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Leader (1850-1860), 4th September 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 9, TAVERN SIGNS A COEEESPoitdent of the Pri...

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      A Resistlkss Inquisitor. Knlcvkitnocikic...

      a A _gentleman riding in an eastern railroad car , which rather sparely supplied with passengers , observed in a Wa before Mm a lean slab-sided Yankee , every feature of h se face seemed to ask a _question , and a little circumf ° ce soon proved that he possessed a ' most inquiring 8 d' Before him , occupying the entire seat , sat a lady , ! _fessed in deep black , and after shifting his position pwral times , and manoeuvring to get an opportunity to inok in her face , he at length' caught . her eye . ' He nodded familiarly to her . _^ asked , _^ ith a nasal twang utterly in-„ r _^ h le of imitation , 'In _auction ? ' ' Yes , sir / replied the [ Iv 'P arents—father or mother ? ' 'No sir . ' ' Child , _Primus ?—a boy or girl ? ' ' No , sir , not a child , ' was the pe _sSe , ' I have no children . ' 'Husband th . en , ' xpect ?' _^ l . __ 4 . 1 . _^ . s _..- » .. f _a-natxTfiiT ( H um \ r » l _*^ 7 _o-r \ P fl _t-. _vndin-VUl _au-a _-a _y _^ _. _^ _tuu \ _fj \ _jmx «*

      _ , ( _^ VaS MM * V . . . _,. j _. _wuuu .-man ' _mehhe ? ' ' _Wj husband was a sea-faring man— -the captain of a vessel : he didn't die of cholera , he was drowned . ' 'Oh , drowned , eh ? ' pursued fhe inquisitor , hesitating for a brief _jnstant . ' Save _Jiis chist ? ' he asked . 'Yes' the vessel was saved , and my husband ' s effects , ' said the widow . ' Was they ? ' asked tiie Yankee , his eyes brightening np ; ' Pious man ? ' he continued . ' He was a member of the Methodist church . ' The next question was a little delayed , but it came— ' Don't yeou think you got great cause to be thankful that he was a pious man , and _gived his chist f ' I dp / said the widow abruptly , and _hirninff her head to look out of the car window . The

      indefatigable ' pump' changed his position , held the widow by his ' glittering eye' once more , and propounded one more query , in a little lower tone , with his head slightly inclined forward over the back of the seat , ' Was you caVlatin' to get married agin ? 'Sir ! ' said the widow , indignantly , ¦ you are impertinent 1 ' And she left her seat and took another on the other side of the car . ' 'Pears to be a little huffy ! ' said the ineffable bore , turning to our narrator behind him _; ' she needn't be mad ; I didn't want to hurt her feelin ' 8 . What did they make you pay for that umberel you got in your hand ? It ' s a real pooty one !'

      Ar00908

      Law Reform It Is Instructive To Note How...

      LAW REFORM It is instructive to note how numerous are the claimants for the credit of originating and suggesting the recent Law Reforms . The Earl of Derby claimed it ; the Whigs have claimed it ; Parliament has claimed it ; and the Society for the Amendment o _£ the Law has claimed it . We have now a new claimant in the Metropolitan and Provincial Law Association , who have issued a circular to their subscribers , giving a brief account of the various reforms which have been effected during the past Session of Parliament in the practice of Law and Equity . It is no doubt highly satisfactory to the members of this Association , that in many particulars the modifications haVe been in accordance with , if not based upon , suggestions made by their committee .

      It will , perhaps , be as well to observe , that this Association has been established by the Solicitors for the purpose of watching the changes made in the law of this country , and promoting those alterations which may be deemed beneficial . Although their _immediate purpose is to protect the interests of their own profession , yet , as no system which is injurious to the community at large can in the long run be beneficial to any particular class , this Association , so long as it is influenced by enlightened principles , cannot but do good service to society in general . The circular we have alluded to points out the following changes which have taken place in the constitution and practice of our courts : —

      Ihe office of tho Masters in Chancery , which has now become _sufficiently notorious for its inefficiency and its grievous abuses , is dispensed with altogether in regard to all new matters , except in cases of winding np _abortive joint stock companies , to which its services will in future bo exclusively devoted . In these cases , tho Masters will bo endowed with additional powers , which will enable them to dispose of business moro promptly . Tho duties which have hithorto been performed by tho Masters in ordinary cases , will devolve ll the judges , who will havo tho assistance of eight Chief Clerks .

      Great modifications are made in Chancery pleadings ; hills may bo printed instead of being engrossed upon parchment ; thoy aro not to contain " interrogatories ;" answers will , in general , he dispensed with , and , when put m , may contain the real ground of the defence . " _Excepti ons for impertinence , " too , aro no longer to ho taken . Various other technicalities , ferfilo in delay and costs , « w _« h as " bills of Revivor and Supplemental , " for _intro-< 'icing new parties , or substituting the representatives ? ' deceased parties , and for bringing new facts before he court ; actions sent to the Common Law Courts . ' _<> decide jioints which the Judges in Eq uity _njo too _jnodest to pronounce upon , _together with various other anoiful conceitsaro swept nway .

      , he mode of taking evidence has also been greatly o orined ; the Judge if ) to _huvw a _diacrofionary power laving upy witness orally examined in open court . Various other changes havo boon mado , and , on tho v _><> lo , we may feel confident fhat the new regulations , "on full y brought into practice , will bo found to havo _« V » away _yfyfo m } _y _of _^ _^^ a ]) mm _^^ _j _^ vo

      Law Reform It Is Instructive To Note How...

      excited so just an abhorrence for onr Court of Chancery , and to have rendered " Equity" really a useful branch of our judicature . An act has been passed to enable either the lord or the tenant of copyhold to compel enfranchisement ; t ) ie compensation , which may either be paid as a gross sum of money , or be converted into a rent charge , to be estimated by two valuers or then- umpire . The Common Law Procedure Act has abolished the distinctions between different forms of action , those formidable snares for young pleaders , and has enabled different causes of action to be included in one action . It has effected also other important improvements , facilitating the proceedings where there is no defence offered , and obviating the difficulties occasioned by the death or marriage of parties .

      Tavern Signs A Coeeespoitdent Of The Pri...

      TAVERN SIGNS A _COEEESPoitdent of the Pristol Mirror supplies the editor with the following amusing enumeration of the public-house signs of that city : — SiE , —Allow me to send you a short epitome of the public-house signs in this city , which I have noticed in my rambles : — Royalty meets with great patronage , there being "Kings" and "Queens' Heads" by the dozen , and "Crowns" enough for every State in Europe ; there is nearly every " Duke" in the peerage , including an " Old Duke" and a " Waterloo" Arms ; there is a " Lord Chancellor" and two "Woolpacks ; " an "Adam and Eve , " two or three " Angels , " and a " Noah's Ark ; " there are more than a score of "Bells , " but only one " Brass Knocker ;"

      there are "Horses" both "White" and "Black ; " a "Coach and Horses , " a " Waggon and Horses , " and a " Sedan Chair ; " there are a _number of "Swans , " a " Spread Eagle , " an " Ostrich , " a " Bird in Hand , " a few " Blackbirds , " and a " Crow . " I notice an "Old Fox" who has a watchful eye , doubtless , on the "Hen and Chicken . " There is a " Neptune , " a " Mermaid , " a "Sea Horse , " several " Dolphins , " and a " Trout ; " more than twenty " Ships , " another on " Launch , " and a " Steam Packet ;" a "Lord Nelson , " an " Old England , " a " John Bull , " and a few " Britannias . " In moons , I notice " Full Moons , " and " Half Moons ; " the " Seven Stars , " and the " Fourteen Stars , " and a " Rising Sun , " by way of a change . There is the " Traveller ' s Rest , " for the " Scotchman and

      his Pack , " and the "Pilgrim ; " a "Robin Hood , " and a " Foresters' Arms ; " a " 'King David , " and a " Harp . " Poetry meets with little support ; poor old " Shakspeare " standing alone . I find a " Hole in the Wall , " but no " Pyramis and Thisbc ; " a " Champion of Wales , " and a " Goat in Armour . " There are many " Bacchuses , " including a " Jolly" one ; but , after hunting all over thc city , I cannot find a "Venus . " There is the "Coffee Pot , " with " Three Cups" to go with it ; a " Bear and Ragged Staff" ( a delicate allusion , no doubt , to Nicholas of Russia ) . Tho " Lions" come in for thc lion's share , there being a large quantity of them , both " White" and " Red ; " an

      "Elephant , " a " White Bear , " a " Leopard , " a few " Foxes , " and several " Greyhounds . " Decapitations seem to be strongly advocated , by " Boniface ; ' for , in addition to the numerous " Heads' of the "Kings" and " Queens , " they have , also , a " Saracen ' s" and a " Blackamoors . " Tho " Jolly Skinners , " " Jolly Tanners , " "Jolly Nailers , " and " Jolly Sailors , " aro too numerous to mention . I can't understand what is meant by tho " Cat and Wheel , " or " Cock and Bottle ; " I leavo them to somo local antiquary to unriddle ; there is , however , something more tangible in an " . Artichoke . " I notico several " Sailor ' s Homes" scattered about tho city : may I ask when wo aro to expect the other that is promised for tho accommodation of our "Jolly Sailors P "

      A Patron Of The Begging Trade. Last Week...

      A PATRON OF THE BEGGING TRADE . Last week wo roportcd ono of tho feats of Mr . Solly , who Satronises beggars to such a great extent . On _Wednosay , Sarah Ifolditch , Sarah Harrigan , and Eliza Tylor _, woro brought boforo tbo Lord Mayor , charged with being common beggars and impostors . Tho defendants had boon apprehended tho day beforo in Cornhill , while following Mr . Solly , of Great Ormond-street , and endeavourin g to prevail upon him to givo them money . Thoy woro all

      well-dressed and decont-looking women , and well known as indofatigablo impostors by HorHford , and the other activo agents of tho Mendicity Society . As it was considered useless to call upon Mr . Solly for ovidenco , tbat gentleman's steward , who has been long a witness to the manner in which the bogging system was carried on in bis master ' s neighbourhood , was requested to attend the justice-room on Wednesday , to hear a description of tbe intolerable travelling nuisance ho recently exposed in the City .

      Ilorsford , and another oflicer of the Mendicity Society , had found it necessary to apprehend thoso women , who , with about forty others , bail been waiting in Great Ormond-strcot for Mr . Holly's appearance , ana who , when the old gentleman walked out ot his house , clamoured for money . The resolute measures taken by tho oflicer had its effect upon tho rest of the swarm . They separated , and then thoir companions wero taken at once before the magistrate at , Clerkenwell , and _eontonced to imprisonment anil hard labour . The officers , conjecturing that tho beggars would follow tbeir willing and placid victim to the Union Firo-oflico , to which they knew ho was bound , made arrangements to meet thorn at , the spot whoro ho was expected to alight'from his vehicle . There were between forty and fifty audacious female mendicants assembled at the place , and they followed him up so closely and so furiously , that ho waa obliged to struggle into an omnibus or run tho hazard of having his clothes actually torn from hip _baofc by _thoaq who plight bo disappointed in their ex-

      A Patron Of The Begging Trade. Last Week...

      pectation of what they called " alms . " _aimongst the most resolute beggars were Holditch , Harrigan , and T y ler ; and when tho officers apprehended them the rest quickly disappeared . The three defendants wero identified as having been amongst the Great Ormond-street beggars , daily . Wicks , Mr . Solly ' s steward , said , upon being questioned b y the Lord Mayor : —My Lord , it is quite impossible to give you a correct idea of the scones I witness daily . Our persecution begins in Great Ormond-street , and master is besieged by all sorts of beggars , from the tip-top begging ladies in silk stockings and shawls , down to the lowest poor creature without any stockings at all . I have seen tho three women at that bar frequently receive money from him . In fact , they would not leave him without dragging money from him . Sometimes the beggars abuse

      him m the most shocking manner , so that the ladies in the street are quite ashamed at thc scene . Sometimes they fight amongst themselves , and accuse each other of getting all from the old . People would suppose that the newspapers would frighten them away . Quite the other way . Ever since tho account of my master and his begfars was published , he has been ten times more solicited am now obliged to take up his letters on the largest sized waiter , and the crowds of fashionable beggars that apply to him would astonish any one in his senses . The Lord Mayor : Surely , the representation of the very great impediment he causes in the City would bave somo effect in giving a better direction to his charity . It is quite impossible that such a nuisance can be endured in our crowded and busy streets .

      Wicks : I don't know what's to be done , my lord . He gives away a mint of money , but in a very unsatisfactory manner . Several of the females pretend that they were acquainted with him when he was a much younger man , and that his charity is mere gratitude . One of these women ( Harrigan ) swears that they have been old friends of twenty years' standing . Some other evidence was given , and the Lord Mayor decided that they must clear our streets in the City of all such nuisances , and he sentenced each of the defendants to hard labour in prison for one month .

      Bingham Upon Bagpipes Timothy Suixivan, ...

      BINGHAM UPON BAGPIPES Timothy Suixivan , a blind Irish piper , put himself into the witness-box at Marlborongh-street , on Thursday , by the help of his wife , and , in a tone intended to be particularly insinuating , begged his wortship to do him a small thrifle of a favour . Mr . Bingham—Well , what do you want me to do ? Sullivan—Tbe police wont let me play me pipes in Fitzroy-market , and I want yer honour to give me lave . Mr . Bingham—Give you leave to play the bagpipes in tbe street , by no means I do assure you . I know nothing move afflicting to English , Welsh , French , or German ears , to all ears , indeed , except Scotch and Irish ears , than the harrowing noise made by the bagpipes .

      Sullivan—But me pipes isn't the Scotch pipes , yer wortship ; the ' ro the rale Irish pipes , they don't give a noise at all , they give the finest of music . Mr . Bingham- —If there ' s any difference between Scotch and Irish bagpipes , it is against the Irish pipes , I believe . There ' s a drone , is there not , to your pipes ? Sullivan—It was a beautiful drone , your wortship . Mr . Bingham—I thought so . Well , tho only permission I can give you is to go to an Irish locality , whero your pipes will not be considered a nuisance . You must not create a disturbance in an English neighbourhood . Sullivan—Its Scotch and not Irish pipes that ' s the nuisance . I must play , or how am I to get my bit of bread ?

      Mr . Bingham—You must not urge that plea , for if people aro allowed to got thoir bit of bread b y breaking tho law , then pickpockets may justify their acts . No , you must find an Irish locality , where the Irish aro at least ten to one . There are plenty of such places in London , and there you _niuy make as much noise with tho pipes as you please . The piper , after declaring he must give up music , us a profession , and try what lie could do with a " handful of fruit , " left the court with u vory disconsolate air .

      Atuknjeum Life Assurance Society. This S...

      ATUKNjEUM life assurance society . This society held its first annual meeting on Tuesday , af the ofiice , . _" )<) , _ _Sackvillo-streot ; tho Rev . J . Bartleu ' ol A . tcham-park , in the chair . The report , set forth that , although the society was a new ono , branch boards , consisting of directors influential in their various localities , had been formed at Manchester , Birmingham , Sheffield , . full , and the _Islo of Alan , and that others aro in course of format ion . An arrangement had further been made with an institution of a kindred nature , entitled ( ho Athenieiirn Institute , and by this junction of interests with that large and powerful clans , the members of the literary and newspaper press , beneficial results to tho society wero anticipated . Tho _baluueo sheet of the society showed its capital to be lb , 5 Ifi / ., und tbo amount received for premiums to he 4410 / . The disbursements woro _2 _f > _86 / . in preliminary expenses , and tho company ' s capital now consisted of 50 iM )/ . invested in securities , 805 _< l / . at its bankers , and about 14 ( H )/ . in tho hands of the manager and tho society ' s agents . During tho first nine months policies had been issued thai ) y ielded 4419 / . in premiums . The total number of policies was

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 4, 1852, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_04091852/page/9/