Heywood Notes & Queries

HEYWOOD NOTES & QUERIES. Reprinted fione the "Heywood Advertiser ." CONDUCTED BY J . A. GREEN. VOL. III . No. 25. ,,jFriba1, 3aiuuarp 11th, 1902 . [242.] JOHN KAY TAYLOR . (See Note No. 152 .) Since the publication of the particulars given at No. 152, I have been favoured with the loan of a little book which contains addi- tional information . It is entitled : A New selection of Hymns, compiled for the use of the Chartists, of Great Britain and Ireland . Selected, arranged, and published under the superintendence of a committee ap- pointed by the Chartist Delegates of South Lancashire . Manchester : J . Leach, printer, 40, Oak-street, Swan-street . [ ] 32 me. pp . 1- At this time of day it is difficult to believe that groups of men would unite in singing some of the "hymns" collected in this book . Ii a man is known by the company he keeps then Taylor is found here in very good company indeed . The best hymns are by Burns, Campbell, Ebenez .r Elliott, Thomas Cooper, 2 and Robert Nicoll . The contributions of J. K. Taylor are not the worst in the book, but the following samples of his quality will suffice : - Hymn, 3-page 5 . Chartist Hymn (S.M.). 1 What can withstand the power, When Britain's sons unite, Throughout this empire in one hour, For to assert their right. (4 stanzas, signed J. K. Taylor, Heywood.) Hymn, 14-page 18. Chartists' Hymn (P.M.). 1 Come join the patriot's host, The contest now begun, Let each and all maintain his post And labour's battle's won. (20 more lines, signed J . K . Taylor.) Hymn, 19-page 24. Why are we distressed (C.M.). 1 Upon a soil that God design'd, For each an equal share ; For every son of human-kind, Enough and much to spare. (5 stanzas, signed J. K . Taylor.) Hymn, 20-page 25 . Chartist Hymn (L.M.). 1 See Phoebus gilds the orient sky, While birds rejoice in nature's joy ; While freedom waits on all around, On all, save man, in fetters bound . (5 stanzas, signed J. K. Taylor.) J. A. GREEN. [243 .] IN MEMORY OF SAM. BAMFORD. Samuel Bamford's life has been so well told by himself in his books that little else can be said of him. When a memorial tablet was erected on hits house in Cheapside, Middleton, a short time ago (December 1st, 1906), some very interesting addresses were delivered. The tablet bears the inscription : SAMUEL BAMFORD, Reformer, Resided and was arrested in this house, August 26, 1819 . 8: The Mayor of Middleton (Councillor W . G . Townend) presided over a representative assembly . He said they were met that day to do honour to the memory of one of Middle- ton's worthy sons . Though all were far from satisfied with things as they are to-day, and were going on being dissatisfied until evils were remedied, yet they did desire to remem- ber and pay a tribute of respect to one who, in John Bright's words, was a reformer when it was unsafe to be one, and who suffered for hiii faith . Mrs. Thorpe, the owner of the cottage, then unveiled the tablet. An adjournment was made to St. Stephen's schoolroom . The Mayor again presided, and Mr. Philip Ashworth, J .P., gave an interest ing address on the life and character of Bam- ford . He explained that the ceremony in which they had been engaged was the out- come of a suggestion made by the Rev . W. H. Eothergill that it was a fitting time to make some lasting record of the fact that Samuel Bamford lived in Cheapside and was arrested in the house there . Proceeding, he said "We know that a monument stands in the cemetery to the Reformer's memory, but I sometimes think that the less pretentious tablet has a meaning of its own, because it brings more forcibly to mind that Bamford not only existed for the nation, but actually lived and worked and fought in Middleton . I look upon Bamford as Middleton's great son, and whilst we raise to his memory monument and tablet yet at the same time his most enduring monument is the works that he left and the advancement of the cause in which he fought . We honour him not only for hia fight for freedom, but also for his contribution to the literature of the coun- try ." Bamford's "Early Days," said Mr. Ash- worth, were delightful reading, and especially so to those who, like themselves, were in- terested in anything which concerned the his- tory and the welfare of Middleton . To him the record of the events and conditions of a hundred years ago came as a breeze across the centuries, from the moors and the dingles 4 and the fields which Bamford knew and loved so well . Bamford was of an ardent and poetic temperament. He was a keen observer, and was blessed with a most retentive memory ; and throughout that volume they would find that be was brimful also of Lancashire wit and humour under all conditions and circumstances . He was to a certain extent another Mark Tapley, for he could be jolly under all circumstances . Mr. Ashworth went on to describe Bamford's "Early Days," and re= marked that what he valued the book for more particularly was for its author's own early impressions . Bamford's father was a God-fearing man. He came of a religious stock, and that fact influenced the son throughout his life . Of the advice which his father gave, three points stuck in his memory, and he endeavoured throughout life to abide by them . They were : Stand up for the right and fear not, be inflexibly honest, avoid all approach towards presumptous assurance, and rather endeavour to be marked for solid worth . They could well say that Samuel Bam- ford was fully justified in laying to himself humble credit for having followed those ad- mirable precepts . ~s ith a nature such as that, a temperament such as his, brought from a home of religious influences, could pathythey wonder that Bamford ever showed sym- for distress ago need and want , in reading through his books it was difficult to fully realise the condition of things that used to exist . They thought sometimes that they were but a portion of the way towards the ultimate goal of full liberty, yet they were very much further than Bamford 'or any of his associates ever was . But they remembered it was to him and to others like him that they were indebted for the advance which had been made. The time to which he was refer- ring, Mr . Ashworth continued, was near the close of a very long and disastrous war Trade was languishing, factories were substi- tuting machinery for the old handloom, and consequently displacing labour. Food was dear s and there were very few means of getting 5 it. Could it be wondered at that people were dissatisfied and discontented, and naturally blamed Parliament and those in authority for the ills from which they were suffering? Feeling that they had no voice in the direction of affairs they sent up those petitions, which were so foolishly and culpably dis- regarded. This, of course, led to the holding of meetings, secret and otherwise. The Government got alarmed, spies were sent out, and sometimes instigated the very things they were t~o detect . The Habeas Corpus Act was suspended and arrests made right and left, Bamford among the rest . He war, taken to London, and Mr. Ashworth said he thought that in a certain sense that arrest was providential. He believed that when Bamford came before the Privy Council they were impressed by him, and could consequently imagine a very different type of people to what they thought existed in the North of England . He believed also that this contact had a good influence on Bamford . It was always so. _such of the misunder- standing and bitterness of the present day was owing to the simple fact that people did not understand each other through keeping apart. Nothing of an incriminating character was found against Bamford, and he was allowed to go home again . This did not stop the agitation . It was continued, but in a more open manner . Bamford was a poet. Though they could not rate him perhaps quite so highly as he sometimes hoped to be, he undoubtedly had a talent in that direction, and it often seemed that he was desirous of copying Burns-Burns, the son of the soil. \1 by could not he follow as a lad from the mill? To a certain extent he was successful . He bad a vogue in those days at all events, and it helped him in his character of being a leader . He was as open as the daylight, he was honest, straightforward ; so he treated other people, and so he expected to be treated in return . It was decided that the Peterloo meeting should be held. A little misapprehension was caused, perhaps by the fact that they were 6 drilling, and it was felt that this meant revo- lutionary methods. It was nothing of the kind. It was simply this, that the press way against the Radicals at the time, and that, having been described as a mob, they would, at all events, remove that stigma and show that they could march and conduct themselves in as orderly a manner as anybody else. Bamford went at the head of his contingent ; and all present knew what happened on that dreadful day .

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