The Sun.
London, England, 1846-01-08 00:00:00

JANUARY 8, 1846,
LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING S Wry

NATIONAL LOAN FUND LIFE ASSUR-
ANCE SOCIETY,
26, CORNIIILL, LONDOIit.
Capital A 500,000.
Empowered by Act of Parliament.
This institution offers important and substantial advan-
tages with respect both to Life Assurances and Deferred Annfilties.
The assured has, on all occasions, the power to borr)w, without paid,
or forfeiture of the Policy, two-thirds of the premium paid,
(see table); also the option of selecting benefits, and the conversion
of his interests to meet other conveniences or necessity. Alourances
fir terms of years are granted on the lowest possible reel. •
DIVISION OF PROFITi.
The success and increasing prosperity of the Society has enabled
the ann
Directors, at the last ul investigation, to declare a third
Bonus, varying from So to 75 per cent. on the premiums paid on
each Policy effected on the Profit scale.
EXAMPLES.

1 • " Pr/ o 1 g'
iio i
g ,I"rem I u m . : ~,,:71'
r ,:1 Bones
. Brasabs•in gg I i'l 0., ir4
rg 1 -4 " "
i I I 0 _ .0 CO
' ..-
4 "'
, •
•
i • - -
-_--- -- -
-- - 1837 £l9l 13 8 £B7 13 5L£l3 17 1 £395 11 1
£ ' £ g' 1.
1838 16b 13 0 74 13 10 11 8 6 346 2 3
61 1000 74 3 4
11839 138 13 6 61 14 3 9 210 296 13 4
I : 1840 89 0 0 41 13 4 6• 0 247 4 5

--------
The division of profits is annual, and the next will be made in De-
cember of the present year

F. FERGUSON CA_IfROUX, Ste.

GUARDIAN FIRE AND LIFE ASSUR-
ANCE COMPANY.
Igo. 11, LOMBARD-STREET, at. the Entrance of the Old Post
office, London.
' DIRECTORS.
JOHN LABOUCHERE, Esq., Chairman.
JOHN DIXON, Esq., Deputy-Chairman.
Henry Hulse Berens, Esq. George Lyall, Esq., M.P.
John W. Buckle, Esq. Stewart Marjoribanks, Esq., M.P.
Francis Hart Dyke, Esq. John Martin, Esq., M.P.
Sir Walter R. Farquhar, Bart. Rowland Mitchell, Esq.
Thomson Hankey,jun., Esq. Robert Mitford, Esq.
John Harvey, Esq. James Morris, Esq.
George Johnstone, Esq. Henry R. Reynolds, jun., Esq.
Joha Loch, Esq. John Thornton, Esq.
Lewis Loyd, jun., Esq. James Tulloch, Esq.
------

.
AUDITORS.
A. W. Roberts, Esq I Henry Sykes Thornton, Esq.
Samuel Jones Loyd, Esq. Henry Norman, Esq.
AcTuatty—Griffith Davies, Esq., F.R.S.
In the LIFE DEPARTMENT, a Bonus was declared in June
1829, exceeding one per cent. per annum on the sums insured, on an
average of the different Ages ; and two subsequent divisions of nearly
equal amounts were made up to Christmas 183.5 and Christmas 1842.
On an average of the three divisions the Reversionary Bonuses added
to the several Policies at the end of every seven years amounted to
about 27 per cent. on the total premiums paid thereon during those
seven years, and the whole amount of Bonuses allotted at the three
Septennial divisions exceeded 530,0081.
Loans granted on Life Policies to the extent of their values, pro-
vided such Policies shall have been effected a sufficient time to have
attained in each case a value not under 541/.
In the FIRE DEPARTMENT, a Return of profit was declared
on the 4th of June, upon the premiums received on all Policies
which had been in force seven years at Christmas 1844, and the same
is now in course of payment daily (Friday and Saturday excepted),
between the hours of ten and three o'clock, at the Head Office; and
also by the Agents in the Country Districts.
Notice is hereby given, that assurances which expire at Christmas
must be renewed within fifteen days at this Office, or with Mr. Sams,
1, St. James's-street, corner of Pall-mall ; or with the Company's
agents throughout the kingdom, otherwise they become void.
GEORGE KEYS, Secretary.

THE AUSTRALASIAN, COLONIAL, and
GENERAL LIFE ASSURANCE and ANNUITY COM-
PANY, 126, Bishopsgate-street, corner of Cornhill.
Capital, 200,0001., in 2,000 Shares.
DIRgCTORS.

Edward Barnard, Esq., F.R.S. Gideon Colquhoun, Esq.
Robert Brooks, Esq. C. E. Mangles, Esq.
Henry Buckle, Esq. Richard Onslow, Esq.
John Henry Capper, Esq. William Walker, Esq.
TRUSTEES—Edward Barnard, Esq., F.R.S. ; J. H. Capper, Esq. ;
Edward Thompson, Esq.
AUDITORS—James Easton, Esq., and C. Richardson, Esq.
SOLICITORS—Messrs. Maples, Pearse, Stevens, and Maples.
BANKERS—The Union Bank of London.
COLONIAL BANKERs—The Bank of Australasia (incorporated by
Royal Charter, 1835), 8, Austin-friars, London.
PHYSICIAN—Dr. Fraser, 62, Guildford-street, Russell-square.
ACTUARY AND SECRETARY—Edward Ryley, Esq.
The following are the specimens of the rates of premium charged
by this Company for the Assurance of 1001.:

WITH PROFITS. WITHOUT PROFITS.
___
Age. Annual Premium. Age. Annual Premium.
20 £1 17 1 20 £1 10 3
25 2 2 1 25 1 14 11
30 2 8 2 30 2 0 7
35 2 15 2 35 2 7 0
40 3 4 0 40 2 15 3
45 3 15 6 45 3 6 6
50 4 11 8 50 4 1 8
55 5 9 7 55 5 0 5

No extra Premium is charged for residence in the Australasian or
North American Colonies, or at the Cape of Good Hope.
Peculiar facilities are afforded for the assurance of the lives of
persons proceeding to or residing in the East Indies.
Premiums may be paid, and claims settled, in Australasia and the
East Indies, by indorsement of the policy.
Immediate and Deferred Annuities are granted by the Company
on very favourable terms, and it is a peculiar feature in its constitu-
tion that Annuitants participate in the profits.
The following are specimens of the rates of annuities granted for
every 1001. sunk :

Male Female Male Female
Age. Lives. Lives. Age. Lives. Lives.
35 £7 1 5 £6 13 5 65 £l2 12 0 £lO 19 0
45 7 18 1 7 4 9 75 18 9 2 16 3 5
55 913 0 8 8 9 80 25 8 9 20 2 7

Prospectuses, with Tables, Forms of Proposal for the purchase of
an Annuity or for making an Assurance, and every information,
may be obtained by application at the Office of the Company.
E. RYLEY, Actuary and Secretary.

THE TONTINE LIFE ASSURANCE COM-
PANY.
(Provisionally Registered.)
Capital 2,000,000/., in 100,000 Shares of 201. each.
Deposit, in compliance with the provisions of the statute 7 and 8
Vitt., c. 110, Two Shillings per Share, until the complete Registra-
tion of the Company, when .the same will be increased to 1/. per
Share, which, with the assistance anticipated from the Tontine De-
partment, will, it is expected, be sufficient to carry out the objects
of the Company.
The plan of this Company offers considerable and peculiar advan-
tages to the Shareholders, as in addition to the profit arising from
Life Assurance transactions, it is proposed to raise a capital of
1,000,0001., or more, by the grant of Tontine Annuities, in classes
to be regulated by the ages of the Subscribers or their Nominees ;
which capital, on the death of the survivor in each class, will be
divided exclusively among the Shareholders. The principle of the
Tontine Annuities is explained below.

TRUSTEES.
John Elijah Blunt, Esq., 4, New-square, Lincoln's Inn
John Conolly, Esq., M.D., Lawn-house, Hanwell
James Martin, Esq., 68, Lombard-street.

PROVISIONAL DIRECTORS.
John Elijah Blunt, Esq., 4, New-square, Lincoln's Inn
Walter Wyndham Burrell, Esq., Knepp Castle, near Horsham, and
5, Richmond-terrace, Whitehall
John Charritie, Esq., Moorgate-street Chambers, City
M.D., Lawn. house, Hanwell
John Conolly,
Esq.,
John More Douglas, Esq., Belvedere-road, Lambeth
Walter Etty, Esq., Lombard-street Chambers
Edward Hamilton, Esq., M.D., Grafton-street, Piccadilly
William Henderson, Esq., 16, Bishopgate-street Within
Hector Monro, Esq., Walsham le Willows, Suffolk
Savile Craven Henry Ogle, Esq., M.P., 84, Eaton-square, Pimlico.
Ambrose Frederick Proctor, Esq., Ware, Harts
C..oke Taylor, Esq., LL.D., Fleet-street
John Alfred Trimester, Esq., HaSleMere, Surrey
Forbes Winslow, Esq., M.D., Sussex-house, Hammersmith.
BANKERS—Messrs. Martin, Stone, and Martins, 68, Lombard-street.
Somerroa—William Dimes, Esq., 46, Lincoln's Inn-fields.
MEDICAL AND SURGICAL REFEREES.
Thomas Callaway, Esq., F.R.C.S., Wellington-street, Southwark
James Copland, Esq., M.D., F.R.S., &c., &c., Old Burlington-street.
DISTRICT MEDICAL REFEREES IN LONDON.
William Preston Lauder, Esq., M.D., F.R.S.E., Sloane-street,

Knightsbridge
Edward Lloyd, Esq., M.D., Jewin•street, City
Walter Hayle Walsh, Esq., M.D., Professor of Pathology at Univer-
sity College, Upper Charlotte-street, Fitzroy-square.
CONSULTING ACTUARY—David Jones, Esq., Author of " Tables on
Annuites," &c., King William-street, City.
ACTUARY AND SECRETARY—WiIIiam Clark, Esq.
Temporary Offices, No. 16, Lincoln's Inn-fields.
Life Assurances will be effected with all the advantages to the
assured afforded by the most respectable established companies.

REIEUMA.TISM. All those suffering from
nheumatism, Chilblains, Lumbago, Tic-Doloreux, Cramp,
Sprains, /c.c., will find immediate relief and a speedy care by using
CORRALL'S EMBROCATION. The great and increasing demand
or this novel Embrocation induces the proprietor to introduce it
more generally to the public, satisfied that one trial alone will be
sufficient to convince the most sceptical of its superiority over all
other articles offered for similar purposes.
Sold in bettlee at Is. I}o., 25., and 2s. 9d. each, by the Sole Pro-
rietor, George Richardson, 12, Norland-place, Notting-hill, and
V his appointment by Barclay and Sons, 95, Farringdon• street ;
and J. Sanger, 150, oxford-street. Orders, by post, directed to the
Proprietor, p
romPtly attended to.

THE BEST APERIENT AND ANTIBILIOUS MEDICINE FOR
GENEZAL USE IS
FRAMPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH which
effectually relieves the stomaah and bowels by gentle relaxa-
tion, without griping or prostration of strength. They remove
sickness, dizziness, pains Sri the chest, &c., are highly
head-ache,
ratefult to the stomach, promote digestion, create appetite, relieve
languor and depression of spirits ; while to those of a full habit, and
free livers, who are continually suffering pron., drowsiness, heaviness,
and singing in the head and ears, they offer advantages that will not
tailto be appreciated.
This Medicine has for many years received tho approval of the
most respectable classes of society, and in confirmation of its effi-
cacy, the following letter has been kindly forwarded to Mr. Prout,
with permission to publish it, and, if requisite, to rerer any respect-
able person to its author:—
" To Mr. Prout, 229, Strand, London.
" Ileavitree, Exeter, April 24,. 1844.
" feel pleasure in being able to bear my strong awl unso-
licited testimony to the excellence of your " Frampton's P.M of
Health," which I consider a most safe, efficacious, and very superior
general medicine. The widow of an officer, an elderly lady, and
near relative of mine, has used them—very rarely having recourse
to other medicines for a long period of years ; she has recommended
them extensively, and in one instance in which she induced a person
to adoptthem, and supplied the first box herself, they have proved of
extraordinary efficacy. I think that perhaps there is scarcely any
other of the many patent medicines before the public of equal value
as a " friend in need"—certainly none possessed of superior claims
I shall be happy on all occasions to give them my individua recom-
mendation, and am, Sir, " Your obedient servant,* • "

Sold by T. Prout, 229, Strand, London, price Is. I%d. and 2s. 9d.
per box ; also by the Vendors of Medicines generally throughout the
Kingdom.
Ask for FRAMPTON'S PILL OF HEALTH, and observe the
name and address of " Thomas Front, 229, Strand, London," on the
Government Stamp.

THE ART UNION.
PIANOFORTES GIVEN AWAY, VALUE
FIFTY GUINEAS EACH.
The PROPRIETORS of the " RAILWAY TELEGRAPH AND
MERCHANT'S ADVOCATE" will give a Splendid Pianoforte, by
an Established Maker, to every Three Hundredth Subscriber.
The " Railway Telegraph and Merchant's Advocate " is a first-rate
Railway, Commercial, and General Newspaper.
Prospectuses and particulars to be had at the Office, 2, catberine-
strgAt, Strand, London.

SCHOLASTIC.
pA RENTS and GUARDIANS who are desirous
of securing those advantages to their children which are so
conducive to hea'th and their future welfare, viz,, pure air, good
food, and unremitting attention to their mortis, are respectfully
formed that Mr. WEDDELL, Principal of a Young Gentleman's
Academy, in a beautiful and healthy town, within four hours' ride of
the rnetropolis by rail, is now in London, and has a VACANCY for a
few yoaug geatlewn. The terms era laj. per annum and the extras.
Greek, Latin, French, Dancing, DFawing, Oil Painting, and Washing,
are on the usual terms.

Ap interview may be obtained with Mr. W. by addressing to him
a letter (pre-paid), cure of Messrs. Reeves and Son, 113, Cheapslde
pr Mr. T. 1-i. Sharpe, 15, Skinner-street, Snorrhill.

Tinhethreecniraorwkdwcaaslleedchoouet,d `b`
yNemvaenrymvionidoesa.b)outHae wwoarsdonoer
two; hungry men can understand what you mean."
of the poor Wiltshire labourers who were suffering under
a pretended corn-law protection. It bad been many
times stated that this corn-law protection was for the
benefit of the labouring classes, but he maintained that
at the present time it was au injury to them.—(Hear,
hear.) He, therefore, hoped that they would unite
in petitioning for the speedy removal of that pro-
tection, and the establishment of free trade for the
nation.—(Loud cheers.) God Almighty in b';
provi-
dence caused the earth to produce abundt-nce of provi-
sions for man, and what one nation could not produce
another could ; therefore everything should he so ma-
naged as to have free commerce throughout the world.
—(Hear, hear.) The labouring classes were in a most
distressed condition at the present time—worse than
last year, when he said at Wooten-Basset that every ,
man with five or six children went to bed more in debt
than he was the night before. His condition was worse
than it was that time twelvemonth. If wages had risen
within the last few years ls. a-week, the price of bread
had risen 25., so that the difference was against himself
and his family.—(A voice—" True, we be always going
back.") He hoped the Legislature would take into con-
sideration their distressed state, and find a speedy rescue
for the oppressed poor.—(Hear.) He could maintain the
truth of all that the chairman had stated about their dis-
tress. He believed that there wore at the present time
many who had not a bit of bread to eat. He did not know
whether the man was in that congregation or not,
but one man of Lyneham parish had told him that
many a night he had gone to bed hungry.—(Cries of
" Ah, he is not the only one"—" No, net by many.")
Those who were in distress should come forward and
manfully make their distress known ; that would show
the necessity for free trade, which he believed to be the
the only remedy,—(A voice, "It can't make us worse.")
20 or 30 years ago, the labourers of Wilts used to go up
into the hills and make a good harvest but since trade
had failed it was no use for them to go looking for reap-
ing, for many thousands of " scribblers" and weavers out
of employment went and cut down the wheat at low
wages. But he believed that if every scribbler had
work at his mill, and every weaver employment at his
loom, they would not rob the poor agricultural labourer
of his day's work.—(Hear,) Many persons said that
free trade would make things worse for them ; he did
not believe that to be possible, and all he wanted was
that the experiment should be tried.—(Hear, hear.)
He had heard that in centuries past labouring men
had for food bread, and butter, and cheese, and beef,
and pork, and beer ; but now it was bad potatoes
and salt. He was often thankful that the streams and
rivulets were so bountifully spread around their rn-Igh.
bourhood, and that taxation could not be wri..?,en on their
bosoms,—(Hear, hear.) But it W?. distressing for a
man to get up early and go to work having little or no
victuals, and to return to dinner upon a few potatoes,
and then be afraid sometimes to eat what he had.—(A
voice—" 'Cause you: would not have any for to-
morrow.") He had heard it said that there was no
market for meat. Why was that ? Because the people
had not the means of purchasing meat, therefore the
consumption was not bigger. He was past forty years
of age, and he could say that he never purchased a
pound of good slaughtered beef fit to be carried into
market. As to mutton, he had purchased a little of
that, but never as much as would average a pound a
year in the forty years. He knew what veal was, but
he never had any at all. He believed that the only way
to improve the meat market and increase the home
consumption, was to establish free trade, and he would
conclude by calling on them to unite in petitioning for
free trade.—(Cheers.) Free trade for ever !—(Re-
newed cheers.)

CHARLES VINES, in seconding the resolution, said-
Friends, I wish the moon was a little brighter just now,
that I could see better who is here ; but I see enough to
find that there is a good many people, and almost all of
'em wear smock-frocks and poor old hatsi as I do. Some
of us heard from a pulpit a short time ago that the mind
of man is like to be dissatisfied. I believe it. Dissatis-
fied minds hare brought all these-men here to-night.-
(A woman's voice, " Ay, and women too.") I believe,
fellow-labourers, that if you and your families had full
bellies, you would now have been at home, after being
working hard all day, comfortable with your wives and
families.-(" Ay,: that's true.) I am sure I should not
have walked all the way up here from Christian-Mal-
ford, through lanes and paths full of mud and dirt, if it
hatin't been for that. I don't come here to talk politics.
I don't know nothing of 'em. But I don't know much
of the corn-laws, only that they ha'nt done we labourers
much good.-(Hear, hear.) Everybody knows that.-
(A voice, " I've had 'em staring me in the face ever since
1817.") Yes, the corn-laws exist, and every one of us
feels that the sooner they be abolished the better.-
(Cheers.) I don't know whether many of you read
newspapers, but I must tell you that in the Wiltshire Inde-
pendent, not long ago, there was this statement made by a
labourer of Christian-Malford to the editor :-" As Mr.
Bennett, M.P. for South Wilts, lately stated at an agricul-
tural meeting that the poor of Wiltshire were always em-
ployed regularly at the rate of Bs. and 9s. per week, and
that they were well fed and well clothed, and as I know
by experience that that statement is false, I will, if you
will be so kind as to allow me to occupy a small space in
your valuable paper, prove that it is so; and I will tell
what I earned for 39 weeks ending the 10th of June, 1844,
to maintain as large a family as almost any poor man
has. The number of my family is eight; all of those 39
weeks we wanted 7s. a week for bread, not having any
potatoes a third part of the time; so that, if I had not
been receiving Bs. a week during all that time, it would
not have been enough to buy bread and firing. And
now, Sir, I will tell what was the exact amount of what
I did earn during those 39 weeks; it was 51. 19s. Bd.,
which is not quite 3s. ld. a week. This report is almost
enough to make you stagger to believe it, but it is no less
strange than true; and I can say, for a truth, that if it
had not been for a little land which I rent of the Hon.
Earl of Carnarvon and the Rev. Mr. Law, and a few
good friends amongst my neighbours, my family and my-
self must have died from starvation; it was not much
better as it was. Nowl will ask the Hon. Gentleman if he
thinks he is justified in stating such things at public meet-
ings? I could say a great deal more on the subject, but
I will leave these remarks for Mr. Bennett's present perusal,
and say a word or two at some future period, and I
sincerely hope and trust that these remarks will open
the said Mr. Bennett's eyes a little, so that he may
see that the poor are in distress; and I sincerely hope he
will make speeches and try to adopt measures for the
bettering the condition of us poor labourers, and I don't
doubt but that it will redound to his praise, and I think
he, in so doing, will glorify God, who alone knows the
hearts of all, and the distress which we, as a nation, are
labouring under, for there has been an increasing dis-
tress for years past ; many in this parish are now suffer-
ing greatly for want of work."-(Cries of, " Ah, that is
true, all true.") This case, so stated in that paper, was
the case of the man who stands before you.-(Hear,
hear.) And now, my friends, the purpose of my being
here to• night is to prove to you the accurate sum that I
earned from September 16, 1843, till November 23,
1844, which is about 62 weeks together, with the amount
of money earned by me down to the 31st of December,
1845, which, if I reckon right, is about 119 weeks and
three days. Together with relief when ill, and 29 weeks
for a boy, 12 years old, who was allowed 3d. a day,
the whole sum amounted to 421. ss. 5d., that is exactly
7s. lid. a week, or thereabouts. Now, I will ask any
labourer with a wife and six children, to step forward
and, if he can, tell me in what I am to spend this
money, so as to pay every man I deal with 20s. in the
pound ?-(" Why thee can't.") If he can, I shall be glad
to take a lesson in economy of him.' Ican only say that my
wife and myself have made it our study for the last 14
years and more. She says she can't make the money do
it, and yet I am proud to say she is as good a wife as any
man has got.-(Cheers.) I would remark here that
there are other necessaries besides food. There is house
rent. I pay 4Z a year, as a good many in this meeting
know. Now, 119 weeks, which go a good way towards
two and a half years, will take away 91., leaving 331 ss.
9d. Then I reckon shoes a necessary.-(" You can't
do without them.") I take what a pair cost me two
years ago ; I haven't had any since, nor my family, and
I suppose we never shall any more. I paid 12s. for a
pair of water-tights ; and if there is any shoemaker here
who will make me another pair at that price, I shall want
at least six months' credit.-(A laugh.) If he wants
them he shall have two bondsmen farmers, and I will be
bound to say that they must pay him, for I don't see
that I ever can.-(Laughter.) Then there is a pair for
my wife, 6s. 3d.; for my oldest daughter (14 years),
ss. 6d.; for my oldest son (11 years), 6s. 6d. ; for my
next son (9 years), ss. 6d.; for my next daughtere
(7 years), 4s. 6d.; for my next (4 years), 35.;
yBdb.reaadwebeikll.,
youngest child (2 years), ls. 6d. All that amounts to
21. 4s. 9d., leaving a surplus of 31/. Os. 9d. to
.buy food
for eight in a
for 119 weeks, being ss. 2d. per week
if that
family. I will leave all the world to judge
_sum
eight in number, in food.
is sufficient to keep a family,
I often don't
-(" No, it can't be done.") I am sure for th
o
That's true, for some I've paid
ksirnmcwe lhasotwJut
Then you'll say, " You can't pay for your bread."-...
meet. My
Bs.M
' and don't see
for, and some I han t, any way to pay for
ly,
me
(" No, that you can't.")
makeeost bothfr ends d7ss
it for the future; neither do I know how I'm to pay for
what will be wanted in future, for I have no good po-
tatoes, hardly one fit for a pig to eat; for I do rent a bit
of land now, half an acre, and there is not a good potato
in it. I've got here one I had boiled for my dinner to-
day; I brought it for a specimen. (The potato was
handed down and examined under the lanterns; it
was black with the prevailing disease.) Yet this is what
I um to feed upon when I get up to work at four o'clock
in the morning, if there's no bread in the house. It is a
long time till July next before we get new potatoes;
and unless something turns up for we poor creatures,
starvation stares us in the face on both hands. But I
sincerely hope " long looked-for" will come before July
next.-(Hear, hear.) To obtain our rights effectually
we must all, with one heart, lift up our cry and petition
her Majesty to remove the restrictions upon trade and
commerce, so that the poor labourers may have bread
and cheese and good table beer, to enable them to do the
work which their present scanty food never can.-
(Hear, hear.) May that cry meet with a reply from
our gracious Queen. God save the Queen l-(Cheers,
and responses of " Amen.") Friends, every man who
is born and bred a labourer has for his birthright a living
from the soil, to be obtained without being restricted by
any laws-unjust laws I might call 'em-enforced by

our Legislature.—(Cheers.) I will now read a few lines
which I have collected together with something of my
own, showing the right of an English labourer:—
" My only claim is this.;
With labour stiff and stark,
By lawful turn, my bread to tam,
Between the light and dark.
My daily bread, and nightly bed,
My bread and cheese and beer :
But all from the hand that holds the land,
And none from the Overseer.
—(Loud cheers, and cries of "No overseers for we.")
" No parish money, nor parish loaf,
No pauper badge for me ;
I'm a san of the soil, by rightful toil,
Entitled to my fee.
No alms 1 ask, give me my task,
For will, or arm, or leg;
I'm strong and bold, and to this I'll hold—
To work and not to beg."—(Loud cheering.)
WILLIAM PARRY, of Charlton, said, I have come a
di lance of twenty miles to tell my tale of distress. I have
six children, a wife, and myself to maintain on Bs. per
week, bread being 15d. per gallon. The farmers tell us
nal
that our wages go according to the price of bread; but
to each,
,lad a gleo n
po un Nd wi t
st spring I had is. a week, and could buy bread at
i s aids .
what we
ea
wantnd a gallonin m y
being one a day,Then there is clothing and firing wanted, and house-
rent to pay; but there is nothing to
pay for any of these
things. I told the relieving- officer that I could not keep
my family on my wages. He said he would bring my
case forward at the board of guardians. Well, he sent
me an order for one of my children to go into the work-
house. Now, fellow-labourers, is not one child as dear
to you as another ?—(llear, hear.) Well, I did not know
which to send. I could not part with ne'er a one. I
said to my oldest girl, " You are to go into the work-
house." She did not like to go, and I spoke to others,
and there I had the cries of my poor children, which
were piercing to my heart, " Don't send me, father, don't
send me !" Was not that enough to try a man, without
the pressure of starvation ? I spoke to master about it.
" Oh," he says, if you cannot maintain them, you had
better send one into the workhouse ; I shall not allow
you any more wages." I said, " What benefit is it to
send this child into the workhouse, and banish it f",om
its home; it will do the rest no good, nor that one either.
Besides, I should have it always upon ma' mind, for no
man would like to part from his citidren in such a
ay."—(Hear, hear.) I spokea few words at a
meeting at Uphaven, d
an-- master told me I had done
myself a great deal of hurt by it. I know I only
told the truth-.
tie said the farmers might have done
me soma good but for that. I wanted some better
P°lato land, but master wanted 81. an acre for it. I told
him I could not pay that. If I could get three acres of
land at the same price that the farmers get it-21. an
acre, I could provide for myself and family.—(A Voice—
" Ay, the labourers would not let the land go out of
cultivation.") But the farmers say it will, if we have
tree trade.—(Cries of " No, ao.") Where I come from
there are fields and fields full of nothing but thistles.
Why ? Because there are not farmers enow to culti-
vate the land. Some of the land our people reaped pro-
duced two thistles to one wheat ear.—(Cries of "Shame,
shame.") I was at home emptying this wheat, and mas-
ter came into the yard. I said. " Look at this." The
thistle down was flying off like a snow storm. I said,
" You had better have had more labourers to cut the
thistles out; the land will never be cultivated while this
goes on." He said, " But I have kept all the sixpences
in my pocket."—(Murmurs.) I wish the farmers would
have public open meetings to discuss these subjects.
There was a meeting in Devizes, where Mr. Bethel made
a grand speech, and said that the labouring men were all
in a flourishing state and well satisfied.—(Cries of" He's
a liar.") Mr. Bethel was in a warm room, had, per-
haps, had a bottle of wine, and was himself in a
flourishing state when he said that ; while at the same
time his poor labourers were starving.—(Hear, hear.)
If it was not for potatoes, starved we must be.—(Hear,
hear.) How does the poor man get clothes ? He lives
upon potatoes and salt, and saves a little to buy two or
three rags, or else he would be positively naked. We
could better ourselves if we were permitted. I told
master that, if he would let me have three or four acres,
at 2/. an acre, I could keep my wife and family without
coming upon him or going into the workhouse. But they
won't agree to it. They say if the land is let in that kind
of way it will go out of cultivation ; but that is the very
way to bring it into cultivation. Fellow-labourers, there is
one thing that we are very wrong in. We goes to work at
mowing, cutting and slashing away, without asking master
what we are going to have for doing it before we begins.
But I know very well that when a man asks a fair price,
the farmers say, "Go along—l don't want thee. I can
do without thee." The man who speaks fairly, and asks
a fair price for his labour is sure to be persecuted. But
we should unite together, and know before hand what we
are going to have for doing the work.—(Hear, hear.)
After some further remarks upon the low wages paid to
agricultural labourers, which had reduced them to a
miserable condition, worse than that of transports, the
speaker said—there was nothing left for them now but
starvation or free trade. He believed that free trade
would give them good beef and bread to eat, instead of
potatoes and no meat or bread. Bad living had made
the agricultural labourers physically weaker ; he hoped
also that it would now have the effect of making them
wiser. It had made them wise enough to attend that
meeting. They must speak out their distresses, or they
could not expect relief. His master had told him that
he thought himself a fool for not turning him away for
attending the meeting at Uphaven. The fact was,
the farmers wanted to keep the labourers in the dark.
The farmers and landlords held their meetings in pri-
vate, and would prevent the labourers from having any
meetings at all. The labourers must be persecuted
for meeting together ; but farmers and landown-
owners might meet and devise how to starve the poor
labourers, and that was all right.—(A voice—" Never
mind, it won't last long.") He hoped not. His master
(Mr. Wansborough) said, that free trade would starve
them.—(Cries of "Let's try it ; why we be starving
now.") He said, " You won't have any money if you
have free trade." How many in that meeting had
money ? He would venture to say none.—(A labourer
—"I have been five weeks without a farthing in my
pocket ; I have never see'd any money all that time.")
He saw no hope for them but in free trade. There was
plenty of bread and meat waiting to come into this
country, but the corn-laws would not let it come in.
Their cry, then, must be, " Free trade, free trade for
ever!"—(Cheers.) They were told that if corn became
cheap, their wages would be reduced. But were their
wages now according to the price of bread ?—(Cries of
"No, no.") When corn sank in price 2s. or 3s. a sack,
the farmers took off ls. or 2s. from the labourer's wages ;
but when corn went up again the labourer was left in
the lurch, for his wages were not raised.—(Hear.) He
should like every labourer to come forward to tell his
grievances.—(A voice—" Then the meeting would last
till the 31st December next.") No, not if they got free
trade before next summer.—(Cheers.) They must not be
afraid to tell the truth. His master told him that if he ,
had not gone to a meeting he would have done a great
many more things for him.—(A Labourer—" Why did
he not do 'em before ?") It appeared that he never
thought before of doing anything for him. Although
this meeting was large, he knew that there were hun-
dreds who were kept away through fear of offending
their masters. His master told him that if he went to
another meeting he would turn him off. But when
engaged in a right cause they must not fear man, who
at the most could only destroy the body. Let them
fear God, and trust in him, and they would succeed.
W. TAYLOR stated that he had a wife and four chil-
dren, and expected soon to have five; and was at present
out of employment. For the last seven weeks he was in
work he got 6s. 6d. per week. For many days be bad
been without a bit of bread to eat.
no of the A person in the crowd—But you are o
pro-
tected Wiltshire labourers. Were you discharged from
your employment because you were so weak you could
not work ?
TAYLOR—Yes, I could not work because I was not
strong enough ; I could not get victuals to make me so
and my master, Mr. Styles, of Whitcomb, discharged
me. I have no work now, end not a sixpence,
A voice—Go to the Duke of Richmond. at 17, Bond-
street.—(Cries of "Hear, hear.")
I Another voice—Did ever any of your fellow-labourers
I give you bread when you were starving ?
T.avLon—Yes, several times. I han't had any to-day
but what that man gave me (pointing to a labourer in
the crowd, who replied " yo,
I gave him some to-day.")
May God Almighty soon send free trade.
[This poor man need not have called himself a starving
man ; his emaciated appearance spoke in stronger terms
than his voice could utter.]
JAMES PEGLER complained that he had been " hunted
down" under the poor-laws, having been, with his wife
and family, forced into the workhouse, and separated
from them for eleven months.—(Cries of " Shame.") At
last he was turned out to get work ; and, because he went
out of the district to find work, he was taken before the
magistrates, and charged with desertion, for which he
was sent to prison for a month. It was no use for him
to grumble ; he was served so again after that. God
bless my heart and life ! (exclaimed this man) " I never
seed sich agoto be sure as how I was served. I knows
enough of starvation and misery to make me say, ' God
send us free trade !' "—(Cheers.)
The resolution was then put, and unanimously
agreed to.
Mr. COLE said that he had no idea until he got on the
platform that there wore half so many persons present,
neither could he have believed that in a district where
there were comparatively few houses, so large a number
would congregate together after the toils of the day,
many of them coming from a considerable distance. But
it went to prove that hunger, the cause of a dissatisfied
mind, would drive people to do many unusual things, and
make them submit to serious inconveniences.—(Hear,
hear.) He believed the time had nearly arrived when
the atrocious corn-laws would be blotted out of the
statute-book.—(Cheers.) Lord J. Russell, a nobleman
ho enjoyed the confidence of his Sovereign, had de-
clared that those laws were not only the blight of com-
merce, and the bane of agriculture, but the cause of
penury, death, and crime among the people.—(Hear,
hear.) Could such laws, then, be permitted to remain in
a country like this ?—(Cries of " No, no.") They were
morally repealed already.—(Cheers.) He was satisfied
that Sir Robert Peel or Lord John Russell must repeal
the corn-laws. 'Would the protectionists rueve fora
Committee of inquiry into the truth of Lord J. Russell's
ussertiou ? No. They refused the self-same thing