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Leader (1850-1860), 8th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 136, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      "Unitarians have never yet , as far as I know , sent from England a single missionary . Now this is adamning circumstance in relation to TInitarianism , for , whatever may be the many absurdities in connection with missions , these are at least an evidence of zeal and mighty aid to stimulate and maintain the religious life of a sect . It is probable that , through that rousing-¦ which English sects have received from the so-called Papal aggression , which has been met by so much Protestant oppression , and in resisting which the Popery of the Conventicle has shown itself to be a thousand times more odious than the Popery of the Vatican , the Unitarians will be stirred up to more

      strenuous exertions , and will be shamed out of their snail ' s pace . They are incapable , from the nature of their system , of rising much higher than a new phase of Protestantism : and it would be difficult to determine whether Protestantism or Romanism has more of kindredness to what is dead . Both alike are rotten and exhausted . Still , within the limits of that transformation , Unitarianism has room for a considerable amount of action and propagandism , since it is the only Protestant sect which can take a stride forward without an entire abandonment of its distinctive character . That stride it can scarcely fail to

      take , after the becoming and dignified part which the Unitarians have been playing in the Papal agitation . To be sure , they have been sadly puzzled between their traditional tolerance and their superstitious reverence for Lord John Russell and the Whigs . But the former has unquestionably prevailed . Some admirable articles have appeared in the Inquirer , the newspaper organ of the Unitarian body , against converting England into one wide den of shrieking bigotry . To defend the traduced , to shield the downtrodden , is to be magnanimous and brave . It is from such conduct that the Unitarians can derive their best lesson of propagandism . Atticus .

      Untitled Article

      WHAT ARE THE PENALTIES ON DISBELIEF ? Dnblin , Jan . 31 , 1851 . Sir , —I venture to suggest that some reader of yours , well acquainted with the law , would do good service by investigating the following question , and laying the result of his inquiry before the public : — " What are the civil and political disabilities and penalties legally imposed or imposable on persons professing disbelief in the inspiration of the Bible and the reality of the Christian miracles ; and also on persons confessing their doubts of the existence of a God or of a future state of rewards and punishments ?" I think the time is fully come for insisting on perfect religious freedom ; and the first step towards securing that great end is to ascertain what are the existing hindrances to it . Yours , M- S .

      Untitled Article

      PROGRESS OF THE " QUARTERLY REVIEW . " Newcastle-upon-Tyne , Jan . 25 . Mu . Lbadeii , —I was no less surprised than gratified on reading the last number of the violent old Quarterly Review at , its evident improved tone , and the advance of some of its papers on liberal and progressive principles . It being an expensive publication , it will seldom fall into the hands , of the working man ; and , therefore , I am desirous of placing on record 4 ind within their reach , the last-exposed mean action of one of the meanest ad vilest of created things that was ever distinguished as one of " God ' s anointed Kings . " In an article on the much-vexed and often-• discussed question of the British Museum , the reviewer completely unveils to the gaze and contempt of every right-thinking man , the despicable conduct « f the King who was nicknamed by his servile sycophants , " the first gentleman of Europe . " Jn 1829 , tfyis Tory review did with fulsome praise extol the munificence of George the Fourth , for presenting to the nation what was called the Royal Library , but which was purchased with money coining from the people of England . The cry was echoed and reechoed by all the small fry of King worshippers , at his extreme liberality . But , lo ! the same Review , in 1851 hus changed its tune , and has presented a true history of the transaction , which , fqr low truckling mid meanpesH , stands unparalleled even in the character and reign of the Fourth George . Here follows the hiHtory , as related by the Tory reviewer ; for the truth of which , there is not a shadow of doubt : — " Public attention wan still more attracted to the Museum in } 8 ' 2 H , on the reception of tho fine library formed by George the Third ; who ,, immediately on hip accession , liping of opinion ( unlike 1 » jh grandfather ) , that tin ; Kiiitf of England should have a library , began by purchasing f ° £ 10 , 000 tho books of Mr . Smith , our coriHul at Venice , und next sent a good hand lo the Continent to procure others . It waa on that occasion that Dr . Johunou wrote the remarkable letter , printed in tho preface of tho catalogue of this library , explanatory qf lUu piuicipli ' H on which a good one ought to he made . By the steady expenditure of J [! 200 () a-year , from 176-2 to J 8 ! 2 ' 2 , upwards of (>/ i , 0 ( J 0 volumes had been purchased ; and it wiih then announced , that . George the Fourth had presented the whole to tho public . A select committee of the House of ( JominoiiH reported April 18 , 1823 , that a new ' lire-proof building ought to be ruined to receive the royal library , and oxprcuautl thjt ? strongest gratitude '

      not . On theTremonstrance of Lord Sidmouth , of whose manly and straightforward character George IY- was very properly in awe , the last of the Grand Monarques presented the books to the Museum on the condition that the value of the rubles they were to have fetched should be somehow or other made good to him by Ministers in pounds sterling . Thii yeas done but of the surplus of certain funds furnished by France for the compensation of losses by the Revolution . But his Ministers , on a hint from the House of Commons that it was necessary to refund these monies , had recourse , we are told , to the droits of the Admiralty . " , , ,

      to the reigning Prince for ' this act of munificent liberality , and his Majesty ' s disposition to promote the science and literature of the country . ' The secret history we believe to have been this , King George IV . having some pressing call for money , did not decline a proposition for selling the library in question to the Emperor of Russia . Mr . Heber , having ascertained that the books were actually booked for the Baltic , went to Lord Sidmouth , then Home Secretary , and stated the case , observing ' What a shame it would be that such a collection should go out of the country ; ' to which Lord Sidmouth replied' NoHeber it shall not ; ' and it did

      Well and bravely done , Quarterl y Review ! Who wrote the article js of little consequence , whether it was by Loekhart or Croker , the man who possessed so much influence with the fat King : it shows the way the wind is blowing , and what time and public opinion can do when they predict that George IV was The Last of the Grated Monargues . I am , Mr . Leader , yours most truly , J . L . Thoknton .

      Untitled Article

      THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS . Feb . 3 , 1851 . Sir , —My former letter contained a brief account of the close monopoly of Doctors' Commons ; twentyseven advocates , and some 220 proctors constituting the legal staff for England and Wales . I will now proceed to inquire into the jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts . The Provincial Courts of Canterbury and York are independent of each other , the process of one

      province not running into the other ; but the archie ' piscopal jurisdiction is exercised much in the same manner in both provinces . The Arches Court is the first of the three principal Archiepiscopal Courts of Canterbury , and exercises an apellate jurisdiction from each of the Diocesan and most of the ^ Peculiar Courts within the province . It takes cognizance of causes from these courts by letters of request , has original jurisdiction on subtraction of legacy given by wills proved in the Prerogative Court , where the Dean of Arches has presided for

      many years . The Prerogative Court hag jurisdiction of all wills and administrations of personal property left by persons dying possessed of bona notabilia , or personal property to the value of five pounds in divers jurisdictions ( in two or more dioceses , or two or more courts in the same diocese ) within the province . Four-fifths of the contentious business and a much larger part of the uncontested or common form business , is dispatched by this court , and from the great increase of personal property , it has become of high public importance , its authority being necessary to the administration of the effects of all pprsons dying

      possessed of personal property of the specified amount within the province , whether leaving a will or dying intestate . The law on the subject of bona notabilia is complicated and ill-defined : where probate or administration is taken out in any court except the Prerogative , or certain of the Peculiar Courts within the province , if it should afterwards appear that the deceased died possessed of bona notabilia within another jurisdiction , the probate or administration becomes null and void ; this must necessarily be productive of great unnecessary expense and delay , and where there is personal estate in both provinces , two probates or grants of administration become necessary . To remedy these evils the Ecclesiastical

      Commissioners recommend not merely that the whole testamentary jurisdiction be transferred to the archiepiscopal courts of the respective provinces , but that the whole jurisdiction , contentious and voluntary , of Peculiars should be abolished . Although probate be required for personal property , it is not necessary to pass real estate ; and the middle classes are thus heavily taxed , which the great landed proprietors altogether escape . When personal and real estate is bequeathed by will , the Validity of the instrument is tried before different tribunals , by opposite modes of obtaining evidence ; and one of the most important amendments in the testamentary law , proposed by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners , i « tho introduction of

      trial by jury on viva vocc evidence m the Ecclesiastical CourlH . The average number of wills proved in the Prerogative Court of Canterbury alone is 7000 ; tho grants of administration 15000 yearly ; and the emoluments of tho registrar , whoso duties are performed by deputy , amount , to upwards of £ 800 () a-yeur ; yet the registry , which contains the ori ginal wills of all persons leaving effects within the province- of Canterbury , for the last three centuries , i « u leased building never designed for the purpose , not © von ascertained to bo fire-proof , and is

      altogether , as Mr . Dickens observes , " guch a pestilent job , an < f seyeral fowftops \ itfan whe ^ e diqeeipes they are situated . I fear I must once more crave your indul genc e . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , \ V . G .

      Untitled Article

      LODGJNG-HOUSES FOB GJgNT&EipOMEiy . 16 , Alfred-street , Bedford-square , Jan . 15 , I 851 Sib , — With reference to Miss Martineau ' s plan of an Associated Home for Ladies , * ' it occurs to me that there is a formidable , " ifc not an insurmountable objection in the responsibility which some of the inmates must undertake for the rent ajwl taxes and the furniture of the house : a responsibility ' yrlifch no lady of small income could or wpuld like to incur , t am convinced that many , like myself , would prefer the plan of a superior lodging-house , based on the " models" lately erected for almost every class but for " Poor Gentlewomen . " A genteel yet moderaterented home is a desideratum of which we all bitterly feel the want ; and thus our limited means drive us

      into mean lodgings , where we are exposed to the rapacity and insolence of ignorant landladies ancl the pilfering of low servants . How ; j § it that , in this age , when the lowest are cared for , out peculiar . case has been overlooked by the philanthropist ? To make a beginning , and until a suitable building be erected , I would suggest that the proprietor of a large house should fit it up so as to afford as many bedchambers as possible , while the largest apartment would serve as a general room , where the ladies might meet and converse , read newspapers and periodicals , or unite in their daily repasts . For furnishing the principal meal in the most convenient and economical manner , a restaurant might be added to the other arrangements of the establishment .

      I think there can be no doubt that such an establishment would be immediately filled ; but , to ascertain this point , I propose that those ladies concurring in my views should forward their name and address ( with what suggestions they think fit ) to me , as volunteer secretary , unless you , Mr . Editor , will kindly consent to receive them . I have now taken courage and broken the ice for those who seem too timid to do go for themselves , and I > vait the result . I am , Sir , yours respectfully , E . B .

      Untitled Article

      ON THE POLICY OF A CONCORDAT WITH THE POPE . 1 ' udliqott , Oxon , Feb . 3 , 1851 . Siu , —In the Leader of February 1 , 1851 , under the head of " Literature , " I was surprised to see you advocating a Concordat with the Pope . It was not long since you reviewed Laing ' s Observations oil Europe . You wrote and spoke of the book in terms of high favour . I suppose , therefore , you do not esteem Mr . Laing " stupid , or bigoted , or a p ious Protestant who refuses to have anything to do vyith the Scarlet Lady . " Mr . Laing recommends us to take warning from Prussia , and never enter iato a

      concordat with the Pope . After this exhortation to his countrymen he would teach them by examp le , and he gives the experience of Prussia , who made a concordat with the Pope about the beg inning of this century . Home got the advantage in the agreement , a » d Prussia lost much more than she gained by an almost impalpable participation or veto nx the . ecclesiastical appointments made by Rome in Prussia . Prussia found she had disarmed herself of the means of resisting the aggressions of Home , and had , in fuct , sanctioned them by her treaty with the Pope . The Papal Court interpreted the concordat spiritually or

      ecclesiastically , at variance with the temporal Construction of it b y Prussia and the common law of the land . Laing mentions tho dispute 1 ' ruasia had . with Rome and the Archbishop of Cologne on tho subject of mixed marriages ^ winch miwt Up freplx hi t ) ie recollection of your rudders . Ou this question the Spiritual Govornmont of Rome , through tho concordat , acorns to have triumphed over the civil power of tho state . Laing sayB the decision of the Pope insisting on tho children of mixed marriages being brought up in the Roman < , ' atJw . lw-fnitl . ; .. . iv . nf ornat domestic

      ,,,,, misery to families in Prussia . The toleration whicji reigned sociall y in Prussia made Prqtestunts and Roman CutholicH sljure churches aa well as tho jhbuc of the marriage bud , and taught tho femalo to look to matrimony up deciding tho union with either church , was exchanged for intolerant and ultramontane division imported from Homo . Laing gives on acco unt of the pilgrimage to see tho holy coat at Troves , which , he says , was a monster political meeting in defiance of tho laws of Prussia . The Government of Prussia regulated the ftssemblago of

      Untitled Article

      136 Cftt U * t& ** t . Saturbav ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 8, 1851, page 136, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1869/page/20/