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TO THE OLD GUARDS OF CHAETISM.
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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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-w ^ Hsw Old Guards—. i al ways told you that we had but to stand i : ^ 3 rock in the midst of the ocean , allowing liie br ewers of faction to dash In foam around jjs . and that , i n the long run , roan ' s equ a lity -jjj the rights of Lahour would be the regard of our perseverance , resolution , and $ uraS ' fi'ho fears to talk of dungeons novr ? Who j 5 ^ sham ed of being consigned by tyrants to gjg hte e n month s o f s olit ar y c o nfinement in a f Jon ' s dungeon in York Castle , when he sees
$ s abundant , crop that his persecution has produced ? Not 11 I would have suffered any amount of persecution that the little jnfnds of Whig tyrants could invent , to have insured me that" New Year ' s Gift , " bestowed upon us by the Edinburgh Weekly Express , of Saturday fast—and as I have ever told you that I desired no moaopoly of patronage , but , on the contrary , would rather see it wholesomely distributed amongst those journals that advoc ate our whole principles , unmutilated and undente d , ^ ave now * ° request a fair share of support for the Weekly Express , whose address I give you at foot . 1 am happy to learn that
tO « i Y * - "" Guards , are foremost in vour engeavouV = ? to have the National Petition fop jjjis year signed by at least five millions ; nor do 1 despair of seeing many Milesian names added to the long muster roll , because I be-Jjere , in my conscience , thafc'those airy and jjjetep lij'sieal nothings , in . search of which , the jrlsb mind has been roaming for many years , jmist now be abandoned for the pursuit of sub- ; s tantial and practical measures ; and will it net be cheering to you and to me , when we call our appeal to the Class Parliament , an Imperial , instead of a National , Petition ? I have often addressed you as the Imperial Chartists , because I was aware that when the
peop le of the two countries had a mutual understanding , that they would see mutual advantage in co-operation . The tyrant Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland has , as I predicted , opened all the blades of the shut knife with flhich his nurses entrusted the child—and , as I pred i cte d al s o , those few districts which the minister told us were disturbed , h a ve be c ome the p lague spots 5 and have extended the infectieD to heretofore peaceable districts . While . mem the other hand , the Archbishop of Tuam , Br M'Hale , and the clergy of his diocese , have embodied in several resolutions the very measures which I proposed to the Irish landlords , i n my letters written from York Castle ialS 4 l .
Is not this another proof of the value of pe rseverance ? While , to go further , this Saxon Lord-Lieutenant is compelled to send agricultural lecturers throughout the kingdom , believing , with us , that to the spade , and sot to the sword , Ireland must owe her peace , and her up-start aristocracy their protection . Old Guards , be upon the watch-tower ; the times are pregnant with great coming events , and we , ar , we , of all tlie people of Europe * are alone prepared for the advent ; because we a lon e a re p r ep a re d with a s y s tem of univers a l justice , as a substitute for that system of universal tvrannv bv which the world has been
gcvemedt They never again can make Labour at home war against its own domestic rights , in order that domestic tyrants may reap the reward of Lubour ' s folly . Two years ago—by my own single , foresight , precaution , and instruction—I prevented the English militia from being embodied ; and now I tell you that before the winter passes over a demand will be made upon your purses—yea , perhaps , upon your persons—for the compl ete
subjugation of Ireland . But in that I will pledge your loyalty to the death , that you will resist such an " infliction from your loyally to justice , rather than aid it by loyalty to a bauWe that renders you no protection . Of course , both you and the Attorney-General will understand me to mean loyalty to the lair , and not for a moment doubt my loyalty , or yours , to our lovely young Qieen , ' and her lavelr independent babes .
Here follows tbe address from the Weekly Express . Read it , and it will do your he a rts good , as it has done mine . I remain , Your faithful and uncompromising friend , Fearsds O'Connor . to the secretaries op trades ' UNION'S , &c . *" e beg to announce that it will afford as much pleanreinl&riflg onrreporter in attendance at the meetings Gffie various trades of Edinburgh ; and for this purpose -5 htz to request that parties desirous of being repfessmd in . the columns of the Expbess , willbekind enough tonand in notices of rteir meetings to the Publishing OSca , at So . 279 , High-street . IU = gratifying to be enabled testate that the most Fateful support has been accorded to us since we an-The
isaaced our intention of continuing the Expbess , taessarv preliminaries attendant on the transfer of the copvri ^ , attended with all the necessary legal technicalities , has occupied so much of the time of the Proprietors , as to interfere with the amount of Editorial and « fcir orig inal matter ; hut as it was important that onr ^ rjrnal StouJd not lose the market / or one dar , « ehare induced OUT Sheet , such as it if , with all its imparfei--fcas on its head , promisiDg that our next number * E ! exhibit traces of deep study in regard to First Prin . ' ¦ ¦ I ' . is . Iu contradistinction to the preTailiHg tone of the Edin" fcrgh press , the Weekly Expbess takes its decided stand ~ i > - ' ii the giand , the ennobiing , and primary doctrine ef ferolitical Equality of the People , irrespectiTe of rank «? tatl : n , and will boldly maintain the indefeasible right ' .: every man to the possession of the Elective Franchise , if untainted by cr me , or incapacitated by lunacy ; and ^ 31 . on this first principle , admit of no expediency shift ^ sitter as a palliation of anv infraction of its free right tr atreise ; in fine , the Weexlx EiPiEES ivili strenuously ifroeatein all its entirety the embodiment of the princes of roliricalEqualitV and Justice , as set forth in 'ThePeople ' s Charter .
Te propose from week to week to devote a goodly por-&n of our space to the elucidation of the six points of tbe ?« pJe ' = Charter . Tfce Land Plan of Fcargus O'Connor , « q , will receive due prominence ; acd we beg to be put ^ communication with the various secretaries of the Xatcn- dl Land Company , in order to exhibit an account of t : rariuus meeting * in connexion with this great moral syional regenerator and elevator of the condition of the a -Mt 5 . Tiie affairs of Ireland will not be OTerlooked ; isdas a pr > of of the earnest ofourintentionson this head j ^ S iveiiotii-esof Repeal Meetings in Edmburgh , and G ' asgow ; and we greatly rely on eur Irish friends to tar&es out in demanding tbe total and unconditional rei- -A of the Bnion .
w are proud in being able to state that we have sef ~ -ed the warm and hearty support * f some of the lead V-5 repealers of Edinburgh , who have generously come J"v . ard in our cause . The Chartists of Edinburgh are J ^ m in the- tendering of their support ; and from the Jsown influence of uianv friends o : popular rights , though f teoimtc-e ^ with the Chartist body , we hope to secure ? alarjea number of subscribers . * Having thus far de-•<* m ( jurseives , we beg to wish all our friends , a ' Happy ' 1 , We trust that the year 1848 will do much ' . " tUe advance of popular rights ; and with the known ratable tnerpy of our Champion . Feargus O'Connor , £ 3 Iks compatriots inside the House uf Commons , j-i ! - " I * ' - v our parent the « Xosthebk Stab , ' we hope "« instrumental in our own little waT in advancing « gJ ^ i « use of i ; OT 5-an progress . ' The Peoj . le '* Ciiar' - aad So Sttrrendtr is our v 0 ] ax star .
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1 = I fn order to show the accuracy with which I " ^ newspapers publish all matters connected I 'itli Insl , measures , we give the foll ^ in ^ fctt-o I notic es of motion given by Mr Feargus O'Con-I j ; ! v vllitJl the daily papers have given such a 1 ^ , jWed account ; the Times stating that Mr I Con nor h-dd merely given notice of his ini «« HHi to move for the estahllshment of dis-I J . e istration courts and the appointment Slxe qi « t y judges , while every one of those 1 ; . ei ; s receive the votes of the ' House , which I . - * " ! the two following notices , as" well as 1 ^ ° tHer Sj in full . " j . £ . AB 5 C . 0 'Coss ( iE , _ Bill for establishment of district j ]^ f strat J ° n Courts in Ireland , for the registration of S - ' r / l C 0 ; itract « and other documents between Landuiiu iii
.. , a Ii-tA — •** - * , U < UU UULUUJCUU u <« - * . ^* ^ " *»« - 1 i l--- ; , Tfcn : iI ! ts : —Al = o , for the appointment of six S [ : l . ; .- '' -7- uili ; es-from members of the Irish Bar , of not 1 1 { , j ~ ^ fourteen years' standing , such appointment j £ t ,,., wadetiy the L ^ rd Lieutenant , by and with the 3 i . i ntof theLw OScers of the Crown ia Ireland , the 8 } , K ( ,. ; '' ud E to fee to hold Courts in convenient I Hi , ' ?* "" tiitir itver :. l rircuits for hearing and deter-1 W maUt « in dispute between Lsuolord and I t * ial " . ' , : i ( 3 whofe judgment shall in all such cases be I ty J ~ f > ty taIi « away the power of distress in all 1 i V r .. tre ' A le ; ' - se has not been granted , and iu cases I i £ tV e a fcaEe ^^ Dfcen granted for a term to be speci-I ii'Ji ren -tr tbe process of tiectinent more immediate I ] i , ! 7 J « s expensive . 1 i ~ < - ^ - 0 'CoK . voB .-BilI to alter the Bate-paying 1 j tiki vV . t ! ie Iri !> u Poor ^ Act > H " lth tlle view uf Jpe ^ - S a graduated scale for the rating of pro-1 ••¦• iijj ;! j ' ^ v in all cases where landlords do not reg . " ^ "anaforBav-i-ucoiisecutiTeinontasui theyear ,
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SSs ^^^» '« = ft « a T ™ lr £ VJS ??* « ioH immediately of the ? S . ta ^ el ^ .-or wh ^ re ther h . W without lenwr , mch tenants shall be exempt from the payment of tflfi wnolfi nmftnnf ap ^ a .. i .. _ . «¦
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TO THE MEMBERS OF THE LAND COMPANY .
My Dear Children , My mind was so thoroughly occupied last week with reflections upon the prohable result of the Coercion Bill , and the villanous treachery of those Irish memhers who allowed it to pass , that I had not time , nor mind if I had had time , nor inclination , to wish you a happy New Year when the "New Year ' s Gift" to my . unfortunate country was a treacherous , cruel delusion ; and , as I anticipated , t he S a xon despot has early availed himself of the powers conferred upon hhm I shall confine my present observations to matters connected with the Land Company . ¦ ;
That Company , as far as the National Lai 3 and Labour Bank is concerned , is now closed —that is , no aid can be administered to any other company from the funds of the National Land and " Labour Bank ; but so fully impressed am I with the indispensable necessity for marshalling a great practical mind to meet coming events , that I shall aid other parties , by all the means in my power , in carrying out any feasible plan for locating the working classes of this country upon the soil ; while , in the next num be r of the "Labourer" I shall
d e v elope a p lan for the establishment of another company . When I speak of preparing the mind for coming events , b y t h a t I me a n , that the people shoul d not again he entrapped by any mere theoretical scheme , such as Emancipation and Reform ; but that the whole mind of the country—yea , of the universeshould now demand Labour ' s share in any change that takeg place . And every sentence that I have written upon this subject for the last sixteen years has now become a household phrase .
As I have promised an elaborate explanation of the prospects of the Company in the next number of the Labourer , I shall confine my observations now to matters connected with our present position . On the 1 lth of September I got possession of tin ' s farm of three hundred acres , of which fully from sixteen to eighteen' " pre s sed hardly upon the means of subsistence , " being u n d er s tone w a ll s and b road fences , while no t one acre of it was cultivated to a tenth part of its capability ; and here , in the depth of winter , I have all but completed eighty cottages , a
quantity of road-making , and have ploughed the whole once , and a large portion a second time , and shall have shortly completed the draining of a portion of the ground that required it ; making this farm—that was before a wilderness—an object of admiration to every passer by . Andjjon Friday next I start with my troop of forty horses to erect ninety houses upon the Snig ' s End Estate , within six miles of Gloucester ; and every one of winch , together with roads , ploughings , &c ., " I shall have completed before the 1 st of April .
I wish that those "Bosthoons / ' as we call fellows without brains in Ireland—I mean those little hired editors and scribes who have the insolence and the folly to write about the Land Pl a n ,. could see a feudal lord ' s game farm tucked in with seven yard fences for the preservation of game , and without a single inch of road to it , orperhaps a well upon it—and see the same farm after I had converted those vermin covers into labour fields , a nd p laced a pump in every man's back kitchen .
These miserable prostitutes—that wouldn t know a turnip from a potato—would lead you to suppose that the process of converting a wilderness into a paradise , merely consisted of sticking a hovel every here and there upon the land ; while the unprejudiced , who see a farm in the state in whichj got it , and in the state to which I bring it , can scarcely hring themselves to believe in its identity . I haie already made an amount of the very best manure upon this farm that astonishes the neig hboursmore , in fact , than it has
re-; ceived , or any other farm of its size has received , within the last ten years , and I shall have forty oxen making more manurehere until the day the occupants are located , as my plan is not to sell anything off the farm that can be profitably manufactured upon the farm . And now , as the time has arrived , as I predicted it would arrive , that it would be more fashionable to talk of a ' minister of dung than of a minister of allspice and nutmegs , I will give you a practical illustration of this portion of mv theory .
On the 11 th of September I purchased eighteen pigs at the auction of a farmer ' s stock . They cost me about 251 ., and , to the rreat horror of the farmers in the neig hbourhood , I fed them ever since upon barley meal , —the barley grown upon the land . They have eaten > liortof thirty quarters—which—At £ 1 19 s . a quarter—makes £ 45 Cost of pigs 25 Mato .....,..,,.. £ 70 I sold them yesterday and they will make about 1 . 10 / . ; that is 40 / . profit , or nearly double the market wrice of the barley after the
expense of delivering it , and leaving us several tons of the very best description of manure . So that by the time the occupants take possession of their allotments here , I exp e ct t o have a dunghill of nearly forty tons of the very best description of dung upon every four acre allotment , thirty upon every three acre allotment , twenty upon every two acre allotment ; and guano and bone dust in a like proportion , where those manures are best suited to the land . And , besides converting all that was grown upon the farm into money and manure , I shall make a considerable profit upon the
oxen fed upon the produce . Now this is too filthy a branch of my p lan for the perfumed prostitutes who write about it to understand , so that I think that poor Sidney Smith and poor Field may knock their heads * together before anything so rich as a spoonful of pig's dung could come out of them . These unmitigated asses put down lOOZ . for a house , and nothing for ploughing , draining , sowing , planting , horse-power , manure purchased , ( such as guano ) seed , labour , > nd other such little items , to them unknown .
When | I have finished Snig ' s End I shall have nearlv completed the operations upon another farm of two hundred and eighty acres , whicfe I purchased this day week and of which I can have immediate posses sion . It is within six miles of Kidderminster , six of Dudley , three of Bromsgrove , and twelve of Birmingham , and is in the centre of a proximate population of nearlv half a million of souls ; and don t you think a fat pig or a cabbage will sell ^ here ? and
Mr Allso . and Mr Price spent Saturday Sunday last with me-the one is our broker the other is my manager . They are both better agriculturists than any of the press scribblers , and they declared themselves not only astonished but thunderstruck . Mr Price , who Jiaa never seen the operations before , admitted that i all the accounts he had seenin the Star were im-1 measurably below the reality , and was it not for the purpose of reserving a considerable portion of interesting matter for the next number or . the " Labourer ' I should give the press-gang a nut that they wouldnt crack in a hurry . j
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Whilst political economists are knocking their heads against a subject of which'they are hopelessly and helplessly ignorant , it ! is refreshing to find my assertions more than cor . roborated by a journal exclusively devoted to agriculture . The . Farmer ' s Gaz ette . of Saturday last , in answer to a correspondent , who requested an opinion of realising the profits stated in my letter , as to " What may be ( Me with three acres of land'' says , — A subscriber has requested our opinion on the pofsl ' piliMr of raising such an amount of produce as that stated m the above important document . Our opinion is , that such is quite possible—nay , wo eould go farther , if needs be . If any one doubt our assertion , lef him read Mr Quin'a evidence before the Land Commission , andjudgo for himself .
Now , to refresh your minds , I will place bef o re you th e ta b le o f pro d u c e , consumption , and profit , that I calculated upon in that letter , and I have shown that from 157 days' employmen t , a man will put into his pocket 44 / ., after allowing him 51 / . 10 s . for rent , rates , and taxes , two fcons of hay , ( which 1 allow him to buy ) clothing his / amily , fuel , soap , and candles , repairing implements ^ sad prime cost ofpigs . Btitus 1 hold this question to be of paramount importance , I cannot do better than reprint the account from my original letter . Here it is , then : —
BIS ? OIIIIOH 0 V THREB ACHES , A . B , Potatoes i s ^ teat ... ... ... 1 0 Croppedifcith csbbages , mangel-wurzel , turnf t *;' tare » . clover , and-flas ... 0 3 } michen-gftrdeK ? 0 \ ir-i : SO Prodnct of acre of potatoes ... 15 torn . wheat ... SOO stonsB . For growing stuff for co ws .. ... 2 £ rood * . Borflas ... * ' lrood . For kitchen-garden ... ... \ a rood , BIBroiALOF ? E 0 DCCE . For cows—from November to March , two tons of potatoes , or nearly one and a half stone each , per day . For family—one and a half tons of potatoes , or about 91 b » . per day . For six fatting pigs—from November to March , eight tons of potatoes , or nearly two stone each , per day . For sale—Sjtona of potatoes , Vo . Hiifcoftirocows . Do . 100 stones of wheat . Do . Produce of one-fourth of an acre of flax , pounded , scutched , hackled , and spu by tho family , during the winter . Do . Four baconplgs in March . reicssoF pboduce , £ . 8 . d . Milk of two cows , at eight quarts a-day each , sixteen quarts , at 1 J per quart 36 10 0 Four bacon pigs in March ... 20 0 0 lOOstones of wheat , at Is . 6 d . per stone 7 10 0 Three and a half tona of potateee , at 6 d . a stone ... ..,, 11 0 0 Price of quarter of an acre of flax , spun ... ... ... 12 10 0 Fruit and vegetables ... ... SOO
£ 95 10 0 FEODOCE BESE 1 VED FOB FAMILY ' S CONSUMPTION . Tiro bacon pigs , three Produce of six . docks . cwt . each . Fruit and vegetables . 1 J tons of potatoes . Two hives of honev , 100 otona of wheat . AHMOAL ALLOWANCE SEDUCED TO WEIELY CONSUMPTION 14 pounds -of bacon . 29 duck eggs . lj stones of flour . 2 pounds of honey . 4 ^ stone ef potatoes . . Fruit and vegetable ? . AKKCAL ElrEKDIItTEE . " - . £ . s . d . Rent , rates and taxes ... ... 13 10 0 Two tens of best hay for cows , from Dec . to March 8 0 0 Clothing man , wife , and three children 15 0 0 Fuel , soap and candles .,, 8 0 0 Repairing implementa ... 1 0 o Six pigs in May 6 0 0
£ 51 10 0 From price of produoa ... £ 95 10 0 Deduct expenditure ... ... 51 10 0 And there remains £ 44 0 0 per annum , after consumption , andthe best of good living . I will new estimate at a loir rate the value of the allowances for weekly livlsg : — £ . b . d . 14 lbs . of bacen , the best , at 6 d , per 1 b . 0 7 0 ii stone of flour , at 2 s . fld . ... 0 3 9 4 § stone of potatoes , at 6 d , per stone 0 2 s 20 duck eggs ... ... 0 1 S 2 lbs . of honey ... ... 0 16 Fruit and vegetables ... ... 0 10 £ 0 17 0 This does not include rent , fuel , soap , candles aud dochiDg . EMPLOYMENT OF TIME , Planting acre of potatoes ... 24 days Digging do . ,. ... ... 24 f , Dibbling wheat with family ... 8 „ Reaping do .... ... ... ? ., Thrashing de : ... ... 13 „ Puttiag out manure ... ... 2 „ Gleaning wheat and tnking to market 2 ,, Preparing ground and sowing flar 10 , Engaged on acre not under wheat or potatoes , but producing flax , and mangelwurzel , cabbages , tares and turnips , and in kitchen garden ... 70 ( , Total number of days employed 157
Now , fathers and mothers of England , w hen your children are crying for bread , while you are willing to labour but cannot secure employment , read the above table , see the weekly allowance that your own free labour would furnish , the necessaries it would procure , and the surplus it would leave , from less than half a year ' s lahaur , and then read the rubbish of the press-gang with what appetite you may . When these drivellers give me figures on agricultural questions to grapple with , I silence
their batteries at once . Poor Chambers has never been able to get over the mirror in which I showed him himself ; and so it is with the whole fraternity . But , indeed , so fashiona ble , or rather so necessary , is the ; knowledge of agriculture becoming , that even the Times treats us with a " hash up " of the father who told his sons that he had buried a crock _ of gold in one of his fields ; the moral of which is , that each worked so hard in searching for the crock of gold , that all found a lortune in the improved condition of their land .
I quite agree with the writer in the F arm rs Gaz et te , that I am very much under the mark in my estimated produce and profit ; but I have always told you that I dealt in the rudest description of culture , and much understated the probable amount of produce , and for this simple—and to my mind—justifiable reason , because in your artificial state your i gn o rance of agriculture rendered it necessary that you should commence your education with the A . B . C . And what 1 assert is , and I am willing to hazard a large wager and my reputation upon it , that an industrious man and his family w o uld live as I h a ve de s crib e d , every d a y in the year , and realise—after consumption , and
every other expenditure necessary for the comfortable maintenance of a free labourerover One Hundred Pounds annually , off Three Acres of ground ; and to this I will add , that from the first year to the seventh he will increase the value of his allotment by a pound a year and more , which I have always called his Savings Bank ; and that seven pounds a year , on landed security , would be worth thirty years' purchase , or 210 ? . ; thus adding 30 / . a year more to his annual profit , over and above t he sti pulated 100 / . And was I not afraid of pushing you into Syntax before I had taught you Grammar , I wou ld n o t st o p even the r e , because I haven't allowed a fraction for labour during the winter months , when men a nd thei r
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families may be healthfull y , profitably , anc cheerfull y empl o yed . atiremunerative labour . Now suppose thata ^ man , his wife , and two children can earn sixpence a day each , during the months of November , December , January and Fehruary , WHEN THE LAND SHOULD BE PUT TO BED , and never touched—that would amount to 12 Z . for the four month s , a t even the pitif u l fi gure I have put down , but it would pay the rent of House and Land , a n d leave the w hole produ ce for consumption ; a much better position for a labouring man to be placed in . if he made '" ..
not a farthing profit , than , as now , subjected to the caprice of t ^ e Free Trade Employer , or the tender mercies of a Poor Law Guardian , or the clemency of a Master of a Bastile . Now that our Company is closed I can have no poss&ta interest in recruiting for a fresh levy of ( dupes , while I beg to remind Mr Field and the AWKWARD SQUAD , th a t they wi ll have no ; difficulty whatever in disposing profitably of their shares Id the Company , asthe-e will be tett-pui'chaseta fo * Aveey' eellet ? , . ,. And let me once again remiud you of the security possessed by shareholders , in the several stages of operation .
Firstly . —The member who has flpid up will have no difficulty in finding a purchaser " , who , before the ballot , w ill gladly pay principal and interest ; while the member who receives his a ll o tment , and shall be dissatisfied with his new position , will receive , without difficulty , a bonus of 60 / . for Two Acres , 901 . for T h ree Acres , and 120 J . for Four Acres , which is below the present market price , some having refused 200 J . for a Four Acre Allotment ; and exactly in the same proportion in which the Plan is d eveloped , will the market price of allotments rise .
I think it was W . O . Chambers , or the honest Somerville , or some Free Trade rapscallion , who wrote about the impossibility of a manufacturing operative standing the back-WeaVing work of digging . " Oh ! they couldn ' t do i t at all , " a s if n a ture h a d m ad e them a ll weavers , and art had converted them into agriculturists . W e ll , " every dog will have his day , " and 1 had mine last Wednesday . I was at Lowbands , and I saw those broken-backed fellows looking very healthy , and no man could boast of a finer lot
of children , or a more dutiful and thankful lot of children ; and I said to one—an Irishman , his name is Addison— " Well , Addison , how did you get over the back-break ? " " Well , re a lly , " he rep lie d , '' for the first week I thought I shoul d g ive it up ; but my word now , I c work the longest day , and never feel it ; and I'll be bound to say that there are men upon this estate that never handled a spade before August , that will work with the best agricultural labourers in the parish "
Now you may be sure that this was very gratif ying to me—and the result of a three hours ' conference with the occupants IN THEIR OWN SCHOOL HOUSE WAS THIS-That I am going to plant a double row of pear-trees on each side of every road in front of every cottage , and that I am going to sow French furze seed around every allotment , and which from November till April § will furnish the very best food for cows and horses , when bruised , a process in which I will instruct them , and which will be learned by all in . an hour .
Now , then , my children , don ' t you all wish that you had their complaint , notwithstanding the sympathy , the" solicitude , " and care expressed for you by the conductors of those Journals who look upon you as mere machines in the hands of the advertising community ; as slaves to coin your sweat into gold for middle cl a ss tyr a nt s , who estimate your value according to the profit they can extract from your labour . I remain , your fond , Your affectionate , and faithful Father . Feauuus O'Connor . Minster Lovel .
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FHE FOLLOWING GRATIFYING RESOLUTION AND LETTER HAS BEEN RECEIVED BY MR . O'CONNOR FROM HIS COUNTRYMEN . J . TV / XV X 1 VV 1 TX Jil ^ J «^ V V ii i 1 VJ- iUJJXl «
TO FEARGUS O'CONNOR , Esq . M . P . Grattan Club Rooms , 29 > North Cumberland-street , Dublin , Dec . 30 th , 1847 . Sir , —We , the members of the Grattan Confederate Club , cannot allow another session of the Imperial Parliament to commence without tendering to you our w armest thanks tor the bold , the uncompromising stand made by you in the House of Commons during the late session , in defence of the few remaining liberties which this unhappy country has been suffered to enjoy , and for the able and dignified manner in which you asserted the right of your native land to the restoration of her ancient and honoured constitution .
We feel that it is imperative on us , and on every Irishman who can appreciate disinterested devotion to this country , to express his admiration of the course pursued by you , as well in opposition'to the Coercion Bill , as in bringing forward the Repeal Question at so e a rl y a period of the session . Thoug h we have lon g since arrived a t the conclusion that the House of Commons is not the place where that question can be best discussed , yet we hesitate not to convey to you the expression of our thanks for your advocacy of Ireland's right to self-government in that assembly , and still more for the lofty position on which your advocacy of that right was founded .
W e a re fully sensi b le th a t a m a n ou g h t not t o b e th a nke d for n o t b e ing a traitor to hi s country ; but must confess your country had little claim on your devotion to her . Driven , as you were , from her shores , and force d int o exile , it would not be a matter of astonishment if you were found in the ranks of her enemies —like Coriolanus , fighting against her—instead of taking up the foremost and boldest position , defending her against her deadliest foe .
We thank you . As Irishmen , we feel prou d of you as our countryman . We point to you as a patriot in these days of treachery and corruption , upon whose pledges reliance can be p laced . We have tho fullest confidence that neither ministerial frowns nor blandishments will have any influence upon you . And , al though we doubt the competency of a small but faithful band of Irishmen to accomplish in the English Parliament any real good for Ireland , w e a re fully c o n v inced th a t throu gh such men as O'Brien and O'Connor dishonour will never come upon their country and ours .
> Wishing you many happy returns of this joyous season , we beg to subscribe ourselves , ° Your warm-hearted countrymen , The Members of the Grattan Club . James Condek , Chairman . Patrick John Barry , Sec .
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—mS&B * Greenwich and Dbpiford . —At the usual weekly meeting of the Chartist Association , held , at Mr Morgan ' s , 39 , Butcher-row ; Mr Floyd in the chair , Mr Sweetlove produced six potatoes weighing above five pounds , from Mr Ilenry Tanner ' s allotment at Lewbunds , brought up by Mr Munroe , who described the estate as one of the loveliest spots he ever saw in lis life . The discussion introduced by Mr Horn , was adjourned to next Sunday night . The council are requested to meet early to arrange matters for a public meeting .
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THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS . The usual monthly meeting of this society teok place on Monday evening last , at the German Hall , Drurytene . Thomas Claric , of the Charltf Executive , was called to the chair . The Chairman having opened the proceedings with some excellent remarks on the progress of democratic principles" at home and abroad , called on Chari . es Keen to movet h e following resoluton : — That the thanks of tMs society be given to the editors of the Northern Stab , German London New ^ ahs , Uefoeme , BBPBsm . 5 Geemah Gazette , Debat Social , Liberal Lieoeois , and La Scmse , for tbe publication of . tho Address of this society to tbe Swin Diet . And this society hereby ezpreases its special thanks to tne Gesman London Newspaper for past favonrB of a similar character , which , inadvertently , hare been unacknowledged on former occasions .
The mover having ppjken at some length in gupport of tho resolution , it was seconded fay Carl Schapper , in a very able speech . Philip M'Giuth ( of tho Chartist Executive ) spoke in support of the resolution , and in yery . eloquent terms commented on a variety of topics in connexion with tho caue of Democracy .. He was loudly applauded . The resolution was unanimously adopted . Julian Habnkt rehd and proposed tbe adoption of an Address to the Working ClaaseB of Great Britain and Ireland . John Arnoti seconded the adoption of the Ad > dresa .
Carl Schappsr strongly denounced the efforts now being made to # xcite an anti French feeling in this country ^ He cordially approved of every word of the AddfdBs , but doubted whether it was the province of . uia society to address the working men upon the question of Chartism . He feared that the society ' s motives might be misconstrued ; people might think that the Fraternal Democrats wished to usurp the functions of the Chartist Executive . Philip M'Grath begged to assure his friend Scbapper that there could be no rivalry between the Fraternal Democrats and the Chartist Executive . Himself and his colleagues were very happy to have
the assistance of this society . The members of tbe Executire were members of this society , and he was sure that his absent brother members would agree with him in accepting every- word of the excellent Address prepared by his friend llarney . The Address spoke the truth , and the truth was mighty , and would ultimately prevail . He considered such addresses of the utmoBt importance , and fie one just read had his hearty support . ( Applause . ) The Chairman expressed his concurrence with every word spoken by hig friend M'Grath For its truth , sound principles , and eloquence , the Address commanded his cordial approval . ( Applause . )
Carl Scrapper said the excellent speeches of his friend M'Grath and the chairman had removed the only objection ho had entertained towards the Address . The Address waBthen put to tha vote , and carried unanimously . Carl Schapper moved : — That announcements of the monthly meetings fee printed and aent , ono week previous to the time of meeting , to tbe ChartUt localities , and the several popular eocietiee in tbe metropolis . Seconded by J . Schabelitz , and agreed to . In the course of the evening the secretary read the following list of members who have paid their annual contributions ( one shilling each ) due from the 22 nd of September last : —
J . Moll , L . Obarski , J . Overtan , Ernest Jones , B . Rogers , H . Ross , T . Clark , S , Boonh&m , J . Harney , G . W . Wheeler , — Newali , G . F . Cooke , — Robson C . Doyle , H . Cullingham , — Broome , — Ryland , — Hutchinson , S . Kydd ( 2 a . Cd . ) r O . Scbapper . — Nicholson , — Grassy , — MiUward , — Chapman , — Rogers , — Allnutt , P . M'Grath , J . Simpson , E . Gill , C . Keen . — Schabelitz , J . Peacock ( Greenock ) , W . Monday ( Northampton ) , W . Burley ( Manchester—2 s . ) . R . Wild ( Wottram ) , C . Springall (
Norwich ) , C . Theobald ( Peterborough ) , W . Danielb ( Ialeof Man ) , W . Beesley ( Accrington ) , A . Cameron ( Mauchline ) , T . Smith ( Mauchline ) , — Morrissen ( Swindon—Is . 6 dXF . "TJray ( Dumfries ) , — Guninaman ( Tunbridge Wells ) , — Hodges ( Croydon ) . T Frost ( Croydon ) , — Beare ( Croydon ) , — Smith ( Accrington ) . G . Kendall ( Sutton-in-Ashfield ) , G . Cavill ( Sheffield ) Aaron fligginfcottom ( Sheffield—6 d . ) , John M'Crae . T . Whilton , J . Drummond , J . Black , J .. Downie , J . Graham , and J . M'Intosh ( all of Dundee ) .
f EZ ? Any member who has paid his contribution and not finding his name included in the above list , is requested to communicate with Julian Harney , stating the date tbe contribution was sent . Members who have not yet paid their contributions are requested to do so as speedily as possible . The following new members were elected at the meeting on Monday evening : — Turner , H . Childs , T . Lucas , and — Martin , residing in the metropolis ; and T . Warren , II . Leach , and T . Allen , all of Maccleafield .
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TheChaHjBts saw through the doluBion of Fre Trade , ' and n objy opposed the design * of the Lai cashire millocrate ; a portion of the working classes however , still hoped to ' . gather grapes from thorns , and Bgt from , thistles , ' . * nd believed the Ijiog promises of High Wages , Cheap Bread , and Plenty to do . ' The experience of tbe past year has now satisfied the most deluded of the criminal mendacity ot their deJuders . Surely political charlatans will now find their ' occupation gone . ' You are askad to aaoDort a ' National League
for the Refomi of Abuses , ' on ' Anti'State Churca Asaociatiop , ' an ' Anti-Bribery Society , ' and pocietiesfor the reform of the currency , aud the abolition of certain taxej . The one design of the pr-jectora of these schemes is to perfect the already-dominaj t power cf the middled . They all combide to resiatyour rightful claim to the privileges of citizenship ; they , therefore , are your enemies . Were they indeed desirous , as they profess to be , of promoting your welfare , they would aid you to obtain sovtreign power . They well know that if you controlled the ' legislature , all the reforms thpy i < eek—and reforms of much greater importance—would ba forthwith effected . Knowing this , and refusing to aid you in your struggle for the power you would so well employ , they sufficiently proclaim their unblushing ulavi
uuwemjr purpose . Leo thn great truth be impressed upon every working-roan , tbat it is from the but and the horel , the garret and the cellar , must come the regenerators of his order and tho social saviours of tho human race . Reoeive with joy and fraternal love every man who , belonging to the privileged orders , shall renounce clasa-diatinctions , and ally himself -with you to establish the reign of justice ; but look to no class above your own tojdo that work whioh , * if done , must be by yourselves . ' Who would be free , himself must strike the blow !' Practically outlawed by the other clasaes of . tho state , you muat find in your own clear heads , courageous hearts , and powerful arms the mean 3 of effecting your regeneration . 1 In Labourfa league and Labour ' s ranks , The only hope of freedom dwells . '
We ranBt call your serious attentsoB to & wicked and abominable conspiracy against your interests ; theconipiratorsjcamprisinc ; both tho avowed enemies of all reform , and many of the sham-reformers whose false pretensions we have nnmasked . The conspirators seek to revive those ' . n&tien&l prejudices , now all but ) extinct , whioh formerly made the working men of these countries , the willing butchers of their fellowmen of other lands . They desire to inflame the people of these islands with a dread and hatred of the people of France , under the pretext that the French contemplate the invasion and aubjugation of Entr / and .
Working men of Great Britain and Ireland , your country is already invaded and 2 subjugated . by enemies vrithin--eneHiie 3 who have reduced you politically and socially to the condition of Helots . You will not dislodge the 38 enemies by increasing the physical force power of your rulers . We believe that the veritable people ot France . —the Proletarianshave gathered sufficient wisdom from experience , to have learned that like yourselves their enemies are not to be found on any foreign shore , bah in their own country . Iu Franco ai ia England a triumph
ant moneyooracy rules supreme and grinds the hoos of labour to the dust . The conquest of that enemy , and the triumph of Equality , Liberty , and Fraternity , are the objects Bought to be attained by the people of France . Even supposing that this country was menaced by aggression irora without , England would have nothing to apprehend if her people were freemen . It is not armies , Bavies , or fortresses that constitute the true defence of nations . A nation ' s best defence consists iu tho arms of a people veritably free .
With heorts resolved and hnnds prepared , The UeaalnRfi they enjoy to guard V Let the privileged classes of these countries re ° nounce their unjust usurpations and establish poli " tical equality and sooial justice , and England wil have nothing to fear against a world in arms . ' On the contrary , tbe people of the several European nations , would hail with joy the ra&reb . of England's power , ifthatpowfcrwftB arrayed oa the Bide of the liberties and happiness of mankind . Working men of Great Britain and Ireland , ask yourselves the questions why should you arm and fight for the preservation of institutions in the privileges of which you have no share 1 Why should you arm and fight for Iaw 9 of which you only reap the penalties ? Why should you arm 8 nd fight for the protection of property which you can regard only as
tho accumulated plunder of the fruits of your labour ? You are deprived of the produce of your industry , and then jour poverty i « ninde the pretext for withholding from you your citizen-rights ! Subjected to plunder , wrong , and insult by the possessors of property , why should you pour opt your blood ia defence of property ? Let the privileged and the property-holders fight their own battles . If they are too weak to do bo let them learn the leBson of justice from their weakness , and share the advantages of societywith their outcast countrymen . If they do so , the hearts and arms of the millions will form a wall of fire round these nea-girt islea whioh no foreign iavader could break through . Your great want ia political poweras the means to effect your social emancipation ; and until that political power is yours , let your resolve be
NO VOTE , NO MUSKET ! "WorkiEg men of Great Britain and Ireland , shako off your apathy and determine for yourselvea to be free . ' For a nation to be free it is sufficient that she wills it . ' Do . yoa then , will your freedom ? Rally around the banner of the National Charter Association . Resolve that you will be represented in the Legislature , and thereby enaure protection for your labour , your liberties and your lives . Hold in abhor * ence the conspirators who would set nation against nation , in tho name of thnt wicked Ho , that men of different countries are , ' natural enemies . ' Let your motto be
' All men ar « Brethren , and your battle-cry'THE CHARTER , AND NO SURRENDER !' Signed by the secretaries and members of tbe com mittee , in behalf of , and in the name of , the Associa tiOD , — G . Julian IIarnet , ! C = / S , [ GreatBritain Thomas Clark , 3 J . A . MlCHELOT , Iv rwe II . Bernard , £ * ean . ee . ssSmS " 1 H . sr ) } s * ^ ^ SZa , } Scandinavi , Louis Oborski , Poland Carl I ' oiise , ) Dm . P . Btuna , } Rus 3 ia London , January 3 rd . 1848 .
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CONDITION OF THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVERS . At a general meeting ot tho broad silk weaveis of Bethnal Green held at the School-room , Hare-street , on Fwday week , a report of the committee was brought up and adopted , from which we give the following extracts : — ' We think it necessary to inform you that the parish authorities have kindly furnished the committee with statistics relating to the increase of pau « pemm , from which it appears that the increase of paupers in the house , during the last two years , is one hundred per cent ., and the nut door paupers have increased at a fearful fate ; and from tbo statements of manufacturers , there must be nearly twothirds of tho weavers outofeniDlov ; and
notwithstanding these deplorable facts , we have ascertained that the principal buyers are at the present time on the continent making very extensive purchases of foreign goods for importation to the home markets . The great buyers , knowing that home manufacture is not patronised by the leading parties in the State , and that tbe ladies of inferior rank are influenced by their example , watch the Parisian fashiens , and inundate the home markets with goods to a sufficient extent to supply the demand till tho fa > hion becomes almost exhausted , so that , by the time the English manufacturer liaa his gooda prepared , the demand has so decreased that the value becomes materially deteriorated ; indeed , in some largo establishments the shopmen dare not introduce a piece of English
goods until prices are brought down to a certain level . This is effected by forcing foreign goods , and by withholding purchasca of British goods til ! tbe warehouses are crammed , and then prices are i , ll . > red which the manufacturers oftentimes , at a great sacrifice , are compelled to accept . * A plan has been propounded , by & gentleman of influence , for remaving you some distance from town , and for locating you on allotments of land . This plan , we have overy reason to believe , lias met witli some support j and a very strong hope prevails that the project will be carried into effect . ' In the course of the proceedings Mr Hornesby read the following communication , signed by twentytwo inmates of the Bethnalgreen workhouse : —
'Sir , —We , the able-bodied of Bethnal Green workhouse , are used in a most shameful manner . The master makes a practice of stopping the paupers supper , both men and women , because they cannot pick four pounds of oakum per day . During the last six weeks upwards of one hundred have had their suppors stopped , afti-r being atwork all day . On tho 16 th of last month two females were locked up in a cold solitary cpIJ , on bread and water , tor tw § lttr ^ hours , because they couM not do it . Another frnjwcytv suckling hfr child , had her supper stopped sev&fv ; ; ni' -hts successively , and had cold potatoes insjead £ ' 5 ? On the 22 nd he stopped the suppers of twent £ tjy $ j $ men . ' "Z £ ""'" :
To The Old Guards Of Chaetism.
TO THE OLD GUARDS OF CHAETISM .
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¦ —« sS 2 bb = — J j jr ; . > . In tha north of Spain and the south of France * no » fe has fallen in such quantities as to render the iflaajf ' , nearly impassable . • • ¦ ' Swt '
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Oarird , uS . w « f «» qa »{ Bcckircri , tnd we fell ! The Feoplt ' e Charter and No Surrender '
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. . " ; . .: _ :: ¦; ¦"¦¦ ; . Li /^^/ y ^^/ ¦ 3
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——^———_ - . *; . , - Z ! li ± LflLf ^ J > . LONDON , SATURDAY , JANUARY 8 , 1 S 48 " ~^^~ v * 7 m ™^ Z ~ . ; — _ - ¦ . ¦ Vf J ^ u » Five Shillings and Sixpence per gnawer - ¦¦¦*¦¦ . ¦¦¦¦ ¦ ¦ ... — ¦— . ... ... ,....,-. —
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THE FRATERNAL DEMOCRATS ( asbbmblisg in lobdon ) , TO TEE WORKING CLASSES OF GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND . Fellsw Labourers , From the earliest ages your' order' has been subjected to all the wrongs and miseries of slavery—slavery sometimes undisguised , as in ancient Asia , Greece and Romp , and modern Russia and America and sometimes reiled under the forms of a iwrainnl freedom , as in these islands and their dependencies . It is an incontostible truth that he whose labour , liberty , sud life are at tho disposal of another , is a slave . Such is the lot of tho millions of this country . Ynu must- ' bog for leave to toil , ' and when that leave is granted , your reward is not measured by thoextent or nature of your labaur , or the worth of your production ' , but by tha avarice of the capitalists . The
land is monopnlued by a privileged few , and your exclusion from the soil creates an artificial surpluB of labour which enables the capitalists of manufactures , trale , and commerce , to dictate the terms on which they consent to employ you far their own aggrandisement . The legislature , elected by a minority hostile to your interests , taxes the scanty wages of your toil , and while ceaselessly passing laws for the protection of Property , leaves Labour utterly unprotected . Laws are enacted te punish you with imprisonment , banishment , and death for certain offences , but your concurrence in those law * is neither asked nor permitted . The rich reap the benefits , and the poor the penalties of the laws . Yuur labour , your personal freedom , and your very lives are at the mercy of the privileged olasses . Fnaves may assert , and fools believe , that you are' free-born Britons ; ' but everyday experieno 8 must tell ynu that veritably you are slaves .
Are you willing that your abjecS state should con ' tinue ? Are you content to be the parents of slaves ? Will you rear children to enjoy no better heritage than that you received from your fathers—unrequited toil and undeserved misery ? Glory or infamy waits upon your reply . We know that there are thousands—tons and hundreds of thousands of your order ready with an answer worthy of men . But , unhappily their power is unHeen and unfelt , because they have not learned , or having learned , have neglected the lesson that ' union is strength . ' This want of organisation on the part of the enlightened is the more to be deplored because Iherebv is retarded the enlightenment of that numerous ' body of tho wealth-producers who know not Why they bear bondago when they might bs free . ' Yet the seeds of union are widely sown . A vast multitude have adopted
'THE PEOPLE'S CHARTER , ' aa the symbol of their political faith . The avowed Chartists could of themselves form a phalaux , match , less in numbers and strength . A variety of circumstances combine to render their organisation at this time of the utmost importance , He is no true Cbartist who acknowledging tbe justice of tbe principles he ha 9 espoused , hesitates to perform the duties patriotism dictates . AW ia the time for action—for enehoy—for the struggle , and the victory ! Working men of Great Britain and Ireland , your miseries have been great during the past yens ; let thoso miseries inspire you with tho resolution to p .. t forth your strength in the year now commencing , to effect your political and socinl regeneration .
Beware of the desigra of political schemers who flash before your eyes the ignis faluus of sham reform , which if you follow will but lead yon into the quagmire of disappointment and the' slough of despond . ' Within a few years you have 1 Twice too well been taught , The fatal lesson dear !} bought , 'that any scheme of so-called ' reform' emanating from the Bourgeoisie must be ' a mockery , a delusion , and a snare . ' You , the working millions , unanimously supported the middle class in tho struggle of that class toobtain the Reform Bill , and you know that tho results of that measure have been ' Llko Dead Sea fruitB that tempt thee , ve , Bat turn ' to sshea on tbe lips . '
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Jan. 8, 1848, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1452/page/1/
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