Star.
London, England, 1824-06-17 00:00:00

MR. OWEN TO THE BRITISH J.VATION.

On Monday night Lmade a last appeal to the British
Legislature on the subject of the appointment of a
Committee to examine the measures
.which I have
been for some t; Ile • pi eparing,to eve 'Yeiief to the In-
habitants of Ireland.
The offer war rejerted, and my Lord Lauderdale
added, that the proposal ought to be tre ited with con-
tempt. Fortunately fur those rho are now in poverty,
in ignorance, and in
.misery, and no less fortunately for
his Lordship and 'his compeers, his Lordship's wishes
are not likely to be gratified.
I have a high and important duty to perform for my
fellow-creatures, and I deem no efforts which I can
make, no cost which I can support, too great, in ob-
taining the object before me in the most legitimate and
best manner. The present Session of Parliament, now
about to expire, has been occupied by me in various
attempts to ascertain whether the Executive Government
and the Legislature could be induced to enter fairly and
honestly on measures that would give to the people the
advantages which the late improvements in science,
_and
the rapid advance in general knowledge, ought to afford
them; and I purposely carried these applications to the
utmost extent that I thought the Cabinet and Parliament
would hear, without my being deemed offensively rude to
both. I have likewise attended the Ricardo LeCtures, de-
livered by Mr. Nl,Culloch, with the view of ascertaining
what practical knowledge could be obtained from the
theories of the modern political economists, which are
known to govern the opinions of many, who are cOnsi%
dered among the most liberal and enlightened of our
legislators. And I have also mixed freely with indivi-
duals, who form part of thegreat Public, to learn whether
the governing Powers, or the-mass of the people were
the more advanced in the acquirements requisite for
the general improvement of society.
These inquiries and proceedings have led me to con-
clude that no parties are satisfied with what has been
done and is doing ; that a strong conviction exists in
the minds of the Members of the Legislature and of
the Public, that, with the enormous powers at the
command of this empire, Ireland ought not to be in
the condition it is, nor the mass of the people in
this and in other countries in the ignorance, poverty,'
and_ degradation in which they are ; that a very gene-
ral desire pervades all ranks to adopt some measures
for the improvement of Ireland, and of the working
classes generally; but that in consequence of the pre-
vious education of the world confining the attention of
each individual to his own immediate interest, and to

. _
his own limited circle, few minds have yet been
formed to comprehend the general interests of mankind,
and still fewer to acquire the experience by which indi-
vidual and general interests can be united in practice
for the benefit of all.

081 this account there is a mental and moral dissatis-
faction between the governors and the governed, an
universal agitation in the minds of all, and a general
expectation that some great change, some contest be-
tween error and truth, between ignorance and intelli-
gence, between despotism and rational liberty, is before
us, and is fast approaching.
These are the impressions which, according to my
ideas, at present pervade the civilized world.
What is there now to be done? What measures can
relieve from this dilemma? Has not the Legislature
virtually proclaimed its inability to adopt any practical
proceedings for an immediate effectual relief? Have
not Ministers reiterated, in almost every debate in both
Houses of Parliament, during this and the last Session,
that they ardently desire to relieve the inhabitants of
Ireland from their sufferings, but that the causes of the
evils are of such long standing, and so deep-rooted,
that they know not bow to remove them ?
The truth is, that the Legislature is so involved in
the errors of the system by which all these sufferings
have been engendered and perpetuated, that they cannot
of themselves proceed one step further in advance; and
it is through the public voice alone that they can be
enabled to move forward in a right direction. The
practical measures which can alone relieve Ireland from
its igoorance, its poverty, its irritations, and its miseries,
are to be toand in a well digested and comprehensive
plan, N: hich shall give perpetual advantageous employ-
ment to her people, secure them, not a nominal, but a
substantial, useful education, and which shall supersede
her present violent and uncharitable religions, by one
of real charity and genuine kindness.
Want of employment, want of education, and want
of religious freedom, are the palpable causes of the
present state of things. For Goternment any longer to
occupy themselves in useless attempts to discover any
other cause of Ireland's degradation and of their own
disgrace, a waste of time and a mockery of the public
feelings. All perceive the causes of the evils, but they
want sufficient moral courage to express what they
know ; it is a mnaly for these oils that must be found
and applied, before any substantial relief can be effected
for that country or for society.

But can that relief be looked for from Legislators,
who have been trained to speak, but who are too fet-
tered to act ; or, if not too fettered, ate too inexpe-
rienced to know how to act under the new circum-
stances in which society is 'lbw placed ?—No. The
next advance for the benefit of mankind must be effected
ty- a union of intelligent, scientific, and practical men,
of tile chaos and clashing interests of existing
society, shall coolly and dispassionately select the in-
valuable and inexhaustible materials which the arts and
sciences can row io richly supply, and form a new ar-
rangement of those materials, which shall be purposely
cleiri,,ed to create union throughout society, and to se-
cute to each individual the greatest attainable ad-
vantages, mental and moral.
My experience leads me to know that this is the
course mhich must be pursued; and, in consequence,
with the aid of several benevolent individuals, I have
prepared, as a preliminary measure, a new domestic
arrangement for the working classes, affording them a
comfortable residence, surrounded by agreeable exter-
nal circumstances, regular prmluctive employment, a
good education from infancy for their children, the
means of forming an agreeable society,. and of enjoy-
ing •
health, and the natural blessings of life; and
eaubiZithem,- by deg:co, to gain independence for
themselves, and to secure it for their offspring, by their
own labour.

I intended to put the Public in possession of these ar.
rar.gements before the/termination of the present month,
either through the medium of the Report of a Pariia-
naentary Committee, or at Public Meetings to be called
fur the purpose; but I am under the necessity of hastily
seturoing to Scotland to diteit my own affairs, and to
plish forward, before the proper season escapes, the
new Pleasures which are there in progress, to furnish
the *odd a practical proof of what man is susceptible

when justice is done to him 14 placing himamidst those
circumstances which shall induce rationality, intelli-
gence, and virtue.
As soon as these practical measures shall be advanced
to a given point, I well know the willing change which
they cannot fail to produce throughout the world; but
I am grieved to see the daily waste of capital, the,
misapplication of time and of all the human faculties,'
and much more, the hourly sufferings which are, in the'
meantime, experienced from pecuniary and mental dis-
tress, the necessary result of the prevalent popular errors.
Urged on, therefore, as I am by these considerations,
I mean to take the earliest opportunity of explaining
openly to the Public what the Public may immediately
obtain for itself, without injuriously interfering with
the interests of individuals or of governments. I wish
the Public to judge for itself of a Plan which is recom-
mended for their adoption by an experienced prac-
tical man, who can have no one view to private interest
in the recommendation.

Ample nutice shall be given to the Public of the steps
which shall be taken for this important purpose.
R OBER T 0 WEN.

SUER El' SA SSIONS.

Yesterday, George Bailey, a ferocious looking fellow,
dressed in the garb of a sailor, stood indicted for as-
saulting William Nettleship on the highway, and at-
tempting to rob him.
Mr. W. Nettleship stated, that lie is a jeweller, and
resides at Mitcham. On the night of the 19th of May,
about nine o'clock, he was going home, and on crossing
Clapham Common the prisoner at the bar came up to
him, and demanded his money, at the same time pre-
senting a pistol at his breast. He was somewhat alarmed
at this unexpected attack; but, on gaining a little com-
posure, he suddenly struck the pistol aside, and ran off,
crying " !" and " Stop thief!" The pisoner
escaped. He had no doubt as to the man's identity.

Reed, ano:her officer, confirmed the statement of
Stunt.—The Jury found the prisoner Guilty. ,
He Wai again indicted for assaulting and attempting,
to sob a Mr. Cuckow, on the same night, under very
similar circumstances, and was found Guilty.
The CHAIIIIIAN (Mr. Hedger) told him it was lucky
for him he had taken no property, and sentenced him
to transportation for life.—The Session then teminated.ll

CAPTAIN O'CALLAGHAN.

Tuesday, one of the visiting Magistrates of Horse-
monger-lane jail, issued an order for this Gentleman to
have what food he desired to be brought to him ; but
yesterday, Mr. Walters, the keeper of the prison, re-
ceived orders from the Magistrate that he must not
admit any more food into the jail for the prisoner's use,
but that he must be kept on the jail allowance—bread
and water!

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
BOW-STREET.
Mr. W. H. Williams, of the Theatre Royal, Drury-hoe, applied
for a warrant against R. W. Milstein, Esq. to answer for inflicting a
violent blow upon the heal of the said Mr. Williams.
Mr. Williams stated to the Magistrates, that having played in the
first act of the play on Tuesday night, and having some time upon
his hands between the play, he went round to the portico of the
theatre; that shortly after Mr. Ellisten came, and on perceiving
Mr. Williams, very roughly ordered the sentinels to turn him away,
saying he was " a most suspicious character !" That on his return
to the theatre, he asked the meaning of Mr. Elliston $ conduct;
that the lessee then began to abuse the complainant, and said he
would not have any of his performers lurking about the front of the
house: and upon receiving an explanation, the only return he made
for it was knocking the complainant down. Under these circum-
stances, the Magistrates granted the warrant.
Curious Arrant.—Yesterday morning, a decent looking old man
applied to Mr. blntaaut.i., the sitting Magistrate, fora warrant
against a woman who, he was sorry to say, had induced his own
daughter to rob him. The circumstances he stated were these:—
Having been for above forty years in the service of Messrs. Cotte-
cell, in Lincoln's Inn-fields, he had so far gained their good opi-
nion, that when the senior member of the firm died, the younger
ones promised he should never want; and as an earnest of their
kind intentions, gave him a cheque for seloo, and his wife another
for £5O, on Childs' Bank. The next day he obtained cash for
them, and deposited the amount, with the exception of about £2O.
in the drawer of a desk in Messrs. Cotterell's office. Shortly after,
he missed three £lO notes, but without being able to form any idea
as to who the thief could be. The conduct of his daughter, some
time subsequently giving him uneasiness, he sent her to St. Dun-
stan's Workhouse, and there paid for her board. Hearing that she
was on one occasion dressed unusually well, he informed the
workhouse-keeper of his loss, and requested him to endeavour to
discover whether she was in any way connected with it. The
girl was then called into a private :vol., and, after some entreaty,
confessed that she had taken the money by the request of a Mrs.
Marshall, and that she had possession of it. These were the facts
on which the application was grounded.
Au officer WA3 then dispatched to the residence of Mrs. Marshall,
in Clement's-lane, in order to apprehend her. In about half an
hour she appeared, very smartly dressed, with a child in her arms,
in a similar state. When asked how she came to act in so atrocious
a manner, she said that the child had been hired by her as a ser-
vant, and that the money had been given by her father, to bribe her
to secrecy concerning his improper conduct.
Mr. M►xsrtut.t. thew thought there was sufficient in the case to
authorise him in committing the girl as a principal, and Mrs. Mar-
shall as a receiver.—The unfortunate father and the other witnesses
were then bound over.

M A It LBO ROC G
W. B. lkbinson, an articled clerk with Mr. Abraham, the Solici-
tor, Great Alarlborough.street, the young Gentleman who has been
some days in custody upon charges of feloniously taking away books
and other property from various shopkeepers, and respecting whose
identity much contradictory evidence has hitherto been adduced,
was yesterday brought up for final examination.
At twelve o'clock, the hour appointed for the examination, the
Office and all the approaches to it were crowded to excess, by per-
sons attracted by the publication of the last examination, as well as
by a number of highly respectable friends of the prisoner, amongst
whom was his brother, a Major in the Army, and who teemed to
take a deep and painful interest in the proceedings.
The Magistrates having inquired if there were any persons pre-
sent who had any charges to prefer against the prisoner at the bar?
a roar of voices w,re heard answering in the affirmative, and
Mr. Thomas Veck, bot.kseller, Tavistock-row, Covent-garden;
Mr. Thomas llault, watch-maker, residing in Prince's-street, Soho-
square ; and Mrs. Ann Merchant, the wife of Mr. Marchant, jewel-
ler, in Oxford-street, deposed to having been defrauded of articles
in a similar manner by the prisoner; and the latter witness swore
in the most positive manner as to the prisoner's identity.
Mr. ANDILIMS said, that at present he should not enter into any'
further defence of the prisoner than what bad already appeared,
but this case was so extraordinary, and so thoroughly convinced
was lw of the young inan's innocence, that he wished to request, in
the most pressing manner, of all those persons who were robbed to
join and advertise au accurate description of the various ankles, so
that the pawnbrokers who may have them, or others who may have
purchased theta, may be invited to come forward and speak to the
identity of the prisoner, and either declare his innocence, or put his
guilt beyond all doubt.
A long conference now took place between the Magistrates and
Mr. &maws, during which the latter strongly urged the admitting
the priviuer to bail, and offered at that instant to give hail for his
appearauce of tint first respectability, to the amount of £20003 from
Gentlemen in £5OO each.
The Magistrates said they Would take a little time to consider this
point; at present their opinion was for committing the prisoner at
once, but under all the circumstances they would remand him until
Monday, and then give a final answer.
• The prisoner was theta remanded.
Mr. Anntaves and Mr. ASRAMAX both said that they have not
the slightest doubt of being able to prove a complae alibi in many
or the cases brought forward. ludeed there are two persons who
have suffered by these depredations, who have seen the prisoner,
and declare him not to he the person, but such is the nature of their
bu:lness that they cannot attend at present.
The wituesses who swore to the prisoner's identity we'e then all I
bound over to prosecute.