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Leader (1850-1860), 1st January 1853, Edition Town of 3, Page 9, Untitled Article

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      Untitled Article

      supplies of grain and flour , and the most serious fears were entertained that unless large cargoes should constantly arrive great suffering would be experienced . J he farm Ianda in the colony were only half-sown , and the crops , therefore , even under ordinary circumstances , would be insufficient , but with the anticipation of the landing m the months of November and December of the extraordinary number of persons that were expected to leave the United Kingdom in June and July last , it difficult to

      was foresee how the wants of the colony were to be met . Flour had already reached 40 ? . per ton , a higher price than had been known for ten years , and a further advance was expected . Hopes were entertained that considerable quantities might be sent from America . House rent was as dear in proportion as bread , and the terms for three and four-roomed cottages were from 2501 . to 4001 . a-year . The banks had ceased to make advances , and were buying gold on their own account .

      The emigrants taken out by the Marco Polo were immediately engaged at very high wages . Highland shepherds , with their wives and children , were readily engaged at 250 ? . a-year and upwards ; and single men at 60 ? . to 701 . a-year . The young women were mostly fixed for life on landing , and the diggers charmed with spinsters , even on the shady side of forty . On her arrival at Melbourne she was surrounded by boats , the occupants of which threw small nuggets of gold among the passengers . The crew of the vessel having disobeyed orders , the captain had them imprisoned until his departure , when they were again shipped , and navigated the vessel home .

      But while trade is eminently prosperous , and the yield of gold apparently exhaustless , home agriculture has been not so fortunate . From June to October a great deal of rain fell in these islands , but from October up to this day the " fall" has been a deluge , " The observations made in the vicinity of Dublin correspond very nearly with those made near London , " says the Liverpool Albion . "At Dublin , during 26 days in November last , there fell 6 £ inches of rain , which was onefourth of the annual average depth that falls in the district . On the 11 th of the month tb , ere fell 1 ^ inch , on the 12 th a quarter of an inch , on the 13 th half an inch , and on the

      14 th three quarters of an inch , making a depth of three inches in four days . From the observations made near London it appears there fell in the same four days upwards of 2 ^ in ches . The total amount which fell at London in November last was 6 . 20 inches , or six inches and one-fifth , which , deducting seven days on which no rain fell , gives nearly 6 J inches in 23 days . The average amount of rain in the vicinity of London in the November months for the laat 26 years is 2 . 16 inches , the greatest November fall having been in 1842 , when it was 4 . 47 inches , and the least in 1851 , when it was little more than half an inch . We learn from the Gardener's Chronicle that ' so much rain has not fallen near London in November , nor in any

      one month , with the exception of July , 1834 , for at least 65 years . ' The amount which foil in July , 1834 , was 6 . 34 inches . * * * * The copious rain has not , however , been confined this year to one month , as was the case in the year 1834 , when there was so great a fall in July . Great quantities fell in the months preceding November , the amounts of which we shall hereafter show , and the superabundant supplies of moisture havo continued far into December . No doubt , from the 1 st of November lost till the present time , fully oight inches of rain havo fallen , which is nearly half the quantity which descended during the whole of 1847 , when the total amount for tho year was only 16 . 65 . In 1850 , tho amount for the year

      was 18 . 28 , and , last year , 20 . 79 , the annual avorago fall boiqg about 24 inches , so that tho dopth during tho last seven weeks has boon equal to ono-third tho average of ordinary years . The total fall of rain this year at London , up lo the end of November , was , notwithstanding tho drynosa of tho early months , 30 . 67 inches . Tho following is tho record , extracted from tho source before acknowledged : —January , 2 . 72 ; February , 1 . 06 ; March , 0 . 25 ; April , 0 . 52 ; May , 1 . 74 ; Juno , 4 . 0 & ; July , 2 . 27 ; August , 3 . 71 ; September , 3 . 64 ; October , 3 . 87 ; November , 6 . 20

      inches—total , 30 . 67 . Tho greatest fall in tho cour . se of tho 26 yearn preceding was in 184-1 , when tho depth wan 30 . 07 inches ; tho smallest in 1847 , when tho depth wan 16 . 65 inches ; tho average being , * in wo havo stated , 24 inches . Adding to tho ascertained fail for tho present year 2 ^ inches , which is not excessive considering tho almost incessant rain wo havo already had this month , wo liavo as tho total fall in 1852 33 , 17 inches . Of this thorn foil in tho six months from tho beginning of . runo to tho end of November 24 . 38 inches . If wo add 2 J inches for December wo havo nearly 27 inches , or an excess in woven months of thro © inches over tho moan annual iivorago . "

      Thin has accordingly boon an ovil autumn for tho farmer . Tho ground ban been , in th « main , rendered unfit for need , and tho hopes of un averago harvest next year rest on the Heed sown in spring .

      Untitled Article

      TAX KB ON KNOWIiKlKJIO . I \ ST Friday week , a meeting wan hold at tho Guildhall Coffee-house , over which Mr . F . Honnock provided , of certain oltM ^ torH of tho City of London , fuvourublo to tho repeal of tho Taxes on Knowledge-. Tin ; following nddross to Lord John JIubhoII wan uimniinounly agreed ' Mt LojU > —Wfl , tho undersigned , electors of tho City of London respectfully claim your lordship ' s good offices

      upon a subject which appears to us to be of vital importance , and on which we have reason to believe that your lordship's views as an earnest friend to popular education are in harmony with our own . "We allude to those taxes which are justly stigmatised as the Taxes on Knowledgeviz ., the duty on paper , the advertisement duty , and the stamp duty on newspapers . " In connexion with this subject , we refer with much pleasure to some expressions to which your lordship , has lately given utterance at Perth 1 —viz ., 'The way in which the power of democracy ought to be dealt with is , by listening to every complaint , by considering every grievance , and by giving a legitimate and legal organ to that power and influence which otherwise may be mischievous , irregular , and injurious . ' " To direct and enlighten the path of that progress which is inevitable , is a duty worthy of a modern

      statesman . " We appeal to your lordship in accordance with these sound and statesmanlike views , to remove obstructions which prevent legislators from ' listening to every complaint' and ' considering every grievance , ' by stifling their expression , and which , by this repression , tend to make the progress of democracy mischievous , irregular , and injurious . ' " To vote money for the purposes of public education while these justly-termed Taxes on Knowledge are still levied , is surely very inconsistent .

      " In regard to the paper duty , the amount of the revenue derived from it being nearly a million , we can only venture to commend its removal to the earnest attention of the government when the Budget shall be under consideration ; but , as we need not remind your lordship , the other obnoxious taxes to which we have referred—namely , the advertisement and stamp duties , are obviously not maintained for the purposes of revenue , and therefore imperatively demand immediate abrogation . " The advertisement duty has been repeatedly shown to be destructive of more revenue than it produces , and the inconsiderable sum of 250 , 000 ? ., the whole amount involved by the repeal of the compulsory stamp , is clearly not the obiect for which it was imposed , or is maintained .

      V _ . . - _— « v « ^ ¦ - ¦¦« ** .. . * " We desire on this point to call your lordship ' s attention to the extreme uncertainty and vagueness in the administration of the law which necessitates the stamping of certain classes of periodical publications , and to the extreme unfairness to which this uncertainty continually gives rise . "In conclusion , therefore , we earnestly request that your lordship will take measures for the immediate repeal of the stamp and advertisement duties , for the abolition of the system of demanding security for offences neither committed nor contemplated , and for making such financial arrangements as will enable Parliament to repeal the duty on paper at no distant period . "

      Untitled Article

      OPENING THE CRYSTAL PALACE ON SUNDAY . We have received a copy of the following petition , now being numerously signed in all parts of the metropolis , addressed to the Commons of Great Britain and Ireland in Parliament assembled : — The Jiumble Petition of tho undersigned Inhabitants of the City of London , * Sheweth , —That your Petitioners have heard with strong disapproval , of the attempts to prevent the intended new Crystal Palace at Sydcnham being open to Sunday visitors .

      That your Petitioners believo the opening on Sunday , not only of the said intended Crystal Palace at-Sydenham , but also of the British Museum and National Gallery , Would bo highly conducive to tho moral and intellectual improvement of tho people , more especially of tho working classes , whoso necessary avocations render it impossible that they should , generally , visit such institution * on any of tho work days of the week . Your Petitioners , therefore , humbly pray , that your Honourable House will take stops for opening to Sunday visitors tho said intended Crystal Palaeo at Sydonham , and also tho British Museum and National Gallery . And your Petitioners will over pray .

      Untitled Article

      BARTH AND OVKRYVKO'S AFRICAN F / XPIODITION . Mil . 1 ' etermann has forwarded another letter to the Times , of great interest ., containing further information of tho progress of the African travellers . He says : — "On the date of tho previous letters Dr . Overweg was at Kuka , expec ting ( lie return of Dr . Harth from his jouriuiy to Haghirmi , a powerful kingdom situated between Lake Tsad and tho Nile , and never before visited by any European . On tho 20 th of August last , Dr . Harth , having HiicceNsfully explored that country as far as Masena , its capital , returned to Kuka , and rejoined his companion in tho best health and spirits . The meet ing wan a very joyful ono , as tho liberal supplies of Lord Palinerston , and various Hubsjdien from their owa country- despatched in the beginning of tho year- had at length arrived . He fore that time their communication with Kurope hud been greatly interrupted on account of the wars raging over an extensive portion of" the Southern Sahara . Indeed , one of the caravans venturing to proceed from Murzeek to Kuka wan plundered , and a parcel addressed to tho expedition was stolen by the Tuarieks , and consequently never reached its destination . Between July , 1851 , and Juno last , no supplies had reached tho travellers , who were thereby reduced to great straits . All they eould possibly spam of what they poHHenned , necessary to their personal comiort , had been parted with to defray the expenses of ( heir continued excursions , and at last no means were left them to pay a courier for the conveyance of their letters to the north . The groat kindness and generosity of tho Veaeer * Or City of Weetniinator , or Borough of Southwark , Ac .

      again mentioning that this is just the region the importance of which has long been recognised by our transatlantic brethren : it is there that the American missionaries have secured a footing ; it is that region which no doubt is within the limits of operation of the projected expedition under Captain Lynch , who is already on his way to Western Africa on a preliminary tour of reconnaissance . The object of that expedition , according to President Fillmore ' s Message to the American Congress on the 6 th December , as reported in the Times , is the ' reconnaissance of the continent of Africa eastward of

      of Bornu alone had enabled them to persevere in their undertaMng . This enlightened man , by the advice of Dr . Overweg , is making collections of the natural products and manufactures of Bornu , which -will be sent to England . " The suggestion I threw out in my previous communication , respecting the Kawara and Tchadda as the two great highways to the interior of Africa from the west coast , seem to receive a stronger bearing by the present communications of Dr .-Barth , who recommends to the special attention of this country that part of the coast which extends from the Kawara to the equator . T may he " excused in

      Liberia . " The two travellers , meanwhile , are determined to cross the whole of the African continent , and to reach , if possible , the Indian Ocean . ' The powerful assistance of England and Prussia , ' writes Dr . Overweg , ' inspires us with redoubled courage , and strengthens our determination to push on to the south , and to persevere in the attempt to accomplish our great object . ' Should monetary difficulties arise to prevent this , they will previously make another voyage in a westerly direction and attempt to penetrate as far as Timbuktu .

      " ' For my part I am determined to devote other three years in exploring it , ' so writes Dr . Barth to the Chevalier Bunsen ; but what can two persons do in this vast unknown world ? ' And he suggests that other travellers should push into the heart of Africa from the west coast , either up the Tchadda or from Pablo de Loanda , situated to the south of the equator . He recommends in particular that , as arrangements have already been made at Zanzibar , on the east coast of Africa , to assist them from that direction , one or two travellers should start from Mozambique or Kilwa in the direction of Lake JSTyassi . "

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      MISCELLANEOUS . The Queen held a Court and Privy Council on Tuesday , at Windsor Castle , when the old Cabinet Ministers resigned their seals of office , and the new Ministers kissed hands on their appointments . Lord Granville was sworn in Lord President of the Privy Council , and took his seat at the board . Lord Cranworth took the oath as Lord Chancellor of Great Britain . Sir William Moleswonth , Sir John Young , and Mr . Cardwell were sworn in Privy Councillors ; and the three Secretaries of State took their oaths of office . The Queen visited town on Wednesday , and returned to Windsor the same day . We have reason to believe that an event may bo expected in the early part of April next which will add a new member to the Royal family . — Times .

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      The Earl of Aberdeen gave his first Cabinet dinner to his colleagues on Tuesday evening , at his residenco in Argyll-street . Lord John Russell , the Duke of Newcastle , Mr . Frederick Peel , Earl Granvillo , Mr . W . F . Gladstone , Sir William Molesworth , and the Hon . Henry Fitzroy transacted business at their various offices for the first time on Tuesday . Sir George- Turner , late Vice Chancellor , . succeeds Lord Cranworth as one of the Lords Justices in Appeals ; and Sir William . Page Wood takes the post of Vice Chancellor . The ICarl and Countess of Derby left town on Tuesday for Knowsley , Lancashire . Count Walowski , after having had an interview with Lord . John Russell , on Monday , left London for Paris . Countess Walewaki accompanied him .

      Tho marriage of Lady Octavia Gronvenor with Sir Michael Shaw Stewart was celebrated on Tuesday morning , at St . George ' s Church , Hanover-square . Baron Brunnow , tho Russian Minister , gave a dinner to about two hundred of Mr . fubitt ' s workmen , who have * lately been repairing his residence in Chesham Place , on Monday . Dr . Max Midler is appointed Lecturer of Modern Literature at Oxford . Mr . Ralph Waldo lOnierson has been delivering a courso of six lectures in Cincinnati . The Rev . Francis Hodgson , tin * . Provost of Kton College , died on Wednesday , in the 72 nd year of bin age . Ho wart an old fttonian , and a friend of . Lord Byron , whom lie / ir « fc knew at Cambridge . York ho 13 th

      Mr . Seguin , the singer , died in New on ( of December . lie went , to America in IH . 'JH , whore ho has Hinco r

      Tho WinoiH Kteaniev entered New York Harbour on tho ¦ 14-l . h of Dec-ember , bringing 2 , G 00 , 000 dollars 0 * uold du » t from Caliionua .

      Untitled Article

      JAKuARy 1 , 1853 . ] THE LEADER . 9

  • Citation
    • Leader (1850-1860), Jan. 1, 1853, page 9, in the Nineteenth-Century Serials Edition (2008; 2018) ncse.ac.uk/periodicals/l/issues/vm2-ncseproduct1967/page/9/