The Sun. — London, England, 1817-07-30 00:00:00

pitl-eRs I blare wiiven on the ,nnic MR. OWEN'S PLAN. attbiset. Whatever merit can be rine t.O an individual for the original discovery of a plan, that in its conse tContiamed from our Second Page.] quences is calculated to effect mot e substantial and Q. But Will not these establishments tend to - permanent benefit to mankind, titan any ever yet increase population beyond the means of subsis- perhaps contemplatU by the human mind, it all tense. too rapidly for the well-being of society ? belongs exclusively to John Bellers. 1 have no apprehettsion whatever on this Q. Is it . then your decided opinion, that land, ground,: every agriculturist knows.that each la- labour, and capital, Inas be employed under a new bottler row employed in agriculture - can !traduce com bi nat i on , so a s to 'produce mote valuable re -five or six times more food than he can cat ; and stilts to all parties than they do at preSent ?—A. therefore, even if no other facilities were given If I have derived any distinct !soot:ledge by my to him than ire now possesses,. there is no antes- long experience and extensive practice, I am en -sky in nature for '' population to press against abled to- say, with a confidence that ...fears no re subststente," until the earth is fully cultivated. (*oration, that any given quantity of land, labour, There can be no doubt it is the artificial law of and capital, may be so combined as to sUppolt, supply and demand, arising front the principles of at least•, four 'Ames the present number of human individual g a in in o pposition to the general well- beings, and in tenfold comfort, that the sante being or society, that loss hitherto compelled po•• ma•intairss at present under the existing practices potation to press upon subsistence. The certain in this country; and, of corpse, that the intrin effects of acting on the principle of individual - sic valve of ,land, labour, and capital, may gain is, ever to limit the supply of tool in an be increased in the same proportion :• that average season .to a sufficiency, according to the consequently we possess the . most ample custrints of the times, for the existing inhabitants" means to curry now, without loss of time, of the earth : conseipiently, in a favourable sea- the prosperity of the country to a point it has not son, • and in.oroportion as the season may be fa- before attained ; to a height that no country has voorahle, there will he abundance:of food, and ever yet exverienced. It any parties suppose these it will be cheap ; and in an unfavourable season, to be mere assertions without sound foundation, jn proportion as the season may be unfavourable, or to be a visionary scheme derived- frotnthe food will be scarce and dear, and famines will gions of lattcy, they will be mistalo..n, for they are , And yet no one who undststands any the result of a-patient and unwearied attention to thing practically of the subject can for a mumetit discover accurate and practical data, and to try an doubt that at the period immediately preceding the endless variety of experimettts. to enable tne to Enos - 1 grievous famine ever known, the means ex- draw correct conclusions, and thus bring the the isted in ample profusion to have enabled the po- ories of learned men in their closets to the only pulatiou, under proper arrangements, had they t test of truth. By thus proreeding, I have been possessed the knowledge to form them, to produce more and more satisfii dot the errors of mere theory, a stuck ofslood automoing even to au excessive l and of the little real value they have hitherto been soperabitudance. 'Whatever may have been ima- to maukind. I . have no wish, however, that any gilled lsy iutelligent individuals who have writteu more confi , lence should tee placed in what I say stud thought upon the subject,the annual increase than to indoce the public to give a fair trial to of population is really one by one ; we know its !the plan. If I am in error, the loss and incon utmost limit—it is oily, it can be only, an at-ith- I venieirce, cOmpared with the object, will be small ; toetical in u srease ; ,whereas each individual brings !hut if I am right,. the public and the world will into rite world. with hint .the means, aided by the be gainers indeed t aa,laskotothing for myself; and, existing knowledge of science, and under proper except good will and the interchange of :-kind and directions, sufficient to enable him to produce food friendly offices, I. - will not' accept any thing from equal to more than -tell times his cotottimption.— ! any party„ I merely ask to be permitted to re s The fear then of any evil to arise front aim excess i•lieve the poor and working classes from their pre of 'population, until such time as the whole earth, •sent distress-, aunt to render an essential service to• shall become an Iligh cultivated garden, will, -on I the wealthy, and to all the higher daises. I am, due and accurate investigation, prove a mere I therefore, desirous that competent persons of bn phantom of the imagination, calculated solely to - , siness should be named to investigate all the de keep the world in unnecessary ignorance, %ice, ! tails which I have to propose; knowing, as I do, and crime, and rirevent society from 'becoming from experience, that this is -the only practical that it ought to be, well trained and instructed, ; measure that can be adopted to enable the public end under an intelligent system of mutual good- ; to comprehend a subject so extensive and import will and kindeess, active, virtuous, and happy : a ant as this will ultimately prove to be. system which might easily be created, so as to I Q On the supposition that the plan,may he pervade the whole of society, and extend through ' unexceptionable in all its parts, bow can it be all its ramifications, - cat ried into execution ?—A. First, by passing an ; c Act of Parliament to oatioaalize the poor. Q. By thus altering the general habits and ex . peond, by borrowing, from time fro time to time, on hang ar rangements of the lower orders, would i t the too ional security':' sufficient sums to build these not give an increased value, to manual labour ? vi ages ' a n d to prepare the land for cultivation, A. My intention was to combine the means of ; the Gosernment tioldiag security upon these esta eacomplishing Objects which appear to me to he i blishment until both intrust and capital shall he inevitably. - reqnirsd by the existing state of the paid : by which metros, the whole process would country, •aud fro prevent the violent deraugement ot society, arising from the disit•css and extreme he strai g ht forward ' e q uitable ' .411t1 Just, to all advancing;,the patties; and the country would enable the decooratitatiott which is hourly tad ,• Government to carry it into execution, wi t hout m ast go on till effectual and counteracting' mea opposition-from any interested party. acmes '[tall be adopted. I saw the poor nod work ing classes surrounded by circumstances that ne cessarily entailed misery on theM and their po• ste ,,a,y ; that, if they were allowed to cmiriime a nd prtscecti much !auger, they would briber de- 'moralize s and violently subvert, -the whole social system. To pseveut this catastrophe, it becomes' ib so l sa seiy il t alispeosable that their habits be eltanged s .,' , ltt: this cannot be clone without altering. - thee ex - istittg arrangements with regard to them and to the rising generation. • PE' dm plan reposed shall be found to be-much, more complete in all its parts, and ita i;:s entire combination ohan any hitherto mtg. ested, and if it can btfimmediately and gradually Cote:azitscesi a without causing the least ,shock to strict-,, fit" lsretnaturely disturbing existing insti ttatious, tlien is the proper time arrived,--then are the CircUrastances duly prepared for its recep ti.uu ; and lI feel a perfect confidence in saying, that however, through mistaken pris , ate interests, is idav he attempted to retard it, that it will be inevitably introduced and firmly established, even against all opposition. It is, indeed, of that na tote, that opposition will but hasten its adoption, and fix the principles mare generally and deeply in acid thrtsugh society. The circumstances that have been fllen,lr, for nearly 20 years past, pre- • paving for this end, are so far completed as - to attswet all the ,purposes - intended ; and tlie•fot ore welfare of mankind in this and also in other coun tries, may be considered secure beyond the power of accident. Combined labour ant) 'expenditure, far a common object, among the working; classes, with proper training and instruction for their. off spring. and surrounded by the circumstances de vised foe the %Aisle, will create and secure the present safety of society, the present and future comfort and happineas of tke individuals, and the ultimate well-being °tall. I may therefore'con . ildently believe, that no . combittation of human - powers can now be formed to 'prevent its perma - Pent adoption. • After having mad e this statement. it is necessary for me to add, that the knowledge I have acquired on this subject has been forced upon me by a long, -and extensive experience ; which, . guider similar circumstances, would have been acquired by the generality of mankind. None, I believe not one, o( the principles have the least claim - to origina lity; they have been repeatedly advocated and re commended by superior minds from the earliest pet rod •of history. I have no claim even to priority, in regard to the combinations of. these priociples. in theory : this belongs: a-s far as I know., to John Betters, who published them, atad most ably reconortentied them to be adopted in •pr a ctice, in the, year MG. Without any aid from • . sternal experietsee, he has most distinctly shown b ow t h el ; n ight be applied to the improvement of society, according to the facts then known to exist -; thas.evincing, that his mind had the power to,cotoemplate is point extended 120 years beyond i k .;* coteinporaries. His work appeased to be so vaittahle, that,ni discovering; it, I Lave had it reprinted, verbiitim, in order to bind 2Gth JULY• After closing the above on Thursday morning, the 24th inst. 1 lirtle expected that, before it was ready for pithlication, t events were to arise snfficiently important to render a narrative of the one useful, and an explanation of the other ne cessary. Such events, - however, have occurred. That which is useful is so valuable and interest ing that 1 lose not a moment in maki;:g it known. Fortunately it admits not of a difference of opi Dion ; it comprises simple matter of fact that may be seen and investigated by every one who will devote time to visit the principal prison in this metropolis. • Having heard from various quarteri what highly beneficial effects had been produced by Mrs. Fry, of St. Mildred's-court, Poultry, among the female ,prisoners in Newgate, I yesterday, by previous appointment., accompanied that lady, and was ctin dneted by. her through all the apartments of the prison occupied by the unfortunate females of every description. I shall not easily, if ever, forget the impressions I - experienced ; they were of a mixed and very opposite nature. In passing from room to room we were met-in every instance, there was not one exception, with kind looks and the most evident feelings of affection in every pri soner towards Mrs. Fry. Not a feature in the coun tenance of any, however hardened :hi.) , :night have been on entering the prison, that did not evince, in stronger expression than language can define, their love and admiration for . what she had clone (or them. With an alacrity and pleasure that would he commentled in the best trained chil dren, in attending to parental requests, - they were ready and willing to comply with her inisice. It was evidently a heartfelt consolation to these poor creatures to know her wishes, that they might show their gratitude by an immediate compliance with therm She spoke, in manner and voice, the language of confidence, kindness, and comniisera tioo, to each ; and she was replied to by all in such accordant feelings as are, and ever will be, produced in human beings, whenever they shall be 'spoken to and t reated th us rationally.On quitting the prison,the eyes of all were directed towards heroin il she was no longer in their sight. The apartments anti the persons of the prisoners were clean and neat; order,regularity,deceney,andalmost cheerful .content, pervaded the whole of these heretofore 'miserable and degraded wretches ! With thecon stant habit for years of reading the Mind in the Countenance among the lower classes, I could not 'discover, throughunt the Lutnerous spat tments we visited, one line of teat Ore that denoted any inch nation, to resist, in tire slightest degree , Mrs. Fry's ; bait, 'on the eonteary, the looks and manner of etch female prisioier strongly in dicated a full acquiescence in this new government . of well directed - ki,edness. only regret I i.ieard expressed was by those who woe un employed, " that they hod no work." All who had something to oo were far more cheerful than I had previot.sly supposed human beings could he in the simation, with. the accommoda tion, and under the circumstances bete deicribcd•J We next pror.eit*kt tollie - • female school, nmi, unemeiing, evtly.eye, was fixed on their bene las tt`ess.- T .ie little girls, childrenß4 7 the pri soners and convicts, looked on her as human crea= sures might be imagined to look upon beings of a superior, intelligent, and beneficent nature. They, were all dial) and neat, and some of their countenances very interesting. The school was in excellent order, and appeared to he under good scription. \Vhrn The weapons used in this war.. hoe ever unfair and illegitimate they may have been, were directed against the indicidual only, they were,.disregarded.. I cared, and I do,stilt. rare, as little fur the individual as any of his op- - pOnents did or eau.. I make him, as they - shalt• .now be made, an'itistrument to forward measures for our mutual, 'and the general benefit. H e h a s . been hitherto so employed,- without regard to his - unity or self-conSequctice of any kind ; and n n- - til the object shall be effectually secured, he shin' continue to be so employed. But as the absurd and ridiculous insinuations, now set afloat are intended to retard the work I' have undertaken, they must be met ; and they have determined the neat step that I shall adopt, and about which I was delibera ink. management.' I could not avoid contrasting, the pre sent with the former situation of all these poor un fortunates. What a change must they have ekperi• • enced ! From filth, badhahits, vice, crime ; from -the depth of degradation and wretehedneSs—to clean liness, good habits, and comparative comfort mid cheerfulness ! had not experience long . made known to me the simplicity and certain effects of the principks aicb had here been carried into practice, I might have been led to inquire, What It is, that a public meeting shall be held at the City of London Tavern, on Thursday, the 14th day of August, to take into consideration a plan to be proposed to relieve the country from its pre— sent distress, to te-Moralize the poor, tedUce the' pours'-rate, and abolish pauperism, and all its in jurious consequences. At that meeting 1 invite those patties, and any others wi,om they can in list in their cause, to come forward and make, every thing they have to say against me publicly known.. I wish to gratify them to the uttermost.. of their desires ; and as• they may no possess all the requisites for tie purpose, I will give thens, the chic by which they may pursue and disctiver all the errors of my - past hire. I was horn in Newton it. AlontgomerysLire ; left it, and came to London when . about ten years' .of age ; soon after went to Mr. James Ni'Gulfig„' of Stamford, in Lincolnsliire,:where I:redained upwards of' three years ; returned to town, and -was a shot t time with 'Messts. Feint an , , Londrin-bridge. I - went afterwards to Mancnes ter, and Was some time with - Mr - Joint Salters.: field,- whom I left, while yet a boy, to commence business on a limited scale, in making machinery and spinning 'cotton, part of the time in partuer.. - ship with Mr.-Jones, and part on niy.own account; afterwards I undertook to manage the spinning . establishments of the late Mr. Drinkwater, of Mancheiter, at the latter place, and'at Norwiat, in Cheshire,: in which occupation I remained-three or tour years. 1 then formed iA pnittiership to carry on.a cotton-spinning business wilt Messrs. Monism] and &art') of ,Manchester; built the Charlton Mills, and connnenced a ne"w'fiCtli under the designation of tie Cl'artton Twist .Company`,,' along with Messrs, Boriad..ile .and Atkinson, of London, and Messrs. It and J. Barton and C 0.,. of Manchester. Some time aiterwards we Fur.. chased the mills and establislments at New . La. naik, vrtitrel nave - keen before the public for 13 years past, and I a m now 46 years old. • Here is a due to to whole life for any parties who may wish to mike use of it , not because the conduct of the whether it has horn the ‘roist, tau alter one tittle of the truth or falsehood of the principles-and pra-tices tor which 1. contend : these stand solely on their own affld will tikintateiv. resist the shuck of .ages. Not because lie ha., acted !fetter, or viith more wisdom than the average of perso n s at the ' same time of lite, nod under the-same -cireim. stances; for he has never, in a sfugleinstance, set any value on 1111413 , it, or on any of his actions. But, because I wi,l) ►l4 a every deiog be said against. the inditiduat in y rt e inged. by those who are de irons so to no, in oreerlo.lsave done with these trifling and insignificatrfT perso nalities, and that I may proceed on ,and to ;he accomplishment of that which is of real' practi-X utility. Let tnem,„. th-r. Acre. 'it such public: Meeting; brir.g forward every saying and actioo of mine that has displeased them; I oniyask that the attack shall be fair,open,and dire:; it shalltbets be met, and it shall be overcome. In the 'mean time I ask no favour ; let them be industrials and be prepared to secure all the success at svrtkts they ailm l shall not ask for, or accept any guar. ter ; my purposes have been long fixed, and my determination is, not to give any quarter to the errors and evils of the evsting systems, citit, po litical, and religious, until they shall become so obvious as that their removal shall he desired by alt parties; even by those who now feel • the strongest inteicSt in, and inclination to, support them ! The Rubicon is passed, and the public will soon experience the beneficial con , :equeneeti. ROBERT OWEN, profound statesman had been here ? What large sums had been expended ? flow many years of ac tive and steady perseverance had been necessary to accomplish this extraordinary' improvement, which has foiled even the British Government and legislature to effect doting the centuries-they have exis - ted ! And what would have been my as►o;tish- [tent at the simple narrative which was till( me nut tiais change from the depth of misery to the state de.srribed was ejected by Mrs. Fry, and a to w benevolent individuals of the Society of Friends, in three months, without any increased expence, and %yid) feelings of high gratification to herself ! We left the female side of the prison, and passed on to the rooms, and courts, &c. occupied by the males. %We went first to the boys' court, and found the school, which was formed at Mrs. Fry's request, had just been dismissed. The person acting as master asked if he should muster the boys, to which she consented, andfit was instantly done. What a melancholy sight did they offer a collection of boys and'youths, with scarcely the appearance of human beings in their counte nances.; the most evident sign that the Govern ment to which they belong had not performed any part of its duty towards them. For instance, there was one boy, only 16 years of age, double ironed. Here a great crime has been committed, -and a severe pnuishment is inflicted, which, under a system of proper training and prevention,would not have taken placo. My Lord Sichnouth will forgive me, for he knows 1 intend no personal offence. His dispo sitions are known to be mild and amiable ; hut the Chief Civil Magistrate of the Country, in such case, is far more guilty than the boy ; and, in strict justice, if a4ystein of coercion and punish ment be rational and necessary, he ought - rather to to have been double-ironed, and in the place of the boy. The Secretary of State for the Home Department has long had the power, and ought - to have used it, to give that, and every other boy in the empire, better habits, and to place them under circumstances that would train tl.em to be come moral. We left these boys and visited the menwho were yet to he tried, thiise who had heen tried, and others under sent►•+ice of death. Every citing on this side of the prison was most revolting to common sense and human feelings ; t►nt it serves to exhibit the contrast bet weer the practice that results, and ever will result, from acting upon rational and irrationpl p r i nc ipl es . 1 wish the Members of Government would now in vestigate these ex( taordinary facts. If they were to inspect them, ivith this benevolent female, L am ~ ure they would learn the principles which have'kuided her pract ice, mad adopt them in • all their I,ture measures. - They would then enjoy only the highest satisfaction. Itvas aomittvd by the attendant of the prison, that a few months ago the women were more de praved than tie men are now. They were both pronounced to be,irreelaimable: but the state of the females has been entirely changed, and that in the, short space of three months. Notwithstanding this fact, the men are still pronounced to be irre claimable! however, is by no means to be attached to any of the attendants of the prison, who appear inclined to do their duty is tar as they have received instructions. Let Ministers attend here, and they will dis cover that the most - powerful instruments of Go vernment have hitherto been dot'lnant in their hands, and in those of their pred‘cessors. It they' will study the subject as it deserves to be studied, and afterwards make a proper use of their power in legislating on the principle of preven tion, undcr the influence of a persevering well di rected•kindness, the distress of the country will be found to vanish; the ignorance, poverty, and misery of the lower classes to disappear, as though it were by a miracle ; and they would then look in vain for disaffection, discontent, or„opposition to any of their measures. The present period is o f a ll others the best adapted to introdrice the change, and every circumstance now imperiously calls for its commencement. I would here rivet the attention . of the world It has been said that there are numerous difficul ties in training children to good It obits and tight iconducf, even previous to their having received any contrary bias : but here is a prfiof that the most deep-rooted and long-continued habits of de pravity may be easily, and.speedily overcome by a system of kindness, which, when properly direct e4l and persevered in, -no human beings have ever yet been found long inclined to resist. This principle, when it shall be well understood and 'rightly acted upon, will effect more fop the substantial happiness of mankind thati,7all the mo ral and -religious Systems that have ever yet, at any period, or in any country, been forced 'upon the human mind. Hitherto the world has been tormented by use less. talking—by much speaking; all which prayed to be of no avail. Henceforward acting will ren der precepts unnecessary ; and; in future,.systems f or the government of mankind will be estimatcd and valued' by their effects in practice only! I must now refer to tliat which is necessary. I mme di a t e ly befote, and after the meeting, at he George and Vulture, I discovered that some secret ein i ssar i e i were at work to counteract my pro ,gress, by insinuations of various kinds, which evi dently produced the effect intended on the minds , of some wlici had previously expressed themselves fivourable to the plan. -All this was very natural ; no ordinary individual could attack time errors and prejudices nt Mankind, as I have d o ne, w ithout encountering at etteb.step opprhitiou 01-ever y de- P. S. A more complete view c►t the plan, companied by perspective drawings, 'and a full detail of all its practical atlvantages, will be slim tly submitted to ti.e public. - , . • COURSE - OF EXL:I - I,INGE, Tuesimy, .1 , 1m . ,,25. Amsterdam .............. ; 37 .. 6'13. 2'Ul. Ditto, at Sight .......... ~ ... . 37 0 - • Anisto dam .......................... ll 10 C. F. Ditto, at Sight ...... Roark - dam ll 11 2 Us. Antwerp ............... 11 11 Ei.sl one, Han burgh .............................. 34 6 2i !Ts. Attona - • 34 7 21 Us. Paris, 3 Day's sight..... 24 30 Ditto Plourde:Aux, ditto Frankfort on the Alain Nladral . . ............... , ............. 36 Effective I.*l Effective Cadiz .. . . Gibraltar .................... ....... 31 Leghorn ............. 45/-Venice ....... ..47 -Naples ...... 40,1 Palernip ......... l2O per Oz.,' Lisbon ................ Oporto ..... 5B Itio Janeiro ...... 7 ............... ...... 59, ..... 12 i• ••• • C"rk..... 12 per Ceot. Agin of the Bank on Holland. 2 l'ortngal Gold , i n Coin 1 .0 0 0 per Oz. Foreign Gold, in Bars 4 0 0 'hiw DollaN •;ilver. in Bar, Standard .0n Thursday last, Lady B ar b ara P onsou by, at th e E ar l o f B ess b u ruug h's, itothauiptuu, Surrey, a a daughter. MARRIED. Yesterday, at St. Geore's,Hanorer-square, Frederic Wm. Wollaston, Esq. of Sheiiton "Hall, Leicestershire, to Lucy, only daughter of the late annt sister to the present Sir Henry Strachey, Bart. of Sutton -court, Somersetshire. , DIED. a y e sterday morning, at quarter before 9 o'clock, at his Jtouse, Higloun Hills, Waltliatustow, .I‘ , hn Harman, Esq. Ott the 27th inst. at HeytesbUry House, in the 70th year of his age, Sir W. P. A. A'Court., !,ON110N: Printed by J. B. CARSTAIRS, of No. 29,'Great Ormood-street, Queen square; aua published by W. A. SCRIPPS, of No. 7, South Holton-street, at THE Slut Orliee f No. 114. Strand; where Advertisements,. Vo.lcrs, Letter*, .S4c. (post-paid) !Rust be addressed.