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Northern Star (1837-1852), 12th March 1842, Edition 3 of 5, Page 4, Untitled Article

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    • THE NORTHERN STAE SATURDAY, MARCH 12, 1842.
    • ©0 2$eafcW anti Covw&«n«wntj5f#
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      Untitled Article

      PUBLIC MEETING AT BATH , IN REFERENCE TO THE CONFERENCE . i

      Elsewhere we have given an account of what f transpired at the Conference held oa Monday after . noon last , at Bath , by some Chartists , and a mr ^ . xity of those who cannot be called such , in r ^^^ j to the declaration of Mr . Siarge , in favour of r J ^ rfBte suffrage , but not the Charter . . ¦ .. In the evening , such was the anxie ' - ^ q ^ matter by the Char&te * enertly , ^ others , that the room of the National Chaner Association was crowded to suffocation bj persons -expecting to hear something about the result of ' j * Conference , and leSS ^ PQXS ^ CCr ^^ by the ^ fis *

      uife , ? ^ v ™ ^^ ' ^ *» cliair ' OP 6116 " } ftS ^ ° J S e mee - fcui K » * short speech . He S «? Sf eS ™ l ? aoman °° be-opposed S ^ ifl ^ ntf ^ a ? lhe declaration of Mr . Sturge , S ™™™ ?'? - > ° ' iMiiot advise any person to ffWneprmcipleof the Charter . 3 , BAMLKir was ^ h ^ npon to a ess the SSfcftvft ?* - ? WTer had felt more warmly than he did that Dig } A 9 n the object which they had met to discuss . Th jpe was no man more devoted , or more sincerely at ^^ to the People ' s Charter than he was ; and ^ pr 0 Ted that devotion and sincerity by havir * suffered for advocating the principles which tha , lament sets forth- ( hear , heart .

      Menadsaadtha- ; j *« neswere at hand , which would try men ' s soul- i ^ 3 ^ th « time had come for tae Chaitists calm j ^ -and deliberately to consider what is the proper c jrjjsq they now shcalcl pursue . He " *?? % * *? ** reconciliation take place between the middle clas- J 5 m ( i tBe chartists- ; he wanted to-see a powerful c- / element ^ aade in favour of principlessomedefin ^ Ej ects . And he-w o ul d fay the-expeiienee of ^ past—the state ef English parties for mn JJ e' as ,-and the conduct of the middle-classes , warned i s against turning freai the straightforward P <« rtght and justice—( cheers ) . The destiny of ages , t . x welfare of our species depended upon the ^^ ' d the present struggles ; revolutions were £ omS ea in the world : they have successfully rade and and

      •^^ « ia Spain Portugal ^ in * * tatn the glorious principles of democratic *? ° arament had been established— ( cheers . " ) Why ? iJef aose the people there stood honestly by their P aciples , they fought the battle of justice , they c f' joehed to no party , they were not misled by ^ * ss interests- ; they stsod firmly to their principles "" - { immense cheering . ) And if the leaders of * 1 » Chartists act in this way- ; if they be aocest to their principles , and endeavour by calm sod rational diBCussion to make -converts to them , * ao less important revolution will speedily take jalaoe in this country —( cheers . ) We had arrived jas , an important crisis , a ciisis that he had foretold , » crisis he had endeavoured to brine about—( hear ,

      ~ 3 iear >—a crisis , the nature of which must impress —die-Chartists with -a conviction of standing firm as : 3 Teck . They had no doubt read the speeches made lately by Mr . Ferrand , speeches which contained much trnthin regard to the motives which actuated the Corn Law Repealers ; bat these speeches it ^ ust be understood , did not advance any argument against the justice of Corn Law Repeal ; they « lid not prove that the oountry was in no distress , 3 ior that class legislation was no evil—( hear , iear , ) These were evils ; and the declaration of ilr . Strsrge did . no ; set forth by what means these evils -were to be got lid of . It denounced class legisla-• iion , and recognised Uaiversal Suffrage to be a Tight , at least the instructions did , which those who

      • carry the memorial round the city to get it signed TrereTeouested to read to those who signed it . Why not give such instructions in the memorial ? Why rso Taguely word the memorial sls to need instructions io explain what that memorial means ? It is a coybird designed to delude the unwary—( eheera , and -cries -of ** We won't have it . " ) But it was said that if we agreed to the principle of Complete Suffrage , A conference woold meet in Birmingham for the purpose of agreeing to details necessary to carry -that principle into effect . Now , there were certain points in the Charter—one was a right , tho others -were matters of expediency , founded upon the ¦ opinion of their being necessary to give effect , permanencv , and consistency to the principle of

      TJni-Tersal Snurage— ( hear , iear , hear . ) The . details were in fact as important as the principle , the one was indispensably necessary to the other . ( Hear , hear , and loud cheers . ) He had said thai the middle classes would be driven by necessity into the Chartist rsnks ; and he now cautioned the working -elasses against being misled—he advised them to pursue the same honest course now as they have -done all along . We were asked whether we would join the middle classes ! and his reply ww , no , unless it he upon honourable terms . It would bo wrong in us to sink down to the standard of those classes , because they entertain certain prejudices towards ns , and-certain absurd opinions in reference to'our Charter . Would it not ba better to endeavour , by

      argument , by discussion , to bring up , or wait until ¦ circuniEtaEce 3 had forced them to come ud to our standard i—< " hear , hear , ' * and cheers . ) Ho was not opposed to any class of people—he considered ail men to be his brothers ; but , permit him to gay , that it was their duty—a duty they owed themselves and their country—to be npon the watch , to trust none hnt themselves , and to nnite with none but , such as Are willing to make common cause with us in the straggle for the Charter—( cheers . ) Let no party have the power of altering the details of the Charter—Xcheers ) If a conference be appointed , let the delegates represent yon—( hear ,, hear)—let them go according to your instructions , and not damn the principles , by laying down their

      -own aetails . Mr . B . spoke for some time on this subject 4 he went on to point out what is meant by constitutional justice ; and next observed , that the issue of the pending revolution depended entirely upon tfee steps the people took at this crisis . He advised them to b 9 jealous and watchful of the middle classes ; and take care that they ( ihz Chartists } be not defeated in their object . tCHeers . ) He wanted to see both classes united , but wanted also the union to be one of principle , and for nothing else . Let us keep that in view , and justice must ultimately prevail . ( Cheers . ) Mr . B . ' s speech was listened to with marked and solemn attention and it appeared to have produced a powerful impression . The above is but an outline .

      Mr . R . K- P-Hjlp made a . long speech in the usual strain , and proposed the following resolution r" Thai this meeting haib , tellh satisfaction , the declaration of Mr . Sturge ; but , at the same time , it will not cease agitating for the whole of the People ' s Charter . " Mr . Cul ? . se , in seconding the motion , followed in the strain of the preceding speaker . He- said that he conld not agree with Mr . Bartlett that Mr . Srurge's declaration set forth nothing definite : it did ; it recognised an important principle . Mr . Babtlett exclaimed that- he had stated that the ' * instructions" recognised an important right ; bat that 3 Ir . Starve Tras indefinite as to the details necessarv to g . ve iiat right effect .

      Mr . Clarke continued—01 he did not understand that : yet he did think we should not be jealous of the middle classes ; we shonld receive the overtures they had made as , 23 being a great advance to the Charter . He was not for persons forcitig their opinions upon others \ but he agreed with Mr . Bartlett when he said that all revolutions had been effected by independence of action . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Mr . Roberts supported the resolution in a speech of great length , bu ; he advanced not a tittle of an ar ££ meni in favour of the position he . and his party hadtaksn up . He here applauded Mr . Bartlett's

      speech made at the Conference , wnicn aa saia was excellent , and deliTered In a manner that prodceed a powerful impression upon all presen ? . He ( Air . R . ) -said , ws ought to be jsalou ^—to be watchful of the middle classes ; bat he was not to bo led by Feargus O'Connor nor the Star ; he was not to be tyrannised -over by a dictator , and he was afraid that too many would be led a- ^ ay by the Star . ( The sarcastic manner in which this was uttered vras evidently not . approved of by the meeting . ) Ho thought that the Conference about to meet in Birmingham could ieiEadeto do anything , if the people were true to ihemselves .

      Mr . Hcpkiss , a sterling Chartist , asked whether -the Conference « as not designed to injure and defeat -ihe objects of the National Convention ? And- whenher Siurge had cot pu : forth his memorial with a - ? iew of injuring the National Petition ? That Conitxence would want-support . Mr . Roberts said 3 Ir . Siurge , he had co doubt , ¦\ vauld pay the delegates to the Cocf-rence . Mr . Baetlett said he thought that wa 3 an impi x » er step , the people should pay their own servants an 1 iot Mr . Sterge—{ hear , hear . ) ¦\ lr- PvCb&bss explained—he had made a mistake . T \ e Chaibslln was requested by- iir . Bartlett to he had done

      read ^ resolution asasi ; when so , Mr . I "tertlett suggested that the words' with-much pl * asu * £ ' should be introduced into the motion instead « ' with satisfaction , ' as > . e was sure-no Chartis . seould be . satisfied with Srarge ' s declara-The su > ¥ e = tion haring been attended to , the motion in the amt "oded form was put aod " carried Mr . Pun "ii ? s made some few observations Mr . Babt x , ett now proposed the former motion he made at t&s i ^ onference . It was secoi-uled in a neat speech by Mr . Twite .

      Mr . YiKcarr rase to support it , notwithstanding his opposition to it at the Conference ,, aud that too after he ha ^ callsd the motion a capital one . He Trent oh in ihe" * : « ne strain as did Mr . Roberts , and with much wanT&'h ; in a rage of passion he contfeded for the n * ' -hi ° ! thinking for hiiaself he ¦ wosid act as he ihoJ ^ h * proper , no man should coniraal him ; he would y > t h « eostroaled ( so is appearod ) even by public opu ? i <> a * When he went to the Coufcrc-nce he would take «*« ^** the details of the Charier shonld uot be set tT *^ ' & 1 * ' Vincent refused to act oa the National Co ^^ en ^^ ^ . is this !) Mr . Vincent went on for *> " " ? « t 1 Eje , but adrsr-ced noihing more than what haa bees before « ai < J ,

      Untitled Article

      ^ ^ oUon was put and carried unanimously ^^ AUch cheering . ^ fa . Alderman Crisp thought certain parties were going too fast ; all they had been Baying ab * ut the ! middle clasps coming over to the Chartists was mere I moonshine . He did think that- there were many at the conference who were more in fayouz of Corn Law Repeal than any thing else—( ohcers . ) The working classes should be on their guard—tut they should sign Sfcurge's memorial . This speech does not pb >» Mr . Crisp ' s colleagues in a very plausible light , it makes their whole conduct appear strange , passing Btarange . ... The Chairman after making a few remarks dissolved the meeting . The Chartists of Bath are not to be humbugged , th '< jy know their duty , and they will perform it , wh ? . tever their leaders may do .

      The Northern Stae Saturday, March 12, 1842.

      THE NORTHERN STAE SATURDAY , MARCH 12 , 1842 .

      Untitled Article

      THE " PASTE" DAUBERS AND THE " DEVIL ' S DUST" MANUFACTURER ^ Last week we inserted as full a report as we could procure of Mr . Busfield Feebakd ' s second speech expository -ot tho tricks and frauds resorted to and committed by the " great" manafacturers , both in the cotton and woollen districts . We did so , because we wish , the readers ef the * Northern Star to be in possession of the revealments made by the member for KnareBbro' as to the practices which are ruining the character of the nation in the estimation of the foreigner to whom we offer our trashv goed 3 for sale . We have heard a great deal

      said about " foreign competition , " and about the necossity of so" cheapening production" as to enable us to maintain our " foreign trade ; " we have heard a great deal more in the way of complaint , that , spite of all our efforts so to " cheapen production , " our " foreign trade" is leaving ub ; that we are being beaten out of the continental markets ; that we are beiDg followed into distant nextral markets ; and that even , in some cases , we have been successfully competed with in our own home markets . We have heard a great deal said on this head ; and tho world is now made acquainted with one of the causes why " ous present productions , " " cheap "

      though they be , are rejected by those who have once tried them- Is it likely that either the foreigner or the home dealer will take from us our " pasted calicos" or our * devil ' s dusf woollens , if they can either make better for themselves or purchase from others good and substantial productions ! Is it likely that they will consume our calicos , made up with " stiffening" and " paste ; " or our woollens made up with " mun-go" and flour , after they have once put the one into the wash-tnb , or had the other in a shower of rain ! Are these the sort of productions that are to ensure to us the markets of tho world !

      That onr readers may be able to know the full extent and nature of the revealments made by Mr . Ferrand , as to these and similar practices on the part of our ** great" manufacturers , we have given all that has been said in " the House" relative to them , both by Mr . Fehrand himself , and those of the organs of the " great" manufacturers who have tried to rebut his statements . Our present sheet contains a report of a rather curious " debate" or « talk" about Mr . Ferrand ' s charges ; a "talk " led-off by Cobde 5 , the Stevenson ' s-square bludgeonman . This ** talk" we have given , as well as

      the reply by Mr . Ferrakd , on Monday evening , to Mr . Cobdk-v , and to the averments of the document read to " the House" from " the Plague" manufacturers hy Mr . Villters . To the report of these proceedings , we beg to call the especial attention of our readers . In that report , they will find much to amuse—much to instruct ; and much of which to be ashamed . They cannot but he amused at the adroitness of Cobden ' s manufacturing a chargo of crutlty ; and indignantly Tebutting that , while he left the real charge untouched ! They cannot fail to be further amused at the barefaced attempt of the Manchester

      " Pjague" Manufacturers to rid themselves of the whole of Mr . Fkbbasd ' s charges , "PASTE" and all , by simply denying that they practice the truck system ! These adroit attempts cannot hut amuse , while they also instruct as to the tactics of the " Plague" men , and the meannesses they will descend to to serve themselves , or gain a point . But while these things thu 3 amuse and instruct , the revelations maie to the whole world , as to the means of deception and fraud practised by the English trader for the " taldng-in" of the stranger and imposing upon the unwary , must make the eare of every Englishman who values his own character and that of

      his country to burn with shame ! The charge against Bludgeon Cobden was , that he was constantly in the habit of representing himself and the " great" manufacturers whosa month-piece he was , as being RUINED by the operations of the Corn Law 3 ; that they were losing money constantly " by carrying on their concerns ; " that they were on the verge of bankruptcy—all but in the Gazette ; and ; hat , while he was making these representations ; while he was describing himself as being RTJINJED in his trade , and as sacrificing his " capital" daily by employing " his hands "; the

      charge against him was , that , while he was doing this , he found his business of calico printer so profitable , and his love of money-making so great , that he run his works at Chorley bo ^ h day and night ! and that , spite of the operations of the Corn Laws , immense fortunes had been made by other manufacturers , who were notoriously known to have had nothing when they began business ; that the MeEsrs . Marshall , of Leeds , had accumulated more than two millions of money ; and that tha Manchester League-men actually boasted that they were able to bny up the

      aristocracy of England . TM 3 was the chargo made by Mr . Ferband against Cobde . v . How did Cobden meet it ? By trumping up a charge of cruelty against his workmen , and rebutting that ! Not a word doe 3 he say about bis former representations of RUIN ! Not a word does he say about the " large" fortunes ! Not a word does he venture in explanation of the fact , that those who so loudly bawl for a Repeal of the Corn Laws to enable them to stave off RUIN , also publicly boasted that they were able to buy up the aristocracy of England ! Not % word doe 3 he drop about the " two siillio . ns" of

      money said to belong to the Messrs . AIaeshall Not a word on these matters ; but a charge is replied to which was never made—only by himself !! The charges made against the manufacturers as a body , and against the "Plague" portion of them in particular , were , that they are in the habit of "BATING" the wages of their workmen , { especially combers and weavers , ) when they take their work in to the warehouse ; that overlookers are appointed for that especial purpose ; that these overlookers have a pcr-centage upon the amount they thus rob from the worker ; and that the labouring poor

      have no alternative but to submit to these robberies , or starve . It was also alleged that the " truck system" is greatly practised ; that the manufacturers do not do this openly ; that they do not , of themselves , pay wageB in goods ; that they pay their workmen in money , but that these same workmen have to depart out of the counting house by a door which leads to the room where the " shopkeeper" is stationed ; and that the workman well knows that if he does not spend his wages with this same " shop-keeper" ( who in most instances is related to the proprietor of the " works ") , he

      would be discharged from his employment . It was also alleged that many of the mill-masters have built cottages near to their mills or works ; that when a workman applies for work , if one of these dwellings is empty , a key is given to him , if the manager decides to " set him on , " that the workman well knows that this means he must live in thB empty house , and pay the rent demanded , or have no work ; and that that rent is so excessively exorbitant as to amonnt to ten per cent , upon the outlay ! It was also charged against these same manufactures , that they are extensive users of flour foi disreputable and fraudulent purposes j that they

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      expoF ' d their woven fabrics to a stretching process , vA while so Btretched fill the interstices with "stHFening , " or flour paste , and dry the whole by passing them between two large heated rollers ; which give to the calicos so operated on , a deceptive ^ nfsA , a s ^ thick , and heavy feel , allofwhioh vanish the moment the fabric comes into the wash-tab ; and that nothing but a light , thin , open , flabby inferior calico is left in the place of what appeared to be a piece of wellmade doth . It was also alleged that the manufacturers of woollens are in the habit of using filth of the worst description to mix up with the wools out of which they manufacture their cloths ; that woollen rags of every description are sought up from

      all quarters , torn to pieces by a machine appropriately termed a " Devil , " and reduced to stuff something like wool ia appearance ; that this " Devil ' s dust , '' as it is called , is extensively used in the making of blankets and other woollen b ; that it is mixed with the new wool used in manufacturing cloths ; that this disgraceful and infamous practice deteriorates the cloth so produced ; that it involves the national character , making us appear to those we impose it upon as a nation of cheats and rascals ; and that it is to these practices mainly , and not to the operation of the Corn Laws , or to foreign competition , " that we are to ascribe the loss of our ¦ ¦ " foreign trade " ¦

      »* auw » . . . . Such were the charges made against the " great " nanufactnrers , and against the " Plague" portion f them especially . How have these charges been aet \ By the denial on the part of some hundred f the "large" cotton manufacturers in the large" towns in the cotton district , thai "THEY practice the truck system ; but that they pay their rages in money ! " { And this is trumpetted forth , s a complete answer to the " slanders" a 3 they re called , of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough !

      "truck , " ) is held by the organs of the " great " manufacturers as a denial of ALL ! Not a word do these same virtuous cotton-lords say about the " paste " . ' Not a word about the " batements" I Not a word about the " deviTs dust" J And not a single syllable about the cottages and the ten per cent ! And yet they have successfully rebutted the " slanderous" charges made against them by the foulmouthed Mr . Ferrand !! At least , so cay the Whig papers , from the Chronicle downwards . The people of England , however , will think otherwise 1

      It will be seen that Mr . Villiers , when bringing the denial of the cotton lords respecting the truck system before "the House , " endeavoured to fix upon Mr . Ferrand the charging of this particular charge , the " truck" system , upon all tho manufacturers who are members of the Anti-Corn Law League , This is also attempted by the Whig press ; and the Chronicle quotes , most dishonestly , a portion from Mr . Fkrrand ' s speech in support of this position . The fact is , that the portion quoted was spoken after ALL the charges had been made I and of course included them all . What is true of one

      man may not be true of another man . A manufacturer who " bates" according to the system exposed by Mr . Febrand ( and"it- 'is a system , we well know ) , may not adopt and practice the "truok " system . Another who "trucks , " may not exact ten per cent , in rent for his cottages . Another who uses the " stiffening" process in his calico making , may not , and most likely does not , use the

      devils dust , " because he does not make woollens . And yet it would be just as honest and as near the truth to affirm , that every one of these practices were charged upon every single manufacturer , whether in the cotton or woollen district , as it is to say that the truck system was so charged !! Ah ! Mr . Villiers , and Messrs . the cotton lords , the people of England will see through and appreciate your artful dodge !

      We have said that the "BATE MENT" system described by Mr Ferrand is a system . We repeat it . We know ib to be so . Thousands of pounds of the hard-earned money of the labouring people have been robbed , filched from them by its means ! The " cottage" system is truly described too . We know of many instances where it ia in full operation . Let the " great" manufacturers get a Committee of Inquiry appointed , if they dare ! and some strange evidence will be adduced as to their practices on this head . Let them get the Committee by all means !

      All that has been charged upon the cotton-lords respecting the PASTE is true . and a great deal more . There is scarcely a piece of calico manufactured now-a-days without " stiffening" being used upon it . It is a roguish fraudulent practice . It is cheating in its worst form . By its means the cotton-lords are able to impose upon their customers what appears to be a -well-made and really good article of manufactured produce , which in the wear turns out to be the veriest trash . A remarkable instance of this practice , and the way in which parties may be deceived , and are deceived by it , came to our knowledge

      this very day ( Wednesday ) . Calicos are finished by the Paste and Callender process , eo as to imitate Irish Linens . It will take a judge of fabrics to distinguish the one from the other ; or rather , he must be a good judge who is able to say that the propared calico is not linen when it is placed in his hands alone . It is thoroughly deceptive in appearance . It is made up into rolls in the manner and of the lengths of Irish cloths . In the instance we speak of , a piece of this description was offered for sale by a " hawker" to a person in Leeds , a warehouseman in a woollen establishment . It was

      represented to be " Irhh Lin ., and the sum of 2 s . 2 d . per yard was asked for it ; and after some haggling , Is . per yard was bidden for it , and taken ! The purchaser toak his cloth home to his wife , congratulating her on the bargain he had made . Enough for a shirt was cut off . As is usual with | all good sempstresses , it must first be subja cted to the wash-tub process ; for " it " will sew much better when the stiffening is taken out . " To the wash-tub it went : aud , sure enough ! the " stiffening" did come out ! Nothing remained of the " Irish-Lin ., '» whan it left the ivash-tub , but a piece of calico

      that would be dear at sixpence a-yard !! For this fact we can vouch . Lying before us at this moment on our table are samples of this very cloth , botn before washing and after . We know the man who bought it ; aad we know there is not a * man in LeedB , gentle or Eimple , whose word would be sooner believed either by his employer ( who is in an extensive way of business , ) or by others who know him . The man who sold the cloth we do not know , or we would soon try to have him laid by the heels

      as a cheating vagabond i We advise all into whose hands thi 3 Northern Star may fall , to beware of this practice ; and if any person , either hawker or anything else , offers for sale such stuff as that we have been describing , and represents it to be " Irish Lin ., " we advise them to give him into custody at onoe , and appear against him with a charge of obtaining money under false pretences . Wearesure such a charge , under such circumstances , would hold good , or justice has departed out of the land along with national trading honour .

      The samples of cloth we have spoken of as being in our possession , both in its " stiffened" and unstiffened state , we shall be happy to shew to any one who may feel curiosity enough to wish to boo them . They are fully illustrative of the practice of " pasted" calicos , as described by Mr . Ferrand . Immense quantities of flour are used by the cotton lords in this cheating and roguish process . Now mind : flour has always been used in the

      manufacture of cotton cloths . In fustian and calico weaving , before the warp is ready it must be dressed . In dressing , flour paste is applied to the stretched warp by means of brushes ; and then a red-hot iron is quickly passed over it , or other speedy means of drying resorted to . This process has always been adopted and in use : and it is not to this that we object . This is necessary to enable the warps to be woven . It is to the practice of using more paste , after the fabrics are woven , that we apply the terms

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      cheating and rascality ; and it is against this waste of the best product of the soil , wlieaten flour , ^ that weenter our protest . It is a complete and unmitigated waste .. Hundreds of thousands of baga of flour are thus annually thrown away ! and the parties who pursue these practices are continually bawling out for ^ ciiedp , bread ibr the labouring pppr'M Ah I theywant flour paste cheaper . than , it now is ! : ! : > The charge respecting the use of ' DEVIL'S DUST , ' * and the detail of the j » rajotiqes resorted to by the manufacturers who use it / as detailed by Mr . Ferrand , fall far short of actual truth ! The

      " domgB" on this head are absolutel y incredible } There is scarcely a single Blanket , or a low ^ priced Carpet , or a " Padding / ' or a low "Petersham , " or a low "Pilot cloth , " or a "Kersey /' manufactured throughout the whole West Riding of Yorkshire , in the making of which this horrible filth is not uBed ! And this is n » secret , it is openly boasted of . Go amongst the manufacturers ; mix with them at . their inns on the market days ; enter intq conversation with them on . these heads ; and you will learn from them that the practice

      is almost , universal ! Fancy goods , too , as they : are called ; especially those made fof trowsers-wear , are not free from this infamous " raw material . " lathe manufacture of the lower qualities of them , it is extensively used . Indeed , there is hardly a piece of woollen cloth manufactured now-a-days , into the composition of which this filthy " poucement , " does not , more or less , enter , excepting the fine qualities . And even in the manufacture of some of these , ; thingsi are " used up which 1 -in the days when cloth was made to wear and not to sell , was never used at all !

      And what is this ** DEVIL'S DUST" t FUth of the most abominable description . Rags of all sorts , and after being used for all purposes , are sub ^ mitted to the action of the "Devil , " whioh tears ttem up completely , and produces a sort of - stuff , something like light or open flocks . This is mixed with the wool in various proportions ; and the mixing of the two is technically called " a blendJ ? Go into Dewsbury , and ask any clothier " what is the proportion of wool for a five-pack blend ! " and he will instantly give for arawer an anecdote respecting a manufacturer , who ; took the wool in his pocket , when he went to make a blend of that quantity ; but who forgot to put in the wool , and carried it home again , remarking that the wool would do

      for another time , and that he would only have to use a little more flour to enable his "blend" to do without it . This , no doubt , is an exaggeration ; but the statement bo unblustnngly and instantly made in reply to the query above given , proves that the practice is universally kbown ; and that the proportion of " devil ' s dust" is far greater than the wool in many of the articles manufactured from it . And it is true that flour has to be used in this manufacture . When cloths are made , in which a great portion of this stuff ia used , flour is flung into the fulling stocks to enable the piece to hang together , and to mill ! Unless this flour was so used , the filthy stuff , devoid of staple and thoroughly rotten as it is , would fall to pieces in the " stocks , " and wash away with the water I

      Rotten and dirty worn out rags , hpwever , are not the only things used for this pur-r pose . Strange and incredible as it may appear , it is a fact that in the manufacture of blankets , cow-hair is most extensively used ! It is used in the making of all the lower and middling qualities . It is' !' blended ? with the ^ Devil's dust " and the wool . Let any one make inquiries at Dewsbury and Heckmondwike , the West Riding blanket manufacturing district , and he will find that what we have stated is the fact .

      " Fud" or the waste from the ordinary processes of making woollens , is also used . This is of different degrees of quality , according to the process by which it is made . The best sort of it is collected by dealers who g » round to the different manufactories , and who , after some slight dressings up , offer it again for sale under the name of '' Shoddy . ! ' In Leeds we have a building called the" Shoddy Hall , " where nothing else . ia offered for sale . It is open on Market days , just the same as the Piece Halls ; and the dealings in the article have become so important , that the business done there is weekly set forth in the newspapers , under the head "Shoddy Hali , " just the same as they give accounts of the business done in the two old established market-places , the two Leeds Cloth Halls !

      By far the greater proportion of the waste made in the manufacture of woollens has been deemed of no value whatever , except latterly for manure . Hundreds of thousands of cart-loads of it have been suffered to wash down our rivers , not being deemed of sufficient value to incur the expence of removing to place it upon the land . Some little time ago it was found that the great quantity of oil which it imbibes by lying under tho machines , and from being used to wipe away the superfluous oil occasionally , rendered it very serviceable as a manure for some purposes . It is much used for the growing of hops in Kent aud the other

      hopgrowing counties . We presume it is mainly obtained from Wiltshire for those places . Of late years it has been extensively used in the West-Riding as manure , both for grass land and for cultivation , when mixed with soil and other materials . And it is a fact , strange as it may sound , that after it has been so used ; after it h&a laid upon the land fora whole season ; after it has been used to grow a crop of potatoes , or turnips ; after it has grown a crop of hops ; it is a fact thai AFTER it has served these purposes , it has been gathered from the land AGAIN , TAKEN EVEN FROM KENT TO DEWSBDRY , SUBMITTED TO THE ACTION OF THE " DEVIL"

      AND MADE INTO WOOLLEN CLOTHS !!! Every field in the neighbourhood of Dewsbury has been raked over and over again ! When this part of the dirty business was first started , parties have been known to go by night into their neighbours ' fields , and rake up all the waste laying on the surface , and to carry it away ! These facts we are in a condition to prove . We shall be glad if the " Plague" manufacturers dare to call for a Committeo of Inquiry !! 0 ! yes , let us by all means have the Inquiry !!

      We know a person , not long ago an inhabitant of Dewsbury , who went up into the neighbourhood of Sowerby Bridge , and induced the occupiers of the land there to rake up all the woollen waste of this description from their fields . They did so , for the price he offered for it was a sufficient inducement . He got as much as loaded three boats . He took the dirt down the canal to Dewsbury , sold it there to the " Devil" -men , and pocketed above £ 50 by the transaction !

      Notlongago a person whom we know was in one of the Market Inns at Bradford . Amosgst the company present , in the "Commercial Room , " was an aged man from Ossett , a village in the neighbourhood of Dewsbury . He was a olothier ; and had beside a small bit of land . The conversation happening to turn : upon tnis infamous eheatery , the Ossett clothier detailed , in open company ^ many of their practices . He bore testimony to the truth of the flour being necessary to " make their pieces mill . " He also bore testimony to the use of rags and waste of every abominable description . He also told that he had himself sold woollen waste to be "devilled " , after lie had used it to

      grow a crop of potatoes on his land ! ! And , amongst other things , he eaid , that they had a new plan how for the very Coarse " paddings . " " Paddings , " at best hand , are a very coarse description of manufacture ; They are used , amongst other things , for the inside stiffening for coat-collars . Now they are made almost entirely of " Devil's Dust ; " and instead of the flour , or sometimes in addition to it , the parties making them use animal size , GLUE , to make them hang together and feel stiff ! J They boil the gluten out of horses and cows' feet , and apply the size so obtained ti the ' cloth . Itis put on by means of a common watering can , and allowed to set . Of course , it M stiffens' ^ the fabric much ; for animal gluten is muoh stronger than the Btarobi con-

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      tained in , whpateh flour . But , as the ^ Ossett clothier naively said , with a kuowihg wink , " the wearer muat tafc carV that the stuff dus ^ not wicken . [ quicken ] and creep aht 0 * 111 koit jtollor ^ I ! The old man said truly . Tha wearer must take this care . The animal size applied to the dirty woollen stiiff used as before ^ detailed , wiU quicken j will breed maggots ; and , as the Ossett man said , will creep down the back ofthe coat ! 1 !

      Now , we aver that these praotioes are almost general ! We aver that the Cotton Pasting is to be found in all parts of the , cotton distriot ; and this " Devil ' s" muck manufacture in all parts of the yorkshire clothing district . We aver that the practioes are common to men of all parties ; while we are also free to say , that the Anti-Corn Repealing portion ^ of . - - ' thQ ; manu&ciare » r / -haTe ' -: l « id the way in them . Indeed , their principles inevitably lead to such practiees . They eschew pr » - tectidn . ; They will neither let their workman nor their customer be protected from them and their doings . They are for free trade .: They { are also much in love with cheap productions . To produce

      cheaper than others , is , with them , the first virtue . The race in cheapness soon fiads a level whea the wages can be no nore reduced , and profits cannot be made . Other means must now be resorted to . Inferior raw material must be used . Arid thus the system goes on , until the entire character of our manufacture is changed . This system of cheating spreads over all other craft 3 and occupations . What article of commerce or trade : is there now in England , at all capable of adulteration , that is not adulterated ? What article of manufacture have we , that is not inferior to what it used to be , before the no protection" principles were bo much in ^ voguel . . ¦ ¦¦/ ' ¦ - . .- ¦ ¦' / '¦ ¦ ¦ -. ' . - ¦ .. -. - , ¦ . - .- " ; - ' - ' - - - - ' ^ - ' - '

      Our forefathers did not so conduct themselves They were far more jealous and anxious for the honour of England , than we , their degenerate offspring . Practices such as we have detailed in this article would , on their attempted introduction , have called forth the interference of the legislature . The parties pursuing them would have been subjected to heavy pains and penalties . The purchasers of manufactured produce would have been protected against the cheats . _

      That we are not speaking at random on this head , we here give from the Statute Book a whole Act of Parliament , interfering , [ aye interfering !] with the manufacturers of woollens , in the year 1389 ; and prohibiting certain mal-practices , of whioh some of them were then guilty . Let tha free-trader ponder over it well . Let him look at the reasons assigned by the Aot itself for the interference . Let him com - pare the practices there prohibited with those which he every day pursues ! 1 Let him do this , and then let him say whkjh is betxeb for the PEOPLE , his PREB irkde and " devil ' s dust , " or the syst « m of protection ! Here is the Act entire : ¦—

      Copy of Act Parliament . 1389 . Richard II . Chapter XL "Item . —Forasmach as divers plain cloths , that be wrought in the counties of Somerset , Dorset , Bristol , and Gloucester , be taoked and folded together , and set to sale , of the which cloths a great part be broken , broused , and not agreeing in the colour , neither be according in breadth , nor in no manner to the part of the same cloths shewed outwards , but be falsely wrought with divers wools , to the great

      deceit , loss , and damage of the people ; insomuch that the merobants that buy the same cloths ,, and carry them out of the realm to sell to strangers , be many times in danger to be slain , and sometimes imprisoned , and put to fine and ransome , by the same strangers , arid their said cloths burnt or forfeit * because of the great deceit and falshood that is found in the same cloths when they be untacked and opened , to the great slmnder ofthe Realm of England . ' ¦ ¦ - - >• ¦ ¦ ' :. - . - ¦ ¦ ¦ ' . ; ¦ ' ¦ , : - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' '¦¦ - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦'¦ - - ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦• ' :

      " 2 nd . It is ordained and assented , that no plain cloth , tacked nor folded , shall be set to sale within the said counties , but that they be opened , upon pain to forfeit them , eo that the buyers may see them , and know them , as it is used in the county of Essex . : ; ¦; - - ' ¦" .. ¦ . ¦ - •• : ¦ . - . . ¦ •/ . ¦ ¦ - ¦ . . . ¦¦ ¦ " ¦; ¦ . ¦ ¦ : ¦ " 3 rd . And that the workers , weavers , and fullers shall put : their seals to every cloth that they may workj upon a certain pain to be limited by the Justices of the Peace , and that this ordinance begin to hold place at the Feast of St . John the Baptist next following . , - " 4 th . Provided always , that after the merchants have bought the same cloths to carry , and do carry them , out of the realm , they may tack them and fold them at their pleasure , for the more easy carriage of them . "

      There I that was the way bur ignorant and deluded forefathers went to work in the DARK AGES , to ' protect the people from the cheating / of the freertraders ! That was the way they did it ! Dare the " great" manufacturers call for a Committee of Inquiry as to their practices now-a-days ? Dare they challenge the Parliament to do by them , as the Annual Universal Suffrage Parliament did by their brethren in the year 1389 1 * Of one thing we are certain , that unless the practices that now obtain amongst our manufacturers are speedily put a stop to , either by an Act of Parliament or something else , we shall very soon have to give up manufacturing ; and if the practices-are to continue , the sooner the better 1 !

      We shall have a turn or two amongst some other " Old Acts" of our ignorant ancestors , respeotingPKOtection to labour , We must contrast their doings in the " DARK AGES" with our doings in these " enlightened" times ! We must know which of the two systems is the best , free ^ trade or protection . These short old pithy Acts of Parliament , are very instructive ; and wo have one or two of them which will be worth reprinting . From them we shall see whether our ancestors or WE in our day and generation are the fools !!

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      ofFdrhig a handle to Extension" men in the shape of a ^ resolution for i repeal of the Corn Laws , to be adopted along with a resolutionfor the Charter at all public meeting ? . With all possible respect for the Exeeutive , we must dissent entirely : from this policy , and repeat our conviction , that the only safe method for the people is that which we have before advised , and which we here repeat in onr own words , as quoted by an enemy > r-

      V Once more we exhort you to be vigilant . Sufier not a raeetiiig to be held wiihdiii ; you ; and suffer not * single resolution , petition , or memorial to pass at any meeting where you areyfor anyj ^ eci BUT ^ THE CHARTER . u Let the people then beware 'Let them go rig ht on \ tiih their own agitation for the Charter > peacefully but determinedly , as they have hitherto dpne ^ Iiet them take care that no other agitation shall be carried on in their name . Let the charter—the whole

      charter—^ and nothing but the charter , until that be obtained , be their reiterated cry at all public meetings and in all petitions . " * *¦ ¦ " * " Let them adopt this plan in every thing . Let them quietly , but surely—peacefully , but unniistakeably—chuck overboard everything but the Charter . " : ^! an" Extension "' man in the list week ' s Manchester Times , quotes this portion of our advice and calls it

      " an insufferable insult to the intelligence of the people . " He ravea strangely about outrage upon popular independence , perpetrated under the mask of liberty 1 " a , nd asks " what right of opinion or of action the O'Connorites possess whioh doe ? not also belorift to the peopie at large \* The Jesuitical knave ! Who contended for any suoh right ? We have surely a right to give the people our opinion and advice ; and we make no effort to deprive Mr Edwabld Watkin of the same right .

      We tell the people that the ' League ^ men seek to " use "them for the effecting of their own purposes , and that in those purposes they do not at all contemplate the people 's benefit . We tell them that all public meetings are holden in their name ; that the opinions expressed

      at , and the proceedings adopted by those meetiogs , are carried to Parliament of wherever they may bo wanted , ob their opinions and proceedings ; and we repeat therefore , that it is their duty to attend all public meetings , and to see that no resolution or memorial be there passed but such as accord with their jndgmentawi convictions . We tell them that in in our opinion THE CHARTER IS THE ONLY

      THING TO WHICH THEY OUGHT NOWTO LOOK OR LISTEN . They will , of course , treat thatopinion as they please ; but wa warn them thai , if they do n » t thus act ; , they will have abundant reason for repentaace , and abundant leisure for repentance , hereafter . We now refer to Mr . O'Connoe ' s letter , arid to the proceedings of the friends and associates of this same * ' League" scribblor-r-we refer to the speeoh of Mr . BuEFiELD F » rrand , in the House of Commons ^ arid to every fact and circumstance of recent times to show the people , if they need yet showiHg , how tenderly their interests and weal are cared for by the" League * ' men . ^ .

      To conclude : we shall do our duty . We shall reiterate our wamiDg weekly while the struggle lasts . Ifthepeop > e be sold , they shall sell themselves with their eyes open ; and we , at ail eventsj shall feel neither pity nor sympathy for whatever they may suffer afterwards . ; . '

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      THE SUFFRAGE . v Our neighbour the Mercury has published two long diatribes ^ on the Suffrage , in which he denies the right of every man to have it . When his series is concluded , we purpose having a turn with him , and promise a full exposure of his pitiable ignorance .

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      Communications not noticed in : oub last . —Bromsgrove ^ --- We did receive 0 Worcestershire Chronicled John Shepherd— We are always sorry t * see professed Chartists attack each other " personally ; we cannot , therefore , insert his letter A Chartist , of Glasgow , writes us a letter which we can by no gteans understand , about a new Paper to oe started in Glasgow , by the Cornhaut repealers . He seems to fear that the Chartists maybedeceived by it : wedon ' t fear them . If it be a Chartist Paper they will know all about it ; if not , the" Scots lads" will not easily be hood winked . Ply » outh Chartists— We have not room for their letter to-the Executive ; nor is its publication at all necessary : their sending it to

      the Secretary ts enough . A Chelsea Chartist—We have no room . Chartcratus-- ^ We'mustdeclinehis letters , at least for the present : we have not space for long letters . A Mansfield Correspondent suggests that , to keep the new-born C / utrtists of the hnti-Corn- Law school within something like reasonable bounds at public meet " ings , and to defeat their purpose of " getting up a row" and saddling the Chartists with it , it might be well , wherever and whenever d League meeting is going to be held , that a deputation from the Chartist Committee , if in a borough town , wait upon the Mayor ; if not in a borough , tipon the nearest senior county rnagistratejmnd state that in case ah infringement upon the law

      ts apprehended , the Chartists , one and all , are ready to be . sworn as special constables , for the purpose of preservmg the peace at the meeting George Ashwell ^ TP , ? have no room . Matthew Fletoher—i / is long rigmarole , occupying eleven slips , . written on both sides , would ill repay the trouble of reading , or the space occupied by it . It merely confirms the report it is intended to deny . W . Kaowles—We have no room . Wm . Cooper , Wcldon , Northamptonshire , writesthus : — " Last Tuesday , I was canvassing this place for signatures to the great National Petition , when a young man , named Allen , pretended to be about giving his signature , took the sheet from me , with about seventy names enrolled , and

      placed it in a fire , and thus Consumed my labour , and the properly of the National' Charter Associatien . The Cliarlisls of this locality request your opinion of the matter . " Our opinion , is that the rascal may be prosecuted for ' the fobi / ery , and sent to the treadmill . Spectator should have given his name and address . We do not insert such stories without good authority . Christopher Dean- ^ - We think his reply to Mr . Stotl ' s tetter should have come sooner . We do not purpose , unless an urgent necessity be shown for it , to occupy any more space about Mi . R . J . Richard-Bon . We think the people have had enough of him . J . L ., Markirich—His sixpence has been returned to his address , through tht ( post .

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      More of the System—A Correspondent from Halifax writes us : — "An old widow woman ; aged fifty-five years , of the name of Elizibeth Dyson , who has been in the habit of getting a livelihood by selling a Jiitte fruit in the eeasen , was , somewhere about month since , taken before the magistrates of thi ' place on a charge ' of-- ' obstructing the public . th > roughfare with her fruit baskets , and fined witft costs , to the amount of 17 a . The old woman told their reverences that it was not in her power to ; ¦ •' . ' ¦ paythe money at the present , havingnothing for a subsistence but the scanty pittance she conld make by her fruit . Being in depressed circumstance * , she was liberated ; but the money was to : t * paid when she was able . During this elapse , « & * baa frequently been asked for an instalment by tfea constables when they met wifca her , ' . ' and has * frequently to ' d them that she could not get monef to supply her necessary wants . The old woman' * circumstances becoming more and more Binb **" rassed , she was , at length , obliged to mate appjj * cation to the relieving officer for partial "li ^ which ahe did on Wednesday , February 23 rd , bat was denied it on the pretence that she had no ? made the application at a proper time . On Monday , February : 27 th , she had come to purchase * few necessaries ; ' and to prevent her applying for relief at the projp « r time , the constables met her in the fltreet ,. took her into custody , and dragged her e ^ T to the police-office , and thence , the same afternoon , to Wakcfield House of Cerrection , without even-telling her how long she was to res' 4 " 1 there . •¦¦ ¦ . ¦' ' - - ¦ ¦' . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦' ¦ : — ' ¦ . / : " . ; . : : ¦ ¦ ' : ¦

      James Syme tow our thanks . We had . a report of / Ae meeting in type before we received' n \ $ favour . '¦ . ¦ ¦ ¦ ¦ ' , ¦ ' ' : ¦ : '¦' " " ::-. [ ¦ " : . "' .-J . H . M . — "No , " to loth questions .

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      THE HUMBUG TRAP . —THE BATH CONFERENCE . —THE POLICY OF THE EXECUTIVE . All the powers of ingenuity arid plausibility were nevermore severely tasked than they now are by the despairing corps of Mammon in their effort to again yoke the people to their car . Hence we conceive it tobe a duty imperative on usto see that our cautions be not . Ies 3 constant and earnest in their iteration than the efforts of the enemy . The peopie will of course use their own judgment in the matter ; we presume not to dictate ; but our honest opinion and advice they are entitled to and' Bhall have . We tell them , then , as we have again and again told themj that if they abate one jot

      of their demand for the whole Charter , they are sold , and their virtuous struggles through all the years of agitation ; past are thrown away . We tell them again , that they" are not less suraly lost , if they suffer their agitation to be mixed up in any manner vrith the ^ ^ Corn ^^ Law repealiug cry of the" Extension" men ; This is not our opinion merely ; we are supported in it * by O'CoNNOH and O'Bhien , and by allj or nearly all , those whom the people have known as their oldest , best , and most experienced advocates and counsellors . " ';; ¦ : ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ ' ' ' ¦ ' ¦¦ " " . ' ¦ " ¦ ' ' - ¦ ' , ' ¦ ¦ . ¦ : " ¦ ' ¦

      We refer with great pain to the proceedings ofthe conference at Bath , between the Sturge Declaration men and some leading Chartists of that city . We respect Vincent for his zeal , his talent , and his suffering in the cause , as highly as we respect any man ; we believe hiin to be thoroughly honest and well-intentioned , but we cannot but regret the position he has ta-ken in this business . Still more do we regret to see joined with him Mr * Philp , a member of the

      People ' s Executive . y Doubtless these gentlemen give the new converts toConaplete Suffragecredit for a large amount of honesty and sincerity . We cannotdo so ; and we fear , if the people should be led into any general countenance of the steps taken by these : gentleBien , that the error will not he found to be less fatal for having been an amiable one . Once more we tell the people they must keep right on , swerving neither to the right hand nor to the left j or they will he " used , " left , audiaughed at .

      Elsewhere our readers will find a document from the Executive ; counselling the people , very properlyj to keep the ( garter , whole arid entire , as the pole star of agitation , but still

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  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), March 12, 1842, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct589/page/4/