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rT<tT^<JIEMBEf»" OF THE " CHARTIST ¦;. 5 . ~ COOPERATIVE I.IL8D SOCIETY. ; s-'- Vs..l . X- - .; . ' ..— A- - ¦¦¦;¦ ¦ - .-:. . - . ; " ¦ • Mi"'-i i < ¦ : ¦ ¦¦¦
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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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'~ -Z-a T 9 Wnesday mgbt , Jnne 10 th 1846 .:. My DEiB Fhesds , —Here ax many to whom this letter ( which " stern necessity , dnty to yon and duty to myself , compels me io -write ) mil gweTwuch pain , bat when the plain , and simple narrative is read none will blame me for the resolution to which you will find I hare been- driven . Perhaps no man in this world lias ever been dicnmstancad as I have , and I am vain enough to think that amid a torrent of circumstances that -would have weighed any other mortal to * the ground , I have preserved an eveness of bearing and uprightness of character which
challenges comparison and defies dander . It is very irksome to be compelled , now and then , to recur to the past , bat as it is theonly safe foundation whereon to base the fbtnre , I have no alternative . To . my sanative . —For thirieen years ' and a half , then , 1 have been at the head of such a popular movement as no country ever witnessed . ; ' I have seen charac ters , which I supposed above suspicion , yielding to overpowering or irresistible influences . I have seen the political world turned topsy tuxvy ; men changing principles fornew fangled notions , and parties violating every guarantee that long and trying events had given of their faithfulness . I have remained steady
in the midst of change , constant in . a whirlwind of inconstancy , and if any one circumstance more than another has enabled me to preserve my equilibrium in the storm it has been the faithfulness with which I have ever administered the National Funds committed to my care . I have been entrusted with a larger amount of public money " than any other man living , and It is now my pride-to sayv that upon a balance of accounts tieNATION IS MT DEBTORIhave been foolishly lavish of njy own funds , bnt sernpulouslj protective of ypursl ? 1 fonnd " : the one ingredient necessary to bind a great party together was INTEGRITY , and all my battles with sections
of the moving party have been for the improper uses to which public monies were applied . This I sought as much as possible to correct , by setting an example of punctuality in my own dealings ; and that I have succeeded generally is manifest from the fact that your confidence in me is not only unabated but increases . But , my friends , if integrity is indispensable to the preservation , of public confidence , belief in that integrity is also indispensable to the ¦ fulfilment of a national project ; and to preserve it is the sole object of this to me most painful narrative . I arrived la London this morn " ing for the purpose of arranging the purchase of 130
acres of the most beautiful estate in England for our purpose . There are 100 acres of old meadow land with a high road frontage for cottages , within fifteen miles of London , and one and a quarter of a railway station . I was obliged to treat for it by private confaacfc as it is to be sold in three lots , and I dare not venture upon baying land in lots as the price might be considerably raised . Ton might be sure that this fascinating prospect gave a relish to my next week's labour , and . made me enjov the thoughts of
the past . Shertly after I arrived in Londonil had a visit from Mr . Clark , who pufc me in possession ot the following facts , and in the following ' manner : '"Well , sir , I saw Cooper since I last saw you , and I don't know whathe is about . He said that we were all deceived , that von were not fit to be trusted ' with the funds or the management of the affairs . He asked in whose name the Estate was purchased ? and when I said in yours , till we were enrolled , he said , ' Good God ! why the man is over head and ears in debt . Do yon know his liabilities ? Do yon know
fiiatheisSUPPORTINGTHE STARUFONTHE LAM ) FUND ? and as to settling his accounts at Manchester , did yon COUNT THE POST-OEFICE ORDERS he produced , or what security have yon for the money—THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE UNDECEIVED . '" Well , my friend ^ , it Is to undeceive the country that I bow write ; and , although sometimes snappish upon other questions , I can afford to write calmly upon money matters , as dates are stubborn facts , and figures are stern combatants . I shall now take those several charges seriatim .
The Estate was purchased in my name much against my consent . Had the society been enrolled it would haveibeen . purchased in the name of the trustees ; ' when It is enrolled , vrhietfitTriir oe when the new act is passed , it will be conveyed to the trustees ; till the society is enrolled the trustees could not have conveyed the Estate to the shareholders ; all was done by the advice of Counsel . I purchased the Estate aad . paid the deposit , and when the title was completed I gave directions that the conveyance should be to Mr . Roberts . On the day before the purchase was completed Mr . Roberts ' Clerk waited upon me , and said , " Sir , I CAN'T
HAVE THE PURCHASE MADE IS MR . ROBERTS' NAME , it will look very strange now , after the affair being carried so far in your name . '' I said , "Nevermind that , let the conveyance be to Mr . Roberts . " "Well , sir , it will make me look very awkward , and it will seem odd : " I consulted the DI < rectors , who said , " TOBE SURE , LET THE CONTEYANCE BE IN YOUR NAME . " I consented very reluctantly , not that I doubted myself , but because I had resolved that it should be otherwise . So much for the purchase . Now for my liabilities .
My friends ; I HATE NO LIABILITIES . I owe no man a guinea that could affect that purchase , and I owe no more of any sort than you shall presently know of . It i 3 really heart-breaking to be dragged into this exposure of pecuniary matters , but every one who reads this letter will see that I have no alternative ; and that the success of a great national undertaking depends npon confidence . " DO YOU KNOW THAT HE IS SUPPORTING THE STAR UPON THE LAND FUND ? " Mv
friends , this is a direct charge of fraud , and one which , although painful to myself , I will answer most clearly , simply , and emphatically . I shall tike dates and figures , and from them shall establish such a case a 3 will , if possible , increase public confidence in me , and add to Mr . Cooper ' s guilt . The Land plan was established in April , 1845 , and from that period to the present moment I will exhibit such a Star and Land account as Mr . Cooper ' s NEW FRIENDS will perfectly understand . The payment for paper and stamps for the Star are made by bill at 3 months , and since the Land plan , was established the following have been the amount and dates of payment : — July 19 , Paid Bill for paper aad stamps G 57 0 0
July 19 , Btceivca from air . ArdUl , as per cash book , page , 1 S 6 173 0 0 Bo . per do . fey cheque in part of bill . ... 150 0 0 17 , Received from Abal Heynood 300 0 0 £ 23 0 0
XAKD PDXD . July 18 , Paid Treasurer all in hand up to that time ... 150 o 0 Ifov . 19 , Paid bill for paper and stamps G 59 9 2 17 , Iteceired from Abel fiejwood 300 0 0 Borrowed from W . P . Roberts , ( XOTli-VKD MOXEYJ ... ... 350 0 0 Cheque from Sir . ArdUl 5 C 9 2 706 9 2 Bill 058 9 2 Paid Landlady ... 47 0 O How linmiliating all thisis—but , thank God , I can do it . . LAND FCXD . Sept . 4 . paidlKsEk , as per Treasurer ' s Bauk Buok 748 12 0 Kov . 1 . Do . ( nearly Bill time ) 891 4 o April 19 . Due by Bill for paper and stamps 1470 6 S 14 . Received" from Abel Heywood 900 0 0 Ditto from quarter ac-COUUtS of Star to end of March 3 S 5 5 0 . 1 , 2 S 5 5 fl April 19 . Paid on . BUI of £ 1470 Cd , Si 1500 O O
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Renewing-by bill and paying five per . cent . &r it ... ... ... 279 7 10 LAND FUND . Jan . 31 . Paid" Bank ... ' 1 . 669 4 \ 9
So much for the Star being supported by the Land Fund ; now for weekly expences . Comporitisn and Printing .. 24 10 0 Sub Editors ... ... 5 0 0 Office . „ 3 4 0 newspaper and cart men ... ... ... 16 0 83 19 0 London Sale aboutS . OOOweeHy paidin cask £ 33 , 6 8
Prom the above account it will be seen that , with t he exception of Mr . Heywood , and the London Agents , that from April , 1845 , to April 1846 , 1 have only pHt down £ 385 , asTeceivedfrom all other agents of the Star . This brings the Star account down to the I 9 th of April , 1805 . ' ¦ . DIDTOn ^ QIJI JT THE MONIES ? Apra 9 . ( Bmduoi 9 ) -P « idBank ^ : 1926 14 0 " ' Paid since last settle-Y 3-200 meat , deposit on landj ' - . Paidexpencei . upto date 77 8 2 . Returned ... ... 20 0 0 £ 2 , 396 2 2 This account was exhibited at Carpenters' Hall , on Sunday , April 12 th , and included all monies re * ceived up to the end of March . I left London on Thursday night , April 9 th , and took with me all the post office orders which had been received the two previous weeks to have them signed , with the exception of some that I sent off the previous week for signature , to make sure of having a sufficient amount to cover what was wrongly sent in the previous two months . I wrote to the Treasurer and told him of the quantity of irregular orders , and asked how I should state them in my general account ; his answer was , if yon have not the money to cover them , I will send it to you , but I am very anxious for a full and simplelaccount . The monies came in for the Star , and I advanced over . £ 200 to make the account
simple , and repaid myself to take up my bill , or part of it , due on the 19 th . Perhaps this REPAYING OF MYSELF , so contrary to my usual practice , was an
error . Now , all who know that the Land Fund is paid in Post-office orders will see that what was received up to the 4 th and 11 th of April could not have been cashed on the 9 th , when I paid all monies into the treasurer's account up to the end of March . BUT
DID YOU COUNT THE MONIES ? YES ; MR . JOHN MURRAY , AND FOUR OR FIVE OTHER PERSONS , WENT OVER THEM WITH ME , AT THE MOSELEY ARMS , ON SUNDAY ; and I told Mr . Murray to hand them for inspection to a reporter who was reporting the pro ceedings . But think of a man , a great philanthropist , too , asking , "Did you count the Post-office orders ? " Now , my friends , compare all the dates of my lodgments of the Land Fund with the dates when my own bills were due , and ask yourselves whether ever so clear a refutation was given to malinions slander ? But I hare not vet done with this
charge . la July I was wry anxious to try an experiment upon a model farm , and was in treaty for twenty-four acres at Pinner , which I was promised , I mentioned the fact to Mr . Robert ? , and told him that I had ao capital to take from the Star . He had a large number of shares in the Great Western Railway , and sent me , by return of post , five , to sell , and nse the money . I sold the five for £ 550 , a large portion of which went to pay off Messrs . Yatcs and Turner ' s bill of costs for the Lancashire trials . White ' s trials , and all the legal proceedings in London connected with those trials , and other debts . I sold the copyright of my " Small Farm" work
for £ 95 ; and I sold property that cost me over £ 1 , 200 for £ 93 , within the same period , to pay off LIABILITIES . In July I was sadly pressed for money ; and a person who knew it said , " Can't you USE THE LAND MONEY ? " I replied , " NO , I WILL GO WITHOUT MY DINNER FIRST !" Ihave now been accurate as to dates , which I have exhibited in my book and the banker ' s book , to Messrs . Wheeler and Clark ; and you will learn that I was borrowing money at five per cent , rather t ' uan touch the fund ; that , while I had over £ 1 * 500 mniy possession , on the 19 lhof April , I renewed a bill , and injured my credit , and paid five per cent , for the money . In October last , I was very hard pressed for
money—indeed , I have always been so ; and on my return from the Continent I was served with a writ for £ 22 4 s . 6 d ., the very first writ I was ever . served with in my life . It was upon a bill of £ 20 , given under the following cirenmstances : —In February , 1845 , two working men in Manchester were about entering into business ; they asked me to lend them £ 20 . I told them the fact , that I had it not . They then begged of me to lend them my bill at six months , which they could get cash for , assuring me that I should never hear more of it . I did hear no more of it till I was served with a writ ; I had not the money at the moment , and sooner than use the Land money I incurred more costs till I paid it .
I have been appointed treasurer to the Espence Fund , which is now large , and I have invariably mixed that up with the General Land Fuad , and was taunted for doing so at Manchester . Since my last lodgment , the weekly expenceof building , for bricks , timber , labour , and expences of all sorts have been and will be so large that I have not settled , nor could I ; but EVERY FRACTION IS THERE . and at the end of the quarter shall all be placed to the account of the Treasurer up to the day of my RESIGNATION , which ahaU be the day of balancing my accounts , as I am resolved that the jealousies and ambition of artful men shall not injure a cause that I have deeply at heart . If 1 can preserve nothing else I will preserve my houour ; I will beg
with it rather than fare sumptuously and fraudulently upon your confidence without it . I ho pe that no one will suppose me capable of being driven out of my course , however , by the ravings of a madman . No , my friends , w hen I say that I will resign , I merely mean that portion of my labours , that one siugie office , which enables ignorant , insolent , presumptuous people to attack me . I mean- only to resign my office of Deputy Treasurer—I mean still to retain my office of Director and Bailiff . I do not mean to abate a particle of my zeal and resolution , but 1 do mean that henceforth no man shall be able to charge me with any other crime than that of laziness . I refused to be Treasurer , I now relinquish the deputysnip , and will henceforth content myself with , the title and labour of CHARTIST BAIL IFF . Now FOR
THAT MAN'S LIABILITIES . W . P . Roberts , Esq . ... ... £ 550 0 0 AbelHeyivood ... 750 O 0 liicliard Oastler ... ,,, ,,, 75 O O Unpaid Shares on Star about ... 180 0 0 £ 1 , 555 0 0 I am now merely giving ttie Star liabilities , wbicli include all my liabilities . Due to me by Chartist agents which I never expect to see , about ... £ 3 , 400 0 0 Due to me by Chartists , money INTENDED to be repaid , about ... ' 700 0 0 Sue to me on account of bringing out Mr . Cooper's " Purgatory of Suicides ... 30 0 0 £ i , 130 0 0 The above sum does not include monies paid to families of poor Chartists , nor am I now speaking of the thousands that I have expended in travelling
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getting up meetings and so forth ; no smaU'iteni when I tell you that the meeting to oppose ' the Fox and Goose club . at Leeds cost me over £ 80 ; and one of Mr . Cooper ' s prompters negotiated with a Leeds Tdry fohave the expences paid , which I declined I have told you a tedious . tale that has been dragged fromrae ; and now let me offer a ¦ word of . comment on the hero of my narrative . r „ .. ' "Vi . . You are all aware that Mr . C . and I badhad some differences prior to his release from Stafford gaol ; shortly after his liberation he called upon me , and we had a very friendly explanation . It was NOT THEN bis Interest to fall out with me . In order to convince him that I had good grounds for suspicion befoVc his conviction , I read two very long communications from two bodies of the Chartists of Leicester . The
one from poor Duffy and the veritable Chartists , and signed by about forty-eight , ' and . for which they DEMANDED publication ; the other from' - another body with whom Mr : Coop ' eri had formerly acted , also DEMANDING ; publication as a means of saving ' the Chartist cause front Mr . _ Co 6 per . 1 « hall not ; nowi even ? hint at . the 'ifft ' iior&Sf ' those ^ Ummunications / sufnee it to say , that when I read them Mr . Cooper looked amazed , and said , " Well , you do indeed astonish me . I DON'T WONDER NOW AT YOUR SUSPICION . " All the past APPEARED to be forgotten . The next time I saw Mr .
Cooper he brought his manuscript poem with him , and he told me that he had been with Douglas Jerrold , with Dickens , { Foster of the Examiner , Lady Blessington , and a host of publishers . That all had given fair words and great praise , but that none would PLAT THE FOOL for him . He sat down and read some portions of his poem connected with the history of his mother , which made him cry , and I wept with him ! He said , " The rascals ! when I think how they used to sell the old soul up I pant for revenge . " I stopped him and said , "Well , Cooper , the eldfriendisthebestafter all , send Mr . M'Go wan up to me , and you shall have satisfaction ; I'LL BRING
OUT TOUR CHILD . " At the moment his gratitude had no bounds . He brought Mr . M'Gowaato me ; and I gave him orders to print the poem , to get paper on my account , and to SEND ME IN THE BILL . I thought Cooper would have gone mad with joy . My LIABILITIES would amount to nearly £ 70 . The publisher purchased the work and paid for the printing , but £ 30 is still due for paper for which I have paid , and for advertisement duly which I have paid . As those whom I have most served have most ' abused me , perhaps Mr . Cooper too may say that I printed his poem to DAMN HIM , but I can only observe that my mode of damning Chartist leaders is a very fascinating one .
From the moment that I became Mr . Cooper's patron to the present moment , he has gone out of his way to vilify , abuBe and misrepresent me . He even said that I had treated him shabbily , in not spending large sums of . money 'in advertising his poem in the daily newspapers ; he wished to increase my LIABILITIES . Mr . Cooper believes himself capable of using the land plan as a wedge to split up the Chartist party , and , being wholly and helplessly gnorant of the subject , he affects to dislike it . In
short ; he must have a grievance , and he has fabricated one . Now , my friends , it will , be for you to say whether or not Mr . Clark was justified in repeating to me what Mr . Cooper mentioned , uofc in confidence but as a -matier upon which he intended to open your eyes . Could ( Mr . Clark have done otherwise as a director than mention the fact , and could I do . otherwise' than meet it as I have done ? It is a favorite sebenre-with my opponents ; when they are beaten with their own weapons , to turn round and
cry out MORE DENUNCIATION . I have been longer than any other man in the present movement , and I declare on my own knowledge , and on my own conscience , that Mr . Thomas Cooper has been by far the mo 3 t extensive mischief-maker that ever was in the movement , from June 1842 to the present moment . Mr . Cooper must not use the pot-house , the coffee-shop , and . the news shops , as places to sport with my character , and then fly to the justice of defending himself in the Star SUPPORTED BT THE LAND FUND . If he stated what Clark repeated , of which there can be no doubt , ho has a simple
answer , and shall not make bis own fabrication the cause of controversy in the Star . It is a pprtion of his plan , but for this time he will find himself frustrated . As to the mere spleen of Mr . Cooper , it is foolish ; as to his powers , there is nothing to be dreaded from them beyond his own undoing . He speaks loudly upon na . tural infirmities , and professes much kindliness cf nature , and then he will not be angry with me when I tell him that'nature never designed him for any more extensive movement than leader of three or f our who would surrender all self-thought and self-respect . No man that ever I heard of has agreed for three months with Mr . Cooper ; no man ever will , no man ever can . Nature made him a poet , I made him an author , and it is for you to say whether or no he
has carried his Christian principles , so pompously boasted of , into practice . It is now time that I should bs plain with those for whom I spend every hour of mylife , and everypenny of my money . Some scamping vagabonds run about the country , aud wherever they can find two or three gathered together , they begin to calculate the profits on the Northern Star , and speak of them as if they had a right to . shar them amongst them . I think they have dona so pretty extensively ; but , my friends , did yen ever before hear of the proprietor of a newspaper being called upon , to account for his profits ; and as to Chartist newspapers and publications , is it-not the invariable custom to make an appeal to the public to make good all the losses , and if there are profits they are pocketed .
The way I now spend my time is this . I am up at i past 5 on Monday morning . I am at work for you till ten at night on Monday and Tuesday . On Wednesday at eight in the evening , I leave for London to do my own business . 1 sit up till two , and sometimes three on Thursday morning . It is not yet seven , and I am at work . I work without a moment ' s cessation till eight on Thursday evening : start again for the Farm , ' arrive at ten , up at halfpast five , and work till ten on Friday and Saturday . On Sunday post all the books to the amount of afraction with your foreman , he kcup 3 tbaaccounts ,
I pay the money . The Sunday before last I travelled seventy miles , and walked from one till four o'clock with Mr . Doyle , over nearly 300 acres of ground , in the melting sun . Last Sunday , after my work , I walked over every field of 130 acres in a broiling sun , and now I tell you , once for all , that the return , the only return I expect , is , that while I work like a slave , YOU WILL MEET MY ASSAILANTS like men . No hope of reward , not any sum , would induce me ta work for myself as I work for you . I mean to astonish the world with my success , and you with my constancy . You will now proceed to appoint my successor to the office enfculin * no trouble . THE LABOUR PART I WILL
YIELD TO NONE , and dont be alarmed for your funds , whoever you appoint shall do his duty ; YOUR FUNDS ARE SAFE . If I had ten millions of money and was at a loss for safe custody , I most solemnb declare that I would rather place them in the hands of W . P . Roberts , than in any Bank in the world and I would be more sure of them when I wanted them . Of him I rejoice to think there is no doubt , of ME THERE SHALL BE NONE . It wa 3 my intention to have written you a very different letter this week , one that would have given you the greatest pleasure , as all goes on checringly . Visitors still continue to pour upon us , and now tho higher , nay the highest order are looking at us . On Saturday last , when the men had left work . Lord Robe : 1
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Grogvenor visited the farm . I escorted him through the whole , and explained the plan to him ; he appeared much pleased , and promised me another visit when we Hjtd made more progress . I have r » a . d this letter all through for Messrs . Wheeler anHfClark . I asked Clark if I had misstated , or overstated Copper ' s communication ? His answer was "No , except that Cooper said much more and put it much more bitterly than you have ; besides , " said he , . " . we have ail heard i t from more than a dozen people ^ that ^ edper has told it to , but they only laugh at it . " ilUs all very well my Mends to
laugh , buUouiewh ^ do not believ e it wil l attempt to make a handle of it . I have now done , deterterrained that no trick , scheme , or falsehood , shall driye me from ^ my position , . m allow ,, others to luxuriate in the failure of a planto which I attach paramount : importance . ' Whenever you are tired of me , sayso ;| and"iryou desire it I / will have great pleasure in handing over , all my responsible offices to Mr . Cooper , awhile I will remain as manager ' of the works ; I have always shown yon the necessity for preserving some fund in hand for emergencies ,
and you will see the propriety of it when it was in the power of the Victim Fund Committee to draw upon me at sight £ 15 for John Frost . Now that my long letter is written , I feel no slight pain at being compelled to take up so much space in the refutation of so mean , unwarrantable , unbelieved , and ungrateful a slander , but , if ever my integrity is shaken , your cause , which is my cause , perishes , and this is the only excuse that I ne « d offer . Your faithful friend and bailiff , Fkargus O'Connor .
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PROTEST AGAINST THE SECOND READING OF THE CUSTOMS' BILL . Dissentient . 1 . Because all those who are engaged in any branch of native industry are justly entitled to full and effectual protection in the Home Market against the competition of foreigners , who , from working at lower wages , and from being jmuch less burdened with taxation , might be able to undersell them , and thus to deprive them of their due remuneration . 2 . Because this country has very long flourished under a system ot protection which enabled it to establish several branches of industry that would not
otherwise have existed , and to give profitable employment to an increasing population . 3 . Because it cannot reasonably be expected that the proposed reduction of duties wouW to followed by reciprocity on the part of any foreign state ; but , even if such were to be the case , and that some branches of native industry were encouraged while others wcre ^ £ reMed ^« | he ^ ea 8 Ui q . could-iipt' -be justified , aspo Government has a right to impoverish one portion of the community tor the profit ) of another .
4 . Because the proposed measure would be most injurious to many of the industrious classes , by reducing their wages , or by depriring them of employment , and would thus produce great distress and discontent , which would be detrimental and dangerous to all the other classes of the community . 5 . Because all the industrial classes ought to be fully represented in the House of Commons , which is not at present the case , and could not be deprived of protection without the most flagrant injustice , without destroying their respect for the existing institutions of the country , and without endangering the security of property of every description . Standopb .
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HOUSE OF LORDS , Thursday , Junk 4 . This evening the House of Lords re-assembled , after the Whitsun holidays . The Earl of Damiousik moved the second reading of the Customs Duties Bill . The Duke of Richmond opposed the Bill , and moved that it be read a second time that day six months . This amendment was supported by the Earl of Wicklow and Lord Asubuhton , and resisted by Earl Grey and Lord Monteagle . Ultimately , the question was put from the Woolsack , the amendment negatived , and the Bill read a second time . On the motion of Lord Daluousie , the Committee on the Bill was fixed for Monday week .
The Friendly Societies Bill passed through a Committee , And the House adjourned at a quarter past eight o ' clock .
HOUSE OF LORDS . —Fbiday , June 5 . Lord Ripon moved that the Hardinge and ( Sough Annuities Bill be committed . Lord Monteagle strongly objected to the clause which provided that the annuities should not be given during the lives of their Lordships , inconsequence of the East India Company having settled pensions on their Lordships for life . The Duke of Richmond moved , in committee , to expunge the third clause , which made the parliamentary grant to cease so long as tiiat of the East India ^ Company of £ 5 , 000 was paid to Lord Hardinge . Lord Rifon opposed the amendment .
After considerable discussion a division took place , in which the amendment was carried by a majority of 38 over 26 . The Bill then went through Committee , as also did Lord Gouon ' s , which was similarly amended . Earl Fitzwilliam then brought forward his resolutions , with regard to railway schemes , which , after some observations from Lord Dauiousie , were withdrawn .
HOUSE OF COMMONS .-Friday , June 5 . Sir James Graham stated , in reply to Mr . G , Bbrkblky , that no . ilteratkm of the present system of delivering letters on Sundays was in contemplation .
THE POOR LAW REMOVAL BILL , Mr . E . Desison moved that it be < in instruction to the committee on the Bill , to make provision for the establishment of union settlements . After a day to bo fixed ] for each union , all paupers of the parishes comprising the union to be settled in the union , and not in any parish of such union . That such paupers bs maintained , and all expenses defrayed from a fund levied from each parish , in the proportion of the expenditure for the relief of the poor incurred by such parish , for the last seven years , pebfcs already charged on the rates , and interest due in respect of such debts , not to be affected by tho change . ¦ -Mr . Bankes opposed the instruction , because no proposition could have been made which would more effectually operate to prevent the employment of labourers .
: Sir James Graham said , thai as the principle involved in the instruction was one which he had himself proposed to the house in a former measure , he would support it ; but if it should be the pleasure of the house not to sanction that instruction , he should not on that account recede from the Bill proposed by her Majesty ' s government . As to the delay which would be occasioned by adopting the motion of the lion , gentleman , he could only say , that if the house should cany the motion , he would take care that the Bill should be altered accordingly -m a few days , and laid on the table of the house early next week .
After observations from Sir R . Iuglis , Colonel Wood , Mr . Rice , Mr . Christopher , Mr . Strutt , Mr . Packington , Mr . C . Wood , Mr . Henley , Mr , V , Smith , and Mr . Newdegate .
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Mr . T . Doncoube moved as an amendment "That it be an instruction to the committee on th > Poor Removal Bill , that they be empowered to make provision for the repeal of all laws . regulating- the settlement of the poor , aud to make provision that all poor persons entitled to relief henceforth shall have the necessary relief afforded to them within tinunion where such necessities occur ; and shall also make provision to supply the requisite funds , ^ rom the county rates , or such other oqukable assessment as Parliament in its wisdom shall devise . " The House , the country , and the Ministry , must be well aware that free trade in the abstract had not been popular with the great operative classes of the country . They had looked , upon the contest between
tlie landed and the manufacturing interest with apathy and indifference , regarding it as a sort ot ' pull-devil , pull-bakerconflict , "the baker being upon the whole rather the , favourite . —( Laughter . ) And why was it that they regarded the struggle with apathy ? Because they did not believe that the cap . italists of the country , whose fortune had been amassed by their labour and skill , were sufficiently mindful of their interests in times of depression . The large manufacturers , who had accumulated immense fortunes by the industry of thelabouring classes ; ought not to be the persons to turn them adrift to wrestle with adverse fortunes in the moment of distress , after they bad taken out ef their sinews every particle of sap which they could extract . ( Hear ,
hear . ) The poor had too often reason to charge the manufacturers with such oversight during periods of commercial depression . ( Hear , hear . ) The Rit'ln Hon . Baronet at the head of the Government on the occasion of submitting to the country his . p lan of commercial reform , held out an adjustment of the law of settlement as a great boon to the manufacturers and landed interest . It now , however , appeared the question was to be treated in a very different manner , he ( Mr . Duncorabe ) would have been content to take the measure as he found it , if the right hon . baronet had remained firm to his principles . It was not the provisions of the Bill that were valuable , but in the address of the right hon . baronet there was a valuable communication , to the effect , that where the labourer
required relief , that relief should be given upon the spot where it was requisite , instead of driving the Door person from post to pillar , as under the present aw of settlement . The right hon . baronet had , however , altered his original intention , and bad acceded to the proposition of tho hon . member for Malton . . He ( Mr . Duncombe ) was sure that the country would not permit itself to be done out of the measure , as unquestionably it would be , if the proposition of the hon . member for Malton were to receive their sanction . The hon . gentleman concluded by moving his amendment . Gi ' i ! - TnTTMOTONE seconded the amendment . Mr . Bright was ax a j oss wuiauuvxr- n « v « nv !—nhipp . tofthe hon . member for Finsbury was to oppose
the Bill and the instruction of the hon . member for Malton , or to have a blow at . the manufacturer ^ lie stated , that the working classes felt no interest in the change about to be made in the Corn Laws ; but he ( Mr . Bright ) believed that those classes felt the greatest interest in that change , and that the union which for the last two years existed between them and their employers had had the effect of bringing the leaders of both sides of the House to the opinion that the Corn Laws could be no longer maintained . Wherever manufacturing establishmenta were supported by large capital there was more attention paid to the comforts and education of the operatives than was bestowed on them in concerns carried on by limited capital ,
and yet the bonourablememberforFinsburypandered to the prejudices of ignorant persons by speaking of the disadvantages inflicted on the operatives by large capitalists . There was a concern at Halifax which , for three years paid wages to the amount of £ 120 , 000 , and during that period the proprietors did not return one single sixpence to the income tax . ( Great laughter and cries of" Hear , hear" from Lord George Bentinck . ) He ( Mr . Bright ) hoped that the noble lord , the member for Lynn , did not think so badly of human n ature as to suppose that this was not possible . ( Laughter . ) During that period the prometors of that 60 ne 6 r « did not make 6 d . profit . He told the hon . member , for Finsbury , that those parties with whom he was found at public meetings
out of doors had been the greatest enemies of the repeal of the Corn Laws . ( Ories of " Name . " ) Let the hon . member read the public reports pi" those meetings , and they would find out tne names . He ( Mr . Bright ) stated the fact , and he meant ^ to maintain it . He would only add , that tho hon . member did not represent the opinions of the working classes when he said they wero apathetic on this question , and though he might have succeeded in inflaming the bad passions of the working classes within his sphere , he ( Mr . Bright ) would warn him not to call himself the representative in that house of the working classes in Lancashire and Yorkshire . Lord G . Bentinck regretted that such an attack should have been made on his hon . friend ( Mr .
Duncombe ) . He believed his arguments to be true , bis reasoning to be conclusive . He could instance 3 iO cases of poor suffering individuals who were town into the infirmary from the wounds and afflictions they had been subjected to in the mills , and of that number he knew that only two were compensated . Are the charges against the hon . member for Finsbury just ? I should have thought , if there were any man in this house who had a right to say he knew something of the feeling of the operatives , it was my right lion , friend the member for Finsbury . ( Hear , hear . ) Upon what interest is he returned to this house ? . Is it onthe interest of the millowners , or is it on the interest of the landed aristocracy ;? Is he not especially returned by a constituency consisting of the lower classes — of the working classes ? Therefore , I think we have a right to take the opinions of the hon . member
for Finsbury as affording a just criterion of the feelings of the operatives of the country . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) And I do believe he has told the house the truth when he told you that the operatives took no great interest iii the question mooted between the agricultural and the manufacturing interest . ( Hear , hear . ) Sir , I do not believe that the operatives are Free-traders . ( Hear , hear . ) He thought , as regarded the motion of the member for Finsbury , that the further consideration of it should be adjourned , is order that the house might be able to consider the matter fully and maturely . ( Hear . f After some observations from Lord John Russell and Lord J . Mansers , the House divided first on Mr . T . Duncombe ' s amendment—For Mr . Duncombe's Amendment ...... 59 Aeainst it . 106—Majority against the Amendment ... 46 The House then divided on Mr . E . Denison's
instruction—For the Instruction «¦« Against it « 0—¦ Majority for the Instruction 22 Mr . T . Duncombk said , he considered that some amendment of the poor Jaw of this country would be more acceptable than an Irish Coercion Bill , and should have precedence of it . On Monday , therefore , he should make a motion to that effect . After a short discussion , it was arranged that the House should go into committee pro fonnCi on tho bill next Monday , in order to intoduce the amendment consequent upon the instruction which had been carried ; a future day to be then fixed for going regularly into committee . The other orders of the day Averc then -disposed of , and the house adjourned at half-past twelve o ' clock .
HOUSE OF LORDS . — Monday , June S . Tho house met at five o ' clock . The Earl of Ripon kid on the table , by command , a copy of the minute ol the Board of Trade on the report of the Commissioners on Railway Gauges . BATHS AND WASUHOUSES FOIt THE POOR . The Bishop of London " said , that he wished to call the attention of the house to several petitions he held in his hand , and which related to a subject deeply affecting both the physical and moral welfare of the public . These petitions referred to tho establishment of baths aud washhouscs for the labouring classes , and the object of the petitioners was to pray that their Lordships to pass into a law amensurc which he believed would shortly be laid on the table of the house , enabling boroughs and parisln-s of a certain size to borrow money on the security of the rales for the purpose of establishing baths and washhouses for the poor . lie believed that these institutions would
be established without any risk of capital . But even if there was any risk , he was sure that it would be amply compensated by the benefit these institutions would confer on the public , lie need not remind thoir Lordships how much and how intimately the moral and social condition of the labouring classes was connected wiik their physical condition . Until something wure done to mitigate the evils which cramp the energies of that class of tho community which ought to form the basis and the strength of all the other classes , it would be . in vain for the philanthropist or politician to carry into effect any of their theories for the improvement of the moral and social condition of the poor . This , however , was no new experiment , for it had been tried , and it bad been tried on a scale sailiciently large to justify the most sanguine expectations of the greatest success , it tvto \ oi \ iv still gveater scale . These petitions stated in strong terms the evils which resulted from the over-
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_ . ; ¦ - . . --:.--. ¦ =. ¦¦ ' rf \ : V .. V crowded state of the pooriri the metropolis ^ and he mUB be allowed to state tWthiij overrcrowd ! bii&d been occasioned by carrying into effect ^ heSecenTa'terations which had been roade ' in London . ^ These * alterations were no doubt a part benefit in-themselves ; yet , in the meantime , a great liardshiprwasiinflictei . on the poor ; who were dvivW 6 ut , ;< . f , Uieir ; wretched tenements and compelled ; to . re 8 nrt ; tn , worse . The consequence nas that some portion &themetropoliY were noflrso overcrowded ; that two ^ fanulies were compelled to occupy one room : iAllthis beaded to an obvwus disregard of the decencieKand proprieticl of life . It was imppssible . that perBOna-so crowded could be cleanly , even if thoy . would .- But if they had the wish they would soon lose it . Another cons ^
quence which he should mention was , that this over * crowding occasioned agreataggravation of disease . It changed the tyjie of disease . It so gradually lowered the whole condition of the labourer that medical men were obliged to adept a different treatment , and now instead of having recourse to depletion they administered tonics . ( Hear , hear . ) Some twenty , years Hgo , when he was a parish clergyman , he recollected an instance of one house containing flixteen families , enmprising sixty-four persons in all . Each family there had a separate room ; but it was not unusual now to find in the metropolis , two families' consisting of the fathers and mothers , arid some five or six children each , occupying the same room ; ( Hear , hear . ) He therefore said , that great benefit would be
conferred on those families if they could ' wash ' ' their linen away from kome , in fact , at one of those institutions , where they could get plenty of water ; both hot and cold , and a proper apparatus . In houses thus thickly inhabited it would clearly be seep the injury which must be felt by washing the linen of the family , where the houses would be in a constant state of humidity from the steam . It muat be admitted that baths are necessary to the health of those to whom ablution was not habitual . After alluding to the Buccess which had attended the washhousea and baths at Liverpool , and in Glasshouse Yard , London , the right rev . prelate said , he hoped steps would be taken to ro « et this state ; of , things , and that the recreation and innocent amusement of the labouring classes , which had been bo little attended to for a
long tune , would be now considered . He could cite a precedent in favour of the measure which had been proposed f » r last session ; an ; Act was passed authorising the different town ^ councils to borrow money for the establishment of museums and parka , for the instruction and amusement of the public ; but unless they provided baths and washhouses so as to btigefc habits of cleanliness , it would be in vam to provide amusement and instruction for them by . means of museums and parks . ( f fear , hear . ) , The right ; rev . prelate concluded by presenting the petitions . , The Marquis of Normandy « aid , he thought , the right rev . prelate owed no apology for introducing so important a subject . It was a most important question , and in connexion with a subject that had been before the other House of Parliament—the dwellings of the poor—entitled to their greatest consideration . ( Hear , hear . )
. Lord KiNNAiHD said , that it was impossible to imagine the distress and misery which existed in this metropolis—it required ocular proof to give any one an idea of its extent . The poor were crowded together in consequence of the improvements taking place in other parts of the metropolis . There wc-re buildings now going on at Betiinal-green , arid there waa not one sewer provided for them , and this , he thought , showed the necessity , and , indeed , he considered it high time that a Board of Health should be established . ~^ h § . i 2 . hop . , qf . Durham presented a petition from
of Londonderry seized the opportunity toaeiCnu himself from the imputation of having been a recent convert to the measure . JCORN IMPORTATION B 1 LL . | The Duke of Buckingham gave notice , that in committe on the Corn Importation Bill , he should move that the words " until the 1 st day of February , 1849 , " be omitted . ( Hear , hear , hear . ) ' LORDS" HARDINGE AND IGOUGH ' S AKNUITY BILL . . : O the motion of Earl Ripon , The presentation of the report on these Bills y-HA postponed ; until'fuesda . v next ..
TITHES .: Earl Grey then presented a ' petition from 'lie churchwardens of the parish of Wokingham , ? , peculiar of the Dean of Salisbury , by whom the tithes , commuted at £ 1 , 698 per annum , are leased oui for lives , renewable on payment of a fine at an annual rent of £ 26 per annum . The stipend of the perpe . tual curate is £ 150 per annum , of which only £ 40-is paid out of the tithes . To make matters worse , the church was out ot repair , and in consequence of the impossibility of arriving at a satisfactory arrangement with the dean ,, and his lessee , the churchwarflcmhad , lt » een ' oWjg ? 4 . ^ e ^ pen ^ between i ^ O and £ 800 ou an inadequate repair of the church . After detailing the spiritual destitution of the parish , the
noble lord hoped the Ecclesiastical Commissioners would step in when the lives fell vacant , and secure » orae of tne reversionary interest for the assistance of the parish , which was labouring under grievances that called loudly for redress . The Bishop of Salisbury admitted the hardship of the cage , but saw no assistance immediately available , except in the yearly rent of £ 26 , which had just fallen in to the Ecclesiastical Commissioners , under an act of parliament , by a vacancy in the deanery . When the existing leases expired , however , a large sum would be applied to the spiritual relief of the parish , as the commission had resolved not to renow leases on lives . The right rev . prelate concluded by expressing a wish for the abolition of all peculiar jurisdictions .
The Friendly Societies Bill was read a third time and passed ; and their lordships adjourned . HOUSE OF COMMONS , Monday , Joke 8 , The Speaker took the chair at the usual hour ,
IRISH COERCION BILL AND POOR LAW REMOVAL BILL . Upon the order of the day for the second reading of the Protection of Life ( Ireland ) Bill , Mr . T . Duncombk objected to the progress of the Coercion Bill until the Poor Law Removal Bill bad . been disposed of . The Right Hon . Baronet hud promised to take that Bill before the Irish measure , and he called upon him to fulfil his promise . The House had been requested to read the Irish Bill a first time out of compliment to the House of Lords , and that argument had weighed so much with many Hon . Gentlemen that they had voted for the first reading though tkey now intended to vote against
the second . The House had also been surprised by the support given by the Government to the motion of the Hon . Member for Malton , and he requssted them to go on with the Poor Law Removal Bill , in order again to take their opinion upon the instruction agreed to on Friday night . He did not believe that that instruction contained the sense of the House , and he wished to raise the question as to the discharge of that instruction . This was absolutely necessary to prevent the trouble and inconvenience of remodelling the BUI . He moved , therefore , that the order of the day for the Poor Law Removal Bill bo taken in preference to the order of the day upon the Protection of Life ( Ireland ) Bill . UDon the question being put . \
Sir J . Graham declared that he would not object to the motion 0 / Mr . T . Diwcomde , if he would consent to have the order of the day read for the mere sake of postponing it . After the decision of the House on Friday night , he had given directions on Saturday for the preparation of certain clauses calculated to give effect to the instruction approved by the majority of that House . He understood that those clauses were now ready ; but he had not yet had time to consider them . If the House would agree to postpone the order of the day , which Mr . T . Buncombe had moved , he should be ready on Wednesday or Thursday next to go into Committee pro forma on these clauses . Mr . Bankes concurred with Mr . Dnncombe in
thinking that the house had been taken by enr . prise by the decision of Friday night ; for the instruction , which was then affirmed , was tho same measure which Sir James Graham had publicly declared on a former occasion that he had given up , because it was so distasteful to the agricultural interest , lie was prepared to say , that before the house adopted that instruction , there must be another division , and he hoped that Mr . Duncombe would take it on the present occasion . Tho Poor Law Reincv&l Bill was brought in by the Government as part of their grand and comprehensive scheme , and " wad to accompany it paH passu to the other house of Parliament . With regard to the argument that the consideration of it would interpose delay in the progress of the Irish Coercion Bill , he had only tit say , that the universal belief of the countr y was , that the Government would not havo the power , even if it had the wish , to carry that bill through Parliament .
Sir R . Peei , could not admit that he had ever said that the Poor Law Removal Bill should proceed pariiKMK with the Corn Importation Bill , aud with tho Customs' Bill ; for he had Btated throughout that lie would take the Irish Bill at the earliest opportunity . He had fulfilled every assurance which he had ever given respecting the order of public business . A conversation oFsomo interest then took place as to the time when the further debute on the Poor Removal Billshould take place . At last Mr . T . Duncombe was induced to withdraw his amendment , pn condition that an opportunity Bhould bo afforded him of re-introducing this question on Thursday , when SirJ . Graham would move that the Poor Law Itemoval Bill lie ^^ committed vroforma .
ATTACKS ON THE MAGISTRACY . Mr . CoLiiEir renewed his former inquiries as to the course intended to be adopted by the Government in respect to the alleged misconduct of Sir C . Taylor . Sir J . GnAiMM . sa . id , that when these charges against Sir C . Taylor wwo lust brought under the miUce of the house , the honourable member for Athloao had
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. Watford , 9 o'Ciock , p . m : . . Thursday . ANOTHER PURCHASE . 130 ACRES OF PRIME LAND , 100 OF IT / MEADOW . Since writing the above , and doing my day ' s work , I have been to Watford and to your ESTATE , within a mie and a quarter of that town , within 15 miles of London , and a mile and a quarter of Bushy station onthe London and Birmingham TWium ,,. within twomile 8 and a half of tho liOndon Canal , with threi high road frontages for buildings ; particulars ! next week . It is now 9 o ' clock on Thursday bight , and Mr . Wheeler , who accompanied me , has but just time to get back in order to insert this cheering information in the first Edition . ' Your faithful friend , v I Feargus O'Cokmor .
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j ^ ^/// CyOC ^ eyf ^ - ' ¦ 'k& 3 HT , //> A . .- „ , . ..:,.. -.-- ,-. — - ¦ - - » - - s -rsr ^ t — - r ~ , - . ' • - ¦ ¦ > - . - ¦ ¦ . " ' $ ~ i'J& ' " > ' . ' . " ' '? ' , ' AND NATIONAL TRflffife JOUENAL .
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yOLS . SO . 448 . LOBDO » , SATTOI ) M , jyte B . 1 M 6 . ^— JgS g 3 BgJ-i . '
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), June 13, 1846, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1370/page/1/
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