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Leader (1850-1860), 15th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 160

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      Untitled Article

      for , he went into the audience-toom to state his case and to be advised what course to pursue . When appealed to , the master said , " Really , it is so long since I was at the bar I've entirely forgotten the practice ; I can't say what you should do ! " On the next occasion another master attended , when a similar farce was enacted . He then assured me that all the visitors seemed alike , and that he had given up appearing before them . Another told me ( this was a shoemaker—I have forgotten his name ) that , on being attached , he was kept about a fortnight and then liberated—but he was a poor man , and when he

      was unceremoniously taken from his business , and no one left to manage his concerns , everything went to ruin . When set free , he had no house to go to , so he went to reside in another at some little distance ; but because he was not found on the exact spot where he had been previously taken , they charged him—most unjustly he declares—with an intention to run away , and he was taken and committed to the Queen's Bench . " I was not , " says he , " taken up to the court , as Sir Edward states , within 30 days , it was 220 days before I was so taken and finally committed . "

      The case of Andrews must surely have escaped the recollection , if he ever knew it , of Sir Edward ; as also that of Captain Hudson , the Keeper ; or they would not assert that there has been no case in the Queen ' s Bench analagous to the one spoken of b y Mr . Dickens ; but I fancy no one would be inclined to receive such a denial as proof of that illustrious writer's statements being unfounded ; even had we nothing more to rest our claims upon , opposed only ty Sir Edward ' s vague attempts at refutation . I bring my witnesses into court , whilst he relies on a flourishing address . In this hard thinking matterof-fact age , I am not much in doubt as to which will

      be most acceptable . Sir Edward s argument is truly this , " I think I know better than Mr . Dickens or any one else who dares to impugn Chancery practice ; and I say the charges are unfounded . " That is the way Sir Edward meets the case , and gets rid of the subject . It might have been more satisfactory had Sir Edward proved that which he so boldly asserted . But that he positively could not do , and for this reason , all his information has been indirectly received . It is founded on hearsay , two or three times removed ; he has not an authority he could venture to give , excepting , perhaps , the gentleman who was so indignant

      at being called a Chancery victim ; and here I cordially agree with Sir Edward , this person is not a victim . I do not aver that a man , because he is detained by Chancery process , is therefore of necessity a victim ; but I do say that no system ought to entail imprisonment for life , for that which is not a grievous offence against the laws of the land ; and I complain that Chancery indiscriminately visits the unfortunate innocent , and ihe willul wrongdoer alike ; though it is infinitely more probable the latter may escape and laugh at the court . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , M . Mkuyweathkh Tuiinek . P . S . —This subject will be concluded in another letter .

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      AN AUSTRIAN TOKEN OF FRIENDSHIP . Feb . 11 , 1851 . Sir , —The ignorance of the newspapers in Western Germany about Austrian customs has misled them as to the real object of the recent occupation of the free town of Hamburg by Austrian troops . They view it in no very unfavourable light , they say : " The men ( Austrian soldiers ) marched in with the bands playing , and with green twigs stuck in their caps , as a token of friendship . " Why , Sir , for centuries it has always been , and still is , a custom with the Austrians , that on the very day their soldiers are put on the footing of war , and take the field , they stick green twigs in their caps , removing them only , when , after the hostilities , they return to their garrisons .

      You thus see , Sir , that what some German editors are pleased to consider " tokens of friendship" are precisely the reverse , viz ., unmistakeable signs of hostility . I hope , Sir , you will excuse my troubling you with this trifling rectification ; I thought it a necessary one because there may still be some persons who , in the present occupation of Hamburg , fancy they detect in it a friendly and honest step on the part of the Austrian Government , and who mistake the Austrian soldiers for so many innocent doves , returning to Noah ' s Ark with olive branches in their beaks , while they are in reality , Sir , but the assassins of so many Gallieian families , and the worthy pupils of the Gibbet-marshal Haynau , and " Quales sunt summi civitatis viri , talis est civitas . " I am , Sir , your most obedient servant , Cub . Stolzman , Lieutenant-Colonel of Artillery of the late Polish army .

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      PENALTIES OF DISBELIEF . London , Feb . 10 , 1851 . Siu , —Your Dublin correspondent , M . S ., in your last number , hus suggested to your legal readers that some one of their number should publish for the general information a statement of the legal penalties that may be put in force against published opinions hotstile to Christianity . Although not belonging to the legal profession , I am able to inform you that u digest of the present state of the law on this subject may be found in the Report of the Criminal Law Commissioners , which digest might be copied at full into the Leader if any one would take the trouble to procure the report for your use , or send you the extract . Yours , It . N .

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      THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS . Feb . 10 . 1851 . Sih , —The Diocesan or Consistorial Courts may decide all matters of spiritual or ecclesiastical discipline arising within their respective limits . They may also declare marriages void , and pronounce pentence of separation , a mensA et t / ioro , but the power of dissolving them , a vinculo , and of inflicting pecuniury damages , has been reserved for the Courts of Common Law . In his own court the Bishop is supreme : appointing his judges , advocates , and proctors , who must be members of the Established Church , and who can be removed by him ut pleasure . Thus , the Ecclesiastical judge in not only dependent upon foes for the emoluments of his office , but also upon the will of the ordinury for his continuance in it . The Archidiaconal Courts are generally Hubordinate to the Kpiscopul , though in some instances they are independent und coordinate . When Sir Jtobert Peel , in 1844 , made his luat unsuccessful uttempt to reform tho ecclesiastical jurisdiction , it was proposed to uboliah the wholo of those courts , with tho exception of live , und they wurcnot to retain any contentious jurisdiction . Peculiars are places exempt from tho jurisdiction of tho Bishop , 'lhoy take cognizance of ecclesiastical mutteru within their owix limitp , though tho jurisdiction of uiuuy of tho Peculiar Courts extends only to tt uin ^ lo parish , frequently producing the greatest coiifunion . Tho town of 1 ' udstow , for instauce , is in thu Peculiar of the Archidiuconul Court of Cornwall , which consists of 176 l > urishes . Tho liihhop claiming Putlalow in rure , yot the boundary line , htuj never boon accurately delitied . The parish of l'Veckenham , in tint dioceae of Norwich , is u Peculiar belonging to the Hishon of Rochester , tho wills and records being deposited in the Registrar '!* houua at Huntingdon , in tho diooeso of Ely . Altogether there are 28 /> Poculiarn . Suits for tithcn uro no longer frequent in tho Eocleftiaitieol Courts , and tho Courts of Common Law

      may restrain them , by a prohibition , from trying any cases of modus or prescription . Personal tithes , however , may be enforced in these courts with an inquisitorial process of examination ; and the servant may be sworn to tell " the whole truth " of what he may know respecting the profits of his master ' s trade . The whole subject of Church rates ( the other great grievance of dissenters ) demands immediate attention , but the alteration which has taken place in the state of society cannot authorize the passing of more

      stringent measures , when a large portion ot the community can no longer avail themselves of the services of the Church , without doing violence to their convictions . The liability for church-rates ought to have ended when the rejection of spiritual consolation ceased to be a legal crime . The jurisdiction of the Ecclesiastical Courts was based upon the supposition of the duty of spiritual obedience to ecclesiastical authority ; but that authority is now exercised by spiritual officers of one religious community over persons who are not members of it ; and the censures of the Church ( excommunication ) are thus applied to those who are incapable of communicating . The Ecclesiastical Courts and , indeed , the whole

      ecclesiastical organization of the state require a radical reformation , and the " no Popery" howl , raised by the Whig Premier will , fortunately , tend to accelerate the movement . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , W . C

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      iao m < b $ Vutmtt . t SAWmpAY '

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      IIUDDERSFIELD MECHANICS' INSTITUTIO JH Jau . , 1851 . Sin ,- —During a short visit to Iludderslield last autumn , I was very much interested in a society organized and directed by Mr Nelson , and composed of sonrio members of the Mechanics' Institution , which is so much indebted to Mr . Phillip * , its present Mocretury , for its great efficiency . I have requested Mr . Nelaon to favour mo with some account of hit * little society ; und I have- permission to make what use 1 please of his lettor , which I trust you will deem worthy of insertion in your columns There in so much benevolent feeling , piuty , und practical wisdom in all thoir proceedings , thutl trust it will be un example lor the formation of uimilur institutions Your obedient servant , J . M . Moiuian .

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      l'liiloHojihicul-liull , HiMldi'iufiulil , j aili j ; , j (^ , ' , j _ DkauSiu , —1 greatly need but little merit your forbeurmice , for so long neglecting to forward to you the promised sketch of our little society ; my only excuse ia the very absorbing nature of my employments during the months of December und January , but the press of

      business being now over , I have called to my aid , as amanuensis , ! kfr . Bradley , a member of our society , for the purpose of furnishing you with an account of the origin ~ snd constitution of our fraternity . Since the establishment of the Huddersfleld Mechanics ' Institution , it has been my privilege to teach classes therein , during which time I had the pleasure of securing in a very considerable degree the attachment of my pupils both personally and professionally . I am willing to believe that their respect for me arose principally from the fact that I felt and exhibited an interest in their mental , moral , and social improvement . This feeling led me not unfrequently to step beyond the duties of a mere scholastic teacher , to give advice of a more friendly

      and fraternal character . During the hrst years of the existence of the Mechanics' Institution , party feeling and political excitement ran very high in this locality . During the agitation for the Ten Hours Bill , and against the introduction of the new Poor Law , torchlight meetings were held , and the progress of the classes were not unfrequently interrupted by the shouts of the multitude going in procession to some public meeting . When the exciting character of these meetings drew away the younger pupils of my classes , I took occasion to remonstrate with them upon the evil tendency of mere political agitation , in unsettling the mind and fostering prejudices , especially as it was generally conducted without much regard to strict truth or charitable feeling . My remonstrances had the desired effect , and politics were neglected by the

      young men , while their own self-improvement was more closely attended to . But -while I constantly declared that the evils under which society laboured were not capable of remedy by the plans of Political Economists , I was frequently called upon during our historical readings to explain my own views as to the causes of the social miseries of nations . But , in this respect , I endeavoured to lead the pupils to perceive and judge for themselves the sources of these manifold evils . The conclusion pretty generally arrived at by them was that competition was the root of the evil . I frequently stated

      it as my belief that it was next to impossible for uneducated , or nominally educated men , to produce any change in society , which would have the effect of restoring the balance of happiness to the human family . I , therefore , urged my young friends to fit themselves by self-culture rightly to appreciate the causes , both apparent and occult , which influence society . Nor did I fail to represent to them that a competitive state of society might have been a necessary arrangement of diviue providence , to eerve by discipline and warning to inaugurate a higher and nobler social state .

      Our young men had from time to time expressed a desire that pur conversation should assume some more tangible shape , that they should have the means of further examination , and as this could not ( consistently with the objects of the institution ) be done in our general classes , I proposed to them , 1 st ., That they should form themselves into a society for mental and moral improvement ; making the study of social science one great object of their association . At their request I consented to take the presidency of such society , on condition that no person should be proposed a member without my consent ; that every one upon being proposed and accepted , should enter upon a probation , not of a certain length , but until he had performed certain labour as a test of mental activity

      and persevering capability ; viz ., That he should adopt some subject of study , scientific or literary , when , upon passing a creditable examination in which , and his general moral conduct being approved of , he should be admitted to the privileges of membership , if elected thereto by the unanimous suffrages of the fraternity . That the number or names of members should not at any time be stated as an inducement to persons to join the fraternity ; a probationer should have no privileges except of attending meetings for instruction , and that prior to his admission to probation he should sign an engagement , cheerfully to abide by the judgment of the society as to his fitness . Upon these principles the society has been established , and is at present regular in

      its meetings , and in a very flourishing condition ; it numbers eighteen members and six probationers . The room in which it meets is open every evening in the week ; the president for the evening , in case of my own absence , bting the member who has attained the greatest proficiency in the particular science to which that evening ^ may be allotted . Reading , conversation , and general instruction occupy the time of the members until nine o'clock , after which hour , chess , singing , or more desultory conversation occupy the remainder of the evening until half-past ten . Each person , upon being admitted to probation , is , if possible , associated with tome member engaged in similar studies with those

      of his own adoption , his progreaa being thereby greatly facilitated . Morning classes are occasionally held ; these meetings open at five and conclude at seven . A email geological collection has just been purchased for the use of the society ; and , as it is found that tho present room is too small to accommodate the members , it is proposed , as soon as possible , to obtain a larger one . On Wednesday and Sunday evenings general meetings of tho society arc held , at which subjects conix ctetl with social science exclusively occupy the attention of the members ; tho meetings on these occasions are ulwuya opened by a HtanV j chants , and reading of the Scriptures , a form of which service has been printed for the u » c of tho members .

      More or Ichh of a formal character is communicated to all the meetings of the society , as it is considered that this will not be without its influence in creating and fostering habits of order and subordination amongst tho members . Arrangements are in progress for the establishment of branches of the association in neighbouring towns , the opening and conducting of such brunches being provided for in the constitution of tho Huddersfleld Society . Such , dear Sir , ia a brief * kotch of our present ¦ ooietyc itH immediate object , an you know , in to train individual

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 15, 1851, page 160, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1870/page/20/