I may not, at present, discuss that subject, or review that most singular (I do not say statesman-like) speech, in which it was introduced and propounded by Sir Robert Peel to the House of Commons; or exhibit the entire absence of argument in support of the proposed alteration; or remind you of the "awful" admissions which the Premier made in the course of his long, but very singular speech. The time will come, when I may lawfully give you my opinions on all these matters -at that time, you shall have them.

Meanwhile, it is enough that I tell you, it is beating the Ministerial retreat before the Leaguers, who will, no doubt, know how to advantage themselves by this Conservative move in their favour. Let the friends of domestic industry, the owners of small capitals and of large estates, keep a sharp look out. A word to the wise is said to be sufficient. May it prove so, at this crisis of the nation's affairs.

To myself, who had really embraced the opinion that Sir Robert had determined to grapple with the producing causes of the present dangerous state of the country, and to have investigated the truth or falsehood of the contending principles of Christianity and Philosophy-I say, Sir, to myself it is a source of heartfelt grief, that a man, who had, by the circumstances of the times, been placed in such a commanding position, should, by one stroke of expediency, have once more lost the confidence of his best friends, and obtained the contempt of his foes. I believe that what I have written is the truth. The declaration thereof will, I doubt not, grieve many of my friends; but at all hazards I must, as I ever have done, assert that which I believe.

That Sir Robert Pecl's leaning is towards Philosophy and the Leaguers, is apparent from his attachment to the New Poor Law, his opposition to the Ten Hours' Factories Bill, and his reducing the protection to native agriculture. He has thus driven from his support all those who are opposed to the New Poor Law, all the friends of the Ten Hours' Factories Bill, and all those agriculturists who deem full protection necessary to their interests. The influence of party, may induce these last, for awhile, to smother their resentment, but even now, the whisper in the camp of the Conservatives is progressing, "Sir Robert has deceived us once, he is about to deceive us again!"

And what of the Leaguers? Has Sir Robert, by this new stroke of expediency, gained over one of their body? Not one. Has he qualified, or softened down their rage? Not a bit of it. His new-fangled scheme has added fuel to their fire. Their language, in consequence, is of the most maddening sort-their harangues, to a hungry people, are calculated, if not intended, to produce rebellion. Read a few samples, Sir, and say, were you hungry, and your wife hungry, and your children hungry, what would you think these orators of the League wished you to do? Hear them, in their assemblies, thus addressing their hungry hearers :

"We must rather use the language of action than reflection.'—' We must conquer the aristocracy in some way or other—I mean peaceably, constitutionally, BUT WE MUST PUT THE ARISTOCRACY DOWN in some way or other, or the aristocracy will crush us!'-' Retribution ought to be demanded for the Corn Laws. Something must be done in the way of threat.'-'We must threaten the enemy with going farther than repeal. He should himself, conscientiously and with

integrity, advocate the TAKING a large retribution on the landlords.'-'Would you be slaves? No no. The death of Charles was filthy-it was crime, it was madness; but it was occasioned by his cruel persistence in commercial monopoly; STILL, CHARLES NEVER TOUCHED THE BREAD OF THE PEOPLE! When an attempt was made by one of our Kings to set the wishes of the people at defiance, THEY TURNED THE BLOCHKEAD OFF. That was an example of the folly and danger of insulting the people of England. Some of our nobility might like foreign air too.'—' I am not now prepared to say what the people should do: when there is an universal agitation throughout the country, and when all men are combined, THEN COMES THE TIME FOR ACTION. THEN, means to secure justice might be found, WHICH SHOULD NOT NOW BE HINTED AT.'-' Get the people behind your back.'—' Look downwards, and not upwards.'—' I would have a thousand persons selected,' (said one of the spouters of the League, who is a reverend divine of the Church of England.) 'I would have a thousand persons selected to march through the streets of London, to effect the downfal of the citadel of corruption. I would not have the people of London selected for such a march-people who are given to admire sights and shows, and the next moment are to be found in the gin-shops. They are not the men. I have no confidence in the men that can be picked up in the streets of London. I say, take a thousand men out of the streets of Manchester; let a portion of the 10,000l. got by the Bazaar be properly appropriated to this purpose; make an agreement with the railway directors; have a special train; land them in the streets of London; MARSHAL THEM PROPERLY, and put into their hands banners, bearing the inscription, Free 'Trade,' and 'No Corn Laws;' let them be engaged to stay in London for a fortnight or a month, if the funds will allow of it; let them march, every day, in the front of the houses of those persons who uphold or advocate the monopoly ; let every man be furnished with an Anti-Corn-Law trumpet, if the funds will allow of them, AND MARCH ROUND THE WALLS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS SEVEN TIMES! As they march through the streets of London, let them, every now and then, MAKE A SOLEMN PAUSE; and, as some people in London will be taken by sights, let these men show their ragged dresses and white faces, and let some of the best men among them make a speech."

When such proceedings are adopted by the very men whom it is evidently Sir Robert Peel's object to conciliate, what can he hope for from those whom he either openly defies, or cleverly betrays? There never was an instance of any man so elevated, in so short a time sinking himself so low. An instance, such as this, of a man's obtaining the object of his ambition after ten years' conflict, and then, in a single evening, depriving himself of the power which that possession gave him, was, I think, never known before.

A few days ago, the hopes of England centered in Sir Robert Peel. Now, his own political partizans distrust him!

It is with sorrow which has no words, that I am bound thus to write. It is of no use tampering and tinkering any longer-Expediency cannot save this nation. The conflicting principles of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, Christianity and Malthusianism, must now meet in antagonistic strife-Sir Robert has now proved that he is not the man to lead in that war.

When I read of the proposed pilgrimage of "a thousand men out of the streets of Manchester to London," a suggestion presented itself to my mind, which I much fear the Leaguers will not adopt-I wished that they would bring up the poor cripples, and thus exhibit to the people of London the sample of their own monopoly in the manufacture of crooked bones, emaciated frames, and trunks deprived of a limb or two They will, I fear, be too cunning, thus to let out the secret of their tyranny, and prove that the last thought in their minds is to give the people comfort and plenty! If the "rogues in grain" were honest, they would do more. They talk of "TAKING retribution, large retribution, on the landlords." Were they honest, instead of spending the 10,000l. which they have gained by

exposing their wives and daughters in Manchester, they would make that sum the beginning of "retribution" from the Leaguers to their Cripples.

It shall never be forgotten, that the Leaguers are the enemies of the poor the friends of the accursed New Poor Law, and the most resolute opposers of any regulation or limit to Factory Labour. They pretend that the present Factory Act is protection enough. Sir, I could name three cripples in one family (one migrant, agricultural family, from your own neighbourhood), who were crippled in the mill of which Mr. Edmund Ashworth, of Turton, near Bolton, is a partner! True, they are not in his service now. He does not keep cripples in his service: they are not profitable.

I apprehend, however, that the Leaguers will not bring up their factory cripples, to show them to the Londoners, so, as I received, a week or two ago, a drawing of one of them, who is now resident in Leeds, whom I have often seen, I will do my part to exhibit a sample of the effects of the tyranny of these "patriotic and benevolent" Leaguers; which will explain, better than words can do, what these spouters of the League would do with all the poor, if they had the power. You will, in that sketch, see the representation of a human being whom nature intended to be more than 6 feet high, crushed down, by the system of the Leaguers, to 3 feet! He cannot stand erect-you see him just as the Factory System has made him, and then turned him out, "done up," to live as chance may be.

The picture of MICHAEL HOPKINS, of Leeds, a Factory Cripple, which forms. the Postscript of this letter, deserves your attention. Look at it, Sir, and ask yourself, What that human being must have suffered, to be thus crushed down by Factory Labour in his infancy-what he must have suffered since-what now he suffers? Try to realize his anguish. Look well at that little picture, you shall hear more of the original.

then

A friend, whom I desired to call and see Michael Hopkins, gave me the following information respecting that unfortunate cripple of the Leaguers :—

"Leeds, January 19, 1842.

"I have made inquiry respecting Michael Hopkins. I called upon him last night, but he was not at home; and being directed to his sister, a widow with a large family, in Park Court, Park Lane, she told me, that it was uncertain at what hour I could find him at home in the evening, as he entirely depended upon the chance of carts passing to carry him home.' I therefore promised to call at nine o'clock this morning; and she sent him word to that effect, in order that he might be in the way. I, of course, called. The following are the particulars respecting him :- He lives. in Galloway's Yard, West Street. He was born at Skircoat, near Halifax, [four miles from Fixby Hall]. His mother was left a widow, with a family of thirteen children; and their united earne ings procured them food. He was sent to the mill of Henry Lodge, Esq., at Lower Willow Hall, near Halifax, at the age of six years, and received no wages for twelve months, excepting a penny or two occasionally, as the overlooker thought fit. At the age of seven, he had 1s. 6d. weekly, with an advance of 24d. per week yearly for the succeeding period. At the age of fourteen years, he had 3s. per week. He commenced work before five o'clock in the morning, and continued at work tilt eight o'clock at night, without stopping for breakfast or drinking (tea), and had only three quarters of an hour for dinner! If more, it was always worked up at night! AND, DURING

THE WHOLE TIME OF WORKING HOURS, THEY WERE NEVER ALLOWED TO SIT, EVEN FOR FIVE MINUTES! WITHOUT RECEIVING A KICK, OR A BLOW, OR SUCH LIKE! They were, to use his own words, SORELY BEATEN, AND WERE PUT ON EACH OTHER'S BACKS TO BE FLOGGED! [What a

spring-tide of life for a human being in a Christian country!] He stood this treatment seven years: he was then very ill, but continued to work at the mill till he was sixteen or seventeen-not exactly sure which of those two years he left. [He was then done up, and cast off as waste lumber.] At thirteen he was ill, several months, and was hugged [carried] by his elder brother to and from work. And had then to STAND all the while at his work, from five in the morning to eight in the evening! [I wish that words could convey to you and my readers the anguish which he must then have endured]. At one period, he was twelve months, and never out of bed—all from over-work! He was in Leeds Infirmary some time; and he believes, that if he had stopped longer there, he would have been well, but he was obliged to return to his work.

"He is now fifty-two or fifty-three years old-not certain which. [Was it the Corn Laws that forced such cruelty on him when a child? Let the Leaguers answer.] He gets gradually worse and more helpless, and cannot move a yard without something to catch hold of. His height, as he walks, varies considerably, on account of the jumping action which he is forced to use; but, on an average, he does not exceed 36 inches! He was perfectly straight before he went to the mill. Had he the proper use and shape of his limbs, he would be, at least, 6 feet high. He spans from the tip of his right hand to the tip of his left hand, when his arms are expanded, 74 inches; he measures round the chest 36 inches, round the waist 33 inches. Nature evidently designed him for a strong athletic man. His ancle and calf measure, each, 10 inches, his thigh measures 11 inches round. His right ancle and knee are both out of joint. The enclosed sketch [see Postscript] will give you some idea of his figure, though it is certainly shown to the best advantage. It shows the manner in which he rests-when he walks, he is much more double.

"I think no one, who does not see him, can have an adequate idea of the effort required when he moves ever so short a distance; and, as to going up stairs, (which he did during the time I was there,) the sight is almost insufferable—he actually screws himself up, with both feet and hands engaged to the extent of his powers, in order to preserve his equilibrium ; and, withal, you are contiuually expecting him to roll to the bottom. Glad I was when he arrived safely at the top without accident. I did not desire him to walk up stairs, with a view to observe how he managed; he went to fetch a pamphlet, which Mr. Summers had lent him, and which he returned by me, with anany thanks for its perusal. He obtains a very poor and a very precarious living by selling blacking, &c. He carries his wares in his basket, which also serves him for a stick, in resting or walking. He receives no weekly pension from any one, excepting from Mrs. Summers, who allows him a penny, and sometimes two-pence a week. He never received a farthing from the parish, and says, He CANNOT get anything.—If you require any further information, he will be happy to give it you."

66

Do you not think, Sir, that before the Leaguers, who have made their millions by manufacturing such cripples as Michael Hopkins, begin to "TAKE large retribution on the landlords," they are bound to GIVE some small "retribution" to their cripples? I commend this Factory Cripple to the care of the Leeds Leaguers, Messrs. Marshall, Stansfeld, Plint, & Co.

I am much used to contemplate the sorrows and sufferings of these poor Factory Cripples, and the cruel mockery of their oppressors, who pretend to be just, and humane, and benevolent, but who pass them by with scorn and contempt, and leave them to perish in want and wretchedness. But, Sir, I am afraid to give vent to the feelings which, at such times, overpower me. Surely the Leaguers will see to it, that some portion of the " Bazaar money" shall find its way to Michael Hopkins, and the rest of his unhappy tribe, their Victims.

How often have I told you, "That the landlords and the factory children are in the same boat." The oppressors of the factory children are now boasting, that, "When all is ready, and they have got the combined people at their back, they will TAKE large retribution on the landlords!"

When will the landlords of England open their eyes! Can you not see, that, even now, the same Premier who rejects the Ten Hours' Factory Bill, proposes to reduce the protection to British agriculture 15 per cent.?-Thus yielding to the Leaguers at both ends, in the hope of pacifying their rage!

After all, I should not wonder if the Landlords blame me more, for what I have said in this letter, than any other portion of the people-always excepting the Leaguers. At all hazards, you shall have my unadulterated thoughts.

I am, your Prisoner,

RICHARD OASTLER.

P.S.-Here is the sketch of Michael Hopkins, the wretched Factory Cripple who is mentioned in this letter:

I must again put off the "Rent-Roll."-R.O.

Printed by Vincent Torras & Co., 7, Palace Row, New Road, London.