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Leader (1850-1860), 15th February 1851, Edition Town of 1, Page 146

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      Untitled Article

      The Limerick Reporter , a main authority on Romish ecclesiastical affairs , announces that the Pope has conferred the dignity of Cardinal on Dr . Cullen , " Lord Archbishop of Armagh , Primate of all Ireland , and Apostolic Delegate . " It is also announced that the Very Reverend Tobias Kirby , president of the Irish College at Rome , has been appointed coadjutor Bishop of Dromore to the Right Reverend Dr . Blake . " Sir Chisholm Anstey , " Knight of the order of St . Gregory , has received notice to quit from the Catholics of Youghal who returned him to the Imperial Parliament . They have requested him to resign the trust which he occasions

      has betrayed on many . They say they can forgive his advocacy of the atrocious Coercion Act—his indifference to Irish independence in the matter of Repeal— " but , " continue his constituency , " the act by which you have forfeited our confidence for ever is your advocacy of penal measures againt the Catholic hierarchy of England , and your support of aMinister who , having already awakened a fell spirit of religious bigotry in this country , now seeks by legislative enactments to violate the rights of man , and suppress liberty of conscience . " Meetings of Roman Catholics have been held at Carrickon-Shannon , Youghal , and several other places , at which petitions against the Ministerial measure were adopted .

      Untitled Article

      ATJDUBON THE ORNITHOLOGIST . The American papers received this week contain a notice of the death of John James Audubon , the great American ornithologist , -which took place on the 27 th of January , at his residence on the Hudson River , in the 76 th year of his age . He was born of French parents , on a plantation in Louisiana , near New Orleans , and from his earliest years he was taught by them to study nature . In an interesting autobiographical sketch published about twenty years ago , he gives the following account of his first attraction to ornithology : — " When I had hardly yet learned to walk , and to articulate those first words always so endearing to parents , the productions of nature that lay spread all around were constantly pointed out to me . They soon became my playmates ; and before my ideas were sufficiently formed to enable me to estimate the difference between the azure tints of the sky and the emerald hue of the bright foliage , I felt that an intimacy with them , not consisting of friendship merely , but bordering on frenzy , must accompany my steps through life , and now , more than ever , am I persuaded of the power of those early impressions . They laid such hold upon me that , when removed from the woods , the prairies , and the brooks , or shut up from the view of the wide Atlantic , I experienced none of these feelings most congenial to my mind . None but aerial companions suited my fancy . No roof seemed so secure to me as that formed of the dense foliage under which the feathered tribes were seen to resort , or the caves and fissures of the massy rocks , to which the dark-winged cormorant and the curlew retired to rest , or to protect themselves from the fury of the tempest . "

      As he grew up this bias to the study of natural history was fostered by his father , who accompanied him in his forest rambles , and procured all kinds of rare birds and flowers for him . While yet a boy he was sent to Paris , where he studied drawing under David , but he does not seem to have liked the models which he was set to copy— " Kyes and noses belonging to giants , and heads of horses represented in ancient sculpture . " At the age of seventeen he returned from France—then in the midst of its revolution—to the woods of the New World , with fresh ardour , and began a collection of drawings under

      the title of the Birds of America . This collection having multiplied upon his hands , after many years of devoted toil , he was persuaded to undertake the publication of his great work , and with the view of obtaining subscribers he visited Europe in 1821 . Everywhere was he well received . On the Continent , llerschcl , Cuvier , and Humboldt , whom he had encountered in America , gave him a hearty reception , Iu Edinburgh he was warmly received by Jlrewster , Jeffrey , Wilson , and Sir AV alter Scott . Professor Wilson gives a graphic description of Audubon in an article in lilackwood's Mat / a zinc : —

      " When Home five years ago we first set eyeH on him in a party of lilcniti , in ' stately Edinborough throned on crags , ' he was such an American backwoodsman as took the shine out of us modern Athenians . Though dreBsed , of coarse , somewhat alter the fashion of our-BelveH , his lung raven locks hung curling over liin shoulders , yet unshorn from the wilderness . They were bhuded across his open forehead with a ftimple elegance , such as u . simple Clirinliun might be tmnpoHcd to give hia ' fell of hair , ' when pructisiug ' every man bin own

      perruquier / in some liquid mirror in the forest glade , employing , perhaps , for u comb , the claw of the Uald Eagle , lliu sallow , fine featured face bespoke a sort of wild independence , and then such an eye , —keen us that of the falcon ! lli « foreign accent und broken English speech removed him still further out of the commonplace circle of this every-day world of ours , and his whole demeanour was coloured to our thought by a character ofconnuioiiH freedom mid dignity which he had acquired iu his lonely wanderings iwnong the woods . "

      His / Urdu of America was highly successful , lie obtained . 17 ft subscribers , at one thousand dollars each , uud the work was completed in fourteen yours . For some years before his death lu ; was employed , along with . Dr . Baehnmn , in preparing for the press , The QuadnijHth of America , which was published lttBt year .

      Untitled Article

      A MELODRAMATIC PLUNDEH-SCKNK In that pleasant part of the Papal dominions called the JLegaziono di Forli , about half-way between Forli , the capital of the province , and the pretty little town of Cesenu , ho beautifully situated at the foot of the Appenines , u romantic incident , quite in the Radclille style , wan transacted one evening about a fortnight ago . The scene of the adventure wbh the little fortified town of Forlini-Popoli—the . ancient

      Forum Popilii—which contains a collegiate church , a castle built by Ctesar Borgia , and about 4000 inhabitants . The account of the affair is given in a letter from Rome : — " On the 25 th of this month ( January ) , the theatrical corps of Forlini-Popoli was playing the Death of Ccesar , By eight in the evening , the hour when the theatres open in Italy , all movement has disappeared from the streets , windows are closed , and the inhabitants have retired to their homes , the coffee-houses , or theatres . This absence of activity in the streets , which every one remarks at Rome , is still more complete in small towns . It may then be understood how , at Forlini-Popoli , and particularly on an evening when the theatre was open , tne streets should be so deserted as to make possible the occurrence now to be related .

      " The first act of the piece had terminate d , and the curtain had just fallen , when suddenly it rose and disclosed—instead of the actors , who had disappeared—ten brigands of the band del Passatore , who , armed with muskets and carbines , levelled them so as to command the entire range of the pit and boxes . At the same moment , another party , consisting of thirty brigands , made their appearance on the floor of the house , the issues of which were guarded , and , armed with sabres and pistols , menaced the spectators . A moment of stupor , during which no one dared move , elapsed , when the chief of the brigands advanced to the foot-lights , and , exhibiting the keys of the two gates of the town , said : — ' Gentlemen , you see by these that you are entirely in our power : any

      resistance on your part would lead to disasters which I should be the first to deplore , but which it depends on you to avert . Listen , then , to what I have to say . I am about to call out the names of several among you : as I pronounce a name let him who bears it step forth from his box and repair to his house , in company with one or two of my friends , who will assist him to bring hither all his hoards , and that without defrauding us of a porpetto . ' This said , the orator displayed a paper , and commenced reading the fatal roll . Submission was inevitable , A dozen carbineers formed the sole police of Forlini-Popoli . Six of these were in the theatre and had been gagged by the brigands . The six others ,

      surprised in their guard-house , had ventured a vain resistance . The burgomastef was the first victim . " Some time was of course required for this operation , which did not terminate before a quarter to twelve . With a view , however , to shorten the agony of the pit and boxes , two brigands went from spectator to spectator , collecting hatfuls of watches , purses , chains , rings , and even umbrellas . When the harvest was gathered and the booty had been heaped up on the stage , the brigands allowed the curtain to fall , and quietly withdrew , carrying all with them . The money thus obtained amounted to 7000 Roman piastres , or about £ 1600 , and the bijoux , objects of art , &c , to double that sum .

      " The next day an Austrian detachment set out in pursuit of the band , which probably had dispersed by that time in the mountains or passed the Tuscan frontier . Their number is supposed to have been about three or four hundred . It is probable that they were in league with some of the inhabitants . However this may be , private houses and public treasuries all have been plundered . with the exception of the Monte de Piete , the fastening of which resisted all the attempts made to break it . "

      Untitled Article

      MURDERS OF THE WEEK . Two men , named John Wiles and John Smith , entered the house of Williams Wilkins , shopkeeper , in the little village of Nempnett , Somersetshire , and asked for a loaf of bread , Mrs . Wilkins turned round to give it them , when Wiles struck her over the head with a stick . He then rushed at her husband , an old man , knocked him down , and struck him several blows with a spade ; the man named Smith keeping watch at the door all the time . Wiles then took a loaf , several parcels of tobacco , and her pocket containing eleven shillings . The old man died that night , but the woman is expected to survive . The two men , have been apprehended , and Smith has ma de the following confession : — "We came up to the house on Saturday morning last . Wiles coming up said , ' It is a little shop and there are only two old people living there , ' and he said , ' I will go in and get something before I come out again . ' This was between eight and nine o ' clock in the morning . Wiles went to the door and asked for a loaf ; a woman ' s voice answered him inside , but I did not hear what she said . He turned round to me and said in a low tone of voice , ' There is u man sitting in there at bis breakfast , and it will not do now . ' Then he asked me for sixpence , and 1 said , ' I have not got one . ' Wiles said to me , ' What did you send me on nuch a fool ' s errand for , then ' This was said loud enough for the woman to hear . We then both of us walked uway ; we went across the fields to a certain house to try and get some bread . I did not go with him into the house , but I utood In the road , and

      Wiles told me he h < ul got a bit of bread at one of the places . We had then been about three-quarters of an hour away from Wilkins ' a house , and then Wilea said , ' I will go back there ; the man must have gone out from breakfast to his work by this ; ' and lie added , ' 1 will go in , and I will have something before I come out again . ' Wo then came down the road as far a * Wilkinn ' s house , and Wiles went in and said , Now , mistre . st * , 1 fnive got a few halfpence , and I am come back for the loaf . ' When the blows took place I was on the outside , and when I heard the old man scream 'Murder * I went in . Wiles was then beating the old man with a spnde . 1 took the spade out of his hand , and then lie took up an 'Italian iron' lying close by , and Htruek him with that ; and ho Btruck the miHtrenH too . He Htruek the wife with it tho limt . Thin blow knopked her utraiirht on the floor , mid

      Untitled Article

      146 © ft * VLeatltt . [ Saturday ,

      Untitled Article

      THE LATE LORD BEXLEY . Nicholas Vansittart , better known of late years as Lord Bexley , died on Saturday last , at his country seat , Footscray , Kent , in the eighty-fifth year of his age . His career , though not distinguished by striking ability , was a highly successful one . He was the son of Mr . Henry Vansittart , Governor of Bengal , who perished at sea when Nicholas was only four years old . The latter in due time went to school at Cheam , in Surrey , to Christchurch , Oxford , where he took the degree of A . M ., and ultimately was called to the bar on the 26 th of April , 1791 . His success was not brilliant . He attended sessions , went circuit , and duly presented himself in the courts at Westminster , with about the same degree of success which falls to the lot of nine-tenths of the unfortunate individuals who travel that dull round from year to year . In 1796 he was returned to Parliament for Hastings , which he represented till 1802 . By the influence of Lord Addington he then became member for Harwich , a mere Treasury borough , and in 1812 he exchanged it for Old Sarum , so renowned in Parliamentary History . The latter abuse he represented till 1823 . He was made a Lord of the Treaasury , in 1804 , and , after the death of Mr . Perceval , was elevated to the post of Chancellor of the Exchequer , which he retained till 1822 . He was then created Baron Bexley , and appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster , which post he held till 1828 . From that time till his death he mingled little in public life . William Cobbett , who addressed many of his pungent letters to " Statesman Vansittart , " as he called him , was very fond of describing the marvellous rise and progress of the man who began life a " Commissioner of Scotch Herrings" and ended in " a peerage and half a million of money" : — " What is most curious in the history of Van is , that while a nation , whose money matters Van held the management'of , was growing poor , Van was growing rich ! This is something very wonderful . In human life , generally , we find that all belonging to the same concern become rich or become poor together . All being under the influence of the same cause , all experience a similar effect . Just the contrary with Van , who has been rising into enormous wealth , while the industrious millions , of whose wealth he has so long had the fingering , are sinking into misery . " It is said that Lord Bexley has left a large amount of real and personal property . He was married to a daughter of Lord Auckland , who died young and left no family .

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      DINNER OF THE GERMAN CLUB . The " German Club" gave a dinner on Wednesday last in honour of three distinguished of their countrymen , namely , Johannes Ronge , Struve , and Ivinkel . The president of the club , Dr . Julius , assisted by the vice-president , Mr . Franz Thimm , were the leaders of the banquet , which was in many respects a national and interesting one . A number of gentlemen were present who had been members of the Chambers at Frankfort and Berlin ; others who have highly distinguished themselves as journalists or as men of letters .

      After the removal of the cloth , the president proposed " The Deutsche Vaterland , " which was followed by Swindt ' s song—" Was ist der Deutschen Vaterland . " Mr . Thimm next proposed " TheEnglish Nation , " which was drunk with flattering enthusiasm , and three " Hochs . " The toast of Mr . Gerstenberg , who dwelt at length upon the merits of the noble actions of the guests , was enthusiasticall y responded to by all present , but the most interesting scene was the reply of these guests .

      First Rongc ( the well-known reformer and leader of the German Catholics ) epoke of freedom both iu religion and in political life . Next spoke Struve , and his reply was such as would be expected of a dignified and eloquent Republican . But whenKinkel rose , a fine , almost handsome figure , the burst of enthusiasm was great , and he spoke like a poet ; he said he only remembered two evenings of his life—the one when ho took leave of his sleeping children to take up the musket for the political cause of his

      country , and the other the banquet evening , when he took leave of his sleeping children , feeling happy and free , and honoured by lm countrymen on a free and foreign soil . lie spoke with a voice full of music , and uttered thoughts full of nobleness and dignity . As may be imagined , plenty of glees were sung , and a " Commerce , " amongst which the celebrated , ? ' Editc , bibite , " " Gaudeamus igitur , " and even " Der Pabst lebt hcrrlich in der Welt" finished a well attended banquet , in honour of these three distinguished Germans .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 15, 1851, page 146, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1870/page/6/