Having, by a shameless and impious placard, invited you to
attend a meeting on Sunday evening next, to hear a discussion
on the question of resistance to the law, and endeavour to
TREPAN YOU INTO DISAFFECTION AND REBELLION, we think it our
duty, as sincere friends to your welfare, to caution you
against the BASE AND GODLESS DESIGNS OF SUCH INFIDEL MEN.
Whatever they may tell you to the contrary, we know their
object is to make you like themselves--DESPISERS OF THE
COMMANDMENTS BOTH OF GOD AND MAN, and thus bring you into a
condition for every wicked work. They will teach you to become
a set of wretched infidels, like the FRENCH, and then make you
their tools to aid them in getting up a REBELLION, AND FILLING
OUR LAND WITH PLUNDER, SLAUGHTER, AND BLOOD.
Be assured this is the end they have in view.--Therefore, as
you love YOURSELVES, YOUR FAMILIES, and YOUR GOD, AVOID THE
COMPANY, AND GO NOT NEAR THE PLACE WHERE SUCH SABBATH-BREAKING
FIREBRANDS ASSEMBLE.
_Dudley, June 30, 1848._
ASIATIC CHOLERA.--This much dreaded epidemic, which was now spreading
with fearful rapidity in most of the large centres of industry and
dense populations, had infected the towns of Bilston and Wolverhampton
with great severity and loss of valuable life, and at last reached the
town of Dudley, causing much fearful looking to a premature ending of
all earthly things.
Our local Sanitary Authorities at once put in force all the powers
the law then gave them, viz., "The Nuisance Removal and Disease
Prevention Act of 1848." Our back streets were kept cleaner, and
free from refuse and stinking garbage; our ashpits were thoroughly
inspected and cleansed; orders were issued for the absolute observance
of much greater attention to both personal and household cleanliness
and sobriety. The poorer victims were generally buried at night,
in St. John's and St. James' Churchyards, and the "Cholera Black
Waggon," slowly and mournfully "picking up" and conveying its loaded
freight of once bright and happy beings, both young and old to their
unbidden, hurried, and mixed common grave, was a nightly sight not
easily forgotten, and one sight quite sufficient for one lifetime to
witness. "As drowning men," it is said, "catch at straws," so _we_, the
denizens _of then_ poor stricken down Dudley, were too glad to listen
to any advice which might help to mitigate the fearful scourge in our
midst. The Rev. J. B. Owen, M.A., of Bilston, at this particular
juncture, came and lectured at our newly formed Mechanics' Institute,
"On Sanitary Improvement securing Good Health." It need hardly be
written that this lecture was densely crowded, as Mr. Owen was one of
the God-fearing guardian angels and friends of all the awe-stricken
inhabitants in Bilston, who was night and day to be seen aiding in the
cause of our common humanity. It was afterwards known that upwards of
750 persons perished in Bilston of Asiatic Cholera. Up to this date
the death rate had been observed principally amongst the really poor,
indigent, delicate and sickly; the deaths amongst young children being
very numerous also.
The once celebrated Dudley Races, held where the present railway
station and railway line runs towards the Lime Kilns, down the New
Tipton Road, were held the last time in July, 1848. The grand stand was
backed up against the Castle grounds wall, and the race ground extended
in an oblong course, running from the New Road to the Lime Kilns.
July 24th, 1848. The town was suddenly agitated this day, by the
announcement of the failure of Messrs. Jno. and M. Williams and Co.,
Corn Millers, of this town; liabilities said to be £35,000.
The general trade of the town and district was now in a most deplorable
state, and in the recollection of the old tradesmen it was never known
to have been so bad. Added to the distress, the puddlers and colliers,
&c., received notice for a reduction in wages of 10 per cent., which
was equal to 6d. per day.
At this distressing period of our history, men, women, and children,
in a state of absolute starvation, were seen daily dragging a light
waggon through our streets, asking for alms of loaves of bread and
victuals for their famishing families, shewing the dire disasters that
had visited our old town and locality. To make matters worse, seventeen
shops, ranging from St. Edmund's to St. Thomas's Churches, were "to
let" at this unhappy time.
Our active and exciteable neighbour, Mr. Samuel Cook, was still bent
upon enlightening the people in something, which eventually did not
fill their bellies, but caused some of the incautious to be sent to
jail for seditious speaking and rioting. This time he secured the
services of that Arch Infidel from Leeds (the hot-bed of Chartism) to
lecture at Tipton, on a Sunday, "On the Curse of an Aristocracy, the
Rights of the People, and Primitive Christianity." The drum and fife
band, with Mr. Cook and the lecturer at its head, led many foolish men
and youths on the broad road to infidelity and lawlessness.
"THE PEOPLE, THEIR RIGHTS, AND LIBERTIES, THEIR DUTIES AND
THEIR INTERESTS."
On Sunday, August the 13th, 1848, TWO LECTURES will be
delivered in the open air, Waterloo Street, Tipton, by Mr.
JOSEPH BARKER, of Wortley, near Leeds.
Afternoon Subject.--"The Curse of an Aristocracy, and the need
of a Democracy." Evening Subject.--"Primitive Christianity,
True Religion, &c." The lecture in the afternoon to commence
at Three o'clock, and the one in the evening at six. Go ye men
and women in your Tens and Hundreds and Thousands, and hear Mr.
Barker on the above important subjects.