about to begin tilling his freehold . On

      the contrary ,- the object of this improvement is to keep out the only sign of farming , the sheep , and to preserve the best of the land—because where the land is best the covert is highest—an undisturbed realm for the blackcock . Every blackcock killed by an owner of these moors has cost more , 1 was convinced , than a full-fed ox ; though , indeed , it is nothing new that sporting should impede farming . " Tiik following prayer is being distributed at Caen , in Normandy : — " In this month , consecrated to thee , Divine Mary ! we raise our voices towards thee . Lend . in attentive car to our ardent prayers ; we have no hope but in thec . Patron ol France , canst thou he untouched bv her misfortunes—thou

      to whom she is consecrated ? O Mother ! intercede for us with thy Son ; he cannot refuse thee . Beseech him to deliver us from these cruel monsters who spread anarchy everywhere ; that he may restore to us our King—that he may restore ui Henry . Ho only can establish a really durable peace ; he only can preserve us from the fatal abyss into which our tyrants would precipitate us . Be thou propitious , and the victory is ours . We implore thee , in the name of the offerings of King Louis XIII ., and with the utmost confidence in thy maternal bounties , we say to thec , O , Marie , notve Here ! De r . os lys relevez la bannicre : Aux rois sur la terre Dieu remit son nouvoir ; et lc

      Vivr ^ mouricr pour eux cst premier devoir . " " Jack , tour wife isnot pensive as she used to be ? Xo , she has left that off , and turned expensive . " We learn from Ilayenpvettliat Geoi'gey is living there in great comfort (!!!) keeping his carriage , and employing his whole time in chemical studies .

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      J £ ***» ( Yorkshire . ) -A meeting of the mem-Tnnl % T ^ Company was heM on Sunday , June the 2 nd , in their room , Hope-streefc , t ihen it was resolved :- " That we give the members three « . « m l ° ^ cr m consequence of a great number of IE ! v i ln * th »* they had-not seen tho notice in liu t ° crn Star ' ¦ B tliat time tho return sheet 7 be completed , and all the members aro desired to make their claim , and bring their books , ( or caras ) and scrips , as no return of any member ' s name will be forwarded to London who dees not make his claim

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      THE MINERS OF NORTHUMBERLAND AND DURHAM . A public meeting was held on Tuesday last for the purpose of adopting a petition to parliament , praying Legislative interference in affording protection to the health and lives of the miners of this county . Sir John Fife was announced to preside , hut was unavoidabl y prevented from attending , when J . Blackwell , E-q ., was unanimousl y called upon to take the chair . * Mr . Blackwell , on taking the chair , begeed to observe that tbe object , of the meeting had his entire concur rence . He would simply say that if the factory people , the people who travel bv

      railway , and those who went out in emigrant ship ' s were enti tled to tbe fostering care of the government , that surely the miners ought to have the same protection for their health and lives . Why , the criminals in the prisons were favoured with an inspector to see that proper care was taken of them by the authorities ; then wh y deny it to the industrious miners ? Mr . Blackwoll then introduced Mr . O . Fife , who moved the first resolution , which was to the T / . tirport— " That from the vast sacrifice' of human life in the mines of this country , and the consequent suffering to the widows and orphans , this meeting is of opinion that something ought to be done to remedy the same . "

      Mr . Fiff . very feeling entered into the suffering nf those who were deprived of their support by those calamities , and urged the attention of the audience upon this point . Mr . A . Stoves , in a very animated address , seconded the resolution , which being put from the chair , was carried unanimously . The second resolution was moved by M . Dunn , Esq , who , in a lengthened address , referred to tlie various reports which had been made upon the sub-] ect of inspection b y Sir H . De le Beche , Dr . Lyon Playfalr , and others—but more especially the evidence taken before the Committee of the Houae of Lords last year—all of which most distinctly stated the necessity and advantage of inspectors beins appointed . Mr . M . Jude seconded the resolntion , and briefly alluded to the superior arrangements , with rcsneet

      to mining , on the continent , and road an extract from the report of the Committee of the House of Lords , to show , that while the increased amount of coals wtfrked in France was twenty per cent ., tho increase of accidents had been fifteen per cent . ; but , at the same period , the increa se of accidents was more than the ratio of the increased amount ot coals worked in this country , or , in other words , though the amount of coals worked had increased in this- country , so had tho number of fatal accidents , and that in a much greater proportion . The resolution went to state , "that seeing every investigation into thi question had been attended with a strong recommendation in favour of inspection ; and that , seeing the utility ef the inspection of mines on the continent of Europe , this meeting resolves to petition parliament to enact a law providing inspectors of mines , as in the case of factories , railways , Ac . "

      Tlie resolution was then put , and carried without a dissentient . The ChairsIan then announced Mr . Joseph Fawceit to move the adoption of the petition , which he did by observing , that the lateness of tho hour would necessaril y prevent him saying much on this important subject ;/ yet ho would remark that all precedents were in their favour , reason and justice also were favourable to the cause and it evidently was a question which Humanity and Christianity would cherish , and . therefore , they should command success . There was a saying that it was not in mortals to command success , but they could and would work to deserve it .

      Mr . Hammond , a veteran miner , near seventy years of age , stood forward to second the adoption of the petition to- the following effect . He had worked in the pits nore than fifty years , and , perhaps , he could adduce some strong proofs of the evils connected with explosions , inasmuch as he had had rather too close an experiment performed upon him , for be had the misfortune to have his skin taken off from head to foot . Ho had no hesitation in saying , that from all his long experience there was exhibited the bold truth , that a great number of the lives lost were duo to negligence , and a desire on the part of the manager to save a little money . The petition was then put and adopted , when 1 was moved that it be signed forthwith , and forwarded to T . E . Headlam , M . P . for this town , for presentation to the House of Commons . A vote of thanks was then given to the Chairman , and the meeting was dissolved .

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      NATIONAL CHARTER , LEAGUE . This body met for the transaction of business at the Druid ' s Hall , 1 , Turnagain-lane , on Sunday evening last . Mr . M'Grath was appointed to preside . He briefly introduced Mr . Ambrose , who delivered an eloquent and most instructive lecture , upon tlio " Mythology of the Ancients . " The , lecnircr was listened K > throughout with deep attention , and « nve thu most unqualified satisfaction . Messrs . Clark and Fairchild subsequentl y addressed the meeting . Some members were enrolled . It was anounced that Mr . M'Grath would ' ecture on the " Wrongs of Ireland , " on Sunday evening next , A vote of thanks to the lecturer concluded the business of the meeting

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      Established 1845 . The Central . Committee , whose determine tion it is to apply all their means and energies , during tho ensuing year , to extend and consolidate the movement' which haa again been entrusted to their charge have , during the past week , received many letters from various parts of the country , expressive of the satisfaction felt by a large number of trades at the re-appearance of T . S . Buncombe , Esq ., as commander-in-cliief of tho army of labour , marshalled under the banners of tho National .,, . ^ , -

      STAssociation . The satisfactory reports of the delegates present , and of the-various trades represented by letter at the late Conference , proving to demonstration the practical useful ness of the National Association , tho numerous and uniform successes which have attended all the operations of the executive during the past year under the most discouraging circumstances , while it has inspired the friends of the National Association with new hope i of a rapid augmentation in its . numbers and resources , has surprised and somewhat astonished those who , openly or covertly , have strove to depreciate it in the estimation of the working men .

      The Central Committee , fully relying upon the soundness of the principles upon which this Association is based , have never lost confidence in its ultimate triumph ; they felt themselves impelled by an imperious necessity , to persevere in a faithful adherence to the trust reposed in them ; awaiting calmly , yet hopefully , that reaction which they knew was maturing in the womb of a not dis ' tant future . They believe that a rich and glorious harvest is ripening fast , as a fit and just reward for their perseverance . The flattering reception given to Messrs . Green and Peel , wherever they have been since the termination of the Conference , is a powerful testimony of the effect which that important meeting is producing upon the country .

      The following reports received from Messis . Green and Peel , of their last week ' s progress , will , it is hoped , prove highly satisfactory to the members ; and the Central Committee are resolved , that immediately the Wolverhampton Conference has terminated , that Mr . Green and some other members of the committee , shall vigorously prosecute those operations which have been thus so successfully

      commenced . Brief reports of the proceedings will be given weekly through " Star , " by permission of its patriotic proprietor and editor ; and ^ the Trades are again earnestly called on to ' support and promote the most extended circulation of this journal , as the surest means of aiding the Central Committee in their efforts in the cause of labour ' s redemption .

      Information has been received that Messrs . Peel and Green resumed their important mission in the case of tho Tin-plate Workers on Tuesday , and completed the necessary preliminaries for , the Conference of masters aud men , for the amicable adjustment of the difficult and delicate question of wages . This first important step being satisfactorily arranged , the first meeting—to suit the couvenieiice of the employers—was fixed for Monday , Juno 3 rd , and Messrs . Peel and Green separated on Wednesday , to employ the intervening days in other localities . " *

      Mr . Peel reports having arrived on the 30 th ult . in Todmorden , on behalf of the Bobbin Turners of that district , who having , for a space of two years , been in peaceful security and uninterrupted freedom from any encroachment upon their wages or privileges , had been compelled at length , for the first time , to appeal to the Central Committee for their assistance . Their application being made just on the eve of the Annual Conference , rendered it impossible for the Central Committee to render a personal assistance . But tho knowledge that they had made an

      application , and that a member of the committee might be daily expected , reaching the ears of the employer , induced that gentleman to change his policy , and to recall into his service two men whom he had discharged for resisting his proposed infringement upon their long established prices . Upon his arrival , therefore , Mr . Peel was pleasingly disappointed of another opportunity of proving the power and advantage of the mediatorial policy of the Association , although its moral influence was strikingly visible in the sudden change which had come over the employer ' s intentions .

      Mr . Peel addressed a numerous and spirited meeting of the Bobbin Turners trade in the evening , at the Waggon and Horses , near Jiueholme , when he passed a well-deserved eulogium upon the steady and faithful adherence which that trade had given to the National Association through all the vicissitudes of time and circumstance , and pointed to their present position as an illustration of the benefits of union when honestly , persevered in . Ho assured them of the intention of the Central Committee to tax tho means and

      resources ot the Association to the utmost , whenever it was necessary to use those large powers entrusted to them by the laws iu the defence of tlie rights and privileges of a trade who had given such strong proofs of confidence in this Association , and had contributed so ungrudgingly and punctually to its maintenance . Theso remarks were received with the most enthusiastic cheering and votes of confidence in tho National Association and its

      Executive , and especially in its generous and patriotic President , for whose complete recovery many a fervent ejaculation was expressed , and was passed with acclamation . The speaker was also honoured with an unanimous vote of thanks , for his humble efforts upon the occasion , and the meeting separated with , evidently , the utmost confidence in the movement to which thoy had given so long and a consistent support .

      At the unanimous request of the meeting Mr . Peel consented to address a public openair meeting on tho following evening , of tho Poor-loom Weavers and other Factory hands of the Valo of Todmorden , large numbers of whom had been thrown idle by the cruel and unwarrantable attempt of some of tho millowners to deprive them of the blessings of cheap food , by a reduction of their wages , which certainly , if successful , will render tho boasted blessings of . Free Trade a mockery to the working population of this beautiful valley . The Bobbin Turners tendered their active exertions

      to marshal their friends and neighbours to the gathering ; and the services of that useful and time-honoured functionary , tho village bellman , were secured to give the necessary publicity to the meeting , which was held in an open space called tho Canteen ; the platform was fixed at the base of a lofty hill , whose sides , to its summit , clothed with the softest and most beautiful verduro , was a fitting and picturesque soat for many hundreds of the lads and lasses , who were the especial victims ot this ungracious attempt of a few avaricious men , to mouopoliso all the benefits which the Legislature must have intended should have boon participated in by all , when they passed those measures which boat down the eiaut

      monopoly of Corn . Mr . Peel , in his address , endeavoured to sho w the only and truo remedy for those frequent attacks upon tho wages of labour— National Union ; he proved its legality and its patriotism . He showed the inefficiency of local Unions , by their constant failure in arresting the march of poverty . He deprecated competition in labour , as destructive of the national prosperity ; ho instanced tho constantly increasing extent of pauperism on the one hand , aud tho inordinate accumulation of wealth in tho hands of a comparative few , as a striking proof of tho correctness of his posision , and maintained , that as soon as capital had sucked up the vital blood of labour it would necessarily turn upon itself , and that these

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      small mill-owners , who . ' now play the tyfSnt over those'Whom destiny had--placed in their power ,, would , in their turn , prove an inevitable and unpitied prey to the more powerful vultures of their class . He , therefore , urged upon the meeting , both workpeople and employers ( many of whom , aDd their managers , were present ) to pause in time—to look ' a little deeper than the mere surface of thingsto promote a mutual and better feeling with each other , seeing that their true interests are Sff ^*! ?*" <* e working people to rall round the

      y banners of National Union , as their best means to protect themselves from ftS ; ^ f unnecessai T infringements upon £ 3 £ f £ ^^ H nti-Thf addnw was rernved throug hout with the most marked S 5 S \ and / eetod ¦* **• conclusion with loud cheers . A resolution , embodying the chief points and recommendation s of tho lecturer , was moved by Mr . Joseph Crabtree , and seconded by Mr . Earnshaw , and carried without a dissentient . Votes of thanks to the lecturer and chairman closed the proceedings .

      On the following day Mr . Pe&l proceeded to Bacup and Newchurch , and visited several old friends to the movement ; from all of whom he received the most flattering hope 3 of a reaction in favour of the National Association in that populous locality . Mr . Green reports having proceeded to Bridgenorth , aud held an excellent meeting of the Carpet Weavers , to whom he gave a

      report of the proceedings of the Conference generally , but more particularl y in a case having reference to themselves ., respecting ono of their members—which case was decided against them at the Conference , in consequence of the law of the Association having been violated . Mr . Green reports that his explanations were considered very satisfactory , and tho meeting determined for the future to be careful in

      observing the laws of the Association , to prevent disappointment or misunderstanding . Mr . Grcon on the following day went , according to instructions from the Central Committee , to Kidderminster , to attend to a case of importance to the Carpet Weavers of that town . It appears Mr . Talbot an employer , gave notice of a reduction of a halfpenny per yard on snow whites , assigning as a reason for so doing , that ho was the only employer in the town who was paying the halfpenny . On Mr . Green ' s arrival he was given t © ' understand that Mr . Talbot had informed hia men , that

      since offering the reduction he had found there was one employerin the town who 1 was paying the same as himself , and , therefore ,, he should not . press the reduction , for if one could give the price he could , and would , give it . Mr . Green , of coarse , was glad to find tho employer ( Fr . Talbot ) had . come to-s&-honourable a conclusion . It appears , from Mr . Green ' s report , several meetings had been held of tho Weavers , to take into , consideration tho propriety of applying to the employers generally for the halfpenny on snow whites ,, which the men consider they are entitled to , from the fact of the material used in that fabric working

      much harder than that wrought in tho usual carpet . Mr . Green held a meeting of delegates , and after hearing the facts connected with the article in question , advised the men to apply on Saturday for the halfpenny per yard ; and in the event of the masters refusing their request , to send off to the Central Committee , who , doubtless would appoint one of its members to wait on their employers . This arrangement gave general satisfaction .

      On Saturday Mr . Green attended a meeting of the Glass Makers at Birmingham , to explain the objects of the Association . The meeting was numerously attended , and , after an address of considerable length , it was resolved ; " That the Birmingham secretary should immediately write to the general secretary of the Glass Makers union in Manchester , instructing him to have printed on tho

      progiwomo of their Conference ( which is to be held in Birmingham in a few weeks ) the earnest desire of their branch to have brought before their Conference , the subject of their trade joining the National Association ol United Trades in a body . " A vote of thanks Was then given to Mr . Green for his attendance , Yuid tho meeting broke up , highly pleased with the explanations given of this successful movement .

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      Loss of tue Emigrant Ship Srrapiiike . —• Wo are indebted to Mr . John W . Wilkins for tho following particulars of the loss of the British Ship Seraphine . Captain M'Keavitt , from Uewry , Ireland , for this port , with emigrants : —The ship met with strong breezes up to the 14 th of April , and strong gales np to the 21 st , wind increasing to a hurricane , and about two a . m ., 22 nd , with close reefed main topsail , a sea struck her which threw he r on her beam ends , shifting the ballast at the snmo time ; broke and carried ,- uva ; ' houses over hatches , boats , and stanchions on both sides started the poop and several of the old beams . In this unfortunate situation , filling fast in all directions , through hatchways , &c , cut away mizzen mast in about

      tlnee quarters of an hour after the sea struck liar ; and in about half an hour more , as means were about being taken to cut away the mainmast , away it went , clearing everything on its course except the foremast and foreyard ( the foremast was anew stick this yoypge . ) The ship began to right a little , and with the assistance of the passengers the ship was righted . At this juncture a leak was reported under the main chains , and the passengers were set to work at the pumps to keep her clear of water , the ship being kept before tlie wind .. In consequence of the heavy sea on the 22 nd , two vessels lying to were passed without any assistance being rendered . The passengers were still occupied in shifting ballast and pumping , and it was not ti ! i

      toward the evening of the 23 rd that the sea began to moderate . Abnut this time two vessels were seen , which proved to be the Woodman , of Liverpool , and tho Garland , of Cork , but as night was approaching no assistance was rendered then , and tho wrcok hail no boat to send off . In tlie morning , boats from both vessels came and took off passengers , the Garland forty , and tho Woodman about 130 . On this day the wreck was seen by the El Dorado , Captain « M . Thompson , at about nine o ' clock in tho morning , about lat . 53 , long . 2 S 30 W . on the horizon to windward . Sho bore down and came to about noon , when Captain Thompson went in the boat and brought off t welve of tho passengers , and was occupied in this manner till dusk . At the request of

      the captain , M'Keavitt , volunteers irom the crew and passengers from the El Dorado went on board the wreck to assist him to take the ship , disabled as sho was , into some port ; but with tho exce ption of ono or two of them , ( tho others being unfit ) , and as no agreement could be entered into with tho captain , they returned . The ship ' s crew ( excepting tho officers ) having refused to remain with her , it was decided the wreck must be abandoned ; and , finally , about eight o clock , the captain and crew came on board the HI Dorado . The Garland , having taken as many as she could from the wreck , made oft' to Boston , whether she . wa 3 bound wit ii emigrants . The Woodman , of Liverpool , bound to > Halifax , had on board about 130 of the passengers from the wreck , and having but . eight casks of water on board , about thirty of the passengers wero

      brought to the El Dorado , which th'cn ha'd sixtyei ght of the passengers and twenty of the crow , including the captain and officers . Attempts ware made to take provisions and watey from tho wreck , but they were found inellectual , tho ship rolling fearfully ; and , finally , it was abandoned entirel y about ten p . m . The l ives were all saved from the wreck but a death occurred on the night of the 23 rd from frHit , making tho third woman m the Raine family " that iliod on tho passage . . It is miraculous that no lives wore lost , with the exception of the ono noted above , as the bertha were all thrown to leowavd when the sea struck , her , and tho mainmast went quito unexpectedly . Tbe dny following ( 25 th ) was squally , and the si » a ran hi gh , so that it would have been impossible .-to have rendered aav more assistance .

      Gksksal Board , of HEApn .- ^ On Tuesday a government bill wss- printed for confirming certain provisional orders , of the General Board of Health , placing the following towns uader local beards oJ health : —Stratford-upon-Avon ,, Dartfonl , Newport . 15 rccon , llavvow , Derby , Dover , and Clelmsford . The OLnssT Oak Tree is Belgium , "which was planted in the reign of Charles V ., about , 1540 or 1550 , ivas cut down last week at ^ . oolorst . It measures thirty-six t ' cet in length , and ' eighteen feet in circumference . Planks two feet wide may bo cut from some of the Branches . This tree was purchased for SOOf . by M . Vaudev B . tnick , a ' cabinet maker at Audenaerde . It is said that lie intends to send a plan , k , cut frcw this tree , from four to five feet vrid , e , \ q the European Ixhibitioft ia London in 1851 . . *¦ ¦ ¦

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      Mr . O'Connor has given notice of his motion for the enactment of the People's Charter , for an early day . The announcement , says the report in the Times , was received with hear and laughter . The " laughers" had better bethink themselves whose claims they affect to treat with derision .

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      A number " of other important topics have been mooted , which we must endeavour to overtake next week .

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      TO THE MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL LAND COMPANY . Gentlemen . —Elsewhere will be found the decision of the Court of Queen ' s Bench , iu the case of the Company v . the Registrar , from which it will be seen that Judgment is against the Company . The Directors have therefore to announce , that immediately on the return of Mr . O'Connor from his tour through Scotland and the provinces , that a Bill will be drawn , and will be submitted to Parliament , with a view to the complete and satisfactory winding up of the affairs of the Company . Wiluam Dixon , Thomas Clark , Philip M'Gbath , Chr . Dotle .

      Untitled Article

      THE HONESTY FUSfD . Receivea by W . Rider . —A few Democrats , Southampton , perJ . Russell 3 s—Blackburn , per W . Yatcs 2 J 8 s Gil—W . Dawson , Blackburn , per \ V . Yatcs 3 s 6 < 1—Low Moor near Clifheroe , per J . Wright 11 s 8 d-Nottin ! iliain , per J . Sweot 2 s 2 a .-From Coleford-A . T . ls-S . E . Gd-A . J . ls-A few Friends , Elland Edge , per J . Kormnnton 3 s—Bradford ( Yorkshire ) Land Members , per J . Comiell 6 s 9 ( i—Facit near Rochdale , per J . Clegg 7 s—S . R . Bradford Cd-afe w Friends , Warwick , per C . Tristram lls—Forfar , uer \ Y Smith 2 s Sd . Received by Jons Ansorr . —Wliittington and Cat , per II . Bloomfield 4 s 3 d .

      £ s . d . Received by W . Rider .. .. 5 1 10 Received by John Arnott .. 0 4 3 Total' £ 5 G 1 AGITATION FOR THE CHARTER . Received by Jons AnsoTT . —Collected at John-street Ills 7 Jd—Emmctt ' s Irigade , per J . Blake Gs—Whittington and Cat , per H . Bloomfield 12 s 3 d—J . J . ilerriman 11—Murray 6 d . FOR MRS . JONES . Received by TV " . Rider . —Dundee , per J . Barnet 3 s 3 d — -Received by Jons Aasorr . —Dundee , per J . Graham ' , S lu * FOR MRS . M'DOUALL . Received by W . Rider . —Dundee , per J . Barnet 3 s 2 d . J . Earrie . 'Asliford , Kent Is . —Received by Jons Arxoit —Dundee , per J . Graham 3 s 7 d . FOR MRS . FUSSELL . Received by John AnNoiT .-l ' roceeds of Harmonic Meeting , Bricklayers' Arms , Tonbridge-street 1/—Ambrose Tomliiison Gd . TRACT FUND . Received by Jons Arxott . —O . D ., Iloxlon New Town 2 s Gd—Mr . W . Norman , Ventnor , I . W . Gd—R . Gel and Friends , Bradford Is WIVES AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS . Received by W . Rideb—Paisley , proceeds of Soiree , per J . Donaldson il 10 s . NATIONAL VICTIM FUND . Receceivcd by Joiw Aenott , Secretary . —West End W < . meiis' Men Sleeting , at thu King and Qneen , Folevstreet , per Mr . Marsden 13 s 9 d—Wliittiugton aud Cat per H . Bloomfield 5 s . Gd . '

      Mtiottal Fun* ©Otnpnin «Auai^L Tt^ ^ ^,,,,,,.

      Mtiottal fun * © otnpnin « auai ^ l tt ^ ^ ^ ,,,,,,.

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      n rWffllB" Lectks Savings Bank . — The discovery of defalcations by Mr . Biirtlet * . ( actuary of tlie Lowes Savings Bank , ) in April last , was announced in the Times at the limo it took place . On tho 1 st ef May . a commit tee of managers and trustees was appointed to investigate tlie matter , and the result of their labours waa presented to a mec-ting held at the County Hall , Lewes , on Tuesday , when Lord Gage ( president of the bank ) was ' in the chair . The report states that the committee have used every effort , by bills , advertisements , circulars , and single applications , to obtain a verification of the pass hooks . The present number of accounts was 2 , 221 . Of these J . 0 G 7 , representing £ 50 , 337 8 s . 3 d ., had been compared with the pass books and found correct ; MS , representing £ 799 Cs . lid .,

      in accounts chiefly under £ 5 , had not yet been verified ; and tlie remaining six , representing £ 407 Us . 'Id ., were found to have been tan . pered with fraudulently by the actuary to the extent of £ 218 2 s . lOd . A clue to those six cases having been early discovered , all of them were clearly made out . Li nearly every instance a false pass-book was employed , and both genuine and false books were in the possession of the committee . The sums were received and signed for by the actuary . To sanction this genuine but exhausted orders were in some cases put forth ; in others the manager of the day must have been misled by the verbal assuranctof the actuary , or in some way not yot ascertained . In fact , no small ingenuity had occasionally been employed to conceal the truth . Besides the

      six cases named , more than one oilier had appeared where money improperly withdrawn had , on a risk of a detection arising , a » ain being replaced . In ono such case repayment was made so lately as March last , after the first examination of the books . The committee hoped that the six cases comprised the whole that tho managers could be called upon to deal with ; but there was a possibility of sueli instances being hereafter elicited among the 148 open accounts , or even among tlie accounts ( nearly 4 , 000 in number ) closed at various periods since the beginning of the bank . The sums actually received amounted to £ 200 lls . Sd . ; but since the undue debiting of those sums in the ledger had affected tho

      subsequent calculations of interest , the bank had sustained a further damiigo to tho extent ot £ 11 lls . 2 d ., making-iii all £ 218 2 s . lOd . There could be no question that the actuary was liable to criminal , and ho and his sureties to civil , proceedings . As to the former , tho dangerous state of the actuaries health had bcetf deemed sufficient reason for suspense ; and as to tho latter , ho having recently made a general trust assignment to two creditors , had thereby brought into operation an act which gave propriety to the claims of a savingsbank against its defaulting officers . The sureties to tho bond had had notice of its forfeiture , and tho trustees under the assignment had also received notice of the enactment alluded to .

      Oxyoen Gas a Cure fou Choleba . — Dr . Macrae , civil surgeon at Howrah , has , according to tlie Indian Times , discovered a new and most successful modo of treating cholera patients . He causes them to inhale a certain portion of oxygen gas , which communicates a strong stimulus to ' the frame , and finally throws the patient into a refreshing sleep . On awakening , ho finds himself restored to health , with tho exception of the general weakness which always succeeds any physical prostration . Dr . Macrae has tested his mode of practico upon fifteen European seamen , who have been carried to tho llowran Hospital in the last stage of the disonsc , and the patient has in every jnstanco rijQQvevQd , —Ato ' ii Indian Mail

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      j roa ^ ja THE ,., NO gTHERNgfAR ' win ¦ ' - l . TT— = ^ d = L

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      ^ SS L ^ S P '! tWe 6 , re , t egi ^ ^™''"^ ^ - ^ ^^^^^¦^¦¦^ BMiHlggJHi macy overit . Any attempt , therefore , to give the Church freedom of action , irrespective of the Sovereign , is to inverse the position in winch the law has relativel y placed them , and to abrogate the conditions on which the Church received the property she now enjoys . As to the question raised hy those who now seek for more power to the clerical bod y , -whether it is fitting that the Church should remain under hond to the State , that is a question which can only lead to one of two solutions . B y accepting of the temporalities and dignities on certain conditions , it hecame a State Church , with all the wealth and

      influence attached to that position . If , for the sake of independent action , and the aquisition of the powers tfiey now claim , they are content to cease to he a State Church , and are willing to throw up the property , because no longer content with the terms on which it is held , he it so . That was the course pursued a few years ago in Scotland , when a- large portion of the Clergy of the Scottish

      Established Church threw up their livings for conscience sake . If Bishop Bloojifield and his confreres feel as strongly , on the subject , let them do likewise . One thing is quite certain , they cannot have at one and the same time the property they now enjoy , and the unfettered freedom of action they demand . So thought the House of Lords , which by a large majority decided against the all grasping Episcopacy .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), June 8, 1850, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1577/page/5/