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Northern Star (1837-1852), 10th January 1852, Edition 1 of 2, Page 1, f&b«fo"bffyrmtfa

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      Untitled Article

      The mosl prominent matter for discussion since cut last iseae has been the retirement of Lord Pal-JIEKSTON . Why he went oat , when he will come in , and what he will be when he does come in , have occupied a large share of public attention . With respect to the first question , we are still in the dark There are all sorts of rumours on the subject ; which are not likely to cease till the Noble Viscount himself

      in his place in Parliament , favours the public—as he is pretty sure to do—with a damaging expose of the bickerings , animosities , and incapability of the' Happy family' who are Her Majesty ' s Ministers . As to the other queries , there seems to be a growing opinion that the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs will , before long , occupy the place of the colleague who so abrnptl y sent him adrift on the sea of political strife . ¦

      Whatever may be the opinion as to the intentions and the actions of Lord Paxmebston , no one will deny that lie is a man of great ability and consummate tact . In losing , him , the Cabinet lose by far 5 ts most able member , and it is difficult to imagine how it can retain its position when deprived of his powerful aid , and subjected to his fierce opposition . In that case , one thing is certain—that it could not -exist confined to the present aristocratic clique . Somebody must be called in to share power , in order to Avert its total loss . This has given rise to

      negotiations upon the part of Her Majesty ' s principal adviser with the Duke of Newcastle , Mr . Cardweix , Sir James Gbaham , and some others , whose names have been mentioned ; and it seemed probable that for a time the tottering fortunes of the Whig dynasty -would be staved np by Conservative props . This augured badly for the promised New Reform Bill , which , under the auspices of such sponsors , would have been as hollow a mockery as the Constitution of Loins NaroLEON . It appears , however—if the latest accounts at the moment we write are to be trusted—that we

      axe for yet a little longer to be spared the shame of seeing the Post Office spy—the Mazzeji letter opener —disgrace the Home Office ; for it is said , that the overtures of Lord John Russell have been rejected , and that schisms have broken out among Ministers themselves which herald a speedy dissolution of the Cabinet . If this be true , Lord John Russell takes a long leave of that power which he has proved himself so utterly incapable to wield with effect . Such a defeat of the Whigs would , no doubt , ultimately be a great good , whatever mi ght be its immediate effects . The resources of the country have been shamefully misused and wasted , its progress impeded , and its welfare perilled , by successive batches of aristocratic incapables—men whose only qualification is that they have been born into the ranks which

      have mainly monopolised the power to rale . Of Whigs and Tories we are inclined to say , in the language of Mebcuho , ' a plague on both your houses . ' And every one cessive defeat of the hereditary factionsevery new proof of their incapacity to Bway the destinies of a country—saps their power , diminishes their prestiges , and hastens forward the time when the nation will be governed by mon from the ranks of the people—educated amid the struggles of life—understanding the wants of the masses , and possessed of sufficient practical knowledge and energy to overcome the difficulties which cumber the path of rulers . But though we are approaching toward that , the time for it has not actually arrived , and we cannot hold out any well-founded hope that the next Cabinet will be of such a kind as to demand or deserve the full

      confidence and support of the public It will not of course be a Torj' Cabinet , for that party is as unable to hold office now as it was when the Whigs were suffered to retain it by sufferance a few months ago . It will not be a coalition of Tories and Conservatives , for those two parties hate each other with all the fervency of kindred at strife , or estranged friends , or parted lovers . It has been well said , that there is no hate like love to hatred turned , and that aptly illustrates the feelings of the old Protectionists , and those who followed the banner of Peel . It will not be a Cabinet of Conservatives , for they alone are almost as powerless and unable to face a House of Commons as the

      Tories themselves . It will not be a Cabinet of pure Whigs , for the Greys at least are anxious , it is reported , to escape from the difficulties which they have gathered around their position . Yet , for once in the history of the world , it is said that the marvel has come to pass , of even Whigs being either frightened at the responsibility , or worried by the difficulties , or tired of the badgering , opprobrium , ingominy and contempt which beset incapables in office . It will not be a Cabinet of the Manchester School , for official power has not yet moved so far towards

      the people . What on earth will it be then ? some of oar readers may exclaim , after th at long drawn out string of negatives . There are two methods at least of arriving at a conclusion , one by a direct affirmative , the other by the process of exhaustion , by continual negatives . When we know what a thing is nof ^ we are somewhat nearer towards divining what itis ; and if we were to venture a prophesy , -sre should be disposed to say , that if Lord John Eussell does go out of office now he will be succeeded by Lord Palmebstox , as first Lord of the Theasukt ; and that the new Pbime Minister

      would call in some of the Free Traders to leaven a sprinkling of aristocracy , and give a business-like air to the Governmental benches ; that if Lord John Eussell does not quickly vacate , he will be unceremoniously pushed from his stool ; and that if he does at the last moment succeed in tinkering np a conservative alliance , it will not stand the wear and tear of half a Session . On the eventualities which the advent of Lord Palmebston to the highest place would bring about , we are not inclined just now to speculate . The timid would see in the foreground the phantom of another European war ; but sufficient for the day is the evil thereof . '

      Next to the crisis in state aftau-s the Kaffir War takes up a prominent position . Mail after mail brings home the news of abortive patrols against rocks and bushes , from behind which the Kaffir marksman , and the Hottentots we have trained to fight us , pick off the best men and officers with as much security from danger as a hunter drops a deer . The old story of that King of Spain in France—we really at the moment forget which—who marched up the hill with ten thousand men , and then so valorousl y inarched down again , is being repeated by British generals and British troops with serious aggravations . For while the aforesaid doughty warrior does not

      appear to have been molested , our soldiers march about apparentl y for the pleasure of being shot . Month after month Sir Hamiy Smith , sitting uneasily at his ease—if we may use the expression—inKing William ' s Town , calls lustily for more troops and for more burghers to stay the savage enemy ; but the burghers do not come , and although fresh supports of devoted red coated targets are sent out to answer the appeal for help , Sir Habby still nestles in his quarters asthough that ride of his from Fort Cat , where the * Great Father' was nearly caught by his rebellious children , had increased his appet ite for safety . Seriously , if it were not a tragedy—if the reports of

      the killed and wounded did not invest the affair with solemn interest it would be ludicrous ; but the blood of good soldiers is uselessly spilt , and treasures which might have se t thousands of poor to work , and made hundreds of acres of waste land fertile , is wasted in a barbarian warfare , resulting directly from the imbecility of the Colonial Office . The whole of the events show , in their most striking light , the inefficiency of our management , both civil and military . So disgusted are the Colonists with the Gbey rule , that they declare the attempt to organise burgher forces would be simplyridiculous , nnder the present system ; and they aeem to declare that they will not attempt it . And in the military department it turns out that our soldiers , even when numerically superior , are unable to cope with the Kaffirs from the badness of

      their arms and organisation . Just think of that . The flower of the British army , commanded by the heroof Aliwal , are incompetent to subdue half naked barbarians . The troopers are too big for their horses ; and when mounted on Cape ponies are about as formidable as a Blackheath pleasure goer upon a donkey . The foot soldiers are even in a worse plight , if that be possible . We take great pains to catch araw reenrit , to drill him , to fatten him up into strength and vigour , to make him a wonderfully perfect man killing machine ; and when we have done all this at an enormous cost , we put him into a red ^ nd white , or a red and gold coat—make him look as amichlike a target as possible , so that the enemy shall not miss him ; and to complete his capability , arm him with a ten-shilling musket and bayonet , the latter so

      Untitled Article

      clumsy as to make his firelock top heavy , the former constructed so as to render it about as formidable to himself as the foe , for we are told that the trigger pulls bo stiffly as to prevent taking a proper aim . The propelling power is so inefficient that its range is absurdly short ; the construction of the breach is so bad , that the direction of the bullet is eminently uncertain , and tbe recoil so heavy , that while the man misses his mark the butt bruises him . We suppose , that with this catalogue of errors we must submit to be laughed at , to be beaten ,, and to speak figuratively , eaten up by the Kaffirs , till a wiser and more capable , and common-sense government assumes the reins of office . ^ ^ *

      A fearful tragedy nearer home has marked the week . The West India Mail Company have been peculiarly unfortunate with thei r steamers , having , at various times , lost some eight or nine of them , but the most fearful calamity of all is the recent wreck of the Amazon , which has spread the deepest grief over all classes of society . That occurrence was attended with some remarkable circumstances . The Amazon waB a new ship . It is but a few weeks , at most , since she left the river . She was the most splendid vessel the Company had ever built . She was of the greatest size , constructed with the greatest care , and upon the best principles , and upon her machinery all

      the appliances of engineering skill and science were lavished . Complete as the vessel was , her crew , of somewhere about a hundred hands , was at least as efficient . A captain of tried ability and courage , selected for his unquestioned fitness , was selected ; the officers , seamen , and engineers , were picked men ; and nothing but one thing—to which we shall presently allude—was left undone to secure the safe transit across the ocean of the fifty passengers and costly freight with which 8 he was laden . A short time brings back the dismal intelligence that the Amazon had been burnt at sea , and that out of the ¦ 141 human beings who were on board only some

      forty are saved . No pen can describe the horrors of that scene , when the fire bursting forth from between decks , and enveloping the fated ship with a speed which paralysed all efforts to check it . The passengers , roueed from their Bleep , rushed upon deck , and their terror added to the general confusion . Amid all this , it is no wonder that the boats , hurriedly launched into a heavy sea , were swamped , and many fleeing from fire perished by water : the only wonder is that so many escaped . But , we wouldask , was all this the result of an unavoidable accident ? We think not . The majority of the accounts go to show that the fire originated near the engines ; and the cause is , with great probability , ascribed to the heat caused by the stiff working of the new machinery . Before that , the engines had been stopped twice to

      allow the heated bearings time to cool : ought not this to have been foreseen . It ia reported , that in her trial near Southampton , in comparatively smooth water , the engines were more than once stopped for the same reason . If that happened there , surely the most ordinary exercise of judgment would have told those in authority that the same thing would occur with even greater certainty when the machinery was called on to force the vessel through a heavy sea . But , either the judgment was not exercised , or its warnings were disregarded : the doomed ship was carried off before her engines were in proper working order . She took fire , burned like tinder , and upwards of one hundred lives were sacrificed . It is possible that the time will come when such occurrences will no longer be regarded as accidents .

      Of Foreign matters we have but little to say . The solemn farce of thanksgiving , offered up by an unwilling Archbishop at Notre Dame , has been enacted . There has been the expected amount of feasting . The fishwomen of the Halle have been petted . A certain number of hired voices have shouted Vive Napoleon , ' and « Vive l'Bmpereur . ' The great mass of the people gagged , coerced , terrorstricken , have looked on in abject , sullen , almost stupid silence , and the promised Constitution , beset by greater difficulties than the usurper counted on , has not yet made its appearance .

      While France is waiting for its Constitution Austria has lost hers , or , rather , so much as remained of it . A Eoyal Ordinance has abolished it at one fell swoop , and inaugurated , in its full force , the policy of Metiernich . Meanwhile , the state of the finances is growing hopelessly bad . Bankruptcy presses hard upon the heels of despotism ; the Finance Minister has been dismissed , and a new loan is talked of before the old one is well completed . For the rest , it is but the old story of marching of troops and courts-martial here and there , amid the storm which is so inevitably gathering over Europe .

      Untitled Article

      RUMOURED MINISTERIAL CHANGES . On Wednesday evening the rumour was very general that Lord John Russell had decided upon the changes to be made in his ministry . In cases of this kind , it is , of course , impossible for anything short of a ministerial manifesto to convey the exact aud authentic particulars of the contemplated alterations . In such times as these , however , tbe public look naturally to the newspapers for such indications as may be in existence , tending to show what may be expected . To meet this natural anxiety we give the latest on dit ; with the full and complete preliminary explanation that only as the most prevalent rumour can the following be received . With this preface , it may be stated that Sir James Graham had on Wednesday an interview with Lord John Russell , and it is very generally understood that the negotiations in progress have for their object the formation

      of a Conservative-Whig Cabinet—a negotiation which , if successful , would in all probability involve an early dissolution of parliament . It is proposed that Lord Lansdowne , Lord liroughton , Mr . Labouchere , and Sir U . Baring should resign ; To be replaced by Sir James Graham , a 3 First Lord of the Admiralty ; ine Duke of Xsweastle , as President of the Board of Control ; , Sidney Herbert , as Paymaster of the Forces , with a seat in tbe cabinet ; and Mr . Gladstone , as President of the Board of Trade . T ? ho would succeed Lord Lansdowne is not stated . "

      Whether all this is entitled to be regarded as anything more than club talk , the lapse of a short time will in all probability determine . —Daily News . At the clubs last night ( Wednesday ) it was in every one ' s mouth that Sir George Grey would be immediately called to the Peerage . It is a fact that Sir James Graham is in town . Putting this and that together , itis not impossible that the Government may make a death-struggle to meet parliament . Morning Herald .

      Untitled Article

      The Hungarian Cause in England and America . — Lord Dudley Stuart has written to the " Daily Sews , " enclosing a letter from Professor Francis Newman , in reference to the Hungarian refugees now in London . The Professor says they are 161 in number , and asks , whether there are not 1 C 1 householders warm enongh in the cause of Hungary and humanity , to afford these distressed gentlemen a sleepingroom each . He says truly , that scanty maintenance from the subscriptions , which come in slowly , is degrading and painful : and he adds , "lam persuaded that the system of centralisation is here , as in everythiug else , demoralising ; and tuatjheoply way , happy to him who gives and to him wh « receives is that of quartering individuals locally . " Mr . Toulmin Smith , zealous for the reputation of Kossuth for "foresight and watchfulness , » says that £ 520 was paid over to the emigrants by Kossuth ' s direction , on the 25 th of November last , besides £ 200 yielded by the Guildhall ball 5 ^ !? £ " of en"Srants is not so large as that stated , and that the money cannot have been yet expended

      . from one of the Cumberland prisons , who had grown so fat while in durance that the surgeon was afraid she would actually lose the sight of an eye from mere obesity , and he had put a seton through the back of her neck , to prevent such a catastrophe . Jdsiicxs of the Pbace —In . EugUmd there aie 18 , 742 justices in the commission of the peace , and 7 , 308 of them have qualified . In Wales there are 1 , 950 in the commission , of whom & > 7 have qualified . In Ireland the number in the commission is 3 , 695 , and 3 , 188 have qualified . There are 1 , 645 borough magistrates in England and Wales , and in Ireland 169 . There are only 28 stipendiary or paid magistrates in England and Wales , and 71 in Ireland . In Scotland there are 201 persons exercising maeisterial func tions " , of whom 190 are paid , and 11 unpaid . "

      Untitled Article

      THE TYRANNY OF CAPITAL . l TO THE WORKING MEN OF ENGLAND . Mr . Edixob , —With the cause of La bour you are identified . ' I dedicate this letter to that interest' ( not because you are its able exponent , but be cause in your paper the truth may be undisguised ! ) ' published ) , which is now threatened , almost to annihilation , by a combination of masters , who are what they are in position in society , simply through the bodily and mental exertions of those whose liberty of speech and independent action they now would mercilessly , destroy . This is the tyranny of Capital . Labour is declared by these taBK-mastera to be in a Btate of sieee and th 12 th ^

      on e of January their coup d'etat will be consummated— with Sidney Smith as the Horny , or chief mover of the proceedings . The proclamations of these English Capitalists , after proudly boasting of the numbers they employ , declare , with all the arrogance -possible , that ou the , day named 10 , 000 men will be absolutely denied further work . What for ? They are as willing as ever , to produce their tale of bricks ! but this is not enough . If they be not driven to make ' bricks without straw , ' -they are called upon to do that which would be equivalent to the same thing ultimately—viz ., an impossibility ,: in surrendering body and soul to the demands of Work , Work , never-ceasing Work . Your contemporary , the « Weekly Dispatch / with that kind of mock-liberal cant for which it is

      notonous , is the organ of these tyrannical roasters—an unofficial ' Moniteur , ' that publishes the lucubrations of men , who pretend to know much , but in reality know nothing , of the wants , condition , and hardships of the class they are otherwise absurdly supposed to defend . The writer of the article under * History and Politics , ' is Mr . Sidney Smith ; the author of Mother Country' ( a work advising men to emigrate , for long hours and reduced wages were rendering it impossible for the majority to earn their bread at homeis

      ) , Mr . Sidney Smith ; and the Secretary to the combined masters of the Engineering Trades is Mr . Sidney Smith , —the self-sameman , who , under the disguise of a reformer , I trust has not his parallel . ^ Such men and against their writings may Providence preserve the working classes of this country from inclining towards . They will be for ever lost , if their opinions be adopted ; since they know only one thing in their hearts , and that is the rights of Capital , to the utter neglect of the duties which are inseparable thereto ;

      To the working men of England a few words of caution are necessary to be addressed . If they are not watchful now , they will see the customs and privileges connected with their various trades leaving them , and themselves powerless to resist the attack . The success of the Master Engineers will be the signal for a wholesale slaughter on the rights of Labour ; and the pernicious doctrines put forth by those alluded to will teach them to be pasaive spectators of the carnage . Then will follow the price of their labour , and cheap food will be used as an irresistible argument , justifying the reduction ; and so , the measure of 1846 , designed for the future happiness of the whole community , will distribute its advantages upon the wellto-do peoples , the Sidney Smiths of the press and the middle classRs .

      These are the things that now cast their shadows before us ; and this is the hour to arm against them , to testif y to these buyers of labour that the rights of the English workman shall not be sacrificed upon their Mammonitish shrine . Tho cause of the Engineer is the cause of every labourer in the country ; what he is to be denied work for affects alike both skilled and unskilled workmen . The piece-work system , to be what its name implies , should be a reciprocal agreement between master and man . If it be not , it is a

      pricework plan , the master only being the arbiter in the case . Who is not affected in such a contemptible arrangement ?—whose independence is not crushed by acquiescing with such a one-sided regulation ? The employed would not pretend to be Bole judges in a question so obviously soeial ; and wherefore' should their masters ( as they are conventionally called ) arrogate to themselves so much , and issue their mandates in the name of the Great Iam ? But they will do so , and very much more , if the men of England do no t prove to them that resistance will follow the attack .

      The despot of Labour is tho every-day act of the Capitalist . To him Liberty is a privilege , not to be shared inby the so-called canaille of society—the mob ; Independence of Action ( such as declining to work more than ten hours a day ) a crime in the workman ; respect for seven years , devotion to a particular study ( the best seven years of any man's life ) , is an antiquated notion . And why ? Because the tendency of acting differentl y is to distribute the results of industry with a more equitable hand , than Capitalists can comfortably look on . I know that all men are not so avaricious ; but they who are not are oi the few—they form the exception to the rule—that remains unaltered .

      And now , will not the working classes hold their meetings , and , if necessary , club their pence , to maintain the right of refusal to do more than ten hours ' work a day , when that their strength is exhausted , or the claims of citizenship call them elsewhere ; to defend the right of a voice , previous to the execution of any piece of work , as to the price to be paid for the same when performed ? These are the questions that the Master Engineers say , 'We only will answer and determine , ' but which , I hope , they will never be suffered to say with truth ; and , as such interrogations affect the whole position of labour , as it stands in relation to capital , so they clearly become of national importance

      , To discharge ten thousand workmen for making such requests as the Engineers have done , will be to commit an act disgraceful to the name of Englishmen . Our honour , as men , is bound up in such a violation ; the claims of Industry , —those which spoke so loudly and so truthfully in the Great Exhibition , — theBe cry out shame against such a merciless proceeding . The men have but stated their wishes as a body ; they never intended to strike ia order to put them into practical effect . Whatever a particular Bhopov factory chose to do in Oldham , the entire Society is not to be compromised by . Every public answer given in meetings and in print , shows this to be true ; and as the new year broke upon

      the employed , that was to be the indicator for them to endeavour to obtain theiremployer ' s sanction to certain regulations , which , as members of the society , they had previously agreed to . Surely , to solicit an opinion is not to be regarded as an intention to strike ? No , the body did not contemplate such an extra measure . Certainly Messrs . Hibberts and Platt would have been held to their bond , as they ought and must have been , seeing that they dictated its very words . From this neither masters nor men could faithfull y recede , save by a dishonorable rejection on either side . Here , then , was the position . But beyond this , the Engineers , as a society , have committed no aggressive act .

      I ask the men so turned out to be firm to one another ; and I solicit those who are in work to support them in their difficulties . Let this be done for a few weeks only , and we shall ' see thatthistyranny will meet with a counter-check ; for work will be found for the men elsewhere , the profits of which will be more equitably and generously shared amongst them , which could not possibly be tbej case , whilst serving their former masters . Censor .

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      Thb Monmouthshire Boroughs . —In addition to Mr . Lindsay of London , Mr . Crawshay Bailey , tho great ironmaster , is now fairly in the field as a candidate whenever a vaoancy occurs for the representation of these boroughs . Mr . Bailey states himself to be in favour of an extension of the suffrage by the extension of the borough qualification to the counties . Be is also favourable to civil and religious liberty ; and , should the proposition for a five shillingduty on wheat be brought forward , he promises it his support .

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      ANNUAL SOIREE AND BALL OP THE GALASHIELB ' PROVISION STORE COMPANY . Themeinbersand friends , to the number of 300 , held their annual soiree and ball' on New Year ' s night , in the Bridge Inn Assembly Room . An excellent violin band -was in attendance ; numerous songs and recitations enlivened the evening . When the dancing commenced i $ Was - ¦ ¦ found-that the room was far over crowded , and another , bail-room had to be got for the half of the company . ¦ ¦¦ '' . '¦ : ' . " ' , '' . " ¦ Mr . Wm . Sandkrson—who is considered the founder of the present plan of Co-operative Stores—delivered an address . He said : —As itused to be the custom for the chairman to Bay something about our own Co-operative

      association , it may be as well forme to give some information especially as the women do hot attend the quarterly rmeetinesI ! of the society , and as not only they , but every , onej . ought to study the principles of Co-operation , and by knowledge and > union seek to better their own condition . Our society is only tha AB Coftheaystem ; and the advantages we derive fromour little society are no more in comparison to what they might be , than the advantages a child has from being able , to read the alphabet , to the learned- man deeply read in books of sciences , history , philosophy , and religion ; - The society was established nine years ago , and bepagfah- siness with a capital of £ 28 . Thr . ee years pa ? tJaBtii * nl ^ the constitution of . the society . was changed fjrw $ pyih £ ' - the dividend on the capital to paying it on the amount of dealings . A great amount of success has attended this

      change , as will be seen from a brief extract of 15 th April , 1831—The deposits were £ 750 ; the sunk fund on three years , £ 170 ; total capital , £ 920 ; and the capital , £ 1 , 000 . Sales , about £ 10 , 000 a year ; profits , £ 365 , or £ 1 per day ; eight men and two boys employed . A year since we had only two provision stores and a baking department ; we hav 3 now three pro rision stores , one baking branch , one butcher ' s-meat branch , one corn branch , and two shareB in the Co-oiierative Building Society . The profits to a member who had dealt on all his capital for the last three years were , for a member who had £ 3 deposit £ 2 12 s . 9 d ., including sunk fund . So much for our own society . But it is only by knowledge , the power of union and accumulation , that tbe working classes can ever benefit themselves . Knowledge is power—union is strength . To illustrate these

      maxims I will relate an anecdote of a landlord and farmer . The landlord on coming into possession of his estate undertook to farm his own lands . He engaged men , and laid out his capital in draining , fencing , and cultivating the soil ; but at the end of every half-year , when he took valuation of his stock and balanced his accounts , he found , that ; instead of making profit of his farm , it did not pay the working expenses . lie therfore leased his lands to an experienced farmer , at a handsome rate . This farmer , regularly as the term came , cheerfully paid his rent , while it was apparent to the world he was getting rich fast . " How comes it , " said the landlord "that you are enabled not only to pay me a fair rent , but also to prosper well beside , whilst I , who had no rent to pay , could not make the lands pay their own working expenses ? " " The reason "

      , said the farmer , " I conceive to be this : —I have studiously applied myself to learn the science of agriculture , and advised with the most experienced farmers on the nature of the soil , the quality of manures , the rotation of crops , draining , fenciug , thrashing , and the feeding of cattle , and mall have exorcised a severe economy , Thus , from my knowledge , I have been enabled to raise double the crops you raised , to pay a . handsome vent , and make riches beside ; while your inexperience trusted to tlie power of capital alone . and failed . " The landlord felt the truth , and requested to be taken in to partnership ; he was accepted , and the union of capital and skill was the greater employment of labour , numerous agricultural | improvements , greater remuneration , and cheaper food to all . Now , the working classes may be compared to this landlord . They have labour

      which is as completely their capital as the land of the landlord is his capital ; they may employ their own labour for their own advantage , the same as the landlord farmed his land for his ; and if they have knowledge and union they will prosper , but if not , they may find that it does not pay them . Then , as the landlord had to lease his lands for a rent , so must the working classes sell or lease their labour for a rent or wage . Such is tho present position of the working classes of this country , who , with few exceptions , from the want of knowledge how to secure the benefits of their own labour , have sold themselves to be the wages-slaves of other employer .- ); and though they have the skill to work all the work , to produce all the wealth , to cultivate the soil , make machinery , nianufacturo all the clothes , build all the houses , work all the mines of

      coal and iron , make railways , canals , harbours , and ships , and every other thing that is of use or ornament , yet , from the ban of ignorance , and the curse of disunion , they cannot secure the fruits of their own labour , are held m poverty , crimped in food , in clothes , and shelter . But , as 19 t » ted , there aro somo exceptions to this general rule . There has sprung up within tho last few years two or three hundred societies , having for their object the upplication of the labour of the workman for his own benefits , and every year is proving their success , and adding to their number ; and one very important new step has been taken , on the suggestion of one of our own townsmen , Mr . Walter Sanderson , who , in a letter to the "Tribune , " suggested the desirability of a central depot , or agency , for the purpose of facilitating the interchange of goods manufactured by the Co-operative Assooiatians , and also to purchase in the wholesale market , and to supply the societies with all sorts of goods , cheap , good , and freo

      from all adulteration . This suggestion has been taken up by a number of philanthropic men , who have capital , and business habits suited to the occasion ; and if the working men ' s Co-operative Associations throughout the country baok out the undertaking , and exchange the goods they produce through the agency for what they themselves require for their own use , these vast organised confederations of labour will produce an indescribable amount of prosperity , peace , and happiness to the working classes . For instance , when Mr . Lloyd Jones was here , he stated that we might get our tweeds , shawls , and tartans off through the agency , and get tea , sugar , &c , &c , in return , the numerous working Tailors' associations requiring them . But if , on the other band , this present opportunity to raise themselves from the wretched condition of wages-alavtry is not embraced—if they choose still to fii ? ht tho terrible battle of competition till they sink to the level of the Irish peasant—till starvation drives them from their native home

      to seek an asylum and a , grave in a foreign land ( and through the extension of machinery and competition this is fast coming about , so that work is getting more scarce , and wages lowered)—still I do not despair . Although a , Nicholas of Russia , a Pope Pio Nono , a Boinba , and a Napoleon , lour like fiends over the future destinies of Europe , and though they proclaim themselves that tbe mission they have to perform is to arrest the progress of democratic and social ideas , to chain the human mind , to crush liberty , and to stay the emancipation of labour ; and though they are surrounded by hundreds of thousands of mercenary assassins to do . their bloody work ; though the hireling priests—from one end of Christendom to the other—are perverting the spirit of truth to maintain their unhallowed power ; and though the minions of flattery pour in their

      ear encouragement m their evil way—yet the day is not far distant , when for thousands that defeu ' d them millions shall assail ; and the unhired tongue shall prevail over the hireling priest , and the flatterers vanish away ; when the "thrones of the tyrants crumble in the dust ! " And why am I so hopeful ? Because I trace the onward march of intelligence over the world ' s expanse . I road it in the many discoveries and inventions in science and art—in the increased facility of intercourse—in the power of the steam printing press pouring its endless stream of knowledge over the earth , and which can only be compared to the great sun itself , which , from its inexhaustible source , diffuses light , life , liberty , and joy to universal mankind . I trace the maroh of intelligence in the commotions of peoples and the aspirations of communities . I see it banishing superstition and prejudice—turning darkness into light—breaking

      slavery s chains asunder—trampling crowns and coronets in the dust—turning to mockery ribbon and garter , Btiir and orest—and scattering to the winds of Heaven unworthy titles and distinctions . More , I see it entering in to the cottage of the poor man , enlightening his mind to the causes of his distress—teaching him the means by which his evils can be remedied , filling his heart with love , peace , and hope . There is hope for the sons of labour—they have truth , justice , humanity , and Heaven on their side . Nature , reason , revelation , truth proclaims aloud they shall triumph—that all mankind are brothers—that they shall not oppress one another , and we know that there is no power in Heaven , earth , or hell , to gainsay the triumph of progress , truth , and mercy . What we have to do is to see that we array ourselves on the side of right , so that wo can always have tbe proud reflection that we have done our duty .

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      turns made the last quarter . After paying at the rate ** & ten per cent * per annum on the amount of Bhare . monev and five per cent per annum on the ainouut invested in the bank ,-and paying for the new fixtures for the shnn there remains £ 3 as the first investment in the Contingent Fund ; and to this fund we would press the attention of the members , 08 it is from that common fund that the association principle is to be developed in all its moral and social bearing . We cannot but look with pleasure and pride on the new constitution , revised from the old one , and past at our last general meeting . It will prove , that where eaoh member is left free to act for himself in all that concerns his present and future welfare , that he will act worth * hi »

      men origin , and gradually approximate to the principles oi Jjibert y E quality , aud Fraternity . In our old constitution w * , ' ? . * olt-tnat ifc gave too great an advantage to the wealthier members , at the expense of the weaker . We pn , mi ° - ? emedied that defect , and placed all in a mow equal position , without encroaching unfairly on either side , PffL p , r left t 0 the members to carry the Jaws into money inveLTft recc " » h > interest ^ tne benefits thn' 5 ii ! ? l bein £ W ™ recipient of the cfouslv annroni L ? T from «* " contingent , " being judi" SnSnt ° « m ln US 6 ful speculations , and though ' the tmrenf bv nUo «» «„ Iunuto engage m w 11 soon be ap . ¦ S ^^ usiTS ? v ucce r , r inbette ? ' hers a hannv tfnw V «« t A I ' " ° WI 8 a a 11 Our « lenl « still higher , and to eaSry it ? wfflS ° -T e our t ? oclety that Am * meet the b $ Jff taV ^ Z ^^ 011111

      itsmemberl . ™* *««*»« . •»* . SfrftS John polling * , Treasurer ; Isaao Wilson , Storekeener . William Elgey , Secretary ; John Hodgson nK / Thompson , William Etheringtoa , Oon £ S ? AHg " LEEDS REDEMPTION SOCIETY . We had a tsa party of the members , on New Year ' s Dav " in the Society ' s lecture-room—a sort of house warmins fo £ our store-whose goods "furnished forthour festive tables •» On Sunday . Dr . Lees delivered an opening address , bein » the . first of a series on Co-operation to be delivered on Sunday evenings , during the rest ~ of the winter . The ? doctor occupied . his address mainly with an exposure of tha i&fc ¦ M ^ urk . in thejrt able article on the ^' relation SSWS ? !* **! $ employed , " in tho ourrent number of tha "West Review . " Dr . Lees kept the attention of bisaudienca tor two hours , while he save a mostmaatnriv nn ^ vai- «*

      the free relations of capitaland labour-past , present , and to come ; and showed that America was the only land where they had approximated to equal freedom in their bargains . He gave an amusing illustration of tho dollar a month extra to the servant for taking bis hat off in his ftSS h ° " T ecannotto ° strongly recommend ou ? friends , who can do so , to avail themselves of this lectura ELfJLV ' / " ? " u l'e ? uliarly important topic . Monies received :-Leeds subscription , £ 1 10 s . Ud . ; Candidate- , £ " l Uto * 'ffi B f f ' & 119 s < 8 d - IIyde ' P Bradle £ fL " tn 'V ' tt } 'ade acc ° unt , 83 . ; Hndderefleld , per France 10 s . ; Newcast le-upon-Tyne , per Johnson , £ 1 lls . 3 d . r Longton , per Riley , Is . Gd . ; Building Fund , 12 * . ; Propagandist Fund , 7 s . 2 R _ RobERt - Jows , Secretary . P JSORWICH .-A few working men are attempting to form a f Sso f ° J r ? , f Workin S Tailors , and have made appS rules Ca 8 tle > street Association for information and Some friends of Co-operation contemplate formin" a Cov sperative Store at West Moulsey , Surrev . a

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      ACCIDENTS IN MINES . TO THK EDITOR OP THB NOBTHERN STAR . bin , —I am anxious to bring before the miners of this country , through the medium of the public popular prSJ he necessity of renewed exertions on their part to procure from the government and the legislature , an augmentation of the number of inspectors for tho mines of this country . At present only four inspectors arc appointed , and their inefficiency is demonstrated by the continued frequency of explosions , and other accidents , whereby hundreds of livoa are being sacrificed yearly , as will be seen from the following lust , taken from the Mining Journal" of January 3 rd . 1 . 00 * j •^ 'J In n— f " ^ "Mstondiag the inspection of mines and collieries , there was recordod iu our columns the num . ber of 494 localities where accidents in mines and collieries had taken place . In this number C 82 deaths occurred , and 246 were more or less severely injured , making a total of 9 u ! l ? 5 80 kll ed ? W ^; of those killed , 309 were

      , ^ S 1 T l ' - T falls of roof ' from falli « g d ° ™ the shaft , thirty by machinery ; and by accidents not specified , eighty-three ; while tbe injuries were-explo . sions , 149 ; foils from roof , thirty-seven ; falls in shaft , twenty-one ; machinery , sixteen ; and accidents not speci ' fieu , twenty-three . Taking the average , thero is , within a fraction , fifty , aevenkilled , and twenty-three injured , monthly . For 1830 , the deaths and injuries were :-Deaths , G 42 ; being fifty less than the past year ; injuries , 273 , being twenty-seven more than ia 5 l ; total , 005 for 1850 , being twenty-throe less than 18 ol ; and this , with the government inspectors , who were only appointed last year , shows the utter ineffil ciency of that measure . The miners of Northumberland and Durham have memoraiised the Home Secretary to augment the number of inspectors , and stated the necessity of havine the districts sn

      limited that each colliery shall have a monthly visit and examination . To the miners of other districts we appeal for their co-operation in this work of humanity , sinco it must be apparent to all , that if we do not take up the matter generally uo good will be done . Miners should consider that , under present circumstances , no one can toll who may be the next victim ; many of those poor men now laid beneath the surface wero perhaps negligent in this matter , and have now lost that opportunity for ever . Let us beware that such shall not bo our lot , but that , with a spirit that will not weary , we will importune the governmentand the Legislature till we have a sufficient protection for our lives and persons . Yours , &c , M . JUDE .

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      PARLIAMENTARY AND FINANCIAL REFORM . At the usual meeting of the vestry of St . Pancras , on Wednesday , Mr . Churchwarden Pierce in the chair , the vestry clerks read a resolution passed at the East Pancras Parochial Association on the 2 nd instant , calling upon tho vestry to convene a public meeting of the pariahiouers , to consider the question of Parliamentary and Financial Iteform , about to be introduced by Lord John Russell . The resolution was numerously signed by ratepayers . Mr . W . Durrant Cooper moved a resolution to the effect that the memorial be entered on tho minutes , and that the vestry call a meeting of the ratepayers for Monday ,, the 26 ch instant . ' * Mr . Manning seconded the motion . An amendment was proposed , but the resolution was carried by a large majority . OxFORD .-One of tuo largest and most influential public meetings that has ever been hold in Oxford took place in the 1 own-hall on Monday evening , for the purpose of receiving Sir Joshua Walmslev . M . l > and a Ttminiwnn

      i . sq ., M . P ., as a deputation from the National Reform Association , and to propose a petition to parliament in , favour of a full , free , and fair representation of the people in the House of Commons . By seven o ' clock , the tiiiie appointed for the commencement of the business , there were from 800 to 1 , 000 persons assembled , consisting of men of all ranks , but a predominance of working mtn . Mr . Joseph Warne , a councillor and posfc-master of Oxford , took the chair . ' Sir J . Walmsley and Mr . G . Thompson , who were received most cordiall y , addressed the meeting at length and with great effect , urging the necessity of reform ; and , afte : the adoption of a petition , tho meeting separated .

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      Peculiarities of Turner . —The rumours which hava long been current respecting Turner ' s enormous wealth have , it seems , greatly overstated tho case . Ziis property , exclusive of his pictures , does not exceed £ 100 , 000 : —aud the whole of this , wo believe , he has left to found almshouscs for the benefit of unfortunate and meritorious artists . His pictures he has bequeathed to the nation , —on tho express condition that within a given time a suitable placet shalj be provided for their deposit and exhibition . This is a wise proviso . It is amusingly characteristic of tho mental habits of tbe man that to eaoh of his executors ho has left a legacy of £ 19 19 s . 6 d . .- -the fractional character of the sum being a prudont precaution for saving tho legacy duty . We mentioned last week that Mr . Turner died in an obscure lodging in Chelsea—but we purposely omitted to state that he

      was living at Chelsea under an assumed name . The story is as follows : —He loved retirement , and entertained a peculiar dislike to having his lodging known—sharing with all his immense wealth the feeling of the poorest bankrupt . He saw lodgings to his liking , asked the price , found them cheap , —and that was quite as much to his liking . But the landlady wanted a reference— " I will buy your houso outright , my good woman , was the reply somewhat angrily . Then , an agreement was wanted—met by an exhibition of bank-notes and sovereigns and an offer to pay in advance : —an otter which , proved of course perfectly satisfactory . The artist's difficulties were not , however , yet over . Tho landlady wanted her lodger s name— " in case any gcntloman should call . " This was a worse dilemma . " Name , name , " he muttirod to himself in his usual gruff manner , " What is your ?

      name— "My name is Mrs . Brook . "— "Oh , " was the reply , ' « then 1 am Mr . Brook : "—and as a "Mr . Brook " Turner died at Chelsea . The oaly artistic property belonging to Mr . Turner likely to pass under the bammur of the auctioneer , is his collection of " proofs" and certain copper : and Bteel plates from his own works . Hia invariable bargain with pvintsellora and engravers vfaa , that he should have fifty proofs of every plate—and he went even so far with some aa to demand that the " touched " proofs should be returned to him . Certain engravers , however , properly insisting on the custom of their craft not to return proofs , continued to retain them in spite of every threat which Turner could make that the artists who insisted on keeping his touched proofs should never be employed again on engravings from his works . Some gave in ; and the " touched " proofs—if sold—will , it is said realise very high prices . —Athencnm \

      Privy CousciL .-The noble Premier , Lord-John ltussell , and several of his colleagues in office , aocomnaniod by the Clork of the Council m Waiting , will leave town on Saturday , at twelve o olook , by special train , for Windsor Castle , where her Majesty will hold a Privy Council for the turthor prorogation of parliament , which , * expected to meetthe && week in Z ensuing KiontQ . c

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      • . . . ; . ; ¦ ; .. ; : ¦ ;; , : ¦ ¦ ¦ - - •¦ —¦ -- . - ¦ O . ,-. . . .. ..... ^ AND NATIONAL THAJi' JoSnaC . \

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      TDLIT . It . 746 . LONDON , SATDBDH , JMnAEYlpk »„ . Sgtu , ¦ v ¦ ^ k 4 b 4 v a I ^ w ^^^^_^ ^^ ta ^^^^ v ^ . a ta ^^_^ _ l - - ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ B ^^^^ BO ^^ BHUIBHH

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      THE FIFTH QUARTERLY REPORT OF THE WORKING MAN'S MUTUAL CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETY FOR THE QUARTER ENDING DECEMBER 20 TU , 1851 . TO THE MBMBERS OP THE WORKING MAS ' s MUTUAL COOPERATIVE SOCIETY , CROOK . Itis with feelings of pleasure that we lay before you the present report of the position and prospects of our society . Although great difficulties have been laid before us in the way of trade through tho false system on which society is at present based , and the underhand and open opposition of false friends , we are happy to Bay , that through the consistent and honourable way we have dealt with commercial men and the public , we have surmounted every difficulty , and the society is now firmly established . Our Bales have progresssd and increased regularly every quarter , which proves that tho public can and does appreciate our endeavours to benefit the slaves of capital by which we are surrounded , as far as our means allow us , and we are sure the members will feel gratified at tho re-

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 10, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1660/page/1/