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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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THE QUEEN'S SPEECH . The prominent event of tne week , to -which all others give place , is what is called the Royal Speech , on the opening of the Session of Parliament . Of course everybody knows that the name is a misnomer ; that it is no more the Speech of the Queen tban it is of the Empekor of Jatax , hut a collection of sentences formed by the Ministers for the time being , by whom her Majesty is made to talk sometimeB Whiggism , sometimes Toryism , hut on all
occasions as little of any definite policy as possible . If any one thing shows more tban another , how much the power of the Crown has declined , how fully the highest dignity has become a Constitutional form rather than an influential reality , it is this fact , that the Sovereign does not speak his or her sentiments , but subsides into speaking the principles of the Cabinet . Time was when the Moxakcu had a will , potent either for good or evil , and the ruler of the realm was a ruler in factand told his
, thoughts in good plain set terms ; hut now Majesty ? i ? ? LT ? throu S set form of words , carefully studied , so as to contain the smallest possible quantity ^* meaning , and it is thought worthy of record , that the wearer of the Croyn reads the lesson in ^ an audible Toice , arid with faultless enunciation and pronunciation . So fades the glory of the world . Royalty ia praised , not for high thoughts or great deeds , but for attainments shared in common with tipper class National School children .
There are times , however , when oven a Royal Speech contains something worthy of remark . The most elaborate dnlness cannot always contrive to frame words to say nothing . The exigencies of the State have made the Speech more pregnant with matter than such productions usually are ; and we propose to run over the principal points indicated , and attempt to gather from them some clue to the intentions of those who sway the destinies of the kingdom . It is evident , that this year those who pin their I faith to Financial Reform , need not expect much from i the forthcoming Session . They must content them-| selves as they may , with rejoicing that the reductions : which have been made in taxation have been effected
[ without materially reducing the National Income . I "Whether or not that will prove consolatory is a | question for them to decide , seeing it means that > whatever taxes may have been taken off , somehow or another , by hook or by crook , the same grand total I has been extracted from then * pockets , and that , too , I dur ing a year of had trade and declining profits . But , I whatever that may , or may notldo , to pour balm into their minds , it is quite certain that they must prepare I themselves for an increase of taxation for the next twelve months . No doubt , as Her Majesty was I made to say by those who framed the estimates , that
ihose estimates are framed with a due regard to eco-I nomy , and the efficient service of the State . That has I been said of all estimates since such things first came I into fashion , and will he said to the end of time . We | cannot expect Ministers , no matter to what party they i belong , to decry their own commodities , and , a due regard to economy has grown into one of those stereotyped common places which may mean profli-I gate extravagance or pinching parsimony , butfis much I more likely to conceal the former than the latter . I There can be no possible ground for suspecting also f- that for any increase which may appear in said
esti-• f mates excellent reasons would not be given . "When reasons are as plenty as blackberries , who would be I \ rithout capital reasons for asking for more money . ~ ft hat with France , with her half million of idle I bayonet 3 , and Cossacks whose horses are alway « I ready for tbat often quoted journey , at the end of j which they shall be watered in the Rhine ; and I Austria , with its Red Emperor , and Italy , with its I smothered discontent , and the Kaffirs shooting down I our Redcoats and decamping with the flocks and \ herds of Cape farmers , truly there is a superfine stock | of reasons for new coast batteriesaugmentations of
, \ artillery , more ships and more soldiers ; in other I words—for that is the plain English of it—for more f money . So Messrs . Financial Reformers , your oc-I cupation is clearly gone for twelve months at least . You may lay aside your blue books , cease your meet-| ings , and send your whole stock of pamphlets to the Imttennan or the trunkmaker , for remission of taxation is utterly out of the question . If any adjustment of the Income Tax be required , it must be an adjustment of your own circumstances to its burden .
i If you want a newspaper -without a stamp , and ask ibr it this year , you will stamp yourselves as dolt 3 . j If you desire any modification of the excise and cus-\ toins , you must wait for a happier era . No , gentlemen , makeup your minds to it as you may , not a I penny of revenue can be spared ; and if , as is more I than probable , it should happen that a new spot is I looked for to lay a new tax upon , you must dispose i yourselves to hear it with patience . Cold comfort | that for the Financial ? , we admit , but all that is avail-P able in their present melancholy circumstances .
H If , however , there is to he no Financial Reform , P tliere is to be a Parliamentary Reform ; but iptie prospects of the measure which is in due m time to be forthcoming , do not exhilirate us in any Jvery extraordinary degree . We think it probable gjtliat the people of this country couid have borne a pyast deal more than they are likely to get , without m being thrown in a delirium of joy . From the Royal S Speech we gather , that the new Reform Bill is gputended to develop the principle of the old Reform mt < meanS f we su PP » that property is to H be kept as the basis of representation , intelligence p ^ eiug regarded as something too unsubstantial and j | intangible for the foundation of a representative Hasten ,, fhe traditional superiority of bricks over grains is once more sure , at all events , to receive a SPinistenal sanction . Her Majesty is also made
j * thc medium for supplying us with the very < Muite Hand extremel y valuable information , that the reco « - maiscd principles of the Constitution are in the jmiteform to be adhered to . It is a pity certainly that Upve are not enlightened as to what are those recognised gjpnnci ples ; but we suppose we may at least take it for ||| grauted that that which was a recognised principle ||« lnniig a part of the period when the Tudor Dynasty || J-igucd over England—the principle , namely , of all | | ? re . enien voting for the election of Knights of the Shire JJT 7 not the principle alluded to , butthat the recognimtion hovers somewhere between that and the recogi | 3 rised principles which were dominant during the jpre igu of George the Third , of intellectual and liberal i p xneinory . We fear that these same hints of ' recog-| | nised j . ricciples' of an unrecognisable Constitution , •^ and of developing the Sham Reform Bill , say very Hi P'a'Hb" * n <* ar ^ to have as small an extension of j ? the popular power as can be made to appear consis-3 ; tent with those large professions in which Whig states-1 imen are so prone to indulge .
i Apropos of this subject , another paragraph of the | speech points attention to the Constitution for New % pealaud , which may , it seems , now be allowed ¦¦?¦ $ i «« emerge from its suspension . If we rei | colWct ^ rightly , that Constitution was based j ^ pou Universal " Suffrage . We are sure Englishmen H ? should be proud of the implied compliment that the pliberty with which New Zealanders may he" endowed . pis too great to be safely trusted to them—that a tat-!|| tooed barbarian is more fit to choose his representative ll ^ lian an artizau or a factory operative . That , howp- erer , seems to ho the estimation in which our prukrs hold those who produce the wealth of the
pecuutry ; aud we fancy that thefeeling of the rulers W& lully reciprocated by the ruled . No doubt we shall H t » told that there are great differences between the Ht " . vo cases—that here there are vast and important in-Wcrests ( nottiie interests of the working man ) to be ^ ' userved—that there there is not that antagonism and Mtttnflict of warring classes which here distract us . It mf * y *»» t ^ th at > Property Qualification would be ar » awolt to apply to savages who set a high value on ^^ nahawks and war-clubs . But , whatever may be apar t , it is a significant fact—a fact for the proletarians m ™ ponder on , aud wring the meaning out of—that the ¦ y"wof Eeki are in Whig eyes more fit for Consti-^ "tiuEal hberty than the descendants of the Saxon .
§| L iin ° therpara graph wefind the announcement ut-II ] . ' i ?*! dee P P ression of thankfulness thatcrime K £ iu what have been hitLer & > the most lawless Hr * rat £ of unhappy Ireland . TVliat is the meaning KfM Sentence ? ft meanE—though statesmen are Sand f ° . enou S h to 8 P eak the truth—that pestilence Shion * haTe done their work in **» charnel-8 the a ^ tuat wuat the yhave left undone Wm e Modus of a people flying as though from the
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wrath to come , has accomplished . That after levelled cottages and evicted tenants , crowded workhouses and overfull graves , have caused and marked the diminution of the people ; what remained of vitality has shrunk away as though from contact with a putrefying corpse , and that there is not left enough of spirit and energy even for crime . A great thing that for a Queex to be thankful for , and all the more a matter for rejoicing when with it-is coupled the announcement that to , districts where more of bone and sinew are remaining ; ' the crime has transported itself . ¦ But . of . cour 8 B . Jther 8 . is a remedy ' ^ thBt ^\^ Tfae : / OldjTemMy- ' ' of < ralerswr 6 preasi 6 n Let guilt grow first , and then catch it and hang it . That has been already tried in the South , and West , with what indifferent success our readers are aware .
It is now to have its turn in the North . Is there any reason to suppose that it will be more potent there ? None in the world . Repression of crime is a broken reed piercing the hand that holds it . Repression is the mode adopted by those who have not wisdom enough for prevention . In plain terms , repression alone is the policy of fools , and will bring about events which would be ridiculous , if they were not melancholy and terrible . As we said last week , the evils of Ireland—evils producing all her crime—are moral and social ones , and , if they are to be met at all they must be encountered by laws not appealing to selfishness or fear , but having a social and moral bearing . But of such laws these aristocratic , economic politicians , the Whigs , have as much idea as—to use a homely , but apt illustration— a pig has of a side pocket . '
The passages of the speech , with regard to Foreign Affaire , tells us that we maintain amicable relations with all Foreign Powers . The plain meaning of that is , that we are on good terms , not with the people of other nations , but with their rulers . Is that a thing to be proud of ? Will Englishmen at large felicitate themselveaupon the fact , that those who assume to represent the national mind are exchanging courtesies with that Modern Nero , the Pbikcb President of France—are excellent friends with his most Christain and lazzaronli-liko Majesty of Naples—are keeping up an agreeable acquaintanceship with the human leech who has sucked the blood of Hungary—are on visiting terms with the gorestained despot of the North , the turnkey of that great national dungeon Siberia ? We think not . It
may be a wise part for England to stand aloof from the strife of the Continent , to preserve a guarded neutrality ; but let us call it by its right name , and not gild it with the term * amicable relations , ' When honest men consort on terms of equality and friendship with promise-breakers , perjurers , assassins , and wholesale murderers , then Englishmen may hear it said , without a blush , that they ' maintain amicable relations with the rulers of Continental Europe ; but not till then . It is evident , however , that those who use the words do not believe in them , else wh y call out the militia . Our governors seem to think that the training of the population into soldiers is the best proof that they are good friends with all the world . So much for the Speech itself . A word or two for the debates which followed it . The sneers at
Chartists , and so forth , were to be expected , and we pass them by with much the same feeling that animated the man , who , when a long eared animal kicked him , remarked that he took it with a due regard to the quarter from -whence it came . But the remarks upon the Press are more noteworthy . Thank Heaven , tho time for a censorship has gone by in England . It will be a long time before English journals submit then * leading articles to the police for approval . The ri ght of speech , at all events , we have got , and mean to keep it . Noble lords and honourable gentlemen
may rest assured of that . And though some scores of their own numbers may grace the festivals at the Elysee—festivals from which ail that is honourable and dignified in Fiance is self-banished—they may depend upon it , that Englishmen , with more candour than senators can take credit for , with more courage than they dare evince , and with more intelligence and power than they can bring to bear , will stigmatise such homicides as Louis Napoleon , with a plainness which the atrocity of his acts both justifies and calls for .
The other point to which we w : sa to allude shortly , is the dismissal of Lord Palmerston . It is now unquestionable that the late Secretary for Foreign Affairs fell from office , because he expressed bis approval of the traitor who now dominates over France . He admits that he did so—he avows that his opinions have not changed . The man who could so disgrace the name of England deserves to fall , never to rise again . Lord Palmerston can never have tho confidence of true Liberals ; and we were rejoiced to see
that his defence , brilliant and talented as it was , fell dead upon the Members of the House of Commons , who appeared to recognise that the question was , not if other Members of the Cabinet were as bad as he , but whether or not he could justify himself . In that he signally failed . And though it may be true that Lord Johx and his colleagues shuffled and truckled to the rising star , as is natural for Whigs , still England , waiting an opportunity to deal with them , will , if she regards her own honour , say to Lord Palmerstox ' never more be officer of mine . '
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[ As the columns under this head are open for the free expression of all opinions , the Editor is not responsible for , or committed to , any . ] ORGANISATION OF LABOUR .
10 IDE EDITOR OF THE XOKTHEBS STAR ; Dear Sir , —XotUine is of so much importance for tho Organisation of Labour , " on true principles , as a thorough knowledge of the nature and uses of money , and a iust standard and measure of value . On these subjects I would recommend the careful study of Bishop Berkeley ' s Works Dr . Adam Smith ' s ' Wealth of Xations , ' and John GraW of Edinburgh , last work on " Banks and Currency . " The following are some questions taken from Bishop Berkeley ' s writings , which are well worth the attention of tbe " National Association of United Trades , " and to this body thev
are by me particularly addressed for their most attentive consideration . Tfades' Unions , as hitherto conducted , though they have not always been successful , have undoubtedly been useful to many trades in preventing that rapid downward progress in wages , the effect of excessive competition , which has involved the mass of the working population in these Islands in the extremes of poverty and destitution . But , not Icing laud on general principles , they are only temporary expedients , benefiting a comparatively few for a limited period , and can never emancipate or in auy w « iy improve the condition of the working classes- generally . Bishop Berkeley's questions
are—^ On Labour , Wmlth , Exchange , Money . 1 . — " Whether Ac four elements , and man ' s labour therein , he not the true Source of Wealth ?" 2 . — " What makes a wealthy nation ? Whether mines of Gold and Silver are capable of doing this ? And whether the negroes among the gold sands of Africa , are not poor and destitute ? " * 3 . — "Whether a fertile land , and the industry of its inhabitant ? , would not prove inexhaustible funds of wealth , be the counters for conveying or recording thereof what you will—paper , gold , or silver ?" 4 . — " Whether , in order to understand the true nature of wealth and commerce , it would not be right to consider a ship ' s crew cast on a desert island , and by degrees forming themselves to business and civil life , which industry begat credit , and credit moved to industry ?"
5 . — " Whether such men would not set themselves to ¦ woik ? Whether they would not subsist by the mutual participation of each other ' s industry ? Whether , when one man bad procured in this way , more than he could consume he would not exohange his superfluities to his wants ? Whether this must not produce credit ? Whilst to facilitate these conveyances , to record and cir . culate this credit , they would not soon agree ou certain tallies , tickets , tokens , or counters ?" g ^ «• 'VFhether paper inouey or counters in such a case would not and whether paper does not by its stomp and sianature acquire a local value , and become as precious as qoldl and whether it be not much fitter to circulate in Wee sums , and therefore preferable to gold ? Whether it be not agreed that paper hath in many respects the ad vantaeo aho vecoin , as being of more dis patch in payments , more easily transferred , preserved , aud recovered when lost ?"
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7 . — " Whether , therefore , the use and nature of money which all men so eagerly pursue , be yet sufficiently under , stood or considered by ail ?" 8 . — "Whether money is to be considered na having an intrinsic value , or as being a commodity , a standard < pledge , as is variously suggested by writers ?—And whether the true idea of money , as such , be not altogether that of a ticket or counter ? " , ; - 9 . — " Whether money . be not useful only " tSfar ;' as it stirreth up industry , enabling men . mutually to ' participate in the ; fraits , of eapb . other ! s labour' ? " --And whether there be any ! virtue hi / gold or siWer , . bthprtuanas they Bet people to work , or create industry V' <>\ . > . . ;• ¦ , - ;• ¦ :- * . ' ¦ • ¦ ., . , "" . j :- ' ¦ . ! , . i ^ BtMjits of a'lfatiokalSanK r ¦ : - / ¦ 10 . — »¦ Whether thef eureway . to . supply people with tools and materials , and to set them ; to work , be not a free circulation of money , whether gold , silver , or . paper ? ' ' 11 . — " VFhether money could ever be wanting to the demands of industry , if we had a National Batik ?"
12 . — "Whether the discovery of the richest gold mino that ever was , in the heart of the Kingdom , would be any real advantage to us ?" 13 . — " Whether we are sufficiently sensible of the peculiar security there is in having a Bank , that consists of land and paper , one of which cannot he exported , and the other isindanger of being exported ?" 14 . — " Whether , therefore , a National Bank would not be more beneficial than even a mine of gold ?" 15 . — " Whether tbe opinion of men , and their industry consequent thereon , bo not tho true wealth of Holland , and not the silver supposed to be deposited in tho Bank of Amsterdam V »* i-
16 . — " Whether there are not to be seen in America , fair towns , wherein the people are well lodged , fed , and clothed , without a beggar in their streets , although there be not one grain of gold or silver current among thorn ?" 17 . — " And whether the great evils that have sometimes attended paper money in tho British Possessions in America have not sprung from over-rating their lands , and issuing paper without discretion , and from tbe legislators , breaking their own rules in their own favour , thus sacrificing the public to their private advantage ? And whether a little Bense aud honesty mi ght not easily prevent all such inconveniences ?"
Mat is Wealth ? IS . — Whether thepower to command the industry of others be not real wealth ? And whether money be not issued by tickets or tokens for conveying or recording such power , Si £ S ^^^^^ "I" *™**!* «* 19 . — "Whether to promote , transfer and secure this commerce , and this property inhuman labour , or in other words , this power , be not the sole means of enriching a go { foMil 5 Jrr W thi 3 may b 6 d ° inde P e"dentl y of « ff ! wi .- Wheth f , coun , ter 3 or mney bo not referred to ? fnn Jm T' " N ° - l 0 Dg a 9 the ? kee P P aco aDd Proportioni with the country , it must be owned the counters are ? erfbVn ^ dtS 2 C < « e tliat t 0 WJfc ° ^ ™
\\ ha % is a Pound ? 21 . — " Whether the term Pound Sterling , Crown , Livre , &c , aronot to lie considered as merely exponents or denominations of proportion ? and whether gold , silver or paper are not tickets or counters for reckoning , recording and transferring thereof ?" 1 33 'T " Wiletlier the ^ nominations being retained , although the bullion were gone , things might not , nevertheless , berated , bought-, and sold , industry promoted , and ; i circulation of commerce maintained V These aro only a comparatively small selection from the great thoughts of this truly great man upon this most vital question , and from these extracts it will be seen that
Buhop Berkeley was not behind tho most liberal and onlightened writers of the present day on this generally supposed mysterious subject . But there is no mystery in money , if people will only give themselves the trouble to think upon the subject . The bullionists and usurers , and their paid and unpaid supporters and advocates , say and do all they can to frighten the public from thoroughly investigating their enormous golden juggle , and they have so fur succeeded hitherto , that not one man in twenty will pay any attention to the subject . But its paramont importance , and the poverty and distress of the country , will force the people soon to thoroughly unravel the whole swindle . I am , very respectfully , dear Sir , jours , Liverpool , Feb . 2 , 1852 . Joiur Finch .
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THE DEBT OF GRATITUDE FUND . TO THE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —I have read the noble address of the men of Stockporfc , in the " Star" of Saturday last , on behalf of our persecuted chief , Mr . Feargus O'Connor ; every word of which I most emphatically endorse . The Chartists of this city will not hold their regular meeting this week in consequence of the lectures of our talented friend , Mr . Cooper , aud no official response oan be given until we meet . But , as 1 feel deeply interested in that genlleman ' s present unfortunate situation , and as I have always looked upon ingratitude as a crime of the blackest dye , I therefore hasten , individually , to respond to their noble call , by pledging my might and humble co-operation with the Old
Guards of Bristol in raising that fund which I think ought to be called the " National Debt of Gratitudo Fund ; " and earnestly hope that every man who has imbibed a spark of those noblo principles which ho has so long and consistently advocated from John O'Groat ' s to Land ' s End—ay , anil even my native countrymen , on the hills of Cambria , will nobly contribute their mite . Let the tributary streams flow into a mighty ocean of gratitude , such as will striko dismay and disappointment into that twtarus of capitalist and governmental intrigueand all the machinations to crush him , as an individual , and his idolised Land Plan , in order to destroy every vestige of confidence which he has so honestly won .
Some members of the Land Company may ask , " Whore is the sympathy for them V I answer , '' Iu the redemption of Mr . O'Connor . " The blow that strikes him down was aimed at us , but lie must first be sacrificed in order to effect the deed . Just imagine all ouv chagrin and disappointment brought into one focus , and then you may form an estimate of the weight that han » s on tho devoted head and heart of Mr . O'Connor ; add to tbat his thousands , his all , perhaps , locked up with yours for years , or for ever , for I fear he will bo the last to receive justice at their hands . Then , I say , if you wish to rescue him who has spont his thousands in the of
yearly cause the working men of England from a premature grave , to which your ingratitude would surely hurry him , rally to the call of the men of Stockport ; lift the burden that weighs him upwn , and let it recoil on the heads of our oppressors . Let us no longer be guilty of adopting the old nnd foolish cant of erecting monuments of stone , and inscribing thereon fullsoroe lines of adulation over the remains of neglected , starved , and broken-hearted patriots , but let us at onco erect a living monument to liberty , such an one that shall convince our oppressors that we deserve freedom , and scorn the brand of slaves . After fourteen years of servitude in the ranks of Democracy it is the first time that I have attempted to wield my pen publicly , and however imperfectly or unsuccessfully I may have done so , 1 shall have tho consolation ofhaviog made the attempt in tho cause of justice aud humanity . I remain , Brother Chartists , yours truly , Bristol , Feb . 3 . John Hookhs , . (
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TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —Mr . Ernest Jones says , in his " Notes , " that my letter , which appeared ia your valuable paper of last Saturday , is " a miserable attempt to cripple the subscription of funds to the People's Paper , by a base , unfounded falsehood—an attempt to raise a doubt as to the security of the money . " Without using the same kind of scurrilous language , 1 wish to say a few more words upon tho subject . At the time I wrote last week , Mr . Jones was under the jurisdiction of tho Insolvent Cowt ; and , therefore , any property ho had at the time belonged to that Court . If ho had been discharged by that Court , all his future property would have remained liable for his debts . But his petition dismissed
was , because he had on a former occasion petitioned under the Protection Act in the Bankruptcy Court . But in dismissing the petition , Mr . Commissioner Law emphatically said " that any property Mr . Jones may have , belongs to the assignee in bankruptcy . " I supposo that , although Mr . Jones has shown himself niO 3 t lamentably ignorant of the law , not only in his prospec tus for a People's Paper , but also in taking up his own case last week to tho Insolvent Court , he will admit that the Commissioner does know tho law . Therefore , from what that Commissioner said , it is clear enough that Mr . Jones can neither inherit nor create any property to be enjoyed by lumseU * until foil payment of his debts , which , according to his own showing , are not far short of £ 10 , 000 .
I have not the slightest objection , personally , to Mr . Jones doing his best to gee up a newspaper ; but since he himself has undertaken to lay down tho ; iawat such length concerning the proprietorship of his contemplated journal , and has laid down that law so very crronocusly , I think it my duty to throw a little light upon the natter . Two or
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, . t iMWMUMgMM , three weeks ago he himself said to a correspondent " never mind my motives , touch my arguments . " I now say the same thing to him ; and I promise you , Mr . Editor ¦ that if it is necessary , I will next week point out , and quote * from , the Acts of Parliament that bear upon Mr . Jones ' s ' position . 1 : . ; . I remain , Sir , your obedient servant , ( . '; . ¦¦ . " *' ,: ' A ; 'Law- Cserk and STABNxri- Chartist : ' . TClarendoa-street , SfcJ ? ancras , February 3 rd , IS 52
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; : ¦ . _ ¦ UFLOODS IN THE NOItTH ; A ( TILLAGE SWEPT AWAY . - ONE HUNDRED ; . ; ' .. ¦ ;; PERSONS MISSING . k terrible calamity occurred on . Thursday morning at Holmfirth , a large manufacturing Tillage , a few miles from Huddersfield . Several of the factories in the place are supplied with water from reservoirs in the elevated parts of the locality . The rain during the past few days had caused such an extraordinary pressure of water , that the Bibbery reservoir gave way , and at two o ' clock in the morning burst its banks , aud caused most appalling devastation and loss of life . The immense body of water rushed with fearful force and impetuosity upon the village , and swept away in its resistless course whole rows of houses , hurrying the sleeping inmates into eternity . Aot only houses , but warehouses and mills were swept
ttwny by the mi ghty rush of water , and the streets were blocked up with the wrecks of buildings , wool , casks of oil , the bodies of the dead , &c . A bridge over the Holme , which formed the only communication between tho parts of the village of Holmfirth which were situate on the opposite banks of the river , was washed away . This added greatly to the confusion and alarm of the inhabitants , as those on one bank were unable to ascertain the fate of their friends on the other Bide of the stream . By four o ' clock in the morning , the water had so far subsided , that preparations were commenced for recovering the dead , and at seven a . m ., sixty bodies had been taken up . Iu one row of houses swept down there were fifty-four porsons .
LATER PARTICULARS . Huddersheld , Thursday , 10 P . M . —The exoitemeut and grief occasioned by the terrible calamity at Holmfirth is beyond description . A body of water ninety feet deep and 100 yards wide was liberated from a narrow mountain gorge ( by the bursting of an embankment belonging to the River Holme Reservoir Commission ) almost at a sweep , and precipitated down tho valley , An immense mill , built of stone with its steam engine , spinning and weaving frames , and huge boilers nnd other heavy iron machinery , was totally swept away . A row of houses was carried away , and thoir inhabitants drowned . Bodies have been taken from the river fifteen miles distant . A hundred persons are missing , and there are more than sixty corpses lying at the inns . Some say nearlv ninety have been picked up . Total loss some hundreds " of thousands sterling .
In the neighbourhood of Manchester tho rivers overflowed their banks , submerging all the low grounds in the neighbourhood . At Wallness , the left hank of the Irwell was overflowed , and a great portion of tho Peel Park laid under water . A large portion of Lower Broughton was also submerged , tbe ground in some places being covered to a depth of nine feet . Two rows of houses at Broughtonvicvr , between Broughton-lane and the river Irwell , seemed , at four o ' clock on Wednesday afternoon , in imminent danger of destruction . The flood had cut off all the approaches to these houses , but a boat having been procured , thirty-three persons availed themselves of the opportunity of quitting their houses before seven o ' clock- About two hours afterwards the water began to subside . X « av the lowev part of Oxford-street , a good deal of property was submergedand the inhabitants of some of
, the houses in Little Ireland were compelled to take refuge in the upper storeys . Several of the mills in the neighbourhood had to be stopped in consequence of the lower stories being flooded . A reservoir , belonging > Mr . John Brooks , at the Uopolull cotton-mill , near Stockport , is said to have burst its banks . The water flowed into tho lower stories of the mill , and carried away a portion of the machinery , destroying property of tho value of nearly £ 1 , 000 . At Disley , the large cotton factory of Mr . Tickers , had to be stopped at about four o ' clock on Wednesday afternoon , in consequence of tho swollen state of the river Goyt , which flows past tho mill . The banks of the Mersey , between Stockporfc and Stretford , were overflowed in various places , covering all the low grounds in tho vicinity , and rendering the roads almost impassable .
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[ The following appeared in our Second Edition of ast week . ] THE ENGINEERS' STRIKE . The proprietors of tho Ilai gh Foundry , near Wigan , have jlosed their works , though not members of the Masters ' union . They have dnuvn up tbe following form of agreement to be signed by their workmen before resuming work , and in transmitting a copy to tho Masters' Society at Manchester they state that it had been submitted to a committee of men belonging to the benefit club and received their sanction . This statement , however , must be received with caution : — " Ilaigh Foundry and Brock Mill Forge , near Wigan , , 185— . —I hereby agree with the Ilaigh Foundry Company that I will not , whilst in their employ , contribute
either directly or indirectly , any money or other value to the funds of the Society of Amalgamated Mechanics and Engineers , or to any other society whoso object is , either wholly or in part , to dictate terms to the employers of mechanics and engineers , either as to what hours tho meirshall work or lioiv they shall work , or what wages they shall recoive for their work , or what kind of mon shall be employed at tho mechanics' and other shops . And I agree to forfeit the wages that may bo duo to me if it can be proved that I have , after signing this agreement , contributed to the funds of such society , or in any way given them money or other value , either by myself or through the medium of anv other person . "
On Thursday night tho members of tf \ o Amalgamated Society held meetings at Nottingham , Stockport , Bolion , St . llelen ' s , and Wamngton . Sext week they are to have meetings in the Free Trade Hall , Manchester , and in tho Sobriety Hall , Todmorden . Tho society reports that they are in treaty for the manufacture of . a largo quantity ol cotton spinning machinery . We are informed that on Friday afternoon a deputation from tho Employers liad an interview with Sir Gcor < 'o Grey . Tho subject of the interview has not , as yet , transpired . Tho following is the repl y of the workmen to the masters Ukase issued last week : — THE Al'PBAL OF THE EXECUTIVE COUXCIL OF THE AMAWAMATED SOCIETY TO THE TRADES AND THE 1 UIjLIO * The Executive Council of the Amalgamated Society of Engineers , « fco ., earnestly intreat that the enijili . vevs of engincerins otievattves , tho non-society men , tlieiv o < v » " members , und the public sit large will give their atteuliun to the document printed with this anneal . *
That document contains Uie minutes of the resolutions come to If . Conference ot the Employers' Association , and which , narked as ; Private and confidential , ' and Tor members only , ' has been circulated among tbe trade , so that those belonging to it may send in then- assent to or disseut from it rule of equity and every principle cf morality , wl « tread under foot every aspiration for rational and well defined freedom , always endeamrto wkinieer * . They understand that ( as he 'Times ' says )' pubhcoption always gravitates to the right in the lone run , ' and conscious of their own injustice hev " dre-iil tn Vnirt SSfiKSS ? " aerefW 0 tWS BliSSir ^ ' ^^^'^ . iratc ' and A copy of it , however , has come into ouv hands , and we seek , ing for no secresy . dreading , 10 amount of publicity , but con scioiu of the justice of our cause-courting the strictest inquiry he clearest invesngation , put it before the ° world and a kfur an impartial judnment upon a ; aud while wo do so wo cannot with justice to ourselves , or to those whose interests m have been , li > pointed to guard , abstain fron ^ laiuly express nS oSr own thought
We beheie that the resolutions of the Employers'Association express the spirit of the most utter despotism ; that in fict the * iolate the law which wisely allows if peaceable combmitions among all classes ; that t > * y co ,, travenO tn ^^^ SS of commercial liberty ; that they breathe the detemin ion o impose an abhorrent slavery upon all those whose only property is their labour ; that they have a tendency to crush that liberty of action which is essential to the welfare of the people ¦ that thev are opposed to the interests of the general public ; and that they degrade and disgrace humanity . These may be thought strong terms . but they are ully justified by the tyranny whicli provokes them , for never yst in the history of a tree people was such a yoke of serfdom attempted to be imposed upon its commercial and 1 ™ uiisrfiiii musses * Employers of labour should refuse their assent to these monstrous propositions , because their own free action fcsKlcd bv them . If they are adopted , the inanufiusUwwill ™ i ™™ S to wliom
awe engage they please . They are bv thr > fii-ct iwcnlntim prohibited from admitting into Hid * e « tabShnI s any n . emn " o anj sociftawUiBhtnkwoogntaMce of the contracts Ci ? tZlr ! . P ° y , ci' »* V » second resolution they are prohibited ™™ Tii « ft P . 1 ) ulatlon eve » f ™ n their own workmen , and H . tW ? J dis" ! iss'lny ° "e connected with such deputation . By ther fourth resolution the terms upon which alone theyW engage their own workmen are authoritative !* dictated to them by this diswacelul association . By the fifth resolution they are prevented from employing auy man who shall have offended against the arbitrary will of any former employer . By the sixth resolution they are bound te abide by the award of the Employers '
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Executive , as to any dispute respcettoB tbe internal manaucment of their own establishments ; and by the seventh resolution tlu-y will , if they consent to it , bind themselves to take a ' VKWt in the quarrcUot wrery uVUer ftvc' . ory , mw lit their own risk and cost—at tlic expens of the cessation of their own business—to uphold nny individual acts of oppression which the Executive Comniittceinay think fit to antietion . , : We a k you , employers of England , whether you will consent to abdicate your own rights of irt « action—to endanger jour position —to subject yourselves to continual embroilments—to ri-k your business—to alienate your workmen , in ordtr to serve the selfish « nds ef a few unwovti , y members of your own body , led on by an ti \ Ft ? llcll ) Ici 1 mercenary hireling ! Wo iutroat you to pause—to fore \ m i . i otl 1 fw 5 ' 0 Ul' own SRkcs and for tho B ! lUe of otbevs i to * Wo i f * ° l ) ' "nivise , unjust , and precipitate a step . ¦ .. <• ¦ nlov « 8 fc !' tlle "O'l-soeiety men—those whom the combined em . ' wkom «\ T . ? saci < i' » cea under the pretence of protecting-those to ' brotherh ? n , i il' ? UIll ! ltl'rt Seciety have stretched forth the haHd of resist this I l ' iu the h 0 U 1 'of distress , to combine with us to y alike . Wb ? ,,, ^ ' 'ch is endeavoured to be imposcc on all of which tiiM pon ! em t 0 « tall ( I » v their order , with tho interests •" . ™ r "eir own wclti .-., i * i ., ™ i . t .. i ..... ^ „„ will thb » 111
, consent to abdicate «¦ ,, •• . "" """* UWUIIU " * " " * " ™ V sndlegal form ' wm t h n t 0 combine in tho most P i , ! le ¦ delegating one or moro f 7 , . Ul » v them-nlves to be debarred from any grievraecB tW m-, r , ou' w'tt bod > ' respectfully to represent rately before the power of c ' udti ? t fe ^ altneS 8 ' ***** t ' selves to be such slaves that tf BJ L . they acknow edge themafter their work is done-Jhdr ow * 7 < nOt timpl 0 ? r own tim 2 are So d 7 . & of all m nhood ^ o S » 'T ^ T ** to submit to a serfdom worse than that r ? H f . ? t . reedom - ' stringent than any which au cfof ? LVeL ' i , i , udal tmie ? r ™ ™ with the sanction of law . e Le B lsli"ure ever dignified To the members of the Amalgamated Socif . lv f « * i . have acted so nobly hither o , 4 Impe is scarce y ^ JTt ^ ° how the . vshoul . 1 treat this more than Imperial inoel m u ion pOn he part of those who would be their absolute , uncontrolled " iS ,, « We masters . They are well aware of tho strength \ rtiiJhS pves them , of the benefits whichit confevs wnt 7 ^ - ! lean
iney ( or support , when individual injustice is attempted to be practised against them . To it they look for help when work failB f vmdictivencss turns them idle upon the streets . From the funds it enables them to accumulate , they obtain succour when disabled ny accident and in the time of sickness ; and when thft shadow of nf ti - i ? 011 the . llons 8 0 fa ' membor , union prevents the tears or tne widow from being rendered more bitter by cries of her ulildreu Mti ™ » ' Operatives , will you abandon such a holv combination j stius ? Will you singly expose youvstlves w the storm ofoppveswon wiucli is sweeping on towards you ? Will you cast off from tho onij anchor which holds you to independent existence ^ Will you IV ™ Z ' ^ iV onI J' bunier oetween the wrath of an employer and l , r ° " , s ? "nd "Ie Priso" ? We know that you will not . The vnl . Jv i PR whlch tlle En > I'loycrs' Association is now taking forbids 5 w " , iL ?? ' Notice tllc lai ; t- « f : " - 't from which you should gather & » i W " at wlllle thcy sa > ' J'ou sh « u ll ! iVe " ° association they incr tiVnnSerpe ! ulli ° tIieil" mm - Remember that while tlioy i . ypo , voutlr . t , fi f i j ? sert ' - * e liberty of all , they arc denying to " ' " ' ?? V . ' '' fa' 11 ' of combination which thev claim and intend to bxov .
unblushinri . * ' You «» HK > teaooso but to resist such glaring m i 7 S "csll 0 t ! sm « s this . vim « f . n «!) tliat J in . ordectOHlsure ' <> y « tt »»>¦ advantages which snnnfl I \ /<«» . derive from union , they intend to give you a new , vou " unn « ' If " ? . " benefit society . ' What sort of a society do taXSS ?? n W | U be ? Do J ° u ™ nk lt w « l « W « tt you against meet with J ? . ? 0 " 811 !^^ that it will compensate you when you when wu , ™ J ? " , ^ you imB 8 » 'e that it will provide for you hncv thnti "IF 0 "" Iilbow ' * « Pon tho world \ In short , do you are so an . im « J l ; veB < ? J ' " tliat iwer which these ' masters ' you to 2 t 0 dtipnve . y ° " "'? 1 J " J' 011 "'en think it will allow riU havP , £ fr ? flmds ' Wdnpon it tkalit will not . It « T *« t « i- trustees and the tools of employers for offithose cm . J « . C"nt"il 1 VroMhknx % ( w deluding you for what X enZ ^™ V ' * oni : '" isconduct-that is , jour honest Htt ?' - ( "e character glvera will become the fundholders . hisTerv , t ; lU -m 1 ! 1 * hdd as » ) let 1 fe'cs «» his « ood behaviour , aud tbem toabjeSSS mouldedintolinks i" thecllilhl wMcU ^ i . ' £° ° 'e Beneral public we appeal for countenancesmmnvt . nni
, , ScViVTr i V ? tt 0 i 3 en 0 UBh of t' 0 ( 1 ( 1 * " » ' « *» Put down op . that in 1 i cf f ° , ; * ' ? '' '"• wheiw « it shaws its head . Wo think * * ! ' ' ! 8 llllicl ' " ttll itoe is lll ! lt l 0 VUClf f ™ 1 % isohtad in t ifuu"t , ' !\ ? S ^ . h-Mon riding roughshod over Xw L ? d'iaI " ful *« Wen to unite . Thousands of the leading ^ CrW 11 ? 6 0 ? theP ° w « ° f l « ' * e accumulated capitals , and ^ lf . , ? bydil J lntOtllLM ' anks of those wh « by labour »?« n ^ fv n , ! , . . struggling in the vortex of competition ariSM ?* " ? ' 110111 store&r tIleil ' omldim Otil > ^ « tlierb , their inteycstsan . 1 our own are identical . Even now , out tlle / wrnmgs ot labour the main portion of the retail trade is sup . ported . ri , c degradation of the skilled labourer iuvolvcs the loss , if not the rum , of the tradesman . t « ' 1 . £ " ° n-s " eitt J "'<¦" . to the members of the Amalgamated Society , nto Lf l' ° CrS l , ¦ ¦ " * . ' * no M « motivL ' tllan I "'"' own inteiei . ts . support us in this contest . To all society we say , do so £ Li rom » i \ * ? - mo ? w- JJo so intllu name of justice . Remember that right is above all , and that those who stand by and ^» a ^^! rtffi * " fonliemseive "
Foi ourselves our minds are made up . So long as we have hearts Iwefl' t , . , llllc ' B ucs t 0 " 1 'Pak . we will cry aloud against this threatened infraction of all duty alike to God and mail So ™ . a \^ l egal , IIleans of "'S'sta'Kie "re left to us , we will strugrie K ? - 'e treac ' ^ y' , the fel « eJ «» d , tlto despotism of tlicEmploySrs Association : and if those means at last should fail us although that iiwrJ Bkult beyond probabUity , scarcely within the bounds of possibiliti , we , and thousands at our back , rather than yield an unconditional submission , will be prepared to carry with us to other l « w » that skul and industry which we are not allowed freely to exercise upon our native soil , aud thus take from the arrogant , heartless tyrants who now > eel ; to lord it over us-to make their arbitrary wills the rule of our lives-the means of employing that wealth which they may valuo more than tho lives or weJl-beW of their iellow men . By order of the council , Oos . Musto . President . London , 25 , Little Alie street , AYhitcchaiM .-l . ' jan . ' aof' C '' ' l ( : tarj <
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CENTRAL CO-OPERATIVE AGENCY , Id , Charlotte-street , Fitssroy Square . Weekly Repom , Jan . 20 th , to Jan . 26 fcli , 1852 . The Agency transacted business with the followin" stores -Ullesthorpe , Woolwich , Burnley , Galasliiels , Baiibnry , Leeds . Braintree , Rochdale , Birmingham , and Swindott ! Ihe members of the Agency were waited on by a deputation Btthe Bookbinders' Society , who are desirous of buvine their groceries , < &c , of the Agency . An evening party took place on Friday , January 23 rd , when the managers of the Association were invited to meet Messrs . Newton , Allan , and Musto , of the Amalgamated Iron liades , and other gentlemen interested in the Cooperative Movement . The Uanbury Store applied for some one to lecture for them . They were informed that one of tho members of the Agency was ready to attend . The petition for modifying the Law of Partnership ia order to faciliiate Associations of Working Men , now lies for signature at the Central Olfice of the Co-operative Agency . [ The above was inadvertently mislaid last week . ] °
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LATEST FOREIGN NEWS . ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE THE QUEEN OF SPAIN . Paris , Thursday mnrnin ? , Ei ght o'Clock . > -Th (! message from Madrid of the 2 nd hist , states tbat nn attempt has been made on the life of tko Queen , but the wound is not dangerous . The Queen was going to church . The nssassin fired with a pistol ; the shut struck the Queen ' s shoulder . He has been arrested .
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From the Gazette of Tuesday , Feb . 3 rd . BANKUUl'TS . Thomas Arnold , Eimore , Gloucestershire , miller—Thomas Byroni , Wi san , Lanciifhiro . gt'icer—Jo « c ; 0 i Hall , llopend , Hereford-Miire , fnrmcr—Tiioimis Hniris , CaniI-. i / iTie . Curnwull , giin-er—Joha Padgett , Idle . York .-iiirc , ( . ' loth liiimnlacturiT—HoLtrt h ' ewell , SwntYham , Korfoik , striwiisr . SCOTCH SEdUESTllATIOSf ? . John Lamb Cnniii « s ham . l )""« lec , manufacturer—Alexander Finally , Old Motiklaml , L : insii-l « Jiiro , ttnantof the farm of Slainhill-David Stewart Cialhrauli . Biuincrciinns ,. , » 2 » v Camnbclltown , « ntowrit « v-J » mes i'laxwtil . Ulaigow , wine and enirit n > er cliant-Jam . es M'Mu . ra . v , Gla ^ goir , ironmonger-Adam tiilkh " on Glasgow , printer . - '
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Mn . Vbbxos Smith , Md > ., | , , it u ii&M receivod a luinwtorial appointment ; « ua rumour declares Sir William JJolesworth likely to be equall y fortunate .
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THE WEST RIDING DELEGATE MEETING . TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE NORTHERN STAR . Sir , —On behalf of tho Chartist locality of this town I am instructed to state , that the resolutions come to at tlws West Riding Delegate Meeting , held at Halifax on the lstinst ., and which were supported by our delegate , do not meet with our approval . Be kind enough to insert the above in your paper , in order to prevent an . erroneous impression being formed of our opinions 1 . From yours respectfully , llicHAiio Milford , Secretary . Bradford , February 3 rd , 1852 .
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Weekly Report , Jan . 27 U 1 to Feb . 2 nd , 1853 . The Agency transacted business xyilh the following stores -Ullesthorpe , Braintree , Galashiels , Leeds , Uanbuiy , tlaslmgden , Burnley , Bradford , Derby , Brighton , iiauchline , Swindon , Birmingham , Ilawick , and Glasgow . An application was received from Mr . Ilonry , of West Woulsey , for some members of the Agency to attend a meeting there for establishing a Store . Mr . Wooden attended from tUo Agency , Mr . Fumival of the Council of Promoters , and Mr . Walter Cooper , manager of the Working Tailors ' Association . The establishment of a Stove ia that village was decided on . The Spinners of Bokon , 400 in number , intend forming a Stove in connexion with the Agency . The last public discussion in Halifax between Mr . Lloyd Jones and Mr . Ernest Jones , took place , before a crowded , audience , and it ended very favourably to the Co-operative Movement as it is at present carried out . Several applications have been received during the week for prospectuses and catalogues of the Agency , and fur Mr . Vansittart Neale ' s pamphlet , " May I Nut Do what I Will with My Owti . "
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GALASHIELS CO-OPERA . T 1 VE PROVISION STORE . The quarterly meeting of the Store Company was held in the Black Bull Inn Assembly . Room , on Tuesday evening t February 2 nd , whicli wa ~) well attended by the members . Tbe balance sheets of the several branches were discussed aud adopted . They show that in the pros ? the public .-ales were £ 2 , 249 105 . 3 d ., nnd the profits £ 125 15 s . lO&L . cm thirteen . weeks . Towards tho end of tho meeting , an an . \ ioii 3 discussion took place ou organising an association lo employ its members . Much interest is displayed on this subject , as nearly all the workmen of the town are idle , or but partially employed at present , and who , but for the prov i dent habits created by tho Co-operative Movement , would have been starring .
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LEEDS REDEMPTION SOCIETY . We have been compelled to adjourn our- meeting again until next week , our rooms nut being completed . We are extending our relations with other Stores , a course we hold to be at the very basis of successful Co-operation . We should be glad to hear ot a delegate meeting of the northern Stores 5 it would , we feel a 3 sured , he of great mutual advantage . Ihe monies received are as follows : —Leeds subscription , £ 1 6 s . Id . ; Iluddersfieltl , for France . 19 s . 5 d . ; Long-Fund 2 1 mI ' 1 S < G ' '' ' Building 1 < l uBtl > Gd > > fropBgandist
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AND NATIONAL TRADES' JOURNAL .
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_ _ VOL . jf . joj 4 i _ LONDOB , SATHBDAY , FEBRUARY 7 , 1852 . ^ J ^ ag ? £ w . ;
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Northern Star (1837-1852), Feb. 7, 1852, page 1, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1664/page/1/
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