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Leader (1850-1860), 13th July 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 364, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      allow my name to be used as one of the patrons of an association for raising , by Id . subscriptions , a ' poor man ' s national monument to the memory of the late Sir Itobert Peel . '' It will be to me a melancholy satisfaction to be associated in so appropriate a mode of expressing the almost universal feeling of sorrow at the loss of a great public benefactor . " The illustrious statesman who has been taken from us with such awful suddenness sacrificed every other obiect of ambition to secure to the firesides and workshops of the toiling multitudes of this country the blessi of increased prosperity , health , and happiness . He

      ngs knew the immediate penalty he would have to pay for the service he was rendering the nation , but he relied with prophetic faith upon the future verdict of the people . In the moment of his severest trial , when delivering the speech which closed his official career , after speaking of the ties of party which he had severed for ever , of the political friendships he had converted into bitter enmities , of the floodgates of calumny he had let loose upon himself—after recounting , mournfully but without repining , the sacrifices he had made , he turned for sympathy and justice to the mass of the people and closed his last speech as Minister with the following words : —

      «• 'It may be that I shall leave a name sometimes remembered -with expressions of goodwill in the abode of those whose lot it is to labour and to earn their daily bread by the sweat of their brow , when they shall recruit their exhausted strength with abundant and untaxed food , the sweeter because it is no longer leavened by a sense of injustice . ' " Thus , in the work you have undertaken , you are , perhaps , unconsciously realizing the aspirations of the departed statesman . In piling up the pence of the worklet

      ing classes into a pyramid to his memory , me suggest that the above passage be inscribed upon its base . It will prove that he did not over-estimate the justice or gratitude of his countrymen , and it will also show to future statesmen that there is security , with the people , for the fame of a Minister who braves the vengeance of particular interests whilst conferring benefits upon the nation . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , •« ' HICHA . RD COBDEN .

      " To Mr . John Downes . " Since the above letter was written the committee has resolved that the title of the testimonial be changed from the poor man ' s to the " Working Man ' s Monument" to the late Sir R . Peel , and that the subscriptions be from one penny and upwards , and not limited at all to any amount . In the House of Commons , on Wednesday , Lord John Russell gave notice that on Friday ( yesterday )

      he should move that an humble address be presented to her Majesty , praying that her Majesty will be graciously pleased to give directions that a monument be erected in the collegiate church of St . Peter ' s , Westminster , to the memory of Sir Robert Peel , with an inscription expressing the public sense of so great and irreparable a loss , and to assure her Majesty that the House will make good any expenses attending the same .

      A preliminary meeting of merchants and bankers took place at the London Tavern , on Wednesday , for the purpose of considering the propriety of calling a public meeting in the city of London , on the subject of promoting a subscription for raising a testimonial in honour of Sir Robert Peel . Sir Edward North Buxton was called to the chair . Amongst those present were , Mr . Hume , M . P . ; Sir Moses Montefiore ,

      Bart . ; Mr . Gladstone , Mr . SheriffNicoll , and other influential gentlemen . A number of letters from men of influence were read , approving of the object , and expressing regret that the writers could not attend the meeting . The meeting unanimously agreed to a resolution to apply to the Lord Mayor for the use of the Egyptian-hall of the Mansion-house upon the occasion ; and the Lord Mayor appointed Monday , at two o ' clock , for the meeting , at which he will take

      the chair . A public meeting of the inhabitants of Bury was held on Wednesday , at which it was resolved to erect a public monument to the lato lamented statesman in his native town . The subscription list was opened with several £ 100 subscriptions , and in less than ten minutes upwards of £ 1000 had been raised . Before the meeting closed upwards of £ 1500 had been subscribed .

      Untitled Article

      ATTEMPT TO ASSASSINATE LOUIS NAPOLEON . About three o ' clock on Friday afternoon , and at the moment that Colonel Vaudrey , Aide-de-Camp of the President , was proceeding in a carriage from the court-yard of the Elysee into the Rue Faubourg St . Honor 6 , a young man was seen approaching rapidly towards the carriage , into which he appeared to look for a moment with much earnestness . At the

      same moment ho plunged his hand into his bosom , and seemed to be grasping something which was concealed in the left pocket of his great coat . His faco was pale and haggard , as if from intense excitement or recent dissipation . As ho stood sufficiently close to the carriage to ascertain , -without the possibility of a mistake , the persons that occupied it , he as suddenly drew back , and moved along in the direction of the lino Miromesnil . There are always stationed in the neighbourhood of the President ' s residence a number of police agents drcsssi'd in plain clothes , but who are sullieiently known by the liabitue ' s of the palace . One of these men had observed the motions of Walker , and liis last movement

      naturally roused his suspicions that something was wrong , though he states that the idea of his having to do with an assassin did not occur to him . The police agent followed him to the corner of the Rue Miromesnil , but before he had time to accost him Walker went up to him , and the following conversation occurred : — " Are you a police agent ?" " What business is that of yours ? Why do you wish to know ? " _ _

      " If you are what I believe you to be , " said the young man , " I wish you to take me into custody . Arrest me instantly . This is the second time I have missed him , and I'll have nothing more to do with the business . I came here this day with the full determination to assassinate the President of the Republic ! I have been waiting at his door since twelve o ' clock ; but , to all appearance , destiny will not have it that my design be accomplished , for , half an an hour ago , when another carriage left the Elysee , I had my pistol cocked , and was on the point of firing , when I perceived it was not the President who was before me . "

      These words were spoken in a short , hoarse , and abrupt tone of voice , and betrayed the extreme agitation of mind under which the speaker laboured . The first act of the police agent ( whose name is Lambert ) was to lay hold of the lad with one hand , while with the other he felt his person outside the paletot ; he found that he was actually armed with a pistol . He drew the weapon from his pocket , and ascertained

      that it was loaded , capped , and at full cock . All this passed between the two without any of the persons near them being aware of what was going on . The agent instantly led his prisoner to the office of the Commissary of Police attached to the quarter of the Presidency . The lad there repeated his story , said that his name was George Alfred Walker , that he was 17 years old , a compositor by trade , and that he resided in the Rue Cherubim , No . 3 , and lived

      with his parents . From inquiries subsequently made it appears that he is the son of an Irishman , but that his mother is French . He was born in Paris , but is , nevertheless , a foreigner by law as well as his father , as the sons of foreigners , born in France , can only claim nationality when they have reached the age of twenty-one . His mother is a very respectable well-conducted woman ; but the family have always been in distress , owing to the imprudence of the father , and there being several children , two of whom are cripples . Walker , the son , was brought up to the business of he

      a printer , and was for a time rather diligent ; but had become sullen , and complained that he was compelled to work for the whole of his family , whilst his father wasted the greater part of his earnings when at work in drinking and smoking . Some months ago young Walker , who , although only seventeen years of age , has the manners and appearance of twenty or twenty-one , became a Red Republican and Socialist , having imbibed these ideas from some of the compositors in the office where he worked , and at which many of the most furious Red Republican journals and pamphlets arc printed . The conduct of violent that he

      young Walker became at length so was a nuisance in the office , and he escaped correction only from the belief of his companions that he was deranged . Some months ago Walker was taken up in the streets , armed with a loaded pistol and threatening to fire upon the passers by . He was at the time intoxicated , and the tribunal taking this fact , and the youth of the offender , into consideration , sentenced him to only two months' imprisonment . When that term had expired , he returned to his work ; but his character had not been at all improved ; on the contrary , his turbulence had increased , and his companions became more than

      ever convinced that he was insane . His father died on Sunday afternoon , after having been a compositer on the same journal in Paris for thirty-six years . The Commissary of Police , who went to the house of the father to search and interrogate after the arrest of the son , behaved with great delicacy . When he saw the state of the father he concealed the object of his visit , and pretended that he had come from the owner of the house to see what repairs required to be made . The old man died without having his last moments made wretched by a knowledge of this now misconduct on the part of his son .

      It is a curious fact that the same printing office in Paris has turned out two young Englishmen alike imbued with revolutionary doctrines . Good , the compositor , who rcceivod his death wound in the Revolution of February , fighting against the Municipal Guard in the Place du Palais Roy ale , was a political madman like Walker ; but he was three or four years older , and came to Paris already strongly imbued with the revolutionary spirit , his father being a well-known Chartist .

      Walker was examined at the Prefecture of Police , on Tui-sday , by a number of eminent medical men , charged to make a report on the state of his mind . The examination lasted to a lato hour , and is said to have had the result of demonstrating to evidence that lie is labouring under monomania . It is probable

      that , on the report of the medical men , Walker will be removed to the Hospital of Bice'tre , to be treated for insanity . In the course of his interrogatories , Walker repeated the declarations which he made when , arrested , to the effect that he was driven by an irresistible force to assassinate the President ; and that , though he knew the enormity of such a crime , he would have committed it .

      Untitled Article

      THE LAW AGAINST THE PRESS . The discussion of the law of the press in the French Assembly has been the chief subject of interest in France during the last few days . The debate commenced on Monday , and was marked by a rather exciting scene . M . Rouher , Minister of Justice , in supporting the obnoxious law , designated the revolution of February as a disastrous catastrophe . At this word the whole Opposition rose , and with tremendous clamour called on the President to call the Minister to order . This M . Dupin refused to do ; but called M . Girardin to order instead . After the

      noise and tumult , which lasted half an hour , were somewhat abated , M . Girardin , having mounted the tribune to explain , declared that he , for one , would not sit in an Assembly in which the revolution of February was declared a disastrous event for France , without the speaker being called to order . Still more offensive was the conduct of the President in calling to order a representative who did his duty in protesting against language so unconstitutional , and so particularly improper in the mouth of a Minister . He thought that , if the Minister was not called to order , all the members of the Opposition ought to relinquish their seats in the Assembly .

      A discussion then took place on the question of urgency , M . de Girardin maintained that a special report was necessary in order to establish a case of urgency . M . Mathieu ( de la Drome ) who followed on the same side attacked with vehemence the reactionary march of the government , which semed to wish to substitute sword-rule for regular and constitutional administration . The result of the ballot gave 370 votes for and 251 against . Urgency was , therefore , declared for the bill .

      On Tuesday M . Victor Hugo spoke against the law . His speech is described by the Paris correspondent of the Globe as •? crowded with the richest samples of varied power . The crushing sarcasm with which he punished the temerity of M . Rouher—the brief and vigorous touches with which he characterized the law—the large contemplation of his subject —the clear warnings drawn from history—the surprising felicitousness of expression—the bold , apt imagery which enriched his thoughts—the philosophic tone , solemn , ardent , and true , and the benignant philanthropy , all combine to make this speech one of the most remarkable orations delivered in any assembly or in any age . "

      During the sitting of Tuesday it was proposed by M . Tinguy , a Legitimist , that all the articles in journals should be signed by their authors , under penalty of a fine of 500 f . for the first contravention , and of lOOOf . for every repetition of the offence . This amendment , which , as every one acquainted with , the mechanism of journals is aware , it is impossible to put into execution , was oppc sed with great vigour by the members of the committee ; but after a very violent and stormy debate a division was called for , when , to the surprise of every one , the amendment was carried by a majority of 313 to 281 .

      It is impossible to describe the agitation which this singular vote produced on the Assembly . The President was obliged to suspend the sitting , and the members formed themselves into groups , and appeared to discuss the matter among themselves with great animation . The amendment of M . de Tinguy singularly compromises the definitive vote on the whole bill , as it is very probable that the majority will see the absurdity of such a decision , and will hesitate to pass it .

      Untitled Article

      SCHLESWIG HOLSTEIN AGAIN . A telegraphic despatch from Berlin , dated Saturday , states that the protocol accompanying the treaty of peace annulling the armistice had just been ratified by Prussia and Denmark . In five days the Prussian troops were to evacuate the Duchies , and the troops of Schleswig Holstein were to march in . The next step , it is said , will be a war between Denmark and the Duchies .

      Troops are being concentrated at Rendsburg and the environs . Before the town there are encamped three battalions and a field battery . In the fortress there are three more battalions . All soldiers on furlough have been recalled . Friedrichsort is being fortified on the land side , and more troops are expected . In the treaty between Prussia and Denmark the question of succession is reserved for future negotiations . Denmark is not to call in any foreign power to assist her , unless Germany interferes , or a free corps invades the Duchies . The Holstein army , amounting to 30 , 000 men , seem very likely to cross the Eider ; but the Danes are ready to meet them with 40 , 000 men , and the Russian fleet is cruising amongst the Danish islands .

      Untitled Article

      364 ® $ * Wr $ *** t » [ Saturday ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), July 13, 1850, page 364, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1846/page/4/