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The following distinguished fashionables...
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: . ¦¦ ; ,, : —-v—; -., ¦¦¦ UNIFORM WEIG...
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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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Astjlhy's Amriiixinsatnio.—Astley's—Timo...
historical drama , " with great equestrian effects "'¦ ' * Garibaldi / ' For none could more deftly than th < adapter of " Still Waters Bun Deep , ' ? and " Th < Obntested Election , " have plastered out the mattei of three newspaper columns ( that might hare been ] entitled "A Sketch of Garibaldi" into four acts of moderate length and fair interest . Not the most practised of the dramatists , who are vulgarly supposed to concoct trans-pontine dramas and spectacles foi the modest guerdon of two pounds per act could more amiably than he have contrived Jiiatus for the Master of the Horse , the machinist , and the comic varlefc to fill ad libitum . And not the most respectable of respectabilitieshaving done so much good on the
, nil cdienum principle , and yet blushing to find it fame , could more modestly than Mr . Taylor hare ignored his own presence on the scene of his new triumph and declined the ovation that twice two thousand sable hands were anxious to award him . But—badinage apart—the re-opening of Astleys is , from old associations , ever a pleasant affair , and on Monday it was more pleasant than usual . The subject of Mr . Taylor ' s drama is a taking one—worth a heap of money by itself ; his treatment of it is Tayloresque , that is artistic ; the ancillary horsemanship is of course excellent "; while the scenery , and the tableaux especially , are far above the average . Our readers would not thank
us for a sketch of the plot ; but we may mention that the " Storm of the Roman Bastion , " the " Moonlight View of Rome , " " The Pine Wood on the Adriatic , " anil " The Combat on the Stelvio Pass , " are all spirited and successful , both as . regards pictorial effect and stage management . Mr . J . W . Ennis , an actor new to the Xondon boards , who enacted Garibaldi * has quality in him that will , with industry , make him a position . Of Miss Kate Carson , who played Anita ( wife of Garibaldi ) , we may fairly say the same . The comic element is abundantly supplied T > y Mr , George iBelmore , who , as JProcqpidy a nigger servant , is both elastic and genuinely : faeetious ; aiidla ^ t , not least , Mr . R . Phillips ,
a * John Beard , a traveller in the hide and tallow line , who quits peaceful commerce for the society of the partizani chief and the excitement of " potting " Austrians , makes himself , by his intelligent management of his part , an object of especial interest . He is , as' Mr . Taylor rip doubt intended , just the very wandering Englishman with whom we have more than once been made familiar on the stages of . the Boulevard ; an eueeutrio . laughing-stock ia piping times of peace and quiet , but endowed , amidst arduous affairs , with a self-possessed heroic spirit , the constant acknowledgment of which upon their stage is one of the few yet charming compliments paid to ova nationality by our fire-eating neighbours .
But the horses ; we had all but forgotten the horses , the real principals at Astley ' s , and . as indispensable in the " original historical drama of Garibaldi" as the Samlet in the late Mr . Shakespear ' s play of that name . The dear creatures—bless their soft faces , sleek white coats , pretty arched necks , and eager intelligent eyes—prance and curvat about as charmingly to us as they used some thirty years ago . What rugged scarps they climb ; . what a
fragile bridge they scamper across ; what a commotion they create , when they all but jump over the gaslights , and among the band in the " Stampedo of wild steeds from the Corral , ' and how imposingly they bear themselves in . the escalade of the St . Pancrazio breach , and ia the cavalry affair of the "Valtelline ! Those who would , know how with what eminent success these dumb artists get through their business must go and freshen up their memories as we did . Sionor Poi-ettis' JDegerdemain and Conjuring Entertainments , known as the »* Soirees Mysterieuses , " were commenced for a season on Monday . A fashionable company honoured tlie Italian Wizard , who , as WiJjalbft Jfrikell is the Prince of " Palmers'" ( i . e ., sljeight-of-hand professors ) , is the chief of the mechanical enchanters . Wo have not space for an enumeration of the tricks performed ,, which were elaborate in their way , and caused the greatest surprise and merriment .
1^$4 The Ima&Tir U^
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The Following Distinguished Fashionables...
The following distinguished fashionables have honoured the St . James ' s Theatre ' with their presence during the piiat week ;—Puke of Richmond and Duchess of Richmond , Marquis of Clanricardo , E & rJ of Cardigan , Xord Chesterfield , I < ord Tenterden , £ ord Ernest Bruce , Lord Conycrs , Earl of Shelburne , Lord \ y . Lennox , Lord Dunkellln , Lord H , JDennox , viscount Clifden , Baron Brunnow , Baronean Brunnow , BaronOB f OthschMd , Sir K . Otway , Sir H . De Vceux , J 3 | r CharJq . 8 , Taylor , Sir B , T . PhilUps , Sir G . 'Armytage , the Austrian AmbasiM ) Colonel XjTWhlV Colonel Poyle , Colonel A 4 ami ? , Colonel Cnrltont A ^ mirttL Collier , Major HfWW * Rp » j Ooloiiiol "Whit ;© ,, , Cftptain Baring , Mr . ^ IKto ^ SLW ?^* tyfyJPhw tvey , Lady JToce-WotJSESSvW * *? " i-. uo ' . ¦
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: . ¦¦ ; ,, : —-V—; -., ¦¦¦ Uniform Weig...
: . ¦¦ ; ,, : — -v—; -., ¦¦¦ UNIFORM WEIGHTS AND MEASURES . P HILOSOPHICAL and speculative men have long dreamed of one uniform system of weights and measures to be used by . all the people of the globe , just as they have dreamed of all men using one language . In the Millenium which is yet to come , we are all to speak with one tongue , measure with one yard , and weigh with one pound , and make all buying and selling with one coin . This is a very pretty philosophic dream , and who shall say that it is never to be realised ? All men do speak , do buy and sell , do use money , and why should they not use the same weights and
measures and the same language ? Almost everywhere the hand , the foot , the arm , the outstretched arms have served as the standards of linear measure . Everywhere space is identical in all its minute and in its largest portions : everywhere some portion of itj more or less definite , is adopted as a standard of measure : everywhere it is susceptible of the most precise and determinate definition : everywhere and at all times the use of a precise portion of it , or a just measure , is admitted to be right , and conducive , to welfare ; arid why , then , should not men everywhere adopt the same precise and determinate portion of space as the standard ?
So it is -with weights and monies . The interests , the senses of mankind are , everywhere and at all times , similarly affected by the external world , however much their ignorance and their passions may add to or detract from , its teaching : and it is not unreasonable to suppose that all may , in time , come to use one language and one system of weights and . measures . This implies that some one system and some one tongue are the best for all ; and to find out this best system as to weights and measures , and promote the use of it , is the object of the International . Association , which last week met in Bradford .
At present mankind not . only use different weights , measures , and monies , as . they live under different Governments , but-, in many instances , they use different measures , weights , iiud monies under the same Governments . In one market of England they measure corn by the bushel , in another by the lb . or centner . In one . market a stone is 14 lbs ., in another a different number . Even pur monies are not uniform throughout , though we have one standard , for by law we establish or permit one species ¦ of paper money in England and a different species in Scotland and
Ireland . The Government , which pretends to make us all alike , cannot even compel the exclusive use of one instrument of exchange . To introduce , a uniform system of weights and measures into every part of the empire , first ascertaining the b . est system , has been , the object of two or three Parliamentary and . Government investigations ; while the object of the International Association is to make such a best system common to all nations . In general the Association has adopted , unreservedly , the decimal systems , ' and hopes to attain its object by making it complete and
universal . The public too , so far as it has taken an active interest in the matter , at least all that part of it which claims to be scientific and requires improvement , goes with the Association , and lias long demanded a reform in weights , measures , and monies on the decnnal principle . By coining florins—or the tenth part of a pound-7-the Government conceded the principle , and not many months ago tho decimal principle seemed likely to overflow the land . Urged by its advocates , the Government appointed a commission , of which Lord Overstono find LjQP ( 1 ] VToTlt , f » n . Oflfiwm » Oi mAmlinra fn inniiioninfn ^ . —i ~ , " «¦ " ¦ 11
~ -r J 0 Kj ""^¦ ~(*™^* * ' <•• » w « "w' % *»*« w , vw A «» WIAW IMWV the subject and into the means , it was understood , of introducing tho decimal system into use . There Was a general belief that its superiority was clearly ^ established , and that the commission would ascertain the best means of carrying it into ellbct . Some two months ago tho Commission made a report , and its conclusion that " a decimal coinage cannot bcregarded as a well assured or demonstrated improvement on our present coinage ? but must bo considered of ver , y doubtful value , accompanied beyond all question by many serious transaotional difficulties . Tho Government , therefore , 19 not likely to carry out tho deoiinal system , and the conclusion , understood to be chiefly due to Lord Overstone , has lowered
the noble ex-banker very much in the estimation of the decimal party . What can be done , or what will be dotie , is now' very difficult to know ; but it is quite certain that our complicated and confused system must be gradually or otherwise amended ; and equally certain that there must continue to be an approximation amongst all people to the use . of one best , and therefore common , system . . The International Association , according to M . Chevalier who came over from Paris on purposeto preside at the meeting at Bradford , is entirely agreed that for " each sort of measure , the
subdivisions and the multiples shall be ia decimal relation , with each other and with regard to the unity ; that the different sorts of measures- —those of length , superficies , volume , capacity , weight , and value- —shall have a common element , by which they all approach each other , and * from which they all derive by decimal relation . " The foundation of such a system is to be " the dimensions of the planet we inhabit , " or a part of these dimensions . But all the living things of this planet are naturally divisible into halves and quarters , and so it happens that the multiples of halves and quarters , or the duodecimal system now established , amongst us is for naany purposes better than the
decimal system / If we derive the latter from our fingei'S , and therefore bring it into use almost everywhere , and derive the former from two sides , two legs , two feet , two wings , & c . & c , and also bring it into use almost everywhere . Nature supplies a basis for both systems . The great problem is to limit each system to its respective uses , and connect one with the other . Neither , exclusively , will serve all the . purposes of business in the best manner , and all the inquiries hitherto , made are only preliminary steps towards solving this problem . Till it be solved all hasty public alterations are to be deprecated : and we must wait in this , as in other cases , for complete knowledge , before we can act well .
There is the less occasion for public action , because it is in the power of every one who chooses to do as the Bank of England , the actuary of the National Debt , many insurance offices , and many merchants do , and employ thq decimal system in all his own concerns , and translate the results into the other system when he has to deal with those who use it . All arithmetical and other teachers can adopt the decimal system in teaching , only explaining the means of translating the results . So it will gradually become familiar in practice , and prepare the way for an alteration in the law . Our pence reckoning , that in which the multitude is
is most interested , with all its consequences , on the duodecimal system * our shilling and pound reckonings are on the decimal system , and we do not see why the multitude should have an alteration forced on them in which they are comparatively little interested . So far as larger sums and international transactions are concerned , the Government has already , as we have stated , recognised the decimal system in coining the florin and a ten-shilling piece , and as it undertakes to regulate the coinage , it may be justly required to make its gold coinage conform to the debimal system . At present , in consequence of the increase of is
our commerce , the English pound , or sovereign , acquiring an almost universal circulation . A law makes it alone the standard in England , but another law will not allow it to be used in India . Even these pray for it , and it , is highly probable that it will become the money of India , as it is of Australia . Now the very essence p f a good coinage is , that it should be equal multiples and divisions of some definite weight . A sovereign is pretty nearly the fourth part of an ounce , and were it exactly tho fourth part of an ounoo of pure gold , properly alloyed , it would be a reasonable coin . It contains , however 118-001 grams 01 fi . % .. ~~ 11 ' „ .., ! t cto . nftA ^ . nnSnn ^ fatonrlin'rl irnlfl . SO
, that j ( t . is 8 * 99 . 9 grains loss than one guarter ot an ounce of pure gold , and 3-274 grams moro than one quarter of an ounce of standard gold . Though we are accustomed to it , there can be » o doubt that it is about as incongruous a oom as ever was kept in circulation in a civilised , country . It is a chance and fraud-begotten coin , derived front successive reductions ill tho pound of silver by cheating sovereigns . It is neither o duodecimal nor a decimal part of any usually known quantity . It is an arbitrary unit . It gives tho community endless trouble to ascertain the bullion relations of the coin—which determine its
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Oct. 22, 1859, page 20, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_22101859/page/20/
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