THE BRlSfOUAN MEMOIRS and CORRESPONDENCE of JAMES ACLAND, Proprietor and Editor— written by Himself. " / LIKE HONESTY IN ALL PLACES."— Judge Buyley. Printed and Published by JAMES ACLAND ( SOLE PROPRIETOR AN » EDITOR; * t NO. 4, All Saints'street, Bristol. VOL. " ii.— No. v.] SATURDAY, OCTOBER S. I ' 1829. [ Price lid To JAMES ACLAND, Editor of the Bria- tolian, and to the Burgesses, Inhabitant Householders of the several Wards in this City. It is not from the vatirty ( if thinking it can either contribute to your instruction or meet your'approbation, ! know botii you and myjdlf tuo well ever to give in to such presumption, for who can write So well asyou can jude; the fol- lowing extracted from' the ancient Charters of this city, are submitted with observations at" fhe etid— you " will have as well as myself an oppor- tunity very shortly logo into the subject of these ancient Charters. KJNC, JOHN, theretofore Earl, ofXloreton , begins his Charter thus':-— JOHN, tarl of ' Moreton— To all " his men and fiirtiris, ^ Frenchmen autt Engliilittieii, WelcUm'en • and Irishmen, then present, and in time to come, Know y « , that he had granted, and by that his pre- sent Charter, confirmed to his Burgesses of Bristol, dwellingwithin the walls and without unto the boun3s of ( he. town ( that is to say) Sandbrook, Bewell, and Jfrightnee Bridge, and the Well • oh the way near Adleburv of Ktioll.—^/ i their liberties end free cu » . t< « ns iu as well and in as free and fu.| l a manner as they had ever enjoyed the same in any time, or iD the'timsof his predecessors, ( and among other gtants) that if any one, any where, of any land, should take t'lil of the men of Bristol, if he did not deliver it again after it should be demanded, to be restored to the provoSt; might take and distraiu a ship for the same. And that they might have all the reason- able Guilds in a9 full manner as they held them, in the time of Robert and William, his tons Earls of Glou- iester. KING HENRY 111. confirmed the Charter of John, 17, Auir. 36 King Henry III. and the same Kreg l'enry HI. hv his Charter states, that the same Bur- gesses through- alibis realm, should have and enjoy, all their liberties and free customs whatsoever thither- to obtained and used as quit and free as in the City of London, or any utlrer of his kingdom and demesne's, 1 heir liberties freely have and hold. It was also grant- ed to the saiil Burfesses, that if they had not fully used any articles in the said Charters, to the same Bui'ge'ss " of the'ir liberties, formerly granted the same, for the f- itnre, notwithstanding and wjlhout hindrance of anyone, themihgt use as uie satire articles, ft! the same Charter are reesdflably contained. And it was strictly commanded that ihe aforesaid Burgesses, and their Heirs for ever, should have all the liberties aforesaid, and the same fdi- the futtfre, freetybiid without disturbance of any » ne, for ever might use as aforesaid. And it was forbidden 011 pain of for- feiture of £ 20 that a" By one did presume to molest or disturb them against their King's liberty and grant. 21 BDWAOTI " III.-"— Because that very Kiany tnale- fanors aud disturbers of the peace iq the said town: of Bristol, did wander and run about by day and by night, doing damage, hurt, find mischief to men there- abouts, in divers ways, to the g re tit terror Of the King's people, and to the manifest breach of the King's' peace, and desiring that the peace in'the town of " bru- tal as in other places of the said kingdom of England firmly might be observed, and willing that the disturb- ers and breakers of the said peace should be duly, punished as they ought, the King granted for himself arid his heirs to his'Well beloved the maydr, bailiffs, and good men of the said town of Bristol, to inake- Of new, one place for prisoners within the said Town, and might have atid hold the same to them and their successors for ever, to imprison in the same male- factors or disturbers of the peace,- if it should happen that any be found wandering therein the night, in such manner as is uSual iu the city of London. 47 EDWARD III.— That besides the liberties any privileges aforesaid to the said Burgeses as aforesaid granted, and nofwithstatldiug the said grants, or sthy thing in the same contained, the said Burgesses and their heirs and successors for ever, shall have all other liberties audprivileges, as well by the King's proge- nitors as by him theretofore granted, and should hold all the customs and ad vantages " as they and their pre- deaessors ever thitherto from the time when the said liberties and privileges to ( the said Burgesses by the said King's progenitors, or by him so granted, or else from the time whereof 110 man can remember, and the same liberties, freedoms, and customs, together vrith the profits thereof arising, should have use and enjoy without the let or interruption of the King, his heirs, justices, escbeators, sheriffs, or other bailiffs or officers" of him or his heirs whatsoever. Wherefore he willed and commanded for him and his heirs that the Said burgesses and their heirs and successors might baye,. all and stngular liberties and freedoms aforesaid, afrcl the same might fully enjoy and use for ever. 15 Henry VI1.— Appointed six aldermen, recorder from time to Cotae'for evtrtobe otie, and the mayor and common councilman to elect the'othsHfive, and that suoh'aldermen of the sdttte townjof BMstol ought have, and every of ihem might have within the Town aforesaid, liberties and precims of the same, the like poicor and jurisdiction in all things, arid by all thingi, us the aldeflAan dr aldermen <$ f ilie city of London, within the sSme City had excised | and executed. That such aldermen when so as aloresaid they had elected, made, and created, so long as they should stand and be aldermen of the town aforesaid, should be jointly ETTID severally keepers and justices of tile peace, for'the King* s heirs and successors, within the town or Oristol, ihe ittjerttes or : hr County of the said ToVvn, and precints of the same, as well by land asjby Water, and justices of the king, bis heirs and succes- sors, for the putting } n eXecutioli all ordinances and statutes madeat WINCI/ ESTER, NORTHAMPTON and WESTMINSTER, vok THE CONSERVATION OF THE PEACE. 16 CHARLES If.— Grant and confirmation. The twelve atdbttiien of the City taight have, and every of them might have within the said City iaforesaid, the liberies and precincts of tlie svme, the like- power and jurisdiction in all things and by all things, as the alder- men of the city of London, or any of ihem within ihe said city of London, had exercised erexecuted. ( To be Continued.) Your obedient Servant, STEPHEN C. WEBB. 10, Dightoh- Street, Oct. 29,1829. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN Sin, On Saturday, October 10, 1899, you pro- nounced Mr. Attwood in the wrong, respect- ing the timber business. i should feel parti- cularly obliged if you would inform him, through the means of your valuable paper, that I have been expecting to hear that he has had honesty'enough to refund the mopeiy. Thi » not being the case, a hint may be of some service, that I shall put him in this Court shortly, unless it be paid. Your's respectfully, M. PHILLIPS, No. 2, " Somerset Place. m THE BRIST0L1AN To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN. SIR, In perusing your valuable little pamphlet of the 28th inst. I was much surprised to read the satistical lemarks of Eta Beta, ( as he is pleased to style himself) on the proposed Suspension Bridge across the River Avon vour correspondent candidly confesses, that ai in the plentitude of his ignorance, he is in capable of divining the utility of such a stu pendous undertaking. Now, Mr. Editor, is it possible that this Mr. Eta Beta has sol much regard for the money of our wealthyj Citizens, that he feels himself conscientiously called upon to warn them of the great danger that awaits them, in nobly and honorably coming forward with the spirit of liberality[ to erect a national ornament, and an orna- ment of the greatest utility, exclusive of employing some hundreds of our starving mechanics. No, no, Mr. Editor, it is not the property or persons of our worthy Citi- zens he wishes to protect, it is his own private interest he has in view— whether he be the Bishop, or any of his friends, or the present Lessee of the Ferry, for who he is I know not, nor I care not; but this much 1 know, he is no friend to the Citizens of] Bristol, the Inhabitants of Clifton, the Me-[ chanic, or the Labourer; and if he wouldj give himself the trouble to enquire of anj old apple woman that travels the parish o Clifton, she will put him in possession of'thi manner the money is raised for this magni- j ficent undertaking, and that but a very small portion of the same comes from the Citizens' of Bristol. Very likely by your next publi- cation I may be able to strip the Wolf of his Lamb's cloathing, and show him in his na- tural shape. Far the present, I must con- clude,- with subscribing myself, Sir, Your obedient Servant, garret* TO THE MEMORY Of those helpless Victims to Obstinate Pride and Savage Ferocity, WHO, IN TBI EVER- MEMORABLE AFFAIR OF BRISTOL BRIDGE, WERE HVRltlED. ON September the 30th 1793, Into ihe awful Presence of their Creator, With all their Imperfections on their heads, AND SUMMONED TO APPEAR BEFORE THAT TRIBUNAL, Where at the great day of is ca i? a a s w - sr » TH& Y WILL BE Co* PltONTE D WITH Cj& rtr fElurtrmrS, AND SEVERALLY RECEIVE FROM IMMORTAL JUSTICE, THEIR DUE Reward or Punishment. READER,— This Tablet is not only in* [ scribed to perpetuate the Memory of the un> fortunate sufferers, but, as a Memento to future Ages, of that horrible proceeding of Magisterial Tyranny; and as a caution to [ posterity, to guard against those Despotic Rulers, who durst sport with the lives of their fellow creatures. Oct. 29, 1829. G. A, M. MEM,— I shall for the present, content my- self with observing, that the Suspension Bridge will be a noble improvement and an eventual advantage to the Citizens of Bristol. Besidep, if I am not mistaken, the Merchant Venturers have many thousands in their hands ( a bequest) for this very purpose, and which sum will be applicable to purposes in which Bristolians are, in no degree interested, if the bridge be not built within a very limited period- J, A. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIAN. SIR, October 30, 1829. Observing that you have a correspondent who signs himself S. C. Webb, and as I have a very unpleasant business to settle with an individual of the same name, and as the iiberty and pro- perty of a poor man of the name of John Clark Ridout are involved in the transaction, .! claim your impartial interference in the behalf of the oppressed and helpless. On the 21st Instant, I wrote Mr. Webb the following letter, and as I have been unable to obtain an answer^ and as poor Ridout is now in prison at the suit of S. C. Webb, I beg your insertion of it as preliminary to other measures, in the hope that Mr. Webb will not treat you with the same un- gentlemanly contempt, with which he has treated me. I remain5 Sir, your's respectfully, WILLIAM WILSON. To Mr. S. C. WEBB, SIN, I request you'll furnish me with particulars i f' [ the undermentioned Item, you charge in your ' account against Mr. John Clark Ridout. J 825 Sept. 13. Due on the security made to me this day. £ 02 7 8 • Mr. John Clark Ridout has handed me the account for my examination.. Your attention to the above request will oblige Sir, your's respectfully, 9 Union Place, WILLIAM WILSON. Near Picton- street, Stokes Croft Bristol, October 21, 1829. iTo the ASSOCIATED BREAD EATERS; Brother Share- holdersj Iresume my observations on the subject re- jferred to in my letter of Wednesday. Are you prepared to say that those who have embarked jno capital in your Association, who have in* [ curred no risk of loss, and who have devote 1 neither time nor labor to its establishment— are you prepared to say that such persons, that strangers shall have equal privileges in respect of the purchase of pure bread as ourselves? I contend, that injustice you are entitled to de- mand from such strangers ( he full value of the loaf you may have to sell them— and I conceive that the additional half- penny per quartern loaf will at once give you a profit on their consump- tion, and pointout the superiority of shareholders over those, who, without embarking an interest in your Association, desire to share on equal terms the advantages it originally proffered to them but which they thought fit to reject. Now, my proposition goes to this extent, that shareholders shall pay a half- penny per share less than the price changed to strangers; and as I have reason to believe ( hat the schismatics of yourCommittee have taken extraordinary pains, first, jo misrepresent the nature and effect of my proposition, and secondly to canvas the share- holders on the subject, in order to organise a factious and underhanded opposition to this mea- sure of prudence and jusiice, I feel it necessary to enter somewhat on an explanatory view of my motion. There is to be a half- penny per share ( or quartern) difference between the price paid by Share- holders and that paid by strangers. The- assize price is to be charged to one or the other of them; and the diffeience may be cre- ated in either of the following ways :— I. By charging the Shareholders the assize price, and strangers a half penny above the assize price ; or 2. By charging strangers the assize. price and Share- holders a half penny less than the assize price. Now, I should have thought any foolcould have seen this two- fold method of dispensing justice among the Share- holders,, and 1 should also have imagined that no 8 THE BRISTOLIAN. honest man coufd have misconceived me, in reference to the proposition submttted to you on this subject at your General Meeting of last Monday. My motion went only to the establishment of the principle, that you ought to pay less for your own bread than strangers should be made to pay for it— and it • will be strange indeed if a quartern of pure flour or bread will not be worth a half- penny, more than the same quantity of an impure, adulterated, and pernicious article. 1 have received several letters on this sub- ject, and refuse insertion to all, because the writers severally misunderstood both the na- ture and effect of my proposition, and I can- not spare room for the publication ot mistakes merely for the purpose of correcting them. The question is a very plain one as I have stated it, and when the motion shall have been carried, as it will be by your common sense, which is far superior to the uncommon nonsense even of Committee- men— it will be time enough to determine which of the two ways of carrying the principle of your adap- tion into effect is the more preferable. On presenting your requisition for this Public Meeting to the Committee on Thursday evening, an attempt was made to strike out the words " and for other purposes " the effect of which would have been to tell you that none among you had a right to submit a mo- tion to your brother Share- holders, without first consulting the gentlemen of the Commit- tee— as indeed they have told me over and over again. But I succeeded in convincing a majority of the Committee that they had no right to alter your requisition, and it there- fore remains for you to discuss and determine any question that may be proposed to you. I therefore inform you, that 1 intend sub- mitting one or two other subjects for your consideration, when you shall have disposed of the special matter embodied in your re quisition. This course has been rendered necessary bv the conduct of certain members of your Committee, and whether they like it or not, .1 shall discharge my duty to you. Some of your Commiltee have on different occasions threatened to retire if unsuccessful in carrying some favorite plan into effect. This circumstance renders it absolutely necessary that I propose a resolution to the following effect:— That on the reduction of the members of the Committee to 21, a General Meeting of the Shareholders shall immediately be convened, for the purpose of filling up the vacancies in that body. Some of your Committee having attempted to counteract the effect of one of your resolutions of Monday last, I shall further move That as the power of the Committee emanates from the general body of the Shareholders, it is their duty to enforce the resolutions of the Gene- ral body, and that any one who shall move a resolution in tht Committee, in apposition, coun- teraction, or evasion of any resolution of the Share- holders shall be deemed to have vacated his office. There are also other evils which need a cure, and for the particulars of both of which; I beg to refer you to the General Meeting o; Monday next. It only needs that you be true to yourselves, and careful that your ser- vants, the members of the Committee, sacri- fice not your interests for their own. Be true to \ ourselves, and your shares will shortly be at double their present value; mani- fest weakness, and your Association will sink into nothing. . Your's faithfully, JAMES ACLAND. TO THE BAKEuS OF BRISTOL. Honest Men and Rogues, I think proper to inform you that I yester- day laid an information against Christopher Harvey, of Milk- Street, one of your frater- nity, for selling a three- penny loaf and a half uartern loaf, In the seme shop, on the same ay, to the same person. I laid such infor- mation on the complaint of a poor man who had bought three quartern loaves of the de- fendant, each of which was four ounces short. The defendant pleaded ignorance. 1 recom menced the minimum penalty of 10s. Mi. Camplin hnwe. ver infnrm « * t * Ko that he could not be ignorant of the convic- tion of several others of his trade, and con- victed him. in the penalty of 20s. I have received my moiety of this penalty, ( 10s.) and this day Mr. Humphries, the hu- mane Governor of the New Gaol, will receive to that value in bread, for the poor debtors under his charge. Your's truly, JAMES ACLAND. PROSPECTUS OF THE BRISTOLIAN COAL ASSOCIAT10N. CAPITAL ^ 800. In 4000 SHARES, at 4s. per Share. Each Share to take half a bushel of Coal per week. The Association to import in its own ves- sel or vessels, the best Red Ash Coal, from Newport. The delivery of Coal to the Share- holders to commence on the 1st of December. One Shilling to be paid as deposit, on taking the Scrip.— a 2nd on or before the 9th— a 3d on or before the 16th— and a 4th on or before the 23d of November. The objects of the Association are, 1st, security in quality— 2d. certainty of weight — 3d. the purchase of Coal by the poor, in small quantities, at cost price. The expence of establishing the Association ( inclusive of Printing, Clerks, & c.) to be £ 80. The projector to be sole manager until the delivery shall have been effected ; immediately after which, a general meeting of the Share- holders to be called, an account rendered, and a Committee of duly qualified'proprietors to be elected for the subsequent management of the Association. <&• Scrip receipts will be issued on Monday morning next. Bankers and Treasurers— Messrs. Haythorne and Wright. JAMES ACLAND. Projector and Manager. Office, No. 4, All Saints'Street. October 31, 1829. To ihe FI^ H- EATERS of BRISTOL. My Friends, I have a small lot of London Fish this morning, for sale, at cost price. I scarcely need add, that the first- comer will be the first- served. Your's faithfully, JAMES ACLAND. To the EDITOR of THE BRISTOLIANT SIR, I have to thank you for a dinner of cheap and good fish, on Wednesday last, it has long been a stranger to my table, for being a poor man with a large family to maintain, and the pride of Fish so exorbitant, I could scarce ever venture to take a bife at • it; a more grievous and organized system of monopoly never existed in a large and populous city and sea- port than at this present time exists in Bristol, and many years have the inhabitantssuffered under its pres- sure, I am aware that we are not so well situated as some places are for a supply of Fish, but I donoi hesitate to say that under proper arrange- ment that article might be rendered at half, the price, which is now exacted for it by some in- dividuals who dole it out at their pleasure to the public; may I venture to hope that when the Bristolian Bread Concern is fully in operation, you will turn your attention to the subject it is one loudly called for, and only wants the Manus Magistri to direct it. TOM THUMB. [ MEM. My first lot of London Fish which came by coach, was sold at very little more than half the price charged the same day by the fish monopolists of ttris- tol for inferior fish of the same description, ( CodJ. This morning I shall receive a sccond lot with which J shall conclude my experiment— having proved that Fish can be brought to Bristol under the most disadvan- tageous circumstances at live- eights the price charged by the Bristol monopolists. A Fish Association will It submitted to the public within a month. J. A 8 THE BRISTOLIAN. COMMITTEE- ROOM, 29th October, 1829. Resolved,— That Messrs. Mondav, Rotton, and Thomas, be the Trustees for receiving security from our Officers. Resolved,— That the Solcitor to the Asso- ciation be instructed to draw up the Bonds for the securities for the Officers of the Asso- ciation, and for preparing the necessary Trust- Deed. The following Requisition, duly signed, was presented by the Provisional Secretary :— REQUISITION. To the Managing Committee of the Bristolian Bread Association, to convene a General Meet' ing ot' the Share- holders, on Monday, the 2nd oj November next, for the purpose oj considering whether or not Share- holders shall be supplied • with Bread, Flour, or Ojfal, at a half. penny per share less than the public— and for other business. RESOLVED, THAT A PUBLIC MEETING or The Share- holders, Be forthwith convened, pursuant to the Requisi- tion now read; THAT IT BE HEIrD AT THE TENNIS COURT, In Upper Maudlin Lane, o w MONDAY next, the 2nd of NOVEMBER. The Chair to be taken at 1 o' Clock precisely. < 33* None but Shareholders will be admitted. JAMES . ACLAND, Provisional Secretary. To JOHN WINTER, The Persecutor of Truth, the Friend of the Fraudulent Clerk, and the Receiver vj ElephantTusks. WttIG, I am obliged to postpone my observations on your indictments, because ( at a cost of above .£ 3) I have but just obtained copies. Meanwhile, however, I beg to ask you a few questions :— 1.-^- Did you not know of the breaking up of the Bullion Bank on the night preceding its stoppage ? 2.— Did you not on such night buy up all the no'es ot that Bank you could, at an enormous discount ? 3. - Did you not then post off to Cardiff? 4.— Did you not the next day put as many as possible of those notes into circulation ? 5.— Did not the people of Cardiff find you Uut before you could effect your retreat, and stop ^ ou as you were bolting? 6.— Did not the Magistrates make you refund the money and property you had obtained for the notes of the Bullion Bank? 7.— Did you ever know a female of the namo of Imber, or Ember? 8.— Did she have any children during the life- time of yourfirst wife ? 9.— Who is the reputed father of those children? 10.— Do those children .- go by the name of Jone « ? 11.— Did the woman named Imber pass as Mrs. Jones, during the life- time of your- first wile ? 12.— Is she not now the second Mrs.- Winter ? 13.—' Were not you the most active opponent of the late, Duke of Yorky for incontinence and immorality ? 14.— Did you not take the lead in a vote of grateful thanks to Colonel Wardle for his oxpo- sure of such immorality ? 15.— Ami not- entitled to your grateful thanks for my exposure of incontinence, im- morality, and iniquity ? 16. In your comb manufactory, are not all women employed,! contrary to - the usual practice, at like establishments ? YourY constantly, JAMES ACLAND. TO THU UN ASSOCIATED BREAD- EATERS. My Friends, I have about a score of Shares m the As- sociation placed, in my hands for sale. The price is now 17s. I tkink the rise will be sudden and- considerable after the Meeting of Monday next. Your obedient Servant, 1 JAMES ACLAND. TO FUNNY JOHNNY. Whoever your reporter was, with refer- ence to my application to the Court, on Tuesday, he ought to be turned off for - his inability or unwillingness to report truths But you area Whig, and John Winter being also a Whig accounts for your adhesion. Think you truth and fair play will not tri- umph? Are you so childish as to imagine that a perverted report, and base trickery will even- tually prevail over the intelligence of an honest public ? JAMES ACLAND. MAGNA CHARTA. ( Continued from my last.) 39. And as soon as peace is restored,- we will send out of the kingdom all foreign soldiers cross- bowmen, and stipendiaries, who are come with horses and » rms to the iajury of our- people. 60. If any one hath beer, dispossessed, or, deprived by us, without the legal judgment of his peers, of his lands, castles, liberties, or rights we viill forthwith ie% tore them to him; and if any dispute arise upon- this head, let the matter be decided by the'live and twenty barons'here- after mentioned,* for the preservation of the peace. 61. As for those things, of which any person has, without the legal judgment of his peers been dispossessed or deprived, either t> y King Henry our father, or our brother King Richard, and which we have in our hands, or are pos- essed by others, and we are bound to warrant and make good, we shall have respite tilt the term usually allowed the crorses; excepting those things about which thtre is suit depending,' or whereof un'iiiquest halh been made by our order, before we undertook the crusade. But when we return from our pilgrimage, or if we do not perform it, we will immediately cause full jus- tice to be administered therein. 62. The same respite - we - shall have for disafforesting the forests, which Henry our fa- ther, or our'brother Richard ihave afforested; and for the worship of the lands which are ill another's fee,' in the same manner as we have hitherto enjoyed those wardships, by reason of a fee, held bfUsby • knight's service and for the abbeys founded in any other fee than our nwn, in which the Xord of the fee claims a right And when we return'from our pilgri- mage, or if we should not perform it, we will immediately dd full justice to all the complaints in this behalf. 63. ' No man shall be taken or imprisoned, upoirthe appeal of a woman, for the death of any other man than her husband. 64. All unjust and illegal fines, and all ameri ciaments, imposed unjustly, and contrary to the law of the land, shall be entirely forgiren, or else be left to the decision of the five- and twenty barons hereafter mentioned " for the pre- servation of the peace, or of the major part of them, together with the aforesaid Stephen, Archbishop of Canterbury, if he can be pre- sent, and others whom he shall thiifk fit to take • along with him. And if he cannot be present, the business shall, notwithstanding 30 011 with- out him. But so that, if one or more of the 25 barons be plaintiffs in the same cause, they shall be set aside, as to what concerns this par- ticular affair; and others be chosen in their room, out of the said five and twenty, and sworn by the rest to decide the matter. » Their names are all recorded in Mathew Paris, p. 262, including the Mayor of London, and the Con- stable of Chester. ( To be Continued. ) Printed and Published by JAME3 ACLAND, ( Sole Proprietor and Editor,) at the'HEisroLiAN- OrFrcs. Nov4, All • Saints' Street^ Bristol.