On this page
-
Text (7)
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
-
Untitled Article
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
-
-
Transcript
-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software. The text has not been manually corrected and should not be relied on to be an accurate representation of the item.
Additionally, when viewing full transcripts, extracted text may not be in the same order as the original document.
Untitled Article
the poor fellows to alternate blasts of hot and cold iir . ^ o doubt it is the device ^ of an ansidiouB Government to tell off inconvenient Members . The House , you would suppose , might have ^ the best of candlesticks ; what , therefore , can be the object of placing over Major IJeresford a lamp which is _ constentlv lealrine ? We only remember that Major SK 54 otectionisU When King Edward II . was confined , according to Marlow , his rest was marred , l » nd he was slowly tortured with indignities- they gave him dirty water to wash in j and when he would sleep , " one beat continually on a drum . " In short , they treated him as ill as a Member of Parliament in modem times .
Follow the poor Member to the refreshment room , and there you find him tortured through his purse ; he ie charged six shillings a bottle for sherry ; and , like King Edward , he is humiliated with tablecloths that are not clean ; so says Fitzstephen French . Evidently there is a systematic attempt to break the spirit of the Englishman . After being subjected to toil for twelve or fourteen hours , fevered with hot air , rbeumatized with cold , made faint with speeches , forced to dine off a dirty tablecloth , and charged six shillings a bottle for his sherry—at midnight , when he is fagged , bruised , broken down * oppressed with sleep , unmannedthen ia the time chosen for passing estimates . We see it all .
And all this is done in a building whose windows are illumined with a painting like that , saith Hume , of " the Red Lion at Brentford , " giving to the secret prison , as if in mockery , the air of a convivial house of entertainment I
Untitled Article
POLITICAL LETTERS . IV . —What is Already Done to Hand . February 4 , 1852 . The remarks of several esteemed correspondents and friends remind me that in my last review of " Progress" I ought to have repeated one thing which you will remember me to have said more than once on the subject of " Peace . " Those who desire to keep up the onward movement of mankind should do their best to strengthen the vanguard in every possible way—in moral force , in intellectual
force , and in physical force ; otherwise we abandon the rear of action to those who are against us . Not all the " articles " or sermons in the world could spirit Louis Napoleon ' s mercenary soldiers back to their barracks ; and for want of mounting guard effectively over liberty , thought itself has been exiled from France at the point of the bayonet , ^ he lover of progress who abjures arms , abandons the lever of action to brigands , despots , and any unscrupulous ruffians . " Touch not deadly weapons , " he exclaims , "they are for assassins and burglars ; " and then , when the burglar comes , the philanthropist
sees his library ransacked and his children ' s throats cut , without power of resistance . Or if , unnerved by want of practice , he does lift the unaccustomed weapon , ten to one that in his trepidation , like the Reverend Joseph Smith , of Brampton , he slays an innocent man , like Armstrong of Sorbie Trees . So murderous is the caricature of Peace . The example of the Quaker does not apply : he belongs to a sect , and the fighting is done for him . Another reason why I deprecate the tame spirit which has crept over us is , that to it I ascribe the immense lagging of practical results behind
theoretical opinions . There is scarcely a measure of great and immediate national importance which does not exist in the conclusions already matured by the body of the people . A sound Poor Law , for example , is no imaginary vision of mine , but exists in parts ; not only in the wishes , but in the practice of the people . At Bedford , Oxford , and elsewhere , they have industrial training of the young ; at Chorlton , Sheffield , Cork , Thanet , and many other places , reproductive employment of the able bodied ; at another place , the aged are not mixed with vagrants , but are allowed a due allowance ,
not in the workhouse , but in a " home "; and ho on . Put these existing parts together , and you have the principal pprtion of a sound Poor Law , to which the residue would , be an easy- addition . In the matter of representation , very few indeed deny that every Englishman who pays taxes—and , who does not?—ought to have a vote ; and if there were only an influence capable of bringing that widely spread but scattered conclusion together , we should soon realise a truly National Suffrage . The jpmt | D % ioriAv pfi ^ jwrlishmen are well alive to the imjdr ^^^ J ^ m ^ ssio / oc irms—to the superiority /^^ f ^ ll ^ n Met-, » . Mercenary official force . ^ HfcgjtrotyK ^ party , it would not have to fr 7 | tytyfif l ^ i ^^ kS 0 ^ f" a On tneBe can * inul I 1168
tions : the opinion already exists j and I believe that if there were any set of men , who could command the general hearing from a sufficiently elevated position—who would thus give unity of voice to the common feeling—and who could utter that feeling with a hearty generous faith in the sound English stuff o' conscience , they would at once find themselves at the head of a united nation ; would by the very fact , possess power to decree _ the measures that the country most urgently needs y would make us forget all party feuds ; would bring the State on the instant to its full vigour , and would , take the lead in Europe powerfully , safely ,
beneficially , for all mankind . « if » __ alas ! that the word should be the dosed postern to so much that is quite possible were the postern opened . But it is by seeing the possibility that we shall find ourselves roused to the work ol attempting . I ask no man to take me at my word I beg every reader not to dismiss what I say as rash because I have come quickly to an end ; but to take the facts for his own observation and digestion , and say if faith , hope , andpcharity , might not thus command the triumph of a popular party . Thornton Hunt .
Untitled Article
JBBEY SNEAK NOT DEAD . It is a fact . He is extant still—the small sinner . Now and again he appe a rs on the scene of things , and plays bis pranks instinctively , and with a certain dim effulgence , tempering his appearance to mortal vision . Yes , Jerry exists . An energetic and indignant correspondent makes a note of the fact : *— Kemp Town , February 4 , 1852 . Sib , — My previsions have been fulfilled . The English Minister for Foreign Affairs has been sacrificed , by the Jerry Sneak of modern Whiggery ^ to a contemptible Court intrigue . Will the English People accept a connterfeit " Coburger " from the hands of the family" smashers ? Yours obediently , W . C . If they do the Eng li s h P eop le will be worthy of their Jerry , and their Jerry will be worthy of them .
Untitled Article
BECEIPT -BOB . A CABINET PUDDING . The following lines were orig inall y suggested by the entourage of that amiable Prince-President who enjoys the sympathies of Dowhing-street , and on the security of whose good and pacific intentions , Derby and Russell are equall y ready to "do a bill . " We are more than ever reminded , by the deportment of our Ministry on the first night of the session , how nearly Cabinets resemble one another . What is here written of the President , may—barring the difference of the moral atmosphere—be equally app licable to Russell and Co .: — En formant son conseil intime , A Notre Sauveur A choisi dee gens qu ' on estimo A leur valeur . II a compris par son gGnio Lo grand hfiros , Qu ' une unite se fortifle Far des zCros . C .
Untitled Article
THE FRIENDS OF ITAXY . An active course seems to be decided on by the Friends of Italy . Their first Conversazione will be held at the Freemason ' s Hotel on Wednesday next , when Mr . Mazzini will deliver a lecture . We very heartily welco m e his appearance before the public , confident that he will thereby greatly benefit the cause of his country . Englishmen need to be spoken to through their favourite institutions ; and a popular leader who has the gift of eloquence , and power of speaking his inspired , as well as deliberate convictions , in strong and chosen language , is bound to use that power to advance the noble aim he has in view .
Untitled Article
HEFOUM AT A DISCOUNT . Thehk is little room for wonder if the Engliah people find a general misconception of English interests prevailing in high quarters , Lord Grey declares solemnly , that the newspapers do not express the feelings of this country when they censure the coup d'etat and its infamous author ; and Lord Derby avers , that not five hundred men of sense care for reform . How , then , does ho suppose that newspapers maintain their circulation ?
" One very striking fact , " says the British Quarterly Review , " ascertained from an examination of the stamp returns for the . last fifteen years , is the very limited circulation of Conservative nowspapers compared with that of papers which advocate commercial and politioal reform . Out of London there ia only one Tory journal circulating more than 4000 copies weekly , and only two besides it which can boast of a circulation above 3000 . On the other hand , there are no leas than eighteen Liberal nowspapers circulating upwards of 3000 copies each , and of these there are nine with a circulation above 5000 each , six with a circulation above 6000 , three abo v e 8000 , two above 90 0 0 , and one oiroulatingjipwards of 11 , 000 copies weekly . If this comparison of tlm respective circulation of
firstclass Liberal and Conservative newspapers may beTaiT " as a criterion of the comparative political inteili RenPp * 5 activity of the two great parties , the facts we have at « t j are well worthy the attention of statesmen . From theR £ ? mentwehave given it will be seen that the prbnol ; of Liberal to Conservative papers of the class ment ^ ll is as si x to one , while the difference becomes still Vn striking if we take into account the' small aRRre ™ consumption of stamps among the ' Protectionists c 7 mT pared with , the large number required by the friends * progress . It appears , for example , that the number Jt Stamps taken in I 860 by two free-trade journals ; f Lancashire—the Manchester Guardian and the Man . Chester Examiner—viva equal to the whole of the etamn consumed by the entire Conservative press of the fni lowing fifteen counties—Bedford , Berk s , Bucks Can . bridge , Cornwall , Cheshire , Devon , Dorset , Essex ! Hert . " Kent , Leicester , Lincoln , Wilts , and Warwick . " '
Untitled Article
NOTES ON WAR . BY A SOLDIER , No . V . —The Swobd . The adoption of the sword as the weapon for the masses of a military force , would cause war to become so much , a matter of daring and devotion , so much dependent for success on intelligence , a faith , a pur-Sose , and a good cause , that no mere mercenary sol . iers would ever be able to compete on a fair field with men engaged in defending their liberty against a tyrant , or their hearths and homes against an invader . I consider the sword to be the queen of weapons , the brave man ' s weapon , the very flourish of which in the air gives confidence to the warrior , and strikes terror into the heart of the enemies who know that they have not equally serviceable means of opposing its vigorous action in the inevitable mele ' e . It is the most rapid and certain in its execution of all weapons j good for striking and for parrying a blow , easily recovered after a parry or a thrust , and superior to the lance , because an opponent cannot rush to a still closer combat within and beyond the range of its effect : it becomes useless in fight only w ith the fall of its owner . But the lance or pike is a most formidable and efficient arm , and would be irresistible if
opposed to the bayonet ; it has its peculiar advantages ; and as many men would have predilections in its favour—and it must always be desirable that all should have confidence in their weapons—some corps migh t be ar m ed w ith pike s , always endeavouring to reserve the largest and most powerful men for swordsmen . B oth for elbo w roo m and for rapid w ork the sword should not be more than twenty-five inches in length , very slig htl y curved , and doubied-edged for eig ht inches from the point , half basket-hilt . For the construction of a s e r v ic e able s hi e ld , I would willingly
trust to some of our ingenious mechanics ; oval , conve x , formed of layers of hardened leather , encircled and bound with a hollow iron rim to prevent a sword or ba y onet thrust slipp ing over its edge ; it might easily be made ( although l i g ht and handy ) s trong enough even to turn a musket ball . In its centre boss , the point a little curved upwards , s hould be fixed a stout sharp blade about six inches long , with a cutting edge , which would be a valuable defence and a formidable auxiliary at close quarters with cavalry ; but w o u ld o f course be carefull y sheathed on the march , when the shield is'slung over the back . The pike needs no descri pti o n : it s ho u ld not b e m
than nine feet in length . The instruction of soldiers should not be made up of those endless " cross over , down the middle and up again" evolu t ions , which only c o nfu s » na mistif y by their complications ; they should be taught to run , to wrestle , to leap , to fenc e , and to take a pride in their personal prowess . The manceu--vres necessary for actual service are few and simple : wh e n men h av e le a rne d t o ma r ch s trai ght to their fr o nt , to step together , to make a steady dep loyment from column and advance in line , th ey are , w » ti stout hearts and good weapons , fit to do anything that can be required of them . And they should do made to understand the nature of the difficulties they will have to overcome , and of tho dangers to wh'cu the y w ill b e e xposed , so that in tho day of trial tnoy may not , through ignorance , be unprepared aim
astonished . The organization and drill of infantry would W very simple . Without maintaining that theso pi - portion s ar e abso lu t e l y tho best that could bo arrunb << > I should pioposo to have one-fourth of a f <> r j infantry trained to uct as skirmishers , and furnisn with tho most suitable firearms , and tho rejnain" * three-fourths armed partly with p ike s , and P » " J with swqrds and shields , fo r close fig hting . i » «• j \ a regular army , each battalion might consist ol eif , companies , each of seventy-five rank and n » o , i two flank nrtmnnnfna l-miniy riflnm « n . foMMiff " .
r equire d n bod y of skirmishers amply suilicieni cover th e fr o nt of th o four and fift y ugly custoine t » who wo uld foll ow the m , roady to rush in witu u cold steel as soon as the proper distance haa » gained . And by tho side of tho sword or pike ov bayonets might do something . Eaoh company , j » of riflemen and swordsmen , should bo drawn up two ranks , with an interval of a foot between ov «« j
Untitled Article
13 * g »* Ht ** tt 4 [ SATDRDAy
-
-
Citation
-
Leader (1850-1860), Feb. 7, 1852, page 132, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1921/page/16/
-