FROM ERROR AND MISERY,

TO TRUTH AND HAPPINESS.

"IF WE CANNOT YET RECONCILE ALL OPINIONS, LET US NOW ENDEAVOUR TO UNITE ALL HEARTS."

VOL. I. No. 37.]

EDITED BY ROBERT OWEN & ROBERT DALE OWEN.-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 1832. WEEKLY PROCEEDINGS.

A Public Meeting for the purpose of taking into
Consideration the increasing Distress of the non-
productive and Industrious Classes, and to devise
efficient means for their permanent relief.
ON Wednesday, a public meeting was held at the
Institution of the Industrious Classes, Gray's Inn
Road, to receive a Report of the Committee appointed
on a former occasion. The Rev. Dr. Wade was
called to the chair.

In opening the meeting the Chairman said that it ever gave him pleasure to assist at such meetings as this; the more pleasure now, because the reports of such meetings would no longer be confined to the walls of the meeting itself, nor to the immediate organ of this Society, but might find their way to the public through the Daily Press-through the medium of a true friend to the people, the True Sun. (Applause.) He said he was ever proud and pleased to aid the industrious classes in their endeavor to benefit their condition. He never did so but when called upon for his assistance, but when so called upon, he considered it his duty to co-operate with all good men, be they, like himself, Christians, or be they of any other creed, or be they of no creed at all.-(Great applause.) He rejoiced to learn that his friend, Mr. Owen, proposed visiting Birmingham, in fur berance of his benevolent object, which, if he understood it, was not to pull down any class, but to raise all classes to virtue and happiness. The curses which now weigh on the country were said to be chastenings from God, while, in truth, they were but the results of the folly and ignorance of man.-(Applause.)

Mr. OWEN then read the Report of the Committee, from which we give the following extracts:

"The Committee was appointed to take into consideration the best mode of relieving the industrious non-productive classes, from their present distresses, and from the anticipation of much greater future suffering; and report thereon at a subsequent meeting.

"From the information which they patiently colleoted, they found that there was no profitable employment for a large amount of capital, which is daily accumulating in the hands of a comparatively few overgrown wealthy individuals, whether landed proprietors, manufacturers, commercial men, or great capitalists, trading in public securities, domestic and foreign. They also found that no large additional amount of capital could be beneficially employed in the extension of agriculture, manufactures, or commerce; that there was in each of these departments much unemployed labor, wasting most injuriously for all parties that the professions were over-supplied with young applicants, seeking the means of very humble support.

a large army in the confusion of a route; all around
each individual is danger, doubt, and dismay, every
one trying to save himself; but in the disorder they
are impeding each other, and hasten on the ruin of
all, while those who should direct the whole, and
create order, are without the knowledge, and, there-
fore, without the power; and, however much they
may deplore the mischief, and personally suffer by
it, are unable to check its daily increase. Your
Committee are therefore convinced, that instead of
society being left, as heretofore, to form itself by ac-
cident, without any foresight whatever, to run into
every kind of disorder, an arrangement, proceeding
from the Government, should be formed, to place all
individuals in the stations most beneficial to them-
selves, and the whole will be ultimately found to be
the only method by which the population of this, or
indeed of any other country, can be efficiently and
permanently conducted to prosperity.

"Your Committee is, in consequence of these reflections, induced at once strongly to recommend those arrangements which common sense and experience prove to be at this juncture, absolutely necessary to relieve society, and prevent it falling into utter disorder; they also venture to propose for your adoption, an application to Government, to afford the means of placing all the unoccupied producers and non-producers of wealth upon land, under such new arrangements as will be permanently beneficial to

all parties.

[ONE PENNY.

sions will also be found advantageous employment in one or other of the previously named departments. "For all will be beneficially occupied in producing wealth, or in distributing it, or in aiding to form a superior character for the population, young and old, or in matters of police or local Government.

"Your Committee, being deeply impressed with the necessity for this change, in the shortest time in which it can be effected, are also of opinion, that the fund requisite to carry this measure into full and successful practice, may be obtained, beneficially to the Government, and to the landed, manufacturing, and commercial interests, without inconvenience to any part of the population.

"These funds may be so raised, without injury to a single individual, by Exchequer Bills, and appropriated to the objects previously stated, and charged with interest, the same as paid by the Government.

"The advance of these funds to be under the direction of Commissioners appointed by Government, to prevent any part of them being appropriated without ample security.

be in proportion to the actual benefit found by experience to be derived from the adoption of these

"The amount of the funds to be thus raised, to

measures.

without loss or inconvenience to any one, to give, in The credit of the country will thus be applied the most direct manner, beneficial employment to those who are now seeking employment in agriculture, manufactures, trade, and commerce, and by the national prosperity that would be created by the new industry thus directed, more revenue will be obtained, than the amount of the loan to be advanced."

"These new arrangements will contain the means to form general order in every department of society, instead of the present disorder which is universal throughout the whole business of life. Thus, in every Mr. OWEN, in moving the report, said that the separate portion of the population, there will be great difficulty between this and other public meetformed the due proportion of agriculture, manufac-ings, convened for similar objects, was, that while tures, and commerce, of education, and of local Government. In fact, by these means, each well-formed nucleus of society will contain, within itself, the most beneficial amount of capital and labour applied to the production of wealth, to its distribution, to the general formation of character, and to the police or Government.

"By these means, your Committee are of opinion, that immediate relief may be obtained for all the industrious non-producers, and for the immense mass who are out of employ among the various classes of producers, not one of whom, in a well-governed state, ought ever to be idle for want of useful occupation. For by the arrangements to be proposed, the agricultural population, now out of employmeut, will be beneficially engaged in producing new wealth, in a superior manner, from the soil, by spade cultivation. The manufacturing population now out of work, will be advantageously occupied in producing more manufactured wealth; the innumerable unnecessary distributors of wealth will be employed in agriculture or manufactures, or in matters of police; and the surplus "The present state of society may be compared to of the population, unoccupied in the various profess

they merely found fault, here was a practical remedy proposed. To do this efficiently, much extensive experience, and much knowledge of human nature are required. Unless violent means be resorted to by the famishing, to procure food, (a remedy which would afford even momentary relief but to a very partial extent, and would produce the greatest disorder and mischief.) some such remedy as that now brought forward, must be generally adopted.

Mr. MACCONNELL seconded the motion. After adverting to its great importance and valuable character, he said that he feared there would be only too much unanimity in regard to its adoption-too much, because a thing is never so much valued, as after a fair and hard battle has been fought for it. Had he to designate the character of the report, it should be in two words, "Enlightened kindness." He adverted to the zeal of the Committee; whom the rising sun found, day after day, at their labors, and who were often lighted home from them, by the moon's silent rays. He deemed it especially impor tant to remind every one, in urging such plans as

these, that as much kindness, at least, as may be found elsewhere, ought ever to be, and has in this case been found here, in the anxious labours of this Committee. True, they could not be called direct producers of hats, of shoes, of wheat or barley, or other necessaries; but they had produced something a most important document. True, they had not been paid for their labours; but were they the less valuable on that account? Was the disinterested nature of such efforts, and of such men as our excellent Chairman, not an evidence of the inherent goodness of human nature?-(Great applause.) He thought the natural influence of shopkeeping was unfavorable to the growth of mind, and therefore he expected little approbation for the Committee, except that of their own boscms. Were such exertions necessary? Were they enlightened as well as kind? It sufficed not that endeavours should be merely amiable; many most mistaken endeavours were so; those charitable endeavours, for instance, which, if this plan succeed, would be no longer required.—(Applause.) Was it then enlightened? It sought the cause of the evil. It sought it, not in mere reduction of taxation, for that would do little for the people. If twenty millions of taxes were taken off tomorrow, it would merely be a change of appropriation of that amount by the payers of taxes, not a gain of that amount to the people. He thought the proposal to employ the spade, exceedingly important; as removing the objection urged by many, that production could not keep pace with population. The report states, that capital could not be, with advantage, further employed on land; and the chief reason was, the weight of burdens on it; more especially that most enormous of burdens, and he knew the worthy Chairman suficiently well, to be assured he would receive the remark in the same spirit it was made. The most invidious were the clerical burdens the tenths.-(Applause.)

Mr. SAVAGE begged to reply to a remark of the last speaker, who seemed to think that the Radical Reformers of the present day expected nothing but a mere reduction of taxation: but Reformers expected much more than this. They expect, from a reduction of taxation, to deprive a corrupt Government of the means of oppression, of a standing army; to reduce the host of tax-gatherers; to do away with an Established Church-(Great applause) with all tithes with all stamp trammels on a free Press; in a word, to prevent the governing few from trampling on the governed many.

The report was carried unanimously. Mr. OWEN proposed, instead of merely talking on the subject, to take a step at once in advance; to show the government what means were in their power, and to urge them to give an answer, as to whether they would do something effectual for the people or not. It seemed to him that Government was appointed, and was well paid, not only for looking on supinely when a people were suffering, but for doing something for their permanent relief. He moved that a memorial, founded upon the report of the Committee, and embracing its sentiments, be presented to Government.

man to work on the soil. It was well-known that
one man would produce by agriculture as much as
would support a dozen-twelve, as much as would
support 144; and he would undertake to show that
in nine years by locating persons on the land ac-
cording to his system, fifty millions of souls might
be supported by the labour of little more than four
millions of people. He had himself commenced
an experiment with one man, and if he did not
locate a thousand within three years, he hoped his
tongue would cling to the roof of his mouth.

till we do so, nothing effectual and permanent can be expected. The expense of such a system had been urged as an objection; when the same objection was made to Jefferson, the most enlightened of American Statesmen, his reply, as placed on record, was-"The tax which will be paid for educating the common people, is not one-tenth of that which must be paid to kings, nobles, and priests, who will spring up among us if we leave the people in ignorance." We cannot say, as Jefferson did, who will spring up, but who have sprung up. But with us the question still is, whether the tax shall be paid to prevent or to punish-to educate or to hang and imprison?-(Applause.) What would we not give to re.educate ourselves, which is impossible! Shall we not exert every nerve to do what is possible, to educate our children?—(Applause.)

The resolution was then agreed to unanimously. Mr. OWEN then read the memorial, in which it was stated that the memorialists found their capital daily diminishing and their industry of less value; and that their families consequently suffered great privations. Under these circumstances, they determined, if possible, to discover the cause of this Mr. SAVAGE Seconded the resolution, not so much their downward progress, and they soon ascertained in the hope that Government would do anything that there was too much of the necessaries, comforts, effectual at present, as because he thought that and luxuries of life produced to afford an adequate every offender should have an opportunity of mendreturn for their skill and industry. They, therefore, ing his ways. When it is evident that those who became convinced that some fundamental error exgovern the country are prepared with no plan of isted in the constitution of society. They attribut-efficient relief, it implies no presumption in the ed much of the distress to the late improvements humblest individual to step forward and urge upon in machinery, without an adequate improvement in them such measures as he may see capable of rethe science of Government; and they recommend lieving the suffering of the nation. He was glad as a remedy, which, from long study, they know to the memorial was to be presented. His Majesty's be the only remedy that is competent to remove the Ministers must attend to the representations of the evil at once, openly, fairly, and honestly to apply people, when urging on them the various reforms the credit of the country to give a superior na- which public opinion calls for, or they will be swept tional education and superior national employment from their situations.-(Applause.) to all the industrious classes.

Mr. RIGGLESWORTH said, he rose with especial pleasure to second the adoption of the resolution, because it was connected with no party or faction. All parties, as such, were bad. The Tories, as a party, wished the advancement of the few at the expense of the many. The Whigs, though most of them, probably, honest in their endeavours to improve society-(“No, no”)—though many of them honest, were actually effecting but little. They had a set of harpies around them who preyed on the vitals of the country. What man, what woman, could look on the face of the new-born infant, and think, with unmixed hope and confidence, of its future prospects? Mr. Owen's plans were calculated to make the birth of an infant a matter of rejoicing, and not, as too often it now is, a cause of fear or regret.-(Applause.)

Mr. GAST thought little was to be expected from Government, yet he thought it well to urge the matter in all ways. For his part, though he was no advocate for physical force, he was for moral force; and by the moral force of public opinion alone would any great reform ever be effected? If the memorial would aid in carrying Mr. Owen's benevolent plans into effect, it should obtain the countenance of every honest man throughout the kingdom. Mr. ROBERT DALE OWEN in moving that a deputation be appointed to present the memorial to his Majesty's Ministers, said he would not have added a word at this late hour to what had already been said, except for the purpose of calling especial attention to one measure touched on in the memorial, to wit, that of national education. In his view of the subject, if there was one thing more especially than another the business of Government, it was to care for the good education of every neglected child. What was the express province of legislation? To care for and protect the weak, the oppressed, and the injured. And who so weak, so unprotected, so injured, as a child deprived of edu|cation? When a man, was knocked down in the street, or had his pocket picked, was not Government blamed if it afforded no redress-if it provided no remedy for the evil? And were not evils, ten thousand times more crying, exhibited in the situation of those thousands of poor children, who were not tempted to evil but forced to it; not exMr. WADDINGTON begged leave to say a few posed merely to vice, but nurtured in it, in the purwords. He did not approve of going to the Go-lieus of our metropolis. In ancient days it was an Vernment with memorials, as he knew that the Government would do nothing in the business. He approved more of their going to an ironmonger's shop with half-a-crown to buy a spade, and to set a

Mr. SIMPSON, in seconding the motion, said that no Government ever had more lavish means to remove suffering and ignorance, which were not of nature's producing, than our Government now has; and no Government, perhaps, that seemed less capable of applying them. He thought a reduction of taxation, though very desirable, not an efficient remedy for present distress; it would throw many more persons into the market of producers. He had for ten years advocated these principles; usually without employing Mr. Owen's name; in order that the subject itself, unconnected with the influence of any name, might "have free course and be glorified." He concluded by saying, "We must continue to knock at the gate of Government, until they hear our prayer and relieve our every want."

admitted principle that it was Government's pro-
vince to educate. Lycurgus, as Plutarch tells us,
"resolved the whole business of legislation into the
bringing up of youth." So ought we to do; and

Mr. WEST (from Kidderminster), after adverting to the great importance of the measure, said if a better system could be devised, he would hold up both his hands for it; but if not, he would urge this on with all his powers.

Thanks were then voted to the Chairman for his conduct in the chair, after which the meeting dispersed.

LABOUR EXCHANGE.

WE have made a contract with an experienced baker who will henceforward furnish to our Exchange a full and regular supply of bread (beginning next Monday) on the terms of half cash, half Exchange Notes, which will be exchanged on the sume terms. We purpose to make similar contracts with other provision dealers in the course of the week, and shall report progress; we are now prepared to receive offers on these terms. We are also making arrangements, pursuant to a resolution passed at the last meeting of the members, for taking the commission in cash, and further for superseding the necessity of restricting our deposits, as hitherto, to a value above forty hours; which arrangements will be carried into effect next Monday week.

PUBLIC MEETINGS THROUGHOUT

THE METROPOLIS. LAST Tuesday evening, a numerous and respectable meeting of citizens, all of the Methodist persuasion, was held in the Methodist School room, Lambeth, to discuss the principles and practice of Labour Exchanges, at which some of our friends were present, and were much gratified with the temper of the parties assembled, and the spirit in which a few observations offered by them, were taken. The meeting was adjourned to a future day.

Last Wednesday there was a second meeting at the George Tavern, Commercial Road, where our friends last week, were so much pleased with the zeal and feeling shown by a most respectable audience filling the room to the door. This week's meeting was equally satisfactory, and a committee was appointed to extend a knowledge of the principles, in that populous neighborhood.

Yesterday evening there was to be a third meet.

ing at Bermondsey, for similar purposes; the two | honestly, for want of a habit of accuracy and of good is without alloy, or the evil without redeeming advantages. The one is useful as a guide, the former having been productive of much good. other as a warning beacon. R. D. O.

We have received a friendly offer of the gratuitous use of the Deptford Mechanics' Institution, for lectures, and shall avail ourselves of the same, as soon as the necessary arrangements can be made, of which due notice shall be given by public bills. R. D. O.

OUR LECTURES AND DEBATES. My father, previous to his departure last Monday, for three or four weeks, on a visit to the middle and north of England, requested me to take his place as lecturer on Sunday evening. In consequence, I shall lecture to-morrow evening at the usual hour; the subject, an important one I think : On the evidence men have for belief in supernatural beings, and the consequence of that belief.

It may not be known to some of our readers, that we have for some Sundays past, regularly had two lectures delivered simultaneously on Sunday evenings; one in the Great Lecture Room, the other by Mr. Macconnell, in the room at the North end of the Institution. Both were filled last Sunday, and both will be kept open in future. Mr. Macconnell will also lecture on Sunday mornings as usual; his subjects to-morrow are, morning, "On the Signs of the Times," evening,

"On the Causes and Cure of Poverty."

Our Thursday evenings will, for the present, be devoted to discussions. The subject for debate next Thursday is: "Whether the belief in a life hereafter, be, or be not, conducive to the success of effective plans for the improvement of man's present condition."

It is hardly necessary to repeat, that on all occasions, there is opportunity afforded at the close of the lecture, for questions or observations, from any of the audience. A chief objection to the salaried teachers of religion is, that they will not do likewise, but insist on asserting unquestioned, and preaching unreplied to.

EDITORIAL.

R. D. O.

LONDON, NOVEMBER 17, 1832.

REGARDING CREDULITY; Its amiable nature, and the Evils and Errors to which it gives rise. YOUTH is given to credulity. Like the charity which is defined by Paul, it "Hopeth all things, believeth all things; and thinketh no evil." An uncorrupted child knows nothing of doubt or suspicion. These qualities are necessary, but they are not amiable; they are necessary, because the world is wicked: they are not amiable, because to doubt and to suspect hardens the heart, alienates the affections from one's fellow-creatures, and dashes that generous, confiding temper, which even those cannot but love and admire, who know that it too often leads to suffering and disappointment.

patient research.

None of us, perhaps, habitually bear in mind how little the accuracy of any historical narratives can be depended on. We are apt to say-"Surely the authority of men who wrote at the time may be safely trusted." A journal of to-day furnishes a good commentary on the assertion. It tells us : The John Bull says, "Sir Walter Scott married a lady, Miss Charpentier, daughter of a Swiss emigrant;" "Miss Carpenter, daughter of a gentleman of Jersey," says Allan Cunningham; "Miss Carpenter, daughter of a merchant at Lyons," according to Chambers; and "Miss Carpentier, a French emigré," if we may believe the Atlas. So much for the accuracy of contemporary writers.

Here there is evidently no motive, no intention to deceive; and one would imagine, scarcely an opportunity to be incorrect; the individual being so universally known, and his family relations, like those of all celebrated men, having doubtless been so much canvassed, and, at any rate, being so very easily ascertained. Yet see the result.

If we call to mind what a host of narrations,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE FREE ENQUIRER.
New Harmony, Dec. 25, 1831.

I purchased a horse and equipments in Cincinnati, and set off, in the depth of as severe a winter as I remember, for this place. If you have ever to undertake a similar journey under similar circumstances, take my advice and do as I did. Get you a good pair of fur-lined over-shoes or rather mockasins, (of Indian tanning and manufacture are the best) fur gloves, warm leggins and a good thick horseman's cloak. Take my word for it, you will want them all; that is, if you are visited with a temperature such as we have experienced for the last week. During the whole of that time, the thermometer, day or night, never rose higher than 12 degrees below the freezing point; and on Thursday the 15th inst., it stood at fourteen below zero. On that day, I started from Lawrenceburg half an hour before sunrise, and rode twelve miles to breakfast; a fool's feat, which I advise you not to imitate, and which I do not intend to repeat. I suffered, it is true, no other inconvenience from it than three or four hours, purgatory in the Laplander's hell, (quite as rational a conception by the way, as our more tropically imagined one of fire and brimstone); and a good, hot breakfast restored me to comfort again: but on the very same day, as Mr. Ronalds of Illinois, was nearly frozen to death I learn since my arrival here, a neighbour of ours, in crossing one of the prairies. When found, he was unable to assist himself, and it required some days' nursing to restore him.

If this mode of travelling was tardy and fanot simple and likely ones only, but most extra-tiguing, it afforded me, in return, an opportunity of seeing a good deal more of the inmates of our wesvagant and incredible ones; not of a few years tern forests, than if I had, with greater speed and old, but dating back some hundreds, some thou- comfort, descended the river. I passed through Lawrenceburgh, New Lexington, Salem, Paoli, sands of years-if we call to mind what a mul- Petersburgh, and Princeton; and a portion of the titude of mysterious, inexplicable, marvellous road, I assure you, is rough and wild enough, especially between Paoli and Petersburg. legends are believed by the millions; are made by them the authority for their codes of morals, their rule of life, their test of right and wrongif, I say, we call to mind all this, we shall marvel that a structure so stupendous as our laws and religion should have stood so long on so faithless a foundation.

But this is not all. We shall look forward,

not without anxiety, to the time, when the huge
structure shall fall in; and we shall cast about in
search of what may be raised to shelter us, when
our ancient habitation shall lie in ruins. It was
to aid men in the search of this substitute that the
Crisis was commenced, and is conducted.

R. D O.

WINTER TRAVELLING IN AMERICA;

AND MANNERS IN THE BACK WOODS.

AMONG those who are looking forward to a better state of things than that which surrounds us here, are many whose eyes are turned to the Western Hemisphere, and some, perhaps, who yet expect to find a home in America. To such the following sketch of a journey which I made last winter across a portion of the States of Ohio and Indiana, will be interesting, while to others it may not be useless. It is a beneficial thing to become acquainted with manners and customs differing from our own; and when this cannot be done by travelling ourselves, the best substitute is to be found in the journals of others. Ferhaps there is no country that has not its advantages and its disadofterier still deceived: sometimes erring dis-vantages, peculiar to itself; certainly there is honestly, to serve a selfish purpose, sometimes none, in the manners and customs of which, the

There is scarcely a stronger proof of man's innate goodness, than the difficulty with which he ceases to believe, and the many lessons that are necessary to teach him, that falsehood and ignorance surround him: that men are often deceivers,

Have you ever put up at a real backwood's cabin? If you have not, you have still to see life under one of its rudest, and, in this western region, of its commonest forms. True, the hunter-warrior, who once threaded the forest-path with his life in his hand,

-who, born and nurst,

In danger's paths had braved her worst;
Upon whose ear the signal word

Of strife and death was hourly breaking,
Who slept with head upon the sword,

His fever'd hand must grasp in waking

(it ought to have been rifle not sword, but then, you know, the rythmus and jingle would equally have been marred)-the solitary soldier-pioneer, the man of instinct, of hardihood and of adventure, whose heart never fainted, whose eye never quailed, whose hand never trembled,-the man who, almost as fairly as his red-skinned enemies, merited Campbell's graphic portraiture,

Impassive, fearing but the shame of fear, A stoic of the woods, a man without a tearsuch characters of rude grandeur are, indeed, no longer to be found. But the successor of him who waged equal war on the red man and the buffalo, is not without his interesting characteristics. His rifle, if it no longer defend his life, at least furnishes his table. If he have no mockasin trail to follow, he can yet track the deer as sagaciously as did his predecessor. His forest-instincts are still strong, his roving habits still predominant. To reside three years on the same spot seems to him a degree of tame stability unworthy the character of an enterprising man; he talks of being cramped for room and crowded out by his neighbours, when he finds two or three log-huts within six miles of him; and deems it an all-sufficient reason for a change of residence, that the turkies are becoming scarce, or the deer getting shy, or the range gradually contracting to some paltry ten or twelve thousand acres only.

EDITED BY ROBERT OWEN & ROBERT DALE OWEN.-SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1832. WEEKLY PROCEEDINGS.

nutes, and declaring all personalities and in-subjects selected seemed deeply to interest the great length prevents its insertion entire in these