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Leader (1850-1860), 1st January 1853, Edition Town of 3, Page 15, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      There is no learned man but will confess he hath much profited by reading controversies , his senses awakened ^ , J udgment sharpened . If , then , it be profitable tor him to read , why should it not , at least , be tolerable for his adversary to write . —Milton .

      Untitled Article

      THE "MELBOURNE . " ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , —In a recent number , you recounted the misfortunes of the ill-fated Melbourne , and denounced the government who sold , and the company who bought , the ship . You will have seen , by the papers obtained by Mr . Divett , that the government did not sell the Melbourne to the company , but to a Mr . Scott Russell , who agreed in exchange for her to build a serviceable vessel . As trustees for the nation , I cannot think but that the government acted properly in exchanging an old tub for a good vessel , although the value of the former probably exceeded that of the latter by 6000 ? . or 70 O 0 £ . No one can object to Mr . Scott Russell ' s bargain , who , as a private individual , of course is the best judge of his own affairs , and a disinterested person will congratulate him on getting rid of her for 36 , 000 Z . to the R . A . M . S . S . Company . As a shareholder in the company , I must , however , protest against the directors having purchased such a vessel , more especially when I understand that it was the individual act of the chairman , " who was authorized by the board , to buy a screw-steamer , equal to the Queen of the SoutJi , and fit for the company's service . " Instead of this , he

      purchased the Melbourne—a steamer of one-half the tonnage ; and the passengers who came from Lisbon can say whether she is fit for the company's service . I « m the more indignant , when I understand ( by Mr . Divett's papers ) that she was bought from Mr . Scott Russell ; for I am given to understand that it was entirely through his breaking his former contract that the Melbourne was wanted to proceed with the mails At the general meeting it was announced that the company had contracted with that gentleman for two boats , the Adelaide and Victoria , to take out the October und December mails . I believe- that the

      contract was for the Adelaide to be delivered up to the company , ready for sea , on the 13 th of September , and tho Victoria on the 13 th of November . This contract , 1 believe , was signed in May or April , and in default of the vessels being delivered , u penalty of 150 / . u-day was to ho imposed on tho contractor . The Adelaide Was not launched till tho KJth of November , nor delivered to the company till tho iJfJth , or thereabouts . Heaven knows when the Victoria will be launchedin about ten weeks , I believe , if ( . hey keep on working at her . Two excuses , of which I will presently dispose , arc inndo for Mr . Scott Russell ' s non-performance of his contract— " the high price of iron , " and tho " strike of tho amalgamated engineers , " by which Mr . Scott Russell lost several of his host hands . It is rumoured

      that tho company do not intend to enforce , tho penalties which would , in tho case of tho Adelaide , reduce ! her prico one-half , and still more cheapen th « Victoria , though indeed they will go but a short way to indemnify the company for tho money thrown away on the Me . lhourne , to say nothing of tho bad name tho company havo thereby acquired . The chairman , at the mooting in November , used the ominous phrase , " that as for exaetingdamages , womust talk to tho luwyersahoutthat . " Now , sir , if we can obtain damages from Mr . Scott , RuhhoU . I maintain that neither of the two pleas I have

      mentioned ought to shield him . As for the high price of iron , Mr . Scott Russell should havo thought of that , and of the probable further increase in the price of that lriotal , before he entered into tho contract . Many highly respectable linns sent in fenders —( Were they opened " by tho directors , or by tho consulting engineer in fheir presence ?)—Mr . Mare , Messrs . I ' arkiiiHon amcl Coutts , &e ., Ac . -and they wore rejected as beinp higher in price than Mr . Scott RuhhoH'h . If , is not fair to Uicho roHpcctnblo uhip-buildcrs that ono

      farthing of damages should be remitted . Now for tie " amalgamated engineers' strike . " This , I believe , is a quarrel between two parties—the master on one side , his workmen on the other . If we are called on to he merciful to the master , because our directors sympathise with him , we may also be called on to protect the workman ( with whom , doubtless , many of the shareholders agree ) from the effects of the strike . ' Many very deserving men , I have no doubt , run up long scores wi th their bakers and butchers from the effects of that strike . Are the company prepared to remunerate them ?—for if they are not , a great act of injustive will be done if the extreme penalty is not exacted from Mr . Scott Russell .

      Perhaps it may turn out , however , that we cannot recover damages , as the contract may have been vitiated by some small alterations . If so , let it be proclaimed , and let the blame rest where it shouldeither with the consulting engineer ( a brother-in-law of the chairman ' s ) , who advised such costly alterations , or with the solicitor who drew out the contract so clumsily . I have been told that a contract can never be enforced , and I have so little experience of these

      matters , that I do not know if this be correct or not ; but if it is correct , a question must present itself to everybody— " What was the advantage in procuring any contract at all ( which cost the company , I believe , from 401 . to 501 . ) , if it was impossible to carry it into effect ? Hoping you will rouse the shareholders from the lethargy into which they have fallen , I am , Sir , yours , &c , A Shareholder . December 15 th .

      Untitled Article

      THE TRUE TEST OF A MAN'S BELIEF . ( To the Editor of the Leader . ) Sir , —The Leader is worthy of its name . Your remarks on the recent treatment of Mr . Holyoake , as usual , go for absolute justice—neither more nor less . The principle which you lay down—that a man's speculative opinions , whatever they may be , shall be no bar to his possessing the full rig hts of citizenship—is one that presses for a settlement . There is nothing to be added to your clear and distinct assertion of it . It is a cheering sign that you are not alone in your advocacy of this great principle ; that one or two , at least , of your contemporaries have manfully recorded their protest in its favour . But I observe that they express a sort of anxiety to disclaim any participation in the position of the " unbeliever . " Now , I do not for a moment complain of this expression of feeling , or doubt its sincerity . I only wish to state , us brieily as possible , why it seems to me to be uncalled for , and to proceed from a superficial view of the case .

      Whether or not I shared Mr . Holyoake ' s opinions , I should regard his position in this affair as proof of a moral circumspection above the average , and , therefore , calling for congratulation rather than the opposite sentiments . What , at the present day , is implied by a man accepting the position of a " believer , " and beingready to answer the question of the court ? Is it that his belief is the result of evidence , study , conviction , and issues in a pure and devout life ? Let the public

      answer according to its experienco . Ihe fact is , we an all such " believers" as pass muster in a court of law Mr . Holyoake is a rare exception . My own experienc ( leads me to suppose that religious profession , to the law court requirement , means only unthinking or interested habitual conformity in ten cases , for one in which it means ' personal conviction ; that , for one in which it implies a devout and beneficent life , it implies tho more level , worldly character iu a hundred .

      Now , what does the public avowal of " unbelief imply ' i Independent thought ., a preference of truth to Holf-interest ,, and some , courage . If you tell me thai , a man is a " believer , " you toll mi : nothing . I would not trust him with half-a-crovvn without further knowledge of him . If you tell mo thai , a man has publicly und persistently avowedhis disbelief in almost universally received opinions , thereby encountering serious misrepresentation , I suspect him to bo : m honest , courageous man . And , paradoxical as it may sound , I should call the state of mind of that man . Atheist thou < rli ho wore ,

      more religious- than that of most ordinary " believers . He i . t bound , and shows tho strongest , attachment , to something higher than more selfish uuil prudential considerations ; which is more than can he suid for tho common believer . How nu \ ch longer . shall men ho bamboozled by names ? What arc we to look at in rating men according to their religious opinions ? Tho net result , which may bo stated in a formula , communicated to tho ear , and mumbled , purrot-liko , by tho mouth ; or tho qualities of mind mid heart , involved iu their formation and maintenance .

      In the little village in which 1 live , we are all " believers . " Wo eat , and drink , and sleep a good deal , are more or less clad , and protected from tho weather by houses , varying iu their architecture from tho suh-Ktuntiiil to tho pigsty order . Thoso of us who can

      spare the time , and have acquired the art , draw landscapes , read the papers , and play at sixpenny whist in the evening . The rest stare at the fire , if they have one , lounge against the wall , or get fuddled at the beer-shop . There is a good deal of ignorance and drunkenness , and some poaching ; but we don't interfere with each other . Every man for himself , and the parson for us all , —for we have a parson , of course . He is a good-looking , burly , apoplectic man , who drives in here once every Sunday , puts on the surplice , reads the service , and goes home again . That ' s all we see Oi him . But it proves that we are all "believers ; " else you really might not have supposed it . We don't do , or say , or think , as far as I can see , anything , in consequence of our belief ; but I can warrant us all to

      answer questions of faith in any court , as shortly and satisfactorily as may be required . But we are rather alarmed , just now , because an " unbeliever" has come to live in a neighbouring village . It must be admitted that the new-comer is a lady of the highest character . Her life is one of the most untiring and devoted activity . When she is not employed with her books or her pen , she is visiting the cottages , suggesting and carrying out plans of improved building and ventilation , or kindling the minds and bri ghtening the faces of her poorer neighbours by simple lectures on temperance , science , or history . But we object to her . We are positive that she would not answer Mr . Commissioner Phillips's questions—as required . My letter has rather changed its tone , hut in thinking on this subject , one's mind vibrates between indignation and amusement .

      I hope you will continue your attacks , as long as an honest and conscientious man is liable to be scolded from the bench by a judge , who may have climbed there by a strict attention to the maxim" Ply every art of legal thieving 1 , No matter—stick to sound believing !" I am , Sir , yours trulv , Gloucestke ^ SIS .

      Untitled Article

      SLAVERY . ( To the Editor of the Leader . Sir , —Concurring in your view of the Ladies-of-England Manifesto to America , one remark in connexion occurs to me , which perhaps may be worth making whilst the Ladies and Women of England are talking about it , for they will talk about it certainly . The class-feeling manifested here towards African blood ( not in romantic circumstances ) has been alluded to in a general way , and that towards white governesses in particular , and the remarks made seem to me to apply with still greater force und wider scope to the spirit frequently displayed towards our domestic servants—in the middle classes , at least . I have known ladies ( ardent admirers of Uncle Tom ' s Cabin ) who will do and say tilings regarding this class of women which seem to me to have in them the essential spirit of Slavery—and if I imagine how they would act if these " helps" were of another colour , and could not give " warning , " and might be whipped—1 am obliged to close my eyes to the picture . I really dare not be too sure in some cases if " sacred marriage " would 1 ) 0 a permit for a good servant lo live with her husband on another estate , when I remember the tone of remark heard . sometimes on marriages of servants ; to say nothing of the " no followers allowed" system . Far be it from me < o assert , that the feeling I . speak

      of has not , legions of exceptions , who think with Leigh Hunt of " homes' inhabiting stranger * , " but that there is much of it J am sure : and I think it may be good for us all to try to remember in connexion with Slavery , that ; its spirit essentially is the tyranny of power , the selfish exaction from any of more than is due , the infringement on the part of any of the sacred individual circle of free- life , demanded for the health of every human being , deprived of which , that being is ccrtamlif degraded either into hypocrisy or worse meanness .

      These remarks will not . he misconstrued , I hope , into any other feeling than your own , as to the generous feeling no doubt uppermost in the Ladies' Meeting at Stafford House , or as any echoing of that , ridicule of philanthropy which . says , in effect , " always look to your own home- —and nothing else . " I am , Sir , rcspecl . fully ' yours , l )< M- ( Miil >< Tr > , m >' £ . ( - I < J - ' -

      Untitled Article

      «« DEPARTMENT , AS ALL OPINIONS , HOWEVER EXTREME ABB ALLOWED AN EXPRESSION , THE EDITOR NECESSARILY HOLDS HIMSELF RESPONSIBLE FOR NONE . ]

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      Untitled Article

      January 1 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 15 *" . _ .

      Untitled Article

      " Mau ( 1 / Viu < : tYi Kdiication . " -- " A school , sir , where it was a rule to take in nothing lower than tho daughter of a professional man—they only waived tho rule in my case—( . lie most , genteel school perhaps in all London ! A . drawing-room-deportment day oneti every w .,, | c _| , hi ) girls taught how to ( inter a room and leavo a room with dignity and ease- —a model of a carriagedoor and sfeps , in ( ho back drawing-room , to practise the girls ( with the footman of the establishment in attendance ) in getting into u carriage und getting out agnin , in < ladylike , graceful manner ! No duchcsH has hnd a better education thun my Margaret !"—CoiXINfl ' fl Basil .

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  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 1, 1853, page 15, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1967/page/15/