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October II, 1856.] V THE 1EADEE. 975
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A NEW TORT ORGAN. ¦ Without playing the ...
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THE KINGSWOOD REFORMATORY. Whateveb doub...
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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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.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Loud Cardigan's Charge At Home. If Offic...
the pen , and how to fire paper at each other . One of the most haughty of knights is Lord Cahdig-ah , —and one of the most bungling of combatants . " We know none who can compare with Km for skill in avoiding a retort , except Xord Lxrcan . He seems incapable of knowing when he is hit , and to have no other means of reply except identical propositions and vituperation .
The principal charges are these — That being a General of Brigade , the men . horses died under him for want of sufficient attention ; that when others were enduring hardships , he was seeking comfort in his private yacht ; that * when tlie commonest soldiers were acting together like brothers for the safety of all and the honour of their country , he was scandalously quarreling with bis brother-in-law ; that he has sneered at that brother-in-law , his General of [ Division , for ordering a charge of which the higher officer saw the danger , but which he did not share ; that Lord Cardigan was in the van in the charge , and also in the van in the retreat .
" What are Xord Cardigan ' s replies on these points P Colonel Buck pronounces them to be most unsatisfactory , and the piiblic agrees with Colonel Buck in observing that Lord Cardigan does not explain away the facts , nor answer the last question at all . Colonel Buck contrasts the career of this c noble » Lord , this ' gallant' officer , this knightly cavalier , with the career of Colonel Morris , who rose entirely through gallantry
and merit ; and , he reminds us of Lord Cabdigan's past exploits—his espionnage on . Captain Wathen and tlie eotirt-niartial , followed by tlie captain ' s acquittal and Lord Cardigan ' s removal from the command of the regiment . Colonel Buck might have added the cases of tlie black bottles , of an . officer made to mount and remount many times on parade as punishment , & c . LordCAitDiGAir was always a rigid disciplinarian ! His promotion was rapid—for he purchased , and he is a Lord .
Could a commoner do these things ? If tins were the history of a commoner , would he be promoted ? "Would he be able to remain in the army ? " Would Englishmen so much as compare him with a Colonel Mounts ? Certainly not . But this is only one fruit of the purchase system—that system , which , places rich men , no matter what their incapacity or their proclivity to Balaklava exploits aud hard language , above the head of any man who is ' an officer and a gentleman , ' but is not rich . It is a system which literally degrades the true gentlemen , and the country which permits it , below the level of the Cardigan .
One good may come out of this correspondence . In his rejoinder , Colonel Buck says : — "I endeavoured to ascertain from tlioso acquainted witli tlio Horse Guarcl 6 ' machinery how your lordship had attained such rapid promotion . " I failed in understanding tho process , but I was informed your lordship ' s advancement had cost you 34 , 000 / . If your lordship to securo your advancement ¦ wa s compelled to expend so large a sum , the inference can only be that an officer ¦ without such resources would fail in his advancement in the British army , and that money—not merit—decides the destiny of her oiliccrs .
" I shall bo happy to join ultra Radicals or any other class of politicians during tho next session of Parliament in securing for tho army a more just and efficient sj'stein of promotion . " Tins is well said—it is thorough-going , hearty . _ But , what is more , if Colonel Buck will stick to his purpose , ho will succeed . There are others who think with him ; already Lord Qodekicu has made a beginning iu the same direction . If men can talk out with tho bold plainness , the mnuly directness of
Geobge Stfoxey 'Buck , and will persevere , we may see the army relieved of its enervating system of appointments by payment of money , and weeded of its tyrannical martinets , who claim indulgences in war , hector over inferiors , lead in retreat , and reply to the request for explanation of such conduct by scolding lite a charwoman detected in retreating irregularly .
October Ii, 1856.] V The 1eadee. 975
October II , 1856 . ] V THE 1 EADEE . 975
A New Tort Organ. ¦ Without Playing The ...
A NEW TORT ORGAN . ¦ Without playing the part of a prospectus , we may announce that negotiations are going forward for the establishment , of a new Tory journal . Some of the less prominent member ^ of the country party are the authors of tlie idea . They conceive that pure Toryism has at present no representative . " We shall be glad to see the first number , if only for the sake of knowing what the Conservatism of Major Bebeseobd is . If a system of politics could be devised , with Mai or
Bebesf o bd at one end , and Major Heed at tlie other , and if those gentlemen would be active in the House of Commons , and esta-Mish organs of their views , there would be no more dull days in England . Difficult as it is to imagine what Major Beeestobd Tyould accept as Conservatism , it is more difficult to guess \ vhat wuld satisfy Major Heed as Liberalism . That romantic member , the pride of the " West of England , should publish his autobiography , with an illustratio
n of the family tree , and a catalogue of his public services . W " e have long desired to know why he is a Member of Parliament , and when it is probable that Lord Palmebstost will make him a lord * of the Treasury . And this suggests an idea . A new parliamentary companion is wanted , even more than a new Tory journal . It should set forth a list of the constituencies , aiii . represent , with paragraphs affixed to each , to this effect " Reasons why the said gentleman is a Member of Parliament ; " "Keasons -whv ho
represents this particular county or borougli . " The public would gain , much uncommon , and some . surprising knowledge , especially if the compiler were to add a record of legislative services , and analysis of the st y les of eloquence , favoured by such constituencies as those of Bath aud Braintree . To return to the projected Tory journal . It will be judicious on the part of its conductors to establish a private system of communication with at least the principal Cabinets of Europe , that -we may learn , week by week , the positive resolves of Louis jNItoleon , the occult motives of the Emperor Ai / exander , the tenor of Couut "Walewski' s secret
instructions , the contents of the last despatch , which zio one out of the Cabinet has seen , and various other items of exclusive political information . The new organ , moreover , should make arrangements for procuring the private opinion of Prince Albert on all matters of national policy , including his plan for punishing the Great British Constitution alter it has undergone its trial and failed . " Wo have long desired to obtain this advantage over our coiitcmporiiries , but whether Colonel Pnirrs and Dr . " PLAYirAin . are incorruptible , or whether H . B . H . has determined for tho future to act ' the inscrutable
personage' m admiration of his friend in Paris , tho attempt has failed , and wo are willing to desist in favour of an unborn brother . As to Lord Stanx'E'x ' b opinions , they arc easily got at , but are not copyright ; and M " z \ Disraeli ' s views , besides being only ' professodly Conservative , ' plead a ' previous engngement . ' Tho now Ifory journal will not " bo able to Bay whether Mr , Disbaeij , tho moat eminent statesman of his ago , ia prepared to inarch far ahead of
Liberalism on the path of social reform , that England may know what it has to expect from the Right Hon . Ifember for Bucks , the leader of the intellect of the House of Commons , and may know also when he ceased to be Chancellor of the Exchequer , while surpassing all his contemporaries in . the science of finance . But topics abound upon which , a Tory journalist may pass opinions which will , in seven days , become ' matter of history . ' It is a common thing , in these days , to leave historical trails . But the only point of the
real Tory policy that is as yet visible consists in the unalterable resolve of Major Bebesfobd to vote against Catholics and Jews , and to discriminate between yeomanry and rabble . Proud people of Braintree ! Get votes , and you will be yeomen exofficio . Major Bebeseobd will see the mob in another quarter . Above all , rally to the support of the forthcoming Tory paper , for it is destined , some prophets say , not merely to stereotype the institutions of England , but to revive the politics of the year 180 Q .
The Kingswood Reformatory. Whateveb Doub...
THE KINGSWOOD REFORMATORY . Whateveb doubts may be entertained as to the genuine reformation of adult criminals , the possibility of reclaiming- juvenile delinquents is already established beyond all question . That there should be occasional backslidings ought to be no matter for special wonder or discouragement ; for even in the higher classes of society , with all the advantages of a comfortable home , early instruction , and good example , there are , unhappily , too many derelictions of the practice of virtue . If only twenty youths were reclaimed out of a hundred , the philanthropist and patriot would still have reason to rejoice , and to per / - seyere in the good work . As trainers Tp ' f thieves , youths are more dangerous and expert than grownmen . They are less suspected and feared ; there is more sympathy in their manner ; their personal influence is greater . Lord Stanley , indeed , at the reeerit Conference alluded to one who had turned out no
fewer than eight accomplished disciples . And they are naturally brought more in contact with the idle children of tlie poor , as they play about in the courts and alleys of the neiglibourliood . lor this-j ? eason it is especial ^ important that the viciously disposed should be restrained from pursuing their evil tendencies , and be drilled into regular and industrious habits . Brief imprisonments usually confirm them in their guilty career , nor has
the cat-o -nine-tails ever been known to produce a good citizen . Besides , in very many cases , petty crimes are the result of absolute want , or ol'ignorance almost as absolute . In such instances common sense points out tho sole remedy—an industrial and social education . Tho application of this remedy is the purpose of the different Reformatories that have lately sprung into existence throughout the empire , but nowhere in greater excellence than in Bristol .
At a distance of about three miles from that city , the Kingswood Reformatory School stands on a gentle eminence in tho midst of a rich undulating country . It thus possesses tlie advantages of situation so strenuously insisted upon by Mr . de Metz ; as iudispens * able to the Buccess of a penal colony . Originally a Wesleyan college , it was converted to its present purposes , in 1852 , by Miss Caiupenter , and Mr . Uussem , Scott . At
first it was a mixed asylum for young persons of either sex , who had either oflended against tho lavva , or were only waiting for a temptation to do so . Experience , however , soon proved tho inexpediency of having boys and girls undor the same roof , and in 1854 tho latter wore removed to tho lied Lodge in
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 11, 1856, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_11101856/page/15/
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