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Leader (1850-1860), 15th May 1852, Edition Country of 2, Page 9

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      Blen31y Mayhew And The Silk Weavers. Ovr...

      _ , i aia told thafe pauperism hto d # r * uK 5 * Mh » t fp wii decreased . Idenylt . I take the la ? fc ten years , ^ Tiiayth ^ SSe free trWcb » mei ^ ^ « in ? wWbeen greater than it waa bofoie . I will * * S £ 23 ¦ to STb & w ^ , - for I have the facts in my n 0 wf and I will read / you the tables . Xu 1811 , the p 0 * S of ^ riminals or crimes to every 10 , 000 of the n ^ weVe aaT ^ 1812 it rose to 6 ; in 1813 ifewas 6 ; ^ V itwentoii gradually up to 1820 , when it was 12 ; ^ MlilT ** lO ^ tt 1836 ; it Was 13 in every 10 , 000 ; in VftSLttwaTlA ; in 1840 , it was 17 ; in 1841 , it was 17 ; * 1842 ttwa * i 9 ; ia 1843 , it was 18 ; in 1844 , itwas 16 ; - T 646 fc was 14 in 1846 , it was 14 ; in 1847 , it was 16 ; m } fS' it was 17 : then it fell to 12 ; last year it was 13 m ' So that you see , if I take the other years , though ? lLv vears of protection and scarcity , in 1838 they were 30 ,

      nA in 1850 , 15 . But although crime in the last two years i ~ w decreased , and though pauperism has decreased , still flkpre are outlets for crime and pauperism which are not understoodby the generality of the community , 1 happened rrVp . in the country a little time back , and it astonished me to find in a town with a population of 20 , 800 , that no less than 11000 vagabonds passed through the town ia thirteen weeks ' We have large classes- known inthe metropolis as the people of the streets . I called them , street people ! what , was now the effect of free-trade upon them ? I

      know that the last year was the worst they Had ever TiaBsed that there was greater misery among them . This isthe ' outlet from the prison ; , and the safety-valve from the poor-house ; because , if men do not find employment fronf their trade , they go to the workhouse ; and what do the ffuatdians do ? They give these persons the means to trade in the street , in-order to keep them out of flle Workhouse . To the inquiry , have the street traders increased since free trade was adopted ; they say , we do not know from whence the numbers come yea * by year . You are told that it is much better that you should take your goods from the foreigner ; and that he will take your goods in return . But if you-employ the people a * home , they will

      do something . He consumes the taxed articles , and : con- ; tributes his quota to the country ; but does the foreigner do this The foreigner contributes not one sixpence . No , he contributes not one farthing , Let usjjut a sup ? posed case for free-trade . Suppose that a Free-trader went to the Duke of Bedford ; the proprietor of Coventgarden , and he was satisfied that it was- unjust to impose a tax upon fruitr ^ that the che aper vegetables and fruit were , the greater blessing to the people ; that * therefore no tolls should be imposed ; ancC suppose the Duke of Bedford consented to this , doctrine , and suppose he said , " I think it right that no tolla ^ shall be levied on this market ; " i _ But suppose this arrangement

      carried out , what would the people say who keep shops , and who pay high rates for their shops ? Would they not find themselves undersold by , those who paid no tolls ? Would they not go to the Duke of Bedford , and say , "I must remove , or you . must cut down your rental , -or .-it will be impossible to compete with others who have not these rents to pay ? ' Now , every person ; who is an occupier pays 61 . 10 s . towards the expenses of the state . The general taxation of the country amounts , at least , to 70 , 000 , 0002 . The sumraised by the revenue is 52 , 500 , 000 ? . This is the general taxation , in the shape of customs ^ excise , property and income tax , stamps , and assessed taxes : but this is not all—rthere is the local taxation ,

      These local imposts amount , to 15 , 000 , 000 ? ., including county rates , poor rates , sewer rates , church rates , and tolls collected on market days . Then come the Church benefices , which you must support . You now get 52 , 500 , 000 ? . and 14 , 500 , 000 ? ., and you want but 3 , 000 , 000 ? ., even say the Church costs no more—a large amount goes into the hands of laymen . There are 70 , 000 , 000 ? . to be paid by the people . There are , at the outsid e , taking England , Ireland , and Scotland , of occupying persons , they being the only class who can pay taxation , 10 , 000 , 000 . Therefore if you divide 70 , 000 , 000 ? . of taxation by the population , it leaves every occupying man with 7 ? . per annum , and how , then , is it possible for us to compete with the artisans abroad ? ( Cheers . )

      ^ 461

      ^ 461

      Gold Gathering And Wool-Gatheringthe Unp...

      GOLD GATHERING AND WOOL-GATHERINGThe unprecedented state of Victoria ( late Port Philip ) in the Australian gold region continues to elicit bursts of comment from the journals and the public . Wo must have emigrants if you want any wool supplies is tho cry from that distressed part of the world whero gold gathering has superseded wool-gathoring . The yield of gold is represented at 20 , 000 ounces a week , and upwards of 1 , 000 , OOOJ . sterling has , found its way intothebanks , not less than 660 , 000 ? . reaching England . Tho following letters from tho Times may be taken in connexion with a resolution printed below , and passed at a meeting of persons engaged in tho woollen and worsted trades on Wednesday at Leeds , as illustrative of the grievance and tho remedy . " Melbourne , Jan . 27 , Tho South . Australians are crowding hero in such nuraoora that Aflolaido bida fair soon to bo a deserted city . Tho of rt 0 ° ^ K from ifc ^ , frora a postilonco . The captain wV t ""^ assures mo tho pcoplo woro on tho quay wnon ho was having , holding their hands out , containing " » oir passage-inonoy j offering to put Up with any accommodation if ho would but bring thorn . Our . town is now an ? J mnod that tho now comers are obliged to camp out ; Y ° " * . counting-houso window I can soe , across tho iiT ? rrft iT am > ' ent 8 , horses , carts , and people , ftll intent 3 tho ! % jBings . Launcoston , Hobart Town , Sydney , '™ i . evon OnTifornia , ono and all , are pouring tlioir gold-BoekerB , n dayl , yday . * over ran ff 08 about 00 * . this week . Wool firmer than " What will tho iNuggofcs grow to P Tho ono I sent ; you ,

      weighing If lb ., was thought well of till the 51 b . lump threw it into the shade ; and now the latter in its turn has to give place to a magnificent specimen which arrived in town yesterday morning , as big as a xnan ' s foot , and weighing 271 b . some odd ounces , A publican bought it at 80 a . per ounce . "

      "Port Philip, Jan. 14. " I Observe That ...

      " Port Philip , Jan . 14 . " I observe that the price of tallow is very fluctuating in London : . You . will have a very deficient supply from this colony henceforth . The gold-digging mania is still raging : This colony is rapidly chaining the adult population from all the surrounding colonies , but they all go off at once to the diggings . If our colonial wopl is of any value or profit to England , you must send us out immediately a large amount of emigration . " The resolution was as follows : —

      " That a very large proportion of the wool in which the industry of the West Biding is employed is derived from the several Australian colonies ; that the supply will inevitably be very seriously affected in consequence of the large transfer of labour from sheep-farming to gold-getting , unless effectual measures can be taken in this country to render the surplus labour available to meet the probable deficiency . "

      A very influential deputation was appointed , including persons in Leeds , Bradford , Huddersfield , Halifax , Keighley , Dewsbury , and Rochdale , to go to London and have an interview with the Colonial Secretary , and * the two members for the West Riding , and the members for the boroughs in the said riding are to be requested to accompany the deputation . The following is au extract from a letter dated Sydney , ! January 27 : —" The Yankees will soon get masteraof this market if- we do not get a better line of ships or- steam-commttnicatiou between here and

      England . The first clipper-ship from , the United States arrived here last week . She left Boston five days after the ; news ; of our discovery was known , and made the passage here in 95 days i bringing news from England up to the 4 th of October , whilst by the direct way we have no Later dates than the 18 th of September . A portion of- her cargo consisted of ' wooden buckets ' fpr the miners . I think we shall soon be sufficiently supplied with this article direct from America . Please , therefore , not to send us any buokets of this description . " -

      The Ice-Bound Shcips. Mb. Vincent Pappal...

      THE ICE-BOUND SHCIPS . Mb . Vincent Pappalabde , Consul , & c , at Portsmouth , forwarded to the Times , of Monday , the following interesting intelligence of the ships reported to have been seen by the captain and crew of the Renovation , as detailed in the examination of Captaan Coward , before the Venetian authorities on the 4 th inst . The questions put to Captain Coward and answered by him , were as follows : " 1 . On-what date did you see two vessels on an iceberg floating Avith the current or wind?—On the 17 th of April ,

      1851 . . . " 2 . At what time did you see the two ship , and in what latitude and longifude P—I do not remember the hour , but it was in latitude 45 50 N ., longitude 52 W ., by account , . " 3 . Of what rig were the two ships ; what spars and sails , set , and the colour of tho masts and spars P—They were full . rigged ships . I do not remember what spars they had . Could not distinguish tho colour of their masts , being covered with ice . " 4 . How far were they from you when you passed them , and did you see any one on board P—About five or six miles . I did not see any one . think and f

      " 5 . Of what tonnage do you they were , o what colour were the hulls ?—I should say ono was about 600 or 700 tons , tho othor much smaller , say about 850 , or so , but they woro so covered with ico it was almost impossible to guess their size . " 6 . Did they seem anything hko whalers , or had they any appearance of tho JSrebus and Terror f —Thoy seemed like whalers . I know nothing of tho appearance of tho JSrebus and Terror . " 7 . Did you remember at tho time that tho British Government and Lady Franklin offered a heavy sum of money to tho first person that could givo any intelligence about tho missing ships JSrebus and Terror , or any of their crew p _ l did not know of tho circumstanco , or if I did I

      had forgotten it . . . " 8 . How was tho weather when you saw tho said snips , and of what size was tho icoborg on which thoy woro floating , or rather wrecked P—Tho weather was oloar . Tho iceberg I should suppose to bo about ono milo and a half or two milos . " 9 . Why did you not approach nearer tho two shins , or spud a boat as noar as possible , if it was practicable P—It was blowing fresh , and tho ship was surrounded with iceborffs , andi : wanted to cot away from them whist tho

      weather was cloar ; and , also , I was very unwoU , ana coma not stay any length of timo on dock . " 10 . To what direction wore tho icebergs floating , and how was tho wind at tho timo P—Thoy seemed to bo sotting to tho S . E . ; the wind was about N . E . " 11 . Who has soon tho two Hhips bosidos yoursoli , irom those on board tho Renovation P—Tho ohiof mato , a passenger of tho name of Lynch , and , I boliovo , all tho crow . " 12 . Does tho log-book of the Renovation alludo to tlnfl circumstance , and whoro is that logbook nowP—The logbook does-not allude . to . the circumstance , and it is mow in nay possession ,.

      " 13 . Who kept the logbook at the time ? - —Mr . Robert Simpson , chief mate . " 14 . Do you think the two vessels in question were seen by any other ship sailing in the same track as you did ? —I really cannot say ; but we never saw any vessels on the passage until we were in the Gulf of St . Lawrance . " 15 . In fine , will you relate anything else you ma ; y know on this subject , to alleviate the anxiety of the public in general ?—I have nothing more to say , except , at . , . thetime we saw them , I thought they were wrecked Greenlandmen , and , if there had been any one alive on board , we should have seen them with the glass , and of course acted differently , " Edwabd Cowabd , " Master of the Menovation . " Venice , May 4 , 1852 . " A true copy of the original , " V . Pappai-abde .

      " Portsmouth , May 10 . " Copies of the above have been forwarded by Mr . Pappalarde to the Admiralty , Port-Admiral , and his diplomatic principals in town .

      Ninety-Two Lives Lost In Coal Mines Inte...

      NINETY-TWO LIVES LOST IN COAL MINES Intelligence reached Bristol on Tuesday of a terrific coal-pit accident which occurred on Monday in the Aberdare valley , Glamorganshire , South Wales , and bv which no fewer than sixty-four lives have been sacrificed . This valley is completely studded with coalpits , and the colliery in which this dreadful accident happened is known as the Duffryn Pit , Cwm Bach , near Aberdare . It is the property of Mr . Thomas Powell , of the Gaer , one of the largest coal owners in the United Kingdom . It seems that at the time the accident occurred there were 92 men at work in the pit . and everything proceeded in its accustomed order and regularity , when suddenly a tremendous explosion Was heard by those surrounding the mouth of the pit , and the utmust consternation and alarm was at once excited The dreadful news spread throughout the neighbourhood with the utmost celerity , and the works were speedily surronnded by several hundred people , consisting of the immediate relatives and friends of the miners who were at work at the time in the pit . Inquiries were at once instituted , and after the lapse of some time a communication was effected with the survivors , when it appeared that a tremendous explosion of fire-damp had taken place , but which fortunately did not extend to the whole of the works in . the mine , otherwise all the 92 men in the pit must have lost their lives . Although the sacrifice of life in this melancholy instance has been enormeus , it was at first feared that 87 had perished , as after a lengthened period only five men were extricated from the pit . After some

      time , however , more men were drawn out , and it was finally ascertained that the deaths amounted in number to 64 . Neither the amount of damage done to the works nor the precise cause of the accident has as yet been ascertained , but the cause is attributed to carelessness on the part of some one or other ef the men , as they were all p roperly supplied with Davy lamps . It is well known that in these Welsh collieries the men are often extremely foolhardy , long habit has rendered them perfectly regardless of risk , and they frequently open their lamps either for tho sake of lighting their pipes or other purposes . This is supposed to have been the case in this instance , and of course the flame , coming in contact with the stream of firo-damp , would instantaneously cause tho explosion . But it is not onl y fire-damp which destroys fife in collieries ; water is not less destructive . Tho scene of the next

      catastrophe whieh we have to record is at the Gwendraeth Colliery , distant three miles and a-half from Llanon village , and a mile from Pembrey , in the upper part of tho Gwondraeth Vale . On Monday ovening tho colliers , to the number of about 28 , were at work , and everything appeared to go on as usual , when , about 10 o ' clock at night , while busily engaged at their work , the water suddenly broke in upon the colliers . The irruption appears to have been so sudden , that tho poor fellows had no time to oscapo . Tho pit was almost instantonoously filled , and tho men all drowned , with the exception of one man , who availed himsolf of tho aid of tho machinery in operatio n to effect his oscapo . Many of tho mon have left largo families bohind them unprovided for . Adding these 92 to tho 22 killed at Durham , and the 10 noar Wigan , wo have 122 lives lost by fire-damp within a fortnight !

      Miscellaneous. Her Majesty Will Hold A P...

      MISCELLANEOUS . Her Majesty will hold a privy Council this day , at Buckingham Palace , The Queen ' s birthday was kept on Thursday . The houses of tho royal tradesmen , and the club houses of tho West End , wore brilliant with gas-lights . There was , of course , a drawing-room at St . Jomoa ' s , and Stato banquets given by Ministers .

      Sir Fitzroy Kqlly Has Fulfilled His Prom...

      Sir Fitzroy Kqlly has fulfilled his promiso to become a landed proprietor of Suffolk by purchasing tho Chauntry estate near Ipswich . Political gossip , speaking through tho medium of tho Belfast News Letter , says— " Wo havo boon informed , on tho boat authority , that Lord Glongall is about to bo appointed to tho Govornor-Gonoralship of India , vico Lord Dalhousio . " The Right Hon . David Boylo , of Showalton , has resigned tho conjoint offices of Lord Justice Goneral of Scotland and Lord President of tho Court of Session , which hi lias held einco the retirement of tho late Right Hon . Charles Hope , of Granton , in 1841 .

      Tho JSooetor Gazette asserts that tho Earl of Mount Edgooumbo has addressed a letter to tho Conservatives and agriculturists , urging them to " support Lord Derby , " Ono ot his reasons is , that tho choice of governments " doq » not now rest between Lord Derby and tho Whiga , but between , him and Lord John RuflgeJ ) , united with , Mr , Cobden and the ultrturadicftla . "

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), May 15, 1852, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_15051852/page/9/