The Chartist Circular

When William Lovett finally left prison after serving his full year's sentence for seditious libel, he took with him a manuscript of a book he had written in prison, with the help of John Collins, entitled Chartism; A New Organization of the People, Embracing a Plan for the Education and Improvement of the People, Politically and Socially; Addressed to the Working Classes of the United Kingdom, and more especially the Advocates of the Rights and Liberties of the Whole People as Set Forth in the 'People's Charter'.  The book indicated Lovett's own conviction of the importance of moral transformation which underpinned a change on direction for his aspirations for Chartism.  In 1840 he and Henry Vincent initiated the 'New Move' in which they began to emphasise the importance of ‘Self-Help within the Chartist movement through self-education, teetotalism, and Christianity.  It resulted in the formation of many organisations to promote such ideas. This wider moral reform movement was particularly popular in Scotland and the North of England. This can be seen in the Scottish paper the ‘Chartist Circular’, which condemned the ‘pernicious use of inebriating drinks’ on the ‘physical, moral, and political wellbeing’ of the working classes. They therefore implored their readers to ‘dedicate this year [1841] to total abstinence.’ 101 Scottish Chartists signed this pledge.