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" Onwtrd, t&& fit eoBpjier! B ackward, and we fall 1" ¦ i.TSS PEOPLE'S CHARTER ASD NO SURRENDER'. "
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TO THE OLD GUAKDS. Faithful Friends and ...
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MP NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL. *^**^T M * ...
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Uauukksmith —A meeting will be held on S...
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TO «W. S.," Who writes a Letter to the E...
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MR F. 0'COSNOR AND HIS THREE ACRE LITING...
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Untitled
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TO POOR TOM BAILEY. Pook Tom, — Having d...
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Halifax.—A district delegate meeting wil...
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to £* **%$£{ - , , £&?*£&. SOWMM*-' agen...
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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
" Onwtrd, T&& Fit Eobpjier! B Ackward, And We Fall 1" ¦ I.Tss People's Charter Asd No Surrender'. "
" Onwtrd , t && fit eoBpjier ! B _ackward , and we fall 1 " ¦ i . _TSS PEOPLE'S CHARTER ASD NO _SURRENDER ' . "
To The Old Guakds. Faithful Friends And ...
TO THE OLD GUAKDS . Faithful Friends and Cohrades , — At no period of England ' s history was there a more important crisis than that wliich has now arrived ; and if by the past policy by which our own movement has been ' governed I am enabled to show that , in spite of the most persevering , powerful , and united _opposition , we have been enabled , not only to maintain the position in which we originally stood , but to fortify , improve , and advance that position , then I may confidently appeal to you , men who have suffered privations , incarceration , and persecution , for the maintenance of that position .
Fhe scenes which are now taking place throughout the continent of Europe , and especially in France , would at other times have attracted a greater amount of English attention , and even now their importance cannot be overlooked or under-rated . Ycu must critically understand the position of France , and the cause of disturbance in that country , to be able te estimate the value of those privileges which you have secured in spite of oppression . How often have I told
vou , that tyranny can neither stab sentiment , nor shoot public opinion!—that moral power is the deliberative quality in each man ' s mind , _rrhich teaches him how to reason , how to endure , _£ nd when forbearance becomes a crime and should it fait to-secure for man all those privileges to which he is justly entitled , and should phvsical force be found necessary ( which God forbid !) that it would come to man s aid like an electric shock , while those Kho marshal it would be the first to desert it , and were invariably traitors or fools .
By the dread of increasing moral power— backed by the oppressor ' s belief in its determined resolution—more may be done than by any physical outbreak ; and the reason of my p resent address is to preserve you within the bounds of moral discipline , in spite of any agency that may be used in the midst of passing excitement " to force you from your fastness and stronghold into looseness and weakness . The French people now in arms—and , mayhap , now * being slaughtered—have been roused to madness by the with-holding of just rights , and by the desertion of their leaders in the hour of _struggle .
Old Guards , this is their position . The people's representatives and leaders contended for the right of meeting together , eating- together , and conferring together ; and in their several sentiments and speeches they gave their followers directly to understand , and reason to believe , that when the struggle between Democracy and Despotism came . - —as come it must—that they , the men seeking the transfer of power from the hands of their political opponents to their own , would be foremost in the _danger .
Their rejection of the toast of the King s Health at the Heform Banquets , was an implied assurance that the next struggle should be between Democracy and what is called Legitimacy- Sixty of those Reform Banquets were held , and the promoters , strengthened hy increasing confidence , assumed a ' bolder attitude , and one of defiance , and resolved upon holding a grand Keform Banquet , within the city of Paris , during the sitting of the Chambers , and under the nose of the King .
This Banquet > as originally to have been held on Sunday , the 20 th ; but , fearing the popular support which they had previously _eourted , they abandoned theirorig inal intention , and postponed the Banquet to Tuesday the 22 nd . This was the first false step ; because the leaders of the people must have been aware of any danger that the day presented , and there is nothing more Mai to the character and position ofa leader than the slightest indecision er wavering . i
The holding of this Banquet was to haye constituted the grounds of an indictment against the leaders , and thus the right of the peop le to meet and ; discuss was to have been adjudicated upon in a Court of Justice . During the night of the 21 st the Reform leaders issued a proclamation , inviting the preseuce of the National Guard , which is supposed to be a citizen corps , contra-distinguished from the Troops of the Line , who are mercenaries , and the Municipal Guards , who are spies . Now , this postponement and invitation very naturally led to increased excitement , increased preparation , and increased reliance hut , behold , tyranny trembles , but the oppressor gains . nerve and resolves upon opposition .
* This change is provoked by the proclamation of the Democratic leaders , and tho ugh peace and good order was enjoined , and though their lives may be the sacrifice , I contend for it that it was * the duty of those leaders to have placed themselves in the foreground , and as thev looked for the lion ' s share of popularity , " that they should hare taken the lion ' s share of responsibility and danger _. Their presence would have been eminently successful in quieting the angry multitudein subduing angry passions—and in inspiring renewed confidence ; and by their presence slaughter would have been spared , or the officers would" have participated in the struggle .
Old Guards , as I have taught you to look suspiciously upon the cold effusions of the cold blooded hireling who writes philosophy for pay , you may , perhaps , judge me by the same standard . But to qualify myself for the task that I have undertaken , let us go through our wars , our struggles , and our conquests _; and when you have read fhe long catalogue of dangers , of daring , and of triumphs , you will say that they are pertinent , and strictly analogous , nor will vou cousider ther repetition
egotism . §? f In 1839 the magistrates ofthe West Riding of Yorkshire prohibited our Peep Green meeting by proclamation . I was 200 miles off—I repaired to the spot , and issued a counter proclamation signed by myself , bidding defiance to the magistrates in their usurpation of a power that did not belong to them , stating that I would lead you in pereon to the conflict . I did lead you , and we triumphed . In the same year my presence at a meeting in Sheffield was announced , though I had not permitted it ; the magistrates of the district met—thev continued in conclave—thev had
cannon ready , and the troops in a state of preparedness . When I heard this , I came amongst you—held our meeting in the principal square—paraded the town in procession with you , and was obliged to depart in the middle of the night , no one daring to give me lodging . In the same year I was denounced as a traitor at Carlisle and dared to appear . I travelled from Edinburgh that day—made my way single handed through a scoffing , insulting crowd . I stood alone on a stage in a crowded theatre . I rose in the midst of insulting shouts , and concluded amidst most affectionate applause , and was conducted in triumph to my hotel , my prosecutor not daring to appear .
In the same year , when I was dared to attend the torch-light meeting at Bury , I arose from my sick bed , travelled from Leeds , and met the conspiracy of parson Stephens , the Cobbetts , the Fletchers , the Richardsons , ' _.-md others , and saved the people from their machinations . In 1 S 40 the men of Dewsbury , in the West Hiding , led to madness by Bussey and other traitors , denounced me , and I instantly repaired to the scene , of action , met my revilers , and _received their contrition . In 1 S 40 , when dared to appear in Birmingham , I went single-handed to the great meeting in the Town Hall , and dissolved the Council In 1839 , when a revolution had broken out in
To The Old Guakds. Faithful Friends And ...
Birmingham , when I was safe at Rochdale , and due the next day at Blackburn , I asked permission ofthe _meeting to allow me fo return to the scene of danger , and I started after the meeting—travelled through the whole night-drove with Dr M'Douall to the gaol of Warwick through the drunken and infuriated yeomanry cavalry—would not leave the gaol till I had my prisoner liberated , and in the dead of night drove back again with him to Birmingham .
In 1842 , when the Free Traders hired my countrymen to kili me in Manchester , knowing the danger , I went alone to the meeting , and after tke triumph of ruffianism on the first night , and after Sir Charles Shaw , the commandant of the police , had called upon me to tell mehe wouldholdmeresponsiblefor the peace ofthe town , we had printers up all night announcing our determination to hold a meeting
in the same place on the following night , and def y ing- our opponents _^ and , although , the money of the _.-sLeague was profusely spent , and although the Irish in Manchester were maddened b y placards posted in every part of the town , inviting them to come and defend O'Connell against his enemies , I refused all protection , and went single handed to that meeting , and our resolution intimidated the
assassins . In 1842 , when the revolution raged , I was amongst you in Manchester—the last to desert you—and defended our position for eight days in Lancashire . In 1842 I fought the battle of _Nottingham with you . Jn 1842 , 1 faced the . Town Hall of Birmingham , full of Freetrade ruffians ; and , although nine of them sought to assassinate me , I defended your cause against the enemv .
"Well , I have fought your battle twice in the Court-house of Yark , once in Liverpool , once at Lancaster , and twice in the Queen ' s Bench . I have endured sixteen months' solitary confinement in the condemned cell at York ; and these things I mention , Old Guards , in order to qualify myself for tendering you advice in the present state of affairs . Now , what is really the question at issue between theFrench _' peopleand theFrench crown ?
It is not a question of parliamentary reform , but itis whether or not men shallhave the power of meeting tagether and discussing their grievances . And always bear the one GREAT FACT in mind , that the only superiority that your constitution possesses over all others is , that we have the power to meet , and that having the power to meet , by our courage we have destroyed the oppressors' power to prosecute if we express sentiments at variance frith his will .
See the conclusion that I draw from this GREAT FACT . It-is that—with this guaranteed right—this right defended , protected , and upheld by our courage and our sufferingyou are the framers , the perpetuators , of every single grievance of which you complain ; inasmuch as a simultaneous move upon the part of the whole people must inevitably and irresistibly crush the power of the oppressor . This is the right which I have ever sought to preserve inviolate ; the right which Abinger attempted to destroy and which Graham attempted to place in the keeping of the police . Well now , this is the real right—the initiative privilege—for which the French people
are contending ; presuming , and naturally , that all other legitimate rights will spring from this great source . But , see how the French despot can quote English precedent for his bloody attack upon those from whose sweat the pauper monarch has amassed millions nf treasure . Sixty of those banquets were allowed to establish the right—but the crowning banquetthe appearance of the provincial actors upon the Metropolitan stage was prevented—precisely as the Clontarf meeting , which was intended as the crowning monster of the provincial gatherings , was prevented by Whig brute force in Dublin . That false step upon the part of the Irish leaders gave the first check to Repeal , as the cowardice ofthe French leaders threatens to
mar the prospects ofthe French Democracy . It is useless to talk to me of their prudence . If submission was necessary , their presence was indispensable to insure it ; if vigour was required , their presence was indispensable to enforce it ; if danger was apprehended , their presence was indispensable to share it . But they have secured a change of Ministry , —a transfer of power from" glutted to needy officials—while , by their resolution , their courage , _Jand presence , they might have secured the Charter ofthe People ' s Rights .
Old Guards , that ' s just what they don ' t require ; and you , who have so long placed implicit confidence in your General , believe him , when he tells you that the Labourer alone can justly represent the rights of Labour . And , however we may yet he able to eke good out of this cowardiee and imbecility of . the French opposition , and however we may , and do , sympathise with the " Fustian Jackets , the Blistered Hands , and Unshorn Chins , " who have been the sufferers in this contest , let me beg of you , let me implore of you , and beseech you , not to allow any foreign question—however its results may enlist your sympathies—to operate on our great domestic movements .
When the struggle between pure Democracy and Despotism shall take place in France , then we will not be slow to communicate our sympathy for the stragglers : but I tell you that as long as I live , the Charter and the Land shall never be lost sight of , nor placed in abeyance by any foreign excitement or movement , however we may use events for the furtherance of those great objects . Old Guards , the mind of England is now astir—and although mine is absorbed in the
consideration of those means b y which I can insure happy homes , and protection for allthe release of women from slave labour , and the release of little children from the abodes of pestilence , disease , immorality , and death—yet if a greater sphere of action should open upon us , I pledge myself that I shall not be found backward in moulding passing events to future advantage . I am , Old Guards , Your faithful General , Feargus O'Connor .
Mp National Trades' Journal. *^**^T M * ...
MP NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL . _*^**^ _T * _Ml _^ _' _** _* _^*^*^^ _y _»** _"MW _^> i _^^ _^ _B _^ _^ , _l _^^ _, _M _^ _, _^ _^^^ _, _^^^| _^^ _» _MMWWMM _GgaMl _i _^ _MM _^ _^^ VOL- XL No 540 . LONDON , SATURDAY , FEBRUARY _^ _TftS _^ " _^ _^ _^^^^ * _™ ' J _- _^^ v _^» _nve §! iilliug * ami Sixpence per Quarter
Uauukksmith —A Meeting Will Be Held On S...
_Uauukksmith —A meeting will be held on Sunday morning next , Februarv 27 , at ten o ' clock in the _torenaon , to discuss _xhe principles of the New Land Company , at the D strict Office , 2 , Little Vale-place , Subscriptions for the O'Connor Beat defence . —Books are open at the above house . Tower Hamlets —Mr Wm . IKxon will lecture at the Whittington and Cat , Church-row , Bethnalgreen , on Sunday evening , at eight o'clock , precisely . Somers Town . —Mr Thomas Clark will lecture on Sunday _evening next , at the Bricklayer ' s Arms . _Tonbridt'e- ' -treet _, _Ntw-road—Subject : How to _Rijjht the _WroBss cf the Working Classes- ' To commence at eight o'clock . The Northers Star and VF . ees-. lt Expbess are taken in at the above house .
South London Chartist Hall—Mr 0 Bnen will _kcture in the above hall , on Sunday _evenintc next , at _eigUt o'clock . Subject * . — ' The French Revolution / The friends of democracy are respectfully invited to attend . _National Regibwatiox asd Cektral Election CoMimrBE . —Ths next meeting of tbo committee will be held at the _Assembly It _) 0 m 3 . ' . &} , Dean-street , _Sofco , on Tuesday evening next , Feb . the 29 th , at ei _ytt o'clock precisely . The National Victim Committee will meet at the same time and place .
_SoiTii Lokdok Chartist Hall , _llo _. IBiackfnar _sroad . —A meeting ofthe members and friends of ihe Land Company will beheld m Sunday evening next , February 27 tb , at six o'clock precisely .
To «W. S.," Who Writes A Letter To The E...
TO « W . S ., " Who writes a Letter to the Editor of the Weekly Register , an Edinburgh Paper , and whom I shall take the Liberty , from his Initials , of christening " Wolly Scribble . "
To «W. S.," Who Writes A Letter To The E...
Dear Woll y , — I thought that the example made of your clansman , " W . C , " would have saved you and others from his fate . However , Wolly , if you will be drowned , and nobody shall help you , you shall be drowned . "With more justice than my opponents observe towards me , I give your production at full length , together with the editorial introduction , in which I am announced as an impracticable man—that is , not a practical agriculturist—althou gh I have devoted the major part of my life to the pursuit _' of agriculture ; attending to its varied operations from six
_q ' ciocK m the _raorningijSl six at night , when re ' ngth ' of _dayperinittedi . _and working myself as hard as any man . _Irf-the editorial introduction , the writer very fairly gives to Mr Carroll , the editor of the _Farmers Gazette , that high character for practical knowledge which he so eminently _desertfiS j having obtained the . warm . Spp _^ dhation _^ o _^^ _Sjir Lindley , a very scientific agriculturist . Thus , "Wolly , you are dealing with the extravagances of Mr Carroll , Dr Lindley , and Mr Quin _, who gave his evidence before the Land Commission , and not with the extravagancies of Feargus O'Connor . However , here follows your letter , and its editorial introduction —
Mr F. 0'Cosnor And His Three Acre Liting...
MR F . 0 'COSNOR AND HIS THREE ACRE LITINGS . In last Miecillant we published a statement by Mr O'Connor , with calculations , designed to show that three acres of land are amply sufficient for the _subsistence of a man and his family . We would certainly have placed small reliance on Mr O'Connor ' s own authority , he not being a practical man ; but then he gave his estimates at length , and he was backed b y the editor of the Dublin F *» H » kb * Gazette , who is a shrewd working farmer , and who has obtained the warm approbation of Dr Lindley . The following letter is deroted to a refutation of Mr O'Connor ' s calculations .. Wo are not aware whether the writer has made any allowance for the superior results of _snade labour ; we beliere tliat it it upon these that Mr Carroll , of the Gazette , founds his imprimatur . * Certainl . v , if the allegation is erroneous , the sooner it is exploded the better , for in Mr _O'Ooanor ' s hands it is not a mere _theory , but an actual practice , which is settling down crowds every year on such holdings as those .
TO THE EDITOR OF THE WEEKLY BEOI 8 TEE . Sir , —In the _supplement to the Weekly Register , I observe an article , quoted from the Dublin Fabhers ' Gazette , headed ' What may be done with three Acres of Land . ' A statement follows , written by no less a . personage than Mr Feargus O'Connor , M . P ., being an answer to * request made to him by a person in Ply . mouth , desiring information on that subject . I cannot help warning him . or any other , not to be led away by itotherwisehe will , likeSir Marmaduke Travers , in the O'Donohue , or Martin Cbuzzlewie in Eden , be victimised . If Mr O'Connor is no better legislator than agriculturist , his constituents will have no reason to brag of their _repreBentative .. It may be deemed audacious in a humble farmer to _gainsay what a member of Parliament has surmised : but' itis my arocation Hal ' , and as the public are
challenged to _answerjhis letter , itis their duty to try and prevent such a letter being ; again foisted upon them . The _queriest _atks how it is possible for an occupant to live and pay rent upon four acres ?—and he is told by the M . P . that three is more than sufficient for a family to live upon , and make a forume . He _sajs that his statement is one which the most ignorant could desire ; that is almost the only part of it thatis correct ; because those only who are ignorant wUl receive such for truth . First , he gives us the _praduce of one acre ef potatoes ; fifteen tons per acre ; even with good land and a good climate , and an Irish acre , that is one third above nn average crop . Kext , 200 stones of wheatfrom one acre . What an Irish stone is I _kuow not ; but , from the price he puts upoa it _, itmuEtbefully one-fifth above the average , or £ 3 per acre . The half is for family use ; from the third acre two and a half roods are employed in growing green crops—and , at a distance from a vegetable market town , it is better to give them-to stock , for which I shaUallow
£ 10 that it at the rate of t'lfl per acre , and double the value of the best acre of turnips in Scotland , and equal to a good grazing . Half a rood of flax , spun , worth £ 12 10 s . at his estimate , and one rood of garden ground worth £ Zhe calls it £ 5 . The manner in which he disposes of the crop is by giving to two cows one and a half stones of potatoes per day , front November till March , wbich even in . the Green Isle , is two months before tbey can have gra 6 _s , or winter-sown tares ; and he does not reflect that cows in general do not give milk for more than ten months of the year . Instead of the farmer keeping six pigs , he cannot keep more than four—two of these to be sold at his own valuation , will be worth £ 10 ; two he allows for family use . Those pigs are to be allowed two stones of potatoes per day from November to March , so that the cows and pigs will eat up about nine tons of potatoes , leaving only one ton to feed the famiiy by my estimate . Now , having given the _explanatioa , I shall make up my statement of the produce : —
peoduce of thbee acbks . Acre of potatoes , and two and a half rood * green crop , to be converted into the milk of two cows , viz ., sixteen quarts per day at & s . d , I _^ d ., for ten months .. .. ., 30 0 d One acre of wheat , half of which is equal to 6 0 0 Two bacon pigs in March .. ., .. 10 0 0 _Quaiter of an acre of flax , spun by the family 12 10 o Vegetables from garden .. .. .. 3 0 fl 61 ie c Annual Expenditure ,, ,, 49 ie C 12 0 0 Rates , taxes , and rent .. ' .. £ 1810 0 Two tons of hay at £ _i .. .. 8 0 0 Clothing man , wife , and three chil . dren .. .. .. .. 15 0 0 Fuel , soap , and candles .. .. 8 0 0 Repairing implements .. .. 10 0 Four pigs in May .. .. .. 4 0 0 £ 49 10 0
Now , instead of £ 14 remaining , as he says , all that the poor farmer has left is £ l ? , for seed to sow and plant the ground , which is a considerable item , edscate his family , keep up bouses and fences , the loss of stock , and some _, times , as lately , the whole crop . In the sequel , Mr O'Connor says— ' Well , all the riches he has in the world , and payment of interest for his capital , & c _, all come out of these men ' s labour , ' without _havingtaken any notice , in Hie account of expenditure , of any _moneyhaving been given to those men ; and he concludes this misrepresentation of his with these words , ' How ridiculous for those te think of talking about the land tbat know no more about it than the crow that flies over it . ' Truly , if these are the ideas entertained by the aristocracy Of Ireland in general , can it be wondered at that the poor people are discontented and driven to desperation ? Edinburgh , Jan . 31 , 1848 . W . S .
Now , dear Wolly , if it was not for the deep and sincere interest I take in the well-being of all who have committed their fate to my keeping , I should treat your effusion as the ravings of a lunatic , the devices of a hypocrite , or the conjectures of a fool . However , as you have rushed into print , and as I am always able to deal with those who give me figures instead of sentiments to grapple with , I will take your figures , and from the result produced by them I will deduce the altered condition of the working man . Firstly , —I will take your table of profit , set down at 611 . 10 s ., and then I will take your table of expenditure , and from it deduce the results to be realised even from your own showing , allowing that the calculation stopped there . Your expenditure is as follows *—
£ s . d . Kates , Taxes and Rent 13 10 0 Two Tons of nay at £ t 8 0 ft Repairing Implements 10 0 Four Pigs , in May 4 0 0 £ 25 10 0
Now , I have left out the 15 ? . for clothing man , wife , and three children ; and I have left out 8 _f . for fuel , soap , and candles , because those items belong to the general account of a poor man ' s expenditure ; and I am adopting your table of profit and loss , the difference constituting the amount which the poor man has to rel y upon , whether expended in articles of clothing , fuel , soap , and candles ; and I am going to show , from your own table , what he has to live upon , expend it as he may ;—„ „ £ s . d . Your Profit , then , is .. ., .. 61 10 0 And your Expenditure .. " * ** 26 10 Q
leaving , upon your Calculation .. 35 o o over and above the highest figure of expenditure , for 157 days' work . Now , Wolly , if youare an arithmetician , and if you will multi ply 35 / . b y 20 to bring it into shillings , it will give you 700 shillings ; and if you divide the 700 by 157 , the number of days work , it will leave ! you within a fraction of
4 s . 6 d . per day , or 27 s . per week , out of which the labourer has not to pay rent , rate ? , or taxes , or the repair of agricultural implements : whereas , Wolly , under the present system , the agricultural labourers of England have to pay rent , rates , and taxes , to find implements , and to live upon ten shillings a week ; and right joyous and thankful will he be if he can get four days work ia the week throughout the year ,
Now , my friend , I might stop my calculation here , as the controversy is wholly and entirely between your own figures , as stated in your tables , but the whole result iB not given from your incidental calculations , as I will now show . For instance , in your table of profit you hare deducted half an acre of wheat , 61 , for the use of the family ; and you have deducted two bacon pigg from the larder , because in your table of expenditure vnn _oh-Arirp , me with
four _pi _ffs bought in May , and you give me credit hut for two sold ; and now , Wolly , according to Cocker , two bacon pigs at 10 _/ ., are just equal to two other bacon pigs at 10 Z . ; so that in the two admitted items , of Ol . for half an acre of wheat , allowing the other half for _consumption of famil y—for there is an acre of wheat , and you allow but half an acre—and the 10 ? . for the two pigs with which you charge me , will make 161 , which 16 / . added to 351 . in
your own table , Wolly , will make 517 . for 157 days' labour , or nearl y 6 s . 8 d . a day , or 21 . a week , and exclusive of rent , rates , and taxes , and agricultural implements , Wolly . Now , Wolly , I will still refer to your desultory statistics , and I will adopt your production of potatoes at ten tons , instead of fifteen j and after giving the nine tons to cows and pigs , you allow the remaining ton for the use of " the family—and that remaining ton at 4 d . per stone , will amount to % l . 13 s . 4 d ., thus leaving the husbandman 53 ? 13 s . 4 d . for his 157 days ' work—always buttering the cake on hoth
sides , Wolly . x' _; _. Now , Wolly , we will go on by degrees , and I ask the reader to refer , sentence by sentence , to your written statistics , and to use them , and themonly , as proof of the _deductionsihat I draw from them . We have , then , disposed of the two first items , potatoes and wheat , adopting your own amount of produce , application , and price , in both cases . We next come to the 2 roods employed in growing green crops , and there , also , I sink my own calculation , and adopt yours ; and , funny enough , Wolly , you
who profess to be a practical agriculturist , would estimate the value of three crops , produced by spade labour , of the most valuable and seasonable produce , by the standard value of one crop of turnips , the very most unprofitable of all crops . And , Wolly , you forgot that in estimating the value of these 2 _|| roods , I allowed seventy days'labour , or nearly the one-half of the whole , to be expended upon that quantity of ground , while you appear to forget that it is not the land , but the labour that is applied to it , which yields its multiplied fruits .
Now , Wolly , there are 4 , 840 square yards in an acre—and , consequently , 2420 in half an acre ; and in a half rood 605 . That is , in round numbers , in 2 _£ roods there are 3 , 000 square yards . Now , Wolly , allowing one cabbage to a square yard , and that cabbage to be worth but one penny for feeding purposes , when it arrives at its full growth , you have 12 / . 10 s . for that one crop alone , whereas I allow too much ground , and you will have three crops . The flax we are agreed upon .
The garden vegetables and fruit you reduce from 5 / . to 3 / ., and we shan't quarrel about that . Then , Wolly , you are in a puzzle ahout the means of sustaining the cows from March till May , relying , as you do , upoR winter vetches for that season ; while , Woll you appear to forget things called carrots , parsnips , cabbages , Swede turnips , hay , and straw . Now , don ' t you think that all those eatables come in good season , from March till May , and that any one of them is much preferable to a mouthful of tares ?
But , Wolly , let us see what I do allow for the support of two cows for the year . Here is the table : —Two tons of potatoes ; two tons of hay ; an acre ot wheat straw , if necessary ; and the produce of nearly an acre cropped three' times _^—as you appear to forget the clover , which succeeds the flax , in your calculation of produce . Now , Wolly , not to run into extremities , let us see , in gross numbers , the quantity of land that 1 assign fer the support of two cows , and we w . iil sink the labour applied to it altogether . An Acre must be _gaod to produce Two Tone of Hay .. .. .. .. .. 1 Acre _otraw .. .. .. _.. .. i ,, Roots , cultivated in the best way , with Clover after Flax .. .. .. .. | „ Potatoes , Two Tons nearly , by your calculation $ „ S Acres " _mstBxsa
_CBa Now , Wolly , there is the produce of an acre of the best hay , drawn to the farm to enrich it , and for which I ullow 4 l . a ton , instead of 3 / . ; so that you see , with all the labour , I assign the produce of three acres to the keeping of two cows , quite enough to maintain them in grass without any labour at all ; while Cobbett has proved that a quarter of an acre , with a sufficiency of labour , is quite sufficient for a cow . Thus showing that three acres will maintain twelve cows—and if two cows realise a profit of 30 / ., twelve will renlise a profit of 180 / . But , Wolly , I prefer dealing with the rudest system of agriculture in the first instance .
Now , let me give you a table that I have this moment received from a practical agriculturist , of the amount of food allowed by the largest dairyman in the neighbourhood of London for the maintenance of his cows during the winter ; and the average value of his _^ stock is from 18 / . to 36 / . per head , —while my calculation is made for a smaller breed—while , by his table , 3 _* ou will see he does not allow as much food as I do . One of the largest cowkeepers in the neighbourhood of London allows his cows for winter food . —¦ One Truss of Hay *) n . One Bushel of Roots ] Betweea Three Cows .
The weight of hay , 56 lbs . and roots , 60 lbs ., making 116 lbs , per day , or about 3 Qlbs . each ; being a little over 9 . 1 stone each . The _^ cows are of the very largest breed , and cost generally from 18 / . to 36 / . per head . Now , Wolly , from one of your items , namely , the milk produced by two cows , you have got into a sad blunder . You were not aware of my mode of calculating the produce of a cow ; and in order to knock 6 / . 10 s . off the price ofthe milk , you estimate their milk at 16 quarts a day for ten months—tbat is , from May till Febraary _. _Jboth inclusive / " while I made my calculation from May . till October , both inclusive , at 32 quarts a dayor _'Gquarts acow
, , allowing them to be wholly dry from October _tijj May , thus estimating the produce of the year in months—to make the calculation more simple , as 16 quarts a day for twelve months , is exactly equal to 32 quarts a ' day for six months ; while I would like to see your two cows _^ that are to give 16 quarts in February , when they should be dry , as we calculate upon their calving in May . However , as I don ' t think you know whether a cow gives milk from her udder or her horns , and as your calculation was made for the mere purpose of knocking off the Gl . 10 s ., I make vou a present of the deduction ; and now , Wolly , adopting every one of your calculations from beginning
to end—even taking the 15 / , for clothing , and 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles , I will make a table of your own fi gures . You allow profit , then upon £ 8 . d . _TK-157 days'Labour .. ., .. 12 0 0 Half an Acre of Wheat .. .. .. 6 0 0 Two Bacon Pigs .. .. ¦ .. .. 10 0 0 Ono Ton of Potatoes .. .. .. 2 13 4
Matinjr a Total of .. ; .. £ . 30 13 i Now , Wolly , multiply that by 20 , and you have 613 s . 4 d ., and divid e that b y 157 day * labour , and you have within a fraction of 4 s . a day , or 24 s . a week , without any allowance for rent , rates , taxes , fuel , soap , candles , agricultural implements , while , my sweet Wolly , you haVA omitted the honey and the ducks .
Now , Wolly , 24 s . for half the year is equal to 12 s . for the whole yearv '; " so that , you see from half a year ' s labour—and 157 days _, are more than half fhe . working year—you ? agriculturist may _^ emairijdlejfor me half the year , have 12 s . a week for the whole year , after paying rent , rates , and taxes , spending 23 / . upon clothes , fuel , soap , and candles ; a pound for implements ; 8 / . worth of hay drawn to the farm , with that added to his manure ; and , "Woll y , the grand item that you have omitted is , the annual permanent income derived from the improved state of his farm , which constitutes his Savings Bank , returning him compound interest for every drop o f sweat he spends , while you have knocked the wind out of two of my pigs altogether .
Wolly , I have put down rent , rates , and taxes at 13 / . 10 s ., whereas 10 / . would be nearer the mark . J have put down hay at 4 / . a ton , while I am buying it at 3 / . ; and I have allowed seventy days' labour ofa man and liis family to be expended upon one acre of ground , while I have taken the produce at the lowest amount , and the lowest price ; and after all your deductions , Wolly , you have arrived at the coEclusion that a man can earn within a fraction of 24 s . a week ; 13 / . 10 s . for rent , iates , and taxes ; 15 / . for clothing ; 8 / . for fuel , soap , and candles ; 8 / . for hay , and 1 / . for
implements . And now , Wolly , the thing that puzzles me . is , how a Northern could be such an ass 'for there are your figures , —there areyourcalculations—there are your results , — and , henceforth , you must do battle with your own ghosts—and very substantial ones they are—but when next you write , for the honour ofyour country , don t publish your figures in a Scotch Newspaper . 1 remain , dear Woll y , Your very thankful and obliged Servant , Feargus O'Connor .
V C _Wnll . r r . _™ l , _n ... „ .. „! l .. I mnl . _« „ P . S . — Wolly , see how easily I make a month ' s wages of an agricultural labourer at 10 s . a week , out of an item of which I have made no mention—namely , two calves at 1 / . a head , 2 / . Wolly , these were animals which I should not have forgotten while you were in question , and , therefore , I ask your pardon . F .. _O'C
Ar00106
To Poor Tom Bailey. Pook Tom, — Having D...
TO POOR TOM BAILEY . Pook Tom , — Having disposed of the " . Scribbler , " I now turn to you for a bit , as you went to the expense of sending an inquisitor to Lowbands , and have , as I understand , published his discoveries . Tom , I have not read his lucubrations , ventilated through your puzzle-pate , but I assure you he afforded the sensible allottees a good deal of amusement at your
expense , when they discovered , from your ' Mercury' thatthe " fule" —as the Scotch call a fellow without brains—was sent by you . Me went to a manjwho was digging , and asked ' If he always dug with that end of the spade , ' and If digging didn ' t hurt hisfoot . ' He saw one man digging a drain , and asked him ' If there was a death in his famil y , as he thought he was digging a grave . He saw another man putting pipes into a drain , aad asked him If that was the way thoy planted carrots . '
Now , Tom , such is the qualification of your land commissioner , and , as one fact is worth a ship-load ofthe ravings of such noodles , allow me to describe the forlorn situation and disappointment of my dupes . Tom , on Sunday fortni ght two men waited upon me ; the one a Mr Parker , from Birmingham , the other Mr Wallis , a two acre occupant from Lowbands : the object of their visit was to conclude a bargain for the purchase of _Wallis _' s allotment , by Parker . The stipulated price was 40 / . 1 give names , Tom , and now I will give you , not the substance of our conversation , but the conversation itself , verbatim .
Mr 0 Connor . — Wallis , why do you sell ? Is your wife dissatisfied ? or doe 9 the place disagree with your family r Wallis . —No , sir for three years before we came to Lowbands my wife never enjoyed good health , and now she is healthy and happy . My three children were poorly , and one I feared would lose the use of her sight , but now they are all well ; and we are all grieved to the heart at the thoughts of leaving . Mr O ' Connor . —Then why do you leave ? Wallis . —Because , having purchased and not being entitled to the loan , and having given all my spare capital for the allotment , I am not able to go on with the work as I could wish .
Mr O ' Connor . —Well now , Wallis , how much money wquld place you in a situation to make 3 ' ou comfortable , and induce you to reject the 401 . ? Wallis . —Why , sir , if I had 10 / . to go on with , I would not take 100 / . for it . Mr O'Connor . — -Wallis , I'll test your sincerity , as your love for the land , and your wife ' s and children ' s attachment to it , makes me grieve at the thought of your losing it ; and as you are not entitled to the loan , and as , by the wheel of fortune and by my own frugality , I have a 10 / . note above the worldyou shall have it from me , but not from the Company—I ask no security beyond your industry and excellent character . Now choose between my 10 / . or Mr Parker's 40 / .
Wallis . —God biess you , sir , and thank you . I wouldn ' t take 100 / . now ; and won ' t my wife and children jump with joy , as her family are highly respectable , but wouldn't assist me because they are opposed to the Land Plan . Mr Parker . — -Well , sir , I assure you , although I have had my journey / or nothing , I am very glad it has ended so . Mr O'Connor . —Well , Parker , Ilike _bothjyour look and your zeal in the cause , and go to Aclam , a four acre allottee at Lowbands ; 1 have a commission to sell his allotment , and come to me if you can agree .
Well , Tom ; on Sunday last—yea , Sunday ; for , God forgive me ! even my Sundays are devoted to the cause of the poor—Mr Parker again called upon me , and told me that he had agreed witli Aclam for the purchase of his allotment , and that the price was 160 / ., whicii he came to pay me , I replied , that 1 was only Adam ' s agent , and that , unless he was present , 1 would not undertake to ratify any agreement on his behalf , and that he should go for Aclam . He went , and in due time returned , accompanied by Aclam ; and now , Tom , you shall have our conversation verbatim : —
Mr O'Connor . —Aclam , I didn ' t feel justified in ratifying any agreement between you and Mr Parker . Are you a willing seller ? and
To Poor Tom Bailey. Pook Tom, — Having D...
are you prepared to receive the money and transfer your allotment ? Mr Aclam—Well , sir , the whole way here something has been pulling at my skirts and cautioning me not to sell , and my son is wild about the place . It doesn't agree with my wife or daughter ; but I had rather be at any
expense to make them comfortable and well , than part with the land ; so I'll let them go to Barnsley till the weather gets fine , and then I know they'll be g lad to come back . Mr O'Connor .--Well , Parker , you must excuse me ; but I am glad you have been disappointed a second time . And now what I shall tell every allottee who feels inclined to sell is , that when May-day comes they ' ll sit before their smoky door , in the town or village , and sorrow over their lost territory .
Mr Parker . —Oh . sir , I like to see the men so wedded to it . This is two journeys I ' ve had , and now , I _suppose , I _, must wait for my chance in the ballot . Mr Aclam . —Well , Mr Parker , I think its very unfair that you should be put to this expense for nothing , so I'll pay you your expenses here and back , as I have changed my mind , and I would ' nt take any money you could offer me for mv allotment now .
Mr O Connor . —Well , Parker , as I am afraid I have stood in your way in both bargains , and as you appear so good tempered about it , and so determined to be duped , I'll sell you my allotment that adjoins _Aclami _* . . There is nt a house _upowit » -and there nas ' ni- been a penny expende'd _.-iunbBvit _^ so y _^ L _^ _jfM _^^ take ; . care of _NnnSfer , One _^ vsmfl _gXv & Mli forjt . I was offoi'eu lOO _^ vou _^ shall -hWit fdf 80 l ., and tfi _« _95 _/ j _pi'oflt _^ at _/^ rri _^& e ; _Isti ' _dM pace in the Bank _' to the credit * or tiie man I bought it from , so that the poor fellow , in these bad times , wiH have a jump when he receives his additional 35 / .
Mr Parker .-Well , I'll take it ; and I'll pay down fort y sovereigns , and I'll come next week with the balance . Now , Tom , on Tuesday morning the man from whom I bought the allotment , received an acknowledgment from the manager for 35 / ., paid to his credit ; and , Tom , don't you think that that 35 / . would be a better item to cover a deficiency to tbat amount in the balance sheet , than more "Tripps , " more " Goatmans , " or more " Bolders . '
Now , Tom , mark ; the man who sold to Wallis might have had 60 * ? . for his 21 . 12 s . 4 d . in May next ; Aclam might have } had , after paying the Directors , 130 / . for his 51 . 4 s . ; for mind , Tom , the purchaser pays for outgoings , acts of husbandry , and seed , and pays for all the implements * this covers labour—and the dupe who sold to me , has received 80 / ., without a farthing of deduction , for his 51 . 4 s . Well , Tom , you . shall have another dose , and you see I give names , My old squire , Mr
Lee , has four acres at Lowbands . He has two sons , both able to work , and willing , which is better ; and there are not three more noble _, more valuable , more industrious men in Europe . I asked him what he would take for his four acre allotment , and you shall have his answer . He said— "Well , there ' s no use asking me , for 1 wouldn ' t take any money . The cotton trade in Manchester is gone , and my money would only be melting ; besides , we are all so happy and independent here . Come aad see my cow . ' '
Mr O'Connor . —Well , but Lee , surely you would sell if you were tempted , wouldn't you take 400 / ., and be paid for your outgoings ? lee . —No , that I wouldn't ; and I tell you there ' s no use offering anything , as I wouldn't part with it ever so . Now , Tom , from this you will learn that when one channel was closed against Lee , I opened another channel for him ; but now , Tom , 1 have the money test to-give
you-Mr Reay , who purchased his allotment , has been occasionally employed by meatlZ . a-week - His business latterly has been to see to the proper loading of the bricks at the wharf ; and on Saturday week , he came to me to resign that easy job at 1 / - _a-week , saying that he must work for himself on his land . Now , Tom , when your friends next visit Lowbands , tell them to inquire for Mr Reay ' s house , and I will undertake to pledge myself that there is not a neater habitation in Europe , and that he will see such a man , such a woman , and five such lovely children—I offered him 1000 / . for one—as he will not see in one case in a
hundred thousand in this kingdom . I think , Tom , even your hard heart—and 1 am told its very flinty towards the poor—would soften if yoa saw that family . Well , Tom , now we will go to the knife and fork . I have an Irish Orangeman—a four acre child—his name is Addison ; he was a block-printer out of work , and consequently out offood , when he came to me . He said to
me , on Monday week , as I was measuring the drains for tiles , " Daddy , come in here and see my portraits / ' I went in , and he showed me ' Frost / ' that was a large gammon of bacon . "There ' s Duncombe / ' says he , pointing to a flitch , and " there ' s Feargus , " pointing to a ham . Well , I thought they were capital portraits / and realised critically the objects of the Charter .
Now , Tom , this man was a , block-printer , and I am told that your commissioner was struck with the incapacity of my children . And now , I'll tell vou what I'll do with you ; I'll bet you £ 100 that thirty of the newlycreated agriculturists at Lowbands , shall do a day ' s work with any thirty agricultural labourers in the neighbourhood . Well , Tom , we'll go on . It was a very wet day when I was measuring the drains , and I was obliged to take shelter in the house of Mr Kershaw ; and not having breakfasted , _| I began to feel hungry . He treated me to some rashers from one of his portraits , and some eggs from his hens , and a mug of water frora his pump , and I never partook of a more
delicious meal . But , Tom , that ' s not the most interesting part of my visit to Kershaw . He had his aged father and mother living with him , Tom ; and , still more , Tom , to prove how impossible it is for tyranny to eradicate the true feelings of generosity from the hearts of the truly good , this excellent young man , and this excellent old couple , had a child of ten or eleven years old—an orphan , Tom , who had lost her parents , but no relation whatever—and , Tom , go and look at that child , and tell me if you ever saw a straighter , more healthy looking , more beautiful , or more neatly attired girl in your life . Thus , you see , Tom , I have opened Nature ' s pores for one class , and I have rewarded those who have struggled , from natural g oodness , against most unnatural circumstances .
Now , Tom , I take my leave for the present , with a bit of advice . Stick to the goose-quill , it ' s the fitting instrument for a goose : and be satisfied when you see a leg of mutton and turnips , without asking whether they grow upon trees , or are produced by labour . Yours , dear Tom , as ever , and for ever , Feargus O'Connor .
Halifax.—A District Delegate Meeting Wil...
Halifax . —A district delegate meeting will bs held in the Working Man ' s Hall , on Sunday , Feb . 27 th , at twelve o ' eleck at noon , when _Elland , \ Varley , _Midgley . Q , _acenshead , Bradska _* ff-bue . and Hallfox are requested to send delegate . " , 83 a delegate will be elected to represent the district in the West Riding Delegate Meeting , to be held at Wakefield . _RlLSiew-A general meeting of tie Charters of Bilston is Appointed to ba held . tt Air Jos . Linney a , Malt Shovel Inn , New Town , _B-fcton , on Sunday evening next , February 27 th , when a _]«*»« " « be delivered by Mr Iiuley , of Dudley , on Ihe 1 eopie ' s Charier aud _Clitics in gerund . ' C hair to be taken at half-oast six o ' clock in the
_evening-Lwbh . —Ou Monday next , _MDrnaty * oju _, » _u James Leach ! of _Manohe _^ cr , will deliver a tactnre in tho Folly Field Chapel . Ch .. ir eight o ' clock in tbe evening . _toosii _Oo-owBATiva _Bus-nx John Arnott hue been appointed ciety for tho district ol Somers attend at Mr Duddrid' » _tVsTonbx day and Monday evenings , from half-past eight o ' elock , to enrol Marylebone . —This branch will m _oyeiiing next , Feb . 27 vh , at 3 iso ' clo tb « Coach Painters' Arras , Circu 8 « i 0
To £* **%$£{ - , , £&?*£&. Sowmm*-' Agen...
to _£ * _** _%$£ { - , , _£ _&?* _£ _& _. SOWMM * _- _' agent _JN # » 8 fSte T _£ wn _^*^ , _% _idgMta'jfe _^ . qii _*? _Wj * t _' hal _&^ _apj _^ _evSirJp ' members " _^ . ; ' !/ X : _XJL | & et Onii S . _ffp . o _. _SJjr I _^ , _pKQifQly , 'i » $ . ] _streftfc ' _^'' _"• _•^ v "; V x _* * - — - ~ _X : _fxtMS _& . r _Socim _^ _fe _^ . \ ; _» ent _fr _& _$ if' % ,. _^ J _^) C _T 6 wn _^^^ _MW ; _. _MtaeWpn _^^ _v- _^ J f _** j ¦* _ubersti , ;>! X : _jXltUffl _^ _* tw * V _^ _f « _- _+ ' v "; _vV' } ¦ •?¦
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 26, 1848, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_26021848/page/1/
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