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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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WhfoK . ^^^^ nw pwrdiwedin Scotland , and JI mrtrmm ijeiieTd rt the present systan be altered , together with the fact of another winter necessinly intervening before thatsystem can madSdui ^ i blllnowbefore Parliament is not SS KfTVS present session - But » uowevev Ki n ?• * ^ K 8 eilt 8 >' stein » " ^ tt" tliatsvs - g « Wde « Bl } im lor another year than that the Lord Advocate ' s deforming scheme should become law-asciiejne calculated to make bad worse , if worse bepossib c . We would advise , then , that the Scottish constituencies should instruct their representatives to do their utmost to delay legislation on this question until next session . If this be done , the IL , feS " * ™" . ™ ?» » by February , 1840 , be so lv informed
u on the defects of the Lord Advocate ' s bill , and so fully enlightened as to what ought to be the amendments to take the place of those defects , that something like a decent measure may be obtained from the Legislature . But , as the bill mav pass this session , we must add to the above advice what we insisted on last week , the necessity of immediately getting up petitions to the Commons and Lords , pointing out the defects of the Lord Advocate s bill , and praying for such amendments as the petitioners may deem to be in accordance with the principles of justice , aiul necessary to meet the wants oi the Scottish poor . We now request the attention of our readers to a further conskeration of the existing system . ¦ During the sitting of the General Assemblv of the
thurcb . Of Scotland ( before the Free Church secession ) in 183 S , the Lord High Commissioner communicated a letter from the Home Secretary , having for its object to obtain returns in regard to the maintenance of the poor in Scotland for the year 1835-30-37 . lhis could not be resisted , and accordingly the returns -were made , compiled in aveport given in to the General Assembly in the year 1839 , the returnsbeing made by the ministers of all the parishes in Scotland , lnougk iunushed in every instance by interested parties—no poor man , no labourer , no Dissenting minister , no schoolmaster , no medical man having been examined—yet this report , furnished of itself , to every impartial mind , a body of evidence most damnatory to the character of the landlords ami nlr . ro *
the self appointed " guardians of the poor , " and most convincing as to the wretched state of the " pauperised" portion of the population . The Report proved , m the words of Captain Thomson-, treasurer to the Edinburgh House of Refuge , that" the grand object kept ia view , by almost every parish , is the possibility of evading the duty of relieving the poor , lhei point most earnestly sought after by them ( the h . irk Session ) , is not whether there is a certain amount of pauperism , calling for an equal amount of definite relief , but what is the smallest practicable amount which they can possibly be obliged to give . " We cannot afford space to extract from this report ; but as a specimen of its general contents , taking the extreme south and the extreme north of Scotland .
we may notice the returns from Ruthwell , in Dumfriesshire , and Criech , in Sutherlandshire . In the returns from the former parish we find it stated that a woman eighty-one years of age , and feeble , received £ 1 Be . a year . A woman of eighty-five , with no means of support , £ 1 2 s . a year . An old blind woman , £ 1 19 s . a year . A feeble woman of seventy-four , with a daughter deaf and dumb , £ 1 9 s . a year . A paralytic woman of sixty-one , it- 9 , s # aXear > A woman of eighty-nine , feeble and blind , £ 1 5 s . This is in one of the parishes where the poor are best treated—a parish situated in one of the richest agricultural counties in Scotland , and which was the first in that country to enjoy the benefits (?) of s | h ] aving banks , introduced bv thp
parish minister , Dr . Duxcan . So much for one of the model parishes . " Come we now to the opposite extreme , Criech , where , according to the return made to the General Assembly , 137 " paupers" had [ I 83 o-3 ( W 7 Jdividedamongstthem £ 17 4 s . lOd . « e « rfv . ihe sums paid to each were not all alike : some got as / uyAasum as three shillings yearly (!) , but some received only one shilling yearly (!) . That is , the best provided for had allotted to them less than threefourtfis ofapennywccUy , and the worst had less than one farthing . The English reader may rub his eyes and refuse to believe what he reads . We cannot help it ; we merely repeat what the General Assembly un-Wushingly proclaimed : themselves proposing ne remedy for this monstrous scandal on their country and
creed , This picture of one of the best and one of the worst—we should think the very worst—parishes in bcotland , will give the reader a pretty correct idea of what was the general character of the returns on which the General Assembly ' s report was founded Preceding and following this report , the publications ot Dr . Alisox tended much to rouse public attention to the subject , and make known the wretched condition of the Scottish poor . Seeing that the Whig Government gaveno sign of legislating on the General Assembl y ' s report , some time in 1840 an association was formed in Edinburgh to promote a further inquiry into the causes and extent of the alleged suffering , and generally into the management of the poor ot Scotland . At this the Scottish heritors took
alarm ; a meeting called by circulars , issued to all parts of the kingdom , was held in Edinburgh , of which the Earl of Laudebdale was chairman , and at which , as many of the nobility and gentry as could be mustered attended , to protest a ° air . st any further inquiry that should not be conducted by themselves . The Eavl of Lauderdale opened the meeting in a "decided" speech ; the Earl of Dalhousie "followed on the same side , " and the Marquis of Tweedale , who could not attend the meeting , " cordially approved of its object . " Speeches were made by other landlords , and resolutions passed denouncing the threatened inquiry . Amongst other worthies who were present wasa Mr . Dempster , one of the principal heritors of the unhappy parish of Criech .
who made a furious speech , denouncing all inquiry , and declaring there was no necessity for it ; impudently adding , that there might be some distress in the country , but that it was much "exaggerated . " Next the Tories came into power , and the public opinion in Scotland in favour of some change and amendment in the existing Poor Laws gaining ground , the Ministry at length consented to institute an official inquiry : accordingly , in January , 1843 , a commission was appointed to institute " a diligent and full inquiry into the practical operation of the laws which provide for the relief of the poor in Scotland . " lhe report of that commission , dated May 2 , 1844 , was presented to Parliament last session . On two or three " points" of that report we beg to make a few observations .
The commissioners state the following as to the class of persons entitled to relief . These persons " are those who are either wholly or partially disabled on account of age or infirmity , cruiked folk , sick folk , impotent folk , and weak folk ; those who are broken down or disabled by old age , those who are afflicted with any disease of a permanent nature which incapacitates them from work ; those who are insane or fatuous , and children , whether orphans or foundlings , are considered proper objects of relief . There is great repugnance to afford relief for illegitimate children ; the burden of maintaining such children being , in the opinion of many , properly thrown on the authorities ; at the same time relief on account of illegitimate children , ig not anywhere denied in case of necessity . Such persons may he called permanent poor , and are placed on the parish
rolL but , to the able-bodied poor , except in cases offerer or other epidemics , relief is seldom afforded ; and when given , is rather , expietate than ex Uge , —more a matter of compassion than of ri ght . It has been laid down that 8 ucli persons cannot have recourse to any compulsory means to enforce their claims , and that they depend entirely on the voluntary charity of the public . In JEdim . burgh , Glasgow , and some of the larger towns , this principle seems not to have been so rigidly observed , and ablebodied persons , labouring under temporary sickness , are not unfrequently relieved . The recent depression in trade caused the question , as totte right of oNe foiled ptrmt to demand relief , to be frequently agitated ; but we find that the universal practice , with a few exceptions in ont or two country parishes , has been to «/ um relief in such eases , and tbo pressing wants of the able-bodied have been met by other means such as subscriptions , &c . "
The commissioners were forced to acknowledge that in some places the relief given to the poor was inadequate for their support ; this , however , is very cautiously expressed : — ' We are of opinion , that the funds raited for the relief of the poor , and the provision made for them out of the funds raised for their rt&f . U , in inanyjwriiftes throughout Scotland , insufficient . ¦ The relief "in many parishes is insufficient !" Such are the terms in which the commissioners express their sense of the wretchedness of the poor , and the grinding cruelty of the poor ' s " natural guardians . " But they qualify oven this ; in the very next sentence they say : —
It is undoubtedly tree that , without referring to the Border parishes , iu which the allowances made are well known to be high , there are many other parishes in various parts of Scotland , in which , on examining the actual state of the paupers on the roll , and comparing their condition with that of independent labourers , we have found it little inferior . The amount of the money allowance made by the administrators of the poor fund gives , in most cases , but a very imperfect notion of a pauper ' s resources and actual means of livelihood . There are very few of those receiving relief in the country pari 6 h . es who are not able , in some way or other , to earn a little towards their own subsistence : besides which , tke standard of living varies . so much in different parts of Scotland , that with one shilling a week in one parish a pauper may be in full y as good a condition , compared with the independent , labourer , as he would be with two shillings a week in another .
• Let our readers imagine how-well a " pauper " must be able to live on Is . or 2 s . a < vcekj wider any arcumtances ! The "high allowances" in "the Border parishes , our readers will understand by such sums as that paid to the woman of eighty-nine , "feeble and-thnd , " - in Dr . Dukcan ' s " model parish" of Ruthwell- £ 15 s . a year ! Of course everybody knows that the " paupers" have other " resources' than the parochial allowance to subsist on . J \ o one imagines that the Criech "pauper" exists on his one farthing , or even titree farmings a week ; he , of course has other means of living—those means being legging , vagrancy , and , perhaps ( in some cases ) ,
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thioving . By begging g thieving the pauper manages somehow to five , and we are told his condition in many places is but " little inferior to that of the hteer » H ° \ e 1 thc ^^ 'K'indepenient mSK ' ti . il ^ propokwl . « w wretched must be the lot of the industrious toiler when his condition is scarcely one degree superior to that of K i Made / ogrant ! " What a commentary on the system which robs the wealth producer of the fruits ot las industry to pamper the useless drones of the community ! Of the law , as applied to the rural population of tue Lowlands , tho commissioners say : — This law works admirabl y at the present time , nor can we foresee the likelihood of any such change of circumstances in the agricultural districts as should render its material modification necessary , or even desirable
how , against this , we will content ourselves with quoting evidence given before the Commissioners as to the state of the poor in Dunbar and Iladdinston towns in the highly favoured county of East Lothiana district described as a place of "fertile plains , well manured , and teeming with produce , where cattle , sheep , and horses are equally fat ; everything , in short , is well-fed and well-housed , except worn-out ploughmen , widows , and orphans . " In the evidence the Provost of Dunbar states that he Has been connected with the council for sixty years . The magistrates have not token any charge of tho poor T V-, o man ? yearSl Tllc wll 0 le management is left to the Ku-k Session . Witness considers that the poor of tho town are very scantily provided for . He cannot think that 2 s . or 3 s . a month can be sufficient for them . Many of those who have onl y 2 s . or 3 s . a month have nothing to depend upon except the charity of the public . ms opinion wmUnotbtalkrediflic knavtlat some of ( hem had Bs . or Qs . a month .
What is J ; he provision for the sick poor , we hear from Mr . Turnbull , surgeon , who is paid indeed , but at therate of six guineas a year for attendance and medicine : — , Hasbecn a medical practitioner in Dunbar since Sep . tombcr , 1832 .. Has been employed by the session of Dunbar to attend the paupers upon thc poor-roll ever since he commenced practice . . Is paid a salary of £ 6 Cs . a-year for so doing , which includes medicine , as well as attendance . Sometimes there is a good deal of fever among the poorer classes . Last year there were about fifty cases of fever , but only two of them were fatal . In viBiting the houses of the poor , he finds them in many cases very insufficientl y provided with the necessaries of life . They have always beds , but the bedding is always
insufflcient . Witness considers that the poor are more liable to disease on account of the insufficiency of their food . Typhus fever is themostfrequent disorder amongst them . Witness can hardly distinguish the poor on the roll from the other classes of poor . There is no dispensary in the town , and they all come to him alike . There is one thing which tends greatl y to aggravate disease amongst the poorer classes generally—that when they are ill , there is great difficulty in procuring for them tho necessary quantity of common food . A certificate is required for every loaf of bread that is given out by the session in cases of illness . There is also the greatest difficulty in procuring wine or cordials . In the fever with which the town was visited last year , wine and cordials were more necessary for the cure even than medicine .
Come we now to Haddington , the Provost of which states that he Has been seven years Provost of Iladdington , and has been forty-five years resident in the town . He is in the habit of attending the meetings of the heritors and Kirk Session relative to the management of the poor . He has always been of opinion that the allowances to the poor have been too small . When the poor have no friends , their livelihood is generally eked out by begging . Dr . Cook , the minister ef Haddingtou , shows that The ordinary allowance to a single old person is one shilling and sixpence a week . An old man and his wife would get about two shillings and sixpence a week . A widow with four children under twelve would get two shillings and sixpence or three shillings a week .
These are the "high allowances" of the "Border parishes !" With regard to the neighbourhood , Mr . GiunAii , minister of North Berwick , shows the same neglect of the sick poor ; and though the place is famous for its farming , there is great distress even among the able-bodied labourers : — Nothing is paid by the session for medical attendance on the paupers . Witness has proposed to tke heritors that this should be done , but it lias never been adopted . There is a doctor resident in the parish ; he supplies both medicines and attendance out of his own pocket . There were a good number of men unemployed in the parish last winter during two or three mouths . No relief was given them , except by private charity , They -were very eager to work , but could not find employment . They were persons of good character , and had been provident when in the receipt of wages .
So much for thc districts where we are told the law " works admirably , " and any interference with which the commissioners denounce as tho " veriest wantonness of innovation . " The further examination of this report we must defer till next week .
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BANKRUPTS . ( From Tuesday ' s Gazette , June 24 » , 1 M 5 . J William Morton , Railway-place , Fenchurch-street , gasfitter—William Rickman Lcjeune , Southampton , com * merchant—William Mossmun , Clarke ' is-place , Islington , fancy . &tationer—George DowIcb and Joseph Pain tock . lington , Newgate-street , roeatsalcsmen—James Walker , jun ., Leeds , butchw—Francis llidd , Ncthtr Stowey , Bridgewater , Somersetshire , ? urgcon—William Hilditch , Fachwen , Flintshire , grocer—Matthew Collcdge , Brinklow , Warwickshire , coal-merchant .
- DUYIDKND 9 . July 15 , W . Williams , Goudhurst , Kent , wheelwright-July 21 , G . Barron , Davies-strcet , Berkeley-square , builder -July 21 , J . Stevens , Mile-cnd , road-contractor—July 1 C , r' un I : } W > . sle of E 15 ' merchants-July 16 , J . and T . Lamb , Kidderminster , Worcestershire , onginecrs-July 18 , W . B . BriddicV Durham , dealer iu iron-July 16 , J . Bnddick , jun ., Durham , booksoller-July 1 G , W . and J . C . € arr , Sunderland , merchants-July IS , C . Martyn , Durham , lineudraper—July 17 , J . Itisdon , Exeter , bookseller—July 18 , E . Pntchard , Liverpool , wiuo-merchmit-July 15 , K . Abram , Liverpool , merchant-July 18 , E . E . Robinsor , Wolverhampton , Staffordshire , grocer .
DECI . ABATI 0 N 8 OF DIVIDENDS . L . C . Locesne , Fcnchurch-buildings , Feuchurch-atreet , City , merchant , first dividend of Is 10 | d in the pound , any Wednesday , at the office of Mr . Graham , Colemao 11 . Almond , Orrcll , Lancashire , coal-dealer , second divi . deud of * din the pound , any Thursday , at tho office of Mr . Cazenove , Liverpool . 5 . Johnson , Liverpool , merchant , first dividend of S $ d in tho pound , any Thursday , at the office of Mr . Cazenove , Liverpool . T . Wilson , Liverpool , merchant , dividend of 4 B 2 Jdiu the pound , any Wcdnpilay , at the office of Mr . Morgan , Liverpool . ¦ '& .
J . Blake , Sunderland , e 3 ge-tool-mtuiufucturer , first dlri . dend of 10 d in the pound , next Wednesday , or any subsequent Saturday ^ at the office of Mr . Wakley , Newcastieupon-Tyne . - . . I . Uagg , Colchester , Essex , first dividend of 4 s Cd in the pound , any Wednesday , at the office of Mr . Belcher , King ' s Arms-yard , Colcman-strect . \ Y . Attwiiter , DevonBhircstreet , Queen-square , dyor , first dividend of Is in the pound , any Wednesday , at the office of Mr . Belcher , King ' s Arras-yard , Colemanstrcut . . . T . Pearson , Liverpool-road , builder , first and final division of lid iu the pound , any Wednesday , at tho office of Mr . Follett . Sambrook-coui't , BaBinghall-street .
M . Oxbovrow , Stockport , Cheshire , pawnbroker , dividend of 203 in the pound , any Wednesday , at the office of Mr , F ' . U-stt , Sambwok-court , Basinghall-stvest .
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London Corn Exciiasge , Mosdat , Juxe 23 . — The arrivals of English wheat were tolerably good during the past week ; but of barley , oats , beans , and peas , the receipts coastwise were very scanty . From Scotland only a few hundred quarters of oats came to hand , but from Ireland the supply was larger than , has been the case for some weeks past . From abroad a fair quantity of wheat , large supplies of barley and oats , and moderate arrivals of beans and peas , ' were received . At this morning ' s market there was a good show of wheat by land-carriage samples from the neighbouring counties , scarcely any barley of home growth , and not many oats , beans , or peas fresh up . The weather continuing exceedingly favourable for the growing crops , the trade opened languidly . Only the very finest qualities of English wheat were taken by the millers at last Monday ' s currency , and it was necessary to submit to a decline of about Is . per quarter before any progress could be
made in the disposal of the common runs . In foreign wheat there was little or nothing doing cither free or in bond , and quotations must for the present be regarded as almost nominal . Town-made flour , though very dull of sale , was not cheaper , but for ship marks rather less money was in partial instances accepted , lhe continued arrivals of barley from the Continent have hitherto prevented any advance in the value of this article , but good qualities of English were held very firmly to-tlay . Malt was also quite as dear as on this day se ' nnight . Thc increased arrivals ofoats failed to have any influence on prices , indeed tho trade was more active , owing to a better choice of quality being afforded . On the whole a fair amount ofbusiness was done , and previous rates well supported . Beans and peaB being exceedingly scarce , were held very firmly , and needy buyers had to pay high terms . In seeds no change requiring notice occurred , and the transactions were generally on a very restricted scale .
CURRENT PRICES OP GRAIN , PER IMPERIAL QUARTER .-DntWi . is » Wheat , Essex , & Kent , now & old red 43 49 White 48 £ 5 Norfolk and Lincoln . ... do 44 4 S Ditto 49 92 Korthum . and Scotch white 43 48 Pine 49 52 Irish red old 0 0 Red 48 45 White 47 48 Rye Old 30 81 Hew 38 30 Drank ' 34 35 Barley Crinding . . 24 26 Distil . 27 30 Malt . 80 38 Malt Brown .... 52 54 Pale 55 59 Ware 60 62 Boans Ticks old & new 35 37 Harrow 37 89 Pigeon 41 43 Peas G ' roy 35 36 Maple 37 38 White 38 40 Oats Lincolns < fc Yorkshire Feed 22 24 Poland 24 26 Scotch Angus 23 25 Potato 26 29 Irish White 21 25 Black 21 2 $ Pev 2801 b . net . s si Per 2801 b . net . a m Town-made Flour ... 43 40 I Norfolk & Stockton 33 34 Essex and Kent .... 35 881 Irish 35 36
Tree . Bona * Foreign . a a s s Wheat , Dantsic , Konigsburg , &o 53 68 38 42 Marks , Mecklenburg . 51 52 83 36 Dunisli , Holstein , and FrieRlandred 48 45 28 30 ; Russian , Hivrd 44 46 Soft ... 44 46 28 2 tt Italian , Red . . 47 48 White ... 51 53 32 35 Spanish , Hard . 46 48 Soft .... 48 52 31 3 t Rye , Baltic , Dried , ... 28 80 Undried . . 28 30 ! iS 2 i Barloy , Grinding . 24 28 Malting . . 28 32 19 24 Beans , Ticks . . 84 86 Egyptian . 34 35 28 32 Peas , White . . 87 89 Maple . . 36 37 28 3 d Oats , Dutch , Brew and Thick J 5 26 21 22 Russian feed ...... ........ 21 22 15 U Danish , Friesland feed 21 23 15 V Plour , por barrel 24 26 19 21
London Suithheld Cmilb Market , Moxdat , June 23 . —The past week ' s importations of live stock for our market have been again extensive , they having cousisted of 169 oxen and cows , 6 lambs and 6 calves , all from Rotterdam , per the Columbine , Batavier , and UirafFe . At the outports , upwards of 200 beasts have been received from Holland in good condition . We had on offer , to-day , 55 Dutch oxen and cows , the quality of which—though not to say first-rate—was good ; hence the salo for them was active , and the whole found buyers at improved quotations . Notwithstanding there was an increase in the arrivals of beasts from our own grazing districts , and the quality of that description of stock was superior to that exhibited for some time past , we have to report a decided improvement in the beef trade , at an advance in the quotations obtained on Monday last , of from , 2 d . to dd . per Sib ., and at which a fair clearance was
effected . l < rom Norfolk , Suffolk , Essex , and Cambridgeshire , we received 1200 Scots , homebreds . and shorthorns ; from the northern , western , and midland counties , 300 Ilerefords , Kunta , Devons , &c . ; from other parts of England , 400 of various breeds ; and from Scotland , 500 Scots . Although the epidemic is still complained of in the grazing counties , we observed very few serious cases here today amongst either the beasts or sheep . For the time of year we had a very limited number of sheep offering , owing ; tojwluch the mutton trade was steady , and last week ' s currencies were supported in every instance , the pnmest old Downs readily producing fig . per 81 b . Lambs , the numbers of which were comparatively small , moved off freely , and previous rates were weft supported . The veal trade was again firm , at the iata improvement in value . Pigs mov « d off slowly , yet their prices weresupported .
By the quantities of 81 b ,, sinking the offal . T . e . d . & d . Inferior coarse beasts , 8238 Secondquality .... 3 19 4 0 Prime large oxen . % . . 4 2 4 4 Prime Scots , &c 4 6 4 8 Coarse lnfsrior sheep . . . 3 4 H S Second quality .... 3 W 4 t Prime coarse woolled ... 4648 Prime Southdown ... 4 10 S 0 Lambs 5 0 6 9 Large cearsocalres . . . . 4 0 * 6 Prime small 4 8 5 0 Suckling ealves , each . . . 18 0 2 » O Lwsohog » 8 0 3 6 JN oat small porkers . , , 3 10 4 2 Quarter-old store pigs , each . . 16 0 20 6
JIBAB OF CATTLE OK BALE . ( From the Books of the Clerk of the Market . ) Beasts , 2 , 534-Sheop and Lambs , 22 , 179—Calves S'l- * Pigs , 290 . Richmond Cors Market , Satoiidat , Junk 21 . — n e had a fair supply of grain in our market to-day but the sale was rather dull . Wheat sold from 5 » . 04 to 7 a . Cd . ; oats 2 « . 9 d . to 3 g . id .: barley 3 s . 9 d . to is - beans to . 6 d . to 4 s . 9 d . per bushel .
MixcnnnB Cork Market , Saturday , Junk 21 . ~ lu the early part of the week we had a considerable fall of rain m this neighbourhood , continuing the whole of Wednesday almost without intermission ; subsequently thc weather has been delightfully fine : and the crops having consequently received material benefit , the demand for every article of tho trade hag remained on the same limited scalo as previnislf noted , without variation in prices . Our market th& morning , influenced by the circumstances roted above , was of an exceedingly inanimato character and , had sales ot any article been pressed , r ;< &or lower prices must have been conceded . In the absence , however , of any such desire being manifested £ 3 rt d £ ? ratl 0 n b the cum ^ ofour S
Th £ C J ft * ' MoSDAT . ™« 23 .-te , w f 1 * i - * moderate supply of British gram , meal and flour ., Several canned of wheat arc reported from the Baltic , and w « h ! ve & Irst arrival of ^ Canadianproduccand manufactu re ? £ 0 alteration has occurred in tho duties this week Ihe iimoimt of buta * since this day week tan tan wry . limited : the miller * and dealer * , influSS ' the improved state of the weather , havoonlSel off \ vheat to supply their immediateVante , SS have been no speculative transactions goinVfomarf Our last quotations have been barely maSSS fi * either wheat or flour . Oata and oatmeal R ^ ticipated ui the general dullness , but SBffi , ££ not been pressinrsellers , fully lit qwJSSKoS SSS « k ^ S Sr ^ 'sisSs ^ aMK horses 83 ' CCp - 6993 laml > s «« pigs 6 M 7
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. THE LAND ! Within that Una was many a malcontent , Who curs'd the tyranny to which he bent ; The son full many a wringing despot saw , Who urork'd his wantonness in form of law . « l , B ^ ' * W . among whom equality reigned , would possess everything they wanted where they possessed the wS ° orteSta * v hjshouW tl »* I' « sueadditional c e ^ Po ? o f L ! id ^ Xr CllItiVatein 0 re thana
" } io one is able to produce I a charter PS from heaven , or JSfi&SSwS * > artiCUlar ° 5 CSsion tbau Us "There could bi no such thing as landed property onanally . Man did not make the earth , and , thou 4 he \ l ^^^ ^ httooccupy i ^ h ^ ori shitXet r ^ r ^ Kk * ^^ "y aay part of it ; neither did the fi £ ?« tin ° I a ^^ a la"d office , from whence the first tatlc deedsshould Jssue . » -TAom « Paine . Theland shall not be sold for eaer .-itoiet . There is no foundation in nature or in natural law t ^ JZSSSSSZF ™* shouia conve > * belongs at all toes to the living iilhabitanHfa e 4 id country or neighbourhooa in an equal manner For thereisnohnnghut onlandaudits productions ; consequently , what we cannot live wthouC we have the same property in as in our Vxes . "—Thomas Spence .
"Thelandisthepeople ' sinheritance ; andkings , princes , peers , nobles , priests , and commoners , - who have stolen it irom them , ieid it upon the title of popular ignorance , raaerthan upon any right , human or Oivine . "—feurfllU O Lcr , Mr . "My reason teaches me that land , cannot be sold . The treat Sprit gave it to his children to live upon , and cultivate , as far as is necessary for their subsistence ; and so long as they occupy and cnltivateit , they have the ifcht to the soil—but if they voluntarily leave it , then any " bther peoplehavea right to settle upon it . Nothing can be sold . but such
things as can be carried away . "—Black Maul : "Every individual possesses , legitimately , the tfcino which his labour , his intelli gence { or more generally ) , which his activity hasi created . "This principle is incontestable , and it is well to remark that it contains expressly an acknowledgment of the right of all to the sofl . For as the soil has not been created by man , it follows from the fundamental principle of property , that it cannot belong to any small portion of the human race , who have createdit by their activity . Let us then conclude that the true theory of property is founded on the creation of Hie thin * possessed . ' "—Fourier .
" H manias a right to tight , air . and water , which no one will attempt to question , he has a right also to the ( and , winch is just as necessary for the maintenance of his subsistence . If every person had an equal share of the sod , poverty would be unknown in the world , and crime would disappear with want . "—Mike Walsh . As die nature and wants of all men are alike , the wants of all most be equal ; and as human existence is dependent on the same contingencies . it follows tkat the great field for all exertion , and the raw material of aU wealth , iheearth , is the common property of all its inhabitants . "—John Francis Bray . ? w ? i at ?«*< $ & ™ M * s e"ls of such magnitude as thatofland ! Itwtte sole barrier to national prosperity The people , the only creators of wealth , possess knowledge ; theypossess industry ; and if they possessed land , they could set all other monopolies at defiance ; they would then be enabled to employ machinery for their own benefit , and the world would behold with delight and astonishment the beneficial effects of this mighty engine wheu properly directed » -Jl « ttor of the "Meproof of
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THE SCOTCH POOR LAW SYSTEM . The expose of his lord-godship thc Duke of Sutherland , given in our last , will , we doubt not , have fully satisfied our readers—supposing them to have had any doubts on the matter—as to the utter heartless ness , unmitigated selfishness , and grinding tyranny of the "order" of which "his grace" is so eminent a member . It is , therefore , not necessary that we should travel from Dan to Bersheba—from John-O -Groat ' s to the lizard point—exposing ike mal-ad ministration of the soil on the estate of each particular landlord . To attempt this would be to engage in an endless task , compared with which all the labours of Hercdks combined were a joke and a pastime . We shall probably , therefore , content ourselves with
exposing any new atrocities that may arise from time to time , similar to the " weeding" at Glen Calvie , and the " evictions" in Ireland : to which we may occasionally add some facts illustrative of the condition of the peasantry on the southern side of the border . In settingdown the Duke of Sutherland as a representative of his class , it would , however , be unfair were we toleave the reader to infer that all landlords have pursued and do pursue thc same coarse of " extermination" which characterises the rule of the northern autocrat and his deputy-dictator , Locir . On the contrary , there are csceptionary instances highly honourable to the character . of the parties concerned For instance , the Duke of Sutherland ' s neighbour , Sir George Skclaib , by acting on a system the reverse of that acted on by "his grace" has proved
, himself—so far as the system wUl admit—a worthy steward of a public trust : the portion of tlie land Of which he is the holder . The limes * " Commissioner " says : — " Instead of the wretched bothies crowded in clusters , and then some twenty miles without a cottage , which is the characteristic of Sutherlandshire , and scarcely a man to be seen employed , throughout Caithness , a dozen miles from Sutherlandshire , there is scarcely a hothie to be seen , but every 500 or 600 yards there is a good stone cottage , often with a little garden to it , and evidences of comfort about it . The whole land i 3 cultivated , and there is scarcely a field without men and horses in it labouring , and women weeding and stone picking : the women get wages of 6 d / to 8 d . a day . The two chief towns of Caithness are large and populous and
town-like ; and , besides the herring-fishing , there is rope-making , flag-cutting , stave-sawing , tubmaking , and boat and ship-building to a small extent , carried on . " The writer then gives some tabular statements , showing the progression of Caithness as compared with Sutherland since the year 1801 , proving that Sutherlandshire under sheep-fanning and clearances has remained stationary for twenty-seven years in its rental , and , for forty years , in its population ; while Caithness , under agriculture and small farnvs , has more than doubled its rental , and its population has increased above onethird . during the same periods . "This , " adds the writer , " is conclusive enough as to Sutherlandshire 'improvements , ' without taking into account the vast mass of misery and the wretched population they have created . " The Times " commissioner " adduces numerous instances of the warm-hearted and
active benevolence of Sir Georgb Sikcuir ; and though in Caithness , as elsewhere , the aged , infirm , and helpless suffer from , the want of an elh ' cient system of Poor Laws , yet it 13 cheering to know that the " good landlord , Sir Geoboe , " does his part in alleviating what any one individual must be powerless to altogether remedy . The conduct of Sir George Sixcuik is the more conspicuously admirable from the aristocratieal selfishness which characterises the greater number of his " order ;" and that , too , in his own neighbourhood . When Sir George Sixcum was a member of thc House of Commons , we judged him by his acts and speeches to be one of the best men sitting there : and glad we are to learn that his public was but thc index of his private conduct—that the just principles he advocated in the senate he acts upon in his social relations with those committed to his care . Would that there were more Siscums ! -
And there are more—we cannot doubt it : and to them be all honour . We certainly have no veneration , no love , for the present system of land-holding no matter what the character of the landlords : but where good men are found at the head of a bad system—a system which was not framed by themfar be it from us to write one word derogatory to their good name . We , of course , do not consider women working in the fields for 6 d . or 8 d . a-day a very admirable state of tilings , even with the superintendent benevolence of a Sir Georgb Sinclair ; still we fear whilst the present system of land-holding lasts , such a state of things is likely to hist too : and consequently the more necessary and the more grateful is the kindliness and benevolence of such men as the Caithness laronet .
Having done justice to Sir George Sinclair and the minority ^ - " few and far between" —of landholders—not land-owners—of whom he may be considered the representative , we -would now desire ta forthwith address ourselves to the great inquiry of these articles— " To whom doos tho Land belong , and who arc its rightful lords ? " But another subject ( connected therewith ) presses for immediate consideration—viz ., the Scotch Poor Law system and its proposed amendment . The projected amendment of the present laws providing for the relief of the Scottish poor is now under thc consideration of the Legislature ; and
in a few weeks , for good or evil , may becomo the law of theland . This is a subject that-cannot be delayed Thc Lord Advocate' s Bill once law , may cost years of wearisome agitation to procure its amendment—and God knows it will need no little amendment if it pass in its present shape : it is therefore indispensable that we devote to it as ranch attention as possible while passing through the Legislature . This question once disposed of , we shall pursue our inquiry into the rights (?) of the landplunderers : in the meantime the publication of the facts relative to the treatment of the Scottish poor , will show how wickedly our northern aristocrats have abused their power and privileges .
The Scottish Poor Law Amendment Bill should have gone into committee on Monday night , but on that evening , " on the motion of the Lord Advocate , the Poor Law Amendment ( Scotland ) Bill was committed pro forma , and ordered to be recommitted on _ Thunday te'might . " So that the discussion of the measure , clause by clause , is again postponed to Thursday next , the 3 rd of July . This delay is of value to the people of Scotland , if they Kill but take advantage of it , Again , therefore , we must urge upon them the necessity of moving in the . matter for the obtainnient of as good a law as they possibly can induce the Legislature to adopt , provided the Government is bent upon forciug the Lord Advocate ' s 4 rill through Parliament this session . . To us it appears most desirable that no Act on the subject should be made law this session . The Lord Advocate ' s bill is not understood—is not known ; and it is most necessarv that it should be fully comprehended by the Scottish people before it , or any version of it , is made law . It is a repulsive task for us to advise delay , when we know thc
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•• And I inll war , at least in words , ( And—should my chance so happen—detda ) , With all who war with Thought !" "I think I hear a little bird , who lings Ihe petpl « tjandtj wfllbe the stronger . "—Btboh . U 05 IE VIDEO AND BUENOS AYRES . Mr- Gobb Odselet appears to he -very tardy in his jnovements ; at the latest accounts from Brazil he laa been at Bio , from which port hesailed for Buenos Ayres on the 22 nd of April . So that to the beginning of May the miscreant Rosas had been allowed to continue his atrocious war against Monte Video undiecked and nndistorhoil . That city yet defied its iesiegers , bat its champion Rivera had " experienced a defeat at the bands ot the Buenos Ayrean General Ubqcka . The accounts oF the battle which have reached this country are so conflicting that no dependence can be placed npou them . According to lhe Buenos Ayrean version the defeat of Rivera was complete and most sangninary , S 00 of his followers
having been slaughtered and 350 taken prisoners . The opposite version represents the defeat of Riveha as a mere "check , " of no great importance . By some accounts Rivera is stated to have taken refu " e within the Brazilian territory , where himself and followers were immediately disarmed by the authorities . By other accounts it is stated that a few only of his foltowers havesonght that refuge , RlVERA him self Kanainrag at the head of a consideraWe force ¦ within the Banda Oriental , One thin" is certainthis unnatural and fatahrar yet continues . Blood is poured out in torrents , commerce is destroyed , and civilisation is retarded , because thc British and 1 rench governments will not say " stop" to the miscreant Rosas .
In the articles which appeared in this paper of April 2 Gth and May 3 rd , we urged the intervention pi the British Government to put a stop to the war in the river Plate , on the grounds of humanity and justice . We demanded this intervention that an end might be put to the efiusionof blood in the Monte Videan territory , and Monte Video be saved from the horrors which would certainly be its doom should it fall into the hands of Rosas , and that the treat ; securing the independence of Monte Video should be enforced and maintained , seeing that England was a party ia that treaty , indeed , its principal author , and therefore bound in honour and justice to guarantee its integritv . In the articles to which we allude we said nothing about the commercial view of the Question , the creat
jDjury done to the British trade by the continuance of this desolating war : this is a view of the question which is , however , much more likely to interest a large and influential class in this country than anv consideration of political right or moral justice We are sorry this should be the case , hut we believe it to be so . To all , then , disposed to inquire into the effects of the La Plata war on British commerce , we recommend a perusal of an able pamphlet by the Editor of Hhaliverpool Haas , published at the office of that paper , Castle-street , Liverpool , which cannot fail to satisfy them that a regard for the interests of British commerce should of itself be sufficient inducement to them to insist on flic intervention of the Government of this country .
He only extract from this pamphlet we can afford room for , is the following description of the capabilities of the rivers La Plata , Uruguay , Parana , and then- tributary streams , which are at present block aded , or access denied to them b y Rosas : — "It is not generally known , although it is very impor . taut that it should be , that this trade amounted in 1813 , including both imports and exports , to upwards of three jniilionssterling , at the port of Monte Videoalone . It is stiO , however , ia itsiuCancj , and rcquiresnothing bnta few years of peace , with the introduction of steam navigation on the Parana , the Uruguay , and their tributaries , to gire an extension which will render it of vital importance to the merchants ana manufacturers of England . Thc Parana and the Paraguay , together , are known to be
navigable to Assumption , which is fifteen hundred miles above Lucnos Ayres , to vessels drawing nine feet water , and there is every reason to believe that both those rivers might be navigated a thousand miles higher by iron steamers , such , as those recently built at Birkenhead , by order of the East India Company , for the navigation of the Indus and the Sctlcj , the former of which , when carrying guns and troops , draw only four feet water , the latter of which , when loaded in the same manner , not more than two and a hal £ The Uruguay is equally navigable for several hundred miles to the Salto Chico ( the little leap ) , and if a short canal was cut , to turn that rapid , and the much more formidable one of the Salto Grande , it would be navigable for many hundred miles above the Palls . Several of the tributaries o »
these gigantic streams are larger than the Bhinc , the She , or tne Tagns , and great numbers of them than the Thames or the Jlersej , anfl the Whole Of tlilS V 3 St nefwork of waters i 3 connected with the still more stupendous river of the Amazons , by a short portage to the Madeira , one of the principal tributaries of that king of livers . The natural products which these unrivalled liaes of river communication might be made the means of bringing to the ports on the rivers Plate and Amazons are varied and inexhaustible . In addition to thc large supplies of hides , -wool , tallow , and provisions , which these countries now furnish , Paraguay and Corrientes are capable of supplying the finest timber for ship , banding purposes , sugar the growth of free labour , the best kinds of tobacco , cotton-wool , dvewoods , drugs , the
tea of Paraguay , and the precious metals from Bolivia and the back provinces of Brazil . It is now only twenty or thirty years since steam navigation was introduced on the Mississippi , and the consequence of its introduction lias been an extension of cultivation and population , such as the world never before saw . The natural resources of the great valleys of the Parana , Paraguay , and Uruguay , merely require to be developed by the same means to make Monte Video and Buenos Ayres as flourishing as Sew Orleans , and to make the commerce of the River Plate rival that of the Mississippi . It is perhaps vain to hope that anything will induce the present Governor of Buenos Ayres to abandon the suicidal policy which is at once impeding the intercourse with the interior , and depriving that city of the principal benefits of its unrivalled position
but this only renders it the more necessary to keep open the only other course , namely , that through the Uruguay , by which the resources of these vast countries can be brought into activity . What may be Mr . Gohe Ocselet ' s instructions we know not , but we do know that two years and a half ago his predecessor , Mr . Maxdevillb , " solemnly pledged tiie assistance and interference of his Go-Ternment to aid the Monte Videans from being crushed , and to pnt an end to the war ; andtliat that pledge , up to this time , has never been fulfilled . The reason given by Sir IIobebt Peel for the nonfulfilment of Mr . Ma 5 Devili . e ' s premises is , that he had exceeded his orders in giving them . Be that as it may , those promises were most influential in stimulating the Monte Videans to protract the war , and encounter the sufferings they have since endured ; and we fully agree with the author of the
pamphlet before ns , that " It is no longer a question of whether an independent Government , formed under the mediation of England , shall be sacrificed , and along with it the peace which it has so long been the means of preserving between two of the most important states of South America ( Brazil and Snenos ¦ A yres ); neither is it a mere question of whether the commercial intercourse with the finest regions of that great continent shall be carried on without impediment ; it is aot now even a question of whether a iriendly Government shall be destroyed and all connected with it mined : these considerations , great as they are , yield to the consideration that the honour of tins country has been pledged by its authorised representative , and that promises have been given which cannot be violated without deep disgrace to the hitherto unsullied honour of the English name . "
UNITED STATES . —THE ANTI-REST MOVEMENT . We hare received No . 8 , of the Albany Freeholder , for May 20 th : by-the-byc Nos . i , 5 , 6 , and 1 r of the Fraholder have not been received at this office . The Anti-Rent Movement is by no means pnt down . At a place called Iivingstonville , the sheriff of Scholiarie county , attended by a force of sixty or seventy persons , had " weeded oat" a Mr . D . L . Steinberg , an AnttRenter , depriving him of house and home . At another place—Taghcanick , Columbia county , ( N . T . ) the sheriff and his men trying on the same system , were , whilst encased in tearing down the house ,
suddenly surrounded by a body of Indians ( Anti-Renters in Indian disguises ) and driven away : ihe sheriff and his men getting a taste of buck-shot by * ay of quickening their retreat ! These things read strange as taking place in Republican America . One might fancy that we was reading of Ireland , or the Scottish Highlands , rather than the land of Wash mgton and Jefferson . The Anti-Renters are , howler , gaining municipal and legislative power , and * ill by and by bring landlordism to the dust . Anticenters seem to east in other places than New i ' ork state . We find in the same number of the Fndioldtr the following paragraph : —
Hose Trodsix ik Iowa . —There is trouble on the halt " 3 l land in Iowa . A great excitement prevails among ^• ettlers . They have repeatedly met under arms to ? ttftnt the sale of the lands by the Sheriff , under a < k ** eeinfevourof theKewYork Company . Mora than 600 bad taken arms at the last accounts . Those lands vein the southern puts of Iowa , very valuable , and in'tadeKeokncfc , a place probably destined to be larger t } on an ; other on the Mississippi north of St . Louis . — 3 ra « B «< Ke&Ht ., l& , 3 fl 3 rt . In the same paper is an able editorial article in which
the writer argues that " do human-conclave , w hether assembled in the palace of the Czars , or in ^ wigwam of the Indian—whether met together ** Westminster Hall or in the eapital of Washington " ^ e a ri ght to inakeTOnditions of government at Variance with the simple principles of justice incul'ated by God and nature . " That Jaws founded on psar pation are" utterly void . " ThatLASDiioKorotT * sso founded , and that "this thing , this land mono-I * ? . whether Congress-created or King-created , or "rated by both , must fall throughout this whole R epublic . "
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THE ENGLISH PEASANTRY . lhe following account of the condition of part , at least , ot the labouring classes in the county of Wilts was given by two farm' labourers at a meeting of 1000 persons held at Uphavon , in that county , the week before last : — . William Perry , a labourer , living at Charlton , said he had come forward to speak to his fellow-labourers , and he had no reason to be ashamed to speak before any man . He had five children , the eldest ten years of age , the
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The above article was already in typo when we received the following report of a highly important meeting held at Aberdeen , to consider the Lord Advocate ' s Poor Law Bill . We beg our Scottish friends to carefully read the report , and weigh well the " amendments" which arc demanded by the people of Aberdeen . To us it appears that these " amendments" are admirably designed to make any jaw that may be passed containing them , just in its objects and efficient in its practice . From this meeting we begin to hope that our northern friends , though late in the day , really mean to do something . To the people of every other town in Scotland we say , look to the example set by tho men of Aberdeen , and go ye and do likewise .
Aberdeen . — lire New Scotch Poor Law . —A public meeting was held on Tuesday last , in the largo square called Castle-street , in this city , which was numerously attended , although it rained heavily , to take into consideration the Scotch Poor Law Amendment Bill now pending . Mr . James Mac Pherson was called to the chair , who , with Mr . A . B . Henry and Mr . R . Lourie , were the principal speakers . They acquitted themselves admirably , going over the history of the management of tho poor , prior to and since the enactment of Poor Laws , both in England and Scotland ; contrasting the first enactments of Poor Laws with the amended English law and the intended new Scotch one . The resolutions moved , and the petition founded thereon , were unanimously adopted ; in which petition numerous
amendments in the bill pending are prayed for . The most prominent were—that all property , both in towns and country , should be equally assessed , without respect to the number of poor in either , or in any district ; and thc amount deposited as a central fund from which all the poor may be equally supported , according to their necessities , wherever located ; the rate-payers to elect tho local boards from time to time , each rate-payev having an equal voice , without regard to the amount of his assessment ; the local boards to report the number and circumstances Of the applicants to ' the general board of commissioners of the general fund , who are to order payments accordingly , but failing their orders not giving satisfaction , the sheriffs of the counties to be empowered to
decide , both as to the right to support and the amount of that support , and failing his awards not giving satisfaction , that an appeal lie to the supreme courts ( Court of Session ); ana that a lawyer or lawyers be appointed , of high standing as to honour , talent , and practice , with a salary from Government , to plead the cause of the poor , not as at present , where , in each district , one of the youngest , and consequently of least practice , without salary or fees , is generall y selected for that purpose . A general assessment would require no parish settlement , as it would not matter where the applicants resided , whether in towns or country . It would also do away the despicable and expensive process of hurling them from parish to parish , as if they were unclean beasts :
and also stop litigation betwixt parish and parish , wast ' mg the poor ' s fundg , and'filling the pockets of lawyers instead of the bellies of . the . poor . It would also be a means of putting a stop to the cold-blooded and inhuman practice ot sweeping the poor , aged , and infirm from the face of God ' s earth- ^ which has been and is still prevalent in the rural districts ; and it would also save to the country the expense of erectating those bastiles called workhouses , with their cruel and expensive devil-commissioners and managers , where many die , unseen , from starvation and ill usage , and as many from self-destruction , rather than be immured intthem , as is proved by the verdicts of the coroners'juries in England ,: You will be at no loss to judge the class that got up this meeting , when I tell you that our petition is consigned to the care pi Mr . Duncombe . Would to God wo had a score like
him in that unholy house called St . Stephen ' s , where the doxolo » y is— " Gold is the God . we adore !" The conductors of the Northern Star and the Timet newspapers deserve all praise for the interest they have taken in the cause of suffering humanity , in exposing the cruelty , practised in Scotland and her GUn-Calvies . If you have not received a niore detailed account of our meeting , I hope you will give this a place in yeur first impression of the Star it being read from John . o ' -Groat ' a to . Maiden Klrk ,-embracing a larger circle in Scotland than any of our local papers . It will be the means of arousing many other districts to examine the subject , and you will receive the thanks of all classes—except dukes , lords , Ac ., who , if they could see you and thc editor of thc Times dangling on the gallows tree , would dance your " dairgy" at the foot of it . — Comtrmdeni . ¦ ¦
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Funeual of the late Mr . Bauham . —The remains of the late Minor Canon of St . Paul ' s , the Rev . R . II . Barham , were interred on Saturday in the Rector ' s vault of the church of St . Mary Magdalen , Old Fish-street-hill , and St . Gregory by St . Paul ' s , by the side of his four children . His disease was a tumour in the larynx , ¦ which . Sir Benjamin Brodie pronounced fatal as soon as the case was submitted to him . Exorcism Extraordinary . —A Spanish journal states that the cur 6 of Ministrol de Oaldes , iu Catalonia , in exorcising a woman possessed by a legion of devils , succeeded lately in forcing out of her the trifling number of 79 , 9 'Jl . Unfortunately , the last devil of all , more cunning than Mb comrades , was able to resist all the attacks of the cur 6 , who always recommenced his operations every fete day . The civil and ecclesiastical authorities at last pnt an end to his proceedings .
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others of the age of eight , six , four , and throe . He had 7 s . a week to maintain this family . If any person prosent could tell him how to manage this for nil to 'have enough lie SllOUld be glad . There were twenty-one meals to ba provided out of 7 s ., leaving no provision for clothes , firing , candle ? , and soap ! When he came home two or three of the children were generally gone to bed , but when he came iu they began crying , « Father , bring me up a piece of bread . " He had often licardthis cry during the winter , and even within the last week . What could he do ?—he had no bread to give them . Then there was rout and shoes to be paid for at Michaelmas . How could he do this in an honest manner ? His desire was to live honestly , in a Godly way , but he could not do it . Perhaps he met a man to whom he owed money ; of course he did not like to meet him . These were not the feelings of an honest man ; but what could ho do ? If there were
not some good and charitable people in the country he should be starved —[ voices— " The same here , " and " 'Tis too true . " ] He was thankful God had spared him and his family to thc present moment . This day he had walked three and a half miles to his work . He took a bit of bread with him , and had a drink of water ; and had a little when he got home . [ ' We all know that ' s true . " A voice— " What makes you tremble so ! " ] If I had been home to a good supper and a quart of good ale , I should not tremble . He wished every labouring man to liave three or / our acres of land at ihe same rent as ( he farmers gave . They would pay this and b » glad . [ Loud cheers , ana cries of " Yc ? , yes ; and we would give a little more than that . " ] Yes , said Perry , we don't mind 10 s . an acre more . This speech was received with loud marks of applause , and repeated confirmation of the truth of tho statements contained in it .
Ozias Sealey , a labourer , also came forward , and began by saying he was going to speuk the truth . He had eight children , and his wages were 7 s . a week ; he had laid out 50 s . during the past winter in potatoes ; that was enough to pay for an acre of land if he could get it . Thc children would jump across the house if they saw a couple of potatoes , and quarrel which should have them . It was enough to drive a man mad . When he came home at night , and found them crying for food , and he had none to give them , it almost drove him mad ; he could not stand it another winter . ) VTial icoidd the gentlemen Ihml : of thit , filled as they were Kith the roast beef and sherry wino ? When the poor man was happy in heaven , he knew not where the rich would be . [ Several people exclaimed that every one with families was in the same state , and many others would have come forward to speak , but were kept back by fear . ]
Here is tho disease , the cause , and the remedy , clearly pointed out by the victims . The disease is misery—almost unparalleled misery , as evidenced by men tilling the earth for 7 s . a " week—able-bodied labourers "trembling" with hunger-Englishmen almost driven mad" by the cries of their hungry children for bread ! The cause is as plainly evidentthc monopoly of thc soil in the hands of a few to the exclusion of the many , which , preventing the working man toiling in the " sweat of his brow" for bread , raised on Ids own plot of land , compels him to pay 50 s . for bought potatoes . The remedy is equally plain —the restoration of the land to the labourer . All Williau Perry wishes foi * is " three or four acres of land , " for which he is willine to eive " the same vent
as the farmers give ; " and others in the meeting added they " would give a little more than that . " Ozias Sealey would gladly pay 50 s . ( rent ) for an acre of land if he could get it , but he cannot set it . Here are the fruits of the largo farm system , the commons hclosurcs , and thc other agricultural "improvements" of thc last fifty ye . ii ? , so much lauded by the political economists ! But is this a state of things safe for the community ? Is it not , on the contrary , highly dangerous that a class should exist even for one day in a state rendering them careless of any change—nay , ready to welcome any convulsion , believing ( and rightly so ) that whatever may happen they might be benentted , but could not possibly be injured ? Let us further ask thc landlords , whether the speeches of such men as Phrry and Sealey are not most significant to them ? Thev know tli . it
they are hated in tho manufacturing districts—that Chartist and Leaguer ( through with very different motives and objects ) are alike banded together to destroy their power . Their only safety—their only hope of maintaining their existence as a class lies in thc attachment of the agricultural body—or at least the indifference of that body to political discussions and political reforms . Any love for the aristocracy on the part of tho agricultural labourers has , we fancy , for some time ceased to exist . The ignorance of the agricultural masses was therefore the aristocracy ' s only remaining safeguard . That ignorance , thank God , is fast being dispelled . Perry and Sealky speak out . T .. ey care little for what the " roast beef and sherry wine" gorged gentry think—they will be
heard . Applauding hundreds ratify the truth of thoir assertions ; and though many arc not so bold as to speak out like Perky and Sealky , yet they cherish the like feelings—they feel the like misery , and they protest against the like injustice . There is more meaning in one of these simple speeches of the downtrodden peasantry of England , than in three fourths of the florid harangues ever uttered en the election hustings , or on the platform of the lecture hall . Lords of England , high and haughty aristocrats , beware ! If you will break up the monopoly of your farms ; if you will think less of your game , and more of your labourers ; if you will let the peasant have a bit of land , even at an exorbitant rent , you may perhaps stave off the evil day—you for yet a
may little while maintain your gigantic usurpationtliqugli not for ever , nor for long : for tho handwriting is on tho wall , predicting yonr doom . But if you will not do this , swift will be your destruction , and signal your fall . At present the labourer , in all probability , dreams not that the land , for a little bit of which he supplicates on which to grow food for his children , belongs to all , and not to you lords and gentlemen only . The labourer has been brought up to believe in the " right divine" of landlords ; that the earth was made for the privileged few , he being merely placed thereon to till it and pay rent for it to the born aristocrat : a comfortable belief for you , lords and gentlemen—but which you are takine most
effectual meajis to disabuse the labourer of . If you will not grant him the little bit of land , for which he is now desirous of paying you an enormous rent , may not the question at length break in upon him whether God and nature could possibly have intended the land to be monopolised by a few , that few condemning their brethren to unrequited toil and lingering starvation ? Yes , the day is coming ^ yllen the labourer will make the inquiry ; when , scorning to beg for land—when , denying your right to rent , he will demand the restitution of what you have impiously and wickedly defrauded him . Instead of then asking for four acres at an exhorbitant " rent , " he will say : —The land was made for . all—the land must and shall be restored to all .
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Ceetiiigatbb to be granted , unless cause be shown to the contrary on the day of meeting . JulylC . W . J . Taylor , High-street , Catnden Town , grocer-July 16 , J . Brain , Winchester-place , Pcntonviile , copper-piiite dealer—July 10 , T . JI . Coclisedge , Sliadwcll , miller—July 16 , T . Johnson , sen ., and W . Johnson , Hum . ford , Eseex , bankers—July 15 , A . II . Chambers , sen ., New Bond-street , banker-July 16 , R . Darker , Manchester , druggist—July 16 , J , Gerravd , Marsden , Yorkshire , co ! tonspinner—July 17 , M . Humphries , Huhne , Lancashire , joiner—July IS , J . Livingstone and T . Buttain , Manchester , plumbers—July 15 , T . lliltrard , Ejipcrstone , Nottinghamshire , miller—July 15 , 1 ) . Webb , High-street , Soi ' . th . wnrk , cheesemonger—July 15 , R . 6 , Ward and J . 1 ' ei'ry , Newgate-market , meat-salesmen—July 15 , J . Weight : i : m , Northampton , wharfinger—July 15 , T . S . Dodd , Livc ;; oul , innkeeper—July 15 , K . E . Robinson , Wolverhani };; on , grocer—July 14 , JI . Farrand , Almondbmy , Yorkshire , fancy cloth manufacturers—July 18 , W . Gadsby , jun ., Chcctliam , Lancashire , joiner—July 15 , J . V . Sprague Poole , grocer .
PABTNER 8 niPS DISSOLVED . A ., J . S ., II . II . Willie , and A . Willis , jun ., Crosby , square , City , merchants-A ., 3 . S ., and H . II . Willis , Crusby-square , City , insurance-brokcrs-J . Leach , sen ., J . Leiuih , and J . Lcacb , jun ., Bingley , Yorkshire , worsted , manufacturers ; as far as regards John Leach—W . Elston and J . Lidstone , Old Bailey , builders—J . Davies and J . Fallows , Stockport , Cheshire , cotton waste-spiimers—8 . Bath and V . J . Bolton , High-street , Wnpping , coal-mer . ehants-S . Holdsworth and W . H . Milner , Wakofield , \ orkshire , surgeons—A . C . Harris and T . Bell , Alexandria , Egypt , merchants—C . Smith and T . Hunter , Bishop Wcannouth , Durham , wholesale tea-dealers—II . llnine and B . Scholcs , Bury , Lancashire , plumbers-W . HuMday
ana a . Rhodes , ncckmondwike , Yorkshire , worstmlysirn . spinners—J . and C . Turner , Church-street , ltuthnuLgreen , leather-sellers-E . and J . Withinshaw , Shelton , Staffordshire , leather-dealers—C . College and S . Henningham , Birmingham , engravers—G . Sangster and J . F . llelliss . Queen-street , Cheapside , cotton-factors—E . Meredith and C . Parker , Liverpool , linendrapers—C . and W . Bedells , Leicester , manufacturers of elastic fabrics-E . W . and B . O . Coulborn , Manchester , fustian-manufacturers—B . Barlow aud B . Edwards , Wrexhum , Denbighshire , ironmasters —J . aud T . Taylor , Kirby-stvect , Ilatton-garden , -goldbeaters—R . and A . A . Debcnham , Upper Clapton , drapers —D . Gill and T . Wainwright , Leeds , iron-foundcra-J . Vnttain and D . Smales , Kin ^ ston-upou-IIull , hop-uiorchants .
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JoNE 28 , 1845 . j'HE NORTHERN STAR . 7
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 28, 1845, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1321/page/7/
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