OR, UNFETTERED THINKER AND PLAIN SPEAKER FOR TRUTH, FREEDOM, AND PROGRESS.

"AND though all the winds of doctrine were let loose to play upon the earth, so Truth be in the field, we do injuriously to misdoubt her strength. Let her and Falsehood grapple! Who ever knew Truth put to the worse, in a free and open encounter?"-Milton's Areopagitica.

IF Workingmen needed to be convinced, the recent doings in Parliament ought to be sufficient to convince them that there is no speedy relief for their social condition to be expected in that direction. Questions regarding the hours of labour, the rate of wages, and the unhealthy condition of the places in which labour is performed,--meet with such endless objection and opposition among legislators, so called, that it is sickening to read their debates. Workingmen ought clearly and fully to look the truth in the face, that if they do not set about helping themselves they can only expect to toil on and die. If a few men of humane hearts plead the cause of the oppressed and neglected, in the House of Commons, there is a host ready to start up and throw all kind of objections in the way, while the majority listlessly sit and say not a word, nor care how deeply the millions

suffer.

How long will workmen dream of help from government, and delay to exercise their own power of help? A Parliament elected by Manhood Suffrage is not to be looked for, at present; and any Parliament elected by a limited suffrage will never probe the Labour question, in such a mode as to give relief to millions who are enduring wrong. Association-Association-is the remedy, the remedy which can be instantly applied; and it is the remedy which workingmen have in their own hands.

Let no one object that it is doubtful whether this be a remedy. The 'Association of Working Tailors,' the formation of which I announced several weeks ago, is now flourishing most cheeringly. The hands at work are twenty-seven in number; their affairs prosperous; and their union harmonious. In the present week their first quarter-which was to be a quarter of probation-ends, and the selection will be made, of the number of workmen who are to form the company, in future. Work has poured in from all quarters: peers, clergy, and gentry, have been among their customers; and groups of workingmen have gone to the premises at 34, Castle Street, Oxford Street, in the evenings, some giving an order for a coat or vest, and others for a pair of trowsers, gladdening their brother workingmen by this proof of sympathy. The average amount of work done on the

establishment, lately, has been £80 per week. A good rate of wages has been paid, and there will be something to share.

It may be replied, 'But you told us, some weeks ago, that a capital had been furnished to these workingmen, by some benevolent persons who had the power and the will to furnish it.' True: and does any workingman suppose that, though there is so much selfishness in the world, like benevolence will not show itself in other quarters, when the oppressed display the spirit to help themselves? Never doubt it. And if it cannot be found, surely, when workingmen begin earnestly to hold their Committees of Ways and Means'. -some mode of starting can be devised. In some instances a little capital can be furnished or borrowed by each workingman : thus a Tailors' Joint Stock Company' has been started at 314, Oxford Street, near Hanover Square: each member of the Company is a £5 shareholder-wages are paid-and profits will be shared-and the shareholders are all working tailors. Here is a fragment from their handbill:

"The wretchedness of the condition to which the Journeymen Tailors of London have been reduced, has lately become well known. That condition must go on from bad to worse, unless some energetic means be taken to stem its course.

"The above Company consists solely of Journeymen Tailors. They have well considered the position of themselves, and of their class, as well as of the Artizan in general. They deeply feel that the work of improvement must depend—and can only truly and permanently depend-upon their own efforts; and that any reliance upon the aid of Parliament can only be delusive, while to be content to crave such aid is unworthy of Men who have the capital of their own skill and labour at their command.

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They have therefore resolved to combine that skill and labour for their own benefit; and, with that capital, to ask no external or artificial aid, but to place themselves before the public, in the spirit of an equal and honourable competition."

Now, perhaps, that fatal word 'competition' is the worst they could have chosen, and shows that there is but little comprehension among them of the real source of the evils under which Workingmen labour-but what then? Let every mode, any mode, of Association be tried-let the grand experiment be made-let the doctrine be tested in every way-until it be proved whether Society can, or can not, be rescued from its existing evils, or whether we are to surrender ourselves up to the conviction that misery is the inevitable and never-ending lot of the majority of our race.

It is not among the Tailors only, that the principle of Association is being attended to. A Needlewomen's Association is established in a large and airy house, at 31, Red Lion Square, and has been two or three weeks at work under the management of a committee of ladies,-chiefly the wives and acquaintances of the benevolent promoters of the Tailors' Association at 34, Castle Street. These humane yearners over the miseries of the working classes have also assisted with a little capital, an Association of Working Shoemakers to start at 151, High Holborn, and another at 11, Tottenham Court Road: and I have private information that an Association of Working Bakers will soon be started.

Among no poor victims of competition is there more need of some step being taken for their own deliverance than among the bakers. A correspondent informs me that they "toil from sixteeen to eighteen hours per day, and the sleep they obtain is twice broken every night, and the onehalf of it is under the heated atmosphere of the bakehouse. And that," he continues, "is not the worst: there are hundreds of us who begin work on Thursday evening, and are never out of the bakehouse till Saturday night, except on business; and the like on Sunday forenoon, when the priests are crying out against twenty-five men working in the Post-office. I suppose they are not aware of the fact that from six to eight hundred men are em

ployed in bakehouses, throughout London, on the Sunday forenoon." So writes my correspondent; but I venture to assure him that few of the priests care how many bakers or cooks, grooms or coachmen, are employed on a Sunday. Their luxuries few of them would forego, on any day. As for bothering about the Post-office, it is a part of their vocation to stand in the way of public improvement, and they are eager to seize on any occasion for making pretences to strict righteousness. Let us hear of their demanding a holiday for the poor bakers, and giving the holiday to their cooks, grooms, and coachmen, and we shall be more ready to believe that their din about the Postoffice arises from a religious regard to their Sunday-Sabbath.

What little hope the poor bakers can have from Parliament let the debate, in the Commons, of Tuesday night in last week testify! Lord Robert Grosvenor, with humanity that does him honour, entreated for leave to bring in a bill to remedy the case of the Journeyman Bakers, and had a majority of two to one against him. And who was the chief opposer ? With shame and regret it must be spoken-John Bright was that man! his opposition too, was couched in the language of the most vulgar objection: Lord Robert Grosvenor was urging the objection of Communistic doctrines, John Bright said-and said it, too, because he knew the vulgar prejudices of members of Parliament would take alarm at that. It was the most disreputable way of putting a man down: disreputable because it appealed to fear and ignorance-for how many of the Commons' members know what Communism is ? To the great credit of Lord Dudley Stuart, George Thompson, and Sharman Crawford, among Liberals,-and of Mr. Stafford, among Conservatives, be it remembered that they spoke earnestly in favour of Lord Robert Grosvenor's motion. But what can a few do in Parliament? The poor bakers, in spite of their apparent helplessness, must shew that they are resolved to help themselves-or, I repeat, they must toil on and die.

Workingmen, I tell all of you that that is a truth applicable to you all. Will you despairingly submit to it-or will you, one and all, begin to resolve to band yourselves into Brotherhoods and take yourselves out of the power of oppression? The means?' do you still ask? Cast about, and try to find the means. But do not despair without trying.

THOMAS COoper.

P.S. I have just learnt another cheering fact. Mr. Neale, a gentleman of large property, being about to erect a house in May-fair (one of the most aristocratic parts of London) has accepted the contract of an Association of Working Builders;-and more- -he hints that 500 acres of land, in his possession, shall be open to an Association of Working Cultivators. I hope to learn more particulars by next week. The importance of attending to this subject of Association must be my apology for deferring the conclusion of the 'Reminiscence of Wordsworth' till next number.

NOTES WHICH THEY WHO RUN MAY READ.

"THE CHRISTIAN PHILANTHROPIST."-A penny monthly periodical, under this title, is published at Newcastle-on-Tyne-conducted, if my information be correct, by Dissenting Ministers. It has several excellent objects in view, and not the least is the advocacy of Temperance. The number for April has been forwarded to me by three friends, who each draw my attention to the opening article, which is entitled-"The English in the cast-off Clothes of the Ger

mans the duty of the Church in relation to the Age." It sets out with observing that as England has long borrowed her fashions in dress from her French neighbours," so she is now borrowing "her modes of religious and philosophic thinking from the more speculative Germans." The intended wit of the title selected for the article points at Strauss, and is sharpened as follows:

"Not only has a very excellent English translation rendered his writings accessible to the higher class of readers, but he has lately found a shrewd, sagacious, and zealous interpreter, in the person of Mr. Thomas Cooper, a man who understands the popular English taste, and who has displayed a considerable amount of tact in adapting Strauss's German reasonings to the less mystical and clear-headed people of our island. His English version will undoubtedly have a wide sale, and must exercise a considerable influence on the minds of multitudes, who will eagerly swallow the poison, but for whom no proper antidote has been provided. We do not share in the exaggerated fears of some; but the subject appears to us to be one of vast importance, and demands the careful and earnest thought of every lover of truth and righteousness. Indifference to the danger, or silence as to its existence, will not remove it. The cry of 'peace, peace,' in the hour of peril, at the very crisis of existence, may be pleasing to quiet easy people; but it is treason to the common cause, and cannot fail to issue in ultimate disaster and defeat."

Now, all this parade of zeal for orthodoxy becomes questionable in its character, when the reader gets through the article, and finds not one word of defence penned for orthodoxy. The writer is conjectured to be the Rev. H. Rogers, M.A., Independent Minister. A man who has taken a learned degree cannot be supposed to be unqualified for the work of defence; and yet he contents himself with lamenting the 'indifference' of others Why does he not prove his sincerity by showing us that the narratives in the Gospels are not Legends, but true History? He observes, towards the close of his article, that "there will be little force in sceptical objections to those who have at all accustomed themselves to the study of the points involved." If such really be his conviction, it would be an easy work for him to sweep away Strauss and his book, together with the 'shrewd, sagacious and zealous interpreter,' and his 'Critical Exegesis.' Until this be done, Mr. R.'s flourishes about 'God's truth'-that is to say orthodoxy-being "a rock," and "a deep flowing river," and "a sun," may pass for pretty strokes of rhetoric-but they cannot stand in the place of argument, or satisfy people who think for themselves. The wittiest titles Mr. R. can select will serve his purpose no better. A freethinker might return his compliment by describing " Orthodox Christianity in the cast-off clothes of Paganism"-or in some other way as apt as Mr. R.'s. But what then? The Gospel narratives would have to be examined: it would have to be shewn that they were not legendary, but historical. The challenge is thrown down. Will Mr. Rogers take it up? If not, let him cease to blame his brethren for 'indifference.'

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THE LONDON UNDERTAKERS.-The following is a copy of a circular which has just been addressed to every M.P. by a master Undertaker not 100 miles from Tottenham Court Road :·

"Although I write to you individually, I represent a class of Metropolitan Tradesmen numbering upwards of 10,000; 1,000 of whom, like myself, get their living solely by the Undertaking trade, while the remaining 9,000 are more or less employed. I beg respectfully to call your attention to clauses 25, 26, 27, and 61, in a Bill now to be submitted to you in Parliament entitled the Metropolitan Interments' Bill,' which if permitted to pass into law with these clauses, will virtually shut up every one of our shops; and for why? To benefit the public? No! but to create a monopoly, dangerous in the extreme, both in policy and practice, especially in a free-trade country. Although to effect this monopoly, recourse has been had to the basest falsehoods respecting the present burial grounds, we interfere not, but agree with extramural interments as being a step in the right direction. Hoping you will not allow the slightest interference with trade, there being sufficient competition to protect the public, I have the honour to be, &c., &c." Furthermore, some of these master Undertakers are saying very bitter

things about the Government, and regretting that they have supported it— seeing that the said Government hesitates not to entertain the idea of cutting away their monopoly. One worthy Undertaker, residing not far from Long Acre, cries out that, on the 'glorious 10th of April,' he himself raised 600 special constables to put down the Chartists, and yet this is the reward the rascally Whig government gives him for his exertions-shuts up his shop! Good lack! how little it takes to melt away some people's 'patriotism!'

ORGANISATION OF LABOUR.-Let men laugh at Louis Blanc as they may, he has stirred the minds of all our great thinkers. Thomas Carlyle, with all his dislike of Universal Suffrages and Ballot-boxes,' asserts that the Organisation of Labour is the duty of a Government. The idea must and will gain strength in some shape. In a late number of his 'Latter Day Pamphlets' he is proposing Industrial Regiments of the New Era,' with 'continents of new real work opened out, for the Home and all other Public Offices among us.' And after describing the Home Office 'looking out, as for life and salvation, for proper men to command these Regiments'-he thus goes on:—

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"Wise obedience and wise command. I foresee that the regimenting of Pauper Banditti into Soldiers of Industry is but the beginning of this blessed process, which will extend to the topmost heights of our Society; and, in the course of generations, make us all once more a Governed Commonwealth, and Civitas Dei, if it please God! Waste-land Industrials succeeding, other kinds of Industry, as cloth-making, shoe-making, plough-making, spademaking, house-building,-in the end, all kinds of Industry whatsoever will be found capable of regimenting. Mill-operatives, all manner of free operatives, as yet unregimented, nomadic under private masters, they, seeing such example and its blessedness, will say: Masters, you must regiment us a little; make our interests with you permanent a little, instead of temporary and nomadic; we will enlist with the State otherwise!' This will go on, on the one hand, while the State-operation goes on, on the other: thus will all Masters of Workmen, private Captains of Industry, be forced to incessantly co-operate with the State and its public Captains; they regimenting in their way, the State in its way, with ever-widening field; till their fields meet (so to speak) and coalesce, and there be no unregimented worker, or such only as are fit to remain unregimented, any more.-O my friends, I clearly perceive this horrible cloaca of Pauperism, wearing nearly bottomless now, is the point where we must begin. Here, in this plainly unendurable portion of the general quagmire, the lowest point of all, and hateful even to M'Crowdy, must our main drain begin: steadily prosecuting that, tearing that along with Herculean labour and divine fidelity, we shall gradually drain the entire Stygian swamp, and make it all once more a fruitful field!"

THE FINANCIAL REFORMERS.-I said nothing about their Conference at the time it was being held—because they did nothing. True, there were a few good speeches made such as those by W. J. Fox, George Dawson, and George Thompson. But the cold-water caution of John Bright, and the refusal of the Conference to entertain the question of Manhood Suffrage, served to negative the positive good speaking, and to render the whole affair a political neutrality. This association may do good; but it will not be in a hurry. THOMAS COOPER.

Lectures, in London, for the ensuing Week. SUNDAY, May 19, at half-past 7, Literary Institution, John Street, Fitzroy Square. "Life and Genius of Voltaire"-Thomas Cooper. At half past 7, Hall of Science (near Finsbury Square,) City Road. "Last Moments of Great Men -Walter Cooper.

MONDAY, May 20, at half-past 8, Mechanics' Institute, Gould Square, Crutched Friars. "On Bathing"-Dr. Epps. At half-past 8, Pentonville Athenæum, 23, Henry Street. "Readings from the Lady of Lyons "-C. Sims. At half-past 8, Soho Mutual Instruction Society, 2, Little Dean Street. "Phonography and Phonetic Spelling."-W. Russell.

WEDNESDAY, May 22, at 8, Hackney Scientific and Literary Institution.

verbs"-George Dawson, M.A.

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