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Northern Star (1837-1852), 12th November 1842, Edition 2 of 5, Page 7, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      OX THE PROPRIETY OF THE WORKING CLASSES AIDING THE CORN-LAW REPEAiERS ; IK REPLY TO S . K . OF GLASGOW . SIB , —As it is eTident from the composition of jour letter that yon are not in the habit of patting your thought * upon paper , 1 shall mike no captious or verbal criticism ; but ¦ where your meaning appears dear , or can be gathered from ¦ what you say , I shall take such meaning , without regard to the phraseology , and comment upon it * e * ording ! y . It Trill be eTident to & 11 who have re&& my first letter tll&t , from the matto prefixed to it and from the composition of the first paragraph , I appeared to doubt the justice or propriety of resorting to any bnt strictly honourable means for the attaining of any great object . Bat , I coaclnded , "if the parties ¦ with whom we have to do keep no measure of faith ; if they resort te anything or everything , no matter how tricky or base , to

      prevent us obtaining our just ends ; I think the end irould sanctify the means , even if we did return the contents of the poisoned chalice to their own lips , and boisl them from their unjust position by means of thair ewn petard . " Now , sir , this was one of the positions which yon ought . to have either endeavoured to contro-Tert or to have acknowledged . If you bad controverted it , the whole of the subsequent reasoning would necessarily have fallen to the ground ; and if you had acknowledged it , the whjle matter is dispute would bare resolved itaelf into the - question , ¦ whether the repeal of the Corn Lates vxuld have a tendency to cause th * middle classes to become alarmed for their oven situation , and eons ? quaii'y cause them to join the people to obtain that power in the legidalxre tchuh , ASD OXLT WHICH . Ban prevexl them from bsing swallowed up by the gulf of fixed payments .

      Here the whole thing -would have been in a nutshell , asd if you hid taken these two , either jointly or singly , ws should not have been in danger of losing the main oVject in a . labyrinth of , at thebest , feat Secondary consequences . Bnt as you hare not taken this coarse I must follow yoa in the best way I can . Your first attempt at reasoning is in the following words : — " Now I contend that the interest of the retail merchant and the labourer are tbe aame . If the labourer receives no wages , the retailer receives no profits : if small wages , the retailer small profits .

      Thus thtir interests are co-extensive , and this , according to his own showing , necessity being the basis of nnioB , it was never » o likely as sow . " Now , Sir , suppose I grant the whole of this , what would it be but reasoning , to the best of your pewer , for my position ? If necessity be tbe basis of union , the more you increase that necessity , the greater the ckanca of union , and , therefore , it brings you round to my position , that the more they are alarmed for their own position the sooner they will join the people to prevent their own complete rnin .

      But if you meant to inclnde the whole of the manufacturing and trading class when yon said that " the interests of the retail merchant and the labouring class are co-txtensivs , " I most beg most respectfully to diBsent from tbe opinion . Is it true that the interest of the merchant and manufacturer , whose dealings are abroad , can be " co-extensive with those of the labourer ? " By co-extensive I suppose you mean identical . And how , pray , are the interests of these parties " identical" with those of the labourer ? Their interest is to purchase cheap and to sell dear ; and , therefore , it is their interest for things to be in that state in this country wh ch will compel the labourer to ¦ work for the least possible amount of remuneration , and then it is their interest to tell the produce of thst labour for the highest possible amount on tbe other aide of the water ; and , therefore , if they have any interests " identical" with these of any body , it is with those of their foreign purchaser .

      Xor is it quite so evident that the interest of that miserable slave , the shopkeeper , and that of the working man is so completely identical as it would appear at the first glance to be . Let U 3 jast examine for s moment whether the interest of those who deal iB heavily taxed articles is so very identical with that of the working man . Let us , then , take as an instance one of theflish "TEA . WAREHOUSES . " in one ol the principal streets of Glasgow . And , let us also premise here that the tax upon tea will amonnt to , at the least , one half of its cost to the consumer . Now , then , let us ffnppose that this shop has tbe whole of its establishment based upon the sale of j £ lO 0 per week , and that by that sale he gets ten per cent , or £ 10 per -week . Now , then , let us suppose that his gas , bis servants , his rent , his taxes , in short , all "the miscellaneous fexpencea , which are based upon this £ 16 per Week , amount to five pounds per -week , leaving the proprietor a net profit of the remaining five pounds .

      Now , then , let us suppose the tax on tea abolished ; and let us suppose that this flash shop of yours continues to retail the same weight of tea which it did before the abolition ef the duty . No one need be told tiat the same weight of tea which before the abolition of the daty raised £ 100 , will , after the abolition of tbe duty , it being one half only , raise £ 50 per -week Now , then , suppose him to get ten per cant upon his fcuro over as before , it will be evident , that as his turn over ia only £ 50 per week , the profit upon that will be only five pound per week ; and , as we hare supposed his expences of all kinds to amount to five pounds per week , it will leave the proprietor for his share just nothing at sll ! ! What think yon now , S . K ., about the iBterest ef the retail merchant and that of the labourer being co-extensive ? Will it be likely , think you , that the retail merchant will be anxious for tbe abolition of the tax upon tea ?

      But yon will tell me that in consequence cf the reduction in price his sale will be doubled , and therefore he will gain as much in nominal amount as he did before tbe abolition of the tax . Lst us try this . Let us suppose for a moment the absurdity that his sale would be doubled , ( which mind I do not , only for the sake of illustrating tbe argument , ' what would be tbe consequence ? Would he not want double warehouse room , double the Dumber of hands , in short would not his expence be » if not quite , nearly doubled if he bad to do doublfl the amount of business ? Tbia mxtst inevitably follow , or else we most suppose that the " canny " Sash shopman ia such a good soul that he has bees willing to pay for double the amount of warthonseroom -which he wanted ; double the amount of hands which be stood in need of ; in short , that he has been willing to pay double the amount of expense which he had any occasion for , and that too out of pure good will , rather than put the amount in his own pocket

      > o » S . K have you any retail merchant of this kind ? Are the " canny Sectah" famed for doing things in this manner ? But , however , admitting all tb * se absurdities , i « it not . evident that the " retail merchant " aid his assistants would have donfcle the amount of labour to perform ? And will they be anxious to do this ? Think yen that their interests are so co-exten-Mve ? But yon observe that the poor worlcies would be the £ i * t to suffer , and then what are they do ? I grant you that in great social cbaDges the workey is tbe first great suScxtr . But what is his state under this system of " social order" ? Dcas he come in for the lion ' s

      share cf the comforts ? and if he does why is he disaffected ? Lord John Russell said that be had arrived at snch a state cf wretchedness that he had " eaten his bed . " Alderman Kershaw , cf Alacebester , corroborated this by saying that in one small district 10 , 000 were without bed to lie on . The ex-Mayor of Leelt said that p ^ rt cf the people of Leeds were living npon rotten potatoes picked up frora the wharf . The Irish stole Efca weed which had been laid on to the land as manure , and eat it to preserve a miserable existance .

      And Mr Aldam , SI-P . for Leeds , said that the workits mast be starved down to the reqairtd quantity ; and hundreds of things more horrible and awfal , which e ' tn to name would be unlawful- But in England this has no occasion to be to any great extent if the -working classes would act 'with spirit and be detetmined to go in shoals to the poor house . You h&ve the same light to relitf from the laud as the landlord has to own it . Do this and yon will quickly alarm them for their situation , and then they will qnitkly look about for a remedy .

      But y « u wi 1 tell me abuut the independance of men , cf the degraded name of peuper , aDd all the other cant which is put into the mouth of the working man , to make him struggle with an hungry belly and a naked back- I know " all about the nfiWir- I can see tfie bluest , inonBtrujus , and too paiitnt woikioj man go With bis wife ai . d famishing children to " ask some brother of the earth to give him leave to toil , '' and I can Biter into all the anguish which wrings a father ' s bosom wien he hears his " Lordly fellow worm , the poor petition Bpurn ;" I can accompany him to the baslile ' s portal , and I can bear , " amid the pulses maddening play , " the order to separate him from his wife and chilcren . I can hear the Eiother ' s shritk of agony ; I can hear the father exclaim in anguish , " what all my little ones I" Damn them ! Ee-iTens ; •» what all ? ' —yes alL

      This is horrible ! most horrible ! Bat S . K . must not forest , at tbe time be is contemplating this scene . the hundreds of good men and true who have to rot in dungfcvns , under the present " mild paternal sway . " E = must not forget Frost , Williams and Jones ; te mast not forget the scores which have been transported from Stafford ; he must not endeavour to disguise from himself that the unprotected , heart-broken wife and famishing children have all the previously described horrible scenes to undergo , in addition to the harrowing reflection that the partner of her Borrows is pining in tie dungecn , or clanking his chain as a felon , because he had endeavoured to wring from capital a fair remuneration for his labour .

      Besides , you say , " let even martyrdom come , and it »* U be welcome . " Now if this be not all unmeaning **« ; if it be not a Etringing together of words which » re "full of fury but signify nothing , '' yon cannot despai r , even though your employer and jyoniself should start the " hung ^ race together . " For although the much feared harassing " cf capital may involve tbe spcrn from his lordiy fellow-worm ; although it mey involve tie separation for a time from bis wife and ttularen ; still he must remember that " MARTYBDOM ' involves then all ; and more , much more ; and I would pa-urularly impiegs this fact upon your mind , » oat the whole of the struggle is nearly exclusively for tie benefit of the ¦ woikin ' g-man . In proportion es he gains , almost ali other clau . es mil lose . And , tberelure , whit he has to suffer ixuing the struggle ia the

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      price which he pays for the good he expects from hit emancipation . And this I would eay further , that if ever he expects to bare a voice in the making of the laws until the other classes become alarmed for their situation , be is one of the most mistaken ef men ; and , therefore , the great consideration for him is this , hov > can X the mosl easily alarm them for their own situation ; and I contend that a repeal would alarm them to the quick . I think , if yon read the quotation from my letter again , yoa will see that it is not quite void of common sense : -And that there cannot be any great mystery in our aidini the cam law repealers , and at tbe same time continuing our own agitation .

      In paragraph 5 , you say— "Nothing is plainer than this ; to aid in repealing the Corn Laws is to lend ourselves into the hands of our oppressors , enabling the capitalist to cast labour prostrate at the feet of capital , and rivet the chains of middle class despotism mor » firmly round the neck of the people . " This is the sort of declamation used by all those who write and speak npon this question , without knowing any thing abont what they are talking about Lay labour prostrate at the feet of capital ! What ! more prostrate than it iB ? And , pray , how is it to effect this ? Do tell me how it is to give capital more power than it has J I shall die if yon do not tell me . But if yoa know that it wonld effect this , bow happens it that yoa did not prove to us how it was to work all these miracles ? You were bound to show that I was wrong in the position I had taken , instead of cavilling about the minor details .

      But I am still sick to know how this "laying prostrate " ia to come about . But , however , the thing can only be brought abont one ef two waya—either it woald cause ns to have such an extension of commerce that we should " have prosperity for ages ; " or its tendency would be such as I have described it to be . Now , in my first letter arguments ar » used , which , if I had space for their full developement , would completely prove that the repeal Wuuld not cause an ultimate extension of our commerce . If you thought the reasoning there was false , why did you not expose it , instead of assuming the whole

      question at issue . And if you think that it will cause us such an extension of our commerce , if you think that it will jrive us prosperity for ages , why do you oppose the repeal ? It can be on no other ground , if you think this , than that on which I advocate the repeal , that is , to keep the country in a state of distress on purpose to obtain a political purpose . Ah , bir , -what think you now of your employer and you " runing the hungry race together ? And if yen prevent a measure which will be franght with good to every class , do you not certainly come up to the picture drawn of you by every Whig and Tory scribe in the land ?"

      But , even admitting that tbe " repeal would cause us to have prosperity for ages , " how , in the name of all that is good , could that tend to " lay labour prostrate at the feet of capital ? " Are we not everlastingly told that the wages of labour depend upon " demand and sapply ; " that there is no other way of bettering the c » ndition of the labourer but either by bringing the labour up to the quantity of bands , or reducing the quantity of kands to the labour ; that the labour market is overstocked ; and that the labourers must be starved down to the quantity which the capitalist can employ ; and now , when a measure is proposed which has a tendency to cause us to have prosperity for ages , which promises to bring tha demand up to the supply , we are gravely told that it would have a tendency " to lay labour prostrate attkefe&t of capital ' . '' This is most admirable reasoning ! ~ and a most singular way of causing the labourer to have to run the hungry race by himself !

      Bat ia order to escape the dilemma in which you are involved , you are bound to turn round and say that you do not think that repeal will produce any of the wonderful results promistd by ita advocates ; id ahort , you are bound to say that you believe it would produce tbe results I described in my first letter . Ah , Sir ! this shall not serve your turn . If you think this , how is it that you do not oppose repeal ? Why do you permit your employer and yourself to " run the hungry race together" without an tndeavour to prevent it ? Ia it far some political purpose ? And if yon do not prevent a measure which " will be fraught with mischief to every class , " do you not certainly come up to the picture drawn of you by evary Whig and Tory writer in the land ?

      In paragraph seven yon say , " convince the middle class of their interest , by argument , and the day ia our own . " Lord help ns ! what a task you have set us . How are we to convince the recipients of tbe interest of the unjust debt that it would be for their Interest Eot to receive their dividends 1 How are we to go about to convince the recipients of the sinecures and pemions that it would bs for their interest that those pensions should go to clothe the nakedness of those who had produced them ? By what process of reasoning are we to convince the half-pay and fall-pay oficers

      and dead weight that it would for their interest that ft standing army should be disbanded ? Convince all the swarm of poor-law commissioners , police commissioners , police magistrates , ice ., that it wonld be for their interest to work for their bread instead of devouring the substance of the widow and the fatherless ! Convince the merchant and manufacturer that it would be for their interest that you should have a voice iu the making of those laws which would insure you a day ' s wage for a fair day ' s work ! Convince all these fairly of these things !

      Truly , Sir , but you have stt ua an herculean task . Don Quixote ' s most extravagant of projects was a complete embodyment of wisdom compared to this . No , no , Sir , you cannot convince them of these things because they are fully convinced of exactly the contrary already . Nothing but being alarmed for their own safety will ever convince the middle classes of the necessity of taking part with the labourer ; and they must be convinced , too , that nothing but taking part ffith'the labourer can sav = them from the gulf of fixed payments . Repeal of the Corn Laws would lay capital prostrate at the feet of the fixed payments , nor conld it escape -without the aid of the labsurer . Then hurrafe for the repeal of the Corn law * J W . F .

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      THE EXECUTIVE . TO THE EDITOR OF THE NOB 1 HEEN STAB , Dear Sir , —The call of our country should be as religionsly obeyed as the call cf God . Impressed with this opinion , I held myself in readiness , cheerfully to attend the wishes of tho people whenever they think I can he of any service to them . But I would not accept an office cf national trust except by Universal Suffrage asi \ upon boncar . The call of the Executive pro tern , to elect a new Executive was not responded to by the country and for these sufficient reasons . The pro tern was a self-elected body—at leaat , elected by a council of which the pro tern were themselves members . No

      appeal was made to the country at large—not even to the localities in London . There was more haste than good speed in this , and the affairs of tbe Chartist body did not require snch an undeltberata proceeding . I * . looked too much ILke waiting for dead men ' s shoes , or rather , snatching up -their shoe 3 without waiting for them . Let Chartism rnn not like an eccentric comet , oat of its conrse—never let it In '' frightened from its propriety "—bat still let it shine on all occasions steady and fixed as the Xorthern Slar . I rtmain , Dear Sir , Ycurs respectfully , Manor House , Battersea , John Waikins .

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      TO THE EDITOR OF THE NOKTHERh STAR . Warwick County Gaol , November 6 , 18 i 2 . Dear Mb . Hill , —By the time your next paper is published I Ehall have betn eleven week * in so'ilary confinement ,, und , although Mr . Justice CreEswell has ordered bail to be taken for my appearance at tbe Assizes , and that nine sufficient persons have tendered their names , still tbe Birmingham Authorities persist in their r-fusal toaecept them . I received a letter on Thursday morning from Mr . W . Chilton , of Birmingham , informing Rie that he bad received the Judge ' s order , and that Mr . Griffiths , the prosenticg attorney , required ei > , ht sureties in fifty pounds each , whilst a letter which I received from mj ¦ worthy friend , W . P . Koberts , of Bith , Etated that OUlj four sureties in fifty poonds eacA -were required .

      I am nnable to siy which statement is correct ; but this I know , tfest tbe names and residences of nine sufficient persons were handed to Mr . Griffiths on Wednesday last , and on Friday he delivered his decision to my fiiends to the following effect : —Messrs . Nurse and Hemming were accepted ; and Messrs . Taylor , Watts , Corbcttj Pillows , Wright and Moule were rejected . Another geBtleman , named Grattan , who iB a press-tool maker , is not yet decided on . From tbe conduct of tbe Birmingham Authorities , it is quite clear that they are determined to keep me here until the Assize . From the time of my arrest to tbe

      present moment they have acted base towards me . At the conclusion of my examination I applied for bail , which was granted , the Mayor informing me that he sbenld require two sureties in one hundred ponndaeach , which , beBaia , would do for all three indictments . I had feen two respectable freeholders in court , who were well known to be worth ten times the amount , waiting for the purpose of offering themselves as my sureties , and informed the magistrates that I was then prepared ; npon which they aaid they must have fortyeight hours notice , although the two persons were as well known as » ay in the town .

      In ten minutes after , I was hurried off to this place , a distance of twenty-one miles from Birmingham , and for some reasons , best known to the magistrates , the men who came unsolicited to tender bail for me , afterwards declined . The next time that my friends applied they were told that four sureties , in £ 100 each , wonld be required , and the Governor cf this prison afterwards informed me , that from the manner in which the commitments " were signed , he should require SIX sureties in one hundred pounds each , and that the Mayor must have kxou n it from the first , he being the person that signed two of them . They have since then refused about fourteeu shopkeepers and tradesmen , who are worth a vast deal more ihan the amount required ; and I am informed that the policeman who was sent to inquire into the qualification of some of those who gave their csmes as willing to become sureties , threatened an bullied them about being Chartute .

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      Notwithstanding the Judge ' s order , my case is now in staiu quo . They seem determined to keep me here , and fcace I suppose I must remain . 1 don't see anything else that can be done in the matter . My Birmingham friends hava done their part well , and so has Mr . O'Connor , and I therefore thauk them as much as if I was liberated . The poor , miserable Whigs are In a dolefol plight , when they are so terrified about ons man being liberated . I trust that my other friends have had better lock , and that I son like " The last rose of lummet , loft blooming alone , " I am glad to hear that you keep " going a-head / ' and watching the " pedlars , " And am , Your brother Chartist , Geobqe White .

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      THOMAS M . WHEELER , TO MR . L T . CLANCY Sir—I , in common with my brother Chartists , feel greatly Bnrprise * at the tone of a letter addressed by you on Saturday last , to the Editor of the Northern Star , regarding your nomination to the Provisional Committee , In that letter you Btate , " That the election of sneh a body was very unnecessary , and to say the leaat of it , a very unbecoming proceeding ; that it reflected neither credit on the judgment or foresight of its originators ; that the country generally was not in favour of the scheme ; that yoa believe it is altogether the trick of BOme enemy ; that it is tod bad tLat the whole Cbartist body should be set in motion to please the wbim of any one who thought preper to send aline to the Slar , and that you . oppose any power being taken from the present Executive , and will never be a tool in the hands of the enemy to disarm them . " .

      This , sir , is tbe substance of your attack npon a body of men , who , in the hour of danger , volunteered , at considerable loss and risk to themselves , to brave the common enemy , and prevent , if possible , any advantage being taken of our party , 6 ither by open foe or pretended friend . I , as an individual , could well afford to let such idle charges , such unjust imputations , pass unnoticed , considetiag the approbation of the great majority of the Chartist public to far outweigh tbe calumny of one individual ; bat in justification of tbe body with whom I acted , I will endeavour to convince you , not by bitter invectives , but by a plain statement of facts , that your charge of its being a trick of the enemy is unjust and unfounded .

      The address of which you complain was issued on the Monday after tbe arrest of the secretary of the Executive . From the amonnt of bail , * & , demanded , it was not reasonable to suppose that the charge was of snch a trumped up nature as it has since proved to be ; and your faculties must be very obtuse indeed , or your brain clouded with envy and jealousy , if you discovered in the line of conduct which we laid down , any wish or design of throwing off onr allegiance to tha Executive , or in any way depriving them of their justly acquired station . Our object was to

      consolidate and preserve , and not to destroy . The policy which we afepted met with the approbation of Mr . Bairstow ar * Mr . Williams , the only members of the Executive with whom we could correspond , and was sanctioned by the great majority of the Chartist body , upon whom your attack tells with equal efficacy as upon ourselves . It is also approved of and acted upon by Messrs . Campbell and Leach , who now propose that the machinery which we created to meet the emergency , should be adopted and made part and parcel of our organization .

      In conclusion , when y « u are again attacked by a fit of the spleen or a pugnacious desire of bhowing that you possess the orga . u « f combativeneas largely developed , I trust that your attack will be made upon tbe common enemy and not upon men equally honest , equally active with yourself . In the words of the poet" Lst your guns bo unerring such vengeance forego , What mark is so fair as the brwast of a foe ?" I remain , Yours respectfully , T . M . Wheeler .

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      TALES WRITTEN EXPRESSLY FOR THE " NORTHERN STAR . " BY CHARTtl'S .

      THE FOUNDLING OF AYR . rCRNlSHED BY A MASO . N CHARTIST . NO . V . " Good lack , an't be tby will i what have we here ? Mercy on ' s , a barne ; a very pretty barne . " Winter ' s Tales . It was a cold November morning—tbo night had betn stormy , bnt had settled into a dull black frost more perishing than windy weather . The birds were huddling themselves together upon the leaf-dropping trees , without paying their accustomed matins . The cattle had not risen to graze , and their breath was steaming in the stagnant air . Daylight came heavily forth . No smoke from tbe chimneys yet indicated that any of the cottage fires were lit—the shutters were unclosed , and the town looked like a deserted village .

      James Wilson , stone mason , was tbe first to cross his threshold that morning , to begin tbe customary day ' s avocations , and as he did so , he stumbled upon what appeared to him a bundle of clothes , but on taking it up judge of his avtonishment to find a male infant . He thought at first that it was dead ; probably it was benumbed with cold , but it presently opened its eyes and stared in his face with the penetrating gszj of a physionomist , for little children , like dogs , judge by a person's looks—they are guided by unerring instinct , so much surer and quicker than reason . Apparently what this poor half-starved infant saw in James ' s face did not give it any high opinion of bia humanity , fur it immediately began to cry lustily , and James himself raised his voice to the top of its pitch , calling on his

      good dame to get up and come down stairs instantly . The good wife , loath to leave her warm bed at that early time of the morning , enquired what was tbe matter ? to which James briefly replied , " Come and see . " Startled at this early summons , and at the loud and earnest tone in which it was uttered , she came as soon as she could make herself ready . " Here , " said James , giving to her the screaming infant , " what think you of this ? " The good wife took tbe child mechanically , but seemed equally at s loss with James what to think of it . The babe , however , seemed to relish its new quarters better , for it was no sooner laid upon her bosom than it bushed its screams , and rested with its eyes looking quietly and reposingly into those ef the good dame , who was regarding it with that maternal fondEess which helpless

      innocence seldom fails to draw from its best protector —woman . James now related the circumstance of finding the child , and concluded with saying he should like to know who bad laid their sins at bis door , he would punish them for it . His good dame was not jealous , nor , to do James justice , had he ever given her cau e . She , therefore , said , " It is some poor cnature that could not take care of it herself , and thought that it would be care taken of here—we roust take pity on it" " See , '' said James , " if there be any mark on it , or any money left with it" LookiDg into the flannel petticoat in which it was wrapped , " no , " said she , "here's nothing but its poor naked self , halfperibhed with cold , poor thing I" " We are not bound to take it in , " ssid James , " we have enough of &ur ownwithout being burdened with other fo'ks' .

      James had a son and a daughter . " Let mo see , '' he continued , going to the door , and looking up and down the street , " there's nobody stirring yet ; I'll go and lay it at the minister's door—he ' s better able to keep it than we are . " i he good dame clasped it closer to her breast while she said ; " No , poor thing f it will die of cold and hunger ; providence has placed it here , and we must take it in ; besides , if anybody should see you , what a thing that would be ! " Tkis last intimation seemed to weigh most with James . He stood considering for a moment , and then broke out in a fit of vexation , which made him do all but swear , and that he would not do for the world . "Din ; it ! I should like to know who laid it here -, I would willingly lose a days work , if only I couid find them . It is a shame and a sin that honest folks should be plagued this way 4 1

      with beggars' brats . " * Nay , come , ' says she , " yon shan't be troubled with it . I'll take take care on't ; leave it to me ; go aw 3 y to your work ; I'll inantiga with it" James , after casting a rueful look at the child , sulkily obeyed ; but ho did not do mu « h work that day . His mind was troubled with the occurrence of the morning , and he several times left his work to make inquiries , but could find no trace of the parent or person who had laid such a stumbling block in his way . All the towspeople began to talk of the circumstance ; Eeany went to see the child , and James , tor bis own credit ' s sake , was obliged to make a virtue of necessity , and to maintain tbe little charge which bad been so mysteriously entrusted to him . He gave it his own name of James , as tbe findtr , and the name of Ayr , after the town in which it was found .

      James was an austere man , who was reaping where he had never sown . He was a member of tbe Scotch Kirk , indeed one of its elders , rtern in his morals , strict in all bis dealings . Whenever be was out of temper or out of health , he vented his spleen on the additional charge to his family which circumstances had constrained him to keep—be begrudged everything it got , and could not bear to be put out of tbe way by its cries or even by its playfulness . He used to exclaim vehemently against the sin of bastardy—especially against those who were guilty ef having children they could not keep—and seemed ever disposed to visit the sin of

      the parents on the poor innocent frnifc of it . Not so the good dame—she regarded little Jemmy as her own —nay the circumstance of his deserted condition awakened in her breast Bometkicg more than maternal softness for him , aud she never let him feel the want of the mother who , Hagar-like , had exposed him to charity or to fate . What articles sha procured for him , Bte got when her husband was absent at work , and would represent that the things were gifts from charitably disposed neighbours . At other times she soothed him by telling him that no donbt the child ' s parsots would turn up some day and recompense them fc > i aU they had . done

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      JI daughter , a girl about aevau years old , used tonnrae and drew the little foundling as though he were her doll ; but her son , a boy about twelve , imbibed too much of his fatbert dislike . Thus while the come-by-chance ^ was treated like a pet-Iamb by one half of the family—he was kept so much in awe by the other that it was only nec «« sary to threaten him that they should take him , to quiet him when disposed to be refractory . ¦ . ¦ . ¦ . Time passed , and Hfctle Jammy grew up a fine 6 ^ ° ia , * of the rrowD 8 of nta foster-father and brother-for his foster-mother and sister took care that they should not affect him . James had not Bent his own son to school-he ww in the habit of teaching him himself after work ; but he left the adopted one

      L 1 . 4 . mi . m ~ w wuv uavyiwM vuv untaught . The foundling , however , was naturally quick , and learnt from hearing his brother's lessens . Whenever any of the neighbours presented him with a token of their compassion , he bought little books or pencils with it , and sometimes bribed his brother to lend him his . But bo sooner had he told eight years , than he was taken by , his father to assist him at his work , in order , as James expressed it , that he might do something for his keep . At first , indeed , hfa tasks were light enough—being employed in carrying " the dinner , " and if any object by the way tempted him to loiter , he had the role applied to hia shoulders , for James was determined to keep ( square with him . He soon

      put him to other jobs , a-. d was not always careful to proportion them to his strength or his skill , though he never failed to punish him for any default In either . He afterwards bound him his apprentice , and then he was still more Bevera upon him , because he considered that the law gave him a right to be so . Often in a winter ' s morning ban Jemwy been near fainting at his work before breakfast , but what cut deeper than the cold wmda were the taunts respecting his birth and condition fiom old James , and his son , who , released from being a slave to bis father , now tyrannised in his turn over the foundling . All these things sunk deep upon bis spirits , and nude him thoughtful beyond his years .

      But though James did not care much for the mind or body of his foster-son , he cared greatly for his soul , and was very strict in enforcing his attendance at kirk He evun paid out of his own pocket for a " Sunday sark" for him , that he might appear decently there . If the boy ever broke the Sabbath , he was sure to have his bead broken in retaliation—and tbe devil himself could not be more severe in punishing his sins than James was , who said such severity was neeessary lost the child should become a scape-grace as his parents had been . AH the while that littlo Jemmy was in the place of worship , old James kept his eye oh him—aud while his lips moved in prayer or song he

      has frequently administered a smart blow on the head of his pupil with his sacred hymn-book to admonish him of some inattention or inadvertence . The terror imparted by all this , forced the boy ; to assume a demure aspect—to imitate the reverend elder his foster-father—and to become as great a hypocrite . But in secret he often ; musedon the great contrast between the character and conduct of the gentle Jesus and that of his "humble follower" the stern James , and he saw how little forms and ceremonies have to do with true religion—how often they mock or mask it ; but it might be said of James that he assumed true holiness , if he bad it not .

      More were thecoDflicts at home between James and bis wife respecting tbe treatment of their foundling ( the only thing they ever quartelled about ) , ard many a blow has the good dame intercepted from the poor fellow . Whether it proceeded from his sufferings , or that his own nature was kindly , I know not ; but youi . g James was a remarkably considerate lad , and never saw anyone in want without being himself in woe . He often meditated upon the secrets told him by his foster-mother . Who had his parents been ?—his mother especially ? Had Bhe been some unfortunate deceived one—betrayed and deserted—or a mendicant ? Was she living now ? Was there no way of ascertaining this?—no clue to find her out ? How gladly would he work to keep her ! These thoughts

      softened his temper and made him inclinable to melancholy . He was a great sympathiser with any one in distress , and often gave romantic proofs of it , by relieving every poor beggar-woman that he cculd , for he said to himself , she may be my mother , and many were the questions that he asked them to discover if it was so or not A still greater proof of his sensibility he gave by falling in love out of pity to a poor girl named Susan , because , like himself , she was a cast npon tbe world and had a hard place in it This did not please his foster-father , who rated James soundly upon it—but the young man ( he had now grown up ) was near the close of his servitude , had become a jood hand , was sensible of tho value of his work , had lately joined a mechauics" debating society in the town where

      he had learnt much of the rights of man , and ' . was ' less disposed than formerly to submit in helpless acquieeence to the tyranny of his foster-father and master . He maintained the light to think for himself , and to act for himself , at least on such a point as choosing a partner , but old James told him if he did not leave her he should leave his house . . This young James would long since have done had it not been for his filial attachment to his foster-mother , but it was that veTy attachment which at last brought about his depnrture , for on one occasion when she bad received a severe blow aimed at James he stood up in her defence , and , not able any longer to contain his rage , struck at his master , who forthwith banished him outright James immediately went and married Susan , then with his heavy tools across his back tramped southward in search of work . ( To be concluded in our nejcl . )

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      CONTINUATION OF AN ESSAY ON THE PRESENT SYSTEM , INTENDED AS A COMPANION TO DR . CHANNING'S ESSAY ENTITLED " THE PRESENT AGE . "

      There are two great Interests Id England—the agricultural and the manufacturing interests—the former is identified with the upper classes , tho latter -with the middle classes . The working-men or lower classes , as they are called , have no interest at all ; it is deemed sufficient for them to labour for the interests of others , of those above them . But besides the landlord and the mill-lord , there is the funolord and the ahiplord—all lords together ; but I do not enumerate the two latter as having separate interests , because they have not . Indeed the true interests of all is for each to consider the interest of the other ; to blend harmoniously ; to unite as one But tbe manufacturers are struggling for ascendancy over the agriculturists , or rather to supplant th 6 m . Tbe manufacturers wish tbnt foreign landlords

      should sell us ail tbe corn wo want , and buy of us all the goods they want ; but they forgtt that the foreigner can manufacture for himself , aye , and for us too , aa well as grow corn . " Perish commerce , live the laiid !'" is an agricultural maxim ; but the cry of the manufacturers is , " Live commerce , perish the landlords and the land too ! " Both forget the equitable maxim—live !\ nd let live . The shiplords say that foidgiic-ra are already too much encouraged ; that foreigners are runnine ; us off the seas . But the fundlords and the shopfrrds sido with the manufacturers , because , say . they , trade , not agriculture , brings wealth to a nation . Yes , but it brings vice and corruption too . Such wealth is weakneBB . A . II overtook , the main point , that is , home trade , or home consumption . If the waste lnnds in

      Groat Britain were cultivated ; or if the cultlvattd lands were improved , not only would there be no need to import foreign corn , but we could export as we formerly did—nor would there be that need of a foreign matket for our own manufactured goods , because Englishmen at home could take them . Home colonizitic . n , therefore , is the grand remedial measure far the distresses and crimes of the country . The land that is suffered to lie waste where employment and food is wanted—is a reproach to our rulers—is an insult to Providence ; for God said , let the earth bring forth its fruits in due season—bring forth what it ia capable of producing—but the arittscracy say no , let it breed nothing but game for our sport , wo will not be barted our divt-rsions , though the people bave to cast lots , and kill each other for food .

      Not only would the cultivation of the waste lands give employment to all whom machinery has driven out of work , but it would enable the employed iu their turn to employ all the manufacturers and tradesmen ¦ whose -warehouses and slaops are nt present filled with all kinds of goods for which there is no vender , for bow soon would they be emptied , and how often might they be refilled and rt-anptied , if ail who now wander tbe jtrtets and highways without food , without clothing , and without habitations—if all the unemployed were put in a condition to maintnin themselves aud families , to procure all the comfortB and conveniences cf life , and how much more creditable would this be to the creation—how much more conducive to the interests of virtue and humanity than as now ,

      when wo everywhere see Britishartizxns and meohanics more like scarecrows than men—ragged , attenuatedwith wives more like mummies than women , living skeletons , and children nothing ' but skin and bone , shadows , spectres . It was trade that took men frem the land , and now that machinery is doing man ' s work—is reducing men to mendicants , they must go back te the land—the land is the true refuge for the destitute . But Government refases them their natural right to live by the soil—to live by the labour of their hands , by tbe sweat of their brow—the curse pronounced on Adam ' s posterity would be deemed a blessing now , if Government would allow it , but Government transport * the

      working man if he does but take of the wild creatures for food , that are no man ' s property , but God ' s gift to all men—Government ships him off to cultivate the lands in other hemispheres , to fish and bunt there , or shuts him up in a bastile . Now that Government iB unworthy the name which , with ample resources to feed , and clothe , and teach the people , leaves one man unfed , unclothed , untaught—that Governjaient is nothing but an usurpation which denies any man hla right to the soil , or to a voice in the making of those laws by which he is bound and governed . A member of society should euffar nothing that society can relieve . All that perish of hunger ( and more die of that thau of any other disease ) are cruelly murdered by our usurpers —our wanton tyrants .

      Under such a govetnment and with such a system of society how could it be . otherwise than that the people skould degenerate—that England should become the scorn of all nations . Our legislators have filed huge volumes with criminal lawa—taph law a libel on the people , tor svety law presupposes that the ptoplt ? need

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      prohibition , need prevention , need punishment , when the fact ia , the people are degraded by oppression , their very nature is changed—they are uneducated , then taunted with ignorance—they are encouraged to deprave themselves with drink , then taunted with crime—and they are driven mad with huDger , then taunted with coveting food . Instead of being wholesome preventatives of the passions of men , our laws are for the most part provocatives , or rather they are licenses , royal licenses tO thB vanity , the fielflshnesa , the avarice and the ambition Of oar law-makers themselves . Such ia class-Iefelstation I It encourages that close competition which as its circle is gradually more and more narrowed by monopoly is fast making England like the black hole of Calcutta , where every man was berted to the nuisance , the enemy the death of his fellow-man , his neighbour , his brother . ( To be continued )

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      But London , after all , would be a good Chartist place—it woald be the best , as it is the most important , were it not for the " lice . " Let not the country be ianoculated by the virus of the town ; but let the town be made healthy by an infusion of country blood . John Watkihs . Manor House , Battersea .

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      THE EXECUTIVE . TO THE CHARTISTS OF GREAT BRITAIIf . I cordially agree with the sentiment of oar General Secretary , that the election of individuals to fid np ? vacancies in the Executive will have to be abandoned , I think , in fact , it ought to be ; the period of time it would have to sit before the annual election is so short , that no injury cau arrive in the mean time sufficient to justify the trouble and inconvenience that would be occasioned by adoptisg tbe proposition . This is ray individual opinion , but as the Editor of the Slar truly observes , it is for the people to deter mire .

      I embrace this opportunity to return my thanks notwithstanding , to the Chartists of Nottingham , Carrington , and their respective localities for their confidence , evinced as it has been by their requisition for me to allow my nams to be placed on the nomination list , and to assure tbem that my cheerful consent was spontaneously given at the crisis from a conviction that it is the duty of every man- who really wishes to promote his country ' s freedom to stand firm by bis principles in the hour of danger , as well as a desire that our oppressors may see , howev t hey may vainly endeavour to thin eur ranks of onr acknowledged leaders , by tyrannical persecution—that there is no lack of patriotism to supply the vacuum thus momentarilly occasioned . Should the election be proceeded with I shall bd found at the post assigned to me whatever it may be , but fcr the reasons before stated , I think the better course is to abandon it for the present ¦ . ' ' " . . Richard Hawkins . New Inn Yard , Carrington , near Nottingham , . Nov . 7 , 1842 .

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      Singular Accident . —Last week , Mr . Beeding residing at Pennis Rocks , Sussex , bad been out during the day shooting , and on his return took off hia jacket and threw it across a chair . Mr . Beeding ' s dog went to the pocket and took out the powderflask aud dropped it into the fire ; it immediately exploded , blew out the window and damaged the furniture ; but although Mr . Seeding was in the room at the time , be fortunately escaped unhurt .

      Thb Trial of Sui 58 E . —Some notion may be formed of the heavy expenses attending the defence of Saisse , the late Marquis of Hertford's valet , from the subjoined tavern bill sent in to Suisse ' s solicitor for tha refreshments , Jto , supplied to his witnesses during three days only . The account commences , " 1842 , August 24 . " and runs thus : — " Dinners and dessert , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 1 ; teas and coffees , £ 3 ; Sherry , ( iced ) £ 10 153 . ; Port , £ 8 8 t . ; Champange , £ 16 108 . 6 d . ; Hock , £ 8 18 j . 6 d . ; Claret , £ 4 16 * . ; soda water , lemonade , and ginger beer , A \ 5 s . 6 d . ; cigars , £ 1 2 s . ; malt and spirits , £ 3 17 s . Gd . ; rooms as engaged , £ 3 3 s . " The items for the second day are : — " August 25 ih . Dinners and dessert , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 3 10 : i . ; teas and coffees , £ 2 153 . ; Sherry , ( ioed ) £ 11 15 i . ; Port , £ 6 " 153 . ; Champagne , £ 15 10 s . Cd . ; Hock * £ 6 15 s . 6 'd . , ' C ] aret ,. £ 5 lOa . 6 "d . ; soda water . £ 3 ] 03 . : Cigars , £ 1 7 s . 6 d .: malt liquor and

      spirits , £ 4 3 i . 7 . d . \ rooms as eugaged , £ 3 ii . " On the third day , the 26 ch of August : —DinnerB and desserts , £ 20 ; luncheons , £ 2 5 s , ; teas and coffees , £ 2 7 s . 6 J . ; Sherry and Port , £ 17 0 s . U . ; Champagne , £ ) 5 10 s , 6 d .. ; Honk and Claret , £ 15 9 s . ; soda water , lemonade , &c , £ 3 ; malt liquor , spirits , and cigars , £ i 19 s . 6 d . ; refreshments at . the court three days , £ 2 6 a . 9 i . ; rooms as engaged , £ 3 3 s . " Total for the three days ' refreshment , £ 257 13 s 4 d . To which is added , £ 7 10 s . for " waiters , chambermaid , and messenger , £ 2 10 s . per diem asi desired ; " and for " sundry broken glasses , £ 1 9 j . 9 J . ; " mating the whole amount £ 266 13 * . Id . It has been already stated that Mr . Thesiger had 300 guineas for his brief , and Messrs . Clarkson , Chambers , and James , fifty guineas eaeh . Suisse is at present residing ia Paris , and the whole amount of his fortune is stated to be little short of £ 400 , 000 .

      Chea p Fisii . —The take of cod-fish at Brighton has lately been unusually large , fine fish Eelling at less than one penny a pound . On Monday the DlV * ket was completely glutted , and seven fisti , weighing from twenty-five pounds to thirty pounds each , were sold for eight shillings . The fish are fresh from the water , and the lash i 9 firm and good . Loss of Three Pilots . —On Tuesday evening last three pilots , Richard M'Ureevey , and two men of the name of M'Keown , went down to tho Lough on the look out for vessels . Yesterday morning , the boat in which they went out . was picked up near Bangor with her stern oat . It is supposed that either the boat Had been run down by a steamboat , or had / been capsized in a squall ; the former supposition , . u is to be hoped , will prove correct , as there will be then a greater probability of the men having been rescued from a watery grave . — Ulster Times . :

      The Completion of the Tunnel . —This stupendous work is finished , and Wapping has reason to be proud of such a truly wapping undertaking . Perhaps no enterprise ever had so much cold water thrown upon it , and never was there a projeot which it seemed at one time bo difficult to go through with . The engineer has worked like a horse , and has scarcely ever been out of the shatt . The original shareholders , whose pocketB were well drained in fruitless efforts to drain the tunnel , have now th » satisfaction of once more running through their property . Fox some time the ardour of the projector * was damped by the works going on too swimmingly . When accidents were erery-day occurrences the Tunnel was a matter of interest ; bat , since the water has

      been effectually kept out , it has been a dry subject . On more than one occasion , the company would . have been swamped , in spite of all bands beintDut ^ o the pumps , if government had not lent th ||^ MByBfc ^ gT « The funds , in fact , were at lowflEMraNreSwtftr „ fore the works reaohed the aWLjHBSgSyi ^^ J * and the more the tunnel was setftSSak ^ ittifV ^ W — C the shareholders aground in thm * ByWjqfiwBJEPjJ T ^ M the perils are now past , and they » nwiDwMllB@ift > g | A monument to British . enterprise ?* WjffiwfftcgnLw . Sg , perhaps , a pillar to the fame X tlSJ n *| i 5 f {! $ l /^"* 2 were not that a pillar ia ino ^ pa | a \ ffi | feSwjyf 0 * ' 5 L things , oao of which , the shaft ' , &B . HpraaHffifl ^« 3 fcr | ' jj capital . —Cruikshantfs CWiic ^^ fefh wgy l g M lft b ^

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      TO THE EDITOR OP THE NORTHERN STAR . SIR , —The town of Hanley and the Potteries generally are at the present time quiet and peaceable , and are likely to remain so for pome time , considering the authorities of these townships are backed by the physical power of the Government . There are , however , now very few specials on duty , as some of them have D 3 come discontented with receiving no lire for their labour ; but to make np this deficiency , the county Quarter Sessions nave come to the decision of putting the whole of the Pottery district under the new Constabulary Act , and discharging the whole of our local police . It is very likely the Act will be adopted for the whole of the county of Stafford .

      The system of centralising the new police farce put in operation by my Lord John Russell and other pseudo Liberals of the late Government , has been wellrecommended at the above sessions , and , no doubt , will be carried ont most stringently in th \ s neighbourhood , at least The Whigs of these townships have , nevertheless , taken great offence at this step , as it has taken away the power of the township commissioners and vested it solely in the sitting magistrates of the Potteries . The Whigs say , they will only have the privilege of paying for this new power , ' without having the chance of selecting the officers , &c . < fec- ; but these Whigs forget to tell us that tbe commissioners were before a perfectly irresponsible body . The screw then will be driven tighter for the Whigs in future , aa well as for the ' poor deluded Chartists . '

      Tho colliers at Mr . Sparrow ' s coal works have again this week struck against a reduction of four shillings ia the pound . This will plainly show that the masters , even with physical force at their back , will not be able to compel the miners to submit to the iron-banded despotism of the coal-masters . Mr . Sparrow is the same master who first reduced the men previous to the late disturbances , and which was considered the cause of the late outbreaks . The principal leaders of the Chartists bave been seized and lodged in j > rLson . Some have taken their trial , and some are about to be bailed out , consequently cannot be charged with having turned out tbe miners afresh . Thus the causes are still removed , viz , class legislation . When will the eyes of the Government be opened to the interests of the working classes ? We s&y never , till the people are ready to force themselves upon its notice .

      Ban has been offered by two respectable gentlemen of this neighbourhood for John Richards , and probably will be accepted . ' ¦ Let every Chartist look out and claim his privileges , and let them render their support more than ever at this very critical period , and allow not their enemies to triumph over them , by seeing their friends immured and then neglected , Let the Chartists thieughout the Staffordshire Potteries bring up the means to forward William Ellis ' s case to tbe Queen ' s Bench , which remains at present ia slalu quo . Up and be doing , for there is no time to lose . I will here just mention that the same week as the sentence was passed upen Ellis , his poor old mother ' s parish relief was taken from her , while her husband lies ill in the house nnd not expected to live . Will Mr . Allbatt , the Christian Editor , enquire into this ? Let us see .

      A tea party is expected to take place soon , of which due notice will be given . Youra , Moses Swpsoh . Hanley , Staffordshire Potteries , November 8 tb , 1842 .

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      ADDRESS TO THE WATEIN'S TESTIMONrALISTS . ( Concluded . / " Strange , unusual blwd I When man's worst sin iB , he does too much good . " Timon of Athens . The country Chartists in London ( such of them as have not been cocknejfled , ) and all the cockney-Chartists , who are actuated by the spirit of the country , intending to testify their respect publicly for some Chartist whom they deemed worthy of it , and deeming me worthy of that honour , formed themselves into a Committee for this purpose , and the Editors ot the Northern Star wa <\ British Statesman , though disagreeing with eash other in other respects , agreed to recommend the objects of this Committee ; but their unbought praise renewed tbe ire , awakened the envy and malice of my uncharitable detractors , who again " cooled my friends , heated mine enemies ; " and , by all

      those petty personal tricks which long practice had made them perfect in , attempted to frustrate or to divert the purposes of the Committee ; for , said they , " a young man and a stranger should not be suffered to bear away the palm from old and known Radicals . " I name no names ; I descend to no details ; I did not intend to mention these things ; I bavo hitherto forborne to notice them ; but there is a time when forbearance becomes culpable to one ' s-seif , when forgiveness is a crime to society , when , for the honour of human nature , we should resent an injury , and , for the interests of society , should ' punish the doers of it . If my brother Chartists deem me not an unworthy or ill-deserving member of their body , they will rejoice to see me assert myself with becoming apirii ^ -to seerae stand at bay , and repel the foal insinuations of the yelping pack that bark their beffl id spite at me . There is not one of them who ia reputable either in ' public or private life , not one but would be hissed and hooted out of society in the country .

      " Let them do their spite . The services that I have done to Chartism Shall out-tongue their complaints . " Be It known then that I do not regret the malevolence of these curs , on the contrary I feel proud of it , for I take comfort from the words of Swift , whe Bays , " Yoa may know a man of genius by the confederacy ot all the dunces against him , " and again , " You may know the best fruit by its being most pecked at . " Moreover I know that were I a fool or a knave , I should not be feared , I should not be hated , I should be flittered , I should be favoured by fools or kuaves . It is the honest man they dislike .

      The much-abused sermon was again brought up and cast into my toeth—it was again made a bugbear of . Now to every word of the sermon I stand as I would to my gun while there was ashotia the locker . I am ready to discuss it word by word with one , with all , who may dislike it ; and I solemnly avow it as my most serious conviction that Chartism in London will be like Jonah ' s gourd , spring up { one day to wither the next , or like a wave that rises and falls in mere noise and froth , the " tale of an Idiot full of sound and fury signifying nothing" —a mere maygame until the , men « f London screw their principles up to the pitch of that sermon . Have not the people and their rival leaders united to pronounce it good ? Are not its prophetic truths daily proving themselves , yea , hourly making themselves manifest ? Had the warnings in that sermon been properly heeded , we should not have heard of the Sturges , the Treadwells , or the Griffios . Let those who have not

      read it , read it ; and those who have read it , read it again . Let them look at those who denounce it—seek them and you will find them to ba a mere cabal , a clique that follow the cause as sharks follow a ship at « ea , not from principle , but from interest—carrioncrows , who gather whero the carcase is—they would have left tbe cause long ago could they have decoyed the people after them—they do not Buffer , nor will they serve , for nothing—they make themselves all things to all men , that by any means they may get money—hoilow , rotten , slimy things are they , whose fingers ate lime-twigs—whose tongues are forked—they are the political pedlars , the Cbartist cheats , who scruple not to rob even the poor victims that suffer for their fidelity to the cause— " London lice" as O'Connor aptly termed them—leeches , who should be treated to a little Attic salt to make them disgorge their plunder , or at leaat to torce them to quit their hold of their prey .

      We are told that Pharaoh held out against all the plagues except the plague of lica ; he held out against darkness , against locusts , against frogs , &c , but he could not stand the lice .. '" . So it is with Chartism—we have been tried with famine , tempted by disunion , proved by persecution , and now what can prevent the good ship from arriving at the harbour—what but the barnacles that stick to her bottom ?—what can hinder the good cow from thriving?—the lice upon her back I It is for the people to see that the cause be not eternally disgraced , be not eternally lost , by the intrusion of things possessing neither talent nor honestyclap-trap Chartists , mere mouthers , decoy-blrds : for

      fowlers , second hand retailers of other men a cast-off thoughts— things who degrade the dignity of the cause , whs make it lose its imposing attitude , its moral influence ; who draw upon the cause the contempt due omy to themselves , who make a byeword of Chartism . Men of self-respect will not have their names associated with the insects that fritter away the public time and money—lions will not stay to be annoyed by gnats—drive those out and their betters will come in . But hsw are they to be driven out?—by satire ! they art ) impassive to reason—the toadB should be touched by Ithuriel ' 8 epear—the rats should be smoked out , and nothing less strong than brimstone can do it . The Autolycuses and tbe Morouses are not wanted , and must be weeded before the seed can bring forth

      fruit . I know that many sincere Chartists have withdrawn from the association- ^ -that many others have refused to join—that the trades keep aloof from tbe fonntain because its watere ate troubled—because something ails the cause—because it is cursed by the rats and the lice . Men get ashamed of Chartism when such things can call themselves Chartists—thingB that can only subserve sinister ends or make a fool of Chartism . Falstaff was ashamed of his followers , but our followers have more reason to be ashamed of some of their leaders . These things are entitled to the most serious consideration of all true Chartists , for it is owisg to

      these things that tho cause does not progress as it ought to do and would do . I have no personal enmity to indulge in these remarks —the provocation I have received would justify the severest retaliation ; but not for myself but for the sake of the cause do I speak—not for myself but for the sake of all who may have suffered similarly with myself . I own no man as my enumy who is a friend of his country ; nor no enemy of his country as a personal friend . Had I an enemy I should forgive him were he a friend of the cause ; but this is paradoxical . I had rather put up with private wrongs then suffer my exposure of them to retard public rights , for I am of the mind of Scylia in this

      respect—• " He who did subdue His country ' s foes , ere he would pause to feel Tbe wrath of hifl own wrongs . " Nor have I any disappointed ambition to gratify—quite tho contrary . Ever since I came to London I have had to steer through ahoais and quicksands , and if I have escapad the rocks on which spmo older and more promising barks have split—if I have weathered out the stoim by keeping out at sea and not running with a trade-wind for any smug but dishonourable harbour on the leo , it is because I have ever kept the causa in view—the cause has been my Northern Slar .

      In conclusion . I have made this statement cf facts upon principle , that the people may have an opportunity of forming a just judgment for the benefit of the cause . I have stated these facts gleaned from personal experience and observation to give our brethren in the country a true idea of the ordeal which any young aspirant of probity and talent may expect to be subjected to in London . I have made this statement in writing , because by the machinations of iny vnlg ir and venomous traducers I am prevented from doing it personally—I have made it because unless a better understanding takes place the people ' s friends cannot do all the service they would wish to the people ' s cause . This paper will not be written in vain if it prove from example that after all there ia nothing profitable but honesty—nothing expedient bnt what is jast and that " there is no time so miserable but a man may be true . " When I was confined to my bed by the dangerous

      illness which my zeal or enthusiasm | though I was denounced for it ) had brought upon me , then were my maligners most active—that was the time the earwigs , the " nest of unclean birds" tqok to spread their principles which are misrepresentations and abase , but thank God I am spared to be an Instrument in his bands for the furtherance of this moat righteous cause—thank God I have regained my health and spirits—thank God I am independent ; and now I find my backbiters like the Jews of whom Christ said , when h « went about dally teaching in the Temple and Syuogofiues , they shrunk from questioning liim . Yes , it is not in opon places—in bruad daylight—and by fair iiieans ; but it is behind back , underhand , and by treachery that such men work . Like Elfrida , they give the eup of friendship with one hand , and , while you are drinkjaj it , they « tab y » u in the fcack WJtll tat ) other .

      Untitled Article

      THE NORTHERN STAR , J

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Nov. 12, 1842, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct456/page/7/