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Northern Star (1837-1852), 21st January 1843, Edition 5 of 5, Page 4

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    • TfiE KO&THEBJJ STAR. SATURDAY, JA2?IFABY 21, 1843.
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      Tfie Ko&Thebjj Star. Saturday, Ja2?Ifaby 21, 1843.

      TfiE KO&THEBJJ STAR . SATURDAY , JA 2 ? IFABY 21 , 1843 .

      Untitled Article

      THE LAND ! THB 05 XT MKASS OP S __ V _ H 03 TO THE £ _ BVI 1 ? G WOBKBSS .

      ABTICEEIL Is last week ' s Northern Star we discussed , at considerable length , the general question of the occupxncy asd employment of the xakd , as a means of removing the dire porerty aad destitution which has now become the lot of tie labourers of England . We then attempted to show that there is no other yr&y of again "profitably employing the machinerydisplaced adult labourer , vhan "by placing him once more upon the soD , and enabling him to direct Ms energies to the production of food , and raiment , and shelter , for himself .

      In the course of that article -we explained the grounds . upon which we accord our meed of praise to all who endeavour to form and direct public opinion in favour of this « heap , available , and truly practicable remedial _ e _ sure . On 2 &w-question we are trnly csikoiic . WhateTer tends to advance the general " question in ptrfelic estimation , we hail with satisfaction , and are-happy to co-operate wife every one , no mxiter what may be hi 3 pec _ lrar political or sectarian opinion , wko endeaTonrs to enlist public opinion is its favour .

      In this spirit we ^ accorded praise to Mr . J . 6 . UxTtSRiu . for having been the first * o introduce smong 3 t the Leeds operatives the _ mal allotments , as a swans of enabling them te -raise their mffiwsges to something like a living-point ; explaining , however , that that praise was not fer the-wedc Mr . MAiagAia . has adopted in his employment ofsss x _ icb , but rather because his exertions and example are likely to lead ultimately , te a much better application of-the soil . At the conclusion of that article we intimated that we EhouldTefcurn to a consideration of the ^ uesiion , and show what other parties , besides Mr . " MiP !<; Tr » T . T . , _« e doing on tttr __ oj .

      In accordance with that intimation we resume the Hubject j and the parties to whose exertions we at present wish to point public attention , in connection with the occHpancy and employment of the land as a remedy for poverty and starvation , are the Socialists . In the first place , we must premise that , the mode adopted and practised by fee Socialists in their occupancy-and application of the soil , differs entirely and essentially from the mode adopted and practised

      by Mr . M * - _—> tj . and hi 3 brother Alleters . The principle of action amongst the Socialists is * common and entire occupancy of enough of i _ ND to produce elestt for eomnwn enjoyment " : the principle of aeiien Tvhich guides Mr . _ I _ bsh __ and Ids brethren is to allot a small piece of ground , under strict and stringent regulations , to its underpaid labouring man j to enable him , by working over and above his regular dairy houra of toil , to eke out ii 3 scanty wages to something like the point of un 5 G s _ tenta _ o _

      With tiie Socialists tss i _ td is the ground-work of all their contemplated improvements . It stands foremost in their list of requisites to extricate the labourers from poverty , and the" fear of poverty . To get epos the xxsD , is their first and main object . Possession of the soil , on which to employ their own energies , for their own benefit , is , with them , a sine qua non .

      It is true they have peculiar notions respecting the distribution of the wealth they may thus create It ib true that they hold to the principle of M com munity of property f that they hold that "all ' th stuff i ' th world belongs to all th' fowk i'th world / 3 It is true that they hold that every man on the sol ] ought to do Bemetbing towards the production of wealth ; and that every man ought to have his share of the plenty so produced .

      Into the truth or falsehood , the propriely or impropriety , of this principle , we are not now going to inquire . It is to what they are doing with respect to the luo > question , that we wish to flfiw » t attention . ; and this on general , not particular , grounds . The Socialists _ old , then , with us , that the __ kd is the onlg means of salvation for the starving uxnkers Entertaining this opinion , they have begun to act upon it . They have organized themselves into a compact , for the purpose of obtaining land , eo as to employ it for their own benefit . They have obtained possession of a considerable amount of surfacej and they are at thia moment actively engaged in " an experiment , " in the issue of which the labouring classes are deeply interested .

      LastTveek , we gave particulars of the doingB of Mr . ILvsshaij . in the town of Leeds , which doings ¦ have excited bo small amount of public curiosity and attention . Bat those doings , ia the aggregate , amount 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-wq now direct attention to , amount , in the aggregate , to the possession and application of more than one thousand acres of land , and the expending of scores -of thonsands of pounds . If the one be thought worthy of public attention , surely the other is no less so .

      It ranst be remembered , to » , that Mr . Ma-rsttitt . lias nad 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 vfle ; accusations the most outrageous ; calumnies the most bitter ; have been industriously circulated respecting . them ; and the worst pas 3 ion 3 of human nature have been stirredup , by appeals to blind prejudice , and set to work destruction to the * ' new-fangled sect" who preached up " labour for all ; and enjoyment of the fruits of labour oy all . "

      In spite of all this , however , the " new-fangled Beet" have gone on in the even tenour of their way ; and have obtained possession of one thousand acres ef land , and laid out some £ 40 , 000 , for the purpose of proving to the labouring classes of England that it is possible to bo combine Lakd , Casual , and Laboub , as to prodnce tlkstt of all the first neces saries of life fob ___ . Their operations are , avowedly , an experiment . " It is an experiment deeply interesting to all ; but doubly so to that class who are at present doomed to almost unremitting toil and inadequate remuneration .

      What , then , are the Socialists doing < is the very natural question that suggests itself .- How does the experiment" progress ? What are the indications of success 9 r failure that present themselves , as far as they have gone ! In answer ip these queries we are about to give the statement of »; gentleman who has Visited their establishment , and reported as to the condition in which he has . found flieir affairs . The reader mnst understand , however , that ibis testimony is not from

      a Socialist . It is not a report drawn up by themselves , to Eerve their own purposes . If ib the evidence of a stranger who has visited their establishment casually ; one who is politically opposed to them . "We say 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 j and , as far as we are able to understand the Socialists , their principles and actions necessarily oppose and supersede the doctrines and plans of the Malthusian Economists .

      It was in the Morning Chronicle that the following account appeared . For some months past a serie 3 of papers bearing the signature of " One irho has whistled at the Plough ? ' have been regularly inserted in thai journal . The writer of them has shown , that he is practically acquainted with the operation of fanning ; and he has also proved himself to be no mean wielder of a pen . Many of his articles have evinced great _ rewe _ ess , and common-sense judgment ; and Us descriptions are generally graphic and Interesting

      Untitled Article

      He seems latterly to have been engaged in a tour throughout the agricultural counties of England , to note the degree of perfection or imperfection observable to a passer-by in their several modes of cultivation . Under the head , " Notes from the Fanning Districts" has he communicated his observations to the readers of the Chronicle ; and the paper we now give in answer to the question H What are the Socialists doing V form No . XVII of the Series : — A JOXTRKET TO HABHOHY HALL , IN HAMPSHIRE , WITH SOME PABT 1 CULARS OP THE SOCIALIST COMKPK 1 TY , TO WHICH THE ATTENTION OF THE KOBHITT , SESTET , AHD CLERGY , IS EARNESTLY REQUESTED .

      Having heard a remark made -at the inn where I was staying for a few days in Salisbury , that two travellers , who "had left behind them two cloaks and two walking-sticks 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 induced to make some inquiry about the distance to and-situation of their Beehive . The correct information to be gathered in Salisbury was extremely scaaty , 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 oetnpany of another gentleman , set off for Hamp shire .

      This was two or three days after the Tisit of the two members of the Beehive to Salisbury . It waa 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 wonld have done so on such 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 tne excellent » roads , which , being of flint on a hard bottom are maintained at little expense . Leaving Salisbury , we bad the seat of W . Wvndham , E ? q * , one of the members of Parliament for the borough , en our left ; and , for the next twelve miles , ^ the entire distance , I Baw nothing worth mentioning , save that a field of good turnips , and another of beautiful young wheat , would be seen as spots on a wide uncultivated common , much of the soil of which was quite as good as that sending up the young wheat and the respectable

      turnips , ' whieh 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 an inn called the Wmterslow 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 knowa 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 buy 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 put up our horse at the inn , we proceeded on foot to Harmony Hall . Broughton is but a poor looking village , 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 reut of from £ 2 10 s . to £ 3 103 . 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 on some of the higher districts ; bat all that I saw , and I examined it in several situations , varied from twelve to twenty-seven inches in depth . The chalk was a variety well adapted for lime , but , saving the Socialist community , little

      advantage was derived from it ; iheir lime-kiln was the only one I saw during the day ' B journey . The rent of the land about Broughton is from ten to fifteen shillings an acre . With other burdens , not borne by the Scotch farmers , it would amount to 20 a . or 25 ? . an acre . But while the tenants of the Marquess of Tweeddale , the Earl of Wemyss , the Earl of Haddington , Sir George Clark , the £ > ake of Roxburgh , and other landlords , whose land I happen to be acquainted with , would pay from £ 2 103 . to £ 3 10 s . for such soils , and make a profit , the farmers of that of Hampshire find they 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 unconqnered foulness of weeds , which seemed to wage perpetual war with their crops and prove victorious , I was not surprised to bear them murmur and tell of hard times .

      Leaving the village , we proceeded southward . For nearly a mile the lane in which we walked , hedged by coarse bushes , 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 I was standing in a field of turnips which grew in drills , Bbowing' a bulk of crop and robustness of health ^ ui te refreshing to the eye , after the poor specimens of turnip culture I had seen ia 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 brokes up , that the members were dispersed , the property Beized 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 hedid 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 werid needs a thrashing ; who grumble when the tax-gatherer comes round ; who take in a paper which they seldomread , but who still grumble

      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 that 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 . Bat 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 I heard in Salisbury are too ridiculous , I might say criminally libellous , to be mentioned . Yet by many they were believed . My companion had never read for himself on any subject , and I was much amused with his 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 reputation : it surprised both of us considerably . " Their property , " Eaid he , •* consists afe 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 1 was completely astonished ; that I had never dreamed of their having such a property ; and begged to know how it was cultivated , compared with the farms I

      had seen in the neighbourhood . To this the gentleman replied ( and I may state he is a man of property and respectability in the village ) , that , so far as he could judge , they were cultivating it very well . "But , " inquired my companion Bomewhat eagerly , " What sort of people are they ? We bpre 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 beard , amounts to this , that it wonld be a high honour to this parish if one half our inhabitants were as decent in their behaviour as they are—it would indeed . And more , it would be a credit to onr gentry if they would employ people in as great numbers and to as much advantage on the land as they do "

      * Lord bless me ! you don't say so ! " exclaimed my friend from Salisbury , " and such stones as we have beard of them 1 Do you say all this of them in sober earnest !" "I do , " replied the Brougbton gentleman . "As for their peculiar notions about property , I don't agree with them ; but , so far as saying they are well behavp 4 people , setting a good example to this neighbourhood , I say it most sincerely . " " But , " interrogated my companion , " are they not all Deists that believe there is neither a God nor a devil 1 "

      " If I understand the term Deist , replied the other , * it means a believer in God . As to their belief in religion I suppose they are like other people , of different opinions . One thing I 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 neverintroduce 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 boeklists , Eave

      Untitled Article

      that each man might enjoy - his own opinion without molestation ; that they , th e two , being believers in the ^ Christian doctridie o / . salvation ^ through Jesus Christ , attended aplae / j of worship , and that n « attempt was made by au member of the community to : diBsuade themfor go ; jig to church . " u Lord bless me ! " ex . claimed my companion : " you don't say so in earnest J s do you !" " But , I inquired for 1 had not been prepared « hear this favour ? iDle account of their tolerance , " what do the cler ^ ry tay of them , they doat like them , l should sup pose !"

      " The : Method' £ t 9 mi Baptists , and suoh like , make an outcry against them , " roplied the gentleman , " but our clergyman of the parish church sayB nothing a' ) Ont them . All of us hereabouts were much alarmc j when we heard of their coming at firat ; but we look on them now as very good neighbours ; and as they set a good moral example to our popnla ^ ion , and employ a good many of our poor , and ag they never attempt to impose any opinion r / a 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 p ot up in the parish churou , and our parson marri ed them . Oh , depend upon it , they are doing good here in a moral point of view . " " Lord bless me ! " exclaimed my Salisbury friend 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 }" " Because , ' said my companion , " they have anew wife whenever they tire of the old one . " " NonsenEe 1 " returned the Broughton gentleman ; " ridiculous nonsense . They 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 Bhort , the Socialists are very well but on one point , which concernB 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 . Thertwill always be idle men willing to talk and 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 1 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 building before improving their land . Instead of beginning like working bees , they have done quite the reverse . The bees begin by making honey , using any place for a retreat that may fall most readily in their way . There we have the workiDg bees and the drones living alike on the common store ; building and building , and leaving the honey-making to the last . "

      Such was the aecount I received of the Socialist community in the village of Broughton , and it is 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 "Sooialist turnips / ' they promised well . They were Sooialist turnips , and we soon after found seven hundred Sooialist 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 Beemed the commencement of a

      wooded district , which contrasted pleasantly with the naked country we had travelled over from Salisbury . As we approached the red-brick bouse we could observe that its outward form was tasteful and all its proportions substantial . It stood at about fifty yards to onr right , while on the left was a farmyard ,-, old and uncomfortable looking , with same ricks ofewheat , waggons , pigs , and cattle . Adjoining the farm-yard was a new house , which might have 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 bnilt .

      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 . No person , being visible , we looked around us for some time ; at last I saw 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 same way as dogs do in the old world .

      We advanced to the open door , which showed a spacious lobby , from which Btairs 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 , but tidily and respectably , dressed . My eye was following them up stairs , when I perceived a man befora me . He wore a cloth cap , and a respectable suit of clothes . After the preliminary courtesies , I told him that we bad 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 " this way . "

      We descended to the basement floor , which , on the other side of the house , looked out on a level with a lawn partly in 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 , Bhowed us how it worked , and presently several other boys appeared . All of them were so clean and neat in their clothes , so 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 wash . I did not know what the dinnerhad 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 . T / ie women in the kitchen were like all the others , tidy and respectable in appearance . The only thing that puzzled me was , how they should be so well as they were , with such prodigious piles of plates , washed and unwashed , around 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 . I 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 goiag 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 Eaid to exceed £ 30 , 000 . Such extravagance previous to cultivating the land wonld stagger most people on the question of the sagacity of the working beea .

      Mr . Atkinson conducted us to the new garden , which contains twenty-seven acres . I waa 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 was being constructed to Bave all the liquid manure ; and in short , everything was being done to improve the land which industry and capital could accomplish and skill direot .

      Mr . Scott was having portions of some of the fields trenched with the spade . He paid the labourers £ 5 per acre for it , and expected them to work so as to make two shillings a day . I remarked that this was more wages than common . He said it was ; they only gave the ploughmen and other day labourers nine pTiiiiwiga a week ; but as it was scarcely

      Untitled Article

      possible to get a good workman in that part of the country , he allowed a 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 believed anything might be accomplished , any change might be effected , but a ohango in the old slovenly style 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 put-door work . Their number was at the time I waa there

      sixty ; thirty more were expected soon after . The quantity of laud is 1 , 000 acres , held on a lease of ninety-nine years , at a rent of fifteen shillings an acre . They have the power 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 Goldsmid . 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 , are large numbers of full grown trees , resembling the size and shape of the mainmaet 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 every estate in the kingdom there is a rich 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 was this : — The earth was lifted two spadesful in width , and to the depth of about a foot . This was 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 trenoh 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 fresh soil to form the surface of the new seed soil . 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 , m Scotland . They were gradually introducing improved implements , but the greatest difficulty they found was to get the Hampshire labourers to work with them . They bad 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 Bpend even that in the neighbourhood . To conclude , I may remark that I believe their land to be well worth £ 3 per acre of rent , and they only pay \ 5 s . They have an excellent bargain , if they manage it well ; and whatever may be said of their Social crotchets , it mast 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 the working 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 most , 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 artB 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 givea by the writer in the Morning Chronicle . He truly says " this is no light subject ! " "A thousand acres of land ; " " 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 ; " " building , said to cost £ 30 , 000 ; " " a 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 ; " " a hundred acres of wheat sown , and more wheat land preparing : " I'faith , it is " no light subject /"

      All this land , these turnips , these eheep . 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 !" M Dinner waa 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 correct reading is no dinner , no song ! " ! Here , however , was to be found both CinneK and sons ! The reason why these were so found is " no light subject" ! We advise the labouring people generally to endeavour to find out that reason ; bo that thev may

      a ^ ain sing ! We suspect that an attentive inquiry will show that reason to be in the fact that the land is occupied by , and worked by , those ^ who eat the dinner and sing the song I We perceive that the Governor of the Establishment where this ABUNDANT DINNER , ( with a song after it !) was found , has deemed it necessary to oorrect one or two trifling inaccuracies in the writer ' s statement . He explains : —

      " Firstly , the regulations of the establishment do not permit of persona coming visiting and living idly from all parts of the country . ' Secondly , a very large sum was expended in farm-stock and improvements of various kinds ere an ; builings were erected . These latter have not coat moie than half the sum stated ; and ft must be understood that a large proportion of them are intended for the accommodation of pupils in infant , elementary , and polytechnic schools , which are now forming . Thirdly , very 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 aecount la the most correct and impartial yet given to the world by a stranger . "

      This , then , is what the Socialists are doing They are occupying land , building dwellings , growing turnips , feeding sheep , sowing wheat , eating abundant diwnehs , employing labour , paying better wages , and introducing amongst their neighbours an improved system of farming : while their moral example is suoh 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 us not be mistaken , We do not identify ourselves with &e peculiarities of the Socialists . We know that they bave 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 ABUN DAN T DINNER that we wish to direct attention . An

      abundant dinner is an " external circumstance" that we can understand ; and we can also understand that that " circumstance' has a good deal to do in " forming the human character . " To obtain that abcwdant dinsm for the labouring man is an object of the first importance with us : and it is because that abundant pinner has flowed to the Socialists from having the power to grow their own wheat , and feed ther own sheep , " 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 posgeEsion of the land , aud use it , too , to the production of an abundant dinneb , for themselves , ¦ withoi't embracing all the peculiarities of Socialise ?

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      We do not know that the turnips at Harnumy are any bigger , or the eheep more fat , or the dinner more abundant , because , and only because , the inmates of Harrhony 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 bare doctrine of "external , circumstances . " Land and labour will produce food : if these be in the possession of the labouring people , and j 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 ! Tue 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 have had a tithe of the opposition to contend with that the Socialists have had . In spite of all , they

      have secured for themselves an abundant diWnee . " 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 upon 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 dinner for himself first , and a " biting-on " for whoever may come afterwards .

      To the formation of that pubho opinion , then should a portion of their time be devoted ! 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 themselves , to help it onwards . To the Socialists we say , Go on ! Produce more turnips , more sheep , and more wheat ! Show what can be done with the land . Introduce the most improved modes of cultivation . Make the most of your bargain ! You are engaged in " an experiment "

      which , in its jissue , may advance or retard the cause , of the poor very materially . It is an important problem you ; have set yourselves to solve . Its solution may 'have effect upon the world at large . It behoves you , therefore , to be circumspect and mindful . Be so ! The world will now watch you 1 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 cuter 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 ia in antagonism to each other . Toe 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 lakd ; so ought there , on the other baud , to be no objection , but , on the contrary , aid , from the Socialist to the Chartist , in the obtaining ^ of that power which will enable both to accomplish their end , the Salvation of the starving workers by means of THE LA . ND !

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      THE" SUCKING PIGS , " AND THEIR DESIRE i FOR "UNION . " These 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 bave always taken , aud the justness of the suspicions we have always expressed of the , motives aud 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 equeak of every single

      P ? gy might be seen to furnish evidence of the same truth ; ihe 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 , Ithe short-sighted , 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 suoh 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 dirtinesp . W e take , therefore , a sample ! from the sack ; and that the sack may be well judged of we take the best sample , the speech of the Rev . Mr . Spenceb upon Lovept ' s motion for making the Charter the basis of discussion in the preparation of the Bill which they were met to prepared Mr . Spencer 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 that every delegate had read another document , which he would call 1 the " Peopled Bill of Rights , '' and he thought they would find it an improvement upon the Charter ; more ! liberal , more generous , more for . the people ' s good , and more for the protection of their rights , than the Chatter—( hear , bear , and " No , no . " ) He contended that they had as much right to a name as any body else—( hear , hear . ) It was said that 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 Chartist—( hear , hear . ) He was in favour of Complete Suffrage , and he would do his utmost to carry out the details necessary for its enactment , but be objected to a body of men coming there and saying , that , tliey 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 bad done ? Ne . They thought that what they had done waa right He trusted that he had toe 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 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 ? i ! 2 to which bo many allusions had been made , read over , accompanied with the explanation of the accomplished barrister who bad drawn it up , and be waa surprised at the opinion expressed by one . gentleman who advocated the Charter , who conld not bave seen much of ; the Bill , that it was bad in the preamble and in its clauses . ( Hear , hear , hear ,

      from Mr . O'Connor ) . He ( Mr . Spencer ) had brought hia common sense to bear in judging [ of the bill ; and he most say that he did not think the opinion he had allnded to , was a correct 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 expence 4-if they weuld consent to have it discussed , then ; at the end they would be able to say whether they thought the bill or the Charter the most valuable —( hear , hear , hear ) . He conld not understand why it was contended that the Charter should be the basis of discussion . Every body knew what the Charter was , bat every body did not know what the bill of the Complete Suffrage Association was—( hear , hear ; . If they condemned 0 measure about which they knew nothing , he would ask whether they would not be blindly following blind leaders , aud whether ihey

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      would not be voting in the dark ?—( bear , heat , and disapprobation ) . If the Conference were determined to act in this way . he felt bennd as au Englishman , and claiming a right to think and act for himself , to say that rather than he would give up his iadepeo . dence , he should henceforward recommend that there should be two parties , and that they should carry on their Conference under different names —( hear , hear , hear , and much disapprobation ) . \\ ought to be borne in mind that the Charter was only aa outline ef the proposed Bill , and tb&t it wanted ailing up . On the other hand , the Bill bad been filled n&

      with very great care , and if adopted , it would be th » glory of the land—( hear . fhear , and no , no ) . Why not allow the members of the Association the same privilege which the advocates of the Charter demanded for themselves?—( heaT , hear ) . If it was to be said , " you mast come to us first , " he must say no—( hisses ) . As a clergy . man of the Church of England , he could converse with a Dissenter on the principles of Christianity , without any sacrifice of his ewn convictions ; but if the Dissenter asked him to turn to his way ef thinking , he would not do so . Neither on the other hand would he ask the Dissenter to come to him . He wanted liberality in

      religion as well as everything else , and he rejoiced to say that with respect to the brethren in the Church , there was a disposition , when they saw a man determined to think for himself , to allow him to do bo . He wanted to lower the taxes ; bat ho would do it in a fair way . He wanted to reform the Church ; but he wished to do it in accordance with Bcriptural reason . He wished to extend the elective franchise , and put every man in possession of bis civil rights ; but h& Bought to do that by peaceable and legitimate means and he weald be no party to anything that could lead t « disorder or to destruction of the national institutions —( hissing and much confusion ) . "

      If any man can wish for more evidence of the insincerity of the Slurge party , when they talk of " union between the middle and working classes , " than is afforded by this speech , we wish him joy of his stupidity . As an attempt at argument we have seldom read or heard a speech which was more sue * cessfol in the answering of itself . As a cover for the deep designs of the Sturge men , it is , though the best effort of the party , a perfect failure . The Rev . Gentleman saw no reason why they should be bound to a paticula ^ document , because it happened to have been introduced five years ago . "

      Did this very sentiment furnish to the Rev . Gentleman no argument against their being " bound to a particular document , because it happened to have been introduced , " the previous evening ! Surel y a five years acquaintance with a document should , at least , even in the estimation of a Sturge man , be as geod a reason for adhering to it as a five minutes acquaintance ! How futile , then , is the argument (!) which so overturns itself ! But look at the dishonest perversion of facts contained in these few words . It was not because the Charter had been five years before the public that the supporters

      of the amendment wished it to be made the basis of discussion ; but because its provisions wore familiar to them . They knew all about them ; they knew that they did contain au embodiment of the great principles for the success of which Mr , Spencer , and the rest of the Sturge men professed anxiety ; they knew that it had obtained the confidence of the working classes favourable to those principles ; they knew also that it had obtained the confidence of many among the more honest of the middle classes favourable to those principles ; they were sincere and earnest in their desire for a union

      of all those among the middle and working classes who do bold them , for the furtherance of those 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 common 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 tke middle and working classes for the legislative establishment of the great principles contained in th& Charter ; but this course was not approved and adopted by the Sturgemen in the late Conference u therefore the Sturgemen in the late Conference had no desire to promote suoh a union . In his laudation of the " five hour monster , " Mr . Spencer expressed his wish that every delegate had read it . If it had been the wish of his party for the delegates to be acquainted with the

      contents of the Biil , they had the means of gratifying their own wish . The Bill was printed , and might '" have been put into the hands of every delegate , atthe same time with his card of admission . And , ¦ considering the stand which the Sturgemen intended to take upon the Bill , it ought to have been so pro- . sented to each delegate . Each delegate would then- have had an opportunity—a very indifferent one tO- - besure—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 didn't

      suit the Sturgemen at all . Their object from t&O first was to avoid everything upon which a real union for principle could be effected . And we verily believe that if they had thus furnished each delegate with a copy of their Bill , and if , upon examination , the Bill bad been actually found to provide honestly and fairly for the enforcement of the great principles , and it had therefore been cordially and unanimously adopted by the delegates to the 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 bo effect that " union" which in their very hearts we believe they dread . We hava no doubt that if this had been so , or if the Chartist Relegates , determined on " union" had even swallowed the " pig in a poke , " and taken the monster as it was , we should have had the Sturgites themselves the very loudest of all parties in denouncing these delegates for inconsistency , for fickleness of mind * and for bad faith to their constituents , in the hope 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 a name as any body else . He did not see why any person should be compelled to call himself a Chartist '' Here again , the perversion and the sophistry which form the cloven foot of party peeps out from under the Rer . speaker ' s argument . The question of tho " name" was not at all before the Conference . Itwas the thing they were talking of ; the document- ' the embodiment of principles . About names there had been , as yet , no discussion ; nor had they been at all introduced , except as the Reverend speaker and a few of his " Sucking Pig" friends had tagged them in , nolens volens , to form a cover for theft policy .

      But , if it had even been a question of names , thft argument of the Reverend Gentleman is again a two-edged one . If he objected to the name of the Charter , surely his Christian principle should hato taught him that others had an equal right to object to any other name . And since he most know that union can be obtained only by one of two courses * sameness of view , or concession , his Christian principle should have again taught him , that if honestly desiring union , the minority should be prepared at all times to concede to the majority every thing which might not involve a sacrifice of the thing to be united for . Now it was admitted by Mr . Spenceb , aad by all the Sturge men , that the Charter does contain an embodiment of their

      principles . It was admitted by Mr . Siubgh in his opening speech , that the only prejudice and objection was against the name ; that the thing was the very thing which thty desired ; that they considered " a union with the working classes" necessary fot its attainment ; and that they had , therefore , invited them to this Conference for the purpose of obtaining such a union . We say that under such circumstances had it been a question about names , their Christian principle should have instructed theffli that inasmuch as the name was not the principle * and that tho principle might 03 a 3 well recognizsd under one name as another , it was their dntjt rather than to jeopardise the union , to cooce do the point to the majority . So that if it had even been a question about names , the obstinacy w

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      4 THE NORTHERN STAR . m ¦ _ ——¦ _ _ r ~ h _ .. 1 - ————^»— —— - — - — - —————^—^—————g = ! - —r * ___________ ^— — ^^^^^^ ^ __ _^_^_^_~———Ti- ™¦ ——r _ ^*— 1—¦*—_——— — - ———_ i —~ r *«^—^ j — ^^ ^^ ¦ - —_— . I

  • 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-ncseproduct919/page/4/