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Northern Star (1837-1852), 29th October 1842, Edition 4 of 5, Page 6

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      Untitled Article

      PUBLIC 7 :: EETi > -G- OF THE NATIONAL COMP 1 EIS SUFFRAGE UNION . ( From U > . c Evening Star . ) ' Bristol , Oct . 19 . The Chairman ( Mr . Evans ) opened the meetiDJj by K-viing the objects of the National Complete Suffrage Union , after -which he culled upon M . r . Job : stoa to propose the first resolution . lir . Johnston , on rising to address the meeting , ecmplained of the sma'lness of their nuniberB on an occasion like the present , when a meeting-is called to Bppfcil to the sympathies of our felloe-men , on behalf of those men who had ttood so nobly up for our rights , bat perhaps I condemn them rsshly , as the meeting was originally intended to have been held last night . It ¦

      sras , perhaps , coring to this that tfee meeting was go email . Otter a , rangemsnts by the pintles belonging to the Hall had prevented them holding the meeting laBt night . He then read the following rt £ « iution to the meeting : — " That this meeting consider it to be their duty , and the duty cf all friends of true liberty , to contribute to the National D-sfence Fund , thereby enabling the advocates of the people ' s rights to provide assistance at the forthcoming trials . " H : ( the speaker ) , ¦ W 3 S not in connection with that body , * 7 bo bad suf fered . yet fc * agreed with the bold manner they had advocated tha right of free discussion ; and in order to alleviate tbeir sufferings be saw but me conrsa , viz . to come forward with the smallest mi ' . a . Put the caae to vouTsfcivsa : —it mtcht come to their turn .

      The r veiy act of meeting tbera that night might bring thfciu under the ban ¦ f the law . if this were the case —if they wcie torn from their families , from tne ' . r homes , and subject to like treatment , we would wish tha ; some friends 'would come forwp . ro" with thtir pecuniary assistance , with what they couid CifForrt . He d ' . d not struggle for the name of the Charter , bat for its princio ! - ^ It matttreu r . ot to him what fault he hari to find with any mr-n ; he cams forward now on principle . The man who rem ? inL-d silent on the pre-Stsi occasion Tas an er-fiuy to his cause . The as ^ ista ' . &s of every n . aii is Tki . tetl cott . Some might objeet and say that trs * :: i-ji : c 7 was given to partita who were int-resied in the- ; . > ro 3 ccution ef the individuals ; but ho WfU . d ask , wit 1 . ' . . ' F . " .-et would have been bad he not eurloyed counsel ? He would rather see a Cnartist

      come bo . dly forward and defend himself—he arfmirtd Vhe spirit o ? sucb a mm . At the same time there inv ^ -iit be s » le 2 al point , that would be lisiued by those ¦ wri ' . made the law their Btudy , and the prisoner wcul-J in i i casts he the bef . sr of engaging a legal pers . cn . It ¦ Would not do to lose one single friend at present—not the humblest individual . There could not be a mere melancholy scene , than a ; aan dragged from the bo » om of huj family , and immured wi'hin the walls of a dungeon for teaching the truth , and spreading itB principles thr-iug , hout the land , snd then to be rieserteil by his fr-tt-ds . Let me ask you to look at trial b ; - jury . Is the weaver tried by his peers—hie equals—wbsn piaced in the dock before i middle class jury of yeomanry ai ' . a middlc-ciass Bhoyktepirs , who have never occe \ ntnB » sed the scenes thst the dooi weaver at the bar

      hv . been familiar "with ? I »* k , does he not require the . issktaDce ox those whose principles ars identical with his own ? Compare his case with that of the arietocrat—a p ~ er on arriving at twenty-one years of s . s ; eby an accident of birth , he will be tried by his pVtrs , bv those who k 3 ve lived and moved in the same scenes as himself . He apivait *! to the bympathits . and , sfcer poiiitL' g oat tha treatment of the' prisoners , antl ot John Frost , who was kept an i-xile , for f * ar tnat he "wou . d be a rallying point for the Chartists . By u re-Ticw of those trials that had airway taken place , he Itund that the prisoners were much benefited by tbt employment of counsel , and he implored the people not to Desert the ieaders n-jir , but rally around with renewed vigour , and by subscribing the smallest miu ' , show teat persecution tousps the Bpirit that is within y .- . rj , ard that you Etill are the friends of the persecuted , but just patriots of the people ' s eanse .

      Mr . Johnston was repeatedly applauded thron « hout his speech , of which the above is but an enf-ice . He resumed his Beat by proposing the above Ttaolution . >! r . Chard , boot and shoemaker , on rising to second the resolution , said , that he never in his life seconded a resolution with more ardour than the present on § ; it was true what had been stated by Mr . Johnson—men tr ^ re bronght up before juries of yeomanry fur advocating your righta ; aye , brought before men "who were as igc-, rant of the crime that the prisoner "was to be tried for , and knew as much about wbat was and what was no : sedition , as the horses in ths ploughs they drive j he wished he had the strength cf a legion to crush the

      tyrants for ever ; it makes no difference what association th- men belonged to , whether they were members of the Complete Suffrage Union or members of the National Cleaner Association , thay were Chartists , they were his friends , and they are your friends . Frost had been mentioDed , but for what was he banished , for whaS was he condemned ? Simply because he was the opponent of Lord John Russell . Mr . Johnson bad so fully , so ably , and so much better than him , laid the subject before them , that he should not take up their time acy lor . ger , but call upon them not to flse , not to be duhcarteceii , but to putth " -ir shoulders to the wheel , audlettliem see that we are men trying to regain out rights ; let us show a bold irott , and let erery man assist . It tras vrith great cleasure he seconded the resolution .

      Mr . Hamments , master tailor , Redcaff-hili , Bristol , ¦ wished to knaw if this to a meeting of the C ' -mplete Suffrage "Union , or cf a few individuals for the purpose of subscribing funds for a certain purpose . Tie Chairman stated , that it was a meeting for V > e purpose of raising funds for the defence of the Chartist prisoners , and to be forwarded to the General Defence Fund , to the Evening or 2 \ or ( hern Stars offices for that puipose . Mr . Hammenta—Do I understand that this meeting emanates from the Council of the Complete Suffrage Union ? Mr . Jshaston stated it did ; that Mr . Newman , br . ker , haa met Mr . Griffiths , and aake-d hi » if they , the S' -urgites , were not goinr to co asjthing for the defence of Chsj-nst prisoners , and the Council had at their meeting agreed to that effect .

      Mr . Hamments did not know that the Complete Suffrage Union had but one Council , and that sat in Birmingham . ilr . Johnston—The ranis Council is given to the general committee , as it is illegal to have more than one Council . 2 Jr Hammente did not think that the object of this mating had anything to do with the Complete Saffra ^ e TTnion , of which he was a member ; he did rot agr . e ¦ with the plan of raising money for snch pnrpostrs ; he had seen money collected in Bristol before for snch objects , and as he did not agree with the manner in which this money w ; jb expended , he would move an amendment ; he condemned the conduct of the men who had

      buried and destroyed property in the north , and bad they attained their obj-. ct by physical revo ' . uti ' . n , a Counter revolution would have to be got up otfore a twelvemonth wa 3 over cmr heads , for the purpose of up-Betting the tsran y they hid established ;¦ th-y di « l not require to go fir fora precedent , only to a ne ' -ghrourinr country , France . He totally disagreed with the iate scenes of riot and plunder that had taken place , anu thought the parties riehiy deserved punishment ; he protested against the body having any thing to do wiih it as council or committee ; let it be dene by parties apart from the association business . ilr . H . was met by frequent marks of disapprobation , and sat down by proposing a counter resolution .

      Mr . Johnston explained , and pointed out the absurdity of coupling the names of the Ciiartuts with the ou'break . They hs >* been seized whilj promulgating the truth , and he was no £ aware that ths Defence Fund went to d-. fend any but Chartivj . The outbreak was a strjke for wages , and the men were driven to co whi . t they did . He w ^ s not an advocate of physical violence , but ke ccnndtied that the men tb ^ t had doDe "what the leade . s cf Chartism bad done ouijbt to be tupported . He alioded to snch men as 31 'Domll anti others—aen who were to be tried for sedition , ana he was anxious that ths fund ihould prosper . Ee did not cart "whether it was a Council or not ; ths meeting ^ vas decidedly a meeting of the Complete Suffrage Union , and emanated from them .

      lili . Hanimenla wished to enter his protest in justice . He th-. ught the men to vhich Mr . Johnston had alluded wer < a tobiame ; tcey , the Chartists were the ric-leaders ; they were the promoters of the bloodshed , rapine , and plunder that had ensued , and bad the time ttat had been lost , and the money that had been thrown away , been devoted to the moral and intellectual itriprovemtnt of the people , that would be the means of obtaining our rights . He "would withdraw his amendment , and simply ask for bis protest to be entered . H e considered the leaders aiders and abettors . ilr . Dutton , Proiident of the Complete Suffrage Union —Sir . Chairman , I should like to see a meeting get up something like a meeting ; none of ycur hole and corner afiaira . "Who is to collect the money ? I think that it is strange ' that no notice of this meeting should ¦ have adps&red .

      The Chairman of ths meeting rtated that the meeting ¦ was advertised in the Bri&io ! jlercurj ,, and large bills had been printed and posted-Mr . Dutton—Was the object stated ? I bate snch doingB ; let a good meeting be cslled . Mr . Johnston—The object "was stated in the notice sent to the Mercury ; but he could not be answerable for the editor ' s curtailing of it , and Mr . Dutton had sot been present as he ought to have been . He had been absent for five or six nights , or he would have been Bware . Mr . Chard—Mr . Datton had not attended ,- and he iras surprised that ilr . Hamments had not expressed his dissent , as he "was present on the commir ^ ee , and heard it passed that this meeting should be held .

      Mr . Datton never liked two-faced pec-ple ; let the public know what th 6 y were doing ; let a meeting be called in a proper "way . He was not opposed to the object , if it was a good meeting , and he . fctlitved his friend , Sir . Hamments , was of the same opinion . I cannot bear to see such things—such npitarts . I hate such d—d sneaking waja . What right had they to forge hU name . I do not like such things . I am desirous that & fund should be got up ; but I cannot agree with such conduct . Who is to coileet ths money ? I can hear my friend Mr . Simeon ' s Toice . ( The speaker then came to where Mr . Simeon was seated , and banded him one shilling tc-srards the Defence Fund , which Mr . Simeon immediately put in his pocket , which highly

      Untitled Article

      r-muvr ! the rD ^ tine . ) I pat * such y mmc ? > Vbo gave you k-:. vt- t'j : \ . r <^ ir . y na-. ne ? : Ti"e jsp ^ -. ker b-.-rc bU- ^ pcu forward tu ihy tacit , aud shoving eoikj letters , he accused ilr . Johnston , we understood , of forgery ) Mr . Doyle here whispered to the chairman that be h 3 d a ri ^ ht to the letters , that they were the propeity of th-j Union . Tho Chairman demanded the letters from Mr . Dulton . Mr . Dutton—Who are you , you d—d rascal , to demand my letters ? tThe npro : ir was such that we were not able to follow the speakers , for three or four were speaking at once . ) Sir . Chard moved that this day week Mr . Dutton produce these letters , and retract hia expressions , and apologize . Mr . Datton was willing to meet and defend hia conduct , and prove the charge of forgery .

      Untu nuw the members of tha National Charter Association who were present had not interfered , all the foregoing speakers bting members of the Complete buffrag * Uuion . Mr . Simeon regretted , that on an occasion like the present , parties should have introduced matters petfec $ ; y irrelevant to the business before the chair . He ha * i known the time when bad he a one less than that , parties wtre ready to pitch him head foremost frvm the platfuiKi . for introducing subjects for which the meoting vmb not caiied ; the meeting bting called for a specific u ' rjcct . Though be had been termed violent , he had never made use of the language that had been made use of that eveniae > ir . Copp hero recommended the propriety of cal ing another meeting , or adjourn this one till this night week .

      The Chairman accordingly aJjourned the meeting til ! that night week ( the meeting at no time amounted to more than seventy persons . ) Several kfi tho loom quite batisfied with the dish set before them . The case of forgory , we understand to be as follows : —At the meeting uf the Complete Suffrage Union , an aodress was passed by the meeting i Mr . Dutton , president , in the chair , ) to the Whig member for "Bristol , Mr . Berkeley , to ba presented at the Agricultural Show . Mr . BeTkt " . ey did not cume to the show . Mr . Johnson , as secretary , drew up the address , and attached the nama of Mr . Dutton , as ctuirman , without allowing him to sign his own nama The address was forwarded to Mr . Berkeley , an i he wrote a reply to Mr . Dutton , with whom he is personally acquainted , he being the chairman of trades meetings , and other meetings for the return of that gentleman .

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      MR . VINCENT'S LECTURES . ( From the Evening Siar . J ABERDEEN . The Complete Suffrage Association of Aberdeen having v-vited Mr . H . Vincent to visit this city , determined to < ive the occasion all the pomp and circuinstaDcs imaginable , and accordingly preparations were rnsde for a spUndid siy-ies to come off in the Temperance Hall . Admission one shilling . It was to take plac-j on the evening of his arrival , and all their energies were at work to get up a good attendance ; bnt notwitbstan ^ - icg aU their exertions the number who attended did n"t amount to 300 , and proved to the paTty that any m 6 vement not supported by the working nitn is completely powt ^ leBS , as they are now the only party

      capable of wielding public opinion . There were several l' » ca ! speakers at the soire-i . bat all th « dependence of the evening was upon Mr . Vmcent . His friends were highly saiihfied with the manner in which he acquitted himself , bat impartial auditors eaid be had failed to support thd high character , a 3 a public speaker ) which had been assigned him . It had been understood , E'Jhough no : mentioned , that Mr Vincent would lecture on the Tuesday , and there was a considerable struggle b « : w ; xt the iBquUitivenc *^ and the ambition of the party ; the money-lovers contending for sixpence of admission , and those who were anxious for a full attendance for one penny . After a good deal of cogitation it was settlfrd by a sort of compromise , the price being struck- at twopence .

      The Chartist body did not wish to create or foster any ill fielinc betwixt themselves and the Complete Suffragwts , by any reference to the past conduct of Mr . Vincent , and therefore determined to view him only as the accredited advocate of tbeir principles , and to deal with him only in that capacity . The attendance at the Tuesday ' s lecture was very foil , being from nine to ten hundred . Mr . Vincent commenced by an account of his own political life , and the persecutions he had suffertd ; he also showed the tempting offers that bad been made to him by the Tories and others , to obtain his influence and a ^ sistmce in support of their cause ; be also gave an account of the Sturge Conference , held at Birmingham , and the reasons which influenced their decisions in adopting the six points . Mr . Vincent then showed ihat he had laboured hard in that conference to have

      adopted the name and » 'l , bat thii he did i , ut carry . He then adverted to ih » Nottingham and Ipswich elections , and dwelt particularly on the snecess which had attended his addresses in the latter place , aDd the opposition he bad met with from a clergyman of the Established Churth , whom he ( Mr . V . ) mimicked most succebBfuily to the great amusement of the aadience . He I . Mi . V . ) thea referred to the Leeds Mercury , retarding some articles which it contained aaaintt trje principles of compleie Suffrage , and more particularly an argument therein tjse fl , that it would beunjnrt to give the working classes the Tote , as they were the majority . Mr . V . condemned this in the strongest and most unnv asured terms . Mr . V . then concluded by stating that he was willing to an-Bwer any qna ' -tions or meet any objections that might be asked or brought forward on the subject of hiB lecture and sat down amidst considerable approbation

      Mr- James Mscpberson then lose and said that he oid not 3 ta . i ! d ap for the purpose of opposing or finding fault with * n > thing that had fallen from the speaker dnring the course of his lecture , ' nay , he highly approved of the greater portion of it ; but while he approved ef what had fallen from tLe speaker , he wished to draw the attention of this Hieeting to some of the acs of that body , of which ilr . Vincent was the acert 4 i ? ed oie&n , namely , the Birmingham Council , in the address issued by whom , there were several paragraphs diametrically opposed to the sentiments which hsti fallen from Mr V . during his lecture . Mr . M . then read the following passage from the address : >• But id the election ef representatives to meet in < = ucV > conference , all party spirit must be excluded ; all efforts for fo : cir . g individual opinions through the power of ir-miters must be avoided . " Mr . Macpherson said , the portion of the address he had just read was in

      direct opposition to the opinions promulgated by the speake ; tLa evenine . and were in perfect unison with the articles in the Lt'ds Mercury , to which the lecturer had so strongly and so justly objected . 2 Ur . M . then dr-w their attention to the mode of election in that address , ar . d condemned it Etrontjly as arbitrary and uDJust , and in direct violation of the principles they Bonsbt t-- > establish . He fnrtber observed , that the individual who drew up this absurd and contradictory document , miebt be honest ; and , God forbid , that he tb' > u ! d charge him with dishonesty , if his intentions ¦ stre puie ; for he would rather that two knaves should escape -with the character cf hoDest men , than that one bentst rar . n should , through his instruments'ity , be branded , as a rogue . But if be was hor . eBt , it was plain th-. t be h . id allowed his feelings and wishes for a union br * tw . en the middle and working classes to run away with his better judsment .

      Bat while an excuse might be offered for an indivi'jual . no such excuse could hold good for the Cour . cil ¦ wht ! Lad adopted that address ; they had fhe-sn tbems ? lvr 3 utterly incapable of conducting any gveat and conipreuensive movement by the adoption of such a co- traaictory and inconsistent addie .-a . He ( Mr . M . ) had no intention of opposing the complete suffrage movement if confined to its proper sphere ; on the contrary , he considered such a movement as in some measure necessary to meet the prejudices of the middle classes , whose ciass-pride prevented them from receiving the truth . But while be would ( Mr . M . continued ) bo fai give way to their prejudices as to lay aside the name cf the Charter , by those who were willing to do

      so , he conld by do means consent to sacrifice one iota of the principles therein contained . He would never allow them to divtrse off at an angle from the paths of rectitnde . frittering away one principle after another . No ; he wished them , after having given up the name , to be kept by the force of a powerful and well-directed public opinion—to be kept moving in a direction parallel with the great Chart ^ t movement . Mr . Macpher ^ on then concluded by asking Mr . Vincent if the plan for electing the proposed Conference , contained in the AddresB of the Complete Suffrage Council of Birmingham , was in accordance with tho principle of Complete Suffrage 1 and Bat down amidst immense eheer'ns .

      Mr . Vincent , who had been nodding assent and approbation during the speech of Mr . Macpherson , then rose to reply . He said he had not been present when the address was submitted to the Council , and had not therefore , an opportunity of expressing his sentiments on its merits , and although he was satisfied that the Council bad adopted it from the best ef motives , and had considered that in almost all instances the electors and non-electors would agree and elect their representatives at the same meetings , yet as the question had been pnt in a fair spirit by Mr . Macpherson , he would just give as fair an answer , and that would be just what had already been given to a similar question by Mr . Sturge , which was , that he disapproved of the mode , and would try and get it brought before the Council for their reconsideration ,

      Mr . Macpherson expressed himself perfectly satisfied with the candid manner in which his question had been answered by Mr . Vincent , as Mr . Vincent had joined with him ( Mr . Macpherson ) in his unhesitating condemnation of the mode of election proposed in the Address , and trusted that the Birmingham Council would take this as a warning fur the future , and never presume to tamper with the glorious principles of justice laid down in the People's Charter . Mr . Adam , of the Aberdeen Herald , then rose , and proceeded to defend the proposed plan and the Birmingham Council in adopting that plan , but found it impossible to proceed , so great was the disapprobation of the meeting ; and , after an ineffectual attempt to be heard at greater length , sat down amidst a shower ef hisses from all parts of the halL

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      Mr . Vincent r ^ p-. icrt , nr . d censured Mr . A . very freely for his i ;> juilic : cu t r <_ iu ; trfc .-i . Hdv . il * folk-wed by " Mr . Legze , who defended the working classes from the imputation of illiberality and intoL ' trarce , charged upon them by Mr . Adam , and cited , as a proof , that they had agreed to allow a delegate from the Complete Suffrage party along with one from them , the working classes , to attend the Conference proposed some time ago at Birmingham . Mr . Macpherson also spoke a few words in answer to what had fallen from Mr . Adam , and showed that the

      working classes were neither tyrannical , illiberal , nor intolerant , and had they not been anxious for conoiliation , and averse to cavilling and fault-finding ? that there was much more contained in the address , to which he had net before adverted , that would afford good ground for the most Btivnuous opposition ; and further contended that tbe gicuteat fault of tho working classes was too much a ltitude for any little aervice rendered them , which they bad often cause to repent of , but never either of their illiberality or intolerance . A vote of thanks was then giton to Mr . Vincent , and . the meeting dismissed .

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      NORTHLEACH PRISON . ( From tie Cheltenham Free Press . ) Adjourned Inqcest cn Charles Beale . — The adjourned investigation into the cause of tbe death of Crvarles Beile took place at the board-room of the Union Workhouse , at eleven o ' clock on Friday . Mr . Rowland J . Ticthurst , clerk to the Board of Guardians , attended officially by order of the Board . Mr . Curtis , head-tnrnkey of Norfchleach , and several of the Cheltenham Board of Guardians were alBO pre > sent

      John Newton—I am a shoemaker . I am now residing at the Cheltenham Union workhvuse . I was sent te Northle ; ich House of Correction on the 14 th of April , and left on the 7 th of July . I was sentenced to hard labour . I frequently saw Charles Beale there . I first saw Beale there on the 15 th of April . He looked very ill . He was then working on the wheel , he was doing full work then . We were not allowed to speak to one another . He appeared very weak and poorly . I think he continued at full worif on the wheal for six weeks after that . He gradually got worse . He complained of being ilL He was taken under the doctor ' s charge , and did no work for about a fortnight or three weeks . I saw him passing through the yard several times . He looked very ill I never spoke to him . He

      went towards tbe mill house . I have se £ n him frequently . He had no particular heavy loads . Two people were carrying them in a basket that would contain about SOlbs . He was ou one Bide and a man assisted him . It was only occisloually I anw it . We are not allowed to look round . At the end of three weeks he w . a put on the wheel and did half work . He was taking pills at the time . They were given to him by the under turnkey just before we got off the wheel , between five and six o ' clock . I heard him complain of being ill . He worked his whole turn when he got up . When it was my turn to follow him on the

      wheel he told me he was ill , and unable to go on with his work . I never heard him tell tbe under turnkey ( who was always present ) , the surgeon , the governor , or the bead turnkey . He never complained to the under turnkey when he was carrying potatoes ; it was no use . If it had been Mr . Curtis , it might have been of some use . As to the under turnkey , I never saw snch a heart-hearted man in my life . He continued at half work and taking pills for about a fortnight . He was then put upon whole work . Before that I thought he looked better . He complained of weakness . He continued much the same until I left I did not communicate complaints to anybody .

      The Coroner taid those complaints were not evidence . The potatoe bury is under tbe bouse , about half a dozen steps below the level of the lower cells . He brought 'he potatoes apparently from the petatoe bury . The way to it is through one of the women ' s day cells I am sure he was several days at work in the carrying potatoes . Deceased ' s day cell was nearly on a level , or a little higher than my day cell . We bad both two cells . Our night cells were over . My day cell was very damp , particularly in wet weather . It was never heated with hot air while I was there . The stones on

      the ground were damp . Tbe side walls were not There was no glass in my cell , the roof over my day cell door overhung two or three feet That was some height above tbe door , having a tier of night cells betwef n . Both tbe day and night cells open into the outer air . Above the door ef my day cell , there is a wa king way of stone , by which we got to our night celL It protected tbe door of my day cell from rain . Notwithstanding this , the rain water would run into the cell . The water lay in puddles . I have known a gallon there at a time . I have been shut in the cell with the water .

      Charles Curtis deposed—I knew the two cells occupied by Newton and the deceased Beale . The fliors , and the walls , and the means of ventilation were alike . Newton's examination continued—I have complained about there being water in the celL There was a halfround opening ov < . r tbe door which I could shut with a shutter . It was not glazed . There was a wooden shutter to the opening , but I never saw it shut I believe we were not allowed to shut it There was another opening at the back . There was a shatter for this opening also . I never tried to close a shutter . If we made any noise in the cell , we should be punished . There was no glass to this opening . We left the night cells at sue o ' clock in the morniug , and

      went to chape 1 . We remained a quarter of an hour or twenty minutes there , and about half-paet six went to work on the wheel until eight o ' clock . We then went to our day cells to breakfast , and were locked in there for balf an hour . We then went to work until one . We returned to onr day cellB , and were locked in there for half an hour while we had our dinners . We returned to the wheel , and worked until six . We stopped until eight We had not much supper . That we ate at dinner . It was given oat to us in the morning . A hungry man mlf . ht eat all his bread at breakfast , but we were not allowed to do so . Each was obliged to put half his leaf outside the cell to show he had not eaten it We were vtry hot when we came off tbe wheel at six . We never came off without a good

      sweating . My shirt was very wet from perspiration , especially when I first went to prison . I never had a dry shirt to put on , either to go into my day cell , or at bed time , except on Saturday evening , except when I had any clem one given to me , I never complained to any one there of my shirt being so wet I know one young man whose sbirt was very wet frem perspiration complained to the turrkey and he had a dry shirt given to him twice every day for about a fortnight The under turnkey dirt not abuse him for it The young man was only in for a month . The shirt was bronght by the under-turnkey without grumbliDg , and appeared as an act of duty , at diunei time and at night . It waB some time in May be came in and left in June . I bad been tbere a mouth before be came in . I never knew Beale apply for a clean shirt , although he waa on the

      wheel ami knew of tho indulgence granted to the above . I did not apply , as I did not perspire so much as I did the first fortnight The wheel waa hard to work . I should have preferred being locked up in a cell , for , although it was cold , I should not have worked all the fleBh off my bones . It is not having food enough to keep ourselves vp that is tbe great thing tiiera I have seen Beal 6 ' s hands dirty , as though he had been picking potatoes , 1 have never been at Northleach or any prison before , and shonld not like to go again . I was never charged before any magistrates before . The charge was leaving my wife and children chargeable to the parish . I waB sent for three months . I had three Bmall children in the workhouse . I was short of work , and they would not allow me anything out ; bo I went in Bearch of some . I waa tiken up at Gloucester , and committed on a charge of leaving my childism chargeable to the parish cf Cheltenham .

      Mr . Curtis said the evidence was , bo fat as he could judge , pretty correct . By the Foreman—I was very ill when I came out , scarcely able to walk . The Coroner said that his state of health eould have nothing to do with . tbe death of Beale . Mr . Curtis—The complement of men is eight on and hixteen off . The wheel goes forty-eight paces , or twice round in a minute . By the Coroner—I have no reason to suppose that if I had applied for a dry shirt I should not have had one . I know if I had applied to Mr . Curtis I should have bad one . I don't think he would injure any body . Newton—I do not say this because Mr . Curtis ifi present One man waa very ill , and they corded him up to the wheel , and beat his bead against it as long as they liked , an 4 let him drop through . They might have broken his neck .

      The Coroner said that was not evidence in reference to the deceased Charles Beale . By the Coroner—I have known the visiting magistrates to come reond , and tha governor has asked the prisoners if they had any complaints to make : but they were afraid . If anything was said very little attention was paid to it , and they made it out to be a pack of lies . They came round about once a fortnight I never heard Beale complain to the visiting justices . I have seen plenty of them eat potato rinds , but not Beale .

      Alice Beale—I am the mother of the deceased . Be was in good health before he went to Northleach . In consequence of some information I had from a discharged prisoner about my son ' s health , about two months after his committal , I , in company with the wife of Joseph Rowley , went to Northleach . We had a magistrate ' s order . We walked there and got to the prison about twelv « o ' clock . We were with my son about ten minutes . Rowley and tbe governor were present ; I thought he was at the point of death . He told me he was in good health , But he has told me since , he said

      that to cheer my spirits up . He looked exceedingly ill . The governor seemed to push ub on as though he did not wish us to atop any longer . He made no complaint All he said was overheard by the governor . I should have liked to have remained longer , bat the governor did not appear to wish us to stay longer . Three weeks before he left , I received » letter aa from tho governor , stating that my son was very ill and wished to see us all , me in particular . I started at tiro o ' clock , and was with him one hour and a quarter . The governor was not present , nor the surgeon , nor the turnkey . He had

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      a quantity of trait , ami watir , of which he drank a i < ooi ! deal waild I was thorn- Ho had ab ut h ' M ( a tfjretpenny or fompenuy loaf toasted , to make the toast and water . One of the turnkeys brought him a box of pills . Ha was in bed in the hospital . I did not see blni attei wards until ho cams home . I saw him three days after he came home . He was as bad as be could be and alive . The first time I went with deceased to the ( lispensaty was Thursday , the 22 d of September . On the Thursday before he died he despaired for the first time of bis recovery . On the following evening ( Friday ) , Mr . Holiia called My eon asked me if I knew where that gentleman lived . I told him I did not He said he was fearful that Mr . Hollis had misunderstood him aa to the hourb ha was in the potatoe bnry , which was very shortly after the first

      time I went to sue him . He said it was wrong that he told Mr . Holiis- He was not down ten huurs in the potatoe bury in pse day . He wished to correct this , as he wished to put all straight before he died . His head wandered at times . On the Saturday beforo he died , when he was quite sensible , he s ; iid— " Mother , when I waa in the potatoe bury , I found my blood tnn cold . My hair stood on end on my head . I pulled off my cap and kneeled upon it . I think that caused me my death . The starvation of the priaon that I suffered , mother , no tODgue can tell . I did not hear my son say , in the presence of tbe governor and turnkey , that he was perfectly satisfied . He said , " Don't make yourself unwasy , mother , the turnkey has been very kind to me . " Hia satisfaction was confined to Curtis . He was always of a delicate constitution until he was grown up a man , when he became strong and healthy .

      By the foremaii--He was at work us a sawyer tho day he waa taken to prison . He was iu perfect health and had been for a twelvemonth btfori ; . Nathaniel Beale—I am father of the deceased . He was twenty-three last birth-day . He told nie on the Saturday evening before his death , that he was down in the bury " chitting potataes" with Churin , when he ate some raw potatoes . Ho did not eat so many as Churin . It was hunger that induced him to eat thorn . He said the prison caused his death , bis being put in the potatoe bury caused his illness . He said he made no complaint because he waa afraid of been served worse . My son said he would sooner saw for seven years than tvork at the mill for a month .

      It being now half-past four o'clock , and one of the Jury having to attend the funeral of his mother at Camden , tho Coronor a-journed the inquiry until Monday .

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      MIDDLSEX SESSIONS . —Wednesday . CASE OF CRUELTY TO A CHILD IN MARVLEBONE . ( Before ilr . Sergeant Adams , Chairman , and a Bench of Magistrates . ) Barnard Gavan , aged 39 , and Mary Gavon , atred 35 , were indicted for assaulting and beating Eliza Gavan , their child . : The male prisoner was first arraigned , and pleaded not guilty . Mr . Clarkson , who was assisted by Mr . Payne , conducted the prosecution ; and Mr . Pkendergast defended the prisoner .

      Mr . CLARKSON stated that this prosecution had been instituted at the instance of the parish authorities of St Marylebone for assaulting a child of the tender age of nine years . Upon perusing the depositions be observed that the child spoke of a series of brutal assaults ami ill-usage , yet it so happened tb . < t the present indictment referred to only one charge , although it should have contained at least twenty counts , setting forth as many instances of most aggravated assaults . He should therefore be compelled to confine himself to the isolated charge in the indictment . The object of the prisoner ' s furocity was the child of a former wife , and lived with him at No . 2 , Henry-street , Portland T > twn . The prisoner was in the receipt of goed wanes , and earned , as ~ V tobacco-pipe maker , from thirtj-five

      shillings to fifty shillings per week . He bad bix children besides the one in question . The jury were aware that the prisoner , in point of law , was justified in administering mild and wholesome correction to bis child , but it was not to be endured that it ehould be treated so barbarously as it had been . It would appear that , on the 26 th of September , while n policeman was going his rounds , the little girl was brought to him as a lost child . She was taken to tbe staion house , and it transpired that her father had turned her out of doora , and had been in the habit of exercising the most extreme cruelty towards her . Tue policeman subsequently went to the prisoner ' s residence , and took possession of a leathern strap , with which he was in the habit of beating the child about the head until the blood flowed . The

      learned gentleman than gave an outline of the evidence he proposed to lay before the jury , and expressed his regret that , by reason of tbe form of the indictment , he could not go into the whole circumstances of the case . After the jury bad beard tbe child ' s statement , corroborated aa it would be by other witnesses , it Would be for them to say if the prisoner , was justified in ii . fliotiag such punishment upon a child of nine years of iige , or not The parish authorities considered it a case in which they ehould not have discharged their duty unless they had brought the prisoner there to answer for hia conduct He was happy to inform them that the parish officers had not only taken the child that had been illused into the workhouse , but had likewi-e received under their protection all the other children of the prisoner .

      Eliza Gavan , a poor , attenuated-looking child , was placed Buur tbe bench and sworn . She said—The prisoner is my father . My mother is dead . I came from Ireland with ray father a good while a 30 . The woman sitting down with tho baby in her arras is my motherin-law . On the 26 th of September , I saw the policeuian , Hobbs , in High-street , Portiand-town . I bad been turned out of doors by my father . I remember that , a few evenings before , he beat mo about the head with the leather BtTap produced ( a thick strap , about two feet in length , was here exhibited to tbe Court . ) I ran into the privy , and he followed me , and again " welted" me . Tho blood ran from my head . He also took up roy clothes , and beat me with a strap about the body . The reason I was punished was for blowing my nose behind the door . He beat me about the back , and every where e . Be .

      Croaa-examined—He kept the strap to beat me with . He did not use it to punish the other children with . I had been living , until within some months , with my grandmother , at Ballymena , in Ireland . She died , and my father fetched me home . My mother was Nancy Quin . 1 had sores upon my head , and was begging about when my father fetched me home . Re-examined—I never saw the female prisoner until I came to England . William Webb examined—I Hve at No . 2 , Henrystreet , Portland-town . The prisoner and bis family lived there . I aaw the child run out of the bouse , followed by the prisoner . 1 afterwards saw bleod 011 the flooring . I also saw blood on the bauds of the child . Tbe blood appeared to have dripped about the place , and the stains covered about a square foot of the boards .

      Cross-examined—I was never on bad terms with the prisoner . A son of mine worked at the same shop with him , and he made an objection to bia doing bo , as he had not served his apprenticeship , but I bore no malice towards him . on that uewmut I never threatened to punish the prisoner iu thu hearing of Mr . Cunningham , his master . Police-constable Hobbs , 174 S ., sr , id—I remember the child Leiag brought to me on the 26 th of September , in High-street , Portland Town . I took it to the stationhouse , and I met tho mother afterwards , and told her the child had been terrihly ill-used . I went to the prisoner's house , ami obtained the strap produced . Mr . Robert B- ^ ys , the parish surgeon of Marylebone , sworn—I examined the child / and found blue and yellow marks upon its body of long standing . There were superficial scabs on the head , and bruises amund them . I do not think the sores were the result of disease , but of violence .

      Cross-examined—I will swear the sorea did not come of themselves . Mr . Prendergast said he never heard of a more trivial and disgusting case being brought before a court of justice by any parish officers . Let the jury examine the facts without prejudice , and they would at once perceivo the barrenness of the case , notwithstanding all the garnish and misrepresentation that had been brought in aid . Several witnesses were called to prove that the present wife of the prisoner waa tho child ' s own mother ; and Mr . Peter Cunningham , a tobacco-pipe maker , gave the prisoner a good character during aix years that he bad been in his employment . The witness added , that , the day after the prisoner was examined before Mr . Rawlinson , ths man Webb said tbe prisoner had been severe with him , and ho should be equally severe with thu prisoner , for God paid all debts without money . Mr . Payne reolied .

      The Chairman , in summing up , told the jury they had to decide whether the punishment inflicted by the prisoner was justified by the offence committed by the little girl , and whether it was a mild and proper correction , or an excess of violence had been exercised . They were to say , as men of good sense , whether be bad or had not substantially exceeded the laws of nature and humanity . The strap appears to him to have been used over the child ' s head , as there were stains of blood upon it Tbe strap was then handed to the jury for their inspection , and , after a short consultation , a verdict of Guilty was returned .

      Mary Gavan was next indicted for s similar offence . E Gravan . thechild . proved that the prisoner bad frequently dragged her about by the hair of the head , knock her head against the mantel shelf , and threw her o » the ground , la consequence of a discrepancy between the evidence and indictment , the prisoner was acquitted , under the direction of the Chairman , who remarked that the parish authorities ought to have employed a competent person to draw up the indictments . If it turned out that the blame rested with the officer of that court , he wonld hear of it again .

      Mr . Prendergast said he believed the parish officera were willing to recommend the man Gavan to mercy . Mr . Payne said they would do no such thing . The Chairman , in passing sentence , observed , that if the indictment had beta properly framed , so that all the circumstances should have been laid before the

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      Court , both as regarded the prisoner and h ? s wife , a v . \ ty severe seiitai / ce wouid have been passed upon tbuin . The depositions contained a series of cruelties which would make every humane man shudder . upon reading them . The bands of the Coort were , however , tied , and , although their better feelings spontaneously rose up against such conduct , they must not allow themselves to depart from a strict administration of the law . The Learned Gentleman then sentenced the prisoner to six weeks * imprisonment in the House of Correction .

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      EXTRAORDINARY CASE OF SWINDLING . On Friday afternoon , at tbe Police-court , Liverpool , after the usual business of tbe day had teen brought nearly to a close , a young man , apparently belonging to " tbe swell mob , " and who had juflt been apprehended , was brought before Mr . Kuskton on a charge of having , with the assistance of a com-rogue ( who has escaped ); tricked a stranger , who bad arrived in town only an boar before , ' ot-. a sum of upwards of £ 60 . The prisoner gave his name as Thomas Rale , bnt bis real name is said to be Da vies . The circumstances of the case are so extraordinary , showing the cunning cf tho delinquBntsaa contrasted with the apparent simplicity of their dupe , that we supply the evidence at length . Tbe complainant , a slender and unintelligentlooking man ,

      in a long top coat , and who stattd that be was thivtytwo years of age , said , 1 am a joiner and builder in Chettham-hill , near Manchester . This morning I arrived in Liverpool by the railway , a fe ^ r minutes before twelve o'clock , to buy timber . As I came along Manchester-street , the prisoner , Thomas Rule , overtook me , and asked me the way to the docks . I said , " I am a stranger , I cannot tell . " He said , "lams stranger too , from Rochdale , and am going to do business at the docks ; it is a cold morning , will you step in and have a glasB ? " adding , " Perhaps you have not time " I agreed , and we went into . Whiteley ' s publichouse , in Manchester-street , into the seeond room on the right side of the lobby . Rule said ; "I will have half a glass of brandy . " I said I would

      take the same . The waiter came into tbe room , and orders were given for the glasses . We each paid for our own . Before wu had tasted , another man came into the room , and placed himself in a corner near tho fire . He » 5 d , « . ' What bustling places these large towns are ; these- big streets contain nothing but shops and public-houses . " I said" Yes ; " and the prisoner Baid , " The back streets are very dirty . " The other man then took up bis glass , aud said , " Here is our good healths , gentlemen ! " We returned him the compliment The other man then said , I am a stranger ; I came from Bollington to see a lawyer . " Prisoner said , " It is not a very pleasant job" The other man said , "It is not so with me ; 1 have come to draw some money which an old uncle of mine bos left me . I have

      been to my attorney , who eaya I shall have to watt a week or ten days , and be wanted to knowif I wanted any money . I wanted none , but he handed me j £ 30 , and said , "It is customary to have a glass on paying money . " We went into a public-house , and the lawyer and bis clerks had glass after glass ; and when I came to pay the hill , it amounted to more tbnn £ 2 , I then went into that big street ( Dale-street ) , and looked through a shop window . A lady came up who had a feather hanging in her bonnet , which reached nearly to her feet She said to me , " Well , John ( will you go with me and have a glass ?'" I went with her . She told me fahe was a lady ' s-maid out of place , but resided with her aunt in Williainson-squaie . We went there , and found a number of ladies sitting in tbe house .

      I threw down a Bovereign for some gin , and wbilBt we were drinking Borne officers came in . Tbe prisoner said , " What kind of officers ? '' The other man said , they had gold lace on their caps and coats . The prisoner said , they must have been captains . Tbe other man then said , " I went to bed with one of the ladies , and in the morning , on counting my money , I found that I had spent between Si . and 4 L The lady of the house was very kind to me , and invited me to dine there , which I intend to do , and she said tbat tbe woman who waa eo very handsome would bo there . " I said to all this , " If you would be advised by me , you will never go near the place again . " I endeavoured to dissuade him , saying tact be wonld repent it if he did . He said . " I will . " and took out his money , and

      showed a number of sovereigns and some notes , saying , *• I will go thoro and sp ? nd the remainder . We had been playing the other night with something that counted very many , but I do not know what it was . " I said perhaps they were dominoes . The prisoner said , they must be cards . The other man then put his hand into hia pocket , and took out a pack of cards , saying , ' These are them : I brought them away with me . I played with them the night before , and the young lady would instruct me in something which I did not understand . We played a considerable time . " Tho prisoner s-aid , " I won , " and laid the cards on the table , and showed na how he had done it , by cutting the cards and guessing black or red ; and he placed a crown down , saying that he would beat either me or the prisoner .

      The prisoner betted half-a-crown , and won The other man went out , leaving the cards on the table , saying he was going to the lady . I then said to tbe prisoner , " What a pity it was that the man should lose his money : our best way would be to get him to deposit it In some bank . " The prisoner said , we had better try to get it from him , and give it to the poor , and he took hold of the cards and saM , " We will take out all the black ones . " He took out about two thirds of the black ones , and put them into nis pocket The other man came in again , and I endeavoured to persnado him to put h' -s money in a bank . He said , " I will not ; 1 will spend it all . When I draw the full amount it will be £ 800 , and I will then return home .- '

      The prisoner said , " Will you give it to tbe » poor ?" The othor Baid , " The poor shall never have a fartbiDg of my money , " and pretended to be very tipsy . Prisoner thtn saitl , " ' Let us get it from him , and give it ' to the poor . " I sail , " It will not be right to do so , as he has objected , but we ought to get his address , and send it to him , '' The other man then produced the cards , and said , " I know nothing about you ; you are a stranger to me . I will bet you any thing you like , '' and he laid down two sovereigns . I laid down two sovereigns also . The prisoner then cut the cards , and the other man won . Tke other man proposed a bet of five sovereigns , which were placed on the table . Tho

      prisoner again cut the cards and the other man won . I believe I proposed to bet ten sovereigns , and we placed our money on the table . Prisoner cut again , and the other man won . Prisoner kept saying to the other , What a lucky man you are . " Wa carried on betting till I lost one £ 5 Bank of England note , one £ 10 Bank of England note , and forty aix sovereigns . The other man then said , " Wait a bit till I go to the back-door ;" He went out , and I followed him , but lost him . I returned into the house , and found the prisoner had thrown the cards into the fixe . I then suspected I had been cheated . A constable came in and took the prsoner into custody .

      Mr . Owen , who attended for the prisoner , cross-examined the witness , with considerable severity , as to his entering into gambling with BtrwgttB , and endeavoured to elicit an acknowledgment that he would have pocketed the £ 30 , of the man who had escaped , or any part of it , which be might have won . The witness , however , strongly denied ail such intent , alleging that he was solely actuated Iy a humane desir . j that the man ( though a stranger tehini ) should :: ot squander bia money at the places he had mentioned and that be ehould rtceive it " when he came to hia senses . "

      James Berwiek Whiteley , landlord of the publichouse , said , that about one o ' clock this day ( Friday ) he wab called down stairs from bis dinner , and saw the prisoner Rule in tbe lobby , and he ( prisoner ) said to him , " Landlord , if you will come into the parlour ail in a hurry , and say you will futch a policeman , and that you will not allow card playing , I will give you £ 5 in an hour ' s time . " Witness made some inquiries respecting tha prisoner and hia company , and then went for a constable , He return-. d "with police-officer Charnley , and went into the parlour along with the prosecutor The latter charged the prisoner with having dfaframled him of £ 61 at cards . Tho prisoner made no reply , and Charnley took him into custody .

      Jane Wuitely , wife of the last witness , said , she served the glasses called for between twelve aud one o ' clock . About ten minutes after , the » ther man ( who has escaped with , the money ) came in and called for a glass of gin . That n ; an and the prisoner she had both seen together in the house several times , and generally with strangers . Her husband mentioned to her the propesition niado to him by tho prisoner , and aho stated her supicion . s , upon which the constable was called , and the charge "was made against him by Foggett , as stated . The police-officer Charnley corroborated the facts Btatei" as ltgato&A bimsalf by thu two last witnesses . He found cn the prisoner the ? 11 m of 5 s : 6 J . only . The prisjiifcr , on fcoir . g cautioned , said tbat the complainant b . nd never accused Lini of having cheated him out of ai > yihirg , or of having betted with him at all , until the landlady came into tho room with the constaW » j , iind suid that she had seen him theze before .

      The pnsontr waa committed for trial . He inquired whether he could be admitted to baii . As the case as it stood reaolvcd itself into ( we beliove ) a misdemeanour , Mr . Rushton said he would be so admitted , by finding fiureties , himself in £ 100 , a-. id two others in £ 50 each , with forty-eight hours' notice of bail .

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      WELLINGTON , SALOP . ( Correspondence of the Evening Star . ) A few friends ol the common cause , in this town , beg te forward tbeir mite to you for the Defence Fund . There is at present no organized locality here , and the enclosed trifle has been collected by calling on the welt-disposed at their homes . Those who have began the work will continue their exertions so long as they shall be needful or productive ; and they beg , at the same time , most earnestly to call your attention to the isolated and hitherto unnoticed case of Thomas Half ord

      a most active nnd useful volunteer Chartist lecturer , now a prisoner in Shrewsbury gaol for using exciting language at a meeting in the neighbourhood of Iron Bridge . He is known to Linney and Mason , having been , as a member of the Coalbrookdale locality , mainly instrumental in the introduction of Chartism into tfeis Tory-ridden county , ard in the getting up of the Demonstration on the Wrekin , where he spoke . He afterwards took a house at Ketley , among the coal and iron works , chisfly in orjer to spread the light cf truth amoag the colliers and others of that diatrict-

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      and at bis oV" door , orce a week , delivered a sound , reasonable , and te mperate lecture , besides attending two or three other piBCti - H , e scon became a marked man , and , consequently , ha * . hia bociy-gaard of green dragons constantly at bis heels ; * ° & as cool and bitiog sarcasm is bia forte , he treated tbe . " ™ © ccasionally in a way that excited tbeir ire , and that . of thefr employers , fa no common degree . Aware of tbJ " . he has particularly guarded himrelf against giving u * iem a ebanee , bat , determined not to be foiled , they have broken through

      every barrier of law and justice , ana he is now , unfriended and alone , in their power ; and being the only Chartist prisoner in tbe county , and unable , from tie alarm excited by the late disturbances , to procure the heavy bail required , viz ., himself in two hundred pounds , and two sureties la one hundred pounds each , besides extra bail , himself in fifty pounds , and two sureties in twenty-five pounds each , for good behaviour until bis trial ; he is , to use an old Irish saying , " At law with tbe devil , and tbe conit held in helL" Mark what follows : —When taken he was committed tor

      trial at wenlock Sessions , an obscure Tory borough , wbeie the " jolterheads" would bang , draw , and quarter such a man if they could ; but for fear that even they could not for shame convict bta , we are now informed on good authority , tbat they intend bia trial shall take place at tbe Assizes in March , thus making sure work of bis incarceration for the six winter months His friends , the colliers , are beginning to do something for him and his poor wife , who ' is in a destitute condition . N . B . The charge against Half ord is wholly and solely a quotation from Blacks tone with regard to the right of the starving man to lake rather than perish , which has been pat down as Haiford ' s own words !

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      NATURAL RIGHTS . Much has been aaid and written upon the great and practical advantages t » be derived from co-operative communities . But the advocates of those societies seem to overlook tbe fact tbat the system now established by common consent among all nations ia in truth one vast system of co-operation . Is not the farmer raising poifcand wheat for the weaver , and the weaver in return fabricating coat and pantaloons for the farmer , co-operating with each other , as literally ai it they domiciled under the same roof-tree * let tbe Measure of value be uniform snd unfluctuatinglet tbe farmer sell his produce at the price put upon it by an open market With tbe proceeds he can purchase

      the proceeds of the weaver's skill ; and not only tbat , but the labour and ingenuity of ten thousand artfzans are at his feet , soliciting bim to take them in exchange , at prices regulated by public opinion , for the produce of his farm . This is indeed co-operation in its most comprehensive sense , and , if freed from the Anti human influences tbat are at work upon it , it would presents system as much superior to the little hole-and-corner communities that have been proposed , as the sun ' s light is superior te the dim and drowsy twinklings of a midnight taper . AH human life , then , i 8 one vast eo-operative society . Their capital ia the soil and minerals of this whole earth , and all the mechanical forces that are in existence , or may be caiied forth by human ingenuity .

      Why has tbe great co-partnership—instituted by God himself , and extending through all time and over all nations—why , I ask , has it been productive of bo little advantage to the great mass of tbe human family ? The answer ifl—simply because a few directors setesd upon the whole capital—made it their own individual property—and reduced the mass of the people from tbeir Datural position of working shareholders , to be mere drudges in tbe establishment . Search the entire page of past history and you will find that thus it has ever been . Look at the pictu ? e , destitution and woe , which is at this moment presented over Europe and " the East" Contemplate tbe causes tbat are in active operation am on ? ourselves , and see if there is anything in them to eave us from the universal

      lot of all past and present nations . No I Society has no escape— posterity has no escape—from servitude until seme boundary ' put to the Individual accumulation of tbat capital stock which belongs , and inalienably belongs , to the whole human family . We may , if we please , adheie to tha blind prejudices of the barbarous ages—we may in the plentitude of our ignorance and infatuation set aside the well defined 1 & . W 3 of nature , and the n <* less explicit injunctions of God ' s Word—we may permit individuals to monopolise the soul , and Bhnt out starving man from the fruitfulness of Nature , we may fay to the grasping and the rapacious , " Qo on ]; clutch all ; you have full liberty ! " but if we do so we are sure to pay the * deep , deep , penalty of our unutterable follv .

      I do not propose a disruption of society—I urge no interference , present or prospective , with the ownership of personal property—I desire not to limit individual accumulation of artificial wealth produced by man ' s labour . I fix na bound to the possession of houses , or anything created by man ' s hands or reared by his industry—I do not approach , to disturb it , the present ownership of land—let all existing deeda and titles remain in full force , no matter how unjust or unreasonable sucb titles njay be . What I propose to prohibit is , all FUTURE Monopoly of the Sjil—to pass a' law declaring that no deed executed or transferred , for the time to come , shall bu valid in law if granting , or conveying , to any individual more land than is necessary for snch individual's rational requirements ; say a quantity not above tbe appraised value of 2 U . 000 dollars , and in no case to exceed 500 acres .

      Let this law be passed—let it become a provision of the federal Constitution—let it be preserved intact as a sacred principle of our institutions , and in return it wdl preseive those institutions from change ot decay , aa long as n respect for freedom lives in the hearts of our descendants , even to the remotest ages of the world . Bat , on the other side , if you permit unprincipled and ambitious men to monopolize the soil , they will become masters of tbe country in the certain order of

      cause aDd effect Holding in their hands the STOBEIIOUSE of food , they will maks men ' s physical necessities subdue their love of freedom . They will flood tbe halls of legislation , sent there by the votes of their dependant tenants . Then rapacity and wrong will assume all the due forms of " law and order "—iAe « our unhappy descendants will be coerced , enslaved , famished to death by Acts of Parliament—THEN resistance to the oppression will be stigmatized as a " crime" against ' lawful authority "—THEN out country will career down the steeps of

      " Wealth , Vice , Corruption , Barbarism at last 'our fate will be the caramon fate , with this difference , that we will inn our vessel on the rocks with a foil chart of the destruction spread out beforo us—we will madly dash upon the lee shore while ten thousand beacon lights flame above , to warn us off the danger . Header ! You are a rational and accountable being . You sre accountable , both te posterity and to your God . Examine this question with that serious attention which is t ^ fo to its great and far-reaching imp it&nce . If on a careful examination you are satisfied that there is no danger ahead , then of course you are at liberty to " p % sa over , on the other side of the way" and offer no help , where , in your opinion , no help is required . But if , on a deliberate examination , you come to tbe conclusion

      that there is danger to our institutions and to our posterity from the unbounded accumulation of wealth : then I call upon you not to lay down this book , and with it dismiss the subject from your thoughts . If you do so yon are n » t doing your duty—you are not acting either a just or a manly part towards those countless millions whose bondage or freedom , whose weal or woe , ia staked upon the momentous issue . Meet the necessity like a ¦ 'nan . Come to the rescue of our institution ! while it is yet time . Put a stop to the accumulation of enormous wealth . Why should it be Buffered ? What good can accrue from it even to the rich men them * stives ? Whether squandered in riot and excess , or hoarded up with the in > n-graap of covetousness , is it not alike subversive of morality and religion—alike

      productive of guilt and crime ? Look iato the simple and harmonious laws of nature , and see bow little man ' s rational enjoyments are dependent upon vast accumulations of wealth . Search the Scrip * ture , and there see the doom denounced against those who " lay up for themselves treasures on earth . " In pity even to those men themselves , limit their field of sordid accumulation . But still more prohibit it , in compassion to the countless myriads of coming posterity . Leok to the example already furnished en our owo " free" bills . Soo how thirty thousand freemen must be degraded into serfs , in order to manufacture , and support one " Lord of the Soil ! " And , seeing these

      things , will you permit the soil—the source of man ' s 8 ust « u : i 3 ce—to become the prey of the monopolist ? No ! Let him take all else be pleases ; let him add bouse to house—let his storerooms groan with accu * mutated merchandise—let him heap all the gold snd silver he can ecrape together with his clutching and palsied hand—but , ob , preserve THE SOIL from hi * pollution . Let the cultivators of tha soil be the proprittors of the soil . Do this , and whatever corruption may Le engendered in cities by the baneful influence of wovuth , will be purified and dissipated by the nc purchaseable virtue of an independent and rural population . — Wiliiamsburgh Democrat .

      Untitled Article

      _ 6 _ THE NORTHERN STAR . ' "' - •' - ___^__ __ ¦ - " ¦ ¦¦^ - — - ~ -i —~ . —^ ¦ - — ¦ -

      Untitled Article

      Exthaobdiwaet Fkcundi ? y . —Mt . Mnsty , milkman , at Horfield , has in his possession a bow , two years and three months old , which has farrowed , in rhe short space of eighteen months , the extraordinary number of fifty-one p igs , and with the exception of one , they have all been reared . Alice Lowe , a girl charged by Lord Frankfort with stealing the trinkets with which she was lavishly adorned by his Lordship , while under bis " protection , " has been committed for trial . Oa being asked by the magistrate what she had to say

      for herself , her reply wa ? " Oh , sir ! I have only toeay that the whole of the things produced Lord Frankfort gave me . They were given to me to induce mfl to go and live with him . " ( At the conclusion of this brief statement the prisoner covered her face with hex hands , and applied her handkerchief to her face . ) His Lordship , who appeared not a little- a 3 h . a 1 r . ed of himself , was glad to make his exit from tho court privately , but was recognised by -the- meb , aud mosk cordially hooted . Tho girl is descruwd a 3 very handsome , -with" an expression of cheerfulness blended with imiocouce in h © V e&Atiao ' inca wbxcn has a very winning effect , **

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 29, 1842, page 6, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct777/page/6/