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jAyTTABY 31,1857,3 THE LEA DBS,.. 99 -- ...
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PUBLIC MEETINGS. MK. MIAT.X, AND HIS CON...
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BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND niSTITUXE. A soir...
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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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Wo Have Received Tho Following- Letter O...
selves— -mostly young men of stunted growth , with long , shallow , parallelogram-shaped bodies , on short spare legs , curved outwards from the knee down , except when they resembled the hind-legs of a cow . Poor fellows the restless , suspicious eye , peering out at the corner , the bollow cheeks , and the lantern jaw , spoke of a hungry childhood , and of a manhood alternating between want and wild debauchery , with black care in the form of a policeman dogging their steps , and ever dancing before their mind's eye . Some few wore an extremely sinister and repulsive expression , but in general the external indications denoted only sensuality with deficient conscientiousness— -the natural consequence of hereditary neglect and ignorance . One fellow , indeed , rnigBPt have sat as Mr . Leech ' s model . I was thankful I had not to walk in his company , that night , down a dark lane .
I seed not detain you , sir , with a detailed report of the speeches made on this occasion . The business of the evening was , of course , opened by the Earl of Rhododendron , who , for this one night only , forbore to wear the diamond xing which is pronounced to be a ' necessary' with individuals ( if I may be allowed to use that word in speaking of the aristocracy ) of his exalted rank . Lights * resting his delicate fingers on the front of the platform , and swaying to and fro on his noble toes , his lordship told his fellow-subjects that he had convened , or called them together—for he considerately varied his expressions—in order that he might hear from themselves what they thought of the ticket-of-leave system . The amiable speaker kindly reminded them tha t they had all broken the laws of their country , and would have been transported had there been any place to transport them unto . But as there was not , they had
been condemned instead to penal servitude—the meaning Of \ rhich hard words they all perfectly understood—and Sifter a time had been allowed to mingle once more ¦ with holiest men , as a reward and trial of their repentance . Unfortunately , some of them had not kept their promise to ' society , ' and ' society' was therefore very angry Trith them . But for his own part , before he legislated , that is , made laws for them , he was anxious to give them another chance , and would be glad to listen to anything they had to say for-themselves . Of course , as the law-maker resumed his unpretending chair , the lawbreakers loudly applauded—the most refined and respectable audience could not have been more enthusiastic . A regard for truth compels me to admit that the speakers who followed were not endowed with the celestial gift of eloquence . Indeed , most of them prefaced their remarks with the somewhat needless
Confession that they -were not much of 4 spokesmen . ' They agreed , however , in condemning the vexatious interference of the police , and also in ascribing much of the difficulty they experienced in finding employment to members of their own families . One was pointed out to the police as a burglar by his own niece , and not one of them had ever been entreated , in the second column of the Time . ' ' , to return to his heartbroken relatives , or to apply to A . Z . —trie old address —where they would hear of something to their
advantage . They also insisted upon the great benefit to be derived from having a house of rcfagc to go to on their release from prison—or , in their own picturesque phrase , when they first went 'home . The possession of a ticket-of-leave , they said , rendered them the same good service in obtaining employment that a previous conviction would do towards a mitigation of sentences at tne Old Bailey . In tins country they had no chance of earning a sufficient livelihood by honest industry 5 their only hope was in emigration , but this required means which they did not possess .
Then again uprose the Earl of Rhododendron , -wise in council , eloquent in debate , and winged words flowed from his lips , sweeter than honey or the honeycomb . He said that he had board their narratives witli much interest , and listened to them with considerable sympathy . Ho would give them—a piece of advice . ( Their brightening faces again faded into gloom . ) If they Could not get work in one place , they had better try another . . In fact , his lordship recommended tliem to travel—to winter in Rome , and spend tho summer at Baden-Baden , unless they could content themselves with Brighton , Leamington , Cheltenham , and Bath . They must romember , too , that they wero bettor off than many of theix countrymen . " During their imprisonment they had all been taught soino trade or handicraft , and no industrious man need long want employment in this great metropolis . ( Oh , good my lordis this reall But it
, y so ?) ' they did fail , let them not bo discouraged—let thorn not fall away from tho paths of virtue—lot them muko one more attempt . ( Mia lordship forgot to say how they were to live in tho nieantimo . ) Besides , they had onjoyod the inestimable privilege of having hoard " Gud'a huly waad " road to them . Let thom cling to those blessed Lrutlia . ( My lord , my lord , is it not written among those blessed truths that it does not suffice to toll tho hungry and the naked to bo fed and clothed , if you do not give them food and clothing ?) Then his lordship kindly inquired if they would like to go to tho colonies , and if ho lie would auk them to hold up their handy . All wore held up without a single exception . "Ah , X thought so . Tlwnk you . " The ill ustrious chairman then diaininKCd them to their homos ( V ) , - with a request that they would ficpa-Xate in a peaceful ami orderly manner . Having
delivered this satisfactory address to the poor starving creatures , who had renounced their most pressing engagements—at Notting-hill and elsewhere— -to gather the lessons of wisdom from an Earl , the silken folds of the immaculate handkerchief , bursting from the noble bosom , were seen to pass , gracefully and with stately condescension , down the room , diffusing choice aroma oa either side . After the handkerchief , humbly , followed the choker , and after the choker , I suppose , was borne the lay figure , but my eyes , dazzled by the brilliancy of the passing lord , could rest on no duller objects for a while . The gracious form vanished from my sight , and my ears were for the last time regaled with that elegant and distingue cough—hay ! hay ! —so different from the hoarse rough notes drawn from plebeian throats .
I feel that it was a great privilege to have been piesent at such an interesting exhibition of a live Earl , and yet—how hard it is for mortals to learn contentment !—I could wish , sir , that his lordship had told his hearers that for the relief of their immediate necessities he would leave a cheque for 50 ? . with Mr . Mayhaw ; that he disapproved of a house of refuge , as it would bring too many of them together , when the most vicious would exercise the greatest influence ; but that he would willingly subscribe towards a fund for providing them , with means of emigration ; and that he would bring their case before the Legislature at the earliest possible period—instead of promising to ponder on their statements " at his leisure . " His lordship did nothing of the kind , and I am afraid
that his inconsiderateness will destroy whatever confidence the unfortunate beings had begun to place in their true-hearted friend Mr . Henry Mayhew . Nay more , if the lessons of history are of any value , I would repectfully , but earnestly , warn the noble Earl and his compeers against indulging in maudlin , exhibitions of a dilettanti philanthropy . Can they not see that sympathy , offered in this manner , is an insult to the suffering classes ? No doubt they mean well , but their ignorance of the real wants and wishes of the people causes them to make lamentable blunders . Mere oppression may be endured . But when the privileged classes flaunt their supercilious compassion in the face of their humbler brethren , they may expect no greater meed of
gratitude than was rendered under similar circumstances to the old French noblesse prior to the First Revolution . Above all things , let them beware of making themselves contemptible . These are no times for the buffoonery of a Sir Robert Peel , the ruffianism of a Lord Ernest "Vane Tempest , or the milk-and-water sentimentality of an Earl of Carnarvon . There is a poor blind Sampson in this land , Shorn of his strength , and bound in bonds of steel , Who may , in some grim revel , raise his hand And shake the pillars of this Commonweal , Till the vast temple of our liberties A shapeless mass of wreck and rubbish lies . Your obedient servant , Mus Rusticus .
Jayttaby 31,1857,3 The Lea Dbs,.. 99 -- ...
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Public Meetings. Mk. Miat.X, And His Con...
PUBLIC MEETINGS . MK . MIAT . X , AND HIS CONSTITUENTS . Mr . Miall ,, M . P ., met his constituents at Rochdale on the evening of Friday week , according to annual custom , for the purpose of submitting to them an account of his Parliamentary conduct during the preceding session , and of giving them an opportunity either to approve or condemn his policy . Mr . Jacob Bright , the Mayor , presided , and delivered a speech , in which he criticised the foreign policy of the Government . He then introduced Mr . Miall , who gave an abstract of his last year ' s Parliamentary servioes , and confessed two errors , which consisted in his having been accidentally absent from two important divisions . Relative to the
Persian difficulty , Mr . Miall said : — "We are an insular people : Avhy should we be continually interfering with the business of our neighbours ? Xook around you for the fruit of the Pnlmerstonian policy . We have already had two wars , two occupations—one unsuccessful from imperfect administration . We have a war v / ii \ i Persia , as I read in tho paper to-day that our naval armaments have taken possession of Buahire . We havo Bent a » i army 5000 strong to the north-west of India , to penetrate into the central regions of Asia , to drive the Persians out of the town of Herat . I'll be bound that not twenty persons in this hall would care to know where Herat is : but wo are at a war that may possibly cost * b
much money , and very nearly as much bloodshed , aB that which is happily now concluded . Nobody knows what it is about ; but tlioso who are best informed tell ub that it is about a lady . (/ I laugh . ) It is no matter of laughter , though it does ssBume most certainly a ludicrous aspect . Another subject is the bombardment of Canton . 1 can only trace thia to tile determination of the Europeun to pick a quarrel with the Chinese . " Tho hon . mem bor proceeded to condemn at considerable length tho policy of tho Uritish Government towaxfls the Chinese ; and , after a reference to Italy , Hungary , and our relations -with France , concluded a speech of two houiH duration with some remarks on Lord John RubsoII and reform .
Mr . CJoorgo Ashworth then moved , and Mr . John l ' utric Becondcd , a vote of confidence in Mr . Miall , which AVfis unanimously carried .
Birmingham And Midland Nistituxe. A Soir...
BIRMINGHAM AND MIDLAND niSTITUXE . A soiree , in connexion with this institution , was held on the evening of Friday week , at the Music-hall , Birmingham . The attendance was numerous , and included Colonel Sykes , chairman of the East India Company , with whom were Mr . Sheriff Mechi and " 'Dr . Booth , as a deputation from the London , Society of Arts , to explain the system recently established by the society for the examination of students attending classes of literary and scientific institutions , and for awarding prizes and certificates to meritorious candidates . The company assembled at six o ' clock , and passed a couple
of hours in partaking of tea and coffee , and in inspecting an extensive display of photographic pictures , specimens of the photo-galvanograpiiic process , stereoscopes , microscopes , bronzes , electro-deposits , and other objects of artistic and scientific interest . The various speakers explained to the meeting that the institute especially addressed itself to the education of working men , which is notoriously extremely deficient , even hi the merest elements of their respective crafts . Much good , it was stated , had already accrued from this educational society , and it was anticipated that its sphere of operations would speedily be enlarged .
M . KOSSTJTH AT SIAWCHESTEJS . M . Kossuth , last Saturday evening , delivered his lecture on the present state of Continental Europe to a large audience in the Free-trade Hall , Manchester . The lecturer insisted on the -utterly futile character of the late war ; pointed out the unnatural condition of slavery in ¦ which Europe at present languishes , and which he thought is mainly supported by Louis Napoleon , " the parvenu Emperor ; " prophesied the coming struggle for freedom ; and exhorted the English nation to give its countenance to the cau . se of liberty . The proceedings concluded with a resolution expressing sympathy with the lecturer , and repudiating English alliances with despotism against the peoples .
SIR ERSKINE PERKY AT DEVONPOBT . The annual reunion of the Devonport Mechanics Institute took place on Thursday week . Sir ErsMne Perry , one of the members for tlie borough , was among the speakers , and the object of his address was to point out the natural tendency that the men of Devonshire have towards painting ( as evidenced in the unusually large number of fine painters which the county has produced ) , and to argue from this , coupled with the fact that Devonshire has no important natural productions and no great manufactures , that the natives of the coxmty would do well to cultivate their taste for the fine arts , so that -we might not be obliged to depend so much as We now do upon Prance for objects of taste and fancy .
ME . WUJLIAM DKIVEE AND THE B 3 SLVEDEJIE-CKESCBNX EEFOEMATOKY . An address delivered by Mr . William Driver to the boys of the Belvedere-crescent Reformatory on New Year ' s-eve has just been communicated to the papers . After pointing out to them that life is eternal , and that they cannot avoid living if they would , Mr . Driver asked : —• " What are you prepared to do for the world ? It is all very well for you to talk of getting a living , but ¦ what are you ready to give in return for your living ? Listen to this . Before you ask the world to keep you , you must show it that you are worth being kept . Living must not be your first thought . ' Take no thought for your life what you shall eat . ' I am not afraid to say
those words . I don't want to smooth them over , either for you or for myself . I want you to take them as they stand , and put upon them the plainest meaning . If you go out into the world to try how much you can get out of it , and how little you can give in return , bo sure it will be down on you some day in a way you wou ' t like . If you let the world see that you ore of use to it , you need not fear for your life . Show that your life is of value , and you will iind plenty to take care of it . Don't measure out your services as if you wore afraid of giving too much My boys , I do not want to frighten you ; I do not wont you to think " you arc going out into a hard-hearted wilderness of a place < not worth living in . Don ' t tlunk the world was made only to dig graves out of . It really is not a bit like a -wilderness , and I should bo sorry if you thought so . Don't be ou-t of heart at tho muddles
you will coinc across sometimes , nor yet think that any other days were hotter than these . Perhaps the fiuost thiag -would bo to livo when there arc no muddles ; but certainly tho next best thing is to livo when there are plenty , and to have a hand in clearing them away . You will s « o many thinga you will not bo able to understand . You may think uomo are too rich , while others * re too poor . That aonic dio -when it seems as if they ought to live . Do not worry youraelvea ubout this . Do not bo haBty to judge , and , above all , don ' t say any of thcBo thingH arc wrong . If you could see the other side of tlic gravo a « well as this , and if you Avcro above all , and could bcq everythiug at onco , you would bo better ablo to judge . It la enough for you to understand yourself and your own duty Our business iu the work of to-day . Do what in right day by day ; never miml to-morrow . Eight to-day , right for ever . "
mm inoomk-tax . Meetings have been hold fit llavorfordwost ( to repro-Bcnt the whole county of Pembrokeshire ) , at lthyl ,
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Citation
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Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 31, 1857, page 3, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/cld_31011857/page/3/
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