The ''Spirit of Freedom, and Working Man's Vindicator'' was a Chartist publication noted for its rigorous and untiring determination to call a "man a man, and a spade a spade". It was "full of fire and breathed the spirit of republicanism". It was written in 1849 in

Uxbridge Uxbridge () is a suburban town in west London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Hillingdon, northwest of Charing Cross. Uxbridge formed part of the parish of Hillingdon in the county of Middlesex. As part ...

John Bedford Leno John Bedford Leno (29 June 1826 – 31 October 1894) was a Chartist, radical, poet, and printer who acted as a "bridge" between Chartism and early Labour movements, as well as between the working and ruling classes. He campaigned to give the ...

and

Gerald Massey Gerald Massey (; 29 May 1828 – 29 October 1907) was an English poet and writer on Spiritualism and Ancient Egypt. Early life Massey was born near Tring, Hertfordshire in England to poor parents. When little more than a child, he was made to ...

who were new converts to

Chartism Chartism was a working-class movement for political reform in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, United Kingdom that erupted from 1838 to 1857 and was strongest in 1839, 1842 and 1848. It took its name from the People's Charter of ...

. Neither had much writing experience and based its contents upon the ''Northern Star'' and other Chartist publications and "had formed the opinion that the effectiveness of an article was dependent upon the amount of treason it contained". Much to their surprise it was quite successful, although reviews were mixed; :''"they were highly praised as the naturally indignant outpurings of the wronged, and condemned as the venom of snakes; they were the words of patriots and of men charged with treason; they were full of wisdom and insanity"'' It was received by the locals of

with some scepticism; an ironmonger wrote upon a shovel "This is a spade" and stuck it outside his door; a witty baker travestied the title into "Spirit of Mischief, or Working Man's Window Breaker" and the parson warned his flock not to be led astray by the "inculcators of treason". However, Chartists in London and the north were impressed that such a publication could be produced in a relatively contented suburb such as

and it became popular. It was still remembered by the press, over forty years later, when

received a grant from Parliament in 1893.The Times, Tues, Nov 21, 1893. pg10 issue 34114 col B It was published for a year before

and

left

for

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

and went their separate ways.

References

{{Reflist Chartist newspapers Defunct newspapers published in the United Kingdom Publications established in 1849 1849 establishments in the United Kingdom