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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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TREAXMH" OF ME ^ CHARTIST PRISONERS IN CHESTER CASTLE . » THS EDITOa OP HHJ HOMHHRJC SXAH . -J . « T i ? ttWill 8 reaUy obfigethe individuals whose S ^ , heretmto affixed ' ^ i « r ting in yourS ™ £ ftSS aaoteerratiollon theTarioosfltatementsTf ttefood allowed to political offenders during their ftaSSP * which toe been successively feM hefore tie puttie since the eonnaencement of the recent WhZ persecution and perjury . * From -what information -we cm cnllftrt in «» Bent situation , m tore been aSeffiS ? !!? - ffiebryof many , or most , of the XiVJS ?^!^ appear anahsnrdity , ( afterluwins lSJ ^ K 2 j 2 f statements ) jet we eunMeaHy jL a * « LJ . - f ° ™ er gaolsfeomtheLand- sEndofELS . XSr 3111 ! theCastteof Chester i 8 theW «^ 0 hn * O Groat 8 ' " ^^ rrr ^ r- ^ - " -
ssSSS mKS ™ ^ r one ponnd of broTO S , or dSSSffiS *» " f «^ . *«*•) . one poundTpSesTX X ^ i fiTO S 5 ces ° f «« toeal , Bot of the best , made a ^ groel or sfcffly . This . Sir , isthe&reof aChartirt Kgaa-s ^' assisi SS ^^ s ^ nssis atae ^ andtwo ounces of salt Good God ! an hunraeinans treeH jrallowance-and this in happy E « a--fcnd / -happg Christian England . vpyc-W
J ^^ T ^ ta ^ ed by some of our friends , « Whynot make any grievance known to the Visiting Magistrates , and apply far redress ? " To these En ! inqmnes . TO beg to state that we have peStionedami prayed repeatedly , but in win ; and for the last four monftswehaveHothad a VMting Magistrate in the . |» rd wherein we are confined , though vrehavemany fames , on ttien- days of ranting , sent a note to them , requesting to have an interview . JSSfF ^ tSl ( betaglhetime of assize ) it were SSS ^^ J ?* " ^* ?' . " * . *! " Grand Jury tte
* ouM m course pf theday inspect every ward in the prison . This we considered would give us an Opportamty Sf making Onr . grievances inown . The etanflJnrycamesmawe applied for a redress of one amongst a many grievances ; but they very deliberately told nstfaeycould not do anything for us , andhastily I * rei ^ ^ w ^ er wiU perceive tM wehave no *™ S ^* ** &"ing neither milk , teajcoffee , engar , « anyfand of annual food , either saluble or otherwise , ? £ m . toadd * ° « " etched condition , are entombed , asit were , in the bowels of tha earth irithcot the least shadow of a redress .
However base some of our oppressors are , there are others who are equally base ; as aproof of which we may . ™ conclusion , add a single observation on tte gross mpertinenceoftae prison surgeon . Having this momingsenta couple of loaves for his inspection , one of which was superior to the other . andbakedin the Assize week ; and tiieother much inferior , heing the one served tons this morning , he tasted a small portion ( about as much as would bait a fly cage ) andthen indignantly asserts it to be good wholesome bread—though we assure you , Oat the same loaf isof &ve * y &akbsovm , coarse , wet , and doughy substance . Hoping the above true and nmjamished statement may speedily go forth to the world , in orderto enable the public to form an idea of our present situa-Son , as also of the unlikeliness of ameliorating our condition , while under tyrant misrule , Is the sincere wish of , Bear Sir .
James Duke , George Wabeham , . Thomas Howaexh , James Burton , . . John Iivset , _ . _ . - - ¦ . Isaac Johnson . Chester CasUe , August 33 , 1840 .
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on we cwdial assent of every intelligent man in the em-K f ^^^ ° mQ acquainted with my ' cSse '; which iSrtSS ^ ST * * ° uTb * toTe 7 <™ l ° r&hip | from a wnYictum that a man of your WdsMp - saclmowlS SSKi f ested by your iAwBtff « SS towards those confined in Ireland for polity offences . StS" * T- * f 0 r yonr lord 9 hi P 80 ™«* ^ ellmented popularity , and requires only to be certified of tbe&cts of the real treatment of this place , to order "Ajjnmmdiato alteration as sound policy aMhuina ^• f . dfrom * tatt ~ weU . groundedeon 3 nnX ;
In the fond expectation of that being the case I shall trouble your lordship withaplafa and simple J ^ ment of fects , to which I shall challenge contra-I am . as your lordship is doubtless HWMe , One of toose persons Wed at York last March Assizes upon a charge of sedifaon . conspiracy , and riot ; andwaicon-Ticted upon the unsupported testimony of a pewen named Harmon au acknowledged spy , and oUi ^ rise a person of most infamous character by even his own snewing , who was notorious as being the companion of w "fc , !*®" ** "" W who ^ dmitted naving been detected in passing some himself , and ™ T TK * P 105650 ^ *> y making testitaUon , wherenpon l had passed upon me the unprecedented severe sentence of three years' imprisonment and hard labour .
I will not occupy your lordship ' s time or attention with an account of the severe loss and injury inflicted upon me , independently of my physical suffering ; but merely state a fact-that £ 1 , 000 would not be ! compensation for my loss of business alone , but proceed directly to the more immediate cause of my troubling your Lordship at alL Hard labour in this prison " means labour upon the tread-mill , which ; as yonr Lordship knows , is an endless . wheel , driven by . the weight of the prisonersrupon ' it . Here itu placed in a building , being open : only at one side . Tho place for the prisoners is divided into small compartments or boxes , of about six feet long , two feet broad , completely closed in front and sides , so as completely to prevent the free circulation of air which
necessarily much aggravated the sufferings of those unfortunate persons Subjected to its operation } at the for or dose end of this box , the treading boards of tie wheel project so as to allow the fore part of the prisoner ' s foot to rest upon it ; and about fourteen feet from the ground is placed a bar of wood fortho hand which he could not support himself upon it without When so placed—suspended between heaven and earth —the board at the close end of the crib is about six inches from his face . Shut out thus from the view of all external objects , even of his feUow-SUfferers , or of anything that could by any means , by engaging his attention for a moment , lessen the hardships of his labour , compelled by the regulations of the prison to keep his eyes always fixed upon the board before him ;
the turning his face about , were it only to get a mouthful of fresh air , were that possible , is a breach of the regulations , which are strictly enforced by an officer placed behind every few prisoners , who move about in cloth-soled shoes , so as not toba heard by them , and whose duty it is to report to the Governor the slightest breach of the roles , who punishes the offender either with loss of supper or three days * confinement in a dark cell , upon half-a-pound of bread and water per diem . Here placed , and so placed , my Lord , in a situation more truly distressing and humiliating than it is in the power of language to describe , and in which he is daily exhibited in his crib to satisfy the curiosity of visitors , like a wild beast in a menagerie , the person so placed is obliged to keep treading the mill for the space of twenty minutes at a time , that is
to say , he moat go at the utmost of his speed , and frequently bo quick as to leave the lungs breathless ; keep lifting his legs until he has accomplished an ascent , in a direct perpendicular line of eleven hundred feet where he is allowed ten minutes rest , then on again ! This is repeated three times before breakfast , seven times from that , to dinner , and nine times to rapper . It is impossible toconvey to your Lordship any adequate idea of the severity of this so-called labour . You cani however , form some notion of it by supposing a man , at his top . pace , compelled to ascend a flight of steps without rest or .-landing place , without being allowed one moment for breath , until he had aceoDiplished eleven hundred , steps . Still tha suffering of such a person most fall infinitely short of what the dreadful reality of tte mill is ,, insomuch as the stairs must be more or less of the perpendicular line .
Wow , my Lord , it is hot in " tte power of language to exaggerate or give an unduly high colouring to this picture . I will not attempt it , but give a plain and simplestatement of the effect of sach treatment upon myself , and leave your Lordship to judge of tte humanity of tte practice . By the time I have made tte thud hundred steps , my body is covered with a most prof use sweat—not what is meant by that word in its ordinary acceptation , but in reality—with the perspiration dropping from my forehead as rain drops in a thunder storm , my body in tte 8 ame . 8 tate as that of a race horse after a hardcontested field , and by the time tte torture is expired every article of dress , although 1 wear as few as decency wffl permit , is as wet as if I had walked ia them
through a river ; that the very leathers , of my braces and body belt , upon the slightest pressure , yield out the perspiration as a sponge does water , and by tte time that I have accomplished tte six or seven hundred steps , I am seized uniformly with nausea or vomiting , a rushing of blood to tte head , dimness of sight , aid frequently , entirely for tte time , loss of vision , giddiness of tte head , and not unfrequenUy temporary insensibility , in which state I have twice lost hold of tte hand-bar ; and , had it not been for the sides of tte box , would have fallen , to tte great risk of breaking a limb or of fracturing my skull ; that at tte expiry of each period of such torture , my Btate of body and mind is beyond tte power of description . I commonly remain in a state of insensibility until roused into ;
consciousness by the sound of tte bell or a push from tte attending officer , to undergo again a rerenewal of my sufferings . It must be obvious to every intelligent man at all acquainted with tte human structure , that the certain consequence of a longer COntlHUance of such suffering must end in death by the rupture of a blood vessel or a fit of apoplexy , to which I am constitutionally predisposed . Nor can I omit to mention here , that my suffering from thirst is extreme ; that no water is allowed tte prisoners for refreshment when on tte mill—that when exhausted and ready to faint witt excessive labour , I have sought a draught of cold water hi the name of God , and had it denied me ; Perhaps it was mercy so to do , as in tte then unnaturally heated state of tte body , it might have been
hurtful ; bnt let the motive of denial be what it may , there stands tte fact , the undeniable fact , my Lord ; and I have been compelled to seek relief by sucking tte very perspiration from my shirt . I will not trouble yonr Lordship with an account « f tte painful effects that I feel in my body when off tte mill ; bnt rest satisfied witt tte brief outline I have furnished your Lordship , from a hope that I have said enough , though by no means all I might say , to interest your Lordship ' s humanity in my behalf . It may perhaps be true , that there ia about me some physical peculiarity , that renders me more than commonly susceptive of torture from the mill , but true it is , that great is my suffering ,
indescribably so ; and true it is , that all do not seem to suffer so much , or so extremely as I do ; but that all do suffer , and that severely , is self-evident Persons of a tall and spare make do not seem to suffer so much as persons like ' myself of an opposite make , or form of body ; bnt thatit is destructive to the health of all is evident from tte fact—that fact-that all who come here , however strong , robust , young , and healthy at their arrival , scarcely one is more than eight days before he require surgical assistance , and that , upon an average , one of every six persons styled " Millers , " are constantlyupon ttislist ; that siacel came here , young , strong , and robust looking man , have repeatedly fallen down ia fits from tte excessive labour .
In judging of this fact , your Lordship will take into your consideration , that tte inmates are persons of from sixteen to forty years of age , and that they are kept free from intoxication , fighting , and those other causes of diseases out of doors ; that the unprecedented heavy sicft list of this place can only be accounted for by the unnatural severity of tte labour of this prison and if such are its consequences upat the young and strong , who all their life may have been accustomed to labour and toil , what must its effects be upon a man who has been so fortunately circumstanced as not to have been under tte cecessity of working a hard day ' s work in his life ; that his fears of a fatal termination being put to his labour are not imaginary , may be obvious to your Lordship from one case that I skall select for your Lordship ' s consideration , which is that of a person known here as No . 2 , who , about three months ago , was placed in a crib upon the mill next
myself ; that tte circumstance of his making more noise than usual in getting upon tte treading-board attracted my attention towards him , I found that a shaking and trembling pervaded all his limbs , and that it was with the utmost difficulty he retained his position , on the mill ; that at meal times he staggered to the mess-room like a drunken man , or a person in tte last stage of intoxication . In this state he remained for some time , but was at last removed from tte mill , put under tte can of the surgeon , had a tent put in his neck , bled , and otherwise properly treated , yet continues not able to walk unless led or supported by tte wall , and when brought down from his cell into tte yard in a morning to wash , he is obliged to fall down on his knees to do so ; and , in all human probability , will remain aa object for life should he long survive . What then , my Lord , has tte person who now addresses you , to contemplate as his ultimate fate ?
I will not troubleyour Lordship with any more particulars of the horrid , cruel , and certainly pernicious effect of the duciplineof Beverley prison , upon ite un-«»™ Mteinmates ; but merely tell you , that young and nealtn persons I have seen- repeatedly fall down in fits exhausted by the labouP i will rest satisfied with what I have stated , and solemnly and seriously assure your . iiordahip , that death is , in any foan . or shape , immediate tota would , be prefenea to
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Slwv dl" £ 10 a tfmy . PMsent physical sufferings , were that possible ; and that I am notalone in that opinUn wiU be obvious from the fact , that occurred the otner day , inapenon endeavouring , to rid himself of Ms nnsery by Belf-destruction , who only could not effect - IP ? ? ' - y ^ exlteme vigilance practised here .-My Lord , it is with much regret that I trouble you with my melancholy story ; werel not todo so , I should oecome a consenting party to my own deattvor . more roperiy speaking , murder ! which I feel in truth will oe cer tain consequence of much longer subjection to the ttesent treatment This is no fcncy-drawn picture of imaginary , woe portrayed to answer a party purpose ; or to elicit public sympathy ; but a plain and undeniable statement of facts , to which I challenge contradiction ^?^_ d ^ i . oaofn « ypie « fflt physical Bufferings ,
and I should feel myself wanting in that duty which I owe to my suffering family , did I not humbly remonstrate with your Lordship , and fitmly , but respectfully protest against such treatment Had it been merely labour—hard labour—you should not have heard from meat all , but It is positive torture , such as I feel convinced that it only requires tte public to be made acquainted witt to effect its immediate abolition j and such that I cannot for one moment suppose your Lordship to be fully aware of its nature and consequences or it would not meet with tte sanction and support of your Lordship , or any other man of humane or Christian feeling ; but it is also but just to iaform your lordship that I have at least a choice of death ; that is that I can choose between death from starvation and — ——— —— v _ wvmi * IHW 4 VU KAXAVA
death by torture . My meaning will bo seen from the fact , that should I feel compelled by suffering to refuse to go upon the mill , the consequence is solitary con-Bnement in a dark coll , in dimensions a few feet ! bailtwittinanoffiercell . havingnofire-place . no window , norf ree circulation of air ; thus shut out from the light of tte sun , fed upon half a pound of the very coarsest bread , and a quart of water daily , how long is it possi-We to survive sucha treatment I leave your Lordship to judge ; that in tte event of your Lordship turning a deaf ear to this my prayer to you for life itself , I shall then have no alternative but to Choose ' the least painful deatt--Uiat by starvation ; but I trust that in consider ^ wg the above description of real misery and deciding thereon , that you will be guided in forming such a decision
by that God who , in his providential government of man , never foils in the midst of wrath : to remembermercy . It is true , my Lord , - that I amra Radical reformer , nay an ultra one ; but it isi also true - that I never sought tte triumph of my principles but by such means as , with confidence , ! could look to heaveu to approve and support My hands , my Lord , are unstained by crime , and my conscience void of guilt ; that my character , both as a reformer and a man in business ' stands unstained . It is also tru * my Lord , that disaffection to the measures of that Cabinet , of which you form so distinguished a part , is but too widely spread , but which weU-timed clemency may remain , but which coercion and cruelty will only nurture and mature into a bloody revolution . Persecution , my . Lord , always has . and _ ever wUl defeat its oWt , as is proved b
lnnumeraDle instances in every age 6 f the world . I win onlycall your consideration to two ; but they are to the pmnt ; tte putting of Jeremiah ( into the dungeon by tte Princes of Judah did not prevent themfrom being overtaken by . the destruction that h < T foretold . The persecutwn endured by tte Covenanters of Scotland , for sixty years , did-not accomplish for its : abettors ( the priests of the church of England ) tte establishment of Episcopacy in ttat . cpuntry ; but indeed in the ruin of that church there ,- and in-tte expulsion of the race of Stuarts from Britain . ,.- ; .-- .- ... , My Lord , if my . opinions or conduct have been wrong , cltmency may correct and eradicate error ; but torture will never convince tte judgment I humbly hope that your Lordship ' s answer to this humble epistle will be such as to render any further disclosure of the horrors of this place , tte one half of which yet remains untold unnecessary , Suchis tte hope of your Lordship ' s humble semi * , ¦•" ..- ¦ . . ; . ; . . ... ; ¦ _ : ;¦ Robert Peddie . Beverley House of Correction , August , 1840 .
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to which you alluded , and leave ft to thm who are more honestly disposed , and leas interested in the propagation of falsehood , than you are , to eondemn me « * am ju error . to which v ™ , i ,. ^ „ -, ... ^ ^ .. ^ ... _ ..
H . A . Donaldson . bv "JS S SedU \ m ""* ilasP ? " » no * i lecture was prefaced tysacft remark as the following . " -RBV . Mr . Clego . aJiw ^' -J 1 !?* 11 - ^ Swatestphilosophers of past W ^ K TO Bdmsbted aiid Which every rational maHf aS ^ WllI readil y Subscri be to . that knowledges fcaSL ? " £ eS 8 ential t 0 human happiness , and luvuKind .. These facts being once admittfid rvotv and for what purpose are . the working classes ( who are anxiously seeking , after knowledge ) prohibited from ^ cussing politic £
. ^^ . ' 57 ^ gabled for improvement at ttt . var 2 £ hS examination of the position of . the industrious classes hroufihouttheBritishEmpire , will , I presume , warrant me m offering a shortreply to these important queXns Migwm ana policy have hitherto , formed tte great 2 S a m » ° hine by which the mas ^ of the people have been moved and governed , and by which Se Z « S - « beeD - 6 ilherCrippled or ex Panded ^ ? n ? S / n * U eases renaereA subservient to the '^ SSSSTI ' ^ th / ruley ultimatelyto the aggrandisement of the few , and too often to the
rumOUS cost Of the . many ., That our rulers , who have it with advantage to themselves , and to the great dis-S ^ 5 ¥ ^ ' i-M-J ^ JSwuo eyery candid observer ! who har any knowledge of the Sv ' . ' fr ; - 11 ! 1 ^ 1 COnditi ° n ° < W class of S ! A foVat one 8 ^ ce we perceive the monstrous unparalleled paradox of the richest nation in Eurone teeming with the ; mpst : ; industrious , ySStched 2 and unhappy ^^ populationof any country HfkS world ; while . crime of every degree ^ n ^ viw inev ^ form , stalts over the land ; entfuihg 7 * SSpecies S demoralisation , which is . the natural 2 S o poverty on tUe : ene hand ; and luxury W the oth £
It has ever , been the studyof tte mostwilvnoiitloinna and politics as mysterious and difficult to be understood as possible , that they might , ! wita ' . the * reat £ * ° 2 eD 8 lave : tte . ignorant and subjugate ! the ^ maSsrftte P ^ to ^ he vvile ^ elfisB system mt SlitteS exist « d , ; and , by : which the few are enabled reckSr to wa uow ; mw . < alth ) . to , l ^^^ theffaensHalityiiambition . iandprideVaVtte L ^ eSf the many . . The appl 5 ances , to whloh'they havei resorted fortte aaamphah ^^ aud thete . ramiflcations ^ ointermu , ableM'that it ' would me to enter
be too tedious ^ for upon a full expo ' sitibn of the system . = Let it sufflce : for me to stateHhat the ¦ plan of operation issues from the secret chamber of the Cabinet Ministry ; -it ramifies through' the pulblt and the press , and it meets a ready rapport from the Matocmcy , who benefit by it . and by whose influence the faivmngmiddle : classes , are matte instrumental in disseminating ( or diffusing ) the poison which Bteeps the senses and blindfolds the-masses of the people , arid thus keeps them in that state of ignbrance ahd super . stitious awe which is indispensable to tho existence of the present yile- ; Maltb . u 8 ian > and unhappy " wstem of Government' - . M-: r ii ; b ;!; : i-ii-c ' ^ ¦';¦'• ¦ - - ¦ ¦• ¦¦
Thus it is that the fraudulent system ' may be ' traceii through every institution tothe cpuhtry , and ' that tiio crafty and subtle harbingers Of ignorancei shperstiUont and corruption ; have ^ succeeded in introducing cerkiin rules and regulations into every . Mechanics ' '' institution m the kingdom , i ! whioh precludes-the working ' classes from ^ quiring . thatiknowledgeVibbth . religions and pol'tioal , which , 'if once . obtained , must ' open their eyes to the injustice ; oppression ; and plunderthat is practised upon ttem with impunity ^ ' solelyVin consebuerice of their ignomce ' of ; tte 3 e : forbidde ¥ sciences .- Thua the tree of knowledge . is carefully ' guarded in > ii quarteft ; lest tte mdustnoUB'ppor should' ' eat- ef ' tue forbidden fruit ; and live ! by « haking off ^ MBWarms ^ J . Mi «" iimii ™
andpestnentiaWpcusts who ; nowlfaftW ' iJn . the blood ! and smews of 'tteWunhippyfellow"i creatiures !''" ' ¦¦ ' Thus > m is i that ; when' any'individual attempts'fe lecture in a Mechanics' Institution ' ' on the theory Of ' tlie earth , or the ; science of astrdnoiuy ,-every word he" utturs is carefully . watched . -and should he happed i 6 expose the ignorance of , ; the authors ofithe Jewishtraditibnary theories , or place ttem-iuJuxt > . poB \ Uon-wUh thoBe ' oi modem . philosophers ,, { immediately i theCneighbourimr pulpit . echQesiWithtte jthunder 'Of'theivotaries oPWe eld Bnper 8 titiouB schooVprphysics andmetapbyslcs ; and the . hirelMgipressiofc . the ^ viUage rings the- 'toc 8 inWwar to the horror and consternation of all the ' ploua old . women | uthe neighbourhood ; ii . ci nqiiwir - fw ; *\ . r , a ' _ ThusitistthatcJnany : awortty phildsbpfiicai'genius ' , WaO , m t&e tervftnt . imnirniinns nt » .: » . ~ .. i r u ..
S- -v—^^ ' ^^ TO M&Ued > b y , the scorpion' tongues ^ of . slanderers ,:, or . persecuted by the toro . ^ H *^ r 9 li ??? ? A ^ P ^^ i j ^ di fprMd to fly . for his ^ li ^/ 8 ° ^;™?^| h ^ ie « di . 8 ^ 6 tri £ " npt sW ^ ipfps *^ ; When I loorthrough' the country , and , behold the nght of prjyatejudgm ^ nt ^ and fteBdp ; m : 6 f discussion * ?^ Pterdipted ^ ™ * i ^ ° f -i ^ " ^ ? , W eF !? S l ' 8 % vation and j torture
feflings overwheb | ed fi W { th ; symBatliylfoi such men-as ^ S " ^ ° ^; carfie , r ; i M ^ a im ploreiand , ¥ ?!! ° ^ ,. f ^ 1 p 9 l 4 < li £ : oonntry ( in whose ' causelheyl ^ fe /^ eringj ^ to , ' examine rthi house , with the ' prl ^ hi ^^^ sta ^ men : w the : StSw ^^^^ ^^^ ^^^ : TKk ;« n ^; i *! i .. li ' l l i !!! )^ , JHfe . 'to f > 5 ,:. i !! Vi > j ; i \' . 'iii ' :-. ' uauio irae
.. ; , *™ m -uum jcngnsnmen ; is amocKery . to ttew u , plasses . . l . "( They huve nbthing itodowith ^ e . ^ stut ^ , to , , obey ; ttiem ;;; : WittthXtaxes . but to pay Oiem ; with the conduct of , tte ; ikecutive but to auffer ' F ¦ ' : ' .. ;??* ' * ? nomlxiatipJaL ; . of the legislat ' ur ? bub to look on while it ia ih ' ad © . * : The citadel of old abuse and antiquated absurdity , is garrisoned by troopsof anti-Christian foesi . whose / cupidity ,, selfishness , and inhumanity are unparalleled . in the ,, dark oges of barbarism , while the withering influence of : tho sacerdotal tribe is employed ; throwing . du 3 t in the eyes of the infatuated multitude , who are plundered with impunity , in the name of ' God , of justice , mercy , and love . .: ¦ ' ¦ ' ¦ .
Awalce , then ,, feliow-slayos , and , vindicate your boasted Protestanf principles ,.. the , right of private judgment , inquiryana . free , discussion , isjnvaded , and your birthright is all > but rlost ., The questions which , I Bhall submit for . the . pres ; ent , and future consideration of the members of ( every Mechanies' Institution in tte country are . ttW ^ / ; : . " ,. ; . ;; . ' , ... ,, J .:,: 1 ... •! Should ; n 6 trevery . man ; who : contributes to the support of tte Church and State !( as you do dlredtly or indirectly ) : understand-the syatenuof ' Government by which , our interests , , and destinies are . reeulated and controlled . " ., , i - . , . . ; ; : u- ^ v . vv-. - •¦ . ¦¦ . ¦ - ¦ 2 . ' « Is .. it not of . vital importance' that we should understand the ; seje « ce of theology ? as the religion which costs twentyimiUions per annum is founded on that . S 9 ience ?" ,.- , i »/ i ^ - ' -. ^ i . v'i : n .-. -: ¦ , ;! - ¦ ¦ ; , ¦ -. , ¦ ¦ ;
3 ., " As the science of theolegy . relates to the knowledge of God and . the duty of . 'man ; is it not requisite that we , who are , said to be responsible beings , should Be pwrnitted at . all times to exercise that reason which the God of , nature has beatowed upon . i us , that we may be enabled to decideupon that course of action that is most agreeable to the Majesty of the Universe , to whom we are , indebted •> for our existence , and « in whom we live and move , and have our being ?'" ( To be continued . ) MMVWt /^ AV ^ vWSH ^^ ku ' fjuOLU j . . . .
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7 . The lext political farce , that will be enacted by the Conservatives in the borough towns at the next election , but more particularly in Norwich ! will be , that the Marquis of Douro , and the Hon . Mr . Scarlett , will canvass the electors and ask their votes on tho the ground of their friend Mr . Kelly ' s proposed extension of the franchise to tte freemen , but will they succeed ? It is to be hoped for the Bake of the freemen themselves—for the sake of human nature itself , that the freemen will not be gulled by any such nonsense ; if representation is good , after the failure of the Reform _
Bill , and its many promises , after the failure of the New Poor Law Amendment Act , and the tender mercies it has dealt out to the poor and needy . The only hope left for the degraded mass of the people—for tho distressed manufacturers' labourer , for tha industrious and ingenious artisan and mechanic is , that they should have their share of making those laws they are bound to obey , and it will be tbeir own faults if they fail in obtaining their jus * rights , and the motto of all the labouring classes should be unanimity , and a determination to avoid the deceits of Whig and Tory . Down with Whig and Tory , and come and whet your whistles :
Go the whole hog and never mind the bristles . In conclusion , I willgivo a debtor and creditor account , shewing with what impartiality our virtuous Government marks out justice to the poor and rich of the land , et per contra . Look on this Picture And on ihh . To ourbeauteous Queen , A scale of allowance £ 800 , 000 a-ycar , besides given by a Relieving Officer palaces to live in , and according to the New Poor horses and carriages tax Law Act free . To that handsome young To a widow and two man , Prince Albert , thirty children , onestone of flour , thousand pounds a-year . and sixDence per week . To the amiable widow of To a poor old man , aged William the Fourth , one seventy years , worn out by hundred thouBand pounds Lard-labour , half-a-stone a-yew * of flour , and Bixpence per week .
To the immaculate son To two orphans , living of George the Third , tte witt their grandfather ami Duke of Cumberland , now grandmother , one stone of King of Hanover , but still flour per week , allowed his pension of twenty one thousand pounds a-year . To the pious Churchman or Methodist , the Duke of Sussex , who has lately taken unto himself a wife , contrary . to the Act of Parliament , " twenty-one thousand pounds a-year . To themother of Captain Garth , pension unknown .
To the wonderful states- Now , ye glorious Briman arid renowned old tons , have you not reason warrior , ' the Duke of Wei- to rejoice at the justice of lington , history states that your tutors and . governors , he received one million of and it is to be hoped , that the public money , beoides in your separate Churches having a fine estate bought .. you pray once a week , at for him in Hampshire ^ least , that they are endow , withal Governor of the - edw ' ithgraee , wisdom and Tower , Warden of the understanding , Oln ^ e Po rts , and Colonel ' " o ! a'Regimeni ; ahdieceivingtblpay pf ; all . ; ; . . '' ; . ; , . - ; . . -. : > ¦ . " .-. ? ¦ ¦ :, ¦ ' ' : <¦;¦> £ Norwich Radical .
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C 0 L 0 NI 4 L PENAL SETTLEMENTS . rMacquarie ,- Harbour was formed : at an early period after tho colonisation of : Van Diemen ' a , Land , and continued to bo a place' of punishment , until 1831 or 1833 . Thither were s ' entsuch-felon ' s as were re-convicted in tte colony , or suoh as tte Governor might deem deserving of beingsent there without undergoing a trial . To thesej again i are to be added native-born colonists and free emigrants , fourid guilty of crime within the settled portions of Tjtfma ' iiia . ' - ' ¦¦¦¦ ¦¦ ¦•¦ : ¦¦ ; ^ withstanding- - thVsea of'jungle which barred a passage to the mainland , atfempts at esaipe were frequent' On » - -b ? - 'tl » earliest and most horrible in lbs results was that -of ' Poarse . ' This man , with seven others ; In 1822 or 1828 / resolved to encounter every
hazard . Having'possessed themselves ; of a couple of boats , :. with a portion of provision ; equal to a week ' s consumption ' at the rate of two ounces a day per man , they- were successful in flying the settlement Their scanty Store ' s'exhausted , ; it appears ' - they quitted the boats ; relanding within sight of Macquarie Harbour . They then lived for eight ornirii days on the tops of tea trees , which they boiled in tin pots to extract the juice . Having entered the tremendous barrier of jungle , where nothing capable of sustaining life was to be found , and the propriety of casting lots having been discussed ; three of the party separated privately from the rest ; -two' of whom , it is said ,, regained , the apttle-, ment , where : they shortly after died ; the third perishing'on his return . ' The ' party , now reduced to five ; . lived' for two or three days on , wild berries and their
kangarbo-skingackets , which they roasted . At length they reached the Gsrdonrlver . ' . whlch they swam across , but : their ' difficulties arid privations were as great as ever . - ' ¦ I'hs remorseless labyrinth seemed interminable , for , like birds _ within the net , they found themselves closed wittin its fatal ' meshes . Lamed , exhausted , ifamished ; they . struggled vainly on—every step but added to their despair . Frenzy possessed their hearts . The vulture'in their jaws must be appeased , and a victim died ; that his'niore miserable fellows might live . Another and another fell , a man named Oreenhill appearing , invariably , to have been the executioner . At last Pearse and Greenhill alone remained . Without the " power'to go -forward— unable to retrace their steps' ; and surrender to ' the authorities , they madly
sought to extricate ^ themselves . ' The scene . that follbwbl ' was horrible . These sole survivors , the dismal relics of a dismal fatei-each viewing the other with agonising doubt , with indescribable terror , their eyes glaring with fiendish light—scanned each other ' s movements with nerves strung to madness . Sleep , that carried doom , was the object of auxious avoidance" Nature ' s restorative , " bo much required , was wildly endeavoured toba repelled . The Herculean constitutionof Pearse bore him victor through the inhuman contest : raging with hunger , worn out with watching , reduced to the veriest extreme of human hopelessntM 3 , despair in his soul , exhaustion in his frame , the fated Greenhill sunk , overpowered to earth . A spring—a half laugh , half shriek , and a swift descending axe told the rest
, Can mortal suffering—mortal debasement—be presented in more abject—more heart-rending colours ? A runaway convict—a felon murderer—forced to support life by cannibalism—hopeless to preserve it by flightnay , even unable to offer it in atonement of an uncontemplate ! offence . Such the awful position of Pearse ! After incredible hardship , he gained the banks of the Derwent , and found ' some fragments of opossums at a spot were the natives had recently made fires . More eager to die than to live , he shouted loudly . in the hope that they would come and transfix him with their speats . Having fallen in with some bush rangers , Pearse was takeu along with them ; but his late melancholy adventures having been unknown , he was merely sent back to Macquarie Harbour . One would have
thought the horrors he had gone through would have kept him . from further attempts to escape . Such , however , did not prove to be the case ; urged by a comrade named Cox , and induced by the powerful apprehension of corporal punishment for the loss of a shirt that had been stolen from him , the terrors of the bush were less than his dread of Macquarie Harbour , from which he and Cox absconded . Another scene pf famine and misery ensued , Cox perishing to preserve his partner ' s life . After a few days , Pearse returned to tte settlement Conveyed before the commandant , he disclosed everything , being weary of life , and willing to die for the misfortunes and atrocities into which he had fallen . He was , in consequence , sent to Hobart Town , where he shortly expiated his offence upon the scaffold .
, The punishment must have been terrible that could induce men , in the face of such horrors , to attempt to
escape . Mustered at sunrise , half a pound of salt meat , with an equal quantity ^ of flour or biscuit was apportioned to each j they were then led to their labour ; the constant immersion in the water , the sponginess of the ground , which continually gave way under their feet , when engaged in rolling timber to the beach , rendered life a curse ; and at sunset , without a single recreation , without even a change of garment , they were reconducted to their cabins , again to awake to the joyless light of a cheerless morrow . Murder in Tasmania is by no means a prevalent crime ; but at the penal settlements it has been of frequent occurrence ; and tte perpetrators have almost invariably declared that they committed the deed , in order that they themselves should be rid of a hopeless life . .
The terrors of Macquarlo Harbour may be readily inferred from the fact that , in spite of failure and death , escape was continually attempted . Many fugitives were never heard or , having perished in the dreadful jungle . —Colonial tlagazine .
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LETTER FROM WILLIAM CARRIER , TO MR . JAMES MOIR .
" House of Correction , Devizes , " August 13 th , 1840 . " My Dear Sir , —I have great pleasure in acknowledging the receipt of yours of the- 6 th instant , not enly on account of the Universal Suffrage Committee of Scotland having voted me a sum . of money , of which , at present , I stand in so much need , but because It gives me to understand , that that body have not abandoned all hope of ultimate success , trfiich , may . Heaven grant , may never be the case ; but . may all its deliberations and transactions be marked with , and guided bj , that clear-sighted judgment by waieh it had been so < eminently distinguished evor since it was established—so ( though some perish in prison first ) shall it eventually triumph .
" I am at a loss JmtcMo * express my gratoue tojonr Committee for ttieir ,-kind consideration ot my present necessities ; and 1 am . , quite sure that the-- generosity which has promrti&AheJsfillef of them . Tjill . nti tequiie
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that from ma which I cannot possibly perform , namely , expreBS my feelings on the subject of . their vote . When I embarked in the course which has brought me to thif abode of misery and anguish , I hoped for no other reward but that award pleasure which arises from s gonuine , disinterested ; and political love of all mankind , and avpartici pationof that ' liberty , which I hoped , by our united efforts ?' to sbe achieved . Of tha former part of my reward , I can never be dlveetedj and I have some comfort In the reflection , that Itlra latter , though deferred to an indefinite period , will yet be enjoyed though I should die . I feel much elated by your letter . I should , under any circumstances , esteem it an honour to be thought well of by a country , whose valour and love of liberty excited my earliest and warmest admiration . I suppose you know something of ray treatment here . It is precisely that of a convicted felon : my hair cropped . off close to my head , c ) othed in the
prison dress . The diet—bread , potatoes , a little oatmeal boiled with water , and this is all I have , though obliged to work on the tread-wheel , which I consider the extremest degradation , and most refined torture ^ possible to be invented . Add to all this ( I say nothing of my straw and ir » n bedstead ) that I am kept ia ignorance of everything going on outside , so much so , that London , Edinburgh , and but for your letter , Glasgow may , for aught I know , have dropped into the jaws of au earthquake . Add , I say , this to my other sufferings , and imagine many others that I can * not describe , and you will have a faint idea of my imprisonment I would gladly exchange this for the humidity and Cimmerian darkness of the dungeon of Cbili , horrible as are the tides of it . I feel the effects
of that wheel at this moment in every part of my body , and they are communicated to my trembling pen . There is , however , one thing which I must mention . Considering the circumstances of my case , the visiting magistrates have granted me permission to have such books as I can procure , subject to the approval of the chaplain , ao that I may have works of history , philosophy , science , poetry , &c . &c ; ; inBhort , all those that are not political or of an Immoral tendency . But this affair has broken up my home , scattered my few books , I know not whither , and completed my ruin in every respect The money , therefore , ' that may be voted mo by the Central Committee will be of very great service to me , and though I at one ' time hoped I might never
require the pecuniary assistance of my friend , I feel now that without it I must inevitably sink . Seeing , therefore , what is my condition , I have no doubt but your Committee will interpose its aid . You will also be pleased to make such use of this hastily written letter as may appear to you best Whatever monies ot books any of my friends may be pleased to send , must be directed to me at this 'place—House of Correction , Devizes , Wilts . Sincerel y hoping thaV you may succeed in your laudable work , and that haalth and happiness may attend you through life , with all the good men and . women in Scotland , I have the honour to subscribe myself , Yours truly , m : Wiliuh Cahmbb . To James Moir , Esq ., 179 , Gallowgate .
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FRIGHTFUL ACCIDENT ON THE LEA RIVER . ( From tho Sun of Monday . ) An account reached us this morning of a frightful accident that occurred on the above river , yesterday afternoon . It appears that two parties had taken two boats from Mr . Wicks , at Lea-bridge , for an excursion on the river , and that after leaving the shore and proceeding about one hundred yards they unfortunately came in collision with each other , and the whole of both parties , twelve or fifteen persons , were immersed in the water , the whole of vrhom were unfortunately drowned , with the exception of one or . two . At eight o ' clock , eight persons had been taken out , and parties were still dragging for the remainder . ¦
ANOTHER ACCOUNT . Sunday evening , about six o ' clock , the inhabitants of Clapton were placed in a . state of much consternation , in consequence of a report that eleven persona were drowned in the River Lea , near Lea-brldgo . Tho melancholy fnct , we are sorry to say , upon reaching tho spot was fouud too true . Tlie circumstances of the frightful disaster , as narrated to our informant by a brother of one of the unfortunate deceased persons , are as follows : —A boat in which were six persons , whose names are William Hewett , aged 23 years , Thomas Hewett , aged" 18 , Charles Smith , 2 aged 17 , Henry . Giftbrd , aged 15 , Elizabeth Raffe , aged 35 , and a young man named Sheryvin , son of the landlord of the Duke of York , York-street , Bethnal-gceen , and
who all reside in the same neighbourhood , hired a boat to take an excursion on the river . Lea about half-past four o ' clock . They were , on the water till near six , when , on reaching lea-bridge at Clapton , they accidentally ran foul of another boat , in which were four or five young men , who reside at Clapton . By the collision the boat in which were the six persona turnei over , when the whole of the party was immersed . Some clung to the , boat ,. and . . some sunk . The young men went to their assistance , when their boat capsized , and they all shared the same fate ; and a third boat , which went , to their assistance , met with a similar calamity . There were at one time fourteen altogether in the water , struggling for their lives ; one succeeded hi . swimming to the shore . The frightful
situation of the , whole of them caused the utmost alarm , as one by one they sunk to rise no more . The drags were got , and some , persons plunged in , and succeeded in bringing a few ashore , who were removed to the Angler ' s beer-shop , where means were used to Testore their lives , but in only two cases with a favourable issue . Eleven were drowned , including the above six persons . They all now lie there by the side of each gther , a most heart-rending spectacle . Mr . Sherwin , it appears , was about to be married to Miss Raffee . Mr . Hewett has only been married a few months . The names of the other iudividuals our informant could not obtain . Another is stated to have died this morning . Information of the disastrous accident has been sent to Mr . Baker , the coroner .
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A DOG IN OFFICE . TO IHE EDITOR OF THE RORXHGRN SIAB . Sra *—By mserfiag the following , tend , if time permit , by favouring me with your comment upon it . ) you will for ever oblige a number of . industrious poor : — On ttojita of the present month an unusual fair was hddin CtDMr , < Eaia , ) vrhiea has always been-considered a &ee sod open market , where every person who chooses may expose any kind of lawful goods for sale . ' Consequently a number of poor people came from Perth ; Dnndee , && , for the honest purpose of turning the penny ; a number ofthose poor people , after paying the custom dues , which , I should think , entitled them to the liberty of the market , were , without Uie smallest reason being assigned , apprehended and taken , not before a magistrate , but beforeafellow of the name of Sadism , or Adamson , who seems to officiate in the double capacity of Sheriff-Jnstiee of the Peace , aud Bang-Beggar . This three-fold offidal would not
condescend to explain the reasons of their apprehension , but viewing each group , as they were ushered into his pre ; sence , with a look which would have defied a physionomist to solve whether it was more akin to tyranny or idiotism , pronounced the words "lock them Up . " Numbers of the poor people had come a great distance , and were kept in confinement for twenty-two hours , without being brought before any of the authorities , or the smallest reason assigned for their detection , in the morning all ( consisting of nineteen persons ) were brought from the dungeons , and still no other magistrate but his beggar lordship , with whom it was no use to reason ; in vain we desired toappealtoamagi 3 trate in vain we urged that , by Act of Parliament , we were * allowed to expose goods for sale in any fair in Scotland , without licence ; he would not give us one word of satisfaction , but answered each appeal with another pair of hand-cuf& . One man ( James M'Kay ) had goods -which would have drawn £ 2 , left in the street , and lost ; after he was locked up , I heard him aak them to
fake care of his goods ; the answer he received was , they were all safe . In the morning nothing of the kind could be found , and all theiedren he got from " Bang " was , that he should have taken them along with him ¦ when he was taken op , which he attempted to do , bat was prevented by two police officers ; he demanded te be brought before the Provost ; but " Bang" knew it would not do to let the Provost know the depths of his tyranny . The poor man was hand-cuffed and marched out of the town , along with the others , leaving all the small property he had in the worid behind him . Vow , Sir , least no part of the blame directly on the magis trates , for I believe thsy knew nothing about it Aa a proof of it , a person named Andrew Srummond , a householder in Dundee , and who enjoys more respect
than erer Mr . Eadison , or , as he would rather have it , lie Adamson , will gain in this vieinHy , had the misfortune , some years ago , to be deprived of his sight ; ance which time he has made a humble but honest living by selling ballads , * & Now , Sir . thisman got KbertyfromMr . Honeyman , theProvest , yet , notwithstanding , was locked up . When he was brought out of the cell in the morning , he told Mr . E . or A ., who gave him liberty ; when " Bang" replied , that he did not care a d—n for the Provost So much for the respect he owes to Ms superiors . The cavalcade was then ordered to proceed to Newport Ferry ; the orders which he gave to his subalterns wfll give you . an idea
of file man , and whether or not he is a fit person to have almost unlimited power placed in his hands ; the words were , " Take them out by the back of the town , ( mark this , being afraid lest the magistrates , or some other person , should ask the cause of our imprisonment , ) make them walk two and two , and if they do not walk regular , knock them down with your sticks . " Kow , Sir , we suffered all this for no crime , against no law , either of God or man , but merely to satisfy the vindictive feelings of a wretch who , raked from the dregs of poverty himself , makes a prey of every one whom he thinks have not money enough to carry the case from Ccpar to the Court of Session .
I have the honour to be . Sir , Yonr constant Reader and most obedient Servant , W . Martin . Perth , 24 th August , 1840 . P . S . A number of spirited people in Dundee have offered to raise a subscription , that we may cany it to a Court of Justice , out before proceeding , I would wish -to hear the opinion of the press . W . M .
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, a subject public discS- tte aecond ^ e with me the most ^ werfoS ^ eartS wa ^ erauons j Minely , thatbymySlencelmiditpre' ?*• , J ? fbb " * "t ^ n being addedto that already but too heavy load of grMand auxiete £ 5 J aafieOTg family feel on my account , the wSaTl w , that my unfortunate wife is labouring under a disease that is threatening the very foundations of her existence , and which cannot fell to be much aggravated Iff every fresh source of anxiety onmy account But , my Lord , there is a point beyond which human nature cannot , or ought not , to forbear ; for the sake of my much-esteemed and much suffering wife , had it been possible for human nature to have continued to have struggled with or borne ap nnder my load of misery I ¦ wou ld teatai content to have suffered on in silence bat suchrauforfanateiT , is not the case .
» eansbecome of is THE CASE AND TREATMENT OF ROBERT PEDDIE . TO THE MOST KOBLE THE MARQUIS OF NORMANBY . MT Iord ,-it is with feelings of much regret that I am eompelled tofaonble your lordship on the present occasion with an account of my extreme sufferings , and nothing bnt the unsupportable nature of those sufferings could have induced me to have done so . I have heretofore been silent on that subject having * e « prevented from giving jabUdtj to what , from S » mM experience , I am justified in calling the horrors of this prison-house , from two motives ; the first is , that I have baea treated with uniform dvility by the UTS £ r £ ? ° ? ^ V ^ cei , andthereforehad
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AN APPEAL TO THE PUBLIC ON BEHALF : J . OF ; MRS , PEDDIE . TO XHK BDIIOtt OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Si ^—Buding your columns open for the cause of the distressed , in order to effect its removal , ' we take the present opportunity bf appealing to the people , through their own powerful organ , to alleviate in some degree suffering humanity j and mitigate mental torture , by the prevention of farther physical pain being inflicted upon : the helpless . Amongst the various cases whichhasbeen'brought before the puti > he , there is not one more thrilling , to a' mind susceptible of sympath y , - than the one at present in hand , coHsiderinR the painful circumstances which have surrounded the incarcerating of Peddie from
beginning to end : First , his being unwaril y drawn into the net-by the infamous scoundrel , Harrison • Second , the calumnies which have been heaped upon him , which had a tendency to lessen public ' sympathy in his favour ; Third ; the unprecedented torture he now endures both mental and physical ; Fourth , the distress which is likely to fall upon his wife for the recovery of the fees demanded by Peddie 8 attorney . As there are many who may be desirous of knowing the occasion of this appeal being written , we will give an extract from one of his letters , trom his dungeon ; which will at once explain the reason :-It appears that Pedditf was * labouring under the idea that he would not be included iti the defence with the rest of the prisoners , and / nnniifl .
quently , employed an attorney at York ;!' ¦ This pro ^ ceeding appeared to displease a fewpiEPeddie ' s ' friends , to whom he writes thus : —I am iorry . to hear that myfriend 8 are displeased at my ! having employed an attorney herei but I knowthat when the * become acquainted with my reasons ; for ' so doing , they will see that I am not to blame ; in the ^ matter Mr . Clarkson had been in York' defending the other persons , but did not call upon me ; andf althongh'h ' e was in the same room , when I was cross-questioning the witnesses , yet he rendered me no assistance , nbr even wrote me at all , so that I was left to fight my own battle . The time of trial was fast approaching ; it was necessary to get some one to ' obtain for me the depositions which I could not get myself , and
to assist in preparing my brief . Mr . Clarkson wrote me after this , but I had employed the attorney the day before , and then it was too late to be recalled . Thus we have an explanation of the . affair from Mr . Peddie himself . It is now for the paynwnt of the aforesaid attorney that we , on behalf of Mrs . Peddie , make this appeal to the public for the discharge of the debt so contracted , for which she is threatened with a prosecution unless it : be immediately paid . The charge made for conducting the defence of Peddie was £ 10 , £ 3 of which was paid by Mr . O'Connor , being Mrs . Peddie ' s share of the defence fund in the hands of Mr . O'Connor . Seven pounds of the aforesaid sum remains yet to be discharged , and for which we solicit the assistance of our
fellow-countrymen , as , owing to the great expense Mrs . Peddie was put to in coming to York at the Assizes , she will be unable to pay the bill . It is with the greatest delicacy that the committee , authorized by her , appeal to the people in a pecuniary affair , aware , as they are , of the great depression in trade , and the scarcity of employment , and also the many calls of a similar nature which have been made upon them , all combine to make it a matter of diffidence with the committee ; but knowing , at the same time , that a burden too heavy to be borne oh the shoulders of one when a number take a little off the weight upon them , it is carried so easily as scarcely to be perceptible . Friends , Mrs . Peddie must be suffering the greatest mental amniinh ( in su > n / innt . nf hoinrr AanrirraA nt ¦ w- « w ^_ £ vbh wwwb « jhv wsaAik uvifl
- ^— — . —^— ^> - «» w »« * w * A TvU wE her husband , and on hearing of his direful treatment it must cause her to pass many an anxious day and sleepless night ; bnt what will be her amount of suffering if we allow her to be prosecuted for the paltry sum of seven pounds ? Let a few of our associations only take up the matter , and it is done at once ; let those that can give one halfpenny , and others may be able to give a penny , and some twopence each , aud thus the burden will be removed from the shoulders of an innocent snffering female , and carried by ourselves , scarcely , or not at all , perhaps , to be felt by any of us . Let us , in this case , shew to the world that we are in possession of
the pure religion and undefiled , that is , to visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction , in orderto assuage their amount of suffering . I have the authority to state that the Association of Pudsey will come nobly forward in this most noble of all purposes , namely , ' to assist our fellow creatures in distress ; aud let but a few others be so disposed , and the paltry amount will be wiped off , and gladden the heart of the dungeon-bound captive , and make him more able to stand under the lash of Whig tyranny . Signed on behalf of the Committee , Richard Sieele , Bank-honse . Pndsey , AnguBt 24 th , 1840 .
P . S . —The Bradford Association are requested to elect one of their body to assist the Committee , and all others that may wish to nominate one in addition to the present Committee , who wiU receive suscriptions at their different localities , as under : —David Black , Barnsley ; Richard Steele , Pudwy ; Joseph Jones , Brier-street , Leeds ; Andrew Gardiner , 9 S , High-street , Leeds ; William M'Gregor , and John Craig , back of the Union Inn , Pottery-field , Huns-« M « maybe sent to the treasurer , Mr . Ardell , Northern Star Office , Leeds ; who will also receive all the money eollected by the Committee , and insert the same in the paper . Any information that the Bradford people may want , they can get by applying to R . Sieele , Secretary , Bank-house , Pudsey .
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THE CHURCH AND STATE QUESTION . TO THE REV . MR . C 1 EGG . Leamington , August 24 th , 1840 . Bsv . Sir , —In your sermon of last Sunday , yon furnishes your congregation with a garbled statement of my . last lecture at the Mechanics' Institution , which you were pleased to designate "blasphemous and seditious . " Bow , as the besi proof of the injustice you thereby perpetrated , I Bhall publish that portion of my lecture
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We understand the late Earl of Durham has bequeathed tlie whole of his extensive property , both real and personal , to his amiable countess , without limitation , and also appointed her ladyship sole executrix . The march of temperance in London ia apparently progressive . There is not a publican who does not loudly complain of the falling off of business , although all sorts of attractions in the way of singing and music are enlisted in the temptations to the enjoyment of the social cup . The value of licensed victuallers' houses has fallen off immensely . —Evening Paper . A woman feom Clayton West , near Barnsley who gets her living by begging in the neighbourhood , last week deposited £ 200 in the old bank in lhat town .
The Berwick \ Varder tells a long story of a boy on horseback being stopped on the road by seven weasels , with whom he maintained a desperate conflict for a long time , killing half of them and carrying them home in a bag . Of the last five centuries France has spent three hundred and twenty-six years in foreign and domestic wars , and during that period one hundred and eighty-four great battles have been fought . Upwards of twenty acres of the Home Park , Windsor , fronting and adjoining the Eastern Terrace , have been commanded by her Majesty to be enclosed for the purpose of being laid out in gardens and pleasure-grounds for the exclusive use of her Majesty and the Court .
Grand Junction Railwat . —It appears from the returns laid before the select committee on railways , that tho claims for compensation for gooda lost or destroyed on the Grand Junction Railway , made and allowed , from February , 1838 , to March , 1840 , amounted to £ 2 , 917 12 a . 8 d ., of which £ 2 , 238 Is . Id . was for damage arising from fire in the month of August , 183 b . The claims made and disallowed during the same period amountod to only £ 73 . The grounds of refusal in each case are stated . —Railway Times . It is understood to be the determination of the Eastern Counties Railway Company notto pay the deodand levied upon them , ' but to appeal te the Court of Queen ' s Bench .
• The convict , Archibald Bolam , of saving ' s bank murder notoriety , arrived safe at Sydney , New South Wales , in the early part of the present year . It is stated that he acted as schoolmaster and chaplain tohis brother conviots on the voyage out . —Newcastle Journal . — " To teach the young idea /» w to shoot , " or poker , as the caso may be . Junius . —A grandson of the late Sir Philip Francis , and his widow , Lady Francis , are each of them said to be preparing a life of that accomplished statesman , in which the identity of the author of Junius ' a Letters will unquestionably be established .
The box , or trunk , so frequently alluded to in the investigation of this subject , and which was always reported to contain undoubted testimony of this author ' s namo , has , we are told , been discovered by the grandson of Sir Philip Francis . —Morning Chron . Window Tax . —In the nature of things , taxes are always obnoxious to all those persons who are compolled to pay them . The window tax is not aa exception from the general feeling , and almost all the country newspapers contain accounts of the not over-courteous recaption given to the Surveyors of Assessed Taxes , in their window-peeping excursions .
The Old L * dy and the Judqe . —An old dame named Hannah Yeatman , annoyed by a keen cross-examination in the Court of Queen ' s Bench , became unruly , and exclaimed , " Don't you go for to ax me any kevestions . I ' m not a-going to be bothered this away , I'll be d—d if I am , I ' m too hold ! " Chief Justice Donman : — •» You mnst answer the questions , or I must commit you . " Wit « ness : " Commie your granny ! You ought to be ashamed o' yourself , you bought ! The young 'oman as pv h&r hevidenco afore me , war taken but of the Court ' alf dead , and all through you , siltin thereW keviet in your big wig , and alie ia the asfewicka For shame ! " ( Roars ' of laughter . ) c '
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^ CORN LAWS v . TAXATION . I finished my last . paper with the first following question and answer , and I now submit seven more for the people ' s attentive ana . diligent perusal and instruction : — ,, ' .. , ,., 1 . Is there any similitude in the present state of England and any other country at the present time , or in former history ? , ' .-. * . . ¦ .
Yes , England very much resembles Prance , previous to the great French Revolution in 1798 , before the appearance of Buonaparte ; for Sir Walter Scott , in his " History of France , " affirms that the Revolution was mainly produced by the financial difficulties of the country ; and England ' s . revenue is now two millions short of the expenditure ^ or thereabouts . 2 . And what would be ' the consequences of effects of a revolution in England ? .. . ... ,. . , : Why , the game would be up with royalty—the game would be up with the fundholders and the taxes , aud the game would be up with the Corn Laws ; and one good result would follow : there would be no more Bpeechyfying . aud humbugging in various parts of the country about the Corn Laws , and the amount of wages given by the farmers and manufacturers to their respective slaves , commonly called their labourers and workmen .
3 . The manufacturers are very fond of challenging the farmers with what amount of wages they gave their men ; what are those noble-minded , andliberal-hearted , and generous men , the manufacturers , giving to their over-fed and under-worked labourers at the present time ? , The plain weavers earn on an average about eight shillings per week , and with twelve hours' labour per day . 4 . Why are the farmers' workmen , and manufacturers ' workmen so badly off ? Because they aro so completely the victims of both parties , Whig and Tory , from the want of unanimity amongst the labouring hands . 5 . What other causes oppress the poor ? The unlimited use of untaxed machinery , and the grinding , crushing system of monopoly . 6 . What example can you give of the poor being the victims of Whig and Tory ?
At the present timo Mr . Kelly ' s hollow pretence of coming . forward to give franchise to the freemen , if his intention . was good and honest , why not give Universal Suffrage ,, as it is well known , any . poor labourer who consumes a-pound of tea , or any oilier exciseable commodity , pays a tax towards the State , and is equally entitled to a vote , and if the freemen have not the hearts of- slaves , they will scout the ungenerous act , and not dosert their fellow Turkmen , but unite with ¦ Jtiemaaddftniand Universal ! Mfiaa » .
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— 7 THE NORTHERN STAR ' » ¦ .. ... . . :.. ¦ ... . ¦¦ ¦ " *
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Sept. 5, 1840, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/king-y1kbzq92ze2700/page/7/
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