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Leader (1850-1860), 14th February 1857, Edition 2 of 2, Page 9

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      Naval And Military. Cruiixtiks On Boaiid...

      The Ttne . —Attempts are still being made to raise thoTyne . Sailobs' Strike at Hull : —The seamen of the port of Hull are now on strike for an advance of wages .

      February 14, 1857.] The Lea Per. ¦ ___ 1...

      February 14 , 1857 . ] THE LEA PER . ¦ 153

      Miscellaneous. Russell, The Blacking Man...

      MISCELLANEOUS . Russell , the Blacking Manufacturer . — This bankrupt passed the Court last Saturday . The business had been carried on at a loss for some time , and it would appear that the bankrupt ' s habits were improvident . Corea . —The Pays announces that , while the Chinese Government shows itself so unfriendly to foreigners , the King of Corea has spontaneously opened the ports on his coast to commercial ships of all nations . The kingdom of Corea , which lies between Manchooria , Japan , and the Straits of Corea , contains many fertile districts , and produces many articles suited , for export to Europe . The King of Corea acknowledges the suzerainty of the Court of Pekin ; but he is completely independent as to the government of his kingdom . —Times .

      Norfolk Island . —Norfolk Island is to be severed from the diocese of Tasmania , and to be annexed to that of Sydney , the Queen being empowered , by a bill , to issue letters patent to that effect . The Unemployed . —A crowded meeting of working men was held on the evening of Friday week at the Temperance-hall , Clerkenwell , Mr . Neale Porter im the chair ; when several resolutions were agreed to , havin g reference to the present distressed condition of the working men of the metropolis . The first resolution called the attention of Government to the " severe , wide-spread ,

      and alarming distress existing in the metropolis and its suburbs , the result of a long stagnation in the building and other trades . " The other resolutions spoke of the " acute and almost intolerable privations " now endured by muking men , their -wives and children , and stated that the only hope of the men who could not find employment wa 3 emigration to Australia , New Zealand , and Canada ; and they therefore prayed the Government to grant them a free passage to the colonies . Petitions . to both , Houses of Parliament , based upon tlie resolutions , were agreed to .

      Keports of the Inspectors of Factories . —The reports of the Factory Inspectors for the half-year ended the 31 st of October appeared in print last Saturday . From their conjoint reports it appears that the inspectors have applied themselves to the consideration of the duties under the act of last session in regard to the fencing of mill gearing and machinery . They find the provisions of the " arbitration" clause wholly inadequate to afford that amount of protection to the operatives which they conceive must have been contemplated by the Legislature in passing the Act of 1856 , and they have tn « rerore not faRSr-Sft ^ proceedings under that Act . They do not object to the principle of arbitration , but to

      the class from which the arbitrators are required to be chosen , because that class is not qualified to act in such a capacity . The number of children employed has decreased considerably in flax and woollen factories , while it has increased in worsted . The total number of children under 13 yeare of age employed in all kinds of factories last year amounted to 46 , 071 ; the number of males between 13 and 18 to 72 , 220 ; the number of females above 13 to 387 , 826 ; and the number of males above 18 years to 176 , 400—making an aggregate of 682 , 407 . There -were 1919 accidents from machinery , and 53 npt due to machinery . The number of informations was 380 , and the number of convictions 245 .

      The Income-tax Movement . —A meeting of the inhabitants of Bath , convened by the Major , has beon held at the Guildhall , for the purpose of protesting against the continuance of the war increase of the income-tax , and against " our meddling foreign policy . " Both the members for Bath -were present , and promised to vote against continuing the tax as it now stands . —A meeting was held at Marylebone on Thursday evening , when Sir Benjamin Hall spoke in favour of a reduction of the tax , but said it could not be altogether abolished without injustice to the poorer classes .

      Illness of Mb . Thackeray . —Mr . Thackeray delivered one of his lectures on the Georges last Tuesday , at Halifax , and was to have delivered another at the same town on the following evening , and also one at Leeds on Thursday ; but ho was seized with illness at Halifax on Wednesday , and was unable to lecture either on Wednesday or Thursday . The Late Archdeacon WilbIsufohce . —Tidings of the decease of tho Kov . Robert T . Wilberforee , second Bon of the lute Mr . W . Wilborforcc , and lato Archdeacon of tho East Hiding of Yorkshire , at Albano , fourteen miles from Home , on Tuesday , February 3 , of ynstric Caver , have been received by his family .

      The Cape of < 3 ooi > Hopk . —The colony for the most part is tranquil ; hut approhenaion . s of attacks by the Kaffirs are felt by the whitetacn . The savages are also aaid to have committed wanton havoc among the crops . The Manchester Chamber ov Commkucis held its annual meeting on Monday in tho Manchester Townhall , when a long report was road and adopted , having roferenco to tho necessity of encouraginjj the grow tit of cotton in India , our African possessions , and otlier of our colonies . MiLUNEtts and Drkssmaickuh . —A meeting to oxpreaa sympathy with tho frightful overwork of millinora and dressmakers , and to call tho attention of

      Englishwomen to their oppressed condition , was held on Monday n 5 ght at Exeter-hall . The Bishops of London and Llandaff , Lord Shaftesbury , and Dr . Lankester , were among the speakers , and resolutions in accordance with the objects of the meeting were unanimously carried . The Windsor Castle Theatrhcals . —Mr . Charles Kean has written to say that , when -the greater number of the actors at a particular theatre are taken away on one night , to perform at "Windsor Castle , so as to cause the theatre to close on that night , the manager receives a sum in compensation , and the salaries of the actors are paid on that occasion on the calculation of wJiat they ordinarily receive . Mr . Eogers , therefore , on the night for which he received 13 s . 4 d ., Jwas paid double salary . It must be manifest , however , that this does not do away with the charge of meanness .

      Reformatory and Refuge Union . —The first annual general meeting of this society was held on Wednesday , at Willis ' s Rooms , St . James ' s , under the presidency of the Earl of Shaftesbury . Besides the chairman , the meeting was addressed " by Sir Stafford Northcote , Mr . Chambers , M . P ., Mr . Russell Gurney , the Hon . A . Kinnaird , & c , by whom resolutions ( which were carried unanimously ) were proposed , iu accordance with the objects of the association . The British Bank . —The negotiations lately in progress fora compromise between the shareholders and the creditors of the Royal British Bank have terminated in an agreement that 6 s . 6 d . in the pound shall be paid , over and above whatever may be realized from the assets .

      Bankruptcy of Messrs . Fox . and Henderson . Messrs . Fox and Henderson , engineers and contractors , were on Wednesday declared bankrupts in the Birmingham District Court of Bankruptcy , and duly surrendered in the course of the afternoon . The reluctance of a lavge English creditor to sign the deed of inspection agreed upon in November , and not the recent decision of the French Court , is said to have precipitated the bankruptcy . The first meeting is fixed for the 2 nd of March , and the last for the 30 th of the same month . Mr . Coleman , of London , is to prepare the accounts . The Court granted an allowance of 10 Z . per week to each of the bankrupts . Ruins of Carthage . —A Mr . Davis , an . English gentleman , has been excavating in the nei ghbourhood of ancient Carthage , and has discovered some very interesting remains .

      Stabbing in Self-Defence . —A young man at Edinburgh has been tried for tlie manslaughter of a labourer . The deceased attacked him in the streets at night , when the accused stabbed him with a knife , and also wounded three others . It was held to be justifiable homicide , and he was acquitted . Race v . Race . —This case , by the desire of the parties interested , was heard in the Vice-Chancellor ' s private room on Monday and Tuesday ; and at the conclusion of the arguments , shortly before four o ' clock on the latter day , bis Honour reserved his decision until Thursday morning . The decision , like the former proceedings , was . delivered in private * , but it transpired that

      the following order was made : — " Declare that the infant plaintiff , Alicia Race , ought to be brought up in the Protestant faith . Appoint Captain ConollyandMr . Woodroffe ( of tlie Chancery bar ) guardians of the infant , if they think proper to accept the oflice . Otherwise , refer it to chambers to appoint fit and proper persons to be such guardians . Order that the infant plaintiff , Alicia Race , be delivered to the Sailors' Orphan School at Uarapstcad . " This order proceeds upon the undertaking of the Rev . E . U . Bickersteth , and four other gentlemen , to clothe , maintain , and educate the child in a manner suitable to her rank , J to an amount not exceeding 251 . per annum , until she attain the age of twenty-one years .

      Tiik Bankruptcy of John Paul . —The adjudication of bankruptcy in this case , which had been disputed , was on Thursday confirmed . George IIouues , the man who was released from prison by Sir George Grey , on pretence of ill heullli , about a month ago , hna again got into custody on a charge of theft . Railways . The Railway system continues not merely to increase but to change . Of the 265 separate companies mentioned in " Bradsh-snv ' s Manual " fur 1848 , as having an independent existence , upwards of ninety have cither become absorbed in others , or been abandoned and broken up . Notwithstanding this uomewhut surprising alteration , the number of companies which now exist in tho three kingdoms amounts to no less than 243 . —Hradnhau ?' . •> ¦ Railway Manual , if a , 185 7 .

      The Theatrics . —Two novelties have been produced this week , to which we have only space barely to allude . One is a translation at the llayinarkct from i \ celebrated French piece , culled in its English dress Double-Faced People . Mr . Buckstone , Mr . Comptou , Mr . Chippendale , Miss Reynolds , and Mrs . E . Fitzwilliani , in tliis drama throw a various light on the one principle of hypocrisy . —Tho other new piece in at the Olympic , where Mr . Robaon excites laughter in tho complications of a farco culled A / SpJt-ndid Investment . Tine FnicNcn Journals have received orders front Government to be absolutely . silent on thu subject of tho approaching elections , for fear , we . suppose , of disturbing the purity of the auflrftKU .

      Tiik Nicw Juijoic . —Mr . Serjeant Channell will , wo are informed , succeed the late Sir E . II . Aldoraon ay u Uaron of tho Exchequer , —Morning Post .

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      There Is No Learned Man But Will Confess...

      There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened and his judgment sharpened . If , then it be profitable for him toread . why should it not , ' le ast , b e tolerable for nis adversary to write t—Milton

      The Laws Relating To The Pboperty Of Mar...

      THE LAWS RELATING TO THE PBOPERTY OF MARRIED WOMEN . { To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sik , —You have kindly promised me space in the columns of your " Open Council" to speak at length of the first petition on the subject of the alteration of the laws respecting- the property of married women , which was signed by three thousand petitioners of the female sex , and presented to the Houses of Lords and Commons by Lord Brougham and Sir Erskine Perry respectively . This petition , succeeded by many others from all parts of the kingdom , was Intended to include in some sort a summary of the arguments in favour of the change it supported , and was therefore drawn up at some length . It contained thirteen clauses , detailing most of the special injuries which the petitioners conceived to be inflicted by the saUl laws upon . society . Permit me to take these clauses one by one , and examine their statements . The first clause humbly showeth " That the manifold evils occasioned by the present law , by which the property and earnings of the wife are thrown into the absolute power of the husband , become daily more apparent . That the sufferings thereby occasioned extend over all classes of society . That it might once have been deemed for the middle and . upper ranks a comparatively theoretical question , but is so no longer , since married women are entering on every side the fields of literature and art , in order to increase the family income by such exertions . "

      ¦ the particular evils complained of are on the increase , both as regards fact and as regards publicity , admits of no question . We cannot take up a newspaper without seeing cases wherein the woman ' s earnings have been dissipated by the man ; while the story is sometimes reversed iu an advertisement , wherein the husband announces to the public that , after the date of such and such an insertion , he will not hold himself responsible for his wife ' s ^ debts . This partly arises from tlie vigilant surveillance which tlie press now exercises over society , dragging to light every minute detail of private life , so that that which was once hidden in secret is now proclaimed upon the house-tops ; but

      still more from the increased facilities of action which our modern civilization affords to woman . It is evident , upon the slightest thought , that until the physical forces of society are brought into order , the power , whether moral or intellectual , of the weaker sex must be doomed to comparative inaction . Not only is the woman , from her feeble frame , exposed to chances of death , but , as a mother , she bears during many years the responsibility of other lives than her own . She may possess the artistic eye of liosa Bonheur , or the fiery genius of Elizabeth Barrett Browning , but these are of no sort of avail so long as she must remain shut up in a feudal castle , only talcing exercise amidst the laurel bowers

      of "The Ladye ' s Walk , " and seeing the world , either panorama-wiso from the top of a tower , or in small ornamental sections of" the court and the chapel ; go long ns she must lead the life of a bird of bright plumage tenderly fed i * i n gilded cage , under pain of exposing herself to death , or worse than death . Women arc physically at tlie mercy of evil doers , and herein lies the gist of the whole argument for their . servitude or their enfranchisement . It is well to put this plainly , because it affords at onco excuse for the past and hope for the future , and destroys the force of that " semper et vbique" which decrees that women have been , are , and ever shall be in the position of minors before tho law .

      lint this very law which redresses the balance between tho strong and tho weak , now performs for woman that oilice of personal protector , in which she was once obliged to instal lather , brother , or husband . Not only is a woman fiure of instant redress , from the picking of her pocket up to major offences , but , what is of infinitely more importance to refined and sensitive natures , is the fact that the unseen pressure of tho law , aiding the increase of good manners , actually secures from impertinence all women who

      do not bring it upon tlieir own beads , and that , with tho exception of particularly lonely country districts , women are equally nude by d : iy and by dusk in tho . streets of London , in the precincts of tho country town , in the -village , in the i ' urn > , and on the king ' s highway . Women may travel all over England without the risk of any annoyance except such us they choose to create in their own imaginations ; they may enter into- business relations with men , married or unmarried , and thereby gain not leas

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 14, 1857, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_14021857/page/9/