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Northern Star (1837-1852), 27th February 1841, Edition 2 of 3, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAR. SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 27, 1841.
    • Smpirtal ^aritamrm.
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      Untitled Article

      GREAT PUBLIC MEETING ON BEHALF OF HENRY HETHERINGTON . A most important meeting ni held at the Social Institution , John-street , Tottenham Court Road , on Thursday week , for the purpose of petitioning both Houses of Parliament for the immediate release of Mr . HetberingtozL , and also to take into consideration—• that undefined thing , blasphemy , " fer which hei » imprisoned . At a quarter to nine precisely

      , W . D . SitfLL , Esq . took the chair . After having stated the object for which they had assembled , » ad be was proud to see ao many present , as it shewed then abhorrence of such persecutions , he observed that it was their intention to petition both Houses of Parliament lor Mr . Hetberington ' s release ; and though their petitions might be slighted , as he feared they would be , ¦ UIL howeves , it would be the means of proving to the ^ oTBHunent that fifteen hundred persons , at least , had expressed tixeir disgust at their iniquitou proceedings l" ^^ " ^ * _ .- .... » __ _ a . ! . M *> resolution

      Mr . SS . BLTOK mored the first , expressiTe of tbe ^ approbation of that meettag agaisst Mr . Hetheriagtotfs imprisonment , which being seconded , w » s canted onanimoasly . The petition haTing been read , a snow of hands was taken for its adoption , and carried without ene single iTT—isisfiMiiT A youth , however , on the platform , begged leava to more an amendment , which was , that the word * " bigotted clergy" be omitted , as the Spirituals in tbe House of . Lords , to whom it was to be sent , would consider it an insult , and treat the petition accordingly XA Tok » from the gallery , " No , no ; they are bigotted . " Xas ^ hter . ) The Chairman—I trust no remark * will be made ; ff any one has anything to txj , he must come ¦ on the platform .

      Mr . Llotd Joses came forward , and in an energetic manner said ( addressing the Chairman)—Sir , I would hare the words remain aa they are . They ( the « iergy ) are bigotted —! applause )—and J think it is nigh time we tell them what they are . ( Loud

      applause . ) A sh * w of hands was then taken against the amendment , when it was declared loet , and the petition , was bout to be carried in its original * form , when A young Chartist , named Goodfellow , came forward to more an amendment th&t the word " demand " Mr . Hetheriogton ' s release , be substituted for " humbly pray . " A Working Man , in the gallery , seconded the amendment . The Chairman—Then , all I can say is ; that ihis petition cannot be sent , as it will not be receded unless the word " bumble" ig inserted in it , —( laughter;—and how odd it would be to see" humbly demand . " I Boars of laughter . ) [ Taming to Mr . | Qoodfellow . ] " Will you withdraw your amendment ?" Good fallow—( laughing)—Why , yes , Sir , 1 see I must ( Laughter . )

      A show of hands was then taken for the petition in its original form , when a great number were held up for it On the contrary—none . Sereral Socialists ( amongst whom were Messrs . Lloyd Jones , Bailey , Edwards , Gregory , Fleming , dec ) addressed the meeting in the course of the evening , and were loudly applauded . It appeared , from their aevetal speeches , that bo determined was Mr . TTsjriyn to promulgate his opinions , that he had purchased a press ef his own , —( tremendous cheers , )—and that he was

      resolved that no Government prosecutions whaterer ahould put such opinions down . That Henry Hetherington was not imprisoned for selling blasphemy , but for advocating the equal rights of the poor ; th&t the deiinition of blasphemy was " to hurt the reputation of God ! " —iloudlaughter followed this absurdity );—that there was no rational , or even legal greunds , for such prosecutions ; and that the people ought to exert themselves to obtain Mr . Hetherington's release , and contribute to a subscription , proposed by the Chairman , and which it is intended shortly to get up .

      Various resolutions were then passed ; but upon the petition being again put to the meeting , there were some dissents against it A Tote of thanks haTing been carried for the Chairman , the meeting broke up at about half-past eleven . Those who were in farour of petitioning remained to sign the petition sheets , which were placed on two desks in the body of the hail A collection was mad 6 at the doors for Mr . Hetheriegton , nose hsring been required to defray the expences ; the free use of the hall haTing been giren by Mi . Finch .

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      THE WALDEGRAVE A > 'B DUFF AFFAIR .

      BRUTAL ASSAULT OF A POLICEMAN . The proceedings in the Court of Queen ' s Bench on Saturday , ike 13 th inst , are certainly disgraceful to the country , almost to a point of incredibility . We h » re often felt it to be our imperious duty to point out the Tery sloTenly wiyrnpr in which justice , or rather gross injustice , is administered in our inferior Courts , * ai we are incessantly put to tbe painful necessity of exposing the shameful ignorance of our stipendiary Magistrates , not only with respect to the law itself , but in regard to the principles of the law 'whatever . These characteristics of our police-omoes are easily Accounted fer , upon the ground that the appointment of % Magistrate is invariably the result of patronage and political jobbing , but the case is much aggravated , when we i <} eren in the Queen's Bench itself , ignorance as

      gross as we eTer traced in a police-court Lord Denman , in screening the Earl of WaldegrsTe on Saturday , the 13 th inst , has betrayed a disregard of jurisprudence , almost incredible in a Squire Justice , or a stipendiary Magistrate , and his conduct lays him open to suspicions which we should be sorry to name against any high judicial authority , much more against a man who , in despite of w > at his equals now say against him , and moreover in despite of public opinion , we still recollect for his manly character at the Bar , and for his independence and spirit iu resisting Tory corruptions and tyranny throughout bis political career . What are the facts of this case ? The TUrl of Waldegrsve is notoriously a moit criminal pest to society . As the companion of a certain infamous Marquis he has often been exposed for his meat brutal outrages against the peace

      of society , and against all decency whatever , not only in London , but in other places . At last he and some of his companions , after many disgusting infamies at Hampton-court Races , exceed all their former excesses by , amongst other things , almost murdering a policeman in the most cowardly manner , attended with every aggravated circumstance , because the policeman attempted to do his duty , in preventing the ruffianly outrages against the poorer classes of the town . A more impudent and unmanly assault , a more dastardly attack of a great many on an almost defenceless man we never heard of , and the victim , moreover , was a public officer , who , in the discreet , temperate , and difficult execution of his duty , deserved all tbe protection of tbe law . Lord Waldegrave and a Captain Duff are captured , bat thtir companion * , much richer than themselves , are allowed

      to escape far reasons which we need not mention . Mark the conduct of the Commissioners of Police . Alarmed at public indignation they make a parade of doing their duty , by indicting Lord Waldegrave and Captain 3 > ttff , tbe former a pusillanimous , weak , and silly young man , and the other net much better , and both the dupes of certain aristocratic scoundrels whoaiv allowed to escape with impunity . After this ostentation of doing their duty as public functionaries , what is the result ? Brought into Court , the delitquenta first plead not guilty ; then , en a private understanding between Counsel , they withdraw the plea , and acknowledge their guilt In this Lord Denman is not to blame , he could not interfere . The delinquents , by the usages ot the Court , had a right to pursue such a course , and now comes the only function

      remaining to Lord Denman , namely , to pass the sentence ¦ of the Court It was not an action at law—not a case between individuals , —but a criminal case between crimi ail and public justice ; and in utter disregard of the character of the Court , he allows the delinquents to onvert the case into one of private compromise , or , in ether terms , into downright open bribery and corruption , and this under the sanction of our highest Court of Criminal Justice . The case was specific , and sot one of degree . There was bat one case before the Court—an indictment—a case between the public and a public criminal , and the Court converts it into a case specifically different , one cf a nature between two individuals , in which tbe public had no interest . The parties are allowed to retire and patch up the aSair upon a private compromise . What can be more thoroughly

      disgraceful to the Government and to the Lord Chief Jostiee , aad what can be more prejudicial to the public baracter and safety ? Is not this compromise a dtciaration under the authority ef the Coon of Qaeen ' s Senck , that any man may commit violent and even atrocious crimes , and , moreover , against public functionaries , provided they have two points ia their fsvoor—rank , to excite the respect and sympathies of the Court , and money enough " to patch up the affair . " If the ruffians had been of a lower class of life they would have been amenable to the law , and most severely psBished ; but , being titled and rich , the Lord Chief Justice permitted them to set the law at defiance , and to laugh all pnblie decency to scorn . This is brLnging back tbe first law court , tbe great judicial authority of ^ fla ^ . to somewhat like its state in the reign of /? a . f t f the Second , when bribe * paid to the Judges vn alraoat offered in open Court . There is no moneybribery of the Judge in this ease , bat the dereliction of principle is equal How the annuity settled on the Lord

      frKfmfm ^ fk gajy mortfage Waliegrave ' s estate , or bow meh the Marquis of Waterford , or any other per-• m , Kay contribute to it , or how much the lawyers mxj sake o * t of the iofaaoss job , we cannot state , atthotfk kkw of the ease is sufficiently known to as , mad aost probably to max ? others , but we only jm % geaetai and known principles . The Police CmamimooDsn hereby proclaim to all the Force , which la art ssppoted te b « the most immaculate in the worii , that ruffianism upon them , by titled and rich peopte , is a matter of private compromise ; whilst , by oaimje , ruffianism by them on tbe poor is a ground far sersesing tbe officer from public justice , and inlicU&f the severity of the law upon the poorer vietuaa . How much better it would be for the Court of Qsees'a Bench at once to publish a table of the ranks asd titles which privilege men to commit certain « ftaaw . aad to state the sums at which they may Ve compromised . The subsequent proceedings of the Oowt , « a th * aw day , are carious in themselves , but

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      are made by ' ax more curious byjuxta position . Mr . Hetheringto a moved his proceedings against three eminent publishers , Moron , Fraser , and Otley , f « r publishing blasphemous works . Not a special Jury could be f . ormed . Special Jurymen were not to be had , and the case went off Let Special Jurymen be retained as a system , or let it be abolished , as , perhaps , in London , it ought to be ; but , at present , when an entirely Special Jury is wanted for certain purr {» asea , and cannot be empannelled , Lord Denman , in a furious passion , fines the absentees to the utmost extent in his power . When tbe absence of Special Jurymen is more convenient , we hear aothing of

      fining tbe absentees . We like not the It * iolionis , but there are cases in which there is no other remedy against even the vilest oppression . The principle taken up by the Government is , that what is called blasphemy , a vulgar word , without any meaning attached to it , may be published to infinity , provided the book is sold at & price which confines it to tbe perusal of the rich , and the blasphemy becomes a crime only when it is accessible to the poor . We like not monopolies , whether they be » f rum , sugar , or corn , but of all monopolies the vilest of those are the monopolies of gospel and blasphemy . Either of the latter is bad enough , but » monopoly of both is intolerable . —Weekly Dispatch .

      [ We had selected for insertion in our last , the disgraceful proceedings respecting Lord Waldegrave and Captain Duff , two aristocratic blackguards , as they occurred in tbe Court by which O'Connor was sentenced to seventy-eight weeks imprisonment for libel , but , like many other matters , it was * bliged to give way to Chartist intelligence , which is the breath of our nostrils . We have , however , well supplied the omission this week by the above comment on the case , from that uncompromising exposer of aristocratic abuse and supporter of the poor man ' s rights , the Weekly Dispatch Let every working man who his not read it in tbe original , now read it in the Star , and then say whether their prisoners shall longer remain victims in the hands of the enemy . —Ed . 1

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      ¦ ¦ ¦ ^ THB DAMNABLE PoftR L * W A » AIN . —A MAN famished to Death . —Sir , —You will oblige by allowing this tale of suffering humanity to appear in your columns . This case came under my netice a few weeks ago . John Cooks , gardener , Manningtree , advanced in age , long out of employment , honest , sober , bearing & good character , called on the Relievisg Officer for some allowance for himself and wife . The reply was , we cannot relieve you , but yon may go into the house . When he told his partner , she said , I cannot bear the thoaghts of being dragged from out little cot , and separated , after having toiled so long through life together ; we thill Bee vrfiat the Lord will do for us in a few days . On the Saturday , they had but one half-quartern

      loaf for Sunday and Monday morning ; they took a small slice each , and wept while they gazed at each other , through , tbe falling tears that trickled down the furrowed cheeks of the pallid and starving pair . When he left his cheeriess home on Monday , he told his wile that he would go to his old master , Mr . Green , and ask for a job . He was seen to eat a raw potatoe in the forenoon , and while in the act of digging a stick of radish , he fell , for want of food . He was put into a cart , brought home , and died . Alas , poor man , he died for want , in a land of plenty ; and will it be believed , in happy England—in Christian England ! God ' s image lay until he became offensive , from Tuesday nntil Sunday , before the Bastile shell wai sent . He vras put in , and hurried to bis kinder parent , earth .

      Man , these are scene * well worth thy noting ! Be tyrants and bastiles forgotten ; Starved , dead , mourned for , earth'd and rotten , And all is o ' er . A life put out , a man entombed , Will cry for food no more . With these facts , will the people ' s representatives , as they are termed , allow or assist Lord John Russell to grant a lease of ten years to the Poor Law Commissioners of refined tyranny , unconstitutional , and at variance with the laws of God and the rights of man ! if they do , let them take the consequences . This is the finishing tonch to the blackest picture ever produced in any nation bearing the name of Christian . Our rulers are still adding insult to injury—the working classes have every degradation of slaves , but the name . O , for a pencil , dipp'd in eternal night .

      To paint the fetters that my country wears ! Will the brave , intelligent freemen of Britain , whose valour has ele \ ated , and whose arms have conquered eTery foreign foe , tamely submit to this unconstitutional inroad on their rights , their liberties , and their happiness , by a band of domestic tyrants 1 No ; the people have both the will and the power to carry convicciou to every monster in the land who will not listen to the voice of reason and jastice . Oar rulers have forfeited every claim which they had on the people ; they have been tried at a nation ' s

      bar , and found guilty ¦ they have taxed , and starved the people ; they have spread devastation and death throughout tbe world ; they have erected monuments to their name , which will outlive their little day , and posterity will blush at their names ; the withering corse of a mighty and brave people , made desperate by oppression , ontrsge , and insult , will follow them like a mighty torrent through life , and will inscribe this epitaph on their tomb— " Here lies the sordid tyrant ' s dust , who violated the laws of G « d , the r ights of man and of nations . " —D . 11 'Phebso . v .

      The Northern Star. Saturday, February 27, 1841.

      THE NORTHERN STAR . SATURDAY , FEBRUARY 27 , 1841 .

      Untitled Article

      THE PEOPLE'S DELEGATES ; THE NATIONAL ORGANIZATION ; AND THE PROSPECTS OF THE CHARTER . Elsewhere we give a record of tbe doings of the most important meeting that has been holden in this country for a long period of time;—the National Meeting of Delegates , which commenced its sittings at Manchester oa Saturday morning last , and continued them by various adjournments until Tuesday night . At this collection of the wisdom and patriotism of the nation , the scheme of organisation , about which so many pop-guns have been lately fired , was most fully and patiently considered , with a view to the removal of all pretence , on the part of the timid or the crafty , for standing aloof from the General Association on the plea of illegality .

      Our readers will perceive , from the report , that we are specially called on by the delegates to point their attention to the invaluable labours of their delegates in this respect , a task which we shall have great pleasure in performing . For the present we can do nothing more than call the attention of every good Chartist to the plan of organisation now published —entreat them to read and study , and familiarise themselves with every one of its provisions , and affirm our belief that the delegates have succeeded in doing that which we believed the jealous watchfulness of lynx-eyed faction had rendered impossi

      ble—laying down a system of national organisation for the attainment of 5 political object , which does not in any respect violate the law . Ii will be necessary for the most vigorous and careful attention to be paid to the several clauses of this plan in working , to insure the benefits resulting from it ; -but we pledge ourselves to shew that the wiole may be worked in defiance of all the artB of all the Whig and Tory lawyers in the kingdom : provided there be any virtue in tie plun words ot aay Act of Parliament . Of course , we know that whenever h may suit the factions to declare Airr act " illegal , "

      they will do so , though it should only be the act of breathing through a man ' s own nostrils . There is no positive safety for the people but in the power of legislation . Bat in order to their obtaining that power , it is necessary that they should manifest a oneness of determination ; to this a universal confidence 13 necessary ; and to this confidence is necessary the knowledge that as much safety as can be had has been pr ovid ed for . This we believe the present plan doesprovide for—and hence we reiterate the language of the Delegates in their address , * Too most timid Chartist need have no fean ; while the boldest will necessarily acquire increased vigour . " We shall take up the subject in detail next week .

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      JAMES BRONTERRE O'BRIEN . Ws trust that it will be merely necessary to recall the attention of our numerous readers , and of O'Bbisx ' s numerous , devoted , and intelligent disciples , to the resolution passed by the Leeds Chartists , and published is our last , whereby it is proposed to prepare some of the right sort of arms for the moral and physical defence of one of England ' s earliest and most consistent instructors .

      O'Bfiizs cannot work with Bpade , shoveJ , trowel , or shuttle ; but if his tools are more expensive , in the first instance , we imagine that his manufacture is not less required by , or less beneficial to , mankind in general , and to the poor in particular . Let it be borne in mind that O'Brieh is not in durance vile for any thing with which he stood charged , any more than O'Connor . No ; his was an old seons—• deadly hostility and opposition to the

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      perpetration of those iniquities by the Whiga , whioh he as loudly denounced when practised by the Tories and yet , even by them , h » was not treated as a oommon ruffian , or even prosecuted . Again , let it be further recolleoted , that what a man writes , he writes deliberately ; and it is deliberately read by thousands , and tens of thousands ; and yet has not O'Brien been charged with a single Jine written ia violation of the most searching law ; neither do we believe O'Beikn to have ottered anything like what was Bworn to ; and if he had , it was neither treason , sedition , riot , nor conspiracy ;

      while by a fiction of law , he was found guilty of the three latter . O'Brien may now , if he thinks proper , move the Queen ' s Bench upon the invalidity of the indictment upon which he was found guilty , and upon the law as admitted by the Attoenbt-Gejjkbal , and acted upon , upon the honour op tub Peers ; and he must still be released , as we contend f « r it that the indictment was faulty . However , he has now suffered nearly twelve months of his long and weary confinement , therefore let evtry shoulder be put to the wheel , to get him out ; and , in the mean time , let us prepare good tools for him to go to bis trade with , when he does get out .

      Who , then , sets the example of a good lumping , sum to begin with 1 Col . Thompson said , he would give £ 1 , 001 to return a working man , William Loveit , to Parliament . It would be worth £ 10 , 000 to let the pigmy wretches see such a specimen of a working man adorning their emaciated assembly ; for though they have nearly killed the poor fellow he has yet the bones , muscles , nerve , eye , gait , and look of a gentleman . But let Col . Thompson and his wealthy friends take up the question of tools for O'Bkjsn , and we shall think them in earnest . Will they undertake to cover every guinea sent to our office , guinea for guinea ! ' We cannot withhold our thanks from the Leeds

      Chartists for this thoughtful , wise , and prudent step . Let it be well followed up . We shall have much pleasure in inserting the several amounts which shall be received by tbe Committee from time to time .

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      DISSOLUTION OF PARLIAMENT . These is much talk of a dissolution of Parliament , and there can be no harm in being prepared for the worst : but we have strong notions that the unpleasant and increasing differences between Sir Robert Peel and his party may protract the event . Peel is no longer a leader ; he will , ere long , become a " cocked tailed ginger , " and we should not be at all surprised to find the Right Honourable Gentleman forming an alliance with any party which had for its object the release of the Ministry from the fangs of the Beggarman . We beg leave to direct

      attention a the letter from Feargi-s O'Connor , published so long ago as September , 183 ° , and which we republish to-day , thinking that it contains all that can be said upon the subject , and a f easible Let it be understood that between O'Connor and O'Brien there is no jealousy as to who was the originator of this plan ; O'Connor has before given the credit to O'Brien . We merely republish the document as the most practical advice given upon the subject for the public guidance in our present position ; and be it understood that O'Connor acted upon this , and did address the electors and non-electora of Yorkshire , both by address and

      canvass . Stanlet and Peel agree like cat and dog ; the Duke is sick ; Lyndhurst is crotchetty ; Brougham won ' t work in the shafts ; Earl Spencee , who alone could form a strong administration , has forgotten his politics in the sheep-fold ; Richho . vd has not confidence in himself ; Melbourne is gerged ; Stanlet is too testy as yet : therefore th « only hope is Rissell , Peel , and Melbourne , sinking all minor differences ; Rcssell , Premier ; Melbourne brought to bed at the Palace ; Peel , Chancellor of the Exchequer , and all the youDg fry to draw lots for the first chop at the mess ; and then , hurrah ! for two hundred Chartists in the House !

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      IRELAND , FRANCE , AND O'CONNELL . The " Establishment" has been most windy in denouncing the Observer , a paper which they call " contemptible , " and say " nobody reads , " for having blown a very harmless bubble , which , if let alone , would have burst , and vanished into air ; and we should have heard no more about it . But no , the very denouncers themselves make a balloon of it , and keep it in full swing before the public gaze .

      NeTer was there a more harmless piece of balderdash than the Observer ' s remark and Dan ' s reply to it , if it had not been caught at by the drowning Whigs . Ireland become a province of France , indeed ! Why , no man knows betteT than Dan , that though France is a Catholic country , yet it ia not a politically Catholic country ; and Dan , who has fostered prejudice , and kept religious animosities alive , would be the very first man seized and strangled by the new victors .

      The French would not allow a religious mountain to stand between them and a mole-hill of civil right , while the poor Irish allow a mountain of civil iniquity to be obscured by a mole-hill of religious fanaticism . Even if the Tories were in power to-morrow , with Wellington Lord Lieutenant of Ireland , and Stanley his Secretary , every priest and every working man in Ireland would rally to the cry of ** The French have landed / " and , as Emmett

      said , " would only allow them to gain footing over their lifeless bodies . " The Irish priesthood would not like to hold the plough ; the Irish farmers would not like to contribute to Parisian grandeur . The Irish gentleman , be he Whig or Tory , would not wish to grace the pageant of the conqueror , and the Irish labourer would not like to be chosen by lot or by fitness to fight French battles all over the world ; and Irishwomen would , of all things , dislike being ravished by a French soldiery .

      But how miserable must be that state of things when Ministerial prints will direct attention to such gasconade , as a means of supporting a corrupt administration . Nations do not conquer countries for the benefit of the conquered . We are sick of such disgusting humbug . Tbe Chartists could , and weuld , lend two millions to save the Irish from such an infliction . The man who has lived and fattened for thirty years upon religious dissention , would not survive one month ' s establishment of civil equality . The very air would choke him—would crack his lungsand send him into a gallopping consumption .

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      i ^ —""¦¦"" w OMISSIONS . THE STAMP RETURNS . Our circle of Radical acquaintance continues to increase so rapidly and so cheeringly , that we are compelled , upon the present , as upon many previous occasions , to send ntw matter before our readers without Editorial comment ; but every working man in the kingdom can now read politics without chart , key , or compass .

      We should have offered some observations upon the important agricultural meeting , lately held in Dublin , and of which we give a mere outline for the present , intending to return to the subject next week , but for the crowded state of our columns . For the present , let it be read in connection with the letter from the correspondent of the London Times , which we have elsewhere inserted , and we may augur well from the new fears created in the minds of old monopolists .

      As to murders , rapes , crim . cons ., seductions suicides , royal aristocratic gambols , gambling duelling , pugilism , dog-fighting , bear baiting , drunkenness , and lewdness , and such like fashionable propensities , we make no apology for their omission from ovz columns ; we must really leave all such aristoeratio intelligence to that portion of the " Establishment" who cater for aristocratic taste , refinement , and enjoyment . We have not even space for more than a word upon the Stamp Returns , which have been jost ( published , fand which place

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      I 7 ~ ' - ¦ ' ¦ the Star in thi proudest position ever occupied by newspaper . In passing , as vre may wish to Bay a word or two next week , will our friend of the Mercury have the kindness , in the meantime , to inform us by what process of arithmetic he acquires a total of fortyseven thousand from twelve thousand five hundred , twelve thousand , and twelve thousand five hundred , whioh are the numbers given to the Leeds Times for the first quarter of the period included in the return , and which the Mercury contrives to multiply into

      forty seven thousand ; while , for our lives , we can make but thirty-seven thousand of the number . Tke Mercury , we admit , has been guilty of a bit of modesty by deducting ten thousand from its own number for the Bame period . Forty-eight thousand , forty-two thousand , and thirty-six thousand , which are given to the Mercury in the return , we add into one hundred aad twenty-six thousand-, the Mercury makes them only one hundred and sixteen thousand . But these are but two little white lieB , fibs ; and now for the thumper , whioh they were , no doubt ,

      intended to cover . The Mercuryi ia the beginning of January , assured advertisers that the result of the Stamp Returns , for the whole of the year 1840 , gave that paper a circulation of more than 10 , 000 weekly upon the whole period . Here the Mercury has told 27 , 000 fiba in a bunch , as the circulation upon the whole period is only 9 , 161 weekly , and is 27 . 0 W short of the Mercury ' t assurance .

      N « w , this was a downright , palpable , wilful , and malicious thumper , with the very facts , all , all , everyone of them , before the author ; and we say that the article above alluded U would ba a good plea in answer to an action for the recovery of advertisement charge . Thus is the public hoaxed by the old catchpenny— ' ' ADYERTISERS WOULD DO WELL TO LOOK HERE !" The Mercury , in making nice distinctions with

      tbe Intelligencer , who does not appear to have got his stook quite so artfully as the old fox , refuses , therefore , to make any weekly average for that paper . But does the Mercury forget that in December , 1839 , he had 58 , 000 stamps , that being , for a four weeks' circulation , 14 , 500 weekly f while in January , 1840 , our friend had but 19 , 000 stamps , thereby showing a circulation of not more than 4 , 750 weekly ; or , by his nice distinction , a falling off of 9 , 7-50 from one month to another . We may hava time for another word upon this subject next week .

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      CHARTISM AT YORK . The ugly thing is even smelt within the perfumed precincts of the odoriferous Minster , and under the very nose of the strong-hold of pugnacious

      churchmen . We give the following , not from our own correspondent , ( whose account will be found elsewhere , ) but from the Whig York Herald , the leading journal of that party in the old city . " SECOND MEETING . " Yesterday evening , a meeting of the Ward Associa tions of Monk , Bootham , and Guildhall , was held la the Merchant ' s Hall , to promote the objects contemplated at the previous meeting . The Recorder was called to the cbair ; and , afcer spirited addresses had been delivered by the Chairman , H . R . Yorke , Esq ., Mr . Smith , of College-street , Mr . W . Hardman , Mr . Leeman , dec , and after the petition against Lord

      Stanley's BUI bad been read by Mr . Leeman , a Chartist named Burnley , rose from a bench in front of the Chairman , and proceeded to address tbe meeting . He said much had teen said about the Suffrage and the Registration , when Mr . Leeman asked him , "Are you a member of this Association ? " The speaker—Yes , sir . Mr . Leeman—Which Ward ? Mr . Burnley—Monk Ward . He then proposed an amendment to the petition u the following effect , that it was the opinion ef this meeting that the Registration Bill for Ireland brought forward in Parliament by Lord Stanley is tyrannical in the extreme , and regrets that it is sanctioned by so many English Members , which fully demonstrates that there is no hope of justice to the people of this kingdom from the House of Commons as at present constituted , that therefore the people should have a just controul over its

      members by the extension of the suffrage to all men of 21 years of age , of sound mind , and unconvicted of crime , and pledges itself not to rest contented till the people are fully and fairly represented upon tbe aforesaid principles . ( Applause . ) The speaker then spoke against the policy of the present Government , the New Poor Laws , dec , and he was followed by another Chartist , named Stewart , who seconded the amendment , and who made some lengthy observations upon it There seemed to be a number of Chartists present , as some of tbe observations were received with much applause . The amendment was then handed up to the chairman , and on his putting it to the meeting it was carried . The meeting shortly afterwards separated , about ten e ' clock , previous to which the Chartists gave three cheers for Profit , Williams , and Jones , Feargas O'Couaor , and tbe Charter , and three groans for tbe Whigs . —From the York Herald . "

      Let it be remembered that Mr . Red Head Yorke is the sham-Radical nominee of the Whig Dundas , when a dissolution takes place ; and , that the meeting , to which the report refers , was one of a series to advance his interest , and consequently made as strong as Btrong could be , for fear of a defeat ; and yet we find the gallant Chartists , while they honestly reprobate that which the Whigs merely denounce as a > clap-trap , moving and carrying their " whole hog" amendment , " bristles and all / ' as our Shields friends have designated it , in the teeth of this pompous parade of Whig electioneering strength and juggle .

      This is certainly the most important meeting we have reported for some time ; but , although the Morning Chroniele ^ takes the previous night ' s meeting , which was merely preliminary , from the Yorkshireman , yet it says not a word of the bit we give , which was the finale . Out upon such rascally tricksters ; do they hope to beat us by mere acts of omission ! No , we know our strength too well ; and these are the very pianks which have made the old rags stink in the nostrils of every man . Thank God , the Morning Chronicle is falling into its grave .

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      THE CARDIGAN JUSTICE JOB . The Queen was played , the King revoked , And then took back his Card-a-gain . Bow , row , de row . Comic song . The farce is over—but we have paid pretty highly for its representation . Yes ! the clowns and pantaloons have performed their parts ; the curtain ia

      dowa ; and we are left , like some of the disappointed audience , who have not only paid their entrance money for a mere delusion , but have also bad their pockets picked into the bargain . Poor John Boll ! he is sadly maltreated ! many a time has he been jostled in a crowd , and had his hat knocked over his eyes , while the confederates have eased his pockets of their contents , but never before in ao barefaced a manner has he been' duped and made & fool of .

      Let us briefly review the chief incidents of the late play , and we shall find the sublimeand the ridiculous , the lamentable and the ludicrous , so closely mixed up , that whether it was intended for a tragedy with a comic conclusion , or a pantomime with a touch of the melo-drama , it will be difficult to say . A certain Lord Cardigan " moved and seduced by the instigation of the devil , " ( which is a convenient term for a bad heart , fcc . &c ., ) did fire at and wound a certain opponent rejoicing in the four-fold and euphonious name of Habvbt Gabnctx Fbipps Tucker . This , all tbe world knows ; and therefore one would think it was clear and simple enough . The killing of a man in a duel being declared to be

      wilful murder , and therefore the firing at a man in a duel being a firing with intent to murder , it is declared a felony , and subject to the punishment of transportation for life , or a period not leu than fifteen years , or imprisonment for not more than three years . Lord Cakdioak , therefore , is tried for felony ; but as he is a great man , be is not to be put at the vulgar bar of the Old Bailey . * O dear , no I he is to be tried by his peers or equals—a « the poor penniless man ia said to be when he is brought before twelve men worth his weight in gold . The preparations for the trial of such a splendid hero as his Cardfibip , must be very splendid . Such hammering , such knocking , Buch putting up of seats and benches * and platforms and thrones , | and

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      galleries 1 The Lords are kind enough to adjourn for some days , but when they do appear , they make up fox lost time ; they come out as good as new , with all the finery and tinsel of England . The Lord High Steward enters ; the peers in their pompous robes take their seats ; the ; sit in judgment on a fellow peer . The highest tribunal upon earth is assembled : the Law Officers of the Crown and the prisoner ' s counsel are in attendance ; the prisoner is placed at the bar ; the AttornEr-General now addresses their Lordships ; witnesses are examined , and it is brought home to the prisoner that he did

      fire at and wound Captain Tccketi . Poor prisoner 1 then there is no hope tot him ! the ladies weep and the sternest Peer is moved ! " But stop a bit , my old boys , not » o fast , " Bays Sir William Follett . " True it is yon have shown the Earl fired at a Captain Tuckett , but yon hare not shown that he fired at thk Captain " Hart&t Gabnrtt Phippj Tuckew . " M Dear me , I never thought of that , " replies the Attorney-General . ** What ' B to be done !" " O , " puts in the High Steward , " our course is

      very plain—how say you , my Lords , is the prisoner guilty or not guilty f" " 'Pon honour , sot guilty , " says each Lord—potting his hand on hia heart . " Prisoner , you are acquitted , " says the Lord High Steward . Out tumble the Lords , off cuts the prisoner , away go the ladies , down come the scaffoldings , all of which become the property of the Lord Chamberlain as his perquisites , and the people outsido are presented with a leetle bill of £ 4 , 000 for the entertainment thus afforded to them !!

      " The King of France , with twenty thousand men , Marched up tbe bill , and then marched down again . " The Lords , after all , are their own greatest enemies , for anything their worst foeB may do can never bring them into so great disrepute , as this action . We laugh at the folly of the transaction , but we pity the weakness and despise the folly of those who take part in it . The present is so striking and flagrant an instance , that many of our contemporaries , who are in general too ready to support aristocratic freaks , and to decry like gambols when performed by more vulgar

      individuals , have actually well trimmed their favourites on this occasion . Thus the Times , in an able leading article , shows that , if it had been the trial of some tailor at the Old Bailey , no such slip would have occurred ; but that the indictment would probably have run thus;— For that the said Simon Snooks did , on or about the maliciously shoot at , and wound , John Thomas Richard Titmouse , otherwise John Thomas Titmouse , otherwise John Titmouse , olhertcise Thomas Richard Titmouse , " &c ., — and thus they would hare managed to trap the " mouse , " though they can let the big rat escape .

      Above all , what does Mr . Attorney-General mean ! If the omission of this link in the evidence were wilful upon his part , no censure can be too strong for so shameful a violation of his duty ; if it were through negligence , what excuse can be offered ; if through ignorance , he is incompetent for his post . Why , a briefless , beardless boy , would have managed better ! The insertion of one count in the indictment , charging the prisoner with firing at " some person unknown , " ox the summoning of the proper witnesses in order to identify the party wounded with the party named , in the indictment , would have obviated every difficulty .

      But , whatever may be our idea of " plain John ' s " tactics , we cannot refrain from expressing our extreme wonder and disgust at the specimen of a speech ( if it deserves the name ) made on the opening of the " solemn and imposing trial . " It was absolutely in farour of the barbarous and sanguinary cuBtom and crime of duelling , and rather for , than against , the prisoner . The Attorney-General's most extraordinary remark waa this : — " The charge against the prisoner does not imply any degree of moral turpitude , but an infringement of the statute law of the realm ! " Now , what was

      the charge ! The firing at a fellow-being , with the intent of murdering him;—and this is perfectly moral perfectly Christian ! It does not violate any moral principle 1 it is merely against the sections of a statute 1 You may murder as minj men as you like ; and if you are a lord it shall only be illegal ( and not that ) , but never immoral 1 O Johnny , Johnny t where did you pick up your morals 1 Have you not a soul that can soar beyond the mere statute book , and look into a wider field of ethics and philosophy I Is your mind so bound within a law-book , and 60 hot-pressed within calf skin covers ! Or are you endeavouring to become one of the aristocracy in manners , and to adopt their lax code of morality , and

      barefaced mode of expressing it ! Or were you afraid of Lord Cardigan calling you out ! Whether it was one of these , or whether all three combined you have made a sad mess of it ! With regard to the event of Captain Tcckett ' s death , thiB prosecuting officer of the Crown again observed , If death had ensued , it would have been considered a great calamity , but not a great crime . " Now , we really do not see what great calamity to the nation , the tumbling out of it by " Hartet Garnett Phipps Tuckett , " or any other officer of Her Majesty ' s service , would hare inflicted ; but we can understand that it is a very great crime to send a bullet through tbe body of a human being , and dismiss him , " with all his imperfections on his head , " from this terrestrial sphere .

      One fact , however , is certain ; Lord Cardigan was to be acquitted ; and th « stupid quibble of a senseless rule of law was caught hold of , as affording an easy mode of letting his Lordship off . What , then , is the conclusion to be drawn from this determination to evade justice % Why , that whieh we have drawn over and over again , namely , that there is one law for the rich , and another for the poor ; one for the peer , and another for the peasant . It required , however , no such trial as this , with its great > expence , to convince us of thiB awful and lamentable truth . We have it before our eyes every

      day . Among other instances , we may notice that of Lord Waldegrave , who was lately prosecuted for a murderous attack on a policeman . The noble prisoner appeared at the Queen ' B Bench , and hie counsel observed that he wished to plead guilty . The prosecuting counsel could not oppose this course ; and Lord Denkan , without , further ceremony , suggested that it might be a fit case for pri vate compensation . And so it ended ! The case , " bo fit for private compensation , " involved the most disgraceful conduct towards a defenceless man . Lord Waldegbavjs and others were out on a u spree ; " and , after having wrenched off knockers

      innumerable , were merely spoken to by a policeman ; they instantly seized him , thrashed and kicked him , ran away with his hat , and left him senseless on the ground . The poor man has not yet recovered , and it is said by medical men that the event will probably be the loss of his reason ! I Had an indigent wretch thus behaved , he would have been indicted for feloniously stealing the man ' s hat , and for assaulting with intent to murder . He would have heard a long lecture on his offence against the public peace , ( bnt nothing about private compensation ) , and have been transported for life ! Faugh J we are sick of thesb things ; when are they to end !

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      MR . BURNS AND THE H-O-U-S-E-HOLD PARTY . Ws have no doubt that the veritable Chartists of Hull will muster their strength on Monday night , to give the Ho-u-g-e-hold gods and their aew ally such a reoeption as the nature of the case merits .

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      —— — - ^ - ^ -S s * TO READERS AND CORRESPONDENTS , Bradford Frost Restoratiok Committee . — in , have received a balance-sheet , which we c ' an ^ publish in full . It sets forth the retipu nfVi * tea and bail to have been ... ... 19 7 y-Collected by various parties ... 1 17 31 21 4 ~ n While the expences of various kinds amount to ... ... 20 1 41

      Leaving a balance of ... ... £ 1 3 q The Committee state : — Any party wishing u examine the bills may do so by applying atiZ Chaitist Chapel , Longcroft-place , between £ hours of eight and ten o ' clock , every Salurim evening . " ^* John Martin wishes to acknowledge the receipt £ \ from Carlisle , and 10 * . 6 d . from NewcaJl for the sufferers at the Castle Douglas accident w Haters of Oppression , " Ykovil , have sentL an awful tale of tyranny and suffering , butyl must have it authenticated before" we pu ^

      W . M . Stott . —We- do not know Mr . Vincent ^ address ; but any letter addressed to , him , CBJ of Mr . John Cleave , 1 , Shoe-lane , London , J find him . James Mahont . —We have not room . We ^ j-. handed his letter to Mr . F ., as reguested . - G . W . S . — We believe so ; but have no positiv e faion , lege on the subject , : John Murrat . — We are sony tee cannot give htm the information he wishes , viz . * the numesf the Captain who commanded the Prince of W » C line of battle ship , on the 1 st of June , \ 7 % n If any of our readers know , and will take tt « trouble of writing it , we shall be glad to public it .

      James Richards . — We never received the repot from Kidderminster . Frostiana . — We have not lost sight of it . H . B . asks , very foolishly , a question that we htm already answered . J . P . — We have no room . Mrs . Frost . —The Newport list of monies nt # week . Hbnrt Carter strongly recommends CharUr 1 ^ , ' Associations as the only efficient means of 6 rinj , ing into operation the powers of the whok people . A . M ., Edinburgh . —The letter teas forgotten ia * week . It was in type forthis week ' s impressu before his note was received . The other leli& has been received , and shall have insertion ia

      our . William Pomfret . —We cannot undertake to fat legal advice . The rascals have robbed the poor of that privilege by locking up Mr . O'Connor , The Northampton Chartists strongly urge on of working men the moral , physical , and political advantages of total abstinence . E . P . Mead must excuse us : we have not room fa his "Scriptural Chartism" this week . G . Styles wishes for the address of the tcirfow qf John Clayton . W . H . —The report of the meeting against the Poor

      Law , at Cheltenham , is out of date . J . Millar . —Th * price of cards of membership for the National Charter Association of Great Britain is twopence plain , and sixpence ornoi merited . They may be had of the Secretary f » the Provisional Executive , Mr . William Ti / man , No . 2 , Colliers ' -streetfStretford-road , Manchester The address alluded to was intended to be signed ' only by influential Chartists . A . Birmingham Chartist . —We don't know . S . Green . —Not unless your daughter bectmm , chargeable to the parish on account oj the child ; ¦ and even then the matter is doubtful .

      Peter Anderson , Edinburgh . —Certainly . It tcoidj be unfair else . John Brown . —Address Mr . Lowery , care of Mr , France , News Agent , Newcastle . Joseph Thornton , H oddersfield , —/ n answir k the request contained in the resolution h $ transmits , we have to say , the omissioTis arm from both causes . Sometimes the newt it not sent at all ; sometimes it is too late ; and sotxf times , when it does arrive in lime , ordinari ! jf t other pressing subjects supersede it . ' 7 m might be , in some measure , obviated , did our Lo * al Correspondents observe a very plain ml $ we hate ofttimes laid down—that of sending a

      packet in the beginning of the yteek ^ and another at , the usual latest day . Scarcely one of thm adheres to this rule . The Northallerton Hew . and Poor Clattos . — We have received th * letter from the prijoncompanion of poor Clayton , and slw . ll make tht public acquainted with its horrible revelations m our next . The late hour it was received pf vents its appearance this week . The "Fleet Papers . "— We have received No . itf the series , and are much gratified with its contents . It is the best number that has appeared In our next we shall notice it move at length . Mr . Pitkethly . —We regret that we cannot give Ms favour in our present number . The same pott

      that brought it , brought us ninety-four other m * munications , all pressing for insertion . Hadvn received his on the Monday , it should have appeared . It is a long one—one that will not bear curtailment—and therefore must stand over . Our London Correspondent . —We are reluctantly compelled to withhold the entire of his Wedntf daxrs letter . John Collins must excuse us this week : our spast is full . His letter shall appear next week . Wt shall feel obliged if he could arrange for Jut juture communications reaching us on the Tuef fa y-Our Birmingham Correspondent . — We are osligei to withhold the whole of his second letter . Mr . Ashton , Wakefield House of Correction , desires a letter from George White immediately .

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      Darken , Norwich . —The mistake occurred at the office . J . M'Clintock . —His papers were sent as usual . FOH THE COMMITTEE FOR SUPERINTENDING DAK . ' i CHARTIST WELCOME TO LEEDS . £ S . d . From a few Chartists at Biggar ... 0 2 6 FOR THE WIVES AND FAMILIES OF THE INCARCERATE CHARTISTS . From A . Stratton , Leeds 0 0 4 _ East Brierly , near Bradford ... 0 12 6 * . Three Friends at Preston , per G . Halton ... 8 2 6 for clatton ' s funeral From Leeds , per James Womersley 0 2 0 .. & few Chartists at Barkisland 0 3 0 FOR MRS . CLAYTON . From Edinburgh , per W . Lennie , being part profits on Star .. 050

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      Communications not inserted on noticed . —4 mass of valuable Chartist , local , and general intelligence , together with many interesting communications from Birmingham , Kidderminstert Worcester , London , Newcastle , Sudtminh Otdham , Bradford , Barnsley , Nottingham , Ttllic ' outtry , and many other places , are shw out for want of room . As many as possible oj them-shall either be inserted or replied to in our next . We must repeat our earnest solicitation , that persons desirous of having their

      communxcations inserted , will send them in the early part of the week , if possible . The mass V mailer alluded to in this notice , has been an received by thiiday ' t ( Thw » day sJ post > <* f . \ great part of it has relation to mailers tcMtc / t occurred on Saturday , Sunday , and Monday , and which ought to have been here on tat Tuesday . Our friends must remember thattnt paper can only be filled ; that we must go ' s * fitting it the whole week ; and that our first edition aoes to press on Thursday evening .

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      HOUSE OF LORDS , Monday , Feb . 22-The Earl of Ripon , after » speech ot some length , respecting the present state of our relations with Perm said he could scarcely think that her Majesty ' s GoTerament would refuse to give full information on a natter so interesting . to our commercial interests in many respects , and so important to our political influence u that part bf the world at any time , but espedalv . tbe present moment , when it was to desirable to maur tain peace both in Asia and Europe . The Noblejsa concluded by moving for copies of , or extracts fronv communications between the British Government aM the Court of Persia , upon the subject of the cessaUon M the diplomatic mission at the Court of Persia , ¦ «*••• queat to the date of the lart paper * laid before Parliament

      Viscount Melbourne said , he could not see tla * any detriment eonld be done toHbe public service of laying all th « papers before their Lordships , and gWn * the fullest information on the subject that waa at «»' mand . Nobody could feel more than he did the P «* importance of this subject being arranged to as to sect * peace and tranquillity in Central Asia , and be had very reason for saying that he hoped the Schah of P « w » was actuated by the same feeling . He had not v » lighted objection to the production of the papa * The motion was then agreed to . Adjourned .

      Tuesday , February 23 . Lord Brougham presented » report of the eoP * ™* enfranchisement committee , which stated that jn » committee had thrown the two Bills , which had *** sent to them , into one , and that they bad made vane" alterations and addition * . » ThoBlabop of Exeter again drew the attention « their Lordships to the delays which had taken place ™ the printing of the ordinances from Canada , and « w replied to by *

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      A workman at the new factory in the dockyard , Woolwich , where a long revolving axle is constantly n operation , allowed the skirts of hia coat to come in contact with it , and ia & moment he was suapended , and revolving with the game velocity . Before the engine was stopped he had been tamed round about sixteen Time * , but escaped without any material injury .

      Smpirtal ^Aritamrm.

      Smpirtal ^ aritamrm .

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      a THE NORTHERN STAR . '

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 27, 1841, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct368/page/4/