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Leader (1850-1860), 22nd February 1851, Edition Town of 2, Page 168, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      supply of arms and money , which , he has obtained from a foreign power ; Montevideo , most probably . We give the reports eurrent in the papers—none of them , however , accurately informed- It is against enterprises of this nature , chiefly , that Austria is anxious to secure her own states no lees than those of her allies ; and for that purpose she would lead the troops of the German Confederation all over the Swiss territories up to the frpntier of France . . . On the other hand large masses of Austrian troops were described as condensing on the Ticino , threatening the Piedmontese boundaries . This intelligence

      was first spread by the Croce di Savoia , and seems , if not wholly ill-grounded , at least greatly exaggerated . There is no doubt , however , that Germany is organizing itself into a vast military power . The troops of Electoral Hesse are expected to be marched into Bohemia , whilst Cassell , Hanau , and other Hessian places will receive Austrian garrisons . Austria is bullying Denmark in the same style . She demands a Customs Union with that power , and a modification of the Sound Duties . The constitution is to be remodelled after the last Austro-Russian fashion . All the demands of Austria have been acceded to in all

      essentials . Finally , a combined federal army is to be stationed on the Rhine from Radstadt to Diisseldorf , having its centre at Frankfort and Mayence . It is neither more nor less than a cordon against France . The Hanover Gazette of the 12 th has the following : — " On thp 3 rd of December last Lord Palmerston addressed to the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin a note , in ¦ which he stated that having learned that Prussia and Austria had agreed to enter the Germanic Confederation with the States not included in it by the treaty of Vienna , he was called on to declare that the territory of the Germanic Confederation was not formed solely by the

      ¦ voluntary union of the States which constitute it , but by a European treaty ; so that the territory could not be modified without the consent and accord of all the powers which signed the treaty of Vienna . In forming the Germanic Confederation , the principle was admitted that it should only be composed of German elements . This fundamental principle had been abandoned in the convention referred to . The British Government , however , not having received positive and comp lete news on this affair , did not at the moment think it right to pronounce formally on the projected change , but it hoped that the Cabinets of Vienna and Berlin would , before

      taking any definitive resolution , g ive it precise explanations on the nature and object of the projected modifications , and on the motives which might appear to render then desirable . It specially demanded explanations on the point as to what sort of intervention one or several members of the Germanic Confederation proposed to exercise in the interior of affairs of States which might be-Ipngtoit , and in any differences which might arise between the Sovereigns and subjects . The French Government , having received the official news that Austria proposed to enter the Germanic Confederation with all her States , hastened to declare to the Cabinet of Vienna that the

      French Republic would consider the projected extension of the territory of the Confederation as an affair which should be treated by all the parties who signed the treaty of 1815 . " If we were to admit all the rumours that find their way into the French papers , the President would already have given his disposition for putting the army of occupation at Rome on the war-footing . An army of observation was immediately to form on the Khine , and an early day appointed for a grand review of

      5000 men in the Champs de Mars . We hear of repeated protests on the part of the French Republic , backed by those of the English Cabinet , against all these alarming measures : England and France , it seems , are still persuaded that Austria and Russia m ; iy be amenable to the treaties of 181 . 5 ; they must , in that case , forget that they alone , and the weaker states , have ever been bound by those cobweb treaties , and that the northern powers have , in repeated instances , triumphantly walked through them .

      Untitled Article

      A THREATENED EGYPTIAN QUARREL . The latest accounts from the Kant contain intelligence of alarming importance respecting Egypt . The first announcement was the following telegraphic demmteh from Vienna : — " Viknna , Feb . Id . —The latest news from Eujypthuve an extraordinary importance . " The Porte has made categorical demand * on the Viceroy , with which he huu refused to comply . Instead of reducing his army to ' 20 , 000 men the Viceroy Ikih ordered new levies of 40 , 000 men for the land , and 15 , 000 for the sea force , lie will resist the pretension *! of the Hultan , if necessary , with arms . " Two days later the following letter from Trieste was received , with n more detailed account of the quarrej . between the Porte and the Puchu : —

      • ' TritiHte , IV 1 > . 12 . " News direct from Alexandria , of the Oth instant , mention intimations having been made from the I'orte of the following reforms , to he carried into execution with reference to Egypt : —l « t . Reduction of the land tax to a third of its present amount ; ' 2 nd . Reduction of the standing army of Egypt , to 20 , 000 men ; ilrd . The total disarmament ( abtak ' r . lung ) of tin : fleet , or rather the placing it ut the Hole disposition of the Porte ; 4 tli . The

      constant r » sideaoe of the Inspector-General , Mahomed AU Pacha ,, in Egypt ; 5 th . The regulation of the income of the Egyptian princes , according to a fixed scale . Abbas Pacha , the Viceroy , has refused to obey these orders , but will rather , if necessary , resist them with arms . He has ordered a levy of 40 , 000 men , 25 , 000 for the augmentation of the army , and 15 , 000 men for the navy , who are to bo immediately put in preparation for active service . The Beichs Zeitung makes , among others , the following observations on this news : — ' Any one who recollects the toast which the Governor-General of India

      gave last year on the landing of British troops in kgypt ; any one who bears in mind the desire which a certain power has always displayed to monopolize the straits of Suez , cannot doubt from what quarter this blow comes , or who directs it . The conduct of France on this occasion should be most decided . France will recollect that m 1840 she represented interests which ? . re now endangered by the dictatorial conduct of the Porte . Will she look quietly on and see the power of Egypt , she then considered necessary to maintain , broken to pieces in tne hands of the successor of Mahomed Ali ? ' "

      Untitled Article

      A THREATENED KAFFIR WAR . The latest journals and private letters from the Cape of Good Hope , bring intelligence of a threatened Kaffir outbreak . The inhabitants of Graham Town , and of British Kaffraria , were migrating in large numbers . The Cape Frontier Times says : — " The districts immediately on the border are being fast denuded of inhabitants , who are removing their families and stock to a place of security . The country in some parts is said to be covered with sheep that are unable , from fatigue and exhaustion , to keep pace with the flocks . In some places , we are informed that as soon as a flock has made its appearance on a farm , the proprietor assembles his people and causes the animals to be driven to the next farm , from which they are driven in the same manner . The losses incurred by this removal of stock will be immense . "

      A proclamation was issued by the Governor , on the 11 th December , calling on the inhabitants to enroll themselves for the general defence . It was understood that most , if not all , the troops stationed in Graham ' s Town would be removed to the frontier , and that the inhabitants would have to undertake the duty of providing for their own defence . Local militia were being enrolled for self-defence in all the towns of the eastern province , and it was expected like measures will be taken in Orange River , Sovereignty , and Natal . From other parts of South Africa the intelligence is of a melancholy nature . Jonker Afrikander , the dreaded Namaqua chief , had committed some atrocious murders at New Barman , in Damaraland . On the 23 rd of August , Afrikander fell upon the persons who lived on Mr . Kolbe ' s station , Schuslen ' s Erwartung , killing many of them , and inflicting the most unheard-of cruelties on others . Mr . and Mrs . Kolbe , missionaries of the Rhenish society , narrowly escaped with their lives .

      Untitled Article

      PIEDMONT . We have consoling news from Piedmont . That state has a loyal Government at its head , and this in the present crisis is better than the most liberal . The rumours of a split in the Cabinet , arising from the resignation of Count Siccardi , have been firmly contradicted . Letters from our own correspondent assure ua that the Count is labouring under a severe nervous indisposition ; for the rest , he is on the very best terms with his colleagues , and far from abandoning the line of policy to which the law that bears the count's name gave the initiative , the Government are now busy with the preparation of a bill for civil marriages .

      Siccardi ' s successor in the Ministry is not yet appointed . The gentleman spoken of as likely to hold his portfolio , Massa Saluzzo , is well known for his liberal opinions , especially on religious matters . The Croce di Savoia states , from good authority , that Siccardi ' s resignation has not been accepted . The Marquis d'Azeglio presented his budget for foreign affairs , before the House of Deputies , in its sitting of the 12 th , He prefaced it b y a noble speech , which has made tke tour of all the European press . The language he held must sound rather new to diplomatic ears . The Sardinian Minister contended that " honesty is the best policy . " He will not admit that there is a , conscience and honour for public men different from that which regulates the- transactions of private life . The activity of the public press

      throughout Europe renders all crooked Machiavellian policy an impossibility . He appeals to the House to bear him witness that truth and probity have characterized the poliey of his Government both at home and abroad . He refers to the circumstances under which tho present Government eumu into power at the ( Jose of tho campaign of Novara , in a Htuto overwhelmed by two great successive disasters . He congratulates his countrymen on the fact that Piedmont was still in existence . It had survived Casto / . a and Novara , it had steered through the turmoil of the worst conflicting pasnionH , withstood the coalition of all the powers of evil . Piedmont existed—thank Heaven for it!—free , independent and happy . Its preservation , under Providence , was due to the honour and probity of its King , the mudonco of ittt

      Pwrliamepl , af& * h « vfrfcue of its people : faf " Pwdmont is an old Jaad , of probity # n , d hqnouy . For what concerns its foreign relations * I > A * eg"P had endeavoured to send forth such represent $ trv <* 8 as might deserve the proud eulogy of Lord Chesterfield , who " advised his son on his visiting foreign capitals to seek out the Piedmontese diplomatists , as he would invariably find them men of great worth . The radical deputy , BrpffWrio , having recommended the Government to brea ) : off all connection with foreign powers , and send all dip lomatists to the right about , the Minister replied that he also irould wish such a course might be found practicable . But Piedmont was part of the great European community . icseu

      It was not in its power completely to isolate ; and diplomacy must still be resorted to , if not otherwise , at least in self-defence ; and it was important that the Sardinian representatives should be chosen with regard to their character and abilities rather than to their rank and wealth , and consequently enabled by competent salaries to keep up the dignity of the country . The effect of this rare speech was thrilling . It led to the immediate triumph of the Cabinet . The chamber forthwith proceeded to the discussion of the articles of the budget . Some members proposed reduction in the secret service money : but the house rejected it , and voted the whole sum by acclamation ; thus wishing to give the minister a signal proof of confidence .

      The discussion was continued on the 13 th , 14 th , and 15 th . Important reduction of the expenditure was proposed and adopted , especially by the suppression of ministers to Portugal , the United States , Sweden , Bavaria , and Brazil .

      Untitled Article

      INDUSTRIAL DISTURBANCES . THE SUFFOLK . KTOTERS—THE 8 A . ILOB . S' STRIKE . The Times Commissioner has been despatched to Suffolk to inquire into the circumstances connected with the recent riot in Barham Workhouse , and his report thereupon appears in the columns of " the leading journal . " As the rioters had complained principally of the insufficiency of food , his first inquiries were directed to that point . He found that the dietary tables contain the following scale of allowances : —

      " Breakfast for men , 7 oz . of bread and 14 pint of gruel ; for women , 6 oz . of bread and 1 $ pint of gruel . Dinner for men on Monday , Thursday , and Friday , 8 oz . of bread and l ^ o z . of cheese ; for women , 7 oz . of bread and l £ oz . of cheese ; on Tuesday and Saturday , for men and women , 5 oz . of cooked meat and 12 oz . of potatoes and vegetables ; on Wednesday and Sunday , for men and women , 1 J pint of soup and 7 oz . of bread . The supper allowances are the same as those for breakfast . " This , he found , is fully equal to the dietaries of the other unions in the district , and especially to that of the Ipswich Workhouse , " an exceedingly wellmanaged establishment , where complaints of insufficient food are almost unknown . " He was also informed that , under the old poor law , there

      were quite as many grumblers as there are at present , although they were better fed then ; " weight of cooked meat was 8 oz . instead of 5 oz ., and the inmates had beer besides . " Finding that the dietary would not account for the disturbance , he proceeded with his investigation , and the conclusion he came to was that the riot had been planned for the purpose of assisting the cry of agricultural distress at tbe commencement of a new session of Parliament . It appears that the whole of the poor-law guardians in the Barham union are , with one doubtful exception , stanch Protectionists , so that one cannot feel much surprise at their resorting to such a stratagem in order to get up a case We must confess that the facts related by the

      commissioner have a very ugly look : — " I find that on the 1 st of January last the number of ablebodied male inmates was 50 ; on the 8 th , 57 ; on the 16 th , 78 ; on the 22 nd , 94 ; on the 29 th , 96 ; on the 5 th of February , 108 ; on the 10 th , the day of the disturb - ances , 124 ; and that on the 12 th it had fallen to 78 . 1 find that on Saturday , the 9 th , 37 men came in , and 1 am informed by the governor , Mr . Howard , that he repeatedly urged the board not to send in more people , the house waa already overcrowded . His remonstrances were disregarded , and one of tho guardians , I « m m formed , avowed in the board-room the intention of ^ tne farmers to force their labourers into the house . * ney must , he « aid , fill the unions , in order to teach the 1 <>" Law Commissioners the reality of agricultural distress , which would

      and they would thus produce an effect ' Bpcak volumes to the Legislature' Similar expree-« ions of their intention and wishes have been hearu to escape from many farmers by respectable wii - nesses in the presence of their labourers , and not un ^ frequently what was said was capped with the oop ' that , when the place waa filled to the windows , " } ° * ' , " pers would prill it down , or at least that there might w a row . ' There can be no doubt that an impreflsN n P ™ - " vailed among the paupers that a workhouse di aturhtinwould not be disagreeable to the farmers ; and one ol i - ringleaders would , I am told , if naked the question , enow that this wuh the case . I am not able to discover tt | n < "'" the inmates themselves any knowledge that their rlo * V . conduct was to be mudo subservient to political P P ° " / but 1 may mention that , on the very night th « outw «»

      Untitled Article

      168 « & « * g »» gr . [ Sa « tw >» t ,

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 22, 1851, page 168, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1871/page/4/