Star.
London, England, 1823-08-02 00:00:00

-111 R. OWEN'S PLAN.

•
Yesterday the adjourned Meeting on Mr. Owen's
Plan for employing and uniting the people of Ire-
land, was held-at the City of London Tavern.
Mr. OwEN,took the Chair at one o'clock, and pro-
ceeded to address the company. The same reasons,
he said, which had induced him to fill the Chair on
Tuesday, applied with equal force on the present oc-
casion. In pursuing a measure which involved so
many important considerations in its consequences,
he could not desire any of his more distinguished
ft icnds to give it their support until it was fairly
placed before the Public in such a manner as to
enable them to form an accurate judgment of it, both
in its detail and extent=-in its principle and practice.
Personal favour and friendship for the individual
could be of little service to the cause which he had
undertaken. He was directly opposed to what ap-
peared to him the errors of all past ages. He must
in consequence be opposed by the atorld ; and in that
case, if his cause rested not upon' a rock, which the
united piejudices of mankind could not shake, of
chat avail would be the support of a few hundred i
of thousand friends? Popularity and fame were with
him mere sounds, inconvenient, to listen to while men I
remained in the world, and, in his mind, of no pos-1
sible value when they were removed out of it.—
That no one might misunderstand what the business
of the day was, lie would state that it was to consider
a plan, n hich after much study and reflection, and '1
more than 30• years of extensive experiment, he re-
commended to be adopted for the relief of the work-
ing classes, and of society generally ; and more par-
ticularly from having lately spent nearly eight months
in Ireland, for the purpose of investigating its situa-
tion, he recommended it to be immediately applied
upon a large scale to that country, as the only means
which could now be adopted with any hopes of suc-
cess, to give productive employment to the people?
and to relieve them from the evils arising from tei.
gious dissensions, by removing the cause from which
they all originated, and which, while it should be al-
lowed to remain, must continue to generate them.
In order to prevent misconception, he would shortly
restate the principles and arrangements of his plan.
Ile submitted-Ist; That the character of man is
chiefly formed by the circumstances in which he may
be placed, and principally and essentially by the geo-
graphical circumstances of his birth. 2d, That it is
therefore most to be desired that those who direct the
affairs of mankind should be well informed respect-
ing the influence which those circumstances which
they have the power to remove or replace, have over
the well-being and happiness of their fellow-creatures.
3d, That one of the most unfavourable-circumstances
that has ever influenced the conduct of mankind, is
the notion that any individual can have merit or de-
merit for the particular opinions given to him. 4th,
That the first step requisite to produce real virtue in
society, is to withdraw that error from the human
mind : and as every fact that has ever been known to
to the human rate proves it to be an error, it will be
true wisdom now to reject it. sth, That by its rejection
the means would be immediately in our power to with-
draw all anger and irritation from society, and to intro-
duce peace, real charity and kindness throughout the
world. 6th, That the chief obstacle would also be thus
removed, to the combination in practice of all those
circumstances which are best calculated to improve
the character 'of all individuals, and are most fa-
vourable to the creation and enjoyment -of wealth.
7th, That the arrangements which are proposed, have
been specially devised with the view to exclude what-
ever the past has proved to be injurious, and to in-
clude whatever experience has demonstrated to be
beneficial. Bth, That, in consequence, it becomes
necessary that the opponents of this plan should chew
in what respect these practical measures are likely to
fail in any of the important objects referred to. He
had now also to add, that although it appeared to
him to be erroneous in principle, and highly perni-
cious in practice, to attribute merit or to attach de-
merit to the opinions of individuals when the will had
no power whatever in the formation of those opi-
nions, yet be could not regard all opinions as of equal
value : he must estimate them according
.to their
truth or falsehood, or their consistency or inconsis-
tency with each other, and with all those facts with
which experience had made us acquainted. It was,
therefore, the opinions solely, of which he approved or
disapproved : he did not condemn the individuals
who had been mane to entertain them; for those he
could feel only affection or compassion. And far.
flier, that as the mere opinions of men could have
no influence whatever upon matters of eternity,
no man or set of men could, by saying that there
was or that there was not a future state, establish
the one or the other proposition. Nor did he think,
according to the principles which he had ad-
vanced, that one particle more of merit or demerit
belonged to the individual, whether he adopt
the one or the other. To his own principles he attri-
buted no more merit or demerit than he did to those
of other men. As a human being whose will had no
power over his opinions, he could only state, with
reference to this subject, that the facts impressed
upon his mind compelled him to state, that after death
men would eternally exist, but in what state or form
he was unable, from want of additional facts, to do
more than conjecture; but sure he was, that if the
SUPREME RULER of the Universe were infinitely wise,
powerful, and just, not one individual would exist
under eternal punishment; nor was it necessary, as it
appeared to him, that those intellects which had been
made weak and irrational, should any longer be
frightened with such an error. The time was near
when the world would no longer be governed by un-
certain precept, but by unerring practice; and not by
fear, but by love. This declaration having been
made, that the world might not uselessly dispute
about any supposed speculative opinions of his, which
were of no more rear Value than those of any other
man possessing equal experience, he would proceed
to the regular business of the day, not with a desire
to gain a victory over any individual or party, but
with a sincere and honest intention to elicit truth, and
to benefit his suffering fellow-creatures. He con-
cluded by stating that he had been advised to with-
draw the Resolutions that he )fad moved on the for-
suer day, and substitute enmore immediately
applicable to a practical r suit. He concluded by
r
moving the following Reso utions:
1. That, as it has now been stated by ah experienced, disin-
terested individual, that he hat devised new anangements, by
which 1000 persons, including the usual armee of all ages, can

•' . •
produce by their labour, properly directed, sullicient to main=
tarn themselves in cornfort,and to support two thousand ntore--
this Meeting recommends to his Majestp's Government to ad-
vance nut of any funds at their disposal for the employnsent bf
the poor, an adequate sum or sums of money, at nor 4 per
cent. interest, for the purpose of trying one experiment in Rng.
land, Scotland. and Irelaud, but more especially In the latter
country, on the plan proposed by Mr. Owen. upon cendition that
the payment of intereat and the repayment of principol shall be se-
cured on the lands to be purchased,and the buildings to be erected,
for the purpose of carrying such experiments into execution.
2. That his Grace the Duke of Lanster, General Sir John
Doyle, and John Smith, Esq. M.P. be requested to submit the
above application to his Majesty's Government.
s. That a Committee be appointed to report the result of this
application to the Public.
4. That the above Nobleman and Gentlemen, with the Sub-
scribers to the Loan for instituting the experiment at Mother-
well, he the Committee, with power to add to their number, and
that eve im a quorum.
Mr. OWEN said, that before he sat down he Wished
to call the attention of the Meeting to a note which
he had that morning received front an anonymous
correspondent. The note contained several questions
which he was requested to answer. The most import-
ant of these questions was one, the object of which
was to ascertain whether the result of the experiment
which he had tried at New Lanark had been satisfac-
tory, with respect to profit. It certainly was not cus-
tomary for manufacturers to disclose the amount of
their profits, but he had no hesitation to state gene-
rally, that during the 24 years that the establish•
mein at Lanark had existed, it had been so pro.
sperotii, that after paying five per cent. half-yearly
on the capital, there had uniformly been a fair li-
beral profit left to all the partners. He, perhaps,
could not give a stronger proof of the correctness of
this statement than by assuring the meeting that his
partners, who of course were well acquainted with
everything relating to the establishment, would have
no objection to purchase his share, besides giving
him a bonus for selling out. It was also material
that the Meeting should be informed, that during the
period that the establishment at New Lanark had
been so prosperous, the workmen had laboured only
11 hours per day, whilst in other manufactories they
had been compelled to work 14, 15, and in some in-
stances 16 hours per day—(Applause). The worthy
Gentleman was about to sit down, when a note was
handed to him from the body of the Meeting; after
having read which, he continued his address. He
was extremely happy that the note had been sent him,
became it afforded him an opportunity of giving an
explanation to the circumstance to which it referred
—namely, a Report of the Committee for examining
Schools, which had been read in the presbytery of La-
nark, •and which accused him of having prohibited
the use of the Scriptures in the school belonging to
his Society at Lanark. That fact was quite unfounded.
From the commencement of the school at New La-
nark, the Scriptures had been regularly read in it,
and he had never entertained the most distant idea
of excluding them from the establishment—(4-1
plane). He wished to be clearly understood on this
point. He did not refrain from withdrawing the
Scriptures, because he was of opinion that they ought
to be read in the school, but because the parents of
the children wished them to be perused by them, and
he thought that parents should be allowed to bring
up their children as they pleased. His own convic-
tion was, that the Scriptures were not the book to
put into the hands of young people. But a respect
for the consciences of others prevented him from in-
terfering on the subject.
A Gentleman named WALKER wished to know
whether Mr. Owen objected to the use of machinery?
Mr. Owan replied in the negative.
Mr. MuDIE expressed his warm approbation of Mr.
Owen's views. _ _

Mr. EVANS thought that joint stock communities,
such as Mr. Owen wished to establish, could not le-
gally exist, unless they obtained from Parliament a
corporate character, giving them power to sue and
to be sued.

Mr. Owen observed, that the objection which had
been started by the Gentleman who spoke last had
been fully considered, and it was ascertained that
there were many ways in which the difficulty which
he anticipated might be obviated.
Mr. Rovrcaort and Mr. Bowie spoke in support
of the Resolutions, and Mr. WILLS opposed them.
Mr. GOURLAY merely rose for the purpose of en-
tering his protest, in the name of the paupers and la-
bourers of England, against the abominable triflings
of the Meeting.
After a few words from Mr. Owner, the Resolu-
tions were carried almost unanimously, only one per-
son holding up his hand against them.
After passing a vote of thanks to Mr. Owen, the
Meeting separated.

DR.JOHNSON'aCOrraIt-notrae,BoLT-COURT, FLEET.. 1
aragEr.—The Public are respectfully informed, that
Hotel-accommodation, on Boarding-house Teems,
and Coffee-house cOnvenience at Bating-house charges,
are there offered, by Wu. JACICSON, free Vintner, from
late Walker's Hotel, New Bridge-street, Blackfriars.
STRIPPIiTO Or CH I LDREN.—iesterday, two female
children, one five and a half and the other four years
of age, daughters of Mr. Williams,
.St. John-street-
road, were decoyed away from their father's door by
a young woman, under pretence of going to -buy
cherries and gooseberries for them : a painter who
was at work at an opposite house saw them, and sus-
pecting her intention, he followed unperceived; she
took them to Northampton-square, and turned into a
court in Smith-street, where sbe began to strip them ;
the painter then pounced upon her, took her into cus-
tody, and gave her in charge to Jourdan the con-
stable, who searched her, and found several pawn-
brokers duplicates, for necklaces, beads, children's
frocks, Ste. in her pocket, all of winch had been
pledged on the two preceding days, and are suspected
to have been stolen from chddren ; she was taken to
the Police Office, Hatton•Garden, for examination,
when she gave her name Jane Bane. Mr. Williams,
the father of the' children attended, and stated thatl
many children in the neighbourhood bad been lately
robbed of their pelisses, hats, handkerchiefs, frocks,
and necklaces. The prisoner was remanded till Wed-
nesday, to give time to make further inquiry.
A melancholy accident happened at North Carlton,
near Lincoln, a few days ago. A boy, about ten
years of age, was employed to frighten birds from
some turnip-seed, by pulling a string which was at-,
cached to a long rope, having some bells upon it : it
is supposed that the youth had incautiously twisted
the string about hii neck, and in that state had slipped
down the bank on which he stood, and thereby suf-
fered strangulation.
•

IM!

NNW