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Leader (1850-1860), 6th July 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 341

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      litical sagacity , and irreproachable private character , combined to place Sir Robert Peel in the first rank of public men . The deplorable accident which has snatched him from the midst of us has left a vacancy among contemporary statesmen which it will not be easy to supply . —Morning Post . Sir Robert Peel as an Orator . — Robert Peel ' s speeches were , like himself , practical . Their eloquence consisted in their persuasiveness , in tbe skill with which the arguments were evolved , and in the illustrations , generally familiar and tangible "to the general . " His statements of his case were singularly lucid—built up laboriously , and constructed with precision , so as to

      make them clear to the least ready capacity . During the later years of his career he had , as it were , to instruct the public in principles and details , more especially on commercial questions ; and , of course , there remains much on record which had only a temporary and fleeting interest . Moreover , to impress his purpose on nis hearers , he would frequently repeat his arguments ; which , though effective in the delivery , was tedious to peruse . Notwithstanding these drawbacks , Sir Robert Peel , from the singular fascination of his manner , and the pains he took to adapt himself to the various capacities he had to address , was one of the most persuasive and influential speakers of his time . In fact , his was the

      eloquence adapted to a popular assembly , which was to be assailed , not merely through the passions or the imagination , but through prejudices , habits of thought , interests not always of the highest order , as well as through reason . Looking at the materials of which his speeches were formed , the winning art of the speaker was the more to be admired . Let us add , that when the ordinary necessities of debate did not compel Sir Robert Peel to descend to the level of the average of his hearers , he could be as lofty and philosophical as the most elaborate orators . His personal vindications at great crises of his life were characterised by a striking dignity , which uniformly commanded respect from the House of Commons . Such a combination of qualities—of wisdom , the

      fruit of long experience—of caution , the consequence , not of timidity but of prudence—of boldness , tempered by sagacity—of information , gleaned through a long and laborious public life—of high probity and sensitive honour —of statesmanlike wisdom , not disdaining popular influence and sympathy—of eloquence spontaneously springing from the peculiar wants of his position , and intuitively adapted to the occasions of its exercise—such a rare union of many requisites for a statesman and minister in a popular Government will not soon be seen again in any individual . Nowhere will his loss be more deplored than in that House of Commons where he was accustomed to rule , by the power of his persuasive eloquence , with almost absolute sway . —Morning Chronicle .

      Sudden Deaths of Eminent Statesmen . —Strange that , on the bloodless field of statesmanship , death should so often come with the suddenness , the violence , and the anguish of war ! Chatham fell fighting . His still greater son sank under the news of Austerlitz . Perceval was assassinated on the threshold of the House , his hand filled with papers , and a speech on his tongue . Castlereagh ' s end was still more awful . Romilly , too , was a statesman as well as a lawyer . Lord Liverpool was struck down in the midst of his duties . Canning fell suddenly while soaring in the pride of his might . Huskisson perished terribly in the midst of his former colleagues . Bentinck aspired to be a statesman , and died in full health , without a moment ' s warning . But who would have thought that Peel would one day be added to the

      list ? The hero of a hundred fights still survives . All around us we see octogenarian generals and admirals , surviving countless accidents of battle and of flood , and dying at last of slow decay . Sir Robert Peel falls by a sudden casualty , before his strength has begun to fail , or his mind to decline . Did not . the thought suggest a murmur at the dispensations of Omnipotence , one might call it a waste of precious power , a mighty soul lost to the world , by the merest trifle—by the silly panic or momentary impatience of a brute . How much had such a man still to do ! How many noble thoughts and splendid anticipations to deliver ! How many large views carefully elaborated ! What treasures of observation , and acquisitions of political lore ; nay , what a mighty part he might still have played , had opportunity again invited , or necessity demanded his potent intervention !—Times .

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      Sir Robert Pfei / s Opinion of Henry Hunt . — Nov . 21 , 1819 . " Walked with Peel . He asked how I thought we were as to strength in the House ? I said , very strong . ' But , ' added he , * shall we have any of the Whigs ? They mean , I understand , to rally on the dismissal of Lord Fitzwilliam ? ' I said I thought that signified little—that there seemed a great reaction , and the loyal population preponderated ten to one . ' True , ' said he , ' but don ' t you think the public opinion among the lower orders has undergone a change within these few years as to the constitution of Parliament ? ' Peel thought Hunt a clever fellow . Not so I . "—Life oj Phuner Ward .

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      AMERICAN EXPLOITS . The political news received from the United States < Jy the America , which arrived at Liverpool on Sunday , is not of much importance . The principal features of interest in Congress have been the speech of Colonel Benton in the Senate on the Compromise Bill , and a personal scene which , occurred in the heat of debate between him and Mr . Clay . Mr . Benton moved the discussion of the bill should be postponed until the 4 th of March next , and in support of his motion proceeded to address the Senate with great warmth , and in a tone of vehement sarcasm and denunciation . He objected to mixing up California with , the territories , as provided in the bill , and maintained that her admission to the Union should be

      made a distinct and independent question . On the 13 th , in the course of the debate on the Compromise Bill , Mr . Benton made use of certain offensive epithets towards Mr . Clay , which were sent back by that gentleman with scorn and indignation ; a general excitement pervaded the Senate ; Mr . Webster expressed his disgust and horror at the occurrence of such scenes ; and at length , order being restored by the intervention of the chair , the Senate adjourned until the next day . The Cuban invasion had lost its interest . The

      Spanish authorities have wisely resolved upon pursuing a mild policy with regard to those of the invaders who fell into their hands . They have all been released , and will , no doubt , be tried by the tribunals of the United States . The decision thus arrived at has given much satisfaction to the commercial world , and to the supporters of General Taylor ' s non-intervention policy . The islanders who assisted in repelling the invaders were being liberally and honourably remunerated for their efforts .

      The Supreme Court delivered its opinion at Boston on the 18 th , on the petition of Professor "Webster , for a writ of error . They were unanimous in dismissing the petition , being of opinion that every form necessary to constitute a legal trial had been complied with . The governor and council were in session , but it was not known whether they would consider the case immediately or at the session to be held in the present month . The fact of riots at Panama ( in which some Americans were killed ) having been fomented by United States citizens , had brought the matter before the public through the press , and some law has been suggested to meet such cases there and at California , where the adventurers do not confine themselves to

      friendly relations with neighbouring states . The papers contain an account of a rencontre which had taken place in one of the public parks in New York , between the tragedian , Edwin Forrest , and the journalist , N . P . Willis , in which the latter gentleman received severe personal injuries . Porrest approached him from behind and knocked him down ; he then beat him withagutta percha whip , until they were separated by the police . Both parties were taken before the police court , and held to bail to keep the peace for six months . The cause of the assault was the course pursued by Mr . Willis in the controversy between Porrest and his wife . Two letters from Willis and Porrest give their respective narratives of the affair : —

      " A CARD FROM N . P . WILLIS . "Sir , —As a statement will appear of an outrage which took place this evening , allow me to state it simply as it happened : — * ' While walking in Washington-square , with no suspicion that any one was near me , I was suddenly knocked down , and , while upon the ground , severely beaten . As my whole provocation to this ruffianlj assault has been an endeavour to vindicate the honour of the lady ( and , of course , equally to show that her husband had not , through her , come to dishonour ) , public opinion , as far as that reparation can go , will readily see the outrage in its true light . " Yours respectfully , " Monday evening , June 17 . N . P . Willis . "

      " A CARD FROM ANDREW STEVENS . " Sir , —N . P . Willis has made a pprverted statement of the affair . After dinner , on the 17 th , I walked out with Mr . Forrest and another friend . As is our common practice , we strolled into the Washington Parade Ground , a public and favourite resort . After walking about some fifteen minutes Mr . Willis was observed coming up the walk . Mr . Forrest immediately left us , without saying a word , and moved from the gravel walk upon the rained part above , and allowed Willis to approach , when he ( Forrest ) stepped quickly in front ( not behind , as falsely

      stated by Mr . Willis ) of him , from four to six feet , and stopped , looking at him steadily in the eye , and shaking his fist in Willis ' s face . Willis made a movement as if to draw a weapon , when Forrest promptly knocked him down with his fist , took away his cane , placed his foot upon hia neck , and laid upon his person with a whip or cane at least twenty blows over his back , shoulders , and legs , applied with rapidity and vigour . Many attempted to interfere ; but Mr . Forrest proclaimed in a loud tone of voice—* Gentlemen , this is the seducer of my wife ; do not interfere '; Wi lis , in the meanwhile , screaming and exclaiming ? Help , help !'— ' save me , save me

      !'—' police , police , take him off . ' Forrest walked to the police office . He there stated , as well to the magistrate as to Willis , ' I did this act ; ' I told you , sir ( to Willis ) the last time we met , that if ever you attempted again to interfere with my domestic affairs , I would hold you personally responsible , and I have done so . ' Then , turning to the magistrate , he said , ? This is the seducer of my wife , and for that reason I have chastised him . ' They were then both bound over to keep the peace , Mr . Forrest being greeted with cheers , after leaving the office , by the assembled crowd . Andrew Stevens . " New York , June 18 , 18 / 30 . "

      Governor Ujhazy , the Magyar refugee , and his companions , have fixed on a tract of land in Iowa , on Grand Itiver , some hundred and forty miles southwest of Burlington , and there propose to establish themselves . The place thry propose to call Buda , after the capital city of their native country . A large fire broke out in Columbia on Monday morning , Juno 17 , which burned down an extensive block of buildings , including a newspaper office , and deprived over thirty families of their homes . The total loss is estimated at 50 , 000 dollars .

      From New Orleans we learn that General Lopez had been bound over to appear before the United States Circuit Court , in the sum of 3000 dollars . Several deserters from his expedition had arrived at Campeachy . From Canada there is no political intelligence of importance . Two dreadful fires had occurred ; one on board the steam-ship Griffith , trading between Buffalo and Toledo , which , when within twenty miles of Cleveland , took fire and burned to the water ' s edge . The matlf who swam ashore and reached Cleveland , reports that only thirty persons were saved . The passengers were mostly emigrants . The number of passengers on board is thus stated , viz ., steerage , 256 ; cabin , 45 ; crew , 25—total , 326 . Not a female or child was saved excepting the barber ' s wife . The second fire was at Montreal , on the 15 th . The church of St . Amis and upwards of

      200 houses were consumed . On the night of May 12 the city of Point Petre , Guadaloupe . was fired by the negroes , that being a signal for a general insurrection . However , the negroes did not succeed in entering the city , having been deterred by the prompt measures of the citizens , but sundry overseers houses were burnt to the ground , and the smoking rums and destitute families presented a scene difficult to describe . The city has been fired four different times since , by which eighteen houses have been burnt . The governor has put the city in a state of siege , and no citizen is allowed to be out after nine o ' clock . Several conspirators have been arrested .

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      RUSSO-GERMAN DESPOTISM IN POLAND . The following statements relating to the present condition of Poland are extracts of a private letter recently received from the Polish frontiers : the writer is a man of veracity and intelligence , and full reliance may be placed on his observations . The precise date of the letter we have not given , as that might compromise the writer : — * * * # " Nicholas is again expected at Warsaw , and again a number of princes are to meet there , those of Italy especially and the King of Naples among them .

      Humours of various kinds are circulating on that subject , not all equally credible , one point remaining , however , certain , viz ., that they will form no congress . Their only object can be to pay a due homage to the chief of European despotism and to receive his orders , rather than to consult together , as formal deliberations would require more time , and would not be successfully conducted without the help of able and special men . Of the movements of troops I shall tell you nothing , they still being extensive and frequent , although the camp assembled at Lowicz has received fresh orders to continue

      in its present place . All intercourse with foreign countries has been so fearfully obstructed , that the passport of any traveller from Warsaw to the Prussian frontier and back again , requires no less than fourteen different

      . " In Gallicia the talk of an expected division of the province into eastern and western ? , has subsided . It is even said that the Government has completely given up such design . The price of lands has fallen to a still vnheard-of degree , agriculture being extremely low in consequence of a general want of money , and therefore of means for cultivation . A morg of the best field can be had at present for 20 to 30 Rhenish florins ( £ 2 to £ 3 ) . [ The morg is the unit of land measurement , and is larger

      than our acre . ] Of this the Jews avail themselves , and are busy in acquiring the greatest part of landed property in Gallicia . The Government continues to stir up the peasants against the nobility , deeming this to be the best means of keeping the province in subjection . Fortunately , it is not the Government which reaps the fruit of such seeds , as the hatred excited by it against one class of landed proprietors , viz ., the Polish nobility , becomes from day to day more general , so that now the villager abhors the German or Jewish landlords even more than the Polish .

      " Such a system of stirring up the peasantry against their landlords has become a general feature of German policy . Prussia has adopted it , and is now busily spreading among the peasants of the Grand-Duchy of Posen a pamphlet concocted for that purpose under the title of The Friend of the Peasants . Yet the Grand-Duchy offers no ready elements for the success of a similar propaganda , and in spite of all German endeavours the villagers of Prussian * Poland await impatiently the hour when they will again sharpen their scythes against their foreign invaders . The gulf between the Polish and German population grows every day wider and wider , and also the system of German

      oppression grows every day more vexatious . No German landed proprietor ever admits a Polish peasant into his service , or , except in case of extreme necessity , ever allows him day-work . Meanwhile Polish schools are changed into German , the Polish language is forbidden in them , and for a pretended want of space , no now Polish applicant has for several months been admitted . Instead of opening new schools to remedy the insufficiency of existing ones , or of appropriating sums to that object , the Prussian government refused to the Polish inhabitants the permission to use for the raising of schools those sums which they had themselves collected . " In consequence of the new government regulation , so

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      July 6 , 1850 . ] % , % *• & * && **? 341

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 6, 1850, page 341, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1845/page/5/