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

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    • THE NOETHERN STAB, o 1 nrrrnn • v If »T>PH 1O 1Q/K>
    • Boy Missing.—Joseph Kenworthy left Leeds in
    • VOZtESHIBE LENT ASSIZES, WEDNESDAY, March 2.
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      Untitled Article

      YUBLlC MESflKG AT BATH , IN REFER- ! EftCE TO THE CONFERENCE . j Elsewhere we hav * given an account o ? . whati transpired at the Ceiiferenee held on Monday after * aeon lasi , at Baft , by some Chartists , and a majority of those wko cannct be called such , m regard to the declaration of Mr . Smrge , in favour of complete suffrage , bat " not the Charter . In the evening , such waa the anxiety felt in this matter by the Chartists generally , and others , that therooftof the National CharteT Association -was crowded to suffocation by persons expecting to hear something about the result of the Conference , aad the ¦ course pursued on that occasioa by the Chartist Im ^ sts . -

      Sr . Bolwell was called to ibe chair , and epened the business of the meeting in a short speeok . He siatid some of the particulars -of what took place at ^ he Conference , and s * id no man could be opposed t * o , or refuse signing , ths declaration of 34 r . Sturge ^ though he { Mr . B . " ) would net advise any person to gji ve np od e principle of the Charter . Mr . Babxlkii was called upon to address the meeting . He said he never had feliiEore warmly than he did that night oa the subject which they had aaet to discuss . There was no man mere devoted , or more sincerely attacked to the People ' s Charter than he -was ; and fee had proved that devotion and sincerity by having suffered for advocating the principles which that document sets forth—( hear , hear ) .

      He had said that times were at band , which would try men ' s souls i that the time had come for the Chaitists calmly asd deliberately to considerwhatis the proper course they now should pursue . He wanted to see » reconciliation take place between the middle " ?*¦« and the Cnartists ; he wanted to see a powerful movement made in favour of principlessome denned objects . And he would say the experience of the past—the state of English parties for many years , and the conduct of the middle classes , warned us against taming from the straightforward path of right aad justice—( cheers ) . The destiny of age 3 , the welfare of our species depended upon the issue of the present struggles ; revolutions were going on in the world : they have successfully

      been made in Spain and Portugal ; and in Yucatan the glorious principles of democratic Government had been established—( cheers . ) Why ? Because the people there stood honestly by their principles ; they fought the battla of justice , they crouched to no pariy , they were not misled by class interests ; they stood firmly ; to their principles —( immense cheering . ) And if the leaders of the Chartisis act . in this way ; if they : be honest to their principles , and endeavour by calm and rational discussion to make converts to them , ft no less important revolution will speedily take place in this country —( cheers . ) We had arrived at an important crisis , a ciisis that he had'foretold , a . crisis ha had endeaTonred to bring-abDnt ^ Cbear ,

      hear )—a cxLds , the natnre of which must impress the Chartists with a conviction of standing firm as a rock . They had no doubt read the speeches made lately by Mr . Ferrand , speeches which contained much truth in regard to the motives which actuated the Corn Lzw Repealers ; but these speeches it must be understood , did not advance any argument against the justice of Com Law Repeal 5 they did not prove that the country was in no distress , nor that clas 3 legislation was no evil —( hear , hear . ) These were evils ; and the declaration of iir . Stur ^ e did no ; Eet forth by vrhat means these evils ¦ were to be got lid of . It dtnounced class legislation , and recognised Usiversal Suffrage to be a right , at least the instructions did , which those who

      carry the memorial ronnd the city to get it signed wtre requested to read to those who signed it . Why not give such instructions in the memorial ? Why so -raguelyword the memorial as to need instructions to explain what that memorial means ? It is a coybird designed to delnde the unwary —( cheers , and cries of ** We won ' t have it . ") But it was said that if we agreed to the principle of complete Suffrage , ft conference would 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 , the others ¦ were matters of expediency , founded upon the opinion of their being-necessary to gire effect , permanency , and consistency to the principle of

      "Universal suffrage—( hear , hear , hear . } The details were in fact as important as the principle , the one was indispensably necessary to the other . ( Hear , hear , and luud cheers . ) He had said that the middle classes would be driven by necessity , into the Chaitist ranks ; and he now cautioned ; he working elasses against being misled—he advised them to pursue the same honest course now as they have done all aloug . We were asked whether we wonld pin the middle classes ! and his reply was , no , unless it be 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- Wcnld it not be better to endeafour , by

      argument , by discussion" , to bring up , or wait nntil circum-tauces had forced them to come up to our standard!—(" hear , hear , '' and cheers . ) He was not opposed 10 any class of people—he considered all men id be his brothers ; but , permit him to say , that it was their dniy—a duty they owed -themselve 3 sand their country—to be npon the watch , to . trust none bu ; themselves , a . nd -to unite witi none but . such as are willing to make common cause with us in the strangle for the Charter—( cheers . ) Let no party have the po ^ er of altering the details of the Charter—( cheers ) If a conference be appointed , let the delegates represent you —( hear , heas )—let them ga according to your instructions , and not damn the priDciples , by laying down their

      own detail ' . Mr . B . spoke for some time 02 this subject ; he went on to point out what is meant by constitutional justice ; and next observed , that the issue of the pending revolution dtpsnded entirely npoa the steps the people took at this crisis . H c advised them to ba jealous and watchful of the middle classes ; and take care that they ( tin Chartists ) be not defeated in their object . < . Cheers . ) He wanted to see both classes united , bnt warned also the union to bo one of principle , and for nothing else , Let us keep that in view , and j lstice must ultimately prevail . ( Cheers . ) Mr . B . ' s speech ¦ was listened to with marked and solemii -attention , and it appeared to have produced a powerful impression . The above is but an outline .

      Mr . R . K Philp made a long spseca in the usual strain , and proposed the following resolution : — u That this nesting hails , telth satisfaction , the declaration of Mr . Siut ^ s ; but , at the saras time , i : will not cease agitating . lor the whole of the People ' s Charter . " Mr . Clarke , in seconding the motion , followed in the s : rain of tne preoeHag speaker . He said . that he coald not agree vrizii . Mr . B 3 rt ] ett thai . Mr . Sturge ' s dsclara-jon stt forth nothing definiw : it did ; it recognised an important priaeip ' e . Mr . Ba 3 . ti . ctt exclaimed that he had stated that the '' instructions" recognised an important-right ; but thai Mr . Starve was indefinite as to the details necessarv to g ve that right effect .

      Mr . Clarke continued—01 he did not understand that : yet he did think we shoal d not be jealous of the middle classes ; we shodi receive the overtures they had made us , as fesiug a great advance to the Charter . He w ^ s not for persons forciug their © pinions upon others ; but he agreed with Mr . Bart-] e : t when he said that all revolutions had been efikted by independence of action . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) Mr . Roberts supported ih-3 resolution in a speech of greai iengtb . bu ; he advanced no ; a tittle of an argument ia favour of the position ne and his party had taken up . He here applauoeii Air .. Bartiett'a

      speech made at tise Conference , which he said was excellent , aad delires-ed in a mauiier that produced a powertci impression upon all present . He ( Mr . R . ) Baid , we ought to be jealous—tt > be wavchful of the middle classes ; but he was not to bs led by Feargus O'Connor nor tie S&s ; he was not to be tyrannised orvr by a dictator , tjia he tvas afraid that too many ¦ would ba led iway by the Star . - ( The sarcastic znxnser in which ihii svas uuereu was evidently not approved of by the uiseuag . ) He thought that the Conference about to meet in Birmingham could be Kade to do anything , if the people were true to thesselves .

      Me Hopki . ns , a sterling Chartist , asked whether the Conference was not de > i /; ued to injure and defeat the obi sets of the iSauona . 1 Convention I And whether S-urge had no : pui forih his memorial with a view of injuring the Is ' aiioaal Petition . ] That Conference Jn-onld want support . Mr . Robebts said Mr . Siurge , he had no doub :, would pay the delegates to the Conference . Mr . Ba 3 tlktt said he thought that was an improper step , the people should pay J ^ eir own servants and not Mr . Sturge—( hear , hear ) Mr . Roberts explained—he bad made a mistake . The Chaibjias was requested by iir . BirdeU to row the resolution a ^ aiii ; when he had done so , iir . Bardett suggested that the words * with mseh pleasure' shosid be introduced into the motion insitaa of * with satisfaction , ' as > -e was sure no C-. ani-is could be satisfied with . S : urge ' s declara-* ¥ » . ¦

      . . . . 1 dc suggestion having been attended to , the motion in tne amended form was put and carried - Mr . Phillips made some few observation . Mr , Bartloti now proposed the former motion he made at the Conference , It was seceded in a neat speech br-Mr . Twite . Mr . Viscisi rose to sappor ; it , notwuhit mding his opposition to it at the Conference , and that . after he had called the motion a capital one . He went on in the > ame strain as did Mr . Roberta , and with much warmth ; in a ragt of passion ha contended for the Eight of thinking for himSilf ; he svuld act as he thought proper , no man should contxsal him ; he would not be contrculed ( so u- appeared ) even by public opinion . Whfji he went to the Conference be would take care that the details of

      the Charier should not beset aside . ( Mr . Vincent refused to act oa the National Convention—How is ibis 1 ) Mr . " Vincent went on fv ? some tiae , but sdvapced nothing more than what had besa before

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      The motion was put and carv . up ^ nimouBly amid much cheering . Mr . Alderman Crisp thought certain parties were going too fast ; allthey had beep , saying abeut the middle classes coming over to tb d Chartists was meTe moonshine . He < iid think th ^ t there were many at the coriterenca "who "wera " more in favour of Corn Law Repeal than any Vning else—( cheers . ) Tne werking classes should oe on their guard—but they should sign Sturge '^ s memorial . This speech doss tiot place Mr . Crisp ' s colleagues , in a very pteasrble light , it makes their whole conduct appear Btrange , passing strange . - The Chaibsun after making a few remarks dissolved the meeting . Tho Chartists of Bath are not to be humb&gged , they know their duty , and they will perform it , whatever their leaders may do .

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      THE » 'P ASTE" DAUBERS AND THE " DEVIL'S DI 5 ST" MANUFACTURERS . Last week we inserted as full a report as we could procure of Mr . Busfikld Ferrand ' s second speech expository of the tricks and frauds resorted to and committed by the " great" manufacturers , boih in the cotton and woollen districts . We did so , because we wish the readers of the Northern Star to be in possession of the revealments made by the member for Knaresbro' as to the practices which are ruining the character of the nation in the

      estimation of the foreigner to whom we oftei our trashy goods for sale . We have beard a great deal said about " foreign competition , " and about the necessity 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 us ; that we are being beaten out of the continental markets ; that we are being followed into distant neutral markets ; and that even , in some cases , we have been successfully competed with in our own home markets . W « have heard a great deal said on this head ; and tho world is now made acquainted with one of the

      causes why " our 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 one" devil ' s dtist" woollens , if they can either make better for themselves or purchase from others good and substantial prodnctions ? Is it likely that they will consume our calicos , made up with " stiffening" and " paste f or our woollens made up with " mun-go" and flour , after they have once put the one into the wash-tub , or had the other in a shower of rain ! Are these the soit of productions that are to ensure to us the markets of the world !

      That our readers may be able to know the full extent and nature of the revealments made by Mr . Febbaxd , as to these and similar practices on the part of our u great" manufacturers , we have given all that has been said in " the House" relative to them , both by Mr . Ferrand 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 . Ferraxd ' s charges ; a " talk " led-off bj Cobde-v , the Stevenson ' s-square bludgeonman . This "talk" we have given , as well as

      the reply by Mr . Ferrasd , on Monday evening , to Mr . Cobdes , and to the averments of the document read to " the House" from " the Plague" manufacturers by Mr . Villiers . To tho 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 be amused at the adroitness ofCoBDEx ' s manufacturing a charge of crutlty ; and indignantly rebutting that , while he left the real charge untouched ! They cannot fail to ba further amused at the barefaced attempt of the Manchester " Plague" Manufacturers to rid themselves of the

      whole of Mr . Fkrra . nd ' s charge ? , "PASTE"and all , by simply denying that they practice the truck system ! These adroit attempts cannot but 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 thus amuse and instruct , the revelations made to the whole world , a 3 to ths means of deception and fraud practised by the Eaglish trader for the u taking-in" of the stranger aud imposing upon the unwary , must make the car 3 of every Englishman who values his own character and that of his country to burn with shame !

      The charge against Bludgeon Cobde . n was , that he was constantly in the habit of representing himself and the great" manufacturers whoso mouth-piece he was , as being RUINED by the operations of the Corn laws ; that thoy were losing money constantly " by carrying on their eoncern 3 ; " 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 a 3 being RUINED in his trade , and S 3 sacrificing his " capital" daily by employing u hi 3 hands "; the charge against him was , that , while he was doing this , he found his business of calico printer so profitable , and M 3 love of money-making so great , that he ma his works at Ctiorley bo : h day and night

      aad that ; , spite of the operations of the Corn Lawa , immanss fortunes had been made by other manufacturers , who "were notoriously known to have had nothing when they began business ; that the Messrs . Marshall , of Leeds , had accumulated more than two millions of money ; and that the Manchester League-men actually boasted that they were able to buy up the aristocracy of England . Thi 3 was the charge made by Mr . Febiu . yd against Cobden . How did Cobden meet it ? By trumping up a charge of cruelty against hi 3 workmen , and rebutting that ! Not a word does he say about his former representations of RUIN ! Not a word does he sav about the

      " large fortunes . ' Not a word doeslia ventura in explanation of the fact , that those who so loudly bawl for a Repeal of the Corn Laws to enable them to state 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 millions" of money said to belong to the Messrs . Marshall ! Not a word on these matters 1 but a charge is replied to which was nereT made—only by himself . ' J The charges m&de against the manufacturers as a body , aad 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 per-centage upou the amount they thus rob frem the worker ; and that the labouring poor hare no alternative but to submit to these robberies , or starve . It was also alleged that the " truck systesi" is greatly practised ; that the manufacturers do not do this openly ; that they do not , of themselves , pay wages 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 dt ? charged from his employment . It wae 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 " tet him on f that the workman well knows that this means he must live in the empty house , and pay the rent demanded , or have no work ; and that that rent is so excessively exorbitant as to amount to ten per cent , upon the outlay ! It was alse charged against these same manufactures , that they are extensive usera of flour for disreputable and fraudulent purposes ; that they

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      expose their woven fabrics to a stretching process , and while so stretched fill the interstices with " stiffening , " or flour paste , and dry the whole by passing them between two larga heated rollers , which give to the calicos so operated on , a deceptive finish , ajl i / ft thick , and heavy feel , all of which vanish the moment the fabric comes into the wash-tub ; 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 cloth . 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 oat of which they manufacture their cloths ; that woollen rags of every description are sought up from

      all qaarters , torn to pieces by a machine appropriately termed a " Devil , " and reduced to stuff something like wool iu appearance ; that this " Devil ' s dust , '» as it is called , is extensively used in the making of blankets and other woollens ; that it is mixed with the new wool used in manufacturing clothe ; 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 npon 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 "

      Such were the charges made against the " great " manufacturers , aud against the u Plague" portion of them especially . How have these charges been met ? By the denial on the part of some hundred of the "large" cotton manufacturers in the " large" towns in the cotton district , that "THEY practice the truck system ; but that they pay their wages in money ! " [ And this is trumpetted forth as a complete answer to the " slanders , " as they are called , of the Hon . Member for Knaresborough 1 The denial of one of these charges , ( that relating to

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

      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 . Fjsrrand ' s speech in support of this position The fact is , that the portion quoted was spoken after ALL the ohargca had been made ! 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 . Ferrand ( and it is a system , vrQ well know ) , may not adopt and practice the "truck " 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

      * ' devil ' s 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 " BATEMENT" systsm described by Mr Ferrand ts a system . We repeat it . We know is 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 i 3 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 011 this head . Let them get the Committee by all means !

      All that has been charged upon the ootton-Iords respecting the PASTE is true . and a great deal more . There is scarcely a piece of calico' manufactured no * -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 Teally 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 . andare deceived by it , came to our knowledge

      this very day ( Wednesday ) . Calicos are finished by the Paste and Callender process , so as to imitate Irish Linens . It willtake 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 prepared calico is not linen when it is placed in his hands alone . It is thoroughly deceptive m appearance . It is made up into rolls in the manner and of the lengths of Irish cloths . Iu the instance we speak of , a piece of this description , was offered for sale by a " hawker" t > a person in Leeds , awarehouseman in a woollen establishment . It wa 3

      represented to be " Inth Lin ., and the 6 uia 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 took his cloth homo to his wife , c ^ ngra : ulaung her on the bargain he had made . Enough for a shirt waa cut off . As is usual with all good sempstresses , it must first bo subja cted to the wash-tub proce 3 s ; for " it will sew much better when the stiffening is taken out . " To the wash-tub it went : and , sure enough ! the " stiffening" did come out ! Nothing remained of the " Irish Lin ., '' when it left the ( vash-tub , but a piece of calico

      that would be dear at sixpence a-yard ! ! For this fact wo 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 ; and we know there is not a man in Leeds , gentle or simple , whose word would be sooner belie 7 ed either by his employer ( who is in an extensive way of business , ) or by others who know him . The man who scld the cloth we do not know , or we would soon try to have him laid by the heels

      as a ehtating vagabond I We advise all into whose hands this Northern Star may fall , to beware of this pract . ee ; 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 once , and appear against him with a charge of obtaining money under false pretences . We are eiire such a eharge , under Euch circumstances , would hold good , or justice has departed out of the land along with national trading honour .

      The eamples 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 see them . They are fully illustrative of the practice of " p asted" 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 drjing reoorled to . This process has always been adopted and in use : and it is not to this that we object . This is necessary to enable 1 he 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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      oheating and rascalit-y ; aid it is agaidstthis wastb of the best prpdapV offtosoil , wheatenjour , tiiat ice enter our protect . lib is a complete and unmitigated waste . Hundreds of thousands oC bags of flour ate thus anD'ually thrown away ! and the parties who pursue ' 'these '* practices are continually bawling out for cheap bread for the labouring poor" ! Ah J thoy want / dMrpasfe cheaper than it now is it The charge respecting the use of "DEVIL'S DUST , ' * and the detail of the practices resorted to by the manufacturers who use it , as detailed by Mr . Ferrand , fall far short of actual truth ! The

      " doings' ' , on this head are absolutely incredible There is scarcely a , single Blanket , or a low > priced Carpet , or a "Padding , " or a low "Peter * sham , " or a low 'VPilbi cloth , " or a "Kersey ^ manufactured throughout the whole West Riding of Yorkshire , in the making of whioh this horrible filth is not used I 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 into conversation with them on these heads ; and yoa will learn from them that the practice

      is almost universal ! Fancy goods , too , as they are called ; especially those made for trowsers-wear , are not free from this infamous " raw material . " In the manufacture of the lower qualities of them , it is extensively used . Indeed , there is hardly a piece of woollen cloth manufactured nQW-a-days , into the composition of which thiB filthy 11 poucement , " does not , more or less , enter , exceptiug the fine qualities , And even in the manufacture of some of these , things are used up which in the days when cloth was made to wear and not to sell , was never used at all !

      Aud what is this " DEVIL ' S DUST' '? Filth of the most abominable description . Rags of all sorts , and after being used for all purposes , are submitted to the action of the ' Dovil , " which tears them up completely , and produces a sort of Btuff , something like light or open Hooks . This is mixed with the wool in various proportions ; and the mixing of the two is technically called - a blend . " Go into Dewsbury , and ask any clothier " what is the proportion of wool for a five-pack blend ? " and he will instantly give for answer an anecdote respecting a manufacturer , who took the wool in hia 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 hare to use a little more flour to enable his '' blend" to do without it . This , no doubt , is an exaggeration ; but the statement so unblushingly and instantly made in reply to the query above given , proves that the practice is uniycrsaily known ; 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 is 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 ia the "stocks , " and wash away with the water 1

      Rotten and dirty worn out rag 3 , however , are not the only things used for this purpose . Strange and incredible as it may appear , it is a fact that in the manufacture of blankets , coio-hair is most extensively used t 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 tho waste from the ordinary processes of making woollens , is also usod . 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 ga 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 . is 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 Hall , " just the same as they give accounts of the business done in the two oldostablished 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-loada 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 the machines , and from being used to wipe away the superfluous oil occasionally , rendered it very serviceable a 9 a manure for some purposes . It is much used for the growing of hops in Kent aad 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 , stran ge as it may sound , that after it has been so vised ; after it has laid upon the laud 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 that AFTER it has served these purposes , it has been gathered from the land AGAIN , TAKEN EVEN FROM KENT TO DEWSBURY , SUnvHTTKD TO THE ACTION OF THE " DEVIL "—

      AND MADE INTO WOOLLEN CLOTHS ! ! Every field in tho neighbourhood of Dewsbury has been raked over and over agiin ! When this part of the dirty business was first started , partieshaye been known to go by night into their neighbours ' Jields , and rake up all the waste laying on the surface , and carry it away ! Thsse facts we are in a condition to prove ; . ' We shall be glad if the " Pla ^ up" manufacturers dare to call for a Committee of Inquiry !! O 1 yes , let us by all means ha ^ e the Inquiry J !

      We know a person , net long ago an inhabitant of Dewsbury , who went up into the neighbourhood of Sowerby Bridge , and induced the occupiers of the land thero to rake up all the woollen waste of this description from their fields . Tiiey did bo , for the price ho offered for it was a sufficient * inducement . Ho got as much as loaded three boats . He took the dirt down the canal to Dewsbury , sold it there to the " DoviV ' -men , and pocketed above £ 50 by the transaction !

      Not long ago a person whom We know was in one of the Market Inns at Bradford . Amoegst the company present , in the " Commercial Room , " was an aged man from Ossett , a village in the neighbourhood 0 Dewsbury . He was a clothier ; and had beside a small bit of land . The conversation happeniijg to turn upon this infamous cheatery , 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 . Ho also told that he bad himself sold woollea waste to be "devilled" , after he hadused it to

      grow a crop of potatoes on his land ! ! And , amongst other tbfo £ S , heEaid , that they had a new plan now for the very coarse " paddiiigs . " * -. ¦ " ¦ Paddings , " at best hand , are & very coarse description of manufacture . ' They are Jtsed , amongst other tilings , for the inside stiffehiug fov' coat-collars . Now they are made almost' entirely of >• ' Devil's Dust ; " and iiibtead of the flour , bi ^^ sometimev i Q addition to it , the parties making them uieanimat size , GLUE , to make them hang together and feelBtii ? 11 ' -riiey boil thegluten oui of horses and cows' f ' evH ) ^^ apply the size so obtained t ? the cloth . It is J >« t on by means of a common w atering can , and aitewed to set . Of course , it " stiffens '' the fa&rfc much ; for animal gluten is much stronger than the starch con-

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      tained in . wheaten flour . But , as the Ossett clptluer naively said ; with a knowing wink , " the wearer must tak care that thei stafif dns not * wicken [ quicken ] and creep aht o'thkoit , kollor ^ t I The old man said truly . The wearer must take this care . The animal size applied to the dirty woollen stuff used as before detailed , will quicken ; will breed maggots ; and , as the Ossett man said , will creep down the back of the coat i !!

      Now , we aver that these practices are almost general ! We avor that the Cotton Pasting is to be found in all parts of the cotton district ; and this "Devil ' s" muck manufacture in all parts of the Yorkshire clothing district . We aver that the practices are common to men of all parties ; while * we are also free to say , that the Anti-Corn Repealing portion of the manufacturers have led the way in them . Indeed , tbeir principles inevitably lead to such practices . They eschew pr » - ieclion . They will neither let ; their workman nor their customer be protected from them and their doings . They are im free trade . They jar © also much in love with cheap productions . To produce

      cheaper than others , is , with them , the first virtue The race in cheapness soon finds a level when the wages can be no more reduced , and profits cannot be made . Other means must now be resorted to . Iflferior raw material must be used . And thus the system goes on , until the entire character of our manufacture is changed . This sygtem of cheating spreads over all other crafts and occupations . What article of commerce or trade is there how 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" priaoiple 3 were so much in vogue ?

      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 iiot 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 yesur 1389 ; and prohibiting certain mal-practices , of which some of them were then guilty . Let the free-trader ponder over it well . Let him look at the reasons assigned by the act itself for the interference . Let him com I : pare the practices there prohibited with those which he every day pursues !! Let him do this , and then let him Say WHICH IS BETTBB FOR THE PEOPLE , Aw free trade and "devil's dust , " or the system of protection ! Here is the act entire : —

      Copy of Act Parliament . 1389 , Richard II . Chapter XL " Item . —Forasmuch as divers plain cloths . that be wrought in the counties of Somerset , Dorset , Bristol , and Gloucester , be tacked 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 ia no manner to the part of the same cloths shewed outwards , but be falsely wrought with divera wools , to the great

      deceit , loss , and damage of the people ; insomuch that the merchants 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 , and their said cloths burnt or forfeit , because of tho great deceit arid falshood that is found in the same cloths when they be untacked and opened , to the great slander of the 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 , so that the buyers may see them , and know them , as it ia used in the county of - Essex . . - * . ¦ - .. . ' . * ¦ ¦*¦¦ ¦¦ ¦' - ¦ ¦ *' .. ¦ 44 3 rd . And that the workers , weavers , and fullers shall put their seals to every cloth that they may work , 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 ! that was the way pur ignorant and deluded forefathers went to work in the DARK AGES , to protect the people from the cheating of the free-traders ! That was the way they ; did it 1 Dare the " great" manufacturers call for a Coinmittee of Inquiry as to their practices ndw-ardaysV Dare they challenge the Parliament to do by them , as the Annual UNiVERSAt Suffrage Parliament did by their brethren in the year 1389 ?;

      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 pra , cticea are to continue , the sooner the betterX ! - We shall have a turn or two amongst some-other " Old Acts" of our ignorant ancestors . respectingPRo-TiECTioN to labour . We must contrast their doings ia the " DARK AGES" with our doings in these " enlightened" times I 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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      offering a handle to "Extension" men in the shape of a ( resolution for a repeal of the Corn Laws , to be adopted along with a resolution for the Charter at all public a . « ting 8 . With all possible respect for the Ex ^ sutive , we must dissent entirely ttom this policy , and repeat our conviction , that the only safe method for the people is that which we have before advised , and whioh we here repeat in our own words ; as quoted by an enemy : — ;

      ' , ' ¦ ' " ¦ . Once more we extort you to / be yi gilant Suffer not a meeting to be held without you ; and suffer not a single resolution , petition , or memorial to pass at any Meeting / where you are for any object WOT THE CHARTER . ; .. •* . ¦¦¦ ¦•* ' Let the people then beware ! Let them go right on with their own agitation for the Charter , peace full y but determinedly , as they have hitherto done . Let them take care that no other agitation shall be carried on in their name . Let the charter—^ the whole

      charter—and nothing hut the charter , until that he obtained > be their reiterated cry at all public meetingfi aud in all petitions . " * '**• * ' ** 'LeV them adopt this plan in evert ) thing . Let them quietly , but surely—peacefully , but unmistakeably—chuck overboard every thing but the Charter / ' ; V ' : ; ' / an " Extension" man in the last week ' s Manchester Timesj quotes this portion of our advice and calls it " an insufferable insult to the intelligence of the people . " He ravei strangely about " ontrsge upon

      popular independent , perpetrated under the inask Of liberty 1 " and asks * " what right of opinion or of action the O'Co . nnorites possess whioh does not also belong to the people at large V' The Jesuitical knave ! Who contended for any such bright ? We have surely a right to give the people our opinion and advice ; and we make no effort to deprive Mr . Edward Watkin of the sam « right . ' . * W « tell the people that the " Leaguo " men Beek to ** use" them for the effecting of

      their own purposes , and that in those purposes they dp not at all contemplate the people's benefit . We tell them that all public m eeting 3 are holderi in their name ; that th « opinions expressed at , and the proceedings adopted by those meetings , are carried to Parliament or wherever they may ba wanted , as their opinions and procesdings ; 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 jndgment aud convictions . We tell them that in in our opinion THE CHARTER IS THE ONLY

      THING TO WHICH THEY OUGHT NOW TO LOOE OR LISTEN . They will , of coarse , treat that opinion as they please ; but we warn them that , if they do not thus act , they will have abundant reason for repentance , and abundant leisure for repentance , hereafter . :: '; . We now refer to Mr . O'Connor ' s letter , and to the proceedings of the friends and associates of this same "League" scribbler— -we refer to the speech of Mr . BvaFiEiD Feurakd , in the House of Commons and to every fact and circumstance of recent times to show the people , if they need yet showing , how tenderly their interests and weal are cared for by the " League" men .

      To conclude : we shall do our duty . We shall reiterate our warning weekly while the straggle lasts . If the people be sold , they shall sell themselves with their eyes open ; and we , at all events , shall feel neither pity nor sympathy for whatever they may Buffer afterwards .

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      THE SUFFRAGE .

      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 turti with him , and . promise a full exposure of his pitiable ignorance *

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      November , and is supposed to have been taken away with some of the show people . He has a tight complexion , and full eyes , and carries a deal of colour Had on when he left a blue jacket , black waistcoat and cotton trousers . Ho is thirteen years old , Whatever information can be given to his father , Hugh Kenworthy , No . 6 , Bread-street , Leeds , will ba thankfully received . ¦ Pinder ' s Blacking . —The money due this week to the Executive from the sale of R . Pinder ' s 1 blacking is as follows : — ; Mr . Sale ' s . Sutton-in-Ashfield ... 1 4 . V Mr ^ Ackroyd , Halifax ............ 1 10 * - ' ¦ - . ¦ ' -: ¦ * : ¦ ¦ . : ' ¦ ¦ s M ;; -.

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      CITY ASSIZES , Thursday , MAkch 3 . Oa Thursday morning , aboutYnt ' ne o ' clock , the Rightr Honourable Sir James Parke , - Knight , one of tho Barons of the Court of Exchequer , attended by the City Sheriff , the Recorder , the magisirateg , and the aldermen of the city , entered the Guildhall , and took his seat upon the bench . The clerk of the Court then called over the names of tbe magistrates , coroners , constables , & . O ., after which ^ the Grand Jury were sworn and charged . : .. -,.-The Grand Jury then retired , and the Court waH adjourned forthwith to the Mansion House , and thereafter to Wednesday week , the 23 rd instant .

      CR 0 W « COURT , Tuubsday , March 3 . Shortly before twelve o ' clock , Mr . Bahon Rolfs entered the Crown Court and took his seat on the Bench . The names of the acting Justices of the three Riding ? , the Coroners , Chief Constables ; &c . j having been called ; over , the following Gentlemen were empannelled as ;

      THE GRAND JURY . Sir G . Strickland , Bart , of Newton * M . P . Foreman Sir Henry Boynton , Bart , of Burton Agnes . Robert Bower , Esq ., Welham . ' Digby Caxley , Esq ., Ripon . William Carrerj . EsqL-, of Clifton House . Henry Brewster ; Barley , Esq . y of Hutton Hall . Charles Fairfax , Esq ., of Brandsby . Francis HawkeaworthFawbea , Esq ., of Farnley . Mart Foulis , Esq ., of Heslerton Hall . Jamsa Hall , Esq ., of Seorbro '

      Richard Hill , Esq ., of Thornton . Heiry Wiokham Hird ,- Esq ., of Low Moor Hoiua John Hutton , Esq ., of Sober Hill . George Lloyd , Esq ., of Stockton Halt . Wm . Markham , Esq-j of Becca Hall . Wm . Rat 8 on , Esq ., of Newby Wiske . Philip Salfmarshe , Esq ., of Saltmarare . John Plumbe Tempest , Esq ., of Ton ; Hall . Jamea Walker , Esq ., of Sand Hutton . Godfrey Wentworth , E ? q ., of WoolHy Park . Henry Willoughby , Esq ., of BirdaaH .

      Her Majesty ' s proclamation against vice , immorality , and profaneness , and for the encouragement of Tirtue , having been read , silence was enjiMne ** and the Learned Baron proceeded to deliver

      THE CHARGE . \ , He said—He was extremely sorry to have to s » W tcithem , what they were all probably aware of , th » the numbers of cases to be ' Submitted to them «" their consideration were both humerbus , andhe was sorry to say iu most cases distinguished by circatt "

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      4 _ ¦ . - ; _^ .. ; - - ¦•¦ T ; H E . N ^ B ^ T-lffl ^^ S ^ A . B . : /^;^ j ^ .. ,. ¦ .-,, _; : ; :.- . , ¦ : ¦ .: / ¦ ¦ : :--: ; ' , . ' ,-. ¦ C - ^ ¦ \ X ¦ Q ^ ^ y- ^ -

      The Noethern Stab, O 1 Nrrrnn • V If »T&Gt;Ph 1o 1q/K&Gt;

      THE NOETHERN STAB , o 1 nrrrnn v If » T > PH 1 O 1 Q / K >

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      THE HUMBUG TRAP .-THE BATH CONFERENCK-THE POLICY OF THE EXECUTIVE . All the powers of ingenuity and plausibility were nevermore soverely 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 to be a duty imperative on us to see that our cautions be not less constant and earnest in their iteration than the efforts of the enemy . The peope will of course use their own judgment iu the matter ; we presume not to dictate ; bufc our honest opinion and advice they are entitled to and shall

      have . We tell them , then , as we have again and again told them , that if they abate one jot of their demand for the whole Charter , they are sold , and their virtuous straggles through all the years of agitation . past are thrown away . We tell them again , that they are not less surely lost , if they suffer their agitation to be mixed up in any manner With the Corn Law repealing cry of the " Extension" men . This is not our opinion merely ; we are supported in it by O'Connor and O'Buien , 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 of the conference at Bath , between the Stobqe Declaration men and some loading Chartists of that city . We respect ViNCEMX for his 7 , 3 al , his talent , and hia suffering in the cause , aa highly as we respect any man ; we believe him to be thoroughly honest and well-intentioned , but ¦ : we cannot but regret the position he has taken ia this businesa . Still more do we regret to see j oined with him Mr . Philp , a member of the

      People ' s Executive . Doubtless these gentlemen givetthe new converts to Complete Suffrage credit for a large amount of honesty and sincerity . We cannot do so ; and we fearr if the people should be led into any general countenance of the steps taken by these gentJenien , that the error wfil hot ba found to be less fatal for haying been an amiable one . Oncse more we tell the people they must koep right on , swerving lieither tothe rijsjhthand nor to the left , or they will be " uaed i" left , a-id laughed at ;

      Elsewhere our readers will find a document from the Executive ; counselling the people , very properly , to keep the Charter ^ whol e and entire , as the pole star of agitation , but ati / I

      Boy Missing.—Joseph Kenworthy Left Leeds In

      Boy Missing . —Joseph Kenworthy left Leeds in

      Vozteshibe Lent Assizes, Wednesday, March 2.

      VOZtESHIBE LENT ASSIZES , WEDNESDAY , March 2 .

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      The . Yorkshire Spring Assizes commenced # n Wednesday last , when the Courts for the co'inty and the city respectively Were opened by the Honourable Sir Robert Mousey Rolfe , Knight , one of the Baronst of her Majesty ' s Court of Exchequer . The Learned Baron came to the city by railway from Darlington , on his return from the Assizes at Newcastle . At five o ' clock the High ^ Sheriff , William St . Qaintin , Esq ., and the City Sheriff , Robert Tonga Horsiey , Esq , together with their respective retinueg , mec at the High Sheriff ' s lodgingB , Coney-sfreeti

      where they shortly afterwards went in procesaion to the Railway Station ^ Tanner Row , to meet-Mr Baron Rolfe , who wag expected by the North train , which arrives in the city at half-past five . Upou this occasion the ceremony consequent upon the escorting of the Judges to the different Courts was of a much less imposing character than has heretofore been the case . In consequence of the resolution some time ago passed by . the magistrates at a Court of Gaol Sessions , certain forms hitherto observed were this day altogether dispensed with , andthe number of the High Sheriff ' s official attendants was somewhat diminished .

  • 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-ncseproduct745/page/4/