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The Halfax Free Press

01/04/1843

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The Halfax Free Press

Date of Article: 01/04/1843
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TIG HALIFAX APRIL 1, 1843. FREE PRESS. XXXI. Price One Penny. And now the time in special is, by privilege, to write and speak what may help to the further discussing of matters in agitation. The Temple of Janus, with his two controvcrsal faces, might now rnt unsignificantly be set open: and though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously, by licensing and prohibiting, to misdoubt her strength. Let her and falsehood grapple. Who ever knew Truth put to the icorse, in a free and open encounter. Her confuting is the best and surest suppressing.— MILTON'S AREOPAGITICA. ADVERTISEMENTS. GENTLEMEN'S BEST LONDON BEAVER HATS.— J. ECKERSLEY respectfully Invites the attention of Gentlemen to his superb Stock of Best Beaver Hats, ( just received from Three of the most eminent Houses in London,) which for lightness, durability, and colour in particular, stand quite unrivalled. Cash Price, 21s.; Beautiful Stuff Hats, from 12s. tol6 « .; the Rich French Velvet- Naps, on Stuff Bodies, from 10s. to 15s.; Gossamer, and other Hats equally cheap. 25, Crown Street, Halifax, opposite the Upper George Inn. HALIFAX MECHANICS' INSTITUTION.— The Members and Friends of the Institution are respectfully informed that a Lecture on DIGESTION will be delivered in the Old Assembly Room, on Wednesday Evening, April 5th, 1843, by Mr. M'Taggart, Member of the Royal Veterinary College. The Lecture will be illustrated by diagrams, and will be followed by two others, on the Circulation of the Blood, and on Respiration. The Lecture to commence at Eight o'clock. Members admitted on showing their Tickets, and Non- Sub- scriberson payment of Sixpence. Ladies'Tickets, admitting them to all the Lectures for the year, Four Shillings each. To MAKE HOME HAPPY.— Nature is industrious in adorning her dominions, and the man to whom this duty is addressed should feel and obey the lesson. Let him, too, be industrious in adorning his dominion — in making his home, the dwelling of his wife and children, not only convenient and comfortable, but pleasant. Let him, as far as circumstances will per- mit, be industrious in surrounding it, within and without, with things that tend to make it agreeable and attractive. Let industry make it the abode of neatness and good order— a place which brings satis- faction to every inmate, and which in absence draws back the heart by the fond associations of comfort and content. Let this be done, and this sacred spot will surely become the scene of cheerfulness, kindness, and peace. Ye parents who would have your children happy, be industrious to bring them up in the midst of a pleasant, a cheerful, and happy home. Waste not your time in accumulating wealth for them, hut fill their minds and souls, in the way proposed, with the seeds of virtue and true prosperity.— Anon. POOR RATES.— If any person alters a poor- rate or a highway rate, in a single word or figure, after having been allowed by justices, it not only renders the rate illegal, but subjects the party making the alteration to indictment.— Juryman's Legal Hand- book. At a Lyceum lecture, in Boston, Mr. Ellis stated that the greatest discoveries of future ages would probably be made by electro- magnetism— not animal magnetism,— that water could be separated into its component gases, and burned to light our houses and cook our food, and then recombine and form into water again ! THE FINE ARTS IN FRANCE.— The catalogue of the engravings in the Royal Library of France, made out to . Ian. 1,1841, contains 1895 by Rembrandt, and 2498 by Callot. The portraits, from the earliest period down to that of Count de Paris, amount to 90,565. Of Henry IV. there are 300 portraits; of Nopoleon, 433 ; and of Louis XIV., 531. The divi- sion allotted to the costumes of all nations contains 35,973 plates, 11,991 being costumes of France in different ages. This collection presents great interest( from the singularity and strangeness of an innumer- able portion dt the dresses. The historical prints are in number 24,118. Of these, 14,387 relate to France. To these are added 7831 caricatures, 36,859 architectural pieces, 39,901 from natural history, and 41,840 scriptural pieces. The longest bridge in Spain is the Alcantara, stone; 1,920 feet; in France, the wooden bridge of Avignon- 1,710 feet; in Ireland, at Belfast, wood, 2,500 feet; in England, at Berwick, stone, 1,164 feet; Black, friars, 995 ; Waterloo, 1,242 ; Westminster, 1,223 ; London, 930 feet; in Wales, Menai Bridge, 1,060 ft. EMIGRATION. [ Emigration has, for the last few 3' ears, occupied a prominent plice in the attention of the public ; and has been, in Halifax and its neighbourhood, a subject of very great interest. The subjoined document relates to a recent movement in connection with this question ; and will, we doubt not, be acceptable to many of our readers.] Rules and Objects of the British Emigrants' Mutual Aid Society, established with a view of purchasing and settling 20,480 acres of land, and forming a Colony, in one of the Western States of North America. " The possible destiny of the United States of America as a nation of a hundred millions of free men, stretching from the Atlantic to the Pacific, living under the laws of Alfred, and speaking the language of Shakespeare and Milton, i3 an august conception. Why should we not wish to see it realized ?"— Coleridge. PREAMBLE.— Through the folly and wickedness of the ruling few, combined with the neglect and care- lessness of the many, this country has ceased to aiford that protection to labour and the free exercise of capital, which the laws of civilized society ought to secure. To this state of things we have too long been subjected, without having within our reach any im- mediate practical remedy ; and hence, the duty we owe ourselves and our families impels us, though with regret, to leave the land of our birth, and turn to tbe United States of North America, where indus- try is sure to meet with its reward. One of the Western States has been selected as the desirable location,— say Illinois, Wisconsin, or Iowa, any of which states or territories will furnish 11s with the desired asylum, where millions and millions of acres of the richest portions of the globe have for hundreds and hundreds of years waited in vain for the plough and the sickle of the husbandman, to pre- pare, mature, and gather the abundant harvest. The vast resources of the West are being develop- ed ; and the cry of its people is, " come over and join us, and we will do you good." Tbe prospect of certain success awaits the toil- worn labourers of England, who may choose, or rather who maybe enabled, so far to exert themselves as to become possessed of a snug farm in the Western States, which, in other words, means a tract of land, much of which is in a state of nature, with some cheap, and frequently log buildings, with 20, 40, 60, or 100 acres fenced and cultivated. The following table will exhibit the cost of 320 acres of land, at Congiess price, and preparing 160 acres for cul- tivation :— dols. Cost of 320 acres at If dollars per acre .... 400 Breaking up 160 acres of Prairie at 2 dollars per acre 320 Fencing into four fields with a Kentucky fence of 8 rails high and cross stakes .... 175 Cost of cabins, corn cribs, and stables .... 250 Making the cost of such a farm, 1145 Which is equal to £ 238 10s. sterling ; and in many instances, ( says a writer on the Western States,) a single crop of wheat will pay for the land, for fencing, breaking up, harvesting, threshing, and taking to market. A Carpenter, Bricklayer, Blacksmith, or Mason, wants no other capital to do a first- rate business, and soon become independent, than a set of tools, and habits of industry, sobriety, economy, and enter- prize. Let the Emigrant, then, locate himself in this land of promise; and let him banish unreal wants, and learn the master secret of self- possession, and be content with such things as he has ; aware that every position in life has its advantages and trials, let him assure himself that, if an independent farmer cannot be happy, no man can. Let him magnify his calling, respect himself, envy no one, and raise to the Author of all good, constant aspirations of thankfulness, as he eats the bread of peace and privacv. There are, in this country, hundreds of small capitalists, who daily see their means getting less, who might greatly improve their circumstances by emigration, but they cling to the land of their nativity, and cannot bear tbe idea of leaving their friends and relations, to dwell amongst strangers, in a far distant country. But we presume this objection, though weighty, will be fully met by this ample scheme of mutual aid which provides for so many people from our own localities, as would in this respect make it little different to remaining at home. Much has been written, of late, about granting leases ; but before the landed proprietors will come into the plan of granting them, generally, or for a sufficiently long period, much of the energy of the people will have ceased to exist, their means will be worn out. Notwithstanding which, there is no security to a farmer, under any lease, equal to tbe occupancy of his own land. Hence the advantage of a purchase in the United States ; because his improvements under a lease are yearly deteriorat- ing, or, if continued, are in most cases sacrificed to the benefit of the landlord ; whilst improvements upon his own freehold are as progressively increasing, or continually accumulating, with the gratulatory consciousness of being able to transmit them to his posterity, immediate and remote, who in their turn may continue improving, for there is no saying when land has attained its maximum fertility .-- But, to obtain this land he must seek a country where it is at its natural value, or merely nominal, for the LABOUR IITON IT IS ITS MORE REAL VALUE, and not the artificial value it attains under partial laws, or peculiar circumstances of a fleeting character. Let, then, the noble- minded British farmer and tradesman, who does not wish to become a pauper in this country, arise and take by the hand a number of the sober, industrious, and virtuous poor of his father- land, and lead them to one where peace and plenty reign. Each person should possess an individual capital of £ 20. £ 40. or £ 60., to enable him to erect temporary dwellings for himself and family, out- housing for his cattle, as well as clearing, fencing, and cropping, one fourth of his land. During the time these thiags would occupy, say twelve months, the settlers would have to live ; and as these unavoidable expenses could not be met, perhaps, by every member, it will there- fore be the interest and the duty of those settlers who may be in possession of the means, to find employ- ment to such poorer members, by giving them, for a season, food and wages, until they have redeemed themselves, and are enabled to cultivate their own allotments. The tide of individual emigration has gone on increasing these three or four years back, and the knowledge of so many failures having taken place during this period, induced the attempt to form a scheme of collective emigration, better adapted to insure success; and which is substantially, a JOINT PURCHASE OF LAND. Hence the origin of the " West Riding Emigrants' mutual aid society," established in Halifax, September 7th, 1842. The rules of which Society were, for the purpose of improvement, subsequently put into the hands of Thomas Bewley, Esq., one of tbe Society of Friends, residing at Setmurthy, near Cockermouth, Cumberland. This gentleman ( who is a practical 121 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. agriculturist and has resided some years in the United States,) has, with much practical knowledge and great kindness, given his mind to the subject; and the result is, the original scheme has been much ex- panded and otherwise improved. The members of the late " West Riding Mutual Aid Society" who have subscribed fof about COO acres of Land, have adopted the following improved rules, and beg to recommend them to all persons wishing to emigrate to the " Great Republic." By order of the Committee, E. CRABTREE, Hon. Secretary. No. 3. Broad Street, Halifax, March 30th, 1843. Rule 1st.— That this Society be denominated the British Emigrants' Mutual Aid Society, and that all rules and regulations be subject to, and in accordance with, the Supreme Laws of the State or Territory in which the Colony may be located. 2nd.— That the object of this Society is the pur- chase of a Tract of unappropriated Land in the State of Wisconsin, or other Western State as may on in- spection by a deputation of one or more competent persons be deemed most suitable for the purposes of a Colony of Settlers from this Couutry, upon a prin- ciple of mutual assistance. 3rd.— When sufficient money is subscribed, one or more persons shall be sent out with power to select and purchase the Land, and procure a survey thereof, under promise or written assurance of the Society that the money shall be transmitted through the hands of the American Consul resident in Liverpool, to the United States' Government Agent, authorized to receive the same in that Country. 4th.— That the Subscriptions to this Society be deposited in the Halifax Joint Stock Bank, aud when the purchase is completed be transferred to the American Consul ( who has engaged to transact this business) through an order sanctioned by the signa- tures of three fourths of the members, and presented by the Committee to the Bankers. 5th,— That this Society be composed of as many subscribers as will take up, or purchase, 32 Sections of Land, or 20,480 acres at Congress price ( 1£ dollar) which shall be divisable amongst the said members in proportion to their respective subscriptions, in ten acre lots, so as to give the poorest an equal benefit in the distribution and choice with the larger purchasers, yet not limiting any subscriber iu his amount of purchase. 6th.— That in order to organize and carry into effective operation the Objects of this Association thirteen members be chosen at a public general meet- ing, to form a Committee of management, from amongst whom a President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary, be appointed annually ; 4 members of the Committee as they stand upon the list to retire annually but to be eligible to re- election ; which election shall be annual, on a day hereafter to be fixed ; first the Committee, then the Officers out of that Committee ; in both cases by ballot or vote of all the members of the Society; the majority to deter- mine and be final; every shareholder from 1 to 10 shares to have one vote, from 10 to 20 to have 2 votes, and so in proportion, increasing one vote every ten shares; 7 of the Committee to be a quorum, and the majority of that quorum to determine- 7th.— That the President in all cases ( after the es tablishment of the Colony,) have a triple vote, and the YicePresidentthe same when acting as President, in the President's absence ; but not in other cases, or but his single vote when acting in his own capacity. 8th.— That the Committee shall, previous to the completion of the purchase, appoint 7 of the Subscri hers as Trustees for the Properly jointly, in whose name the purchase shall be effected, and to whom it shall be conveyed in trust to the use of the said sub- scribers, and be by the said Trustees re- conveyed to the said subscribers individually, describing his Lot or Share by its No. and contents in measure upon the Surveyor's Plan hereafter to be made, a true copy of which, or the original shall always be in the posses- sion or keeping of the said Trustees for general reference, and be lithrographed for distribution amongst the subscribers. In case of the death of Trusteea successor shall as soon after as conveniently may, be appointed by the Committee as in the first instance. ( To be continued.) A CURIOUS PANIC.— When it happened that 7,090 bags of cotton were imported within five months, say from December, 1782, to April, 1783, a perfect panic was produced by so immense a supply. Whilst; during one week, lately,, 130,000 bags arrived, with out the circumstance producing the most trifling de rline in prices'. What a contrast L THE TOWN TRUSTEES AND MR. ILLINGWORTH. To the Editors of the Free Press. GENTIEMEN,— I have been much struck by a pla- card now posted on the walls of the town, announcing that, at the next meeting of the Trustees, in Back Lane, it is proposed " to revoke, alter, or suspend" the following resolution passed at a meeting of the Trustees held 5th of Oct. 1842.—" That the Clerk be directed to apprize Thomas Illingworth, that, if the balance of £ 88 6s. 7| d. due by him to the Trustees be not paid in three months, legal proceedings for the recovery thereof will be commenced." One naturally wishes to know the reason of such a resolution, announcing, as it does, the determination of the Trustees to present Mr. Illingworth with that inestimable soporific, a law- suit; and I will endeavour, as briefly as possible, to state the cause. It is now about ten years since the above named person took the office of obtaining all the stray rates which the regular collectors found it somewhat diffi- cult to obtain. He was supposed to take the office upon exactly the same terms as his predecessor ; for nothing at all was said to the contrary, neither was any new arrangement made. In 1835, there was a balancing of accounts between him and the Trustees ; and not a word was said then which could lead any one to suppose that a different arrangement was de- sired ; for the accounts were settled as they had been before ; and Mr. IUingworth received the same re- muneration as his predecessor. Towards the end of last year, the Trustees wished to have another balan - cing; they found that Mr. I. had in his hands upwards of £ 100 belonging to them, which they xvere, nay are, uncommonly anxious to get hold of. He ( Mr. I.) acknowledged that he held money to the above amount; but, when he was desired to pay it, he brought in an exceedingly ill- favoured bill, which claimed a certain sum over and above the remuner- ation which the Trustees had supposed themselves to have been giving him, and against which he had never said anything. This bill of his, too, was a somewhat strange one ; for at one period of its presentation it was one amount; then it increased and multiplied, and showed quite another amount when next it ap- peared. His claims even extend farther back than 1835, the period when he settled with the Trustees. Well, Trustees are but flesh and blood ; and they, being exceedingly exasperated at such insolence, passed the above resolution, which now, it seems, they are desirous of revoking, altering, or suspending. And why, in the name of wonder, ( as Lord Brougham says) do they wish to revoke it ? Has the awJul dignity which hedges the beadle, and which one had hitherto thought produced its effect only upon beggar boys, communicated itself to the Trustees ? Are they cowed by the man who " Fills his office and his stockings well ?" The ratepayers of Halifax are remarkable for a kind of partiality to knowing how their money goes, and also for a wish that it should be applied properly, not wasted by beefeaters. They will not be juggled by any chicanery, legal or otherwise, in the shape of " arbitration;" they will demand that the trustees rest not till they have the money. * * * I have addressed these observations to you, gentle men, with the hope that they would cause inquiry. Some of your correspondents who are in possession of all the information required, may perhaps be in duced to favour us with it; meanwhile 1 remain Yours Respectfully, A RATEPAYER. [ We have omitted some passages of our corres pondent's communication, because we do not choose to publish the insinuations contained therein.— EDIT.] THE NINE WISHES, THE NEAPOLITAN COURTSHIP. CHAPTER II. The Sibyl's gift ur. d the first wish. Thus matters stood when, after paying the stranger accustomed visit to the grot of the Cumoean Sibyl the Baron and Wilhelmina seated themselves near its entrance, to enjoy the scenery around. " The Romans must have been great fools !" ob- served Miss Wilhelmina. " Only think of their be- lieving that an old woman, shut up in a cave, could tell them what was to happen in the world !" " Mais, mon ange," said the Baron, " yourShaky- speare say as dere is more of someting iu de world dan is dream of by a philosopher." " Look !" exclaimed Wilhelinina, " who can that old woman be, that is coming out of the cave ? She is not one of our party; for the guide counted us as we came out." Briefly to describe the old woman in question, it will suffice to say, that her person was somewhat like the effigies of old Mother Shipton, and her dress that of the country people. She toddled slowly up to the lovers. Then she stopped before them; and, in au odd croaking sort of voice, spoke, in Italian, as follows :— You intend to be married, if you don't alter your minds. There's something that may be of service to you, if you use it rightly ;" and, throwing a small stone at their feet, she continued,—" if you remain unmarried for the next nine days, and keep that stone in the possession of either of you, it will give you, each day, one wish, provided that the granting of such wish does not interfere with the property of others. AU must be between yourselves,— nine wishes between you; and each must express bis or her wish for some- thing to happen to the other. In nine days, the charm will be at an end ; hut, observe, if you lose the stone before the expiration of the time, you will both be compelled to speak the truth at your next subse- quent interview."' Without waiting for any reply, the old body turned upon her heel, and retreated into the cave ; leaving our lovers, of course, very particularly astonished. " You hear vot she say, mon ange?" asked the Baron. Not exactly," replied Wilhelmina; " their patois hereabouts is really so shockingly gothic 1" Her swain, as in duty bound, politely explained ; and thea added,—" She vos a mad vomau, I tink ; but never mind. I vill vish someting for you, my dear Vilhelmina, and ve vill see." " Nonsense !" exclaimed the lady, " I don't be- lieve in it. However, I am not afraid; for 1 am sure mon cher Baron will not wish me any harm." " Von't I ? No ; not for noting, mon ange I" ejaculated the Baron ; leering at his intended with a most monkey- like expression of fondness. " Veil; I vill vish someting no lady vill be sorry for ; neverless you is so beautiful as she is possible. I vish you some more encore of de beauty. Dare ! Magnifique! I see him come at de moment. Ah I Charmante ! Ex- traordinaire ! Superbe ! Pretty veil! Your eye is like some diamonds. De rose is like a fool vid your cheek, aud your neck is like some snow." All your own imagination, mon cher Baron," simpered Wilhelinina ; endeavouring at a blush : " but love, you know, they say, is blind. However, it was very kind of you to express such a wish ; and, if there really should be any virtue in the stone, you know it will be my turn to- morrow ; and, believe me, you shall not repent your kindness." " Bah ! ma chere amie !" said the Baron. " Vot I can vish for veil I am bless vid your beautiful per- son ? I vant noting more. I can live vid you very nice in de littel house. But he is very true. You vos charmante and so pretty as— as— de devil! I not know vot to say." " Well! If I am so in your eyes, dear Alphonse !" murmured Miss Jones, affectionately, " it is all that I wish : but now let us talk of something else ; for we have been riding about and seeing sights, all day, and I had almost forgotten to revert to what you told ine » last night, about your agent's neglect iu not sending you the remittance you expected," " Bah ! mon ange !" observed the Baron, care- lessly. " Vot signify dat ? He vill come toder day. My rentes is very much grand ; but lie is gone be- hind vile I am in de voyage. I dare say he did come to morrow, or next veek." " Mon cher Baron I" resumed the ladj ; " youmwst permit me. Do not be offended ; but, situated as we are, let it he a proof of my— my— the interest I take in your comfort. I cannot bear the idea that you should be put to any inconvenience on such a paltry account. So, if you really feel what you express to- wards me, do not refuse to make use of this trifle, which, I assure you, I have no occasion for." As she uttered the last words, Willielmina drew from her reticule a small folded paper, value about twenty five pounds English, and placed it, with a loving pressure, in the hands of her cher ami. The Baron gave her a tender glance, and replied,— " Vot I can say? I can't refuse you noting. Veil L I put dis littel paper in my pocket;"— Aerc he suited the action to the word ;—" but I give him you back in de diamonds, and necklace, and bijoux, vot belong to my moder." During the latter part of this conversation, Tom Blunt, the crabbed- looking footman, had approached them unobserved. He now stood before his mistress ; and, in his usual straight- forward way, said,—" The Wetturino and all the rest of the jabbering foreigneers is all in a deuce of a passion, and seem ready to fight, about eummut; but I think that ' II be no go. How 122 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. somever, the wally, as far as I can make out, wants to be off, as it's getting late, atul it's a long way back through Puzzley and the tunnel. " Well !" replied Miss Jones. " Go back, and see that all is right; and the Baron and I will follow you directly." " Humph !" grunted Tom Blunt, in an under tone, as he retreated. " Humph ! She's been a little too long with that chap, to my thinking. I don't think he's any great shakes." " Really," observed Wilhelmina, " it is quite shocking to hear any one so ignorant as to call the grotto of Posillipo a tunnel, and so to murder the pronunciation of Pozzuoli." " He is von bear," replied the Baron. " I vonder you not send him back in Angleterre. But, diable ! Est il possible ? Oh ! yes, your foots, vot is so littel before, is grown litteler vid my vish. Your shoe vill tumbledown from him." " Oh!" simpered Wilhelmina. " It is only fancy, mon cher Baron. The fact is, they were always much too large. Your eye deceives you ;— that's all." What more of flattery took place on their road home, need not be related verbatim ; but the Baron talked as though acting upon the old adage:— " Lay it on thick, And some will stick." ( To be Continued.) THE BRITISH AND SUNDAY- SCHOOL EXTINCTION BILL. The public has been taken at a disadvantage. A specious outline of a new scheme of National Educa- tion is given in the House. Immediately after, there appears a Bill, in which one half of that scheme is developed amidst a multitude of Factory penalties and regulations, having no earthly relation to it. The other half will appear nobody knows when, all that is known being, that it also will be mixed up with the heterogeneous provisions of a Poor- law Amendment Bill. Meantime, Parliament is called upon to pronounce a definitive and irrecoverable judgment upon a measure, part only of which lies before it. Sir James Graham is, no doubt, a shrewd man ; but this is a feat so like the Greek fool who endeavoured to dispose of his house on the credit of a specimen brick, that, since he himself is no fool, be can only be regarded as intending a compliment to the wisdom of Parliament. Why has one measure been cut into halves ? Why has each half been dis- tributed among the clauses of distinct and indepen- dent measures ? How can Parliament prudently decide upon the merits of a plan until the whole is brought under its notice ? Not that any Member needs wait for the appear- ance of the other half, before condemning that already introduced. It appears the broad, unmistakable stamp of retrogression. It involves a measure of Church- extension, to be paid for by all classes of the community, although we have Sir Robert Peel's recent pledge that no such measure should emanate from his Government; it involves the principle of a new Church- rate, although Sir Robert Peel has admitted tbe expediency of abolishing Church- rates; it involves, also, the principle of a new Test Act, although Sir Robert Peel himself, however reluct- antly, erased the old Test Act from the Statute- book ; and, above all, it restores invidious distinctions on the ground of difference in religious opinion, although several important Acts of the Legislature, forming the bases of great national institutions, have for their foundation the clearly rocognised principle of civil equality without regard to variety of sentiment in matters of religion. Those Members of Parliament, therefore, who think that " innovation" has already gone too far, may most consistently support such a measure; but bow any Member who has recorded bis vote in favour of the principles now proposed to be reversed, can make up his mind to support such a scheme of Education, we are altogether at a loss to conceive. The retaliatory character of tbe measure will no doubt strongly recommend it to the supporters of the Corn- law. The manufacturers, both employers and employed, persist in keeping up a troublesome outcry against restrictions upon the supply of food and the interchange of commerce; and, for their punishment^ they are to he inundated with a new order of those priests whose existing emoluments are enhanced in proportion to the high price of corn ; and they are, moreover! to pay this new corps of priests out of the little that remains to them after having paid so much of the salaries of their brethren us is represented by the difference between the natural and the artificial price of corn. It may be left to the reader to conceive for himself, with what open arms and grateful hearts a flight of black coats will be received_ in the manufacturing districts, under such circumstances. Again, the Dissenting Ministers of different denominations, deeply sympathising with the distress of their countrymen, were at the trouble « nd expense of assembling in Manchester, to the number of more than six hundred, for the purpose of bearing their testimony to the cruel operation of tbe Corn- law against the general community; and, what is worse, their services have been handsomely acknowledged by Mr. Cohden. What, therefore, so fitting a chastisement for their audacity, as to send a crusade into those districts in which their strength lies, charged with the duty of extinguishing Dissent, and armed with authority to accomplish that mission at the expense of Dissenters? In this view, it is natural for the advocates of the Corn law to be also the advocates of Sir James Graham's Education Bill ; but every opponent of the one is bound to oppose the other. We shall be told, as indeed we have been told, that the Bill does not affect the rights of conscience. Ask the Quakers if it does not. One should have thought it was already difficult enough to collect the poor- rates, seeing that distress is fast blending in one un- distinguishable mass the rate- payers and the paupers . and yet, as if that burden had not increased rapidly enough from the force of circumstances, it is pro- posed to charge it with the expenses of National Education ; and not only so, hut, in doing this, care has been taken to give the augmentation such a form as will insure from a considerable number of the largest rate- payers a flat refusal to pay Poor- rates at all. Lord Brougham has had much experience of Quakers : let Sir James Graham ask him, whether they will not have the same objection to paying Poor rates, when burdened with the expenses of religious instruction, that they have to paying Church- rates so called ? Iu this objection, the Dissenters will syrn pathize. In various ways this Bill injuriously affects both the rights of conscience and the liberty of the subject. The compulsory character of many of its provisions gives it this twofold odious effect. If coercion were justifiable at all in such a matter, it would be in obliging masters to provide for the education of the children they employ ; but we greatly doubt the ex- pediency, as well as the principle, of authoritative interference on either side. The British and Foreign School Society are beginning to rue the day when they subjected their institutions to Government in- spection by accepting Government grants ; and we are much mistaken if the new Bill do not make this kind of Non- intrusion a prevalent doctrine amongall classes of the community interested in Popular Edu- cation. The truth is that, as Dissenters, we are in danger of being betrayed into a forgetfulness of our principles whenever we give the State the benefit of a distinction between religious and general instruction. Giving Education that broad interpretation without which it is a doubtful good, it is difficult, if not im> possible, to draw a line separating the religious from the other departments. If, for example, we attentively consider the recent Resolutions of the Congregational Board, we shall find, that they start with an admission of the importance of giving the children in factories " a useful and religious education;" and that, although this is to he done only " in accordance with the principles of civil and religious liberty," yet, there is no distinct protest against any measure of legislation for the double purpose indicated. This is of course an oversight, but an oversight which illustrates the danger wehave referred to : and doubtless the Govern - ment was encouraged by the readiness with which its occasional aids were received, though saddled with the condition of inspection, to take the matter en- tirely into its own hands, as is proposed by the pending Bill. To put the screw of compulsion upon parents, how- ever, is so alarming an indication of despotic inten- tions, that we trust it will be the means of frustrating the entire scheme. Where are tbe friends of the people, that a project like this is hailed by nearly all the Daily Press ? Why should parents be compelled to send their children to school at all ? Why, at least, should they not have a free choice as to the school ? Instead of this, the Dissenter must send bis child to a Church school; first, because no other is to be erected; and secondly, because any other al- ready existing is very liable to be declared inefficiently conducted. We are told, forsooth, that no Dis- senter's child will be compelled to receive religious instruction from the Church teacher. But he will be present while it ia given to the rest, and be will constantly breathe an atmosphere impregnated with Church notions. Nay, more : on Sundays, even the Dissenter's child will be compelled to give three hours' attendance in school, when there is not a word in the Bill to preclude the teachers from imbuing his mind with the poison of Tractariamsm. Finally, on this point, why should not even Church parents be allowed to send their children to such places of wor- ship as they think proper, instead of being compelled to send them to one in particular, and to no other i And why, simply because they are members of the Established Church, should their children be sub- jected to receive religious instruction from a class of teachers responsible to no authority but the Bishop of the diocese for the character and tendency of that instruction ? But perhaps the worst features of the Bill, apart from its being founded upon the mischievous prin- ciple that the government is bound to provide for the religious instruction of the people, consists in its attacks upon the very foundation of private rights. As if it were not enough to provide against the possibility of any Dissenter becoming a schoolmaster under the Bill, it gives the Clerical Trustees and their ready tools, the Inspectors, the power of destroying private schools, as well as those which are supported by Voluntary contributions, by shortly declaring them to be inefficiently conducted. But, as this forms only part of a grand scheme already in secret operation, we postpone further remark, until we cau go more fully into the subject. The other intolerable feature of the Bill, to which it behoves every friend of the people to call immediate attention, is this ; that the Sill empowers the Trustees to dismiss any child from the schoolfor misconduct. Now, if the matter rested there, no one could object to a power of dismissal being confided to properly chosen managers for the preservation of discipline; but, when it is remem- bered that no child can be admitted into a factory without a school certificate, who does not see that this power of dismissal arms tbe Clerical Trustee, the Bishop of the Diocese, the Established Hierarchy, in fact, with a power over the people tantamount ts the most fearful and grinding despotism ? It is discouraging to look back and remark bow little progress sound principles relating to National Education have made in the public mind. What Foster said of Lord Brougham's abortive Plan in 1821, is equally applicable to the Plan we are now called upon to resist, after the lapse of nearly a quarter of a century, during which events have tran- spired, that ought to have borne far different fruit. It is based upon the same " iuvidioas distinctions in the community," the same " principles of exclu- sive privilege and unequal advantage." Instead of " placing the schools under free public inspection," instead of " subjecting them to the vigilance of tbe respectable inhabitants of the neighbourhood, who must naturally be most interested for their right management," it is proposed to place them under the control of those very men by whose " iniquitous management" ( as the same Lord Brougham had proved) " a multitude of institutions for Education had become worse than useless." The present scheme, too, like the former, " must bring more frequently and more offensively into view, with an increased activity of the attendant and inevitable feel- ings, all tbe injurious circumstances already existing in the relative state of two great portions of the nation ; creating a new set of disabilities, which the privileged portion will be sure to consider as confer- ring on them another mark of honourable superio- rity," ( in spite of their pretended opposition,) " and an advantage gained against Bn enemy."— Patriot. A SON OLDER THAN HIS FATHER,.— It is stated that a lady living near Berlin, in Prussia, who has. only attained the age of 103 years, has contracted a fourth marriage with a youth of 70. The cream of the joke is, that among the children whom the bride brought to her new husband was a boy of 83 ! There are in Bethlehem hospital, 65 male criminal lunatics, and 21 female criminal lunatics ; and, it has been ascertained that of these, 29 had actually com- mitted murder; 20 had attempted murder; three « ere housebreakers, and 19 reputed thieves. AN ARGUMENT AGAINST A FIXEB DUTY, EVEN- OF FIVE SHILLINGS.— The consumption of tbe country is fifty millions of quarters. Call the free trade price 55s., a duty of 5s, would raise it to 60s _ If four millions of quarters were imported, the re- venue would get, at 5s. one million / But the land- lords would by that duty get 60s., instead of 55s., on the remainder, or fifty millions, ( less four millions,) on 46 millions of quarters which they could sell at 60s., instead of 55s. On 46 millions of quarters at 5s., the landlords would 9et eleven millions and a half ! If the fixed duty men want to make the landlords a present of eleven millions, in order tbat one million may find its way into the public treasury, let them say so. Gentlemen of the fixed duty } if you musl tax corn, tax all corn, domestic as well as foreign- go for an excise on bread— that would be the way to raise revenue. 4 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. OUR CHATTER BOX. Our editorial articles are, this week, unavoidably omitted. We had intended to have dwelt upon the obnoxious provisions of Sir James Graham's Factory Bill, so far as regards the education of the children working in factories. An article which we have taken from the Patriot, supersedes the necessity of our remarks. A correspondent wishes us to give an article on the same subject from the Nonconformist, but has omitted to send us the article, and we do not regularly see that paper. We rejoice that the move- ment against the measure is rapidly extending amongst all denominations; and the postponement of the obnoxious clauses until after the Easter recess, will give ample time for the full expression of public opinion. The more we examine the details of the measure, and the more we contemplate the inevit- able consequences of their adoption by the legislature, the stronger grows our conviction of the absolute necessity of a resolute stand being made against so odious, so unprincipled, and so flagitious, a pro- position. We will consider the question put by A TOWNSMAN, and prepare some remarks on the subject, if we obtain the necessary information. COMPLETE SUFFRAGE.— We have received, from a correspondent, a copy of Mr. Sharman Crawford's Letter to Mr. Sturge, on the counting out of the House of Commons, on the evening fixed for his motion on this subject; and also a copy of the Resolu- tions adopted by the council of the National Complete Suffrage Union. As these documents have appeared, more than a week ago, in the London journals, it would be needless for us to reprint them ; but, if our correspondent wishes to discuss the question, we are willing to allow him fair space for that purpose. THE AGINCOURT CHARADE.— The following is given in the Family Herald, as an answer to the charade inserted in our columns, some time back :— Dread day for " La Belle France," when Hilary charged Her chivalry so gallant, brave, and bright. Her glories faded, and her laurels torn; She bade the world and all its fame " GOOD NIGHT." The proud, the brave, the humble, and the slave, Vengeful, and quick, and dark, in fiercest mood, Rush'dto the murderous conflict, fought, and fell: And those who lived to weep, yet said ' twas " GOOD." Ere long the battle ceased its purpleflood, And scarce the sun had climb'd his topmost height. But thousands, In the icy grasp of death. Saw not his gorgeous light,— to them ' twas " NIGHT." Ye beauteous fair 1 pray heaven avert the sight From England's happyhomes,— Bonne Nuit:—'" GOOD NIGHT.'> W. W. POETRY. SELECTED. PATIENCE. ( From the Patriot.) " Patience, the courage of the man of talent, he must exert for many a dreary and unrewarded day ."— Blackwood's Ma- gazine, March, 1843. Faint not, thou child of earth, At hope's eclipse, in trial's darkest hour: Such is the heritage of human birth, And such the seed- time of the spirit's power. If, in affliction's day, thy courage fall, Be sure thy strength is small. For each immortal name,— Each star resplendent in the realm of mind,— Ere genius woke the tardy ear of Fame, In tribulation's furnace was refined. And who art thou, O man, to faint before Griefs the immortals bore ? I see— I see them 3tand Jn solemn watch round the refiner's fire, Hunger, and Care, and Pain,— a dismal band; Neglect's cold glance,— Slander's envenomed ire,— Each fell oppressor of our race is there, Except alone— Despair. Yet, mid the lurid light, As witnessed by that Chaldee monarch old, I see a shining form of seraph might Walking, the noble spirit to uphold, To aid it with affliction's rage to cope,— Serene, celestial Hope. Then faint not thou, nor fail: In patience pass the fiery portal through; Firm be thy spirit, though the flesh is frail j And seel what visions open to thy view: Honour on earth extends her golden prize, And glory in the skies. OUR SCRAP BOOK. " A thing of Shreds and Pathces." POLITICAL BoMBAST.- rWhen Mr. Villiers ( on the night of Mr. Ward's motion for a committee on the taxation of land) read by way of a set- off to the in- culpations of the Anti- corn- law League, the valorous language of the Agricultural Association of East Suffolk, the house of commons laughed. This was proper treatment for the eloquence of Suffolk ; and although it may be convenient, and is perhaps fair as H political ruse, to speak more gravely of the exag- gerations of anti- corn- law orators, we suspect that a majority of the honourable house laugh at them in their sleeves too. Inflated sentiment, fierce denun- ciation, awful allusions to impending convulsions, do not move even the mass of the working classes. The habitual audience of the meetings of the physical- force chartists consisted of those who went for excitement— who would have as soon, or perhaps rather, gone to a tragedy or an execution, if within their reach at the time. The violent language of the orators was sometimes not tile less dangerous ; in seasons of distress it might suggest mischievous undertakings to a sufferingand impatient crowd. But their harangues never could, under any circumstances, forward any practical useful movement. The listeners who went to have their imaginations tickled, were satisfied ; and the more rational hearers shrugged their shoulders and said—" All very fine, too fine for this working- day world." Among the middle classes, imaginative flights of oratory— melodramatic swagger — has still less chance of success. The essence of middle- class thought and feeling is common- place. Romance now and then dawns upon the untaught artisan ; romance is sought by the high- born to relieve the ennui of too comfortable a lot; but the first great lesson inculcated upon the young man of the middle classes is to beware of that ignis faiuus. Steadiness, common sense, regard to the main chance — these are the characteristics which daily, atjmorn and eve, are held out to him as honourable, and con- ductive to success in life. If he be afflicted with a spice of romance, he generally contrives to spend it in his reading— using that recreation as a safety- valve to carry off the superfluous steam, leaving behind the exact quantity required to carry him to the mark in business. Middle- class men may sip a drop of sentiment occasionally, as they do a liqueur; but when business is in hand they pass the cup, and say they must keep their heads clear. Our public men are well aware of this feature in their countrymen's character, and are, therefore, rather pleased than otherwise, when they find the advocates of measures to which they are opposed dealing in fustian declama- tion and bombast circumstance. There is a want of reality in tragical orations, which prevents their moving John Bull to action. The laugh with which the House of Commons heard the magnanimous resolutions of the Suffolk agriculturists, was not provoked only by finding them as bad as the manu- facturers— it was occasioned by a sense of dispropor- tion between the words and the matter. It was a contemptuous declaration that men who spoke in that fashion were not likely to accomplish much. It would be well if some crack orators on the anti- corn- law side would take the hint, and abstain from con- structing their harangues upon Falstaff's principle— " Make mine eyes look red, for I must speak it in King Cambyses' vein."— Spectator. AN UNGAZETTED TRAIT AT GHUZNEE.— While the Afghans were disputing our entrance into the citadel, an incident occurred, which for a moment diverted the attention of the combatants, and turned their fury into pity. Amongst the foremost of the party who signalized themselves by their desperate gallantry, was an aged chieftain, the richness of whose costume excited general attention, his turban and weapons being resplendent with jewels. The hope of plunder immediately marked him out as an object of attack, and numbers at once assailed him. He defended himself like a man who knew there was no chance of life, but who was resolved to sell it as dearly as he could. He had killed several of the queen's royals, and severely wounded Captain Robin- son, when a grenadier of the company to which the latter belonged, seeing his officer in danger, rushed to his assistance, and with a thrust of his bayonet brought the gallant old chieftain to the ground. The grenadier was about to despatch him, when a beauti ful girl, about seventeen, threw herself into the uiel£ e, and plunged a dagger in his breast. She then cast herself on the body of the chieftain, for the pur pose of protecting it; and the Afghans, forming a sort of rampart before them, maintained their ground until the heroic girl succeeded in getting it conveyed into the interior of the citadel. Shortly after the place was taken, she was found weeping over the re mains of the brave old man ; who, on inquiry, we learned was her father. She was treated with the utmost tenderness and respect by our men ; who neither obtruded themselves on her grief, nor offered any interruption to the preparations which she made for his interment.— Taylor's Scenes in Afghanistan. RICHARD COBDEN,— Mr. Cobden's opponents are resolved to " thrust greatness" upon him, for there is certainly no other Member of the Commons' House who occupies so large a measure of public attention at the present moment, after the Premier himself. This is owing primarily, no doubt, to his being identified with the great cause to which he has devoted himself with singleness and earnestness of purpose ; but his rapid rise to his present popularity has not been a little aided by the repeated attempts made to put him down. First, Mr. Ferrand came forth, swearing by all his gods that he would speedily demolish this Manchester Mill- owner; but the noisy braggart was himself prostrated and made to bite the dust. Other hon. Members tried what sneers, and ohs, and other such petty warfare could do, with no success. At length, the Premier put forth all his strength to crush the daring assailant who presumed to remind him of his responsibility; but the unfair blow failed of its purpose. Then Mr. Roebuck treacherously lifted up bis heel Against his friend. We say nothing of the single combat between Mr. Cobden and the Member for Dorsetshire. Then Lord Brougham has given the Champion of the League the benefit of his complimentary vitupera- tion. Lastly, the columns of Times, Post, Herald, and Standard, are filled with elaborate abuse of Mr Cobden. Now is not all this enough to make even a modest man vain, and to gratify even an inordinate ambition ? The Times, reflecting all the vulgar pride of the City folk, attributes to Mr. Cobden the expression of a " fretful querulousness," because the Merchants and Bankers of London would not come to hear his speeches, or subscribe to the repeal fund. The Times speaks as much truth in this respect, as, in the well- remembered line of the Poet, the Monu- ment is said to do. An auditory of 3,000 people collected in Drury- lane Theatre to hear the " hackneyed" Corn- Law question dwelt upon, let the Times rave as it will, proves that the cause has got a firm hold of the public mind, and is rapidly gaining ground. How many Bankers and Merchants did or did not attend last week, we cannot say ; but whft did their alleged refusal to attend denote ? " Not," quoth the Times, " that the Bankers and Merchants are friends to the Sliding- scale. We l- naw that they are, to a man, opposed \ to it: and that, were they polled to - morrow, they would be almost unanimous in their support of a Fixed Duty." We are glad to bear this, though we have only Times's word for it. But how, then, can the " men of commerce" be opposed to the Manchester League ? Why, it seems, the League has one fatal defect : though its cause is undeniably good, it lacks aristocratic leaders! ' Where are the Greys, the Wellesleys, the Stanleys, the Broughams, of the League ? Alas 1 one only sees Thompsons, and Smiths, and B rights, & c." So the secret is out, is it ? The League is not sufficiently aristocratic for Harry Brougham, Mr. Roebuck, and the Times, to unite with it! Faugh I The cause is not genteel enough to engage the patronage of the City folk I Yet, after all, the League has not been without supporters among the " most eloquent and most statesmanlike of the Aristocracy." Mr. Cobden referred, ( in his speech at the recent meeting, to the " virtuous patriotism of the Radnors, the Kinnairds, the Clanricardes, and the Ducies." He ought not to have forgotten to mention another, every inch a nobleman, who has for more than twenty years stood to the Corn- laws,— the upright, independent, and forward almost singly against his order, in opposition patriotic Earl Fitzwilliam. And assuredly, among the most statesmanlike and not the least eloquent of the Aristocracy, we must rank the Earl of Clarendon, whose Brother, in the Commons, so long led the van of Corn- law repealers. The Times sarcastically asks, " Who are the Moores of the League ? What " Twopenny Post bag,' what ' Peter Plymley,' has it produced ?" The subject is too serious, the struggle has become too earnest, for wit, and satire, and poetical trifling. Yet, the Anti- Corn- law movement may claim Moore himself as its poet, for who does not recollect in the " Twopenny Post- bag," " Cotton and Corn," and " the Bread- fruit Tree ?" And who will deny the name of a true- born poet to the Author of '' Corn- law Rhymes?" Or who would rank that clerical droll, Canon Residentiary Sydney Smith, in any of the substantial qualities of racy, vigorous, ar- gumentative, epigrammatic writing, embellished by science and learning, above the accomplished and warm- hearted Col. Thompson ? The remarks of the Times would have been none the less pitiful, had they been borne out by fact; but we have thought it worth while to show that they are as false as they are ridiculous.— Patriot. ALWAYS OPEN YOUR LETTERS.— When Major Hynan was governor of the Scilly Islands, he was so greatly annoyed by post favours from importunate creditors, that he came to the resolution of never opening any letters that bore the London post- mark ; and this decision had nearly been productive of un- pleasant consequences to himself; for one commu- nication remained unnoticed, and even unopened, for a fortnight, though it required his immediate attention. He had applied to be removed to a better govern- ment than that of Scilly. His request had been at- tended to, and the letter in question contained his appointment to the Island of Guernsey. His conster- nation, when be found by the date of the post- mark that it bad remained so long a time unanswered, was excessive ; and though he sent off an express with his reply, that he might get a few hours start of the mail, it arrived only in time to prevent his appoint- ment being cancelled.— Anecdotical Reminiscences. LLOYD'S.—" Lloyd's " is a term of very common use in commercial language ; but, at the same time, one with which few people are acquainted. The following notice respecting it is to be found in Waterson's Cyclopaedia of Commerce :—" Lloyd's, the name of a subscription coffee- house in London, celebrated on account of its being the office of the society of underwriters. Few or none of the com- mercial institutions of Britain have excited in a higher degree the admiration of intelligent foreigners. ' The establishment of insurances at Lloyd's,' says Dupin, ' has rendered signal services both to the commerce of the British empire and to that of ether states. The society has agents in most of the principal ports in the world; makes public the events, both commercial and maritime, which it learns through their means : these accounts are received by the public with a confidence which nothing for inorethan a century has tended to destroy.' ' At Lloyd's,' says Von Raumer, ' close to the dial which tells the hour, is one still more interesting here, which tells the direction of the wind, and is connected with the weathercock on the roof. Intelligence of the arrivals and departures of ships— of the existence and fate of vessels in all parts of the world— reports from consuls and commissioners resident in every foreign town— newspapers and gazettes from every country, are here to be found, arranged in such perfect and convenient order, that the entire actual state of the commercial woild may be seen in a few minutes, and any of the countless threads that converge to this centre may be followed out with more or less minuteness. The whole earth, or the whole commercial machinery of the earth, appeared to me to be placed in the hands of the directors of Lloyd's coffee- house.' " Among the list of petitions for private bills presented to the house of commons, appears a petition for • bill for the " Aerial Transit " Company. HALIFAX:— Printed and Sold, for the Proprietors, at the Conetal Printing Office of H. Martin, Upper George Yardh,
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