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Ko. 4f»/^Bfr4te ^ Ifrfr
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THE AUSTRIAN LOAN. The moneyed classes h...
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and-lastly foand a,resting : place ^ for...
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Transcript
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Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
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Whether Open Or Close, Are Equally Ineff...
sis latiqri . MW CJhadwiok looks on the Reform Act of 1 & 32 as a very inefficient msteument for putting an endf to corruption , and : finds some potty faults ' witih it because the majority of the electora ' dO'noit' always vote ati contested elections * That act , however , was- paseed in almost blind obedience to public opinion without due appreciation of its consequences . It was the real turningpoint of the fate of the country . It made the legislature quietly obedient subsequently to public opinion as . manifested by the press , and led to the repeal of tlieConirlaws and of the Navigation-laws , and many barbarous commercial enactments . It
wasva constitutional insurrection , pregnant with , tiie most important consequences , the result of the sentiment * ofthe people as made known . in- combination 1 through the press , to which no local and special inquiries could ever- have-led . It is a mere mockery in Mr ; Chadwick-to tell us , when a similar stage of our social existence has again arrived , and public sentiment and public opinion are decidedly in favour of reform , that we must have some special and local commission of inquiry into the condition of particular boroughs to enable us to remedy an acknowledged wrong . Neither , is it
possible that any committee of the Privy Council , composed of the leaders of both parties ,- " narrowing the issues of public contention , " limiting therefore , by its will what the people ought to discuss and ought to have , could frame a measure which would give satisfaction . Complex and slovenly as may be the legislation resulting , from our present practice , it is not merely superior . 'in all essentials to their plans ; we can also assert that their plans in this free country would ; be impracticable . They might fulfil the letter of a . theory , but they would be in opposition to the life and growth of the nation .
We are not ungrateful , however , to these gentlemen for ; their disquisitions . The subj ect they have mooted is certainly one of the most important which can engage public attention . Already , as we see from various pamplilets which fall in . our way , and from the writings in several journals , that the spirit of inquiry is evoked into the very principles of legislation , " into the right , " as a Mr . John Scott expresses it , " of the : legislator to enact any law whatever" which will not be set at rest ; till something much more clear , definite , and practical than is suggested by either of those gentlemen commands the assent . of the public reason .
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Ko . 4 f »/^ Bfr 4 te ^ Ifrfr
The Austrian Loan. The Moneyed Classes H...
THE AUSTRIAN LOAN . The moneyed classes have done well in giving no support to the Austrian loan . They will have learned by the hearty congratulations of some of the journals how much is in their power . Only the first step is difficult , and having taken that , they will be emboldened to go further . Amb itious sovereigns cannot carry their warlike designs into execution without the aid of the moneyed classes , and in their hands , therefore , are now placed the immediate destinies of Europe . Fortunately for tlje world , they have a strong interest in keeping the peace . Their property is already invested in great masses in the nands of different Governments . In fact , the bulk of it consists of those claims on
amongst . ' all the commercial and moneyed classes to . keep war in check , or put an end ; to it amongst civuised nations . In every country the commercial classes are . becoming .-more ajid more powerful , ; in . ev * ery country they are naturally allies and friends ; in every country they have the same strong-interest in preserving-peace ; and now that they have begun to act somewhat in opposition to Governments in order to preserve peacej we may expect they will go further and establish a permanent league amongst themselves to keep the classes who for ages have contemned and plundered therh peaceable and honest . " .
We are confident that they will by so doing please the French and gain , their goodwill . No people in Europe more desire the gains of commerce than do the French , and if their martial spirit be , as is said , the standing danger of Europe ; by . no means can it be so kept lor ever in subordination to the welfare of Europe as by now preserving the French from war . They desire peace , but they may believe that their , safety and honour are bound up with the Empire , and they may , unless countenanced and heloed by the action of other nations , be unable to contribute
preserve peace . They will not now cheerfully , as in' the Russian war , to the exigencies of the Government ; but a loan might possibly be wrung from them if they saw their sovereign exposed to any hazard or the slightest dishonour by Austria obtaining a loan in other countries . To prevent them being placed in the dilemma of dreading another revolution ,-or of advancing their money to the Emperor , the moneyed men of other countries must not make advances to their opponents . We shall strengthen the desire of the French for peace by withholding from Austria the sinews of war .
future industry which the Governments have already bestowed on them for a due consideration , and it is because the respective Governments have already inourred these obligations that they cannot now move without tho assistance of their creditors . These depend , undoubtedly , on the continuance of tho different Governments for the safety of their property , but by contributing to war they may deprive the Governments , however well-meaning , of all power to guarantee their possessions , and by helping them to injure one another thoy will ruin themselves . They demand protection for railway property , but the only effectual way of protecting tins
is not to expose it to tho risks of war . They may , endanger all tho property belonging to them , wluoh tho sovoral Governments of Europe arc now bound to protect . They oannot enhanoo its value or sooure its safety by diverting tho groat fund on which it all depends—future industry—to purposes of destruction , Thoy are too much tho masters of the war-desiring classes to stand any longer in awo oj them , and now that they have begun to fcol their own strength wo may hopo that they will go lurthor . Wo have some reason to boliovo that our observations on this subjoot in our two preceding aumbera have wot fallen on barren ground . The eou was ready for thorn , and wo hopo thoy will firow up and produoo something liko « uuion
And-Lastly Foand A,Resting : Place ^ For...
and-lastly foand a , resting : place ^ a time , in this country . They were , placed unden the : guardianship of their : grandmother , ; the dowager Duchess-Augusta ,, sister , of George . III .. In > 1814 they returned to Brunswick , and from , thence had to be s tarted , on fresh peregrinations , but in which—for the sake , of the . reader ' s , patienee- ' -we will forbear to . follow-them ... ' During this period of hurrying to and fro their education was entirely neglected . They grew up unacquainted with , the simplest rudiments of knowledge .. We -will not here rake up the many scandals
that were current at the time affecting those different parties on , whom the duty of instructing , themi devolved . But this much , we may say , thatwhether it was the effect of bad education ,, or natural vicious inclination , or a combination of the two—the princes ,, more especially the elder—turned out a disgrace to humanity . At an . early age Duke Charles rendered himseif notorious , for a mode . of life only too usual with princes ; and his character exhibited also many other vices besides unmitigated debauchery , viz . grasping cupidity and wanr ton recklessness in squandering tne contents o £
the exchequer of the country . The society m which he took delight was worthy of his lnannersand predilections ^ It consisted of the lowest , and ? most despicable individuals . On the other hand ,, men of the most temperate andmoderate principles became hateful to hiin , simply because they were unable to look with aught else than a feeling of reprobation on the filth and corruption in which he revelled . Under his rule the duchy of . Brunswick : was subjected to a despotism never before imposed upon it . A . " Secret Cabinet" was organised , which had the surveillance of . political men ; and a single
expression of censure from them on the orgies of the Court was sufficient to cause their names tograce the pages of the Black Index . At last all parties—Conservatives and Liberals , the people and the aristocracy—were equally incensed with their half-crazy ruler . No wonder that , on the breakingout of the revolution in France and Belgium in 1830 , the inhabitants of Brunswick rose in insurrection , stormed the ducal castle , burnt it to the ground , and drove put their worthless Duke . His brother William thereupon assumed the government with the consent of the nearest
relationsof the House of Brunswick-Wolfenbuttel , and subsequently with the sanction of the German Diet-No doubt , this sanction would not have been given so easily , had not the reckless duke shown thesame contempt fo r the aristocracy he had displayedi for the outraged rights of the people . In vain did : he move heaven and earth to regain possession of his lost dominions . The Diet at Frankfort remained ? deaf to his entreaties . He was not even allowed : to return to the duchy , but had to remain in exile * residing first at Paris , and then in London . At this moment , inconsequence of judicial procedures * instituted against him here ; he is again spending his time in the French capital . For years ,, our readers have been familiar with the eccentric figure the ex-duke has cut among iia » with his diamond suit , his oddities , and his frantic * attempts to remount the throne of Brunswick . He foolishly hoped to impose upon the peop le of Brunswick , and gain them over to his side by the distribution of manifestoes , in which he promised all manner of liberal measures and institutions ; , but . he never mastered tho courage to attempt a formal counter-revolution . His most celebrated perform ^ , ances among ourselves have been his speculation * in the clothing line , when making to the public the . very desirable oner of twenty thousand uniform suits , " going at an enormous sacrifice "—probably the garments of the array some trust v Falstaff was to bring for restoring him triumphantly to his . naughty principality . No less ho distinguished himself by the even greater boldness with which herushed into the porils of truo British lawsuits , to vindicate lus susceptible honour . The result o £ this latter proceeding has gonerally boon tho munificent award of " one penny" compensation , as a . full equivalent for tho artielo in quo 3 tion . ln . ia ^ a ^ 1 m hnnamn f . lirvTWenn oditor of a Gorman
ropub-BiOGHAPHIES OF GERMAN PBUfGES . ¦/ . ' ¦ ' - ¦ - . No . XII . ¦ ¦ ; ' . . - ¦ WILLIAM AND CHARLES , DUKE AND EXDUKE OF BRUNSWICK . Tins Bruns-wiek dynasty has in the olden time been a sore affliction to Germany . Quarrelsome , self-willed , and strong-headed have been its members , rebelling against every law , and breaking through all restraints—qualities that have rendered them sad obstacles to national unity .. The fire of this turbulent and rancorous spirit has sot entirely died out among them in our own . times ; and the descendants of the Guelph now and again give evidences that the characteristics of their forefather have still some vitality remaining . These modern erentrv , indeed ; have shown not unfrequently
dispositions alike despotic and extravagant , so much so that the brother of the reigning monarch—the notorious Duke Charles of Brunswick—even tost his throne , for his malpractices , by an insurrection in 183 Q ; the only example of a German sovereign in our days who has open driven away from his principality without ultimately contriving to get restored to power . The two brothers mentioned are at this moment the last issue of tho elder branch of the Guelphs . They form , unfortunately , a par nobile jrafrum ; of whom Germany has but little reason to be proud . Their education and early life , it must be confessed , but ill fitted them for becoming worthy members of the community , for during the chequered career of
their tempest-tost father—who fell , it will be remembered , in the Napoleonic wars , at tho battle of Quatre-Bras- —the two young princes were in their earliest years left almost without care or guidance . Their wanderings and vagaries began at a tender age , indeed , when the eldest was but two years old and tho other barely six months . It was after the battle of Auerstadt , in which their grandfather , Duko Charles William Ferdinand , met his deathwound , that their mother , the Princoss Marie of Badon , was oompclled to fly before the anger of the Corsiean despot . Carrying with her her two hapless boys she effected her oscapo from Brunswick to Stralsund and Swedeu—thonco to Denmark—onto
Ham-burg—again from Hamburg to Karlsruhe and Bruohsal ; at which latter place , in 1608 , she died in childbed . The motherless prinoes were then consigned to tho ohargo of Amelia , the widow of the Landgrave of Hesse-Darmstadt . But scarcoly had tho little fugitives readied her court when the tido of war again compelled thorn to fly , this time undor tho protection of a doughty soldier , but very indifferent tutor , Colonel vou Nordonfels . Once moro they traversed tho length and breadth of Gormauy ~~ woro then sent intp Bohomia—afterwards had to make their way to Pomorama and Swodsn ;
lioan journal in London , deluding himself with the idea that , by this advooaoy of the popular cause * Gorman republicans would bo induced to restorehim to his duchy ; or , who knows , even mako him their Emperor 1 Tho two brothers , Charles and William , continue , of oourso , to maintain oloso relations of deadly onmity , suolx aa behoves truo Gueljpus of tho olds stock . They regard oaoh other from afar wnJ » sleepless ojes of hatred—wishing for no better
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 5, 1859, page 19, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_05021859/page/19/
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