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      THE iM OETHEB- $ STAR SATURDAY , JAIsTJARY 21 , 1843 .

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      THE LAND ! " THE OS 1 T UEAXS OP SHTJ 0305 TO THE STABTIHG

      WOBKEBS . ABTICLE IL Is last week ' s Northern Star we discussed , at considerable length , the general question of the occupancy aad employment of the ulnd , as & means ef remoTisg the dire poverty and destitution ¦ which has now become the lot of the labourera of England . "We then ittempted to show that there is no other tray of again profitably employing the machineryflifiplaced adult labourer , xhan by placing him once more upen the eoll , and enabling him to direct his energies to the production of food , and raiment , tad shelter , for- himself .

      In the course of that article we explained the grounds upon which we accord our meed of praise to -aU who endeaTour to form and direct public opinion in favour of this cheap , available , and trnly practicable remedial measure . On this question we are truly catholic . Whatever tends to advance the general question in public estimation , we hail with B&tisfaetion , and are happy to co-operaie with every one , no matter what may be his peculiar political or sectarian opinion , who endeavours to enlist publics opinion in its favour .

      In this spirit we accorded praise to Mr . J . G . MA-KSTmi , for having been the first to introduce amongst the Leeds operatives the small allotments , as a means of enabling them to raise their millwages to Bomething like a living-point j explaining , iowever , that that praise was not for the mode Mr . Matisttatj , has adopted in hi 3 employment of the iosd , but rather because his exertions and example are likely to lead ultimately , to a much better application of the soil . At the conclusion of that article we intimated that we shonld return to a consideration of the question , and -show what other parties , besides Mr . "XT it ? cctitt are doing on tttr land .

      In accordance with that intimation we resume the subject ; and the parties to whose exertions we at present wish io point public attention , in connection with the occupancy and employment of the laxd as a remedy for poverty and starvation , are the Socialists . In tie first place , we mu 3 t premise that the mode adopted and practised by the Socialists in their oocupaney and application of the soil , differs entirely and essentially from the mode adopted and practised

      by Mr . M * TtqTTiTT . and his brother Alloters . The principle of action amongst the Socialists is " common and entire occupancy of enough of la > t > to produce plextt for common enjoyment " : the principle of action which guides Mr . M > b <; hitt and his brethren is to allot a small piece of ground , tinder strict and stringent regulations , to the underpaid labouring man , to « nable him , by working over and above his regular daily hours of toil , to eke out his scanty wages to something like the point of nvxKG susientation .

      "With the Socialists the lakd is the ground-work of all their contemplated improvements . It stands foremost ia their list of requisites to extricate the labourera from poverty , and the fear of poverty . To get TTPos the XA 5 D , is their first and main object . Possession of the soil , on which to employ their oven energies , for their etcn benefit , is , with them , a sine gua non . It is true they have peculiar notions respecting

      the distribution of the wealth they may thus create . It is true that they hold to the principle of M community of property f that they hold that " aH ' th stuff i'th world ielongs to aU th ' fowk i ' th world . " li is true that they hold that every man on the soil ought to do something towards the production of wealth ; and that every mas ought to have his share of the plenty so produced .

      Into the truth or falsehood , the propriety or impropriety , of this principle , we" are not now going to inquire . It is to what they are doing with respect to the iakd question , that we wish to direct attention ; and this on general , not particular , grounds . The Socialists hold , then , with ns , that the lajtd is the onlg means of salvation for the starving workers Entertaining this opinion , they have begun to act upon it . They have organized themselves into a compact , for the purpose of obtaining land , so as to employ it for their own benefit . They have obtained possession of a considerable amount of surface ; and they axe at this moment actively engaged in " an experiment , " in the issue of which the labouring classes are deeply Interested .

      Last week , we gave particulars tif the doings of Mr . MjLSSHiLL in the town of Leeds , which doings have excited no small amount of public curiosity and attention . But those doings , in the aggregate , ftTnmmt only to the allotment of some eleven acres of laud amongst a number of operatives in small parcels of ten or twenty rods each . The doings we sow direct attention to , amount , In the aggregate , to the possession -and application of more than one thousand ucres of land , and the expending of scores of thousands of pounds . If the one be thought worthy of public attention , surely the other is no less so .

      It must be remembered , tofl , thatMr . Marshall has had no opposition to brook , no powerful interests arrayed against him to prevent his progress , or discourage him in his endeavours : while the Socialists have had a most powerful , unscrupulous , and unremitting opposition to face and beat down . Falsehoods the most vile ; accn ations the most outrageous ; calumnies the most bitter ; have been indusferionslj circulated respecting them ; and the worst passions of human nature have been stirrednp , by . appeals to blind prejndice , and set to work destruction to the " new-fangled sect" who preached up " labour for all \ and enjoyment of the fruits of labour by alL "

      In spite of all this , however , the *** new-fangled sect" hsve gone on in the even tenour of their way ; and have obtained possession of one thousand acres of land , and laid out some £ 40 , 000 , for the purpose of proving to the labouring classes of England that it is possible to so combine La > d , Capital , and Laboub , as to produce plestt of all the first necessaries of life fob all . Their operations are , avowedly , an experiment . " It is-an experiment deeply interesting to all j but doubly so to that class who are at present doomed to almost nnremitting toil and inadequate remuneration .

      What , then , are the Socialists doing ! is the very natural question that suggests itself . How does the " experiment progress i What are the indications of success or failure that present themselves , as far as they have gone ! In answer to these queries we are about to give the statement of a gentleman who has visited their establishment , and reported as to the condition in which he has found their affairs . The reader must understandjhowever , that this testimony is not from

      a Socialist . Itis not a report drawn up by themselves , io-serve their own purposes . It is the evidence of a Btranger who has visited their establishment casually ; one who is politically opposed to them . We Eay opposed to them ; for the writer of the account which we are about to give is a Free-Trader ^ according to the present definition of the term ; and , a 3 far as we are able to understand the Socialists , their principles and actions necessarily oppose and supersede the doctrines and plans of the Malthnsian Economist *

      It was in the Morning Chronicle that the following account appeared . For some months past a series of papers bearing the signature of " One ¦ who has whistled at the Plough'' hare been regularly inserted in that jonrnal . The-writer of them has shown that he is practically acquainted with the operation of farming ; and he has also proved himself to be xo mean wielder of a pen . Many of his articles iave evinced great shxewedness , and common-sense judgment ; and Ms descriptions are generally graphic and interesting

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      He seems latterly to have been engaged in a tour throughout the agr icultural counties of England , to note the degree of perfection or imperfection observable to a passer-by in their several modeB of cultivation . Under the head , " Notes from the Farming Districts" has he communicated his observations to the readers of the Chronicle ; and the paper we now give in answer to ihe question " What are the Socialists doing ! " form No . XVII of the Series : — A JOCBXSV TO HABMOJIT HALL , IN HAMPSHIRE , WITH SOUS P-tBTJCCLABS OF THS SOCIALIST COMMUNITY , TO WHICH IHE ATTENTION OP THE NOBILITY , GEKTHY , AMD CLERGY , IS EABHESILY BXQOESTED .

      Having heard i remark made at the inn where I was staying for » few dayB in Sali 6 bnry , that two travellers , who bad left behind them two cloaks and two walking-stickB while they attended to some business in the Market , were supposed to belong to the Socialist community at Tytherly , in Hampshire , from the circumstance of their walking-sticks having engraved on the heads the resemblance of a beehive , and the words , ** the working bees , " I was indeeed to make some inquiry about the distance to and siruation of their Beehive . The correct information to be gathered- in Salisbury was extremely scanty , and accordingly , on being told that the distance was only twelve miles to the village of Broughton , and that the community were located near that village , I procured a conveyance , and , in company of another gentleman , set off for Hampshire .

      This was two or three days after the visit of the two members of the Beehive to Salisbury . It was a lovely day . If a country with so good a soil , and so poorly ¦ cultivated , could have afforded pleasure to a traveller at any time , it would have done so on Buch a day as this . But the road lay through a Bection of that bare country formerly described as visible from Old Sarum , and there , was nothing to be satisfied with but the excellent roads , which , being of flint on a hard bottom are maintained at little expense . Leaving Salisbury , we had the seat of W . Wjndham , Esq * , one of the members of Parliament for the borough , on our left ; and , for the next twelve miles , the entire distance , I saw nothing worth mentioning , save that a field of good turnips , and another of beautiful young wheat , would be seen as Bpots on a wide uncultivated common , much of the soil of which was quite as good as that sending np the young wheat and the respectable

      turnips ; which turnips again might have been of a much better quality but for the neglect which characterized their cultivation . I have said nothing more was seen worth mentioning . But , at ao inn called the Winterslow Hut , I received information that the wages of labouring men had been reduced to seven shillings a week by the largest farmer in that district , and that the other farmers were expected to follow immediately with a similar reduction ; and the common expression of those who were present , some of whom were tradesmen from Salisbury , and one the respectable landlady of the house , was to this effect : " God above only knows how the poor creatures are to be fed ! What matters it to them that flour and bread be cheaper this year than last ! They could buy little of either last year , and they can bny as little this . They must buy potatoes , not bread , and potatoes are but a middling crop this year ; they are good , but small . "

      We arrived at the village of Broughton about one o ' clock , and having pat np our horse at the inn , we proceeded on foot to Harmony Hall . Broughton is but a poor looking villsge , irregularly built , and surrounded by farmers which indicated that the Working Bees Community would have no difficult task to compete with them . The soil all around is quite deep enough for common cultivation . It is deeper than many of those parts in the Lothians , or Roxburgh or Berwick shires , where a rent of from £ 2 10 s . to £ 3 10 a . an acre is paid for a middling soil . The sub-soil is chalk ; and I believe that wherever there is a sufficient depth of soil above chalk , that soil is , generally speaking , fertile . It might be shallow ou some of the higher districts ; but all that I Baw , and I examined it in several situations , varied from twelve to twenly-seven inches in depth . The chalk was a variety well adapted for lime , bnt , saving the Socialist community , little

      advantage was derived from it ; their lime-kiln was the only one I saw during the day ' s journey . The rent of the land about Broughton is from ten to fifteen shillings an acre . With other burdens , not borne by the Seotch farmers , it would amount to 20 s . or 25 s . an acre . But while the tenants of the Marquess of Tweeddale , the Earl of Wemyss , the Earl of Haddington , Sir George Clark , the Duke of Roxburgh , and other landlords , whose land I happen to be acquainted with , would pay from £ 2 10 s . to £ 3 10 s . for such soils , and make a profit , the farmers of that of Hampshire find thej have a hard bargain with the moderate rents they now pay . When I saw their style of farming , their wastefulness of fertilizing agencies , their insufficiency of manual labour , their want of economy in horse power , and the unconquered foulness of weeds , which seemed to wage perpetual war with their crops and prove victorious , I was not surprised to hear them murmur and tell of hard times .

      Leaving toe village , we proceeded southward . For nearly a mile the lane in which we walked , hedged by coarse boshes , gradually ascended , and the soil on each side seemed wearing thinner and thinner . Having fortunately met a woman who directed us through a field towards the left , we followed a waggon's track , and in five minutes 1 was standing in a field of turnips which grew in drills , showing a bulk of crop and robustness of health quite refreshing to the eye , after the poor specimens of turnip culture I had seen is that and adjoining counties . I observed to my companion that if these were "Socialist turnips" they promise well . But 'before going further , I should remark that I knew nothing of the Socialist property , nor of any

      individual connected with it . I had , like others , been reading wandering paragraphs in the newspapers about this community , some of which had not long before stated that the whole establishment was broken up , that the members were dispersed , the property seized by creditors , and soon . My companion knew nothing of them but by hearsay . In fact , though living within twelve miles , he knew as much of China as he did of Harmony Hall , and that was . not much . He was one of those jolly countrymen well to do in the world , who believe the British army and navy can , and ought to , thrash all the world , if the wsrld needs a thrashing ; who grumble when the tax-gatherer comes round ; who take in a paper which they Beldomread . but who still crumble

      at the government—no matter what party is in power ; who think no times are so hard as the present times ; but who forget all grievances when the next hot joint comes on the table . Such was my companion . Little as I knew of the Socialists , I had . been able to inform him tbat they did not wear clawB , nor . horns , nor wings , nor tails ; that though they were human in shape they were not cannibals ; neither did they steal little children and put them in boiling cauldrons just for the love of the thing . But though able to tell him all this , I was not able to obliterate the opinion which he had imbibed from the hearsay common in Salisbury , that the Socialists were an assemblage of the greatest vagabonds that a-too-lenient law had left upon the

      face of the earth . In short , some of the stories 1 heard in Salisbury are too ridiculous , I might say criminally libellous , to be mentioned . Yet by many they were believed . My companion had nerer read for himself on any subject , and I was much amused with Mb account of what he had heard of the Socialists . He had a friend in Broughton , on whom we called , and who gave us the first information of their property and personal repntatios : it surprised both of us considerably . " Their property , " said he , " * consists at present of one thousand acres of land , and they are now in treaty for the purchase of another estate ; they have paid down £ 500 of a deposit on it , and it will be theirs next year . " To this I rejoined , that I was completely astonished ; that 1 had never dreamed of their having such a property ; and begged to know

      how it was cultivated , compared with the farms I "haJd seen in the neighbourhood . To this the gentleman replied ( and I may state he is a man of pro"Tperty and respectability in the village ) , that , so far as he could judge , they were cultivating it very well . " But , " inquired my companion somewhat eagerly , " What Bort of people are they ? We hpve heard such strange tales about them , over our way , that I have been quite at a loss what to think of such people being allowed to live among you . " " Why / ' replied the other , * all that I have seen of them , or have heard , amounts to this , that it wonld be a high honour to this parish if one half our inhabitants were a ' a decent in their behaviour as they are—it would indeed . And more , it would be a credit to our gentiy if they woold employ people In as great nnmbers and to as much advantage on the land as they do . "

      rt Lord bless me ! yon don't say so V exclaimed my friend from Salisbury , " and such stories as we have heard of them 1 Do you say all this of them in sober earnest 1 " " I do , " replied the Broughton gentleman . M As for their peculiar notions about property , I don't agree with them ; but , so far as Baying they are well behaved people , setting a good example to this neighbourhood , I say it most sincerely . " " But , " interrogated my companion , " are they not all Dfirfsthat Believe there is neither a God nor a devil *"

      If I understand the term Deist , " replied the other , ** it means a believer in Gad . As to their belief in religion I suppose they are like other people , of different opinions . Oue thing 1 know is that they come to our church , and some to the chapel . They sit and hear the sermons , and go away again as others do . They never introduce religion nor politics into any conversation with us in the village ; but Ionce talked to two of them on the subject of religion , of my own accord , and they told me they had the same opinions of religion now as formerly ; that there were no peculiar opinions among the t > oeialists , save

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      that each man might enjoy his own opinion withou t molestation ; that they , the two , ^ iog believers in the Christian doctrine of satva'don through Jesus Christ , attended a place of " worship , and that n « attempt was made by auy member of the community to dissuade themfor going \ o church . " M Lord bless me ! " exclaimed my companion ; " you don ' t say so in earnest , 'do you 1 " > , "But , " I inquired , for I had not been prepared to hear this favourable account of their tolerance , "what do the clergy say of them , they don't ; like them , I should suppose ?" "Tile Methodists and Baptists , and such like ,

      mate an outcry against them , " replied the gentleman , "but our clergyman of the parish church says nothing about them . All of us hereabouts were » uch alarmed when we heard of their coming at first ; but we look on them now as very good neighbours ; and as they set a good moral example to our population , and employ a good many of . our poor , and as they never attempt to impose any opinion on us , we have no reason to dislike them . One of them married the daughter of a farmer in this neighbourhood , a short while ago ; the banns were put up in the parish church , and our parson married them . Oh , depend upon it , they are doing good here in a moral point of view . "

      " Lord bless me ! " exclaimed my Salisbury fnend once more , on hearing this ; "did the father of the young woman give bis daughter to a Socialist ?" " Certainly , " returned the other , " Why should he not V " Because , " said my companion , " they have a new wife whenever they tire of the old one . " " Nonsense ! " returned the Broughton gentleman ; "ridiculous nonsense . Tiiey have no such practices , and , so far as I ever heard , no such doctrines in theory . They propose , when they can get an act of Parliament for the purpose , to simplify the law of divorce , by allowing married persons to separate by mutual consent , after several repeated notices and repeated trials on them to try once more , and once more again , for certain periods of time , for some months each period , to agree ; if after those trials they are still desirous of being parted they may be divorced . As for any other laxity of principle I know none . The most delicate and well-bred

      conduct characterizes them so . far as I know ; and nobody hereabout , however opposed to them , attempts to say a word against their moral character ; that , as I said before , might be an example worthy of imitation to many in this parish . In short , the Socialists are very well but on one point , which concerns themselves more than anybody else ; on that point I believe them to be fatally in error ; and more , that sooner or later they will split and fall to pieces on it—I mean the community of property . There will always be idle men willing to talk aud to live at the expense of the industrious . Your talking men are not commonly the best workmen , and seldomer still are they willing workmen . In fact , those of them that are really industrious men are pretty well tired of the numbers who come visiting and living idly from distant parts of the country .

      Besides that , if they were all willing alike , they are not able alike , nor used alike to such works as cultivating a farm ; and I have heard that several of their carpenters , bricklayers , and such like , are but indifferent workmen when put to a job . In fact , the ignorance of most of those who came here at first of practical matters has led them into extravagant expenses . They have been imposed upon on every hand . Then , again , consider the folly of expending thirty thousand pounds , and upwards , on a Wilding before improving their land . Instead of beginning like working bees , they have done quite the reverse . Tne bees begin by making honey , using any place fora retreat that may fall most readily in their way . There we have the working bees and the drones living alike on the common store ; building and building , and leaving the honey-making to the last . "

      Such was the aecounfc I received of the Socialist community in the village of Broughton , and it i 9 given at full length , because of the opinions of others in the neighbourhood , who spoke to the same effect . When we reached the turnip field , as already said , I remarked to my friend that if these were " Socialist turnips , " they promised well . They were Socialist turnips , and we soon after found seven hundred Socialist sheep , which made my friend exclaim , " Lord bless me ! who would have thought it !" Winding down a gentle declivity , we saw a red three-storied brick building near some large forest trees . These trees seemed the commencement of a wooded district , which contrasted pleasantly with the naked country we had travelled over from Salisbury . As we approached the xed-brick houBe we could observe that its outward form was tasteful

      and all its proportions substantial . It stood at about fifty yards to our right , while on the left was a farmyard , old and uncomfortable looking , with some ricks of wheat , waggons , pigs , and cattle . Adjoining the farm-yard was a new house , which might hare been taken at first view for the respectable residence of a substantial farmer . This we found was built as a temporary residence for those members who arrived previous to the large house being built . On every side of us we saw unfinished work ;

      heaps of bricks , piles of mortar , logs of timber , half-built walls , and broken ground as if in process of being laid out into gardens . Mo person being visible , we looked around us for some time ; at last I Eaw three dogs approaching , which I proceeded to meet , supposing that , as it was Harmony Hall , there could be no harm in meeting the dogs . They did not deceive me ; but one of them belied the reputation of the place by snarling at the other two . They growled in concert , and then departed on some errand of their own to a dust-heap , where one of them finding a bone , produced a contention much in the earn way as dogs do in the old world .

      We advanced to the open door , which showed a spacious lobby , from which stairs went down , and stairs went up . I met « , middle-aged female who politely told me some one would speak with us presently . Following her were three younger women , plainly , bnt tidily and respectably , dressed . My eye was following them up stairs , when I perceived a man befors me . He wore a cloth cap , and a respectable suit of clothes . After the preliminary courtesies , I told him that we had come to see the establishment , and any information he choose to give us would be received as a kindness . We were then conducted into an office , where two men were sitting , one as if posting a ledger , the other writing a letter . All the London daily papers , and several others , were on the table . A book lay open , in which we were requested to write our names , which done , our guide , whose name I afterwards understood to be Atkins , or Atkinson , told us to walk w this way . "

      We descended to the basement floor , which , on tfce other side of the house , looked out on a level with a lawn partly iu process of formation . On this floor there were several large apartments ; one of them a dining room . Dinner was just over , and as a finale to it , the members were singing a beautiful piece of solemn music . We were not asked to go into their presence , but we went to the kitchen , after examining an excellent piece of machinery , which , through a tunnel , conveyed the dishes and the dinner from the kitchen to the door of the dining hall . A boy , who was passing , showed us how it worked , and presently several other boys appeared . All of them were so clean and neat in their clothes , go healthy in their appearance , and at the same time so respectful in their manners to us and to each other , that I could not help staying behind to talk with and look at them .

      In the kitchen there were three or four women * with a very large assortment of dishes to tvash . _ 1 did hot know what the dinner had been , but judging from the refuse of bits and scraps , which seemed to me to tell more of abundance than economy , I supposed they had all got enough of it . The women in the kitchen were like all the others , tidy and respectable in appearance . The only thing that puzzled me was , how th ? y should be so " well as they were , with such prodigious piles of plates , washed and unwashed , aronnd them . I can say nothing adequately descriptive of the fittings of this kitchen . At Brighton I was told that the London architect who superintended the erection of the whole , said that there were very few kitchens so completely and expensively fitted up in London . 1 am sorry to say that such is to all appearance , and by all accounts the case .

      Outside the kitchen there were commodious washhouses , cellarage , baths , and a well-arranged place for each member to wash himself as he comes from his work before going to meals . Ascending again to the next floor we entered a ball room , and going up stairs we saw the sleeping rooms , all as conveniently arranged as can be under one roof . Upon the whole the house is commodious , but I was much disappointed at seeing such a house . A village of cottages , each with a garden , would have surely been more appropriate for a working community , and much cheaper ; the sum expended on this building , not yet half furnished , is said to exceed £ 30 , 000 . Such extravagance previous to cultivating the land would stagger most people on the question of the sagaeity of the working bees .

      Mr . Atkinson conducted us to the new garden , which contains twenty-seven acres . I was then introduced to a Mr . Scott , the chief gardener , whom I found to be an intelligent and thoroughly practical man . His operations of trenching and planting , and indeed gardening in every department , were extensive . Brickmakers were making bricks ; builders were building ; lime-burners were burning lime ; road makers were making roads ; the shepherds were with the sheep ; nine ploughs were at work ; a hundred acres of wheat were already sown , and more wheat land was being prepared ; a reservoir waB being constructed to save all the liquid manure ; and in short , everything was being done to improve the land which industry and capital could accomplish aud Ekill direct .

      Mr . Scott waa having portions of some of the fields trenched with the spade . He paid the labourers £ o per acre for it , aud expected them to work so as to make two shillings a day . I remarked that this was more wages than common . He said it wbs . ; they only gave the ploughmen and other day laboiu - era nine shillings a week ; but as it was scarcely

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      possible to get a good workman in that part of the o&antry , he allowed & higher rate of wages to get them to work with some spirit . In answer to a remark I made about proselytizing their workmen to Socialism , he replied that they never made any attempt ; but if they did attempt it , he behevod anything might be accomplished , any change might be effected , but a change in the old slovenly sts ' le of working : on that point he believed the present generation of Hampshire labourers to be incurable . It will be perceived by this that the members of the community do not themselves cultivate the land . ' Some of , them work in the garden , bat few of them I suspect , are fitted for out-door work . Their number was at the time I was there

      sixty ; thirty more were expected soon after . The quantity of land is 1 , 000 acres , held on a lease of ninety-nine years , at a rent of fifteen shillings an acre . , They have thepower of purchasing it within that time at a certain price ; and they have paid down a deposit on a neighbouring estate of three hundred acre ? . Taeir landlord is Sir Isaac Lyon Goldemid . There is some fine wood on the ground , and an avenue of fine old yews , which for beauty and extent is perhaps not equalled in any other part of England . The community intend converting a portion of that avenue into a summer ballroom . AJjoining , arc large numbers of full grown trees , resembling the size and shape of the mainmast of a man-of-war .

      I saw in several parts of the woodlands that the vegetable mould was gathered into heaps to be carried and used as manure . On almost very estate in the kingdom there is a rioh soil of this kind that might be collected and carried away without any injury to the trees . Mixed with lime it is an excellent compost . I did not see the agriculturist , but Mr . Scott , the gardener , was conducting several experiments in the fields with the spade on alternate ridges with the plough . His manner of trenching waa this : — The earth was lifted two spadesful in width , and to the depth of about a foot . This waa taken in wheelbarrows to the place where trenching was to cease , there to fill up the last opening . A pick was taken ,

      and the bottom of the trench loosened to the depth of eight or ten inches . This loosened subsoil was allowed to remain . The adjoining soil , two spadesful in breadth , was then turned over , taking care to bury the weeds in the bottom . A second working with the spade in the same trench , turned up a fr <> sh soil to form the surface of the new seed Boil . The bottom of this second trenoh was loosened with the pick as that of the first , and the next was begun by again burying the top mould . They had a subsoil plough on its way from Smith , of Deanstone ' s factory , in Scotland . They wore gradually introducing improved implements , but the greatest difficulty they found was to get the Hampshire labourers to work with them . Tney had thirty of these labourers at work .

      I was told at Broughton that about one-half of the members ate no butcher-meat , but lived entirely on vegetable diet . They at first brewed beer , but now they have curtailed that expense . One shilling a week is allowed for pocket money , but few of them are ever seen to spend even that in the neighbourhood . To conclude , I may remark that I believe their land to be well worth £ , % per acre of rent , and they only pay 15 s . ' They have an excellent bargain , if they manage it well ; and whatever may be said of their Social crotchets , it muse be said of them that their style of farming is of a superior kind . Those noblemen , - gentlemen , clergy and others who dislike the Socialists would do well to show tb *» vorking population that good farming is not necessarily an

      adjunct of Socialism ; else , perhaps , the working population will think the doctrines Of those who pay best , employ moat , and produce the greatest abundance of crops , are the best doctrines . This is no light subject . Missionaries of all religions in all parts of the world , in all ages , have succeeded in proselytising more by introducing arts and sciences , by teaching new means of acquiring wealth , than by preaching abstract theories . We have an eminent instance of this in New Zealand , at the present time ; and unless the landed gentry take a step in advance , or at least side by side in the same road with the Socialists , they will find the labourers of Hampshire voluntarily converted to the new doctrine . Again I say this is no light subject . Let the gentry and clergy look to it .

      One who has Whistled at the Plough . Such is the account given by the writer in the Morning Chronicle . He tiuly says " this is no light subject ! " " A thousand acres of land ; " a treaty for another estate ; " ** £ 500 paid on it as a deposit ; " a field of turnips , refreshing to the eye ;" ' s ' even hundred sheep eating them ; " " a building , said to cost £ 30 , 000 ; " " dinner , judging from the refuse of bits and scraps , which seemed to tell more of abundance than economy ; " " a garden of twentyseven acres ; " " brickmakers making bricks ; ' " builders building ; " " road-makers making roads ;' " nine , ploughs at work f " a hundred acres of wheat sown , and more wheat land preparing : " I'faith , U is " no light subject !"

      AH this land , these turnips , these sheep , this garden , these ploughs , and this wheat , are used for the purpose of providing A DINNER for the members of the bee-hive , which tells more of ABUNDANCE than economy ! Truly it is " no light subject !" " Dinner was just over ; and , as a finale to it , the members were singing a beautiful piece of solemn music" ! We have often heard the saying " no song , no supper . " Recent experience has taught the labouring people , that the oorrect reading ia " no dinner , no song ! " ! Here , however , was to be found both dinner and sono ! The reason why these wore so found is " no light subject" !

      We advise the labouring people generally to endeavour to find out that reason ; so that the may again eat and sing ! We suspect that an attentive inquiry will show that reason to bo in the fact that the land is occupied by , and worked by , those ; who eat the dinner and sing the song ! We perceive that the Governor of the Establish ment where this ABUNDANT DINNER , ( with a song after it !¦) wa 9 found , has deemed it necessary to correct one or two trifling inaccuracies in the writer's statement . He explains : —•

      " Firstly , the regulations of the establishment do not permit of persons coming ' visiting and living Wly from all parts of the country . ' Secondly , a very large sum was expended in farm-stock and improvements of various kinds ere any buttings were erected . These latter have not cost mote than half the sum stated ; and it must be understood that a large proportion of them are intended for the accommodation of pupils in infant , elementary , and polytechnic schools , which ate now forming . Thirdly , vexy many of the members are at present occupied on the land ; and it is intended that all shall be partially so occupied . There are other , inaccuracies of a minor kind , which it is not deemed necessary to notice . On the whole , however , the account is the most comet and impartial yet given to the world by a stranger . "

      This , then , ifl what the Socialists are doing They are occupying land , building dwellings , growing turnips , feeding sheep , sowing wheat , eating abundant dinners , employing labour , paying better wages , and introducing amongst their neighbours an improved system of farming : while their moral example is such as to win golden opinions even from those who have been taught to regard them as the vilest of the vile . At this result of their endeavours we must express our most unbounded satisfaction ; and a most fervent hope that entire success will attend their future exertions .

      In this expression of satisfaction , however , let ns not be mistaken . We do not identify ourselves with the peculiarities of the Socialists . We know that they have some crotchets about" external circumstances ;" and about men being "the creature of them . " We know also that they have some notions out of the common way , on the question of Marriage and Divorce . With these , however , we have nothing to do . It is with the occupation and employment of the Land to the production and enjoyment of an ABUNDANT DINNER that we wish to direct attention . An

      abundant dinnet is an " external circumstance" that we can understand ; and we can also understand that that " circumstance' has a good deal to do ia " forming the human character . " To obtain that abundant dinnbk for the labouring man is an object of the first importance with us : and it is because that abundant dinneb has flowed to the Socialists from having the power to grow their own wheat , and feed ther own Bheep , and eat both , when grown and fed , that we ask the labouring people to look on at what they are doing !

      The labouring poor must bear in mind that it is not necessary that they all turn Socialists to enable them to do as the Socialists are doing with the land . They can obtain possession of the land , and use it , too , to the production of an abundant dinner , for themselves , without embracing all the peculiarities of Socialism .

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      We do not know that the turnips at Harmony are any ; bigger , or the sheep more f&t , or the dinner ruore abundant , because , and only because , the inmates of Harmony Hall hold the doctrine that " man is the creature of circumstances . " We suspect that manure and labour had more to do with the " eyerefreshing" crop of turnips ; and that the turnips had more to do with the fatting of the sheep , than the bdre doctrine of "external circumstances . " Land and labour will produce food : if these be in the possession of the labouring people , and if they use them so as to produce an " abundant dinner , " and have sense enough to eat the dinner when it is produced , depend upon it it will not be necessary for them

      to become sectarians of any denomination to enjoy it ! If ; they produce for themselves a good dinner , and eat it , they may sing after it , without being Socialists ; unless , indeed , Socialism consists in producing ; eating , and singing ! Tne above account is cheering to the labourers . By it they may see what can be done under most discouraging circumstances . No single sect of men hare had a tithe of the opposition to contend with that the Socialists have had . In epits of all , they have secured for themselves " an abundant dinnee . "

      That abundant dinner" will the labourers generally secure to themselves , whenever they get upon the land ! i They will get upon the land whenever they have so operated upou public opinion , as to have it in favour of such an employment of the productive energies of the soil , and the physical ener . gies of the labourer , as shall end in the production of a good idinner for himself first , and a " biting-on " for whoever may come afterwards .

      To the formation of that public opinion , then should a portion of their time be devoted I The question , as we said last week , is making rapid advances . ! The publication of the above account by the Morning Chronicle is abundant evidence of that fact . It is our duty , and the duty of the poor themeelves , to help it onwards . To the Socialists we say , Go on ! Produce more turnips , ! more sheep , aud more wheat ! Show what can be done with the land . Introduce the most improved modes of cultivation . Make the most of your bargain ! You arc engaged in " an experiment "

      which , in its issue , may advance or retard the cause , of the poor very materially . It is an important problem ! you have set yourselves to solve . Its solution Jmay have effect upon the world at large . It behoves you , therefore , to be circumspect and mindful . Be so ! The world will now watch you i The public eye is opened upon you ; and if you are not careful , rancour will seize upon some false step of yours , and prevent public confidence in you . Your card is now a thousand-fold more difficult to play now than before ! Look well , therefore , before every leap you take !

      We had intended , before closing this article , to have indulged in a friendly remonstrance with some of the Socialists , respecting their , "insane" and unaccountable policy towards the Chartists ; and to have addressed some recommendations to both parties as to a future course of conduct towards each other . Time and space , however will not permit us to enter into this branch of our subject . . It must be reserved for another opportunity ; when we hope to be able to shew that both greatly mistake their true interests when

      they suppose that their proper position is in antagonism to each other . The end sought by both is the same : there is only a difference as to the means : and while the Chartists ought to have no objection to the Socialists using the means they are doing to give to the world a practical example of what can be done for the people on the land ; so ought there , on the other hand , to be no abjection , but , on the contrary ^ aid , from the Socialist to the Chartist , in the obtaining o ( that power which will enable both to accomplish their end , the Salvation of the starving workers by means of THE L A . ND !

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      THE "SUCKING PIGS , " AND THEIR DESIRE FOR "UNION . " There ; is matter in the speeches and discussions of this Conference with which we might yet occupy many columns more than we are disposed to devote to it , in confirmation of the correctness of the views we have always taken , and the justness of the suspicions we have always expressed of the motives and purposes of the Sturge-men and their adherents . Indeed , we might begin and go through every one of the speeches made by them on the motion of Mr . Lovett ' s , at which we laid down , the subject last week , and through the whole of their proceedings

      afterwards ; and every single squeak of every single " piggy" ipight be seen to furnish evidence of the same truth ; the truth , that their " talk" of union was mere- hypocritic cant , and that their purpose was , as it is . and has ever been , to sever the working classes into two bodies ; carrying away the weak-minded , the short-sigkted , and the bad-principled , after ] the free trade phantasy ; and leaving , as they hoped , the remainder too . weak to effect any useful purpose . We say that evidence of this shines through all their Conference acts and speeches , and

      all that they have done and written since . But the task of analysing such a mass of ill-covered sophistry , plain ! contradictions , and clumsily concealed personal malignity as showed itself at the Conference , is one for which we have little stomach ; it is rather too extensive a piece of dirtiness . We take , therefore , a sample from the sack ; and that the sack may bo well judged of we take the best sample , the speech of the Rev . Mr . Spencer upon Loveit ' s motion for making the Charter the basis of discussion in the preparation of the Bill which they were met to prepare . Mr . Spe . ncer said : —

      " He saw no reason why they should be bound to a particular document , because it happened to have been introduced } five years ago—( hear , hear . ) He wished tbat every ' delegate had read another document , which he would ; call the " People ' s Bill of Rights , '" and he thought they would find it an improvement upon the Charter ; mote liberal , mote generous , mote for the people ' s good , and more for the protection of their tights , than the Chatter —( hear , hear , and "No , no . " ) He contended tbat they had as much right to a name as any body else—( hear , hear . ; It was said tbat there was a prejudice on the part of the association in favour of a [ name —( hear , hear . ) He certainly did not see why any person should be compelled to call himself

      a Charti 8 t-j- ( hear , hear . ) He was in favour of Complete Suffrage , and he would do bis utmost to carry out the details necessary for its enactment , but he objected to a body of men coming there aud saying , that they should not consider the principle under any . other name than the People ' s Charter . ( Hisses . ) He was present at the last Conference , and the members of the Complete Suffrage Association conceded almost every thing to the advocates of the Charter which could' be asked of them , but nothing was eonceded in return . ( Cries of no , no . ) He repeated the truth of the assertion . But [ did they repent what they had done ? Ne . They thought tbat what they had done was right . He trusted that ; he had the interest of the working classes

      at heart as much as any man living , and his hope for them in this movement was the union of their own body with the electoral body ; the infusion of fresh energy , fresh life , and fresh blood from another class . ( Cheers . ) Let the working classes have their own field . He i thought the members of the Complete Suffrage Association could render them much service in working separately ; but if they remained one party , and that a divided one , the effect of the new movement would be lost for ever . ( Hear , hear , and no , no . ) He had heard the Bill to which bo many allusions had been made , read ; over , accompanied with the explanation of the accomplished barrister who had drawn it up , and he was surprised at the opinion expressed by one gentleman who advocated the Charter , who could not have seen much J of the Bill , tbat it was bad in the preamble and ; in its clauses . ( Hear , hear ; hear ,

      from Mr . O'Connor ) . He ( Mr . Spencer ) had brought his common sense to bear in judging ; of the bill ; and he must say that be did not think the opinion he had alluded to , "Was a aonect one . He had read the Charter , too . He had heard it explained , and if gentlemen would only consent to have the Bill of the Association , which had been drawn up with great care and at a great txpence—if they weuld consent to have it discussed , then , at the end th&y would be able to say whether they thought the bill or the Charter the most valuable—( hear , hear , hear ) . He could not understand why it was-contended that the Charter should be the basis of discussion . Every body knew what the Charter was , but every btidy did not know what the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association was— ( h << ar , hear ) . If they condemned a measure about which they knew KOthiug , h& would ask whether they would not ba blindly following blind leaders , and whether they

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      wonld not be voting in the dwk ?—ihe » . k ^^ disapprobation ) . If the Conference met * ' ** 1 "& to act in this way . he felt boundIs aTift ? 111 * and clalmins a right to think and act ht iSKS say that rather than he would give un hft 1 ^ te dencei he should henceforward te ^ rnnT ^ e ^» - there should be two parties , and tS ^!!' ^ carry on their Conference undei diff-renf ' ^ —( hear , bear , hear , and ranch disapprofeHAnV * ^ ought to be borne in mind that the Charter ? . ** outline efthe proposed BUI , andttat it WantL ?^ . * up . dn the other hand , the BUI had been fin ^ N with very great care , and if adopted , it would »! . ^ glory of the land —( hear . Ihear , and no , nor Wh ** allow the members of the Association the san » r » i-, which the advocates of the Charter demanded for mT ® selves ?—( hear , hear ) . If it was to be said «<«« , ^ come to ua first , " he must say no—( hisses ) ' As * y ** man of the Church of England , necottld ' conv ^^"

      any sacrifice of his ewn convictions ; but if th 8 Di »»! f asked him to turn to his way ef thinking , he vcm * do so . Neither on the other hand would he a * 5 * Dissenter to corns to him . He wanted Uberallttu religion as well as everything else , and he Kjnj »! , * say that with respect to the brethren in the Chm * there was a disposition , when they aaw a man (^?' rained to think for himself , to allow him to do boh wanted to lower the taxes ; but he would do it to fair way . He wanted to reform the Church ; bat «! wished to do it in accordance with scriptural wainT He wished to extend the elective franchise , usa every man in possession of his civil rights ' - btfu ! sought to do that by peaceable and legitimate m **? and he would be no party to anything that could lw t » disorder or to destruction of the national institatfo ! , —( hissing and much confusion ) . " ""

      If any man can wish for more evidence of ft » insincerity of the Siurge party , when they tsfctf " union between the middle and working clasea' » than is afforded by this speech , we wish himioj o / his stupidity . As an attempt at argument we hj » seldom read or heard a speech which was more ay , cessful in the answering of itself . As a cover fe the deep designs , of the Sturge men , it ia , tbjurt the best effort of the party , a perfect failure . Th » Rev . Gentleman " saw no reason why they ahonM be bound to a paticular document , becauetii happened to have been introduced five years ago . "

      Did this very sentiment furnish to the Rev . ( j ^ . f || iaan no argument against their being" bomitj a particular document , because it happened toW been introduced , " the previous evening ! Surel yi five years acquaintance with a document should , « least , even in the estimation of a Stnrge man , beu geod a reason for adhering to it as a fin minutes acquaintance ! How futile , then , is tin argument (!) which so overtures itself I But looktf the dishonest perversion of facts contained in t&ess few words . It was not because the Charter hi been Eve years before the public that the supporters of the amendment wished it to be made the baas

      of discussion ; bat because its provisions were familiar to them . They knew all about them ; ftej knew that they did contain an embodiment of U » great principles for the success of which Mr . Spejvcer , and the rest of the Sturge men professed anxiety ; they knew that it had obtained the coaf . dence of the working classes favourable to those principles ; they knew also that it had obtainedtia confidence of many among the more honest o ! ti » middle classes favourable to those principles ; ther were sincere and earnest in their desire for % union

      of all those among the middle and working class who do hold them , for the furtherance of thoss principles ; and they concluded naturally and rightly , as all parties honestly seeking union must have concluded , that they Were more likely to effect that union by taking , as their basis , a commoa ground , over which both had travelled and were familiar with , than by taking a new ground of which neither knew anything at all but what Mr , Biggs and Mr . Spencer might be pleased to tell them about it .

      This course must have been approved and adopted by all parties desiring to effect a union between tbe middle and working classes for the legislative establish merit of the great principles contained in the Charter ; but this course was not approved and adopted by the Sturgemen in the late Conference : therefore the Sturgemen in the late Conference hti no desire to promote such a union . In his laudation of the " five hour monster , " Mr . Spencer expressed his wish that every delegate bad road it . If it had boou the wish of his putj tor the delegates to be acquainted with the coo

      tents of the Bill , they had the means of gratifying their own wish . The Bill was printed , and might have been put into the hands of every delegate , it the same time with his card of admission . Aud i considering the stand which the Sturgemen intended to take upon the Bill , it ought to have been bo pre sented to each delegate . Each delegate would ihea have had an opportunity—a very indifferent one to be sure—but still some opportunity of reading it , of acquainting himself with its details , and of noting its great . superiority over the Charter , so much dilated on by the Rev Speaker . But this dldnt at

      suit the Stu ^ elmen all . Their object from , fh ? first was fo ^ Ayoia everything upon which a teal union for principle could be effected . And we verity believe that if they had thus furnished each deleft with a copy of their Bill , and if , upon examination the Bill had been actually fonnd to provide honestly and fairly for the enforcement of the great principles , and it had therefore been cordiallj and unanimously adopted by the delegates to ti « exclusion of the Charter , they would have been filled with disappointment and consternation ; they would have been agonized with fear lest the delegates '

      should be able to bring the people into like modes of thinking , and so effect that "union" which in their very hearts we believe they dread . We h » T 9 no doubt that if this had been so , or if the Chartist delegates , determined on " union" had even swallowed the "pig in a poke , " and taken the monster a # was , we should have had the Sturgites themselt ® the very loudest of all parties in denouncingthe * delegates for inconsistency , for fickleness of mtod *' and for bad faith to their constituents , in the hop * that by this means they might split up the people into sections , and so prevent the" union . "

      •* He contended that they had as much right to * name as any body else . He did not see why . any p »* sou should be compelled to call himself a Chartist . '' Here again , the perversion and the sophistry whiA form the cloven foot of party peeps out from under the Rev . speaker ' s argument . The question of tb 9 " name" was not at all before the Conference . I * was the thing they were talking of ; the doeumeni the embodiment of principles . About names the " had been , as yet , no discussion ; nor had they been at all introduced , except as the Reverend speaks and a few of his " Sucking Pig" friends had log ged them in , nolens volens , to form a cover for their policy .

      But , if it had even been a question of names * thfl argument of the Reverend Gentleman is aff " * two-edged one . If he objected to the name of 1 & 9 Charter , surely his Christian principle should W * taught him that others had an equal right to objew to any other name . And since he must knotf d * union can be obtained only by one of two course ^ sameness of view , or concession , his Christ ** principle should have again taught him $ & , honebtly desiring union , the minority shouli' ^ prepared at all times to concede to the majo ^ f every thing which might not involve a sacrifice ° » the thing to be united for . Now it was admitted 6 j Mr . Spencer , and by all the Sturge men , that til * Charter does contain an embodiment of their pm |*

      ciples . It was admitted by Mr . Stdbgk in «* opening speech , that the only prejudice and oty ** tion was against the name ; that the thing was very thing which they desired ; that they consider * " a union with the working classes" necessary »* its attainment ; and that they had , therefore , 5 n « fe £ them to this Conference for the purpose of obtaining such a union . We say that under such c 5 rc stances had it been a question about names , to& Christian principle should have instructed theO , that inasmuch as the name was not the prinoiP » and that the principle might bo as well recognize * under one name as another , it was t heir da ] t rather than to jeopardise the union , , p C ? ?\[ the point to the majority . So that if ^ " * . even been a question about names , the obstinacy

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      4 THE NORTHERN STTAR .

  • Citation
    • Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 21, 1843, page 4, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse-os.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct787/page/4/