The Sun.
London, England, 1841-12-30 00:00:00

CHRISTIAN CHARTIST
FESTIVAL.
MEMORIAL TO HER MAJESTY.
(FROM OUR OWN REPORTER.)
A large Chartist Festival was held on Tuesday even-
, jog in the Town-ball, Birmingham, being the first an-
niversary of the new sect, of Chartists called the .‘ Char-
tist Christian Church." The hall was densely crowded,
being principally filled with well-dressed ladies. The
festival consisted of a tea party. Amongst the gentlemen
on the platform we noticed Col. P. Thompson, Mr. Ro-
berts, of Bath, Mr. J. Sturge, and his brother, Mr. C.
Sturge, &c. Mr. T. Duncombe, M.P., Mr. Sharman
• Crawford, M.P., and Colonel Napier were expected,
.6 but were prevented by previous engagements, and let-
• ,ters were read from them apologising. As soon as the
ii .festival apparatus was removed,
hr' Mr. PARKES rose and said, that if it was necessary
that a Chartist should pass through a fiery ordeal be-
fore be was eligible to take a prominent part in their pro-
• eeedings—if it was necessary that he should suffer per-
• secution, that he should suffer imprisonment, that he
should have calumnies heaped 'upon him—then did he
feel confidence in introducing an individual, for he was
fully qualified. He therefore begged leave to propose
that Mr. John Collins take the chair.—( Loud cheers.)
Mr. COLLINS took the chair amidst the most enthu-
siastic cheering; when it had subsided, he said he re-
joiced in having that opportunity of presiding over them,
for, be believed, that meeting would be productive of a
great deal of benefit to the cause of universal liberty.
Having been very much occupied during the early part
of the day in attending to the arrangements, he felt that
his mind was not in a- proper state to occupy much of
their attention. But still he should not be doing justice
to them, or himself, or to the gre.&t and glorious prin-
ciples which had convened them on that occasion, if he
did not make one or two observations. He rejoiced to
see around him many tried and zealous friends of the
Principles of the People's Charter. He rejoiced that
those friends were, some of them, from a distance. Be-
lieving as he did, that the principles contained in the
People's Charter, were calculated to advance and benefit
the interests of mankind ; that it would not merely
better the condition of the inhabitants of this country,
but that also it would tend to better their mental and
1.4 their moral condition, he was one of the advocates of
ie,the Charter, believing that it was only mess-
eery to treat men as they would wish to be
treated themselves, and thus make every man a
good and useful member of society. He believed that
Many objectel to the principle of Universal Suffrage,
Under the pretext of the people not being intellectually
or morally fitted for the possession of the franchise.
While many merely made that a pretext, he believed there
Were some few individuals who conscientiously urged
that objection, believing it to be a valid one. But cer-
tainly such individuals appeared to him to be labouring
under a very serious mistake, for he believed that those
Who were not possessed of the franchise were as fitted
for its enjoyment as those who did possess it.—( Hear,
hear.) He was far from being satisfied with the educa-
tion or the virtne of either the working, the middle, or
the aristocratic classes of society ; but he would ever
use his humble influence to improve the intelligence,
Morality, and virtue of all classes of the community. But
while he had done so, be bad ever maintained, and he
would still maintain, that the working classes possessed
as much virtue and as much morality, in proportion to
their numbers, as any other class of the corn-
Inanity. He recollected when he was at Leeds urging
upon a meeting this fact, that the aristocracy formed
their estimate of the virtue of the working classes, not
from the real merits of the case, but from incorrect
Sources of information. They knew that when a large
Mass of people were congregated together in a town
there must be some dishonest members, and unfortu-
nately no man yet heard or read of; or expected tofind,
a state of society in which there were not dishonest
members, and the larger the town, by its greater facili-
ties, there would be the greater number of dishonest
members. But while he contended that there were
*mono the people a good portion who made their
living by dishonest means, they no more belonged to the
working•classes than they d►d to the middle or the
higher. They were a set peculiar to themselves. It
was neither right, nor just, to charge the working classes
with crimes committed by those who never learnt any
business, but were trained and drilled by dishonest pa-
rents to acts of dishonesty. He held it was not just to
charge upon the honest and working-man the crimes of
these men, and then under this pretext withhold from
them their just rights. He thought that if they wished
to make the working-classes moral and intellectual, it

Was not to be done by calling them the swinish
multitude, but by taking them by the baud, by
endeavouring to remove ignorance, by communicating
intelligence, to raise them in the scale of society. He
thonght that, if such a course were adopted, the
objection of unfitness would be soon found to be utterly
futile, and utterly groundless. He would not trouble
theni further, except to say that when he considered the
`2,i, shortness of time since that festival was first contem-
''.4plated—when he recollected that at that moment there
'ere six similar meetings in Birmingham, and some of
them, from the peculiar circumstances connected with
them, ensuring attendance of a great number of indivi-
duals, he was perfectly astonished to meet the number
brought together at that meeting by the great principles
they held in common with each other. -He would con-
elude by reading the several letters received from dd.
'trent gentlemen who had been invited to attend, but
\.• who were prevented ; and he would then call on Mr.
O'Neill to read the report, that they might know how
much good could be accomplished by a few individuals
desirous of elevating their fellow men.
The CHAIRMAN having read the letters, said, that
Previous to the Report being read by Mr. O'Niell,
Mr. ROBERTS, of Bath, would address them, and
Propose a sentiment, who in doing so urged upon the
Meeting to accept of nothing but the whole Charter, or
it they suffered themselves to be cajoled out of part
Lthey would soon lase the whole. Tee sentiment he
had to propose was " The People's Charter, as it was in
,accordance with Christian principles, and may it speedily
"mome the law of the land."—(Loud cheers.)
Mr. Cilam.ToN, of Kidderminster, in an eloquent
speech supported the proposition, and said he had
teneived a letter from Mr. Hume, expressing his con-
Illation of the justice of the principles of the Charter.
Mr. CURRIER, of Dudley, also spoke to the sentiment.
At half-past eight Mr. Joseph Sturge entered the
hall, and was received with loud and long continued
cheering.
Mr. O'NEILL then read the Report, which stated
twit the Christian Chartist Church had first arisen in
I,kotland, and its principles soon extended to Birming-
,4u, and on the 27th December, 1840, a chapel was
bad
in New Hall-street, for public worship. They
formed a school and classes for study, and essays
"ere written and prizes competed for. They had ac-
etturulated 300 volumes in their library, and the cash
affairs left a balance in the bands of the treasurer of
They had purchased a printing-press and did all
4,,,uiP,twn printing.
'`e adoption of the Report was moved and seconded,
4.4 and carried unanimously.
'• „,„.114r. STURGE then rose to address the meeting,
was received with loud cheering. He said he
.t, : ranch felt the kindness with which they had received
him, bat be could not think of occupying the time of
t,lre meeting when he saw such able speakers there.
.144 C as he was one of those who wished to see the day
When all' their fellow-countrymen would enjoy equal
Political privileges, he had availed himself of the plea-
sure o f expressing his thoughts to them, and having
expressed his wish to be present, he had hastily
lived from a distance of fifty miles. In expressing
those thoughts he might perhaps not agree with many
011 certain points, but there was one on which they
were all agreed, that every man should be fairly and
fully represented in the British House of Commons.—
. .(Cheers.) In reading a work by their Chairman and
.Mr. Lovett, written in Warwick goal, he was much
Pleased to find the great importance they attached to
the practice of temperance, as a great means by which
-liberty of the people was likely to be ultimately
~-.4l,4ltahed. While those principles were in strong ac-
-51.; ;""ance with Christian principles, they were
qually essential to their happiness in whatever
,station of life they might be placed in,—(Hear, hear.)
.111: e might also add that the most powerful com.
of class legislation on earth, could not long
" Press the people who were always peaceable, always
,Jer.'`emperate. He bad that day had the pleasure of
'gluing with a large party, in which there was not one
4'4 AI4OP of intoxicating drink of any sort used.--(Cheers.)
t ht
,-*•liws small as that might appear, if the whole popula•
"rims of the United Kingdom would only act on this
0,, Principle for twelve months, he believed it would go a
le,,,;',lllreat way towards attaining that which they were all
14esirous of acquiring. He was not recommending
bat he did not practice himself, for he bad been what
!be world called a tee-totaler for fourteen years.--
(Cheers.) He had tried it in very cold weather, and in
tropical climate, and many of his friends told him
that he was as good a specimen of health as those who
used alcohol. Perhaps they were not aware of the
amount of tax they paid every year on intoxicating
drinks, but it' was equal to what they bad to pay for
• Maintaining the army and navy. He need scarcely
jell them that if the aristocracy had not got an army
and navy around them they durst not enforce unjust
tctwx upon the people, and if they had not got the
People's money to pay them, they would not be long
able to keep them up.—(Loud cheers.) Again, if the
People would carry out the principle of peace, which
Was so properly recommended in the book he had
alluded to, the army and navy would be useless.
He was one of those whe believed that no Chris-
'lan was justified in taking away human life. Ho
belonged to' a sect which not only never enlisted, but
refused to pay any rate, the proceeds of which was to
13r"ide deadly weapons. He merely mentioned these
two things to show that the people have it in their own
Power.. to carry all they wish. Moral force was better
than all the physical force in the world.--(Hear, hear.)
,I
e rejoiced to hear that the people who advocated
PhYsical force, and spread such alarm throughout the
country,
ee
vra
tr were becoming less and less in number. -
u_ their politics, he trusted they would bear in mind
" only "To do unto others as they would others should

► do unto them," but that they might still carry out that
noble principle of returning good for evil. He did not
intend to have occupied so much of their time, but as
his friends wished him to say a few words he could only
conclude by cordially wishing them success.—(Cheers.)
Colonel PERRONET THOMPSON then rose, and was
received with loud cheering and waving of handker-
chiefs, which lasted for a considerable time ; on silence
being restored,hesaid—They must allow him, in thefirst
place, to congratulate them on the change in their cir-
cumstances. Since he saw them a year ago, as David
said, " Your foot has been set in a large room," it
proved that they were rising in the world, as all good
causes did when they were followed up with energy and
perseverance. He bad been put forward to speak
to them upon the sentiment of the importance
of the greatest happiness to the greatest num-
ber. Tho celebrated author of that phrase, in al-
most one of the last acts of his life, altered the expres-
sion to the simple one of the general happiness ; and
for this reason, that there was no such thing as increas-
ing the happiness of the greatest number, without that
being combined with increase of general happiness. He
did not intend to preach a sermon to them, bu', in
bringing forward that subject, perhaps he might be able
to say something to the text, which some might think
worth while carrying away. The Gallant Colonel then
went into details at some length. They heard con-
tinually of moral and immoral acts. Intemperance was
always succeeded by evil—therefore it was immoral—
therefore let them look to those acts which would con-
tribute happiness to the community. What made the

difference between a good law and a bad law ? Simply
this—that one increased the happiness of the community,
and the other diminished it ; and when they saw a
bad law, it was their duty to do all in their power to
remedy the evil. Did they see pains taken in domestic
politics to increase the general happiness? No. And
why ? Because one set of men made the laws, and
another endured them. They, therefore, were moving
in that praiseworthy and honourable effort to retrieve
the condition of the country, and they were quite right

to remove those bad laws, if 'they could. The Charter
contained the principles of wise and good men. It was
the grand disperser of political evils. He had stated
to them that the principle of the greatest happiness was
really the bottom of all that was right and good. But
did they never hear of that principle before it was in-
culcated by the celebrated character whose principles
rested upon this statement ? He (Colonel Thompson)
thought they bad. He thought they found it in the
words of Him who said, whenever you do, do good,
" Those who do good to you, that do you unto them."
Was not that the instrument of the greatest happiness?
If they all of them did unto others as they would they
should do unto them, they would be a happy commu-
nity ; but, without this, it would be a little nation in-
stead of a great one, and indigent instead of rich. He
would not detain them longer, but, wishing theist all
success, he hoped they would still continue in their
present course.—(Cheers.)
Mr. BROWN then moved the adoption of the follow-
ing memorial to her Majesty :
" Unto the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty.
" The respectful Memorial of the members of the
Birmingham Christian Chartist Church,

" Showeth,—That your memorialists have learned
with great satisfaction that your Majesty has expressed
your generous intention of liberating, at the approach-
ing baptismal ceremony of the Prince of Wales, all the
convicts who have not been transported to the penal
colonies, who have conducted themselves in such a man-
ner as to evince a reformation of character.

" We hail the act of clemency as one worthy of the
Sovereign of an enlightened people, calculated, as it is,
to throw around the Throne more real glory than all
the pomp and glitter of a material grandeur, only suited
to a barbarous age and mindless people.
" But while we hail this act, we cannot believe
that true benevolence is limited in its displays
of mercy to a particular locality ; wide as the
world is, its ever-expanding path, wherever a
human heart is found, is the field of its
action. Believing this, MI would respectfully repre-
sent to your Majesty that in the distant penal colonies
many convicts uow suffer who are as worthy of your
gracious clemency as those at home, and we trust
that it shall not be said that the merciful designs of
England's Queen were stopped in their course by seas
and oceans. England's arms have never been restrained
by these. We trust that mercy, which confers glory infi-
nitely superior to that of arms and war, shall not be
stopped, but that its brightest feature shall be its uni-
versality.
" We would respectfully represent to you that there
are now suffering in the penal colonies six men who, in
our opinion, are eminently worthy of the display of your
royal clemency—men in whose behalf your people of
all classes have more frequently and in greater numbers
solicited your clemency, than for any other during your
reign, or the three that preceded it. John Frost,
Zephaniah Williams, and William Jones were banished
for high treason ; Howell, Roberts, and Jones for
alleged riot.

" The previous good conduct of each of these, toge-
ther with their excellent demeanor since their exile—
the fact that some of them have been since involved in
ruin and misery—the fact that in the cases of the three
latter an alibi was proved upon the testimony of
competent, credible, and highly respectable witnesses—
the fact that the wife and family of Roberts are now
suffering from the severest privations, and a few weeks
ago followed one of her children to the grave, carried
thither by the hands of strangers—all these facts are
presented to your Majesty, in the hope that you may
see fit to restore the said convicts once more to the
bosom of their families and the land of their birth.
" And your Memorialists, &c."
Several prizes were delivered. A hymn was then
sung, and the meeting separated about eleven o'clock.
SINGULAR DISCO VERY.

A very singular discovery of an inscription was made
some time since at Coxwold, near Tbirsk, in York-
shire. The country was formerly, as its name implies,
a forest ; but as cultivation has advanced, the trees
have by degrees been cleared away. An ash was thus
felled and split for fire-wood. Upon being riven asun-
der, the outer part of the tree was cleft in two like a
case, leaving the inner portion of the truak entire, and
the following rude inscription was discovered, distinctly
legible, both upon the inner part of the trunk, and, with
the letters inverted, upon the outer casing. The in-
scription can, without difficulty, be thus read :

THIS THE
LOVNG
TIME
WITNES
BEARE
OF TOW
gOVRS
THAT cca
WALK HEA
RE
" This tree long time witness hear
Of two lovers that did walk here."

There is no date to the inscription, but the period at
which it was made may be ascertained, with much pro-
bability, from the following considerations.
The tree is deposited in the museum of the Hospital
at Kirk Leatham, between Stockton-upon-Tees and
Redcar. The porter of the Hospital, now living, can
vouch for its having been there upwards of 70 years ;
and the tradition respecting the tree is, that it was given
by Lord Falkenburg, from his manor at Coxwold, to
Mr. Cholmley Turner, who died on the 9th May, 1757.
It would therefore appear that the tree has been cut down
nearly a hundred years. Also, by the number of rings
in the wood, each indicating a year's growth, the tree
appears to have been about 55 years old when the in-
scription was made, and to have subsequently grown
for nearly 200 )ears. The closeness of the rings under
the circumference prevent this estimation of the date
from being regarded as more than an approximation ;
but all the circumstances render it highly probable that
the inscription was made about three centuries ago.—
Tyne Mercury.

THE GREAT SPIRIT, ALCOHOL,
The Barbadoes Liberal, in giving the report of a
temperance meeting and its speeches, presents its
readers with the following novel piece of elocution, then
and there delivered :

" Gentlemen of the Jury,—l appear before you to-
night on the part of the Barbadoes Society for the Sup-
pression of Drunkenness and Intemperance against the
prisoner at the bar. He is charged by us with being
guilty of sundry high crimes and misdemeanors upon
the lives, persons, and properties of our fellow-subjects
of this island. His name, Gentlemen, is Ardent
Spirit, or Alchohol, but he passes commonly in society,
under the more fascinating and gentlemanly names of
Rum, Brandy, Gin, Whisky, &c. Gentlemen, the pri-
soner at the bar, according to the best information 1
can obtain, was born in Egypt. Now, this is worthy of
remark ; in Egypt, the very place where the ancient
people of God were evil treated several hundred years.
Thence he was introduced to the African Moors—
these, if I mistake not, were the descendants of Ishmael,
of whom it is said in Scripture, His hand shall be
against every man, and every man's hand shall be against
him.' The prisoner, however, can only be a half
brother to these, for while his hand is evidently against
every man, he contrives to keep every man upon good
terms with him, by which means he accomplishes
more evil than he would if he were a true Ishmaelite.
By the African Moors, he was introduced to the Moors
of Spain, and through them he got into England, about
800 years ago. From that day to the present he bas
never ceased to perpetra.e on his unconscious victims
the most horrid crimes that ever disgraced human
nature.
The first crime we charge upon the
prisoner is murder ; and was it one solitary case,
even of this atrocious crime, committed during
the hour of excitement, we might pause, drop the
tear of pity, and say no more, lest we should ex-
aggerate his offence. But, Gentlemen, the prisoner
has been guilty of a series of murders—a system of
villany unheard-of in the annals of the world. It is
said that Bonaparte filled the pools of Europe with
human gore ; but, Gentlemen, Bonaparte was a mere
dwarf in comparison of him who now stands at this