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Leader (1850-1860), 15th March 1851, Edition Country of 2, Page 20

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      Existence Of A Deity. London, March 9, 1...

      You hare logically admitted that it is «© t possible to prove the existence of a God-then therefore the lore of that which can neither be proved nor defined . You are thankful for its consciousness ; conscious ot what r Your own existence and that of the universe ; beyond this all is dark , an unfathomable mystery . You have much mistaken the character of those who entertain these views , when you suppose that it is " hurtful to their happiness , expunging the highest motives of doing good " ; on the contrary , it is great relie f and grateful to their moral and mental feelings , inspiring them with moral courage , and the highest principles of doing good . To dogmatize is to maintain an exclusive and positive op inion in opposition to established truth . To assert broad and unanswerable truths have always called forth remarks—similar to those of your correspondent W . D . S . It is always more easy to repudiate than to refute . I maintain that the prevailing idea of God is not only low and debasing , but derogatory to the supreme power of omnipotence . The negation I have applied will be understood only to refer to the gods propounded by the different religions existing in the world . The hypothesis of a pervading spirit , coeternal with the universe , remains unshaken . With much respect and admiration , I am , Sir , yours truly , H . B .

      256 «T« %T**T V. [Satphpay,

      256 « t « % t ** t V . [ Satphpay ,

      Harriet Martineau And H. G. Atkinson. Lo...

      HARRIET MARTINEAU AND H . G . ATKINSON . London , March 10 , 1851 . Sip ., —In treating of the recent work by Miss Martineau and Mr . Atkinson you have omitted to advert to a circumstance of no small social importance . By the law of England no person ( except Quakers , and the members of one or two other sects named in a statute of exceptions ) can be admitted to bear evidence in a court ot law or equity , except on taking an oath acknowledging the existence of a God and of a future state of reward and punishment . By publishing their disbelief in a God and in a future

      state , these two individuals have incapacitated themselves from giving evidence . A set of burglars may , therefore , with perfect safety , rob Miss Martineau ' s cottage before her eyes , and she may know them all by name and surname , and be able to identify them ; but her testimony cannot convict them . Unless other evidence could be procured , they would be perfectly safe . Or a highway robbery may be committed in broad daylight on any of her Majesty ' s subjects , in presence of Miss Martineau and Mr . Atkinson , and , if there were no other evidence , the robber could not be convicted .

      In repeated sessions a bill has been introduced into Parliament * x > repeal this barbarous and dangerous law , and to accept of an affirmation from every person who declined , on grounds of conscience , to take an oath ; the reason for declining to be declared and registered in a County-court six months before the benefit of the exemption could be claimed ; but the bill has constantly been defeated by the spirit of bigotry which pervades certain members of both HouBes of Parliament . —I am , & c , No Disciplb of Miss Martineau .

      Macready's Farewell. March 6, 1851. Sir,...

      MACREADY'S FAREWELL . March 6 , 1851 . Sir , — We may speak well of the dead , now that the player has fretted his hour on the stage , and his brief candle is out . I do not think , justice has been rendered to Macready , nor did he do himself justice in his last dying speech and confession . The peculiar merit of Macready has been that , in his own person , he brought out more new plays that have lived than any other contemporary tragedian . Virginitis , & c . & c . ; and the triumphs of Sheridan Knowles owed their origin , their subsequent success and stability on the stage to Mr . Macready . The literature of Walter Scott , which stamped an era in novel rending , was wanting to the stage , till Macready made an enduring

      character in Rob Roy . The next great novelist ot our aee , Bulwer , to give proper due to the actor , oweB his success as a dramatist to Macready in the Lady of Lyons . But , above all , the poet who coveted the applause of the theatre , and did not live to r « - reivo the incense of its admiration , in his death found a representative on the stage in Macready . The Werner of Byron in admitted to bo tlie greatest creation of Macready . The drumatic critic and the lawyer descended on the stage when Macready was there to impersonate his poetry , as a great orator and future statesman had done before him , when the youthful Macready had his bharo in giving a passing vitality to Shell ' s tragedies .

      I was surprised that whilst ono of the above nut before him in the stalls , and living and present was the representative of those dead or absent , Mucready did not pay tribute to authorship , and in ho doing claim his own merit . Ilis personation of Shakspeare ' s charactoiH were ulwaya open to comparisons between himself and others in the same line . It is the time of forgiveness of injuries when ¦ trotchod on one ' s own deathbed and bidding farewell to the world . He might hare gracefully avoided

      notice of rival managers and players , who had committed sins against the drama , the stage , and the theatre , which he had omitted ; whilst he might have acquitted himself of an obligation in the mention ot those who had seconded and followed him in the promotion of the same objects . It is too much to claim a reputation , on the ground of purifying the audience , for illustrating Shakspeare , when it is an open question whether the poet does not lose by scenic embellishments , and thereby yield the palm to melodramatic exhibitions . But , in as far as ne thought he was assisted in his intention by painting to the eye instead of subjecting action to the sight , and the utterance of poetry to the imagination and the feelings , the credit should have been in part assigned to Stansfield , at the head of artists who shared the stage with him , and the authors ot plays .

      The point of adherence to the text of Shakspeare may be contested as not carried out by Macready , and it was a bold prophecy to make , that henceforward correct editions of his plays would be the rule on the stage It may be said that Shakspeare is not more immutable than other poets ; and two centuries must produce changes in manners and in understanding the language of the past . Shakspeare has his imperfections to balance his extraordinary perfections . It is

      with him , indeed , as with other men , else he would be a god ; and as he himself says , somewhere , a man iru > ht be proud of his virtues , if he were not made humble by his faults . We should wish to have observed a parting reminiscence to his fellow-labourers , the players . He addressed the audience before him , and spoke of himself relatively to them ; but he left unnoticed behind him his brother actors and sister actresses , who worked with him and showed to the last

      regard for him . Bulwer ' s speech at the dinner , as coining from an author , gave to the authors what we think would have better come in the first instance from Macready . Macready recollected one actor and manager , whom he did not mention by name , but whom , we suppose to be Phelps . I am , Sir , yours respectfully , W . J . 33 .

      The Wood Pavement. March 3, 1851. Sir,—A...

      THE WOOD PAVEMENT . March 3 , 1851 . Sir , —An advertisement appeared in your paper , headed The Shittah Wood Pavement , emanating from MessTS . Cole and Scott , solicitors , 12 , Furnival ' s-inn , in which allusion is made to a " very telling letter " in reference to the evils of the wood pavement , " by Mr . Gallaway , of No . 7 , John-street , New-road , and published in the Morning Advertiser , of the 21 st December , 1850 , and which ought to be reprinted in every newspaper hearty in the cause . " Now a 3 I feel fully persuaded that the subject is one of considerable importance , and that independent of the facts therein recorded , my recommendations and suggestions are perfectly practicable , for the sake of humanity , and with the view of endeavouring to mitigate the sufferings and toil of the noble horse—man ' s indispensable and faithful helpmate , I will , with your kind permission , transcribe it again into your valuable pages : —

      " ACCIDENTS ON THE WOOD PAVEMENT . " Yesterday opening with a sharpish frost , Oxfordstreet presented a sad appearance , the result of this dangerous kind of roadway , from eight in the morning till eleven , the space between Wells street and Itegent'scircus was literally stopped with omnibuses , cabs , and carts , the horses drawing which had slipped down . In respect of one or two omnibuses in particular , taking some time to get the poor animals up , all the passengers took themselves away , of course to the manifest loss of their fares to the proprietors . The same thing was observed with some of the cabs . At . Blenheim-steps there were three carts down at one time , one laden with mould , one with timber , and one a brewer ' s dray ; in the

      two latter instances the shafts were broken , besides doing other damage to the vehicles and harness . Now in the case of the omnibuses and cabs losing their fares , together with the injury occasioned generally to the vehicles , more or less , who ia to bear the loss , the innocent or the guilty parties ? What is to prevent all parties combining to bring an action against , the authorities of the parish or parishes wherein these accidents occurred , for laying down a dangerous pavement in a public highway ? It was truly painful to witness the poor horses plunging and repeatedly falling , whilst endeavouring to regain their footing . And here again is another loss that might reasonably be charged to the account of the . notable ventrien , who , in the plenitude of their wisdom , have thought proper to inflict the metropolis with so huge a nuisance . The . horse , for instance which

      It ' ft its master s stable in the morning in health and in value ( uay £ 50 ) brought home at night lame and deteriorated to the turn- of £ 10 , if not . forthwith speedily destined for the knackcr ' ti yard . The poor creatures , ever doomed to perpetual toil , have needless cruelty heaped upon them . What itf the Society for the Suppression of Cruelty to Animals about ? Could that body not make out u cuac against thettc petty Parliaments ? It is true ; , the . veBtrii h may nay , they acted to the best of their judgment , and plead that they have contract * d with the wood companies , and cannot , consequently , lu-lp themselves for ut least some yeura to come . Now , suppoHC an action were sustained against a given parish for Iokb occasioned through these wood pavements , would not auch vcBtrieu have a good cause against , the company ? If they huye contracted , from , a laudable motive , for an inv

      proved system of paving , bat which , upon trial , is proved to be detrimental to the interest and life of the public , can it te possible that the law would compel them to abide by the terms of such contract ? If , in fact , themselves convicted by a court of law for having occasioned loss and injury to the public , can they be held , through a previous engagement , to continue the nuisance ? " The space in which these accidents occurred , which were more than twenty in number , was not much above 40 . 0 yards . The weather changed about eleven o ' clock . Now , what may have taken place in the miles of wood pavement which stretch through the town may never be ascertained , and to what an extent they might have been increased , had the weather maintained its severity throughout the day , it is impossible to calculate . It was , however , distressing to witness the ' fear and trembling ' with which the noble beasts touched the dreaded roadway ,

      whilst it was gratifying in the extreme to witness the discretion , as well as humanity , of some carmen , who drove their teams into the by stone-paved streets to avoid the fearful death entailing , hateful wooden roadway . " Now , not only does the " advertisement above alluded to , as well as some others that appeared in the various newspapers during the week , fully bear out the purport ot my letter , but there was a still more remarkable coincidence of opinion displayed in the proceedings of the Saint Marylebone Vestry , last Saturday , as recorded in the Observer , and Morning Advertiser of Monday ; for there , not only does Mr .

      Hume , M . P ., state that "he has been denied the pleasure of horse riding in his own parish" since the wood pavement came up ( would that it were all up !); and Mr . Field , the eminent veterinary surgeon , declared that , although at first he approved of it , he has long since changed his opinion ; " that lie had , since it has been in use , had no less than sixty valuable horses brought to his establishment in consequence ;"—but Sir Peter Laurie and Mr . Greaves , Q . C ., both express it to be their opinion that the vestry are liable to make good the losses sustained thereby .

      As so much honourable notice has been taken of my humble letter , which was the spontaneous act of a pure feeling of humanity , regardless of anj r interest it might affect , I will venture to suggest that , as the accidents that occurred on the said 20 th of December last , to every description of vehicle , to many ladies and gentlemen , as well as servants , cannot but be remembered , that they would be pleased to forward me an account of the same , with the view of ascertaining whether or not recompense cannot be obtainedat all events the list , for it would assuredly be a long and sad one , would go a great way towards effecting the abolition of the wood pavement nuisance . Who knows , if these wholesale experiments upon the life , limbs , and property of the public are not checked in this crystal age , but we may next hear of crystal blocks . for London ' s streets . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , Wilxiam Gallaway .

      Health Of London During The Week. (From ...

      HEALTH OF LONDON DURING THE WEEK . ( From the Reg istrar-General's Report . ) The return for the week ending last Saturday exhibits an unfavourable state of health amongst the population of the metropolitan districts . It was formerly shown that the mortality rose in the third week of February to 1213 deaths , and slightly declined in the subsequent week , when the number was 1148 ; but it is found that the deaths registered last week amount to 1247 . Taking the ten corresponding weeks of 1841-50 for comparison , no exanciple occurs in the series of so great a mortality ; the highest return ( in the tenth week of 1816 ) having been 1141 , whilst the average did not 1001 deaths . Thin average , with a correction for the assumed rate of increase of population , is 1092 ; on which the 1247 deaths returned for last week show an excess of 155 . Smallpox

      and measles are now more fatal than usual . With reference to 26 cases , in which smallpox proved fatal , it ia recorded only in three—those of females aged respectively 7 months , 12 years , and 24 years—that vaccination had been performed at some previous time . On the 2 nd of March , at 2 , lleiningford terrace , Islington , a gentle man died of bronchitis and natural decay , who is Btateil to have arrived at the extraordinary age of 10 ( 5 yeaTS , and to have enjoyed possession of his taculties till the last . The births of 1580 children ( of whom 796 were boys and 785 girls ) were registered in the week . The average of six corresponding weeks in 1845 50 wan 1412 . Ten Weeks Week of 18 JJ-00 . of l « T ) l . Zymotic . I ) ineusen l » 07 ~ Drojmy , Cmicer , and other dineantin of uuciMtalu or variable ncut .- .. .- ¦ '»•'>• ' * , ' Tubercular IMhcuhch 1 HH ~ DlHriiHCH of tin ) Itrain , Spinul Marrow , r Ni > rv «! K . Riul Hdiihob .. . .- .- l'M > 'i .... J ^ j ! DisciiHCH of tlin II curt and IHcxhI-vohbi-Ih .. ' M'J .... '" l > irtia » in of Uu- I , tiii | ffc mid of tho other () r-( fiuiH ol ItopplruUoii .. .. .. J 924 .... •'" Dibisuhch of the Stomach , Liver , ami other OrgiuiH of DiRi-utiou -. .. -. « > 76 - "j . DifiiimoK of th « Kidneys , Sec . .. .. « . IIJ .... 7 Childbirth , iUhouhou of the UturiiH , & o . .. 1 lii .... "' Rll < lIlllUl lllll ] , lliHI'RHOHof till ) liollliH , JoilltH , 0 & t : < W H DiHiHmu * of the ftkin , ( Ji : llulur TitiHUi ; , & n . .. 1-5 .. *• . Malfoi illation h 30 ' » rrrmuturu ISirtli mid Debility .. .. 2 J 2 O , Atrophy 142 J .... a " Aff < ' . " . ' « VJ ; i f > Hudiiou i : tu .... J * Violence , I ' rivutioii , Cold , mul Iiitemperuuoo 27- ! .... Total ( Including unspecified cnuso *) a . 10010 1 " 4 <*

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), March 15, 1851, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15031851/page/20/