A FULL ACCOUNT 
 
 FAREWELL FESTIVAL' 
 
 EGBERT OWEN, Esa., 
 
 DEPARTURE FOR AMERICA, 
 
 REPORTS OP THE SPEECHES 
 
 Messiis. ELLIS, IIOLYOAKE, TLEMING, A. CAMPBELL, SOUTHWELL 
 And Mns. CHAPPELLSMITII; ^ 
 
 Mr. OWEN’S 
 
 SECOND LEGACY TO THE HUMAN EACE. 
 
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 Enntlon: 
 
 PUBLISHED BY J. J. MERRIMAN, 
 
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\-<T-e.S3 r,,„i .13 , !'1 4 
 
 PESTIYAL TO MR. OWEN. 
 
 On Sunday, the 11th inst., a Public Breakfast was given to Mr. 
 Owen by the Metropolitan Branches of the Eational Society. 
 The earnest desire to testify the sincerity of their esteem to the 
 venerable founder of the Eational System caused a large atten¬ 
 dance of members and friends from all parts of the metropolis 
 and many well known and tried supporters from distant parts of 
 England, aU anxious to avail themselves of this, perhaps the only 
 opportimity of again joining in the advantages of his instruction 
 and fellowship. 
 
 The entertainment, in accordance ndth the usual custom, 
 commenced with an excellent repast provided by the steward of 
 the Institution, Mr. Davis, consisting of the usual viands, and 
 w'as aiTaiiged by that gentleman with the utmost care and skill. 
 The number of persons who sat down to breakfast could not 
 have amounted to much less than 600, notwithstanding which, 
 there was nothing to cause the least dissatisfaction, but on the 
 contrary, elicited the compliments of most present. 
 
 The pleasing task being concluded, the Chorus, conducted by 
 Mr. Jennings, executed in good style “Awake Eolian Lyre.” 
 The chair was taken by Mr. Clark, president of Branch Al, who 
 called upon Mr. Elcming to open the more important business 
 of the morning by presenting the first address to Mr. Owen. 
 
 Mr. Ple-uing said that the address which he had the honoim 
 to present was from the President and Council of Branch Al, 
 which he said so completely expressed his oivn feelings that he 
 would not occupy their time further, than by reading it; it was 
 as follows— 
 
 “Eeveked and Beloved Sik.—T he president, council, 
 members and candidates of Branch Al of the Eational Society, 
 lake occassion, from the announcement of your intended voyage 
 to the United States, to give public expression to the respect 
 and affection with which they regard you as an individual, and 
 of theii- devotion to those principles, of which you have been the 
 unwearied and consistent propounder. 
 
 “These principles preclude the ascription of merit or de¬ 
 merit, praise or blame to individuals, but it is at the same time 
 instinctive in humanity to love and reverence goodness and 
 greatness; hence these are our feelings towards you. Your 
 long life has been an undeviating e.xhibition of the purest bene¬ 
 volence—the most generous disinterestedness. Yom- faculties, 
 fortune, and time have been entirely devoted to the task of 
 regenerating society, and thereby reforming the human charac¬ 
 ter ; so that in thought, word, and act, all might at all times bo 
 guided by the dictates of reason, and manifest that comprehen¬ 
 sive charity wliicli is the inevitable deduction from the first prin¬ 
 ciples of the Eational System of Society. 
 
“ A cliange so great—so radical—in man and liis institutions, 
 based upon principles so demonstrable and consistent, has never 
 before been propounded to the ivorld. At the commencement 
 of. your labours you stood alone—now your disciples are to be 
 found in all countries and climes—the impress of j-our mind is 
 visible in every direction, and time as it rolls on will only the 
 more plainly ewdence the depth and extent of the influence 
 which you have exerted over this and coming ages. Every im¬ 
 provement in our literature—every attempt at improved social 
 and educational institutions—every eftbrt to apply the theories 
 of modern science to the multiplication of tlie material means of 
 happiness, is but aiding, directly or indirectly, the great social 
 revolution you have originated. This is a great work to have 
 accomplished in one life-time—^it is the best return you could 
 possibly have for your labom’s: and we may be permitted to 
 rejoice with you in the contemplation of past eflbrts, in the exul¬ 
 tation over hopes for the future. 
 
 “We had hoped that, at youi- advanced period of life, you 
 woidd tranquilly and usefully, as usual, have passed the evening 
 of your days among us, without e.xposing yourself to the risks 
 of such a long voyage and jornney as that you are about to 
 undertake. You are, however, the property of no particular 
 country or nation. The friend of mankind—^your mission is to 
 reconstruct society and to so ferm the human character every¬ 
 where— 
 
 “ That man to man, the world o’er, 
 
 “ Shall brother be. 
 
 “ It appears to you necessary, in the performance of the 
 duties of this mission, that you sliould visit America; we feel 
 too deeply interested in its fulfilment, to speak of regret at 
 your decision: the individual pleasure arising from haring you 
 among us, must give way to the general benefit. 
 
 “ We are, however’, encouraged to hope that you will, if life 
 and health be spared, returr; to us rrext spring; and fervently 
 shall we welcome you back to yom’ rightful position of patriarch 
 to our society—gladly renew that intercourse rrith you, which is 
 to rrs so irrvaluable. 
 
 “In yoiu’absence we win do the best that our experience 
 and means will permit, to promote the spread and influence of 
 the benign principles of which we are the disciples; and w'c 
 cherish the hope, that ere marry months have elapsed, w’c shall 
 meet agaitr mrder cveir moi'o favorrrablc circurrrstarrees than the 
 preseirt. 
 
 “ Yorrr appearance among the social reformers of the United 
 States at this period will, we trust, be productive of groat bene¬ 
 fit, and give arr irrereased impetus to the rapid and wide-spread 
 social movement now going on in that republic. We trust, also, 
 that during yom' abserree, you will have ample opportunities of 
 conferring with those at the head of its alfairs, and of impressing 
 them with a sense of the momentous and important nature of 
 
( 4 ) 
 
 yoiir vi,CTS in the present excited and nnsatisfactory state of tlie 
 world. 
 
 “ May that happiness which it has been the labour of your 
 life to bestow on others^ continue to be richly enjoyed by you 
 wherever you may be; and may we speedily again enjoy the 
 plciisurc ot seeing you among us. 
 
 “ Robeet Claeke, President. 
 
 "August II, 1844.” 
 
 Mr. Owen rose, and addressing the meeting as brothers, 
 sisters, and children, said, he hoped that the time was not far 
 distant when there wovdd only be parents, brothers, and sisters 
 throughout the world, animated by the strongest family affec¬ 
 tion. The address just read u'as highly gratifjdng to him, it 
 was most satisfactory, and, as a document, all he could wish. 
 Towards its conclusion he thought there was something like 
 regret expressed at the present unsatisfactory state of the 
 world. He was glad it was so, inasmuch as the dissatisfaction 
 —lie would call it the glorious dissatisfaction—existing in this 
 and other countries was the sure precursor of the great changes 
 he had so long advocated. It showed that the present system 
 had failed to accomplish the .objects for which man associates in 
 society—cmjiloj'raeiit, education and enjoyment for all;—and 
 were it not that its incapacity to secure to mankind that uni¬ 
 versal want of their nature—happiness—was now so palpable, 
 he should look much farther into the future, for the realization 
 of his hopes, the fruition of his labours, than he now did. He 
 hoped that the disciples of the Rational System were now pre- 
 jiarcd to merge all individualism in the universal, to cease all 
 those personalities which were the natural offspring of the old 
 immoral world but which were altogether alien to the spirit and 
 the practice of the new moral world. They believed that no one 
 formed himself, or created his own convictions or feelings—^liow 
 then could they possibly tbel anger on account of inevitable dif¬ 
 ferences in these respects ? He hoped on his return early next 
 sjiring, to find that in his absence the members had been exer¬ 
 cising their miuds so as to get rid of all personalities, to become 
 really united, and to a^rply the principles of which they W'ere the 
 professed disciples to practice. Whenever they were so, there 
 would be no auger, no jealousy, no revenge, no other desire but 
 to promote the happiness of each other. The spirit of fault¬ 
 finding, either with each other or ivitli the world, must be 
 destroyed as an obstacle to the attainment of their great object 
 —of creating a new mind, a new spirit in man, and of thereby 
 making his actions at all times tend to the promotion of the 
 happiness of his race, and of all that has life. It would delight 
 him, on his retium, to find this spirit prevailing among them, 
 and that the true family fceh’ng knit them together, which would 
 be the sure result of the practice of the principles. He congra¬ 
 tulated them on the appearance of the meeting, and observed, 
 that as he understood other business would be brought before 
 
( 5 ) 
 
 them, which Avould requii-c him to addross tlicm, he would not 
 longer occupy their time. Mr. Owen, on resuming his seat, was 
 greeted withlongcontinued demonstrations of respect audapplause. 
 
 The choir then sung “Long maylifeand health hespared him.” 
 
 Mr. J. C. Smith presented the following address from the 
 Utilitarian Association. 
 
 “ Eespected Sir. —^Permit the Members of the Utilitarian 
 Association to join with their fellow members of the Rational 
 Society in expressing their hopes, fears, and good wishes, con¬ 
 cerning yourself, and the benevolent work you have in hand. 
 
 “We feel we w'ould be guilty of ingratitude tow'ards you, 
 and unjust to our ow'n feelings, were w'e to allow the present 
 opportunity, perhaps the last in our life of addressing j'ou, to 
 pass unheeded. 
 
 “Were^'et that England is not prepared to test, by prac¬ 
 tice, the truth of the principles and plans you have so ably 
 developed, and unceasingly taught, during a long and useful 
 life; but hope that the country you are going to may give the 
 everlasting truths, of wiiich you are the bearer, a more attentive 
 hearing, and means more commensm-ate to the speedy and suc¬ 
 cessful reduction of them to practice, than has been given to 
 them in the land you are leaving. 
 
 “ When we reflect upon the almost superhuman efForts you 
 have made to awaken this country to a sense of the dangers of 
 longer continuing the present chaotic state of things on the one 
 hand, and to an appreciation of the beauty, truth, and conse¬ 
 quent simplicity of the sj^stem of society, of wdiich you are the 
 founder, on the other, w^e feel that England’s best friend is 
 leaving her shores j and are strongly reminded of the beautiful 
 yet mournful w'ords of Jesus the reformer, wdieii he exclaimed, 
 ‘ Oh! Jerusalem, Jerusalem ! how often would I have gathered 
 your children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens 
 under her wings, and ye ivordd not.’ 
 
 “ While, for England’s sake, ive regret your departure, yet 
 have W'e reason to rejoice that the country you are going to is 
 the one w'e have chosen for our future home ; and although we 
 may never meet, there will bo some consolation in knowing tliat 
 we are co-labourers in the land that is destined to lead the 
 nations of the earth, by her e.xample, to the adoption of the 
 Rational System of Society. 
 
 “ In conclusion, respected friend, w'e wish you a safe and 
 comfortable voyage across the Atlantic, and a hearty welcome to 
 the republic, and hope ere long to be able to invite you to our 
 home in the West; but should we, by the unrelenting decree of 
 nature, be denied that pleasure;—May you live as long as exis¬ 
 tence shall be pleasurable, and no longer, is the sincere desire 
 of the Members of the Utilitarian Association. 
 
 “ Signed on their behalf, 
 
 “August 11th, 1841.” “ J. C. S.uiTH, Cliairmau. 
 
Mr. G. J. rioLYOAKE tlien read tlie subjoined addressj from 
 the conductors of the Movement, ivhich elicited repeated mauifes- 
 tations of approval, and, at its couclusion, was loudly cheered— 
 
 “ The persons whose names are appended to this address, 
 may he taken as representing a party, who, thougli belonging to 
 the society ef which you are the acknowledged head, ai'e con¬ 
 sidered somewhat in the light of dissentients—^for this reason, 
 they have sought this opportunity of assuring you that whatever 
 may be their difference of opinion, there is no difference in the 
 affection they beai- you. 
 
 “ In you they recognise the heuevolent sculptor, who out of 
 the mishapen block of society has heini the beautiful and 
 breathing statue of co-operative humanity. A moral Euclid, 
 you have done for society what that mathematician did for geo- 
 metiy—collected the scattered udsdom of eai-th’s sages, and 
 given to it order, system, and practical utility. Other philoso¬ 
 phers had pointed to what should be done—it remained for 
 Kobert Owen to propose to do it. Eor half a century humanity 
 has known you as its friend. In both hemispheres you have 
 borne witness against societarian error, and in the retreats of 
 grandeur and the humble haunts of poverty, you have gone, like 
 the herald of happiness, and pointed to the equality of mankind. 
 By your writings wealth has been taught its true office, and 
 enslaved industry the means of emanciption—human nature has 
 been made the popular study of the multitude, and thought, 
 both in the old world and the new, has received a lasting impe¬ 
 tus. On all these accounts we naturally congratulate you, because, 
 in whatever adds to the independence of humanity, perhaps 
 more than other men, we are deeply interested. 
 
 “ As recipients of those great metaphysical truths which you 
 have been instrumental in disseminating to the world, we are 
 your debtors. That it is om’ good fortune to seek the fabled 
 blessings of religion only in the practice of morality, and to 
 anticipate the guardianship of a providence in the triumphs of 
 science, were first owing to your instruction and e.vample. It is 
 therefore not less our duty than oru' pleasure to bear testimony 
 to the advantages of having lived within the sphere of your 
 influence. 
 
 “ It would be to impugn the high philosophy both of your 
 Avritings and your life, were Ave deem it necessary to e.xcuse our- 
 scIa'cs for haA'ing, on some particulars, dissented from yourself. 
 Your usefulness has emanated from independence of thought— 
 and to respect individuality of sentiment is the proud charac¬ 
 teristic of Socialism. To liaA'e broken in the blindness and 
 bigotry of the age, and stimulated a nation to practical and libe¬ 
 ral thiuliing, wiU ever be reckoned among your most honoiu’a- 
 able triumphs. 
 
 “ It is not necessary that we AAdsh that your A'isit to yoxu’ 
 family, to whom VA^e desire our regards, may be a happy one. 
 AVhatevcr pertains to the province of affection, is, ijU your case. 
 
( 7 ) 
 
 no subject of anxiety. But if fortune can be influenced by (nir 
 liopesj you will not only reacb them in safety, but return in 
 health to witness the realization of those plans of human pro¬ 
 gression with which the name of Robert Ou'cn ivill, through 
 future time, be associated. 
 
 George Jacob Holyoake. 
 
 “ Maltus Questal Eyall. 
 
 “London, August 11, 1844.” 
 
 Mr. Owen, in replying to these addresses, said he liked all 
 foiuvard movements, and was pleased to find the division of labour 
 principle carried into the moral as well as the industrial Avorld. 
 Let them have done fighting with error, whether in the Society 
 or out of it, and dii’cct all their energies to the promulgation of 
 the principles of the Society, and to the training of their own 
 minds in the daily application of these principles to practice; until 
 he saw such an application of them, he must feel there was a 
 want of true knowledge of them. The addresses which had just 
 been read emanated from some of his young and more ardent 
 disciples, who appeared to be of opinion that his mode of reach, 
 ing the new moral world was rather long and tedious, and 
 were, therefore, desirous of getting there by a short cut. Per¬ 
 haps, notwithstanding his experience with men and society, he 
 might be wrong, and they might be right; he thought it un¬ 
 likely ; but should it be so, none would rejoice more than him¬ 
 self. He ivas desirous, however, that any discussions which 
 might grow out of this difference, as to the time and means of 
 re^zing the object for which they were associated, -would be 
 conducted in the true spirit of the principles, which could alone 
 make them beneficial in their results. During his wsit to Ame¬ 
 rica he intended to meet as many of the friends of social Eeform 
 as his time and means would permit, and would endeavour to 
 unite them into one compact body. There ivere at present 
 threatening clouds in the political horizon, and it was peculiarly 
 necessary that social reformers of all countries should throw the 
 weight of then- influence on the side of peace, and he hoped that 
 these threatening a23pearances would only prove incentives to 
 increased exertions by the friends of peace everywhere. Mr. 
 Owen ne.xt good-humouredly alluded to his supposed tendency 
 to aristocracy. Some parties, not seeing so far as an old man 
 of seventy-three, or knowing so much of society as his varied 
 experience had taught him, and therefore imacquainted with the 
 feelings generated in the various classes of which it was composed 
 by the influences surrounding them, had supposed, because he 
 was for adapting his transition measm-es to the state of feeling 
 thus produced, that he himself was an ingrained, thorough aris¬ 
 tocrat. Let sueh parties know that there never was—^perhaps it 
 was impossible there ever again could be, a more determined 
 enemy to inequality than himself. It was the great object of 
 his life to destroy it, but before that object can be accom¬ 
 plished, it must be preceded by equality m education, training, 
 
( 8 ) 
 
 and social position, by means of which the inferior may be 
 brought up to the standard of the superior classes, instead of 
 bringing down the latter to the level of the former. As an illus- 
 traticn of this, Mr. Owenrefen-ed to the pupils of Harmony, and 
 gave an interesting account of his parting with them on the pre¬ 
 vious Thursday. These children (although the cii'cumstances 
 and arrangements around them were yet far from being what he 
 contemplated) ab’eady exhibited the elevating eftects of an edu¬ 
 cation conducted upon the principle of equidity, administered in 
 the spirit of kindness, and guided by a high sense of what was 
 necessary to the development of all the human faculties. As a 
 proof of this, Mr. Owen related an anecdote respecting a late 
 visit of Sir I. L. Goldsmid, Bart. When he entered the Infant 
 School, he said—“ Mr. Owen, I suppose these are all picked 
 children, and belonging to parties moving in the better classes 
 of sociely.” “ No,’^ was the reply ; “ they are the children of 
 ploughmen, sa^vyers, blacksmiths, and other work-people resi¬ 
 dent in the establishment. When they first entered the school, 
 they were like ordinary childi'en—some plain in feature, others 
 the contrary—aU with the inferior habits incident to their past 
 inferior position: now, as you see, every one is, without excep¬ 
 tion, entitled to be called beautiful—a beauty arising, not only 
 from comeliness of feature, but that purity and frankness of ex¬ 
 pression which is their common characteristic. The plain- 
 featured have been made beautiful—the beautiful more so.” 
 Such were the effects of comparatively inferior arrangements, 
 not only on the mental and moral, but even the physical being 
 of children, when taken sufficiently early and placed under them. 
 Sir Isaac expressed astonishment and delight at the scene before 
 him, and all who have visited the establishment are impressed 
 with the same feelings. In like manner must those who heard 
 him become httle children, and undergo a preparatory training 
 before they could become members of the new moral -world to 
 which he looked forward, in which equality would be based on 
 its only true and lasting foundation—equality of position and 
 training, and the universal diffusion of that amenity of manners 
 and cathohe charity which imparts the highest zest to life. He 
 said to them, never cease to struggle for equahty; but he must 
 add, at the same time, do not be in too great a Inmy, lest you 
 defeat your own object by not makiug sufficient allowance for 
 the feelings and habits inevitably forced upon other classes, and 
 thus driving them from, instead of attracting them to, the cause. 
 He hoped that, during his absence, they would think of these 
 things, and that, on his return, he should find them much im¬ 
 proved, and at the same time, to bring such intelligence as would 
 enable him to load them out of unequal things to less unequal 
 things, in the shortest possible period, and by a road on which 
 one step firmly planted, would never have to be retraced. As 
 this was the last time he should have of meeting them for a long 
 period—il) indeed, they ever met again—he woidd trespass on 
 
( 9 ) 
 
 their time a little longer, with a few remarks called for by the 
 present position of the Society’s affairs. One difficulty to be 
 removed at Harmony, was the strong desire for democracy. It 
 was no wonder that this desire should e.\tensively prevail among 
 the producing classes in this country, when the treatment they 
 had received from their rulers on the one hand, and the educa¬ 
 tion given to them by their leaders on the other, were taken into 
 consideration. The most forward minds among them had seen 
 no other way to escape from the evils that environed them, than 
 the common notions which democracy afforded them. Wlien he 
 commenced his proceedings at New Lanark, he knew he was 
 going to oppose all the old feelings and prejudices of Tory, Whig, 
 and Eadical; but it was necessary to do so, in order to ascertain 
 the best mode of governing man. In that estabhshment, after 
 selecting for his assistants the paities whom he thought best 
 qualified for the duties they were intended to perform, he ascer¬ 
 tained fuUy their feelings and views as to the management in 
 their own departments, and encom’aged the utmost frankness of 
 expression on all matters relating thereto. He heard patiently 
 what they had to urge, and in cases where there was a strong 
 and conscientious conviction that their views were more correct 
 than his own, he said—“ Try your own plan, and thereby con¬ 
 vince yourself by failure or success of the fallacy or truth of 
 of your notions.” By tliis mode of treatment, the exercise of 
 a little patience, and the expenditure of a little money, he had 
 the satisfaction of carrying with him, in a few years, the hearts 
 and minds of all; and for the last twenty or twenty-five years 
 of his management, there was nothing but pleasure and satis¬ 
 faction on all hands. Knowing, therefore, that the democratic 
 spirit now existing in the Society must be satisfied in like man¬ 
 ner, he had been mainly instrumental in procuring for democracy 
 a fuU and fair trial; and he now called upon all tire friends to 
 the cause, to give it that full and fair trial. Especially did he 
 call upon those who were friendly to the policy and views of the 
 New Executive, to rally round them with funds; and above all, 
 he exhorted the Executive itself to think well and deeply of the 
 important duties it had to perform—and to acquire a knowledge 
 of those principles, b}^ which alone practical measures can be 
 made successful. He would advise them, particularly, to discri¬ 
 minate between true and false economy. There was an enlight¬ 
 ened economy—the practice of which produced an ultimate 
 saving of capital, mind, and feeling. It was this economy 
 he recommended for then: adoption. Again, with respect to 
 their dealings with each other, and with the w'orld outside of the 
 Society, he recommended the practice at all times of the strictest 
 justice. His own principle of management at all times had been, 
 wherever there w'as a doubt as to individual claims, always to 
 give the decision in favour of the individuals. He had also made 
 it a rule to reject all tenders for contracts, which he knew could 
 not be honestly carried out; because, he rvas certain that disho- 
 
( 10 ) 
 
 nest practices would be the consequence of their acceptaueej 
 injurious to liinij and not beneficial to those who were compelled 
 to have recourse to them. The same principle he applied to 
 wages and salaries. Liberality was the truest economy. Get 
 at all times the best ability possible for the particidar duty to be 
 performed, and pay it well; for whatever was well done, was 
 worth its price; whereas, what was badly done, was a waste of 
 whatever had been paid, for it. At New Lanai-k, he had salaries 
 of all kinds—^from 6s. a week to j61,000 a year; and the highest 
 salaries were the most profitable to the establishment. It re- 
 qifired, however, judgment in the apportionment of these sala¬ 
 ries. He offered these remarks, because he wished above all 
 things that those now in office should suceeed in showing what a 
 union of labom- and capital, under even disadvantageous circum¬ 
 stances, could do. He had doubts of their success himself—he 
 knew the defects with which they had to contend; but if these 
 doubts were shown to be false, it would be the most valuable de¬ 
 monstration. ever given to the world; for if the working classes, 
 with their defective education and training, could achieve suc- 
 eess, it would moreincontestiblyqrrove the value of the principles 
 on which they were acting, than an experiment carried on with 
 better adapted means, ffervently, therefore, did he hope, on his 
 retmn, to find them successful. Mr. Owen then proceeded to 
 pass a high and feeling eulogy on Mr. Bate; he reminded the 
 meeting of his great sacrifices of time, money, and abihty, 
 to the cause. The whole of a lai’ge fortune he had in¬ 
 vested in the experiment at Hai’mony, and he was now (Mr. 
 Owen lamented to say) at once threatened mth consumption, 
 and suffering from straitened circumstances. He was, indeed, 
 very iU, and he (Mr. 0.) hoped that this amiable, this disin¬ 
 terested, and most valuable friend, would now experience from 
 the Society that generous sympathy and liberal support to which 
 he was so pre-eminently entitled. He called upon the Executive 
 and those present, as a matter of justice, to do all in theii- power 
 to aid in caiTjdng out those measm-es that were necessary to the 
 restoration of his health, by removal to a milder climate, or 
 otherwise. In conclusion, Mr. Owen expressed his pleasure at 
 meeting so large and respectable an assemblage of brothers and 
 sisters. How different were his feelings to those of the wai’rior 
 chieftain, who, after plundering, destroying property, and shed¬ 
 ding blood upon a lai’ge scale, required pai’hamentai’y thanks, 
 titles, and estates, by way, he supposed, of covering the sores 
 of their butcheries, and a compensation to their consciences 
 for the desolation they had caused. For his part, the gratifica¬ 
 tion of meeting them that day, of seeing affection and happiness 
 beam from eveiy eye, and the terue temper of Socialism exhibit¬ 
 ing itself in every act, was to him the most exquisite gratification 
 of which his nature was susceptible. This very meeting was the 
 highest compensation he could have wished, for any little sacri¬ 
 fices he had made. But why did he talk of sacrifices ? His whole 
 
{ 11 ) 
 
 life had been a happy one, and he did not hesitate now lo say 
 that there was not a happier man in the world than himself. He 
 had through life opposed Tory, ^Vhig, and Democrat, hut he had 
 never opposed human nature, and somehow or other he found 
 that human natui-e had never opposed him. He knew that some 
 of them were afraid that this long voyage and journey would 
 terminate in his death, and that they might never meet again, 
 but he besought them to dismiss such fears. For many years past, 
 he had been growing younger, and he expected that this voyage 
 would make him stiU more so, and that on his return in spring 
 they would find that he had gone on renewing his youth, (great 
 cheering), Mr. Owen then fervently and solemnly gave his best 
 mshes for the health, happiness, and prosperity, of all present, 
 and resumed his seat amidst enthusiastic, often repeated, and 
 universal applause. His speech was, throughout frequently 
 interrupted by similar manifestations, accompanied by a deptlx 
 and tenderness of emotion, which we never witnessed at any 
 meeting of human beings, and which testified to the rare and 
 overpowering mastery of this most amiable, benevolent man over 
 the affections of all with whom he comes in contact. 
 
 Mas. Chappelsmith was introduced by the chairman to the 
 meeeting, and addressing Mr. Owen said, that though not 
 officially deputed by her sister Socialists, she hope she might 
 express, on their and her own behalf, and of woman in all 
 countries and ages, her gratitude to the only plxilosophcr who 
 had considered and provided for the happiness of woman her 
 affections and feehngs. In every relation of life, as sister, -wife, 
 or parent, he had made provision for the development of her 
 highest sensibilities, and for her assuming that place in society 
 which would enable her to exert them happily for herself, and 
 beneficially for her fellow beings. For her own part, when she 
 looked back on her past life, and thought of the light and joy 
 which these principles had thrown upon Tier path, she could not 
 
 but- Here Mrs. C., whose emotion was visible tlu’oughout, 
 
 could controul herself no longer, but, deeply affected, sat down 
 ill tears, accompanied by most of the ladies present. 
 
 Me. Owen briefiy replied. He well understood the feelings 
 of the lady who had just sat doivn. He spoke of the prospects 
 of woman in the new cmhzation which he contemplated. 
 Equality in the social position, and education of the sexes, was 
 the only true preciu’sor of happiness to either. He expressed 
 the pleasure he had derived from his mental intercourse with 
 women: in consequence of theii' position preventing them from 
 coming in contact with the hardening and vitiating influences 
 attendant upon buying and seUing, and other pui’suits of com¬ 
 petitive life, their readiness to perceive and appreciate truth was 
 much greater than that of men. Their truthfulness, faithful¬ 
 ness, and sensibility to the best feelings, had produced an im¬ 
 pression on his mind, that they were better prepared than the 
 other sex for the life of the new moral world. In conclusion. 
 
{ 13 ) 
 
 he referred to the importance of female education everywhere, 
 and especially at Harmony. 
 
 Mr. Ellis, moved the following resolution: — “That the 
 proceedings of this meeting be published to the world through 
 the medium of th& Sun newspaper.” He said many reports 
 would undoubtedly be chculated respecting the Founder of the 
 Eational Society leaving England; some might say that his 
 rebellious ehildi’en had driven him away, and others that, being 
 dissatisfied with their proceedings, he had disoraed them, and 
 left them to retm-n no more. If the proceedings of this day be 
 imblished, the world will know the truth—^the world ivill know 
 that there is an inseparable connection between the father of 
 Socialism and his children; that our natures would not allow 
 us to part with him who breathed into us the breath of life— 
 who, with the tenderness of a father, corrected our errors— 
 who, with the fondness of a father, pitied our weaknesses—^ivho, 
 with the watchfidness of a father, protected us from danger— 
 who, with the courage of the hero, fought our battles—^ivho, 
 with the disinterestedness and the determination of the -philan¬ 
 thropist, sacrificed his all, that we might be benefitted—who, 
 for our sakes became poor, that, not only we, but the whole 
 human race, might be made rich — him whose benevolence 
 knows no bounds, and who, in return, is beloved by all who 
 know him, and most beloved by those who know him best. 
 True, we have met to part with him for a season; it is necessary 
 that he should leave his spiritual children for a time, in order 
 that his. natural children may see him once more. We are but 
 a very small part of his family. In every place where his 
 principles have been propagated, meetings like this might be 
 easily convened, and feelings similar to ours would be expressed. 
 The numbers who in this country have been born again by liim, 
 are such as cannot easily be numbered; and this day’s transac¬ 
 tions will be remembered by them with as much respect as 
 Christians remember the last supper of their Lord. The name 
 of Clu'ist is the Christian’s talisman; not less so the name of 
 Eobert Owen to those who understand his principles and know 
 his character. When called upon to meet opposition, to make 
 sacrifices, to suppress angry feelings, to remove the causes of 
 human misery, though it be with the loss of all things, the 
 name of him who spent a princely fortune and active lile to 
 save humanity, shall inspire us to deeds more noble than we 
 have ever yet accomplished. The billows of the Atlantic may 
 swell, and hide him from our view, but his presence will be with 
 us still. The sea may roar, but his charitable vo’ce will ring in 
 our ears, to cheek oiu- passions and s'abdue our fears. In the 
 name of my brethren, I bid jmu farewell, but not for ever; if 
 for ever, fiirc you well. Fare you well, on the sea; may its- 
 waves convey you safely to the arms of your family. Farewell 
 as a father; may you find 3 'our chilch-en healthy and hap 2 n^ 
 
( 13 ) 
 
 Paiwcll as a patriot; maj’^ you be able to eorndnce the boasted 
 sons of freedom that they are but slaves, and make the way to 
 liberty so clear to them that they cannot fail to walk therein. 
 Farewell as om- father; may you be able to increase our family 
 to an indefinite extent, to unite in the bonds of union the most 
 powerful governments of the world, and to return with more 
 a luance than you now possess, that the time is not far distant, 
 when ignorance, poverty, and crime shall be for ever banished 
 from the earth. 
 
 Long continued and raptm'ous applause followed the conclu¬ 
 sion of this spirited and appropriate address, in the midst of 
 which Mr. Clarke called upon 
 
 Mr. Flcjiing, who rose and said, all present were fully aware 
 that, on ordinary occasions, he had the tongue of a ready 
 speaker: on that, however, he had not. Excessive emotion 
 had made him dumb. The thronging ideas which crowded upon 
 his brain—the feelings which struggled in his bosom, were too 
 varied and intense to be resolved into ivords; and he hoped for 
 this reason they would permit him to be silent—and to accept, 
 as his substitute, one of the oldest, best, tried, and valuable 
 disciples present, Mr. Alexander Campbell—(great cheering.) 
 
 Mr. Alexander Campbell, in an address of considerable 
 length expressed his views on some speculative points of 
 opinion in which he differed from Mr. Owen, but added his 
 testimony to the valuable exertion and untiring zeal displayed 
 by him on all occasions. He had, he said, known Mr. Owen 
 many years, and the same disinterestedness, benevolence, and 
 generous sympathy for the sufferings of human natime, that 
 distinguished him of old, showed forth as conspicuously now, 
 rendering him alike regardless of his purse, his domestic happiness 
 and even life itself. It was but a short time since, w'hen in 
 company with Mr. Owen after an attempt had been made upon 
 his life by an infuriated mob in the Potteries, that when con¬ 
 gratulating him on his escape, Mr. Owen had said, " Om’ deaths 
 at the present moment would do more for the advancement of 
 Socialism, than £10,000 spent inagitation.” How could he or any 
 other man fail to reverence such nobleness of character—(cheers.) 
 
 Mr. Southwell, at some length, expressed his regret at the 
 departure of one to whom he said he owed every atom of intel¬ 
 lectual power he possessed. It was Mr. Owen’s lectures that 
 had lured him from the path of frivolity, and had instilled into 
 his mind a love of science and metaph}'sical research. How, 
 then, could he remain a silent observer of the proceedings of 
 that day, or fail to join in the general feeling of sincere regret, 
 which pervaded that assembly. He had never been what was . 
 called a backbone Owenite, but he was, nevertheless, not insen¬ 
 sible to the great merit of Mr. Owen as a moral reformer. He 
 had chosen to address him (Mr. S.) as his young friend, and he 
 felt proud to be his young friend. Mr. Owen had also chosen 
 to refer to him as one of those anxious to get to the new moral 
 
( ) 
 
 ■ffbi'ld by a short cut; uow, he apprehended this was the object 
 of all true reformers, the gist of the difference being as to what 
 was the shortest cut. It had been said that the faster you 
 galloped on the wrong road, the further you ran from the goal. 
 Now, if it could be shewn that he v/as upon the wrong road, 
 then, indeed, he was not taking a short cut; but it appeared to 
 him that Mr, Owen had been so accustomed to extensive opera¬ 
 tions, that he did not rightly estimate the importance of smaller 
 efforts. Napoleon won many of his greatest triumphs by a tact 
 in separating his enemies’ forces, and afterwards cutting them 
 up in detail. So it was with Mr. Owen and himself; but stUl, 
 while he thought freely, and expressed as freely his opinions on 
 points of difference between them, he was compelled to consider 
 Mr. Owen one of the most enlightened and benevolent of men, 
 and trusted soon again to meet him in health and prosperity. 
 
 Mr. Southwell was much cheered throughout his speech, and 
 at its conclusion. 
 
 [It was tile intention to have published in this pamphlet Mr. Owen’s 
 eloquent and spirit-stirring valedictory address, for which purpose a sjiecial 
 report had been taken; but the great length to which the foregoing report 
 has extended precludes the possibility of doing anything like justice to it; in 
 the space left for that object, and as the best substitute, it has been determined 
 to print entire Mr. Owen’s second legacy to the human race, which formed 
 the basis of his address.] 
 
 EOSEET OWEN^S SECOND LEGACY TO THE 
 HUMAN EACE. 
 
 Being about to make another voyage to America, and when there, to proceed 
 to the “ far west,” to visit my family, from whom I have been absent more 
 than ten years; and, being in good health, both of mind and body, it appears 
 useful, and after living many years since my first legacy was given to the world, 
 I should, before my departure from this county, for the benefit of future 
 generations, give a second legacy, containing my subsequently acquired experi¬ 
 ence. 'riiis e.xperience bas confirmed me, beyond doubt, in the belief that 
 there is a permanent, progressive, happy futurity for the human race, and that 
 the most ample materials exist, ready to be applied to commence this happy 
 
 But no separate part of the population of the world can be made perma¬ 
 nently happy, until arrangements shall be formed to secure the continual 
 progressive happiness of all. 
 
 That a well-prepared, enlightened equality, according to age, can alone 
 secure the permanent well-being and happiness of mankind. 
 
 That this equality cannot be attained until the truth, on all the great subjects 
 which permanently influence human happiness, shall be promulgated and made 
 familiar to the public. 
 
 That no one has yet been placed within circumstances so advantageous as 
 the writer of this legacy, to declare these all-important truths for the benefit 
 of mankind. 
 
 The peculiar position which he has held in societ}', from his youth upwards, 
 has given him the privilege to announce truths of the deepest and most 
 lasting import to man; truths of such a character that no other individual 
 would venture to declare. He has already demonstrated that the character of 
 the human race, and the constitution of society, over the world, have been based 
 upon such fundamental errors, as to force man from his birth to become an 
 
> ( 15 ) 
 
 irrational being, and society an heterogeneous mass of folly—formed apparently 
 to disunite men and nations, create wars and violence, stimulate to insanity 
 and crime, and involve all in ignorance and misery. 
 
 That the world has been hitherto governed by force and fraud;—the 
 governments wielding the force, the priesthood directing the fraud. 
 
 That this is the present state of the world. 
 
 That all that has life is influenced by one universal instinct, which induces 
 each individual existence to desire and endeavour to secure its own well-being 
 and happiness. 
 
 That each proceeds in this course according to its knowledge. 
 
 That there is no merit or demerit for thus feeling and acting in the tiger or 
 man, dove or woman, lamb or child. 
 
 That, consequently, there is no merit or demerit in the governments or 
 pristhood in governing mankind by force and fraud. Their instinctive desire 
 for happiness compels them thus to act. 
 
 That the governments and priesthood have the power to govern the human 
 race by force and fraud, or by reason and affection. 
 
 Is it the interest, or for the happiness of the individual members of the 
 governments and of the pristhood to continue to govern the woi Id by force 
 or frand, or is it not ? If it is, it is useless and unjust to them, to attempt to 
 persuade them to abandon their course of action; if it is not, they do not see 
 their error, and it becomes the direct and chief business of society to produce 
 such reasons and arguments, in a spirit of charity and good faith, as will 
 convince the individual members of the governments and priesthood, that, hy 
 a change of the principles of governing, they will secure permanently far 
 more happiness to themselves individually, and to their offspring as men, than 
 it is possible they can attain as governors and priests, under the system of 
 force and fraud. 
 
 That to overturn the system of force and fraud by violence, if practicable, 
 would produce great evil, and be a slow and imperfect mode of ultimately 
 attaining the desired object; neither could it be well accomplished by contests, 
 which would bring all the irrational feelings, forced to form the present cba- 
 acter of man, into general and prominent action. 
 
 That knowledge acquired by experience now proves that it is no longer the 
 interest of individual governors or jrriests to govern by force and fraud, and 
 that it will greatly tend to their individual happiness to govern by kindness and 
 justice. 
 
 That the former, while continued, must disunite man from man, and 
 nation from nation, overtjie earth; while the government of affection, directed 
 by sound and e.xperienced judgment, will cordially unite all of the human race. 
 
 That man is, to an almost incalculable extent, the creature of surrounding 
 circumstances, if these are inferior or mixed, he will of necessity acquire an 
 inferior or mixed character, as heretofore. But when he shall be placed from 
 his birth within superior circumstances only, then, without any two being the 
 same in the combination of their qualities, all will of necessity be trained from 
 birth to be, compared with the past or present race of men, superior, physi¬ 
 cally, mentally, morally, and practically. 
 
 Haying previously declared to the world these everlasting important 
 truths, it is now for.me to add those which follow. 
 
 1st. As ignorance, poverij', division, injustice, crime, and misery now 
 everywhere superabound, there must be a substantive cause producing these 
 evils, and as man is the creature of the external circumstances placed around 
 him by society, those which create these evils should be sought out and 
 removed. 
 
 2nd. The governors and priests have hitherto chiefly directed the creation 
 of the circumstances of human formation, which have afflicted mankind with 
 the evils now enumerated. 
 
 • 3rd. The governors and priests, by their acts of omission or commission, 
 are the real cause, through their ignorance, of all the disease, crime, and suf¬ 
 fering, or sin and misery of the human race. 
 
 4th, It is, therefore, the strongest proof of the gross irrationality, insanity, 
 and madness of the human race, that, at this day, after the experience of the 
 
( 16 ) 
 
 unknown period of the past, the governors and priests are yet permitted, 
 through ignorance, to create and encourage the daily growth of crime in the 
 people, and that after they have adopted the most effectual means to train and 
 to tempt them to commit every kind of vice injurious to themselves and 
 society—that the governors and priests should punish the poor maltreated 
 mass' of ignorant men, for the errors and insanity which their ru ers in 
 churches and states have forced upon them. 
 
 5th. That thus very ignorant governors and priests adopt laws, founded 
 on the most gross errors, which necessarily force erime ujjon the still more 
 ignorant people; and then these ignorant governors and priests punish these 
 poor ignorant men and women, both parties, the punishers and punished, 
 being afflicted with mental blindness and insanity. 
 
 6th. That were the governors and ])riests not made from their birth men¬ 
 tally blind and insane, they, could now immediately adopt laws m accordance 
 with nature’s laws, which would gradually destroy the cause of ignorance, 
 poverty, division, sin, and misery over the world, and in due time terminate 
 also the trinity of evils which are the immediate causes of the irrationality, 
 insanity, and madne^Ss of the human race. 
 
 7th. That the trinity of evils are—1st., Private property, the cause among 
 innumerable other evils of unnecessary poverty and the fear of it among the 
 mass, and of yet more injurious luxury among those v/ho have more than 
 their fair share of the wealth of society; 2nd.,' Superstition, the cause of all 
 the insane divisions among the human race, respecting the merit or demerit 
 of opinions which none create for themselves, but which are, unknown to 
 themselves, created for them; and 3rd., The formal marriages of the priest¬ 
 hood of the world, varied as they are in different nations, and among different 
 sects even in the same nation. These all presuppose that humanity has been 
 created with qualities to enable individuals to love and hate at their pleasure, 
 when it has been formed to like that which it feels to be most agreeable, and 
 to dislike that which is experienced to he most disagreeable; and thus these 
 formal priestly marriages counteract nature, and thereby produce continually, 
 in a thousand ways, vice, hatred, and misery, instead of virtue, love, and 
 happiness. ' 
 
 Sth. That relief frpm this trinity of evils.can be obtained only by aban¬ 
 doning for ever tile causes which have produced, and which now daily pro¬ 
 duce them, namely', the belief that man forms by his will his own personal 
 qualities, his feelings and opinions—not one of which was it ever possible he 
 cuuid create. 
 
 9th. That these fundamental errors can be safely and peaceably abandoned 
 only by an entire re-creation of society, based on the knowledge that man 
 does not make his own qualities, feelings, or opinions, and this knowledge 
 will make it evident that there must he a reorganization of society', one in 
 almost all respects the reverse of tire e.xisting organization. 
 
 loth. In this new organization, society will be universally re-classided and 
 re-constructed; the causes which have produced the trinity of evils will be 
 withdrawn, and the evils will cease, and then wealth will be everywhere super¬ 
 abundant and enjoyed without contest; peace will be universal and permanent; 
 knowledse of the most valuable description will be extended to all; the earth 
 will be highly cultivated in all places, as soon as population can be e.xtended; 
 mechanism and chemistry, and other arts and sciences, will be extended and 
 encouraged, until the labour of men and women shall everywhere become no 
 more than healthy, delightful, and desired e.xercise; charity and love shall 
 form the characters and govern all the races of men, and the inferior feelings, 
 qualities, and actions of men shall gradually and quietly die' their natural. 
 death, and he recalled to remembrance only in the past history of our race. 
 
 This is the second, and it may i>e my last legacy; if so, I call upon all the, 
 friends of progress to cherish it in their minds, to consider it again and again,, 
 for it contains the words of Tkuth, without mystery, mixture of erroi'i or 
 fpav of man. 
 
 Rose Hill, 4th August, 1844. 
 
 Robeut Owen.