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„. _ -„£ PRODUCED OF WEALTH, AND 10 uL TJIOSE WHO LIVE BY INDUSTRY I OV IH£LA^D- _ .j
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OLD HAM.—On Sunday last a diacuasion took place
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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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.. * . starring people hare had more than v f theory speculation , and promise , their I 621 « dnds must henceforth be directed to matters ) ^ Sdee . For this reason , and knowing that to J rf fwbo ^ e nation happy each man mast really himsel / as ^ essential p art of society , I j e 5 ieelB ferred presenting my notions of happiness ) b « ^ jgjiie of happy individuals , to the usual j ^ * . * jraes 3 ing ** means for producing national ; r ** 4866 lid inferring therefrom that all must be -fgj taess • ^ ajs oi it i 7 national greatness" means an excess of ; * ' ** ' ^ &e cotemporaneous existence of poverty , irS is ff ^ y " & **•*• " My . notion * however , is ^^ verty oronghs on ^ J willing idleness is the ; ^ rLe in which poverty becomes a crime ; and j ^ l wen know that every labouring man in England , j * ° atfly *^ ^^ S * ° * * decent sub- j ** - ind would work hard if the produce of their to
i ^ bou : was secured them , I look for such ^_ g is will produce real national greatness , |*~ J iudiTidcai independence . j l change never can be effected by other ^ tE an f r et kfoar . When one man employs B *^ » nd makes profit of his labour , let others •^ , wt * t ihey please , I call it slaTery . That is , ^ rided she man employed is compelled to work *** ' otcer becanse he has not the means of work- ; f * ^ hifflSc : / . The case is far different , when ?* . ioQTi jje open , and when the workman may \ L « which he pleases—the natural door , which . ; f * T jaB ^ cr the artificial door , which is the f - « In ' such case , the standard of wages
esta-„ uLd in the free labour , or natural , maiket , *~ T j 3 jj , e nun -who works in the artificial market »!!» choice , jusi as independent as his neighbour . Yeo « $ ' observe that I am against any , the affair compulsion ; and that my system merely - » A . and B . there are two doors open to yon ; ^^ e fcjwhki yon may enter the free-labour market , , ^ pjfcer by which you may enter the artificial -jfta . If A goes in by one , and B by the other , A ja die Bktural market establishes a price for his jjiosi m der which B ssed nor work in the arti-Sca ! marks . ¦ , ,. . , Sever sind , if 1 am tedious and rarfeit you with repeuwa spon repetition . I mean to repeat and J ^ tte aanl I make you lore freedom and hate
gyterj . I t , ow proceed to show how national greatness can Ityn&aed bj individual independence . Although I ib prepared with practice upon a much larger scale jiB uas laid down in Mr . Linton ' s very admirable , f ^ jt ad satisfactory account , yet I prefer , in the jjsiiaa » oe » arguing from that simple table ; and tart will fli ^ e " iaxrted for immediate reference : — TO IBX EDITOR OP THE 50 B . THERS STAB . Dzxi Sis , —According to Mr . O'Connor * request , llate wit yon » correct statement of the aTerage proves d my experiment on the land for the last four
' 1 km * . 021 squaw vir&s of land , divided into four pin * witn crc > ps at IoUdti : — So . 1— i 25 aqnare yard * , first crop potatoes , second pop Swedish turnips->' cl 2—353 sqaare yirda , first crop cabbages , second gap pou&oes . > ' a 3—913 aqaare yards , first crop cabbages , second cop SwedUh turnips . Su . 4—i . 55 fl square yards in grass . Tool , 1 , 021 square yards .
1 get tf » crops every yea * from Numbers 1 , 2 , 3 , and Juste 4 slvsyi remains * ward . The shore is the aia d the crops for this year . Next year the crops at Xcmber 1 vill take tee place of Number 2 , and Saute 2 * iil take the plico of ^ inmbet 3 , and Number 3 - » E 1 ake ihe pl » c 8 of Number 1 , and so on every year i&at&y ; so that I nave a regular rotation of crops , itap biTiBg that portioc of land laid up in ridges in UsTBtba ffist I ibaH want for poUtoes in the followsm ^ sbj , Mid eicfe portion of land has in its turn what ] bh » » witter { Allow . Tbc yiowic ? are tee particulars of each crop , and vtti I iaw found frens practice to be tne aTerage prodKt af quantity and Taiue far ene year : —
£ b & 5 » i ad 2 contains 1 , 748 square yards ; protsa 140 bosLfcls of potatoes , ai . Is . p « bciitl ... ... ... ... 700 S * 1 tad 3 contains 1 , 748 * quare yards patted with Swedish torsips , at the aa dt six in the square yard , wsati&g in weight 4 lbs . t * ch ; total * a $ kt , 15 tons , 15 owt , at 15 s . per ' OX 14 1 3 5 x ! md 3 contains 1 , 846 sqoare yards , pasted Tr . th c&bbafes , at the rate of La in the square yard ; average wilfct 41 b . each ; total weight , 13 tt £ i i ctl sold at 2 S cabbages for is . 13 3 9
£ 34 5 0 ¦ 1 rn iHs rjieaent as the selling price that it may | be HOj « i % a with the Y&lue when the produce is con-I « aed tj attie . I have had two cows supplied with I f » : fa the ls » : two years from the prodnce of thia land s * ii * ie ficeptjon of a little oat straw . The total :- . _ * k ^ u of turnips and cabbages , the produce of one '" y e * . * , a 31 toc » 15 cwt , or 15 cwt . per week for forty-¦ ' t » s » t = ks . The other ttn wt * ks they » re fed on P » bj EowiDg it &s it becomes fit . 2 find the arer-M * qwttity of milk produced from the two cows t » be twenty quarts per dsy for forty-six weeks , .. * irjEj each cow to remain dry for six weeks evary 7 M 2-
£ «• d I » eaiy gjarts of milk per dsy for forty-six *» fcki M twopence per quart ... 53 13 4 T » d etfn ^ the produce of each cow , .-. 2 0 € 1 » bcib&U of potatoes Is . per bushel ... 7 0 0 2 k » 1 oj prodnce for one year ... ... 62 13 i Goit rf production for one yeir—4 -r , £ S . d . ^ K ct BUsad ... ... 4 0 0 ^ , ~ 0 10 0 * - 6 * 1 * Hbon i \ 3 s . per dsy 7 10 it ~ - . » ... o io o Itoeetrjad ortstaw , cr if a « Jneted from the selling price of aannre ... ... 5 0 0 ^ wtdtea ofiBTtenieE tj 0 10 0
£ 17 11 0 5 « pf ; ... ___ ^ ^ 2 4 ! - Tpj /^' * ^ breedicg sow , and seTeral other \ rJj ^ Te ctM 7 f - ° ni" the refuse during the '' ¦ ¦ . ^ r 4 itor - J "m Tery glad to ses from Mr . O'Con-1 ol m *" * , fce is d 6 *^ rmiaed to combine the plan . . . » -i « e f&mj with National Or « ST . isstion . I am p- ifc ^ ^! * ^ that the People ' s " Charter will be t < Et » J ^ Utoa ^ roch a combination than by any t U ^ . ^ t " , J ^ ? acquainted with . I shall fe tc » -l 7 , - > u > ^^^ erery as * isUcce that is in my t ; ^ - to ooain bo Qairable aa object
ll I sjm dear Sir , I Tour ' s truly , * " ? . Aprfl 26 th , 1 * 43 . V ^ tte &boTe y ° leam lDat Mr - Lin U ^* " ° nnhs of aD ^^ ground , for which £ , ; .- ' * „ * ^^ ° i" £ ¦ £ a year , or at the r 2 te of t . & "' ^ ^ fe- Tou fiud that the produce erpasfV : - i > :: 2 I 3 i- 4 i P ^ annum , at an Ui . ' ,, ' « F ° r the sake of argument , go a r ^ k : Uod e for discussion , I wiU ^^ w as to suppose that a four acre ^ cre « ^) f * ^ ' < 7 a rent cf £ 5 6 s . Si . an i " ' ' " - ^ ^^ f" lie wbole four aerer , being tah J ^ . more l ^ n the actual ralae . I make "; aijTf ^ fflarelj for the pu rpo se of strength-(• msb ^ r V rePearted ^ iertion > tha : ^^ a retaiI K > ro 2- " - d ' " ^^ * = 0 Be ° f Ifl e mos t unimlarkJ . ^ d £ raJJons ; whue ia the wholesale raa , % " wine 5 aii important , and for this ^ j e > '" ^ Poruon is a wajs in an unproductive * liio " . * W * of ^ ap plication of a sufficiency taio ^ . ^ t ^ P < J nion ca . i . not bear an equal ^ iiii ' cj- ^ ^^ tae Productive portion . f trfe . j . a farming labourer thus occupying * tsi - ^ of w acre i the account would stand
xi ^ X . s . d . ^ dscs ro is i p » ••¦ ' ... oi id * ir ^ ttwe and . rent ... 4 0 0 ^ ::: - SIS I ^ ear aad tearof imp ] ^ ^ T *« " - .. 0 10 0 ^ S D € T ... " ^ To ^ ^ Ba . ftonitcilai produceleavee i 57 3 s . 4 d .
V ] ¦ nx- , I 1 ? Te out the fonj-seven days work , ^ -e ;•„ . 1 ow wt& * labour is worth . 1 en- ' y ^" i : ^ ?^ ffi 0 BEt of thret-fowtts of an -q uires io worth of siraw for manure .
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and which four acres would not require : therefore I leave that out . Then I have taken the rent at £ 5 6 s . 8 d . an acre , instead of £ 1 ; and taxes of town land at 10 s ., instead of perhaps 2 s . for usual farming land , and we find with all these disadvantages , that a man by 47 days' work upon dear land can earn £ 37 3 =. 4 d . Now , we have only three-fourths of an acre in the above table ; but take a whole acre , as I wish to lead the young mind gradually on ; and yon will find that if three-fourths of an acre produces £ o" 3 s . 4 d . with
forty-seven days' work , an acre will produce £ 76 03 . with sixty-three days' work . And if an acre prodnce £ 76 53 . worth , with an expenditure of sixty-three days' work , four acres will produce £ 305 worth , with an expenditure of 252 day 3 work ; that is , £ 305 clear above rent , £ 5 6 s . 8 d . an acre , or £ 21 6 i . 8 d . for four acres ; £ 2 for taxes ; £ 2 for seed ; and £ 2 for wear and tear . Thus a man can , by moderate labour , earn in good solid stuff , better than silver or gold or notes , £ 305 worth .
On referring to Mr . Liaton's table yon will find that more than one-third of the entire is under grass ; and may be therefore said to be useless You have also to bear in mind that a man has , gay 302 working days in the year ; and that 252 days produce £ 305 , and that the remaining 50 days work , would bring the whole four acres into spade cultivation , and obviate the necessity of an expenditure of £ -5 for straw .
Moreover , I do not allow anything for a moment ' s labour of any of the family of a four-acre farmer , save and except his share of the overplus after consumption prodnced by the 100 acres of common grounds Kow I am ready to sink all that : I am ready to preserve the high rent of £ 5 6 s . 8 d . for land worth no more than £ 1 . I am ready to admit the taxes , a * if all was corporation land . I am ready to make 302 days' labour equivalent to 252 days '
labour . 1 am ready to deduct £ 105 , or more than the on * -third from £ 305 the net produce , and what do I find ? Why , that it leaves £ 200 per annum But I will take of one-half of that , and still continue all the responsibility , and what then do I find ? Why that after all , it leaves sound , good , wholesome prevision of all sorts , to the value of £ 100 per annum , for one man ' s moderate , wholesome labour . Now , who will deny thia ? No man can ; no man dare .
Weil , bu t , says an upholder of " national greatness . What is to become of » ur foreign trade ? AJy answer is , there ii a home market , greater than the market all your foreign customers put together can furnish ; and as foreigners look to themselves , let Englishmen , Irishmen , and Scotchmen now look a little to themselves . " O , but" says a Malthusian , you would have too much beef , and pork , and mutton , and milk , and hides , and fruit , and poultry , and eggs , and butter , and cheese ; and the foreigners do not want those . " My answer to that is , better have a surplus of food than a surplus of paupers . Better to bury the fat ox , as overplus , THAN to BE compelled to DIG UP THE MCRRAINED COW FOR FOOD !!
Before I saw Sir . Linton s admirable table , you will bear in mi&d that I had roughly estimated the profit of a labourer at £ 300 per annum . You will also recollect that in my letters to the Irish Landlords , I only spoke of 280 days' labour in the year ; so that upon , the whole you will find I have not been much mistaken . I now come to take another view , aDd for argameat ' s sake , may admit that the present owners of the soil are entitled to a portion of aDy increased value ihitan extendftd application of labour would confer upon the land ; and what then do we discover ! Why just this ; that land not worth £ 1 per
acre in the wholesale market , is worth £ o 6 ? . 8 d . in the retail labonr market . Now estimate 30 , 000 , 000 acres , as now closed against labour , at £ 1 per acre rent , and you have a rental of £ 30 , t' 0 « , 0 i ) 0 sterling a yar ; estimate it at jK 5 an acre in the free labour retail market , and you have £ 150 , 000 , 000 sterling a year , or an annual overplus of £ 120 , 000 , 000 sterling , which , in less than &even years , would pay off the whole National Debt !! You will find , however , that , at present , we have not population for more than about 4 , 0 ( 0 , 000 acres , which would occupy in every way more th&n 8 , 000 , 000 of the present populat on .
This overplus , created by an inerea ? ed application of labour to the land , in all law and fairness must be the property of the nation ; and may be made availably so , by a remission of the rent . I merely use the figore for the purpose of showing the trifling valuo of land , in its prisent state , as compared with that value which labour can confer upon it ; and also , and above all , to leave no argument unused , or unravelled , by which it can be proved that " labour is , in truth , the source of all wealth ; " and that furthermore , the most beneficial use of labour will be found in its application to the laad at home , when appropriated to his benefit who tills it .
Good God ! if the Repeal Rent , of above £ 600 aweek , ahd ah the pence that have been wrung from my poor starving countrymen had been applied to such a purpose , what a paradise the now distracted Ireland would have b ; en ! If instead of endeavouring to transport the warm hearts and lusty sinews of the poor to = avs . i , e climes , there to contend against every d ; ficuity that the mind can imagine , these professing liberality and philanthropy were to look at home
and really do something for the poor , which their rulers dare r . ot propose , then , indeed , might we say that ibe day of regeneration was at hand . A decayed nation cannot , however , be revived in a day . But thark « , tTrrlasnES thanks , to the ever glorious acd immorca ! Fa : her Mathew , and to Mr . O'Connell ' s new exertions , through the opehed eyes of Ireland I irusi to seo tbe regeneration of my countrywhile , as . an Irishman , I labour on the British stage to make both nations what they ought to
be" Great , clarions , and free , Gardens of tarth , and gems of the sea . " As I predicted , the growlers are beginning to nibble already . The Leeds Mercury , of last week , selec r s a scrap from one of my letters , not for comment but for ridicule . Ridicule is perhaps tbe least effectual sabstitate for criticism , and is in general used as » substitute for argument . Will tbe Mercury dare to contest the principle of my plan ,
and underrate to shake hope in its result ? No ! Every man knows thai our friend of the Mercury ia the ** red-herrins" drag of the capitalist , and that he looks whh horror and disgust upon any project which has for us object tbe emancipation of those Hpon whose poverty , destitution , and want of legal protection , the capitalist and adventurer fattens . A free labour market is , to our Mercurial friend , just what pure practical religion would be to tbe Bench of Bishops and their spiritual Etaff .
The Mercury extracts my statement oi Mr . Linton ' s doings with hi 3 little-more-than three roods of land , for the purpose of having & sneer at the whole Land question . Will he dare to contradict the statement given in last week ' s Star , and also ia this , under Mr . Unton ' s own hand , as to what those doings are ! Will he dare to shew the fallacy of the argument I have built upon the facts Mr . Linton haa
furnished us with ! 1 should like to see him try I He may be able to write or rather compile "Histories of the Cotkro Trade f tr weave together the names and professions of a town into a street " Directory , " bnt I doubt Tery mnch his capability of producing either potatoes or cabbages from the land . And it is rather too mnch for him to infer , that because he lacks the knowledge how to do thiB , it is impossible to every one else !
But let ts see what it is that the Mercury rtally does jay . Let the readers of the Northern Star have the benefit of his " profundity , " a 3 well
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as the readers of the Mercury . This is but fair . He may call statements a " monstrous mass of absurdities . " Let us have those statements over again , and also the Mercury ' s kbfutation of them ; and then I will try to " blunder" upon something like an answer . Here then is the Mercury's article , every word of it : — " Chaktist Prospects . —That very profound poli tician and political economist , Mr . Feargus O'Connor , is at present engaged in developing a plau for the advancement of the wealth and happiness of his
followers , and for securing the success of the Charter . This scheme is beautifully simple , and is comprehended in the single sentence—** Get possession of tbe land . " Not all the land , that is unnecessary but each Chartist is to buy or rent four acres . Having accomplished thin object , he is to set about the cultivation of his farm , and the following he is assured will be the reward of his Iabour 9 : a large ironfounder , of the name of Linton , at Selby , in Yorkshire , lhe Chartists are told , cultivates three roods of land , near the town of Selby , with distinguished success .
And now , ' says Feargus , for the result of hi 3 experiment ;'—( we quote Mr . O'Connor ' s own words ) —* upon this three-quarters of an acre he last year fed two cows and eight pigs , besides a quantity of poultry , and had vegetables for his table . We will suppose the eight pigs to consume as much as two cows , in order that we come to something like a calculation of value . To do this he has not cultivated anything near the entire of the three-quarters of an acre , and he gives his labourer 3 d . a-day for every day ' s work . Leaving out , then , everything but the fonr cows , see what the profit of nineteen days labour leaves , for that is , I understand , the number of days' work required for all Mr . Linton ' s operations up to the present time . If an operative can now sell his labour for fifteen shillings a-week , he
considers himself a happy man ; and let us see by this scale what it would be worth . We must not suppose that Mr . Linton ' s bad ground possesses any charm beyond that which labour can communicate , and the following is the result upon three quanersof an acre . He feeds , or could feed , four cows . Suppose each cow to give six quartB of milk at a meal , for tbe six summer months , at 2 d . per quart , each cow produces £ 18 4 s . worth of milk ; but to be under , take £ 3 43 . from the produce of each , it leaves profit upon the four cows £ C 0 for 30 days ' labour , and 15 s . " rent , for this land is not worth more than £ 1 the acre , or 15 s . for three quarters of an acre . Now fonr acres cultivated in the same way , would leave , after deducting the £ 3 4 s . from the above moderate rate of production and price , tbo sum of £ 300 per annum , out of which £ 4 rent should be paid 1 '
" Is it possible that any man in Europe can bo so ignorant as to be imposed upon by this monstrous mass of absurdities ? And is it further possible thst such a man should set himself up for the founder of a political sect ? which is in due time to swallow up all other political parties , and to become Lord of the Ascendant . "—Leeds Mercury , May 6 ih , 1843 . Now , it might , in all conscience , be considered a full answer to the above specimen of Mercurial " profundiiy" to adduce tbe statement of Mr . Linton , as to what he ha * actually done urilh his little more than three roods of ground . It might be considered , and would be , a full crushing answer to this sneering" Political economist , " to show that when Mr . Linton ' s three roods , partly cultivated , leaves £ 57 , after paymentof a" RjiCK-rent , " and payment of taxes too , as well a * for seed , and wear and tear of implements , —
VOCB acres cultivated in the same manner , and bearing the same rate of expmce , would leave £ 305 IL as I have conclusively shewn in the foregoing part of this letter . This , I say , might be considered ^ and would be , a sufficient answer . But I will not leave it there . I will not content myself with that statement and that shewing . Mr . Linton is not the only one who has been trying experiments with small portions of land . Others have turned their attention to this matter , as well as Mr . Linton ; and 1 am nappy to be able to give the results of a series of experiments , " which fully bear out Mr . Linton's statements , and are besides hard " facts" which will take all the " profundity" of THE "Political Economist" of the Mercury to overcome ! Here is the statement : —
" Growth of Potatoes , —A correspondent , who takes & good deal of interest in the production of potatoes , and who on a former occasion furnUhed us with a communication on this eabject , sends us tbe following as the result of his labours . Tbe experiments may be found very useful to those parties who are just now eD ^ aged in cultivating small plot * of ground . The plan has b « en pursued fv-r two years ; the month of March in both years being selected for planting . In order to show -which plau is the most productive , evtry row of potatoes is reckoned ten yards long , and the first row to produce 40 pounds : — lbs . " 1 st Aahtop Potatoes , size of a hen egg , cut in two , bnt planted before they begin to sprout ;
many small ones wheD ripe 40 " 2 nd . Ashtop potatoes , cut in two , but sprouted one inch btf ^ re they were planted ; the tops were shorter and firmer than the above , and the potatoes ready for use fourteen days sooner ; when ripe , ftw small 30 " 3 rd . Ashtop potatoes , the size of a goose egg , planted whole , and sprouted ene inch ; when full grown very bushy , and few small ... 40 " 4 tb . Ashtop potatoes , cut in two , and sprouted one inch ; they were ready for use fourteen days sooner than tbe above ... ib " 5 th . Ashtop potatoes , cut in two , and planted before they begun to sprout ; when ripe , part small ... ' .. ' 40
" It appears from this statement , that one AsbUp potato © , the sizs of a hen egg , cut in two , produced tbe k » Bie weight as tbe sizs of a goose egg set whole ; the ODly difference is that there were less small in the latter ; and it will be found that a potatoe cut in two will , after having made its appearance above ground , in the course ef ten or fourteen days , appear more premising than a whole potatoe ; in about a fortnight afterwards , however , tbe whole ones will take tbe lead , but the cut potatoes will be ready for use first lbs . " 6 th . PriDce Regent potatoes , the size of a
walnut , but planted whele , before they began to sprout ... 80 " 7 th . Prince Regent potatoes , cut in pieces , bo as as to leave only one eye for a plant ; very weak 30 " 8 th Prince Regeat potatoes , the size of a cricket-ball , cut in two , bat sprouted one inch . 160 " 9 tb . Prince Regent potatoes , sprouted one incb , and planted whole ... ... 120 " 10 th Prmce Regent potatoes , cut in pieces so as to leave only one eye for a plant ; strong tops . 60 •' 11 th Whole Prince Regents , the size of a child ' s ball , planted with long stable litter ... 22
" All the potatoes ( excepting No . 11 ) were planted in manure composed of ashes , road-scrapings , lime , soot , liight soil , < fcc , well mixed together . " The land is rich black soil , clay , sand , and red earth ; and in order to ensure a fair trial , six rows of each sort of potatoes were planted in different parts of the field ; and potatoes have been grown on the same land for four yean , and the last crop has been tbe best . "Our correspondent formerly sent ub an account of 10 yards 10 inches producing 10 stones 5 lbs ., the tops weighing 7 stones 3 lbs . ; out of 12 rows , measuring 10 yards each , he obtained 70 stones 5 lbs ., or out of 120 yards 985 lbs . of potatoes : 24 of these potatots weighed 2 Slb * . " lshlop Potatoes . —The ridges were 20 inches asunder ; Prince Regents , 30 iuches . "
Now , where does the reader imagine I have picked np this statement 2 Where is it from ? Frem the Chartist , Mr . Linton ? or from a Chartist at all ? No ! It is from the Leeds Mercury itself ! 1 . ' The " correspondent" is the Mercury ' s own ; and the truth of his monstrous mass of absurdities" is vouched for by the Mercury ' s " profound" self ! Let us examine this statement . Let us analyse it . Let ns see if it does bear oat both Mr . Linton and myself . One row , ten yards long , produced , of Prince Regenfs potatoes ( No . 8 , in statement ) l « 0 lbs . This sort was planted in rows thirty inches apart . A Email plot of land , ten yards long , and ten yards broad , making 100 square yards in all , would have tw « lve rows , ten yards Jong , producing 1601 ba . each row : or L 9201 bs . in the whole .
In an acre of land , there are 4 , 840 square yards . If 100 square yards produce l , 9201 bs , one acre cultivated in the same way will produce 92 s 9261 bs . ; and four acres will produce 371 , 702 ib 3 . A Burhel of potatoes i 3 accounted to weigh 721 bs . When bouglt by weight , 72 ibs . is given to the bushel .
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One hundred fquare yards will therefore produce 26 $ bushels ; an acre will produce 1 , 290 bushels ; and four acres 5 , 160 bushels . Potatoes are now selling , from the Boats at Warehouse Hill , in Leeds , at 9 d . for 481 bs ; i . e . Is . ] £ d the bushel of 721 bs . This price is extremely low ; lower than has been known for a considerable period . The average price i& accounted la . 6 d . per bushel . I will , however , take the present market price . If oue bushel of Potatoes sells for Is . l £ d ., tbe produce of four acres , 5 , 160 bushels , will sell for £ 290 2 s . M . lll
Bravo ** profundity" ! I estimated the yearly amount of produce of four acbes , when cultivated so as to give FIVE CROPS in tbree years at £ 300 ; and THE •» Political Economist" of the Mercury exclaims "is it possible that any man in Europe can be so ignorant as to be imposed upon by this monatroas mass of absurdities . " The Mercury himself shows from actual fact , from stern , stubborn " experiment , " that four acres , with only ONE CROP per yea * , will produce £ 290 2 s . 4 d J ! ! Where now is th&ineer 1
The Mercttry ' s * man has beaten Mr . Linton hollow ! His " monstrous mass of absurdities" are sober statement , compared with the " monster monstrosities" of the Mercury . Let us vaamine each of them . Mr . Linton ' s statement is , that upon , 1 , 748 yards he produces 140 bushels of potatoes . The Mercury ' s Man produces upen 1 , 748 yards 466 bushels !! ! or MORE THAN THREE TIMES THE QUANTITY ! Mr . Linton , with his mode of cultivation , keeps , upon the pro duce of his little more than three roods , two cows and eight pigs . For the sake of simplicity , in that
letter from which the Mercury made his extract , I Bupposed the eight pigs to consume as much as two cows ; and assumed that the produce would maintain four cows . The Mercury's Man , if he could produce jive crops in three years , with as great an increase upon Mr . Linton ' s produce as in the case of the potatoes , would be able to keep three times the quantity of cattle ! Should we Bay that Mr . Linton could keep four cows , the Mercury ' s Man could keep twelve ! Should we ' say , what is the actual fact , that Mr . Linton keep 3 two cows and eight pigs , the Mercury ' s Man could keep six cows and twenty four pigs ! But should we sink the pigs altogether , as the Mercury seems to doubt the pig-keeping capability
of three roods of land , and say that Mr . Linton only produces food for two cowa , the Mercury ' s Man would find food for six ! ! Mr . Linton with his two cows , and his 140 bushels of potatoes , calculated at Is . the bushel , shows a return for labour of £ 57 3 d . 4 d alter rent , taxes , seed , aud wear and tear of implements has been paid . The Mercury ' s Man would have a return for labour of £ 171 10 s . for the littlemore than three roods ! ! If he could do this with the amount of land Mr . Linton farms , he could produce from four acres the sum of £ 844 6 s . 2 d . ! ! And "THE Political Economist" of theMercury " profound ; y" sneers at me for saying that the produce of four acres might be made to amount to £ 300 . Let his " Profoundshir" try again .
There is one fact , however , which will confirm the ill-used labourers of this kingdom in their prepossession in favour of an agricultural life . It is the strong contrast which their altered position would present to their present state . I have shewed that the aggregate of national happiness must consist in individual prosperity . Will the Mercury deny that ? Is an overflowing bank ; the possession of the whole land by a few thousands ; the commercial , mercantile , and
manufacturing operations , by a still less number ; the command of the labour market in the hands of a less number still , who are interested in its depression : does , I ask , national prosperity consist in such a state of things 1 No , must be the answer . What then must be the feeling of any working man under the present system , and what would be the feeling under that which I propose as a substitute ! Let us test it by reasou , and not by Mercury chop logic .
Which , then , of the two persons whose condition I shall describe , would be most happy , most comfortable , most loyal , and most contented with his lot ? ' * Tell me , " says a traveller to a walking ghost , whom he meets at grey morning or dusk of night , near Leeds ; " what are you and how do you l . ve ! " " Why , " replies Bob Short , I am a hand-loom weaver , and live in a cellar at the Bank . " " Yea , but how do you live ? " WeU , I'm bless'd if 1 know , but as well as I can . " The same
traveller meets John Bull returning from market in the evening , and asks him , " What are you , and how do you live ! " "I am a husbandman ; I live in D , Electoral Department , and at No . 4 , Paradise District . " " Yea , but how do you live ? " " O how do I live ? why just as I please . " Now , whether would a community of Bob Short ' s or of John Bull ' s , present to the mind of the traveller the notion of " national greatness V Let our pig-doubting friend answer that question !
It will be seen that Mr . Linton has something more than three-quarters of an acre , that is , about twelve perches over ana above threequartera of an acre , in part cultivation only ; and from that he lays before ^ jou what is produced by forty-seven days wholesome labour , after payment of five times the amount of reut which should be charged . Now take that to your homes , read it , and ask if the man who works for Linton is better than
yourtelces ? Is Selby nearer the sun , or paradise ? Are Liuton ' s cows peculiar ] or his potatoes or cabbages better ! And , mind ! I allot more than five times as much land to each individual . Pray mind these things ; and then let the poor Mercury rave away , and reconcile you to Red Herring Soup , if he can ! In my next , I will give an account of my own
experiments upon a . larger scale than those of my excellent friend , Mr . Linton , for whose promised cooperation 1 beg to return my best thanks . There is not a post that does not bring many letters speaking in the highest terms of my plan , and beseeching that I may not abandon it . This I assuredly shall not . I am your faithful friend , Feaiigus O'Connor .
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in the Chartist Room , Greaves-street , on the best plan for a practical experiment on the land . At the concluaion a number more enrolled their names , determined to carry out the object . The discussion was adjourned to Sunday next , at two o ' clock in the afternoon , when it is expected that there will be a good attendance . Ia the evening Mr . Wm . Booth delivered a yery spirited lecture , which gave general satisfaction . Also , on Monday evening , Mr . Wm . Ball , of Heywoed , delivered his first lecture on the evil effects of low wages , which he handled in a masterly stile , and gave great satisfaction . A vote of thanks was unanimously passed lor the able manner in which he had argued the question .
PERTH . —Mr . Robert Peddie , of Edinburgh , delivered two lectures in this place , on the evenings of Wednesday and Thursday last . The subjects of the lectures wore the exposure of the Whig spysystem , in all its detestable reality , and the barbarities inflicted upon political prisoners in the dungeons ot England . He also gove a narrative of his own commitment , trial , and treatment in the dungeons of Beverley . He also delivered two discourses , on Sunday last , to respectable and attentive audiences . The time for action has now arrived , and as a means to an end , a meeting of delegates from the principal towns of Scotland might be of great service in axranging some general plan for future proceedings . It is to be hoped that some Chartist district will take up the subject with spirit .
LEICESTER .. —The Chartists of Leicester Ihave determined that the local tyrants of that neighbourhood shall not find the imprisonment of Cooper to be a triumph or any thing really gained . Their spirit rises with the occasion , and they muster as usual on Sundays , and , nowithstanding" the general's" ab « secce , take cour-s ^ l with each others
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GREAT PUBLIC MEETING . MR . O'CONNOR'S VISIT TO MANCHESTER . A public meeting was held in the Carpenter ' s Hall . Garret-road , Manchester . On Mondaj evening last to hear a lecture from Feargus O'Connor , Esq . In consequence of an error in JVlr . O'Connor's letter , in the Star of Saturday last T a large meeting assembled on Saturday evening ; but Mr . O'Connor , after having seen the mistake , wrote immediately to rectify it . His friends therefore set about making Mr . O'Connor ' s correction as public as possible , by reading his letter ia the Hall . Placards were got out early on Monday morning announcing the meeting tor eight o'clock in the evening . Admission to the body of tbe Hall , one penny , gallery twopence , and the platform threepence .
Notwithstanding the time appointed for the meeting was eight o ' clock , long before seven hundreds had surrounded the Hal ) , anxiousij waiting for the doors to be opened . The committee in order to provide accommodation for as many a * possible , removed the whole of the seats out of the Hall . Long before the time for business to commenee , the spacious building , which is capable of holding apwards of 3 , 000 comfortably seated , was crowded in every part , and many had to go away that could aot gain admittance .
Shortly after eight o ' clock , Mr . O'Connor , accompanied by Messrs . Leaeh and Hargreaves entered the hall , when a scene ensued that baffles descrip tion . The whole living mass burst forth in one simultaneous shout of welcome , which was followed by the most rapturous cheers , clapping of hands , and waving of hats and handkerchiefs . It was a task of much labour and difficulty for Mr . O'Connor and his friends to make their way through tho living mass to tbe platform , the band playing ** Se « the Conquering Hero Comes . " On the motion of Mr . Dixon Mr . Leach was unanimously called upon to preside .
Mr . Leach upon coming forward was greeted with rounds of applause . He said he was proud to see that meeting , and more particularly so when he considered the disappointment they experienced on Saturday eveuing—( several voices , " Oh , never mind that ") " Woll , said Mr . Leach , it appears that you dont mind it . For his part he felt thankful that they escaped as well as they did on Saturday night . He would not take up any more of their time but introduce to their notice a man whose unwearied exertions in the cause of human liberty had secured for himself that esteem amongst the working classes of this country that his name or face was sufficient to call together tha people in such numbers that no room could be got large enough to hold them . That man was Feargus O'Connor , Esq .
Mr . O Conror on rising was received by deafening cheerB . He said he had not had an opportunity of meeting with them since he went down to Lancaster to try theGovernmeiit tor conspiracy— ( loud cheers ) . Before that trial , the press of the country was teeming with vituperations , and heaping upon him and his brother " conspirators , " every epithet of which their foul vocabulary was capable ; and to judge by the stir that the " strong government" made , no doubt but the people were led to think that ou the 17 th of August they had " conspired" to blow up the whole of Manchester . With all the crimes of the League on their backs , no doubt but the people thought them | in guilty of nothing less than high treason . Bnt , however , every action of the 17 th , was laid before them
the Northern Star of the 20 th , and this was fully proved upon the trial . Publio opinion would however be too strong for even the strong Government . " The very fact of there being a " strong Government " in existence , ought to arouse all good men to oppose them , a Government which night after night sp > ut their time with gambling with taxes taken from the nation , to support a soldiery and a navy . These things will bring the middle classes to their senses ; you have been brought to yours long sines—( cheers ) . They yrere beginning to ask how it was , that notwithstanding there was plenty of everything in the market and all very cheap , yet all was a drug . They were beginning to find it out that whilst the Cobaeaa , the Grege , the Phillipses , and the
Holdsworths were accumulating , that they were becoming worse and worse , and that these were accumulating at their expence . Mr . O'Connor then stated that ou Thursday last , they appeared in the Court of Queen ' s Bench to receive judgment . They had , however , succeeded in getting an arrest of judgment , and had compelled the Lord Chief Justice of England to say that there was something in these mens case that must be examined before judgment is passed upon them . The League have said that there was an understanding betwixt us and the Government . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) would tell them the understanding that there was betwixt them and the Government : it was this—that if we don ' t beat them , they will beat us—( tremendous cheers . ) He thanked
God that there was such a thing as law in the country , for , by taking advantage of the hw and their assistance , he had been enabled to obtain an arrest of judgment . " But oh , " said tho League , "this fellow , O'Connor , and hia companions , the tagrag and bob-tail , —what can they know about tho law ? It is too bad to allow them to take advantage of any legal flaw in the indictment against them . " He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had often told them that there was one law for the rich and another for the poor , but by their pence , they , ahhough they were poer ; could make one rich man ; and , thanks to public opinion and their exertions , when they appeared in the Queen ' s Bench , the whole of their business was transacted iu about twenty minutes . He ( Mr .
O'Connor ) however , was determined not to leave the Court whilst there was a Chartist that might stand in need of his assistance . He remained and heard the whole of the evidence against Cooper read , and the next day he sat along side of him for ten hours . Cooper spoke for eight hourB and would have given them eight more , if the Judge would have allowed him to breathe until next morning . But this the Judge refused to do . He was then sentenced . But he ( Mr . O'C . ) pledged himself to use every mean in his power to have the sentence reversed . And poor old Richards too received sentence , after one of the very best speeches that he ( Mr . O'Connor ) had ever heard in his life . Richards is turned seventy years old , but his speech was that of a
Chartist of two and twenty . Cooper had got two years and poor old Richards twelve months . ( This announcement was received by loud cries of shame , from all parts of the room ) . Mr . O'Connor said you cry shame—he would tell them a i ' act . The laws were always administered in accordance with publio opinion . If it was true that Cooper was guilty of the crime laid to his charge , twenty years ago they would have transported him for it ; and four years ago they would have transported him for it . But he would much raiher have seen him go homo to his Shaksperians than getting two years . And Cooper told tfte Judge that ho must give him such a sentence as would be in accordance with the opinions of the people . Mr . O'Connor then said
that it had cost the Government for the late Special Commissions and the trials in March the sum of £ 17 , 000 , —and what had wo laid out in the contest with them ? He thought that £ 550 would be the outside of the money expended . And he asked them if tftat was not laying out the people ' s pence to the best advantage ? ( Loud criea of lkIt is . ") Well , said Mr . O'Connor , on the 25 th , we must march up again ; and , on the 26 th , like the King of France ' s men , we will march down again . ( Cheers . ) Mr . O'Connor then referred to the present movements of the Government to put down the agitation for the repeal of the Legislative Union ; and urged upon the people of England the necessity of their uniting with the people of his unfortunate coun-Government
try in their struggle for liberty . The had sent one Brigade of the Riflemen to Ireland yesterday , and another brigado this morning . Notwithstanding the proffered aid of 500 , 000 fighting men to suppress Chartism , and the blow that he received on the 6 id « of his head , and the barbarous deeds of Stevenson's SquaTe , they were willing to forget and forgive all , and return good for evil . ( Cheors . ) We will show them that amongst democrats , when we fee them use the means to obtain the end in view , we will not be backward in rendering them our assistance . The Irish members were now following the advice that he had given them when he was in York Castle ; namely , stopping away from the Imperial Parliament . And he Mr . O'Connor , would be a bad man if he saw them daserted in their endeavouring to obtain liberty for the land of hiB birth . H » considered it to be his duty to
do all in his power to destroy oppression in that country , and to amend the condition of its peasantry . They know that without our assistance thev cannot carry the Repeal ; nor can we without their assistance carry the Charter ; but united we would be allpowerful . He knew from his experience of the working classes of England , that they would render to his countrymen not only their sympathy , but their assistance to Beoure their liberties . The Whigs knew full well that if they could only keep the people of the two countries divided , that separately they could not succeed in forcing them to grant to either any measure that would benefit them as a whole , and in this they had unfortunately succeeded . But the time had come when they must unite to destroy that despotism which was preparing to put down the agitation in Ireland . He had always found that the working classes of England were as desirous for
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the freedom of Irishmen as for themselves ; and he had often told them that if he could help it England should not have her rights one moment before Ireland , and this sentiment had always been received by them with a hearty response . If tbe Government had sent the riflemen to shoot his countrymen , the very first man that was shot , he ( Mr . O'Connor ) would travel night and day to arouse the people of this country to put a stop to the blood-stained career of despotism . The League are continually bawling about the repeal of corn laws . Why they might as well tell us they would eat our corns . We have got too far for the repeal of the corn laws to benefit ns . He had got a remedy , but they did not like him or his remedy . Why did they not like it ? Because
it would not only repeal the corn laws , but make the working man independent of them , and thai was why they did not like . His remedy would { make the labourer happy , and at the same time it would pay off the National Debt in seven years . His remedy was The Land ; and if labour was the foundation of wealth , by the land and labour he could make all happy . But they said that his ' measure was Utopian . Utopian as it was , the land would produce beef , mutton , honey , bread , butter , anilk , bacon , wool , flax , vegetables , and fruit . It was not possible to extract honey froma , machine . He nevcrknew a " mule" layan egg . He would rather have the black hen that laid a white e ? g for his own benefit , than the black
machine which laid hrs sweat and toil in the shape of gold at another man ' s door . Suppose , said Mr . O'Connor , I meet a poor factory slave that works for a Cobden , a Greg , or a Holdsworth , and I ask him his name . " Tom Snooks . " " Where do yon live ?" " In a small cellar in Great Ancoats-street . " And I meet erne of those free labourers from one of those happy home colonies-, and 1 ask him his name . "John Bull . " " Where do you live ? " ' fn section B , No . 11 , Electoral District , in Lancashire . " " Who is your master ? " " . God and good laws . " This ia the difference of the two , —the one lives in a little cellar under graund in Great Ancoats , and the other in a house ab » ve ground breathing the pure air of heaven , having no- master but his God and good laws . The
professed humanity mongers , in the shape of parsons , are making noise just now for fear that your minds should be injured ; but where is their sympathy for your empty bellies 3 They never came to the help of tbe people against the oppressor : bnt no sooner are they touched than they cry out to the people for them to come and help them . For his part , when he found them preaching the gospel and advocating the rights of the labouring poor , he would believe that they had begun to read the Scriptures aright , and to draw proper conclusions therefrom : but so long as he found them leagued with the oppressors , and going hand ia hand with those that rob the industrious poor of the rights of their labour , he could not look upon them with anything like
complacency . Why did he ( Mr . O'C . ) stand by them now ? because he found them sble to beat any faction out of the field themselves . The League had called a meeting to denounce Tom Dunoombe , because he would not go and tumble for them at Sadler's Wells , to- a ticket meeting . No , said Duncombe , call a public meeting and I will tumble with the best of you , but I mil not tumble to a ticketed meeting . They therefore called a public meeting and brought forward a long . slank fellow from Manchester ; and James Leach—aye , modest James Leach—gave him three hours of a gentle rubbing down , which made him smaller tkan he was when ho began . They will have no more public meetings in London for fear of Leach , the terror of the tyrants in
this part of the country . Mr . O'Connor said that he would give them an analysis of the trial at Lancaster , before my Lord Leach—( great laughter ) . He then went through the principal features of the trial . He said that several persons had asked him since he published his letters on tbe Land , if he intended giving up the agitation for the Charter ? And he thoughi that he was in duty bound to make the men of Manchester acquainted with his views . It was to the men of Manchester that the Chartist eause owed much . Manchester was the strong hold of Democracy . He would not give a straw for four million acres of land to-morrow with * out the Charter , to enable them to keep it when they got it , for within the last fifty
years class power had robbed them of seven million acres , and if class power was allowed to exist , it would rob them of it again ; therefore he would never rest short of the Charter . He had now been with them for ten years , and be had either proved himself a good Chartist or they were d—d fools : they might choose out of the two which they liked —( load and long continued cheers . ) Mr . O Connor then in a humourous manner referred to the Emigration Plot and the Duke of Argyle , and gavo the following anecdote with good effect : — " A former Duke , of Argyle provided for the convenience of his countrymen ; and when they were enjoying the benefit of his generosity , they exclaimed , God bless the Duke of Argyle ! " But if he was sent to
Prince Edward ' s Island , aud there left without house or home , being aa Irishman , he would say , " D—a the Duke of Argyle . " Mr . O'Connor then said that the late trial had made a wonderful impression on the publio mind ; and he would appeal to Leach , if , when they went down to Lancaster , they were not looked upon as monsters and not men . The high sheriff and tho ladies seemed to be looking for their horns and tails . Indeed when he took off his gloves they looked to see whether he had scales upon his fingers or not . But at the end of eight days their tune was changed . They all wished the poor Chartists might get off . He ( Mr . O'Connor ) had come to renew hia covenant with the good and honest working men . His friends had said to him , — " Now FeargHs , as you have escaped this time , do give up your mad political career , and return to the
bosom of your family and live in peace . " He had returned to the bosom of his family ; and that was to tbe suffering sons of toil , and that night he would renew the covenant : " that he would never leave nor forsake them until he had broken oppression ' s head or oppression had broken his heart "—( loud cheers . ) He then made aa earnest appeal to the people to uuite in the holy cause of a nation ' s liberty ; and in the most feeling manner endeavoured to impress upon them the duty of every lover of liberty , at the present crisis , doing all in his power to strengthen the hands of their Irish brethren , as all who knew anything about democracy knew that the liberty of Ireland was the liberty of England , and the liberty of England was the liberty of the world . Mr . O'Connor sat down amid the most rapturous applause which lasted' for a considerable time .
Mr . David Ross was then loudly called for by the audience , and , upon coming forward , was received with every demonstration of respect and esteem . He delivered a speech which , has seldom been equalled . Mr . O'Connor then pledged himself to deliver three lectures upon the land in about three weeks from that time , either in the Carpenters' Hall , or the Hall of Science ; and thus ended one of the most glorious-days ever witnessed by the Chartists of Manchester .
„. _ -„£ Produced Of Wealth, And 10 Ul Tjiose Who Live By Industry I Ov Ih£La^D- _ .J
„ . - „ £ PRODUCED OF WEALTH , AND 10 uL TJIOSE WHO LIVE BY INDUSTRY I OV IH £ LA ^ D- _ . j
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DALKEITH . —Mr . Dickinson lectured here on Tuesday evening last , in the Market-place , to a good meeting . GLASGOW . —The Extension men finding they have hitherto failed to obtain a footing here , have resorted to what , no doubt , they in their wisdom consider generalship . It is a regular Fox and Goose Club ; but the dodge will not do . We announced a few weeks ago that an attempt waa being made to get up an opeiative Anti-Corn Law Association , thia miserable junta
have at last presumed to issue an address to the oper . xtivesgot Scotland , purporting to be from a body of men who had for a considerable time past exerted all their ir . iuence , and expended their money to procure tho universal enfranchisement of their countrymen , And assigning as the reason why they had abandoned that object , that it is no go , and that it was completely overborne by the agitation for the repeal of the Cora Law ; that they are deeply convinced that no other question can obtain a patient hearing till that allabsorbing one be ' fairly settled ; and that they are BatUfli-il that when the Corn and Provision Laws are
rept&leii they shall be in a better condition than at present to agitate for universal rights . But for the above attempt to palm themselves upon tbe public as a body of men who had abandoned the agitation for tbe Charter , I should not have expended one penful of ink upon them . I know all the renegades amongst them . The cause of Chartism is well quit of them . One of them , with a mahogany handle to his name , had better come and settle scores with the O'Connor Demonstration Committee before he speaks any more about sacrifices in the cause of Chartirai . Those who know the fellows , know that neither their numbers nor their influence ia worth a plack to any cause . They are mere drum boys in tbe interest of the League , beating up for a few crumbs of tfee £ 50 ) 00 e . Tbe men of Glasgow laugh at them ; they intend to get up lectures , circulate tracts , -fee Who paya the expenses of all these undertakings ? The League . Oo
Wednesday week , tbe ReT . Alexander Harvey , of Calton , delivered a lecture to thia august body , in JVelaon Street chapel , a place capable of holding about 300 , subject , the Corn and Provision Laws , and not machinery , the cause « f the pieaent distress . At the close of the proceedings , Mr J . Colquhoua tose and w ked the chairman whether he wonld be allowed to put . a question to Mr . Harvey . The chairman consented on Mr . C . assuring him he did not mean to enter , npon any discussion , as he knew In tbe terma of tb& bm calling the meeting he was not entitled ; bat he v , isbed to ask the lecturer whether he was prepared to discuss in public his Tiewa regarding machinery and free trade . Mr . Harvey declined public discussior , , but if Mr . Colquhounwaa willing , he Mr . H . woulc \ discuss it through the press . Mr . ColqubouB showed , the impossibility of such a step , and Mr . Harrey decided on any other terms . —Correspondent .
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¦ C lLlHi ^ Hl rir lArVT i % ^ ^ -Wif SftSF ^ H't ^ itWyiP ^^ JPvli / l | JvJvw (^ SSWl l ^ AND LEEDS GENERAL ADVERTISER .
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YOL W T Y ' S " ! - SAURDA , MAY 13 , 1843 . """^ rSf ^
Old Ham.—On Sunday Last A Diacuasion Took Place
OLD HAM . —On Sunday last a diacuasion took place
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Carpenters' Hall . —On Sunday last , two lectures were delivered in the above Hall by Mr . Wm . Dixon . The audiences were numerous and attentive , and the lectures gave great satisfaction . In the evening , Mr . O'Connor's letter to the " Imperial Chartists" was read from the Star .
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Citation
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Northern Star (1837-1852), May 13, 1843, page unpag, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse2.kdl.kcl.ac.uk/periodicals/ns/issues/vm2-ncseproduct481/page/1/
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