Sections of Sheffield Society Detested the Poet of the Poor!

The following pieces are a mixture of items about Elliott. Two of them show how the Corn Law Rhymer was highly unpopular in certain areas of Sheffield; the third one is a letter to Elliott by Thomas Clutton Salt - it has a very interesting topic although it has no connection to the Rhymer's popularity.

The first piece is a short poem about Elliott written in April 1838 by a Rotherham person who hides behind the initials J.M. The poem appeared in the Sheffield Iris newspaper of 17th April 1838 where it was found by Diane Gascoyne.

To Ebenezer Elliott

 

Elliott, I hear thy neighbours thee deride,
So is the Prophet's claim at home denied!
One deems thee dark of soul, with zeal too hot,-
So is the sun to worms a fiery blot!
Then thou art stern in aspect, others tell, -
So are the hills where hidden treasures dwell!
Humble thy home, too, Fashion's moths remark, -
So on the ground dwells lowly Heaven's own lark!
Elliott, despite the Prophet-scorning drove,
And of the worms that hate yon sun above;
Of those who shun the rugged mountain side,
Nor love the Lark, - what now thou art, abide. -
The Prophet still, - the sun, the wild rich hill, -
And, whatsoe'er thy home, the lark -Heaven's lyrist still!

"And what but scorn and slander will reward

The rabble's poet, and his honest son?"

It is therefore nice to see the Poet of the Poor getting some support in the above verse, even though it is from an anonymous source!

EBENEZER'S LETTER TO THE SECRETARY OF THE DYSART, PATHHEAD & SINCLAIRTOWN ANTI-CORN LAW ASSOCIATION

 

Elliott's letter comes to us via a roundabout route. It was discovered by Diane Gascoyne in the Sheffield Iris newspaper of May 1st 1838. The Iris itself found the letter in the Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle which had taken it from the Fife Journal!

 The tone of Elliott's letter is bitter - even the poet's family are against him! It shows a great strength of character for Elliott to persist with his views against what were clearly great odds. The editor of the Edinburgh newspaper is very critical, too, of the Rhymer's statement but he also notes that "Our readers will peruse it with interest."

 

DEAR SIR, - Your most welcome communication of the 28th of February last, has cheered me a little. I have still, however, no expectation that the Corn Laws will end otherwise than in the utter ruin of the nation. The apathy of all classes here, on the subject, seems to be immoveable, particularly that of the working classes, who listen eagerly to any tool of the landocracy, who come to tell them that one loaf is better than two of the same weight and quality.

For my doings against the Corn Laws I am deemed insane by nine-tenths of my townsmen, and by my own family. If you come to Sheffield and want me, you may ask in vain for Ebenezer Elliott, but ask for the mad poet, and you will soon find me.

As a forlorn hope, I advise a change of tactics. Let us try to reach our base and stupid oppressors through their just fears. Let us point out to them the two real dangers of their position. Why confine our view of the food-tax to its effects on corn only? The Corn Laws, and similar laws, raising the prices of all our agricultural productions, certainly cost us, at least, 150 millions a year; and if so, they have already cost us twice as much as all the estates are worth. Now, the Corn Laws are robbery, but restitution is bare justice. Then let our petitions for a repeal of the Corn Laws be always accompanied in future by a demand that the taxes shall be laid exclusively on land. For, further, even if the lands were not, as I contend they are, justly forfeited to the state by their blindly rapacious owners - it will soon be made evident to all that no fully peopled country can remain independent, unless it completely untax its manufacturing industry, skill, and capital.

We ought also to insist on the vast superiority of the manufacturing power, as compared with agriculture, in relation to time. Raw cotton, the growth of which requires twelve months, can be doubled in value by machinery in one week, that is to say, the manufacturing power, as a wealth producer, is sometimes greater than the agricultural, in the ratio of 52 to 1. And are we really exchanging the wages and profits of years, for the wages and profits of weeks? Yes - if the Corn Laws are destroying our trade, and if 600 acres of land at Sheffield maintain more people in greater comfort than any 20 thousand acres of merely agricultural land in the kingdom can do. I think, too, we ought to promote meetings of the people for household suffrage, as a means of obtaining justice, for with the present franchise the land-owners are the government, and Victoria is their signing clerk.

- I am, dear Sir, yours very truly,

Ebenezer Elliott

The Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle stood against the Corn Laws, but found fault with Ebenezer's argument: "Now, we think that the forgoing letter is most extravagant, and some of its statements altogether untenable." The Chronicle goes on to question the validity of the poet's figures and finds his remarks on taxation unproven if not "altogether fanciful and unattainable.”

 

For a change, a letter to Ebenezer Elliott is featured here. It was written in April 1838 by Thomas Clutton Salt, a Birmingham lamp manufacturer. Salt was an active member of the Birmingham Political Union and was very keen on universal suffrage. He tells of a meeting held for women in Birmingham & questions Elliott on the possibility of a similar meeting in Sheffield. Elliott was a prominent figure in the Sheffield Political Union; which probably explains Salt's approach. The Sheffield newspaper, the Iris, published Salt's letter on May 1st 1838, where it was spotted by Diane Gascoyne.

 

 

Birmingham, April 16th, 1838

DEAR SIR, - I sent you, last week, a Birmingham journal, with a very much curtailed account of a meeting of women. I alone of Birmingham reformers, dared convene or attend it. The experiment was triumphant. Not only was the vast Hall full, but even its spacious lobbies were crowded. There could not have been less than 12,000 women there. A more beautiful and moving sight was never seen; a meeting more enthusiastic and orderly never was assembled. It was evident that the iron had entered into their souls; that they felt deeply, and resolved religiously, that their children's children should not be trampled upon as they had been. I mention this meeting to you because it forms part of my general plan. I believe, (I might say I know,) that hitherto, the women have thought so little upon politics, and being so utterly ignorant of the connexion of our system with their poverty and degradation, that they have either not interfered, or persuaded their husbands from meddling with politics, as a thing of no profit. We cannot afford their neutrality or hostility; they must be our enthusiastic friends.

I intend to have these meetings repeated throughout England. I am happy to inform you, that our Missionary in Glasgow has completely lifted up the whole population there.

The Reformers are also making preparations to receive us at Dundee, Edinburgh, Sunderland, Manchester, and neighbourhood. They are preparing to hold a great meeting here, to sanction and give dignity to our mission, and to pass our national petition. We shall then break ground at Glasgow on the 9th of May, and obtain the sanction of the people there; and from thence roll up the masses southward to London, where I should like to see 700,000 meet us on Hampstead Heath. But to effect any good object - to acquire any power for the people - we must exhibit, on the whole of our course, an unfailing, nay, a groaning and increasing enthusiasm. May we depend on your potent aid to prepare the people at Sheffield, and some intimation as to their disposition towards us? From the middle classes, I expect nothing until virtue becomes with them a necessity, and they see the people strong in their union; then they will begin to seek shelter in their ranks.

You are aware I intend the national petitions to be two-fold, the one to be signed by the millions of men, the others to be signed by millions of women; and to be the first great evidence of a national simultaneous action; a simultaneous action which, well directed, will have a moral omnipotence.

Time prevents my giving you more than this hasty sketch, and asking you what Sheffield will do?

With every good wish and sincere respect, I am, dear Sir, yours, sincerely,

THOS. CLUTTON SALT 

 The letter shows how extraordinary the times were  & how enthusiasic the reformers were. Salt was clearly stunned by the number of women who had  attended the Birmingham meeting and was keen to develop the potential of this untapped resource. Since Elliott was a national figure & since he was the person who introduced the Charter to Sheffield, it was duly appropriate for Salt to cultivate the Corn Law Rhymer in this matter. Wonder what Elliott made of Salt's letter & what his reply would have been?