The victims of Whiggery; being a statement of the persecutions experienced by the Dorchester labourers; their trial, banishment, &c. &c. also reflections upon the present system of transportation; with an account of Van Dieman's [sic] land, its customs, laws, climate, produce, and inhabitants. Dedicated (without permission) to Lords Melbourne, Grey, Russell, Brougham, and Judge Williams. Second edition.

LOVELESS, George (1797-1874)

Verlag: London, published under the direction of the Central Dorchester Committee, by Effingham Wilson 1837

Beschreibung

.32p. Recent blank vellum. A few brown spots but a very good copy. Upper margin of last 2 leaves cut short affecting page numbering only. A milestone in the history of British trade unionism. George Loveless and his comrades had struck a blow from which the opposition to trades unionism never recovered and the Tolpuddle Martyrs' are saints in the trade union hagiology'.In the early 1830's a group of six agricultural labourers from Tolpuddle near Dorchester led by George Loveless formed a Friendly Society of Agricultural Labourers to fight for higher wages. Although trade unions were not forbidden since the Combinations of Workmen Act of 1825 they were accused of swearing secret oaths, thus violating an obscure and obsolete Unlawful Oaths Act of 1797. They were found guilty and sentenced to transportation for seven years to Australia. Growing popular protest - almost a million people signed a petition and 50.000 people marched in London for their release - resulted in their full pardon in March 1836.The present publication is largely devoted to an account of Loveless' transportation (due to illness he left later than his comrades) to Australia, with details on the hard conditions aboard transports and the dangers of the voyage. He arrived in Hobart on Van Diemen's Land (Tasmania) on 4 September 1833. He first worked in irons on the roads and later as a shepherd and stock-keeper with some privileges. After the pardon he returned to England in June 1837. He became an active Chartist and in 1844 emigrated to Canada.This went through at least eight editions in 1837 and 1838. All editions seem rare.*Kress has the present second edition only C.4422. Goldsmiths' 30126. Printing and the mind of man' 305. Bestandsnummer des Verkäufers 15059

Bibliografische Details

Titel: The victims of Whiggery; being a statement ...

Verlag: London, published under the direction of the Central Dorchester Committee, by Effingham Wilson 1837

Signiert: Signatur des Verfassers