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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY.
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Mx Deab Fmesds, The old song says " that...
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THE SMALL PAUH SYSTEM OS THE COKTIXENT. ...
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*'- ;r IRELAND. NARRATIVE OF MALCOLM M'G...
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^ ¦ * ^ fc_ • ¦ -¦^^¦^f^H^. jr M I AND N...
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TO1LJX. NO. 47L LX)ND0^ SATURDA^T)CTOBl^...
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The Poet Burns.— 1 he Elgin Courant says...
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...-..-..„», v.- .u "ilvlHlcv, carrying ...
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LATER NEWS FROM IRELAND. An outbreak of ...
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PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT. A supplement ...
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The First Fog.—The lirst fog of the seas...
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of his allpK ra*j^&\»#g-, 'occupy?®«* , ...
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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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To The Members Of The Chartist Co-Operative Land Company.
TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND _COMPANY .
Mx Deab Fmesds, The Old Song Says " That...
Mx Deab Fmesds , The old song says " that misforfunes but seldom come single , 'tis plain , " so I presume , when you read tbe Star of this wee * , that yon will say that eood fortune has not come single . I am now about to answer some scores of most insolent offensive and impertinent letters that I Have recently received I about the purchase of land , and to not one of winch 1 bave replied , and not one of which has had any J UUf- - _** -j j - bluebottle
more effect upon me than the buzz of a - fly ; indeed , I often think that itis very fortunate for yon that I can bear so . ne mouths abuse without being raffled or driven into a course which the critics would be the loudest to condemn . I shall first explain my position to you with respect to the Company , and , without condescending to gratify or satisfy my impertinent correspondents , they , as well as von , " " ¦ I perhaps see the difference between purchasing land to let to a tenant as a safe investment
for tlie purchaser ' s money , and tlie purchase of land , EVERY ACRE OF WHICH I shall _consider " a safe investment for the poor man ' s labonr and j . _ i if I liad been more anxious to secure a £ 3 pl . ai- _¦—flan' _-erous popularity than to insure the certainty of frerr member ' s , success , my conduct might have teen more acceptable , until YOUR failure proved MY inefficiency , aud then , instead , of caMy hearing the taunts of fools , I _Jshould have bent under the weight of your just reproach and my own _consuming reflections .
Yen . my friends , will hear in mind that when oace a man is located upon his little estate , that he £ not a mere experimentalist , but that he has adopted his new profession upon confidence in my wisdom ana knowledge . And again , I tell you that no father who ever lived in this world ever had a Tacre tender solicitude for the success and comfort of ils _daldren than I have for the success and comfort _jf every member of the Chartist Co-operative LAND COMPANY' . It is very easy to keep continually fowling out BUT ! BUY !! BUY' ! 3
jut it is not so easy to find estates so circumstanced 25 to justify me in purchasing as other people pur-{ _iasc An estate of two hundred acres of varied _sjil may very well suit the purpose of a purchaser or a tenant , while the inequality and variety would _ensgader eternal strife , jealousy and animosity in our xante . _Xow , in Herringsgate farm I positively should not know which allotment to choose , and I nn commissioned to offer £ 30 , . £ 50 and _£ 70 for a firo , three , or four acre farm upon that estate 5 so with the one hundred and sixtv acres which I have
_jnii purchased . It is one of the most heavenly spots in creation , situated in Worcestershire , within nine miles of Gloucester , nine of Tewkesbury , less than fire from tbe thriving * market town of Ledbury , twelve of Cheltenham , within two of the Malvern Hills , and four miles and a half from a canal , and cast XS 100 ; the rent paid hy the former tenant , for _hrelre years , was £ 336 " a-year , or £ 2 2 s . an acre , 1 which will tell you whether the land is good or not ; my own opinion is , that this day two years it will be worth & an acre . The roads to it are
splendid , the country is heautifrl , it is well watered ; the very best stone is to he had within _les than two miles , all dressed and squared for builiung at Is . 6 d . per ton ; a ton of stone will do precisely as much as ' 200 * of bricks which " cost 8 s . lime is about half the price that it is at Herringsgate , sand , the best sand , is within a nr _' e and a half for nothing , and there is plenty of the hest material for naiing roads , and a vast quantity of excellent materials upon the farm . The labour in the parish is Ss . a week , I will certainly raise it to 10 s ., as the improvement of the labourer is part of our principle and thus you find that building will not be more than half the expense at Herringsgate , fjf so much , and the materials as good as any in the world .
Sow for the advantages of this Estate . "When we bought Herringsgate ihere was a large amount of crops in the ground , which compelled us to forego operations until they were reaped ; _andjsuch mnstjbe the casein ninety-nine out of every hundred farms fiat we hat , while upon _Lowbands and Applehurst _Earm , the one I have just purchased , there is not a grain of anything sowed , so that the whole land is at once convertible to our use . The possession is to _tegh-en on the 12 th of December , and then I set to ¦ fork , and no time will he lost in erecting the _btfdings , and doing all the necessary work . Now , _« _lai a _verv different situation this is to be in than
if I had purchased some low , unhealthy , or _mountainous aud inaccessible farm , or one for subdivision of _which we should have waited till September not , fill the crops were off . I have inspected _tnentr-sis farms before I met with one that entirely sated . If I had got the other farm in "Worcestershire for wbicb I bid , we could not bave had possesson aatil February nest , aud the laud was £ 60 an sere—this is better land , though the other was piaie , and is only £ 50 an acre . _Kow attend to the _•^ that I have inspected—one near Carlisle , a _" _amn . out of the way , had roads , and tenanted ;
one near Broughton , on the borders of Lincolnshire 2 nd Yorkshire , wild , out of the way , too dear , and tenanted- four in Kent , . - £ 70 an acre ; two at Bag-• _* - _*¦!« , a portion of one heath , eighty acres of the oilier heath ; one at Wokingham , miserably out of _OffldhioDj cropped , tenanted , and dear ; one iu Devonshire , on the top of a mountain ; two at Little _ih-ssenden , in Hertfordshire , tenanted , no water _, and had land ; Bonner ' s Farm , in Hertfordshire , all stones ; Marsh Gibbon , in Bucks , flooded , no mate--i _**!' * , no house , part common ; two near Ipswich , Suffolk , one- £ 70 an acre , the other £ 22 an acre , _$ _>*?! would not take at a gift ; Essex , Colliers Farm , at
_•^ _sihTclay ; another farm the river Blackwater , eighty acres of " slob , " with eternal stink , and tbe _inhahilants afflicted with ague ; Witney , near Oxford , 108 acres , sold by private contract before the ; _Action . With regard to this , I may observe , tbat I _Wsh the person who sent the advertisement had _fcM ihe notice ofthe sale which appeared in the following week ' s paper , but wbich he never sent . Bi ggs Farm , confused title ; Bowers Farm , Herts , tenanted , cropped , and one-fourth under beech _tirata ; Barnacles Farm , Worcestershire , in treaty with _a-oiaer before I heard of it , hid £ 500 over him , but ae proprietors under contract to sell .
_^ _ow then , in the blazing heat of summer , or in _•^ pelting rain " of autumn , I have dug every field - _**> 'hose several farms . I never will be drawn into so _^ _ich explanation again and , once for all , no living ° aa , or all the men in tbe worid , shell either dra-IWn me or force me to make a purchase that I _* oa ' t lie satisfied with through all time . 1 am not _Gily satisfied hut gratified with tbe present pur-Cuase » and for this reason—it is worth more to us **»¦» any other person living , aud Mr . Miles , of Bris-H bid £ 8 , 080 for it So I can ' t be much wrong _ftere was a mortgage of £ 7 , 500 upon it , and _mort-SPSees don ' t lend to the full amount , and , above all , _"Manse I was offered 9000 guineas for it after I _pur-^ ed it . I was verv near being late I returned
° - ° lue farm after having dug in several parts of £ ry field , and having ascertained every necessary _^ wrmaiion _, and wet up to my knees ; and the auca was going on as I entered the room ; and when *•**• at breakfast , after making the purchase , a _sait . eman , who supposed he would be in time , _ar-^ > late , ami offered 9000 . guineas . The niort-• * _*?¦« -who was obliged to sell , assured me , that , if I _** -- -li _* * posed to part with it , he would get me ten " _^ a _utf pounds . I shall now give you some _infor-T _^ u _upen a subject that I have always been try-. _? t ( - _iiistrut-t you upon—namely , the value of laud 10 , ue retail _market . " ' reason of the auction being hurried on at the " tC !» e hour stated was this : the same auctioneer
Mx Deab Fmesds, The Old Song Says " That...
had afterwards tosell thePrinknash-parkestate , in the same room , in sixty-six lots ; and now observe what I have to tell you . Those lots varied from less than a quarter of an acre to eighteen acres ; and for the most part , though inferior land , brought from £ 100 to £ 150 au acre . One lot of less than a quarter of an acre , was let for 15 s . a-year , and bought for £ 28 ; another lot of five acres was bought in at £ 075 . During the auction , I observed a labouringlooking man , with a long white greatcoat , occasionally bidding for a small allotment , in a fine loud tone , and amidst a good deal of laughter , aud I was
anxious to know his business . While I was getting ready to start by the train , he came down stairs , and I said , " Well , my man ; did you buy anything ?" " Yes , * ' said he * , " I bought an acre and a little hit . " "And what did you give ? " " £ 105 . " " Now , " I said , " what ' s your occupation ? " He answered , " At the time of Mr . Guise ' s election , about eighteen years ago , I was in service , and I purchased a bit of land with what money I had- " " Well , and how much have vou now ? " " Whv , I had six acres
before this hit ; and I always keep adding a bit to it . I gave £ 275 for three acres . " " Well , and what family have you ? " " Only my wife and a friendless child . I have no one to help me . I hire men to work . " " Well ; how much would you have bought lo-day if you had got it to your liking . " "Why , I'd buy £ 1000 worth . " "Why , have you got one thousand pounds saved after purchasing the land ? " " Yes ; I could manage that and a bit more too !"
Now , the reader may suppose this to be a Free Trader ' s steam-boat conversation ; but I asked more I asked him his name and his place of residence ; and his name is Henry Bolton , of Upton St . Leonards ; so that those who take the Star in that neighbourhood may ascertain the critical accuracy of every word I state ; and , besides the £ 105 , he has to pay his share of expense of making out title , and the whole expense of conveyance . Now , what will the growlers , who say that a man must starve upon two acres , say to that ? To this branch of my subject I have only to add , that hut for the bother created
by a few , perhaps non-subscribers , about making £ 1 , 350 by Carpender's farm , that I could have added £ 10 , 000 andmore to the capital of tkesociety _. if I had used my own judgment in buying land that would not suit us to sell again ; hut the peculiarity of my position is this , that I must not only satisfy the good men , hut I must avoid as much as possible dissatisfying fhe had ones . However , as the next piece of intelligence which I have to communicate is of much more importance than the purchase of 50 estates * I now announce for the consideration of the several constituencies , that thev may instruct their delegates ,
that at the next Confeience I shall ask for the power to use my own judgment to increase the capital of the company , by the purchase and sale of estates * 6 , 000 single shareholders pay £ 15 , 000 , and I would undertake to make £ 50 , 000 , and perhaps more , within the six years that it may take to locate a section . Of all the speculations that are now presented to the money grubber , there is no such speculation as the buying and selling of land ; and if a man has capital to buy in the wholesale market , and sell in the retail market , in less than six years lie
' will be a second Rothschild , and without a particle of risk . There ' s not a day in the year that I would not undertake to make my £ 100 . Now observe , there's an estate to be sold , a man who wants it bids £ 10 , 000—1 buy it for £ 10 , 100 ; he'll scratch his head , aud when he finds he ' s lost it , he will think no more of giving me a £ 100 or £ 500 for my bargain , than of walking out of the room . He pays the deposit instead of me , and the purchase is made in his name instead of mine . So tbat you see I have aiways some resource whenever I wish to turn money-grubber .
I now turn to the consideration of my second
subject—PROVISIONAL REGISTRATION OF THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY . The non-enrolment of our society hasheen another subject of great anxiety with the non-members , and if they were anxious for protection against me and the Directors , I assure you I was much more anxious for protection against them . You are not to suppose
that it was matter of light consideration to he obliged to publish every single act , and every single step taken by tbe directing body ; a thing that never was heard of before , hut of course rendered necessary by the lucubrations of ignorant inflated boobies , who were cunningenougb to remain out of sight , while they got their poor tools to fire their arrows . Application was made to the Attorney General to certify our rules for enrolment , as the new act required , but
which he refused . There was no course open then , hut the more stringent and expensive process of Registration . Determined to surround my offspring with all the protection that the law could afford , 1 , with the concurrence of the Directors , resolved upon furnishing that protection , and we are now provisionally registered as a Joint Stock Company , under the designation of
THE CHARTIST CO-OPERATIVE LAND COMPANY . The deed for complete enrolment is now before counsel for perfection , and when we obtain the licence for complete registration , wbich is tbe next step , the members and their property are much more stringently protected than they would be by enrolment . The enrolment punishes officers for fraud , hut registration not only punishes them for fraud , hut fines them £ 20 for the most trifling neglect of
duty . When the registration is complete , every member ' s name must be entered in the book containing the deed—the deed-hook is made up like a large account-hook , and every ten folios requires an additional stamp of £ 1—the book is to be open for the inspection , not only ofthe members , hut of the public , at office hours , and notice must he given of every fresh act or alteration in the rules to the proper authorities , and a balance sheet with the expenditure of the Society ' s funds , together with the receipts , must also he furnished to the same authorities , and any change of Directors , Trustees ,
Auditors , or other officers , must he duly notified . The solicitor to the Society is liable to a fine of £ 20 for every act of neglect , and therefore I have received notice this week from the solicitor not to publish the usual weekly places of meeting , until a correct list is furnished to him next week through the secretary , of which he can give proper notice , and then they may afterwards appear weekly in the Star . He must give notice of any purchase of land , and all properties belonging to the Society must be vested in the Trustees for the benefit of the shareholdersso that my liabilities are not likely to affect
Herringsgate now . At the Conference I shall press for the appointment of Trustees of undoubted character and integrity—in short , I am determined that no squeaniishness or delicacy shall induce me to screen cue single act of impropriety or to sanctiou a single act of injustice . The re gistration of our Company not not only gives the shareholders a power and controul over their officers , hut it also , thank God 1
Mx Deab Fmesds, The Old Song Says " That...
gives the officers the power of compelling the shareholders to perform their contracts—that is , to make them pay up their shares as stipulated , whether at threepence a week , sixpence a week , or a shilling a week ; and yon will see the desirableness of this , when I tell you that there are many members who have paid Is . 4 d . as their licence to create dissension , and still stand in the way of those who would gladly enter . For instance , if there are a lot of these beggars in Section No . 1 , we can oust them to make room for veritable members in tbat section . This , 1 assure you , is very desirable . The
shareholders themselves will now see the indispensable necessity of compelling the local secretary to furnish the General Secretary _. 'forthwith , with the name , place of abode , and calling of every shareholder , and notice of every new branch opened must be sent at once to the General Secretary , in order that tbe solicitor may furnish tbe proper authority with it . The expense will be considerable , perhaps £ 150 ; but then it is my intention to move at the Conference that that is a proper item to be paid out of the expense fund , so that it will not diminish the capital of the Society .
I don ' t think I have anything more to add , further than that I would rather pay tbe expence of Registration out of my own pocket , than be longer without its protection . And , now , in conclusion , let it once for all be understood , that I will purchase no land for tbe COMPANY except what pleases myself . I have travelled fully five thousand miles , and more , in search of different estates , and I will not have sleepless nights , wet feet , a hungry belly , and abuse , as my wages any longer . I will purchase no land upon two acres of which a man and his family cannot live comfortably , and purchase it
for ever in less than five years . And , thank God , I shall have a little rest till the 12 th of December , the day upon which we get possession ; and upon the 14 th , as Sunday is the 13 th , tbe stones will be walking from tbe quarry , and the 8 s . paupers of Worcestershire will be throwing up their hats for the Land and the Charter . I would publish some of the letters I have received , if the cowards had put their names to them , that the Chartists in the neighbourhood might pull their ears , but cowards always take care of Number One . Your faithful friend and bailiff , Feargus _O'Connor .
The Small Pauh System Os The Coktixent. ...
THE SMALL _PAUH SYSTEM OS THE _COKTIXENT . TO THE EDITOK OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Basle , Switzerland , Oct . 19 , 1 S 4 C . Dear Sir , Having been over that part of Belgium traversed by Mr . O'Connor Inst year , and having , this year , passed through oilier portions not visited by that gentleman , I think it right to give my testimony , not only to the general but the particular accuracy of the statements made public through your journal . As I take a great interest in the subject of small holdings , cultivated by spade , or rather hand labour , I have wished , during the tour I am now making , to acquire as much information on the subject as my opportunities would afford , and in submitting them to your consideration and that of your readers , indulge a hope that they may tend in some degree to assist in the great work to which Mr . O'Connor has devoted the leisure which the late lull in public affairs has placed at his disposal .
In the centre and north of Belgium the system of small farms chiefly obtains , and here , as well as in France , is exposed to great and severe drawbacks . In both these countries to the feudal system in its worst form was superadded frequent invasions , rrliich rendered it especially hazardous to the villein or serf to reside in the open country , so that to whatever distance cultivation might extend , the cultivator everresided in the fortified town , immediately adjacent to the castle of hi <; lord . This system no longer obtains , but the habit of residing in towns or largo villages is almost universal . This alone is an evil which countervails the advantages of small holdings , as the residence is usually from one to two miles from the land . Added to this the greater expenses of living in towns , and the greater temptation to expsnee from the greater lasury which exists where members congregate . Nothing but the love of indepeudance and the inestimable advantage of hand labour , could sustain a small farmer under such circum stances .
Iu Ireland a different system prevails , and there , from the system of subletting , the wonder is , not that a small holder is worse off than a common labourer , but that he can exist at all . From these evils the very interesting _experiment at Herringsgate is safe , and _though exposed to some dangers from within is protected from any without . In Belgium , and more particularly in France ( with the exception of Alsace , which , though at present forming part of France , is German in language , thought , and _feeling , and in tbe universal want and aspiration of its people again to revert to its "fader land" ) _, the villagers produce an immense amount of vegetables for food , which by very simple cookery is rendered wholesome and palatable , a _system which has yet to be naturalized amongst us . In Belgium , and still more in Germany , nearly every cultivator has one or more cows ,
which are used in the cultivation of the land und even to convey its produce to market , as well as in the conveyance of merchandize , I have this day seen nearly as many cows as oxen in Strasbourg , and quite as many oxen _and cows as horses . It is quite delightful to witness the kindness and attention with which not only the women and children , but even the men , almost invariably show to this most docile and gentle , as well as most valuable , of animals . It is the veritable bread-winner , and seems to be regarded with gratitude as well as with affection . May not this have been theorigin of the worship of which the cow bas been and is yet the object . I havt further observed , that whenever the labour is voluntary , that is , where the action of all is not governed by each , as in factory labour , or handicraft , where the negligence , _unskilfulness , or weakness of one hinders » 11 _,
the spirit of kindness and courtesy prevails nearly universally . I have often noticed with great pleasure the kindly , the affectionate greeting of the peasant to his wife or daughter who has brought his food or come to share his labour 5 and with scarcely less pleasure the goodhumoured , expression in their comely faces . In England , the one sole object of existence is to get rich , to obtain social position , as the end , not as a means , of existence , and this , in spite of the evils which it entails , insured alike to those who succeed and to those who i ' ail , is , I regret to say , become contagious in France . In proportion as men lose their simplicity of thought and action , so have they entered in a sea of troubles , where ease and safety are never found . On this ground , if on no other , the experiment now in progress at Herringsgate is _deserving of all support , and will , ia any case , ensure a certain success , and furnish valuable experience . Tho only apprehension I _entertain is from the miscellaneous character ofits first inhabitants , in their unreasonable anticipations , in their want of familiarity with labour of
tbe kind required , and , I must speak all or hold my peace , in the character and condition of the wives and daughters ofthe first inhabitants . I will frankly confess that I could have wishei the first occupants of the first colony had been all agriculturists , but tliis was not passible , and I anticipate that it will require all Mr . O'Connoi ' s skill and discretion to guide this infant colony aright . It will be viewed with jealousy by the neighbouring land holders , and will have to pass through much of obloquy , aud to resist , finally , tlie blandishments ofthe betrayer , and , for thi 3 , tbe agriculturist would have been better adapted . I entertain much hope , but 1 am earnestly desirous that the dangers to which it is exposed should be rightly apprehended from the outset , knowing , as I do , that every apparent failure will be visited upon Mr . O'Connor , who , more than any mat hi our time , deserves tiie gratitude , affection , and respect of the great body of the people , to whom he has devoted great powers of body and mind , with a perseverance , disinterestedness , and self-sacrifice beyond all praise .
It may interest you to know that the crop of this year in Germany . Italy , France , and Belgium is an average _om-, the only decrease having been iu rye . It is not the less true , however , that the consumption , owing to the greatamount of labour required throughout central Europe has greatly increased , and this it is which has led to the apprehension of scarcity . " See , " said once a rational communist , " How the tender mercies of the present system become crue . _' . I " this enhanced value of labour which , however , benefits not the labourer , being furnished when away from his home , the workman has more meat , more wine , and these in the first instauce he obtains easily and uses abundantly , often to his own injury . Now see the reaction . The enhanced price consequent on this state of things leaves him without benelit and becomes to all others a great evil . Yet , seeing this , tho governments ol the day are at once enabled to provide for the evil , or to stop its progress . A war is au evil to each _government ,
The Small Pauh System Os The Coktixent. ...
yet found special to each , and this has enabled Louis Fhilippe _^ o parry his long . _cherished project with regard toSpain ' _tnto execution , itis not known how or when he acts , -: but it is known that he is safe with _respeet to England ; this is sufficient . " It . may . be indifferent to those whtfhave no ri ght but that of death , hardly that of burial ; whether Spain belongs io Louis Philippe , or to Christina , "but it does concern Englishmen to know that their policy is directed by the traitor of the Barri . cadoes , and that he has more than one English statesman in his pay , ,-. . •• - ., . . . ¦ _.- ¦ ' . .. I am , sir , ' Your ' s , * respectfully ;¦ .. • .. / 'A _Mipdle Class _Cdabtist . "
*'- ;R Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'G...
*' - IRELAND . NARRATIVE OF MALCOLM _M'GREGOll . NO . HI . At twelve o ' clock precisely , I : entered an Irish Court-house for the'firsib time , and as every circumstance Connected with the administration oi justice must be considered as of paramount' impoit ' ahce , the reader who may not have witnessed such a scene will naturally expect a lucid and comprehensive descriptioh _* oflhe source froin which _tlit national character must mainly receive its formation aud tone . At the entrance to the Court-house were to be seen anxious groups of litigants all gabbling together with remarkable volubility and for the most part in
the native language , leaving ine little to understand , except from the gestures and earnestness of the speakers . I asked a respectable-looking person what their conversation was about , and he informed me , tbat some were stating their case to friends , and others were offering to submit the question in dispute to arbitration , while those charged with assault were endeavouring to raise the necessary funds among their friends to fee an attorney . The interior of the court was literally wedged with country people , where also a continuous buz was kept up in a suppressed tone of voice , while here and there , where a corner could be secured , were to be seen groups in tho most anxious consultation with their
attorney , the most ready instructing him as to the merits of the case , and all occasionally , and with _iji-eat energy , throwing something fresh into the voluminous exp _' anation . The judge of Quarter Sessions is called assistant barrister , and is addressed as ' Your worship . ' He lias the sole power of admitting or rejecting applicants for registration . In all civil bill actions his judgment is law , with an appeal to the judge of assize against his decision . He grants decrees , for the distress and recovery of debts or dismisses the case . Criminal and assault cases are tried by a jury , the magistrates of the district dividing the power with him in assault cases , each having a voice in awarding of punishment .
I had not long taken my seat when a soldier , as I thought , thrust his bayonet into my face , and , with a shove , said , 'Make way for the magistrates , ' and on looking round I recognised my fellow-passenger , uaptain Squeezetenant , very importantly hustling his way to the bench , I remarked to a gentleman who sat next me that the appearance of so large a military force , or , indeed , any military , in a court of
justice , was a very unusual occurrence . "Where are the soldiers ? " he asked . "Why there , " said 1 pointing to what I supposed to be one of the Rifle corps , from his dress and equipments . " O ! " he replied ; " Those are tlie police . " " Tlie police , " I exclaimed , " Why , they have a complete military appearance , dressed precisely like the Rifles , and similarly equipped . "Yes , " said he , " but they are the-police . "
The hour for commencing business had now arrived , and the first operation was the registration of voters and perhaps the best mode of instructing the reader upon this subject will be to give him a verbatim account of one or two cases . The first applicant who presented lrmself was Darby , or , as he styled himself , otherwise Jeremiah Hoolihane , who was ushered upon the table , and placed in the witness ' s chair , and who , being duly sworn , was
examined in the following manner , by a counsellor who I recognised as one of the inside passengers with whom I had travelled , and who , I was informed , was retained by the Liberal interest : —* " Hoolihane , what do you claim as ?" " As a ten-pounder , yer honour . " "No , no ; I mean as a freeholder or a leaseholder ?"
" Ogh ! as a laisholder , to be sure . " " What ' s that in your hand ?" " My instrucment , yer honour . " " O ! your lease , I presume ?" " Yes , my lais , to be sure !" " Who do you hold under , and what term have you , and what do you pay ?" " Why , I houlds under the Captain there , now , ' pointing to Captain Squeezetenant ; " but my lais is signed by the ould Lord . I took it for thirty-one years , and I have nine of it to run yet . " " How much land have you , and how much do you
pay ?" "Wisha , I can't rightly say ; maybe two score acres or something . more . I took it in the rough and be the lump , and but I never had it misured , and I pays thirty for it . " " Thirty pounds , you mean ?" "Yes , then , thirty _poumW " Now , Hoolihane , answerme one question—Is tho farm worth ten pounds a year more than you pay according to your lease ?" Here poor Darby scratched his head , looked up and down , scratched his head again , and then looked slily towards the Captain , whose eye met his , and appeared to strike him dumb .
The question was again repeated , when Darby , appearing to gain courage , replied , — " Why , to be sure , I wouldn't like to have therint riz upon me ; but , rather than lave it , _I'de thrie to pay it one way or other . " " In fact , you would rather give ten pounds a-year more rent than leave it ?" " Ogh , then , indeed then I would ; for , ' pon my word , there ' s a power of my sweat there and of the gossoons . " " Your worship , you'll admit this applicant . "
Here my fellow-traveller started up on the opposite side with a knowing leer and a nod , and said , " stop , stop , not so fast , let me have a word . Now , Darby , attend to me , —I ask " you , sir , by virtue ot the solemn oath you have just taken , whether or not you have recently applied to your landlord for an abatement , upon the grounds that your farm was too dear . Come , come , yes or no , it's a simple question , and does ' nt require much consideration , and remember , you ' re on your oath , andj that your landlord is present ?" " Well , what if I did , what differ does that make ?"
" Come , sir , no fencing ; answer my question , yes or no ?" " Well , supposing I did ?" " Did you , sir ? yes or no ?" " Well , to be sure 1 did , but it was _becays the praties failed on me , but I has my last recait for the Michaelmas gale here , and I did'nt get the batement I axed for ?" " But you did ask for the reduction ?" " To be sure I did , and why shoukl ' nt I , why should I stand all the loss ?"
" Now , sir , never mind what you would give as a tancy pvico , but I ask you , sir , on your solemn oath , would a solvent tenant give ten pounds a year for the farm _morctbsn you pay ?"
*'- ;R Ireland. Narrative Of Malcolm M'G...
" Why how does I know what another would do , but I'de do it , and pay it too , rather nor quit the spot . My God , has ' nt I been a score and two years at it , and is ' nt it likely 1 should have something in it for my trouble ?" Now , sir , you say' you have been 22 years there , and I'll ask you one question , —have you saved over and above your rent £ 220 , for ' that ' s ten pounds a year for that time ?" " My Gotl , then , is ' nt that a foolish question ? to be sure I has'nt , but thon did ' nt I lave it in the ground as I'de make it , "
" Now , sir , do you mean to say that after paying your rent , supporting and educating your family , Paying your servants' wages , and tidies , and taxes , and rates , and all other charges , that the farm is worth ten pounds a year more than you pay ?" " I do then , and I tell you , I'de give it for it tomorrow , and more rather nor give it up . " " Show me that lease ? O ho , why I find several covenants here by which you are bound to make so many perches of fencing , to put out so much lime , to pay so many duty-fowl , and to send so many men and horses each year to work for your landlord ?" " Why , what ' s that to do with it ?"
" What ' s that ' s to do with it ? why there ' s a covenant in your lease that failing to perform any of those conditions , an equivalent , in the shape of rent shall be payable , and the landlord is empowered to distrain for it as rent . " " Ogh , God bless you , and give me my lavs , the ould lord , God rest his sowl , never axed me for them , give me my lais . " Stop , stop , a minute . " Here I observed a person who had sat next to counsel very busily engaged in scanning over the lease , and taking notes , and upon closer observation I discovered that it was Mr . Grubb , the captains solicitor . Counsel continued" Now , sir , if you were called upon to fulfil all those conditions would you give ten pounds a year above the present rent , for the farm ? "
"Ogh yay God bless you now , and give me my lais , and let me be going away home , " " Now , your worship , I'll just examine this man ' s landlord . " Captain Squeezetenant , remain where you are , I shall not trouble you to get on the table . The Captain was sworn— "Now , Captain Squeezetenant , I ask you on your oath as a conscientious landlord , do you think the farm in question , and out of which the applicant seeks to register a ten pound vote , is worth ten pounds a year above the reserved rent ?"
" Upon ray oath it is not , and if out oi lease tomorrow I could not conscientiously ask a farthing more than tho present rent , if so much , and that man has frequently called upon me , of late , to a ? k for a reduction ; saying the land was too dear , and that he could not hold it at the rent . " " That ' s all I shall trouble you with , Captain . " Now , your worship , I call upon you to reject this applicant . " Liberal counsel— " Your worship , the application for a reduction in the rent is not sufficient grounds for rejecting applicant . "
Judge— - " No , Mr . Gripe , certainly not , nor should I _reject any applicant upon those grounds ; but , mark what his landlord says , and the non-pcrfor _* _foi-manc . e of the covenants in the _leaeo . REJECT
APPLICANT . " The next applicant was William Smith , who , upon being sworn , said , that he held thirty acres under Lord Bandon , on lease for thirty-one years , and for which he paid £ 45 a year . Smith appeared to be a client ol the Conservative counsel , who merely asked him the term of his lease , the number of acres , and the amount of rent ; and then put the usual question — " Mr . Smith , you are a Protestant , I believe ?" " 1 am , sir . " "Now , Mr . Smith , would a ' solvent tenant , in your opinion , give £ 10 a year above the rent reserved in your lease for the farm ?" " He would , sir , and more ; there ' s his lordship on the bench , and you can ask him . "
His lordship nodded assent to counsel , and muttered , " O yes , certainly , and much more . " " Thank your lordship ; Smith I shan't trouble you any more . Your worship will admit applicant . " Mr . Gripe— " Stop , notso fast ; now , Mr . Smith ?" Judge— " Surely , Mr ., Gripe , you could ' _nt have heard tlie observation of bis lordship in answer to Mr . Shearer , or you never could think of wasting the public time in this case . " Mr . Gripe— "Yes ; but your worship . " Judge— " Pooh , pooh ; pray let us proceed with the public business . ADMIT APPLICANT . "
Such is a fair specimen of the mode of administering political justice in Ireland , not doubting that in other districts the current runs in a completely opposite direction , varying in its course according to the politics of him who is entrusted with the anomalou s power of limiting or extending the constituency , not according to law , but according to caprice and bias . The first day was occupied with the registration of electors , and , judging from what I had seen and heard , that the administration of law must be regulated by something like the same system , I resolved upon remaining for another day . When I returned to my hotel , I was about to order dinner , when the
waiter informed me that all the private rooms were engaged , but that there was an ordinary at six , where I would find myself very comfortable . I asked what description of persons would be likely to dine theroi and he . replied , " Why , some of the Grand Jury and attorneys , and some of the country gentlemen . " " Will the barristers dine there , " I asked . " No , " he replied , "Mr . Shearer and the assistant barrister dine with his lordship at the castle , and the Liberals are giving Mr . Gripe a grand public dinner . " The certainty of much amusement , and a fair prospect of acquiring some useful information , at once decided me , and 1 resolved u . _OQ _^ ining at the ordinary . ( To be continued weekly . J
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AND NATIONAL TRADES' JQURIAL .
To1ljx. No. 47l Lx)Nd0^ Saturda^T)Ctobl^...
TO _1 LJX . NO . 47 L LX ) ND 0 _^ SATURDA _^ T ) CTOBl _^ _iri 846 ~ _^ _-r « _W _™^^ ~ ¦ _*]»*¦ * ¦¦¦ ¦ . _Vive . _ShiHhiSM ami Sixpence per _^ uarfer
The Poet Burns.— 1 He Elgin Courant Says...
The Poet Burns . — 1 he Elgin Courant says : —A very interesting document , relating to the Excise services of Burns , has been kindly handed to us by James Melville , Esq ., collector of excise in this district . It is the diary ofthe Dumfries collection and district from the 7 th of January to the 5 th of March , 1790—the district in which Mr . Findlatcr , the friend of Burns , was supervisor . The entries , which are very numerous , relate t _© the routine duties of an excise officer , in the _performance of which Burns was always highly commended by his supervisor . In deed , from the humblest officer to the head of the local department in tho Dumfries collection , testimony is borne to his efficiency and mild deportment . Burns is recorded as being indefatigable iu the performance of his duties . The diary , however , reports
Burns on duty , but that from October , 1795 , to the January _followins he was confined to his houso . He _isshm-t _' ly after ( March 5 ) represented in declining health . Rheumalism and loss of appetite , deprived of refreshing sleep , and in dejected spirits , forma summary of the imprints of death on this neglected luminary . Writing under this impression to Thomson , he states , " I close my eyes in misery , and open them without hope . " Only four month ' s from the date of Collector Melville ' s diary—days and nights , weeks of serious reflection—earth was restored to earth—the eyes of Burns having closed on thin world tlio 21 _st of July 1795 . " A spirit of independence , " says Wilson " reigned alike in the gonitis and character of Bums , " a meet finale to our brief relic ol his laborious manhood . _—Edinbvrqh Witness .
Omnibuses at a Pewsy rat Milk . —On Thursday , in _consi-quence of the success attending the attempt to convey passengers by omnibus at the mto of Id . . 1 mile , a number of tho ' . old proprietors that have hitherto charged Cd . started their vehicles at a reduced rate . There are now upwardsol' 20 omnibuses carrying from 17 to 30 _passengers each , whose charge is 2 d . from the Strand to Paddington .
The Poet Burns.— 1 He Elgin Courant Says...
LATER NEWS FROM INDIA . Londo- * , Friday , October 30 . —Despatches have _SS _^ i _« _h _? ! _a- _'ticipation of the overland mail , ™ _h / ett Bombay on the 1 st inst . _bJit * _^ ythingremained quiet . Lall Singh _Slffi _WJ Vnxi , ! ty as the Ume * " the " departure ot the British forces approached . _tritnp _^ nlr * thd reJve _* _- ' - > as usual , rumours of intrigues and insurrections . bl IT _UTTiTITrt -mn _^ _-B _** _-t-kt-t-vti
men _e if _. n _^ ' oIicn 01 , t ' Cashmere , fit . Sit STT * - y t , ie Li , ll 0 , ' Dl ,, _to - and a W _. _, S ' _'Vn 8 , lrSe "! s _ty Gholab Singh ffi . _™ , leteatod wit X somc loss . SeveralEt , ( -l _' « h _oftee-s who were v , siting the country had been seized , and would be detained as hostages , _though no fears were entertained lor tlicir safety . _° Cholera was still raging in Scindc , and _nrovisions were so enormously scarce and dear that an absolute famine was apprehended .
...-..-..„», V.- .U "Ilvlhlcv, Carrying ...
...-..-.. _„» , v .- . _u "ilvlHlcv , carrying every rampart or other defence that they assaulted , General Am pudia sent a flag of trace to General Taylor , proposing to evacuate and surrender the city on certain conditions , which proposition resulted iu the appointment of commissioners , who agreed upon the following conditions , _substantinlly : — General Ampudia , with his whole army , was allowed seven days to evacuate , the officers with their side-arms , the men with their muskets , and a battery of G field pieces with 21 rounds of . ' ammunition . All 0 _< her pilblie property to be left in the garrison , subject to the orders of General Taylor . It was further agreed that there should be an armistice ol ' S weeks , subjectto the approbation or rejection of either Government . As soon as tho official des . , ,
— _vi _iiuuiu in uic LATER AND IMPORTANT NEWS FROM THE UNITED STATES AND MEXICO . SEVERE BATLLE AND CAPTURE OF MONTEREY . We have received , by the arrival of the steamship Hibcrnia in the the Mersey on Thursday morning , our despatches from the United States to the 16 th instant inclusive . ' The * contents » f these de- _* sj . atehes are most important . The _eity of Monterey had , on the 2 ttth of September , capitulated to the American arms , after a severe struggle of three days . Ampudia was , as is supposed , securely intrenched in tbe strongly fortified town oi" Monterey , with from 0 , 000 to 11 , 000 men . General Taylor stormed the place with about 0 , 000 men . After three days' fighting , a part of the time in the streets , and the Americansat the point of the bavonet
patches reached Washington , the American Govern _, ment , without loss of time , despatched orders to General Taylor to annul the armistice , and forthwith commence active operations against the Mexicans . The slaughter during the three days' _siece wag great , particularly among the American officers , their loss , it is understood , being much greater than that of the enemy . The officials detail of killed and wounded have not yet been received at Washington , but are estimated at 500 . It is due to the Mexicans to admit that they behaved gallantly _.
Later News From Ireland. An Outbreak Of ...
LATER NEWS FROM IRELAND . An outbreak of the populace at Templemore is thus described by the _Nonagh paper : — " On Monday last , as the steward employed under the Board of Works was about to place 15 men , in iiccord with his list of instructions , on works at CinTigloughmore , near Templemore , in this county , a body of about IdO persons assembled , and prevented the others being employed , unless work was given to them all . The steward consequently was obliged to abandon his post , and left ( hem there . The police from Templemore , under the command of head-constable _Pattarsan , were on the sput , and no breach of the peace occurred . During the absence of the police from the town , a mob of about 100 persons plundered a bread cart of Mr . Joseph O'Keefe , a baker . Shortly after this , the police
returned to their barracks * when another attempt was made on a bread cart from Clonakenny _. when the men , who had just returned from a fatiguing and liarrassing duty , rushed out half dressed , and succeeded in bringing in the cart of bread to . their barrack yard . The mob amounted by this timet © nearly 300 persons , and commenced flinging stones at the constabulary , whose forbearance was very praiseworthy , one of them being struck with a stone , which inflicted a severe wound on his head . The head-constable then sent word of the riot to the next magistrate , who ordered out six companies of military , but before their arrival , the mob , which had increased to upwards of 500 , rushed to the shop of a man named Ryan , where they were a « jain met by the five gallant policemen ( the entire force of that town ) , under head-constable Pattarson , and succeeded in forcing
them from their position , at the point of the bayonet . Stones were also thrown at the police , but no injury inflicted , the greatest coolness , intrepidity , and forbearance being shown on this occasion . The mob then went to the houso of Ellen llyan , whore they broke four panes of glass . Here again the gallant constables were to be seen , and , having gained an entrance into the shop , expelled the intruders and _closed the door , A young woman minding this shop received a blow ofa stone in the head , but was not much injured . On the appearance of the military , accompanied by Sir Henry Carden , Captains Hartford and Webb , magistrates of the county , peace was restored , but not before one of tho soldiers received a-blow ofa stone which cut him . This riot lasted for about two hours . Six of the ringleaders have been arrested , and will not be liberated without giving good and sufficient bail . "
ArFAHdtfG Distress ix th County op ConK . —The Reporter of Tuesday contains a communication fiom the Protestant rector of Caheragh , in which the writer says : — " More deaths , through non-payment of wages and delays have _jusfcoccuri-ed , one on a road a few miles outside Skibbereen , and two or three more in Sherkin island . " The Cork Reporter states that on Monday some 500 unemployed labourers paraded the streets of Cork , and afterwards proceeded to the county grand jury room , where a jury was sitting under a precept , to value the grounds on which the District Lunatic Asylum is to be erected . There they ranged themselves outside the bar , and asked for work , _saving that they wero worn out with hunger , and could wait no longer . Ultimately tlie poor fellows retired . The police arrested three of the most turbulent .
The DuxoAnvo . _v Riots . —With one exception , fiffc ofthe prisoners charged with being engaged in the Dungarvon riots have been liberated on a trifling amount of bail . Tho one exception is the " ringleader , " Patrick Power , who has been most harshly sentenced to twelve months imprisonment with hard labour . The Cork Examiner , of Wednesday , gives a fright ful picture of the distress of the country . The King ' s Country Chronicle says : "From every part of the country we receive the most painful intelligence , and even in our own district the sufferings of the poor are very severe .
Food Riots . —The King ' s County Chronicle also gives the following : —We stop the press to state that an attack was made on upwards of fifty loads of flour , which left this town in the morning on its way to Shannon harbour , for shipment to Dublin . Owing to the state of the country , an escort of soldiers and police was granted the milieis for its protection ; but this force was found totally insufficient , as the people collected in great multitudes , and seemed determined to have the flour at all hazards . News _having reached the Earl of Ross to that effect , he immediately ordered reinforcements , anil , as we now write , the military are marching past . We hear that the people have broken down ihe bridge at the Rape Mills in order to render the road impassable . It is stated that the women cut open several ofthe bags , and succeeded in _cn-i-yingoffa considerable quantity . We have just heard that some cars were stopped on the road near Clonecn , and three loads of meal taken .
Prorogation Of Parliament. A Supplement ...
PROROGATION OF PARLIAMENT . A supplement to the London Gazette of Friday states : — "At the Court at Windsor , the 30 th day of October , 1 S 16 ; present , the Queen ' s most Excellent Majesty in Council . It is this day ordered by _jher Majesty in Council , —that the Parliament , which stands prorogued to Wednesday the 4 th day of November next , be further prorogued to Tuesday , the 12 th clay of January next . "
The First Fog.—The Lirst Fog Of The Seas...
The First Fog . —The lirst fog of the season made its premature appearance on Wednesday—a _fewdava before the month prescribed for such visitations , Novembers . It was unusually dense , and much inconvenience , with a few fatal casualties , were the consequence . The trains on nearl y every railway arrived behind time , in consequence of the slow rate it was necessary to travel to prevent accidents . Most of tho steam-boats on ihe rive r did net ply at all whilst the fog was at tl-. e thickest , and very little business could be done at the wharfs . _ The New Chartist Estate . —Now that the Chartists are acquiriug property , and , therefore , likely to become formidable , the press begins to take note of their movements ; witness the following : —
rho celebrated 1 'cargus O'Connor , attended in person at the Bell Hotel , Gloucester , on Tuesday ; at the sale ofthe Low-band Estate , llcdmarley , in this county , and became the purchaser of lot 1 , containing 159 acres , at £ 8 , 100 . The reserved price was £ 7 , 100 only . Is this purchase fin- himself , or is it a move by tlie Chartists or League to make votes ?— . Worcester Journal . Lord Churchill bus returned to each mt-nt tenants in Oxfordshire , half the the several portions of the land they his estates , in conscapence of tho cnf . oc crop .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Oct. 31, 1846, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/ns3_31101846/page/1/
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