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ftmv. XT, 1851.1 &9* **«»**? 913
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PROSPECTS OF RELIEF FOR IRELAND. While ©...
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The report from the Queen's Colleges of ...
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CUBA. CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN. The Atlanti...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Great Reform Meeting At Manches Ter Manc...
from th « How of Common * , « nd on « which would do Jta mS " good . If the noble lord could b « put under a course of Manchester meetings , he thought bis weak sidelines * might give way to the strength and energy of a real reformer , and he might become strong enough for his place . ( Laughter and cheering . ) Comparing the atmosphere of that meeting with the House of Commons he said : — « ' There there is too much sympathy with the despots of the Continent ; here , the sympathy is with the
patriots of the Continent , ( uneers . ) xnere , a memoer , with a sneer , asks the Secretary of State if he is aware that such a person as Mawim is in England ? Here , vour question is , when shall we have not only Mazzini but KosButh among us ? ( Loud cheers . ) They speak respectfully of his Catholic Majesty , the King of the Two Sicilies—( hisses)—and the Emperor of all the Russias—( A * s * cs )—whilst some here would agree with me that it would be no unpleasant sight to see a gibbet with two arms , with the Czar dangling at one end and the Catholic King of the Two Sicilies at the other . ( Loud
cheers . )' He showed that the House of Commons -was in the main the popular nominee of the House of Lords ; that there was no sort of proportion between the representatives of property and the representatives of the House of Lords . They had 330 members representing six millions of property , and 328 members representing seventy-eight millions of property . He ridiculed the fears which Lord John Russell and others entertained of the results of an extension of the franchise ; and he wound up ft fine speech with an historical resume of what the operatives and the middle classes have done in the cause of individual and national liberty .
The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr . R . Kettle , barrister , of London , who moved the address of the Association to the meeting . He was succeeded by John Williams , Esq ., M . P ., Mr . George Thompson , Mr . Heywood , of Bolton , and the Reverend J . Schofield concluded the proceedings . The following resolutions were unanimously adopted , and the vast meeting broke up , after the usual vote of thanks , in good order . The following resolutions were unanimously carried : —
" That the First Minister of the Crown having mti mated his intention to introduce a measure of Parliamentary Reform during the next session , the people should lose no time in giving effective expression to their wishes ; this meeting doth , therefore , declare that any measure which does not rearrange the electoral districts , extend the franchise to every occupier of a tenement , protect the voter by the ballot , shorten the duration of Parliament , and abolish the property qualification required of members , will fail to satisfy the just expectatations of the people—will be ineffectual in preventing the corruption , intimidation , and oppression now prevailing at elections , and in securing the full and free representations of the people
in the Commons' House of Parliament . That the cordial union and energetic action of all Reformers is now imperatively requisite . That the principles advocated by the National Parliamentary and Financial Reform Association , merit the support of the great body of the People of this kingdom ; and this meeting , consisting of Reformers of every shade , pledge themselves to sustain the well-directed efforts of that Association . That the conveners of this meeting are hereby constituted a Committee ( with power to add to their numbers ) , for the purpose of organizing a branch of the National Parliamentary Reform Association , to cooperate with the Council in London ; and that the Committee be requested to take immediate & eps for that purpose . "
Ftmv. Xt, 1851.1 &9* **«»**? 913
ftmv . XT , 1851 . 1 & 9 * **«»**? 913
Prospects Of Relief For Ireland. While ©...
PROSPECTS OF RELIEF FOR IRELAND . While © migration ia preceding at a tremendous speed , and whole districts ore becoming depopulated by tho combined operation of inducements to cross the Atlantic and the terrible necessities of eviction ; while the actual und nominal landlords of Ireland are passing equivocal resolutions respecting tho repayment of the Rates in Aid , and vast estates are changing hunds through operation of the Poor Law and tho Encumbered Estates Act ; while tenantright is withheld , and the potato crop is insecure ; a prospect of relief for Ireland arises from that very quarter in which we should moat prefer to see it
uplied—tho Land . The question has been asked—Why should not Ireland be endowed with a Peasant Proprietary ? And it has been answered , at length , after immense discussion , by a definite proposal for a great Irish Freehold Land Society . The present time , « ven the misfortunes of Ireland , ufiord facilities for carrying out the project . Land is cheap , capital is plentiful , the Encumbered Estates Court nt once rids the land of a bankrupt proprietary , and supplies ft certain title to purchasers . We huve before us a 41 Plan for an Intended Irish Society , " which is us folio wh : — .
' It ih proposed to found a society in Ireland on a busis "which will bo open to the very lurge clnsa of farmers and traders , with capital from £ 60 upwards ; and the less numerous class of uhopkeuperi ] , shopmen , artisans , and tut ) general depositors in savings' banks , who can afford to invest a . email sum hubituully from their saving * , to secure a high rate of interest . But it will address itself in the first place , and mainly , to farmers likoly without * t « anautano * to leav * ths oountry . Xue ahtrea will he £ 160 Moh , payable cither in one
sum or by monthly instalments of £ 1 , or by the advance of any sum the member can conveniently spare , to be afterwards gradually increased to the amount of his share , by monthly payments of £ 1 , or proportionate quarterly payment * . ' As fast as the funds accumulate , estates will be purchased , from time to time , in the Incumbered Estates Court , and divided into farms of about ten , twenty , and forty acres , with a few also of about sixty , eighty , and a hundred acres , and as many members as they will accommodate put into immediate possession of them . But as the value of land varies with various local circumstances , no mathematical exactness of si » e will be insisted upon . Each class will contain allotments of the same value rather than of the same dimensions .
"AlaTge proportion of the farms will , however , be limited to about ten or twelve acres , as it is calculated that a farmer subject to no rent , and working his land with the energy and solicitude which ownership insures , could live prosperously on such an estate ; and this is the largest allotment which a single share of £ 150 can be absolutely relied upon to purchase . On the average of past sales in the Incumbered Estates Court , from ten to fifteen acres of prime tillage
land , or from fifteen to twenty acres of mixed land ( cultivated and uncultivated ) , appear to have sold for £ 150 . But a less favourable result is assumed by the society , to prevent any disappointment . However , if future purchases are made on terms equally favourable , the allottees will have the option of having their estates increased to fifteen or twenty acres for each share , or having the price of a share reduced to £ 90 or £ 100 , or such other sum as the wholesale price of the land will permit of .
" There will be half shares of £ 75 , to accommodate men of small means ; and also to enable subscriber * to take a share and a half , or two share and a half when this arrangement is found to meet their convenience . The half shares will be paid up iu the same manner as the whole shares—in one sum , or by monthly or quarterly payments . " A subscriber can take any number of shares he pleases , up to ten , where it is proposed to stop . Ten shares will purchase from a hundred to t * vo hundred acres of land—an estate equal to many hundred acres held under rent , and on a limited or uncertain tenure .
" A member holding more than one share will get his allotments in a group ; but he will be required , before entering on possession , to have paid up one-third of the amount of hia shares , if the number be under five , and one-half the amount if over five . This regulation is designed to restrain members from grasping more land than their capital would enable them to cultivate efficiently , or pay for with punctuality . " Every member entering on possession of his allotment , unless he has paid up the full amount of his share , must grant a mortgage to the society , which they will retain until he has discharged his debt . If he should neglect to do so , they will be entitled , by law , to resume possession of the land .
" Estates will be purchased , in the fir & t instance , as far as it can be done with equal advantage to the society , in the counties where there are most subscribers . But it may be advisable to purchase an estate in every county in Ireland in succession ; excepting , perhaps , for the present , two or three counties which are heavily burdened with poor-rate . " When an estate is fully allotted , the directors will take measures to introduce Agricultural Schools ; and also Female Industrial Schools , through which the peasant proprietor ' s family may soon procure profitable employment . A large family nred not bo a burden but a help , as every hand may be kept busy on tasks suitable to their sex and age . " And this project , we understand , in its largest possible development , is not beyond tne present resources of Ireland : —
" The annual value of landed property under the poor law valuation is thirteen millions and a half . There is more Irioh money lying inert In the Irish funds , than would purchase the fee simple of seven entire counties , or one of the provinces . There is more Irish money lying as deposits in the friendly societies nnd savings ' banks , than would purchase the fee simple of several other counties . A large proportion of this accumulation belongs to men of limited means , who would probably desire to become small proprietors . For example , nearly twelve thousand fund-owners are owners of sums of j £ 200 , or under—men shut out from the individual purchase of land by the Hmallnoss of their capital . The large majority of them are said to be farmers . In the savings' banks , all the depositors are necessarily owners of small accumulations . The aggregate amount of all these various deposits is above forty live millions sterling .
" Beyond this huge sum , there arc many millions of Irish money in tho English funds . There is also an immense sum , the amount of which cannot be ascertained with accuracy , lent in small loans on freehold property ; often by tenants to their landlords , or by other parties who would probably purchase land with their capital instead of lending it at interest , if a suitable opportunity offered . Although the lint five years have drained away u large share of the savings of the working firmers , it ia believed by men well acquainted with them , that a considerable number would mill be found , able to become purchasers with the aid of the society . " Meanwhile , a report in ufloat , which , if true , is full of great promise . The following statement is made in Sauntlcra' News letter : —
• A very influential company ha * been formed in England , at the head of which is represented to be Prince Albert , for the purchase of lands in this couutiy . Their purchases are expected to be on a moat extensive scale and persons In their employment are now busied obtaining information on the spot as to the poaition and value of various estate * . " *
Now , would it not be doing a greater service to Ireland , if Prince Albert were to put himself at the head of the proposed Freehold Land Society ? We respectfully suggest to him the propriety and utility of such a step . While on this subject , we may quote the Meath Herald of last week , on the " want of labourers" : " In consequence of the extremely fine weather which we have had for the last fortnight or three weekB the
harvest , particularly the oat crop , has come in all at once , save in the hilly or mountainous parts of the counties of Cavan , Monaghan , Tyrone , and Fermanagh , and even there it is rapidly approaching to maturity ; so much so , that a sufficient number of hands cannot be procured ' for love or money' to reap it . The wages of labourers have risen from Is . to 2 s . per day this week , and even at that price they cannot be procured , which has induced several gentlemen farmers to employ mowers to cut down the crops with scythes . ' -
The Report From The Queen's Colleges Of ...
The report from the Queen ' s Colleges of Cork and Belfast , shows , we observe , how these institutions have hitherto answered the purposes for which they were founded by that great statesman who alone knew how to meet , in any degree , the Irish difficulty . It is another of the pleasant signs of Irish improvement .
Cuba. Close Of The Campaign. The Atlanti...
CUBA . CLOSE OF THE CAMPAIGN . The Atlantic reached Liverpool on Wednesday , bringing the latest news from . Cuba . We confine our notice of the war to a document , decidedly the clearest and least unsatisfactory yet published , written by Lieutenant van Vechten , one of the expedition of Lopez , in Crittenden ' s command , whom Captain-General Concha has released , together with two other prisoners .
In the first place , we learn that the expedition should have landed at Puerto Principe , where Aguero had set up the standard of revolt . But disasters attended Lopez from New Orleans to the final tragedy at Havannah . In running over to Cuba , the compass was deranged by a pile of muskets stacked near it , and the Pampero ran within sight of the Moro Castle . Lopez then ran her out to sea again ; and , catching a Spanish schooner , prevailed on her captain and pilot to take the Pampero up the coast to Puerto Principe . Another and more serious mishap — the Pampero ran aground in Bahia Honda . Lopez at once resolved to land ; and on the 12 th . of August the expedition disembarked , under a fire from about twenty men on shore . These were speedily driven in ,
but his unfriendly reception had the effect of disheartening the band . Here Crittenden was left behind with the stores and ammunition , and Lopez pushed on to Las Posas . On the morrow Crittenden set out to join him , and halted within four miles of the main body . A body of five hundred strong here attacked the advanced guard and main body . Crittenden succeeded in driving the Spaniards back twice with great loss ; the third time they opened flre from the hills ; Vechten and twenty others were detached to take them in flank . They executed the manoeuvre , and when they fell back upon the position held by Crittenden , they found that he was gone . Where , and why he went , is not explained , v echten and the few left with the carts dashed on to
Las P osas , and made a junction with Lopez , who the same day had engaged and repulsed the Spanish forces under the gallant Enna . Two days after Lopea marched from Las Posas into the mountains , when he was again attacked by infantry and cavalry , and again he repulsed the enemy . In both these actions the slaughter on the side of the Spaniards was great ,. though the Yankees had only condemned muaketa and no artillery . Lopez retreated still further into the mountains , where on the 19 th a rainstorm rendered guns and ammunition useless , and on the 20 th a careless sentry , was the cause of their being surprised in a defenceless state , and , of course , completely routed . Vechten says : —
" Owing to the unserviceable condition of their arms , the force under Lopez was completely routed , flying to the mountains in all directions—Lopez himself barely escaping on horseback , with the loss of his saddle , pistols , und spyglass—of everything , in fact , but what ho wore Thut night he encamped on the . top of one of th « highest mountains on the Island of Cuba , exposed to all the violence of a terrific norther , without shelter , lire , or food . It in impoBbible for me to describe the KuUeriiii / H
of that night . Heaven forbid that I ever puss such another . The rain fell in torrents , while ever and anon a terrific crash would announce that some , massive tree had fallen , either before the force of the wind , or ih « still mightier lightning . That night equalled an ordinary lifetime . On the evening of the 2 l . st , having been forty-eight hours without eating , wo killed a horse , which was divided among one hundred and i \ venty-fiv « J men , who were all that remained now with Lopez . "
They remained on the mountains until nearly Starved . When they ventured on to tho plainH , they were pursued by a body of cavalry , und us they could not rottist they ran of ! " in all directions . Hut starvation overtook thorn nguin ; they had only one moul in six days j they ventured again on to thoplams , und alter being kindly fed st the hoiwo of a peasant , they were betrayed to the soldiery . Tho rest is known . Veohten condemns the expedition entirely ; asnerta
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 27, 1851, page 5, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_27091851/page/5/
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