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December 9 ,JL854. ] THE LEADER. 1159
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We extract, in illustration of the foreg...
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Mr. Nusinvth Iihh hiik'u published tho f...
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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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A Prussian Marriage. The Times Gives, In...
and pretend to be playing at cards , —perpetual' commerce' probably , —in order to allow the visitors to offer their congratulations to the bride and bridegroom in an easy and agreeable -way . Then comes supper , which beuig a reality , speedily puts to flight the card party , which is only a sham . Immediately after the soap , the health of the bride is given by the king , and then the court goes and sups expeditiously , though solidly , after the German fashion . Then conies a polonaise , or torch dance , performed by twelve Ministers of State , with wax tapers in their hands , -which we are disposed to accept as an amende honorable for their manifold delinquencies , and their example is followed by the bride , the king , and all the princes , the bridegroom , the queen , and all the princesses . Then the crown is sent back to the
treasury under the like escort as it came , and the bride ' s garter is cut up and distributed for edification to the pages and cavaliers- A solemn procession to the church on the next day concludes this ponderous ceremony , and dismisses everybody , we should suppose , right weary of a festival so pompous , so meaningless , and so tedious . "
December 9 ,Jl854. ] The Leader. 1159
December 9 , JL 854 . ] THE LEADER . 1159
We Extract, In Illustration Of The Foreg...
We extract , in illustration of the foregoing , and to shov that even present Prussian barbarism has been . much modified , from the letters of Baron Bielfield , Secretary of Legation , an account of a German marriage during the reign of the Great Frederick : — " Presently after came the queea , dressed in a robe of green velvet , which was covered , to the very train , with bunches of brilliants . And all these ornaments -were so happily disposed , that it was manifest the Graces themselves had attended on her toilet . The brilliants in her
hair " were above all illustrious : the small Saucy , the third diamond of that sort in Europe , shone among the rest , like the sun among the stars . Four ladies of the court bore her majesty ' s train . Next came the queenmother , in a robe of black velvet , trimmed with ermine , and adorned with a prodigious quantity of diamonds , pearls , ami lace ; which gave this great and venerable princess a most majestic appearance . She was accompanied by her two . daughters , the Princesses Ulrica and Amelia , who had forgot nothing that could add to the lustre of their charms .
"At last appeared the illustrious pair , whose happy irnion gare birth to these sumptuous festivals . His royal highness led in his august bride . They were both dressed in brocade of white and silver . The folds of the princess ' s robe were ornamented with gold point d'Espagne , and all the vacant spaces blazed with diamonds . The hair of both princes was dressed with a luxurious elegance . The princess ' s train -was borne by four of the queen ' s ladies of honour ; and they were followed by all tliose who compose their court . " When the whole company had formed itself into a lifttf circle , the prince and princess immediately approached the altar , accompanied by the king , the queens , and all the princes and princesses , and there received
the solemn consecration of their nuptials from the hands of M . Sa-ek , his majesty ' s first chaplain , who made on this occasion a short , but very pathetic exhortation . The moment their hands were joined we heard the thunder of the cannon that were placed in the gard « n of the palace , which were answered by a triple discharge of all the cannon on the ramparts , proclaiming to the inhabitants of Berlin the completion of this happy event . After the prince and his princess had received the compliments of the king , the queens , and the chief persons of the company , the whole court was entertained at five great table . ' ) in difiwent rooms . At the first table sat the king , the queons , the new married pair , and all the other princes and princesses ; as well those who arc not , as those who are , of the blood .
u The Count of Podewils did the honours at the second table , at which wero seated all the foroijm ministers . At the other tables the rest of the company placed tliomielvoa without distinction . They were all , in ft word , royally served , and the entertainment lusted for a long time . " As soon as their majesties rose from table tho whole company returned into tho white hull , from whence tho ftltnr was removed , and tho room was illuminated with fresh wax lights . Tho musicians were placed on a stage of solid rtilvoi . Six lieufcenant-genorak , and aix minititors of state stood , ouch with a whito avux torch in his hand , ready to bo lighted , in conformity to a ceremony
used in tho German courts on theBC occasions , and which is called ' Th « Dunco of Torches , ' in allusion to tho torch of Hymen . This danco was opened by tho now-married prince and princess , who made tho tour of tho hall , saluting tho king and tho company . Heforo them went the ministers and tho generals , two and two , witli their lighted torchon . Tho printout ) then gave her hand to tho king , and tho prince to tho quuon ; tho king gave l » in hund to tho quoen ' s mother , anil the reigning quoon to Prince Honry ; and in thlt ) manner all tho i > riuoc . s and prineaaaaii that wero present , ono uftur the other , and according to their rank , led up tlio Uauoc , making thu tour of tlio hall , almoot in the » tisp of tho I ' olofjneai ) .
«' Tliu novelty of this performance , and thu . iublitno quality of tlio performer /* , made it in Homo dugreo unreliable . OthurwiHo tho extreme gravity of ( . he iluuce il . iulf , with tint ootHiuuml roimd and formal pnoo of tlio ( liiiicora , the frequent going out of tha torchon , aiul tho clunguuv
of the trumpets that rent the ear : all these , I say , made it too much resemble the dance of the Sarmates , those ancient inhabitants of the prodigious woods of this country" When the last prince had finished his tour , the music and the dance ceased . The queen-mother withdrew . The king accompanied the prince , and the queen the princess , to their claambers , where this illustrious bride and bridegroom prepared themselves , by a very rich and elegant night dress , to complete their nuptials . " As soon as they were ready , the door of their bedchamber was thrown open , and we followed each other
hi , where we found the princess on a bed of crimson velvet , highly ornamented with the richest pearls . The prince stood at the head of the bed in a night gown , and a cap bordered with lace . The tasteless jesters , who gave the reins to their fancy , incommoded his highness with their freedoms not a little ; he disengaged himself , however , in a pleasant and handsome manner , and taking off the princess ' s garter , cut it into a number of pieces and distributed it among the company , and then ended the ceremony by embracing the king , dismissing the company , and bolting his door , henceforward to be guarded by the God of Wedlock , to whom Love had delivered up his torch .
" After their majesties and the princes and princesses were retired to their chambers , we went all together into the dining chamber , where we found a midnight collation , and excellent wine , in more than one full glass of which we each drank success to the mutual endeavours of the new-married pair . About three the next morning I got home to my lodging . " The following evening , about six , the whole court was assembled in the great gallery : their majesties , the new man and wife , the princes and princesses , in short the whole court appeared in dominos , but without masks . I alone was pompously dressed , and for which I was not a little admired .
" The company danced and played till nine , when the king ordered me to prepare for my oration . I went immediately into the first ante-chamber , where I found everything ready for the ceremony . Twelve young knights went hefore me , -with each a lighted wax taper in his hand : the Baron of Mordach ., a very amiable Silesian nobleman , immediately preceded me , " bearing in a gold dish the crown of flowers , which was very curiously-wrought , and adorned with small figures of children in wax . I was followed by an endless number of spectators , and was doubtless a good deal confused ; for my fears appeared so plain in my countenance , that as I passed the door of the hall , the Baron yon Plotho cried out to me , ' Courage ! my friend ! you look as pale as the dead . '
i he whole court formed itself into a half circle , the centre of which was the new married pair , and on each side of them stood the king , the queens , and two-ancl twenty princes and princesses . The twelve young kniglits began the ceremony by searching with their lighted tapers for what was silently supposed to be lost the last night . But you will easily believe , madam , that it was impossible to discover that , by the brightest light , which never existed but in the imagination . Be that , however , as it may , when this pantomime was over , I began my speech . But there was such a horrid noise that I could not hear my own voice , so that 1 was obliged to desire his majesty to command silence ; which , when I had obtained , I immediately recovered from my confusion , and delivered my oration as well as I could have wished .
" As soon as the oration was finished , Baron Mordach entered the circle , and placed the crown on the head of the princess ; which hor highness was not ambitious long to wear , but tossed it into tho . hands of the prince lier consort . I marched out with the same ceremony that 1 had entered , and having dismissed my knights , returned into the hull unattended , whero the whole court was entortuincd at five tables , as on the preceding evening . " I hero send you , mudiim , tho Fronch translation , that has been made of my speech , though perhaps you have seen it in German , aa there have been already two editions of it , for it goes oft" like now broad : not certainly on account of its own merit , but aa making part of the entertainments of these illustrious festivals .
" After table there was playod oil" in tho groat place , which they call tho king ' s garden , a . very beautiful lirework , which tho court saw from tho windows of tl \ o palueo ; but tho extreme cold had extinguished ninny of tho lamps with whicli » thc pyramids and other ornaments wore illuminated . After thin tho court went to dancing , and tho bull lustod till vory late in tho night . " Tho third day th « princo and princess weut to tho palace of tho prince royal , which is to bo their future place of raiiidonca , and which tho king lias uo-mpluU ' . ly furuirthod for hia brother . Thoro was the same ovoniuy au upura and open table at court .
" I'ho fourth day Hid I'riuco of Prussia did mis the honour to invite 1110 to uin « with him ; and boforv \ v « i Hut down , hid royal hightiuw . s wiih |) 1 « juso < 1 to thank me vory tfraciourtly for my Hjmooh , mui for thu niunnur in which it wart uVlivi-Tijil ; proHunting mo at tint name lime with a very valuablu gold watch , anil du . siring tliat 1 would pnwisrvo it in ruiumubriiiiuo of thuao Uuy . i , ami na a tolum of that niganl which \ u > bore mo . u ln thin manner , muultun , ended all tho .-io untoruiiu-UlL'Lllb . "
NASMYTHS t ; . DUKES OF NEWCASTLE . Mr . Nasmyth , the celebrated engineer of Patricroft , writes thus to a contemporary : — November 24 , 1854 . If we investigate in a common-sense spirit the cause of the all but entire failure of our gieat naval expedition to the Baltic , as also the cause of the protracted and , as yet , unsuccessful operations before Sebastopol , involving , as they have already done , so fearful a sacrifice of our bravest men , it appears to me we shall find that the want of ordnance of power adequate to the emergency lies at the root of all these disappointing and sad results .
Had we armed ourselves , as we might have done , and might yet do , with such guns as would be capable of throwing shot and sliells of 2 cwt . to 3 cwt . each , and that from distances sufficiently great to keep us out of the reach of the missiles of tho enemy , we should thus be able to knock his strongest forts to ruins . The reason why we have not been able to do so simply rests with the fact , that we continue to employ for our great ordnance a material ( cast iron ) which , on account of its inherent unfitness to withstand violent shocks and strains , has ,. in every other case , been discarded from use .
" Were we to revert to the employment of wrought iron , possessed as that material is of every quality requisite , and aided as we now are by the ample and energetic means which my steam hammer has given , us for for ging ordnance of yet unheard-of power , we should thus be enabled to arm ourselves with guns the tremendous powers of which would only be equalled , by their perfection Of performance ; as , admitting of the introduction of the Minie rine principle , in union with those capabilities of throwing shot aiid shell of vast weight , we should soon , by such powerful agents , bring this great war to a most glorious termination .
When I inform you that the strength of forged iron is to that of cast iron as six is to one , you will at once see liow important such an accession of explosion ., resisting capability bears on the matter in question , as it is simply the strength or tenacity of the material of a gun winch limits the capabilities of it as to the distance and weight of missile it is capable of discharging . It requires no lengthy reasoning to prove or show what mighty results would issue from the employment of great ordnance formed of a material at least six times stronger than what we at present employ .
In order to place the matter , perhaps , in a stronger light , what would be thought of the judgment of a man who should propose to employ cast iron for an anchor or railway axle ? How infinitely moie absurd , then , is it to employ cast iron for our great ordnance , as it is well known to practical men that , besides the vast inferiority in strength in the case of cast-iron , its tenacity decreases in a rapid ratio with the increase in the massiveness of the object it is employed to form . "Why , then , do we continue to use cast iron for our great ordnance , which are naturally subjected to vastly more severe shocks- and strains than anchors or railway
axles , and , in so doing , limit our destructive power to its very limited capabilities , to accommodate which we are obliged to conn to such close quarters and discharge such comparative ineffective shot , that wo sacrifice in consequence thousands of lives of our bravest men , and spend millions of money in our endeavour to accomplish , by throwing a vast number of small pieces of iron , that which we might to a certainty accomplish by massive shot and shell discharged from our wrought iron ordnance at distances quite out of reach of tho enemy ; for nothing but such massive missiles jis I refer to—namely , shot of two and three hundred-weight , will ever effectually destroy the tremendous fortrt in question ?
Having spent tlie best part of my life in most intimate connexion with tho working of wrought iron on the greatest scale , and whero that admirable material has to rcrfist shocks and strains of tho utmost violence , and having besides had tho hapiiinesH to give ; to the world the moat enorgistic a ^ ent mankind has over poasortrtud for tin ; forging of fjgruut ihuhjsoh of wrought iron , I trust I in ay be permitted to speak on thin nubjoct with sonic dogrco of uuiilUlonco , n . s it . is one that hasi a most vital and important bearing on thonpoocly and successful irtmio of thiri terrible war . Had I but the opportunity givon mo to bring Jill the experience I posi-jess on thi . s nubjeet to boar , I . should go liuarl ; and soul into it , and soon show what my Htuuin-hainmurti cam do towards helping us to hoIvo tho fearful problem that , if wo value our partition as a free and powerful nation , wo must , ami that soon , accomplish .
I may state in conclusion that , although I have » ubmittou ino . tt complete piuu » and dowigim U > r uu < : li greul wrought iron ordnance , with tho name for appropriate Minltf rifle hIioIIh and shot , hIiouUI 1 » o \ . bo hitm » l . ml wil . li th » carrying out of my own . ilortigna , J mIioU not . Ije the 1 o » h / . ealoun ' in iinbnliug tho in out : hourly un » i » tuni : i to wlionirtoover muy be Bulootwl to give proof ol" whu < wrought iron run do fur u . t » ' "i"" | "' < i « ciit grout ujiktf- -t ! iu ; y . 1 nut , Wir , your * moat roHpuutfully , Jamicn Njihmyth . Uridgowutor Foundry , r « trierofl , nour Munulicotor .
Mr. Nusinvth Iihh Hiik'u Published Tho F...
Mr . Nusinvth Iihh hiik ' u published tho following letter , dutoii ' l > ccou » bur ¦' : —
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Dec. 9, 1854, page 7, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_09121854/page/7/
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