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Leader (1850-1860), 5th June 1852, Edition Town of 2, Page 534, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      • which , the general , accompanied by the others , left the office Some time after , M'Kinley and the other pensioners left the office and went into the barrack-square , where General Thomas was , with some other officers . The eeneraL on seeing the pensioners , turned round and came In the direction of M'Kinley and shook his clenched fist in a most violent manner at M'Kinley , and said he ( M'Kinley ) was adisgracetothenameof an Enniskilliner , and unworthy to be classed with the name of an Eriniskilliner . Dated 26 th Mav , 1852 . The foregoingis a correct statement . * "F . M KiNi , EY ( copy . ) * ' Present at the foregoing statement , " James Hamilton . "

      Untitled Article

      THE BETTING OFFICE NUISANCE . SIB )—in my last letter I called your attention to the rise arid progress of the betting offices , the general character and previous histories of many of the men who keep them , their immense profits arid the gullibility of their victims . It really seems superfluous to point out the fearful evils all this gives rise to . Our prisons and our convict ships will tell the tale already , though the evil is as yet in its infancy ; if not nipped in the bud by the most uncompromising and immediate measure , much greater harm will ensue . Before Parliament is dissolved some strong jpowers should be given to the magistracy for this purpose .

      I shall run the risk of seeming exaggeration , when I tell you that there are few journeymen or apprentices , few clerks or shopmen , few domestic servants , who have not yielded to the temptation held out by this flatteringly easy way to fortune , which becomes a road to ruin to all . How many have robbed employers and cheated masters to invest their dishonest gains on some fancied certainty for the last great race that has just been deci ded ? how many are now , when too late , bitterly repenting their folly , and execrating the betting offices ?

      Unfortunately , too , all this class generally back one or two horses , as the Opinion of Lord * s coachman is circulated among all the neighbouring flunkies , and from them to others , so that generally they are all on the same animal , and when , as I mentioned in my last letter , that particular horse wins , they see no more of their friend the betting office keeper , and their hard earning , or their dishonest gains , disappear with him . When first these offices were established , a small

      cigar shop was generally the scene of action , and a modest announcement , " A list kept here , " was all that arrested the passer hy . Grown more bold , the cigar trade is relinquished , and "Betting Office , " in large gold letters , in defiance of all our boasted national morality , appears over the window . It has been stated that in one town in the north 50 , 000 ? . was lost on a great race this month , nearly all of which came from the very poor , many of whom pawned even their bedding to pay for the ticket at the betting offices to receive the odds if " Nancy" won . These are very great evils ; another and a smaller one is , that it affords greater facilities for dishonesty in the various racing stables , whose employ 6 s can always obtain liberal rewards for any dishonesty to their masters , from the keepers of these offices .

      It is the interest of every true sportsman , and of every well-wisher to " the Turf" in England , no less than the duty of every Christian gentleman in the country , to join in the cry for the abolition of these nuisances . I fear I have been too prolix in my letter : I could add more , I could tell you of professional men of all professions , who , allured by the secrecy of the thing , have lost hundreds at these offices , which they would have been ashamed to have openly risked—but I feel that I have said enough . I find other far abler writers in the field on the same subject ; and I hope that Government will seo tho thing in its truly serious light , and act with tho prompt vigour the necessity of the case demands . I am , Sir , your obedient servant , O

      Untitled Article

      LIFE NOT AMONG THE GOLD . A YOUNG man who is living in tho house of a friend near Melbourne , wherein ho writes " there is neither table , chair nor bed , " sends home some curious traits of life , not at , but near tho diggings . " Wo are in tho midst of a comploto boul&oerscment Tho' population of this city , and , indeed , of tho whole colony , aro mad with oxeitdmont ; provisipns and fuel are frightfully high . It is almost impossible to , got anything done for love or monoy ; tho polico have all resigned , and refused to ro-ongago under lOir . per day . Tho compositors

      are off to the diggings , although offered a shilling a thousand , and in some instances fifteen pence , and this , too , guaranteed for twelve months . Mon with water carts nro earning 101 . per week . As to tho gold diggers , it is nnpossiblo to toll what they ore doing . " Tho oscort from Mount Aloxandor brought in last Thursday upwards of a ton wojght of gold ; tho value , at SI . per oz ., was 78 . O 00 Z . More than as much again comes in by private hands . Tho earnings of tho mon average , it ia computed , 101 . per wook . I saw a man brought before the magistrates for furious driving , and who was merely ft common labourer , who hod a hank book in his pookot by

      which it appeared he had 4 , 000 Z . at his ^ credit . Some of the persons by our ship have returned with sums varying from 200 ? . to 10 Z . .- ' ¦ ¦ " Of course , there are reverses to the picture ; many are doing wretchedly , arid the tone of society is anything but kgreeable ; robberies , brutal assaults , and even murders axe becoming prevalent . The gold-diggers seem to act on the principle of « lightly come , lightly go . ' There are pubhcrhouses in Melbourne where a man might drink for a month at the expense of others ; and I myself saw at the theatre the other night a ballet girl who had danced the Highland fling ( and very badly she danced it too ) rewarded with a shower—not of bouquets—but of sovereigns , half-sovereigns , and silver . ¦;¦' $ ¦

      In another letter , dated from Geelong , we have some other specimens of want in the midst of plenty . " When I got home , I found all well ; but ^ the end . of the year drew on almost all my people giving me notice that at the conclusion of their engagements they meant to leave me ; and here we are now—the cook left , though I offered her 40 L a-year to remain , and our domestic servants are reduced to little F and J . M—— , who is still a mere child , a native black to cook , and a native boy to Wait at table , &c . In the men ' s hut , where we used to have from eight to twelve men who attended to the dressing the sheep ' s feet , and did all the other work , we are

      reduced to two , who get their rations , and 22 s . 6 a . a-week —22 s . 6 a " . each . My sheep , which used to run in flocks of 1500 to 2000 , are now , or will next week be in four flocks of about 5000 each- —one under the charge of the gardener and his wife , who happens to be under engagement tome till May next ; one under charge of a native black , and the other two with the former shepherds , whose times are not yet out . My late overseer , together with three men who were shearing for me in November , and three others , made a party and went to the diggings . In seventeen days they took out of 16 feet square of ground 1401 b . weight of gold , value between three and four thousand pounds . "

      And thus it is that people are not " badly off" for gold , but quite denuded of the ordinary comforts of European existence .

      Untitled Article

      CAPTAIN ATCHERLEY AND MR . O'CONNOR . We couple the names of these gentlemen together on no other principle of classification than the obvioua and simple one , that they are both eccentric publicly , Mr . O'Connor being not quite so methodical as the well-known captain in his vagaries . The Westminster County Court was crowded , on Wednesday , to hear and see Captain Atcherley , who , as his own lawyer , sought to recover sums of money , in the shape of penalties , from the defendants , Sir Alexander Cockburn ( Attorney-General ) , Mr . Smedley ( the High Bailiff for Westminster ) , and Mr . Bowen ( Chief Clerk of the Exchequer ) , for an infraction of the stamp laws , by placing certain seals upon legal documents , contrary to Act of Parliament .

      The captain , who appeared in the -witness-box with an imperial yard measure , a pile of documents , and sundry books containing the Acts of Parliament from the time of Queen Anne down to the present moment , stated that the first case was for an infraction of-the Weights and Measures Act , which ho was necessitated to bring as a matter of relief to his conscience , he himself being a sworn in officer of the Crown . ( Laughter . ) Mr . Smedloy , as high bailiff , was defendant in this case . The Judge : What is your claim for , sir ? * The Captain ; I would ask Mr . Smedley if ho recognises that stamp P The Judge ; But you must first state your claim .

      The Captain : Under the Act 6 th and 6 th William TV . , c . 68 , s . 31 , ho has no right to place a certain stamp upon any summons issued from this court such as I have in my h and , arid , therefore , I claim under tho Weights and Measures Act . The captain wont on to cito various other Acts in pressing his claim . The Judge : The mode in which to recover tho penalties is to suo for thorn before two or moro justices of tho peace Tho Captain ( eagerly ) : But , sir , this is an instance wherein 1 am sworn in on tho statute of weights and measures . I was sworn in in 1837 , and I find it necessary

      now to save mv conscience , and fturnintr to an Indian in now to save my conscience , and ( turning to an Indian in the roar of tho court ) to keep faith with that chief , who belongs to tho American settlements , to bring this case before the government . Tho Judge : Before I can intorforo I must find out that tho Act under which you euo gives mo a jurisdiction . I have none whatever under this section . ( Laughter . ) Tho Captain : By the , last Act you aro in tho position of tho Court of Exchequer . Tho Judges What Act is that ?

      Tho Captain : Tho original County Court Act . ( Laughtor . ) And Mr , Smedloy has no right to put his seal to any of your records . Tho captain then procoodod to say that ho had upon ono occasion subpoenaed tho Lord Chief Justice Lora Campbell to this court , and had received a polit o lottor from Mr . Cuff , tho chief clork , informing him . that tho 7 « . Or / , paid for tho subpoena would bo returned , upon application for that purpose . The Captain , in reply to tho Court , said : I could not receive that back , bocauso it would be compromising

      mysolf . Besides , tho caao wan brought bofore tho Court as a relief to my mind . ( Bonowod laughter . ) And I mention it now as an additional relief to my mind from compromising a folony . { Roars of laughter . ) Tho Judge : It is uttorly useless to go on with tho case , for I havo no jurisdiction—that is quite clear . Tho Captain : Thon I ' m in an unfortunate dilemma , which ! wish tho government to rootify . Tho polico magistrates havo no power at all , and I como tottho highest authority , which ia tho Court roprosonting this deed . ¦ The Judgo ( emphatically ) : I can mako no order . Mr . Smedloy : Your honour , I bog to apply for cputs in

      this case , and to request that , if awarded , the amount m be given to the poor-box . I makeithis' application to sh ^ Captain Atcherleythat he is riot to call public officers fro * their duties , besides wasting the public time in this w& with impunity . ..- *?> The Judge : I make no order for the pkintiff , and as an officer of this court I am afraid you cannot claim costs . Captain Atcherley _ : Then , sir , I mustrequest * you will allow mi ? to go on with the next case , which . is against ifr Bowen , of the Exchequer ; and my claim in this jg f 0 ' placing a stamp upon the imperial yard , which does nof agree with the deed that accompanies it . The Judge : The Act does not give me any power to act in this matter . ¦ = .

      The Captain ( shaking his head ) : Begging your pardon I think it does . I ' ve paid 700 ? . to government merely to do my duty . Mr . Bowen : Well , that ' s your own fault , captain ( Laughter . ) The Captain : Why should not the Crown officers be obliged to do their duty P The Judge : All I can say is , I have no power to interfere .- ¦ :. ¦ ' . ¦ '¦' ¦ . ¦¦ ¦ " " ¦ . ' . . ' The Captain ( turning over an Act ) : You see , sir , under this Act you are a justice of quorum . ( Laughter . ) At last the captain , finding himself defeated , the second case being dismissed With costs , retired ^ in company with his frienf " the chief , " whom he called " Peter , " and declined to go into the case against Sir Alexander Cockburn

      Mr . Feargus O'Connor made a successful effort to enliven the dulness of our law courts at Westminster , on Tuesday . He began with the Court of Exchequer , making his way to the attorney ' s table , Where he seated himself After earnestly listening to the _ argument for some minutes , he began waving arid kissing his hand to the bench ,, laughing so heartily that he -effectually stopped the proceedings . As the judges were considering what could be done , he cried out to the chief baron , " How do you do . Sir Frederick Pollock ? Very glad to see you looking so welL Sir Frederick ; you ' re a noble fellow ; I like you , I

      dp ; you ' re a good fellow . " The honourable member took his departure , laughing and bowing to the bench , just in time to avoid a forcible expulsion . He then wade a similar display in the Common Pleas ,, where he shook , hands with several of the counsel ,, talking merrily of his trip to Amer ica . He burst into uncontrollable laughter at some principle of law laid down by Mr . Justice Maule , remarking , at the conclusion of each sentence of the judge , j f Ah ! ' * " To be sure . " "Very strange . " He paid his respects to the other courts , not excepting the Lord Chancellor ' s , in the same way , on one occasion slapping a Queen ' s counsel on the back ; and calling him " a jolly good fellow . " Finally he escaped , and sauntered to his hotel .

      Untitled Article

      MISCELLANEOUS . Preston held a feast on Monday-last , and erected a statue in honour of the memory of Sir JJobert Peel . Mr . J . H . Foley , A . E . A ., has received a commission to execute for the Houses of Parliament a statue of Selden . Lord Eglintoun and his Countess have been visiting Malahido Castle , tho seat of Lord Talbot of Malobide , this week . Certain gentlemen Jwho respect the " Marquis of Lansdowne for his public conduct , have requested him to sit for his bust , which they wish to present to him as a testimony of respect . *

      Mr . Ward has boon employed by tho Fine Arts Commissioners to decorate tho Commons corridor in tho Now Houses of Parliament . His subject is " Tho Execution of tho Marquis of Montrose . " Last week wo published a rumour that Mr . Manning ' s return from the Catholic Church to the Church of England was expected . Mr . Manning has given official contradiction to this statement . The Eevorond John Eddowes Gladstone , who officiated in an unconsocratod chapol as a clergyman of the Church ot England , after tho Bishop of London had withdrawn his license , pleaded his cause hy counsol , in tho Arches Court , on Wednesday . After hearing arguments on both sides , Sir John Dodson deferred judgment until next court day .

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      Tho submarino electric tolograph between Eng land and Ireland was completed on Tuesday . It is sunk from Holyhead to Kingstown . Tho band of tho Life Guards plays now , between four and six , every Tuesday and Friday , in Kensington Gardens . ,,. '»„ Hatty ' s Hippodrome , built last year at Kensington , was again opened on Monday . A balloon ascent oponoa tho ovoning ' s proceedings . When will this folly bo put down P . _ Palaco

      Tho Indian Collection exhibited at tho Crystal lost year is about to bo sold by auction . Tho first ealocommoncoa on Monday . T . n i Thoro was a groat influx of excursionists into Livorpooi on Monday , to " tho sea and tho ships . ' ; ; Cheap trips on tho Morsoy wore also arranged for tho visitors . _ Orders havo boon received at Cork from tho Admiralty to havo additional moorings laid down for olovon men m war—tho Channol floofc—which is to visit Quoonstown l » r bour during tho progress of tho Exhibition . It is stated that a fund has boon collected amongst tho English Tory and Protectionist party , amounting 100 , 000 * ., to " work" tho Irish elections . Ace 0 " '"? ., ^ tho reports , Lord Dorby has con tributed 500 W ., a "' noblo duko , who has rocontly joined that party , J "" soribod 10 , 000 / .

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      534 . ^^ fe ; vfr ^ A ^? g ^ -.- [ Saturday ,

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      Tho " locomotive power , carriages , and rolling stock tho Preston and Longridgo Railway havo boon soizoa , « w sold under a warrant of execution I . Only twenty public acts havo received tho Boyal bbm > and thirty-four local acts , in tho present cession , » commenced on tho 8 rd of Fobruory--just four montns .

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), June 5, 1852, page 534, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1938/page/10/