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Leader (1850-1860), 14th September 1850, Edition Town of 1, Page 581, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      draw thither the attention of the inhabitants , "whilst at a distance of an English mile ( 2000 paces ) , the same devouring element was busy in destroying the house of Mr . Wysotski , and , at lesser distances and intervals of time , several other edifices , &c . The question now arises , who was the incendiary ? Let the sufferers themselves answer this question . They all concur in accusing the Austrian authorities of having been the perpetrators , and ground their

      accusation on the three following facts : —1 st . That Mr . Wysotski ' s prop erty was doomed , he being a notorious Polish patriot , and odious in the eyes of the Austrian Government ; and , moreover , because the wind being in the west , the flames of his house assisted to communicate the fire to the whole quarter in -which the monumental and scientific buildings were situated . 2 ndly . That several churches , convents , and other public edifices ( some of which were burnt down whilst others were only partly saved ) were destined to be destroyed , because the Austrian

      Government is , and always was anxious to efface every vestige of the ancient grandeur and national glory of Poland ; and , 3 rdly . That all the firemen and engines were so carefully concealed by the authorities , that they could not be found until the conflagration had reached its climax , so that the first engine employed was one which arrived only at night from a small town called Miechow , situated in the so-called kingdom of Poland , at a distance of thirty English miles from the Cracovian frontier . " Is it a matter of

      surprise , " add they , " that those who , in 1846 , armed themselves with the assassin ' s knife to slaughter nearly 2000 families in Galicia , —who last year only employed such butchers and womar-floggers as Haynau in Hungary , should , in 1850 , avail themselves of the torch of the incendiary to destroy the national monuments and relics of Poland ( of which Cracow , as her ancient capital , is the preserving sanctuary ) , rendering at the same time nearly 1500 families homeless ? "

      On the other hand , we have to quote a fact of a noble and generous nature . A Countess Pototska , whose house was saved from destruction , sent for an architect to value it . He did so , and , having valued the house at half a million of Polish florins ( £ 12 , 500 ) , she at once gave this sum to the relief of the unhappy victims . The misfortune which has befallen Cracow excites the profoundest sympathy with those , especially , who have seen that old town of the Piarts , and with those

      who can feel how deeply this additional wound must probe the Polish nation , who consider Cracow as the Mecca of their nationality . It is , however , much to be doubted whether adequate assistance for the relief of the sufferers will be obtained , though , numerous associations are being formed throughout Germany for that philanthropic purpose ; for Cracow is poor , and -will not , therefore , meet with the sympathy of the Rothschilds and other European Croesus , as did rich Hamburgh eight years ago .

      " We cannot refrain from acquainting our readers , whilst speaking of unhappy Cracow , of another fire which broke out in unfortunate Poland on the same day ( 18 th of July ) , destroying another of her monuments . Not far distant from Cracow , but in the so-called kingdom of Poland blessed with Muscovite sway , the Castle of Pieskowa Skalla ( the Dogs ' Rock ) also became a prey to the flames . It was founded in 1382 by one of the first Polish dukes . Upon looking at this castle the idea would cross your

      mind that it must have really been erected by a supernatural power , so mysteriously did it—standing on an elevated rock—peep out from amongst other high rocks covered with dark forests ; and before its brazen gates stood a rock having the form of Hercules' club ( much thicker at the top than at its base ) , looking like a formidable , petrified giantsentinel , which could be seen from afar , as though watching with a protecting eye the power and riches of his masters .

      Untitled Article

      THE PROPOSED IMPROVEMENTS IN ST . JAMES'S-PARK . Operations have already been commenced in St . James ' s-park by marking out the line of the intended gardens , and the removal of the park railings in front of the barracks ; it is probable , however , that the change will occupy some time , as , not only will the ornamental lake , which is rather deep at that end , have to be filled up , but the preparation of the ground for the gardens cannot bo completed without great delay . Of course the park will be a good deal disfigured during the operations . The following are the alterations to be made in St . James ' s and the Greon Park , in order to form the public gardens in front of Buckingham Palace : —

      The pardons will be nearly square , and will be situated parallel to each other on each side of the Mall ( the present approach to the palace ) , and the dimensions of each , according to the plan submitted to Parliament :, will be rather more than 200 yards in length by 100 yards in breadth . That portion of each farthest from the Mall will have a semicircular projection , adding considerably to its area . In order to make room for the one on the St . James ' s-park side , about 200 yards of the ornamental lake will have to be filled up , and a new head to the lake will be formed in front of the guard-house , at a

      cost of £ 450 . The gardens on the Green-park side will be similar in shape to the one which encroaches on St . James ' s-park , and each will have three gates , one at each end fronting the palace , one in the centre leading from the Mall , and one at each end extending into the parks . The lower gate of the Green-park garden will front Stafford-house , and bears upon the plan the appearance of a private entrance , while the lower gate in St . James ' s-park will be of large dimensions , and is the one designed for the use of the public . The Mall will be lined on each side with trees , forming a sort of wide avenue , as the grand approach to Buckingham Palace ; and the entrance to this avenue will be formed by the marble arch , which will be erected at or beyond the termination of the gardens , at a distance of 300 yards

      from the front gate of the palace . The thoroughfare down Constitution-hill will lead passengers past the front gate of the palace , down the avenue between the gardens , and out through the marble arch ; and a similar route will be open from the St . James ' s-street Gate . Beyond the marble arch will be four rows of trees , extending down the Mall , and these , though an ornament themselves , will certainly have the effect of screening the view of the arch to be placed beyond them . Some entirely new pathways will be formed in St . James ' spark , and the new head of the lake will be much nearer to Birdcage-walk , with which promenade it is not proposed to interfere . The gardens will be surrounded by a dwarf stone wall , surmounted by iron railings .

      Untitled Article

      THE EXHIBITION OF 1851 , The preliminary proceedings connected with the building of the industrial palace in Hyde-park , are making satisfactory progress . Several temporary sheds for stores have already been erected , including a large one , 200 feet in length , to be used as workshops , and another , 60 feet in length , for the use of clerks , draughtsmen , and others connected with the works . The first lot of iron bases and columns arrived on

      the ground on Saturday . As specimens of casting they are remarkably clear and beautiful , and they have a light and particularly elegant appearance . Of these columns not less than 3230 will be required for the building , and , as they are hollow , they are intended to serve as water pipes , to convey the water from the roof of the building . Not less than thirtyfour miles of iron gutter pipes will be required to

      convey the water to the heads of the different columns . Of the 50 , 000 deals ordered for the flooring of the building , a large proportion has arrived , as well as a considerable quantity of baulk timber . A large quantity of the castings have already arrived , arid more are on their way to the metropolis from the foundries of Messrs . Fox , Henderson , and Co ., the contractors . Several tons weight of glass have also arrived in London during the week .

      A most important step has also been taken in the appointment of Colonel Reid and Mr . A . Redgrave to communicate with the different railway companies , on the subject of the fares and accommodation to be provided for conveying the working classes to London . The railway companies have shown a most anxious wish to cooperate with the Commissioners in this respect , and several of them have already offered to reduce their fares to a very considerable extent , and

      to provide special trains on the occasion . No definite conclusion has yet been come to with any of the companies ; but we have no doubt that most of the companies will act with a wise liberality in the adjustment of their fares for this great occasion . Some very beautiful specimens of Honiton lace are in course of preparation for the Exhibition , and the local committees have stated that some fine specimens of Devonshire marble are intended to be exhibited .

      It ought not to be forgotten that the 31 st of October is the last day on which applications for space can be received from intending exhibitors . The space already demanded by the metropolitan districts is 27 , 774 square feet of floor or table , and 24 , 243 square feet of wall space . 10 , 000 square feet have been granted to Manchester , and we believe 80 , 000 to America . The total area of the ground floor and galleries of the building will be 855 , 300 square feet .

      Among other preparations for next summer we understand that Mr . Battjr , of Astley ' s Royal Amphitheatre , has taken premises and land in the neighbourhood of Hyde-park , which he intends converting into a Hippodrome , en precisely the same scale as the one in Paris , during the Exhibition of 1851 , in which he will introduce the tournays of the olden times , on a scale of magnitude and splendour hitherto unequalled .

      Regulations under which a register of persons disposed to provide accommodation for artisans , &c , from the country , whilst visiting the Exhibition of 1851 , will be opened by the secretary of the executive committee of the Exhibition , under the direction of her Majesty ' s commissioners : —1 . No fee will bo charged for registration . 2 . The names of persons of good character only will be received , and parties must be prepared to produce

      references to character , if required . 3 . Authorized persons to be admitted to inspect all registered houses . 4 . Accommodation for married couples and families , for single men , and for single women , must be distinct . In no case can single men and single women be lodged in the same house . 6 , In case of lodgings for females , the arrangements must be superintended by a married woman . G . The prices charged for accommodation to be fixed up in every room . 7 . A form of application to bo

      obtained at No . 1 , Old Palaee-yard , Westminster , must be filled up and signed by every person desirous of being registered . 8 . If any person refuse to conform to these regulations , or others which may _ be found necessary , his name will be erased from the register . ,. „ _ . „ . The object of the register is explained in the following ' « Decisions of her Majesty ' s Commissioners , ' to which particular attention is desired : — ARRANGEMENTS FOB . THE VISITS OF THE WORKING

      CLASSES . 61 . With the view of affording information , a register has been opened at No . 1 , Old Palace-yard , Westminster , by the Secretary of the Executive Committee for the Exhibition of 1851 , in which will be entered the names and addresses of persons disposed to provide accommodation for artisans from the country whilst visiting the Exhibition next year . Copies of the registers of lodgings may be had on application . Other arrangements are under consideration for guiding the working classes on select

      their arrival by the trains to the lodgings they may . The register contains a column in which the particulars , &c , of the accommodation each party proposes to afford will be entered . All applications for participating in these arrangements must be made through local committees . 62 . It must be clearly understood that whilst her Majesty ' s commissioners are desirous of collecting the fullest information likely to be serviceable to the working classes , they do not propose to charge themselves in any respect with the management , but simply to afford information . ( Signed ) M . Digby Wyatt , Secretary .

      Untitled Article

      THE ENCUMBERED ESTATES COMMISSION . For the week ending on the 5 th instant there , were fourteen additional petitions for the sale of estates filed in the Encumbered Court , making the total number of petitions 1197 ; and , before the 1 st of November , they will probably amount to 1300 . . Im » portant as the sales already effected have been , they are said to form but a small portion of the estates to be submitted to the adjudication of the Commissioners . On the resumption of the sittings next month , the really heavy business of the commission will commence , and many very extensive estates are

      to be sold during the winter . Early in November the very valuable estates of the Earl of Mountcashel , in the county of Antrim , will be placed in the market . They consist of fee-simple and fee-farm estates , situate in the vicinity of Ballymena and other prosperous manufacturing towns , where the land generally is in a very good state of cultivation , and rents are paid with punctuality . The Kells estate comprises 3556 statute acres ; the Braid estate , 24 , 975 acres ; the Glen wherry estate , 11 , 401 acres ; and the Galgorm estate , 8700 acres . It is stated that these estates yield a clear rental of about £ 11 , 000 per annum . In that part of the country well situated property brings as high a rate of purchase as in many

      parts of England or Scotland . Persons acquainted with the matter calculate that between twenty-six and thirty years' purchase will be obtained , and that the produce of the Sales of his Antrim estates will fully djefray all the encumbrances affecting Lord Mountcashel , leaving his large southern estates entirely free from debt . The noble earl is the petitioner in his own case , and he is considered to have adopted a prudent and judicious course in making this arrangement to get rid of the encumbrances which have been accumulating during successive generations . The Cork and Tipperary estates of Lord Mountcashel will still leave him one of the most extensive proprietors in Munster .

      Untitled Article

      THE CANTERBURY COLONY . The first four ships taking out colonists for Canterbury—the Randolph , Sir George Seymour , Charlotte Jane , and Crecy—arrived at Plymouth nearl y together , from London , in the course of Friday night , and several of the emigrants joined their ships there . Lord and Lady Wharncliffe , accompanied by their

      son , arrived on Friday , and Mr . Watts Russell also went down to see his son ' s embarkation . On Saturday morning all went on board , many accompanied by their friends . The bishop designate of Lyttelton , Dr . Jackson , arrived by an early train . Sir Thomas Tancred had accompanied the ship on its voyage down the Channel , taking a berth on board the Sir George Seymour .

      Lord Wharncliffe and Mr . Stuart Wortley , Mr . Simeon , and Mr . Vaux stayed with their friends in the Charlotte Jane , among whom were Mr . Fitzgerald and his bride , as long as the pilot remained on board . Hearty cheers were given by their fellow crews as each ship got under way , as well as from , otlvor emigrant ships lying in the harbour . The bishop visited every ship , and went round each deck conversing with the emigrants of every rank and class . Ho himself returned on shore to start by the next of the two additional ships which will leave England in the course of this month , on board which will bo Lord Mandeville , M . P ., and his brother , Lord Frederick Montagu .

      These colonists carry with them not only the affections and domestic sympathies of many families , but every feature of their country has been carefully represented and transmitted in this ark of England ' s enterprise . The sports of England will be renewed

      Untitled Article

      Sept . 14 , 1880 . ] « fc * . & *«**« . & }

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Sept. 14, 1850, page 581, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1853/page/5/