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Leader (1850-1860), 1st January 1859, Edition 2 of 2, Page 20, INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATIONS. THE PORTS O...

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      Biographies Of German Princes. No. Viii....

      At tie present moment , Prince George of MecKlenburg Strelitz , a Lieutenant-General in the service of the Czar , is married to Catherine Michailowna , the daughter of the late Russian Grand-Duke Michael . A remarkable feature in the most unpopular government of Friedrich Franz is , that he has contributed of late > by his despotic fashions , to pave the way for the formation , in secret , of a resolute democratic party in Mecklenburg ; a party that had scarcely any existence there even during the revolutionary epoch . A few years ago , Germany was startled at hearing that at Rostock , and in several other towns , a conspiracy had been detected , having for its object the overthrow of the Grand-Ducal rule , and the establishment of a United GermanRepublic . Arms and ammunition were discovered , and the

      plot was traced , in its ramifications , to many persons of the enlightened , well-to-do classes . Arrests took place among lawyers , professors , and substantial merchants , & c . In fact , all the imprisoned were men who occupied a status of consideration in the social scale . The trials for high treason thereupon instituted by the tribunals of Friedrich Franz , ended in the condemnation of the incriminated parties to various penalties of imprisonment . This , it may be said , was an eve nt o f great sigmficancej not only for Mecklenburg , but for Northern Germany in general . It indicates a turning-point from the Monarcliico-JLiberal to more advanced ideas , which may , in turni hereafter prove of no mean influence in the development of political affairs in the North of Germany .

      20 The Leadeb. [3sro. 458, January 1 ^ 1...

      20 THE LEADEB . [ 3 Sro . 458 , January 1 ^ 185 g ^

      Interoceanic Communications. The Ports O...

      INTEROCEANIC COMMUNICATIONS . THE PORTS OF COLON AND PANAMA . ( From a Correspondents ) Tub Leader of July 21 st contained an article on interoeeanic communications , in which a comparison was made between the various actual or proposed routes across the Central American isthmus , in the important respect of ports , it was stated that the existing railway at Panama , however much it might be admired as a bold and useful enterprise , was ,

      so-called " port " on the 11 th of November last , and continued for ten days , during which five ships were wrecked , a great part of the railway wharf destroyed , a number of lives lost , and a considerable destruction of property occasioned in the town . The United States war-vessels , Saratoga and Roarioke were in great danger , and the latter was carried to a place of safety , ^ under the serious apprehensions of her officers that her propeller would not be able to move her against the winds and waves ! When we read of vessels breaking from their moorings , " driving into the railway wharf , and carry ing away twenty feet at every p itch ; " of man-of-war ' s boats swept away and swamped , and of mail-steamers obliged

      to lie off on the high sea , we may well doubt if the port in which such destruction can go on is " perfectly safe at all seasons , " or altogether " as safe as . the Liverpool Docks ! " We may doubt , indeed , if it be a proper point for the Atlantic terminus of a great line of interoceanic communication . Such ** po rts" be used for a time , and from necessity , until a route better favoured in this respect is discovered , but they will not be used any longer . The man -who discovers something better , and the journal which makes it known deserve the public gratitude , however they may expose themselves to the charge of sinister objects on the part of partisan organs .

      As regards Panama , it will perhaps be enough to print in justification of the remarks of the Leader the subjoined extract from " A Card to the Public , " published in the American journals by order of the passengers on the steamers J .. Xi . Step hens and Illinois , describing their experiences of the " wear ther '' of the Bay of Panama , which the Journal of Commerce assures us " has never been known to interfere with transportation : " — "On the arrival of the John L . Stephens at her anchorage at Panama , the passengers were placed on board a small steamer , and a lighter filled , with

      baggage to be Conveyed to the shore , distant about five miles * . The number of passengers was about 750 , about 500 of whom were crowded on the steamer , and the residue on the lighter . Both vessels were filled beyond their capacity , and , in the event of an ordinary accident , the results must have been fearful . Shortly after embarking , the rain poured down in torrents , which continued up to . the time of landing—nearly two hours . The passengers in the lig hter , mostly women and children , being wholly unprotected , were drenche'd to the skin , while those in the steamer fared but little better . "

      nevertheless , destitute of adequate ports ; that its Atlantic terminus , Colon , or " Aspiriwall , " is so badi " . that in one instance , at le a st , every vessel in it was wrecked , and the steamers ; lying there only escaped destruction' by getting up steam and standing out to sea . " Also , "that the bay of Panama is not a harbour in any sense of the term ; only an exposed anchorage , where vessels have to lie from four to six miles from the shore , at which the communication c an onl y be had at half-tide , and in bad weather not at all . "

      The Journal of Commerce , a NCw York commercial journal of some influence , but evidently in the interest of the Panama Railway , in an article more partisan than considerate , takes violent exception to these statements , a nd affirms " that such assertions may do for the longitude of Greenwich , but will only excite a smile on the face ? of those who are at all acquainted with the isthmus . " It explains that " the vessels whiqh were wrecked , in the only gale which over visited Colon since it became known to

      Americans ( in 1854 ) , co n sisted of o n l y two old brigs , " and that " the steamers stood out to sea as a measure of precaution . " Then . follows the sweeping statement , that " this harbour is perfectl y saf e at all se a sons , and that the largest vessels may lie moored at its wharfs , and discharge either passengers or cargo as safely , and with as much facility , as at any of the Xdverpool docks . " A » regards Panama , we are told that " it affords secure anchorage for any number of vessels , " and that" the weather there has never been known to interfere with transportation . "

      The Leade r , in conclusion , is accused of " misrepresentation" for minister objects . This charge hardly deserves notice , for it must be obvious that there can be no motive here for discussing the advantages or disadvantages of the competing Isthmus routes , except to fix public attention on those which possess thoBe prime requisites , good ports , salubrious climate , and diminished length . The public have a real interest in knowing which is the shortest , speediest , and safest route to the Pacific , and the centres of trade beyond it , or on its American shores . And if it should appear , on investigation , that the

      Honduras route possesses these requisites in a degree superior to the route by way of Panama , the expression of that opinion should not expose " an able and influential British journal" ( as our Transatlantics contemporary styles us ) to the charge of venality . Unfortunately for the Journal of Commerce , its enthusiastic vindication of the excellence of the " port " of Colon or " Aspinwairhad hardly reached Europe before the accuracy of our statements concerning it were verified in a most striking and startling manner , » a will bo seen from the extracts from American papers , elsewhere given , under the head . Ingi ' * Terrible Gale at AspinwaH : JLpss of Shipping and of LU ' eJ" It eeoma that a gale commenced fn the

      The Morality O F T Rade , Mb. Black, M.P...

      THE MORALITY O F T RADE , Mb . Black , M . P ., delivered an interesting , address on Monday at Glasgow , on trading morality . He said , the morality which governed all other relations should equally prevail in mercantile life , and neither opportunity nor policy , nor the most tempting prospects of gain * should allow the merchant to deviate from the strict line of honesty ; and the same honourable dealing should guide him whether in the sale of a yard of calico or of an East Indiatnan . The only difference between the commercial gambler and the horse jockey gambler is this—the one cheats rogues like himself , the other cheats honest men ; and it is this unmanly impatience that will not wait for the reward of honest

      He also referred to those traders whom he niight call the highwaymen of commerce , who followed a reckless , unprincipled determination to become rich by fair means if convenient , or by foul , if necessary .

      industry , this reckless hazarding of borrowed money , which strews all the paths of commercial life with the bleaching bones of bankruptcy , and roba the unsuspecting poor man of his small but well-earned substance Well directed energy and enterprise are the life of commercial progress ; but if there is one lesson taught more plainly than another by the great failures of latt ? , it is that safety lies in sticking to a legitimate business . It is no excuse for any house in their time of failure that , if they have wronged individuals , it has been in serving the public . Sound personal religion is the surest basis on which mercantile character can be founded . Nothing , however , can be more disgusting than to hoar a tradesman making loud professions of religion in order to

      secure an advantage in the way of business , or under the cloak of superior sanctity to shirk his duty and to overreach his neighbours . It is humiliating to hear the mercantile conduct of such men contrasted with the honourable dealings of men who make no profession of religion , but are only remarkable for their profanity and rough out-and-out honesty . If you wish to test the qualities of a man ' s religion do not follow him to church , where he must put on the garment of pious observance , but visit him at his shop or counting-house , and mark the spirit by which he is influenced in his dealings with his fellow-man . Mr , Black proceeded to advert to the

      desirableness of shortening the terms of credit both in wholesale and retail trade , inasmuch as lengthened credits increased risks , and had a lendoncy to show a greater apparent gain than was aotually realised . Petty expenses and bad debts were too often loft out of view , and an extravagant opinion of the profits of trade was often entertained , not only by the publla but by many traders themselves . It was of the utmost importance , therefore , to keep accurate books , and annually to balance them . Men have sometimes gone on for years with a vague idea that ) they wore making money , when in fact they were on tUo high-road to bankruptcy ,

      From Fierce Encounter ? To Come To The P...

      from fierce encounter ? To come to the point- — " Cleary , what ' s your game ? " Cleary ' s game is ' not his , but his master ' s . The Superintendent has sent him to pay his penny , mingle with the unsuspecting throng , and seem to share its pleasures , meanwhile taking secret note of the extra-legal entertainment presented on the stage . He tells us he had been ordered to attend there several times , and had seen " The Profligate Nephew ; or , the Disinherited" —the career of the scapegrace of quality being always a taking subject iu Bethhalr-green . There was a song , " Paddy on the Railway , ' and then a sailor ' s hornpipe by * a " lady in tights . " " The Profligate Nephew" is , it seems , a piece of a singular kind—a ballet with a dialogue . The act drop , Cleary

      AN UNREHEARSED INTERLUDE . At this Christmas time the Lord of Misrule is absolute . It is a season of metamorphoses , contradictions , inversions , tricks , and revels in a world turned . upside down But in whimsicality and downright Hibernian absurdity wo despair of seeing surpassed tbe account which Sergeant Cleary , H 8 , gave last Friday to Mr . Hamnull , at Worship-street police-court , of what he saw at an unlicensed theatre in Bethnal-green . It is six . o ' clock in the evening ; the bill of entertainments promises newsingers , new dancers , and a new piece . Sergeaat Cleary goes with the crowd ; but why does not that ornament of the H division wear tlie blue of the Service ? What mean those highlows and that dustman ' s long-flapped hat ? and why is his right eye blackened , as if fresh

      tells us , was an " Italian sketch' —the margin of fair " Zurich ' s waters ;"/ not so bad a guess , considering that Zurich might have been in Italy but for the Alps : Then , to make it all quite regular as a theatrical performance , '' there were Shrubs and other scenes . " The Uncle , or " ' un , " was provided with wrinkles , arid M Ralph , the Reckless" wore big boots and pistols . The-Uncle is . going to Doctors'Commons , or Apotber caries' Hall , the Sergeant forgets which , to disinherit his nephew , the profligate Couut , but a little bit of violence by the gentleman in boots : prevents this , and the piece is about to terminate , when an unrehearsed effect , what we may call the beginning of the transformations , ensues . Suddenly , all the policeman ia revealed

      in our dustman , who tells us , "I stepped on to the stage , and collared the Count j while , upon a given signal , my Inspector , with twelve men , forced an entrance and secured the rest . " The audience fled in dismay , and the actors , singers , dancers , and money-taker , -were made prisoners . Mr . Haminill having listened attentively to this narrative , read a grave lecture to the culprits , and , taking their promise not to offend again , dismissed them to look after their Christmas dinners * and thus thia droll interlude ended . The season is a large excuse for much that is odd and irregular , but the studied and artistic disguise of agents of the law , especially for petty ends , has something about it which will always be repugnant to English feel . ing , ^ -rZ > a % News .

      The Pith Of The President's Message Towa...

      THE PITH OF THE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE Towards almost all foreign nations Our outlooks ain ' t noways fust-rate ; There ' s most of our foreign relations In an unsatisfactory state . With the Britishers , through our high-mettled Diplomacy , guess we have got The right of search question well settlod , The Central American , not . With Spain we ' re in a condition , Of which we ban to nothin' to brag ; Her folks in official position Has insulted our national Hag , Done our citizens one wrong and t ' other In their persons and property too ; And she won ' t pay our Cuban claims , nuther , Which is now fourteen year overdue . Peculiar I reckon the nntur ' Of the sort of relations wo bear To Mexico- —not wuth a tatur , Can ' t pay if they would—them coons thoro . I can only lay ono plan afore ye , By our own from them crittord to come ; To drop down upon their territory , And seize , for a pledge , on a some . Then there ' s that air Panama ' s Isthmus , We must thoro clear the transit , in course , And , if not exactly this Christmas , Still , sooner or later , by force . New Granada , Nicaragua , Costa Rico , havo all got to pay For damages done , more or fewer , And I ' snoots wo must whip Paraguay . Pacific as is all our labours , I ' m Qunsarnod for to moation how ill Ib the tarms wo are on with our neighbours , Pretty nigh the whplo world but J 3 ra » U . As a pattern of peace cotton-spinners In tho old country quote us 5 but now I expect wo ' ro a oautlon to sinners , With a ' most all tho airth in a row . — Punch .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 1, 1859, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_01011859/page/20/