ALIPAX APRIL 22, 1843. FBEE PRESS. XXXIY. Price One Penny. And now the time in special is, by privilege, to write and speak what may help to the f urther discussing of matters in agitation. The Temple of Janus, with his tw0 controversal faces, might now not 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 ivorse, in a free and open encounter. Her confuting is the best and surest suppressing.— MILTON'S AREOPAGITICA. ADVERTISEMENTS. YORKSHIRE UNION OF MECHANICS' INSTITUTES. The SIXTH. ANNUAL MEETING of this Society will be held in the OLD ASSEMBLY ROOM, Halifax, on Wednesday next, April 26th, 1843. CHARLES WOOD, Esq. M. P., in the Chair. The MEETING or DELEGATES, at which the business is transacted, and at which several able advocates of Popular Education are expected to attend,' will take place at Twelve c'Clock at Noon. Members of the Halifax Institution may be present at this meeting. DINNER will be provided for the Delegates and others, at the Talbot, at Three o'clock; price 2s. 6d. An EVENING MEETING will take place in the Old Assembly Room, at Seven o'clock, at which CHARLES WOOD, Esq. M. P- will preside/ and which will be open to all the members and friends of Mechanics'Institutes, and the friends of Popular Education. The meeting wi'. l be addressed by some of the Delegates, and other distinguished advocates of the general diffusion of Knowledge. THE EDUCATIONAL CLAUSES OF THE FACTORY BILL# At a public meeting of the Inhabitants of the Town of Halifax, convened by the Constables, in compliance with a numerously and respectably signed requisition, " to consider the propriety of presenting a Petition to the House of Com- mons, against the Educational Clauses contained in a Bil intituled • a Bill for Regulating the Employment of Children and Young Persons in Factories, and for the better Educa- tion of Children in Factory Districts;"' and held on WED- NESDAY, the 19th of April, in the OLD ASSEMBLY ROOM; JOSEPH THORP, Esq., in the Chair; It was Resolved,— I. That, while deeply impressed with the value of educa- tion, and with the belief that a more general diffusion of knowledge among the great masses of our people would be the best security for virtue and freedom ; yet it is the deliberate conviction of this meeting, that any system of education which, being supported wholly or in part at the public expense, gives precedency to any sect or party, is in- consistent with the spirit of the Gospel, and at variance with the principles of the British constitution. Moved by the Rev. A. EWING, M. A.; and seconded by Mr. W. HATTON. II. That it appears to this meeting that the compulsory educational clauses of the Factory Bill now before Parlia- ment, with the all but exclusive control of the Clergy in the constitution of the Board, their absolute direction of the religious instruction imparted, and the irresponsible levy of rates for the erection and maintenance of the schools, do give to the Established Church an undue precedency, and therefore involve such violations of equity as to be utterly repugnant ro the spirit of true freedom, and adverse to the rights of British citizens. Moved by the Rev. S. WHITEWOOD; seconded by Mr. JAMES HOATSON; and supported by Mr. Jos. COCKIN. III. That a Petition to the House trf Commons, founded upon the foregoing resolutions, be prepared for signature, and forwarded to Charles Wood, Esq. M. P. for presentation; and that Edward Protheroe, Esq. M P., the Honourable John Stuart Wortley, M. P., and Edmund Beckett Denison, Esq. M. P. be requested to support the same. Moved by the Rev. J. H. ROBINSON; seconded by R. KER- SHAW LUMB, Esq.; and supported by the Rev. P. HARDCASTLE. IV. That a Committee be appointed to watch the progress of the Bill, and to take such farther steps as may be necessary for effectual Opposition to its passing into a Law ; and that the following Gentlemen form the Committee, with power to add to their number, namely, Mr. Thorp, Mr. Kershaw Lumb, Mr. Wavell, Mr. Hoatson, Mr. John Walker, and Mr. John Ramsden. Moved by the Rev. W. TURNER, M. A.; and seconded by the Rev. J. PRIDIB. V. That these Resolutions be advertised in the Patriot, the Watchman, the Leeds Mercury, the Halifax Guardian, and the Halifax Free Press. Moved by the Rev. W. GLEDHILL; and seconded by Mr. T, MOORHOUSE. JOSEPH THORP, Chairman. " VI. That the thanks of this meeting be given to Mr. Thorp, for his able and impartial conduct in the chair. Moved by Mr. H. MARTIN; seconded by the Rev. J. M, OBERY, M. A.; and supported by Mr. CROSSLAND. Cassini calculated the heat of the comet seen in 1702, as 2,000 times greater than red- hot- iron. From 1800 to 1815, the British fleets captured from the French sixty- three ships of the line, eighty- two frigates, and seventeen corvettes. It appears, from a statistical return of the number of druggists in Belgium, that, in the province of Antwerp, there are 132 rural communes without a druggist; in that of Brabant, 300 ; Hainault, 344; Liege, 282 ; Limburg, 185; and Namur, 315. In Luxemburg, only one commune has a druggist ; and in the Two Flanders there is not one. 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. to 16*.; the Rich French Velvet- Naps, on 5stuff Bodies, from 10s. to 15s.; Gossamer, and other Hats equally cheap. 25, Crown Street, Halifax, opposite the Upper George Inn* It was stated lately in the Insolvent Debtors' Court by a hair- dresser in Regent- street, that his insolvency was attributed to the change of fashions in ladies' hair. The ringlets ( he said) were the most profitable, and the plain bands introduced by her majesty were the ruin of hair dressers. La Revue des Economistes states that, since 1815, the quantity of wheat imported annually into France amounts, on an average, to 800,000 hectolitres, being about one- seventieth of the aunual consumption of the entire population of France. COURT OF CHANCERY.— A correspondent of the Times says, that there are between .£ 40,000,000 and .£ 50,000,000 in the name of the Accountant- General of the Court, a considerable portion of which is kept from the starving and suffering suitors by the want of progress in the master's office. THE FRENCH ARMY— The* effective force of^ the French array— which, in 1841, amounted to 493,741 men, and 110,995 horses— was reduced last year to 433,670 men, and 97,448 horses ; and, by the budget of the present year, it is proposed to reduce the army further to 344,000 men, and 84,288 horses. The troops to be employed in Algeria are set out at 60,000 men, and 13,896 horses. BASIN or THE MISSISSIPPI.— The hydrographica! basin of the Mississippi displays, on the grandest scale, the action of running water on the surface of a vast continent. This magnificent river rises nearly in the 49th parallel of north latitude, and flows to the Gulf of Mexico in the 29th— a course, including its meanders, of nearly five thousand iniles. It passes from a cold arctic climate, traverses the temperate regions, and discharges its waters into the sea in the region of the olive, the tig, and the sugar cane.-— Lyell's Geology. CHINESE KITE- FLYING.— Of out- door amusements' the most popular is kite- flying. In this the Chinese excel. They show their superiority as well in the curious construction of their kites, as in the height to which they make them mount. By means of round holes, supplied with vibrating cords, their kites are made to produce a loud humming noise like that of a top. The ninth day of the ninth month is a holyday especially devoted to this national pas- time, on which day numbers may be seen repairing to the hills for the purpose of kite- flying, and after amusing themselves, they let them fly wherever the wind may carry them, and give their kites and cares at once to the wind.— Ten Thousand Things relating to China. CLEVER BOOK- KEEPING.— In the books of an in- solvent, in a city of North Brtain, were found the following entries descriptive of customers whose names the shopkeeper did not know :— Woman on the key. Jew woman. Coal woman. Old coal woman. Fat coal woman. Market woman. Pale woman. A man. Old woman. Little milk girl. Candle man. Stable man. Coachman. Big woman. Lame woman. Quiet woman. Egg man. Little black girl. Old watchman. Shoemaker. Little shoemaker. Short shoemaker. Old shoemaker. Little girl. Jew man. Mrs in the cart. Old Irish- woman. Woman in Corn- street. A lad. Man in the country. Long Sal. Woman with long Sal. Mrs. Irishwoman. Mrs. Feather bonnet. Blue bonnet. Green bonnet. Green coat. Blue breeches. Big breeches. The woman that was married. The woman that told me of the man. ; RECLAIMING " DISSENTERS. The Rev. Thomas Spencer, Perpetual Curate of Hinton, near Bath, has published a pamphlet, entitled " Observations on the School Return for the Diocese of Bath and Wells, showing the uncharitable nature and Puseyite tendency of some of the Questions contaiued therein," in the course of which occurs the subjoined passage : — ON RECLAIMING DISSENTERS.— Under the head of Statistics, there are the following questions :— 4. Have the Dissenters any schools ? 5. If so, how many children are educated in them ? 6. Are there any means of reclaiming such young persons ? I hope that it is not expected of the clergy to become spies upon the concerns of other denominations. Our office is to instruct sueh as are willing to listen to us, rather than to ascertain the comparative strength or weakness of dissenting communities. In this parish the word schism, or dissent, is seldom used or thought of. The only place of worship, besides the parish church, is the chapel of the Wesleyan Method- ists ; and as my services are in the morning and afternoon, and theirs in the evening, they never clash, but the meeting- house is, as it were, a chspel- of- ease to the parish church. I am not aware that there is any feeling of hostility, or any idea of rivalry or competition, but both places are devoted to the instruction of those who are willing to go. As a proof of the unity of spirit which exists, I need pnly mention that our parish clerk, who is a worthy and intelligent man, and a sincere Christian, is also the steward and class- leader of the Wesleyan chapel, and the master of our daily and Sunday school ; and I am told that some of the church singers sing also at the chapel, and that some of those who attend the church during the day, are at the chapel in the even- ing, in addition to some who cannot go out during the day. Neither shall I do any thing to prevent it, So long as I have reason to believe that they preach the Gospel, and take the sacred Scriptures as their guide, I shall regard them as fellow- workers, rather than as enemies. The disciples of Christ, in their ignorance, were ready to forbid those who were doing good in their Master's name, because they followed not them; but the enlarged spirit of their Master rose infinitely above such narrow views, and He said, " Forbid them not, for he that > s not against us is on our part." In like manner, the great Apostle of the Gentiles, with a like noble liberality, said, " Some indeed preach Christ, even of envy and strife ; and some also of good will; the one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds ; but the other of love, knowing that I am set fur the defence of the gospel. What then ? Notwithstanding, every way, vvhether in pretence or in truth, Christ is preached, and J therein do rejoice, yea and will rejoice." Phil, i, 1,5- 18. I cannot but express my surprise at the use of the word reclaim, as applied to Dissenters. The logic of that learned Dissenter, Dr. Watts, has long been used by students of the University of Oxford ; and his admirable hymns for infant minds have been adopted in most schools for children. The sermons of another learned Dissenter, Dr. Doddridge, on the evidences of religion, formed a part of our studies at St. John's College, Cambridge, at the time that , I was an under- graduate. The writings of Dr. PYE Smith, and many other Dissenting ministers of, the present or past generation, have been spoken of iqt terms of high esteem by the most excellent of the clergy, who have been glad to derive benefit from their talents, piety, and laborious researches; an< J 133 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. shall we speak of reclaiming all young persons who place themselves under the instructions of such men ? The most eloquent preacher, in all probability, that the world ever saw, was the late Robert Hall, Baptist minister, of Bristol. I recollect hearing him preach at Bristol about twenty years ago, at which time it was necessary to, go an hour before the service commenced, in order to make sure of a seat; and on one of these week- day services I counted in the chapel no less than nine clergymen of the Esta- blished Church; and amongst them I saw a high- church clergyman, whose father was an archdeacon. Being in his company some time afterwards, I said, " I was surprised to see you at a Dissenting chapel tbe other night." To which he replied, *' I consider Robert Hall a phenomenon, and when the Almighty steps out of his way to make a man, I will go out of my way to see him." About the same time one of our bishops was heard to express his astonishment that a clergyman to whom he was speaking had been so deficient in taste as not to avail himself of the op- portunity of hearing that great preacher. And yet, according to this school, re turn, we must regard all children who are undei; the teaching of. such a man as in a condition so deplorable as to demand our best efforts to reclaim them. Suppose a parish in which there was a drinking, hunting, horse- racing, card- playing clergyman, who had bought or been pre- sented to the living, who was determined to make the mpst of his tithes and fees, and to expect all bis rights, but who cared not for the people; and suppose that in tiie same parish there lived an excellent minister of the Independent, Baptist, or Wesleyan denomination, whose life was in accordance with the precepts of Christianity, and whose unwearied efforts to do good amongst the grown- up people and their children displayed the spirit of power, and of love, and of a sound mind— shall I try to reclaim those who have placed themselves under the pastoral care of such a man, in order to lead them into the fold of him who is a hireling, and careth not for the sheep ? The Bishop of Bath and Wells is now, by extreme age, prevented from attending to the affairs of his diocese, or I am persuaded that these questions would not have been sent to the clergy of this county. During the sixteen years that I have been here, I have never heard him speak with unkindness or dis- respect of the Dissenters ; on the contrary, it is known to many that he has expressed his high esteem for Mr. Jay, the beloved and revered Independent minister of Bath. Instead of wasting all our time in finding out the children of Dissenters, and our energies in reclaiming tljem from Dissenting schools, would it not be more profitable, under the head of Statistics, to ascertain how many persons attend the public- houses, the gin shops, and the beer shops ?— how many children are bfought up in the habit of drinking and smoking ? how many spend their time in idleness, swearing, lying, and stealing ? and then to ask how we cau reclaim them i Instead of drawing away those who are already receiving as good an education as any national school can give, would it not be better to ask how many children are receiving no education at all ? — how many are brought up in a workhouse, where they will inevitably imbibe the feelings of helpless pauperism, which will remain with them all their days ?— how many are destitute of shoes and stock- ings, or of fit clothing to attend a place of worship on the Sabbath, or a school during the week ?— how many of these miserable beings are in this condition through the idleness or drunkenness of their parents ? and how many through hard times, want of employ- ment, and low wages ? And if the intemperance and improvidence of the parents be the cause, would it not be well to try to reclaim them, by advising them to join a temperance society, and to encourage them to do so by practising total abstinence ? And if it be want of trade and employment, and consequently want of wages, would it not be well to reclaim the wretches from their rags and misery, by discovering and removing the cause of their poverty ; and to call public attention to those oppressive laws which, for the supposed benefit of the landowners— the privileged dealers in provisions— restrict our trade, keep up the price of food, and keep down the wages of labour ? perty under tbe direction of the committee, and re- gulated hereafter as occasion may require. * 32nd.— That all woods, waters, water courses, quarries of every material, mines, and minerals, shall be freely and fully enjoyed by and wholly the property of the proprietor in whose lands they may be included. 33rd.— That all forms of religion be equally re- spected and accommodated as regards property, and their ministers supported in such manner as their re- spective congregations approve. 31th.— That all cases of difference or dispute be settled by arbitration, in order to preserve the har- mony and unanimity of the society, and that the Cpmmittee or council ( whichever name the acting body are known by hereafter) be considered standing arbitrators, to whom all such cases shall be referred, or to whom they shall appoint. 35t. h.— In case of an original proprietor, his heirs or assigns, disposing of the whole of his allotment, the beneficial right in the township and town funds shall be in the purchaser, provided he buy the whole allot- ment— but if it be sold in parcels the said right shall be adjudicated amongst the respective purchasers by the committee or their successors jointly with the trustees of the township lands, by a majority of at least two thirds in number and value. 36th.— That each member pay threepence per month for every ten acre lot subscribed for, towards the expenses of sending out persons to select and pur- chase the land, surveying, dividing, and other inci- dental expenses, until the whole be completed, and the full amount of said expenses discharged . 3" th.— That persons wishing to retire from this society, f be allowed to dispose of their lots to any other person, with the consent of the committee ; the purchaser thereof making good all arrears, if any, or to be liable to the same in like manner as the original proprietor would have been. 38th.— That if any lot or lots of land remain two years unclaimed, or unoccupied, after the adjudication or apportioning of the same, they shall be forfeited and merge in the general property,, because this is not a scheme or speculation of profit by purchasing land with a view of gain bv the improvements of others, but as a means of bettering the condition of the industrious, by mutual simultaneous exertion. 39th.— That none but persons of known good re- putation, and of sober and industrious habits, be en- couraged to join this society; this is essential. 40th.— That although some of these rules are cal- culated for the future, or advanced state of the as- sociation, yet as they show a provision for the same, it is resolved that they stand as part of the code- subject nevertheless to revision- rimprovement, or even rescinding according to future circumstances, at any general meeting of the proprietary called far the purpose— of which meeting a full month's public notice shall be given to the said proprietary previous to discussing the subject— and that no rule shall be dispensed with, or become binding, but by the autho- rity of meetings so constituted or called together. 41st.— Persons residing in any part of the country may form societies on these rules, and transmit their subscriptions monthly, to the Halifax Joint Stock Bank, Waterhouse Street, Halifax, and for copies of rules, and, any other information connected with the society, application may be made to any of the fol- lowing gentlemen, and if by letter post paid, inclo- sing 3 penny postage stamps. Mr. Pitkethley, Merchant, Buxton road, Hud- dersfield. Mr. Jabez Todd, grocer, Upperhead Row, Hud- dersfield. Mr. Joseph Nicholson, Printer, Grove- street, Halifax. Mr. William Haigh, Gent. Wade- street, Halifax. Mr. Thomas Bewley, Gent. Setuiurthy, near Cockermoutb. Mr. Elijah Crabtree, Agent, Broad- street, Halifax. the money which brother George is so good as to say he will advance to pay for our land we shall for ever be obliged to him for ; it has set our minds at rest on a subject of such importance, and it must be paid for in cash, and, there is none to be got for labour here; we are nine in family ; Thomas being unable to work from his hand which he has long complained of, it is much better from stronger; EMIGRATION. Mules 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. ( Concludedfrom our last.) 31st,— That » public saw and grist mill he at the earliest opportunity proceeded with, ai public pro- ease and care, and getting Elizabeth came home ill in a fever, caught of her mistress, an excellent woman, an American ; their doctor attends her, and she is getting better, and will soon I hope be able to go back ; we have all thank God had. good health, besides ; though Richard had the misfortune a month ago, to cut his arm se- verely by stumbling over a stone in the snow with his axe in his hand, he was a mile from home, and thought he should have bled to death before he got there, he was cutting wood on government land, which people are alloyed to do on that unsold ; the first settlers in this neighbourhood are selling their land for treble what they gave for it, and buying more ; it is expected there will be a great demand for it next summer, as many people have wrote to their friends in England to come here ; I have not yet heard any person regret coming, we have had snow on the ground since the 5th of November, knee deep upon a level, the weather is sometimes colder here than in Eng- land, but clear and frosty, no hoar frost or fogs, and the snow is so hard that they travel upon it. with sledges better than when tbe ground was clear'; we all bear the climate very well, wrap up well and. keep, good fires- night and day, make up, a large log- fire at bed- time, and we have it to get up to. We shall be very glad when our money arrives, as. we have not got stock to trade with yet; tile cow we have to calve soon is one Thomas got for bis labour at the brick- yard ; it will be some time before we ars able to grow our own corn, potatoes we shall manage, they are 2s. a bushel now ; the farmers kill tlieir own beef at this season, and sell to their neighbours what they can spare,— the first settlers come 30 and 40 miles with sledge loads of provisions, of all kinds ; they give credit to receive payment in cash, which they have not often the offer of; we have dealt with them, and everybody here ab" uts gets what they want of them.; — two more stores are opened in Rochester, make groceries and every thing cheaper ;— Thomas worked for bricks. to build our chimney and our oven ; they; cost nine dollars ; besides, we have fourteen to pay for deals for our house, floors, and roof; Richard has made some chairs and tables, and stools and closets this winter when he could not get work out;— there is an Iron foundry begun at Rochester, and they are going to erect a Cloth Mill in the, spring. Black- smith's work is very dear, we paid 6s. for mending a spade; Henry's and Robert's boots cost 3 dollars a pair, women's shoes cost 12s. I: wou! d have wrote to my dear child and sisters, but we have to pay 2s. with a leMer which I could not . afford at present; please to give my kindest love to all friends and my brothers, I often think of you all with tears, yet I do not repine. I hope in a year or two we shall be comfortable, please the Almighty we all keep well, all is for the best; the boys are felling wood on government land for building and fencing, we have a pair of oxen to- lead the wood home, which we are keeping for their meat; it takes 3 pair for a plough, and 6 in some places, to break up With,— there is a farmer near us has seventy head of stock, we get our oxen of him, he proposes letting them to new settlers ( that is, 3 years old) for 3 years, when they will be worth 50 or 60 dollars. There has been a deal. of visiting amongst the English about us, they have a band of music: amongst them and always have a dance, they are alt teetotalers, Americans and all; I wish my Father would send me a newspa- cr sometimes, I will send him one of ours. I conclude my beloved parents with all our kind love to you, and am Your affectionate Daughter, MARY BROWNE. LETTER FROM AN EMIGRANT. Rochester, Wisconsin, Jan. 1st 1843. My Dear Mother, I received yonr welcome let- ter the 21st. November, along with the one from the bank at New York, inclosing a draft bill for Richard to sign and return to them previous to their sending the money ; we have not received it yet as the letters have to go 1800 miles by land to New York, takes five weeks, yours being a double one costs us a dollar * It will behove the parties making the contract with the Government Agent to attend to the subject imttter of this rule, as they cannot give a perfect Title unless they them selves possess it. t Before they have fully paid up their subscriptions, ol have received their Title Deeds; for after, completing their put chase, it is evident they may dispose of their property as they please. The following is an extract from J.' S. Bucking- ham's Eastern and Western States of America, Vol. 3rd. page 240. In about an hour's drive, we reached a small cluster of bouses, dignified by the name of Lisbon— far nothing short of the names of the metropolitan cities of the old world, will satisfy the ambition of the set- tlers in the new— where we found our fellow passen- gers, in bed, and, rousing them up, we partook here of a wretched breakfast, at the early hour of 5 o'clock^ after such imperfect washing and brushing as the rude and ill- provided cabin of these settlers would admit. The proprietor of this farm- house had 600 acres of his own under tillage, in Indian corn, rye, and wheat, and all wearing a most flourishing aspect, yet every thing about the dwelling was as destitute of comfort as if he were a poor labourer at a dollar a 134 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. day, instead of a wealthy farmer, adding to his pur- chases of land every year. On inquiry of the landlord, I learnt lhat he had bought his prairie land four years since, at the govern- ment price of a dollar and a quarter an acre, and that he had begun with only 100 acres ; he had made profit enough in the first year to buy an additional 100 acres in the second ; and had now, by progressive additions from year to year, augmented his possessions to 800 acres of good land, though only 600 were ac- tually under tillage. He had begun With Indian corn, which yielded in the first year about 80, and in the second more than 10( 1 bushels per acre. Wheat fol. lowed, yielding from 30 to 35 bushels per acre. Buck- wheat, rye, bin- lev, hemp, flax, oats, turnips, and potatoes, all grow well, and yield abundantly, profitably varying the produce of the farm ; while for cattle, there are no pastures richer than those of the prairies ; and cows and oxen turned out upon the plains, become as thoroughly fattened in a few months as if they were stall- fed on the best grain. Not only is the wheat abundant in quantity, but everywhere it is admitted that the wheat of the prairie lands in Illi- nois and Missouri is of superior quality, that is more highly esteemed, and brings a higher price in the Eastern States than the wheat of other quarters. It is said that 60lbs. is about the standard weight of a bushel of wheat, in the A'lantic States ; and 631bs. is the highest of any yet produced there. In Ohio it has been known to attain to 641bs and in Kentucky to 66lbs ; but in the prairie lands of Illinois, it often weighs 68ibs, and is, at the same time, of the finest whiteness in colour, and highly nutritious in quality. With all these advantages of healthfulness, economy, and productiveness, I should consider the prairie lands, and especially those within reach of timber and water, of which there are many millions of acres yet unappropriated, to be by fur the most advantageous tor the settlement of farmers emigrating from Eu- rope ; and I cannot doubt that before many years are over, these magnificent plains will be the abode of a greatly increased population. If the legislators of England could but be prevailed upon to remove all restrictions on the importation of food for the half- nourished population of the labouring classes of Eng - land, these prairies of tbe West might be made to yield, in a year or two at the utmost, food for mil- lions ; anil as the growers of grain, and feeders of cattle, which might here be raised, would be as much iu want of British manufactures of almost every kind, as our hungry artisans are of tbe necessary supply of food, the interchange of their respective productions would not fail to be mutually beneficial; while such interchange, which it is entirely in the power of the British Legislature at once to admit, would do more than anything that could be devised or practised to relieve the distresses of tbe working classes in Eng- land, to revive the activity of commerce, give fair profit to capital, and even enrich tbe agriculturists themselves, by their share in tbe general welfare aud prosperity. HINTS TO EMIGRANTS. Emigrants proceeding from England to the Western States of America have the choice of several routes. Vessels are frequently sailing from Liverpool and other ports to New York, Philadelphia, New Orleans, & c. The charges for passage vary considerably, ac- cording to the' accommodations afforded and other circumstances : they are generally lowest in February and March, and increase as tbe season advances. It is usual to charge for children under 14, half- price ; under 7, one third; and no charge for children under twelvemonths. To New York and Philadelphia, " by fine first- class American ships, of large tonnage," £ 3 is the charge at present ( March 16) But on some occasions, and especially from the Irish ports, as low a sum as £ 1 10s. has been paid. From New York the most eligible route is up tbe Hudson, by steamer, to Albany, 160 miles; thence, by the Erie canal, to Buffalo, 363 miles ; and forward, by lake steamers, to Ohio, Michigan, or Illinois. The expenses from New Y'ork to Detriot ( Michigan) by this route are about £ 3, exclusive of provisions. To New Orleans, the fares are generally somewhat higher— from £ A - to £ 5 ; and by steamer, up tbe Mississippi, to St. Louis, 1181 miles, £ 1 14s.; ex- clusive of provisions. But numbers have recently embarked at Liverpool, under peculiar circumstances, when the whole expenses of the voyage, including ten weeks' provisions and water, are stated to have amounted only to t'. i 15s. or £ 4 for each adult; and from New Orleans, tbe passage up the Mississippi, 1500 miles, to a place in Illinois, was only 15s. each, with luggage free. This is doubtless an unusually low rate of Charges ; but supposing the expenses con- siderably higher, the route by New Orleans presents many advantages ; one of the most important of which is, that there is but one transfer of luggage— from the vessel which conveys the passenger across the Atlantic to the steamer which carries liiin to his new home in Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, or Ohio, as the case may be. On accountof the intense heat and sickliness of the climate of New Orleans, this route ought not to be attempted by English emigrants between the months of March and September. When the emigrant provides his own provisions, he ought to lay in a stock sufficient for at least 50 days' consumption, much of which he may obtain on most advantageous terms from the bonded ware- bouses— in fact, at the low prices at which the articles would be furnished to our starving popula- tion were there no corn or provision laws. The best months for leaving England, for persons having small means, are Februaryland March : not only are the expenses then lowest, but employment will always be found most plentiful at that season, and the poorest emigrants, by industry and frugality, may provide both necessaiies and comforts before the commencement of winter. Persons taking sums of money would do well to procure, from some respectable bank or merchant, an order to the amount, payable by a party at New Y'ork or other place at which they may land. Let such persons also avoid hasty purchases, especially when great bargains are offered by designing in- dividuals who are apt to flock around newly- arriVed emigrants. They should take time to look about them, to become acquainted witli the real value of land and other property, and thoroughly to under- stand the currency before they engage in any pecuni- ary transactions. Attention to this advice is impor- tant, as gross deception is not unfrequently practised upon the ignorant. For the working man, who wishes to find the best market for his labour, there is another view of the subject. He is anxious to know, not so much the number of shillings be can earn, as the quantity of the necessaries of life he can obtain in exchange for his labour. Let English workmen examine the following cases. A Lancashire weaver's daily earnings are Is. 4d., which will purchase 7 lbs. bread flour, or 2J lbs. butcher's meat. A common labourer has 2s. a day, which is equivalent to 11 lbs. flour, or lbs. butcher's meat. At New York, wages are 4s. 6d. to 8s. per day ;— average, 6s. 3d. Best beef 2^ 1. per lb.; superfine wheat flour, l!) s. 8d. per barrel of 196 lbs. The workman consequently earns daily 60 lbs. flour, or 30 lbs. butcher's meat. At Philadelphia, wages 3s. 2d. to 4s. 6d. per day ; at farm work in tbe country the labourer receives from £ 1 16' s. to £ 2 14s. per month, besides board and lodging. An attentive bandy servant girl is readily engaged at 4s. 6d. per week and her board. Supposing the labourer's daily earnings are 3s. 6d. only, for this be may have 33 lbs. of flour, or 12 lbs. best beef. At Cincinnati, Ohio, wages of skilled labourers range from 3s. 6d to 9s. a day. Flour is here 9s. per 112 lbs ; mutton 2d. per lb.; hams, 2| d. Supposing the average rate of wages to be 6s., tbe workman may purchase with his day's earnings 72 lbs, flour, or 36 lbs. butcher's meal. OUR CHATTER BOX. TABLE or MORTALITY.— The following table shows the proportion of deaths that occurred during 1842, in London, and in each of the under mentioned manufacturing towns : — Deaths per ann. Population by the in every 1,000 of Towns. Census of 1841. the population. London 1,870,727 24 Hudderstield.. *... 107,140 ........ 19 Halifax... 99,175 21 Wigan 66,032 24 Stockport 85,672 24 Rochdale 60,577 25 Bradford 132,164 25 Bury 77,496 25 Birmingham 138,187 26 Derby 35,015 26 Freston 77,189 27 Nottingham 53,080 27 Walsall 34,274 ........ 27 Leeds 168,667 27 Sal ford 70,228 28 Leicester 50,932 29 Coventry 31,028 29 Wolverhampton .. 80,722 29 Manchester 192,408 32 Liverpool 223,054 33 Macclesfield 56,018 34 The orange and lemon are among the European trees of the slowest growth and greatest age. It is stated that the orange tree in the convent of Santa Sabina, at Rome, was planted by St. Dominic in 1200, and that of Foudi, by St. Thomas Aquinas, in 1278. Tbe fourth chapter of " The Nine Wishes" is post- poned, to make room for articles of more pressing importance. GOOD FRIDAY.— NON. CON. writes to us as follows :—" Allow me to ask you if it is not singular for yon to alter your day of publication on account of Good Friday; or rather, is it consistent for an avowed Non. Con. so far to yield to a day of man's institution?" Our answer is, that we did not yield to the day as a religious festival, but as a general holiday, when many of our subscribers would not have been at home, had we sent to them. " Love and the Butterfly," from the French, shall be inserted. POETRY. SELECTED. GRACfc DARLING. BY WILLIAM WORDSWORTH, KSQ. Among the dwellers in the silent fields The natural heart is touched, and public way And crowded street resound with bailad strains. Inspired by ONK whose very name bespeaks Favour divine, exalting human love; Whom, since her birth on bleak Norihumbria's coast, Known unto fe w, but prized as far as known, A single act endears to high and low Through the whole land— to manhood, moved in spitej Of the world's freezing cares— to generous youth— To infancy, that lisps her praise— and age. Whose eye reflects it, glistening through a tear Of tremulous admiration. Such true fame Awaits her now; but, verily, good deeds Do no imperishable record find Save in the rJlls of heaven, where hers may live, A theme for angels, when they celebrate The high- souled virtues which forgetful earth Has witnessed. Oh ! that winds and waves could speak Of things which their united power called forth From the pure depths of her humanity ! A maiden gentle, yet, at duty's call,, firm and unflinching as the Lighthouse reared On the island- rock, her lonely d welling- place; Or like the invincible Rock itself, that braves, Age after age, the hostile elements, As when it guarded holy Cuthbert's cell. All night the storm had raged, nor ceased, nor paused* When, as day broke, the maid, through misty air, Espies, far off, a wreck, amid the surf, Beating on one of those disastrous isles— Half of a vessel, half— no more; the rest Had vanished, swallowed up with all that there Had for the common safety striven in vain, Or thither thronged for refuge. With qnick glance Daughter and sire, through optic- glass, discern, Clinging about the remnant of this ship, Creatures— how precious in the maiden's sight!. For whom, belike, the old man grieves still moire Than for their fellow- sufferers engulfed Where every parting agony is hushed, And hope and fear mix not in further strife. " But courage, father! let us out to sea— A few may yet be saved." The daughter's words. Her earnest tone, and look beaming with faith, Dispel the father's doubts; nor do they lack The noble- minded mother's helping hand To launch the boat; and with her blessing cheered* And inwardly sustained by silent prayer, Together they put forth, father and child! Each grasps an oar, and struggling, on they go- Rivals in effort; and, alike intent Here to elude and there surmount, they watch The billows lengthening, mutually crossed And shattered, and re- gathering theirimight; As if the wrath and trouble of the sea Were by the Almighty's sufferance prolonged, That woman's fortitude— so tried, so proved— Ma^ brighten more and more! True to the mark, They stem the current of that perilous gorge, Their arms still strengthening with the strengthening heart. Though danger, as the wreck is near'd, becomes More imminent. Not unseen do they approach ; And rapture, with varieties of fear Incessantly conflicting, thrills the frames Of those who, in that dauntless energy, Foretaste deliverance; but tbe least perturbed Can .- carcely trust his eyes, when he perceives That of the pair— tossed on the waves to bring Hope to the hopeless, to the dying, life- One is a woman, a poor earthly sister. Or, be the visitant other than she seems, A guardian'spirit sent from pitying Heaven, In woman's shape. But why prolong the tale. Casting weak words amid a host of thoughts Armed to repel them ? Every hazard faced And difficulty mastered, with resolve That no one breathing should be left to perish. This last remainder of the crew are all Placed in the little boat, then o'er the deep. Are safely borne, landed upon the beach, And. in fulfilment of God's mercy, lodged Within the sheltering lighthouse.— Shout,, ye wavss t Pipe a glad song of triumph, ye fierce winds ! Ye screaming sea- mews, in the concert join! And would that some immortal voice, a voice Fitly attuned to all that gratitude Breathes out from floor or couch, through pallid lip* Of the survivors, to the clouds hnightbe r— ( Blended with praise of teat parental love, Beneath whose watchful eye the maiden grew Pious and pure, modest and yet so brave, Though young so wise, though meek so resolute,) Might cavlry to the clouds and to the Htars* Yea, to celestial choir's, Grace Darling's name 2 4 THE HALIFAX FREE PRESS. THE FREE PRESS. THE " GUARDIAN" AND EDUCATION. Quis custodiet ipsos custudes ? " Who shall be the guardian of the guardians?" was the apposite inquiry of the Roman poet ; and it may well be applied, in the present day, to certain parties not tar from our own locality. " Who shall teacli the teachers?" is not now an inappropriate question ; for assuredly those who make so much fuss about the lamentable ignorance of the factory children, have not proved themselves so well taught as to need no farther instruction. Is the Halifax Guardian, then, well qualified for its assumed office of a public teacher ? Let us see. Of its moral character,— its regard for truth,— its love of fair dealing,— its anxiety to follow the golden rule of doing unto others as we would they should do unto us, we shall not now speak. These are matters of sufficient notoriety, and call for no remark from us. Our present investigation embraces other points,— 1 namely, the scientific attainments and literary elegancies of our contemporary. Of its exalted qualifications for imparting instruction of a scientific character, we shall adduce but one proof, which is, however, abundantly satisfactory. We refer to the many columns of what some malicious persons may feel inclined to call impertinent twaddle, but what we must term deep scientific research, which it has, of late, devoted to that dreamy illusion,— the newest importation from the re- gions of humbug, phreno- mesinerism. The public writer who has given such a practical testimonial of his extensive acquaintance with the secrets of physical science, ought im- mediately to be dubbed an F. R. S., in the schoolboy interpretation of those cabalistic signs,— a Fellow Remarkably Stupid. Of the literary elegancies of our erudite and polite contemporary, we shall now say a few words. In point of respect for the numskull of poor Priscian, it stands deservedly high. One example we noticed, incidentally, in our last number ; and we shall here adduce a few similar illustrations of the truth of the poet's assertion, that " a little knowledge is a dangerous thing," even in the rules of grammar. A writer should " drink deep, or taste not;" and our contem- porary has done neither. We proceed, how- ever, to our examples. Taking up the Guardian that bears the very suitable date of the fnst of April, we meet with the following sentence, and have printed in italics the beauties to which we desire to call the admiring attention of our readers :—" Can it be pretended, for a moment, that Sunday Schools either have, or ever will, effect that great moral and religious change which the deplorable ignorance and crime around us so imperatively demands?" For the latter of these elegancies we think we can see an ex- planation in the fact that, ignorance being, in the eyes of certain parties, a crime, the two terms may have been used as synonvmes, and the singular verb employed to denote their homogeueousness ofsignification. Of the former beauty, our intellectual investigations " have effect" no elucidation ; and it must be left to some future Newton or Descartes to explain the • phenomenon. Our next illustration is selected from a lead- ing article published on the 8th instant, and relating to the same subject as the former, the education question. " We recur to this much- vexed question with mingled feelings of sorrow and of shame. Shame— that so much of bad feeling, so much vituperation, and so little charity has been manifested." This singular verb is very singular ; and we presume it is used to indicate that, in the mind of the writer, bad feeling, vituperation, and charity, are one and the same thing. Another illustration, and we quit this interesting topic, for the present. In the same paper, there is an article on the revenue returns; and the following passage occurs in it:—-" On the year there is a similar decrease and increase on each article." We shall not attempt the difficult task of eliciting a definite meaning from these ominous words; but will content ourselves with observing that we can only account for the use of the singular verb, upon the very plausible supposition that " increase" and " decrease" are identically the same, as regards the public revenue. Probably the writer would, however, except from this rule the returns of newspaper stamps. We have marked a few other elegancies; but too many good things spoil the appetite and weaken the digestion. We keep them, there- fore, for another feast- day. THE FACTORY BILL. In the midst of the loud and justly called for outcry against the educational clauses of the Factory Bill, there is, perhaps, some reason to apprehend that the other parts of the bill,— those relating to factory labour, may be over- looked. Many of the provisions introduced into this part of the measure are as repugnant to the spirit of true liberty, and as hostile to the real interests of the working classes, as if they had been framed by one of the continental despots. We will notice a few of them, not in our own language, but in that of a letter signed " A Working Man," and published in one of the Manchester papers. In the first place, I would refer to an impression which obtains amongst the operatives, that the hill will effecta shortening of their hours of labour. The bill does not interfere with adult labour at all ; that is left just as it is now. Clause 3 directs, that no person under 16 years of age shall be employed at all without a certificate from the surgeon appointed to the district ; nor ( clause 7), when such certificate is obtained, can the person work more than 6| hours in any one day,— that is, a little more than half time; and, if employed at all before twelve at noon, such person cannot be employed aarain after one on the same day. So that, if one of these hands should be unwell in the morning, but sufficiently recovered to be able to return to work in the forenoon, by doing so he or she is effectually prevented from working even the half- time allowed them; and if he or she does not so return to work in the forenoon, a subse- quent clause ( which requires the time of day during which these young hands are to work to be duly set forth and declared) will equally prevent them work- ing either their half time, or any other part of that day ;— they have been sick during the time declared as their working hours, and they must not work at any other time. Clause 9 enacts, that males under 18, and females under 21, shall not be employed in more than one factory on the same day. The effect of this will be to prevent any of these poor persons, who may be out of work, and who may have had a " quarter's sick" in the morning at one mill, from obtaining anuther half a quarter day's " sick," on the same day, at any other mill ; and also from taking a permanent situ- ation, if one should happen to turn out for him or her, on the day they have been so working sick in any other mill, and thus they may be kept out of work for weeks, or perhaps months, longer than they would have been but fort' is mischievous legislations Truly, these are very wise and humane provisions for the amelioration of the poor man's condition '. Clause 13 enacts that none of these young persons ( males under 18 and females under 21) shall be allowed to take their victuals in any room where " any kind of work is going on." Now as cleamn or repairing machinery, and a variety of other things done at meal times by the adult operatives for their own convenience, or to expedite their labour, may be construed into some " kind of work," it follows that these poor hands, objects of persecution rather than of protection, many of whom may live at such a distance as to preclude the possibility of their going home for the purpose, must tie turned out, however inclement the weather, to take their food in the streets, unhoused and unsheltered ; and the master cannot help them, since he is never safe while they remain on the premises. Even under the present law I know the superintendent has declared, that if he found the young hands on the premises during their meal times, though he might find them at play in the mill yard, he would consider them as employed, and proceed accordingly! Clause 43 empowers the inspector to fix the charge for surgeon's certificate so high as Is. together with 6d. for every half mile exceeding one mile, which the factory may be distant from such surgeon's residence, providing such charges for certificate and mileage do not exceed 5s.! So that if the surgeon chooses to reside in the country for his own benefit and enjoy inent, the inspector may allow him to do so, aid compel others to support him in his increased ex- penses. But this is not all;—( clause 47) after these extravagant charges have been submitted to, the eer tificate may he rendered valueless at the mere will and dictum of the inspector or sub- inspector, who are each empowered, separately or conjointly, to set down their judgment ot the child's age as superior to that of the surgeon, and to annul his certificate ac cordingly. And not only may they do this by all future certificates, to be granted uuder this act, but also by all those now in force, and recognised by the law as legal proofs. And again, even though the child produce its baptismal register, indisputably proving it to be of the required age ;—( clause 48) the inspector or sub- inspector may still refuse to allow the child to work, on the ground that, m their opinion, it is not sufficiently strong or healthy. Such are some of the mischievous and tyrannical regulations which are proposed in the bill now before parliament; and we are strongly inclined to the opinion that the whole measure ought to be utterly and resolutely resisted. EDUCATION IN PRUSSIA. call public attention to the German system of compulsory education, proved a signal failure ; but we are not sorry that the subject has been referred to, because we like to have both sides of a question fairly discussed. The Prussian system of national education has often been eulogized, in this country; and there is obviously much misunderstanding as to its real character. We shall, therefore, cite somewhat at large from Dr. Vaughan's " Age of Great Cities," a work very recently published, but which has already attained a high rank amongst the publications of the day. Dr. Vaughan, it will be seen, quotes the sentiments of " an intelligent traveller." That traveller is Laing, whose " Notes of a Traveller," Dr. V. warmly and deservedly recommends. After some remarks on the military system of Prussia, and its educational arrangements as part of that system, Dr. Vaughan says,— " The question now arises,— do we see so much good in the results of the Prussian system of educa- tion, as to render it expedient that we should, for the sake of that good, incur the hazard of recognizing those principles of government on which that system is manifestly founded ? We answer, that we do not find in those results any such good as would warrant our making such an experiment; and that upon few subjects is there greater delusion prevalent tnan in regard to the effects which a system of that nature is adapted to produce. " An intelligent traveller, who has been at much pains to ascertain the real state of society in Prussia, has not hesitated to state that,* in true moral social education, the Prussian people, from the nature of their government and social economy, necessarily stand lower than the lowest of our own unlettered population. The social value or importance of the Prussian arrangements for diffusing national schol- astic education has been evidently overrated ; for now that the whole system lias been in the fullest operation in society upon a whole generation, we see morals and religion in a more unsatisfactory state in this very country than in almost any other in the north of Europe; we see nowhere a people in a more abject political and civil condition, or with less free agency in their socialeconomy. A national education which gives a nation neither re'igion, nor morality, nor civil liberty, nor political liberty, is an education not worth having. If to reason, judge, and act, as an independent free agent, in the religious, moral, and social relations of man to bis Creator and to his fellow men, be that exercise of the mental powers which alone deserves the name of education, then is the Prussian subject a mere drum- boy in education, in the cultivation and use of all thatregards the moral and intellectual endowments of the man, compared to one of the unlettered populace of a free country. The dormant state of the public mind on all affairs of public interest; the acquiescence in the total want of political influence or existence ; the intellectual dependence on the government or its functionaries in all affairs of the community ; the abject submission to the want of freedom or free agency in thoughts, words, or acts ; the religious thraldom of the people to forms which they despise ; the want of the influence of the religious and social principle in society ;— all justify the conclusion that the moral, religious, and social condition of the people was never looked at or estimated by those writers who have been so enthusiastic in their praises of the national education of Prussia. The French writers took up the song from the hand of Prussian pensioned literati of Berlin, and the English from the French writers ; and so the song has gone round Europe, without any one taking the trouble to in- quire what this educational system was producing ; whether it had elevated, as it should have done if genuine, the moral, religious, and social position and character of the Prussian people, as members of civilized society, having religious, moral, civil, and political rights and duties to enjoy and to perform. " It is to us in England, with our free institutions and individual free agency in all things, an inconsist- ency scarcely conceivable, that a government should inve the means, nay, enforce the acquirement of the means, yet punish and suppress the use aud exercise of the means it gives,— should enforce education, yet deny the use and exercise of education in the duties of men, as social, moral, religious, thinking, self- acting beings. But this is the consistency of arbitrary, uncontrolled rule, and of the juste milieu principle of government by which it seeks to con- tinue its power. This is the government of function- ary ism and despotism united, endeavouring to perpe- tuate itself by turning the education of the people, and the means of living in the case of a great body of civil functionaries placed over them, into a machinery for its own support.' " Dr. Vaughan supplies some facts as to the low state of morals in Prusia ; and we shall lay these before our readers, in a future article. The attempt that was made on the day before the public meeting to petition against the government scheme of factory legislation, to OXFORD AND CAMBRIDGE.— Puseyism, or some other ism, has done something for the University of Oxford. It appears from the calendar that theiehas been a decrease of sixty two matriculations last sear, as compared with the previous one ; Cambridge, on the other hand, has increased her number on the university boards one hundred and fifty- one in the same time. CRUEL ASPERSION.— llivarol, speaking of Mira- beau, s lid, " That man would do anything for money — even a good action." HALIFAX :— Printed and Sold, for the Proprietors, at the General Printing Office of II. Martin, Upper George Yard.